USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 20
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In the fall of 1831 Joseph Hill and a Mr. Frey came as missionaries. The work then began to assume a more systematic form. A four weeks' circuit was formed, which included all the counties above named. Some of the appointments were a day's journey distant, and the minister was compelled to carry subsistence for himself and horse with him.
In 1832 Jesse Pryor was the missionary, William H. Raper, the pre-
*From "History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties," 1882.
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siding elder. Up to this date no record of the missions has been found, and the report, thus far, is made up from the statements of those yet living. The work was then called "St. Marys Mission, Maumee District, Ohio Confer- ence." That year a society was formed at or near the mouth of Twelve- Mile Creek, in a log schoolhouse, consisting of Israel Forbes and wife, Sam- uel Hanson and wife, Joseph Rider and wife, and George Parrott, who was the leader. Mother Rider still lives in the same vicinity, and George Parrott has removed to Iowa. This, it is believed, was the first class formed in what is now Mercer County., But this earnest and faithful man, Pryor, was zealous in his labors, and the first year formed a class in the vicinity of what is now called Bethel. This society consisted of 22 members, namely : Abel Wright, Nancy Wright, James Wright, Sarah Wright, Wealthy Wright, Lawrence Wright, George Shepherd, Elmer Shepherd, Margaret Shepherd, James Watts, Charity Watts, Jonathan E. Dutton, Elizabeth Dutton, James Smith, Sarah Smith, Christena Smith, George Parrott, Nancy Parrott, Sam- uel Parrott, Jemima Parrott, George Wilson and Sarah Wilson. Of this number, all but one or two are now dead. Abel Wright was the first leader and James Wright, exhorter.
In 1833 James Finley and John Alexander were the missionaries. The first quarterly conference for that year was held on the 19th and 20th of October, William H. Raper, presiding elder. The years in this history mean the conference year and not the calendar year, hence 1833 commenced in the fall of 1833 and continued until the fall of 1834, and so of all the years in this history.
In 1834 Philip Wareham was the missionary and L. B. Gurley was the presiding elder ; but whether the work covered all the territory and preaching- places it did at the beginning, does not appear from any records, and there is no certain report of the finances of those times; but, judging from the times a few years later, of which the writer has personal knowledge, the support of the missionary mostly came from the missionary society of the church.
In 1835 John O. Conway came as a missionary, and L. B. Gurley was yet the presiding elder. Mr. Gurley was a good man, and died in full hope of a future reward.
In 1836 Isaac Bennett and Joseph Santby were sent on the work, and John Jones was the presiding elder. At this time there was a division of the work, the northern part being assigned elsewhere, for the mission was in a different district, with a different elder than formerly.
In the year 1837 Jonathan Hudson and John F. Langman came as mis- sionaries. Mr. Langman was an Englishman. At the close of that year a camp-meeting was held at Twelve-Mile Creek, near Benjamin Roebuck's. At this meeting there were a number of conversions and accessions to the
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church. There was a large amount of rowdyism shown, such as hooting, gobbling like turkeys, etc. But this noise came from a class to whom Chris- tianity is an eye-sore, and which conduct would not be tolerated at this day and age.
In 1838 George Armstrong was the missionary, and Elmer Yocum the presiding elder. The work included the following appointments: St. Marys, Mercer, Shanesville, Harper's, Willshire, Van Wert, Sugar Ridge, Tom- linson's, Pring's, Goefford's, Duck Creek, Mendon, Eight-Mile (now Bethel) and Roebuck's, and was called "St. Marys Mission, Michigan Conference." Greenbury Vinson was placed by Elmer Locum to assist Mr. Armstrong in the work. The class at Celina was organized in that year, or at the beginning of the year 1839, by Messrs. Armstrong and Vinson and consisted of the fol- lowing members, viz. : Eben Foster and wife, Jane Foster, William Allen and wife, Mrs. McMahon, Christian Maurer and wife, Levi Dibble and wife, and Ira Foster and wife, with Ira Foster as class leader.
In 1839 Martin Welch and Liberty Prentice were the missionaries, with Elmer Yocum as presiding elder. The work was then called "St. Marys Mission, Mount Vernon District, Michigan Conference." That year another camp-meeting was held at Twelve-Mile Creek, near the residence of Benjamin Roebuck, at which the disturbers were again present in force ; but the Lord's people had now become a power, and would not tolerate rowdyism. But this species of annoyance was more or less rampant for years after.
