USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 27
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 27
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An old brick schoolhouse furnished the Presbyterians of Troy with their first house of worship. This was in 1818 and George Burgess ministered to the little flock of earnest believers in the faith of Calvin. In 1837 the congregation built a house of worship on Franklin Street. This church was sold soon afterward and anoth- er erected. A new brick was finished in 1863 and after the union of the two church bodies Daniel Tenney became the pastor.
The Presbyterian pulpit of Troy is filled today by Joseph W. Clokey.
The Covington Presbyterian Church came into existence in 1842. It was built in conjunction with the Cumberland Pres- byterians. This church has a brief local history, though it is noted for its excellent discipline. The regular pastor in charge is Rev. H. N. Barbee. The village of Fletcher contains a Presbyterian church whose pastor is Rev. M. M. May. This congregation was organized in 1837. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Cleland from Romans VIII, and I. At the time of the institution of the Fletcher Church but twenty members of that faith were to be found in the village, but the little roll increased under the ministra- tions of succeeding elders until now the Fletcher Presbyterians are quite numer- ous. Many of the Scotch-Irish settlers of the county were members of the Presby- terian Church and brought their faith with them not only over the mountain barrier but from across the sea. These people were noted for their earnestness, a trait which characterizes their descendants to this day. While the growth of Presby- terianism in the county has not been as rapid as that of other faiths, it has been none the less steady, marked by an earn- estness which has brought the church to its present high standing.
THE LUTHERANS.
Lutheranism in Miami County has a brief history. It has never flourished here like the other faiths. There are very few Lutheran churches in the county at the present day. The Lutheran Church of Troy, C. U. Larrick pastor, was built with- in the last few decades. The congregation
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today is not large. The Lutheran Church of Tippecanoe City is much older. As early as 1826 a Lutheran congregation ex- isted in Monroe Township and in 1839 a church of this faith was built in Tippe- canoe. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the noted Ezra Keller, presi- dent of Wittenberg College and a powerful minister of his day. One of the most prominent pastors of the Tippecanoe Lutheran Church was Rev. Link, who died in 1862. Revs. Weills, Welsh, Lilly and Bauslin succeeded Mr. Link. Within the past few years the Lutherans of Tippe- canoe have worshipped in a handsome church over which Rev. B. W. Zeigler pre- sides as pastor.
The Lutherans of Covington worship in St. John's Lutheran Church, over which Rev. W. H. Brown presides as pastor. This congregation is very earnest in the faith of the Fathers and hold regular serv- ices in their church building.
Of the Lutheran Church of Pleasant Hill I have been unable to obtain any history. It is a body of recent growth, but bids fair to take its place among the religious denominations of the western part of the county. Its pastor is Rev. R. O. Matthews. The Lutheran Church at Brandt dates from 1862, when twenty people of that faith organized themselves into a congre- gation. In a few years this number had increased to 150 and the congregation at Brandt is today in a flourishing condition.
The Lutherans of Casstown established themselves there about 1838. For some time they possessed no regular house of worship, but later on a stone church was built on South Main Street. This edifice was abandoned for church purposes when the new brick temple was dedicated in 1867.
Many of the divines who filled the Cass- town Lutheran pulpit preached also at Tippecanoe, so that a list of them would necessarily stand for both congregations with a few notable exceptions. At present the Casstown Lutherans have no regular pastor but are supplied from Springfield.
THE FRIENDS OR QUAKERS.
Among the first white people to enter the county for settlement were the fol- lowers of George Fox, the celebrated Quaker, of England. Fox in early youth was apprenticed to a shoemaker and while in this situation he devoted himself with great diligence to the perusal of the Scriptures. Later on Fox went from place to place preaching and boldly entered into disputes with divines and ministers, trust- ing solely to and being guided only by what he considered to be that divine voice which interiorly speaks to the heart and draws men as it pleases. Fox was much perse- cuted for his belief, but his followers in- creased and today they number many thousands in the United States. These people are known as Friends. They have never formed a creed after the manner of other religious bodies. They accept the divinity of Jesus Christ and of His atone- ment for the sins of men. They believe that Christ is the true light which enlight- ens all mankind, that the source of inspira- tion is the Holy Spirit who interiorly teaches us; and the Scripture is a rule given by and subordinate to that Spirit. The Friends believe that outward baptism is not an ordinance of Christ, that the baptism enjoyed by Christ is a baptism of the spirit and not of water. They are op- posed to war and deny the propriety of all oaths, in accordance with Christ's com-
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mand "Swear not at all." They do not prescribe a form of speech or a dress as a condition of membership, but they do re- quire of their members the practice of sim- plicity and truthfulness, becoming the Christian and to avoid flattery, exaggera- tion, untruthfulness, vain complaints and superfluous or gay attire. Such, in brief, are the tenets of the religious belief of the Friends.
