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 8
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BOUNDARIES Kansas District
a. Wamego appointment shall be served with Holton Circuit.
b. Stranger appointment shall be taken from Holton Circuit and added to Big Stranger Mission.
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c. Nemaha Mission shall be changed to a circuit.
d. Big Stranger shall be taken up as a mission.
e. Big Stranger and Leavenworth shall be served together and supplied with two preachers.
f. A new mission shall be taken up in Sedgwick Co., Kans., to be called Arkansas River Mission.
g. Wyandotte and Kansas City, Mo., shall be taken up as a mission and added to Missouri District.
Missouri District
a. St. Joseph shall be taken up as a mission.
b. Warrensburg Mission shall be extended southward and be called Cedar County Mission.
c. Hannibal shall be taken up as a mission.
d. St. Joseph Circuit shall be called Platte River Circuit.
J. G. Pfeifer and C. Berner were elected delegates to Gen- eral Conference, and J. F. Schreiber alternate.
MISSIONS
The receipts for missions the past year from the fields of labor amounted to $631.85, this in connection with what was se- cured on subscription at the former Conference session, brought the total amount to $1,303.75. This was the largest amount raised in any one year hitherto, and is certainly a magnificent achieve- ment. Of the foregoing amount $152.00 was contributed by the preachers.
The amount of $1,970.00 was appropriated for the ensuing year.
The statistics show a healthy growth of the Conference at this time.
STATISTICS
Conversions, 165; accessions, 324; membership, 1,125; itin- erant preachers, 19; local preachers, 11; churches, 8; parson- ages, 5; Sunday-schools, 21; officers and teachers, 158; scholars, 608; Botschafters, 402; Messengers, 94.
For the first time in the history of the Conference the mem- bership reached and passed the 1,000 mark.
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APPOINTMENTS
Kansas District-C. Berner, P. E.
Leavenworth, J. Beck.
Big Stranger, J. Schesser.
Holton, Wm. Lingelbach and Edward Troyer.
Nemaha, H. Haas.
Wolf River, C. Emmel.
Big Blue, P. Fricker.
West Kansas, to be supplied.
Lawrence, J. Wuerth.
Humboldt, H. Mattill and John Em- mel.
Arkansas River, Ferdinand Harder.
Missouri District-J. G. Pfeifer, P. E.
Platte River, J. F. Schreiber.
St. Joseph, F. W. Voegelein.
Oregon, S. W. Mckesson.
Hamburg, H. Koepsel.
Grand River, M. Alsbach and C. Linge.
Macon, B. Hoffman.
Hannibal, to be supplied.
Wyandotte and Kansas City, to be supplied. Cedar County, Wm. Folgate.
ALIDA MISSION
Rev. H. Mattill, while serving the West Kansas Mission the past year, came into the vicinity of Alida, Riley Co., Kansas, and preached in the home of N. Schmutz during the summer. He preached there every four to six weeks, and during the summer prevailed on Brother Schmutz and his wife to attend a camp- meeting held at Holton, Kans., where they were awakened and became the first members at Alida. Brother Schmutz was under conviction before he went to the camp-meeting at Holton, but lacked courage to take a public stand for Christ at home, where he was known. Hence decided to go to the camp-meeting that he might be converted there. He was unable to find peace in his way, but had to return home, where he was converted among those who knew him. Philip Fricker followed Brother Mattill as pastor in the spring of 1871, but on account of failing health preached only two or three times, and then had to give up the work. He was succeeded by Rev. Wm. Meier of Rulo, Neb., Ne- maha Circuit, who served the work till the following spring, when he moved to Alida as the third pastor of the work.
The first Quarterly Conference was held in July, 1872, by C. Berner, presiding elder. At this time a class was organized with the following nine members: N. Schmutz and wife, C. Buchel and wife, John Ehrsam, Geo. Stamm, Samuel Stamm, and Moritz Sprecher. Three of these brethren later entered the min- istry.
F. Harder assisted Brother Meier in a revival during the winter of 1872, at which time a goodly number of souls was saved and added to the church. From that time on annual camp-meet- ings or tabernacle-meetings were held regularly, resulting in glo-
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rious seasons of refreshing and the conversion of many a life of sin to Christ. There were some mighty demonstrations of Divine power during those meetings in the early years of the work.
Five Botschafters and several Magazins were received during the year 1870, which were distributed among the members from the little log-cabin of Brother Schmutz. How eagerly those sturdy settlers scanned the pages of those periodicals, hardly being able to wait till the next issue appeared to inform them what was transpiring in the world elsewhere, and also bringing them that soul-food for which the Botschafter has always been noted.
