The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 90

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county > Part 90

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

suffered great annoyance and loss, yet he was always a friend to the Union, bu labored to alleviate distress among the suffering and wounded of both armie In August, 1865, the English district of the Joint Synod of Ohio held its se sions in Germantown, Ohio, the Rev. Stirewalt being present as a visitor. TE Germantown congregation extended to him a call as associate pastor to the Re' Andrew Henkel, and in November of that year he moved to Germantown t divide with Mr. Henkel the labors of this charge. His ministry was very su cessful, and the church flourished and grew strong under his fostering car In 1867, the old church, which had been built in 1830, was remodeled and er larged, the execution and direction of which undertaking devolved upon M Stirewalt. In 1869, the General Council appointed him as its home mission ary, to travel and labor chiefly in the State of Indiana, and to this work t devoted one-half of his time, giving the other half to his charge in Germaniow and vicinity. This appointment he filled several years with commendable in dustry and success. For years. Mr. Stirewalt had suffered from disease, ve amidst constant ill health, he never lost his patience or cheerfulness, and who at last the end came, his death was a grand triumph for the principles whic he had always advocated and practiced. He died June 16, 1872, in his fortie: year, beloved and regretted by all, admonishing with his last breath tho: who stood around him to be faithful, to revere and obey the Word of Go His remains were borne to the grave, attended by a vast concourse of people who assembled in sadness to pay him the last respect of earth. The congr gation remained vacant about one year, but having occasional preaching } neighboring pastors. In the fall of 1872, the congregation called the Rev . P. Hentz to Germantown, and in this year he paid them a visit, finally takin charge as pastor in April. 1873.

Rev. J. P. Hentz was born in the village of Beuern, six miles distant fru the city of Giessen, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, May 5, 1832. He left h native land in June, 1852, for the United States, landing at Baltimore in A gust of that year, but removed immediately to Pennsylvania, and for sever! years following lived in different parts of this country. He finally conclud, to study for the ministry, and, with this purpose in view, entered Pennsylvan, College, Gettysburg, Penn., from where he graduated in 1861. He studi theology in the Theological Seminary of the same place, and, in the fall 1862, entered the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. For sever years, he labored in different fields in Western Pennsylvania, and, as previous stated, took charge of the Germantown congregation in April, 1873, where has remained up to the present. His family consists of himself, wife and s children.

What remains to be told of the history of the Lutheran Church of Germa town can be recorded in a few sentences. In July, 1867, was laid the cornd stone of the present house of worship, and by December 15 of this year, t building was so far completed as to enable the congregation to hold services the basement room. It was dedicated May 15, 1870, but its spire was not co pleted until 1880, the latter costing about $1,100.

The services were, from 1809 to 1826, conducted in the German language but since the latter year, both English and German have been used as necess prompted. Its communicants number from three hundred to four hundre and the Sunday school has a membership of from two hundred to two hundr and fifty. -

The United Brethren Church .-- The history of this denomination in G. man Township dates back near the beginning of the present century, as it w here that the first organization west of the Alleghanies was effected. In 180 Andrew Zeller settled in German Township, about one mile north of Germa

GERMAN TOWNSHIP.

tvn. on Little Twin Creek. He was an active Christian man of sound sense, eep piety and liberality, and contributed much toward the development and „wth of Christianity in this valley. His house was one of the first estab- led preaching-places among the United Brethren; the first organization of nmbers was there effected, and that was the nucleus of the many societies now esting in this valley. For a period of twenty-five years, this denomination hl its regular preaching services in private houses, and their annual and urterly conferences, as well as their protracted meetings, were held in barns. ( Brown's Run and elsewhere were also established places for the holding of cap meetings annually. Preaching-points were established at the houses of tl following members: Jacob Garst, Gabriel Thomas, Walter Cox, Daniel Einer, George Bruner, Peter Zehring, Rev. Jacob King and others.

In 1815. the Rev. Andrew Zeller was a delegate to the first General Con- fence of the United Brethren Church, held at Mt. Pleasant. Penn., and at that ciference he was elected a Bishop. In his work throughout this portion of Ohio h was greatly assisted by such men as Bishop Christian Newcomer. Daniel Tyer, Henry Evinger, Henry Kumler, Sr., Dewalt Mechlin, John McNamar, J'n Russell. S. S. Spieer, William Stubbs, A. Shingledecker and John E terhoff.

