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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
��The church was dedicated in 1853, Rev. E. V. G-erhart and M. Stern officiating.
The following were subsequent Pastors of the church : Rev. H. Willard, from April 1, 1854, to April 1, 1857 ; Rev. H. Hess, until 1859 ; Rev. F. C. Edmonds, nine months. A vacanc}' of one j-ear aud three months occurred. Rev. D. W. Kelly tecame Pastor iVpril 1, 1861, continuing two years. During this time the bell was procured. A vacancy of four months followed. Rev. N. H. Loose took charge August 1, 1863, and continued fourteen years, ending- August 1, 1877. During his ministry, about $1,500 were expended in improving the build- ing. The interior was frescoed and painted, a new pulpit erected, organ procured, etc., and 151 members added to the church. Mr. Loose also served at the same time the Reformed con- gregations at London and Granges, to which there were added, respectiA^ely, fifty and forty- three members. He also officiated at 174 funerals, solemnized 188 marriages, and preached 2,000 sermons.
Rev. C.W. Good followed Mr. Loose, begin- ning August 19, 1877, and continuing two years and one month. Mr. G-eorge Bowman has Ijeen chorister of the choir for sixteen years. At present, April, 1880, the congregation num- bers about one hundred and twenty-five, and has a hopeful future. Rev. 0. E. Lake is Pastor.
The Sunday school numbers al)out ninety members, with F. Dennis as Superintendent.
��A history of the press of Shell)y is, so far as success is concerned, Init a repetition of that of jNIansfield and other places in the county, and fully estaljlishes the fact that establishing a newspaper is a most precarious business. Success comes only through numerous failures, and those who finally succeed must fully earn and deserve their success.
��The successful editor must certainly be qual- ified to appreciate the following sentiment of John Marston : "Through danger, safety comes — through trouble, rest."
So far as can he ascertained, the first paper in Shelby was issued by C. R. Brown, in 1858, and was called the Pioneer. It circulated freely and successfully at first, but soon adjourned sine die. The next paper was the Enterprise, issued in 1862 by Mr. Kenton, who was, in 1875, con- nected with the Marysville Democrat. This paper had a circulation of 300, and was in existence about a year. The Enterprise was purchased, in 1863, by Mr. S. S. Bloom, who in connection with Mr. Baltzley, of the Plymouth Advertiser, contemplated publishing the Express, but political diflferences arising, owing to the excitement engendered by the war, a dissolu- tion of partnership occurred before the first number was issued. The Express was contin- ued aliout one 3-ear.
During the next three years, Mr. Glover and Mr. Bloom issued " occasionally " a paper called the Gazette, which was continued until 1867, when the Shelby Chronicle made its appearance, published by Messrs. Young & Hill. This paper continued until October 12, 1868, when it was purchased by S. S. Bloom, and merged into the Shelby Independent JVeics. The 'first year, the circulation of this paper reached nearly six hundred, and it seemed fairly on the road to permanent success. It was edited b}' Mr. Bloom and published b}' J. G. Hill for a period of six years.
In the meantime, in 1868, Mr. T. H. Barkdull began the publication of the Gazette, and continued it about four 3'ears, Shelby hav- ing the benefit of two papers during these years.
The Independent News was continued until 1876, when the Shelby Times, a Republican paper, made its appearance, under the editorial management of Mr. J. Gr. Hill. Mr. Bloom thereupon hauled down the •■ Independent "
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