USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc > Part 66
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Through the passing years the church had rapidly increased, both in numbers and wealth, and the old building was deemed insufficient in size to comfortably accommodate the congregation. The society therefore decided to take two very important steps in advance, viz .: to ask to be made a station and to erect a new house of worship in a more convenient locality. The request was complied with, and in 1850-51 W. S. Lunt was returned as pastor. Lots Nos. 18 and 19 on West Sandusky Street were purchased in January, 1851, for $450, and a commodious brick building, 48x80 feet, erected the same year at a cost of about $7,000. It faced Crawford Street, and was used nearly fifteen years. But that locality soon became a manufacturing neighborhood, and the congregation* finally saw their error in building on the north end of the lots. Mr. Lunt's successors up to the erection of the present church were Revs. J. A. Kellam, David Gray, J. S. Holmes, Thomas Parker, L. B. Gurley, Gershom Lease, J. S. Kalb, Joseph Wykes and Isaac Newton. The last mentioned came in 1866, and under his pastorate the building was erected.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
The question of rebuilding the church had been agitated during Rev. Parker's pastorate, and during that of Rev. Lease an effort to raise the necessary amount by subscription was made, but the great Rebellion broke out, and the matter rested until 1864-65, when, in consideration of the absolute necessity of expensive repairs in order to continue worship in the old church, it was generally agreed that the wisest and most economical plan was to prepare to build. A subscription was accordingly circulated in the fall and winter of 1865-66, and nearly $15,000 secured, which, with the mate- rial of the old building. gave resources to the amount of $17,500, and at a special meeting of the church it was agreed to proceed at once to build. C. A. Croninger, H. P. Gage and S. D. Frey were appointed a building com- mittee, and James Harsh treasurer. The corner-stone of the new structure, on Sandusky Street, was laid September 12, 1866, Prof. P. S. Donelson, president of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, Delaware, Ohio, deliver-
ing the oration. The same gentleman conducted the ceremonies, in which he was assisted by Revs. Isaac Newton, Joseph Wykes and David Gray. The building was originally intended to cost about $16.000, but ere its com- pletion in 1868, together with its subsequent remodeling, the total expense had reached about $40,000. It is quite a massive, handsome structure, with a towering spire 180 feet in height, and the main audience room will comfortably seat 700 people. The basement is utilized for Sunday-school, lecture room, etc., and the whole building is a great credit to the congre- gation. The Rev. Newton filled the pastorate three years, and his succes- sors have been as follows: Oliver Kennedy, 1869-72; Isaiah R. Henderson, 1872-73; William Jones, 1873-76; Parker P. Pope, 1876-78; J. F. Davies, 1878-81; E. D. Whitlock, 1881-82; William I. Yingling, 1882-83; Samuel L. Beiler, 1883-84; Andrew J. Fish, 1884-1886. The church now con- tains a membership of 540, also 60 probationers, and a flourishing Sunday- school with an enrollment of 457 scholars.
The First Presbyterian Church of Findlay was organized December 21, 1831, by Rev. Peter Monfort, who came that year as a missionary from the southern part of the State, and held numerous services in Findlay and other parts of the county. These meetings were always held in the cabins of the pioneers, as there were then no public buildings of any kind except the old log schoolhouse in Findlay, where the people could gather to hear preaching. This society was organized at the house of Wilson Vance, and embraced the following members: Wilson Vance and wife, Sarah; William Taylor and wife, Margaret: William Coen and wife, Sarah; Ebenezer Wil- son; Phobe Henderson, wife of William L. Henderson; Asa Lake and wife, Chloe, and Mary Gibson. Messrs. Wilson and Coen were chosen and or- dained ruling elders of the new organization. All of the foregoing mem- bers were pioneers of the county, and are fully spoken of in the histories of the townships wherein they resided. Rev. Monfort continued his labors in this field for nearly three years, and the Findlay Church was then supplied by Rev. T. B. Clark, of Logan County, in the latter part of 1833 and the early part of the following year. Mr. Monfort spent some time with this church in 1835, and Rev. John L. Belleville, of Dayton, Ohio, also visited the Findlay congregation the same year.
