USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 37
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SWIHART
The name Swihart is a familiar one in many churches in Indiana. Most of these have come from one parent family, Jonathan and Eliza- beth Swihart.
Jonathan Swihart was one of the first Brethren ministers to come to Wabash County. He emigrated from Starke County, Ohio, in the early forties. He settled two miles north of Roann. Wolves and bears were then plentiful. Indians were their neighbors. Brother Swihart lived peaceably with these and was known among them as the "peace- maker." His wife was Elizabeth Metz. The father died in 1849, but left behind him seven sons, six of whom were preachers.
Aaron Swihart, the eldest, was one of the poineer preachers in the Walnut church. He was elected deacon in 1858, minister in 1863, and was ordained in 1891. He died in a mysterious way from concussion of the brain, caused by the accidental discharge of a gun, while visiting his son at Brethren, Michigan. This was November 5, 1903. His son, Aaron, was a minister who lived in Montana.
David Swihart married Magdalena Seitner. To them were born five sons. He was called to the ministry in the Roann church, January 12, 1873. He proved himself an able preacher and was a leader in Sun- day School work, superintending the first Sunday School in the congre- gation. He officiated at 175 funerals and 150 marriages. He was or- dained March 14, 1901. Soon afterwards he was given charge of his home church. He passed away January 17, 1905, at the age of 72. One son, George was an active minister.
George and Jacob Swihart early settled in the Blue River church. George was called to the ministry in 1876. He later moved into the ·Wawaka church and finally settled west of Goshen, where for several years he was presiding elder of the West Goshen church. He died in 1916 at a ripe old age. His son, Clarence, followed him in the ministry
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at West Goshen, while his daughter became the wife of Elder Calvin Huber.
Jacob was called to the ministry in the Blue River church in 1884. He later moved to Missouri, where he died. Two of his sons became deacons, and another son, Walter, was elder of Blue River for some years, later moving to Arizona, where he died.
Samuel Swihart, the fifth son, was a minister for the Progressive Brethren. The sixth son, Jonathan, was a minister in the church, but went with the Congregationalists, and still later, with the Progressives at the division. Two of his grandsons, Owen and George Harley, be- came ministers in the Church.
Mrs. Ralph Swihart, daughter of Eld. and Mrs. E. L. Heestand, was born in Elkhart Co. Indiana, May 28, 1906. Since her father was a pastor for a number of years, they lived in various churches; Hunt- ington and North Manchester in Middle Indiana, and in Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Plymouth, Nappanee and Goshen in Northern Indiana. She graduated from High School and also from Manchester College at North Manchester, working her way through College by nursing in the College Hospital. She taught Home Economics and English at Nappanee for 7 years. She spent several years on the C.B.Y.F. Cabinet, and in the local church was Primary Supt. and Choir member for a number of years. She spent two years in the Geneva International Youth Camp and has been Camper or Counsellor for Intermediate Girls' Camp at Camp Mack. She has been President of the District Women's Work in Northern Indiana since 1947.
LEWIS L. TEETER
Lewis L., son of Isaac and Nancy (Shultz) Teeter, was born near Millville, Henry County, Indiana, on August 1, 1857. His early child- hood was spent near Hagerstown, Indiana, where he started to school, then on a farm near the Buck Creek Church in Northeastern Henry County, where his father moved on March 20, 1866, and where he grew to manhood.
He had a good common school education such as could be procured at that time including three high school subjects which he studied in their district school. He supplemented that with much Bible study and reading of Church literature which he continued during life.
On May 1, 1887, he was married to Mary Anna Henninger, and in August of that year he moved to Middletown, Indiana, where he was engaged in the silversmith business. To this union were born two sons, E. C. Teeter and C. Ray Teeter of New Castle, Indiana, and Mrs. Perry R. Hoover of Lansing, Michigan. During his residence in Middletown, Indiana, he became noted as a skilled silversmith. He was active in the Upper Fall Creek and Middletown Churches of
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Elder Lewis L. Teeter and Wife
the Brethren. He continued to reside in Middletown until the death of his companion on October 21, 1894, when he with his three children re- turned to the home of his father where he took over the management and operation of the farm, and where he resided and continued his silversmith work during the remainder of his life. On October 3, 1895, he was married to Phoebe Ellen Miller, who was a faithful com- panion to him in the home and in church work, and who was a devoted mother to his three children during the thirty-nine years of their wedded life.
