USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 44
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
WILL, HARPER S., b. in Rockingham County, Virginia, January 30, 1902, to Samuel G. and Sallie Hollar Will; bapt. by Luther Miller, 1914; m. Naomi Royer, 1928; children, Cosette W. Wareham and Wanda R .; ed., Bridgewater (A.B., 1923), Bethany Biblical Seminary, 1925-27; Yale Divinity School, 1927-28, B.D. and D.D .; pastorates, Twin Falls, Idaho, 1928-34, Wenatchee, Washington, 1934-40, Chicago, 1941-51, First South Bend, 1951 -; Standing Committee, four times; moderator of District Conference, twice; moderator of Annual Conference (acting in place of C. C. Ellis, 1950), once.
WORKMAN, C. A., b. Knox Co., Ohio, 7-7-1882; s. Uriah Curtis and Barbara I. Workman; m. Ada Halsey, 5-9-1918 (deceased); attended Danville High School, Waughtells Business, Canton College and Bible Inst., and Juniata College; Under- taker until, 1933; painter; preached various places including Pittsburgh Church and the Logansport Mission; address: Flora, Indiana.
WRIGHT, VAN B., b. Highland Co., Ohio, 1-20-1892; s. of Lewis and Nancy (Colvin) W .; m. Nora Shively, 6-29-19; ch. Paul J., Mary Elizabeth and Donald; Alumnus of Moody Bible Institute and National College of Drugless Therapeutics; dea., 4-2-1908; m., 10-11-1908; e., 1-20-1919; pastor, So. Ohio counties under Miss. Bd., 1911-25; E. Dayton, 1925-1931; Grand Rapids, Mich., 1931-36; Twin Falls, Idaho, 1936-39; Fort Wayne, 1939-48; Glendale, Cal., 1948 -; S. C., 1929, 1931, 1938; mod. D. M .; writing clerk, D. M., twice; Welfare Bd., one term; elder, numerous times.
YODER, CARL B., b. Wayne Co., O., 9-29-1874; s. of Yost D. and Sophia S. (Yoder) Y .; m. Idella Fry, 3-3-1904; H. S. and some time spent at Bethany Biblical Sem .; farmer, telephone worker and store clerk for 30 yrs .; min., 2-28-1914; e., 10- 9-1920; free min., at English Prairie since election to min .; pastor at Shipshewana, 1925-30; dea. for few yrs. previous to ministry; res., Howe, Ind.
YODER, CARL E., b. Marshall Co., Ind., 7-30-1909; s. of Henry A. and Lydia A. (Shumaker) Y .; m. Lilian V. Moyers, 6-11-1943; ch. Jan., Allen, Max Dean and Gene Lee; B.S., McPherson Coll .; B.D., Bethany Bib. Sem .; carpenter and house builder; min., 5-29-1938; summer pastor in N. Dak .; pastor, Osceola, Ind., and Mans- field, O .; res., Thurmont, Md.
YODER, CHAS. M., b. St. Joseph Co., Ind., 10-12-1885; s. of William H. and Grace (Webster) Y .; m. Jessie Swaim, 9-28-1908; ch. Hugh, Henry, Harriet and James; H. S. 1904; business; dea. 4-3-1916; min. 9-5-1918; e. 12-8-1924; pastor and elder at Oak Grove ch. (No. Ind.), 1932-40; res. South Bend.
YOUNG, LESTER A., b. Wabash Co. Ind., 6-17-1917; s. of Samuel L. and May C. (Baker) Y .; m. Mary Elizabeth Winger; A.B., Manchester Coll .; M.S., Indiana U .; B.D., Bethany Bib. Sem .; H. S. teacher, Warsaw and North Webster, Ind., 1939-47;
479
Who's Who-Biographical Pen Sketches
min., 10-13-1940; e., 1949; pastor, No. Webster, 1942-44; No. Winona, 1947 -; Nat. B. Y. P. D. pres., Dist. B. Y. P. D. pres., Dist. Men's Cab .; Dist. Miss. Sec .; res. Warsaw, Ind.
