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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 243 CHAPTER XIV RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT Pioneer Preachers—History of the Principal Religious Denominations in Shelby County— Churches and Pastors THE PIONEER PREACHER One of the first to enter the forest of Ohio was Charles Frederick Post, a Moravian missionary, a calm, simple-hearted, and fearless man, who was sent into Ohio after the defeat of Braddock to preach the gospel, as well as to win the Indians over to the cause of the English. At the close of the Pontiac war in 1761, Post returned to the valley of the Muskingum and settled among the Delawares. It was not until after the close of the Revolutionary war that the tide of pioneer preaching reached the real valley of the Ohio. It swept northward from Kentucky, headed by the good old itinerant, who rode from settlement to settlement with Bible and saddlebags, preaching wherever he could find a congregation, however small. He did as much to civilize the wilderness as those who wielded the axe, and built towns where naught but the unbroken forest had been. Strong and powerful men were the backwoods preachers, and their mentality was equal to their physical strength. They knew no fear. Imbued with the Holy Spirit, they set up their altars in the most remote localities, undaunted by adverse circumstances, and surrounded by dangers seen and unseen. These heroic men of different denominations came from different localities. The first Presbyterians emigrated from Kentucky, the Baptists from Virginia, where they had suffered much persecution, and John Haw and Benjamin Ogden were the first followers of John Wesley to cross the Alleghanies. The Roman Catholics sought the new west from Maryland and loyal to their church, they grouped themselves in neighborhoods where they could enjoy its first instruction and offices. There was some rivalry between denominations in this region and great controversies about baptism and Pedro-Baptism, Free Grace and Predestination, Falling from Grace and the Perseverance of the Saints, but at no time did the pioneer preachers lose sight of the holiness of their mission. The office of the backwoods preacher was no sinecure. His salary rarely exceeded a hundred dollars a year and nothing more was allowed a man with a wife, for it was understood by the ministers of the old church that a preacher was a great deal better off without one. - 243 - 244 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY The early ministers of Shelby county had small encouragement in the way of pecuniary support to which they could look forward. They came to the wilderness to face perils, want, weariness, unkindness, cold and hunger. There was great force and stamina in the method of the first preachers of the country. They spoke loudly and with the whole body ; their feet and hands were put in requisition as well as their tongues and head ; they knew their hymn-books as well as their Bibles, for they had to make their sermons as they were traveling along the way from settlement to settlement. At this time there were few places dignified with houses of worship. There were many camp-meetings in the dawn of church history in this county. These were famous gatherings to which the whole neighborhood turned out and they lasted for days. There were some wonderful conversions during these meetings. The mourners' bench often erected in the forest always had its complement of sinners seeking grace. Everybody joined in singing old-fashioned hymns, the prayers were frequently interspersed with fervent "Amens," hundreds professed the new life and went on their way rejoicing. The true worth of the pioneer preacher cannot be computed. He builded up little congregations, which in time became the foremost ones of the county. His whole soul was in his mission. He visited the sick, comforted the mourner. prayed with the dying and often react the burial service to the howl of the prowling wolf. He carried his saddle-bags through the snows of winter, forded the Miami amid the howlings of the tempest and appeared as a visiting angel to the family around the settler's hearth. There are no living duplicates of these men, for the times have changed and the wilderness has disappeared. They were the men for the times, they came forth when they were needed, did their work nobly and left the infant church to the care of the earnest believers who were to come after them. The picture given us in Oliver Goldsmith's incomparable "Deserted Village," of the village preacher, is a faithful painting of the pioneer preacher under