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 25
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
265
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
Ohio. Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. Alexander Campbell held no office higher than elder in his own congrega- tion. Ile has been in Warren often and his grandson (W. C. Pendleton), his great-grandson ( Anstin Pendleton) and his great-great-grandchildren live here. also.
Theology has never wholly satisfied practical people. Reli- gion has. Each sect that arises and lives does so because its teachings are simpler.
The earnest Baptist people who founded the first church in Warren had an unusual man as a leader, Adamson Bentley. H seems that he did what hundreds of ministers are doing today -studied into new ideas and gave those same ideas to his con- gregation without name, until they believed largely as he he- lieved. He had occasion, after he had read the discussions of Alexander Campbell with some early divines. Walker, MeCalla, etc., to go into Kentucky on business. He either made an exense or accidentally stopped at the West Virginia home of Alexander Campbell on his return and there imbibed more of the thought which seemed rational to him, and this in turn he gave his peo- ple. In the days of Mr. Bentley people could not afford to pay a minister a sufficient sum for his support and so ministers on- gaged in other ocenpations often. Mr. Bentley was a merchant.
AAlthough Thomas and Alexander Campbell were devoted Christians and gave a liberal interpretation of the Scriptures to the world, it was not dne to them alone that the church grew. The Western Reserve was the place, and the beginning of the nineteenth century was the time, for the planting of such a church. The men who gathered on the Western Reserve were from all parts of the then civilized country. They had all shades of beliefs and the discussions which arose led to investigations so that the "Campbellites" found many people not associated with any church, as well as people dissatisfied with their own creed. These they proceeded to enlighten as to gospel and gath- ered them into the fold.
Walter Scott was born in Scotland. his father was a pro fessor of music and cultured withal, his mother a person of most pure and religions life. His sister was a lace maker and taught that art in Warren at one time. He came to New York after his parents' death to be with his uncle, George hmes. He had drifted away from his Presbyterian church through the inthu- ence of a Mr. Forrester, who prepared young men for the min- istry. Forrester immersed him. He at first opened a classical
266
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
school and later met Mr. Campbell in Pittsburg. He assisted Mr. Campbell in editing "The Christian Baptist." In faet, it was he who proposed the word "Baptist," Mr. Campbell intend- ing to call the publication "The Christian." He was long asso- eiated with both Thomas (the father) and Alexander Campbell (the son). Ile was also associated with Sidney Rigdon, a Bap- tist minister of Pittsburg, who is ranked second to Bentley among the early Baptist ministers, and who is remembered by people of Trumbull County, more especially because of his advo- caey of early Mormonism.
A. S. Hayden, in the "Early History of the Disciples," is authority for the statement that in January, 1828, "the town (Warren) lay in spiritual lethargy, profoundly ignorant of the tempest of spiritual excitement abont to sweep over the place. Bentley had preached well and lived well, but he held not the key to the heart, nor was he skilled to awaken the musie of the soul." At this time Brother Scott and Brother Mitchell came to Warren. It was their intention to bring about a revival and they did. Their meetings, at first held in the court house, were not well attended at all, and Mr. Mitchell was quite disgusted at the way Mr. Scott conducted them. When he remonstrated with him, the older man told Mitchell that they would have to do something ont of the ordinary in order to claim attention. The first audience was composed of a few elderly people and a group of boys. He made the boys langh, and then talked a little seri- ousness to them. The two men stayed at the house of Jeremiah Brooks. Through the Rev. Mr. Bentley's permission, the Bap- tist church was seenred and this was crowded the first evening. From this time on conversions were made, immersions were had and the entire village was excited over the doctrine advanced by these men. When the evangelists went from their evening meet- ings, people would follow them to talk about their salvation. Sometimes the two men would be awakened in the night either by persons who wished to have their doubts cleared or by others wishing to be immersed. When the meetings were at an end Mr. Scott and his assistant had not only brought to the church peo- ple outside the Baptist church. but with a very few exceptions all the people inside the church, and the minister, Mr. Bentley, as well. R. J. Smith used to say that sinners at that time were baptized and Baptists capsized. The congregation continued to occupy the house built by the Baptists, and on this lot the pres- ent Christian church stands. Probably there never was, any-
267
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
where, a case before. or since, where a congregation as okl, as large, and as influential went over to another denomination, tak- ing elders, deacons, ministers, and meeting-house as well.
