Pioneer Amish Communities / 73

tions from Pennsylvania to Holmes County, Ohio.' In 1803 some of the migrants came into the present Holmes County with its large tracts of land, ample springs, and heavy forests. They selected a location for settlement and returned to Pennsylvania. In 1808 Jacob Miller with his two sons, Henry and Jacob, came from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, to a section of land about a mile northeast of present Sugarcreek in Holmes County. Here he entered a section of land and after helping his sons to build cabins and start farming he returned to Somerset County. The next year in the spring he moved his family to Ohio and brought with him his wife's nephew, Jonas Stutzman, who in 1809 became the first settler in the town of Walnut Creek, a mile southwest of the stream by the same name. Jacob Miller was a minister and preached what is thought to have been the first sermon in Holmes County.

Deeds for the newly acquired land were secured by the exploring party of 1803. They were dated 1807 and were signed by Thomas Jefferson. Later settlers were Abraham Gerber, Jacob Mast, Charles Yoder, Jacob Stutzman, and Hostetlers and Weavers. A cabin schoolhouse was erected in 1815.

Early records tell of encounters with the Indians. Trade was carried on with them, though apparently not all relations were congenial. One family returned to Pennsylvania because of unpleasant conflict with Indians, though this family found its way back again to Holmes County by 1812.

Organized congregations were founded as the thriving settlement spread in and around the Walnut Creek district. One of these churches was in the vicinity of present Farmerstown. John Frey, Noah Miller, and David Miller were pastors. Levi Miller was bishop. Another church was in the Sugarcreek area where Moses Wenger and Stephen Yoder were ministers and Jacob Coblentz was bishop. A third church in Walnut Creek Township was located in what is now known as Pleasant Valley. Moses H. Miller, Christian Yoder, and Solomon Miller were ministers, and Moses J. Miller was bishop. The fourth church was founded in the area where the present Walnut Creek Church now stands. William Gerber and Abraham Mast were ministers; David Beechy was deacon, and Moses Miller was bishop.

In the community between present Millersburg and Berlin a settlement organized a congregation about 1828. It was later to become the Martin's Creek congregation. The first minister and bishop