USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vo. I > Part 42
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The young writer being an ardent Democrat, the Advertiser was conducted as a Democratic organ of the strictest sect, and being a good business manager and a vigorous writer. he soon made his paper a power in northwestern Ohio. In 1857 he was ap- pointed by President Buchanan postmaster at Tiffin, an office which he held until 1861, when he was retired by a Republican successor.
On the 10th of November, 1857, Mr. Armstrong was married to Miss Sarah V., the youngest daughter of Josiah Hedges. Their union was blessed with three children.
Mr. Armstrong's position in politics in Seneca county. and his genial nature, made him a strong man in his party in the state, and his strength was manifested in 1862, when although still but twenty-nine years of age, he was elected secretary of the state of Ohio. His determination to make that office one of importance is shown by the fact that under his administration its reports be- came the most interesting of any of the state departments. He collected election statistics, facts, etc., which made the report much sought after. He served as secretary from 1863 to 1865 during a period of our great Civil war. He was an ardent Democrat. and was in favor of the maintenance of the union. His name will be found on the commissions of many thousands of officers of the Union army from Ohio, who served during the war of the rebellion.
After Mr. Armstrong had served one term of two years, the Republicans returned to power in Ohio and he was again at liberty to return to his favorite pursuit of journalism. In April. 1865 he accordingly purchased the material of the lately suspended Cleveland Plain Dealer, and selling the Tiffin Advertiser to the
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Messrs. Myers, he transferred his efforts to the metropolis of north- ern Ohio, the city of Cleveland. Owing to the death of J. W. Gray and subsequent unskillful management, the Plain Dealer had been brought into a very unfortunate condition, as was indi- cated by its suspension.
It is a severe task to revive a dead newspaper, yet Mr. Arm- strong not only did that. but in a few years made the Plain Dealer one of the leading newspapers of the west. A clear, vigorous, ready writer, self-educated and nervy. he naturally took a bold aggressive course. and neither friends nor enemies had the slight- est difficulty in knowing what he meant. He showed himself on all occasions a Democrat of the school of Jackson and Benton, unswervingly in favor of state rights, home rule and hard money; and those time-honored principles he was prepared to maintain against all opposition. either by voice or pen, for if Mr. Armstrong had made any efforts he would have taken rank as a very graceful orator.
In 1868 Mr. Armstrong was elected delegate-at-large from Ohio to the Democratic national convention, which met at New York and which nominated Horatio Seymour for president. In 1872 he came within a few votes of securing the nomination for congress in the Seneca-Erie district. In 1873 he removed his family permanently to Cleveland, and settled in a beautiful little home. . In 1876 he was chosen by the Democrats of the Cuyahoga district, the second in point of population and wealth of the state. to represent them in the St. Louis Democratic national convention. and again in 1880 the same compliment was paid him by the same district and he was chosen a delegate to the convention which nominated Hancock and English for president and vice president. His co-delegates to that convention selected him as the member of the Democratic national executive committee from Ohio.
One young printer boy from Seneca made himself a reputation as an able and capable politician. In every capacity in life in which he was tried, he was found equal to the occasion.
CHAPTER XVIII.
RELIGIOUS AND BENEVOLENT
METHODIST EPISCOPAL AND METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCHES- PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-EBENEZER EVANGELICAL AND GRACE RE- FORMED-GERMAN EVANGELICAL ST. JOHN'S CHURCH-FIRST AND SECOND REFORMED-UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH-BAPTIST CHURCH-DISCIPLES OF CHRIST-ENGLISH LUTHERAN-PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL-FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST -- UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH-SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH-FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCHES-ST. MARY'S-GERMAN CATHOLICS ORGANIZE-ST. JOSEPH'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL-URSULINE ACADEMY AND CITIZENS' ORPHAN ASYLUM- ST. FRANCIS ORPHAN ASYLUM AND HOME FOR THE AGED -- NATIONAL ORPHAN'S HOME -- SECRET ORDERS-MILITARY AND MISCELLANEOUS BODIES-EARLY LODGES AND SOCIETIES-DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
There are fifteen churches in Tiffin, thirteen Protestant and two Roman Catholic. In this number are represented nearly all the leading denominations. Tiffin is truly a church-going place.
The first services held in Tiffin by the Methodists were in the Hedges building. on Virgin or Rose alley, now Court street, being about where the Advertiser office now is. These first ser-
vices were conducted by the Rev. James Montgomery.
