USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Columbus, Ohio: its history, resources, and progress : with numerous illustrations > Part 17
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mings of stone and galvanized iron. The style of architecture is English gothic.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH : Deacons-S. M. Hotchkiss, C. H. Walker, L. P. Rose, W. Jenkins; Clerk and Treasurer-E. C. Beach ; Trustees-W. A. Hershiser, S. E. Samuel, David Price.
THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This church was organized during the summer of 1872, by a council called for the purpose, and is located in the northeast quarter of the city, inhabited chiefly by employees and operatives in the shops and furnaces springing up in that region. They own an eligible lot, donated for church purposes, on which a small but pleasant chapel was erected several years since, where an interesting Sunday-school has been maintained through the enterprise of a few individuals, whose perseverance in the past gives assurance of success in the future. Only occasional preach- ing has been enjoyed to the present time.
The present officers are : Joseph J. Davis, deacon ; J. J. Davis, F. C. Sessions, and J. Bardmore, trustees ; and Wm. Davis, clerk.
WELCH PRESBYTERIAN OR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This church was organized by the Rev. Dr. James Hoge, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, about Christmas, 1837. It con- sisted originally of twelve members only (three men and nine women), of whom, we believe, but two survive-David Davis and wife, residing in this city, on Eighth street. The first officers were David Davis, elder, and William Jones, deacon.
The church has, since its organization, met regularly every Sunday for worship, and kept up a regular Sunday-school, though it has been much of the time without a preacher or a pastor. The first preacher was Rev. Hugh Price, who com- menced in 1838, and continued about two years, preaching, how- ever, half the time in Dublin. His successors were : Rev. Seth Powell, for four years, and Rev. James Price, for a year and a half. The church was then, for some time, without regular preaching.
Rev. B. Evans was then engaged for a year and a half; Rev. Reese Powell, for five years; Rev. John H. Jones, for four
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years; and Rev. Reese Powell, being engaged the second time, remained ten years, or till 1869. Rev. John Jones was then en- gaged for about a year and a half. After his term, Rev. Mr. Evans, a resident of this city, preached occasionally ; but we understand the church has at present no resident preacher or pastor.
The first meetings of the church, after its organization, were held in a school-house, situated on an alley between High and Front streets, and north of Broad street. After meeting at this place for about a year, several other locations were occupied in succession, as the Baptist Church on Front street, another school- house, and the private residence of David Davis. Finally, a brick school-house, on the corner of Fourth and Oak streets, was rented at one dollar per month, and there the congregation met until its present house of worship was built in 1845. This is a frame building, thirty-three by twenty-six feet, erected on ground bought for the purpose, on the north side of Town street, and between Fifth and Sixth streets. The site is the west half of lot No. 59 of Kelley, Northrup & Kerr's heirs addition to Columbus, called "Allotment of Central Reserve." The congre- gation at first bought the whole lot of Mr. Northrup for $500, but soon afterward sold the east half to Thomas Jones, for $250.
The Town Street Welsh Church was, in 1849, reduced to its original number (twelve), by a large portion of its members leaving to help form the Welsh Methodist Calvinistic Church, worshiping on Long street.
The Town Street Church was incorporated April 10, 1872, under the name of the "Welsh Congregational Church," with the following persons named as trustees : David Price, John Davies, John Bain, Richard Brown, and Jonathan Stephens.
The average number of members of the church is about sev- enty, and of the Sunday-school about forty. The elders are David Davis and John Davis. The deacons are John Bain and David Phillips.
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The history of this church runs through a period of nearly fifty years. In February, 1823, Rev. George Jeffries, a Baptist clergyman, settled in Columbus, and immediately commenced
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preaching in his own house. A few Baptists were gathered, and in the course of the first year two persons were baptized.
In the spring of 1824, eleven persons, five males and six females, organized themselves into a congregation, and on the 15th day of May they were duly recognized by an ecclesiastical council, and received into the sisterhood of churches.
Elder Jeffries, as he was called, continued to preach to the church, and in April, 1825, was formally called to be its pastor. He continued for some time to hold meetings in his own house, with little or no pecuniary compensation. He spent a part of his time in manual labor, preaching a portion of the time to churches in the adjacent country.
In 1830, it appears Elder Jeffries built a school-house, to which the meetings were transferred, the church contributing, as the record says, $4 95 in money, and two and three-fourths' days work " toward fixing the school-house built by Elder Jeffries for the purpose of having meetings in." This school-house was between Front and Mound streets, in the rear of the present St. Paul's German Lutheran Church.
In April, 1831, the church purchased a lot on Front street, near the corner of Mound, paying for it $175. On this a small brick church was erected, built at great sacrifices on the part of the few members, the pastor and his wife, as well as other mem- bers laboring with their own hands to complete it. On the Saturday before the first Sunday in May, 1832, they held their first season of worship in their new house. This building is still standing, and is now occupied as a dwelling-house.
