Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 39

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 39

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

UNITED BRETHREN.

The Peach Blow Church in the southern part of the township belongs to this denomina- tion. It was organized in 1857 with twenty members. Their meetings were first held in a schoolhouse in the west side of the township. The house of worship now occupied was erected in 1808 on land belonging to G. A. Stover. The building is a neat frame one and cost at the time $700. The first pastor was Virgil Pond. The church was dedicated as Berlin Chapel, but on account of the color which it was once painted, it is said to have taken the name of Peach Blow, the name by which it is now known. A few members of this denomination settled around Alum Creek Postoffice on the road from Delaware to Sun-

bury, and previous to 1860 held services at the home of O. R. May. About this time, a frame building was erected on the land of Nathaniel Roloson, and was known as the North Berlin United Brethren Church. Mr. Roloson gave the aid he did with the understanding that the house would be open for the use of all de- nominations. The first pastor was Rev. Wil- liam Davis. The society is now abandoned and the church not used.

UNIVERSALIST.

The Universalists made an attempt to get a foothold in this township in 1820. They held a camp-meeting in a grove near the bridge south of Cheshire, conducted by Rev. Mr. Rogers, but no results came of the effort.

As we trace the history of these pioneer efforts the feeling comes to us like this,

"Something beautiful has vanished Which we sigh for now in vain. We behold it everywhere, On the earth and in the air, But it never comes to us again."

BROWN TOWNSHIP.

The early training of the pioneers of Brown Township soon made itself felt after their settlement in the wilderness. Though their trials and cares were heavy, they found time to read a chapter from the old Bible. and return thanks to God for preservation and pro- tection. The first society formed in the neigh- borhood was in 1828, and of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. It was organized at Mr. Thurston's, and consisted of himself and wife, Joseph Thurston and wife, Zenas Leon- ard and wife, and Phoebe Thrall. Once a week they would meet together, and, as they were without a shepherd, prayer-meetings only were held. Soon after the Methodists got well into the harness, the Presbyterians commenced work. They organized a society at Mr. Thurston's, as his cabin seems to have been a kind of religious headquarters. For a number of years, these two societies continued their . meetings under these limited circum-

271

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

stances. At length, a society of the New School Presbyterians was formed, with the following members: John Hestwood and wife, Hugh Lee and wife, Robert Kinkaid and wife, James Kinkaid and wife. They, with the Baptists, in 1836, built a church of hewed logs, in which they worshiped for several years ; the Methodists also occupied it on spe- cial occasions. In 1841, a frame church build- ing was erected by the congregation near the same spot. But they allowed their imagina- tion to run away with them, and laid their foun- dation on such an extensive scale, that they were unable to complete the building. Finally they tore it down, and of the material erected a smaller one upon the same site. This build- ing was superseded by a more pretentious one in 1855, and the old church converted into a residence, which is now occupied by Norton T. Longwell. This building was erected in the south part of the village of Eden. The New School Branch mentioned above was dis- banded in 1848, and nearly all the members united with the Old School Branch, and it was the united society that erected this church. The building has been improved at various times, and is still occupied by a flourishing con- gregation. During the existence of the New School church, it was served by the following ministers: The first pastor of the congrega- tion was Rev. Mr. Jenks, who had charge of a church in Kingston Township at the same time. A. D. Chapman, from 1838 to 1842; John Hunt, from 1845 to 1846. The Old School Church was served by William D. Smith. occasionally: John Pitkin, 1841-1843 ; Ahab Jinks, 1844-1854; David McCarter, 1855-1860; Robert L. Adams, 1863-1864; Da- vid H. Coyner, 1865-1866; J. L. Lower, 1868- 1871. Members in the year 1871 numbered sixty-eight. A. C. Crist, 1872-1876; M. M. Lauson, 1877-1878; D. C. Porter and D. H. Green, 1879: W. E. Thomas, 1880-1885; T .. P. Atkins, 1887-1888; E. A. Scott, 1892-1900; A. C. Crist, six months : Samuel Huecker, 1901-1906; present supply. H. Huffman, a student of the Ohio Wesleyan University.

It may well be added that the eldership of these Presbyterian churches were men of noted and substantial character, and several of them

took an active part in the Underground Rail- road. The most of them are buried in the old cemetery by the place where the log church was erected.

