CHAPTER XV

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

Organization—First Settlers and First Events—Early Elections—Some of the Original Land Entries—Incidents of Pioneer Times—Middlepoint—The City of Delphos, Its Founder, Settlement, Industries, Newspapers, Hotels, Postoffices, Railroads, Public Schools and Churches.

Washington township was set off as a civil township at a meeting of the commissioners held March 2, 1840, and an election of township officers was ordered to take place at the schoolhouse on the first Monday in April, 1840.

FIRST SETTLERS AND FIRST EVENTS.

The first settler in the township was Oliver Stacy, who came in February, 1836. During the summer and fall of 1836 Nathan Davis, Nathaniel, Ashabel and Orrin Burright, David King and John Summersett took up homes in this township.

Oliver Stacy built the first log house in the township and it was still standing and occupied in 1882. The first schoolhouse was built on the land of David King in the fall of 1837, and the first school was taught by Clarissa Gleason. The first road in the township was the Bucyrus and Fort Wayne that followed the Indian trail from Upper Sandusky to Fort Wayne. For many years this was known as the Sugar Ridge road, clear across the country. The first church was organized at the King schoolhouse in the fall of 1848. Prior to that the settlers attended church in Ridge township.

EARLY ELECTIONS.

An election for justice of the peace was held in Washington township on the 8th of June, 1840. Ten votes were cast, of which Thomas W. Bowdle received seven and Oliver Stacy, three.

On the 12th of October, 1841, an election was held in Washington township for members of the State Legislature and county officers, at which there were 11 votes cast. The electors were : John Cavett, William Nuttle, Abraham Hire, James G. Cavett, Jr., T. W. Pring, John D. Cavett, David Pring, Thomas .W. Bowdle, John Hire, Orrin Burright and William Todd. John D. Cavett and William Nuttle, the clerks of the election, and James Cavett, James G. Cavett, Jr. and T. W. Pring, the judges, issued the following certificate as to the result of the balloting:,

"We do hereby certify that Jacob Clark had four votes for Senator; Robert A. Forsythe had seven votes for Senator. John W. Walters had four votes for Representative; James B. Steadman had four votes for Representative; Calvin T. Pomeroy had seven votes for Representative. P. J. Hines

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had three votes for Treasurer ; James G. Gilliland had eight votes for Treasurer. Stephen Gleason had five votes for Commissioner; James Johnson had six votes for Commissioner. Thomas R. Kear had four votes for Sheriff ; Samuel M. Clark had seven votes for Sheriff. Cyrenus Elliott had three votes for Surveyor ; John G. Morse had eight votes for Surveyor. B. B. Woodcock had four votes for Coroner; William Parent had seven votes for Coroner. Edward R; Wells had seven votes for Auditor."

SOME OF THE ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES.

INCIDENTS OF PIONEER TIMES.

In 1843 butter was 4 cents per lb., wheat 40 cents per bushel, cows $8 and horses $40 a

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head and wages for laboring men 25 cents per day (except in harvest time when a hand was paid 5o cents or a bushel of wheat).

The following invitation to a dance was sent out. It was written on a shingle and sent around by a messenger ; each one was allowed to read it and then it was passed on. It read, "You are invited to attend a dance tonight. Some one will call for you at seven o'clock sharp. Don't forget your boots."

James G. Gilliland and Adam Gilliland cut the first road from the Auglaize to within three miles of Van Wert. They followed the Indian trail and were three days making the trip.

In 1845 E. N. Martin built the first sawmill in Delphos, and in 1847 the first flouring mill, four stories high with three runs of burrs. This was the first grist-mill that was nearer to the residents of Van Wert County than Fort Wayne or Piqua, except the little horse mills for grinding corn. Later he built a woolen mill.

During the time Rev. Thomas Elcock was preaching in Delphos, there was a long dry spell and at church service on the Sabbath Mr. Elcock prayed very fervently for rain. After dismissing the congregation and coming out of the church, he met one of his congregation (Dudley Hoover), who had gone out to investigate, who said, "Father Elcock, it is no use to pray for rain as long as the wind is in the northwest."

