USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of Erie County Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
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* Those marked by a star are deceased.
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property is valued at $25,000. The church also owns a parsonage on Wayne street worth $7,500.
The present membership of the church is four hundred and two, of which forty-two are on the retired list. This leaves a known membership of three hundred and sixty. One hundred and fifty-one of this number have been added to the church during the present pastorate.
Taking into consideration the fact that two churches have gone from her midst, there is ample proof that she has ever been an active, growing organi- zation. In 1835 a part of her membership formed the Episcopal Church, and in 1852 nearly half of her followers again seceded to form the Presbyterian Church.
The Congregational Church was widely known in the old slavery days for her strict adherence to the abolition of the evil and her defense of the oppressed. Sandusky was one of the principal stations on the Underground Railroad, and Deacon Parish was known far and wide for his bold and loyal devotion to the cause of freedom. Many a slave was aided to escape from bondage by this good man, who has now gone to his reward.
Deacon M. F. Cowdray, recently deceased, was for many years an active deacon of this church. He was one of the foremost educators of the State, and was one of the very first to introduce the system of graded schools into Ohio.
Deacon James Marshall, the present senior deacon of this church, has been one of its strongest supporters for the last twenty-five years. The present deacons are James Marshall, Arthur Phinney and G. W. Payne. Trustees- Henry Schumacher, John Poole, Samuel Irvine and H. C. Post.
Among the names that are enrolled upon the books of this church as pas- tors, we find two that have since become known to the world through their literary work, viz .: Dr. Walker, whose " Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation " is still in use in many educational institutions, and Dr. Strong, whose work, "Our Country," has passed through several editions.
A benevolent society was formed by the ladies in the early days of the church's history, and is still one of its most attractive features. All through the dark days of the Civil War this society devoted its time exclusively to the soldiers, and when that need passed away, the same energy was used in work- ing for the missionaries on our western and southern frontiers and the needy at home. It is still in existence, and meets every Thursday afternoon in the church parlors, where, after the work is laid aside, a supper is enjoyed, and an hour of social intercourse passes the time until the hour for prayer meeting. It would be impossible to estimate the amount of good these ladies have accom- plished, and it is not surprising that they cherish an organization that ha's ex- isted so long.
Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, southwest corner of Wayne and Wash-
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ington streets. Rev. Richard Howell, rector. With the chapels belonging thereto, viz : Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church, southwest corner of First and Erie; St. John's chapel, northeast corner of Monroe and Clinton. Rev. I. Hawthorne, minister in charge ; St. Luke's chapel, west side of Hayes avenue, between Tyler and Osborne ; chapel at Venice. Among the oldest and most substantial church organizations of Sandusky, this church has a prominent place. It was organized on the 13th day of June, 1835, at a meeting of citi- zens at the house of Oran Follett, on which occasion Zenas M. Barker was made moderator, and A. Root, secretary of the meeting, and it was there re- solved that the name by which it should be known, should be Grace Church Parish, Sandusky city.
The first vestry was composed of Abner Root, senior warden ; Zenas M. Barker, junior warden ; John G. Camp, John N. Sloane, Ogden Mallory, Elen- theros Cooke, T. Neill, John Kinney, James Hollister and Wm. P. Chapman.
At the first vestry meeting held June 20, 1835, it was decided to build immediately. The church edifice should be of stone and its dimensions should be seventy-five feet in length by fifty in width. Its situation was wisely chosen - on the corner of Wayne and Washington streets - and its corner stone was laid July 28, 1835, by the Rev. Wm. Shelton, D. D., of Buffalo, N. Y., assisted by the Rev. E. Tommison, of Norwalk. Abner Root was ap- pointed first delegate to the diocesan convention on October 21, 1835. By an act of the Legislature Grace Church Parish was incorporated on January 15, 1836. That same year, in the month of August, Rev. Albert Bledsoe was elected rector of the parish, and entered upon his duties September 1, 1836. the building being erected and enclosed, and the basement ready for occupa- tion. Mr. Bledsoe's rectorship terminated April 31, 1837. The following names are recorded as the first communicants : Abner Root, Elizabeth Roo :. Zenas W. Barker, Eliza G. Barker, Quincy Adams, Rhoda Camp, Elizabeth Camp, Elizabeth G. Webber, Ann Boyce, Grace Neil, Christian Morton, Ora Mallory, Fanny Mallory, Fanny Cook, Elizabeth Chapman, Eliza Inman, Ann Wilbur, Eliza P. Hollister.
