USA > Ohio > Butler County > History of the Mennonites of Butler County, Ohio > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
MENNONITES OF
BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO
W. H. GRUBB
GC
N
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01844 3959
GC 977.101 B97GR
一
HISTORY
of the
MENNONITES
of
BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO
by
REV. W. H. GRUBB
Pastor of the
APOSTOLIC MENNONITE CHURCH
TRENTON, OHIO
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR
1916
TO THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofmennoni00grub
CONTENTS
-
The Settlement
Page 11-12
Congregation organized
12-13
Division
13-14
Collinsville congregation
14-15
Augspurger congregation
15-16
Hessian congregation
16-22
Biographies
23-32
Cemeteries
33
.
Reminiscences
34-40
Family Records
40-45
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Augspurger Meeting House Hessian Meeting House Rev. H. J. Krehbiel Parsonage Trenton Church Rev. W. H. Grubb
٠٠٠٠
٧٠٠٠
١٠٠٠٠٠١١٢٠٠٠
REV. W. H. GRUBB
INTRODUCTION
Long ago, the wise man said "of the making of many books there is no end." Of the making of history the same may be said. Every day and deed is a part of future history, and from her pages speak events, experiences and deeds. One of the chief difficulties which Mennonite historians have found in their efforts to write the story of their people is the fact that material for such a task is very meagre, since the church has in the past, in many localities, neglected to keep records of their church activities.
If each church or settlement had kept a record of its activities, the writing of a complete Mennonite his- tory would be an easy matter. The author has endeav- ored to record the facts of the Butler county settle- ment while it was still possible to secure at least suffi- cient information to write a connected story. It has been indeed no easy task to go back ninety-six years and gather facts and dates of the life and work of those who have long since passed away.
The work of this volume has been made possible by the family bibles, diarys and family traditions placed in my hands by many interested friends, and I here desire to express my gratitude and appreciation to all who thus assisted me in this undertaking. I, therefore, place this volume in your hands as a contribution to Mennonite history, and may it be an incentive to those who follow after us, to live and preserve the faith which was so dear to our fathers, is my wish and prayer.
W. H. GRUBB.
Trenton, Ohio, November, 1915.
THE SETTLEMENT
The Butler county settlement was the third of the Amish branch of the Mennonite Church in Ohio. The first was located on the Sugar Creek, in Tuscarawas county, in 1808, when a preacher, John Miller, came from Somerset county, Pennsylvania. The second being in Wayne county as early as 1817, when a Jacob Yoder moved there from Mifflin county, Pennsylvania.
The pioneer of the Butler county settlement was Christian Augspurger. He had been the manager of a farm near Strassburg, then a province of France, owned by Charles Schulmeister, a spy under Napoleon the First. He came to America in 1817 and settled in Pennsylvania, and a little later, in company with others, went farther west as far as the Miami Valley. Here he decided to make his future home, but being a friend of society and in a strange country without friends, he became discouraged, and in 1818, with his family, re- turned to France.
Finding, upon his return, that his farm had been leased to another man for a number of years, he decided to return to America and make his permanent home and fortune there. In the spring of 1819, he again left with his family and a colony of thirty-six families for America. Of these, six families came to Butler county, in August of the same year. They were as follows : Christian Augspurger, his brother Joseph, their second cousin, Jacob Augspurger, Christian Sommer, John Miller and John Gunden. These were all members of the Amish branch of the Church.
Christian Augspurger purchased a farm in Milford township near Collinsville. In 1829 he also purchased a
- 12 -
two hundred and fifty acre farm in Madison township, and moved there April 1, 1830. He at one time owned nineteen hundred and seventy-five acres of land in Bulter county. The amount of land owned by the Augspurgers and their descendants in Butler, Warren and Preble counties at one time was three thousand six hundred and sixty-three acres.
Other families soon followed them from the old country, so that in 1825 there were nine Amish families in Milford township. In 1828-30-31, others came, and in 1832 a ship load of Hessian Mennonites, about one hundred persons in all, came to Butler county, which by this time had become a center for future settlements in the West.
As early as 1831, some of the unmarried young men and women, with other families who had come from Alsace-Lorrain, drifted to the rich lands of Illinois, where in 1833 they established the first Amish Church west of Ohio. In 1840 others went to Iowa, and in 1847 several families, under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Goldsmith, went to Lee county, where they organized the first Amish congregation in that state. In the fifties other families went to Missouri. After this few or no families came to Butler county as their permanent home. Those who did come from the old country stayed only long enough to earn money to get a start in the states west of Ohio. In recent years a number of families have gone to California, Canada and Texas.
