Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 35

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 35

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From the inception of the society, until the year 1822, the residence of Moses Byxbe and the county Court House were the head- quarters of Methodism in Delaware. During this year, under a second pastorate of the Rev. Jacob Hooper, the society decided to build a house of worship, and appointed Stephen Gor- man. William Patton, Moses Byxbe, Thomas Galleher. Moses Byxbe, Jr .. Elijah Adams, Robert Perry, William Sweetser and Henry Perry as trustees.

Lot Number Sixty, original plat of the site of Delaware, on the northwest corner of Franklin and William Streets, was deeded February 23. 1822, by Moses Byxbe, Sr., and Henry Baldwin and his wife, Sally Baldwin, to the trustees of William Street Church in trust. On this lot the first church structure was erected. The edifice was a plain, square structure with galleries on the east, south. and west sides. The entrance was from the south on William Street. There were two rows of windows which gave the impression of a two-story building from the external view. At the north end of the auditorium there was a box-like pulpit with an opening on either side with eight steps. This gave the speaker a full view of the congregation above and below.

It is not known what this edifice cost, as many of the subscriptions were made in ma- terials and labor. Although commenced in 1822. it was not completed until some time in

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the year 1824, when, with Thomas Mc- Cleary as preacher in charge, it was dedi- cated under the name of William Street Church, by Jacob Young. the presiding elder of Scioto District, Ohio Conference.

Here the Methodists of Delaware con- tinued to worship until 1845, when, owing to the growth of the society, and to the establish- ment of the Ohio Wesleyan University, a larger church edifice was required to accom- modate the growing congregation. Accord- ingly, under the pastorate of Henry E. Pil- cher, measures were adopted to erect "a new house of worship."

The records show that a committee of the Board of Trustees was raised December 13. 1845. and authorized to dispose of the old structure. This committee reported back to the Board of Trustees December 29, 18.45, that they had contracted to sell the old edifice to the school district for school purposes, for the sum of $1, 100. This building after being used for various purposes has been torn down.

At this same meeting the trustees voted to procure a site for a new church structure. The site selected was Lot Sixty-one, original plat, just across Franklin Street from the for- mer site. on the northeast corner of Franklin and William Streets.

On May 6, 1846, the building committee, consisting of John Wolfley, Nathan Chester and Augustus A. Welch, let the contract to William Owston, "to erect a house of wor- ship." The building was to be a neat, plain church, 50 by 80 feet, two stories high, with a vestibule in the front both above and below ; the audience room was to have a gallery across the south end, and to furnish sittings for about six hundred persons ; the seats and other wood work to be of black walnut. The walls were of limestone. This edifice was not finished until the summer of 1847. The cost was about $5.600. This edifice was capacious and well built for its time. It was dedicated August 3. 1847, by Bishop Edmond S. Janes, assisted by Rev. Thomas E. Bond, D. D., editor of the Christian Advocate, New York.

The lot purchased for this new church was not deeded to the trustees until four years

after the church had been dedicated. The deed is dated June 2. 1851. The grantors are William R. Platt, Fanny R. Platt, Ruther- ford B. Hayes and Sophia Hayes. The trus- tees named are Wilder Joy. Emery Moore, Nathan Chester, John Ross, E. W. Littell, John Il. Dean, Abraham Blymyer, Augustus A. Welch and John Wolfley. The parsonage was erected in 1861, during the pastoral term of Rev. Thomas Parker. This stone church was replaced by the present elegant structure in 1887.

William Street Church has been an ec- clesiastical center for Methodism in Delaware. She is not only older than the other Methodist churches here, but she is their mother. In . 1852, she gave St. Paul's Church to South Delaware; in 1860 she had something to do with the origin and "raising" of Grace Church in East Delaware, and in 1886, she gave As- bury Church to North Delaware.

The ecclesiastical connections of William Street Church have been varied. From the time of its organization until 1840, it was un- der the jurisdiction of the Ohio Conference. Then it was attached to the North Ohio Con- ference until 1856, when it was put into the Central Ohio Conference, of which it is still a part.

