USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 35
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Evanston, Illinois, and later at the Ohio Wes- leyan, where he graduated in 1873. After his graduation he was engaged for two years in the work of the Freedman's Aid Society of the Methodist Church at Holly Springs, Missis- sippi. . Here he met and married Margaret Herbert.
Returning to Ohio in 1875, he entered the Central Ohio Conference and served success- ively charges at Upper Sandusky and Marion. He was then sent to Toledo, remaining at the. Broadway Church for three years and subse- quently serving St. Paul's Church of that city for the same length of time. At the close of his ministry there his failing health compelled him to seek a change of climate in Colorado. His activity there was unabated, for we find him superintendent of missions in Arizona. To. him is due the establishment of the first mis- sion among the Navajo Indians in that State.
The climate, however, did not agree with his wife and he returned to the Central Ohio Conference, of which he became an active and. prominent member. He was sent to Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church at Lima and here, in 1891, Mrs. Wiltsee died. Within a year her death was followed by that of a son. Four children of the first marriage are still living. They are: Rev. Herbert Wiltsee, of Rhine- lander, Wisconsin; Edward Wiltsee, who is in business in Chicago; Mrs. Harriet Demorest, of Parkersburg, West Virginia; and Margaret. Wiltsee, who is a student at Delaware, Ohio. In 1893 Mr. Wiltsee married Alberta Smith, by whom he had one son, Warren.
From Lima he was sent to Sidney, Ohio, and later to Marysville, Ohio. In 1900 he- toured abroad for several months and after his return engaged extensively in lecturing.
In 1904 Mr. Wiltsee was installed at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, Lima, and again in 1905 he received the same appointment, but his career was cut short by his death, which occurred at the Lima Hospital on Saturday, October 14, 1905. He was greatly loved by reason of his high Christian character and his. earnest, successful work. His congregation and his many friends deeply mourn his loss.
REV. JOSEPH MERCER AVANN, pastor of
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Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, was born at Teuterden, in the beautiful County of Kent, England. He was second in a family of eight children, and when 8 years old came with his parents to America, where the family settled in Breckville, near Cleveland, Ohio. The mother's maiden name was Mercer. On the father's side he is a descendant of the French Huguenots, who in the 17th century fled from the persecution of the home country and sought refuge in England. His early training and home life were eminently religious. Family worship was a part of the everyday routine, and although the church was three miles dis- tant the family were never absent. Indeed, some of the members have no recollection of ever missing a Sunday. Such training, sup- plementing inherited proclivities, could not but bear fruit in a strong sense of the supremacy of the claims of man's mission, in a courage that recognized no obstacles, and in singleness of aim. Four of the children who lived to maturity worked their way through college, without a dollar of help and never spending a dime that was not earned.
After finishing his course at Berea College, Mr. Avann entered the Boston Theological School, and was the first man from Ohio to attend a Methodist school of theology. The era in the history of the Methodist Church, when a college education and theological train- ing were considered non-essential, had closed and Mr. Avann is thus classed with the new generation of Methodist preachers. He was chosen president of his class, whose large mem- bership came from many States, and he gradu- ated with his degree in theology in 1877. Join- ing the New England Conference, his first charge was North Brookfield, Massachusetts, followed successively by appointments in Southbridge, Massachusetts, and Waltham, in the same State. He was next transferred to St. Paul's Church, Manchester, the largest church of any denomination in New Hamp- shire. Under Mr. Avann's ministration the growth was phenomenal and he remained here, as in all previous charges, three years, then the full time limit. During his pastorate at St. Paul's a delegation from the First Methodist
Episcopal Church, Findlay, Ohio, came to hear him, and by unanimous request of the quarterly conference Mr. Avann was transferred to Ohio and became pastor of First Church, Findlay, in April, 1889. Numerically and financially, this church soon became the strongest in the Central Ohio Conference, and the same suc- cess followed his appointment to the First Methodist Church, Van Wert, Ohio. Three years later, much against his wishes, he was made presiding elder of the Delaware district and the following year saw him transferred to the Toledo district. His six years' administra- tion here resulted in an extraordinary develop- ment of Methodism. More than 20 churches were built, including all the best in the district : St. Paul's, St. John's, St. James', Asbury, Clark Street, Central Avenue in Toledo, also Bowling Green, Oak Harbor, Weston and El- more. Not alone were churches organized and houses of worship built, but the salaries of the ministers in the district were increased over 25 per cent, and the missionary offerings were increased 55 per cent.
