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 3
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1858
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
the hand of Providence, the pony walked to a beautiful spring of water, where Brother Berner slaked his thirst and was refreshed, after which he felt some better, so that he could think and per- ceive in what direction he must go.
"At last he came to a house where he had been before. The people received him gladly, and ministered to him kindly until he could continue his journey to Brother. Eggert's, where he had his home. We have much to pass through, but, thank God, we have courage and are hopeful."
The home alluded to in the foregoing was located near Wabaunsee, and the inhuman wretch was expecting Brother Berner to die, in which event he would take possession of his beautiful horse, which he coveted.
In January, 1859, the brethren Fleischer and Berner reported that they were traveling over 8 to 10 counties, and were able to fill their appointments only every three to four weeks. They re- ported many open doors and many appeals for preaching, which they must ignore because their hands were full of work. They pled for more men, for young men who are willing to go where God and the church needs them.
Philip Porr, who came to Missouri in the spring of 1858, for the first time sends a report of his labors to the Botschafter in the following brief communication which appeared December, 1858:
PHILIP PORR
"Dear Bro. Koch :--
"My long journey overland from Ohio to Missouri was safely made, although the roads were bad at places. I should be glad to submit a better report concerning the progress of the work, but the husbandman must plow and sow in hope. There are a good many Germans on the Missouri side of the river. The most of them are unconverted. Unbelief and intemperance has degraded the people. I have found a few families who were formerly mem- bers of the Evangelical Association who have received me very kindly."
The members referred to in the foregoing communication were the brothers Henry, Jacob and Daniel Kunkel, of Oregon, Mo., who had moved there from the East. Bro. Porr was sent to north-western Missouri by the Ohio Conference, with the priv- ilege of laboring where he found the most promising openings.
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1859
BEGINNINGS
Consequently he did not confine his labors to Holt, Buchanan and Andrew Counties, Mo., but crossed the Missouri River, and preached in the vicinity of Hiawatha and Four Miles, near where Bern, Kansas, is now located.
During the summer of 1858 a family by the name of J. A. Schmidt, accompanied by Wolfgang Frohmader, moved from Fond du Lac, Wis., and settled six miles west of Holton, Jackson Co., Kans. Reading in the Botschafter that a missionary was located at Franklin, Kans., Brother Schmidt at once wrote to Brother Berner and asked him to visit them. In less than eight days Bro. Berner arrived. Great was the joy in meeting a preacher. After gathering together all the Germans in the community, Brother Berner preached for them on the text, Acts 10: 33: "Now there- fore we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." Bro. Berner could not visit them often because of the distance and abundance of work, and Brother Porr later served the appointment.
The Conference year 1858-1859 is rapidly drawing to a close. The missionaries made many experiences, some joyful, some not so joyful. It was a year of breaking of virgin soil, and the sowing of gospel seed. There were not many visible results, and yet the small band of pioneers labored on undaunted, although some of them endured a great deal of sickness which hindered them in their activities. One of them, who was quite a writer, says: "All desire to write leaves a man when he is afflicted with the ague and fever." Brother M. J. Miller writes, Feb. 12, 1859, just be- fore the spring Conferences were held, as follows in the Bot- schafter:
M. J. MILLER
"When I first came to Leavenworth and saw the sad condition of the people in reference to religion, and at the same time the gloomy prospect of carrying on the work with success, I shed tears over the situation. The prospect has since changed for the better, and God has added his blessings to the work. My faith and courage that God will gather societies here have been strength- ened.
"I have at present three appointments, and one Sunday- school. The first appointment, in Leavenworth, is of great im- portance. Although the congregation consists of only 8 to 15 per- sons, we have a class of seven members, and our Sunday-school has
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1859
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
increased from 8 to 17 scholars in three Sundays. For preaching and Sunday-school we have a school-house at the corner of Dela- ware and 3rd Street, for which we pay $1.50 per Sunday. This is the best we can do. Rents are high.
"Leavenworth is the principal city in the West. We should have a church here. What will the brethren in the East give for the first church in Kansas ?
"Atchison, the next town to Leavenworth, lies 25 miles up the river. There are many Germans there, and I am informed there has been no German preacher there yet. That is my second ap- pointment.
