History of Women in Green
Did you know that the early settlers of Green Township were very progressive in their ideas about the education and occupations of women in the 1800's?
Although many of our early settlers were by today's standards socially conservative and devote, fundamentalists in there faith and interpretation of the Bible, the Evangelical Association members welcomed women into their College, the Greensburg Seminary, beginning with their first class of students in 1855.
The Emanuel Evangelical Church in Greensburg also saw the rise of the first licensed female Evangelist, Savilla Kring Poling, who was raised in Greensburg in the 1870's.
Although many of our early settlers were by today's standards socially conservative and devote, fundamentalists in there faith and interpretation of the Bible, the Evangelical Association members welcomed women into their College, the Greensburg Seminary, beginning with their first class of students in 1855.
The Emanuel Evangelical Church in Greensburg also saw the rise of the first licensed female Evangelist, Savilla Kring Poling, who was raised in Greensburg in the 1870's.
The Greensburg Seminary Provided Higher Education to Women upon Opening in 1855
The first class of the Greensburg Seminary included eight males and eleven females. At the end of the first school year enrollment swelled to 58 gentlemen and 40 ladies. See The Evangelical Church in Ohio, Roy B. Leedy, 1959, pages 149-160.
Greensburg Seminary Dormitory - Still Standing Today
Abe Loehner, a resident of Greensburg and a trustee for the Greensburg Seminary, built a dormitory to house 125 students just south of the Seminary in 1856. This building still stands today at the corner of Greensburg and Massillon Roads. Can you image 125 students living in this building?
Savilla Kring Poling - the First Licensed Evangelist for the Evangelical Church
Savilla Kring, daughter of Rev. Samuel B. Kring, began her evangelical work in 1879 or earlier. The Rev. S.B. Kring served the Greensburg Emanuel Evangelical Church and raised his family, including Savilla, in Greensburg. Rev. S. B. Kring was the son of Conrad Kring (1800-1887) of the Ohio Conference. Samuel’s grandfather (Conrad’s father) George Kring lived in Morrison’s Cove and was converted under Jacob Albright (founder of the Evangelical Church).
Savilla Kring became the first licensed female Evangelist of the Evangelical Church. See Stapleton’s Flashlights on Evangelical History, page 189.
To read more about Savilla Kring Poling, click here.
Savilla Kring became the first licensed female Evangelist of the Evangelical Church. See Stapleton’s Flashlights on Evangelical History, page 189.
To read more about Savilla Kring Poling, click here.