USA > Ohio > Defiance County > History of Defiance County, Ohio. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, etc.; military record; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; farm views, personal reminiscences, etc > Part 39
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The old church in which the old settlers so joyfully served their God was moved to the place it stands now, henceforth to receive the happy school children. It is said that one time when Father Westerholt was on his way to collect money for the erecting of the new church, he brought home $800 in money, many Protestants con- tributing. We cannot but improve the occasion to state that all along the Maumee Valley, especially in De- fiance, there has always existed, and still exists, a com . mendable spirit of toleration between Protestants and Catholics. The church was soon under roof and paid for. Meanwhile the neighboring country become set- tled more and more by Catholics. Father Westerholt (as also his successor) visited Poplar Ridge, North Ridge, Napoleon and Antwerp, to gather the families that had located near those places, in all of which priests now reside. He attended, besides, Junction, Delaware Bend, Mud Creek-small congregations that now are attended from Antwerp and North Ridge, and which now number from twenty to thirty and forty families. Father West- erholt was succeeded by Father Hoeffel, who was rector of St. John's until January, 1868. In 1860, the popula- tion of Defiance was 1,625. For one year yet Father Hoeffel was to be pastor of St. John's and visit the above- named missions. But the Catholic population of Defi- ance and its next surroundings grew so strong that an assistant became necessary, and in 1859 Father Molony, now rector of St. Malachi's, Cleveland, came to divide the hard labors of Father Hoeffel. The assistant priest resided in Defiance, and from here attended the missions until one mission after the other had a church and pas-
toral residence built, the missions now being entirely separated from Defiance. St. John's congregation rap- idly increased by a constant stream of immigration, and in 1868 it numbered about seventy-five families. In 1870, when the population of Defiance was 2,760, with very near one hundred Catholic families, Father Hoeffel finished the church. It was not merely plastered, but beautiful stucco work ornamented bothi sanctuary and the upper part of the walls ; there were beautiful pews, and a bell also was bought, and a pipe organ, at a cost of $1,000, which still serves at divine service, certainly better than any melodeon could do.
On March 28, 1863, several acres of land were bought for a new cemetery, deeded by Philip Smith to Amadeus Rappe (recorded Vol. XII, 90). In January, 1868, Father Hoeffel was appointed rector of St. John's, at Delphos, Ohio, and was succeeded by Father Rudolf. In August, 1869, Father Viers arrived and had charge of the congregation until October, 1878, when the pres- ent pastor, Father Young, succeeded him. In 1870, the sisters of the convent of St. Agnes, Fond du Lac, Wis., took charge of the school, and have ever since worked faithfully in the education of the little ones. Very soon a new school room was built, and from that time on the school had two divisions. The congregation now growing very rapidly, the church became too small ; there was no room any more for new-comers. By a majority of a vote taken by the congregation in January, 1873, it was decided that the congregation was to be divided in two; there should henceforth in Defiance be a German and an English congregation. The Germans bought the entire church property, paying over to the English congregation $5,000. The English Catholics .were to have the use of their mother church yet for three years, to have fully time to build their new church, both congregations therefore holding divine service in the same church, but at a time separated for each. Shortly after the separation of the two congregations, the B. & O. R. R. was being built. In 1873, the B. & O. R. R. Company bought three and half acres of the Catholic cemetery for $1,500, and shortly after 1870 one factory after the other started, bringing new life and enterprise into Defiance. In 1873, a new pastoral residence was built, which cost about $4,000, and is cer- tainly one of the best in the diocese. When the beau- tiful new English church was built and furnished, and the Germans had now alone the possession of the mother church, it was as well filled by German Catholics alone as it was just a little before the separation. Indeed, so rapidly did the congregation grow larger and larger, that the church became again too small. In 1880, an addition was built to it, and when in that year the pop- ulation of Defiance was 5,915, the German Catholic con- gregation had about 130 families. For the present, the church is large enough.