In that year the old Bethel Church was built, which was, I believe, the first Methodist Episcopal Church built in what is now Mercer County. The first church building in Celina was commenced the same year, under the labors of George Armstrong. It appears that at this time there was a division in the work, and Celina was included in what was called the "Recovery Mission, Bellefontaine District, Northern Ohio Conference." W. S. Morrow was the presiding elder.
In 1840 A. B. Wambaugh preached in this locality, which was then called St. Marys circuit; but I cannot now tell who preached on Recovery mission during the years of 1840 and 1841.
In 1841 Jacob A. Brown was assigned to the St. Marys circuit, which included Bethel, Mercer, Mendon, Tomlinson's, Roebuck's and other places, and was then a three-weeks' circuit. This year there was a wonderful revival of religion all over this part of the country, especially at St. Marys and Men- don. The Holy Spirit was manifest among the people, and it was not un- common to hear shouting. Prayer-meetings and class-meetings were well attended, and many were added to the church. The protracted meeting at Mendon that year was truly a success. Many united with the Lord's people,
1
M. E. CHURCH, FORT RECOVERY
--
M. E. CHURCH, MERCER
M. E. CHURCH, ROCKFORD
ST. PAUL'S M. E. CHURCH, CELINA
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some of whom have gone to their reward, while some yet remain with us, living witnesses of the power of God among men.
In 1842 Edward Williams and James J. McNab were the ministers, and William S. Morrow was the presiding elder. The work was then called "St. Marys Circuit, Recovery Mission."
In 1843 Samuel Beatty and Amos Wilson were the ministers, but it appears Mr. Wilson only remained two quarters, for at the second quarterly meeting Fort Recovery was again struck off, and the Celina mission was formed; but we find no record after this for several years, or until 1846, but know that Samuel Beatty and Amos Wilson were on the work when the Celina circuit was formed. S. P. Shane was at that time presiding elder. This was then known as "Celina Circuit, Sidney District." After Wilson was removed, Alexander Harmount was placed in his stead, with Mr. Beatty, the remainder of the year.
In 1844 C. H. Owens and James M. Barr were sent to the Celina circuit, which then included all the northern part of Mercer County. But I have found no records of these times, and it may be there are mistakes in names and dates, for it seems from the foregoing that many changes were made.
In 1845, we understand, St. Marys was included in the Celina circuit and Charles Thomas was the minister at St. Marys.
During the conference year of 1847, the work was called "St. Marys Circuit and Willshire Mission," and Charles Brandebery and Elisha Hook were the preachers. The work then included all the north part of Mercer County ; St. Marys in Auglaize County ; and Willshire in Van Wert County, and was a four-weeks' circuit, with IO appointments, as follows: Celina, St. Marys, Neptune, Bethel, Mendon, Tomlinson's, Twelve-Mile Creek, Mercer, Shanesville and Willshire.
In 1848 Samuel L. Yourtee was sent to the circuit, with Willshire, Shanesville, Mercer and Tomlinson's appointments cut off and attached to the Van Wert circuit. Yourtee did not fill all the appointments, for Neptune was entirely without a minister, and the north part of the county was only partly supplied, the preacher putting in most of his time in St. Marys and Celina. Wesley Brock was then the presiding elder.
In 1849 Samuel B. Guiberson was the preacher, and was returned in 1850, in which year the parsonage in St. Marys was built, and a gracious revival of religion was general all over the work.
In 1851 the work was still a mission, and Ralph Wilcox was the mis- sionary. He was a faithful and devout preacher, but failed to build up the waste places of Zion. Wesley Brock was presiding elder.
In 1852 Joseph Wykes was sent to the work, which was then called St. Marys mission, with Hiram Shaffer as presiding elder. Mr. Wykes was an
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Englishman, a good preacher and pastor, and much good was done on the work.
In 1853 St. Marys was made a station and the Celina circuit was formed. Gersham Lease was sent as minister. And here it may be proper to define the difference between a mission and a circuit. A mission means a work where the minister receives a part of his support from the missionary society of the church, which was raised in the older and more wealthy portion of the coun- try. At first it amounted to $200, and then less and less from time to time, as seemed necessary, until the work was considered able to support its preacher, and then it was called a circuit. So we see that at this time the missionary fund ceased, and the Celina circuit was expected to support its own minister. But in 1854 we find that Rev. Wesley Brock was the minister, and the amount paid being insufficient, Mr. Brock, aside from his pastoral duties, taught school and worked at farming. Hiram M. Shaffer was then the presiding elder.
