Plymouth Township (part 2 of 2)

Forty acres of land, where the church stands, was entered, and the three first above named selected as Trustees, to whom this land was deeded.

In 1852, the present substantial and commodious brick church was erected, costing about $2,600. This building would have cost much more than this, had not much of the material and labor been gratiutously furnished. It is about 45x75 feet in size.

A beautiful cemetery is attached, and also a fine brick parsonage, costing about $2,000. The inside of the church is nicely finished ; the four altars costing about $1,200, and the organ $1,200. The church was erected during the ministry of the Rev. Peter Creusch. The ministers have been too numerous to receive mention here. Father Henni was followed by Father Tchenhens, C. S. R., a celebrated missionary. The present Pastor is Rev. D. Zinsmayer, who éntered upon his duties in 1877. The church is very strong numerically and financially, being located in what is known as the " German Settlement," a settlement of thrifty, well-to-do farmers, living many of them in substantial brick houses, with well-cultivated and very rich farms. The land is generally level and soil deep.

In 1838, a school was established by Father Tchenhens, the first teacher being Jacob Alex. At present the school is conducted by three Sisters as teachers, from the Franciscan Convent of Tiffin, Ohio, with an attendance of eighty pupils.

The Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, of Shelby, was organized in 1864, by Rev. H. D. Best. The preliminary meetings of this society were held in the dwelling of W. E. Klees. The church was erected by Father Kuhn, and cost about $800. Father Kuhn was succeeded by Fathers Abel, Pitts, Gerardin, Euler, Zinzmayer, Schmitz and Murphy. The present Pastor is F. J. Oberly. Fifty-six families constitute the present membership. The school was organized in 1877 by the present Pastor. There is now an average attendance of fortythree children.

The Reformed Church of Shelby is located on Church street. In 1851, Revy.. Joseph B. Thompson was Pastor of the Reformed congregations in the vicinity of Shelby. He held evening services once in four weeks in the M. E. Church. January 19, 1852, the first meeting to take measures for the erection of a church was held in the Exchange Hotel, William Hawk being chosen President, and Jacob Kuhn Secretary. William Hawk and John Strock were chosen Trustees, and they, with J. H. Hershiser seven members; Moses Crum and Deacon. The day after the corner-stone was laid, Rev. J. B. Thompson resigned, and Rey. J. C. Klar supplied the congregation from June to the end of the year 1852. Rev. Adam Stump occasionally preached during the vacancy.

The following were subsequent Pastors of the church: Rev. H. Willard, from April 1, 1854, to April 1, 1857; Rev. H. Hess, until 1859 ; Rev. F. C. Edmonds, nine months. A vacancy of one year aud three months occurred. Rev. D. W. Kelly became Pastor April 1, 1861, continuing two years. During this time the bell was procured. A vacancy of four months followed. Rey. N. H. Loose took charge August 1, 1863, and continued fourteen years, ending August 1, 1877. During his ministry, about $1,500 were expended in improving the building. The interior was frescoed and painted, a new pulpit erected, organ procured, etc., and 151 members added to the church. Mr. Loose also served at the same time the Reformed congregations at London and Ganges, to which there were added, respectively, fifty and fortythree members. He also officiated at 174 funerals, solemnized 188 marriages, and preached 2,000 sermons.

Rey. C.W. Good followed Mr. Loose, beginning August 19, 1877, and continuing two years and one month. Mr. George Bowman has been chorister of the choir for sixteen years. At present, April, 1880, the 'congregation numbers about one hundred and twenty-five, and has a hopeful future. Rey. O. E. Lake is Pastor.

A history of the press of Shelby is, so far as success is concerned, but a repetition of that of Mansfield and other places in the county, and fully establishes the fact that establishing a newspaper is a most precarious business. Success comes only through numerous failures, and those who finally succeed must fully earn and deserve their success.

So far as can be ascertained, the first paper in Shelby was issued by C. R. Brown, in 1858, and was called the Pioneer. It circulated freely and successfully atrirst, but soon adjourned sine die. The next paper was the Enterprise, issued in 1862 by Mr. Kenton, who was, in 1875, connected with the Marysville Democrat. This paper had a circulation of 300, and was in existence about a year. The LHiterprise was purchased, in 1863, by Mr. 8. 8. Bloom, who in connection with Mr. Baltzley, of the Plymouth Advertiser, contemplated publishing the Hapress, but political differences arising, owing to the excitement engendered by the war, a dissolution of partnership occurred before the first number was issued. ued about one year.

During the next three years, Mr. Glover and Mr. Bloom issued " occasionally" a paper called the Gazette, which was continued until 1867, when the Shelby Chronicle made its appearance, published by Messrs. Young & Hill. This paper continued until October 12, 1868, when it was purchased by S. 8S. Bloom, and merged into the Shelby Zndependent News. The first year, the circulation of this paper reached nearly six hundred, and it seemed fairly on the road to permanent success. It was edited by Mr. Bloom and published by J. G. Hill for a period of six years.

In the meantime, in 1868, Mr. T. H. Barkdull began the publication of the Gazette, and continued it about four years, Shelby haying the benefit of two papers during these years.

The Independent News was continued until 1876, when the Shelby Times, a Republican paper, made its appearance, under the editorial management of Mr. J. G. Hill. Mr. Bloom thereupon hauled down the " Independent"

The News still continues in a prosperous and healthy condition, under the editorial management of Mr. Bloom, with his son, W. P. Bloom, | as publisher.

