HUNTERTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHUR

HUNTERTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

THE GENESIS OF THE HUNTERTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND AREA HISTORY

By Taft Heffelfinger............Edited by Mary Hatch in 1979

Church history and records of Rev. Enoch A. Bunner

INTRODUCTION, CHAPTERS 2 and 3

RECORD OF PASTORS

CHAPTER 4

CHURCH MEMBERS and PROBATIONERS

BAPTISMS

WEDDINGS

FUNERALS

TREASURED MEMORIES

CHAPTER 5 and 6

INTRODUCTION

Just as an artist paints in the empty spaces of the outlines of his picture, so have I attempted to fill the outlines of the course of history as it took place in Perry Township in the County of Allen. The first chapter you can liken to this outline on which with further evidence of facts I was able to fill the spaces between. No history can be written about the church without including the history of the township, because these people are one and the same and to focus on only one part of it would not do justice to the background of those who have lent their lives in its making.

Living in this community for many years and having a life span of seventy of those one hundred and forty-five years that all this took place, with reference to land marks and the names of people, when placed together, becomes like the piecing of a huge jigsaw puzzle. With little bits and pieces here and there it was easy to connect these and come up with this story.

As you live and move about in the community, what you see is the end results of the lives and efforts of many people that lived, loved and died here. It is an expression of their personalities as they built from the times of those early pioneers until today. You may like what you see or you may not, but whichever the case may be, it is your heritage as they made it and handed it down to you.

Did you ever wonder why Huntertown was located where it is instead of somewhere else? Because everything has to have a beginning, Huntertown's beginning was set by a quirk of nature that took place a short time before the pioneers moved in. This area was Indian territory with woods and trees where all the farms now stand. On either side of the spot where Huntertown is now located there was a swamp land filled with muck and trees. One very dry summer this swamp caught fire and burned and burned and burned until it consumed all of the trees including those on the high ground between them. This left a clearing in the middle of a very big forest. To open up the territory for settlement a road was cut through the woods from Fort Wayne to a town in what is now known as LaGrange County. The name given this town was Lima, and thus the road was called the Fort Wayne and Lima Turnpike. Lima later changed its name and is now called Howe, Indiana.

Settlers traveling on this road found that this clearing was a very convenient place to spend an evening on their journeys. It was a spot that took less work to settle as it did not have to be cleared. It was a convenient place to build log cabins. As soon as people moved in and settled, this clearing became a spot where a store was needed so supplies could be purchased as they were needed.

The Indians still roamed the woods; but because General Wayne had subdued them, they were friendly. Many stayed around for a long time, but as the land began to be cleared and opened up for farming, they finally disappeared. This did not occur until some time later, and at times the settlers found them to be very aggressive. They would come to the cabins of the people and demand fire water. If you had some, well and good as they would take it and depart.

You might say it was an Indian's way of playing trick or treat. If you didn't have any then the safest thing that you could do was to invite him in to search the place. This might leave them a little miffed because of your negligence, but most of the times they would leave and let you alone. In this way fire water became one of the best stocks in trade that the settlers could have. In modern terminology it was a form of protection and it was a good thing that prohibition wasn't in effect or the settlers would have had a much harder time establishing themselves.

In the year of 1830 two men came into Perry Township as its very first settlers. One was named CHARLES WEEKS and the other was named WILLIAM CASWELL. Their tools for opening up the territory were the axe, a cross cut saw and the wedge. If anyone has ever used these tools, it is soon evident that they had their work cut out for them. If you look around in some of the older woods you will see a number of very large trees. Wherever these men looked, there were just as many, no matter in which direction they looked. Now a cross cut saw is not one of the easiest tools to use as you have to acquire some skill in the art. First you pull it through the log, then you let your partner pull it back. This seems simple enough but to a novice one of the first things that he does is press down on his end as it is pulled through. This is not the proper way to do it as it does not help in the cutting and in the terminology of the day this is what was called "riding the saw". Your partner would say, "I don't mind you pulling the saw but why do you have to ride it back?" Anyone using an axe is soon aware that you can get a good sweat up in a hurry. Likewise with the wedge and the sledge hammer.. A four foot tree and a stump to be grubbed out is a formidable undertaking, and you can see that to clear the land and put in crops was all hard labor. The settlers were hardy men and hard-working men. If they hadn't been, there wouldn't have been such a thing as a Huntertown United Methodist Church.

Because of their efforts they made it all possible. They brought their beliefs with them and just as today, they were not all of one mind, but came from different places and different backgrounds from the eastern part of the United States.

THOMAS and EPHRAIM H. DUNTEN and his son, HORACE F. came in 1833. It was Horace that played a part in the establishment of religious services at a later date. For all practical purposes this was the start of the Methodist Church, because from his efforts it has been a direct lineal descent. For survival cash was not as much in demand in those days because they produced most of their food and garnered much from the forest, but there were things that they needed and these had to be purchased with money in Fort Wayne as they came in on the canal and were then trucked to the clearing. To get cash the winter months were spent in trapping the furry animals of the woods and the furs sold in the spring. To further this trade Ephraim built a log cabin for a store and hauled the supplies and furs to Fort Wayne and brought back the goods for exchange to the store in the clearing which was later to become Huntertown. This was all done with a team of horses and a wagon. This was an all day trip and depending on the weather, a pleasant one or an unpleasant one. Because the woods kept the light from reaching the ground in the winter, the snows accumulated and lay amongst the trees most of the season. During this period a bobsled was put into service, and watching the horses with their frosty noses and wrapped in blankets, the trip was made. Most, if not all, things came down the canal from Toledo.

While these men were settling the clearing, the construction of the Lima Turnpike was begun. With the primitive methods they had to use this took many hours, days and years. The Lima Turnpike was the same road and street that goes through Huntertown in front of the church. Most of its course is today known as State Road 3. History was built around this road as it was the main thoroughfare for the opening of this part of the Northwest Territory.

No history of the Huntertown Church would be complete without having it included in its story, for without it, who knows where or when the church would be. From this starting point the church gradually evolved into what it is today and that is the purpose of this story.....to tell how this all happened and what happened. First the church is not the present building where we go every Sunday. This is only the outward expression of it, for the church is that which a long line of members has contributed to it. The true body of the church is the people and their expressions of piety. Over many years there has been a constant process of change as new members have been added and old members have fallen by the wayside. From 1834, when the first service was held, until today, is a period of 145 years in which these changes have taken place. This is like a river from out of the past to the present.

To put this in perspective, our country was established in 1776. In 1834 the first services were held in the home of HORACE DUNTEN, the storekeeper. This was a span of 56 years. Huntertown was platted in 1870, which made another span of 35 years. In 1900 the present church structure was built which made another span of 30 years. From then until today we have another span of 79 years. What takes place from now on will be written in the years that are to follow.

HORACE DUNTEN'S uncle, EPHRAIM, set up a tavern so the needs and wants of the settlers were taken care of. Although alcohol was been one of the no no's of the Methodist Church, somehow it was employed by these settlers to take care of their aches and pains, as no doubt they had a great number, after working in the woods all day. This same demon rum also was a protection from the Indians who still made their homes around the area.

Oxen were used as beast of burden as well as horses. One year the settlers had a near crop failure with the corn crop. Somehow further north there was corn to be had, so they took an ox team and a wagon and went after it. Today we can make the trip in an hour and a half; but for them, however, it took seven days with camping at night on the way. The road at this time was no more than a trail in the woods, and if we were to go over the same kind of road, our time would probably be extended too. One thing that we might see in common though would be buffalo in the Kendallville area.

As the settlers came in they brought their values with them and one of these was that their children be educated. To do this they had to erect a school house and one of the most convenient materials for this undertaking was the logs in the woods. With these they constructed a little one-room schoolhouse in 1835 and the first teacher was a MR. AYRES. As a hardy pioneer HORACE DUNTEN produced a large family consisting of ten children; and of these, eight became teachers in their own right. This was very good evidence of the intellectual qualities of these people.

It would press one to name all of the settlers, but I will list the names of some of the earliest. To most who have lived here any length of time, the names will be familiar names as some of the roads are named after them. If anyone looks at his abstract of title, he will see at least one name that is represented as those who worked so hard to make it all possible. To buy this same land today it would cost a number of dollars, but in their time they purchased it with the sweat of their brow and a desire to promote a better way of life for themselves and their families.

These first settlers' names loom large: WOOD, HATCH, PARKER, RUNDLES, FITCH, SIMON and VANDOLAH. Later settlers of just as much prominence are: SURFACE, BOWSER, TUCKER, METCALF, SHRYOCK, GLOYD, THOMPSON, BENWARD, ANDREWS, HILLEGAS and MARTIN. These people just as they do today, had their ailments, and just as today required the services of a doctor. The first who served this purpose was DR. E. G. WHEELOCK. From these people the church drew its membership as their spiritual needs had to be served as well as their physical needs.

One who came at an early time was WILLIAM T. HUNTER in the year of 1837. Because the town bears his name, it will be remembered for a long time. He purchased land and built himself a house which still stands at the end of Washington Street on Hunter. This is a large square type house that has an upper story and was large enough to serve the purpose that he gave it. The first post office was in the house of CHARLES WEEKS and remained there from 1836 to 1840 when it was moved to the house of WILLIAM T. HUNTER. Hunter then became the post master; and as the post office had to have a name where people sent their mail, the post master gave it his name so that at this point it became Huntertown. It was rather a misnomer to call it Huntertown at this point because it was not a town but just a small settlement in a clearing. No doubt post masters in those days did not receive much remuneration for their work or rather there was a thirsty crowd around Huntertown whichever the matter might be. Nevertheless Hunter deemed it necessary to put a tavern in his house at the same time. This then became the focal point for all the settlers to congregate and to spend a day or an evening socializing.

Four years later in 1844 it was decided to remove the Miami Indians farther west to a reservation and because of this, most of the Indians moved out of this area. Another historical event that took place about this time which had nothing to do with Huntertown, but did with the Methodist Church, was the establishment in Fort Wayne of a college called the Methodist College. This was a co-educational school and by 1854 had an enrollment of 256 students. Finally the burden of debt became too great for it and it disbanded. The college was then taken over by the Lutheran Church and in its stead Concordia College was formed which had its presence there until a few years ago when it was turned over to the Indiana Institute of Technology. After the Methodists left these buildings there was no school for a while. In later times the college was reconstructed at Upland, Indiana, as Taylor University. In the years before all this took place, in fact in 1840, Fort Wayne was incorporated making Huntertown a satellite to the seat of Allen County.

The next event to take place that placed Huntertown on the map was the planking of the Lima Road. This was started in 1849. Up until this time the road was dusty in summer, rutty in the spring, and generally rough in the winter when it was frozen hard. Without pneumatic tires on the wheels of their wagons and carts, this made for rough riding in the winter, almost impassable in the spring when it thawed out, and very dusty in the summer. To correct this situation it was decided to lay wood plank on the road as this had proven successful on a road from Ohio to Fort Wayne. One of the most plentiful materials at the time was lumber which could be had in large quantities from the surrounding woods. All it took was man power to convert this so it could be usable on the road to hard surface it. To this and a contract, or should I say, several contracts were let to carry out this enterprise. To put it in perspective better than I can do in a few words, I am here placing one of the flyers that was placed at strategic locations to attract bids for construction by worthy contractors. If there is anyone in the need of a job it would be well to transport themselves back in time and apply, because evidently such man power was needed.

______________________________________________________

PLANK ROAD LETTING

The undersigned will receive sealed proposals at the house of J. B. Hanna, in Huntertown, until the 29th of March next.

