USA > Ohio > Church of the Brethren in southern Ohio > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
At the turn of the third decade of the twentieth century we find L. A. Bookwalter ministering as elder of the church, the records showing that he served from 1915 to 1927. He was followed by Hugh Cloppert, from 1927 to 1936; then Ira Oren assumed the oversight, continuing at the present time. Ministers and elders residing in the congregation subsequent to 1920 include Joseph Free, 1917, Brethren in Christ minister; Harlan Brooks, 1918-23; Jesse Bookwalter, 1918-52; Benjamin A. Schoeppner, 1934-36; Bertrand Von De Augedeon, 1932; Alva Oren, 1912-45; Roy Engle, 1924-43; Albertus Bucklew, 1910-47; Lon Karns, 1939-54; Paul Bowman, 1941-45.
Harlan Brooks left this congregation to become a mis- sionary to India. L. A. Bookwalter, Hugh Cloppert, and Ira Oren have been active in the larger work of the district on boards and committees. Paul Bowman was for some years the fieldman for Manchester College and at present is the director of admissions. A young layman, Lyle Lambert, has been in Brethren Volunteer Service on the Brethren Service farm at Falfurrias, Texas.
Happy Corner has advanced the following to the elder- ship since 1920: Hugh Cloppert, 1920; Jesse Bookwalter, 1933; Ira Oren and Roy Engle, 1935; Lon Karns, 1944. Paul S. Bow- man was ordained a minister in 1942. The church had previously called these latter four to the ministry and licensed them, also including Benjamin A. Schoeppner.
The church has been host to many district-wide gatherings, including the mission rally in 1943 and the district meeting in 1941. Its doors were opened to special meetings of the
166
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
Old Order Conference in 1944. A special rural life meeting was held in January of 1945.
An incomplete list of the Sunday-school superintendents includes Horace Mohler, Oscar Roberts, Raymond Ebright, Lowell Butterbaugh, Herbert Ullery, Frank Royer, and Ora Bowman.
Deacons installed since 1920 are: George Crooks, 1930; Ora Bowman, 1926; Robert Ulrich, 1936; Russell Lambert, 1936; and Huber Blackburn, 1943.
In 1952 Clyde Mulligan was called to be the full-time pastor of the congregation. The church has purchased land for a parsonage adjoining the church property on the west. A group of over forty members, including Elder Lon Karns, left this church to form a Grace Brethren congregation in 1954.
The Sunday-school attendance is large; the membership is one hundred ninety at this writing.
HARRIS CREEK
The old Stillwater congregation included Covington, Pleasant Hill, and Harris Creek. In 1846 a house was built at Harris Creek, then called Upper Stillwater. It became officially Harris Creek in 1914. The actual division of the territory took place in 1854; so this is the date of the origin of this congregation. Joseph Risser was the first elder. We have no record of the number of charter members.
In 1868 a new brick church house was built. It was fifty by eighty feet in size. This was remodeled in 1908, with Sunday-school rooms added.
In 1865 the Oakland church was formed out of Harris Creek. In 1917 the Bradford church was carved out of this congregation.
By the close of 1920 the church had one hundred eighty members and a Sunday-school attendance of one hundred twelve. D. G. Berkebile had been called as pastor in 1918, and the elder-in-charge was Charles L. Flory. Ministers in the congregation, besides D. G. Berkebile, the pastor, were John Eikenberry and William Buckley. The deacons were
167
PART Two: CONGREGATIONS
John Mummert, Emanuel Flory, Newton Bookwalter, Roy Wagoner, Henry Ballinger, Roy Hollinger, Rudy Hollopeter, Harmon Miller, Harley Hoover, and John Detrick.
D. G. Berkebile continued as pastor until 1936, completing over eighteen years in this one church. In that year Harris Creek and Bradford joined under one pastor with G. E. Weaver shepherding the two churches. He had been called from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1940 the joint program was abandoned; Theodore Eley of Union City became the pastor of Harris Creek and G. E. Weaver continued at Brad- ford. After Theodore Eley passed away in 1945, H. H. Helman filled in for two months. Then Harold E. Helstern of Brookville was called and he continues to minister to the Harris Creek congregation at this time.
Charles L. Flory continued as elder of this congregation until 1927. He was succeeded by D. G. Berkebile in that year; he in turn was followed in 1936 by Ray O. Shank, who presided until 1939. G. L. Wine was elder-in-charge from 1939 to 1941. From 1941 to 1943 Theodore Eley was both pastor and elder. Then Ray O. Shank served again from 1943 to 1945. In 1945 Moyne Landis was invited to become the elder. He was succeeded in 1953 by Philip H. Lauver.
