USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 21
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333.
English Lutheran Church.
In August, 1846, a meeting was held and preliminary steps taken to organize a society. On the 19th of Sep- tember, 1846, another meeting was held at which Isaac- Teatsorth presided, and the organization was perfected by choosing Samuel Snyder, George Welker and Samuel Reber trustees, and the organization was named "The English Lutheran Church of Findley, Ohio."
The Rev. J. Livengood was present when the society was organized, and soon thereafter the Rev. George Ham- mer became pastor of the Church.
The church building on Putnam street was erected in 1847. The pastor, Rev. Hammer, with his own hands, made and carried much of the mortar used in plastering the building. The North Ohio Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church held its session in this building in 1849, it being then the best church building in the town.
In 1871 the congregation purchased two lots on the south-east corner of Main and Lincoln streets, and soon after built thereon a frame parsonage building. There is now in course of construction on these two lots a fine brick building for church purposes, which, when com- pleted, will cost not less than $15,000, and will be a hand- some structure, with a seating capacity of five hundred. The successive pastors of this church were the Revs. Geo. Hammer, J. Livengood, Thomas Officer, A. J. Im- hoff, S. A. Ort, H. B. Belmer, Rev. Kinsel, P. S. Hooper, G. W. Miller, C. S. Sprecher, and J. W. Goodlin, the present one.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The following historical sketch of this church has
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History of Hancock County.
been kindly furnished by Milton Gray, Esq., long an influential member :
"The Presbyterian Church of Findley was organized December 21, 1831, by Rev. P. Monfort, at that time acting as a missionary in North Western Ohio. The first meeting was held at the residence of Wilson Vance. The names of the members as they appear on the records are : William Taylor, Margaret Taylor, Phebe Hender- son, Asa Lake, Chloe Lake, Ebenezer Wilson, William Coen, Sarah Coen, Mary Gibson, Wilson Vance and Sarah Vance. Ebenezer Wilson and William Coen were elected and ordained ruling elders.
During the first year or two after the organization services were occasionally held at the residences of some of the members, but afterwards were held quite regular- ly in the court house until the year 1836, when the first house of worship was erected.
The old church building, the first erected, was but re- cently torn down, it having been used for some years by J. T. Adams & Co. as a linseed oil mill.
The present church edifice was erected in 1857, and was dedicated December 27, 1857, the Rev. W. T. Fin- ley, of Springfield, Ohio, preaching the sermon. The cost of the building was $8,888.SS, as reported by the build- ing committee.
The several ministers who have been pastors of this church are as follows: Revs. P. Monfort, T. B. Clark, Bellville, George Van Emon, R. H. Hollyday, J. A. Meeks, J. M. Cross, A. B. Fields, Eben Muse and R. R. Sutherland. The congregation is now without a pastor.
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Congregational Church.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
On the 21st day of October, 1865, a number of per- sons met in Gage's Hall in Findley for the purpose of organizing a Congregational Church. Rev. Robert McCune, of Kelly's Island, presided, and J. A. Bope acted as clerk. A society was organized and officers elected as follows : Deacons, Paul Sours, John Eckles, James Davidson, Aaron Hall. Treasurer, James S. Bal- lentine. Clerk, James A. Bope. And Rev. J. A. Meeks was elected pastor.
In March, 1866, ground was purchased on the west side of the Public Square, on which to erect a Church building, and in June, 1867, the building was com. menced, and under the superintendency of Paul Sours, assisted by J. P. Kerr, Jessie® Guise and J. C. Powell, was completed in the December following. The build- ing is of brick, covered with slate and surmounted by a tower. The size is forty-five by ninety feet, with pro- jection in front for tower, and a recess in rear for organ. The cost of the building and furnishing was $18,000.
Of those who were members at the organization are the names of John Eckles and wife, Aaron Hall and wife, G. W. Neeley and wife, Paul Sours and wife, J. S. Ballen- tine and wife, C. J. Eckles and wife, J. A. Bope and wife, Rev. J. A. Meeks and wife.
The pastors have been Rev. J. A. Meeks, W. S. Peter- son, - Kutz, Thomas Gordon and D. T. Davies.
GERMAN LUTHERAN.
In 1858 Charles Deitsch, Ernst Kempf, Charles Hahn, Peter Roszman, Henry Lannert, Henry Hahn, Philip
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History of Hancock County.
Crouse, Valentine Wagner, and a few other members of this denomination met at the court house, and under the direction of Rev. M. During, organized a society and a. Sunday school. The congregation met once in two weeks at the court house, and were under the ministrations of Rev. During.
