Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 36

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 36

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This congregation stands in connection with "The Reformed Church of the United States," is under its control, "and is in all re- spects governed by its rules and regulations." The contents of its faith are the Holy Scrip- tures, as set forth in the Heidelberg Cate- chism: and its government, both in spirit and form, is strictly presbyterial. Its aim is to cherish and enjoy true Christian freedom, in believing, and cheerful obedience to divine au- thority and law, and to obtain salvation from sin, and eternal life in Jesus Christ-the "Al- pha and Omega, the beginning and the end."

From the time of its organization the Re- formed congregation occupied the church built in 1834, in common with the Lutherans. And these twin sisters for many years pro- ceeded together as harmoniously and prosper- ously as could reasonably be expected. Still, their relations were not always and in all re- spects of the most satisfactory character. At last, it seemed best to both parties to follow the example of Abraham and Lot. and the union which had existed so long was quietly dissolved. The Reformed bought the Luth-

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eran interest in the "Union Church." giving for it all the ground belonging to it. except the lot on which the church stood, and $400 in cash. These $400, however, were to liquidate a debt still resting on the property. This dis- solution was effected in April, 1852, during the pastorate of Rev. D. Rothrock.

In 1855 it was determined to remove the old stone church and substitute for it one bet- ter suited to their wants. Accordingly, a new brick edifice was erected. 40x55 feet in size, with an end gallery, and a basement arranged for a parsonage and lecture room. Its cost in money and labor was about $5.000. In 1868. this was remodeled by building an addition of twelve feet to its front, removing the gallery. etc. Other changes and improvements were made in 1877. costing together $2,300. This edifice, now 40x67 feet in size, is the one at present occupied by the congregation.

The church has been served by the follow- ing ministers: Rev. C. H. A. Allardt served it from its organization in 1837 to 1839. He was succeeded in 1841 by Rev. Jacob Van Linge, who prosecuted his work until 1843. Rev. Henry Hess became pastor in 1844, and served until 1849. During this pastorate the weekly prayer meeting was introduced. After a period of six months, Rev. S. K. Denius began his pastorate in the same year, and re- signed. in 1851. Rev. D. Rothrock became pastor in 1852, and served one year. In 1854. Rev. M. G. Q. Stern became its pastor, and re- mained until 1857. In the spring of 1857. Rev. J. B. Thompson began his labors as pastor and served until 1862. On the first day of January, 1863. Rev. John Vogt as- sumed pastoral relations and served until July 1. 1892. Dr. Vogt, known as the "Marrying Parson," was called from his earthly field of labor Sunday, November 3. 1901, at his home on South Sandusky Street, Delaware. Dr. Vogt was followed in the pastorate by the Rev. L. B. C. Lahr, whose pastoral relations began January 1, 1893, and continued until his death on April 11. 1906. Dr. Lahr was followed by the Rev. John C. Gekeler, the pres- ent pastor, who began his labors September 15. 1907.

Numerous disadvantages and obstacles have impeded its usefulness and prog- ress from the start. Its original union arrangement was never satisfactory, and was, no doubt. a hindrance to both parties. For many years, its services were conducted exclusively in German, and many of its young people, and even entire families, became dissatisfied and sought homes in English churches. Since about 1875, the use of the German language has been discon- tinued in the conduct of all public services of the church. The burden of debt under which the congregation labored for years has been entirely removed.

During the past quarter of a century Zion Reformed Church has made substantial growth in every way, her membership has in- creased and her building improved at various times. During the fall of 1904 a beautiful pipe organ was installed at a cost of $1.500. The congregation at present is engaged in se- curing a home for its pastor. The societies of the congregation are the Sunday School. Ladies' Aid Society, the Zwingle Missionary Society, and a Society of Christian Endeavor. The membership is three hundred and twen- ty-five.

TIIE GERMAN METIIODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church dates back to 1836. In that year. Rev. William Nast. D. D., the first Ger- man missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church, traveled through Central Ohio from the river to the lake, preaching daily to the few German settlers, here and there, who had sought a home in this Western country. On these mission tours, Dr. Nast passed through Delaware and preached to the few of his coun- trymen who were willing to hear his tidings. About 1844, the Rev. John Barth, the German pastor at Columbus, traveled through Dela- ware and Marion Counties, and once more looked up the Germans, in the interest of the Methodist Church. In the revival meetings which he held, many were converted and joined the Methodist Church. This was the beginning of the German Church in Dela- ware.

