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 5
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There were 50 appointments at this time, with a membership of scarcely 100. R. Yeakel, our church historian, says, speaking of the Kansas Conference: "Probably no Conference among us began so small."
The little band of missionaries had faith in God, and were men of great courage. Their work was God's work. The visible blessing of God rested upon their labors, and their efforts were not in vain.
Although the pioneer missionary could not spend much of his time in his study preparing "great sermons," yet he preached great sermons, for he received his message from God, rather than from books and magazines. He did not know so much about the news of the day, and politics, but he did know much about prayer, about God, and his Word. He also knew how to lay a good foundation for future generations to build upon.
The early missionaries labored among a people whose circum- stances were in keeping with the conditions of the country and the times. One of the old pioneer preachers gives the following de- scription of the situation: "The people were poor and could not render much substantial aid. Their houses were not large nor expensive. They usually consisted of kitchen, dining-room, sit- ting-room, parlor and bedroom, all in one apartment. In spite of this crowded condition the man of God was always a welcome guest, and was considered a blessing to the home."
The pioneer missionary's equipment was very simple, consist- ing usually of a horse and saddle (sometimes a buggy), a Bible, hymn-book, discipline, and a few other books of a devotional char- acter, which he would study while en route from one appointment to another, or when he could arrange to be at home a few days. He would travel as much as 300 miles in making one round over his mission or circuit. One mission extended from St. Joseph, Mo., to Fremont County, Iowa, a distance of 150 miles, while West Kansas had no border save the Pacific Ocean.
44
1864 BEGINNINGS
D. R. ZELLNER
Another of the veterans, D. R. Zellner, writes :
"My mission necessitated me to travel 270 miles in making one round over my work. I had to preach from two to four times between Sundays, frequently traveling 25 to 40 miles a day for a protracted season. I would eat my lunch, consisting of a few crackers, on the prairie at a distance of 10 to 15 miles from the nearest house.
"Sometimes I had a bed to sleep in, sometimes I had none. Sometimes I slept on a bed prepared on the stone pavement in the house which was used for a floor. Our breakfast usually con- sisted of corn-bread and sorghum, after which came a horseback ride of 25 miles before dinner."
The same writer continues :
"Those were days of hardship, but days of joy and victory. I had a happy time. The Lord was with me in the saddle, in the homes of the people, in the prayer-meetings and in the preaching services. I could shout the praise of God as I went from one ap- pointment to another. When we commenced our protracted meet- ings we expected immediate results and were disappointed if we did not realize them. The people were usually ready to receive the truth, and conversions invariably followed, with persecutions and opposition."
J. F. SCHREIBER
Of J. F. Schreiber it is related that he, on one occasion, stopped at a cabin to stay all night. This cabin was occupied by a bachelor who was a very rough man. Supper was finally prepared, which consisted of meat, which was apparently fish. After supper the host asked his guest how he liked his supper of corn-bread and fish. Brother Schreiber responded that it was very good, but he was inquisitive to know how he came in possession of fish at that place, whereupon the man remarked that the meat he ate was not fish, but rattlesnake.
On another occasion Brother Schreiber inquired at a home if he might stop all night, but found the house crowded with peo- ple. The gentleman remarked that although they had no room to keep him there, he could find room for him at a neighbor's house where the people were away, providing he were not afraid to stay alone. Brother Schreiber said it would make no difference, so he
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1864
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
was taken to the house and conducted to a room in which there were two beds, neither of which had been arranged since last used. His host remarked: "My brother died here today, and his wife and children are staying with me. Just sleep in either bed. Good-night!" Brother Schreiber afterward remarked laconically : "If I had only known in which of the two beds the man died !"
Many of the hardships, trials and tears of those early mission- aries are not recorded, save in the book of God's remembrance, who alone can reward those earnest, faithful worthies. The ten- der little plant they started with prayers and consecration has be- come a mighty tree, under whose branches many souls have found a resting-place, and shelter in the time of storm. Many, through the ministry of the Kansas Conference, have been won for the higher life in Christ, achieved victory in death, and a triumphant entrance into the kingdom of glory.
From her ranks have gone forth missionaries to the foreign field, while others have been called to various fields of activity at home.
P. FRICKER
During the year 1863 Philip Fricker reinforced the small number of missionaries in the Kansas Conference by coming from New York and taking up the work in the newly organized Con- ference. He was stationed on Humboldt Mission, where he ren- dered efficient service.
