USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume II > Part 37
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The Third Presbyterian church, a daughter of the First church, was organized as has been mentioned, in 1867, and the church building was completed in 1869. This edifice has lately been repaired to a consider- able extent and re-frescoed. For a short time after the organization, the congregation worshiped in a frame building on Holman street, after- ward temporarily occupied by the Episcopal church. The church has flourished, is one of the prominent religious organizations of the city, and now has a membership of 250. A Sunday-school is maintained, with an average attendance of 220. The first record of official action by the organization bears date December 8, 1867. Rev. N. S. Smith, under whom the church was organized, was the pastor until the winter of 1873, after which the office was supplied by Rev. John Woods until the spring of 1874. The succeeding pastors have been: Harlan G. Men- denhall, installed May 6, 1875; W. B. Minton, installed June 20, 1878; J. Vance Stockton, installed June 4, 1880; S. Ferre Marks, installed May 29, 1882; David Scott Kennedy, installed May 3, 1886; J. M. Boggs, installed January 6, 1889. The first elders were: W. N. Andrews, J. B. McDonald and Andrew Wallace, and since then have served M. P. Longacre, John M. Wilt, N. D. Lindley, B. M. Herr, and the present elders, C. E. Shultze, who was installed May 5, 1872, O. B. Fitch, A. E. Van Buskirk, J. D. Chambers, J. C. Mudge, W. D. Page, W. Meyers. The deacons in service are: Thomas Sinclair and J. W. Donavin; trustees, G. W. Morgan; W. Diffenberger, A. M. Tower, W. Harrison, F. M. Wilt, and the congregational officers are William Creighton, president, E. G. Schulze, secretary.
The First Baptist Church .- The history of the Baptists of Fort Wayne, writes E. G. Anderson, esq., dates back to the year 1820, when Rev. Isaac McCoy, under the appointment of the Baptist Triennial convention, came as missionary to the Miamis and Pottawattomies, tribes of Indians whose reservations were located in this vicinity. Elder Mc- "Coy found it a difficult task to reach a people who were very suspicious of any advance of the white man, and it was a long time before he could gain their confidence and tell them of a Saviour's love. He succeeded, however, in gathering some fifty children together and instructing them in the truths of the gospel. But few white people had ventured into this country at that time, partly on account of the terrible malaria that was then so prevalent. But the success that attended Elder McCoy's
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work induced the society to still further occupy this important field. In 1821 Rev. John Sears received the appointment as missionary among the Ottawas, and arrived at Fort Wayne August 1, 1822. He was ac- companied by his wife and brothers. Reinforced by these new recruits Elder McCoy organized a church and adopted articles of faith. The names of eight whites, two Indian women and one black man appear on the roll.
This church was short-lived, Elder McCoy going west with the Miamis, and Elder Sears and his wife prostrated with malarial fevers, were compelled to return to New York, leaving his brother alone in the field, but after twenty-three days of labor he also succumbed, dying with typhus fever, November 3. Thus the little church became extinct.
For the next fifteen years we hear no more of the Baptists in this locality. In 1835-6 we learn that Revs. Tisdale, French and Moore preached here occasionally to the Baptists, who had moved to the village and vicinity, and in January, 1837, the brethren who had been worship- ing with other denominations began the organization of a church of their own faith, and after the earnest efforts of Rev. Robert Tisdale it was consummated. On Saturday, April 15th, 1837, by previous invi- tation, Revs. Tisdale, Moore and Fry, met with the church to complete its organization. The Presbyterian congregation kindly gave them the use of their church for the occasion. After appropriate exercises the following persons appeared and signed the roll of membership: Richard Worth, Elizabeth Worth, John Fairfield, William Worth, Sarah Swop, Hannah Worth, Meriam Sawtelle, Ann Archer and Elizabeth Morgan.
It was a joyous yet solemn beginning, ten souls agreeing in solemn covenant to maintain the faith once delivered to the saints in all its purity and simplicity. On the following Sabbath the First Baptist church of Fort Wayne was duly re-organized, Elder Moore preaching the sermon, Elder Fry extending the right hand of fellowship assisted by Elder Tisdale. Services were continued for several days and some new converts were baptised, among them Ann Girard, known to the older members.
