Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 46

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 46

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).

Broadway M. E. Church, Middletown, Ohio.

enterprise has cost the society fifty thousand dollars, which has all been paid. The con- gregation is now served by Rev. W. E. Hamnaker as pastor, with a membership of six hundred and fifty-seven and a Sunday school of four hundred.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

On August 9, 1808, the Salem Baptist church was organized in the home of James Heaton and the following year was admitted to the Miami association. At the first busi- ness meeting James DeWise was made dea- con and Nathaniel Canfield clerk. For three years services were held in the homes of the several members.

In October, 1811, a small one-story frame house was erected on an acre of ground located on the east side of the Franklin pike, and about one mile north of Middletown. The school house in the Tytus district stands near the spot occupied by this humble house of worship.

Gunckel, dated in May, 1889, in which he said that he would add ten thousand dollars This frame house was used for fifteen years or more, when the congregation be- began to hold services in Middletown, at the homes of Thomas Royal and others and in the little brick school house at the corner of Main and Second streets, where it held its meetings alternately with the Methodists and Presbyterians. to the new church funds, as soon as the con- gregation raised an additional ten thousand dollars. This, under the lead of Pastor D. C. Vance, was made good in ninety days, and a building committee, made up of Thomas Collett, C. F. Gunckel, M. B. Hatch and W. H. Todhunter, was named, and in the fall of 1889 Samuel Hanneford & Son, At a regular meeting of the congrega- tion, held August 9, 1828, the name of the society was changed from the Salem Bap- tist church to the First Baptist church of Middletown, Ohio. In the winter of 1828 it was agreed that a new brick church should be built and the act of incorporation was secured and Jacob Deerdorff, Thomas Royal architects, were employed and on March I, 1890, ground was broken on lot 84 for the new stone church. On May 31, 1890, the corner-stone was laid, and May 3, 1891, the church was dedicated by Bishop J. W. Joyce. This was a memorable day; some twelve hundred people were present. The church is of native blue limestone, except the and David Taylor were chosen as trustees. fronts, which are of Berea sandstone. The A lot was secured on the west side of Main

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street, just north of Second street, in 1829, when a house of worship was begun, but was not finished until 1832. This new structure was forty by eighty feet. The cost was three thousand dollars and the building stood until 1854, when it was taken down and a large two-story brick church erected on the old site, to which was added some additional land adjoining. In 1867 an addition twenty-five by sixty-four feet was added to the east end of the two-story building, at a cost of ten thousand dollars. The society erected a substantial brick house for the pastor on a lot north of the church in 1862, which was recently sold to Dr. Linville. This church, under the leadership of Pastor Rufus W. Weaver, began to agi- tate the construction of a new church edifice on a new site near to the commercial and residential center of the city. After much discussion, planning and thinking this was determined upon, and Mr. Andrews, of Dayton, Ohio, was chosen as the architect, and C. H. Barkelew, Frank Jones, J. R. Allen and S. W. Margerum were made a building committee. This movement was given great certainty and enthusiasm by the generous subscription of Hon. Paul J. Sorg, of ten thousand dollars, conditioned that the congregation secure thirty thousand dollars additional. By the persistent effort of Dr. Weaver this was secured and the enterprise was put in active operation. In December, 1903, the whole of lot 62, one hundred by two hundred feet, was secured at a cost of twelve thousand five hundred dollars, and in March of that year the new edifice was begun and is now under roof and ready for the inside work. It is constructed of Bed- ford (Indiana) stone, laid in irregular ashler masonry. The architecture is of the 2A

low old English style. The Sunday school room is builded on the "Akron plan" and well adapted for class and assembly work. The cost of the entire structure, furnishings and grounds, will be sixty thousand dollars. Mrs. P. J. Sorg will furnish the glass for the windows of the entire building, and her daughter, Miss Ada, will add three thou- sand dollars for the new organ, which in place will cost some four thousand dollars. The old church and site will be sold and the proceeds used in the construction of the new edifice.

This church has been active in the work of missions in Amanda, Heno and parts of Middletown. Moved by the energy, tact and liberality of L. D. Doty and John R. Shaffor, substantial brick houses of worship were erected at Amanda and Heno during recent years.

