Development of Church Life in the Older Congregations / 219

After 1948 the Midway, North Lima, and Leetonia churches became three independent congregations. Bishop responsibilities for the congregations are now carried by Allen B. Ebersole (Leetonia), Paul Yoder (Midway), and David Steiner (North Lima). Russell Royer is deacon at Leetonia; Ernest Martin is minister at Midway, and Caleb Yoder is deacon. Richard Bartholomew is minister at North Lima.

The Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, and Smithville Congregations

The Oak Grove Amish Mennonite congregation at Smithville, Ohio, continued in the twentieth century to be one with strong leadership that introduced changes in worship, church polity, and activities. A prominent leader during this period was Jacob S. Gerig who as bishop succeeded his father Benjamin Gerig. Jacob S. Gerig was ordained minister in 1896 and bishop in 1912 and for more than forty years carried responsibilities at the Oak Grove Church. During Gerig's years as bishop Oak Grove made an important innovation when in 1916 it ordained Jesse N. Smucker, a college-trained man, as minister. The impact of higher education on Ohio churches was nowhere more conspicuous than at Oak Grove which saw many of its young people go to college and enter various professions.

The life and contribution of C. Z. Yoder deserves mention in any account of Oak Grove's history. Born in 1845 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Bishop John K. Yoder. He moved to Wayne County in 1855 where he became a successful farmer. He was ordained deacon in 1890 and minister in 1904. As a farmer he introduced new agricultural methods in the culture of vegetables and berries, and in the use of the greenhouse. When the proposed Ohio Agricultural Station was looking for a location, C. Z. Yoder drove about the community in horse and buggy to collect signatures for a petition to have the station locate in Wayne County rather than Columbus. 6 Yoder organized farmers' institutes and contributed to farm publications.

As a churchman C. Z. Yoder was president of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities and secretary of his conference from 1893 to 1928. He was also active in hymnody and the compiling of hymnbooks. His evangelistic work and travels made his a household name throughout the denomination.

In 1936 William G. Detweiler, a pastor at Oak Grove, began