Rev. George Van Eman, a member of the Redstone Presbytery of Penn- sylvania, who removed to Hancock County in 1835, was the first settled pastor of the Findlay Church, and he filled that position until 1841.
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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY.
Irregular services were held in private houses, until the erection of the first court house, after which worship was more regular. During the pas- torate of Mr. Van Eman a plain frame building was put up on Lot 132, East Crawford Street. where the oil-mill of McManness & Seymour now stands. A deed for this lot was made to the trustees of the church December 11, 1837, the consideration being $250, and we presume the building was erected in 1838. It remained unpainted for several years, and was at first supplied with temporary slab seats without backs, and a rough platform from which the preacher expounded the gospel. These benches in time gave place to more comfortable pews; while a square box about 4x6 feet in dimensions and five and a half feet high was constructed for a pulpit. During the passing years quite a number united with the church, among the best known of whom were John Ewing, Samuel Moorhead, John Burns, Frederick Henderson and Paul Sours. All of these men are fully spoken of elsewhere in this work. Mr. Van Eman was succeeded in June, 1841, by Rev. Simon Peck, who remained only one year. In 1842 Revs. F. A. Shearer and Alexander Cowan, both of Richland County, preached in Findlay, but neither became pastor. In the fall of that year Rev. R. H. Hollyday received a call from the church to become their pastor, which he accepted. This relation continued until May, 1854, during which period nearly 200 members were added to the church. Mr. Hollyday is yet a resi- dent of Findlay. In May, 1845, William Taylor presented the church with a bell-the first one brought to the village-purchased in Cincinnati by Frederick Henderson. It was shipped to Findlay on the canal via Dayton, Piqua and Defiance to Perrysburg, and thence hauled to Findlay in a wagon. It was hung in a belfry erected on the old church and first rang September 11, 1845.
After Mr. Hollyday retired from the pastorate, occasional services were held by visiting ministers, but in January, 1855, Rev. J. A. Meeks took charge of the church. By this time the growth of the congregation made neces- sary a larger place of worship, and soon after Mr. Meeks became pastor preliminary steps were taken in that direction. Two lots on West Crawford Street had been sold or rather given to the church in September, 1852, by J. S. Van Eman, the consideration being only $10. But these lots did not suit, and in August, 1855, Lot 16, on the northeast corner of Main and Hardin Streets, where the church now stands, was purchased for $700. In the spring of 1856 the lots on Crawford Street were sold, and that year the church resolved to enter upon the work of erecting the present brick struct- ure. The building committee were William Taylor, Frederick Henderson and Albert Langworthy, all well-remembered citizens of the village. The building was completed in the fall of 1857, at a cost of nearly $8,900, and dedicated free from any encumbering debt, December 27, 1857. In May, 1858, the property on East Crawford Street was sold to William Anderson and J. D. McKibben, who converted it into a woolen-mill. Mr. Meeks was pastor of the church more than ten years, retiring in the spring of 1865. He is one of the old and honored residents of the town and is highly re- spected by all good citizens. During the latter portion of Mr. Meeks' service considerable dissension arose as to his further retention as pastor, which culminated in the secession of about forty-three members, who, in 1865 organized the First Congregational Church of Findlay, and called Mr. Meeks to the pastorate. Though he served the new society long and faith-
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fully he still remained at heart a Presbyterian, and finally resigned and re- turned to his own denomination, accepting a call from the Presbyterian society of Ada, Ohio.