Christian Newcomer was elected Bishop about six months prior to the Ith of the Rev. William Otterbein, who was the founder of the United Breth- re Church, and he was formally ordained as an Elder only a few days previous The Rev. Otterbein's death. Rev. Newcomer did noble work for his church uts first years in this part of the country, having crossed the Alleghanies meteen times on horseback after he had passed his sixty-first year.

The Rev. Daniel Troyer came to this valley as early as 1806. He was a we and prudent man, and a faithful Christian. His wholesome influence has ended down to the present, as many of to-day cherish fond remembrances ofhis life and labors. In 1819, Jacob Antrim became identified with church wk in this township. He was a good singer, an ingenuous preacher, a great worter, had tact, energy and buoyancy of spirit, which bore him onward where nger men would have sunk down in discouragement, and in the Miami Val- e he was remarkably successful in gathering members into the church. At a ur day came the Bonebrakes, six brothers, all ministers-George and Fred- erk preaching on Twin Circuit, which included Germantown. George and Ton Hoffman, S. Doubler, Thomas Thompson, Isaac Robertson, H, Surface, Toob Emerick and others labored for this church in the Twin Valley. The it; building erected for church purposes by the United Brethren denomination ve of the Alleghanies was built in 1829, in Germantown. The Board of " stees were Daniel Bruner, Jonathan Spoon. Rev. Jacob King, Andrew Zeller I George Bruner. The lot was deeded to them May 6, 1829, by Philip fackel and wife. The building on Warren street, occupied by the congrega- 1( for fifty years, is the original one, though somewhat enlarged and modern- za in after years. Among the active ministerial workers now we find Revs. ob King. W. S. Rineheart, John Coons, William Davis, Francis Whitcomb, Plinchbaugh, John and Jacob Kemp. The growth of the Germantown opty has been rapid. Its results are not limited by the township, county or ste, but throughout the whole West are found many who were brought to e: Christian lives through the efforts of this society. As near results of the fliency of this organization, we have the following churches within a radius f ve miles of Germantown: Twin Chapel, Union Chapel, Brown's Run and Ste Road Chapels, with a membership in all of 300, while the Germantown opty has 315 members, and Montgomery County twenty-five organized socie- fie with houses of worship, aggregating a membership of 3,000 souls. This

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

church has from the first embraced among its membership some of the mo influential families of the township and county. The present handsome ar commodious house of worship, located on Cherry street, was built by the cor gregation in the year 1879, at a cost of $10,000. The work was successful carried to completion under the direction of a Board of Trustees, consisting William D. Emerick, O. M. Oblinger, Ezra Kemp, Joseph W. Shank and / K. Burtner. Valuable services were rendered by Mr. Kemp in soliciting fond and giving the work his personal supervision. This church has under its ca a flourishing Sabbath school, thus guarding well the interests of youth. Tl life and activity of this society in religious work is also evidenced by its fina cial exhibit. More than $1,000 is annually expended for the various church in terests, $635 toward ministerial support, $120 for the support of the Sabbat school, $200 for church expenses, $100 for missions, and $100 for Presidir Elder and annual conference collections, besides occasional special donations f missions, church erection and educational work. With an increase of membr ship, and a moral and financial ability to do good, there is a disposition upon tl part of the membership to increase the usefulness of the church, and to cultiva well this portion of the Lord's heritage .*

The Methodist Episcopal Church .- This is the youngest of all the congi gations in Germantown. Ordinarily, the Methodists are the first at work any new settlement; but here they came in last. The reason of this was th the people who settled in this township were Germans, and for many years t. German was the only language spoken by them, and as this denomination for long time confined its labors to the English-speaking portion of the people this country, they made no effort to build up a congregation in Germantoy until the English language had come into use. Somewhere about the ye 1834, they began to talk of organizing a congregation. At this time, the held service regularly in Germantown, and worshiped in the United Brothr Church. They gained ground rapidly, and. in the year 1837, were able to buy a house of worship, and this is the same edifice which the congregation is st occupying. It was not finished at once, and for some time services were hi in the basement room. It was remodeled and enlarged in the year 1865, a is at present a commodious and comfortable place of worship. At one tin this congregation had a numerous membership, gathering them in from diff ent sources, but at present it is numerically the weakest of all the churches Germantown. About 1848, a part of this congregation split off and organiz a Protestant Methodist Church, one of the leaders of this movement, Mr. Wi iam Gunckel, having previously purchased the building which had be erected by the New-Measure Reformed. and this church they occupied a place of worship. For awhile they flourished, received numerous accessid and made rapid progress, but, after running a short race of seeming prosperi they began to grow less, until, after the lapse of a few years, the organizati was disbanded. Owing to these and other causes, the Methodist Episco Church in this township is not strong, but what it will be in the future, ti will reveal. Of the pastors of this congregation, so little is known and rem- bered that it is impossible to give any reliable account of them. They ha come and gone in such quick succession that they have made no history themselves: and where there is no history, there remains none to be written

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

There are at present Sunday schools connected with all the Christian co gregations of Germantown, and, although all of them have a definite date origin, and each its own history, they are much involved in obscurity.

