USA > Michigan > The history of the Church of the Brethren in Michigan > Part 14
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ELLIS F. CASLOW was born on November 27, 1875, in Guthrie County, Iowa. He was married to Anna L. Hess on December 29, 1897. He went to high school at Panora, Iowa, and to Bethany Bible School one year. On January 30, 1898, he united with the church at Panora, Iowa. He immediately began to serve in the Sunday school and was
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elected to the ministry in 1902. His ordination to the eldership took place in 1908. His impor- tant work in Michigan was that of district fieldworker. He also did a great deal of evangelistic work in the churches of Michi- gan. He says, "I have had many rich experiences, along with some difficult days, but all in all, my ministry has been blessed with much joy to myself, and I trust that many of God's chil- dren may have been helped as much as I have been helped by them."
E. F. CASLOW AND WIFE
DANIEL CHAMBERS was born on July 14, 1836, at Bucyrus, Ohio. He married Rosannah Brillhart about 1860. A son and a daughter died in childhood, and three sons are still living. He received pub- lic school training. In 1861 he was elected to the ministry in Ohio .. He served as elder of the New Haven church for twenty years and of the Elsie church for thirty years. He also had oversight of the Beaver- ton church for a while. He gave unstintingly of his ministry to the district and to the churches in those days when wisdom and per- severance were very much needed. The following was written by his son, Milton M. Chambers of Grand Rapids, in response to a request for
DANIEL CHAMBERS
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information: "My father was not as fluent as some, but was a good counselor and was often called upon to assist in settling church difficulties in other congregations. He was noted for his generosity and his sympathetic nature, and was honored and loved best by those who knew him best. His side companion was a wonderful help to him in his church work, often accompanying him on those long tedious horse-and-buggy trips over bad, rough and muddy roads to fill appointments. He solemnized a great many marriage ceremonies and conducted many funeral services."
HAROLD S. CHAMBERS was born at Carson City, Mich- igan, October 21, 1898. He is the son of Milton M. and Bertha Mae Chambers. His pub- lic school education was re- ceived at Grand Rapids, Mich- igan; he is a graduate of Man- chester College and a graduate of the University of Michigan, having received the master of arts degree from the latter in- stitution in 1940. He united with the church at Carson City in 1908. He was elected to the ministry at Grand Rapids and first served that church as part- time pastor from 1936 to 1939. In 1922 he was married to HAROLD S. CHAMBERS Blanche Pauline Driver. They have one son. Harold is the grandson of Elder Daniel Chambers, who labored in the early churches of the district. His profession is teaching, but he gives much time and thought to the local and district work. He has been a member of the district board of Chris- tian education as the director of adult work. For several
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years he served as adult adviser to the district B.Y.P.D. cab- inet. In 1941 he was again called to assume the pastoral du- ties of the Grand Rapids church and served there until 1945. He has now ministered seven years in his home church, which is a longer period than any other minister has served in that pastorate. Under his capable and aggressive leadership the Grand Rapids church has achieved new goals.
JOHN W. CHAMBERS was born at Bucyrus, Ohio, Au- gust 1, 1862. He is the son of Daniel and Rosannah Cham- bers. He married Elizabeth Royer on September 27, 1902. He received his high school training at Valparaiso, Indi- ana, and had one year of college at Mt. Morris, Illinois. He united with the New Haven church and was called to the ministry at Fostoria, Ohio, in 1889. He served as writing clerk of the district in 1898 and 1899. He is now residing in Florida, where he has been for a number of years.
MILTON M. CHAMBERS was never elected to the ministry, but he has been a very faithful lay worker in the church and the dis- trict. He was born on March 9, 1876, at Bucyrus, Ohio. He is the son of Daniel and Rosannah Cham- bers. He was not very old when his parents moved to Michigan from Ohio. In addition to his pub- M. M. CHAMBERS lic school training, he has been a student at Mt. Morris College, at Michigan State College two years, and at Central Michigan Normal two terms. His first wife was taken by death; he married Mildred F. Isham on July 5, 1911. He united with
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the New Haven church in 1889 at the age of thirteen. He writes of his conversion as follows: "I did not experience a great change as I had lived at home under the splendid in- fluence of my father and mother and my two brothers, who were fifteen and thirteen years my senior. So the joining of the church by baptism was just a natural thing for me to do." He has always taken an active part in the teaching program of the church, and since 1914 has served as superintendent of the Sunday school at Grand Rapids almost continuously. He was a member of the district mission board for a period of twelve years at various in- tervals, and he has served as chairman of the district coun- cil of boards since its formation in 1932. He possesses un- usual executive ability which qualifies him for the positions of leadership both in the local church and in the district.
