German. The present membership is large and the congregation occupy a church building erected in 1908, the first one having been erected in 1869. The last one built is a handsome brick costing twenty-six thousand dollars.

The charter members were J. Wert, J. Frey, M. Gruger, P. Krick, A. Wirth, J. Speicher, J. Hurni, G. Yaekley, Benj. Eyman, Z. K. Long, F. Piens and C. Albright.

This church at an early day was associated with the Lutheran denomination, but in 1870, after their separation, they erected their own edifice, which was completed in 1872.

The Reformed church was founded in Milton township in 1851 and was situated in the south part of the township. Rev. Vermley was among the pioneer pastors.

Wooster and neighboring churches of this faith were included in one charge until 1864, with Rev. J. H. Derr as pastor. In that year he began services in Applecreek in Gashat's Hall, but in 1867 laid the cornerstone for a church and it was dedicated in 1870. It was of the Gothic type of church architecture, and at the time it was considered one of the best churches in Wayne county. The first regular pastor was Rev. Philip Becker. In 1878 the church had a membership of ninety members. At present it has the largest membership of any of this denomination in Wayne county. Rev. Flohr is pastor.

Zion's Evangelical English Lutheran church, of Wooster, Ohio. was organized September 13, 1840, by Rev. Solomon Ritz, although English Lutheran services were held occasionally for some years prior to this time by Rev. E. Greenwald, of New Philadelphia. Rev. George Leiter, of Mansfield, Rev. Francis Ruth, of Galion. This church was organized with the follow-

ing sixteen members : George Reiner, John A. Lawrence, Henry D. Miller, Israel Windel, Abraham Fox, Conrad Giler, Benjamin Lehman, Mary Ann Fox, Sarah Lawrence, Catharine Miller, Frederick Hoke, Fanny Lehman, Mary Johnson and Isaac Notestine.

The succession of ministers was as follows : Rev. Solomon Ritz from 1840 to 1843 ; Rev. George Leiter from 1843 to 1844 ; Rev. J. Sloan from 1845 to 1851; Rev. W. A. G. Emerson from 1851 to 1852; Rev. Dr. J. B. Baltzly from 1853 to 1868 ; Rev. Ira C. Billman from 1868 to 1871 ; Rev. Dr. Wiles from 1871 to 1884 ; Rev. Dr. G. M. Heindel from 1884 to 1891 ; Rev. Dr. W. W. Criley from 1891 to 1898 ; Rev. G. C. Smith from 1899 to 1905 ; Rev. Frank Heilman from 1905 to date.

The present membership of this church is six hundred. The edifice in which this congregation worships was erected about 1884, and the property is now valued at forty-five thousand dollars. The former building stood on Market street near North street. This church enters heartily into all union Christian services, fellowshiping all orthodox denominations.

The first of this church's history began when Rev. D. Henkel, a missionary, preached the doctrines of the denomination in Wooster as early as 1815. Rev. John Stauck succeeded in 1816 and for the first time administered the Lord's Supper, when Mrs. McIntyre, Mrs. Anspach and Mrs. Ihrig were received into the church by rite of confirmation. In 1820 the Reformed denomination united with this body and erected a joint house of worship, a small frame structure, which stood north of school building No. 4. Union churches in early times were very common, not because they agreed in religious faith, but because of nationality, there being many Germans here who desired to speak in their mother tongue, and then in union services the expenses were much lighter than to support two or more building enterprises. This state of worship continued for seven years, when, in 1827, Rev. G. H. Weygandt came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and became pastor, and a second joint church was built. Weygandt remained pastor until 1840, preaching only in Garman. Subsequently the purely German element felt slighted at the introduction of English speaking, and withdrew and started a church on Buckeye street. This, however, only lasted two years, when they returned and brought with them a pipe organ with four stops. In May, 1853. a distinctive Lutherarr constitution was adopted. It was in 1867 when the

Reformed and Lutherans finally separated. The society adopted a second constitution in 1885, when the word Lutheran was dropped and simply the word Evangelical was made use of in the name of the denomination. The same church as was jointly used by the Reformed and Lutherans up to 1867 is still in use, with a few modifications and the adding of a one thousand five hundred dollar organ in June, 1907. The upper story of the building is used as a Sunday school room. This old pioneer church building stands on the corner of Henry and Grant streets, and is still in excellent repair; it is a substantial brick building, two stories high. The present church membership is about one hundred and fifty.

The pastors that have served since 1887 are Revs. J. F. Fetzer, J. D. Dieterle, 1888 ; A. Mallick, 1890; C. Schaeffer, 1893 ; G. L. Heck, 1897 ; F. H. Krafft, 1899 ; F. H. Graeper, 1903 ; H. J. Brodt, coming in 1907, is the present pastor.

The Lutherans in Plain township first held services in 1836, at the residences of Jacob Smyser, Sr., and M. Starn ; also at an old log school house east of the village. Mr. Smyser was the first Lutheran to settle in Plain township.

As early as 1827 Rev. G. H. Weygandt preached in this vicinity, and with him as pastor the Lutherans, with a few German Reformed settlers, laid the cornerstone of a church in 1828, on joint ground procured for church and graveyard purposes, from land owned by John Lehman. This union building was dedicated in 1830. The Lutherans erected a new building in 1871.

The Canaan or Kopp's meeting house was built in 1830 by the German Reformed and Lutheran denomination, the Lutheran minister being Rev. A. Kuhn. Among the earliest members were the Weygandts, H. H. Hoffman and the Schuhs. In 1870 these congregations dissolved.

The Evangelical Lutheran church of Canaan township was built in 1870 and eight years later had a membership of seventy-one.

At the present time there are no Evangelical churches in Wayne county outside of the one at Wooster.

In 1834 the Reformed and Lutheran churches united in building this church, in Plain township. A permanent organization was effected November 5, 1843, and ten years later a new building was erected by the Lutherans. In 1878 the membership had reached sixty-two.

This congregation originally attended the Evangelical Lutheran church. In the summer of 1842 a new church was erected, or rather commenced, but not finished until 1846. In March, 1845, Rev. Robert Kochler became their minister and served one year. The congregation separated into two—the German and French elements, the congregations retaining their common property, creed and name. This church is located in Paint Creek township, Mt. Eaton being its seat.