EUDORA
In 1871 Rev. J. Wuerth, who was serving Lawrence Circuit, organized a class in the village of Eudora, Douglas Co., Kansas, with the following members: Peter Neis and wife, Fred Neis and wife, Father Meyer and wife, Father Ott and wife, Brother Ernst and wife, and Brother Yost and wife.
Peter Neis was elected class-leader, and Father Meyers ex- horter. - A church was also built during this year, and Eudora became one of the important congregations of the Conference.
SWEDE CREEK
As early as 1864 Rev. S. W. Mckesson preached in the com- munity of Swede Creek, usually preaching in the homes of Fred- erick Toburen, Adolph Toburen, and Wm. Meyers, every three to four weeks. In 1865 Wm. Bugh was assigned to the work and carried it on according to the plan of his predecessor. He in turn was succeeded by Wm. Folgate in 1867. He served Big Blue Mis- sion, to which Swede Creek appointment belonged, for two years, when he was succeeded in 1869 by E. J. Troyer.
The first Quarterly Conference record obtainable is dated Oct. 22, 1870, with C. Berner as presiding elder, and H. Mattill as preacher-in-charge. This conference was held in the home of J. Leusler in Washington Co., with J. Woehler and F. Toburen as representatives from Swede Creek Class. The appointments Hope, Swede Brothers, Swede Creek, and Blue Springs were rep- resented in this Quarterly Conference, which seems to have been the first held on Big Blue Mission.
The second Quarterly Conference was held March 4, 1871, in the Swede Creek school-house, with C. Berner presiding elder and H. Mattill preacher-in-charge.
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Among the first converts at Swede Creek were the families of Herman Toburen, Adolph Toburen, Frederick Toburen, and C. Johnsmeier.
A class was organized in 1869 (?) under the pastorate of Rev. E. J. Troyer with the following members: Friedrich Woh- ler, Louise Wohler, Friedrich Toburen, Louise Toburen, Adolph Toburen, Charlotte Toburen, Herman Toburen, Engel Toburen, Friedrich Meisemeier, Louise Meisemeier, Rinehart Roebke, Au- gusta Roebke, Heinrich Sondker, Christian Sondker, Peter Teisen, Catharine Teisen.
The officials were: F. Woehler, class-leader; P. Teisen, ex- horter and steward.
A Sunday-school was organized as early as 1871, with P. Teisen, superintendent. We regret that we cannot obtain the en- rollment of the school, which has always been noted for its loyalty and thorough work.
At this time the Sunday-school and preaching-services were held in a school-house. Later, in 1876, during the pastorate of Wm. Meier, a church-building was erected, which was dedicated by the presiding elder, J. G. Pfeifer.
The first camp-meeting was held at Swede Creek in 1877, on the farm of F. Toburen, in charge of J. Wuerth, presiding elder, and Wm. Meier, pastor. These camp-meetings were carried on annually without intermission, and with remarkable results in the way of conversions of sinners and the sanctification of believers. In later years this congregation contributed to the ministry a number of promising young men who became a blessing to the Conference and church.
HOLTON
During the past year the first church at Holton was built at the corner of Third Street and Pennsylvania Ave., with J. F. Schreiber and W. F. Voegelein as pastors. This building was one of the early structures in the Conference, built of wood, 40x30 feet in dimensions, and valued at $3,200.00, including the lots, ac- cording to the statistics of Conference.
This church was used by the congregation as a place of wor- ship for 24 years, and was the scene of many glorious demonstra- tions of Divine power in the salvation of souls and the quickening of God's children. Annual Conference sessions were held in the same, and the first annual convention of the Young People's Alli-
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ance was held here when the initial steps were taken to organize a Conference Branch of the Young People's Alliance. In 1894 the building was replaced by a larger and more commodious one.
HANNOVER, KANSAS
As early as 1862 Rev. Wm. Uber, who was serving Holton Mission, traveled west and north as far as Washington County, preaching the gospel wherever he found opportunity. At this time he found entrance in the town of Hannover, where he took up an appointment. The work was, however, not organized till about 1870 by Rev. J. Schesser. The charter-members were: Ja- cob Werner and wife, Jacob Gundelfinger and wife, Bartley Wer- ner and wife, August Heil and wife, and Mrs. Luebke. J. Werner was elected class-leader and Bartley Werner exhorter. A Sunday- school was also organized at this time and Jacob Werner elected superintendent.
