52 / Pioneer Mennonite Communities

favored the footwashing ceremony at communion time but this was an innovation to his fellow ministers and most of the congregation. In a spirit of goodwill Thut withdrew and organized his followers into a separate congregation for some years, meeting in homes. In time, however, Thut's Swiss followers and the older American Mennonites of the area came to agreement and on October 7, 1857, Thut was ordained a bishop in the Ohio Mennonite Conference.

Following his ordination as bishop Thut became a tireless itinerant churchman. His journeys, often by foot, took him to Williams, Mahoning, and Columbiana counties on peaching missions. His journeys also took him to the struggling communities of Paulding, Seneca, and Wood counties. These low-lying counties in northwestern Ohio were infested with typhoid, ague, and malaria that were well-nigh perennial. On a journey into this area it is thought he contracted the typhoid fever which took his life in 1867. His funeral was held in the barn on his own homestead with Bishop John Moser preaching the funeral sermon. His body was interred in the Swiss cemetery near Riley Creek where he had often baptized young candidates for church membership as they knelt in the stream. Nine of Thut's children lived to maturity and reared families, quite a few of whom became active church and professional people.

In Clark County, Mennonites settled as early as 1848. They were Henry Huber, Michael Kauffman, and Christian Mumma. One John Neff and his son David also settled in Clark County and desired to unite with the church. A Mennonite neighbor called a minister, Jacob Bowman of Franklin County, to instruct the Neffs for baptism. He in turn appealed to John M. Brenneman of Allen County. Brenneman came and baptized the Neffs and organized a congregation of twelve charter members. In 1868 land was purchased from John and Anna Huber and a meetinghouse built. Henry Huber (1805-74) was the first minister. He was succeeded by John M. Greider (1823-91) who came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1856 and was ordained deacon in 1861, minister in 1862, and bishop in 1871. After 1891 the congregation often lacked a resident pastor and was served by pastors and bishops from Logan, Champaign, and Allen counties."

Harmony Settlement of Western Pennsylvania

In the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania is the Harmony Mennonite Church near the town of Zelienople in Butler County."