While an appointment of the Ohio Confer- ence, it was for four years a part of Scioto District, with Jacob Young as presiding elder ; from 1823 to 1825, of Lancaster District ; from 1825 to 1828, of Sandusky District with James McMahon as presiding elder; from 1828 to 1833, of Portland District with Rus- sel Bigelow and Greenberry R. Jones as pre- siding elders; from 1833 to 1840, of Colum- bus District, with Augustus Eddy, Jacob Young and John Ferree as presiding elders. In the ecclesiastical year of 1840-41, it became a part of Bellefontaine District, North Ohio Conference, where it remained until the year 1844-45, with William S. Morrow as presid- ing elder. In 1845-46 it was assigned to Dela- ware District, at whose head it has appeared ever since, with the following presiding eld- ers : John H. Power ( 1845-47 ) : John Quig- ley (1848-51) : Samuel Lynch (1852-53) ;

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Joseph Ayers ( 1854) : Henry E. Pilcher ( 1855-58) : Thomas H. Wilson ( 1859-62) ; Leonard B. Gurley ( 1863-66) : Alexander Harmount (1867-70) : Daniel D. Mather (1871-74) : David Rutledge (1875-78. : Isaac Newton ( 1879-81) ; Leroy A. Belt ( 1882- 86) : David Rutledge, Louis M. Albright, J. M. Avann. L. A. Belt. J. H. Fitzwater and W. McK. Brackney.

From its foundation until the ecclesiastical year 1821-22, it was one of the preaching places on the Hocking Circuit : from this time to the year 1840-41. it was the head of Dela- ware Circuit. It had now reached a member- ship of two hundred and ninety-six persons. and at the Conference of 1841, it was declared a "station," and Adam Poe was appointed pastor. Since that time for almost seventy years it has been one of the leading and most flourishing stations in Ohio Methodism.

The appointments to William. Street, al- lowing that name to cover its entire history, are as follows, the years dating from about the last of August or the middle of September : 1818. Jacob Hooper: 1819. Andrew Kinnear ; 1820, James Murray: 1821. Jacob Hooper ; 1822. Thomas McCleary: 1823. Thomas Mc- Cleary and James Poe: 1824, Jacob Dixon; 1825, James Gilruth : 1826. Abner Goff ; 1827, James Gilruth and Cyrus Carpenter: 1828. David Lewis and Samuel P. Shaw: 1830, Samuel P. Shaw and Alfred M. Lorain ; 1831. Alfred M. Lorain and David Cadwallader : 1832, Charles Goddard and J. M. McDowell ; 1833. Leonard B. Gurley and John C. Ha- vens ; 1834, John C. Havens and R. Doughty ; 1835. Joseph B. Austin and William Morrow ; 1836, Nathan Emery and Joseph B. Austin ; 1837. John Alexander and Ebenezer T. Web- ster : 1838, William S. Morrow and John W. White; 1839. William S. Morrow and John Blanpied : 1840 and 1841, Adam Poe: 1842. David Warnock: 1843. Adam Poe; 1844. William L. Harris : 1845 and 1846, Henry E. Pilcher : 1847, Cyrus Sawyer: 1848, E. Yo- cum : 1849, Horatio Bradley: 1850 and 1851, Lorenzo Warner: 1852. Joseph Ayers: 1853. Charles Hartley : 1854 and 1855, Leonard B. Gurley; 1856 and 1857, Alexander Nelson ;

1858 and 1859, James M. Morrow: 1860 and 1861, Thomas Parker; 1862 and 1863. Loring C. Webster; 1863, 1864 and 1865, Alexander Nelson: 1866 to spring of 1869, Wesley G. Waters: from spring of 1869 to fall of same year, Park S. Donelson ; 1869 and 1870, Dan- iel D. Mather; 1871 and 1872, Franklin Mar- riott : 1873. 1874 and 1875. Russell B. Pope; 1876 and 1877. Isaac Newton: 1878, 1879 and 1880, Elias D. Whitlock; 1881 and 1882, Joseph H. Bethards: 1883-1886, Wesley G. Waters: 1886-1887, W. J. Hodges: 1887- 1890, Dustin Kemble: 1890-1895, Fletcher Wharton: 1895-1897, C. R. Havighorst; 1897-1902, H. C. Jamison : 1902-1903. J. M. Avann ; 1903-1904. William W. Lance; 1904, C. W. Barnes.

William Street Church all through her his- tory has been the center of great spiritual power. Though again and again a part of her membership has left her to found other churches, she is still vigorous and strong, with a membership of eight hundred souls.

The present church edifice was built in 1887, at a cost of nearly $42,000. It was dedicated in 1888 by Bishop Charles McCabe and President Charles H. Payne of Ohio Wes- leyan University. The sum of $17,000 was raised on that day.

This sketch would be incomplete without reference to the noble men, most of whom have gone to their reward, by whose liberality and sacrifice this beautiful church structure has been made possible.

