USA > Ohio > Butler County > Middletown > A history of the life and work of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown, Ohio (Dayton Presbytery) from its foundation in 1819 to 1919 > Part 2
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
In 1846 the same arrangement was effected. And in 1847 the pastoral relation between Mr. Morton and this church was dissolved by Presbytery. At the same time per- mission was asked and obtained, on the part of the church, to employ Rev. S. M. Templeton, who had just attached him- self to this Presbytery, by a regular dismission from the Presbytery of Coshocton. We do not know and have not been able to ascertain the age of Mr. Templeton, nor the length of time he had been preaching, or whether this was his first settlement, although we infer that he was young in the ministry if not in years from this fact, that a little memorandum book, which has fallen into our hands, in which
15
he kept the roll of his Sabbath School class while he was a student in the Seminary at Allegheny, bears date of the year 1839, but seven years prior to his coming here.
Mr. Templeton served the church as a stated supply for eighteen months. Then in the fall of 1848 he received a call to the pastorate of the church, but was never installed pas- tor. For what reason it does not appear. He obtained per- mission of the Presbytery to retain the call for six months in his hands without positively deciding upon it, and at the expiration of the six months renewed the request, which was again granted.
During the latter part of 1850, Mr. Morton, who, in the meantime, had been pastor of the Franklin Church, resigned his pastoral office and removed to Middletown and supplied jointly with Mr. Templeton the pulpit here for about a year.
During those years the church moved along quietly, noth- ing remarkable or unusual transpiring to distinguish them. Some twenty-five persons in all, upon profession of faith and by certificate, were added to the church. Mr. Templeton died at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, some time between 1860 and 1865.
In 1853 Mr. Morton was invited to supply the pulpit of this church for six months. It was about this time that the church became entirely self-sustaining. For at this date we find the last appropriation ordered by Presbytery for the assistance of the church. About this time, too, the church began to lay plans for a new building, but of this proposal no minutes or records of any kind seem to have been kept, or if made they were long since lost, excepting a faded subscrip- tion list recently unearthed, and in which may be found names of many living members of this community. The re- sult of those plans is seen in the building which the church now. occupies. It was begun in 1854 and finished in 1856, its probable cost being from ten to twelve thousand dollars. The building committee was Dr. G. E. Wampler, Thomas Wilson, John L. Martin and Wm. S. Young. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. J. S. Kemper, of Dayton, in the summer of 1856.
About this time Mrs. James Brookfield, a member of this church died and left by will the sum of five hundred dollars
16
Pastor 1867-72. Rev. Joshua L. Russell,
Rev. Joseph W. Clokey, Pastor 1873-78. Mr. Ciokey was a leader in the early temperance crusades.
17
to the church, which bequest was appropriated in the build- ing of the church. Mrs. Brookfield presented to the church the silver baptismal bowl yet in use. This bowl is itself an object of some interest. It is at least one hundred and twen- ty-five years old and bears these inscriptions :
"The Gift of Thomas Villett to Cornelius Van Scis, August, 1747 A. D. Success to the Brig Fanny." "Presented to the Presbyterian Church at Middletown, Ohio, by Mrs. Brookfield, August 1st, 1845."
And thus this which was once a wine bowl for revelry upon the high seas, is now a quiet vessel in the Sanctuary of the Lord, unlike the old time vessels of the Lord which were taken from the Temple to grace the Babylon Bacchanals. Sometime history, instead of repeating, reverses itself.
Rev. Morton continued to supply the church until April, 1856, when he was a second time called to be its pastor. He accepted the call and Thursday, April 29th, was appointed as the day of installation. Rev. J. S. Kemper was appointed to preside and preach the sermon, Rev. J. H. Brooks to de- liver the charge to the pastor and Rev. J. Coe to the people. Unavoidable circumstances prevented the installation at the appointed time and the service was held October 3rd.
During these three years (1853-1856) five elders were added to the session-Wm. Mitchell and Dr. Samuel R. Evans were elected February 19th, 1854-Dr. P. Vander- veer, Wm. M. Mills and Stephen E. Giffin (the latter after- ward removed to Hamilton, served efficiently in the Session of that church for years and died in 1869), were elected and ordained in February, 1856. At the same time Messrs. J. S. Clark, Peter Butler and Solomon Brock were elected and ordained deacons. This period seems to have been charac- terized by great spiritual activity, and may almost be de- scribed a continuous revival. Ninety two were added to the church, sixty-two of them on profession of faith in Jesus Christ. From this time until the spring of 1865, a little
18
Our Second Church Building.