1872
EIGHTH SESSION
The eighth session of Conference was held in the Nickels Grove Church, Oregon Circuit, Holt Co., Missouri, beginning Thursday morning, March 18, 1872. Bishop R. Yeakel was pres- ent for the first time and conducted the business of Conference. J. Wuerth was appointed secretary. For the second time the names of the statistical committee are given, which was composed of the brethren Wm. Lingelbach, M. Alsbach and H. Mattill.
W. Meier, L. Wenger, Wm. Heiser and K. P. Condray re- ceived license to preach on probation.
F. W. Voegelein, H. Koepsel and C. Linge received deacons' orders, and Wm. Lingelbach elder's orders.
The brethren L. Wenger, Wm. Meier and J. H. Kiplinger were received into the itinerancy.
Rev. S. W. Mckesson, one of the charter-members of the Con- ference, on account of family circumstances, was necessitated to change his place of residence, and asked for his credentials to the Iowa Conference.
The following brethren were advised to accept work under supervision of the presiding elder, provided their service would be needed : E. Evans, D. R. Zellner, K. P. Condray, J. Seltzer, W. Heiser and A. Rex.
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BOUNDARIES
Kansas District
a. Humboldt Mission shall be changed to a circuit, and Americus appointment shall be served with Humboldt. The cir- cuit to be supplied with two preachers.
b. Wolf River Mission shall be changed to a circuit.
c. Wamego appointment shall be taken from Holton Circuit and added to Western Kansas Mission and be called Wamego Mis- sion, the same to be supplied with two preachers.
d. Jewell City and vicinity shall be made a new mission, to be called Jewell Mission and be supplied with two preachers.
Missouri District
a. Glasgow appointment shall be taken from Macon Mission and formed into a new mission, to be called Glasgow Mission.
b. A new mission shall be formed in Morgan County and be called Morgan Mission.
c. A new mission shall be located in Jasper Co., Mo., and be called Jasper Mission.
d. St. Joseph and Hannibal Missions shall be discontinued.
Action was taken at this session of Conference to take a col- lection on each field of labor for the support of superannuated preachers, widows and orphans of deceased ministers of the Con- ference.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
The Committee on Sunday-school and Catechetical Instruc- tion recommended that wherever possible week-day schools should be established, in charge of the church. Also that the superin- tendents and officers should procure our guide-book for Sunday- school workers and use the same in conducting our Sunday-schools, and, further, that as far as possible a Sunday-school convention should be held on the districts of the Conference.
MISSIONS
Six missionary auxiliaries were reported which raised $343.95 during the past year. The various fields of labor contributed $200.26, and from other sources $365.65, making a total of $913.86. The ministers' subscriptions amounted to $150.00.
The amount of $2,330.00 was appropriated for the coming year.
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Bishop R. Yeakel was chosen delegate to the Board of Mis- sions and Bishop Esher alternate. This plan was adopted and practiced for a number of years as a measure of economy to save traveling expenses of a delegate from Conference.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year for the Missionary Society: President, J. G. Pfeifer; Vice-President, J. F. Schreiber; Secretary, J. Wuerth; Treasurer, H. Haas.
STATISTICS
Following are the statistics for the past year: Conversions, 179; accessions, 320; membership, 1,317; itinerants, 21; local preachers, 15; churches, 11; parsonages, 8; Sunday-schools, 24; officers and teachers, 211; scholars, 761; Botschafters, 373; Mes- sengers, 85; Magazins, 44; Epistles, 11.
APPOINTMENTS
Kansas District-C. Berner, P. E.
Lawrence Circuit, J. Wuerth.
Humboldt Circuit, Wm. Lingelbach and J. Emmel.
Holton Circuit, B. Hoffman.
Wolf River Circuit, C. Emmel.
Nemaha Circuit, H. Haas and supply. Leavenworth Mission, John Beck.
Big Blue Mission, P. Fricker and J. Schesser.
Wamego Mission, W. Meier and F .- Harder.
Big Stranger, C. Linge.
Jewell Mission, L. Wenger and sup- ply.
Arkansas River Mission, to be sup- plied.
Missouri District-J. G. Pfeifer, P. E.
Oregon Circuit, E. J. Troyer.
Platte River Circuit, J. F. Schreiber. Grand River Mission, M. Alsbach and K. P. Condray under the presid- ing elder.
Macon Mission, H. Koepsel.
Glasgow Mission, H. Mattill.
Wyandotte Mission, F. W. Voegelein.
Cedar Mission, Wm. Folgate.
Morgan Mission, to be supplied.
A number of new missions were formed at this session, which indicates the missionary spirit of the Conference and her desire to reach out and extend her borders. Usually scattered members were found by the itinerating missionaries, who visited, and, if possible, preached to them, inviting the neighbors to attend the services. If the way opened for a regular appointment such arrangements were made, and one more appointment was added to the list, which, in some instances, was quite long already. New missions were located, which, in some instances, proved success- ful, in other cases they were later abandoned for more promising points.