In 1885, the project of erecting a new edi- fice was the absorbing theme of the member- ship of William Street Church. The question of the site was a disturbing element. and finally the membership divided on this point, the ma- jority voting for the present site, the others withdrawing and forming the nucleus of what is now Asbury Church. In the year 1886. the Board of Trustees, now re-organized, voted to build a new church, and presented the enter- prise to the membership with $7.000 subscribed as a starter. The following names are men- tioned in the vote: A. A. Welch. Dr. Calvin Welch. J. C. Evans, Dr. J. H. White, Thomas F. Joy, B. W. Brown, W. H. Pumphrey. F.

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P. Vergon, Charles Steenback and W. E. Moore. The members, though now dimin- ished in number, loyally and liberally support- ed the trustees. The largest donation from one individual was given by Henry J. Eaton, who would never consent to take official posi- tion in the church.

For eighty-eight years this society has been in continuous existence. Throughout its history, it has been marked in its influence on Ohio Methodism. It has given some of the brightest lights to the church and its representa- tives are found all over the world. It still maintains the vigor and fire of youth, and pre- serves the traditions of the fathers.

ST. MARK'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

The early history of the St. Mark's Evan- gelical Lutheran Church is largely involved in obscurity. The records now accessible are meager and imperfect ; something may, how- ever, be ascertained from tradition, as well as from such written records as are at hand. It is well known that some Lutheran families were scattered here and there among the earl- iest settlers in Delaware County. Of these pioneer . families may be mentioned those of Frederick Weiser, Henry Worline, Mr. Wel- schaus, Andrew Harter and others. They were natives of Pennsylvania, coming here from Northumberland, Bucks and other coun- ties, and were settled in Delaware and the vi- cinity as early as 1810 and 18II. These few families, many years ago, were more or less regularly favored with the preaching of the gospel. It appears from such data as are within reach, that the Rev. Charles Henkel, of Shenandoah County, Va., was the first Luth- eran minister who visited the Lutheran fami- lies along the Olentangy River between Co- lumbus and Delaware. Before any one dreamed of railroads, before roads were made, when Indian trails and footpaths were the only lines of travel, this pioneer preacher found the few scattered Lutherans in and about the present site of the city of Delaware, and readily succeeded in organizing them into a pioneer congregation. Indeed, they were glad once more to hear the old gospel tidings

that had cheered their hearts and had brought peace and gladness into their former homes. It was their delight to bring their little chil- dren to Jesus by means of the same old bap- tism to which they had been so warmly at- tached in former years, and to appear at the altar where the same old sacrament of the body and blood of the Lord was administered. The old familiar sound made the wilderness in which they had chosen their lot seem to them like a new home. The old tidings of salvation following them into the forests of Ohio, re- minded them that God is everywhere present. and pleasantly recalled the old, cheering prom- ise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

But the bloom of civilization did not burst forth in this wilderness without hard labor and severe privation. For a very little while it seemed well enough to have the word preached in the small and inconvenient log dwellings of the settlers. But soon the need of a place of worship began to be felt. A church was needed, and that meant work. The productiveness of their primitive farms was comparatively limited ; market prices were low, and money was hard to get. The people usually found it difficult even to pay their taxes. Accordingly, instead, at first, of build- ing a church, the use of Shoub's Hall, on the present site of the new City Hall, was secured as a place of worship. Probably in this hall a permanent organization of the Delaware Luth- eran congregation was effected. A constitution was adopted January 28, 1821, and signed by the Rev. Charles Henkel, pastor, and by fifty- five lay members. During the space of some seven years, Pastor Henkel continued to serve this congregation. He resided at Colum- bus, Ohio, where he had charge of another congregation, but came to Delaware every four weeks. Great success attended his labors, and he was held in high regard by his hearers. He preached in both the German and the English languages, at first in Shoub's Hall, and then in the old court room, which was for some time used as a place of worship.

