USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, from the close of the revolutionary war to July, 1880 > Part 29
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Rev. E. V. Gerhart, D. D., Professor of Theology.
Rev. M. Kieffer, D. D.,
66
Rev. H. Rust, A. M., Professor of exegetical and historical Theology. Rev. J. H. Good, D. D., Prof. of dogmatic and practical Theology.
The invested funds of the Seminary amount to about $35,000. It has a large library, donated by various persons. The largest donation was made by Rev. H. Helffenstein, of Pennsylvania. The number of students in the Seminary has been as follows, for the different years since it has been in operation:
SEMINARY YEAR.
NO. STUDENTS.
SEMINARY YEAR.
NO. STUDENTS.
1851-52
2
1868
9
1852
10
1870
21
1853
14
1872
22
1854
17
1873
22
1855
18
1874
21
1856-57
15
1875
13
1858
13
1876
24
1859
7
1877
19
1860
9
1878
=
1860-62
12
1879
9
1862-64
13
1880
1864-67
4
Dr. Gerhart was sole professor in the Seminary (acting at the same time as president of the College,) from 1851 to 1855, when he resigned to accept the presidency of Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancas- ter, Pennsylvania. From November 1st, 1855, to 1861, Dr. Kieffer was sole professor, (also being president of the College.) From 1861 to 1869 the Seminary was conducted by two professors, Dr. Kieffer and Professor Rust. In 1869 Dr. Kieffer resigned, and Dr. Good, then professor of mathematics in the College, was elected his successor. From 1869 to 1880, the seminary has been in charge of these two pro- fessors.
REV. E. V. GERHART, D. D .- FIRST PRESIDENT OF HEIDELBERG COLLEGE.
Emanuel Vogel Gerhart is the eldest son of the Rev. Isaac Gerhart, inter-married with Sarah Vogel. He was born at Freeburg, (then Warren, now) Snyder county, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1817. In his second year his father became pastor of congregations in Lykens val- ley: his youth was passed in Millersburg, Dauphin county, where he enjoyed the advantage of such elementary schools as were then in
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REV. E. V. GERHART, D. D.
existence. He began Latin at the age of eleven. In May, 1831, his father sent him to the high school organized by the Reformed Church, at York, Pennsylvania, then under the principalship of Rev. F. A. Rauch, Ph. D. When, in 1835, that school was removed to Mercers- burgh, Pennsylvania, and erected into Marshall College, he was one of eighteen students who went with the institution. His classical course he completed in September, 1838, being one of six who composed the second graduating class of Marshall College. Immediately thereafter he became a teacher in the female seminary at Mercersburgh, con- ducted by Mrs. Sarah A. Young, and continued in that capacity for four years.
In September, 1839, he was appointed tutor in the Academy con- nected with the College, a position which he held for three years. He entered the Theological Seminary in September, 1838, and graduated in 1841, his theological studies being carried forward simultaneously with his teaching in the academy and female seminary. His theologi- cal teachers were the Rev. Louis Mayer, D. D., under whom he studied one year, and who resigned in the fall of 1839: the Rev. F. A. Rauch, Ph. D., for two years and a half, who died in March, 1841; and the Rev. John W. Nevin, D. D., for one year, he having been called to succeed Dr. Mayer in 1840.
Dr. Gerhart was licensed to preach the gospel by the Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States, at Reading, Pennsylvania, October, 1841. In May, 1842, he received and accepted a call to four churches in Franklin county, called the "Grindstone Hill" charge, and was ordained to the holy ministry by a committee of Mercersburgh classes, in the Union church at Grindstone Hill, August, 1842. As his engagement with the academy was still in force, during the summer of 1842 he taught at Mercersburgh during the week, and on Sunday served his pastoral charge. During September of this year he transferred his residence to Fayetteville. The following spring, at the instance of the Rev. Samuel Gutelius, he received, and was induced to accept, a call to Gettysburgh, Pennsylvania. This pastoral charge he served for more than six years, from May, 1843, to July, 1849. Then by the Board of Domestic Missions he was appointed missionary among the foreign Germans at Cincinnati, Ohio. He took charge of a small church on Bett's street, composed entirely of poor foreign Germans, which he served exclusively in the German language, for one year, living in a little shanty attached to the rear of the frame structure built in a sand bank. Here he labored for two years. During this time the church doubled its membership, a corner lot was bought on Elm street,
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
and funds were subscribed and collected for the erection of the First Reformed Church, which still occupies the old site.
