The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-01-05

Der of the German Reformed Church
of America.
The United Presbyterians also had
an early society, but they disbanded
soon after the Presbyterians of the
township worshipped either in the Ada
church or in the early Cannonsburg
church which broke up when the ma
jority of the congregation decided to
homestead i'm Nebraska when that
country was opened for settlement.
The first Disciple organization held
services from house to house. About
seventy years ago the members built
a church where the present Bethel
church ediice is located. It's frame
work was hewn of timber, and it stood
until about twenty-six years ago when
the present new and larger church was
erected.
The Jerusalem church, another of the
Disciple faith was built some THE after
the establishment of the Bethel church.
Early Churchmen
Among the prominently early lead
ers were William Park, an elder and
w. L. Henry. The Disciple organiza-
tion was always strong in Orange
. township. This denomination origina-
. ted in the Western Reserve in Ohio
from which place so many of the early
D settlers had come.
1t was an off-shoot of the Baptist
church, and under the leadership OF
Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott
a newer organization was formed
which changed to some degree the
f original precepts of the mother church
This church had spread over the Mid
die West before the Civil war, and hac
become influential in many communi.
ties.
AT one time a German Lutheran
church was built in the township, but
, this, too, was abandoned at an early
! date due to the fact there were too few
j communicates in the vicinity.
| In 1861, the Orange Evangelical
church was organized and for six year.
: it met in the Black school house. A
q church was built in 1867 and in tha-
year eight persons were admitted int
Il the church as charter members. The,
q were: Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nonna
q maker, Mr.. and Mrs. William Rothe
y meyer, Mr.. and Mrs. Cornwell and Rev
!. and Mrs. J. j. Nonnamaker. Rev
q Nonnamaker was one of the earl,
: Evangelical preachers in this localit,
o and preached in many pulpits in thi
e part of the state. This church wa
y later named Bethesda Evangelical.
o On June 6, 1880, whirlwind bley
/ the roof off this church while service
: were being held on Sunday morning
n Fortunately no one was killed bat
e number were hurt, having been hit b
flying bricks or struck by dislodge
II rafters. Harvey Mckinley and Rev
1t Nonnamaker were probably the mos
4 seriously injured.
is The congregation held services i
G the Olive Branch church until Thanks
giving, when the new church was com
pleted. Some of the early preacher
n included the Reverends Brennemar
n Stow, Seager and Wanders.
It In the fall of 1875, the Olive Brancl
d congregation of the United Brethrel
o church built an edifice on the site o
l. the present church
IS Another Evangelical church wa
built in September, $780, This wa
n called the Rugby church and the edi
e flee christened Liberty chapel.
4. Ministers From Orange
nj Orange township, besides havin,
, many we'll organized churches, has Civ
4. en- several noted ministers to the caus
} of religion. One of the sons of iona
than Hamilton became Presbyterian
h evangelist of note.
/ The John Motter family had tw
n sons educated for the ministry and tn
II late Amos Henry, son of u. L. Henr,
became minister, as did Hugh Will
Jams, son of Nehemiah Williams. J
l. j. Nonnamaker was for many years a
It Evangelical preacher and his sor
1t Marion E. Nonnamaker Is at present
n teacher in the Evangelical seminary a
d Naperville, Ill. Of the younfer gen
l. GRAFTON of ministers are Paul Ewing