An accident occurred near Delphos in the early days of the settlement that shows the effect the mind has on the rest of the body. Two neighbors went to the woods to get a load of wood, taking along a sled and yoke of oxen. In preparing the wood, one of them sunk his axe into his boot. Seeing what he took to be blood he became very sick and had to be helped to the sled. They started for home in a hurryand could not urge the oxen to go fast enough. He said he knew he was bleeding to death and that his boot was already full. On reaching home he had to be carried into the house. On taking off his boot, what was there surprise to find that his foot had not been cut. Before starting out on the trip, he had wrapped red flannel around his feet and had then drawn his socks over the flannel. He had forgotten this circumstance and seeing the red flannel took it for granted that it was blood. He put his boot on and went back after his load of wood.

MIDDLEPOINT.

This village is situated on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway, half way between Van Wert and Delphos. It was laid out in 1852 by L. B. and H. N. Sykes, and since then there have been several additions added to it. In 19001t had a population of 604. It has two elevators that do a large grain business. Here is located one of the largest stone quarries that can be found in this part of Ohio, which quarry gives employment to from 70 to 80 hands the year around and furnishes stone for building and piking, as well as for ballasting railroads.

The village was incorporated November 10, 1874, and the following officers were elected: Mayor, William Foster; treasurer, D. J. Davis; clerk, D. F. Cook; councilmen—Dr. A. C. Beaghler, W. S. Nelson, A. Fife, George Fairfield, G. S. Nutt, and Dr. J. A. Estill; marshal, W. T. Manship.

Middlepoint now has three general stores—owned by A. A. Manship, Baxter Brothers and W. Askin & Son—where dry goods, groceries and boots and shoes are sold ; two drug stores —owned by H. A. Mohler and P. W. Speker : me shoe store, one millinery establishment.

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two meat markets, two barber shops, one hotel, two restaurants, three blacksmith shops, one dealer in hardware and farm implements, three coal dealers, one lumber dealer, one sawmill operator and dealer in native lumber, one printing office, one livery barn, one undertaker and one real estate dealer, who also conducts a fire insurance and a pension business. The Middle-point Home Telephone Company furnishes excellent telephone service.

The village has four churches—Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran and Friends. The graded public school has four teachers and a course of study covering years. Here is also the seat of the Western Ohio Normal School. The town has two physicians—Drs. L. E. Ladd and L. E. Beaghler.

THE CITY OF DELPHOS

Is situated in Washington township, Van Wert County and Marion township, Allen County, the city being quite evenly divided by the Miami and Erie Canal, the portion on the east side of the canal being in the latter county. Delphos in 1900 had .a population of 4,517; of this 2,228 belonged to Van Wert County and 2,289 to Allen County.

The first plat of the town was made by Ferdinand Bredeick on the west side of the canal. Rev. John Otto Bredeick, coming two years later, laid out the addition on the east side of the canal. In doing this, he showed great foresight in reserving a large plat of ground for church purposes. The wisest in that day would scarcely contemplate it ever being needed for the purpose for which it was dedicated. This he gave as a free gift. Ferdinand Bredeick entered the land on which Delphos was located in 1845.. Hollister & Bliss laid out an addition to Delphos on the east side of the canal, which was called "Section Ten." Samuel Forrer laid out an addition to Delphos on the west side of the canal, which was called Howard Town." Thus for a number of years it was East Bredeick, West Bredeick, Section Ten and Howard Town, the former two being settled by Germans, and the latter two by English-speaking people. It was finally decided to adopt one name for the four sections and at a meeting called for that purpose, the name "Delphos" was suggested by Father Bredeick and was adopted, the name meaning "from nothing to a great city." From the date of the adoption of the common name, all jealousies ceased and all from that day to this have been zealous workers for the common good. It is not often that a community can be so thoroughly united in working for each enterprise as it comes up. To this harmony of action is to be credited the accomplishment of so much in the way of inducing manufactories to locate here, and in the building of the railroads that reach out from the city's midst. All but the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago had their initiation in that town and to the force and energy of her citizens depended their being pushed to final success.

Delphos was incorporated in 1851 and the first election was held March 3, 1851, at which Col. Lester Bliss was elected mayor; Smith Talbot, recorder; and N. White, J. P. Cowan, J. P. Murphy and Theodore Wrocklage, councilmen.

Among the first merchants might be mentioned in order : Ferdinand Bredeick, Gilmore & Scott, Esch & Wrocklage, Hollister & Bliss, White & Newton and Bope & Lye.

