Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 27

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149

USA > Ohio > Butler County > Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio > Part 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Henceforth the church made rapid progress. Regular services were arranged and two Lutheran pastors of Cincinnati re- quested to take charge until a resident pas- tor could be secured. On October 13, 1896, a constitution embodying the usual para- graphs on doctrine, membership, pastors and order of business, was drawn up and adopted, the name German Evangelical Im- manuel church, formerly chosen, reaffirmed, about thirty or more men, representing so 13

Now having a resident pastor in its midst, further services were arranged as in vogue at the present time. Hitherto the work had been carried on in the German language only, but in April. 1897, English work was also taken up and at present services in the English language are held every other Sunday evening.

Up to this time all meetings of Immanuel congregation were held in the assembly room of the court house, this being the only suitable room obtainable. Therefore at the

Digitized by Google

178

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

very first business meeting of the congrega- tion, under its own pastor, held on Sunday, April 4, 1897, deliberations were taken up tending towards the acquisition of a suitable church home.

In July, 1897, the Snyder Sons' property, one hundred by two hundred feet, lying on North Front street north of the alley be- tween Dayton and Buckeye streets, was pur- chased and a two-story frame building erected on it at a total cost of seven thou- sand dollars. The lower story is arranged for school and the upper for church pur- poses. The building is forty by seventy-two feet in size, the auditorium of the church seating about five hundred people; in the lower floor there is, besides the school room, the furnace room and a good-sized assembly room. The corner-stone of this building was laid September 5, 1897, and the Bender Brothers, having the contract for the build- ing, rushed it to completion and it was dedicated on the 21st of November of that same year.

Although having incurred quite a debt in obtaining the lot, church and school, the erection of a parsonage was undertaken. It was begun in August, 1899, and completed in October of the same year, involving an expense of two thousand two hundred dollars.

The Ladies' Society, organized in Janu- ary, 1897, with a present membership of better, decreasing the debt on the parson- about one hundred, undertook to pay for the parsonage at the rate of two hundred and fifty dollars a year, but they did much better, decreasing the debt on the parson- age at the rate of three hundred dollars an- nually. With like zeal was the entire mem- bership active in decreasing the debts on

the church and meeting current expenses. In the same spirit many improvements were made about the ground and place and in the buildings. The school-room, which was thought to afford ample room for many years, soon proved too small and a larger one on the north side in the building was fitted up for a school-room, seating seventy- five pupils and causing quite an additional expense. Again, in November. 1903. a double manual pipe organ was purchased from a church at another city, at a very moderate price, at a total expense, includ- ing all modern appliances, of eight hundred and twenty dollars.

And now, Immanuel congregation. though in existence only eight years, is in possession of a well-appointed church, school and parsonage, a property which is at a low estimate worth twelve thousand dollars. all present indebtedness being with members of the church.

Upon the demise of Mr. Karth. Ed Bewie, a graduate of the Teachers' Semi- nary at Addison, Illinois, was given the principalship of this church school. He held this position until July, 1902, when he re- signed. Theo. Trautmann was called to this school as the successor of Mr. Bewie, and is the present incumbent. doing very efficient work.

Rev. P. Eickstaedt, who was the first pastor of Immanuel church, served this charge until November, 1903, when he was called to the Lutheran church at La Porte, Indiana. As his successor, Rev. G. Ziegler, of Brazil. Indiana, was called to Immanuel church and received his solemn charge January 10, 1904.

Immanuel congregation has been enjoy- ing a steady growth and has a voting mem-

Digitized by Google

179

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

bership (male of twenty-one years of age admissable only) of fifty-seven, two hun- dred and thirty communicants and three hun- dred and ninety souls. The present vestry consists of John Schmitt, Sr., and Lorenz Schelter, elders; Henry Bindhammer, John Engel and Erhard Schmucker, deacons; Fred J. Herold, William A. Schmitt and Simon Bender, trustees; Erhard Schmucker, general treasurer; Simon Bender, building treasurer ; Theo. Trautmann, congregational secretary : S. Bender, vestry secretary.

ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH, MIDDLETOWN.