Rev. Thomas H. Inman had charge of the parish about nine months. Oa the 15th of September, 1838, he resigned, and the parish was without a rector until December 1, 1839. During the time from December, 1839, to April. 1840, Rev. E. Punderson supplied the pulpit, when Rev. B. H. Hickox became minister in charge May I. He infused such life and energy into the parish that the vestry elected him rector at the expiration of a year. As this was not approved by Bishop McIlvaine, Rev. Mr. Hickox resigned October 1, IS41. From this time the parish was without a rector until November, 1842, she Rev. Foster Thayer assumed the incumbency, resigning the following Easter. From Easter until Christmas the parish was again vacant. Rev. Edward Lounsbury was elected to fill the vacancy and officiated for the first time on
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Christmas Eve, this being the first service in the completed edifice. An organ procured the previous summer, was used for the first time, at this service.
The consecration of Grace Church took place June 29, 1844, and the ser- vices were conducted by Bishop McIlvaine. In the autumn of that year Rev. Mr. Lounsbury was compelled to resign on account of his health.
The sixth rector was Rev. L. N. Freeman, who entered upon his duties October, 1844, and remained one year, leaving a record of official work, the largest in the history of the parish. After a vacancy of one year, Rev. S. A. Bronson, D. D., president of Kenyon College, was chosen rector, and entered upon his duties October, 1850.
For sixteen years the church enjoyed a period of great success. Dr. Bron- son laid the foundations broad and deep. Transepts and a chancel were added, and two chapels built. One of these was St. Mary's, Western Liberties, the other St. Ann's, Camptown. The church was enlarging her borders, and the spirit of her earnest pastor filled the people with enthusiasm. Through pesti- lence and civil war Dr. Bronson remained at his post, a faithful pastor, rec- ommending the Christian religion by a well-rounded life. He imparted his own stability of character to the parish, and it rose to be one of the first in good works for the Master. It became the missionary parish at home and abroad. Dr. Bronson resigned after sixteen years of earnest labor to accept a professorship in Kenyon College, Gambier, October, 1866. Rev. W. Farr, of Philadelphia, was called to be next rector. Building upon Dr. Bronson's foundation he inaugurated an era of giving. He built a beautiful stone chapel in the Western Liberties under the name of St. John's ; also a new stone church named Calvary. This latter took the place of St. Ann's, Camptown. Calvary soon became an independent parish with its own rector. The land for this church was donated by Mr. C. C. Keech, who also gave the land for St. Luke's, where a temporary edifice was being built. To aid in this home mis- sionary work an assistant was elected in the person of Rev. G. R. Sturgess, who was succeeded by Rev. C. L. Pindar, and he by Rev. A. B. Nicholas in 1876. Mr. Nicholas also assumed the title of rector of Calvary Church.
In 1875 the Hospital of the Good Samaritan was inaugurated and char- tered and the building commenced. In October, 1877, to the unanimous re- gret of his parishioners, Mr. Farr resigned, and assumed charge and rector- ship of the Church of the Saviour, in Philadelphia. During the eleven years of Mr. Farr's rectorship the receipts from all sources reached the large sum of nearly $100,000.
In October, 1877, Rev. L. S. Osborne, of Xenia, O., was called to the rectorship and entered upon his duties January 6, 1878. During his adminis- tration the church gave liberally to missions and built a beautiful chapel to take the place of the temporary building at St. Luke's. At Easter, 1883, Rev. R. N. Avery was added to the clerical force of the parish. At the same time
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the chapel at Venice placed itself under the care of Grace Church. Durin : the summer of 1882 and 1883, extensive repairs and improvements were made, and the parish was in a flourishing condition.