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These people were poor and few, and their meetings were held at first in private houses. When these were filled, they moved, first to the stone schoolhouse at the corner of Frank- lin and Winter Streets, then to the old Metho- dist Church, one square south, and then to the old academy on Hill Street. In 1846, the Rev. John Kindler became the pastor for one year, and in 1847, the Rev. G. A. Brauning. During his pastorate, a little frame church was built on a lot on Henry Street. given by the first member of the church-Father Al- bright. It was not long, however, that the lit- tle building on Henry Street was large enough to hold the congregation, and, in 1854, under the pastorate of the Rev. G. Nachtrieb, a lot on Hill Street was bought, and the present brick church erected and dedicated in 1855. by Bishop Simpson. From 1845, Delaware and Galion had constituted one mission, but in 1854 Delaware became self-supporting, and was made a separate station. Since the estab- lishment of the mission, twenty-four preachers and assistants have labored in this work. Delaware belonged to the North Ohio Con- ference until 1865. when the German Confer- ences were organized, since which time it has been attached to the Central German Confer- ence.

The membership of the church has not been permanent, owing to the constant migra- tion to the West, and the aggregate has never exceeded one hundred and fifty members. For many years the church declined on account of deaths, removals, and fewer persons desiring to hear preaching in the German language. The society disorganized about four years ago, and the building was sold in 1907 to William Nye. The audience room is still used for a mission, conducted by I. S. Walters, and is filling a needed place in the religious life of Delaware.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL ( WELSII ) CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1844. The first Welsh sermon preached in Delaware was delivered by Rev. George Lewis in the year 1841. at the residence of Mr. Henry Thomas,

on Washington Street, between William and Winter. Prayer meetings were held from time to time at this house from 1841 to 1844. In this year the congregation was organized with the Rev. Rees Powell as pastor, and with twenty-two charter members. viz .: Henry Thomas and wife, John E. Davis and wife, John Rowland and wife, John Rowland, Sr .. Reese Price, George Pugh, David Thomas, John L. Jones, Robert Dolby. Thomas Row- lands. Willliam Rowlands, John E. Davis, Edward Williams. Mary Jones, Elizabeth Jones, Catherine Rowlands, Jane Rowlands. The first services were held in a small frame school house between William and Winter Streets, which was purchased and used until 1858, when a brick structure was erected on Winter Street, between Liberty and Elizabeth Streets. Rev. Powell continued pastor until 1862, when Rev. John H. Jones became pas- tor, and served until in the 80's. The member- ship remained in all these years about the same, between twenty and thirty. . The sery- ices were held in the Welsh language and the children did not learn this language, and so one by one dropped away.

Several years ago, services ceased to be held in this church, and the building was sold to the Public School Board and has been re- moved and the ground now forms part of the north lawn of the West School Building.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, DELAWARE, OHIO.

The Catholics of Delaware and the sur- rounding country did not form a regular con- gregation and had no resident pastor until the year 1856, when the Most Rev. J. B. Purcell, bishop of the Diocese of Cincinnati, sent the Rev. Caspar Wiese, a middle-aged German priest, to undertake the spiritual charge of the few people who professed the Catholic religion and resided in the city or neighborhood. But for fully twenty years previous to that date. missionary priests from all over the State had visited at very irregular times, the little flock for the purpose of administering the sacra- ments, and of encouraging those, who, in spite of their complete isolation, had tenaciously

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clung to the religion of their forefathers. As early as 1834 some German Catholic families had settled in Delaware, among whom were Gerhard Nuss, Chistopher Kirchner, and last but not least, Adam Miller, the father of our still-living, old and respected townsman, Mar- tin Miller of West Winter Street. It may be stated here as the plain truth, that had it not been for the deeply religious zeal and piety of said Adam Miller, little if any trace of dis- tinctly Catholic worship would have been wit- nessed in Delaware in all those years until late in the fifties and the beginning of the six- ties, when a large number of Irish Catholics came and settled in East Delaware. It is not known positively whether any Catholic clergy- man visited Delaware until 1838 or 1839, but on or about that time, Father Young from Lancaster, Ohio, is remembered to have reached the town and to have celebrated the first Mass, said or sung in Delaware, in the front room of a small frame house still stand- ing today on the south side of Park Avenue near Franklin Street in South Delaware, and which was the residence of Adam Miller. From then until 1850, only, or possibly twice a year, would a Catholic missionary priest make his appearance and remain over Sunday. But in the meantime, and regularly every Sunday morning, Mr. Adam Miller would convert his front room into a little church, gather therein as many of his Catholic neighbors as he could notify, and devoutly preside over that part of the Catholic worship which laymen could per- form in the absence of a priest, such as the recitation of the Rosary, the singing of hymns, the reading of the Gospels of the Sunday and Catechetical instruction. It was thus that the spark of faith and religion was kept up and transmitted by these few pious and simple- hearted people to their children. In 1850 the number of Catholics in Delaware had in- creased somewhat ; they were visited more regularly by the neighboring priests of Column- bus, and finally they purchased a lot on Uni- versity Avenue, on which a few years later, in 1854, under the direction of Rev. Caspar Borgess, afterwards bishop of Detroit, they erected a little frame church, whose size, how-

