USA > Indiana > History of the Eel River Christian Conference, from its organization to the present time--August 15, 1902-- ; also History of all the churches of the Conference from their organization to the present time, together with biographical sketches of ministers and laymen, and much other important matter > Part 8
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work as Brother Strickland could not be with her in all her meetings on ac- count of his many duties. During the past winter (1901-02) she has received nearly 100 members into the church.
She is the mother of two sons and one daughter, who are grown and car- ing for themselves. She has a model home which she enjoys very much at such times when she can be there. It is often said that Brother and Sister Strickland are a power in a meeting, he to do the singing and she the preaching. She is at present a mem- ber of the North Western Indiana Con- ference and belongs to the Huntington Christian church.
Mrs. Strickland has a summer cot- tage on Lake Manitau where she often recuperates in taking needed rest. This in no way interferes with her work as she can reach her appoint- ments from there. May the Lord spare her for many years in the Master's cause.
REV. JOHN H. SINGER
Of North Manchester, Ind., came recommended by the Antioch church and was accepted as a licentiate in 1876. He was ordained at the Union church in 1880. He attended Union Christian college and was an able young man. In 1881 he went to Kan- sas and two years later was granted a letter as he wished to join a more con- venient conference.
REV. GEORGE B. STEWART
Of Wakarusa, was born at Indianapo- lis. He entered Conference as a licen- tiate in 1873 and was ordained in 1877. He did good and faithful work until 1881 when his name was stricken from the roll. He now resides at Wakarusa and is an attorney.
REV. D. W. FOWLER, (Deceased) Wabash, Indiana.
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REV. MARY A. TOMPKINS
Was born in Yates county, N. Y. Her father was a distiller, but became a christian and a Prohibitionist later in life. Mrs. Tompkins' alma Mater was Hillsdale col-
lege, Mich. She holds two diplomas, one collegiate, the other theological. She was a teacher for eight years in the schools of Michigan, being superintendent of the Cold- water high school one year.
She entered Eel River Conference as a licentiate in 1896 and was ordained at Paw Paw in 1897.
She very acceptably served the Bellville and Olivet churches as pastor, and has assisted largely in building up the church at Elkhart, hier home, giving much of her means and time to its welfare.
Sister Tompkins is an ac- tive worker for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She is at present franchise superintendent of the State W. C. T. U. work and treasur- er of the Winona Assembly W. C. T. U. She is an able lecturer and writes much for the newspapers. She is an untiring worker for reforma- tion and the establishment of the gospel. In 1895 she went to London as a delegate to the World's W. C. T. U. convention for Indiana, and visited some interesting points in Europe. Sister Tompkins has a paying millinery business in Elkhart. and makes the money she spends in the Lord's cause, for she says it is His. She is also the president of the Women's Home and Foreign Mission Board of this Conference.
REV. Dr. P. L. WERT
Of Waterford, Ind., became a licentiate of Conference in 1864. He remained with us as a licentiate for a number of years, ever loyal and faithful to the Christian church until his death.
REV. M. N. WOOLEY
Of Denver, Ind., united with confer- ence as a licentiate in 1876. Two years later his name was dropped, he having united with the Tippecanoe Confer- ence.
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REV. HILEY BAKER
Was born in Noble County, Ind., Feb. 18, 1877. At an early age he graduated from the common school, afterward taught school and later finished the high school course in 1899. Previous to the time of his conversion, in 1898 under the preaching of Rev. David Hidy, he was an active worker in the church and a teacher of a class of young ladies, five of whom were con- verted the following winter.
In November 1900 he began his work in the course of study as adopted by the Eel River Christian Conference. Was granted license in August 1901 and is still pursuing the course. He is the present pastor of the Thorn Creek Christian church.
REV. CHARLES F. WOOD
Was licensed in 1851 and ordained in 1858. Two years later he asked for a letter and united with the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan Con- ference.
REV. WILSON D. SAMUEL
Was born in Madison county, Ind., April 29, 1851. He was the son of William Samuel, whose godly life and stalwart character were in large meas- ure given to his son. His mother was a deeply pious woman, in whose pray- ers were found the best safe-guard and richest possibilities for his youth time and early manhood. From a mother's prayers a boy seldom breaks away, for into his life she so thoroughly breathes the fervor of her soul, the strength of her life and the love of her heart, that he finds himself firmly moored. Whether fortunate or otherwise, he was left fatherless when but sixteen years old and upon his young heart and inexperienced hands were laid the duties and obligations of the home, all of which he discharged with a bravery and promptness which have character- ized all his life's work. It is the mis- fortune of some children that their fathers survive their infancy, and as the great and good Garfield said in speaking of his own experience, "Nine times out of ten, the best thing that can happen to a young man is to be cast overboard and be compelled to sink or swim for himself." In such an emergency, the really worthy show the fiber of their souls and the stuff of which they are made. By a large ma- jority, the world's messiahs of science, of law, of literature, of medicine, of benevolence, have been compelled to depend upon themselves and God for the success of every undertaking, among whom may be numbered Rev. W. D. Samuel.