In the month of December, 1850, the Synod of Ohio and adjacent states elected him Professor of Theology in its Theological Seminary, and President of Heidelberg College, institutions of the Reformed Church, which, during the previous year, had been located at Tiffin, Ohio. Accepting this call, he removed to Tiffin in May, 1851. During the summer he undertook an agency in behalf of the seminary library, the seminary until then, having had no books. He visited Philadelphia and New York, where he collected funds and many volumes. The books presented and purchased constitute the nucleus of the library of this institution, A full report of his operations will be found in the minutes of the Synod of Ohio of 1852. The offices of Professor and President he filled for the term of four years; teaching and lecturing partly in the English and partly in the German language. At the same time he served several organized churches; during the first two years, three or four congregations in the vicinity of Tiffin. During the last two years he was pastor of the Second Reformed church (German) in that city.
The Board of Trustees of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, elected him President of that institution at its annual meeting, held in 1854. He accepted the call and moved to Lancaster, in April, 1855. His connection with this college continued until July, 1868, a period of thirteen years. In 1858 he received his honorary title of Doctor of Divinity from Jefferson college. Through the death of the Rev. Henry Harbaugh, I). D., the professorship of systematic theology in the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg became vacant in December, 1867. At a special meeting of the synod of the Reformed church, held at Harrisburg, he was chosen Dr. Harbaugh's successor. This call he accepted and removed to Mercersburg in August, 1868. When, in 1871, the seminary was removed from Mercersburg to Lan- caster, he continued in the service of the institution. The chair of Professor of Theology he has occupied up to the present time, March, 1880.
In the fall of 1864, St. Stephen's church was organized in the chapel of F. and M. college, composed of professors, families and students. Of this church he was made the pastor, and served as such until he ceased to be president of the college. When the Rev. Dr. Nevin re- tired from the presidency, the associate pastors appointed Dr. Gerhart presiding pastor of St. Stephen's church, and up to the present time he has been fulfilling the duties of this office.
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REV. JEREMIAH H. GOOD, D. D.
REV. JEREMIAH H. GOOD, D. D., PROFESSOR OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT TIFFIN, OHIO.
Near the Blue Mountains, in Berks county, Pa., in the village of Rehrersburg, Dr. Good was born on the 22d day of November, 1822. He is the son of Philip Augustus and Elizabeth Good. At the age of nine years (in 1831) he removed to the county seat, the city of Reading, where he received his preparatory education in the public schools and the academy. At the age of fourteen (September, 1836) he started for college, namely, Marshall college, then located in Mercersburg, Frank- lin county, Pennsylvania. It was at this time under the presidency of Dr. F. A. Rauch, a celebrated scholar from Germany. Spending two years in the preparatory department, and four years in the college, he graduated with the highest honors of the class on the last Wednesday of September, 1842. The class numbered nine, of whom four have been professors in colleges and seminaries, and one a member of Con- gress. From 1842 to 1845 he was sub-rector of the preparatory depart- ment of Marshall college, and at the same time student in the Theolog- ical Seminary under Dr. J. W. Nevin. In the autumn of 1845 he was licensed to preach by the Mercersburg classis, and in a few weeks thereafter followed a call to Lancaster, Ohio. From October, 1845, until October, 1847, he labored as pastor of the Lancaster and St. Matthew's Reformed Congregation, being at the same time principal of a select school. Elected by the Ohio Synod to edit its proposed religious paper, he removed to Columbus, Ohio, in October, 1847, and started the Western Missionary (now known as the Christian World, and published in Dayton, Ohio). . Elected by the Reformed Synod, of Navarre, 1849, as Professor of Mathematics, in its projected college, he removed in October, 1849, (together with his brother, Professor Reuben Good,) to Tiffin, Seneca county, Ohio, and opened the new institution. At the same time he continued to edit the Western Missionary for three years longer, when it was removed to Dayton. From November, 1849, until September, 1869, (a period of twenty years,) he was Professor of Mathematics in Heidelberg College. He was then elected (by the Synod of Shelby, in May, 1869) to the chair of Dogmatic and Practical Theology, in the Theological Seminary at Tiffin, which situation he has occupied for ten years.