This church was organized at Orrville, January 6, 1877, with ten members, and was incorporated January 31, 1876, with the following trustees : Jesse Good, A. W. Bomberger, Otho Miller, G. G. Wear and A. McGriffin. March 28th A. C. Miller, M. D., of Cleveland, and J. H. Stoll, M. D., and wife, in April, deeded grounds to the trustees, thus securing to the church the entire block lying on the southeast corner of Vine street, for a consideration of one thousand nine hundred dollars. In July, 1876, they began the erection of a church, the cornerstone of which' was laid in September. By October the same year the building was ready for occupancy. At present the congregation worships in the same church edifice, a good brick structure, and the membership of the church is not large, but in a prosperous spiritual condition.

The first church here was erected in 1831, prior to which there was no organization there of this denomination. This building was built by the Reformed and Lutheran societies.

The church of this denomination in Franklin township was built in 1844, on lands donated by Jacob Herman, and was named Jacob's church, by Jacob Snyder. Rev. Kline was the first pastor. Prior to this the Lutheran families of the vicinity had to go to Wooster to worship.

The church of this congregation in Franklin township was erected in 1861, on lands donated by David Lawrence. Individual members furnished the material, cut the timber and hauled the logs. This church organization was the outgrowth of a dispute that arose between the members of the old Jacob's church, as to whether there should be German or English preaching. The church was organized with eighteen members.

The original members of the Evangelical church of Plain township were : F. Felger, John Radebaugh, M. Rittenhouse, Philip Kettering and John Weltmer. They erected a house of worship in 1856 and another was provided in 1876. It is now known as the Grand View church.

The first church of this denomination was built in 1848, and was dedicated by Bishop Seibert. It had a membership of forty. The new church was erected in 1874.

What was styled the Church of Christ was organized in Wooster July 26, 1835. The organizers were William F. Pool, Peter Willis, Frederick Kauke and wife, John Miller and wife, Jacob Watchel and wife, Samuel Zimmerman and Mary his wife, George K. Zimmerman, Griffith L. Jones, Elizabeth Scott. Eleanor Jones, Mary McCurdy and a few others. This organization left no record, but it is known that they kept alive their meetings and "broke the loaf.' In twelve years it had grown to a society of one hundred members. For several years the church had no meeting house. Part of the time it occupied the old court house, in which place it had been

originally organized. Sometimes it assembled in the school building in the south part of town. At other dates it met at some of the members' houses. For a time it met in a cooper shop, but finally in 1847 a church building was completed by them on the corner of Walnut and South streets. The first regular pastor was J. H. Jones, who began his labors in 1845 and continued until 1857; after him came the following : Errett, Jones, White, Walker, Bauserman, Moffett, Lowe and Carlton. Among the noted evangelists who frequented the place and worked zealously was Alexander Campbell. Up to 1878 there had been connected at one time or another seven hundred different persons, but many removed, died, changed to other churches and were excluded, thus lowering its membership greatly. The present church was erected in 1889. The present pastor, Rev. James K. Shellenberger, came September 7, 1905.

Other Christian churches of this county are at Blachleyville, Orrville and Fredericksburg.

The Disciple or Christian church at Shreve has always been a strong, healthy society and has from an early date been the means of doing much active church work. This church was first established a mile and a half to the north of the present village, on the farm owned by James Moore. Rev. John Chester, Rev. Lewis Comar, Rev. Jewell and Rev. Mitchell were among the pioneer preachers. In x856 the society moved to Shreve and erected a small frame building in which to worship. This served until 1902, when the present magnificent brick edifice was constructed at a cost of ten thousand dollars. It overlooks the village from the hill north of the business portion.

Revs. Harrison Jones, Isaiah Jones (his brother), J. W. Lowe, Fred Hoffman, Uriah Hoffman, M. L. Moody, D. C. Henselman, O. Q. Oviatt, W. H. Woodard, S. F. Simpson, L. W. Spade, D. W. McConnell, M. L. Decker.

The present membership of this church is four hundred, while that of the Sabbath School is four hundred and sixty-two, the same having been presided over for over forty years by one man. R. D. Wells.

This church was formed. at Blachleyville and a church building erected in 1866. Hugh Funk and family, Peter Baker and his father's family, Casper Swart and others were among the earliest of this denomination in this part of Wayne county. Rev. Harrison Jones was the first preacher.

It is to be regretted that the very earliest date of Presbyterian organization in Wooster, and of course in Wayne county, is a very uncertain conjecture, as the earliest records, if indeed there were such, have long since passed beyond the mind of the present day Presbyterians of the county. It may be remarked, however, that in nearly all of the first settlements of Maryland, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio there was an element of Scotch-Irish Presbyterianism, and wherever it located it found a place to worship God. While not largely represented in Wayne county, it still had an opportunity to sow the good seed which in later decades grew and flourished. They had in them the ring of the true metal and blue was their color.

The earliest record of this church was found many years ago in a book dingy and yellow with age, quaint in style and wonderfully humorous in its many suggestions. It bears the date of October 30, 1821, and bears this inscription : "Presented to the First Presbyterian Church of Wooster by Rea-sin Beall." This book indicates that there had been a constitution prior to that date. It also mentions the fact that on that date they had met to devise means to relieve their minister from wordly cares and avocations, and second, to provide a place for holding public worship. There are other circumstances that would tend to place the organization of the church as early as 1815. In a little house on West Liberty street, some ten or a dozen Presbyterians assembled before 1815, and doubtless in that house, about 1815, the birth of the church, now so strong and well known, had its origin.

Ben Douglas, in his history of Wayne county in 1878, declared that Alexander McBride told John McClellan that this church was organized with fifteen members in 1815, by Rev. William Mathews, by the order of the presbytery of Richmond, at which time Mr. McBride and Walter Buchanan were chosen ruling elders. For the first five or six years the record is silent ; what prosperous or adverse winds blew over this congregation, none can now tell.

