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 40
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Early in the summer of 1854, the church was com- pleted, which is a building forty-five feet long by thirty- one feet wide, and on the 9th day of July, 1854-a very pleasant summer day-it was solemnly dedicated to the service of God. Prof. Cramer, then living in Fort Wayne, conducted the services in the morning before a crowded house, and Rev. Detzer preached in the evening of the same day. The author remembers very well the services of the day, and the singing of hymns of praise and thanksgiving by the congregation, accompanied by a band of musicians. It was a day not to be forgotten in the history of a church.
The congregation, in its efforts of building this church, was aided by many American friends, and likewise by its Catholic neighbors, among whom are noted Messrs. C. H. Bouton, W. C. Holgate, J. J. Greene, W. A. Brown, E. F. Lindenberger, Frank Weisenburger, Adam Wil- helm and many others.
The congregation at this time had many difficulties to compete with, for many of its members were, with the exception of a few, new beginners, and, it may be said, poor. Many of them had enough to do to supply them- selves with their necessaries. Rev. Detzer traveled around in a circuit by Fort Wayne and made collections among his Lutheran friends. Finally this was all over- come, with the help of God, and in the year 1856 the congregation built a parsonage. Rev. Detzer took possession of his new quarters on the 8th day of Sep- tember, 1856.
On the 12th day of May, 1856, the congregation con- vened in its new church, and on motion of Mr. August Dolke, Mr. John Buehneman was appointed chairman of the meeting. After Mr. Dolke had made known the object of said meeting, its members adopted a constitu- tion in conformity with the laws of the State of Ohio. The principles laid down in said document have been . adhered to by the congregation until this day, as a guide to regulate its affairs.
The name given to this church in the constitution is " St. John's Church " of the German Evangelical Lu- theran St. John's Congregation unaltered Augsburg Confession, of Defiance and vicinity.
The names of those that signed this document are : Adam Detzer, Secretary ; Jol n Buchineman, President ; Wolfgang Rocdel, Julius Dolke, Jolm Buehneman, Mar- tin Wiebach and Charles Warneke, Trustees. In addi- tion thereto, it is signed by a few other members, as
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
Henry Fritsche, John Koenig, August Dolke, Joachim Mueller and Christian less.
In the year 1860 or 1861, the church was furnished with a nice ball, whose chime has called many a Chris- tian to the services, and to many already dead it has tolled their last farewell.
In the fall of 1864, the congregation was strong enough to put a pipe-organ in its church. The organ cost $636, and was built by a man in Chicago by the name of Wolfrum. It is an excellent piece of work, and when its tunes accompany the congregation singing its beautiful hymns, the hearts are drawn up on high.
In the year 1867, the congregation bought a piece of property containing four lots, situated in one the handsomest loentions of the town, from Mr. II. C. Bou- ton, for $800, which was finally paid for by the remain- ing members. Since the 1st day of June, 1867, these lots are the property of this congregation.
The congregation at this time may be said to have been in its greatest bloom; when, all at once, Satan cast his seeds of discontent into its midst. In the be- ginning, these difficulties, existing principally between Rev. Detzer and a few members, were mutually settled ; but the old enemy was not satisfied therewith, until, by and by, the matter took such a shape that it became necessary to call upon the Revs. Sihler and Stubnatzi, of Fort Wayne, to act as arbitrators.
Revs. Sihler and Stuebnatzi accepted the invitation, and the investigation took place in February, 1870. The meeting commenced carly in the afternoon, many mem- bers being present, and, continued till after midnight, without any favorable result. The consequence was> that many, being dissatisfied, separated from the old congregation and are so till this day. From this time on there existed two German Lutheran congregations in Defiance ; the old one, incorporated with the Missouri Synod, and the new one, after there came a minister from the Town Synod, hold to the last named.
Now, the old congregation was greatly reduced in number, but in a short time received strength again, so that in the same year (1870) it commenced building a brick schoolhouse. The house was completed the same year, and cost $1,153, which is paid a long time ago.
Rev. Detzer tendered his services not alone to the congregation in Defiance, but also to one on the South Ridge, and a few others somewhere else, so that many times he had to be absent. The congregation of Defiance beginning to insist upon having regular services every Sunday forenoon, and he being all alone, could not very well do it. It was now resolved by both congregations to call for an assistant, and the two should preach alter nately. The synod, who was called upon to send an assistant suitable for this post, sent an excellent young man by the name of W. T. B. Lange. He arrived about the 20th of August, 1871, and accepted the position under many congratulations from the congregation.