whose ministrations our forefathers and foremothers worshiped. "Unskilled he to fawn, or seek for power By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour ; For other aims his heart had learned to prize More bent to raise the wretched than to rise." And again "Thus to relieve the whetched was his pride, And e'en his failings lean'd to Virtue's side ; But in his duty prompt at every call, He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt for all." THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The Presbyterian church in Sidney had its beginning in 1820 or perhaps 1821. Then the first missionary effort was made to establish preaching. In a year or two an organization was effected which for some reason had but a brief existence. The first permanent organization was in the month of Septem- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 245 ber, 1825; through the efforts of the Rev. Joseph Stevenson, when a little band of people gathered together in the old court house standing where is now the Woodward building in Ohio avenue. The church originally consisted of eight members : Dr. William Fielding and his wife Elizabeth ; John Fergus and his wife Margaret ; William McClintock and his wife Sarah ; James Forsythe and Sarah Graham. William Fielding and James Forsythe were the first ruling elders. Preaching statedly was furnished by the Rev. Joseph Stevenson for a few years, and then by the Rev. Sayers Gaylay. Uniting with the church at an early period in its history were Joseph and Mrs. Cummins, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel McCullough, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Allen Wells. In the year 1833 the little congregation built its first house of worship, costing the round sum of $goo, the house standing on the rear of the lot on which the present church now stands which was donated for that purpose by Charles Sterrell in 1819. In this little structure the people worshipped for thirteen years. During the year 1834 the Rev. Samuel Cleland became a stated supply to the church, which position he filled for five years. After him ministerial services were rendered by the Reverends Hendricks, Greer, Hare and Bonar. In 1842, the church extended a call to the Rev. W. B. Spense, who was then preaching in Troy, which call he accepted and labored as the first regularly installed pastor of the church for twenty-two years. In 1845 the congregation resolved to build a larger and better house of worship and the brick church which stood for more than thirty years was the result of their effort. The Rev. Daniel Bridge succeeded the Rev. Spense and resigned in nine months and was followed by the Rev. Robert McCastin, October 1, 1866, who presided over the congregation for thirty-three years and is still living in Sidney with his daughter, Mrs. J. L. Dickensheets. While he has no regular charge, he visits the sick, preaches over the dead, performs marriages and occasionally occupied a pulpit though long since passed the three score and ten mark. He was succeeded by James Albert Patterson D. D. in 1898, who served the congregation four years and left the field for the Central Presbyterian church of Columbus. The Rev. Leroy Coffman then accepted a call from this congregation, which he presided over for six years leaving in 1908 for Davenport, Iowa, the Rev. John Charlton, the present minister took charge October 15, 1908, and the church at the present time numbers 710 members. The enrollment of the Sunday school is 35o. Officers of the church—Rev. John T. Chalter, minister. The session— Moses Russell, Stephen Lytle, Johnson Wiley, W. A. Graham, H. L. Mathers, John Mumford, George C. Anderson, John Orbison, and J. J. Bush. Trustees—E. W. Bingham, O. B. Taylor, Wilson Carothers, C. S. Line, C. W. Benjamin, C. B. Orbison. Officers of Sunday school—Milton Snyder, superintendent ; J. J. Bush, assistant superintendent ; Frederick McLean, secretary; Floyd Sarver, treasurer ; organist and choir leader, Miss Jessie Ayers Wilson. The present house of worship was dedicated in 1883 and is both beautiful 246 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY and convenient built on the site of the old church at the corner of North and Miami streets. North of it is the parsonage and to the east the high school building, now in course of erection placed in what was formerly the old Presbyterian burying ground. The year of 1829 is the date of the organization of the United Presbyterian church of Sidney. From its organization till 1840 it was served with preaching by the Rev. John Reynolds, J. C. Porter and Samuel Sturgeon. The first church edifice was a