History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 101

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During this pastorate the house of worship was removed, enlarged and repaired. The work was completed in the fall of 1865, and immediately afterwards the church invited Mr. Safford to become its installed pastor with an increase of three hundred dollars in salary. Mr. Safford accepted the call, but seems to have continued in the pastoral relation only about a year.

When the house of worship was originally built, it seems that the pews were sold with the understanding that the buyers became permanent owners. This arrangement was a source, afterwards, of much inconvenience to the society. The owners were not all induced to give their pews up again to the society until some time in 1868.

After the departure of Pastor Safford, in 1867, the Rev. S. B. Sherrill was called and was acting pastor from December, 1867, until some time in 1873, a period of nearly six years. The successor of Mr. Sherrill was the Rev. J. W. White, whose letter accepting the call of the church is dated February 28, 1874. Mr. White's labors did not begin until some time after this acceptance, and closed near the end of 1878, continuing with the church a little more than four years. Within two months after Mr. White's resignation, the church called Rev. S. W. Meek, who was installed in the pastoral office by the council on February 11, 1879, having begun his labors with the church on the 1st of January, previous.

The church has been blessed at various times in its history by revivals. In the year 1854, during the pastorate of A. D. Barber, thirty-seven were received into

membership of the church. In 1859 twenty- two were added to the church. Again, in 1861, the church was visited by a revival which resulted in the addition of twenty to the membership. In the year 1865, during the labors of Mr. Safford, seventeen were received into membership; and in 1870, under Mr. Sherrill's labors, twenty-three connected themselves with the church. In 1873, the year that Mr. Sherrill closed his labors, forty-five names were added to the roll.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

of Bellevue, was formed in the year 1839. The first class was composed of James Anderson, his wife, Betsy, and daughter, Melissa; Alvin Anderson, his wife, Harriet, and daughter, Adaline; and Mann and daughter. Meetings were held at this time in the stone school-house, standing on the site at present occupied by the school-building near the Episcopal church. In about 1835 this church erected a substantial brick edifice, at a cost of some five thousand dollars. This building is at present owned by the German Lutheran society. After organization, however, the church fitted up a room in the second story of the warehouse, standing where the Richards and Egle block now stands, and this was occupied until the building of the church as before stated.

The present elegant church edifice was completed during the summer of 1868, and was dedicated by Bishop Simpson on August 17, of that year, and cost, including real estate and parsonage, some thirty thousand dollars. Among the largest contributors to the erection of the church are: Messrs. Anderson, Higbee, Williams, Dole, Adams, and Huffman. The first resident minister was Rev. Oliver Burgess, who remained two years. Father Anderson gives from memory, the following names of ministers who have preached

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to this church in Bellevue: Wilson, Camp, Pierce, Hill, Cooper, Fast, Start, Fant, Pounds, Breakfield, Thompson, Worden, Spafford, Morrow, and Cables.

In 1852, when the minister's "historical record" begins, the church reported a membership of two hundred and twelve, and three hundred scholars in attendance at Sabbath-school, Rev. Samuel Beatty, pastor. September 18, 1852, it was formally organized as a station, with the following board of stewards: H. R. Adams, Alvin Anderson, Jesse Haskell, W. W. Stilson, J. B. Higbee, Orrin Dole, and Barney Campbell. Its leaders were Jesse Haskell,

B. Campbell, 0. Dole, David Williams, and W. Curtiss. Superintendent of Sabbath- school, W. W. Stilson. 1853-William M. Spafford, pastor. He was succeeded in 1854 by Rev. Wesley J. Wells. The following are the pastors from that time to the present (1881): 1855-John Mudge; 1857-William Richards; 1859-Asbury B. Castle; 1861- Daniel Stratton; 1862-Simon P. Jacobs; 1863-E. Y. Warner; 1865-Garretson A. Hughes; 1868-E. Y. Warner; 1871-Elvero Persons. He was succeeded by Rev. Searls. T. B. Warner succeeded him, remained three years, and was succeeded by Rev. G. W. Pepper, who was appointed at the Wel- lington conference, in 1879. The prosperity of the church seems to have declined under Mr. Pepper's charge, and during the latter part of his pastorate the pulpit was filled by a stated supply, Mr. Pepper making a trip to Europe. In September last the conference appointed Rev. O. Badgely pastor, who is now officiating.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Before there was any parish organization in Bellevue, the Rev. Ephraim Punderson officiated from the year 1842 to that of 1847; but not until April, 1851, was the parish duly organized by Rev. Dr. Bronson. Messrs. T. G. Amsden and

John Grimes were chosen wardens; Messrs. F. A. Chapman, G. Woodward, and G. W. Sheffield, vestrymen; and, on September 10, 1851, this parish was received into connection with the Protestant Episcopal church.