Elijah H.
Fields was the first regular preacher.
A church organization was
effected early in the twenties. Their first church building was a small brick structure, and is described elsewhere as one of the first brick buildings in Tiffin. It stood on the corner of Market and Monroe streets, and when the church erected a new and larger house of worship. the old building was sold and converted into a business block. The first presiding elder of the Methodist church was the Rev. James McMahon, and he was succeeded by that great pioneer pulpit orator, Russel Bigelow.
The present church-St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal-is on Madison street. between Washington and Monroe, and Rev. O. J. Coby, is the pastor.
The Methodist Protestant church was organized at Tiffin in
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1837. It first erected a brick church on Monroe street, but in 1872 built a large and commodious edifice on Market street. Rev. Crates S. Johnson is the present pastor. Miss Helen Smith is the organist.
The Presbyterian church was one of the first formed in Tiffin. and is also one of the most prominent. The church is at the south corner of Madison and Monroe streets, and was erected in 1871 at a cost, including lot, of about $21,000. It is a substantial brick structure and stands the wear of time well. The eminent divine, Rev. Dr. D. D. Bigger, was pastor of this church for many years. The doctor is yet in the prime of matured manhood, is active in church work and a popular lecturer.
The following is copied from an address delivered by the Rev. Dr. Bigger, then pastor, upon an anniversary occasion of the church : "The First Presbyterian church of Tiffin, Ohio, was or- ganized about the first of July, 1831. and was formed by the with- drawal of members from the Melmore church who lived nearer Fort Ball than Melmore. In 1834 this society in Tiffin was for- mally chartered by the general assembly of the state of Ohio. as the First Presbyterian church of Tiffin. In the year 1830 Rev. John Robinson came to the wilds of Seneca county preaching the gospel and gathering the early settlers of Presbyterian predilection into local churches. In the summer of 1831, a local church was organized at Tiffin, and he officiated as spiritual leader until the charter was secured, in 1834. Father Robinson is known as a thorough pioneer preacher, and many rich incidents are related of his experiences. The Rev. John McCutchen, the successor of the first pastor, was considered a revivalist of rare tact and talent. accomplishing much good. Up to the pastorate of Rev. Moore. the congregation had worshiped in a sanctuary built in 1835. on the west side. Measures were taken to build a more commodious structure, and more centrally located. The efforts were success- ful, and the present handsome edifice, at the corner of Market and Monroe streets, was occupied for the first time in the winter of 1871."
The Rev. George Donglas Young is the present pastor of the church and it is in a flourishing condition.
The Ebenezer Evangelical church was organized in 1876, with forty members, by Rev. J. Lerch. the first pastor. The building of a church was commenced the same year. The basement of the church was dedicated by Bishop R. Dubs, and was used by the society for church and Sunday school purposes until the auditorium was finished, and the church was then dedicated by Bishop Thomas Bowman; the Rev. J. A. Hensel. a former pastor. preaching the sermon. This was in 1884.
This church has not at any time had any great advancement
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in membership, but it has had a steady, healthful growth and both it and its Sunday school are in prosperous conditions.
The present pastor is the Rev. Alpha M. Rickel. The organist is Miss Lola Mauk. The church is on the corner of Washington and Hall streets.
Grace Reformed is one of the later additions to the churches of Tiffin. The corner-stone of the church building was laid in 1883. the sermon being delivered by the Rev. J. H. Good. The Rev. II. II. W. Hilshman was the first minister of the church. The church stands on the northeast corner of Perry and Jefferson street, and is a fine edifice.
The Rev. James S. Freeman is the present pastor; Miss Alice Hursh, organist.
German Evangelical St. John's church was organized in Tiffin in 1836. The Rev. Adam Adolph Conrad was the first pastor and served the congregation for five years.
The first meeting house of this congregation was a hewed log building and stood upon the site of the present beautiful but modest brick church on Jefferson street.
William Uhlhorn is the present pastor of the church.
The First Reformed church was organized as the German Evangelical Reformed church in 1833. In 1834 the old society bought a lot and built a house of worship. Their next church was erected in 1860.
The present pastor is the Rev. Albert C. Shuman. The church is on the corner of Madison and Monroe streets.
The Second Reformed church was organized in 1850. by Rev. Frederick Wahl. In 1858 their first house of worship was erected. Rev. D. R. Raiser is the present pastor. The church is on the corner of Madison and Jefferson streets.