frame structure located on the site where St. John's Lutheran church now stands at a cost of $700 and the first ruling elders were Robert W. Stephenson and Samuel Gamble. The Rev. Reynolds started with a congregation of twelve members and previous to 184o the ministers were stated supplies. In 1840 a call was extended to the Rev. C. T. McCaughan whose labors extended over a period of sixteen years and showed great congregational growth. During his pastorate in 1854 a new church was built, a substantial brick structure on the south side of the square costing $10,000, quite a fine church in those early days. On May 25, 1858, the union of. the Associate and Associate Reformed churches was consummated and from this time the .Sidney congregation which was the Associate Reformed, took the name it now bears. Mr. McCaughan was succeeded by the Rev. J. G. Armstrong, who was ordained and installed November 15, 1859. In 1863 he was released to take charge of a church in St. Louis and subsequently entered the Episcopal church in Virginia. The Rev. M. M. Gibson followed in 1864 and in succession the Rev. J. W. Bain, 1867, the Rev. J. A. Bailey; 1869 until 1876. Then in turn the Revs. R. J. Miller, J. T. Wilson and J. P. Sharp in the years 1878, 1882 and 1883 respectively. Under the pastorate of the Rev. Sharp the church which had seen good service since 1854 was sold to J. O. Amos and is now the site of the Amosl newspaper offices. The congregation now selected a lot on North Main avenue, a little distance from the business part of the town, and there erected a beautiful church with modern appointments. In 1889 the Rev. J. P. Robb took charge of the congregation and remained until 1903, when he retired from active work, universally beloved. The pulpit was filled from 1904 to 1906 by the Rev. R. G. Smith. The present pastor, the Rev. Samuel Adams Moore, was called here in 1907, and is full of religious enthusiasm. The church maintains a Sunday school with George Hutchinson, superintendent ; the session is made up of David Ritchie, Miller McVey, Robert Watson and Will Wead. The different societies are the Young Women's Christian Union, Womenls Missionary Society and the Mensis League. Miss Hazel Watson is the organist, Miss Helen Moore the choir leader. The congregation has always been conservative but active in all matters of moral reform and has numbered in its membership many of the substantial families of Sidney and its vicinity. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 247 THE METHODIST CHURCH The history of Methodism in Sidney begins with the year 1825, at which time the first Methodist sermon was preached in the house of Joel Frankenberger. by the Rev. Levi White. Under his pastorate a class was organized, consisting of Joel Frankenberger and wife, George Poole and wife, John Bryan and wife, Mother McVay and Father Defreese. Sidney was then a part of Bellefontaine circuit, which extended from Sidney to Bellefontaine, thence to West Liberty and Westville, including all the intervening territory. At the time of the organization of the church in Sidney, Rev. David Young, whose name is as sweet incense to the memories of those who knew him, was the presiding elder. There was no meeting house in Sidney until 1831, and the services during the six years preceding that time were held in the house of Joel Frankenberger in the winter, and in the summer under the wide spreading branches of a large elm tree that grew on the river bank just below the present bridge. Here protracted meetings were held, and under the mighty influence of primitive preaching and singing souls were converted and the church strengthened. At the quarterly conference, held at Bellefontaine, November pp, 1827, while James B. Findlay was presiding elder and Joshua Boucher, pastor, a committee, consisting of Joel Frankenberger, George Poole, and John Hollingshead, were appointed to inquire into the practicability of building a meeting house in Sidney. This committee did not make a report until January 31, 1829, when they announced that they had purchased a lot on which to build a church. This lot is the one on which the Baptist church now stands, and cost $16, and was paid for by the committee together with Mr. Persinger, each paying $4. On this lot a small church was, erected in 1831. This house was built "without money and without price," some furnishing material, while others did the work. The Second Methodist Episcopal church edifice in Sidney was the one owned and used by the Baptist congregation of this place and was sold to them March 25, 1872, for the sum of $1,700. It was erected in 1838, and dedicated by the