USA > Ohio > Hardin County > A twentieth century history of Hardin County, Ohio : a narrative account of its historical progress its people and principal interests, Vol. I > Part 31
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
Saviour lived while on earth. His ambition was realized, but scareely had he returned until it was known that he could not live long. He died February 15, 1906. His work endures; his name is still on our lips as "one that serves."
Within three months after his resignation the congregation had a new pastor. The name of Rev. J. W. Kerr (now of Toledo) was sug- gested by the retiring pastor. He was ealled and commenced his labors in July, 1903. This pastorate extends over a period of only eighteen months. Rev. Kerr was very favorably known in Sidney Presbytery, where he had served as pastor of several congregations. He was also favorably known in the church. The secretary of the Home Mission Board recognizing his ability as a worker in a home mission field re- quested him to take up a new field in Toledo, Ohio. Mueh against the will of the congregations of Kenton and Silver Creek he felt constrained to present his resignation. He demitted the charge in January, 1905. Then followed a period of vacaney lasting a little over one year.
In January, 1906, a call from the Kenton and Silver Creek eongre- gations was presented to the Rev. John W. Biekett, and by him accepted. He commenced his labors in February, 1906; was installed by Sidney Presbytery in April of the same year, and continues to be their pastor. During the present pastorate a number of minor repairs have been made. Today the church edifice is still "a thing of beauty."
The following list of elders will give an idea of the eonstitueney of the congregation : David Snodgrass, Thos. Rough, Judge James Bain, Joseph HI. Robinson, R. D. Miller, James Ewing, Sr., John MeClellan, John II. Anderson, S. W. Robinson, David R. Boyd, Newton D. Robin- son, Dr. J. N. McCoy, A. P. Snodgrass, A. M. Riee, R. H. MeCoy, James Ewing, Jr., and Professor S. J. Wagner. The last six are the present ruling elders. The present trustees are Carle Bowman, Carey J. Griffith and Dr. W. D. Combs.
The membership is not large but the congregation is well organized and doing good work. The character of the people is such that any man might be proud to be their pastor. For more than half a century this congregation has done her work. During all this time the mid-week prayer meeting has been held. One from her midst has been edueated for the ministry, namely, Rev. Freneh O. Ross. A number of the young people at different times have attended the higher sehools of learning. Several are in college at the present time. Such is but a scanty sketch of the United Presbyterian chureh.
The First Baptist church of Kenton was organized June 22, 1850, with seven members. The first pastor was Rev. A. L. Hay who had been a missionary to the Creek Indians. The first ehnreh was ereeted on the present site in 1852, and was dedieated by Rev. David Scott. Three of the members who were present at the dedieation are still active mem-
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bers of the Baptist church, two of them residing in Kenton-Mrs. Helen McCance, Mrs. Mary MeVitty and Mrs. Wizand. The first named live in Kenton and are still faithful to the church of their youth.
During its early years this church had all the trials and tribulations of any pioneer organization, being sometimes without a pastor, and at others in quite a flourishing condition. During the pastorate of Rev. Thomas J. Sheppard everything prospered financially and spiritually, for he was greatly liked by his people, and it was while he was here that the beautiful little brick structure was erected at the corner of Carrol and Wayne. It was dedicated November, 1890, and by the active work of pastor and people was cleared of debt. Two very notable revivals have marked the history of this congregation-one in 1869 when sixty persons were baptized and taken into the church and one in 1901 when about one hundred people professed conversion.
The pastorates of Revs. Tilley and Fischer were also marked by steady growth, but these ministers were only here for short periods. Rev. O. L. Martin next came, and during his term as minister the parsonage was built next to the church and connected with it. Rev. Martin was an active, aggressive worker along all church lines, being particularly active in building up the congregation and in temperance work, and it was with keen regret that the people of the church and city gave him up when health failed and he was compelled to seek a more congenial climate. Under his pastorate the church became self sup- porting, and the membership reached one hundred and fifty. It was in 1903 that the parsonage was dedicated and in 1908 the last of the indebtedness was wiped out.
On November 3. 1907, Rev. Philip Bauer was called to the church, and his work has been crowned with success to the present time. He was a noted evangelist and soul-winner, and the congregation made no mistake in choosing him to carry on the work here. Under his leader- ship debts have been paid, the Bible school increased to nearly two hundred members, country congregations built up, and the spiritual and financial well being of the church strengthened. A Sunday school has been organized at Grassy Point with preaching occasionally, and Mr. Bauer has many calls to other congregations to assist with revival services. The church is well organized along all lines, having a strong Missionary society and a good Sunday school. The list of pastors is given elsewhere.
