be called Warrensburg Mission.
Black Oak, Point, Centerville, White Hall, and the vicinity of
Ft. Scott shall form a mission, to be called Cedar Mission.
b. Shoal Creek Mission shall be divided as follows : Winston,
Grindstone, and Trenton shall be taken from Shoal Creek and
added to Worth County Mission, which shall be changed to Grand
Circuit.
Long Gap, Lexington, Moses Class, and vicinity shall consti-
tute Shoal Mission.
c. Morgan, and Hamburg Mission shall be served with Ore-
gon Circuit.
d. The vicinity of Puelsville, where the brethren Schottel
have moved, shall be served with Platte River Circiut.
e. Jasper Mission shall be called Carthage Mission.
MISSIONS
The Missionary Society reported 13 new auxiliaries formed
during the past year, bringing the number of auxiliaries to 31.
The amount of $1,623.34 was raised for missions in the Con-
ference. J. G. Pfeifer was elected president of the society, C.
Berner, vice-president, C. Emmel, secretary, and J. F. Schreiber,
treasurer.
J. G. Pfeifer was elected delegate to the Board of Missions.
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STATISTICS
Conversions, 319; accessions, 446; membership, 1,694; itin-
erant preachers, 23 ; local preachers, 10 ; churches, 16 ; parson-
ages, 9 ; Sunday-schools, 34 ; officers and teachers, 276 ; scholars,
973; Botschafters, 471; Messengers, 137; Magazins, 165.
APPOINTMENTS
Kansas District — J. G. Pfeifer, P. E. Missouri District — J. Wuerth, P. E.
Holton, C. Emmel. Oregon, E. J. Troyer.
Lawrence, J. F. Schreiber. Platte River, H. Koepsel.
Nemaha, C. Berner. Grand River, C. Linge.
Wolf River and Atchison, Philip Humboldt, D. R. Zellner.
Fricker. Kansas City and Wyandotte, to be
Leavenworth, F. W. Voegelein. supplied.
Big Blue, J. Emmel. Glasgow, H. Mattill.
Junction, W. Meier and G. Marks. Macon, M. Alsbach.
Swan Creek, Wm. Heiser. Carthage and Cedar Creek, E. E. Con-
Jewell, L. Wenger. do and J. McQuillen.
Americus, J. H. Kiplinger. Shoal Creek, Henry Cover.
Wichita, H. Toedman. Warrensburg, F. Harder.
Morgan, to be supplied.
CONCORDIA
In 1873 Rev. L. Wenger, who at the time was serving Jewell
Mission, preached at various points in the adjoining counties
where he had regular appointments. In the year indicated he
organized a class in Cloud County, Kansas, where three brothers,
Frederick, Charles and Gottlieb Huscher, and their families lived.
Fred Huscher was elected class-leader of the little class. The
families named were staunch Christians and loyal church-mem-
bers. They passed through many pioneer experiences in early
years on the frontier when crops failed and times were hard,
however they prevailed, and after 21 years of perseverance, in
1894, succeeded in building a church at a cost of $1,600.00.
A Sunday-school was organized, in 1878, with Gottlieb
Huscher as superintendent. The influence of the Sunday-school,
in connection with the home-training, went far to mould the char-
acter and lives of their children, so that in later years, at least,
two young men, sons of Evangelical families, entered the ranks
of the ministry and became useful ministers of the gospel, to which
they dedicated themselves.
WASHINGTON
In 1873 Rev. P. Fricker, serving Big Blue Circuit, extended
his activities to Washington County, Kansas, and took up an ap-
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1874
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
pointment at the Star school-house, 8 miles south-west of Wash-
ington. A local preacher by the name of J. Leusler, living at this
point, was instrumental in starting the work here, and became
one of the charter-members of the same. The society was organ-
ized this year by Brother Fricker with the following families:
Rev. J. Leusler, Jacob Horfer, John Horfer, Martin Horfer, H.
Meyer, Sr., Henry Meyer, Jr., and Jacob Benninger. Rev. John
Leusler was elected class-leader. A Sunday-school was also
started, with John Horfer, superintendent.
About 1876 Rev. C. Brandt began preaching in the town of
Washington, and in 1880, or 1881, Rev. D. R. Zellner organized a
class with the following members: Henry Bickel, Henry Meyer,
Sr., W. M. Polter and wife, M. P. Weldy, and Rev. D. R. Zellner,
wife, and son, Edward. H. Bickel was chosen class-leader, and
also superintendent of the Sunday-school, which was organized
at the time the society was started.