A small debt which is yet on the congregation for the building of the priest's house is covered by subscrip-
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tion, and whatsoever may be the wants of future times, the congregation is able and willing to meet them. The progress of the temporal welfare of the Catholics during the time may be best illustrated by the following : In 1841, two of the above-mentioned young men, Adam Willielm and Joseph Grossell, were one Sunday after- noon sitting on the banks of the Maumee River, counting their money. Adam Wilhelm then called $5 his own, and Joseph Grossell had a quarter more. Both of them are now grandfathers, the latter still working at his carpenter's trade, with a very good property, the former now owning one of the best llouring mills in Ohio, and said to he the second richest man in Defiance.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
BY REV. M. P. KINKEAD.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Congregation was opened in the year 1873. Up to that time, all Catholics in Detiance and the immediate vicinity worshiped in St. John's Church. That edifice being no longer sufficiently large to accommodate the rapidly increasing Catholic population, at the suggestion of the. Rt. Rev. Richard Gilmour, Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, the mem- bers came together to decide by vote, either to erect a larger church edifice capable of affording ample facili- ties for all to continue worshiping together as hereto- fore, or to divide and establish an exclusively English- speaking congregation. This latter proposition was the one agreed on, and accordingly the new church was commenced as soon as the necessary preparations were completed. A Building Committee of ten members was appointed, constituted as follows : Adam Wilhelm, John Crowe, J. B. Weisenburger, John Rowe, Michael Gorman, Joseph Haller, Gideon Blanchard, M. B. Gor- man, Jacob Karst and A. A. Grant. The first step was to select a location, and soon afterward about an acre of land was purchased on the corner of Jefferson avenue and Arabella street. The new congregation not yet having received a priest of its own, the building com- mittee were compelled to attend to all the details of pro- viding plans for the church, excavating for foundation, raising funds, etc .. etc. By May, 1875, the building was sufficiently far advanced for the laying of the corner-stone, and so rapidly was the work of construc- tion proceeded with that the new church was ready for divine service in January, 1876. Rev. P. P. Mazuret was appointed pasfor of the congregation in March, 1875, and remained in charge for twenty-two months. On the fourth of January, 1877, the present pastor, Rev. M. P. Kinkead, succeeded Rev. Mazuret. The se- quel is best told in the words of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Gilmour, who visited Defiance November 10, 1878, to dedicate the church edifice and administer the sacra- ment of confirmation. Writing to the Catholic Universe of Cleveland, he thus describes the church and his visit :
" Last Sunday. at 10 A. M., the Rt. Rev. Bishop
dedicated at Defiance. the beautiful new church (Eng lish) of Our Lady of Perpetual Help ; after mass, in the same church, he confirmed seventy-five well-pre- pared children.
" The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is really a beautiful church, bespeaking not only much taste but great liberality on the part of the congrega- tion. It is one hundred and thirty feet long by sixty wide, and high in proportion, with stained glass win- dows, handsome pews, beautifully frescoed, etc. The lot is one of the finest in Defiance, with a neat parson- age and small schoolhouse. There is yet considerable debt, but with unity in the congregation, and careful management of the finances, the debt will be got through with. There is a good disposition among the people, and the pastor, Rev. Kinkead, has done exceedingly well since his appointment. The church and lot cost about $35,000, and, when paid for, will be a monument to religion that both pastor and people may be justly proud of.
"There was an immense crowd, and the music was very good. This congregation of Our Lady was formed five years ago by dividing the St. John's congregation, thus making an English and German congregation. We would recommend as a model the terms of agreement entered into by the old congregation with the new, when they separated, and, what is better, the fidelity with which they were kept."
The congregation, when organized, had a member- ship of some sixty-five families, many of whom were prominently identified with Catholic interests from the early days of Defiance. There are now about one hun- dred and twenty families.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DEFIANCE, OHIO.
The Rev. James French, a missionary sent out by the Baptist Convention of the State of Ohio, to labor in the western part of the State came to Defiance in the early part of the year 1846, and held a series of meetings, by which an interest was awakened in the minds of a few, and they were induced to make arrangements to organ- ize a Baptist Church.
The first preliminary meeting for the organization. of which there is any record, was held at the residence of James Ward, February 19, 1846, at which seven persons-James Ward, William Clark, Caroline Clark John Winfield, Jane Winfield, Sarah A. Goodson, and Mary A. Stilwell-entered into an agreement to proceed to organize a Baptist Church. On April 15, 1846, the above named, with a number of others completed the organization and called James Ward to be their pastor The next day, he was ordained to the work of the min- istry by a council convened to recognize the church and to ordain the pastor. At a meeting of the church held May 16, 1846, William Clark was elected Deacon, and June 22 of the same year Amos Zellers was chosen Church Clerk. At this meeting, they resolved to unite
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
with the Maumee Baptist Association, and instructed the clerk to prepare a letter to be presented to that body at its next session, and appointed James Ward, William Clark, John Wiufield and Amos Zellers dele- gates to the association. At this time they reported twenty-two members to the association. Mr. Ward re- mained with the church as pastor only a few months, and they were without one for about a year and a half.
