USA > Ohio > Church of the Brethren in southern Ohio > Part 14
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Returning to leaders furnished, this church has been represented in widely scattered areas. It called and ordained Sylvan Bookwalter, a leader in the local district. H. F.
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Richards, who was here elected to the ministry in 1908, has served the Brotherhood in several capacities. Oliver Royer was included among those called to the ministry (1911), later to serve other churches and districts. Leland Emrick, elected in 1942, has served in the local district and elsewhere.
The 1920 Southern Ohio history relates that the average Sunday-school attendance at that time was one hundred one. The figure for 1948 shows a growth to one hundred sixty-five.
This church began to call deacons into office as early as 1832, and had called no fewer than twenty-six up to 1920. Since then it has called eleven and received one by letter. They include Ezra Deaton, 1927; Earl Petry, C. C. Longanecker, Amos Hollinger, 1929; John Smith, by letter, 1934; E. C. Burnett and S. K. Miller, 1934; Charles H. Miller and Elvin Spitler, 1942; Harlan Snyder, Edwin Leas, Kenneth Cabaniss, 1951.
Among those known to have acted as Sunday-school superintendent since 1920 are Paul Getz, Don Weaver, S. K. Miller, Elvin Spitler, E. C. Burnett, and Edwin Leas.
Paul Getz represented this congregation in Brethren Volunteer Service in Poland; Deloris Petry and Vera Lee in work camp service.
Prices Creek was host to the Southern Ohio district con- ference in 1938.
ROCK HOUSE
On September 2, 1932, by vote of the members of the Wolfe Creek, Kentucky, church, the Rock House congregation was formed out of its membership, with twenty-two charter members. The newly formed fellowship chose Lester Heisey, of Laura, Ohio, to be its pastor, and elected three deacons, Ken Blackburn, Thomas Elkins, and Rell McGuire. It was included in the territory of the District of Tennessee.
The first meetings were held in the school buildings, but in July 1933 preparations were begun to erect a house of worship. The building was quickly erected and soon in use, one of the first services being a communion service.
In September 1935 two more deacons were chosen, James Francis and Russell Elkins. At the same time Carl Reed, Rell
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McGuire, and Ermal Staton were chosen to be licensed to preach.
In 1935 Reuel B. Pritchett, of White Pine, Tennessee, was elected elder-in-charge. He presided until 1940, when he was succeeded by Keither Wilson of Turkey Creek. In 1944 Walter E. Hawke of New Carlisle, Ohio, became elder, and in 1947 Clarence Erbaugh of New Lebanon, Ohio. Keither Wilson assumed charge again in 1949, followed by Fayette Fields in 1950. At present Keither Wilson has charge as elder.
It seems that Lester Heisey continued in the pastoral leadership until 1939, when the church chose Keither Wilson to lead. In that same year Brother Rell McGuire was installed into the full ministry and Ermal Staton was relicensed. In this year also the congregation asked to be transferred to the District of Southern Ohio. The following Annual Conference granted the transfer.
In 1947 the church chose Howard Erbaugh of Dayton and Fayette Fields to act as co-pastors. In June 1950, the congregation voted to become a self-supported organization, releasing the Mission Board of Southern Ohio from further obligations.
John W. Wright was chosen as a deacon in August 1951, and at the same time Fayette Fields was elected as elder. He continued until 1952, when he was succeeded by Keither Wilson.
Improvements were made on the building in 1952, which included installing a furnace and painting the church inside and outside. The basement had been completed in 1949 and the building completely wired.
Homer Conley and Sterling Elkins were licensed to preach in 1952.
As of the present writing the church has a membership of twenty-five. A new arrangement for assistance from Pastor Kenneth Fisher of Turkey Creek has created a marked new interest in this congregation.
The list of Sunday-school superintendents, available for the years from 1941 to the present, includes, in order, Rell McGuire, R. H. Reed, Rell McGuire, Thelma Bevins, Russell Elkins, and Sterling Elkins.
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It should be noted that a great deal of the credit for establishing a church here rests with the deceased Lester Heisey, who labored sacrificially here during its early years.
SALEM
In the division of the territory of the Lower Miami church in 1811 by the "Virginia Committee," two of the divisions were known as Lower Stillwater and Wolf Creek. Parts of these two divisions later comprised the Salem church, which was organized in 1817. It included the very northern portion of these two congregations. In the new territory and organization was Emanuel Flory, who became the first presiding elder. His helpers in the ministry were John Studebaker and Isaac Karns; there were three deacons also in the fifty-two charter members. It is significant that from the time of its organiza- tion until 1881, Salem listed twenty ministers and twenty-one deacons, from 1881 to 1920 there were twenty ministers and twenty-eight deacons, while from 1920 to the present it has listed fifteen ministers and twenty-five deacons.
