20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 54

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 54

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).

The church has paid off all of its old in- debtedness of $5,000, except $800, due the Congregational Church Building Society.

CONGREGATIONALISTS.

The next denomination to be noted in our general order is that of the Congrega- tionalists. In 1849 a few persons, mostly from the First Presbyterian Church, after many previons consultations, met at the home of Mr. Henry E. Smith on Wednes- day evening, February 28, 1850, and re- solved that it was expedient to organize a new church, to be called the First Orthodox Congregational Church of Springfield. Ohio. Within a few weeks they secured the services of Rev. J. C. White, a man of fine talents and deep piety, who was their first pastor. He re- mained with them till October, 1854. On

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the 27th of April following, an ecclesi- convenient, in all its appointments, of any astical council was called, and the church in Springfield.

was formally organized on the next day.

Early in 1851 a good, eligible lot had been dedicated to the church by W. M. Spencer, the same as now occupied by it, and upon this was erected a building at a cost of $3,700. The basement of this new edifice was first occupied October 31, 1851, the congregation having for a while held their meetings in the City Hall. The church was dedicated April 28, 1853, by Rev. Mr. Boynton, of Cincinnati.

The entire debt of $3,500 was canceled in July, 1856. This was done during the pastorate of Rev. Hugh MeLead, who served as pastor from May, 1855, to De- cember, 1857. His successor, Rev. Ed- ward Roote, served from October, 1859, to 1865. Rev. A. Hastings Ross then served from February, 1866, to January, 1873. During this time the building was remod- eled and in various ways improved, at an expense of $3,000.

Rev. E. A. Steiner, Ph. D., a scholarly gentleman, a native of Austria, but more recently from St. Paul, Minn., was called as pastor in April, 1896, and served until December, 1898. Rev .- C. H. Small he- came pastor in April, 1899, and served until May, 1904. Upon his resignation he became state superintendent of the Ohio Home Missionary Society. Rev. Henry A. Atkinson, the present pastor, was called to the pastorate in .June and began his ministry here in September, 1904. In the latter part of December, 1902, the church was burned. At once a movement was started looking to the re- building. The next summer the new building was dedicated, Dr. Washington Gladden preaching the dedicatory ser- mon. The church is steadily growing in influence and numbers. The membership has reached the four hundred mark. An increased activity is manifest in the Sun- day-school, Christian Endeavor, Men's Club and women's organizations. The small debt still remaining on the church building has been practically all provided for by the able efforts of the trustees.

The subsequent pastors, with their terms of services, were as follows: Rev. Joseph L. Bennett, from April, 1873, to December, 1874; Rev. William H. War- ren, from September, 1875, to February 22, 1887, at which time the church, which During the fifty-seven and a half years of the church's history there have been ten pastors, the average length of each pastorate being ten years and nine months. began with thirty-nine persons, had ac- quired a membership of 350. On March 25, 1887, Rev. S. P. Dunlap, of Hannibal Mo., was called to the pastorate, and was installed on April 21st, following. Mr. Dunlap served until August, 1895, a JEWISH CONGREGATIONS. period of eight years and five months. During this pastorate, besides the addi- The Jewish Congregation, or Oher Zednkah, was organized November 25. 1865, with about twelve male members, and worshiped in the Follrath Building. tion of many good, strong and earnest persons to their membership, was the building and equipment of their present fine edifice, one of the most tasteful and on West Main Street, and after two or

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three removals, finally occupied their janitor and incidentals. There are now about forty male members.

present position in the Jolmson Building, on West Main Street. The growth of the congregation has been quite slow. Quite a number of Russian Jews arrived here in the early seventies, but finding this con- gregation "too advanced" they organized themselves into what is called the Old Orthodox Congregation, and they now worship in King's Building, on Limestone Street.

The old Ohev Zednkah Congregation now have a male membership of abont thirty-two, and an organized Sunday- school with about twenty attendants. They employ no regular minister, but have divine services every Friday even- ing and Saturday morning, and also on holidays, led by L. Weixelbaum. They also have semi-monthly preaching by a rabbi from Dayton, Ohio. The Sabbath school is conducted by Misses Birdie Sehoental and Dora Levy. The present officers of the congregation are. M. M. Kauffman, president; A. Aron, vice presi- dent, and M. D. Levy, secretary. Among the prominent leaders of this congrega- tion in the past have been Rabbis Myers, Stronse. Freedman, Greenbaum and oth- ers.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.

