USA > Ohio > Stark County > Alliance > The First Presbyterian Church, Alliance, Ohio : the first one hundred years, 1854-1954 > 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
THE FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
ALLIANCE, OHIO
1854
1954
I
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
---
RALPHW. LUCAS_
THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING-ERECTED IN 1858
2
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ALLIANCE, OHIO
The First One Hundred Years 1954 1854
3
4
"Temples Still Undone"
"Another temple waits Thee, Lord divine, The temple of my heart, O make it Thine"!
5
This History is most fittingly dedicated to:
Doctor John Vant Stephens, Jr., who through more than one-fourth of the one hundred year period which this book commemorates, has given himself unselfishly far beyond the line of duty, to awaken within the members of this church a confidence in themselves, and a faith and trust in the Holy Spirit, which has inspired them to give of their time and talents for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
6
The Reverend John Vant Stephens, Jr.
7
8
Temples Still Undone
Throughout the one hundred years of her history, the Church we love has been building - a Century of serving, of building, building - not only for Time, but also for Eternity. Foundations laid in the Ohio wilderness were sure foundations on which, through the years, the building has gone forward. Brick, stone, mortar and timber! Four times in a century we have built a House to the glory of God.
Now the visible temple stands complete! Now we may lay aside the hammer and saw and trowel. Stained glass, carved wood, the Altar - we have dedicated all to His service.
We look now to the Future. Have we made the beginning and the end of our building? No brick, no mortar needed more? No temple still undone? We stand empty-handed, wistful. Yes, there is yet another temple - the temple of the heart. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (I Cor. 3:16). Shall not the Church we have built with our hands, be only the visible reminder of the Temple we shall be building throughout all Eternity ?
"Another temple waits Thee, Lord divine,
The temple of my heart, O make it Thine!"
John Vant Stephens, Jr.
9
The Centennial Program
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1954
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19-Men's Sunday
10:30 A. M .- Worship Service conducted by Men O' First. Guest Speaker : Mr. David W. Proffitt, Past President of National Council of Presbyterian Men.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-Presbytery Day
9:30 A. M .- Presbytery of Mahoning will be our guests. Noon luncheon by reservation.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3-World-Wide Communion Sunday
10:30 A. M .- The Holy Communion and reception of members with every loyal church member participating and partaking.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5-Women's Night
6:00 P. M .- Banquet and program in Eastminster Hall. Guest speaker: Mrs. Elizabeth Hazlet Buchanan, Past President of the National Council of Presbyterian Women.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10 Home Coming Sunday
10:30 A. M .- Historical Service with presentation of the Centennial History by Mrs. Clark Shreve.
2:00 P. M .- Centennial Reception with informal program. A chance to meet and mingle with friends old and new.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14-Presbyterial Day
9:30 A. M .- The Mahoning Presbyterial will be our guests. Noon luncheon by reservation.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17-World-Wide Mission Sunday
10:30 A. M .- Worship Service. Guest Speaker, Dr. Charles T. Leber of New York City, General Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
7:00 P. M .- Youth Service with Dr. Charles T. Leber as speaker.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24-Spiritual Life Emphasis Week begins
10:30 A. M .- Worship Service. Guest speaker, Dr. Walter Barlow of Phila- delphia, Retired Secretary of the Board of Christian Education of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
7:30 P. M .- Centennial Pageant-"Temples Still Undone"
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28-Men's Night
6:00 P. M .- Banquet and Program. Guest speaker, Dr. Walter Barlow.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31-Spiritual Life Emphasis Week continues
10:30 A. M .- Worship Service. Guest speaker, Dr. Walter Barlow.
7:00 P. M .- Youth Service. Guest Speaker, Dr. Walter Barlow.
NOTE: Dr. Barlow will conduct a Spiritual Retreat for the entire congregation beginning Sunday, October 24 and running through Sunday, October 31. There will be meetings each evening at 7:30 o'clock.
IO
The Centennial History
"Yesterday, Now and Tomorrow"
Our First Presbyterian Church of Alliance has in its yesterdays one hundred years of genuine warm fellowship, one hundred years of community participation, and one hundred years of Christian Education which have radiated their effects far and wide. We wish to express our deep debt of gratitude to our forebears of this past century.
