USA > Ohio > Fulton County > A standard history of Fulton County, Ohio, an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and county, Vol. I > Part 35
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To those public-spirited citizens of Archbold who have given so much of their time to civic responsibilities is due much credit. The offices are practically honorary, the remuneration being now not much more, proportionately, than in 1871, when, for instance, the council records noted the presentation of a claim, by John B. Schnetzler, of $4.50, the sum representing remuneration due to him for six months service as mayor, at fifty cents a month. At the same time Henry Bredt, town clerk, claimed a similar monthly stipend.
John B. Schnetzler served in mayoral office longer than had, or has,
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any other fellow-townsman; and Henry Bredt was town elerk for many years. August Ruihley, who now is in his third term as mayor, has been identified with the town and township administrations for mueh more than a generation. In addition to his other offiees, he was elerk of the Township Board of Education for seventeen years, and although he never attended law school, he prepared more legal doeuments it has been stated than any other man in the township.
In 1913, on Saturday night and Sunday morning of August 30 and 31st, Arehbold was the scene of a disastrous fire, which laid a block in the business section in ruins, doing damage totalling to more than $150,000. Everything in the business block exeepting the fireproof bank building was razed. The local fire-fighting equipment was totally inadequate to cope with the conflagration, and engine and hose companies came from Bryan, Wauseon, and Toledo. Regarding the local equipment one of the papers reported :
"Archbold's old Phoenix, purchased 35 years ago, was put to work at the cistern, near the opera house, and was throwing two streams of water at a good clip. At the most important moment, however, and just as the fire was being gotten, under control, the engine baulked. The valves failing to work, it was abandoned, and bucket brigades formed until the other engines from the surrounding towns could be put to work."
Further, the paper reported:
"An old-fashioned hand pump, manned by volunteers, and a small size of hose, was all the equipment the village had. As the engine had not been tested out for several years, it was badly in need of repairs before rapid work could be done. As the pay of the engine- house keeper had been reduced he did not receive enough to make it worth his while to look over the engine."
The Archbold Fire Department has since been reorganized, and now, under Chief Henry Nofzinger, seems capable of handling and subduing all but very serious eonflagrations, in Archbold, and the vicinity.
ARCHBOLD PUBLIC LIBRARY
A little space must be given to the reeording of a commendable public service, yet in its infaney. On April 3, 1916, the Women's Reading Club, of Arehbold, decided to organize a public library, "to promote the reading of good books and literature." A committee of five called on the mayor and council, and were readily granted permission to use one of the rooms of the Town Hall for library purposes. In various ways, by entertainments, socials, and such like means, the promoters raised for library purposes in the first year $414.57. On August 1st, the Women's Reading Club formed an independent organization, called the Arehbold Library Association, and transferred to it all the property and funds eolleeted for library purposes.
On October 11, 1916, the first quarterly meeting was held, and on Febuary 22, 1917, an open reception and book shower was held. It brought to the library donations amounting to $157.43, and 680 books. On January 1, 1920, the library owned 4015 volumes, and had a further 500 volumes supplied annually by the state, which latter supply is changed yearly.
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The growth of the Archbold Public Library has been creditable to its early workers, which include Mrs. Levy. Miss Sarah Levy is librarian, and Miss Emma Vernier assistant.
POPULATION
In point of population of incorporated places of Fulton county, Archbold comes fourth, but it is nevertheless healthily developing.
The federal census figures for 1860 are not available, but the official statistics for the last five decadal periods are: 1870, 373; 1880, 650; 1890, 780; 1900, 958; 1910, 1082; and 1920, 1125. This last figure is subject to correction, the "Preliminary Announcement of Population" being the only information yet released of the 1920 census.
The population statistics for German Township, including Arch- bold village, are as follows. 1870, 2479; 1880, 3033; 1890, 3103; 1900, 2989; 1910, 3088; 1920, 3137.
THE BUSINESS SECTION OF ARCHBOLD.
