USA > Ohio > The Church of the Brethren in northeastern Ohio > Part 23
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meeting program committee, 1944-1949 and again since 1962; peace director, 1946; delegate to the Standing Committee once; district conference director, 1960, 1961, and 1962. Brother Miley was a high school teacher in Danville, Ohio, from 1930 to 1937 and in Bellville, Ohio, from 1939 to 1943, and was the superintendent of the Shiloh, Ohio, schools in 1943 and 1944. Since 1944 he has been the head of the speech department of Ashland College and has taught in Ashland Theological Sem- inary. He has directed the Sunday School of the Air broad- cast from Ashland since 1954.
ADAM HENRY MILLER, son of John H. and Elizabeth (Keim) Miller, was born near Louisville, Ohio, on Novem- ber 10, 1878. He was bap- tized in the Louisville Center church in June 1892. Brother Miller married Emma E. Knaer on November 16, 1899; six children came into their home. Called to the ministry on May 19, 1911, he was ad- vanced in December 1911 and ordained to the eldership in December 1914. His record of pastoral service is an exten- sive one: Center (in the free ministry, 1911-1920) ; Akron (full time, March 1, 1920, to August 31, 1926) ; Reading (part time, September 1, 1926, Adam H. Miller to May 30, 1928) ; Kent and Bristolville (full time, June 1, 1928, to December 31, 1938) ; New Philadelphia (full time, Janu- ary 1, 1939, to 1951) ; Akron Eastwood (assistant, 1955 to 1960). Among his numerous district offices have been those of assistant moderator, 1941 and 1942; member of the ministerial board from 1915 to 1924 and from 1935 to 1948; Standing Committee- man in 1920, 1932, and 1945. Since his retirement in 1951,
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Brother Miller has lived in Akron. For several years he represented the Akron Council of Churches as a hospital chaplain. In 1950, Sister Miller died. Brother Miller married Mrs. Verna Diemer in 1955.
DEWITT L. MILLER was born to J. D. and Bertha Virginia (Cline) Miller in Bridgewater, Virginia, on October 12, 1908. He united with the church in the Bridgewater congregation in 1916. His education was received at Bridgewater College (A.B., 1931, and honorary D.D., 1954) and Bethany Biblical Seminary (M.R.E., 1930; B.D., 1931; honorary D.D., 1947). Called to the ministry in 1927, he was advanced in 1928 in his home church and ordained an elder in 1933 in Huntington, Indiana. Mary Maurine Hartsough became his wife on May 30, 1931; they have one son. Brother Miller has served these pastorates: Hunting- ton (1931-1934); Cleveland, Ohio (1934-1937) ; Meyersdale, Pennsylvania (1938-1945); McPherson, Kansas (1945-1949) ; Washington, D. C. (1949-1953); Hagerstown, Maryland (since January 1, 1954). He is the author of The Mastery of the Master, You and Your Church, Meditations on Brethren Life (with Mrs. Miller), and If Two Are to Become One. In addition, he has made numerous contributions to the Gospel Messenger, the Brethren Bible Study Monthly, and other Brethren periodicals. At the present time he is a member of the General Brotherhood Board.
F. BLAKE MILLION, son of James M. and Queen (Scales) Million, was born in Burnettsville, Indiana, on April 14, 1909. In July 1919 he became a member of the Pipe Creek congrega- tion, near Monticello, Indiana. His education was secured at Manchester College (A.B., 1932) and the Ohio State University. Having been called to the ministry in 1931, he was ordained in the District of North and South Carolina in 1932 and ordained an elder in Northwestern Ohio in 1939. From 1932 to 1936 Brother Million worked in the home mission program in North and South Carolina and in Greene County, Virginia, being the director of the industrial school a part of the time while on the latter assignment. He was the part-time pastor of the Richland, Ohio, church from 1936 to 1961 while teaching in the
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public schools. His services to the District of Northeastern Ohio have been varied: member of the board of Christian education from 1938 to 1943 and its chairman in 1941; treasurer in 1942, 1943, and from 1948 to 1951; member of the Brethren service committee from 1944 to 1950; counselor to conscientious objectors to war from 1948 to 1962; member of the home mission board from 1952 to 1957 and its chairman from 1954 to 1957; dean of the intermediate camp, 1943 and 1944; a Standing Committeeman twice. In the summer of 1945 he traveled to Greece aboard a relief ship.
