United States Signal Service.--A station under the control and direction of the war department was established at Sandusky in 1877, and placed under charge of Sergeant E. F. McComas. This Signal Station is of great importance to those engaged in lake traffic, and has proved a benefit to the whole people of the county. Succeeding Sergeant McComas was Charles R. Dow, and subsequent to that officer, W. A. Massey, M. H. Parry and Benjamin F. Hough have been in charge, the last named being the present incumbent. The station is under orders of discontinuance on account of a lack of funds at the command of the department officers.

EDUCATION AND THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF SANDUSKY.

Among the first cities in the State to take advantage of the laws favoring common school education, Sandusky has endeavored uniformly to keep pace with the progressive spirit of the age. Any failure which may have occurred can be safely credited to errors in judgment rather than lack of a hearty appreciation of the advantages to be gained by general culture and enlightenment.

To deny that such errors have occurred from time to time would be to assume that the citizenS are more than mortal. To state that any school system is not necessarily imperfect would be worse than pedantic, and to discuss school methods at any considerable length is not the province of the historian, hence we will at once take up the subject of our chapter. An old manuscript dated May 29, 1829, and in the hand writing of Judge Parish, declares that the trustees of Portland township, in the county of Huron, do certify that they have divided said township into two school districts as follows, to wit: I All that part of the township lying east of the center of Columbus avenue, and a line

* Cannot give dates of commissions of these officers.

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running in the same direction therefrom to the south line of the township to constitute School district number one, and all that part lying west of Said avenue and line to constitute school district number two.

An annexed list of house holders shows that there are forty nine in number one, and forty eight in number two.

Very few, if any, of the men whose names appear on the list, are among the living to-day, but their descendants' names may be found among those who have been honored by the nation, as highly as the true Ohio man could wish.

We are told by local historians that Miss Sallie Stimpson started a school in a log cabin on lot one, Water street, in 1818, but another writer States that the Steamboat Hotel, now called New Lake House, was built. in 1817 on the same ground. The foregoing Statements may be harmonized perhaps by assuming that the lots in those days were large in proportion to the Scarcity of people.

Though there were numerous private schools existing from time to time previous to 1838 it Seems most proper to date the direct beginning of the present public Schools September to of that year, when Lucas S. Beecher, S. B Caldwell and M. Farwell were appointed local School directors by John F. Campbell, superintendent of common Schools. These gentlemen, on the day of their appointment, met the Portland township board, and arranged for the annexation of the township to the city district for school purposes.

For Some reason not explained in the records examined by the writer an election was held on the 21st of September, and Oran Follett, Francis D. Parish and Samuel B. Caldwell were chosen directors, and in October This new board passed resolutions to the effect that two female teachers be employed, and Schools lasting three months from the beginning of November be established in convenient parts of the town.

Mr. 0. Ransom, Miss Ann Gustin and Miss E. Hendry were employed that year, the rooms were engaged, and School was kept at an aggregate cost of three hundred and fifty-five dollars ; as to the number of children in attendance, their ages, and the branches taught, the records are mute for several succeeding years. In October of the year 1839 an entirely new board was elected, J. N. Davidson, William B. Smith and Henry F. Merry. They met November 9, and resolved to rent three rooms in the Methodist chapel, one room in the Western Liberties, one room in the Presbyterian Church, and two rooms in Grace Church. Noah Merrill, at twenty five dollars a month ; D. Higbie, at thirty dollars per month ; Mary L. Brown, twenty-four; Annie Gustin and Sarah A. Brown, fourteen dollars each, and Martha J. McElwain, at fifteen dollars, constituted the corps of teachers for 1839-40.

During the winter months of 184.0—I there was a new male teacher, and five female teachers, at about the same salaries as had been given the year before ; but the year following there were two male teachers again, and the same num-

336 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

ber of ladies. Rev. B. H. Hickox was required to ring the church bell in addition to his duties in the school room, and he received for the double Service thirty dollars per month. The records do not state whether or not he was to preach an occasional sermon by way of recreation ; but it is fair to assume that he was.

In September of This year Earl Bill, Zenas W. Barker and W. W. Wetherell were elected directors—just why the election occurred in that month does not appear ; but schools were run on very peculiar lines at that time, so it is most probable that the date happened to be convenient.

The gentlemen did not qualify however, and Superintendent Cochran appointed a board composed of the Same membership, excepting Mr. Bill, whose place was filled by F. M. Follett.

A School report made in 1842 by A. Root is the earliest definite statistical record that the writer has been able to find. It shows that the total enrollment amounted to three hundred and Seventy-seven pupils, of whom one hundred and ninety-three were males and one hundred and eighty-four females. The expenses for rent of school-rooms, and other expenses not enumerated, amounted to the immense sum of one hundred and seventy-four dollars, not including a desk costing four, and a Stove costing twelve dollars, which swells the grand total to one hundred and ninety dollars. This school furniture seems to be the first property either personal or real belonging to the public schools of Sandusky. The report also declares that a tax of two mills on the dollar had been levied for public school purposes, and two hundred and forty-two dollars was the amount of the total assessment, one hundred and Seventy-five having been paid in, and the remainder was delinquent ; but later in the year the fund was swelled by money from other sources to no less than three hundred and ninety-four dollars and nine cents.

At This time the best accessible statistics place Sandusky's population at something over twelve hundred souls. A very short calculation in percentage will also show that the valuation of taxable property was $121,000. If the citizens understood the under-valuation Scheme of the present day as thoroughly as they apparently did the delinquent tax matter, the valuation recorded may be solely multiplied by ten. The branches taught at that time were reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, and philosophy. Not a very extensive list of studies, but still something more than the three R's.

The first school buildings owned by the city were built in 1844-45 in accordance with plans suggested by a special committee consisting of Messrs. M. Farwell, A. M. Porter, and Z. W. Barker, appointed at a convention of the voters of the school district called for the purpose. Elentheros Cooke was a prominent mover in the enterprise as he was in other matters of public interest.

The committee recommended the erection of three buildings, one in the West Liberties, and one each near the east and west Markets respectively ; also

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a high school building on the public Square ; the plan of the last named building to be such as Should be creditable and ornamental to the town.

In 1844-45 there were four men and three ladies employed as teachers, Mr. H. Goodwin, since so prominent in the legal profession, was among the former. In This year we find Latin added to the course laid down in 1842. The expenses for tuition amounted to five hundred and nineteen dollars and twenty- four cents, and six thousand fifty dollars was the cost of the four school-houses completed.

In 1845-46 we find the force of teachers increased to nine. Mr. A. C. Heustes as principal of the high School, and E. Merry, jr., Since prominent in Erie county official work, as a teacher in one of the outer districts, having been .added to the corps.

The attendance was three hundred and seventy-one, a trifle lower than that of 1842. French, chemistry, and physiology had been added to the course. The tuition expenses had been increased to eight hundred and eight dollars and sixty-one cents.

A " Programme for the exhibition of the students of the Sandusky City high school, Friday evening, February 6, 1846," contains no less than forty numbers, original and selected, embracing orations, colloquies, recitations, songs, compositions, beginning with prayer and closing with a benediction.

This paper is of peculiar interest as illustrating the ideas of the time on commencement exercises, and because of the fact that it contains the names of many citizens since quite prominent in public affairs. In their order on the paper they are : T. H. Goodman, H. Annis, Elizabeth Thompson, Sarah P. Corbett, Adelaide Van Vleet, E. A. Williams, Thomas Laden, Mary C. Newton, Caroline Dibble, Julia F. Farwell, Catherine Earl, Elizabeth and Francis Roosevelt, Jane Davidson, James Currie, F. E. Parish, John T. Beecher, Sarah A. Moore, Sebastian Graff, Louisa Sloane, Sarah L. Gregg, Lucretia Gregg, Levancia Monroe, Annette Tilden, Cynthia Davidson, Leverett Hall, James E. Darling, M. Y. Graff, Mary S. Strong, Minerva E. Wells, Cordelia A. Hitchcock, A. R. Bodley, Miranda Brooks, Jemima Johnson, E. G. Ross, R. R. Sloane, G. A. Cooke. Several names appear twice.

In September of This School year was held the first teachers' institute in Ohio, for the benefit of all grades of teachers.

Hon. E. Lane, Rev. L. Hull, C. B. Squires, and others, were prominently connected with the work of securing lecturers and creating an interest in the then new undertaking for the advancement of educational interests. Wise as they were in projecting This effort, how little could they have realized its true import to the Schools of Ohio.

There were ninety-seven teachers in attendance, and the work of instruction was performed by Hon. S. Town, of New York, Hon. E. Lane, M. F. Cowdery, A. D. Lord, C. B. Squires, and Lyman Preston. The meetings con-

338 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

tinued one week, being ably conducted, and very satisfactory to all interested in the cause of education. Mr. Cowdery afterwards became superintendent at Sandusky, holding the position for many years with honor to himself and lasting benefits to the schools.

In 1846-47 the enrollment of pupils reached four hundred and ninety. Algebra and astronomy were added to the course of study in the high School.

This brings the history of our schools up to their first grading under the original of the present school law, and it is perhaps necessary to explain that, while the general public had for a period of nineteen years enjoyed such schools (during a limited portion of the year) as the most advanced citizens of the State at that time deemed proper at public expense, still the era that followed was a great stride in advance of the general sentiment in regard to such matters.

In November, 1848, F. M. Follett, H. F. Merry, and C. Leonard—the school board—elected F. M. Cowdery as superintendent of instruction with power to classify the pupils in such a degree as the buildings and circumstances in general would permit.

On the first Monday in December of that year the pupils were assembled and classified as primary, secondary, grammar, and high school students.

During the first week of school four primary classes were established with an aggregate membership of two hundred and sixty, three secondary, with one hundred and eighty, two grammar schools with one hundred and sixty pupils, and a high school numbering about sixty ; six hundred and sixty in all. It is not to be inferred that This grading was entirely satisfactory to those who had brought it about, but it was an evident improvement on the old method or lack of method which had existed in the fullest Sense of the word for a number of years.

Under the new order of things Mr. Cowdery acted as Superintendent and principal of the high School, Mrs. Cowdery and Miss L. A. McElwain as assistants. Mr. W. H. Nye with Misses A. Osborne, E. Barker and Helen Barker took charge of the grammar schools. Misses E. Lewis, H. M. Hoyt and E. Moore took the secondaries, and Misses L. Barney, M. Barrett, A. Smith and Fannie B. Stone were appointed to the primary Schools, Nearly thirty years later Mr. Cowdery in preparing a paper for the Centennial of U. S. Independence speaks with enthusiasm of the Spirit and ability manifested by these teachers, and the members of the board who helped to bring the change about. He omits to mention what the writer may add that M. F. Cowdery is entitled to a full measure of the honor due those who thus early saw something of the future possibilities of our great graded school system, and was willing to labor for its advancement, even against a general public sentiment of distrust or apathy, or worse at times, active opposition.

As Soon as the school law of eighteen forty-nine was received at Sandusky after its passage in February of that year, it was resolved unanimously by public

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election to adopt the new law for the control of the city schools. F. T. Barney, E. Bill and D. Souter, were added to the membership of the board elected the fall before. Many difficulties were experienced by these pioneer graded School workers that have been lessened Somewhat by time, experience ans observation. They had no neighboring school systems organized, and going forward as those of the present day are doing. They had comparatively few educational works and papers, few meetings of experienced educators, and in fact they had more disadvantages than it would be profitable to undertake enumerating, let alone discussing at length.

A feature of this new system was an unclassified School which, as its name implies, was made up of pupils of vastly different dispositions, qualifications, ages and surrounding who for various reasons could not be easily distributed among the various classes of the regular grades. This school was kept up with satisfactory results for over twenty years.

The average attendance at this school was eighty pupils, two-thirds boys. Miss M. Kelley, Miss Julia A. Hitchcock and Mrs. F. Hull had charge at different times. Pupils were promoted at all times during the year to any grade in the city that they were prepared for, and This practice, doubtless, aided these excellent lady principals in disciplining their, at times, somewhat irrepressible classes.

The first plan under which the schools were graded contemplated teaching in the primary grade the simplest elements of language, numbers, geography and vocal music, with object lessons adapted in kind and extent to the capacity of children from six to eight years of age. The qualifications for promotion from This grade were fluency in reading in the second Reader, familiarity with half the multiplication table, ability to name from the maps all the countries and large bodies of water in North America, and one term of practice in outline drawing. Cleanliness and morality were always encouraged, and Bible reading as an opening exercise was quite generally practiced for some years in all the schools. Mr. Cowdery mentions with particular commendation the success Mrs. Mary N. Clarke, who is still in the schools, and after a service of thirty-eight years, doing excellent work for the little ones. Mrs. M. C. Dewey, now principal of the fourth ward building, and for twenty-six years a faithful teacher, is also commended. Kind mention is also made by him in his centennial article of Mrs. F. Hull and Miss Fannie McFall.

The primary grade occupied two years, from six to eight; the secondary schools were expected to give fluency in reading the Third Reader, ability to construct maps of the United States and other countries, to answer mental questions in text-books of arithmetic, to parse and analyze, etc., vocal music, and essay writing also received attention in This grade. The pupils, were kept here nominally two years but in practice, nearer two and a half. Among the teachers who deserve honorable mention Mr. Cowdery names in This grade Miss

340 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

Mary Comstock, Misses Fannie Harris, Annie Aplin, Hattie Fisher and Sarah Clarke; the latter is still at work in the grade. Prior to 1860 he mentions Misses E. Moore, E. Lewis, F. B. Stone, M. Loomis, C. M. Walker, S. L. Sprague, E. M. Jackson, E. D. Bartlett and E. S. Booth.

The grammar schools comprised a four years course in the work already begun in the other two grades, and fitted the classes to enter the high school. Messrs. W. H. Nye, L. E. Walker, G. C. Woollard, J. Chandler, M. H. Lewis and W. H. Rayl, and Misses Helen Follett, F. B. Stone, L. A. McElwain, E. W. Jackson, L. Perry, E. Hutchinson, E. Moore and S. J. Moore (the latter still in the work) were very successful as principals in the grammar schools between the years 1850 and 1887. The high school was established in 1845, and by 1847 Latin, French, physiology, chemistry, astronomy and algebra had been added to the course. The high School was then an experiment, but to use the language of a recent educator, it is at This time no longer an experiment, but a mansard roof on the public school system. In 1848 it was decided that the English branches (whatever they may be), should alone be taught, and This action excluded French and Latin from the schools up to 1860, when on petition of R. B. Hubbard and others Latin and Greek were introduced. A sort of compromise was effected that gives pupils a chance to graduate in an English course in three years, or to take a full course in four years, thus making the complete school course, as at the present time, cover twelve years.

Mr. S. S. Cotton, principal of the high school from 1852 to 1867, with his assistant, Miss A. A. Breck and others, is credited with establishing the high school on a permanent basis by means of the popularity secured through conducting it so successfully. The present high school building was erected at the close of his administration at a cost of $92,033.88.