Rev. Edward Gehon, who has since become prominent in the Church South. Rev. David Warnock and Rev. William Sutton were then preachers on the circuit. In 1834 the Bellefontaine circuit was divided, and Sidney circuit formed. Sidney remained the centre of Sidney circuit until 1843, when it was made a station, and Rev. David Warnock was returned as the first stationed preacher of this church. In 1867 the present church edifice was erected under the supervision of the Rev. W. J. Wells, but was not completed until 1874, under the management of Rev. J. Wykes. It was dedicated by Rev. Bishop R. S. Foster, August II, 1874. Sidney held its first quarterly conference on the 19th of April, 1828, while John W. Clark and James W. Findlay were preachers on the circuit. Sidney has five times been the seat of the annual conference ; first in 1847, when Bishop James presided; the second time in 1874, when Bishop Andrews presided; the third time in 1882, with Bishop Warren, the presiding bishop; the fourth time in 1898 with Bishop Joyce 'presiding, and in 1909 with Bishop Neeley. 248 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY From 1825 to 1880 fifty-three preachers have been appointed to the Sidney charge, whose names we will give in chronological order, though some of them have served the charge the second time : Levi White, George Gatch, Thomas Beachman, Joshua Boucher, John W. Clark, James W. Findlay, Thomas Simms, William M, Sullivan, William Morrow, John Stewart, Peter Sharp, Daniel D. Davidson, James Smith, W. C. Clark, George W. Walker, David Kempler, Wilson Smith, Silas Chase, L. P. Miller, David Warnock, Madison Hausley, Samuel Lynch, George Taylor, L. W. James, Jacob A. Brown, William M. Spafford, M. L. Starr, Elmer Yocum, W. G. Wells, Joseph Wykes, William Lunt, Lemuel Herbert, S. H. Alderman, L. C. -Webster, Jacob Holms, C. W. Ketcham, J. W. Alderman, J. L. Bates, Franklin Mariott, Gershom Lease, T. C. Reade, Oliver Kennedy, Louis M. Albright, P. P. Pope, I. N. Newton, W. W. Lance, J. H. Bethards, Thaddeus Wilson, M. M. Figley, W. G. Waters, E. E. McCannon, C. A. Smucker and W. B. Armington, who is now entering upon the fourth year of his pastorate here. Sidney has been favored with the preaching of the following presiding elders, in the following order : David Young, John Collins, James B. Findlay, John F. Wright, William H. Raper, Robert 0. Spencer, William S. Morrow, Samuel P. Shaw, Wesley Brock, H. M. Shaffer, J. S. Kalb, Alexander Harmount, Joseph Ayers, Joseph Wykes, Wesley G. Waters, S. L. Roberts, E. D. Whitlock, Andrew J. Fish, C. R. Havighorst and D. H. Bailey, the last two being called district superintendents. In one half century Sidney has sent out from its number sixteen preachers, viz., Isaac Hunt, Joseph Park, George M. Bond, George W. Taylor, P. G. Goode, John H. Bruce, A. C. Shaw, David Bulle, N. B. C. Love, H. Maltbie, A. Clawson, D. Rhinehart, Elanson Barber, Levi Moore, Webster Stockstill and Harley Hodge. The original church consisted of eight members ; it now numbers about 1,150. The semi-centennial of Methodism in Sidney was held in the M. E. church November 26, 27 and 28, 1875, when the Rev. T. C. Reade was pastor. The opening sermon was preached by Rev. David Rhinehart. On Saturday, November 27, at 2:00 P. M., the Rev. J. R. Colgan preached, after which refreshments were served. One hundred and twenty-five of the congregation and visitors sat down at the social repast together. This was followed by toasts and responses from laymen and ministers. Wesley G. Waters preached on Sunday, and T. C. Reade read a short historical sketch of Methodism in Sidney. The church has greatly prospered since its organization and has been a power for good in the community a net gain of 350 being made during the pastorate of its present minister, William. B. Armington, D. D. The total membership of the church is 1,15o; of the Sunday school, which is a graded one, 1,125. The primary class of which Miss Emma Haslup is superintendent has an enrollment of 140. The contributions for benevolent purposes for the past three years have been $9,000, of which $3,600 was made the year just closing. There have been $45,000 subscribed for the new church project. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 249 The following separate organizations are a part of the church: Men's Brotherhood, Woman's Aid, Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Woman's Home Missionary Society, Young Men's Gymnasium Association, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Young Ladies' Circle, Home Guards, Epworth League. Officers of the church—Rev. E. H. Bailey, district superintendent ; Rev. William B. Armington, minister; Miss Donna L. Kulp, deaconess; Mrs. W. H. C. Goode, superintendent of Sunday school. Stewards—W. H. C. Goode, W. E. Kilborn, R. 0. Bingham, C. C. Sollenberger, W. L. Van Riper, John Oldham, David Oldham, I. N. Wilkinson, V. S. Scott, Dr. A. W. Reddish, C. J. Briggs, W. W. Robinson, W. B. McCabe, L. M. Studevant, George Ohlinger. Trustees—William Piper, Emory Nutt, Dr. B. M. Sharp, J. S. Crozier, C, W. Frazier, Finlay Mills, Dr. A. W. Grosvenor, P. O. Stockstill. Class Leaders—William McCally, George Yenney, Elisha Yost; organist, George T. Blake ; chorister, Maud Haslup. Officers of Sunday School—Mrs. W. H. C. Goode, superintendent; Hugh Bingham, assistant superintendent; Miss Emma Haslup, primary superintendent; W. L. Van Riper, treasurer ; Nellie Van Riper, secretary. The church is now projecting a new building to cost $60,000, three-fourths of which sum has already been raised. Proposals are now being called for the remodeling of their present edifice and the construction of a basement and two story Sunday school addition covering about 4,800 square feet. This is made necessary by the growth of the church and Sunday school. The building will contain a completely equipped gymnasium with shower baths for both sexes; reading room for men and boys ; a dining room seating 250, with a kitchen equipped with modern appointments for caring for large gatherings, all to be finished in about one year. EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized July 5, 1840, by the Rev. George Klapp, when Shelby county numbered but 12,000 inhabitants while Sidney had exactly 713. The first church council, installed November 1, 1840, was composed of but two members, besides the pastor, John Jacob, elder, and Jacob Pfeifer, deacon. The first list of communicant members dated October 30, 1842, contains the names of thirty-three. The Rev. Klapp died in 1844 and was succeeded by the Rev. Isaac Hursch and he in turn by the Rev. George Spaengler in 1850. It was due to his zeal and enterprise that the congregation finally secured a church home of its own in 1854 by purchasing the modest frame building and lot on Wales street vacated by the Associate Presbyterians, who had built it in 1835, for the reasonable price of $800 and in this the congregation worshiped for thirty-four years. He resigned in 1859 and his widow, 250 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY Mrs. Dorothy Spaengler still worships in the church, a familiar figure to old and young. In succession came the next twenty years the Revs. George Loewenstein, J. Graessle, J. Bundenthal and J. Dingeldey who had 117 members at the end of his term of service. In 1879 the Rev. Frederick A. Groth took charge of the pastorate and started a movement for a new church building. He was succeeded in 1885 by the Rev. A. H. Minneman who was pastor of the congregation for twenty years, retiring July 1, 1905. During his pastorate a new church was built on the site of the old one costing $10,200, which was dedicated October 14, 1888. July 1, 1905, the Rev. E. Poppen began his work as pastor with 250 communicants. In October of that year the lot adjacent to the church on the west side was purchased and in 1907 a handsome parsonage was finished for the pastor. Three years later a fine pipe organ was installed. At the present time Saint John's numbers 450 communicants, with an enrollment in the Sunday school of 240. Officers of Sunday School—Rev. E. Poppen, superintendent and teacher of Bible class; George Schneeberger, assistant ; Anna Albers, secretary ; John W. Smith, assistant ; Dorothy Frey, treasurer. The Church Council—Rev. Poppen, president ; John W. Smith, secretary; William Kliustine, treasurer ; Henry Sexaner, elder; Fred Stany, deacon; Edward Schiff, deacon ; Jacob Weingartner, trustee; John W. Smith, trustee; William Klipstine, trustee. Organist, Mrs. Emmanuel Poppen. The societies of the church are the Frauen-Verein, organized in 1859; The Lydia Society ; The Emmanuel Society; The Lutheran Helpers ; The Men's League. HOLY ANGELS' CATHOLIC CHURCH In the year 1848 only a small number of Catholics resided in Sidney, but they formed themselves into a society and held their religious services in a private dwelling house and were ministered to by the Rev. Thomas Shehan. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Ouinlan, Bishop of Mobile, Alabama, who then lived at Piqua but looked after the spiritual wants of the Catholics in Sidney. At this time a frame building which had served as a cooper's shop, was purchased and converted into a house of worship on the lot to be occupied by the armory where the negro church now stands, at the corner of West and South streets. In 1855 this was blown up with powder and stone during the Know-Nothing excitement. The three years following mission services were held in different halls of the town attended by the resident priests of Piqua. In 1856 the site upon which the present church now stands was purchased by Mathias Wagner, Peter Wagner and John Smith, trustees, and a building erected which was opened in 1858. A partition was run across the west end of the church from north to south which gave a room 23 x 5o feet and here the school was commenced with an attendance of twenty children. The AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 251 church was still a mission in charge of priests from Wapakoneta from 1860 to 1862, when the first resident priest, the Rev. Florentine D'Arcy, succeeded in 1862. He was followed by the Rev. William D'Arcy in 1865, and he by the Rev. William O'Rourke. In 1867 the Rev. John D. Kress became pastor and remained three years. In 1870 Rev. William Sidley took charge of the congregation and was succeeded by Rev. Henry Rowecamp, and in March, 1875, Rev. Francis M. Qualman became the rector of Holy Angels' church. At this time the church consisted of 1 t0 families and the pupils on the school roll numbered 95. In September, 1876, the present school building was opened on the west side of the lot occupied by the church. It is a well graded school and graduates pupils with a four years high school course, has a department of music connected with the school and all branches are taught by the Sisters of Charity from Mount St. Joseph near Cincinnati. There are at present seven sisters engaged in teaching. These with a resident teacher, and the two priests who teach the Latin, make up the teaching faculty. The school is supported by a small monthly fee for tuition, by collections and donations from the members of the church. In January, 1876, a lot north of the church grounds was purchased and the present brick building was erected for the sisters and is now used as a home for the priest. The present church was consecrated in May, 1890, by Archbishop Elder and represents with its interior decorations and furnishings an outlay of $75,000. It has a seating capacity of 750 and is a magnificent tribute to the untiring zeal of the Rev. Qualman, who lived to minister to his congregation nine years in the new edifice. He died November 15, 1909, after a successful pastorate of nearly thirty-four years. The thirtieth anniversary of his ministry was made the occasion of a great celebration which was participated in by Catholics and Protestants alike. His successor was the Rev. Fortman of Kenton, Ohio, who is the present pastor, and who has an assistant in the Rev. Reverman. In 1911 a substantial home of pressed brick was built for the sisters on the lot formerly occupied by the old Peter Wagner homestead, south of the church, at a cost of about $8,000. The different societies of the church are the Married Ladies' Sodality, the Young Ladies' Sodality, Children of Mary, Boys' Senior and Junior Society of St. Aloysins, and the Holy Name Society for Men. The officers of the church—trustees, W. H. Wagner, John Collins, Dennis Hoban, Frank Allenbach, Martin Ouinlisk and William Salm. The organist, Frank Doorley. There are belonging t0 this church 1500 communicants, representing 300 families, and 265 pupils enrolled in the parochial school. RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS As early as 1850 a number of German Baptist families dr Dunkards settled about five miles east of Sidney and held church services in their dwellings. Later they built a small house of worship on the banks of Mosquito creek, 252 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY which stands today, but has been abandoned since March, 1895. Elder Keiser served the congregation for thirty years. They then purchased the old German Methodist church located on South Ohio and South streets and in 1896 Elder Longenecker began his pastorate with twenty members, and in four years affected a growth of sixty. Elder Fitzwater followed and in 1905 the Rev. S. Z. Smith came to Sidney and took charge of the -w0rk. The mission board sold the church and built a new cement block house on Grove street. They now have a membership of 114 with a Sunday-school of 150 in charge of Mrs. Smith. FIRST REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH On the thirteenth of November, 1869, E. M. Thresher and G. N. Bierce of Dayton visited Sidney as a missionary committee 0f the Union Baptist Association and commenced holding prayer meetings in the