Erected on the site of the present building, northeast corner of Fourth and Main Streets. Dedicated, 1856. The material in this build- ing was used in the construction of the Oakland Church in 1892.
19
more than seven years, Mr. Morton continued to be pastor of the church. During this time seventy-seven were added to the church. Death having made inroads upon the Session and some members having removed, in November, 1861, David Mumma and Horace P. Clough were elected and or- dained elders. Also in March, 1864, P. P. LaTourrette and David E. Taylor were elected, but Dr. Taylor declined to serve.
On March 26th, 1865, Mr. Morton resigned the pastor- ate. For the next two years, from June, 1865, to 1867, Rev. G. I. Taylor served the church as stated supply. Nine mem- bers were added to the church. Four elders and five dea- cons were also elected in April, 1866, viz .: Alexander Ure, Thomas Wilson, J. G. Clarke and R. K. McIlhenny, elders ; John Blair, John Kemp, C. B. Johnson, James C. King and Langdon Sheaff, deacons.
The two last named have since removed from the bounds of this church, Langdon Sheaff to occupy the position of su- perintendent of the Y. M. C. Association, first in Cincinnati, and afterward in Cleveland, Ohio.
THIRD PERIOD 1867-1872.
D URING the spring of 1867 the church building was re- modeled and greatly improved in its internal arrange- ments. A pipe organ was purchased and set up in a recess constructed for it, in the rear of the pulpit.
In June, 1867, a unanimous call was extended to Rev. Joshua L. Russell, a recent graduate of Princeton Theolog- ical Seminary and a licentiate of the Presbytery of Miami. The call was accepted by him, and on the 16th of August following he was ordained and installed pastor of this church by the appointment of Presbytery. Rev. T. E. Thomas, D. D., of Dayton, preached the sermon, Rev. John B. Morton, of Middletown, presided and proposed the con- stitutional questions, Rev. E. R. Bower, of Springfield, de- livered the charge to the pastor, Rev. H. W. Taylor, of Franklin, the charge to the people.
The church about this time seems to have received a baptism of the spirit of zeal and energy and its growth in every respect was constant and marked. This condition
20
continued until the fall of 1869 when the signs of earnest Christian life and work became still more abundant. The prayer meeting began rapidly to increase in numbers. The Sabbath services were characterized by an almost painful solemnity. The attendance on the preaching of the word in- creased till every available spot in the church was occupied. The people seemed to be hungry for the truth, and the more purely Jesus Christ and Him crucified was preached, the bet- ter did they appear to be satisfied. Daily meetings were appointed and largely attended for weeks. The power of God's spirit was manifest. The members of the church were revived. Impenitent men and women began to inquire into their personal duties and obligations. Deep convictions succeeded ; sins were confessed, pardon was sought, peace was found. The old and the young alike felt the need of Jesus Christ. Sabbath after Sabbath newly pardoned souls confessed Christ in the presence of His people until in the three months succeeding the "Week of Prayer" more than one hundred had been, as in Pentecostal days, added to the Lord and to His Church. In nine cases both heads of fami- lies came together to profess their faith in Jesus and to walk as heirs together of the grace of Christ. Verily of this sea- son it may be written that "He brought us into His banquet- ing house and His banner over us was love. There was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing." The influence of this remarkable revival upon the life and history of the church can not well be exaggerated. It estab- lished the church strongly. It inspired it with hope and courage. It infused fresh life blood into it. It gave the peo- ple a sense of the divine favor and implanted a spirit which has never departed since, as may be seen in the continued accessions that marked the remainder of this pastorate and the succeeding one. And in the character of the majority of those who united with the church at this time the church was especially blessed. They were chiefly mature men and women, and their incoming gave the church a sense of strength which has made her like a strong man rejoicing to run a race.
In April, 1869, Charles S. Barnitz and John Breeding were elected and ordained deacons.
