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Church of the Brethren

John A. EIKENBERRY

My great-great-granduncle at his death in 1918 was the oldest living COB minister in Indiana almost 93 years old! He was a circuit rider preacher from Wabash County, Indiana covering the northern part of the state.

Peter EIKENBERRY

My fifth great-grandfather was an early Bishop of the Conestoga Church of the Brethren in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from at least 1772 to 1795 after he moved to Franklin County, Virginia. By 1806 was in the Twin Creek Church in Preble County, Ohio.

Peter HECKMAN

My fifth and sixth great-grandfather (related through two families) was an unordained minister in 1770 Little Swarta congregation with services held in his home in Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Christian KINSIE

My third great-grandfather and father-in-law of Joseph ZEIGLER was part of the family migration in 1852 from Montgomery County, Ohio that started the Blue River German Baptist Church now Church of the Brethren in Whitley County, Indiana. Christian was the first Deacon. Christian's grandson Samuel, son of Joel, with his father-in-law Peter Nead were instrumental in starting the Great Divide of 1881 that Joseph ZEIGLER and others followed as Old Order German Baptist Brethren when they split from the Church of the Brethren as a new denomination.

Johannes Naas

One of the first ministers of the Church of the Brethren in Germany and America. His daughter Elizabeth married Henry LANDIS. Johannes died May 12, 1741 and lies in an unmarked grave in Amwell, New Jersey.

Jonas ZEIGLER

My great-grandfather was an elder at the Blue River German Baptist Brethren Church in Whitley County, Indiana his father Joseph helped organize in 1852.

Joseph ZEIGLER

My great-great-grandfather was a minister who served in Darke County, Ohio before moving in 1852 from Montgomery County, Ohio. He was the first elected minister after he helped to organize the Blue River German Baptist Brethren now Church of the Brethren in Whitley County, Indiana. Joseph and his brother Philip a Christian Church minister by 1850 lived near Merriam, Noble County, Indiana. Joseph left this church after the Old Order German Baptist split with the newly formed Church of the Brethren after the Great Divide of 1881. He apparently joined with the Old Order German Baptist Brethren in Elkhart County, Indiana before his death in 1894.

Christian Church

Philip ZEIGLER

Brother of Joseph ZEIGLER was a circuit rider minister who had three wives, serving in Miami County, Ohio where his first wife died, Wabash and Noble Counties, Indiana and Erie County, Pennsylvania where his second wife died. Philip and his third wife along with hundreds of descendants of Christian KINSIE and Joseph ZEIGLER are buried at Philip's Christian Chapel Church Cemetery at Merriam, Noble County, Indiana.

• History of the Christian Church

Lutheran

Simon ESSIG

My fifth great-grandfather was a deacon January 29, 1791 at Bender's Union Church in Butler Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania Lutheran "side" along with his father-in-law Caspar SCHNERR. Not known if he was a deacon at Warstler Lutheran Church where he is buried in the church cemetery.

Caspar SCHNERR

My sixth great-grandfather was a deacon March 17, 1790 at the same Bender's Union Church in Butler Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania Reformed "side" as his son-in-law Simon ESSIG.

Methodist

Kenneth TIMMONS

50 years as a Disciples of Christ minister, officiated at his aunt, my great-grandmother, Matilda TIMMONS FOLLIS' funeral in 1949 Fort Wayne, Indiana.

• Christian Church - Disciples of Christ
• Indiana Disciples of Christ
• Christian Church 19th Century History
• Disciples of Christ Historical Society congregation microfilm
• First Christian Church Disciples of Christ Fort Wayne, IN

Unknown Religion

Rev. Isaac FALLIS

My fourth great-grandfather lived near Bellbrook, Green County, Ohio. Some researchers list his name as Rev. Isaac FALLIS. An email I have not followed through on indicates he may have been converting to Mormon, although I suspect Methodist originally. I have not found a confirming source for his being a reverend.

Daniel FOLLIS

A great-grand uncle in Wabash County, Indiana was raised by his uncle, my great-great-grand uncle, John A. EIKENBERRY. It appears Daniel was not Church of the Brethren but was a Brethren minister in Illinois where his descendants say he lived. He is buried in Wabash County, Indiana although I have been unable to find his obituary to determine where he died. His wife Lucinda ZOOK was a resident of Converse, Miami County on the Miami-Wabash County line in 1937 when she died.

Rev. James WEBB

In Blooming Grove, Franklin County, Indiana a fourth great-grand uncle, son of James and Lucy WEBB of Greene County, Ohio and his son:

Rev. Thomas WEBB

A first cousin five times removed both WEBB's are buried in the Blooming Grove Cemetery, Franklin County, Indiana.

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