The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 54

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

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The second was written by Samuel Campbell, for the Republican, and published in the issue of September 4, 1857. He says:

" I came to Kenton a little over twenty-two years ago, when the town plat, with its several additions, as well as the surrounding country, was

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

almost an entire wilderness, except a few openings for farms commenced, and some log huts or small houses in Kenton, that indicated to the traveler, on the look-out for a location, that there was a town laid out. I remained in Kenton several days, wandering over-or rather climbing over-logs and brush, and through where they said streets were laid out. And however unflattering the prospects of Kenton then, or might be in the future, I pur chased a lot and concluded to share its privations, and, if spared, to enjoy its advantages should it ever have any. I then returned home, to the southern part of the State, my former residence, and remained several years before again coming to Kenton.

" In moving out, after an absence of two or three years, I very naturally felt a curiosity, as well as an interest, to see how Kenton had prospered, but must say I did not feel sanguine. I found that a number who had settled here for the purpose, no doubt, of making fortunes, had left, and the town, so far from running up and improving, rather on the decline, and at that time still a very small village. Since then, various have been the changes; many, yes, very many, that settled in Kenton have gone to the spirit-land; many others have gone to other parts, to seek their fortunes, or with the hope of doing better. But, sir, in speaking of Kenton, or con- templating the past when brought in contrast with the present, I hardly know how or where to commence; but of the past, my mind is carried back to the days of other years, when I wandered through the streets and over the town plat hundreds, and I may add, thousands, of times in my morning and evening rambles; when there was no public improvement of any kind (except a temporary court house), not even a house of worship. Now. we have some six or seven respectable churches, sufficient to accommodate the various denominations; we have a good, substantial court house and jail; we have, and have had, a railroad for a number of years running through Kenton, doing a prosperous business, and adding much to the prosperity of the place; and last, though not least, we have a fine schoolhouse in progress of erection that would do honor to any town in the State. Too much credit cannot be awarded to Mr. Brunson for his untiring zeal and integrity in carrying forward an enterprise of such inestimable value. Mr. Cassidy, no doubt, in the completion of the brick work, will do himself great credit, and leave it as a monument of fine architecture and mechanism, and one of which the citizens may have just cause to boast in years to come. But I am extending this article by far too long, or more so than I intended. Suffice it now to say, I cannot express the satisfaction I feel in taking my walks through Kenton, and noticing the many fine residences, fine gardens, fences and shrubbery; the improvement of the public square, which ought to have been done years ago; and also the fine block of brick - buildings erected by Messrs. Goodin, Kishlar and Kinnear, with various other im- provements that add to the credit of the place. Truly, Kenton is getting out of the woods. But prosperity is not confined to Kenton alone; the county at large, one of the best in the State for productiveness and richness of soil, is fast settling up. Where, a few years ago, you saw nothing but green woods, we find fine farms, fine houses and barns. Surely, there is much to be thankful for."

John & Garlinger

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS -- METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-CATHOLIC CHURCH -- FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -- ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH-FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH -- CHURCH OF CHRIST, OR DISCIPLE CHURCH -- REFORMED CHURCH OF THE UNITED STATES-ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH -- FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH -- AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH - SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH (COL- ORED) -- UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH -PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

TN 1832, Rev. Thomas Thompson, a Methodist missionary, stationed on the Wyandot reservation at Upper Sandusky, came to the site of Kenton and organized a class at the cabin of George H. Houser. The members composing this class were George H. Houser and wife, Jacob H. Houser and wife, Lemuel and William Wilmoth and wives, being eight in all. George H. Houser was chosen as class leader, and this little band was the nucleus from which has grown the large and flourishing congrega- tion now known as the " First Methodist Episcopal Church of Kenton." Some itinerant made his appearance every two weeks to preach, holding services at the cabins of the settlers. During the summer and fall of 1833, several additions were made to this class, among whom were Mrs. Christina Furney, now residing in Kenton, and soon afterward Joseph Nichols and wife and Martin Badley and wife, joined the society. The years 1834 and 1835 ushered in quite an emigration, many of whom were followers of Wesley, and, though settling in different portions of the county, often at- tended services at Kenton. Mrs. Martha Wilson says that, early in 1835, she, with her husband Joseph, came from Cessna Township to attend meet- ing at the cabin of Joseph Nichols; and, besides those residing in Kenton, there were present Samuel Badley, wife, and daughter Ellen, and John C. Dille. Revs. Kinnear and Camp were the preachers and were engaged in organizing classes in this and adjoining counties. Samuel Campbell, who yet resides in Kenton, came from Southern Ohio in 1835, and says that at that time a preacher named Fleming was engaged on the work in this circuit. In 1836, Mrs. David Goodin, also a resident of Kenton, joined the society, and the following year Mrs. Hugh Letson was admitted to mem- bership. She, too, survives to tell of those early days when rude log cab- ins served as houses of worship throughout this locality.

