USA > Kansas > Fifty years in the Kansas Conference, 1864-1914 : a record of the origin and development of the work of the Evangelical Association in the territory covered by the Kansas Conference > Part 20
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The presiding elder returned to Kansas after arranging the work and giving them the encouraging promise that he would make an appeal to the church through the "Botschafter" and "Messenger" for aid in builiding a church, which was later done. On Sunday, May 4th, Brother Burgert preached in the house of H. Dierolf, where also the Sunday-school was held for a season, when later it was held under the trees in the back yard of Brother Dierolf's home.
Brother Burgert further writes: "On May 14, Mrs. Burgert and the children arrived. I rented a small board house for them which was 12x14 feet in dimensions. Here we lived until fall. We moved three times this year, for houses, such as they were, were hard to get."
During the summer the young missionary was engaged in hunting up Evangelical people, and preaching wherever oppor- tunity presented itself; in dugouts, log cabins, sod houses, stone houses, and under the trees, to appreciative audiences. Some of the people stated that they had not attended a religious service for more than 20 years.
The following nine appointments were served regularly dur- ing the year: Beaver Creek, two and one-half miles west of Or- lando; Lyon Valley, eight miles east of Hennessey; Union school house, nine miles south of Lyon Valley ; Cimarron, six miles east of Dover; Dover (in the Rock Island depot) ; Cottonwood, south of Downs; Clear Creek, ten miles southeast of Orlando; Stillwater, and Orlando. There were Evangelical members at all of these places.
Rev. C. F. Harder, a local preacher from Yates Center, Kan., made frequent trips to Orlando during the year and preached in
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German to the people, which was greatly appreciated by the Ger- man people of the community.
The following incident is an example of pioneer experience in Oklahoma as related by Brother Burgert: "One night my family and I stayed at the home of one of our members who lived in a sod house with a dirt roof. The roof was made by placing poles on the walls of sod, reaching from one wall to the center ridge beam, brush being thrown on these poles and then earth on the brush. We retired after coming from church, weary, and were soon soundly asleep. About midnight it began to rain, or rather to pour, and kept it up until daylight. Soon the water began to come through the roof of brush and earth. No more sleep. We arose, dressed and sat on the bed with a quilt over our heads to keep the dirt off our clothes, waiting for morning to come. The mother and two daughters stood and held an umbrella over the lamp to keep it dry lest it should be extinguished and we be left in darkness. There was not a dry thing left in the house when daylight finally came, but mud, and water, quite deep because the floor was a dirt floor. They gave us the best they had." Many experiences of a similar character could be related.
In September the presiding elder again visited the work and on the 12th day of the month dispensed the Lord's Supper to a band of devout worshipers. This was the first communion serv- ice of the Evangelical Association in Oklahoma, and was held at the Clear Creek appointment. At this time steps were taken to build a church in Oklahoma. Work on a church building at Beaver Creek, two and a half miles west of Orlando, was begun in October of this year. The building was 16x24 feet in dimensions, and cost $237.98. The furniture was all home made and much labor was donated. Of this amount $206.53 was received in response to an appeal made through the church papers by Brother Wuerth.
This church building was dedicated by Rev. S. Heininger, Cor- responding Secretary of the Missionary Society, of Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1891.
At the time this building was being erected another one was under construction at the Lyon Valley appointment, which was dedicated only a few days later by Brother Heininger. The cost of the Lyon Valley church was $273.25, exclusive of donated labor. Of this amount $117.76 was contributed from outside sources through an appeal in the church papers. The dimensions of this building were 24x34 feet.
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The Lyon Valley class was organized a little later than the one at Orlando.
The following report was given by the pastor at the close of his first year of service on Oklahoma Mission : "Nine regular ap- pointments were served, two classes organized, two Sunday-schools started with 20 officers and teachers, and 130 scholars. Two churches were built free of debt. Three conversions are reported and a total membership of 47. Seven dollars was raised for preach- er's salary and $6.50 presiding elder's collections. The amount of $5.00 was reported for missions.
"This was a year of hard work and many privations on the part of the missionary and the people. The work has assumed a promising aspect for the future."
ORLANDO, OKLAHOMA
Orlando formed the base of operations for mission work in the territory of Oklahoma, being the first place visited by the first missionary, S. A. Burgert, in the spring of 1890. The first service was held at the home of Henry Dierolf, three miles west of town, where also the first class was organized. During the summer months the meetings were held in the yard of Brother Dierolf, under the Black Jack trees, where also the Sunday-school was held.