The progress of the new church was at first very slow. A good deal of difficulty was experienced in securing and maintaining a pastor. Elder Tisdale remained with the little flock for a few months. He was followed by Revs. William Corbin and William Cox, in short pastorates. The need of a church building was sadly felt and meetings were held at the homes of the different members, and when the preacher came, the little brick school-house was secured. After the resignation of Brother Cox, the church was without pastoral care until October, 1841, when Rev. William Gildersleeve became the pastor, at a salary of $300 a year. During his ministry, some progress was made and new hopes inspired the membership. Many additions were made to the church, among them, Messrs. Lewis Embry and Jeremiah Mason, both of whom have gone to their heavenly reward. The Eel River church was organ- ized during the pastorate of Mr. Gildersleeve, and the frame church was
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built on " Clay Hill," on a lot donated by Hon. Samuel Hanna. March IIth, 1843, Rev. J. H. Dunlap was invited to the pulpit. He remained for two years. During this period, severe trials came upon the church and serious troubles arose among the membership which were never fully healed until death removed all parties concerned. About this time Mr. E. M. Ferris and family were admitted by letter. Rev. George Sleeper supplied the pulpit for a few months after the resignation of Mr. Dunlap, but declined continued service. April 4, 1846, Rev. H. D. Mason became pastor. By his earnestness, new life was infused into the work of the church and a new inspiration was given all along the line. The lot on the corner of Berry and Clinton streets was secured, and in the summer of 1848, the frame church was moved upon it. No obstacle was allowed to hinder the best interests of the church.
After two years of faithful service Mr. Mason resigned and for nearly two years thereafter the Baptists were without any regular pas- tor. Preaching, however, was maintained by the Rev. Mr. Searls as a supply, until he was stricken down by malaria. Elder D. W. Burrows then supplied the pulpit for more than a year.
In May, 1850, Rev. J. D. Meeson began his pastoral labors. He was sustained in part by the Home Missionary society. His ministry was one of great power and Zion put on a new life, for God was with her and the Spirit seemed to find ready access to many hearts. A revival of great power followed, Brother Mason preaching. Among those who came into the church were Mrs. R. Cothrell, Emily Philley, Eliza Coombs and Charlotte Rupert, N. Sibray and wife and sister, Sarah Holmes. All of these are still active members. The retirement of Rev. Mr. Mason was a great loss to the church. May I, 1853, Rev. U. B. Miller was called. He was a man of more than ordinary force in the pulpit, and was an earnest worker for the Master. For three years the church enjoyed his ministry, and the cause of Christ was greatly ad- vanced. But the Home Missionary society declined to extend further aid and Pastor Miller resigned for lack of sufficient support.
Rev. C. W .. Rees, a young man who had just graduated from the Kalamazoo college, became pastor on September 4, 1856. He was a mighty power in God's hands, and in a little over a year sixty were added to the church membership, mostly by baptism. Mr. Rees re- signed October 31, 1857. He is now pastor of a church at Glensburgh, Ore. The next pastor was Rev. Stephen Wilkins. He was a man of considerable power in the pulpit and strongly impressed his hearers with his quaint way of putting the gospel truths. He served the church for two and a half years with great satisfaction. No pastor succeeded him for several months and there was only occasional preaching by such sup- plies as could be obtained. February 6, 1861, Rev. William Frary ac- cepted an invitation to preach. He was invited to resign, and ended his connection with the church on June 2, 1861.
Dr. G. L. Stevens became pastor September 25, 1861. He was a valuable servant, an excellent man, and a good preacher. During his
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ministry there was a large increase of membership. At this time the necesssity of a new house of worship became very apparent and plans for building were set on foot. The pastor, together with Messrs. San- ford Lumbard, Isaac Dripps and Thomas Stevens, aided by a self-sac- rificing people and sympathizing friends, reared and dedicated to God, our present beautiful church home. Dr. Steven's pastorate was contin- ued over a period of over seven years.
March 1, 1869, Rev. J. R. Stone, D. D., was called. This man of blessed memory needs no words to speak his praise. He was an exem- plary Christian gentleman as well as an ideal pastor. He was an honor to his calling. A man of genial though dignified habits, by his life and daily walk the Baptist cause received an impetus and recognition never before accorded it. After years of faithful service he resigned, to accept a call to the church at Lansing, Mich., where after a brief pastorate, he fell asleep mourned by all who knew him. Truly blessed is the memory of such a man. Many were begotten of the Lord through his labors, and were he to'speak to-day, he would say: Be thou faithful, that ye may also enter into the rest prepared for those that love our Lord Jesus Christ.
