Daniel Brubaker Barnhart

Excerpt from "History of the Church of the Brethren in Kansas," Copyright, 1922 by Elmer Le Roy Crain, McPherson, KS

Appanoose Congregation (Including Eight Mile)

It is just after the Civil War that we first hear of members of the Church of the Brethren within the limits of what later became Eight Mile and still later Appanoose. There were a few near Ottawa, among them the families of John Eshelman, Jacob Negley, and Jacob Fouts—all from Canton, Fulton County, Illinois. They were within the bounds of the Washington Creek congregation. In 1866 Elder Daniel Barnhart [1819-1906, m. Anna Winger] moved from Wabash County, Indiana, into what later became Eight Mile.

The date of the organization of Eight Mile is not obtainable, but it was certainly before 1872. In 1871, DANIEL B. [Brubaker] BARNHART [1836-1921, m. Susannah Barnhart] moved from Roanoke, Virginia, to Centropolis, and thus became on of the early members of the church. Of the early members of Eight Mile Brother BARNHART is able to recall the following names, many of them presumably charter members: Daniel Barnhart and wife [Anna Winger], George Bowen and wife, John Michael and wife, Jacob Kaub and wife, John Kaub, Wash. Turner and wife, Brother Firestone and wife, David Barnhart and wife [Elizabeth Karns], Abraham Barnhart and wife [Lovina Peffley], Isaac Barnhart and wife [Lucinda Peffley], and Jacob S. Keim and wife. These members were from Indiana, Virginia, Missouri, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. The congregation took its name from a nearby stream and school house. There was no church house and for that reason services were held in the early days of Centennial, Kaub, Mineola, and Eight Mile. The last named is located eight and one-half miles southeast of Overbrook.

In the fall of 1880, the territory of Eight Mile was divided, the western part to become Appanoose and the eastern to retain the original name. Daniel Barnhart was retained as Elder of Eight Mile. This church dwindled away, apparently, the members being absorbed by the Ottawa church, placing their letters with Appanoose, or moving away. About eighteen of then subsequently identified themselves with the Old orders, among that number Elder Daniel Barnhart. There is still an Old order church in the neighborhood.

Appanoose started out as a separate congregation with three ministers, DANIEL B. BARNHART, Frederick Sherfy, and William M. Wise. J.S. Keim was Elder in Charge. There was a membership of seventy. In the spring of 1886, the Appanoose church was built on the I.B. Garst farm, seven and one-half miles southeast of Overbrook. This building was remodeled in 1919, and on September 12, was rededicated by W.O. Beckner, furnishing the congregation a convenient and commodious place of worship.

In former years there was considerable preaching done in the neighboring school houses and other places, such as Boyd, Lyndon, Williamsburg, Knouff, Centropolis, North Pomona, Fairview, and Sampson. There are today a few isolated members where this preaching was done.

The following have been elected to the ministry in the history of the congregation: Frederick Sherfy, William M. Wise, Sampson Harshman (1880), Michael Montgomery, John Sherfy (October 4, 1884), I.B. Garst (October 28, 1886), C.W. Shoemaker (October 2, 1897), S.J. Heckman (May 28, 1903), John M. Ward (October 7, 1906), and Earl Barnhart (May 22, 1922). The following have been ordained in the congregation: D.B. Barnhart (October 4, 1884), John Sherfy (May 7, 1893), C.T. Heckman (May 7, 1893), C.W. Shoemaker (October 7, 1906), S.J. Heckman (1913), and John M. Ward (May 22, 1920). The oversight has been held by Joseph Michael, S.S. Mohler, D.B. BARNHART, C.W. Shoemaker, and S.J. Heckman. Elder Barnhart served for many years.

Additional Children: Mary Isabella (1861-1864) Joseph Emory (1868-1868) Martin Ezra (1872-____) m. Rachel Anna Bond, 1895, 3 children Lucy Frances (1877-____) m. Daniel Bert Bond 1901, 4 children Leah Magdalene (1878-1924) m. Jesse Ikenberry 1899, 9 children

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