Volumes I and II of the Gleaner, a monthly magazine edited under the auspices of the high School and superintendent, lies before us as we write. Considerable matter contained therein is worthy of special mention, if not of reproduction, did our space permit, but we must be content for the present with a limited notice of its general characteristics.

Mr. Cowdery is nominal editor, but for some time this work seems to have devolved upon the brighter members of the high school class.

About This time contributions of books and curiosities were commenced for the benefit of the schools, and the June number of 1850 contains a list of Such contributions as do other numbers later in the year. Misses Martha Hastings and Henrietta T. Day are the editors of This number, which is the first one printed, and establishes the following terms: single copies five months, fifteen cents; three copies, forty cents ; five copies, Sixty-two and one-half cents (not stating who shall make the change); ten copies, $1.10; twenty copies, $2.00—cash always in advance. The editors began This publication with over three hundred paid subscriptions, and the money thus received was deposited in the bank sub-

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ject to the draft of the publishers as they complied with the terms of the contract made with the editor-in-chief. The paper was to be stopped promptly as the advance money of individual subscribers ran out ; but its editors hoped to continue the publication on and on into the inscrutable future as they said, making it a record of the knowledge, the improvements and virtues of the young minds around’s us. While happy to exchange with all school papers, they were determined to pay and receive the difference between their publication rates and those of their exchanges. In Short, they enjoyed a happy state of absolute independence seldom attained by newspaper publishers in This part of the world.

An inquirer discusses the question on an inside page " Do worms fall from the clouds ?" leaning Strongly to the opinion that they do not, and criticizing some contemporary who has evidently maintained the opposite opinion in a number published while the paper was published in manuscript form.

Another item informs certain lads in our town that it isn't polite, when invited to a party, to drink lemonade enough to run a saw-mill three months in the year, and eat cake and candy enough to Stock two confectionery shops. This number also contains a poem by Leonora, on the burning of the Steamer Griffith on Lake Erie, with three hundred souls on board. Number two, published in October, 1850, takes up the subject of punctuality in the schools, and discloses what at the present time would be regarded as next door to anarchy by our teachers and the patrons of the public schools. Seventy-one exceptions are noted in the High School in four weeks. The First Grammar School has 293 cases, the Second 193, West Market 66, West Liberties 156, West Prairie 44, East Prairie 85, total 908. The total enrollment at this time was less than 800, so the little ones must have been absent or tardy more than once around, or some of them were kept pretty busy to bring the delinquency up to these imposing proportions.

Later issues of This paper contain letters and statistics from Milan, Norwalk and other towns. A correspondent from Norwalk glories in the fact that they have (1851) a four-room school building located on what is to be the principal Street when a certain railroad is completed, Mechanic Street it is called, and the information is also furnished that Prof. De Wolf, since school commissioner, was principal at that time in Norwalk.

Their High School course was much like Sandusky's, but our correspondent informs us that in the secondary school they study young studies, such as mental arithmetic, geography, reading, writing and Spelling, while the primary Scholars he says study " Infant studies, Such as the A B C's, Ab's, etc." The correspondent is evidently a pupil, as he goes over the rules of the School with the remark that they are all " I can think of, or at least, all I care to remember." Among those enumerated are no whispering, and pupils must fold their hands during opening prayers.

342 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

A correspondent writing from St. Louis tells of his trip there via Chicago; from the latter city they went by canal boat to La Salle, and he tells how on the way their tow boat passed a steam canal boat going in the same direction at its best speed, all enjoying the exciting race.

From La Salle they took the steamer Prairie Bird, which he says flew over the water, giving them scarcely time to behold the beautiful Scenery as they passed. Volume I, No. 1, of This intereSting and valuable little paper is. edited by Misses Martha Hastings and Henrietta T. Day ; No. 2, by Messrs. Wm. Tilden and Isaac Mills ; No. 3, by Misses Mariette Farwell and Emma L. Coan ; No. 4, by Messrs. D. Lampman and F. W. Alvord; No. 5, by Misses Frances Jennings and Sarah Root. Volume II, No. 1, is the work of Superintendent Cowdery and contributors, as are the other numbers of This volume; most of them contain communications from the schools of surrounding towns. Number 2 contains an announcement of the Huron and Erie County Teachers' Association to be held at Milan on the first Saturday in June, 1851 ; all interested in education are invited, and it intimated that teachers who care for professional standing had better attend, also that the number attending will determine whether they meet at Milan again.

Mr. Cowdery was about This time connected with the editorial staff of the Ohio Journal of Education. A report in This paper for 1852, places the city fifth in population and sixth in school enrollment ; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton being larger, and Lancaster, though but one-third as large,. having a greater number of pupils enrolled,—probably outsiders mostly.

Sandusky's population at that time was 10,000, and her schools enrolled 1,011 pupils. The library was valued at $625. Three male and nineteen female teachers were employed, the former at an average salary of $700, and the latter $180. The school tax was four mills, which taking into account the purchasing power of money was nearly double that of the present time. By an article furnished This journal in 1854, we find that in the primary schools of the city ten minutes were given to religious exerciseS, ten to moral lessons and ten to physical exercises each morning.

Professor U. T. Curran, a man of energy, professional spirit and marked ability, in 1872 succeeded Mr. C. R. Dean, who had followed Mr. Cowdery in 1871. His administration of eight years was marked by numerous improvements in the previous excellent management of the Schools. The fourth ward building was erected in 1872, costing about $15,000. Drawing and music were embodied in the course during the same year. In 1873 the schools were regarded on substantially the same basis as the present. In 1874 the present board room in the high school building was fitted up ; the fifth (now Sixth) ward building was erected at a cost of $22,778. A training school for young teachers was also established. Mr. Curran left the schools in 1880 for the more lucrative legal profession, and his withdrawal from school work has been, and is, regretted by many friends both in and out of the profession.

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In the fall of 1880 Dr. Alston Ellis was elected superintendent of Schools, and held the position until 1887, when he resigned to accept a position in Hamilton, 0., where he had served for eight years previous to his election in Sandusky. Like Messrs. Cowdery and Curran, he was an active educational worker outside the School room, and on his retirement was presented with a memento in the shape of a valuable pin, by the Erie County Teachers' Association, of which he was an ever active and brilliant member. In 1887-8 he was appointed a State school examiner, elected president of the Ohio State Teachers' Association, tendered degrees by an Ohio college, and received many other tokens of the high esteem in which he is held by Ohio educators. During his administration at Sandusky many improvements were made in the School System ; a remarkably fine discipline was maintained, the cases of absence and tardiness were reduced to a minimum, and the Campbell school building was erected in 1885-6 at a coSt of about $30,000. Notwithstanding the fact that This building cost but one-third as much, many consider it much finer in architectural beauty and finish than the high school. The Campbell Street building, like the sixth ward building, was erected by Sandusky builders : V. Kerber built the latter, and Adam Feick & Brother, the former.

Dr. H. A. Balcam, of New York, but more recently Superintendent of the Fostoria College, succeeded Dr. Ellis in the Schools, and is conducting them at the present time on nearly the same general plan, but there are indications of changes in some directions at least. Dr. Balcam is a man of wide experience in school work, and his efforts will be supplemented by his cultured wife, who is a lady of rare elocutionary abilities.

Wm. H. Rayl, for over twenty years principal of the grammar schools, resigned at the same time with Dr. Ellis. His place was filled by Miss M. J. Healy, for many years a successful teacher in our city.

The present public schools employ sixty-two teachers, of whom five are specially employed to teach German, for which purpose a room has been assigned in each of the five large buildings.

The principals are : High school, Miss Emma Paddock ; A, grammar, Miss M. J. Healy ; fourth ward, Mrs. M. C. Dewey ; fifth (sixth) ward, Mr. A. A. Bartow ; eighth (Campbell Street), Miss E. A. Cassidy ; first (tenth) ward, Miss M. E. Ferguson ; Washington, Mrs. Mary N. Clarke ; East Market, Miss C. Polley ; West Market, Miss Fannie Loomis ; Huron Park, Mrs. M. E. Forster.

There are nine buildings in the city, the A grammar and high schools both being in the Central building. The present complete school system embraces twelve D primaries, enrolling 563 pupils; eleven C primaries enrolling 443 ; eight B primaries with 419 ; seven A primaries with 320. There are six D grammar classes with 310 pupils ; four C grammars with 203 ; three B grammars with 145 ; two A grammars with 100, and

344 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

four high school grades with 145 pupils enrolled. The complete school course covers twelve years, beginning with the D primary and taking the course followed above in enumerating the grades. The complete course includes instruction in reading, spelling, writing, drawing, geography, grammar, arithmetic, physiology, German, Latin, rhetoric, English and American literature, natural philosophy, science of government, botany, United States and general history, algebra, geometry, astronomy and composition.

Of course with the present efficient corps of teachers, there is much intellectual and moral culture Secured to the pupils in all parts of the course.

The graduates are quite generally well prepared to enter on the active duties of life or complete their studies in higher educational institutions.

Platt R. Spencer was in 1856 connected with our schools as teacher of penmanship ; he was succeeded by Mr. J. Hornbeck, and he by L. S. Thompson. From time to time other special teachers of music, drawing, etc., have been employed, but at present the only special teachers are those of German. They are Mr. Charles. Wommelsdorf, and Misses Herckener, Kate Seitz, Marie C. Weier, and Sophie Kiefer.

There was at one time a Separate School for colored pupils in the city, under the control of three directors of their own race, but it was done away with during Mr. Cowdery's administration.

Sandusky City Business College.— Among the educational institutions of the city, the Sandusky City Business College, organized in 1887 by R. L. Meredith and R. B. Harris, is worthy of special notice. Though a comparatively new enterprise, it has an enrollment of nearly a hundred. As its name implies, pupils are thoroughly fitted for business. A teacher's training department is also conducted in connection with This institution of learning. This department has been eminently successful thus far, and the reputation of its managers is a guarantee of future prosperity.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.

The city receives State funds for all the children of school age, and collects taxes from all citizens alike. It is a fact that nearly one-third of these pupils however, receive their education from private schools supported by the Catholic churches. If other congregations should take the same course, what a reduction in taxes would be necessary to keep down the surplus.

SCHOOLS OF ST. MARY'S CONGREGATION (GERMAN).

Since the year 1855 This congregation has supported a parochial school. With the increase of population it became necessary to erect buildings, and in 1863, under the pastorate of Rev. N. Moes, a stone building with four Spacious rooms, was built on the lot at the corner of Decatur and Jefferson streets, fronting on the latter street. In 1887 a similar structure was erected at a cost

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of $6,000, all paid by the congregation. This building fronts on Decatur street, and is quite tastily designed. During the past ten years the attendance at these schools has ranged from five hundred and seventy-five to six hundred and fifty pupils. The highest class of boys is taught by Joseph Gerhardstein. The remaining pupils are taught by seven " Ladies of the Sacred Heart" from Cleveland, and one lay teacher.

The children from six to fourteen learn besides their religious instruction in the catechism and Bible History, English and German reading, writing and composition, United States History, geography, arithmetic, and music. At the option of the parents they are taught bookkeeping, algebra, and geometry, and the girls needlework. All these schools are under the immediate direction of Rev. Moes. the pastor, the general direction of a board of school directors for the whole diocese of Cleveland, and a special board of examiners for various districts. Rev. N. Moes, of St. Mary's church, is president of the board for the district in which Sandusky belongs.

These schools put a yearly burden of $3,000 on the congregation which supports them. They rank high among Sandusky educational institutions.

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH SCHOOLS,

Under the charge of Rev. Father Sidley, owns a large lot on the corner of Jackson and Jefferson streets, where are located a three-room brick building, costing about $2,000, and a stone building worth in the neighborhood of $4,000. The former is for girls, and has an attendance of about 200 ; the latter for boys, and has not far from 125 in attendance on the average. These schools are under the superintendency of Rev. Sidley, and are conducted by the " Ladies of the Sacred Heart," by whom the girls are taught. The boys are instructed by lay teachers. The schools are kept open during ten months of the year. The age of pupils range from seven to thirteen years.

Semi-annual promotions are made. These schools were established in 1856, and have been conducted since that time by the ladies of the order mentioned above, with marked success, graduating many bright scholars. Miss H. Fitzgerald has acted as principal for twenty-three years past, and is still at her post of duty with excellent prospects for the future.

THE HOLY ANGELS CHURCH, LOCATED ON TIFFIN AVENUE,

Has a fine, little two-story brick school building on Jefferson street near Tiffin avenue. About one hundred children are in attendance at present, though there are accommodations for nearly twice that number

This school is under the supervision of Rev. Father Tracy, the pastor of the church, and is taught by lay teachers Misses McGushen and O'Donnell. The course of study is similar in This school to that of the grammar department of the public schools.

346 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

CHURCHES OF SANDUSKY.

Wayne Street Baptist Church, west side of Wayne, between Adams and Washington, Rev. Granger W. Smith, pastor. As early as 1838, Rev. S. B. Webster, of Monroeville, made an unsuccessful effort to gather together all the Baptists living in Sandusky, and organize them into a church of that denomination. After his attempt Seven years passed before such an organization was actually made. There is no record, however, that it existed longer than three or four years. It died during the cholera plague of 1848 and 1849. Its only pastor was Rev. R. W. Henderson. Of its members, one is a member of the Baptist Church nOW in existence, i. e., Mrs. Lewis Benjamin.

The Wayne street Baptist Church was organized in 1854, by Rev. L. Raymond, and the succeeding pastors were Rev. J. D. Fulton, D.D., 1855-1859 Rev. William Cormac, 1859-1860 ; Rev. Edward Jones, 1865-1867 ; Rev. C. H. DeWolf, 1867-1868 ; Rev. E. P. Koberts, 1876-1878 ; Rev. James Samis, 1879 ; Rev. C. W. Palmer, 1879-1881, and Rev. Granger W. Smith, 1881. Two men have served no stated supply, Rev. L. Bailey, 1862, and Rev. C. Havens, 1875. Previous to the present the longest pastorate was that of Dr. Fulton. He was with the church nearly three and one-half years, during which time quite a large number were received into its membership, although but little was added to its permanent strength.

The church was organized, and for a short time worshiped in what was known as Campbell's Hall, on Water street. Early in 1855, however, the church purchased of the Wesleyan Methodists their house of worship, situated upon the northwest corner of the Court-House square. At that time only the basement of the house was finished, but the year following, under the leader, ship of Dr. Fulton, the church finished and furnished the room above. To accomplish This, a debt was incurred, which became so burdensome that in 1862 they exchanged buildings with the German Lutheran, thus coming into possession of their present meeting-house on Wayne street. In 1880 the church decided to enlarge its house of worship, but the city council having raised a question as to the legal rights of its ownership of the land upon which it stands, the matter was necessarily and indefinitely postponed. The final decision of the court was not rendered until November, 1887, by which the right to the property was confirmed and given all that it had claimed.