FOR THE GRADING OF 26 MILES OF THE FORT WAYNE AND LIMA TURNPIKE ROAD

Persons bidding for the above work will state the price per rod for grading, including the grubbing, bridging, drainage, and laying of plant, except the large hills, which will be bid for, by the yard: and delivery of the plank by the thousand feet, board measure. Jobs will be let in sections of five miles, to commence at the saw mills. Any information in regard to the above can be had at the undersigned, or at the office of S. Hanna, in Fort Wayne.

EMPLOYMENT CAN BE GIVEN TO ANY NUMBER OF HANDS.

Wm. MITCHEL

Superintendant

F. W. & L. T. Co.

February 26, 1849

________________________________________________________

With the letting of these contracts the plank road made it much easier to travel and was a great asset to the further opening of the territory for settlement and the progress of the area. Huntertown then became a layover station on the way farther north, and also those coming from the north could rest their weary bones for the night. After the road was planked it made it possible for a stage coach line to be placed in operation and thus furthered the convenience of the traveler. Anyone having seen a western picture can visualize one of these clattering stage coaches on the plank as they headed for their destination. With this dissertation of the times, I am not so much as giving the history of the church, as I am describing the conditions of the times.

In 1856 it was further deemed by the settlers that higher education was necessary for the improvement of the intellect and the advancement toward a better society. To further this, three men, NATHANIEL FITCH, JACOB KELL, and GEORGE B. GLOYD, established at the corner of the Gump Road and 327 a building known as the Perry Seminary. The seminary thrived and had begun to have some influence when the Civil War between the States was declared. With this declaration all of the students enlisted in the Union Army and left the classroom bare. This terminated the usefulness of the school and it was never used again for this purpose, but was later removed to the Kell farm on Shoaff Road where it served as a barn for many years before being torn down, sometime after 1970. DR. WHEELOCK was a pupil in this school, as were many other well known people of Perry Township.

The most valued possession that a person could have during this period of history was a horse. It not only helped on the farm as a beast of burden but it also was used with a buggy for the transportation of the family to church. The loss of one of these was truly a great loss because, unlike a modern tractor, it took much longer to make one and you had to have the right propagation machinery to do so. Many times a farmer would lose one through sickness and this was just like losing one of the family and often could not be helped. If it were stolen, this was a different matter and a horse thief was considered one of the lowest of vermin. There was a notorious gang of desperadoes, led by a man by the name of Gregory McDougal in northeastern Indiana. These men did not draw the line on how they carried out their unlawful acts, which sometimes included murder. Horse thievery was the most prevalent that the committed. To combat this, citizens organized a group called the regulators and many from Perry Township belonged. In 1857 the regulators caught Mr. McDougal and stretched his neck at Diamond Lake in Noble County. After this, peace reigned for a while and a horse was safe again in his own pasture.

Just as the coming of the railroads made the canal obsolete in so short a number of years in operation, so did the railroads make the stage coach later on become obsolete. Between the time that the Lima Road was planked, twenty years had elapsed and to further the progress of the community the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad was built from Fort Wayne to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the year of 1869. Up until this time, Huntertown had been a stop over for the stagecoach for travelers and a trading place for the pioneers. With the coming of the trains, Hunter decided to plat that which he could of the town and he had several others conspired in this undertaking. He owned land north of what is now called Hunter Street and seeing the winds of change coming, he bought land south of the street from SOLOMON P. HASWEL, and his wife, Payrinthia in 1866. Others who owned land tyhat was platted at the same time which lay west of the Lima Road were JAMES O. BEARDSLEY, M. P. RICKET, and JAMES BALLOU. This land was divided into two plats. One was bounded by Hunter Street, Lima Plank Road, Main Street and Railroad Street and two rows of lots south of Main Street. The other addition was bounded by Hunter Street, Lima Plank Road, Edgerton, and a series of lots north of Edgerton and the G.R. & I. Railroad. The surveying was done in 1869 and entered in the books at the County Court House on January 12, 1870. At this point, Huntertown became officially a town. The Beardsley addition was also platted on the east side of the Lima Plank Road at the same time. With the coming of the railroad a grain terminal was built at the end of Main Street and this further enhanced the area for the farmer as this was a more complete and better outlet for the sale of the fruits of their labors in the production of grain. This was such a forward step in the development of the community that in the first year that the town was platted, 41 lots were sold. Several times the grain elevators were burned to the ground and each time it was rebuilt. In 1910 this was one of those times and when it was rebuilt the sale of lumber and other hardware items were added to the merchandise to be sold. DANIEL STEINER took over its management and the business prospered making it the only one in town that required the hiring of employees. For many years this was the central business that kept the town a thriving place in the township.

The town never was a very large town as attested by a notation that I found which stated that in the year of 1917 the population was only 250. From this point it slowly grew until the town was incorporated in 1966, when it had a resident population of 770.

To further the advance of transportation, the Fort Wayne and Northwestern Traction Company was formed. The first run was made between Fort Wayne and Huntington with a steam engine carrying passengers. The purpose though was to do this by the use of electricity so trolley lines were constructed to carry this out. A branch was built to run from Fort Wayne to Garrett which came through the center of Huntertown down the Lima Road and just north of town headed almost directly east. When it reached the east edge of Fisher West's farm, it turned north to Garrett. The interurban gave Huntertown a little more stature because this gave the community more and better means for travel for the period of those times. This made it easier for the minister who at the time was preaching both at Wallen and at Cedar Chapel in DeKalb County, to make the circuit by faster and more commodious accommodations. This branch was started and completed in the years of 1906 and 1907, but was abandoned later on in the middle thirties.

As the automobile came on the scene and developed from the clunker to the more streamlined variety, it was soon evident that it would be necessary to have a hard surface road to make them more pleasant to drive on. For this purpose the State Highway Commission found it prudent to pave the Lima Road with concrete from Fort Wayne to Kendallville. During the year of 1924, they carried this out from Fort Wayne to Huntertown, then the following year from Huntertown to Kendallville.

In 1915 land was purchased by the County on the Lima Road where a structure for the housing of the aged and the indigent was built. Just north of it was built a hospital called the Irene Byron, named after a World War I nurse, and used to treat those who had fallen victim of the dreaded disease of tuberculosis. This was the year of 1916 when it was completed.

The town of Huntertown was incorporated August 10, 1966. This brings most of the background history of the area up-to-date.

CHAPTER 2

I will now take up the history of the church as a body and the physical structure of the buildings that served the purpose of carrying out the worship of God as the membership saw it. Just how best to approach this subject to make it come alive and mean something besides a recitation of dates and facts? If I remember right, history has been one of the dullest subjects to a great many people as they studied it in school. Somehow because of the necessity of condensing it and shrinking it so it can be included in a reasonably small space, it takes the feelings and the dreams and hopes out of it so it is as they say DULL. With the material I have I am going to have to reconstruct it to make it interesting to you and also give you the feel of the times. You have already read the background which I have written to prepare you for this.

On some pages up ahead I have included a list of the ministers that have served from the time that the church was started until the present date with their years of service and the changes that took place just as I received them in verbatim. This is interesting but it is also the dull part that so many find unworthy of their time. But like a cross word puzzle, it is possible to fit these together and weave a story that I hope can be of interest to you.

Now you will note from this fact sheet that there have been many people who have at one time or another served their allegiance to the church body. Not all of these were of one hundred percent attendance, but seemed to drift in and out as their conscience dictated to them. It seemed to be a struggle between their taste for the secular and the spiritual. Today the secular seems to have a stronger pull than ever, but instead of decrying this fact we have to take it in stride and see that though it is a struggle for men's souls, it is one that apparently must be lived with. Also in the hundred and forty-five years in which the church has existed, all of those who played a part in its early history and many who came in later have passed on to their reward and are now only a cipher mark in the records of the church. As we have no way of communicating with these people this cipher mark makes them for us a non person, but history shows that they were living warm-blooded loving human beings and for many of us if it had not been for their existence we would not be here. History is important to us as it connects us to the past and to these people who, if we were able to know them personally, would be the best of friends.

Now it is evident that the early settlers felt the need of religious services. This was brought about in 1834 by the meeting of HORACE DUNTEN and a MR. NICKERSON, a methodist exhorter. No doubt they casually brought up the subject and as they warmed to the discussion it was agreed that they should hold a service in Horace's home. You will notice by the date that Horace was just a young man and probably had acquired a new bride and a new cabin not too long ago. As for those attending this meeting there could not have been many because the settlement was new, and what was to come after was just getting started. The number of meetings that were held between 1834 and 1836 was not determined, but in 1836 Reverend STEVEN R. BALL of Fort Wayne came to the settlement and helped to start a class in the house of JAMES THOMPSON. These were not large meetings as there were only six in attendance, and no doubt, were two men and their wives and one bachelor and a minister. Without the aid of electric lights, and kerosene lamps not being in vogue as yet, it was no doubt necessary to hold these meetings by the help of candlelight. As a home, cabins were small and the quarters were cramped, so as the membership grew, it was decided tyhat the best place to hold meetings was in the Caswell School, which by this time had been built.

Those meetings were conducted by a circuit riding minister, and when JOHN ASHELEY moved from Catskill, New York, to a place in Wallen they started having meetings there also. In this manner, Wallen came into the circuit. Wallen continued to be in the circuit until 1923, then again for a short time in the middle thirties. The name of the Wallen church was Bethel. To complete the class organization, three families by the names of GEORGE ASHLEY, JAMES W. FLEMMING and U. J. COOK took place in 1840. To house this newly organized body a log church was built and given the name of Bethel. This took place in the year of 1843 and was used until the village of Wallen was platted and a new church was built in the year of 1871.

In 1846 Huntertown worked themselves out of the schoolhouse and into a new frame church which sat on the land which is now occupied by Glenn Shank's home and was almost across from the present church. The dimensions of this church was 30' by 40' and in the light of the price that is proposed for the present addition that is being placed on the present structure, the cost was ridiculously low. For the grand sum of $1500.00 they got a well constructed wood frame church that stood up well into the twentieth century. With a little bit of upkeep it no doubt would still be there, but without any help it declined and gave up the ghost in its old age. You can just hear some wise acre say, "Well, they just don't make them anymore like they used too!" And no doubt he is right because the proposed structure is much larger to accommodate a larger church membership and is to be made of much better materials.

There seems no way of verifying this, except that the evidence is still present on the ground. However, this is what I found in the records and I will present it as written.

A Universalist Church at Huntertown was organized at the house of Dr. D. VANDERHAYDEN in 1850, with seventeen members. WILLIAM CHAPLIN of Kosciusko Co., IN, was the officiating pastor on the occasion and visited the congregation at irregular intervals for meetings suceeding that date.

In 1851 they erected a house of worship on a knoll just north of the Methodist Church. This also cost them $1500.00 which must have been the going price for churches at the time. With its construction, Mr. Chaplin became the pastor. The membership grew for several years and reached 63; then in 1863, they organized a Sunday School class with a hundred pupils. As the pioneers came into the community of Huntertown they were not all of like mind and coming from different parts of the country their church affiliations were of different denominations. However, these seemed to homogenize in the two existing churches, and if there was any rivalry it is not indicated in the records. Because of this homogenization at the Universalist Church, there was finally drawn a conclusion that two churches were not needed and the membership dwindled until it was no more. Because the church was of sturdy construction, it stood for a long time and at one time was used as the hall for the Gleaners which was a mutual insurance organization that existed for many years. In the early forties it was purchased by FRANCIS BROWN and turned into an apartment for which it is being utilized today.

