USA > Ohio > Richland County > Mansfield > A history of the Wittenberg Synod of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1847-1916 > Part 19
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On April 1, 1868, Rev. Foust was again engaged as pastor at a salary of $600 per annum to serve 3 out of 4 Sundays. On March 24, 1869, the above mentioned bill of $903.05 held by Wm. Knisely against the church was satisfied by means of notes, accounts, and money. At the same time Rev. Foust was again
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engaged to serve the church part time for another year. Again Rev. Foust was engaged to serve the church as pastor for the year beginning April 1, 1870, at $400 per annum, only about half time. About Sept. of this year Rev. Foust in consequence of other duties ceased to serve the church as pastor. About the first of the year 1871, correspondence was carried on with the President of Synod in order to secure a young man from the Seminary at Springfield, O., but noth- ing favorable seems to have resulted. In Oct., 1871, an engagement was made with Rev. Foust that he should preach for the church every Sabbath morning no definite remuneration being mentioned. This en- gagement was to last till the church could procure a regular pastor. The term of the pastoral office of Rev. Foust amounted altogether to a little over 4 years. During this time it seems the church cleared itself of all indebtedness, both for building and repairs. Seventy-six members were received into church fellowship.
On the first Sunday of July, 1872, Rev. H. K. Fenner of the Theological Seminary began his work as pastor of the Crestline Lutheran Church, having previously received a call to serve the church as pastor for $600 a year. June 1I, 1872, many names having been stricken from the church roll, it was found to consist of 83 names counted worthy to be retained. The work of the church in general seemed to take on new life from this date, due in part no doubt to the fact that for the first time in the history of the church it was free from debt, and in part to the spirit and vigor incited by the new and young pastor. The prayer meeting was reorganized, a choir
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was organized, and new life and vigor was given to the Sunday-school. The women of the church per- haps for the first time in its history, were organized and put to work in a systematic way. Numerous im- provements were put in the church, new carpet, new chandeliers, a new bell replaced the old one, and signs of prosperity were seen on all hands. This pastorate closed Oct. 1, 1877, having continued 5 years and three months. In many respects this was the most successful and popular pastorate in the history of the church. 190 names were added to the church roll.
As is always the case in large ingatherings the losses from this number have been many, still many remain as the precious fruits of his labors. During this pastorate the pastor's salary had reached the $1,000 mark, but the last year it had fallen back to $700.
A short vacancy of two months ensued. Rev. B. F. Crouse was finally elected pastor and assumed the duties of his charge Dec. 1, 1877. The pastorate of Rev. Crouse was very successful with no special fea- tures or improvements to the church property. Rev. Crouse was called at a salary of $700. A number of necessary repairs of the church were made. During this period the minutes of the council reveal little more than the presentation and payment of bills of various kinds. The pastorate of Rev. Crouse continued two years and eight months. During this time 18 persons were received into church fellowship.
The next pastor of the Lutheran Church was Rev. A. Z. Thomas. His salary was $550. After a pastorate of one year and three months Rev. Thomas
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resigned his work Jan. 1, 1882. He received 6 persons into church membership.
Feb. 7, 1882, while still a student in Wittenberg Seminary Rev. C. H. Rockey began to supply the pulpit of Crestline Lutheran Church. Having finished his studies by June 1, 1882, he began work as settled pastor. This pastorate together with the period of supply continued for a term of three years. During this time he received into the church 27 persons, baptized 30 infants, and married 27 couples. It was during the second year of this pastorate that the organ recess was built, the building was painted, and the pipe organ purchased, altogether at a cost of $625. These expenditures together with a considerable sum still owing on the pastor's salary, left a considerable indebtedness on the church at the close of this pas- torate with which the church, and especially the council, had to wrestle during the interim of the next vacancy. They finally paid it, however, and after a rest of a year and two months, called Rev. Thomas Hill to become pastor April 1, 1886. He remained in charge of the church for six years and resigned April 1, 1892. He received into the church about 60 members during his term of office.
Rev. J. F. Hershiser entered upon the duties of the charge, as pastor, Sept. 1, 1892. His resignation took effect Aug. 31, 1896. During his pastorate 58 persons were received into church fellowship. The salary was $700.00 per annum. During the Fall of 1895 a furnace was installed in the church at a cost of $200.00.
Rev. H. B. Shank became pastor in 1896 and served the church till 1901. No records are here to show the results of his labors.
CRESTLINE - NEW CHURCH.
