20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 51

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 51

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 (link on the Part 1 page).

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bert Allen. Stanley De Long, and seventy- the ones already mentioned, so far as pos- two others were charter members. The sible, from the most accessible records, pastors were as follows, each term begin- ning in September: Revs. B. F. Jackson, 1887; G. L. Tuft, 1887-88; W. I. Fee, 1890- 91; A. C. Turrell, 1892-93; W. G. Warner, 1893-94; David Herr, 1895-96; E. M. Ells- worth, 1897-98-99; JJ. L. Duckwall, from September, 1900, to 1906. when Alfred White became the pastor.

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

What is now known as the North Street African Methodist Episcopal Church was, according to the most reliable tradition, organized abont the year 1824. Even be- fore that time a few Christian colored people, most of whom had once been slaves, were in the habit of gathering in their humble cabins, or barns, and holding religious services, Their first church building, one at first used as a school- honse, stood on the site of what was later known as the Bacon property, on East Main Street. Then they purchased a little stone elmrch. on Limestone Street, near the creek. As the society continued to grow in munbers and means, it bought a small brick edifice formerly belonging to the St. John Lutheran folks, located on East North Street, where their present church now stands, for the sum of $800. On September 28, 1874, the body was legal- ly incorporated, and preparations were commeneed for building their present large brick edifice, which was completed during the year 1876, at a cost of ahont $12.000. Among the earliest preachers were the Revs. Thomas Lawrence, Fayette Davis, and Mr. Kingman. We have se. cured the following list of pastors besides

since 1879. their terms of service com- meneing and ending in October of the respective years: Rev. J. W. Gazaway was pastor from 1880 to 1882; Rev. J. H. Jackson, from 1892 to 1884; O. P. Ross, from 1883 to 1884; W. T. Maxwell. from 1887 to 1889; Robert Johnson, from 1889 to 1890; R. C. Ransom, from 1890 10 1893; G. A. Collins, from 1893 to 1896; W. H. Coston, from 1896 to 1897; William J. Johnson, from 1897 to 1899, and from October, 1899, to this time, Rev. J. S. Ferguson. The present membership of this church is 400, and the number of Sm- day-school pupils is 125; teachers, 11, and officers, 10.

Pastors: From 1899 to 1901, Rev. J. S. Ferguson; from 1901 to 1902, Rev. B. W. Arnett, Jr .; from 1902 to 1904, Rev. John Dickerson: from 1904 to 1905, Rev. T. W. Woodson ; from 1905 to the present. Rev. Gen. W. Maxwell.

WILEY AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH-CENTER STREET.

This church was organized May 5, 1867, hy nine persons coming from the old North Street A. M. E. Church, but under the auspices of the Cincinnati, or White. conference.

June 1st, 1867, Wm. Chinn. J. J. Whet- self, and Sammel Dudley were constituted a committee to "look for a lot and re- port at the next meeting" and in a week after, this committee reported that a lot could be had on South Center Street for $300, $50 cash and the rest in payments. The report was favorably received and the let was purchased. The sisters furnished

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the first money raised for that purpose, which was $46.50. The present site was the lot secured.

Since the organization of the church the following pastors have served this charge: 1st. Rev. P. Fullman, five months. Rev. Scott Ward, five months and church built. Rev. Samuel Davage, three years; membership increased to seventy full members and twelve probationers, and sixty in the Sunday-school. Rev. H. Butler, six months. Rev. John Downs and Rev. Anstin, fourteen months. Rev. W. C. Echols, three months. Rev. H. W. Johnson, six months. Rev. A. Price, six months. Rev. A. W. Hargrave, one year. Kev. Scott Ward one year. Rev. Arthur Johnson, one year; membership increased to 100 fall members and ten probationers. Rev. M. MeCoomer, one year ; membership increased to 180 full members and eight- een probationers. The Sunday-school nmnbered eighty. Rev. T. M. Thompkins, one year, Rev. Chas. Jones, one year. Rev. J. W. Moreland, one year. Church remodeled and reopened and name changed from Asbury to Wiley M. E. Church. Rev. Henry ('ardozo, six months. Rev. W. S. Lankford, six months; par- sonage built, Rev. Henry W. Tate, three years ; enrolled at beginning of term, 121, enlarged to 178. Rev. G. W. Ziegler, two years; church debt cancelled. Rev. G. A. Sissle, one year. Rev. W. A. White, two years. Rev. Joseph Courtney, one year. Rev. W. B. Harris, two years. Rev, N. HI. Tolbert. five years. Rev. W. M. Lang- ford, two years ; foundation laid for a new church. Rev. T. L. Ferguson, fonr and one-half years; membership increased to 400 and the present edifice erected. In all twenty seven pastors.