I am indebted to Enos Pemberton of West Milton for my data concerning the elmrelies of the Friends at present in the county. The first monthly meeting of this sect was held two miles south of West Mil- ton, January 17, 1807. This spot was the central of the Friends Church for a num- ber of years, but it has been transferred to West Milton, which is now the central under the pastorate of Arthur Woolam. Mr. Pemberton served this chureh for twelve years. Union meeting has been transferred to Ludlow Falls and is now under the charge of Rev. Moore, of Earl- ham College, of Richmond, Ind. .
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Lick Branch, which is one of the old meetings of the Friends Church, is two miles southeast of Laura and .Joseph Wil- liamson is the pastor in charge. Center Meeting, two miles west of West Milton, was established in 1863 and has Jonathan M. Jay for pastor. At first the colony of Friends in the county was held at the cabin of Caleb Mendenhall, who emigrated from North Carolina about 1802. In December, 1806, the Friends of this county made ap- plication to the quarterly meeting at Red Stone, Penn., for a monthly meeting, which application was granted and later on a quarterly meeting for the famous West Branch church was granted. This event took place in June, 1812. It will thus be
seen that the Friends established the first religious societies in the county and are entitled to this credit. They now form an important division of the county and for more than a century have kept their or- ganization intact. Unassuming and earn- est, they are among our best citizens, noted for their honesty, frugality and truthful- ness. They adhere closely to their relig- ions beliefs, keeping aloof from all litiga- tion and that which is unseemly, setting by their industry and pure lives a living example for all.
THE EPISCOPALIANS.
This sect, though not as numerous as others, is confined to the larger towns of the county. St. James Parish of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church was founded at Piqua about 1820. Its first rector was Rev. E. Jolinson, of Cincinnati, who was as- sisted by Rev. Mr. Allen, of Dayton. The well known Col. Johnston was a lay reader at St. James and frequently took the place of the rector. In 1825 the parish erected a brick church on the corner of North and Spring Streets, which became the genesis of the handsome structure which houses the communicants of the parish at the present time. St. James Church has a long list of noted rectors, among whom I find the names of Revs. Richard Killin, Chaun- cey Fitch, D. D., Henry Payne, Wyllys Hall, and Henry L. Badger. The Green- ham, McCorkle, Mitehell, Morrow, Scott, Chapeze, Adams and O'Ferrall families, all well known, worshiped at St. James, the rector of which at the present time is Rev. William H. Allison.
The Episcopalians, of Troy, formed a church organization in 1831. Rev. Ethan Allen was the first rector. At this time
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but thirty-six persons constituted the whole membership. For almost thirty years Rev. Allen remained in charge and was succeeded by Rev. A. Guyon, who pre- sided three years. In 1833 Dr. Asa Cole- man donated a cottage on Franklin Street and that year a neat church was built. When Bishop MeIlvain dedicated this edi- fice the name was changed to Trinity Church, a name which has ever since been retained. Trinity Church is today in a very prosperous condition and has Rev. E. S. Doan for its resident rector.
THE GERMAN BAPTISTS.
This denomination, commonly called Dunkards, are established generally on the west side of the county. They embrace a large membership of useful citizens. Though commonly known under the name of Dunkards, these people have assumed for themselves the appellation of Brethren, on account of what Christ said to His disci- ples : "One is your master, even Christ, and all ye are Brethren." The Brethren first appeared in the United States in 1719 when twenty families landed at Phila- delphia. Like the Friends, they use great plainness of dress and, like them also, they neither take an oath nor bear arms. They commonly wear their beards and keep the first day. They celebrate the Lord's Sup- per with its ancient attendants of love- feasts, washing feet, kiss of charity and right hand of fellowship. Their church government is the same as that of the English Baptists. The Brethren are a quiet, peaceable, industrious and pious people. They are remarkably simple in their habits and spiritual in their worship. There are several branches of the Breth- ren Church in the county.