In August, 1878, a series of tent meet- ings was held by the Seventh-Day Ad- ventist people, under the charge of Elders Wagner and Stone, at the close of which fifteen or sixteen persons formed a so- ciety for the purpose of keeping up reg- ular worship, and they generally met in private houses. On the 11th of December, 1878. was effected an organization of the Seventh-Day Adventists of Springfield, with a membership of sixteen persons. They held their meetings for a while at Allen's Hall. on Miami Street, then at No. 2514 East Main Street.

The above organization has continued until the present time. They now occupy a church of their own near the corner of Clay and Catherine Streets, in the south- east part of the city. From October 2nd, 1881, to June 23d, 1888, they met for worship in the Roth Building, 271% West Main Street. June 23d, 1888, they re- moved to a hall in George Krapp's Build- ing, corner of Plum and Main. March 1, 1894. they rented and occupied the Trinity Baptist Church at a rental of ten dollars per month, located near the corner of Mul- berry and South Limestone Streets, until its sale to Mr. Rogers, the present or- cupant, in October, 1903, which was done November 9th, 1903, on the time specified.

During the last five years the members have worshiped in the Union Hall. on Fountain Avenue. The want of a syna- gogue is greatly felt by this struggling congregation, but means are lacking for the accomplisInnent of that purpose, al- though the Ladies' Auxiliary Society of At this junetnre, with cold weather staring them in the face, and every hall in the city occupied to its fullest capacity, the Salvation Army granted them the temporary use, at a normal rent, of their the congregation is working very hard to raise the money by fairs and sociables; but this will take years. The member- ship is not wealthy and the income and ex- penditures are each about $700 for rent, hall, on the corner of Columbia and Fish-

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er Streets, until other arrangements could be made.

"Few in number as we were (about thirty or forty), with more women than men, all dependent on their daily labor for support, what could we do! As noth- ing suitable could be found for rent, we were forced to the one conclusion-that was, arise and build. In our extremity all sought the Lord most earnestly for His guidance. Money was soon collected to purchase the lot. Work was com- menced and money brought in sufficient to meet each and every bill when presented. Although somewhat delayed by the cold, vigorous winter, yet with the blessing of God a modest little church 28x46 was completed and dedicated to God's service free of debt June 26th, 1904." Elder .J. G. Wood is now pastor.

CHRISTADELPHIANS.

The Christadelphian Society was formed in 1868, with a membership of about thirty persons. They met in vari- ous places, mostly in private houses, until they finally selected Central Hall, on the corner of Main and Center Streets. They have no regular pastors, but all are free to preach, pray, exhort or sing as they feel inclined, on occasions of public wor- ship. The principal leader of this little congregation for many years was Dr. William H. Reeves, then an active practi- tioner of medicine in this city. These people laid great stress upon the literal second coming of Christ to this earth in order to establish a physical, as well as moral and religions government, and that not many, if any, outside of their order of faith, will ever be raised in the resurrec-

tion of the dead. Owing to divisions among them, the number of persons be- longing to this society is less now than formerly. They have never had a church building of their own, but their meetings have been kept up at irregular intervals to the present time.

GRACE REFORMED CHURCH.

Among our most lately developed re- ligious organizations must be reckoned the Grace Reformed Church, which was formed in Temperance Hall, on West High Street, November 19, 1895, with forty-six charter members, including, among oth- ers, Alexander Baker, Mrs. Susan Printz, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith, Sarah Dar- ner, David Garlinger, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Smith, Louisa Hardcastle, Harry Hard- castle, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Pemberton. They worshiped in Temperance Hall until November, 1896, when the old Trinity Baptist Building on the corner of Lime- stone and Mulberry Streets, was rented and used until December, 1898, when the present building on Plum Street was ready for use. This structure cost about $5,000, and was dedicated October 1. 1899, with all the money to pay for it amply provided for. The sermon for the occa- sion was preached by the general mission- ary superintendent, Rev. D. S. Fouse, of Lisbon, Iowa. Others who took part in the week's special services were Rev. J. W. Burghalter, of Dayton, Ohio; Rev. J. W. Bechtel, of Northampton, Ohio; Rev. H. S. Goekler, of Xenia, and Rev. C. E. Miller, of Dayton, Ohio.

