A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 71

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612

USA > Ohio > Scioto County > A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record > Part 71

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After this the members of the Parish met a number of times at the home of John Smith for public worship, which was conducted by a lay read- er, Mr. Samuel Gunn, a vestryman, distinguished for his many virtues and a zealous churchman. Bishop Chase visited the Parish again in December, 1820. On December 9, 1820, the first regular vestry was elected, two Wardens and five vestrymen. Samuel Gunn and Thomas Waller were the wardens, and Samuel Wilkinson, John Smith, John Young and Ezra Hard were the ves- trymen. After this the election of the wardens and vestry was on Easter

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THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH.

INTERIOR OF ALL SAINTS CHURCH. "This is none other but the house of God."-Gen. 28: 17.

Monday. In 1822, Rev. Ezra B. Kellog had charge of this Parish and of Chillicothe, and held services every three or four weeks. The church had no regular services until June 19, 1831, when Rev. Henry Caswell became the first settled Rector. He remained until 1833, in May. He afterwards obtained the degree of Doctor in Divinity and Vicar of Fitzaldean and Prebendary of Salis- bury, England. He left his charge there to visit the United States, and died in Franklin Pa., December 17, 1870. During his rectorship the congregation held services at the rooms over the Commercial Bank on Second street, the former residence of M. B. Gilbert. In 1831, there were twenty communicants, of whom four were additions that year. The ladies of the Church organized a sewing society that year. Rev. Dexter Potter succeeded the Rev. Henry Caswell. In that summer a church was erected 47x37 feet. It stood where the Chapel now stands. It was dedicated November 28, 1833, by Bishop Chase. Rev. Potter remained only six months, and the rectorship was vacant until September, 1834, when the Rev. J. F. Eaton took charge and remained seven or eight months. In November, 1835, the Rev. Abraham Sanford became Rec- tor and remained about two years. His last report gave 31 as the number of communicants. On November 9, 1838, Rev. Erastus Burr became Rector and remained until November 9, 1873, a period of thirty-five years. Doctor Burr's Rectorship was the beginning of the Historical period in All Saints Church and of its life and progress. The Church was not incorporated under the State law until March 14, 1839, when a special act for that purpose passed the Legislature. In the building of the Church in 1833, Thomas C. Lewis and Charles O. Tracy were vestrymen. James Lodwick, Enos Gunn and Wash- ington Kinney were a committee to contract for the building. Thomas C. Lewis, Havillah Gunn and Wilson Gates were a committee to procure sub- scriptions. Hugh Cook, E. Gunn, Allen Farquhar, William Hall, Zina Gunn, Aaron Kinney and Peter Kinney were other members of the vestry present. In 1850, the present Church was erected. The building committee for the new edifice was appointed by the Vestry, viz., Washington Kinney, James Lodwick and Samuel S. Fuller. There were 157 contributors to the Building

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Fund. A Diocesan Convention was held in 1869 at which three Clergymen were ordained to the Priesthood and five Clergymen were ordained as Dea- cons. In September, 1859, Doctor Burr attended the General Convention of the Church in Richmond, Va. On November 9, 1859, he preached his twenty- first anniversary sermon. On November 9, 1863, he preached his twenty- fifth anniversary sermon. In 1870, the wardens and vestry were, Charles P. Tracy, senior warden; James F. Towell, junior warden; L. C. Damarin, A. McFarland, P. S. Iams, Robert Baker, William P. Martin, P. C. Gunn, W. B. Dennis, Martin B. Gilbert, vestrymen.

In 1871, Robert Baker was senior warden, P. C. Gunn, junior warden. L. C. Damarin, J. F. Towell, C. P. Tracy, P. S. Iams, W. B. Dennis, William P. Martin, M. B. Gilbert and A. McFarland, vestrymen. In 1872, Robert Bak- er was senior warden, and O. A. Lodwick, junior warden. The vestrymen are the same as 1871, but W. P. Martin dropped out and Peter Kinney came in. In 1873, J. F. Towell became senior warden and Robert Baker, junior war- den. The vestrymen were L. C. Damarin, M. B. Gilbert, C. P. Tracy, William Moore. B. F. Cunningham, M. S. Pixley, W. A. Connolley, W. Foote Hall. In 1871, Rev. Horace W. Jones had become Assistant Rector and he resigned as such Easter Monday 1873. Doctor Burr at the same time, resigned as Rec- tor. August 17 and 24, 1873, Rev. Isaac Newton Stanger conducted the ser- vices at All Saints Church, and on August 25, 1873, he was called as Rector.