We now begin the second one hundred years. The potentialities of our church will be realized according to the measure of our faith. We may make the coming cen- tury what we will.
Looking back, we realize that we are the inheritors of the past. One cannot give our church history without linking it with the early founding of the city of Alliance.
First Citizens
Mound builders were Alliance's first citizens. It was not known until more recently that the present territory of Alliance was the home of these ancient people. Mr. John Stanley, former Superintendent of the Alliance Water Works, verified the fact that a large Indian mound stood about two hundred feet north of the Riverside Cemetery. It was leveled some seventy years ago by Jacob Shaffer and Frank Stanley. According to John Stanley, a considerable number of arrow heads were obtained. The location of a mound here was to be expected, for these works are found all along the Mahoning River. Willis Magrath's research in this particular phase of Alliance his- tory has opened the "tie-up" with these ancient Americans known as the Hopewell Culture. According to Magrath, Alliance was the site of a very old industry, one that went so far back in the past that our pioneer industries seemed as yesterday. It was the flint quarry and arrow manufacturing by the Indians. Raw material was taken from the bed of a small stream just north of the State Road and East Mahoning Avenue where the the present Alliance Clay Products Company is located.
Our County
The County from which most of Alliance was carved, was established February 13, 1808, and was organized in 1809. It was named after General Stark, an officer in the American Revolution. It was a rich agricultural county, particularly a great wheat producing territory. There was an abundance of rich mineral deposits of coal, iron ore, limestone and clay. With the Mahoning River as a water supply the future looked promising. However, the chief handicap was transportation, for the produce had to be carried over land to Massillon and then shipped on the Tuscarawas Canal to the rivers and on to the world market.
About 1850 this particular area out of which Alliance grew was practically a primeval forest with only about two hundred inhabitants. The stories of Clayton Grant of the "Great Squirrel Hunt" of 1832 and the "Deer Hunt" of 1845 make one realize what a forest land it was, inhabited by numerous kinds of wild animals.
II
Origin of Alliance
The town of Alliance was formed by the union of Freedom, Williamsport and Liberty. Then years later, in 1889, the community of Mount Union (known as Jobs- town, named after Job Johnson, an early settler) joined Alliance.
Village of Freedom
Freedom was surveyed and the plot laid out and filed in the county recorder's office July 24, 1838. The original village included the territory between Walnut and North Union Avenues and from the river to Wayne Street. North Union Avenue was then Liberty Street. North Park Avenue was Main Street at that time. The public square may still be seen at the intersection of North Park Avenue and Keystone Street, and the village well with its stone on top is in this square. Some of the oldest homes on North Park Avenue were built in the 1830's. One of these is the Philip Sharer home. Mr. Hester, who came from Salem, built another early home and was one of the founders of the First Baptist Church in Freedom. He added lots to the village and laid out North Freedom Avenue and Hester Avenue, parallel with the new Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad. He built the first brick house in the present city of Alliance. It was known as the Hester Block and is now a four apartment house on Hester Avenue, just west of the New York Central Railroad. The clay for the bricks came from the site of the artificial lakes on the Elk Home property. Mr. Hester kept a general store in the Hester Block and his supplies came from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh via the Ohio River to Wellsville and then overland. The round trip took six weeks time.
Village of Williamsport
The early history of Williamsport is "veiled by the curtain of time" because of the loss of records. It was laid out as early as 1827 on the North side of the Mahoning River by William Teeters. He must have been a man of sterling character and vision. It was he who built the "grist and saw" mills and did the grinding for families for miles around. Previously, the early inhabitants took their grains to mills located on the Ohio River until 1820 when a mill was erected at New Lisbon, Ohio. The Mahoning River of one hundred years ago was a mighty river compared with the small stream it is today. Mrs. Fred Donaldson tells the story of Job Holloway being killed by a falling beam in the erection of a mill in Williamsport. The first settlers in 1805 were "Friends" who were dissatisfied with living in the "slave" state of Virginia. Some freed slaves also migrated with these Quakers, for the Quakers' faith was one of tolerance and sympathy for colored people. Quite a few slaves built cabins along the Mahoning River. Some of these early settlers of Williamsport came from Williams- port, Pennsylvania and were United Brethren in religion.
Community of Liberty
The Community of Liberty extended south of the present viaduct to Columbia Street and west to Liberty Street. It was settled by railroad men and their families.