This church has been served in the pas- torate by Jacob Mulford, David Bryant, William Boynton, John Finlay, J. A. Bul-

First Baptist Church, Middletown, Ohio.

lard, J. G. Brown, Albert Guy, D. S. Wat- son, F. L. Chapell, J. W. T. Boothe, Thomas Cull, Edward A. Ince, John Blodgett, Harry Crane, Dr. Rufus W. Weaver and the pres- ent pastor, E. T. Stevens.

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In and of the membership of this church have been men of the highest character and potential force not only in the work of the society but in the advance of the city. We may name with pleasure F. J. Tytus, John R. Shaffor, William More, Edward Jones, Joseph Shepherd. A. G. Clendenin, Jacob Vorhis, Rev. Lyman J. Fisher and others of like rank and place. Many mothers in Zion have been called to the skies from this communion, like Mrs. Mary Wren, Mrs. Josephine Mitchell, Mrs. F. J. Tytus, Mrs. Smith Wren, Mrs. Edward Jones, Mrs. John Hogland and others whose goodness and Christian faith was their crown and fullest measure.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church dates back to 1819 for its fixed beginning. On April 6th of that year a petition was presented to the Miami pres- bytery at Lebanon, Ohio, for the right to form the First Presbyterian church of Mid- dletown. The presbytery granted the re- quest, and at a preliminary . meeting held April 16th of the same year a collector and clerk were chosen. Rev. Frances Monfort was appointed by the presbytery to preach to the people and promote the organization of the new society. On July 29. 1820. a meeting was held at which Rev. Monfort and brethren from the New Jersey church were present and a sessional meeting was constituted. which adjourned to meet August 6th of the same summer, when twelve members were received, nine by cer- tificate and three by profession of faith.

In June, 1821, fifteen more persons joined the society and three elders were elected, William McClain, Nathaniel Pep- pard and Moses Karr; in August, 1828,

Archibald Campbell and Ephraim Gray were made elders.

In this year the necessity for a church home began to press itself on the minds of the brethren. for the society had been or- ganized and services held in the little school house which stood on the corner of Second and Main streets, and which was occupied alternately by this church, the Baptists and the Methodists.

In 1832 a site for a new church was se- cured from Daniel Doty, on what is now lower Broadway and which site the German Lutheran own at this time. Here the church began the erection of a commodious build- ing. forty-five by thirty feet. During this period Rev. John Hudson was the pulpit supply. It is said that this new house cost about one thousand one hundred dollars, be-

First Presbyterian Church, Middletown. Ohio. side the labor, donated by those interested. Rev. Alex. Gray. J. S. Bellville and J. B. Morton served the congregation as supplies. The latter was elected pastor in March,

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1843, and continued in that relation until 1847; during this pastoral term this minister also served some other churches adjacent to Middletown, for the church here was not yet self-sustaining. Rev. S. W. Tempelton and J. B. Morton, who had removed to a point nearby, served the church as pulpit supplies, and in 1853 the church found it was able to sustain itself without aid from the boards of the general society.

In 1854 it secured a site for a new and larger house for church services, the same being lot 20, at the northeast corner of Fourth and Main streets. On this property was speedily erected a large two-story brick church, costing twelve or fifteen thousand dollars. The building committee was made up of Dr. G. E. Wampler, Thomas Wilson, John L. Martin and William S. Young. This new house was dedicated in 1856 and Rev. J. B. Morton was again called as pastor and continued in this relation for nine years. Mr. Morton was a devoted man, given seriously to the work of the church and the education of the young; for he taught school in Middletown as well as preached the Word. This good man did much to shape things in Middle- town, and to firmly and wisely establish the · First church. He was a very useful man in both town and county, and the impress of his thought and methods is still realized. He died lamented by all who knew him. From 1865, when Mr. Morton resigned his pastorate, to 1867 Rev. G. J. Taylor filled the pulpit as a supply.

In 1867 this house was remodeled, decorated and a pipe organ added to its equipment, and in June of that year Rev. Joshua Russell was called as pastor, he serv- ing the church until September, 1872.

