USA > Indiana > Our church, a history of the synod of Northern Indiana of the Evangelical Lutheran Church > Part 15
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year Rev. J. C. Jacoby became pastor. Ile was an earnest and energetic worker and God blessed his labors and made them fruitful in the up-building of his cause. He remained until March 28, 1886, and the churches were again without a pastor up 'to October 17 of the same year, when Rev. L. Rice assumed the leadership of a somewhat discouraged people. He was much beloved by the congregations and they were sorely dis- tressed when in October, 1892, on account of failing health, he found it necessary to lay aside the duties of the active minis- try. Again, nearly one whole year passed without regular services. The people became disheartened. The churches suf- fered severe loss, but a few faithful ones in each congregation encouraged the weaker and rallied them to renewed efforts. Rev. A. Z. Fryberger was called on the 1st of September, 1893, and with him came new life-God was with them. The churches were revived. New members were added. The prospects brightened. Every department of church work was quickened. With a combined membership of one hundred and seventy-six, in full sympathy with the pastor, with two Sunday schools of about one hundred members each, with two well organized Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor, and with a Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society to carry forward the work of the Master, this pastorate confidently expects a new era of prosperity.
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WHITE PIGEON PASTORATE.
WHITE PIGEON PASTORATE.
This pastorate is composed of three congregations, two of which are situated in Southern Michigan and one in Northern Indiana. The oldest congregation is located in Mottville, St. Joseph Co., Mich. Preliminary steps were taken for the organization July 5, 1857, when a committee of five was ap- pointed to draft a constitution. Two of that committee are yet living and are active members of the church-Joseph Bittenbender and J. R. Jones. At a congregational meeting beld March 5, 1858, a call was extended to Rev. A. S. Barth- olomew, which was immediately accepted. The field of his labors included all the territory now occupied by the Moore- park, Three Rivers, Constantine, White Pigeon and Middle- bury, Indiana, pastorates. The call pledged him a salary of $150.00 for his labors, which he probably received, The con- gregation was at a great disadvantage, having no regular place in which to hold its services. Repeated efforts were made to build, but the people did not find sufficient help to accomplish this desirable object. At a congregational meet- ing, Oet. 30, 1859, a committee previously appointed, reported that a house suitable for a church and parsonage, with six lots, could be secured for $700.00. It was purchased, Here the pastor lived and the people worshiped until the new church was built and dedicated. Rev. Bartholomew, a member of tho Joint Synod of Ohio, continued his labors until Sept. 21, 1864, when he resigned. In the spring of 1865 Rev. Peter Bergstresser took charge of this work. In Oct., 1866, the vari- ous churches comprising the pastorate united in a petition to
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Synod, asking that their synodieal relations be changed, and that they be transferred from the Ohio Synod to that of North- ern Indiana. This request was granted by a mutual agree- ment of the Synods. Rev. Bergstresser did excellent mission- ary services, continuing his labors until the latter part of the year, 1867, when he resigne !. In November of the same year he was followed by Rev. J. N. Barnett. He was an earnest energetic worker. During his ministry the church at Mott- ville was built, at a cost of about $4,000.00. It was dedicated Aug. 22, 1869, the pastor being assisted in the services by Revs. W. C. Barnett, B. F. Hills and J. G. Biddle. He also built the church at Constantine which he served in connection with this pastorate until it became self-supporting.