The Presiding Ellers who served dur- ing these years were : Rev. Wm. C. Echols, Rev. W. L. Mnir, one and n half years. Rev. Marshall W. Taylor, D. D., four und a half years and elected editor of South- western Christian Advocate. Rev. Joseph Courtney. four years. Rev. E. W. S. Hammond, elected editor of Southwestern Christian Advocate. Rev. M. S. Johnson,. five years Rev. T. L. Ferguson, six years. Rev. H. W. Sinnnons, two years. Rev. Elam A. White, onr present Presid- ing Elder. .

Wiley M. E. Church has a hopeful future and under the present officers hope to make these years following some of the most successful in the history of the church.

ALLEN CHAPEL A. M. E. CHURCH.

This church, located on the corner of Boler and Clifton Streets, was organized in May, 1881. The opening sermon was preached by Rev. B. F. Lee, then Presi- dent of Wilberforce College, now Bishop. There were seven charter members, and the following is a list of pastors since the organization: Revs. C. W. Crosby, Alex. Smith and R. G. Blunt, 1882; O. P. Ross. 1883; Jesse Henderson, 1884-85; D. Dor- sey, 1886, Rev. Joseph Artope filling out his year: Rev. W. N. Tate, 1888; Rev. C. Phelps, 1889; Rev. M. E. Davis, 1890-91- 92-93; Rev. G. W. Jackson, 1894; Rev. Jesse Smith, 1895; George Bundy, 1896; M. Mason, 1597; J. Maxwell, 1898; D. D. Lewis, 1899. Rev. Dr. A. H. Hill is the present pastor. No other statistics have been furnished the writer.

Rev. G. F. David, 1900-01: Rev. W. E. Spellman, 1902; Rev. Randall, 1903; Rev.

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J. A. Bynoe, 1904; Rev. L. V. Jones, 1905; support, and other causes, finally disband- Rev. J. T. Jordan, 1906-07.

This church is located in one of the popular sections of the city, and has a grent future. The present pastor is try- ing hard to relieve it from all of its em- barrassments and hopes in a few days to pay off its entire indebtedness.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

ed their organization, sold their property, a good, substantial brick edifice on West Pleasant Street, and the surviving mem- bership became merged into the churches of other denominations. This organiza- tion, largely made up of earnest, indus- trions, godly men and women, existed in our midst for about sixty-five years, faith- fully battling for Truth and Righteous- ness. Their existence had greatly blessed this community and the world.

The Methodist Protestant Church, lo- cated at first on North Street, afterward This church was sold in 1903 to St. John's Baptist Church (colored), the Rer. Bolling R. Reed being the pastor. on Washington Street, and finally on Pleasant Street, was organized in Jan- uary, 1829, with twenty members, Revs. 1 .. and M. Henkel taking an active part. THE CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION. There were then but three other churches in Springfield, namely, the Methodist In trying to observe as nearly as pos- sible a chronological order in regard to the origin of our local denominations, we will now go back as far as the years 1810- 11. Fonr years after the orignal organ- ization of the Methodist Church, but three years before the latter had erected their house of worship. the "Christians." then sometimes called "New Lights," put up the first house of worship ever built in Episcopal, the Presbyterian, and the Seceder. now United Presbyterian. The first pastor was Rev. A. McGuire, with Rev. Jonathan Floyd as colleague. In 1837 Rev. A. H. Bassett was pastor and also editor of the Methodist Recorder, the church paper. Rev. A. C. Barnes became pastor in 1838,39; David Croll. iu 1840; O. P. Stephens, in 1843; James Pelan, in 1844: Reuben Rose. 1848.49; W. G. Springfield. This was accomplished large- Fowler. 1849: Reuben Dalby. 1850; ly under the patronage of Mr. Griffith Foos and a few others. from Kentucky. who seem at one time to have been mem- bers of that denomination. in their former home. This house was 20x30 feet, was built of logs and situated on the west side of Mill Run a few rods west of where the Zimmerman Fountain now stands on Cen- ter Street. The subscriptions for this pioneer cimreh edifice in Springfield con- sisted in part of money. but mostly of dry goods, groceries, live stock. lumber and labor. on the part of those aiding in Charles H. Williams. 1851-52; N. S. Smith, 1553, at which time the membership was nhont one hundred. The succession was continued in the following onder, but the dates of their services have not been ae- cessible to the narrator: T. B. Graham. T. Ileard. S. S. Bartlett. J. E. Snowden. J. B. Walker, J. W. MeFarland. J. W. Ellis. J. W. Spring. W. F .. Marsh. J. M. Flood. W. R. Parsons and others. This church having become weakened by deaths. removals and lack of suficient financial

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the work. Although the building was put

for three years; and Rev. Benjamin up under the auspices of the people be- Mason, for three years. longing to the Christian denomination, as we learn, it was the understanding at the time that it was to be free for the use of all denominations. The organization, or whatever there was of it, lasted but fifteen years, and in 1825 the house was entirely abandoned for church purposes.