He was married to Mary J. Funk, of Wabash county, Ind., September 17, 1871, to whom he has been a husband, true and tried, obeying the divine in- junction, "Husbands, love your wives." He has received from his devoted wife only that confidence and inspiration
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which a true husband so thoroughly appreciates, and which a gospel preacher so much needs. He was con- verted to God and joined the Eel River Christian church in 1874, then under the pastoral care of Rev. David Hidy, who has a warm place in his heart to- day, as he has had through all these years. A conviction to preach the gos- pel, with the earnest request of those who recognized his ability, led him to enter the ministry in 1876, he preach- ing his first sermon December 24th of that year. He joined the Eel River Conference and was given license in August, 1877, and was ordained at Murray, Ind., August, 1878, Revs. James Atchison, George Abbott, David Hidy, Thomas Whitman and Peter Winebrenner officiating. He has served his Conference in many official capacities, of which mention may be made of a two years presidency and four years as secretary. He served a term of four years as president of the Indiana State Conference, in all of which he acquitted himself with honor and dealt impartially with all ques- tions and parties.
For the first four years of his min- istry he coupled with his work as pas- tor, the duties of the farm. This con- dition of his early life, when churches failed to compensate their servants and the lack of a pastorate system necessi- tated many weary miles of travel, dem- onstrated the piety, heroism and Chris- tian loyalty of the man who endured such hardness without the thought of giving up. He has had charge, beside the country churches of his early min- istry of some of the best churches of the west, including Bluffton, North Manchester and Warren in Indiana, and Covington and Eaton in Ohio, the last named being his present charge. He was elected President of the Chris- tian Publishing Association in 1898,
but soon resigned the position to be- come its Agent and a member of its Board of Trustees. His success as an Agent is clearly established by the records of "The House" but it was to him an unpleasant task, for the reason that he felt called of God to preach the gospel, and not to keep accounts and sell books. He gave up the agency to accept the call to Eaton, but still re- tains his membership on the Board of Trustees. His frankness, kindness, sincerity and honest dealings have won for him not only the esteem of the churches, but of his fellow laborers in the holy calling. The pulpit is his throne and never did king occupy it with greater dignity or happier heart than does he. He is blessed with a good voice which he knows how to use, not only in sermon but in song as well, and of the fifteen hundred souls he has received into fellowship, it may be that the song has shared equal with the sermon. In the pulpit he is graceful and dignified in his movements and de- livery, and withal deeply earnest and impressive. His sermons are biblical and well illustrated. His style is vigor- ons but not boistrous. His pronounci- ation is distinct, his language choice and his utterance deliberate. His thoughts are fresh and forceful, his argumentation close and commanding, and his rhetoric inspiring and brilliant. He teaches practical lessons, drops golden thoughts, keeps his hearers interested. No one listening to his well prepared sermons delivered as they are, with heart and voice all aglow and countenance flushed with fervor, would ever think that his early education was limited to a few months in the district school. But it was. yet he has been a student of books and men, and may in a very correct sense be called an educated man. He is pro- gressive in all his plans, occupying
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advanced positions all along the lines of church work, and when one has come up to where he is, he has come near the front line of our ministry. As John G. Whittier said of Vice Presi- dent Wilson, so may we say of Wilson D. Samuel:
"The lowliest born of all the land,
He wrung from Fate's reluctant hand The gifts which happier boyhood claims;
And, tasting on a thankless soil
The bitter bread of unpaid toil, He fed his soul with noble aims.
Bv the low hearth-fire's fitful blaze He read of old heroic days.
The sage's thought, the patriot's speech;
Unhelped, alone, himself he taught,
His school the craft at which he wrought, His lore the book within his reach.
With glance intuitive he saw Through all disguise of form and law, And read men like an open book; Fearless and firm, he never quailed Nor turned aside for threats, nor failed
To do the thing he undertook."
J. F. Burnett.
REV. MATTIE VANDEVERE
Was born in Lawrence county, Ill., in 1860. She united with the Christian church in 1887 and the next year became a licentiate of this Conference. She was ordained at North Manchester in 1890. She served as pastor of a number of churches and in 1893 at- tended Union Christian college. Later she was pastor at Xenia and Green- tow11.