TULLY S. MOHERMAN, son of Austin and Hettie (Wagner) Moherman, was born in Ashland, Ohio, on February 27, 1864. He was married to Ella J. Johnston on March 2, 1887. Brother Moherman united with the Ashland church in January 1877. Elected to the ministry in October 1886, he was ordained an elder in July 1902. His education was received at Ash- land College, Ohio (the academy, 1878-1882); Mount Morris College, Illinois (the seminary, 1893-1895) ; the University of Wooster, Ohio (1895-1898) ; Juniata College, Penn- sylvania, from which he received the following degrees: B.S.L., 1899, B.D., 1904, D.D. (honorary), 1917. He taught Bible at Manchester College from 1899 until 1904 and at Canton College, Ohio, from 1904 to 1906. He engaged in evangelistic work from 1906 to 1908; taught T. S. Moherman, Editor 1914 District History Bible and philosophy, Bridgewater College, 1908 to 1910; again engaged in evangelistic work, 1910 to 1911; taught philosophy and education while serving as president, Daleville College, Virginia, from 1911 to 1924. Brother and Sis- ter Moherman maintained their home at Ashland for a period of fifty-seven years, from March 2, 1887, to December 23, 1944, when Sister Moherman died. They were the parents of three
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sons and one daughter. Brother Moherman was active in the District of Northeastern Ohio. He was the editor of the 1914 dis- trict history. He took an active part in the organization of the Ashland First church, 1914-1915, serving as the first elder-in- charge jointly with Elder W. L. Desenberg. After retirement from Daleville College he served as the Sunday-school secretary for the district for a number of years. After the death of Sister Moherman he lived in retirement in Virginia, where he died in November 1957.
IRA W. MOOMAW, son of Peter and Ida (Grise) Moomaw, was born in Canton, Ohio, July 8, 1894. He was baptized in the Canton Center church in July 1910. He received his education at Manchester College and Ohio State University (Ph.D. degree). On September 1, 1920, Brother Moomaw married Mabel Winger; three children were born to them. Brother Moomaw was called to the ministry in the Canton Center church in 1919 and ordained to the eldership in 1927 in Anklesvar, India. He was vice-president of the National Student Volunteers in 1919 and 1920 and a student pastor in the Olivet church in 1920 and 1921. From 1923 to 1940 he was the principal of the Vocational Training College at Anklesvar. Shortly before his return to America in 1940 Brother Moomaw was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind medal by the Indian govern- ment, for distinguished service. He is the author of Education and Rural Improvement, 1938, and of The Indian Farmer Speaks, 1942, and is the co-author of Indians of the High Andes. He was twice a member of the Standing Committee. In 1943 Brother Moomaw was a member of the Foreign Mis- sions Conference Commission to Latin America. He taught at Manchester College in 1943 and 1944 and was the rural life secretary of the Brotherhood in 1945 and 1946. From 1947 to 1962 he was with the Foreign Missions Conference as the educational secretary for Agricultural Missions, traveling widely throughout the world.
