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 6
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At this session Chas. Tobias was tried for insubordination and neglect of duty, for which he was deposed from the ministry.
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The following brethren were licensed to preach on probation : Wm. Folgate, H. Mattill, and D. R. Zellner, the two latter preach- ing many years in the Conference, while H. Mattill served a num- ber of years as presiding elder, and later as junior publisher in the Publishing House at Cleveland, Ohio. H. Mattill was also re- ceived into the itinerancy.
J. Wuerth, G. W. Bugh, Henry Haas, and Christian Timmer received deacons' orders, and Philip Fricker, elder's orders.
Oregon was divided at this time, the western portion retain- ing the name Oregon Mission, and the eastern part called Grand River Mission.
Nickels Grove, Holt Co., Missouri, was chosen as the place to hold the next session of Conference.
The time for the next General Conference being near at hand, J. F. Schreiber was elected delegate, and C. Berner alternate to the same.
It was ordered that one-half of the church at Arago should be sold, if possible, and the proceeds applied to pay off the indebt- edness, the surplus, if any, should be used to complete the church building.
It was also resolved that a district house shall be built at Hol- ton, Kansas, if possible, however not more than $100.00 indebted- ness shall be incurred. A committee, consisting of J. F. Schreiber, the pastor at Holton, and Peter Riederer, was appointed to super- intend the project. It was further ordered that J. F. Schreiber, presiding elder, shall be stricken from the list of missionaries, with the understanding that for this year he shall receive out of the missionary treasury $100.00 for rent, this $100.00 shall apply to the new district house, and Brother Schreiber shall collect the amount he expends for rent up to the time he can occupy the house from the district.
FINANCE PLAN
The finance plan was changed to the effect that a preacher serving a city shall in the future receive $40.00 per year table expense.
The salary for the past year amounted to $125.00 for a single man, with $31.25 additional table expense. A married man re- ceived twice that amount, and for each child in the family an additional $25.00, with $6.25 table expense.
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MISSIONARY SOCIETY
The Missionary Society reported the amount of $35.70 raised for missions the past year. In addition to this Atchison Mission contributed $12.50, which brought the total up to $48.20. The contribution from Atchison Mission is the first contribution re- ported outside of the society, which up to this time was supported exclusively by the preachers of the Conference.
At the reorganization of the society J. F. Schreiber was again elected president, Philip Fricker vice-president, H. Haas secretary, and C. Berner treasurer. On Conference Sunday even- ing J. G. Pfeifer preached a missionary sermon on which occasion a cash collection amounting to $20.21 was received and pledges amounting to $110.00 secured.
J. G. Pfeifer was elected delegate to the Board of Missions, thus becoming the first elected delegate from the membership of the Conference to the Board of Missions.
STATISTICS
The following statistics were reported for the past year: Conversions, 118; accessions, 204; membership, 412; preachers, 9; local preachers, 2; Sunday-schools, 7; teachers and officers, 47; scholars, 201; churches, 3; parsonages, 4.
APPOINTMENTS
Kansas District-J. F. Schreiber, P. E.
Leavenworth, C. Berner. Atchison, C. Timmer and H. Mattill.
Lawrence, D. Zellner under C. Berner. Arago, S. W. Mckesson.
Humboldt, H. Haas.
Oregon, John Wuerth.
Holton, P. Fricker.
Macon, J. G. Pfeifer.
Big Blue, Wm. Folgate under P. Fricker.
Grand River, G. W. Bugh.
The labors of the brethren were marked with signal success during the past year, as may be seen from the statistics. Espe- cially encouraging were the number of conversions and accessions.
MACON
During the year the first organization was effected in East- ern Missouri. Brother J. G. Pfeifer, who was assigned to Macon Mission at the previous Conference session, located his family at Bloomington, a small village in Macon Co., where he began opera- tions. He organized a class with the following ten members: Sol- omon Geist and wife, Jacob Laumeister and wife, John Zeiner and wife, and John Hess and wife, including the pastor and wife.
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A brick church in the village was owned by the Presbyterian and the Methodist Church, South. The Methodist brethren de- sired to sell their interest in the church, so the Evangelical Asso- ciation bought the same. Later the Presbyterians also sold their interest to the Evangelical brethren, who thus became the sole owners of the building, and had a place for worship which was completely under their control. In later years the brick building was replaced by a frame structure.