In 1881 a church was built during the pastorate of D. R. Zell-
ner at a cost of $1,568.07, with W. M. Polter, M. P. Weldy and
Henry Bickel trustees. The church was dedicated by the presid-
ing elder, J. Wuerth.
CLEARFIELD (CAPTAINS CREEK)
Clearfield, which was formerly known as Captains Creek ap-
pointment, was a part of the old Franklin Mission, which enjoys
the distinction of having the first organized society in the Kan-
sas Conference. When Rev. George Fleisher, one of the first mis-
sionaries sent to the Territory of Kansas, in 1858, by the Illinois
Conference, assumed his labors, he began operations in Douglas
County, Kansas, in the vicinity of a small town called Franklin.
Here he organized the first class of the Evangelical Association
in Kansas during the early part of the summer of 1858. This
class was composed of eight members, of which J. Epley and H.
Eggert were the officers.
Subsequent to this a class was organized at Captains Creek
with the following charter-members : Father Brecheisen and
wife, Brother Brecheisen and wife, Father Meeder and wife, B.
Kramer and wife, G. Hauser and wife, J. Sturm and wife, and J.
Seltzer and wife. Brother Meeder was elected class-leader, and
B. Kramer, exhorter.
This was an encouraging beginning and developed into a
prosperous congregation, being for many years one of the strong-
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1875
EXTENDING THE BORDERS
est and most influential societies in the Conference. Here was
held one of the first two camp-meetings in Kansas during the sum-
mer of 1861, with four tents on the ground and an attendance
of about 100 persons. There were 30 members, and five preach-
ers present. The camp-meetings have been continued at this
point every year since without omission. Wonderful demonstra-
tions of Divine power were witnessed on these annual occasions.
Sinners were rescued from the stronghold of Satan, and led into
the kingdom of light and grace. God's people were led into the
experience of holiness, and the church was quickened and estab-
lished.
A church-building was erected in 1880, in which Conference
held her annual session in 1882, and again in 1895. At an early
date a Sunday-school was established, which was maintained
through the years. The date of organization, as well as the first
officers of the school, cannot be ascertained.
In the cemetery near the church lie buried many of the
fathers and mothers of pioneer days, who left to their children the
precious gift of a godly life, and, although they have ceased from
their labors, their works do follow them. Many of those sainted
heroes of the cross are held in sacred remembrance by those who
had a personal acquaintance with them. Here also lie buried the
earthly remains of the sainted Moses Dissinger, who, in his time,
was known throughout the length and breadth of the church.
1875
ELEVENTH SESSION
The eleventh session of Conference was held in the Deer
Creek Church, on Lawrence Circuit, Douglas County, Kansas, be-
ginning March 18, 1875, with Bishop Reuben Yeakel in the chair.
C. Berner was appointed secretary.
Charges were brought against H. Haas, who had been a
member of Conference since 1865, at one time secretary of Con-
ference, besides holding other places of trust in the Conference,
and Missionary Society, for "slandering the stationing commit-
tee," declaring that the devil had stationed him at the former
session. He was also charged with making false accusations
against said committee, as well as sowing the seed of dissension
and discontent through correspondence which he carried on with
members on his former field of labor.
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1875
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
The foregoing charges were supplemented by another set of
accusations of a similar character from another brother, covering
practically the same ground. The charges were investigated, the
accused found guilty and deposed from the ministry.
John Emmel was compelled to leave his field of labor during
the year on account of sickness, but upon his request was permit-
ted to remain in the itinerancy another year without an appoint-
ment.
Carl Buchel, Stephen Weber, and John Bower received license
to preach on probation.
The brethren Wm. Heiser and D. R. Zellner received deacons'
orders, and Wm. Meier and Ferdinand Harder elders' orders.
The following brethren were received into the itinerancy:
Carl Ehrhart of the Ohio Conference, D. R. Zellner, Geo. Marks,
Carl Waehlte, Carl Buchel and John Bower.
BOUNDARIES
The Conference territory was arranged in three districts as
follows : Jewell, Osborne, Junction, Americus, and Wichita shall
be taken from the Kansas District, and in connection with Hum-
boldt, Carthage, and Cedar Mission from Missouri District shall
constitute a new district, which shall be called South-west Dis-
trict.
Kansas District shall be changed to Holton District.
The following changes of boundaries were made on the dis-
tricts :
Kansas District
a. The appointments Swede Creek and Fancy Creek of Big
Blue Mission, and Red Vermillion and Rock of Junction Mission,
in connection with Frankfort and Baety, shall constitute Big Blue
Circuit.
b. The western part of Big Blue Mission, Leuslers, and
Bettchers, with Hanover and Blue Springs, shall form a new mis-
sion, to be called Hanover Mission.
c. Osborne, Kill Creek, and Twelve Mile, shall be taken
from Jewell and form Osborne Mission.
d. Soldier appointment shall be taken from Junction and be
added to Holton.
e. An English appointment shall be taken up east of Hia-
watha, in the vicinity where Brother Loose lives, and be served
with Wolf River.
