USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
315
Biographical Sketches
F
C. C. Cripe and Wife
one year ; was pastor at Bremen, Indiana seventeen years; Argos, Ind- iana (Walnut Church) ten years, and is now serving as pastor of the Bethel Church, Milford, Indiana since 1945. During the years at Bre- men he baptized 144 persons ; at Argos 122, and at Bethel, thus far, 28 He served on the Standing Committee eight times, (will serve the ninth time in 1950) ; was a member of the District Ministerial Board ten years, and on the District Mission Board three years. He served as District Writing Clerk five times before 1939 when the office was made a three-year term, and has served continuously since. Has been a member of Annual Meeting Credential Committee twice as well as numerous district committees. Was chairman of a committee to com- pile and classify the District Meeting Minutes and is chairman of the Northern Indiana Historical Committee. He has held fifty-two evan- gelistic meetings with two hundred seventy-five accessions. He has served as elder of eleven of the Northern Indiana Churches. His wife Amanda, died May 7, 1949 in Milford, Kosciusko County, Indiana.
DANIEL CRIPE
"Daniel Cripe died December 10, 1859, aged 87 years 7 months and 4 days."
"Magdalena, wife of D. Cripe, died May 25, 1842, aged 72 years and I day."
316
History of the Church of the Brethren
The above inscriptions may be read on very modest-looking stone slabs about 9 by 20 inches, in an old cemetery just south of Goshen, Indiana. And they mark the last resting place of the pioneer family of the Church of the Brethren in Northern Indiana.
Elder Daniel Cripe moved from Montgomery County, Ohio. He had been called to the ministry and was the first elder of the Wolf Creek congregation. He, with his family, his brother, Jacob Cripe, Christ Stouder and John Pippenger and their families came in 1829. Daniel Cripe was a man of medium height, was broad shouldered and well muscled; his face was smooth shaven and his complexion light. Being of kindly disposition he made many friends and commanded the love and respect of all who knew him.
"He selected for himself about a half a section of land on Elkhart Prairie, about two miles south of where the present Goshen courthouse stands. He at once erected a log cabin upon it and made other prep- arations for a future home. He with his friends constructed a rude plow, with a wooden moldboard, for the purpose of turning a few fur- rows to mark their claims and put out small crops to raise provisions for the coming winter. After making the plow, the question arose, who should use it first ? It was decided that the oldest should use it first ; and as Daniel Cripe was the oldest the lot fell on him; and thus, ac- cording to tradition, he was the first white settler to plow a furrow on Elkhart Prairie."-Opperman.
In 1830 Elder Cripe made a trip to Ohio and returned with other emigrant families. Among these first families were some of his chil- dren. He at once began preaching to these pioneer families, preaching largely in German. A church was organized in 1830. He was the first elder and minister. The first love feast was held in Elder Cripe's home. He himself furnished a ewe lamb for the supper.
Elder and Sister Cripe were the parents of four daughters and five sons. The sons' names were Samuel, Emanuel, John, Daniel and Benjamin. Of the daughters, Susan married Joseph Stouder, Cathrine married David Mikesell, Polly married John Pippenger, and Elizabeth married Christian Stouder. One great-grandchild, Amos Cripe, be- came a minister in the Mennonite Church. One great-grandson, C. C. Cripe is a minister in the Church of the Brethren. He spent many years in Northern Indiana but is now living in California. Jacob Cripe, of Goshen, was a brother to Daniel. Another brother settled at North Manchester and another at Wabash, Indiana. Many are the descendants of this first generation, and many of these are active in the service of the church.
Elder Cripe was not so able as a preacher, judged by the standards of today, but he had great influence among his people by his godly life among them. He was faithful to his holy calling and did a great
317
Biographical Sketches
work in the founding of the Church of the Brethren in a county that today is one of the most thickly settled with our people that we have in the church.
Jacob Cripe, a brother to Daniel, died in 1865 at the age of 98 years 5 months and 14 days. He was the great-grandfather of John U. and Calvin Cripe, ministers of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana. His grandson, Jonathan Cripe, was a faithful minister of the church. Jona- than's son, Charles C., is a minister of the church, living at Milford, Indiana, and co-author of this history. A daughter Una, was the wife of Elder Lafayette Steele, while another daughter, Winnie, died on the China Mission field. Elder George W. Cripe, of Cerro Gordo, Illinois, and Jacob Cripe, a minister of Elkhart Valley, were grandsons of Jacob Cripe.