"My third appointment is Monrovia, 30 miles north-west of here, in Atchison County. Three former members of the Evan- gelical Association live there, namely, the brethren Hartman, Ep- erly and Blank, who moved there from Illinois. This point is not of great importance. The English Methodists are there, and the people can all understand English.
"I intend to take up three more appointments-Sommers, Grasshopper and Falls. Traveling over the wide prairie is often difficult and lonesome. Frequently one mires in the mud, and gets confused, and lost by the many branches of the road. We should do more for Kansas. Twenty preachers could find plenty to do. Before long we will have the ninth-Kansas Conference."
This hopeful confidence was expressed at a time when there were but four preachers in Kansas and Missouri.
ILLINOIS CONFERENCE
The following appointments were made at the Illinois Con- ference for the Iowa District in the spring of 1859:
Wm. Strasberger, P. E.
Grandview, R. Dubs. Independence, Wm. Kolb. North Bend, J. W. Mohr. Waterloo, H. Kleinsorge. Greencastle, John Miller, Jr., and sup-
Marion, John Schneider.
Muscatine, Jacob Keiper. ply. Nebraska Mission, J. F. Schreiber. Kansas Mission, C. Berner.
Maquoketa and Dubuque, John Kurtz and E. Freden.
It might be observed that at this session of the Ilinois Con- ference, G. Fleischer accepted an appointment on Rock Run Cir- cuit, Stephenson Co., Illinois, thus reducing the number of mis- sionaries in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska to four, instead of five as the previous year. The brethren Miller and Porr, who still were
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1859
BEGINNINGS
members of the Ohio Conference, continued in the work the same as last year.
Not many reports were received from the missionaries during the year 1859-1860, however, the brethren were pushing the work energetically like the year before. The work was gradually being organized, and the principal points strengthened. Concerning the work of the year, Brother Berner writes near the close of the Conference year, on April 14, 1860, as follows :
C. BERNER
"Dear Brother Koch :-
"I feel constrained to write a brief report of the work in Kansas. With inward fears I assumed the work nearly two years ago. Being a stranger everywhere, I began in the name of the Lord to find preaching places, and then to preach, even though it was in weakness, trusting God to bless the seed sown. To his glory I can say, the Lord was with us, and especially in the last Conference year.
"During the winter I held a number of meetings of several days' duration, which were crowned with success and blessings. The first was held at Two Way Creek, 12 miles south of Franklin, where we formed a class last year (1859) with 14 members, nearly all new converts. We held two meetings at Deer Creek, 12 miles west of Franklin. Here was, until recently, a very dark community, where no one seemed to know anything about con- version. One brother remarked in his testimony: 'When I came here there was nothing but robbing, murdering, drinking, card- playing, stealing, swearing, and sinful abominations. Thank God, it is different now.' We now have a class there with 18 members. Oh, how happy those dear people are because of the work God has done for them! Oh, what blessed seasons we enjoyed! Hallelu- jah! God has done great things for us. To him be all the glory.
"We also held a meeting in Franklin of 14 days' duration, to which we invited the brethren and sisters of the other appoint- ments. Friday, when the meeting was to begin, was a stormy day, and threatened rain. I thought, now the friends cannot come from the other appointments, but, thank God, on Saturday the weather was beautiful, and the friends gathered from all direc- tions to enjoy the blessings at Franklin.
"Oh, what a blessed time we enjoyed! God's children were revived and sinners were saved. On Sunday we baptized two
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1860
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
adults, and about 40 German communicants gathered at the Lord's. table to partake of the Sacrament. In the afternoon we held a testimony-meeting. Oh, what we were permitted to hear, see, and feel! One sister cried out: 'Hallelujah, that God sent German preachers to Kansas.' A brother who was recently converted, said: 'To go 100 miles to attend such a meeting would not be too far.' Eight persons united with the church, and now we have 16 members at this place.
"The fourth class is located 10 miles east of Franklin and con- sists of 7 members.1
"The fifth class was organized by Brother Porr at an ap- pointment at Holton, which I recently turned over to him.
"A sixth appointment can be organized 80 miles south of Franklin, where the friends hold prayer-meeting regularly. I might add much more, but my correspondence is too long already."
