Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 40

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 40

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Coyner had charge, after which time for a number of years they had no regular pastor. The following ministers have supplied the church since those above mentioned: Eben- ezer Washburn, Hugh B. Scott, John Camp- bell, 1867-68; Levi P. Sabin (J. A. F. Cellars and Arnold Glass became elders in 1858), James A. Darrah, Wilson F. Cellar, H. L. Nave, S. S. Aikman, 1885, the last minister. In the summer, however, they had a Sunday school. When the church was first organized, it held meetings in the schoolhouse then stand- ing in the rear of the present residence of Au- gustua Curtis. In the year 1837-38, a house of worship was erected, and the same was dedicated the 8th of December, 1838. The so- ciety was dissolved September, 1890. The house still stands, but is now used for a hay barn.

The Methodist Episcopal Church existed as an organization as early as 1840, worship- ing in schoolhouses and cabins of the settlers. It was not until 1849, they commenced to build at Maxwell Corners a frame church at a cost of $800. The church was dedicated by an English minister named Taylor. The ministers who have held this charge are as fol- lows: George G. West, Havens Parker, Wil- liam Porter, Havens Parker, Samuel C. Riker, Martindale, Brown, Dr. Gurley, Hooper. El- lis, Adair, and Elliott. This denomination ex- isted and worshiped in this church until about 1865. At that time, the ministers in charge. Revs. Adair and Elliott, declined preaching longer on account of political differences, and brought the matter before the Quarterly Con- ference. The conference decided the church to be a non-organized band, and appointed a committee, consisting of John Millicent, Bijah Mann and Eligah Adams, to sell the church edifice. This committee immediately adver- tised the church for sale, and H. Bennett bid it off for $336 for the Christian Union denomi- nation, which had been formed out of the dis- solution of the Methodist Episcopal Society. The church was then rededicated, about 1866, by the Rev. Green, from Columbus, who had organized it. The ministers that have offici- ated since its last organization are as follows :

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Green, Gates, Stephenson. Durant. Allen. Mann, Flax and others. The present pastor is J. W. Maxwell, Ph. D. The membership is forty. and the Sunday school membership is seventy-five.

HARLEM TOWNSHIP.

The first church or meeting-house built in this township was by the Methodists, in the year 1812, on the farm of Benajah Cook, Esq. It was a plain log house, small in size, and the first minister who officiated in it was the Rev. Daniel Bennett. For many years. there was regular preaching on "week days." once a month, and at first it belonged to the Columbus circuit, but afterward was attached to the Worthington circuit. The congregation worshiped in this log house until 1838, when a new church was built upon the present site. about one-half mile north of Harlem. It is a large and commodious brick structure. The dedication sermon was preached by the Rev. Uriah Heath. of Worthington. At Center- ville, the Methodists have a church, an off- shoot of the Harlem Church, which was built about the year 1845. At first the congrega- tion worshiped in a schoolhouse just east of the village, and the Campbellites also worshiped in the school house on alternate Sundays. and. on account of the difficulties that would some- times occur between the respective congrega- tions, it was called, in derision, "Confusion Schoolhouse." The present structure was built about 1855, at a cost of $1.600. The bell cost $372. This church was also dedicated by the Rev. Uriah Heath.

The Disciples, or Campbellites. organized a church in this township, in the year 1840. at the residence of Jonathan Bateson. The first organization consisted of nine members, as follows, viz. : James Oglesbee and wife, Jona- than Bateson and wife. James Beauseman and wife, C. D. Clark and Daniel Hunt and wife. The present church edifice is located about one mile east of Centerville, and cost $1,500. The membership is about seventy-five. A Sun- day school is maintained. but there is no regu- lar pastor at this time.

In the year 1861, the Old School Pre- destinarian Baptists organized a church, and built the church edifice in 1868, the money to build the same having been donated by Mrs. Huldah Fairchild. The first pastor was the Rev. John H. Biggs, followed by Elder Ly- man B. Hanover. Jackson Hanover. his son, is now pastor.

KINGSTON TOWNSHIP.

The early settlers of this township were a God-fearing and Christian people, and be- lieved implicitly in that religion that promises to the meek an earthly inheritance, and they brought with them the Bible, the prayer book and the hymn book, and they immediately ap- plied themselves to the improvement of their homes, the construction of roads, and the building of churches and schoolhouses. For many years, religious services were conducted in private houses and in the early schoolhouses, and, when the weather was pleasant, meetings were held outdoors in the groves.