To the liberal views held by Father Bredeick can also be ascribed much of the success of Delphos. Instead of holding the views that we would expect of one direct from the old country, he adopted the broadest and most liberal American views. He encouraged those of other nationalities to settle and intermingle with

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his people and was as ready to assist one as another. He gave to the Presbyterians a lot on which to build a church, and counseled his people to assist and encourage other denominations. He said he did not want a Catholic town, as that would make the people selfish and narrow. He wanted all classes and all creeds to commingle.

The pioneers physicians were Osborn, Metcalf, Conklin, Butler, Penington, H. P. Wagner, in 1847; C. A. Evans, Davenport, Burkholder and Ruel, in 1850. Joseph Hunt owned a drug store and made a contract with a firm of chemists to take all the slippery elm bark he could furnish in a given time. He bought all he could contract and, as all the ridges had an abundance of red elm, he soon had many tons. When he commenced shipping it in, carload after carload, the firm saw they were swamped and called a halt, while he still had many carloads on hand. The matter was finally settled by the contract being canceled, with full payment to Mr. Hunt for the bark on hand.

Industries.—The ashery was an important branch of business in the early days and was carried on extensively by Bernard Esch and later by Wrocklage & Stallkamp. J. C. Moennig operated the first tannery and A. Diffinbaugh the second. The first blacksmith was John DeCamp.

Among the Delphos enterprises that have contributed largely to the prosperity of the town are the Delphos Handle Factory, the Ohio Wheel Company, the Delphos Stave Company and the Pittsburgh Hoop & Stave Company. These companies were of immense importance to the town of Delphos and of equal importance to the surrounding country. In many cases industrious men with means enough to make the first payment on a piece of land would in a few years have the Iand paid for, and at the same time a farm cleared up—allfrom the proceeds of the timber that was purchased by these factories. The flouring mill built by E. N. Martin later passed into the hands of Abraham Miller and Peter W. Morton, and at a still later date T. F. Conklin and J. Shotwell obtained a part interest. Subsequently it passed back into the hands of Miller & Morton. It was of immense importance to the town, as farmers came 15 and 20 miles to mill. The milling property has now passel into the hands of Dalby & Morton and is known as the Delphos Roller Mills; the product has retained its old-time popularity and very deservedly so.

Newspapers.—The first newspaper was issued by Benjamin Metcalf in 1849 and called the Section Ten Budget. It existed about one year and was followed by the Delphos Oracle, edited by Noah Huber ; he was succeeded by O. H. Perry, and he in turn by Bell, who published it until 1854 when the paper expired. In 1854 the Northwestern Republican, with S. E. Brown as editor, Was established. This lived a little more than one year. From this date until 1869 there was no paper established in Delphos. Then the Herald made its appearance, the editor being D. H. Tolan, who was later associated with his son, C. M. Tolan. The Courant was established in 1877 with E. B. Walkup as editor. It was started as a weekly but was later made a tri-weekly (about 1894) and finally became a semi-weekly. Mr. Walkup continued as editor of the twice-a-week Courant until January 4, 1902, when J. W. Fisher purchased the plant and assumed the management as proprietor and editor. At the present time Mr. Fisher is publishing a very readable paper, devoted to the best interests of his patrons and of Delphos in particular.

Hotels.—The first hotel, which was opened in the spring of 1845. was built by Morgan

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Savage, and was named "Travelers' Rest;" it stood at the corner of Canal and Second streets. The second was built by James Graver, also in 1845, and was called the "Ohio House." The third was kept by a man named Butler opposite the City Hall ; this also was established in 1845. In 1846 the American House was built of the corner of Main and Fourth streets. . Then came the Neil, at the corner of Main and Third streets, which was built in 1847. The Union or Hecker House was built in 1848; the Commercial House in 1847; the Pennsylvania House, in 1855, by Henry Brown; the Phelan House, in 1880; the Rose House, in 1881.

Postoffice.-The first postoffice was kept in a small room built on the platform of the lock between the gates, on the Van Wert side. Amos Clutter was postmaster in 1847. That was before the time of postage stamps. Letters were marked "Paid" or "Postage Due" as the case might be. You could send a letter and let the party receiving it pay the post-age. Lynn succeeded Clutter and held the office until 1853, when Winchton Risley was appointed and held it until his death in September, 1854. Mrs. Mary Risley was then appointed and held the office for 25 years. Then followed Cowdin, Shenk, Baxter, Washburn and Weger, the present incumbent.