YOUNG, S. L., b. Darke Co., Ohio, 9-2-1878; s. A. C. and Minerva (Landis) Young; m. Mary C. Baker 12-25-1909; ch. Lester A., Bruce, Esther; attended Beth- any; farmer; minister 1910; eldership 1919; served Covington, N. D., West Man- chester, Ind .; home, North Manchester, Ind.
ZELLER, HARRY K., JR., b. Washington Co., Va., 3-27-1915; s. Harry K. and Luella May (Highbarger) Zeller; m. Juanita Ruth Holsopple, 9-5-1939; ch. Marie Ann, Norman Lee, Richard Allen; A.B. Bridgewater; B.D. Bethany; M.A. Butler Univ .; minister 1934; eldership 1942; served Richmond, Va., Indianapolis, Ind., Elgin, Ill., McPherson, Kans .; res. McPherson, Kans.
ZIGLER, JACOB S., b. Augusta Co., Va., 2-26-1873; s. of John and Sallie M .; m. Lella E. Sanger, 12-22-1902; Carrie Ulery, 9-1931; Anna F. Cover, 9-24-1944; ch. Ola Odessa and Ann Orvilla; grad. of Bridgewater Coll. and some work at Bethany Biblical Seminary; taught music and Public School in Va. and West. Va .; farmer; deacon, 4-21-1906; min. 4-13-1907; e. 12-15-1907; free min. in W. Va .; pas- tor in Va. 1922-25; in Portland and Hickory Grove ch., Ind., 1925-29; Rock Run, 1929-42; North Winona, 1942-47; English Prairie, 1948-50; once on Standing Com .; Dist. Treas. 9 yrs .; Dist. Mission Bd., 3 yrs .; d. 1-11-1950.
ZIRKLE, ORA HAMILTON, b. Henry Co., Ind., 8-30-1890; s. George H. and Mary D. (Hoel) Zirkle; m. Alice Marie Ritchie 9-16-1912; ch. Margaret A., Viola M., Lillian I., Harold W., Lena M., Velma I., George R., Mary JoAnn; carpenter, factory worker, general contractor; minister 1920; eldership 1938; free min. at Mid- dletown until 1942, pastor there 1942-1948; res. 405 N. 8th St., Middletown, Ind.
ZOOK, GORMAN A., b. Huntington Co., Ind., 5-13-1906; s. of Ward and Lu- cinda E. (Paul) Z .; m. L. Nina Ross, 6-8-1929; ch. Vivian Louise, Harold Eugene, Loren Edward; Manchester College, A.B. plus additional work; school teacher, Lakeville and LaGrange; pastor, Mt. Pleasant, Bremen and Cedar Lake, Ind., Osage, Kansas, Fieldman, Kans., Des Moines Valley, Ia .; res., Elkhart, Iowa.
ZUNKLE, CHARLES E., b. Logan Co., Colo., 2-26-1905; s. of Walter R. and Matilda (Walters) Z .; m. Cleda Pearl Shull, 6-12-1928; ch. C. Wayne, Carolyn M .; ed. H. S. Colo., Manchester College A.B., Bethany Biblical Seminary B.D .; pastor Pleasant Hill, O., Michigan City, Ind., Danville, and Lima, O .. Wenatchee, Wash., 1928-48; Sec. Min. and Home Miss Com., 1948 -; Mem. St. Comm., Mod. N. W. Ohio Conf. and Dist. of Wash. Conf .; res. 506 Lawrence Ave., Elgin, Ill.
SHERMAN, ORVILLE, was born in Nappanee, Ind., in 1913. He united with the Church of the Brethren at the age of 15. He was married to Lois Sherman in 1935. He has been very active in the local work and went to Italy with a load of horses serving as crew foreman. He gave a year of Volunteer Service in Vene- zuela under the Brethren Service Committee and stayed on another year working for the Venezuelan government on their colonization program.