The first members were H. Dierolf, Sr., and wife, August Meyer and wife, Carl Bolay and wife, F. Proehlocks and wife, and Fred Mugler. H. Dierolf was elected class-leader of this little band of Evangelicals in Oklahoma.
A little church was built in 1890 in the community west of Orlando, which was dedicated by Rev. S. Heininger, Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society, from Cleveland, Ohio. Great was the joy of the pioneers when they owned their little church in which they could meet for worship.
The little cemetery across the road was also theirs. Here lay their dead, whose last resting places were often visited that the memory of loved ones who had accompanied them to the new coun- try might be retained. Alas! that so soon some of them were taken away, leaving the others to carry the burdens and sorrows alone. But the grace of God is sufficient to comfort in sorrow's lone hour.
CUSTER, OKLAHOMA
Custer Mission was originally a part of Southwest Mission and was begun in 1891, when J. R. Nanninga, pastor at Dover,
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visited the Hamburger families south of Weatherford, Custer Co., and preached for them. He also organized a class with the fami- lies indicated, namely Henry Hamburger, John Hamburger, and Conrad Adler and wife. H. Hamburger was chosen class-leader, and Conrad Adler exhorter. A Sunday-school was organized one year later during the pastorate of H. W. Hartman.
OSCEOLA, OKLAHOMA
In 1892 a class was organized 40 miles north of Weather- ford, near a country post-office called Osceola, whither several fam- ilies had moved from Texas who were members of the Evangeli- cal Association. The families who composed the first class were Carl Horst, Sr., Karl Horst, Jr., and Ludwig Klein. Brother H. W. Hartman was pastor. Ludwig Klein was chosen class-leader, and a Sunday-school was started with Karl Horst, Sr., as super- intendent. The following year, under the pastorate of J. Kurtz, a small church was built, which, for many years, was used for Sunday-school and preaching services. Many precious meetings were held in the little room, prized so highly by those early settlers in their great poverty.
Repeated crop failure has retarded the development of the country and progress of church work in this particular part of Oklahoma.
DOVER, OKLAHOMA
The work at Dover was begun by Rev. S. A. Burgert, who was the pioneer missionary of the Evangelical Association in Okla- homa. In the month of September, 1890, Rev. J. Wuerth, presid- ing elder of Newton District, made his second visit to Oklahoma, and on this occasion, in company with Brother Burgert, visited Dover, where he preached for the first time in the village in the Rock Island depot. During the week he also preached at Clear Creek, Stillwater, Beaver Creek, Lyon Valley, Union school house, Cimarron, and Fair View. These were all points where they found isolated members of the church. Brother Burgert preached at a point just east of Dover during the summer, but later a class was organized in town with the following members: B. F. Mauk and wife, David Clark and wife, D. X. Williams and wife, and daughter Gertrude, Mrs. Henry Hill, Mrs. Robert Bolton and Mrs. Henry Martin. B. F. Mauk was elected class-leader and was the
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principal figure in church activities until the time of his death, several years later.
Rev. Burgert was succeeded by J. R. Nanninga in 1891, who organized a Sunday-school, of which D. X. Williams was superin- tendent and Mrs. David Clark, assistant. A church was also built during the year 1892, which was dedicated by Rev. H. J. Bowman, who, at the time, was pastor of Oak Street Church, Kansas City, Mo.
Brother J. R. Nanninga writes: "I arrived at Dover on the 13th of April, 1891, and at once proceeded to acquaint myself with the work and the people. I changed the Jack Oak appoint- ment, four miles east of Dover, to town, and held the services in the Odd Fellows Hall the first year. The following year we built the church, which was the first church building in Dover. I also started the Pleasant Valley appointment, southwest of Orlando, where I held a meeting in which 34 souls were converted.
"I also held a meeting at Lyon Valley appointment in 1892, where the second church in Oklahoma was built. In this meeting 64 souls bowed at the altar, of whom many were converted. Many of the people at this point lived here temporarily until the Chero- kee Strip was opened, when they rushed into the new country for homes, deserting this community in consequence, of which the work suffered. In later years the point was abandoned and the building sold."
In the spring of 1892 Dover was taken from Orlando Mission and formed into a separate field of labor. This was not supplied at Conference, but was cared for by Rev. J. R. Nanninga, in connec- tion with Orlando. The following year it was supplied with H. E. Bower.
In 1901 the church building was destroyed by fire, but at once rebuilt under supervision of Rev. H. B. Vennum, who was pastor at the time, at a cost of $1,500.00, and dedicated by Rev. J. H. Tobias, presiding elder.
