History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 59

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 59

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Eaton was invited, and immediately commenced his labors. He was ordained February 20, 1844, and continued with the church until his health failed, and he finally resigned July 5, 1845. During his pastorate, the Baptist Church was in a very flourishing condition, and re- ported by some authorities to be the strongest of the churches in the village. This young minister ordained in the little church at Buey- rus removed to Illinois, and became eminent throughout the West; after a successful and honorable ministry for many years, died within the last decade, mourned, not only by his own congregation, but throughout the country. It was decided on April 6, 1844, to open a Sun- day school, and a collection was taken up to purchase a school library. January 4, 1845. James Quinby presented the church with a communion set. Unfortunately, this worthy member died, September 15. 1845, and. not- withstanding he released, in his will, the con- gregation from a debt of about $250 due him for money advanced to pay church expenses, his death was a great loss to the early Baptists. In after years, his place was well filled by his brother, George Quinby, who first united with the congregation, December 4, 1842. In Sep- tember, 1845, Elder J. G. Tunison was called to labor one-half his time, but December 6, it was decided " the church could not support a Pastor. Mr. Tunison was not liked by the members in the village, but the country mem- bers of Whetstone Township thought so much of him that they withdrew from the Bucyrus congregation, and formed the Olentangy Bap- tist Church, near Parcher's corners, of which Rev. Tunison was Pastor for several years. This action seriously crippled the early church at Bucyrus, and Rev. Tunison. in consenting to a division of the congregation for personal rea- sons, gave the cause he professed to love a stab from which it has never fully recovered. About this time, fifty-tour members were reported to the Baptist Association. August 1, 1846, eight

of these united with the church in the south- eastern part of Crawford County, and soon after- ward others left to unite with the Whetstone Township Church. February 6, 1847, Elder Pierson was called, and remained some ten months. In February, 1848, Elder Smedmer was called, and preached several months, and for the next five years services were held very irregularly. By the records, it appears only two meetings were held in the year 1849, seven in 1850, six in 1831. one in 1852 and three in 1853.

At most of these conferences a general desire was expressed to have regular preaching. During the latter part of 1850, Elder W. C. Shepherd was a member, and he was ordained Pastor January 2, 1851, but, after remaining another five months, resigned May 31. For over a year the record is silent, and at the only recorded meeting, held June 5, 1852. George Quinby, Samuel Jones and John Shull were elected Trustees. At this meeting, the propriety of employing a Pastor in connection with the Olentangy Church, was discussed. After three recorded conference meetings in 1853, the church was silent for regular Baptist meetings for five years, but occasionally a minister visited the place and called the scattered flock together. In August. 1858, the church and weekly prayer meetings were revived, and after six months, on February 5, 1859, the following eight mem- bers 'agreed to renew their covenant :' Samuel Jones, John Shull, George Quinby, Mary Mc- Lean, Derias Sears. Mary Aiken, Elizabeth Sharp and Dolly Cook Everitt. Elder Wood was engaged to preach one-half the time. and meetings were continned during 1859. Then the church was silent for another period of over four years. In the spring of 1864. Rev. S. D. Bowker was invited by several members to visit Bucyrus, and at the first meeting. held in Quin- by's Hall, June 4, it was resolved to organize a Sabbath school and establish a weekly prayer meeting. The use of the Congregational Church

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IHISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

was tendered, but for reasons refused, and Quinby Hall rented, in which regular meetings were held. During the three-years pastorate of Rev. S. D. Bowker. several revival meetings were held, and many united with the church, which numbered, when he resigned July 6, 1867. nearly one hundred members. After a vacancy of several months. on December 19, 1867. a call was tendered Rev. J. Huntington, of Sardinia, N. Y., who remained until July 2, 1871, when he removed to Niles. Mich. During his stay with the congregation, they removed from Quinby Hall to their present church edifice. This building, originally erected by the Con- gregationalists. was purchased from the Board of Education for $2,750, and fitted up by the Baptists at an additional cost of $2,000. The church was re-dedicated for religious purposes September 27, 1868. Rev. Walter N. Wyeth was Pastor from November 4, 1871, to May, 1872. when he resigned to take a position on the editorial corps of the Journal and Messenger, of Cincinnati. May 4, 1872, Rev. L. G. Leonard, the present Pastor, received a call, and since that time he has been with the congregation. In the spring of 1876. he resigned, and Rev. J. S. Covert was employed, but, after remaining about one year, difficulties arose, and Dr. Leon- ard resumed the pastorate. Since the church was organized. in 1838, the following persons have been elected to the office of Clerk : William White. 1838; James Quinby, June 3, 1839; John Shull, October 2. 1841 ; George Quinby, December 31, 1842 ; John Shull, February 6, 1847 ; James II. Reichenecker, July 3, 1847 ; George Quinby, August 31, 1850 ; M. V. Long- worth. Jannary 4, 1868; Clark Ludwig. Jann- ary, 1873 ; M. V. Longworth, the present ineum- bent, January, 1874. The number connected with the congregation at the present time is seventy-nine. The Baptist Sabbath school was re-organized in 1864, and William P. Rowland served as Superintendent; his successor, W. B. Bennett, held the office nine years, and

