USA > Ohio > Hardin County > The history of Hardin county, Ohio > Part 79
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There is a well-appointed laboratory, in which students are required to spend not less than two hours per day for at least one term, doing actual chemical work; a dissecting room, where the medical students have subjects for dissection. There is a full supply of philosophical apparatus, a fine museum, and the finest supply of surveying and engineering instruments in any school in Ohio. The commercial department is fitted with offices and college currency, and carries on actual business, such as banking, im- porting, merchandising, jobbing, stock exchange, railroading, etc. Every department is fully equipped for honest, practical work.
LITERARY SOCIETIES.
At the founding of the school, the students were divided by lot into two divisions, A and B, and formed two literary societies. They have since been re-christened-the A's the Franklin Literary Society, and the B's the Philomathean Literary Society. These societies have always formed one of the important features of the school, by giving a thorough training in literary work, parliamentary law and actual business management; the management of them being left entirely in the hands of the students. It
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
calls out their executive and financial abilities. They are often involved in debt-sometimes $1,000 each-and soon pay out. One society at one time cleared $600 within six weeks. The increasing attendance made it neces- sary to form a third society-the Adelphian -and they now each have an elegantly furnished hall, with a piano of the best and most elaborate make, extensive and well-selected libraries, having in all over two thousand vol- umes of the choicest matter. They each have a reading room, well supplied with the best magazines and periodicals published.
Aside from the society libraries, the school has a large library of text- books, works on teaching, miscellaneous works, and a large collection of rare and very valuable public documents, for which we are indebted to Gen. J. S. Robinson, of Kenton, Ohio.
GRADUATES.
The following are the graduates of the institution, with the occupation, so far as known:
S. P. Grey, merchant, Columbia, Tenn.
A. D. Snively, farmer, Xenia, Ohio.
C. W. Butler, Superintendent, Defiance, Ohio.
R. C. Eastman, attorney, Lima, Ohio.
Mollie Hickernell, née Schoonover, Teacher, N. W. O. N. S.
Sallie Lislie, née Lindsey.
Sue Pooley, nee Fogle, deceased.
Metta Pifer, née Ferrall.
E. L. Sincleir.
Anna Stayner, deceased.
J. W. Zellar, Superintendent, Findlay, Ohio.
U. R. Neisz.
J. M. Reid, Principal Normal School, Morill, Kan.
O. P. Wilson, farmer, Ada, Ohio.
Lottie Butler, née Bloom.
Mollie Deleal, née McNerney.
Emma Johnson.
Ollie Loveland née Dobbins.
A. C. Pierson, teacher, Hiram College.
G. W. Rutledge, editor Republican, Kenton, Ohio.
O. M. Bowman, teacher, Kansas.
E. L. Miller, editor, Kenton, Ohio.
A. M. Tidd, attorney, Marion, Ohio.
B. W. Waltermire, attorney, Forest, Ohio.
S. F. Wilson.
Eliza Davenport.
J. J. Houser, Superintendent, Belle Centre, Ohio. Fannie Galbraith, teacher, Salt Lake City, U. T. A. R. Huffman, deceased.
Fred Maglott, member faculty, N. W. O. N. S.
Eva Maglott, née Sisson, teacher, N. W. O. N. S.
S. A. Court, attorney, Marion, Ohio.
M. Jay Ewing, teacher, N. W. O. N. S.
G. W. Hall. Mattie Gibson.
U. G. Stringfellow, deceased.
E. D. Bosworth.
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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
W. D. Stratton.
D. G. Wylie, senior, Yale College.
Mary Dulebohn, née Young.
Eva Drawn, teacher, Weston, Ohio.
Frank Hufford, Superintendent, Ada, Ohio.
Rose D. B. Holleywell, teacher, Kenton, Ohio.
Chloe B. Jones, teacher, Los Angelos, Cal.
