USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > A twentieth century history of Trumbull County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 22
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 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
79. John Jenkins, -, 171st O. N. G. Niles, O.
80. Willis Beary, B, 171st O. N. G .. Niles, O.
81. Frank Kingsley, B, 171st O. N. G. Niles, O.
82. Eli Ferguson, B, 171st O. N. G .. Niles, O.
83. Charles Holton, B, 171st O. N. G. Niles, O.
84. Charles MeDermot, Navy. . Niles, O.
85. Henry Stroek, 5th O. V. I. Niles, O.
86. James Draa, B, 171st O. N. G. . Niles, O.
87. John Thomas, F, 13th Pa. . Niles, O.
88. Philip Artman, B, 171st O. N. G. Niles, O.
89. John E. Edwards, C, 105th O. V. I. Niles, O.
90.
Richard Lanigan, I, Sth Pa. I.
.Niles, O.
91. S. L. Wood, I, 7th O. V. I. . Niles, O.
92. G. B. Lloyd, G, 87th Pa .. Niles, O.
93. A. A. Adams, -, 171st O. V. I. Niles, O.
94. Henry Stein, -, 6th O. V. C Niles, O.
95.
Walter Williams
Niles, O.
Mineral Ridge.
1. Eli J. Ohl, K. 196th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
2. Leander Kegavise, A, 86th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
3. John B. Lewis, C, 19th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
4. David Barringer, H, 20th O. V. I. Meander, O.
5. Daniel T. Williams, B, 7th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
6. J. W. Cesna, H, 105th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
7. William Jones, C, 105th O. V. I .. Mineral Ridge, O.
8. Thomas Jarrett, A, 105th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
9. James Parker, D, 171st O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
10. Evan Price, G, 19th O. V. I Mineral Ridge, O.
11. Daniel Shyrie, B, 142d Pa .. Mineral Ridge, O.
12. Jacob White, C, 19th O. V. I .. Mineral Ridge, O.
13. Michael Friegan, F, 24th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
232 14. Thomas Morris, A, 13th O. V. I .. Mineral Ridge, O.
15. John Hood, E, 6th O. V. C ... Mineral Ridge, O.
16. William H. Johnson, D, 115th O. V. I .. . Mineral Ridge, O.
17. John Crmm, H, 20th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
18. Riley Carter, A, 113th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
19. E. R. Edwards, 20th O. Bat. . Mineral Ridge, O.
20. John Elmer, Trumbull Guards Mineral Ridge, O.
21. Casper Helwig, Trumbull Guards Mineral Ridge, O.
22. John Bellard, G, 2d O. H. A. Mineral Ridge, O.
23. Sylvester Carter, B, 7th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
24. William Agne, 25th O. V. Bat. Mineral Ridge, O.
25. William Bowman, F, 41st O. V. I Mineral Ridge, O.
26. Robert G. Roberts, D, 171st O. N. G Mineral Ridge, O.
27. Martin Turrell, F, 24th O. V. I. Mineral Ridge, O.
28. Henry Hood, F, 171st O. N. G. Mineral Ridge, O.
29. Samuel C. Patterson, 55th Penn. Mineral Ridge, O.
Liberty.