The White Pigeon congregation was organized in the year 1867, by Rev. Peter Bergstresser. Resigning this field of labor soon afterward, very little more was accomplished at this point during his ministry. After Rev. Barnett became pastor he succeeded in purchasing the present church building from the Baptists, the German Reformed congregation taking one-half interest. During his ministry, the membership was greatly in - creased and the church placed upon a firm basis. He contin- ned his labors until Oct., 1873, when the pastorate was divided and he accepted a call to the Constantine Church which had through his efficient ministry advanced to such an extent that they could support their own pastor. In March, of the fol- lowing year, he was succeeded in the Melanchthon charge by Rev. A. MeLaughlin. During his ministry, June 27, 1874, the third congregation of this pastorate was organized at Van Buren, La Grange Co., Ind., with 24 charter members. It was christened St. Paul's. For two years they worshiped in
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the Methodist Episcopal Church, at which time they were ob- liged to hold their services in the school house. Preliminary steps for the building of their own house of worship were taken during the ministry of Rev. Mclaughlin, but it re- mained for his successor to carry forward and complete this work. He resigned after three and one-half years of faithful service in the entire pastorate, Sept. 1, 1877. Rev. B. F. Stultz was called and immediately began his work. He was earnest and devoted and he entered upon his labor with strong faith and determination. The enthusiasm of his life was soon felt in all the congregations. The church at Van Buren, which is a comfortable village house of worship, was built and dedicated during his ministry and the membership was sub- stantially increased. At Mottville he succeeded in paying a debt of $1,000 that remained on the church building and in making other necessary improvements. At White Pigeon the interests of the Reformed congregation in the church were pur- chased and the building repaired at an expense of nearly $1,500. The membership of the charge was increased until it numbered more than two hundred. Through his labors the pastorate was lifted to the front ranks in the Synod. He re- signed March 1, 1885, and was succeeded by Rev. E. W. Erick, who began his labors on April 1st, of the same year. He was exceedingly popular and was well adapted to the ad- vanced stage of the work where his predecessor left it. The congregations continued to grow all through his ministry and he strengthened them for more substantial work. Much to the regret of the church he resigned Aug 25, 1888. A va- cancy followed which continued to June 30, 1889, when Rev. A. J. Houk accepted a call. During this vacancy Rev. Ted -.
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row, of Constantine, supplied the Mottville congregation for several months and added nearly thirty to the membership. Rev. Houk resigned Sept., 1890, and was followed by Rev. W. F. Barnett, June 1, 1891. He gave himself unselfishly to the work, but his efforts were crippled by a factional spirit which had crept into several of the congregations. He re- signed in Sept., 1893, and the charge was vacant until Feb. 15, 1894, where the present incumbent Rev. M. L. Smith became pastor. He is deservedly popular and has already done much effective work. The charge is being thorongly organized and under his efficient leadership we may justly hope for glorious things.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
REV HUGH WELLS.
In almost every organization in which men are associated for a common purpose, there is some one who appears as a cell- tral figure. Various reasons may be given for it, but usually it arises from his own personality. Others recognize in such an individual the quahties that are essential to good leadership and they gladly accord to him the position that he tills. This has been pre-eminently the case with Rev. Wells in his rela- tions to the Synod of Northern Indiana. From the time of its organization to the present day he has held such position among his brethren. Every one who has been connected with the Synod has regarded him as its leading spirit, and the influ- ence which he has wielded in all its efforts to advance the interests of the Lutheran church during these forty years has corresponded therewith. "Father Wells" is the familiar name by which he is known all over this vast territory. This arises not so much from the advanced age that he bas attained, nor yet from the fact that he is literally the "father" of the Synod, being the leading spirit in its organization and the one through whom chiefly the organization was brought about; but more particularly from the fact that he was conspienous in all the history of the Synod, and in every important move- ment that has been inaugurated upon this territory in the interests of the Lutheran church. His position and influence have been commanding, and they have not waned with approaching years. They are his to-day, as truly as in the days in which his energies were being expended for the church, and he will continue to hold the one and to wield
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the other, as long as God permits him to remain with us in the church militant.