REV. GEORGE W. WILLIARD, D. D.,
was called to the Presidency of Heidelberg College in 1866. He was born in Frederick county, Maryland, June roth, 1817, and graduated at Marshall College, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1840; served several IS
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
important pastoral charges in the Reformed Church, and was the editor of the Western Missionary, the organ of the Synod of Ohio of the Reformed Church, thirteen years. Heis still presiding over the college, which has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity under his administration.
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CHAPTER XVIII. THE CHURCHES.
T WOULD have been a pleasure to the writer to prepare a history
I of the churches in Tiffin and in Seneca county, had not two causes prevented it: one the entire absence of any record of the organization, date, officers, ministers or members in many of them; the other, the cool indifference in regard to the matter with which my requests were answered. Such historic data as could be procured, however, are given here in detail, while those of the others, whose records are want- ing, are described from recollection.
· The little, brick Catholic chapel on Madison street has already been described. There are only to be added these additional facts: That the German and the Irish Catholics attended worship in it together for some time, as one' congregation, and 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: Father Healy is the pastor of the Irish church, and Father Evrard the pastor of the German church, now standing on the two acres, between Washington and Melmore streets. [Further details will be given here- after.]
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 one John Crowley as teacher. Through some carelessness about the stove the building took fire and burned down.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in Tiffin has already been alluded to, as one of the first brick buildings in Tiffin. The first church of this denomination that was erected in the county, was built on the bank of Honey creek, in Eden township, in 1828, and on the land now known as the Henry Schoch farm. This structure did not compare very
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
favorably with the grand edifice this denomination now owns on Mad- ison street, but it was a good, large, substantial, hewed-log building, and answered very well for the time. Their second church was built in Reed, in 1829; it was also made of logs, and was located on the Raymond farm, one mile east of the pike. Rev. James Montgomery used to preach in these churches occasionally, and also the venerable Thomas Thompson, still living, and who was one of the most pop- ular and most generally beloved Methodist divines among the early ministers in this part of the country. The celebrated Finleys also preached in these log churches, as well as in private houses. The house of John Gibson, Esq., in Eden, was a meeting house almost every Sunday for a long time. The first presiding elder was James Mc- Mahon, who came to Tiffin in 1823, and preached in the old brick church. Luther A. Hall, Esq. bought the old church, when the con- gregation had put up the new one, now over the post office, used as a club room, and made a theatre of it. The Germans in Tiffin had organized a very good Thesbian Society about that time, and produced good pieces for amateurs-"Feldkimmel," for instance. The Meth- odists finally sold their church on the corner of Monroe and Market streets, and built a large edifice on Madison street. When finished it will be one of the grandest and most spacious church edifices in the county. Services are now held in the basement. The membership is nearly three hundred; the Sunday school numbers about two hundred scholars. Rev. J. W. Mendenhall is the present pastor. This congre- gation was admitted to the North Ohio Conference in August, 1848, Rev. Thomas Barkdall, presiding elder; and Rev. E. S. Gurley, pastor.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
At the northwest corner of Jefferson and Market streets, is a neat, commodious structure; has regular services now, but the membership is not very large. The Rev. Williams is the pastor.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
In Tiffin was organized on the 20th day of October, 1857, by the fol- lowing named persons: Rev. Lyman J. Fisher, William J. Crawford, Elizabeth Crawford, Harriet Crawford, William Gallup, F. Brownell and Benjamin Tomb. The first public sermon was preached by the Rev. D. F. Carnahan. Their church was built on Perry street, and dedicated on the ad day of December, 1860. Rev. L. J. Fisher preached the dedicatory sermon on the ist day of July, 1868. The church has a membership of about one hundred and fifty. Its present pastor is the · Rev. G. G. Harriman.
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THE CHURCHES.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
In Tiffin is one of the largest and most important religious associations in the city, as it is also one of the earliest. It numbers among its members many distinguished citizens. Their splendid church, at the southwest corner of Market and Monroe streets, was built in 1870. Its present membership is about one hundred and fifty; Rev. D. D. Bigger is its pastor at this time. The following historical items are taken from an anniversary discourse pronounced by Rev. D. D. Bigger, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church:
The First Presbyterian Church of Tiffin, Ohio, was organized about the first of July, A. D. 1831, and was formed by the withdrawal of members from the Melmore church who lived nearer Fort Ball than Melmore. In 1834 this society in Tiffin was formally chartered by the General Assembly of the state of Ohio, as the First Presbyterian Church of Tiffin, Ohio. The charter members were Milton Jennings, Peter Marsh, James W. G. McCluer, Allen Campbell, William Hunter, John Young, Ezekiel McFerren, "and their associates." The board of trustees named in the charter, were Milton Jennings, Peter Marsh and Allen Campbell, devout men.