In 1951 John Eikenberry transferred to the Bradford church, where he resided.
Ernest Detrick was licensed to preach in 1939 at Harris Creek; he was installed later at Oakland.
Albert Warner and Jesse M. Wise were elected deacons in 1926. In 1947 Galen Detrick and Myron Loxley were elected and in 1949 they were installed. Thus the present deacon board consists of Roy Hollinger, called in 1914, Harley Hoover, called in 1919, and the four named above.
The Sunday school here dates back to 1885, when a "summer" school was begun. After five years a year-around school was held. Roy Wagoner was the superintendent as the period of this history began. Those who followed, in order, were John Eikenberry, Vicie Cassel, Dale Berkebile, Fhern Cassel, Dale Berkebile, Vicie Cassel, Etoile Sargent, Myron Loxley, Etoile Sargent, Wilbur Erbaugh, and Myron Loxley.
168
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
There is a record of twenty-five different ministers having held evangelistic meetings at Harris Creek since 1920.
A centennial was held in August of 1946, with M. J. Brougher speaking on the centennial program and at a week
The Harris Creek Church
of special meetings. Homecomings were held in 1920, 1927, and 1946.
The church structure erected in 1846 was replaced in 1868, as noted above; it was remodeled in 1908, and further improvements, mostly in modernizing the basement, have just been completed.
This church was host to the District Children's Workers' Conference in 1947.
The women's work is fully organized and active, as is also men's work. Vacation Bible schools have been held annually since 1920, in later years jointly in a community school.
Young people of Harris Creek who have served on the District Youth Cabinet include Lois Eikenberry (Miller), Martha Eley (Detrick), and Galen Hoover.
169
PART TWO: CONGREGATIONS
Etoile Sargent has been a member of the District Women's Work Cabinet, as well as serving several years as a camp director. She became the editor of the Southern Ohio Herald in 1952 and continued this work until 1954. Miriam Hollinger and Janice McBride have also helped at Camp Sugar Grove. Vicie Cassel (Hollinger) was a camp director.
D. G. Berkebile served on the Mission Board; John Eiken- berry as district Sunday-school secretary and lately on the Historical Committee responsible for the completion of this history.
Harris Creek now numbers one hundred two on the mem- bership list and is carrying on an active program.
LOWER MIAMI
Lower Miami is distinctly a parent church. While perhaps not the earliest of Brethren congregations in Southern Ohio, it was at least a close second. With its organization in 1805, it was only six years later that its territory was cut into four divisions by the "Virginia Committee." These were later divided to form the bases for eleven churches. Quite a family from one parent! The story is well told in the 1920 history.
The first church building was erected on the present site in 1845 and then replaced in 1871 by the building which now constitutes the basic part of the present plant. It had a basement and cost $3,500. The ground was donated for the first building by Samuel Noffsinger.
In 1879 the first Sunday school was organized. Church services were held every two weeks at first and, beginning in 1911, every Sunday. There seemed to be a rule that the oldest elder was in charge until he moved away or was deceased. This rule obtained until 1913, when elections began to be held. The membership was a farmer membership. There were one hundred twenty-five members at the time of the previous history. J. O. Garst was the elder-in-charge. D. M. Garver succeeded him, however, in 1920, residing in the congregation.
Since 1920 many changes have taken place. From a rural church then, Lower Miami is now a suburban church. Then
170
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
most of the farms about her were member owned. Now not so. City worker and farmer worship together. Names of early leaders are carried still by descendants.
L
The Lower Miami Church
In the first decade or so following 1920 the eldership was mostly alternated between J. O. Garst and Jesse Noffsinger. In 1940 John Garst became elder and continued in that office until 1952, when he resigned. Paul W. Kinsel was then elected and still has charge.
Many of the Lower Miami young people have attended Manchester College. Some of them were then considered good ministerial prospects and so were licensed and then installed.
The preaching was mostly done by the local ministers until 1950, when a pastor was called from without. The latter years previous to this found John M. Garst doing much of the preaching. Jesse Garst had been designated pastor during 1926-27.
In September 1950 Arthur Keim came to Lower Miami as full-time pastor. Because of his wife's health he resigned after one year. The church then called Edward Angeny, of
171
PART Two: CONGREGATIONS
Muncie, Indiana, who ministers to the congregation at the present time.
The church purchased a parsonage across the road from the church and had a dedication service in the fall of 1951.
The church building erected in 1871 was remodeled in 1938. The interior was completely rearranged, providing Sunday-school rooms and modern conveniences.