He was elected to the ministry in the Upper Fall Creek Church in June, 1895, and on the same day was granted his letter of member- ship to be presented to the Buck Creek Church, and was the presiding elder continuously until his death a period of more than twenty-five years. On August 2, 1919, he was elected presiding elder of the Upper Fall Creek Church and was the elder of that church until his death. Also he was presiding elder of the Four Mile Church for two years. During his entire ministry he attended regularly all the com- munion meetings at all the surrounding churches, and was active in the District. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Old Folks and Orphans' Home for twenty-four years. He was also a member of the Henry County Historical Society, and at one time he wrote a local history which he read at one of the meetings.
He passed away at his home on March 6, 1934, at the age of seventy-six years.
LEWIS W. TEETER
The subject of this sketch was the son of Daniel U. and Sarah Shultz Teeter, in Wayne County, north of Hagerstown, and was born in 1845. He attended the public schools and Newcastle Academy and
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Biographical Sketches
Elder Lewis W. Teeter
then taught three years. He was a natural student and pursued further study under private instruction or under his own direction. At the age of twenty-one he married Nancy Ellen, daughter of David Bowman, a member of a great family which has furnished the church many able leaders. They had one son who died in infancy, and a daughter, the wife of Charles Miller, who died at thirty-six, leaving one son, C. O. Miller who is a chemist at Milwaukee. He married a daughter of Elder I. N. H. Beahm.
Bro. Teeter served his church as clerk and as deacon for a number of years after he and his wife joined in 1868. Two great preachers were holding the meeting at the time : Elders Hiel Hamilton, and Sam- uel Murray. Bro. Teeter was called to the ministry in 1876, and, on the day he was forty, he was ordained to the eldership, 1885. He imme- diately was made presiding elder of the Nettle Creek Church which place he held for thirty-two years.
Bro. Teeter was a most outstanding leader. He preached four thousand sermons and officiated at over four hundred funerals. He served as writing clerk twelve times in his district and thirteen times as moderator. He was on the Standing Committee twelve times, once moderator of Conference, and twice reading clerk. Besides, he was appointed by Conference on numerous committees. From 1897 to 1903 and 1906 to 1912, Bro. Teeter was a member of the General
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Mission Board. He served as a trustee of Manchester College from 1905 to 1917, the first trustee from Southern Indiana. In 1916 the senior class of the college dedicated their annual (Aurora) to him.
From about 1894 to 1904, he worked on his famous commentary on the Bible. He helped edit the Sunday school quarterlies for several years. He contributed many articles to the church publications.
In 1915 his wife died and the following year he married Martha Ulrich, a widow and double cousin of his first wife.
For many years this patriarch lived in Hagerstown, beloved by a wide circle of friends and known throughout the Brotherhood. Elo- quent preacher, writer, evangelist, and wise counselor, Bro. Teeter was indeed a great man in the Kingdom. In appearance, Bro. Teeter was very impressive-the kind of person people would notice wherever they saw him. His remarkable features reflected a most remarkable soul. He passed away Oct. 28, 1927, at the age of eighty-two.
TINKEL
Henry Tinkel, a deacon, was one of the early settlers of Grant County. His son, Jacob, was a soldier in the Civil War and united with the church soon after he returned. In 1869 he was called to the minis- try and ordained to the eldership ten years later. He was given charge of the Landessville church where he served with success. He was a close friend of and co-worker with Jacob Crumrine, of Wabash. Both contracted sicknesses from lack of proper accommodations while away from home on church work. He died in 1889. Later the widow mar- ried Elder John Strausburg.
William, eldest son of Jacob Tinkel, married Mollie Miller, daugh- ter of Elder Martin Miller. He was called to the ministry in 1891 but died the following spring. His posthumous son, William, is an elder, now living at Albany. He graduated from Manchester in 1916, later took a Ph. D. in Ohio State, and taught for a number of years at Taylor University. He became a minister in 1916 and an elder in 1922. His pastoral service included Bellefontaine, Ohio; Portland and Bethel Center, Indiana; and Cerro Gordo, Illinois. He married Lulu Rench in 1916.