In May, 1848, Rev. H. P. Stilwell commenced labor- ing with the church one-half his time as pastor, and continued to do so till May, 1853. During his ministry, the church became an incorporate body by a special act of the Legislature of the State of Ohio, passed March 22, 1850, with the corporate name of " The First Baptist Church iu the Town of Defiance " (see local laws of the State of Ohio, Vol. XLVIII, for 1848-50). It was also during his ministry they built the first house of worship ; it was dedicated May 2, 1852.
In the latter part of November, 1853, Rev. Amos Pratt became pastor, and remained till the next April. Soon after Mr. Pratt left the house was rented to the Board of Education for school purposes, and was used for such purposes about two years.
In March, 1855, Rev. William Branch settled as pas- tor and remained one year. In April of this year, Calvin B. West, by a council convened with the church, was ordained to the work of the ministry to labor as an Evangelist and soon after started to Oregon, but died on the way.
In May, 1857, Rev. J. C. Armstrong became pastor, and remained till December, 1858. During his minis- try, the church enjoyed considerable prosperity and in- creased in numbers so that when he left it had forty-six members. For the next two years, the church had no pastor and made but little, if any, progress in growth or usefulness.
In December, 1860, Rev. J. H. Barker became pas- tor, and remained till September, 1862. During his pastorate, the country was in high state of excitement caused by the Southern rebellion, and in consequence of this but little, if anything, was accomplished in church work. After Mr. Barker left, the church had no minis- terial labor, but occasional visits from the associational missionary, till March 1, 1866, when W. V. Thomas set- tled as pastor. At this time the church had but twenty- one members, and only about half of them in town. It was poor, financially, and the house of worship very much out of repair. During his first year's labor, the house was repaired and refurnished, and some progress made. In 1869, the church enjoyed a precious revival, which resulted in an addition of about thirty members. There continned a steady growth in the membership and financial strength till the 1st of May, 1873, when Mr. Thomas resigned and left.
Rev. J. H. Sedgwick settled as pastor June 1, 1873, and remained only one year. In August, 1874, Rev. A.
Von Putkamer became pastor and remained till August, 1876. During his pastorate, the parsonage was built, and some repairs made on the church property. After Mr. Von Putkamer left, the church was without a pas- tor till April, 1877, when W. V. Thomas, the present pas- tor, settled with the church the second time. At this time, the membership was reduced to about fifty, and a small debt upon the property. During the first year's labor, the debt was paid and some progress made. In the winter of 1879-80, the church enjoyed another re- vival, by which it received an addition of about thirty- five members. The next year the house of worship was repaired and enlarged, and there has been a steady growth in numbers and efficiency up the present time. The present membership is one hundred, and a large proportion of them are young people.
The records of the church are defective in many par- ticulars, and especially in giving the membership of the church from time to time, and their financial condition and progress. From the minutes of the Maumee Baptist Association, I learn the increase in membership has been slow. In their first report to that body, in 1846, they reported twenty-two members, and the increase the first ten years was only one, reporting twenty-three mem- bers to the association in 1856. The largest number of members reported any year during the first ten years was twenty-nine, in 1854. The increase during the second decade of their existence was two, reporting twenty-five members to the association in 1866, and the largest number reported any year during the decade was forty- six, in 1858. The increase during their third decade was thirty-one, reporting fifty-six members to the asso- ciation in 1876. The largest reported any year during the decade was sixty-five, in 1871, and the same in 1872. The increase from 1876 to 1880 was forty-five, reporting 101 members to the association in 1880.
There has been received into the church by baptism, 124 ; by experience, 36 ; by letter, 126; unknown (that is, the record does not state how), 7, making a total of 293. Of this number, 107 have been dismissed by letter, 30 have died, 52 have been excluded, and 7 unknown (probably they have left the place and their names dropped from the record), making a total of 196, leaving 97 members to day, June 1, 1883.