H. E. Lacey, attorney, Athelston, Kan. Charles Melhorn, attorney, Kenton, Ohio.
C. B. Hickernell, teacher, N. W. O. N. S.
R. L. Miller, Superintendent, Colorado Springs, Colo. J. W. Caldwell, attorney, Toledo, Ohio. J. Cook, Superintendent, Genoa, Ohio.
G. F. Getty, attorney.
L. E. Griffin, attorney, Hicksville, Ohio. Retta Murray.
D. E. Niver, Superintendent, Nevada, Ohio.
S. J. Shetler, doctor, Justus, Ohio.
F. D. Ward, Superintendent, Le Roy, Ohio. Mattie White.
Lillie Woodruff.
Cora Welsh, née Houfstater.
G. C. Dulebobn.
C. S. Barron, minister.
A. E. Ewers.
J. H. Fimple. Anson Shuster, teacher.
R. L. Starr, attorney, West Unity, Ohio.
D. W. Steiner, doctor.
Ewing Stumm, teacher, Dunkirk, Ohio.
T. B. Black, attorney.
N. H. Colwell, civil engineer, Kenton, Ohio. Allen Cook.
Alex Comrie, teacher, Ada, Ohio.
George Conley, Superintendent, Shiloh, Ohio.
O. E. DeWitt, teacher, Shiloh, Ohio.
A. M. Ebersole.
M. F. Egerman, teacher, Ada, Ohio.
W. B. Jackson, teacher.
C. D. Kelley, salesman, Kenton, Ohio. Laura Krebs, teacher, Waynesfield, Ohio. Emma Morehead.
Flora Miller, née Teegarden.
A. J. Meyres, insurance agent, Bucyrus, Ohio. H. E. Neff, member faculty, N. W. O. N. S. Ida Sisson.
B. F. Stratton.
U. K. Stringfellow, teacher, Benton Ridge, Ohio.
R. J. Babbitt.
H. E. Blacksten, doctor.
J. L. Hampton, teacher, N. W. O. N. S.
F. V. Irish, teacher, N. W. O. N. S.
C. F. Zimmerman, Superintendent, Forest, Ohio.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
H. C. Campbell, Superintendent, Green Springs, Ohio.
W. J. Cookson, druggist, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Nona Gilbert, teacher, Ada, Ohio.
J. F. Garvin.
Mary E. Holtz.
Mary McElroy.
J. H. Peachey.
A. S. Rudy, doctor.
T. J. Robinson, teacher.
B. H. Turner, stock dealer, Col. Grove, Ohio.
H. P. Wagner, book dealer, Ada, Ohio.
W. H. Wagner.
S. P. Fisher, N. W. O. N. S.
Florence Harford, teacher, Michigan.
C. N. Haskins, teacher Deaf and Mute Institute, Columbus, Ohio. Thomas O'Farrell.
A. E. Winter.
C. H. Apt.
B. T. Buchanan.
C. R. Carlo, Superintendent, La Fayette, Ohio.
T. H. Cecil.
I. J. Conklin, teacher, Morill Normal School.
Regina M. Dixon, teacher, N. W. O. N. S.
P. H. Daub.
Ralph Diehl.
Lydia Easton.
J. F. Kimerline, Superintendent, New Washington, Ohio.
J. McAdams.
J. E. McAdams.
Emma McElroy.
J. F. Miller, editor, Franklin, Ohio.
W. T. Mooney.
S. P. Morgan.
Etta Nelson.
S. S. Palmer.
R. E. Sawyer.
Gertrude Scott.
Nannie Smith.
Mary C. Thomas.
R. S. Torbert.
W. H. Troup.
C. H. Workman, teacher, N. W. O. N. S.
D. E. Shaw.
J. M. De Ford.
The class of 1883 will have thirty-five members. Present Proprietors: H. S. Lehr, A. M., President; J. G. Park, A. M., Vice President; Fred Maglott, A. M., H. E. Neff, B. S., Mrs. Rachel Stringfellow.
PRESENT CORPS OF INSTRUCTORS.