Rev. J. C. Horning, then Sunday-school missionary, started the work at first, and remained with it until the final organiza-

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tion in November, 1895. Rev. S. B. Yock- It is constructed of cement blocks and ey, D. D., served as supply from the last- contains a large auditorium, handsome vestibule, and when completed will have a large and commodious basement. The structure will be heated with a furnace. named date until May, 1896; then Rev. Mr. Horning again supplied from the last date until September 1, 1896, when Rev. R. F. Shultz was commissioned by the General Board of Home Missions, to take YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. charge of the church, and served until Besides the religious work accomplished by the various churches mentioned in the foregoing pages, much good has also been done in a similar line, especially of late years, by Christian Associations, Epworth Leagues, Christian Endeavor Societies, most of which have been intimately, if not organically, connected with those churches. 1906. F. W. Hoffman is the present pas- tor. The church has now a membership of over one hundred persons. There are enrolled in the Sunday-school, including officers, teachers and scholars, 147. This is the third effort to establish a Reformed Church in this city, and seems to have been successful from the start. The organiza- tion is now thoroughly established, with a property worth at least $8,000, and all paid for.

CHURCH OF LIVING GOD.

Impressive services were held for the first time in the Church of the Living God, a new church edifice almost completed in Maiden Lane by the congregation known as the Saints, on October 27, 1907.

Rev. George Lorton is pastor of the new church. He was assisted in the serv- ices on Sunday morning by Andrew J. Byers, a prominent member of the con- gregation. The Saints do not hold regu- lar dedicatory exercises as is the custom with most churches when completing a new church edifice. When the work of building commences the Saints dedicate their structure to the living God, and this serves as the dedication. The congre- gation is composed of about ninety mem- bers, having been started in this city about five years ago.

The new church was erected at a cost of $3,000, and is very plain yet substantial.

In August, 1854, but little more than ten years after George Williams led in form- ing the London (Eng.) Association, and less than three years after Montreal or- ganized one, Springfield, Ohio, joined this lay movement. Colonel E. M. Doty was the first President. Our Civil War was the occasion of merging many of these associations into the Christian Commis- sion Work of the army, and thus was ter- minated their careers as separate bodies.

The reorganization was effected at the High Street Methodist Church in the year 1868, when Dr. Isaac Kay was elected President, and in a year or two was suc- ceeded by Mr. E. W. Mullikin, and who in turn was succeeded by Prof. B. F. Prince.

During this period the special outside work of the Association was to hold serv- ices at the jail and station house at stated times, and to secure public meetings in the summer months on Sunday afternoons in some one of the groves which at that day were found in the city. For three successive winters fine lecture courses

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were offered. Among those who appeared was the industrious and efficient General as speakers were John B. Gough, Wen- dell Phillips, Frederick Douglass, Rev. Stephen Tyng, Jr., George Kennan, Charles F. Hall, the Arctic explorer, and others of much reputation. There being no general Public Library in the city then, the Association made a collection of books, containing more than eighteen hundred volumes.

In 1872, the Association being pressed for funds, decided to relinquish its work. Its indebtedness, $300, was assumed by the Board of the new Public Library, or- ganized that year, and to which Board the cases and books of the Association were assigned, the collection becoming the basis of our present magnificent Library.

In 1879 another organization for young men was formed. From this time until 1886 some important work was done by the Association, but owing to the differ- ence of opinion as to what the real work of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion ought to be, and also to the compara- tively limited amount of financial support received, but little advance was made toward the last in furtherance of its high purpose. Messrs. Rev. Hastings, J. S. Crowell, E. M. Doty and Dr. Thomas King were among the prominent leaders for some years.