CLYDE MULLIGAN, son of Thomas and Catherine (Weise) Mulligan, was born in Evansport, Ohio, on April 23, 1898. He united with the Lick Creek congregation, Northwestern Ohio,
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in the fall of 1912. On November 25, 1920, he was married to Bertha Ellen Mellott; four children were born to them. His education was received at Defiance College and Manchester College (A.B., 1924). Brother Mulligan was called to the ministry May 29, 1920, advanced in 1926, and ordained to the eldership on December 18, 1929. Pastoral care has been given to the Olivet church, Northeastern Ohio (1924-1934) ; Hart- ville, Northeastern Ohio (1923-1941); Woodworth, the same district (1945-1952); Happy Corner, Southern Ohio (1952- 1955); Adrian, Michigan (1955-1961). Following retirement from the active ministry in 1961, the Mulligans have been living in Adrian. While in Northeastern Ohio, Brother Mulli- gan was a member of the board of Christian education from 1926 to 1941; of the joint board for a number of years, being its chairman a part of that time; of the Camp Zion committee from 1935 to 1941; of the service committee for a year. Twice he represented this district on the Standing Committee. Similarly, he has worked in various capacities in the other districts in which he has lived.
CLAUDE HESS MURRAY was born in Fredonia, Kansas, on December 4, 1878, to James and Lucinda (Hess) Murray. He was baptized in the Chippewa congregation, Ohio, on July 1, 1893. Brother Murray married Elizabeth Workman, November 4, 1904; they were the parents of three children. Brother Murray attended Ashland College. A professional office worker serving many firms in clerical and bookkeeping positions, he was called to the ministry in the Akron, Ohio, congregation on May 11, 1911, ordained to the ministry there on December 2, 1911, and ordained an elder in 1917 in the Black River church. In the free ministry he worked in the Akron church from 1911 to 1914, the Black River church from 1914 to 1917, and the Chippewa church from 1918 to 1948. Frequently he was the writing clerk at the district conference and was on the auditing board for a number of terms. Death came to him on October 24, 1945.
JAMES MURRAY was born on March 19, 1855, in Green County, Pennsylvania, When he was about fourteen years of
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age, the family moved to northeastern Ohio. With the excep- tion of about four years spent in Iowa and Kansas in his younger years, Ohio was his permanent home. On Thanks- giving Day, 1876, he was married in Kansas to Luie Hess; she died on August 4, 1879, leaving him with one son. Shortly after her death he returned to Ohio, making his home with his parents until his second marriage in 1884, to Susan Bechtel. To this union two sons and two daughters were born. Brother Murray became a member of the Church of the Brethren on July 8, 1877, being baptized in Kansas. He was elected to the ministry on October 11, 1878, while a member of the Fredonia church, Kansas. After returning to Ohio, he located in the Ashland church, where he was advanced to the second degree of the ministry on November 11, 1883. In the spring of 1892 he moved into the territory of the Chippewa church; in it he was ordained to the eldership. He resided here until his death on July 31, 1913. He represented his district on Standing Committee three times and was serving his second term on the district mission board at the time of his death.
James Murray
William Murray
WILLIAM A. MURRAY, son of Jacob S. and Susanna (Aukerman) Murray, was born in Fayette County, Pennsyl- vania, on March 12, 1824. His father was an active minister in the Indian Creek congregation. Brother Murray married
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Eliza Jane McEnteer in November 1846; she died in June 1900. In March 1902 he married Mrs. Louisa Gore. He was the father of ten children. In the late 1840's Brother Murray was called to the ministry in the Indian Creek congregation. In 1855 he moved to the Ryerson Station congregation, where he served until 1863, when he went to the Jacobs Creek congregation. Shortly after the close of the War Between the States he moved to the Northeastern Ohio District, living at various times in Stark, Richland, Ashland, and Wayne counties, where he was very active in evangelistic work. He died on April 14, 1910.
