USA > Ohio > Richland County > Mansfield > A history of the Wittenberg Synod of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1847-1916 > Part 18
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Again the services of Dr. Sprecher were secured as supply pastor until a regular pastor could be se- cured. On February 29, 1863, Rev. T. T. Titus was elected pastor. Rev. Titus accepted to begin the second Sunday of May, 1863. During the pastorate of Rev. Titus, of nearly four years, one-hundred and
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fifty-six members were received and the congregation placed upon a firmer basis than it had been before. The first musical instrument, a melodeon, at a cost of $108.00 was purchased, to aid in the music. A par- sonage on the south side of High street, between Center and Wittenberg, was purchased at a cost of $3,000.00. This was exchanged later for a house on Wittenberg avenue, between High and Main, which later was sold. The resignation of Rev. Titus took effect the third Sunday of March, 1867.
In December of 1867 Rev. J. B. Helwig, of Lancaster, Ohio, was called as pastor who accepted to begin the first Sunday in December. Rev. Helwig remained but one year, his resignation taking effect the last Sunday of November, 1868. During the year ninety-eight members were received, forty-four of whom came largely as the result of a special series of meetings, in which Prof. Diehl assisted, held south of the city three miles in a school house. As a result of this ingathering on April 13, 1868, the following com- mittee was appointed to consider the matter of en- larging the church building: S. A. Bowman, J. W. Bookwalter, Ross Mitchell, Andrew Rebert, C. Gram, George W. Kizer, Joseph Rodifer, Frederick Leffel, John Kissell, Mr. Hawley, Jacob Thomas, Jacob Walters, Prof. Geiger, Eli Brantner, Daniel Young, Sr., Ashley Bradford, Thomas Sanderson and A. D. Hook.
Immediately upon the resignation of Dr. Helwig, who had accepted a call to Cincinnati, the Council entered into correspondence with Rev. M. W. Hamma, of Reading, Pa., to whom a call was extended Novem- ber 29, 1868. Rev. Hamma accepted and began his
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labors January 1, 1869. Negotiations had been entered into for the securing of ground adjacent to the church lot that more room might be had for the new building. Failing in this, a smaller committee was appointed later consisting of C. Hormel, J. F. Reinmund, Nimrod Myers, E. S. Bugbey, A. Studebaker, and H. Young, to whom was committed the task of re- building and enlarging the church.
A contract was entered into for the razing of the old building and the erection of the walls of the new, with Mr. Nimrod Myers, at a cost of $9,400.00. The work was begun at once and on the last Sunday in July, 1869, worship was held in the old building for the last time. On that morning the Sunday-school marched in a body from the old church over to the City Hall which then stood on the north-east corner of Fountain Square, where all the services of the church were held until the close of the year when the lower story of the building was ready for occupancy.
The congregation did not long remain satisfied with an incompleted building. Hence on June 21, 1870, a contract was entered into with Mr. Nimrod Myers to complete the building. On Sunday, Feb- ruary 21, 1871, the completed church was dedicated free of debt, having cost in all $21,658.00. The dedi- catory sermon was preached by Rev. F. W. Conrad, D. D., of Philadelphia, Pa., assisted by Rey. Irving Magee, D. D., of Dayton, Ohio.
In March of the next year, 1872, Dr. Hamma signified his desire to spend a year abroad in travel, visiting Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land. His re- quest was granted and he was given a year's leave of absence. On the evening of April 5th a farewell
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reception was tendered Dr. and Mrs. Hamma, at the church, when resolutions of confidence and apprecia- tion were adopted and the hope expressed that they might have a pleasant voyage and a safe return. Dur- ing Dr. Hamma's absence the pulpit was supplied regularly by Rev. Jacob Steck.
Dr. and Mrs. Hamma returned to Springfield in June, 1873, when he again resumed his work as pastor until the last Sunday in December, 1877, when he resigned to accept the call to Brooklyn, N. Y. During his pastorate of nine years Dr. Hamma received four hundred and forty-six members, and Rev. Steck re- ceived thirty-four members. The congregation made great progress under the faithful leadership of Dr. Hamma. Not only was a new church built and dedi- cated free of debt, but a bell was purchased, the tower completed, a pipe organ installed, and the pews were declared free and that thereafter the finances neces- sary for the maintenance of the congregation would be obtained not by the annual renting of pews but by subscription and the envelope system.