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1892
TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSION
The 28th session of Conference was held at Coal Creek, four miles north of Valley Falls, Jefferson County, Kansas, beginning March 17, 1892, with Bishop S. C. Breyfogel as chairman for the first time. P. Schumann was again appointed secretary.
At the opening of the session it was announced that death had invaded the ranks during the past year, calling away two import- ant workers, namely J. G. Pfeifer and L. Wenger, also John Leus- ler, a local preacher.
J. Maurer withdrew from the church, and A. Yoder and C. Apel moved from the bounds of the Conference.
S. H. Dunkelberger, J. B. Miller and J. R. Hashinger were reported as having "irregularly withdrawn" from the church dur- ing the year.
D. E. Hoover, having left his charge in a manner which Con- ference could not justify, and not appearing at Conference this spring, nor even sending his reports, was declared having with- drawn from the church.
Wm. Daeschner received credentials to the Texas Conference, whither he contemplated moving.
The brethren C. Linge, H. Toedman, C. E. Platz, J. W. Keiser and G. Sorg were retained in the itinerancy without appointment.
H. E. Bower, P. G. Nuffer, W. R. Currier, John Brand, B. B. Shore and H. B. Vennum were licensed to preach.
G. M. Brumm was received from the Methodist Episcopal Church and placed on the list of local elders.
David Jones and S. A. Burgert received deacons' orders, and with John Beck were admitted into the itinerancy, while A. Rode- wald, I. H. Hauptfuehrer, C. E. Platz, J. R. Nanninga, C. Meeder, M. J. Steinmetz, H. E. Meyer and C. H. Hartman received elders' orders.
B. Hoffman who, in 1873, left the church, after dividing the congregation at Holton, Kansas, in consequence of which the con- gregation suffered for many years, sent a letter to Conference, ex- pressing regret for his deeds of the past, asking to be again re- instated. Conference offered to pardon freely, but deemed it un- wise to reinstate him in the Conference body.
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A. Brunner, J. H. Tobias and C. F. Erffmeyer were elected presiding elders, and stationed as follows: Holton District, A. Brunner ; Kansas City District, J. H. Tobias; Newton District, J. J. Kliphardt; Abilene District, C. F. Erffmeyer.
J. Wuerth was elected Conference trustee for five years, and M. C. Platz, statistical secretary for one year.
MISSION DEBT
Again the missionary treasurer was authorized to borrow money sufficient to pay the appropriations. The debt continued to increase so that a committee was appointed, consist- ing of the treasurer J. Schmidli, M. C. Platz and C. W. Stauffer, to provide a way by which the same might be liquidated. In due time the following plan was submitted, which was also adopted: "Inasmuch as a debt of $1,600.00 rests upon our missionary treas- ury, therefore we would recommend that each preacher obligate himself to raise 28 cents per member on his field of labor within the first six months of the Conference year, for the liquidation of said debt and send the amount to the treasurer of the mission- ary society. Furthermore each preacher shall report as to how nearly he has complied with the instructions given."
By the foregoing plan $1,115.26 was raised and paid on the mission debt during the ensuing year, as reported at the follow- ing session.
The committee appointed a year ago relative to the Topeka church building project reported that they were unable to do any- thing in the matter of building because of lack of funds. It was decided to defer the matter of building for two years.
Atchison reported a church debt of $2,675.00 and asked Con- ference to cancel a note for $800.00 which she held against it. The request was granted and the note canceled.
Falls City built a church the past year at a cost of $3,500.00, upon which there was still $1,200.00 unprovided for, and asked for assistance. After commending the society for what she had done the pastor was authorized to collect on Holton District for the payment of the debt.
A committee was appointed to purchase Rev. J. H. Keeler's interest in the Hutchinson church and transfer the property to the Kansas Conference trustees.
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Abilene reported that the old church building had been moved on the present church lots and converted into a parsonage and asked for annual appropriations until the debt should be paid.
A committee consisting of C. F. Erffmeyer, J. K. Young, C. W. Stauffer and J. J. Kliphardt, was appointed to make provisions to organize a Young People's Alliance Conference Branch, and hold a convention during the year.
The following action was taken relative to the Woman's Mis- sionary Society: "Resolved, That we plege our co-operation with the sisters in organizing local auxiliaries, and also recommend the organization of a Conference Branch of the Woman's Missionary Society."
BOUNDARIES
District Changes
a. Hiawatha Circuit and Hiawatha Station shall be taken from Abilene District and added to Holton District.
b. Swede Creek and Leonardville shall be transferred from Holton to Abilene District.