homes of Baptist families. A Bible class was organized for the study of the Scriptures every Sunday and prayer meetings appointed regularly for Sunday evenings. Preaching was supplied by ministers of the association who voluntarily took turns in coming to Sidney. The meetings were held in what was then and is still now known as Union hall in the Deweese building, but it was not till January 27, 1870, that an organization known as the First Regular Baptist church was made at a meeting of Baptists held at the- home 0f Mrs. Mary Whitman. The names 0f the seven original members are as foll0ws : W. M. Whitaker, Mary Whitaker, John Grey, Anna Perrin, A. S. M0ore, John Holverstolt and Callie Holverstolt. At this meeting a church covenant known as the New Hampshire Articles 0f Faith was adopted and suitable 0fficers elected. October t, 1870, the Rev. A. Snyder became the first pastor 0f the congregation preaching one-half the time. In February, 1871, the pastor resigned and the church was without a minister until February 4, 1872, when the Rev. T. J. Shepherd of Clyde, Ohio, took charge. With the coming of the Rev. Shepherd energy was infused and the Baptists began to look around for a home of their own. With that in view the old M. E. church property, the site of the present Baptist church, was purchased, for the sum of $1,700. The work of cancelling this debt was done in a surprisingly short time and was no small undertaking for the entire membership of the church was only fifteen and the only male members were W. M. Whitaker and J. Grey who were the deacons. After a little more than four years the Rev. Shepherd closed his labors and in January, 1877, the Rev. J. C. Tuttle of Bellefontaine became pastor of the flock and served for six months. He was followed by the Rev. Perry W. Longfellow who took up the work and served till 1882 and he in turn by the Rev. E. B. Smith. Then came in succession the Revs. Speece, Downer, Watter, F. M. Meyers, C. W. Baker, T. P. James, B. F. Patt and in 1910 the present pastor, the Rev. J. W. Kinnett. The congregation met with a severe loss when January 14, 1904, their new church, which had been built in 1884 under the pastorate of the Rev. J. R. Downer, at a cost of $8,540, burned, but nothing daunted the members after AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 253 heroic sacrifice rededicated the building January 15, 1905, and n0w the church property, which includes the parsonage, is valued at $25,000. The church at the present time has 350 members with a Sunday scho0l as large and by the first of March, 1913, will be entirely out of debt. Officers of the church—pastor, Rev. J. W. Kinnett ; deac0ns, James A. Hall, J. B. Newhall, E. E. Dell, C. A. Kiggins, Frank Smoot, Oran C. Staley, G. W. D0nahue; emeritus, George Kessler; trustees, Elwood Clark, James Fitzgerald, John Wiant, J. R. Hall, H. W. Wilmore. Sunday school—Frank Smoot, superintendent; D. L. Minton, assistant; Neva Hall, treasurer ; Grace Archer, secretary. Societies—Ladies' Aid, Mrs. William Linn, president ; Missionary Circle, Mrs. J. B. Newhall. Organist—Le Roy Bland. RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS The organization of the St. Paul's Evangelical church took place s0me time in 1870 by the Rev. Hermann. The congregati0n joined the Evangelical Synod of North America in 1887. From 1870 to 1886 services were held in the frame building at the corner of North Lane and Miami avenue, when the property at the corner of Miami and Water streets formerly used as a hose house was secured. A parsonage adjoining the church building was built in 1893. The congregation has successively been in charge of the following pastors : The Rev. Allardt from 1870 to 1873, Rev. Vontobel, 1873 to 1875, Rev. Weisgerber, 1875 to 1880, Rev. Carl Wissling, 1880 to 1882, Rev. J. Boehr, 1882 to 1883. The Rev. G. H. Schmidt then reorganized the church and had charge from 1887 to 1889, followed by the Revs. Dorn, 1889 to 1893, Keller, 1893 to 1897, Ratch, 1897 to 1899, Schneider, whom their new church was built was pastor of the congregation from 1904 1900 to 1903, Cramm, 1903 to 1904. The Rev. Theodore P. Frohne, under whom their new church was built, was pastor of the congregation from 1904 to 1910. In 1905 the Amann lot at the corner of Main avenue and South street was bought for $3,000 and on November 4, 1906, the corner stone for a new building was laid. Two years later the church was finished at a cost of about $20,000. Its dimensions are forty by seventy-five feet and it consists of an auditorium and Sunday-school room, with all the modern appointments in the basement. A gallery is erected