Following Mr. Meeks, the Revs. L. H. Long and J. M. Cross, of Ur- bana, Ohio, paid frequent visits to Findlay, and preached with much acceptance, and, in the fall of 1865, the latter was called to the pastorate. Mr. Cross filled the pulpit until October, 1869, and it was afterward sup- plied by Revs. D. B. Harvey and A. B. Fields occasionally. In November, 1869, a call was extended to Mr. Fields and he was subsequently installed pastor. He served until April, 1872. Rev. Eban Muse was the successor of Mr. Fields and filled the pulpit for three years, commencing with the fall of 1872. In May, 1876, R. R. Sutherland was installed as pastor and held the position until November, 1880. A vacancy of one year now oc- curred in the pastorate, until the coming of Rev. John C. Watt, in the fall of 1881. The present pastor, Rev. J. R. Mitchell, of Indianapolis, succeeded Mr. Watt in December, 1885. The present membership of this church is 250, and there is also a growing Sunday-school with an enrollment of about 300. In April, 1886, Mr. Mitchell began the publication of The Invitation, a small three-column folio monthly paper, published in the interests of the First Presbyterian Church. The Invitation will no doubt prove an efficient local aid in disseminating church news, to which cause it is exclusively de- voted.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church became a distinct organization Sep- tember 19, 1846, though it had been in process of formation for some years. In 1839 Rev. M. Cortex, a German Lutheran missionary, came to Findlay, and preached at intervals for about two years to the adherents of the Lu- theran and Reformed churches. His successor was Rev. Charles Wisler, a minister of the Reformed denomination, who served the people of both faiths from 1841 to 1843. In the latter year Rev. J. B. Hoffman took charge of the mission, and remained nearly two years. Early in 1845 Rev. George Hammer succeeded Mr. Hoffman, and the church record for February of that year gives a list of sixty communicants, made up, doubtless, of both Reformed and Lutherans. Pursuant to previous notice a majority of the members of the Lutheran faith met at the court house in Findlay, Septem- ber 19, 1846, for the purpose of appointing three trustees and a clerk, un- der the legislative act passed March 12, 1844, entitled "An act to provide for the appointment of trustees for the control of associated religious societies, and to define their powers and duties." Rev. Isaac Livengood opened the meeting with prayer, when Isaac Teatsorth was called to the chair, and Rev. Livengood appointed secretary. It was resolved that the society should bear the name of the " Evangelical Lutheran Church of Findlay." Samuel Snyder, Samuel Reber and George Welker were appointed trustees, and Andrew Newstetter clerk. Early in 1847 Lot 52, on West Crawford Street, was purchased for the sum of $200, and on the 8th of March Abraham Daughenbaugh, Simon Wilhelm and Samuel Snyder were chosen as a building committee, and a subscription taken up toward the erection of a house of worship, which was built that year. Mr. Hammer was pastor of the church from 1845 until his resignation, in August, 1849, and during this period the congregation had largely increased in numbers and acquired a good church property.
In 1850 Rev. Isaac Livengood became pastor, and served till the fall of
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1854, when he was succeeded by Rev. Morris Officer. In December, 1850, the record shows 101 communicants, and in 1853, 118. Rev. Officer held the pastorate only one year, and in the fall of 1855 Rev. A. J. Imhoff be- came his successor, and remained pastor of the church ten years. Prior to April, 1858, the Findlay charge embraced the whole county, but at that time the Findlay and Eagle Township (Zoll's) congregations became one charge, separating from Arcadia and Fostoria. In 1860 a bell was pur- chased, which is now doing good service in the new edifice. Mr. Imhoff resigned October 15, 1865, and Rev. S. A. Ort was the next pastor, and served until the spring of 1867. Rev. H. B. Belmer held the pastorate for the succeeding two years, resigning in March, 1869. Rev. Kinsell filled the pulpit during the next three months, and was then succeeded by Rev. P. S. Hooper. In November, 1869, Lots 5 and 6, on the southeast corner of Main and Lincoln Streets, were purchased at a cost of $1,200, and a small frame parsonage erected thereon the following year. Mr. Hooper resigned in December, 1871, and in February, 1872, Rev. George W. Miller was chosen pastor. An effort was made by the congregation, in 1873, looking toward the erection of a new church, and also to unite the Lutheran and Congregational societies, but both failed. In January, 1874, the connec- tion with the Eagle Township society was severed, and the pastors of the Findlay church have since devoted their entire attention to this congregation. Mr. Miller resigned at the close of 1876, and in March, 1877, Rev. C. S. Sprecher was chosen as his successor, and filled the pulpit three years. Rev. J. W. Goodlin was the next pastor, coming in July, 1880, and serving about one year.
