USA > Ohio > Stark County > Canton > History of the First Reformed Church, Canton, Ohio > Part 16
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During the first years of the transition period, the super- intendent had to be German; then an English and a German superintendent were appointed, and co-operated in conducting the school; then the German superintendent was dropped.
The names of all the early superintendents have disap- peared in the mists of the past. It is no longer possible to secure the names even of the superintendents during the latter part of Rev. Herbruck's pastorate. Probably the reason why their personalities did not impress themselves upon the memory of the older members who are still in the church, is to be found in the fact that in those days the place filled by the superin- tendent was rather insignificant, and the further fact that the school was looked upon as being intended only for the children
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and young folks, and hence, the adult portion of the congrega- tion hardly knew who was acting as superintendent.
During the last third of a century the following superin- tendents have served :
German
English
Christoph Leonhart 1885-90
Phil Weber 1890-91
Alfred Raber
1891-99
J. F. H. Deibel
1892-99
Fred Schweitzer
1900 Howard Dine 1900
Alfred Raber
1901-04
William Daberko
1901-
The school is now divided into the following departments : Primary, Junior, Intermediate, Adult, and Home. A Cradle Roll of 125 members is also maintained. The points of effi- ciency of a front-line school, as generally recognized in the Sunday School world, have all been attained.
The benevolent spirit has been carefully fostered, and large gifts are annually offered. Five regular special days are ob- served each year, namely: Foreign Mission, Children's Day, Rally Day, Home Mission, and Christmas. As a rule, the Chil- dren's Day offering is given to the Sunday School extension work of the Reformed Church; the Christmas offering to the Fort Wayne Orphans' Home; the beneficiary of the Rally Day offering is designated by the teachers themselves; while the mission-day offerings are sent to the respective boards conduct- ing the work. The Easter offering is divided between home and foreign missions.
Since 1910, the school has also emphasized the Birthday offerings. Each member is sent a card of congratulation on his birthday with a little envelope into which an offering may be put. From these offerings a $500 church erection fund has al- ready been given to the Board of Church Erection of the three German Synods. These offerings since November of 1914, have been devoted to the making of a monthly payment of $20 on the lots which were purchased for the site of the fourth Re- formed church in Canton. A second $500 church erection fund has also been given by Mrs. Fred Narwold, a member of the school, in memory of her mother, Mrs. Sophia Benecker, who was killed on Sunday morning, July 6, 1912, while cross-
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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
ing the railroad tracks on her way to Sunday School, where she was enrolled as a member of the German Bible class.
Special offerings for benevolence are also frequently taken. Aid has thus been extended to war sufferers, flood sufferers, hospitals, Salvation Army, Y. M. C. A., Bible Society, Harbor Mission, Winnebago Indians, etc., etc. The total, for benevo- lence alone, during the last five years, 1911-1916, reached the - handsome sum of $3132.
Neither has the school been unmindful of the local congre- gational needs. Many hundreds of dollars have been con- tributed towards rebuilding, repairing, renovating, re-carpeting, Sunday School furniture and equipment, etc., etc.
The growth of the school numerically can be given only from the time when Canton formed a parish by itself, and the statistics of the Canton School appear in the published minutes of the Synod. Beginning with 1875 the enrollment at the end of each five-year period is given: 1875, 200; 1880, 250; 1885, 300; 1890, 300; 1895, 475; 1900, 420; 1905, 750; 1910, 780; 1915, 950.
The school in recent years has been especially fortunate in having a splendid corps of workers. Many of the teachers have served for years with great ability and conscientiousness. The measure of success which the school has had is due entirely to the faithful efforts of the teachers and officers.
At the present time (January 1917) the working force con- sists of 17 officers and 36 teachers whose names are recorded below.
OFFICERS
WILLIAM DABERKO Superintendent
H. A. DEIBEL Assistant Superintendent
AUGUST SCHWITZGEBEL .. Secretary.
LAWRENCE OFFENBURGER Senior Secretary
WARREN LINK
Junior Secretary
LESTER H. HIGGINS Treasurer
EMMA GRETHER Rec. Secretary
CARL E. SNYDER Birthday Secretary
C. R. BROWNEWELL Librarian CARL RABER Assistant Librarian ETHEL C. MILLER Pianist
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FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, CANTON, O.
MRS. PAULINE BEITER Supt. Cradle Roll
MRS. KATHERINE RICH Assistant Supt. Cradle Roll
MRS. FRED BOYDELATOUR Supt. Home Dept.
MRS. WM. GEHRING. Assistant Superintendent
ANNA ENZMANN Supt. Primary Department
HAZEL TROUTNER. Secretary Primary Dept.