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Rev. R. A. Halverstadt became pastor in Nov., 1901. He labored faithfully in this congregation and under his leadership the new stone edifice was erected and dedicated to the glory of God June, 1907 at a 'cost of $25,000.00.
Rev. Halverstadt resigned as pastor in May, 1910.
REV. A. C. KANZINGER.
Rev. H. L. Greenawalt accepted a call and be- came pastor Nov., 1910. During his pastorate the church debt was partly reduced. No records are here to show the other results of his work. He resigned Dec., 1913.
On May 2, 1914, Rev. A. C. Kanzinger, a student in Hamma Divinity school, took charge as supply
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pastor till Oct., 1914. He was licensed by the Olive Branch synod, this giving him power to perform min- isterial acts.
On Oct. 4, 1914, at a congregational meeting Rev. A. C. Kanzinger was extended a unanimous call. He, then a senior in the seminary, was not at liberty to accept till Jan., 1915, because of the rules of the sem- inary governing such calls to seniors. He supplied the pulpit once each month till Jan. 3, 1915, at which time he accepted the call as pastor to become effective May 1, 1915.
Up to Sept., 1915, under the leadership of Rev. Kanzinger, the congregation has rebuilt the towers of the church at a cost of $1,150, the basement has been concreted and arranged for Men's Bible class and for social purposes. The church debt was reduced by $3,000.00, in 1915, and during the summer of 1916, the last of the indebtedness amounting to $1,600 was paid, and the entire church refrescoed and paid for.
St. John's Lutheran Church, Leesville, Ohio
The St. John's Lutheran congregation, Leesville, Ohio, was organized in June, A. D. 1843, by Rev. F. J. Ruth. Henry Heiss was chosen Elder, and Peter Wert, Deacon. Rev. F. J. Ruth was elected pastor of the congregation, taking charge August I, 1843. Rev. J. Crouse, also rendered valuable assist- ance,-the two working conjointly in their pioneer efforts.
Due notice having been given to all members, October 1, 1848, a meeting was called to incorporate. Rev. J. Crouse was chosen chairman and A. Kuhn,
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Secretary. Joseph Huber, Henry Heiss, and Peter Wert were elected Trustees for a term of two years and the act of incorporation was passed. The pro- ceedings of this meeting are duly recorded in the books of the Crawford County Recorder.
Rev. F. J. Ruth resigned his connection with the Leesville congregation Nov. 8, 1848, and left Rev. Crouse in charge.
In 1852, St. John's, Leesville, Galion, and New Castle, were formed into one charge, and Rev. Crouse declined to accept this new arrangement, so in April of that year, Rev. Ruth again became pastor, and continued the work for nine years, resigning in 1861.
Rev. M. J. Stover took charge immediately, re- siding in Galion, and after two years resigned April 1, 1863.
April 1, 1864, Rev. F. J. Ruth took charge and served the congregation for many years most faith- fully ; he was succeeded by Revs. E. W. Shanibarger, H. B. Miller, E. K. Baker and S. P. Fryberger, for a period of ten or more years, serving for a few years respectively until about the year 1881 when it became connected with the North Robinson Charge, where it remained for a period of eight or nine years.
In 1889 the congregation was made a part of the Crestline Pastorate, from which point it is served with the greatest satisfaction to all concerned. Rev. Thomas Hill became pastor at Crestline April 1, 1886, and, in 1889, Leesville by order of Synod, having be- come a part of the Crestline pastorate, took charge at that time. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. F. Her- shiser, September 14, 1892, continuing until Sept. ",
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1896. Rev. H. B. Shank succeeded him, Jan. 17, 1897, and resigned August 1, 1901. Rev. R. A. Halverstadt succeeded to the work, Nov. 1, 1901, serving until June 1, 1910.
Rev. H. L. Greenawalt was installed pastor, Nov. 20, 1910, by Rev. S. G. Dornblaser, D. D., and re- signed Nov. 30, 1913.
Student A. C. Kanzinger, of Hamma Divinity School, Springfield, O., acted as stated supply until May 1, 1915, when he took regular charge. The Leesville congregation has held its own remarkably well considering its location so near to many much larger towns and churches.
The work moves on nicely, year by year. In 1916 Lutheran appointments were installed and paid for-pulpit, altar and baptismal font.
LEIPSIC CHARGE
First Lutheran, Leipsic, Ohio - St. John's
Lutherans from Fairfield, Crawford, Hancock, and adjacent counties, settled in Putnam County dur- ing the early fifties, but no formal steps were taken to organize a congregation with a settled pastor until about the year 1860.