M. V. Longworth has had charge of the school during the past six years.

The first Roman Catholic services in Bucyrus were held about the year 1837, at the residence of Dr. Joseph Beohler, who lived north of the Sandusky River, on the lot now occupied by Christian Wingert, and formerly the site of his brewery. Rev. F. X. Tschenheus, C.S.S.R., the first priest who visited Bucyrus, came about 1837, for the purpose of gathering the few Catholic families in this section of the county, and mass was said at Dr. Beohler's for several years at irregular intervals, once in two or three months, until he removed to Titfin, Ohio. The services at Bucyrus were then discontinued until about the year 1849, when, Catholic fam- ilies becoming more numerous, the fathers of this society made the town one of their missions. During the next eleven years, until 1860, mass was said in private houses. These services were not always hell at stated times, but generally at irregular intervals, and the priests did not re- side in the place, but came from Norwalk, Huron County, and New Reigel, in Thompson Town- ship, Seneca County. Among those who visited the town during this period were Revs. Amathias Dombaugh. G. Arnold, J. Albrecht. August Reichert, Peter Kreusch, Mathieus Kreusch, - Jacob, - Gebhart and Barnhart Gwinn. In 1860. the old Presbyterian meeting-house was purchased for $200, and removed by A. Kron- enberger, Sr., at an additional cost of $100, to their present lot on East Mary street. The building was re-dedicated by Bishop Rappe, May 26, 1861. The deed for the real estate, worth $350, was made out in A. Kronenberger's name, but afterward transferred to Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe. Rev. Uerhart Kleck celebrated the first mass and preached the first sermon in their new church. In 1863, a successful mis- sion was held by the Redemptorist Fathers Giessen and Jacobs, and some time afterward another was conducted by Revs. Neithard and Seelus ; each mission lasted about one week.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

The congregation was then attended until the year 1865, by Rev. S. Falk and V. Arnould, Pastors of the Shelby Settlement, and also Rev. J. F. Gallagher, of Wooster. From 1865 to 1869, the congregation was attached to Upper Sandusky as a monthly mission. During this time the Pastors were : Rev. A. Spierings, from November, 1865, to May, 1867 ; Rev. Joseph Reinhardt, until February 2, 1868, and Rev. G. Peter until 1869. Rev. Reinhart was killed, how, or by whom. was never known, while on his way from Upper Sandusky to meet Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe, who had visited Bucyrus to give confirmation. From 1869 to 1871, the congre- gation was without a priest, except once about Easter time, on account of difficulties arising between the German and Irish portions of the church. Finally, peace was restored. and May 5, 1871, Rev. D. Zinsmayer was appointed to the Bucyrus charge. He was the first resident Pastor. and during his stay with the congrega- tion many improvements were made. The church was thoroughly renovated. frescoed, pro- vided with furniture, and a fine bell. weighing 1.000 pounds, placed in the belfry. Rev. G. Peter had purchased for $1,000 the lot east of the church, but, during his Pastorate, only $600 were paid upon this real estate. The congrega- tion, under Father Zinsmayer, raised sufficient funds to settle the debt, and also erected upon this lot a very fine parsonage. Several fairs were held. and, although the congregation num- bered about thirty-two paying families and forty-five in all-the people, thongh mostly poor, assisted their Pastor by liberal subscrip- tions. April 27, 1877, Father Zinsmayer was appointed to take charge of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at Shelby, and Rev. H. D. Best, the present Pastor, was sent to Bucy- rus. During the past three years, the debt left by his predecessor has been paid. The church has received, at different times, about $1,300 from the " Ludwig Missionsverein " of Munich, Bavaria. May 19, 1878, Rev. H. D. Best pur-