She was an untiring worker in the Master's cause and went to her reward in 1898.
REV. AMOS VANSICKLE
Of the Central Ohio Conference united with Eel River Conference in 1856. Two years later his name was dropped from the roll.
REV. JOHN A. WOOD
Was born on a farm in Ulster county, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1837. He had the ordin- ary opportunities of a country boy in obtaining his early education. Being of a studions mind he embraced every opportunity for acquiring knowledge and became quite proficient in the study of history. At the age of 15 he was regarded as authority 011 both ancient and modern history.
At fifteen he was converted in a Methodist meeting and at the age of eighteen he was licensed to preach. He spent four years of hard work in Wyoming Theological Seminary, grad- nating with honors.
Coming west in 1875, he settled in Indiana, uniting later with Eel River Christian Conference. He has been the able pastor of some of our best churches and is at present acceptably serving North Manchester, New Madi- son and Antioch. He is thoroughly in harmony with the principles of the Christian church and takes great de- light in preaching them to the people. Though having spent more than forty years in preaching and teaching, he is still young in physical and mental activities. He is a thorough believer in an itelligent, educated, God-fearing ministry.
SQUIRE WOOD
Became a licentiate in this Conference in 1845 and was ordained the same year. He remained an active, faithful member until his death in 1856.
REV. JESSE WAY
United with Eel River Conference as a licentiate in 1877. The record con- tains no further report until 1880 when his name was stricken from the roll.
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MINISTERS OF EEL RIVER CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE
REV. MORRIS M. WILES
Was born near Kirklin, Clinton county, Ind., in 1864. He received a common school education, and at the age of 15 united with the Sugar Creek Christian church, of which church he still remains a member. At the age of 24 he was licensed to preach the gospel by the Indiana Miami Reserve Conference, in session at Center, Ind. He was ordained to the ministry the following year at Hillisburg, Ind. Rev. Wiles has been continuously engaged in the ministry, serving churches in different Con- ferences with marked success. His greatest revival was one held with the Scotland church in the W. I. C. C. in which 47 persons were added to the church in fifteen days. He became an honorary member of Eel River Conference in 1901, and dur- ing the past year has been serving as pastor of the Clear Creek and Kelso churches. Brother Wiles has the most complete library of any minister in I. M. R. Confer- ence and shows marked ability in his calling.
REV. CYRUS SMITH
United with this conference in 1890 as a licentiate. He reported as preaching some for 3 years. His name was drop- ped from the roll in 1895.
REV. CURTIS B. SAMUEL
United with Eel River conference in 1894 as a licentiate. In 1895 his name was dropped from the roll upon motion of the executive board.
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MINISTERS OF EEL RIVER CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE
REV. WILLARD W. STUART
United with the Eel River Conference as a licentiate in 1888 and was ordained in 1891. He served as pastor of Benna Vista, Millersburg, Millwood, Pleas- ant Hill, North Union, Pleasant Grove, Eel River, Leesburg, Spring Hill, Paw Paw, and Goshen in this Confer- ence and at Coloma, Lee Chapel and Lee Station in Michigan, organizing two churches. He has received into the church an average of 25 members each year for ten years. He served on the Board of Trustees for six years and has never missed a meeting of the board. Brother Stuart is doing effici- ent work in the Master's cause and now resides at Coloma, Michigan.
REV. COLUMBUS C. TARR
United with Eel River Conference as a licentiate in 1891 and was ordained at Wakarusa in 1893. Brother Tarr has served as pastor, the Millersburg, Pleasant Grove, North Webster, Broad- way, Pleasant Hill and Spring Hill churches in this Conference and at Tiosa and New Carlisle in North West- ern Indiana Conference. He is the present efficient pastor of the Swayzee church.
REV. JAMES SCHEW
Was received a licentiate in 1853 and was ordained in 1854. Having joined the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan conference his name was dropped in 1856.
REV. ALEXANDER SMITH
Became a licentiate in this conference in 1873. He reported until 1875 and two years later his name was stricken from the roll.
REV. DAVID WINEBRENNER
Was licensed to improve his gift of pub- lic speaking by the Merriam Christian church. He visited Conference in its sessions and took an active part in the business thereof and encouraging his son, P. Winebrenner, in the ministry. He, with Elders Gregory and Zeigler, recommended P. Winebrenner to Con- ference. David Winebrenner was the means of the organization of the Mer- riam church. He having heard of Rev. Peter Banta being at the Waterford church, Elkhart county, met Brother Banta there, succeeded in getting him to come to Wolf Lake and organize what is now known as the Merriam Christian church. His home was ever a home for gospel ministers, he did more for the Master's cause than some who were preaching. He was a warm exhorter and sometimes took a text from which to speak. In one sense, we may call him the father of the Mer- riam church. P. W.