The church has a seating capacity of two hundred and fifty and is a beautiful little building. The parsonage is in harmony with the church edifice, and furnishes a convenient home for the pastor and his family. The present membership is about one hundred and seventy. The Sunday school, in charge of G. R. Jones as superintendent. is active, progressive and doing good work.
Pastors of the church: 1850, (five months), Rev. A. L. Hay; 1851,
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(April 26)-1854 (Feb. 19), Rev. David Seott; 1855 (June) -1856 (June) , Rev. E. G. Wood; 1856 (November 15), Rev. T. J. Price; 1857 (Deeem- ber 19), Rev. D. G. Oviatt; 1858 (November), Rev. Wm. H. Barber ; 1860 (June 9)-1862 (April 19), Rev. D. G. Oviatt; 1862 (December 15), Rev. J. Burke; 1863 (June 14, four months), Rev. D. G. Oviatt; 1865 (May)-1867 (February), Rev. J. B. Shaff; 1868 ( April 15)-1871 ( April 15), Rev. J. L. Phillips; 1871 ( December 16)-1872 (December 1), Rev. W. W. Robinson ; 1872 (Deeember)-1873 (April), Rev. E. A. Wood; 1874 (March), Rev. A. G. Kirk; 1875 ( April 4)-1877 (April 5), Rev. W. V. Thomas; 1877 (October), Rev. J. C. Tuttle; 1879 (May 25), Rev. J. Fisher ; 1887 (March 20)-1888, Rev. Mr. Massett ; 1889 (June 2)-1892 (September 25), Rev. T. J. Sheppard; 1893 (May 7)-1894 ( May 5), Rev. B. F. Tilley ; 1894 (December 30)-1896 (September 3), Rev. Frederiek Fischer; 1896 (October 11)-1907 (October 20), Rev. O. L. Martin; and 1907 (November 3), Rev. Philip Bauer, Jr., (present pastor).
The Baptist Young People's Union was organized in 1893. The following members held the office of president: 1893, Jaek Corwin; 1894-95. O. F. Reed; 1896-97, HI. A. Hisey ; 1897-98, A. G. Banks; 1898, II. A. Hisey ; 1899, W. C. Hisey ; 1900, Miss Ida Banks ; 1900-01, F. West Blanchard ; 1902, C. C. Sherman ; 1903, Mrs. J. J. Johnson ; 1904, Stuart Garrettson; 1905, Miss Beatrice O'Neal; 1906, Mrs. S. T. Garrettson ; 1907, Miss Beatrice O'Neal; 1908, C. C. Sherman ; and 1909, Pearl Reed.
The Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the First Baptist church was organized at the home of Mrs. Helen M. MeCance, North Main street, in April, 1884. Following is a partial list of the presidents : 1897, Mrs. II. M. MeCance; 1898, Mrs. O. L. Martin ; 1899, Mrs. Jennie Holverstott; 1900-01-02-03, Mrs. Maria O'Neal; 1904, Mrs. O. L. Martin ; 1905, Mrs. O. L. Martin ; 1906. Mrs. H. M. MeCanee ; 1907, Mrs. O. L. Martin; 1908, Mrs. Clarenee VanCleave, and 1909, Mrs. George Feeker.
It is probable that the Rev. Dr. McElroy was the first Episcopal clergyman who visited Kenton, but the date is uneertain. In 1850 and 1851, the Rev. C. B. Stout of Urbana held serviees two or three times in the Presbyterian church on September 11, 1859, the Rev. E. H. Cumming, missionary-at-large, held two services at the same place. In 1859 and 1861, the Rev. Robert Paul, of Bellefontaine, held fifteen monthly serviees in the Presbyterian and United Presbyterian ehurehes, at the courthouse, and in a hall. On June 14, 1861, Bishop Bedell confirmed three persons. February 14, 1864, the Rev. E. H. Cumming began monthly serviees, and April 17, of the same year, Bishop Bedell made his second visitation, confirming one person. Mr. Cumming's serviees lasted till December 13, 1870. The Rev. James B. Britton, of Marion, held a few services, and on April 9, 1871, presented one for confirmation on Bishop Bedell's third visitation.