From time to time, ministers from nearby churches offered their services on special occasions, and then quite a number of people would gather at a log school house located about two and a half miles west of Leipsic, and an effort was made to unite these scattered elements into a church organization. The records show that in 1861, a licentiate of Witten- berg Synod, Rev. V. G. Haag, organized a St. Paul's
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congregation somewhere in Putnam County, which asked this Synod to secure for it a minister who could speak in both the German and English, but as no such supply could be furnished nothing further is said of this congregation. In 1866 a request came from a small congregation in Ottawa to be admitted to the synod, and one year later the records say that "The Ottawa Charge is composed of one small con- gregation at Ottawa and three others,-West Cairo, Leipsic, and St. Thomas, at each of which there is a small organization not in our connection,"* (Gen- eral Synod), and the prospect for the formation of a charge with these was said to be very good. The records of the year following say that the congregations at Ottawa and Leipsic are still vacant, and also that Bro. C. Mack represented them as lay-delegate. In 1869 the minutes say that the Ottawa Charge, composed of the West Cairo and Leipsic Churches were received into this Synod having a membership of 64, the other two churches, Ottawa and St. Thomas, being omitted en- tirely from the records. The organization which other records show to have taken place, Oct. 31, 1868. may have been a re-organization with the adoption of a constitution,-and admission to this Synod. To this Constitution the following persons affixed their sig- natures : Christian Mack, Mrs. Mary Mack, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Bishop, Mr. and Mrs. John Dehnart, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Leffler, George Kratzer, Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Krauss, Herman J. Krauss, C. M. Kratzer, Dr. J. D. Timmerman, Catharine Kratzer, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Kuntz, William H. Wert, Elizabeth * Min. 1867, p. 19.
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Davis, Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Leffler, Malissa V. Wert, J. D. Leinsetter, Jacob and Barbara Pfister, Edmund Davis, and Mr. and Mrs. George Dimple. Rev. Geo. Hammer became the first pastor of the newly or- ganized congregation and served altogether for the space of two and one-half years.
The congregation soon felt the need of a house of worship, and accordingly on Feb. 28, 1870, a con- gregational meeting was called to consider the ad- visability of building a church. A lot having been donated by one of its devoted members,-C. R. East- man,-on Liberty St., gave the congregation the impetus to appoint a building committee, and also a committee to secure the necessary funds. These com- mittees reported at a subsequent meeting and soon the building was constructed, the subscriptions having been gathered from the members, and citizens of the town. August 6, 1871, the church was dedicated free of debt and this was the first church building of any denomination erected in Leipsic. For that time this new building was an imposing structure, about 40 by 60 feet, of brick, and very substantially built. It was used,-by special arrangement,-by the Methodists, Presbyterians, United Brethren, and German Luther- ans, during a number of years.
It seems from the records, too, that the Ottawa Charge was served, for a short time by one man, Rev. Hammer, in connection with the Van Wert County Charge, but he also served it, for a short time, alone. In 1872, however, Leipsic and West Cairo were recommended to the Home Mission Board for aid and were allowed $200.00 and Rev. F. A. Matthis was appointed missionary. At this time also the name,
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by request, was changed to "Cairo and Leipsic Charge." One year later, the Leipsic congregation, with a membership of 95, withdrew from West Cairo, and was constituted a separate pastorate, and called the Rev. A. J. Imhoff, D. D. Aid was asked of the Home Mission Board, but the funds were not in hand and it was declined. The congregation gave him a salary of $522.00. This was its first step in becoming a distinct pastorate. Dr. Imhoff served them for three years most efficiently and resigned in 1876.
The congregation then called Rev. W. H. Dolbeer early in 1877, who resigned in 1881, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. A. M. Geiger who remained but one year. Rev. Robert Atkin followed in a short pas- torate of less than two years. He was succeeded by Rev. W. J. Funkey in 1884. Through the earnest toilful service of this man the membership of the church was more than doubled within two years. A new congregation was organized four miles west of Leipsic in 1888 known as the St. John's congrega- tion and became an important part of the Leipsic pastorate. It has grown to be one of the best coun- try congregations of the Synod. Rev. Funkey re- signed in 1888. He was followed by Rev. Adam Shafer. During his pastorate a dissention arose and about 40 members withdrew and went with him to the Presbyterian Church. Rev. T. A. Himes suc- ceeded him and was most successful in restoring har- mony and good will. He was followed by Rev. C. S. Ernsberger. The membership increased slowly but steadily ; the pastorates were short, but there were no long and wasting vacancies. The longest pas- torates were those of Revs. C. S. Ernsberger, D. D.,
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and C. A. Hackenberg, which were six and seven years respectively.
