USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 38
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He spent most of his life on a farm near South Bend. He was called to the ministry in the St. Joseph congregation. Though his speech was somewhat broken with Dutch, he was well liked as a preacher, for he was a very good man. He preached many funerals, not only for persons in the church but for those outside. He was always ready with words of comfort and consolation. Those who were chil- dren then remember his good words to them. He was a very successful elder and had presiding charge of a number of congregations. He was frequently appointed on important Annual Meeting committees. He is described as tall, slender and dark-haired.
O. D. WERKING
Oscar D. Werking, son of David M. and Caroline (Rowe) Werk- ing, was born May 12, 1878, in Henry County, Ohio. On September 9, 1901, he married Josie M. Moore. They are the parents of two sons- Mark C. and Ray H. For some years he worked in a factory and was also a rural mail carrier.
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Elder O. D. Werking and Wife
In 1913 he became a minister and four years later he was ordained to the eldership. During the thirty-five years since, he has rendered a great service for the church. He has served as elder of the Kokomo, the Nettle Creek, and the Richmond churches. He has served his dis- trict several times on the Standing Committee as well as a member of various boards and committees of the district. For some years he was trustee of Manchester College. He is an outstanding leader in his home community and in the district. His home is at Hagerstown, Indiana.
WEST
Brother and Sister Dan West have been outstanding Laymen in Northern Indiana and the Brotherhood for a number of years. Dan was born in Preble Co. Ohio, Dec. 31, 1893. He was the youngest of a family of five children, whose parents were Elder Landon and Barbara West. In his early childhood the family moved to Pleasant Hill, Ohio, where he graduated from High School in 1911. He then spent a year at Bethany Biblical Seminary ; one year at Lewis Institute in Chicago; two years at Manchester College, receiving his A. B. degree there in 1917. He spent some time at Columbia University, a summer at Chicago University, two summers at Cornell University and two sum- mers at Ohio State University. He taught in the High School at Pleas- ant Hill, Ohio for three years; at Englewood, O., one year; at Ham- mond Technical High School, Indiana, one year, and was Principal of the Trotwood High School, Ohio, for five years. He was with the Sherwood Eddy Seminar in Europe in 1928; was a member of the General Board of Christian Education 1928-30. From 1924 to 1935 he spent his summers in Youth Camp work through various parts of the United States. From 1930 to 1936 he was Director of Youth Work
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Dan and Lucile West
for the General Board of Christian Education. Since 1936 he has been an outstanding leader in Peace Work for the Board of Christian Educa- cation; in Work Camps; in C.P.S. Camps; in Spain, in Peace Educa- tion; in Leadership Training; and with the Heifer Project. Few men have had greater influence with the Young People and in the cause of Peace than Bro. Dan West. Northern Indiana is proud of his attain- ments for the Brotherhood.
Mrs. Lucile West, or "Lucy," as she is familiarly known, is the daughter of Brother and Sister Jasper Sherck. She was born in Mid- dlebury, Ind., Elkhart Co., Sept. 7, 1905. She graduated from Man- chester College in 1930. She taught school for five years. She spent some years as a member of the Elgin Staff, assisting in Missionary Education, and was secretary of Women's Work. She served six years on the National Council of Women's Work as Director of Home Builders; was President of Women's Work in Northern Indiana for five years. She is at present a member of the Northern Indiana Board of Christian Education. She helped to create the department of Home Builders in Northern Indiana, serving on that committee. She also serves as consultant on the National Com. for Home and Family Life. She has served for three years on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Rural Life Association. Brother and Sister West were married in October, 1932 ; they are the parents of five children.
NETTIE (CULLER) WEYBRIGHT
Nettie Culler Weybright was born Oct. 22, 1883. She graduated from the New Paris High School and later from the Bible Depart- ment at Manchester College. She united with the Church of the
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L
Nettie (Culler) Weybright
Brethren at the age of 12; her husband was a deacon. Has taught in the Sunday School most of the time since she was 14. She has traveled through every state of the Union and was a member of the first Breth- ren Service tour in Europe. She attended the National Council of Christian Education at Toronto, Can. and also the first National Coun- cil of Churches at Toledo in 1950. She was a member of District Boards for 17 years; was a charter member of the Ladies' Auxiliary Board of Bethany Hospital and also a member of the Trustee Board of that in- stitution for the past 12 or 15 years. She has addressed many district and other gatherings and written more than 200 articles for publication.