On the 29th of November, 1880, the council of the church resolved to take steps toward the erection of a new building, as a larger and more mod- ern structure had now become an actual necessity. The parsonage was moved to the east side of the lots on the corner of Main and Lincoln Streets, and ground was broken for the new edifice May 9, 1881. The corner-stone was laid on Monday evening, August 8, 1881, Rev. J. F. Davies, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, delivering the oration, and on Sunday, June 4, 1882, the church was dedicated to the service of God. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. A. S. Ort, D. D., who was then president of Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio. The old property on Crawford Street was sold in April, 1882, to John Shull for the sum of $1,300. In the meantime Mr. Goodlin was succeeded, in 1881, by Rev. E. K. Bell, who served until October, 1884. Under his pastorate the new building was carried to completion. His successor was the present pastor, Rev. William M. Smith, who came to Findlay in January, 1885. This church has a mem- bership of 200, and a Sunday-school enrollment of 225. The congrega- tion are especially proud of their house of worship, the total cost of which was about $15,000. It is a substantial, handsome brick and stone edifice of composite architecture, with a large square tower gracing the northwest corner, and possessing a beautiful, massive, stained-glass window in each end of the main audience room, and a similar one in the west side of the Sunday-school room. Large sliding doors separate these rooms, which can thus be thrown into one, giving a seating capacity of 600-400 for the au- dience room and 200 for the Sunday-school room. In harmony of design and finish, this building is regarded as superior to any other church of Findlay.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
St. Michael's Catholic Church comes next in the order of time. In the fall of 1840 mass was celebrated in John Engelman's house by the Rt. Rev. John B. Purcell, bishop of the Cincinnati diocese, while on one of his missionary tours through the State. Michael Price, a deceased pioneer of Pleasant Township, and Mrs. John S. Julien, yet a resident of Findlay, were the first practical Catholics who located in this county, both coming in 1834. Mrs. Martin Hollabaugh and Mrs. John Engelman were the next. The former, now Mrs. Jacob Carr, settled south of Findlay in 1835, and Mrs. Engelman came to the village with her husband in August, 1836. In 1853 Mr. Engelman became a convert to the Catholic faith, and is yet among the most worthy members of the church. Mrs. Ellen Green, Mrs. James Fitzgibbons and John S. Julien came to Findlay soon after Mr. Engelman effected a settlement. Mr. Julien married Miss Mary C. Seacker in 1838, and the sacrifice of the mass was occasionally celebrated by Father McNamee, of Tiffin, and other visiting priests at the houses of Mr. Julien and Mr. Engelman. Other pioneer Catholics were Mrs. Jacob Barnd and Caroline Grate (sisters), Louis Adams and family, Michael Adams, John Hines and wife, Joseph Davis, Mrs. Peter Krebs, Hiram Vagley and family, Joseph Fleck, James Sheridan and family, Patrick Sweeney and family, and Mar- tin and Peter Karst and families, of whom Frank and John B., sons of Martin and Peter, respectively, were young men, all coming between 1837 and 1850. Of these Mr. Engelman, Mr. Julien and wife, Mis. Jacob Carr, Mrs. Fitzgibbons, Caroline Grate, Mrs. Louis Adams, Mrs. Hines, Joseph Fleck, Mr. Sheridan, Mrs. Sweeney and Frank and John B. Karst are yet living in Findlay and members of St. Michael's Congregation. Services were held at intervals, generally at the house of Mr. Julien and in a room fitted up by Mr. Engelman in a frame barn erected by him in 1848. Father Howard, a well remembered missionary priest, also preached in the court house to a large audience during one of his periodical visits, for the pur- pose of explaining Catholic doctrine, and thus assist in breaking down the strong prejudice which then existed against members of that faith. Rev. P. A. Capeder, now at New Riegel, came occasionally throughout 1850, and Rev. L. Molon in 1851.
