USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > A century of church life. A history of the First Congregational church of Marietta, Ohio, with an introduction by Rev. John W. Simpson > Part 14
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
The committee appointed to prepare a plan for a meeting house, reported to the Society February 24th, 1807. There is a tradition that the Rev. Samuel P. Robbins prepared the plan which was reported and adopted. Whether this was true or not it was substantially the plan which prevailed in New England about the beginning of the present century,-a house with two stories of windows, galleries on one end and two sides, with a high pulpit in the remaining end, and square family pews. This particular building had two bell towers, from which fact it soon received the name of "The Two-Horned Church." The dimensions of the building are 48x60 feet. The scheme of ways and means reported by the committee and adopted by the Society, was as follows :
"Resolved, That the trustees of the Society shall open a sub- scription for raising a fund for the purpose of building a meet- ing house, agreeable to the plan adopted by the Society, and on the following principles :
(1) All persons disposed to encourage the undertaking may
1
155
be admitted to subscribe any sum or sums they may think prop- er, either in cash, merchandise, lumber, labor or other articles wanted for the building.
(2) All subscriptions shall be considered as advanced on loan to the Society, and shall carry interest from the time of the pay- ment of the money, the delivery of the article subscribed, or the performance of the labor, and be refunded from the money raised from the sale of pews and seats in the house when built, or other provision which may be made by the Society if neces- sary.
(3) The payment of all subscriptions shall be secured by special contract with the trustees of the Society, and on the subscribers giving said security, the trustees, in behalf of the Society, shall give their obligation for re-payment within three years from the time when the advance, either of money or other articles, is actually made.
(4) All subscriptions paid in merchandise, labor or other spec- ified articles, shall be secured and charged to the Society at cash prices.
(5) As soon as the body of the house, with the porches, bal- conies, etc., are raised and covered and the lower floor laid, the pews and seats designated for that purpose shall be offered for sale at auction to the highest bidder, provided that no pew on the lower floor under No. 78 shall be sold for a less sum than seventy dollars and no front pew on the side gallery for a less sum than sixty dollars.
Resolved, That the trustees of the Society be and they are hereby authorized to begin and proceed in the erection of a house of public worship, agreeable to the plans adopted by the Society, as soon as the subscription to the funds will in their opinion warrant the undertaking, and to enter into the neces- sary contracts for that purpose."
The original subscription paper circulated to raise this fund is still in existence, and reads as follows:
MARIETTA, Feb. 4th, 1807.
Whereas, The First Religious Society in Marietta has agreed to build a house for public worship and authorized the trustees of the Society to open a subscription for raising a fund for the purpose, we, the subscribers, severally agree to contribute to the aforesaid object, on the principles contained in the resolutions of the said Society, the amounts of money or other specified articles we have respectively annexed to our names, and en- gaging that we will as soon as may be enter into specific con- tract with the trustees for that purpose :
156
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Rufus Putnam, $400 in lumber and labor, to be furnished by August 1st, next, and $400 in cash by October next $800 00 Jabez True, $100, one-half money and the remainder in labor 100 00 Benjamin Ives Gilman, $500, payable in merchandise, labor and lumber 500 00
Ichabod Nye, $200, payable in leather, shoes and labor 200 00
William R. Putnam, $320, payable in pork 320 00
James Lincoln, $200, in merchandise. 200 00
Abner Lord, $200, in lumber and merchandise
200 00
Joshua Shipman, $100, in joiner work, to be rendered when called for 100 00
Judson Guitteau, in labor. 100 00 Christopher Burlingame, in castor, brown and felt hats, 13 each, 100 00 John Carter, in labor 15 00
Azariah Pratt, $25, in hinges for pew doors 25 00
Earl Sproat, $50, in stone work or merchandise 50 00
Jonathan Plumer, $70 in merchandise 70 00
David Putnam, $50 in cash, payable one-half in one year, the other half in eighteen months. 50 00
Whittenden McGrath, $70, in goods ..
