Lake Branch Church

(1869-1894)

Christian Family Companion Jan. 4, 1870 page 13 Vol. VI No. 1  

Brother Henry: I will give you a short history of my visit to Minnesota.  On the evening of 2nd of November  I took the cars for Ft. Wayne, where I met brother S. Stump.  Thence to Chicago.  Early on the morning of the 3rd took the cars for La Croiz, where we landed at about 12 o’clock I the night, where we took the steamer. On the morning of the 4th, about 10 o’clock we were on our way up the Mississippi, and at about 1 o’clock we landed on Minnesota soil.  Took the cars, in a few minutes we were on our way for Fairbault, in Rice County.  Here we staid till the 5th, when brother Oblinger met us and took us across the country 14 miles to his house, where we were kindly entertained.  On Saturday evening, 6th, we commenced preaching, in the country where the Brethren never had preached, and but very few people knew anything about the Church, only what the few members (2 brethren and 1 sister) that had moved there from my old District in Indiana had taught them.  We continued our meeting 14 days.  Good attendance and  very good attention.  We believe the Lord was with us and blessed our labors.  We baptized 7 persons, 3 sisters and 4 brethren. One man who had said if the Brethren would preach forty years they could not convince him.  We had one Church meeting, and organized the little band/. Brother Samuel Oblinger was chosen to the word, and brother Sylvester Duran to office of visit.  On the evening of the 17th we held a communion, which was indeed a happy season.  When the services were concluded, we took the parting hand, which seemed a sorrowful parting; tears flowing freely, not only from members but others; and the cry was, come again. Brethren and sisters pray for them, that the Lord may enable them to go on in the way of the Lord.

Christian Family Companion Sept. 6, 1870 page 558 Vol. VI  No. 35

Brother Henry: we have a little church organized here, that we called the Lake Branch; composed of twelve members.  Bro. Sylvester Durand, and the undersigned were elected speakers, and brother William Luker to the visit.  We were organized last November, with ten members, by Elders Samuel Murray, and Samuel Stump, two having been added since, by baptism.

  Will someone give the address of brother William Gish, through the companion, and oblige ? 

Samuel Oblinger.