*The sketch of the United Brethren Church was furnished by Revs. Swain and Burket of said church.

GERMAN TOWNSHIP.

vitten records have been preserved. and the little that is here recorded are the attered fragments which have been gathered from a few aged people who still main from among the first Sunday school teachers. Among these, Mrs. Eliz- ieth Rohrer and Mrs. M. Ayers deserve special mention, because it was they 10 organized the first Sunday school in Germantown. labored for it and taught it. They have been teachers during a period of fifty years, and are still at eir post, and, though approaching fast their fourscore years, they are rarely sent from their classes on Sunday, or from the teachers' meeting on week ys. Both teach in the Lutheran Sunday school. The first Sunday school is organized in 1828, in the Lutheran Church, mainly through the agency id exertions of the two ladies just mentioned. They called a meeting, at lich officers were elected and the school organized. It was the only school the kind that existed in Germantown for some years, combined all the re- rious elements of the community, and had no denominational character. hen the school was organized, Mrs. Rohrer and Mrs. Ayers canvassed the tvn for funds to procure the necessary books, but their efforts met with small

.ccess. The people at that time knew little of Sunday schools, and were terefore suspicious of their character and aims. They treated the efforts of tese enterprising ladies with coolness, fearing that the movement was some www innovation in the church. The Lutherans and Reformed especially mis- fisted the movement, for the reason that the first Superintendent, John Pear- ·h, was a zealous Methodist. The school, not having the hearty support of a njority of the people, did not flourish, and in 1830 was discontinued. About 35. the subject was again agitated, and a school started in the United Breth- n Church. This was a union Sunday school, controlled by the United Breth- n and Methodist denominations, but the names of the founders and first teach- es have passed into oblivion. From 1830 to 1844. no Sunday schools existed either the Lutheran or Reformed Churches, but in the latter year an agent the American Sunday School Union organized a school in the Lutheran (.urch, which was attended by the children of both congregations. and this mool has existed up to this time, but for many years was undenominational. ] what year the Reformed separated and organized a Sunday school of their (m church has not been learned. Since 1865. the Sunday school in the Lu- feran Church has been in a process of change, and now if is an exclusively ttheran school. Before that year, the Superintendents had belonged to dif- fent creeds, but none were Lutherans.

It is useless to attempt to give correct statistics of the number of teachers id scholars in the different Sunday schools of the town. The basis of calcu- lion and method of computation differ very widely from one another. The Imbers reported can convey no correct idea of the real or comparative strength these schools. This much, however, may be said of them: They stand i merically as follows: Lutheran, United Brethren, Reformed and Methodist.

EDUCATION.

It was not until the year 1821 that a law was passed authorizing taxation f. school purposes. and, as for some years the school lands were comparatively productive, teachers' salaries had to be paid and schoolhouses had to be built I means of voluntary contributions, and this was particularly the case in Ger- in Township. The schools were here for many years simply subscription $100ls. There was originally a school section in German Township, but it was sd, and Section 21, Jefferson Township, was purchased with the proceeds mulized. The first schoolhouse in German Township stood on the south side of Simp's Hill. It was a log structure, and had originally been erected by Will- in Eastwood, a squatter from Kentucky, who occupied it as a dwelling. The