Since 1920, this church has licensed five ministers: Lawrence Garst, 1927; Paul Noffsinger, 1932; Ross Noffsinger, 1939; Delmar Moyer, 1942; and A. Wayne Snook, 1954. Of these, Lawrence Garst was ordained a minister in 1928 and an elder in 1936. Paul Noffsinger was ordained a minister in 1934 and Ross Noffsinger in 1940. John Kneisly was ordained to the eldership in 1940.
The elders-in-charge, as indicated above, were D. M. Garver, Jesse Noffsinger, J. O. Garst (mostly alternating), John M. Garst, and Paul Kinsel.
Deacons installed since 1920 have been: Charles C. Stebbins and Charles Laprad, 1927; Orville Foust and Roy Stebbins, 1942; Ray Noffsinger and Milton Medlar, 1952.
The' Sunday-school superintendents in succession were: E. B. Ruble, Roy Stebbins, Lawrence Garst, Walter Stebbins, Raymond Ebright, Blanche Furrey, Orville Foust, and Robert West.
Charles Stebbins, of Lower Miami, was for several years the treasurer for the District of Southern Ohio. Richard Foust has been in Brethren Service in Europe.
The present membership of the congregation is two hundred forty-three.
The church is preparing appropriate services to com- memorate its sesquicentennial in 1955.
MACK MEMORIAL
The Mack Memorial church was formerly called the West Dayton church. The origin of this congregation dates back to February 1889 when thirty-two members of surrounding churches asked for a separate organization, The actual
172
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
organization occurred in April 1889, with forty-four charter members. Francis Cotterman became the first elder. There were no regular services until a church could be built. A committee was almost immediately appointed to find a loca- tion. The corner of West Fourth and College streets was selected and plans were laid to build at once. A church forty by fifty-five feet was erected here and was dedicated Sep- tember 15, 1889, with Elder John Smith giving the dedicatory sermon.
In this same month a Sunday school was organized. In 1918 an addition to the building for better Sunday-school facilities was completed and dedicated. Brother J. H. Cassady was the dedicatory speaker. In 1901 the Sunday school had
The Mack Memorial Church
an average attendance of one hundred one; in 1919 it was one hundred thirty-one; in 1938 in was two hundred twenty- eight.
This location and structure served the church until 1947, when it was sold to the Mt. Enon Baptist congregation. The members met then in the Longfellow school for five years,
173
PART Two: CONGREGATIONS
or until September 28, 1952, at which time they began to worship in their new building located at 1725 Salem Avenue. It was dedicated as the Mack Memorial Church of the Brethren, under which name the church was incorporated in 1947. "West Dayton" had given way to "First Church of the Brethren" some years earlier, a name used by the church locally.
The new building on Salem Avenue was dedicated on October 12, 1952, with Brother V. F. Schwalm giving the dedicatory address. The cost was in excess of $250,000, which includes church and furnishings, the cost of the lots, and a church parsonage relocated at 3732 West Hillcrest Avenue. It is one of the most beautiful, within and without, of the recently constructed churches of this district. Seating in excess of five hundred, it is forty by one hundred twelve feet in size. During the construction and completion of the new church John D. Long was pastor and Norman B. Wine elder.
The eldership of the church passed from Francis Cotter- man, in 1897, to L. A. Bookwalter, who presided until 1904. There was a period when various elders were assigned to be in charge, then D. M. Garver became both pastor and elder in 1907. The next year he was followed by D. S. Filbrun, who served in the same capacity until 1912. D. H. Keller succeeded him the next year and continued until 1916. The church next called D. F. Warner, who presided until 1919, when W. C. Detrick was chosen pastor. At this time there were three hundred twelve members and the Sunday school averaged one hundred thirty-one in attendance.
At the beginning of the third decade of the twentieth century W. C. Detrick was the pastor and the eldership was in the hands of Dorsey Hodgden. Both continued until 1924, when G. A. Snider became elder and E. S. Coffman pastor. John Robinson became presiding elder in 1924, E. S. Coffman in 1926, and C. F. McKee in 1933. E. S. Coffman served as pastor until 1933, when he was succeeded by J. Perry Prather, who remained as leader until 1944. N. B. Wine had been elected elder in 1942 and still presides over the church. Until the calling of John D. Long in the fall of 1945, H. H. Helman acted as pastor in the interim. John D. Long remained until
174
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
January 1955 and will be succeeded by Earl M. Bowman of Lititz, Pennsylvania.
The church ordained E. S. Coffman to the eldership in 1926 and N. B. Wine in 1928. John Detrick, Allen Deeter, and Jesse Bowser were licensed to preach. Resident ministers since 1920, not otherwise mentioned, have been: Lawrence Weimer, Elmer Brumbaugh, Randolph Van Scoyk, and Lester Slaughter. John Detrick has served in China and Frances Landis in South America.