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On January 7, 1876, the Rev. A. B. Nicholas of Bellefontaine held evening services in Kenton, when a Church Guild was duly organized, having Mr. D. Calhoun as president, Miss Rachel Spelman as secretary, , Mrs. George Carey as Treasurer. January 13, 1876, a constitution for the Guild was duly adopted and Easter Monday of the same year, A. W. Miller was elected president, D. W. Benton vice president, D. Calhoun, secretary and T. J. Cantwell, treasurer, and Elias Benton, D. W. Benton and J. S. Robinson were appointed trustees of the Mission. The name St. Paul's was also adopted upon the suggestion of Elias Benton. On August 16, 1876, the Rev. A. B. Nicholas was succeeded by the Rev. George Bosley. The services were then held in a hall on the third floor of a building on the west side of the square. On April 19, 1877, a lot was purchased on north Detroit strect for $1,000; the log house situated upon it was changed into a chapel, and for the first time the little congregation worshiped in their own church. Beside regu- lar Sunday services, a Sunday school was soon organized. In the spring of 1882, St. Paul's chapel and the lot were sold for $800, and the lot on the corner of Detroit and North streets was purchased for $3,000, paid for and deeded to the Trustees of the Diocese of Ohio, under Title III, Canon III, Scc. III of the Diocesan Digest of Canons. Part of the building was converted into a chapel, and the remainder was occu- pied by the Rev. George Bosley, April, 1882. In 1887, Mr. Bosley resigned his charge and was succceded by the Rev. J. F. Parke. In 1888, Easter Monday, a pledge of $3,500 having been secured by T. J. Cantwell and Colonel R. S. Innes for the building of a new church, these two gentlemen and General J. S. Robinson were appointed a committee to proceed with the erection of such a building and to repair the rec- tory. The new church, erected at a cost of $5,000, was opened and consecrated by Bishop Leonard.
The Rev. J. F. Parke removed to Bellefontaine in the spring of 1890 and in the fall of the same year resigned his charge. January 20, 1891, the Bishop appointed the Rev. J. B. Blanchet, of Mansfield, Penn- sylvania, minister in charge of the mission, who resigned January 30, 1892. During his year's work, a $2,000 mortgage was lifted from the church.
In November, 1892, the Rev. Richard A. G. Osborne was appointed priest in charge. He resigned September 30, 1894. Until January, 1897. St. Paul's was without a minister, at which time the Rev. J. II. W. F. Cole took charge of the mission and remained until July, 1903. The church was closed until May, 1905, when the Rev. C. F. Magee, the present incumbent, took charge.
For a number of years prior to the year 1854, various preachers of the Church of Christ, or Disciple Church, among whom were Elders John Reed, Calvin Smith, Jesse Roberts, Jackson Dowling, J. Hartzell
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and others, visited the county at more or less irregular periods, holding services at private houses, school houses, barns and organizing the scat- tered members into small congregations for the purpose of public worship, among which was one at Lynn valley, one near Greenleaf school house and one east of Kenton near where the Williamsons and Wagners live. Of those who are at present members of the congrega- tion in Kenton, Mrs. Phoebe Drumm and Mrs. Hannah Davis, were members of these earlier organizations, and are the only living members of the first organization of the Disciple church in this city.
CHURCH OF CHRIST, KENTON, OHIO
In February, 1854, Elder Calvin Smith came to Kenton, under the auspices of the Ohio Christian Missionary Society, and took steps to or- ganize a congregation in Kenton and ereet a church building, which building was completed that year and dedicated by Elder Smith, at a cost of $1,300, which included the cost of the lot. This church build- ing was located on the east side of north Main street, between North and Summit streets, and stood on the same lot which the present church building now occupies.
From this time until the year 1863 the congregation here was ministered unto by Elder Calvin Smith, Zephan Green, Jesse Roberts and J. C. Winter, but from the latter year up until 1871, there was no regular pastor and the church finally disorganized some time during the year 1865 or 1866. However there were a number of families which remained members of the "Disciple church of Main street" and con- tinued to hold the property, hoping for better times. Among these
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families may be mentioned the Williamsons, Smiths, Roberts, Bridges, Drumms, Wagners and others, whose hopes were at last realized.
About January 1, 1871, Elders Jesse Roberts and William Dowling were called by the few remaining members to hold a revival which re- sulted in the temporary re-organization of the church, the accession of eight new members and the calling of Elder William Dowling to the pastorate on January 10, 1871. This re-organization was affected with twenty-seven of the old organization and eight new ones who elected Thomas W. Bridge and Bartholomew Williamson Associate Elders and Nathaniel Williamson, H. N. Smith and Henry Price Deacons. Rev. Dowling was to spend half his time with the church, and on April 22, 1871, a permanent organization took place, which however made no change in the officers of the church. On January 27, 1872, Rev. Dow- ling was engaged for his full time and filled the pulpit until the close of 1879. In January 1880, Elder W. H. Martin became pastor, remain- ing one year. For a short time after the close of Martin's pastorate the church was without a pastor, but on May 1, 1881, John A. Roberts was called to the charge. Rev. W. J. Lahman succeeded Roberts as pastor of the church, and it was during his pastorate that the present church building was erected.