Kingston Presbyterian Church. This church was organized in 1818 by Rev. Eben- ezer Washburn, who had come to Berkshire in 1817 and preached there and in Kingston Township. The first elders were John White, William Gaston and John Van Sickle. Rev. Washburn supplied the church from 1818 to 1820, and William Matthews from 1821 to 1824. In 1822, the first church was built. In that year, the Presbyterians erected a log meeting-house near the center of the township, as well as the center of population at that time, on the present site of the Old Blue Church. the cognomen by which it is now so widely known; and, while this humble church edifice belonged exclusively to the Presbyterians. when not occupied by them its doors were thrown open for all denominations. The Presbyterians in numbers were the strongest and next in numerical strength were the Meth- odists, and then the Baptists. At this time. the church membership and the population were rapidly on the increase, and five years after this, in 1827. they raised by subscription the necessary amount to build on the old site

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a frame structure in place of the old one. This was quite an imposing church edifice for that day. Among the membership of this church, at this early day, were Moses Decker and wife, John Van Sickle and wife, John White and wife, Mr. Finley and wife. James Wheeler and wife, Isaac Finch and wife, Gilbert Potter and wife, John Brown and wife, Benjamin Benedict. William Wigton and his wife, Rich- ard Waldron, Thomas Carney and his brother James and his wife. William Waldron and others. The Rev. Ahab Jinks was their pas- tor. When finished, all but the painting, a skillful painter was employed, who went to work, and soon had the outside painted a beautiful drab color. Not long after its com- pletion, to the surprise of all, the color turned to a beautiful blue, which gave the church the church the name of the Blue Church, and it has ever retained that name, notwithstanding the change of color. This church was occu- pied until early in the 50's, when a new frame church was erected on the same ground. This church has been remodeled in 1907, and beau- tified, and is now a beautiful structure. Ahab Jinks supplied the church from 1827 to 1838. The membership at this time was one hundred and twenty-one. John Pitkins was pastor from 1841 to 1844; Ahab Jinks, second pas- torate, from 1849 to 1854; David MeCarter from 1854 to 1860; Calvin Mateer from 1861 to 1862 (Mr. Mateer afterwards went to China as a missionary and has done a great work in that country) : Robert L. Adams, Sr., from 1863 to 1865; David H. Coyner from 1865 to 1866; J. L. Lower from 1868 to 1871 ; Rev. Best a short time; A. C. Crist from 1873 to 1874: M. M. Lawson from 1875 to 1877; David H. Green from 1877 to 1878; John Mc- Dowell from 1878 to 1880; Nelson K. Crowe from 1881 to 1882; W. E. Thomas from 1883 to 1886; T. B. Atkins from 1887 to 1888; E. M. Scott from 1893 to 1900; Samuel Huecker from 1901 to 1906; H. Hoffman, a student of the Ohio Wesleyan University is the present supply. For Kingston New School, see Por- ter Township.

The next church in the township was the old Methodist Episcopal Church at Stark's

Corners. It was built in the year 1836, al- though the society that built it was organized ten years previous. The society held their meetings for many years in the old log school- house, located on the first cross road west of Olive Green. This society also organized about the same time a Sabbath school, which was held in this schoolhouse. When the weather would permit, they would hold their quarterly meetings in a grove near by, where they had seats and a stand, and everything in readiness for the occasion; but, when the weather was unfavorable or inclement, they used, by invitation. the Old Blue Church of the Presbyterians. The schoolhouse became too small to accommodate the congregation, and they changed their meetings to the dwell- ing house of Mr. John Haselett. By his own personal effort, unaided by others, Mr. Hase- lett raised by subscription sufficient funds to build the church spoken of. The services of this congregation were irregular. The pas- tors who rode the circuit were compelled to hold meetings nearly every day of the week to get round once a month over their charge. Thus they were compelled to have week-day services and hold prayer meetings on the Sab- bath. Moses Decker, the architect and builder of the Old Blue Church, was the architect and builder of the M. E. Church, aided by Mr. Reid M. Cutcheon. At this church the society met and worshiped for many years, when the question of repairing the old church came up: it needed a new roof, re-plastering, re-seating and re-painting. All these needful repairs would cost nearly as much as a new church, with the assistance offered them; and then again, the congregation in numbers had out- grown the capacity of the church for their ac- commodation, and to repair it they thought would be a useless expenditure of money and time. Olive Green is a village three-quarters of a mile distant. in Porter Township, and its citizens held out inducements to rebuild the church and locate it there. At a meeting of the society, the Board of Trustees were di- rected to rebuild the church at Olive Green, which was done accordingly ; and the new and much more capacious edifice was erected in the

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year 1853. Many of the membership in the southern part of the township obtained their letters from the Olive Green charge and joined the MI. E. Church at Berkshire.

