Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 41

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 41

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).

Friends' Church. More than twenty years ago, two ministers, Revs. Noalı McClain and Willis, of the Friends denomination, held re- vival services in Ashley, and the result was a large number of conversions. These converts were organized into a Society of Friends, and soon proceeded to erect a large and commo- clious frame building which has been their home since that time. The society is not as prosperous as formerly, but still maintains services and a Sabbath school. Miss Geyer ministers to them at this time, 1908.

PORTER TOWNSHIP.

The Presbyterian Church (New School). The New School Presbyterians organized a

283

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

society soon after the division of the church, probably in 1837 or 1838. John Van Sickle. Moses Decker and a Mr. Richards were the first elders, and soon after Charles M. Fowler became an elder. Rev. Abner B. Chapman was their first minister in the years 1838-1844. The membership at that time was fifty-four. The church was at first named Kingston, as many of the members, probably a majority, of the Kingston Church (Old School) had joined with this society, and there were two organizations claiming the name Kingston. A frame church edifice was erected in East Lib- erty. Porter Township, and the church was called Kingston and Porter. but afterwards the name Kingston was dropped and the church ever since has been known as the Porter Church. The principal parties in the build- ing of the church were Mr. John Van Sickle, Charles M. Fowler, William Gaston, Isaac Finch, Jesse Finch, Charles Wilcox. George Blainey and others. They at once organized a Sabbath school in connection with the church, which for several years prospered, and was productive of great good. In the year 1864. the same parties who built this place of worship laid out and established a cemetery just east of the church and town of East Lib- erty. in which the remains of many of those most conspicuous and enterprising in the con- struction of the church and the Sabbath school now sleep. The church still stands, has been repaired several times, and is now in a good condition. Services are still maintained, but the society is not in as prosperous a condi- tion as in some former years. The following ministers have supplied the church since Rev. Chapman's time :

John Hunt 1845-1846

John W. Thompson 1849-1851

Warren Nicholis 1852-1853 A. B. Chapman. again 1854-1859 William Bridgeman 1860-1861 George H. Pool 1862-1864

John Martin 1864-1867 Robert Wylie 1868-1870

J. Best 1871-1872

A. C. Crist 1873-1874

M. M. Lawson

1875-1877

J. MeDowell 1878-1880

N. K. Crowe 1881-1882

Robert Wylie, again 1885-1887

A. S. Sharpless

1888-1889

E. M. Scott 1893-1897

Samuel Huecker 1900-1906

Mr. H. Huffman, a student of the Ohio Wesleyan University. is the supply at present.

Olive Green M. E. Church. For the his- tory of this church. see Kingston Township. The society is in a flourishing condition, and Rev. C. A. Edington, a student of the Ohio Wesleyan University, is their pastor at this date, 1908.

Mt. Pleasant M. E. Church. This or- ganization first used the Old School Presbyter- ian building in Trenton Township, but after- wards moved to Porter Township. and be- came known as the Mt. Pleasant Church. The present frame building was erected about 1868. An incident occurred in connection with the erection of this building worthy of mention. The night after the frame was raised a wind storm came up and blew it down, much to the discouragement of the con- gregation. They. however, pressed on, and the church was dedicated about one year after this event. As was the custom at that day. a cemetery was located by the church. the land being donated by William Baker. In this cemetery nearly all the old settlers are buried. Rev. C. A. Edington is pastor at this date.

Advent Christian Church. This society was organized August 27. 1890, and a frame church edifice was erected in 1891. on land donated by Samuel Clawson, on the road lead- ing from Olive Green to Rich Hill. The building was dedicated November 27th by El- der Shamhart. The membership at that time was twenty, at the present time it is about eighty. They have no regular pastor at present.

Porter Congregational Church. A church of this order was maintained for a short time. Charles Wilcox. Liman C. Meeker and Mor- gan Johnston were prominent members. A frame building was erected in Olive Green. but the society did not flourish and became ex- tinct about 1873, and the members for the

284

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

most part connected with the Porter Presby- terian Church at East Liberty. The church building was sold for a Township House and is now used for that purpose.

RADNOR TOWNSHIP.