The Rev. Adamson Bentley was born in 1785 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Hle came, when quite young, with his father to Brookfield. He became an ardent Baptist early in life and was a devoted student. He began to preach when nineteen years, hokling to the teachings of Calvin. In 1810 he settled in Warren and in May of that year was ordained. One year later he be- came the pastor of the church and served for twenty-one years. The writer of his biography says:
"It is our fortune to be acquainted with few persons in a lifetime who wiekdl a personal influence so supreme. Tall, manly, graceful, with a countenance radiant with good na- ture, affable and dignified, he would stand among dignita- ries as his equals and condescend to the lowly with a gentle- ness which won the attachment of every heart."
After the coming of Seott Mr. Bentley preached with fresh power and zeal. The next year he was chosen with Scott, Hay- den and Bosworth to travel about in the interests of the church, and in 1831 he removed to Chagrin Falls, where he died. Ile was one of the original trustees of Bethany College.
Among the early strong men of the Christian church was Cyrus Bosworth. He served in several official capacities, was sheriff of the county for two terms, and is said to have carried the news of Perry's victory to Pittsburg as express messenger. Ilis first wife was an eastern woman, very helpful to him in his work. and his second wife was Sarah C. Case, a sister of Leon- ard Case.
The Christian church in Bazetta was organized in 1848; in Brookfield in 1828; in Fowler in 1832; in Hartford, 1830; How- land, 1828; North Jackson, 1852; Niles, 1842; Southington, 1828; and other churches in Trumbull County were organized and were numerons, which faet strengthened the Warren church, because as farmers moved into town to edneate their children, or to en- gage in business, they naturally allied themselves with their own denomination.
Among the people connected with the early church we read the names: Austin, Lamphear, Medbury, Sampson, Briscoe, Hutchins, King, Bosworth, Ratliff, Williams, Camp, Pond, Dally, Soule, Burnett, Brett, Ernst, Dunlap, Folsom, Scott.
268
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
No history of the Christian church should be written with- out special mention being made of Harmon and Mrs. Austin, who devoted much of their time during the years of their strength, much of their thought, and their money, to the building up and maintaining of the Christian church. Knowing of the interest of Harmon and Minerva in the church, their children gave a sum of money to be applied toward the building of a parsonage. His father Benajah was identified with the early elunch and the early history of the town and when he first came here owned the Marburger farm, afterwards in 1812 buying the place on the Leavittsburg road, on which his son, his grand- daughter, his great-grandson and his great-great-grandchildren now live. Mrs. Austin was Minerva Sackett of Canfield. Her father helped to organize the Christian church of Canfield. and she, her family and her sisters devoted themselves to the Warren church. Nellie Austin, marrying a grandson of Alexander Campbell, united two strong Christian families.
Plans for erecting a church edifice were considered in 1820, but it was June 8, 1823, before the first services were held within these walls, and even then the structure was not completed. Robert Gordon did the brick work, and Isaac Ladd, the father of Irwin Ladd, had the contract for the woodwork. The latter says that this was the first building in Warren where the seats were paneled, and the ends had turned knobs and ornamental pieces. Benajah Austin was one of the members of the build- ing committee.
The church was a square building, without towers or orna- ments. There was a gallery which was very high, and seats on the lower floor and in the gallery were on a level, so it was hard for those in the back part to see. Fourteen steps led up into a high pulpit box. In this box the minister could not be seen when sitting. Pews were held by pew-holders, the doors being locked. The backs of the pews were rather high, as were the pews in most of the early churches. The object of this in the beginning was to keep the auditors from seeing their neighbors and to compel attention to the services, but the truth was that in many of the early churches the tired parishioners rested their heads on the back of these high pews and went to sleep. With high pews and sleeping parents the children who were so inclined to pinch and kick each other unseen had a splendid chance. In fact, some of the early Episcopal churches in Virginia had a woman with a switch whose duty it was to walk up and down the
269
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
aisles slowly, tapping the children over the head who were not thinking about the articles of faith or possessed of proper decorum.
Here is a list of subscribers to this first Christian church :
We, the subscribers, severally agree to pay to Jeremiah Brooks, Leicester King and Adamson Bentley, or their sue- cessors, trustees of the Baptist church in Warren, the sims set to our names for the purposes above specified, payable as follows: One-fourth when the cellar walls are completed ; one-fourth when the walls are built and one-fourth when the honse is enclosed : the remainder, when the amount of funds raised are expended.