On Easter Monday, 1874, J. F. Towell, was elected senior warden and Robert Baker, junior warden. L. C. Damarin, M. B. Gilbert, B. F. Cun- ningham, Col. Peter Kinney, William Moore, W. Foote Hall, William M. Bolles and P. S. Iams were vestrymen. Col. P. Kinney, J. F. Towell and George A. Waller were delegates to the Diocesan Convention. In 1875, Sam- uel Reed and B. F. Richardson came into the vestry in place of W. Foote Hall and B. F. Cunningham. On April 12, 1876, Mrs. Col. P. Kinney present- ed the Marble Baptismal Font now in the Church, and on the following Sun- day it was used in the baptism of her grandson, Kinney Funk. On April 19, 1876, the same wardens were elected as in 1874, and S. C. Morrow took the place of Samuel Reed, as vestryman.

On November 30, 1876, Rev. I. N. Stanger preached his farewell ser- mon. He had been called to the Christ Church at Cincinnati. April 1877, the wardens were J. F. Towell, senior warden and Robert Baker, junior war- den. The vestrymen were, S. C. Morrow, B. F. Richardson, M. B. Gilbert, L. C. Damarin, William Moore, William H. Barnell, N. W. Evans, and P. S. Iams. On July 8, 1877, Rev. Henry L. Badger conducted the services at All Saints Church for the first time. On May 30, 1877, John Yoakley who had been or- ganist and chorister at All Saints Church for 33 years, resigned. In 1878, the wardens were, J. F. Towell. senior, Robert Baker, junior, and the vestrymen were, L. C. Damarin, M. B. Gilbert, B. F. Richardson, P. S. Iams, N. W. Evans, S. C. Morrow and R. S. Spry. In 1879, the vestry was the same ex- cept that R. S. Spry and H. A. Towne took the place of N. W. Evans and S. C, Morrow. The following vestry were elected on Easter Monday 1885, J. F. Towell. senior warden; Robert Baker, junior warden; M. B. Gilbert, P. S. Iams, Henry Vincent, Dr. M. S. Pixley, F. B. Kehoe, E. J. Corson, N. W. Evans, Wellington Kinney. On April 13, 1887, the vestry elected was M. B. Gilbert, senior warden; Robert Baker, junior warden. Vestrymen were, Henry Vincent, N. W. Evans, F. B. Kehoe, W. R. Kinney, E. J. Corson, Dr. Pixley, and F. B. Corson. On November 13, 1883, was celebrated the 50th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Burr's pastorate in Portsmouth. The celebration was in the Chapel. The Knights Templar were present in a body, and Sam- llel Johnson made an address on their behalf. May 13, 1893, Rev. Henry L. Badger resigned as Rector to take effect August 3, 1893. He expected to go to Washington State. On January 15, 1893, the interior of the Church was destroyed by fire. July 5, 1893. it was rebuilt. re-furnished with new inter- ior, carpet, pews and organ. December 23, 1893, the Rev. Dallas Tucker be- came the Rector of All Saints Church. February 4, 1894, a bronze tablet to the memory of Dr. Burr and wife was placed in the All Saints Church. The Rev. Dallas Tucker resigned as Rector of All Saints Church to locate in Virginia.

May 12, 1897, Rev. Joseph D. Herron was called from New Castle, Penn., and he has remained the Rector of the Church since. May 2, 1898, the vested

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choir was introduced into the Church. September 21, 1898, the publication of the "Church Echoes" was begun May 17, 1899, the Diocesan Convention of the Southern Diocese of Ohio was held in All Saints Church.

The German Evangelical Church.