70 00
Dudley Woodbridge, Jr., in merchandise 200 00
Skinner and Burlingame, in goods 100 00
Philip Cubbage, in lime .. 30 00
M. B. Belknap, $150, in goods. 150 00
William Skinner, $50, in goods 50 00
D. Woodbridge, in merchandise 100 00
Richard Holt, $50, in goods .. 50 00
D. Woodbridge, Jr., in merchandise 100 00
Money was not very plenty in those days, and so by a series of exchanges the workmen were paid in such articles as they needed for themselves and families, and the work went forward. The work was commenced during the summer of 1807. The house was enclosed and occupied for services in 1808. It was completed and dedicated to the worship of God, May 28th, 1809. The cost of the building up to the time of dedication was $7,349.03}. The day of dedication was long remembered by the oldest inhabitant on account of a severe storm of wind.
The following original hymn was used at the dedication :
"HYMN FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE IN MARIETTA" (MAY 28TH, 1809.) Almighty King! thou Lord of all !
Before whom angels prostrate fall ;
In regions where thy beams prevail,
Archangels there their faces veil.
From the bright realms where saints suround Thy gracious throne with rapturous sound
157
Of praise divine to Christ, the Lamb, The Spirit and the great I Am.
Vouchsafe thine ear, O gracious God ! To praise, from this terrene abode ;
For thee, a temple, lo, we raise ! And dedicate it to thy praise.
May invocation in this place Be weekly offered for thy grace ; Let no vain mortal ever dare Profane this house, the house of prayer.
Here may the gospel trumpet sound, Elate the saint, the sinner wound ;
Here may a reverend voice proclaim Salvation in our Saviour's name.
Here may the saints in sweet accord Hold a communion with their Lord ; And here let youthful voices raise A solemn anthem to his praise.
Till the foundations sink in dust, From which all nature rose at first;
Until these pillars mouldering nod, Be this a temple for our God.
O thou at whose omnific call From nothing rose this spacious ball, Let thy great name, thou Lord supreme ! When here we meet, be our sweet theme.
When the house was enclosed, the floors laid and the pews located, these pews were sold at public auction to reimburse those who had furnished money and material for the building. The work was carried on successfully and a building was erected which was a credit to the men of that time. This building still stands, in external appearance much as it was at first. It is supposed to be the oldest building now used for worship in Ohio.
Formal deeds were given for these pews and they were held as real property. The following is a copy of one of these deeds : "No. 38. The First Religious Society in Marietta, to all whom these presents shall come or in anywise concern, send greet- ing: By these presents it is certified and made known that
158
on the 13th day of June, A. D. 1808, Wm. Rufus Putnam pur- chased at public vendue the pew number thirty-eight in the house erected by the First Religious Society in Marietta for the sum of one hundred and twenty-eight dollars, and that the said Wm. Rufus Putnam has made full payment for the same.
In consideration of the premises, the said pew No. 38, situated in the meeting-house of the said First Religious Society in Ma- rietta, is hereby granted unto the said Wm. Rufus Putnam, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever, to have and to hold the same to his and their only use and benefit.
SEAL,
which is a cut of the church building.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names and prefixed the seal of said So- ciety, this 29th day of March, Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and eleven. RUFUS PUTNAM,
JUDSON GUITTEAU, Trustees."
JOSHUA SHIPMAN,
General Rufus Putnam furnished considerable money and material for the erection of the house, and at the time of his death in 1824, he owned about thirty pews. These became known as "The Putnam Trust Fund Pews." They were managed by three trustees, and the rents of the pews were used by these trustees according to the conditions of Gen. Putnam's will. Such renting of pews by others than the trustees of the Society was found to be embarrassing, and in 1864 these thirty trust pews were purchased by the Society for $600. Twenty of these pews were sold to individuals to provide the money paid to the Put- nam Trust Fund.