H. S. Lehr, A. M., Theory and Practice of Teaching, School Govern- ment, General History and Political Economy.
J. G. Park, A. M., English Grammar and Analysis, Logic, Greek and Surveying and Engineering.
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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
Frederick Maglott, A. M., Geography, Arithmetic, German, Latin and Greek.
Mrs. Eva Maglott, A. M., Mathematics, Latin, Letter-Writing and Composition.
M. Jay Ewing, M. S., the Natural Sciences,
L. M. Sniff, A. M., Mathematics and Botany.
Mrs. L. M. Sniff, Preceptress of Female Department.
C. B. Hickernell, A. B., Latin, Greek and Parliamentary Law.
Mrs. Mollie Hickernell, A. M., Rhetoric, English Literature, Latin and . French.
C. H. Workman, Rhetoric and English Literature.
I. C. Guinther, German.
S. P. Fisher, Latin and Greek.
F. V. Irish, A. B., Arithmetic, Grammar, Orthography, Word Analysis and Latin.
Mrs. Regina M. Dixon, B. S, Assistant Teacher of Mathematics.
W. D. Woodard, Book-keeping and Commercial Law.
J. H. Baldwin, Plain and Ornamental Penmanship.
Gertrude Fryett, Painting and Drawing.
J. C. Holland, Architecture.
C. E. Rowley, Elocution and Voice Culture.
Mrs. C. E. Rowley, Piano and Organ.
J. J. Jelley, Vocal Music, Harmony, Organ and Director of Chorus.
F. R. Webb, Piano and Organ.
B. S. Young, Orchestra.
May Deming, Special Teacher of Elocution.
P. W. Ream, Telegraphy.
The Lecturers will be the best in the field. The following able in- structors have been employed to teach during the summer months: Hon. J. J. Burns, Chillicothe, Ohio; Superintendent G. W. Walker, Lima, Ohio; Superintendent J. W. Zeller, Findlay, Ohio; Superintendent C. W. Butler, Plymouth, Ohio; Superintendent D. E. Niver, Nevada, Ohio.
CHURCHES.
Presbyterian Church of Ada .- This is the oldest church organization in this part of the county, and is, in one sense, a mother to many of the other churches, they being formed and organized within the walls of her church edifice. This society was organized August 21, 1841, in Hunters- ville, by Rev. Thomas B. Clark, with the following constituent members: Isaac Mathews, Nancy Mathews, James M. Nelson, Susanna Nelson and James Hamilton, who were received upon certificates from the Kenton Church, and Thomas Irwin, John McClure, Robert Hyndman and Jackson Mathews by examination, with Isaac Mathews and James M. Nelson chosen Elders. The society continued to hold its services at Huntersville for about fourteen years, when it was removed to the town of Ada-then called John- town -- where its services were held in the schoolhouse, but was still known as the Huntersville Church. On April 11, 1860, at a meeting of the Find- lay Presbytery, held at Mount Blanchard, it was changed to the Johns- town Church, and was thus known and recognized until, on April 22, 1868, its name was changed to the Ada Church, by which name it has since been known. On January 7, 1861, the following persons were chosen as a Build- ing Committee, to take charge of the work of erecting a church edifice, viz., James M. Nelson, Robert Hyndman, Thomas Irwin, John H. Mustard and
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
S. M. Johnson, and the contract of building the house was let to John H. Mustard. The work was immediately commenced, the frame erected and the house inclosed; but on account of the war of the rebellion, then in prog- ress, and from other causes, the house was not entirely completed till 1864, when it was finished and ready for use. The dedication of the house, it is believed, took place in the spring of 1867, Rev. T. P. Johnson, of Lima, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The following ministers have served the church as its pastors since its organization: Revs. Thomas B. Clark, John Ustick, James E. Marquis, R. M. Badeau, William M. Reed, J. A. Meeks, Mr. Edgar, John Kelly, C. K. Lehman and Z. B. Campbell, who is the present pastor, and is serving in his third year as such. The Elders have been Isaac Mathews, James M. Nelson, Robert Hyndman, Elihu Mathews, John W. Nelson, John Dobbins, Alexander Sanderson, Alvin S. Nelson, Dr. I. C. McGinnis and D. G. Kemp. In February, 1883, the church was duly made an incorporate body, according to the laws of Ohio. The present membership is 150. Present Trustees, D. G. Kemp, I. C. McGinnis, A. C. Dobbins, George Epley and P. W. Ream. A union Sabbath school was early established in the schoolhouse, and was carried on for some time by non-church members. After the building of the above- mentioned church, its meetings were removed from the schoolhouse to the church, and became a large and interesting Sabbath school. After the or- ganization of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ada, they established a Sabbath school, after which the union school continued for a short time and was disbanded. Then this church organized a Sabbath school of their own, which has since continued, and is now a very flourishing and interest- ing school, with an average attendance of about a hundred and fifty, with D. G. Kemp as Superintendent.
