USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > Steubenville > Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th > Part 58
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PRESBYTERIAN.
Rev. Smiley Hughes was the first Pres- byterian minister to preach in Steuben- ville, which was early in 1798. The next was done by Rev. James Snodgrass in 1799. The Lord's Supper was adminis- tered first in 1800 by Rev. Thomas Marquis, with elders from east of the Ohio River. All these services were held by ap- pointment of the Presbytery of Ohio. The First Presbyterian chinreh of Steubenville was organized in the latter part of the year 1800. The first elders were Thomas Vin- cent, Jolm Milligan and Samuel Hunter. Rev. James Snodgrass was called to the pastorate in connection with the Island Creek church in 1800 at a salary of $300. At first he gave two-fifths of his time to Steubenville and then one-half. The first
preaching place was in a grove on Market Street between Seventh and Eighth, and in the winter the court honse was used. In 1803 a lot was given by Bezaleel Wells on South Fourth Street, where a small brick building was erected. About 1810 Rev. William McMillan came to the town to preside over the "Academy" and was en- gaged to preach on the Sundays that Mr. Snodgrass was absent. This arrangement continued nntil 1817, when the pastoral re- lations with both gentlemen were dissolved. and in the spring of that year Rev. Obadiah Jennings took sole charge. The erection of a new and large building was begun in 1816, but its construction so taxed the re- sonrees of the congregation that at the end of seven years the organization was con- siderably in debt and the building still un- finished. In the meantime it was decided to incorporate the society, and on March 4, 1819, a meeting was heldl with the following members present: Samuel Hunter. John Patterson, Jolm Abram, Charles Porter, David Hoge, David Larimore, Robert Thompson, Thomas Norton, Robert Hen- ing, Adam Moderwell, Joseph Y. Mossman, James Wilson, Hans Wilson, John Gal- braith, Thomas Henderson. James G. Hening. Joseph Cookson, Elias Bayless, Ambrose Kennedy, Edward Todd and John (. Bayless, John McDowell, David Lari- more and John Patterson were elected trns- tees and Jobn C. Bayless, clerk. On March 25, 1823. Mr. Jennings resigned. and on Jime 2 Rev. C. C. Beatty was called and entered on his duties October 21, 1823. The unfinished building was made as comfort- able as possible, but. being unsatisfactory. it was taken down and a new building S&x 47 feet erected in its place. In 1932 a eupola with bell was added, and in 1851 the strne- ture was lengthened sixteen feet at a cost of $1,000, which gave 100 pews on the main Hoor, and with the galleries would accom- modate abont 700 people. Later basement heaters and gas for fighting were intro- duced. In the fall of 1535 Dr. Beatty of- fered to donate a lot on the north side of the church and $100 cash towards a par-
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sonage if the congregation would raise the balance. At the same time and on the same conditions Mrs. Susan F. Beatty and Mrs. Iletty E. Beatty as a further indneement proposed to erect at their own expense south of the church a two-story building suitable for session and Sabbath school rooms. The new buildings were all erected the next season. The parsonage still stands, having passed to private parties, and the Beatty building, now the property of J. P. Draper, is devoted to dwelling and business purposes. Owing to poor health and other causes, Dr. Beatty desired to re- sign his charge in 1835, but consented to remain until April, 1837. In July, 1835, Rev. E. J. MeLean was called and entered on his duties in November, but suffering from a severe pulmonary attack the fol- lowing winter he moved South the next May without having been formally in- stalled. In the fall of 1836 Rev. Henry G. Comingo, of New Brunswick, served as a supply, and on February 13 following he was elected pastor. He was installed the following May, and served until his death on December 1, 1861, after a week's illness. Ilis remains were interred in Union ceme- tery and his funeral was one of the larg- est ever held in the city. Rev. Henry Woods was employed as a supply in the spring of 1862. He was called to the pas- torate in September, and was installed Oc- tober 22. During his pastorate a pipe or- gan was placed in the church, the building having been beautified and improved five years before. He resigned in April, 1867, on account of ill health, and on December 11 Rev. Thomas A. MeCurdy was called, and continued as pastor until his resigna- tion in April, 1875. In 1872 the site of the First church was changed to the west side of North Fourth Street, betweeu Washing- ton and North Streets. and the present building erected at a cost of $75,000, This large building was partially wrecked by a cyclone Jannary 16, 1885, but was promptly repaired and somewhat remodeled at a cost of about $4,000. The style is Fonr- teenth Century English decorated, and the