In January, 1860, M. J. Miller gives a brief resume of the work in the Botschafter as follows :
M. J. MILLER
"Brother Porr was well when here four weeks ago. It is cold and dry at present. Times are hard, labor and money scarce. The poor classes are suffering. How many people there are here who possess nothing but uncultivated land, a cold house, poor clothes to wear, and corn bread to eat. In many instances one can- not keep warm in bed because of lack of bedding. The worst of all is the worldly-mindedness, and the political quarreling. I know of no religious revival in all the land, and I am acquainted extensively. We hope times will change soon. We hope the Wyandotte consti- tution, adopted at the recent election, will be ratified by Congress, and Kansas admitted as a free state into the Union, and then things will quiet down.
"I am preaching here in town.3 We cannot rent a building for less than $20.00 to $40.00 per month, and we cannot afford that. If we had a church we might expect to do well, for when we had the use of the first building our Sunday-school numbered from 30 to 40 scholars. At my country appointments I have from 15 to 40 in attendance, which is as well as can be expected in a radius of from 6 to 12 miles, and that is called a big settlement.
"This point was later called Captain's Creek and still later Clearfield.
2Humboldt, Kansas.
"Leavenworth.
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1860
BEGINNINGS
"In Monrovia, where I preach, there are 20 to 25 families in the town. Of these about one-third are German. Up to this time I can report no conversions at any of my appointments. I have attentive hearers whose hearts have been touched, but they prefer to remain as they are, it seems. In all I have seven members on my charge. Several have moved away.
"Brother Porr is now in Western Kansas, and has four' ap- pointments according to his report when he was here. Brother Berner has many appointments. He has taken up the best Ger- man region in Kansas. He also has quite a few members from the East who are very helpful to him. Oh, if we only had more old members scattered here they would be a great help to us in gaining entrance and building up. We still have courage."
The Conference year of 1859-1860 had now drawn to a close, and while the visible success was not so great, still there was sub- stantial progress made, and the mission work in Kansas was estab- lished more firmly. Some conversions had taken place, especially were the results at Franklin very gratifying.
ILLINOIS CONFERENCE
In the month of April, 1860, the Illinois Conference met at Plainfield, on which occasion the Iowa Conference was organized pursuant to the action of General Conference held the previous year. All mission work of the Evangelical Association west of the Mississippi River was formed into the Iowa Conference. This embraced all the work in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. The brethren Miller and Porr received their credentials from the Ohio Conference one month later, May, 1860, and united with the Iowa Conference.
The new Conference was arranged in two districts, and the preachers stationed as follows :
Iowa District-S. Dickover, P. E. Grandview, J. F. Schreiber.
Maquoketa and Dubuque, J. Himmel and W. Uber. Independence, W. Kolb and C. Tim- mer. Waterloo, H. Hintze. Muscatine, J. Keiper.
Kansas District-L. Eberhardt, P. E.
Greencastle (Iowa), Chas. Tobias. Fort Des Moines (Iowa), A. Stroh- meier. Nebraska (Neb.), H. Kleinsorge. Franklin (Kans.), C. Berner. Humboldt, (Kansas), R. Dubs.
'Holton, Hiawatha, Four Mile and St. George.
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1860
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
The brethren M. J. Miller and P. Porr, having not yet united with the new Conference, because the Ohio Conference did not meet till the month of May, the Iowa Conference did not assign these two brethren to fields of labor; however, M. J. Miller con- tinued his activities at Leavenworth, and Philip Porr seems to have served Holton Mission.
R. DUBS
The work for the new year was taken up by the brethren with courage and enthusiasm. R. Dubs, the newly appointed mis- sionary to Kansas, made his trip from Northern Illinois to South- ern Kansas with horse and buggy. He describes his trip as fol- lows :
"I traveled from Northern Illinois to Southern Kansas with horse and buggy through South-eastern Iowa and Missouri. At that time Missouri was a slave state, and in a condition of high excitement. The outbreak of the Civil War was at hand. I could relate many exciting adventures of my trip through Missouri. Not far from Leavenworth I crossed the Missouri River, from there I traveled through the Delaware Indian Reservation, then the Fox and Sac, and, later, the Ottawa Reservation. From the chief of the latter tribe I received great courtesy and hospitality.