In 1849 the Allen Circuit was organized. Some of the churches that were included in this circuit were Huntertown, Bethel, Wesley, Barnes etc. How it came about I do not know, but at one time during the turn of the century Huntertown was the center of the circuit that consisted of Bethel at Wallen, Cedar Chapel in DeKalb County and Swan in Noble County. When Wallen was platted the residence of the pastor of the circuit was located in Huntertown.

This must have been a rented house because there was no permanent residence until one was purchased at the corner of Hunter and Webster Street in 1888. This served well until a new one was built north of the present church in 1904. As for the main part of the structure of the present Huntertown Methodist Church, this was built in the year of 1900 or should I say a little before because this was the year that it was dedicated. An addition was added in the year 1955, and at present another addition is being planned.

CHAPTER 3

Going over the names of those who served the church as ministers, I noticed the shortness of tenancy. Up until a few years ago, if a minister served the same church for more than two years he was a phenomenon. He was not only a circuit rider but he very seldom dwelled in one place for any length of time. Transient was the word that came to mind, but talking to the chaplain at Parkview, he suggested that the name itinerate was the word most used. This may well describe the situation and I found also that it was a policy of the church to keep them on the move. Whatever the purpose was, it held very well into the twentieth century, but in later years has been less observed than before.

You will also note that a great many men have been chosen to serve their fellow men in this calling and it has always been held as a great honor and mark of distinction that they do so. There are two professions that have always commanded the greatest respect from their fellow men, and that is the profession of medicine and the ministry. Many mothers have dreamed that their sons would grow to become one of these. For many of them, and the list that is compiled here, you can see that their wish has been granted because from the year of 1834 until this year that I write of in 1979, there have been a great many. Just as a beautiful piece of music uses many notes in its composition, so does the church require many people to keep it vibrant and continuous. You might say the minister, in baseball parlance, is the pitcher on the mound, the one around which all activity occurs, yet once he delivers his message the rest of the team has to carry the ball.

You will also notice that besides the name of such a minister, the events that took place on the date has been added. I have tried to weave these into their chronological happenings in the story that has gone before. You cn go over these again as you read the sheet with all the dates and times as they were taken directly from the records. I know you will be interested in them as I was and hope you get as much enjoyment from them. By doing this you can draw your own conclusions as to what took place and with a little imagination weave your own interpretations as to what happened. So here is the list for you to peruse at your own pleasure:

CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF PASTORS AND INTERESTING EVENTS, HUNTERTOWN, WALLEN PARISH

As the record before 1849 is somewhat indefinite, both Fort Wayne and north Allen County appointments are given. After then, the years of death and deceased and addresses of living former pastors are given where known. There may be errors. Dr. W. W. Sweet's "History of the North Indiana Conference" was used as a guide.

1834	Early settlers in Washington Twp. Meetings first held at Huntertown in the house of HORACE F. DUNTEN, by MR. NICKERSON, Methodist Exhorter
1836-1837	STEVEN R. BALL (Ft. Wayne) organized Huntertown class at the home of JAMES THOMPSON in 1836. Meeting later held at Caswell School. Bethel class organized about this time under guidance of GEORGE JOHN ASHLEY. Bethel Church built in 1836 or (1840)
1838	JAMES T. ROBE (Fort Wayne)
1839	JACOB COLCLASER (Fort Wayne)
1839	SAMUEL REED (Little St. Joseph Mission)
1840	WALTER L. HUFFMAN (Iroquois Mission)
1840 1841	FRANCIS A. CROMWELL (Fort Wayne) Some say Bethel class organized about this time composed of GEORGE ASHLEY, JAMES W. FLEMMING, U.J. COOK and families
1841	SAMUEL SMITH (Eel River Mission)
1842	CHARLES W. MILLER (Eel River Mission)
1842	GEORGE M. BOYD (Fort Wayne)
1843	HAWLEY M. BEERS (Fort Wayne) (Bethel Church land deeded trustees.)
1843	J. C. MEDSKER (Little St. Joseph Mission)
1844	BENJAMIN WINANS (St. Joseph Mission)
1844 1845	J. S. BAYLESS (Fort Wayne)
1845	W. J. FORBES (Little St. Joseph Mission)
1846	SAMUEL BRENTON (Fort Wayne) (Frame church built at Huntertown)
1846	EVENTOUS DOUD (Little St. Joseph Mission)
1847	AMASA JOHNSON (Fort Wayne)
1848	WILLIAM WILLSON (Fort Wayne)
1848	T. F. PALMER(St. Mary's Mission)
1849	T. F. PALMER (Allen circuit organized)
1850	JESSE3 SPARKS, A. GREENMAN (D. 1914)
1851	J. J. COOPER (D. 1888) Allen County, consisted of all preaching places in North West Allen : Huntertown, Bethel, Wesley Chapel, Barnes, Swan, Cedar Chapel, etc.
1852	J. H. PAYTON (D. 1883)
1853	J. W. WELCH (D. 1917)
1854	D. B. CLARY
1855	M. M. HAUN
1856 1857	JAMES JOHNSON (D. 1897)
1858 1859	R. A. NEWTON (D. 1890)
1860 1861	C. W. LYNCH (D. 1908)
1862	J. M. MANN (D. 1881)
1863 1864	J. H. SLADE
1865	E. E. PEARMAN
1866 1867	JAMES GREER (D. 1888)
1868 1869	N. T. TEDDYCORD (D. 1911)
1870	ISAAC COOPER (D. 1916)
1871 1872	W. H. EDWARDS (Wallen Village platted and Wallen frame church built)
1873	WILLIAM LASH (D. 1916)
1874 1875	J. P. NASH (D. 1903) (Huntertown replaces Wesley as head of circuit, February 27, 1975)
1876	LEWIS ROBERTS (D. 1898)
1877	J. W. LOWERY (Pastors residence established at Huntertown)
1878	NEWTON BURWELL
1879 1880	________________ completed 7 months of this term
1881	J. N. McMAHON (D. 1907)
1882	T. S. COOK (D. 1910)
1883 1884	I. J. BICKNELL
1885	W. E. McCARTY (D. 1920)
1886	J. H. SLACK (D. 1909)
1887 1888	NOSEA WOOLPERT (D. 1907) (1st parsonage bought about 1888. Corner of Webster and Hunter Street)
1889	A. L. FERKNER (D. 1911)
1890 1891	T. F. FRECH (D. 1924)
1892 1893	M. M. SMITH (D. 1913)
1894 1896	S. J. MELLENGER (D. 1814)
1897 1900	W. E. MURRAY (D. 1927) (Present Huntertown church built & dedicated, June 24, 1900)
1901 1902	RALPH C. JONES
1903 1905	N. P. BARTON (Parsonage built in 1904)
1906 1907	G. H. BRIGHT
1908 1912	E. A. BUNNER (Upland, Indiana)
1913	HENRY LACY (D. 1927)
1914	E. C. LINDSAY 6 mos, J. W. GRUBER 6 mos
1915	J. W. GRUBER (Lansboro, Iowa)
1916 1919	J. R. STELL (622 Central Ave., Anderson, Ind.)
1920 1922	EDWIN DICKSON (Wallen Church built 1919)
1923 1924	J. M. STEWART (Up until 1923 Wallen and Huntertown used the same pastor. This was discontinued until 1935 when again they were together for a short time.)
1925	R. OMEROD (3 mo.) O. J. BRIGGS (4 mo.) G. F. CROWE (5 mo.)
1926 1927	G. F. CROWE (Ct. Wallen & Cedar Chapel & Huntertown)
1925 1928	N. E. SMITH (Huntertown and Cedar Chapel)
1929 1931	R. A. FENSTEMACHER
1928 1930	M. T. SHADY (Wallen)
1931 1932	J. C. BEAN (Wallen)
1933 1934	WAYNE PAULAN (Wallen)
1932 1934	W. E. LOVELESS (Huntertown and Wallen)
1935	W. E. LOVELESS (Huntertown and Wallen)
1937 1943	HAROLD E. THRASHER (Huntertown and Wallen)
1944 to ?	W. R. SCHMELTZER
? to 1951	J. F. STEPHANSON
1952 1956	HOWARD WESTERN
1957 1959	CHUCK RHODES
1960 1963	BOB JACKSON
1964 1970	HERSCHEL McCORD
1970 1977	JIM DICKEY
1977	CECIL HENDRIX

CHAPTER 4

Those who make history can themselves best give an account of it and the part that they played in it. Because of this I am inserting the records that the Reverend Bunner gave of his years of service to the circuit of Wallen, Huntertown, Cedar Chapel and Swan. His is a superb story of the period between 1908 and 1913. It reveals far more than can be had by reading the other records of the times because it is a point by point account of the people involved. The Reverend Enoch A. Bunner through his power of recall has put together a story that tells much about this period in which he played so great a part. You will note after reading the number of pastors that have served the church in its previous history that his time of service was longer than most. Somehow when you read it, the personality of the man comes through, and you will also note that his must have been very engaging. I was born in the year of 1908 and I remember some of the things about him because we lived by the Cedar Chapel Church and my parents often invited him for dinner. Mother somehow knew how to opick the best rooster out of the flock, and for these times a chicken dinner was just about one of the best things that you could have for a visit by a minister. The visits I remember were when I was about four years old.

This account made me feel so much at home when I read it. Almost all of the people in it I knew their names as though they were as familiar as my own. Also many of my own family were represented; such as, my grandfather, uncles and aunts and my older sisters. If one wants a recap of his life, when early memories just start, things like this can set off a chain reaction that makes one feel that he is reliving it all over again. While reading it I had this feeling.

One of the first things that you will notice is that this was the horse and buggy days. Automobiles were just entering the market and they were primitive for the period. Most observations of the wise acres of the day were that they would not last. Somehow to most the horse was still the most reliable means of transportation. If one ever owned a horse it would soon become evident that a horse was just about one of the best friends that man ever had. Of course it required a lot of attention when it came to feeding, getting rid of the waste and combing the burrs and the sweat from their hide. The good Reverend must not have had this problem with his good horse that he so affectionately called John, or if he did he was not going to tell anybody about it for fear that he might hear him and leave him down when he needed him most. Knowing the distance that good John had to travel, he sounds like he must have been one of the better ones of his species.

In his account he mentions the speed of the auto and how his good friend Brother ANDREW SURFUS helped him in his round of duties when he needed him most. I am sure that one of our modern teenagers would have had him there much sooner even though it might have not been all in one piece. However, one of these teenagers would not have been so happy driving Andrew's car, especially if he had a flat tire in transit. When they said clincher tires in those days they meant it. I can remember the 1913 Model T Ford that BERT PARKER had with all the shiny brass adorning its radiator. I do not know what brother Andrew drove, but you can bet, it must have been one of its cousins.

There are a great many names on the records that he has compiled, and because of the nature of the times these people were more familiar and closer in friendship. How better could you place on paper the full range of human emotions than the ones he covered? People were born and baptized and brought into the church, and for many the birth of a child is a very happy event as we attest to this by often celebrating their birthdays. It also establishes that period of time that one's life is spent on this earth, and the age of a person places them in proper relations to events as they occur.

Marriage too is a happy time in most lives and the list given here shows that, regardless of the year, they all have something in common. The love between two adults of the opposite sex and the promise it holds for the future of the race is one that thrills us all. You may recognize some one of your relatives in this past generation going through the same feelings and excitement that you, who have done the same, have felt.