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1875
EXTENDING THE BORDERS
f. The Ellerman appointment shall be taken from Leaven-
worth Mission, and be added to Wolf River Circuit.
g. Wyandotte shall be served with Leavenworth Mission.
Missouri District
a. Hamburg appointment shall be taken from Oregon Cir-
cuit, and with the surrounding country form Hamburg Mission.
b. Sloans Point, Green Castle, and Spring Creek shall be
taken from Macon Mission, and with the Sheridan community
form Sheridan Mission.
c. Clinton, in Henry County, with the appointment Black
Oak, shall constitute Clinton Mission.
d. Ft. Scott and vicinity shall be served with Cedar Mission.
e. Morgan County Mission shall be discontinued.
f. Wyandotte Mission shall be added to Holton District.
H. Mattill was elected presiding elder and stationed on the
new South-west District.
The brethren J. G. Pfeifer and J. Wuerth were elected dele-
gates to General Conference, and H. Mattill alternate.
Conference proceeded to vote on the 29 recommendations to
General Conference, of which 16 received the required number of
votes.
At this time recommendations were frequently voted upon
by the Annual Conferences before they were submitted to the
General Conference. If they failed to receive the required sup-
port from the lower Conference they did not reach the higher body,
and, hence, did not consume the valuable time of the legislative
body of the church. In later years it became customary for Gen-
eral Conference to take the initiative in almost all cases where
recommendations are submitted.
TEMPERANCE
Strong temperance resolutions were again adopted, and Rev.
E. E. Condo was appointed to represent this body at the Western
Temperance Convention, his expenses to be defrayed by the Con-
ference.
For the first time in the history of this organization a repre-
sentative of North- Western College visited this body in the inter-
est of the school, whereupon the following resolution was adopted :
"Since Brother Wm. Huelster, agent of North-Western College,
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1875
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
visited our Conference in the interest of the college, we rejoice
to hear of the prosperity of the institution, and wish it God's
blessing in the future, we, however, do not deem it expedient in
our present condition and finaicial strain to enter the college
compact."
J. F. Schreiber was elected Conference treasurer for the en-
suing year.
MISSIONS
The missionary offering for the past year for home work
amounted to $1,984.09, with 13 new auxiliaries organized during
the year. A commendable missionary spirit has been developed,
which is manifest by the increase of auxiliaries, as well as the
splendid amount of missionary contributions reported in the mis-
sionary meeting of the society.
J. G. Pfeifer was again elected delegate to the Board of
Missions. The officers elected by the society for the ensuing
year were: J. G. Pfeifer, president; J. Wuerth, vice-president;
C. Emmel, secretary, and J. F. Schreiber, treasurer.
The amount of $2,915.00 was appropriated for missions for
the ensuing year.
The following statistics indicate an encouraging condition
in the development of the work.
STATISTICS
Conversions, 209; accessions, 480; membership, 1,876; itin-
erant preachers, 27; local preachers, 10; churches, 16; parson-
ages, 10; Sunday-schools, 39 ; officers and teachers, 316; scholars,
1,159; catechetical classes, 15; catechumens, 176.
For the first time the Sunday-schools have reached and passed
the 1,000 enrollment mark, with a splendid increase of 433 mem-
bers recorded for the past year.
APPOINTMENTS
Holton District — J. G. Pfeifer. P. E. Missouri District — J. Wuerth, P. E.
Holton, C. Emmel. Oregon, J. H. Kiplinger.
Lawrence, J. F. Schreiber. Platte River, H. Koepsel.
Nemaha, C. Berner. Grand River, E. J. Troyer.
Wolf River, P. Fricker. Glasgow, C. Woelte.
Leavenworth and Wyandotte, F. W. Macon, C. Stauffer, under presiding
Voegelein. Sheridan, M. Alsbach. elder.
Big Blue, Wm. Meier. Hamburg, F. Stecher, under presiding
Hannover, H. Toedman. Clinton, F. Harder. elder.
Swan Creek, Wm. Heiser. Shoal Creek, to be supplied.
Warrensburg, C. Ehrhardt.
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1875
EXTENDING THE BORDERS
South-west District — H. Mattill, P. E. Jewell, C. Linge.
Americus, L. Wenger.
Humboldt, G. Marks. Wichita, C. Buchel.
Junction, D. R. Zellner. Carthage, E. E. Condo.