In the spring of 1852 Rev. R. K. Nash was chosen rector, and the church building was begun and enclosed. Mr. Nash having resigned in 1854, the building remained unfinished. In the spring of 1857 an effort was made to open the church, and a rector was called. Rev. M. Hamilton took charge of the church on the first Sunday in July, 1857.

Improvements were made in the old church building, and the old debt paid off, and the church was consecrated by Bishop Bedell, in January, 1861.

The lot and buildings cost about three thousand five hundred dollars. In July, 1869, the parish became self supporting, and the following year repairs and improvements were made, at a cost of one thousand four hundred dollars.

The first Sunday-school was organized by the Rev. M. Hamilton in 1857. In 1881 George A. Holbrook succeeded to the rectorate of the parish.

ST. PAUL'S REFORMED CHURCH.

The members of St. Paul's Reformed church originally worshiped at the Free Chapel, a few miles west of Bellevue. Some, a goodly number, were also members of the Zion's church, in Thompson township, Seneca county. In February, 1862, Rev. Eli Keller commenced to preach in Bellevue. Services were held in the old school building, owned by Mr. George Weikert, afterwards in the old Methodist Episcopal church, then again in the old school-house. At this time, a weekly prayer-meeting was well sustained, and a Sunday-school organized August 16, 1862, at a meeting held at the chapel, it was resolved that a church should be

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built in, or near, Bellevue, and measures taken to select a site and procure building funds. The cornerstone of the church was laid on the 19th of June, 1864. On the 19th of June, 1865, the church was dedicated; sermons by Rev. M. Kieffer, D. D., and Rev. H. Rust, D. D. The ceremonies of laying the cornerstone were performed by Rev. E. Keller, the pastor.

Some time in the fall of 1865, the St. Paul's Reformed congregation was organized by the election of a consistory of elders and deacons. Since 1865 the following persons served respectively as elders, deacons, and trustees, viz: Jacob Bunn, Levi Korner, D. S. Arnold, John Hilbish, H. Kimmel, Isaac Kern, elders, John Bunn, David Hoch, Moses Miller, Joseph Zieber, John Bowman, Aaron Walters, William Knauss, John Deck, Benjamin Bunn, W. C. Smith, William Aigler, and J. Ferdinand Smith, deacons; David Hoch, Harrison Wilt, Elias Schmidt, Henry Stetler, John Deck, Aaron Walters, Jacob Aigler, and Frederick Smith, trustees. The Sunday-school was organized in the old Weiker school-house; superintendent, a Mr. Albert. Since 1865 Mr. John Hilbish has been the superintendent, with the exception of one year, when Rev. J. H. Derr officiated as head of the school.

In the year 1872, July 1, Rev. Eli Keller resigned the pastorate, having served the people for a period of eleven years. He was succeeded by Rev. Joshua H. Derr, on the 1st of December, 1872. His pastorate continued for four and a half years, closing his services June 3, 1877. During this pastorate the congregation suffered serious damage to their church edifice by a severe storm, which took off about one-third of the roof and also broke down the gable end to the square. This much injured the ceiling and the interior in general. A cost of about one thousand

dollars restored and much improved the now beautiful and commodious church.

The congregation owns the cemetery adjoining the church, and a large and comfortable parsonage. The present pastor, Rev. N. H. Loose, took charge of the congregation August 1, 1877. The interests of the

church are prosperous and encouraging.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church was organized January 7, 1866, under the laws of the State of Ohio. The directors were Adam Zehner, Christian Engel, and Philip Biebricher. The trustees were Jacob Beiler, Charles Beiler, and John Weis. Rev. Jacob in Dornberer was instrumental its organization, and remained its pastor three years, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. Buechler, who has remained as pastor twelve years. At its organization there were thirty- nine members. The present membership is about forty-five. They also have a prosperous Sunday-school of some seventy members, under the superintendence of David Meyers. Soon after the organization of the church, the present building was purchased from the Methodist society for two thousand dollars. Since that time some six or seven hundred dollars have been expended in refitting and repairing it.