The German Evangelical Church (Deutsche Vereinigte Evangelische Kirche) was organized in the year, 1838. Until 1851, there were two small congregations (Pastors Keberlen and Mayer,) which met for worship in the old "Seminary," corner Fifth and Court, and in a hall on Market street be- tween Second and Third streets. The two congregations were united in 1851 under Reverend Dr. Fisher of Chicago, and in 1853, a church was built on the south side of Fifth street between Washington and Chillicothe streets at a cost of $3.500.00. This building (now used by the Sunday School) is a plain brick structure with a seating capacity of about three hundred. The first church council (Kirchenrath) consisted of Messrs. Doerr, Kugelmann, Lust, layher, Lang, Metzger, Nagel and Wilhelm. In 1887, the new church building was erected at a cost of $23,000.00, a handsome brick edifice with a seating ca- pacity of about seven hundred. In 1891, the parsonage was built (on Fifth street next east of the church) at a cost of $3,700.00. The church organ is an excellent two manual instrument built by the Stein Co. The present choir consists of ten female and eight male voices. Mrs. George Kah is organist and director. The present vestry consists of Messrs. H. Graf, A. Kuschke, L. Knost, J. Stueber, H. Scott, H. Uhl, Jr., and C. Windel. The Sunday School numbers one hundred and fifty pupils, nineteen teachers and officers. Sup- erintendent Rev. A. Mallick. The list of Pastors, who have served in this church are: Keberlen and Mayer, 1838-51; Dr. Fisher, 1851-52; G. Weihle, 1852- 56; ; L. Alberti, 1856-59; H. Veith, 1859-66; J. C. Fleischhacker, 1866-69; B. T. W. Sickel, 1869-71; K. J. Zimmermann, 1871-75; P. Von Scheliha, 1875-81; C. Haas, 1881-83; F. Rahn, 1883-85; F. Baltzer, 1885-89; J. Dieterle, 1889-93; Adolph Mal- lick, 1893 to the present.

The German Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1839, the Revs. William Nast, D. D. and John Schwahlen, German Methodist preachers at Cincinnati, Ohio, visited the Germans at Portsmouth, Ohio. In 1844 Rev. Peter Schmucker visited the city and preached to the Germans at the residence of Stephen Brodbeck on the evening of the day of his arrival. On the next evening he preached again at the residence of Daniel Emrich. The class which was formed at this time was placed in charge of Rev. John Hoppen; regular services were held at the school house on Fourth street. The first quarterly meeting was held in the year 1844 to 1845 (Church year, September to September.) The first quarterly confer- ence was held at the residence of Daniel Emrich and was attended by official members from West Union, Piketon and Beaver, these places being appoint- ments of the circuit, to which Portsmouth had been added. The records of this conference were lost. At this time, twelve persons joined the church, "on probation." Among these were: Vincent Brodbeck, Stephen Brodbeck, and Daniel Emrich. Paul Brodbeck joined by letter from one of the English

· churches. In the fall of 1847 Rev. C. H. Doring was Presiding Elder and Rev. John Geyer was placed in charge of the congregation. The circuit then comprised the following appointments: Portsmouth, Piketon, Waverly, Beaver. West Union, Ohio and Maysville, Kentucky. On May 2, 1846, the quarterly conference resolved to build a church. A building lot was secured on the south side of Fourth street, west of Market. The trustees were: Vin- cent Brodbeck. Daniel Emrich, Stephen Brodbeck, Conrad Koch and David Ilch. The building committee was: Rev. J. H. Bahrenburg, Daniel Emrich and Vincent Brodbeck The building was 30x40 feet and two stories in height. The first floor was used for residence for the pastor and the Sunday school rooms. This building is yet standing and is used as a residence. This Church was dedicated on the first Sunday in April 1848, by Bishop Hamline and Rev. William Nast, D. D. The cost of the building was about $1,200.00 exclusive of labor and material furnished by members of the church, of which no record was preserved. A lot at the southwest corner of Fourth and Washington streets 83x107 feet was purchased in 1860. The foundation of the new church on this lot was laid in 1866 and the new church building was

