TUSCARAWAS COUNTY OHIO - CHURCH RECORDS: Gnadenhutten and Sharon Wolle's Diary (1843) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitter: MWilli1008 Submitter: MWilli1008@aol.com Date: August 1, 1999 *********************************************************************** Section 21 Gnadenhutten and Sharon Wolle's Diary January 1843 Tuesday, January 3. At 9 o'clock in the forenoon I went to the Lock on foot to escort the funeral of the single sister Suzannah Winsch from Thomas Blickensderfers. We accompanied the sleeping remains to the cemetery in Gnadenhutten and interred them, Suzannah Winsch was born in Gnadenhutten April 24, 1820 and was confirmed April 30, 1836. On December 26 she beame sick with an inflamation of the lungs and departed Januay 1. In the evening I married, in my room,. the single William Meyer (a servant of Jacob Blickenderfer's for sometime) to the single sister Cathrine Blickensderfer (Abraham's daughter). Friday, Jan. 6. I am writing a letter to Bro. Benade and report to him the state of affairs in the Dover division of the congregation and ask for definite information about the present relations between Bro. Kampmann and myself. Saturday, Jan 7. The first duty today was to ride out and visit sister Theresa Rehmel who is suffering seriously with chest fever, and when I return home I find there a single brother from Sharon with whom I visited agreeably for a long while and whom I set straight concerning the purpose of the new arrangement of Bro. Kampmann in Sharon. If such visits from parties of the congregation were more plentiful, many an error could at times be obviated. Sunday, Jan 29. Church service in Sharon. On account of the high water I had to ride thither up the tow-path. My horse was wild and gave me plenty to do. Bro. Benjain Blickensderfer, on whom the duty had been laid to ascertain the truth of the report that the Sharon church land is being sold for taxes, reported that it actually stood thus and that it should have occurred for 4 years already. The brethren then resolved without delay to make efective the means to redeem the land. It was decided that 12 1/2 cents should be asked yearly of every communicant member. Went to Fry's Valley with my sled, to visit old mother Walton, of whom I received information yesterday that she was near her end. According to appearance I found her somewhat as I had heard and was able to speak with her with satifaction. I conversed with the rest of the family, especially with their son, Hiram Walton, a rigid Methodist, who indeed causes his parents unnecessary grief in many matters. Sunday, February 12. First I had English Litany and the baptism of Henry Fromm's child, Charles Simeon. Then came German preaching. Finally we had a blessed Lord's Supper, which a number attended who had been absent for a long time. But we also missed some who remained away because of discord. Since church lasted so long, till 3 o'clock, the evening meeting was again omitted. We already learned early in the morning that Mother Walton had fallen asleep yesterday evening. In the evening Br. Kampmann came from Sharon, where he had preached in English. He informed me that since the beginning of January, the greatest religeous tension prevails in Dover (namely, among the Methodist and Presbyterian congregatons, which goes by the name of revival. The means employed by them in creating and conducting such revivals seemed to exercise a derogatory influence on many of our brethren and sisters. The mourningbench, experience and class meetings, mixed prayer meetings, where both, man or woman, comes forward, and the protracted meetings bring it about that many question the genuineness of faith in the Brethren's Church, because we not not possess these outward signs and symtoms of religeon. Principally among the younger brthren and sisters, the tendency to ally themselves with such organizations as employ these extraordinary (or disorderly) means of concersion. Yet, as Bro. Kampmann expressed himself, which is also my experience in this neighborhood, their new methods have this good result, lhat the thoughtful portion of the congregation is impelled to examine more carefully their condition and to acquire a more complete knowledge of all bible teaching. February 1943 Sunday, February 19. In company with sister Wolle and child I drove up the tow-path to the Sharon Church by sleigh.. But before we got there it began to rain hard and continued the remainder of the day. It was very unfortunate that many young brethren and sisters refrained on account of disputes. After the noonmeal at Bro. John Blickensderfer where we just arrived as Dr.McNeal was performing a serious operation on his leg, sister Wolle found room in Bro. and Sr. Christian Blickensderfer's wagon to go home, while I went back as I came, in the rain along the tow-path of the canal. Wednesday, February 22. Thomas Ginther arranged with me to hold a funeral in Beersehba; namely for John Ginther, a son of Peter Ginther who died yesterday evening, aged 16 years and 6 months. Thursday, February 23. The road is good. So I drove with widow Taylor in the Beersheba schoolhouse and conducted the funeral of John Ginther. A considerable number of people were present. Friday, February 24. Instruction in the afternoon. To my greatest grief I learn more and more that our young people have very little knowledge of Bibical History, which of necessity lenghtens the instruction period very much. March 1843 Tuesdayl, March 21. Thomas Kniestrich is failing; his brother Lewis suddenly became very sick, and died during the night of a disease of the chest. This evening we had a wondeful view of the comet which for a number of weeks is creating general admiration. Its tail must be between 20 and 40 degrees in length. Thursday, 23rd. The cold weather has become