SALEM EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

This church was organized in Bellevue under the ministration of Rev. L. W. Hankey, in the summer of 1875. The congregation purchased the building formerly occupied by the Baptists, for three thousand dollars. They then expended six or eight hundred dollars in repairing and refitting it. At first, and until the spring of 1879, the church was a mission. At that time it was cut loose from missionary aid, and is now self-supporting. The present membership is about, seventy-

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five. Thirty-one accessions were made dur- ing the year 1878. The church has had five pastors: Revs. L. W. Hankey; S. B. Spreng, who remained eight months; G. W. Meisee, who remained one year; Rev. D. C. Eckerman, was in charge a little more than two years, and W. F. McMillen, who is the present pastor. There is connected with the church a Sunday-school of seventy-three members, of which the pastor is superintendent. Regular services of the church are held twice each Sunday. The church government is very similar to that of the Methodist Episcopal, but there are some differences on minor points.

CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION-ROMAN CATHOLIC.

About 1852 Rev. James Vincent Conlin, stationed at Sandusky, established a mission at Bellevue, and held services some three or four years, when Rev. Punshell, of Norwalk, came, and then for a short time Father Boff officiated. Father Tighe, of Sandusky, came, and bought from J. B. Higbee the building they now occupy as a church, and perfected an organization. The first resident priest was Rev. James Monaghan, who remained some seven or eight years. While in charge he bought a house of Rev. Mr. Flagler for the use of the priest. Father Mahony came next, and remained some five years. He purchased ground for burial purposes, and built a school-house. Father Mears next came; he bought a house and lot on the corner of Centre and Broad streets, with the intention of building a church. He remained about three years, and was succeeded by Father Bowles, who also remained three years. The church was then attended by Father Rudolph, of Clyde, for about three months, when Father Molloy came, and officiated for three years. Father Cahill succeeded and officiated three years, to the entire satisfaction of the parish. The congregation

comprises about one hundred and ten families. The church still owns the lot bought by Father Mears, and at one time it owned the lot on which stands the present union school building.

BELLEVUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS .*

It is greatly to be regretted that the records of the early history of the Bellevue schools have been lost. The data for the following article have been furnished by some of the older citizens, and are as correct as can be ascertained outside of the school records. The first building that was used for school purposes was a little log-house that stood on the Herl property, just west of Mr. John Baker's residence. Here a school was opened in the fall of 1827, by a gentleman named Harris, from Milan. In the following year (1828), Miss Clemence A. Follett (now Mrs. Frederick Chapman) taught school in the same building. In those days the village was known as Amsden's Corners, and consisted of the Exchange hotel, a frame building just east of it, a double log-house, where Mr. Greenslade's store stands, the houses now occupied by Dr. Harris and Mr. John Reis, and a few scattering log-huts. The scholars came to Miss Follett's school from the country for miles around, walking to school along the trails of the woods, and bringing their dinners with them. In this school the girls spent half an hour each day in learning to sew. It was a pleasant little school, and Mrs. Chapman still recalls with delight the days she passed as teacher in the log school- house. In the following year, 1829, Miss Julia Follett taught in the same log school- house.

The next school of which we can find any record was taught in the old stone school- house that stood on West Main street, where the brick school-house now

* By J. M. Greenslade, superintendent,

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stands. The land was donated by Chap-man & Amsden, and the building was probably built by the Chapmans-Nathaniel and Frederick-Dr. L. G. Harkness and Mr. Thomas G. Amsden, as we find these names are closely associated with the early educational interests of the town as well as with its business and social interests. The stone school-house was built about 1832. In the fall of 1835 Mr. J. B. Higbee commenced to teach in this building, and taught two years. Mr. Higbee seems to have been a successful teacher; at least he was not carried out by the boys, which misfortune did happen to the gentleman who preceded him. We are unable to learn who succeeded Mr. Higbee, but the building still continued to be used for school purposes until the old brick school-house was built, after which the stone school-house was unoccupied for several years. For some years before the old brick was built, the increasing number of pupils compelled the directors to rent rooms in different parts of the town to be used for school-rooms.