The resignation of Mr. Osborne January 6, 1884, was the cause of univer sal regret and sorrow to his parishioners and friends, and again the parish wa- without a rector. Rev. Francis K. Brooke, of Piqua, O., was called to the parish and assumed the rectorship March 23, 1884. Mr. Brooke was an earn- est, faithful worker, a staunch churchman, and deeply respected by all who knew him. He was called to St. Peter's Church, St. Louis, and entered upon his duties there in the spring of 1886. The eleventh rector, Rev. Richard Lewis Howell, was called to the parish in December, 1886, and assumed the rectorship January 1, 1887. In February he was elected rector of Calvary Church, and in April the new chapel in Venice, which had been closed for nearly two years, was opened and regular services held. Rev. Charles Sturge- was called to Fernandina, Fla., and resigned Calvary Church in February. He was the much beloved successor of the Rev. A. B. Nicholas, who in hi- time had won the hearts of the whole community of church people in San- dusky, and had resigned to become general missionary of the diocese. Rev Mr. Howell received Mr. William J. Hawthorne as a student and candidate for holy orders from Philadelphia, hoping for his ordination in the near future. Rev. William B. Guion, formerly assisting at Grace Church, Cleveland, wa- called as the assistant at Calvary Church. Mr. Guion remained but a few weeks. The past year has been one of great prosperity. St. John's. S: Luke's, Calvary, have all been greatly beautified and improved. The hospit ... has entered upon a bright era of prosperity. The generosity of the people has vastly increased, and already a parish building has been donated to Grace Church. There are rumors of other gifts, and the whole parish seems roused to a sense of its opportunity and responsibility. A debt exceeding $1, 200 h. been paid, and for the first time in many years, not a penny of indebtedne- rests upon any of the five churches in the rector's care. The Rev. B. M. Dougherty, of Christ Church, Huron, became the assistant in charge of Cal- vary Church, on Sunday, February 12, 1888. Grace Church property, $25,- 000; rectory, $6,000; Calvary Church and rectory, $6,000; St. Luke :. $4,000 ; St. John's, $4,000 ; hospital, $15,000.
Emanuel German Evangelical Protestant Church .- North-east corner vi Columbus avenue and Adams street. Rev. John George Enzlin, pastor. Until July, 1844, there was but one German Church in Sandusky. At tin- time twenty-three individuals met in the old court-house to consider the practicability of forming a second organization for public worship.
Jacob Hertel was chosen secretary, and the organization was formed. . 1: the second meeting the subject of a building was introduced, and a committee of five was appointed to make arrangements for building. This was composed
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. [ the following gentlemen : Peter Gilcher, chairman; John Horning, Fred. Reinheimer, Jacob Knerr, John Claussius.
In January, 1845, it was decided to build a brick church, thirty-six by forty feet, with a height of fifteen feet. At this time the church had already grown in its membership, until it numbered sixty-two members. Among these was John Shook, who is still living in our midst. In 1852 there were one hundred and seventy-one members, but in the year 1854 a number of the members concluded to withdraw and form a Lutheran Church, and left but one hundred and twenty members in the old church.
There was no constitution framed until 1854, but the government was con- gregational.
In 1857 the church called as pastor Rev. Moseback, who remained one year. After his departure Dr. Fisher was called on a salary of $300 per annum. He remained pastor of this church until 1867, when he was requested to resign and thereupon proceeded to form a church of his own, for which he built a church (now used as a dwelling house) and continued in Sandusky many years as its pastor.
In the year 1869 Rev. Seipell was called to the pastorate, and remained until 1872. In June, 1872, his successor, Rev. E. Von Schulenburg, became its pastor, and during his pastorate the church was united to the General Synod of North America, under whose care it still continues. After remaining four years Rev. E. Von Schulenburg left, but returned to the city again subsequently, and has since been pastor of the Church of St. Stephens.
The present pastor, J. G. Enzlin, has been here since 1876, and the church has gained in strength and power. He raised money to purchase a parsonage, a pretty building on the corner of Jackson and Monroe streets, valued at $2,500, and the church has now sixty voting members, and a complete membership numbering two hundred and forty. He teaches two months every summer, and divides his labors between Sandusky and Prout's Station, a rural station where he has a membership of forty-five voting members. He preaches in Sandusky every Sabbath morning, and every alternate Sabbath goes to his country church.
The new church was built in 1866, and is worth $10,000, with a pipe organ that cost them $870. This building is situated on the corner of Adams and Co- lumbus avenue.
To be a voting member the church requires not only that one should live a Christian life, but also that a certain amount be given to the church yearly. Where there are short-comings in these respects the members are excluded from the privilege of voting.
Salem Church (Evangelical Association), Rev. Matthew Guhl pastor, Ad- ams street, between Wayne and Columbus avenue. This is the oldest German Church in Saudusky, and has existed since 1840. In its government it is very
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similar to the Methodist denomination, and has its presiding elder, its bishop, and its conference.
In 1840 it was a mere appointment, belonging to the so-called Sandusky circuit of the Ohio Conference, which at that time contained about thirty-five stations or appointments. The preachers of those early times worked hard, and endured great trials. For twelve years they visited this town every four or six weeks, and kept life in the little enterprise. At this time they held their meet- ings in the old court-house, and their prayer- meetings in private dwellings. The meetings in the court house were well attended, even Catholics came to hear the Gospel because they had no church. In 1840 A. Strob preached here with great power, and several persons were converted to God. Two years be- fore Mrs. Chr. Zollinger and some others had been converted.