REV. J. N. ULLERY
Was born in Miami county, Ohio, in 1849. He became a licentiate in this Conference in 1887 having come recom- mended by the Kelso church. He was ordained in 1888. The next year Con- ference witheld his license and his name was stricken from the roll of ministers.
ELDER SACKETT
United with this conference in 1846 and the next year was reported as having joined a Michigan conference.
REV. WILLIAM SHELLEY
Was a licentiate of the first conference session and his name was dropped in 1847.
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MINISTERS OF EEL RIVER CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE
REV. PETER WINEBRENNER
Of Merriam, Ind., was born in Liberty, Montgomery county, Ohio, October 6, 1826, and moved to Noble county, Indiana in the year 1837. He received a common school education and special tutorage from David Sanford and from Jonathan Elliott.
Elder Winebrenner is a self-made man, having acquired his learning by close application, and hard study. He taught until he entered the ministry as a licentiate in 1857. Was ordained at the Clearcreek Christian church in 1858. Ordaining com- mittee, Elders Moses McDaniel, James H. Gregory, Thomas Whitman. He has mastered the German and Greek languages and partially mastered the Latin.
By invitation he has preached in the cities of Philadelphia, and Brooklyn. also in Canada. He spoke at the dedication of the School of the Prophets at Stanford- ville, N. Y. He also preached at the Quadriennial Convention in Oshawa. Canada. in 1869.
Rev. Winebrenner was pastor of the Merriam Christian church from 1869-1889.
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besides this long pastorate of twenty years in succession, he preached for this church monthly for a couple of years and was its pastor again at a later petiod for two years. He has also had charge of the Warren, Clearcreek, Murray, Kelso, Sid- ney, Leesburg, Millwood, Goshen and other churches of Eel River Conference. And was pastor of the Argos church in the North Western Conference for several years.
Rev. Winebrenner was elected secretary of the Conference in the year 1869, which office he held until Conference accepted his resignation in 1893, with the fol- lowing resolution:
Resolved-"That this Conference tender a vote of thanks to Rev. Winebrenner for his faithful twenty-four years work as secretary of this Conference."
Elder Winebrenner has held four theological discussions. One in Newport, Page county, Virginia, where he met Elders Corliss and Lane, Seven day advents, ( Lane was a brother of S. H. Lane, Advent minister of Indiana), he here arranged with them to discuss the Sabbath question, which discussion was held in 1877, beginning May 9th and ending May 12th, lasting four days, three sessions each day, forenoon, afternoon and night. Each speaking two hours each session. The first two days Corliss affirmed the Decalogue Sabbath as binding upon Christians in its sacred observance, Winebrenner denied. The last two days Winebrenner affirmed the sacred observance of the first day of the week, Corliss denied. This discussion resulted in the Advents abandoning that part of the country. He also discussed the same question with Adventist William Covert, near Anderson, Indiana, in a Disciple church. D. W. Fowler and G. Abbott were present at this discussion. He also dis- cussed the same question with S. H. Lane. Advent, at Wolf Lake, Indiana. The fourth discussion was with Comstock, Advent minister at Nelson, Cloud county, Kansas, in the year 1879. Subject-"Resolved that the Kingdom of Heaven is set upon earth." Winebrenner affirmed. Resolved, "That the Scriptures teach that the soul of man is unconscious after death." Affirmed by Comstock. The result was the founding of a Christian church at that place. He visited Thayer, Iowa, to dis- cuss in connection with Abbott, but opponents abandoned the field, therefore no dis- cussion was held.
Elders Winebrenner and G. Abbott were co-workers together in the field of dis- cussion and assisted each other in eight discussions. Winebrenner was usually a mild speaker, seldom giving out a challenge, but when challenged readily accepted, and was ever ready. The Seven Day Advents were eager to challenge. proclaiming that none dare discuss those questions with them, which they claimed, proved that they were right. But after a few days of the above discussions with them they ceased chalenging and refused to debate. Then, too, their prophetess, Ellen G. White, found that discussions were not profitable. Hence they stopped.