GEORGE W. CRIPE
Elder George W. Cripe, though identified with Southern Illinois in later years, spent the most active part of his life in Indiana. He was born in Darke County, Ohio, May 23, 1833. He was raised in Elkhart County, Indiana, and united with the Church of the Brethren in the Solomon's Creek congregation. Here he was called to the ministry in 1866. Shortly after this he moved to the Washington Church (Now North Winona) near Warsaw, and still later into the Fairview Church, Southern Indiana.
Elder Cripe's great work for Indiana was that of an evangelist. He was one of the first brethren to engage actively in protracted meet- ings. He had great power through the Spirit to do this work. Scores were brought into the church through his stirring appeals. While in Southern Indiana he was one of the missionaries in their great field.
On Christmas Day, 1852, he was united in marriage to Barbara Shively of Elkhart County. To them were born twelve children. One daughter, Cora, was for years a mission worker in Chicago, and then spent a number of years as a missionary in China, as the wife and helper of Dr. O. G. Brubaker. Brother Cripe was a man of strong physical build, but constant heavy strain on his physical system brought his life to a close July 22, 1901. His last years were spent at Cerro Gordo, Illinois.
CRUMRINE
This was a familiar name in the southern part of Wabash County in the earlier days.
Elder John Crumrine was born in Virginia, 1799. He moved to Darke County, Ohio, where he married Catherine Benner and was called to the ministry. Late in life he moved to Wabash County, where he was the first resident elder of the Wabash church. He died in
318
History of the Church of the Brethren
1884, with R. H. Miller preaching the funeral. He left two sons who were ministers.
Jacob was born in 1835 and married Lucinda Jones in 1857. He was elected deacon in 1866, minister in 1872, and ordained 1889. He was very zealous as a preacher and took an interest in the missionary activities in the district. He contracted a cold while engaged in preach- ing services which caused his death in 1890. He preached many fun- erals. His wife survived him some twenty years.
Noah, an elder brother of Jacob, was born in 1833 and died in 1916. He was a minister for over fifty years and an elder for more than forty years. He was elder of his home church, Wabash, for twenty-five years.
A brother of Elder John, Jacob Crumrine, was also a minister. He preached but little, his favorite themes being taken from Revelation.
Gale D. Crumrine, also a member of this family, is a young min- ister whose home is in Wabash.
R. W. DAVENPORT
R. W. Davenport, a deacon in the Rock Run congregation, owned and lived on the Jacob Berkey farm just across the road from the church. He served as member of the Northern Indiana Mission Board from 1897 till 1911. The last few years of his life were spent in Cali- fornia, where he died.
Elder W. R. Deeter and Wife
Elder Manly Deeter and Wife
319
Biographical Sketches
WILLIAM AND MANLY DEETER
In the history of Indiana there are a number of instances on re- cord where father and son labor in the ministry together. But there are few cases where this has occurred so happily as in the case of William Deeter and his son, Manly.
William R. Deeter, son of John and Sarah Reed Deeter, was born in Miami County, Ohio, January 1, 1840. He began teaching at the age of 18. He attended Antioch College at Yellow Springs, Ohio. He taught school ten years in Ohio and eight years after coming to Ind- iana. He was married to Sarah Sipes September 30, 1860. To them were born three sons, Edward, Manly and John. In 1866 they moved to Delaware County and settled on a farm south of Eaton. In 1871 they located five miles north of Muncie.
In March, 1871, Brother Deeter was called to the ministry in the Mississinewa church. Three years later he was ordained to the full min- istry. He did a great deal of evangelistic work, both in Ohio and in Indiana. During his later years of ministerial work in Southern Ind- iana he became a recognized leader in the district.
In 1881 he moved into the Solomon's Creek church, Northern Indiana, locating three miles southeast of Milford. He was in the south part of the district. Since the members here now had a minister, a movement was soon on foot for a separate organization. As a result Bethel congregation was organized in 1884. For more than thirty years he was its faithful servant, acting most of the time as presiding elder. His work did not stop at this, but he had charge of other churches at times : Pine Creek, Bethany, Washington, Yellow River, Ft. Wayne and Markle.