GEORGE D. WEYBRIGHT
George D. Weybright, son of Charles and Nettie Weybright, was born in Elkhart Co. Ind. in 1911. He graduated from High School in 1928; from Manchester College in 1932; and from Bethany Biblical Seminary in 1936. He was on a cattle boat and served the General Brethren Service Committee in China in 1946-47. He has served as secretary of the District Brethren Service Committee since 1947.
D. J. WHITEHEAD
D. J. Whitehead was a deacon and pillar in the Maple Grove con- gregation from its organization, the church being built on his farm, though before he owned it. He served as treasurer of the Northern Indiana Mission Board from 1891 till 1909.
JOHN WHITENECK
Born near Roanoke, Virginia, in 1802, this man came to Union
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County in 1825: Three years later he married Lucy Kingery. He was called to the ministry in 1842 and to the eldership between this and 1847, when he moved to Wabash County, Here, on the banks of the Mississinewa River, he built up a fine farm of several hundred acres. Through his efforts the Somerset church was organized about 1850. He was the elder of the church till his death in 1868.
A man of powerful physical frame, strong character, and im- pressive personality, Bro. Whiteneck was a power in the pulpit. When a man died who had not provided for his family, Bro. White- neck preached on the text, "But if any provide not for his own, and es- pecially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel." The message must have been obvious to all present. Once he refused to sell corn at a good price because some of his poor brethren needed it and he sold it to them at a lower price or gave it to them. Surely, this great man must have made a deep impression on all who knew him.
WHITMER
In the North Liberty church, formerly the South Bend church, there has been a succession in the eldership of father, son and grandson.
Abraham Whitmer was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. At the age of 16 he came to Montgomery County, Ohio. At the age of 23 he married Catherine Bowman. She was the daughter of Elder Jacob Bowman, one of the first elders of South Bend. To them were born eleven children. In 1831 they came to St. Joseph County. Soon afterward he was called to the ministry and ordained. When the South Bend and Portage churches were divided, he became presiding elder of the former. For thirty years he preached in all this territory, experiencing every inconvenience of those pioneers. He died of typhoid fever in 1872, having nearly completed his 67th year.
Daniel Whitmer was born April 21, 1842. He united with the church in 1860. June 12, 1861 he was elected to the ministry by the unanimous vote of the church. He was installed by Elder Jacob Mil- ler. He was advanced June 10, 1864, and ordained November 9, 1879, by James Miller and Christian Wenger. October 29, 1863 he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Inman. For fifty-three years they trod life's pathway together, raising a family of five daughters and one son; one daughter married a young minister, C. F. Rupel, and they have lived in Pasadena, California for many years. Another daughter married a minister, C. Noble Stutsman, both of whom have been dead for some years. Sister Whitmer died in February, 1917. Brother Whitmer lived nearly all his ninety years of life on the farm where he was born except for two years spent in North Dakota. While there he organized the
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Williston Church and became its first elder. For thirty-three years he was presiding elder of the North Liberty church, later called Oak Grove. He also had charge of other Indiana churches.
Merril I. Whitmer, only son of Elder Daniel Whitmer, was born May 24, 1873. He united with the church at the age of 12 and was chosen to the ministry in the home church at the age of 19, September 30, 1892. He received a limited education, spending one year at Mt. Morris College. He taught school for several years in St. Joseph County. Most of his life, however, has been spent in farming, following the footsteps of his father and grandfather, and on the same farm. Brother Whitmer was married to Lillie Clark, September 20, 1896. There were five sons born to them. Brother Whitmer was or- dained to the eldership in October 1904, during the seven years he lived in North Dakota. He followed his father, Daniel Whitmer, his grand- father, Abraham Whitmer, and his great-grandfather, Jacob Bowman as elder of the home church, North Liberty, later called Oak Grove, for a number of years. When he returned from North Dakota, he moved his family to North Manchester, to give his sons the benefit of the college. Afterwards he moved back to St. Joseph County, hav- ing his membership in the Pine Creek Church since. His wife passed to her reward a few years ago.