However there is tragedy in peoples' lives and these are the times, when we lost loved ones. If one has lived a long span it is the graceful ending for that one, but even when this occurs there are often children and grandchildren that feel the painfulness of loss. If one's life is cut short at an early age, leaving a family of young ones, it is doubly tragic. Reading over the records you will often see that this happened many times because medicine had not yet conquered the infectious diseases. One that stands out on May 11, 1911 of OTTO and DWIGHT KLEMM of Swan, Indiana, who perished both at the same time in a fire. To lose a father and a son in this way could be nothing but terrifying. Of these kinds of happenings human life is built, and if one broadens his own mind and feelings for such things, it is easy to see how God can love us so much because we are all his children facing a world that is sometimes too large for us.

I will end my discourse on this part of the records so you can go over them yourself in the following pages.

____________________________________________________________

HUNTERTOWN CHURCH RECORD

Members from 1904 till April 1913. Probationers from all the work, also

Baptisms, Weddings, and funerals

By ENOCH A. BUNNER, Pastor.

These were the horse and buggy days, with faithful horse, John.

HUNTERTOWN CLASS, Members and Probationers

The ones that were there 1908, then ones added and those who died and moved away by transfer and otherwise marked off. ENOCH A. BUNNER, Pastor for five years, sent from following conferences, giving place date and Bishop.

Conference

Anderson, Indiana, sent April 1908 by Bishop Berry

Greenfield, Indiana, April 5, 1909 by Bishop Anderson

Bluffton, Indiana, April 11, 1910 by Bishop Cranston

Kokomo, Indiana, April 11, 1911 by Bishop Hughes

Wabash, Indiana, April 1, 1912 by Bishop Moore

Moved, letter, death or otherwise, by E. A. Bunner, or rec. by E. A. Bunner

Members

Andrews, Lella
Andrews, Edna	Married Shuster, moved	April 18, 1910
Andrews, Alma
Andrews, Mabel L.
Bunner, Bertha A.	Letter Presby. Transfer, Pastor's wife, moved	Ohio, December 29, 1912 Spiceland, Ind., April 1912
Burrell, William
Burrell Theron
Brown, Samuel A.	Letter Sedro Wolley, moved	January 15, 1909
Brown, Clara	(was Nelson) Letter Sedro Wolley, moved	January 15, 1910
Bunting, Nettie	Moved or something	1910
Bracht, Caroline A.	Received	May 14, 1909
Bracht, William	Received	September 8, 1912
Bracht, Custon O.	Received pro.	March 14, 1909
Ballou, Mary	Received	June 1, 1911
Busze, Stella
Baker, A. J.	Received letter	April 2, 1911
Baker, Jennie	Received letter	April 2, 1911
Baker, Myrtle	Received letter	April 2, 1911
Boren, Lillian	Rceived, Probationer	May 30, 1912
Carey, Rev. Epherian	Received	1912
A. T. Corbin	Letter	May 23, 1911
Corbin Ocie Hall	Letter	May 23, 1911
Collins, Minnie	Letter, Probationer	May 23, 1909
Dunten, Jennie
Dunten, Washington
Dunten, Sidney M.
Dunten, Allie
Dunten, Rhena	From Pro.	February 26, 1910
DeBolt, Loyd	From Pro.	September 8, 1912
Emerick, May
Eby, Lyda
Entler, Albert	Letter, Illinois	April 12, 1911
Entler, Ethel	Letter, Illinois	April 12, 1911
Gaff, Mary	Probationer	May 24, 1912
Greenfield, Zella	Without letter, moved
Gallaway, Hannah	Letter, Churubusco, moved	May 7, 1910
Garman, Martha
Geller, Ida	Joined English Lutheran, moved	June 14, 1908
Glazier, Sarah	Rec.	1912
Garman, Benjaman F.	Rec.	December 29, 1912
Hall, Frank	Letter	May 23, 1911
Hatch, Flora	Letter to Ft. Wayne, IN, moved	May 29, 1910
Hatch, Theron V.
Hatch, Ella
Hatch, S. Brenton
Hatch, Althea
Hatch, Mable
Hatch, Alice	Moved, married Sloffer
Hatch, Herman
Houghton, Dr. L.
Houghton, Romania
Hall, Jessie
Hall, Earnest	Rec., died January 2, 1912	May 23, 1909
Hall, Loren	Pro.	May 21, 1909
Hippenhammer, Isaac
Hippenhammer, Jennie
Miss Ersil C. Kyler	Pro., Mrs. Howard Dancer	May 24, 1912
Hillegas, Ella
Harding, Erma
Hollopeter, Israel	Letter, moved	July 26, 1908
Hollopeter, Jemima	Letter, moved	July 26, 1908
Hollopeter, Herschel	Letter, moved	April 23, 1911
Hollopeter, Ema	Moved, Was Tilden
Hursh, Don	Pro.	July 31, 1910
Hursh, Myrlie B.	Pro.	July 31, 1910
Harding, Maggie	Was Kell
Kell, George V.
Kell, Jessie
Kell, Gertrude
Kell, Louise
Kell, Beatrice
Kell, Robert	Letter, Tuna, Texas	September 12, 1912
Kell, Walter
Kell, Dolly	Married Rundles
Kell, Frank
Kell, Ollie
Kell, Catherine	Died	May 5, 1911
Kell, Maggie	Married Harding	December 21, 1911
Knop, Manford	Letter U. B.	December 18, 1910
Knop, Amanda	Letter U. B.	December 18, 1910
Knop, Carrie	Pro.	February 26, 1911
Knop, Florence	Pro.	January 25, 1912
Ketchum, Sarah
Kruse, John	Pro.	September 8, 1912
Klinger, Lottie	Pro.	January 19, 1912
Lathem, Mary	Deceased
Meyers, Cora
McComb, Rosella	Pro.	November 20, 1910
Nelson, Stella Busze
Nelson, Clara	Married Brown, moved
Nelson, Manilla May	Pro.	July 19, 1908
Porter, Margaret
Porter, George	Moved, without letter
Pulver, Mary
Rundles, Dolly Kell	Letter to Urbana, Ill., moved	January 6, 1910
Rundles, John Clinton	Letter, moved	April 19, 1908
Rundles, Mrs. Mary	Letter from U. B.	November 20, 1910
Runyon, Gladys		March 19, 1913
Surfus, Andrew
Surfus, Mary E.
Surfus, Jerry	Letter, Auburn M. E., moved	January 25, 1913
Surfus, Lydia	Letter, Auburn M. E., moved	January 25, 1913
Surfus, L. May	Pro. moved	May 24, 1912
Surfus, Orville
Surfus, Mary Burrell
Schuster, Edna	(was Andrews) Letter to Garrett M. E. , moved	August 22, 1910
Sloffer, Alice	(see Hatch)
Sible, Lena West	Moved	Died May 18, 1909
Smith, Rebecca	Rec.	July 16, 1910
Smith, Rebecca (same)	Moved, Letter to Trinity, Fort Wayne	October 9. 1910
Snyder, Myrtle M.	Pro.	December 23, 1911
Smith, Susan
Smith, Ella
Smith, Eva
Simons, Addie
Sovine, Nellie	Pro.	May 30, 1913
Thompson, Laurie	Pro.	February 26, 1913
Wagoner, Sarah
West, Fisher C.
West, Ellen
Wyatt, Elizabeth
Wyatt, Verne
Wyatt, Malissa	Pro.	May 23, 1909
Whetziel, Galena	Letter Kalamazoo, Mich., moved	January 30, 1911
Witt, Albert	Moved
Witt, Sarah	Moved, don't know how

I hope no names have been missed; have tried hard to get all.

PROBATIONERS - HUNTERTOWN WORK

April 1908 to April 1913

Date	Name	Church
August 18, 1895	Jennie Hatch	Huntertown
August 18, 1895	Mary Preston	Huntertown
May 12, 1905	Edna Pulver Malcolm	Huntertown
May 12, 1905	Earl M. Wyatt	Huntertown
January 4, 1906	Olie Shriver	Huntertown
May 10, 1907	Herbert A. Greenfield	Huntertown
July 18, 1907	Manilla May Nelson Bond Rec. July 19, 1908	Huntertown
May 17, 1907	Mrs. Harvey Preston, rec. May 16, 1909	Swan
May 24, 1907	Ralph Preston, rec. May 16, 1909	Swan
February 4, 1908	Grace Golden, rec. Jan. 9, 1909	Wallen
February 5, 1908	Elsie Opliger, rec. Jan. 31, 1909	Wallen
February 5, 1908	Rennecker, Rec. Jan. 31, 1909	Wallen
February 5, 1908	Bessie Opliger, Rec. January 17, 1909	Wallen
December 1907	Cynthia Thompson, Rec. August 22, 1909	Cedar Chapel
December 1907	Marie Heffelfinger (Walters) Rec. August 22, 1909	Cedar Chapel
May 24, 1904	Marie Thrush	Cedar Chapel
July 19, 1908	Arie Gaff, Rec. May 24, 1912	Huntertown
May 22, 1908	Marion Thrush, Rec. August 22, 1909	Cedar Chapel
July 26, 1908	Earnest Hall, Rec. May 23, 1909	Huntertown
July 26, 1908	Charles Rundles, Sent to Urbana, Ill.	Huntertown
January 15, 1909	Ira Grogg, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
January 15, 1909	Bertha Grogg, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
January 31, 1909	Sarah Rennecker, Rec. July 3, 1910	Swan
February 28, 1909	Nettie Bricker, rec. May 16, 1909	Swan
May 5, 1909	Jessie Warner, Rec. June 13, 1909	Swan
May 5, 1909	Fern Warner, Rec. June 13, 1909	Swan
May 5, 1909	Lincoln Bricker, Rec. May 16, 1909	Swan
May 27, 1909	George Shriver	Huntertown
May 27, 1909	Mrs. George Shriver	Huntertown
May 27, 1909	Mallisa Wyatt, Rec. May 27, 1909	Huntertown
May 27, 1909	Minnie Collins, Rec. May 27, 1909	Huntertown
May 27, 1909	Lillie Wyatt	Huntertown
May 23, 1909	Loren Hall, Rec. May 23, 1909	Huntertown
August 14, 1909	Wilbur Dunten, passed away	Huntertown
August 12, 1909	Garnet Pence, passed away	Cedar Chapel
August 12, 1909	Iva Heffelfinger, Rec. August 22, 1910	Cedar Chapel
August 28, 1909	Silas Wyatt, passed away	Huntertown
July 1909	Alice Dunten	Huntertown
February 10, 1910	Stella Clark, Rec. August 22, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	Mary Williams, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	Edith arner, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	Grace Balliet, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	Anna Rickey, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	Elsie Haynes, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	May Feagler	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	Mina Fair, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	John Wappes, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	Alice A. Wappes, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 10, 1910	May Murrey, Rec. July 24, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 12, 1910	Charles Heffelfinger, Rec. July 7, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 12, 1910	Amanda Heffelfinger, Rec. July 7, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 12, 1910	Thelma Hawver	Cedar Chapel
February 13, 1910	Frank Manges	Cedar Chapel
February 13, 1910	Irene Manges	Cedar Chapel
February 13, 1910	Sarah Tompkins, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
February 20, 1910	Archie Lung, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
April 31, 1910	Roscoe Lung, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
April 31, 1910	Loyal Grogg, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
April 31, 1910	Vonell Heffelfinger, Rec. April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
April 23, 1910	Don C. Hursh, Rec. July 31, 1910	Huntertown
April 12, 1910	Maggie Kell, Rec. Jan. 5, 1910	Huntertown
August 23, 1910	Myrtle B. Hursh, Rec. July 31, 1910	Huntertown
May 8, 1910	Lucile Bolton, Rec. July 17, 1910	Swan
July 4, 1910	Lovina Winters	Huntertown
July 28, 1910	Bell Ballard	Huntertown
November 20, 1910	Rosetta McComb, Rec. Nov. 20, 1910	Huntertown
December 31, 1910	Grover Williams	Cedar Chapel
December 31, 1910	Martha Williams, Rec. April 2, 1911	Cedar Chapel
December 31, 1910	Dell Funk, Rec. April 2, 1911	Cedar Chapel
April 2, 1911	Matilda Funk, Rec. April 1, 1911	Cedar Chapel
February 26, 1911	Sarah Glazier, Rec. February 26, 1911	Huntertown
February 26, 1911	Romonia Houghton, Rec. February 26, 1911	Huntertown
February 26, 1911	Carrie Knop, Rec. Feb. 26, 1911	Huntertown
February 26, 1911	Rhena Dunten, Rec. Feb. 26, 1911	Huntertown
February 26, 1911	Laurie Thompson, Rec. February 26, 1911	Huntertown
January 1, 1912	Mary Ballou, Rec. June 1, 1911	Huntertown
January 21, 1912	Mary Gaff, Rec. May 24, 1912	Huntertown
January 28, 1912	Loyd DeBolt, Rec. Sept. 8, 1912	Huntertown
January 28, 1912	John Kuse, Rec. Sept. 8, 1912	Huntertown (Kruse?)
January 28, 1912	Cecil I. Hippenhammer, Rec. May 24, 1912	Huntertown
January 28, 1912	Gladys Runyon, Rec. May 24, 1912	Huntertown
January 28, 1912	Lotting Klinger (Don's mother), Rec. May 24, 1912	Huntertown
January 28, 1912	Arie Gaff	Huntertown
January 28, 1912	Mabel Kruse	Huntertown
January 28, 1912	Florence Knop, Rec. May 24, 1912	Huntertown
May 17, 1912	Mary Dunfee	Huntertown
May 17, 1912	Nellie Dunfee	Huntertown
April 28, 1912	Emma Balliett, Rec. May 26, 1912	Cedar Chapel
June 19, 1912	Jason Luyon, passed away	Swan
October 13, 1912	William Bracht, Rec. Oct. 1912	Huntertown
January 30, 1913	Earl Griswold	Wallen
January 30, 1913	Glenn Irving	Wallen
January 30, 1913	Walter Keenan	Wallen
January 30, 1913	Victorean Keenan	Wallen
January 30, 1913	Eva Marie Swank	Wallen
January 30, 1913	Hattie L. Bailey	Not sure where
January 30, 1913	Ruby A. Fansler	Not sure where
January 30, 1913	Helen Moore	Wallen
February 23, 1913	Martha Gill	Wallen
May 9, 1913	Nellie Sovine, Rec. May 30, 1913	Huntertown
May 9, 1913	Leonora Simons	Huntertown
May 9, 1913	Emery Fuqua	Huntertown
May 9, 1913	Charles S. Kruse	Huntertown
May 9, 1913	Mary Kruse	Huntertown
May 9, 1913	Arthur Knop	Huntertown
May 9, 1913	Mary Parker (Wells)	Huntertown
May 9, 1913	Rhua Gump	Huntertown
May 9, 1913	Leora Burrell	Huntertown
May 12, 1913	Ethel Malcolm	Huntertown
May 12, 1913	Ralph Rundles	Huntertown
January 12, 1913	Lillie Boren, Rec. May 30, 1913	Huntertown
January 12, 1913	Archie Boren	Huntertown