12
Second Church Building - Arch and Columbia
-
I3
The Name, "Alliance," and the Railroads
This union of Freedom, Williamsport and Liberty came about by the crossing of the two systems of railroads. It was General Robinson who gave the town its present name, Alliance. It was incorporated on June 9, 1854. When the railroad lines from Cleveland to Pittsburgh and to Fort Wayne were a certainty, the far- seeing citizens such as Mathias Hester, William Aultman, Michael and John Miller, Elisha Teeters and Isaac Webb purchased land near the projected railroad.
By 1854, Alliance was bounded on the west by Union Avenue or Mount Union Street ; on the east by the railroad (only a few houses were south of Market Street) while Main Street ran through the center of town.
In the first election in Alliance in 1854, the "town-fathers" faced two important issues, the "Liquor Traffic" and the speed of the railroad trains through the city. The Railroad problem was settled by the ordinance limiting the speed to six miles an hour through the town. The second ordinance pertained to the "Liquor Traffic."
Mrs. Fred Donaldson writes in her History of Alliance, that "In 1851, the C & P Railroad was completed through Freedom. The stock subscriptions had sold at ($50.00) Fifty dollars a share, entailing a hardship on some subscribers to meet pay- ments. The first engine to come to Freedom, 'The Ravenna,' run by John Alby and fired by Benjamin McLain, was very beautiful and of attractive symmetrical design built at Taunto, Massachusetts."
Alliance Churches - Methodist
By this time the little town of Alliance had several churches. A Methodist Class was organized in the home of Michael Miller, an Albright local minister. Preaching was established in the village of Williamsport (now a part of Alliance) by 1839. This was in connection with the Salem circuit. Services were held in homes for several years until an old wheel-wright shop was obtained for this purpose. Through the efforts of Rev. S. B. Kinear, growth in membership made it urgent to erect a church. The first frame building was erected just east of North Walnut Avenue on East Perry Street in the old town of Freedom. Methodist services were held in Mount Union (or Jobstown) as early as 1832 under the leadership of Rev. Stephan Hubbard.
United Brethren
The United Brethren Church was perhaps the first denomination to erect a place of worship as early as 1840 in Williamsport. This old church stood on what was River Street near the old cemetery which still exists. Later, they built on North Freedom Avenue near Walnut Street, purchasing lots for $400 from Matthias and Susannah Hester.
Baptist
There is evidence that a small Baptist congregation worshipped in Mount Union (Jobstown to the south of Williamsport) as early as 1831.
By 1838 Matthias Hester had visions of a permanent Baptist Church building. He set aside a lot just east of 16 Vine Street. By 1842, under the leadership of
I4
Matthias Hester, Elias Ellett and Israel Bolton, the Baptist Church was built. There was a small congregation of Baptists worshipping in Mount Union. In 1855 the old Vine Street Baptist Church was out-grown and they began erecting a brick building on North Arch Street (now 230-238 North Arch Avenue). Before construction was completed, it was blown down by a wind storm. It was reroofed and a steeple was added, when a tornado completely demolished it. This sight was abandoned and another church was built at Market and Freedom, the lot being a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Teeters. It was dedicated September 20, 1857.
Roman Catholic
The Catholics had a visiting priest conduct services for them frequently, as early as 1848. The advent of the railroads through Alliance brought a number of Catholic Irish, German and French workmen who settled here between 1850 and 1854. Father Hannin purchased two lots at the southeast corner of Linden and Market (the location of the present Presbyterian Church) and built a modest frame structure dedicated in May 1862 to St. Joseph ; thus the Catholic Church was named St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Presbyterian
The Calvinists among the early settlers of Alliance were conspicuous by their absence. A strange and interesting incident occurred that brought about the founding of our church in February 1854, by Dr. Joseph Grimes. He later became the pastor from 1869 to 1885 inclusive. In his Church History, written in 1877, he related the following :
"In the spring of 1852, soon after my licensure and settlement at Salem, I was returning from Homeworth via Alliance, and purposed taking the evening train, but it had gone and I was unable to get away before mid-night. After taking supper with Colonel Sourbeck, who kept the old six-sided station house, and whose kindness then and in subsequent years I shall never forget, I walked over to the Old Sourbeck House which stood just opposite the present station house on the north side of the track, and not knowing anyone, I sat down to read the evening paper by the light of the fire in the office. A number of railroad employees came in and during their con- versation, which was often very profane, an engineer offered to bet the liquor for the company that he could swear the most wicked oath of any man in the room. The bet was soon taken by another, and after a string of horrid blasphemy, the engineer, who made the challenge, won the wager and the other paid for the treat. Soon after, the wicked wretch began to speak of the uncertainties of railroad life, and in a very serious manner remarked, 'of all men, we railroad men ought to be the most religious, for I never open a throttle without feeling that I may be blown to hell before I get home,' and in accord with his presentment, not long after, a few miles east of town, he was blown into eternity. I was the officiating minister at his funeral. It made such a deep impression on my mind, that I made a prayerful resolve that I would never rest until I had started a Presbyterian Church at Alliance, being satisfied that if such a wretch as he had conscience left that would speak for the truth and the right, all rail- road men might be reached and their souls saved with an everlasting salvation."
