USA > Ohio > Richland County > Mansfield > A history of the Wittenberg Synod of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1847-1916 > Part 25
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taken up in March, 1909. Messrs. Samuel Wana- maker, A. J. Barr, and Harry E. Reeme, Trustees, were the Committee in charge. The lot was pur- chased and the building completed January 27th, 1910, the total cost .being $6,200.00.
A Young People's Society was organized during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Crouse.
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The Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organized Oct. 15th, 1896, and Mrs. Rev. F. L. Sigmund was made the first President.
The Mission Band was organized in 1907.
REV. C. E. FRONTZ.
The congregation is being kept entirely free from debt and is progressing with splendid activity in all its organizations, the attendance at the regular services steadily increases, and the Sunday-school is
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growing very perceptibly. The Every-Member-Can- vass is also doing great things.
The pastorate of the Rev. C. E. Frontz has been marked by a steady and substantial growth along all lines of activity and especially has this advance shown itself in the work of beenvolence, and the annual in- crease of the pastor's salary. The Tiffin church has emerged from the dark cloud that has hung over it for so many years and will soon stand in the fore- front.
First English Lutheran Church, Findlay, Ohio
The first that is known of any minister of the Lutheran faith being in Findlay is in the year 1839. In this year the Rev. M. Cortex, a German Lutheran Missionary, preached to the adherents of both the Lutheran and Reformed Churches. He visited Find- lay and preached whenever he visited until some time in 1841, when Rev. Chas. Wisler, a minister of the Reformed Church, followed and served both de- nominations as pastor until in 1843. Rev. J. H. Hoff- man, a Lutheran minister, came next and remained nearly two years. Services were held in the Court- house.
In 1845, Rev. George Hammer took charge and remained as pastor until August, 1849. It was while he was pastor that a regular church organization was effected.
At a meeting regularly called for the purpose by Rev. Hammer and held in the Courthouse at Find- lay, Ohio, on the 19th day of September, 1846, the organization was effected. The following seem to
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have been the leading persons in the organization, to-wit: George Welker, Samuel Engleman, John Swikert, Samuel Snyder, Daniel Spangler, Samuel Shock, John Guntner, Rudolph Bly, Isaac Teatsorth and Samuel Reber. Isaac Teatsorth acted as chair- man of the meeting and Rev. Livengood, secretary.
The name selected was the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Findlay and vicinity.
Other persons in the organiztion were Andrew Newsteller, Abraham Daughenbaugh, Simon Wil- helm, Rosina Haley, Mrs. Simon Yerger and Amelia Oesterlen.
There was a membership of sixty or more at this time, but it is impossible to secure all the names.
The organization was self-supporting from its beginning.
When the first church building was erected its cost was materially lessened by the members furnish- ing a great deal of the material and doing much of the labor themselves. It is recorded that Rev. Ham- mer mixed the mortar and carried it into the building for the plasterers. When the church was completed there was a debt that two of the members of the church were compelled to pay as the result of a lawsuit.
At first the Findlay charge embraced the whole county. There were congregations at Arcadia, Fos- toria and the Zoll congregation in Eagle Township, in addition to the one at Findlay. In April, 1858, while Rev. Imhoff was pastor, the Findlay and Zoll con- gregations became one charge, separating from Arcadia and Fostoria. In 1860 a constitution was adopted in which provision was made for a church council to
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be composed of the pastor, two elders, and four deacons. While Rev. Kauffman was pastor a change was made so that the council is now composed of the pastor, three elders, three trustees and six dea-
A. J. IMHOFF, D. D.
cons. The Civil War occurred while Rev. Imhoff was pastor: there were some political differences at the time and some members withdrew from the church on that account. Probably the most trying
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time in the history of the church occurred during Rev. Imhoff's pastorate. His salary was $500.00 per year. He writes that at the end of the first year this salary was not paid and could not be paid unless
E. K. BELL, D. D.
two or three of the most wealthy members of the church paid it themselves, and he feared that this would so discourage them that they would quit: so he told them to take a new subscription and to have
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the members understand that if they were unable to pay the old subscription, it was cancelled. The church officers were assured that they were responsible for nothing but their own subscriptions, and a faithful
H. B. BELMER, D. D.
effort to secure and collect subscriptions from others. This encouraged the officers and inspired confidence among the members.