The First Baptist church of Tiffin was organized in 1857. The first public sermon was preached by Rev. D. F. Carnahan. The building is on the corner of Jefferson and Perry streets. The pastor of the church at present is the Rev. V. H. Persons.
The Disciples of Christ worship in a handsome brick church on East Market street. near Jefferson. The present pastor is the Rev. William J. Evans.
The English Lutherans first organized at the brick school house on West Market street in the summer of 1843. where a congregation was organized by Mr. Lioengood. Afterwards they held their meetings in the German Reformed church for a short time. A lot was purchased on the east side of Jefferson street where a plain frame church thirty by forty feet was erected in the spring of 1844. Later the present church was built upon the same site.
The Rev. H. G. Snyder is the present pastor.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
A Protestant Episcopal church was organized in Tiffin in 1856. and is locally known as "Trinity Church." Within the past few years they have erected a handsome stone church edifice upon the site where the old frame church stood, at the corner of Market and Jefferson streets. Although the list of communicants is not large, the congregation stands well in the religious work of Tiffin.
Rev. James H. Young is the rector; organist, Miss Katherine Arnold.
The First Church of Christ Scientist was organized in Tiffin about six years ago. They have no church building, but hold their services at No. 3115 Court street. This second floor room being large, is divided by portiers into two rooms. the back one being used as an audience room and the front one is the society's reading room, which is kept open two afternoons and one evening each week. The church services are held Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Miss Gertrude Opt is first reader and O. T. Frick, second reader. The membership is small.
The United Brethren church is not holding services at present, as their old building on Sandusky street, between Clay and Perry, is being repaired.
The celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the found- ing of St. John's German Evangelical church, on Sunday, October 2, 1910, was impressive in the extreme. The jubilee was one of the most momentous celebrations in the history of the church and the edifice was thronged with worshipers at both the morning and evening services. Rev. A. A. Juergens, of Rome, New York, and Rev. W. F. Henninger, of New Bremen, former pastors, were present and preached in honor of the occasion.
St. John's church was founded in 1835 by Rev. Adam Conrad and formal organization was effected on March 5, 1836. The church society was incorporated, March 15, 1870, with Andrew Albrecht, Philip Wentz. Valentine Seewald, Frank Santer, Andrew Bloom, Andrew Deneer, Philip Seewald, John Ditto, Jacob Boyer and William Lang, as members. Louis Braum was secretary and Heinrich Schmidt and Andrew Degen were trustees. The church received its charter under the title of the "United Evangelical Lutheran and German Evangelical Reformed, St. John's Congre- gation," a name it still retains.
The church is unique in one particular, which marks it as distinct from any other church in the city .. It is the only relig- ious congregation in Tiffin constituted after the manner of Union of the Lutheran and Reformed churches in Germany, a fact which contributes largely to the preservation of the German language and the German form of worship. The union of the Lutheran and Reformed churches is still celebrated in southern Germany on the 18th of November. £ The first church built by St. John's congrega-
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
tion was a log structure, 24 by 30 feet in dimensions, and this was used as a house of worship until 1857, when the present edifice was erected.
Rev. Adam Conrad. the first pastor, was succeeded in 1842 by Rev. John Beilharz, who continued as minister until 1853. The following pastors have since had charge of the congregation : Rev. F. Wonder, 1853, died as pastor ; Rev. John Escher, 1854 to 1856; Rev. H. J. Rentenik. 1857-60; Rev. J. G. Neuschmidt, 1860-69 ; Rev. W. Rein, 1869, died as pastor; Rev. Ferdinand Weisgerber, 1869-71; Rev. G. Von Luternan, 1871-75; Rev. C. Zimmerman. 1875-81; Rev. F. Bolz, 1881-85; Rev. C. Graner, 1889-91; Rev. C. F. Fleek, 1891-95; Rev. A. A. Juergens, 1895-1902; Rev. W. F. Henninger, 1902-7; Rev. R. Uhlhorn, 1907-9; Rev. F. H. Graeper, 1909-
Rev. Graeper, the present pastor labored indefatigably to make the anniversary celebration a success and needless to say his efforts did not go unrewarded.
The first Catholic church in Tiffin was the little brick chapel. which was erected in the fall of 1831. near the east end of Madison street, opposite the old stone jail, and on the present Catholic cemetery site. It stood with the gable end toward the street, with a cupola at the north end of the roof. Its bell was the first church bell in the county, and it has been said that it was pleasant to hear its cheerful echo through the woods.