The records of the Mansfield presbytery show that Rev. Thomas Barr accepted, April 4, 1820, the call of this congregation for one-half of his time, and that on May 24, 1820, he was installed pastor 0ver the united charge of Wooster and Applecreek. It was Reverend Barr who was chairman of the meeting held in the Baptist church, October 30, 1821, when the constitution, as now known of record, was adopted. John Christmas, of Wooster, donated the society a lot for building purposes about that date.

This lot was situated on West Liberty street, the same being duly accepted at a meeting at the house of Reasin Beall, November 2, 1821, and the same was ordered recorded in the records of Wayne county. It now appears in book B, page 407-8-9. The committee on building went forth armed with a subscription paper which allowed the same to be made "in money, grain or such produce as is usually taken in stores, in two equal installment, viz : The first to be paid March 1st and the balance in December following." The process was a slow one indeed, but finally the first contract was let for fifty thousand bricks, for which thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents were to be paid in cash, and seventy-five dollars in equal proportions of wheat, at sixty-two cents a bushel, delivered at Mr. Stibbs' and Mr. Plank's mills. This was one-half the contract price for the brick and the remainder was to be paid in June on terms equal to that of the first installment.

To give the reader of today a glimpse of the manner of building and also of doing business in those days, it will here be pertinent to give some of the incidents and items : "Four outside doors to be made of good, sound and well-seasoned pine or white walnut boards similar to the front door in Reasin Beall's dwelling house." The thirteen windows, washboards, posts and gallery floors, lathing and plastering stairs to the gallery, and its front, the pulpit, the seats and the railings, were each and all as quaintly and as minutely specified. No record is left of the date of the first meeting in this new house of worship, but it is believed that it was in November, 1825, possibly the 24th of that month. The seats were sold to the highest bidder on the 20th of that month, to raise funds with which to complete the church. Three months' time was given to bidders for a part of the price, the remainder in nine months, one-half in money and the other part in wheat, rye and corn at the market price. The following curious receipt shows that they worshiped in this building in 1826 :

"I have received from Reasin Beall and others, twelve dollars in full, for making fires, lighting candles and sweeping the meeting, house for the year 1827, commencing November 30, 1826, and ending December 31, 1827.

In such an age as this one can scarcely realize the way in which churches were built and how scarce money was. This accounts for the bartering in all kinds of truck and merchandise, even to whisky, -which then went as current for debts as did corn, wheat and stock. The subscription list, said still to be retained by the congregation as a rare and curious relic of "ancient days in Wooster," will here follow :

"$508.75, $34 in work, $20 in bricks (2000), $16.00 in wheat, 200 bushels of wheat, $105 in sawed stuff, $42 in flooring, $47 in hauling, 258 bushels of corn, $10 in digging stumps and foundation, 175 lights of sash, Si̊ in poplar boards, 1.14 bushels of rye, ten joist at ten cents per foot, $12 in leather, $75 in cloth, five yards in linen, five yards in tow linen, twenty pounds of flax, $9.37 cents in coarse shoes, $20 in silver-work, $t0 in teaspoons, five dollars in tailoring, $6.00 in blacksmithing, $2.00 in cabinet work, $13 50 in hats, $8.00 in saddlery, $30 in nails, one spinning wheel, and forty-two gallons of whisky."

The clerk neglected to give names of the church members who gave these contributions, even to those who donated whisky. The whole subscription amounted to $1,568.58. The amount obtained from sale of seats was $1,136.15. Delinquent subscriptions, $184.40.

In September, 1829, Reverend Barr, having had a long, hard pull at church building, resigned as pastor.

After several unsuccessful attempts, the union existing between Wooster and Applecreek charges was abrogated September 13, 1831, after which time Wooster had her own pastor all the time. In January, 1840, steps were taken toward the providing of a more commodious church. But deep water had yet to be crossed by the congregation, and delays were thwarting the plans for building—they had foes within and foes without. Rev. Joseph Chambers was called to the pastorate in 1850, but only remained until August, dying in the following month. Again the matter of building was broached and subscriptions taken freely, the same to apply on a church to be erected on West Liberty street, the old site. But through the work mostly of the ladies of the church the project was changed and the new plan was to build on the site of the present church. A building committee composed of five men—J. P. Coulter, James Jacobs, Ephraim Quinby, Isaac Johnson and Rev. J. N. Shepherd—was set to work again with renewed vigor. The cost of this structure was between five and six thousand dollars. The first meeting was held in the new church January 2, 1854, when E. Quinby, Jr., was elected trustee, and he later served as treasurer a number of years. Steps were taken to provide the church with a suitable parsonage at a meeting held January II, 1859. The lot on which the building was erected was purchased of Mr. Quinby for seven hundred and fifty dollars.

In 1870 the Westminster church was organized, in connection with the Wooster University, which was a child of the original Presbyterian church of Wooster.

In 1874 the church was remodeled, wings added thereto and in all there was an outlay of about fourteen thousand dollars.

The record of membership is as follows : Organized in 1875 with fifteen members; when Reverend Barr was made pastor the membership had reached thirty-three ; when he left it had one hundred and seven ; from 1846 to 1853 the aggregate membership was three hundred and seventy. In 1878 the membership had reached, after counting out all removals, deaths and other changes, a net of four hundred and sixteen. According to the records of the church in 1909 the church was made up of five hundred and twenty members. The present house of worship is the same as in 1854, aside from the improvements made from time to time. The present pastor is Rev. David Ayrton Heron.

The pastors have included the following, though not possibly all, in the order here named : Rev. Matthews, 1815 on for a number of years; Thomas Barr, many years ; William Cox, one year ; William Wiley, one year ; George W. Warner, from 183. 2 to 1836; William McCandish, 1839 to 1849; Joseph H. Chambers, 1850 to August of same year, when he died ; J. N. Shepherd, 185o to 1851 ; James H. Baird, to 1854 ; J. B. Stewart, to 1857; R. Colmery, to 1860; S. W. Miller, called 1868 to 1874; T. A. McCurdy, D. D. ; Oscar A. Hills, D. D. ; Hamilton W. Lowery, D. D. ; Scott F. Hershey, LL.D., Ph. D. ; David Ayrton Heron, came from Indianapolis in July, 1908.