After Dr. Stone's resignation, correspondence was immediately opened with several clergymen with a view to settlement as to pastor, and by special request, Rev. S. A. Northrop met the committee of the church as Rome City where it was agreed that he should preach from the vacated pulpit two Sabbaths. He came, we saw, he conquered and on September Ist, he entered upon his duties. Of the first four and a half years of Dr. Northrop's pastorate it may be said: "O Zion, how stately have been thy steppings, how grand thy conquests! The glory of the Lord has risen upon thee, and thy power has gone out through all the land."
From 190 the membership has increased to nearly 700. The latent power of the church has been brought into action, and to-day the Baptist people are a faithful band of earnest workers, fully awake to the neces- sity of the hour, and ready for any work in the Master's vineyard. The handsome house of worship was this year greatly improved in appearance and considerably enlarged by the building of a new front. The attendance is generally limited only by the seating capacity of the large auditorium.
Rev. Stephen A. Northrop, the distinguished pastor of the First Baptist church of Fort Wayne, was born at Granville, Licking county, Ohio, April 7, 1850. His father, William R. Northrop, a native of Gallipolis, Ohio, is also a clergyman of the Baptist church, and is at present engaged at Monroe, Mich. The son, Stephen, spent the first ten years of his life in his native state, and then accompanied his parents to Michigan. At twenty years of age he entered Denison university at Granville, Ohio, and pursued the classical course three years, then en- tering Madison university, Hamilton, N. Y., where he was graduated with the degree of A. B., in June, 1876. He stood first in his class in Greek literary work and oratory, and was noted as a debater. While
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in college he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Subsequently his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of A. M. In the fall of 1876 Mr. Northrop entered upon a course of theological study in the Rochester seminary, Rochester, N. Y., a Baptist institu- tion, meanwhile filling the pulpit of the First Baptist church at Ashville, Chautauqua county, N. Y. On July 1, 1877, he received a call from the First Baptist church of Fenton, Mich., where is located the Baptist ministers' home for the states of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. Here he remained over five years, during which period more than 200 were added to the church. In July, 1882, he received the unanimous call of the First Baptist church of Fort Wayne, to succeed the late Rev. J. R. Stone, D. D., and this call he accepted and assumed the pastorate September 1, 1882. Immediately afterward improvements were made in the house of worship to the value of $6,000. Rev. Northrop is now serving his eighth year, and during this time be- tween 700 and Soo have been added to the church. In 1887 he was elected president of the board of managers of the Baptist min- isters' home, for a term of two years, and he is also one of the trustees of the Baptist assembly at Laporte, Ind. In politics Mr. Northrop is a republican, and he had the honor of offering prayer at the Wednesday session of the national republican convention at Chicago, in June, 1888. He was married August 16, 1877, at Hamilton, N. Y., to Leitie A. Joslin, who was born at that place September 8, 1856, and is a graduate of Hamilton female seminary. Her father, William C. Joslin, a business- man of Hamilton, led the choir in the Baptist church there for forty- three years. This musical talent is shared by his daughter, a charming vocalist, who has filled the position of soprano singer in the choir of her husband's church since his residence in Fort Wayne. They have one child, Laura May. Pastor Northrop has been able to solve the vexing problem, "How to reach the masses." He has succeeded in this respect beyond his highest expectation. Throngs of our people have sought the door of the Baptist church for years, till the congregation was obliged to enlarge their house of worship, at an expense of $8,000, increasing the seating capacity to 1,600. The value' of the property is $45,000.
