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 4
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"I arrived in Leavenworth on the 26th of March on the 'Spread Eagle' (on the Missouri River) from Omaha, a distance of 300 miles, by water. I found Brother Miller and family in good health, and preached on the same evening to quite a respecta- ble little congregation. It is highly necessary for our church to take immediate steps in building a house of worship for our young society here.
"This city is the great depot of Kansas; it is to Kansas what Philadelphia is to Pennsylvania. Now is perhaps the most favor- able time for such a step, as lots, material, and labor are cheap. The day I arrived here it was cold, and snow was falling, but the weather soon changed. You can hardly believe how the people are rejoicing now over the recent abundant showers of rain which have fallen. The country is beginning to look up and the people are getting calm; they are living in expectation of a rich crop this year. Much wheat has been sown, and everything is coming on fine and wears a life-like face.
"I met many friends during my short stay in Kansas, and was not a little rejoiced to enjoy the company of the brethren mis- sionaries M. J. Miller, C. Berner, and R. Dubs. Sorry that cir- cumstances were such that I did not get to see Brother Porr. He however is well. The missionaries have been under rather trying circumstances, but still they are standing to their posts. There is a wide field open in Kansas for missionary work, and, if possible, we should take up several new missions and form the work into a separate presiding elder district. As it is now, comprising parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas, the district being in length over 600 miles, and in width 200 miles, reaching north nearly to Dakota Territory, it might almost be called the endless district."
M. J. MILLER
Near the close of the Conference year, Brother M. J. Miller sent the following report of his mission to Rev. R. Yeakel from Leavenworth, Kansas, under date of April 24, 1861:
"Dear Bro. Yeakel :- I will herewith submit my last report of this mission for this year, and, perhaps, my last one for the coun- try. In general, conditions have become more favorable to the missionary cause in Kansas. The political affairs have been quite
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1861
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
settled, and everything moves along harmoniously. I have ten appointments for preaching. Four of them English, and six Ger- man. In general, the attendance and attention to the Word is very good. Better than I have witnessed on older circuits in the East. I held two protracted meetings. One in the city, partly in Market Hall, and partly in an old house out in the suburbs of the city. The membership was greatly revived, and six promi- nent persons connected themselves with the church. Five of them heads of respectable families. Oh, how soul-cheering it is to see the sowing of almost three years spring up into promising fruit for eternity. God prosper the little flock at Leavenworth."
1861
IOWA CONFERENCE
The first session of the Iowa Conference was held at Grand- view, Iowa, May 29, 1861, with Bishop W. W. Orwig as chairman. At this session Joseph Rasskopf received his ordination as deacon and C. Berner his ordination as elder.
The matter of building a church at Leavenworth met the ap- proval of Conference, and confidence in the membership of the church at large was expressed to the effect that they would aid the project in a similar way in which they rendered assistance to the famine-stricken people in the West the previous year. In this respect they were not disappointed, for many contributions were given by friends in the East to build the first Evangelical church in Leavenworth in response to appeals made through the church papers, as well as through private letters and solicitations of the pastor and presiding elder. The church was successfully erected during the Conference year, and became an important factor in the development of missionary activities in and around Leaven- worth.
The Iowa Conference at this time also ordered that the pre- siding elder of Kansas District shall be considered a missionary ; this meant, that while there was not sufficient work to engage his entire time in superintending the various appointments, he might take charge of a work, or take up new missionary territory.
L. Eberhardt, who had served as presiding elder, and once vis- ited the works in Kansas, resigned his office, and M. J. Miller was elected in his place and assigned to Kansas District.
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1861
BEGINNINGS
The following appointments were supplied by the Iowa Con- ference at her first session, and since it comprises the work in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, and concerns the missionaries sent to that territory, we give the appointments in full:
Iowa District-S. Dickover, P. E. Grandview, J. F. Schreiber. Muscatine and Davenport, C. Berner. North Bend, Wm. Kolb.
Green Castle and Des Moines, Joseph Bossert. Cedar Falls, H. Hintze and C. Tim- mer.
Maquoketa and Independence, D. N. Lang and C. Sanders.
Dubuque, H. Lageschulte.
Leavenworth, R. Dubs.
Lawrence and Humboldt, J. Rasskopf and Fred Berner.
St. Paul and Crow River, A. Ragatz and Fred Emde.
Holton, Wm. Uber. Council Bluffs, Henry Kleinsorge.