DELBERT J. COOK, son of Jesse J. and Edith Bowman Cook, was born at Wabash, Indiana, in 1925. The family moved to Michigan, and he finished elementary school at Buckley, Michigan. Three years of his high school were taken at Buckley. The senior year was spent at Carson City, Michigan. He continued his school career at Man- chester College, North Manchester, Indiana, and was able to finish the freshman year of college work before he was drafted. It is unfortunate that because of war the govern- ment under the selective service law thwarted his plans of attaining the goals in education toward which he was striving at that time. It was necessary for him to relinquish his college work to enter Civilian Public Service. He was baptized at the Sugar Ridge church, Michigan, in July 1936. He was licensed to the ministry in 1943 at the New Haven church. He has a musical talent which will be an asset in his ministry to the church. His life manifests those fine Christian qualities that will enable him to achieve success in the work of the church.
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JESSE J. COOK was born at Portland, Indiana, on Febru- ary 21, 1896. He is the son of Josiah and Susie Bash Cook. After finishing his elementary school training, he entered Manchester Academy and completed the high school course there. He graduated from Manchester College, North Manchester, Indiana, with the bachelor of arts de- gree, and spent two summers and one winter at Bethany Biblical Seminary, Chicago. Later he received the bachelor of science degree in agriculture at Michigan State College, East Lansing, Michigan. He has been successful in the work of teaching. His wife's maiden name was Edith Bow- man. Their home has been blessed with three children. He was baptized and united with the church at Markle, Indiana, when Brother William Lampin held services. The Markle church called him to the ministry in October 1919. He was ordained to the eldership in 1931 in the Sugar Ridge church, Michigan. He has served as part-time pastor at Lowpoint, Illinois, in the Oak Grove church; at Champaign, Illinois; the Wabash City church in Indiana; and the Sugar Ridge church in Michigan. The family moved to a farm home near Middleton, Michigan, in 1941, and he is teaching in the township high school. In addition to his schoolwork he is serving the New Haven church as a free minister. He is also the presiding elder there and at the Crystal church. He and his wife have contributed much time to the work of the district. Sister Cook at the present time is the secre- tary of the district women's work council. He has served a number of years on the district board of Christian edu- cation. He was the moderator of the district conference for 1945.
MARY L. COOK is the daughter of John W. and Cath- erine Cook. She was born on August 11, 1881, at Nevada, Ohio. She received the bachelor of arts degree at Man- chester College, May 30, 1930. She was a student at Beth-
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any Bible School during the winter term, 1930-31. In 1905- 06 she was a student at E. S. Young's Bible Institute, Canton, Ohio. She was baptized at Greensburg, Ohio, August 25, 1901. Her decision to dedicate her life to Christ was made at the close of a harvest meeting. Her experience at the time is related by herself as follows: "I spent much time in Bible study and prayer for guidance of the Holy Spirit during the summer of 1901. I had a definite experi- ence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the time of water bap- tism." She was called to the ministry at the Nevada church, Ohio, on September 2, 1922. She MARY L. COOK served three and one-half years as full-time pastor in the Pontiac church, Michigan. She has held over thirty revival meetings during her ministry. She is now residing at Elyria, Ohio.
MARTIN COSNER was one of the pioneer ministers of the Church of the Brethren in Michigan. He was born January 15, 1825, in West Virginia, where he lived on the old homestead until the fall of 1880. Then he and his family moved to Emmet County, Michigan, near Harbor Springs. He was first elected to the deacon's office, then to the min- istry, and was ordained to the eldership about 1865. He labored a great deal among the churches in West Virginia. Much of his traveling was done on horseback over the mountains and through the valleys. He was much con- cerned for the welfare of the church. It was his privilege to attend a number of Annual Meetings and to serve several times as a member of the Standing Committee. He was
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liberally inclined and always gave wherever needed. All of his service for the church was without pay. Brother John Kline was one of his intimate associates, and he often related many happy experiences they had together. He practiced medicine for a few years, but he had to give up that career on account of his health. During his residence in Michigan he gained the goodwill of all the people. At the time of his death, September 16, 1885, the people all realized that it would be a long time before his place could be filled in that community. He was unable to do any preach- ing during the last year of his life. A short time before his death, he received an encouraging letter from Brother D. Hays which was a great comfort to him in his last hours. Before his death he wished to be anointed. The family sent for Elder Peter Long of Indiana, but he did not get to their place until after the funeral. Brother J. R. Stutsman con- ducted the services, and the congregation was the largest ever assembled on a like occasion in that county. His influ- ence is still felt in the community.