By this time quite a number of Catholics had settled in Findlay, and in the summer and fall of 1851 a small frame was built on Lot 65, on the southwest corner of Hardin Street and Farmer's Alley, and subsequently dedicated as St. Michael's Church. This lot was purchased by Bishop Rappe, of D. J. Cory, for the sum of $75, though a deed was not obtained until 1861. In 1852 Rev. Michael Sullivan was appointed to take charge of the Findlay Mission, and came regularly until 1855. Rev. T. J. B. Uhlmann also visited the congregation in the latter year. Rev. Joseph L. Behn, of Tiffin, began visiting Findlay in 1856, and continued about two years. Revs. W. Bally and N. Gales celebrated mass here and baptized children of the congrega- tion in 1858, but Rev. J. M. Roetzer was the first resident pastor of St. Mi- chael's Church. He came in 1859, and the same year opened a parish school in an old frame building on East Sandusky Street, and subsequently in a room erected for that purpose adjoining the Church. A Frenchman named Pettee was the first teacher. Father Roetzer was pastor until Feb- ruary, 1862, and was succeeded by Rev. A. Behrens. The latter remained about a year, and in 1863 Rev. M. Dechant took charge of the congrega- tion. The building in the meantime had been enlarged to meet the grow-
Henry Sheeto.
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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY.
ing wants of the church. Early in February, 1866, a fine bell, weighing 1,800 pounds, was purchased at an expense of $1,000, and set upon a low trestle near the church; but on the 16th of the same month the building was burned to the ground, the fire starting in a defective flue in the school room. The weather was extremely cold, but a united effort on the part of the citizens present saved the bell, which hangs in the belfry of the pres- ent church, and is regarded as the best bell in the county. Father Dechant began at once the preliminary work toward the erection of a new church, but the old lot was considered too small, and the present site of the church and pastor's residence on West Main Cross Street was donated for the purpose by Louis Adams. The foundation was commenced in the spring of 1866, and on Sunday, August 19, of that year, the corner-stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Amedeus Rappe, bishop of the Cleveland diocese, assisted by Father Dechant, Rev. Joseph L. Behn, of Tiffin, and Messrs. A. S. Sieben- foercher and M. Pietz, two students of St. Mary's Seminary of Cincinnati and Cleveland, respectively, subsequently ordained to the priesthood. (Father Siebenfoercher has been pastor of the Kenton Church since his ordination, and Father Pietz held services in Findlay after becoming a priest. and is well remembered by the congregation.) Mass was celebrated in the morning in Wheeler's Hall, and in the afternoon Bishop Rappe laid the cor- ner-stone and delivered an impressive discourse to a large concourse of peo- ple, many of whom were from neighboring towns. The building was so far completed as to be occupied in the fall of 1867, though it is not yet en- tirely finished, and has not been dedicated. During the process of erection services were held in a room in the Central House building.