chased of Florian Loew, for $200, one and three- fourths acres of land, situated one mile east of Bucyrus, and this has been laid out for a ceme- tery. The first person interred in it was Mrs. Martha Doerfler, who died August 17, 1878. This cemetery was consecrated by Bishop Gil- more, of Cleveland, Tuesday afternoon, October 19, 1880. It is the custom of this church to establish independent schools, and this will, undoubtedly be the next project of those in charge of the congregation. Two attempts have already been made in the past-the first under Father Spierings, and afterward for four months. under Father Zinsmayer-but for lack of means, these schools were discontinued. Considering the limited financial resources of most members of the Bucyrus charge, the con- gregation is in a flourishing condition. Success has crowned their labors in the past, and the future looks bright.

The Disciples, or Church of Christ, erected their church edifice in Bneyrus during the summer of 1876, and organized the congrega- tion in November of that year. Many promi- nent members of this church, however, were formerly connected with the Disciple Church. organized over forty years previous in Whet- stone Township. About the year 1828, Oliver and Isaiah Jones, then residents of Whetstone, having heard the doctrines of the church taught in Wayne County, invited Disciple preachers to their neighborhood. At that time there were no members of this denomination in Crawford County, and the ministers who accepted the invitation, were the first to sow the seed of their religions faith in this connty. The two men who extended this invitation, were for many years the strongest supporters of the Whet- stone Church , they were in no way related to each other, notwithstanding they both removed from Wayne County, bore the same name, and professed the same religious faith. Harrison Jones, son of Isaiah, and also one of the early members, is still living and an eminent minister

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among the Disciples. The first services held in Whetstone Township by Disciple ministers was about the year 1828. at the log cabin of Oliver Jones, by Elders Comer and John Seerist. After the first meeting, Elder Comer went on to Michigan and Elder Secrist returned to Stark County, where he had been preaching. Secrist had formerly been a resident of Kentucky, and several years after 1828, he again visited Crawford County and preached in the Camp- bell Schoolhouse, which was located at that time on the southern part of what is now the farm of W. L. Ferall. In those days members of this denomination were known as Camp- bellite Baptists. Elder Secrist was a very able man, and continued to preach the doctrines of his faith in the township at stated periods for some five years. When he left, Elders A. Burns and Millison came occasionally and preached in the neighborhood ; this was after the year 1840. Elder Burns is a brother of Hon. Barney Burns, of Mansfield ; he is now minister of the church at Shelby. Elders Burns and Millison conducted services at the school- houses or private residences in the neighbor- hood, and sometimes at the barn of John Campbell, who was a prominent member of the church. Campbell represented Crawford County in the Ohio Legislature during the winter of 1833, 1835 and 1840. The Disciple meeting- house in Whetstone was built about the year 1845, and during the next thirteen years Dr. Lucy, John and Thomas Rigdon and Jonas Hartzell were elders of the congregation ; serv- ices were conducted during this period at very irregular intervals. Hartzell it still living at an advanced age in Iowa. About the year 1858, Elder Belton preached at stated periods and continued to do so until shortly after the war broke out ; since that time, Elders Richard Winbigler and Hathaway, have had charge of the church at different times ; services were also conducted occasionally by Charles E. Van Voorhis, who was raised in Whetstone

Township, and has for many years been an active Disciple minister ; he is at present living in Knox County. John Cornell also went out from the Whetstone Church, and is now a Dis- ciple minister in Iowa. Forty years ago the Whetstone Disciple Church was a very strong and influential congregation, but the losses by death and removal reduced the membership to such an extent that for many years religious services were held very irregularly. Finally about December 5, 1875, eight persons met at the residence of Jeremiah Correll, in Bueyrus, and resolved under God to build a house of worship in the town and to re-organize the church. These seven persons were James Kerr, J. W. Bogan, Samuel Keiffer, B. F. Keiffer, Edward Ferrell, Edward Campbell, William Arbuckle and Jeremiah Correll. A few days afterward the lot on the southeast corner of Lane and Warren streets was purchased, and Edward Campbell, Jeremiah Correll and B. F. Keiffer appointed a building committee. The foundation of the edifice was laid in the spring of 1876, and the basement completed by No- vember of that year, at which time thirty-three persons assembled and resolved to form them- selves into a church of Christ, " taking no creed but the Bible, and no name unknown to the Scriptures." A Sabbath school was organized ; Elder George T. Smith was called to preach, and has continued with the congregation since that date. His labors have been blessed, and, during the past four years, 100 additional mem- bers have united with the church. The upper room of their church edifice was completed during the summer of 1877, and the building dedicated to the service of Almighty God Sep- tember 2, 1877, Elder Isaac Errett officiating. This house of worship is designed after the Gothic style of architecture. The building is sixty-five feet long, forty feet wide, and two stories high. The basement is eleven feet, and the audience room above has an arched ceiling nineteen feet above the floor at the sides, and