SCHOOLS
All historians; J. W. Roseborough (1870), Albert S. Flcet (1876), Verity (1888) and Mikesell 1905), agree that the first school in German Township was that established by Samuel B. Darby, in 1839. The schoolhouse was situated on the state road, one-half mile west of Burlington. It was a log house, with appropriate primitive furniture. S. B. Darby taught the winter term of 1839-40. Other pioneer teachers were Milton Zouver, Harriet Schnall, daughter of the pioneer John J. Schnall, of Dover, Miss Baker, Miss Shipman, Miss Mary Ann Pretty- man, Miss Gecsey and Miss Darby. Regarding the pioneer schools and school teachers, Judge Verity wrote:
"At the time, the wages of female teachers was from one to two dollars per week and board, while the wages of the men were from ten to fifteen dollars per month and board, and all usually had to teach 26 days for a month, and later 24 days for a month.
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In the first building of school houses, when of logs, it was customary, if possible, to get slabs for seats, and if not to make them from split puncheon, smoothed upon the top with a broad-ax and holes bored, and legs put in with the ax, and the desks made in the same manner and placed against the wall of logs. They answered a very good purpose mi those primitive times; and further, do not fool yourself into thinking that the teachers were no better, or as primitive, as the house in which they taught and the wages they got; many of them had splendid educations, acquired in the schools of the east."
Township trustee records show that in 1846, the township school districts were numbered up to 5, but only four had been organized. Prominent school directors then were Samuel Barr, John Leininger, Jacob Gaiman, Nicholas King, John Wyse, Christian Lauber, Peter Wyse, John King and Jacob Nofzinger. In 1853, there were ten school districts, and the representatives on the township Board of Education then were, respectively: Henry Lutes, Jacob Gasche, Wm. Albright, Albert S. Fleet, L. Markley, Christian Shantz, Phineas Vernier, Jacob Barr, S. O. Daily, and Christian Klopfenstein. On January 25, 1854, contract was placed with Solomon Rogers, "for building a schoolhouse (for district No. 2) 18x26, to furnish material and do the labor, for $160.00, furnished, with the exception of a little painting." In that year four more districts were organized, and the total enrollment was 537 scholars. There were seventeen schools in 1859, and 408 male scholars and 338 female. School property was then valued at $2360. Although the average value of a schoolhouse was then placed at not much more than $130, it would appear that the Board of Education of German Township was somewhat extravagant in establishing school districts in the late 'fifties. But the mode and manner of travel,, the state of the roads, and the difficulties of transportaion undoubtedly actuated the early school administrators to place simple schoolhouses wherever there were grouped a small number of children who could not attend other schools. However, as the state of the roads increased, so did the number of schools decrease, and the character of those used change. The log schoolhouse passed away, the cheap badly-ventilated frame buildings in many cases were abandoned, and substantial airy brick schoolhouses took their place. In 1875, Fleet states, the enumera- tion was 770 pupils, and that there were eleven school districts, conducted at a total expense of $3538.10.
Among school teachers in the 'sixties were Hattie E. Schnall, T. H. Brown, Catherine R. Gettings, G. W. Griesinger, Catherine Fair- field, Daniel R. Morrison, Ardella Fleet, J. B. Lutes, R. Raymond, J. C. Long, Armida Wilden, and Esther P. Clifton. And among the men who exerted a powerful influence in the standard of education in German Township in early decades were A. Daily, George R. Betts, Benjamin Brown, Hon. L. W. Brown, Julius Whitehorne, and John W. Roseborough. These men, and others, laid the basis of the excellent educational system now possible in the public schools. At present (1920) there are twelve one-room schoolhouses in German Township, the twelve, with equipment, being valued at $15,775. They served 347 scholars during 1919. In addition there is an eight-roomed schoolhouse, valued at $28,100, in Archbold, attended by about 190 scholars of elementary grades, and by sixty high school students. There is also a rural school at Elmira, and a consolidated school at Pettisville.
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The board of education of the four districts are: German Town- ship: Wm. H. Miller, president; O. C. Lauber, clerk; Wm. Leininger, Frank Winzeler, S. R. Shaffer, and Geo. S. Leininger, directors; Arch- bold Village: Dr. E. A. Murbach, president; H. J. Walters, clerk; P. C. Burkholder, A. G. Siegel, and David Snyder; Pettisville: W. J. Weber, president; Geo. McGuffin, clerk; A. J. Lantz, F. D. Lehman, Adam Britsch, directors; Elmira: S. D. Nofzinger, president; J. A. Rupp, clerk; Ed. Crossgrove, Chas. Siegel,, and W. A. Spengler, directors.
Further reference to German Township schools will be found else- where in this volume, in the general chapter regarding "The Schools, 1835-1920."
