BC2015/3 – LadogaRecords.  See also: BC2015/4, BC2015/2,BC2015/1, and BC2014/19

Folder 1 – (1)Receipts from Farmers and Merchants Bank – John A. Harshbarger, Treasurer,Ladoga.

1896 envelope addressed to J. A Harshbarger, Ladoga.

(2) Probably membership lists by township and amounts theindividuals donated? Township is in Montgomery County, Indiana.  There is also a Scott Township in MontgomeryCounty, Indiana.  Some individualson these lists are included below.  Thevarious lists are not dated:

• Clark Township:  George Alford, Lawrence Alford, George Harris,John A. Harshbarger, J. P. Mahorney, Horace Pitt, Rose Frank, Alex Rodgers.

  Ezra Goshorn, Lula Goshorn.  Also an encapsulated list for Clark Township(not noted who did encapsulation) with the names: William, Anna, Manda, John,Wilford, Frank and Manda Harshbarger; John, Lizzie, Mary Himes; Mary Huff, Dr.Mahorney, Vinia?, Clayton, Snow, Catharine Mahorney; David and Susan Burkett;John Cine, William Ronk, Mary Neff, Susan Thompson, Mary Peffley, SamuelKessler, May Warner, Salome Anderson.

• Folder with list from 1903 including membersfrom names above and others. Perhaps numbers following name and total at bottomof column indicate amount of giving? However, considering the date (1903) these amounts seem phenomenallyhigh?

• Scott Township: W. Biggers, Clarence Goff, DavidPeffley, Dan Bonsack, George Kesler, Mary Anne Himes, Ressie Himes (BessieHimes?), John Everhart, Ressie Everhart (Bessie Everhart?), John Hinnick, ( )Everson, Lydia Hinnick, O. L Minnich, Sam Minnicih, Marcus Frame, Clara Frame,Lily Frame, Grace Frame, Catherine Himes, Charles Terry, William Terry.

• Another list from Scott Township: Names andfigures: Daniel Bonsack, John Everhart, Thomas Everson, Marcus France, ClarenceGoff, Catherine Himes, Mary Anne Himes, George Kesler, John Minich, O. L.Minnich, David Peffley, Charles Terry, William? Terry?, Sam Kesler?

• Union Township: Barbara Britch, Cora Thomas, William Himes, Sarah Himes, D. C. Himes,(Tom?) Everson, Rebecca Everson.

• Mount Pleasant– list of names with accompanyingfigures (giving?).  Samuel D. Stoner,Emma Miller, H. H. Keime (Keime), Hannah Ronk, George Ronk, William J. Ronk,Homer Gates, Charley Caylor, Jessie Ronk, John R. Neff, James Neff.  Bethel’s figure of 89155 is compared withthat of Mt. Pleasant, 37400.

• In Ladoga – Frank Rose, George Frame,Cara Frame, Dan Weller, Susie Swindler.

   

Folder 2 –Clipping of an article titled, “An Old Church Letter.” The article includes theletter from Franklin County, Virginia dated 11 November 1826 recommending JacobRonk and Hanna Ronk (wife).  The letteris signed by Isaac Nave, John Bowman, Jacob Nave, Samuel Flora, and JohnIkenberry.  It also describes acertificate of an election for the ministers, R. H. Miller and Daniel Stoner(1858) held in the Raccoon Creek church. Also included are the votes given to each ministerial nominee.

Folder 3 – Bankreceipt for Southern Indiana Missions and other deposits? To the Farmers andMerchants Bank.  Signaturs of JohnShoemaker and John A. Horshbarger (Harshbarger?).

Folder 4 –(1)  On the verso of a card from the“Wild Rose Sheep Farm, Howard H. Keim, Ladoga, Montgomery, Co., Indiana – is ahandwritten note: Ladoga Church Has Bethel Meeting House and a House and lotused by Janitor as residence and the Trustees handle. (2) Pages of handwrittenfigures with no description (3) Envelope identified as “Dunkard Church, Parsonagerent Contract,” 12 October 1894 – From T. Schuyler Logan, Secretary, LaFayette,Indiana.  (4) What appears to be a realestate contract.   It begins - “ThisIndenture, Witnesseth, That Benjamin Kesler and Elizabeth Kesler his wife ofMontgomery County in the State of Indiana…” The purchasers appear to be the trustees -  Mathias Frantz, () Peffley and William R.Harshbarger.  It was signed 25 November1869.  See “History of the Church of theBrethren in Indiana” to read more about the Kesler’s and this property.

