History of Zion Lutheran Church in Wooster, Ohio

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The village of Wooster was survey and platted in 1807 and until 1812 consisted of only a few scattered houses and perhaps a store. In 1812 a Block-house was erected on the site of the present Zion Lutheran Church. The Block-house was used by all religious groups for their meetings. The Baptists built their first little wooden church in 1814 on the present site of the Trinity United Church of Christ. In 1817 the Block-house was torn down, leaving only one meetingplace, the newly built Baptist Church. This congregation, with fine Christian courtesy, offered its facilities to visiting ministers of various denominations. Among these were three Lutheran ministers, Pastor E. Greenwald, Pastor George Leiter, and Pastor Francis Ruth. Sometime prior to 1840, the Lutherans purchased the Baptist building and moved it to the back of the lot, on the corner of Buckeye Street and Alley Square (directly east of in-lot No. 107 on North Market Street).

On September 18, 1840, Zion Lutheran Church was officially organized by Pastor Solomon Ritz. A constitution was adopted and signed by the following sixteen charter members: Solomon Ritz, George Reiner, John Lawrence, H. D. Miller, Israel Windel, Isaac Notestine, Abraham Fox, Conrad Oiler, Benjamen Lehman, M. A. Fox, Mary Johnson, Catherine A. Miller, Fred Hoke, Fanny Lehman, Mary Windel and Elizabeth Ritz.

The Reverend Ritz resigned as pastor of the Wooster church in March of 1843. The pulpit was vacant for seven months, although Pastor A. H. Myer and Pastor Dixon occasion-ally led in worship.

Pastor George Leiter, who had done work in this area prior to 1840, returned to serve as pastor on November 1, 1843. In August of 1844, during the election of officers, the church added two more deacons to its council. The council, after election, consisted of the following: George Reiner, Abraham Fox, Elders; and Williams Bacher, Israel Windel, John Beall, and John A. Lawrence, Deacons.

Pastor Leiter resigned on November 1, 1844 after one year of service. The Reverend W. J. Sloan assumed the pastorate of the congregation on New Year's Day of 1845. Twenty-persons united with the congregation during the winter of 1846-1847. In January of 1849 the Elders were reelected, while J. A. Lawrence, Conrad Oiler, David Bissel and Alex Bivens were chosen as Deacons.

On April 1, 1851, after more than six years of dedication, Pastor W. J. Sloan severed his ministerial connections with the church. After this, The Reverend J. Hamilton served the church as supply pastor for six months. W. A. G. Emerson became the pastor in November of 1851, resigning in the same month of 1852. Since the founding of the church, eighty-nine members had been received by the original congregation of sixteen members.

The Reverend J. B. Baltzly was installed as pastor in June, 1853. Abraham Fox and J. A. Lawrence became Elders, and Alex Bivens and Martin Smith were elected to the office of Deacon.

In October of 1853, Simpson S. Goodspeed was excommunicated from the congregation for committing the crime of theft. Others were excommunicated for intemperance and other immoralities.

In order to comply with the Incorporate Act, Martin Weaver was chosen to be one of the three required trustees.

On march 28, 1855 the congregation sold their old church edifice and lot to Albert McFadden. Having no plans to worship during the erection of a new church, the congregation accepted the gracious invitation of the German Lutheran Church to worship in their building on the northwest corner of Henry and Grant Streets.

The congregation purchased a lot from Ephriam Quinby, located on the west side of North Market Street on the south side of the alley between North and Larwill Streets. The cornerstone fo the new church edifice was laid on September 13, 1855. Pastor Ruthraff of Canton, Pastor Freeman of Mansfield, Pastor Lawson of Pittsburg, and Pastor Pope of Wooster attended the services which were conducted by Pastor John Crouse.

On June 1, 1856, services were first held in the lecture room of the new church. At these services, Pastor J. B. Baltzly was ordained and Pastor W. C. Weaver preached the first sermon. The congregation invited the East Ohio Synod to hold its Twenty-second Annual Convention in Wooster from September 24 to September 30, 1857.

The first sermon given in the new sanctuary was preached by Pastor Baltzly from Genesis XXXV, II, on July 3, 1859. The church was formally deducated on July 10, 1859. The sermon was preached by Pastor F. N. Conrad of Dayton with Pastor Baltzly and Pastor Freeman in assistance. J. H. Kesley, George Plumer, and M. Funk were elected Elders in 1860. Also chosen were A. Bechtel, J. Bechtel, and G. Walthouse, Deacons; Thomas F. Wilder, Secretary; and R. Bechtel, Treasurer.

The Wooster congregation and the Trinity Evanglical Lutheran Church of Franklin Township agreed, by preamble and resoltuion, to constitute themselves as one body, to be called the Wooster Charge, assenting and subscribing to various regularions and conditions, on February 11, 1860. On October 10, 1860, the East Ohio Synold voted in favor of the union. On April 10, 1864, Zion Lutheran Church, in order to make way for a union with St. Paul's Church of Smithville, dissolved the union with Trinity Lutheran Church of FRanklin Township. Later, when Wooster constituted a Charge of its own, the Wooster-Smithville Charge was dissolved.

Forty members were taken into the church during the year ending April 1, 1866, Pastor Baltzly presented his resignation to the congregation, because of declining health. In August of 1868, the congregation invited The Reverend Ira C. Billman to fill the pastorate vacated by Pastor Baltzly. Pastor Billman accepted the call and was installed as minister.

In the year 1870, the members of the Church Council included J. A. Lawrence, Philip Wiler, Q. A. Kieffer, Elders; D. W. Matz, Z. L. Numbers, J. Ottman, Deacons; H. Rockey, William Bentz, L. C. Hays, Trustees; and Lewsis Wenger, Treasurer.

Pastor Billman resigned as minister of the congregation on June 12, 1870. The Reverend H. L. Wiles, D.D. was chosen pastor by the congregation on April 23, 1871. The officers of the church in 1876 were as follows: Elders, Albert McFadden and Joseph Snyder; Deacons, S. N. Roller and Jacob Frick; and Trustees, Henry Rockey, Jesse Smith and Isaac Bechtel.