Rev. Wells was born in Highland county, Ohio, Deeem- ber 22, 1812. With his parents he removed to Marion county, Indiana, in the spring of 1839, where he resided until the year 1850. His parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church in which he was educated, and for which he preached the first nine years of his ministerial life. During most of this time he taught school in connection with his work us a minister. Mere local circumstances lead him to begin preach- ing for some Lutheran people in his community in the year 1846. Other influences were at work in his mind which finally lead to a change in his church relations. He united with the Miami Synod at Germantown, Ohio, in the spring of 1847. During that Synodical year he was engaged chiefly in mission- ary work for the Lutheran church in that section of the state of Indiana where he resided. He possessed the real missionary spirit and entered upon this work with an enthusiasm that never abated. The Lord blessed his labors and made them abound in good works for the church. All the fire of his young life glared forth in his incessant toils and it set the em- bers glowing in other souls. They felt the inspiring touch of his consecrated life wherever he went and it aroused in them higher ambitions and stronger determinations to seek better things. In April, 1848, the Miami Synod convened at Ham- ilton, Ohio, and during that convention the members who resided in the state of Indiana were authorized to call a con- vention and organize a Synod for their own state. In the month of October of the same year Rev. Wells and five other clerical brethren organized the Olive Branch Synod in the city
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of Indianapolis. In his new Synodical relations he continued his missionary labors as they had been before. He went to Lutheran communities that were destitute of the means of grace and faithfully ministered to their needs. He baptisep their children, organized churches, and gathered together the scattered sheep of the Reformation preaching and administer- ing to them the sacrament of the altar. While he was per- forming these labors for the church he supported himself and family principally from the income of a small farm of which he was the owner. His success in this line of work lead the Olive Branch Synod to elect him as a traveling missionary at her third annual convention in 1850, at Camden, Indiana. He was pledged a salary of $350 per annum and was required to bear his own expenses. There was great need of this kind of work and none seemed so well fitted for it as he. The plan proved a successful one. Much good was accomplished. Weak churches were strengthened and cheouraged and new organizations were effected. Little expense was brought to the Synod. He collected nearly all of his own salary and other expenses were light. There were no railroad fares to pay for there were no railroads to carry him from place to place upon this territory. A horse performed this service for him and did it with great satisfaction to the owner. By night and by day the faithful creature bore its master from place to place in the performance of his duties for the church. Similar were the labors that he performed for the Synod of Northern Indiana. In its fourth annual convention, 1858, Rev. Wells was requested to devote six months of the year to the work of a traveling missionary and was promised $250 and traveling expenses. He found it impossible to give more than three
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months to the work, and during that time organized several new congregations and visited others who were not supplied with preaching. He was continued during the Synodical year of 1859-'60 on a salary of $500 and expenses. The entire year was devoted to the work and untold good accomplished for the church. At the end of the year Synod was indebted to him to the amount of $11.27, he having collected all the rest of his salary and expenses from the people to who he min_ istered. The services that he rendered the church in this capacity during these years were of incalculable benefit and many important centers that are now destitute of Lutheran churches would be ocenpied could he have been continued in that blessed work.
After serving the Olive Branch Synod as indicated he removed to Ladoga which he made one of his missions. In two years the congregation had built for itself a neat brick structure and by uniting two county congregations with it into one pastorate they became self-supporting. In 1852 he re- moved to Columbia City, Indiana, and made it a central mis- sion point. The Olive Branch Synod held its second conven- tion there in 1849, which was the first time Rev. Wells visited the place, Rev. Franklin Templin was the pastor loci. The meetings of Synod were then held in the Methodist church. But Rev. Templin and his energetic band went to work and soon erected a frame house of worship which was dedicated in November, 1851, by Rev. 11. Wells and Rev. Seidel, of Albion. After his removal there in 1852 he took charge of the mission and also of the work at North Man- chester. To this work he was to devote one-half of his time and the other half to be given to evangelistic work for which
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the Synod agreed to pay him $200, which amount he collected from the churches as usual. When he became pastor at Columbia City there were only seven members. They had a church partly furnished, but in debt. The members were poor but active and liberal. It was a struggle for life of which few at the present time can have conception. But God blessed their labors and the cause prospered. All indebtedness was met and in a few years the church became self-supporting. Pastor and people labored together harmoniously and success- fully for a period of 17 years, when he was induced to resign, but he has always regarded it as a mistake that he left the pastorate when he did. He served the mission at Van Wert, Ohio, for a period of two years with gratifying results, but failing health caused him to resign. At this place he met with severe financial misfortune. Dishonest bankers changed his competency into comparative poverty. In the spring of 1871 he remove to his house in Columbia City and the next year accepted a call to the North Manchester pastorate and removed there. He continued to serve the charge for a period of ten years, and under his ministry it was greatly strength- ened. Being again compelled to relinquish the work on account of failing health, he retired to his home in that city, being elected pastor emeritus of the charge, to which he had faithfully devoted a decade of the best part of his life.