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finished in 1867. This church costing $31,200 with the lot ($1,700.00 for the lot) was dedicated July 18, 1869. The building is 71x51 feet. It has a large steeple with a belfry, containing two bells. It is a two-story brick building and has a seating capacity of about 400, though 500 can be seated comfort- ably. The pipe organ cost about $2,000.00 and was built by Telemacher and Son of Erie, Pennsylvania. Mr. Albert Marting is chorister. A mixed choir of eighteen voices leads the singing. The officers of the church are: Presid- ing Elder, Rev. John H. Horst; Pastor, Rev. Ernest Werner; Trustees, F. L. Marting, J. M. Wendelken, Louis Blomeyer, John Gabler, Vincent P. Brod- beck, F. C. Herms, John P. Rau, Christ Zinnecker and Louis Clausing; Stew- ards, Albert F. Marting, Harry Kiefer, John W. Reissinger, J. Wesley Johns, Carn Boehnker, Louis Blomeyer and Ernest Lammers; class leader, Martin Reissinger; organist, Miss Edna Marting. In the Sunday School there are 115 scholars enrolled, 12 teachers, 7 officers, F. L. Marting is Superintendent. Names of pastors and years of service are the following: Rev. John Hopper, 1844; Rev. John Geyer, 1845-46; Rev. Fred Schimmelpfennig. assistant ; Rev. J. H. Bahrenburg, 1846-48; Rev. John Bier, 1848-49; Valentine Baldauf, assistant; Rev. Henry Koch, 1849-1850; Rev. Louis Heiss, assistant; Rev. Karl Schelfer, 1850-51; Rev. Conrad Bier, assistant; Rev. George Danker, 1851-52; Rev. C. F. Heitmeyer, 1852-53; Rev. Christian Vogel, 1853-54; Rev. George Weidmann, 1854-55; Rev. William Kaetter, 1855-57; Rev. C. G. Tritsche, sen- ior, 1857-59; Rev. E. F. Wunderlich, 1859-1860; Rev. X. Wittenbach, 1860-62; Rev. William Dressler, 1862-64; Rev. John Pfetzing, 1864-66; Rev. J. C. Weid- mann, 1866-69; Rev. C. G. Tritsche, senior, 1869-70; Rev. Henry G. Lich, 1870- 72; Rev. John Schneider, 1872-74; Rev. Gottlob Nachtrieh, 1874-77; Rev. E. J. Wunderlich, 1877-80; Rev. Herman Grentzenberg, 1880-82; Rev. Gottlob Trefz, 1882-83; Rev. Franz L. Nagler, 1883-85; Rev. John H. Horst, 1885-86; Rev. William Riechenmyer, 1886-88; Rev. Carl Bozenhard. 1888-92; Rev. W. A. Schraff, 1892-97; Rev. C. B. Koch, 1897-1901: Rev. E. W. Werner, 1901, present pastor.

Catholicity.

Catholicity in Scioto County covers a period of nearly a hundred years. The first mass was celebrated in Portsmouth by Rev. Stephen Baden, the first priest ordained in the United States, who visited Portsmouth while on his way from Baltimore to Covington, in 1812. Rev. Baden was ordained on May 25, 1793, by Bishop Carroll of Baltimore, the first Bishop in the United States, a brother of Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. From 1812 to 1842 mass was celebrated at various times and places in Portsmouth. Father Baden's last visit to Portsmouth was in 1835. A ten days mission was held here by Rev. T. R. Butler early in 1842.

The Church of the Nativity.

The first organized Catholic Church was in 1842. It was organized by Rev. Father G. O'Mealy and was composed of English and German speaking Catholics. Mass was celebrated in the humble apartments of some one of the congregation or in public halls until 1844, when Father O'Mealy purchased grounds on Third and Madison streets and built a church and rectory there- on. The new church was dedicated on Christmas day 1844. Prominent Cath- olics of this day were: Messrs. Saulsberry, Grimes, Toker, Sherer, Kehoe, Mires, Hubbard, Kricker, Zimmerman, Damarin, Bannon, Mrs. Damarin, Miss Tobin and Miss Damarin. Rev. E. Thienpont succeeded Rev. O'Mealy in No- vember 1845. Rev. R. Gilmour succeeded Rev. Thienpont in 1852. During the pastorate of Father Gilmour the congregation demanded that provision be made for separate churches, one for the English and one for the German speaking congregation, and accordingly the separation was made and Fath- er Gilmour took charge of the English speaking congregation, Rev. F. Karge of the German or St. Mary's Church.

The Church of the Holy Redeemer.

Rev. Father Gilmour purchased grounds on Sixth Street of Mr. Finley at a cost of $900 and here the Church of the Holy Redeemer was built in 1853. While this Church was building, mass was celebrated in the old Presbyterian Church on Second street. Rev. James Donahue who succeeded Father Gilmour

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in 1856, built the rectory and started the school. Rev. Michael Ahern, who succeeded Father Donahue in 1866, put the school under the supervision of the Sisters of Charity ot Cedar Grove. Rev. John Curley succeeded Father Ahern in August, 1867, but remained only a few months and was succeeded by Rev. O. A. Walker, who purchased the ground where the present school building stands, and introduced the Dominican Sisters as instructors. Rev.

