Transitions, Leaders, and Changing Churches (1865-1900) / 151 Though Scattered-Still a Brotherhood

In 1873 Jacob B. Mensch of eastern Pennsylvania visited some of the Ohio churches and left a record of his travel notes. Mensch tells of attending the 1873 conference at Martins Church in Wayne County on May 16. On May 18 he visited Shaum's meetinghouse near Orrville. Going on to Seneca County he spent a night at the home of Minister Isaac Rohrer. At Fostoria he visited Ministers Jacob Kemper, Isaac Tyson, and Daniel Tyson. Daniel Tyson had moved to Wood County in 1847 and was one of the organizers of the Mennonite Church in Wood County.

Mensch then turned eastward to Wadsworth and spent the night at the home of Minister Michael Rohrer. On May 24 he refers to a meeting at Gilbert's meetinghouse and at the Medina meetinghouse. He refers to meeting Ministers Abraham Rohrer and Henry Beery. On May 26 he proceeded to Columbiana via Orrville and ate dinner at the home of Bishop Jacob Bixler. In the afternoon he attended a meeting at Oberholtzer's in Mahoning County where he met Bishops Jacob Kulp and Joseph Bixler as well as Ministers Petér Basinger and Joseph Ziegler. Ziegler was from the Harmony Church in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Mensch then proceeded eastward to his home in Pennsylvania.

Mensch's travels included many Mennonite congregations east and west and reflect a feeling of unity among Mennonites in widely scattered communities. His records indicate that he viewed the congregations as all Øing of one brotherhood.'