Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 38

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 38

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In September following the Central Ohio Conference added to its list of charges Asbury Church, Delaware, Ohio, and Rev. L. M. Al- bright was appointed pastor. The new organi-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

zation was at that time without a church home. The Baptist society tendered their church edi- fice for the use of the new church organization on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings. a kindness then highly appreciated and not to be forgotten.

The first preaching service of the new organization was held September 19. 2:00 p. in., the pastor preaching from John 12:31, 32.

The present site of the church had already ben purchased, the selection having been made July 19th. The official body determined soon after the appointment of the pastor to build a temporary edifice on the rear part of the lot. Ground was broken October 5th, and the edi- fice was completed November 3rd. The cost. including furniture, chairs, pulpit, carpet and curtains, amounted to $1.340. This structure seated about four hundred persons, and proved in every particular a most happy and success- ful enterprise. November seventh was the opening day. Dr. Isaac Crook, then pastor of St. Paul's Church, preached from Isaiah 66, first and second verses, and he and Dr. L. D. MeCabe conducted the ritualistic service.

The evening sermon was by Rev. D. Kem- ble. D. D., then missionary to Mexico. By this time the membership was 200, and weekly additions became the rule.

On January 5. 1887. the trustees com- pleted their contract with Mr. J. G. Grove for his lot located on the southwest corner of Franklin Street and Lincoln Avenue. The purchase price was $4,500.

The trustees then turned their attention to the preparation needed for the erection of a permanent building. J. W. Yost, Esq., of Columbus, was secured as

archi- tect. There was some delay in deter- mining whether the walls should be stone or brick. It was found that the additional cost for stone walls amounted to $4,000. Cap- tain V. T. Hills and J. C. Watson. Esq., ar- ranged for the extra expense, and a formal contract for the construction of the edifice was made with Wellington Long, Esq., March I. 1888. The cornerstone was laid June 13, 1888. A sermon of unusual spiritual force

and feeling was delivered by Rev. H. A. Buttz, LL. D., president of Drew Theological Semi- nary, of Madison, New Jersey.

In the spring of 1889 a special contract was made for completing the Sunday school room. It was completed and informally opened in August following. The opening sermon was by Rev. Prof. L. D. McCabe. LL. D., and the first sacramental occasion of the church was held in the evening.

In the autumn following. the necessary steps were taken for the completion of the au- dience room.

Rev. L. M. Albright, D. D., now closed a pastorate of three years, and received instead the presiding eldership of Delaware district. His pastorate was a model of leadership. un- wearied effort and success. He had received beside its charter members about three hun- dred persons, most of them having hitherto no membership in any church in Delaware.

In September Rev. E. D. Whitlock, D. D .. was appointed to the charge and entered into the work with zeal and enthusiasm. In the winter following there was a marked revival and many young people belonging to the fami- lies of the church and congregation became members.

The edifice was brought to its conple- tion in the autumn of 1900 and was dedicated November 16th. The occasion was one of great interest to the church, city and com- munity. The pastor was assisted in the serv- ices by Drs. Albright. Wharton and ex-Presi- dent Merrick. Rev. Charles E. Sims. LL. D .. president of Syracuse University, preached from Ps. 137: 5. 6, and also in the evening from Luke 16:25.

The indebtedness on the church at the time of dedication was $8,000. It seemed like a large sum for a people who had been giving generously for four years, but they cheerfully gave what was needed and closed the day with subscriptions amounting to $8.500. The whole day was one of spiritual enthusiasm and exaltation. The people had planned. prayed, toiled and given constantly since the great en- terprise began ; now their joy over the outcome knew no bounds.

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The edifice is remarkable for its plainness, simplicity and solidity. Every expression of mere ornamentation and cheapness had been carefully avoided. Its walls are of dark blue lime stone. It is rectangular in form, and is about 70 by II0 feet. The auditorium is 50 by 60 feet. The floor is slightly bowled and of amphitheatre seating. The architecture is of the old cathedral and Romanesque style. The entire cost of the plant was about $37,000. The society has been remarkable for its con- tinuous growth, healthy and harmonious de- velopment, and for its family and social spirit and life. Its Sunday school and Epworth League are seldom equalled in fullness and regularity of attendance. and in contribution of members to the church. Its membership now numbers 490.