Rev. M. J. Firey, D. D., of Lock Haven, Pa., was next called as pastor of the congregation on February 3, 1878, and the call was accepted to begin at once, he having been on the field to conduct special services in connection with the great Murphy move- ment then on in the city, which resulted in one hun- dred and eighty-three accessions to the Lutheran Church, many of whom were reclaimed from the saloon. Dr. Firey entered into the temperance move- ment with characteristic zeal and earnestness and was instrumental in the organization of the Citizens' League of which he was made president, and was
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kept in this position until he left the city. On April 8, 1883, Dr. Firey tendered his resignation on account of ill health, which resignation was regretfully ac- cepted by the congregation to take effect on June 3, 1883. In May of this same year the Lutheran Church, of Springfield, entertained the General Synod and the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary So- ciety of the General Synod. During his pastorate of five and one-half years Dr. Firey received five hun- dred and eleven members.
After a vacancy of five months a call was given Rev. D. W. Smith, D. D., of Mansfield, Ohio, which was accepted and Dr. Smith began his work in the con- gregation November 4, 1883. For some time the feel- ing had prevailed that another Lutheran congregation should be organized in the city. Mrs. Eliza Leffel Bookwalter had left to the First Church in her will the sum of $2,000.00, which was to be used for re- ligious purposes. With this money a chapel was pur- chased on Clifton Street, and on January 9, 1884, the Council granted letters to forty-five members to or- ganize the Second Lutheran Church. Later, others received letters, making in all about seventy-five dis- missed to form this new organization. In April, 1884. the constitution was again changed increasing the Council from eight to twelve members, six deacons and six elders. After a pastorate of nearly two and one-half years Dr. Smith resigned to take effect March 31, 1886, during which pastorate ninety-nine members had been received.
On September 12, 1886, Rev. J. B. Helwig, D. D., called from Akron, Ohio, began his second pas- torate in the First Church, which continued five vears,
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resigning in September, 1891. Once more the feeling prevailed among Lutherans in the city that a third Lutheran organization should be effected in the city, . which finally resulted in the organization of the Third Lutheran Church on July 4, 1887, located at the corner of Center and Liberty streets. About twenty-five members were dismissed to this new organization from the First Church, meaning, as in the case of the organization of the Second Church, the loss of con- siderable financial strength. Both organizations were effected with the good will of the mother church and received from it much financial support. During the second pastorate of Dr. Helwig three hundred and thirty-eight members were received and the church repaired. These repairs included a general renova- tion of the church and a new one story building for the primary department of the Sunday-school, cost- ing in all nearly $6,000.00. The building committee was composed of B. F. Funk, D. H. Olds, S. B. Stiles, C. C. Funk and L. B. Pursell.
Rev. E. W. Simon became the next pastor of the church, called November 15, 1891, from New Phila- delphia, Ohio, and assuming active charge on the last Sunday in December, 1891. During the pastorate of Dr. Simon the congregation celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Lutheran Church in Springfield. Sermons were preached upon this occasion by two ex-pastors, Drs. Hamma and Firey. Because of the illness of Mrs. Simon, incident to great sorrow through which the pastor and his wife had passed, Rev. Simon asked for a leave of absence in the spring of 1898. On May 23, 1898, Dr. Simon tendered his resignation to take effect June 5, 1898,
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because of the continued illness of his wife. After suitable resolutions had been adopted by the Council, the congregation, and the ladies of the church, the resignation was accepted with regret. Dr. D. H. Bauslin, of Wittenberg Theological Seminary had sup- plied the pulpit much of the time of the absence of the pastor and continued to supply until a successor was chosen. During the six and one-half years of the pastorate of Dr. Simon, three hundred and three mem- bers were received.