A CONGREGATION ORGANIZED
After the colony was settled in their new home, and had erected houses, they felt the need of a resident minister. There is no doubt that from the beginning
- 13 -
they met together at various times for worship. In 1825 a Rev. Jacob Krehbiel from Canada was induced to locate here and minister to their spiritual needs. From that time on religious services were then held regularly in the homes, after the custom of the Amish at that time.
In 1828 Rev. Peter Naffziger located here, having come from Europe by way of Canada. He at once be- came a leader in the colony. The congregation grew and prospered, and in 1830 Jacob Augspurger was chosen and ordained to the office of bishop, he being the first Mennonite preacher ordained in Butler county.
In 1832 Rev. Krehbiel, being quite aged, moved away and later lived with his son in Iowa. At this time Peter Schrock was elected a minister to assist Naffziger and Augspurger. As Naffziger spent much of his time in travel, Augspurger became the principal minister.
The same year there was an immigration of Hes- sion Mennonites, who differed from these already here in that they had musical instruments and wore more modern clothing. They were accepted into the congre- gation, but not having been connected with the Amish branch before they came to Butler county and having come from a different German state could not always accept the views of their brethren, who put much stress upon simplicity and plainness, as well as being strict in the use of discipline. These differences caused so much strife that they could not longer worship together.
CONGREGATION DIVIDED
At a meeting held in the home of Rev. Joseph Goldsmith, on May 8, 1835, it was decided to divide into two congregations, with Naffziger as pastor of the new organization, while Augspurger and Schrock remained
- 14 -
with the mother congregation. The families which united with the new organization were Holly, Naffziger, Iutzi, Brennaman, Kennel, Gingrich, Sommer, Danner, Stecker, Burcky, Schert, Jordy, Conrad and Lehman.
The organizations were then distinguished as the Augspurger and Hessian congregations, and by some outside people as the Hook-and-Eye and Button churches. Each worked independently of the other. The former emphasized plainness and wore hooks and eyes on their clothes instead of buttons, while the latter permitted freedom in dress and encouraged education.
COLLINSVILLE CONGREGATION
Of the Collinsville congregation, very little is known, except that it existed for a time under the lead- ership of Revs. King and Goldsmith. Many of the older people now living remember attending meetings there with their parents. Its organization probably dates from the division in 1835. It seems that its ministers did not take sides with either the Augspurger or the Hessian factions.
Shortly after the division, Goldsmith moved near Darrtown. There being a few families in Milford town- ship, he with his uncle, Benedict King, held meetings independent of the other congregations. About 1834 Rev. Daniel Unsicker, an ordained preacher, came from Hamilton, Canada, located in Milford township and identified himself with this congregation.
In the year 1838 King ordained Goldsmith to the office of bishop, and in 1847 Goldsmith moved to Iowa. A short time before, King moved to Fulton county, where he died. After the death of Unsicker, the re- maining members united with the two existing congre- gations.
- 15 -
A meeting-house was never built, the meetings being held in the homes of the members. In the sixties the ministers of the other congregations again held services here at stated times for a number of years, and later in the Methodist church. When the Presbyterian church was built the Mennonites secured an interest in the building. Since 1909 this privilege has not been used ; some families have moved away, others have died.
AUGSPURGER CONGREGATION
The mother church adhered to the Amish branch, and when the first Amish Conference was organized, in 1862, it became a part, and was represented at the various sessions. From the beginning it had a steady growth and was the stronger of the two organizations.
In 1847 Nicholas Augspurger became the principal minister. He was a strict disciplinarian, but an able preacher and leader. During the greater part of his ministry the church was in a flourishing condition, but near the close the changed conditions and environments of the members, the strict enforcement of discipline and intermarrying into the families of the Hessian congregation the church began to decline.
Peter Imhoff became the leading minister in 1870, and being a man of sound judgment and liberal views he encouraged a closer relation of the two churches. It was during his ministry that the congregation experi- enced a revival and the two congregations were gradu- ally being drawn together.
Services were held in the homes of the members until the year 1863, when a meetinghouse was built near Overpeck on an acre of ground donated by Chris- tian Sloneker, with the provision that when it ceases to be used for the purpose for which it was given it shall revert to the heirs of his estate.
-16 -
A Sunday-school was established about the year 1880 and flourished for about ten years, when it was discontinued, lack of support and co-operation being the principal reason.
