Bowers EUB Church - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Introduction: -- Records and statistics are becoming increasingly valuable. The importance of care, neatness and accuracy in keeping our church records cannot be overestimated. It is the duty of the pastor to see that this work is done and ignorance or carelessness should never be accepted as an excuse for failure to do or have this work done. No check marks, pencil marks, lines drawn through a name, erasures, or irregular markings should be tolerated. Names are never to be rewritten.  This is the official church record book and has been adopted by the General conference in the interest of unity and simplicity.  It is designed to give each church a complete record of its life.  Every item should be filled in, in its proper space so that in years to come reference to it will give such information as this book contemplates keeping. Blanks for securing the information needed can be secured from the Otterbein Press. This record includes the following important divisions: Historical Record. Alphabetical List of Members. Record of Members in the Order of Admission. Record of Persons Baptized. Record of Funeral Conducted. Record of Marriages Solemnized.  (above was typed – rest is handwritten on sheets.

HISTORICAL SKETCH – Bowers Church

Bowers class was organized in the Spring of 1896 by Rev. James S. Carmack on the Clarks-Hill Circuit with the following charter members: Belle Rodgers, Alice McDaniel, Ebenezer Riley, Laura Bundy, Fannie Gordon, James Kirk, Belle Kirk, Lula Kirk, Louisa Kirk, Margaret Simpson, Sarah Wandell, Frank Kirk, Susan Kirk, John McDaniel, Flora McDaniel, Nathan Lewis, Louise Lewis, Rettie Lewis, Jacob Lewis, John Hutchinson and Serilda Hutchinson.

The first class officers were: John McDaniel, leader and John Hutchinson, steward.

The frame church at Bowers, Sugar Creek Township, Montgomery County, Indiana was erected in the year of 1896, through the labors of Rev. James S. Carmack, by the following trustees: Robert Turner, James S. Carmack and James Kirk, at the cost of two Thousand six hundred dollars.  And was dedicated by AJ Newgent.  Aug 24, 1896.

MINISTERS

Here is a list of some of the ministers that has seved at the Bowers EUB Church.

Rev. Carmack

Rev. Fightner

Rev. Spratt

Rev. Billie Myers

Oct 7, 1963 – Rev Wilbur York, Acting Minister

The official Board met at the Bowers EUB Church to elect trustees for the church. Robert Lee being deseased (sic) a new trustee was elected to take his place. Mrs. Mildred Lee’s name was nominated. By Louisa Kirk to finish out his term.  The motion carried through and Mildred Lee was elected for 2 __.

Ward Keyes already was a trustee for 1 year. The board elected Herschel Cox for a term of 3 years. He was nominated and the election carried through and he was elected for 3 yrs. Herschell Dox Pres of Board & Mildred Lee Sec & Treas. Signed: Mildred Lee Sect – Rev. Wilbur York

Dec 6, 1964 – Rev. Wilbur York – Acting minister. The church group held a small business meeting before church service Sun Dec 6th. Rev. York conducted business. Mildred Lee was elected deslegate to annual conference. 1964 and Louisa Kirk alternate. The motions were carried. Ward Keyes was reelected Trustee as his term had done.

Rev. George Stone – 1914

Rev. Henry Workman – 1921

Rev. Nellie Booher

Rev. Charles York

Rev. Lucy Sharp – 1922

Rev. Sylvia Hardest – 1930

Rev. Roy Wilmouth – 1931

Rev. Lester E. Payton -1932

Rev. JT Combs – 1933

Rev. CK Saylor – 1934

Rev. Chester H. Grace – 1935-1936

Rev. Emory W. Leader – 1937-1938

Rev. LO Beitler – 1939

Rev. Carl Eastburg – 1940-1941

Rev. Lawrence Oliver – 1942

Rev. Ralph Bowman – 1943-1944

Rev. Esther Anderson – 1945-18

Rev. __ Wheeler – 1949

Rev. WSayne Stine – 1950-1951

Rev. Richard Baker – 1952

Rev. Riffle Howard – 1953

Rev. Robert D. Snell – 1954-56

Rev. Edith E. Hale – 1956-57

Rev. Wilber York 1960-1964

Letter / remembrances of :either a church member or one of the ministers

“Ethel Holt says her father & mother, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Kirk kept Rev. Carmack in their home while the church was being built. It was through the labor and hard work of the pastor that the church was finished. The group held services in the hall above the Bowers store before the church was completed.  Myrth Doty tells me her and Grace Clouser (?) Cloven (?) Huber walked to the revival meeting at night and carried a lantern. They would be so afraid when they got home but were ready to go back the next night. The church was full.  

The Kirk sisters, Laura & Ida would walk from the Kirk home place up through the field and railroad. There would be deep snows and their brothers would clear paths for them to walk to church in.

It was the last wish and desire of Louisa Kirk to keep the doors of the church open and it has been carried out throughout the years. Until our modern times is doing away with our little country churches.  

Ethel Long has been a faithful member through the years. She is a devote Christian and can well remember when the church was being built. She came Saturday and worked cleaning the church and did as much as the rest. She was married in the church and the Bowers Church holds many memories for her.

The WSWS Missionary Society from the Church continues with their meeting. We have held 2 meetings here in the church this summer."

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Below is an album contain 5 pages of the Church Record Book.