CHURCHES
Undoubtedly, the first church society to be formed in German Township was that of the Mennonite Church. There was, in all prob- ability, regular private worship by individual families in 1834, for such is one of the religious practices faithfully observed by devout people of the Mennonite Church, but the first gathering of settlers for relig- ious worship of which there is record was in the fall of 1835, when services attended by Amish brethren were conducted in the log house of Christian Lauber, by Christian Beek, who later became a prominent minister and public worker in German Township.
There are several branches of the Mennonite Church in Fulton county, all off-shoots of the Amish body, which is the strongest church organization in German Township. It has always been so. Albert S. Fleet wrote, in 1876: "The Mennonite Church has the largest mem- bership of any in this township today-membership, 265; church property, $2,500. They pay no salary to preachers. Preacher in charge, Nicholas King; subordinate ministers, Jacob Naufsinger, Chris- tian Fryenbarger, Christian Stuckey, John Wyse; directors, Christian Wyse and Christian Schantz."
The Fulton county circuit, or diocese, of the Amish Mennonite Church is referred to in "The Mennonites of America," a somewhat recent publication, as follows : *
“* * another colony, composed mostly of immigrants from near Muhlhausen, was established in Fulton county. From 1834 to 1850 many families settled in what is now German township. Among the earliest settlers were Nicholas King, Jacob Binder, Christian Lau- ber, Christian Rupp, Henry and Jacob Roth, and John Gunday, who came in 1834. These were followed in 1835 by Peter Rupp, Chris- tian Beck and others, and in the following years by those bearing the names Burkholder, Rivenaugh, Stutzman, Schmucker, Klopfenstein, Stuckey and Wyse. The congregation has since grown to large dimen- sions, and although it has within recent years furnished a number of recruits for the Egli branch of the church, it still contains a member- ship of about six hundred."
As at present constituted, the Fulton County Amish Mennonite Central Church has three places of worship, or church buildings. The largest building is in German Township. It is generally known as the Central A. M. Church, and it serves the largest group of Amish breth- ren. There is one church in the western part of Clinton Township, not far from the border line with German Township; and the third is
.
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in reality not in Fulton county at all, being in Williams county, Brady Township, just across the line from German Township. The three churches arc in the Fulton county diocese, of which Elias L. Frey has been bishop since March, 1908. The present ministers are Daniel J. Wyse, Henry Rychener, S. D. Griesier and Elias. Rupp ; and the present deacons arc J. C. Frey and Daniel Sauder. The membership of the three churches is now almost nine hundred, and the property is all deeded to the Fulton County Amish Mennonite Central Church. It exercises a powerful influence for good, and the Mennonite Church has been one of the most distinctive and stable factors in the develop- ment and propsperity of German Township. Believing, as they do, in I. Tim., 2, 9; I. Peter., 3, 3; Rom., 12, 2; I. Cor., 11, 5, and similar scriptures, its members are distinctive in dress, and are unique in many religious observances that come into their general every-day life. The members of the Mennonite Church undoubtedly have earned an envi- able reputation for honesty, thrift, hospitality and industriousness.
Unfortunately there is very little historical information presently before the compiler, by which he could review the history of the other branches of the Mennonite Church in German Township. The Egli, or Defenceless Mennonite branch is of long standing; and the New Mennonite Church had a membership of forty-five in 1875, when its church property was valued at $1,500. The minister in charge then was Benedict Meister, and the trustees were Jacob Bender and Christian Allion.
Methodist Episcopal Churches. Henry and John Lutes, who set- tled in German Township in 1837, were both local preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. So also was Joel Smith, who came in the next year. The first religious meeting conducted in English in Ger- man Township was that held in the log cabin of John Reynolds in 1837, Henry Lutz officiating. In that year, he was authorized to preach, and in 1838, at Defiance Joel Smith was licensed to preach. Traveling ministers of the M. E. Church were early in the township, among the first to come being Austin Coleman and McEnder Capp. The first quarterly meeting was held in German Township in 1837, and John Jones was presiding elder. "The first organized English church in the township" was, stated Fleet, the Methodist Episcopal, at Burlington. Another historian states that the M. E. Church at Burl- ington "was the first organized body of that faith in the township." It had thirty members at organization, and in 1876 had thirty-seven. Its property was then valued at $600. The trustees were James F. Rogers, J. W. Roseborough, Henry Pike and L. W. Brown. The M. E. Church at Archbold was established in the sixties, or early seventies. Promi- nent among the founders were J. C. Whitehorne and Frederick Stotzer. Soon after organization, a frame church was built at Stryker street. Archbold, at a cost of $1,800, which was a commendable undertaking by the early members, their numbers being so few. In 1876 there were only ten members of that church, and the services were conducted by the Rev. John Poucher, of the Burlington church. He received a yearly salary of $100 from the Archbold body, and $150 from the Burlington church. Later, John Poucher, who was a capable and en- ergetic minister, entered the milling business at West Unity. By birth an Englishman, he was much respected in German Township.
