Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 40

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149

USA > Ohio > Butler County > Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio > Part 40

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comb, W. R. Anderson, A. M. Lorrain, M. Dustin, Augustus Brown, Augustus Eddy, W. H. Lawder, W. R. Davis, J J. Hill, Moses Smith, E. G. Nicholson, Charles R. Lovell, A. Lowrey, W. H. Lawder, Moses Smith, J. J. Thompson, Charles Ferguson, W. I. Fee, D. J. Starr, T. J. Harris, George H. Dart, Granville Moody, T. S. Cowden, James Murray, George W. Dubois, C. W. Gullette, John W. Peters and C. E. Schenk. The last five pastors have served twenty- three years. Only four ex-pastors are liv- ing : D. J. Starr, George H. Dart, George W. Du Bois and John W. Peters. The pres- ent pastor, C. F. Schenk, D. D., has had charge of the church for five years and is a minister of great ability. As a pulpit ora- tor Dr. Schenk ranks among the first in the conference.

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The United Presbyterian church of Hamilton was organized in 1816. The pro- moters were three devout women. Mrs. Nancy Southerland, Mrs. Robert Beckett and Mrs. Margery McMechan. Prior to this time there had been a steady tide of emi- gration to this section of sturdy Scotch Irish. Seldom had they an opportunity of hearing God's word except when occasionally a min- ister of their faith happened to pass through.

Among these were the Revs. Rankin, Risk and R. H. Bishop, then of Lexington, Kentucky, and later the first president of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

The Rev. Alex. Porter, who had em- igrated from South Carolina to Israel town- ship, Preble county, with his congregation in 1814, being opposed to human slavery, also preached here occasionally. In 1817 Dr. David McDill was called as regular pas-

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tor. The congregation then numbered twenty-seven.

The Associate Reformed church, as it was then called in 1818, united with the Presbyterians in the erection of a church edifice at the northeast corner of Third and Court streets, each to occupy the building alternate Sabbaths.

In 1828 this congregation having se- cured a location by gift of John Sutherland, erected a house of worship at the corner of Court and Water streets.

In 1851 another and more modern struc- ture was built, and this in turn was replaced after fifty years by a still more modern edifice.

As early as 1840 this congregation had a membership of over two hundred. Its pastors have been the Rev. Dr. David Mc- Dill. 1817 to 1848; Rev. Dr. William David- son. 1848 to 1875, in which year he died. Two pastors in nearly sixty years. What church can equal this record? "Behold how good a thing it is and how becoming will together, such as brethren are, in unity to dwell."

Following Dr. Davidson was the Rev. A. W. Cloakly, the Revs. Dr. Bain, Dr. Simpson. Rev. Mason Pressley, the Rev. Robinson, Rev. Dr. E. M. McFadden and the present pastor, Dr. Moorehead.

All honor to that little church, the church that's on the corner.

That needs no gems or jewels rare or presents to adorn her.

All honor to the laity of this church who have crossed the dark river. The Becketts, McKees, Scotts, Corwins, Caldwells, Craw- fords, McDaniels, Moores, Reeders, Suther- lands. McMechans, Woods, Lattas. Zoungs, Grays, Taylors, Giffens, McMackens, Mc-

Crackens, Blairs and Browns. Men and women, they need no praise, their works fol- low them.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Baptists organized a church in Ross- ville, now West Hamilton, as early as 1829. This place of worship was on South B street. This church flourished for a few years, when a division took place upon the expediency or rather the right of Christians to join any associations other than the church, including benevolent, missionary and temperance societies, and other reform- atory associations. The First Baptist church was organized in 1841, as a branch of the Lockland church, but did not become an in- dependent church until 1844, when a church was built, situated on Third street, south of Dayton street.

This edifice, costing about three thou- sand dollars, was occupied until 1858. The property was sold at this time, and the con- gregation began worshiping in the pres- ent building on Court street, opposite the court house. This building cost over ten thousand dollars and was recently repaired at considerable cost. The original member- ship was twelve. Dr. Laomi Rigdon, Aaron Potter and James Shotwell were the or- ganizers. The following ministers have served the congregation : J. F. Blodgett, W. H. Rooney, William Ashmore, H. M. Rich- ardson. J. M. Pendleton, R. V. W. Snow, R. Telford, N. A. Reed, Thomas Hanford, W. A. Smith, Thomas Eddy, W. R. Den- nis. Charles Huckleberry, Frank McFarlan, H. N. Quisenberry and William A. Waldo.

