Both Nebraska and Kansas were opened for settlement in 1854. Each had quite different settlement patterns with Kansas plunged into border warfare soon afterwards and then fast on the heels of this, the Civil War of 1861-1865. Many Brethren living in Missouri were forced to leave moving either to their earlier homes or coming to Kansas and settling in the Lawrence, Ozawkie, and Wolf Creek areas where Brethren were already living. The earliest Brethren in Nebraska that I have information about were located west of what would become Omaha (known as the Bell Creek/Octavia congregation ca. 1868) and in the Falls City area (also about 1868). The majority of these groups moved westward from Iowa and Illinois. The Pawnee City group was mainly from the English River settlement in Iowa. This included Elder Benjamin Flory and related family members of the Fry and Flory families. Florys were originally from Virginia and the Frys from Naperville, Illinois area. Many of this group moved on to western Nebraska where they were part of the organization of the Enders, Nebraska congregation. The Pawnee County group organized as the Turkey Creek congregation (1870). It was scattered over the general area around Pawnee City and Cincinnati. This group did divide in the 1881-2 split, as did the Falls City and the Beatrice groups. Jane Davis.

Samuel Eikenberry (1803-1863) (wife: Matha Crawford (b. 1808- ) - both from the Four Mile Church - Union Co IN - went to Danville Iowa in 1837, then on to Plattsmouth Nebraska (I don't have a date - he was a 49er in the California Gold Rush, a member of the First Nebraska Territorial Assembly and on the Nebraska Constitutional Convention. Samuel was the son of Peter Eikenberry Jr and Elizabeth Landis (Peter Jr owned land on the Ohio state line [on the Indian Road] - but lived on Twin Creek, east in Preble Co OH - going SE toward Gratis OH) . I suspect that Samuel lived on Peter Jrs land on the state line - how he met Martha. Martha was the daughter of William Crawford and Isabella McClure (a sister of the wife of Tobias Miller - and raised by him - Lower Four Mile - SW of College Corner OH) (a picture of Tobias Miller's house is in the 200th Anniversary Presentation - at <www.cob-net.org/docs/brethrenlife.htm>) her mother was a half sister of Potter John Miller's wife - and William Crawford was his best friend.) Merle C Rummel

I came across the Flory's in Augusta County, VA about 1780-1800. Is this the same Flory Brethren Family? I found that Christian Bear, Sr. moved into this area about 1803 and likely came from the Bear's (Baer's, Bare's) of Warwick Twp, Lancaster County, PA. I am interested in this group of Brethren since I am tracking down a Huff who apparently moved from Lancaster Co. PA about the same time and may have been the same John Huff who married Ann Bear in 1810 in Augusta County VA (married by a William King, who was Methodist at the time). I know my Huff's moved to Ohio in 1814 so they were on the move through this period and getting triangulation on the Brethren in this area may help. The town in VA was Churchville near Staunton. Anyone with pointers to a history on these Brethren would be appreciated. Ray Hoff ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jane Davis" <[email protected]> To: "Brethren Genealogy Network" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2011 6:05:39 PM Subject: Re: [BRE] Brethren in Southeastern Nebraska Both Nebraska and Kansas were opened for settlement in 1854. Each had quite different settlement patterns with Kansas plunged into border warfare soon afterwards and then fast on the heels of this, the Civil War of 1861-1865. Many Brethren living in Missouri were forced to leave moving either to their earlier homes or coming to Kansas and settling in the Lawrence, Ozawkie, and Wolf Creek areas where Brethren were already living. The earliest Brethren in Nebraska that I have information about were located west of what would become Omaha (known as the Bell Creek/Octavia congregation ca. 1868) and in the Falls City area (also about 1868). The majority of these groups moved westward from Iowa and Illinois. The Pawnee City group was mainly from the English River settlement in Iowa. This included Elder Benjamin Flory and related family members of the Fry and Flory families. Florys were originally from Virginia and the Frys from Naperville, Illinois area. Many of this group moved on to western Nebraska where they were part of the organization of the Enders, Nebraska congregation. The Pawnee County group organized as the Turkey Creek congregation (1870). It was scattered over the general area around Pawnee City and Cincinnati. This group did divide in the 1881-2 split, as did the Falls City and the Beatrice groups. Jane Davis. ------------------------ Search the Archives at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/BRETHREN ------------------------ Support Our Sponsoring Agency The Fellowship Of Brethren Genealogists (FOBG) For further information contact Ron McAdams mailto:[email protected] ------------------------ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message