Elder Winebrenner during his forty-three years ministry has received over one thousand persons into church fellowship. Preached some four thousand ser- mons, always having charges, with no vacation except as sickness gave it. And now at the age of 75 years, by the blessing of the Divine Father and Son, he is still in the work and able to preach, and expects to continne preaching while the Master sees fit to give life and strength, and the people are willing to hear.
E
REV. W. D. SAMUEL, Pastor Christian Church, Eaton, Ohio.
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MINISTERS OF EEL RIVER CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE
ELDER THOMAS WHITMAN
Was born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1823. He was educated in the common schools, and was converted and joined the Christian church in 1837. He entered the minis- try in 1840 and was ordained at Fort Recovery, Ohio, in 1844.
When he first visited Eel River Conference in 1850, he was a member of the Tippecanoe Christian Conference. In 1852 he united with Eel River Conference and delivered the closing address of the session. Elder Whitman has been an ordained minister for 58 years and a faithful servant in Eel River Conference for 50 years. About the year 1853 he established a home near the Union Christian church, where he still resides. His home was ever a home for his ministering brethren. His good christian wife always took special pains to make it a pleasant and comfortable home for the weary pilgrim.
Elder Whitman has been an able sermonizer and exhorter and, though advanced in years, he is yet able in his preaching. His ability was recognized by this Con- ference in its annual session in 1899 when he was appointed to preach the Christian doctrine throughout its bounds, showing the implicit confidence in his ability to set forth and defend our beloved principles.
REV. G. W. TREASTOR
Became a licentiate member of Confer- ence in 1884, recommended by the Six Mile church. In 1885 he asked for a letter of dismissal and was referred to the grievance committee. His name was dropped from the roll.
REV. JOHN S. THOMAS
United with this Conference and was licensed in 1866. In 1869 he reported "Health poor," in 1870 "preaching but little." He was ordained in 1874. No further report.
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MINISTERS OF EEL RIVER CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE
REV. WILLIAM J. YOUNG
Was born in Alliance. Ohio, September 28, 1867. His parents came to Indiana when he was yet a babe and settled in St. Joseph county, subsequently residing at Bre- men and at Wakarusa. He received a good common school education and at the age of 16 began teaching in the public schools, which profession he followed for fifteen years.
He united with the Wakarusa Christian church in 1887. In 1889 he was married to Nettie Nusbaum Clay.
During the summer of 1895 he began the course of study outlined by this Con- ference and was admitted to Eel River Conference as a licentiate at its session at Warren. In 1897 he completed the course and was ordained in Father Amber's grove near the Paw Paw church. At this session he was elected assistant secre- tary, which office he held four years. He has been especially active in the interests of Christian Endeavor, having had charge of that department of Conference work since 1895. His first pastorate was his home church at Wakarusa, which he served acceptably one year, when he took charge of the Huntington and Clear Creek churches, serving the latter three years, and is now giving full time to the Hunt- ington church. He was selected by this church as her pastor for the coming year, 1902-03, but soon afterward resigned his pastorate to take effect in August, 1902, that he might accept a call from the Conneaut, Ohio, Christian church. The resig- nation of Rev. Young was with reluctance accepted by the Huntington church.
Brother Young's work is characterized by earnest consecration and activity in every department; which, united with his genial disposition makes him generally loved and respected by all who know him. He is one of our rising young ministers with bright prospects for his future. J. F. B.
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MINISTERS OF EEL RIVER CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE
REV. PHILIP ZEIGLER
Of the Miami, Ohio, Christian Conference, visited the Eel River Conference in 1850. The next year he united with it and was chosen a number of times to give the annual address. In 1855 he was chosen president.
He was one of the pioneers of the Merriam church which was known in an early day as the Christian church near Wolf Lake. His wife was a daughter of Rev. Father Miles and Rev. William Miles was her brother. She was a noble Chris- tian woman. In 1868 Brother Zeigler moved with his family to Wabash where he acted as pastor of the Christian church. From Wabash he removed to McLallen's Corners, Erie county, Pa., where he served as pastor of a church. Here his second wife died and was brought to Merriam for burial. In Conference session of 1894 a letter was received from him and read before the body. He spoke of his former re- lations with this body when not a church building was to be found in the conference field and only a few hundred members. He said that he had preached 3,500 sermons and had received over 700 persons into the Conference. And that when he dies his remains are to be brought to the Merriam cemetery. He also requested that one of the following brethren officiate at his funeral: Winebrenner, Whitman. Atchison, Hidy or Samuel. Just one year after receiving this communication, while confer- ence was in session at Warren a message came asking for one of the above named brethren to preach his funeral. Rev. Winebrenner responded. Thus was his re- quest granted.
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