MRS. R. W. DOURM Visitor Home Dept.
MRS. EMMA TROUTNER Visitor Home Dept.
JOHN MARQUARDT Usher
CLARENCE BAAB
Usher
H. K. FENWICK
Usher
TEACHERS
Letta Anderson,
Martha Lahm,
Mrs. Sam. Bachtel,
Thomas Leahy,
Minnie Baab,
Estella A. Miller,
Gertrude Biller,
Clara L. Miller,
Mrs. D. M. Binns,
Leah Neher,
Aurelia Bolliger,
Pauline Nelson,
Rev. Theo. P. Bolliger,
Estella L. Narwold,
Mrs. Elizabeth Bolliger,
Hilda Nelson,
Grace Boydelatour,
Mary Offenburger,
J. F. H. Deibel,
Faith E. Pecher,
Mrs. H. A. Deibel,
Amelia Riniker,
Ruth Feldheimer,
Elsie Schaub,
Elsie Fisher,
Chas. Seemann,
Mrs. Emma Frank,
Florence M. Studer,
Emma Grether,
Pearl Snyder,
N. O. Hexamer,
Mrs. Katherine M. Thom,
Wm. G. Hohler,
Mrs. Adam Thomas,
Blanche Hohler,
Mrs. Albert Trachsel.
THE ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Top Row: Amelia Riniker, Mary Offenburger, Mrs. Emma Frank, Emma Grether, Martha Lahm, Elsie Fisher Bottom Row: Leah Neher, J. F. H. Deibel, Theodore P. Bolliger, Chs. Seemann, Mrs. Clara Trachsel
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THE INTERMEDIATE AND JUNIOR TEACHERS
Top Row: Elsie Schaub, Estella Miller, Ruth Feldheimer, Florence Studer, Grace Boydelatour, Letta Anderson Bottom Row: Gertrude Biller, Mrs. H. A. Deibel, Mrs. Katherine Thom, William Kohler, N. O. Hexamer, Mrs. Emma Troutner, L. Aurelia Bolliger
THE PRIMARY TEACHERS AND OFFICERS
Top Row: Hazel Troutner, Edith Daberko, Estella Narwold; Mrs. Katherine Binns, Hilda Nelson, Blanche Hohler Bottom Row: Pearl Snyder, Mrs. Elizabeth Bolliger, Anna Enzmann, Mrs. Martha Bachtel, Pauline Nelson, Clara Miller
CHAPTER XXIV
THE SINGING, THE ORGANS, AND THE CHOIR
T HE congregational singing during the first thirty years would be judged as very crude from the modern stand- point, for there were neither songbooks nor musical instru- ments. The early members had come from various parts of Germany and Switzerland, as well as from various eastern states. Though a German hymnal was apt to be a part of the family possessions, the chances were that hardly two would be alike. Under such conditions the only solution of the difficulty was for the minister to first read the stanzas to be sung, and then read them again line by line, waiting between lines for the congregation to sing them. In many cases the minister also had to be the leader of the singing. This was a very consider- able additional burden to him, as Dr. Buettner testifies, "When there is no one to lead the singing, which happens frequently, then the minister must almost contract consumption on account of his much singing and preaching." (See Chapter IX.)
About 1840, a union hymn book for Reformed and Luther- an congregations was introduced, and three years later an organ was bought. "It had only five registers and was entirely too small," but its use so stimulated the desire for better singing that the first choir was organized. About 1850, George Deuble became the director of the choir and the organist, and remained in this position for 35 years, serving for most of the period without salary.
The first organ served for thirteen years, and then was dis- placed by a fine new instrument. Rev. Herbruck waxes quite enthusiastic in his description of the new acquisition saying : "The present organ has thirteen registers and is put up in an elegant style. It has a beautiful sound, and its internal con- struction is so convenient, that I never saw an organ to equal it. If anything should get out of order, one can with the greatest ease come to any pipe or to any of its mechanical parts." The
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FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, CANTON, O.
organ was dedicated on Sunday, July 13, 1856. The church was crowded and "the well-practiced choir sang." Rev. D. Kaemmerrer, pastor of the Orrville church, preached on the text Psalm 147: 7, and Rev. Buckingham of the Canton Presby- terian Church chose Psalm 98: 5. When the Reformed con- gregation separated from the Lutheran in 1862, the right of the Reformed people in this second organ had to be surrendered to the Lutherans.