After serving his full term as 'presiding elder, Mr. Avann was appointed to the William Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Delaware, Ohio, where a successful year preceded his coming to Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Lima.
This is the largest Protestant church in the city and Mr. Avann is now serving his third year as its incumbent. Many improvements both in the church and parsonage attest to his wise and efficient management.
Trinity was never more united and pros- perous than at present. The congregations are large and the church is one of the strongest forces in the religious activities of the city.
REV. CLARENCE MULFORD RUPE, pastor of the South Lima Baptist Church, came to Lima in the fall of 1896 as pastor of the First Baptist Church, and most of the time since has been a resident and an active minister of the city. After being pastor of the First Baptist Church about four years, he went West, by the urgent advice of physicians, seeking health for Mrs. Rupe. He at once received a call to the Bap- tist Church in Greeley, Colorado, one of the
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stronger churches of that State, and situated in one of its most beautiful and cultured young cities. During the first six months of resi- dence in the new location, the bright, useful life of Mrs. Rupe was brought to its close by an acute attack of pneumonia, this event taking place February 9, 1901. After a successful pastorate of three years, family interests made it desirable that he should return to the East, and in the summer of 1903 he came back to Lima, where a portion of his family were re- siding.
The South Lima Baptist Church soon be- coming pastorless and, being in great need of careful management, Mr. Rupe, at the urgent solicitation of a portion of its members and of the superintendent of missions of the Ohio Baptist Convention, accepted the pastoral care of this church, which still enjoys his labors and is prospering under his ripe experience and well-directed efforts. In October, 1904, he was happily married to Mrs. Jennie L. Bal- langer, of Indianapolis, Indiana, a life-long friend well known and prominent in Christian work in that city.
Mr. Rupe was born in the village of Econ- omy, Wayne County, Indiana, March 25, 1846, being the eldest son of Rev. Henry B. Rupe, a local lecturer of great popularity on temper- ance, slavery and education, a preacher of local fame and a citizen honored by his county with public office and other tokens of esteem. The subject of this sketch received his collegiate education at Denison University, and a thor- ough theological training at Rochester, New York, in one of the finest of the Baptist theo- logical seminaries.
Before coming to Lima Mr. Rupe held pas- torates in Springfield, Tiffin, McConnelsville, Le Roy, New York; and Franklin, Ohio. The last that at Franklin continued almost II years and was highly successful in all respects, one of the notable achievements being the building of a church edifice costing nearly $30,000. Sev- eral sermons of Mr. Rupe have been published and he has written frequently for the periodical press.
REV. FRANCIS J. HENRY, deceased, who was probably one of the best beloved of all the
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priests who have served the Catholic popula- tion of Lima, and who will long be recalled by the congregation of St. Rose, which he served so faithfully, was born in County Derry, Ireland, April 14, 1848, and died February 22, 1886.
Father Henry received classical instruction in Ireland, was trained in philosophy and the- ology at St. Vincent's, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and completed his course in the diocesan seminary. He was elevated to the priesthood on May 7, 1871, by the late Bishop Luers, in St. Patrick's Church, Toledo, where he remained in charge until May 1, 1872, when he was sent to take charge at Brier Hill, which included the missions of Mineral Ridge, Girard and Canfield.
In June, 1876, Father Henry was trans- ferred to Lima, where he continued the beloved pastor of St. Rose until the close of a life which was notably one of Christian achieve- ment. Ere more than in middle life, however, the good father, through strenuous work, had impaired his health, and in 1884 he visited his native land in the hope of recuperating, but, in the two remaining years which were per- mitted him, he never regained his former strength, although he never paused in his ap- pointed work. He passed away, as he would have desired, in harness to the last, having twice celebrated mass on the day preceding his death.
The work Father Henry accomplished dur- ing his pastorate still stands as a lasting monu- ment to his memory. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Lima, every one seem- ing to wish to pay a last token of respect. Bishop Gilmour, who preached the funeral ser- mon, paid an eloquent tribute to the many vir- tues and earnest labors of one of whom he spoke as one of the most successful priests of his diocese.
