The Reverend O.C. Clark - 1876-1880
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Orville Carlton Clark was born December 18, 1842, at Hudson Ohio. Received his training for the ministry at Oberlin College and Seminary, being graduated from the Seminary in 1876. Ordained December 26th of the same year at the Congregational Church, Vermilion, Ohio. One of the chief characteristics of his ministry was that of church builder; either founding a church or taking a church in an almost hopeless condition and, by unusual resourcefulness and executive ability, combined with spiritual influence of a high order, lifting it up into a place of assured life and strength. He was founder and, from 1907 until the time of his death, pastor of the University Avenue Church, St. Paul, Minnesota. Other pastorates that he held during his ministry were: Vermilion, Ohio, 1876-80 j Hartford, Connecticut, 1880-1881; Fargo, North Dakota, 1881-1883; Friend, Nebraska, 1883-1885; Providence, Illinois, 1886- 1890; Red Lodge, Montana, 1890-1891; Missoula, Montana, 1891- 1900; Springfield, Illinois, 1900-1907. On January 26, 1865, he married Alice Hill, at Twinsburgh, Ohio. After an illness of six months, he died July 25, 1915, at St. Paul, Minnesota, aged.aeventvtwo years, seven months.
The Rev. J. Mitchell - 1882-1884
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Rev. J. Mitchell was born and educated in Scotland. He studied at Glasgow University taking a Theological course to prepare himself for the Gospel ministry. An urgent call 'was received from this country for ministers to preach to the white people in the South. He was one of several to respond, leaving Glasgow in 1872 and entering the Methodist Episcopal Church, preaching in Mississippi and Kentucky till early in the year of 1882 when he came to Vermilion and became pastor of the Congregational Church serving it acceptably for two years.
Born September 17, 1857 at London, England. Came to Canada (Ontario) in August, 1881. Came to the U. S. A. in March 1883. Graduated from Oberlin Seminary in 1.886. Graduated at Andover, Massachusetts, in the Post-graduate class in 1887. Appointed to the Madura Mission of India in 1889, returning in 1891 on account of sickness due to the climate. After a brief pastorate in Randolph, New York, spent three years in the service of the A. M. A. among the Mountain Whites as principal of one of their academies; returned North in 1896. After a few years spent in Indianapolis and Kansas came to the East and have lived up to the present date for the most part in Massachusetts. 1 was nearly nine years at Mattapoisett. I was five years at Berkley and 1 have been a little over a year in my present pastorate at Pl ymton, Massachusetts.
Rev. Alexander Streimer - 1885ยท1888
Reverend Alexander Streimer, a German Jew, came to this country after completing his education in a German University, and was converted to the Christian belief after arriving in the land of the free. His education was secured under great difficulties, and he' told of having to crawl under his bed, where by the light of his candle, he might study unmolested, the light being hidden by the bed curtains. One of his first notable acts while in charge of the church was the organization of the Christian Endeavor Society which started out a healthy infant and developed into one of the most important departments of church work. Soon afterward he began the work of building a new church. His enthusiasm seemed to be contagious, and he succeeded in interesting many people in the enterprise who formerly had shown no interest in church life.
Rev. C. L. Hamlen - 1888 - 1892
Born November 2, 1840 at Cleveland, Ohio. His early school days were spent in Cleveland. 1858 united with the Plymouth Congregational church in that city; 1859, entered Western Reserve College then at Hudson, Ohio ;1863, graduated from Western Reserve'; 1863, entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City; 1864, entered Andover Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1866. 1866, went as Home Missionary to Missouri for one year; 1867-8 became pastor of the Brooklyn Congregational Church, serving three-and one half years; 1872, pastor at Aurora, Ohio, Congregational Church eight years; 1872 pastor at Collinwood Congregational Church eight years; 1888, pastor at the Vermilion Congregational Church foul' years; 1892, received and accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church at Bloomingburg, Ohio, served seven years j 1899, became pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church of Chillicothe, Ohio, serving nearly five years. 1894, he was called to give up his life work which was deal' to his heart, entered into rest February 6, 1904, Chillicothe, Ohio.
Rev. Luman H. Royce 1893 - 1895
Born at Croton, Ohio, June 6,1868. Graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, 1890. Ordained to the Christian ministry, 1891. Served Congregational Church at Watage, Illinois as Stated Supply from June 1, 1891 until October, 1892. Pastor Congregational Church, Vermilion, Ohio, January 1, 1893 to January 1, 1895. Pastor Presbyterian Church, Camp Point, Illinois January 1,1895 to June 1, 1896. Pastor of Congregational Church, Mendon, Illinois, June' 1, 1896 to January 1, 1898. Pastor Westminster Presbyterian Church Cleveland, Ohio, January 1, 1903 to June 1, 1909. Pastor Collinwood Congregational Church, Cleveland, Ohio, January 1, 1909 to December 1, 1911. Pastor East Congregational Church of East Cleveland, Ohio, December 1. 1911 to. March 1, 1915. Executive Secretary of the Congregational Union of Cleveland January 1, 1912 to January 1, 1918. National Director of City Work for Church Extension Board of the Congregational Churches of United States January 1, 1918 ---
My preparation for the ministry consisted of about five parts. First, was my service as a soldier in the Civil War. There I learned the use and handling of myself. While in camp I made my way through Ray's Arithmetic, a feat performed by perhaps no other soldier of the war.
