140 / Transitions, Leaders, and Changing Churches (1865-1900)

Plank's important contribution, noted elsewhere, was the promotion of Sunday schools. His career had its stormy years, for various factions existed in his community. Nor did everyone appreciate Plank for his vision and activities. Concerning his critics he once wrote: "Self-contained watchers carefully guarded every avenue of encroachment upon the sacred customs of the fathers." Plank is remembered with gratitude in the large West Liberty community for his conciliatory measures as well as for his progressive ideas. Twelve years before his death and with much of his life's work behind him he wrote in his diary, "The South Union Church is in fair condition. 180 members, the young people mostly gathered in. ""

John K. Yoder (1824-1906)

Another local leader to serve with effectiveness in the period of transition was John K. Yoder of Smithville, Ohio. Born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, he was the grandson of a native of Switzerland who came to colonial Pennsylvania in 1761. He was ordained in 1850 in his native county, and in 1855 moved to the Orrville, Ohio, community where in 1859 he became bishop of the Oak Grove Amish congregation. From that date till his death in 1906 this large community passed through transitions similar to those in the communities of Allen, Logan, and Champaign counties. "'

Changes in the Wayne County community stemmed in part from the community's growth which for the middle of the nineteenth century was rather rapid. Prior to 1850 there was a division of the community into two districts because membership had increased too much for homes to accommodate the biweekly church services. Three years after John K. Yoder became bishop of both districts the first meetinghouse, to become known as Oak Grove, was built. In 1881 the Pleasant Hill meetinghouse was erected with the two districts functioning as one congregation and certain of its services alternating.

The building of a meetinghouse was a wide departure from the Amish tradition of worship in houses and barns. That Yoder favored the building of a place of worship at the risk of losing some members is one indication of his creative leadership in the midst of pressure for new ways. In the tightly knit Amish community, family, farm, and faith were blended as members gathered for Sunday_ morning worship. During the winter they met in homes, first in buildings made of logs with puncheon floors and later in large frame houses.