In 1907 the last remaining minister, C. K. Augs- purger, and the members united with the Hessian con- gregation. From the records of the last two bishops, we learn that during the last fifty years of the congre- gation's existence 193 members were received into the church by baptism.
The ministers who served the congregations were:
Jacob Krehbiel - - 1825 to 1832
Peter Naffziger -
1828 to 1835
Jacob Augspurger - - 1830 to 1846
Peter Schrock -
- 1832 to 1887
Joseph Goldsmith - 1831 to 1835 -
Benedict King -
-
1835
Joseph Kinsinger -
-
1844 to 1857
Nicholas Augspurger
1847 to 1872 -
Christian Ramseyer
- 1860 to 1865
Joseph Kinsinger -
-
1861 to 1868
Peter Imhoff -
1861 to 1896
Joseph Augspurger, 2nd 1864
Peter Kinsinger - 1867 to 1888
Joseph Augspurger, 4th 1872 to 1887
Joseph Meyer - - 1886
Christian K. Augspurger
1867 to 1897
HESSIAN CONGREGATION
The first twenty-five years of the congregation's existence there were no marked activities. Services were held in the homes of the members at stated times, Naffziger being the leading minister. His son-in-law, Michael Kistler, was elected to assist him shortly after
APOSTOLIC MENNONITE CHURCH
- 17 -
the division, others were elected later to assist, as Naff- ziger spent much of his time visiting various settle- ments.
Later Jacob Mueller, an ordained minister and elder, came from Germany, and for ten years was the leader of the congregation. He was followed by Peter Kennel, who had the oversight of the congregation for several years. The congregation having grown in num- bers, it became apparent that the assembling in the homes of the members was inconvenient and unsatis- factory.
About this time Joseph Augspurger was elected a minister, and he being a man of more than ordinary abilities was soon recognized as a leader. Two years later he was elected and ordained the Elder of the con- gregation, and at once he urged the building of a meet- inghouse and the incorporation of the organization.
Accordingly on August 29, 1863, the congregation was incorporated as the Apostolic Mennonite Society in Butler county, and the following were named as trus- tees: John Augspurger, Samuel Augspurger, John Kennel, Sr., John Kennel, Jr., and John Iutzi.
On November 19, of the same year, one and one- half acres of land were purchased in St. Clair township from John Good for a church site and cemetery pur- poses, for the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars. The following spring, 1864, the meetinghouse was com- pleted and used for worship.
The church grew in usefulness and increased in membership under the able leadership of Joseph Augs- purger. Several years later his brother, John, and John Unzicker were elected to assist him. John Augspurger, while not classed as a pulpit orator, was a faithful min- ister of Jesus Christ, and a wise counsellor, his advice
-- 18 -
was always sought when important matters were to be considered, and to him belongs a large share of credit for the successful career of the church.
A new era in the history of the church began when in July, 1892, at a meeting called by Rev. Joseph Augs- purger, he with the two remaining ministers, Peter Kennel and John Augspurger, asked to be relieved of their duties as leaders of the church, and suggested that a trained man be called and supported by the con- gregation. The request was granted, and a call ex- tended to Rev. Henry J. Krehbiel, who entered upon his duties September 25, 1892. The congregation numbered at this time one hundred and fifty members. In 1897 the Augspurger congregation merged with this congre- gation, and the church now numbered two hundred and fifty members.
During these years the congregation was without any conference connection, though interested in the work of the General Conference of Mennonites of North America and in close touch with it through the visits of Rev. John B. Baer, the travelling Home Missionary of this body. At the triennial session in 1892 the congre- gation was admitted into this body, and the following year united with the Middle District Conference.
A PARSONAGE BUILT
Early in 1900 the matter of building a parsonage was considered, and on March21 one acre of ground was purchased in the village of Trenton and a committee named to formulate plans and solicit funds. The com- mittee found a ready response, and in November, of the same year, the house was completed and occupied by the minister's family.
REV. H. J. KREHBIEL
- 19 -
NEW CHURCH BUILDING
The building of a church in Trenton was consid- ered at a meeting held in Jaunary, 1904, and again in October, of the same year, when it was decided to build. A committee was appointed to solicit funds and formu- late plans, and at a meeting held December 14, 1905, presented the plan of the present building, to cost eight thousand dollars with subscriptions amounting to thir- ty-nine hundred dollars. Their plan was accepted and the committee was authorized to proceed with the building. The dedication took place October 11, 1908, and at this time the old church in the country was abandoned. Since the congregation has moved into town it is known by the name adopted when it was incorporated.