THE FIRST REFORMED CHURCH.

The first services held by this church were in the German Methodist Episcopal

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church in 1866. Later services were held in Runple's hall, the Methodist and the Chris- tian church in West Hamilton. An or- ganization was effected at the residence of August Breidenbach, November 13, 1867. John Breitenstein and F. B. Thomson were elected elders; Jesse Jacoby and George Hu- ber, deacons. On September 11, 1867, a lot was purchased at the corner of Ross and D streets. The church edifice was erected by liberal contributions from a small member- ship, and by other congregations in south- ern Ohio. Rev. G. Z. Mechling was an un- tiring worker in the cause. The corner-stone was laid in August, 1868, and the building was dedicated September 19, 1869. The defalcation of the treasurer left a debt of fifty-five hundred dollars upon the church, and the property was advertised for sale. It was saved, and the debt finally ex- tinguished in 1875. The church is in a flourishing condition, under the able pastor- ate of Rev. H. Nevin Kerst. The congre- gation belongs to the Reformed church in the United States, and was formerly known as the German Reformed church.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCHI.

It is not known when the doctrine of the Universalist church first obtained a foot- hold in the city of Hamilton.

It is clearly established, however, by the archives of the church, that a Universalist society was in existence as early as 1836, and has existed continuously from that time.

The present society, now having its place of worship on Seventh street, is the same society as that of 1836.

In those days the society was not the owner of a building, but held its meetings in the lower room of the old court house for

many years, until the erection of the church edifice at the southwest corner of Front and High streets in 1852.

Many eminent ministers of the denomi- nation of early days, conducted services then. Among them were: I. D. William- son, D. D., editor of The Star in the West; Revs. John A. Gurley, an enthusiastic ex- ponent of this faith, and also for many years a member in congress from the Cincinnati district ; George Rogers, I. B. Quinby, the eloquent Murray Gaylord, William C. Brooks, Rev. Pingree, Rev. Brush, Rev. Biddlecome and W. S. Bacon, now living at Wyoming, Ohio, whose period of great use- fulness to the church has been unusually pro- longed.

At a meeting of the society held in the year 1847, it was decided to take steps towards the erection of a church building; and John W. Erwin and Henry Traber were appointed a committee to wait upon James McBride for the purpose of securing a lease from him of the lot at the southwest corner of Front and High streets, in this city. The negotiation then begun resulted in James McBride making a lease of this lot for a period of thirty years, to Henry Traber, Perry G. Smith, Isaac Mathias, Thomas W. Watterson and John W. Erwin, who were acting for the society.

As a result of the making of this lease, work was soon begun on the church, and when it was completed in 1852, the dedi- cation sermon was delivered by the Rev. Davis Bacon, Little is now remembered of those ceremonies, but it is told that the prayer of Rev. Mr. Emmitt, who assisted in the exercises, was forty-five minutes long, from which it may be inferred that the oc- casion was one of well-sustained interest.

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The society was incorporated at a meet- ing held on the 24th day of February, 1857, under the name of The First Universalist Society of the city of Hamilton. Its articles of incorporation are attested by H. H. Wal- lace as clerk, from which it is evident that the society had an organization and officers prior to the act of incorporation.

After adopting the articles of incorpor- ation the meeting went into an election of officers for the church and society, which resulted as follows : For trustees, John W. Erwin, Henry Beardsley, Thomas Reed, Jacob Mathias and Allison P. Dye; for stew- ards, John Mills, Jacob Mathias and Thomas Reed. The officers chosen on February 24, 1857, are the earliest in the society of which any record is preserved.

The first pastor called by the society after its incorporation was Rev. Mr. Gal- ligher, on March 15, 1857. He was fol- lowed in 1858 by the Rev. A. Gage.

There were no services held by the so- eiety from 1861 to 1867. In the latter year services were resumed, and from that time have been held continuously with slight in- terruptions, the pulpit being occupied by different ministers of the denomination.

Rev. Martha A. Bortle, after a very ac- ceptable pastorate of nearly four years, re- signed in May, 1903. She was called to a broader field in a Boston church and carried with her the best wishes of her congregation and many outside friends to whom her fine attainments, kindly disposition and loving ministrations had greatly endeared her. The present pastor is Rev. M. G. Linton.