Newton District
a. Hennessey, Dover and Lyon Valley shall be taken from Oklahoma Mission and formed into a new mission called Dover Mission.
b. The remaining part of Oklahoma Mission shall be called Orlando Mission.
c. Humboldt and Golden Valley Missions shall be consolidated and called Humboldt and Golden Valley Mission.
d. Prairie Queen appointment shall be taken from Cambridge Mission and added to Derby Circuit and the latter changed to a mission.
e. Clay Circuit shall be changed to a mission.
MISSIONS
At the close of the session the mission debt amounted to $1,456.39. During the past year $7,568.35 was raised for mis- sions in the Kansas Conference, and $8,520.00 appropriated for the ensuing year. Toward this the general treasury appropriated $1,850.00.
J. Wuerth was elected delegate to the Board of Missions and the following officers elected for the Conference Missionary So-
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ciety : A. Brunner, president; C. F. Erffbeyer, secretary, and J. Schmidli, treasurer.
STATISTICS
Conversions, 471; accessions, 581; membership, 5,685; itine- rant preachers, 59; local preachers, 28; Sunday-schools, 102; schol- ars, 5,091; officers and teachers, 1,123; catechetical classes, 38; catechumens, 512; Young People's Alliances, 13; members, 323; churches, 77; parsonages, 40; Botschafters, 883; Messengers, 665; Magazins, 603; Epistles, 37; Epistles and Teachers, 37; total for missions, $7,520.72.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE
For the first time allusion is made in the statistics to the work of the Young People's Alliance. 13 Alliances are reported with a total membership of 323. A deep interest was mani- fested in the work among the young people from the beginning of this movement. Not only were over a dozen local Alliances organized up to this time, but steps were taken to form the local organizations into a Conference Branch in order to facilitate the progress of the work, and to foster the spirit of unity among the young people in the Conference and the church.
In line with the interest in the young people's movement, greater activity was also aroused at this time in the Woman's Missionary Society. Plans for the formation of the auxiliaries which had thus far been organized within the bounds of the Con- ference into a Conference Branch of the Woman's Missionary Society were taken up. These auxiliaries had been carrying on a local work for several years, having first been brought to the notice of Conference at its session in 1883. The beginning of the work was hard. There were many discouragements because of indiffer- ence and even direct opposition on the part of some members of the church. This was largely due to the conservatism which usu- ally characterizes the introduction of new movements in ecclesias- tical circles. However, the movement was born to prosper and kindle with enthusiasm a church which would otherwise stagnate and die. Both the Woman's Missionary Society and the Young People's Alliance mark an epoch in the history of the church for developing the latent powers of the young people and applying them to service.
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APPOINTMENTS
Holton District-A. Brunner, P. E.
Holton, F. Harder.
Leavenworth, D. R. Zellner.
Atchison, S. Mueller.
Atchison Circuit, D. Swart.
Falls City, A. Mattill.
Preston, P. Schumann.
Bern, I. H. Hauptfuehrer.
Westmoreland, J. M. Fricker.
Hiawatha Station, J. K. Young.
Hiawatha Circuit, F. M. Peek.
Eudora, T. R. Nanninga.
Osage, C. Meeder.
Topeka, J. Wuerth.
Kansas City District-J. H. Tobias, P. E.
Kansas City, Oak St., H. J. Bowman.
Kansas City, Highland Ave., C. W. Stauffer.
Kansas City, Kansas, to be supplied.
Oregon Circuit and Mission, M. Wal- ter.
Platte River, J. F. Schreiber.
Shelby, A. Solt.
St. Joseph, J. Neuffer.
Glasgow, J. Beck.
Warrensburg and Windsor, H. W. Hartman.
East Lynn, Omer Butler.
Winston, H. E. Meyers.
Carthage Circuit and Mission, D. Jones.
Denver, to be supplied.
Newton District-J. J. Kliphardt, P. E. Emporia, A. Rodewald.
Peabody, E. A. Bruner.
Newton, G. J. Schumacher.
Yates Center, C. Brandt.
Humboldt and Golden Valley, B. J. Fehnel. Dennis, M. J. Steinmetz.
Cambridge, B. H. Hobbs.
Derby, L. E. Becher and P. G. Nuf- fer. Halstead, W. F. Schuerman.
Hutchinson, J. H. Keeler.
Alden, J. S. Miller.
Ellinwood, E. Brown.
Offerle, S. A. Burgert.
Dover, Okla., to be supplied.