CLETUS S. MYERS, son of Daniel and Rosie (Shank) Myers, was born on March 1, 1911, at Dickinson, Pennsylvania. He was married to Mabel V. Clopper. Brother Myers was baptized at Huntsdale, Pennsylvania. After attending Elizabethtown College for one year, he spent some time in study at Bethany Bible Training School. Ordained as a minister at Huntsdale in 1937, he was ordained as an elder in 1944 at the Three Springs church, Pennsylvania. He was pastor of the Hastings Street mission, Chicago, 1938-1939; Newville, Pennsylvania, 1939-1942; Three Springs, Manassas, Farmers Grove, Perry County, Pennsylvania, 1942-1946; New Enterprise, Waterside, and Salemville, in Pennsylvania, 1946-1951; Defiance and Poplar Ridge, in Northwestern Ohio, 1951-1955. Brother Myers came to Northeastern Ohio to become the pastor of the Cleve- land church in 1955. Terminating this pastorate on September 1, 1962, he became the pastor of the East Dayton church, Southern Ohio. During his years in Cleveland, he served the District of Northeastern Ohio as alternate moderator and reading clerk.
KENT NAYLOR was reared near Harlan, Kansas. He was graduated from McPherson College in 1947 and from Bethany Seminary in 1952. He and Mrs. Naylor, the former Elva Jean Harbaugh, have three children. Since graduation from the seminary, Brother Naylor has served as pastor at Octavia, Nebraska; Cabool, Missouri; and Warrensburg, Missouri. The Naylors spent two years at Carrara, Italy, working for Breth-
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ren Service. He began his pastorate at the Akron Springfield church on September 1, 1960.
Kent Naylor
J. Lloyd Nedrow
J. LLOYD NEDROW, the youngest son of John M. and Mary Ferguson Nedrow, was born at Jones Mills, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 1885. He was baptized on September 17, 1899, in the County Line congregation, Western Pennsylvania, where he was elected a deacon in March 1906, called to the ministry on October 8, 1911, and ordained on November 28, 1914. For a time he attended Juniata College; he also took extension courses from Bethany Biblical Seminary. Sadie Reese became his wife on December 25, 1911; they were the parents of three children. Brother Nedrow was ordained to the eldership in the Locust Grove congregation, Western Pennsylvania, on May 20, 1923. In 1922 he began his pastoral career, which has taken him into these churches: Locust Grove, Pennsylvania (part time, 1922-1925) ; Kittanning, Pennsylvania (1925-1935) ; Sipesville, Pennsylvania (1935-1941) ; Mechanics- burg, Pennsylvania (1941-1946); Wooddale, Pennsylvania (1946-1954); Zion Hill, Northeastern Ohio (1955-1958). On May 2, 1950, Sister Nedrow passed away. Brother Nedrow married Lizzie Mae Reese on June 21, 1952.
MEDFORD D. NEHER, son of George W. and Priscilla (Cripe) Neher, was born July 25, 1892, in Radnor, Indiana. He united
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with the Walnut Grove, Indiana, congregation in 1911. His education was secured at Rochester College, Manchester College, and Bethany Seminary. Brother Neher was called to the ministry in the Walnut Grove church in 1914 and advanced to the eldership at Akron, Ohio, in 1928. He married Ada Mae Shank on September 3, 1919; they are the parents of five children. Brother Neher served the Eastwood and East Akron churches from 1927 to 1933 in the free ministry. He was the pastor at Defiance, Ohio (1943-1944); Poplar Ridge, Ohio (1945-1950) ; Peoria, Illinois (1950-1953); Michigan City, Indiana (1953-1954) ; Springfield, Indiana, a community church (1954-1957) ; Pompano Beach, Florida (1958-1961). In 1961 he retired from the pastoral ministry to give all of his time to Christian art; his home is in Pompano Beach. Brother Neher began studying art in 1929. His long-cherished project - a series of murals depicting the history of the Church of the Brethren - became a reality in 1949 at Camp Alexander Mack, in Indiana, after four years of work. In 1953 he collaborated with Lawrence Shultz of North Manchester, Indiana, in publishing them in a book entitled A Mural History of the Church of the Brethren. Also, he has painted many murals in Brethren churches.