The earliest services were held in homes and in barns, some of the latter being constructed with this in mind. Be- sides the elder and ministers named above, those who min- istered in those early days included Isaac Miller, John Bower, David Murray, John W. Sollenberger, and Jesse Kinsey.
In 1869 Salem was ceded some territory from in and around West Milton by the Brush Creek (Ludlow) congrega- tion. No ministers came with this group, but it included two deacons. This area formed the nucleus for the West Milton church, organized in 1908.
The first church house at Salem (present site) was erected in 1854 on a two-acre plot of ground. It was of brick. In 1876 the second one was built. Salem joined with Ludlow in building a house of worship at Potsdam the same year. An- other house was built at Arlington in 1886, and was jointly served by Salem and Wolf Creek and later by Salem and Brookville. The work at Arlington was not successful and the building was sold in 1928.
In 1917-18 the Salem house was remodeled and enlarged.
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By 1920 the fifty-two charter members were succeeded by four hundred twenty-five enrolled. A few members were lost in 1926 to the Dunkard Brethren movement when this group started services at Englewood.
Ordinations of elders since 1920 include that of Earl Gorrell, 1942, and that of J. Calvin Bright, 1947. Ministers ordained, in order, include William Hollinger, 1920; Cleo Beery, 1927; John Kneisly, 1930; Earl Gorrell, 1939; Jerry Gibboney, 1942; and J. Calvin Bright, 1945. Licensing had preceded these as follows: William Hollinger, 1920; Cleo Beery, 1926; John Kneisly, 1927; Earl Gorrell, 1938; Jerry Gibboney, 1940; J. Calvin Bright, 1941. Merlin Cassell was licensed in 1942.
Deacons installed since 1920 are: William Wenger and Albert Landis, 1926; George W. Teeter, Charles Miller, and Ira Landis, 1927; Mose Eby, Earl Gorrell, and Jeff Loughman, 1934; Carl Seibel and Charles Lightner, 1938; Ora Diehl, Clarence Kindell, and Willard Spitler, 1940. David Minnich and Paul Oda were elected in 1950.
Elders-in-charge at Salem for this period begin with William Minnich, whose term extended from 1910 to 1921. E. E. Brumbaugh was elected in 1922, 1924, 1926, 1936, 1938, 1940, and 1944. Sylvan Bookwalter was chosen in 1925, 1936, and 1937. Edward Miller was in charge from 1939 to 1940. J. Homer Bright was elected in 1945, Earl Gorrell in 1946, Roy B. Teach in 1947. C. C. Sollenberger then served until 1949. Earl Gorrell followed in 1950; Ray O. Shank in 1951. L. John Weaver succeeded him in 1954.
Other elders who have resided in the Salem congregation include Charles L. Floyd and A. H. Bucklew, while a larger number of ministers have had their residence here: Joe Robbins, Lester Heisey, Mary E. Teeter, Stanley Wenger, and John C. Brumbaugh, besides those named elsewhere.
It took some time for Salem to decide on calling a pastor. The matter began to take form in 1918, and was officially deferred in 1919, 1920, 1921, and 1927. Then in 1940 a vote was taken on calling a pastor but failed to carry by a sufficient majority. But in 1944 the proposition carried by an eighty percent majority, and in late summer of that year C. C.
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Sollenberger was invited to become pastor; he took over the duties in June of 1945 and continued until June 1950. Foster M. Bittinger became Salem's second full-time pastor.
The Salem congregation has been a leader in Sunday schools. It was in 1887 that the first school was held, limited at first to summers only. Not everybody was in favor of it but the school went on. Soon the interest was general. Teachers' meetings were instituted, held mostly in homes. In 1937 the fiftieth anniversary of the Sunday school was held with some of the earliest workers and teachers being present. The first superintendents of the Sunday school were John H. Brumbaugh and Elijah Rohrer. In 1920 William Hollinger was acting as superintendent, followed in succession by C. W. Fisher, D. K. Rinehart, Katie Flory, Cleo Beery, Katie Flory, Albert Landis, Ralph Seibert, Albert Landis, Clarence Kindell,
F
The Salem Church
Wilbur Erbaugh, Clarence Kindell, Albert Landis, and Clarence Kindell, who is the present incumbent.