In 1843 the Ohio Conference located a preacher here permanently, Rev. John Lutz. This man of God did a good work among the Germans of San- dusky.
The first building was erected on court-house square, and was a small frame house. It stood but three years, and was then sold and removed. In 1854 the present church was built, near the blue school-house. Rev. L. Scheuerman was then pastor.
The first members of this church included some of the most respected Ger- man families, of whom some are still here, others have died, and many moved away. Most prominent among these are the following names: C. W. Zollinger and wife, J. Nicolai and wife, B. Wiegel and wife, John Kaegle and wife, Jacob Schumacker and wife, Mr. Traub and wife, John Walker and wife, John Brost and wife and others. The ministers who have been from time to time stationed here were the following : Rev. John Lutz, J. G. Ziegler Revs. Jos. Haffert, J. Hall, J. Kern, A. Miebel, G. Behner, G. F. Spreng, J. J. Lang, George Kagy, D. Hahn, L. Scheuerman, J. Strohman, J. Hanecker, C. T. Negele, J. D. Seip. J. Trech, K. Tramer, J. P. Schautz, J. Walz, J. Pontius, C. L. Well, and M. Guhl now in charge.
The number of members has varied greatly, and when other German Churches were established it had many difficulties to contend with. There are at present one hundred and forty members. A Sunday-school is flourishing of one hundred and thirty scholars, and fifteen officers and teachers. The pres- ent officers of the church are J. G. Ziegler, S. Becker, J. Walker, J. Schumacher, P. Vinnes (trustees). J. G. Ziegler and P. Vinnes (class-leader), S. Becker and P. Fuhr stewards.
The growth and success of this church would have been more continuous and greater could the first pastors have remained longer in charge. As a rule they remained but a single year, and as soon as they were acquainted with their people, were sent to other appointments. This kept the church from growing as it should have done. The present pastor has done a good work here, and is now on the third year of his pastorate.
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German Reformed Church, corner Hancock and Jefferson streets, Rev. Michael Treiber, pastor. Historically, this church is descended from the Swiss churches established in the sixteenth century, through the instrumentality of the reformer Zwingli. After the death of Zwingli the head of the church was assumed by John Calvin himself, who resided in Geneva. They are strictly orthodox in belief and have their churches in every town and city of our new world.
The German Reformed Church of Sandusky was formed in 1852, by a number of seceders from the German Evangelist Protestant Emanuel Church, under the leadership of Rev. Peter Bricker, to supply a want long felt for an orthodox German Church. They are placed under the supervision of the High Dutch Reformed Synod of Ohio and the adjoining States. Their house of worship is on the corner of Hancock and Jefferson streets, and their church membership now numbers about two hundred. The value of their property is $6,000. Their present pastor is Rev. Michael Treiber.
St. Stephen's German Evangelical Protestant Church, corner of Laurence and Jefferson streets, Rev. Ernst Von Schulenberg, pastor. In the year 18 -- Dr. Von Schulenberg organized this church, and with a few families from the Emanuel Church, and several others, took steps toward a permanent organiza- tion. The necessity for a building forced them at once to make arrangements for its beginning, and Dr. Von Schulenberg succeeded in seeing one erected at a cost of $3,500, of which all but three hundred is now paid.
This church has a membership of fifty-five families, ten of these having been added since its organization. This church was dedicated in May, 1882, and at the present time the Sunday-school numbers one hundred and fifty scholars and fifteen teachers.
In addition to the work of the parish, and the service of the church, Dr. Von Schulenberg carries on a large medical practice and accomplishes a large amount of literary work. He has been a large giver to the church, and, as in the course of years some of his best families have been removed by death or change of residence, the burden is not light. One of his principal families, Mr. Fruechticht, returned to Hungary, and at present there are none to rise up and take the vacant places, but the work goes on, and the doctor labors earnestly for his church.