On December 22, 1887, under advice of S. D. Gordon, Secretary of the State Com- mittee, enlarged plans were adopted for a four-fold work, $6,500 were raised, and thus a new period began in the history of the Association. Messrs. George H. Frey. H. S. Bradley, D. Q. Fox, T. J. Kirkpat- rick, Dr. J. H. Rodgers and Border Bow- man, successively have been President. and for most of this time, W. J. Fraser

Secretary. In 1892 the number of mem- bers reached 1,001. In 1895 the young men, themselves, gave $5,000 toward the purchase of a lot. In 1897 citizens com- pleted the purchase of the lot, raising $12,000. In 1899 another fund, $55,000. was pledged for the building, Ross Mitch- ell giving $5,(00; Governor A. S. Bushnell $10,000, and F. S. Kelly $10,000. Over 600 persons contributed the balance.

Dr. J. H. Rodgers, Robert Johnson, John Foos, Charles H. Pierce, R. Q. King. F. E. Snypp and W. S. Frazer constituted the Building Committee.

The Board of Directors at this time are J. H. Rodgers, J. S. Crowell, T. J. Kirkpatrick, O. F. Hypes, H. S. Bradley, Jas. A. Myers, Geo. K. Sharpe, D. Q. Fox. James Carson and Wm. M. Rockel.

In September, 1900, a fine four-story building costing approximately $75,000 was completed and appropriately dedi- cated, the Association taking a standing in the city never before occupied.

February, 1903, the building caught fire at the burning of Black's Opera House and was nearly destroyed. Unfortunately the insurance only partially covered the loss. Rebuilding operations were started after some delay and completed two years later.

W. J. Fraser, for fourteen years gen- eral secretary, whose health continued bad, was compelled to resign.

The Association from 1907 has been prospered, gaining in the respect of the community by its common-sense consist- ent work among the young men under the splendid leadership of Border Bowman as president.

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A. E. Flint is the present able and effi- CENTRAL YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSO- cient secretary. CIATION.

The widow and heirs, in recognition of a desire of the late Amaziah Winger, have directed the executor to pay to the Asso- ciation the sum of $10,000, and an effort is now being made which promises to be successful in lifting the entire indebted- ness. The property is worth from $75,000 to $100,000.

YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

The Young Women's Christian Associa- tion was organized in 1896, and it was an outgrowth of work commenced several years before, known as the Deaconess Home. The workings of this association are very closely connected with Clark's Memorial Home.

The regular work of this association was commenced in a house on the corner of Columbia Street and North Fountain Avenue. It was afterwards removed to Jefferson Street in what was formerly known as the Dr. J. Edgar Baker prop- erty. Some three or four years ago the association purchased the old Volney A. Farr property, from his son-in-law, Aaron Trout, adjoining the First Lutheran Church on East High Street. This is a large and commodious building, well situ- ated for the work. Afterwards a substan- tial gymnasium building was erected in the rear. Recently Mrs. Winger, the widow of Captain Amaziah Winger, gave a very substantial donation, she having al- ways been very much interested in its wel- fare. Mrs. Mary G., Keith is superinten- tary for a number of years. dent.

The Central Y. M. C. A. is devoted to the colored people. Some ten years ago the need of such an institution was brought prominently before our people by some of our more progressive colored people, and the property was purchased from Mr. Ed. Simpson on South Center Street for $4,000. The payment for this home was guaranteed by Hannable Ham- lin, Amaziah Winger, Richard Rodgers, E. S. Kelly, R. Q. King, Charles H. Pierce, Wmn. M. Rockel, and others.

This indebtedness was carried on for a number of years. Substantial donations were received from Mr. E. S. Kelly, Rich- ard H. Rodgers, and others and upon the death of Mr. Winger, $1,000 was received from his estate, until the indebtedness is now reduced to $800. Substantial im- provements have been made in this prop- erty and many worthy young colored peo- ple have taken a commendable interest in its welfare.

It has been considerable of a struggle, but as the property is now almost paid for and that burden is off of them, it is rea- sonable to hope that the institution will be kept up in the future. Considering our large colored population, perhaps there is no institution in the city that deserves more encouragement, or from which great- er substantial benefit could be derived in the way of increasing the general wel- fare of our city. Mr. William H. Jack- son has been the efficient and clever secre-

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CHAPTER XX.

BENCH AND BAR .*

Early Courts-Common Pleas-Common Pleas Judges-William A. Rodgers-Will- iam White-James S. Good-Charles R. White- F. M. Hagan-John C. Mil- ler-Jacob Kreider Mower-A. H. Kunkle-Probate Court Judges-Circuit Court Judges-Police Court Judges-Early Lawyers-Members in 1852- Samson Mason-Charles Anthony-Samuel Shellabarger-George Spence -Samuel A. Bowman-Members 1864-Members 1881-Sometime Members -Gen'l Keifer-A. P. Linn Cochran-Bar Association-Library-Members 1908.