ST. JOSEPH, MO.
In the spring of 1871 Conference located a mission in St. Joseph, Mo., and supplied the same with Rev. F. W. Voegelein,
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who found the field hard to cultivate, and associated with many difficulties. He could hardly find a place in which to hold serv- ices, and it seemed impossible to achieve results, in consequence the mission was abandoned the following spring. Nothing further was done to carry on the work until 1877, when Rev. E. J. Troyer, serving Platte River Circuit, received an invitation to preach in the city. In compliance with this invitation he preached there for the first time Oct. 28, 1877, but found the same difficulty existing which obtained six years prior, namely, the lack of a suitable place in which to hold services. On Nov. 5, 1877, the presiding elder, Rev. J. G. Pfeifer, preached in the home of Felix Rose from Ps. 121 : 7, Rev. E. J. Troyer also being present. Four persons united with the church, making a membership of six as follows: Felix Rose and wife, D. Whitman and wife, and C. F. Fick and wife. Although only few in number, the little band had a mind to do great things for the Lord, so at this meeting a lot was purchased at the corner of Lafayette and 11th Streets for $700.00, upon which a church-building, 24x34 feet in dimensions, was built at a cost of $646.53. This church was dedicated by the presiding elder, J. G. Pfeifer, Jan. 6, 1878.
At the following Conference session, held in March, 1878, a mission was again located in St. Joseph and supplied with E. J. Troyer, who reported at the end of the Conference year a mem- bership of 18, and a Sunday-school numbering 40 members.
C. F. Fick was the first class-leader ; W. H. Cramer, exhorter, and F. Rose, D. Whitman and C. Fick, trustees. A Sunday-school was organized at this time, with Rev. E. J. Troyer as superintend- ent and W. H. Cramer, secretary.
This young society started upon its career of prosperity, though beginning on a small scale. In 1881 we find the congre- gation disposing of its property and relocating at a more suitable place, at the same time building a larger church better adapted to the needs of the congregation.
JEWELL CITY
In the year 1870 the families W. H. Cameron and John Worick moved from Stephenson Co., Ills., to Jewell Co., Kansas, settling in the vicinity where later Jewell City was located. One month later, May, 1870, D. J. Matter and C. E. Plowman from the same place followed, locating in the same community in Kansas. In the autumn of the same year the families of Samuel Cameron, Peter
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Henninger, Wm. Windecker and G. C. Crist were added to the colony. At this time there was no railroad nearer than Water- ville in Marshall Co., whence all provisions, and, to quite an extent, all building material, had to be hauled by wagon. This was con- nected with danger and hardships, especially during the winter season, when frequently the freighters were caught in a blizzard without any protection save such as their wagons would afford. That men and horses suffered, and barely escaped freezing to death, was the experience of those pioneers of the Western prairies.
In the fall of 1870 a Methodist preacher by the name of West came up from Clyde, Kansas, and preached for those frontiersmen on a Friday evening in a little grocery store. The congregation was not large, and most of the men had revolvers and bowie- knives strapped to their bodies. The people sat on the counter of the store, and on store-boxes, and whatever they could find to sit on, while others remained standing as they listened to the sermon.
At the close of that meeting D. J. Matter suggested that they hold prayer-meetings on Sunday forenoons in the future. This suggestion was accepted, and on the following Sunday morning a prayer-meeting was held in the home of Father Cameron, the same being led by W. H. Cameron. Only members of the Evan- gelical Association were present, however, on this occasion. These prayer-meetings were kept up regularly till May, 1871, when a union Sunday-school was organized, and a disreputable preacher of another denomination began to preach on Sunday mornings and crowded out the prayer-meetings.
In June, 1871, Rev. Wm. Meier, a minister of the Evangeli- cal Association, who was stationed on Big Blue Circuit, visited the members in Jewell County and preached for them in the Ger- man language, which was quite a drawback because some of the people present could not understand German. In consequence of this the attendance at service was smaller than it would have been if the services had been English.
Brother Meier and his colleagues, F. Harder and Wm. Heiser, preached every few weeks in German till the spring of 1872, when shortly before Conference the presiding elder, Rev. C. Berner, in company with Brother Meier, held communion service and or- ganized a class with the following 14 members: Thomas Berry, Wm. H. Cameron, Samuel Cameron, Amelia Cameron, B. Cameron, S. S. Sills, Sarah Sills, Florence Sills, C. E. Plowman, Susan Plow- man, W. Windecker, John Worick, D. J. Matter, Christian Matter.