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

twenty-seven feet in the center of the room. This is the only arched ceiling in town. The church is surmounted with a tower and spire which reach 120 feet from the ground. The cost of the entire building was about $11,000, and the entire amount was raised by the mem- bers by the time the church was dedicated.

The United Brethren in Christ congregation was organized about August 15, 1879, with the following members : John Carson and wife, Anna, Charles and Robert Carson, Edward Sheckler and wife, Nettie Sheckler, Mrs. Eliza Monnett and daughters Lulu and Vertie, H. A. Raub. Lillie Ranb, Henry Couts and wife, Jacob Yeagle and wife. J. G. Hull, John Slagle, Miss Kate Steelsmith, J. G. Wert and wife. Mary and Joseph Wert. These persons were all connected with the "Holiness Movement," which had. previous to this time. received its support in Bucyrus from members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. During the pastorate of Rev. G. W. Ball, this movement in the inter- est of " Christian Holiness," was organized, and most of the active members of the Methodist Episcopal congregation showed their sympathy by their presence and influence at the special " Holiness " meetings. After a few months some withdrew, declaring they could not ac- quiesce in all that was said and done by those who professed to believe the doctrines taught ; other prominent members were removed by death, and, after Mr. Ball left the advocates of " Christian Holiness " in the Methodist Episco- pal Church, they were not so numerous and in- fluential. Their special Tuesday evening prayer meeting, however, was continued for many months under Dr. Nelson's pastorate, and the venerable gentleman kindly attended and led many meetings, although he could not coincide with all that was said at them. But the mem- bers of the "Holiness Band" were afterward denied the right to have the church basement for their special meetings, because a few re- fused to subscribe to the general church fund,

and, after suffering for some time what they considered other persecutions, quietly withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church, and formed a United Brethren in Christ Congrega- tion, which denomination contains more mem- bers professing their views on " Christian Holi- ness." The first trustees were John Carson, Jacob Yeagley, Henry Couts, J. G. Hull, and Barney Saylor. The store-room on the south- west corner of Main and Warren streets was rented and fitted up for a meeting-house. In the fall of 1879, the United Brethren Conference appointed Rev. Moses E. Spahr, Pastor of the Bucyrus charge, which is at the present time attached to Bucyrus Circuit. Rev. O. H. Ram- sey was placed on this circuit in the fall of 1880. August 25, 1879, a United Brethren in Christ Sabbath School was organized with the following officers : John Carson, Superintend- ent ; Mrs. J. G. Wert, Assistant ; Charles Car- son, Secretary ; H. A. Raub, Treasurer : An- netta Sheckler, Librarian. A lot has been pur- chased at the corner of Walnut and Lucas streets, and the congregation contemplate erect- ing a church building in the near future.

During the past sixty years, several attempts have been made to establish other denomina- tions in Bucyrus, and the religious services held by two of these churches were continued many years. Rev. John Pettitt, a Congregationalist minister. removed to Bucyrus about 1840. and for many years preached in various neighbor- hoods of Crawford County. Through his ef- forts, mainly, a society of this denomination was organized in the village. For some years their services were held at the Protestant Methodist Church. In the spring and summer of 1855, the brick church, which is now owned by the Baptists, was erected by the Congregational Society. The building was dedicated September 28, 1855, and about this time Rev. Oliver Bur- gess, who had been pastor of the Methodist Epis- copal Church for the preceding year, was em- ployed to preach in the new edifice. Burgess re-