Hope I have missed no one. Some came out in revivals, in fact several who never united with church and may have thought they were members when converted. Then some marks were hard to determine. Thirty years is some time. Written February 1943. Finished February 16, 1943.

_____________________________________________________________

BAPTISMS

HUNTERTOWN WORK, April 1908 to April 1913

1908
Anna Jennings, Rev. Charles Jennings mother	Summer 1908	Bonduran Pool near Fort Wayne, called back
1909
Grace Golden	January 3, 1909	Wallen Church
Pristhy Renneker	January 3, 1909	Wallen
Hulda Renneker	January 3, 1909	Wallen
Bessie Opliger	February 3, 1909	Wallen
Elsie Opliger	February 3, 1909	Wallen
Ralph Badiac, child of Charles and Hattie.	February 3, 1909	Wallen
Ralph Preston	May 16, 1909	Swan
Lincoln Bricker	May 16, 1909	Swan
Earnest T. Hall	May 23, 1909	Huntertown
Loren Hall	May 23, 1909	Huntertown
Milissea Wyatt	May 23, 1909	Huntertown
Minnie Collins	May 23, 1909	Huntertown
Bertha Grogg	June 14, 1909	Cedar Chapel
Velma Grogg	June 14, 1909	Cedar Chapel
Loyal Grogg	June 14, 1909	Cedar Chapel
Marion Thrush	June 14, 1909	Cedar Chapel
Marie Heffelfinger	June 14, 1909	Cedar Chapel
Iva Heffelfinger	June 14, 1909	Cedar Chapel
Cynthia Thompson	June 14, 1909	Cedar Chapel
Wilbur Dunten	June 24, 1909	Huntertown
Garnet Pence	August 12, 1909	Cedar Chapel
Silvus Wyatt	August 19, 1909	Huntertown
1910
Vivian Ethel Fair	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Amanda Alice Wappes	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Elsie Fairchild Hanes	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Grace Marie Balliet	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Joanna Amanda Rickey	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
George Robert Thompson	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Alice Marie Grogg	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Edith Farner	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Vonell Heffelfinger	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Archie Michael Lung	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Roscoe Lung	April 3, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Don C. Hursh	May 8, 1910	Huntertown
Myrtle B. Hursh	May 8, 1910	Huntertown
Glenn C. Hursh	May 8, 1910	Huntertown
Lucille Bolton	May 15, 1910	Swan
Mildred Hoot	May 15, 1910	Swan
Murl Hoot	May 15, 1910	Swan
Florence Hoot	May 15, 1910	Swan
Charles Heffelfinger	May 25, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Frank Manes	May 25, 1910	Cedar Chapel
John Wappes	May 25, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Thelma Hawver	May 25, 1910	Cedar Chapel
Sarah Salome Rennecker	July 3, 1910	Wallen
Helen Marie Tompkins	October 9, 1910	May be Cedar Chapel
Rosetta McComb	November 20, 1910	Huntertown
1911
Sarah Glair	February 26, 1911	Huntertown
Carrie Knop	February 26, 1911	Huntertown
Omonia Houghton	February 26, 1911	Huntertown
Rhena Dunten	February 26, 1911	Huntertown
Laura Thompson	February 26, 1911	Huntertown
Matilda Funk	April 2, 1911	Cedar Chapel
William Delmore Funk	April 2, 1911	Cedar Chapel
Martha Anne Williams	April 2, 1911	Cedar Chapel
Myrtle Marie Snyder	April 23, 1911	Huntertown
Emma Louise Tilden	April 23, 1911	Huntertown
Gladys Runyon	March 24, 1911	Huntertown
Mary Gaff	March 24, 1911	Huntertown
Cecil Hippenhammer	March 24, 1911	Huntertown
Lottie Klinger	March 24, 1911	Huntertown
Florence Knop	March 24, 1911	Huntertown
May Surfus	March 24, 1911	Huntertown
John Kell	March 24, 1911	Huntertown
George V. Kell, Jr.	March 24, 1911	Huntertown
Stanton C. Swank	March 24, 1911	Wallen
Eugene Hunsburger	March 24, 1911	Wallen
Fay Hunsburger	March 24, 1911	Wallen
Frank Hunsburger	March 24, 1911	Wallen
Ina Swank	March 24, 1911	Wallen
Ilo Swank	March 24, 1911	Wallen
Gladys Vandola	March 24, 1911	Wallen
Florence Griswold	March 24, 1911	Wallen
1912
Theo Earnest Freeman	May 8, 1912	Cedar Chapel
Emma Balliet	May 26, 1912	Cedar Chapel
Jason Lion	June 19, 1912	Swan
Loyd DeBolt	August 16, 1912	Huntertown
John Kruse	August 16, 1912	Huntertown
Joseph W. Brackup	October 13, 1912	Wallen
Nellie Sovine	May 30, 1912	Huntertown
Lillian Boren	May 30, 1912	Huntertown
John Willard Emerick	May 30, 1912	Huntertown

WEDDINGS

HUNTERTOWN WORK, April 1908 to 1913

Weddings performed 1908 and 1909 by Rev. Enoch A. Bunner, Huntertown, Indiana

These were not all at Huntertown, and as time has elapsed am not separating them.

September 8, 1908	Ora Fair	40 years	Olive A. Pratt	24 years
September 8, 1908	Leroy Harvey Jones	34 years	Mary F. Anspaugh	32 years
September 9, 1908	Samuel Brown	32 years	Clara Nelson	21 years
December 25, 1908	Albert J. Darrow	22 years	Maggie May Porter	21 years
1909
January 24, 1909	George H. Bennett	26 years	Sophia Thompson	23 years
February 18, 1909	John DeWitt	26 years	Bessie Arlena Leiter	18 years
April 11, 1909	Frank Brown	27 years	Freda Smith	19 years
April 17, 1909	Charles W. Basse	26 years	May Rickey	19 years
May 2, 1909	Elroy A. Wildeson	31 years	Effie A. Miller	27 years
June 16, 1909	James Clarence Cowan	32 years	Julia A. Webster	24 years
July 24, 1909	Jesse Cleveland Busze	26 years	Stella S. Nelson	19 years
October 23, 1909	Milo Sloffer	26 years	Bertha Dunten	22 years
November 25, 1909	Carl W. Jennings	22 years	Anna A. McFadden	22 years
1910
January 1, 1910	Gloyd Brown	30 years	Loulettia Krumlauf	27 years
January 4, 1910	Frank W. Dale	26 years	Clara B. Daniels	21 years
May 13, 1910	Leonard P. Dunten	23 years	Sylvia M. Bates	21 years
April 28, 1910	Clarence W. Goheen	25 years	Ada P. Waters	25 years
April 28, 1910	Wm. E. F. Schuster	23 years	Edna L. Andrews	23 years
May 7, 1910	Frank H. Ramsey	23 years	Georgia D. Saylor	22 years
May 12, 1910	Clayton E. Haire	22 years	Grace A. Golden	20 years
June 4, 1910	H. B. Elson	26 years	Vivian E. Fair	21 years
June 12, 1910	Charles Miller	22 years	Ermina Pulver	20 years
June 15, 1910	Charles B. Arnold	26 years	Fladys Pearl Opliger	19 years
July 27, 1910	Elmer M. Cook	24 years	Carrie I. Opliger	18 years
August 14, 1910	Levi Binkley	63 years	Margaret Ischel Fox	59 years
September 22, 1910	Arthur L. Hollopeter	27 years	Ida M. Hippenhammer	19 years
October 13, 1910	Roy F. Moudy	21 years	Goldie M. Moss	21 years
December 14, 1910	Thomas H. Smithers	22 years	Elsie M. Opliger	18 years
December 25, 1910	John Dale Shriver	21 years	Myra Wells	20 years
December 25, 1910	Wilbur C. Goheen	22 years	Blanch Smith	20 years
1911
January 21, 1911	Willie T. Doty	23 years	Minnie I. Longardner	21 years
April 13, 1911	Wilber G. Hyde	26 years	Bertha A. Rundles	20 years
May 6, 1911	Clayton T. Root	29 years	Bessie E. Godley	29 years
June 20, 1911	Darnon B. Teeters	26 years	Alta M. Shriver	24 years
September 6, 1911	Walter W. Thrush	26 years	Inez V. Heitz	24 years
November 6, 1911	Ray Fansler	19 years	Mary Jarret	19 years
December 14, 1911	John Bailey	41 years	Albina Fensler	39 years
December 14, 1911	Herschel A. Hollopeter	24 years	Emma Tilden	21 years
December 21, 1911	Alton Harding	29 years	Maggie Hall	20 years
1912
February 20, 1912	James Franklin Cramer	28 years	Ella Sarah Weimer	21 years
April 17, 1912	John E. Lakey	23 years	Bessie M. Bocketoo	18 years
May 1, 1912	Emil Krauter	30 years	Nellie E. Larimore	22 years
May 8, 1912	Samuel Shutt	19 years	Elsie F. Haynes	18 years
June 29, 1912	Ward C. Rinehold	22 years	Vinnie Mae Garman	21 years
August 15, 1912	Ernest L. Deal	22 years	Ethel Erving	21 years
September 17, 1912	Jasiel DePew	22 years	Alverta Funk	22 years
November 14, 1912	Enoch Cleaver	30 years	Stella Stauffer	29 years
1913
January 15, 1913	George W. Miller	38 years	Caddie B. Saylor	29 years
February 5, 1913	Peter Leis	23 years	Lillie Habig	19 years
1914
February 11, 1914	Schuyler W. Krumlauf	33 years	Wave E. Gump	21 years
1917
October 3, 1917	Roy S. Miller	20 years	Vesta E. Dunten	20 years
October 3, 1917	Ralph A. Manges	20 years	Carie E. Knop	22 years