We do not see or hear anything more of this denomination in Springfield, until in the spring of 1881, when Elder C. J. Jones, an evangelist from Philadelphia, by way of renewing. or, rather, commenc- ing their denominational work in Spring- field, came here, and with the assistance of Rev. A. W. Coan, editor of "The Herald of Gospel Liberty," at Dayton, Ohio, began a series of meetings in Black's Opera House, which in a few months eventuated in a church organiza- tion. As a result, these Christian people, within four months, purchased a valuable lot on West High Street, between Me- chanie and Plum Streets, and built a neat, commodions chapel, capable of seating 600 persons. In this they were assisted by the liberal subscriptions of quite a number of large-hearted manufacturers and other business men. Many persons outside of the organization gave from $50 to $100) each. This new church building was dedicated to the worship of God in Decem- ber, 1882, with a membership of nearly one hundred persons.

Rev. Mr. Jones remained as pastor of this church for two years and was fol- lowed by Rev. J. M. MeWhinney, for DISCIPLES' CHURCH OF CHRIST IN SPRING- four months; Nicholas Summerbell, for FIELD. eighteen months; Byron Long, for ten months : J. F. Strait, for two years; C. W. This church was established under the Choat, for nine months; E. D. Hammond, labors of Rev. A. Campbell, of Cincinnati,

The people of this denomination dis- card all written creeds, except the Holy Scriptures, and place much stress upon the tenet, concerning the direct influence of the Holy Spirit upon the human soul, and his vital importance in the convic- tion, conversion and sanctification of mankind. About this time the minds of many citizens were somewhat con- fused in regard to the nature and status of this new Christian movement. A popular misunderstanding concerning it was all the more natural and excusable from the fact that a large religious de- nomination, churches of which are located principally in Kentucky and other por- tions of the southwest, generally calling themselves Disciples' Church, and of whom the Rev. Alexander Campbell, president of Bethany College, Virginia, was a talented and distinguished leader, have also, in many instances of late, as- sumed the Catholic name, "Christian Church." Frequent explanations of the matter became all the more necessary at the time from the fact that, during nearly the same dates as above mentioned, a church of this last-named branch of the Christian denominations was formed in this city, and known as the Disciples' Church of Christ in Springfield. Marion W. Baker has been the pastor for several years past, the church being without a regular pastor since he resigned in 1906.

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September 5, 1886. These good people finally erected a neat and commodious frame edifice on the southeast corner of Mulberry and Yellow Springs Streets, where church services and a Sunday- school are regularly maintained. This house of worship, from foundation to finish, owing to delays, required from 1892 to 1893 in building, and was dedicated in 1594, Governor Ira B. Chase, of Indiana, delivering the dedication discourse. There is a present membership of 450, and there are 350 in the Sunday-school. A complete list of pastors includes Rev. B. C. Black, who served from 1889 to 1890; E. W. Hammon, 1890-91; H. Elliott Ward, 1891- 93; Horace Sibrell, 1893-94; J. P. Childs, 1895; E. T. Hayes, 1895-97 ; J. S. Bonham, 1898-99; W. A. Harp, 1899-1907. This church has had nine regular pastors.

In 1906 the church was enlarged and remodeled and converted into a quite modern and beautiful edifice, at a cost of about $9,000. It is now a brick veneer with auditorium, lecture-room, class- rooms, kitchen, and large dining room.

Many special meetings have been held and nearly 800 have been added to the membership during the present pastorate and but for death and removals this would be one of the largest congregations in the city.

The congregation is quite thoroughly organized with splendid C. E. and Junior Endeavor, Women's Missionary Society, Men's League, five strong bands in the Ladies' Aid, Home Department and Cradle roll in the Sunday-school. The congregation is not only evangelistie but has given much attention to the care of widows and orphans.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Chronological order requires us next to notice the United Presbyterian Denomi- nation.