building is brick with finished stone front. The interior will seat abont 1,000 persons, and the session building in the rear is un- usually spacious. The new, commodious aud substantial parsonage, situated on the north side of the church. was erected in 1883 at a cost of abont $10,000. Rev. Will- iam M. Grimes, of Cadiz, succeeded Mr. MeCurdy and served most acceptably until his death in 1887. Rev. Orlando V. Stew- art followed until his death, in 1894, ma- king the third pastor to die in active serv- ice. R. A. MeKinley, cousin of President Mckinley, succeeded hitu, and resigned in 1905 to take up work in the West. He was succeeded by Rev. S. N. Hutchinson, who remained about two years, followed by Rev. F. W. Evans, the present pastor. A fine new organ has recently been installed, partly contributed by Andrew Carnegie. Not only was this congregation the first regular religious organization in the city but quite a number of other societies have been created from its membership. In 1837 more than sixty members went into the new organization of the Second church, and that same year thirty-nine members assisted in forming the Cross Creek Pres- hyterian church. In 1873 forty-five mem- bers went into the organization of Potter chapel at Mingo Junction, and twenty- seven went into the new new Third Pres- byterian church, to be followed by others soon afterward. In 1875 fifty-two members went into the Congregational church. When the railroad shops were removed to Co- hummbus in 1885 thirty-five members were dismissed to churches in that city. Not- withstanding these drains the membership has continued to increase, and now num- bers 400. The following eminent Christian workers have gone ont from the member- ship of this church: Rev. Henry C. Mc- Cook. D. D., pastor of the Tabernacle Presbyterian church, of Philadelphia ; Rev. Thomas J. Sherrard, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Chambersburg, Pa .; Rev. John Sherrard, pastor of the Presbyterian church, Thornton, Ind .; Miss Nancy Sherrard, principal of Washington
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Ladies' Seminary; Rev. William A. Hal- ing capacity. The present pastor is Rev. lock, pastor of the Presbyterian church, Groveland, N. Y .; Rev. Henry G. Comingo Hallock, missionary in China; and Mrs. Effie Hallock Braddock, missionary in India. The present board of ruling elders is composed of Dr. H. W. Nelson, William Bullock, M. L. Miller, M. M. Dunlope, William Leech, John F. Flood, J. H. Strong, D. F. Coe, J. C. Wier.
While the preliminary steps were taken towards forming a second Presbyterian church in 1837, a regular organization was not effected until January 1, 1838. Rev. Dr. Beatty purchased a lot on North Fourth Street, present site of the Christian church, and erected thereon a two-story brick building and presented the property to the congregation. The new organization started with about sixty-five members, and Rev. Joseph Chambers was their first pas- tor, who served until 1844, when Dr. Beatty took charge and acted until 1847. He was sneceeded by W. P. Breed, who served un- til 1856, Henry B. Chapin until 1858, and J. B. Patterson until 1865. A pipe organ was installed by Dr. Beatty about the lat- ter date. David R. Campbell served until 1871, at which time a lot was purchased at the southeast corner of Fourth and Washi- ington Streets. and a handsome structure of red pressed brick erected at a cost of $43,000, of which about one-eighth was contributed by Dr. Beatty. Rev. James A. Worden was elected pastor, who resigned in 1878 to take charge of the Sunday school work of the denomination. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. W. W. MeLane, who, on ac- count of doctrinal differences, withdrew in 1883 and united with the Congregational church. During this time a new and larger organ was placed in the church. Rev. Ed- ward Ledyard was pastor from 1883 to 1895, and was followed by Rev. William B. Irwin, until 1906, under whose adminis- tration the lecture room and parlors at the east end were considerably enlarged and the organ removed to that end of the church. Subsequently a gallery was placed at the west end. greatly enlarging the seat-
J. Millen Robinson, and the membership is over 600. The ruling elders are Hon. R. G. Richards, Thomas A. Hammond, William Banfield, Dr. J. C. M. Floyd, Dr. James E. Miller, Robert H. Orr, G. Gaston, A. E. McLane, F. W. Mosel. Twenty-nine mem- bers of this congregation have gone forth to preach the gospel, many of them in for- eign lands, with probably a score of home missionaries in Alaska and elsewhere. The congregation owns a handsome parsonage on North Fifth Street.
On May 26, 1873, J. B. Salmon and W. H. Mooney conveyed to James Turnbull, trus- tee, lot No. 18 on the corner of Franklin and Fifth Streets, on which a frame build- ing was erected and a mission Sunday school conducted under the auspices of the Second Presbyterian congregation. This stood for about twenty years, when it was replaced by the present building. In the fall of 1896 the building was leased to the St. Stephen's congregation, who occupied it until the completion of their new church in December, 1903. The mission school in the meantime was discontinued, and the building was leased to a society of evan- gelists known as "The Brethren," who also had a tent on South Street during the warm weather. It is now the property of Hon. J. J. Gill.