In 1855 George O. McPherson was sent to the Celina circuit. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and there was a general awakening on the subject of religion, although the good people of Celina had to worship in the Court House. A camp-meeting was held that year near the Bethel Church. H. M. Shaffer was then presiding elder.
In 1856 Rev. George O. McPherson was returned, a second church was built in Celina, and a second camp-meeting was held near Bethel, although enemies of the church tried to burn down the tents a few days before the time appointed for holding the meeting. Elnathan C. Gavitt was at that time presiding elder.
It appears that in 1848 the work was divided, and the northwest part of Mercer County, including Mercer, Shanesville, Willshire, and some other appointments was formed into a mission, with Rev. Elisha Hook as minister. In 1849 Lafayette Ward and Reuben D. Oldfield were the preachers on this mission. In 1850 Reuben D. Oldfield was returned as minister in charge, and J. K. Ward as junior. Wesley Brock was the presiding elder. In 1851 Samuel B. Guiberson and Jacob F. Burkholder were the ministers. In 1852, Nathan Taylor and Gersham Lease were the ministers, and Hiram Shaffer was the presiding elder. In 1853 Nathan Taylor was returned, and Francis Duvall was the junior minister. This part of the work was attached to the Willshire circuit, part of the time to Van Wert, and finally to what was . called the Black Creek mission, and in 1858 was again included in the Celina circuit, as we shall see further on. In 1854 the ministers on this part of the work were J. Fribley and N. B. C. Love. In 1855 N. B. C. Love was the minister, and John Priddy, junior. In 1856 John Price and D. P. Darling were the ministers ; Elnathan C. Gavitt, presiding elder.
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In 1857 George O. McPherson and E. G. Longsworth were on this mis- sion. That year a society was formed at Black Creek, or what is now known as Fountain Chapel. The first society numbered 14, to-wit: Charles Ward and wife, A. Cole and wife, Moses Stover and wife, Robert McKissick and wife, Samuel Loree and wife, Anna Allison, Basil Durango, Peter Martz and Charles Ward, Sr. Samuel Loree was the leader.
In 1858 this mission was attached to the Celina circuit, and Samuel Boggs and Joshua Smith were the preachers.
There was a Methodist society organized at Skeel's Cross Roads in 1854, by J. Wykes, consisting of seven members, namely: Joshua Lee and wife, C. Skeels and wife, Calista Way, Amos Lee and Samantha Lee. Brother Amos Lee was licensed to exhort in February, 1856, and licensed to preach in July, 1857, and afterwards traveled the Celina circuit for two years as the junior preacher under the elder.
In 1859 James F. Mounts and Amos Lee were on the Celina circuit; and in 1860, Lemuel Herbert and James F. Mounts were the ministers, and H. M. Shaffer was presiding elder. In 1861 and 1862 Philip A. Brown and Caleb Hill were the ministers. In 1863 David Bull and A. J. Frisbee were on the work; and in 1864, David Bull and Amos Lee were the ministers, and Franklin Merritt was the presiding elder. In 1865 Enos G. Longsworth and Harrison Maltbie were preachers on the Celina circuit, and Franklin Merritt was presiding elder.
It may be proper here to give the date and names of the first society in Mendon. The society was formed in 1836, under the labors of Isaac Bennett and Joseph Santley, and was composed of the following persons : Jacob Pana- baker and wife, Mary Panabaker, Amos Barber and wife, a Mr. Bailey and wife, Mr. Porter and wife, Barney Forbes and daughter, Jonathan E. Dutton and wife, Joseph Rider and wife, Elizabeth Parrott, Adam Panabaker, the local preacher, Louisa Rider and Lucinda Baker. Jacob Panabaker was the leader. These, it is believed, are all dead now, excepting Mother Panabaker, Mother Rider and Lucinda Baker (now Lucinda Protzman).
In regard to the south part of the county I have said but little, because I have found no record as yet from which to draw the necessary information. It has not been connected with Celina, as the north part of the county has been, in reference to this matter, being a part of the time in another district, as well as in another mission or circuit.
