USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 2 > Part 45
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The auditorium was dedicated on the 28th of Novem- ber, 1875. Bishop R. S. Foster conducted the services, assisted by T. J. Harris, J. W. McGee, Dr. J. M. Walden, Dr. R. D. Morris, J. F. Black, and Jacob Norris. On the day of dedication there yet existed a debt of four thousand dollars, but by the excellent way in which Bishop Foster conducted subscription' taking, four thousand five hundred dollars was pledged in forty-five minutes, and thus the church was dedicated without a dollar's indebtedness.
P. D. Matson has been Sunday-school superintendent for over thirty-five years, and now holds this office.
Oxford Circuit was organized in 1813 or 1814. The following list of pastors is taken from the General Min- utes : 1813, Moses Crume; 1814, John Strange ; 1815, John Somerville; 1816, Benjamin Lawrence; 1817, William Hunt; 1818, Russel Bigelow and Samuel Brown ; 1819, Russel Bigelow ; 1820, Allen Willey and Benjamin T. Crouch ; 1821, Samuel Baker and William H. Raper; 1822, Moses Crunic and Richard Brandriff; 1823, James Jones and Levi White; 1824, Peter Ste- phens and James Jones; 1825, Daniel D. Davison and John A. Baughman; 1826, Daniel D. Davison and Robert O. Spencer; 1827, John C. Brook and Isaac C. Hunter ; 1828, John P. Taylor and Benjamin Lawrence ; 1829, Elijah H. Fields and Robert O. Spencer; 1830, Robert O. Spencer and Elijah H. Fields; 1831, John Stewart and A. D. Beasley; 1832, John Stewart and James F. Davison ; 1833, J. W. Clark and J. W. Fin- ley ; 1834, Charles W. Swain and John A. Waterman ; 1835, Burroughs Westlake and Lucien W. Berry, J. A. Waterman, superannnated; 1836, Burroughs West- lake and Daniel Poe ; 1837 Stephen Holland, for three months, A. W. Musgrove, for nine months; 1838 and 1839, A. W. Musgrove; 1840 to 1842, Granville Moody ; 1842 to 1844, Mighill Dustin; 1844 to 1545, Clinton W. Sears, with Arthur W. Elliott as resident superannuated ; 1845 and 1846, J. A. Waterman, who shortly after went with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and whose place was supplied by Jonathan F. Conrey; 1846 and 1847, Jonathan F. Conrey; 1847 to 1849, Charles R. Lowell; 1849 to 1851, James C. Bon- tecou ; 1851 to 1853, James F. Chalfant; 1853 to 1855, John F. Marley; 1855 and 1856, Thomas D. Crows 1858, Robert O. Spencer; 1858 to 1860, George W. Harris; 1861, James M. Leavitt; 1861 to 1863, William H. Hypes; 1863, William G. W. Lewis; 1864 to 1866, William H. Moler; 1860, Asbury Lowrey ; 1867, Wi !!- iam H. Lawder; 1868, James L. Grove, eight months. aud J. W. McGregor, four months; 1869, James W.
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McGregor; 1870 to 1873, Thomas J. Harris ; 1873 to 1876, David C. Vance; 1876 to 1879, James Murray ; 1879, A. N. Spahr; 1880, B. F. Dimmick, who is also the present pastor.
In the carly history of Oxford a Baptist congregation was forined, the Church purchasing in-lot No. 126, on which they erected a neat frame building as a place of worship. The land where the house stood is now owned by P. D. Matson. The Rev. Mr. Spencer was pastor of this society in 1824. He was a man of many fine qual- ities, and in all his intercourse with the people won their affectionate regard. There were but a few members, Mr. Farr and wife being among the number. In conse- quence of death and removals the society ceased to exist practically after 1826.
One peculiarity of the house was that in the middle of it there was a large brick floor on which the fire was built. The smoke escaped through holes in the roof made for that purpose. The house was thirty by forty feet --- two stories.
Soon after the Miami University began to assume im- portance, it seemed as though all the other Churches but the Presbyterian were to have a precarious existence. This was especially true with the Baptist, and since that time the society has never been re-established.
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On the 6th of January, 1827, the Legislature of the State of Ohio passed a law authorizing the trustees of the Miami University to lease at nominal rent to the di- rectors of the school district of Oxford, a lot of ground not exceeding one acre, for the location of a school-house. The house, a brick building twenty by forty feet, one- story, was accordingly erected on lot No. 33. This, after it became too small for school purposes, was sold with the lot to the trustees of the Catholic Church, and used by them until 1867, when the present house was erected. Among those who were active in the organiza- tion and establishment of this society were Michael Tay- lor with his brothers, Michael Foley, Byron Kelly, Nich- ola . Hester, and Charles Fye. The succession of pastors since 1852 have been: Rev. Messrs. O'Conner, Darco, who lcd the people in the erection of the present build- ing, which cost $8,000; Daly, who remained nine years, and D. V. Crowley, who came in 1880, from Cummins- ville, Ohio. This denomination has about eight hundred and fifty members, many of whom reside at a distance of six or eight miles from their place of worship. A handsome parsonage-a two-story brick-and a cemetery of two or three acres are counccted with the church edifice.
- In 1818 the Presbyterian congregation was formed in Oxford under the direction of the Rev. James Hughes, of the grammar school. He continued to preach to this people occasionally until his deccase in the Spring of 1821, from which time they were only supplied occa- sionally by traveling preachers, until the year 1825, when the congregation was organized in a more regular 1
manner by Robert H. Bishop, D. D., who continued to preach to them for several years in the college chapel.
The Rev. James Hughes, A. M., had charge of a congregation at Buffalo and Short Creek, in the State of Virginia, and preached his farewell sermon to them at West Liberty on the 11th of September, 1814. His text was Rom. xv, 13. The sermou was published at Charlestown, Virginia, in 1814, and has this preface: " The following discourse is presented to the people of the congregation of Short Creek and Lower Buffalo, as a small testimony of the sincere regard of their former pastor-James Hughes."
After the organization of the Church it was several years before it had any particular place of meeting. Sometimes the Church met in the college chapel. and sometimes at private residences. On the 22d of Novem- ber, 1831, Joseph Woodruff purchased lot No. 300, at the price of $136, for the use of the congregation, and in 1833 the present or ol mecting-house was erected at a cost of a little over $6,000. The house is fifty by seventy feet, and has a high basement story. The height from the ground to the eaves is about thirty feet. It has seats capable of holding four hundred and eighty persons. By a law of the State, dated the 15th of Jou- uary, 1833, Benjamin C. Swan, James Montgomery, Abraham J. Chittenden, John Harding, James R. Hughes, C. II. Spinnings, Charles Barrows, Harry Lewis, and Joseph Woodruff, and their associates, were incorporated under the name of the "First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, in the County of Butler."
Dr. Bishop was succeeded as pastor by the Rev. Henry Little, who continued for two or three years. Then the Rev. George B. Bishop officiated for about two years; and after him the Rev. William Graham offici- ated until about 1840, when he joined the New School Presbyterians, and severed his connection with the former Church. The Rev. John W. Scott afterward preache! to the congregation for a few years, and was succeeded by others. The Rev. Henry Maltby became the pastor some time in 1850, and remained some two years. In 1857 and the earlier part of 1858, the society was sup- plied by J. R. Burgett, W. Rogers, Dr. Scott, and Pro- fessors Swing and Elliott. In 1858 the Rev. J. B. Stew- art was called to the pastorate, and was with them some two years and a half, after which the Rev. Wm. Rogers, a returned missionary, who had taken up his residence at Oxford, was engaged as stated supply to 1864, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Haight in a two years' pastorate. The Rev. John Crosier succeeded Mr. Haight, and was pastor until November 23, 1869, at which time the two separate bodies then existing as the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford and the Second Presbyterian Church of Oxford decided to unite in one Church organization, and gave a call, as thus organized, to the Rev. A. H. Young, who held this office for nearly three years there- after. In November, 1872, the Rev. Charles Fuller was
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installed, remaining about two years, and was followed by the Rev. Jacob Norris, who stayed until July 9, 1876, when he resigned to accept the professorship of mathe- matics in Wabash College, Indiana. On the 13th of the following November the Rev. Francis M. Wood was chosen pastor, who was succeeded in May, 1880, by the Rev. George G. Mitchell, the present incumbent. The present membership is about two hundred and fifty.
During the month of January, 1841, owing to some division of sentiment on questions of Church polity among the membership of the Presbyterian Church of Oxford, party spirit and strife rose to such a pitch that a large number withdrew themselves therefrom, and on the first of February following organized themselves into a new religious body, under the name of the Second Presbyterian Church of Oxford. Among those thus seceding from the mother Church was the acting pastor, the Rev. Will- iam Graham, and him the new Church called to be their first minister. The new society organized with some thirty-two members, which number was increased at the second meeting to seventy. Joseph Woodruff, Joseph Parks, Robert Long, R. E. Hills, G. Y. Roots, and Horace Cross were elected the first board of elders; and Aaron Austin, Harry Lewis, R. E. Hills, Romeo Lewis, William Kennedy, John Adams, James Mayhew, P. H. Roots, and Robert Long were made the first board of trustees. In March Joseph Parks, G. Y. Roots, and R. E. Hills were constituted a building committee to raise funds and superintend the erection of a place of worship for the new Church, which about this time applied for and obtained admission into the Cincinnati Presbytery of the so-called New School Presbyterians. The new body pushed matters vigorously, and in due time were in pos- session of a comfortable house of worship, on the south- west corner of lot No. 54, bounded west by Main and south by Church Street, and fronting on the latter. Mr. Graham continued to serve the new interest for some three years, and was followed by the Rev. Daniel Tenney (June 30, 1844). Mr. Teuney remained the efficient pas- tor for nearly twelve years. In July, 1856, the Rev. E. W. Root was installed pastor, being followed, August 11, 1861, by the Rev. J. P. E. Kumler, and in March, 1869, by the Rev. A. H. Young. In the Fall and Winter fol- lowing the settlement of Mr. Young, a growing fraternal feeling developed itself among the membership of the two existing branches of the Presbyterian Church in Oxford, and in November, 1869, by full and most harmonious concert of action upon the part of both bodies, it was decided to unite the same in one organization, to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford. The new Church thus strengthened, decided to occupy the house of worship of the Second Church, and retain the pastoral labors and pulpit ministrations of the Rev. Mir. Young, and to enlarge and improve their church edifice to meet the wants of the increased society and congrega- tion, which was accordingly done. The future history
of the body was thus merged into that of the First Church.
From the time Oxford began to attract the attention of the public the Presbyterian Church took a strong hold upon the people. Nearly all the professors of the uni- versity belonged to this or the Associate Reformed Church. Many of the students were often sent to col- lege here because of the strict Presbyterian doctrine to which most of the faculty were committed. About the year 1836 the Associate Reformed congregation was or- ganized. It was a branch of the Rev. Alexander Por- ter's Church of Israel Township, in Preble County, eight miles north. Porter's Church was formed by members who came from South Carolina to avoid slavery. After some years of great success the Oxford Church was or- ganized with the understanding by the synod that a theological institute should there be opened. The Rev. S. W. McCracken, who was born in Hamilton County, was the organizer. He preached here as " stated sup- ply " for two or three years, during which time he was a professor of mathematics in the university. He afterward! removed to Hopewell, in Preble County, and died in 1856 or 1857. The Rev. Joseph Claybangh, D. D., was the first pastor. He was born in Frederick County. Maryland, July 1, 1803. He received his preparatory education in the Chillicothe Academy, Ohio, and was graduated at Jefferson College, in 1822. and in 182-4, May 26th, was licensed to preach. His theological edu- cation was obtained under the direction of the Rev. John Steele, of Xenia, Ohio. He served the people as pastor at Chillicothe, Ohio, from 1825 to 1839; and of Oxford, Ohio, from 1840 to September, 1855. He was the prin- cipal of the Chillicothe Academy from 1825 to 1827, and professor of theology in the Associate Reformed Sem- inary at this place from 1839 until his death on the 9th of September, 1855, which resulted from scrofula.
The Rev. Mr. Claybaugh was succeeded as pastor of the Church by the Rev. Wm. J. McSurley, who re- mained about four years. Tien came Marcus Ormond, for four years; J. S. Black, four years; James Dodds, for two years. and who was with the people from 1878 to 1880. The Church was then without stated minis- tration after Mr. Dodd left for over a year. In April, 1882, they extended a call to the Rev. S. R. Frazier, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and the Church, now known as the "United Presbyterian," having taken that name in common with bodies of the same faith in 1858, has been enjoying his labors as settled pastor from the first Sal :- bath in June. It has a resident membership of about ninety communicants. We find among the early members Kennedy Brooks, William and Alexander Wallace, Hugh Herron, Arthur Orr, John Callwell, Mr. Beaton aud Alexander Young, with their wives and portions of their families.
In November, 1839, the Universalist congregation was organized in Oxford, Ohio; the number of members who
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associated themselves together at that time was thirteen. Harvey Gilford was their preacher, and officiated as their pastor for some time. In the same year the society pur- chased lot No. 5, for $350, and erected upon it a frame building for a church, thirty by fifty feet, and sixteen feet to the eave of the roof. The interior was furnished with pews capable of seating two hundred and fifty per- sons; the cost of the building was $300. 'In 1856 the membership numbered thirty ; the pastor or preacher was the Rev. William Curry.
The Rev. Abner Longley, a citizen of Oxford in 1828, was among the early members and preachers. He after- wards removed to Lebanon, Indiana, and died in Kansas a few years ago. Mr. Longley was a cabinet-maker by trade; he attended college at the university, but was not a good speaker. Amaziah Dodge was another of the early members, and also exhorted sometimes. Dodge was a farmer; he died thirty years ago. Isaiah Hall, a farmer and music-teacher, was a prominent member.
Peter Sutton, a carpenter and house joiner here in 1828, now living, a justice of the peace for thirty-one years in succession and a term afterwards, and treasurer of the Miami University for thirty years, was also one of the leading early members.
Mr. Lee, Mrs. Withrow, and Mrs. Peter Sutten were also first inembers.
This Church now has a membership of thirty. There were here for the first preachers the Revs. Messrs. Rogers, Kidwell, and St. John. Kidwell was an itiner- ant and went throughout the country in all directions. St. John afterwards joined the Methodist Church, and died in Brookville, Indiana. Mr. Emmett was located here as pastor for some years. The Rev. John Gurley, a distinguished minister from Cincinnati, preached to this society some time in the '50's. The Rev. Messrs. Man- ford and Pingree did not reside in Oxford, but preached here as much as a quarter of a century ago. Mr. Polk, who resided in Oxford, remained with the people for seven or eight years. C. L. Haskell came in 1876 and remained for two years. Many of the preachers who ad- ministered to this society also preached to the Bunker Hill Church in Reily Township. Their names will ap- pear in the history of that organization.
The Oxford African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized on the 11th of November, 1842, in the house of John Rollins, by the Rev. Robert Johnson of Hills- boro, Ohio. The house in which this Church worships was built by Joel Collins for the Christian Church, which had a partial existence at one time. Collins was the only member of the Church who lived in this neighborhood, and for this reason built the house mainly out of his own means. From the best information at hand, the probabilities are that the Christian Church never had any regular pastor, but the Rev. John Harrison preached to a small congregation in this and other houses for twenty odd years.
The following are worthy original members of the Colored Church : Martha Roberts, Josiah Alberson, Mother Rollins, Thomas Rollins, Jeremiah Lewis, Simon White, John Banister, George Williams. Martha Rob- erts and John Banister are still living.
The Rev. Robert Johnson was the first minister, and served for one year, commencing in the Fall of 1842. Watkins Lee followed for one year; Robert Jones began in the Fall of 1844, and served one year; he was fol- lowed by Hiram Revels, Horace B. Smith, Benjamin Hill, Levi Bass, and John Turner, all for one year. At that date this Church was under the control of the Indiana Conference, and remained so until the General Conference which met in Cincinnati in 1856 placed it under the management of the Ohio Conference. Since that time the succession of their ministers have been : In 1857, Matthew J. Newsome; 1858, David Smith ; 1859, Jeremiah Lewis; 1861, Turner Roberts: 1862, Alexander Austin ; 1863, William Davidson ; 1866, Jer- emiah Lewis; 1867, Henry A. Jackson ; 1869, George W. Clark; 1870, Moses W. Walker; 1872, George H. Shafer; 1875, Philip Towler ; 1880, Primus Alston.
Its local preachers were Thomas Rollins, Williams Brown, James Knox, Richard Hastie, and Samuel Bur- rell. The most useful of the laymen: Albert Russell, Thomas Rollins, Beverly Tyler, Henry MeDonald, Will- iam Townsend, Beverly Yancy, Ephraim Jones, John S. Jones. Among the faithful workers were Katie Brown, Betsey Jackson, Martha Roberts, Mary Townsend, Era Sawyer, Cilea Williamson, Mary J. Lewis, Clara Jack- son, Elizabeth Lawrence, Margaret Young, Betzey Sann- ders, Emily Carter, and Jane Yaney.
The original place of worship of this Church was called Bethel. a hewed log-house built by Jeremiah Lewis and Thomas Rollins. In this house the congregation worshiped from 1843 to 1858, when the trustees, under the pastorate of Matthew J. Newsome, purchased the present place of worship for $3,000.
The Christian African Church of Oxford was organ- ized about eighteen years ago: At first this Church met at the colored school-house, but shortly afterwards a frame building was bought of Mr. Constantine MeCowen, an early member. This building stood on the site now occupied by the present house, but is removed to the rear of it, for festivals and other purposes. The present honse, which cost about 83,000, and which has a seating capacity of three hundred people, was completed in 1881. Hannah Scott, Hardy Scott, Constantine MeCowen and wife, Isaiah Dicson and wife Sarah, William Brassfield and Mary his wife, Jacob Piatt and wife Maria, Ann Wright, Amanda Anderson, Ceburr Oliver and wife Malinda, Betsey Crawford, Alfred Reed and wife Maney, Rouson Deviney and wife Fanny. Maria Price, Eliza Mitchell, Polly Tipton and George, her husband; Stephen Piatt and Jane, his wife, were among the carly members. At present there are about fifty members on the register. -
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The Rev. Rufes Conrad was the first preacher, and also the organizer of the Church, serving for two or three years. The Rev. Isaiah Dieson, who removed to Kan- sas, and died in 1878, preached for twelve years. The Rev. Benjamin King, of Cincinnati, filled the pulpit for two years. The Rev. William Brown, of Kentucky, served as pastor for three years. He is now in Ken- tucky engaged in ministerial work. The Rev. Laban S. Locker filled the pastorate for one year. This Church is one of the most enterprising in the village, and bids fair to do much good.
The Baptist African Church, of Oxford, was organ- ized about twelve years ago by the Rev. Mr. Brown, of Cincinnati. James Stroud, Mary Roberts, Mather Tes- ter, Willis Pyle and wife, Jackson Piatt and wife, Ellen Carter, Thomas Jackson, Mother Laney, who is now about eighty years of age, Spencer Young, who was licensed here to preach, but is now in Covington, Kentucky, and wife, were among the leading first members. Per- sons who are now the support of the Church, are Wes- ley Calbert, Mary Case, Chrisey Dickinson, Thomas Boston and wife. The membership numbers about twenty-five.
The Rev. Mr. Brown, of Cincinnati was the first pas- tor who filled the pulpit for two years. He was followed by the Rev. Spencer Young, who served six or seven years, but who was ordained outside of the regular asso- ciation. Then came the Rev. Mr. Woodley, of the Mid- dle Run Church, near Xenia, Ohio, who retained one year. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Goings, from Shelby County, Ohio, who remained for nearly three years. During the Winter of 1881 and 1882 the Rev. Mr. Clay preached as an irregular minister.
The house in which this society worships was erected in 1875. The builder was Mr. Marshall, now au old man, and one of the first settlers in Oxford. The land on which the house stands was given for this purpose by Dr. Andrew Guy, of Oxford, a gentleman of many excel- lent parts.
OXFORD FEMALE COLLEGE.
The Oxford Female College was chartered by the State of Chic on the 19th of January, 1854, and was the outgrowth of the revolution which took place in the Miami University in the Spring of 1845, by which Drs. Bishop and Scott were thrown out of the faculty. Pro- fessor Scott was, however, prevented from immediately following the plan of the Female College, which he had previously formed in his mind, by the solicitation of Dr. Bishop and Prof. F. G. Cary, of College Hill, Ohio, to aid them in the establishment of an agricultural institu- tion at that point.
The establishment of the Miami University at Oxford had induced the people to take much interest, in the edu- cation of their sons, and efforts for the education of their daughters naturally followed.
After Dr. Scott had given some three or four years
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to Farmers' College, he began to make arrangements to set the Female College in successful operation. Hence, in 1849, a number of the public-spirited citizens of Ox- ford organized a stock company for the Oxford Female Institute, and secured a special charter from the Legis- lature of Ohio for that purpose. A handsome two-story brick building, forty by fifty-three feet, was at once erected in the west end of the village, and operations begun. The Rev. John W. Scott, D. D., formerly of the Miami University, was elected principal, with his daughter, now Mrs. Lord, and his sister-in-law, Miss Neal, who became his first permanent assistant, and con- tinged so until her death in 1852, as helpers. The insti- tute prospered and began to draw students from a dis- tance. Dr. Scott's position at Fariners' College was filled by the Rev. John Covert, who on the foundation which had been laid built the Ohio Female College, an institu- tion which accomplished much good in female education.
On the arrival of Dr. Scott and his assistants from College Hill, operations were begun in the basement of the United Presbyterian Church, while waiting for the completion of the building. But in the Fall these rooms were needed for the theological seminary, and the young institution was compelled to seek quarters elsewhere, which were found by renting rooms over Mr. Molly- neaux's store and the adjoining building, on the corner of Main Street and the public square. In 1850, the in- stitute being finished, the Female College took possession of their new building, with a flourishing school of board- ing and day students. But the accommodations were soon found insufficient.
Under these circumstances, Dr. Scott, the Rev. W. S. Rogers, and the Rev. Henry Maltby, Presbyterian eler- gymen and able educators, along with other friends, offered to raise the money for the much-needed and neces- sary buildings, provided they could be seenred in the general management of the institution. Mr. Rogers's plan was, that the new school should cease to be a private enterprise, and that while it should be open to all, it should be especially adapted for the education of mission- aries' daughters ; where, at least, if not altogether, some of the regular expense might be lessened, and the mis- sion boards might be relieved of much care and anxiety. At the same time Mr. Ebenezer Lane, then a resident of Oxford, handsomely offered a tract of thirty-four acres of land, adjoining the eastern edge of the borough of Ox- ford, as a college site, and in addition a subscription of & liberal sum in mouey for the eudownient of such an institution. After consultation it was decided to go for- ward with the enterprise. Mr. Lane gave his land and Mr. Rogers took the field to solicit subscriptions.
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