HEETER, MRS. GEORGE, was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, in 1907. She united with the church early in life and has always been very active in both Church and Sunday School activities. She taught school several years before her marriage to Bro. Heeter and is now teaching in Elkhart City. She received her education at Manchester College. She has been the Peace and Temperance director of the District of Northern Indiana for some years, as an activity of the Board of Christian Education.
CHAPTER X
ANNUAL MEETINGS IN INDIANA
Indiana, because of its central position geographically, has be- come a favorite and convenient location for our Annual Conferences. In all, there have been twenty-two held in the state. This has brought a large part of the membership of the Brotherhood to Indiana, at one time or another. Besides, when meetings are held either East or West, Indiana is in the pathway through which the traveler will likely go.
SPECIAL GENERAL COUNCIL, 1848 Carroll County
The first General Conference held in the State was in the fall of 1848. In the spring of that year the General Conference was held in Wayne County, Ohio. To this meeting came a request for a general Council Meeting to be held in Indiana that fall. The decision was as follows :
"It was considered with one accord that such a meeting shall be held, God willing, at the house of Brother John Koontz, near Delphi, Carroll County, Indiana, to meet on Saturday, September 23; Sunday September 24, to be public worship and love feast, and Monday, the 25th, the Council Meeting to begin."
The occasion for this meeting was some trouble that had been ex- isting among the Brethren in Carroll County for years. Peter Eyman was the first minister of the Church of the Brethren in the Bachelor Run church. He came from Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1828. The following year Peter Replogle was elected to the ministry. He lived on Deer Creek, near Camden. Soon after this there arose a difference be- tween Peter Eyman and Peter Replogle. They settled the matter for the time being by dividing the congregation, and by making the divid- ing line irregular to accommodate some who wanted to go with one minister or the other. Peter Replogle was on the Deer Creek side, while Peter Eyman was in Bachelor Run.
The trouble between Eyman and Replogle did not stop with this arrangement. The membership was divided in their views. To add to the feeling, Elder Eyman began to advocate views not in harmony with the general practice of the church. Others sympathized with him and became quite free to speak their convictions. Irregularities and con- fusion ensued to such an extent that the Indiana Brethren decided to call for the General Council.
[481]
482
History of the Church of the Brethren
The minutes of this Special Council contain twelve sections. Nearly all of them deal with one phase or another of the local church troubles. Here are a few of them :
I. Whether a private brother has a right to speak in public meet- ing?
2. Whether it is proper if more than two or three teachers should rise in a common meeting to speak ?
3. How is it considered when a part, say a minority, of a church disowns the other part, or a majority of the members, without taking a legal or a scriptural course, and without giving a legal notice to the body of the church, and not showing or informing the disowned mem- bers wherein they have transgressed ?
Article 5 dealt with secret orders in the church. Some of the mem- bers were beginning to take part with the secret orders. The council was forbearing, but stood firm against allowing secret orders to come into the church.
Articles 6, 7, and 8 dealt with troubles growing out of having the irregular boundary line between the two churches. Article 9 dealt with brethren going to law with brethren. Articles 10 and II considered the proper attitude to be taken toward disowned members. Article 12 was an answer to article 3, which in brief was as follows: "considered that there had been errors on both sides; that since many members on both sides had made satisfactory acknowledgements before the meeting, all should be forgiven and forgotten; that all others that should yet do so should be received in full fellowship. Those leaders in the movement should have a reasonable time to make acknowledgment, and if they do, to forgive them, but if they continue in their course, there would be no other way than to put them in full avoidance, according to I Cor. 5.
Signed by the following brethren : George Hoke, George Shively, Joseph Showalter, and Henry Kurtz of Northeastern Ohio; Joseph Gerber and Peter Nead, of Southwestern Ohio; Daniel Cripe of Elk- hart, Indiana; J. Molsbaugh, D. Miller, J. Hart, H. Metzger, J. Metz- ger, Jac. Brower, etc.
ANNUAL MEETING OF 1852 Baintertown, Elkhart County
From the minutes of 1851 we glean the following: "There was but one invitation for the meeting of 1852, from our breth- ren in Northern Indiana. It was concluded that our next Yearly Meet- ing on Pentecost, 1852, should be, God willing, in Turkey Creek church, at the place of John Weiland, five miles south of Goshen, Elk- hart County, Indiana."