DONALD EMERSON CROUCH, son of William J. and Emma Crouch, was born in Manistee County, Michigan, on February 2, 1891. He married Lula V. Gilbert on April 22, 1913. He is a graduate of the Onekama high school and received his bachelor of arts degree at Central State Teach- ers College, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, in 1938. He united with the Church of the Brethren in the Lake View congregation at Brethren, Michigan. His foreparents came to Michigan from New England. Donald says that he knew nothing of the Church of the Brethren until Brother Ulery came to Onekama and organized a church. He with many other young people took an active part in the building of the church house there. He has spent most of his time teach- ing and is now superintendent of the Rose City, Michigan, public schools.
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G. F. CULLER was born near Milford, Indiana, and later lived in Ohio. He attended Manchester College and was graduated in 1902. While at college he met Lelia Miller of Woodland, Michigan, and was married to her in 1902. After their marriage they located at Woodland. There he was elected to the ministry in 1904. Two years later he was advanced to the eldership. Both he and his wife were active in church and Sunday-school work and spent some time at Bethany Bible School. At the district meeting held at Woodland in August 1910 they were appealed to and they consented to take the pastorate of the Grand Rapids city mission. They began their work September 1, 1910, and continued one year. They returned to Woodland and be- came charter members of the Woodland Village church in January 1914. Sister Culler was gifted with a good voice and a deeply spiritual nature which qualified her for an inspirational song leader. She willingly served in this capacity not only in the home church but also at the district meetings. Brother Culler served the Woodland Village church as pastor and as elder-in-charge. He also served on the trustee board of Manchester College for a number of years as a representative of Michigan. He was suddenly stricken and died on April 15, 1928.
ELMER LEE DADISMAN, the son of Lee and Minnie Miller Dadisman, was born on March 18, 1915, in Bee Coun- ty, Texas. He married Avis Emma Smith. After attending elementary school in Bourbon County, Kansas, he went to the high school at Uniontown, Kansas, and to the Fernald high school, Fernald, Iowa. He completed his college train- ing at McPherson, Kansas, and is a graduate of Bethany Biblical Seminary. He was baptized about 1925 when liv- ing in the Paint Creek church, Southeastern Kansas. The Fernald church in Iowa licensed him to preach in July 1938; he was installed into the ministry at this church in
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December 1940. His work in the District of Michigan oc- curred in 1941 when he was summer pastor at the Flint church. Three other summer pastorates during his school career were: Guthrie, Minnesota, in 1940; English River, Southern Iowa, in 1942; and Panther Creek, Southern Illi- nois, in 1943. At the present time he is the full-time pastor of the Lone Star church of Northeastern Kansas.
HOWARD WALTER DEAL was born on May 6, 1907, at New Enterprise, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Noah and Hannah Deal. He was married to Mary Pauline Sellers on July 19, 1931. He is a graduate of the Onekama high school, and has been a student at Manchester College. He united with the church at New Enterprise at eleven years of age and was baptized by H. Stover Kulp (missionary to Africa). Brother Charles Bonsack was there and held the revival meeting. He accepted the call to the ministry on September 28, 1939, at the Onekama church. Howard tells this: "My father's oldest brother, John Deal, served in the ministry of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana, North Dakota and Washington for over sixty years." This was a great influ- ence upon him.
CHARLES H. DEARDORFF spent a great many years in the District of Michigan in the early part of his ministry. He is the son of Isaac and Mary Deardorff. He was born at Roann, Indiana, on March 4, 1880. He was married to Emma May Byer on August 27, 1898. He united with the church at his home in 1894. His testimony is a significant one: "I have found Christ sufficient for all conditions of life. I have failed him, but he has never failed me." His call to the ministry came in 1905 in North Dakota. He came to Michigan in 1908, and first served the Harlan church from 1908 to 1915. Then he had charge of the church at Elm- dale from 1915 to 1921. His pastorates after leaving Michi- gan were at White Cottage, Hartville, and Ashland, all
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Northeastern Ohio churches. He was ordained to the elder- ship at Elmdale, Michigan. Elders S. M. Smith and Peter B. Messner had charge. He is at the present time a member of the Elgin staff in charge of the build- ing of new and the remodeling of old churches. He acts in the ca- pacity of supervisor and counselor when called upon by any church.
