Note: Bluffton sixth graders in the 1953-54 school year (graduating class of 1960) created a booklet titled "The Bluffton Story." The following article is part of that booklet, which is now in the history collection at the Bluffton Public Library. This is the final installment of this series.
"Bluffton's Religious Life"
By Dale Schiffke and James Swank
Bluffton's religious life centers around its ten Christian churches. The first church in Bluffton was the Methodist founded here in 1831 with R. P. Duvall as minister. It was located at 142 N. Thurman Street and the building is still used as a residence. The Methodist church now occupies the third building in Bluffton and Rev. Robert King is the 49th minister to serve this church.
Bluffton's Lutheran Church located on Grove Street was started in 1873 with Rev. F.A. Matthis as the first minister. There have been 17 ministers, with Rev. V. Monk serving as the present one. The church has recently completed a remodelling job on the roof and have a new organ.
One of the smaller churches in Bluffton is The Church of Christ Scientist located in an upstairs room on S. Main Street. This church does not employ a regular minister but they have readers. A new reader is selected every three years.
The Evangelical Mennonite church is now located on S. Jackson Street. They have a membership of 60 and the church has been active since 1878 in Bluffton. The minister, Rev. Reuben Short has just returned from the West Indies.
Bluffton's Presbyterian Church was organized June 6, 1849 by Rev. R. H. Holliday of the Maumee Valley Presbyterian. IN 1852, the land upon which the present church stands was donated by the heirs of Daniel Gobel, Bluffton's first postmaster.
In 1842, the Emanuels [sic] German Reformed Church was organized by pastor George Spengler as a Reformed and Lutheran congregation. It was reorganized in 1861 as a Reformed Church and is now known as the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church. Rev. Opperman has just celebrated his tenth year at this church. The church has 355 members.
One of the larger churches of the community is the First Mennonite founded in 1905 and reorganized in 1912. This church, a large yellow brick structure is located on the corner of Jackson and Church Street.
The Bluffton Church of Christ, located on Elm Street at the rear of the Town Hall, was founded at a church meeting that was being held in a barn located near Bluffton. On July 2, 1859, a meeting was held at the home of Jonathon Dunlap and it was decided to buy land of William Ewing and the present site was purchased.
The Roman Catholic Church was built in 1865 and land donated by James Owens at the corner of Elm Street and Lawn Avenue. The church was started when a Father Dechant, a French Missionary, came through Bluffton on his way to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The church celebrated its diamond jubilee in 1940 and at the present time has 48 members.
The Missionary Church of Bluffton was started in 1930 and it is the town's newest church. The church was accepted for membership in the Missionary Church Association on August 24, 1931. The Church has had three ministers with Rev. Robert Welch the present pastor.
We the co-authors of this book would like to extend our appreciation to the many fine people that were so kind in helping us gather our information on Bluffton's past and present. It would have been impossible for us to gather and compile this book without their aid.
In appreciation we thank:
Mr. Ardon Baker, Personnel Manager, Triplett Electrical Inst. Co.
Rev. Alvin Beechy, Mennonite Church
Miss Sylvia Biederman, Supt., Bluffton Community Hospital
Mr. C.A. Biery, Editor, Bluffton News - Retired
Mr. Guy Corson, Chief, Bluffton Fire Dept.
Mr. Eli Deppler, Manager, Bluffton Telephone Co. - Retired
Mr. Samuel Diller, Research Consultant
Mr. Milton Edwards, Editor, Bluffton News
Mr. Clair B. Fett, Bluffton Slaw Cutter Company
Mr. Taylor Hampton, Vice President, Nickle Plate Railroad
Mrs. Charles Hankish, Roman Catholic Church
Mr. Armin Hauenstein, Rexall Drug Store
Rev. Robert King, Methodist Church
Mr. Charles Lloyd, Manager, Boss Manufacturing Co.
Rev. Leonard McIntire, Presbyterian Church
Mr. A.B. Murray, Supt., Bluffton Public Schools
Mr. M. M. (Dode) Murray, Church of Christ
Rev. V. C. Opperman, Evangelical & Reformed Church
Dr. L. L. Ramseyer, President, Bluffton College
Mr. Elmer Romey, President, Citizens National Bank
Mrs. Mary Schiffke, Bluffton News
Mr. Ralph Stearns, Asst. Postmaster, Bluffton, Ohio
Mr. Clarence Stonehill, Clerk, Bluffton Fire Dept.
Rev. Rueben Short, Evangelical Mennonite Church
Mrs. Walter Gratz, Church of Christ Scientist
Mrs. E. C. Stultz, Lutheran Church
Mr. R. L. Triplett, President, Triplett Electrical Inst. Co.
Rev. Robert Welch, Missionary Church
Typists:
Mrs. Roger Bell
Mrs. Josephine Burkholder