Adam Wagnalls of the firm of Funk and Wag- nalls, the great publishing firm of New York City,
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was received into membership in this church by the Rev. Imhoff and decided to study for the ministry.
During the pastorate of Rev. G. W. Miller, in 1874, the Zion congregation (Zoll's) in Eagle Town- ship was severed from this one and the pastors of the Findlay Church have ever since devoted all their time to this congregation.
I CH. FINDLAY.
It was while Rev. G. W. Miller was pastor that the building of a new church was agitated. By vote it was decided to build, but nothing was done owing to a difference of opinion as to where the church should be located. Some thought that the lots on which the parsonage stood were too far south and when the church was eventually built on that location
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there were a few who withdrew from the church on that account. It took a long time to pay for the lots bought in 1869 during the pastorate of Rev. H. B. Belmer and for the parsonage erected thereon. The money to pay for the lots and parsonage was obtained from a Building and Loan Asso-
W. W. CRILEY, D. D.
ciation and was paid back in monthly payments. When the new church was dedicated in 1882, the church council had to assume quite a large debt : many of the subscriptions made on Dedication Day were never paid. It was years afterwards before this debt was entirely cancelled.
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In 1890 while Dr. W. W. Criley was pastor, a new congregation was organized on the north side of the city known as Trinity Lutheran Church. It was considered to be for the best interest of the
S. S. KAUFFMAN, D. D.
Lutheran Church in Findlay that this congregation should be organized and quite a number of the mem- bers of the First Church were granted letters to go into the new congregation. There was no trouble, no
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factions in the congregation, but the best interest of the Lutheran Church in Findlay was the only thought. The Council of the First Church selected the location for the new church, bought the lot and paid for it and aided the new congregation in many ways. It took the matter up with the home Mission Board and helped to secure the first pastor. For a long time the Sunday-school furnished the supplies for the new Sunday-school. In the month of September, 1896, while Rev. Greenawalt was pastor, the semi-centen- nial of the organization of the church was celebrated. The principal addresses were delivered by Rev. S. A. Ort, D. D., LL. D., of Wittenberg College, Rev. A. J. Imhoff, and Rev. W. W. Criley, all former pastors. Three persons who were charter members of the congregation were still living. Rosina Haley, Lydia Yerger, and Amelia Oesterlen ; Mrs. Yerger and Mrs. Oesterlin being present at the services. It was while this Brother was yet pastor that one of her sons, W. F. Rangeler, gave himself to the work of the ministry, and his first sermon was preached in this church.
In the latter part of Rev. Greenawalt's pastorate Mrs. Amelia Oesterlen died. It was found that by her will, provision was made for the founding of one of the Church's Benevolent Institutions,-the Oesterlen Orphans' Home, located at Springfield, Ohio.
In November, 1883, a pipe organ was purchased at a cost of $1,085.00. This was known as the "Mack Memorial Organ" as Father Frederick Mack paid $500.00 of the purchase price. May 7th, 1911, a magnificent organ known as the "Wannamaker Me-
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morial Organ" was dedicated. This organ cost $4,000.00 and was made possible when, on the death of E. Wannamaker it was ascertained that he had made provision for it. This organ, built by the Aus- tin Manufacturing Co., of Hartford, Conn., is one of the most complete ever installed in the city. Its dedication occurred on the first anniversary of the death of Bro. Wannamaker.
The congregation is organized as follows :
A Women's Home and Foreign Missionary So- ciety, organized in 1879. A Ladies' Aid Society, organized February 4th, 1879. A Sunday-school, organized in 1880. A Luther League, a Mission Band, Men's Brotherhood Bible Class.
In the Sunday-school there are the Witten- berg Circle, Ursula Cotta Class, Bethany Girls, "NECLEMBHRR" Club, and Daughters of Mercy. The first church buliding was erected in 1847 on a lot at the northwest corner of West Crawford and South Cory Streets. The lot cost $200.00. The building was a frame, shingle roof costing about $250.00 in money. Nearly all the material was donated by the members.
In the fall of 1849 the North Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church met in Findlay, and held its sessions in this church, it being, then, the best church building in the town. In 1860 a bell costing $500.00 was purchased and placed in the building ; this bell's tone was so musical, and its call to worship, so clear, that it was placed in the new church edifice where it is still doing good service. In November, 1869, the lots on which the present church edifice is situated were purchased at a cost of
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$1,200.00. Their location is at the southeast corner of South Main and East Lincoln Streets. The fol- lowing year a parsonage was built thereon.