The pastorate of this vigorous church has been filled since that date by the Rev. J. W. Cloakey, Thomas Hench, H. B. El- liott (supply), S. F. Hershey (supply ), Rev. J. W. Simonton, G. W. McCampbell, Dr. Scott and William H. Shields, the present pastor, who has been with the church for the past five years, and is meeting with splendid and gratifying success.

In 1892 the two-story brick church was taken down and the material used to erect a church, in the eastern part of the city, known as the Oakland church, which is sup- ported in part by the First church, the Board of Missions and the help given by the con- gregation. Services were first held in the Oakland church in January, 1893. Pastors H. E. Neff, James Hutchinson and J. M. Bolton have served this Oakland church.

In 1892 the First church began the erec- tion, on lot 20, of a new stone church and in a short while it was finished and dedi- cated to the worship of God at a cost, with all of its appointments, of some fifty thou- sand dollars. The entire cost has been met and a congregation of fervent men and women attend every week upon the services as led by Pastor Shields. This church is wealthy and conservative, yet a devoted body of Christian people and much good is being done by it in and for the city.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

As early as 1850 priests from Hamilton visited Middletown and held services as Catholic missionaries, and mass was said at the homes of the little band that formed the nucleus of the coming congregations.

In April, 1853, the corner stone of the first church was laid under the pastorate of Father O'Connor, by Archbishop Purcell.

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

The church then constructed was of brick and of strong and substantial build. It has been served by Rev. Thomas J. Smith, Rev. Thomas J. Boulger, Rev. John Bowe, Rev. F. C. Mallen, Rev. W. F. O'Rourke, Rev.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Middletown. Ohio,

Michael Hayes, Rev. D. A. Buckley and now Father Hickey cares for the large con- gregation and looks wisely after the affairs of the parish.

During the pastorate of these different priests the congregation has steadily grown in numbers and strength. In 1866 a parochial school was established and the following year the Sisters assumed charge of it. During the pastorate of Father Hayes a handsome parochial residence was erected. In 1891 a large two-story school house was builded and equipped and in 1898 . frame house. a splendid home for the Sisters was built and furnished.

Father Buckley's pastorate lasted eleven years, and during this period the society

made lasting and material progress, and to his untiring efforts is due the fine school house, the home for the Sisters and the new and handsome stone church.

The whole parish is out of debt and the church is fitted with a new pipe organ of the most modern build. The congregation is a very large one and is steadily advanc- ing under the quiet care of Father Hickey.

The New Holy Trinity church was dedicated September 3, 1899, with very im- pressive ceremonies, and is an edifice of which every citizen is proud.

THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

The United Brethren church has existed in the vicinity of Middletown for over fifty years, but no society was organized in the city until 1890. At the annual conference held in Miamisburg, in August, 1889, it was decided to open a mission at Middletown. This action was due largely to the influence of George Yost, who was a lay delegate to this conference.

Rev. B. A. Sutton was named pastor and began his labors in the new field, but re- signed before the close of the conference year. Rev. D. K. Flickinger served the so- ciety until the fall of 1890, when the con- ference of that year sent Rev. W. L. Byers as pastor, who proceeded to secure funds for a lot on Young street, and for the erec- tion of a frame chapel on the east end of the same. During his pastorate the young congregation grew in numbers and was comfortably accommodated in the new

In 1892 came Rev. S. M. Hippard and in 1894 Rev. S. B. Erwin, who was pastor for one year, then followed in 1903 by Rev. E. W. Bowers, who served the church for

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four years. Under this pastorate the neces- sity of a new and larger house was felt, and under the pastorate of Rev. E. E. Saul, in 1899, funds were at hand and a building committee was named consisting of C. C. Fouts, D. D. Monger and George L. Yost. W. H. Davis made plans for a new brick house of worship.

In February, 1900, the contract was awarded to Caldwell & Isaminger, the cost of which was some twelve thousand dollars. The church is a neat one-story pressed brick house. tastefully finished and furnished. The society is growing in strength and ef- ficiency all the time and Rev. Saul is still successful in the pastorate and under his lead the church is doing much good.

The dedicatory services for the new brick house took place on a Sunday in Feb- ruary. 1901, and was a day long to be re- membered. Rev. W. R. Funk. of Dayton, preached a wonderful sermon at 10:30 A. M. of that day. The society is now out of debt and will soon have a comfortable par- sonage.