Second, after the war I taught school several years. This taught me the handling of people.
Third, was my college course. I graduated from Wittenberg College, a fine institution for my purpose.
Fourth, was my Theological Seminary course. This was taken all in New England, the first two years at Andover, Massachusetts, the oldest seminary in the country, now part of Harvard University, and the last year at Yale, where I graduated in 1875.
Fifth, I preached three years in New England, after which I took a trip of upwards of a year through Europe, Egypt, Sinai and Palestine, spending the greater part of the time in the Bible Lands, studying Bible scenes and Bible incidents. This did much for the rounding out of my education for the preaching of that Gospel for which the Blessed Christ gave his life.
Rev. Geo. E. Merrill 1904-1909
Born at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, February 6, 1855. Left school at. fourteen and served as telegraph messenger, operator and railroad station master for ten years. Prepared for college and entered Union at Schenectady, New York, in 1885. Transferred to Syracuse University early in 1887 and graduated with A. B. in 1889. Brought up in the Methodist Episcopal church, joined the Christian church (not Disciple) and served as minister in that body at Troy, Miami county, Westerly, Rhode Island, and St. Johnsville, New York, interspersing as the denominational publishing agent for four and one half years. Became a Congregationalist in 1901. Served as minister in North Olmstead while at Oberlin Theological Seminary where was graduated with D. B. in 1903. Minister of Vermilion church January 1, 1904, to April 30, 1909. May 1, 1909, to December 1, 1914, minister of Burton church. Began service at Unionville in January 1915.
Rev. Dr. Raymond C. Swisher 1909 -1912
Born May 25, 1880 at Woodstock, Ohio; graduated from High School, Bloomville, Ohio, 1899; graduated from Fenton College and Normal School (Ph. B.) 1902; graduated from Ohio Northern University (A. M.) 1904; ordained to the Christian ministry, September 25, 1904 at Bowling Green, Ohio; received the honorary degree of Litt. D., from Hopedale College, 1903; entered the ministry of the Congregational Churches October 4. 1908 at Marblehead, Ohio; served as non-resident professor of Greek and Hebrew in Iowa Christian College from 1909 - 1912; pastor of First Congregational Church, Vermilion, Ohio from July 1, 1909 to June 1, 1912; completed Divinity Course in the University of Chicago September 3, 1913; received the honorary degree of D. Do, from Iowa Christian College, 1911; graduated from University of Southern Minnesota, (Ph. Do) 1917; entered on the present pastorate First Congregational Church, DeKalb, Illinois, October 1, 1913.
Rev. Chas. E. Mummey 1914-1917
Born June 27, 1881 near Batesville, Ohio. Graduated from High School, Batesville, at the age of nineteen. Licensed to preach the Gospel at the age of nineteen. Graduated from college at the age of twentythree. Degree of A. M. Ordained to Gospel ministry in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1914. Graduated from Lane Theological Seminary, 1914. Received degree of B. D. from University of Cincinnati, 1914. Served two Congregational churches in Ashtabula County. Served five years in Storrs Congregational Church Cincinnati. Served as pastor for three years and two months in First Congregational Church of Vermilion. Have served in present pastorate since November 18, 1917, First Presbyterian Church, Old Washington, Ohio.
Rev. W. K. Williams 1912 -1924
Born July 28, 1887. Mr. Williams is a product of Lutheran education and experience, coming into the Congregational ministry by ordination at the hands of the North-western Association of Pennsylvania, which act was performed on October 4, 1911 at Guy's Mills Pennsylvania, .and while pastor of the First Church of Sharon, Pennsylvania. Mr. Williams received his public school education at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he was born and raised, and following this entered Wittenberg College, where he took his college work.
His first pastorate was at Sharon, Pennsylvania from which place he was called to Vermilion in 1912, leaving one year and a half later. Mr. Williams is today the pastor of the First Congregational Church at Alexandria, Minnesota, one of the largest and most influential churches in that state, to which field he was called in 1916 after serving as associate pastor at Park Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, for two and one half years. Mr. Williams is married and has one son of five years.
Rev. Alfred Ray Atwood - 1918 -
Alfred Ray Atwood, born in 1874. Educated in public schools, of New England; attended Oberlin Academy and College for two years, earning his way by tapping shoes; graduated from the University of Vermont with honors, receiving the degree of A. B. Later he earned from it the degree of M. A. Studied at Harvard College and Andover Seminary; held pastorates in Quincy, Massachusetts, Patterson, New York, and elsewhere; been the educational superintendent for the Synod of Michigan for four years; now doing postgraduate work at Oberlin. Mr. Atwood has been supplying the pulpit at the Congregational Church for the past three months.