The Christian Church of Ada .- This society was organized in the fall of 1866. Elder Dana Call held a meeting in the old schoolhouse and or- ganized a society of seventeen persons, viz., H. S. Lehr, George Sutton, William Kingsburry, Samuel Dickinson, Elizabeth Sutton, Harry Sutton, Charles Sutton, Queen Sutton, Robert Morrison, Rosetta Morrison, Mar- shall Carman, Deborah Carman, Lydia Scott, Lucinda Cochran, Malinda Dickens, Evan Jackson and Delilah Jackson, with H. S. Lehr and George Sutton chosen Elders, and William Kingsbury and Samuel Dickinson as Deacons. About one year after the organization, the old schoolhouse was sold to the Methodist Episcopal Church and the society was left without a place for holding meetings; but subsequently the Presbyterian society kind- ly offered the use of their church, which was duly accepted, but after a short time, everything not working harmoniously, the society was again without a place of meeting. The use of the town hall was then obtained at a nominal rent, where the society worshiped until, in the fall of 1877, the church had erected their present frame house, into which they moved and have since worshiped. The lot upon which the church is built was pur- chased by A. Ream in the fall of 1868. The house was not built till 1877, and cost about $1,800. To Elder Orrin Gates belongs the honor of forming the present organization and of working up an interest by which the present house of worship was erected. Elder O. A. Burgess dedicated the house in the fall of 1877. The ministers who have served the church as its pastors are as follows: Elders O. Gates, Maxwell Thurman and Z. O. Shepherd, various other ministers having been employed to hold revival meetings. The pres- ent membership is about one hundred. Present officers are: Elders, H. S. Lehr and M. J. Ewing; Deacons, N. R. Park, J. G. Park and George
William Hempy
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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
Sousely; Clerk, Alva Gardner; Treasurer, N. R. Park; Trustees, T. J. Wise, Evan Jackson, Mr. Phillips, L. B. Sniff and H. S. Lehr.