Missions-wise Salem has a splendid record. The Flory family, in Ezra, Charles, Katie, and Minnie, worked in far-
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flung fields. Ezra became a Brotherhood leader in Christian education. Katie did much home mission work in the local district. Minnie, with her husband, J. Homer Bright, served many years in China under the General Mission Board. Their son, J. Calvin Bright, born in China, went back to that country, with his wife Harriett, he continuing until the com- munists imprisoned him; he was finally released and allowed to return to America. Subsequently the Brights went into pastoral work in Indiana. C. C. Sollenberger, Harvey Snell, and Merlin Cassell served on the home field.
Salem was host to Southern Ohio district conferences in 1920, 1931, 1942, and 1954; to the Women's Work meetings in 1945 and 1948; to a district Men's Work meeting in 1943 and to a Men's Work meeting in 1945. One of the Sunday-school institutes, held each winter, was at Salem in 1924.
From 1916 to 1923 Salem regularly held special Fourth of July services. There were homecomings during the years 1923 to 1931. Harvest meetings were held up to 1925. After several years of congregational Thanksgiving services Salem began joining in union services with surrounding churches in 1941.
Reference has been made to the improvements made in 1917-18. Since that time additional Sunday-school rooms with a balcony, a vestibule, and a room for the ladies' aid were provided in 1920-21; a new heating plant was installed in 1922; new seats were placed in the auditorium in 1928; more Sunday-school rooms were added and improvements to the kitchen were made in 1925-26; restrooms were added in 1940; hardwood floors were laid in 1944. New pulpit furniture was dedicated in 1946. An electric organ with chimes was pur- chased in 1951. In late January 1955 the church house was destroyed by fire. Plans for a beautiful new structure have been made.
Salem has taken its place in district work. Women who have served in district Women's Work include Maggie Puter- baugh, Minnie Bright, Sarah Neher, and Katie Flory. Elder E. E. Brumbaugh has been a fieldman for the Brethren Home and F. C. Puterbaugh a trustee of the Home. Charles L. Flory
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has moderated the district meeting and represented Southern Ohio on Standing Committee.
Naomi Flory, Esther Bright, Minnie Bright, J. Calvin Bright, and Harriett Bright have been camp leaders at Camp Sugar Grove.
Architect's Drawing of the New Salem Church
Serving on the District Youth Cabinet have been Merlin Cassell, Junior Cassell, Bernis Cassell, and Lowell Lightner. Don Barnes and Don Brumbaugh have participated in Breth- ren Volunteer Service.
In 1948 the congregation purchased a farm and parsonage, which, after improvements were made, was dedicated in 1949. The original cost was $19,000. A gift of $10,000, willed to the church by Perry Detrick, along with another fund of $5,000, together with a parsonage fund previously raised, made the purchase easy.
The young people began a Lord's Acre project by raising small plots of popcorn. Later the men's work carried the project into more extensive efforts, the young people sharing. Since the purchase of the church farm the young people have raised sweet corn and sorghum to supplement their funds for district youth projects.
Salem is one of Southern Ohio's outstanding churches. Any district gathering scheduled at Salem practically assures
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an overflow crowd. The church is a good host. Everything is always in readiness. The church is very near the center of Brethren population in Southern Ohio. In October 1954 the congregation observed the centennial of the building of the first church here. Under the leadership of Foster M. Bittinger the church continues to grow. It has four hundred eighty- six members.
SIDNEY
The Sidney church's history roots back into that of the Mosquito Creek church, started perhaps in 1830, and located east of the city. Meetings were first held in homes and barns. Later a brick church, thirty by thirty-six feet, was erected. The membership was then around seventy-five. This house served until about 1895, when the Southern Ohio Mission Board
The Sidney Church
purchased a Methodist church building at the corner of Ohio and South streets in Sidney, since many members now lived in the city. Henry Longanecker, of North Star, had charge of
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the work under the supervision of the Mission Board. There were then forty-seven members. P. B. Fitzwater was next called to direct the work. After he left there was an interim when preaching appointments were cared for by various ministers. Finally S. Z. Smith served as part-time and then as full-time pastor. It was during his leadership that it was decided to change locations. The new location was on Grove Street; the building was a cement block structure thirty-eight by fifty feet. The district provided the needed funds, above what the local members contributed. It was dedicated in August 1905, with Jacob Coppock giving the sermon. This building was enlarged, with a wing for Sunday-school rooms, in 1914. S. Z. Smith continued as pastor. In 1919 the church became self-supporting.
