USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 34
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
First Evangelical Lutheran Church .- This is a church of the General Synod. Rev. F. M. Traub is pastor.
German Lutheran Church .- This church has 135 members and Rev. R. Brenner is pas- tor. The church building was erected on Kibby street in 1904.
REFORMED.
German Reformed Church .- In 1860 very few Germans were living in Lima. Having no church where German services were held,
Dr. P. Greding, then living at Riley Creek, felt that something could and should be done for these people. In a true missionary spirit he would ride to Lima on horseback over the mud roads, to preach in the German language. Later a German society was organized and a consti- tution adopted. Their first services were held in Sanford Hall and later in the Lutheran Church on Union street. In 1865 a little brick church was built on West Wayne street under the pastorate of Rev. William H. Fenneman. In 1887 during the ministry of Dr. J. H. Step- ler the present church was built at a cost of $18,000. The church has now a membership of 800 with Dr. Paul H. Land as pastor. The previous pastors were Revs. Greding, Rettig, Fenneman, Pluess, Waldecker, Stepler and Baum.
Calvary Reformed Church was organized several years ago in a little frame building on the bank of the river on South Main street. On finding the location unfavorable, the society in 1894 purchased the corner lot on Park avenue and East High street where the present edifice was erected. The congregation was founded by Rev. J. J. N. Gruber, and since his time has been served by Revs. M. Schultz, D. J. Burk- halter, J. C. Hornung, F. C. Cromer ( who re- signed his pastorate to go as missionary to China), A. D. Wolfinger and Ervin E. Young, the present incumbent. The church is well or- ganized having a Christian Endeavor, a Junior Endeavor, a Ladies' Aid Society and a Mis- sion Study Class. The Sunday-school has a membership of nearly 200.
CHURCH OF CHRIST.
Wayne Street Church of Christ .- The Church of Christ was organized in Lima on the 2nd of December, A. D. 1869, according to the following agreement : "We, the under- signed baptized believers, agree to unite our- selves together into one body, to be known as the Church of Christ at Lima, Ohio. And . we further agree that in everything pertain- ing to church relationship we will be governed by the teaching of the Word of God." This agreement was signed by the following persons :
249
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
David S. Cross, Francis M. Hall, H. W. Lewis, Byron Hale, A. P. Dixon, E. J. Mc- Guire, T. A. Udall, N. N. Dixon, Sallie R. Cross, Keziah Turney, Esther Hall, Lydia McGuire, Jennie Barber and W. H. Harper. On the 16th of July, 1871, the church em- ployed as pastor, Rev. G. M. Kemp, who re- mained until October, 1879. The present pas- tor is Rev. J. M. Scholes. The house owned by and in which the society meets for religious worship is a brick structure on the south side of Wayne street between Main and Elizabeth streets.
South Side Church of Christ .- This church is located at the corner of Central avenue and Kibby street. It occupies an ele- gant and commodious new brick structure and is a very progressive and prosperous congre- gation. From its organization it has enjoyed unbroken and rapid growth numerically and financially as well as spiritually, and now has nearly 500 names enrolled in its membership, including a flourishing mission in Highland Park.
The organization was effected on the even- ing of March 2, 1897. Thirty-nine members of the Wayne Street Church of Christ, who at their own request had received letters of commendation and dismissal, met in the Con- gregational Church of Lima. Rev. J. V. Up- dike, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who was pres-
ent by invitation, preached a sermon "The Model Church" and proceeded to organize them and put them into working order. Israel Conrath and Philip Ingledue were selected for elders; for deacons-W. N. Faurot, A. Clark, L. E. Cowles and William H. Smith. The trustees elected were George East, Philip Ingledue and George Daniels. For clerk, H. W. Pears was named and elected.
From this time regular services were held in the home of L. E. Cowles for a short time until April of the same year, when the church building on South Main street, formerly oc- cupied by the English Reform congregation, was rented. Later the present site was se- cured and the church house built. On Sep- tember 21, 1899, the corner-stone was laid with fitting ceremonies with Rev. C. Mitchell,
W. Brundage and J. B. Underwood officiat- ing. The building was completed and furn- ished and on June 10, 1900, was dedicated by Hon. Z. T. Sweeney, of Columbus, Indi- ana, late consul to Turkey. Under the leader- ship of its present pastor, Rev. G. H. Sims, the church paid off its mortgage on December 17, 1905. This paper was burned at the close of fitting exercises and rejoicing, six years from the laying of the corner-stone.
