Wayne County, Indiana - Chapter 25: The German Baptist Society, 1912

Chapter 25: The German Baptist Society

By the earnest efforts of ministers from the earlier organizations, mainly in Montgomery and Preble counties, Ohio, from about the year 1804 until 1808, quite an interest was created among the settlers in favor of the church, chiefly in the locality of the south boundary line of Wayne county. The membership gradually -increased, partly by conversions and partly by immigrations, until about 1810, when an organization was effected, having its center about four miles south of the locality of said boundary line - now Union county - and about one mile west of the State line. This was the first organization of the German Baptist Brethern Church in the State of Indiana. It was named "Four-Mile," after a small stream nearby, and is yet known as "The Four-Mile Congregation." This being a good farming district, it was soon occupied by an industrious class of citizens. The simplicity of the church doctrine; its strict harmony with Gospel principles; its recognition of the humble life - the one easiest lived - as the highest Christian ideal ; it commenced itself to turn favorably, and was accepted by many as a safe religious basis and well'adapted to their environments. In the meantime others immigrated from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other States, and settled in the adjacent parts of Wayne county, extending westward and northward, approaching the vicinity of Centerville and Richmond. Gradually, the territory still farther west and northwest became dotted with settlements. In some of them lived members of the church. A demand was made for preaching in those settlements. They were freely responded to by the nearest ministers, principally from the "Four Mile" congregation, but often by ministers from more distant churches. The" work continued to spread to the northwest, over most of the territory now embraced in Jefferson and Jackson townships, and adjacent parts of Henry county. In about 1825, a church nucleus was apparently forming in the vicinity of Hagerstown. An organization was effected, making its center in the neighborhood of the large church edifice one mile west of Hagerstown, and naming it the Nettle Creek Congregation. The new congregation was placed in charge of Eld. David Miller, one of thé ministers who had previously been preaching in its territory. At this stage church houses had not yet been built, but public preaching services were held at members' homes, in their dwellings, or barns, or at suitable times in groves. These meetings were so distributed as to accommodate all the members. It was understood also that a sufficient dinner would be served for all who would attend, whether members or others, and feed for all their teams. Their great communion meetings were generally held in the warmer seasons, on the threshing floors of commodious barns. At these meetings the entire congregation was given, free, a dinner, supper and breakfast, and sufficient horse feed. Many attended these meetings, taking their entire families in their large farm wagons, drawn by at least two horses.

At times, however, the roads became impassable for teams, when they would go on horse-back or walk from eight to ten miles or more along blazed paths, through dense forests. After the meeting hour and dinner, the return-trip was begun, arriving home full late to adjust evening chores. Especially was this the experience of the preachers, who were expected at all the meetings. After this manner were the public services held up and down the Nettle Creek and West River valleys, from a few miles north of Cambridge City to about five miles north of Hagerstown, and extending a few miles into Henry county. During these humble efforts there was a steady increase of the membership, both by conversions and immigrations.

An Important Action

In about the year 1840 private distilleries became quite common. Some of the members owned and ran such distilleries on their farms. The question as to how long those members might be allowed to indulge in whisky manufacture, arose. General Conference had passed a decision, in 1781, prohibiting any member from engaging in such business.

German Baptist Society 475 Houses Of Worship

ing distilleries to abandon the business. Some yielded and some did not. One brother claimed that he was in debt, and that if he should close down it would bring ruin upon him financially, as he depended upon it as his chief source of income. He was disowned from the church. He took what, to him, appeared the safe course. But, contrary to his expectations, he failed and died a poor man. Another, also in debt, said, "I will let go of my distillery and stick to the church." He did so and prospered remarkably and died a wealthy man. Thus, it is true that "all that glitters is not gold." HOUSES OF WORSHIP.

Many of the members were now getting on well financially, the country in general was improved, and the need of a house of worship was pressing. As a consequence, in the years 1844 and 1845, a large brick structure was built, 90x50 feet, centrally located, its site being about thirty rods south of the present building, now included in the cemetery. This house was well finished and furnished and became a very acceptable general church home. In about 1859 it was thought expedient to build a few chapels, about equally distant from the large center house, one north and the other south of it, to accommodate the members living farthest from the center house. Those chapels were built. One was located about three miles southwest and named Locust Grove; the other, about four and a half miles northwest, and named White Branch; both being just in the edge of Henry county.

A permanent arrangement was now made for services at both chapels, at the same hour, on the first and third Sundays of each month, while services were held at the center house on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. The large center house had stood about twenty-nine years, when its foundation was found defective, so injuring the wall that it was taken down in the spring of 1874. A new brick house was built the same year, 90x52 feet, with stone foundation and full basement, about thirty rods north of the old site. It is still in good condition. In 1894 another house, known as "The Olive Branch," located about four and a half miles northeast of the center house, was bought, repaired, and dedicated as a chapel, where services are held also on the first and third Sundays of each month, at the same hour as at the other chapels previously mentioned. A Sunday School is conducted at each of the four above mentioned houses, under the supervision of the church.

Special Services

Each year one or two series of meetings are held at one or two houses, and continued from two to three weeks, with two preaching services each day, generally.

Love-feast, or Communion Meetings are held, generally twice each year, at the center house, one in the spring and one in the fall. These meetings are generally attended by ministers and members from other congregations, with a very large local attendance. The national Thanksgiving Day has been faithfully observed since President Lincoln's first proclamation, in 1863. On these occasions, special collections are taken up for missionary or other charitable purposes. A Harvest Thanksgiving Meeting is also held on the last Thursday of August, each year. At these meetings a collection is taken up also for some charitable purpose.

The Mission Field

As before, so also after the organization of the Nettle Creek congregation, the tendency of the mission movement was northwestward. Its ministers, with others, continued their efforts, visiting many new settlements, mainly in Henry, Madison, and Delaware counties. The more favored districts, where the advantages of natural drainage were apparent, assuring healthfulness and successful farming, soon became well established settlements. The membership continued to increase, both by conversions and immigrations, until about 1840, when the territory began to be organized into separate congregations - now seven - in all.

The Membership

A number of members belonging to the "Four Mile" congregation, mentioned before, live in Wayne county and as far north as Richmond. Some live in the east part, belonging to organizations in Ohio. The Nettle Creek organization is the only one having its center in Wayne county. It being only one mile distant from Henry county, its membership is in both counties. The present membership of the Nettle Creek congregation is about

Officers Of Nettle Creek Church

From the time of its organization until 1900 the total number of officers, both by recommendation and election was seventyeight, twenty-seven ministers and fifty-one deacons. The names

The names of the ministers are: David Miller, Benj. Bowman, John Bowman, Zachariah Albaugh, Jacob Bowman, David Bowman, William Roby, Daniel Smith, B. F. Wissler, Samuel Eiler, Jr., Levi S, Dilling, Daniel E. Bowman, Aaron Miller, John Clapper, David Hardman, Daniel Bowman, John Holler, Lewis Kinsey, William Lindley, Jacob Hoover, Lewis W. Teeter, Abraham Bowman, John A. Miller, and John W. Bowman.

It is noticable in the foregoing lists that quite a number of deacons were elected ministers. The names of the bishops in charge of the Nettle Creek congregation, from its organization, are as follows, the first having been David Miller, previously noticed. He was succeeded by Benjamin Bowman. The latter, having moved to another congregation, was succeeded by David Hardman. Mr. Hardman having died in 1863 the charge fell regularly upon Daniel Bowman, who continued in charge until age and failing health rendered him unable to bear the burden longer. On Oct. 15, 1885, the charge was given to Lewis W. Teeter, of Hagerstown.