ing partially saved. Two oxen in the barn at the time were killed by the lightning. In the management of the bucketline, Thomas Ewing and Adam Weaver fell out, and came to blows, so tradition says.

It is to be borne in mind that personal notes and references in this work are limited to pioneers. The following items are relics of the early days, and will be of interest to Presbyterians and others, as mementos, but especially the descendants of first settlers about Lancaster. Mr. Joseph Work, of Ireland, was an early settler, and a first member of the Presbyterian Church of Lancaster. Robert, John and Henry Work, of this vicinity, are his sons. Mr. Work came to the United States about the year 1792:

CERTIFICATE. That Joseph Work, from the Kingdom of Ireland, has lived from his infancy within the bounds of this congregation, always maintaining a fair moral character; has been admitted to Church privileges in said congregation, and may safely be admitted to Christian Society where in providence his lot may be cast.

WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, Pastor.

ST. JOHNS TOWN, 25th June, 1792.

RECEIPT.--Received of Joseph Work, one of the collectors for Hocking Congregation, one dollar, on my first year's salary.

JOHN WRIGHT.

January 14th, 1807.

RECEIPT.-Received of Joseph Work, one of the collectors for Hocking Congregation, fourteen dollars and fifty cents, in part of my first year's salary. JOHN WRIGHT.

December 17th, 1806.

RECEIPT.-Received of John Smith, two dollars on my salary for Hocking Congregation. JOHN WRIGHT.

December 13th, 1814.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT WEST RUSHVILLE.

To Rev. L. D. Smith, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at West Rushville, I am indebted for the following information: Rush Creek Presbyterian Church was organized A.D. 1806, by Rev. John Wright. The ruling Elders were Wm. Larrimer and Wm. Trimble. Mr. Wright continued to be pastor of the church at Rush Creek for about twenty-seven years. Rev. James Anderson succeeded him, and remained about twenty years. This brings the history of the church down to about the year 1853, when Rev. J. Milligen became pasAt this time Fielding Alford, David Abright, D. Y. Davis and Wm. Thompson were Elders. Rev. Milligen was succeeded by Rev. J.

tor.

M. Drake, and he by Rev. H. R. Peairs. This was in 1863. In 1866, Rev. C. C. B. Duncan came, and was succeeded in 1871 by Rev. J. L. Gourley; and in 1874, the present minister. L. D. Smith, took charge, with Elders David Abright, D. Y. Davis, Edward Johnson, John W. Dilger, R. Kagey and Wm. Clenaghan.

The present membership of the church is 120. Our church building is a frame, and was erected about twenty-two years ago, and is the third erected since the organization of the society.

L. D. SMITH, Pastor.

THE BETHEL CHURCH,

Four miles south-east of Bremen, was organized in 1832, by Rev. Francis Bartlett. In 1852, Rev. J. Milligen was pastor of Bethel Church, and Isaac Larimer, John Sherwood, Aaron Work, Geo. McCandlish and James Black were its ruling Elders. Rev. J. M. Drake took charge of the church in 1858, and was followed by Rev. H. R. Peairs; and again, in 1866, Rev. C. C. B. Duncan assumed the pastorate. In 1872, Rev. J. L. Gourley took charge, and in 1874, Rev. L. D. Smith, who is its present pastor, in 1877. Its present membership is 60.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT BREMEN.

The Bremen Church was organized on the 21st of October, 1844, by a committee of Licking Presbytery, consisting of Rev. Jacob Little, Rev. H. Boutelle and Rev. A. Duncan. The first pastor mentioned was Rev. J. Schlosser. The first elders were Daniel Rodahafer, John Ashbaugh and Wm. Rowles. Their reported number of members in 1856, was fifty-seven communicants. In this year, Mr. Schlosser's connection with the church ceased, when he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Griffith. In 1859, the Rev. S. J. Humphrey took charge. In 1865, Rev. C. C. Hart, of Logan, supplied the congregation. The Elders then were John Ashbaugh and J. Leib. In 1870, Rev. W. M. Galbraith was preaching there. In 1871, Rev. J. L. Gourley was the supply; and his connection ceased as pastor in April, 1873. In November, 1874, the church employed the Rev. L. D. Smith, of West Rushville, to give them one-fourth of his time, and he was still supplying the congregation in July, 1877. The number of communicants in January, 1876, was forty-two.

The Presbyterians also have societies at Amanda, Lithopolis and Greencastle, with regular pastors, but up to the time of going to press they have failed to return specific statements.

The present pastor of Lithopolis Church is the Rev. Mr. Brown, who also supplies the Church at Greencastle.

The Greenfield Presbyterian Church, four miles from Lancaster, on the Carroll road, has been supplied since its first organization by the Rev. J. R. Boyd, of Lancaster Church.

EPISCOPAL PARISH OF ST. JOHN.

LETTER OF WM. J. REECE.

DR. H. SCOTT: The Protestant Episcopal Parish of St. John was organized in Lancaster during the Year of Grace 1835, and the Rev. Sherlock A. Bronson was its first rector. The present church building was erected during the influential rectorship of the Rev. Alvah Guion. The prominent active laymen who co-operated with him, were Messrs Henry Stanberry, John T. Brazee, Daniel Sifford, John Reeber, Daniel Kutz and Wm. P. Creed, Esqs. When the church was completed, these gentlemen assumed and paid off the then existing debts, and it was then consecrated by the late Rev. Bishop McElvain.