1. J. W. Anderson, D, 2d O. V. C Youngstown, O.
2. Lemuel Granger, G, 6th O. V. C. Church Hill, O.
3. James H. Miller, G, 6th O. V. C. . Sodom, O.
4. Isaac Granger, E, 19th O. V. I. . Sodom, O.
5. Henry L. Green, G, 19th O. V. I Churchill, O.
6. Levi Bearer, B, 19th O. V. I. . Girard, O.
7. A. L. Hood, C, 19th O. V. I. . Girard, O.
S. David J. Williams, G, 26th O. V. I. Church Hill, O.
9. Alvan Gruver. B, 76th O. V. I. . Sodom, O.
10. H. M. Boys, I, 105th O. V. I. Vienna, O.
11. M. J. Hood, C, 105th O. V. I .. Sodom, O.
12. Jolın P. Rosser, C, 105th O. V. I. Church Hill. O.
13. John B. Miller, C, 105th O. V. I. Girard, O.
14. Josiah Seachnil, C, 105th O. V. I Girard, O.
15. John Geddis, C, 105th O. V. I. Sodom, O.
16. Josiah Oliver, 105th O. V. I. Youngstown, O.
17. Thomas Guy, C, 150th O. V. I. Church Hill, O.
18. W. W. Guy, F, 150th O. V. I .. Church Hill, O.
19. George H. Bearer, D, 171st O. N. G. Girard, O.
20. Jonathan Keifer, D, 171st O. N. G . Girard, O.
21. John Applegate, C, 171st O. V. I. Church Hill, O.
22. Vincent Hollenbeck, C, 171st O. V. I Church Hill, O.
233
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
23. Benj. R. Davis, -, 171st O. V. I. Church Hill. O.
24. Thomas Chiles, A, 197th O. V. I .. Church Hill, O.
25. John J. Brisbine, -, 150th O. V. Art .Sodom, O ..
26. George W. Carney, L, 4th Pa. V. Cav. Clmreh Hill, O.
27. Thomas J. Miller, E, 54th Pa. V. I Church Hill, O.
28. James W. Wood, H, 7th Pa. V. I. Church Hill, O.
29. Alex Mealey, G, 155th Pa. V. I. Church Hill, O.
30. Sidney W. Wood, A, 9th Mich. V. I. . Girard, O.
31. John E. Patterson, 1, 115th O. V. I. Church Hill, O.
32. Solon Darling Girard, O.
Girard.
1. A. J. Jewell. E. 177th O. V. I Girard. O.
2. William Ward, JJr., 15th O. Battery Girard. O.
3. George Phillips, D, 171st O. N. G. . Girard, O.
4. Joseph Leavett, C, 19th O. V. I. Girard, O.
3. F. N. Reapsummer, D. 171st O. N. G. Girard, O.
6. Ambrose Eckman, D, 171st O. N. G. Girard, O.
7. Fred C. Reinger, F, 12th Pa. C. . Girard. O.
8. Thomas Craft. 1, 56th Pa. I. . Girard, O.
9. John Borth, D, 57 P. V. I . Girard, O.
10. Michael Carroll, 2d U. S. A
11. N. B. Carlton, D. 171st O. V. I. Girard, O.
. Girard, ().
12. Jacob Shaffer, E. 106th O. V. 1 Girard, O.
13. W. J. Read, C, 2d Md. V. F. Girard, ().
14. Fred Canley, B, 8th O. V. I. Girard, O.
15. Allen Patterson, G, 6th O. V. C Girard, O.
16. George Olliver, II, 7th O. V. I Girard, O.
17. James McGrath, B, 171st O. V. I. Girard, O.
18 P. L. Rush, E, 2d O. V. C .. . Girard, O.
19. Mathias Falkinstein, B. 84th O. V. I Girard, O.
20. Thomas J. Thomas, 1, 7th O. V. I .Girard, O.
21. Sylvester Pennell, D, 6th O. V. C Girard, (.
22. Edwin A. Reep, D, 1434 O. V. I. . Girard, O.
23. James McEvoy, G, 76th Pa Girard, O.
24. Henry Britt, F. 3d Pa. C .. . Girard, O.
25. David T. Arner, D, 19th O. V. I Girard, ().
26. Nicholas Green, D, 171st O. V. I. . Girard, O.
27. Evan Morris, 171st O. V. T Girard. O.
234
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
Hubbard.
1. N. J. Pound, B, 105th O. V. I. Hubbard, O.
2. Eli C. Reed, A, 105th O. V. I. Hubbard, O.
3. C. N. Clingan, B, 19th O. V. I. Hubbard, O.
4. Charles Hammond, D, 41st O. V. I. Hubbard, O.
5. Jolm Pollock, II, 7th O. V. I. . Hubbard, O.
6. William McKinley, C, 125th O. V. I. Hubbard, O. 7. Daniel Murphy, F, 19th U. S. I. . Hubbard, O.
S. M. B. White, B, 84th O. V. I., and C, 171st O. N. G. Hubbard, O.
9. John Sinclair, C, 105th O. V. I Coalburgh, O.
10. John Sinclair, I, 19th O. V. I.
Hubbard, O.
11. H. W. Feidler, M, 5th Pa. C Hubbard, O.
12. G. W. Feidler, -, 1st Pa.
Hubbard, O.
13. H. A. Huff, M, 6th H. Art. Hubbard, O.
14. George W. Newton, 5th O. V. I. Hubbard, O.
15. Lemuel Marsteller Hubbard, O.
16. A. Remalia, H, 7th O. V. I. Hubbard, O.
17. H. W. Hescock, H, 7th O. V. 1. Hubbard, O.
18. W. A. Loveless, B, 2d Mich. Cav . Hubbard, O.
19. R. H. Jewell, C, 171st O. N. G Hubbard, O.
20. Eli MeFall, C, 171st O. N. G Coalburgh, O
21. S. J. Hoover, C, 171st O. N. G. Coalburgh, O.
22. Martin Warner Coalburgh, O.
23. John Doyle . Hubbard, O.
24. John Randell, C, 171st O. N. G. Hubbard, O.
25. W. H. Porterfield, C, 171st O. N. G. Hubbard, O.
26. L. W. Burnett, C, 171st O. N. G. . Coalburgh, O.
27. James Porterfield, C, 171st O. N. G. Hubbard, O.
28. A. G. Weirick, C, 171st O. N. G. Hubbard, O.
29. H. L. Cliugan, C, 171st O. N. G Hubbard, O.
30. L. T. Clingan, C, 171st O. N. G. Hubbard, O.
31. Hugh Veach, C, 171st O. N. G Hubbard, O.
32. Martin Bentley, C, 171st O. N. G Hubbard, O.
33. John Carroll, D, 1st Pa. Hubbard, O.
34. John Jackson, C, 171st O. N. G Hubbard, O. 35. W. J. Jackson, C, 171st O. N. G Hubbard, O. 36. S. H. Tyler, C, 171st O. N. G. Hubbard, O.
37. D. D. Struble, D, 1st Pa. Rif. Hubbard, O.
38. Robert Nephew Hubbard, O.
39. A. W. Hume, C, 171st O. N. G Hubbard, O.
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY 235
40. J. J. Burk, Chaplain, 82d O. V. I. Hubbard, O.
41. G. R. Stevenson Hubbard, O.
42. D. J. Edwards. Hubbard, O.
43. L. L. Campbell, L, 2d Cav Hubbard, O.
Coalburgh.
1. Thomas Phelps, B, 19th O. V. I. Coalburgh, O.
2. James S. Hoover, -, 171st O. N. G Coalburgh, O.
3. Benjamin Mathews, -, 19th O. V. I. Coalburgh, O.
4. L. S. Burnett . Coalburgh, O.
5. John Waddell, I, Ist O. V. L. A Coalburgh, O.
CHAPTER AVIII-RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
CONNECTICUT LAW .- FIRST MISSIONARIES .- FIRST CHURCH IN OLD TRUMBULL COUNTY .- FIRST PREACHING .- BAPTIST CHURCH. -PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- CHRIST'S CHURCH ( EPISCO- PAL) .- CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH .- FIRST METH- ODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- ST. MARY'S CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC) .- GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH .- ZION REFORMED CHURCH .- TOD AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH. GRACE UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH. -SECOND CHRIS- TIAN CHURCH.
When the Connecticut fathers loaded their wagons for their new homes in Ohio they brought with them their erowns and seepters, for each was monarch of his family, but, he it to their credit, they left the whipping post and ducking stool be- hind. After a time they wore the crown less often and the scepter was seldom seen.
Those of us who have lived the New England life in Ohio know that most of our great-grandfathers never smiled, that few of our grandfathers caressed their wives or kissed their children, but we rejoice that the real change came before our time, for to be snuggled to sleep in our mother's arms, or kissed awake by our father's lips, is worth all else in the world.
The children of our Conneetient ancestry had desire for re- ligious liberty, as had the Pilgrim fathers and mothers, as had the Connectient pioneer or the first inhabitant of the Western Reserve. They kept quiet on Sunday because it was more com- fortable than being beaten ; they committed chapters of the Bible by heart for the same reason. But when the father and mother, with such of the grown people and children whose turn it was,
236
237
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
had driven off to church and were safely out of sight, pande- monium reigned. And it continned till the child stationed at the upper window as sentinel sighted the returning carriage on the further hill. Then was the house tidied, then did the children take up their Bibles, and received the look of approval for their supposed good conduct.