In 1896 the charge was transferred from the Central Ohio to the North Ohio Confer- ence. Its pastors from 1886 to 1896 were from the Central Ohio: since from the North Ohio. They have been as follows: 1886-89, Rev. L. M. Albright, D. D. : 1889-1892, Rev. E. D. Whitlock. D. D. : 1892-94, Rev. Richard Wallace; 1894-96, Rev. Melvin M. Figley ; 1896-99. Rev. A. D. Knapp, D. D .: 1899- 1901, Rev. C. T. Erickson : 1901-6, Rev. F. I. Johnson, B. D .; 1906, present, Rev. W. A. Wright, D. D.

FAITH METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church is situated on South Liberty Street, opposite High Street, in South Dela- ware. The church, which was dedicated Jan- uary 4, 1891, was the result of much mission- ary work carried on chiefly under the auspices of the St. Paul's M. E. Church. Before the church was built the mission workers met and held their services in the homes of the people. Later a store room was secured, and finally a hall in the old brick building on the south- west corner of Liberty and Ross Streets be- came the home of the congregation until the church was built. Much of the success of the work was due to the benevolent and self-sacri- ficing spirit of Dr. Frederick Merrick and his beloved wife, both now gone to their reward.

The work grew so rapidly that a church be- came necessary, and was accordingly built and dedicated as stated above.

Rev. J. Mitchell, a superannuate member of the Ohio Conference, was appointed to take charge of the work, and truly the work he has done has not been in vain. His name and character are indelibly impressed upon all the old homes of South Delaware. In 1897, Rev. A. L. Rogers, a student in the University, took charge of the work, and so rapidly did it grow, that it was necessary to build a large ad- dition on the rear end of the church. Brother Rogers carried this work through successfully. He ministered unto the people for three years. Following him came Rev. J. A. Currier, who served the charge three years. In 1903 Rev. P. C. Hargraves served one year. Rev. C. E. Turley came in 1904 and served two years. In 1906 the present pastor was sent to the work.

The church is thoroughly organized, and still continues to do good work in South Dela- ware. The church has a membership of eighty, and maintains a Sunday school with an aver- age attendance of sixty, which meets every Sunday. It still has the old-time class meet- ing, which meets every Sunday morning at 9:30. During the present pastorate the church has been covered with a new slate roof, and a new furnace has been placed in the enlarged and improved building.

TRINITY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The pioneer members of this church were : A. Highwarden and wife; Jesse Merritt and wife: Alexander Austin and wife: Abel Wil- son; J. W. Highwarden; Hattie McLamore, Rosa Austin, Anna Brown, Thomas Brown and wife: Fannie Crawford, George Merritt, and others.

The first meeting held consisted of Bible readings at the houses of the various persons mentioned. After which the members were organized into a church society by Rev. I. F. Brown, who preached the first sermon in Abram Highwarden's house on Ross Street, and the next at Abel Wilson's on Railroad

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Street. The trustees and members of the Second Baptist Church very kindly permitted them to hold some meetings in a room they had on Ross Street. After that they held meetings in a small house on Eaton Street for several years. Following this, the trustees, Thomas Brown. Abel Wilson and George Merritt, secured a lot which was purchased from Mrs. W. T. Watson, for $300. upon which a foundation was placed, costing $55. This was paid by these people and the present church building erected through the efforts of Rev. G. W. Bailey. The cost estimated at $1,278 (by the builder, E. M. Heller), was somewhat modified by a few changes in the plan, which made the amount really paid about one thousand dollars, secured from the People's Building and Loan Association, and which has been canceled through the untiring efforts of that grand and noble Christian gen- tleman, Rev. J. H. Payne.

Tlie names of the preachers who have had charge of the church are: J. F. Brown, W. C. Echols, O. W. Fox, Alexander Austin, J. G. Jones, Elijah Henderson, W. W. Heston, Rob- ert Adkins, G. W. Bailey, Elam Whyte, Rev. Mr. Flanigan, Joel Perkins, William Renfro, D. V. Disney, Rev. Mr. Brooks, G. D. Wil- liams and J. H. Payne. The elders who have presided over the district are Joseph Court- ney. E. W. Hammonds, M. S. Johnson, T. L. Ferguson and Elder Simmons.