I5
Dr. Grimes Organizes Church (1854)
Dr. Grimes reported to Presbytery the need for a church in the Alliance area, but he received no encouragement at first. He was not to be thwarted, so he traveled about the district preaching wherever he could find some willing listeners-at Freeburg to the West, in the Mount Union hotel, at Westville in an old carpenter shop lit by a single tallow candle, at Beloit and soon after in an old log cabin in the woods along the railroad almost within sight of Alliance. The minutes of the New Lisbon Pres- bytery of June 15, 1853, read as follows: "The Committee appointed at our last meeting to visit Alliance and vicinity, reported :- their report was accepted, adopted and is as follows, viz: That agreeably to the instructions of Presbytery they visited Alliance three different times, on each of which occasion one of their number preached : that on the second visit it was ascertained there were nineteen families in the immedi- ate neighborhood favorable to the stated preaching of the gospel there each alternate Sabbath :- and that a committee of the persons then present were appointed to ascer- tain what could be raised for this object, reported that they had succeeded in raising between forty and fifty dollars for three months. Mr. James Pryse was appointed supply until their next stated meeting."
Finally, the patience of Dr. Grimes was rewarded. On the second day of Feb- ruary 1854, after a brief meeting in the home of Mr. Ely, Rev. Robert Dickson, Elder James Beer of Middle Sandy (near Homeworth) and Dr. Grimes proceeded to the old Baptist Church in Freedom, where they organized the First Presbyterian Church in Alliance with nine members. These members were Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Lee (grandparents of Miss Eva Lee, a retired Alliance teacher and Helen Lee Dixson of this city), Miss Rachel Lee, Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson and Mrs. Mary Hawkins, on examination; and Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Elder, Mrs. Margaret Transue (mother of the late Frank Transue who made a substantial contribution in her memory) and Mr. Solomon Shaffer, on certificate. Mr. Lee and Mr. Elder were elected, ordained and installed as ruling elders. These were trying days for the young pioneer church. "Life in the community was hard with few comforts and none of the attractions which are considered necessities today." We are told there were few of genuine Presbyterian stock here, out of which to build a church.
Rev. Robert McCollough was secured to preach as a stated supply. He was a spiritual man, "but in no way qualified for the work of building up a new organi- zation." He seems to have been suffering from tuberculosis and after six months left the field overwhelmed with despondency and soon died. The church services were held in the attic room of the Ely block on Main Street, two blocks east of the present public square.
Dr. Grimes writes, "Fourteen months after the organization of the church it had neither minister nor elders, and when the last elder was leaving he said it was entirely vain to try to build up a Presbyterian Church in such a community, for there was no Presbyterian element to work upon." Yet Dr. Grimes goes on to add, "But he was blind to the fact that God's kingdom is gathered by aggressive warfare upon the world; from the unpolished stones in the quarries, God is able to raise up and build a glorious temple."
I6
Third Church Building - Market and Linden
الريدم
17
Not all the blame should fall on the little pioneer church. Presbytery somewhat forgot her youngest offspring. Dr. Grimes says, "The Presbytery did not do its duty in fostering the child of their creation, but seemingly left it to the tender mercies of God, without very much care or concern for its life."