Some good came out of these Sunday disobeyances, for sev- eral men, who afterwards became orators and trial lawyers, first learned to speak before these home audiences, while one woman, a noted advocate in the temperance cause, dates her ability to talk with ease to the days when she played church on Sunday morning. and insisted on preaching a sermon with the haircloth chair as a pulpit. Both men and women have said that these meetings were always ended by riot, but the haireloth chairs were made by hand, of seasoned wood, with the best of glue and var- nish. and could stand any kind of use.
Old men and women living today in Trumbull County, who have endured all kinds of hardships and seen grievous sorrows, look back upon the Sundays of their childhood with horror. The Sabbath began Saturday at sundown and closed Sunday at sundown. With the twilight a gloom settled upon the children (the older Folks enjoyed a few hours of rest) which semmed in- tolerable. Bible reading by one of the family was had. and long meaningless audible prayers were made. As the children knelt either on the bare floor or thin carpet, their knees ached. and it was impossible to be still. As a recreation they were allowed to read the Bible by the tallow dip or the flaming log, or go to bed.
A man, at this writing aged eighty-six. as a child had a mm- ber of brothers, and he says that. when lads, so forlorn and de- pressed were they all on Sunday that they used to say they wished they were dead. In order that they might surely know just when the day was really done, they climbed onto the huge woodpile, which was in their dooryard. to watch the setting sun, and when at last it disappeared the shout which went up from the stack of logs and sticks was never surpassed by the whoop of the Indians who formerly occupied the territory. They jumped or rolled from the pile, chasing each other, fought and played. out- side in summer, by the huge logs in winter. till the parents. ex- hausted with the tempest, sent them early to bed. Yes, the desire for religious liberty in the heart of the Puritan is finally realized by ns. through our fathers and mothers.
In October, 1793. the general assembly of Connecticut, as we
238
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
have seen, authorized the sale of the land in what is northeastern Ohio, and at the same time enacted "that the moneys arising from the sale be established a perpetual fund, the interest whereof is granted and shall be appropriated to the use and benefit of several ecelesiastieal societies, churches, or con- gregations in all denominations in the state, to be by them ap- plied to the support of their respective ministers, or preachers of the gospel, and schools of education, under such rules and regulations as shall be adopted by this or some future session of the general assembly." As this provision really amounted towards the establishment of a fund for the supporting of the church, it created a great deal of discussion and hard feeling. As is always the case, people saw great dangers ahead in attaclı- ing the church to the state. In some localities public meetings were held, and for two years a great deal of anxious thought was given to the matter, all for naught, because the lands were not sold. When, in 1795, the assembly passed a new act in regard to this western land, the provision for the ministers was left out, and when, a few months later, this land was bought by the Con- necticut Land Company, the money which was to be applied to the ministers, as well as to the sehools, was applied to the schools only.
Who the first missionary was in the district of Old Trumbull County, or where the first sermon was preached, will probably never be known, because traveling priests visited the Indians and traders, while the Moravians devoted their energies to the Indians in particular.
Little or no mention is made by the surveyors of any relig- ious services, except those of burial. The Connecticut Land Company, as we have seen, offered land to the first "gospel minister" who should take up residence in the county. We always think of Massachusetts in the olden time as religious be- cause of the Puritans, and of Connectieut the same because of the Blue Laws.
Dr. B. A. Hinsdale, in the Magazine of Western History, says :
"The settlement of the Reserve was opened at a time when New England was at a low ebb. Old Connecticut did not at first send, as a rule, what she considered her best elements to New Connecticut. At a later day, the character of the emigration improved in respect to religion and
239
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
morals, but the first emigration was largely made up of men who desired to throw off the heavy trammels of an old and strongly conservative community, where church and state were closely connected and where society was dominated by political and religious castes. Still further, the east was at this time swept by an epidemic of land speculation, while the laxative moral influence of a removal from an old and well- ordered society to the woods produced its usual effect."
At first thought we considered this statement of Mr. Ilins- dale almost an exaggeration, but, as we studied history further, we find that it was not the first emigrants who were devoted to the religion of their fathers, but those who came later-our grandfathers, not our great-grandfathers.
So far as we actually know, William C. Wiek preached the first sermon within the limits of old Trumbull County, in Septem- ber, 1799. Ile came from Washington, Pennsylvania. Records show he was ordained to preach in August. It may be he thought it wise to practice on the frontiersmen. Anyway, they gathered to hear him, and later, when he came to Youngstown and estab- lished a church, he had the support of the people. Youngstown has always been a church-going place.