In April, 1897, Rev. C. Mitchell held a short meeting, then for six weeks Rev. A. W. Spill of Warren, Ohio, acted as pastor. Later Rev. J. P. Myers, of Wauseon, Ohio, was called to be minister of this flock for the first year of its history. During this year 30 mem- bers were added. On October 15, 1898, Rev. C. Mitchell took his place and continued as pastor for the succeeding three years. Under his ministry the church building was erected. In October, 1901, the present pastor, Rev. G. H. Sims, took up the work and is now in his fifth year with unabated success. During his ministry $800 in debts have been annually paid, the mortgage cancelled, and a flourish- ing mission started in Highland Park, for the lot and little chapel on which there is a debt of only $83. The pulpit in this mission has been supplied gratis by several neophyte young preachers, W. Pugsley being the present in- cumbent. Several preachers have started out from this congregation and are either at work or are preparing for it. Mr. Sims is intensely missionary and the church with its own home mission is looked forward to sending out a foreign missionary to be supported by them.
EPISCOPAL.
Christ Protestant Episcopal Church .- The beginnings of Christ Church Parish date back to the early '70's. There are no records of these early years in the archives of the parish, either because none was kept by the officers, or, if kept at all, because of their subsequent loss through carelessness or mischance. Such facts stated herein as relate to the early years have been gathered from the memories of the older residents of the parish, and, because of
250
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
the death, removal or secession of many who were then active in church affairs, it has been very difficult to procure much accurate in- formation.
In 1872 (perhaps as early as 1872) a few church families residing at Lima, then a town of less than 3,000 people, secured the establish- ment of a mission in their town. The City Hall, an auditorium in the City Building fitted as a theater, was chosen to be their meeting place and Rev. Wainwright, then resident at Piqua, Ohio, was assigned to the mission by the diocesan authorities. Mr. Wainwright had formerly been in the missionary service in the far North, and upon one of his visits to Lima he delivered a lecture upon the manners and peoples of the Arctic zone. His manipulation of an 80-foot dog-whip was a feature of that lecture that greatly impressed his audience. How long Mr. Wainwright supplied the mis- sion cannot now be determined, nor does the writer know whether he be living or dead, but it is certain that his early ministrations served to knit together the church families in the parish to such a degree that the work, begun at that time, has never ceased, and the local church of to-day is the result.
Succeeding Mr. Wainwright, Rev. C. S. Bates came to the parish in the same capacity, remaining about six months. The work went on and plans for a church home were perfected and partly executed, and in May, 1874, three trustees for the parish ( Robert Mehaffey, Wil- liam B. Gorton and Shelby Taylor) took title to a lot on the corner of North and West streets, for which the parish paid the sum of $1,500.
Mr. Bates was succeeded by Rev. Edward L. Kemp, who ministered to the parish for an extended period, coming from Gambier every two weeks.
In passing, it should be noted that during all the missionary period of the parish and until the organization of the parish after the building of the church, meetings were held periodically, every two weeks being the usual term, although at times the intervals were longer. Some time in the period of Mr. Kemp's service the people secured the old
Methodist Church as a meeting place. The Methodists had moved into their new church at the corner of Market and Elizabeth streets, leaving their old building vacant. The old church stood at the corner of Market and Union streets and has long since disappeared, the location now being given over to commer- cial business. But the little children who learned their catechism there will always re- member the old church with love and rever- ence; it was their first church home, the City Hall never being anything else than a theater- never a temple. To Mr. Kemp must be awarded much credit for the work done during this period. Although but a missionary sup- ply, visiting the parish every two weeks, with other work to distract his attention in other fields, his zeal for the movement to build a church at Lima never faltered. And after he was called to new fields of activity he did not forget Christ Church. The stone baptismal font now in use in the church is the gift of the scholars of Mr. Kemp's Sunday-school at Baltimore.
In July, 1878, the title to the parish lot was. transferred to the trustees of the diocese and this is about the date of the laying of the cor- ner-stone of the church building. The church was fitted for occupancy some time late in 1878, or early in 1879. It was consecrated by Bishop Bodell, the bishop of the diocese, and Rev. Leighton Coleman, then rector of Trinity Church at Toledo, Ohio, but now Bishop of Delaware, preached the sermon. He also held the first burial service from the new church upon the occasion of the death of Elizabeth Gordon Lamison, in April, 1879, one of the pioneers in the church work.