After Pastor Henkel had been called away from his Columbus and Delaware charges, a period of about fifteen years intervened, dur-

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ing which the congregation made considerable progress in external growth; but the internal growth seems to have been meager. The old constitution was neglected and almost forgot- ten. The people had almost lost sight of the old landmarks of Lutheranism. Yet. during this period of spiritual carelessness and indif- ference, quite an amount of activity was dis- played. The congregation was served by sev- eral successive pastors. Rev. Mr. Shulz served a very short time, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Weil. Rey. Mr. Snyder, a young man of promising talent and of good repute. preached less than a year ; he died in 1835. and his body lies at rest in the old cemetery. Subsequently, the Rev. S. S. Klein served some eight years, and. during his pastorate. the first church was built about the year 1834. on the corner of William and Henry Streets. the site now occupied by the German Reformed Church. This church was the property of both the Lutheran and the German Reformed congregations. Quite an amount of real toil and self-denial was required to accomplish the work. The people contributed their money and their time, and the labor of building was shared by both pastor and people. Mr. Klein worked faithfully and daily until the new church was ready to be occupied. Previous to the building of the church, the Lutheran people of Delaware had assisted, by their con- tributions, in building the Episcopal Church. in which they also, for a time, conducted their divine service.

The former pastor. the Rev. Charles Hen- kel, died at Somerset, February 2, 1841. His death seems to have aroused the minds and hearts of the people to a sense of duty. The truth that had cheered and comforted them in earlier days was once more remembered. and a few weeks after they had heard of the death of their former pastor. a meeting was held, at which the old constitution was once more unanimously adopted. and the blessing of a merciful God invoked upon the congregation. About this time the Rev. Mr. Pope became the pastor. But things do not seem to have moved along smoothly: the readoption of the old constitution made trouble, and some who

had learned to love the careless, free-and-easy system of church government, that had for some time prevailed, were not willing to be governed by the old power of Gospel truth. Accordingly, a committee was appointed in November. 1845. to submit a revised form of the constitution, as well as ways and means of having it more stringently enforced. This committee, consisting of John Hoch. George Wachter Conrad Brougher, John Troutman, Frederick Weiser and Benjamin Ely, met on the 15th of November, and, at a subsequent meeting of the congregation, their work was approved and the revised constitution adopted by a large majority.

In 1848, Mr. Pope removed from Dela- ware, and, in 1849. the Rev. M. Loy became the pastor of the congregation. Mr. Loy la- bored here with much success during a period of some sixteen years. In the first years of this period, the conjoint ownership of the church property on the corner of William and Henry Streets was dissolved, and the new stone church on William Street was built in 1852. and has since been occupied by the con- gregation. A new constitution, the one now in use by the congregation, was adopted Au- gust 31, 1852. The congregation increased largely in membership, as well as in spiritual prosperity : not, however, without trials and perplexities. Yet the Lord dealt very gra- ciously with his people, causing many eyes to be opened, so that the truth of His mighty word was recognized and accepted. At this time the contest with secret-societyism was successfully waged. This is the history of a Lutheran congregation, and no one should ex- pect, in such a history, to find any peculiarities omitted. Not. however. in regard to this question only, but in regard to all others, has the congregation taken a truly Lutheran and scriptural position. They who desire to form a more intimate acquaintance with the doc- trines of the Lutheran faith. have easy access to them in our Book of Concord, and we con- stantly challenge comparison of our doctrines with the Holy Scriptures themselves. They are our only rule of faith and practice. This true position came to be occupied more and

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more during the period of Mr. Loy's ministry. Mr. Loy resigned his pastorate here to accept a professorship of theology in the Capitol Uni- versity, Columbus, Ohio, where he still re- mains.

Prof. Loy's successor was the Rev. C. H. L. Schuette, at that time a student of theology in the Capitol University. The last baptism administered by Mr. Loy was on July 16, 1865, and the first by Mr. Schuette was on July 28th following, showing that the va- cancy in the pastorate was very short. Mr. Schuette served the people very acceptably during nearly eight years, when he, too, was called to a chair in his Alma Mater. Some- time in the same year, 1873, the Rev. Emanuel Cronenwett accepted a call to this congregation, and his labors here extended from June, 1873, to January, 1877.

He was followed by Rev. H. A. Becker, who came to Delaware May 22, 1877, in re- sponse to a call extended by the congregation. He served the congregation faithfully until his death, which was in 1884. Under his pas- torate the communicant membership was four hundred and fifty.

After the death of Rev. Becker the con- gregation was without a pastor for a space of about seven months, but finally succeeded in securing the services of Rev. Edward Pfeiffer, who came to Delaware early in the year 1885. Under his ministry a division took place in the congregation occasioned by the secret society question. An attempt was made on the part of some members to break down the position which the congregation had always held over against secretism. This effort failed of its purpose, but resulted in the withdrawal of many members who thereupon formed what is now St. John's Lutheran congregation. Rev. Pfeiffer continued as pastor until 1890, when he followed a call to Fremont, Ohio, and at the present time is professor of theology in Capitol University, Columbus, Ohio.