Rev. F. Berner, who was assigned to Lawrence and Hum- boldt, with J. Rasskopf, received license to preach on probation, and served his first year in the ministry in Kansas. In the Con- ference proceedings no mention is made of Philip Porr, who labored in Kansas and Missouri, as one of the first missionaries sent to the West by the Ohio Conference in 1858. A remarkable feature in connection with the appointments at this time is the fact that all but one of the original missionaries to Kansas were transferred to other points outside of Kansas and Missouri, or had retired from the West altogether.
The year 1861 was crowded with events incident to the be- ginning of the Civil War. Business was at a standstill, and prog- ress along all lines of enterprise impeded. The minds of the peo- ple were wrought up to a high state of excitement, while every- thing was in a condition of uncertainty and fear. The war-clouds had gathered and were ready to break with fury upon the nation, which for a long time had been troubled with dissension and dis- turbance.
Although the mission work was hindered, yet the missionaries -like heroes-remained upon their post of duty in spite of dis- couragement and danger. Our people, as well as the preachers, were in danger of loss of property and life. Indeed some of them were victims of the notorious bushwhackers who murdered them in cold blood and robbed them of their possessions.
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New Ulm, C. Lahr and A. Nierens. Blue Earth, John Schmidt. Le Sueur, H. E. Linse.
Cannon River, G. von Eschen.
Marion, Jacob Keiper.
Preston, John Hammetter and L. Se- der.
Winona, Wm. Stegner. Buffalo, L. von Wald and Chr. Brill.
Kansas District-M. J. Miller, P. E.
Minnesota District-Israel Kuter, P. E.
1861 FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
M. J. MILLER
The following communication was sent to the Botschafter by M. J. Miller, Sept. 21, 1861 :
"Dear Bro. Koch :-
"The war is now just 150 miles from our door (referring to Leavenworth, where he resided .- Ed.). Many have gone to the war, others are left behind in great anxiety. Kansas feels the shock. Yet the work of the Lord is moving along better than we feared.
"We have held two camp-meetings. One at Holton and the other on Lawrence Mission. Each had four tents, 30 members, 5 preachers, with an attendance of about 100 persons. All the min- isters of the district were present except Bro. Kleinsorge, who lives 200 miles away. The meetings were good, and several souls were saved. It was refreshing to see the few friends erect their tents of wagon-covers and poles to hold the first camp-meeting in the great, thinly-settled, wild Kansas.
"This was a great refreshing for us preachers who were de- prived of these privileges for three years. R. Dubs preached a missionary sermon, and $65.00 was subscribed for missions, which was good considering the circumstances. In addition to this one brother will give half a cow, and another a steer, all of which is not included in the foregoing amount."
Of the two camp-meetings alluded to in Brother Miller's cor- respondence, the first was held west of Holton, on the land of a man named Meyers, who was a member of the church, and lived near Circleville.
The meeting began Aug. 29, 1861. The preachers present were: M. J. Miller, P. E., R. Dubs from Leavenworth, J. Rasskopf and F. Berner from Lawrence and Humboldt, and W. Uber from Holton. Among the converts at this meeting was the wife of John Stous, who united with the church and became a faithful worker to the time of her death, in 1896. Among the first converts at Holton, the previous year, under the labors of P. Porr and M. J. Miller, were the families of M. Fernkopf, Wm. Strohwig, Weis, Hess and others who held their services at the home of Brother Hess, about four miles west of Holton, until the appointment was moved to town and the services held in the old court-house till the first church was built in 1870.
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1861 BEGINNINGS
In 1861 M. J. Miller held the first communion service at Hol- ton in the home of Andrew Riederer. A Sunday-school was started immediately after the organization of the society in the latter part of 1859, or the beginning of 1860, and was held for a while at the home of a Mr. Woolheater, west of Holton. The school started with an attendance of 15 to 16 children, who met to learn to read German.
This year the church at Leavenworth was built during the pastorate of R. Dubs. The structure was built of brick and was used for many years as a place for worship until replaced by a more modern building in 1912. The first three sessions of the Kansas Conference were held in this building.
The missionaries in Kansas at this time were subject to many severe trials and hardships incident to the Civil War and its bane- ful effect upon temporal and spiritual conditions.
F. BERNER
The following letter, written by F. Berner from Humboldt, indicates the difficulties and dangers to which the brethren were exposed. The letter was written Nov. 9, 1861, during the first year of Brother Berner's ministry, which was certainly a severe trial of his faith and courage.