G. L. and Mary Stoner Wine
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GROVER L. WINE
Bro. Wine was born in Allen County, Ohio to John H. and Mary Miller Wine, 1886. He graduated from Manchester College and later took a B. D. degree at Juniata. He was called to the ministry at twenty, 1906, and to the eldership in 1919.
Bro. Wine has served the following churches: Huntington City and Manchester, in Indiana; Polo, Illinois; Fairview, Pennsylvania ; Mt. Morris, Illinois; Bridgewater, Virginia; Covington, Ohio; Greenville, Ohio, and Rossville and Pyrmont, Indiana, where he is now serving as pastor.
He married Mary Stoner in 1911. A brief account of her will be found under the Stoner family. Bro. Wine is a preacher of ability and a very consecrated servant of the Lord. Having held pastorates in widely scattered places, Bro. Wine is well known over much of the Brotherhood.
J. O. WINGER
J. Oscar was the son of John and Mary Winger, born March 31. 1891, in Grant County. He was baptized in 1901 and married Lofa Eikenberry in 1912. He taught business subjects in the Bluffton High School for four years and for an equal period in the Muncie High School. He had taken training in this field at Manchester Col-
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lege. While teaching at Muncie, he was called to the ministry, 1920, and was ordained three years later. He preached at Bethel Center, greatly strengthening the church there. He moved to Manchester about 1921 or 1922 and, for many years, served as an instructor or as a field representative of the college, along with which work he did an amazing amount of preaching and lecturing.
To Brother and Sister Winger were born two daughters. Mary Elizabeth married Lester Young who is now pastor of the North Wi- nona Church. They have a daughter, Barbara Ann. Dorothy Louise married Ivan Fry who is now pastor of the Toledo church. They have a young son, Randall Joseph.
Bro. Winger became widely known as an evangelist and held many meetings. He was in such a meeting when his final summons came, August 23, 1947, just about one year after the death of his brother, Otho Winger. Following his pastoral work at Bethel Center, he served Liberty Mills for several years and, in his later years, Akron, Ohio, and Nappanee, each for over a year. He spoke on many special occasions in the churches. He was in great demand as a speaker for clubs, in- stitutes, high schools, and interdenominational gatherings. He often combined a series of meetings with a period of canvassing for the col- lege in a particular area. This intensive program undoubtedly was a factor in his early death.
In the district, he served for many years on the Mission-Ministe- rial Board. He was elder of numerous churches. He was three times moderator of the District Conference in Middle Indiana and reading clerk once. Four times he represented his district on the Standing Com- mittee.
Like his brother, Otho, he gave his life for the two closely related interests that were uppermost in his life-the church and the college. He had a contagiously enthusiastic faith which those who knew him re- member so well. Few men have been as bighearted and generous as he. His work, given at such great personal sacrifice, is our sacred her- itage.
OTHO WINGER
Otho Winger, undoubtedly the most forceful personality produced by the Indiana Church of the Brethren, was the eldest child of John M. and Mary Smith Winger. He was born on October 23, 1877 near Somerset, Indiana, within the bounds of the Cart Creek Church. His parents were faithful members of the church and Otho became a mem- ber in his eleventh year. He was busy and active in Sunday School and Church work throughout his later boyhood and young manhood. He was a strong active young man, interested in swimming and other sports, He early gave evidence of his deep religious inclinations.
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He visited the sick faithfully and took an interest in the religious wel- fare of others.
When he was 18 he purposed to go to College but was prevented because of an injury his father suffered. So without high school or col- lege work he began teaching in 1895 and continued teaching an Indian School for three years. In 1898 he entered Manchester College. Dur- ing a few months in the midst of his college career he went out to help solicit funds for the College to save it from bankruptcy. In 1902, he went to Indiana University where he received both his A. B. and A. M. degrees. Between his intervals at Indiana University he served as Prin- cipal of the High School at Sweetser and as Superintendent of Schools at Hope, Indiana. Immediately after receiving his A. M. degree at Indiana University in 1907 he came to Manchester College as Professor of History and Education. He soon came to be one of Man- chester's strongest teachers.
He was married to Ida Miller in 1902 and to this union were born two sons, Robert, August 20, 1903, and Paul on April 10, 1907.