St. Paul's Evangelical Protestant church, of Middletown. Ohio, was or- ganized in 1876, when a church edifice was erected, but it was not finished until 1890. The congregation elected G. Rothman. presi- dent; William Sebald, secretary; Jacob Bor- ger, treasurer. and D. Fisch, Philip Latter- ner. William Schultz. Stephan Newbrander and Jacob Gradolph. trustees. The church building is a fine structure, costing eleven thousand dollars. The ground floor is used for Sunday-school purposes and the second story is the auditorium for preaching serv- ices. A large pipe organ was purchased by the congregation in 1892. The pastors who have served the church since its organization were : 1867-77. Rev. C. A. Hermann : 1877. Rev. P. Stempel; 1878, Rev. Mr. Koestling ; 1880, Rev. Mr. Bauer: 1882, Rev. Mr. Sprankel; 1883-4, Rev. Mr. Schilling; 1884-7, Rev. Mr. Schroeder; 1887-90, Rev. Mr. Mueller: 1891-5. Rev. Mr. Wittich; 1895-1901, Rev. Mr. Hoffmann; 1901-4. Rev. Srohne: 1904, Rev. E. G. Kuenzler. The pastors of this church served the St. John's church at Trenton during their pas-

torate at Middletown. There are at pres- ent connected with St. Paul's church ninety- five families. The Sunday school has an attendance of one hundred and sixty-five members and the Ladies' Aid Society num- bers fifty-five members. The congregation also owns a parsonage.

EAST HAMILTON ST. JOHN'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

This congregation was founded in the year 1892, August 13th, by the Rev. C. A. Hermann, because a number of citizens of the East Hamilton Syndicate wished to have a German Protestant church, the population being largely German. The first trustees of this congregation were Oscar Geiger, Peter Bittner and John Nichol. On October 9, 1892. the corner-stone was laid for the new church, for which the East Hamilton Syn- dicate had offered two building lots. The church was dedicated in the spring of 1893. The congregation was incorporated Decem- ber 5, 1892. Rev. C. A. Hermann served the congregation until the year 1901, when the congregation elected Rev. Tessmer upon the recommendation of Rev. C. A. Her- mann. This gentleman served the congre- gation two years. After his resignation the congregation severed their connection with the Free Protestant church and united with the German Evangelical Synod of North America by calling the Rev. F. L. Dorn as their pastor. Rev. Dorn took charge of the congregation June 1, 1903. Since then the membership has increased from ten to forty- eight families and the congregation is now in a prosperous condition. The Ladies' So- ciety numbers fifty members; the young people's society, thirty-eight; the Sunday school has an enrollment of one hundred and

Digitized by Google

180

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

eight members. The present trustees are Aug. Biermann, F. Grollmus, Ph. Weyl, H. Reinke, Karl Reinke, F. Flad, John Weik and Aug. Silber.

BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH, MIDDLE- TOWN.

Bethlehem Lutheran church of Middle- town, located on Broadway street, was in- stituted August 6, 1854, by Rev. E. A. Shultz, Hiram Henkle, Frederick Siebert, Frederick Beck and Adam Heiland. A small church building, back of the present church site, built in 1829 by the Presbyte- rians, was used as a place of worship, and Rev. George H. Trebel was the congrega- tion's first pastor. Besides Mr. Trebel, the only charter members of the congregation living in 1904 are Frederick Siebert, Mr. and Mrs. N. Rushard, C. Latterner and Nicklas.

During the fifty years of the congrega- tion's existence it has had eight pastors : Rev. George H. Trebel, who preached the semi-centennial sermon in August, 1904, had served the church as pastor from 1857 to 1867; Rev. G. H. Buchholtz. Rev. Thomas Jaeger, Rev. J. H. Kuhlman, Rev. H. G. Schmidt, J. A. Schultze, J. G. Theiss and Carl Huebner. During the half century of its existence as a church eight hundred and fifty-nine persons were baptized, four hun- dred and sixty-nine confirmed, two hun- dred and thirty-six couples married and two hundred and thirty-one persons buried. The present handsome church, the corner-stone of which was laid in 1882, and the new Sun- day school building was recently dedicated; while the membership now consists of six hundred names. This, with the ups and downs that usually attend the growth of all

organizations, has been the highly successful result of fifty years' work. The church cele- brated its fiftieth anniversary in 1904. The jubilee committee consisted of Martin Raab, August Wenzel, Chas. Latterner, Matthew Lixt, John Nicklas, Mrs. W. K. Rhonemus and Miss Anna Metzler.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, TRENTON.

The German Evangelical Protestant St. John's church, of Trenton, Ohio, was or- ganized December 26, 1867, by Rev. C. A. Hermann, of Hamilton, Ohio. The first seven members were Michael Baldwin, Con- rad Schmidt, Adam Ebel, Henry Schmidt, Dr. A. Wannewetsch, George Petersohn, Sr., and George Petersohn, Jr. The elders were Conrad Schmidt, secretary, Michael Baldwin, Adam Ebel and Dr. A. Wan- newetsch, treasurer.