Osborne, John Cover. Cedar, to be supplied.
The increase in membership, as well as the rapid growth of
the Sunday-school, and the division of the Conference into three
presiding elder districts, speaks well for the development of the
work in the past year, and the promising outlook for the future.
OSBORNE
In 1872 a neighborhood Sunday-school was started in the
vicinity known as Kill Creek, in Osborne County, Kansas, and
conducted as a union Sunday-school by the people of the com-
munity.
Two years later, 1874, Rev. L. Wenger, serving Jewell Mis-
sion, extended his itinerary west through Osborne County, and
preached at various points, including Twelve Mile Creek and
Kill Creek. Among the early settlers at the latter place were the
families, Crist Bliehm, J. Guyer, Jacob Wismar, Geo. Beck, and
others, who received Brother Wenger and united with the Evan-
gelical Association, becoming faithful workers and pillars of the
church.
During the pastorate of- Brother Wenger a great awakening
took place in the community which resulted in the conversion of
many souls. The revival fires spread till people came for many
miles, some in ox-carts, to attend the services. The Holy Spirit
was working mightily, and many were brought under conviction,
and yielded their hearts to Christ. This revival was spoken of for
many years as a wonderful awakening among the frontiersmen by
those who were present and saw the manifestations of God's
power.
The precise time of the organization of the society cannot be
ascertained, nor is it known who the first officers were. The Sun-
day-school was later converted into a denominational school, and
has been continued as such for many years, although the names
of the original officers are not known at this time.
The first church was built in 1877, during the pastorate of
J. Bower, and dedicated by Rev. H. Mattill, presiding elder.
In 1878 the work was served in connection with Cawker
Mission by the brethren C. Linge and A. J. Voegelein. The con-
105
1875
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
solidation of the two works necessitated a great deal of traveling.
The work had 23 appointments, which required from 330 to 350
miles to complete one round over the work. During this year the
brethren built a small house and dug a cellar and a well for a
parsonage. This, in addition to their pulpit and pastoral work,
prevented monotony and indolence.
The second church was built during the pastorate of J. H.
Kiplinger in 1900. During this year there were two churches
built on the circuit.
F. W. VOEGELEIN
Brother F. W. Voegelein records his "early experience" in the
Kansas Conference in the following interesting words:
"Having received a recommendation from the Nickels Grove
Class, near Oregon, Mo., the presiding elder of the Missouri Dis-
trict, J. G. Pfeifer, requested me to enter the work at once. He
said he was in need of a man in Glasgow, Mo., and on Glasgow
Mission, which extended from Glasgow to Versailes in Morgan
County, Mo., to Warrensburg and Holden, from there to Frank-
fort, and then to Glasgow. This was indeed a "big" field to which
had been appointed Rev. M. Alsbach at the Conference session in
1869. As the field was too large for the aged brother who lived
in Holden, Mo., it was the presiding elder's wish that I reside at
Glasgow and serve as assistant to Father Alsbach. I was to de-
vote considerable of my time to making a real beginning there. I
was appointed to this work Oct. 1, 1869.
"The only members of our church at that time in Glasgow
were Brother and Sister Nuhn, with whom I made my home. In
November of this year I assisted Brother Alsbach in a revival
meeting in Morgan County, where about 35 conversions took
place. This was my first experience in this kind of work. I
made several rounds on the work with some interesting experi-
ences. But according to instruction I paid special attention to
Glasgow. I was permitted to use the city hall there as a preach-
ing place on Sunday. I started a little Sunday-school and opened
preaching service with six persons in attendance. After preach-
ing there several Sundays one man was happily converted, and
thereafter others came and were converted until in all we had
nine converts and organized the first class in Glasgow. This took
place in the months of January and February, 1870.
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1875
EXTENDING THE BORDERS
"In March of this year I attended Conference at Deer Creek,
where I received license and was sent as assistant to J. F. Schrei-
ber on Holton Circuit in Kansas. On this field I served one year
during which time (1870) the first church was built in Holton,
and that winter we had a good revival in the new church. We
also had a goodly number of conversions at some of the other
eight appointments on the work.
"In 1871 I was sent to St. Joseph, Mo., where we had —
nothing! No place in which to hold services, nor one member to
hold services with. I rented a hall at my own expense and started
a Sunday-school, in which we soon gathered about 30 scholars,
but having no funds, and no local assistance, the presiding elder
concluded to transfer me from St. Joseph to the proposed Kansas
City Mission during the year. On the Kansas side, then called
Wyandotte, we had a few members, one of whom owned a hall in
which I could hold services. In January, 1872, we had ten con-
versions there and organized a class. I was expected to gain en-
trance into Kansas City, Mo. In these 'good old times' Conference
never thought of allowing anything for hall rent, etc., in new
places. I tried hard to find a place 'free of rent' in that city, but
failed. Then I undertook to preach on the streets. I arranged
with a store-keeper at the corner of 12th and Grand Ave. to stand
on a box to sing and preach. A few of our people from Wyandotte
came over and assisted us in singing every Sunday afternoon.