The society feeling the want of a house of worship of their own, bought a lot on West Front street for three hundred dollars, and in 1862 erected thereon a. brick building thirty-five feet wide and sixty feet long, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. The building committee was Charles Deitsch, Charles Hahn and Henry Lannert. The church building was dedicated on Whit- Sunday in 1863, by Revs. During, Lang and Crownen- witt. The building has been greatly improved since by the putting up of a fine bell, the purchase of an organ and the laying down of carpets. The congregation has also purchased parsonage property for which they paid nineteen hundred dollars, so that the property belonging to the church is worth not less than six thousand dollars.
The present membership is one hundred and forty. There is a flourishing Sunday school of about eighty-five scholars connected with the church. The ministers em- ployed since the organization of the church were Rev. M. During, Rev. M. Buerkle, Rev. J. T. Groath and Rev. J. B. Webber, the present incumbent. The present offi- cers are Wm. Tribolet, Christian Schmidt and Daniel Buck, Trustees; C. Ritter and Fred Groath, Elders. C. Ritter is also superintendent of the Sunday school.
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.
At the annual Conference of this association held in
337
Evangelical Church.
May, 1870, in the town of Findley and vicinity was ta- ken up as an English mission and consisted of the fol- lowing appointments : Findley, Fellers, Porters and Union Chapel on the Tiffin road, and the Rev. E. B. Crouse was appointed to the mission, with Rev. E. Peer as colleague, but the health of the latter failing the whole charge of the mission was left to Rev. Crouse. The services at this time were held in the United Breth- ren and Church of God buildings.
On the 11th of July, 1870, the society in Findley met to consult together on the propriety of building a house of worship. It was decided to build. A lot was pur- chased on east Sandusky street, extending back to Craw- ford street, and a brick building 38 feet by 62 feet was erected at a cost of about six thousand five hundred dol- lars. The building is neatly finished and furnished. It is surmounted by a tower, in which a good bell has been placed. The congregation deserves much credit for pro- viding themselves with so comfortable a house. It was indeed a great undertaking for so weak a society, but the untiring energy and industry of the Rev. E. B. Crouse made it a success.
Amongst the early membership we find the names of John Powell and wife. John Crites and wife, George Jacobs and wife, Elizabeth Bolander, Rev. L. W. Hankey, Rebecca Miller, Sarah Miller, Paul Kornorer and wife. The ministers have been Rev. E. B. Crouse, Rev. W. Whitington, Rev. W. A. Shesler, Rev. S. Cocklin, Rev. James Hensel, Rev. C. L. Crowthers and Rev. C. E. Dres- bach. There is a flourishing Sabbath school connected with the church.
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History of Hancock County.
CHURCH OF GOD.
This society was first organized in January, 1858, by Elder G. M. Harn. The meeting was held in the old Presbyterian church. The first members were J. C. Sher- rick and wife, George M. Graul and wife, Jacob Grose and wife, John T. Grose and wife, Amanda Geyer and Elizabeth Cunningham, now Mrs. H. Shuler. Prayer meetings were held at private houses, with occa- sionally a sermon, until 1861, R. H. Bolton was ap- pointed to Findley circuit. The meetings were then held in the North Findley school house until 1863. W. P. Small was appointed to succeed Rev. Bolton, and in 1863 to 1866 the meetings were held in the United Breth- ren church.
The society resolved to build a house of worship, and commenced work in April, 1866, and finished and dedi- cated the same in December of the same year. It is a brick structure forty feet by fifty feet, and cost about four thousand dollars. The building is conveniently lo- cated on the south side of west Front street. It is plain- ly but comfortably finished. The number of members is one hundred and thirty. From the first organization to the present time one hundred and forty-five persons have been baptized.
In 1879 the congregation bought a lot on Main street in North Findley, and built on the same a parsonage at a cost of about twelve hundred dollars. A Sabbath school was organized in 1867, and it is in a flourishing condition. The several ministers appointed here were R. H. Bolton, W. P. Small, G. W. Wilson, I. H. Deshirie, J. M. Cassell, J. W. Auckerman, S. Kline, J. V. Updyke, W. P. Burchard and S. Dickerhoff.
339
United Brethren Church.
UNITED . BRETIIREN.
This society was organized in 1854. Amongst the first members we find the names of Joel Pendleton, Jacob Powell, Robert Owens, John Hibbitt, Solomon Moore, and Nicholas Weaver. Prior to the erection of a church building the society met in the brick school house on Front street. In 1854 the society purchased a lot on west Crawford, and erected thereon a house of worship. The house is of brick and neatly finished.