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

first teacher who taught in it, and who was probably the pioneer teacher of t! township, was the Rev. A. S. Mau, The second schoolhouse stood on t. Franklin pike, a short distance beyond the present site of Sunsbury. Like t! other, it was built of logs. and for a long time received its light throug greased-paper windows, glass being too expensive. To this school the childr came from three or four miles distance. The first teacher's name was Jol McNamar, who later became a United Brethren preacher. He lived in a gam room in the schoolhouse. He was succeeded by Jacob Lesley, a Kentuckia The teachers of this early period were men generally of inferior ability, ar were able to teach nothing more than the merest rudiments of the lowe branches of a common-school education. Add to this that the schools were operation but three months out of twelve, and it will readily be seen that t children could not learn very much. Soon after Germantown had beer: la out, schoolhouses were erected within its limits. The first of these stood ( the site at present occupied by the Reformed Church, and another, erected a somewhat later date, stood on the site of Mr. H. Bear's residence, on Mr berry street. In these two buildings the youth of the town were taught unt the year 1847; while in the country, schoolhouses were built, one after anothe as the wants of the people demanded. In the year 1846, the two small bri schoolhouses in town were sold, with a view to the erection of a large anic school building. After its completion, all the children of Germantown we collected, and were taught in different rooms, The following gentlemen serve as Principals of this school: Rev. J. Pentzer, 1852-53; F. C. Cuppy, 1853-5 J. W. Legg, 1854-55; A. Beal, 1855-56; Collins Ford. 1856-60. This buil ing was long ago vacated by the schools, and is at present used as a planin mill. In 1860, the public schools were re-organized aud placed under the management of six Directors, and in this same year, the site of the prese school building was chosen by vote of the people, and the following year ti structure was erected. It is three stories high, has four rooms on each floc a rotunda in the center connecting ail the rooms, and two side wings for stai cases. Its cost of erection was $17,000. The gentlemen who have, since 186 occupied the position of Principal, or what is now known as Superintender are: Hampton Bennet, 1860-64; he enlisting in the army, P. S. Turner fille out his unexpired term; J. M. Clemens, 1864-65; H. Bennet, 1865-66; Ar brose Temple, 1866-70; W. H. Scudder, 1870-72; A. J. Surface. 1872-7 E. C. Harvey, 1874-76: C. L. Hitchcock, 1876-78; G. C. Dasher, 1878-8 Benjamin B. Harlan. 1880-82, and is the present incumbent. The school now in a flourishing condition, and is a credit to the town.

INSTITUTIONS OF A HIGHER GRADE.

The first of these was the Germantown Academy, which was organize October 11, 1841. Its officers were : Rev. J. B. Findley, President; I James Comstock, Vice President; and Jacob Koehne, Treasurer.

Rev. Jacob Pentzer was elected its first Principal. This institution co tinued in existence about ten years, and enjoyed a high degree of prosperit It occupied first the basement part of the Methodist Church, and Jater th church on Main street. After it closed, a Miss Coffroth taught a school higher grade in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and conti ued it for about three years. In 1855, J. W. Legg organized a school und the name of Germantown Academy, and conducted it successfully for abo two years, he giving instruction in the English branches, and the Rev. Lew in Latin and Greek languages and literature. In 1874, the District Synod Ohio of the Evangelical Lutheran Church met in annual convention in Ge mantown, and during the convention, an agreement was entered into betwer

GERMAN TOWNSHIP.

t: citizens of the town and the synod to establish an academy, the citizens areeing to furnish the ground and building, and the synod to organize, con- det and support the school. A tract of land known as Stump's Hill, and em- bicing five acres, was purchased in the year 1875, and in the summer of the she year the foundation for the building was laid. During 1876, the struct- n' was erected, and so far completed that school was opened in December of t.t year. The building and ground cost about $6,000, and the money was clected from the citizens by voluntary subscriptions. The academy had been b ding school since April, 1875, in an upper room of the engine house. The iltitution was under the control of nine Trustees, chosen by the synod, and tise elected Prof. G. C. Dasher, of Capitol University, Columbus, Ohio, as the Encipal. It prospered beyond the expectations of its friends, entering on its wond year with forty students. In the spring of 1877, the synod, without vious notice, and without assigning any reason for their action, abandoned l school and thus terminated its career, much to the surprise, chagrin and dappointment of the citizens of Germantown, who had hoped to see it grow wr) a first-class college. The building was sold under the Sheriff's hammer, ought in by the corporation of the town, and is at present used as an armory militia company. The academy conducted in this building was chartered uer the name of the Germantown Institute.

PLACES OF SEPULTURE.