The congregation had now two ministers, and pretty
soon there were also two parties. One part preferred Rev. Detzer, the other Rev. Lange, and as Rev. Detzer, being the oldest minister, claimed the preference in ad- ministering the customary rites of said church, Rev. Lange felt himself degraded.
It became necessary that the ballot should decide which of them should have the ministry in Defiance. On the 23d day of June, 1872, at a regular meeting, the ballots were cast, and Rev. Lange was elected by seven majority. At the close'of this same meeting, the discon- tented members gave vent to their dissatisfaction, and blamed the congregation in general, that Rev. Detzer was not treated in a Christian-like manner, whereupon Rev. Lange revoked the transaction, and afterward ac- cepted a call from a congregation at Valparaiso, Ind., who had called upon him prior to this meeting.
The congregation of Defiance had now no minister at all, Rev. Detzer being voted out, and Rev. Lange would not accept the position. This was the close of Rev. Detzer's labors in Defiance, after toiling faithfully in this congregation over twenty-one years. Rev. Det- zer was asked to serve the congregation till the follow- ing September.
Immediately after this perilous meeting, on the 23d day of June, 1872, the congregation requested Rev. Stubnatzi, in Fort Wayne, to propose a minister suit- able for this post. Rev. Stuebnatzi proposed Prof. R. Lange, of Fort Wayne, and who was, on the 14th of July, 1872, called upon. Rev. R. Lange accepted the call, and in September, 1872, was installed by Rev. Stuebnatzi. The rejoicings were now without bouuds, to have a minister whose services should be exclusively tendered to this congregation ; but it did not con- tinne long, for on the self-same day, when installed, after services were closed, he presented a call from Cincinnati to the congregation. It was not hearkened to; however, it was a poor omen. After this, he received other calls from other places, off and on, so that finally the congre- gation resolved to let him off. He was the minister of this place for the short period of three months.
The congregation was again without a minister, and was compelled to search for some other man.
At a meeting on the 17th of November, 1872, the members resolved to call upon Rev. C. F. Steinbach; he, however, for reasons of his own and his congregation, did not accept the call.
On the 8th day of December, 1872, the members convened again, and this time resolved to call upon Rev. G. M. Zucker, of Proviso, Cook Co., Ill. Rev. Zucker accepted the call, and, about the middle of Jan- uary, 1873, he arrived with his family in Defiance. On the second following Sabbath, he was installed by Rev. Lehner. Rev. Zucker has been its pastor, at this writ- ing. over eight years. and God grant that he may serve them many more years.
The following summer, about the month of August, the congregation made application to the synod to send
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
a suitable person to teach its school. It was supplied with a young man by the name of August Krueger. He was yet young and seemed to have had but little or no experience in teaching and of governing a school, and as he was otherwise of a reckless nature, faults were found, and in the spring of 1874 he handed in his res- ignation. The congregation at first seemed to object to his resignation, but after some deliberation, granted the same. Since that time it has had no teacher, and Rev. Zucker both superintends and teaches said school.
The congregation, under constant growth, now counts about 100 voting and other members, and thinks itself strong enough to erect a new brick church on one of its four lots. The necessary funds thereto will be raised by subscription among its own members. How large and in what style it shall be built is not yet de- cided.
The author in closing this sketch expresses his sincere desire that the growth of this congregation may continue; that the pure word of God may be preached therein in all times to come; and that finally, each and every one, as their time will arrive, may land in yonder world, where bliss is everlasting.
GERMAN REFORMED CHURCII.
History of the German Evangelical Reformed St. Jolm's congregation at Defiance, Ohio.
The pioneer work in this congregation was done by Rev. J. O. Accola in the year 1861, when the services were conducted in the old court house. In 1862, a formal organization was effected, when the following persons joined the newly formed congregation : Chris- topher Krebs, Frank Young, Jacob Mueller, Jacob Wid- mer, Ludwig and Jolin Spangler, J. Geiger, Jolin Hies- ter, Mrs. M. Mueller, Mrs. Heatley, Miss Mary Gorman, etc. In 1864, A. B. Koplin took charge of the congre- gation in connection with another one northwest of Defi- ance, who was succeeded by the Rev. H. Daniel in 1866, who from this place engaged in missionary work in Paulding County, Ohio, and succeeded in organizing a congregation in Junction.