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At the time Brother Pfeifer was developing the work at Bloomington, he also took up an appointment near Bethel, Shelby Co., Missouri, where he organized a class the next year with the following charter members: Rev. Christian Stauffer and wife, Philip Christman and wife, Michael Fey and wife, Ferdinand Wes- ter and wife, Jacob Wise, Fredricke Schnaufer, Henry Schnaufer, and John C. Bower. This class worshiped in the Short School House till 1870. They then rented a hall in Bethel, where they held their services for nine years when they built the Zion Church, three miles west of Bethel. Here they organized the first Evan- gelical Sunday-school in Shelby County. From this congregation several young men entered the gospel ministry, namely: W. A. Schutte, deceased, of the Illinois Conference; C. W. Stauffer, de- ceased, and E. F. Boehringer.
NICKELS GROVE
The beginning of the work in Holt County, Mo., dates back to the first missionary operations in the State of Missouri, when Philip Porr, sent to Missouri in 1858 by the Ohio Conference, preached in the vicinity of Oregon. David Kunkle was probably the first member of the Evangelical Association in the State of Missouri. He settled one mile east of Oregon, where he lived for forty years. In his home the pioneer preachers found a hearty welcome and ready assistance in their work of planting the banner of the Evangelical Association. There is an absence of historical data for several years, which is very much regretted, however, in 1865, we find the families of Ulrich Bucher and Adam Rung, who moved from the State of Indiana, locating near Oregon, fol- lowed one year later by the families Joseph Anselman and Daniel Zachman from the State of Ohio. These families located in the vicinity of Nickels Grove. In 1865 Rev. H. Haas was assigned to Rockport Mission, which embraced all the work there was at the time in Missouri. In the winter of 1866 he held a protracted
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meeting in the Nickels Grove school-house, assisted by Rev. C. Timmer, who was serving Atchison Mission in Kansas. This meeting resulted in the conversion of eight or ten persons who were added to the little band.
In the spring of 1867 Rev. J. Wuerth was appointed to the work, and served it for two years. About this time the first class was organized with Adam Rung as class-leader and Joseph Ansel- man, exhorter.
The first Quarterly Conference was held May 25, 1867, in the home of Father Anselman by Rev. J. F. Schreiber, presiding elder. During the summer of this year the first Evangelical camp-meet- ing was held in the county, in charge of Rev. J. F. Schreiber. This meeting was blessed with many conversions and the advance- ment of the society in general.
The following winter Brother Wuerth began a meeting in the Nickels Grove schoolhouse, but soon the attendance became so large that the house could not accommodate the people, and the meet- ing was moved to a Baptist church in the community, where it was continued four weeks, resulting in about thirty conversions. After four weeks the meeting was moved to the Kunkle factory, half a mile east of Oregon, and continued there for another four weeks, during which time thirty-five souls were saved and added to the church.
In 1868 a brick church, 36x46 feet, was built at a cost of $3,200.00 at the same place where the present Nickels Grove Church stands. This was the first Evangelical church-building in Holt County.
Small as the beginning was, the membership had increased to 75 by the close of the Conference year 1868. From this society, which may be called the mother church of the Evangelical Asso- ciation in Holt County, members have gone into other parts of the county, and formed the nucleus for other societies.
The Kansas Conference held her session twice in the Nickels Grove Church. The first time in 1868, and the second time in 1872. Six young men were recommended to the ministry of the gospel by this congregation, of whom are J. H. Kiplinger, H. E. Bower, and F. W. Voegelein who later was sent by the Board of Missions to Japan as missionary.
From this society developed the Oregon and Mound City works.
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1868 FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
FOURTH SESSION
March 26, 1868, the members of the Conference met at Nick- els Grove, Holt County, Missouri, to hold their fourth session. Bishop Esher was present as chairman and appointed C. Berner secretary.
In addition to the usual committees a committee on statistics was appointed for the first time, the committee consisting of C. Berner, P. Fricker and H. Haas.
Charges were preferred against G. W. Bugh for neglect of duty and immoral conduct, whereupon the following action was taken by Conference: "Resolved, That the chairman shall admin- ister a severe reprimand to Brother Bugh for his misdeeds, and that he shall be placed on probation for one year. In case he prom- ises amends he shall receive an appointment for the coming year under another brother."