In November, 1880, the church council by reso- lution declared that, in its judgment, the propitious time had come for the congregation to take steps for the erection of a new house of worship and at a con- gregational meeting it was decided that the new build- ing should be erected on the lots on which the par- sonage stood.
May 9th, 1881, ground was broken for the new building, the cornerstone was laid August 8th, 1881, the church was dedicated to the worship of God June 4th, 1882. This building cost about $15,000.00. It has a seating capacity, when the auditorium and the Sunday-school room are thrown together, of six hundred. It is a substantial brick and stone struc- ture with a large square tower in the northwest corner; it has two large beautiful stained glass win- dows in the auditorium and one in the Sunday-school room.
The present parsonage was built in 1887 at a cost of $1,450.00. Towards the close of Rev. Green- awalt's pastorate an addition was built to the south end of the Sunday-school room to provide a room for the primary department of the Sunday-school. At the same time a gallery was placed in the Sunday- school room in order to provide much needed class rooms; these improvements cost about $3,500.00, $1,000.00 of which was paid by Mrs. Amelia Oester- lin. While Rev. Kauffman was pastor there was some improvement made in the basement of the church. Through the efforts of Rev. Roy S. Bowers
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in the Spring of 1911 the basement of the church under the Sunday-school room was repaired and there is now therein a complete dining room, kitchen, and cook room, with full equipment. At the same time the interior of the church was repainted and
REV. J. O. SIMON.
refrescoed, the altar was rearranged, the betterments and repairs in all costing about $4,000.00. This church building was the first of the modern churches to be erected in Findlay, and it is now one of the most modern and complete churches in the city. This fall, 1915, the old parsonage was sold and moved off
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the church lots. The new parsonage was moved to the east end of the lots, repaired and improved at a cost of $1,300.00. This gives the First Church a better parsonage than it has ever had, and greatly improves the appearance of the church property. The church property is estimated to be worth not less than $36,000.00. The baptized membership is five hundred and the communicant membership is three hundred and sixty-three. The present pastor, Rev. J. O. Simon ( 1916) is maintaining the high standard of the pastorate with success.
LIST OF PASTORS
J. H. Hoffman, 1843 to 1845. George Hammer, 1845 to August 1849.
Isaac Livengood, 1849 to 1854. Morris Officer, 1854 to 1855.
A. J. Imhoff, 1855 to October 15, 1865.
S. A. Ort, October 1865 to May 1867.
H. B. Belmer, May 28, 1867 to March 14, 1869. Rev. Kinsel, supply for three months.
P. S. Hooper, October 1869 to November 18, 1871.
G. W. Miller, February 25, 1872 to Jan. 1, 1877. J. W. Goodlin, April 1, 1877 to April 1, 1880. C. S. Sprecher, April 1880 to July 1881.
E. K. Bell, August 1881 to October 1884. W. M. Smith, February 1885 to June 1887. W. W. Criley, November 1887 to September 1891. S. E. Greenawalt, January 31, 1892 to November 1902. S. S. Kauffman, March 1, 1903 to March 1, 1907. Roy S. Bowers, May 1, 1907 to March 19, 1912.
J. O. Simon, the present pastor, was installed May 19 1912.
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First Lutheran Church, Wapakoneta, Ohio
The First Lutheran Church of Wapakoneta was organized on Christmas Day 1857. At this time a constitution containing thirteen articles was drawn up and adopted - the following persons signing the constitution, as charter members: George Rench, Joshua Shawber, John Shawber, Geo. H. Dapper, Catharine Rench, Rebecca Shawber, Rachel Shawber, Catharine W. Hills, Catharine Kuhn, and Melinda Elliott.
Amendments to the original constitution were adopted on December 25th, 1864; August 2d, 1868; December 25th, 1874; January Ist, 1863 ; and January 14th, 1865.
Under the original constitution, Rev. A. F. Hills became the first pastor, in the year 1858, and the first Board of officers was formed by the election of Joshua Shawber, and Geo. H. Dapper, Elders ; John Shawber and J. H. Siferd, Deacons. In April, 1859, a building Committee, consisting of Joshua Shawber, J. H. Siferd, and John Shawber, was ap- pointed and immediate steps were taken toward the erection of a church.