In the year 1830 Rev. John Robinson came to the wilds of Seneca county, preaching the gospel and gathering the early settlers of Presbyterian predi- lection into local churches. In the summer of 1831, a local church was organized at Tiffin, the Rev. John Robinson officiating as their 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 pioneer experience.
The Rev. John McCutchen, the successor of the first pastor, was consid- ered a revivalist of rare tact and talent, accomplishing much good. During the interim from 1837 to 1852 the church was supplied by the Rev. A. S. Dunton and Rev. John Whipple, in connection with Melmore. Ret. James Pelon occupied the pulpit from June. 1852, to March 21, 1858. The Rev. John McLain supplied the pulpit in Tiffin, in conjunction with that of the church at MeCutehensville, from May 6, 1858, until his death, which occurred June 6, 1862. During the Rev. MeLain's ministry the church edifice at Mccutchensville was built. Rev. D. S. Logan served the church as stated supply for one year, from the month of December. 1862. In the winter of 1563, the Rev. J. E. Lapsley ministered to the church, resigning in the fall of 1866. In the spring of 1867, the Rev. R. B. Moore was called to the pas- torate, and accepting, became the first installed pastor of this congregation.
L'p to the pastorate of Rev. Moore, the congregation had worshipped 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 successful, and the present handsome edifice, at the corner of Market and Monroe streets, was occupied for the first time in the winter of 1871. When completed, it is estimated that the entire outlay for constructing the build- ing, purchase of lot, and furnishing, will not exceed $21.000, but will fully reach that sumn.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Rev J. F. Pollock succeeded Rev. Moore, and was installed as pastor in 1873, during the month of September. After five years of faithful service, he resigned in March, 1878, accepting an invitation to South Toledo, Ohio. The present encumbent, the Rev. D. D. Bigger, being a duly installed pas- tor, has entered the third year of his ministry with the church. The society is in a most prosperous condition. The report for the year closing July 1st shows an addition of thirty to the membership, and over $3,000 raised for ecclesiastical and benevolent purposes, collected from the different depart- ments of the church work. The following are the officers of the church:
SESSION.
David Smythe.
John Kerr,
Francis Frederici.
William Davidson. Robert Lysle. Nathaniel Beck. Clerk.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
David Laird, President,
James T. Knott, Secretary.
Henry C. Baltzell. Treasurer.
C. D. Sprague.
George H. Borney.
.J. S. Bott.
William H. Kempher.
This denomination has churches located in this county at Fostoria. Mel- more, Bloomville, MeCutchensville and Republic. At the latter place a new church is under process of building, and will be ready to occupy this fall.
PLACE.
CHURCH.
PASTOR.
Tiffin,
First Presbyterian,
Rev. D. D. Bigger.
Fostoria,
.. ..
Rev. J. Hughes.
McCutehensville,
Presbyterian. Rev. R. B. Moore. .. .. :
Republic,
Bloomville.
Rev. J. S. Boyd.
Melmore.
.. ..
. THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL ST. JOHN'S CONGREGATION.
This is the only religious organization in Tiffin constituted after the manner of the union of the Lutheran and Reformed churches in Ger- many, a religious event that was celebrated among the Protestants of southern Germany on the 18th day of November, 1818.