In 1868 the congregation purchased two and one-fourth acres of land on which to build a church and to establish a cemetery. The corner-stone of the new church was laid by Rev. Mr. Hermann, June 28, 1868. and on November 9th of the same year the church was dedicated to the service of God by Rev. Hermann, of Hamilton, and Rev. Groell, of Cincinnati. The congregation of late has been served by the pastor from St. Paul's Evangelical church, of Middle- town, Rev. E. G. Kuenzler.

ST. PETER'S PROTESTANT CHURCH, TRENTON.

The St. Peter's Protestant church, of Trenton, was built in 1880. The congrega- tion has a fine church edifice and a good parsonage adjoining. The congregation is in a flourishing condition under the pastor- ate of Rev. Hoelle.

Digitized by Google

181

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

REFORMED CHURCH, OF MILLVILLE.

The Reformed church, of Millville, But- ler county, Ohio, was organized with fifteen members, and they built a church in the year 1853. The bell and organ was pre- sented to the church by Elder John Brosier. The church was remodeled in 1879 and again in 1901. The services are and have been held in both the German and English languages. The only living charter mem- ber in 1904 is Elder George Muskopf. It has been served by the following pastors : 1853 to 1857, Rev. Mr. Bowman (de- ceased) ; 1857 to 1869, Rev. G. Z. Mechling. of Hamilton; 1870 to 1878. Rev. W. F. Berleman (now residing in Philadelphia) : 1878 to 1881, Rev. W. F. Hortsmeier (now of St. Louis) ; 1881 to 1882. Rev. J. L. Schatz (retired, now living in Cincinnati, Ohio) ; Rev. W. H. Fennemann served at two different times, 1883 to 1891, and again in 1894 to 1903; he died shortly after his retirement, in Hamilton, Ohio, in 1904: 1891 to 1893, Rev. A. W. Krampe (now of Buffalo, N. Y.), served the church. The present membership is one hundred and fifteen. Rev. Mr. Sauer is the pastor.

THE MENNONITE CHURCH IN BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

In 1819 Christian Augspurger came from Europe, accompanied by five other families. In the following years a few more Mennon- ite families came, so that by 1824 there were ten families settled in Milford township, and they organized into a church. The first minister to take charge of this congregation was a Rev. Krehbiel, from Canada. He, being quite aged, stayed but a few years and then went to live with his son in Iowa. For

a year or more the congregation was without a minister, but in 1828 Rev. P. Naffzicker, from Canada, was induced to come and carry on the work. After two years, the work becoming burdensome for him, the congregation elected Jacob Augspurger to the ministry to assist him. In 1832 there was an immigration of Hessian Mennonites who differed from those already here in that they had musical instruments and wore modern clothing. They were accepted into the congregation, but these differences caused so much strife that in 1836 the con- gregation was divided, Jacob Augspurger taking charge of the conservative part and P. Naffzicker continuing with the Hessian congregation. In 1844 Mr. Naffzicker moved to Illinois and Jacob Miller, who in the meantime had come from Germany, be- came his successor. In 1856 he also went west and Daniel Holly, P. Kennel and Joseph Augspurger, who died in 1896, be- came his successors. The conservative con- gregation was ministered to after the death of Jacob Augspurger by Nicholas Augs- purger and Peter Imhoff, who died in 1897. In 1864 both congregations built churches. Up to this time they had assembled every two weeks in the homes of the members. In 1892 the Hessian congregation being in need of a minister and not being able to elect one out of their midst, extended a call to Rev. H. J. Krehbiel, of Summerfield, Illinois, which was accepted and he is still with the congregation as their minister. For many years there was a gradual approach of the two congregations and in 1897. after the death of Rev. Mr. Imhoff, the remainder of his congregation united with the other, so that there is at present but one organization. As a number of the ministers, so also did

Digitized by Google

182

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

many of the members of the congregation, go to seek homes in the western states, so that in the churches in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska people can be found who were once members of the con- gregation in Butler county, Ohio. The con- gregation now numbers about two hundred and fifty members, some being at Collins . ville, the others in and about Trenton.