Father Goldschmidt succeeded to the pastorate in October 1873 and dur- ing his pastorate the Dominican Sisters were recalled and the Sisters of St. Francis of Joliet, Illinois, were engaged. Rev. D. B. Cull, the next pastor, built the school on the land bought by Father Walker and se- cured the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky. Father Cull was succeed- ed in July, 1878, by Rev. Philip Steyle who purchased the cemetery and di- vided it into lots. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky, retired and Father Steyle secured the Sisters of St. Francis. In October, 1884, Rev. J. J. Slevin succeeded to the pastorate and remained here until September, 1886, when Rev. Joseph Schmitt succeeded to the pastorate which he held until January 15, 1899. The Church was remodeled and painted during his pas- torate. In January, 1899, Rev. Father McGuirk was appointed rector of the Church of the Holy Redeemer by Rt. Rev. Bishop Watterson, D. D. He re- paired and improved the church and rectory and paid about $3.000 of debts of long standing. Preparations for a new church building are being made and a large sum of money has already been collected, but the structure will not be commenced until the amount necessary to complete it is collected. The following are some of the societies of the Church of the Holy Redeemer:

"The Altar and Rosary," the "Young Ladies' Sodality of the Immaculate Con- ception," the "Sacred Heart Sodality," the "Apostleship of Prayer" and the "Ancient Order of Hibernians." The "Gibson Literary and Social Club is or- ganized from both parishes. "The Young Men's Institute" is composed also of young men of both congregations.

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.

The German Catholics under the leadership of Rev. F. Karge in 1859, bought a lot on the corner of Fifth and Market streets for $2,520. In 1864, a fine school building was erected at a cost of $3,000, and the foundation of the church was commenced. The corner stone of the new church was laid by the Rt. Rev. Rosecrans, Bishop of Colum- bus, on May 9, 1869. The new church was completed at a cost of $50,000 and was dedicated July 31, 1870. Rev. A. Nonnen succeeded to the pastorate April 25, 1871. The Church experienced great difficulties. The membership was small, they had no rectory and were in debt to the amount of $28,367. In face of this they went to work and erected a parsonage in the fall of 1871, at a cost of $2,400 and the next year, they built an addition to the school house at an additional cost of $1,100. In 1879, they purchased a large and beauti- ful pipe organ at a cost of $2.300, and two Gothic altars were placed in the church which cost $3.000. In 1887, the debt had been reduced $6,000, but a new

school

building

was

erected

which

REV. ALOYSIUS NONNEN. cost $16,000. In 1889, a parish cemetery was purchased which cost $5,000. In 1892, new heating apparatus was placed in the church at a cost of $2,515. In 1893, they purchased a house on the east side of the school building which was fitted up for a Sister's Convent, at a whole cost of $1,600. In 1895, at a cost

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THE CHURCHES.

of $6,200, they erected the highest and most beautiful tower in the city, and frescoed the interior of the church.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church.

It has been almost impossible to obtain any data in regard to this Church, which could be presented to the readers of this work. The Rev. Charleston was the first minister of this organization at Portsmouth. At that time, the members had a small church on Fifth street, between Court and Market streets. Later the organziation had a brick church on the corner of Fourth and Market streets. Rev. Henry Adrisson was for a time pastor, followed by the Rev. Isaac Dillon. This brick church on Fifth street was completed in 1846. On the 20th of July, 1868, the present church on the north side of Seventh street, east of Chillicothe street, was bargained for and on the 19th of No- vember, 1868, the deed for the same was executed and recorded. The purchase price was $3,500. Among the early trustees of the church on Seventh street were: John Cooper, Toles Moore and Granison Holman. Mr. John Q. Weav- er has always been prominent and efficient in the church. Among those who came from the brick church on Fifth street were: Wesley Benson, William Thomas, J. Q. Weaver, Mrs. Annie Kearns, Piety Wilson, Mrs. C. Williamson, Mrs. H. Cooper, Mrs. Weaver and others. The following have been the minis- ters of the church in the past 27 years:

Rev. Philip Tolliver, 1875-79; Louis Woodson, 1879-81; J. B. Stansberry, 1881-83; Joseph Nelson, 6 months in 1883; J. H. Bell, 1883-85; J. H. Cole, 1885- 87; H. W. Toney, 1887-89; Grafton Graham, 1889-90; Jesse Smith, 1890-92; R. P. Clark, 1892-1895; John Coleman, 1895-98: J. Allen Viney, 1898-99; J. M. Ross, 1899-1900; Andrew B. Morton, 1900 --. Perhaps the most prominent of these and the one who has left his impression on the church more than any one else is the Rev. Philip Tolliver. The church property is valued at $5,000. The parsonage was erected by the side of the church between 1889 and 1892. The church is 40x60 feet and will seat 500. There are 140 members.