ever, answered the purpose of their still very small number for many years to come.

From 1850 to 1856 the little church was attended irregularly by Father Borgess and other clergymen from Columbus, and carefully kept up by the few devoted pioneers who had helped to erect it. Among them, were many who may be still remembered by the present generation, such as Adam Miller, the patriarch of all of them, his son, Martin Miller, John Shea, whose home near the church was at all times hospitably open to the visiting priests, George Kraus, John B. Zeller, Thomas Mc- Donald, the father of our well known and prosperous contractor, James McDonald, Christopher Kirchner. John Grady, Sr., James Cantwell and a few others. At this time, however, all of those first pioneers of St. Mary's Church have gone into eternity, with the exception of Martin Miller, who, in spite of his ripe old age, is still enjoying the best of health in our midst, and gives good promise to outlive many others who came to Delaware long after him.

Towards the end of the year 1856, the lit- tle congregation having received many acces- sions by the immigration of a number of Irish families, Rev. Caspar Wiese was installed as the first permanent pastor, but there being no pastoral residence, Martin Miller, who lived then in the old brick house still standing on the southwest corner of William and Union Streets, shared his house with the forlorn clergyman, and along with John Shea took care that the newly appointed pastor was made as comfortable as possible with the scanty sal- ary the still very small congregation could furnish him. From that time until today, Delaware was never without a resident priest. In the early fifties, when the Springfield rail- road was being built, at least two hundred Irish Catholic families from the neighbor- hood of Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland, es- tablished themselves in East Delaware, and remained there permanently even after the con- struction of the railroad. The number of Catholics in Delaware increased at once al- most tenfold, and the original little frame church could not hold one-fourth of them.

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Rev. Henry Fehlings, who was one of the in- mediate successors of Father Wiese, went to work, therefore, with much vim and energy, to enlarge the church, but the people being all poor, it was impossible to build an entirely new church. He struck, therefore, upon d very peculiar and ingenious idea, seldom, if ever, carried out anywhere before him, and which for twenty-five years to come. certainly made St. Mary's Church in Delaware a some- what queer and unsightly architectural curi- osity. To the little frame church a much higher and wider brick addition was in some way attached, a process which gave to the building as a whole, a most curious and in- congruous appearance outside and inside. In Father Fehling's mind, this improvement was to be but a temporary shift for obtaining room, and had he entertained the rentotest suspicion that this ungainly and unsightly edifice would remain there for a quarter of a century, he would certainly never have thought of erecting it. The whole of it was only de- molished in 1887.

During Father Fehlings' administration, the congregation of St. Mary's also purchased an old store room and frame house adjoining the church on University Avenue, which build- ings served, like the church, for twenty-five years, as parochial school and pastoral resi- dence. Had Rev. Henry Fehlings remained in Delaware. there is little doubt that in a very few years all these old, unsightly and dilapi- dated buildings which were purchased simply for emergency and temporary purposes, would soon have made room for something more suitable. But Father Fehlings was removed very suddenly and abruptly to other fields of labor, and then there came upon St. Mary's Church and congregation a period of torpor and sleepiness as to any material progress, sel- dom witnessed in a congregation which num- bered in 1869 at least one thousand souls. Owing chiefly to very indifferent direction on the part of the many pastors who succeeded each other from 1864 to 1884, perhaps also to the lack of initiative and encouragement on the part of the people, little or no attempt was made in the following twenty years, to im-

