One person
The source for this observation has some immediacy with our York Center
Church, for it was A.C. Wieand, one of the founders of the seminary (early
on known as a Bible School), as well as being the father of two of our
members who are no longer with us, David and Bill Wieand. But his two
daughters-in-law, his grandchildren and several great grandchildren are
a vital and contributing part of our membership.
Boone
Alice J. Boone, 'City Mission Work Among Children in Chicago," Gospel
Messenger November 8, 1892, pg. 692
Not simply country folks
One early person of Brethren connection (by marriage) whom you might
find of interest was Dr. Fahrney. He came to Chicago even before the great
fire, moving from Lanark in the 1860's. He had developed a medicine said
to be passed to his family from Native Americans. It was probably a borderline
patent medicine, but he became a millionaire from its sale, even before
the Chicago fire in which he lost everything. He rebuilt and later became
a multi-millionaire. Years later, it was the proceeds from the sale of
his daughter's house in 1925 that provided the funds for the Brethren to
purchase First Church's large facility from the Presbyterians, who even
then had decided to leave that area, moving farther west to Oak Park.
Indirect tie with York Center's beginning
Years later after their move from Hastings Street to the West Van
Buren area, and now having established Bethany Seminary and Bethany Hospital,
the Hastings street site was closed and eventually sold. The proceeds of
the sale were held by the First Church congregation who were now worshiping
in their new facility at the Congress Street site. In 1945, when First Church
wanted to help York Center get established, the congregation voted to use
$2,500 of the Hastings sale proceeds as seed money to assist in the early
financing of York Center. In addition to First Church's contribution, $2,000
came from the District of Northern Illinois, plus a $2,500 contribution
from the Home Mission Board, with an additional $5,000 loan guarantee by
the Mission Board. They also granted the privilege to solicit First Church
members for contributions.
Dr. Mallot's history and a second valuable source [written by Dean
Frantz]
Studies in Brethren History" by Floyd E. Mallott, a former professor
of church history, Bethany Seminary. Many of you studied under him. The
second source, which was found in the Archives at Elgin, was from Kenneth
Frantz's older brother Dean, who, while a student at Bethany in 1945, wrote
his thesis for his Bachelor of Divinity degree "A History of the Brethren
in Chicago." It covers the beginnings in Chicago, the establishment of
the Seminary and hospital, the starting of First Church and on to the early
years of the York Center congregation's life. We can assume that Dean in
1945 had access to many of the original persons who developed the Brethren's
presence in the Chicago area. Dean Frantz was a long-time member of York
Center.
Van Dyke
Early interesting statistics from Dr. Van Dyke's Dispensary records for
the year 1903 reveal that he saw 4,423 patients in his office, made 1337
home visits where his services were needed, plus an additional 197 other
cases requiring special treatment, performed 649 dressings of various kinds,
and extracted 440 teeth. It also shows that he wrote out 4,440 prescriptions.
(from Missionary Visitor, September 1898, pg. 11)