The first Sunday school in the society was organized in 1852, with John Mills as superintendent, and Daniel Sallee as secre- tary. The latter, after the lapse of nearly

half a century, is yet a regular attendant upon its meetings.

In 1885 the society sold the building which it had erected at the corner of Front and High streets in 1852, and in 1886 pur- chased from the Masonic fraternity the lot at the southwest corner of Third and Day- ton streets and held its services for several years in the building which then stood upon it. In 1889 it sold this lot and about the same time purchased the lot in Seventh street upon which its present church edifice was erected and dedicated in 1891.

The society as a remembrance of their earlier days placed in the tower of their new building the bell whose peals rung out from the edifice at the corner of Front and High streets called to worship the pioneers of their faith. It was a present to the infant church from the late John W. Erwin, and its sil- very tones, the finest in the city, may be heard every Sabbath calling the people to the house of God and reminding them of the divine command, "Remember the Sab- bath day to keep it holy."

TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Episcopal church in Hamilton is about eighty-two years old. It was first planted by one of the greatest missionaries that the American church has had. This was Bishop Philander Chase.

He crossed the Alleghanies in 1817, and worked in the Ohio wilderness for two years as a missionary priest. when, in 1819,.he was consecrated to the episcopate. He traveled over his diocese on horseback, and one of the towns he visited was Hamilton.

In 1823 Chase organized the church peo- ple of Hamilton into a parish, called St. Matthew's. St. Matthew's existed with

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only clerical supply, often with no services at all. for a period of ten years. The mem- bership began with eight communicants and did not increase very rapidly. In 1833 it seems to have become dormant and prac- tically died.

In 1834 another attempt was made to found a parish in Hamilton. There were nine communicants and clerical services were rendered by clergyman from Cincin- nati and Dayton, and were held in the Pres- byterian church. This parish was also called St. Matthew's. Next year there were nine- teen communicants and it was decided to build a church. A lot was purchased on the corner of Front and Court street. and a Gothic edifice of brick, sixty by forty feet. was erected.

In September. 1837. the Rev. Seth Davis was chosen rector of the parish-the first resident clergyman the town ever had. The parish was not successful financially. The debt incurred in building could not be paid. and interest could not be met.

For ten years St. Matthew's struggled for existence. In 1848 a mortgage on the church property was foreclosed, the church sold at the door of the court house to the Rt. Rev. John B. Purcell, Roman Catholic Bishop of Cincinnati and the church has been converted into the present St. Mary's Roman Catholic church.

For twenty years then no attempt was made to organize a parish and only an oc- casional service was given to the few church- men who lived here.

In 1868 the third parish was organized under the name of Christ church. As it had no church building of its own, this new or- ganization had to rent rooms and under

such disadvantages and expense it did not last much over ten years, when it was de- clared defunct.

The present Trinity. parish was started as a mission in 1883 by the Rev. H. T. Gregory. rector of the Middletown parish. There were at this time forty or fifty ad- herents of the church. Services were held at various times in the Baptist and Univer- salist churches, and in the Temple of Honor. In 1887 the Rev. C. T. A. Pise took full charge of the mission, after having been the assistant of the Rev. Mr. Gregory for some time. He remained in charge until 1891. During his pastorate the nave of the present church was built in 1888. The credit of our beautiful little churchly edifice is mainly due to Mr. Pise, who labored indefatigably to this end.

In 1891 the Rev. N. L. Briggs was called to the mission, but ill health compelled himn to resign before the completion of his first year.

In 1893 the Rev. Robert Granger was called to the mission. During his pastorate the chancel was added to the nave. and the church building was complete. It was about this time that Trinity mission was converted into a parish with the Rev. Mr. Granger as its first rector. Mr. Granger resigned in 1895. In this same year ( 1895) the Rev. F. F. J. Floyd was elected rector of the parish and resigned in 1898. To Mr. Floyd is due the credit of the surpliced choir and the high standard of the worship of the parish.

The present incumbent, the Rev. David Arnold Schaefer was made rector in July, 1899, after six months' charge of the serv- ices as a deacon.