In 1836 the meeting house was thoroughly repaired at an ex- pense of $1768.64. In 1858, half a century after the erection, the question was raised whether the old building should be re- paired, or replaced by a new one. A committee chosen for that purpose investigated the matter and reported to the Society that the necessary repairs and alterations would cost about $5000, while a new building suitable for their use, would cost not less than $12,000. Meanwhile the question of securing the Putnam Trust pews was agitated, and the disturbed state of the country during the civil war prevented action; so that the re- pairs were not entered upon until 1865. The system of repairs extended through two seasons, and consisted of new windows
159
with inside blinds, changes in the vestibule, building a recess for the pulpit, removing the side doors to the rear of the church. The old high pulpit was removed, also the square family pews were replaced by modern seats; the galleries re-seated, the inside painted and various other repairs, costing in all $5105.46. After the completion of these repairs most of the owners of pews were prevailed upon to relinquish them to the Society, and it was voted April 25th, 1866 :
(1) "That after Jan. 1, 1867, all seats owned by the Society shall be free from rents.
(2) That all persons who shall relinquish their pews to the Society, shall be entitled to occupy them as heretofore, but no family shall have any exclusive right to any seat not occupied for the time being by members of the family.
(3) That it is the duty of the trustees to furnish seats for all who wish to worship with us, so far as possible.
(4) That the sexton and the committee appointed to seat strangers, be requested to furnish seats for families wherever they can find room, as heretofore.
(5) That we make room in our pews for families or persons, so far as we can without discommoding ourselves."
After the completion of the repairs in 1836, it was voted that the seats in the galleries belonging to the Society, should be free and assigned as follows: In the north gallery, to the faculty and students of Marietta College; in the south gallery, for gen- eral use; while the seats abutting against the east wall, were reserved for people of color, men in the north gallery and wo- men in the south. Since the seats in the body of the house be- came the property of the Society, they have always been free and the revenue has been raised by voluntary subscriptions. The year following the repairs above mentioned, a new roof was put on the building, the outside was painted, a new pulpit and communion table procured, and other improvements made at a total cost of $1013.17. In 1880 the interior was painted and frescoed, with other repairs which cost $810. In the spring of 1889 the recess in the rear of the pulpit was enlarged to make room for the organ and choir, the pulpit removed five feet near- er the pews, and seats placed in the front gallery. The cost of these changes was about $450.
No provision was made for several years for warming the
160
house, except by foot stoves for the ladies. These stoves were filled with coals brought from their homes. It was generally assumed in those days that the piety of the worshippers should be sufficiently warm to keep their bodies comfortable even in the coldest weather. We find no credible evidence that the ar- dor of piety cooled, but there is evidence that the worshippers were not always warm; and in 1822, two stoves were procured and placed in the meeting house, but, as no chimneys had been provided, the pipes after passing the length of the church under the galleries, made their exit through the rear windows. Fur- naces were put in the building in 1866, and chimneys were built. In 1826 the members of a disbanding lodge of Free Masons, many of whom belonged to the Society, donated a bell which was hung in the south tower, where it called the people to the place of worship for twenty-one years. This was finally cracked and re-placed by a bell weighing 890 pounds, purchased of A. Fulton, Esq., of Pittsburg, Pa., at a cost of $290. This bell is still in use. In 1846 the ladies purchased a pipe organ, made by Mr. L. P. Bailey, of Zanesville, Ohio, at a cost of $818.25. This organ was one of the first erected in this part of the state, and did good service for 43 years. In the spring of 1889, it was donated to the Congregational Church in Belpre, where it is now in use. At that time the Society purchased an organ of the Presbyterian Church of Mount Auburn, Ohio, at a cost of $850. The original cost was $1600. This organ was set up and put in perfect order by the original makers, Koenken & Grimm, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
At a meeting held April 11th, 1853, "a communication was presented by the ladies of the Sunday School, requesting the Society to erect a building on the church lot for the purpose of accommodating the Sunday School, and also for a lecture room for the church." Thereupon the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, viz :
"Resolved, That the trustees be authorized to erect a building for a Lecture Room in the rear of the church, not less than thirty-six feet wide and sixty feet long, whenever subscriptions sufficient to defray the expenses of said building shall be ten- dered.
Resolved, further, That the trustees be authorized to make an
161
arrangement with the Library Association to erect a building on the same locality for their joint use, if in their judgment such an arrangement will better answer the purposes contem- plated by the preceding resolution than the erection of a sepa- rate building."
The reason for the last resolution was that the church at that time occupied the hall of the Library Association for social meetings.