After Mr. Guion, the following clergymen were rectors, in the order in which their names are here written, viz.: Rev. Messrs. Daniel Risser, J. M. C. Bonte, Frederick Grey, Henry D. Lathrop, E. Owen Simpson, Wm. Brittain, John Scott, A. S. Gorrell and Edward B. Cartmell, who resigned his clerical position in the church October, 1875, to accept that of Principal in the Lancaster High School.

Very truly yours,

WM. J. REECE.

ST. PETER'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

This church was organized in Lancaster at a very early period in this century. Rev. Mr. Steck was its first pastor, and continued in that relation for a great many years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. Wagenha; at least his succession. is the information given to the writer. No records are known to be in existence, and I can neither fix the exact year of the first formation of the Society, nor the number and names of the constituent members. The ground was deeded to the church by Jacob Beck, the elder, first member.

The Society subsequently built a two-story log church edifice on the site of their present brick building, sometimes spoken of as the Canal Church. Subsequently this log structure was removed, and a two-story brick substituted. This was destroyed by fire in 1846. This church was incorporated by act of the Legislature in 1840. The names of the incorporators were: Henry Arnold, Geo. W. Bantler, Christian Baesster, Christian Baughman, Henry Orman, Philip Bope and Coonrod Crumley.

After the burning of the brick church in 1846, the German members purchased the ground and built the present church building. The ministers who have filled the pulpit since the retirement of Rev. John Wagenhals were: Rev. H. Burcher, Rev. Leon Hart, Rev. Speilman and Rev. Mechling, present pastor. Present membership, 600.

FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH OF LANCASTER.

The first English Lutheran Church of Lancaster was organized as a distinctive congregation, in the year 1843, with a constituent membership of about twenty persons. The organization was effected by the withdrawal of the English members from the parent church of St. Peter's, in part. For about three years after the separation, the two societies continued to worship in the same house. After the building was burned, in 1846, the English, having sold out their interest to the Germans, purchased ground on Columbus street, and erected upon it the same church edifice in which they now meet. The house was built in 1846. The succession of pastors, from 1843 to 1876, has been as follows:

Rev. John McCron, one year; Rev. Charles F. Shaeffer, three years; Rev. A. J. Weddle, three years; Rev. L. Kizer, one year; Rev. J. Hamilton, two years; Rev. J. F. Reindmond, seven years; Rev. Samuel Sprecher, two years; Rev. N. J. Knisely, two years; Rev. Charles Steck, one year; Rev. John B. Helwig, four years; Rev. John O. Hough, one year ; Rev. G. W. Halderman, six years.

The membership in 1873 is computed at about two hundred persons, there remaining in the body about half a dozen of the original members. The foregoing statements have been furnished me by the present pastor, Rev. G. W. Halderman.

GERMAN REFORM CHURCH.

I am indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Emanuel Giesy, for the following synopsis of the history of the German Reform Church in Lancaster, which he obtained from the church records. I insert his letter entire:

DR. H. SCOTT: The following notes may be of use to you, as in reply to your request. The German Reform Church of Lancaster was organized by the Rev. George Wise, about the first of October, 1816, with twenty members, and he continued to be its pastor up to the year 1838. During that time he also preached to other congregations in Ross, Pickaway, Hocking, Perry, Licking and Franklin counties.

In March, 1818, the congregation purchased a lot in Carpenter's Addition, on Columbus street, and built a house of worship, which was first used as a school-house, but was, in 1832, dedicated to the service of God as a house of worship. In this house the congregation continued to worship until 1845, in which year their new church on Chestnut street being completed, they moved into it. Mr. Wise was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Willard, who filled the pulpit six years, and was succeeded by Rev. Jesse Steiner. He was succeeded by Rev. Jeremiah Good, who served the congregation three years; and was succeeded by Rev. Henry Brinkerhoff, serving the congregation two years; and was succeeded by Rev. John Rike, who died in the midst with his armor fully polished. Mr. Rike was succeeded by Rev. P. D. Schory; and he by Rev. G. W. Meckling, who was succeeded by Rev. H. Hockman. After him came Rev. John Swander, who was followed by Rev. L. Strassman; and on the first of April, 1872, the Rev. Wm. Hale, the present pastor, settled in the congregation. The name of the church edifice was, shortly after the coming of Mr. Hale, changed to Grace Reform Church. The present membership is 225.

Respectfully,

THE IMMANUEL'S CHURCH.

E. GIESY.

The first German Evangelical Lutharan congregation of unaltered Ogsburg confession was organized in Lancaster, O., on January 31st, 1849, the constituent members being twelve in number. Rev. F. W. Richman was the first pastor. Succeeding him have been the following ministers, in the order in which their names occur. The dates refer to the year when each pastor took charge:

Rev. J. P. Kalb took charge in 1852; Rev. F. W. Faclinger in 1857; Rev. J. L. Daib in 1868; Rev. M. Merz in 1859; Rev. J. F. Niethamer in 1885; Rev. E. J. Fredrick in 1866; Rev. G Sclum in 1869; Rev. C. A. Frank in 1870; Rev. E. Kaeler in 1873; Rev. C. A. Frank again in 1876.

This church was constituted by withdrawing members from St. Peters' Lutheran Church, in the year 1849. The primary object of the withdrawal, as set forth, was, to institute purely German services. Immediately after the separation, the members of Immanuel's Church purchased a lot on Chestnut street, between Broad and High streets, and proceeded forthwith to erect a church building, which being completed, was dedicated as a house of worship in 1852.

This organization recognizes a voting qualification, viz.: only male members of the age of twenty-one years and upwards exercise that franchise. Of these, there are in the congregation seventy. The communing members of the congregation, in 1876, upon the return of Rev. Mr. Frank, numbered two