The following June 16th, 1859, the beloved pas- tor, Rev. A. F. Hills was removed by death. He had been a most faithful shepherd of this new con- gregation which he had organized and had served during its weakness, and his loss was severely felt. During the infancy of the congregation, Mr. John Shawber, a leading merchant in Wapakoneta was untiring in his efforts and in his devotion. He con-
HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD 481
Built 1859
First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Built 1892
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tributed most liberally to the advancement of the cause and his home became the home of the ministers.
The church building was completed in 1859, and the first sermon was preached in the new bunding on the 28th of January, 1860, by the Rev. W. H. Wynn, D. D.
On the 3Ist of the same month the church was formally dedicated by the Rev. Dr. F. W. Con- rad, then of Springfield, O., assisted by the Rev. Wynn, and Rev. J. W. Goodlin.
The building and lot had cost $3,000.00, and on the day of dedication, $816.00 was secured, which was sufficient to cancel the entire indebtedness.
On the Ist of April, 1860, Rev. J. W. Goodlin assumed the pastorate of the church and served but 8 months, resigning for the purpose of accepting the financial agency of Wittenberg College.
Dr. Goodlin was succeeded by the Rev. W. C. Barnett, who took charge April Ist, 1861. He served the congregation until March, 1865, when, on account of war conditions, the relation between pastor and people became so strained, that he withdrew from the church, taking with him a considerable number of the membership and forming a new congregation,-a second Lutheran Church in Wapakoneta, taking the name of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church. This congregation afterward united with the General Council of the Lutheran Church.
In July, 1865, Rev. D. W. Smith entered the
. field and after serving as a supply pastor during the summer, accepted the call given him, and labored most successfully for nearly seven years, and in 1872
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he resigned to accept a call to the First Lutheran Church of Mansfield, O.
Almost immediately afterward a call was ex- tended to C. S. Ernsberger, then a student at the Theological Seminary at Springfield, O. He received "Ad Interim" license from the President of the Synod and assumed charge at once. He served the congre- gation with a good degree of success until April, 1877, leaving a net increase in the membership of 25%, at which time he resigned to accept a call to his native Richland County, at Lucas, among the scenes of his boyhood ..
He was succeeded in June, 1877, by Rev. D. A. Kuhn, who came from the Nevada pastorate and was installed as his successor, serving the congregation until April Ist, 1881.
Rev. A. E. Wagner, having just completed his course in Theology at Wittenberg College, then re- ceived a call and took charge in November, 1881. After a very prosperous pastorate of three years, he resigned May Ist, 1884, accepting a call to the Second Lutheran Church in Springfield, Ohio.
Rev. G. M. Grau became his successor in Sep- tember following and after one year of faithful ser- vice resigned October, 1885.
Rev. A. C. Miller succeeded to the pastorate in April, 1885, and for six years conducted the affairs of the pastorate very ably and successfully.
Rev. S. S. Adams followed in a ministry begin- ning April, 1891, and continuing until September, 1897. A new church building was undertaken dur- ing his pastorate but remained unfinished when he
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resigned, the project having come to a standstill on account of lack of funds.
Rev. W. F. Rangeler then came to the field January 9th, 1898, and served most diligently and successfully endeavoring to reduce the indebtedness and to complete the building and left the congrega- tion in a much improved condition, Dec., 1900. Rev. Dr. Jacob H. Culler succeeded him, January 14th, 1891, took firm hold of the situation, and in a pas- torate of over eleven years,-the longest service of any pastor in the history of the congregation,-over- came the indebtedness, finished the auditorium in good taste and style, and installed a fine pipe organ, thus completing the equipment of the building and left the congregation in good spirit and courageous, with a hopeful outlook.
His life and work has left a lasting impress on the entire community. March 21, 1904, he was made a life member of the American Bible Society, by the Auglaize County Bible Society.
Rev. W. K. Gotwald succeeded him on the 3Ist of March, 1912, and served in a brief but successful pastorate of two years resigning in August, 1914, to take up post-graduate work in an eastern university.