This took place in the latter part of summer and autumn of 1872.
"By this means we met with some people who showed a favor-
able disposition to hear the gospel. Sometimes I had a very large
attendance at these street-meetings. In the autumn, when the
weather became too cool for out-door meetings, we were fortunate
enough to find a Cumberland Presbyterian church where I was
kindly permitted to preach on Sunday afternoon. This was the
real beginning of our work in Kansas City. I very much regret-
ted that in the following spring I was transferred to Leavenworth.
This was in the spring of 1873, and I served Leavenworth three
years, which was the limit at that time.
"In the spring of 1876 the Conference was held at Leaven-
worth, and on this occasion I took my farewell from the brethren
of the Kansas Conference with no little regret, for I loved the
brethren and the work, but our General Executive Committee of
the Board of Missions had appointed me to San Francisco, Cal."
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1876
FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
TWELFTH SESSION
Conference met March 23, 1876, at Leavenworth, Kansas, to-
hold her twelfth session. Bishop R. Dubs, one of the newly
elected bishops, presided. C. Berner was again appointed secre-
tary. J- Wuerth, P. Fricker and F. W. Voegelein were appointed
a committee to prepare resolutions regarding the Centennial Ju-
bilee of our nation.
John Emmel located on account of failing health, and E. E-
Condo received credentials.
F. C. Stecher of the Ohio Conference was received as a pro-
bationer.
The following brethren were received from other Confer-
ences: J. Dengel and S. Schwartz from the Illinois Conference,
Rev. Johnson from Iowa, G. F. Yeager, Central Pennsylvania, S.
Werner, Pittsburg, and W. Wonder from Ohio. The latter with
the understanding that he present his credentials at the next
session.
G. Marks received deacon's orders, and J. H. Kiplinger and
L. Wenger elders' orders.
The brethren G. F. Yager, W. Folgate and C. F. Stecher were
received into the itinerancy.
BOUNDARIES
Again extensive boundary changes were made as follows:
Holton District
a. Hiawatha shall be taken from Wolf River and added to
Nemaha Circuit.
b. Blue Springs appointment shall be taken from Hanover
Mission and added to Swan Creek Mission, the remaining portion
of Hanover with the appointments Clay Center and Mill Creek of
Junction Mission shall be served with Big Blue Circuit.
c. The appointments Red Vermillion, Rock Creek, Frankfort
and Baety shall be taken from Big Blue Circuit and with the ap-
pointments Louisville, Wamego and Vermillion of Junction Mis-
sion shall form a new mission to be called Red Vermillion.
Missouri Distinct
a. The appointments Winston and Grindstone shall be taken
from Grand Circuit and be added to Platte River Circuit. The re-
maining portion of Grand Circuit, with the appointment Mt*
Pleasant of Platte River, shall constitute Denver Mission.
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1876
EXTENDING THE BORDERS
b. Macon Mission shall be changed to a circuit.
c. Oregon Circuit shall be called Nickel's Grove Circuit.
d. Nickel's Grove Circuit and Hamburg Mission shall be
served together, but the finances shall be kept separate.
e. Wyandotte Mission shall be discontinued.
Southwest District.
a. Elk Creek and Labette shall be taken from Humboldt
Circuit and in connection with Parsons and vicinity constitute
Parsons Mission.
b. A new mission shall be located in the vicinity of Ellin-
wood, Barton County, and be called Ellinwood Mission.
c. Ft. Scott shall be taken from Cedar Mission and added
to Parsons Mission, and Cedar Mission shall be discontinued.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
The following action was taken relative to the Sunday-school
work : 'We urge that the purpose of the Sunday-school, namely,
leading the youth to Christ, be not lost sight of. The Sunday-
school should not be the work of a few persons, but of the whole
congregation. Here all should unite their consecrated powers and
efforts, and because of this, let us ministers apply all our energies
to carry on the Sunday-school "work. We will endeavor to enlist
not only the appointed leaders in this work, but the entire mem-
bership. We urge our preachers, wherever possible, to organize
Sunday-schools and catechetical classes."
F. W. VOEGELEIN
Brother F. W. Voegelein was during the year appointed mis-
sionary to San Francisco, Cal., by the Board of Missions, and was