In Northern Indiana he was a recognized leader. For years he was moderator of their District Meetings. He represented his District eight times on Standing Committee. He was reading clerk of the Con- ference once and was moderator at Naperville, Illinois, in 1898. Few men have served on more committees than he. For this work he had a special fitness. He was a far-seeing, cool-headed thinker. Neither the most trying circumstances nor perplexing problems could prevent his taking a good night's sleep. This partly explains the remarkable pre- servation of his physical powers. He was a constant reader on all ques- tions of the day. He excelled in profitable and interesting conversation. Neither young nor old need spend any tiresome hours in his presence.
His faithful companion for over fifty years departed this life in June, 1912. It was at the time of the York Conference. He was to have been a member of the Standing Committee. The prayer of that great meeting went up to the throne of grace in his behalf. In 1914 he was again married, to Sister Maria Eikenberry, a widow living at
320
History of the Church of the Brethren
West Alexandria, Ohio. She was called from his side January 25, 1917. He survived but a few years.
Manly Deeter, son of W. R. and Sarah Deeter, was born near Pleasant Hill, Ohio, January 29, 1865 and later came with his parents to Delaware County, Indiana, and then to Kosciusko County. He was married to Ida Hoover, August 4, 1884. The preceding January they were baptized by his father.
January 29, 1896 he was elected deacon. March 26, 1897, he was called to the ministry, advanced a year later, and ordained March 28, 1901. For many years he was colaborer with his father in the ministry in the Bethel church.
During part of this time he was engaged in outside work. He served as Moderator of District Meeting five times, three times as Reading Clerk, twice when his father was moderator; five times he re- presented his district on Standing Committee; several times he served on important Annual Meeting committees. He was elder of the Bethel church for sixteen years, and of the New Salem church from its or- ganization for about 15 years. He was also elder of several other churches for short periods of time. He always served in the free min- istry, though in the later years he helped to support a pastor in his home church.
From 1909 to 1915 he was trustee of Manchester College. In the work of the school he has taken much interest. For three years he was a member of the executive board as field representative. During this time he raised thousands of dollars for the improvement of the institu- tion.
Brother and Sister Deeter lived together for nearly 55 years, she passing on in January 19, 1939. They had three children but only one grew to maturity. This daughter, Amanda, married a young minister, Raleigh Neff, and they have since their marriage always lived in the Bethany church.
After his wife's death, Brother Deeter became much interested in traveling about and preaching in out of the way places, and establish- ing missions. One such place was in Upper Michigan, in the Ozark church. He was with them for a couple of years until they got on their feet and he left them in a flourishing condition. Then in 1942 he went to the mountains of Kentucky and established a mission at Creekville. He has remained there much of the time since. They now have five preaching places there; more than eighty have been baptized, and the work is most encouraging.
At the age of 85 he is still active in the Lord's work, traveling about a good deal, preaching as he can, and encouraging others.
321
Biographical Sketches
Elder David Dilling and Wife
The Dillings were among the earliest settlers in the Monticello church. Elder David was the son of George B. and Margaret Dilling and was born in Blair County, Pennsylvania in 1859. He died in 1914. His father came to Indiana when he was five, locating in Carroll County. In 1880 David was married to Emma Wilson. They had four sons and two daughters. The wife died in 1897 and he married Rosa Dilling in 1898.
David Dilling united with the church at nineteen, was called to the ministry at twenty-six, and to the eldership at thirty-seven. He became elder of his home church in 1898 and remained in charge till his death in 1914. He also had the oversight of two other congregations and was active in district affairs. Three times he represented Middle Ind- iana on the Standing Committee. His early death was keenly felt in the community and the church where he had become a patriarch, often consulted on many personal problems.
His son, Roy, is a minister, elder, and businessman, as well as an accomplished musician. He lived at North Manchester for many years where he was in business and also on the faculty of the college for sev- eral years. He lives at West Palm Beach, Florida.
322
History of the Church of the Brethren
EILER
An early deacon in the Nettle Creek church was Samuel Eiler. He was born in Quebec province, Canada. His father was a member of the Brethren in colonial days. Being true to his peace principles during the Revolution, he was forced to flee to Canada. Here Samuel was born in 1791. They moved to near Dayton, Ohio, then to Hagerstown, Indiana.
Samuel was married to Susannah Snyder while in Ohio. The Nettle Creek church was built on his land. He was a deacon for over fifty years. He lived near the church and lodged many ministers and other travelling Brethren. He died in 1875.