During the history of this church, extending over a period of thirty years, there have been three hundred and thirty-nine members. Of This number one hundred and eighty-one were received upon profession of faith and baptism. Two of those first baptized are still members of the church, Mrs. John Kelham and Mrs. Thomas Browning. The following brethren have served the church as deacons : H. B. Green, J. E. Norcross, A, H. Gale, Thomas Browning, John Kelham, Edward Corbett, A. D. Kinney, J S Chandler and Daniel

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G. Olds. William Marshall served the church as clerk, for more than sixteen years. The present clerk has held the office for ten years. The church has had but two treasurers, A. H. Gale/from 1854 to 1867, and Thomas Browning from 1867 to the present time. The following persons have been members of the church for a quarter of a century or more, viz. : Mrs. Louisa Benjamin,, Mrs. E. Kelham, Deacon Thomas Browning, Mrs. T. Browning, Mrs. Wm. Marshall, A. Williams, Mrs. A. Williams, Mrs. C. Clemens, Harvey Warren, Mrs. Harvey Warren, Mrs. Elizabeth Sulton, Mrs. M. A. Owen, Mrs. Neil Moore, Mrs. F. Francisco, Mrs. J. W. Upp, and Mrs. Helen Stanley.

The pastorate of the present pastor, Rev. Granger W. Smith, began October 1, 1881. Present deacons are : Thomas Browning, J. S. Chandler ; D. G. Olds, clerk ; secretary and treasurer of benevolent fund, Charles L. Polley ; treasurer, Thomas. Browning ; corresponding secretary, J. S. Chandler ; trustees : Thomas Browning, J. S. Chandler, D. G. Olds, William Kelham, C. Benjamin.

From its first organization This church has taken a very positive position on the questions of slavery and intemperance, and This at a time when it meant more than it now does. In its church covenant is included a total abstinence pledge, and it holds its position firmly on This basis to-day. The church is now healthy and vigorous and hopeful of a successful and bright future.

It would not be fitting in This brief history of Sandusky's first Baptist Church, to omit an allusion to one of its former pastors, Dr. Fulton, who has since earned for himself a wide reputation as an avowed opposer of Romanism. After a settlement in other cities, and a charge in Boston and Brooklyn, he has at last abandoned the pulpit to give himself entirely to the work of opposing This evil that menaces American institutions.

Zion Baptist Church (colored), west side of Decatur, between Washington and Adams. In the year 1856 Elder Norman Campbell organized This church with only seven members, viz., William Hamilton, E. P. Reynolds, J. Reynolds, Mrs. M. French, Mrs. Harper, Mrs. Susan Jones, Mrs. Hamilton. Trustees, E. P. Reynolds, J. Reynolds and William Hamilton. Deacons, E. P. Reynolds and William Hamilton.

Elder Campbell took charge of the church and remained its pastor for three years. During that time the church increased in membership, and in March the following year a revival was held that resulted in the accession of thirty new members. Among the number was Nathaniel Jones.

In the spring of 1857 a building was purchased and partially paid for through the agency of Elder Campbell, who was appointed to collect funds for that purpose. In the fall of 1859 he left and was succeeded by Elder H. H. Hamilton, who became pastor and labored here during 1859. In that year the society was incorporated, and the following persons chosen trustees: Nathaniel Jones, Laurence Johnson and E. P. Reynolds.

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During the year 1860 the members made a great effort to pay off the debt still remaining on the lot, but notwithstanding all their exertions they did not succeed, and Nathaniel Jones met the difficulty by mortgaging his own house and lot, for means to pay the debt. About This time William Hamilton, one of the principal deacons died, praying that the debt might be removed. There was no regular pastor at that time, but in the autumn of 1861 Elder Dardes took charge of the church as pastor but failed to add to the church financial or spiritual power.

In 1862 they called Elder Bowser to be pastor. In 1863 there was a division the church caused by E P. Reynolds, and as it could not be satisfactorily adjusted by the church itself, it was referred to the association, and it recommended that two sister churches be called in to settle the matter. Churches of Columbus and Urbana were selected, and the matter settled by a committee of three—Elder Poindexter and Mr. John Cooper of Columbus, and Brother Chaffee of Urbana. Soon after This E. P. Reynolds left the city taking with him the church books and papers. Elder Bowser continued .to serve as pastor a year, and then for two or three years the pulpit was supplied by different ministers until about 1865, when James Shoecroft was called to be the pastor, and filled that office for two years, during which time twenty- five members were added to the church. He was succeeded by D. B. Huston, who remained in charge for four years. Elder McViney succeeded him and remained two years. During his pastorate the church was greatly blessed in a large accession of members, twenty-two being added in the two years. L. Burley followed him and remained one year, and he was succeeded by Elder P. Williams, who filled the pulpit for six months, when it was again occupied by Mr. Viney for six months. This was about one year ago and during the interregnum there has been no settled pastor. Brother W. Shelton from Cincinnati has supplied the pulpit as missionary for about five months. The present membership of the church is forty-nine. Present trustees are Harrison Bartlett, Harrison Washington and Nathaniel Jones. Deacons, Harrison. Washington, Nathaniel Jones, Moses Washington, Moses Thompson.

Church of the Holy Angels, corner of Jefferson street and Tiffin avenue, Rev. John Tracy, pastor. Half a century ago, in Northern Ohio there were but few Catholic Churches, and these were widely separated. There art those still living who relate the difficulties they met in trying to attend the first meeting called in Sandusky for the purpose of establishing a church. After walking from Bellevue, they reached Sandusky in time to see the people dispersing. Rev. P. Machebeuf had taken steps to bring about the desired result, and the meeting was held in a vacant store-room which now forms a part of Mr. Kunzman's carriage-shop, on Water street.

That year the walls were partly built, and during the next year they were completed. But the roof was not put on until the year following, and the un-

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finished building was at once occupied by the waiting congregation. At This time there was nothing within but bare walls and uncouth plank seats. This was in 1843.

It was a bold enterprise for a man to undertake in those days, when men had nothing to give, toward it but their labor ; Father Machebeuf found it no easy thing to carry out his design, and after exhausting all the resources within their reach he was forced to see the work stop and wait for new strength. At This time he was called to leave Sandusky and go to France on business of a private character, and decided to make This an occasion for raising funds to carry on the building he had begun. During his absence, Rev. Father Rappe, then of Toledo, but since bishop of Cleveland, took charge of the congregation in Sandusky.

There has been much fault found with these early fathers. It has since been thought by some to have been a lamentable mistake that This church should have been built so far from the center of the city ; but it must be remembered that the few scattered Catholics of that time were poor, and when Mr. W. H. Mills offered four or five lots for a site for a church On a leading avenue, with several acres at a short distance for a cemetery, it was but too gladly accepted. At that time the growth of the town was westward. The Mad River railroad was just opened, with its shops at that end of the town, and the congregation was desirous of securing land enough for a school and priest's residence, for which the amount given was more than sufficient. The reverend gentlemen had but few such offers, and the generosity of the donor was the more marked because prejudices at that time were strong and bitter. What was afterward deemed a mistake has been blessed with abundant increase, having proved the nucleus from which two large and flourishing congregations have been formed, viz. : St. Mary's, and St. Peter and Paul.

When Father Machebeuf returned from his foreign trip, the work was at once resumed and completed. Its consecration followed immediately by Rev. Bishop Purcel.

Scarcely had it been finished before it was found too small for its rapidly increasing congregation. It was forty by sixty, with an octagonal niche at the west end of twenty feet. This formed a recess for the altar, but failed to furnish sufficient room for its worshipers. Two wings were added. It was still too small, but the German-speaking portion of the congregation finally withdrew and built a church for themselves.

Rev. Father Machebeuf in the meantime continued to provide for the accommodation of his ever-increasing flock, and at one time occupied and held services in a large building on Wayne street, now occupied by Mr. C. Cook. This accommodated those who lived in the eastern portion of the town.

About the year 1850 Father Machebeuf was called upon to leave for other fields of duty in the far West, and although his congregation were greatly at-

350 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

tached to him he was called upon to leave the church for which he had so faithfully labored. Success followed him to his new field of labor. He is nOW known as the first bishop of Denver. He was succeeded by Father Conlan in 1851, who saw that something must be done at once for the welfare of the church of the future in Sandusky. A more central location was looked for, and lots purchased on the corner of Jackson and Jefferson streets, at a cost of $2,000. On one of these it was decided to build a school-house at once, and in 1852 the large brick school-house, now used chiefly for girls, and also as a dwelling for the Sisters was built at a cost of $7,000 by Father Conlan. This resulted in a debt of $10,000, which, in those times, was a heavy burden, but under the faithful work of Rev. Felix M. Boff, who succeeded Father Conlan, This was greatly reduced and the troubles were tided over.

In 1856 Rev. Alexis Caron took charge of Holy Angels and labored zealously for the glory of God and the good of Sandusky, in season and out of season, and seeing the pressing need he resolved to build a chapel himself, which he called St. Mary's. He walked three-quarters of a mile., through, heat and cold, sun and storm, to say mass on Sundays and holy days, and when he left he bequeathed This legacy of work and good deeds to his successor. He also built a school-house for boys on the chapel grounds, at a cost of $1,599. This was built and paid for by penny collections.

Rev. Louis Molon succeeded Father Caron in 1861 and remained for a couple of years, and was followed by Rev. Father Sidley.

The demand for more room became more and more pressing, and in 1865 Father Sidley having secured a suitable location on the corner of Columbus avenue and Jefferson street commenced the erection of a church there, which has since been known as that of St. Peter and Paul. After four years of persistent labor it was completed and the entire congregation of Holy Angels removed to it. For some years after there was an early service in the church of the Holy Angels, but there was no organization, no revenue, and after a time the doors were closed, and all that remained of its former self was the deserted building.

There were some business complications, however, which could not be removed or transferred. In order that its obligations to Mr. Mills might be complied with it was evident that the church could not be abandoned, and therefore in 1875 Rev. Father Smythe was appointed pastor and the boundaries of the parish fixed and determined. From This period is dated the history of the second church of the Holy Angels.

By wise and prudent management Father Smythe rallied and united the members of his congregation, and succeeded in building a fine two-story brick school house, and also made many other improvements. He remained twelve years and was succeeded by Rev. Father Tracy, who entered on his duties on the 7th day of August, 188.7, and is still pastor of the church of Holy Angels.

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He has decided on renovations and improvements, which will add greatly to the prosperity of the church.

There are at present about one hundred and fifty families belonging to the congregation. They are all to be found in the humbler walks of life, but they are willing and anxious to assist their pastor to the extent of their ability, that their church in its new adornments shall stand as a lasting memorial of his faithfulness and earnestness.

St. Mary's Catholic Church, southeast corner Decatur and Jefferson street. St. Mary's Catholic Church (new), northwest corner Jefferson and Miami avenue, Rev. Nicholas Moes pastor. There was a meeting of German Catholics in the Bell House before the church of the Holy Angels was built, and for several years This organization continued without a building of their own, and worshiped in the church of the Holy Angels. In the year 1855 they built a stone church at the corner of Jefferson street and Decatur, also a residence for a pastor and a frame school-house, under the pastorate of J. Hamene. In the year 1862 and 1863 a stone school-house with four spacious rooms was built under the pastorate of Rev. Hackspiel and Nicholas Moes, the present pastor of St. Mary's.

In the year 1873 the corner-stone of the new edifice at the corner of Miami avenue and Jefferson street was laid by Right Rev. R. Gilmour. This building was completed and dedicated the 28th of November, 1880. It is an elegant Gothic structure of the style belonging to the fourteenth century, and built of the cut stone out of native quarries. It is one of Sandusky'S great ornaments, and from its conspicuous size and height attracts the eye in every direction. It measures one hundred and eighty-four feet long by seventy-eight wide. The steeple is two hundred and twelve feet in height. This church cost with all its contents and surroundings Si00,00o, and has a membership of seven hundred families. There are six hundred children in its schools. The entire property is valued at $13o,000.

St. Peter and St. Paul's, corner Columbus avenue and Jefferson street, Rev. R. A. Sidley, pastor. The history of a church, like that of an individual, is so intimately connected with the past that it is sometimes almost impossible to dissociate them. In writing the history of This church we see its early life, in a measure, interwoven with that of the earlier organization known as the Church of the Holy Angels. We find its very existence was the result of a mistake of years ago, and all it has since been to the city is traceable to This cause.

Rev. Father Sidley came to Sandusky April 28, 1863, to take charge of the Church of Holy Angels. He was vigorous, enthusiastic, and in the prime of life. He found a building sadly in need of repairs ; a debt of $3,500 on the property, and a not very attractive house for the pastor to live in. He proceeded to have the church edifice put in order, at a cost of $900,

352 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

and bought and paid for an addition to the old grave-yard at a cost of $1,080.

Two years later, in the spring of 1865, he called together the principal members of his church, by the advice of the ordinary of the diocese, Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe, to see what could be done for the better accommodation of his congregation. After due deliberation the meeting resolved that it would not be wise to add to the present church, whose location was not central, but that a lot be purchased on the opposite side of the street from the school, for the erection of a new building. This proved too small, and after great difficulty the two lots on which it now stands were selected and purchased at a cost of $2,400.

In the spring of 1866 the foundation was begun for a new church on the corner of Columbus avenue and Jefferson street. The corner-stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop Rosecrans, and from This time, the 22d of July, until the following Easter the building was pushed rapidly forward to completion. On the 9th of April, 4871, the congregation took possession of their new edifice. The altar was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Gilmolur on the 25th of May, 1872, under the invocation of the two great apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. The entire church was consecrated by the same prelate on the 3d of November, 1878. It is a handsome building, one hundred and forty-five feet in length and seventy-one feet in width. The height of the tower is one hundred and thirty-five feet.

The material is blue lime-stone ornamented with sandstone. The interior is neat and finished with taste. The ceiling is particularly worthy of mention. It is composed of several large arches, delicately tinted and heavily groined, entirely unsupported by pillars and giving an increasing effect to the altar and windows.

The cost of the church was $75,000. It can accommodate 1,200 people very comfortably.

Adjoining the church is the pastor's house, built also of blue stone at a cost of $5,000, in 1871, and increased by an addition the following year for the Sisters' school-house. This cost $2,000.

For five years the entire congregation worshiped in the new church. Then a division of the parish was made, a part of which afterward became the parish of the Holy Angels.

Father Sidley also interested himself in the transformation of the little chapel built by Rev. Father Caron, into a hall under the title of "St. Aloysius Young Men's Catholic Temperance Hall," and there all temperance meetings are held, as well as other Catholic meetings, and is neatly arranged and provided with a library for the use of members who desire to benefit by it. There is also a reading-room for young men, a school-room for girls, and a sewing- room for ladies' societies.