The Germans and the Irish Catholics attended worship in it together for sometime as one congregation, until the separation took place, when the Irish formed a separate congregation and built their brick church in Fort Ball (as then called), and the Germans bought about two acres of Mr. Hedges in the woods at the south end of Tiffin.
It is also said that the little brick chapel was the fourth Catholic church erected in Ohio. After the separation of the two nationalities, the Irish people used the chapel as a school house. and employed John Crowley as teacher. The building took fire and burned down.
The organizing of the congregation dates back to September. 1829. The building of the church was postponed for want of means, and until Mr. Kinney and others contracted for the brick used in the edifice. Father Edmund Quinn took charge of the congregation in 1833. He was a venerable and noble looking priest, highly esteemed by all. This brick church was finished in the spring of 1833.
Father Quinn remained in charge of it until his death here. in the fall of 1835. Thereupon Bishop Purcell appointed the Rev. Father Schoenhenz, who continued to officiate until the fall of
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
1839, and was succeeded by Father McNamee and the Rev. J. P. Machebeouf. Father Machebeouf, in 1842. went to Sandusky City, and Father McNamee remained until late in the fall of 1847, when Bishop Rappe appointed the Rev. Father M. Howard, who remained until April, 1850. In September, the Rev. M. Molon succeeded him and remained until 1852. He was succeeded by the Rev. M. O'Sullivan who. in the summer of 1856 built St. Mary's church and remained in charge of it until February. 1859.
St. Mary's Catholic church may be said to have been founded at Tiffin in 1826, but not for five years later was the district set off as a station. Father Moynahan and Bishop Fenwick visited Fort Ball and Tiffin in 1826, and there met John Julian and Jacob Bonar, old members of the church. St. Mary's Catholic church is on the corner of Clay and Sandusky streets, and the Rev. Thomas F. Colon is the present rector.
In 1845 the German Catholics of Tiffin, who for a number of years had been members of St. Mary's English church, solicited and obtained from the Right Rev. J. B. Purcell, Bishop of Cincin- nati, the permission to organize a separate congregation. They numbered at that time from thirty to forty families. They went to work with energy and liberality. and selected near the city a beautiful site of two acres.
From 1845 until January, 1852 the new German organization (St. Joseph's church) was attended by certain priests who came from Thompson or New Reigel (then called Wolf Creek)-the Revs. F. Salesius Brunner, John Wittmer, J. B. Jacomet, Yacob Ringeli, M. Anton Meyer. P. Anton Capeder, F. X. Obermiller, Maximillian Hamburger, John Von den Broeck and Mathias Kreusch. The last named resided for a few months in the city with a Catholic family.
In January, 1852, Rev. L. Molon pastor of St. Mary's church, was also appointed pastor of the German congregation, and had a separate service in each church every Sunday until September of the same year, when Rev. J. B. Uhlmann arrived from Germany and was appointed pastor of the young and flourishing congrega- tion. A parsonage was then built. Rev. Uhlmann remained in Tiffin until May, 1856.
His successor was the Rev. Joseph L. Bihu, who was removed in September, 1873. at his own request, after a pastoral ministra- tion of more than seventeen years. In August, 1870, Rev. N. Schnitz became his assistant and remained until August. 1872. In September, 1872, Rev. A. M. Meile was appointed assistant and remained until July, 1873. Another assistant Rev. J. A. Michen- felder, was appointed. but remained only eighteen days and was removed after the resignation of the pastor.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, TIFFIN.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
. After the Rev. J. L. Bihu gave up his charge, the congregation was left without a pastor and the church closed for more than two months, after which time the Right Rev. Bishop, moved by the repeated petitions of the people. appointed the Rev. Charles Everard. In Angust. 1877, the Rev. J. B. Heiland became his assistant, but was compelled by his failing health to leave Tiffin, in March, 1878.
At the time of the organization of the new congregation the leading men were Joseph Kuebler, Dr. Joseph Boechler. Michael Kirchner, Frank Greulich, Joseph Vollmer, Michael Theissen, John Houck and John Bormuth.
When the congregation was organized. in 1845, a plain. brick church 40x90 was at once built for their use on the lot where the present church now stands; but the continual increase of families, made the building of a new and larger church absolutely necessary. The old church was torn down in 1861 and the new one built on the same spot. A temporary building was erected to be used for divine service until the completion of the new church.