"On October 14 I drove from Owl Creek to Humboldt to get my horse shod and have some repair work done on my buggy. Upon learning that I could not get my buggy before the next day I left my baggage in town, borrowed a saddle and rode to the country to make some visits.
"Several hours after leaving town I and the family, with whom I was visiting, heard a noise in the direction of town, 21/2 miles away. It was about 6:00 o'clock in the evening. Shortly after that we learned that the secessionists had invaded the town, 300 or 400 in number, over the resistance of the home guard, and were destroying the city. We could see the smoke and flames ascend, which were reducing the town to ashes. All that I had, except my horse, was in town. My first thought was to save my horse from the marauders by hiding him behind a shock of corn, and then absenting myself some distance I fell upon my knees and prayed God for protection. The night was illumined by the flames of the burning town. We could hear the roaring of the fire and the crashing of the buildings as they succumbed to the raging elements.
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1862
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
"At 10:30 P. M. the miscreants left the town after they had gratified their destructive lust and had pillaged all they could. They passed by close where I was concealed, and also where my horse was hid, but fortunately did not discover us, for I was pray- ing to God for protection, and he wonderfully saved us all, includ- ing the family where I was staying.
"I returned to the destroyed town the next morning, but what a sight! Nearly the whole town lay in ashes and ruin, parents and children were left homeless. One mother carried her little child upon her arms with absolutely no clothing upon its body. Every- thing was plundered and burned. I stood there perplexed, but not despaired. My possessions were all gone except my horse. No buggy, no harness, no saddle, no money. Part of my clothes which were left in my satchel were gone. I did not know how to proceed on my journey. One consolation yet remained, that was, my Saviour. Our church, and the English church in town, were spared. They wanted to burn the church, but for some reason did not do so."
The troubled condition of the people and the many discour- agements of the ministers undoubtedly account for the limited correspondence during the year. Not much information can be obtained concerning this period beyond the fact that the members were few and scattered, the work abundant, the difficulties numer- ous, and the discouragements great. Yet those men of faith and perseverance held on and conquered. Today we look back with amazement at their valor and faith in God which finally resulted in victory.
1862 IOWA CONFERENCE
A glance at the appointments of the Iowa Conference of 1862 gives us anything but an inspiring view of the work in Kansas. We again append the appointments of the Iowa Conference in full, held at Grandview, Iowa, May 8, 1862, with Bishop Jos. Long, chairman :
Iowa District-S. Dickover, P. E.
Grand View, J. F. Schreiber.
North Bend, H. J. Bowman. Marion, H. Hintze. Cedar Falls, J. Keiper.
Dubuque, H. Lageschulte.
Maquoketa, A. Strohmeier. Muscatine, C. Berner. Independence, C. Sanders and H. Hol- drige. Green Castle, Jos. Bossert. Des Moines, H. Kleinsorge. Benton and Lama, D. N. Long.
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1862
BEGINNINGS
Minnesota District, J. Kuter, P. E. Cannon River, J. Hammetter.
Preston, Wm. Stegner. Buffalo, H. E. Linse. Le Sueur, J. Schmitt. St. Paul, L. von Wald.
New Ulm, L. Seder and H. Bunse.
Crow River, O. Ragatz and A. Nie- rens.
Winona, Chris. Brill.
Frontenac, G. von Eschen. Decoroh, C. Lahr. Painesville, F. Ende.
Kansas District-M. J. Miller, P. E.
Leavenworth, M. J. Miller.
Lawrence and Humboldt, J. Rasskopf. Holton, W. Uber and Chas. Tobias. Council Bluffs, F. Berner.
From the appointments we see that the work has rather re- ceded than expanded. The vast territory, which but a few years ago seemed so white unto harvest, and for which the missionaries prayed so earnestly for more laborers, has, in a measure, at least, been deserted. Lawrence and Humboldt have been restricted to but one man. The presiding elder has been assigned to a local work, and after four years of missionary activity there are but four missionaries in Kansas and Missouri. All this in spite of the fact that an appeal had been made to the church two years prior for 15 to 20 men. Besides this, only one of the original missionaries to Kansas and Missouri is found in that territory, the rest being sent by the Iowa Conference to points in Iowa and Minnesota, while other men from that Conference were assigned to the appointments in Kansas and Missouri.