There were others who took an active part in the formation of a Free-Will Baptist Church, and the original members were John Moore, Thomas Cowgill and wife, Isaac Eaton and wife, Orlando Root and wife, Zenas Root and wife, Thomas Agard and wife, Spofford Root and wife, Nathaniel Arnold and wife, and Isaac Thurston and wife. Rev. Isaac Eaton was the pastor, assisted occasionally by Rev. S. Wyatt. In 1848, some twelve years after its organization-years of more or less usefulness-it was discontinued as a society. The next year, after the disbanding of this so- ciety, the Baptists and Methodists, together with Charles Neil, O. D. Hough, Vinal and Norton Thurston, and Thomas Hargraves, with their families, built the church in the vil- lage of Eden. Rev. William Godman, a son of Lawyer Godman, of Marion, was the preacher in charge of the circuit at the time the church was built. He was a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and a minister of considerable merit. An addition has just been added to this church and Rev. C. A. Edington, a student of the Ohio Wesleyan University, is the present pastor.

Leonardsburg M. E. Church. This church was organized in the winter of 1862. In 1860, Rev. William Litell and some students of the Ohio Wesleyan University preached in the school at this place. In the fall of 1861 a prayer meeting was held on the Sundays when there was no preaching, and Isaiah Wil- liams was the leader of this meeting. In the following January, revival meetings were held by Rev. H. Van Gundy and Valorus Pond (United Brethren preacher). Rev. Van Gundy being retained as pastor for one year. An M. E. society was organized and in 1862 a frame building was erected cost- ing in all about $1.500, being dedicated about the first of January, 1868, by Rev. Harvey Wilson. The church now has a membership of fifty, and Rev. Frank T. Cartwright is their pastor.

272

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

The Baptist Church at Leonardsburg was organized September 12, 1880, with a membership of eleven members. as follows: Edward Evans and wife, Elias Frost and wife, James Beckwith and wife, James Jones. C. Main and wife, Sarah Hornbeck and Sarah Evans. Only two of the number now remain, C. Main and Sarah Nelson, nee Evans. Rev. J. Wenman was chosen pastor and C. Main as clerk, and Edward Evans treasurer. In 1882, they erected a frame church, costing $860. J. Hevalow being the builder. The society now consists of nine members, but has no regular preaching.

CONCORD TOWNSHIP.

The first church building in Concord Township was an old granary, donated for that purpose by James Kooken. Soon after this, A. Depp (colored ) put up a log-cabin church on his farm, as a place of worship for the colored Baptists. The Bellepoint United Brethren Church was formerly situated in close proximity to the old Oller Cemetery, about a mile below Bellepoint, on the east side of the river. The church was originally started by the Ollers, Jacob, Peter and George, and was a frame building. The early records are lost, and hence much of its history cannot be obtained. In 1864, being somewhat torn by internal strife and differences, some of the most prominent members left and formed a new society called the Christian Union Church. The frame structure, after existing for thirty- five years, was torn down, and the charge transferred to Bellepoint. The present church is a fine brick building, and is the first built at the village. It cost about $2,600, and the fund for its erection was raised by general subscription. It was dedicated by Bishop Weaver, of the Northern Ohio Conference, in June, 1873, and the first sermon preached in it was by Elder Long. a Christian minister. The names of the different ministers since its removal to the village are as follows: Revs. John V. Potts, J. C. Beady. D. W. Downey. J. B. Resler. J. H. Crayton. C. L. Barlow. D. F. Cender, J. E. Hill, E. Barnard. and others.

The Christian Church was formed of dis- satisfied members of the old United Brethren Church, the dissatisfaction growing out of ques- tions as to the result of the War of 1861-65. The society was organized the first Sunday in April, 1864, at the house of Rev. R. Gates, and the first sermon was preached by him. For several years, the society had no meeting- house. They made an effort to buy the old frame church from the United Brethren, but owing to the high price they were unable to do so, and for a time their meetings were held in private residences and, when the weather would admit, in the groves, "God's first tem- ples." After great exertions, they at length succeeded in building a comfortable brick edi- fice, 40x30 feet, at a cost of $1,050. It was erected on the site occupied by the United Brethren Church. The following ministers have officiated since its formation : Reys. R. Gates, W. W. Lacy, George W. Higgins, Jacob Haskins, Levi Ely, Purdy King. Wil- liam Davis, Rev. Hanawalt, and others.