When the first Presbyterian church moved uptown in 1872 quite a number of the members disapproved of the action, as they wished to rebuild on the old site. Dr. Beatty shared these views, and when the South Fourth Street property was sold he purchased, through the medium of Joshua Manly, the old church building. Twenty- seven members from the First congrega- tion organized under the name of the "Old Presbyterian Church," the building was reopened for services, and Rev. T. V. Mil- ligan chosen for the first pastor. The old building remained until 1877, when it became unsuitable, and Dr. Beatty erected the two-story brick structure, which still stands, and presented it to the congregation. It will seat about
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450 persons, the upper story being occupied as the main audience room and the lower for Sunday school and other purposes. Mr. Milligan remained until December 16, 1877, and was succeeded by Rev. G. N. Johnson, who remained until 1880, when he was succeeded by Rev. Rob- ert White, who served until 1883, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Swan. While Rev. J. W. Wightman had charge of the semi- nary in 1887-8, he was also pastor of this congregation. He was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Cook on January 1, 1890. Ill health caused the dissolution of his pastorate in August, 1898, and Rev. Samuel L. Boston took charge on January 1, 1899. During his pastorate the building was considerably improved, a pipe organ installed, and the former parsonage north of the church ac- quired. Rev. George P. Roland, the pres- ent incumbent, succeeded him on January 1, 1906. The present mmebership is about 340, and the ruling elders are S. C. Boyd, William S. Tweed, Samuel S. Hill, E. P. Potter, Ida Potter, John H. Kitheart.
Dr. Beatty in the later sixties erected a two-story frame building for a mission at the corner of Ross and Fourth Streets, but it was never used for that purpose, and was afterwards converted into dwellings.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.
The organization of the United Presby- terian Church dates back to 1810. In the fall of that year George Buchanan, a licentiate of Philadelphia Presbytery, preached in Steubenville, Yellow Creek (now Richmond), and Harmon's Creek (now Paris), Pa. On the 3d day of April, 1811, the Rev. Dr. Riddell, of Robinson's Run, Pa., moderated a call for Mr. Buchan- an in the above three places. Public serv- ices were held in the court house until about 1814 or 1815, when through the ac- tion of the county commissioners the con- gregation was compelled to move. They next occupied a school room that stood on the lot now occupied by the Christian Church. This was on the outskirts of the
town at that date. As the congregation increased, they resolved to build and bought a lot on North Street west of Fifth, where they built a brick church forty feet by fifty, facing North Street. This was out of town, and to get to it the people had to come to North Street by Fourth, Fifth Street not yet being opened. The pastor partially withdrew from Yellow Creek, giving one Sunday a month to it, and dividing his remaining time equally between Steubenville and Harmon's Creek. Several families came from the vicinity of Knoxville, one from near Bloomfield. Since the pastor's salary was very small and poorly paid, he, at the solicitation of the citizens, opened a classical school, in which some very noted men received their education, among them being Secretary of War E. M. Stanton. The congregation, at that time known as Associate Reformed, was incorporated January 12, 1830, with James Campbell, Joseph Walker, Samuel Wilson and A. MeMechan, trustees. It pur- chased the lot on the southwest corner of Fifth and North Streets, and in 1838 erected a one-story brick structure, with basement, facing Fifth Street. In 1859 it was converted into a two-story building, with audience room above and others be- low. In January, 1838, Paris yielded its share of Mr. Buchanan's time and he be- came pastor of Steubenville alone on a salary of $500. From statistics of that year, 1838, the congregation had 112 fam- ilies and 125 members. This pastorate continued until October 14, 1855, when the pastor died, having served, without ceas- ing, a period of forty-four years. During this period and previous to 1828, the elders were Messrs. Campbell, Boyd, Andrew Mc- Mechan, Sr., Hugh Sterling, James McFet- ridge and Walter Walker. In 1830 or 1831 Andrew MeMechan, Jr., and William Cas- sell were chosen elders. In 1838 Thomas McConnell, Samuel Filson and M. O. Jun- kin became elders. In 1847 William Frazier. In 1857 Rev. J. K. Andrews was called to the pastorate. In 1863, being ap- pointed chaplain in the army, he, in effect,