In the fall of 1833, a number of Welsh Baptists having moved into the city, they organized themselves into a church, under the guidance of Rev. John Harris, from Wales, and for some time continued to worship by themselves.
In the meantime several prominent Baptists having moved into the city, and thinking the church under Mr. Jeffries as not sufficiently aggressive, and not taking the stand in the commu- nity the importance of the cause demanded, determined to make a move for a more efficient organization. An appeal was made to the American Baptist Home Mission Society for aid. As the result of this movement, the Rev. T. R. Cressy was commisioned
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by that society, and sent to labor as a missionary in Columbus. He arrived in the city in the summer of 1835, and immediately commenced preaching.
A general meeting of all interested was called, to see what could be done to consolidate the Baptist element of the city into one organization. This meeting was held in Trinity Episcopal Church, on Broad street, on the lot now occupied by Hayden's large business block, the rector, Rev. Mr. Preston, having gen- erously offered its use for this purpose. As the result of this conference, the independent Baptists and the Welsh church all united with the original organization, Mr. Jeffries resigning, and Mr. Cressy assuming the pastorate.
Prominent among those who took part in this new movement were Rev. John Harris, Dr. J. B. Wheaton (for many years a prominent druggist in the city), Tunis Peters, Rufus Bixby, and William Thomas.
The Welsh members were, from the first, and have continued to be, a useful and efficient element in the Baptist organization. Rev. John Harris may be said to be one of the efficient founders of the Baptist interest in the city. He was a devout and earnest man, whom all respected and loved. He preached both in Welsh and English. His devotion, his zealous exhortations and earnest prayers are well remembered by many at the present day. He died December 12, 1863, in the 77th year of his age.
The union consummated, Mr. Cressy commenced with a church numbering in all fifty-six members. From this time we may date the substantial prosperity of the church. Mr. Cressy was an earnest and laborious pastor. His kind and sympa- thizing disposition, his integrity of character, his instructive preaching, often rising into commanding eloquence, secured for him the respect of the community and the love of his church.
The location of the meeting-house was found unfavorable, the accommodations it afforded insufficient, and a move was soon made for a larger and more commodious edifice.
After considerable consultation, a lot was purchased of Dr. Goodale, on the corner of Rich and Third streets, for the sum $800. The location was then considered almost out of the city, Rich street not having yet been graded. The lot itself was in-
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closed with a Virginia rail-fence, and covered with a growing crop of corn and potatoes. In their efforts to build, the church met with much encouragement from the community, many from other denominations contributing substantial aid, among whom special mention should be made of P. B. Wilcox, Esq., who en- couraged them in the work both by counsel and pecuniary aid.
Meetings were commenced in the lecture-room of the new church, April 6, 1837, but the house was not publicly dedicated and services held in the main audience-room, until November 1, 1840. The erection of such a house was a great undertaking for this church; but in the midst of their efforts their number was largely increased. During 1838 and 1839 the church was favored. with an extensive revival, during which one hundred and thirty persons united with it by baptism.
The pastorate of Mr. Cressy continued seven years. He re- signed in July, 1842. Some still living in connection with the church remember with pleasure and gratitude his faithful la- bors. He commenced with fifty-six and left the church with one hundred and ninety-two members.
The pastors since have been: Rev. Daniel Eldridge, two and one-half years; Rev. D. B. Cheney, five and one-half; Rev. Henry Davis, five; Rev. D. A. Randall, seven and one-fourth ; Rev. George S. Chase, one and one-fourth ; and Rev. J. W. Os- borne, five years.
In 1869, the house erected under the pastorate of Rev. T. R. Cressy was thoroughly remodeled and enlarged, at an expense of about $8,000, and will cost, when the tower is completed, about $13,000. The audience-room is 50 by 65 feet; the walls arc finely frescoed in dark granite, the upper ceiling with heavy panel work. The gothic windows are set in stained glass of fine colors. The church is also supplied with an ample baptis- mal font, and has also a large and beautifully-finished basement for lectures and Sunday-school purposes, with class and dressing- rooms. The present number of members is about three hundred and fifty, with a large and efficient Sunday-school, of which L. D. Myers is superintendent. The church also maintains a mis- sion school, in the north part of the city, under the superintend- ence of B. J. Loomis. Here it has purchased a lot and erected
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a chapel, at an expense of $1,600 to $1,800. The church also maintains a mission Sunday-school at Mt. Airy, in the northeast part of the city. The present pastor is Rev. I. F. Stidham, late of Philadelphia, who commenced his labors October 1, 1872.
The trustees of the church are Dr. J. M. Wheaton, L. D. Myers, Jeffrey Powell, B. J. Loomis, L. L. Smith, Abel Hildreth, A. B. Lawrence; James Somers, clerk, and Charles E. Batterson, treasurer.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
Located southeast corner of Gay and Lazelle streets. This is an organization formed in the year 1837, and has a membership at present numbering three hundred. The Sunday-school con- nected with this church numbers one hundred and twenty pupils. The present pastor is Rev. James Poindexter, and the superin- tendent of the Sunday-school is Wm. H. Roney.