Methodist Episcopal Church of Ada .- At quite an early day a class was organized at the Sleichter Schoolhouse, where they held meetings for several years, but about 1853, the town of Ada having been laid out and a little village started, Rev. Jacob Fechtley held a meeting at the old school- house of said village, and organized a class embracing some of the mem- bers of the former class, and others, as follows: Eli Pugh, Eli Newman and wife, daughter and son, Judge Simon's wife, George McElroy and wife, Jane Lynch and probably a few others. Services were then held in the schoolhouse until the erection of the Presbyterian Church, when they kind- ly shared the house with them, and services were held there until the erec- tion of their church edifice in 1867-68. At the fourth quarterly conference of the church, held May 18, 1867, the following persons were elected as Trustees: S. S. Smick, N. Ahlefeld, Horace Gilbert, Dr. R. Davenport. John Davenport, J. O. Phillippi, T. J. Carson, Samuel Arbuthnot and Samuel Stringfellow, who were to purchase a lot and take charge of the erection of said house. The building, a large frame, was erected and so far completed as to be used for holding services, and the same was duly dedicated by a sermon by Rev. Granville Moody, of Cincinnati. The fol- lowing ministers have been pastors from time to time of this charge: Joseph Wykes, 1862; Joseph Wykes and Silas Maltby in 1863; William J. Peck and Hamilton J. Bigley in 1864; William J. Peck and Thomas J. Mather in 1865; James S. DeLisle, 1866-67; Benjamin L. Rowand, 1868-69; John W. Hill, 1870-72: Isaac N. Smith, 1873-75; Philip A. Drown, 1876; Dwight R. Cook, 1878; William Fitzgerald, 1879; Dwight R. Cook, 1880- 81, and A. C. Cook; 1882-83. Class Leaders as follows: Hammond Gil- bert, Samuel Arbuthnot, Joseph Myers, C. E. Livenspire, E. W. Gilbert, W. L. Reece, J. T. Cunningham, R. R. Bryan, Rufus S. Stockwell, John M. Gilbert, John Davenport, R. G. Hubble, William N. Bryan, Thomas Boyd, Thomas J. Cary, Daniel Helms, A. A. Thomas, T. S. Russell and B. Mowan. Present membership, 218. Present Stewards: James T. Cun- ningham, William L. Reece, John Davenport, Joseph Myers, Thomas Boyd, Daniel Helms and Samuel Cary. Trustees: John Davenport, W. L. Reece, P. K. Sale, W. N. Bryan, E. W. Gilbert, J. L. Dally, C. B. Hickernell, L. Richeson and J. T. Cunningham.
First Regular Baptist Church of Ada-This society was organized in the Presbyterian Church October 2, 1866, by Rev. Chapman, of Lima, Ohio, consisting of the following eleven constituent members, viz .: Mary A. Gil- bert, E. L. Sanford, Cyrena Judd, William League, N. B. Holder, D. S. Judd, Rachel Sanford, Clara C. McClenahan, Elizabeth Perry, Ann Glass and John Gilbert, with John Gilbert chosen as Deacon. Prior to the above organization, by the request of several persons of the Baptist faith in Ada and vicinity, Rev. E. D. Thomas was sent here by the Home Missionary Society to hold a series of meetings, with the view of organizing a church if the interest in the cause should manifest itself so as to justify such an, organization. The result of said meetings was the above-mentioned organ- ization. In 1867, they erected their present frame church edifice at a cost of about $2,500. The house was duly dedicated to service May 10, 1868, by a sermon by Rev. Chapman, of Lima. Rev. E. D. Thomas remained as pastor until his death. He was succeeded by Rev. J. D. Albert; then Rev. R. R. Williams accepted the call of the church, and proved a very earnest and faithful minister of the Gospel, and under his earnest labors
AA
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
the church increased in members and usefulness, and through his faithful labors much good was done in this community. He was succeded by Rev. Crandall; then Rev. Spencer came to the charge, who was succeeded by Rev. William Leet, and he by Rev. J. D. Allerton; then Rev. M. L. Bowers served the church for a time, after whom Rev. J. D. Allerton returned, who was the last minister in charge. The society is at present without a pastor; but it is to be hoped that they will not long remain without a shepherd, but that the Spirit of Grace may arouse their zeal to activity and their faith be shown by their good works. The present Deacons are John Gilbert, S. M. Drury and Mr. Wood.