The Baptist was the first religious society organized in the township. It was constituted May 4, 1816, in a log schoolhouse, on land owned by William Lawrence, Esq. The coun- cil consisted of Elder Henry George, of Knox County : Elder William Brundage, and Breth- ren Cole. Dix. Bush and Wilcox, of Maribor- ough Church, and Elder Drake, and Brethren Monroe and Phelps, of Liberty Church. The constituting members were John Philips and Hannah, his wife. William David, Thomas Walling, David Penry and his wife, Mary ; James Gallant, Eleanor Lodwig. Daniel Bell. Reuben Stephens and his wife, Elizabeth, eleven in all. They had no pastor for two years: Elders Drake. George and Brundage supplied the church with preaching once a month. From 1818 to 1824. Elder Drake served the church as pastor, and his labors were greatly blessed. In 1827. the church called the Rev. Jesse Jones, at a salary of $100 a year, one-fourth in money, the rest in trade. He was an able preacher in Welsh and Eng- lish, a scholar and a faithful pastor. He served the church acceptably for two years, and re- turned to Oneida County, New York, where he died, an old man and full of years, honored and beloved by all who knew him. In 1830. Elder Thomas Stephen. recently from Wales, an eloquent and earnest preacher, was called to the pastorate and served the church for six years. He is now living in Oregon, enjoying the eventide of a long and useful life. Rev. William Terrer and Rey. Thomas Hughes preached for several years in the Welsh lan- guage. In 1836. Elder Elias George was called and labored successfully until 1842. Since that time, the following ministers have labored in the service of the church: Rev. James Frey, Rev. F. V. Thomas, Rev. D. Pritchard, Rev. T. R. Griffith, Rev. R. Evans, Rev. R. R. Williams, Rev. E. B. Smith, Rev.

C. King. Rev. F. Dyall and Rev. William Lect.

The first deacons chosen at the organiza- tion of the church in 1816 were John Philips and David Davies. The first house of wor- ship was built of logs, 20x22 feet, and located near the graveyard. The settlers, without re- gard to denomination, were glad to help build the house of the Lord. Each one brought a few logs already hewed, and assisted in the raising and completing of the tabernacle of the Most High. The memory of that old log church is yet fragrant, and cherished by the descendants of those whose piety and zeal se- cured its erection. In 1833. the congregation built, near the site of the log, chapel. a neat stone edifice 30x40 feet, and, in 1867, the present house of worship, of brick, was built at the cost of $4.500. This venerable church of Christ. numerically strong and spiritually prosperous in sixty-three years of its existence. welcomed into its fellowship and communion over five hundred members; ordained four ministers, and sent out five of her sons to preach the Gospel, one of whom, Rev. W. Williams, is a very successful missionary in India ; another, Rev. C. D. Morris, became an esteemed pastor of the First Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio. In January, 1901. the brick church burned down, and a lot was secured a little east of the cemetery, and in 1902, a more commodious brick structure was erected cost- ing $13.000. The present membership is one hundred and seventy-five, and the pastor is Rev. L. Dickerson.

The Methodist Episcopal Church had its representatives in Radnor at an early day. Tradition informs us that, in an early period of our religious history, an itinerant preacher found his way to the settlement and preached unto the people the word of the Lord. The cabin of Henry Perry, who was a Wesleyan. afforded a house for the faithful herald of the Cross, and there the first Gospel sermon was preached in the township-probably as early as 1808. Several years afterward, the cabin of Elijah Adams became a regular preaching place, and a class was formed. Among the first members were Henry Perry and wife,

285

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Elijah Adams and wife. Robert Perry and John Hoskins. In 1827, the writer attended a quarterly meeting held in the double log barn on the farm of Elijah Adams. With other boys, he sat in the hay-mow, for the crowd filled the barn floor and stable to their full capacity. The seraphic Russell Bigelow was the preacher. His text was, "Which things the angels desire to look into." -- I Peter. 1. 12: and his theme, "The marvels of redemption." On the mind of a boy seventeen years old, instructed in the teachings of the Bible concerning the redeeming work of Christ, and in full sympathy with the eloquent preacher and his theme, the effect of this dis- course was powerful and enduring. In 1838, a frame meeting-house was built, and the con- gregation supplied with preaching regularly. A Sunday school was established about this time, with Robert Perry as superintendent. Besides the persons already named as the early Methodists of Radnor, may be enrolled George Wolfley. Duncan Campbell, David and Eben- ezer Williams, John Owens, David Lewis and families. In 1855. the brick meeting-house was erected-evidence of the growth and pros- perity of the church. This is the building oc- cupied at this date. 1907, and the society is still prospering.