This congregation in Tiffin was organized under a charter passed by the general assembly of Ohio on the 15th day of March, 1836, under the name of "The United German Evangelical Lutheran and German Evangelical Reformed St. John's Congregation of Tiffin, Seneca county." Andrew Albrecht, Philip Wentz, Valentine Seewald, Francis Souder, Andreas Bloom, Andrew Denzer, Philip Seewald, John Ditto, Jacob Boyer and William Lang were the charter members. Of all these, Andrew Bloom, Jacob Boyer and the writer are all that survive. The first constitution was adopted in 1838. Rev. Adam Adolph Conrad, one of the most pure minded of christian gentlemen, was its first
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THE CHURCHES.
pastor, and served the congregation for five years. In addition to this, Rev. Conrad served nine other congregations, including one in Lower Sandusky. He was a man of brilliant intellect and splendid oratorical powers, which, combined with his pleasing manners, won for him hosts of friends among all people. He had a frail body, and his labors were too severe for his physical strength. He died, after five years of constant service, in the thirty-fifth year of his age. His death was lamented by all classes of people. Rev. J. J. Beilharz, from Fay- ette, New York, took charge of the congregation in 1841. In 1849 the constitution was revised. Father Beilharz served the congregation twelve years, and was succeeded by a Mr. Wander, who had recently emigrated here from Silesia, Germany. His sermons were character- ized by forcible and poetic thought, and true devotion. Mr. Wander died ten months after he preached his first sermon. Rev. J. J. Esher thereupon served the congregation up to 1855. Rev. Ruetenick served during an interim. Rev. J. G. Neuschmidt was the pastor from 1859 to 1870. Revs. Rein and Weisgerber served to 1873, when Rev. G. von Luternau became the minister and served until 1875, when the Rev. C. Zimmerman, the present incumbent, succeeded him.
By the frequent changes of ministers, and other causes, the congre- gation suffered much, and became much reduced in numbers; but by the indefatigable labors and the loveable disposition of this able and accomplished divine, the church has increased to more than one hund- red and twenty members.
The first meeting house of this congregation was a hewed log build- ing, and stood on the same spot where their beautiful, but modest brick church now stands, on south Jefferson street. It was built in 1836, and gave way to the present brick church in 1857. The pastor lives in a commodious parsonage on the same lot. A ladies' mite society, con- nected with the church, numbers forty members. The interest now awakened in the German Protestant element promises a constant in- crease of the congregation, and contributes largely to the preservation of the German language and the German mode of worship.
So much for a church that keeps a record.
THE FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF TIFFIN, OHIO-ORGANIZ ATION.
The members of the German Reformed Church, mostly from the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland, living in and around Tiffin, de- sirous of worshipping God in accordance with the customs and doc- trines of their fathers, determined to organize a congregation in Tiffin, in order that their wishes in this particular might be realized. They
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
invited the Rev. John L. Sanders, of Frederick county, Maryland, to visit them, with the view of becoming their pastor. The invitation was accepted by this young minister, and on the 8th day of June, 1833, he commenced his labors among his new parishoners. On the 30th of the same month, a meeting of all who were desirous of going into the new enterprise, was called, at which time a constitution was adopted, and all who wished to unite with the proposed organization subscribed their names thereto. As well as can be ascertained, they were: Thomas Derr, Joseph Ogle, George Stoner, Jacob Kroh, Jonathan Foltz, Frederick Cramer, Joseph Foncannon, John Kime, John Martin, Ezra Derr, Christian Ramsburg, Frederick W. Shriver, George Schroyer, John Leydey, William Baugher, Christian Stoner, Elizabeth Ogle, Susanna Ramsburg, Rosanna Derr, Catharine Cramer, Susanna Foltz, Elizabeth Baugher, Margaret Kime, Sarah Kroh, and Mary Leydey. The next step taken was to elect a consistory, the members of which were to constitute the board of trustees also. A meeting of the mem- bers was held for this purpose, on the 21st of July, 1833, when six elders and six deacons were elected, who were ordained and installed accord- ing to the provisions of the Reformed church, on the same day of their election.
BUILDING OF THE CHURCH.
At the meeting aforesaid, the consistory was authorized to purchase a lot for the purpose of erecting on it a church edifice, to be built of brick. The lot upon which the present building stands was purchased from Josiah Hedges, for the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, and was deeded to the trustees of the congregation, known then by the name of the German Evangelical Reformed Church, on the 16th day of August, 1834: the following persons constituting the board at that time: Jacob Kroh, Joseph Foncannon, Jonathan Foltz, Joseph Ogle. Frederick Cramer, David Rickenbaugh, John Ditto, John Kime, Wil- liam Baugher, John Martin, Ezra Derr, and Peter Schlosser. Immedi- ate steps were taken to build the proposed church. For various reasons. the work progressed slowly, and the building was not ready for occupancy until the summer of 1835.
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