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ceased to be pastor. In September, 1864, Rev. Joseph W. Clokey was called. He re- signed December 28, 1868. Dr. Clokey was sneceeded by the Inmented Rev. Dr. T. J. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy's health failing, he demitted the charge, having served from January, 1870, to April 8. 1873. Rev. S. J. Stewart was the next pastor, taking charge February, 1874, and continuing until Feb- ruary, 1877, when he resigned and joined the Congregational Church. In June, 1877, Rev. W. S. Owens, D. D., was called and entered on his duties September 21, 1877. This pastorate continned until September
21, 1886, when Dr. Owens became secre- tary of the Home Mission Board. In the meantime a spacious parsonage had been erected on the lot sonth of the church, and in 1884 the old church was torn down and the present structure was erected at a cost of $20,000. In addition to the elders al- ready mentioned, Dr. Thomas Miller and William McGowan served in that capacity until their death. In 1872 James Archer, R. L. Brownlee, M. I .. Miller and H. W. Nelson, M. D., were inducted into office, and in 1877 Dr. S. C. Shane. In 1886 David MeGowan and Dr. Joseph Robert- son were elected, and ordained, and in 1887 T. M. Boal was elected and installed. M. L. Miller and Dr. Nelson, having changed their church connection, and M. O. Jun- kin having died, the bench of elders, as it stands today, is as follows : James Archer, R. 1. Brownlee, David MeGowan, Dr. Jo- seph Robertson, George Swan, D. U. Me- Cullongh, J. Lewis Junkin and Thomas MeCollough. Rev. W. R. Harshaw, of New York, was installed June 14. 1887, and served until February 4, 1800, when he re- signed to accept a call in New York City. Rev. E. M. Milligan was pastor from Octo- ber 5, 1891, to April 9, 1895. He was fol- lowed by Rev. Thomas H. Hanna, Jr., who was ordained and installed May 12, 1896. During his pastorate a pipe organ was in- stalled, the changing condition of affairs gradually leading up to what a muber of years earlier would have been considered a startling innovation. Mr. Hanna resigned
in the fall of 1907, and was sneceeded by Thomas M. Liggett, the present pastor, in the spring of 1908. Rev. Joseph Bn- chanan, son of Rev. George Buchanan, dying at over ninety years of age, served the congregation at intervals when there was no regular pastor, and he has been in- valuable as superintendent of the Sunday school and in other ways during his long and nseful life. About 1890 a mission school was started on Eighth Street, near Adams, and subsequently, in 1895, a neat frame building was erected at the corner of these two streets. It was decided, how- ever, to discontinue the mission, and the building was sold about 1904 to the Simp- son M. E. congregation. An interesting Italian mission is at present conducted on Adams Street, in charge of Rev. Francesco Argenta. The present membership of the congregation is three hundred.
BAPTIST.
There was a regular Baptist organiza- tion in Steubenville in 1812. On May 17 of that year there was a meeting at which Daniel Woodward was chosen clerk and Rev. Samuel Yateman called to the pas- torate, which he accepted. Among the arti- cles setting forth a "Declaration of Prin- ciples" were the following :
"Art. 15. We believe that pride is for- bidden in the Scriptures, and that it is the duty of all the followers of the meek aud lowly Jesus to adorn themselves in modest apparel as people professing god- liness.
"Art. 16. We believe that the principle and practice of slaveholding is an abhor- rent sin in the sight of God, and very in- Imman to man; we therefore refuse to com- inne with slaveholders at the Lord's table, and with any that will cominne with them."
They do not seem to have erected any building at this time, and two years later the records have this minute: "The church. having thought proper to remove their meetings of business from Steubenville.
