The Indiana and Central Illinois conference was organized at Waynesville, Illinois, October 9, 1879. A variety of circumstances led up to the organization of this conference out of portions of the territory occupied by the Illinois and Michigan conferences. Possibly one of the most important factors was the work of the “Western Holiness Association.” sear the close of the seventh decade of the nineteenth century, or in the early part of the eighth, several ministers of different denominations in Central Illinois were , led into the experience of entire sanctification. Among these were M. L. Haney, H. Wallace, L. B. Kent, W. B. M. Colt, J. P. Brooks, Isaiah Reid, and others. These men began to preach the doctrine and urge believers to seek the experience which they themselves had received. Soon violent opposition to them and their work developed and they were forced out of the ranks of the regular ministry in their churches and became known as “Holiness Evangelists.” They soon became convinced that some form of organization was necessary to conserve the work and organized the “Western Holiness Association.” Under the auspices of this association the Banner of Holiness, was issued and became a strong factor for the promotion of the work. Soon “county associations” were formed and these were followed by “bands” composed of those in the different localities who were in accord with the work. In some cases there was a brief statement of doctrine and practice which one has denominated a “minature Free Methodist Discipline,” to which all subscribed. But in many cases there was no formal basis of union, but a mere informal agreement to stand together to promote the work of holiness. The ministry in the different churches generally opposing the work, the direction and management fell largely into the hands of the laity in many places. This led to the organization of the “Layman’s Holiness Association” and under the leadership of this organization many gracious revivals were held by laymen in which many souls were converted and sanctified. J. H. Moss of Greenville, Illinois, now in glory, hilt for many years one of the staunch laymen of the church, R. W. Sanderson, now for several years a successful pastor in the Central Illinois conference and “Uncle Shel” Young of Sorento, Illinois, were active workers in this movement.

Soon some of the leaders, among both the ministry and laity saw that if the work was to become permanent there must be a closer organization and unification of the “holiness people” than existed. About this time some having become acquainted with the Free Methodists began to look toward that church as a home for the holiness people and began to plan for the bringing of the work into that organization. Many of the preachers and people at first seemed to favor it, but later some of these strongly opposed it. In the fall of 1879 W. B. M. Colt, H. F. Ashcraft and F. H. Ashcraft decided to unite with the Free Methodist church and to us their influence to induce the “holiness people” to do the same. Accordingly at tile organization of the Indiana and Central Illinois conference these brethren united, Mr. Colt by certificate of location from the Nebraska conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the Ashcraft brethren on trial. W. W. Kelly, an elder, and F. H. Haley, a deacon, in the Illinois conference also united and John Harden who had been two years on trial in the Michigan conference was received into full connection. Four others besides those mentioned above were received on trial. The new conference embraced what had been known as the Central Illinois and Bellville districts in the Illinois conference and the Indiana district of the Michigan conference. The total membership reported was two hundred and fifty-seven. At the end of the first year this had been increased by over four hundred. A good degree of prosperity has always attended the work in the conference, and notwithstanding the fact that she has “swarmed” several times the Central Illinois conference still reports an aggregate of two thousand members.

The first appointments within the bounds of the Wabash conference were made by the Michigan conference. In the fall of 1871, Septer Roberts was appointed to Cincinnati and Evansville. Mr. Roberts, who was pastor at Dublin, Indiana, had visited Evansville during the year and in September, immediately preceding the session of the conference, had organized a society of twelve members. J. W. Vickery, a layman, heard of the Free Methodists, probably through the Earnest Christian, and through him the work was introduced into that part of the state. Of that original society of twelve not one is now living. All have gone to their reward. In 1872, anti again in 1873, B. R. Jones was appointed to Evansville and Ft. Branch. At the close of his pastorate of two years he reported sixty-eight members and probationers and church property valued at $4,000. Some time during the year 1873-74, through the influence of three brethren named Johnson, Harden and Biddle, C. S. Gitcheil, who was pastor at that time at a point called Tippecanoe, went to Attica, Indiana, and held a meeting which resulted in the organization of a society and the erection of a brick church and parsonage. The three men named above, all men of means and influence in the community, became charter members. Mr. Johnson, now over eighty years of age, is the only one of the three living. In 1875 this society reported forty-six members and property valued at 9,000. A little later the work spread along the western part of Indiana and the eastern section of Illinois until another division was decided upon and the Wabash conference was organized at Attica, Indiana, October 21, 1885, including the larger part of the state of Indiana and that part of the state of Illinois lying south of the Illinois conference and east of the Illinois Central railroad. The conference began with eleven preachers and a total of live hundred and thirty members. At present there are twenty-eight preachers and about eleven hundred members.