It was realized that the young church needed a fearless and experienced leader, whose faith would be strong and unwavering. Dr. Grimes writes of the ridicule and persecution that the young church suffered. He says, "The little church had to encounter the odium cast upon her fundamental doctrines by ignorant, unreasonable and malicious caricaturists for many years after its organization. The nominal Chris- tians of the community, the Armenian and Hickory Quaker element, were ever ready to repeat the impudent and often refuted slander, that the Presbyterian Church be- lieved and taught the doctrines of Fatalism, the damnation of infants and approved of the persecution and murder of heretics. The reproach of the cross in the Presbyterian Church was then more than a name. Only eight years ago, a young man of some in- telligence objected to a public profession of religion in the Presbyterian Church be- cause the public prejudice against her doctrines would debar him from fashionable society."
After the resignation of Mr. McCollough, there was a period of about two years when the Church's future appeared discouraging.
Rev. A. B. Maxwell (1856-1858)
It was in this critical time that Dr. Grimes encouraged his Seminary classmate, Rev. A. B. Maxwell, to accept the challenge of this struggling church. He arrived for his new work April 12, 1856. That night, Alliance experienced a memorable tornado which completely destroyed the new Baptist Church along with many other buildings. The Ely Block was unroofed. It was in the attic room of the Ely Block that the Presbyterian congregation had been meeting. On Mr. Maxwell's first Sab- bath at Alliance, he held his service in the Methodist Episcopal Church with only six in his audience. Mr. Maxwell remained until June 1856. The picture of the Pres- byterian Church looked most hopeless. It was at this period that Christian Kramer, a man of the world, came unasked and offered a liberal contribution to aid the church. This seemed to be a turning point. The circulation of subscription sheets brought pledges for funds to support Presbyterian preaching in Alliance, a sermon every Sab- bath for a year. It was a victory, with $197.75 pledged and the full amount paid. This gave the members courage to request help from Presbytery.
The Presbytery responded with funds from the Board of Missions. Mr. Maxwell returned as a "Domestic Missionary" in 1857 and remained until October 1858. He must have had great courage. The membership increased to thirty-one and the church made its first recorded gift to benevolences. Gifts to congregational expenses had increased to $225.00. Dr. Grimes says of Mr. Maxwell's ministry, "It was an incalculable blessing to the church for although he is not what is termed a brilliant or eloquent preacher, he is an eminent pastor full of spirit, strong in faith and abound- ing labours of love. He was the man for the place at the time and God honored his ministrations with unmistakable blessings."
18
They worshiped in the new Baptist Church on Freedom Avenue for about a year, holding their services at 2:00 P. M. It was in the fall of 1857 on a Communion Sab- bath, that the Baptist's Communion service lasted until 3:00 P. M. The Presby- terians, including their minister, were not permitted to join the Baptists in the cele- bration of the Lord's Supper. Dr. Grimes says, "This raised the blood of the Pres- byterians." The next day, Mr. P. B. Garland held a conference with the Presby- terians and proposed that they build their own church. He promised he would build a house which would be ready for occupancy by October first if they would raise $800. In a matter of a few weeks, the contract was granted for $1200.00. On the last Thursday of October, 1858, the building was dedicated to God with Dr. Elliott of Western Theological Seminary preaching the sermon. Mr. Maxwell's connection with this church ended in 1858.
A Procession of Preachers (1859-1869)
While the young church had secured its first building under the able leadership of Mr. Maxwell, its struggle for existence was not yet won. The small group of members had trouble in securing and retaining ministers. Mr. Maxwell was fol- lowed by the Rev. Mr. Speer in 1858. Mr. Speer remained only nine months and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Livingstone. Mr. Livingstone soon left, however, and various members of the Presbytery supplied the church until the fall of 1861, when Rev. William McKay was called. His pastorate was short-lived and he was soon succeeded by Rev. David M. Miller in 1862. Mr. Miller preached every fourth Sabbath, until he was called for half time in March, 1862, giving the other half of his time to the Bethesda Church near Hanoverton. From June 1865 to April 1867, Mr. Miller gave his full time to the church in Alliance. When his pastorate closed in April 1867, he had added one hundred thirty seven members to the church roll. In December 1867, Rev. Daniel W. Townsend was called. His labors were blessed, but he remained with the church only until July 1869. In the ten year period from 1859 to 1869 the church had five ministers. No church could thrive with such a pro- cession of preachers !
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.