Railroads.—The first railroad completed to Delphos was the Ohio & Indiana. (now the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago) in 1854. Much of the iron for its construction was shipped on the canal from Toledo. Woolson & McCune took the contract for bringing the iron to Delphos. Captain Fisher bought a boat in Toledo named "Seneca Chief" and McCune owned a boat named "Damsel"—these two boats brought the iron to Delphos. The first railroad locomotive used on this line was named "Lima" and was brought from Toledoto Delphos on a canal boat by Casper Smith and put on the track here for construction work. Captain Fisher took the contract to dig the basin just west of the Mills elevator for the purpose of anchoring these boats, while unloading the railroad iron and supplies.

The formal opening of the Delphos & Indianapolis Railroad took place July 4, 1875, when there were only six miles completed. In 1876 it was extended to Dupont and then in sections until it was connected with a road leading out from Toledo. In 1878 the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad was completed. The Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis (now the Northern Ohio) was built in 1881, and also the extension of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton from Delphos to where it intersects the Findlay & Fort Wayne. All except the last named were what was known as narrow-gauge roads and at one time constituted a continuous line of over 700 miles of narrow-gauge roads, the longest in the world. It is safe to say that to Delphos they owed not only their origin but their final success. In operating these lines it was demonstrated that it was not profitable to operate the two systems in the same territory and the narrow-gauge roads gave way and were made standard al-most in a day.

Public Schools.—The schools in Delphos are worthy of notice. Until 1859 the schools had been operated separately in each county. On January 29, 1859, by a vote it was decided :o organize the Delphos Union School District under the general law. The First Board of Education under the new arrangement consisted of Charles C. Marshal, F. J. Lye, H. Weible, Col. Lester Bliss, M. Brickner and S. F. Conklin. C. P. Washburn was placed in charge of the highest grade in the public school.

In April, 1868, the district voted to levy a tax and issue bonds for the erection of a new

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schoolhouse, which was completed in 1869, W. H. Wolfe was chosen superintendent, and the schools were organized and graded in the new building. In 187o J. F. Jones was chosen superintendent and in 1871 W. H. Wolfe was again chosen. In 1873 E. W. Hastings was chosen and held the position until 1900, when he resigned. G. W. Lewis was then chosen and served for two years, when T. W. Shimp, the present superintendent, was chosen.

They have four school buildings—Jefferson Street Building, Franklin Street Building, German Building and South Delphos Building,—and a corps of 22 teachers. The schools have attained a very high standard.

Churches.—The Church of St. John the Evangelist at Delphos owes its origin to a Catholic priest—Rev. John Otto Bredeick. In October,1844, he came from his native Westphalia to the present site of Delphos, then a dense forest. He secured a 92-acre tract of land from the government immediately east of the canal. A part of this land, which Father Bredeick had platted into lots and streets, now comprises the most valuable part of Delphos. He also set aside as a gift for the use of the Catholics of Section Ten (Delphos) a large tract, comprising many choice lots, as a site for the future

church, school and pastoral residence. Even now the church at Delphos is not equalled in size and location by any other in the Diocese of Cleveland.

Shortly after his arrival, Father Bredeick had a log house, 18 by 24 feet, erected at his own expense to serve as a chapel for his faithful colony. It soon proved too small for their accommodation and in 1846 was enlarged by a frame addition 27 by 37 feet. The addition

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was intended only as a make-shift as Father Bredeick saw the necessity of at once providing larger and much better church facilities. Part of the addition was used as a school and served as such for some years.

In the latter part of 1846 Father Bredeick began the erection of a new church. It was built of hewn timbers and was in size 6o by 107 feet. Considering the poverty of the people (only one family was possessed of means), it was a grave undertaking for the good pastor, who gave most liberally out of his own purse to meet the cost of the church. (Father Bredeick brought the organ for the first church with him from Germany, also a piano.) But the parishoners gave either of their limited means or gave generously of their time in the way of labor, teaming, etc.

The cutting and hauling of the heavy timbers took almost two years, as the work had to be done when labor and teams could be had. After this, the framing of the timbers and their erection also took considerable time. But the result was a firmly built church of hewn logs, the interstices being filled with mortar and the whole exterior covered with shingles. Solidity rather than architectural beauty was its chief mark.

Before beginning the work on the church, a meeting of the 36 members of the Catholic Church was held and a contract was drawn up by which every Catholic inhabitant of Section Ten was bound to work 25 days each year on the new church, or contribute $8 annually, until the completion of the building. The church was used for the first time on All Saints Day, 1853, when to the great joy of his faithful flock, by this time numbering 85 families, Father Bredeick offered up the Holy Sacrifice within the unfinished church.

