Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/488

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

��on the road to prosperity and permanence, Mr. Ruth left it in 1835, and was followed, in 183G, l)y George Leiter. He preached for both the Knglish and Cxerman Lutherans, at that time united in one congregation, under the title of the English and German Lutheran Congi'ega- tion of Mansfield. For some time, the congre- gation worshiped in a schoolhouse situated on the southwest corner of the lot upon which the market-house is l)uilt. In 1837, the}' united with the German Reformed congregation in purchasing the old Methodist Church on Water street — the first church erected in the town. This they jointly occupied until the fall of 1852, when, l)y mutual consent, the property was sold, the building having become unfit for use. In 1849, the English and German Luther- ans separated, and the societ}- was incorporated under its present title. The Pastors were : George Leiter, six years ; H. K. Henick, one year ; George Leiter, recalled, two years ; J. H. Huflfman, four years. In 1849, the Rev. S. Fenner was installed, and remained seventeen years. During Mr. Fenner's pasto;i'ate (1851), the lot was purchased, on which a substantial brick church was erected, which was dedicated October 16, 1853. Rev. :M. J. Firey followed 3Ir. Fenner. and, during his pastorate of six years, the church was enlarged to its present dimensions. The present Pastor, Rev. D. ^\. Smith, followed Mr. Firey. and has filled the pulpit very acceptably nearly eight years. During the year 1879, a society was organ- ized within the chui'ch, -for church work." It is divided into the following committees : (1) on visitation. (2) on sick, (3) on poor, (4) on missions, (5) on Sabbath school, (6) aid soci- ety. It promises to be very efficient.

The present membership of the church is 350 ; the Deacons are A. J. Bortz, Elias Trout- man, 31. D. Harter and Samuel G. Eyerly. Elders are B. Bair. Daniel Gerberich, Abraham Small and S. S. Balliet. Trustees— David Bell, Lewis Bowei's and Leonard Sheets.

��A Sabbath school was organized in 1849. The Superintendent is James Livingston, and present membership, 355. The contributions of this school, for the last 3'ear. for missionary purposes were $177.82.

The Church of Christ, in 3Iansfield, was organized about the year 1834. James McYay was doing the work of an evangelist in the West at that time, and was influential in the organization. He arrived in Mansfield in 1833. At the organization, James and John Gilkison, and. soon after, Benjamin Gass and William B. Hammett, were chosen Bishops. Their first meetings were held in the old court house, and in the ballroom of the old Wiler House. This church was founded by Alexander Campbell, and has been known as the Campbellite and Disciple Church. In 1836. they occupied the building belonging to the Disciples, at the foot of Walnut street, on the present site of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad freight depot. In addition to the Bishops, abovt named, John Read, John Rigdon and James Porter took part in the dedicatory exercises, and John Read preached part of the time for the three years immediately following the ministry of James McYay.

In 1837, William Gass Avas chosen Bishop, and preached irregularly for a number of years. In 1850, he was induced to move to Mansfield, preach three-fourths of the time and take pas- toral charge of the church. This relation con- tinued one year. In addition to the alwve- named ministers, the following gentlemen preached at various times for a number of years : William Dowling, James Porter, John Rigdon, William B. Hammett. John Moody, C. E. Yanvoorhis, Daniel Swinney. J. H. Jones, Isaiah Jones, George Lac}', Jonas Hartzel, William Moody and Henry Dixon.

In 1840, a church was erected on the corner of Mulberry and Bloom streets, and was occu- pied until 1870, ,when the present comfort- able brick building, on East Third street, was

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