During this period, difficulties arose which materi- ally retarded the progress of the congregation, and in 1867 Rev. H. Daniel resigned. Then the congregation remained for years without a pastor. Quite a number of members joined other denominations ; others moved away, and the congregation consequently decreased to a small number. At this time of discouragement, the following few are among the number who were zealous and faithful : Frank Young, Abraham Baum, Rudolph Mueller, John Hiester, Ludwig and John Spangler, Dan- iel and John Widmer, Mrs. M. Mueller, etc., and in spite of discouragements this little flock undertook the build- ing of a house of worship, in the year 1869, on the corner of Fourth and Washington streets. They had no settled minister at this time, but were supplied from time to time by the Rev. Il. Wegert, from New Bavaria,
Henry Co., Ohio. In 1871, the congregation succeeded in building a parsonage. In 1873, the congregation again called a regular pastor, Rev. J. B. Poerner, who remained about a year, and was followed by the Rev. C. Pluess, who resigned August 1, 1875, and the church and parsonage were again left empty and the flock again had no leader, a heavy debt also resting upon the church, which the few faithful ones were unable to pay.
Accordingly the congregation (with the consent of Classis) sold the parsonage, with the lot, having forty- four feet front, to William Lauster, for the sum of $1,- 205. Now things looked less cheerful than ever before. Once more an empty church, no parsonage and no min- ister, even the few faithful ones began to lose courage, and became unwilling to further lend a helping hand. The Rev. D. Zimmerman, at that time missionary agent of the Synod of the Northwest of the German Re- formed Church, visited the congregation on his mission- ary tour now and then ; also Rev. N. Wiers, of New Bavaria, Henry Co., Ohio, both of whom did all in their power by way of admonition and persuasion to hold at least a few. Finally a suitable man was found for the field, August 1, 1876, in the person of A. K. Heineman, from the theological seminary of the mission house at Franklin, Sheboygan Co., Wis. With an andi- ence of eight persons at public service, he began his labors in this, his first field. On the 8th day of August, 1876, Student A. K. Heineman was licensed to preach at a special meeting of Classis, and on the 23d of August of the same year he was ordained to the Gospel ministry by the Revs. C. Schaaf, A. Bolinger, N. Wiers and El- der H. Tons. Meanwhile, the young pastor was steadily at work, and many of the scattered sheep came back again, so that on the 15th day of June, 1878, a second new, well-appearing parsonage stood complete, and that, too, without debt, so that the church property is now worth about $3,000. At this writing the number of com- mnnicant members has already increased to forty, and the Sunday school has some twenty scholars Rev. Heineman has, besides this city congregation, three oth- ers in the country, viz .: In Florida. Henry Co., Ohio ; Sherwood, Defiance Co., Ohio ; and Junction, Paulding Co., Ohio. The whole charge consists of 203 commu- nicant members and 80 Sunday school scholars. The members are mainly Swiss, Hessians, and from the re- gion of the Rhine. Preaching is only in the German language. The charge belongs to Zion's Classis, and this to the German Reformed Synod of the Northwest. of the Reformed Church in the United States. Thus far the Lord has prospered and blessed. May He fur- ther direct and sustain this little floek. Deo gloria soli sit!
ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCHI.
The Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul congregation was organized at the close of the year 1870. There were about twenty voting members present at the or- ganization, among whom were the following : J. C.
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Schultz, F. Schultz, J. Martin, A. Martin, A. Dolke, A. Behringer, C. Brede, H. Herdegan, F. Wolfrum, M. Schultz, etc. Its first pastor, J. Deindoerfer, who is still in charge of the congregation, is a member of the German Lutheran Synod of Iowa and other States (East- ern District). Soon after its organization, the congre- gation purchased three lots on the corner of Clinton and Arabella streets, in front of the Union School Park, for $1,200 ; then erected a small building for the purpose of a parochial school and made preparations for a honse of worship. Of this, the corner-stone was laid the summer of 1871, and the edifice, a solid brick building, 36x60 feet, with a spire in front about ninety feet high, was finished and dedicated in February, 1872, costing about $6,000. During the summer of 1873, the congregation built a parsonage near the church. The congregation has lost several of its members by death, but is steadily increasing in numbers, and has now about 140 com- municants, and of their families and other members about 250 souls. Rev. J. Deindoerfer, present pastor.