Among the German Baptist churches are the one at West Milton, I. K. Brumbaugh, pastor; one at Potsdam, no regular pas- tor; one at Covington, with Elder D. D. Wine in charge; two at Pleasant Hill, which are under the pastorate of Rev. Aslı- ley and Rev. Isaac Franz, and one at Cass- town with no minister. This, I believe, constitutes the list of churches of this de- nomination within the limits of the county.
THE CHRISTIANS.
This denomination, like some of the others, cannot boast of a very large mem- bership among us. The Christian Church of Troy was organized in 1856. The first meetings were held in the Court House, and Elders Mckinney, McWhinney, Si- monton and Watson and Maple were among the early pastors in charge. Through the untiring efforts of Elder Mc- Kinney the first church was built, and this edifice lately gave way for one of the hand- somest houses of worship in the county. It is a church building replete with all the modern improvements in church architec- ture. Elder Weeks is the pastor in charge.
The present Christian Church at Pleas- ant Hill is the successor of the second church erected in Newton Township. It stands on Central Church Street and is presided over by Rev. S. S. Main. The Christian or New Light Church near Cov- ington was organized in 1820. For a long time the members of this denomination in Newberry Township worshiped in barns and private dwellings and sometimes in the schoolhouses. It was known as the Trotter's Creek Church. The Christian Church of Covington was organized in 1837 by Caleb Worley, who associated with him only seven members. This member-
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ship increased with the passing years and in 1870 the present church edifice was built. It has Rev. John MacCalman for its pastor.
The first Christian Church of Piqua, of which W. D. Samuels is pastor, was or- ganized some years ago, but I have been unable to obtain the proper data. This church has a flourishing membership, an excellent Sunday school and Senior and Junior Endeavor societies.
The West Milton Christian Church was established largely through the efforts of Elder William Jay, well known through- out the county. The Christians of Union Township have several good houses of worship, the one in West Milton being un- der the charge of Rev. O. P. Furnas and that of Laura presided over by Rev. Bak- er. The Christian church at Nashville is known as the West Union Church with Rev. Cain at its head, and Rev. Maxwell, of West Milton, serves the Christian congregation at Frederick. On the whole the members of the Christian Church in the county can be proud of the progress they have made. Hampered in many ways, they have pushed zealously forward and today stand in the front rank of religious bodies among us.
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS.
The first Catholic Church to be estab- lished in the county was that of St. Mary's, which is in Piqua. It came into existence in 1840, on the southwest corner of Broad- way and North Streets. It is the pioneer of Catholicism in Miami. Ever since its founding it has been zealous for the Church and is regarded as one of the fore- most institutions of the kind. St. Mary's supports an excellent school, supervised
and taught by the Sisters, who are known as efficient teachers. Its present pastor is Father Crowley, who is zealous in looking after the care of his flock.