His son, Samuel, served for a period in the ministry at Beaver Dam and Nettle Creek but was later relieved. His grandson, Calvin F., was called to the ministry in the Prairie Creek church in 1886. He lived in several congregations including West Manchester and Roann. His son, William, was a minister and preached in the West. Calvin Eiler died about 1923 or 1924. Austin Eiler, minister, has lived at Nampa, Idaho, for many years.
JESSE EISENHOUR
Jesse Eisenhour was born Oct. 19, 1880 near Plymouth, Ind. He united with the church early in life and was elected as deacon in the Union Center Church in 1906. He has always been active in the Sun- day School and church. In the district he was a member of the Breth- ren Service Committee from its beginning until recently and has been unusually active in promoting the work. He is also a member of the Trustee Board for the Mexico Welfare Home.
ELDON EVANS
One of the leading men in the church in Northern Indiana at the present time is Eldon Evans. He was born in Elkhart County, Ind. April 7, 1900, and has always lived in the same county. He attended grade school and High School in New Paris and has taught there for more than thirty years. His parents were Charles and Lillie (Burtsfield) Evans; he was baptized by Elder Charles Arnold in 1915. On May 3, 1922 he was united in marriage with Viola Richards, to whom was born one daughter, Esther. He graduated from Manchester College in 1933 with the B.S. degree, and in 1939 from Indiana Univ- ersity with the Master's degree; he has also 14 semester hours credit toward the doctor's degree in education.
He was licensed to the ministry in 1939 and ordained to the elder- ship in 1941. He has always served his home congregation in the free ministry, being elder in charge since 1942, also serving as elder in eight or ten surrounding congregations at various times. He has served his
323
Biographical Sketches
Eldon Evans
home congregation as delegate to Annual Conference several times and three times on Standing Committee. He served Northern Indiana six years on the District Board of Christian Education and six years on the Mission-Ministerial Board. Was Director of Camp Mack for 9 years; was moderator of District Conference, also. He is always a wise counsellor, and since he has been Principal of the New Paris High School for many years, he has wielded a tremendous influence in the town and community, as well as in the church and district he loves.
JOSEPH EARL FISHER
Joseph Earl Fisher was the son of John and Lulu (Barnhart) Fisher ; born at Flora, Indiana, February 18, 1896. Most of his life before marriage was spent in Carroll County. On December 24, 1916, he married Emma Wagoner, daughter of David and Mary Wagoner of the Fairview church, Southern Indiana. The Fishers have lived in Tippecanoe County all the time since as faithful members of that church. They have a daughter, Marjorie (Dunk), and a son, Glen. The children live on the home farms which they operate. Joe, as he is commonly called, has been a prominent layman in Southern Indiana. He has led the Men's Work as president for a number of years. He has served on the board of directors of Camp Alexander Mack for ten years and has been president of that board for more than two years.
324
History of the Church of the Brethren
In 1951 he was chosen to represent his district on the board of the Mexico Welfare Home and is now on its executive committee. He is a willing, generous, and efficient layman.
FRANK FISHER
Frank Fisher was the eldest son of Benjamin and Lydia Fisher. He was born near Camden, November 29, 1856. Of German stock, from Virginia, his grandfather, Davis Fisher, was the first minister of the Monticello church. Frank's father died when he was eleven. His mother had to depend much upon this, her eldest, son. He attended the elementary schools and managed to save enough money to pay his ex- penses at the Monticello High School. He spent eleven years teaching.
In 1881 he married Lillie Reiff, of Burnettsville, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Reiff. They were engaged in farming for eight years. He was called to the ministry in 1882. His superior education and abilities soon attracted attention and he was called to take charge of
Elder Frank Fisher
the Old Folks' and Orphans' Home at Mexico, 1889. For thirteen years they had direct charge and for many years helped in the many times when a matron or superintendent was needed. The orphans re- membered them as "Papa and Mama Fisher."
Bro. Fisher was ordained in 1898 and served as elder of his church till 1921. He also had charge of other churches, including Hunt- ington City, Pipe Creek, and Manchester.
Bro. Fisher was the Superintendent of the first Sunday school or- ganized in the Mexico church, 1891, meeting at 3 p.m. He organized a Sunday school at the country house, also.
325
Biographical Sketches
For many years Bro. Fisher was one of the outstanding leaders in the Brotherhood, as well as in his district.