APOSTOLIC MENNONITE CHURCH
The building is modern and built of brick, with a spacious basement arranged for social gatherings, with a fully equipped kitchen, pastor's study, Sunday-school room and a primary room.
The congregation has always stood for education and progress, and has always taken a deep interest in missions. When the school at Wadsworth, Ohio, was established, the first institution of higher education in America, by the Mennonites, there were perhaps more students from this congregation that attended the school than from any other Mennonite settlement, there being no less than fifteen, besides liberal financial sup- port.
The Central Mennonite College, now Bluffton Col- lege, and Mennonite Seminary, received from the be- ginning liberal support and students. The congregation can justly feel proud that the esteemed president of
- 20 -
this institution, Dr. S. K. Mosiman, who is a recognized leader in educational circles and in the Mennonite de- nomination, is one of the sons of this congregation. Dr. Eddison Mosiman, President of Freeman College, S. D., one of the rising institutions of that state, is like- wise a son of this church. Miss Bina Holly is a member of the faculty of Wooster University, and a number of other members are following the teaching profession.
It has likewise supported the Mision cause with both workers and gifts. In 1896 Mrs. Bertha Kinsinger Petter entered the services of the Mission Board at the Contonment station in Oklahoma as a teacher and worker among the Cheyenne Indians, which position she still holds. Miss Agnes Williams is also a teacher and worker at the same station. For some years Miss Lisetta Kinsinger was connected with the Cantonment station as a nurse, and Dr. Mosiman as superintendent.
Besides liberal contributions from the congrega- tion, Mrs. Catherine Bender gave very liberal sums at various times to the Mission Boards, and in 1912 the sum of $500 for the purchase of a multigraph to enable Rev. Petter to publish a dictionary of the Cheyenne language.
The ministers who served the congregation were:
Peter Naffziger -
-
1835 to 1844
Michael Kistler
1835 to 1842
Peter Holly - -
- 1836 to 1854
Daniel Holly -
1841 to 1848
Jacob Mueller
1845 to 1855
Peter Kennel -
- -
1847 to 1896
Christian Holly - - 1860 to 1882
Joseph Augspurger, 3rd 1860 to 1896
John Augspurger -
1867 to 1912
John Unzicker - 1867 to 1886
-
-
-
- 21 -
Henry J. Krehbiel
1892 to 1909
John E. Amstutz - 1909 to 1911
William H. Grubb - - 1913
T. J. Simpson, a Presbyterian student, supplied the church from 1911 to 1913.
MISSIONARY SOCIETY
In the year 1891 a Missionary Society was organ- ized and has since been an active organization. The meetings are held monthly, and the various mission fields are studied, and the offerings given to the various fields of the church.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY
About the year 1895 a Christian Endeavor Society was organized, but after ten years' activity no meetings were held for a number of years. On May 21, 1916, a society was again organized, and is at the present time in a flourishing condition.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
A Sunday-school was organized in the spring of 1876, and flourished. During the year 1879 an organ was used in the Sunday-school. To this many of the members objected, which caused strife and dissatisfac- tion and the school was discontinued.
In the spring of 1888 the school was reorganized, and in 1889 an organ was again purchased and used both in the Sunday-school and church services.
Until 1890 the sessions were conducted entirely in the German language. At this time several English classes were formed and several years later the school became entirely English.
- 22 -
Since the congregation has moved into town the school has adopted modern methods, using the graded lessons, having organized classes, home department, cradle roll, etc.
The following persons have served as superinten- dents since its organization in 1876 :
Peter B. Holly - - - 1876-1877
Joseph A. Kennel
1878-1879
Joseph Kinsinger -
1888-1889
John J. Kennel - -
1890-1891-1909
John W. Augspurger -
- 1892 -
Alex J. Kennel -
1893-1894-1898
William C. Augspurger
- 1895 -
Louis Augspurger -
- 1896 -
Adolph Augspurger -
1897-1899-1903
Rudolph Kinsinger -
1900-1901
Simon Ehresman -
1902-1904
William Mosiman -
-
-
- 1905
Elmer Mosiman
1906-1910-1911-1912-1913-1914
Mrs. Ida Augspurger
1907-1908-1915
Theodore Ehresman
- 1910
M'Della Moon - -
1910
Edna Kennel
-
- -
-
- 1916
-
-
,
HESSIAN MEETING HOUSE
-
4
- 23 -
BIOGRAPHIES
Rev. Peter Holly
Peter Holly, with his family, came to America and settled in Butler county in 1832. He was one of the organizers of the Hessian congregation, and was called as one of its ministers on May 10, 1835. In the year 1847 he was advanced to the office of Bishop, and served in this capacity until his death, which occurred in 1854.