The trustees decided to erect this building independent of the Library Association. Some delay was experienced in procuring funds to complete this building. The first service was held in it February 7th, 1856, and it has proved of great assistance in the work of the Society. The original cost was about $1,500. It was repaired in 1880 at an expense of $375. In the summer of 1892 this building was rebuilt and enlarged and the interior entirely remodeled, making one of the most convenient Sunday School rooms in this part of the State. The expense of these changes was about $2,000. The building was re-dedicated with appropriate services, October 23d, 1892.
In 1874 the Society purchased the Gates homestead, corner of Putnam and Fourth streets, for $8,000, which is now used as a parsonage. The purchase of this property involved the Society in debt, which was somewhat increased by deficits from year to year, (a thing not peculiar to this Society,) until the indebted- ness amounted to $5,989.35. Sunday, December 1st, 1878, the people assembled for worship as usual. After the preliminary exercises the trustees made a statement of the financial condi- tion of the Society and pledges were secured amounting to $6,027.80, which was sufficient to cancel the debt.
From its origin in 1801 to the present time, this Society has been the financial or legal organization of the First Congre- tional Church, and it has always faithfully performed its work. This Society is really a relic of the old "Parish System" of New England, which has now been generally superceded by the legal incorporation of the church itself, which is now regarded by most churches as the better system, although the ""Parish Sys- tem" has some advantages, among others, persons contributing, though not members of the church, are members of the Society,
162
which increases their interest in the work of the church. The result of the union of this Society and the church has been uni- formally good. The Society has never interfered in the man- agement of spiritual matters, and has in no way lowered the doctrinal standard of the church. During the prevalence of the "Plan of Union," this Society stood firmly for the policy of the New England Fathers. After a union of 95 years neither the First Congregational Church, nor the First Religious Soci- ety, are anxious for a divorce. They have been constant help- meets in bearing the burdens imposed upon them. The Society has united with the church in extending a call to all the pas- tors. Rev. Daniel Story was pastor when the Society was or- ganized, but it soon assumed his support. The pastors who have been installed by the joint action of the church and Soci- ciety are as follows :
Rev. Samuel P. Robbins, installed January 8th, 1806,
Rev. Luther G. Bingham, installed May 3d, 1826,
Rev. Thomas Wickes, D. D., installed July 8th, 1840,
Rev. Theron H. Hawks, D. D., installed October 27th, 1869.
Rev. Cornelius E. Dickinson, D. D., installed June 19th, 1883.
Rev. Samuel P. Robbins died while in the pastoral office September 2d, 1823.
The church and Society have united in the dismissal of the following pastors :
Rev. Luther G. Bingham, dismissed October 31st, 1837.
Rev. Thomas Wickes, D. D., dismissed March 18th, 1869.
Rev. Theron H. Hawks, D. D., dismissed March 22d, 1883.
Rev. C. E. Dickinson, D. D., dismissed July 28th, 1896.
The Society united with the church in extending a call to Rev. Erastus Maltby, December 13th, 1824, and to Rev. Edwin Hall, January 13th, 1838, renewed December 10th, 1838, which calls were declined. November 19th, 1837, the church voted to extend a call to Rev. Addison Kingsbury, then of Belpre. The Society failed to concur in this vote, not on account of any dissatisfaction with the action of the church or with Mr. Kings- bury, but from sympathy with the people of Belpre, who they learned were very unwilling to give up a beloved pastor.
This is not the place to discuss the comparative merits of the
163
different systems of managing church finances, but it is evident from this account that many objections urged against the parish system do not apply to the First Religious Society in Marietta. It is not probable that during the years that this Society has existed any other system would have worked better. If the time should come when it seems best to all concerned to effect a legal incorporation of the First Congregational Church and to transfer to it the title of all the property of the Society, then the Society may be allowed to die because its mission has been accomplished. But even then we might write as its epitaph, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
CHAPTER XIII.
ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH DECEMBER 6TH, 1796.
NAME.
Church from which they came.
Daniel Story (first pastor) Boston, Mass. Ezra Putnam. Middleton, Mass.
John Pratt
Colchester, Conn.
Rufus Putnam 2d Brookfield, Mass.