Says Dr. Kay, "I am indebted to my aged friend, William A. Barnett, Esq .. for the following particulars in regard to the history of the United Presbyterian Church of this city. Mr. Barnett has been an intelligent and exemplary member, and firm supporter of this church for more than half a century, and he yet lives to bless our community with his presence. From him we learn that it is difficult to give the exact date of its first organiza- tion, which was effected under the name of the Associate Reform Presbyterian Church. This society, for the first nine- teen years of its existence, was a branch of what is now the First United Presby. terian Church of Xenia, and the first min- ister was the Rev. Jolin Steele, who came from Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1817, at a salary of $500 per year for both con- gregations, preaching here one-fourth of the time, and the balance of the time in Xenia. Serving the double charge for nineteen years, his son, Rev. John Steele. Jr., says his father never missed but twice in filling his appointments here, and that was when he was sick, and during a pro- tracted illness of Mrs. Steele. Mr. Steele Jeft home on horseback early on Sabbath mornings and came to Mr. James Stewr. art's, six miles south of town for break- fast, and then came to town and preached two sermons and returned home in the evening. having had a ride of forty miles. He resigned the double charge in 1836, and retired from the ministry, after preaching forty years."

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In 1838 Rev. James F. Sawyer became the present location of the Blee Brewery. pastor, for all of the time, and about this time the society became an organized con- gregation. On account of ill health, Mr. Sawyer gave up the charge in 1848. The Rev. Robert Henry was the next pastor, from December, 1850, until June, 1853. Rev. Joseph Clokey was pastor from March 1, 1855, to March 1, 1875. Rev. Joseph Kyle became pastor January 1, 1877, and continued until July, 1891. Rev. R. H. Hume, the present ineinbent, be- enme pastor June 1, 1892.

This society was incorporated by the Legislature of Ohio, December 17, 1830. In May, 1858, the Associate Presbyterian hundred and thirty.

and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Churches united, and formed the United Presbyterian Church. The persons who were the nucleus of the congregation came from Rev. John Steele's congregation in Bourbon County, Kentucky. They were James Steele, Mr. Snodgrass, Mr. Kirk- patrie (an elder), a son-in-law of Mr. Steele, and all relatives of Rev. Mr. Steele. At a later date, James Dallas, of near U'r- bana, and his brother, who resided in Springfield, James Bogle, Richey Wisley, James Stewart, David Cowan, George Me- Cullongh, John Goudy, Robert Gondy and Anthony Byrd were added to the society. Mr. Kirkpatric, James Steele, David Hunter, James Bogle and James Dallas were the first elders. At a later date Will- ian Cowan, William Kirkpatric, William Hunter and Mr. Hume were added to the society.

Before erecting a church building, the congregation, for want of a better place, worshiped in the second story of William MeIntire's distillery, at the northeast corner of Columbia and Spring Streets,

There was no evidence of any harm aris- ing from so near contact with whiskey; the spirits upstairs did not mingle with those below.

The first house of worship was a stone building, erected in North Limestone Street, near Buck Creek, in or about 1819. The next building was erected in 1839, on Limestone Street, south of High Street, where James Carson & Company's store and the Kelly Building now stand. The present building at the corner of Mul- berry and Limestone Streets, was erected in 1886. The present membership is two

PRESBYTERIAN.

The First Presbyterian Church of Springfield was organized July 17, 1819, with a membership of twenty-seven. Four years before its formation, the Rev. Arch- ibald Steele was the regular supply, preaching once a month in such rooms as could be conveniently secured for that purpose. Mr. Steele was succeeded by the Rev. Andrew Poague, who gave his serv- ices until 1825, when the Rev. Franklin Putnam became the first regular pastor of the church. At this time the village had a population of 510; males, 285, and females, 225. In April, 1828, the Rev. William J. Frazer succeeded as supply. and during his incumbency the first church edifice was built at a cost of $600. The Rev. William Gray acted as regular supply from February 27, 1830, to Feb- runry 24, 1832. The Rev. John S. Gallo- way, who had been supply for four months, was finally ordained and installed as pastor October 4. 1832. He continued

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in this relation with marked success for ing health, Dr. Falconer resigned April nearly eighteen years, when he resigned, 13, 1891, and the Rev. A. A. Murphy, having been called, entered upon his pas- torate, September 1, 1891, and closed June 18, 1894. During his term he se- cured the help, for a season, of the cele- brated evangelist, Dr. Wilbur Chapman, with remarkably good results. April 16, 1850, and took an appointment for service, as agent, of the American Bible Society. In 1848, two years before Mr. Galloway left Springfield, the old church building was taken down, and a new one, costing $12,000, was built on the same site, corner of Main and Fisher Streets. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Phineas Gurley, then of Dayton, but afterward of Wash- ington, D. C.