The society is in a flourishing condition and its pres- ent membership is. one hundred and six. The Sabbath school numbers sixty, and much interest is manifested by teachers and pupils.
The following named ministers have supplied the church since the organization : Chester Briggs, M. Long, William Mathers, J. French, L. Moore, R. French, Wm. Glancey, T. J. Harbaugh, James Long, T. D. Ingle, Alvin Rose, A. W. Holden, I. Crouse, G. P. Macklin and E. A. Starkey.
ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first Catholic society organized here was in 1845€ and met at the residence of John S. Julian. In 1850 the congregation erected a frame church building on west Hardin street, in which they worshipped until the win- ter of 1855-56, when it was burned down. They sold the lot and bought property on the west end of Main Cross street, and immediately commenced the erection of another house. The building is of brick, plainly fur- nished and cost $6,000. The present membership is about five hundred souls. At the first organization of the society the meetings were held but once a month,
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History of Hancock County.
now they are held regularly in accordance with the usages of the church.
This society numbers among its members some of our best business men and most esteemed citizens. The fol- lowing named persons have officiated in the capacity of priests to this congregation : Father Raetzer, Father Burns, Father Vattman, Father Deachan, Father Flem- ming, Father Pitts, Father Young, Father Rudolph and Father Doesner.
341
Schools of Findley.
SCHOOLS OF FINDLEY.
UNION SCHOOL.
Until as late as 1854, the village of Findley was divided into four sub-districts for school purposes. In 1840 the four districts conjointly built a large two story frame build- ing, with four rooms-one for each district-on the corner of Crawford and East streets. This same building is now . known as the west end school building. In addition to this, each district had a smaller building for the use of the young- er pupils.
In 1854 the Legislature passed what is generally known as the Union School Law, which authorized villages or separate school districts to organize as independent or special school districts. The matter of the formation of such special districts was considered by the people of the village, and three of the village districts availed them- selves of its provisions, but the fourth refused, and subse- quently was organized under the amendment to the Akron School Law, and has ever since been known as District No. Nine. The school building, by agreement became the prop- erty of the Union District, and schools were taught there for years.
In 1865 it was removed to the west end of Crawford street, on grounds purchased for school purposes, and has been so used to the present time.
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History of Hancock County.
August 10th, 1865, the Board of Education decided "that in their opinion it is necessary to purchase a site and erect a school building thereon." A meeting of the citizens of the district was called for September 2d, 1865, to whom was submitted the question of levying a tax of $18,000 for building. At that election, there were two hundred and nineteen votes cast, of which one hundred and fifty-six were for the tax. At a meeting of the Board May 4th, 1866, H. P. Gage, Isaac Davis and E. P. Jones proposed to sell to them the tract of land lying between the C. S. & C. Depot grounds and Sandusky street, for the sum of $2,000, which proposition was accepted by the Board.
In September of the same year, the Board made contracts for material and labor in the erection of the building. The building was originally intended to be two stories in heighth, but in August, 1867, it was changed to a three story building.
The building being completed, September 7th, 1868, was fixed upon as the time for its formal opening, at which time the patrons of the school assembled in Columbia Hall, as the hall in the building was named, and quite an interesting programme was carried out with much ceremony.
The wants of the town increased with its growth, and more school room was needed, and the Board of Education in January, 1877, ordered that the Clerk advertise accord- in to law, for a meeting of the qualified voters on Monday, February 12th, 1877, to vote upon the proposition to author- ize a levy of $5,000, for the purpose of building a school house in North' Findley. At that election there were three hundred and five votes cast, all of which were in favor of the tax except thirty-nine.
North Findley School-District No. Nine. 343
On the 16th of March, 1877, bids were opened, and the contract for the building let to S. H. Kramer, for $5,547.41. This building is forty-four feet wide and sixty-five feet long, two stories in height, with basement and mansard roof, sur- mounted by a tower, There are two rooms on each floor, separated by a wide airy hall. The rooms are completed in the latest style, and will accommodate about fifty pupils each.
The Board have now under contract, the erection of a new building at the west end of Crawford street. The struc- ture will be sixty-five feet wide, and eighty-five feet long, two stories in height, with a basement, and when finished, will be an imposing building, and add much to the beauty of the town. The contract has been awarded to Joseph Fleming, of Toledo, O., at the price of $13,012, and to be completed by the 1st of January, 1882.
Although organized under the Union School Law, the system of graded schools was not introduced until 1868, under Superintendency of Ephriam Miller, and not perfected until W. S. Wood had succeeded him. Prof. Wood was suc- ceeded by C. E. Palmer, of Columbus, and he by the pres- ent Superintendent, J. W. Zeller.