This church is in Wooster and is the outgrowth of the Wooster University and the child of the First Presbyterian church of the city. Its present membership is three hundred and fifty-five. The Westminster congregation worshiped in the chapel of the university from its organization in 1874 until December, 1901, when the University building was destroyed by fire. In the spring of 1902 the present Memorial chapel of the university was dedicated, built at a cost of forty thousand dollars, the money having been secured through the liberality of a number of friends. In style of architecture it follows strictly the English gothic of the thirteenth century. The building is a light buff Ohio sandstone and will accommodate about eleven hundred people. The five-thousand-dollar organ was constructed by the Austin Company of Hartford. Connecticut.

The list of pastors who have served this congregation is as follows : Revs. T. K. Davis, D. D. ; A. A. E. Taylor, D. D. ; S. F. Scovel, D. D. ; Ed-

ward W. Work; S. Hale Young; J. J. Lucas, D. D. ; O. A. Hills, D. D. : Chalmers Martin, D. D.; John Leonard Tait.

This church was organized January 19, 1843, by Rev. A. Hanna, with a membership of fifty-seven. Rev. John Andrews was the first pastor, in 1843.

This church was organized in 1816, but had held services as early as 1814. The charter membership was twenty-three. Rev. James Adams, who formed the society, remained from 1814 to 1823. The first meeting house was of logs, and it was situated two miles west of Dalton ; the second was on the site where the third church was erected in 1853-54.

Prior to the formation of the church at this point occasional services were held. Rev. Archibald Hanna preached the first sermon in the interests of this sect in 1852, in an old school house. No further record of any services is had until those of July 9, 1854, by Rev. John E. Carson, held in the Union church. Here they henceforth worshiped until the basement of their own church was fit for occupancy. During the ministry of Reverend Semple, the church was organized July 25, 1865. The original membership consisted of the following : Mr. and Mrs. Gailey, Mr. and Mrs. Reaser, Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Johnston, James A. Taggart, Margaret F. Crites, Rebecca Wilson, Lydia Wilson, Mary L. Wilson, Mary J. Ewing, Delilah McFarland, Sarah A. Orr, Rebecca M. Storrs, Catherine Schriber and Sarah J. Taggart.

Rev. Semple's labors ceased September 16, 1866, and he was followed by Rev. M. L. Anderson. Up to 1878 there had been connected with this church two hundred and fifty-seven persons. The number in 1909 was shown to be two hundred and sixty-three. The same brick church erected' in 1871 is still doing good service. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph V. Findley.

The first church organized in Canaan township was by the Presbyterian people at Jackson, May 25, 1827, with sixteen members. Nathan Hall and Thomas Hays were chosen ruling elders. In 1838 the congregation called

its first regular pastor, Rev. Thomas Barr, who served them nearly forty years. Their second house of worship was erected in 1837, the third in 1854, and at present the congregation is flourishing with a church membership of sixty-two.

This Presbyterian church was organized August 22, 1833, with thirteen members, by Rev. William Cox. The original members were as follows : James and Sarah McCoy, Robert and Elizabeth Eakin, Moses and Sarah Foltz, Margaret Beer, Abigail Johnston, Nancy Orr, John Rose, Mary Rose, Mary Lawrence and Maria McClarran. Its membership is now about fifty.

The Presbyterian was the fourth church to be formed in Greene township. the date being in .1830.

This is one of the pioneer churches in Wayne county. It dates its organization from 1815 or 1846 and it was brought about by Reverends Hughes and James Adams. The membership was at first thirty persons, four of whom were James Bingham. Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jonathan Peppered and Moses Dunham. These were ruling elders. The first church was built in 1817, the congregation being occasionally supplied until 1819, when Rev. Joseph Harper became the stated supply. In 1820 Rev. Thomas Barr settled as pastor at Wooster and Applecreek. In 1825 a larger house was built and in 1830 Rev. William, Cox became pastor. In 1837 he was followed by Rev. Richard Graham and he in turn by Rev. Joseph Wylie. During his pastorate a third church building was erected and there was a great revival in the church. In 1850 came Rev. J. E. Carson. In 1860 Rev. Andrew Virtue came and remained almost nine years. In 1868 came Rev. W. Engleson, who in 1875 was followed by Rev. S. C. Ferris. Then came Rev. J. C. Truesdale in 1878 and remained seven years. The next pastor was Rev. L. T. Laverty in 1885, during whose pastorate the present church was erected. In 1891 came Rev. A. W. Verner, who served until August 2, 1896, then came Rev. G. S. Hachett, who served until 1902. Rev. J. W. Boyer then became pastor and preached until October, 1906. when Rev. D. H. Johnson

came in May, 1907, remaining until May, 1909. s The church was repaired during this period. The present pastor is Reverend McGrath. The membership is two hundred and thirty-one.

The church of Paintville—now Mt. Eaton—was organized June 20, 1818, with thirteen members. The Rev. James Adams officiated at the organization. Up to 1878 this church had on its rolls four hundred and nine persons. The names of the first members were James and Margaret Kilgore, Jane McKinney, William Kilgore, Isabelle Kilgore, William Hunter, Mary Hunter, Rowland Armstrong, Jane Armstrong, John Anderson, Agnes Anderson, James Galbraith and Sarah Galbraith.

The present membership of this church is eighteen. The present pastor is supplied.

Creston is supplied with a pastor at present from other places ; it has a membership of one hundred and fifty-two.

Shreve has a church of one hundred and eighty-six members ; Rev. Leonard Twinem is the present pastor.

Dalton Presbyterian church has a membership of one hundred and ninety-nine, with Rev. Joseph V. Findley, as present pastor.

Millersburg has an organization of two hundred and twenty-four members. with Rev. Charles J. McCracken as pastor.

West Salem and Congress churches have a membership of one hundred and twenty-eighty with Rev. Claude R. Culbertson as .present pastor.

Hopewell is supplied by other places ; it has a membership of two hundred and five.

Rittman Presbyterian church has a membership of seventy-five ; the present pastor is Rev. H. E. Nicklen.