He encountered difficulty in finding a house in which to move his family, but finally succeeded in finding a log-cabin at the Owl Creek appointment, which he was permitted to occupy by the con- sent of the lady whose husband was serving in the army. This man was not favorably disposed toward the church and her minis- ters, and upon learning that a preacher was occupying his house he immediately notified Brother Fricker to vacate the house or he would shoot him the first chance he got. This was not very en- couraging news for the new preacher who had moved all the way from New York to take up work in the State of Kansas. This man was engaged in the shooting business and Brother Fricker consid- ered it wisdom to move out of the house.
Twice the family of Brother Fricker was warned to flee from the approach of "bushwhackers," but in each instance the Lord turned the destroyers into another direction before they reached the home, and protected his servant from evil.
46
1864
. BEGINNINGS
Brother Fricker was also summoned by an officer of the United States to report at Iola, to enlist in the army. He took leave from his family while his wife was sick in bed, surrounded by her help- less children, perhaps never to see them again. He hastened on to Iola to answer to his country's call, but again the Lord gra- ciously intervened, and Brother Fricker was excused and permit- ted to return home. Great was the joy of the family when in the evening of the same day his little son, looking out of the window, saw him and ran to his mamma's bedside, exclaiming : "Oh, papa is coming, papa is coming !"
Mother Fricker related the foregoing incident in later years with deep emotion as she remarked her husband had been given back to her, as it were, from the dead in a very dark hour of her life.
J. J. ESHER
During this year Bishop J. J. Esher, who had been elected to the episcopacy the preceding year, visited the work in Kansas, and preached at the following points :
July 29, 1864, Lueck's appointment. Aug. 3, 1864, Deer Creek.
July 31, 1864, Holton. Aug. 4, 1864, Franklin.
July 31, 1864, Coal Creek. Aug. 5, 1864, Captains Creek.
Aug. 1, 1864, Monrovia (Camp Creek). Aug. 7, 1864, Leavenworth.
Aug. 2, 1864, Leavenworth.
S. W. MC KESSON
There are no further records of the development of the work available for the remaining portion of the year until Feb. 8, 1865, when the Messenger brought the following correspondence from S. W. Mckesson from Holton, Kansas :
"This mission is very large, embracing eight counties, and you may imagine there are some lonesome travels over these bleak prairies in hunting up the stray sheep of Israel, who are almost starving for the want of spiritual food. But, thank God! our feeble efforts have not been in vain. I held three protracted meetings, of which two were crowned with conversions. In Hol- ton I held one, and nine persons were happily converted to God. One was held at Marysville, a place noted for its wickedness, as if it were the outskirts of hell. Here we met with opposition. The devil tried to break up the meeting by sending a mob of his fol- lowers with pistols and clubs to the place of worship, but, thank
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1864
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
God! their wicked designs were overruled by Divine Providence. There were several seekers and one conversion. I thank God that. I can report twelve accessions to the church, of whom eleven were newly converted. May the Lord keep them faithful. I intend to hold two more protracted meetings this winter. I feel encour- aged, knowing that our labor is not in vain."
M. J. MILLER
In April, 1865, M. J. Miller, presiding elder, wrote the fol- lowing appeal, "Come Over and Help Us," for the Messenger :
"The Kansas Conference must have at least three more preachers this coming Conference session, in order to supply her fields of labor, and we should take up one or two new missions and supply them by all means. One of our number (Brother Scherer) has left us and is preaching for the Congregational Church in Muscatine, Iowa. The Board of Missions has granted us an ap- propriation for two or three additional men, and hence we are on safe ground. If we cannot get the needed number of preachers to supply at least the old field our work must necessarily suffer loss, and the little band of ministers and members of this young Conference will be greatly disappointed and discouraged. We must hold fast what we have gained, and extend our borders and increase our numbers. Who will come over and help us? 'The King's business requireth haste.' Conference will meet the 26th of May. O Lord, send laborers into thy vineyard !"
48
EVANGELICAL CHURCH AT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, IN WHICH THE FIRST CONFERENCE SESSION WAS HELD
THIS CHURCH IS REPLACED BY A BEAUTIFUL NEW CHURCH
1865
EXTENDING THE BORDERS.