THIE PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCH.

This association of good folks appeared in our city in 1854 and its early sessions were held in old Washington hall, in Jacob Leibee's Third street block. The church was formally organized March 11, 1855, with thirty-six members. Rev. W. B. Warring- ton served as its first pastor, and during his stay some two hundred were added to the fold. The present substantial two-story brick was dedicated in 1856, and it serves very well the needs of the society today.

The church has now two hundred and sixty members and a Sunday school of two hundred. The brick parsonage adjoins the

church on Broadway, just south of Third street, in which the present pastor, Rev. Lane, and family are living, he being the twenty-first pastor who has served this so- ciety. The church property was recently re- ' furnished and frescoed and new heaters added for the comfort of the people. Mrs. Sarah Robinson, one of the original charter members, is still living and able to attend services.

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.

This new church is located on the cor- ner of Sixth and Baltimore streets, in the new and growing side of the city. It was organized in December. 1904, with eleven members, under the guidance of the First Ohio Presbytery of the United Presbyterian church. The church building was dedicated June 30, 1898, under the pastorate of Rev. WV. B. Barr. who served the congregation until November. 1898. Rev. G. A. Brown succeeded him, being installed December 12. 1898. The present pastor. Rev. J. W. Bicket. is a young man. well qualified for his work, and is well liked by his congre- gation and the citizens. The membership is as yet small. but all the property is paid for and the congregation is comfortably housed in a neat modern church.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

The St. Paul congregation was or- ganized December 10. 1876, with the fol- lowing officers: Gotfrey Rathman, presi- dent : William Sebald, secretary, and Jacob Borger, treasurer, all of whom are now dead. The site for the new church was se- cured the same year. being the north half of lot 83 on South Broadway. The corner stone of the new two-story brick church

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was laid with fitting ceremonies May 16, 1877, and the first story was finished and dedicated on Thanksgiving day of the same year. This served the congregation for preaching and Sunday-school services until 1888, when, under the pastorate of Rev. J. G. Mueller, the auditorium was furnished and dedicated March 11, 1888. In 1892, under the pastorate of Philip Wittich, the entire debt was fully paid and the event cele- brated September 25th of that year. This congregation, desirous of pressing on in the work at once, purchased a large new pipe organ and went in debt again, and in 1900 the last dollar was paid and the church entered the new century free from all finan- cial obligation and, full of fire and zeal, will be led to still more substantial advances by the new pastor, Rev. E. G. Kuenzler.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

This church was organized in this city August 6, 1854. by a small band of devoted German folks. In that year, under the pas- torate of Rev. E. A. Shultz, the newly or- ganized congregation bought the site and house formerly the place of worship owned by the First Presbyterian church. This was a large plat of ground. extending from Broadway west to Yankee road. In 1863 the Lutheran people divided the Yankee road front into lots and sold them for homes. This was some material aid on the financial side of its affairs. The congrega- tion worshiped in the church building on this lot until the year 1882, when it became too small for the growing congregation and a new brick, slate-roof church building was erected, in the tower of which was placed the only chime of bells in the city. The material found in the old church building

was used to erect a convenient Sunday school and social room on the west side of the lot. In the fall of 1902 this band of German brethren determined that the new house should be refrescoed, handsome cathe- dral glass windows put in place and a new pipe organ installed. No sooner was this conclusion reached than the work was be- gun. It was a transformation scene truly. The house was made into one of the most attractive rooms in the city and the new pipe organ speaks in melodious tones. The Sunday school room on the lot was enlarged, the pastor's salary increased and the par- sonage will soon be remodeled. The society is out of debt and numbers about three hundred and fifty members. In August, 1904, a semi-centennial jubilee service was held. continuing a full week. The pastors who had served the church and others of rank in this communion were present. Rev. Hugo Schmidt is the very efficient pastor of the congregation. beloved by his people and respected by the community.

THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

Lawyers are a necessary part of a grow- ing community and those who have lived in Middletown deserve a passing mention in this historical sketch. We know that as a craft they are joked about and "tabooed," yet they are much sought for when com- mercial ends go awray and estates and titles are tangled up.