"I finally reached Humboldt, where we had only seven mem- bers: as far as I could learn there were no others in this part of South-eastern Kansas. These were Rudolph Orth and family, with whom I was acquainted in Germany, Brother Ernst, a single man, and Brother Lintner and his two sisters. Before the news reached them through the church papers that a Humboldt mission was formed, I was with them.
"My salary for that year amounted to $125.00, besides trav- eling expenses, but no allowance was made for board or horse feed.
"My presiding elder could not visit the work in Kansas the first year on account of circumstances, but came the second year as far as Leavenworth, and held several Quarterly Conferences, but again failed to reach Humboldt. One of these Conferences licensed F. Delfelder to preach, who was the first preacher to re- ceive license in Kansas."
The year 1860 was an eventful year in the history of Kansas as well as the Kansas Conference. This year is known as the
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FIRST CHURCH BUILT IN KANSAS, AT HUMBOLDT
1860 BEGINNINGS
great "Famine Year" in Kansas. A severe drought had visited the entire territory, causing intense suffering. Streams dried up so that there was no flowing water, the earth was so parched that all vegetation died, and absolute destitution reigned far and near.
R. Dubs reports that the Neosho River at Humboldt contained water only in the deepest holes in the bed of the river. Man and beast suffered intensely until relief came. His horse became so emaciated and weak that he had to assist the poor animal to its feet.
Food was scarce, so that corn-bread and milk was a dainty. He had only six members on his work, but hearing of another family he tried repeatedly to find them, but in vain. This family, named Ott, had moved from Des Plaines, Ill., and settled on the upper Verdegris River, where they had pre-empted a beautiful homestead. We will let Brother Dubs relate this episode in his own words:
"I will never forget when one evening, from an elevation, I saw in the distance a log-house with smoke curling out of the chimney. My heart beat with joy, for to lodge again on the prairie for the night, with an empty stomach, was not so desirable. As I approached the house, Father and Mother Ott and the children came to the door and stood before my horse. I remained in the saddle while father Ott removed his stocking-cap from his head and, pleasantly looking me in the face, said: 'Who are you?' I re- plied : 'Guess who I am.' The oldest daughter, a young lady who had worked in Burlingame, 30 miles from where they lived, re- marked: 'Oh, you are Mr. Davis from Burlingame.' 'No,' I re- plied, 'try again.' But they could not imagine who the stranger might be, when I said: 'I am Brother Dubs.' Upon this Father Ott threw his arms around the neck of my horse and wept for joy. His wife also wept, while the children did not know what to think about the event. For two years those aged people had not en- joyed the privilege of speaking German to any one outside of their own family, and they were not able to speak the English lan- guage. .
"I remained with them several days. We held all-day meet- ings, and although my congregation consisted of only one family, it was a delight to preach to them."
During the severe famine R. Dubs and other missionaries made frequent appeals through our church papers for aid. These
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1860
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
appeals met with ready response, and a great deal of aid was sent to Brother Dubs for distribution among the needy. He was over three hundred miles from any railroad; however, he had no diffi- culty in getting the provisions hauled, since he would pay them for their services with supplies. He writes that several miles from Humboldt he had a log-cabin which he used for a supply- house, from which he made systematic distributions twice a week.
Brother Dubs also received considerable cash which he ap- plied where it was needed and would in his judgment do the most good. There being a great many able-bodied men who if given a chance could and would work in return for what they received, the pastor conceived the idea of building a church, with labor in exchange for provisions and clothing which he distributed.
The city council gladly gave him several lots, and a Mr. Thurston, an attorney at Humboldt, who owned a large amount of timber and a saw-mill, offered him all the logs he needed gratis, with only sufficient amount of pay to cover the expense of saw- ing the logs into lumber. Stone-masons and carpenters who were being supported by him from the charity fund were given employ- ment, and before the Conference year came to a close the church- building was enclosed, but not finished.
At this time there were no members living in Humboldt. This was the first church-building in the Kansas Conference, and is still in use (1914). During the war the building was captured by the Rebels, and was held by them for a short time, when the Union troops dislodged them and made it their headquarters.