He was frequently moderator in Middle Indiana and was once moderator of the Annual Meeting (1914). He served on numerous boards and committees, preached many series of meetings and funeral sermons. For many years, after his active period, he was a patriarchal figure at church gatherings. Just his presence was a benediction to the Church. He died about 1943 or 1944.
Seven sons of Peter Fisher Benjamin Joseph
George
Isaac
Aaron
Noah
Jacob
PETER FISHER
This man was the ancestor of a very large family. Born in Vir- ginia in 1792, he married Elizabeth Brower and moved to Preble County, Ohio in 1828. In 1836 he came to Miami County and settled
326
History of the Church of the Brethren
one mile north of Mexico. He and his wife were the pioneer members of that congregation. Here they lived under frontier conditions. They drove to Michigan City for salt, at sixteen dollars a barrel. He was a deacon and passed away in 1879.
These good people had ten children, seven sons and three daughters. One daughter married Elder Jacob Barnhart, another mar- ried Elder David Neff. This woman was the mother of Elder J. Henry Neff and of the wife of Elder Dorsey Hodgden. The third daughter married Stephen Rush, of a family in the local church. The Jacob Barn- harts had a son, Henry, who was a Congressman.
Of the sons, George had three sons who were preachers, all in other churches than the Brethren. Ira, Toney, and Bertha were grand- children of George.
Another son of Peter was Benjamin, who raised a large family. His granddaughter married Charles Ronk, a Brethren minister. A son, William, was killed in 1915 by an angry bull. He was a highly respected man in the community.
Peter's sons Joseph and Aaron had families, most of them were not members of the Church of the Brethren.
The three sons of Peter who were ministers were Isaac, Noah, and Jacob. Isaac was called to the ministry at Mexico in 1858 and ordained 1867. For many years he held joint oversight of the church with his brother-in-law, Jacob Barnhart. He was a good preacher and a man of fine influence. He was on the Standing Committee in 1885. He died in the new churchhouse in 1890, just as he was opening the meeting. His son, Irvin, was an elder in the home church. A grandson, Kearney Eikenberry, is a minister living at Peru. Enos Fisher was a minister in the Old Order Brethren church.
Jacob Fisher was a deacon, minister, and elder in the Mex- ico church till his death, 1897. His son, Elder Silas Fisher served as pastor at Peru for a time.
Noah Fisher was a deacon, minister (1870), and elder (1885) in the Mexico church, but he labored in the Huntington City and An- drews churches, as well as having lived at Roann for a time.
This unusual family seemed to have the gift of preaching. Includ- ing the men married into the family, the Peter Fisher family had twenty-four ministers in 1916. This is a unique record indeed.
HIRAM FORNEY
The famous "Forney" family has a representative in Indiana in Elder Hiram Forney. His parents were Daniel and Anna Koontz Forney. He was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1852, and came with his parents to Elkhart County at the age of 15. At the age of 21 he was married to Chloe Shaffer. They were the parents
327
Biographical Sketches
of one daughter and four sons, the daughter passing away at an early age.
Brother and Sister Forney united with the church in 1878. The next year he served as Sunday School superintendent. In 1881 he was elected as deacon. Soon after he became a member of the Mission Board of Northern Indiana and for several years he was active in the mission work in Northern Indiana. In 1883 he was called to the min- istry. In 1894 he began the work in the city of Goshen. The work in the city continued to grow until a house was erected in 1899. The year before this Brother Forney left the farm and located in Goshen. He was ordained to the eldership in 1902, shortly before he went to Am- well, New Jersey, where he spent two years as pastor of the church. During 1906-1907 he was resident pastor at Ft. Wayne. He then went to Chico, California, where he was the means of building up a congregation and of the erection of a house of worship, which was built largely by his own hands.
After five years' labor he spent another two years in Goshen and again went west to Denver, Colorado, taking charge of the mission for eighteen months. The high altitude of this location did not agree with him so he again sought his Indiana home, locating in West Goshen, where he passed away in 1929. His skill as a carpenter and painter often helped him to a living while preaching the Gospel.
Elder D. B. Garber and Wife
David Benjamin Garber was born near Dayton, Ohio, on March 28, 1865. His parents were Christian M. and Mary M. Garber, who had come west from Virginia as refugees during the Civil War. After the war they returned to their former home near Bridgewater,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.