GEORGE EMANUEL DEAR- DORFF was born on November 21, 1875, at Roann, Indiana, and died in October 1919 at Marion, Ohio. He was the son of Isaac and Mary Tombaugh Deardorff. His C. H. DEARDORFF wife was Ida Grossnickle of North Manchester, who died in 1942. He received his elementary and high school training at Roann, Indiana. He united with the church at this place. He was elected to the ministry at Rock Lake, North Dakota, in 1898 and was ordained to the eldership at the Zion church, North Dakota, in 1901. He has given part-time service to the Rock Lake and Zion churches in North Dakota, and at Brethren, Michigan, in the Lake View church. Churches where he served full-time were Buffalo and Marion, Indiana, and Marion, Ohio. He held many revival meetings.
ISAAC DEARDORFF was the father of George and Charles Deardorff, already recorded in this history. He was born September 6, 1846, at Roann, Indiana. His father's name was Paul Deardorff; but his mother's name is un- known. He married Mary Tombaugh; to them were born six children, of whom Charles H. is the only one now liv- ing. He had a public school education. He was baptized at Roann, Indiana, but the date is not known. The Roann
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church elected him to the ministry about 1869. He was ordained to the eldership at Zion, North Dakota. His was a free ministry. The churches where he preached were Roann, Indiana, Zion and Cando, North Dakota, Lake View at Brethren, Michigan, and Marion, Ohio. He held a few revivals. Perhaps this seems somewhat brief for all that he did for the church in which he labored.
JACOB TROSTLE DICK had his connection in the Dis- trict of Michigan only when he served as summer pastor in the New Haven and Crystal churches in 1940. He was born at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, on May 18, 1917. He is the son of Trostle P. and Annie Hol- linger Dick. His wife was Le- ona Stauffer, whom he married during the years of his seminary training in Chicago. In addition to his elementary and high school training, he is a graduate of Juniata College and of Beth- any Biblical Seminary, Chicago, where he received the bachelor of divinity degree in 1942. He was baptized at the Coventry JACOB T. DICK church, Pottstown, Pennsylva- nia, in 1929. This church first licensed him to the ministry in 1936, and he was installed later. He was ordained to the eldership on October 26, 1944, at the district meeting held at the Meyersdale church in Pennsylvania. After serving in the pastorate of the Shade Creek congregation in Western Pennsylvania, he has become the pastor of the Lititz, Penn- sylvania, church.
S. BOYD DICKEY spent one year in the pastorate of the Midland church in Michigan. He is the son of B. D. and
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Emma Boyd Dickey. He was born on March 18, 1907, at Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. He was married to Francine Berg. He is a graduate of the high school in Berlin Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, of Juniata College, and of Bethany Biblical Seminary. He received the bachelor of divinity degree in the sem- inary class of 1941. He was baptized in the Brothersvalley congregation near Ber- lin, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1919. He was licensed in 1937 and ordained to the ministry on September 2, 1938, by the same congregation. When he left S. B. DICKEY Midland, Michigan, in June 1942 he en- tered the pastorate of the Westmont (Johnstown) church, Pennsylvania, and served there until June 1944. He ac- cepted the call of the Colver Presbyterian church, Colver, Pa., in June 1944, and is serving there at the present time.
JOHN F. DIETZ moved from Pennsylvania in 1914 to Detroit, Michigan, where he labored in the ministry and other church work until his death. He was born in Somerset County, Penn- sylvania, on September 26, 1863, the son of Jacob and Sarah Dietz. On December 26, 1886, he married Jemima E. Blough. He united with the church early JOHN F. DIETZ in life and at once began to work in it. He was elected to the ministry in September 1893. In his early life he was instrumental in organizing several churches at Johnstown,
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Pennsylvania. He was one of the founders of the First Church of the Brethren of Detroit, and served in that church as a minister and teacher with great earnestness. The work of the church was always first and uppermost in his heart. His enthusiasm and courage were contagious and he became an influential leader in all phases of the church's program. He was anointed by the pastor on August 25, 1939, and passed to his reward on August 30 of that year.