In Wayne county there are now three separate congregations of this denomination—at Wooster, Fredericksburg and Dalton.

Of the Wooster church it may be stated that the Associate congregation of Wooster was organized in August, 1817, and Rev. John Walker, D. D., and Rev. William Wilson presided at the meeting, which was held in a. large tent erected at the south end of Buckeye street in Wooster..

The Associate Reformed congregation of Wooster was organized in 1843, its pastor being the Rev. J. H. Peacock. Its worship was commonly held in the court house.

These two organizations were united into one congregation in 1858, under the present name of "The United Presbyterian Congregation of Wooster," having then a total membership of one hundred and twenty. The pastors of the Associate congregation and the United congregations were : Rev. Samuel Irwin, from 1819 to 1835 ; ,Rev. Joseph McKee from 1837 to 1849; Rev. Hugh Sturgeon from 1852 to 1856; Rev. J. W. McFarland from 1857 to 1864; Rev. R. H. Pollock, D. D., from 1865 to 1875 ; Rev. Daniel A. Wallace,, D. D., LL.D., from January 1, 1878, to October 20, 1883 ; Rev. R. A. Gilfillan, from May 1, 1885, to April 18, 1886 ; Rev. John A. Wilson, D. D., from November I, 1886, to October 29, 1893 ; Rev. J. D. Irons, D. D., from October 1, 1894, to November 1, 1895 ; Rev. J. 0. Campbell, D. D., from May 17, 1896, to October 15, 1901 ; Rev. W. A. Littell, from March 2, 1902, to December 1, 1908. The congregation is now without a pastor.

Dr. David A. Wallace was called to a professorship in the Xenia Theological Seminary of the church, but died at the close of his pastorate in Wooster. Dr. John A. Wilson was elected to a professorship in the United Presbyterian Seminary at . Allegheny, Pennsylvania ; Dr. J. D. Irons was elected to a professorship in Xenia Theological Seminary and Dr. J. O. Campbell was elected to a professorship in Westminster College, at New Arlington, Pennsylvania.

The first house of worship in Wooster for this denomination was erected by the Associate congregation in 1819 and stood on South Buckeye street in the south part of the city. It was a frame building. The second building was on the same site, erected in 1837. The present church building, located on North Bever street, is a brick structure erected in 1868, at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars.

During the pastorate of Dr. David A. Wallace a large and commodious Sabbath school room was added to the present church building, and during the pastorate of Dr. John A. Wilson a handsome parsonage was purchased by the congregation, on East Bowman street.

Hart, W. T. Peckinpaugh and Mahlon Rouch. The trustees are as follows : J. S. Wallace, William King, Harry Hurst, W. J. Giffen, Dr. L. A. Yocum, Robert H. Smith and T. E. Ewing. The present membership of this congregation is one hundred and ninety-three.

The Fredericksburg United Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. William Wilson, in 1818. Prior to 1858 this congregation was called the Seceders, or Associate Presbyterians. Some of the first of the church were : John Sorrel and George Miller, who had settled in the neighborhood in 1812 and 1813 ; William Truesdale in 1817, and Samuel Miller, David Cox and George Boon. The first place they called meeting house was built of logs and stood near the old Associate burying ground on the hill. In 1821 Rev. Samuel Irvine, D. D., was ordained pastor of this and three other congregations. In 1838 a brick building was built in the southwest part of town. At pres¬ent they worship in one built later. The membership is now fifty-seven, and the pastor is Rev. W. J. Grimes.

The United Presbyterian congregation of Dalton was organized by the Associate Presbytery of Chartiers in 1820 at the home of John McDowell. Rev. Samuel Irvine was the first stated supply and Rev. Joseph McKee was the first pastor, his pastorate lasting from 1836 to 1842. Services were first conducted in, private houses and in a tent erected on the farm of James Douglas. In 1828 a log church was built, which was used until 1839, when a frame building was erected in Dalton. The present brick church was erected in 1871. The following is the succession of pastors : Rev. J. R. Doig, 1842-1848 ; Rev. D. W. Collins, D. B., 1850-1852 ; Rev. J. Y. Ashenhurst, 18541856 ; Rev. A. McCartney, 1858-1860 ; Rev. W. M. Gibson, 1863-1867; Rev. J. G. Madge, 1870-1896; Rev. Will H. Hubbell, the present pastor, was installed as pastor in June, 1897. The congregation has greatly prospered under his leadership. There were one hundred members when he took charge and about one hundred and fifty new members have been added since. The Sabbath school has grown from an enrollment of fifty-nine to one hundred and sixty. Not only has the congregation made many improvements on the church building during the present pastorate, but a fine modern parsonage

has been built for the pastor. The session at the present time is composed of Thomas E. McDowell, Allan Arnold, D. C. Rudy and C. R. Snavely. The board of trustees consists of Albert E. Dague, Lewis S. Berg and Oliver W. Hanenstien.

The founder of this denomination was Rev. John Winebrenner, a German Reformed minister, who about 1830 preached in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was too excitable to longer be retained and tolerated in the Reformed church, and separated from it in 1825 and formed the Church of God. This church was organized in Pennsylvania and soon planted itself westward and is now well known in many sections of the country. At Wooster, Ohio, it was organized in May, 1848, by Elder A. Medgrew, with a membership of but sixteen persons. The officers were : Charles Hoff, elder; J. P. Winebrenner, deacon. June 27, 1850, the lot and bethel were purchased from J. P. Winebrenner. Rev. G. U. Harn commenced his labors as pastor in April, 1851. January 24, 1866, they rented their house to the United Presbyterian society until they could erect one of their own. Their first church property was purchased for the sum of sixty-nine dollars and fifty cents by Mr. Winebrenner from Lindol Sprague and John Hanna, administrators of the James Clendennen estate. It was the old building to the east of the present bethel. It was repaired and fitted up for a church and sold at five hundred and thirty dollars. The new church building was commenced in 1854, and completed in 1855, by David Atkins, at an expense of four thousand seven hundred and thirty dollars. It is forty-five by sixty-five feet, with vestibule and basement above ground. It was dedicated August 5, 1855, by Elders J. Winebrenner and A. Swartz. On the morning of August 7, 1854. a serious accident befell the workmen at this building. The girders and rafters for a half of the structure fell to the ground, carrying with the frame work and timbers the many. working men. Citizens soon went to the scene of disaster, accompanied by physicians. The list of killed and injured is : Mr. Henderson, of Milbrook, killed ; John Cope, of Massillon, wounded ; Henry Miller, hurt ; Joseph Kimber, hurt ; David Atkins, collar bone broken ; Henry Harris, badly bruised ; Charles Pond, fractured bones ; John Hamicar, Charles Hickman, John Vanmeter, D. Baker, A. Hummer and a Mr. Smith, injured.