The same year the Old Blue Church was built. Moses Decker, Isaac Finch, Samuel Finley and a few others, and their pastor, Rev. Mr. Jinks, came together and organized a Sunday school, and held it in the old log schoolhouse on the corner, near the church. It is thought this was the first Sabbath school organized in Delaware County. They or- ganized at the same time the first Sunday school library in the county. It was made up of small Sabbath school books and kept by the superintendent. Mr. Decker, in a trunk. The M. E. Sabbath school was the second in order of time in the county, but it was organized several years afterward.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

The first organized congregation of this township was the Liberty Presbyterian Church. This society was organized by Rev. Joseph Hughes in 1810, and was supplied by Rev. Hughes until his death in 1823. The session during the pastorate of the above and that of Henry Van Deman was united with the Delaware Church, and the first elders were Thomas Cellars, Josiah McKinnie, Leonard Munroe, James Gillis, Andrew Harter, S. W. Knapp and Thomas C. Gillis.

The membership in 1837 was about one hundred. After the death of Rev. Hughes, Rev. Van Deman supplied the church until the division into New School and Old School in 1837. From this time there was a divided congregation, the elders of the New School party being Andrew Harter, S. W. Knapp, Seth S. Case. The membership in 1840 was seventy-one. The following ministers supplied the church: Joseph Labaree, James Brown, Charles W. Torrey. W. H. Brinkerhoff, Stil- man Tucker, John W. Thompson. About the year 1854, the society was dissolved, and some went to the Old School and some to the Second Church of Delaware.

The Old School branch continued to exist with the following elders: James Gillis, Thomas C. Gillis, Robert M. Cellar, and some others whose names could not be obtained The membership of this branch in 1840 was eighty, and in 1863 eighty. The church was without a pastor much of the time, but during this time, 1837 to reunion 1870, was supplied by the following ministers: John Pitkin, Rufus D. Antell, John D. Hervey, S. K. Hughes, David McCarter. At the reunion in 1870, there were one hundred and thirty mem- bers. At an early date a frame structure was erected on the west bank of the Olentangy River, eight miles south of Delaware. This building has been repaired, remodeled, and an addition added to it, so that at the present time, it is a beautiful building, and situated as it is, by the cemetery where are buried the old pioneers of this neighborhood, forms a sacred and attractive spot. A Sunday school was organized at an early date in connection with this church, and has been continuously maintained from the beginning with a very few interruptions. Since the reunion the church has been supplied by the following ministers in the order named: Henry Shedd, David Anderson, Thomas Hill, E. M. Shultz. Samuel P. Herron, W. F. Cellar, James Hick- ling, W. D. Wallace, J. M. Wylie and at pres- ent time by J. G. Curry. May this church long live.

"Where cordial welcomes greet the guest, By the lone river of the west, Where faith is kept and truth revered, And man is loved and God is feared, In woodland homes."

Methodist Episcopal. Before any society of this denomination was formed; Rev. Mr. Beach and other itinerant ministers, preached in the neighborhood at the homes of the pio- neers. A local minister by the name of Bacon held meetings at the home of a Mr. Carpenter. The first society was organized by Rev. Mr. Emery at the home of Jarvis Buell about the year 1825. The society built its first house about 1840, a log structure just south of Pow-

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ell. It was christened Emery Chapel, in honor of Rev. Every, who had organized the society. In 1859, a new frame structure was erected just across the road from the first structure, under the pastorate of Rev. Levi Cunningham. This building was moved up to the village a few years ago, has been remodeled, and beau- tified, and is now the home of a flourishing society

Hyattsville M. E. Church. This church was organized about twenty-five years ago, largely through the influence of H. A. Hyatt, D. E. Hughs, George Curmode, and others. A substantial frame structure was erected in the village of Hyattsville, H. A. Hyatt having donated the lot. The society is united under one pastorate with Faith Church of Delaware at this time, 1907, and Rev. Mr. Myers, a student of the "O. W. U." is their pastor. .

A Baptist society was formed at an early date, probably as early as that of the Liberty Presbyterian society, but the details of this society cannot be obtained. It soon became a part of the Berlin Township society.

MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP.

