USA > Ohio > Hardin County > A twentieth century history of Hardin County, Ohio : a narrative account of its historical progress its people and principal interests, Vol. I > Part 30
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Vol. I-19
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
Kenton Veterinary Hospital occupies a substantial frame building on West Franklin street, a little west of the Big Four depot. The build- ing which cost $3,000, was opened on September 25, 1907. In February of the next year an addition was added at a cost of $1,000. Dr. I. A. Wynn, a skilled veterinary surgeon, owns and manages the hospital, which is one of Kenton's growing institutions. Up to September 25, 1909, 280 horses had been treated, besides other animals. The hospital is well equipped with all modern applianees for taking care of sick and injured animals, including an ambulance which may be used by citizens of the county for their live stoek free of charge.
Kenton's dry goods stores: J. S. Armitage and Company, estab- lished their store in its present location, northeast eorner Publie Square, July 1, 1906. Since then many improvements have been made including a fine new front. The store consists of two floors and the building is one hundred feet long. A general line of dry goods, curtains, eloaks and suits is carried. Seven clerks are employed with extra help on Saturdays.
The firm of Nourse and Caine established their store at the north- west corner of the Public Square, August 1, 1901, and ever sinee have been quite successful. They carry a fine line of millinery, eurtains, eloaks, suits and general dry goods. They occupy a large and eom- modious building with 11,750 square feet of floor space and employ thirty-one clerks.
M. Schick and Company have the largest dry goods store in the eity and occupy a floor space of 25,000 square feet. They carry the usual line of dry goods, rugs, silks, millinery, suits, cloaks and notions. This store was established in 1884. It is located in an elegant building on the north side of the Square and employs thirty people.
C. B. Fink, in eonneetion with his carpet and musie store, handles dry goods, as does J. A. Scheetla in connection with his stove store. C. ยท E. Wharton also has a dry goods department in his raeket store near the Big Four railroad.
The Cement Block and Roofiing Company of Kenton started in a modest way July 31, 1905, to manufacture cement products, and during the short time it has been in existenee has grown steadily. At first one building and one or two town lots were oceupied, and a foree of ten or fifteen men employed. The factory is located at the corner of Grove and Vine streets, west of the Big Four railroad, where it is convenient to ship the manufactured articles. All kinds of eement work is done here, and products are in great demand in this and other counties. At present two large buildings and ten town lots are required for the work. Thirty men are employed and the business is growing rapidly. John Herzog is the president and Samuel Pfeiffer the secretary of the eompany.
Near the junetion of the Erie and Big Four railway is located the plant of the Orr Stave Company. This company has only been estab- lished a few years, and in the spring of 1909 suffered a great loss because
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of fire. However the buildings are rapidly being replaced by new ones and business has been resumed.
The Kenton Gas Engine Works is located near the Big Four rail- road in the northwestern part of the city.
CHURCHES OF KENTON. The First Methodist church, the first religious organization in Kenton, began its existence in 1832 in the little cabin built by George H. Houser somewhere near the present site of the Crystal Ice Plant on the north bank of the Scioto river. The little church had eight members and from this small class, as it was then called, it grew into the flourishing congregation of more than seven hundred members of the present day. The first revival was held in 1835 by Rev. Flemming, the first M. E. preacher of Kenton. The cabin gave way successively to better and better church buildings. until now the members worship in a fine brown stone structure on the corner of Main and North streets which, including improvements which have since been added, cost about fifty thousand dollars. Of course none of the charter members survive, but Mrs. William Cary, Mrs. Walter King and Mrs. William Dougherty, who joined the church shortly after the pioneer period, still survive, and occasionally attend services.
Preaching in cabins by circuit riders continued until 1836, when the first log schoolhouse in Kenton was used for services. In 1839 the frame church, which was the first regular meeting house, was built on the same lot with the log schoolhouse, and was used until 1852 when a brick building situated where Mrs. Daniel Sullivan's residence now stands on Main street was opened, and dedicated to the worship of God. However the little frame building which was at first 35 by 40 feet had to be enlarged and when finished was twice its former length. This caused it to be know as the "steamboat church." A new era dawned for the congregation when the fine brick church was opened in 1852. Prior to this time Kenton was not a station, but was on a circuit with a minister in charge of this and several other churches at once. In 1852 Rev. John S. Kalb was made the resident minister and ever since Kenton has been a separate charge. The building was a two story structure and cost about $10.000. In 1866 the building was remodeled at a cost of $7,000 and two years later some other repairs were made. In 1885 the old seats were replaced by new ones, new carpets were put in and extensive repairs made in various parts of the building. In 1887 the pipe organ was purchased for $2,500.