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THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

The Church of Christ was first organized in the first ward of Hamitlon in the old United Brethren building. About twenty- five years ago the congregation built a hand- some church edifice in East High street at the corner of Center street. The church has had a prosperous career, and a few years ago its house of worship was extensively remodeled and enlarged. It is one of the largest church congregations in Hamilton. Its recent pastors have been Rev. L. E. Brown, Rev. George O. Black and Rev. A. M. Growden.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The Congregationalists held religious . services in the fourth ward school house in 1894 and shortly after commencing the services organized the First Congregational church of Hamilton. In 1896 a neat little church edifice was erected for the use of the congregation at the corner of Seventh and Sycamore streets, where an interested and growing congregation worships under the guidance of the pastor, the Rev. G. Z. Mech- ling. The church has established a mission at Cokeotto, where Sabbath school and worship is held every Sabbath afternoon.

A. M. E. CHURCH.

The African Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1840 by Rev. Thomas Lawrence, of Cincinnati. Nineteen mem- bers were enrolled at the organization. Among these the names of Alfred J. An- dlerson, Bud Sampson and Samuel Jones are prominent. A church edifice was erected and dedicated in 1842. Rev. Henry Atkin- son was the first minister of the congrega- tion, which was attached to the Cincinnati

circuit in 1844. Rev. W. M. Clark, Wat- kins Lee, Daniel Winslow, John Woodson. Alexander Austen, were engaged in this ministry. Afterward Oxford and Hamilton congregations were united, and had a pastor. Rev. Jeremiah Lewis came first. Under the pastorate of H. J. Jackson, the first work was done toward the present house of wor- ship and it was completed under the pas- torate of Philip Tolliver. In 1880, the con- gregation was separated from Oxford, when Rev. T. Knox became pastor. The subse- quent pastors have been : C. H. Bundy, un- der whose pastorate the comfortable par- sonage was built, P. Alston, J. Griffin, G. W. Prioleau, G. W. Maxwell, John Dickerson. W. H. Coleman and W. T. Maxwell.

THE CONGREGATION OF B'NAI ISRAEL.

At a called meeting June 17, 1866, for the purpose of forming a Jewish congrega- tion, Moses Klein was chosen president pro tem and Ferdinand Steinfeld vice-president. The few Jewish citizens that were then re- siding here worked strenuously to receive enough subscribers who would pay the run- ning expenses in monthly installments. On July 29th of the same year an organization was completed and the following became members :

Jacob Maas, Moses Klein, Jacob Grab- enheimer, David Kappel, Meyer Roth, Moses Sauer, Herman Guggenheimer, Louis Davis, Jonas Hirsch, Ferdinand Steinfeld and Samuel Levy. The following officers were elected : Moses Klein, president ; Jonas Hirsch, vice-president; Ferdinand Steinfeld, secretary. The first rabbi elected is the pres- ent incumbent, Rev. L. Liebman, but on ac- count of the inability of the congregation to raise the necessary amount, seven hundred

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and fifty dollars, besides other running ex- penses, such as rents, light and heat, and it was not until December, 1866. the congre- gation was enabled to elect a rabbi, Rev. Rosenthal. October 22, 1870, the congre- gation purchased a plot of ground opposite St. Mary's cemetery for a cemetery. On the 6th of April, 1878, it empowered the trustees to purchase a site for the erection of a temple in Fourth street, between Chest- nut and Walnut. John Maas was appointed together with the trustees as the building committee. In July the contract for the building was awarded to Bender Brothers, they being the lowest bidders. In the month of September. 1878, the temple was dedi- cated. The late Rev. Isaac M. Wise, of Cincinnati, delivered the dedication sermon. Up to this time the congregation held its services in rented halls, having occupied a hall rented from George Rupp, Sr., on the south side of High street. between Front and Water streets. Later a hall above Jonas Hirsch's store, now the property of the Cin- cinnati Brewing Company, was rented. In November, 1900, the Ladies' Aid Associa- tion contracted for the building of a mortu- ary chapel. The present officers of the con- gregation are M. Strauss, president : Henry Dreifuss, vice-president; David Loeb, treas- urer; and A. Ballinger, secretary. The trustees are Al Sauer. Gus Cohen and S. Lowenstein. S. Lowenstein is the ward- en and I .. Liebman the minister. The total membership of the congregation is thirteen.

CELEBRATION OF THE NATION'S CENTEN- NIAL AT HAMILTON.

On June 21, 1876, Mayor Maginnis is- sued the following proclamation, which is

a patriotic document and will be read again with much interest :

PROCLAMATION!

MAYOR'S OFFICE,

CITY OF HAMILTON. June 21, 1876.