August 12, 1860, Brother M. J. Miller again furnished a re- port for the Botschafter as follows :
M. J. MILLER
"R. Dubs reports in a letter I became very sick with the fever and cannot get rid of it. I have four appointments, but cannot serve them because I am too sick. I cannot even visit Brother Berner. I will submit to my lot as best I can. It is much drier here than at your place. It is distressing. There is no corn here. Not even grass. I never saw anything like this.
"From Brother Berner I have heard, that he, too, suffers much with fever this summer.
"Brother Porr is well according to the latest accounts. There is a physical and spiritual drought all over Kansas. The drought and the financial stringency block business, and affect labor. To
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1861
BEGINNINGS
this is added the politically restless condition. All of these things affect the progress of the Lord's cause.
"In September we will have Brother Eberhardt, our presid- ing elder, with us. How we long to see the dear brother again. For the first time he is coming to Kansas, and we shall be privi- leged to hold counsel with a presiding elder."
With these reports the year 1860 draws to a close with the war-clouds hanging thick and heavy over the country, leaving their baneful effect also upon the work of the missionaries.
The year 1861 opens with several correspondences from the missionaries on the field, from which we append the following ex- tracts.
R. DUBS
The first is from a letter written by R. Dubs, stationed at Humboldt, which he sent to the Evangelical Messenger, under date of Jan. 17, 1861, in which he writes:
"It may not be unwelcome to the readers of the Messenger to hear further of the distress in Kansas, as also concerning the manner and extent of relief that has already been offered. In the first place I wish to return my sincere thanks to those who have so nobly responded with their contributions to my appeal. I am requested to return thanks, a thousand thanks, in the name of the sufferers who received them, for the Christian sympathy in our need, with the assurance that we shall earnestly implore our heav- enly Father to bless each contributor in soul and body. If only the givers could see the joy of the starving people when I men- tioned to them the receipt of various contributions. Weeping for joy re-echoes in the cabins of the poor, for the Lord does indeed send us relief."
M. J. MILLER
The following is taken from a letter written by M. J. Miller, missionary at Leavenworth, Kansas, March 7, 1861, for the Evan- gelical Messenger :
"Yesterday the cannon were fired merrily for joy on the re- ception of the telegraphic news from Washington that Kansas was admitted as a free state into the Union. Thank God for the hard-fought and long-sought-for admission. Kansas now looks for a better state of things, both in the political and moral condi- tion of the country.
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1861
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
"Many political devils are now being put away. I believe re- ligion will soon prosper more readily than ever before in Kansas. I now have six appointments besides Leavenworth, where I have all the attendance that can be expected. Many in the country are destitute of clothing so they cannot attend church. It is not pru- dent for us missionaries to remain out among the people longer than just to fill our appointments unless we can take a contribu- tion with us to help the needy. Provisions and feed are so scare that people are burdened with cares as to what they shall eat and wear.
"Our presiding elder has not been with us yet, and it is doubtful whether he will come this year. He writes to me that he is unwell. Oh, I hope and pray to God that he may get well and come to visit us and inspect the work in Kansas. We want one of the higher officials to speak from experience about Kansas at our session of Conference next May. Now we want a separate presid- ing elder district in Kansas for next year. There is work enough for a presiding elder here. The whole state of Kansas lies open for him to travel, spy out the country, visit and preach. We must have something more and better in our arrangement and operation out here to encourage and aid the good and extensive work be- gun."
Under date of March 12, 1861, M. J. Miller again writes :
"Dear Brother Hammer :- I received two drafts from you last week for $64.00 to distribute among the needy. I bought a load of flour and meal for the needy in the small town of Delaware and vicinity. I preached in said town last Sabbath and was re- quested with tears by the suffering members there to tender their thanks to the contributors in the East. Springlike weather is now here for several days."
L. EBERHART
The following extracts are taken from a letter written by the presiding elder, L. Eberhart, from Leavenworth, Kansas, to the . Evangelical Messenger, April 8, 1861. This was the first time a presiding elder visited the mission work in Kansas, and vividly points out the impressions he received. He writes as follows :
"Dear Editor :- I am now, and have been for several weeks, in 'suffering Kansas.' The far-famed dramatic country of mod- ern history, the country which has of late elicited such a warm and general support from our friends in the interior and Eastern
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1861
BEGINNINGS
States. Many thanks are due them for the truly Christian spirit which they have manifested.
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