The best known of the early preachers was Rev. Joseph Badger. IIe was born in Massachusetts, was in the Revolutionary war, was a college graduate, and licensed to preach in 1786. Ile occupied a pulpit in Massaelmisetts, and accepted a call to the missionary field of the Western Reserve in 1800. The cold weather set in before he crossed the Pennsylvania mountains. He came slowly from Pittsburg and reached Youngstown De- cember 14th. The following day, Sunday, he preached to the inhabitants. who were glad to vary the monotony of their hard lives by any sort of service. He soon visited other townships on the Reserve. and Harvey Rice is the authority for saying that in the following year (1801) he visited every settlement, and nearly every family, in old Trumbull County. He, and the ministers who followed him, as well as the lawyers, spent much of their time in the saddle, crossing streams by wading or swimming, and on the whole their lives were hard. However, the ministers were well received by the residents, even if they were not much in sympathy with what they taught, and the best that the pio- neers had in the way of food, or any kind of comforts, was theirs. What records the early missionaries left agree with
240
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
Prof. Hinsdale's statement that the first people who came to this Reserve were not so religions, so service-loving, as we have al- ways supposed them to have been.
Leonard Case is authority for the statement that Rev. Henry Speers, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in June, 1800, preached the first sermon at the county seat, Warren. This service was held below the Lane homestead, on what is now South Main street. About fifty persons were present, and Lewis Morris Iddings says: " Probably at no time since has so large a proportion of the inhabitants of Warren attended church on any one Sunday." Mr. Speers belonged to the Baptist denom- ination.
In the fall of 1801 Rev. Mr. Badger returned to Connecticut, and in 1802 brought his household effects and his family to northeastern Ohio. He took up his residence in Austinburg, built a log cabin, and resumed his labors. In 1809 he went east, severed his connection with the Missionary Society, and returned to the Reserve to continne his work. He had received soven dol- lars a week in the beginning from the Conneetient Society, but later this was reduced to six dollars. He was a Presbyterian in creed, impulsive of nature, but had the ability of controlling himself, so that he was supposed to be much more patient than he really was. Like all successful ministers, he was fond of tell- ing and hearing stories. He was chaplain in the war of 1812 under Harrison, and died at Perrysburg, 1846, aged 89.
The first church built in old Trumbull County was at Aus- tinburg. There is a tale oft told that this church was dedicated by breaking a bottle of whiskey over its spire, but if this was dene, it was not done with the consent of the church people, but by a wag of a sailor, who climbed the steeple to do it for a joke. This church association was organized October 21st, 1801, and the building was of logs. There were sixteen eharter members.
It was thought that the second church was organized in Hudson in 1802. It is known that in Mr. Badger's riding in 1801. when he noted the irreligious tendency of the people, he said Undson was the only spot where he found any deep, hearty religion. Here he organized a church of ten men and six women. It is strange that these two first churches had the same number of charter members.
The exact date of the organization of the third church is not known. Most writers give Warren the credit for the third church, but. after careful investigation, the author of this work
(Loaned by W. J. Kerr.)
JOHN REEVES, SR.
241
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
thinks the third church was in Youngstown, organized in 1801, with Rev. William Wiek as pastor.
The fourth church ( Baptist) was established in Warren in 1803. The Baptists were very strong in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio at this time.
Baptist Church.
A. stated above. Rev. Henry Speers, a Baptist, preached the first sermon in Warren on June 8, 1800.
In 1801 Rev. Thomas G. Jones, of Shenango, Pennsylvania, began preaching every other Sunday in Warren. He is supposed to be the first minister who had a charge in the limit of present Trumbull County. Space will not permit the naming of the formation of the churches through old Trumbull County. Those given here are within the limits of the present boundaries.
In 1803 Isaac Dally, Effie Dally, Jane Dally, Samuel Bur- nett, Nancy Burnett, John Leavitt Jr., Caleb Jones, Mary Jones, Samuel Fortner and Henry Fortner organized a church, with the Rev. Charles B. Smith presiding. It was called "The Concord Baptist Church." and the Philadelphia Confession of Faith was adopted. Harry, Nellie, Winifred and George Ewalt are de- seendants of Isaac Dally.