At this date the church is still in use. The membership of the congregation is one hundred and sixty and The present pastor is Rev. W. E. Turner.

This denomination now has churches at Aukerman, Moreland, Smithville and Overton, in Wayne county.

This church was built in 1843, at Moreland, Adam Weiker, Isaac Tate and Samuel Metzler being the chief movers in the enterprise. The first preacher of this charge was Archibald Megrew and following him was Jonathan West. In 1878 the membership had grown to thirty.

The Wooster parish of the Episcopal church was organized in December, 1840, by Hon. Levi Cox, J. W. Schuckers, Henry Lehman, James Johnson, J. C. James, David Sloane, George James, John A. Holland, R. H. Catherwood and a few other associates, of Wooster and vicinity. They adopted the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States of America. This parish was incorporated by act of the Legislature of Ohio in February, 1841. In April, 1841, Rev. Ervin Miller was called to the rectorship. Services were held in the court house until December, 1841, when the first services were held in the new church edifice, on West South street, erected by the .parish, on a lot donated by James L. Bowman. Services were held there until May, 1860, when the building was regarded as unsafe and was abandoned and sold, after which services were held in the basement of the English Lutheran church and later in Arcadome Hall until November, 1860, when a new edifice was ready for occupancy. This was built on the corner of Market and North streets. The first church edifice was consecrated in May, 1842, by Bishop Mcllvaine, and the new Gothic church in 1867 by assistant Bishop Bedell. In 1869-70 the parish erected a frame building as a rectory.

At present this parish has a good membership and is worshiping in the church erected in 1867.

The First Methodist church of Wooster was the outgrowth of the labors and prayers of this devout people, some of whom sought to plant the seed of Methodism here as early as 1817-18. It is unfortunate for the present day historian that the records are lost and the exact date of its organzation cannot be definitely fixed. Up to 1832 the history of this church

is lacking. At a quarterly conference, held in Wooster, December 15, 1832, for Wooster circuit and district, William P. Christie appeared as presiding elder. Class leaders for that day are known to have been A. Stewart, A. Warner, J. Sampson, D. Chacey, C. Yordy, George Snider, H. Kizer, D. Black, M. Warner and William Spear.

The Sunday school was organized about 1832, and in 1835 the Wooster class numbered one hundred and twelve scholars. In April, 1836, William Spear, Christian Eyster and David Fairfield were appointed a committee to estimate the cost of building a church. In •1837 a proposition was made to divide the circuit, embracing all the appointments north of Wooster and the state road, leading to Mansfield, which was agreed to. In 1837 Adam Poe was presiding elder, and in 1838 J. H. Power.

"First, the meeting house has been pulled down and lies even with the ground. Second, they have determined to build a new house of the following dimensions : seventy-five by fifty feet, a portico eight by thirty, with columns in front, etc. They have contracted for building the same for two thousand seven hundred dollars and two thousand five hundred and three dollars have been subscribed ; the building is now in a state of forwardness and they expect to have the basement fully ready for use by the first of September next and the house finished sometime during the summer.

"Signed, J. J. Armstrong, Jacob Immel, William Spear, D. P. Hartman, M. E. Hamp, D. Black, C. Yordy, Thomas Williams, Trustees."

October 17, 1840, E. Yocum appears as presiding elder. October 14, 1843, at a quarterly meeting the question arose whether it was best to divide the circuit and make Wooster a station, which, upon a vote, was carried in the affirmative, whereupon it was moved and seconded that Bodine and Smithville appointments be attached to Wooster, which was carried. The circuit was now divided as before decided by the conference, and Wooster was constituted a station.

September 21, 1844, E. Raymond appears as presiding elder, D. Black, William Stitt, D. M. Crall as stewards.

May 6, 1849, the trustees reported the church entirely out of debt, but suggested some repairs and improvements to the building. William Henry donated the parsonage grounds.

"Whereas, The putting on of gold is a plain violation of Scripture precept, as well as the rules of our church, therefore, be it

"Resolved, That the members of the Methodist Episcopal conference prohibit the use of it in their own families, and discountenance the use of it by the members of the church."

After discussion, Rev. J. Durbin presented the following as a substitute, which was accepted by Mr. Hinton, and passed by the conference :

"Resolved, That we hereby request our pastor to preach discourses at his own pleasure and convenience, on the subject of dress ; and that we will sustain him in the execution of the general rules of our discipline, without exception."

The subjoined is a complete list of the various pastors who have served on the charge on which Wooster is situated :

Edward Taylor

James Gilbreth

Peter Stevens

John Graham

Isaac Ellsbury

James Murray

S. Meriman

Abner Goff

J. C. Taylor

C. Carpenter

Adam Poe

H. Colclozer

J. M. McMahan

James Wilson

James Dixson

H. Sheldon

J. Hazzard

E. M. Dalbey

L. Bevans

S. Ruark

P. P. Ayers

W. Runnels

C. R. Lovel

E. Thompson

E. Yocum

Thomas Dunn

George Smith

1820-21

1821-22

1822-23

1823-24

1824-25

1825-26

1826-28

1826-27

1828-29

1829-30

1830-31

1831-32

1832-33

1833-34

1834-36

1835-36

1836-37

1836-38

1837-38

H. R. Parish

E. C. Gavitt

W. L. Harris

David Gray

Cyrus Sawyer

C. B. Brandenburg

Thomas Barkdull

J. N. Kellum

William D. Drisho

G. W. Howe

R. H. Chubb

E. R. Jewett

Cyrus Sawyer H. E.