First Baptist Church

was organized in January, 1850. The founders were J. H. Waldon, D. D. Jones, John Lionbarger, George Hered. The first board of trustees were David D. Jones, A. R. Cassidy, Moses C. Wilson, George Hered and S. H. Worcester. Rev. J. H. Waldon became the church's first pastor in 1850, serving for one year. The following are the pastors with date of service.

J. T. Roberts, 1851-55; W. Algood, 1855-57; W. W. Wyeth, 1858-60; I. D. King, 1860-66; W. B. Clark, 1867-70; C. H. DeWolf, 1870-73; T. M. Iams, 1873- 75; I. N. Clark, 1875-78; John Hawker, 1880-82; A. L. Lockert, 1882-90; J. A. Snodgrass, 1891-97; ; J. B. Tuttle, 1897-99; W. C. Stevenson, 1899 ---.

The house in which the Church now worships was built in 1851, costing about $10,000. It has a seating capacity of 350 sittings. There were fourteen constituent members, all of whom are deceased. From this small beginning the Church has greatly increased to a present membership of 375. The choir of the Church has always been noted for its musical ability. It consists now of 16 voices assisted by the pipe organ, all under the leadership of Mrs. A. J. White. The present officers are as follows, W. C. Stevenson, pastor. with the following persons who constitute the official board: George Wymer. Joseph Swander, C. C. Jones, Douglas Miller, Grant Doll, B. F. Richardson, Truss Lynn, Jr., U. G. Drake, Harry Morris, E. R. Peebles, Allan Cook, C. B. Rich- ardson, W. C. Roof, Albert Snider, Frank Littlefield and Mrs. A. J. White.

The Sunday school has a membership of 185 scholars with 20 officers and teachers. Allan B. Cook is the Superintendent.

The Church of Christ

is located on the northwest corner of Gay and Third streets. It is also known as the "Christian Church," and those familiar with the work of the Church of- ten speak of it as "Dr. Davis' Church." The congregation was organized in 1853. John Fox and Isaac Willett were the first Elders. The succession of ministers in the church were as follows: Wm. Nelson served from 1871-74; Al- bert F. Erb from 1876-78; Daniel O. Thomas from 1878-81; Gilbert Ellis from 1883-85; William L. Neal from 1887-88; Thomas E. White from 1889-90; Richard

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S. Groves from 1891-93; H. N. Allen from 1893-94; William A. Harp from Octo- ber 1894-October 1899; George P. Taubman canie in November 1899.

The first meeting house was built on Chillicothe street opposite Tracy Park in 1859. The house and lot cost $1,500. The Church had a precarious existence until John F. Davis moved to the city, took an interest in it and be- came a member. The building was then moved to Third and Gay streets in 1876 and was enlarged in 1878. It was rebuilt in 1895. The present structure cost about $22,000, and is made of brick with a seating capacity of 1,200 when all rooms are thrown together. There are forty-five voices in the choir un- der the direction of Prof. D. J. Winston. The present officers of the church are: Dr. J. F. Davis, Walter Bagby and George P. Taubman, Elders; L. G. Tatman, Albert Hales, W. W. Smith, E. G. Williams, George Davies, Charles Reinhard, A. D. McMurry, Wm. Cline, Orin Catlin, Deacons; A. D. McMurry, J. F. Davis, L. G. Tatman, Ezra Jeffords and Edward Bratt, Trustees. Some of the early members of the church were: John Fox and wife, Isaac Willett and wife, Moses Bratt and wife, A. Coriell, Moses Wilson, John McNeil, John M. Lynn and Mrs. Thomas Dugan. Three are living: Sarah Jane Barklow, Sarah Willett and A. Coriell. In the Sunday school there are eighteen officers, forty teachers and 850 pupils. The minister, George P. Taubman, is Superintendent. Moses McKoy was the first Evangelist to serve the congregation and he was follow- ed by Benjamin Franklin and a Mr. Doyle. The first meeting place was on Fifth and Court streets. The following Evangelists have been with the Con- gregation all doing efficient work; Robert Moffitt, Robert Trimble, Alanson Wil- cox, A. F. McLean, J. A. L. Romig, W. J. Wright, J. V. Updike, S. H. Bartlett, and S. M. Martin. During the last series of meetings under the leadership of S. M. Martin there were added to the church 289. The present membership is nearly 1,100. It has three Christian Endeavor Societies, one Woman's Mission- ary organization. Dr. John Frost Davis of this city is entitled to the credit for the success of the work.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 71

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913 Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans Number of Pages: 1612

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612