And now I wish to say that I have found it very difficult to get the proper dates for this history, on account of the manner in which the changes have been made from time to time. Consequently I may have made some mistakes in names and dates, as there are but few of the old residents living now from whom accurate information can be obtained. But I have done my best under existing circumstances.
CHAPTER IX
ROMAN CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS AND CHURCHES
The first Catholic settlement in this section of Ohio was established, as early as 1830, in what is now Auglaize County, by a Catholic priest named Stallo, who gave it the name of Stallotown. The same year, however, the name was changed to Minster. In 1832 Father Hortsman came to Minster as priest and built the first church building, a large log structure, 40 by 60 feet in dimensions and 16 logs high. Services at this chapel were attended by the Catholic people within a radius of 15 miles. From this year we may date the introduction of Catholicism in Mercer County, for not only did residents of this county attend the chapel at Minster, but missionary services were also conducted in the southern townships of Mercer County by priests from Minster, New Bremen and St. Marys.
The Catholic churches of Mercer County are to-day almost without exception in a very flourishing condition, which fact speaks volumes in praise of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood, who have built them up. As the history of the churches is so intimately connected with that of the Congre- gation of the Most Precious Blood, we shall give a history of the society and its institutions, closing the chapter with the history of each church and mention of the leading parochial schools. For the history of the congrega- tion and of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, as well as for other data relating to the churches, we are indebted to Rev. Paulinus Trost, C. PP. S., rector of St. Charles Seminary. Certain statistics, chiefly relating to the size of the congregations and the officers of the institutions, we have obtained from the Official Catholic Directory of 1906, which statistics we have verified and brought down to date as much as has been possible. We wish also to acknowl- edge the assistance we have received from the pastors of the churches, who have responded most willingly to our requests for the recent history of their parishes.
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ORIGIN OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD.
In the Catholic Church there have risen from time to time men or women who have made one or the other of the tasks imposed upon the church a special object of their lives. Thus some would gather around themselves men or women, to nurse the sick; others to dispense charity ; others to edu- cate the young; others to preach missions, etc. Such associations of men or women are called orders, and according to the special work to which they devote themselves are termed charitable orders, preaching orders, teaching; orders, etc. To those of later origin, however, the title of "Congregation" has been given.
The exercises practiced by the members of such a congregation consist, besides the general devotions prescribed by the church, of another, namely : A special devotion to one of the mysteries of the faith. From this special devotion the congregation as a rule receives its name.
Thus the initials "C. PP. S." signify the name "Congregatio Pretios- sissimi Sanguinis," i. e., "Congregation of the Most Precious Blood," because its members venerate in a special manner the Blood of Christ by which we are redeemed. Moreover, in order to make this treasure of redemption most fruitful, the congregation has made it its special object to excite and spread the devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Christ, by conducting missions and various other religious exercises. Besides this noble work, the priests of the congregation perform the duties of pastors in parishes (at least in the United States), act'as spiritual directors in convents or as chaplains in hospi- tals, and conduct colleges for the education of boys-certainly a wide field wherein a rich harvest may be gained for the Precious Blood.
The congregation was founded by a zealous priest of Rome, Gaspare del Bufalo, an Italian by birth, who died in the odor of sanctity, December 28, 1838. After returning to Rome from a four-years' banishment, which he had suffered because he refused to swear allegiance to Napoleon, the usurper of Rome, and, after having resigned his canonry at the Church of San Marco, Rome, Blessed Gaspare, for such he has been publicly declared by the Church (on the 18th of December, 1904), laid the foundation stone for his momen- tous undertaking, August 15, 1815.
Rev. Francis de Sales Brunner, a Swiss priest, who had enlisted the small band of zealous priests one year after the death of its founder, intro- duced the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood into America.
Father Brunner was born in Switzerland in the year 1795. After having absolved his studies, he was ordained priest and shortly afterwards entered the Benedictine Monastery at Maria Stein, Switzerland. Here he was pro- moted to a professor's chair and did some mission work. Determined, how- 12
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ever, to devote himself entirely to mission work, Father Brunner went to Rome, where he affiliated himself with the Congregation of the Most Pre- cious Blood in the year 1838. After a few years. stay in Rome, he returned to Switzerland, where he educated eight young men for his co-laborers. With them he set out for America, September 29, 1843, upon the invitation of Archbishop John B. Purcell of Cincinnati, in order to assume the care of the German Catholics who were under the Archbishop's jurisdiction in Northern and Eastern Ohio. Among the young priests who accompanied him were Revs. John Van den Broek and John Wittmer.