REV. ALFRED EDWARD MANNING, pastor of the Church of St. Rose, at Lima, is a man whose learning and piety make him a power in the community. With exceptional gifts as an orator and spiritual leader, he has also shown himself an able administrator and has looked well to the material advancement of the
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parishes over which he has been called to pre- side. Father Manning was born September 1, 1856, in St. Patrick's parish, Cleveland, Ohio, and is a son of Thomas and Jane E. ( Murray) Manning.
Thomas Manning was born in Ireland but he left his native land at the age of 14 years in order to enter the great machine shops at Glasgow, Scotland. There he was trained to be a skilled engineer and he later enjoyed the distinction of being the engineer who handled the engines of one of the first steamers which crossed the Atlantic ocean. He settled first at Boston but later lived in Cleveland, where he carried on an extensive manufacturing business during the remainder of his active life. For some years prior to his death he lived retired. He reared a family of 13 children.
Father Manning was educated in the parochial schools of St. John's Cathedral, Cleveland, and in St. Mary's Seminary of the West, at Cincinnati. In September, 1874, he entered the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, Niagara Falls, New York. After completing his classical course he entered St. Mary's Semi- nary at Cleveland, in September, 1876, and after five years' study of philosophy and the- ology was there ordained priest by Rt. Rev. R. Gilmour, on July 2, 1881. On July 7th of that year he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's Church at Antwerp, Ohio, this field including the missions of Cecil, Emerald, Junction, Flat Rock, Hicksville, Mark Centre and Delaware Bend. When in the spring of 1883 he was transferred to St. Mary's at Clyde, he left be- hind him a remarkable aggregation of substan- tial results. He had enlarged and improved the churches of Antwerp and Hicksville, paid the debts of the churches at Delaware Bend and Junction, purchased and paid for a cemetery at Cecil, organized the mission and purchased land for cemetery, church and pastoral resi- dence in Payne and had the church plastered and entirely out of debt.
Father Manning's success in his next field was a repetition of his former accomplish- ments. When he took charge of the church at Clyde, with its mission at Green Spring, he found a debt of $2,000 at Clyde and one of
$900 at Green Spring. By 1886 the latter was. paid. In the same year the corner-stone was laid for the beautiful Church of our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Clyde, and by 1890 the church was frescoed and almost ready for use, its cost-over $10,000-being practically paid. In February of that year Father Manning was called to be pastor of St. Ann, at Fremont, and here again blessings seemed to fall on parish and priest.
Father Manning said his first mass in the Church of St. Rose, of Lima, November 19, 1893. He then promised his people to serve them faithfully, and this promise he has kept in full measure. He has not only a powerful hold on the mass of his congregation but also on the thinking men of this body, and has a quiet method of inspiring enthusiasm which has brought about great material as well as spiritual prosperity. Personally he is beloved and reverenced.
REV. CARL ACKERMAN, M. A., PII. D., pastor of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Lima, and formerly president of Lima Col- lege, was born September 12, 1858, on a farm near Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, and is a son of George Ackerman, for years a promi- nent contractor here.
Mr. Ackerman received his early education in the local country schools, attended the Clyde High School and then spent some time at Canaan Academy. In 1875 he entered the Capital University at Columbus, Ohio, where he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1879. He engaged in teaching until 1881, when he entered the theological department at the Capital University, where he was gradu- ated in 1884. He was married in October, 1884, to Mary Reese, a daughter of Rush Reese, a prominent farmer of Wayne County, Ohio. For the following nine years he served charges at Attica, Lithiopolis, Fremont and Fostoria. In 1893 he came to Lima to accept the presidency of Lima College, which had just been organized. Mr. Ackerman has given the weight of his name and the fruits of his intel- lect to this institution ever since, continuing as its president until 1897. He remained dean of the faculty until 1903, when he resigned,
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but continues to hold the chairs of mathematics and mental science. In 1888 his alma mater conferred on him the degree of M. A., and in 1901 he was given the degree of Ph. D.
During his long association with Lima Col- "lege he has been repeatedly offered positions of great honor in the church as the head of large and important churches, but his heart has been in his work in Lima and here he has felt it his duty to remain. Since 1898 he has been the beloved pastor of Zion's Evangelical Lu- theran Church at Lima; he had previously been pastor from April, 1895, to June, 1896.