The records do not mention the existence of any parochial school before the appointment of Rev. J. B. Uhlmann, in 1852. A school was established by him in the spring of 1853 and was main- tained and enlarged by his successor. A new school house was built by Rev. J. L. Bihu in 1858, which contained two large rooms. In 1862, after the completion of the new church, the temporary building used for divine service was divided for school purposes; it received a second story, and four large rooms were again fur- nished for the increasing youth of the congregation. In 1875 another room became necessary. and a building was erected in the rear of the old school house.
In connection with the history of St. Joseph's congregation must be mentioned the establishment of two religious communities in Tiffin.
In 1865 the Ursuline Sisters came from Cleveland to Tiffin. They formed a new convent. established an academy for young ladies and took charge of the parochial schools of both congrega- tions in the city. In order to secure their services, St. Mary's con- gregation paid $1,000, and St. Joseph's paid $2,000, for the pur- chase of the lots upon which the Ursuline convent and the academy were afterwards built. An interesting fact. in connection with the convent, is that Sister Mary Louis who has been in charge of its engine room for twenty years, is the only licensed woman engin- eer in Ohio. She successfully passed a very thorough state exami- nation, according to law, in December, 1910.
In 1868, Rev. J. L. Bihu established another community near the limits of the city, under the name of "Citizens' Hospital and Orphan Asylum.'' It is under the care of the Franciscan Sisters
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
of the Third Order, and has increased admirably since its creation. A new and large chapel was erected in 1878.
Father Martin Puetz, a former pastor of the parish, erected the present magnifi- cent school building, at a cost of $40,000.
The Rev. Father F. L. Hultgen is the present priest of St. Joseph's parish.
FATHER MARTIN PUETZ
ST. FRANCIS ORPHAN ASYLUM AND HOME FOR THE AGED.
The above named institution. which serves a two-fold purpose. as its name indicates, was founded in 1867 by the Rev. Joseph L. Bihu. One year later, in June. 1868, he also established a Sister- hood, known as the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, who have had full charge of the asylum and home since Father Bihu's death, in August, 1893. The institution is located in the eastern suburbs of Tiffin, on a tract of excellent land comprising about 400 acres. About one mile from the main buildings, the larger orphan boys and a few Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis are domiciled. The latter, with some hired help, manage the large farm which affords the main support of the community. The boys are so trained as to be able to earn their livelihood when they leave the institution. In like manner the girls are taught house- work, sewing, etc. The asylum is in theory and in fact an indus- trial school. All the orphans are given a common school educa- tion by the Sisters, and are instructed in their religious duties by the resident chaplain-at present the Rev. Michael Dechant.
Father Bihu had the institution incorporated December 2. 1869, under the title of "The Citizens' Hospital and Orphan Asy- lum." The first building was a two-story frame structure which stood on a fifty-eight acre farm, bought by Father Bihu. This was the humble beginning of St. Francis Institute. Mother M. Frances was the superioress of the community till her death. November 18, 1893. The frame building was replaced in 1871 by a large and imposing three-story brick structure, to which addi- tions were built from time to time. It now has a frontage of nearly 200 feet. At the east end of the main building stands the beautiful chapel (40x70 feet). of Gothic architecture. Tastily frescoed, furnished with a fine marble altar and stained glass windows, it is one of the prettiest chapels in the diocese. It was dedicated by Right Rev. Richard Gilmour, D. D., June 1, 1881.
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In the fall of the year 1908 a large pipe organ, donated by a friend, and costing eleven hundred dollars, was placed in the chapel.
The Sisterhood now numbers sixty-five members, some of whom are engaged as teachers in parochial schools. others as nurses in St. Joseph's Charity Hospital at Lorain, Ohio, but most of them are connected with the asylum and home. The present superioress is Mother M. Clara, who has been in office since July, 1891.
The institution is self-supporting and now provides home com- forts for 135 orphans and 68 aged people.
NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME.
(Junior Order United American Mechanics, Tiffin, Ohio.)
This home was established in 1890, and is located about one and one-half miles north of the city of Tiffin, but as it is on the belt line of trolley cars and very accessible to the city, it seems al- most a part of it. It adjoins the beautiful Riverview Park, a fashionable outing and picnic resort overlooking the Sandusky river. The farm consists of one hundred and seventy-six acres of land, and besides the main building. there are cottages, laundry. power house, green house, water tower, barns, etc.
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