Some time between 1834 and 1836, a log schoolhouse was erected on the south half of Lot 140, near where William Campbell's cooper shop now stands, on the corner of Ohio and Wayne streets. The Methodists used this school building till 1839, when they built a frame church, 35x40, on the north half of the same lot. The year prior to the erection of this building, Samuel Campbell located permanently in Kenton, and remembers that the class then consisted of the following persons: William Wilmoth and wife, Lemuel Wilmoth and wife, Joseph Nichols and wife, Mrs. Chris- tina Furney, Mrs. Hugh Letson, Alexander Hutchinson and wife, Martin

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Badley and wife, Mrs. David Goodin, Samuel Campbell and wife and Jonas Combs and wife. The preachers were Revs. Brakefield and Philip Wareham, both of whom left in 1838, and Martin Welsh came next in the order of time. Another preacher of that period was Rev. Shaw, while Revs. Corrington, Gabitt and Nation came at times into this circuit. The following ministers came after Mr. Welsh, viz .: George Armstrong, Josiah Bell, Joseph Blampied, John McNabb, H. P. Warde, William Godman, Nathan Barker, George Phillips and George Collier. There are no means of knowing their dates of service, as we have been unable to find any rec- ords of the church prior to 1866, but have had to depend largely on the memories of the few pioneer Methodists yet living.

As an illustration of those pioneer days, Mrs. David Goodin tells an anecdote of a circumstance that occurred at one of their meetings. Rev. Leonard Gurley was making an appeal for money with which to carry on the work, and exclaimed: "I have an order from heaven on this congrega- tion for a certain sum of money." John H. Houser, who kept a small grist mill southeast of Kenton, was at the meeting, and being somewhat skepti- cal, was fond of making money and very economical. In speaking, he al- ways pitched his voice in a very high key, and on hearing the above asser- tion, said: " Brother Gurley, I would like to see that order from heaven;" at which Harvey Wilson retorted, " Oh, Brother John, it's not an order for corn meal." Suffice it to say that, after a general laugh at Mr. Houser's expense, the preacher was allowed to proceed, and the collection proved a gratifying success.

After worshiping a few years in the frame church previously mentioned, the building was enlarged to double its former length, giving it an ap- pearance of a boat, so that some wag christened it the "Steamboat Church," by which title it was widely known. In 1851, the present structure on North Main street was built and dedicated by Rev. Samuel Lynch, in March, 1852. The pastor at that time was Rev. Wesley J. Wells, and the entire cost of the building was about $10,000. In the spring of 1866, the congregation concluded to remodel the front of the church and generally repair it throughout. This was done at a cost of about $7,000, and the edifice re-dedicated January 20, 1867. The auditorium, 40x70, is located in the second story, and will comfortably seat about 400. The rooms for holding prayer meetings in, also the class rooms, are located in the first story, and the whole interior presents a commendable appearance. With the addition of the two large towers, stained glass windows, and other im- provements, made in 1866, the church was brought into harmony with this age of progress. A Sunday school class, with an average attendance of about 200, is connected with the church, W. W. Stevenson and Mrs. George Harris being Superintendents of the same. The present Trustees are John Saylor, William M. Chesney, F. S. Letson, C. C. Biddle, E. C. Hum- phreys, W. H. Phillips, F. C. Dougherty, A. Norton and Henry Parson. The Stewards are W. W. Stevenson, David Goodin, Joseph Irwin, John Saylor, George Merriman, Charles Link, W. H. McIlwain and William Moore. The pastor is Rev. Q. Kennedy, who took charge in September, 1882, and the present membership is about 300.