Mr. Ackerman has been a frequent con- tributor to religious and educational journals and magazines, was chairman of a committee of four appointed by the Joint Synod of Ohio for the preparation of a hymnal with music for Lutheran churches, and is at the present time actively taking part in a movement for the publication of Luther's works in English. In 1903 he took part in the organization of the International Lutheran Library Associa- tion and is one of its vice-presidents.
REV. FRANK PHILIP BOSSART, pastor of 'St. Paul's Lutheran Church, came to Lima in the fall of 1899 to take up his present charge. He is a thoroughly educated churchman, hav- ing received his academic education at Thiel College and his theological education at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadel- phia. His former pastorates were in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and Buffalo, New York, in both of which cities he organized new congregations which have steadily grown in power and influ- ence. The beautiful new St. John's Church, of Pittsburg, costing $33,000, was built during his pastorate in that city, and the Church of the Redeemer, of Buffalo, now having about 500 members, was organized during the first years of his ministry in that city. He is known in the church as a good preacher, an earnest worker, a successful organizer and a pleasant gentleman. During his ministry in Lima he has at various times addressed the prominent fraternal organizations and is known for his candor and firmness in dealing with public questions. He has served a term as president of the Luther League of Ohio, and is a member
of the topics committee of the Luther League of America, whose duty it is to prepare sub- jects of study for the young. He has for three years been secretary of the District Synod of Ohio, and has been president for two years past of the Northern Conference of said synod. Last fall he was called to Binghamton, New York, and for a time was undecided, but his Lima congregation spoke in no uncertain terms and the happy relation so long cherished be- tween pastor and people still continues.
REV. PAUL HENRY LAND. At Breslau, the largest and most influential city of the east- ern part of the German Empire, was born the subject of our sketch, who is pastor of the Ger- man Reformed Church of Lima. He went through the schools and colleges of his native city and in 1887 emigrated to this country. He first came to Cleveland, Ohio, and continued his studies at Calvin College, an institution of the Reformed Church. In the year 1890 he graduated with honors and went to Ursinus Seminary at Philadelphia, takinig a course in theology. After graduating from the semi- nary he at once received a call from Zion's. Re- formed Church in Baltimore, Maryland, which charge he served acceptably.for four years, be- ginning at the same time a post-graduate course in the oriental languages at the Johns Hopkins University. This course he completed in 1897, having been appointed "Fellow by Courtesy" in 1896 and holding this office for two consecutive years. President Gilman, now of Carnegie Institute; Prof. Paul Haupt, and Prof. Gildersleeve, well known among edu- cators, were then members of the university faculty. During these years Mr. Land also taught classes in French, German and Hebrew at Dr. Deichman's famous gymnasium school at Baltimore.
In 1898 Mr. Land accepted a unanimous call to the German Reformed Church at Lima, Ohio, following his natural inclination to preach and to teach, and this position he has occupied for the last seven and a half years.
REV. ERVIN E. YOUNG. In Fairfield County, Ohio, on a farm near Bremen, was born the subject of our sketch, who is pastor of Calvary Reformed Church. His early edu-
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cation was received at country schools. At 16 years of age he entered the Ohio Central Nor- mal College at Pleasantville, Ohio, completing the normal course in 1889. He remained one year at this school as assistant instructor in algebra and geography and then took up the study of the law. He found the legal profes- sion distasteful, however, and turned to the ministry. He entered Heidelberg University at Tiffin, Ohio, in 1892, completing the clas- sical course in 1896 with his degree of Bache- lor of Arts. While attending the university he paid his expenses by clerking in a shoe- store. In the fall of 1896 he entered the theo- logical department at Heidelberg and upon fin- ishing the course in 1899 he received his de- gree of Bachelor of Divinity. During his theo- logical training, Mr. Young supplied the First Reformed Church at Fremont, Ohio, the Lind- say charge at Lindsay, and the First Reformed Church at Caruthers, Ohio. During his vaca- tions he supplied the Grace Reformed Church at Lancaster, Ohio.