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met at the house of Mordecai Cole in less made other visits, and their preach- Wayne Township, Jefferson County, on the 5th day of March, 1814." This was near the present site of Unionport, and the sub- sequent history of that flock will be found in the chapter on Wayne Township. There were evidently some Baptists left in Sten- benville and some sort of an organization was maintained, which, on May 31, 1824, purchased from James Hukill a lot on what is now Church Street, near Adams, for $75. The trustees were John Thompson, Adam Wise and James Dillon. Here a brick church was built, which stood until about forty years ago, when it was torn down to make room for dwellings. It had long before been vacant, the last use to which it had been put having probably been the meetings of the Kramer congregation there during the building of their new church in 1854-5. The main canse of the decline was doubtlessly due to the rise of what was known as the Campbell movement, forming a new organization under the name of the Disciples of Christ. An effort was made to revive the Baptist organiza- tion in the seventies, and a frame church was built on the west side of Fifth Street, between Market and Washington, but after a few years it was abandoned and the property sold for residence purposes. The colored people have kept up a Baptist or- ganization, with more or less regularity, and meet at 717 Adams Street, Rev. Grand- ison, pastor.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
The Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette of September 13, 1828, contained the following notice: "The citizens of Steubenville are respectfully informed that Messrs, Thomas and A. Campbell will wait upon them in the court house on Sun- day the 14th, at 11 o'clock, for the purpose of preaching the ancient gospel." It is scarcely necessary to state that this was Alexander Campbell, of Bethany, Va., who had already become noted as a preacher, and Thomas was his brother. They doubt-
ing was so effective that in 1830 twenty-six names were enrolled in a society of Disci- ples of Christ, as follows: Rachel John- son, Ebe Heston, Delila Cummings, Mary Cable, Thomas Weir, Jane Weir, Lydia Wise, Jenet Kennedy, John Johnson, Sr., Mary Cable, - - Daugherty, Susanna Walker, Elizabeth Dillon, John White, Elizabeth White, James Dangherty. Jacob Cable, John Rogers, Elizabeth Rogers, James Dillon, - - Anderson, Anna Win- ters, Hazlett, James Sidebottom, Henry Phillips, Maria Phillips, A reor- ganization was effected in 1840 by Alex- ander and Thomas Campbell, and a lot on the south side of Dock Street, corner of Bank Alley, was bought the following year. A one-story briek church was built, E. M. Stanton being one of the contributors. The pastors here were Dr. Poole, William Beau- mont, John Phillips, D. J. White, S. B. Tee- garden and P. H. Jones. In 1872 the old Second Presbyterian Church, building on North Fourth Street was purchased for $8,000 and refitted, among other improve- ments being a baptistery back of the pulpit. The congregation grew rapidly in its new quarters, which by 1898 were found too small, and were replaced by the present handsome building in 1898. Since 1872 have succeeded the following pastors : Leonard Sonthayd, A. Walden, W. H. Blanks. A. H. Carter, Mr. Brenendohl, M. D. Adams, E. A. Bosworth, 1891; C. W. Hamilton, 1892; George T. Smith, 1895; J. G. Slaytor, 1900; J. W. Kerns, 1902; H. HI. Moninger. M. J. Grable, 1909; A. F. Stahl. Present membership. 700.
When the La Belle Land View Company laid out its hilltop addition in 1902, it of- fered a lot free of charge to the first relig- ious society that would undertake to erect a building on the same for public worship. The offer was taken up by the Christian Congregation, and with the funds collected a neat frame chapel was erected the follow- ing year, which now has a good congrega- tion in charge of C. N. Jarrett.
On July 27, 1826, an organization was in-
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corporated at Steubenville under the name of "Christian Church," with the follow- ing members: William Craig, Thomas Noland, Abram Winters, Sr. and Jr., An- drew Jones, James Taggart, John Hause, Hiram McFeely, William Carman, Henry Hause and James Tredway. At this time Alexander Campbell and his followers had not formally separated from the Baptists, and there is apparently no connection be- tween this organization and the Campbell society, or Disciples of Christ, which or- ganized in 1830. There is no subsequent record of this society.
CONGREGATIONAL.
The First Congregational Church was organized in October, 1875, fifty-two per- sons, who had withdrawn from the First Presbyterian Church, forming the nucleus. The original trustees were Charles Spanld- ing, W. R. E. Elliott and James Bair. Phil- harmonic Hall, on Fourth Street below Market, was used for a short time as a place of worship, when rooms were fitted up in the second story of the Odd Fellows building on North Fourth Street, which were occupied for seven years. Rev. H. M. Tenney was the first pastor, who served until the fall of 1879, and was succeeded by Rev. W. F. Blackman, who remained here until 1884. In 1882 David Spaulding and W. R. E. Elliott presented to the con- gregation a lot on the corner of Washı- ington Street and Bank Alley, where a neat church and Sunday school building were completed the following year, at a cost of $20,000. Rev. Dan F. Bradley was the next pastor, who resigned in 1886 and was succeeded by Rev. C. W. Carroll, who, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. Mr. King in . 1891, he remaining abont three years. He was succeeded by Rev. Joel Swartz in 1894, and he by Rev. C. C. Merrill early in 1898, and he, in turn, by Robert H. Higgins in 1902, who remained until 1905. His suc- cessor was L. H. Roget, who left in the fall of 1907, and was succeeded by Morgan P. Jones, the last inenmbent. A pipe
organ was purchased in 1888. The present membership is about one hundred and the trustees are D. J. Sinclair, John McClave, James Bair and Thomas M. Simpson.
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