Rev. Edward J. Vattmann became pastor of St. Michael's in the spring of 1867, and the building was erected under his pastorate, which lasted two years. The old lot on Hardin Street was sold to James Sheridan in 1868 for $325. Rev. N. Flammang came in 1869 and left in 1870. Rev. M. Pietz also visited the congregation in the latter year. In 1871 Rev. John B. Jung (pronounced Young) was appointed pastor, and soon after coming partitioned off a small room in the church and re-established the parish school, which had not been in operation since the burning of the old frame church in 1866. In 1875 he built the present brick schoolhouse southwest of the church. Father Jung was an earnest, hard-working priest, and accom- plished a great deal of good during his pastorate. He was removed to Defiance in 1878, and Rev. M. Arnoldi, of Fostoria, ministered to the spiritual wants of the congregation until the advent of Rev. George Rudolf in 1879, who remained two years. The present pastor, Rev. Henry
Doerner, succeeded him in 1881, and has ever since continued to labor in building up the church in this portion of God's vineyard. St. Michael's congregation embraces some eighty families, and the parish school has an average attendance of seventy pupils. The usual branches of study taught in the primary public schools are taught in St. Michael's, and in connection therewith the pupil also obtains a thorough religious instruction in the fundamental principles of Christianity. The congregation own a small cemetery of two acres adjoining Maple Grove, which was purchased in February, 1863, at a cost of $400. Though not entirely free of debt, St. Michael's may nevertheless be regarded as a prosperous congregation. A number of societies are connected with the church to assist in the promotion of charity and good works. St. Michael's Benevolent Society, organized in
32
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
1868, is one of these, but only practical Catholic males between the ages of twenty-one and sixty years are eligible to membership. Mr. Frank Karst, Sr., has been president of this society since its organization, and it has accomplished much good during this period in rendering devoted attention and assistance to the sick, and in distribution of weekly benefits.
The United Brethren Church of Findlay can be traced back to January 17, 1853, when Henry Hartman, Nimrod Bright, Joel Pendleton, Jesse Wheeler and J. T. Crites were trustees in charge of a subscription to raise funds to purchase a lot and erect a house of worship. At this time services were occasionally held in the little brick schoolhouse then standing on West Front Street. In May, 1854, Lot No. 78 on the southwest corner of West and Crawford Streets, was purchased for $250, and the present brick build- ing commenced that year and carried to completion in 1855. Rev. Chester Briggs was the minister in charge during the erection of the building. Joel Pendleton and wife, Robert Owens and wife, Jacob Powell and wife, and H. Van Gundy were among the first members of this society. The successors of Mr. Briggs have been Revs. Michael Long, William Mathers, Case, Dunn, Percy Moore, J. French, Alvin Rose, R. French, William Glancy, T. J. Harbaugh, T. D. Ingle, James Long, M. Shestler, A. W. Holden, J. P. Macklin, E. A. Starkey, J. Kirk, E. B. Maurer, I. Crouse and S. H. Raudebaugh, the present pastor of the church. The membership is about 160, with a Sunday-school enrollment of about 120. The society has now in contemplation the erection of a new house of worship during the present year, and is therefore in a prosperous condition.
The German Reformed Congregation had its inception in February, 1854, when they and the German Lutherans organized a society with Charles Dietsch, president; Henry Matthias, superintendent; John Schneyer, treas- urer; Abraham W. Schwab and Peter Roszmann, trustees. They jointly purchased Lot 54 on West Front Street February 3, 1854, for the sum of $278, and worshiped at intervals in the old Presbyterian Church on Craw- ford Street, and sometimes in the court house. This state of things con- tinued until the spring of 1858, when a separation took place, and each subsequently formed a distinct organization. The members of the Re- formed denomination were at once organized by Rev. H. Kortheuer, the society then embracing some fourteen persons. On the 6th of November, 1858, the following members met in Schwab's new building for the purpose of incorporating said society, viz .: Abraham W. Schwab, Michael Guntner, Samuel Schwab, William Gassman, Abraham Newhouse, Ulrich Weiger and Sebastian Baker. Michael Guntner was chairman, and William Gass- man, secretary. The society adopted "German Reformed Congregation of Findlay " as the official name of the church, and elected Abraham W. Schwab, Samuel Schwab and Ulrich Weiger trustees, and William Gass- man, clerk. On the 29th of the same month the society sold its interest in the lot on West Front Street to the German Lutherans for $114.50; and in February, 1859, purchased ground on East Main Cross Street at a cost of $300, upon which the present brick building was erected, in 1860, at a total expense of about $2,000. Rev. Mr. Schuette was then in charge of the congregation (having succeeded Rev. Kortheuer), which had usually worshiped in the court house prior to that time. The successive ministers since Mr. Schuette have been Revs. Martin Miller, John G. Ruhl (who came in 1863, served the society eleven years, and is yet a resident of Find-
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