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At the time Father Smythe was appointed to the Holy Angels, the debt on St. Peter and Paul amounted to between $10,000 and $12,000. The schools of the church are well attended and in excellent condition. One feature of This church cannot but strike the most thoughtless reader, and that is, the harmony and unanimity of action between pastor and people. During the years of trial and sacrifice always attending the building of a place of worship, a suggestion from the pastor was always sufficient to bring a response frcm his people, and the result is a building of which they may well be proud. It is an ornament to the city, and ranks with the best of the diocese in elegance, taste, and convenience.

The present amount of property owned by St. Peter and Paul's Church is $90,000, with an indebtedness of $2,000. Father Sidley is still its faithful pastor, laboring for the welfare of his people.

Congregational Church,—The first religious organization. in Sandusky was that of the Congregational Church, established on the 28th day of May, 1819. Its members at that time were six in number, viz.: Nathan T. Jennings, Maria Jennings, David McMurray, Elizabeth McMurray, Lydia Watkins, and Anna Silvia. Revs. John Seward and Joseph Treat, missionaries of the Connecticut Missionary Society, conducted the exercises, and from the church record we make an extract of their entry at that time :

"And having obtained satisfactory evidence that these individuals were suitable persons to belong to Christ's visible church, notwithstanding the number was small, still, as there were others who would have been present and offered themselves had they not been providentially prevented, it was thought proper to proceed and organize a church."

It was not, however, until a year later that any accessions were made to the number, when four more names were added to the original six. During This time nothing is found that shows the presence of any clergyman, and for a period of eight years no addition was made to their number. Sandusky grew but slowly. Death and removals reduced the list to two, viz.: Samuel Walker and his wife, Mrs. Sally Ann Walker. Six years passed, and these two souls, with a few others of different denominations, held regular prayer meetings and conducted a Sabbath meeting by reading, a sermon and devotional exercises.

In 1825 Rev. Isaac S. Demund, employed by the United Missionary Society, preached every other Sabbath for six months. The alternate Sabbaths he preached in Milan.

The first minister employed by the people to preach the gospel in Sandusky was Rev. William M. Adams, in 1828, under whom several members were added to the church. He remained a part of a year, and from 1830 to 1835 Rev. Henry Cowles, S, J. Bradstreet, Lorin Robins and Bennet Roberts officiated for different lengths of time.

354 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

In 1836 the first pastor was installed, and dismissed in 1838. Since that time the following clergymen have succeeded to the pastorate :

* Those marked by a star are deceased.

From its first origin the church has been strictly Congregational, formed under what is known as the plan of Union. This did not mean that it should, under any circumstances, be under the care of a Presbytery, but made a provision for the appointment of ruling elders, who might be called upon to discipline members.

In the year 1835 a charter was obtained providing that "The First Congregational Church of Sandusky be a body corporate and politic, with the power to hold property," etc.

During the first fourteen years This organization had no fixed place of worship. Sometimes they worshiped in small school-houses, sometimes in an empty work-shop, and often in private dwellings. Sectarianism in these early times was not strong, and all who loved the Lord met together whenever and wherever occasion offered.

In 1835 the east end of the court-house (then called the academy) was fitted up for the use of This church and a select school for young ladies, and was used thus for eighteen months. At This time measures were taken to build, and a stone building measuring sixty by forty feet and fronting to the north on the Public Square was begun. It was finished in 1836 and dedicated to the worship of God. The single tower occupied the center of the north end and was furnished with a bell at once. This building was in use nineteen years, when its walls were mostly taken down to the main floor and the material used again in the present building, occupying the same site, but extending to Columbus avenue, on which it fronts. Its length is ninety feet ; width sixty- four feet; height of main tower, with Spire, one hundred and sixty feet. The audience-room has a seating capacity of more than five hundred, and This

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property is valued at $25,000. The church also owns a parsonage on Wayne street worth $7,500.

The present membership of the church is four hundred and two, of which forty-two are on the retired list. This leaves a known membership of three hundred and sixty. One hundred and fifty-one of This number have been added to the church during the present pastorate.

Taking into consideration the fact that two churches have gone from her midst, there is ample proof that she has ever been an active, growing organization. In 1835 a part of her membership formed the Episcopal Church, and in 1852 nearly half of her followers again seceded to form the Presbyterian Church.

The Congregational Church was widely known in the old slavery days for her strict adherence to the abolition of the evil and her defense of the oppressed. Sandusky was one of the principal stations on the Underground Railroad, and Deacon Parish was known far and wide for his bold and loyal devotion to the cause of freedom. Many a slave was aided to escape from bondage by This good man, who has now gone to his reward.

Deacon M. F. Cowdray, recently deceased, was for many years an active deacon of this church. He was one of the foremost educators of the State, and was one of the very first to introduce the system of graded schools into Ohio.

Deacon James Marshall, the present senior deacon of this church, has been one of its strongest supporters for the last twenty-five years. The present deacons are James Marshall, Arthur Phinney and G. W. Payne. Trustees— Henry Schumacher, John Poole, Samuel Irvine and H. C. Post.

Among the names that are enrolled upon the books of this church as pastors, we find two that have since become known to the world through their literary work, viz.: Dr. Walker, whose " Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation " is still in use in many educational institutions, and Dr. Strong, whose work, "Our Country," has passed through several editions.

A benevolent society was formed by the ladies in the early days of the church's history, and is still one of its most attractive features. All through the dark days of the Civil War This society devoted its time exclusively to the soldiers, and when that need passed away, the same energy was used in working for the missionaries on our western and southern frontiers and the needy at home. It is still in existence, and meets every Thursday afternoon in the church parlors, where, after the work is laid aside, a supper is enjoyed, and an hour of social intercourse passes the time until the hour for prayer meeting. It would be impossible to estimate the amount of good these ladies have accomplished, and it is not surprising that they cherish an organization that has existed so long.

Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, southwest corner of Wayne and Wash-

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ington streets. Rev. Richard Howell, rector. With the chapels belonging thereto, viz : Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church, southwest corner of First and Erie; St. John's chapel, northeast corner of Monroe and Clinton. Rev. J. Hawthorne, minister in charge ; St. Luke's chapel, west side of Hayes avenue, between Tyler and Osborne ; chapel at Venice. Among the oldest and most substantial church organizations of Sandusky, This church has a prominent place. It was organized on the 13th day of June, 1835, at a meeting of citizens at the house of Oran Follett, on which occasion Zenas M. Barker was made moderator, and A. Root, secretary of the meeting, and it was there resolved that the name by which it should be known, should be Grace Church Parish, Sandusky city.

The first vestry was composed of Abner Root, senior warden ; Zenas M. Barker, junior warden ; John G. Camp, John N. Sloane, Ogden Mallory, Elentheros Cooke, T. Neill, John Kinney, James Hollister and Wm. P. Chapman.

At the first vestry meeting held June 20, 1835, it was decided to build immediately. The church edifice should be of stone and its dimensions should be seventy-five feet in length by fifty in width. Its situation was wisely chosen — on the corner of Wayne and Washington streets — and its corner stone was laid July 28, 1835, by the Rev. Wm. Shelton, D. D., of Buffalo, N. Y., assisted by the Rev. E. Tommison, of Norwalk. Abner Root was appointed first delegate to the diocesan convention on October 21, 1835. By an act of the Legislature Grace Church Parish was incorporated on January 15, 1836. That same year, in the month of August, Rev. Albert Bledsoe was elected rector of the parish, and entered upon his duties September I, 1836, the building being erected and enclosed, and the basement ready for occupa tion. Mr. Bledsoe's rectorship terminated April 31, 1837. The following names are recorded as the first communicants : Abner Root, Elizabeth Root, Zenas W. Barker, Eliza G. Barker, Quincy Adams, Rhoda Camp, Elizabeth Camp, Elizabeth G. Webber, Ann Boyce, Grace Neil, Christian Morton, Ona Mallory, Fanny Mallory, Fanny Cook, Elizabeth Chapman, Eliza Inman, Ann Wilbur, Eliza P. Hollister.

Rev. Thomas H. Inman had charge of the parish about nine months. On the 15th of September, 1838, he resigned, and the parish was without a rector until December I, 1839. During the time from December, 1839, to April, 1840, Rev. E. Punderson supplied the pulpit, when Rev. B. H. Hickox became minister in charge May 1. He infused such life and energy into the parish that the vestry elected him rector at the expiration of a year. As This was not approved by Bishop Mcllvaine, Rev. Mr. Hickox resigned October 1, 1841. From This time the parish was without a rector until November, 1842, when Rev. Foster Thayer assumed the incumbency, resigning the following Easter. From Easter until Christmas the parish was again vacant. Rev. Edward Lounsbury was elected to fill the vacancy and officiated for the first time on

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Christmas Eve, This being the first service in the completed edifice. An organ procured the previous summer, was used for the first time, at This service.

The consecration of Grace Church took place June 29, 1844, and the services were conducted by Bishop Mcllvaine. In the autumn of that year Rev. Mr. Lounsbury was compelled to resign on account of his health.

The sixth rector was Rev. L. N. Freeman, who entered upon his duties October, 1844, and remained one year, leaving a record of official work, the largest in the history of the parish. After a vacancy of one year, Rev. S. A. Bronson, D. D., president of Kenyon College, was chosen rector, and entered upon his duties October, 1850.

For sixteen years the church enjoyed a period of great success. Dr. Bronson laid the foundations broad and deep. Transepts and a chancel were added, and two chapels built. One of these was St. Mary's, Western Liberties, the other St. Ann's, Camptown. The church was enlarging her borders, and the spirit of her earnest pastor filled the people with enthusiasm. Through pestilence and civil war Dr. Bronson remained at his post, a faithful pastor, .recommending the Christian religion by a well-rounded. life. He imparted his own stability of character to the parish, and it rose to be one of the first in good works for the Master. It became the missionary parish at home and abroad. Dr. Bronson resigned after sixteen years of earnest labor to accept a professorship in Kenyon College, Gambier, October, 1866. Rev. W. Farr, of Philadelphia, was called to be next rector. Building upon Dr. Bronson's foundation he inaugurated an era of giving. He built a beautiful stone chapel in the Western Liberties under the name of St. John's ; also a new stone church named Calvary. This latter took the place of St. Ann's, Camptown. Calvary soon became an independent parish with its own rector. The land for This church was donated by Mr. C. C. Keech, who also gave the land for St. Luke's, where a temporary edifice was being built. To aid in This home missionary work an assistant was elected in the person of Rev. G. R. Sturgess, who was succeeded by Rev. C. L. Pindar, and he by Rev. A. B. Nicholas in 1876. Mr. Nicholas also assumed the title of rector of Calvary Church.

In 1875 the Hospital of the Good Samaritan was inaugurated and chartered and the building commenced. In October, 1877, to the unanimous regret of his parishioners, Mr. Farr resigned, and assumed charge and rectorship of the Church of the Saviour, in Philadelphia. During the eleven years of Mr. Farr's rectorship the receipts from all sources reached the large sum of nearly $100,000.

In October, 1877, Rev. L. S. Osborne, of Xenia, 0., was called to the rectorship and entered upon his duties January 6, 1878. During his administration the church gave liberally to missions and built a beautiful chapel to take the place of the temporary building at St. Luke's. At Easter, 1883, Rev. R. N. Avery was added to the clerical force of the parish. At the same time

358 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

the chapel at Venice placed itself under the care of Grace Church. During the summer of 1882 and 1883, extensive repairs and improvements were made, and the parish was in a flourishing condition.

The resignation of Mr. Osborne January 6, 1884, was the cause of universal regret and sorrow to his parishioners and friends, and again the parish was without a rector. Rev. Francis K. Brooke, of Piqua, 0., was called to the parish and assumed the rectorship March 23, 1884. Mr. Brooke was an earnest, faithful worker, a staunch churchman, and deeply respected by all who knew him. He was called to St. Peter's Church, St. Louis, and entered upon his duties there in the spring of 1886. The eleventh rector, Rev. Richard Lewis Howell, was called to the parish in December, 1886, and assumed the rectorship January 1, 1887. In February he was elected rector of Calvary Church, and in April the new chapel in Venice, which had been closed for nearly two years, was opened and regular services held. Rev. Charles Sturges was called to Fernandina, Fla., and resigned Calvary Church in February. He was the much beloved successor of the Rev. A. B. Nicholas, who in his time had won the hearts of the whole community of church people in Sandusky, and had resigned to become general missionary of the dioceSe. Rev. Mr. HOWell received Mr. William J. Hawthorne as a student and candidate for holy orders from Philadelphia, hoping for his ordination in the near future. Rev. William B. Guion, formerly assisting at Grace Church, Cleveland, was called as the assistant at Calvary Church. Mr. Guion remained but a few weeks. The past year has been one of great prosperity. St. John's, St. Luke's, Calvary, have all been greatly beautified and improved. The hospital has entered upon a bright era of prosperity. The generosity of the people has vastly increased, and already a parish building has been donated to Grace Church. There are rumors of other gifts, and the whole parish seems roused to a sense of its opportunity and responsibility. A debt exceeding $1,200 has been paid, and for the first time in many years, not a penny of indebtedness rests upon any of the five churches in the rector's care. The Rev. B. M. Dougherty, of Christ Church, Huron, became the assistant in charge of Calvary Church, on Sunday, February 12, 1888. Grace Church property, $25,000 ; rectory, $6,000 ; Calvary Church and rectory, $6,000 ; St. Luke's, $4,000 ; St. John's, $4,000 ; hospital, $15,000.

Emanuel German Evangelical Protestant Church.—North-east corner of Columbus avenue and Adams street. Rev. John George Enzlin, pastor. Until July, 1844, there was but one German Church in Sandusky. At This time twenty-three individuals mat in the old court-house to consider the practicability of forming a second organization for public worship.

Jacob Hertel was chosen secretary, and the organization was formed. At the second meeting the subject of a building was introduced, and a committee of five was appointed to make arrangements for building. This was composed

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of the following gentlemen : Peter Gilcher, chairman ; John Horning, Fred. Reinheimer, Jacob Knerr, John Claussius.

In January, 1845, it was decided to build a brick church, thirty-six by forty feet, with a height of fifteen feet. At This time the church had already grown in its membership, until it numbered sixty-two members. Among these was John Shook, who is still living in our midst. In 1852 there were one hundred and seventy-one members, but in the year 1854 a number of the members concluded to withdraw and form a Lutheran Church, and left but one hundred and twenty members in the old church.

There was no constitution framed until 1854, but the government was congregational.

In 1857 the church called as pastor Rev. Moseback, who remained one year. After his departure Dr. Fisher was called on a salary of $300 per annum. He remained pastor of This church until 1867, when he was requested to resign and thereupon proceeded to form a church of his own, for which he built a church (now used as a dwelling house) and continued in Sandusky many years as its pastor.

In the year 1869 Rev. Seipell was called to the pastorate, and remained until 1872. In June, 1872, his successor, Rev. E. Von Schulenburg, became its pastor, and during his pastorate the church was united to the General Synod of North America, under whose care it still continues, After remaining four years Rev. E. Von Schulenburg left, but returned to the city again subsequently, and has since been pastor of the Church of St. Stephens.