A third organ was purchased for the new church, and in- stalled in the exact middle of the gallery. As money was scarce only the most necessary parts were bought at first. The organ was used in this incomplete condition for seven years. In 1869, the consistory sent "for the pipes and keys necessary to finish the organ, at an additional cost of $322." During Rev. Rust's pastorate, the organ was removed from the gallery and placed in the front of the auditorium, into the addition which had been built for the purpose. The instrument was also re- built and enlarged. During the following pastorate, the organ was again improved by adding two registers at an expense of $175. Just before Rev. Nau began his labors the organ was given another improvement which cost $230.00, and a motor was installed a little later. The old familiar handle that had worked the bellows for thirty-five years thus entered into its well-deserved rest.
Eight years later an agitation began in the congregation for a new and modern pipe organ. The purchase of such an instrument became possible in 1905 through the generosity of the heirs of Henry A. Rupp, an old and faithful member of the congregation, who contributed $1000. An additional $1500 was given by Andrew Carnegie. These two gifts with the ad- dition of $600 given by the members, and $500 allowed for the old organ, made it possible to install the handsome and emi- nently satisfactory instrument still in use .*
* This instrument was built by the A. J. Schantz Organ Company, Orrville, Ohio. The old organ was then entirely rebuilt by the Schantz Company, and sold to the First Christian Church of New Philadelphia, Ohio, where it is still in constant use.
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THE SINGING, THE ORGANS, AND THE CHOIR
The organ was dedicated Jan. 28, 1906. The sermons were preached by Rev. J. H. Bosch, Fort Wayne, Ind., who spoke on the last Psalm in German, and Rev. E. S. Neikirk, then pastor of the Wooster, Ohio, church, whose text was Rev. 5 : 9, "And they sung a new song." The concert given by the choir the following Tuesday was declared "the finest ever given in the church."
From the time of its organization down to the present, the choir has been one of the most pleasing and efficient aids to the worship through song. Though during these seventy years it has passed through numerous ups and downs, and changes of personnel, the congregation has never lacked a group of willing singers sacrificing time and talent to aid the public worship. Many a successful, well-attended, and finan- cially remunerative concert has also been given. Tradition still bears witness to the "wonderful singers of bygone days and the ability of the old choir in song." The congregation cer- tainly is indebted to them.
The list of organists who have served is as follows : George Deuble, 1850-1886; L. A. Clewell, 1886-1898; H. J. Ballard 1898-1914. Ervin L. Leslie, 1914 -. The first three men served as choir-directors as well as organists, with the excep- tion of brief periods when different directors assisted. Three directors, however, have served for longer periods, namely : T. Dillwyn Thomas, 1914-15; Aubrey W. Barlow, 1915-16; J. S. Stoner, 1916 -.
CHAPTER XXV THE GERMAN SCHOOL
T HE large German immigration from 1860-80, which brought many new residents to Canton from Germany and Switzerland, meant a corresponding increase of members for the Canton Church. Even before the new church dedicated in 1862 had been quite paid for, the project of building a schoolhouse was launched. The members took enthusiastical- ly to the idea of having a parochial school, in which their be- loved mothertongue could be taught. A frame building was erected on the southwest corner of the church ground, on the site which is now covered by the Sunday School room.
No written records concerning the school, or the teachers and their length of service, have been preserved. It has been necessary to gather the facts largely from the recollections of the pupils who attended the school. The length of service and the time assigned to each teacher are only approximately cor- rect. The first teacher's name could not be ascertained, though he taught for two years, from 1866-7.
As the second teacher the congregation was peculiarly for- tunate in securing Theodore Mueller, who had been born in Stargard, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany, and received his education there. Upon arriving in Canton, he was engaged to teach the school, which he did with much skill and acceptabil- ity. In addition to teaching, he also assisted Rev. Herbruck in his pastoral activities, preaching occasionally for some of the outlying congregations. He was licensed by St. John's Classis, in 1869, and preached regularly thereafter until his death. On one of these trips he contracted pneumonia, and died December 29, 1870, at the early age of thirty-six years. Rev. Herbruck, in a letter written soon after Mr. Mueller's death, gave him this testimony, "He was a good husband to his wife, a good father to his children, an active member of the church, and a true servant of the Lord." The congregation, in appreciation
188
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THE GERMAN SCHOOL Taken in 1883. Mr. Rudolph Leonhart, Teacher
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THE GERMAN SCHOOL
of his faithful services, erected a small house, located on the spot where the Wheeling and Lake Erie round house now is, which was occupied for years by the family of the deceased .*
During the first years the teaching was entirely in German, and the teacher was compensated by the tuition-fees paid by the parents of the pupils, amounting to fifty cents a month for each pupil. Mr. Mueller did not consider this a good plan and labored to secure the introduction of some English. He count- ed it as an especial achievement that this plan ws sanctioned by the congregation, and that the Canton school board declared its willingness to rent the building, pay the salary of the teach- er, and conduct the school as a part of the public-school sys- tem, with one-half of the time being devoted to the German language.