Fire destroyed this church on January 19, 1890, and a month later the members decided not to rebuild on the old site. A location at the corner of Main and North was purchased, and the cornerstone of the new building laid May 25, 1890, by Rev. L. A. Belt, assisted by other ministers. It is a beautiful building well lighted and well ventilated, with a seating capacity perhaps of greater than any other church in
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FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, KENTON, OHIO
town. The basement which is used for entertainments, socials, and for the primary department of the Sunday school, is a fine large room with kitchen and toilet and furnace rooms attached, and is the largest of its kind in the city. The audience room has opera seats, hardwood floor, fine stained glass win- dows inscribed with the names of many of the pio- ncers of the church, and back of it, separated by a curtain of art glass, is the large Sun- day school room with its class rooms all opening into it. When class rooms and all available space are used, this church has a seating capacity of more than twelve hundred. There are also commodious rooms for the pastor's study and class meetings.
The church keeps up a flourishing Sunday school, an
Epworth League for the young people, Junior Epworth League, mid-week Prayer service, Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, Home Guards, Mothers' Jewels, Aid Society and The King's Heralds. The list of pastors appears elsewhere. Three times in the history of the church the Central Ohio Conference was held here-in 1861, 1881 and 1888- and many conventions of various kinds have also been held in the church.
In 1846 the quaint little brick house that many of the residents of Kenton remember as the first Methodist parsonage, was built on the lot opposite the Baptist church. It was torn down a few years ago to make room for a dwelling house. was built on North Main street.
In 1874 the parsonage now in use Except for a few repairs and modern improvements it is the same as when first built, and bids fair to last many years as a home for Methodist ministers and their families.
Pastors of First Methodist Episcopal church, Kenton, organized in 1832, by Rev. Alexander Thompson : 1834 to 1835, Revs. Kinnear, Philip Nation and Harvey Camp; 1835, Rev. Flemming; 1836 to 1843, Revs. Brakefield, Philip Wareham. Martin Welch and Shaw; 1843, W. W. Nickerson, Sr. Minister, Rev. Phillips, Jr .; 1844, C. Thomas; 1845,
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N. H. Barker ; 1846, H. P. Ward and A. Rumfield, Jr .; 1848, J. Blam- pied, Sr., T. J. Guard, Jr .; 1850, W. J. Wells, Sr., W. W. Winter, Jr. ; 1851, W. J. Wells, Sr., J. M. Holmes, Jr. ; 1852, John S. Kalb; 1853, J. M. Holmes; 1854, G. W. Collier; 1855, T. J. Monnett; 1857, C. W. Kitchen ; 1859, C. S. Ferris; 1861, A. Nelson ; 1863, Joseph Avers ; 1864, A. Harmount; 1865, C. Reynolds; 1868, W. W. Winter; 1870, Ambrose Hollington ; 1873, Isaac Newton; 1876, S. L. Roberts; 1877, Dark S. Donaldson (died) ; 1877, Thomas H. Wilson (appointed to fill out time) ; 1878, D. D. Mather; 1880, J. A. Ferguson ; 1883, Oliver Kennedy ; 1885, Isaac R. Henderson ; 1888, Wilbur J. Hodges; 1893, E. D. Whit- lock; 1894, Thomas H. Campbell; 1899, James Fitzwater; 1900, J. Bethards; 1901, Richard D. Hollington; 1905, Frank H. Essert; and 1907, Elmer E. MeCaminon.
Three years after the organization of Hardin county, in 1836, the First Presbyterian church of Hardin county, Ohio, was organized, with Eri Strong and Reading Hineline as its elders. Two years later, by the action of the Presbytery of Findlay in session at Lima, Ohio, its name was changed to the First Presbyterian church of Kenton. In 1838 Rev. J. B. Clark took charge of the church as its first stated supply, re- maining until June 12, 1842. During this time Isaac Mathews, Solomon Adams and Hugh Pugh were elected additional elders. The meetings in these earliest years were divided between the old courthouse, the frame schoolhouse which stood on the corner of Carrol and Market streets, and private dwellings. In the autumn of 1842 Rev. John Ustie began his labors, which continued until April, 1848. Early in 1843 steps were taken toward the erection of a church building, and by summer of that year a frame building had been erected on the southwest corner of Columbus and Market streets. The total subscriptions toward this building were $343.50, of which only $39.00 was paid in cash. Jacob Schoonover was the contractor and builder, and much of the material had to be hauled from Tiffin, Sandusky City and Cincinnati, whither the goods donated were taken to be sold. The church had a steeple and a bell (purchased in Cincinnati in November, 1846, at a cost of $110) and at the time of its erection was the finest publie building in Kenton.