The old Baptist Church situated in what is now Troy Township, was the first to or- ganize in Marlborough. Its history will neces- sarily fall within the historical limits of Troy. The Lutheran Church was situated just across the Olentangy River, east about a mile from Norton. The congregation used to worship in an old log schoolhouse, near where the pres- ent church now stands. Just when the organi- zation took place cannot be ascertained, but the name of the first minister was Henry Cline, and it must have been at an early date. In the year 1852, from some cause a revolt occurred on the part of some of the members, the result being the organization of the German Reform Church. The Germans immediately set to work and built a new frame church, which was dedicated by Prof. Loy in the year 1853. and the German Reform congregation, not to be outdone, put forth their energy and, in 1855, also succeeded in building for them- selves a frame church adjoining the Luth-

erans. It was dedicated the same year by J. G. Ruhl, who took charge as their pastor, while the first minister in the new Lutheran Church was a man by the name of Gast. The little cemetery in the same lot in which the two churches stand is used conjointly by both congregations. The first interment in it was a man by the name of Snarr, who was buried there in 1835. He was poor and a stranger. Both societies built churches in Waldo, Mar- ion County, where they are still flourishing. One of the old churches still stands by the cemetery.

The Baptist Church is situated in the vil- lage of Norton. The society was an offshoot from the Old Marlborough Baptist Church. The present building is a substantial frame structure, and was erected in 1859 and cost $1,200. It was dedicated in 1860 by James Harvey, who used to preach at Delaware. The following are the names of the ministers since its foundation : James Harvey, Thomas Jen- kins, Mr. Weiter, C. King, Thomas Deal, Thomas Griffith. The church is without a regular pastor, but maintains a Sabbath school.

The Methodist Episcopal Church is a frame structure situated in the village of Nor- ton, and was built in 1855, and dedicated by the Rev. Pilcher. There was an organization in existence some two years previous to this date, originated by the Rev. Plumer, and the class used to worship in schoolhouses and other convenient places. The church cost $1.200. The pulpit has been supplied of late quite fre- quently by students from the University at. Delaware. S. W. Metz, of the "O. W. U .. " is the present supply.

The Wyatt Cemetery is the historical bury- ing place of this vicinity. It is situated across the line in Marion County, being located in that part of Marlborough set off to that county in 1848, and the white marble slabs mark the resting place of the earliest settlers of Marl- borough Township. Here lie the Wyatts, Drakes, Brundiges, and others whose names are familiar to the reader. The cemetery is pleasantly situated on a knoll near where the old fort once stood, and in sight of the mili-

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tary road. The occasion of the first burial in this cemetery cannot be ascertained, as a num- ber of the soldiers of 1812 found their last resting place amidst the evergreens that adorned its surface.

ORANGE TOWNSHIP.

The Methodist denomination was probably the first church influence that found its way into the wilderness of Orange Township. A Methodist settlement on the east of Alum Creek is among the earliest traditions, and a church of that denomination was established in this neighborhood as early as 1828. They erected a church building which still stands. and fell in the hands of the United Brethren denomination. About 1847, another church was organized at Williamsville, but seems to have died out at an early day. In 1843, the fierce agitation of the slavery question in that body throughout the land, culminated here. as in many other places, in a separation-the anti-slavery portion organizing the Wesleyan Church. Their first services were held in a cabin on the flats, near the present residence of Samuel Patterson, with Rev. Mr. Street as pastor. This church started with a member- ship numbering twenty-nine, which has since increased to one hundred. In 1876, they built a modest building on the hill, at a cost of $800. About five years ago the church was remodeled, and modern windows and seats substituted for the old. and the house heated by a furnace, making it a convenient and pleasant church. Rev. E. F. Calhoun is pas- tor at this time. A good parsonage has also been secured for the use of the pastor. In 1864, a Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized at Lewis Center, with a membership of twelve, which has since increased to one hundred members. Their building, which cost at war prices $2.600, was dedicated No- vember 4. 1866. In 1871. a parsonage was built, at a cost of $2,000. Since its organiza- tion. the church has maintained a Sunday school without a break, which now numbers about ninety members. Rev. F. D. Davis is now pastor.

A Catholic Church was organized here in 1864, and a frame building for worship put up. But the society ceased to exist several years ago.

A United Brethren Church was organized at Williamsville in 1877. This church occu- pied the building erected some years before by the M. E. Church, but disbanded about 1895.

Friends' Church. About 1900, a society of Friends was organized in this neighborhood and in 1904 erected a new building costing $4,100. This work was the result of a re- vival. The membership at present is fifty-five. They have no regular pastor at this time.

OXFORD TOWNSHIP.