To the Citizens of the Respective Townships of Butler County, Ohio:

On the fourth day of next month a hundred years will have elapsed since the representatives of the United States of America in general con- gress assembled by a declaration of the equality of man in his creation, of his inalienable rights, of the purpose for which governments were insti- tuted, of the source of their powers, of the right of the people to alter or abolish them, and by a dissolution of all political connection with the state of Great Britain, organized that genuine liberty which has been a beacon to the nations and a priceless gift to their posterity.

Happily released from the ignorance which through all the ages had fettered the freedom of the race, it was the fortune of those enviable trib- unes to become the founders of states which have multiplied and prospered; which have survived the rise and fall of empires, and which have made the development of the individual the secret of their perpetuity.

We have reason to hail with every manifesta- tion of joy each recurring anniversary of the day that witnessed the first act of a drama which is to close only with the emancipation of mankind. The flight of a hundred years has served to illus- trate the greatness of the actors and the magnitude of the event.

The spirit of their declaration abides in its pristine vigor, and but yesterday transmuted four millions of slaves into four millions of free men.

In almost every hamlet throughout the land there has been a simultaneous movement to make some special recognition of a day which marks for us a completed century of freedom. At the solicitation of the patriotic citizens of Hamilton and by request of the common council, I, M. N. Maginnis, mayor of said city, do hereby invite the good people of the town aforesaid to meet in said city on the fourth day of July to participate in a celebration commemorative of the hundredth year of the independence of the United States.

Signed by me, and the corporate seal affixed this 21st day of June, 1876.

M. N. MAGINNIS, Mayor.

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Following this proclamation Alston Ellis, John F. Neilan and John M. Long is- sued an able address to the citizens of But- ler county.

Hamilton has never been backward in any matter of public importance, and when called upon. has always nobly answered in the words of the Iron Duke's motto-"I am here." Our business men are public- spirited, go-ahead men, and whatever labors devolve upon them for the public weal are always cheerfully performed.

The exercises of the day commenced at three .A. M .. with the firing of one hundred guns, followed by the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner" at sunrise by the Apollo Band. At this time the crowds commenced gathering and at eight o'clock a goodly audience had convened to hear the children sing under the able guidance of Prof. Theo- dore Meyder. Their singing of "Hail Co- lumbia" and other patriotic airs was de- cidedly pleasing.

Immediately after the exercises of the early morning the procession formed, and was marshaled by Gen. Ferd Van Derveer.

The display of Owens, Lane & Dyer Company was especially unique. being a representation of the old-fashioned manner of threshing wheat by flailing. followed by . a new threshing machine of the firm's make, the whole drawn by their celebrated steam road wagon. John Weidenborner. the wholesale shoeman, had a complete shop on wheels which attracted much attention. All the machine shops made creditable displays, as. in fact, did all who furnished floats. Cigar making. building, tin working, print- ing. etc., were all represented in operation, and to the country people especially the ex- hibition of the trades was a grand treat. The

fire companies "did their level best," and the Third ward boys, dressed as Indians, created considerable merriment. The procession was thirty-five minutes in passing a given point.

After the procession at 11:30 the exer- cises at the grand stand commenced with prayer by the Rev. Stemple. After singing by the children, Colonel L. D. Campbell, the president of the day, stepped forward and introduced Miss Nannie Kennedy, who read the Declaration of Independence in a mag- nificent manner. Thomas Millikin, Esq., the orator of the day, was then introduced and for one hour he held the large audience in a most quiet mood with an eloquent and appropriate oration.

At two P. M. the short speeches of the day were made by Thomas Moore, Esq .. Colonel James E. Neal. Aaron Wesco and others, after which the people devoted the remainder of the day in social intercourse.

Hamilton was dressed in holiday garb by day, and never before did the city look so fine. At night High street was illumi- nated by hundreds of candles and Chinese lanterns, and, added to the brilliant effect of the colored fires lined all along the street, were the thousand rockets and Roman can- dles. and the various smaller fireworks. The entire scene. as witnessed by the people crowded in the public square, was of east- ern magnificence and rivalled the fabled stories of the Princess Scherzerade.

At five o'clock the boat race took place, and was won by the "Diana," manned by Frank Krebs and brother, who was pre- sented by L. A. Boli with the magnificent silver cup. Six thousand people witnessed the race. The Centennial tree was planted at three P. M.

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HAMILTON CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 40

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1149

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149