The Times came into existence December 2, 1876, and yet continues under the editorial and business management of Mr. J. G. Hill. Its subscription list has continued to increase, and it is hoped and believed that it is on the road to permanent success.

men, of the above-named gentlemen, and their financial and social standing, it is fair to presume that success will attend this enterprise. Dr. Bricker is an old resident and President of the First National Bank of Shelby. He was for some years connected with the Buckeye Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Shelby, as Director and Treasurer. Mr. Close has heen, for several years, connected with the railroads passing through Shelby, as agent; and Mr. Wentz has hitherto been engaged in the insurance business.

3. Premium notes, amounting to three-fifths of such rate, are taken from members. Seventy per cent of said notes is collected in five annual installments, each five years in advance. If a member has paid more than the actual cost of insurance, in any five years, the excess is placed to his credit as part of the surplus of the Association. The interest, at 6 per cent per annum, on such surplus will, in a few years, pay the losses and expenses of the Association, when the members will cease to pay any assessment. /

5. The law under which the Association is incorporated authorizes it to insure its members against loss by fire and other casualties. Hence they include losses by fire, lightning, and accident to plate-glass windows and doors.

6. Every member knows how much and when to pay each year; hence dissatisfaction on account of unexpected. heavy assessments, is entirely avoided.

The Buckeye Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized September 23, 1873. The Board of Directors consists of 8. 8. Bloom, President; H. E. MeMillen, Vice President ;

S. Wheeler, Treasurer; F. Stambaugh, Secretary ; M. M. Barber, R. D. Stober, J. L. Bargaheiser, D. W. Stover, F. Brucker, A. J. Mack, Leroy Parsons, W. H. Gilmore. © The Company issued its first policy January 17, 1874. It had considerable difficulty in obtaining the requisite number of notes, as the law required that they should have $50.000 of premium notes, and $10,000 in eash before the Insurance Department would the financial affairs of the Company. Stambaugh, Secretary, is one of the original organizers of the Company. He solicited a large share of the notes. He has an extensive knowledge of insurance, and is an active business man. The other members of the Board are all well and favorably known as business men. The Company is well officered, and is a credit to the enterprise of Shelby.

issue a certificate. 8. F. Stambaugh and R. J. Butter were authorized to canvass for notes and applications for insurance. At a meeting of the Company, December 25, 1873, they reported that sufficient means were received amount to much until the Mansfield & Sandusky Railroad came through in 1846. when it became an excellent grain and . produce market. Robt. Mickey erected the first warehouse in 1846, which is yet standing and is used to comply with the laws, and the Company commenced business. It has had a steady, healthy growth until it has over $400,000 capital inf notes, and a growing business. It would not be doing the Company justice to omit mentioning its in part for a depot. The next warehouse was erected by Henry Leyman in 1847, opposite Mr. Mickey's warehouse. Mr. Mickey afterward, in 1850, erected a warehouse on the west side of town, on the Cleveland, Columbus, | Cincinnati & Indianmanagtment. Hon.

§.S. Bloom, President, and author to a great extent of the Ohio Insurance Laws, is a man of large experience in the insurance business. He isa careful, conservative man, and is well known in insurance circles. H. E. McMillen, Vice President, is a business man, and is well qualified for the position he holds. I. 8. Wheeler, Treasurer, is a farmer. He has been a member of the Company since its organization. He is a man of means, and keeps a vigilant eye over apolis Railroad, at present occupied by Messrs. H. Davis & Co., who yearly ship from this warehouse alone about one hundred thousand bushels of wheat, fifty thousand bushels of oats, and large quantities of other produce.

From three to four hundred thousand bushels of grain are marketed at Shelby yearly. The market for many years was much larger than at the present time, the building of new railroads serving to create other markets in various

The town was incorporated about 1853, and its growth has been steady, the population being now about two thousand. Regarding the business, there are at present three drug stores, four dry-goods, seven grocery, two hardware, four clothing, three boot and shoe, two jewelry, two furniture and three stove and tin stores; one bank, (The First National), two newspapers, one woolen-mill, one sash and blind factory, two hotels, two carriage factories, one wholesale liquor store, nine milliners and dressmakers, one furniture factory, one foundry and one tannery, beside a host of lesser industries.

the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan, and the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railways. It can hardly be called a town, as no plat of it appears on record. It was started soon after the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan road was completed, Mr. Sager, of Shelby, erecting a very good hotel there. In addition to this, there are two small stores, four or five dwellings and the depot building. A post office is established and is kept in the hotel.

HIS was originally part of Madison Township, and now lies directly west of and joins it. It was organized in 1816, at which time it was twelve miles long from east to west, and six miles wide, and included what is now Sandusky Township, and part of Polk and Jackson Townships in Crawford County. In February, 1818, it was cut in two in the center, leaving it in its present shape - six miles square. Its name was suggested by Mrs. Coffinberry, one of earliest settlers, on account of the numerous the springs within its limits, some of which are very beautiful and valuable. Perhaps the most noted of these is the Palmer Spring, one and a half miles-north of the village of Ontario. It produces a large volume of pure water, and supplies the little city of Crestline, being conveyed to that place in pipes. The spring 'is