The present pastor, J. G. Enzlin, has been here since 1876, and the church has gained in strength and power. He raised money to purchase a par4onage, a pretty building on the corner of Jackson and Monroe streets, valued at $2,500, and the church has now sixty voting members, and a complete membership numbering two hundred and forty. He teaches two months every summer, and divides his labors between Sandusky and Prout's Station, a rural station where he has a membership of forty-five voting members. He preaches in Sandusky every Sabbath morning, and every alternate Sabbath goes to his country church.

The new church was built in 1866, and is worth $10,000, with a pipe organ that cost them 1870. This building is situated on the corner of Adams and Columbus avenue.

To be a voting member the church requires not only that one should live a Christian life, but also that a certain amount be given to the church yearly. Where there are short-comings in these respects the members are excluded from the privilege of voting.

Salem Church (Evangelical Association), Rev. Matthew Guhl pastor, Adams street, between Wayne and Columbus avenue. This is the oldest German Church in Sandusky, and has existed since 1840. In its government it is very

360 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

similar to the Methodist denomination, and has its presiding elder, its bishop, and its conference.

In 1840 it was a mere appointment, belonging to the so-called Sandusky circuit of the Ohio Conference, which at that time contained about thirty-five stations or appointments. The preachers of those early times worked hard, and endured great trials. For twelve years they visited This town every four or six weeks, and kept life in the little enterprise. At This time they held their meetings in the old court-house, and their prayer- meetings in private dwellings. The meetings in the court house were well attended, even Catholics came to hear the Gospel because they had no church. In 1840 A. Strob preached here with great power, and several persons were converted to God. Two years before Mrs. Chr. Zollinger and some others had been converted.

In 1843 the Ohio Conference located a preacher here permanently, Rev. John Lutz. This man of God did a good work among the Germans of Sandusky.

The first building was erected on court-house square, and was a small frame house. It stood but three years, and was then ;old and removed. In 1854 the present church was built, near the blue school-house. Rev. L. Scheuerman was then pastor.

The first members of this church included some of the most respected German families, of whom some are still here, others have died, and many moved away. Most prominent among these are the following names: C. W. Zollinger and wife, J. Nicolai and wife, B. Wiegel and wife, John Kaegle and wife, Jacob Schumacker and wife, Mr. Traub and wife, John Walker and wife, John Brost and wife and others. The ministers who have been from time to time stationed here were the following : Rev. John Lutz, J. G. Ziegler Revs. Jos. Haffert, J. Hall, J. Kern, A. Miebel, G. Behner, G. F. Spreng, J. J. Lang, George Kagy, D. Hahn; L. Scheuerman, J. Strohman, J. Hanecker, C. T. Negele, J. D. Seip, J. Trech, K. Tramer, J. P. Schautz, J. Walz, J. Pontius, C. L. Well, and M. Guhl now in charge.

The number of members has varied greatly, and when other German Churches were established it had many difficulties to contend with. There are at present one hundred and forty members. A Sunday-school is flourishing of one hundred and thirty scholars, and fifteen officers and 'teachers. The present officers of the church are J. G. Ziegler, S. Becker, J. Walker, J. Schumacher, P. Vinnes (trustees). J. G. Ziegler and P. Vinnes (class-leader), S. Becker and P. Fuhr stewards.

The growth and success of This church would have been more continuous and greater could the first pastors have remained longer in charge. As a rule they remained but a single year, and as soon as they were acquainted with their people, were sent to other appointments. This kept the church from growing as it should have done. The present pastor has done a good work here, and is now on the third year of his pastorate.

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German Reformed Church, corner Hancock and Jefferson streets, Rev. Michael Treiber, pastor. Historically, This church is descended from the Swiss churches established in the sixteenth century, through the instrumentality of the reformer Zwingli. After the death of Zwingli the head of the church was assumed by John Calvin himself, who resided in Geneva. They are strictly orthodox in belief and have their churches in every town and city of our new world:

The German Reformed Church of Sandusky was formed in 1852, by a number of seceders from the German Evangelist Protestant Emanuel Church, under the leadership of Rev. Peter Bricker, to supply a want long felt for an orthodox German Church. They are placed under the supervision of the High Dutch Reformed Synod of Ohio and the adjoining States. Their house of worship is on the corner of Hancock and Jefferson streets, and their church membership nOW numbers about two hundred. The value of their property is $6,000. Their present pastor is Rev. Michael Treiber.

St. Stephen's German Evangelical Protestant Church, corner of Laurence and Jefferson streets, Rev. Ernst Von Schulenberg, pastor. In the year 18-- Dr. Von Schulenberg organized This church, and with a few families from the Emanuel Church, and several others, took steps toward a permanent organization. The necessity for a building forced them at once to make arrangements for its beginning, and Dr. Von Schulenberg succeeded in seeing one erected at a cost of $3,500, of which all but three hundred is now paid.

This church has a membership of fifty-five families, ten of these having been added since its organization. This church was dedicated in May, 1882, and at the present time the Sunday-school numbers one hundred and fifty scholars and fifteen teachers.

In addition to the work of the parish, and the service of the church, Dr. Von Schulenberg carries on a large medical practice and accomplishes a large amount of literary work. He has been a large giver to the church, and, as in the course of years some of his best families have been removed by death or change of residence, the burden is not light. One of his principal families, Mr. Fruechticht, returned to Hungary, and at present there are none to rise up and take the vacant places, but the work goes on, and the doctor labors earnestly for his church.

Friends.—Friends chapel is on the south side of Second street between Sycamore Line and Erie street. William Nicholson, minister. This society was organized in February, 1881. The house now occupied by them was built and formerly occupied by the Episcopalians, until their present house of worship was built on First street. At that time they sold their old church to the city School Board, to be used for school purposes, until the tenth ward school-house was built. The building then was left unoccupied, and in February, 188o, Rev. J. Strong, of the Congregational

362 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

church, assisted by J. J. Howell and others, rented the house from the Board of Education and gathered in fifty children that had hitherto been attending no Sabbath-school, and proceeded to organize a Sabbath-school, and elected D. C. Walker superintendent, and J. J. Howell secretary and treasurer. Under their management the interest and attendance increased until it was concluded that the cottage-prayer meetings, that had been held throughout the winter in private houses, should be moved to the church ; and through the interest of the people, and by their request, William Allen, a minister of the Society of Friends, from Indiana, with Charles Sweet, came and held revival meetings, at which there were several conversions. Thirteen or more requested to become members of the Friends Church, and thus Milan Monthly Meeting (at that time composed of the two meetings of Milan and Berlin), by the requests of these converts became interested, and the house was bought by the Friends. The church was organized in 1881, with J. J. Howell and Mary Jackson as elders. About This time Lida G. Romack, a noted lady minister and revivalist, of Alum Creek, held a series of meetings in which the whole community became interested ; so much so that the house could not hold the people, and an eager throng pressed around the doors and windows, even to the blocking of the street. More converts were thus brought in, and William Allen brought his membership as a minister from Indiana, and he and Charles Sweet preached for some time, until William was called to another field, and then the work rested on Charles Sweet for some months. Then G. J. Bartlett took charge of the work, with the other two appointments, until he was succeeded by William Nicholson, the present pastor. He was sent from East Richland by the Yearly Meeting's Pastoral Committee, in September, to Milan Monthly Meeting, and took This work in connection until one year ago, when it was decided to divide the work and give William Nicholson the work in Sandusky alone. At the time when he came to the city he found a membership of about thirty. Since that time there have been thirty-five by request, and five by letter, and the interest of the church is on the increase.

The Society of Friends have a yearly conference, and a quarterly meeting or conference. This church belongs to the Alum Creek Conference and the Ohio Yearly Meeting.

Wherever the Friends are found there is a monument to their founder, George Fox, who in 1657 organized the first society of This denomination, and lived to see 80,000 converted under him. The church in Sandusky is united and prosperous, and promises well for the future growth of its body, under its present earnest minister.

German Lutheran Church.—Corner of Washington and Jackson streets. Rev. Jacob Dornbirer, pastor. In June, 1852, a meeting was called with the intention of forming a church, and Rev. Schladtermundt was appointed to draft the constitution.

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January 18, 1853, This organization joined the Lutheran Synod, of Ohio, and the same day proceeded to elect trustees and Sunday- school officers. The first trustees were : Bernhardt Meier, George Hartman, George Lanz. The first minister was Rev. Schladtermundt. Rev. Kline succeeded him August 6, 1853, and Rev. Seidel followed him March, 1855. Then came George Lehr in 1856, who remained twenty-two years and died February 6, 1879. His successor was J. Dornbearer in the same year. They own a parsonage and now have a church of two hundred families.

Methodist Episcopal Church.—South side of Washington, between Jackson and Decatur streets. Rev. J. F. Brant, pastor. Methodists are always pioneers. They are found wherever a few families have settled, and proceed to organize themselves at once into a class. In Sandusky City they did This in its earliest days, and until 1828 they worshiped in private houses. At This time they erected the first church building ever erected here, and had Rev. John James for their pastor. It was a small one-story building on Jackson street, facing west from the present court-house.

In those days it was customary for brother Daniel Van Fleet to blow the horn for assembling the people for worship, but in a few years This custom was relegated to the background, and the more modern fashion of ringing a. small bell was substituted in its place. Rev. L. B. Gurley completed the interior of the church in 183o, and was heard to say that the pulpit was so unlike anything in heaven or earth that there would be no sin in worshiping it: Among the first members were the following persons : Daniel Van Fleet, Father Kelly, J. H. Norman, Father Allen, D. H. Tuttle, Mrs. Eunice E. Newton, Mrs. Mary Osborn, Mrs. Mary A. Paul, Mrs. Mary Holland, Mrs. Amanda Smith, Mrs. Elenore Smith, Mrs. Susan Dean, Martin C. Clarkson. From the erection of the first church in 1828 until the building of the second in 1847, the following pastors succeeded each other in the charge of This church : John Jones, William Runnels, L. B. Gurley, Edward Thompson (afterward bishop), Thomas Barkdull, John Quigley, Orin Mitchell, William C. Pierce, 0. Burgess and Clark Johnson, Thomas Thompson and Ralph Wilcox, Harvey Camp and Thomas Cooper, E. McClure and S. I. Seymour, E. R. Jewett.

It was when Mr. Jewett was pastor that the second Methodist Episcopal Church edifice was erected on what is now the High School grounds opposite the Congregational Church. When almost completed it was burned. The next church edifice was erected on the West Square between the Congregational Church and the present stone church occupied by the German Lutherans. The following were the regularly appointed pastors : From 1845, 1846, 1847, E. R. Jewett ; 1847 and 1848, Ebenezer R. Hill ; 1848 and 1849, Hibbard P. Ward, who died of cholera; Thomas Cooper, appointed chaplain to, the seamen in 1848, died of cholera in 1849 ; in 1849 and 1850, Edward S.

364 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

Grumley ; 1850, 1851, 1852, James A. Kellam ; 1852 and 1853, Alexander Wilson ; 1853 and 1854, Liberty Prentiss ; 1854 and 1855, Samuel M. Beatty, second charge, the church being divided.

It was during This year that the name of the district was changed from Tiffin to Sandusky.

In 1855, 1856, 1857, Jacob T. Caples, Samuel M. Beatty, and Simon A. Lee, second charge, and William C. Pierce, presiding elder ; 1856, 1857, 1858, Alfred Wheeler ; 1858 and 1859, Alpha Wright ; 1860 and 1861, Moses K. Hard ; 1861, 1862, 1863, T. F. Hildrith, E. R. Jewett, presiding elder ; 1863 and 1864, W. H. Nickerson ; 1864 and 1865, Alfred Wheeler ; 1865-1867, William D. Godman ; 1867, 1868, 1869, A. J. Lyon ; 1869, 1870, 1871, Leonard B. Gurley ; 1871, 1872, 1873, John A. Mudge; 1873 and 1874, George W. Collier ; 1875, 1876, 1877, P. B. Stroup ; 1877, 1878, 1879, A. D. Knapp ; 1879 and 188o, George W. Pepper ; 1881 and 1882, B. G. Hoadley ; 1883, 1884. 1885, B. T. Stevenson ; 1886, 1887, 1888, J. F. Brant.

At present the church is known as Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a large, handsome, brick structure, with facing and two towers, the eastern one terminating in a high, graceful spire. It is handsomely finished within and furnished with taste. Rev. E. R. Jewett and the ladies of the church raised over $6,000 of the amount necessary to complete the present building. The property is valued at $25,000. The church was dedicated in 1882.

This church has a present membership of two hundred and seventy full members and forty probationers, with a Sunday-school of two hundred and ten scholars.

Stewards : D. C. Powers, Dr. William Gaylord, R. J. Hargraves, N. A. Hadden, R. C. Gould, Rev. E. R. Jewett, Edward Haylor, Homer Ward, E. Gilbert, S. G. Cathermaine, William Booer, E. L. Redding. Trustees : Charles Cooke, R. M. Wilcox, Joseph Porter, B. Crozier, William H. McFall, G. E. Harris, W. R. Zollinger, J. E. Freeman, Daniel Buck. Rev. E. R. Jewett, superannuated preacher ; Martin C. Clarkson, local preacher.

German Methodist Episcopal Church south side of Jefferson, between Columbus avenue and Jackson, Rev. John Kuster, pastor. The First German Episcopal Society was organized in 1851, with a membership of eight persons. The church was built in 1852, on the court-house square. It was removed to its present location in 1880. The value of the property is $2,500. Its present membership is thirty-five. Trustees, J. Kachell, J. Richter, Fred Schor, H. Heinzerling, M. Crass, M. Marschall and A. Lickfeld.

The first church of This denomination in Margaretta township was for a time connected with Sandusky, and is still under the care of the same pastor, Rev. Kuster. This church was built in 1886. The building committee was A. G. Miller, A. Wiedenhoeft and L. Schoewe. Value of property $2,500. Membership thirty-five. Trustees, A. G. Miller, E. Miller L,. Kleinoeder, J. Young and L. Schoewe.

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African Methodist Episcopal Church, Steven's Chapel, Rev. George Stevens first pastor and founder of the church in 1879. Corner-stone laid by Rev. Morris in the same year. It has thirty members, and has had many obstacles to its growth, but still continues to exist in spite of all opposing forces. For many years one of its most active forces was Father Boston, well known to all Sandusky residents, and still living, but of great age.

The First Presbyterian Church, corner of Washington and Jackson streets, Rev. D. E. Bierce pastor. It was not until 1852, when Sandusky was a town of respectable proportions, and had witnessed the changes incident to thirty-five years of growth, that it was deemed necessary to organize a Presbyterian Church. At This time, December 11, 1852, twenty-six persons took their letters from the Congregational Church, and formed themselves into the First Presbyterian Church of Sandusky.