C. W. Comstock was licensed to preach on probation, and Wm. Folgate, C. W. Comstock, and Wm. Lingelbach were received into the itinerancy.
The presiding elder reported a deficit of $67.00 in his salary under the new arrangement adopted a year ago, whereupon Con- ference ordered that each minister shall take up a collection on his field of labor during the year to make up the deficit. The sur- plus to be applied to the new district house erected during the year. In addition to this a collection was ordered taken on each field of labor to liquidate the indebtedness on the newly erected district house at Holton, Kansas. The presiding elder shall be authorized to collect wherever he can for said purpose.
TEMPERANCE
On recommendation of the chairman, and in harmony with church sentiment, a temperance pamphlet, published by A. A. Wel- ler, was ordered circulated throughout the Conference.
A committee was appointed which was authorized to sell and transfer the church and parsonage property located at Arago.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
The following action in the interest of the children and young people was taken, the first of the kind recorded in the history of the Conference: "In view of the emphatic command of our Sav- iour, 'Feed my lambs,' we would impress upon every member of
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the Conference, and every one interested in the youth, which is the future hope of the church: First, that wherever possible, Sunday-schools shall be established, but especially that catecheti- cal classes shall be formed and religious instruction imparted. This should be done as well in the Sunday-school as in private. Also our young people should be supplied with sound literature, to which our excellent Sunday-school books are so well adapted, and they should be universally distributed."
BOUNDARIES
Leavenworth and Atchison were ordered served together and supplied with two preachers.
The appointments Nemaha and Spring Creek were taken from Onaga Mission, and together, with the surrounding country, formed into a new English mission, to be known as Nemaha Mission. If possible, this should be supplied. This was the first action taken by Conference in reference to the English language, of which we can find any record.
It was ordered that Onaga Mission should extend west to Lin- coln City and Blue Springs. A new mission was located west of Topeka, Kansas, which was called West Kansas Mission.
NORTH-WESTERN COLLEGE
At this time recognition was taken of North-Western Col- lege in response to a letter addressed to the Conference by the agent of the school.
The finances of the past year were very encouraging, so that all the missionaries were paid out in full.
MISSIONARY SOCIETY
The amount of $382.95 was raised for missions during the past year. Of this amount $52.75 was raised by two auxiliaries which existed at this time. Bishop Esher preached the mission- ary sermon, on which occasion a cash collection amounting to $16.00 was received, and $203.00 was secured on subscription for the ensuing year.
J. F. Schreiber was again elected president of the Missionary Society, J. G. Pfeifer vice-president, H. Haas secretary, and C. Berner treasurer.
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STATISTICS
The following statistics were reported at this Conference ses- sion : Conversions, 193; accessions, 243; membership, 607; itin- erants, 12; churches, 4; parsonages, 5; Sunday-schools, 13; offi- cers and teachers, 91; scholars, 305.
APPOINTMENTS
Kansas District-J. F. Schreiber, P. E.
Leavenworth and Atchison, C. Berner and G. W. Bugh.
Onaga, Wm. Lingelbach under the presiding elder.
Lawrence, S. W. Mckesson.
Nemaha, C. W. Comstock.
Humboldt, H. Haas.
Oregon, J. Wuerth and H. Mattill.
Big Blue, Wm. Folgate.
Grand River, J. G. Pfeifer.
Holton, P. Fricker.
Macon, Christian Timmer.
West Kansas Mission, to be supplied.
The statistics of the past year indicate a marked increase all along the line of church activities. The Sunday-school member- ship was raised from 201 to 305, and the church membership from 412 to 607.
YATES CENTER
During the past year H. Haas, who served Humboldt Mission, held a meeting in the home of August Lauber on Owl Creek, east of Yates Center, since there was no school-house accessible in which to hold services. An extensive awakening took place, and many souls were converted, after which a class was organized with the following members: August Lauber and wife, Wm. Stockebrand and wife, Ernst Stockebrand and wife, Herman Fuhlhage and wife, August Toedman and wife, Maria Stockebrand, Theresa Stocke- brand, Ernst Kluckhuhn, and Herman Toedman, who later entered the ministry of the Kansas Conference, and for many years was in the active work. C. F. Harder was chosen class-leader, and E. Kluckhuhn and Ernst Stockebrand stewards.
Brother August Lauber was elected Sunday-school superin- tendent, in which capacity he served 37 years in succession.