During the pastorate of the former, according to the records in the minutes, in May, 1896, the congre- gation through its pastor, Dr. C. S. Ernsberger, secured a lot centrally located, and on Main Street, at a cost of $3,000.00, on which to build a church and parsonage.
LEIPSIC LUTH. CH.
The following year the old parsonage property was sold and a commodious new parsonage erected on the new lot at a cost of $1,400.00. During the year 1808 the entire indebtedness on the new property was cancelled and the initial steps were taken toward a new church building. July 7, 1900, the corner-stone of the new building was laid, the pastor being assisted by Drs. David H. Bauslin, of Hamma Divinity School, Springfield, Ohio, and S. E. Greenawalt, of Findlay, Ohio. The contract price of the building was $12,-
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000.00. It was completed in January, and dedicated Feb. 4, 1901. It is a splendid modern church building with Auditorium and Sunday-school apartments with class rooms and gallery and all modern equipments.
Rev. W. F. Rangeler became pastor two months previous to the dedication of the new church building, and served the congregation very successfully for over three years. During the succeeding pastorate of Rev. C. A. Hackenberg improvements were made to both church and parsonage, aggregating $750.00, and the old church building sold for $500.00.
During the pastorate of the Rev. C. Rollin Sherck, a steam heating plant was installed, and a two manual pipe organ, the church was re-frescoed and re-carpeted and repaired throughout at a total cost of $5,300.00. There are today (1915) 217 communicant members in good and regular standing, and the church is one of the strongest in the city, numerically and financially.
ST. JOHN'S - LEIPSIC CHARGE.
Eight miles west of Leipsic there was a strong German Lutheran settlement to which the ministers of Leipsic went statedly and preached and catechised their children, but no organization was effected until some years later, when this faithful work crystallized into the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, now a part of the Charge.
On account of the condition of the roads in that early day, and the distances which separated many of these families from Leipsic, it was deemed advisable to organize the St. John's Lutheran Church, four miles west of Leipsic.
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This was done when Adam Hummon, then a prosperous farmer, donated a parcel of ground on the south-east corner of his farm to be used for the erec- tion of a House of Worship. Funds were solicited and the church was erected and dedicated to the wor- ship of God, May 30, 1888, during the pastorate of the Rev. W. J. Funkey,-at a cost of $3,200.00.
This congregation is an integral part of the Leipsic Charge. Very soon, a strong congregation and Sunday-school sprang up there, and today, the St. John's Church is one of the best equipped and or- ganized congregations to be found anywhere within the bounds of Wittenberg Synod, and is in a most flourishing condition, with about 150 active communi- cant members, and a Sunday-school with an enrollment of 195.
The following have served the charge as pastors :
Rev. Geo. Hammer 1868-1871
Rev. F. A. Matthis 1871-1873
Rev. A. J. Imhoff, D. D 1873-1877
Rev. W. H. Dolbeer 1877-1879
Rev. A. M. Geiger
1880-1882
Rev. Robert Atkin.
1882-1884
Rev. W. J. Funkey
1884-1888
Rev. Adam Shafer
1888-1891
Rev. T. A. Himes.
1891-1894
Rev. C. S. Ernsberger
1894-1900
Rev. W. F. Rangeler.
1900-1903
Rev. C. A. Hackenberg
1903-1910
Rev. C. R. Bowers, (six months)
1910-
Rev. C. Rollin Sherck.
1911-1915
English Evangelical Lutheran Church, Nevada, Ohio
Early in the fall of 1858, at the request of several Lutheran families living in and near the village of
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Nevada, Wyandot Co., O., the Rev. A. B. Kirtland, pastor of the Upper Sandusky Charge, commenced preaching in the Nevada school house one mile south of the village, and continued to do so as often as circumstances would permit until the latter part of January, 1859. About this time a series of meetings was held in the neighborhood which resulted in the organization of a congregation numbering thirty-seven members. This organization was formed under a written constitution for its government, which con- tinued without any change, under several pastors until the year 1868, when it was considered necessary to procure a Church Record in which its history and articles of agreement should be recorded, and amend- ments from time to time, preserved.
This was done and Constitution and By-Laws similar to the Formula of Government in our Books of Worship was unanimously adopted.
