Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/490

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

��The St. Paul German Evangelical Lutheran Church is on West Third street. The Grerman Reformed and Grerman Lutherans were united in the first organization of this church, which occurred on the 5th of March, 1852. The principal members of this society were Chris- tian Bruckman. Henry Balliet, John Krause, Sr., Phillip Beck and a few others. The minis- ter was Rev. Mr. Hess. The present comfort- able brick church was erected in 1860, at a cost of about $2,000, and the present organization effected in 1863. The principal members of this original oi*ganization were John Krause, Sr., Coonrod Berg, Adam Risch, Henry Schmunk, Phillip Beck, Balthaser Ahlheim, John Mathias, Peter Ackerman. Adam Beck and John Steiner. The first minister was Herman A. Schmidt, who was also the founder of the church. He was followed b^- Conrad Kuchn, Gottfried H. Trebel, Ludwig Krebs, the present Pastor. The membership includes 108 families.

The organization of the Sunday school was coeval with that of the church. Phillip Beck was first Superintendent, Peter Ackerman is now Superintendent, with a membership of about one hundred.

St. Peter's Catholic Church is located on the corner of First and Mulberry streets. It was organized in 1855, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe, of Cleveland, Ohio. The first Pastor waa Rev. P. Krensh. Some of the first members were Jacob Sholl, Barnard Yeager and Matthew Shambs. The first church, a wooden structure, was purchased from the Presbyterians in 1853, and used until 1872. when it was taken away and the present beautiful brick building erected. The first Pastor was Rev. J. Maloney, followed by F. Gallagher, F. Kuhn and others, each of of whom remained two or three years. The present Pastor, Rev. A. Magenhann, took charge September 7, 1869. Two hundred families are included in the congregation. The Pastor is supported by a pew rent and ^'oluntary con- tribution. The church has been honored dur-

��ing the present pastorate by many noted Catho- lic visitors, among whom were the Archbishops of Milwaukee, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Den- ver City, Colorado.

Connected with this church are three schools, with a regular attendance of 200 children.

Grace Episcopal Church, situated on AVest Third street,was organized by Rev. J. W. Cracraft in 1846. Benjamin Johns was the principal founder and was mainly instrumental in organ- izing the parish and erecting the church. The principal original members were Benjamin Johns, Philip Bartley, Uzziel Stevens, H. B. Horton, John Harvey, Mr. and Mrs. Bar- rett, Mr. Beach and Mrs. Sherman. Two years after the organization, the present neat, comfortable brick church was erected. J. W. Cracraft served from 1846 to 1850 ; Rev. Aus- tin, 1851 ; H. Blackaller, 1851 to 1856 ; P. H. Jefl'ries, 1856 ; R. L. Gauler, 1859 ; T. G. Wells, 1862 ; James Trimble, 1864 to 1869. In 1870, the present able Pastor, S. A. Bronson, D. D., was installed. The Sunday school was organ- ized soon after the church was erected, and now numbers about fifty pupils ; C. S. Doolittell is Superintendent.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church is located on East Diamond street. It is not at present owned by the congregation, which is small, numbering only about twenty members. It was organized at that place in 1875, the principal members being George Conley, Philip Harris, Judge Sheffield, William Steward and Mrs. Rachel Steward and Mrs. Isaac Pleasants. The ministers have been Rev. Armhouse, Neely Jackson, William Mackedew, N. L. Bray and J. W. Jackson. The Sunday school con- nected with this church was organized by Mr. L. J. Bonar, in 1865, in the basement of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bonar was Super- intendent for several years. After him Mr. Isaac Pleasants has occupied that position acceptably. The membership is about thirty- one.

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