During that year (1803) the following five persons were added to membership: Samnel Quinby, Samuel Hayden, Sophia Hayden, William and Martha Jackman. For two years after the organization meetings for prayer and for conference were held in the houses of the members.
In 1805 Elder Parkhurst, of the Mill Creek church ( Youngs- town) preached here "and received into the church by baptism and the laying on of hands" John Reeves, John Dally and wife. William J. Kerr, in "One Hundred Years of Baptist History in Warren, Ohio," says: "John Reeves, at whose home in How- land many church meetings and preaching services were held in the years to follow. proved to be one of the most valuable mem- bers the church ever had. He was a member until his death, 1851. He was one of the six who refused to leave the church and faith in the schism of 1828. In the year 1805 he represented the Concord Baptist church as a delegate to the Mahoning Baptist Association, held in Mill Creek (Youngstown). Ile presented the letter and the credentials of the church, upon which the Con- cord church was received into the Mahoning Association."
Vol. 1-16
242
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
In 1810 Adamson Bentley became the regular pastor, and the congregation grew under his teachings so that in 1821-'22 a church was built on High street where the Christian church now stands. The land upon which this church stood was deeded "by Ephraim Quinby to the trustees of the Baptist church, called Concord, their heirs and assigns, to be used for Baptist church purposes only." (Kerr.) At this time there were twenty-six members, fourteen of whom were men. "A portion of the church membership was in Youngstown and vicinity, and for three or four years the church met half the time at that place."
In 1815 thirteen members formed a new church at Austin- town.
The early sessions of the Baptists were held in the groves when the weather permitted, in the house, and sometimes in the court house. In summer many services were held at John Reeves', but in inclement weather in the house of Jeremiah Brooks. The largest number of meetings were held here. This house stood about where the Mahoning Branch (Erie) railroad station now stands.
In 1828 Walter Scott and J. C. Mitchell, "devout followers of Alexander Campbell, came to Warren 'to besiege and take the place.' " At first they were rather coldly received, but soon the Rev. Mr. Bentley, of the Baptist church, allowed them the use of his edifice, and the congregation soon taxed the capacity of the church. Among the converts made were almost the entire mem- bership of the Baptist elmrch. In fact, this first Warren church. the Baptist, was taken possession of by the new congregation.
At this time there was a great controversy among church people as to the right form of baptism, and different matters of doctrine. So much so that sometimes ill feeling was engendered between members of the same family, and between neighbors and former friends. This was true in regard to the Baptists and the Disciples, although no more so in these two churches of War- ren than in all churches of that time.
By this effort of the two Disciples, the Baptist society was almost lost for fifteen years. The six people who ching to the Baptist faith were JJohn Reeves and wife (Sarah Quinby). Eph- raim Quinby and wife, and two daughters.
In 1834 seven persons met at the home of Ephraim Quinby. and the Baptist church was reorganized, Elder JJacob Morris being the presiding officer. JJohn Reeves was their elected clerk, and held that office for many years. Immediately after this
(Loaned by W. J. Kerr. )
BAPTIST CHURCH ON PINE STREET, BUILT IN 1845.
243
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
· organization four persons were received into the church by let- ter. The Rev. Mr. Morris became the pastor, serving mutil 1836. In 1835 a resolution was passed withdrawing the hand of fellowship from all who had departed from the faith of the regu- lar Baptist church in Warren, called "Concord." In this same ycar the church was incorporated. In 1836 the Concord church united with the Beaver Baptist Association, of Beaver, Pensyl- vania, and three years later, when the Trumbull Baptist Associa- tion was formed. it united with that. On the first of Inne the same year a Sunday school was organized, but its meetings were not always regular.
Rev. Morris was followed by Rev. Rolla J. Smith. Rev. John Winters connected himself with the church in 1838. His daughter, Eliza, married a son of John Reeves Sr., Lewis R. Reeves. They moved to Iowa, where Mr. Reeves became a law partner of S. T. Miller, in Keokuk. Mr. Reeves died there, as did also Mrs. Miller. After a time Eliza Winters Reeves mar- ried Mr. Miller, and later Abraham Lincoln appointed him as one of the justices of the supreme court. Mrs. Miller, because of her official position and mental attainments, was one of the leaders of Washington society. She never forgot her okl asso- ciates in the Baptist churches of this vicinity, and when meeting Warren people always inquired about them.
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.