Mr. Mueller died before this plan could be put into opera- tion. The unexpired term from January to June, 1871, seems to have been taught by - Karr. He was followed proba- bly for one year by - Haushalter. At least, these men taught for a short period, and their names do not appear in the records of the Canton school board as having been employed by them. Hence, it is probable that for some unknown reason,' the operation of the contemplated plan was delayed.
The first teacher employed by the board was - Grues- sie, who taught from 1872-77. This man was a unique char- acter, and impressed his peculiarities upon the memories of the pupils in such a way, that an abundance of school incidents are still told with great gusto. One day the schoolmaster took a little nap during the teaching hours, an occurrence which hap- pened somewhat frequently. One of the older boys took ad- vantage of the opportunity, and put several small mice into the master's violin with which he was wont to lead the music. Lest the mice escape the boy also pasted paper over the open-
* At that time the entire southeastern quarter of what is now Can- ton was covered with fields and orchards of idyllic beauty. Mrs. Muel- ler has declared, "We lived there as in paradise." The widow, Mrs. Mueller, and the two children, Theodore and Emma, have remained members of the First Church throughout the years.
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FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, CANTON, O.
ings. After a while the master awoke and seeing that it was about closing time gave directions to put the books away and prepare for the closing singing period. Now when he began to play, things began to happen. The mice squeaked and scampered about, and the pupils roared. Much incensed, the teacher demanded the name of the perpetrator of the trick. No one would betray him. So the master promised a thrash- ing to everyone in the school, and proceeded to put his threat into execution. The older pupils took their medicine with a grin; but when the teacher began to chastise the smaller ones, the guilty boy could stand it no longer, and jumped up and attacked the teacher. In the scuffle that ensued, the violin was broken over the boy's head, and the boy's school-days ended then and there.
On another occasion a boy giggled while watching a mouse play hide-and-seek in the schoolroom. Refusing to explain his unseemly conduct, he was locked into the cellar. The lad at once took out the frame of the window, crawled out, put the frame into place again from the outside and scampered off. This strange disappearance greatly mystified the teacher, who could not understand how the boy had got out of the locked window.
Mr. Gruessie is also remembered on account of little, two- line, funny jingles, which he used to compose and get off at the expense of the pupils. Some of these are still to be heard when his former scholars are in a reminiscent mood.
From 1878-80 Mr. B. F. Schwier was in charge. No par- ticular incidents concerning his incumbency have been pre- served.
The last teacher was Rudolph Leonhart (1881-5). He was a man with several college degrees and splendid abilities. He was also the author of a number of novels which acquired some little fame, such as, The Treasure of Montezuma, The Wild Rose, Through Blood and Iron, Children of the Outlaws, and others. At the time of his service in Canton, he was an old man, rapidly becoming blind. Though teaching with great acceptability, his physical infirmity was a handicap which some
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THE GERMAN SCHOOL
of the bad boys of the school occasionally used, to perpetrate the mean little trick of pinning a pig's tail to the teacher's coat, which contributed considerably to the merriment of the entire school. Mr. Leonhart's eyesight finally became so poor, that he was forced to give up his teaching, but even after total blindness had come, he zealously continued his literary activi- ties.
After 1885, the old building was used for many purposes, such as choir rehearsals, band practice, catechetical instruc- tion, consistory meetings, society meetings, social gatherings, and on Sunday it was occupied by the Primary Department of the Sunday School.
In 1899 the building was sold to the Gibbs Manufacturing Company for $100, and was removed to their plant, where for years it has been used as the office of the concern.
CHAPTER XXVI THE GERMAN LADIES' AID SOCIETY
T HE German Ladies' Aid Society has been in continuous operation since 1879. It had, however, two predecessors, which, during the years that the church was being built, had ren- dered most valuable service. These earlier organizations, which were known as "The Woman's Society" and "The Maidens' Society", busily sewed, served suppers, and collected by per- sonal solicitation, in order to secure funds for the large bell still in the steeple and for part of the interior furnishings of the church. When the church was all paid for, the organiza- tions were allowed to disband.
After an interval of about fourteen years, the need of a woman's aid society became insistent again, and hence, in 1879, a new organization was effected. The minutes of the first meeting, recorded in the handwriting of Rev. P. Herbruck, read as follows: "The Woman's Society of the Reformed Jerusalem's Congregation of Canton, Ohio, was organized Feb- ruary 19, 1879. Mrs. Lydia Hexamer was elected as chair- man, and Mrs. Susanna Deuble as treasurer. The society will meet once every two weeks. Each member will pay, if possi- ble, ten cents at each meeting. The monies are to be expended for home and foreign missions and other benevolent purposes."