Folder 5 – (1)Receipt book for Ladoga area churches? 1906 Love Feast supplies = $6.75. Somenames include William Harshbarger, Kessler (Kesler?), Goshorn. (2) LadogaCongregation - Notice of election of trustee – 1952. (3) Encapsulated partialprinted guideline for Delegate to District and General Conference (who didencacpsulation?). (4) Agreement, 15 October 1974, by and between the Church ofthe Brethren, by Paul Stoner, Ruth Harshbarger, and Olivia Harshbarger, itstrustees, First Party, Phillip A. Prosser, Second Party, Witnesseth…”Now…it isagreed….that second party will raze and remove the church building and otheroutbuildings from said real estate, and will leave such premises, as nearly aspossible, in its original state prior to the construction of saidbuildings….” 

(5, 6, 7) Record of election of trustees of the LadogaChurch of the German Baptist Brethren 4 December 1897 selecting John Everhartto serve until his successor of selected – signed by Clerk, Jesse D. Ronk.

Record of election of trustees of the Ladoga Church ofthe German Baptist Brethren 13 January 1900 selecting George Harris to serveuntil his successor is selected – signed by Clerk, John A. Harshbarger.

Record of election of trustees of the Ladoga Church ofthe German Baptist Brethren 11 April 1903 selecting John F. Himes as a trusteeto serve until his successor is elected – signed by Clerk (O. W.?) Caylor.

(8) Pastoral Contract – agreement made 6 October 1920between Trustees of the Ladoga Church and Leo H. Miller, and signed by JohnHimes? (Grimes?), George M. Harris, Wiliford Harshbarger, Leo H. Miller. (9)Ladoga pastors’ reports – primarily by Walter Heisey, (1934, 1935, 1936, 1937),and by B. Summer (1 September 1931 – 6 October 1932). Two reports not dated orsigned.  (10) Included in the same folderwith the pastors’ reports is the Annual Report for Congregations of the Churchof the Brethren for the year, 1 October 1933 – 30 September 1934.

Folder 6 –Kept lengthwise on side of box due to size – (1) Church School report, 1October 1928 – 30 September 1929 by the Ladoga Congregation. (2) Annual Reportof Sunday Schools in Clark Township, Montgomery County, for the Year 1926,including figures for various denominations. (3) Raccoon Church of the Brethren(Raccoon Creek), 13 January 1900 – It appears as if William Harshbargerresigned the position of overseer of the church so that nominations of others couldtake place. The result of the vote is included. Harshbarger appears to have resumed his position of overseer afterwinning the vote. (4) Annual Report of Sunday Schools in Clark Township,Montgomery County, Indiana 1927 (probably).

Folder 7 –Membership letters – These letters are thought by the Archivist to belong tothe Ladoga congregation – but more research is needed before a conclusivestatement can be made:

Folder 7a - From: Mount Morris College, Mt. Morris,IL.  To: John Neff, Ladoga, Indiana

Date: 17 Nov. 1905? Regarding: “Hettie” – Lettersubstituting as a letter of membership.

Folder 7b - From: Buena Memorial Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL.  To: Church of the Brethren, Ladoga, IN.  Date: 1951 Regarding: Adele L. Savageau, or DelGatto, or Adele L. Weaver (Mrs.Eugene).

Folder 7c - From Elk Lick, Pennsylvania. Date: 1891.Regarding: H. H. Keim.

From HOCOBIN, pgs., 461 and 462 of the 1917 edition. “H.H. Keim, of Nampa, Idaho, formerly lived at Ladoga, in the Mount Pleasantcongregation.  Here he was ordained tothe eldership.  He was a native ofWestern Pennsylvania.  He married thedaughter of Elder W. R. Harshbarger. From Indiana he moved to Oregon and from there to his present home inIdaho.”

Folder 7d - From Ladoga – outgoing membership – envelope“Receipt of Membership Letters 1945-1968.” Note: During some of the 1900’s it appears customary for a congregationreceiving a letter of membership to send a receipt acknowledging thetransfer.  About 27 receipts.  The envelope’s return address was fromRoachdale, IN 46172 and was sent to Ms. Oliver Miller, New Ross, Indiana 47968.New Ross is in Montgomery County, IN and these records probably deal withLadoga.