Last three added, Fort Wayne, and last two, Spiceland, Indiana.

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FUNERALS

Funerals, just took them as they came on the work or rather, those I preached.

Huntertown Work...............Enoch A. Bunner, Pastor

1908	Person	Age at death	Comments
April 12, 1908	Julius Evard	72 years	M.E., Good man
April 14, 1908	May Dice	52 yrs 7 mos, 24 days	U. B.
June 14, 1908	Andrew J. Engart	52-7-24 (? note above)	Swan
June 27, 1908	Mary C. Williams	69 yrs 8 mos 9 days	Christian Church
July 16, 1908	Seperlett A. Buck	2 yrs 3 mos 10 days	Cedar Chapel, Fine little girl
July 22, 1908	Alvi Gloen Wicker	17 yrs 11 mos 18 days	Cemetery Church, never saw him
July 27, 1908	Charles A. Milledge	2 yrs 3 mos 10 days	Cedar Chapel, nice boy
August 1, 1908	James Campbell	82 yrs 11 mos 24 days	Barnet church. Professed before death
August 26, 1908	Martin Heffelfinger	3 mos, 4 days	Cedar Chapel
September 4, 1908	Sarah Fitch	90 years	Cemetery Church, Christian woman
December 26, 1908	Helen Cook	21 yrs 1 mo 18 days	Wallen, left one child
1909
January 26, 1909	John H. Klinger	23 yrs 1 mo 18 days	Joined when a boy
May 21, 1909	Lena Emely Sible	36 yrs 3 mos 8 days	Huntertown M. E. ..... Good woman
May 27, 1909	Harriot M. Gorman	71 yrs 2 mos 27 days	Cedar Chapel
June 19, 1909	Anna May Pepple	44 yrs 11 mos 13 days	Cedar Chapel M. E...... Large crowd
June 28, 1909	Wilber H. Dunten	36 yrs 11 mos 24 days	Huntertown, converted
August 1, 1909	Hallia B. Fair	33 yrs 4 mos 24 days	Cedar Chapel, M. E.... 400 funeral
August 21, 1909	Garnet E. Pence	18 yrs 4 mos 17 days	Cedar Chapel, M. E.... Large crowd
August 28, 1909	Georgia M. McIntosh	6 mos, 4 days	Decatur
September 5, 1909	Ines Walters	67 yrs 7 mos 14 days	Cemetery Church, 400 at funeral
October 7, 1909	Almina Krumlauf	67 yrs 10 mos 17 days	Huntertown, Large Crowd
October 14, 1909	Johnathan I. Fair	48 yrs 7 mos 23 days	Cedar Chapel, friendly
October 21, 1909	Davies M. Preble	72 yrs 6 mos 27 days	Cemetery Church
October 25, 1909	Herbert S. Greider	6 yrs 3 days	Paris Grove, near Ft. Wayne, had baptized
November 3, 1909	George F. Federspiel	29 yrs 2 mos 12 days	Huntertown, Catholic
November 3, 1909	Gabrial Fair	71 yrs 1 mo 29 days	Eel River Baptist
December 17, 1909	Harvey W. Ross	67 yrs 3 mos 16 days	M.E. as far as I know
December 21, 1909	Alvira Mathews	82 yrs 9 mos 18 days	Huntertown
December 30, 1909	Silas Wyatt	26 yrs 9 mos 27 days	Huntertown, I baptized
1910
January 27, 1910	Eunice E. Potter	67 yrs 6 mos 9 days	Cemetery Church
January 20, 1910	Mrs. Revolee Kemery	24 yrs 7 mos 18 days	Cedar Chapel. Left 2 little girls.
January 23, 1910	Ruth Ellen Hatch	6 yrs 10 mos 29 days	Huntertown, home, very sad, drowned in water tank.
February 27, 1910	John Anderson	67 yrs 4 mos 29 days	Cemetery Church, Believer, not a member
March 1, 1910	Alta May Basse	19 yrs 8 days	Cedar Chapel, good girl
April 16, 1910	Mary Ann Brickley	62 yrs 11 mos 26 days	Eel River E.U.B. Lived in Auburn
May 1, 1910	Mollie Golden Hapner	26 yrs 6 mos 26 days	Eel River Baptist, converted and baptized on death bed
Missed August 9	Jesse Helen Sack	10 mos 24 days	Prairie Grove, sad funeral, parted U.B.
May 18, 1910	Julia A. Dunten	77 yrs 12 days	Huntertown, ..... Good woman, 55 yrs in church
August 31, 1910	Thomas Kell	1 yr 9 mos 20 days	Huntertown, Large funeral.
September 24, 1910	Eliza Hawver	77 yrs 12 days	Cedar Chapel ............ Dunkard husband M.E. I only assisted.
October 21, 1910	Helen Marie Tompkins	1 mo 24 days	Home
October 24, 1910	Daniel Walter	82 yrs 18 days	Cedar Chapel, house full
October 24, 1910	Eliza Cuglow Waters	68 yrs 8 mos 24 days	St. Joe, M.E. good woman
October 25, 1910	Helen DePew	6 yrs 10 mos 16 days	Home, Sad, Measles was the cause
December 2, 1910	Garnet May Badiac	27 days	Home, near Wallen
1911
January 17, 1911	Belle Rohrbaugh	17	Huntertown, large crowd, burned, died soon after.
January 25, 1911	Samuel Hawver	82 yrs 10 mos 17 days	Swan M. E.
February 17, 1911	Jane Rohdes Jackson	75 yrs 4 months	Cemetery Church, not acquainted.
March 15, 1911	Harold Lester Dranne	10 mos 21 days	Cedar Chapel
March 20, 1911	Phannel W. Jackson	83 yrs 10 mos 5 days	Cemetery Church, very large funeral
May 11, 1911	Otto Klemm	40 yrs 10 mos 6 days	Swan, burned to death, good man
May 11, 1911	Dwight Klemm	4 yrs 3 mos 9 days	Swan, burned with father. Large funeral
June 2, 1911	Gloyd Erwin	16 yrs 4 mos 14 days	Wallen, Large crowd
June	Lula Houck	34 yrs 11 mos 7 days	Cedar Chapel, Large funeral, mother left 7 children, sad.
July 11, 1911	Andrew Fair	70 yrs 5 mos 23 days	Wallen
July 18, 1911	Sarah Jane Walter	76 yrs 5 mos 23 days	Cedar Chapel, good woman
August 2, 1911	Wm. A. Feagler	71 yrs 5 mos 15 days	Cedar Chapel, very large funeral, good man
September 5, 1911	Hershel Alvin Amos	9 mos 12 days	Swan
September 11, 1911	George W. Probst	43 yrs 6 mos 9 days	Cedar Chapel
1912
January 2, 1912	Earnest L. Hall	51 yrs 15 days	Huntertown M.E....... large crowd
February 7, 1912	Alford Waters	1 yr 10 mos 7 days	St. Joe
February 14, 1912	R. Ashley Griswold	80 yrs 2 mos 4 days	Wallen, good old man, joined when young
February 27, 1912	Elizabeth Timberlin	87 yrs 7 mos 6 days	Cedar Chapel M.E. for 69 years
March 7, 1912	Mary Katherine Kell	83 yrs 10 mos 16 days	Cemetery Church M.E. Huntertown 69 years
March 10, 1912	Nettie Hiser	40 yrs 2 mos 23 days	Roanoke, a Christian, left 5 children
March 14, 1912	Alda Henretta Perry	7 mos 23 days	Eel River, Fair crowd
March 16, 1912	Vira Bell Moss	3 yrs 8 mos 6 days	Cemetery Church, very sad, lost another child a few months before.
April 3, 1912	George W. Wilcox	50 yrs 7 mos 28 days	Cedar Chapel, house full, Baptist
April 19, 1912	Mary J. Flickinger	60 yrs, 6 mos, 10 days	Ft. Wayne, M.E. Good woman.
April 25, 1912	Frances Hope Surfus	20 yrs 11 mos 6 days	Cedar Chapel, large funeral, married 7 mos, Catholic
May 8, 1912	Mrs. Julia Small	53 yrs 14 days	Ft. Wayne Church of God or U.B.
May 29, 1912	Enza May Balliet	21 yrs 7 mos 10 days	Cedar Chapel, Large funeral, believed in God
June 13, 1912	Cecil Bowells	25 days	Huntertown
June 16, 1912	John Rinehold	86 yrs 5 mos 27 days	Dutch Ridge Reformed 10 children living
June 19, 1912	Jane Lions	89 yrs 25 days	Swan, Christian...... a pleasant old woman
June 16, 1912	Sarah Adaline Fair	67 yrs 3 mos 21 days	Cedar Chapel M. E...... good woman, Bro. Wooton, pastor
June 29, 1912	John Scherwick	70 yrs 10 mos 25 days	Swan
July 31, 1912	Edwin Bowser	37	Ft. Wayne
August 1, 1912	Emiline Kell	66 yrs 1 mo 16 days	Cemetery Church...... House full
August 16, 1912	David E. Evard	48 yrs 8 mos 3 days	Ft. Wayne M.E., Good man, house full
September 5, 1912	Alvin A. Reed	26 yrs 5 mos 7 days	Cedar Chapel
September 10, 1912	George A. Middleton	82 yrs 6 mos 19 days	St. Joe, born in London England, had 14, made trip by auto
September 10, 1912	Jason Lyon	51 yrs 19 mos 10 days	Swan, house full, gave his life to the Lord
October 24, 1912	Joshua Stapelton	87 yrs 7 mos 11 days	Cedarville...........Large funeral
October 24, 1912	George W. Opliger	71 yrs 2 mos 28 days	Wallen M.E. Good man
November 1, 1912	Thomas A. Welch	47 yrs	Huntertown, died in Chicago, single, born in Ireland
November 10, 1912	W. Axtel Moody	62 yrs	Cedar Chapel
November 22, 1912	Nathaniel Kunkle	66 yrs 7 mos 14 days	Huntertown, Large funeral
December 21, 1912	Eliza Aren Wilkerson	63 yrs 7 mos 14 days	Huntertown, Large funeral at home
December 28, 1912	Mrs. Christy Wilkerson	94 yrs 9 mos 7 days	Huntertown M.E. for years
1913
January 3, 1913	Ophelia Jane Cramer	63 yrs 10 mos 21 days	Swan M.E. Large crowd
February 4, 1913	John Norman Wiant	66 yrs 8 mos 14 days	Cedar Chapel, Baptist, a good man
February 16, 1913	Sherman Pulver	80 yrs 7 mos 13 days	Cemetery Church
March 1, 1913	Joseph D. Griswold	77 yrs 6 mos	Wallen M.E.
March 8, 1913	Sarah A. McQuiston	84 yrs	Cemetery Church
March 20, 1913	Jacob Tschaunan	63 yrs	Wallen home
March 31, 1913	Doris M. Hursh	1 yr 2 mos 1 day	Huntertown, very large funeral for a child

I referred to my diary about the two funerals that were 18 miles apart, one near Fort Wayne and the other at Swan. The St. Joe funeral was at 12 and undertaker a little late. We didn't go to the cemetery; left at 1:05 and got to Swan a little late....was to be 2 o-clock. We arrived at 2:15. You can see the speed of the auto in 1912. Brother Andrew Surfus took me in his new car, was kind of him. In 1913 when I went to Spiceland, a town of 800, there were two cars. I got mine in 1916. They say we go back to horse and buggy.