The women united with the new organization with glad- ness, and within a year forty-six members were enrolled. The organization of the society during the days of Rev. Herbruck's pastorate was unique. The officers elected merely had the honor of the position; for the pastor presided at the meetings, recorded the minutes, took charge of the money, disbursed it according to his best judgment, and simply reported his actions to the society.
The members worked with remarkable faithfulness to secure funds. In addition to the regular monthly dues of
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CHURCH
OTHER SERVICES INGISE
THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY
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THE GERMAN LADIES' AID SOCIETY
twenty cents, the women secured considerable amounts from sewing, suppers, bazaars, special offerings and gifts.
The list of disbursements during the first years displays a truly remarkable array of benevolent and good works. It will prove of interest to give the complete list of the first two years.
For cleaning the church $30.00
" missions 10.00
groceries for a sick man 2.05
the blind minister Z .. 5.00
" clothes for poor children. 3.90
" Catherine 2.05
" the church paper for two inmates of the infirmary 4.00
" chairs in the church 64.00
" the classical contingents 30.00
" the Tract Society 5.00
" Christmas gifts for the Sunday School. 5,50
" a jubilee present to Rev. 34.00
The society was also active in giving much necessary help to the congregation. Thus we find it helping to build and paint the parsonage, pay the taxes, sewer assessment, street- paving, repair the organ, fix up the furnace, paint the church, remodel the church, pay part of the janitor's salary, etc., etc.
All together the record of the society is one to be proud of ; and the good work has continued until this day.
Early in the history of the society, the custom also arose of presenting a small gift to the family of diseased members where there appeared to be need. This custom gradually led to the creation of a special "funeral fund" in 1899. From this fund the family of "every member in good standing" was to be "entitled to twenty dollars at her death." The burden of maintaining this funeral fund became too heavy, after the tran- sition of the congregation from the German to the English language, had made it impossible to prevent the rapid decrease of the number of active members. When the society realized that its entire income was being used up to pay the funeral claims, it decided in 1916 to abolish the death benefits entirely,
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FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, CANTON, O.
and work only to assist congregational and denominational lines of activity.
The Woman's Society at the period of its greatest pros- perity numbered 140 members. Since all the meetings of the society are conducted entirely in German, it has been impossi- ble for years to secure new members except at long intervals. As nearly all the members are advanced in years, deaths have been very frequent. The present membership is eighty.
During the last twenty-seven years, Mrs. Flora Heidrich has served as the active and efficient president. Of the char- ter members who were present at the organization of the soci- ety in 1879, four remain as active members until now, namely : Mesdames Elizabeth Arnold, Susanna Krieg, Katherine Paar and Katherine Schwingel.
The present officers are: President, Mrs. Flora Heidrich ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Bertha Zurcher; Treasurer, Mrs. Minnie C. Hartung; Treasurer, Flower Fund, Mrs. Caroline Schaub. The last three have held these offices for a score of years.
THE OFFICERS AND SURVIVING CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY Top Row: Mesdames, Minnie Perret, Marie Schaefer, Bertha Zurcher, Minnie C. Hartung, Flora Heidrich, Caroline Schaub Bottom Row: Mesdames, Susan Krieg, Catharine Schwingel, Catharine Paar, Elizabeth Arnold The ladies in the bottom row are the surviving charter members
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THE FORMER CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR PRESIDENTS
Top row: Elsie Schaub, Mrs. Katherine Binns Middle Row; Pearl Snyder, Pauline Nelson, N. O. Hexamer, A. Huber, A. Schaub, Minnie Schneider, Mrs. Gertrude Nist Bottom Row: Wm. Daberko, J. F. H. Deibel, Chris. Sander, Leah Neher, Mrs. Mary Sander, Mrs. Louise Newacheck, Charles Seemann Ernest Miller
CHAPTER XXVII THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
A MONG the organizations connected with the church, the Christian Endeavor Society has been one of the most fruitful agencies in training active workers. A long and splendid list of elders, deacons, Sunday School superintendents, teachers, and leaders in the missionary societies, received their initiation into active Christian service in this society. The young people of the church were trained through it in public speaking and prayer; they learned to co-operate with others through the committee duties; they acquired a sense of re- sponsibility for the success of the church; they became educat- ed in church and missionary activities; and finally, they in- creased in the grace of giving.
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