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
. The congregation of the German Methodist Episcopal Church of Defiance was formed in A. D. 1850, services previous to this being held in the school room. Defi- ance at that time was part of an extensive missionary field served by Methodist preachers. In 1857, Rev. Frederick Ruff, of the Central German Conference, was stationed on the West Unity Circuit, to which belonged many appointments, Defiance being one of them. The names of the official members of the M. E. Congrega- tion at Defiance at this time were as follows : Hermann Iding and A. Schmidt, Local Preachers ; Phillip Thor-
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reiter, Class Leader; H. Kettenring, Trustee. The number of members at that time was fifteen, viz .: H. Iding, A. Schmidt, A. Kettenring, Frederick Genrich, Margaret Schulz, Frederick Kahlo, John Hanzel and Carrie, his wife, George Young and Eliza, his wife, Daniel Wolf, Frederick Guthman, Philip Thorreiter, Mrs. Genrich and Mrs. Hoffman. The four last named are dead. The claims for the support of the minister were $200. The church, which was located on Wayne street. was built under the administration of the above named pastor in A. D. 1857, at a cost of $700, and was paid for on the day of consecration. The lot cost $300. The bell was presented afterward by the Presbyterian congregation. The parsonage was built in A. D. 1860, under the administration of Rev. J. Braun, at a cost of $300. At the present time (1883), J. Roser is pastor in charge ; has a circuit of two appointments-South Ridge and Defiance-with a membership of about 150 ; and the Sabbath school numbers about the same, in- cluding scholars and teachers, and superintended by C. Krenkel and Frederick Demland. H. Iding, Daniel and Elias Roser, Local Preachers ; Christopher Miller, Ex- horter; H. Thorreiter, Rudolph Dickmann and Fred- erick Demland, Class Leaders ; C. Geiger, Register ; William Hoffmann, George Young, Joseph Kahlo, Ru- dolph Diekmann and Frederick Demland, Trustees. The value of the church property at Defiance, accord- ing to the minutes of the yearly conference in 1880, church (frame) $2,000 ; parsonage (frame), $1,000.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
The first Episcopal service held in Defiance was in November, 1851, by Rev. Dr. Walbridge, of Toledo.
Rev. David Barker, of Mauince City, visited Defiance four times during the year 1855.
Rev. Moses Hamilton held services for about six months in 1857-residing at Napoleon -visiting Defi- anec alternate Sundays.
Rev. Edward Winthrop, of Maumee City, held serv- ices in Defiance once a month for one year in 1857-58. Rev. Mr. Jukes officiated here several times.
May 1, 1855, " Grace Church " Parish was orgau- ized. The first vestry was Jacob J. Greene, John W. MeKim, William Sheffield, Henry M. Clark and Alexan- der Backus.
After 1858, for more than fifteen years, no services were held, and the parish " lapsed."
Services were again held in 1876, by Rev. A. V. Gorrell, then residing at Hicksville-at first once a month, and afterward on alternate Sundays, and with such encouragement that the present brick church, a neat, convenient and churchly building, was erected ; consecrated by Bishop Bedell, assisted by a number of clergymen, April 11, 1878.
Communicants, 70 ; average attendance of the Sun- day school, 45.
Rev. George S. May is the present minister-since December, 1880.
Trustees and acting vestry : J. J. Greene, J. J Jarvis (Wardens), Elmer White, C. J. Chenevert, Charles Seymour and W. D. Hill.
In addition to the above statement of facts con- nected with the growth and development of the Episco- pal Church in Defiance, it may be proper to add that during the year 1881 the trustees have erected upon the church lot, immediately under the shadow of the church, a large and convenient rectory, costing $4,000. The increase in the number of communi- cants indicates a just appreciation of the church and. her services. The zeal and earnestness of those who were the founders of the work richly deserve to be commended. The future of the parish is assured.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In the fall 1845 came Rev. August Friedrich Knape, of Fort Wayne, Ind., to Independence, a small hamlet four miles below the town of Defiance, situated on the Maumee River. He, with his family, made the journey by canal-boat. He was then following a call from a small congregation near New Bavaria, in Henry County, Ohio, on the so-called South Ridge, several miles south- east of Defiance.