H. E. Pitcher

L. B. Gurley

L. S. Yourtee

Jesse Durbin

H. S. Brodley

T. S. Kalb

W. H. Seeley

H. G. DuBois

L. Warner

M. C. K. Hard

C. L. Foot

A. R. Palmer

J. Mallock

George Mather

1837-38

1838-39

1839-41

1839-40

1840-41

1841-42

1841-43

1842-43

1843-44

1844-45

1845-47

1847-48

1850-52

1852-53

1853-54

1854-55

1855-56

1856-58

1858-60

1860-61

1861-62

1862-64

1864-66

1866-68

1868-70

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G. W. Pepper

A. Nelson

O. Badgley

G. A. Hughes

I. H.McConnell

N. S. Albright

George Mather

1870-72

1872-74

1874-76

1876-79

1879-81

1881-84

1884-86

R. T. Stevenson

W. C. Dawson

J. Frank Smith

John H. Deeds

Edgar V. DuBois

Charles L. Johnson

J. W. Dowds

1886-89

1890-95

1895-00

1900-04

1904-06

1906-09

1909—

The more recent year presiding elders (district superintendents) are : Rev. G. A. Hughes, 1879-83 ; Rev. E. Persons, 1887-93 ; Rev. P. B. Stroup, 1887-99 ; Rev. George Mather, 1893-99 ; Rev. A. D. Knapp, 1899 ; Rev. Keys, present incumbent.

On a Sunday morning in February, about 1885, the old Methodist church building burned. Insurance was carried to the extent of four thousand dollars, which was promptly paid and this enabled the society to go ahead with new building plans. Right at that juncture, the Trinity church of the same denomination, which owned and used a small brick church where now stands the First Episcopal building, concluded to unite, or rather reunite, for they had left the parent church some years before, and so the property of the two congregations was united and the Trinity building was taken down and the present First Methodist church building was erected at a cost of about thirty-five thousand dollars. In the year 1906 a very fine pipe organ was added to the church. Its cost was about four thousand five hundred dollars, and Andrew Carnegie donated one-third of the amount, one thousand five hundred dollars.

The present membership of this church is seven hundred. Considering the fact that Wooster is largely a Presbyterian place (owing to the university influence and interests), the Methodist church is indeed a strong. influential denomination and is doing most effective work.

TRINITY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WOOSTER.

This is one of the more modern churches of this denomination. it dates its organization from November 23, 1872, and then started out with a membership of thirty-five. The St. James Episcopal church was rented for the use of the newly formed society. The first pastor was Rev. John Toner, of Canton, Ohio. The first official hoard was as follows : stewards, Daniel Black, Henry C. Harris, C. M. Amsden, J. C. Knoble, F. L. Parsons, John Van Meter, W. S. Leyburn ; trustees, D. Q. Liggett, B.

270 - WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.

Barrett, John H. Silvers, J. H. Carr, W. M. Pinkerton, J. B. Power, T. Y. McCray, M. K. Hard, C. V. Hard.

In 1874 it was determined to erect a house of worship and about the middle of June the work was begun on a lot on the corner of North Market and Larwill streets, where a new, handsome structure rapidly rose. In size it was fifty-eight by ninety-two feet and seated four hundred, while the Sunday school room accommodated fully two hundred more. This building was dedicated January 24, 1875. The first sermon was preached by Rev. D. S. Gregory, D. D., of Wooster University, and the regular dedicatory sermon was by Bishop W. X. Ninde, D. D., then of the Northwestern University, Chicago. In 1878 the membership of this church was even two hundred. Early in the eighties this church, after the burning of the old First Methodist Episcopal building, united with that church and since then only one Methodist church has existed in Wooster. The brick church above named was torn down and the -present fine edifice was erected as common property of the united congregation—the First church putting in the insurance money it had received and other monies and the Trinity people putting in the lot and material of their church.

FREDERICKSBURG METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The First Methodist Episcopal church of Fredericksburg was built in 1830 sand stood south of town. The first minister in charge was Rev. H. 0. Sheldon. The second edifice erected was built in 1860. Some of the earlier members of this charge were : John Miller and family, David Griffith and family, Samuel Brown and family, Robert Armstrong, Sr., J. R. Armstrong, Jacob Kiser (the singing shoemaker), Stinson McWilliams, Nancy Sefton and family, C. P. Tennant and family, R. S. McEwen and family.

The church, at present, has a membership of two hundred and fifty-eight. Besides this there was an early-day organized Presbyterian church in Sugarcreek township.

CANAAN TOWNSHIP METHODISM.

A Methodist Episcopal church was erected in Windsor in 1850-51, which they continued to occupy until 1874, when they again built a neat edifice. Among the early members here may be remembered the Strattons. Notestines, Wiles, Van Doorens, Haskins, Stephenson, Haws and others.

WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO - 271

"BEND CHURCH."

This was the name of a church built in Canaan township in 1831-32, through Dr. Barnes, a minister of that denomination who had preached at that point as early as 1815. The earliest to attend and support this society were the Weeds, Bowmans, Strattons, Kearns, Thrapps, Zuvers and Hills. The church became extinct just prior to the Civil war, yet the "Bend Methodists" left their impression on the community.

METHODISM IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

The First Methodist Episcopal church was built in Moreland about 183o, and was a one-story frame building thirty by thirty feet, located on Robert Buckley's land and was donated by him for church uses. For the first fifteen years before the church was built services were held at private houses, generally at that of William P. Force. The second church was built in the summer of 1863. At present, 1909, the church has a membership of one hundred and sixty.

CRESTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Methodism in this immediate section began its work at Jackson at a very early date—about 1850. In 1863 the old frame church at Jackson was moved to Creston and stood on the site of the present church. The old building served until 1884, when the present brick church was erected at a cost of eight thousand dollars. It is sixty-one by sixty feet, to which has been added during the last year parlor and Sunday school room thirty by thirty feet that cost two thousand dollars.