St. Boniface, the German Catholic Church of Piqua, has for-its pastor Rev. Father George P. Steinlage, with Rev. Father Goswin Menge as assistant priest. In 1843 the Catholics of all nationalities in Piqua worshiped together, but in 1855, ow- ing to the increase of German residents in the parish, John B. Purcell, the most Rev. Archbishop of Cincinnati, sanctioned the building of a separate church, and St. Boniface was blessed in the fall of that year. Rev. J. B. Hemstiger was the first pastor, and he was succeeded by Rev. H. Ratte in 1859. In 1861 Rev. Meyer took charge and was followed in 1863 by Rev. Bochman. In 1865 Rev. Mietinger held a brief pastorate at St. Boniface. On Oc- tober 25, 1865, Rev. Henry Lueos, bishop of Fort Wayne, blessed the new Boniface. In this year Rev. George Glass became pastor, to be succeeded by Rev. Julius Voet, who remained in that capacity till 1873. Rev. Schwab became the next pas- tor and he was followed by Carl Schmidt. Rev. Schmidt, in 1877, called the Sisters of Charity to take charge of the girls' school, which necessitated the erection of a new parsonage, the old one to be ocen- pied by the Sisters. In February, 1881, Rev. George P. Steinlage took charge of St. Boniface. One of Father Steinlage's first official acts was the calling of the Sis- ters of Charity to supervise the girls' schools. The school quarters becoming in- adequate, a new school building was erect- ed in 1889 and in 1900 the church building itself was enlarged and beautified. St. Boniface is regarded as one of the finest
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churches in the diocese. It is a fine mod- ern building with a seating capacity of 700, and as a house of worship is complete in every particular. It was rededicated November 24, 1901, by Right Rev. Thomas S. Byrne, Bishop of Nashville, Tenn., as- sisted by many other priests.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Troy was founded half a century ago. At first the few Catholic families in that locality worshiped at the home of John Danaher and there the first Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered in 1857, the Catholic families then numbering but twenty-one. The increasing membership and the needs of the church called for the erection of a permanent house of worship and this was accomplished in 1858, when a church was built on the southeast corner of Crawford and Water Streets. It was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Rosecrans, brother of the noted general, under the patronage of St. Patrick. In 1883 the church was enlarged to its present proportions by Rev. J. M. Freedman and rededicated by The Most Rev. Archbishop William Henry Elder. Later on a good parochial school came into existence through the efforts of Rev. F. H. Bene, pastor of St. Patrick's and this school was erected and equipped without the encumbrance of a debt. In 1908 St. Patrick's appropriately celebrated its Golden Jubilee under the guidance of its present efficient and popular pastor, Rev. Anthony J. Mentink. This church has reason to rejoice at the eminent position it has reached during the fifty years of its life. Since 1877 St. Patrick's has had a resident pastor. Until that year it was a mission attended from St. Mary's at Piqua and from other places.
St. J. B. Catholic Church of Tippecanoe
City existed first as a mission church. The church building was erected in 1858 at a cost of $2,500 and dedicated by Bishop Rosecrans. Rev. Father Hemsteger was the first pastor. He remained in charge three years. The present efficient pastor is Rev. Father Van De Bush, who has brought the church in Tippecanoe up to its present prominence and popularity. While the congregation is not large it is noted for its good works and the pastor is uni- versally beloved.
MINOR CHURCHES.
There are a number of what may be called minor churches in the county, which I shall notice here.
The Universalists have two houses of worship within the limits of the county. These are at Conover and Alcony respect- ively. The Conover church was organized in 1868 with a set of deacons and trustees. The present brick edifice was erected in 1871 at a cost of $3,700. The Conover congregation has been favored with a number of excellent pastors, the present one being Mrs. Sara Stoner, who also sup- plies the Universalist congregation at Al- cony.
There is a Church of God near the ham- let of Nashville in Union Township, which is supplied by D. C. Robinson. State Evan- gelist. This sect sprang from the German Reformed Church and the members are popularly known as "Winebrennerians."
The Mennonites have two churches, at Potsdam and West Charleston. The latter congregation uses the old Campbellites church, which was built about 1830. The Potsdam Mennonite Church is presided over by H. F. Beck. These people derive their religious name from Menno Simon,
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who flourished about 1640. Their church is sometimes known as the Church of Christ. They are a thrifty, industrious people, mainly agriculturist, and well-to- do financially.
There are but two United Brethren churches in the county. The one at Ging- hamsburg is looked after by Rev. Busey, while G. T. Powell has charge of the Pots- dam church. There is a Bethel Reformed Church at Phoneton, conducted by Rev. S. S. Snyder, a Reformed church at Alcony, supplied, and a few country churches, the history and present status of which are un- important from a historical standpoint.
The colored people of the county have several houses of worship, notably in Troy and Piqua. These are of the Methodist and Baptist persuasions respectively, and have regular pastors. The colored people of Miami County are, as a rule, deeply re- ligious and regularly attend worship. Revs. Fletcher are Gibson have charge of the colored churches of Troy.
The German Lutherans have several flourishing congregations in the county. In addition to the foregoing there are two congregations of the Church of Christ in Piqua, also a Zion Reformed, a Church of Christ, Scientist, and an Evangelical Prot- estant (St. Pauls Church) and a United Brethren. The latter is perhaps the most important of the minor churches there. Its pastor is Rev. J. W. Kilbourn.