During Mr. Ustic's pastorate of five years and six months fifty-five members united with the church. After an interval of nearly a year the Rev. James E. Marquis was called to the pastorate, giving one-fourth of his time, however, to the Huntersville charge. The salary at this time was $400 per annum for the three-fourths of his time. Forty-six persons were received into membership during Mr. Marquis' ministry, which terminated in 1854. For more than two years thereafter the pulpit seems to have been irregularly supplied, the longest periods being
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those of Rev. William Young and Rev. John Wiseman. The next regular pastor was the Rev. William Dalzell, who remained until 1860, and during whose ministry thirty-five persons were received into mem- bership. Ile was followed by the Rev. J. K. Kost, whose labors of two years brought twenty-two members as their fruitage. On December 2, 1862, the Rev. L. C. Cheney began what has been termed "a fearless advocacy of the truth at a time 'when the brave began to fear the power of man, and the pious to almost doubt the favors of God.'" But after a pastorate of only eighteen monthis, death brought his earthly labors to a close, leaving the church pastorless at what proved to be a trying time to this as well as many other congregations. At one time there were only three male members who could be de- pended upon for active ehureh work.
In December, 1864, the Rev. IT. R. Peairs took np the pas- torate, and a year later steps were taken looking toward the erection of a more commodious chureh building. The work was commenced in the follow- ing May, with a subseription list of more than $10,000, and PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, KENTON, OIHO by the next spring the base- ment was ready for oeenpaney. The old building was sold to the German Reformed congregation and removed to the second lot west of its old site, where it suffered destruction in the fire of 1881. The bell purchased in 1846, however, was retained by the church, and continued its summons to divine worship until the same fateful fire brought an end to its historie career. On February 24, 1867, the new building was dedicated to the worship and service of God. Mr. Peairs continued his pastorate until October, 1870, having received into mem- bership 144 persons. After an interval of two months he was sue- eeeded by the Rev. I. G. Hall, under whose inspiration the indebtedness remaining upon the building was finally cancelled, on oeeasion of the church's thirty-eighth anniversary. The cost of the structure, inehid- ing interest, was approximately $17,000. Mr. IIall received into
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membership 96 persons, and terminated his ministry by resignation September 1, 1876.
The next pastor was the Rev. Henry M. Robertson, whose pastorate extended to December, 1881, with additions numbering 71. In May of that year occurred the disastrous fire above alluded to, leaving the Presbyterian congregation homeless after "years of sacrifice and self- denial." A temporary home was found in the vacant Baptist church, while plans were formulated for rebuilding. Meanwhile the church had called the Rev. S. J. Bogle, who was installed in April, 1882. The lecture room of the new building was occupied early in that year, but the entire structure was not completed until 1886. Up to the present time (August, 1909) this building remains unchanged except in two particulars, an extension of the gallery (about doubling its seating capacity), and the addition of a pastor's study, a large, convenient roon at the rear of the auditorium. The property at the corner of Market and Columbus streets, directly opposite the church, was then purchased for a manse, making a convenient and suitable home for pastors, espec- ially after certain interior alterations had been made.
During the pastorate of the Rev. S. J. Bogle 329 members were received. Mr. Bogle resigned in October, 1893, and was succeeded in January, 1894, by the Rev. J. II. Whistler, who remained exactly three years. Ninety-six members were added during this time. In January, 1897, the Rev. J. W. Fulton became pastor, continuing his work for five years, during which one hundred and twenty-six persons were added to the membership. From March, 1902, until August, 1905, the Rev. W. M. Hindman, D. D., was pastor, resigning to accept a call to the First church of Chillicothe, Ohio. One hundred and sixty-seven names were added to the roll as the result of his labors. In March, 1906, the Rev. Raymond M. Huston was called to the pastorate, con- tinuing until January 1, 1909, when he took up the work in the church at Mansfield. There was received under his ministrations eighty men- bers. The present pastor, the Rev. U. S. Bartz, Ph. D., D. D., was in- stalled April 29, 1909. The congregtion is prosperous and harmonious and actively engaged in all the departments of modern church work. The communicant membership on August 1, 1909, was 466 (not including a number on the "reserved roll"). The present elders are, in the order of priority, J. C. Miller, W. D. Dean, J. L. Clark, W. II. Seymour, Cyrus HIofsteater, J. A. Grove, James Watt, Professor T. C. Ferguson, Dr. W. C. Emery, and W. M. Segar. The present trustees are John B. Sey- mour, James Morrison, Geo. W. O'Neal, John H. Smick, A. G. Merriman, and Jas. L. Moore. Other officers are as follows: President Board of Deaconesses, Mrs. Geo. Leighton; Superintendent Bible School, H. T. Miller ; Superintendent Chapel S. S., C. E. Harbison; President Finance Society, Mrs. F. C. Dougherty ; President Woman's H. and F. Missionary
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Society, Mrs. E. T. Bogardus; President Men's Brotherhood, Geo. E. Crane ; President Y. P. S. C. E., R. E. Harris; Superintendent Junior C. E., Miss Mabel Brewer; Organist, Mrs. James Watt.