Warren, February 15, 1820.
Adamson Bentley $200
Leicester King 100
Jeremiah Brooks 300
Emery Thayer 20
Oliver Brooks 100
James Scott, in sawing 25
Jacob Harsh 50
John Gordon 100
Robert Gordon
50
George Hapgood
15
Horace Stevens
15
Ephraim Quinby
200
William Heaton
25
Mark Westcott, to be in work.
100
Macajah Brooks
50
Thomas D. Webb
100
Zadok Bowen
30
Archibald Reeves
10
Isaac Heaton, in produce
75
Jacob Drake 80
Zeph. Luce, in hauling
25
Moses Earl, in produce.
10
John Ratliff, in produce. 10
Charles Vanwy, in hauling 25
John Clnrg, one bbl. pork pd. in full. 12
Edward Flint, to be paid in work. 50
210
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
Edward Week, to be paid in boards and pro- duce 50
Jolm W. Adgate, to be paid in hauling 15
Benajah Austin 100
In 1852 the house was remodeled, the spire was put on, seats were changed, pulpit cut down.
After Mr. Bentley moved away, for four years there was no regular pastor. Marcus Bosworth and John Henry labored with a good deal of zeal and preached occasionally. In 1834 John Hartzell moved to the lower part of town and was made asso- ciate elder with Cyrus Bosworth. During this time of the church history such men as Zeb. Rudolph, J. H. Jones, Moss, Perky, Broekett, and Allerton were occasional speakers. John Smith had direct charge for about two years. In 1847 J. E. Gaston took charge of the congregation and he served until 1851, when Isaae Errett became pastor, serving for four years. The Rev. Mr. Errett was one of the strongest men the church has ever had. He was followed by Joseph King, a graduate of Bethany College, who served for one year. During this time Calvin Smith and James A. Garfield frequently addressed the congregation. J. W. Errett was also a pastor, resigning in 1859. The next year Edwin Wakefield gave a portion of the year to the congregation. In 1861 .J. W. Lamphear became pastor of the church, serving seven years, not in succession, however, since he was absent two years of that time. Some of the strongest men in the Christian church preached here occasionally, such as President Pendleton and B. A. Hinsdale. In 1870 J. L. Darsie became pastor; 1874, I. A. Thayer; 1881, George T. Smith. The last four pastors were E. B. Wakefield, J. M. VanHorn, M. L. Bates, and J. E. Lynn.
During the pastorate of E. B. Wakefield, in 1889, the present church at a cost of $30,000 was erected. From the very begin- ning the congregation taxed the capacity of this building. Mr. Wakefield resigned to take a professorship at Iliram College, which he still holds. He was followed by Mr. VanHorn, during whose service the church grew and the parsonage was erected. The membership was doubled and a debt of $9,000 paid off.
M. L. Bates was possibly the most emotional and brilliant pastor the church has had of late years. Although he only served two years he added many members, 212 at one time. He also organized on a more active basis the missionary work. He
( Loaned by the Tribune. )
DISCIPLES' CHURCH.
271
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
resigned to take a course at Columbia University and is now president of Hiram College.
Five young people of fine character have entered the Chris- tian ministry from this church: Charles S. Medbury, Howard Weir, and James Brown; Raymond MeCorkle is doing good mis- sionary work in Japan, while Eva Raw is a missionary to Nan- kin, China.
On November 8, 1908, the one hundred and fifth anniver- sary of the founding of the Concord Baptist church was had by this congregation with appropriate services. Letters were read from the Revs. VanHorn, Darsie and Bates. Addresses wore made by Messrs. Lynn, Wakefield, Reynard, and Dr. Codville. The latter, a Baptist elergyman who had occupied the Baptist pulpit in Warren for many years, spoke feelingly on the present friendliness of the Baptist and Christian churches. It seemed as if this word was the thing most needed in this celebration. It is always easier for the man who has won the battle to feel kindly towards the man who has lost than it is for the man who has lost to feel kindly towards the man who has won. Today, within a block, stand two churches which were at one time one, both prosperous, occupying each a place in the community, each bent on doing its duty in the way it shall see it.
One of the early followers of Thomas Campbell said that the early Christian ministers were able to do their duty because of the guidance of the Heavenly Father and the devotion of the earthly wife. True was this not only of the Christian ministers but of other denominations also. While the men were in the field preaching and exhorting, the women at home did their own work as mothers, and fathered the family and attended to the business interests as well.