At one time a school was taught in a frame building that was built for a warehouse by James Bell. It was afterwards moved, and the upper rooms used for school-rooms during the weekdays, and by the Methodist society for services on Sunday. About the same time Miss Town, now Mrs. Kent, of Toledo, taught a very successful private school for girls, on Monroe street, in the house now occupied by Mr. James Purcell.

In 1845 the number of scholars had increased to such an extent that the school directors saw the necessity of providing better accommodations than those afforded by the stone school-house and rented rooms, so they purchased of Chapman, Amsden, and Harkness the lot on which, the same year, they built the old brick school-house. The contract for erecting

the building was let to Mr. A. Leiter. It was at first intended to build only a one-story building, but while in process of erection Mr. J. M. Lawrence offered to raise it to a two-story building, provided the upper rooms could be used for the Baptist society. His proposition was accepted, the directors, at the same time, reserving the privilege of buying the upper part when the growth of the school required it. The building was used as a district school until 1851, when the present system of union schools was organized in accordance with the law of 1849.

The first superintendent of the union schools was Rev. Mr. Waldo, an eccentric old gentlemen. He wore a wig which, of course, furnished endless sport to his pupils. He was also in the habit of lecturing his scholars every morning before beginning the day's work.

During Waldo's administration, in the year 1851-52, Miss Gardner was assistant superintendent, and the two lower grades were taught by two sisters, Mrs. Covil and Miss Wilkinson. Mr. Waldo was succeeded in the fall of 1852, by Mr. Harvey Holton, who is well and favorably remembered by many of our citizens. Mr. Holton was superintendent several years and was a successful teacher. His assistant in the high school was Miss Celestia Gould, now Mrs. Spencer Boise. Mr. Holton was succeeded by Mr. Jerome Drury who taught two years, from the fall of 1855 to the spring of 1857. He was succeeded by Mr. Edward Bradley, who was superintendent for one year in 1857-58. In the fall of 1858, the Hubbard brothers came to Bellevue, and secured positions in our schools, Dwight Hubbard as superintendent, and E. B. Hubbard as teacher in the stone schoolhouse. Mr. Dwight Hubbard held his position one year and one term from the fall of 1858, to December, 1859. His

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place was supplied during the remainder of the school year by Mr. Henry Bramwell for the second term, and Dr. Cornell for the third term. The last superintendent in the old brick school-house was Mr. Ellis, who held the position from the fall of 1860 to the spring of 1862. After the high school building was built, the old brick school- house was sold, and has since been used as a tenement-house.

In 185o the "old stone" school-house, which had been unoccupied for several years, was. refitted; and continued to be used for school purposes until replaced by the present brick building. During these years several teachers were employed; among others was Mrs. Eliza Cook, who taught in the stone school-house two years, in 1856 and 1857, until her marriage with Mr. David Williams in the fall of 1 57.

In the same building, Mr. E. B. Hub-bard, who is now a prominent druggist of Tiffin, taught three years, from the fall of 1858 to the spring of 1861. Mr. Hubbard is remembered as a very successful teacher, and still keeps up his interest in educational matters; being at present president of the board of education of Tiffin, Ohio.

The German school was first started as a private enterprise in 1860, and was held in the house now used as a residence by Mr. John Warren. The first German teacher that taught here was Mr. Ludwick, who is considered as the best German teacher that we have ever had. The German school was partially united with the union schools in 1860, but received for a year or two only fifty dollars from the public funds. Mr.

Ludwick was followed by Mr. Cobelli, who taught the German school after it was moved to the "old stone" school-house. Mr. Menges succeeded Mr. Cobelli, and taught for several years, and was a successful teacher. Mr. Menges was followed by Mr. Rabe, and

Mr. Rabe by Mr. Beck, who resigned in October, 1875. Mrs. Beck was employed as assistant in the German department at the same time. Her place is filled by Miss Bessie Radford, who has had charge of the English branches in the German department since October, 1875.

Mr. Jacob Frenz succeeded Mr. Beck in November, 1875, and retained his position nearly three years. His successor, Mr. Henry Ebertshauser, is the present principal of the German department. The German schools occupy the two lower rooms of the school building on West Main street. The classes recite alternately in English and German branches during the day.