Catholic Church .*- The earliest Catholic settlers of Hardin County were Peter Woods, Henry Norback, John McCormick and John Garrett, who lived in Goshen Township twelve years before the Wyandot Indians gave up hunting in its forests and moved on toward the setting sun. Edward Mc-

*By Rev. A. S. Siebenfoercher.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Guigin, Michael Toner and Bernard Matthews, arrived in 1834. The former two settled likewise in Goshen Township, while Mr. Matthews at first en- tered forty acres of land in Pleasant Township, which he soon sold, and bought land in Cessna Township, where he still owns a farm of 280 acres. Of these first Catholic pioneers, Mr. Matthews, now in his eighty-second year, alone survives. The first priest known to visit this county was Father Emanuel Thienpont, one of the earliest missionaries of Ohio, who came to Hardin County as early as 1836. Afterward, Fathers McNamee, Sheehan, Meagher, Howard and Crogan occasionally attended to the spirit- ual wants of the Catholics in this vicinity, until about the year 1862, when the Superior of the Society of the Most Precious Blood at Minster, Auglaize - Co., Ohio, undertook to send priests at regular intervals to Kenton. Thus came in turn Fathers Patrick Henneberry, known as a zealous missionary as far as California and Oregon, at present giving missions in South Africa, an eloquent preacher in both English and German; Mathias Kreuch, a very saintly man, now among the departed; Alphonse Laux; Joseph Dwenger, at present Bishop of Fort Wayne; Henry Drees, at present Pro- vincial of the Society of the Most Precious Blood, and Christian French.

In June, 1866, Rev. N. R. Young, a man of superior talent and piety, arrived as the first stationary pastor of Kenton. Soon after this, Father Kelly, pastor of St. Joseph's Church at Dayton, Ohio, died. and the parish, one of the first in the arch-diocese, was offered to Father Young. but this truly humble priest begged his bishop to permit him to remain with the young and poor congregation of Kenton. The request was granted. After difficult missionary labor in Hardin County for three years and some months, Father Young asked to be removed to West Liberty, Logan Coun- ty, which place he had already been attending from Kenton, and where he had just started a congregation and fitted up a large building for a chapel. He lived at West Liberty until good Father Coveney was cruelly assassi- nated by a brutal ruffian in his own little house near the church at Belle- fontaine, when he was called to that place, the last charge in his life. Father Young was a member of the Dominican order before he came to Kenton, and had been vested with many distinguished positions in that community. He died near Washington, D. C., on the banks of the Poto- mac, on the very estate where he first saw the light of day, in his fifty-eighth year, July 24, 1876, while on a visit to his home. The uncle of Father Young, Rev. Dominic Young, O. P., that grand old Dominican patriarch, who, sixty-five years ago, was the only Catholic priest in Ohio, outlived the sub- ject of our sketch by several years. Father Young's memory is held in benediction by all who had the happiness to know him. After Father Young had left, Father N. McGrath visited Kenton several times, not with any appointment as pastor, but only by request of Father Young, who still felt concerned for his former spiritual children.

At first divine service was held in different private dwellings, but espec- ially in the houses of Messrs. Toner, McGuigin and Matthews, afterward in Kenton at the homes of John Gorius and Thomas Cunningham. The little frame building of Mr. Gorius, erected on Lot No. 8 in Samuel Mentzer's Addition to Kenton, is still standing. The house fronts on East Columbus street and is now owned by John Bloom. In it, His Grace, the Most Rev- erend John Baptist Purcell, Archbishop of Cincinnati, administered the sacrament of Confirmation for the first time in Hardin County. After the erection of the large brick block on the southeast corner of the public square by Jeremiah Crowley & Co., the hall in the third story was rented

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

and fitted up for Catholic worship. On the 19th of January, 1852, John Gorius, Francis Laubus and John G. Ritzler, as Catholic committeemen, bought of Christopher Willeke in their own name, two lots in Thomson's Addition, extending across into J. H. Houser's Subdivision and fronting on East Ohio street, in consideration of $65, for the purpose of erecting thereon a house of worship. These lots, the first Catholic church property in the county, are at present owned by Mrs. H. Newcomb et al., for, al- though the deed had already been made out to the Bishop, they had to be disposed of, as the greater part of the congregation was displeased with the location. On the 14th of January, 1862, Lot No. 32 was bought from E. C. McVitty for $162.50, located on the northwest corner of Cherry and North streets. On this site Father Patrick Henneberry began the present church in the year 1864. On July 10 of the same year, Archbishop Purcell laid the corner stone in the presence of a large concourse of people. An