STANLEY BRALLIER NOFFSINGER was born to Jacob Benjamin and Sadie (Brallier) Noffsinger in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on February 8, 1896. He became a member of the Walnut Grove congregation near Johnstown in June 1908. He is a graduate of Juniata College. Elected to the ministry at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, in February 1921, he was ordained to the eldership in the Springfield, Ohio, church in December 1940. His marriage to Naomi Pearl Dell took place on Septem- ber 5, 1921; seven children came into their home. While pastor of the Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania, church from 1922 to 1924, Brother Noffsinger also taught in the Nanty Glo high school. He was the overseer of the Maple Avenue mission, Canton, Ohio, in 1929 and 1930 and part-time pastor of the Black River church, Spencer, Ohio, in 1930 and 1931. He taught in Mogadore, Ohio, from 1931 to 1934. Since 1935 he has been a carpenter in Akron. During these years he has supplied many pulpits in Northeastern Ohio.
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ENOS D. NOLT, son of Jacob and Anna (Horst) Nolt, was born near Orrville, Ohio, March 8, 1892. He was baptized in the Black River church in October 1904. Brother Nolt attended Manchester College, Bethany Seminary, and the University of Akron. He married Edna Thompson on August 8, 1921; two children were born to them. Brother Nolt was called to the ministry in the New Philadelphia congregation in April 1937, was ordained there on April 30, 1939, and was ordained to the eldership in the First church, Akron, on October 3, 1947. He did supply work in the New Philadelphia church from May 1937 to January 1938; in the Eden church from February to October 1939; and in the East Nimishillen church from February to June 1948. Since 1936 Brother Nolt has been a mechanical engineer, specializing in tool and special machine design. Other service interests in more recent years have been the initiating of a bees and honey program for low-income people in Puerto Rico and supervising manual arts and sub- contracts in a sheltered workshop for retarded boys.
LEVI BRUMBAUGH OAKS was born to Christian and Ida (Brumbaugh) Oaks in Riddlesburg, Pennsylvania, on Decem- ber 24, 1895. He was baptized in the Riddlesburg congregation in 1908. After finishing a course of study in business at Juniata College in 1914, he held a position as bookkeeper from 1914 to 1918. In succession he was an electrician (1918 to 1924), an electrical engineer and estimator (1924 to 1945), and then president and treasurer of the Oaks and Vogel Electrical Company. On December 24, 1922, he was united in marriage to Sarah Kathryn Porter; one son and one daughter were born to them. Brother Oaks was a member of the district mission board from 1944 to 1954, being its chairman for eight years. It was during his tenure on the mission board that the Bristolville church house was built. He has been active in the men's fellowship of the district. In 1952 he was accorded the distinction of becoming the first lay delegate from Northeastern Ohio to serve on the Standing Committee. He is an active lay member of the Akron City church.
ISAIAH EBERSOLE OBERHOLTZER, a native of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, was born to Christian and Elizabeth (Ebersole)
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Oberholtzer on May 11, 1883. He was received into the church at Elizabethtown College on January 31, 1900. Brother Oberholtzer is a graduate of Juniata College, Oberlin College, and Yale Divinity School. While attending Juniata College, he was called to the ministry in 1908. The Trotwood church, Ohio, ordained him to the eldership in 1916. Brother Oberholtzer married Elizabeth Margaret Waybrith on September 8, 1915; they are the parents of three children. From 1916 to 1938 the Oberholtzers were missionaries in China. After returning to the States he was the pastor of these churches: Muncie, Indiana (1939-1941); Kokomo, Indiana (1942); Stony Creek, Ohio (1943-1947) ; Mansfield, Ohio (1947-1951). During the school year 1942-1943 he taught in the Middlebury, Indiana, high school. He was the secretary of the District of Southern Indiana and later of Northeastern Ohio. His death occurred on July 29, 1956.