Deacons of the congregation who are deceased or have moved away include Charles Grove, Jesse Fuls, Charles Van Scoyk, Chester Cooper, and Lawrence Ridenour. Those now members include D. A. Porter, Vernon Medlar, H. B. Shella- barger, Dayton Brubaker, Willis Landis, Elmer Neff, Artie Smith, W. H. Gnagey, E. M. Fox, Cecil Petry, Lowell Erbaugh, Curtis Shock, Don Bookwalter, W. K. Groff, Robert Noffsinger, J. Edward Hershberger, Charles Dawson, Leroy Fish, Carl Griep, John Olwine, Cecil Rust, and Homer Wagner.
Harry McPherson was superintendent of the Sunday school at the beginning of the period of this history and served until 1924. Those in order since then have been: Norman Wine, W. C. Hampton, Elmer Neff, Willis Landis, E. M. Fox, H. B. Shellabarger, Robert J. Noffsinger, W. K. Groff, and John Olwine.
The following have been camp directors or teachers or on youth cabinets in the district: Inez Long, Phyllis Erbaugh, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Rust, Merrill Royer, Robert and Alma Noffsinger, W. K. and Sally Groff, Alice Yoder, Franklin Wallick, and J. E. Hershberger. W. K. Groff is a member of the Historical Committee of the district, and N. B. Wine is a trustee of Manchester College.
The church maintains a salaried staff consisting of the pastor, church secretary, financial secretary, adult choir director, children's choir director, organist, and custodian. C. W. Detrick has been the music leader for many years.
There is a creative activity hour for the children during the worship hour, a men's club, and women's work activity with five departments. The Sunday evening services are family centered.
175
PART Two: CONGREGATIONS
The fiftieth anniversary was observed in 1939. The church adopted an impressive budget of $33,833 for the year 1953-54. It lists a membership of five hundred thirty-two.
The brochure which was used at the dedication service on October 12, 1952, has these closing words: "These Dedication Services are only the beginning of a great forward-looking experience which shall unfold in our fellowship the reality of 'the Body of Christ.'"
MARBLE FURNACE
Marble Furnace came out of the Brush Creek congrega- tion, which comprised all of the Brethren in the southern counties. It was set apart in 1880. A house had already been built in 1877. The church never reached a substantial mem- bership. At the close of the 1920 history there were fifteen members. Van B. Wright was ministering to them and J. O. Garst was their elder.
Van B. Wright shepherded the congregation until in
The Marble Furnace Church
176
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
December 1924. In 1925 Rolland Flory was named pastor. He remained until 1928. Part of this time he was also elder- in-charge. He was followed in the pastorate by Elmer Wagoner, who soon returned, however, to India as a mis- sionary. In September of 1929 W. R. Swinger was made pastor, continuing until 1939. Paul Wright then served until 1943. In June 1944 Dale Gibboney came as a summer pastor. In September of that year Jacob and Mary Couser came as pastors. Mrs. Couser is a licensed minister. They continue to minister to the church at present.
The elders-in-charge here have generally been from the District Mission Board. J. O. Garst was followed by R. N. Leatherman. H. M. Coppock became elder in 1928. In June 1943 John H. Good took charge. He was succeeded by E. Friend Couser and then again John H. Good took the over- sight. H. H. Helman is the present elder of the congregation.
In 1928 the congregation completed a remodeling and building project with a dedication on May 20. J. H. Eidemiller gave the address.
The congregation ordained Otto Laursen as elder in 1934. Jacob Couser was made an elder in 1950.
Homer Haines was licensed in 1922 and Paul Wright in 1940.
William Ramsey and Spencer Storer were elected deacons in 1922. Marion Headrich and Carl McGown were later elected.
With a membership of fifty-seven there seems to be a renewed interest in this, one of Southern Ohio's early fields.
MAY HILL
May Hill was one of the churches carved out of Brush Creek. May Hill was made a separate branch in 1880. In that same year a building was erected. Through the early years various Brethren held meetings here. The results were mostly disappointing. At the time of the publishing of the former history J. O. Garst was the elder-in-charge and Van B. Wright was pastoring this and others of the southern churches.
177
PART TWO: CONGREGATIONS
Van B. Wright served thus until 1928, following which service H. C. Haines took over for two years. The Mission Board then secured the services of W. R. Swinger, who labored in this field until 1939. Paul Wright was then called; he
The May Hill Church
remained until 1943. There has been no pastoral service at May Hill since 1943. The members are all deceased. A home- coming is held once a year. Jacob Couser of Marble Furnace preaches for the friends and neighbors of the church oc- casionally.