At some time during the service of Mr. Kemp he introduced to the parish a deacon by the name of Charles S. Aves. Mr. Aves some- times came to Lima instead of Mr. Kemp and read the service. The impressions made upon the parish by these early visits were so favorable that, after the completion of the new church, Mr. Aves having been in the meantime ordained to the priesthood, he was called to the parish and became its first resident minister. The records here are faulty both locally and at
-
2511
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
the headquarters of the diocese. Some claim that the parish was fully organized at this time, and was afterward reduced to a missionary parish, as will appear later, but others insist that the parish was always missionary in char- acter until 1889. Mr. Aves remained in charge of the parish until the latter part of 1881. He married in the parish the daughter of Judge Charles M. Hughes, and is now the rector of Trinity Church at Galveston, Texas.
After the departure of Mr. Aves, the parish entered upon a term of ups and downs that ended in its total disorganization. During this period the resident ministers were Rev. John L. Taylor, Rev. J. B. Pitman and Rev. R. C. Wall, in the order named. But, labor as they would, none of them seemed able to stem the tide of disaster overflowing the parish, and one after another they reluctantly abandoned the work. In 1888, there being again a vacancy in the parish and its affairs at a very low ebb, the missionary board took charge. Two trus- tees were elected, the vestry and other officers relieved of their responsibilities and the parish supplied every two weeks by the missionary board. Rev. A. B. Nicholas was the mission . ary who visited the parish regularly, and dur- ing this period there were a few services con- ducted by Rev. D. D. Edwards, an unattached priest temporarily resident in the parish. At the convention of 1889 the parish representa- tives proposed to call their own rector and to conduct its affairs thenceforth as a self-support- ing parish if the convention would allow it for one year the sum of $100 from the missionary fund. This was agreed to and in October, 1889, the parish called Rev. Abner L. Frazer, Jr., who accepted the call and took charge; since then the parish has conducted its own affairs with uniform success, now has a com- plete organization and most important of all has its records in proper condition. Mr. Frazer married in the parish the daughter of L. H. Hume and is now the rector of St. John's Church at Youngstown, Ohio. He remained with the parish about four years.
On the 15th day of January, 1893, Mr. Frazer was succeeded by Rev. C. B. Crawford, who remained in active charge of the affairs
of the parish until the Ist of May, 1896, at: which time he was given leave of absence that .. he might serve as chaplain of the Third Regi- ment, Ohio Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, in the- war with Spain. Mr. Crawford joined his. regiment and served it during the war. He never resumed active work in the parish, but. resigned his rectorship in September, 1898, and. is now the archdeacon of the diocese of Kan -. sas, residing at Topeka.
Rev. G. F. Hoyt became rector of the par -- ish November 1, 1898, and was in charge of affairs until September 1, 1905. Under his ministrations the parish work was more thor -. oughiy systematized than ever before in its his- tory ; and its records were gotten into accessi -. ble and understandable condition. The useful -- ness and helpfulness of the church as a social factor in the community is now firmly estab -. lished.
UNITED BRETHREN.
:
First United Brethren Church. - The United Brethren Church in Christ effected their first organization in Lima in March, 1880. The services were held in a private house on West North street. Rev. William Miller or- ganized the church with the following charter members : J. J. Ogden and wife, Thomas Montague, Charles McClain, John Barr and. wife, Jacob Poling and wife, Noah Culp and. wife and Joseph Evans and wife.
The first church building was erected at. the corner of Spring and Union streets and cost $3,000. The congregation had a long struggle with debt and had just succeeded in: arranging for the payment of the last dollar when the church took fire and burned, July 5, 1896. By heroic faith and earnest efforts the. church, under the leadership of Rev. R. W. Wilgus, succeeded in erecting the present com- modious building at a cost of $10,000. This again entailed a heavy debt on the society, but with liberality and constant effort year after year the debt was reduced, until on the evening of May 29, 1904. the last note was paid and notes and mortgage burned.
The following pastors have served the.
14
252
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
church : Revs. William Miller, W. E. Bay, D. N. Howe, D. A. Johnson, William Miller, J. Q. Kline, A. W. Ballinger, I. Imler, R. W. Wilgus, L. C. Reed and the present pastor, A. E. Davis. The church has enjoyed many extensive revivals and has at this time a mem- bership of 654. Sunday-school enrollment, 450; average attendance, 200.