At a meeting of the congregation July 3, 1898, Rev. M. J. Firey, D. D., was called a second time as pastor of the church, which call was accepted to begin on the first of September of the same year. During this pastorate of over seven years a number of changes and improvements were made. The individual com- munion cup was adopted instead of the common cup. The young people of the congregation became very active in the work of the raising of the benevolences of the church sending the pastor to synod with the full apportionment. In October of 1903 a building committee composed of J. Howard Littleton, Clarence L. Hutsel, Otto Eglinger and J. A. James was ap- pointed to have charge of the complete renovation of the church. The Sunday-school room was changed completely and rearranged, a partial basement was placed beneath the church where furnaces were in- stalled, all at a cost of about $5,000.00. Re-dedicatory services were held on November 12, 1904, at which time an attempt was made to raise sufficient funds to cover all the indebtedness of the church. On April 15, 1904, Dr. Firey and the congregation were greatly bereaved in the death of Mrs. Firey who was beloved
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by all who knew her. Dr. Firey was given a month's leave of absence and on his return to his work never fully recovered from the loss, and on November 26, 1905, tendered his resignation, the same to take effect January 1, 1906. During his second pastorate Dr. Firey received four hundred and fifty-two members. Dr. S. A. Ort was then asked to supply the pulpit until a regular pastor was called.
On Easter Sunday, April 15, 1906, Rev. Clarence E. Gardner of Bucyrus, Ohio, was called to become pastor of the congregation. The call was accepted to begin work June 1, 1906. Immediately upon taking charge of the congregation the full order of Common Service was used, which had been regularly adopted by the Council in the closing year of Dr. Firey's pas- torate ; and, shortly after this, by an unanimous vote, the Christian Endeavor Society was changed to a Luther League. For years the congregation had been in debt, in fact the records do not show that at any time in the history of the church the congregation for any length of time was free from indebtedness. When the present pastor assumed charge he found an in- debtedness of $4,168.56. A new business policy was adopted, no more money was to be borrowed, and the congregation was to run within its income. The duplex envelope system was adopted and an effort made to raise the present indebtedness. On Sunday, April 7. 1907, with the assistance of President Charles G. Heckert, of the College, the congregation pledged $4,519.00 clearing the church of all indebtedness. This marked the dawn of a new day financially for the church. From that day to this the church has had no more trouble along financial lines, and on the evening
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of April 24, 1908, a jubilee service was held at the church rejoicing that the church was at last free from debt. Addresses of a congratulatory nature were de- livered by Hon. John L. Zimmerman, Rev. E. H. Dornblaser, D. D., Rev. D. H. Bauslin, D. D., and the pastor.
For some time the conviction had possessed the minds of a number in the congregation that the church should be repaired, renovated, and made more church- ly. Action was taken upon this conviction when the Hon. John W. Bookwalter presented the congregation with $4,500.00 for the purchase of an organ in memory of his wife, Eliza Leffel Bookwalter. A building committee was appointed consisting of Hon. John L. Zimmerman, Judge William M. Rockel, Mr. J. Howard Littleton, Prof. E. O. Weaver, and Mr. Clar- ence H. Rhoades. On the first Sunday of the new year, January 7, 1912, the church was rededicated after repairs and changes costing nearly $13,000.00 had been made consisting of a fine two manuel Austin organ, a completed new chancel with altar, pulpit, lecturn, and baptismal font, carpet, fresco, furnaces, light and paint. At the dedicatory services the full amount was subscribed and the sermons preached by the only living ex-pastors of the church, Dr. M. W. Hamma, preached in the morning, and Dr. E. W. Simon in the evening.
During the present pastorate ten hundred and forty-six members have been received and the church greatly strengthened in every particular. The benevo- lences have practically doubled and for the past two years the congregation is not only paying its appor- tionment in full, but is supporting a foreign missionary
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pastor in the person of Rev. Grover C. Leonard, in the Muhlenberg Mission, Liberia, Africa, and a home missionary pastor in the person of Rev. Alvin E. Bell, Toledo, Ohio. All the organizations of the church are active, consisting of a Missionary Society, Missionary Daughters, Young Girls' Missionary Society, Mission Band, Ladies' Aid Society, Mite Society, Brother- hood and Luther League.