anecdote is related, that the platform which had been erected for the officiat- ing clergy and their assistants gave way and all thereon came to the ground except the Archbishop, who had quickly stepped upon the corner stone, and being just ready to speak to the people, he took occasion from the little accident to tell the audience that whosoever stood in the Church of Christ (as he did then on the corner stone), should never fall to the ground. The church committee at that time consisted of Messrs. Bernard Matthews, Frank A. Schwarz, Sr., Jeremiah Crowley, Sr., and John G. Ritzler. Mr. Matthews was Treasurer. His books are still extant. They have been kept. with great order and accuracy. The contract for building the church was awarded to Ambrose Burkhard. According to the original plan, the church should have been much longer, together with a beautiful steeple, but be- fore the building could be put up, labor and material became so much higher that the first plan had to be abandoned and the present brick structure, 40x60, was erected. Father Dwenger collected for this church, outside of Kenton, $2,000. The dedication of the church took place on Sunday, De- cember 9, 1866, during the pastorate of Father Young. Archbishop Pur- cell again officiated. Mary Immaculate was chosen patroness of the church, but as the 8th of December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, was not then a feast of obligation, the Sunday following the feast was selected for the dedication.

The first parsonage was a small frame building on Lot No. 3 in Simeon Jenning's Addition on North Detroit street, subsequently owned by Rev. J. L. Phillips, of the Baptist Church. This house being situated too far from the church, Father Young sold it in 1869 and built the present large and comfortable brick dwelling on Lot No. 33, west of the church, which was purchased of Bernard Matthews for $128, February 8, 1864. Father Young had left, however, before the house could be completed, and its first. occupant was Rev. Augustine M. Quatman, the second stationary pastor at Kenton, who arrived about Christmas, 1869. Father Quatman had just. been ordained, but he preached eloquently in both English and German. The people were much attached to him, and were sorely grieved when, at the end of only four months, he was removed by his own request.

Rev. N. V. Fas, the third pastor, arrived in June, 1870. Father Fas was in every sense of the word a good priest. He was especially noted for his zeal in teaching catechism to the children throughout the county. Dur- ing his pastorate, the church at Kenton was frescoed. Father Fas was a fine musician, a master at the piano, also a good vocalist. His polite and kind manners, as also his talents, gained for him many friends at Kenton.

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After one year and some weeks, Father Fas was removed, likewise, by his own request. He was next appointed assistant priest to Rev. Dr. Kuhr, at St. Philomena's Church on Congress street, in Cincinnati. He soon became pastor 'of that church, but shortly after left the archdiocese, and after spending some time in New York, he returned to Germany, his native land.

December 28, 1871, the writer of this sketch arrived in Kenton, accom- panied by Rev. Father Bihn, of Tiffin. We succeeded Father Fas after a vacancy in the pastorate of five months. We found the church in debt $1,536.33; and as yet no school, no cemetery, no pavements or graveled streets about the church property. In 1872, the school building was erected, to which an addition had to be built three years later. In Sep- tember of 1872, before the building was complete, we opened a school with thirteen children in the gallery of the church; before the end of the year, we had seventy-two pupils on the rolls. John Dick was teacher, the first two years. In 1874, the Sisters of Charity took charge of the school. Our first sisters were Sister Irene, who died, December 30, 1876; Sister Leocadia and Sister Mary Cecilia.

St. Mary's Cemetery, containing five acres, was bought in 1872. We blessed the same by permission of his Grace, the Archbishop, Sunday, July 28, of the same year, being assisted by Father Peter Anthony, C. P. P. S., from New Riegel, and Messrs. George F. Houck and Jacob Kuebler, students, who are priests at present, the former being Secretary to Rt. Rev. Bishop Gilmour, of Cleveland, and the latter pastor at Rockport, near the same city. The Father Matthew Total Abstinence Society was organized January 4, 1874, Charles Lunney being its first President.

April 1, 1880, the lot on the southwest corner of Cherry and North street, opposite the church, was bought, and, during the summer of the same year, a large and commodious brick residence was erected thereon for the Sisters of Charity. This improvement cost $3,072.50. The last ac- quisition of property was made in the spring of 1883, when the lot opposite the parsonage was bought at a cost of $850, so that the church property consists now of four lots, each having sixty-five feet front and 167 feet depth.

