HISTORY OF RICHLAXD COUNTY.
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��bring it renewed life. A church was built there in 1838, b}^ the Lutherans. Its founders and first members were Frederick Cassell, John Stough, John Sheffler, Adam Webber and Will- iam T. Daniels. This church, partaking of the general character of the place, has fallen into decay. It has not been occupied for many years. The whole village seems to have gone to sleep, its people living quietly, dreaming away their lives, apparentl}' unconscious of the great moving world around them.
Hiram Cook came to this township in 1820, from a place called Ontario, in Orange County, N.Y. He bought a farm a few miles south of the present village of Ontario, where he lived several years, and having purchased the land on which Ontario now stands, laid out that place in a dense woods. It was on the trail leading from Mansfield to Bucyrus, by way of Gallon. This trail was then only wide enough for the passage of horses and footmen. It is on the southwest quarter of Section 21. He had it surveyed by John Stewart, and induced George Hoover to build the first cabin beside the trail. Hoover started a blacksmith-shop, and also kept a few groceries for sale in his cabin. When the timber was cleared away a little. Cook built two frame houses — one south of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, to be used as a dwelling, the other on the north side of the railroad, on the trail, for a hotel. He kept this hotel some years himself until it burned down, when it was rebuilt and occupied by other parties at different times, for the same purpose.
As the town grew, the church organizations in the country began to abandon their decayed churches and build others in town. The first erected was the Methodist Episcopal, in 1839. This organization originated at the Bigelow Chapel, and afterward worshiped at the Taylor meeting-house, both before mentioned in this chapter. The present minister is James H. Johnson, and the membership aliout eighty. The Sunday school is in a flourishing condition.
��with a membership of about one hundred. Christopher Au is Superintendent.
In 1850, the United Presbyterians erected a frame church, which has cost, with repairs, about $3,000. This organization was originally the Associate, of which the Finneys, and o^ther old residents in the township, were the founders. The}' were too few in numbers to build a church!, and for thirty years worshiped in private houses, liarns, and wherever they could find shelter. The original members of the first organization at Ontario were Samuel G. Craig, wife and daughter, John Finney, Dr. Samuel G. ^liller and wife, James C. Robinson and wife, and Mrs. Joseph Roe. The first minister was J. L. McLain, who occupied the pulpit three or four years, after which came Revs. D. W. Collins, J. M. Hutchison and William Wishart. The pres- ent membership is 118.
The Sunda}- school was organized in 1858, with David Barrett as Superintendent. It has been maintained in a healthy condition, and now has a membership of about one hundred and thirt}-. Erskine Chambers is Superin- tendent.
In the following year, 1851, the Presbyterians erected a church at Ontario. This organiza- tion originated at the Five Corners, before men- tioned, and afterward removed to Pleasant Hill, removing thence to Ontario. It w'as organized there about 1853 ; some of the earlj' mem- bers being Hugh 3IcConnell, William Kerr,- John S. ]Marshall, David Hackedoru, William Wiley and J. W. Horner. The first minister here was Rev. Luke Dorland, who served about two years. Following him were Revs. Marquis, — Atkinson and J. 31. Blane}'. At present, they have no Sunday school and no regular Pastor. The church has been somewhat neglected of late, the members having died and moved away. The present meml)ership is onh" about tweut}'- five.
Ontario has grown to be a place of about two hundred inhabitants. John Evans and A.
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