FIRST SESSION
The first session of the Kansas Conference was held in Leav- enworth, Kansas, in the brick church on North Sixth St., begin- ning May 26, 1865, with Bishop Joseph Long as chairman.
C. Berner was appointed secretary, and held this position, with the exception of three years, till 1888, when, on account of failing health, he was compelled to sever his connection with the Kansas Conference. Rev. J. G. Pfeifer from the Pittsburg Conference was present as a visitor, and was received as an advisory member. The following year he united with the Conference, and for many years was an important factor in the organization.
J. Scherer, who, the previous year, cast his lot with the brethren in Kansas, was deposed from the ministry because of disorderly conduct and unfaithfulness to his office as minister.
H. Haas received license to preach on probation and was re- ceived into the itinerancy, also George Washington Bugh was re- ceived as a probationer from the Free Methodist Church.
Joseph Rasskopf was received from the Iowa Conference as an itinerant preacher, S. W. Mckesson received his elder's orders, and P. Fricker deacon's orders.
J. F. Schreiber was elected presiding elder in the Kansas Conference.
The following brethren were chosen examiners for the junior preachers, thus constituting the first Board of Examiners: Theol- ogy and Discipline, the presiding bishop; Church History, C. Ber- ner; Profane History, J. F. Schreiber; Grammar, M. J. Miller.
M. J. Miller, one of the first missionaries to Kansas in 1858, who had labored since that time in the territory, serving four years as presiding elder, asked Conference for his credentials. The breth- ren earnestly plead with him to remain, but he preferred to go to the Iowa Conference. His credentials were granted, and his activ- ities ceased in the Conference which he helped to organize, and in which he rendered such valuable service for seven years.
MISSIONARY SOCIETY
Bishop Long and M. J. Miller were appointed a committee to purchase a Conference Record, and a book in which to record the minutes of the Missionary Society. These books are still in pos- session of the Conference, and contain much valuable information.
49
1865 FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
FINANCE PLAN
The following finance plan was adopted, which was in har- mony with the custom of the times:
1. The missionaries shall receive full salary, and in addition $25.00 table expense for serving a country work, and $30.00 if serving a city appointment.
2. Cheap traveling and moving expenses, with necessary house rent shall be allowed.
3. In order to render an accurate account to the Conference, every preacher shall enter into a book all cash reecipts, and the cash value of all donations.
A committee was appointed to audit the preacher's traveling and moving expenses, which later reported that the accounts of the brethren were found satisfactory.
A Conference Missionary Society was organized, however the names of the officers cannot be found in the records.
BOUNDARIES
The following boundary changes were made at this time :
a. The west end of Holton Mission was detached and formed into a new mission and called Big Blue Mission.
b. The appointments Camp Creek and Coal Creek were taken from Leavenworth Mission, and the Four Mile and North Fork from Onaga Mission, and attached to Holton Mission, the same to be served by two preachers.
c. Kansas City and surrounding country was taken up as a new mission and called Kansas City Mission ; the same was ordered supplied with a preacher, if possible.
This appointment was more properly old Westport, where there had been a work started previously with a splendid prospect for a permanent future, but which, during the Civil War, was dis- sipated and finally abandoned.
The following appointments were made at this first session of the Kansas Conference by Bishop Long :
APPOINTMENTS
Kansas District-J.F. Schreiber, P. E.
Leavenworth, Joseph Rasskopf.
Big Blue, G. W. Bugh.
Lawrence, Philip Fricker.
Arago, C. Berner.
Humboldt, Charles Tobias.
Rockport, Mo., H. Haas.
Kansas City, to be supplied.
Holton, S. W. Mckesson.
50
BEM,ER
-
+.114+1
FIRST KANSAS CONFERENCE PICTURE.
1865
EXTENDING THE BORDERS
The number of preachers was increased from 6 to 8 since the former session of the Iowa Conference, where the Kansas Confer- ence was launched. The brethren Rasskopf, Tobias, Bugh and Haas have been added to the ministerial force, while the brethren Miller and Scherer left her ranks.
STATISTICS
The following statistics were reported: Conversions, 23; ac- cessions, 63; membership, 176; itinerants, 7; churches, 3; value, $6,400.00; parsonages, 3; value, $1,100.00; Sunday-schools, 2; officers and teachers, 16; scholars, 54.