The official report of the opening of this meeting reads as follows :
483
Annual Meetings in Indiana
"According to the appointment of last year the brethren began to assemble on Saturday, and on account of quite a large congregation being collected, public worship was commenced that afternoon, and continued on Sunday from nine o'clock in the morning till late in the afternoon. On Monday morning, before public worship, the Yearly Meeting was organized by a general committee being chosen, which then retired and received the papers sent in, while public worship was continued. Monday evening the papers were distributed among eleven committees, and on Tuesday morning, the first of June, the General Council assembled, as usual with singing, exhortation and prayer."
"There were possibly near five thousand people in attendance, about one thousand of whom were members of the Church of the Brethren. There were preaching services each evening and during the meeting eighteen were baptized."-Opperman. Baintertown was a little village two miles north of New Paris, on the Elkhart River.
The work of the Conference had very little that pertained to Indiana conditions, any more than any other state. The meeting was closed with prayer and praise on Wednesday evening. The Standing Committee at the meeting was composed of George Hoke, George Shively, Daniel Barnhart, D. P. Saylor, Benjamin Bowman, D. Miller and Henry Kurtz.
ANNUAL MEETING OF 1858 Near Flora, Carroll County
The announcement for the Conference of 1858 read as follows : "There was a renewal of the request from the Bachelor Run Church, Indiana, for the Annual Meeting of 1858."
The time appointed for the meeting proved to be a very rainy sea- son. The country there is low, anyway. There was rain and water everywhere. Nevertheless the brethren of those days were not used to great comforts at the time of meeting, and so there were large crowds, even from a distance. There was preaching at various places in the neighborhood.
The meeting was not organized till Monday morning, when the Standing Committee and its officers were chosen. There were delegates from 122 churches. These delegates were divided into fifteen commit- tees, each of which took into consideration some of the queries sent to the meeting. Then, instead of having the Standing Committee do all the work, various sub-committees reported on the various questions to be considered., and generally had some answer framed.
There were more than sixty queries sent to this Conference. Some of these questions were of vital importance, and some merely dealt with local conditions here and there. One is impressed that the brethren gen-
484
History of the Church of the Brethren
erally gave as wise answers as could well be given at that time. On the Standing Committee this year, Indiana was represented by George Shively, of St. Joseph County, John Metzger, of Middle Fork, and John Moyer, of Four Mile. George Hoke was moderator and D. P. Saylor writing clerk. Other members of the committee were John Brower, Peter Nead, Daniel Miller of Ohio, John Berkey of Penn- sylvania, John Kline of Virginia, Isaac Pfoutz of Maryland, and John Emmert of Illinois.
ANNUAL MEETING OF 1864 Hagerstown, Wayne County
For several years the Nettle Creek church had desired the Yearly Meeting. Their presiding elder, David Hardman, especially had de- sired that his church entertain the Conference. The Conference of 1863 had granted the meeting. But before the time came, Elder Hardman had been called to the home beyond.
The place of the meeting was one mile west of Hagerstown. It was held at and near the large meeting-house. Just south of the house was a grove where the main tabernacle and dining-rooms had been erected. The ground here was of a sandy soil and dry all during the meeting. Elder James Quinter said he arrived on Friday evening and already there were large crowds assembled. The meeting-house was used as a sleeping place at night.
On Sunday there was public preaching at six different places. People seemed anxious to hear the Word of God. John Kline, D. P. Saylor and James Quinter were the leading speakers. There were some very touching meetings. Some of the brethren from the Southern states had with difficulty arrived at the meeting and did not know whether they would ever reach their homes again. This was one of the first Con- ferences that Elder R. H. Miller attended and took part in. He was just then beginning to attract the attention of the Brotherhood by his ability.