Folder 7e - Ladoga – receipts of letters ofmembership.  Handwritten on the outsideof the envelope, “Receipts of letters of membership 1906 thru 1940.”  It appears that these are receipts of outgoingletters of membership from Ladoga to elsewhere. Receipts were placed in an envelope from “Speedway Christian Church,”postmarked 1957, and addressed to Church of the Brethren Ladoga, Indiana.

Letter from Mrs. Nettie (Stoner) Rose to John H.Harshbarger, Clerk of Ladoga (4 February 1918) asking to be dropped from themembership because she us working in the Presbyterian Church.

N. S. Moore (female) moving to Little Walnut,Greencastle, IN.

J. L. Mimmick? and Lydia Mimmick moving to LordsburgChurch, California.

Clara (Steiner) Miller moving to ?

1906, Samuel Minnich moving to Pasadena Church,California.

William P. Ronk moving to Mt. Pleasant Church, Indiana.

1909, George Frame? And wife moving to Blue Ridge Church,Mansfield, Illinois.

1907, O. L. Minnich moving to Pasadena Church,California.

Folder 7f - Envelope marked, “First Letters from otherdenomination.”  1936 and 1937. 

Folder 7f – (1) 1936, Mrs. Elizabeth Todd (also known asLizzie Harris?) transfers from the Missionary Baptist Church to the LadogaChurch of the Brethren. (2) 1937, The Ladoga Christian Church transfers LeslieLee to the Ladoga Church of the Brethren.

Folder 7g - 1950, from The Christian Church in Danville,Indiana transfers Janie Lith and Vallie Lith.

Folder 8 –Membership certificates – The Archivist is of the opinion that thesecertificates were in the possession of Ladoga Church of the Brethren andreflect members transferring into the Ladoga congregation.

Folder 8a12 - Transfer of membership certificates from WhiteChurch, Montgomery County, Indiana, that span 1897 – 1947. Names include:Austin W. Dunbar, Mrs. Austin W. Dunbar, John Rettinger and Salome Rettinger,Charlotte (Givt?), Barbara Britch, Nellie Gleason.

Folder 8a1 - Transfer of membership certificates from MountPleasant, Montgomery County, Indiana, that span 1905 – 1920.  Names include: Claud C. Harshbarger, LeonardHubble and Priscilla Hubble (wife), Dorris O. Thompson, Oliver Miller, NorrisStover, Homer Gates and Wife.

Folder – 8x - Note: Two churches of the Brethren existed inNorth Manchester – Manchester – and – West Manchester (organized in 1911).  A. L. Wright and Isaac Miller (two signers ofthe 1897 letter) were with the Manchester Church of the Brethren.  Therefore, it appears as if both congregationslisted below, (North Manchester Church and Manchester Church of the Brethren)are of the same body.

Transfer of membership certificate for O. L. Minnick(Minnich?) from North Manchester Church, Wabash County, Indiana, dated 2September 1897.

Transfer of membership certificates from ManchesterChurch of the Brethren, North Manchester, Indiana that span 1912 –1946.  Names include: Mark Himes,Florence Struck?, Ralph Gottschall and wife, Owen and Blanche Gotschall, CletusDeardorf, wife, and son (Leroy Deardorf), Rev. and Mrs. Herbert Fisher.

Folder 8u - Transfer of membership certificates from LittleWalnut, Putman County, Indiana that span 1902 – 1923.  According to the “History of the Church ofthe Brethren in Indiana,’ 1952 edition, pg. 178, the membership of the Little WalnutChurch became quite small and the church was disorganized in 1923 with most ofthe members moving their membership certificates to Ladoga.  All of the letters in this folder are from1923, except one letter from 1902.  Seeoriginal certificate in folder for names and dates.

Folder 8r - Two membership certificates dated 1906? and1921 from Ladoga Church for the names, “Horace and Dora Pitts” and “JohnRettinger,” respectively.  However, inboth cases receipts were not torn from the certificate of membership, and itmakes one wonder if these certificates were actually sent or if these membersactually left?

Folder 8a7 - Membership certificates from Silver CreekChurch of the Brethren, Ogle County, Illinois. Certificates range in datefrom 1885 – 1893.  See originalcertificate in folder for names and dates. Some are signed by J. G. Royer, D.E. Price,and D. H. Moore. Note: Silver Creek eventually became Mount MorrisChurch of the Brethren.

Folder 8w - Membership certificate from Lower MiamiChurch, Montgomery, Co., Ohio belonging to John Nerry?, Terry? and dated 22October 1884.

