USA > Ohio > Butler County > Middletown > A history of the life and work of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown, Ohio (Dayton Presbytery) from its foundation in 1819 to 1919 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
The Story of a Hundred years
1
BX
9211
. M53.5
M5
1919
The FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MIDDLETOWN, OHIO.
-...
Library of The Theological Seminary
PRINCETON . NEW JERSEY
PRESENTED BY
Rev. B. J. Brinkema BX 9211 .M535 M5 1919 Middletown, O. First Presbyterian Church. A history of the life and work of the First
A HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF
The First Presbyterian Church OF MIDDLETOWN, OHIO (DAYTON PRESBYTERY) From Its Foundation in 1819 to 1919
Prepared Under the Direction of the Boards of the Church in connection with the Centennial Celebration held in the Church October 19th to 26th, 1919
Middletown, Ohio, November 1, 1919
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." -Psalm 122:1
.
Rev. Francis Monfort, born 1782, died 1855, the first pastor of our Church, serving from 1819 to 1824. Mr. Monfort was the grand- father of Rev. Joseph G. Monfort, D. D., the venerable editor of the Herald and Presbyter.
This illustration was made from a copy of an oil painting by an artist who had known Mr. Monfort for several years. As an aid in his work the artist used two daguerreotypes of Mr. Monfort, taken when he was seventy years old.
The Story of a Hundred Years.
Can you imagine now for just a few minutes that you are living one hundred years ago? In other words, can you put yourself in the position of the few men and women who came from the New Jersey Church, at Carlisle, and Dick's Creek Church, near Blue Ball, to organize the First Presby- terian Church of Middletown-our church? Can you think of our beautiful, prosperous, happy city being a little ham- let, with not over three hundred citizens, with one small school house and two struggling churches? You must know nothing of the good roads, of the railroads, or even of the canal. You will have to make your journeys on foot or on horseback. You must know nothing of the daily newspaper. Only occasionally you will see a new pamphlet or a new book. You must think differently, dress differently, work differently, be entertained differently, than is your present custom. But you have at least one thing in common with those men and women of one hundred years ago-you can love God and worship Him, the same as did they, and so may have the same interest in His Church.
The first part of our story was written fifty years ago by Rev. Joshua L. Russell, who was the pastor of our Church at that time, and was read by him at the semi-centennial of the Church in 1870. He, no doubt, had talked with some of the founders of the Church and those who had labored for its welfare for years. This "History of the First Fifty Years of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown, Ohio," as Mr. Russell entitles it, is printed here just as it, appears in the manuscript from which he read except that a few paragraphs have been added so as not to cause a break in the account of the ministry of Mr. Russell who served in the Church for about two years after the semi-centennial celebration. His manuscript is still in the possession of the Church. The writing is notably neat and legible. The ink seems to have faded little, if any, and the paper is only slightly discolored. The story as told by Mr. Russell fol- lows.
FIRST PERIOD, 1820-1840 A. D.
A T the spring meeting of the Miami Presbytery, held at Lebanon, April 6th and 7th, 1819, a petition was pre- sented from Middletown, Ohio, supplicating, first, occasional preaching ; second, liberty to form a Presbyterian Church at that place. The petition was granted, and Rev. Francis Monfort was appointed to preach one Sabbath at Middle- town.
A little later in the month (14th), a number of persons residing in and near Middletown met, according to agree- ment and notice before given, for the purpose of being or- ganized into a Presbyterian congregation. From the records of that meeting it would appear that it was simply prelim- inary, no organization proper being effected, although M. W. Karr, was elected clerk; A. Campbell, collector; and Ezek. Ball, treasurer.
During the following year, their plans and efforts hav- ing so far matured as to warrant further steps, another congregational meeting was held on Saturday, the 29th of July, 1820, the specified purpose of which was the organiza- tion of a church. The Rev. Francis Monfort, pastor, and the elders of the New Jersey Church (an older sister in the numerous and well-grown Presbyterian family making its home in this highly favored valley), were present by invita- tion to assist in the organization of the church.