The earliest church organization in Ox- ford Township was the Methodist Episcopal Church. A society of this denomination was organized at Winsor Corners as early as 1815. They accommodated themselves as the circum- stances of the case afforded until 1857. when they built a neat frame building, which was dedicated by Elder Harvey Wilson. In Feb- ruary, 1839. Rev. E. S. Gavitt, of this de- nomination, came from Muskingum County and bought the Houston farm, situated about three-quarters of a mile southeast of Ashley. In the following year, with considerable min- isterial enterprise, in company with the Shoe- maker family, he erected a log church a few rods north of his home. The logs were hewn square on the inside. Mr. Gavitt dedicated the building and conducted services in it and about here until he died in 1892, aged eighty- nine, at home. He was respected and there is scarcely a family within a radius of five miles of his home, but that sometime or other called upon him to marry the living or bury the dead.

The church thus organized held its serv- ices in the old log house until the spring of 1852, when the meetings were transferred to Ashley. Here the church occupied the log house built by Robert Brown for a dwelling. and afterward the town schoolhouse until April, 1855, when they bought the building

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used by T. Chapman as a residence. In De- cember, 1866, the church sold this building, and, from that time until 1868, they used the Presbyterian place of worship, which they finally bought, using it until about 1896, when they erected a brick church, costing $5,000. The first regular pastor was the Rev. L. War- ner. The present pastor is Rev. E. B. Shu- maker; the present membership is one hun- dred and twenty.

From the remains of an Episcopal Meth- odist society, which had existed for some years in the Alum Creek district. slavery having something to do with its disorganization. the Wesleyan Methodist Church in East Oxford Township, Delaware County, Ohio, was or- ganized in the year 1862-3, by Rev. George W. Bainum. It consisted of about twelve members, among whom were Henry Bell and daughter Sarah, Samuel Nelson, Israel Pot- ter and wife, Solomon Shoemaker and wife and Vinol Thurston. A revival the next year resulted in about thirty additions to the men- bership. Among those since prominent in the affairs of the church were Edmon Scott and wife, Noah Whipple and wife, Henry T. Crist and family, George White and family, Wil- liam Thurston and family, William Nelson and family, John McCurdy and wife, Rev. H. R. Smith and family. Adolphus Crist and family and Mrs. Frank Westbrook and chil- dren. The present church building was dedi- cated February 9, 1868, by Rev. George W. Bainum, who preached from the text, "Lord, send now prosperity." The church has been served by the following persons as pastors : Rev. George W. Bainum, Richard Horton, Evans Thompson, Thomas Hicks, William Sewell, I. J. Nourse, Henry R. Smith, J. H. Teter, Levi White, M. Friedley, J. W. Rice, O. H. Ramsey, Ralph Davy and C. H. Whet- nall. Revs. Horton, Sewell and Smith each served two pastorates.

The Baptist Church was organized in the Ashley neighborhood in June of 1835, by Rev. Daniel Thomas. Seven years later, the society built a frame building near the present site of the cemetery. Here they worshiped until 1851, when they moved their building to Ashley, where it still serves them as a place of

worship, and they have preaching occasionally.

On April 27, 1852, a committee, consist- ing of Rev. Henry Shedd, Rev. John W. Thompson, Rev. William S. Spaulding, and Elders John Mateer and John McElroy, hav- ing been appointed by the Franklin Presby- tery to go to Aslıley to establish a Presbyter- ian Church, met and proceeded to organize a society as directed. The first elders were Z. P. Wigton and Henry Slack. On May 24, 1857, James M. Eckles was added to the list of elders. Rev. Henry Shedd was the first minister of the church. In the summer of 1853. the society purchased Lot No. 27, in Ashley, and two years later built a place of worship, which they used until 1868. Six years later, the society sold this building to the Methodists and erected a neat brick building, costing $3.000, in which they still worship. Its present membership is twenty. The following persons have ministered to the congregation : Henry Shedd, 1852-53: Stilman Tucker, 1854-55; Homer McVey, 1857-61; John O. Hall, 1862-63: Thomas J. Domeny, 1865-66; John McCutcheon, 1870-73: Horace Snod- grass, a short time : Milton McMillen, 1874: A. C. Crist, a short time in 1875; Russel A. Mckinley, 1876-77: David H. Green, 1878; IV. E. Thomas, 1879-1883; Isaac I. Holt, 1885: Robert Colmey, 1891; E. M. Scott, 1893-98; C. O. Anderson, 1889-1902; Samuel Heucker, 1903-05 ; the present pastor, John R. Lloyd.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 40

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