There being no practical builder in Delphos to direct the work, it was entrusted to J. M.

Heitz, a cabinetmaker, who never before or after built a house or even a stable. In 1855 the exterior of the church was finished and painted white. Between 1856 and 1857 the main altar and most of the pews were made and placed in position.

Father Bredeick labored incessantly for the welfare of his parish, which had doubled in size within less than ten years, notwithstanding the ravages of the cholera, in 1854 and 1855. In April, 1858, Father Bredeick became seriously ill, after preaching his first sermon in his new pulpit.

Rev. F. Westerholt, of Defiance, was in July, 1858, appointed to assist him, but about six weeks later, on August 19, 1858, Father Bredeick passed to his eternal reward.

Father Westerholt was now placed in full charge. His first effort, which was directed toward finishing the interior, secured a pipe organ. In 1862 a spire 150 high was built, and two bells were placed in position. In January, 1868, Father Westerholt was called by Bishop Rappe to take charge of St. Peter's parish in Cleveland.

His successor is the present incumbent, Rev. Aloysius I. Hoeffel, who was appointed at the same time that Father Westerholt received his appointment to Cleveland.

REV. ALOYSIUS I. HOEFFEL was born at Lutzelbourg, Lorraine, Diocese of Nancy, France, May 14, 1832. In early life he enjoyed educational advantages. He made his preparatory and some of his more advanced studies at Courtrai, Belgium. Having spent five years in college, he devoted four years additional to studies in Fenetrange and at Ponta-Mousson, France. On completion of his classical education, he emigrated to the United States in 1854 and immediately set about carrying out his resolve to become a priest.

In January, 1855, he was received into St.

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Mary's Theological Seminary, Cleveland, where after a three and a half years course he was elevated to the priesthood by Bishop Rappe in June, 1858. In July, 1858, he was appointed to his first church and parish at Defiance, Ohio, where he labored in Defiance, Henry and Fulton counties 10 years.

He was appointed pastor of the Church of St. John the Evangelist at Delphos, on January 28, 1868. In 187o he built a school devoted to the German department of his educational system. The Sisters house he erected in 1872. He purchased a new organ in 1875, at a cost of $2,800.

By this time the log church begun by Father Bredeick and completed by his successors had become not only antiquated but also much too small to accommodate the steadily increasing congregation.

When Father Hoeffel first proposed to his flock the subject of building another church adequate to their wants and in keeping with their means, he met with considerable opposition, quite a number of his opponents insisting on a division of the parish, with the idea of building a second church in the west part of the town.

After considerable discussion and delay, the first proposition prevailed-to build a brick church on the site of the old one large enough to accommodate all.

The building project took form in 1878, when plans for the present edifice were adopted. The execution of the design was committed in September, 1878, to Francis Heitz, a practical builder, son of John M. Heitz, who had built the first church 32 years before.

This church has a seating capacity of 1,800 and stands on a plat of ground 280 feet square. It is 193 feet long, 100 feet across the transept and 78 feet wide in the nave. In architecture it is Romanesque. The spire is 222 feet high.

The tower clock cost $2,000. Including the labor and material that were given, the church cost fully $100,000.

After the completion of the church, Father Hoeffel, in 1887, commenced the erection of an additional school building, which was completed in 1888 at at a cost of $12,000.

On January 3, 1889, St. John's parish was made a rectorate with Father Hoeffel as its first irremovable rector. On September 12, 1894, the parish celebrated with great eclat the 50th anniversity of its foundation by Father Bredeick. On this occasion Father Hoeffel informed his congregation that he had donated three bells in memory of the three pastors of Delphos and paid for the recasting of the fourth bell in order to bring out its tone in harmony with the chime of five bells now belonging to the church. In 50 years a small log chapel had grown to this magnificent temple, while the membership of 36 persons had increased until upwards of 400 families make up the parish.

Ten years have now been added and Father Hoeffel, yet in vigorous manhood, looks after his flock with the same zealous care that he did in his early manhood.

While St. John's Church is situated in Allen County, its history belongs as much to Van Wert County, and for many years much the largest part of the congregation were residents of Van Wert County.