very bitter since yesterday. At ten o'clock in the forenoon we accompanied the body of Lewis Kniestrich from Mother Taylor's residencel, where he had lodged, to the graveyard, and buried him. This young man was almost 21 yers old - he was dipped by the Baptists the year before--led a quiet Christian life since then. His sister is Polly Taylor. This was the 33 grave dug in the Gnadenhutten cemetery sisnce the 14 of April, 1842. Sunday, March 26. Bro. Kampmann paid me a visit when he preached in Sharon today. His hours of instruction, which he wisely held every week at Kreiters and Jac. Blickensderfers, seemed to be well attended and blessed. Tuesday, 28th. I visited the brethren and sisters in Dover, and had an exceedingly interesting conversation with a young brother whose heart was distrubed by the widely prevailing religeous excitement in Dover. But he seemed to see through it himself now, that he must be wholly integrated, and that this fluttering hither and thither between different religious parties of of no value. As it rained hard last night, when I wanted to return in the afternoon, I found that the river had risen too high to be crosssed at Goshen. Hence I had to go back and take the Eastport road which six extra miles I made, with much trouble by seven o"clock in the evening. 30th. We were pleased by a visit of Bro. Christian Blickensderfer, which was the first time in a long while that he ventured out of the house. May 1843 Monday, May 8. I accompanied Bro. Kampmann as far as Jac. Blickensderfers, at the saw mill, in the afternoon I drove around to a number of families to inquire into a wicked contention and if possible, to establish peace. Wednesdayl, May 10. In the forenoon, in all the rain, I drove to Samuel Rehmels, whose wife stayed away from instruction due to a misunderstanding; and I believe I have corrected the matter. Thursdayl, May 11. H. Keller, Elizah Stocker, Benjamin and Charlotte Keller came together with me at John Blickensderfers, with the object of conciliation--but were not in position to effect a genuine reconciliation, as there is certainlly more to it than comes into the clear light of day. The other btrethren and sisters have been reconciled. Monday, May 15. From Abraham Romigs house at the Trenton Ferry we accompanied the funeral of his eldest daughter in the afternoon to its resting place in Sharon. She was 5 years old and went home on account of scarlet fever. Mrs. Romig with another sick child rode with me in the vehicle and I was delightfully edified by her conversation. Sunday, May 21. Important baptism and confirmation. In order to prevent a stir and too large a crowd, today's baptism and confirmation were not publicaly announced, but nevertheless more people came than could enter the church. The following 5 adults were baptized: David and Rudolph Gram, Daniel More, Barbara and Helena Gram. The following 13 renewed their baptismal vows, namely; the married brother Thomas Blickensderfer, and the single brethren, Owen Taylor, Daniel Winechl, Edward Tschudyl, Martin Fromm, the married sistersl Elizabeth Demuth, Eva Rohenbaugh, and the single sisters, Elizabeth Fisher, Elizabeth Fromm, Catherine Ann TAylor, Melinda Taylor and Marian Hefer. A married sister, Anne Mary Rehmel, who came faithfully to instrucrion but whose mind is unsellted, was kept away by unfavorable sickness. I baptized Bro. and Sr. Eli Rehmels's child in the afternoon in my room. Late in the evening, about half past nine o'clockl, Bro. Charles Peter reported that some missionaries of the Moravian Church were at Lock 17. As we had not heard who they might be, we left on foot, without delay, to go thither, and had the great pleasure of welcoming Bro. and Sr. Vogler, who with their two children were on the way from Westfield to New Fairfield. Bro. Vogler was suffering much from from an ulcerated tooth, but after we had brought the family over here into our dwelling, relief was soon administered to him. They had left Westfield 3 weeks ago. Monday, May 22. I drove again to Abraham Romigs in the forenoon, whose youngest child was likewise called home, due to scarle fever. It was about 2 months old, and was buried in Sharon. Tuesday 23rd. Accompanied by Bro. Vogler, I visited sister Lucy Knauss, in Mudy Run Valley, who is somewhat related to him. Toward evening the elder Mr. Simpkins was here and wanted me to bury a child of his daughter, Mrs. Simpkins, wno lives in Newport, tomorrow in Sharon. But I declined the proposition. Thursday, May 25. This day was celebrated in Gnadenhutten. Bro Vogler opened the meeting. After the noon meal Bro. Bogler and I went to Dover, and on the way up we visited the grave of Zeisberger at Goshen, and the Schoenbrunn spring. We came upon Bro. Kampmann in Dover, and spent the evening and night at Jac. Blickensderer's in Begnoia. Friday, May 26. I was asked to bury a child tomorrow forenoon of Mr. George Meyerl a Methodist, at Sharon. But as these invitations for the members of other organizations and friends are becoming to numerous, and as this one, are often without good reason, for they have their own minister and their own cemetery just as near at hand in Waterford, and in addition such services must, as a rule, be performed wholly without remuneration, so I resolved to put a check on this kind of bad practice and explained my unwillingness to the messenger, as well as the dissatisfaction of the congregation at Sharon that so many, and from a great distance are being buried there and also wish to pay nothing for it, and asked him to make this known among his friends. He declared that he was quite convinced by my representations, and went away. But I heard later that it had given great offence among the Methodists. The end of the diaries. ==== OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ====