USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 1 > Part 72
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1818-Samuel West, Henry Matthews; John Sale, Pre- siding Elder.
1819 -. Hamilton and Rossville, Samuel West; Walter Grif- fith, Presiding Elder.
1820-Henry Baker; Walter Griffith, Presiding Elder.
1821 -- John P. Durbin ; Alexander Cummins, Presiding Elder.
1822-Henry Baker; Alexander Cummins, Presiding El- der.
1823-Thomas Hitt; John Strange, Presiding Elder.
1824 -- Miami Circuit, John P. Taylor, Augustus Eddy ; John Collins, Presiding Elder.
1825-A. S. McClain, John P. Taylor.
1826-A. M. Loring; John Collins, Presiding Elder.
1827-William Simmons, D. D. Davisson ; Greenbury R. Jones; Presiding Elder.
1828 -- Hamilton, John A. Baughman ; Greenbury R. Jones, Presiding Elder.
1829-John A. Banghman ; Greenbury R. Jones, Presiding Elder.
1800 -- Robert O. Spencer; Greenbury R. Jones, Presiding Elder.
1831-G. R. Jones; J. B. Finley, Presiding Elder.
1832-William Simmons; J. B. Finley, Presiding Elder.
1833-E. Zimmerman ; T. A. Morris, Presiding Eller.
1834-J. J. Ilill, Daniel Poe; William B. Christie, Pre- siding Elder.
1835 and '1836-S. A. Latta.
1837 and 1838 -- W. D. Barnet.
1839-David Reed.
1840 and 1841 -- C. W. Swain.
1842-David Whitcomb.
1843-W. R. Anderson.
1844-A. M. Lorrain.
1845-M. Dustin.
1846 and 1847-Augustus Brown.
1818 and 1819-Augustus Eddy.
1850, 1851, and 1852 -- W. II. Lawder.
1853-W. R. Davis.
1854-J. J. Hill. 1855-Moses Smith.
1856-E. G. Nicholson. 1857, 1858, and 1859 -C. R. Loveil.
1860 -- A. Lowrey. 1861 and 1862-W. II. Lawder.
1863-Moses Smith.
1864, 1865, and 1866-J. J. Thompson.
1867 -- Charles Ferguson.
1868, 1869, and 1870 -W. I. Fco.
1871, 1872, and 1873 -D. J. Starr. 1874, 1875, and 1876 -- T. J. Harris.
1877 and 1878 -- G. II. Dart.
1879 -- Granville Moody ..
1880, 1881, and 1882 -- T. S. Cowden.
Rev. A. W. Elliott and Father Wetherby were also here as superannuated preachers, and Daniel Thompson and Mr. Van Hagen as local preachers.
In the month of March, 1833, a report was made to the society saying that a gentleman had offered to con- vey them another lot of land, west of the old one, on eon- dition that a parsonage should be erected, but as the so- ciety was about to build a new house of worship, they saw difficulties in the way. The gift, however, was ae- cepted, and efforts were made to ereet a suitable ehureh, in order to accommodate the increased number of people. A subscription paper was put into eirculation, and funds were raised sufficient to erect the building. The old meeting-house was to be turned into a parsonage. This scheme met with the approbation of the gentleman re- ferred to, John Woods, and was accordingly earried into execution. The deed was made out to Jacob Rickart, Aaron Jewel, Daniel Thompson, Thomas Sinnard, George P. Bell, Jacob Elerick, Joseph F. Randolph, Thomas Berry, and John Rinehart, and was dated February 12, 1833.
The second building, which was begun in the year 1833, a neat, substantial structure, was of brick, sixty feet long by forty-five feet wide, with a gallery, and was capable of seating from seven to eight hundred persons. Its cost was about 84,800.
The old building was cceupied as a carpenter shop by Peter Myers until the 5th of March, 1839, when both the new and the old church were burned. The shop was filled with shavings as dry as powder, and when Mr. Myers arrived there in the morning he lighted a match to make a fire in the stove. Some of the fire fell among the shav- ings, and in less than a minute the whole was in flames. He took up a board and tried to knock out the fire, but without success. as each effort he made only served to seatter the flames, so that he could hardly get out without being himself burned. The alarm was given, but as there was no engine in town no effective resistance could be offered, and the members and citizens stood helplessly by, and saw the edifice which had eost them so much labor and toil burnt to the ground. There were two ministers on the ground, the preacher in charge, the Rev. David Reed, and the Rev. James B. Finley, who was staying at Mr. Reed's house. Mr. Finley was not disposed to see the fire gain so easy a eonquest, and accordingly began throwing on water from a bucket, but soon desisted.