R. Dubs was called to Plainfield, Illinois, to take charge of the agency of Plainfield College, thu's severing his connection with the Iowa Conference and the mission work in the West. In spite of all these discouragements, and the troubled condition of the coun- try at large, the workers continued their labors faithfully, look- ing to God for success. The heavenly Father graciously watched over the tender plant in arid soil, and in due time sent refreshing showers to revive and develop the same.
Here the motto of Kansas: "Ad astra per aspera," was liter- ally realized through the earnest devotion of the missionaries, the co-operation of the scattered members over the vast territory, and, above all, the blessings of the Most High. The highest mountains of difficulty were scaled, and the banner of the Evangelical Asso- ciation planted to abide.
M. J. MILLER
During the past year Rev. M. J. Miller, presiding elder, made a trip East, in accordance with a Conference resolution to collect funds for the church-building at Leavenworth. Concerning this
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1862
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
trip he wrote the following report for the Evangelical Messenger, dated Feb. 19, 1862:
"I went east as far as Ohio and Pennsylvania to collect for our Leavenworth church. The preachers were favorable to my cause wherever I came, for which they have my thanks. I had good success in collecting, considering the condition of the country. The whole amount I got subscribed is $1,677.27, of which amount $1,300.00 was paid cash. I found the church under roof when I got home, and we have the prospects that we can finish it soon. It is built of brick, 32x45 feet, and has a choice location."
We regret the scarcity of historical material for the year 1862-1863. Evidently the early missionaries were busy making history, but did not take time nor pains to write it. In addition to this, we must also remember that they were not seeking the glory of men, but rather the glory of God, and many of them were governed by the principle that the right hand should not know what the left hand does. The idea was foreign to them to speak or write about what they had accomplished or endured, lest it might be construed as self-glory. Today we regret very much, that we are not in possession of the history of their experiences during those years of toil and hardship.
M. J. MILLER
Only one correspondence could be obtained after the Confer- ence session in 1862, and that appeared in the Evangelical Mes- senger of October 11, 1862, from the pen of M. J. Miller, and con- tains a brief report of the work on his district. He writes as fol- lows :
"Dear Brother Yeakel :- Peace be with you and all friends of the mission cause. You will know that at the last session of the Iowa Conference, in addition to the Kansas District, Leaven- woth Mission was also assigned to me. This is a large and import- ant field, and because I lived on Leavenworth Mission four years, of which time I served the mission three years, it seemed very hard for me to serve the same in connection with the district, but, thank God, that the dark clouds which were hanging over me last spring have disappeared. To the glory of God we have better times here in Kansas than I ever expected to see during this Con- ference year.
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1862
BEGINNINGS
"Two camp-meetings have been held on the district during the summer. The first was held on the Holton work. Ten or twelve seekers came forward, and most of them were converted. Upon the first invitation seekers came forward. An old father arose and said : 'Come, my sons, let's seek salvation.' The father, the three sons and the mother were happily converted. There were 6 tents, and 30 members present. About 100 to 200 persons attended the meetings.
"The second camp-meeting was held on Lawrence Mission. At this meeting 8 seekers came forward, and 4 professed conver- sion. It was a meeting richly blessed of God. There were here also 6 tents, 30 members present, and from 100 to 200 persons in attendance."
Another correspondence appeared in the Botschafter of May 2, 1863, just prior to the Conference session, from the pen of M. J. Miller, presiding elder, in which he gives a further report of the work on his district. He writes as follows :
"Dear Bro. Yeakel :- The work of the Lord in Kansas is progessing nicely. We need two or three more ministers on the Kansas District. I hope the Conference at the coming session will be able to appoint two or three additional ministers to Kan- sas. In regard to support, will say we can support that many more without an increase of missionary appropriation. The people in Kansas support well. All help, whether converted or uncon- verted. To show what an interest the people generally take in our work, I give you the amount of what some of the appointments paid for the mission cause: Coal Creek, $42.00; Leavenworth, with 24 members, $100.00; Holton, with 48 members, $120.00. Upon the whole, $3.00 per member.
"I think Kansas District should be organized into a Confer- ence. This state has a great future, and so has our church. Now is the time to push the work. We could accomplish more for the Lord and the church if we were a separate Conference. It is too far for the missionaries in Kansas to go up to Iowa to attend Con- ference session. It takes time and money to do so. I earnestly plead for the organization of a Kansas Conference."
IOWA CONFERENCE
May 7, 1863, the Iowa Conference met at Lisbon, Iowa, where the following appointments were made :
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1863
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
Iowa District-S. Dickover, P. E.