Some forty queries were disposed of in this meeting. This was in the time of the great Civil War. War spirit ran high. There were many soldier boys at the meeting, most of whom were just home for a short furlough. It was interesting to note that while the war had torn some religious bodies asunder, there was a people whose' love for each other this war had not injured. Here with love and sympathy for each other the brethren were trying to solve their problems. One of the questions and its answer will show the position of the Brethren on the perplexing questions of the day.
"Art. 35. As our national troubles, consequent upon the rebellion now existing in our country, have caused considerable difficulties in our church, and have tried our non-resistant principles, and have caused
485
Annual Meetings in Indiana
several questions concerning the paying of bounty money, voting, etc., to come before this Council Meeting, what counsel will this Annual Meeting give upon these subjects ?
"Answer : We exhort the brethren to steadfastness in the faith, and believe that the times in which our lots are cast strongly demand of us a strict adherence to all our principles, especially our non-resistant principle, a principle dear to every subject of the Prince of Peace, and a prominent doctrine of our Fraternity, and to endure whatever suffer- ings and to make whatever sacrifice the maintaining of the principle may require, and not to encourage in any way the practice of war. And we think it more in accordance with our principles, that instead of paying bounty money, to await the demands of the government, whether general, State, or local, and pay the fines and taxes required of us, as the Gospel permits, and, indeed, requires (Matt. 22:21 ; Rom. 13:7). And lest the position we have taken upon political matters in general, and the war matters in particular, should seem to make us, as a body, appear to be indifferent to our government, or in opposition thereto in its efforts to suppress the rebellion, we hereby declare that it has our sympathies and our prayers, and that it shall have our aid in any way that does not conflict with the Gospel of Christ. But since, in our Christian profession, we regard these Gospel principles as superior or paramount to all others, consistency requires that we so regard them in our practice."
John Kline of Virginia was moderator of this meeting. This was to be his last one. For shortly after his return to his Southern State he was assassinated by some Southern rebels.
Indiana was represented this year on the Standing Committee by David Miller, John Bowman and Daniel Bowman. All three of these had once been members of the Nettle Creek Church, though at this time David Miller lived in St. Joseph County and John Bowman lived in Huntington County. Daniel Bowman was the presiding elder when the meeting was held. The other members of the Standing Committee were as follows : John Kline, John Wine, of Virginia; D. P. Saylor of Maryland; Leonard Furry and David Gerlich of Pennsylvania ; Henry Davy and James Quinter of Ohio; Christian Long and Samuel Garber of Illinois; Jacob Brower of Iowa; and John Brower of Kansas.
ANNUAL MEETING OF 1868 Rock Run Church, Elkhart County
The Annual Meeting of 1868 was held at the Rock Run Church, five miles southeast of the city of Goshen. Arrangements were made with the railroad, now known as the New York Central, to stop trains at the place of meeting, which is only a few rods from the railroad. The
-
486
History of the Church of the Brethren
main part of the services were not held at the church, but at the large barn of Elder Jacob Berkey, a few rods to the east.
There was an unusually large crowd present. As was the custom the Brethren held the love feast at the time of this meeting, though it was considered for awhile that it would be best to dispense with the feast this year on account of the crowd. Some brethren in the neigh- borhood kept overnight as many as sixty and seventy members. All were fed free of charge at the place of meeting. There were meetings held in various places near here. One of the sermons well remembered was that preached by Elder James Quinter in Goshen.
The business session opened Tuesday morning, June 2. H. D. Davy of Ohio was moderator, D. P. Saylor, reading clerk, and James Quinter, writing clerk. David Bechtelheimer of Beaverdam, Jacob Miller of Portage, Daniel Bowman of Hagerstown, and F. P. Loehr of Van Buren, represented Indiana on the Standing Committee. The other members were John P. Eversole, Daniel Miller, James Quinter, B. F. Moomaw, Daniel Thomas, Jacob Wine, D. P. Saylor, Isaac Fouts, David Long, Conrad G. Lint, Daniel M. Holsinger, Jo- seph Rohrer, Christan Long, Samuel Lehman, John Wise, Jacob Brower, Abraham Replogle, Henry Brubaker, and John Metzger. Henry Kurtz and Peter Nead were not members of the committee, but because of their age and acknowledged service for the church were in- invited to be present with the committee.