This history would not be complete without special reference to the Sunday-school, which has played such a prominent part in the work of the con- gregation and the development of Lutheranism in the city. Some of the strongest men in the church have served it in the capacity of superintendents and teach- ers. In the earlier days of its history the young men from Wittenberg College aided greatly in this work, but it was not until about 1865 under the pastorate of Rev. T. T. Titus and Mr. P. A. Schindler as super- intendent that the school was thoroughly organized and began to grow with leaps and bounds. Mr. Schindler served as superintendent for nineteen years, from 1865 to 1884, and during this time the school grew from an enrollment of 337 to 1194. The follow- ing persons have served as superintendent: A. R. Howbert, Simon Fenner, John L. Snider, H. R. Geiger, A. S. Kissell, Samuel G. Harbaugh, George W. Deaver, W. W. Criley, P. A. Schindler, F. P. Davidson, G. W. Billow, B. F. Prince, E. O. Weaver, E. W. Baxter, G. Baker Fout, and J. Howard Lit- tleton.
In the fall of 1916 Lutheranism will celebrate its seventy-fifth anniversary in the city. During this time the First Church has witnessed the organization of
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the three German Lutheran churches, Zion's, St. John's, and St. Luke's, also the organization of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Calvary, Trinity, and the Sunday-schools of St. Mark's and Grace, which will soon be organized as churches, and in the organi- zation of all these churches the First Church has had a most sympathetic and motherly interest. The First Church now numbers more than 1,500 confirmed members.
First English Lutheran Church of Crestline, Ohio
In the year 1851, as shown by an entry of the Crestline Recorder, the little hamlet of Livingston- ville was laid out. Rensella Livingstone was a grand- son of one of the signers of the Declaration of In- dependence. Some of the descendants of this historic family are still residents of Crestline. The name Livingstonville was soon afterwards changed to that of Crestline. The name Crestline evidently is derived from the fact, on the one hand of its situation on the crest or dividing ridge which extends east and west through this part of the state; and, on the other hand, of its situation on the north and south line dividing the counties of Richland and Crawford. Deservedly may we be proud of both our position and name.
Much of the earlier transactions of this church is not to be found, if ever they had been recorded. Our present acts are counted unworthy of record : what a prized source of information they might prove to the future historian! Much which might enter into the history of this congregation, and which would be most highly valued at this present time, has passed into oblivion. Some things which could not be found on
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record have been gathered from tradition and the memory of those still living who have been acquainted with this congregation through its entire history. The most of those, however, who could have given reliable information from memory have gone to their rest or have moved into other localities, where they cannot be personally reached by your historian. We have used no little diligence to have made this account as full and accurate as possible, but it will be observed by many, perhaps, that numerous omissions of im- portant historical facts have been made.
The first Lutheran preaching of which we have any definite knowledge, in the village of Crestline was in the year 1853. At the solicitation of Mr. Living- stone's family, who were members of the Dutch Re- formed Church, and also at the request of Mr. David Seltzer, who was a member of the Evangelical Luth- eran Church, Crestline was visited by Rev. A. R. Howbert, residing at Bellefontaine, a Lutheran min- ister, who preached gratuitously on weekday evenings to good audiences, during the above mentioned year.
Rev. David Sprecher who about the year 1852 began serving several congregations of Lutherans in the vicinity of Shelby, was also invited to visit and preach for the Lutherans of Crestline. This was probably during the early part of the year 1854. What amount of service he rendered we are not informed, but on April 10, 1854, he was present, and presided at the organization of the First English Lutheran Church of Crestline, O. Rev. A. R. Howbert and Rev. Joshua Crouse were also present. The names of those who constituted the organization are the fol- lowing: David Lichtenwalter, A. W. Stine,, Wm.
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Knisely, David Keplinger, E. Warner, David Mc- Cardal, D. Minnich, Jane McCardal, Hannah Stine, Elizabeth Warner and Isaac Miller, eleven in all.
The first services were held, and the organization of the church took place, in a school house which stood on the corner of East and South Sts., where the residence of Mrs. Stoner now stands (1915). The services being of infrequent occurrence were well at- tended. The little room of perhaps not more than 15x20 feet in size, was always crowded, and when the weather was fair there were more persons on the outside, than were within the house.