CONGREGATIONAL.
First Congregational Church .- At Cam- brian Hall, March 18, 1887, the society was organized with 42 members. Rev. J. E. Davies was called to the pastorate. Services were held in the assembly room at the Court House and in Cambrian Hall until the last of October, 1892, when the church building on South Elizabeth street was finished and dedi- cated. Mr. Davies continued as pastor until the first of July, 1895, when his ill health caused him to resign and seek a milder climate. In October, 1895, Rev. I. J. Swanson, of Odell, Illinois, was given a unanimous call by the church. He accepted and began work January I, 1896, and is in charge of affairs at the pres- ent time.
The West Lima Congregational Church was organized in 1899 with about 20 members. Rev. J. G. Thomas has been pastor since its organization. It has a flourishing Sunday- school with about 90 members.
CHRISTIAN. 1
First Christian Church .- About 1902 Rev. G. B. Garner, now of Vaughnsville, Ohio, or- ganized in Lima the Christian Church. He was pastor until a year ago, when Rev. S. S. Newhouse, D. D., took charge. Services were held in the Court House assembly room for some two years. Last year the society finished a handsome brick church on the corner of Elm and Elizabeth streets and, from the 18th of December until the church was dedicated in July, services were held in the Sunday-school room of the church. At the dedication $4,800 was raised to liquidate the debt and provide for the pastor. The society has So members
and under the sincere and earnest pastorate of Dr. Newhouse has an excellent outlook for growth and usefulness in the community.
MISCELLANEOUS CHUR CHES AND MISSIONS.
First Church of Christ (Scientist)-Ger- man Baptist (Dunkard) Church-Gospel Tab- ernacle-Salvation Army-And the Baptist, Beulah, Christian, Third Street and Solarville Missions.
Ministers of Lima.
REV. THOMAS POWELL JOHNSTON, de- ceased, an early pastor of the First Presby- terian Church, of Lima, was born March 15, 1819, at Wooster, Ohio, being the son of Thomas and Abigail ( Powell) Johnston. His father, a native of Ireland, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and a descendant of one of those Presbyterian families whose faith was only strengthened by persecution. One of his an- cestors, who emigrated to America some time in the early half of the 18th century, is sup- posed to be of the same lineage as Col. Rich- ard M. Johnston, by whose hand Tecumseh is said to have fallen. Mr. Johnston's mother was a native of Pennsylvania, her father's fanı- ily, the Powells, being among the early set- tlers of Chester County, in that State, where they have owned land for over a century.
The subject of this sketch was educated in Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, and at the Western Theological Seminary, in Allegheny. He was licensed to preach by the Beaver (now Shenango) presbytery and in 1848 was or- dained a minister, the same year accepting his first call at Clarksville, Mercer County, Penn- sylvania.
He was united in marriage in 1848 with Mary Haskell, daughter of Charles and Eliza- beth (Dana) Haskell, both of whom were de- scendants of families of early settlers of Mari- etta, who with other pioneers occupied the block-house for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were the parents of four children : Mary E., Charles H. (deceased). Lizzie Mc- Lain (deceased) and Mrs. Grace Catt. Charles H. Johnston was ordained a minister of the
1
REV. ROBERT JAMES THOMSON, D. D.
255
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Presbyterian Church in 1881. He was a young man of rare personality, but his sphere of use- fulness was cut short by his untimely death, which came just as he began his work. He was married to Mary B. Smith, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Rev. T. P. Johnston remained in Clarks- ville for 10 years, coming to Lima in 1858; he was pastor in Lima in 1864 ; was stated sup- ply at Lima Centre from 1864 to 1870; stated supply at Concord, 1871, and afterward en- gaged in missionary work whenever his work permitted. He had long been in feeble health and died from pulmonary trouble after a two weeks' illness, May 2, 1895. His death was a calm and peaceful one, fit ending to a life filled with good works. He was a man of fine edu- cation and marked ability. The Herald and Presbyter paid this tribute to him: "Mr. John- ston was a devotedly pious man, an earnest preacher, and a sound theologian. The Jeffer- son College students of 50 years ago who are still living will remember his earnest prayers, and also his efforts for the good of his com- panions. He was strong in his personal at- tachments, clinging to his friends throughout his entire life.