Grand View Circuit, H. Lageschulte. North Bend Circuit, H. J. Bowman. Marion Circuit, J. Bossert. Cedar Falls and Ft. Dodge, J. Keiper and Ed. Wise. Dubuque, A. Strohmeier. Maquoketa, C. Sanders.
Washington, D. N. Long.
Independence, S. W. Mckesson and L. H. Gehman.
Minnesota District-J. Kuter, P. E.
Cannon River, John Hammetter. Preston, W. Stegner. Buffalo, H. E. Linse. St. Paul, L. von Wald.
Le Sueur, John Schmidt. Faribault, J. Rasskopf.
Coon River, C. Brill and E. Baumen.
Hutchinson, W. Giese. Frontenac, G. von Eschen. Lansing, C. Lahr.
Menomonee, F. Ende. Winona, W. Giess.
Kansas District- M. J. Miller, P. E.
Leavenworth, C. Berner.
Lawrence, J. F. Schreiber.
Humboldt, to be supplied (P. Fricker). Holton, C. Tobias.
Arago, W. Uber.
Council Bluffs, Iowa, F. Berner.
Des Moines, Iowa, H. Kleinsorge.
Green Castle, H. Holdridge.
C. BERNER
Again there is a break in the historical narrative until late in the summer, when the following correspondence appears in the Botschafter from the pen of C. Berner, dated Aug. 1st, 1863:
LEAVENWORTH, KANS.
"Dear Brother :- May God's blessings be with you. To the praise of God I can say the good Lord has been with us. Under the protection of God we arrived in Leavenworth safe and in good health. We were kindly received by the dear friends. For two weeks Brother and Sister Henne gave us a home with them. May God reward them for their great kindness.
"We certainly have a great task before us. The mission is important. I feel the great responsibility upon me and our church in this city. The work in Kansas is of great importance for us as a church. The need for the gospel is great. Our aim is to press forward and gain more ground. Yes, press forward as a church clear out to Oregon and California. I ask God's dear children and friends of our work to pray for us. We certainly need your prayers."
Aside from the foregoing communication there is absolute silence concerning the activity of the brethren and the development of the work. How interesting it would be to know more about the six brethren who labored in Kansas and Nebraska during the year. However, their deeds are recorded in a book whose seal is not. broken to our view as yet.
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1864 BEGINNINGS
IOWA CONFERENCE
The Iowa Conference met in session at Dubuque, Iowa, May 13, 1864, with Bishop J. Long, chairman, when the division of the Iowa Conference took place, and the Kansas Conference was formed according to action taken by General Conference, held the previous autumn at Buffalo, N. Y., on which occasion the organi- zation of the Kansas, Canada, and Michigan Conferences was or- dered.
The following items are taken from the records of the Iowa Conference at that time:
"Resolved, That a Kansas Conference be organized."
"Resolved, That the Kansas Conference consist of one dis- trict."
"Whereas, The brethren J. F. Schreiber, P. Fricker and C. Tobias of the Kansas District are absent from this Conference because of the heavy traveling expense, therefore Resolved, That their action is justifiable, and they are excused."
The following boundaries were formed :
a. There shall a new mission be taken up in North-western Missouri and be called Rockport Mission.
b. There shall a new mission be taken up in Western Kan- sas, to be called West Kansas Mission.
P. Fricker was received into the itinerancy, and it was re- solved that the Kansas Conference shall meet in First Annual Ses- sion at Leavenworth, Kansas, May 12, 1865.
KANSAS CONFERENCE
The new Conference started out with the following appoint- ments and preachers assigned at Dubuque, Iowa, May, 1864:
Kansas District-M. J. Miller, P. E.
Leavenworth and Lawrence, J. F. Arago and Rock Port, C. Berner and 'Schreiber. J. Scherer.
Humboldt, P. Fricker. West Kansas Mission, to be supplied. Holton, S. W. Mckesson.
Thus the Kansas Conference, which was destined to make history, was launched. The work was great, the laborers few, the territory immense. Railroads were unknown. Wagon roads were in poor condition, with bridgeless streams. Settlements were far
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1864
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
apart, and accommodations limited. In addition to this the coun- try was in the throes of the Civil War, with life and property in danger. The notorious "bushwhackers" were on the alert to kill and destroy. Many were the victims of those hidden fiends, among them some of our own Evangelical people. None were safe from those demons in human form.
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