The present membership, in good standing, is two hundred and eighty. W. A. Wells has served this church as its recording steward and generally had charge of the collections and finances of the church for the past thirty years. Through his management, the treasury always has a credit when conference meets.

The following have served as pastors in the order here named since 1850 : Revs. M. T. Ward, A. R. Palmer, Munsinger, Reeder, Jones, Moffett, Owen, Peters, Col. S. R. Clark, Wells, T. S. Warner, Hushouse, Huntsberger, Warner, Saholzer, Snyder. Wager, Whitnorth, Peterson, S. E. Sears, and present pastor (1909), C. D. Castle.

272 - WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT ORRVILLE.

A Methodist Episcopal church was formed in the district in which Orrville was situated as early as 1853 by Joseph Hayes, and services were held in a school house in the western part of the little village. Among its first members were David Huston, leader; Mrs. Joanna Hayes, Daniel Hoover and wife, Mrs. Mary Van Buskirk, Father Wilford, a local preacher, and Mr. and Mrs. Skelton. They completed their church edifice in 1868-69 and it was dedicated by Rev. Alfred Wheeler. Pastors who served this church in the order here given are (since 1869) : Revs. Clinton Craven, N. J. Close, A. E. Thomas, Philip Kelser, J. L. Sanford, J. T. McCartney, W. Reese, J. F. Brant, Freshwater, Ashbaugh, F. S. Wolfe, Boothe, Dunbar, Slutz, Barnett, Hyde, Meyer and Fleming.

The present membership is two hundred and fifty. The cornerstone of the church has this dating, "1866-1905," meaning the date of old and new edifices. The new building is perhaps the finest in Wayne county. Its stone walls and elegant finishings make it all round modern. Its cost was eighteen thousand dollars. It stands on Church street, and was dedicated by Dr. Mitchell of Cleveland, now of Chicago.

OTHER METHODIST CHURCHES.

Other Methodist Episcopal churches within Wayne county in 1909 have a membership, as shown by the 1908 conference minutes, as follows : Apple-creek, 210 ; Burbank, 144 ; Congress, 170 ; Dalton, 275 ; Doylestown, 170; Marshallville, 95 ; Moreland, 160 ; Shreve, 209 ; Smithfield and Canaan, 134 ; West Salem, 183.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

It appears that Catholicism first had its start in Wayne county in the early forties and St. Mary's church was erected in 1847 at Wooster. The cornerstone was laid during that year in the month of September by Archbishop Purcell. The first resident priest was Father Champion, succeeded by Fathers Brennan, Haley, O'Neal, Arnold, Gallaher and Ankly. When the church was erected there were but fifteen resident members, but by 1878 it had increased to over a hundred members.

The old burying ground, to the east of the church, was used until January, 1871, when the first lot was sold in .the new cemetery to Joseph Holland. In 1869 Father Ankly purchased these grounds from David Robison, Jr.,

WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO - 273

paying therefor two hundred dollars per acre for ten acres. The beautiful brick parsonage was built in 1906 at a cost of seven thousand, two hundred dollars. The same church is in use that was erected in 1847 and seems as good as the day it was built, due to honest workmanship.

This congregation now numbers eighty families. Father Fridolin Ankly has been in charge of this congregation since the autumn of 1865—forty-four years. He is a native of Switzerland, came to America when eighteen years of age, was partly educated in Europe and finished here. He served in Sandusky, Ohio, before coming here ; also in Cleveland. Protestants and Catholics alike vie with one another to do this man of God honor. He is one of Ohio's most venerable priests and makes friends wherever he goes. This church is now styled the Immaculate Preferred Conception.

The original organ for this church came from Westfield, Massachusetts, and cost one thousand dollars. In 1866 the bell was bought in St. Louis at one thousand and four hundred dollars and weighed (gross) three thousand five hundred pounds.

ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

This Catholic church was erected in Baughman township in 1849 by Ambrose Halter, and the first priest was P. Morat. The church here is now known as St. Joseph's, and numbers seventeen families.

MILTON TOWNSHIP CATHOLIC CHURCH.

A Catholic church was erected in Milton township in 1858, the cornerstone having been laid July 26, 1858. This embraced the so-called "French Settlement," and lately the church has laid a cornerstone for a new building to be located at the town of Rittman, where there are twenty families of this faith.

At Orrville the church has purchased two lots on the corner of High and Elm street where they contemplate building a church soon.

STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

This church is located at Doylestown and was organized a mile to the south of the present town in 1827. Their first building was a log structure twenty-eight by forty feet, which served until 1849, when a church was erected

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274 - WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.

on the site of the present magnificent church in the village. This was thirty-six by sixty feet in size and cost four thousand dollars. This served until 1877 when the present brick church was erected at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars, now worth twenty-five thousand dollars. It is fifty-six by one hundred and ten feet in size and its ceilings are forty feet high. Recently the church has built a fine two-story brick school building near the church. The present membership of this congregation is about eighty families.

FRENCH SETTLEMENT CHURCH.

The work among the Catholics began here in 1855 and in July, 1858, a church was dedicated—a frame building which is still standing. A frame church was built in 1909 costing four thousand dollars. The Catholic work in this section is being rapidly transferred to Rittman, the railroad point, and is all served by the priest at Doylestown at this date.

AT STERLING.

The work here was established in 1883 and that year there was bought a frame house twenty-eight by thirty-five feet that had been a school house. This work will also be removed to Rittman eventually.

DIED AMONG STRANGERS.

On September 20, 1832, Father Ed D. Fenwick, a bishop, died at Wooster, among strangers, there being no Catholic hand to administer the last sacrament to him. No Catholics lived in the place at that time.

SONNEBERG SWISS MENNONITE CONGREGATION.

In Sugarcreek township is located one branch of the Mennonite church—the one above named. The total membership of this congregation is now four hundred and seventeen. Its ministers are Jacob Nussbaum (bishop), C. N. Amstutz, J. S. Moser (ministers), J. J. Moser (deacon). A Sunday school is in connection with the church work.

Sonneberg is neither a town nor postoffice—simply a German Mennonite settlement which received its name from the first settlers who emigrated direct from Switzerland where they had lived on a mountain called in Ger-