The only other Baptist church in the county of Allen, that of Eel River township, may here be appropriately mentioned. It was organ- ized December 21, 1844, mainly through the efforts of Elder Wedge, and the first members were John Ross, Appleton Rich, John J. Savage, Mary Ross, Sarah Rich, Mary Crow, Mary Savage and Sally Lowen. The organization was effected in the log school-house near the present site of the church, and that primitive building, 16x24 feet in dimensions, was used as a church until a short time after April 15, 1848. At that time trustees were elected, and a building committee appointed for a new church, which was not, however, completed until the summer of 1850. This building was 24x30, and cost $250 besides labor. Many years later the congregation had outgrown its quarters and a meeting was held August 19, 1871, which resolved to build a new church. There XX
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wrs a delay until January, 1877, when Thomas Larimore, William J. Mayo and John M. Taylor were appointed a building committee, and they prosecuted the work so vigorously that the congregation has wor- shiped for several years in a handsome church built of brick, in dimen- sions 40x60 feet, with a spire 120 feet high. The first pastor of the church was A. S. Bingham, who was chosen in the May following the organization. He served, most of the time for thirty years. The first deacons were Appleton Rich and John Ross. Elder Bingham was a faithful worker, and though the church was not much developed in that time in benevolence and Sunday school work, it was nevertheless abreast of the church development of that day. Nearly 200 members were added during Elder Bingham's pastorate, which ended October 1, 1875. During the latter part of this period he was assisted by Elder A. Latham. Elder Jones served one year from November, 1878, and was succeeded by D. D. Spencer for one year. J. H. Winans served the church two and
a half years in connection with Churubusco, until January, 1885, and left the church prospering. In the following August, B. F. Harman was called, who served a short time, after which the church was supplied by Rev. C. V. Northrop, then a student for the ministry. Rev. W. S. Kent, the present pastor, took charge in November, 1886, and has since the first year, given the church half of his time, doing valuable service, through which there have been thirty-three additions. The church has been much adorned and beautified. It is an imposing church building, having cost $5,000, and the cemetery adjoining is one of the largest in the county.
Methodist Episcopal Churches .- In the year 1824, James Holman, one of the famous Holman family, of Wayne county, Ind., a local preacher of the Methodist church, removed with his family to Fort Wayne, then a small village, and purchasing a farm in what is now a part of the city north of the St. Mary's river, made his residence in a log cabin near where now the New York, Chicago & St. Louis railroad crosses the river. True to his vows, Mr. Holman preached the gospel to as many as would come to his house to hear him, or would gather where he went, throughout the county. These meetings continued until in the latter part of 1830. Alexander Wiley, then a presiding elder of the Ohio conference, came to Fort Wayne to establish a mission, to be embraced in his district. About the same time Nehemiah B. Griffith was appointed by the Ohio conference to take charge of this mission. He was succeeded by Richard S. Robinson, and the latter by Boyd Phelps, under whose ministration it was named Maumee mission. The last missionary sent by the Ohio conference was Freeman Farnsworth. During this period the meetings of the class were held at various con- venient places. In 1832 the class consisted of six members, Judge Robert Brackenridge and wife, James Holman, wife and daughter, and Miss Alderman, afterward Mrs. Simon Edsall. After Rev. Farnsworth had served one year, the conference of Indiana having just been formed, sent to this place Rev. James S. Harrison, and Maumee mission became Fort
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Wayne circuit. During the pastorate of Rey. Harrison, 1835-36, an attempt was made to build a church, and have a regular place of wor- ship. A lot on Main street, between Cass and Ewing, was secured, and. a large frame was erected, with an imposing steeple, gothic windows, etc. But the congregation finding itself unable to complete, abandoned. the structure and the frame was afterward taken down and the lot re- verted to the Ewings. The congregation continued to hold services where places could be found, in the Masonic hall, a two-story brick build- ing where Bash's elevator now stands, or in a carpenter shop on the lot where Root & Co.'s store now is, and sometimes in the school-house, then located on the site of the county prison.
Fort Wayne circuit was served successively by Revs. Stephen R. Ball, James T. Robe and Jacob Colclazer. During the pastorate of the latter, Alexander M. McJunkin, whose name is worthy of prominence in the history of the Maumee valley, generously gave the use of his school-house to the Methodists, where they worshiped and held Sunday school until the second and this time successful attempt was made to build a house of worship. A frame building was erected, finished and occupied in 1840, on the corner of Harrison and Berry streets. In this year the circuit became Fort Wayne station, to which F. A. Conwell was appointed. He was succeeded by George M. Boyd, Hawley B. Beers, J. S. Bayless, Samuel Brenton, Amasa Johnson, William Wilson, Homer C. Benson and Milton Mahin. In 1849 the membership was 217, and at this time, under the eldership of Samuel C. Cooper, William Wilson being pastor in charge, the congregation was divided, and the withdrawing members founded Wayne Street church, building a house of worship on the corner of Wayne and Broadway streets. The first frame church built on Berry street in 1840 gave way twenty years later to the brick edifice, known as the Berry Street church. Since the division in 1849, resulting in two Methodist Episcopal churches, three additional churches have been founded and buildings erected, Simpson church in the south part of the city, Trinity in the north, and St. Paul's on the east side.
