HISTORY OF THE NOTTAWA CHURCH

When the Nottawa church was started the River Brethren church in Ontario had three districts, namely Black Creek, Markham and Waterloo. Bishop Peter Cober was the overseer. He and Samuel Snider who later served as assistant bishop used to drive up there every eight weeks as well as Christian Hoover, John Byer and Samuel Baker who had charge after Peter Cober's decease. The ministers who moved from Markham were John Baker, a brother-in-law of Peter Cober, Samuel Doner and Charles Ditson. Markham was the foundation of this place as well as of Waterloo. Neils Peter Holm who later became bishop and Peter Niels Holm, a brother and also a brother-in-law of Bishop Peter Cober, were among the first ministers of Waterloo at that time. They held their meeting in their houses and Love feast in the new barns. Peter Winger was overseer of Black Creek, and Peter Holm was overseer of Waterloo. There never was a time in the history of the Ontario church that these districts prospered both spiritually and temporally as they did at that time. I have a letter written by Bishop E. J. Swalm of the history of Nottawa so will have it included.