It was chiefly through the efforts of Rev. Wells that the organization of the Synod of Northern Indiana was effected in 1855. He was chairman of the committee which framed the synodieal constitution and was elected as the first president of Synod. He was elected to the same position at the second, third, seventh, eighth, fourteenth, twenty-third, and twenty-
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fourth annual conventions. He was elected synodical seere- tary in 1859-'71-'72, and was its treasurer during the years of 1866-'67. He represented his Synod at all the meetings of the General Synod from 1857 to 1869 and was frequently elected to the same position after that time. During the 47 years of his ministry in the Lutheran church he has been in attendance at nearly all the conventions of the General Synod and in that time has attended all the meetings of his district Synod, except one. In 1852 he was elected a member of the board of directors of Wittenberg College by the Olive Branch Synod and has served a number of terms in that capacity from the Synod of Northern Indiana.
Rev. Wells is a man of broad sympathies and as his work will show came close to the people in his efforts to have them saved through Christ. He has been a preacher of far more than ordinary power, and when the books are opened and every man's work shall be revealed in the light of eternity, there will be many to useribe the joy of their salvation to his humble labors in Christ.
" And after he is dead and gone And e'en his memory dim, Earth will be more sweet to live upon More full of love because of him."
REV. W. J. FUNKEY. REV. S. P. FRY BERGER. REV. M. L. SMITH.
REV. D A. KEIN. BFV. C. J. KIEFER. BWV. J. M. FRANCIS.
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REV. R. F. DELO.
REV. R. F. DELO,
One of the tireless workers and of the energetic spirits who organized and successfully carried forward the work of this Synod was the subject of this sketch. He was born near Knox, Clarion County, Pa., October 13, 1827. For several years he attended the Academy in the village of Clarion and subse- quently pursued his studies in a Lutheran institution in Greens- burg, Pa. In connection with Rev. J. A. Delo he then received private instructions under the Rev. S. D. Witt, after which he entered Wittenberg College and graduated from the Theolog- ical Seminary in the spring of 1852. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Miami Synod June 6, 1852. At the request of the President of the Synod he went to Greenville, O., where he spent the first year and one-half of his devoted ministry. God blessed his labors and made them fruitful for Christ's kingdom. During this brief period he organized four congregations, but in the midst of his successful labors he was compelled to relinquish the field because of malarial difficulties from which he suffered. Receiving medical treatment for some months and resting from the excessive labors of a large missionary pastorate he regained his health. December 26, 1853, he was married to Miss M. C. Mun, who proved a faith- ful helpmate in the arduons duties of his life. Having re- ceived and accepted a call to Albion, Ind., they journeyed hither arriving in Lisbon, Ind., January 4, 1854, where they began their labors in the Albion pastorate. The charge con- sisted of three congregations and one station with a combined membership of 73. After some months of faithful work he
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called a meeting in Albion for the purpose of taking action for the erection of a house of worship. Trustees were elected, a building committee appointed and the work pushed vigorously forward. On the 25th of December, 1855, the new church- the only one in the County seat of Noble County and the only Lutheran church then in the county, was dedicated, Rev. Samuel Sprecher, D. D., president of Wittenberg College, preaching the sermon. The Mt. Pleasant congregation also built and dedicated a new church during the year 1856. In 1857 he organized a congregation four miles southeast of Albion, and built for it a church during the following summer. It wsa dedicated June 10, 1858, and was named " Rehoboth." About the same time he organized a German-English congregation in Avilla. This congregation is now in connection with the Gen- eral Council and is in a flourishing condition. During his ministry in this pastorate which included a period of five years the Synod was organized and he became one of its charter members. His services for the Synod were repeatedly recog- nized by being called to fill important positions in connection therewith. He served her as President during the years 1860, 1873, 1874, as secretary, 1858, 1859, as treasurer, 1868, 1869, was twice elected delegate to the General Synod and served two terms of four years each as director to Wittenberg College. In the meeting of the General Synod at Ft. Wayne he was an advocate of peace, and because he felt that harm must come to the church by division he refused to vote.