The Radnor Welsh Congregational Church was another of the early established churches in this township. From 1818. when a large accession was made to the Welsh population of Radnor, meetings for prayer and religious conference were held in the Welsh language. These services were held in the cabin homes of the settlers, and sometimes in the log chapel. through the courtesy of the Baptist Church. In 1820, Rev. James Davies, of Aberhaferp. North Wales, organized a Congregational Church at the cabin of John Jones ( Penlan ). The original members were William Penry and his wife, Mary ( who died in 1878, aged ninety-two years). John Jones ( Penlan), and Mary, his wife, Margaret Morgan, D. Mor- gan and wife, John A. Jones and wife. J. Jones (Penlan), and Walter Penry were chosen deacons. Mr. Davies, the pastor of this little flock in the wilderness, was a good

scholar, educated in the Theological Seminary in North Wales, and an eloquent preacher. In 1822. he received a call to the city of New York, and labored there until 1828, when he returned to Radnor and served the church for five years. In 1825, Rev. James Perregrin, from Domgay. North Wales, came to Radnor and preached with acceptance for two years. In 1827. Rev. Thomas Stephens, from Oneida County, New York, accepted a call and labored with success for one year. In 1838, Rev. Rees Powell, from South Wales, became pas- tor of the church, and continued until 1852. Under his labors the church increased. In 1841. the frame meeting-house, 30x40 feet. was built. At the time, this was a great un- dertaking, but the people had a heart to work and to give, so that in 1842 the dedication services were held-a memorable and inter- esting occasion. In 1853. Rev. Evans was called, and served the church for three years. preaching in Welsh and English with encour- aging results. In 1857. Rev. Rees Powell was recalled, and labored successfully for five years. In 1863. Rev. James Davies, formerly from Hanfair. North Wales, but for several years the efficient pastor of the Welsh Church at Gomer, Allen County. Ohio, was called. During his pastorate, the brick meeting-house was built at a cost of $3.000. On the 7th of April, 1867, twenty-three members were re- ceived into the church on profession of faith in Christ, the fruits of a gracious revival. The same year, the useful and venerated pastor died, aged seventy-one years. His grave is in the midst of his people in the old cemetery. honored by a beautiful monument placed there by his sons, James and Benjamin Davies. In 1870. Rev. Thomas Jenkins, of Johnstown. Pennsylvania, was called, and his useful pas- torate continued eight years. His successor was Rev. Mr. Evans, who was followed by Rev. J. P. Davis, Rev. J. B. Stevenson, and Rev. Benjamin Harris, the present pastor.

The Radnor Presbyterian Church was or- ganized, in the Dunlap neighborhood. be- tween what is now known as the Stone Church and the village of Radnor, formerly called Delhi. A hewed log church was erected in

286

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

1820, in a sugar-grove on the farm of Joseph Dunlap and was widely known as the Dunlap meeting-house. This was the home of B. W. Chidlaw, afterwards so widely known as a minister, and State superintendent of the Ohio Sunday School Association, also as the author of "The Story of My Life." Services were often held in the Welsh language. Conditions changed, and the congregation changed the lo- cality and built the stone church in Scioto Township, and further history of this church will be found in the history of that town- ship.

The Protestant Episcopal was another of the early church organizations of this section of the county. In 1836 Rev. Abraham Ed- wards, a native of Wales, educated at Kenyon College, and a minister of the Protestant Epis- copal Church, labored in Radnor, preaching in the Welsh language. A church was estab- lished and a house of worship erected. David E. Jones, Richard Savage, William Watkins and Joseph Cox were the vestrymen. In a few years Mr. Edwards left the field, and after his departure, having no regular services, the church disbanded.