Folder 8c - Membership certificates from Bethel Church,Montgomery County, Indiana for Sarah Auken? dated 18 May 1884 and for ElizaMcgaugha? dated 19 October 1884.

Folder #8a5 - Membership certificate from RaccoonCreek, Montgomery County, Indiana for Hettie Neff (Bettie Neff?) dated 15October 1885.

Folder 8a4 - Membership certificate from North ForkChurch, Caroll County, Indiana for Elizabeth Grife (Elizabeth Gripe?) dated2 May 1886.

Folder 8q - Membership certificate from HurricaneCreek Church, Bond County, Illinois for David Thompson and Louisa Thompson(wife) dated 15 May 1886.

Folder 8j - Membership certificates from Eden ValleyChurch, Stafford County, Kansas for J. W. Miller, dated 6 September 1888,and for Sister Gish, dated 14 October 1893 or 1895?

Folder 8f - Membership certificate from CherokeeChurch, Cherokee County, Kansas for Samuel Overstreet, dated 11 May 1890.

Folder 8e - Membership certificates from Buck Creekcongregation, Henry County, Mooreland?, Indiana, dated 1882 – 1937. Seeoriginal certificates in folder for names and dates that include Holsinger andDeardorff.

Folder 8d - Membership certificate from Bethel Church,Thayer County, Nebraska for John Holsinger, dated 10 August 1889.

Folder 8a8 - Membership certificates from Stony Creek,Hamilton County, Indiana for Mary M. Caylor, dated 30 August 1891, and for MaryA. Neff, dated 24 January 1891?

Other Church of the Brethren membership certificatesand/or letters for the following:

Folder 8a - Anderson, Madison County, Indiana, Jessi B.Webster and Ella Webster (wife), 1904.

Folder 8b - Arcadia Brethren, Arcadia, Mr. and Mrs.Forrest R. Groff, 1954.

Folder 8g - Copper Hill, (location?), N. S Moore?, 1915.

Folder 8h - Crystal Church, Montcalm County, Lloyd Evansand Aileen Evans, 1949.

Folder 8i - Donnell’s Creek, Clark County, Ohio, SucindaGraybill (Lucinda Graybill?), 1892?

Folder 8k - Fairview, Lafayette, Indiana, Rev. A. E.Harshbarger, 1951.

Folder 8l -First Church of the Brethren, Champaign,Illinois, Sister Clara (Steiner) Miller, 1935.

Folder 8m - First Church of the Brethren, Chicago,Illinois, Rev. and Mrs. Ernest R. Johnsen or Jehnsen?, 1947.

Folder 8n - Fruita Church, Mesa County, Colorado?,Clarence Goff and wife, 1915.

Folder 8o -Hanover Church, York County, Pennsylvania, J.B. Webster and wife, 1906.

Folder 8p - Hickerson Grove, Copper County?, Tennessee,Brother and Sister David Burkett, 1908.

Folder 8s - Lamolte Church?, Crawford County, Illinois,Cora Thomas, 1893 or 1895?

Folder 8t - Lick Creek, Owen County, Indiana, MarthaTerra?, dated 7 October 1894.

Folder 8v - Lower Fall Creek, Madison County, Indiana,John Bonsack and wife, 1892.

Folder 8y - Mexico, Mexico, Indiana, E. Eugene Weaver,1951.

Folder 8z -Mississinewa Church, Delaware County, Indiana,Leo H. Miller and Ethel Miller (wife), 1920.

Folder 8a2 - Muncie Church of the Brethren, Muncie,Indiana, Robert Heeter, Mary Heeter and Joseph Heeter, 1950.

Folder 8a3 - Nettle Creek, Wayne County, Indiana, (?) Stoner,wife of (Wm?), 17 February 1912.

Folder 8a6 - Richmond Church, Wayne County, Indiana, LowellVernon Heisey and Wilbur Lloyd Heisey, 1934.

Folder 8a9 - Sugar Ridge, Mason? County, Michigan, EzraS. Johnson, 26 September 1907, and Alice A. Johnson, June 1907.

Folder 8a10 - Virden Church, Macoupin County, Illinois,Sara Wagner Miller, 11 May 1922.

Folder 8a11 - Warrensburg Church, Johnson County, MO, B.F. Summer and wife, 1931.

Members transferring out of Ladoga Church of theBrethren

Folder 9 – Ladoga – requests for letters of membership1932 – 1957.  Outgoing members.