This calamity was most sensibly felt. The Methodists had been before the public with subscriptions for building two houses, and besides this had lost some of their best members by removal, others shortly after following. Among these were Aaron Jewell, Thomas Berry, Daniel Thompson, and David Clark, known as Jersey Clark, a great fisherman, who was always on bawl, and generally dressed in his fisher's coat.
July 1, 1839, the trustees met, and the Rev. Charles W. Swain, the stationed preacher, was chosen president
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HAMILTON.
of the board of trustees, Philip Berry being elected a member of the board.
In October, leave was asked and obtained of the com- missioners to hold public services in the court-house. Services were also held in the old Presbyterian Church in Rossville, which stood on the lot where the First Wand High School now is.
Subscriptions were taken up by the Rev. A. W. Elliott, George P. Bell, Eli Green, J. P. Moore, George . W. MeAdams, D. Davison, P. F. Cheesman, Thomas Sineard, H. Watson, the Rev. William Anderson, J. W. Davis, Philip Berry, John Rinehart, and others, and by a vigorous effort the house was raised and partly finished, so as to occupy the upper room for Church purposes, leaving the basement and gallery unfinished, in the Sum- Iner of 1840. The debt of the Church at that time was between six and seven thousand dollars. In addition to what the building would naturally have cost, there was the expense of rebuilding one of the walls, which had , been blown down by a gale of wind while the building was in process of erection. After this was paid the Church went on with its repairs, alterations, and improve- ments, until it was nearly finished. In June, 1868, the trustees resolved to remodel the walls inside, and six thousand dollars were obtained to begin the work. W. I. Fee, W. A. L. Kirk, G. M. Flenner, and S. K. Lighter, were appointed a committee to supervise the work.
At that time the house was lower than at present. The front doors, three in number, were on a level with the water table, which was five feet above ground, with a platform running across the whole front of the building, on a level with the audience-room, which was ascended by board steps from the ground. Under this platform was a door entering the basement, besides doors entering from each side into a hall, dividing the basement into two parts, the south part for the use of the Sunday- school, and the north part intended for class-rooms. These steps and platforms had somewhat decayed, and bad to be replaced by others or au entrance obtained some other way.
The plan of the building adopted was designed by Jo- sph Lashborn.
The money collected in 1839 and 1840 went to pay the following bills:
Brown J. Myers, carpenter work $1,499 00
( iladman, stone mason. 587 00
Lasthorn, for lumber 1,869 54 '
Brown J. Myers, brick 1,807 54
Brown J. Mvers, rebuilding (blown down) 16 63
Lashhorn, for glass
70 75
Jesse Crane, nails 31 25
Jasper Snyder. painting 110 00
Bricklaying . 998 00
Lashhorn, for sundries 361 07
Arthur W. Elliot, traveling expenses 411 00
And enough other sundries was incorporated to bring tie total bill up to $8, 426.07.
It is a brick building, forty feet long by fifty-five feet wide, with a basement story of stone. The entrance "is by doors on the north side into a vestibule. The pul- pit and altar are on the south end. Three aisles run the whole length of the building, and the residue is divided into a number of pews, having a gallery on the north end. The whole is capable of seating comfortably one thousand persons.
The building has a plain roof, without steeple or eu- pola, but the whole edifice is in good taste and presents a handsome appearance. The whole cost was $7,339.77.
In the early history of church going in this neighbor- hood, instrumental music was not favored, and the sexes sat apart in church. The Methodists then dressed with exceeding plainness. When Mr. Goddard was in Ham- ilton he thought that a singing-school would kill any re- vival. It was said that when a revival of religion com- menced, the devil was sure to come along with a singing master under his arm and drop him down where he would do the most harm. When Dr. Latta was in charge he encouraged the formation of a choir, which made cou- siderable progress, but this innovation could not be en- dured by the Rev. David Reed, his successor. Shortly after his pastorate began, he took his stand in the pulpit and gave out the hymn. The leader soon had a tune selected, and the choir were turuing over the leaves in their notc-books to find the page. Noticing this. the pastor inquired what those people were turning over the leaves of their books for; it put him in mind of a hen scratching in the leaves to make a nest. This rather stunned the leader, while the ladies began to look for the shortest way down from the gallery. It is needless to say that the pastor had the leading of the singing to do himself for a while, and the congregation had the oppor- tunity of learning the tune called Pisgah, that being a favorite with him.
Several of the older members seeing that opposition was useless, would sit during the singing with their el- bows on the seat before them, with their fingers in their ears to stop the sound. On one occasion, at a Sunday- school celebration, the committee had reported among the hymns to be used America, "My Country, "T is of Thee," but some objected from conscientious seruples, and the whole work of the committee was laid aside.
The days of this feeling, however, have passed away, and as much attention is now paid to music there as in any Church in this city. Among those who were promi- nent in the singing in years gone by were Samuel Jones, Stephen F. Giffen, and John S. Wiles. The latter taught by the patent notes. The books used included the Old Measure Harmonist, the Sharon, the Harp, Cythera, the Standard, the Musical Leaves, Western Lyre, and others.
The Sunday-school began operations about the time the first church was built, in 1820. The Rev. Dr. Miley. who was learning the suddler's trade with Mr. King, in the year 1828, when he was fourteen years of age,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
attended that school, under the Rev. Dr. Baughman. He did not recollect the name of the superintendent. Among the workers in the school the doctor named Mrs. Green, Jane Blackall, now Mrs. McAdams, John W. Messick, and Thomas Berry. In the Autumn of 1834 Thomas Berry was superintendent. The names of the superintendents can only be given from memory, without regularity: B. F. Raleigh, Daniel Thompson, John S. Wiles, Law- rence Smith, John Osborn, Joseph Curtis, Philip Berry, J. W. Davis, Professor Starr, Thomas Fitton, G. M. Flenner, S. M. Griffis, James Fitton, David .Gary, John MeLean.
The parsonage was built in 1859, and the roof of the church was put on at the same time. It was erected by a building committee consisting of J. Curtis, Joseph Lashhorn, and J. K. Davis. S. R. Lighter was the architect. The reported cost of the whole work was two thousand four hundred and seventy-nine dollars and eighty cents. The parsonage now stands on the church lot.
THE THEATER.
Theatrical performances began in Hamilton in the year 1821, with the Blanchard family. No particulars have been preserved of their playing. In 1822 a Thes- pian company was organized here, consisting of home talent, and giving occasional performances. We give a couple of their programmes:
THEATRICAL.
On Tuesday evening, May 6th, will be presented by the Hamilton Thespian Society, the celebrated
Tragedy of George Barnwell,
in five acts, by George Lillo, Esq., after which will be per- formed a Comic Opera, in two acts, written by Coleman, Jr., author of the "Iron Chest," "Mountaineers," etc., called
"Love Laughs at Locksmiths."
For characters, etc., see bills.
HAMILTON, May 5, 1823.
THEATRICAL.
On Tuesday evening, Sth of April, 1823, will be presented and performed by the Hamilton Thespian Society, a cele- brated Comedy, in two acts, written by James Kinney, Esq., author of "Matrimony," " Ella Rosenburgh," etc., called
" Raising the Wind "
After the Comedy will be performed for the second time (by particular request) a celebrated Interlude, called
" The Tailor in High Life."
The evening's entertainment to conclude with the very laughable Farce of
"Miss in Her 'Teens."
For particulars, see bills.
In the year 1822 Edwin Forrest, who had been an amateur performer in theatricals in Philadelphia, and who was very young, accepted an engagement with the manager of a company which was to play in Pittsburg
and Cincinnati. It was his first trip as a professional, and he reaped little money from it, for the company broke up at Cincinnati, and the members were left to shift for themselves the best way they could. Mr. For- rest conceived the idea that Hamilton, twenty-three miles distant, would afford him shelter for a few days, and, having hired an old horse and a tumble-down wagon, he set out from that city with Mrs. and Miss Riddle, well-known performers, seated in the rude conveyance, while he walked on foot. When he arrived in this place he found that there was a Thespian Society existing here, and with it he arranged for a first appearance. The theater was a barn situated where the Catholic Church now is, on Dayton Street, the upper part being fitted up for a theater. William Murray, who died lately, was the doorkeeper, and took the money. The members of the company were Charles K. Smith, John M. Millikin, William B. Van Hook, Stephen Millikin, Lorenzo Latham, and others. Before the Riddles came here all the female parts were represented by boys, following the usage of the Shakespearean drama.
The opening night came, and with it the best people of the town, who were found at early candle-light, crowding the little candle-lit barn. At least 300 people were present, and Forrest received a regular ovation. The receipts on the opening night were, perhaps, fifty dollars, his portion of this sum being highly satisfactory to the "star," who little dreamed that in later years one thousand dollars a night would be his terms.
During his stay in Hamilton the theater was crowded nightly, and such plays as " Raising the Wind" and " Miss in her "Teens" constituted the programmes.
It need not be said that all theater-loving people were pleased. A local critic contributed his views of the per- formance to the Miami Intelligencer:
"The arrival in town of Mr. Forrest, Mrs. and Miss Riddle, and other performers. is hailed with pleasure by every admirer of the drania.
" On Thursday evening last, the 30th of July, in the character of ' Richard,' Mr. Forrest certainly acquitted himself with the greatest degree of credit, as the applause manifested by a crowded house, from the moment he appeared on the stage until the close of the selected scenes from that tragedy, and the frequent and unan- imous bursts of admiration throughout, evineed that his unrivaled performance had made a deep impression on the minds of the auditory. In the preceding afterpiece, as well as the comedy, ou Saturday evening, he did well. Fis imitations of the most celebrated aetors of the pres- ent century were inimitable. In fine, for the general manuer of his performance, he merits the greatest praise, though it is thought he excels in personating the tragedian.
"The celebrated tragedy of ' Douglass,' in which Mr. Forrest performs the principal and most difficult part, is aumnonneed for next Tuesday evening. Those who may
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HAMILTON.
have had the pleasure of seeing him in the character of | ' Richard,' will know how to appreciate the present op- portunity of witnessing the display of Mr. Forrest's tal- ents. It being the last night, it is presumed the liberal- ity of the citizens will induce them to bestow an ample share of substantial applause on this deserving actor, to remunerate him and his companions for their trouble and expense.
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"The other gentlemen, undoubtedly, deserve much praise. Mrs. and Miss Riddle's performances require no comment-their merits are well known-they appear de- sirous to please on all occasions."
The last night of performance the following bill was given :
THEATER.
LAST NIGHT OF PERFORMANCE.
On Tuesday evening, August 5th, will be presented Home's celebrated tragedy of .
(With new Scenery, Dress, and Decorations)
"Douglass;" or, the "Noble Shepherd."
Young Norval, Mr. FORREST.
Lady Randolph, Mrs. RIDDLE.
Goldsmith's "Harlequin Epilogue."
(In character),
MR. FORREST.
SONG, " Robin Adair." . Miss RIDDLE.
Fancy Dance, by Miss Riddle.
The evening's entertainment to conclude with the bur- - lesque farce of
"Sylvester Daggerwood ;" or, "' The Mad Dunstable Actor." Sylvester Appolonius Dionysius Daggerwood, . Mr. FORREST. Fustian (an author), . Mr. DAVIS. Prompter, . Mr. GEORGE.
Mr. Forrest ever afterwards retained kindly recollee- tions of this place, although he was unable to pay all his indebtedness. Hc owed Mr. Cooper, with whom he boarded, a small sum, and gave his due bill for the amount. It was afterwards paid, and the paper was found among those preserved by him until his death. In Alger's "Life of Forrest," a fac-simile of this due bill can be seen.
From Hamilton, according to Mr. Murray, the party went to Dayton, Franklin, Lebanon, and one or two other towns near by, but found business so dull that at Lebanon Forrest pawned his stage dresses for money to forward the ladies of the company to Newport, and the rest walked to the Kentucky village. On their way they found a stream to cross, and being peniless, the men swan to the other side. Too proud to beg, they stole corn and roasted it. Forrest afterwards said that the "corn was as hard as Pharaoh's heart." On reaching Newport, the company played " Douglass," and " Miss in her "Teens," to a seven-dollar house. The little band kept together for several months thereafter, with but poor xnecess, and at last Forrest, who had been refused an en- gagement by Sol. Smith (whose brothers and sisters lived
in Hamilton at the time), then organizing a dramatic company, joined a circus as leaper and vaulter, in which he had always been preficient. In the circus-ring Smith found the boy actor (for when Forrest played in the Thespian Hall, as related above, he was but eighteen years old), and coaxed Inim back into his legitimate pro- fession. His onward and upward egreer sinee those days is a matter of history, and out of place in these recollec- tions of incidents in the early days of our city.
The same Fall an exhibition of living animals was here. Their programme said :
GRAND EXHIBITION OF LIVING ANIMALS.
The citizen's of Hamilton, Rossville, and their vicinities, are respectfully informed that a grand collection of living animals, viz. : A full grown African Lion, African Leopard, Brazilian Cougar, Shetland Pony, with its rider, Ichneumon, and several other animals, will be exhibited at the Hamil- ton Hotel, on Thursday and Friday, the 10th and 11th inst. Admittance 25 cents ; children under 12 years, half price. Good music on the ancient Jewish Cymbal and other in- struments.
HAMILTON, September, 8, 1823.
The theatrical company still seemed to exist in 1828. A bill of theirs said that the " Hamilton Thespian As- soeiation " would perform in the room above the Hamil- ton Coffee House, November 15, "Coleman's much ad- mired comedy, 'Love Laughs at Locksmiths,' and the laughable afterpiece of 'Dick, the Apprentice.'"