DEFIANCE COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
The society now known as the Defiance County Bible Society, auxiliary to the American Bible Society, was organized in 1831-fifty-two years ago-when De- fiance was a small village, situated along the north and south banks of the Maumee River, from the foot of Clinton street cast on Front street to Jefferson. There were only two houses at that time west of the canal, and no improvements south of Second street, and the pop- ulation of the town could not have exceeded 150 per- sons. The records of the organization of the society are so imperfect that the names of the first officers of the society are lost. The little band of earnest Christian men and women who first formed the society, fifty-two years ago, to spread the Word of God and supply the Scriptures to the destitute pioneers of the northwestern part of the State, appears to have done its work well. As far as can be learned, there is not one living to- day to recount to us the scenes of the past, while the little village of Defiance has grown into a city of nearly 7,000 inhabitants, and the surrounding country, which was almost a trackless wilderness, is now filled with happy Christian homes.
Ten years after the first organization in 1841, the society was re-organized and a new constitution adopted. The name of the society was called The Bible Society of Defiance and Vicinity, which included the present coun- ties of Williams, Paulding, Defiance, Henry and part of Putnam. From that time on to the present, the records are full and complete, and the fiftieth anniversary was held in the Presbyterian Church, March 27, 1881. The officers of the organization of 1841 were William Scamans, Esq., President; Owen Ensign, Payn C. Parker, William Trans and Dr. O. H. Allen, Vice Presidents ; Rev. E. R. Tucker, Secretary ; Sereno Ly- man, Treasurer ; W. C. Holgate, Auditor; and Dr. J.
Colby, W. C. Holgate and Josiah Ackley, Directors. Of the above-named officers, only two, Messrs. Holgate and Traverse, are known to be living at the present time.
August 5, 1841, a branch society from the Defiance Society was organized at the town of Charloc, Paulding Co .. Ohio, with the following officers ; Robert Shirley, President ; John Taylor, Vice President ; A. J. Taylor, Secretary ; Levi Taylor, Treasurer and Depositary. Also September 3, 1841, a branch society was organized at Williams Center, Williams Co., Ohio, with the following- named gentlemen as officers : Owen Ensign. President ; Jacob Conkey, Vice President ; W. O. Ensign, Sec- retary ; Payn C. Parker, Treasurer and Depositary.
Of the above-named officers of the branch societies, but one or two are now living.
The first anniversary of the new society was held in the law office of William Seamans, November 15, 1842. Rev. Mr. Briggs, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Rev. E. R. Tucker, of the Presbyterian Church, conducted the services, and the reports of the officers in regard to the success and progress of the work were read and approved. From the reports we find that much good work had been accomplished, and many copies of God's Word had been distributed among the poor and destitute settlers of the northwest part of the State. January 26, 1843, was organized the Ladies' Branch Bible Society of Defiance, for the better prosecution of the work of the church. The following ladies were elected officers of the society:
President, Mrs. H. C. Southworth; Vice President, Mrs. E. L. H. West; Secretary, Mrs. E. Holgate; Treas- urer, Mrs. A. M. Noble; Depositary, Mrs. A. Colby; Directors and Visitors, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Cheeney, Mrs. Lyman, Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Brubaker.
This organization was very zealous and efficient in its work, visiting all the families in the neighborhood, and supplying all who were destitute of Bibles and Tes- taments. It was a labor of love, for which our pioneer mothers took a deep interest, as they do in every good work for a higher and better civilization.
For fifty years the men and women of the Defiance Bible Society, in the spirit of their Master, have given freely of their time, influence and money, as well as their earnest prayers, for the spread of His Gospel, and the conversion of men and women from sin to pure and holy thoughts of God and Heaven, and a future life. They have sent consolation and joy into the homes of hundreds of families of pioneer settlers, which has doubt- less controlled the destiny of many a wayward spirit, and turned it into channels of usefulness and power for good.
During the fifty years of the existence of the society, it has purchased more than $5,000 worth of Bibles and Testaments, for free distribution and sale among the peo- ple within its territory, and has sent to the American Bible Society, from sale of books and collections, more
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
than $6,000. At the present time the society is in a most flourishing condition, and expects to make a thorough canvass of the county during the present year, and give a copy of the Scriptures to every family not able to purchase. The present offices are:
President, E. P. Hooker; Vice President, C. B. Squires; Secretary, G. H. Palmer; Treasurer and De- positary, G. P. Buffington.