Shortly after the dedication of the new church W. J. Lahman re- signed the pastorate to go to Minneapolis, and Rev. William Dowling was recalled to the charge, being succeeded by Rev. J. E. Mann. Rev. Lincoln Davis succeeded Mr. Mann and remained with the church until followed by Rev. I. J. Cahill, now pastor of the first church of Dayton, Ohio. Rev. Cahill served the church until the first of January, 1896, resigning at that time to take a course of study in the Chicago University. The church was withont a pastor until May 1, 1896. when Rev. T. W. Pinkerton, the present pastor, assumed the duties of pastor with the congregation. Rev. Pinkerton remained pastor of the church until the last of March. 1902, when he resigned to go to Salt Lake on account of the health of his daughters. He was succceded by Rev. Sumner T. Martin of Omaha, Nebraska, but Mr. Martin remained but a short time and was succeeded on the first day of September, in the same year, by Rev. C. C. Rollison, now pastor of the church in Iowa City, Iowa. Rev. Rollison continued as pastor of the Kenton church until the first of April, 1905, when he resigned to become president of Hiram College. On the first of September, 1905, Rev. T. W. Pinkerton, whom the church recalled, became the pastor.
The officers of the church are J. M. Wray, W. T. Brown, E. H. Sorgen, Elders ; E. E. Rutledge, clerk ; C. W. Faulkner, treasurer. The Sunday school has an average attendance of about three hundred and fifty, with Carl Price as superintendent and Fred Haudenshield as assistant.
The church has a membership at this time of five hundred and Vol. I-20
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sixty ; is free from debt and the congregation is now contemplating the erection of a new building, which will be more in unison with the growth and spirit of the age, than the present edifice, which they have used for some twenty-three years and have generally outgrown. The church has recently purchased a new site at the corner of Detroit and North streets, on which it expects, in the future, to ereet its new building.
Immaculate Conception Church: In the pioneer times of Hardin county visiting priests, missionaries from the older communities, held services in the homes of the Catholic families, as it was impossible to establish a regular place of worship at that time. Fathers Theinpont, McNamee, Shelan, Howard, Grogan and Magher came to the cabins of the Toner, MeGuigan, and Mathews families, but it was not until 1862 that the Society of the Most Precious Blood, at Minster, Auglaize county, sent priests here at stated intervals. Then it was that regular services were established and the faithful members of this church could assemble at Kenton from all parts of the county. Among these pioneer priests might be mentioned the following : Fathers Patrick Henneberry, Mathias Krench, Alphonso Laut, Joseph Dwenger, Henry Drees and Christian French. This continued until 1866, when a regular minister, Rev. N. R. Young, arrived to be the first resident priest of Kenton.
From all accounts Rev. Young seems to have been a very well educated energetic man, but ill health kept him from remaining long with the Kenton congregation. Various private dwellings and halls were used as place of worship, but finally when a substantial brick building was ereeted on the southeast corner of the square the upper floor was used as a meeting place for the congregation. In 1864 the erection of the present brick church was begun, and the corner-stone was laid with impressive ceremonies by Archbishop Purcell. Rev. Patrick Henneberry, a former visiting pastor, whose earnest work started the movement that resulted in the church, and the loyal members willingly gave of their means to build it. It was dedicated December 9, 1866, by Archbishop Purcell.
Father Young was followed by Rev. A. M. Quatman in December, 1869, but he only remained four months. In June 1870, Father N. V. Fas arrived to have charge of the Kenton congregation but he remained only a little more than a year. On December 28, 1871, Rev. Anthony S. Siebenfoercher took charge of the work, and most of the history of the Catholic church in Kenton was made during his long and successful pastorate. Father Siebenfoereher was a man of deep piety and high intellectual attainments, and he was ever ready to do his Master's work wherever he found it. During his term as priest in Kenton the ceme- tery was laid out, the school building built, the hospital founded and the property greatly enlarged and improved. When he arrived the church was built and the present parsonage, but all the other property and
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buildings have been acquired since. The parsonage was built about 1868, and the cemetery purchased in 1872.
To provide a home for the teachers in the school the present Sisters' house at the southwest corner of Cherry and North streets was built in 1880 at a cost of $3,072.50 and it is a pleasant and commodious building well fitted for the purpose. Mention is made elsewhere of the other acquisitions of property made by Rev. Siebenfoercher, who was noted for his activity in all branches of church work.