There are in German Township five places set apart for the burial of the dead -ne at Schaeffer's Church; the second is on the farm of Jacob Judy, at the head Brown's Run; the third is on Sunsbury Hill; the fourth is the graveyard in >mantown; and the fifth is Germantown Cemetery. Of these, the Sunsbury H Graveyard is the oldest, and was donated for the purpose by Christopher Cprick, on whose farm it is located. The first persons who died in the Twin valley were buried here, and in it rest the remains of many of the pioneers. Ven Germantown Cemetery was laid out, many persons removed their dead ru the older burial places to the new cemetery, and thus many bodies were a.m from Sunsbury Hill, most of which were found petrified. The graveyard n Germantown is next in age, and contains one acre of ground, which was hased from Philip Gunckel in 1809. It was open to all who desired to ur in it except suicides and murderers. At the time of its establishment, it outside the village limits, but as the town grew it came to be situated in h midst of residences, and therefore objectionable to the majority of the peo- las a burial-place. Much trouble was caused by those who still desired to sit as a graveyard. A few private individuals bought a tract of land on the side of Twin Creek for a cemetery, but, after a few interments, it was id subject to inundation during high water, and was therefore abandoned. illy, after much bickering, a cemetery association was formed July 1, 1849. ( istitution adopted, and the following officers chosen: John F. Kern, Will- u Mckeon, John Stump, Samuel Rohrer, Jacob Eminger, Jacob Koehne, r.erick Kimmerling, John D. Gunckel and Henry S. Gunckel as Directors; .. Stump, President; William McKeon, Vice President; Henry S. Gunckel, wetary; John F. Kern, Treasurer. At a meeting held July 3, 1849, a com- ribe was appointed to select suitable ground, and at a subsequent meeting, tourchase of a ten-acre tract, located one-half mile west of town and owned y . Koehne, was recommended by this committee. At a meeting held Au- u: 1, 1849, the Directors agreed to purchase the said tract at the price of If per acre, and this was subsequently effected, and the tract laid out for rortery. In 1861, a dwelling house for the sexton was erected on the ground, andn 1878 an addition of over eight acres was purchased on the north side, fro the farm of the Rev. P. C. Prugh.

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

This cemetery is at present almost the exclusive place of burial in t township. In the graveyard in town, no dead have been interred since 18 and in the remaining ones, only an occasional burial. Germantown Cemet is a handsome resting-place for the dead, being nicely planted with trees a dotted with beautiful monuments. In all these cemeteries lie buried the mains of the fathers and founders of this township, whose names and gray should be honored and esteemed as sacred.

NEWSPAPERS AND PRINTING.

The first newspaper published in Germantown was called the Germanto Gazette, and was started in 1826 by Conrad Schaeffer, a German, from \.lsa1 France. He was a pioneer newspaper man, and, previous to his advent hic had published papers in Lancaster and Canton, Ohio. One-half of the Guz was printed in German, and one-half in the English language. He remai: here but one year, then went to Hamilton, Ohio, and, in partnership with J. Woods, established the Hamilton Intelligencer. In 1839, George Walke German, came to Germantown, and, in partnership with Dr. Espich, be; printing the Laws of Ohio in the German language. They issued several 1 umes, but found few purchasers, and the enterprise proved a failure, and th labor and investment a total loss. This was the only attempt at the publ: tion of books in Germantown.

The next attempt in this line was made by William Gunckel in 1845 partnership with Moses B. Walker, but the latter soon withdrew from the fin and Gunckel continued the work alone. He began doing job work, and, a an experience of three years in job printing, started the Germantown Gaz which was a large-sized, well-conducted weekly journal. It was regarded ; good family newspaper, and hence enjoyed a large circulation. In 1849, Gunckel disposed of this paper to Joseph Reeder and Josiah Oblinger. firm of Reeder & Oblinger changed the name to Western Emporium, but, a a two-years' trial, they sold out to Solomon Miller and Henry Brooks, w! partnership continued until 1854, in which year Brooks retired and Miller came sole proprietor. It was in 1854 that the question of building a raih. was agitated, and work was soon begun on the road, but, after a large amc of money was expended, the scheme fell through and was abandoned. Iml with the excitement which the proposed railroad created, Miller changed. name of his paper to Twin Valley Locomotive. About this time, the Ku Nothing craze struck the country, and, the railroad failing. Miller put Locomotive on the Know-Nothing track, but, after one year's trial, it ran the ground and became a wreck. The Twin Valley Railroad, the Twin Va Locomotive and the Know-Nothing party all "played out" about the same t and all three left behind them an equally ugly stench. What was saved of. Locomotive from the wreck was sold to a man named Pepper, who changeq name and advocated the principles of the Democratic party; but, not mee with sufficient encouragement, its publication was discontinued after a yea two. In 1855, the same Miller who had previously failed, started. the A. ican Republican, which was stongly partisan in its political views. M issued this paper until 1857, when he moved his press to Kansas. there to a hand in the contest then raging in that quarter. The press owned by Pe was purchased by J. F. Meyers in 1858, who this year started the Germant Independent, which he operated until 1860, when he sold out to James C back, who continued the publication of the Independent until 1863, whe moved his press to Shelbyville, Ind., and there published the Shelbyville publican.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 90

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214