Delhi, now Radnor Presbyterian Church. This church was organized April 23, 1849 (New School), by Reverends Henry Shedd, E. W. Torrey and W. S. Spaulding and Elder D. Davids, committee of Presbytery ( Frank- lin N. S.) with twenty-two members. The first elders were Robert Davis. Thomas Cratty and Dr. Albert Mann. The brick church was erected in 1854. The church is still occupied, having recently been re-roofed, papered and otherwise repaired. The church prospered. so that in 1860 there were one hundred and two members, and at the time of the reunion of the New School and the Old School, there were ninety-eight members. The community was largely composed of Welsh people and they were a church-going community. Four churches have been maintained in this little village through all these years, and many able and distinguished ministers have supplied these churches. In recent years, through the changes in the community the Presbyterian Church has not been able to keep up its mem-

bership with that of former years. The fol- lowing ministers have supplied this church : Reverends Shedd. Spaulding, O. H. Newton, Evan Evans, Homer McVey, David M. Wil- son, Samuel D. Smith, D. S. Anderson, Ches- ter H. Perkins, Nelson H. Crowe, Thomas Hill, Robert A. Watson, Thomas J. Cellar. Frank S. Kreager, A. D. Hawn, and John R. Lloyd, the present pastor.

The Welsh Presbyterian is of more modern organization than any other of the Radnor churches. Many of the Welsh settlers were members of the Calvinistic Methodist Church in Wales, but for many years they had no distinctive church relations, but united cheer- fully with the American Presbyterians or the Welsh Congregationalists. About the year 1850. it was determined to secure a church, and they occupied the Episcopal building. In faith and church government, the Welsh Cal- vinist Methodists are almost identical with the Presbyterian Church in this country, and therefore they have adopted the name, and they maintain a correspondence with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, by sending and receiving tra- ternal delegates, and their young men are educated for the ministry in Presbyterian theological seminaries. The pastors of this church have been Welsh-speaking ministers, good and faithful shepherds of the flock of Christ. Among them may be named Rev. Hugh Roberts, Rev. William Parry, and Rev. Daniel Thomas. In 1877 the congregation built a house of worship, a neat and beautiful temple consecrated to the services of God and the promotion of religion in the community. Their Sunday school was conducted in the Welsh language and is attended by the parents as well as the children, a feature which every- where characterizes Welsh Sunday schools, in Wales and in the Welsh settlements in this country. The children did not take to the Welsh service and the congregation declined, and in 1892 ceased to hold services. Evan I. Jones secured the house, remodelled it. and now occupies it as a dwelling house.

South Radnor Congregational Church. This church was at first called Troedrahrdalar.

287

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

a Welsh name which means "At the foot of the hill," a name given in memory of the Welsh church in Wales from which the early settlers had come. Before the organization was ef- fected the Welsh settlers were accustomed to meet in their homes for service, and especially in the home of David Perry. The services were held in the Welsh language. The society was formed in 1839. A hewed log church was erected about 1846 on the lot near by where the brick church now stands, on the Delaware and Warrensburg road, about mid- way between Delaware and the above village. This log building was used for about ten years, when the present brick building was erected. A lot for a cemetery was purchased at the time when the first building was erected, and in this lot many of the old time settlers are buried. Services and a Sabbath school have been maintained from the beginning. There were thirty members at the time of the organization, and there are ninety at present The minister who supplies the congregation at Radnor preaches for this society in the after- 10011. The following ministers have supplied this church : Rev. Powell, Rev. D. A. Evans, Rev. J. B. Davis, Rev. James V. Stephens, and Benjamin Harris, the present pastor, and earlier probably some others.

The first Sunday school in Radnor was es- tablished April 18, 1829, in the log meeting- house. A constitution was adopted and signed by forty-two members, constituting the "Rad- nor Sunday School Union," John N. Cox and Morgan Williams were chosen superintend- ents, and B. W. Chidlaw. secretary and treas- urer. The payment of twenty-five cents con- stituted any person a member. The original records, still extant, show that the school was eminently successful. The following were the teachers : John Lodwig. John Cadwalader, B. W. Chidlaw, David Kyle, Miss M. A. Adams, Mary Foos and Nancy Wolfley. Primers, spellers and the Bible were the text-books. The records show an attendance of from sev- enty to ninety scholars. One Sunday six hundred and nine verses of Scripture were recited from memory, and in five months a to- tal of 6,990 verses. In May, 1829, the treas-

urer went on horseback with a large leather saddle-bag to Gambier, Knox County, Ohio, and invested $6.75 in books published by the American Sunday School Union, and sold by Prof. Wing, of Kenyon College, an early and faithful friend of Sunday schools in Central Ohio. The books were of good service to the youth of Radnor, as they greatly needed such valuable helps in acquiring a taste for mental and moral; improvement, and storing their minds with religious knowledge.

-In after years, as churches were organizea, other Sunday schools were established and exerted a wide and blessed influence on the rising generation. These schools have been conducted in the Welsh and English lan- guages ; popular sentiment has always been in their favor. At present five Sunday schools are sustained in the township, and are ac- complishing much good.