The little band made St. Alphonse (near Newark) the center of their work and from there carried their labors to many other places, such as Day- ton, Cleveland, Toledo and other towns along the western boundary of Ohio to Union City. In the course of time Father Brunner undertook several trips across the Atlantic in the service of his community. He died in Europe in 1859.
The congregation multiplied rapidly. At present it numbers 105 priests, some of whom are engaged in parish work in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri ; some giving missions, and some conducting a college at Rensselaer, Indiana.
A SHORT HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO SEMINARY.
Owing to the rapid growth of the community, a place had to be selected and suitable buildings erected for the education of the members who were to serve as missionaries. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, C. PP. S., who later on be- came Bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana, found the desired location at Cartha- gena, Mercer County, where, in 1861, he purchased the old industrial school for colored people, known as Emlen Institute.
Rev. Joseph Dwenger was born at Minster, Ohio, in the year 1837. After his father's death, his mother moved to Cincinnati where Joseph re- ceived his first instructions in the parochial school of Holy Trinity parish. When the family after some years returned to Mercer County, the mother of young Dwenger fell a victim to the cholera, in 1849. Rev. Andrew Kunkler, C. PP. S., then pastor of Minster, to whom Joseph applied, gave him further instructions and later on placed him with the Fathers of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood at Maria Stein, Ohio, where he completed his classical education. Going thence to Mt. St. Mary's of the West, to complete his theological studies, Joseph was ordained priest in the year 1859.
It was about one year after his ordination that Father Dwenger started St. Charles Borromeo Seminary ; he held the rectorship of the same until the year 1863. In 1871 he became Bishop of Fort Wayne as the successor of Rt. Rev. Luers. He died at Fort Wayne January 23, 1893.
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CONVENT OF MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS, NEAR MARIA STEIN ( Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood )
.. .
.....
NOVITIATE OF THE FATHERS OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, BURKETTSVILLE
Trost del . 18.05.
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO SEMINARY, CARTHAGENA ( Drawn by Rev. Paulinus Trost, C. PP. S. )
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 221
Rev. Bernard Dickman, C. PP. S., succeeded Father Dwenger as rector of the seminary in 1863. In the same year Father Dickman established the parish at Celina, where he built the first Catholic Church. Failing health necessitated this zealous priest to resign his rectorship in 1866. Having, how- ever, recuperated his health, Father Dickman assumed charge of St. Joseph's College. Humboldt County, California. He remained in this position until 1874. when, returning to Ohio, he was employed in parish and mission work partly in Ohio and partly in Missouri. He died as pastor of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians, at Fort Recovery, Ohio, in 1906.
Upon the resignation of Father Dickman, Rev. Henry Drees, C. PP. S., assumed the duties of rector of St. Charles Seminary. Father Drees is a native of Oldenburg, Germany, whence he emigrated with his parents, who settled near Minster, Ohio, in 1836. In 1858 he entered the congregation and was ordained priest in 1861. His first appointment was to St. Mary's parish at Cassella.
During his rectorship, 1866-80, he built the present seminary building proper, 44 by 94 feet in dimensions, three stories high, and at the same time erected St. Aloysius' Church at Carthagena.
Here, it must be mentioned various improvements had been made before his time and different parts had been added to the original building by his predecessors.
Father Drees held his office as rector of the seminary until 1880 when he was elected by his fellow-priests, provincial of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood, an office he held for 18 years, having been elected three con- secutive times. Father Drees is still active and in good health. He resides at present at the Maria Stein Convent, where he acts as spiritual director for the Sisters of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood.
Rev. Godfrey Schlachter, C. PP. S., succeeded Father Drees as rector of the seminary. Before joining the congregation, Father Schlachter resided with his parents, who were natives of Baden, Germany, at one time near Cleveland and later near Wendelin, Ohio. Having completed his theological course under Rev. Anthony Guggenberger, C. PP. S. (later a Jesuit and eminent historian), young Schlachter was ordained by Rt. Rev. Joseph S. Alemany, Archbishop of San Francisco, in June, 1876. He was rector of the seminary from 1880 to 1883.
Like Rev. Henry Drees, Father Schlachter is still engaged in the mis- sion field, wherein he has become very renowned. He makes his home at the Fort Wayne mission house, the property of the congregation.
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