The Baptist Church is situated on the pike, a half mile east of Bellepoint, and was es- tablished in 1853. The following ministers have had charge of the society: Rev. Levi R. Jones, who officiated from October, 1855, to March. 1860; Rev. R. Gates, who held the charge from March. 1860, to March, 1865. when he joined the Christian Union Church. The church then accepted the ministrations of Rev. Seth Gates, his brother, who had just repudiated the United Brethren Church. He officiated until 1869, when the church com- pletely died out, and continued in a dormant state until 1879, and was then resuscitated. On the 24th of May, of this year. it was again opened for worship. and the day following Rev. Isenbarger, of Delaware, preached an excellent sermon. For a time they had their pulpit occasionally supplied by pastors of other charges. The old building still stands, but the society disbanded several years ago.

The Eversole United Brethren Church takes its name from old Father Eversole, who built it, and was long instrumental in keeping it up. No records are to be found, and au- thentic history of it is not easily obtained.

273

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Rev. Mr. Bernard was the last pastor. A frame church was erected between the Home and Jerome, and is now used as a hay barn.

Presbyterian Church. In 1852, Rev. W. H. Brinkerhoff organized a church in this- township with thirteen members. He was the only supply, and the church was dissolved in 1860. The name given to the church was Stanbury. No church buikling was erected.

Many years ago, camp-meetings used to be in vogue in Concord, as they were in many other sections of the country. The first of these of which we have any account was held at the house of Mr. Eversole, near where the United Brethren Church'now stands. After a few years. the place of holding the meetings was changed to grounds near Rigger's bridge, which spans the Scioto where the Marysville pike crosses it. The bridge is now in Scioto Township, but at that time (about 1838-39). was in Concord. For a number of years, this was a place for holding camp-meetings. and the scene of much good and some evil.

Spring View. This church situated on the east bank of the Scioto, overlooking the Girls' Industrial Home, was the outgrowth of a Sunday school held in a schoolhouse near by. When Rev. Thomas Hill was pastor of the Liberty Presbyterian Church, he urged his members to look up places where Sunday schools could be organized. C. T. Carson and wife were members of the Liberty Church, and took heed to the request of their pastor. They asked leave of the school directors to use the schoolhouse for a Sunday school, which was readily granted. Thomas Hall, who was em- ployetl at the Girls' Home, was elected the first superintendent. Some difficulty was ex- perienced in getting some one to open the school with prayer. But Mrs. Carson volun- teered to perform the duty and was the first to offer prayer for the new enterprise. Dr. Frederick Merrick, of the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity, was a trustee for the Home, and took an interest in the work, and helped the school by a donation of books for their use. He also arranged for the Methodist Episcopal minister who was preaching at Jerome, to go and hold services at the school house. A revival was

the result, and those desiring a Methodist or- ganization predominated, with the result that a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. The schoolhouse was soon found too small for the growing interest, and the need of a church building was felt. The proposition was made by Lige Carl (not a church member), George Stokes and C. T. Carson, that they would give $400 ($133 each), if the enterprise was con- summated. This was done by smaller con- tributions, and a frame church was erected (the building now occupied), and dedicated by Elder King. The following ministers were the first to serve the new organization : Revs. Thurston, Shoop, the wife of whom died when he was living on the field, Abernathy, Argo, Prios, Creighton, Holcomb. A. S. Rodg- ers, Judd, Tubbs, H. H. Miller, T. M. Rick- etts, T. Z. Wakefield, P. H. Mindling. The society is connected with the Jerome circuit. A good Sunday school is maintained.

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.

There have been two organized churches in this township, outside the limits of the city of Delaware, Wood Grove, and Stratford, both Methodist Episcopal.

Wood Grove. This church was organized in the early fifties, and a frame building erected on the Bellepoint Road, about two miles southwest from Delaware. It formed a part of the Delaware circuit. Regular preach- ing services were maintained only for a few years, and then it became a mission in connec- tion with St. Paul's Church. A mission was established in South Delaware about this time by St. Paul's church, and the Wood Grove building was purchased by the Presbyterian Church of Delaware, under the pastorate of Rev. N. S. Smith, about 1874. A Sabbath school was maintained by the Delaware church for several years and among the work- ers was Dr. H. N. Allen, who afterwards went to Corea, and became the noted mission- ary worker in that land. The school was main- tained irregularly until five years ago, when the building was sold to Wayne Hazelton. Mr. Hazelton moved the building to Eaton

274

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

Street, Delaware, and recently gave it to the Radical United Brethren Society, and it is now occupied by that church as a place of worship.

Stratford Methodist Episcopal Church. After a lapse of more than sixty years, since a church was first built in what is now Strat- ford, and with the absence of all the old pio- neer ministers, elders, class leaders and mem- bers, either in other sections of the county, or in the Happy Land, it is a very difficult matter to give a definite account of its original and early history.