The Charter Members were as follows: James H. Gillam, Mary Ann Gillam, John Kitzmiller, Mary Ann Kitzmiller, Daniel Kriechbaum, Elizabeth Kriech- baum, George A. Crabbs, Henriette Crabbs, Mr. and Mrs. John Bishop, Sarah E. Burk, Caroline Rex, Nancy Dixon, David Bowers, Nancy Bowers, Hugh Lohr, Sarah Lohr, Edward Heller, Mary Heller, Emeline Eckert, Joseph Close, Jacob Kosht, Ann Kosht, Matthew H. Eckert, John Tudehope, Mary Tudehope, William F. Goodbread, Susanna Good- bread, Mrs. Rude, Betty Lohr, Mrs. Welch, Levi Bowers, Robert Dixon, Michael Rex, Mary Close, Daniel Rex, Margaret Rex.
During the first ten years of its history. the Nevada congregation was a part of the Upper San-
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dusky Charge. In 1868 the Nevada and Deunquat congregations were separated from the Upper San- dusky Charge, and have since that date formed a separate charge with the pastor living at Nevada. From 1877 to 1883 the charge had no regular pastor, and only occasional supplies, and it was not until 1891, when a re-organization took place, under the direc- tion of the Missionary Secretary, Rev. C. S. Erns- berger,-Rev. J. Nelson Lentz as supply,-that the church began to grow numerically, and also in finan- cial standing. From that date until the present, the congregation has continued to grow to its present membership and influence.
While three other congregations disbanded in the village, the Lutheran congregation forged steadily to the front.
Only one other congregation,-a Methodist Epis- copal Church,-exists in the village of 900 people. The Lutheran Church has a large following in the community, and to win these outside people to Christ and to His Church is the future task of this congre- gation. To this end the congregation is well organized. It has a membership ( 1916) of 276 confirmed, and 385 baptized members.
It has a Sunday-school, with an enrollment of 300 in all departments, and an average attendance of 125.
A Luther League of 55 members holding weekly meetings. -
A Ladies' Aid Society of 40 members, with monthly meetings.
A Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary So- ciety of 23 members holding monthly meetings, and a Children's Mission Band of 40 members, meeting semi-
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monthly. An organized Church Choir of fifteen voices and a Church council wide awake to the interests of the congregation.
The first church building,-a rectangular frame structure, was erected in 1859. In 1904 the frame building was removed and a handsome stone building with red tile roof and beautiful art windows put in its place, at a cost of $12,000. This building consists
NEVADA.
of a fine Auditorium, - Sunday-school addition, Primary room, two vestibules and a choir room; all of these apartments, when open, face the pulpit, af- fording a seating capacity of over 350. Also there is a dining-parlor and kitchen,-fully equipped, in the basement. The church stands on a corner lot 34 of an acre in size. The parsonage is located directly across the street from the church. This is a com- fortable eight-room house built in 1895.
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The pastors who have ministered in the Nevada Lutheran Church are the following :
Rev. A. B. Kirtland 1858-1861
Rev. George Hammer.
1862-1864
Rev. W. C. Hauer, (Supply) 1865 & 1866
Rev. D. I. Foust, (Supply)
1866 & 1867
Rev. D. A. Kuhn. 1868-1877
Rev. J. C. Myers, (Supply ) .
1879
Rev. D. H. Bauslin, (Supply) from Bu- cyrus 1882
Rev. Hiram Knodle
1883-1890
Rev. J. Nelson Lentz, (Supply) 1891
Rev. J. W. Byers.
1891-1898
Rev. W. H. Dolbeer 1898-1902
Rev. G. W. W. Amick. 1902-1906
Rev. W. Curtis Laughbaum 1906-
The past ten years,-the period of the administra- tion of the present pastor (1916), have been years of exceptional growth and prosperity in almost every respect. The congregation has swung from the "deficit" to the "excess" column in its benevolences and stays there,-it has had a steady growth in member- ship,-it has constantly improved its church properties, -and, what all congregations have not done, it has continued to increase its pastor's salary meanwhile, thus substantially manifesting its appreciation of his fidelity among his people.
Deunquat Lutheran Church, Nevada Pastorate
What is now the Deunquat Lutheran Church, was organized as the Sycamore Lutheran Church, by the Rev. J. B. Oliver, then pastor of the Lutheran church at Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
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Meetings were held at a house just south of what is now the village of Deunquat, during the winter of 1850 and 1851. January 6th and 8th members were received to the number of 30, and on the 8th the congregation was organized and officers elected, as follows :
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