1
REV. ROBERT JAMES THOMSON, D. D., late pastor of the Market Street Presbyterian Church, of Lima, whose portrait appears in this chapter, was born in Syracuse, New York, on the 14th of August, 1855. He attended the common schools in his native city until 12 years of age, then left school to learn the ma- son's trade with his uncle, with whom he worked till he was 18. He then entered Syracuse University and, following this, Ham- ilton College, completing the four years' course in three years in each institution. At Hamil- ton he tutored throughout the course, gradu- ating third in his class. He entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City, graduating therefrom in 1884. While at the seminary he had charge of Mizpah Chapel, a Russian church on Ioth avenue near 57th street, and here he met Alice Walton, one of the Sunday-school teachers, who in 1885 be- came his wife. In May, 1884, he took a four- months' trip through Europe. His companions
on this journey were Douglass Walton, brother of his fiancee, and Rev. S. G. Anderson, who was for 12 years pastor of Westminster Church in Toledo, and whose death occurred in Oc- tober, 1900. On his return from Europe, Dr. Thomson took charge of the First Presbyterian Church at Winona, Minnesota, where he re- mained until he was called to the Market Street Presbyterian Church of Lima in November, 1890.
Dr. Thomson was always a tireless worker. As chaplain of the Second Regiment of the Ohio National Guard he was especially suc- cessful in his work among the boys, using a great deal of tact, which in such a position is peculiarly needful. He held this office from 1900 to 1905, when he retired on account of his prospective change of residence.
As a writer of short stories and also as a lecturer, Dr. Thomson won a considerable rep- utation. Several of his stories were taken up by the Youth's Companion. It is interesting to note that the original of Westcott's hero of "David Harum" fame lived in Syracuse in Dr. Thomson's younger days and the two families were intimate friends and neighbors. During his pastorate at the Presbyterian Church in Lima he was made chairman of the missionary committee of the presbytery, and also was made moderator of the synod, a position which he filled with great ability.
In the year 1905, on account of ill health, he decided to give up the ministry. He be- came interested in an orange grove plantation in Porto Rico and on the 25th of March sailed for the West Indies. His health, however, was not benefited by the change and, being recalled by a unanimous vote of his congregation, he returned to his pastorate at Lima.
After a long illness, Dr. Thomson died at Clifton Springs Sanitarium, New York, No- vember 24, 1905. In November 27th a most impressive service was held over his remains at Lima in the church where he had so often preached the Sacred Word. His last resting place is in Greenlawn Cemetery. On Decem- ber 3 a beautiful memorial service was held in his church.
"The Interior," in its issue of January,
256
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
1899, paid him the following tribute: "Dr. Thomson, of the Market. Street Church, is a man of. striking personality. The extremes of society seem to have contributed to his making. He has the broad hard hand of an humble toiler that has been close to nature, a face that classes him on sight with the aristocracy of the intellect, and a manner that would carry him gracefully into any social circle. His is a per- sonality that takes to itself friends, even of the mammon of unrighteousness, friends that come not to sojourn, but to abide with him.
"This American-Scotchman was born in Syracuse, New York, where he could look out on the Onondaga hills that the Irish orator Burke regarded as a synonym of savagery. Here he must have gained his remarkable pow- ers of analysis. He seems to be able to take things apart and show you how easy it is to put them together again. Dr. Thomson has had two pastorates, one at Winona, Minnesota, of six and a half years, and at Lima. He is stronger with his people and stronger with the Lord every day. The summer of 1897, Woos- ter University did a very gracious thing in conferring on- him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Pre-eminently is Dr. Thomson a preacher of the word. As a preacher, he is striking, eloquent, magnetic and powerful. He does not come to the sanctuary each Lord's Day to sell Joseph's wheat at so much a bushel. He has resources of his own and can make Egypt grow wheat at a time when most would pronounce it famine. This takes his pulpit oratory out of the rut, divests it of bookishness and makes it fresh and interesting to an audi- ence. A man of such parts is, of course, largely in demand by the public. His is the pioneer voice preparing the way for all public enter- prises. Dr. Thomson married into one of the prominent families of New York City. His accomplished wife is a great help to her hus- band in every way."
REV. THADDEUS L. WILTSEE, late pastor of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1850. When a boy of 13 he went to Chicago and secured a position as clerk in a bank. His college educa- tion was received at Northwestern University,
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.