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mained one year, and then Rev. Pettitt supplied the pulpit until July, 1859, when the society ex- tended a call to Rev. Gideon Dana, formerly of Oberlin ; this gentleman remained two years ; during his pastorate the church purchased, December. 1859, the first pipe organ ever brought to Bueyrus. Rev. Robert MeCune was the immediate successor of Mr. Dana. He continued as Pastor from July, 1861, to July 1862, and then resigned to accept the position of Chaplain at the National Military Hospital, on Johnson's Island, near Sandusky City. Rev. I. C. Kingsley received a call in July, 1862. and remained until about January 1, 1864. Several ministers came occasionally and preached, but after a few months the church was sold to the Board of Education for $3.000. The organ was afterward sold to the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Rev. John Pettitt. the founder of the church, and the most active member of the congregation during the many years it continued, removed, about 1866. to the northern part of Michigan. During the many years he was a citizen of Crawford County. he always took an active part in building up the moral interests of the community. For the last five years of his life, he rode regularly through summer's heat and winter's snows to his appointment five miles distant, and, when the weather did not render the frontier school- houses untenable, he had from two to three ap- pointments each Sabbath. On the last day of his life. Sunday, May 11, 1879, he rode on horse- back to his appointment, but, upon his return, complained of being sick, and in half an hour passed from his labors to his reward, in the eightieth year of his age, after laboring as an active minister of Christ for more than half a century.

Some forty years ago, ministers of the Prot- estant Methodist Church visited Bucyrus and conducted religious services ; possibly the first member of this denomination to preach in the village was Rev. Seeley Bloomer. About 1845,

Rev. Dalby organized a congregation at the house of John Morfoot, who resided at that time on the lot now occupied by Mrs. Doll, just north of the northeast corner of Walnut street and the Middletown road. Among the carly members of this church were John Morfoot and wife, now Mrs. John Boyer, John Kelly and wife. John Fralic and wife, David Holma and wife, Matthew Fulloon and wife. Shortly after the congregation was organized, the lot on the northwest corner of Rensellaer and Walnut streets was purchased, and a meeting-house erected. Rev. Bamford was the first Pastor. Services were conducted once every two weeks. The congregation in the village was a station on Bucyrus Circuit, which included the neighbor- hoods of Wingert's Corners, Bear Marsh and Grass Run. Among those who had charge of this circuit during the decade from 1845 to 1855, were Revs. John W. Case, Jeremiah Jack, Aaron D. Abbott, Samuel Catlin and James Duffy. It is possible that other ministers preached regularly to the Bucyrus church dur- ing this period. Rev. I. C. Thrapp was Pastor in 1856, and, after he left. services were discon- tinned in the Bucyrus church. The building was removed, several years afterward, to the site now occupied by the Eagle Foundry, and used as a work-shop until destroyed by fire in August, 1867.

During the latter part of 1869, Rev. Alexan- der M. Cowan, a minister connected with the Southern Presbyterian Church, visited Bucyrus for the purpose of establishing a congregation of that denomination. Among those who aided and encouraged this minister during his labors in the place, by attending his services, were Dr. C. Fulton and wife, Judge James Clemens and wife, Judge Thomas Beer and wife, George L. Saulsbury and wife, Hon. C. D. Ward, Hon. William M. Seroggs, Hon. William Larwill, Samuel Hoyt, Dr. George Keller and others. The first sermon was preached in the court house, October 31, 1869, and shortly afterward

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Quinby Hall was rented. in which meetings were held every Sabbath, morning and evening. for several months, but the outlook for a strong and prosperous congregation was not flattering, and the meetings were discontinued.

Through the efforts, mainly, of Robert Mac- Leod. eivil engineer of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railroad, certain Episcopal ministers were indneed to conduct services at Bueyrus during the year 1874. The first meeting was held May 3. by Rev. J. M. Hillyar, of Mansfield, and Rector of the church at Galion. This gen- tleman continued the services during the sum- mer. He was assisted occasionally by other ministers. The meetings were held at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion. and among those Episcopalians who gave Mr. Hillyar aid and encouragement during the summer, in his efforts, were Robert Macleod and family, William Eccleston and family, W. T. McDonald, J. Ilopley and others.

The Sunday school canse early enlisted the attention of those pioneer settlers who desired to improve the morals of the community. James McCracken, Esq., for many years a prominent citizen of the village and township. is authority for the following statement: " In the year 1827 or 1828, at the instance of an Episcopal missionary from Mt. Vernon, the first Sabbath school started in Bucyrus was or- ganized at the little brick schoolhouse. Abel Cary was elected President, and Dr. Hobbs. Secretary. There were also four Directors chosen, John Moderwell being one of them. These officers constituted an executive com- mittee for the government of the school. They appointed James MeCracken Superintendent." Although most of the working members in this school were connected with the early Presby- terian Church, yet it was not established in the interest of that denomination, but as a union school ; and it was attended and supported by members of the Methodist, Lutheran and Pres- byterian Churches. This moral agency was

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 59

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034