The present pastor, Rev. Ross H. Stover, ac- cepted a call to Wapakoneta in December, 1914, while still in the Seminary at Springfield, O., assuming his duties as regular pastor May 3d, 1915. With a fully equipped house of worship, and a willing people, anxious to follow his leading, he seized upon the situation with strong purpose and the success that has been achieved in one single year has been, indeed, phenomenal. The entire indebtedness has been re-
HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
485
REV. J. H. CULLER, D. D.
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moved, the apportionment in benevolences fully met and the parsonage is being rebuilt and greatly im- proved. A large class of catechumens was confirmed, and the addition of forty adults on Easter Day, (1916) with an Oratorio-Cantata, "Christ the King."
REV. Ross H. STOVER.
Easter Sunday afternoon, and a Thanksgiving Home Coming on a bright May-Day in gratitude for the payment of a long standing indebtedness, turned the Spring-tide into a veritable Harvest time, and has filled the church and the community with new zeal for the work of the Master. A "Boys' Brotherhood"
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has opened a riverside park, with tennis court and swings and a boat landing and other equipments for the youth of the congregation. The church property is valued at $30,000. The auditorium and Sunday- school rooms will accommodate 600 to 700 people.
Grace Lutheran Church - "Two-Mile," Wapakoneta
This congregation and community was served for a number of years in an unorganized state ;- that is, the Lutheran people of the community held their membership in the town church, and the services of public worship were held in the school house that stood on one of the corners of the cross roadways. The leading families were the Romshes, the McClin- tics, the Brokaws, Swans, Ritchies and others, who desired a nearby church home for themselves and their children. It has always been served by the pastors of the city congregation, who considered the community an important part of the strength of their church organization, and held special services there, catechized their youth, and gave them all possible pastoral attention.
Some time after their organization into a separate congregation, and during the pastorate of Rev. A. C. Miller, the present church was erected, and a separate Sunday-school maintained. It is located about four miles north of Wapakoneta, in the midst of a very rich farming country, with good roads and fine homes. It has always been a delightful com- munity to serve, and the little congregation always in a flourishing condition.
The membership is about forty, and the value of the buildings about $1,600.00.
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Services are held every alternate Sunday at an afternoon hour.
First English Lutheran Church, McComb, Ohio
Some time during the summer of 1894, on the invitation of the President of Synod Rev. S. E. Greenawalt, Mr. T. A. Estell, then a Senior student at the Seminary at Springfield, visited McComb, and held occasional services, and organized a Sunday- school. Effective preliminary work was done by student Estell for several months, sustaining a good Sunday-school and prayer-meeting. The work prom- ised a rapid growth, and on Sept. 23d, a church organization was regularly formed of 26 members, the President being assisted by Revs. A. C. Martin, and student Estell. At the annual convention of Wittenberg Synod, at Bellefontaine, in Oct., 1894, the congregation was regularly admitted to member- ship in the synod. The newly organized congrega- tion asked for aid to the extent of $too for one year in the support of a pastor, which was cheerfully granted. Occasional. supplies were secured and dur- ing the summer of 1895, it was supplied regularly for a few months by Rev. J. H. Fetterolf. On February Ist, 1896, a call was extended to Rev. M. F. Rinker of the East Ohio Synod, who took charge immediately. A number of accessions were made during the year.
Rev. Rinker served the congregation but a year and then resigned. Although without a pastor the congregation continued the work of building a new church, to completion, dedicating it July 18th, 1897.
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The dedicatory services were under the direction of the President of Synod. Rev. Dr. H. L. Wiles delivered the dedicatory sermon in the morning, re- ceiving sufficient subscriptions to cover all indebted- ness. The President of Synod delivered the sermon in the evening and formally dedicated the church be- ing assisted in the services by Revs. Dr. C. S. Erns- berger, and F. E. Leamer. The cost of the church was over $2,000.00.
After a vacancy of nearly two years with only occasional supplies, in November, 1898, a call was extended to Rev. S. P. Kieffer, who served the con- gregation in connection with Miller City, remaining as pastor only a year and a half. During this pas- torate substantial growth was realized, but the dis- tances were too great between McComb and Miller City, (18 miles) to be served by the same pastor and both becoming discouraged after several years being without a pastor, and only occasional supply possible. they each voted to disband and the membership go to adjoining churches. The chief discouragement at McComb was the loss of several of the leading and supporting families removing within a few months of each other. In 1906 it was dropped front roll of synod.
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