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FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
Thomas Berry was elected class-leader, W. H. Cameron ex- horter, and D. J. Matter, steward.
At the Conference, held in Holt Co., Mo., in the spring of 1872, the following action was taken: "Jewell City and vicinity shall be taken up as a new mission, and, if possible, supplied with two preachers."
Rev. L. Wenger was the first minister to serve the new mis- sion, and, as it appears, was necessitated to serve the work alone, since he received no assistant for the year.
The young society soon made an effort to build a church in which undertaking they were successful, and on Nov. 15, 1874, a neat little church, 24x36 feet, was dedicated to the service of God by the presiding elder, Rev. J. G. Pfeifer. The building cost about $1,200.00, and the lumber was hauled with teams and wag- ons from Clyde and Clay Center, Kansas.
For ten years this church afforded a place for worship until it became inadequate, when it was replaced by a better and larger one in 1884.
In 1884 the first camp-meeting was held under the direction of J. G. Pfeifer, beginning Sept. 8, 1884. This meeting was crowned with success and resulted in much good to the young congregation and mission.
An Evangelical Sunday-school was organized in 1874, which was the first denominational Sunday-school in Jewell County. D. J. Matter was elected superintendent, and J. W. Berry, secretary. The enrollment was about 25 with a lively interest in the school from the beginning.
Jewell congregation enjoys the distinction of laying the first corner-stone for a church in the Kansas Conference. We here ap- pend a copy of the history of the congregation at that time, as it was deposited in the corner-stone:
"Jewell City Mission of the Evangelical Association, Kansas Conference, was located March 21, 1872. Rev. L. Wenger was assigned to the mission as preacher-in-charge. The meetings were held in Brother W. H. Cameron's log-cabin, and in the grove. The class numbered 14 members as follows:" We omit the names here, since they are given in the foregoing as charter-members. The corner-stone was laid by Rev. J. G. Pfeifer at the time he held his first Quarterly Conference at the beginning of his term of office on the district, June 28-29, 1873.
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1873 EXTENDING THE BORDERS
The building committee was composed of T. J. Berry, Sr., W. H. Cameron, D. J. Matter, C. E. Plowman, and the pastor, Rev. L. Wenger.
The presiding elder appointed the following brethren as a board of trustees: T. J. Berry, Sr., W. H. Cameron, Dr. G. S. Crist, C. E. Plowman, and D. J. Matter.
H. MATTILL
The frontier settlers were frequently very rough and ungodly people, who cared nothing for God or righteousness. In 1870 when H. Mattill was serving West Kansas Mission, opposition was so strong against him and his work, that, at a so-called union Sunday-school picnic, held on the Fourth of July, near Alida, Kan- sas, a number of enemies, members of a German church, under the leadership of a blacksmith in the neighborhood, laid plans to mob Brother Mattill by hanging him upon his return the next time to fill his appointment. Mr. N. Schmutz, who was a friend to Brother Mattill, but not yet converted, met Brother Mattill in Junction City the day before his next appointment, and apprised him of the threat and plans of his enemies. Brother Mattill, who was not so easily frightened, jovially remarked: "The rope by which I am to hang is not yet made, and if you will receive me in your home I shall come out and preach the gospel to those who will come out to hear me." Permission was granted, and he filled his appointment without any one interfering or harming him.
Several years later, when Brother Mattill served the Kansas District as presiding elder, he and his wife occupied up-stair rooms in Brother Schmutz' home, while Sister Mattill taught a term of public school in the community, having for her pupils children of those parents who planned to hang Brother Mattill several years prior. Thus God again manifested his ruling power over the evil designs of wicked men.
1873
NINTH SESSION
This spring Conference met at Holton, Kansas, on March 20, 1873, to hold her ninth session. Bishop Esher, who was assigned to hold the same, could not be present before the second day, and was necessitated to leave before Conference closed, so J. G. Pfeifer
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was elected chairman pro tem. J. Wuerth was appointed secre- tary.
Over a day was consumed in investigating charges against several brethren. Eight distinct bills of charges were preferred against the brethren concerned, which seemed to indicate that the "accuser of the brethren" had been unusually active and suc- cessful during the year. While the character of the accusations were not such as to depose from the ministry or exclude from the church, yet the situation was annoying and detrimental to the cause of the Redeemer, which they were endeavoring to promote, but, on the other hand, indicated the stress laid upon honesty, truthfulness and manliness in the ministry, and at the same time points out the extreme exercise of church discipline practiced in those days.
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