For a time their services were held in Campbell's Hall on Water street, and not until the following year did they make a move in the direction of building. This was in 1853, and in 1854 the lecture-room was completed and occupied. The entire building was completed in 1855, and dedicated in June of that year. Its cost was $33,000 including organ and bell. The lot had cost $2,000, making an entire cost of $35,000. It is built of native stone, beautifully situated on the corner of Washington and Jackson streets, facing the city park. In some respects it is the most attractive church edifice among the Protestant denominations in the city. Its first elders were W. P. Gray and Charles Cockran.

Rev. W. S. Kennedy was the first pastor. He took charge of his flock in 1852, and remained six years. He was an able and popular man, and at that time received and accepted a call to the Third Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas C. Campbell, a young graduate of Allegheny Theological Seminary, who began his work December 20, 1859, and remained until July, 1861. From that time the church was supplied by Rev. Mr. Cross of Baltimore until the following December, when Rev. Franklin Noble, a graduate of Union Theological Seminary, was chosen pastor. He remained in Sandusky almost three years, and left July 1, 1864.

In October, 1864, the church called Rev. George H. Fullerton from the Lancaster (Ohio) Presbyterian Church, and he became its pastor until November, 1867. He was a faithful servant and did a good work here. From Sandusky he went to the Walnut Hill's Church, Cincinnati. Rev. Dr. Keifer, professor of Heidelberg College, Tiffin, was called to succeed Mr. Fullerton, and continued his labors until February, 1869. In July of that year Rev. James McCoy, a young minister was called, and remained until October, 1872. He was succeeded by Rev. Mead C. Williams (since D.D.) who served the church faithfully from June, 1873, until March, 1877.

The church was now vacant six months, but supplied by Rev. D. J. Meese,

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who then became its pastor. He was not installed until November, 1880, and was a devoted and successful pastor until he received and accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Mansfield, 0., October 1,1886. After hearing various candidates the church decided to call Rev. D. E. Bierce, of Fargo, D. T., who accepted and began his work in 1887.

During the history of this church, extending over a period of more than thirty years, there have been many changes in its membership, and the usual vicissitudes of all church life have varied its numbers from year to year, now increasing, now decreasing, until at the present time it numbers a membership reaching almost, if not quite, two hundred persons. It has a Sabbath-school that is in a prosperous condition.

In 1869-70 it started a mission in the eastern part of the city, which has been promotive of great good, and is still cared for by the church. It averages about one hundred scholars, and the property is valued at $1,600.

ASSOCIATIONS, SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.

The Young Men's Christian Association. Among the numerous societies of Sandusky there is none of greater value and importance to the people generally, and none having more pure and praiseworthy objects in view—the reaching out for young men and drawing them away from vice, giving them opportunities for study and self-improvement, and providing them with honest employment —than that society known all through the land as the Young Men's Christian Association. And there is no society in This city that has made the stubborn fight for life against many trials, hardships, disadvantages, and disappointments as has this.

The Young Men's Christian Association of Sandusky was organized in the year 1870, through the personal endeavors of J. R. Davies, James Woodworth, James. E. Marshall, George J. Anderson, E. E. Upp and others, who felt the necessity of such an organization in the city, and saw abundant room for the society's work. Mr. Davies was elected president, and Byron Gager, secretary. After presiding over the society for some years Mr. Davies retired and was succeeded by D. C. Powers, and he, after two years, by Henry H. West. The latter, with a brief interval, held the presidency until the year 1884, when the present president was chosen. During that interval of time Mr. Davies filled the position, and it was while so holding that William R. McCullough rendered efficient service as general secretary ; and during the same period Mrs. Susan Collwell bequeathed to the association the sum of $500, to be used as the nucleus of a building fund.

The association obtained a refusal of a parcel of land on Washington Row, on which it was proposed to erect a suitable building, but before the transaction was fully consummated the owners conveyed the property to other persons, having received an offer somewhat in excess of the price to be paid by the

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society. From that time there seems to have been no effort made toward securing property or erecting a building. For about three years the association has occupied rented rooms on Columbus avenue at No. 204, but prior to their locating there it had quarters in the Hubbard block, at the corner of Columbus avenue and Water street.

The present officers of the Young Men's Christian Association are as follows : President, T. Bower ; secretary, Howard Bradley ; corresponding secretary, Richard Lee ; treasurer, 0. B. Bannister. The association now numbers seventy-five members.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union. This society, the aim of which is no less worthy than that last above mentioned, was organized in Sandusky in 1879, by a number of well known ladies of the city, among whom were Mrs. J. Y. Beattie, Mrs. S. C. Norris, Mrs. Rev. D. J. Meese, Mrs. Rev. Knapp, Mrs. Amelia Lewis, Mrs. Dr. Chandler, Mrs. W. B. Hudson, Mrs. Mary E. West, Mrs. Josiah Strong, Mrs. Emma Nason, Mrs. William Cdoke, Mrs. Alvord, Mrs. Theodore Walker, Mrs. B. F. Thompson, and perhaps others whose names cannot now be recalled. The object of the society becomes at once patent by reference to its name — the work of combatting intemperance and kindred vices through Christian influences and Christian work.

The union has a membership of about thirty, but unfortunately perhaps, the hard work of the society devolves upon some eight or ten of its more active members. The present officers are Mrs. Mary E. West, president ; Mrs. Samuel Facer, vice-president ; Mrs. J. Y. Beattie, secretary ; Mrs. B. F. Thompson, treasurer ; Mrs. William Cooke, superintendent of the Woman's Temperance Publication Society.

The Order of Free Masonry. Of the hardy pioneers, those who first settled in Ohio when its broad domain was but a vast wilderness, when the red man and the wild beast roamed at will through the then almost unbroken forest, many were Masons, made in the older States, from which they came. Small settlements grew into communities, and they were organized into villages, towns, and thus came cities, and when they who had been taught to use the trowel to spread the cement of brotherly love and affection without regard to the ordinary avocations of life in which their several lots were cast, found themselves gathered together in any given locality in sufficient numbers, feeling the want of a Masonic home, the members of the order proceeded from time to time to organize their lodges, and erect their altars, generally obtaining authority to do so from the grand lodges existing in the States in which a portion of them had lived before coming to Ohio, and they thereby owed allegiance to the several grand lodge jurisdictions from which they had obtained charters, so that prior to 1808 there were in This State six subordinate lodges respectively located, one each in the towns of Marietta, Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Worthington, Warren and Zanesville.

368 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

By an arrangement previously made and entered into by and between the officers and members of the said several lodges a convention had been called to meet at Chillicothe, the then capital of the State, on Monday, January 4, A. D. i 8o8. The Legislature was assembled at the same time, and by virtue of said argument and call, said convention did assemble for the purpose of organizing a grand lodge, and during the week the grand lodge was organized to be known as the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of Ohio.

The meager records preserved of the perfecting of the organization at that time show, that of the early settlers of Ohio some of whom gained not only a State but a national reputation and were honored and respected by the people, that Lewis Cass, Philoman Beecher, Rufus Putnam, Thomas Henderson, George Tod, Isaac Van Horn, Robert Colver, Ichabod Ney, William Skinner, Thomas Gibson, Elias Langham, Levin Belt, Charles A. Stewart, Peter Spruck, James Kilbourn, David Putnam, Henry Massie, John Seely and Francis Mennessier, all Master Masons, were present and participated in the good work in laying the foundation on which the great Masonic edifice in Ohio has been erected.

After going through with the preliminaries necessary under the circumstances " to establish a more perfect union," they proceeded to perfect the organization by the election of permanent officers, viz.: G. M., Rufus Putnam; D. G. M., Thomas Henderson ; S. G. W., George Tod ; J. G. W., Isaac Van Horn ; G. Sec'y, David Putnam ; G. Treas., Henry Massie ; G. S. D., Philoman Beecher ; G. J. D., Levin Belt ; G. Marshal, Charles A. Stewart ; G. Tyler, Peter Spruck.

Science Lodge No. 50, F & A. M. of Sandusky. In June, 1818, when Sandusky was but a small village containing but a few hundred inhabitants, and the Indians in This part of Ohio outnumbered the whites, there were among these early settlers quite a number that were Masons. Among and of them were Hector Kilbourn, a surveyor, Dr. George Anderson, Eleutherus Cook, Moers Farwell, John D. Wheeler, Ebenezer Ransom and others, having been made Masons before they came to Sandusky, and being more or leSs imbued with a love and reverence for the order, and feeling that they wanted a Masonic home wherein to gather in fraternal union, caused an application to be prepared and signed by the requisite number of Master Masons, and forwarded it to the G. M. of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, asking of him the authority to organize a subordinate lodge in Sandusky, and in July, 1818, Chester Griswold, the then M. W grand master, granted the dispensation prayed for, and appointed Hector Kilbourn W. M., and by order of the grand lodge held at Columbus, December, 1818, Science Lodge with others was authorized to continue its labors under the dispensation until the next communication of the grand lodge.

At the session of the grand lodge held in Columbus, December, 1819, Hec-

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tor Kilbourn was its representative, and recorded as the master of the lodge in the published proceedings of that year, which also show that the returns of the lodge were not received in time to be acted upon before adjournment, whereby the lodge continued to work under the dispensation another year.

At the session of the grand lodge held at Columbus, commencing December 11, 1820, the committees on charters and dispensations reported in favor of granting a charter, which report was accepted and charter granted, and was duly issued, signed by John Snow, M. W. grand master, and Benjamin Gardner, grand secretary. Brother Lyman Farwell was its representative to the grand lodge at the session of 1820.

In December, 1820, the organization of Science Lodge No. so F. and A. M. was perfected under its charter, and entered upon its course as a full fledged lodge, and the following is a list of its officers so far as reported up to and including the year 1835.

1820.—W. M., Hector Kilbourn; S. W., Samuel B. Carpenter; J. W., Henry Tuller ; treasurer, Ebenezer Ransom ; secretary, Eleutherus Cooke ; S. D., Ab. Toutelett ; J. D., John D. Wheeler ; tyler, Ely Thompson.

1821.—W. M., Hector Kilbourn ; S. W., M. Farwell ; J. W., Eleutherus Cooke; treasurer, Wesley Anderson ; secretary, William Hull; S. D., Alexander Clemons ; J. D., S. B. Caldwell ; tyler, L. Walker.

1823.—W. M., Moers Farwell ; S. W., Eleutherus Cooke ; J. W., John Wheeler ; treasurer, George Anderson ; secretary, Lyman Farwell ; S. D., Wesley Anderson ; J. D., A. Lyman ; tyler, L. Walker.

1824.—W. M., George Anderson; S. W., John Wheeler ; J. W., Seth Hull ; treasurer, David Campbell ; secretary, Hector Kilbourn ; S. D., Wesley Anderson; J. D., A. Lyman ; tyler, William B. Smith.

1825.—W. M., George Anderson ; S. W., John Wheeler ; J. W., Abner Root ; treasurer, David Campbell ; secretary, Samuel Allyn Otis ; S. D., William Kelley ; J. D., Luther Damison ; tyler, William B. Smith.

1826.—W. M., M. Farwell ; S. W., Hector Kilbourn ; J. W., Samuel A. Otis ; treasurer, William Kelley ; secretary, J. N. Sloan ; S. D., Alexander M. Porter ; J. D., A. Root ; tyler, Seth Hull.

1829.—W. M., George Anderson; S. W., H. Kilbourn; J. W., Abner Root; treasurer, A. M. Porter; secretary, H. H. Wilcoxon ; S. D., Samuel Walker ; J. D., A. C. Corbett ; tyler, Leicester Walker.

1830.—W. M., George Anderson; S. W., H. Kilbourn; J. W., Abner Root; treasurer, A. M. Porter; secretary. H. H. Wilcoxon; S. D. Samuel Walker; J. D., A. C. Corbett ; tyler, Leicester Walker.

1831.—W. M., George Anderson ; S. W., H. Kilbourn ; J. W., Abner Root ; treasurer, A. M. Porter; secretary, H. H. Wilcoxon; S. D., Samuel Walker ; J. D., A. C. Corbett ; tyler, Leicester Walker.

1832.—W. M., George Anderson ; S. W., H. Kilbourn ; J. W., Abner

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Root ; treasurer, A. M. Porter ; secretary, Erastus Cooke ; S. D., M. Farwell ; J. D., J. N. Sloan ; tyler, Leicester Walker.

1833.—W. M., George Anderson; S. W., H. Kilbourn; J. W., Abner Root; treasurer, A. M. Porter; Secretary, J. N. Sloan; S. D., M. Farwell; J. D., Erastus Cooke ; tyler, Leicester Walker.

1834.—W. M., George Anderson ; S. W., H. Kilbourn ; J. W., Abner Root ; treasurer, A. M. Porter ; secretary, E. Cooke ; S. D., M. Farwell; J. D., : tyler, Leicester Walker.

1835.—W. M., J. N. Sloan; S. W., 0. F. Drake; J. W., W. B. Smith; treasurer, Samuel Walker ; secretary, Winslow Corbett ; S. D., M. Farwell ; J. D., Abner Lyman ; tyler, A. Root.

During the years 1821-22-23 This lodge was not represented in the grand lodge. It was represented by Eleutherus Cooke in 1824 ; not represented in 1825 or 1826. Represented by Hector Kilbourn in 1827 ; Dr. George Anderson in 1828 ; Hector Kilbourn and Abner Root in 1829 ; Platt Benedict 1830; Hector Kilbourn again in 1831 ; Abner Root in 1831-32-33 and '34 ; Hector Kilbourn and John N. Sloan in 1835, and in 1836 by John N. Sloan. All of these old patriarchs in Masonry, who figured those' days in Sandusky were called in due time, and when ripe in years, to take their seats in the grand lodge above. Called over the river from time to eternity to render an account of their stewardship. Called from labor to refreshment, and let it be hoped that each of them was found to have his credentials properly signed, and his eligibility found satisfactory, when examined for admission in the grand lodge above, and that their paths were strewn with more flOWers and less thorns than when sojourning on This mundane footstool. By reason of the reverses and vicissitudes of life that beset and overcome the good as well as the bad, the strong as well as the weak, the rich as well as the poor, Science Lodge was dormant from 1836, and intervening years up to 1848, and its charter was returned to the grand lodge. September 4, 1848, upon the application of George R. Morton, William B. Smith, Harvey Camp, C. D. Morehouse, David Powers, Eleutherus Cooke, Thomas Hogg and H. Howe, M. Z. Kreider, the then G. M., of Lancaster, issued a dispensation, giving the same name and number, thus virtually reviving the old lodge, and appointed George R. Mortou, W. M.; Eleutherus Cooke S. W., and William B. Smith, J. W.; the other officers not recorded. And on September 11, 1848, at the regular communication of the grand lodge then held at Columbus, a new charter was granted which was issued of date of September 26, 1848, bearing the names of George R. Morton, Eleutherus Cooke, William B. Smith, Henry Howe, Erastus Cooke, Andrew Lytle, David Powers, Archibald Brucefield and Henry Camp as charter members, and shortly thereafter were elected the officers for the year 1848, and then follow the officers in proper succession to and for the year 1888, viz.:

1849.—W. M., George R. Morton ; S. W., W. G. Melville Milne ; J. W.,

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Archibald Brucefield; treasurer, Heu. Howe; secretary, Charles H. Lee; S.D., Andrew Lytle ; J. D., Rodney Lathrop ; tyler, Francis Bust.