Nearly all the churches in the county support excellent Sunday schools. These are conducted on a high religious plane and the instruction is of the best. The
teachers are selected from the ranks and all are diligent in Sunday school work. In many of the churches are to be found Ep- worth Leagues, Christian Endeavor socie- ties and kindred organizations, which keep alive the church spirit, especially among the young. These bodies are carefully looked after by the different pastors and are among the foremost auxiliaries con- nected with church work. Too much can- not be said of these societies for they are doing a work which is highly commended, not only in building up the community but in doing good in all directions.
There are numerous Jews in Miami County and they are among our best citi- zens. The Anshe Emeth Congregation of Piqua is the leading place of worship for the Jews of Miami. It is a model syna- gogue and has for its members some of the foremost families that reside among us. The members of this sect within the con- fines of the county are engaged in lucra- tive business and command the respect of all.
In giving the history of the various churches of the county I have tried to be as accurate and impartial as possible. It is likely that the list is not wholly com- plete, but it is as complete as inquiry and research can make it. There may be sev- eral crossroads churches that have been overlooked, but this chapter, as it stands, contains an approximately correct history of the present state of religion within the county as shown by the various denomina- tions that worship within its limits.
CHAPTER XX.
COUNTY POLITICS, OLD AND NEW
Smallness of the Voting Population in Early Days-First Elective Officers-Political Parties-Methods of Electioneering-Local Issues-Some Political Editorials- The Adams-Jackson Campaign-Coming of General Harrison in 1837 and 1840- The Campaigns of 1856 and 1860-The Campaign of 1864-Later Presidential Campaigns-Congressional Battles-Humorous Incidents-Present Day Politics.
The politics of the county date back almost to its establishment. For some years the voting population was very small. Elections were not held in all the townships as they are constituted today. About the first elective officers of the county were justices of the peace, or "squires," as they were commonly termed. These officers were selected from among the most intelligent citizens; they often settled neighborhood disputes out of court and were generally known as the peace- makers of their respective localities. They held "Court" in the largest room of their houses, and the yard was taken up with the vehicles of those who came to hear the trials. There was very little "log rolling" at the first elections; the early settlers met irrespective of party and put the best men in the field, then went to the various polls, swapped horses, voted and went home.
When it came to state and national elec- tions it was somewhat different. Excite- ment then, as a rule, rose to a high pitch. Miami County could generally be depended
upon to give a Whig majority and she rarely failed to meet the expectations of the adherents of this party. With the ap- pearance of the newspaper in the county the candidate began to announce himself and in his manifesto he generally gave his views on the questions of the day. In a copy of the Piqua Gazette of September 26, 1829, Isaac Hendershott announces that he is a candidate for the State Senate in the senatorial district composed of Mont- gomery and Miami counties. It was at the time when an extension of the Miami Canal from Dayton to Maumee Bay was being agitated. This scheme had many opponents, but Mr. Hendershott comes out flat-footed in favor of the measure. He grows quite eloquent in his appeals for the nomination, for in conclusion he says : "I presume it is a fact very generally known to all who have had any tolerable acquaintance with the intermediate coun- try between Dayton and the Lake that there is to be found no fairer or more pro- gressive region in the whole empire of the
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west, that the climate, though somewhat varied in its character, is nevertheless to be regarded as extremely healthful. These, with many other inducements, cannot fail to have their due influence on the minds of industrious and enterprising adventurers. Already is there a strong and mighty cur- rent of emigration teeming to these de- lightful but uncultivated lands, buoyant, no doubt, in the hopes that the day is not far distant when commerce will fling her canvas to the winds and afford such faci- lities to the transportation of their pro- duce as will generously reward their labor and toils."
In this year the following citizens of the county were candidates for office: For representative, William Barbee and Henry Barrington ; sheriff, T. W. Furnas and T. W. Mansfield; treasurer, William Brown and Azel Skinner; commissioners, Robert Morrison, John Casson, Michael Williams, Col. George Mitchell; assessor, Moses G. Mitchell, Zachariah Riley, Benjamin Brandon and Richard Armstrong; coro- ner, David W. Wallace, and Joseph Har- lan. This shows that even at that remote date there was a lively scramble for office in this county, and succeeding years have demonstrated that the old time "Scram- ble" has been "catching."
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