Thomas Lord
3d Lyme, Conn.
Robert Oliver Chester, Mass. Benjamin Miles Rutland, Mass.
Samuel Baker Canaan in Norwalk, Conn.
Joseph Spencer
2d Lebanon, Conn.
James Pewtherer
Linlithgow, Scotland.
Abner Lord
North Lyme, Conn.
Samuel Beaumont 1st Saybrook, Conn.
Alexander Oliver
Conway, Mass.
Levi Chapman 1st Saybrook, Conn.
Israel Stone
Rutland, Mass.
Rhoda Baker Canaan in Norwalk, Conn.
Mary Oliver Chester, Mass.
Christiana Burnham
Chester, Mass.
Persis Putnam Westborough, Mass.
Middletown, Conn. Lucy Putnam
Hepsabel Pratt .Colchester, Conn.
Persis Putnam, Jr
Grace Meigs
Rutland, Mass. Middletown, Conn.
Hannah Miles
Rutland, Mass.
Polly Lord
North Lyme, Conn.
Elizabeth Starling
Lyme, Conn.
Thankful Beaumont 1st Saybrook. Conn.
Deborah Spencer 2d Lebanon, Conn.
Huldah Tupper Chesterfield, Mass.
Mary Oliver
.Conway, Mass.
Mrs. Levi Chapman
1st Saybrook, Conn.
OLD MOUND.
CHAPTER XIV.
ROLL OF MEMBERS.
NOTE .- In this table, "P" means Profession of Faith, "L" Letter, "D" Died, "Ex." Excluded, "Dp'd" Dropped. The latter were mostly erased from the roll on account of long absence. We regret that the dates in the column of removals are so incomplete, but the records of the church are imperfect in this respect and for several years this record has been lost. After diligent and protracted search we are compelled to omit many of these dates. The figures at the left indicate the order in which the names appear on the roll.
NO.
NAME.
Received.
Received.
When
Removed.
How
Removed.
When
1261
Emma L. Adams
P
1869
Dpʼd
1882
1217
Kate B. Adams
L
1866
D
1879
203
Lucy Adams
66
1820
178
Tiffany Adams
66
66
66
1822
531
Dennis Adams, Deacon 1842-1868
1837
1873
532
Jane P. Adams, wife of Dennis
799
Dennis P. Adams.
P
1845
L 1889
1123
Hamlin Adams
1841
1869
1447
Wm. W. Adams
1877
1889
1594
Mrs. D. P. Adams
L
1882
378
Sally Alcock
P
1833
1844
1167
Mrs. Sally Allcock
L
1864
D
1874
1450
Geo. W. Albright
1877
Dp'd
1892
1451
Mrs. G. W. Albright
60
66
66
417
D. Howe Allen, Professor Marietta College,
66
1834
L 1841
418
Sarah E. Allen, wife of Prof. Allen
P
1838
Ex 1851
869
E. H. Allen
P
1849
L
......
952
Elisha Allen
L
1853
D
1870
953
Elizabeth Allen, wife of Elisha
66
1859
L 1860
1327
Emma Allen
P
1872
66
1872
894
Lyman Alden
L
1850
66 1853
1862
Mrs. Lucy P. Alden
1893
636
Eliza Ann Allison
1839
L
1848
860 Harriet Atwater
P
1848
66
1850
1743
Alva Dean Alderman
1891
1809
Mrs. Lizzie Alderman, wife of A.D. Alderman
L
66
66
1836
427
Miss Joanna Allen
560
Mrs. Irene Allen
L
1882
1090
Columbia M. Allen (Mrs. Steele)
66
1857
66
... ..
How
166
282 Margaret Anderson
P
1829
D
358 Eunice Anderson.
66
1833 L 1841
424 Fidelia Jane Anderson
66
1834
D
893 Phineas Allyn
L
1850
L 1852
581 James M. Amlin
66
1839
66
1844
582 Eliza Amlin
66
621 Harriet Amlin
P
177 Abraham Andrews
1820
Dp'd 1855
311 Hannah M. Andrews
1830
......