In 1910, Otho Winger was elected vice-president of the College and in January, 1911, he was elected President, a post he held for 30 years. With tremendous energy and deepest dedication he now threw himself into the job of building a college. Up to that time Manchester was but an Academy and Bible School. President Winger took the weak struggling college with a weak faculty, few small buildings, and meager funds, and built it up into a college that enrolled regularly from 600 to 675 students, and had an annual enrollment of more than 1,000. Furthermore, he had its boundaries extended so that it included in its constituencies all the Old Northwest territory, and was now fully ac- credited by the North Central Association of Colleges.
Otho Winger was called to the ministry when he was 19 years old, was ordained Elder in 1910. He was District Sunday School secretary for a time, served as District Moderator a number of times. He was elected Reading Clerk of Annual Conference in the years 1915, 1917, and 1919. During each of these years H. C. Early was Moderator. In 1921, 1923, 1925, 1928, 1931, and again in 1934 he served as Mod- erator of Annual Conference. In 1912, he was appointed to the Mission Board and in 1924 he was made Chairman of the Board following H. C. Early. This post he held for 16 years. He served on the Mission Board from 1912 till 1943.
He also served on the Educational Board of the Church for a nun- ber of years. George L. Studebaker, J. H. Longenecker and Otho Winger revised the Minutes of Annual Meeting and published the Re- vised minutes in 1922.
Otho Winger was a forceful preacher. He preached many dedica- tion sermons, baccalaureate sermons, harvest meeting sermons, gavę
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many commencement addresses. His preaching was direct, and forceful, and was well-received. He was a prodigious letter writer, a frequent visitor to the sick and those in distress.
He also found time to write books: His first book was on the life of Robert H. Miller, Sr., later he wrote a "History of the Brethren in Indiana," "History and Doctrines of the Church of the Brethren," "Memories of Manchester," "A Tribute to Ida Miller Winger," and sev- eral Indian books.
He was an indefatigable worker, working unbelievable hours for many years. He had a brilliant mind, was alert, alive, vigorous and forceful. He loved people and gave himself to them unreservedly. His great strength lay in his forceful and winsome personality, his prodig- ious energy, his devotion to his task, and his great faith. No one of his generation excelled him in the impact he made on the church of his day. In every way he was a great man.
He became ill in 1936 from a sinus infection and complications that followed. In 1940, he was stricken with peripheral paralysis. From about 1943, he weakened increasingly until his death in 1946. He had been a great teacher, a great President, a great churchman, and a useful citizen, and a friend to thousands !
WRIGHT
Peter Wright was one of the early settlers in Chester Township, Wabash County. He entered a farm six miles southeast of North Man- chester in 1844 and received his deed from the federal government. Here Peter Wright and his wife raised a large family, including two preach- ers, John H. and A. L. Wright. The father died in 191I.
John H. Wright was born in 1850. He was a studious boy and became a teacher which profession he followed till the ministry claimed
Elder J. H. Wright and Wife
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his major attention. He was elected at Ogans Creek in 1874, only about two months after he had united with the church. In 1881 he was made an elder. In 1882 he was given charge of his home church which place he held for twenty-two years.
In 1875 he married Lucinda Shock, at a morning service in the Leslie Schoolhouse, in the presence of the congregation by G. W. Cripe. They had two daughters, Etta, who married Elder T. D. Butterbaugh, and Della, who died as the result of a gasoline explosion in the home while the parents were away, 1902.
Bro. Wright served the Huntington and Rossville churches and was presiding elder of the Manchester church for some years. For many years he lived in North Manchester, where he died.
He served on the Standing Committee six times and was an officer of the district seventeen times. He was always a man of good counsel, conservative but not reactionary. He sang solo hymns before the con- gregation after he was eighty years old. He wrote a number of songs and other poems.
A. L. Wright, brother of John H., was called to the ministry in the Manchester church 1887. He must have been ordained before 1899, for he was elder of his church from 1899 to 1911. He was on the Stand- ing Committee twice and served numerous times as a district officer. He served one term on the District Mission Board. This man was a consecrated faithful worker for many years in his home church, Man- chester.