Many of the preachers in the early days of Free Methodism were effectually delivered from all temptation to feel that the fields of labor assigned them were narrow or circumscribed. A whole state for a circuit ought to satisfy a man however great his aspirations might be. And yet to be faithful to facts it must be recorded that even then there were those who would go beyond the bounds of their charges to hold meetings.

In the minutes of the first session of the Michigan conference one of the appointments reads, “Ohio, H. L. Ash.” From “Hart’s Reminiscences,” we learn that Mr. Ash was “a young man, a son of Uncle Arby Ash” of Huron circuit in Michigan. The “young man” evidently found his circuit and went to work, for we learn that he soon secured the services of E. P. Hart of Michigan to assist him in meetings at Windsor, Richland county, Ohio. By thoroughly advertising Mr. H. as “one of our big guns” the “young man” succeeded in awakening quite an interest in the community to hear the new preacher and the meetings were largely attended. Much of the divine presence and blessing were given and many were saved and a society organized which proved to be the germ that developed into the Ohio conference. August, 1867, at the third session of the Michigan conference, Windsor, Ohio, reported twenty in full connection and seven on probation. In 1868 Toledo circuit was added to the list of appointments in Ohio. The next fall, 1869, a total membership of about one hundred and seventy-five was reported from Ohio, and four charges in that state were supplied with pastors by the conference. The next year the Toledo district composed of circuits in Ohio and in southeastern Michigan was formed and E. P. Hart was made chairman. The increase in the membership in Ohio was about fifty this year. Of the eight charges in the Toledo district in the appointments for 1873 all but one were in Ohio and all were supplied with pastors. During the fall and winter of 1874-75 E. P. Hart held a meeting in Summerfield, Noble county, Ohio, and organized the first society in that section of the state. In 1876 eight circuits reported five hundred and thirty-five in the aggregate as the membership in Ohio. The work was now fairly launched in the state of Ohio, and much of it being widely separated from the Michigan conference, requiring very long journeys to reach the seat of the conference it was thought best to organize the Ohio work into a separate conference. The organization was effected at West Windsor, Richland county, Ohio (where the first society in the state was organized), October 2, 1879. B. R. Jones, J. A. Wilson, C. F. Irish, J. Cripps, N. B. Woods, J. Hayden, elders, C. B. Schaeffer who had been two years on trial, and W. Jones, who had been one year on trial in the Michigan conference, united. C. B. Schaeffer and W. Jones were elected and ordained deacons. S. K. Wheat-lake was received on trial. The statistics show an aggregate membership of six hundred and eleven. The present status of the conference is about forty preachers and eleven hundred and fifty members.

The first Free Methodist preacher of whom we have been able to find a record who entered the state of Indiana and established an appointment was T. S. LaDue. In the summer of 1862, while living in Van Buren county, Michigan, he received a letter from one J. W. Barron, a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, living near Elkhart, Indiana, requesting him to come there and preach. In answer to this call he established an appointment at Elkhart which was continued for some time. He also held meetings at Mishawaka, Indiana. The conference removed him in the fall and no permanent work was established at either place.

At the first session of the Michigan conference C. S. Gitchell was appointed to Indiana. At the third session of this conference, “Dublin, Indiana,” reported sixteen members. In the appointments for that year it was left to be supplied, but the next year reported twenty-seven members and forty-five probationers. C. S. Gitchehl was again appointed pastor this year. In 1872 Dublin disappears from the appointments and the statistical table. In 1873 Ft. Wayne appears in the statistical table and in the list of appointments and this seems to be the first permanent society organized within the bounds of the North Indiana conference. In 1880 there was reported a total of one hundred and sixty members from this territory. The North Indiana conference occupies about one third of the northern part of the state of Indiana. It was organized at Knox, Indiana, October 27, 1887. There were seven preachers in full connection, eleven on trial and a total of two hundred and twenty-five members. The Present enrolment of preachers is twenty in full connection, three on trial. The membership in the aggregate is four hundred and eighty.

The Kentucky and Tennessee conference was formed out of territory developed by the Central Illinois conference in the state of Kentucky, the state of Tennessee being included within its boundaries. It was organized at Scottsville, Kentucky, October 29, 1896. The minutes for 1907 show eighteen preachers and an aggregate membership of about three hundred.