Rev. Daniel Holly
Daniel Holly was born in Germany, August 3, 1816, and came to America and settled in Butler county in 1832. He united in marriage with Helen Bender, April 2, 1839. He was one of the organizers of the Hessian congregation, and was elected one of its ministers in the year 1841, in which office he faithfully served until 1848, when he removed to Illinois.
Rev. Peter Kennel
Peter Kennel, son of Peter and Magdalena Kennel, was born in Bavaria, on April 9, 1813, came with his parents to America in 1830. He was married to Susan Iutzi, June 18, 1839. In the year 1847 he was elected and ordained a bishop in the Hessian congregation, having been elected a minister several years before. He died October 25, 1896, aged 83 years, 6 months and 16 days, and is buried in the Mennonite cemetery.
Rev. J. Michael Kistler
J. Michael Kistler was born March 8, 1808. He came to America and settled in Butler county about 1830. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Peter and Barbara Naffziger. About the year 1835 he
- 24 -
was elected a minister in the Hessian congregation, and served until 1842, when he moved to Illinois. He died March 12, 1876, and is buried at Garden City, Mo.
Rev. John Unzicker
John Unzicker, son of Rev. Daniel and Magdalena Unzicker, was born near Collinsville, Ohio, April 30, 1834. He was married to Mary Sloneker on December 15, 1859. In 1867 he was elected a minister in the Hessian congregation. His death occurred October 27, 1886, and is buried in the Union cemetery, Collinsville.
Rev. Joseph Meyer
Joseph Meyer was born in Belford, France, in the year 1812. In 1828 he came to America and settled in Butler county, where he united with the Augspurger congregation and was later elected one of its ministers. He was married to Mary Augspurger. He died Decem- ber 24, 1886, and is buried in the Augspurger cemetery.
Rev. Nicholas Augspurger
Nicholas Augspurger, son of Rev. Jacob and Mary Augspurger, was born in Alsace, France, August 11, 1811, and with his parents came to America and settled in Butler county, Ohio, in 1819. He united in marriage with Magdalena Gautsche, March 6, 1835. In youth he united with the Augspurger congregation, and was elected to the full ministry in 1847. He was especially gifted and was regarded as a leader in the church. During his ministry he performed 78 marriage cere- monies, baptized 140 persons and conducted 70 funerals. He died April 8, 1872, aged 60 years, 7 months and 28 days, and is buried in the Augspurger cemetery.
- 25 -
Rev. Peter Imhoff
Peter Imhoff was born in Baden, Germany, on Sep- tember 16, 1819. He came to America in 1839, and settled in Butler county, Ohio. He united in marriage with Catherine Augspurger, July 12, 1842. Soon after his arrival he united with the Augspurger congrega- tion, and was elected a minister in 1861, and in 1870 to the office of bishop. He was a strong preacher, and a man with liberal views. It was one of his fond hopes that the two congregations be united as one, which occurred in less than a year after his death. During his ministry he performed 14 marriage ceremonies and baptized 53 persons. He preached his last sermon February 28, and several weeks later, March 20, 1896, he passed to his reward, aged 76 years, 6 months and 4 days, and is buried in the Mennonite cemetery.
Rev. Christian Augspurger
Christian K. Augspurger, son of Rev. Joseph and Magdalena Augspurger, was born in Butler county, Ohio, January 9, 1839. He united in marriage with Eliza Burcky, on February 13, 1862. In 1867 he was elected a minister in the Augspurger congregation, with which he had united in youth. He died February 6, 1907, aged 68 years and 27 days, and is buried in the Mennonite cemetery.
Rev. Joseph Kinsinger
Joseph Kinsinger, son of Johannes and Veronica (Imhoff) Kinsinger, was born in Weisenheim, near Duerkheim; Rheinish Bavaria, August 19, 1801. He came to America and settled in Butler county in May, 1826. On October 5, 1830, he united in marriage with Magdalena Augspurger. Soon after his arrival he iden-
- 26 -
tified himself with the Augspurger congregation, and in 1844 he was elected a minister, and was ordained by Rev. Jacob Augspurger. He died December 16, 1857, aged 56 years, 3 months, 28 days, and is buried in the Union cemetery at Collinsville.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.