The following is a list of many of the principal of- ficers for the last fifty years:
Presidents -- William Seamans, ten years; Sereno Lyman, three years; Woolsey Welles, six years; John W. McKim, three years ; Dr. David Greenlee, two years; S. R. Hudson, two years; Horace Sessions, two years; Virgil Squires, two years; J. P. Ottley, one year; Sam- nel Booth, two years; E. P. Hooker, one year; J. H. Buffington, four years; Dr. M. B. Stevens, three years.
Secretaries-E. R. Tucker, eighteen years; B. F. Southworth, ten years; Virgil Squires, four years; W. F. Goodenough, three years; A. M. Shead, two years; G. H. Palmer, for years.
Treasurers-Sereno Lyman, four years; J. J. Greene, twelve years.
Depositaries -Dr. O. H. Allen, twelve years; J. P. Buffington, Depositary and Treasurer, twenty-three years.
CEMETERIES.
The first grounds ever set apart as shown of re. cord for the burial of the dead at Defiance were the two lots marked M and P on the original plat of the town laid out by H. G. Phillips and Benjamin Lea- vell, in November, 1822. Lot " M " was dedicated by that plat to the Methodists for a church and bury- ing ground. And lot "P" to the Presbyterians for the same purpose. There was no organized Method- ist or Presbyterian Church at that time at Defiance, and there being no member of a Presbyterian Church then resident of this place to care for its interests, the general public took possession of their ground and devoted the same exclusively to burial purposes. This ground is very handsomely located on the west- erly bank of the Auglaize River, a little northerly of the Hopkins street bridge, now almost in the heart of the city.
Among the early burials in this lot, as attested by marble slabs still standing, may be found the names of Nancy, daughter of Robert Shirley, who died March 1, 1823, aged seventeen years; Thomas, son of Joshua Hilton, died 1825, aged fifteen years; Mary, wife of Thomas Warren, died April 11, 1826, aged twenty-three years (she was also daughter of Robert Shirley); Nathaniel B. Adams, died August 9, 1843, aged forty one years twenty-two days; David Travis, died March 8, 1847, aged fifty-five years. In addi- tion to the above may be found the graves of the
father and mother and one sister of James. B. Heat- ley, Esq., of this town, now one of the oldest living pioneer settlers
As this lot was fast filling up, steps were taken to secure a general burying ground, resulting in the purchase from H. G. Phillips of ten acres for $400, deeded May 14, 1847, to the Defiance Rural Ceme- tery Association (incorporated by special act).
At an election of the Defiance Rural Cemetery Association, held March 8, 1847, the following electors were present: J. W. Phillips, M. P. Bell, A. L. Downs, S. B. Barnum, Eli Rider, William Semans, Jonas Colby, Thomas Warren, Jacob J. Greene, George W. B. Evans, Orlando Evans, William C. Holgate, W. A. Brown and Pierce Evans, William Semans S. B. Barnum and William C. Holgate each received 13 votes, and William P. Bell and Orlando Evans each received 14 votes for Trustees of the De- fiance Rural Cemetery Association. Jonas Colby re- ceived 14 votes for Secretary and Horace Sessions re- ceived 13 for Treasurer.
November 17, 1847-Ordered that the Secretary of this Association procure a surveyor to survey the ground lately purchased of H. G. Phillips, for the use of said association, situated on the Auglaize River, at Culvert Run in Defiance Township.
Pursuant to the above orders, John Wisler, Coun- ty Surveyor of the county of Defiance, was called and proceeded at once to survey the ground, laying out the lots and fractional lots, avenues, walks, etc.
May 22, 1848-Board met. Present, William Se- mans, M. P. Bell, Orlando Evans and William C. Holgate, Trustees. William Semans in the chair. On motion, William C. Holgate and Jonas Colby were appointed a committee to have general supervision of the grounds, clearing, fencing, arranging shade trees, etc.
The first notice for the sale of lots took place July 1, 1848. December 20, 1848, at a meeting held at the Secretary's office (J. Colby, Secretary), William C. Holgate, William Semans and George B. Way were appointed as a committee to draft by-laws for the government of the association.
The first burial in the new cemetery was that of Helen D., daughter of Lyman and F. M. Langdon, who died January 13, 1849, aged six years eight months and twenty days The original design of beau- tifying the grounds was never fully carried out until 1871, when the Association was re-orgainzed by the election of new officers as follows: William C. Hol- gate, Peter Kettenring, L. A. Davison, L. E. Myers and E. P. Hooker, Trustees; William C. Holgate, President; Peter Kettenring, Treasurer; Edwin Phelps, Secretary. In 1875, Messrs. Davison and Myers retiring, their places were filled by Charles P.
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