21
On the 29th of July, 1870, this church celebrated its "Semi-Centennial" anniversary. A history of the church was read by the pastor, Rev. J. L. Russell. Addresses were delivered by Rev. J. L. Belleville and J. B. Morton, also by Rev. T. E. Thomas, D. D., then pastor of the First Presby- terian Church of Dayton, Ohio. Letters were read from Rev. George I. Taylor, Alexander Guy, Wm. Cassidy and others associated with the church as ministers or members in years past. Withal it was a most profitable occasion, re- viving old and blessed memories of divine grace and provi- dence, stimulating the faith of God's people in the Covenant promises of God and implanting hope and courage for the future.
In the spring of 1871 the church at a congregational meeting by a full and fair vote adopted the plan of electing elders and deacons for the limited terms.
During the summer of 1871 a preaching post was estab- lished at Jacksonburg, a village six miles west of Middle- town. A number of persons having been converted under the preaching of the word, and others who in former years had been in connection with some evangelical denomination, but who had long been deprived of the regular means of grace, being quickened and revived spiritually, it was felt de- sirable that a church should be organized at this place. Hence the Presbytery of Dayton was petitioned by a number of persons, who pledged themselves to become members of such an organization, to establish a Presbyterian church at Jack- sonburg. The petition was granted, and the church was organized. The church at Jacksonburg was very justly re- garded as the offspring of the Middletown church. It orig- inated in the labors and preaching of the pastor of the Mid- dletown church, assisted by the earnest efforts of a zealous and faithful Christian band.
In the month of September, 1872, Rev. J. L. Russell was called to the pastorate of the Park Presbyterian Church, of Dayton, and at its meeting Presbytery, in the same month, translated him to take charge of the Park church.
During these five years from 1867 to 1872 the church was greatly strengthened. It grew from a membership of one hundred to almost three hundred, and such was its strength
22
not only numerically, but spiritually and socially, that it passed easily to the first place among the churches in the town.
During the pastorate about seventy members were re- ceived by certificate, one hundred and thirty-one on exam- ination, thirty-six infants were baptized and fifty-nine adults. There were also sixty funerals and thirty-four wed- dings at which the pastor officiated.
FOURTH PERIOD-1870 TO 1919.
We have in our church today as one of our most active workers and faithful attendants a distant relative of our first pastor, Rev. Francis Monfort. Her father was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for forty-two years and clerk of the Session in our Church for about thirty-six years of the last half century. No doubt very frequently the work of the church and its interests were the subject of the meal-time and fireside conversations in her home. For these reasons, as well as because of her ability and interest in the work, it is only fitting and proper that the story as told by Mr. Rus- sell should be continued by this member, Miss Josephine LaTourrette. This she has done most acceptably.
F OR a period of seven months after the close of Rev. J. L.
Russell's labors the church was without a pastor. At the end of that time, on April 22, 1873, a call was made out to Rev. Joseph W. Clokey to become its pastor. This call was immediately accepted by him and his labors began on the first Sabbath of May of that year. The installation services took place June 5, 1873. Rev. J. H. Montgomery, of the Third Street Presbyterian Church, of Dayton, Ohio, preached the sermon. Rev. J. R. Hughes, of the Memorial Church, of Dayton, presided and proposed the constitutional questions and delivered the charge to the people. Rev. Sam- uel Findlay, D. D., of the New Jersey Church, delivered the charge to the pastor.
This pastorate, so happily begun, continued for five years when Mr. Clokey was released July 3, 1878, to accept a call to the First Church of New Albany, Indiana. During his ministry here our church was blessed by two gracious out- pourings of the Holy Spirit, the one occurring at the begin-
23
ning of the year 1875 and lasting nearly two months; the other in the spring of 1877 and continuing over one month. The first of these awakenings was remarkable for its results among the adults ; the second, for its results among the chil- dren.
The attendance, both at the services on the Sabbath and at prayer meeting, was very large, averaging on Wednesday evening no less than 100 the year round, often running up to 140 and 150 persons.
The Young People's Association grew out of these same awakenings, having a membership of nearly 100 and an average attendance of 50 and often running up to 70 and 80.
The statistics of this pastorate are: Two hundred and twenty-seven added to the church, 156 being admitted by profession ; of these, 67 were baptized; of the 156, 79 were over twenty years of age, 29 were over forty years of age, 14 were over fifty years of age, 3 between seventy and eighty years, 1 was over eighty years, and 1 over ninety years. At the close of this remarkable pastorate the church roll num- bered 487 members.