The District Board is studying the situation to determine whether the building should be sold and May Hill declared nonexistent.
MIDDLE DISTRICT
The Middle District territory was in the "middle," be- tween Hickory Grove and Salem, and so got its name. It comprises mostly Monroe Township, Miami County, but also extends south to include some of Montgomery County. The
178
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
first Brethren preaching in Monroe Township was undoubtedly done by Elder Phillip Younce, who came to Miami County in 1813 from North Carolina, being then a minister. His preaching had much to do with the establishment of the Brethren faith in the area including Darke and Miami counties. He was known to have preached regularly in the Presbyterian church in Nashville, which is within the Middle District territory. His son, George Younce, and his wife were charter members of Middle District.
Just which group was responsible for first beginning services in the locality of this church seems to be in obscurity. But previous to the organization of the church in 1876, services had been held in the "Old Union Church" in Ginghamsburg. This continued to be the meeting place after the new con- gregation was formed. Samuel Coppock and Oliver F. Yount were ministers in this new territory. They shared the pulpit responsibilities and both were later ordained elders by the congregation.
The new organization began with sixty charter members. Growth at first was rather rapid. By 1884 there seemed to be one hundred twenty members. But by 1920 the member- ship declined to ninety. Many moved in but more moved out. The first communion of record was held in the Samuel Coppock barn in May 1877. At this communion occasion steps were begun to build a house of worship. The first church, located on the present site of the Middle District church, was dedi- cated in December 1877. This building was remodeled and improvements were made in December 1908, thirty-one years after its erection.
This congregation started the third decade of the twentieth century with ninety members, including four ministers, Elder J. P. Miller, Elder C. V. Coppock, H. M. Coppock, and Roy Karns. The Sunday-school attendance averaged forty.
The church building was remodeled again in 1937, more Sunday-school rooms, a new pulpit, and a baptistry being added. This building served until in December 1945. One Sunday while the congregation was assembling for worship, the church caught fire and burned. Only a few of the fur- nishings were saved.
179
PART Two: CONGREGATIONS
Services were held in the Monroe Township hall until a new structure could be erected. After considering changing the location to Tipp City, it was finally decided to rebuild on the same location. A building committee of five members was elected: L. E. Davidson (chairman), Roger Clark, Verlynne McAdams, Ralph Brumbaugh, and Nevin Coppock. The cornerstone was laid on October 3, 1948, and dedication services were held on November 6, with Dr. Calvert N. Ellis preaching the dedicatory sermon. C. V. Coppock was pastor and elder at the time.
The Middle District Church
The building was planned by C. H. Deardorff, the Brethren church building counselor at Elgin. It is thirty-six by sixty- four feet in size, of buff brick, with art windows, including a large lighted window to the front. Much volunteer labor went into the construction, making the actual cost in dollars much less than its real value. It is rated a very beautiful building and has every modern church convenience. It is a proud achievement for the Middle District members.
In 1925 H. M. Coppock was ordained to the eldership. In 1939 Ralph W. Brumbaugh was licensed to the ministry and two years later he was installed.
180
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
Of deacons many more were called, including Marley Karns in 1924; Leonard Davidson and Ralph Brumbaugh in 1929; Oscar Roberts and Roger Clark in 1940; and Ralph Reeder in 1944. Joseph Karns, elected in 1903, served until 1943. Jesse Coy, elected in 1916, served until 1923. Other deacons moved into the congregation, namely, David Royer, J. F. Coy, and A. J. Weimer in 1923; Ora Diehl in 1926 (moved out and then back again in 1950); D. P. Groff (moved in in 1935).
J. P. Miller was in charge of Middle District, as elder, in 1920 and continued until 1923, when L. A. Bookwalter took over. H. M. Coppock followed, until 1937, when C. V. Coppock became both elder and pastor. At the resignation of Brother Coppock in 1951, to take up a pastorate in Indiana, Ray O. Shank became elder. He was succeeded in 1952 by H. H. Helman.
The resident ministers seem to have shared the pulpit responsibilities until, by action of the church, H. M. Coppock was made pastor. Not until 1926 was regular financial support given the pastor. In that year it was decided that the min- isterial committee should take a public offering the last Sunday of each month for ministerial support. H. M. Coppock was succeeded by his brother, C. V. Coppock, as pastor in 1937; he continued until 1952, when he was followed by H. H. Helman, of New Carlisle. At the date of this writing the church is looking forward to the calling of a full-time pastor. A parsonage fund has been started.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.