The Methodist Episcopal people at Archbold still use for their
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services the frame church building originally erected; and it still stands on Stryker street. About twelve years ago it was remodelled. At present the Archbold church has about fifty members. The pastor is the Rev. F. Money, while Arthur Siegel is the active superintendent of a well-attended Sunday school.
In 1838, Lilley Bridge preached as a missionary of the United Breth- ren order. In 1875, the United Brethren society in German Township consisted of eighteen members, but they had no church, and no regular pastor.
Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church was worthily active in missionary work in the earliest pioneer days in Northwest Ohio. Missionary priests from Cincinnati came into the wild territory as it became settled, and served the religious needs of people of that faith wherever a few could gather together in a log cabin. To the Catholic people of German Township belongs the distinction of having erected the first building in the township that was set apart exclusively as a place of worship. The early records state that that church was situated near the center of the township. Eventually a larger church was built at Archbold, and it was the center of clerical activities of the Roman Catholic Church in Fulton and William counties for many years. In 1876, the Rev. H. Delbaer was pastor of the Archbold Church, and A. T. Moine and Peter Grim trustees. Church property was then valued at $4,000; the pastor's salary was $700; and the membership totalled 120. The Rev. Wm. J. Carroll, present pastor of the Archbold church has, very considerately, undertaken research in early church records, and thus has been enabled to furnish for this review, the following data :
"Archbold, Ohio, was the first of the Fulton county towns to have a resident pastor. This occurred in 1875. It was his duty to look after the needs of all the Catholic people living along the 'Air Line' (the N. Y. C. R. R.) from Swanton to Edgerton, the territory including Swan- ton, Delta. Wauseon, Archbold, Stryker and Bryan. The records of priests go back to 1850 and baptisms, marriages, burials, first commu- nion, and of confirmation, to 1859. The following priests have served Archbold and missions: About 1850, Rev. Thibieres; 1858-65, Rev. A. Hoeffel; 1865-67, N. Kirch; 1867-69, P. Baker (who built the second church, a frame structure, used until 1906) ; 1869-70, I. Eyler and Monsignor Rappe ; 1870-73, Charles Braschler; 1873-75, L. Vogt; 1875- 77, H. (one record says Andrew) Delbaer, the first resident pastor. (He also started a parish school in his home. School was discontinued after his removal) ; 1877-81, N. S. Franche ; 1881-82, F. Nunan ; 1882- 83, Primean; 1884-86, G. C. Schoenemann; 1886-98, F. H. Muehlenbeck ; 1898-1920, P. H. Janssen; 1920, Wm. J. Carroll.
"Construction of a new church was begun in 1906, funds then on hand, or promised, totalling to $13,000. The architect was W. Dowl- ing, of Toledo, and construction was placed in the responsibility of a Napoleon contractor, a Mr. McComb, who however was unable to com- plete the work, the contract being eventually taken over by a Mr. Her- man, a Toledo contractor. Cornerstone was laid on July 29, 1906 by the Rev. F. Muehlenbeck, and work was finished at Easter time of 1907. The church was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Koudelka on October 7, 1908. The cost of church building, exclusive of site, was $16,800. Other improvements to church and cemetery property were made dur-
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ing Father Janssen's pastorate. During his many years at Archbold, he had endcared himself to his people, and was mueh respected in the town and township. On June 29, 1916, Father Janssen celebrated his Silver Jubilee of ordination to the priesthood. The day was made most happy for him by the people of Archbold, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. He left Archbold in February, 1920, for Landeck, Ohio."
His successor, the Rev. Wm. J. Carroll, is a very much younger man, but of notieeable energy. He is striving to quickly clear the church indebtedness, and to establish a parochial school in Archbold; and there are indieations that his popularity with his congregation will gain him their eooperation in such endeavors. St. Peter's is one of the beautiful church edifiecs of Arehbold, which is noted for the artistic splendor of its churches.