The enumeration of youth in this district, is 1,216, and twenty teachers are employed.
DISTRICT NO. NINE.
This District includes the territory included within the boundary, commencing at the Old White Corner on Main street, running thence west to West street, thence south to the old corporation line, thence east to Main street, and has an enumeration of about two hundred children. It includes
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History of Hancock County.
within its boundary many business houses, and the resi- dences of some of the wealthiest citizens of the town.
For many years they occupied the Jonathan Parker build- ing on Sandusky street, on lot now known as Patterson's corner. A lot was afterwards bought on west Hardin street, on which was erected a comfortable brick school building.
In 1865 the Directors purchased an acre of ground on west Lincoln street, then almost out of town, upon which they erected a building, the construction, re-modeling and furnishing of which cost about twenty thousand dollars. The district has a fine two story building above the base- ment, surmonted by towers and mansard roof. Their grounds are ornamented with numerous shade trees, which give them an inviting appearance, and the whole is sur- rounded by a neat fenee.
The schools, four in number, are graded, and the higher branches are taught, and diplomas awarded to graduates from the High School Department. The schools are well conducted by an efficient corps of teachers, and pupils make such progress, and become possessed of such an education as is acquired at other graded schools. This Dirtrict was one of the four districts into which the town was originally divided, and at the formation of the Union School District, it refused to join the other three, and has ever since, wheth- er wisely or unwisely, been an independent district.
345
Benevolent Societies.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
ODD FELLOWS.
Hancock Lodge, No. 73 I. O. O. F., was instituted August 17, 1846, with Abraham Younkin, Jacob Carr, Edson Goit, Abel F. Parker and James H. Barr as charter members. The Lodge has always been in a flourishing condition, and its finances have been well managed. Its relief fund has been liberally, but judiciously expended.
In 1872 the Lodge erected a fine three story brick, metal roof, building, on their lot, on east side of Main, between Sandusky and Crawford streets. The building was put up under the direction of a committee of five members of the Lodge, to-wit: William M. Detwiler, James T. Adams, G. C. Barnd, Charler E. Niles and Jacob C. Powell. The cost of the ground on which it stands was $1,600, and of the building $9,000. The first floor is occupied as a book store by D. C. Connell, the second floor by the Public Library, and the third floor as a Lodge room. The present member- ship is one hundred and fifty-nine.
On the 21st day of June, 1866, Golden Rule Encamp- ment was instituted under a charter granted to L. G. Thrall, Charles E. Niles, Sylvester M. Geyer, William McKinnis, Charles J. Krause, William L. Glessner, Henry B. Green and George W. Neeley. The Encampment hold their meet- ings in the Lodge room, and now have a membership of ninety-nine.
23
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History of Hancock County.
FINDLEY LODGE, NO. 227 F. & A. M.
In the month of January, 1852, a Dispensation was granted by the Grand Master of the State, for the organiz- ing of a Lodge of Masons at Findley, and on the 16th day of the same month the organization took place, and contin- ued under Dispensation until October of same year.
On the 22d day of October, 1852, the Grand Lodge of Ohio, then in session at Chillicothe, granted a charter to Abraham Younkin, Abel F. Parker, Edwin Parker, David Patton, J. M. Coffinberry, George Arnold, Adolphus Morse, E. S. Reed and C. B. Wilson as charter members, with Abraham Younkin as W. M .; J. M. Coffinberry, S. W .; and Geo. Arnold, J. W. On the 29th day of November, 1852, James A. Kellum, as Proxy of the Grand Master of the State, duly instituted the Lodge and installed the first offi- cers as follows: Abraham Younkin, W. M .; George W. Springer, S. W .; W. L. Henderson, J. W., E. S. Reed, Treas- urer; David Patton, Secretary; Thomas McKee, S. D .; J. E. Rosette, J. D., George Arnold, Tyler.
The meetings were for a number of years held in the sec- ond story of a frame building on the north side of Sandus- ky street, now occupied by Patterson's dry goods house. The Lodge subsequently removed to the third story of the building now known as " Old White Corner," just south of the Public Square, where the meeetings were held until 1863, at which time removal was made to a room in third story of the present "Joy House Block," on Sandusky street, which was prepared and occupied by the Lodge until 1878, at which time an arrangement was made with G. W. Kim- mell, who was remodelling his building on Main street, by
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Masonic Chapter and Council.
which the third story was to be so arranged as to fit it for use as a Lodge Room.