In the following years after Rev. Knape had settled down among his congregation, he was frequently called to Defiance from the few German Lutherans, who then resided in town and its vicinity, to preach to them the Gospel and perform such other rites as are customary in said church, as the baptizing of infants, etc. However, at this time a regular church could not be established yet, but there was a constitution drawn up and signed by many of those Lutherans who lived at the time in Defiance and vicinity.
The signatures are : A. F. Knape, their minister ; Martin Viebach, Valentine Stork and wife, Catharine Stork, E. Kornbaum and wife, Elizabeth Kornbaum, John Grass and wife, Barbara Grass. Frederick Stork. John Stork, Frank Roegner. Louis Bremer and wife, Barbara Bremer, Peter Bremer, Conrad Peter, Adam Bruman, Carl Voigt, Julius Dolke, George Hechler and wife, Catharine Hechler, Philip Stork and wife, Susanna Stork, Catharine Minzlin, Maria Kornbaum, Elizabeth Koenig, Dorothea Schlagman, Sophia Hase, Elizabeth Bauman, Maria German, Rebecca German and Anna Eizabeth Thalen.
Many of the above named are not now living. It seems that this constitution was but of short duration, for as the document bears no date, it cannot be said, with cer- tainty, at what time it was drawn up, but may be as- sumed that it was about the year 1849. The original of the same is retained in the congregation. Rev. Knape at this time served the congregation no more from the South Ridge as formerly, but from the North
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Ridge in Adams Township, where he lived upon his farm situated near Ridgeville Corners. It also appears that Rev. Knape served said congregation no longer than the year 1850. It so happened that in 1850 several Lutheran families from the so-called " Altmark," in Prussia, arrived and settled at Defiance and the mem- bership was thereby enlarged.
On the morning of the 19th day of August, 1850, at 9 o'clock A. M., the congregation convened. The members present were twenty-one in number, and there and then elected a board of trustees.
The persons elected were : Christian Hess, with six- teen, and Martin Viebach, with sixteen votes, for Trustees, and Valentine Stork, with thirteen, and Edward Korn- baum, with seventeen votes, for Elders. It is to be sup- posed that this was the first set of officers that was ever elected in this congregation.
The congregation from this time on grew continually in number, so that in the year 1851 the members thereof called upon the Rev. Adam Detzer, at this time living in Williams County, Ohio, to pay them a visit and deliver a sermon, to which he responded. On the 29th day of May in the same year, Rev. Detzer was, in a regular meeting, chosen by sixteen men to be henceforth their minister. This is really the time from whence may be dated the founding of a German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Defiance, Ohio.
After Rev. Detzer had accepted the call of the 29th day of May, 1851, he was, on the 3d day of August, 1851, solemnly installed (ordained) by Rev. Trautman, of Adrian, Mich.
On the morning when this important transaction should take place, the congregation had yet no place where to assemble. The schoolhouse west of the Ger- man Catholic Church, which was frequently used by them as its place of meeting, was at this time occupied by some other denomination and could not be had. Finally the members found an old house on Water street (nicknamed Smoky road) which was uninhabited, and in a short time it was furnished with the necessary seats, made of old boards, sufficiently to accommodate the congregation.
On the 24th day of August, 1851, shortly after the regular founding of said church, the voting members elected their first church council : namely, Valentine Stork, Charles Warneke, Isaac Frank, Martin Viebach, John Grass, Charles Kahlo, Sr., and Christian Iless.
As the congregation from this time on kept increas- ing, plans were resolved upon to find a place whereon to build a church, and in 1852 it was able to purchase a lot situated on the banks of the Auglaize River for $75. The lot was purchased of Mr. J. D. Phillips, of Dayton, Ohio. In the year 1853, the members commenced already with the erection of a frame church, and the whole work went on favorably. The heavy timbers for the building were gratuitously furnished by members of the church. The contract for building the church
was taken by D. Oliver. Rev. Detzer at this time lived in Fulton County, Ohio, among a Lutheran congrega- tion, near Archibald, Ohio, and from thence tendered his services to both this and the one there, many a time traveling the long way of twenty-one miles on foot, in mud and water. The roads in those days were anything but good, and were almost impassable, so that toward the end of June, 1853, he moved to Defiance. From this time on he was a resident of Defiance till the spring of 1873.
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