After a sermon by Mr. Monfort, he, with the elders of New Jersey Church present, viz .: Zebulon Baird, Tunis D. Vanderveer, Hendrick Lane, Peter Covenhovin and Ankey Wyckoff (some of whom are yet alive), constituted by prayer a sessional meeting. An invitation was then given for the reception of members. After deliberation and conversa- tion with persons making application for membership, ses- sion adjourned, to meet in the same place on the 6th of Au- gust. On Sabbath, the 6th of August, Rev. Francis Monfort and three of the elders, viz .: Zebulon Baird, Peter Coven. hovin and Ankey Wyckoff, met pursuant to adjournment, and received applicants for membership. The total num- ber of those who thus, in the good providence of God, be- came associated together in the organization of this church
5
was but twelve. Five of these, Mr. Archibald Campbell and his wife, Mrs. Sarah Campbell; Moses W. Karr and Mrs. Ann Karr, and Miss Jane Robinson, came by certificate from the Presbyterian Church of Dick's Creek; four, Nathan Peppard and Mrs. Peppard, David Potter and Miss Jane Malery, by certificate from the Presbyterian Church at Mt. Pleasant, Kentucky ; three, Mr. John M. Barnett and Mrs. Jane Barnett, his wife, and Ruth Fisher, by examination. A little band, indeed! A mere handful! But these few humble Christians were the nucleus about which future forces and influences were to be gathered and grouped. That early church was like a little vine. But God had planted it. He watched and watered it, and it has grown and borne much fruit. And already many Eschol-like clusters have been gathered for the heavenly vintage.
The building in which these Christians gathered for wor- ship, and where this organization was effected, and wherein they worshipped for ten succeeding years, was probably a schoolhouse that formerly occupied a part of the present site of the public school building on the corner of Main and Second streets. An interesting fact associated with the his- tory of that old and almost forgotten school room is worthy of mention. In it the first Sabbath School established in this town was organized and for some time conducted. It was on a kind of union basis. The Baptist Sabbath School was an offshoot or outgrowth of it, a number of persons who held to the distinctive tenets of that denomination having with- drawn some two years after its organization and established a school of their own. Of that first school, the one now a part of this church, is the legal and legitimate successor, and until a very recent date the records of that early school had been transmitted in the keeping of this church. It appears from the Presbyterial Records, that about this time a peti- tion was presented from the Middletown Church for the ministerial labors of Rev. Francis Monfort one-half his time, which petition was granted, provided he concur. That this arrangement was agreeable to Mr. Monfort, and that he labored here, we learn from statistics and historical notes gathered in 1842 at the demand of the Presbytery. Rev. Francis Monfort supplied the pulpit of this church one-half
6
his time for two years, commencing soon after its organ- ization.
At a communion season in June, 1821, fifteen more were added to the church, ten of whom united by certificate and five by profession of their faith in Christ. On Friday, June 21st, preceding communion, a congregational meeting was held for the purpose of electing elders. Three were chosen, viz .: Wm. McClain, Nathaniel Peppard and Moses W. Karr; and on the next day, Saturday, they were solemnly ordained to the holy and Scriptural office. In July, 1822, Rev. John Koss visited Middletown as a missionary and administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. From this date until 1828, a space of six years, we find no recorded data from which to judge of the condition of the church. That it still lived and struggled on we judge from occasional hints in the records of the Presbytery. Such, for instance, as the re- ceipt of a collection on behalf of some benevolent object, or the appointment of some neighboring minister to preach for a Sabbath, or to hold a series of meetings. That the church was destitute of regular ministrations of the Word is evident. In those days the facilities of worship and church privileges were not as abundant and easy of access as now. But perhaps the Christians of those days, if they had fewer helps and advantages, sought light and strength more ear- nestly of God. We may well make honorable mention of these fathers and mothers of our church, and hold them in sacred remembrance for their earnest faith and patient works. We must remember that the church was still feeble. It was an infant yet, and one rocked in the cradle of adver- sity. Its members were in moderate circumstances and few in numbers and could not sustain the regular means of grace. Besides, the Presbytery had a very large missionary terri- tory to occupy, bounded on the south by the Ohio River, on the north by the lakes, east, by what was known as "Wash- ington Presbytery," west, ad infinitum.
In August, 1828, previous notice having been given, the congregation met for the purpose of electing two additional elders. Choice was made of Archibald Campbell and Ephraim Gray, who were ordained at the earliest opportun- ity. In the following month this church, in connection with
7
the Franklin Church, made application to the Board of Do- mestic Missions that it might be supplied with regular preaching for one year.