At the church anniversary exercises above mentioned, Mrs. Alice Briscoe Andrews read a paper on "The Mothers of the Church," which brought tears to the eyes of a large share of the listeners, the truth of the devotion of these early mothers was so plainly brought forth.
The present membership of the Central Christian church is 1,050, and its officers are:
Pastor, Rev. J. E. Lynn. Elders, E. D. Snider, A. S. Brown, J. L. Cross, C. G. Pritchard and F. T. Stone. Deacons, Charles Fillins, M. L. Ilyde, J. F. Reid, George C. Braden, F. M. Porter, F. H. Alexander. S. A. Corbin, B. W.
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
Pond, J. II. Hall, J. R. Lachman, H. M. Page, H. M. Mackey, B. C. Ferguson, Charles II. Sager, J. B. Mansell, J. D. Cook, D. W. Campbell, Albert Wyand, Austin Pendelton, W. F. Rowe, F. W. Perry, John Ikerman, W. G. Baldwin. Trustees, H. Q. Stiles, E. E. Nash. Henry Harwood, T. G. Dunham, H. B. Weir and 1. L. Lane.
Leicester King's family went to the Presbyterian church. They had a helper in the family who had been very good to Mrs. King at the time of some Presbyterian meeting, helping in the entertainment of delegates, etc., and when the early Disciples were going to have some ont-of-town folks Mrs. King said to this housekeeper or cook. "You were so interested in my church meeting, that I will entertain some of your people." In this way she came to know some of the Disciple leaders and afterwards joined that church. The older mem- bers of the church say she was one of the strongest and best women their congregation ever had. Mr. Harmon Austin, Sr., who was clerk of the ehnreh many years, said that Mrs. King never allowed the contribution box to pass her without putting something in it. When she knew they were going to take regu- lar collections she was of course prepared. but if something came up unusual, and she had no money, she put in something else ; whatever she happened to have in her pocket, her thimble, her handkerchief, or even a button. These she would redeem later. She said she never wanted to lose an opportunity of giving something, no matter how small, to every worthy cause.
Leicester King was one of the prominent men in Warren. He was successful in business, belonged to a good family, but did not go into the Disciple church when his wife did. She died before he did, and when he returned from the cemetery on the day of her funeral, he went direct to the river and was baptized. and became a member of the Christian church.
First Methodist Episcopal Church.
In the beginning of the settlement of Warren there seemed to be no place for the warm-hearted Methodists. Whether the Puritan spirit predominated, or whether the first preachers did not present the question in the right way, we do not know. But, throughout early Trumbull County the Methodist church either was not planted or did not grow when it was planted. How-
213
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
ever. to Trumbull County, to Vernon township especially, belongs the distinction of having organized the first Methodist Episcopal church class upon the Western Reserve.
John Bridle, one of the early settlers of Warren and an ardent Methodist, regretted exceedingly that no Methodist church was established in Warren. One day he said to his wife, "Mother, I cannot stand it here without my Methodist meetings. On the following Sunday he harnessed his horse to his dearborn and drove to Youngstown. The roads were so bad that it took him all day to get there. He stabled his horse and went to quarterly meeting in the evening. He brought before the presiding elder the necessity and desirability of organizing a church at Warren. The elder, after talking the matter over with him, said that he disliked to make the attempt, since the last man he sent to Warren to preach was run out of town over Webb's lill by some ungracious citizens. Mr. Bridle told him that the house in which he lived (standing where the Warren dry goods store is) had a room in the second story large enough for a meeting place, and he would assure any minister sent there perfect protection. The elder promised to send a minister in four weeks. At that time he came himself, Mr. Bridle kept his word, a meeting was had and a class organized. Authorities differ as to the number and personnel of this class. This difference is probably due to the confusing of the people belonging to the first class at the first meeting and those which joined within a few months. At any rate, John Bridle was appointed leader and some of the members of that early class were An Bridle, Lewis Reeves, Hannah Reeves, Romanta Brockway, Sarah Cohen, John Barnes, Josiah Sonle, Sarah Barnes, Naney Hud- son, Alexander Stewart and Nancy Harsh. Sarah Jane, the daughter of John Bridle, who married Thomas Tait, a Methodist minister, and is now, at the age of eighty-five, resid- ing in Niles, says that the first class was composed of five mem- bers, her father and mother, Josiah Soule, Nancy Harsh, and a woman who later moved to Garrettsville and whose name she cannot recollect. Of these early Methodists little is known and few descendants exist. Nancy Harsh's daughter, Laura Harsh, resides in Warren, is an ardent Methodist, and a few years since presented the elmrch with a beautiful chandelier for the main room. Josiah Soule lived for many years on North Ehn street, near the fair grounds. His daughter, Julia. resided in the same place until a few years ago.