This is the first statistical report from the work in Kansas and shows what has been accomplished during seven years of hard work. No doubt the results would have been far greater had it not been for the effects of the Civil War, which not only para- lyzed business and finances, but also missionary operations. What a pity that we have no record of the experiences of the early pio- neers and missionaries during those years of struggles and dis- couragements.
The Conference made some encouraging progress during the past year since her organization and the centralization of her efforts on her exclusive territory.
Prior to this time the work in Holt County, Missouri, was begun through the Kunkle brothers, who moved to that section of the country, settling in the community of Nickels Grove, north- east of Oregon, Holt Co., also in Richardson County, Nebraska, in the vicinity of Arago. The three churches indicated in the statis- tics were located at Humboldt, Leavenworth, and Arago.
NEMAHA CIRCUIT
The work in Richardson County, Neb., was started through a Pennsylvania German family named Herbster, who located near Arago about 1862, and opened their home to the Evangelical preachers who traveled through that section of country. The set- tlers were mostly Catholics and Freethinkers. The people lived without spiritual concern or instruction. Some who had been reared under more favorable circumstances felt their destitute condition and were known to frequently shed tears over the wicked state of the people, and no one to preach to them the Word of God.
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1865
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
At a wedding held near Arago in 1861 an ex-pastor of a nominal church officiated, using for a text from which he at- tempted to preach a sermon: "Be fruitful and multiply." After the wedding ceremony he urged the bride to engage in duck and geese raising as a means for making money, but had no counsel for establishing a Christian home in that new and wicked coun- try. This young couple was later converted through the instru- mentality of the Evangelical preachers, and alluded to the pastor mentioned as a man destitute of saving grace, or even the theory of salvation. Such was the spiritual status in that community when the Evangelical preachers began their labors there in 1862.
Probably in the year 1863 a church was built in Arago where services were held. In 1863 the Kaiser and Meier families moved into Richardson County from the State of Illinois, and settled quite a distance south and west of Arago. In 1866 they were joined by the Daeschner family, likewise from Illinois. The church at Arago was now too far distant for those families to worship there and the work at Arago had never gained a very strong foothold, so the church and parsonage were sold, and five years later a church was built 6 miles east of Falls City, which was named Zion Church, and became the center of a large Evangelical community. In this church the Annual Conference was held on several occa- sions in later years.
From the Zion congregation several other societies developed, namely, Preston, Tabor, and Falls City. Also quite a number of ministers went out from this society to preach the gospel. Among them were Wm. Meier, who for many years labored successfully in the Conference, then later moved to Texas and preached there for a number of years; H. Koepsel, Wm. Daeschner, Wm. Heiser, A. Ernst and M. Walter.
A camp-meeting was held as early as 1868, which has been repeated annually ever since. At one of those camp-meetings, in 1870, a drunken mob of half-breed Indians caused a disturbance, during which one of the ministers, John Beck, received a pistol- shot in his arm, which caused a painful but not dangerous wound. The rowdies dispersed after the shooting, and no further disturb- ance was experienced. Steps were taken to arrest them, but the officers were either afraid or disinclined to do so, and nothing further was done in the matter.
Adjoining the Zion Church is the old cemetery, where many of the loyal fathers and mothers lie buried, while their children
52
1866
EXTENDING THE BORDERS
and children's children meet from Sabbath to Sabbath to wor- ship the God who so wonderfully saved and helped their parents during the years of their trials and victories.
1866
SECOND SESSION
The second session of Conference was also held at Leaven- worth, Kansas, beginning March 30, 1866, with the junior bishop, J. J. Esher, as chairman.
John Wuerth, for many years later a prominent leader in the Conference, received license as preacher on probation, and ac- cording to the custom of that time, was received into the itine- rancy. Brother Wuerth had, however, preached part of the previ- ous year under appointment of the presiding elder.
Rev. S. W. Mckesson, desiring to visit friends in the East, was granted permission to do so, however his absence from his field of labor was not to exceed six weeks.
Rev. J. G. Pfeifer, who was present at the former Conference session as a visitor, now presented his credentials from the Pitts- burg Conference, and was received as a member of the Kansas Conference. For many years Brother Pfeifer rendered valuable service as one of her foremost leaders, holding various offices of trust.