prove the old church properties, which soon became so dilapidated looking that they were a positive disgrace to the street on which they stood. Only once during that sleepy period. in 1880, was there a slight awakening. Two large lots on East William Street were con- tracted for during the pastorate of Rev. N. E. Pilger, with the vague intention of building a new church thereon in the future. How- ever, in 1884, when the present rector of St. Mary's, Rev. Ph. Steyle, came to Delaware, these lots were only about one-half paid for, and there seemed to be little prospect for erect- ing a new church. But precisely in that year of 1884. a new and surprising period of activ- ity succeeded those twenty years of neglect and torpid carelessness. In less than six years, that is from the spring of 1885 until 1890, under the direction and initiative of the pas- tor and the hearty co-operation of nearly all the members of the church, a most beautiful and large brick and stone church, a school house, a pastoral residence and a sisters' house sprung up, as if by magic, on East Wil- liam and Henry Streets, and were almost paid for immediately by the congregation. From worshipping in the meanest and most dilapi- dated looking church in Delaware, the men- bers of St. Mary's Church in this year of 1908, possess, without the slightest doubt, the most valuable, and architecturally speak- ing. the finest looking church property in Delaware. St. Mary's congregation, includ- ing many farmers, numbers at this date in the neighborhood of 1,400 .souls. The new S :. Mary's cemetery adjoining Oak Grove, was purchased and solemnly consecrated by Bishop Watterson in 1899. In the following list we give the names of the clergymen who acted as pastors of St. Mary's Church, from the year 1856 to the present year, 1908: Rev. Caspar Wiese from 1856 to 1860. Rev. Jo- seph Fitzgerald and his brother, Rev. E. M. Fitzgerald, from 1860 to 1862. Rev. Mc- Sweeney to 1863. Rev. Henry Fehlings from 1863 to 1869. Rev. Joseph McPhilips from 1869 to 1874. Rev. A. O. Walker. J. B. Schmidt and J. C. Goldschmidt each for a few months in succession. Rev. N. E. Pilger

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from 1875 to July. 1884, and from September. 1884, to the present year, 1908, Rev. Ph. Steyle, who is therefore fulfilling the twenty- fourth year of his long pastorate of St. Mary's Church.

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, OF DELAWARE, OHIO.

This church-within the bounds of the North Ohio Annual Conference, since its for- mation in 1882, but originally in the Ohio- was organized late in the fall of 1845. the Rev. Daniel Winslow becoming its first pastor, being appointed to its pastorate by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Paul Quinn, from the Ohio An- nual Conference, which convened in Colum- bus, Ohio, October 18, 1845. The corner- stone of the first building was laid in 1853. and ere long Zion A. M. E. Church was dedi- cated. In 1876 it was razed and rebuilt. The cornerstone of this new edifice was laid by Rev. John W. Lewis: the walls completed and building roofed by Rev. J. B. Stansbury, and the building finished, seated and opened by Rev. N. M. Mitchell.

During the pastorate of Rev. Jesse Hen- derson. 1880-3. a feud rent this church, and some of its most substantial members. being unjustly expelled, remained out and formed what is now Trinity M. E. Church. On the whole, it is safe to say at this writing the A. M. E. is the leading church among the people of African descent in the city. Three of its ex-pastors have reached the bishopric, namely : John M. Brown, James A. Shorter, and C. T. Shaffer. One, O. J. W. Scott, is at present chaplain in the United States army. While some of its pastors showed clearly the doings of slavery, yet among them have been found polished men: teachers, jurists, theologians. orators. Christian scholars, and some of these were ex-slaves. There has been some dross. too, among the gold ; some pygmies amid the giants : yet. somehow. God has used this dross and these pygmies for his glory and the good of men.

One of the potent forces of this church has been its native-born singers. Mr. Wil-

liam H. Alston, its chorister for years, pos- sessed. say critics, one of the finest basso voices in the state, if not in the country, he, with his brother, F. B. Alston, being two of the "stars" in the far-famed original "Dona- van's Tennessee Jubilee Singers.'

Its pastors have been : Revs. Daniel Win- slow, Chas. Peters, Nelson Turban, Jesse Di- vine. Levin Gross, Alex. Austin, W. B. Lewis, William Davidson. Allen Brown, John Ridgeway, John Tibbs. James A. Shorter, John M. Brown, E. D. Davis, T. W. Roberts, Rev. Grafton H. Graham, the historian, phil- osopher. theologian and polished orator. Stonewall Jackson, Robert Hurley, Jesse As- bury, John Rickman, W. D. Mitchell, Na- thaniel M. Mitchell, G. W. Maxwell. John F. Hamilton. P. Alston, H. A. Jackson. C. T. Shaffer, John W. Lewis J. B. Stansbury, Jesse Henderson, D. F. Caliman. O. J. W. Scott, J. D. Singleton. H. W. Toney. L. E. Johnson, R. B. P. Wright. R. G. Mortimer, Jesse H. Smith, E. Fort. J. M. Tate.