Rev. Sprecher continued to serve this church for some months after its organization and, in the mean- time the Methodist Episcopal church was completed and the Lutherans were granted the privilege of hold- ing services in this church until they had completed the erection of their own. The enterprise of building a church was undertaken soon after the organization. The first consideration was a building site. There was present at this meeting as an interested party Mr. Livingstone (before mentioned) who was a prominent citizen and land owner. The meeting continued until almost midnight, when this gentleman finally agreed. to make the Lutheran church a donation of the eligible lot upon which the old church stands, the lot at that time being valued at $350. A friend of the church then present by the name of David Seltzer, paid Mr. Livingstone the dollar necessary to make the deed legal. This was the first dollar paid towards securing the Crestline church.
Rev. Sprecher proceeded to prepare a subscrip-
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tion paper and secure pledges for the erection of the church. He succeeded in securing pledges to the amount of over $900.00.
The organization of the church occurred in April and the corner stone laying took place some time in the autumn of the same year. Rev. Solomon Ritz, a pioneer Lutheran preacher throughout many sections of Ohio, was present at the ceremony of cornerstone laying, and delivered the address. Other ministers were also present.
Just how long Rev. Sprecher continued to preach for the Lutheran Church of Crestline we are unable from any records in our possession to find out.
The first regular pastor of this church was Rev. A. F. Hills. He assumed charge some time during the year 1855, - the first ministerial acts of which there is any record occurred under date Dec. 8, 1855.
He seems to have resigned the work some time after May, 1858. He was pastor about three years. There now followed a pastoral vacancy of about three years, which proved a great detriment to the church, both on account of the indebtedness still hanging over it in consequence of the erection of the building, but also, there was no growth in membership or spirituality during these years, but on the contrary a disintegra- tion of the force upon every hand. The church was not however without some preaching during this in- terval for it is recorded that the services of Rev. F. J. Ruth as pastor were solicited and while he did not become stated pastor, the record shows that he did a number of ministerial acts along about 1858 and 1859, and the presumption is that he supplied the con-
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gregation with preaching. It was also during this time that the Presbyterians were granted the use of the church for the purpose of holding their preaching service and Sabbath-school. So that upon the whole this long vacancy for the infant organization did not prove as hurtful as it might have done. Rev. A. B. Kirtland was the next regular pastor. The record shows that he was unanimously elected pastor Nov. 19, 1860. This engagement was however for only the term of six months. It seems that already he had been serving the church, for he dates his connection with the congregation from Oct. I, 1860. For the first six months he gave the half of his time to the church here, and the other half to the new organization at Nevada, O. During the long vacancy preceding the pastorate of Rev. Kirtland the membership of the church had been considerably scattered and greatly discouraged, but he at once seemed to inspire them with new courage. The bug- bear that confronted the pastor and church was a debt of about $1,200, drawing a high rate of interest. Within a few months of his taking charge he held a series of meetings which materially revived the church and was the means of adding to the church roll 19 names. During the pastorate of Rev. Kirtland which lasted for the term of two years and eight months, 55 persons were received into church membership.
Much of the energy and time of the pastor during this period was given to the liquidation of the church debt. For this purpose the pastor was empowered by the trustees to take subscriptions toward the church indebtedness not only in Crestline but also to visit Lutheran congregations at other places and solicit
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pledges. By this means the pastor secured pledges toward the church indebtedness to the amount of about $1,000, of which $700 were collected by the pastor, personally, and paid into the church treasury. Up to this time the church had no bell to summon the wor- shippers to the sanctuary of the Lord. It was during the ministry of Rev. Kirtland that the first bell for the church was procured. During the term of this pastorate all the duties and requirements of a pastor were regularly attended to: the prayer meeting was organized and maintained, the children were baptized and instructed, the Sunday-school was regularly held and the ministrations of the pulpit and altar were faithfully performed. This pastorate closed May 30, 1863.
There followed another long and destructive vacancy of three years and ten months. However the Presbyterians continued to occupy the church for a part of this time and the Lutherans were no doubt occasionally supplied with preaching. The record of the church's doings is very meager during this period. However on the Ist of April, 1867, Rev. D. I. Foust was elected pastor for the term of one year at a sal- ary of $800. He was to give his whole time to the work. At this time also the accounts show the in- debtedness on the church building, for repairs and incidentals amounted to $903.05.
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