Had 30 funerals the last year and lost five when I was away seeing the girl that I married. I didn't tell them where I was going.

Then the last day in May 31, 1913 we had election to keep the Township dry and the funeral that I have down was at 1 past and I had another for 12 o'clock and the street power went off and I call Brother Huffman. Was a small child and he helped me out, was busy ending.

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A FEW INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE FIVE YEARS WORK ON HUNTERTOWN WORK

Enoch A. Bunner, Pastor, 1908 closing 1913 April

Sermons preached first year and was off over two months with typhoid fever. Sermons 152. Calls first year, 608. Wrote while sick letters and cards to the folks, 200.

Second year sermons, 205, and calls, 1004.

Third year, sermons, 173, and calls, 796.

Fourth year sermons, 188, and calls 864.

Fifth year sermons 185 and calls 801.

After Huntertown I counted 72 families I had names and mostly children, where I had called one or more times. These were beside the families who belonged to Huntertown Class.

Enjoyed the pastorate at Huntertown work. As I mentioned I was sich at my father's with typhoid fever for over two months, with the help of the elder, my sister and self filled the pulpits, the folks on the work paid the salary straight through as though I had been on the work, were very fine. Brother Andrew and son Jerry and I believe others came to see me. Elder said he had a chance of a $100.00 more salary for next year in another place, but I said I can't go, the folks have been so good to me, will stay if they want me. So I stayed on and on for five years. Lord blessed in many ways. I held all my revival meetings myself except one meeting Rev. Charles Harwood held. Our meetings lasted from two, three and four weeks or more. Many came out of course they didn't all unite with church when they came out. May the Lord still bless the work as he does.

Sincerely yours in Jesus name,

February 17, 1943

Enoch A. Bunner

Taylor University

Box 633

Upland, Indiana

________________________________________________________

TREASURED MEMORIES

When visiting at homecoming when Brother Loveless was pastor he mentioned that there was no record of my work or pastorate there as well as some before and after, I mean Pastors, I said to Mrs. Bunner I have a mind to write up my pastorage at Huntertown. I did study it some but never wrote it. Then my good friend H. M. Thrasher, present pastor said they had talked it over and want me to make out the five year record.

When working at this my good friend Rev. G. L. Schanzlin was in and I showed him my records, certain marks for instance when I made a call, put above the name as to quarter 1, 2, 3, or 4th, drew a line under, if I ate a meal as 1.

Put . under, if stayed all night, as did many times 1 or 2 put .. dots, this I new when visited and "what" happened. So I have everything down as well as keeping a diary for nearly 50 years. 37 1/2 preaching in active work. My friend Schanzlin said you are a second John Wesley. I ought to say as I referred once I was married while here to BERTHA MICHAELS, Montpelier, Ohio. I remember was belled early on the first evening here by about 75 and then later the band came and played. You see we had a band. Well we had then a P.O., three mail carriers and stores. Small school house at each end of town. Also bank. I was thinking about what thirty years has brought about, the church trustees were G. W. KELL, THERON HATCH, BRENTON HATCH, ANDREW SURFUS and SIDNEY DUNTEN. Parsonage trustees were WASHINGTON DUNTEN and JERRY SURFUS, all are in sacred memory, but Brother SIDNEY DUNTEN, Post Master and class leader DR. L. HOUGHTEN, also in sacred memory. One of our good faithful leaders E.L. Pres. and song leader HERMAN HATCH is still here, but 30 years has placed him among the older saints.

I would like to mention one experience I had which has never left me, another time when faithful horse, John, couldn't go fast enough to help and my good friend ORVILLE SURFUS took me to Swan and after sermon on till we caught up with my Father driving John, and Orville went home. This was in 1910, before we were use to automobiles. We had a wedding, dinner and back to Cedar Chapel, 3 oc. preached, and back to Huntertown for evening E.L. and preaching. My friend, Orville, is one of the surviving ones, and I suppose with Herman, one among the older saints. During my ministry here a very funny and surprising joke was played on me by one as I remember who is still among the saints. Once when I came home I saw a dummy representing a woman dress and hat, said take me in. I very quickly slipped behind the house and took her in. This was of course not done without the eyes of some of my members. Also a Brother Outland who was collecting for Taylor University, passed and saw the pleading woman. He lived after I came here and laughed about it.

I have mentioned nothing about the women or lady saints. They were there but I suppose the most of the older ones have gone to their eternal home. Honor to those who are still there and if i have missed any of the men who were there when I went, honor to them. Several came during my ministry and I think are there, honor to them. Then we had a great Junior League called Sunshine League. Held it all the time I was there. We had 45 on enrollment and met on Saturday P. M. One of the older helpers of the league was MISS GLADYS SIMONS, who now after 30 years is some older. There are many others who I suppose are stanch workers in the church. Surely the work among the children pays. They soon become the leaders of our church, home and nation.

Honor to all others mentioned or not, I have been thinking of you during this searching and writing, which has been going on for off and on as Mrs. Bunner says, two weeks. Have enjoyed it. Lord bless you all, and hope to preach to you again.

Yours,

Enoch A. Bunner

Taylor University, Box 633

Upland, Indiana

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IMPROVEMENTS AT HUNTERTOWN CHURCH

1908 to 1913

The church was nicely frescoed making it look very nice.

The old furnace gave out and we put in a new one, a Majestic from Huntington, Indiana. Some trouble with the chimney and a new one was built.

I am not sure about the electric lights in church, but maybe we got them, just at the close. I remember how much trouble we had with gas lights. The city was wet when we went and dry when we left. Honor to an Enthusiastic Huntertown.

Good By

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CHAPTER 5

As one writes the history of the church, it is soon evident that it is a story of many faces and personalities. Human nature is so constituted that we cannot make this a story of any particular one of them or even a group of them, for in this way we might be slighting the memory that is held of all of them. So if there are names that are mentioned here I hope you will assume that they are a dot that when put together with many other dots makes up the larger picture. Because this is a moving picture that spans many years and many lives, and as the characters do in a Shakespearian play, they appear on the stage for their moment of glory, then as they exit others take their place. It is the continuity of these changes that has made the church a viable functioning unit for these last 145 years. It is the spirit that is the one eternal thread that runs through the whole activities of these years and it is the spirit that holds us all together and is the one on which all these happenings has been strung. Individuals may come and go, but the one unifying force is the spirit that operates in all of us.

In this chapter I am going to try and put together those little tidbits of happenings as I find them in the material that I have at hand. Because of their nature, they will not be in chronological order, but will be here just as they appear on the sheets of their records.

The old frame church that was built in 1846 had two front entrances. The carpenter who received the princely sum of $1500.00 for his effort was a man by the name of WALTER PARKER. The first pastor that was assigned to this church was the Reverend JESSE PARKS. The first heating unit was a large box stove placed at the entrance in the aisle that separated the pews. It proved to be not large enough to keep it warm in the winter, and another stove was placed at the front. Also at this time no one had ever heard of women's lib so the congregation was separated, placing the women and children on one side of the room and the men on the other. Either because people were getting up late, or somehow they were not able to get to church on time, or it could be that they just needed to hear the peal of a bell. The congregation decided to buy a bell in the year of 1886. This bell was tuned to the key of "G: and outlasted the membership because it still hangs in the tower of the present church building. In 1845 the pastors were urged to take up a collection for missionary work and this was done in the new church in 1846. After shelling out $1500.00 to get the church built the best the membership could do was raise the sum of $1.75. These were the days when cannibals were eating missionaries, and this might have saved someone's life because who could get fat on a dollar and seventy-five.

I hope you will not take offense if I color some of these stories with my own observations, because a smile and a sparkle in the eye and a good joke can run the gamit of the spectrum of human emotions, which we all need to keep our sanity in this world. It says that there is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to be happy and a time to cry, and a sense of humor is one of the greatest of assets that a man can possess because it is the safety valve that allows him to live through life's experiences. It is necessary that we be pious on Sunday, but it is also necessary that we do other things in life as we traverse the years that are allotted to us. It is my observation that we make decisions and carry out those decisions, and the decisions that we make, we are responsible for. But there are times when outside forces over which we have no control seem to lift us out of the routines of our daily lives and place a heavy burden on us. Under these circumstances we need all the help we can get, both morally, spiritually and from our fellow men. For these we have to ask from an infinite God and with his grace, he will see us through. No matter what the outcome there is always calmer water on the other side, one the crisis has passed.

Because of my philosophying I have gotten off the track of the history of the church. Again I must beg your indulgence because when I get on a train of thought, I must pursue it to the bitter end.

Probably one of the biggest steps that the congregation of the church ever took was the step that they decided on in the year of 1899. With the demise of the Universalist Church's congregation and the increase of the population of the township and the town, the old Methodist Church was bulging at its sides. This called for a larger and a better structure that would be more enduring, so it was decided that they build a new one. For this purpose a new location was negotiated by the trustees composed of THERON V. HATCH, S. BRENTON HATCH, ANDREW SURFUS, GEORGE V. KELL and FISHER WEST. For the sum of $400.00 they purchased from CATHERINE E. SECHLER the present site. The stones for the basement walls were gathered from the fields of the neighboring farms, the gravel from Willow and Cedar Creek and this was all done with the help of teams of horses and wagons which was the only means of transporting such material at this time. Bricks were purchased from Leo and a contract let to a MR. DOVE for construction. Because of a hard working contractor and because of no labor unrest and no strike policy the church was completed on time so they could hold a dedication service on the 24th of June in the year 1900.

From a sheet announcing this event I will quote:

"During the week preceding dedication the following services will be held:

Sunday, June 17....Old People's Meeting. In charge of Rev. R. D. Spellman, Rev. J. P. Nash,

Rev. Wm. Meese and other aged ministers will assist in this service.

Monday evening, Sermon, Rev. W. H. Daniel of Fort Wayne.