This society was presented to the Lexing- ton Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church by Rev. J. F. Brown, and accepted un- der Bishop Foss. This society from the first has complied with the requirements of the church in regard to organizing a Sunday school, and other auxiliaries of the church. J. W. Highwarden being the first Sunday school superintendent, followed by Hattie Mc- Lamore. George Merritt and AA. V. Austin. The membership of the school is forty-five, with an average attendance of thirty-eight. The present pastor is Rev. J. T. Leggett.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

This society was organized in 1902, by Rev. Galbrand .and H. Hatton. It was the re-

sult of a revival held in Faith Chapel. Several of the U. B. faith having taken part in this revival, were not satisfied to unite with the Faith M. E. Church, and formed a society of twenty members. They first held their serv- ices in the Highwarden Hall, and Rev. Whit- nell was their first minister. After the Trin- ity M. E. Church erected their new church on Liberty Street, they occupied the building which the Trinity people had used on Eaton Street. Since that time, Rev. N. Allebaugh, Rev. Berry, Rev. Smith and Rev. A. Gar- brand, have been pastors. The present supply is a lady, Rev. Mary Lemmon. About 1904. what was known as the Woodgrove Church was moved to Delaware by Wayne Hazelton, and they now occupy that building. The so- ciety remains in connection with the Radical U. B. Church as distinguished from the Lib- eral U. B. Church. The present membership is fifty-six.

BERKSHIRE TOWNSHIP.

The religious history of this township is an interesting one, and dates back to the ar- rival of the first settlers, as they were nearly all religious people. The family of Colonel Byxbe was of the Presbyterian creed, that of Major Brown, together with the Paines. Plumbs and Curtices were members of the Episcopal Church.

With the advent of the Carpenters in the southern part of the township came the Metli- odist. Gilbert Carpenter was a minister in that church, and it was not long until a society was organized in that locality. There were about fourteen members, and their meetings were held in a hewed log schoolhouse, erected not far from 1813. Gilbert Carpenter and his nephew. Benjamin. Jr., with occasional visits from itinerants, supplied the society with preaching.

Two years later the Methodist organized a society in Sunbury, and held their meetings' during the winter in the surrounding cabins, and in the summer in Judge Carpenter's barn. The people came from a distance of ten miles with ox-teams and barefooted in summer. and from long distances in winter to attend these

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meetings. The ministers were not college- bred men, nor men marked with special gifts for the ministry. They wore the home-made clothing of the settlers, and were often com- pelled to endure hardships, not even known by those living in the cabins. In 1825, a frame building now standing in Galena, was erected, is well maintained, and continues to be the rallying-point for the Methodists in the south- ern part of the township.

At Sunbury the society used a brick school- house for their services until 1839, when they erected a frame church costing $1,500. The Episcopal society helped in building this church with the understanding that they were to have the use of it part of the time. The latter organization became extinct through removal and change of membership. The church was used by the Methodists until about two years ago, when a larger and more com- modious structure was erected. The first cir- cuit was established in 1831, with Rev. James McIntyre as presiding elder.

Another organization of the M. E.'s was effected at the Berkshire Corners in 1858, by Rev. Amos Wilson, with twenty members. This society erected a good frame church in 1860, and have maintained an even course, with about sixty members to the present time.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.

The second denomination to organize in point of time was the Protestant Episcopal. The first sermon was preached in Major Brown's house in 1818, by Bishop Chase. the first bishop of the diocese, on Monday after Easter, March 23, 1818. Those of this belief met at the house of David Prince and or- ganized a society and elected the following of- ficers: Clerk, Carlos Curtis; wardens, Icha- bod Plumb, Zenos Ross and Aaron Strong : lay readers, David Prince and Carlos Curtis, For ten years or more services were held in private houses and Rev. Stern and others served as rectors. A brick church ' with a triple Gothic windows in front was erected. This church was considered a great achieve-

ment at this early date. This building is said to be the third Episcopal church building erected in the State. The society has been abandoned, but the building still stands at Berkshire Corners, and has been used for a number of years as a public school building.

The leading church of this denomination is at Galena, and was organized in 1875 by Rev. John Eley, with ten members. The re- maining members at Berkshire Corners united with this society. In 1877, assisted by the community. a handsome brick church was erected, the plan being drawn by a New Jer- sey architect. The society still exists and is in a moderately flourishing condition.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