The high school building was erected in 1861, although it was not ready for use until the fall of 1862. The contract was so poorly filled that the contractor was obliged to put on the second roof within a year, and before the board of education, would accept the building. Mr. Edward Bradley was the superintendent at the opening of the high school building in the fall of 1862. Mrs. Bradley taught at the same time in a lower grade, and. also during the following year. Mr. Bradley was superintendent one year in the high school building. After him came Mr. Highland, from September, 1863, to June, 1864; Mr. J. B. Loveland, from September, 1864, to June, 1867; Mr., Avery, from September, 1867, to June, 1868 ;. Mr. Loveland, from September, 1868, to June, 1869; Mr. L. C. Laylin, from September, 1869, to June, 1875; Mr. E. E. Phillips, from September, 1875, to June, 1877; Mr. J. M. Greenslade, from September, 1877, to the present time. The Bellevue schools now occupy two buildings-the high school building and the brick school building on West Main street, which was built in 1871, and enlarged in 1875. These buildings are not large enough to accommodate the

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number of pupils, so that the board of education will enlarge the high school building, which will even then afford only temporary relief. The schools which started with four departments in 1852, now have nine, and most of these having two grades.

For several years previous to 1877 the course of study which had been prepared for the schools had been disregarded altogether, as not being suited to the wants of the schools. The result was that the teachers and scholars worked at a disadvantage; and their efforts were ill-directed, or entirely wasted. The evil effects of this lack of system was especially noticeable in the high school, where the scholars pursued such studies as were agreeable, without any regard to previous training, or the relation of the different studies to each other. The board of education, recognizing the value and necessity of systematic work in our schools, at a meeting held on the 29th of July, 1877, adopted the present course of study, and rules and regulations of the Bellevue public schools, and ordered them to be published. The schools are at present in excellent condition. In the lower grades the aim is to give thorough instruction in the common branches. In the high school all of the studies are pursued that are commonly found in a good high school course. Especial attention is paid to the languages and the natural sciences. Through the liberality of the board of education, the superintendent has been able to accumulate considerable apparatus and supplies for the illustration of the natural sciences.

PHYSICIANS.

Among the oldest practitioners of medicine in the township were Doctors Stevens, Otis, Boise, and Charles Smith, of Lyme. Contemporary with them, and earlier, were Doctors Kittredge, Sanders,

and Tilden, who visited the township occasionally. Dr. L. G. Harkness was the first physician prominently identified with the history of Bellevue. He was born in Salem, Washington county, New York, April 1, 1801, educated for his profession in the State of his nativity, and came West in 1823. He located upon the ridge, in Lyme township, and became associated, professionally, with Dr. Stevens, He removed, afterward, to the village of Belle- vue, and not long after abandoned his practice. He continued to reside here.

In 1835 Dr. Daniel A. Lathrop cane to Bellevue from his birthplace, Montrose, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and almost immediately became a very successful practitioner, taking up Dr. Harkness' ride, and having all of the business which that physician formerly attended to upon his hands. He not only took Dr. Harkness' place, but filled it, and enjoyed as extensive a practice, perhaps, as any physician who ever located in the village. It extended over a long term of years, too, and really did not terminate until a short time before the doctor's departure from town, in 1861, though he was not actively engaged in the pursuit of his profession for two or three years previous to this date. The doctor returned to Montrose, Pennsylvania, where he is now located. He is a graduate of a Philadelphia college.

The physicians who followed him were numerous. We shall only speak of those most prominently identified with the history of the town. Dr. Gray came in and remained a short time. Dr. W. W. Stilson was in practice for a number of years, and removed to Clyde, where he is at present in practice. Dr. Amos Woodward, a native of Lyme, began practice in 1846, and after six or seven years retired, though he continued to reside in the village, and has long been one of its leading

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citizens. Dr. Charles Richards, now of Binghamton, New York, came in soon after Dr. Woodward began practice, and read medicine with Dr. Lathrop, afterwards entering into practice.

Dr. John W. Goodson, now in Sterling, Rice county, Kansas, began the study of medicine in Bellevue about 1840, and completed his professional education at Buffalo, there receiving his diploma: He immediately returned to Bellevue and en- tered into practice. He had a lucrative practice and accumulated a fine property. He was for a time assistant surgeon of the Seventy-second regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was with Grant's army before Vicksburg. The doctor was a native of England, and was born on the 4th of July, 1817. He came to this country when a lad thirteen years of age.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 101

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