The business of the meeting this year was not so heavy. There was discussed at length a better plan for doing mission work. There were calls for thirteen committees to local churches. Eight of these calls came from Indiana. The brethren in those days too, evidently had their prob- lems.
ANNUAL MEETING OF 1878 North Manchester, Wabash County
The Annual Conference of 1878 was held in the Manchester church at their large meetinghouse, two miles west of North Man- chester. The brethren had provided much larger accommodations for the meeting. Just south of the church, where the cemetery is now located, a large tabernacle was erected. It was 272 feet long and 80 feet wide. One-half of it was used for the main audience-room and the other half for a dining-hall.
On Saturday before the Conference there was a meeting held in the Ogans Creek meetinghouse, six miles southeast of North Manches- ter. The purpose of this meeting on the part of some of the leading men was how more effectually to carry out the plan for spreading the Gospel as had been recommended at the meeting ten years previous. The or- ganization that had been formed was known as the "Church Extension
487
Annual Meetings in Indiana
ACME
The old meeting house at West Manchester where the Annual Meeting of 1878 was held.
Union." James Quinter was the president. Howard Miller was the secretary. These men and others felt that the time had come when active work should be done in the spread of the Gospel. At Ogans Creek the organized plan was thoroughly discussed and a more complete form of organization formulated.
At the Conference the following week this movement developed much discussion. Three papers came to the Conference protesting against the union. Brethren Quinter and Miller made extended expla- nations. While the paper could not pass on account of not having come through a state district, yet it was a suggestion that took root and was to spring up later.
There was considerable preaching at this Conference. On Sunday morning S. H. Bashor preached in the meetinghouse and Moses Miller preached in the tabernacle. On Monday S. H. Bashor preached again, followed by another sermon by S. Z. Sharp. In North Manchester there were several meetings held. Landon West gave a temperance sermon. But perhaps the most interesting meeting was held in the Lutheran Church, where Sister Sarah Major was the preacher. The Manchester Journal says that "she is a fluent talker, a deep logical reasoner. The anxiety to hear her was so great that only a small number of the vast crowd that went could get into the church."
All reports say that there was one of the largest crowds ever as- sembled at an Annual Meeting up to that time. On Saturday "there were fifty-six coaches full of delegates arrived. It was estimated that there were fifteen or twenty thousand people at or near the Conference
488
History of the Church of the Brethren
grounds on Sunday." It is said that there were 1500 teams in the neighborhood.
On Monday, June 10, Standing Committee met and organized by appointing Enoch Eby, moderator, James Quinter, writing clerk, R. H. Miller, reading clerk, and Samuel Zug, doorkeeper. This was Enoch Eby's first experience as moderator, though he had been reading clerk a few times before. He evidently did his work well, for again and again, in later years he was elected to the same position. This was R. H. Miller's first experience as an officer of Annual Meeting.
The meeting seems to have passed off as pleasantly as could be ex- pected, considering the fact that the church was nearing the division period.
ANNUAL MEETING OF 1882 Arnold's Grove, Elkhart County
The Annual Meeting of this year was held within the bounds of the Solomon's Creek church. It was held on the farm of Brother John Arnold, one mile west of the Solomon's Creek house, and two miles north of Milford Junction, on what was then called the Cincinnati, Wabash and Michigan Railroad, now the Michigan division of the Big Four. The committee of arrangements was composed of the following brethren : W. R. Deeter, John Arnold, J. H. Miller, I. L. Berkey, W. G. Cook, Michael Shotts, John Nusbaum and John Shoemaker. Large and commodious buildings were provided for the meeting and dining room, while the churchhouse was used as a sleeping room.
The meeting was organized for work by electing Enoch Eby mod- erator, John Wise, reading clerk and James Quinter writing clerk. Jacob Rife, Joseph Leedy and Jeremiah Gump represented Indiana on this committee.
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.