Pastoral dates were not furnished but the pastors, in suc- cession, since 1920, have been S. Z. Smith, C. V. Coppock, R. H. Nicodemus, I. R. Beery, Jesse Bowser, S. S. Blough, C. C. Sollenberger, and Jesse Inman, the latter coming in 1951.
About 1925 the Loramie congregation disorganized and some thirty members transferred to the Sidney church.
Elders-in-charge at Sidney since 1920 include, in order, S. Z. Smith, C. V. Coppock, C. Walter Warstler, S. S. Blough, John Eikenberry, G. L. Wine, Moyne Landis, W. Glenn McFadden, Lester Fike, and J. C. Inman.
Deacons, both those who moved in and those installed, include Clem Ullery, Marion Davis, Ora Younker, Leslie Helman, Lowell Erbaugh, Clyde Albaugh, Robert Neher, Talmage Clayton, Harold Ullery, Clayton Kiracofe, Floyd Bedford, and Richard Helman.
The Sunday-school superintendents of record were Mrs. S. Z. Smith, Bessie Snyder, Clyde Albaugh, Leslie Helman, Talmage Clayton, Clayton Kiracofe, Paul Kies, Edward Fries, Grady Bridge, and Paul Kies.
Jack Kline was licensed to the ministry in November 1945.
The membership is two hundred forty-eight now. The congregation owns a modern parsonage located next to the church,
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An electric organ was recently installed, the gift of Dr. and Mrs. Clayton Kiracofe.
For many years an outstanding annual occasion at the Sidney church was "Auto Day," when friends and relatives from over the district came in for morning and afternoon services and a basket dinner.
The church has joined liberally in Brethren Service projects and the Heifer Project.
SPRINGFIELD
The first church at Springfield was a child of the Donnels Creek church, some seven miles west and north of the city. The earliest meetings held in the city seem to have been in 1886. In 1909 it was found that twenty-five members lived in Springfield who were interested in establishing a Brethren congregation here. Meetings were held in the homes. Later they were held in a Methodist chapel at Miami and George streets, Donnels Creek ministers preaching every two weeks. A Sunday school was organized in July 1912, being held in a store room on Main Street.
In 1913 the first church house was built on the corner of Columbia and Shaffer. It was thirty by forty feet and of frame construction. The next year the Mission Board of the district began giving direction and assistance to the new congregation. Omer B. Maphis was placed here as pastor for a year, followed by J. C. Inman, who was the pastor when the former history was written.
The church was formally organized as a separate con- gregation in September 1918 with about eighty charter members. J. O. Garst was the first elder-in-charge. At the beginning of the third decade of the twentieth century there was a membership of ninety-two and an average attendance in the Sunday school of sixty. The Mission Board owned the property at this time.
The church grew until it was felt that the small frame building was inadequate. In 1922 construction of a new building on the same site was begun. It was dedicated on
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May 20, 1923, with J. W. Fidler preaching the sermon. A parsonage was erected and dedicated in June of 1927. It adjoins the church to the east. In 1940 the Mission Board of
The Springfield Church
the district gave title to all the property to the church and the congregation became self-supporting. John H. Good was the first elder chosen by the church.
The construction of the new brick building and the parsonage left the church with a mortgage. In November 1945 the mortgage note was burned ceremoniously at a morning service. Soon after this another building committee was set up to consider an addition to the building. Things progressed until in May 1952 work was begun on an addition to the north. The dedication of this new part took place on November 9, 1952.
As noted above, J. C. Inman was the pastor in 1920. He continued until December of 1924. Then S. Z. Smith became the pastor, serving until February 1926. After a short interim of preaching by visiting ministers, J. J. Johnson became the pastor in September 1926. He remained five years. John H. Good was called from Northwestern Ohio and led the
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congregation until in September 1946, a total of fifteen years. Lester E. Fike came in 1946 and continued until called to East Dayton in March 1951. Otis Landis came on as pastor the following September and serves at this time.
During the supervision by the Mission Board, up to 1940, J. H. Eidemiller and H. M. Coppock acted in turn as elders- in-charge. John H. Good was chosen elder by the church in 1940, serving until 1946, when he left to become the pastor of the West Alexandria church. Lester E. Fike became elder and continued in that capacity until he went to East Dayton in 1951. Then Ross Noffsinger, pastor of the Donnels Creek church, took charge. Elder William J. Buckley lived in the Springfield congregation from 1932 to 1937.
Hadley Williamson was licensed by the church, 1935-37, and T. E. Hunter in 1944. J. H. Riley was ordained a minister in 1921. T. E. Hunter was relicensed in 1951.