Friends .- Friends chapel is on the south side of Second street between Sycamore Line and Erie street. William Nicholson, minister. This so- ciety was organized in February, 1881. The house now occupied by them was built and formerly occupied by the Episcopalians, until their pres- ent house of worship was built on First street. At that time they sold their old church to the city School Board, to be used for school purposes, until the tenth ward school-house was built. The building then was left unoccupied, and in February, 1880, Rev. J. Strong, of the Congregational
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church, assisted by J. J. Howell and others, rented the house from ti. Board of Education and gathered in fifty children that had hitherto bee: attending no Sabbath-school, and proceeded to organize a Sabbath-schoon and elected D. C. Walker superintendent, and J. J. Howell secretary and treasurer. Under their management the interest and attendance in- creased until it was concluded that the cottage-prayer meetings, that had been held throughout the winter in private houses, should be moved to the church . and through the interest of the people, and by their request, William Allen, .. minister of the Society of Friends, from Indiana, with Charles Sweet, came and held revival meetings, at which there were several conversions. Thirteen or more requested to become members of the Friends Church, and thus Milan Monthly Meeting (at that time composed of the two meetings of Milan and Berlin), by the requests of these converts became interested, and the house was bought by the Friends. The church was organized in 1881, with J. ] Howell and Mary Jackson as elders. About this time Lida G. Romack, a noted lady minister and revivalist, of Alum Creek, held a series of meetings in which the whole community became interested ; so much so that the house could not hold the people, and an eager throng pressed around the doors and windows, even to the blocking of the street. More converts were thus brought in, and William Allen brought his membership as a minister from Indiana, and he and Charles Sweet preached for some time, until William was called to another field, and then the work rested on Charles Sweet for some months. Then G. J. Bartlett took charge of the work, with the other two appointments, until he was succeeded by William Nicholson, the present pastor. He was sent from East Richland by the Yearly Meeting's Pastoral Committee, in September, to Mi- lan Monthly Meeting, and took this work in connection until one year ago. when it was decided to divide the work and give William Nicholson the work in Sandusky alone. At the time when he came to the city he found a mem- bership of about thirty. Since that time there have been thirty-five by re- quest, and five by letter, and the interest of the church is on the increase.
The Society of Friends have a yearly conference, and a quarterly meeting or conference. . This church belongs to the Alum Creek Conference and the Ohio Yearly Meeting.
Wherever the Friends are found there is a monument to their founder, George Fox, who in 1657 organized the first society of this denomination, and lived to see 80,000 converted under him. The church in Sandusky is united and prosperous, and promises well for the future growth of its body, under its present earnest minister.
German Lutheran Church .- Corner of Washington and Jackson street .. Rev. Jacob Dornbirer, pastor. In June, 1852, a meeting was called with the intention of forming a church, and Rev. Schladtermundt was appointed to draft the constitution.
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January 18, 1853, this organization joined the Lutheran Synod, of Ohio, and the same day proceeded to elect trustees and Sunday school officers. The first trustees were: Bernhardt Meier, George Hartman, George Lanz. The first minister was Rev. Schladtermundt. Rev. Kline succeeded him August 6, 1853, and Rev. Seidel followed him March, 1855. Then came George Lehr in 1856, who remained twenty-two years and died February 6, 1879. His successor was J. Dornbearer in the same year. They own a parsonage and now have a church of two hundred families.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- South side of Washington, between Jack- son and Decatur streets. Methodists are always pioneers. They are found wherever a few families have settled, and proceed to organize themselves at once into a class. In Sandusky City they did this in its earliest days, and until 1828 they worshiped in private houses. At this time they erected the first church building ever erected here, and had Rev. John James for their pastor. It was a small one-story building on Jackson street, facing west from the present court-house.
In those days it was customary for brother Daniel Van Fleet to blow the horn for assembling the people for worship, but in a few years this custom was relegated to the background, and the more modern fashion of ringing a small bell was substituted in its place. Rev. L. B. Gurley completed the in- terior of the church in 1830, and was heard to say that the pulpit was so unlike anything in heaven or earth that there would be no sin in worshiping it. Among the first members were the following persons : Daniel Van Fleet, Father Kelly, J. H. Norman, Father Allen, D. H. Tuttle, Mrs. Eunice E. Newton, Mrs. Mary Osborn, Mrs. Mary A. Paul, Mrs. Mary Holland, Mrs. Amanda Smith, Mrs. Elenore Smith, Mrs. Susan Dean, Martin C. Clarkson. From the erection of the first church in 1828 until the building of the second in 1847, the following pastors succeeded each other in the charge of this church : John Jones, William Runnels, L. B. Gurley, Edward Thompson (af- terward bishop), Thomas Barkdull, John Quigley, Orin Mitchell, William C. Pierce, O. Burgess and Clark Johnson, Thomas Thompson and Ralph Wilcox, Harvey Camp and Thomas Cooper, E. McClure and S. I. Seymour, E. R. Jewett.
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