After completing his seminary course he accepted a call from St. John's Reformed Church at Germantown, Ohio, where he served until coming to Lima, October 1, 1903. Un- der his earnest ministry at Germantown the congregation increased in membership from 200 to nearly 400, the church was remodeled and repaired, and a new parsonage valued at $5,000 was purchased. He had found the church greatly in debt and left it in possession of a bank account. His labors in Lima have been similarly rewarded and under his efficient and pleasant ministry his church has taken in members from all parts of the city and the congregation has been almost. doubled. Dur- ing the last two years they have contributed almost as much to benevolence as to the cur- rent expenses of the congregation.
REV. GEORGE H. SIMS, or the "marrying pastor," as he is familiarly called in Lima, is the pastor of the South Side Church of Christ. He is the youngest child of Capt. John H. Sims, late of Cleveland, Ohio, and his wife, formerly Sophronia O. Gillette, of Newburg, Ohio. For many years Captain Sims sailed out of Cleveland as a lake navigator. His in-
terests were connected with this city from the time it numbered a few hundred inhabitants until it was consolidated with what was then Forest City. At this time he removed to Royalton, Ohio, and later to Spencer, Medina County, Ohio. Here on January 9, 1860, on a farm in the Black River bottoms, was born the subject of our sketch. His early education was received in the district school. He gradu- ated later from the Hinckley High School and then attended the Ohio Normal University at Ada to prepare himself for the work of teach- ing. He taught school for several years until at the age of 28 he entered upon his life work of the ministry. At this time also he was mar- ried to Cora E. Updike, daughter of the great evangelist, Rev. J. V. Updike. Mrs. Sims traveled with her husband for several years as musical director. She is a very efficient helpmeet for Mr. Sims. Two boys, Fay Up- dike and Kenneth J., are their only living children, a little daughter, Iva Belle, having died in infancy.
Mr. Sims' first meeting was held at Bluff- ton. He then held a pastorate at Edgerton, Ohio, for two years, enlarging the pastorate and refitting the church. From this place he was called to minister for the First Church, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The membership was doubled at this place, the debts paid off and a parsonage built, which was afterward sold for $3,200 to help build the new church. His ministry here was very successful, but on ac- count of ill health he resigned and accepted a Western pastorate in Wichita, Kansas, remain- ing there four years. During his ministry at this place over 500 members were added to his congregation and the church became the largest in numbers of this denomination west of the Mississippi River. He was called to be State evangelist and later became general evangelist under the national board, with headquarters at Cincinnati, Ohio. Although very successful, he left this field and located at Tiffin, Ohio where he became pastor of a small but wealthy congregation.
On October 1. 1901, Mr. Sims came to Lima and has improved the property of the South Side Church of Christ in many ways.
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He is still young and in the midst of useful- ness. He is now working to send a missionary to foreign lands to be supported by his congre- gation.
REV. ISAAC J. SWANSON, B. A., B. D. Lo- cated in Northern Scotland is Thurso, the little "town that is seated by the sea." This old town of Caithness, bristling with historic facts and traditional fancies, was the birthplace and early home of Rev. Isaac J. Swanson, pastor of the e First Congregational Church of Lima.
Throughout Scotland there is hardly a lo- cality where a boy is not within two or three miles of a school where he can get the neces- sary preparation for college, and our little Scotch lad early pursued his education in his native town at a noted academy for matricula- tion at a Scottish university. While still quite young, however, he came to America, but not before something of the rugged strength of that stern Northern clime had left its impress on his nature expressed in the strong personal- ity and sturdy simplicity and power that char- acterize the man we know to-day.
Mr. Swanson finished his college course in Montreal at McGill University, the leading Canadian institution of learning whose degrees are recognized by Oxford in England, Vienna in Austria and by Harvard and Yale. He ex- celled especially in Hebrew, and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. A course in theology followed at the Congregational Col- lege in Montreal, and here he won the special prize offered for general excellence and was made valedictorian of his class. Coming to the United States, he completed his theological education at Chicago, graduating with the foremost members of his class and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. While in Chicago, besides pursuing his own studies, he taught English to the foreign classes at the seminary. His first charge was at Odell, Illi- nois, where he remained about three years, meeting with notable success. During his pas- torate there he was a member of the State Home Missionary Board and moderator of the
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