The foregoing list of pastors may not be in exact order, as it was obtained from the older members and citizens as they remember them.

The present pastor, Rev. N. M. Mitchell. is duplicating himself. having served as pas- tor here quite a quarter of a century ago. The present edifice is in fairly good repair, with a membership of seventy-six and seven proba- tioners.

From Rev. N. M. Mitchell it is learned that while the Ohio Annual Conference was in ses- sion in this church in April. 1865. a dispatch was received saying. "President Lincoln has been assassinated." In a few hours-the same dav-a second dispatch came, saying : "IT'il- berforce has been burned to the ground." This was the only college owned by the church.

ST. PAUL'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, of Delaware. Ohio, was originally within the bounds of the North Ohio Conference, but at the General Conference for the year 1860 it was transferred to the Ohio Conference. to

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which it now belongs. In the fall of the year 1852, the Rev. John Quigley was appointed by the North Ohio Conference to organize a church within the southern boundaries of Delaware to accommodate the membership of that portion of the, then, village of Delaware. The early records of the organization seem to have been lost or destroyed. The first official record of this church now extant is dated Oc- tober 16, 1858. and includes the names of per- sons who afterward became prominent minis- ters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for- eign missionaries, college professors and business men of Delaware, and elsewhere. Jacob T. Caples was the pastor in charge, and Samuel Lynch, agent of the O. W. F. College. The local preachers were: Thomas Scott, Stanley Stevens, George Lansing Taylor, J. Bushong, L. J. Powell, Isaac Crook. Nathan Sites, I. Mast, H. J. Clark. The exhorters were Hl. M. Perkins, J. G. Deardorff, John Sites, W. B. Edwards, L. P. Smith. The stewards were John A. Clippinger, Hiram Hull, Charles Niel, Nathan Ely, Paul Randall. The class leaders were Watson Karr, Isaac Crook, N. B. Edwards, James G. Deardorff, W. O. Semans, Nathan Sites, George Lansing Taylor, Samuel Burkholder, H. M. Per- kins.

From this date, the official records are re- plete with such names as Dr. F. Merrick, Prof. William Godman. Prof. John P. Lanorx. Michael J. Cramer, Prof. H. S. B. Newton, Prof. F. S. Hoyt, John F. Thompson, Rev. Edward Thompson (afterward bishop). and many others. But in the space allotted us for this sketch, it would be impossible to name the many useful and afterwards prominent men and women whose names are found on the official records of this church, and the reader must look to the biographical portion of this volume and to other sources, to com- plete the list.

But while we are unable to give a com- plete history of the organization of the church, we can give a complete list of the pastors who have served it from its organization down to the present time. Beginning with the first. the following is the list :

Rev. John Quigley 1852-1854

Rev. Thomas F. Hildreth 1854-1856

Rev. L. B. Gurley 1856-1858

Rev. Jacob T. Caples 1858-1859

Rev. H. S. Bradley 1859-1860

Rev. James F. Given 1860-1861

Rev. T. H. Philips 1861-1862

Rev. F. S. Hoyt 1862-1863

Rev. J. M. Jameson

1863-1865

Rev. A. H. Windsor 1865-1867

Rev. George W. Brush. . . 1867-Jan. 25. 1868 Rev. L. B. Gurley

Jan. to Oct., 1868 Rev. David H. Moore ( now Bishop ) 1868-1870 Rev. Joseph H. Creighton 1870-1873

Rev. Isaac Crook 1873-1874

Rev. Robert W. Manley 1874-1875

Rev: Samuel A. Keen 1875-1878

Rev. J. C. Jackson, Jr., 1878-188I

Rev. Timothy W. Stanley, 1881-May 18, 1883 Rev. F. Merrick and others, May to Oct., 1883 Rev. Isaac F. King 1883-1884

Rev. John W. Dillon 1884-1886

Rev. Isaac Crook 1886-1888

Rev. B. L. McElroy 1 880-1890

Rev. J. H. Gardner 1 890-1891

Rev. D. C. Thomas 1891-1896

Rev. W. F. Oldham (now Bishop) 1896-1898

Rev. Carl G. Doney 1 898-1900

Rev. Arthur M. Mann 1900-1904

Rev. R. F. Bishop 1904-1905

Rev. Homer J. Smith

1905-1907

Rev. B. D. Evans 1907-

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 36

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926