The Rev. N. C. Burt, a man of eminent ability, was called as pastor, September 2, 1850, and served till June 19, 1855, when he resigned, to take charge of a church in Baltimore. After that the suc- cession of pastors and times of service were as follows: William T. Findlay, from 1855 to 1858; Sylvester F. Scovel, from 1860 to 1866; T. A. Fullerton, from 1867 to 1871, during which time $3,000 was spent in improvements upon the church building. From 1871 to 1872, the pulpit was filled by the Rev. George F. Cain; from 1872 to 1879, by the Rev. J. W. McKnight, immediately after which the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. J. B. Helwig, president of Wittenberg College, for eight months. The Rev. W. C. Fal- coner, D. D., of St. Louis, was then called, and his installation took place November 9, 1880. His period of service was the longest, except one, in the history of the church. During this pastorate the Oak- land Mission, at the East End, was mate- rially developed and put upon a perma- nent footing; many special evangelistic meetings were held and important changes made in the music in the church, and in other matters. On account of fail-

The Rev. Alexander Proudfit was called, January 9, 1894, and entered upon his gospel labors February 17th, following. Whilst this servant of God was ardently engaged in the service of his Divine Mas- ter, he was suddenly called to lay down his work and receive the reward of his earthly ministry. He died on the last Friday in March, 1897. This is the first death that has ever occurred to a pastor while in active service among this people. Dr. Proudfit's body was transferred to New Castle, Delaware, for interment. In just three weeks after this event the mor- tal remains of a former pastor, Rev. Dr. Falconer, were conveyed sorrowfully away from the church building to their final resting place in Ferncliff, our beauti- ful City of the Dead.

The Rev. John Clark Hill, D. D., of Chicago, the present pastor, was called March 2, 1898, and was installed on Wednesday, April 27th, of that same year.

During the many intervals occurring between the various pastorates, the church has been indebted to the following ministers, who had served faithfully in these contingencies, namely, the Rev. Drs. John B. Helwig, Joel Swartz, S. A. Ort and J. W. H. Stuckenberg, all of Witten- berg College; the Rev. Alexander Clark. of the Methodist Protestant Church, and others. Of those who were sent into the ministry from this church, may be men-

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ST. RAPHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Showing Ruins of Block's Opera House)

CENTER ST. M. E. CHURCH

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tioned the Rev. Washington A. Hooper, services: Rev. E. R. Bower, from May, Edwin B. Raffensperger, William H. Mc- Meen, S. M. Crothers and Gilbert L. Wilson.

During its history of eighty-eight years, this church has had twelve installed pas- tors, averaging terms of five and one-half years each, and over 1,500 persons have been received into its communion, on con- fession of faith. The Sunday school was organized on the first Sabbath in August, 1829, with eight teachers and sixty scholars, with Mr. Walcot Spencer as su- perintendent. This school has been fully and faithfully officered, and in every way maintained, for the seventy-eight years of its existence, to the present.

During Dr. Hill's pastorgte, which has now continued for nearly ten years, many thousand dollars were spent in refurnish- ing and beantifying the interior of the edifice, and the church has enjoyed re- markable prosperity in the number of ad- ditions made on confession of Christ, the average annual number being larger than for many decades. The present member- ship is five hundred and nine.

SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

1861, to July, 1867: Rev. P. H. Mowrey, from November, 1868, to September, 1873; Rev. W. H. Webb, from April 20, 1874, to February 21, 1886; Rev. George H. Fnl- lerton, from November 7, 1886, to July 1, 1891, and Rev. E. P. Thomson, from February 10, 1892 to the present. The church now has a membership of 509, and the Sabbath school, including its Mission school, 532.

THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Third Presbyterian Church was developed from a Mission Sunday school, located on the North Side, under the pat- ronage of the First and Second Presby- terian Churches, in the autumn of 1878. This church was regularly organized May 11, 1891, with 104 charter members. On this occasion Rev. George H. Fullerton, D. D., presided over the meeting, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Maurice E. Wilson, D. D., of Dayton. Ohio. The other members of the Dayton Presbytery who participated in the exercises were Rev. J. K. Gibson, D. D., of South Charleston, Ohio, and the late Rev. James L. Rodgers, of this city. The officers in- stalled and elected at the organization were as follows: Elders, Richard H. Rodgers, Edward T. Sykes and John S. Weaver; deacons, James A. Todd; James P. Morrow, A. JJ. Shanks, L. C. LeRoy and M. M. MeConkey.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 51

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993