across the west end of the auditorium. The church was consecrated September 27, 1908, with an elaborate program and a new pipe organ, one half the cost of which was donated by Andrew Carnegie, was opened at the same time. Beautiful stained glass windows were furnished by individual members. The Rev. Frohne was succeeded by the Rev. R. Wobus in 1910 and handed 0ver to his successor a church in a most flourishing condition which had more than doubled itself during his pastorate. The church council for 1912 consists of A. R. Friedman, president ; An- 254 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY drew Curtner, vice-president; Allen Maurer, secretary; Carl Wolf, treasurer. Deacons—Julius Stein, George Weiss. Trustees—George Weiss, Fred Brockman, :Julius Stein. Elders—Andrew Curtner. Carl Wolf. Organist— Miss Ola Friedmann. The United Brethren church was organized in September, 1894, by the Rev. E. E. Swords, a missionary pastor, who commenced with nine charter members in the old Dunkard church at the corner of Ohi0 avenue and South street. A Sunday school had been formed prior to this, by W. W. Lucas, who served as superintendent f0r five years. The Rev. L. C. Reed t00k charge 0f the church in 1895 and was its pastor for two years and built the Sunday-school room, which is a part of the church, at a cost of $3,500. He was followed by the Rev. Waldo, 1897 to 1898, and he by the Rev. J. W. Lower, who conceived the idea of a memorial church dedicated t0 the mem0ry 0f Ella Schenck, who met a tragic death in Africa while devoting her life to missionary work. Miss Schenck was from Shelby county. The Rev. W. T. Roberts became the past0r in 1899 and under his pastorate the church was built at a cost of $9,000, a splendid memorial t0 the martyr missionary. Eighty-nine persons were received during his ministry, which lasted until 1903. The Rev. W. S. Sage was pastor from 1903 to 1904 and was followed by the Rev. L. S. Woodruff, who received two hundred and ten persons into the church. The Rev. Carl Jameson took charge from 1907 to 1909, followed by the Rev. Carl Roop. The present pastor, the Rev. D. C. Hollinger, followed in September 1910 and has a church membership of 391, a wonderful growth. H. G. Henly has supervision of the Sunday-school, which is graded into five departments with an enrollment of three hundred and ninety- four members. The Mount Vernon Baptist church, African, is n0w in the process of building at the corner of Park and Linden streets in the n0rthwestern part of the city. The structure is built 0f cement at a cost of $3,000 and is modern in all its appointments, making a splendid church h0me for its sixty-five members. The Rev. Hathcock is the present pastor. The c0ngregation worshipped for many years at the c0rner of South and West avenues in a little frame church on property bequeathed by Charles Sterrett. The town c0uncil bought the lot last year for $1,800 and it has been selected as the location for the new armory to be built by the state this year of 1913. During the year of 1895 Arch Deacon Brown, now Bishop of Arkansas, came to Sidney and found four communicants of the Episcopal church, Mrs. Sarah Stuber, Mrs. J. W. Cl0ninger, Mrs. W. S. Ley and Mrs. B. M. Donaldson. With these as charter members under the leadership of the Rev. Barkdull, St. Marks parish was begun. A series of services was held in the assembly room of the court house. The first c0nfirmation service with the Rt. Rev. W. A. Leonard, Bishop of 'Ohio, in attendance was held in the U. P. church. Shortly after this the old Christian church on North Miami avenue was remodeled and decorated and fixed up as a mission in charge of the Rev. T. R. Hazzard. In 1901 the strength of the mission was c0nsidered great enough to build a church of its own on the church lot. This lot on North AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 255 Miami avenue had been left to the church in 1820 by Charles Sterrett, who was a member of that den0mination. Mr. Hazzard drew the plans for the building after a church he had so much admired in England. It is built of red brick, with brown trimmings, Gothic in style, finished 0ff in Flemish oak with beamed ceilings, a dignified little church. To be as economical as possible the Rector donned blouse and 0veralls and did much of the manual work. Rev. Hazzard was called to a New York pastorate and Rev. Linric became Rector in charge. He was succeeded by the Rev. Stalker and he in turn by the Rev. T. G. C. McCalla. The Rev. H. J. Haight followed and at present the mission is in charge of the Rev. John Stewart Banks, who divides his time between Bellefontaine and Sidney.