Mr. Clokey was a faithful pastor, popular among the young people and well liked by the citizens of the town. He was a man of ability and of strong convictions, prominent in every movement for the betterment of Middletown and very active in the Temperance Crusade which occurred dur- ing his pastorate here. Mr. Clokey passed away August 17, 1919. He had been busily engaged in writing reminis- cences for this centennial celebration when he was suddenly stricken with the illness which resulted in his death.
There was an interim of a few months after Mr. Clokey's labors closed during which all the services of the church were held regularly. Then on November 12, 1878, a con- gregational meeting was held and a unanimous call was ten- dered to Rev. Thomas H. Hench to become pastor. Mr. Hench accepted the call, and on December 8, 1878, entered upon his work here as pastor-elect.
The rotary system of electing the Ruling Elders and Deacons had been adopted by the church in 1871 during Mr. Russell's pastorate. This system had not proved satisfac- tory to the congregation, neither had it been conducive to
24
Rev. Thomas H. Hench, Pastor 1878-83.
harmony in the church, so at a congregational meeting held May, 1879, it was almost unanimously resolved that the church abolish the rotary system and return to the perma- nent system of office bearers, and this system has continued to the present time. The elders elected at this time were J. W. Hill, Montgomery Patton, John Blair, Alexander Ure, Alexander Hill and P. P. LaTourrette. The deacons elected were James B. Hartley, Dr. C. S. Barnitz, Wm. Caldwell, James McClellan and Dr. I. N. Foote.
This period of unrest and dissatisfaction greatly embar- rassed the pastor-elect and interfered with the growth and progress of the work, but from this time the church in- creased in peace and harmony during his stay with us. His installation having been deferred, now took place in Octo- ber, 1879. Rev. W. J. McKnight, of Springfield, preached the sermon and presided ; Dr. W. W. Colmery, of Oxford, de- livered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. J. H. Montgomery, of Dayton, the charge to the people.
Mr. Hench has himself testified to the very pleasant and cordial relations existing between the pastor and people dur-
25
ing the settlement of the matter mentioned above, and that every one respected his independent and impartial position.
After the restoration of harmony in the church there were not wanting tokens of the divine blessing on the church, especially in 1882. After the week of prayer the church en- joyed a season of awakening which resulted in the addition of more than 36 persons by letter and on confession of faith.
During the summer of 1881 the congregation expended over $3,000 in repairing and remodeling the church. The pews were repainted in walnut, walls and ceiling were fres- coed, stained glass windows were put in, new carpets were placed on the floor, a walnut pulpit and handsome chairs were placed on the platform and the organ was thoroughly repaired and the pastor's study was renovated and refur- nished.
An effort made to organize a missionary society during Mr. Hench's first year failed because of opposition and lack of a general missionary spirit. After a year or two the pas- tor's wife succeeded in organizing a society. She also or- ganized a Mission Band in her Sabbath School class, into which one or two other classes were received.
During the first two years of this pastorate there was an unusually large number of deaths among the members of the church and congregation, some of them leading persons in the church and community, such as Mr. George Jacoby. Mr. Thomas Wilson, Mr. David Mumma, a much beloved elder at that time, Mrs. Alexander Hill and others.
Mr. Hench was a man of pleasing personality, well liked in the church and community, a spiritual and Godly man, a faithful pastor, who felt he was not successful in doing the Lord's work here, and so at his own request the pastoral re- lation was dissolved by Presbytery, and he closed his pastor- ate here on Sabbath, May 27, 1883.
Rev. John Ballard Morton, for twenty-one years stated supply and pastor of this church, died on the 31st of March, 1882, during this pastorate.
After the termination of the pastorate of Rev. Thomas H. Hench, the pulpit was supplied by different ministers until August 4, 1883, when at a congregational meeting called for the purpose a unanimous call was tendered Rev.
26
Heber A. Ketchum, of Portsmouth, Ohio, to become pastor. The church in this instance departed from the usual custom in calling a pastor, as Mr. Ketchum was called without ever having visited the church and without even being personally known except to a very few of the members. A short time after receiving the call he visited the church, spent several days here and occupied the pulpit on the Sabbath to the gen- eral satisfaction of the congregation. Being well satisfied himself, he in due time accepted the call and made prepara- tions for moving here. When he made application to Ports- mouth Presbytery to dissolve his pastorate with the Second Presbyterian Church at Portsmouth, that church protested so strongly against it that Presbytery declined to sever the pastoral relation. This was a sore disappointment to our people.