Rev. Samuel Smith was sent in answer to this request to occupy the field, and was received by this church, but not by Franklin. Mr. Smith was a man of more than ordinary ability and attainment, so estimated by those who knew him best. His labors seem to have been much blessed of God, judging by the results, for in the course of a few months, at a communion in which he was assisted by Rev. John Hud- son, eleven were received on profession of faith in Christ, among whom were Ann Lefferson, long useful and now la- mented in this church, Mary Galbreath, now living in Franklin, and Margaret Yeager; also three on certificate. This was succeeded by an ingathering of nine on profession of faith in the following August. And just here let a note be made of the fact that of those who were thus gathered in, but one received the ordinance of baptism, showing that they were the children of faith, dedicated by their parents to God. Thus does God seal as His own the children of His people, and cause His blessing to rest on the fulfillment of the Scripture taught and enjoined ordinance of infant bap- tism.
Early in 1829, the church, feeling the necessity of a building in which to worship God, began to move in the mat- ter. In January a subscription was circulated for the pur- pose of securing funds requisite to such an enterprise. About nine hundred dollars ($900) was pledged, one-half of which was to be paid in by the 10th of May, the remaining one-half by the 10th of September. It seemed a great un- dertaking, yet the hearts of the people were in it. "They had a mind to work," as had the builders of the wall in the days of Nehemiah. And some gave money, and some gave work, and some gave money and work, and some prayed. And so the work went on. An incident illustrative of the spirit which characterized the people at that time should be known. The solicitor of subscriptions came into the shop where an apprentice lad, not a church member, but one earnestly anxious for the welfare of the church, was at work, and asked him to subscribe. He had no money and
8
Our first church building, erected on Broadway, in 1832, near where the Lutheran Church parsonage now stands. Some of the brick in this building were used in the construction of the building now standing directly back of the Lutheran Church.
Rev. John B. Morton, Pastor, 1840-47, 1853-65. Mr. Morton was a tower of strength in Middletown during his long pastorate in this church. He founded and taught a private school for young women while here. He is buried in the Mid- dletown Cemetery.
9
could not see his way clear to obtain any. It was suggested to him that he put down some definite amount and endeavor to obtain it. This he did. The amount was ten dollars. He obtained it by working after his regular day's work was done in odd ends of time. He experienced the blessedness of giving.
Upon this financial basis the church began to operate. Nine hundred dollars ($900) certainly seems to us in these days of enlarged ecclesiastical enterprises and splendid tem- ples a very paltry sum with which to begin a church build- ing. But we must remember those days were, in some re- spects, simpler than our own, and prices of labor and ma- terial were vastly different from the high rates of the pres- ent. The first step was to secure a suitable place. A beauti- ful site was purchased of Daniel Doty, in the southern part of the town, shaded and retired, the stately trees of which suggest God's first temples. Nothing further seems to have been done in this matter for two or three years, although doubtless it occupied much of the thought and feeling of the people. This period of time (1829-1831) seems to have been a time of spiritual prosperity and enjoyment. The church had now what it had never before experienced, viz. : the ben- efit of constant ministration. Mr. Smith, who during the year preceding had been laboring with it but one-half his time, now gave all his time and labors. But he was prob- ably not yet ordained to the full work of the ministry, for the Sessional Records make mention of the fact at every regular communion of some neighboring minister being present to administer the Sacrament. Yet his labors were blessed to the edification and growth of the church. Cover- ing this time we find such minutes as the following :
February 29th, 1830. Rev. Adrian Aken administered the Lord's Supper. Seven were received on examination into church membership at this time, among whom were Mr. Patterson Mitchell, Mrs. Elizabeth Bonnell and Isaac Vad- der.
July 3rd, 1830. Rev. J. W. Frazier administered the Lord's Supper. Two added on profession.
October 2nd, 1830. Rev. J. W. Frazier again adminis- tered communion. One was added to the church.
10
April 30th, 1831. Communion season. Five added by profession, two on certificate. Of these, one, Mary Fish, now Mrs. Denny, is still a member of the church. Minis- ters present, Revs. Dr. Thomas, Gaines, Weaver and Smith. It must have been about this time or soon after that Mr. Smith's labors ceased in this church.