647
Israel W. Andrews, D. D., LL. D., President Marietta College 1855-1885
L 1839
1888
648
Mrs. Sarah H. Andrews, wife of Israel W.
P
· 1841
L 1842
739
Marianne S. Andrews, wife of Israel W
L
1843
820 Samuel I. Andrews, clergyman.
L
1853
66
1865
992 Dr. T. L. Andrews.
1855
66
1863
1044 Laura A. Andrews
1856
1863
1140
Sarah Hyde Andrews, wife of Chas. Holden
P
1861
D 1880
1141
Elizabeth R. Andrews
1861
66
1868
1272 Wm. C. C. Andrews.
1869
66
1877
1571
Prof. M. R. Andrews, Deacon and Clerk
L
1879
1572
Mrs. Amanda Andrews, wife of M. R
P
1887
760 Mary Louisa Amlin
L
1859
D
1864
330
Horace Armsby
1833
L 1836
1253 Emma 1. Arnold
P 1869
L 1889
1473
Ida Dunham Arnold (Mrs. F. D. Kraft).
66
1878
446 Robert Ashbaugh
L
1834
L 1838
1083 Hannah Atkinson
1858
D
1859
942
Angelina Adams, wife of D. P. Adams
P
1852
D 1878
9 Samuel Baker
L
1796
D
......
1357
Hannah Baker
P
1872
31
Robert Baird
L
1797
L
......
115 Rufus Baird
P 1817
D
.....
402
Joseph Baird.
L
1834
L
1836
258 Martha Bailey
P
1826
1828
706
Joseph N. Banks
L
1842
..
104
Sophia Barker, wife of W. R. Browning
P 1816
L 1826
982
Joseph Barker, Jr
1855
Dp'd 1873
1744
J. Gage Barker
66
1891
1745
Frances E. Barker, wife of J. Gage Barker,
66
1746
Arthur D. Barker
66
66
1733
Fannie J. Barker
66
1890
1827
Mrs. B. Baker
L
1892
1021
Julia E. Barnes
P
1856
L 1856
1220
Julia Barnes.
L
1866
1867
1605
Rev. Jeremiah R. Barnes ...
66
1883
1606
Mrs. Caroline M. Barnes, wife of Jeremiah R.
66
66
D 1889
1740
Eliza T. Barnes, wife of Jeremiah R
L
1835
D 1855
1060
P
1857
L 1858
1376
Mrs. Anna M. Barbour
L
1874
D 1892
66
D 1886
1668 Amanda Laughlin Andrews
1843
L 1843
1096 E. E. Applegate
1472
Adelaide Harriet Arnold (Mrs. T. Greenless)
1878
851 Samuel T. Avery
66
1847
L 1849
21 Rhoda Baker
66
......
949 Catharine F. Andrews
P 1845
L
66
66
66 1840
700 E. B. Andrews.
66
486 Augustus Bardwell V. M. Barber
1890
66
167
1406 Fannie M. Barbour
P 1876
1407 Nellie Barbour (Mrs. Chas. Nickerson)
66
L 1887
1425 Lieut. John L. Barbour, U. S. Army
66
1877
345 Mary Bartlett ..
60
1833
D 1875
791 Margaret B. Bartlett
L
1845
L 1857
804 Harry Bartlett ..
P
D 1860
822 Lucy A. Bartlett (Mrs. Adams)
66
1849
D
1291 Jeremiah C. Bartlett
1869
1870
1315 Dr. J. C. Bartlett
L
1870 Dp'd 66
1877
859
Goodrich H. Barbour
1848
1852
1474 Cynthia A. Bartmess
P
1878
1154
Albert L. Baldwin
L
1862
L
1155
Caroline Baldwin
66
1840
1841
1832 Paul T. Barth
1892
66
1895
331
William H. Bay, clergyman
L
1832
Dp'd D
1882
781
Ziba N. Bay
1844
1844
1162
Martha Berry (Mrs. George Boyd)
L
1862
1825
Martha W. Berry, wife of Robert G.
66
1730
Margaret M. Berry
P
1890
1394
Mary L. Bell
L
1875
L 1880
1475
Emma D. Best.
P
1878
D
1886
1476
Mary A. Best
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.