WILLIAM S. TONEY
Youngest of ten children, William S. Toney was born in Union County, 1837, to James and Sarah Lybrook Toney. William was raised on a farm in the Four Mile church. He received a com- mon school education and studied at a commercial college. He taught school for a time till he moved to Cass County with his parents, 1864. There they established what was known for many years as the "Toney Homestead." Bro. Toney lived there till his death in 191I.
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William S. Toney
In 1871 he married Mary Moss whose mother was a Rinehart. They had six children, two of them died in early life. Bro. Toney was a great father in the home. He was a successful manager, very indus- trious.
In 1874 Bro. and Sis. Toney came into the church. The next year he was called to the ministry and was ordained to the eldership in 1893. His ministry was a very active one. For years he served on the Dis- trict Mission Board. He was one of the earliest and most persistent advocates of the Sunday school. He helped to raise the endowment for the Old Folks' and Orphans' Home. He contributed freely to Man- chester College. He was often a District officer. He attended Annual Meetings regularly.
Besides his ministry, he rendered service as an expert advisor on road work, drainage, horticulture, and farming. He was secretary of the Tri-County Fire Insurance Company. He often administered estates. When anyone was sick or death had visited a home, he went to help, regardless of weather or other duties. He died in 1911 and his widow survived him several years.
JAMES TRACY
James Tracy was one of the ablest preachers of his day. When and where he was born and raised we do not know. As early as 1842
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he was a prominent man in the Brotherhood. During the next fifteen years he served on the Standing Committee six times, and on many of the most important appointments. Owen Opperman says he came to Northern Indiana "about 1852 and became our most active leader."
He is said to have been of Irish descent. He is described as a large man with a powerful voice. Though not an educated man, he was a natural orator, exerting a great influence over his hearers. He used many illustrations, especially from nature. He was a man of striking and positive characteristics.
He seemed to have but one failing. He could not make financial ends meet. But this is largely to be explained by his great sacrifice for the church. He was a good carpenter, but often lost work to fill ap- pointments. He was known to have walked for miles to preach a fu- neral after being refused conveyance by brethren who were too busy to stop their farm work to take him.
His first work was at South Bend. From here he traveled all through Northern Indiana, preaching the Gospel and helping to organize churches. When the Rock Run church was organized they of- fered him a home to move in their midst. He was not to enjoy this long, for he soon sickened and died, April 30, 1857. He was only about 57 years old.
He had two sons and four daughters. One son died in infancy. The other son, John, moved to Nebraska, and became a lawyer.
FRANK ULERY
Bro. Ulery was born in 1901 to Joseph C. and Mary Ulery at the Ulery homestead in the West Manchester congregation. He has lived his entire life in this community. He graduated from the Laketon High School.
Bro. Ulery has always shown a willingness to work in any capac- ity the church may need him. He has served his local church on numer- ous committees and boards and is a deacon.
Besides his work in his local church, Bro. Ulery has served the District very ably. He was head of the Men's Work of the District for four years. He also served on the District Brethren Service Commit- tee. Also, he served as a member of the Equity Board. Wherever a piece of work has needed to be done, Bro. Ulery has always been will- ing to do it.
S. S. ULREY
One of the first children born in Kosciusko County, S. S. Ulrey lived most of his life in the North Manchester community, particularly in the Ogans Creek church. He taught school for thirteen years in which work he was very successful. In 1867 he married Mary J. Tridle,
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Biographical Sketches
the faithful companion in all his work. To them were born ten chil- dren, several of whom have died. Seven of them taught school.
In 1875 he moved to Ogans Creek where he was called to the min- istry in 1879 and ordained to the eldership in 1891, by Elder R. H. Miller.
He became a leader, not so much as a preacher, but as a counselor and administrator. He missed only two Annual Meetings in over thirty years. This gave him a very wide acquaintance over the Brother- hood. Twice he was on the Standing Committee. He knew the history of the Brotherhood as few men did and loved to talk of the affairs pertaining to the church. This was one of the last things he talked about before he passed away.
For some time he suffered from diabetes and it became serious in 1910. He died early in 1911 and was buried with funeral services con- ducted by Otho Winger, J. H. Wright, and P. B. Fitzwater. Six fellow ministers were pall-bearers. None of his sons were ministers. Calvin Ulrey was a successful business man and left a large estate to Man- chester College. Another son, Alvin, was an active layman and was a teacher and banker.