ARTHUR L. DODGE is the son of Leonard and Elmina Binkley Dodge. He was born on December 3, 1892, at Co- lumbus Grove, Ohio. He completed his elementary school training near Lima, Ohio, and attended Manchester Col- lege, taking academic courses, from 1911 to 1915. His wife was formely Gertrude Netzley. He was baptized on Febru- ary 14, 1909, at the Lima church, Northwestern Ohio, by Brother G. A. Snider. The Union City church, Indiana, elected him to the ministry in September 1919. The installa- tion service was in charge of Brethren B. F. Sharp and Sylvan Bookwalter. He was ordained to the eldership in September 1925 by Brethren L. A. Bookwalter and Ivan Erbaugh at the Pleasant Valley church, Ohio. Brother Dodge has served the following pastorates: Pleasant Valley, Southern Ohio, 1923-25; Oak Grove, Northwestern Ohio, 1925-27; Plumcreek, Western Pennsylvania, 1927-31; Black River, Northeastern Ohio, 1931-41. From 1941-1945 he was pastor of the Woodland church in Michigan. A part of this time he was a member of the district ministerial board. He is now the pastor of the Defiance, Ohio, church.
ROBERT DANIEL EBEY is a native of Michigan. He was born on October 4, 1914, at Pontiac, Michigan. He is the son cf Enoch J. and Phebe Ann Ebey. His parents were largely responsible for the beginning of the Pontiac church. It was in their home that the first meetings were held. In his youth
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impressions of the influence that the church could have in any community were made upon him. He united with the church at Pontiac on October 6, 1923. He was willing to develop his talent by teaching in the church school and by fill- ing places of leadership in the church. His home church saw the Christian qualities which he possessed and called him to the ministry in June 1938. He was married on August 18, 1940, to Elsie Ruth Gardner of Battle Creek. He graduated with the class of 1945 from Bethany Biblical Seminary, Chicago, with the bachelor of divinity RUTH EBEY degree. His interest in the churches of Michigan induced him to write a thesis entitled Pioneering of the Brethren in Michigan. The treatise deals with the transition from the rural to the city churches, with many phases of the problem discussed. He has given this problem care- ful study, and it is worthy of rec- ognition. Brother and Sister Ebey were called to the Wood- land church in 1945.
ISAAC M. EIKENBERRY was born in Howard County, Indi- ana, on November 15, 1860. He is the son of Baltzer and Cassan- dra Eikenberry. At the time that the questionnaire was sent to him, May 9, 1940, he was a pa- ROBERT D. EBEY tient at the hospital in Scotts- bluffs, Nebraska, suffering be- cause of cancer. His sister, Mary, wrote that he was greatly pleased to receive the questionnaire, and at first he thought
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he could fill it out, but discovered that he was too weak to do it. He was a member of the Onekama church and took part in the preaching there while he was in Michigan.
DAVID ENSIGN was born at Battle Creek, Michigan. He is the son of David W. and Maude Ensign. He is a graduate of the Battle Creek high school and received a bachelor of arts degree at Manchester College. He was graduated from Bethany Biblical Seminary with the bachelor of divinity degree in 1942. He was baptized at Battle Creek, Michigan, in October 1934 by the pastor, Floyd E. Mallott. He says, "While all the pastors I remember have doubtless had some influence on me, Dr. F. E. Mallott was largely instrumental, under God, in leading me to desire church membership and the calling of the ministry." His election to the ministry occurred in the same church on December 12, 1936. He has been in pastoral work, serving several churches for one year in the District of Washington, and at Navarre, Kansas. He is at present continuing his training at the Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, and is also serving as pastor of the Richmond church.
EVERETT R. FISHER is connected with Michigan through his service at the Hart church from June 1929 to May 1930. He was born in Miami County, Indiana, January 18, 1896. He is the son of Harry B. and Carrie B. Fisher. He married Cora Luella Heestand on September 12, 1920. He graduated from Manchester College in 1920 and from Bethany Biblical Semi- nary in 1922. He united with the church at Mexico, Indiana, in June 1908. He was elected to the ministry in the Mexico congregation, Indiana, on September 15, 1919, and was or- dained to the eldership at La Porte, Indiana, in November 1922. At present he is pastor of the Trotwood church of Southern Ohio.
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