This appointment was originally called Owl Creek Class be- cause of the creek by that name, along which most of the members lived. The name "New Jerusalem People" was given to the little band of young converts by the non-Christian people, who were not favorably inclined toward them, saying that whoever went up the creek among them would have to become converted. This was cer- tainly not a grievous stigma, but rather an enviable reputation for the little flock who lived "farther up" and were engaged in their
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Father's business. These veterans of the cross and charter mem- bers of the Evangelical Association in Allen County, Kansas, were industrious and stalwart pioneers, accustomed to hardships, and found great comfort and strength in their religion. They were loyal to the church and her interests. They inculcated those prin- ciples into their children, thus endeavoring not only to accumu- late earthly possessions in the new country, to which they had em- igrated. They succeeded in doing this to quite an extent, but, more than that, in also bringing up their children for Christ and the church. It was an inspiration to see parents and children meet at the family-altar, the prayer-meeting, the Sunday-school and the preaching-service, the parents praying with and for their children, until they saw them led to the Saviour, and then rejoice with them unspeakably, proving that they believed with all their hearts in the one whom they professed, and that they indeed had found and pos- sessed the "pearl of great price."
From this loyal mother congregation two equally loyal daugh- ters emanated, namely, Turkey Creek and Cedar Creek.
In 1882 Conference ordered that all the appointments west of Defiance should be taken from Humboldt Circuit and formed into a new circuit, which should be called Yates Center Circuit. It has not often occurred that a work has started self-supporting, as was the case with Yates Center Circuit. A church was built in Yates Center in 1885, at a cost of $2,050.00, which was dedicated by Bishop T. Bowman.
WINSTON
In the year 1866 five families moved from Ohio to Winston, Mo., where they settled and established homes. They were true Evan- gelical families who longed for the church of their choice to wor- ship in. This privilege was granted them when the following year (1867) J. F. Schreiber came in contact with them and organized a class with 11 members as follows: Ephraim Kuhns and wife, Henry Coons and wife, Jonathan Burgert and wife, John Helden- brand and wife, Mike Young and wife, and Fannie Stecker. Ephraim Kuhns was elected class-leader, and Mike Young ex- horter. At first the services were held in a grove during the sum- mer months, and, later, in the old Castor school-house. In 1880 a church was built in town, which has been used ever since. Several ministers have gone out from this society to bring the glad tid- ings of the gospel to their fellow-men, namely, S. A. Burgert of
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the Kansas Conference, who became the first missionary to Okla- homa, and I. H. Hauptfuehrer of the Illinois Conference. Also the former wife of F. C. Neitz, who accompanied her husband as a missionary to Japan, and from there was called to her eternal home.
DEER CREEK
During the past year a church was built at Deer Creek, Doug- las County, Kans., with D. R. Zellner as pastor, and C. Berner, preacher-in-charge. The building was made of stone and is listed in the Conference statistics at a value of $2,000.00. It was the fourth church-building in the Conference. No record is at hand concerning the dedication of the same. The building is still used for church purposes (1914).
FOUR MILE
In 1859 Philip Porr, missionary in Missouri, crossed over into Kansas and preached in Brown, Doniphan, and Nemaha Counties. He went west as far as a point called Four Mile near the Kansas and Nebraska state-line in Nemaha County, Kans., where lived the families of Christ. Blauer, Jacob Spring, Christ. Lehman, Henry Ott, Fred Lehman and Katharine Lehman. Those were early settlers with whom the pioneer preacher stopped, and to whom he preached the gospel of salvation, with as many others as would attend the services held in cabins, and during the summer months under shady trees. The people were poor in this world's goods, and in most instances the missionary still poorer. Brother Uber, coming to the home of Jacob Spring one cold winter day with scarcely enough clothing to keep him from suffering with the severe weather, was supplied with the necessary articles of clothing from his scanty supply of furnishings. Among other things Sister Spring gave him a pair of heavy wool socks which she herself had knitted, since she discovered that those he was wearing would not protect his feet from cold while in the saddle. This gift was highly appreciated by the itinerant, who was compelled to travel every day, regardless of weather conditions, in order to reach his many scattered appointments.