The church has installed deacons as follows: T. E. Hunter, 1923; George Getz, 1928; Orin Ziegler, 1928; Harvey Grisso, Charles Pollock, and David Flora, 1930; Raymond Cool and Edgar Roof in 1946.
The Sunday-school superintendents since 1920 have been: Ira Hoak, Harry Taylor, Cyrus Carmen, Orin Ziegler, Harry Taylor, George Getz, Harvey Grisso, Gerald Young, Hadley Williamson, Gerald Young, George Getz, James Brannen, and David Studebaker.
The men's work group of the Springfield church joined with the men of Donnels Creek in purchasing ten heifers for relief; these heifers were shipped abroad in 1952. The women of the church have contributed much material aid for war- torn countries. The young people raised popcorn one year as a Lord's Acre project.
The church was represented in the district work when John H. Good served on the Mission Board and Lester E. Fike on the Ministerial Board.
Bessie Crim went from this congregation to the China mission field. Margaret Spangler has taught in the district junior camps. The pastor, Otis Landis, is a member of the District Board. Harvey Grisso is secretary of the District Men's Work Cabinet.
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The midwinter youth conference of 1930 was held here. In 1948 Springfield was host to the children's workers' con- ference and in 1949 to the district ministers' meeting.
The church continues to grow. From a mission church at the beginning of 1940, it has grown into a congregation of two hundred seventy-three members with an annual budget of nearly $10,000.
STONELICK
This church is our oldest, perhaps organized in 1795 with fifteen charter members. In 1854 a brick church was erected, and by this time the name Stonelick had come to be generally
The Stonelick Church
used. The early history of this church contained some well- known Brethren names. But since this territory was not as desirable agriculturally as some farther north, many families moved. It also suffered heavily in the division of 1881.
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When the former history closed, this church had twenty- five members and twenty-five in the Sunday school. C. V. Coppock was elder at this time.
Following 1920, C. G. Erbaugh and Jesse Noffsinger served as elder. In 1930 John M. Garst was called to be the pastor and elder and has continued in this dual capacity through the years.
The church membership never grew to over thirty-five. The youth of the families take employment in the large cities and soon locate there permanently. However, the present Sunday-school enrollment and attendance exceed any in the past. Howard Watkins is the Sunday-school superintendent.
In 1935 Harold Grossnickle was licensed to the ministry here.
Prior to 1930 two deacons were elected, Jesse Grossnickle and Stanley Pringle. Merle Grossnickle was elected a deacon in 1935.
Recently a new roof has been applied and a new floor laid in the church, a new pulpit installed, and other improvements made. The sum of $1,000 was expended. Other improvements and enlargement of the facilities are being planned for the future.
STRAIT CREEK
The Strait Creek church dates back to 1876, when the first building was erected here. It is in Highland County, near Sinking Springs. The establishment of the congregation here is perhaps largely due to the influence and efforts of John Garman. He was the father-in-law of Brother Landon West, who was later a leader in this parish.
The Mission Board of the district began to assist in and direct the work here in the early part of this century. R. H. Nicodemus was the first to be sent here as pastor. He was followed by J. A. R. Couser, who resided in the congregation. Then Van B. Wright took over, in a joint pastorate with other Highland County churches. When the period of the former
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history closed he was still in charge and J. O. Garst was the presiding elder. There were thirty-five members.
The district records show the following for the succeeding years: Van B. Wright continued as pastor until December 31, 1924. Then Rolland Flory, who was the superintendent of schools at Sinking Springs, served until 1928. For one year J. Elmer Wagoner was in charge. He was followed by W. R.
The Strait Creek Church
Swinger, who continued until 1940, when Paul Wright became pastor. In 1945 Jacob and Mary Couser took charge, and they have continued until the present date.
The elders, in order, since the publication of the history have been: J. O. Garst, J. W. Fidler, R. N. Leatherman, H. M. Coppock, D. G. Berkebile, H. M. Coppock, E. Friend Couser, and H. H. Helman.
The records indicate that Lawrence Garman was licensed in 1945 and relicensed until 1949. The record of deacons elected was not available to the editor.
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TROTWOOD
The Trotwood church formerly comprised territory within the Fort Mckinley and Happy Corner churches, which, in turn, formerly comprised the Lower Stillwater congregation. So many of the members of these two congregations lived in and near Trotwood that they asked to have a church home in the village; it was agreed that they could build a house of their own. Erection was begun and completed in 1899, and the new church house was dedicated in January 1900, with Elder D. S. Filbrun delivering the dedication sermon.
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