There were at the Corners several fami- lies, viz. : Bennett, Gregory and Paterson, who attended services at the old Court House, Delaware, conducted by Rev. Hughs. a son- in-law of Colonel Byxbe. In 1817 Rev. Ebenezer Washburn, a Presbyterian minister, drove in the Corners in a steel-shod sled, a cir- cumstance which gave him no little distinction at that time. He held services in the cabins, but the Presbyterians united with what is known as the Blue Church, and he moved to Genoa Township. In 1844. a church called Galena, and in 1846 another called Porter, had been organized by Rev. Ahab Jink's, and supplied by him. These churches were united in 1848 and called Union. Union was united with Sunbury in 1861. The society had but little preaching, and in 1866 was dissolved. These organizations were connected with the New School branch of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1878, a society was again organized at Sunbury by Rev. Robert Wyley and others, with thirty-four members. The society was served by Rev. Wyley, but did not flourish. The services were held in the school house and hall. no house of worship being erected. The society was disbanded by Marion Presbytery at the April meeting in 1885.

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BAPTIST CHURCH.

This denomination was represented in Berkshire as early as 1812 by Elder Henry George. He was a Welshman, spoke with ? marked brogue, and a plain man with excellent common sense. No church was organized, however, until 1835. This occurred in Dis- trict No. 2, of Trenton Township, and was called the Walnut Creek Baptist Church. They worshiped in a log school house until 1837, when the society moved to Sunbury, and in 1838 erected the structure which has been used continuously until the present time. The first pastor after coming to Sunbury was Rev. Gil- dersleve, followed by Rev. Roberts.

FREE WILL BAPTIST.

In the winter of 1876-77, Rev. Mr. Mur- ray of Sunbury held a series of meetings at Rome Corners, which were crowned with suc- cess, and he sought to establish a church at that place. There did not seem to be a de- sire for such an organization, and in a perfectly friendly spirit, the minister and people joined in inviting Rev. Mr. Whittaker to organize a Free Will Baptist society. This society in 1877 erected a substantial frame church, lo- cated at the Corners. This building still stands, but is not occupied, the society having been disbanded several years ago.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

The Sunday schools. as they existed in the early settlements, were not such as we have now. In many cases the rudiments of educa- tion were joined with instruction in the Scrip- tures. The first school of this sort was opened by Julia Strong, daughter of Major Strong. about 1814. The house stood on the Gaylord property near the bridge east of Sunbury. An- other school akin to this was opened about 1816 by Miss Bowen, a sister-in-law of Rev. Ebenezer Washburn. Her method was to in- vite the little folks to her house on the Sab- bath, and read to them a passage of Scripture, then a historical sketch calculated to interest

children's minds, and then would teach them a short passage of Scripture, which they were to repeat the next Sabbath. The Hon. O. D. Hough was one of her pupils, and believes these to have been the first Sunday schools in the east part of the county, if not the first in the county.

BERLIN TOWNSHIP.

The Baptists were the first to enter the field in this township. Rev. Mr. Wyatt came early in this locality and organized a society in the Olentangy Valley, and went into Ber- lin Township once a month and preached in the cabins of the early settlers. He carried on his work as far East as Trenton Township, and from time to time as the membership would warrant it, would set off from the parent society in Liberty Township separate organi- zations.

The Alum Creek Baptist Church was or- ganized in 1816, and met for the first time in the blockhouse which had done service in time of war. For eight years the Baptist Church held its meetings here, and then voted to erect a frame building, on the road about half-way between Cheshire and Berlin Station, where the old cemetery is. The building is now a town hall, and the cemetery is sadly neglected.

Among the members at that time were Isaia Muuroe, David Lewis, Sr., Joseph Eaton, and their wives, John Johnston, Sarah Brady and Polly Noko. The two latter were colored women. Sarah Brady died at the age of one hundred and fourteen. She was a serv- ant in George Washington's family and for a long time was connected with the family of General Sullivan of Revolutionary fame. In 1854, the Baptist Church building now stand- ing in Cheshire, was erected at a cost of $700. It was dedicated the latter part of the year. and a bell placed in the belfry the next year. Rev. Philander Kelsey was the first pastor in this edifice. Another minister contemporary with Rev. Wyatt was Elder Jacob Drake. He was a surveyor and was much among the peo- ple. His preaching was done mostly in the cabins of these early pioneers. An incident is

