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,