September 24, 1861, he was appointed Chaplain of the 30th Reg. Ind. V. I. and served with ability and distinction for three years until the expiration of the term of his enlist- ment. After his return from the army he removed to Elkhart,
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Ind., organizing a congregation there in 1865, one three miles east of Elkhart and one near Bristol, Ind., in the year 1867. In 1870 he moved to Three Rivers, Mich., organized a congre- gation there, and one in Pleasant Valley, Kalamazoo County. During his ministry in Three Rivers he built a church which was dedicated May 12, 1872, the President of the Synod, Rev. J. N. Barnett, assisting in the services.
During the year 1875 he was called to Brookville, Ohio, and this terminated his long and useful career in the Synod of Northern Indiana, but his work abides and will tell the story of his unselfish life to generations yet to come. He continued his work in that pastorate until June, 1877, when the Board of Directors of Wittenberg College elected him as its financial secretary. He served in that capacity until the annual meet- ing in June, 1887, when he resigned. His work for the col- lege was of untold value, and will form an important chapter in the history of that institution. It was the era of Witten- berg's great material progress and in it the financial secretary holds a prominent position. For several years he continued to reside in Springfield, and in 1893 he moved to Salida, Col., where he now lives. Although he has almost reached his three score years and ten his passion for saving souls has not declined and his love for preaching the gospel has not waned. He is supplying the mission at Colorado Springs, preaching twice every Sunday, and travelling nearly three hundred miles each week.
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SYNOD OF NORTHERN INDIANA.
REV. WILLIAM WALTMAN.
One of the busiest and most self-sacrificing workers of this "e Synod has been the subject of this sketch. He was a charter member of this organization and has attended all its annual conventions. By the Wittenberg Synod he was set apart to the sacred office of the ministry, and continued for a few years in connection with that body. He has done much hard work for the establishment of the Lutheran church on this territory, and that work will abide to declare to coming generations the triumph of his faith in the Savior. Denied the privileges which young men who enter the ministry to-day have in our schools and colleges for a thorough prepa- ration for their life work, he devoted himself faithfully to the study of such books as he could obtain. He was born in Bed- ford County, Pa., May 31, 1819, at which time the best school advantages were included m a three months' subscription term. llis parents lived on a farm, where his early life was spent. Some years later they moved to Richland County, Ohio. The country was comparatively new, and they were situated at least five miles from a Lutheran church. This distance he walked whenever there were services. He continued several years on the farm, and then learned the carpenter trade, at which he continued to labor until the work of the ministry was taken up. He was married Aug. 13, 1843, to Sarah A. Smith, and in September, 1846, he removed with his family to Noble County, Ind. He studied hard in connection with his labors, and above all became a devout student of the Bible. He received some theological instruction from Rev. Seidle, and in August, 1852, was licensed to preach the gospel by the
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Wittenberg Synod. His work began as a missionary in the truest sense. He traveled from place to place gather- ing our Lutheran people and encouraging them in the faith. After Rev. Seidle's death he was urged to take the work of the large pastorate in which he had labored. It embraced the territory now occupied by the Spencerville, Fairfield, Auburn, Springfield and Salem pastorates. There were seven organizations and four stations, besides new points that needed to be developed. It required three sermons every Sunday and a number of services during the week. Several years later the charge was divided, but he continued for eleven years and he was taught something of its hard work. This discipline developed in him those sturdy traits of character that distinguished his entire ministerial life. It made his self-sacri- ficing labors for the church easier to perform, and doubtless was the means of bringing many future joys to his heart. From early life he showed a peculiar fondness for books, and would gladly have availed himself of the privileges of a higher education had the opportunity been afforded. He studied the catechism thoroughly, committing it to memory when a mere lad. It was during the time of his catechisation that he received his first impressions for the ministry. His pastor did not fail to hold up this work before the boys, and while he entreated them to give their hearts to the Savior he also urged them to give their lives to the preaching of the gospel. He would take the boys aside and talk to them privately about the ministry. The impressions thus made upon their minds were lasting. In William Waltman they grew deeper with the com- ing years. He was confirmed on Easter Sunday, 1836, and would then have willingly entered college had the way been
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