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

€

WILLIAM STREET M. E. CHURCH

ST. PAUL'S M. E. CHURCH

SOME DELAWARE CHURCHES

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related which shows that "chickens" were not considered then the only diet good for a minis- ter. He came out from Delaware one morn- ing in 1808 before breakfast, and a meal was prepared for him. The table was a puncheon, smoothed off on the upper side, and supported by pins driven in the logs of the cabin. When the meal was announced he sat down to a single baked potato, with salt in a clam shell, and water in a gourd. He had walked seven miles and relished this breakfast as well as we do our fine dinners.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Probably the first Presbyterian minister who preached in the bounds of Berlin Town- ship was a Rev. Stevens who came from the East on a missionary tour of exploration. Rev. Ebenezer Washburn came to Berkshire in 1817. He organized the Presbyterian fami- lies in Kingston, Berkshire and Berlin Town- ships in a congregation in 1818. A great re- vival occurred in 1828, and the families living in Berlin Township were organized into a sep- arate congregation in October, 1829. The first elders were John Roloson, Stephen Chandler and Paul Ferson. In 1830 there were ninety members. Rev. Ahab Jinks be- came stated supply from 1829 to 1832. He was a man peculiar in more respects than his name. It is said that when a young boy he was the leader of a godless band of young ruffians, for whose support he would mimic the preachers he heard, giving their sermons ver- batim. Going to hear Dean Swift, his course of life was changed, and he turned his ability toward the right. On one occasion he preached from Isaiah 1:2. an especially brilliant sermon to his parishioners in Berlin, which greatly impressed them, and it was generally regarded that the minister had outdone himself. One of his parishioners went to Genoa in the after- noon where the heard to his utmost astonish- ment the same identical sermon delivered by Mr. Judson. the earliest of the Sunday school agents. At another time, desiring to get up a camp-meeting in Berlin, Mr. Jinks preached a sermon which carried every obtacle before

it, and aroused the people to the pitch of camp-meeting fervor. The arrangements were made for the meeting in the Dickerman woods, and it was carried on with great suc- cess. Near the close, Mr. Jinks had a Rev. Mr. Pomeroy to assist in conducting the meet- ings. He came and delivered for his first ef- fort the very sermon which had so aroused the people some time before. When asked to ex- plain these coincidences, Mr. Jinks quietly re- marked that he had heard them delivered, con- sidered them good sermons, and thought he would give his parishioners the benefit of them.

During this time a frame church edifice was erected. Milton H. Sackett became an elder and Rev. Calvin N. Ranson was pastor from 1832 to 1837. At this date the mem- bership was one hundred. Elders after that date to 1870 were Benonah Dickerman, Jo- seph Roloson, A. M. Spear. Lewis Thompson, C. W. Smith and J. C. Ryant. Ministers, Darius C. Allen, Henry Shedd, A. D. Chap- man, A. S. Avery, John W. Thompson. Since 1870, J. L. Tower, Thomas Hill, A. C. Crist. James Darah, W. F. Cellar, John McDowell, S. S. Arkman, M. W. Brown, James Hickling, E. M. Scott, Samuel Heucker, J. M. Wylie have served the church, and at present J. G. Curry is the pastor. The church was rebuilt all but the old frame in 1875, under the pas- torate of Rev. A. C. Crist, and is in good re- pair. The building stands about three-quar- ters of a mile south of Cheshire.

WEST BERLIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1876. Rev. Thomas Hill, Rev. W. G. March, and Elders Dr. J. M. Briggs, being the committee desig- nated by Presbytery, with thirty-two mem- bers, eighteen of these being dismissed from the Berlin church to join in the organization. For several months before the organization Rev. Thomas Hill had preached in the West Berlin schoolhouse, which led to the above re- sult. A frame structure was soon erected, and is now the home of a substantial congregation of worshippers. The congregation has for the

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greater part been associated with the Old Ber- lin Church and supplied by the same pastor.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

This church was the third in point of time organized in the township. Rev. Vinal Stew- ard was the first minister who in 1814 formed a class composed of Jacob Aye, wife and chil- dren, John Jacob, Jr., Henry, Betsy, Katie, Polly, and Peggy, Lewis Sherwood and wife, John Lewis and wife. About 1829 they put up a hewed log meeting-house, north of Che- shire Corners in which they worshiped until 1845. They then held their services in the Presbyterian Church for about three years. A frame house of worship was erected at a cost of $500 in the village, and dedicated in 1849. In 1878 the society added a bell. The building is in good repair and occupied by a flourishing society.

The Wesleyan Methodists had an organi- zation in the southwest corner of the township about 1870, and was continued for about twenty years. This society became extinct. and the Christian Union occupied the build- ing for five years. This society has also be- come extinct, and a Society of Friends now oc- cupy the building, which is known as the Fair View Church.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 38

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