The city fathers were disposed the next year to dis. courage any dramatic performances; they passed an ordi- nance to prohibit stage playing within the towns of Han- ilton and Rossville. It read:
" Be it ordained by the trustees and citizens of Hamn- ilton and Rossville, that if any person who is not a resi- dent of the towns of Hamilton and Rossville, shall pub- liely act or be concerned in publicly acting or exhibiting any stage, play, or scene, or any play or scene usually aeted in theaters, such person shall forfeit and pay there- for a sum not exceeding ten dollars, nor less than five dollars, to be collected in the same manner as fines for offenses against 'au ordinance to prevent certain misde- meanors within the towns of Hamilton and Rossville.' Provided that the president of the board of trustees of the corporation may grant a license to any person to act, or exhibit any stage, play or plays, upon his paying to the treasurer of the corporatiou a sum not less than two dol- lars, nor more than five dollars, for each time of acting or exhibiting the same, to be fixed at the discretion of the president. JAMES O'CONNER, President. CALEB DECAMP, Recorder."
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Amongst the respectable early settlers in the vicinity of Hamilton were many who belonged to the Associate Reformed Church. For many years after their settle- ment in the country they had no opportunity of hearing
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
preaching, except occasionally, and that but rarely, when a clergyman of their denomination might be traveling through the country. Amongst those who visited the country about that period were the Rev. Adam Rankin, of Kentucky ; the Rev. R. H. Bishop, then of Lex- ington, Kentucky, afterwards president of the Miami Uni- versity, who then belonged to that denomination; the Rev. David Risk, and some others who occasionally vis- ited the country and preached to the members of that Church:
In the year 1814 the Rev. Alexander Porter, with a number of the members of his Church, emigrated from South Carolina, and settled in the south-west corner of Preble County, Ohio, where they formed the congrega- tion and built the church of Hopewell. After this period Mr. Porter occasionally visited and preached at Hamil- ton, sometimes in the building then occupied as a court- house, and sometimes, when the weather was pleasant, in a grove of woods near the intersection of Second and Dayton Streets.
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In the year 1815, or a short time previous, a Church of the Associate Reformed denomination was regularly organized at Hamilton, and in the year 1817 the Rev. .David' Maedill was settled over the congregation, then consisting of about twenty-seven members, and regularly ordained as their pastor, in which capacity he continued to officiate until 1848. Until the year 1839 he preached two-thirds of his time at Hamilton, the other one-third - of his time to the congregation of Concord, on Seven- Mile Creek.
The number of members belonging to the Church at Hamilton, in 1844, was about eighty-four. They paid their pastor a salary of fron four hundred and fifty dol- lars, or ranging between that sum and five hundred dol- lars, per year, not being every year exactly the same, which was raised by subscription from the members.
In the year 1828, when the Associate Reformed con- gregation, in connection with the Presbyterian congrega- tion, sold their house and lot at the west end of the Hamilton Basin, as previously related, the Associate Ro- formed congregation purchased inlot No. 81, near the bank of the Miami River, on the corner of Basin and Water Streets, in Hamilton, for the sum of one hundred dollars, on which they erected a brick church in the same year, though the building was not ready for occupancy until the Spring of 1829. The house was erected by Samuel forty-four feet wide, and sixteen feet high from the foun- dation to the cornice. On the west end of the church next the river was a cupola, executed in a neat style, cor- responding with the dimensions of the building, in which was hung a fine-toned bell.
Gray, then of Rossville, and was forty-eight feet long by -Blackburn, Rachel Lintner, John Bain and wife, Haa-
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The interior of the church was finished in a plain bat neat manner. The pulpit was on the west end of the building, which had two doors, and one cach side of the pulpit, entering from Water Street, on the west.
There were also two doors on the east end of the build- ing, corresponding with the doors on the west, with two aisles, er passages, running the whole length of the build- ing, from the western to the eastern doors. The interior was divided into fifty-six pews, in which five hundred persons may be comfortably seated. The building was erected with strict regard to economy, costing only one thousand and fifty dollars, exclusive of the pews and sonie further expense in finishing the interior of the building.
The building presented a very good appearance, espe- cially from the west side of the river. The principal ob- jection was that it was not high enough for elegance.
In course of time a new building was required, and another was consequently erected in 1852. It cost six thousand six hundred dollars, and an additional lot cost four hundred dollars. The committee put under contract several other improvements, such as paving the gutter's and sidewalks, and a large iron gate, with posts and steps of Dayton stone, at a cost of four hundred and eleven dollars, making the entire cost of the building, lots and improvements, seven thousand four hundred and eleven dollars.
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