SCIOTO TOWNSIIIP.

The first religious services held in Scioto Township were in the cabins of Richard Hos- kins and Zachariah Stevens. The date of these first meetings cannot be definitely settled, but the facts gathered indicate as early as 1810.

In the year 1814 or 1815, three Presby- terian families, viz. : William Cratty, John Lawrence and Andrew Dodds, settled in the neighborhood of Little Mill Creek, and at first connected with the church at Delaware, which church was prospering under the ministry of Rev. Joseph Hughs. The journey to Delaware in those days was quite an undertaking, as they were compelled to ford the Scioto River, which at certain times was dangerous or impossible. When these pioneers could not reach Delaware, the next most available place of worship was a log meeting-house on Big Darby, in Union County. The only route to this place was a trail through the dense woods. About the year 1816, several other Presbyterian families were added to the Little Mill Creek settle- ment. and a number located on the Scioto River. With these acquisitions, it was deemed advisable to organize in a separate church. . \

288

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

meeting was held and the proper authorities petitioned for the privilege which was granted. but with the proviso that they should join with the families of Radnor Township and that the church be known as the Presbyterian Church of Radnor. This was acceded to, and the organization consummated in the year 1816.

This connection continued until 1834. when those of Little Mill Creek neighborhood, hav- ing received many accessions, were organized in a separate church by the authority of the Presbytery of Columbus, November 9. 1834. and the name of the new organization was to be the Little Mill Creek Presbyterian Church. The following are the names of the original members : James Dean, Hannah Dean, Han- nah R. Dean, James Flanegin, Margaret Flanegin, William Cratty, Sr., Sarah Cratty, William Porter, Samuel D. Dean, Eleanor Cratty. William M. Flanegin, Jane Flanegin, Mary Flanegin. Nancy M. Flanegin, William C. Dodds, Mary Dodds, Joseph Lawrence, Mary Lawrence. Elmer Winget, Alexander Ross, Nancy Ross, Sarah Dodds. These per- sons were transferred from the churches of Radnor, Delaware and Marysville. William Cratty, Sr., William Porter and William C. Dodds were elected elders.

A church building of hewn logs was erected about one-half mile north of Ostrander, and just north of what was then known as Eden- burg, and where the cemetery is located. This was the first house of worship erected in Scioto Township. It was not provided with perma- nent seats for some time, in consequence of which, during service the congregation pre- sented a novel appearance, each providing his own seat, being chairs used in their wagons when riding to and from church. This church was torn down. The first minister secured was in 1836. being the Rev. James Perigrin. who also supplied the church of Marysville. Ile supplied the church only eight months. then gave all his time to Marysville. In the fall of 1837, the churches were again united, and secured the services of Rev. W. D. Smith, a man noted for his scholarship and as an author. For his service they were to pay him $133.33 for one-third of his time.

In the year 1862 a new building was erected in Ostrander and the name was changed to the Ostrander Presbyterian Church. At this time Rev. W. Mitchell was in charge. He was fol- lowed by Rev. O. H. Newton, Henry Shedd, Mason, Horace Snodgrass, John Price, Thomas Hill, Elias Thompson, A. C. Crist, M. W. Brown, William Wilson, J. P. War- ren, A. M. Chapin and J. S. Galbreath, who is pastor at this time, 1907. During the pas- torate of Thomas Hill, a good parsonage was erected. The membership at present is about one hundred. A Sabbath school was organ- ized in the year 1827, and probably has not failed to meet every Sabbath since, only a few times, when prohibited by the prevalence of small-pox. This school is also the first Sabbath school organized in the township.

The Baptist Church was organized in 1828. Previous to this date a minister by the name of Drake had held meetings in the cabins of the early settlers, and seems to have agitated the question of an independent church. The first permanent organization took place about the year 1835 or 1836, with a member- ship of eighteen. About this time a log meet- ing-house was erected on the north bank of Mill Creek, one mile south of Ostrander. In the year 1853 a substantial brick church was erected to take the place of this structure. This building was occupied until 1889, when it was torn down and a substantial frame build- ing was erected in Ostrander, where the con- gregation of more than one hundred members now worship. Probably more than eight bun- dred members have been received into the church, either by baptism or certificate.

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 41

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