A distinguished lawyer, and a great ever had within its limits an abler and statesman, who left the impression of his better bar than the State of Ohio." very great intellect in the Senate of the Having heard this great encomium on the bar of our state, it would be supreme arrogance in me to claim for the bar of the City of Springfield, that it was the equal or the greatest in the State of Ohio. I can say, however, that, taking into con- sideration the date of the city's organiza- tion, its population, and the character of its industries, that the bar of the City of Springfield and the County of Clark, com- pares favorably with any other city or county of the state, And in point of in- tegrity, honor, and high character of its members, and general standing in the community, it acknowledges a superior nowhere on the face of the earth. United States and on the bench of our Su preme Court, Allen G. Thurman, once said: "That without any boasting, and without any disposition to brag or boast, it is and has been for a great while my firm belief that, great as has been the bar of other states, there is no state in the Union that has had a bar of greater men than have appeared in the State of Ohio. That is my firm belief. I do not forget the great lawyers of Massachusetts, of Connecticut, of New York, of Pennsyl- vania, of Maryland, of Virginia, and of Kentucky. I do not forget any of them. Many of them I have seen and heard with great delight and with great instruction. And yet, I repeat the opinion I have had EARLY COURTS. for many long years, that no state has

There is no record that anyone with- in the confines of our city or county lim-

*From a paper read by the editor at the Springfield Centennial, corrected to date.

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its was ever questioned before a court organized under territorial laws. Under the constitution of 1802, it was provided that there should be a Supreme Court of three or five judges, who were required to hold court once a year in each county in the state. This court had original and appellate jurisdiction, both at com- mon law and in chancery. By the rapid increase of population in the state, this court was soon greatly overtaxed; allow- ing the judges thirty days for court in bank at Columbus and one day for travel from one county to the other, making no allowance for sickness of the judges or any respite from labor, they had an aver- age of less than seven and one-half days for the annual business of each county. The records, however, disclose the fact that the cases were carefully considered, and the occupants of the bench were men of very great ability. The first session of the Supreme Court that was held in the City of Springfield was in 1805, the judges being Samuel Huntington, Chief Justice; and William Sprigg and Daniel Symmes. Associates. At this session three men were tried for shooting an Indian, whose name was Kanawa-Tuckow. The accused were Isaac Broken, Archibald Dowen and Robert Rennick, who were acquitted. This was before the organization of our county. The first session of the Supreme Court that was held in our county began on July 10, 1819. Hon. Calvin Pease was the Chief Judge, and Hon. John MeLean was associated with him. Of this first Chief Justice who graced the bench of our county, Judge Thurman once said, "That he was one of the finest specimens of manhood that I ever saw, dressed in a way that would make a dude faint, the most

perfect dress I ever saw on a man, and the nicest ruffles to his shirt bosom, look- ing the very bean ideal of a gentleman of the olden times."

The other member of that court, John McLean, thought so much of his profes- sion as to decline a candidacy for the United States Senate, when his election was reasonably assured. He afterward became a member of the Supreme Court of the United States, and served with dis- tinguished ability for a period of thirty- two years. From this time on, until the constitution of 1852, the Supreme Court, with some of its members, gave an annual hearing to causes in the County of Clark and in the City of Springfield.

COMMON PLEAS COURT.

The Common Pleas Court, as organized by the constitution of 1802, consisted of three members, a presiding judge, and two associates. They were appointed by joint ballot of both houses of the General As- sembly, and held their offices for the term of seven years, "if so long they behaved well." The state was divided into dis- triets or circuits. At first there were but three circuits in the state-these were aft- erward increased from time to time as business demanded, The composition of this court was very often criticised, and sometimes spoken of as a court of one hundred judges, that is, one judge and two ciphers. In jury cases, undoubtedly the associate judges, who were not men skilled in the law, were practically ciphers, but in the trial of causes to the court they brought to the aid of the presiding judge good common sense and business knowl- edge which was often an invaluable assist-

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 54

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