Orlando, Okla., J. R. Nanninga.
Kingman, to be supplied.
Abilene District-C. F. Erffmeyer, P. E.
Abilene, A. E. Flickinger.
Alida and Clay, J. Kurtz and H. B. Vennum.
Marion, H. S. Bower and W. R. Cur- rier. Canada, W. F. Wolthausen.
McPherson, C. S. Steinmetz.
Rosette, C. H. Hartman.
Lincoln, C. C. Bruner.
Osborne, J. Paulin.
North-west, A. J. Spencer.
Jewell, M. C. Platz.
Concordia, H. E. Bower.
Washington, R. R. Brand.
Leonardville, J. Schmidli.
Swede Creek, M. Manshardt.
MEMORIAL
J. G. Pfeifer
Rev. J. G. Pfeifer entered the Kansas Conference at its sec- ond session in 1866, at Leavenworth, Kansas, after having spent a number of years in the active work in the Pittsburg Confer- ence. For many years he was a leader in the Conference and helped lay a good foundation for the Evangelical Association in the Western territory.
During his ministry of 27 years in Kansas and Missouri he served three terms as presiding elder, two terms on Missouri Dis- trict, and one term on Kansas, later called Holton District. He was elected delegate to General Conference in 1871, 1875, 1879 and 1883. He was the first delegate to the Board of Missions
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elected by Conference from her members, which occurred in 1867, after which he was repeatedly chosen to this position.
He was affectionate and considerate in his relation to the brethren whose esteem and confidence he held in a remarkable degree. In his pulpit ministration he was sound, in strict harmony with the Word of God and the doctrine of his church. His sermons were clear and powerful, making deep and lasting impressions upon his hearers. He spent his life for the church of his choice, never shrinking from duty, though that duty might be ever so unpleasant and difficult. His life was a blessing to many with whom he came in contact, and his individuality was stamped . upon the Conference in which he served for nearly three decades.
He passed away September 1, 1891, at his home near Bloom- ington, Mo., at the age of 69 years, leaving an aged companion and four children to sorrow over his departure, but ever to cher- ish the memory of his godly life and influence. His body rests in the little cemetery near Bloomington, where he awaits the final summons when the Lord comes to make up his jewels.
Rev. L. Wenger
Rev. L. Wenger was born in the State of Pennsylvania in 1846. He was licensed to preach at the session held at Nickels Grove, Holt County, Mo., under the chairmanship of Bishop R. Yeakel in 1872, and stationed on Jewell Mission in Western Kan- sas. He was the first pastor of Jewell appointed by Conference after the same was constituted a mission. He served this work three years, after which he was transferred to Americus Mission in Lyon County, Kan. In 1879 he was chosen presiding elder and stationed on Southwest District, which was composed almost ex- clusively of frontier work. After serving his term on the dis- trict he again entered the ranks of the pastorate and served St. Joseph three years, when he was assigned to his last field of labor. In 1879 he was also elected delegate to General Conference.
Brother Wenger was a devoted Christian and a minister of the Gospel. He exemplified in his own life the doctrine he preached to others and led many souls to Christ through his ministry. He was blessed with unusual judgment and business ability which he applied to his work. Through his death his brethren lost a wise counselor and a conscientious co-worker.
While attending Conference at Canada, Kansas, in the month of March, 1891, he sustained a hemorrhage of the lungs, which left
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him in a prostrated condition. The weather being stormy and cold added to his affliction, and it was with difficulty that he was able to leave the place of Conference. He still manifested the invinci- ble spirit which characterized his whole life, and while his breth- ren advised him to retire from active work for rest, he insisted that his affliction was only temporary, and in a short time he would be well again. He was thus assigned to Concordia Mis- sion, but never reached his field of labor. With difficulty he reached the home of his mother in Emporia, Kan., after Conference, where he broke down completely and in a few weeks answered to the roll- call above. His wish was granted. He died in the harness. Just in the prime of life, at the age of 46 years, the Lord called his servant up higher, for reasons known only to Himself. He left a sorrowing companion, two sons, one daughter, a mother and sister.
Rev. John Leusler
Rev. John Leusler was born in Hesse, Germany May 2, 1807. Coming to America in 1831, he settled in the State of Pennsyl- vania, where he was led to conversion through the labors of G. Hummel, well-known throughout the church at that time. In 1852 he moved to Ohio, where, in 1869, he received license to preach from the Ohio Conference. The same year he moved to Kansas, and settled near Washington, where he continued to re- side till the time of his death, Aug. 25, 1891.
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