1850.—W. M., George R. Morton ; S. W., W. G. Melville Milne ; J. W., S. Cadwalader ; treasurer, D. Powers ; secretary, Charles H. Lee ; S. D., A. Lytle ; J. D., Jos. Guiterman ; tyler, Nathaniel Bowles.

1851.—W. M., George R. Morton; S. W., W. G. Melville Milne; J. W., S. Cadwalader; treasurer, D. Powers; secretary, J. Guiterman; S. D., J. K. Walsh; J. D., A. H. Gale ; tyler, Nathaniel Bowles.

1852.—W. M., W. G. Melville Milne; S. W., S. Cadwalader; J. W., J. Guiterman; treasurer, D. Powers; secretary, George J. Patterson; S. D., R. T. Green ; J. D., N. H. Moore ; tyler, Nathaniel Bowles.

1853.—W. M., George R. Morton; S. W., W. H. Tucker; J. W., B. R. Pratt; treasurer, R. T. Green; secretary, George J. Patterson; S. D., W. Simpson; J. D., F. W. Pomeroy ; tyler, F. Butz.

1854.—W. M., W. G. Melville Milne; S.W., F. M. Follett; J. W., A. Lytle; treasurer, A. H. Gale ; secretary, Frank Ward ; S. D., R. D. Kellogg ; J. D., E. Tilden ; tyler, Heichenback.

1855.—W. M., F. M. Follett ; S. W., A. H. Gale ; J. W., G. S. Patterson; treasurer, W. Simpson; secretary, I. T. Davis ; S. D., H. S. Adams ; J. D., L. H. Kilbourn ; tyler, F. Butz.

1856.—W. M., A. H. Gale ; S. W., W. Simpson ; J. W., H. A. Arnold ; treasurer, G. S. Patterson; secretary, I. T. Davis ; S. D., N. H. Moore ; J. D., S. B. Conklin ; tyler, F. Butz.

1857.—W. M., A. H. Gale; S. W., George Morton ; J. W., N. H. Moore ; treasurer, G. S. Patterson ; secretary, George J. Anderson ; S. D., F. Kelsey ; J. D., H. J. McCord ; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1858.—W. M., A. H. Gale; S.W., George Morton; J. W., F. Kelsey; treasurer; F. M. Follett ; secretary, G. W. Glick ; S. D., J. N., Smead; J. D., J. B. Merrick ; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1859.—W. M., E. H. Wilcox; S. W., H. G. Robinson; J.W., D. M. Arndt; treasurer, George Marsh ; secretary, V. Scott ; S. D., A. D. Kinney; J. D., Alonzon Yeomans ; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1860.—W. M., George Morton; S. W., A. H. Gale; J. W., J. D. Lea; treasurer, F. M. Follett; secretary, H. F. Padden; S. D., E. Weller; J. D.,W. Spittle; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1861.—W. M., George Morton; S. W., F. Kelsey; J. W., J. F. Smith; treasurer, F. M. Follett ; secretary, V. Scott ; S. D., W. Spittle ; J. D., T. Ingle; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1862.—W. M., George Morton; S. W., F. Kelsey; J. W., George J. Anderson ; treasurer, A. H. Gale ; secretary, V. Scott ; S. D., H. F. Paden ; J. D., L. Monat; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1863.—W. M., George Morton; S. W., F. Kelsey ; J. W., Timothy Ingle;

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treasurer, L. Monat; secretary, B. W. Beatty; S. D., F. W. Cogswell; J. D., R. A. Forster ; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1864.—W. M., F. Kelsey ; S. W., T. Ingle ; J. W., George J. Anderson ; treasurer, L. Monat ; secretary, J. B. Harding ; S. D., E. H. Wilcox ; J. D., L. P. Robinson ; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1865.—W. M., T. Ingle ; S. W., G. J. Anderson ; J. W., E. H. Wilcox ; treasurer, L Monat; secretary, J. B. Harding; S. D., C. F. Ohlemacher; J. D., C. L. McEwen ; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1866.—W. M., A. H, Gale; S. W., G. J. Anderson; J. W., E. H. Wilcox; treasurer, L. Monat; secretary, E. M. Colver; S. D., F. Kelsey; J. D., C. Benjamin ; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1867.—W. M., George J. Anderson ; S. W., E. H. Wilcox ; J. W., C. N. Ryan ; treasurer, L. Monat ; secretary, V. Scott ; S. D., V. B. Palmer ; J. D., C. Benjamin ; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1868.—W. M., E. H. Wilcox; S. W., H. G. Robinson; J. W., Thomas McFall; treasurer, George Marsh; secretary, V. Scott; S. D., V. B. Palmer; J. D., L. M. Lea; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1869.—W. M., H. A. Arnold ; S. W., N. H. Moore ; J. W., H. G. Robinson ; treasurer, F. M. Follett ; secretary, H. D. M. Mann; S. D., J. N. Neiderlander ; J. D., J. B. Bradley ; tyler, F. Sharlleau.

1870.—W. M., William Swanston ; S. W., H. G Robinson; J. W., L. Monat ; treasurer, George Marsh ; secretary, V. Scott ; S. D., A. D. Kinney ; J. D., F. V. Follett ; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1871.—W. M., E. H. Wilcox ; S. W., D. M. Arndt ; J. W., A. D. Kinney; treasurer, George Marsh; secretary, F. V. Follett; S. D., H. M. Bronson; J. D., S. S. Walker ; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1872.—W. M., D. M. Arndt; S. W., A. D. Kinney; J. W., H. M. Bronson; treasurer, George Marsh; secretary, Thomas M. Hubbard; S. D., S. S. Walker; J. D., Philip Kunz, jr.; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1873.—W. M., A. D. Kinney; S. W., John C. Zollinger; J. W., Philip Kunz, jr.; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; secretary, Thomas M. Hubbard; S. D., Henry F. Coffin; J. D., J. W. Post; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1874.—W. M., A. D. Kinney; S. W., John C. Zollinger; J. W., J. R. Miner; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox ; secretary, V. Scott; S. D., F. V. Follett; J. D., J. W. Post ; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1875.—W. M., J. C. Zollinger; S. W., E. M. Colver; J. W., Charles E. Martin; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; secretary, V. Scott; S. D., C. M. Keyes; J. D., J. E. Wing ; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1876.—W. M., H. G. Robinson; S. W., C. E. Martin; J. W., C. Benjamin ; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; secretary, V. Scott; S. D., A. C. Neiderlander; J. D., M. L. Starr; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1877.—W. M., J. R. Miner; S. W., E. M. Colver; J. W., L M. Lea ; treas-

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urer, E. FT: Wilcox; secretary, V. Scott; S. D., C. M. Keyes; J. D., H. L. Green; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1878.—W. M., E. M. Colver; S. W., L. Monat; J. W., U. T. Curran; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; secretary, F. V. Follett; S. D., J. B. Taylor; J. D., H. L. Green; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1879.—W. M., E. M. Colver; S. W., L. Monat; J. W., U. T. Curran; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; secretary, A. D. Kinney; S. D., J. B. Taylor; J. D., James Ballantyne; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1880.—W. M., E. M. Colver; S. W., L. Monat; J. W., J. B. Taylor; treasurer; E. H. Wilcox; secretary, A. D. Kinney; S. D., S. A. Collins; J. D., James Ballantyne; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1881.—W. M., E. M. Colver; S. W., L. Monat; J. W., J. B. Taylor; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox ; secretary, U. T. Curran ; S. D., James Ballantyne ; J. D., Moses Doyle ; tyler, F. Kelsey.

1882.—W. M., E. M. Colver; S. W., J. B. Taylor, jr.; J. W., E. B., Mackey; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; secretary, U. T. Curran ; S. D., James Ballantyne; J. D., A. F. Rice.

1883.—W. M., Leopold Monat; S. W., D. R. Arnold; J. W., Alston Ellis; secretary, B. W. Thompson; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; S.D., James Ballantyne; J. D., Adam F. Rice; tyler, John B. Taylor, jr.

1884.---W. M., Leopold Monat; S. W., D. R. Arnold; J. W., Alston Ellis; secretary, Benjamin W. Thompson; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; S. D., Adam F. Rice; J. D., Charles W. Kelsey; tyler, John B. Taylor, jr.

1885.—W. M., David R. Arnold ; S. W., Alston Ellis; J. W., C. F. Schoepfle; secretary, B. W. Thompson; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; S. D., Adam F. Rice; J. D., Charles W. Kelsey ; tyler, John B. Taylor, jr.

1886.—W. M., David R. Arnold; S. W., Alston Ellis; J. W., C. F. Schcepfle; secretary, B. W. Thompson; treasurer, E. H. Wilcox; S. D., Adam F. Rice; J. D., Charles W. Kelsey; tyler, John B. Taylor, jr.

1887.—W. M., Christian F. Schoepfle; S. W., Lewis M. Lea; J. W., Adam F. Rice; secretary, Benjamin W. Thompson; treasurer, L. Monat; S. D., James B. Sanderson; J. D., Gilbert E. Harris; tyler, John B. Taylor, jr.

1888.—W. M., Lewis M. Lea; S. W., Adam S. Rice; J. W., Edmund B. King ; secretary, Benjamin W. Thompson ; treasurer, Leopold Monat ; S. D., James B. Sanderson ; J. D., Hiram E. Dewey ; tyler, John B. Taylor, jr.

Since the reorganization in 1848 the organization has been kept up without having to encounter anything particular in shape of reverses except in 1849, when in its second childhood the cholera swept off many of its most treasured members. Latterly there has been a slOW, silent, but steady increase, having to January 1, 1888, a membership of one hundred and thirty-one in good standing, and is in a good and healthy condition. The regular and stated communications are held on the first and third Mondays of each month.

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 374

Perseverance Lodge, No. 329, F & A. M.—Early in the year A. D. 1860, application was made to the grand master of the grand lodge of Ohio by George S. Patterson, Andrew C. Fry, Alexander H. Black and others for authority to organize another subordinate lodge in Sandusky, and the then grand master, Horace B. Stoker, issued to them a dispensation dated March 2, 1860, and he appointed as W. M., George S. Patterson; S. W., Andrew C. Fry; J. W., Alexander H. Black; and on the 13th day of March, 1860, under and by virtue of said dispensation the organization of Perseverance Lodge No. 329, F. & A. M., was perfected by selecting the following named brothers to fill the following offices under the dispensation, viz. : Treasurer, Joseph Lansdown ; secretary, W. G. Melirille Milne ; S. D., Neil H. Moore ; J. D., B. J. McComb ; tyler, F. Sharlleau, and adopting a code of by-laws, and said lodge continued to work under said dispensation until October 30, 1860, when it was duly constituted, and the officers continued to December 25, 1860. When the officers for the year 1861 were duly installed at the regular annual session of the grand lodge held at Columbus in October, 186o, the granting of the dispensation was approved and a charter was granted, and the by-laws previously prepared were presented and approved with the recommendation of a very few changes, which were accepted as amended, and the charter was duly issued of date of October 18, 186o, with the names of George S. Patterson, Andrew D. Fry, A. H. Black, George A. Gaylord, Joseph Lansdown, B. J. McComb, Horace Brooks, Niel H. Moore, and Hiram A. Arnold, appearing therein as. charter members, signed by Horace M. Stokes, M. W. G. M., and John D. Caldwell, R. W. G. secretary, with the seal of the grand lodge attached, and at the stated communication of said lodge held on the second Tuesday of December, 1860, a full set of officers were elected for the year 186i, and continued thereafter from year to year, viz :

1861.—G. J. Patterson, W. M. ; N. H. Moore, S. W. ; C. S. Gregg, J. W. ; J. Lansdown, treasurer; W. G Melville Milne, secretary ; A. C. Fry, S. D. ; William Gaylord, J. D. ; A. H. Black, tyler.

1862.—A. H. Black, W. M. ; G. Gaylord, S. W. ; D. F. Lumley, J. W. ; J. Lansdown, treasurer ; S. M. White, jr., secretary ; N. H.. Moore, S. D. ; N. H. Hammond, J. D. ; H. Brooks, tyler.

1863.—N. H. Moore, W. M. ; D. F. Lumley, S. W. ; H. Brooks, J. W. ; J. Lansdown, treasurer ; S. M. White, jr., secretary; W. Dixon, S. D.; Thomas. Williams, J. D. ; J. M. Bailey, tyler.

1864.—D. F. Lumley, W. M. ; J. Lansdown, S. W. ; H. E. O'Hagan, J. W. ; J. H. Blakesley, treasurer; C. Schnaitter, secretary ; H. Brooks, S. D. ; H. Appel, J. D. ; J. Neuert, tyler.

1865.—H. E. O'Hagan, W. M.; William Gaylord, S. W.; — Rosenbaum, J. W. ; H. Brooks, treasurer ; C. Schnaitter, secretary; Thomas Williams, S. D. ; 4. Butts, J. D. ; J. Schaub, tyler.

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1866.—H. E. O'Hagan, W. M.; J. Lansdown, S. W. ; C. H. Rosenbaum, J. W. ; S. M. White, jr., treasurer ; C. Schnaitter, secretary; R. Haylor, S.. D. ; J. Renart, J. D. ; J. Schaub, tyler.

1867.—H. E. O'Hagan, W. M. ; T. Hubbard, S. W. ; J. Lansdown, J. W. ; S. M. White, jr., treasurer ; C. Schnaitter, secretary; E. R. Dove, S. D.; J. Renart, J. D. ; J. Schaub, tyler.

1868.—T. Hubbard, W. M. ; J. B. McComb, S. W. ; A. Butts, J. W. ; S. M. White, jr., treasurer ; C. Schnaitter, secretary ; D. Kunz, S. D. ; John Dean, J. D. ; J. Schaub, tyler.

1869.—T. Hubbard, W. M. ; B. J. McComb, S. W. ; W. J. Affleck, J. W.; H. E. O'Hagan, treasurer ; C. Brennen, secretary ; D. Kunz, S. D. ; J. Dean, J. D. ; H. Selzer, tyler.

1870.—H. E. O'Hagan, W. M. ; D. Kunz, S. W. ; C. E. Ferris, J. W. ; R. E. Schuck, treasurer; J. Kilby, secretary ; 0. Wilson, S. D. ; W. F. Chaney, J. D. ; D. S. Worthington, tyler.

1871.—I. F. Mack, jr., W. M. ; A. J. Gawne, S. W. ; A. Butts, J. W. ; R. E. Schuck, treasurer ; W. S. Sanford, secretary ; H. Chamberlain, St. D. ; H. Selzer, J. D. ; G. W. Magle, tyler.