The church work so increased that in 1874, it became necessary to have an assistant pastor. Rev. Joseph Quatman was the first and he remained only a short time. Then came Alfred D. Dexter in 1876 and he was followed in 1882 by Rev. Andrew Ebert. Then came Rev. W. B. Miggeel and later in 1883 Rev. Francis Lasance, since which time there have been various assistants. In addition to the regular church work the Sisters of Charity teach music and others are engaged in hos- pital duties, so that a large force of workers in this little community is always busy.
In August, 1905, Rev. Siebenfoercher gave up active work after a long and useful career and now resides in Dayton, Ohio. He lived to see the feeble congregation grow and multiply. the church property in- crease in value, new buildings erected, new enterprises become successful and the entire work a credit to the progressive city in which the church is located. ITis suecessor, Rev. Fortman, of Newport, Ohio, has since had charge of the work without an assistant.
During the pioneer period of Kenton the members of the Reformed ehureh worshiped with those of other faiths, though occasionally there were services conducted by Rev. Dr. H. J. Ruetenik before the year 1859. Rev. Ruetenik visited the First Reformed church in 1907, and is still living in Cleveland at the advanced age of nearly ninety. Under his ministry, though not a regular minister for the congregation, the little band gathered together in formal organization in 1859 with twenty persons as a beginning of the present flourishing congregation. They rented a room in the third floor of the Goodin Block, and services were held there for some years with Rev. William Renter as the first pastor
In 1863 Rev. Renter left and the congregation was for some time without a pastor. However the Sunday school was kept up, and the congregation never disbanded. In 1864 Rev. Gerhard Keuhlen was called to the charge, but remained only two years when Rev. Charles Scharf succeeded him. In 1869 Rev. Isaac Matzinger took charge of the work and it was while he was here that a little frame church 36 by 56 feet was built on the present lot. Benedict Keupfer, William J. Althauser and Abraham Sorgen were the members of the building committee. In 1871 Rev. Philip Ruhl, a pastor still held in loving memory by the older members of the congregation, came to be the
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minister, and he infused new life and hope into the congregation. How- ever he only remained three years and was succeeded by his uncle, Rev. J. G. Ruhl, who remained until October, 1878, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. Heberle. After Rev. Heberle left (September 1, 1882) the church was without a pastor for two years though supplied regularly from the Seminary at Tiffin, Ohio.
On May 27, 1881, Kenton had one of the most disastrous fires of its history and the Reformed church was destroyed along ยท with all the other buildings in the block reaching to Franklin street on the south. The loss to the con- gregation was estimated at $3,000 and was a most dis- astrous blow to the little flock. The present church was begun in 1883, and on September 1, 1884, anoth- er regular pastor was in- stalled, the Rev. II. Holli- ger. He was succeeded December 1, 1887, by Rev. Philip Ruhl who was again called to this church and remained here for about ten years. It was during the time Rev. Ruhl was here that the present sub- stantial parsonage was erected next the church. Rev. E. R. C. Meyer, who succeeded Mr. Ruhl, found the church burdened with debts and at once set to FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, KENTON, OHIO work to clear them away. While he was pastor the rule "pay as you go" was inaugurated, and as a result the congregation is now in a flourishing condition and free from all encumbrances. Rev. Setlage came to Kenton as pastor of the First Reformed church on September 1, 1901, but remained only until October 1, 1902, when he was succeeded by Rev. W. B. Jorris who was a very popular minister in his own church and also in the city.
The present pastor, Rev. Morgan A. Peters, came to Kenton to succeed Rev. Jorris August 1, 1905, and since he has been here the
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church has enjoyed greater prosperity than ever before in her history. The Sunday school has been built up, the various enterprises of the church filled with new life and energy, repairs made, and work in all lines quickened and helped. During the present year (1909) the Golden Jubilee of the church was celebrated with much rejoicing, and in every way the church is making itself felt as a power for good in the community. Much of this prosperity is due to Rev. and Mrs. Peters, as well as the loyal members, of whom there are many on the church roll. Mrs. Samuel Raber, an aged and much respected lady of Kenton, was at the Jubilee exercises and was the only charter member still alive.
The Sunday school of this church was organized in 1861, with Mr. W. J. Althauser as the first superintendent. Mr. Althauser still con- tinues to take an active interest in the work and is one of the pupils of the school at present. From the little beginning back in 1861 the school has grown to require a force of eleven officers and sixteen teachers. The Ladies Aid and Missionary society was organized January 6, 1895. with Mrs. Maggie Stepler as president, Miss Mollie Born, secretary, and Miss Louise Schorer, as treasurer. This society has done good work ever since and has raised several thousand dollars for missionary and other work. At present there are fifty-seven members in it.
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