The Mennonites are the direct descend- ants of the Waldenses of the twelfth century, who, during the time of the reformation, were called Anti-baptists and were persecut- ed alike by the Catholic and the Lutheran churches. In the sixteenth century those scattered by persecution were gathered and again organized into congregations by Menno Simon, since which time they are known by the name Mennonites. The tenets in which they differ from other Protestant denominations are the following: They ad- minister baptism only upon confession of faith; they are opposed to secret societies : following the instruction of Christ. Matthew 5:34-37, they affirm instead of giving an oath; they are nonresistant, being opposed to war as incompatible with the teaching of the New Testament. The Mennonite church in Butler county has existed for nearly eighty years and the members being peace- able and industrious people it has been a great help in the development of the county.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. BY JOSEPH J. PATER.

FIRST MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

Seventy-four years ago there lived in Rossville, now the first ward of Hamilton. on the northwest corner of Ross and C

streets, in the old John Traber building, Se- bastian Fromm, father of Joseph A. and John Fromm. He was a clockmaker by trade, and was the owner of a large out-lot in the south part of the village, on which he subsequently built a one-story brick resi- dence. In the summer time he divided his time between his chosen calling and garden- ing. Still later he collected, by subscription, a large part of the money that purchased a frame building on Dayton street, for church purposes. This building was located on the present site of St. Stephen's church. It was dismantled and torn down in 1854, to make way for the present magnificent church edi- fice. To Mr. Fromm the cross was a holy sign and he was filled with that zeal which characterized the votaries of that faith alike under the suns of Palestine or amid the wilderness of the new world. The Cath- olic missionaries who came into northwest- ern wilds were certainly remarkable men. They labored for posterity in a sense to which we can lay no claim. They worked without a prize in sight. It sprang from a manly, Christian impulse.

At the above date. 1830, there were but a small number of Catholics in Hamilton and Rossville. It was not until 1847-48 that foreign-born citizens began to locate here in any considerable number.

Mr. Fromm was a pious man and in his house the Catholic religion was first cradled in Hamilton. He called in a few of the faithful, and they made known to the head of the church in Cincinnati that they desired church services held in Hamilton. The re- quest was complied with and a priest was sent here at least once a month, and fre- quently every two weeks, who held services in the Fromm residence for several years.

The following is a list of the pioneer

Digitized by Google

183

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

Catholics of Hamilton and Rossville, many of whom attended the church services in the place above stated: John Tabler, Theo- dore Tabler, Henry Tabler, B. Rohmann, Barney Wessel, Daniel Butler, Connor Mc- Greevy, M. C. Ryan, E. Boettinger, John Connaughton, John Conboy, Patrick Burns, John Ruhl, John Huff, James Lenehan, Michael Costello, Patrick McArdle, George Buelter, Joseph Seegers, Philip Hurm, M. Haberbeck, Robert Allstatter, Sr., Peter Black, Frank Knauss, Theodore Westbrook, Fred Oberbrecht. Gerhard Pater, Bernard Kettman, Patrick Gordon, Sr .. and B. H. Krieger.

Quite a number included in this list fre- quently went to Cincinnati to attend church service, going and returning on foot. All of these veterans in the Catholic faith save one, Patrick Burns, have passed over the border line to receive their heavenly reward. They were firm. believers in the immortality of the soul; that it was not all of life to live nor all of death to die. They received in- spiration from that beautiful thought con- tained in Holmes' "Chambered Nautilus" :

"Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul. As the swift seasons roll! Leave thy low vaulted past! Let each new temple, nobler than the last, Shut out from heaven with a dome more vast 'Till thou at length are free,

Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!"

ST. STEPHEN'S PARISH, HAMILTON.

The old adage: "Little beginning and great ending" may well be applied to this parish. As far back as 1825 we find traces of Catholicity in the hamlet of Hamilton. The few Catholics were occasionally attend- ed to by some missionary priest from Cin- cinnati, Ohio, who conducted services in

some private house and there administered the holy sacraments to the faithful. In the year 1832 some kind-hearted citizens, see- ing the good will of the Catholics to do all in their power to erect a church of their own, came forward to the rescue of the poor people and offered them a site for the new church, provided they would at once begin to build. This offer was accepted by the Right Rev. Bishop Fenwick, then at the head of the diocese, and the erection of a neat lit- tle church on the corner of Second and Day- ton streets was begun at once. To com- plete it was no easy task, but, trusting in God and nobly assisted by the citizens of Hamilton, irrespective of creed, the build- ing soon was under roof. and the interior, although plain, was worthy of the house of God.