In April, 1832, a meeting of the church members was held at the house of Mr. Wm. McClain to consider plans of church building, at which it was resolved, first, that the building should be built of brick and its dimensions should be forty-five (45) feet in length and thirty-five (35) feet in width; also resolved: That said house shall have three doors in it, one large double door in front and one small door on each side, and nine large windows and three small ones.
Mr. Wm. McClain, Wm. Judd and Moses W. Karr were appointed a building committee and instructed with "full powers" to erect the building. A contract was made with Meeker S. Morton to build the house, which was fulfilled at the specified time, and for which he received the sum of seven hundred and eighty-nine dollars and fifty-three cents ($789.53). The work of plastering was let to Eli Green for forty-five ($45) dollars; the making of shutters, cornicing and staircase to David Potter for eighty-four ($84) dollars ; the furnishing the church with pews to David L. Murray. The total cost of the building was about eleven hundred ($1,100) dollars. The seats were sold to defray the expense of building them. Three hundred ($300) dollars were real- ized from the sale. The unoccupied seats were offered for rent at the rates of one, one and one-half and two dollars per year, as we learn from plats of the seats drafted for the con- venience of the trustees and still preserved.
A peculiar and somewhat unusual disposition, how- ever, was made of four pews, as we learn from a resolution unanimously adopted at a congregational meeting held Feb- ruary 11th, 1833. "Resolved, That the four pews on the south of the pulpit, numbered thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two and thirty-three, be reserved for the use of those persons who have paid liberally toward the building of this house, and who have since moved away." What particular benefit these absent persons were expected to reap from their pews it is
11
difficult to imagine. However, the church, as we find in a subsequent item, very sensibly concluded to rent out these four seats already specified until such time as these persons to whom the church had thus shown its grateful good will, should return and claim them.
And thus the church became possessed of its first build- ing, which still stands and now is owned and occupied by the German Lutheran Church. From the time of the occupation of this building for a number of years nothing unusual oc- curred. During this period Rev. John Hudson supplied the pulpit of the church one-fourth of the time for one year. Succeeding him Rev. Alexander Guy preached for one year. Then in the spring of 1837 application was made to the Presbytery for the services of Rev. J. S. Belleville. This was granted and Mr. Belleville labored here for a year or more. And so earnest were his labors in word and doc- trine that he became known throughout this section of the country, far and near, as "Boanerges," the Son of Thunder. During this period one member was added to the Session, viz .: G. B. Crawford, ordained elder April 15th, 1837, and some twenty to twenty-five were added to the membership of the church, making a total of ninety-two members ro- ceived during the twenty-years which we have now re- viewed, the greatest number at any one time in connection with the church being between sixty and seventy. It was a time of trial and struggle; and often its condition seemed hopeless, dying, and, behold, it lived. It was sustained and fostered by the Presbytery and many appropriations were inade on its behalf. Of the men of God who ministered here during this first twenty years of its life we add the follow- ing notes :
Rev. Francis Monfort, who organized the church, died June 18th, 1855, aged seventy-two and one-half years. After a long and useful life in the ministry, embracing about for- ty-two years, the greatest part of which was spent in the Miami Valley, he came to his grave like a shock of corn fully ripe. Let him be and in honor for his work's sake! All the rest are yet living.
Rev. S. B. Smith, in infirm health and advanced age, re- sides somewhere in the East.
12
Rev. John Hudson, also infirm, is living at West Liberty, Iowa.
Rev. Alexander Guy, who retired from the ministry some years since, resides in the town of Oxford, in this county, and Father Belleville, whose failing health has not per- mitted him to labor in the ministry actively for years, re- sides in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.
SECOND PERIOD, 1840-1867.
T HIS period embraces thirty years, the earlier portion of which is characterized by gradual growth. It begins with darkness and closes with light. At the opening of the year eighteen hundred and forty the affairs of the church were in a very discouraging condition. Even with the help received from the Board of Domestic Missions, it was impos- sible to sustain regular preaching. The people very eagerly and gratefully availed themselves of the means of grace occasionally afforded, but they had lost heart. And so al- inost in despair they besought the Presbytery at its spring meeting in April to devise some means by which the church might be kept alive. It seemed that this candlestick was about to be removed out of its place. The Presbytery, deem- ing the church located in too important a place to be neg- lected, gave attention to the request and instructed their Commissioner to the Assembly, Rev. John Belleville, to se- cure a minister, sent out under the auspices of the Domestic Missionary Board, to labor in this place. In the meantime Rev. M. Russell, the father of a later pastor, who had not been licensed, was appointed at that same Presbyterial meet- ing to preach during the month of May in this church.