A little later than the middle of the 30's, Messrs. Hosea Williams and Caleb Howard, of Delaware, secured a site and commenced work on a large stone structure for the purpose of manufacturing paper, and while one set of men were engaged in this, another set were engaged in building a commodious frame house a few rods farther north for a boarding house. This was completed first, and here was the first public preaching place. In fine weather, the preacher stood on a porch on the south side of the house, the congregation seated in the shade of a mammoth elm tree, apparently of several centuries' growth. In bad or indiffer- ent weather, services were held in the large west room. The first preaching was done by an Episcopalian minister from Delaware, Mr. Fairfield, the first boarding-house keeper, and Mr. Howard, both being members of that de- nomination, Rev. James McElroy and Rev. Mr. French, being some that I recall. The second boarding-house keeper was Alex. An- derson, of Delaware, a Presbyterian, and while he was there, the people listened to Revs. Putnam and Henry Van Deman. Dur- ing this time, a large Sunday school was in ex- istence during the summer, held in the Meeker schoolhouse some distance north. Stratford was named July 4, 1841, a few months after the paper mills first burned out.

After some trouble in securing a site, work was started early in 1842. on what is now the present Methodist Episcopal Church at Stratford. This church was about midway between Delaware and the Cellar ( Presbyter- ian) Church in Liberty Township. The first

public service held in this new church build- ing was on July Fourth, 1844, on the occasion of the celebration of the sixty-eighth anniver- sary of the Declaration of Independence. It was filled from pulpit to the door. There was fine singing, an eloquent prayer, reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by a grand oration by Rev. Adam Poe, of Dela- ware; then a procession was formed which marched to the yard at the Meeker homestead, where, under the cedar trees, a great dinner was spread; after this was disposed of, some fancy drills were given by the Delaware Lan- cers under command of Captain Eugene Pow- ell. (This Fourth was on Thursday.) For nearly three years, the congregation and Sun- day school continued like the small cloud, no larger than a man's hand, until the winter of 1846-47. when came what was popularly called for long years thereafter, "Pilcher's Re- vival." This meeting was opened early in January, 1847, and continued until "sugar making." At the same time. the Olentangy River was a mighty flood of waters. Rev. H. E. Pilcher, of Delaware, had general charge, while Methodist Episcopal ministers from Delaware, Professors in the College, students and local exhorters assisted. A long list of souls were happily converted and added to the church. It soon became under Methodistic control, and for some years, the congregation worshiping there was the largest of any sin- gle Methodist Episcopal Church in Delaware County. Through deaths, removals and other good reasons, for many years, the attendance has greatly decreased. Not long since the building was enlarged, improved, and will compare favorably with any in this section. It is attached to the Lewis Center Circuit, and the pastor, a Rev. Mr. Davis, is a good and worthy man residing there. The presiding elder, Rev. A. Mann, resides in Delaware.

GENOA TOWNSIIIP.

In the winter of 1806-07, John Williams, a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, came to this locality and erected a cabin on the hill, near where the covered

275

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

bridge crosses the Big Walnut, at what was known as Williams' Ford. It was not until the summer of 1807 that he moved his family, consisting of his wife and ten children, into their new home. He found this country al- most an unbroken wilderness, and, like a true, earnest pioneer, worked as well as prayed. In the daytime, the blows of his axe could be heard resounding through the woods, while in the evening he gathered his family about him and held a service of prayer. When Sun- day came, he would repair to the home of one of the early settlers, and deliver a sermon to those who had assembled. His first sermon was preached in the cabin of Joseph Latshaw, on the farm now occupied by John Roberts. Mr. Williams was the first minister in the neighborhood, but lived only five years after he had erected his cabin.