So we come to name James Cook as the first resident lawyer to appear in Middle- town as a legal practitioner; most of his business was, it is said, confined during his stay to trials before the magistrate and in the earlier days much more legal business came before this court than at the present

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time. His career began here in the early forties, about 1843. He may be recalled by those who read these lines by the fact that he married Susan Peck, a niece of Benj. Sweet.

Then came Isaac Robertson, Esq., who, when postmaster here, was admitted to the courts as a practitioner and did con- siderable work here in 1845; he soon moved to Hamilton, where he was a widely-known attorney for many years.

Charles Lombard followed Mr. Robison as a resident attorney in 1846-7. He was followed by H. P. K. Peck, Esq., who came to Middletown in 1847, having been ad- mitted to the bar in New York state in 1841. Mr. Peck lived in Middletown until 1853, when he was appointed assistant ex- aminer of patents. After his term expired in this office he devoted himself to business in the patent office as solicitor. He became auditor of the county and moved to Hamil- ton and thence to New York.

Then came the Hon. David Heaton, who occupied the field with Mr. Peck. Mr. Hea- ton came of strong pioneer stock. and was for a number of years an able magistrate, after which he became a practicing attorney in the fifties. He was a man of clear head and a gifted speaker. At the close of the Civil war he removed to North Carolina, where he was elected to congress.

L. D. Doty was born in Middletown. and was the grandson of the old pioneer, Daniel Doty, the first white. man to come to the Middletown country. He received his education in the district schools of the neighborhood and was admitted to the bar in 1852, and continued to practice his pro- fession and transact business in Middletown up to 1902, when he died, after a long life perous.

and an honorable career, in this town. He was during his life connected with many business enterprises. His wife was a grand- daughter of Steven Vail, the man who laid out the town.

John McClellan was born near Middle- town in 1821, and in his early manhood taught school after a course in the local schools and a few terms at old Miami Uni- versity. In 1854 he was admitted to the bar. During all these years he has had the con- fidence of the people. Was at one time men- ber of the general assembly and has enjoyed the occupancy of local and municipal offices. He is still living in Middletown, but de- fective vision renders him unfit for pro- fessional life.

C. F. Gunckel read law with L. D. Doty and was admitted to the bar in 1862 and formed a partnership with him, which continued under the name of Doty & Gunckel until 1871. when Mr. Gunckel gradually connected banking, manufactur- ing and railroad construction with his busi- ness and was largely interested in real estate ; during the closing years of his life he gave but little attention to law. Mr. Gunckel was a man of fine business attainments and fore- saw the development of the city. He died in 1894.

C. B. Bundy studied law with Attorney Brambagh, of Miamisburg, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1883. He came to Mid- dletown and opened a law office in 1884, and entered into the general practice. He mar- ried Miss Emma Jones, of Middletown, and in 1885 established a telephone exchange in a room adjoining his law office. He went a few years ago to Indiana, and is now living in Marion, where he has grown very pros-

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James Gilmore, an able lawyer, came from Eaton, Preble county, in 1884, staying a short time, and then removed back to Eaton, where he enjoys a fine business.

Percy Smith, a young Warren county attorney, moved to Middletown with his family in 1877 and began the practice of his profession. He was a refined, com- petent and painstaking lawyer, but the in- roads of disease shortened a brilliant career.

Walter Harlan came to Middletown about eight years ago from Warren county and opened a law office in Leibee's building. He soon became city solicitor, serving two terms. Two years ago he formed a partner- ship with Alen Andrews and moved to Hamilton. where he is working hard at his profession and doing well.

W. H. Todhunter, C. C. Donley, Ben Harwitz. W. K. Rhonemus and S. F. Thomas are now active in the field of the law and need no memorial until their careers are closed.

MIDDLETOWN IN THE WAR.

Middletown was ablaze with patriotic fire during the great war of 1861-5, and her young nfen responded quickly and in goodly numbers to the country's call in her day of need. Five companies were recruited here. Capt. Daniel Bowman headed Company D, Ninety-third Regiment. The captain came home a colonel and a better soldier never led gallant men in battle than he. This captain and his brave boys were in many hard fights in the central South.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 46

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