After this several candidates were heard without satis- factory results, when on November 15, 1883, the Session act- ing upon the expressed wishes of a number of the members employed Rev. Henry B. Elliott, D. D., to supply the pulpit until the spring meeting of Presbytery, and at the annual meeting of the congregation on the last Saturday in March, 1884, the Session was authorized to employ Dr. Henry B. El- liott for six months longer which was done.
Mr. Elliott was an evangelical, scholarly and able minis- ter of the Gospel, and faithful in the discharge of pastoral work and much beloved by the older members of the church.
From the Sessional Record the following is taken : At a congregational meeting September 18, 1884, the following paper was presented and unanimously adopted and ordered to be spread on the Sessional Records : "The Rev. H. B. Elli- ott, D. D., having signified his intention of retiring from the supply of our pulpit at the expiration of his present en- gagement with us, we take this occasion as a congregation to express our entire confidence in him as a man and as a Christian minister and most cordially bear testimony to the zeal and fidelity with which he has served our church for the past year, as well as to his rare ability as an expounder of the Word, being a workman, indeed, that needeth not to be ashamed. Our prayers and good wishes will follow him into whatever field his future lot may be cast."
27
Rev. Scott F. Hershey, Pastor 1884-87.
Rev. George M. McCampbell, Pastor 1890-95.
28
Dr. Elliott was called higher just about a year ago, dur- ing the summer of 1918, in New York City.
Dr. Elliott's pastorate closed about the middle of October, 1884, after which several candidates were heard, but no one was tendered a call.
In November Rev. Scott F. Hershey, Ph.D., was invited to supply us for a Sabbath or two, and his ministrations proving so acceptable to the congregation, he was, on the 17th day of December, 1884, employed as stated supply to the 1st of April, 1885. Mr. Hershey was at that time a member of the Lancaster (Ohio) Classis of the Reformed German Church.
Mr. Hershey was employed with the understanding that the privilege of hearing other candidates during the time be reserved. April 1st, the Session being satisfied it was the desire of the congregation that the labors of Mr. Hershey be continued as stated supply of the church, entered into an agreement with him to supply us for six months more or until the fall meeting of Presbytery, with the understanding that it be continued for one year from that time with ap- proval of Presbytery.
From the beginning Mr. Hershey's ministrations were well received. The attendance at both the Sabbath services largely increased and continued to increase, as did the Wednesday evening prayer meetings. While there was no great religious awakening there were steady accessions to the church. No communion season passed without additions to the church. There were more than one hundred and five new members received, most of them being young people, as Mr. Hershey and his wife were both very popular among the young people, and as a result they steadily increased in num- bers at all the church services.
Mrs. Hershey organized a class of young men, beginning with one member, and increasing to thirty or more, most of whom were from outside the church. She also took great in- terest in the Mission Band of Willing Workers which, quot- ing from the church narrative, raised $115.00 in one year, $25.00 of which was contributed toward a scholarship in Alaska. The Woman's Society and the Home and Foreign
29
Missionary Societies also became more active. In fact, all branches of church work showed renewed activity.
The church built and equipped a substantial manse ad- joining the church at a cost of about $5,041, which was pro- vided for, and our church was entirely free from debt at the close of Mr. Hershey's labors, and seemed in a prosperous condition. On September 25, 1887, Mr. Hershey's work among us ceased, he having accepted a call to the Sixth Pres- byterian Church at Washington, D. C.
Mr. Alexander Hill, an honored member of the Session, and Mrs. Caroline Corson, wife of Dr. John Corson, died during this pastorate.
The regular services of the church continued after Mr. Hershey closed his work here, different ministers preaching for us, until on March 20, 1888, a hearty and unanimous call was given to the Rev. W. J. McConkey, of Grove City, Pa., to become pastor. After due deliberation, Mr. McConkey declined to accept the call.
At a congregational meeting held on June 18, 1888, Rev. J. M. Simonton, of Danville, Pa., was voted a unanimous call to become pastor of this church. Mr. Simonton accepted the call and entered upon his work as pastor-elect September 2, 1888. On October 16, 1888, he was duly installed as pastor of the church. Rev. W. A. Hutchison preached the sermon, presided and propounded the constitutional questions. Rev. G. W. Gowdy, of the New Jersey Church, delivered the charge to the people, and Rev. S. S. Cryer, of the Cincinnati Presbytery, gave the charge to the pastor.
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.