The Rev. E. Washburn came with his wife to Genoa in the winter of 1816-17, when society and all else in this newly settled coun- try was comparatively in a primitive state. Money was almost unobtainable, and the lit- tle in circulation was, in many instances, un- stable and depreciated. Necessities were more difficult to secure than luxuries are now. Un- der such circumstances, and amidst these try- ing conditions, it would appear that a field of great usefulness was open to the advent of a man like Mr. Washburn. He was a uni- versally esteemed and beloved father in the Presbyterian ministry, an ordained and ap- pointed missionary of the Cross, but was solely dependent for support upon his labor and the voluntary contributions of the people among whom he devoted his untiring energies. At the time of his coming, there resided on Yan- kee Street only the families of Jonas Carter, John Curtis, William Hall. William Cox, Marcus Curtis, Johnson Pelton and Sylvester Hough. Previous to Mr. Washburn's arrival, there had been but one sermon preached by a Presbyterian clergyman within the present limits of the township, and not one had been preached upon the Sabbath day. He imme- diately commenced preaching throughout the regions which are now embraced in the town- ships of Blendon, in Franklin County, Genoa,

Berkshire and Trenton, in Delaware County, and continued so to preach until the year 1829 or 1830. He often spoke of the many acts of kindness and fraternal regard he and his family received from the hands of the early settlers and pioneers of the forest. Just pre- vious to his coming, there had been organized by the Rev. Mr. Hughes, then of Delaware, a Presbyterian Church in Berkshire, the mem- bers of which were scattered over Genoa and adjoining townships, but on looking for the records, none were found; so that, in 1818, the church was again formally organized, and Samuel Thompson, Julius White and John Brown were chosen and ordained as its ruling elders. This society soon became absorbed in the Kingston and Genoa churches. A New School church was organized in 1837 by Rev. C. N. Ransom, with ten members. No church building was erected, and the society was dis- solved in 1839. Mrs. Rachel Curtis, Mrs. Katy Curtis, Ralph Smith, William Hall and Alexander Smith were members of the Berk- shire church, but resided in the vicinity. In 1830, the Presbytery set off the members who resided in the vicinity, and constituted them into a separate church, known as the "Presby- terian Church and Congregation of Genoa." The members who were thus set off were six- teen in number, and, as near as can possibly be ascertained, were Marcus Curtis and Katy, his wife, Ralph Smith, Rachel Curtis, William Hall, Alexander Smith, Nancy Allen, Free- man Chester, Simeon Chester and Clarissa, his wife, Diadatus Keeler, Eleazar Copeland, Obediah Seebring and Abigail, his wife, Mary Foote and Augustus Curtis. Just pre- vious to this time, the Rev. Mr. Washburn was living upon a tract of land containing a few acres, which he had purchased and im- proved, situated on the farm then owned by William Hall, nearly opposite the road leading to the mill, a little north of Mr. Roberts' resi- dence on Yankee Street. He continued to supply his neighborhood with preaching until some two years after he removed his residence to Blendon.

On the 19th of February. 1831. the session of the Genoa Church met for the first time,

276

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

the Rev. Ahab Jinks being moderator, and Dia- datus Keeler and Dr. Eleazar Copeland, elders. These men were appointed by the Presbytery, and as there is no mention made on the rec- ords of their ordination, it is presumed they were elders in the Leburn, or Blendon Church, at the time of their transfer to this organiza- tion. The Rev. Ahab Jinks continued to min- ister to the congregation until 1836, when he was succeeded by Rev. Calvin Ransom. Dur- ing this year, fourteen members who resided in Trenton Township and its immediate vi- cinity, were set off and organized as the First Presbyterian Church of Trenton. In 1837. Mr. Jinks was again the stated supply, and so continued until 1841. During the year 1840, a protracted meeting was held, in which the Rev. Mr. Cable assisted the minister in charge. In 1842, the Rev. John McCutchen was their pastor, and continued to minister to the con- gregation one year. In 1844, the Rev. R. De Forrest came and preached as an evangelist for the space of about eight weeks. In the succeeding year, 1845, the Rev. Mr. Avery officiated, and continued his ministrations one, or perhaps, nearly two years. From the year 1845 to the year 1850, the congregation en- joyed the labors of the Rev. Mr. Whipple, Rev. Milton Starr and Rev. M. Brown. In 1850, the Rev. Warren Nichols occupied the pulpit and remained until about the close of the year 1852. In the summer of 1853, the Rev. David Coyner, then a licentiate of Frank- lin Presbytery, was employed, and continued his labors for two years and part of a third. From the fall of the year 1855 until the sum- mer of 1856, the pulpit was vacant. At that time, the Rev. Homer McVey, then a student of Lane Seminary, during his vacation preached for the charge occasionally. August 1, 1856, the Rev. Warren Jenkins-from whose discourse delivered January 1, 1860, has been gathered this information in relation to the church, and other items of interest-en- tered upon his labors, and, at the time this sermon was delivered, had supplied this con- gregation and that of Trenton alternately. Fol- lowing him, and for the space of three years and five months thereafter, the Rev. Mr.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 39

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