Elder Daniel Wysong and Wife
DANIEL AND HENRY WYSONG
Daniel and Henry Wysong were the only ministers by this name in the Brotherhood. Their great-grandfather, Valentine Wysong, em- igrated from France to Virginia at an early day. Their grandfather, Jacob, was born near Richmond, Virginia. Their father's name was
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Robert. Their mother was Anna Miller, a daughter of Elder Daniel Miller, a minister in the Church of the Brethren.
Daniel Wysong was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, Septem- ber 28, 1842. When he was three years old his father moved to Elkhart County. He was eager to learn and took advantage of the few school privileges of those days. He taught school for several years. In 1862 he was united in marriage to Mary Miller. They settled on a farm two miles east of Nappanee, Indiana. Here he built up a good home. They raised a family of three sons and four daughters. He was elected deacon October 3, 1873. One year later he was called to the ministry. He proved faithful to that call for more than fifty years. Though engaged in farming he found time to hold many series of meet- ings. Hundreds have been brought into the church through his efforts, blessed by the Holy Spirit. He was ordained December 17, 1898, and had charge of the Turkey Creek church from that date until 1906. He was a member of Standing Committee in 1910. He and his wife lived in Nappanee for a number of years before his death, January, 1924.
Henry Wysong was ten years younger than his brother Daniel, being born February 6, 1853. He received a limited education, spend- ing some time in school at Goshen and at Terre Haute. He spent some years teaching school and was a farmer most of his life, always living on a farm near the Turkey Creek church. He was married to Lovina Miller September 6, 1875. Three Wysong brothers married three Mil- ler sisters. They raised a family of two sons and two daughters. He was called to the ministry September 29, 1898, advanced three months later and ordained to the eldership December 1, 1904. He always ex- ercised in the free ministry. He was a member of the District Mission Board for four years and of the Ministerial Board for three years. He passed away November 19, 1935.
YODER
Harold Yoder of the Second South Bend Church was born in Elk- hart Co. in 1903. He was graduated from the South Bend College of Commerce and has been employed as a bookkeeper since 1922. He united with the church in 1923; elected to the deacon's office in 1925. He married Ella Flory of the Camp Creek church; was president of the District Men's Work for three years; served as district treasurer for six years; and served the General Brotherhood on the Auditing Committee.
D. R. Yoder was a charter member of the Goshen City Church and still resides there. He was elected as deacon there in 1909. He was a member of the Northern Indiana Mission Board from 191I to 1927.
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A. C. YOUNG
Born in Darke County, Ohio in 1854, A. C. Young was called to the ministry in the Pleasant Valley congregation in 1889. In 1893 he moved to Mississinewa where he was ordained in 1900, by George L. Studebaker and I. E. Branson. He was married to Minerva Landis by whom he had two sons. She died in 1899. The next year he married Mrs. Melissa Pulley, widow of a minister, W. L. Pulley. For two years he was pastor of the Carrington, North Dakota, church. He was elder of his home church, Mississinewa, for several years. In 1912 he moved to the West Manchester church where he was elder for two years. He died in 1916.
His son, Samuel L. is a minister, living in the West Manchester congregation, having been called in 1910 and ordained in 1919. He served the Covington, North Dakota, church but has lived for many years a few miles west of North Manchester.
Lester, older son of Samuel, was called to the ministry in 1940 and ordained in 1949. He married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of J. O. Winger. He has held pastorates at North Webster, 1942-44, and North Winona, 1947 -. He has also been very active in Young People's work and Men's work. His brother, Bruce, is also active in youth work.
ELDER GEORGE D. ZOLLERS
The death of Brother George D. Zollers occurred on the after- noon of April 18, 1911. He had gone to the roof of his home to repair the chimney. When through with that he proceeded to repair a few places on the roof, and in some manner slipped and fell, striking his head on the pavement. Sister Zollers, who happened to be at the back door at the time, saw her husband fall and was the first one to reach him. He lived only thirteen minutes after the accident.
Brother Zollers had some remarkable experiences. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1841, secured a good education mainly by his own efforts, enlisted in the army at the age of 20 and two years later entered upon a whaling expedition that kept him on the ocean three years. He doubled Cape Horn twice, crossed the equator six times, and entered the Arctic Ocean twice. Those who have read his charming book, "Thrilling Incidents on Sea and Land," know something about his remarkable experiences on the great deep.
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