November 13, 1874, Rev. Joseph M. Quatman arrived as assistant pas- tor and labored in that capacity about eight months, when he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's Church at Marion, Ohio. Father Alfred D. Dexter succeeded Father Quatman, October 19, 1876, and remained in that position for four years and six months, when he was appointed assistant at Bellefontaine and is now pastor at Marysville, Ohio. On January 14, 1882, Rev. Andrew Ebert became our assistant, who was succeeded, October 23 of the same year, by Rev. William B. Miggeel. The latter was succeeded, June 7, 1883, by Rev. Francis Xavier Lasance, our present colleague in the ministry.

Many minor improvements have been made in these twelve years of our pastorate, too numerous to be mentioned here; suffice it to say that all the improvements are paid for, as well as the debts we found at our arrival, except $500 on the lot purchased only a few months ago. Our little band of Sisters has increased to four, one of whom is continually employed in teaching music, an undertaking which has proved very successful. Al- mighty God has showered down upon us in this period innumerable and great blessings. He has kept us united, though sermons were preached continually in both English and German, and whilst the number of our people has doubled, their wealth has quadrupled. The many little log

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cabins throughout the county, whose very ruins we still hold in benedic- tion, where so often we celebrated the divine mysteries and preached the Word of God, are now nearly all replaced by handsome dwellings. What we rejoice over most of all is our excellent Catholic school, and our noble band of converts who in these years have been added to the church at Ken- ton. These came from every rank in society, and would, by themselves, make a small but firm congregation. A good number of these have already passed to their reward, others have moved away, but many are still among our most edifying members.

Our present Church Committee consists of Messrs. John P. Cook, Thomas Dwyre, Jacob Forbing, John Glenn, John Getzinger and William Steffen. The statistics of the Catholic Church of Hardin County are as follows: Kenton congregation, 190 families; Ada, 30 families; Dunkirk, 9 families; Forest, 8 families; Mount Victory, 2 families; and attending at Larue from this county, 11 families; total, 250 families. Truly God has blessed the labors of His servants in this field, and crowned them with the diadem of success.

First Presbyterian Church .- The history of this church extends back over a period of forty-seven years, having been organized three years after the organization of Hardin County. At a meeting held on the 12th of November, 1836, after prayer by the Rev. Joseph Stevenson, of Bellefon- taine, and an exchange of sentiments by those present, Eri Strong and Reading Hineline were chosen as Elders, and on the following day, after a sermon by Rev. Stevenson, they were installed as Ruling Elders of the " First Presbyterian Church of Hardin County, Ohio." This title was re- tained until September, 1838, when, by the action of the Presbytery of Findlay, in session at Lima, Ohio, it was changed to the "First Presbyte- rian Church of Kenton." The following persons constituted the full mem- bership of the church at the time of its organization, which was completed November 14, 1836, viz .: Eri Strong and wife, Elizabeth, Reading Hine- line and wife, Susan, James Scott and wife, Mary, and Mary Anderson. No additions seem to have been made to this list until June, 1838, when four- teen persons were admitted to membership. In 1838, Rev. J. B. Clark took charge of the church, being the first stated supply, though spending only a portion of his time in Kenton. Eight additional members were re- ceived into the church late in this year, while Isaac Mathews, Solomon Adams and Hugh Pugh were elected Elders. From that time until June 12, 1842, twenty persons joined the church, and on this date Rev. J. B. Clark retired from the pastorate. Rev. A. C. Miller, of Marseilles, preached a few times after Mr. Clark left.

In the fall of 1842, Rev. John Ustic began his labors in Kenton, and continued in charge of this church until April, 1848. During the first seven years of the church's history, the old court house was occupied at times as a place of worship, also the frame schoolhouse which stood on the corner of Carroll and Market streets, and often services were held in some private dwelling obtained for that purpose. Early in 1843, the subject of erecting a church was agitated among the members, and the following per- sons subscribed the amount in cash, labor or material set opposite their re- spective names, the same to be paid on or before April 1, 1843: Jacob Schoonovor, $25, in carpentering; John Lawrence, $32, in building mate- rial; Edward Smith, $25, in leather; James Scott, $25, in carpenter work; Reading Hineline, $10, in work; David Schoonover, $15, in plastering; Joseph Schoonover, $10, in lumber; W. Wilson, $12, in carpenter work; Joseph L. Smith, $10, in work or lumber; John Ustic, $20, in cash; George

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 54

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076