WARSTLER
J. H. Warstler was born in Frederick County, Maryland, June 24, 1840, and was baptized in the Middletown Valley congregation June 4, 1862, by Elder George Grossnickle. He moved to Indiana and located in the bounds of the Solomon's Creek congregation. Here he was elected deacon March 6, 1873; was called to the ministry Jan- uary 3, 1878, advanced December 25, 1881, and ordained October 18, 1896. He always took a deep interest in the church. He wrote articles for "The Gospel Messenger," "Gospel Visitor" and " Chris- tian Family Companion." He taught school in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. He served his church as presiding elder from 1896 to 1902. He was a worker under the District Mission Board for eight years. He has been twice married. His first wife, formerly Mary Ellen Harshman, bore him ten children; of these seven grew to maturity. All are members of the Church of the Brethren; one, Otho, was a minis- ter and one is a deacon. The wife and mother died March 4, 1904. His second marriage was to Ellen E. Cline of New Paris, Indiana. He passed away in 1922.
Otho Warstler, son of J. H. Warstler, was born at New Paris, Indiana, October 26, 1867. He received just elementary schooling, and was a farmer all his life until retirement. He was united in marriage with Susannah Elizabeth Renfro September II, 1887. To them were born eight children, the eldest son, Hugh, later becoming a preacher. He was a minister and elder for many years, serving
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at Fostoria, Ohio, and Syracuse, North Webster and Wakarusa, Indi- ana.
Hugh Warstler, Otho's son, and grandson of J. H. Warstler, was born in Elkhart County, Indiana, April 16, 1896. He attended Busi- ness College in Ft. Wayne; took Normal Training at Goshen College; attended Bethany Biblical Seminary for a time, and also New York School of Engineering. He spent some time teaching school, did con- siderable rail road work, and was engaged in business for a time. He married Susannah Ebberly, and after her death was married to Esther Likens; following her death he was married to Kathryn Pro- want, daughter of the late L. H. Prowant, on June 16, 1937. He is the father of three daughters and two sons. He was elected as a deacon in the Elkhart City church in 1913; entered the ministry in June, 1928, and ordained to the eldership in December 1944. He was pastor of the North Webster church from 1930 to 1936; did some evangelistic work ; was an officer of District Meeting; has been elder of several churches. Since 1936 he has lived at Pontiac, Michigan. He has been pastor and elder of Flint and Elsie churches there. He is the present elder at Pon- tiac.
E. PAUL WEAVER
Brother Weaver was born in Everett County, Pennsylvania on October 13, 1912, the son of Mahlon J. and Fanny Ritchey Weaver. He was baptized by his father in 1922. He married Zalma Faw of Yakima, Washington, 1936. They have two children, a daughter and a son (born in Nigeria).
He finished his high school course at Johnstown, 1930, and spent the years 1930 to 1937 mostly in Elizabethtown (graduated 1937) and Bethany Training School. He completed his Seminary work at Beth- any in 1945, after a period of service in Africa, 1939-1944. He was called to the ministry in 1932 and became an elder in 1941. He preached as supply preacher at Windber, Pennsylvania, 1934-35.
After his return from Africa and the completion of his Seminary work, he accepted the pastorate of the Salamonie Church, 1945. In 1951 he left there and is now pastor at Mexico, in the same district.
Brother Weaver is almost a national figure in the cause of peace. He has done very effective work in contacting public officials who are responsible for our national policies. He has labored hard to defeat Universal Military Training. He has taken an interest in other phases of good citizenship. These activities, along with his ability as a pastor, have made him a very valuable man in his church. He has been a member of district boards, moderator of district conference, and a mem- ber of Standing Committee (1946, 1949). In Africa, he was mod-
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E. Paul Weaver and Family
erator of the African District Conference. He is now a member of the General Brotherhood Board.
Edith (Pletcher) Weaver was born in Elkhart Co. in 1892. She was active in Sunday School and Church work in the Rock Run Church. She attended Manchester College and directed music at fifty evangelistic meetings. She was married to William Weaver and they have two sons. They now live in Goshen.
THERON G. WEAVER
Theron G. Weaver was born in Elkhart County, Indiana, May 3, 1890. He was the son of David and Emma (Culp) Weaver. He was baptized at the age of 16 by Elder I. S. Burns. He received his High School work in the Academy in Manchester College and also his Bachelor's degree in Education. He graduated with the Master's de- gree in Education at Indiana University, and later spent time in Chi- cago University.