It was resolved to build a church on Big Blue Mission, if pos- sible, and a committee was appointed to proceed with the project, provided that sufficient money could be secured so that not more than $200.00 would be required from outside sources.
J. Rasskopf found it necessary to step out of the active ranks of the Conference, taking a local relation.
An important action was taken at this session in reference to secret societies, which was agitating the Conference and church. The following resolution was adopted: "Inasmuch as secret oath- bound societies, such as Freemasons and kindred orders, are dan- gerous for the state, and injurious to the church, contrary to the spirit of Christ and the gospel, and we must perceive with deep regret that this evil has crept into our Evangelical Association, and even into our ministry, therefore Resolved, That we will not give our vote to receive any member of the Freemasons or kin-
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1866
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
dred orders into the ministry, nor to advance to a higher office in the church any minister who belongs to any of the aforesaid or- ders."
BOUNDARIES
Camp Creek and Coal Creek appointments were taken from Holton Mission, and in connection with Atchison formed into a new mission, called Atchison Mission, while Four Miles and North- fork were taken from Holton Mission and added to Onaga Mission.
Macon County, Mo., and the adjoining counties were taken up as a new mission and called Macon Mission. Rockport Mission was changed to Oregon Mission.
MISSIONARY SOCIETY
The Missionary Society held its annual meeting, at which it was reported that $17.00 had been collected for missions during the year. The society was reorganized by electing J. F. Schreiber, president; P. Fricker, vice-president; H. Haas, secretary, and Jo- sep Rasskopf, treasurer. Bishop Esher was elected delegate to the Board of Missions. He also preached a very helpful sermon on the cause of missions on Sunday evening of Conference, and secured pledges for missions.
STATISTICS
The statistics for the year were reported as follows: Conver- sions, 34; accessions, 84; membership, 250; churches, 3; parson- ages, 3; value of churches, $8,600.00; value of parsonages, $1,900.00; itinerants, 9; local preachers, 2; Sunday-schools, 4; teachers and officers, 29; scholars, 130; catechumens, 36; cate- chetical classes, 8.
The statistics show an encouraging increase for the past year. Increase of members, 74; conversions, 11; itinerants, 2; Sunday- schools, 2; scholars, 76.
The highest salary paid the past year was $548.25 to a min- ister, his wife and six children. The lowest salary was $143.00, paid to a single man. The amount of salary was not determined by a preacher's ministerial standing or orders, but rather by his family relations, each member of the family receiving a certain amount of support. In addition to this each adult member of the family received an allowance of $31.25 per year, for what was called "table expense," and each child $6.25 for the same purpose.
54
1867
EXTENDING THE BORDERS
The following assignments were made for the ensuing year :
APPOINTMENTS
Kansas District-J. F. Schreiber, P. E.
Leavenworth, C. Berner.
Big Blue, G. W. Bugh.
Lawrence, P. Fricker.
Arago, S. W. Mckesson.
Humboldt, Chas. Tobias.
Oregon, Henry Haas.
Holton, J. Wuerth and supply.
Macon, J. G. Pfeifer.
Atchison, Christian Timmer.
No reference is made to Kansas City Mission, which was cre- ated a year ago, but not supplied at the time.
The seven brethren appointed the previous year had labored faithfully and not in vain. New appointments were taken up, and the old ones more firmly established in most instances. During the previous year (1864) Brother Mckesson, who served Big Blue Circuit, began to preach at Swede Creek in Riley Co., Kan- sas, in the homes of Fred Toburen, Adolph Toburen, and Wm. Myers. These appointments were served every three to four weeks as circumstances permitted. During the past Conference year G. W. Bugh followed the same order in serving the appoint- ments, and the foundation was laid for one of the strongest and most permanent works in the Conference among the German peo- ple of that community.
In Missouri and Nebraska. the work developed satisfactorily, as the statistics of this session show. The works were large, and the appointments numerous, so that a great deal of traveling was necessary by the missionaries. Ofttimes the roads were hard to travel, and the streams had no bridges, so that traveling was not only difficult but dangerous, yet in spite of these and many other hindrances these intrepid heroes continued their activities.
1867
THIRD SESSION
The third session of Conference was held at Leavenworth, Kansas, beginning March 28, 1867. Bishop J. Long, who held the first session, was chairman and conducted the business of Confer- ence for the last time. C. Berner was again appointed secretary.
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