Levi B. Oaks
I. D. Parker
ISAAC DILLON PARKER, son of Cephas and Sarah (Priest) Parker, was born near Loudonville, Ohio, on January 22, 1847. He spent his boyhood days on his father's farm. At the age of
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eighteen he was left an orphan. He became a Christian at sixteen. What spare moments he had in his youth were spent in study. Having prepared to teach, at first he taught in the country schools, and later in the graded school; then he served for one year on the faculty of Salem College, at Bourbon, Indiana. An ardent supporter of the educational movement in the church, he was one of the trustees of Ashland College, Ashland, Ohio, that selected Elder R. H. Miller as its president in 1880. He later served as president of the board of trustees of Manchester College. It was because of his untiring industry and perseverance that the last-named institution remained a Brethren school. When it seemed hopelessly in debt he entered the field and raised the money to cancel the debt and place the school as a free gift into the hands of the church. Some years later he performed a similar service for the Maryland Collegiate Institute. He was a firm advocate of having our schools under church supervision. In 1873 he was elected to the ministry, and a few years later was ordained to the eldership by James Quinter. He soon showed marked ability as a logical thinker and as an expositor of the doctrines of the church. Brother Parker was one of our ablest evangelists. After his call to the ministry he gave up teaching in order that he might spend more time in the service of the church. For fifteen years he directed the work on the farm and held from six to eight revival meetings a year. Not only did he succeed financially, but hundreds united with the church through his efforts. In 1893 he moved from Ashland to the Elkhart City church in Indiana. During the first years of his service there over sixty persons were gathered into the church. He was often selected to preach at the Annual Conference and he served on Standing Committee four times. In 1898 he became the traveling secretary for the General Mission Board. On Christmas Day, 1873, he was united in marriage to Jerima Moherman. He returned to the old home in Ashland; there he died on May 21, 1910.
(Adapted from the History of the Brethren in Indiana)
CARROLL M. PETRY was born into the home of Brother and Sister Wilmer A. Petry in Pitsburg, Ohio, on August 20, 1931. In the fall of the same year the family moved to Mogadore,
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Ohio, and then, in January 1937, into the Eastwood parsonage. Brother Petry was ordained to the ministry on August 20, 1950. On the same day he was married to Margaret James; they are the parents of three children. After graduating from Manchester College in 1953 with a B.A. degree, he entered Bethany Biblical Seminary, from which school he received a B.D. degree in 1956. While in college Brother Petry was the pastor of the Spring Creek church, Middle Indiana, from 1951 to 1953. While in the seminary he was the pastor at Batavia, Illinois, from 1954 to 1956. Since 1956 he has been with the Wabash City church in Middle Indiana. He has contributed articles and poetry to the Gospel Messenger. Not having lived in Northeastern Ohio since his precollege years, he has shared in the district activities only as the district youth president from 1947 to 1949. Under appointment to missionary service, the Petrys will go to Nigeria in 1963.
CHESTER H. PETRY, a native of Eldorado, Ohio, was born to Michael M. and Catherine (Stump) Petry on October 10, 1884. He was baptized in the Prices Creek church, Southern Ohio, in January 1902. His educational experiences included attendance at Manchester College and Bethany Seminary. He married Roxie E. Jones on November 15, 1905; eight children were born to them. Brother Petry was called to the ministry in Berthold, North Dakota, in December 1907, where he was ordained to the eldership in March 1911. He worked in the free ministry in Berthold from 1907 to 1918; in Troy, Ohio, from 1918 to 1920; and in Trevilians, Virginia, from 1920 to 1925. As a full-time pastor he has ministered to the Wheatville and Gratis churches, Southern Ohio, from 1925 to 1928; Springfield, Northeastern Ohio, from 1928 to 1935; Akron, Ohio, from 1935 to 1941; East Dayton, Ohio, from 1941 to 1951; and Miami, Florida, from 1951 to 1954; Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin, from 1955 to 1960. Although retired from the full-time pastoral ministry, he is now doing the most of the preaching in the Fort Myers church, Florida. He was a member of the Northeastern Ohio district ministerial board from 1933 to 1935, was assistant moderator at the 1940 district conference, and represented the district as a member of the Standing Committee in 1932 and 1938.
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