In this building the fraternity have a Lodge room, and four other smaller rooms-the Lodge room being twenty- seven feet wide and fifty-two feet long-all finished and fur- nished at a cost of more than sixteen hundred dollars,. making one of the most beautiful and convenient Lodge rooms in northern Ohio. The present membership is about. one hundred and thirty.
FINDLEY CHAPTER, NO. 58 R. A. MI.
Abraham Younkin, James A. Kellum, William L. Hen- derson, Ben Metcalf, S. T. Heffner and George Arnold ob- tained a charter from the Grand Chapter of the State, at their session in Chillicothe, October 16th, 1854, empowering them to open a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, in the town of Findley, which was done with James A. Kellum as High Priest; Abraham Younkin, King; and W. L. Henderson, Scribe. The Chapter has always held its meetings in same room with the Lodge. Its membership is now about forty.
FINDLEY COUNCIL, NO. 50 R. & S. M.
A charter was granted October 12th, 1862, by the Grand Council of Ohio, in session at Cincinnati, to James Wilson,. H. D. Ballard, B. F. Kimmons, W. E. Snyder, D. B. Beards- ley, J. M. Muber, William Anderson, M. B. Patterson and Isaac Bonham authorizing them to form a Council of Royal and Select Masters. The late Dr. B. S. Brown, with R. T .. Cook, C. M. Nichols and J. A. Aull, all of Bellefontaine, by direction of Grand Council, instituted the new Council un- der the name of Findley Council ; James Wilson, First Illus- trious Master; H. D. Ballard, Dep'ty Master; and B. F.
348 History of Hancock County.
Kimmons, Principal Conductor of Work. The Council meets in the Lodge room, and the membership is about twenty.
KNIGHTS OF HONOR.
On the 11th day of September, 1878, the Supreme Coun- cil of Knights of Honor, in session at Wooster, Ohio, granted a charter to D. C. Connell, H. B. Green, F. W. En- trekin, Ernst Bacherer, W. H. Shuler, H. W. Bleecher, J. M. Beelman, G. H. Wheeler, E. G. De Wolfe, Wm. Edwards, J. C. Bushan and Tim Fellers to open a Lodge at Findley The Lodge was instituted accordingly. The meetings are held on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, in their hall on the south-east corner of Main and Crawford streets. The membership is twenty-one, and one death, that of Geo. H. Wheeler, has occurred since their organiza- tion.
ROYAL ARCANUM.
P. L. Teeple, as Deputy Supreme Regent, instituted a Council of this order in November, 1878, with thirty-four charter members. Hancock Council, No. 187, hold their meetings in Knights of Honor Hall, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Two members have died, Capt. John Wescott and Dr. T. C. Ballard. The pres- ent membership is forty, and the numbers are increasing. The present officers are D. B. Beardsley, Regent; B. F. Kimmons, Vice Regent; J. W. Zeller, Orator; F. B. Lay, Secretary ; A. A. Dillinger, Treasurer; and Wm. Edwards, Collector.
a
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Legion of Honor-St. Michael's Society.
AMERICAN LEGION OF HONOR.
A Council of this order was organized in May, 1881, by T. C. Garrison, Deputy Supreme Commander, with a mem- bership of twenty-two. Present membership about thirty. The Council holds its meeting on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, at Knights of Honor Hall. There have been no deaths since its organization. The officers are J. M. Huber, Commander; Dr. T. G. Barnhill, Vice Commander; D. B. Beardsley, Past Commander; Dr. T. F. Woodworth, Orator; C. E. Seymour, Secretary; B. F. Kim- mons, Treasurer; and C. M. Humason, Collector.
ST. MICHAEL'S BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
This society was organized in -, and has now twenty- eight members. It is connected with St. Michael's Catho- lic Church, and its members must be members of that church, males between the ages of twenty-one and sixty years only being eligible. Members are entitled to care, attention and assistance when sick or disabled, and also a stated sum of money as weekly benefits. The society, though small in numbers, has expended quite a sum in sick benefits, and is in a prosperous condition. Frank Karst, sr., has been President of the society ever since its organiza- tion.
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History of Hancock County.
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NEWSPAPERS.
HANCOCK COURIER.
The Democratic Courier was established November 10th 1836, by Jacob Rosenberg, and edited aud published by him until January 17th, 1839. The paper was then 18x26 inches in size.
Mr. Rosenberg was born in Bedford County, Pennsyl- vania, October 13th, 1S11, and was raised and reiceved a good common school education at that place. At an early age he went to Millersburg, Ohio, where he learned the printing business in the office of the Farmer. He came to Findley on the 29th day of September, 1836, and started the paper shortly afterwards. He was a very strict party man, and very popular with the masses, and was at one time elected Sheriff.
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