Berry Street church has 416 members, and its house of worship is valued at $22,000, parsonage $8,000. The present pastor is W. M. VanSlyke. At Wayne street there are 478 members; church, $22,000, parsonage, $4,000; pastor, R. M. Barnes. Simpson street, G. B. M. Rogers, pastor, has sixty-five members and a church valued at $6,000. St. Paul church, M. E. Cooper, pastor, has 219 members, and the prop- erty is estimated at $4,000. Trinity has a church worth $2,000, and 123 members under charge of D. M: Shackleford. The total number of members of the Methodist Episcopal churches of the city at the last report was 1,301.
Fort Wayne College .- At the third session of the North Indiana conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, held at La Porte, Ind., in September, 1846, the Fort Wayne female college was organized. The first session, which was informal, of the board of trustees was held on
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the 28th of the same month and year, and the board regularly organized under a charter, June 19, 1847. The corner-stone of the college build- ing was laid on the 24th of June, 1847, Rev. Samuel Brenton delivering an address on the occasion. Hon. A. C. Huestis was the first president, serving from September 1847, to May, 1848, when he was succeeded by G. H. Rounds, who held the position until July 30, 1849. Upon his resignation the vacancy .was filled by the appointment of Rev. Cyrus Nutt, who served until September 3, 1850, and then resigned. A. C. Huestis was acting president until April 19, 1852, when Rev. S. T. Gil- lett became president, serving until September 24 of the same year. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Brenton until August 4, 1855, when Rev. Reuben D. Robinson became president, serving until December 18, 1866. Several changes occurred in the management of the institu- tion until March 20, 1872, when Rev. R. D. Robinson again became president, serving this time for five years. He was succeeded by Rev. W. F. Yocum, who continued in the management of the institution for the eleven succeeding years, tendering his resignation as president June 14, 1888. At the same time Rev. H. N. Herrick was elected to the presidency and sustains that relation at the present time, September, 1889.
During these years the progress of the institution was not the most satisfactory, and steps were taken, as occasion seemed to demand, to remedy existing deficiencies. At a meeting of the trustees, March Ist, 1849, the president laid before them a communication from Rev. Samuel Brenton, on the subject of having a male department in connec- tion with the college, which was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Edsall and Williams. At a subsequent meeting of the board, a resolution looking to the consummation of this end was laid on the table. In March, 1850, the faculty united in a written request to the board ask- ing the privilege of admitting male students at the commencement of the next term This request was granted, and at a meeting of the board .on the 17th of August, 1852, it was resolved " that in the opinion of the board, it is expedient to establish a college for the education of males at this place, to sustain the same relation to the North Indiana conference that the Fort Wayne college does, and that we will co-operate with the North Indiana conference and the friends of education, in carrying into effect such a project." On the Ioth of October, 1855, the "Fort Wayne female college" and the "Fort Wayne collegiate institute for young men " were consolidated into an institution known as the " Fort Wayne college." The history of the college has been that of one continuous struggle from its beginning. Sometimes the indications seemed favor- able for its establishment upon a good financial basis, and yet none of its plans have been fully accomplished. Rev. R. D. Robinson, D. D., who presided over it for seventeen years, and Rev. W. F. Yocum, D. D., for eleven years, deserve great credit for what has already been accom- plished, having been ably assisted by such men as William Rockhill, Allen Hamilton, Joseph K. Edgerton, John M. Miller, George Brecken- ridge and many others.
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At a meeting of the National association of local preachers held in the college chapel, Fort Wayne, September IIth to 14th, 1886, the committee on education recommended: that the efforts of the associa- tion shall be confined and directed to only one institution of learning at a time, and that such benefactions shall be continued until such insti- tution be placed on a firm financial basis, and be thereby made perman- ently an honor to the association thus fostering it; the committee pro- ceeded to state certain favorable facts and concluded: Your committee, in view of these facts, also in view of the action your body heretofore had, and that said college is the first applicant, therefore, and in consid- eration of its central location, its healthy Christian work and influences, and the promising field of its operations, we recommend that the Fort Wayne college be selected by the association to be the recipient of its benefactions, and be declared to be under its patronage.
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