List of pastors of the First Presbyterian church: Rev. J. B. Clark, 1838-1842; Rev. John Ustie, 1842-1848; Rev. James E. Marquis, 1849- 1854; Rev. William Young, 1854-1855; Rev. John Wiseman, 1855; Rev. William Dalzell, 1857-1860; Rev. J. K. Kost, 1860-1862; Rev. L. C. Cheney, 1862-1864; Rev. H. R. Peairs, 1864-1870; Rev. I. G. Hall, 1870- 1876 ; Rev. Henry M. Robertson, 1876-1882 ; Rev. S. J. Bogle, 1882-1894 ; Rev. John Henry Whistler, 1894-1897; Rev. John W. Fulton, 1897-1902; Rev. W. M. IFindman, D. D., 1902-1906 ; Rev. Raymond M. Huston, 1906- 1909 ; and Ulysses S. Bartz, Ph. D., D. D., 1909. Of the above list the first eleven pastors (including Rev. Henry M. Robertson) are deceased.
As near as can be determined the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church of Kenton was organized about 1838 by Rev. Fuhrmann of Springfield, and in 1840 they had a regular pastor, Rev. Tanke. In
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH, KENTON, OHIO
1844 a small church was ereeted at the corner of Carroll and Wayne streets eosting $3,000. This served the people as a ehureh home until 1877, when the building was enlarged, repaired and remodeled at a eost of $5,000. It was re-dedicated January 13, 1877, by Rev. J. Weber, and with other improvements lasted until 1903, when the present edifiee was built.
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The first parsonage was a small frame building just east of the church, but some years later the present substantial brick house was erected for the pastor, which with some improvements is still used. The present beautiful church was dedicated on August 16, 1903, and is one of the finest in the city. It cost $25,000. It has beautiful art glass windows, handsome furnishings, ample Sunday school rooms, a base- ment fitted up for social gatherings, a large auditorium and a fine pipe organ. The whole building is well lighted and heated, and is the pride of the congregation. The members of this church are noted for their liberality and loyalty to their denomination, and they are doing good work in the community.
A Ladies' Aid society with 75 members is under the leadership of Mrs. Ora Maddex, and has accomplished much in the way of helping with church finances. The C. E. society has 70 members and Mr. Carl Rager is the efficient president of this organization. A flourishing Sunday school of 300 members, with Mr. D. H. Liek as superintendent adds much to the efficiency of the church. There are at present 650 members on the church roll. Rev. Henry Katterjohn has charge of the church and also conducts services in the Goshen Evangelical Lutheran church east of the city.
The United Presbyterian church in general is the outgrowth of a union between the Associate and the Associate Reformed churches. This union took place on May 26, 1858, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Before the union took place these two denominations had organizations at Kenton.
The Associate Reformed church, of Kenton, was organized by Rev. James Gamble in 1840, under the direction of Springfield Presbytery. Messrs. Hugh MeGaven, A. Ballentine and John Rice were ruling elders in this church. The Associate church of Kenton was organized in 1841 by Rev. Samuel Wilson, D. D., of Xenia, Ohio, under the direction of Miami Presbytery. Messrs. Culbertson Elder and Isaiah McConnell were ruling elders in this congregation. Each denomination had a house of worship. The Associate church, with Rev. J. L. Bull pastor, was located on North Main street. The Associate Reformed church with Revs. MeCracken and J. F. Hutchison pastors, from 1843-1857, was located on the present site of the United Presbyterian church. Accurate information of the two congregations is very meager.