On application of Mr. Belleville, Dr. Wm. McDowell, Sec .. retary of the Board of Domestic Missions, recommended & young man, licentiate of the First Presbytery, New York, whom he described as well fitted for the field and its work, and whom we need not name as the pastor, so many years of whose life were given to this church.
Rev. John B. Morton came to Middletown in June and began his work. In October of the same year the church requested leave of the Presbytery to employ him six months, which request was granted. Mr. Morton served the church
13
thus as stated supply until the fall of 1842, when the church of Franklin requested his labors one-half the time for six months. He then preached during that winter in the two churches on alternate Sabbaths. In the fall of 1841 Mr. Na- thaniel Furman, since deceased, and Mr. Patterson Mitchell, a brother beloved, to whose fidelity and earnestness this church owes much, now a resident of Dayton, were elected and ordained Ruling Elders. During the period in which Mr. Morton served the church as stated supply, a space of almost three years, thirty-four members were added to the church.
There seems to have been a more than usual manifesta- tion of the Divine Power accompanying and applying the preaching of the truth in the early part of the year 1843. Many careless ones were awakened, and sought and found peace in the atoning blood of Jesus. Daily meetings were held a part of January and through the entire month of Feb- ruary. In this work Mr. Morton was assisted principally by Rev. Thomas E. Thomas, occasionally by Rev. Samuel New- all, then of Lebanon, since called to Paris, Illinois, Rev. Sam- uel B. Smith and Rev. John S. Weaver. Some twenty-five were added to the church on profession of their faith in Christ, among whom of the living were Miss Elizabeth Glas- coe and Mrs. Sarah Hilt, yet residing here and abiding fast in the faith of the Son of God; also Mr. Wm. Mitchell, now a Ruling Elder. Of those gone to the upper Sanctuary were Dr. Peter Vanderveer, elected elder February, 1856, died January 16th, 1861; Miss Margaret Vanderveer, afterward Mrs. Morton, died July, 1865, and Mrs. Eliza Wampler, called to her reward in Heaven February, 1866, but the memory of whose earnest life is sweetly fragrant in the hearts of those who knew her; also Miss Elizabeth Leffer- son (Mrs. Thomas Wilson), died August 8th, 1872. These all are blessed for they died in the Lord. These do rest from their labors and their works do follow them. Immediately succeeding this revival the church extended a call to Mr. Morton to become its pastor. The following record bears date of Thursday, March 14th, 1843.
"The members and supporters of the Middletown church met for the purpose of electing a pastor. Rev. James Coe
14
moderated the meeting which resulted in the choice of Rev. John B. Morton by a unanimous vote."
Patterson Mitchell, Elder, was instructed to prosecute the call at the ensuing meeting of the Presbytery. At the meeting of the Presbytery, April 4th, the call was presented, found in order, put into the hands of Mr. Morton, and ac- cepted by him.
Tuesday, 25th of April, was appointed as the day of his ordination and installation to the pastorate of the church.
Rev. James C. Barnes, of Dayton, was appointed to preach the ordination sermon; Rev. James Coe to preside and deliver the charge to the pastor ; and Rev. John S. Gallo- way to deliver the charge to the people. Those brethren and fathers in the ministry have all yielded up their earthly stewardship and joined the general assembly and church of the first born who are enrolled in heaven. Mr. Morton con- tinued pastor of the church for four years, during which time eighteen more were added to its membership, and one elder, Wm. Cassady, elected at what precise date it can not be ascertained, no minute having been made of the fact. Yet as his name first appeared in sessional meetings held during the spring of 1847, it must have been about this time he was inducted into office. Rev. Mr. Morton labored but one-half his time here during the last two years of his pastorate.
In April ,1845, by mutual agreement, the Presbytery sanctioning, he was released from labor one-half his time and engaged by the Franklin church for this unoccupied portion of time.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.