The missionaries kept up an appointment at Four Mile for several years, preaching as regularly as time and conditions would permit till 1867, Philip Fricker, who was serving Holton Mission, organized a class, of which Henry Ott was elected class-leader, and Fred Lehman exhorter. For some reason, as it appears, there
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was no Sunday-school organized at this time, which was usually done at once where a class was organized. In this instance, how- ever, the records show that a Sunday-school was organized 9 years later, in 1876, with Christ. Lehman elected superintendent.
In this year, 1876, a church was also built by the little band of workers, in which they now held their services and Sunday- school. There is no record of the cost of the building, nor when or by whom dedicated.
Some years later the work started in the town of Bern, as an outgrowth of the Four Mile society, which naturally developed into the leading congregation.
GLASGOW
During the past year, 1867, J. G. Pfeifer, who served Macon Mission in Eastern Missouri, found entrance in Glasgow, a town on the Missouri River in Saline County. Brother Pfeifer was fol- lowed by C. Timmer the ensuing year, who served the work one year, when the appointments Glasgow and Frankfort were taken from Macon Mission, and, with the surrounding country, formed into Glasgow Mission. This work was supplied with M. Alsbach who entered the Conference that spring. During the pastorate of Brother Alsbach a class was organized with the following mem- bers: Otto Nuhn and wife, Margaret Ruffel, Mary Beier, John Nuhn and wife, Mary Becker and Baltzer Ruffel and wife.
For several years the little class worshiped and developed the work as best they could, when, in 1872, they erected a church- building at a cost of $1,900.00, which was dedicated by J. G. Pfeifer, presiding elder of the Missouri District. The original board of trustees were Otto Nuhn, Baltzer Ruffel and John Nuhn.
The following year a Sunday-school was organized with Otto Nuhn, superintendent, and Baltzer Ruffel, secretary and treasurer.
For many years Glasgow was one of the most important charges in Eastern Missouri, and the members were among the most loyal and devoted in the church.
In 1870 Glasgow and Frankfort appointments were again attached to Macon Mission and supplied with B. Hoffman, who served the work for two years.
FIFTH SESSION
Conference met this year in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Oregon, Mo., March 18, 1869, to hold her fifth session. Bishop
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Esher again presided and appointed H. Haas secretary. C. Ber- ner was appointed to report the proceedings to the Botschafter and Wm. Lingelbach to the Messenger.
It was resolved that at the examination of ministers only preachers who have traveled and ordained local elders shall be present, and that this rule shall be added to the business rules of the Conference to govern future sessions.
The brethren H. Haas, J. Wuerth, and C. Timmer received elders' orders, and H. Mattill, J. Beck, and Wm. Folgate, deacons' orders.
Conrad Emmel and Edward J. Troyer received license to preach on probation, while J. Beck, E. J. Troyer and Michael Als- bach were received into the itinerancy.
G. W. Bugh, located on account of physical infirmity, and C. Comstock received credentials.
BOUNDARIES
The following extensive report on boundaries was adopted :
a. Lawrence Mission shall be changed to a circuit.
b. Atchison Mission shall be discontinued.
c. Camp Creek and Independence Creek appointments shall be added to Leavenworth Mission.
d. Coal Creek and Grasshopper Creek appointments shall be added to Holton, and the latter be changed to a circuit.
e. The appointments Hiawatha and Wolf River, also the ap- pointments Carson and Four Mile, shall be taken from Holton and added to Arago Mission, and the name Arago Mission shall be changed to Nemaha Mission, and supplied with two preachers.
f. Oregon Mission shall be divided. The appointments Platte River and St. Joseph, with the surrounding country, shall be con- stituted a circuit, and called St. Joseph Circuit.
g. Glasgow and New Frankfort shall be taken from Macon Mission, and, with the surrounding country, form a new mission, to be known as Glasgow Mission.
h. The Conference shall be divided into two districts, the Missouri River forming the dividing line. The districts shall be called Kansas District and Missouri District.
C. Berner and J. G. Pfeifer were elected presiding elders, and stationed on the Kansas and the Missouri Districts respectively.
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It was ordered that in the future the fields of labor shall be independent of one another regarding the matter of preachers' salary, and the same finance regulation which obtains among the missionaries shall also apply to the circuit preachers and the pre- siding elders. It was also made the duty of the presiding elders to extend their activities outside of their districts and enter as many doors as possible during the year for the advancement of the gospel, and the extension of the Conference. With this end in view an appropriation of $100.00 was made for each presiding elder for traveling expenses.
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