Vol. I-1S
214
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
In 1820 Rev. Ezra Booth and Alfred Bronson were in charge. Fradenburgh says of Ezra Booth: "He possessed a noble physique, six feet in height, a large head, broad shoulders, and fine proportion. In intellect he was far above the average." He was a conscientious scholar, and Dr. Charles Eliot once said to him, "If the Methodist church had a college, with a vacant chair of history, that would be the place for you." "He was the soul of honesty, morality and sincerity." He married Dorcas Taylor, the sister of Elisha Taylor, of Nelson, whose house was the winter home of numberless circuit riders for many years. The grandchildren of the Taylors say that this family gave so much to the church as to impoverish themselves, and although only one of them is today a Methodist, they all say they are glad they did, because doing for the church they loved was their only extravagance, their only joy outside the home.
Some of the meetings of the early Methodist class were held at the residence of Lewis Reeves, who was the village jailor. In those days the jailor, and not the sheriff, lived at the jail. The building in which Mr. Reeves lived was the old log jail which stood on the present jail lot.
In 1821 Benjamin Stevens was elected leader, and held that office for sixty-two years. The first sacrament was administered by Mr. Bronson and Father Bostick in a grove on the bank of the river. The first quarterly meeting was held in 1827. Charles Eliot was the presiding elder. This resulted in the conversion of many people. There were forty additions to the church.
The preaching for this denomination was generally held in the court house, at first irregularly, then on every other Satur- day evening ; later, on Sunday evening. Regular Sunday morn- ing services were established in 1824, and about that time the academy, standing where the public library now stands, became the place of class and prayer meetings. In 1836 a protracted meeting, resulting in a good many converts, was held in this same place. Benjamin Stevens, Aaron B. Reeves and Albert Van Gorder purchased from Thomas J. MeLain Sr. for $400 a lot for a church, and the following year, just eighteen years from the time of the first organization of the church, a meeting- house was erected on the bank of the river. This was approached by an alley, in later years running between the Hapgood's and Masters Brothers' stores. Then it was one of the most beau- tiful spots in the town, overlooking the winding river, the park,
1
OLD METHODIST CHURCH.
From a painting by John W. Bell, now in the possession of his wife, Ella M. Bell.
215
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
the lowlands of the Perkins estate and the Quinby Hill. The business houses crowded this later, so that the outlook was not attractive.
When the excavation for this building was begun it was found to have been an old cemetery, then supposed to have been Indian, but it may possibly have been white men, as later investigation has shown that like cemeteries in other parts of New Connectient were probably cemeteries for white people.
This church was dedicated November 9, 1837. the preachers on the circuit being Arthur M. Brown and John Crum. Rev. John Lnecock. D. D., a former circuit rider, preached the dedi- catory sermon.
The building committee for this first church consisted of Benjamin Stevens, Albert Van Gorder, George Hapgood. A. B. Reeves and Isaac Van Gorder. William Logan and William D. Crawford were the contractors. In 1839 Warren was made a station and for the first time had a regular minister. He was Rev. L. D. Mix. He received as his salary the first year. $115, apportioned to him as follows: Rent, $40; wood, $25; table expenses, $50. The membership at this time was about 125.
This building was sufficient until 1866, when preparations were begun for a larger church. The old church was built some- what after the lines of the First Presbyterian church, but neither the steps nor the steeple were as high. The choir sat in the gallery at the back part of the church, and during the singing the congregation turned about and faced the choir. The interior was as plain and lacking in ornamentation as was the First Presbyterian church, but either the writer had grown in size or had become accustomed to high walls; at any rate, the ceiling did not seem so high, nor the windows so tall. Some very eloquent, stirring sermons were preached in that old house. and the women of that church for many years labored inces- santly to raise money for the new church. The quilting which they did was of such nicety as to give them a reputation which has lasted through three generations.
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.