Catholic Church, Ada .*- After Kenton, Ada was generally considered the most prominent station for the priest of Hardin County. This village being situated in the extreme northwestern corner of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, just three miles east and south of the boundaries of the diocese of Cleveland, priests from the latter diocese frequently attended the same. Thus, twenty-five years ago, Father Sullivan, from Tiffin, afterward Father Murphy, from Lima, both priests from the Diocese of Cleveland, visited the Catholics of Ada. When in June, 1866, Rev. Nicholas Raymond Young, the first Catholic priest resident in this county, had arrived in Kenton, this station fell to his charge. Father Young frequently visited the people of Ada on Sundays and conducted divine service in the second story of a frame building situated on the northwest corner of Buckeye and Johnson streets, owned by Bartholomew Bastable, afterward destroyed by fire. Rev. Augustine M. Quatman succeeded Father Young toward the close of 1869, but not remaining in Kenton very long, he attended Ada only on two or three occasions. The next Catholic pastor of the Hardin Coun- ty stations was Rev. Nicholas J. V. Fas, who arrived in Kenton in June, 1870. Father Fas, finding the increasing work throughout the county rather difficult for one priest, negotiated with the Bishops of both dioceses, and the charge of Ada was again given to the priest of Lima, who at that time was Rev. Alexander R. Sidley. This priest attended Ada for about three years, celebrating mass. in different private houses, but finally in a small room above E. E. Bauman's grocery, on the southeast corner of Buckeye and Main streets. By order of His Grace, the Most Rev. John Baptist Purcell, Archbishop of Cincinnati, we took charge of Ada in the beginning of 1874. We found in the little room a board for an altar, a small con- fessional, a table and several benches. On June 24 of the same year, we gave first holy communion to ten young persons. The congregation of Ada. has remained in our charge ever since, with but one short interruption, which was in the year 1881, when from May 12 until December 31, Rev. Honoratus Bourion, A. M., of Bellfontaine, had charge of the Hardin County stations outside of the Kenton congregation. Our assistants, the Revs. Joseph M. Quatman, Alfred D. Dexter, Andrew Ebert, William B. Miggeel and F. X. Lasance, in their turn, aided us, in attending to the spir- itual wants of the people. The first Catholic land owner in this vicinity was F. C. Baker, who entered a large farm, at present adjoining the cor- poration of Ada, as far back as 1837, but owing to the great distance from a Catholic Church, he soon returned to Columbus. His son, Anthony C. Baker, is at present living on this farm. The oldest actual settlers belong- ing to the Catholic faith, as far as we are able to ascertain, were Messrs. Michael Flynn and James Morrow, who arrived in 1856. Both own beauti- ful farms at present, the former four miles west of Ada, in Allen County,
*By Rev. A. S. Siebenfoercher.
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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
the latter close to Ada. Daniel Breen came about 1858. Thomas Basta- ble, who died in 1874, and his brother Bartholomew, arrived in 1861; Daniel Hanley in 1863; Bartholomew O'Leary one year later. Jacob Forb- ing, at present one of the committeemen of the Kenton Church, formerly a resident of Ada, had donated a lot on the southeast corner of Ballard and Johnson streets, for the purpose of erecting thereon a Catholic house of wor- ship. With Mr. Forbing's consent, however, we sold that lot in 1874, and bought two lots on the corner of Simon and Hoosier streets, which were considered better located for the purpose. The foundation of the Ada - Church was begun on the 10th of September, 1874, and on the 8th of De- cember of the same year the church, a frame structure, 30x50, was com- pleted, with altar, pews, organ and bell, just as we see it at present. By permission of the Archbishop, Rev. A. M. Quatman, from the cathedral, dedicated the church on that day the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. For the special patron of the church was chosen "Mary Immaculate," under the 'title of our "Lady of Lourdes." Quite a number of non-Catholics contributed freely toward the new church; we collected from them about $600, toward which Nathan Ahlefeld alone gave $200, and Henry Zugschwert $100. More than $600 were collected by Father Joseph Quatman and our- selves outside of Ada, mostly in Cincinnati. At present the church is free from debt. The total cost of lots, church building, furniture, etc., came to $3,227.50. The only time the Archbishop visited Ada was July 10, 1871. Fathers James A. Burns, Henry J. Moeller, D. D., A. M. Quatman, J. W. Quatman, A. H. Dexter and ourselves, also Messrs. Bernard Mat- thews and John McGuigin accompanied the aged prelate from Kenton. On that occasion seventeen persons received the sacrament of confirmation, and Rev. Dr. Moeller, then pastor at Bellefontaine, at present Secretary to Right Rev. William Henry Elder, D. D., Coadjutor Bishop.of this arch- diocese, delivered a very interesting lecture on the sacrament of the
Eucharist. From the 15th to the 19th of May, 1878, Father Augustine, of the Passionist Order, preached the first, and indeed, a most fruitful mission to the people of Ada. His rare eloquence will long be remembered. June 28, 1880, Bishop Elder visited Ada and confirmed twelve persons, being assisted by Rev. A. D. Dexter and A. S. Siebenfoercher. From April 8 to 11, Father Robert C. P. gave the second mission at Ada, the success being in every particular similar o that of the mission five years previous. In early times, the priests who visited Ada would stop with different families, but later on, generally at Mr. Forbings or at Mr. Hanley's, until after the build- ing of the church, the kindly tendered hosplitality of Mr. O'Leary, who lived nearest to the church, was accepted.