A school building soon followed, which also served as pastoral residence. The year 1840 brought great happiness to the new parish, for in this memorable year the first pastor, Rev. Thomas Butler, took up his residence at St. Stephen's church. Under his kind administration the congregation in- creased most wonderfully, and even more under good Father Hallinan. But the diffi- culties of a mixed congregation soon began to show themselves and in the year 1848 the Germans separated from the English- speaking members, and, with the consent of the authorities, paid out three thousand dol- lars to the English, who at once began the erection of St. Mary's church, the Germans keeping the old St. Stephen's church. After the separation the congregation was en- trusted to the care of the Franciscan fathers. of the province of Cincinnati, who have ever since watched over the welfare of St. Steph- en's parish with such wonderful results.

Under Father Nicholas Wachter, O. F.

Digitized by Google

184

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

M., the first pastor, so many German Catho- lics came to Hamilton that it was found nec- essary to begin a new church, the corner- stone of which was laid in 1852 amid great solemnities. In the following year it was completed by Father Pirmin Eberhard, the pastor. For nine years this great and able man had worked hard for St. Stephen's, when an attack of pneumonia made it neces- sary to retire from active work. We now see in succession as pastors of St. Stephen's the Rev. Lawrence Osterling, the Rev. Fran- cis de Paul Kolb, and the Rev. Dennis Abarth, all of the order of St. Francis. In 1869 Rev. Lucas Gottbehoede, O. F. M., took charge of the parish and succeeded in getting for the schools the noble Sisters of Notre Dame, that have proved such great blessing to the parish ever since. He also erected the parsonage on the east side of the church and made many valuable im- provements in church and school. He was succeeded by the Rev. Jerome Kilgenstein. who paid great attention to the spiritual af- fairs of the parish and did splendid work among the church societies, especially the sodalities. He was succeeded by the Rev. Clement Steinkamp, Daniel Heile, Nicholas Holtel and Accursius Beine, whose memory is highly honored for the good work they have done for the church.

In 1887 the Rev. Raphael Hesse was made pastor. He began the erection of the present large school in 1889 and in 1893 completed the addition to the present church, making it cruciform and of such great dimensions that it ranks with the larg- est churches of the diocese. The present St. Stephen's church has over twelve hun- dred seatings, thus enabling all the children of the schools to attend the solemn services with the adults. The church is richly fur-

nished, and complete in all its appointments. The eight altars of the church, the confes- sionals, the organ and the fourteen stations are objects of art and in keeping with the architecture of the church. The addition to St. Stephen's cost about ten thousand dol- lars, which sum was collected from house to house by the Rev. Angelus Hafertepe. O. F. M., the zealous assistant of Rev. Father Ra- phael. In 1898 the congregation celebrated its golden jubilee under the direction of Rev. Ubaldus Webersinke, the successor of Rev. Father Raphael. He was ably assist- ed by the Rev. Father Guido Stallo, who is still well remembered by the people of St. Stephen's.

Since 1901 the church has been in charge of Rev. Father Pius Niehaus, O. F. M., who has done much to beautify the interior of the church and has greatly reduced the debts on the church property. His assistants are at present the Rev. Ignatius M. Wilkins and Rev. Prosper Stehmann, O. F. M. The schools comprise six classes and are at- tended by four hundred children. Two brothers of the order of St. Francis have charge of the boys, and the other classes are conducted by the sisters of Notre Dame.

The Franciscan fathers have also for a long time attended to Middletown, and still have charge of the parishes in Trenton, and of New London. now Shandon. along the Cincinnati, Chicago & Louisville Rail- road. some twelve miles southwest of Hamilton.

Thus the mustard seed has grown and become a tree of blessing to all the citizens of Butler county, who once so nobly planted the seed under great hardships and difficul- ties. May God bless their noble work and preserve it for the benefit of our glorious country !

Digitized by Google

185

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

In 1848 this congregation purchased St. Matthew's Episcopal church, which was used as a place of worship until 1856. At the commencement of the work of erecting a new church not a cent of money was in the church treasury, but as the congregation contained a great number of artisans, each of whom contributed labor in building, this seeming obstruction was removed, and, when finished. the edifice was truly a work of art and a labor of love. In 1867 the congrega- tion purchased a tract of land from the es- tate of William Hunter, situated between Hamilton and Symmes Corner, for a ceme- tery. The first parochial school was estab- lished in 1860, in the basement of the church, and continued there until 1890, when possession was taken of the new school building.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 27

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1149

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149