St. John's Reformed Church is another of the beautiful churches of Arehbold; indeed it is elaimed to be one of the finest, architeeturally, in the county. It was built in 1914-15, during the pastorate of John J. Vogt. The architect was Abraham Bagley, and the dedicatory services were held during the week May 16th to 21st, 1915. The building com- mittee ineluded J. H. Miller, chairman and treasurer; R. S. Rodenhuis, seeretary; David Snyder and George H. Rutz. The offieers of the church at that time were: J. S. Sehlatter, Daniel Snyder and Barnet B. Kutzli, trustees; Frank Winzler, Barnet B. Kutzli and Emil Spiess, deaeons ; J. J. Spiess, William Buehrer, and J. S. Sehlatter, elders. The Arehbold church was founded in 1852, and in 1876 had a membership of seventy-five. It then had church property valued at $2,325. The pastor then was John Neafoff, who received a salary of $400. The trustees were V. Theobald, M. Buerer and Jaeob Zico.
The Evangelieal Lutheran St. Martin's Church at Archbold, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on June 25, 1916, when a historieal review of its development during the period was read. The paper was as follows :
"Previous to the year 1866, Rev. K. Strauss, who resided near Oka- lona, Ohio., would oceasionally eome to Arehbold, which at that time consisted of but a few houses, and eonduet serviees for a number of Lutheran families who resided in and near Arehbold. In the spring of 1866, a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a Lutheran congregation. In a subsequent meeting a constitution was adopted. Thus the St. Martin's Lutheran Church eame into existence. The charter members were: Karl Dimke, Jacob Huit, Gust. Dimke, John Brodbeck, Dan Burkholder, Peter Eva, Fr. Wetzel, Valentine Theobald, Fr. Brandt, Michael Weber and N. Waefel. The first officers were: N. Waefel, elder; Karl Dimke, seeretary; and Jaeob Huit, trustee and treasurer. In the same year, the newly-formed congregation erected a church building, the first ehureh built in Arehbold. In 1869, the congregation got its first resident pastor, the Rev. A. Beroset, who served to the year 1879. He was succeeded by Rev. C. Schleicher, who was pastor to the year 1883. Rev. C. Schink was then called. Rev. T. Kluepfel took charge of the congregation in August, 1886, but died three months later. Rev. J. Kramstroh filled the vacaney, serving until July, 1887, when the present pastor, then a theologieal student, was called."
A parsonage was bought in 1883, but it was inconveniently located, and eventually the congregation bought two lots on S. Defianee strect,
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on which site they caused to be built in 1896 the present parsonage, at a cost of $1,782. The original church building served for thirty-nine years, but in 1905 a new church was built, at a cost of $5,000. It was renovated and enlarged, in seating capacity, in 1916, and adequately meets the needs of the church. The church property is entirely free of debt, and the church is in a vigorous state. There are about 34 vot- ing members and 101 communicant members.
The Apostolic Christian Church of Archbold, or the Imthurn Baptist Church as it is sometimes called, was organized about sixty-five years ago. In 1875, the church had an active organization, having a membership then of fifty-five, and owning a church building at Lauber Hill valued at $600. Andrew Brown was the minister, and Adam Imthurn was deacon. Adam Imthurn was the first man to be baptized into that church in Fulton county. The immersion took place in Bean Creek. He eventually became the strongest pillar of the church, devoting his life to its affairs, and preaching over a wide area. He was elder of the church for twenty-five or thirty years. He is now infirm, being eighty-seven years old, and others have taken up his work, but the history of that church will always be associated with Adam Imthurn. He is an honored resident of Archbold and now its oldest resident. He had a tailor shop on the west side of Defiance street be- fore the incorporation of the village.
The early churches of German Township served societies of many denominations. The first church erected in Pettisville, on the Clinton side, was for the Baptist society. That must have been built before 1855. On the German side of Pettisville there were two churches in 1875, the Disciples in Christ and the German Reformed congregations having buildings. The Methodist Episcopal society also was active in the village at that time.
There were quite a number of religious societies that were compara- tively strong in German Township in its early decades, but not strong enough to need separate church buildings for their meetings. Among these early societies were Holdermanite, Free Methodist and United Brethren organizations.
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