The number of Catholic families belonging to the Ada congregation at present is about thirty. The first election of a regular church committee took place January 19, 1878, and resulted in the choice of Anthony C. Baker and Francis Owens for two years, and Thomas Fielding and Peter Sweeny for one year. Services are held at Ada twice each month on Sun- days and frequently on week days. Recitation of catechism takes place every Sunday afternoon, under the direction of Mr. D. Hanley. The Catholics of Ada have long been known for their singular attachment to the attend- ing priests, nor has this true Catholic spirit in the least diminished. During the building of the church and on all occasions the greatest possible har- mony existed between the priest and people. The thought about the past history of the church at Ada is that of great pleasure and satisfaction, but the crowning work of all is that much has been accomplished for the good of the people and the glory of God.
730
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church .- This society was organized August 23, 1876, at the house of Samuel Anspach, Esq., in Ada, by Rev. J. L. Smitb, Missionary President of the District Synod of Ohio, who gave them a constitution, and the organization was then completed by Rev. J. G. Neiffer, of Lima, Ohio, consisting of the following constituent members, viz. : Samuel Anspach, Mrs. Samuel Anspach, J. H. Umbaugh, Mrs. J. H. Umbaugh, S. M. Anspach, Mrs. S. M. Anspach, J. W. Umbaugh, Mrs. J. W. Umbaugh, L. M. McCreery, A. Cronebaugh, Mrs. A. Cronebaugh and Mrs. A. Oberlin. The erection of a church edifice was immediately com- menced, the corner stone of which was laid in the summer of 1877, and the house was completed and dedicated to service August 25, 1878, by Rev. J. Weber, of Adamsville, Ohio, assisted by Ravs. T. W. Corbet, of La Fay- ette, Ohio, and J. G. Neiffer, of Lima, Ohio. The church is a fine brick structure, 32x48 feet, with tower and vestibule, costing about $3,500. Rev. J. G. Neiffer preached for the society every two weeks during the greater part of the year of 1877. Rev. F. P. Cook, of Mount Pleasant, N. C., hav- ing received a call from the congregation, which he accepted, became its pastor in January, 1878, and was formally installed at the dedicatory serv- ices of the church the following August, Rev. T. W. Corbet, of La Fayette, preaching the installation sermon. Rev. Cook has since remained the pas- tor in charge. The first Deacons of the church were J. W. Umbaugh, Samuel Anspach, S. M. Anspach and J. H. Smith; present officers, Dea- cons, John Tressel, J. W. Umbaugh, Augustus Cronebaugh and D. M. Ans- pach; Trustees, Samuel Anspach, J. W. . Umbaugh, John Tressel, S. M. Anspach and Samuel Kuhn; present membership, fifty. A Sabbath school was organized soon after the church was dedicated, and now has an average attendance of about fifty to sixty, with J. W. Umbaugh as Superintendent.
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