When the union took place in Pittsburg these two congregations became one, and has ever since been known as the United Presbyterian church. In November of 1859 Rev. Benjamin Waddle D. D. took charge of the local congregation. He continued her honored pastor until the time of his death in May, 1879. His work was not confined to a parish, but he was pastor of the community at large. He preached in schoolhouses throughout the county and held prayer meetings in many
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homes. He was held in high esteem in the denomination and in faet in all denominations where known. His work was not merely the exposi- tion of the Word. During his ministry an earnest effort was made to have a Bible in every home in the county. He was an educator. His name stands among the very first who believed in the co-education. Shortly before he assumed the duties of the pastorate in Kenton, he was the energetic president of Muskingum College located in New Concord, Ohio.
Dr. Waddle was a leader of higher eivilization and better eitizen- ship. He represented the county in the legislature one term. There he gave good account of himself. His kind, open heart made him friends every where he went. During the Civil war the local church sent forth men to fight for the Union.
This was a heavy strain upon the church, but she bore it nobly for the sake of the flag. Shortly after Dr. Waddle's death the citi- zens of the eounty ereeted a stately monument over his grave. This is the only mon- ument erected by the citizens in Beautiful "Grove Ceme- tery." It stands as a living testimony to the worth of the man.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI KENTON, OHIO.
Following the death of Dr. Waddle the congregation was vacant until the spring of 1880. A call was then ex- tended to Rev. J. A. Hender- son (now pastor of Sugar Creek, Ohio, congregation). He was an energetie young man but reeently graduated from the Theological Semi- nary. He accepted the call and commenced the duties of the pastorate in April, 1880. During the pastorate ill health necessitated a "leave of absence" which was grant- ed by the congregation. Soon
after his return however it became evident that continued ill-health must be the reason for eutting short his work in this field. His pastor- ate elosed in 1886. ITis work was productive of much good. Near the beginning of his ministry the United Presbyterian church of Silver Creek, Ohio, was organized. With the exception of a few years this has
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been a part of the Kenton charge, although it is a separate organization.
Rev. Henderson continued the pastor of the Silver Creek congrega- tion a few years, then decming it wise that that congregation should have a pastor of her own, he withdrew from the field. This congrega- tion called Rev. J. E. Kerr (now of Monmouth, Illinois), in 1885, and later Rev. M. D. Telford (now of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania). These men labored for a number of years in this field. The following is a list of the men who have ruled well as elders of the congregation: James Ewing, Sr., Green Porter, Howard Sloan, James Ewing, Jr., Levi Derr, L. A. Stewart, Asher Derr, W. G. Ewing. The last four names are the present ruling elders. The present trustees of the congregation are : Chas. Strobble, Miller Douglas, Scott Sloan, and Clem W. Robinson. The membership is made up of the very best names and families of the county. The church building is a brick structure but recently repaired. The congregation is well organized and doing an efficient work.
About one year after Rev. Henderson's pastorate closed the Kenton congregation called the Rev. J. C. Roe. He accepted the call. For some reason. however, he was not installed as pastor for one year after he had commenced his labor. He continued the faithful and much beloved pastor until 1903. It was during his ministration that the Silver Creek congregation was again united with the Kenton congrega- tion, under one charge. Each however retained its distinct organization but perfectly harmonious in one pastorate. It was during his pastorate also, that the present beautiful and commodious house of worship was erected and stands on the site of the old one. Too much praise cannot be given Rev. Roe in securing this house of worship. He worked earnestly and courageously for the new building. He was a good financier, a splendid money-getter, and an excellent man. The old church was torn down in 1890 and the new one commenced. In the autumn of the same year the cornerstone of the new building was laid with appropriate services.
A number of interesting things are enclosed in the pocket of the stone. During the construction of the building the congregation worshiped in the courthouse. On September 28, 1891. the congregation realized its efforts in the dedication of the new building. The structure cost $14,000. The entire amount was subscribed on or before the dedication .. The dedicatory services were appropriate to the occasion. A number of visiting brethren were present and rejoiced with the congregation in her prosperity. There were but four members living who saw the rise and fall of the old building and the dedication of the new, namely Mr. and Mrs. David Snodgrass, Mrs. Judge Bain and Mrs. Eliza E. Rice. After the dedication of the building Rev. Roe continued to be the pastor of this faithful people. In the spring of 1903 he felt compelled to resign, on account of failing health. His resignation was accepted. Later he went abroad. It had been his desire to visit and study at close range the land and places where the
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