On December 12, 1912 Bro. Weaver was united in marriage with Nina E. Metzler. There were four children born to them; Ruth E., who is now the wife of Robert Tully, a minister and College teacher. Paul M .; Fern E., now the wife of Elmer Yoder ; and James C.
Brother Weaver has been a busy man; he taught in the public schools at Wakarusa for five years, then was assistant cashier in the
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Theron G. Weaver
Ist National Bank there for another four years, meanwhile rendering service in his home church in the free ministry. From 1921 to 1947 he spent his time teaching, most of the time as High School Principal. During this time he did part-time pastoral work, three years in the Cedar Lake Church near Garrett; two years in the Clear Creek Church in Middle Indiana; five years in the Walnut Church ; three years in the North Liberty Church and two years in the Middle- bury Church, these in Northern Indiana. He then ministered to the West Manchester Church as part-time pastor for five years, and three years at the Mexico Church, both in Middle Indiana. He then became full-time Field Man for Middle Indiana and in 1949 began full-time pastoral service in the Blue River Church. He is now pastor of a joint charge, the Middlebury and Pleasant Valley Churches in Northern Indiana.
He was elected to the ministry in 1916 and ordained to the elder- ship in 1923. He served on the Board of Christian Education and as S. S. Secretary in Northern Indiana and on the Mission-Ministerial Board and Board of Christian Education in Middle Indiana. He served three times on Standing Committee-at Nampa, Idaho, McPherson, Kas. and Wenatchee, Wash. He was twice moderator of District Meeting in Middle Indiana. Besides being a full-time pastor, he is also Peace Consultant in the District of Northern Indiana.
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Biographical Sketches
LEVI WEAVER
Levi Weaver, son of Elder Levi Weaver, was born at Smithville, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1852. He served many years as deacon in the Pleasant Valley Congregation, and was a member of the Northern Indiana Mis- sion Board from 1898 to 1907.
WELDY
Allen Weldy served as secretary of the Northern Indiana Mission- Ministerial Board for six years. He was born near Wakarusa, Elkhart Co., Sept. 30, 1899. He graduated from High School and later attended Goshen and Winona Summer Schools; graduated from Manchester College with A. B. degree and from Indiana University with A. M. degree. Has taught school for 33 years, half of that time as principal of the Lincoln School in Elkhart, Ind., where he lives. He has been active in various school and club organizations. Has been active in the
Allen and Nina Weldy
local church as S. S. Supt. and teacher; a deacon for 10 years and Board member for a number of years. He was President of the District Men's Work and also Sec .- treas .; has been active in Camp work, both as director and Dean. He with his wife served as district delegates to Toronto Christian Education Convention and has a special interest in the Flat Creek Mission in Kentucky. In June, 1951, he and Mrs. Weldy were licensed to the ministry and on Aug. 26 of the same year they were ordained to the eldership. On Sept. 1, 1951, they moved to Flat Creek Mission in Kentucky and took over the work as manager. He has been president of the National Council of Men's Work and is at
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present their recording secretary. He always attends Annual Confer- ence.
Sister Allen Weldy was the daughter of Eld. and Mrs. Eli Roose, and was born Nov. 30, 1900. Besides being an excellent house-wife and mother, she has always been active in the local church as S. S. Supt., Intermediate teacher, member of local boards and committees, also President of Women's Work. In the district she was President of Women's Work for six years and is Chairman of the Dist. Brethren's Service Committee. She has also served for some years as president of the Elkhart Co. Council of Church Women and at present is first vice- president of the State Council of Church Women.
Homer R. Weldy was born in Elkhart County, near Nappanee, and has lived in the Union Center congregation where he united with the church in 1910, and was elected as deacon in 1913. Here he served as S. S. Supt., Music Director and teacher for much of the time since. He has been active in district work, being chairman of the Mission Board for 15 years ; was Music Director of Men's Work for six years, and at present is a member of the Trustee Board of the Mexico Wel- fare Home.
CHRISTIAN WENGER
Christian Wenger was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, December 10, 1814. At the age of 20 he moved to St. Joseph County, Indiana. In 1838 he married Esther Studebaker, a daughter of Samuel Studebaker, one of the pioneer settlers of this part of the country. To this union were born three children. After the death of his first wife in 1851 he was married to Esther Ulery, who bore him two children.
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