1872.—N. H. Moore, W. M. ; 0. Wilson, S. W. ; W. F. Chaney, J. W. ; R. E. Schuck, treasurer ; W. J. Affleck, secretary; H. M. Chamberlain, S. D. ; U. H. Whitmore, J. D. ; H. Ritter, tyler.

1873.—N. H. Moore, W. M. ; W. F. Chaney, S. W.; H. M. Chamberlain, J. W. ; R. E. Schuck, treasurer ; W. J. Affleck, secretary ; J. Farmer, S. D. ; J. Butts, J. D. ; E. Gillard, tyler.

1874.—N. H. Moore, W. M. ; W. F. Chaney, S. W. ; H. Selzer, J. W. ; R. E. Schuck, treasurer ; W. J. Affleck, secretary; H. Bricken, S. D. ; J. J. Butts, J. D. ; B. J. McComb, tyler.

1875.—W. F. Chaney, W. M. ; E. Gillard, S. W. ; H. Selzer, J. W. ; R. E. Schuck, treasurer ; W. J. Affleck, secretary ; H. Bricken, S. D. ; P. Quick, J. D. ; Charles Miller, tyler.

1876.—E. Gillard, W. M. ; H. Selzer, S. W. ; H. D. Steele, J. W. ; R. E. Schuck, treasurer ; W. J..Affleck, secretary; Thomas L. Williams, S. D. ; P. Quick, J. D. R. Haylor, tyler.

1877.—E. Gillard, W. M. ; C. E. Black, S. W.; J. J. Butts, J. W. ; R. E. Schuck, treasurer ; W. J. Affleck, secretary ; Thomas L. Williams, S. D.; F. Philby, J. D. ; H. E. O'Hagan, tyler.

1878 —E. Gillard, W. M. ; J. J. Butts, S. W. ; T. L. Williams, J. W. ; R.

E. Schuck, treasurer ; W. J. Affleck, Secretary ; W. H. Wilson, S. D. ; F. Philby, J. D. ; W. F. Chaney, tyler.

1879.—J. J. Butts, W. M. ; R. Haylor, S. W. ; W. H. Wilson, J. W. ; W. F. Chaney, treasurer; H. D. Seele, secretary ; W. Watson, S. D. ; F. Ward, J. D. ; B. F. Lee, tyler..

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1880.—J. J. Butts, W. M. ; R. Haylor, S. W. ; W. H. Wilson, J. W. ; W. F. Chaney, treasurer ; H. Bricken, secretary ; W. Watson, S. D. ; F. Ward, J. D. ; J. N. Wild, tyler.

1881.—C. E. Black, W. M. ; A. E. Merrill, S. W. ; W. Watson, J. W. ; G. Hart, treasurer ; H. Bricken, secretary ; C. Stroud, S. D. ; F. Ward, J. D. ; A. Butts, tyler.

1882.—C. E. Black, W. M. ; W. Watson, S. W. ; F. Philby, J. W. ; G. Hart, treasurer ; H. Bricken, secretary ; Wm. Melville, S. D. ; F. Wagner, J. D. ; A. Butts, tyler.

1883.—C. E. Black, W. M. ; William Watson, S.. W. ; F. Philby, J. W. ; G. Hart, treasurer ; H. Bricken, secretary; William Melville, S. D. ; F. Wagner, J. D. ; A. Butts, tyler.

1884.—A. E. Merrill, W. M. ; Charles Stroud, S. W. ; S. M. White, jr., J. W. ; G. Hart, treasurer ; Henry Bricken, secretary ; Frank Wagner, S. D. ; Fred Ward, J. D. ; Andrew Butts, tyler.

1885.—A. E. Merrill, W. M. ; Charles Stroud, S, W. ; Charles C. Lance, J. W. ; G. Hart, treasurer ; Hem-y Bricken, secretary ; Frank Wagner, S. D. ; William R. Kelham, J. D. ; Andrew Butts, tyler.

1886.—Charles Stroud, W. M. ; Thomas L. Williams. S. W ; John G. Stroble, J. W.; Randall E. Schuck, treasurer; Henry Bricken, secretary ; Charles E. Black, S. D. ; William R. Kelham, J. D. ; John N. Wild, tyler.

1887.—Charles Stroud, W. M. ; Thomas L. Williams, S. W. ; John G. Stroble, J. W. ; R. E. Schuck, treasurer ; Henry Bricken, secretary ; William R. Kelham, S, D. ; C. H. Myers, J. D. ; John N. Wild, tyler.

1888.—Thomas L. Williams, W. M. ; John G. Stroble, S. W. ; William R. Kelham, J. W. ; Randall E. Schuck, treasurer; Henry Bricken, secretary; Cornelius H. Myers, S. D. ; Charles B. Dennis, J. D. ; John N. Wild, tyler.

The first petition for initiation filed in Perseverance Lodge was signed by Charles L. Haines, March 13, 1860, was referred to a committee composed of brothers Neil H. Moore, B. J. McComb, and Andrew C. Fry.

The second regular stated meeting provided for under the by-laws was held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, March 27, 1860. At This meeting petitions were received from the following named persons praying to be admitted into the order, viz : Horace N. Bill, Clark S. Gregg, William Gaylord, and S. M. White, jr., and referred to the appropriate committees. And by the record we find on that evening, March 27, 1860, the committee having reported favorably on the petition of Cbarles L. Haines, he was then and there the first man made a mason, the first born of Perseverance Lodge, No. 329, F. & A. M., Sandusky.

From This small beginning she has by slow and silent increase grown, making a little average net gain, so that now she has .a membership of eighty-nine in good standing. This lodge holds its regular stated meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday in each month.

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Capitular Masonry.—Sandusky City Chapter No. 72, Royal Arch Masons. In the year 1752, according to Companion Albert G. Mackey, the first grand lodge or chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized in England. And from authority granted by it subordinate chapters were soon thereafter organized in the colonies. And the organization of the first grand chapter in This country was perfected late in the seventeenth century.

A grand chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized in this state at the city of , _____ October, 1816, and Samuel Hoyt was chosen as the first grand high priest. In March, 1856, Foster M. Follett, Andrew Lytle, 0. J. True and others, Royal Arch Masons in This city, applied to the M. E. G. H. P., Horace M. Stokes, for a dispensation to organize a chapter in This city. And a dispensation was granted of date of March 27, 1856, and he appointed Companions F. M. Follett, high priest ; Andrew Lytle, king, and 0. J. True, secretary, under the dispensation. And very soon thereafter the organization was completed and continued under the dispensation until a charter was issued by order of the Grand Chapter held at Zanesville in October, 1856, and it was issued of date of October 30, 1856, and the names of Foster M. Follett, Andrew Lytle, Orin J. True, R. R. McMeens, A. Pearsall, N. L. Brown, Casper J. Parsons, John McKinster, George Morton and F. Sharlleau, appear therein as charter members, and it was signed by Horace M. Stokes, G. H. P., and John D. Caldwell, grand secretary, and thereupon the Sandusky City Chapter No. 72 Royal Arch Masons, of This city, was fully organized and fully established under its charter. Its regular or stated meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays in each month, and it has now a membership of one hundred and eighteen in good standing. The following named companions were chosen to fill the principal offices of the chapter for the first eight years after its organization was completed, viz.:

Officers, 1856—H. P., F. M. Follett ; K., Andrew Lytle ; S., 0. J. True ; secretary, George Morton.

1857—H. P., F. M. Follett ; K., George Morton ; S., N. Byington ; secretary, H. S. Adams.

1858—H. P., George Morton ; K., F. M. Follett ; S., A. H. Gale ; secretary, H. S. Adams.

1859—H. P., A. H. Gale ; K., N. H. Moore ; S., H. S. Adams ; secretary, George J. Anderson.

1860—H. P., F. M. Follett ; K., H. S. Adams ; S., George S. Patterson ; secretary, George J. Anderson.

1861—H. P., F. M. Follett ; K., H. S. Adams ; S., George Patterson ; secretary, George J. Anderson.

1862—H. P., H. S. Adams ; K., N. H. Moore; S., John Brannon ; secretary, George Morton.

1863—H. P., H. S. Adams ; K., N. Byington ; S., J. Brannon ; secretary, George Morton.

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And deeming it not particularly necessary that they should be inserted, the names of those selected as officers therein, or omitted from 1864 to 1883, both included. And herewith appears a roster of the officers therein for the years 1884, 1885, 1887 and 1888-:

1884—T. L. Williams, H. P. ; D. R. Arnold, K. ; S. M. White, jr., S. ; L. Monat, C. H. ; E. B. Mackey, P. S. ; C. Stroud, R. A. C. ; D. W. C. Ruff, 3d V. ; H. C. Frederick, 2d V. ; C. C. Lance, 1st V. ; G. Hart, treasurer ; H. Bricken, secretary ; J. B. Taylor, guard.

1885—T. L. Williams, H. P. ; Lewis M. Lea, king ; G. W. Ferguson, scribe ; J. P. Seigfreid, C. H. ; H. G. Robinson, P. S. ; A. W. Williams, jr., R. A. C. ; C. M. Keyes, 3d V. ; Jas. B. Sanderson, 2d V. ; E. M. Colver, 1^st V. ; R. C. Schuck, treasurer; Lane Lockwood, secretary ; Jno. B. Taylor, guard.

1887—H. P., L. M. Lea ; king, C. M. Keyes ; scribe, E. Gillard ; C. of H., C. E. Black ; P. S., J. B. Sanderson ; R. A. C., A. C. Townsend ; 3d. V., W. L. Lewis; 2d V., G. E. Harris ; 1st V., J. N. Wilde ; treasurer, R. E. Sohuck ; secretary, Lane Lockwood ; guard, John S. Taylor, jr.

1888—H. P., L. A. Hultz ; king, Darwin Fay ; scribe, John W. Sisty ; C. of H., James Black ; P. S., C. H. Ruggles ; R. A. C., B. F. Schaeffer ; G. M. 3d V., C. L. Mason ; G. M. 2d V., Ransom Roscoe; G. M. 1st V., L. C. Mowry ; treasurer, J. H. Smith ; secretary, Addison Mixter ; guard, Levi Roscoe.

Sandusky City Council, No 26, R. and S. M. On or about March 17, 1857, a dispensation was granted by the T. I. G. Puissant John M. Barnes, of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters, of the State of Ohio, to Charles Curtis, George Morton, 0. J. True, F. Sharlleau, C. J. Parsons, R. D. McDonald, Neil H. Moore, Isaac N. Smead, W. M. Harrison and N. Byington, authorizing them to organize a subordinate council in Sandusky, to be known as Sandusky City Council No. 26, Royal and Select Masters. Their first meeting was held in March, 1857, and the organization was perfected by the election of the following officers, viz. :

1857—T. I. G. M., George Morton ; D. I. G. M., N. Byington ; P. C. W., N. H. Moore ; C. of G., 0. J. True ; recorder, C. J. Parsons; treasurer, Charles Curtis ; sentinel, F. Sharlleau.

And they continued to work under said dispensation up to second Friday in December, A. D. 1857. That at the meeting of the Grand Council ot R. and S. M., of Ohio, held at Columbus, 0., in October, 1857, the granting and issuing of the said dispensation was approved, and the issue of a charter was ordered. And of date of October 16, A. D. 1857, the charter was issued with the names of said Charles Curtis, George Morton and others, in said application set forth as above, appearing therein as charter members, which were signed by John M. Barnes, grand puissant ; J. M. Parks, grand T. I. ; Joseph

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Hildreth, G. C. of the work, and J. A. Caldwell, grand recorder, and at a meeting held on the evening of the day of 1857, the Sandusky City Council was regularly organized under and by authority of its charter, and the authority of the Grand Puissant, John M. Barnes, and the following is a. complete roster of its officers for the years following to This, viz. :

1858—T. I. G. M., Geo. Morton ; D. I. M., F. M. Follett ; P. C. W., Neil. H. Moore ; C. of G., Isaac N. Smead ; recorder, Casper J. Parsons ; treasurer, A. H. Gale ; sentinel, F. Sharlleau.

1859—T. I. G. M., N, H. Moore ; D. I. G. M., John McKinston ; P. C. W., J. A. Wisner ; C. of K. G., F. A. Schalze ; treasurer, A. H. Gale ; recorder, C. J. Parsons ; sentinel, F. Sharlleau.

1860 and 1861--T. I. M., F. M. Follett ; D. I. M., John McKinster ; P. C. W., Frederick Kelsey ; C. of G., E. Weller ; recorder, George Morton ; treasurer, A. H. Gale ; sentinel, F. Sharlleau.

1862-3-4—T. I. G. M., N. Byington ; D. I. G. M., N. H. Moore ; P. C. W., Fred. Kelsey ; C. G., Henry F. Paden ; treasurer, A. C. Townsend ; recorder, George Morton ; sentinel, F. Sharlleau.

1865—T. I. G. M., George Morton ; D. I. G. M., W. M. Harrison ; P. C. W., Fred. Kelsey ; C. of G., W. E. Lay ; treasurer, L. Monat ; recorder, B. W. Beatty ; sentinel, F. Sharlleau.

1866—T. I. M., George Morton; D. I. M., N. H. Moore ; P. C. W., W. M. Harrison ; C. G., H. F. Paden; treasurer, L. Monat ; recorder, B. W.. Beatty ; sentinel, F. Sharlleau.

1867—T. I. M., N. H. Moore ; D. I. M., C. J. Parsons; P. C. W., James. D. Lea ; C. G., Henry F. Paden; treasurer, L. Monat; recorder, B. W. Beatty; sentinel, Fred. Kelsey.

1868—T. I. M., N. H. Moore ; D. I. M., C. H. Giddings; P. C. W., Lewis. M. Lea; C. G., L. Monat ; treasurer, E. Halley ; recorder, Voltaire Scott; sentinel, Fred. Kelsey.

1869—T. I. M., N. Byington ; D. I. M., A. H. Gale ; P. C. W., L. M. Lea; C. G., L. Monat ; treasurer, J. D. Lea ; recorder, Voltaire Scott ; sentinel, Fred. Kelsey.

1870—T. I. M., N. Byington; D. I. M., H. E. O'Hagan; P. C. W., L. Monat; C. G., W. J. Affleck ; treasurer, James D. Lea ; recorder, Voltaire Scott; sentinel, Fred. Kelsey.

1871—T. I. M., C. M. Keyes ; D. I. M., John C. Stewart ; P. C. W., S. M. White, jr. ; C. G., W. J. Affieck ; treasurer, H. S. Paden ; recorder, Valentine Scott ; sentinel, Fred. Kelsey.

1872—T; I. M., N. Byington ; D. I. M., L. Monat ; P. C. W., W. J. Affleck ; C. G., E. M. Colver ; treasurer, J. D. Lea ; recorder, Valentine Scott sentinel, Fred. Kelsey.

1873—T. I. M., H. G. Robinson; D. I. M., G. Hart ; P. C. W , W. J. Af-