Tuesday evening, Sermon, Rev. C. H. Murray, Albion

Wednesday evening, Sermon, Rev. J. M. Haines, Garrett

Thursday evening, Sermon, Rev. T. J. Johnson, Fort Wayne

Friday evening, Sermon, Rev. Chas. Tinkham, Churubusco

Saturday evening, Dr. Parr wishes to meet the official members and all friends of the church.

Sunday, June 24, ten o'clock A.M. Dedicatory service, Rev. W. D. Parr, D. D."

As the membership grew and the needs of the church became greater, it was decided in 1954 to enlarge the building. This was completed in the year of 1956 at a cost of $65,000.00. When completed, the floor space had been expanded 80% and the building was completely modernized.

When the church was originally built in the year of 1900, an alcove was placed on the north wall so the chancel could be located in this part of the room. The seats were placed so they ran in a circular way all facing the chancel with two aisles for members to seat themselves. In the northeast corner a platform was placed, to put the piano and to accommodate the choir. The friendship room on the south side of the room was separated by vertical lift doors, and these were opened or closed as the need arose.

In 1961 major changes were again initiated for the improvement of the inner part of the building. New pews and furniture were placed in the sanctuary with a center aisle between them. The chancel itself was placed on the east side of the church with an all new design and furnishings. On the south side the vertical lift doors were replaced with modern fold doors setting aside the friendship room. With new furniture this gives it a feeling of being a quiet peaceful resting place for the calm discussions among the membership of those who choose to use it.

The overall dimensions of the church are 83 feet by 56 feet. The property line extends to the middle of Willow Creek and comprises about 3.8 acres more or less. This leaves room for expansion as the need arises.

For any church, there is a need for housing of the minister. As stated earlier, the first parsonage was at the corner of Hunter and Webster Street. In the year of 1904, it was decided that a parsonage was more useful closer to the church and one was built just north of the church building. The contractors were SNYDER and MAURER. Also at this time it was necessary to construct a barn for the housing of the minister's horse and the things that went along with transportation of those days.

In the year of 1961 it was again decided to improve the living quarters of the minister and to modernize and bring this part of the church property to date. The old parsonage was torn down and a new one was erected farther north on ground that was purchased expressly for this purpose. Ground breaking was held June 20, 1965, for this new addition. The present parsonage is a well constructed home of modern design with four bedrooms, full basement and attached garage. The main structure has a living space of 1708 square feet.

At present there is pending another addition to the church which will add much more needed floor space. These pages have dealt with the physical structures of the church which is the outward expression of the church body. Intentionally I have not placed on record the cost in dollars and cents of these structures because with inflation of the dollar as it is, this would only be using a rubber yard stick for measurement. This would only make it appear that the church and its body were growing rich and polluted with money when anyone of us in good conscience knows that the battle of the budget is just as hard fought battle today as it has always been.

After writing the above I received from MYRTLE KELL some old letters and bids that were taken in 1899 for the construction of the main part of the present church. It is interesting to note that the bids that were proposed would save us a considerable amount of money, if we were able to resurrect the gentlemen of the time to do the work that we are having done today. One bid dated July 6, 1899 was for the masonry work of laying the brick which also included the lime and the laying of the stone for the basement. The bid was $700.00. One bid for the complete job was proposed by T. J. McNAMARA of Spencerville and came to a grand total of (hold your breath) $5,960.00. I was not able to ascertain what the price of the winning bid was but it had to be below this, as it was concluded that a MR. DOVE was the winning contractor. Comparing this with today's cost, it would seem that for bids being placed now the words, "Rip off", might have a valid meaning. Or is it that we have traveled so far down the inflationary road that we are now living in a fantasy world? To insure this new building insurance was taken out for the sum of $3500.00 and the premium payment annually was $10.50.

CHAPTER 6

For most communities of similar size the church is the only structure that is large enough and often the only one in which social gatherings can be held. This has been true of the Huntertown church over the years of its existence, and many a pleasant evening and day have been spent in its confines. As I write this chapter, I find that this is going to be one that will be hard to write because there were no records kept of these affairs. In one sense this is not necessarily of church history, but the history of the uses that have been made of the physical part of the premises. The purpose of its being built was the holding of religious meetings and the worship of God; but it also was needed for these other practices, and the church body has been very generous in loaning it for this purpose. To me this has been an expression of Christian generosity on the part of its membership and in one sense a meaning of what Christianity is all about. I will hasten to add that this is only one aspect of it as I can see eyebrows raise, and I do not wish to make this a controversial writing, but only a record of past happenings.

One of the most festive of occasions is the holding of weddings. This does happen to be one of the purposes of the church, and there have been many vows taken at its rostrum. When Helen and I were married, because of the times and the scarcity of money, we did not have a church wedding but said our vows in the parsonage before the good Reverend Loveless. I gave the Reverend five dollars on this occasion which in those days was like blowing a whole week's groceries in one sitting. If it had not been for the generosity of my parents letting us sleep at home and feeding us till times were better, I am afraid that we would have indeed been in dire circumstances. However, both of our children, under more prosperous conditions, were married in the church and have blessed us with grandchildren.

Not having a record before me of any other of these occasions, I will have to refer you to the records of the Reverend Bunner which fortunately left us a list of the weddings he performed. In his records I ran across the names of several uncles of mine in which he served on these occasions. There have been many of these weddings in the past, and I am sure that everyone involved in them enjoyed them with the pleasures that all seem to have at these times.

I have to draw on my memory to tell of other affairs that have taken place in the church, so because I am only human and do not have perfect recall, you will have to check me out on some of these. It used to be that in this County of Allen there was and still is an extension office for the dissemination of research in farm matters carried out at Purdue University. When they started the practice of having farmer institutes, I do not know; but they were having these in the twenties when I was going to high school and these were held at the church. Generally these institutes came in February when farming was at its lowest ebb and the time for holding these was ideal. They would hold a day session and there were displays of farm produce with ribbons given for those that were of superior quality. This was before the days of hybrid corn, and one of the coveted prizes was for the best selection of seed ears. The speakers in the day time spoke on subjects dealing with better farming methods and in the evening session the speaker and the entertainment was for pure pleasure of everybody. This was before T.V. and radio was in its squealing infancy so there was no one in public life that was an outstanding humorous speaker. Anyone who came along that could make one laugh was a prize indeed, and there so happened that they had one of these one evening. His delivery was as good as any comic's today, and he held the crowd in stitches during most of this rendition. There was only one joke that I remember that split the crowd wide open and that was when he said he was working for an undertaker. He said one of the cadavers was as bald as a billiard ball and it so happened that in life he wore a wig and not having any glue to stick it on his head he looked around and found a tack hammer, so he tacked the thing on. In more sobering moments this would seem to be rather an embarrassing statement but for the crowd whose funny rib had been tickled, it did the trick.

On another occasion on a Wednesday evening, March the 2nd, 1892, an old folks concert was given. Even in those days the elderly were given respect, and this was long before they called them Senior Citizens or Elder Citizens. This concert was held in the church, and you can see by the date that this was while they were in a frame building whose foundation was under GLENN SHANK's house. It was stated that Martha Washington, her son George, the Gypsy, English, German and other characters would appear. If the leaflet put out announcing this was any indication, it was highly entertaining. In your imagination, picture the setting for this program. This was in a building whose dimensions were 30' x 40'. An aisle ran down the center with two stoves warming the room and kerosene lamps in hangers along the wall for light. There could not have been spot lights on the stage because there were none in existence. The crowd did not need to be large to have filled the room. Besides the old folk for whom all this was taking place, there must have been sprinkled amongst the rest a much younger crowd. No admission price was placed on the flyer but I guess there must have been one. If there were, this had to be in peanuts measured in today's inflated dollars.

There were many other evenings when different groups put on entertainment, and these were held purely for the pleasure of the audience that came to see them. I myself was involved in some of these as a participant putting on the show. When I was seventeen I had taken up the playing of the saxophone, and this was in a day before WALT SLOFFER was teaching music in the school. In fact there was no one teaching instrumental music. There were only six in the entire high school that were doing this, and we had to commute to Fort Wayne to get lessons. This made me one of the two saxophonists in this area and DONNA MEYERS always accompanied me on the piano. With great effort I would try to bring down the house. I always approached this with butterflies in my stomach; but once the tones began to roll out of the mouth of the horn and I concentrated on what I was doing, these took off into the wild blue yonder and I always got through with an ovation from the crowd. If anyone has learned to play an instrument, they know that this does not come out of thin air, but takes a lot of effort and long hours of practice. It is one part of education for which I feel the highest respect. To people that do this, well I know that they have worked hard.

Ice cream socials have been another part of the church scene. When these started I do not know, but their beginning had to be after there was a means devised for making the central merchandise sold. For many years this came from both a manufacturer of the product or from the homemade variety that we all remember. Long before ice machines were dreamed of, it was necessary to take the ice from the lake or farm pond and store it in sawdust for the summer. If one was lucky, he could hold this ice until the Fourth of July and on this day get the old freezer out and make up a good batch of homemade ice cream. This also served as a resource for the makings of an ice cream social. It was long argued, depending on the preference in taste, just which was the better, homemade or store bought. If store bought were not so easy to obtain today, no doubt the argument would still be going on. It is doubtful that few have escaped the pleasure of a good old ice cream social. One does not only indulge in ice cream, but it is sheer pleasure to socialize with friends and neighbors on these occasions and discuss whatever comes to mind. As a social center the church has everything going for it, and since its main purpose is the observance of religion, that also plays a vital part in bringing the community together to work in harmony.

Some twenty-five years ago a Lions Club was organized in Huntertown. The Lions Club is a service club devised for the purpose of serving the needs of the public in matters that are often neglected if there is no one organized to take care of them. I am not going to place here a history of the Lions Club, as this has already been done, but only to tell what part the church has played in its welfare. Ever since the club was organized, with the exception of that year when the church was being remodeled, the basement of the church has been used for its supper meetings. The various circles that have been organized in the church have served this crowd of hungry Lions an evening meal twice a month. It has worked most of the time as a mutual benefit as these meals were paid for, and in most cases, the circles made a little money for the church. No Lion can ever attend one of these meetings without feeling the greatest respect for the ladies of the church, for the meals have always been superb. As a member of this club I would like to thank them for all of us Lions from the very deepest part of the heart. Because they served us, they have also in an indirect way served their community, because most of the things that have taken place here could not have happened without their help.

From the year of 1834, when it was first thought of, the church has grown to what it is today. This has been a gradual process of change over the years, and if it had not been for the change, nothing would have been. All things happen through change. If it were not so, no doubt we would have a static picture of HORACE DUNTEN as he talked to MR. NICKERSON. This is the one supreme law that God has given us, and there would have been no creation at all if He had not used it. It is inevitable that there will be further changes as the future unfolds. What part we play in this will be determined as they happen. The decisions that we make today will set the pattern for tomorrow. Let us ask Him that we make these decisions wisely. We alone cannot determine the future. Decisions all over the world do this; and although we make wise ones here, others may not make so wise ones. It is also advisable that we ask Him to guide them also, as there is no respecter of decision making and the atheist makes decisions as well as the believer.

Of all these bits and pieces creation is made. Hopefully we serve our individual part in it for the welfare of others. In a sense we are truly our brother's keeper, for just as the things he does affects us, so conversely what we do affects him. We should humbly pray that what we do should harm no one.

No doubt I have left out far more than I have recorded here. For you who have long memories you can share what you know about it verbally; or if you wish, you too can write a history. I am sure everyone will find it as entertaining as I hope this one is.