* * *

The first services of the Methodists at Delphos were held in the cabin of R. M. Petticord on the west side of the canal in 1846. There were five members present. Rev. John Graham, a young man then on the Van \Vert circuit, was the minister officiating. A Sunday-school was organized and John Miller was elected superintendent. Services were continued from time to time at the home of John

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Miller, corner of Third and Main streets, and later at the cooper shop owned by Amos Metcalf and located on the rear part of a lot on Third street.

In 1848 E. N. Martin moved to Section Ten from Piqua. He was an ordained minister and with his means and liberality gave the organization quite a start. Steps were soon taken to build a church and until this was accomplished services were held in the upper room of a building erected by Mr. Martin as a. woolen mill. In 1848 Rev. Harmont was sent as a preacher in charge of the circuit. In 1850 the foundation was laid for a church on a lot donated by Samuel Pettit, of Piqua, and in 1851 the building was completed. The present church structure was completed in 1880. The congregation is united and prosperous, owing largely to the untiring efforts of their talented young pastor, Rev. Ascham, who was given leave of absence in September, 1905, to pursue advanced studies at Harvard. Rev. J. B. Gotschall was appointed to fill his pulpit, The church has a present membership of about 400.

During the time that Rev. E. N. Martin was preaching for this and other churches in the absence of the regular pastors, he gave a contract to a Mr. High and another man to chop off the timber on a piece of land just west of Delphos in close proximity to the town.

They were to cut the timber into lengths for rolling and burn the brush. The men completed their contract all except burning the brush. As the brush was green and it was in the rainy season, it was impossible to do that and they wanted Mr. Martin to pay them all but $1. He wanted to retain $1o, which he did. The men told him they were going down the canal to work during the summer but would come back and finish up the job later in the season. It happened that there was a long dryspell that fall. When High and his partner were on their way home in the western part of the county, they stopped off from the boat at Delphos on a Sunday and thinking of their unfinished job they strolled out that way and, seeing that the brush was still there, set fire to it. As there was considerable wind, the fire swept over the entire clearing in a few hours and caused quite a commotion and not a little fear for the town. But all ended all and the next morning High and his partner demanded their $10. After inspecting the work and finding it complete and being an honorable man, Mr. Martin paid them. It had been one of Martin's preaching days and the congregation was very much disturbed by the conflagration and the preacher was indignant when he found it was his own clearing that was burning. This was not helped any when his neighbors commenced telling him that the young men said that Mr. Martin had paid them $10 for setting the fire.

* * *

The Presbyterian Church at Delphos was organized in 1849 by Rev. Richard Graham. In the spring of 1852 Rev. Thomas Elcock took charge of the congregation as stated supply and continued his labors for three years. During this time the membership, which was very small in the beginning, increased to about 50. In the summer of 1855 Delphos was visited by cholera, which took to the grave many of the members of this church. Thus it was greatly weakened and for several years, down to the close of the Civil War in 1865, but little was accomplished toward the life and growth of the church. The good women all this time kept up their church socials and never lost faith in the ultimate erection of a church building, saving up their mites to that end. In 1805 Rev. Thomas Elcock, who had spent some years in a pastoral charge in Indiana, returned

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to Van Vert and resumed his labors in Delphos, preaching in the latter place one-fourth of his time. The church began to increase in strength and the number of it membership, and commenced the building of a church edifice.

Samuel Forrer, the surveyor of the canal, had presented the congregation with a lot. This lot and the one donated by Father Bredeick were sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase of another lot and the erection of a church building.

It looked like it was a herculean task at the time for the few members. But by the perseverance and energy of a few of the men, aided by the efforts of the devoted women, the church building was carried to completion at a cost of about $6,000. It was dedicated February 8, 1869.

Rev. W. M. Reed spent one year with this church. During the summer of 187o Robert

Gilchrist, a licentiate of the Cincinnati Presbytery, commenced preaching in Delphos and in September of that year was taken under the care of the Lima Presbytery. In April, 1871, he received and accepted a call to become their pastor and at a later date was installed. He was a young man of great promise of usefulness, but death took him December 5, 1871, in the 26th year of his age. He was followed by Rev. Edward S. Scott who came from the Day-ton Presbytery. In June, 1872, he received and accepted a call from the church and was ordained and installed. During Mr. Scott's pastorate the church grew to be self-sustaining. He resigned in 1882 and accepted a pastorate at Logansport, Indiana. In 1882 Rev. J. H. Sherrard took charge of the church. In 1883 he accepted a call and was regularly installed and enjoyed many evidences of success in his work. The present pastor is Rev. A. O. Raber.