The next man to serve St. Mark's was Rev. J. Sheatsley, who took charge Septem- mer 18, 1890. He labored here faithfully and with manifest blessing and success for a pe- riod of seventeen years. During his adminis- tration a commodious Sunday-school room

was built to the church, also a handsome pipe organ installed in the church auditorium. He resigned his position here in August, 1907, to follow a call to Columbus, where he is serving as pastor of Christ Church, and also has charge of religious instruction in Capitol Uni- versity. The present pastor, Rev. F. B. Hax, was installed October 6, 1907. St. Mark's at present numbers some 300 communicant mem- bers, is free from debt; and looks hopefully into the future.

ZION REFORMED CHURCH.

Among the pioneer families of Delaware County, there was a considerable number from East Pennsylvania. As they were all of German descent, and were brought up in Ger- man communities, they could feel themselves properly at home only in their native German element, and in the use of their own language. Especially was this true in a religious view. A characteristic of the Germans is that they carry Germany with them in their hearts wherever they go, and hence, wherever they put up their tents, there is "Der Deutschen Vaterland." Even the blessed Gospel seems to them more precious when it is proclaimed in the trumpet tones of the language of Luther and Zwingle.

These families generally belonged to the Reformed and Lutheran Churches. They had found rich farms and comfortable homes here, but they were far away from their kindred, and the holy altars where they had been bap- tized and confirmed. They were not in their natural element. As the fish seeks the clearest water, and the bird the purest air, so these pious souls sought a congenial spiritual home for themselves and their children. Nor did they seek in vain. The longed-for and happy hour came at last, when, in their own conse- crated temple and around their own sacred altar, they could thankfully and joyfully unite in their beloved German Te Deum,

"Nun danket alle Gott, Mit Herzen, Mund und Haenden,

Der Grosze Dinge thut, An uns und allen Enden."

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In the early history of Ohio and of Dela- ware County, it is known that missionaries of the Reformed Church made occasional visits to the German settlements for the purpose of preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments of the church. The earliest name definitely known in the history of the present Reformed Church of Delaware is the Rev. Georg Weisz, who in a report of missionary labors in 1821 speaks of having preached in a home in the vicinity of Delaware. Henry Wil- liard was another of the pioneer ministers who visited Delaware. Under date of February 5. 1833. a deed for a plot of ground at the south- east corner of William and Henry Streets was executed by John Davis and Mary, his wife, to Samuel Rheem, Gottlieb AAlbright and Benja- min Ely. consideration $75. This plot of ground seems to have been purchased for church purposes, for the following entry. taken from Delaware County records, vol. 23. p. 96, as found in "Historical Sketch of Zion Reformed," by Jacob Klee, was made long after the church building was erected :

"Recorder's Office, Delaware, Ohio.

Samuel Rheem and Saralı his wife, Gottlieb Albright and Mary his wife, Benjamin Ely and Lydia his wife, to Zion Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church of Delaware, Ohio. West part of Out-lot Two, Consider- ation $75. Consisting of one acre and one lun- dred and twenty rods. Executed February 7. 1842. Recorded Feb- ruary 15th, 1842."

In the year 1834 there was erected on the plot of ground above referred to a church edi- fice, the joint property of the Reformed and Lutherans. It was built of stone, 30x45, and cost $1.300. For three years before they were organized into a church, the Reformed men- bers worshiped in this house, and had the Gos- pel preached and the sacraments administered to them by the pastor of the Lutheran congre- gation. But few besides themselves knew that they were Reformed, and they were com-

monly regarded as members of the Lutheran Church.

By an act of the General Assembly January 23. 1837, Frederick Weiser, Samuel Rheem, Benjamin Ely, Jacob Miller, Michael Kline and associates were created a body politic and corporate to be known as Zion Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church of Delaware, Ohio. In the same year the Reformed or- ganized a separate organization. They se- cured the services of Rev. C. H. A. Allardt, the necessary steps were taken, an appropriate sermon was preached, and "in the name of God the Father, and the Son and the Holy Ghost," they were declared to be a Christian church, to be known by the name of Zion's Reformed Church, of Delaware, Ohio. Those who had been chosen to fill the respective of- fices were now solemnly ordained and in- stalled. The church consisted of eighteen mem- bers. Its first elders were AAbraham Call and Henry Fegley, and its first deacons, Jacob Mil- ler and Israel Breifogel. The frail little bark was now afloat on the sea.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 35

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926