TRUSTEES .- A. Lewis, M. McGee, J. Dickey, Jas. Shelton, and M. Trent.
DEACONS .- J. Hooper, E. Trent, C. Houston, N. Lynn, and J. Johnson.
SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH.
ยท This church is located on East Long, between Third and High streets. At a meeting held on the 8th of August, 1869, in Robert Rusk's building, corner of Fourth and Gay streets, an organization, with a membership numbering fifty-five, was effected. Prominent among the members were Elders James Shewcraft and F. Mitchell. The services of the congregation were continued at this place until November, 1871, when Col- man C. Smith purchased the present church building from John Miller, banker, at a cost of $4,200. Rev. Elder L. B. Moss has been the pastor ever since the organization of the congregation.
The officers of the church at present are as follows : Dea- cons-Henry Hill, Henry Allen, W. B. Ferguson, C. Richard- son, James Shelton, Robert Johnson, and Wayman Baley. Trustees-C. C. Smith, C. K. Haris, N. Baley, R. Johnson, and M. Randolph. Henry Hill, treasurer, and John M. Booker, clerk. The present number of members is one hundred and ninety ; the number of Sunday-school pupils is twenty-three, with C. C. Smith, superintendent ; W. B. Ferguson, assistant.
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CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES.
LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
This is one of the oldest church organizations in the city, its origin dating as far back as 1821. For many years its services were held in a frame building on Third street, on the site of the present Universalist Church edifice. Several pastors served the congregation till 1843, when Rev. Conrad Mees, the present pastor, assumed the charge.
The congregation, in 1844, erected a large brick church edi- fice on the southwest corner of High and Mound streets. Like many German congregations in this country, its growth was at- tended by many severe trials, both internal and external.
A sad calamity befell the congregation on the 10th of Octo- ber, 1856. Early in the morning of that day, a fire broke out in a long frame in the rear of Mr. English's building, on High street, opposite the court-house. The German St. Paul's Church, standing only a few feet north of the burning structure, fell a prey to the devouring flames, the bare walls only remaining. With the church, an organ, said to be the finest then in the city, was also destroyed. There was no insurance on either. The congregation began forthwith to build anew; and through its own exertions, the first anniversary of the fire was celebrated by the consecration of a new church edifice, the final completion of which is now in progress.
The congregation is one of the largest in the city, with a Sunday-school and choir, which have retained their organiza- tions intact during a period of thirty years, the time of service of the present pastor.
TRINITY GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1847, by Rev. W. F. Lehmann, its first and only pastor. Its first meetings were held in Me- chanics' Hall, southeast corner of High and Rich streets. It afterward met in the German Church, on Mound street, near Third, and at other places. Its present large church edifice, on the northeast corner of Third and South streets, was erected in
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1856 and 1857, the corner-stone having been laid, with appro- priate ceremonies, early in 1856. It was dedicated near the close of that year, and as soon as the audience-room was com- pleted. It is 562 by 105 feet, and will comfortably seat about 1,000 persons, and may be made to accommodate an audience of 1,100 or 1,200.
The present number of communicating members is 577. The pastor is ex-officio president of the church council. The elders are Jacob Schmidt and Conrad Luft. The trustees are An- drew Bertsch, Peter Schille, and N. Huber. The deacons are, M. Suttler and F. Anthony, with two vacancies in the number. The secretary is John Gruebler, and the treasurer, Christian Scroth.
The Sunday-school, which meets in the basement of the church on Sunday mornings, has an average attendance of about two hundred. Its superintendent is - Kuth. There are also regular catechetical exercises on Sunday afternoons.
There are connected with the church three societies, having in view the furtherance of the interests of the congregation, called Men's, Women's, and Youths' Monthly Meetings. Be- sides, most of the members of the congregation are attached to an association organized for the care and support of sick mem- bers.
FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Located on Rich street, between Seventh and Washington avenue. This organization had not, until the year 1868, a per- manent place of worship. The cost of the building, erected in 1868, was about $12,000. The church membership numbers fifty, and the Sunday-school pupils number sixty. Rev. Joseph Beck, until lately, was the pastor.
ELDERS .- Frederick Bentz and George Getz.
DEACONS .- J. Zigler and John Hank.
TRUSTEES .- A. F. Zigler, John Bowman, and John Eny.
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INDEPENDENT GERMAN PROTESTANT CHURCHES.
THE GERMAN INDEPENDENT PROTESTANT CHURCH.
Actuated by a desire for religious worship disconnected from their former fellow-worshipers in the Lutheran and Reformed Ger- man Protestant Churches, a number of German Protestant citizens met at the residence of Henry Waas, February 6, 1843, and or- ganized themselves under the name of the German Independent Protestant Church, with the following officers : Louis Hoster, president ; N. Maurer and Otto Frankenberg, vice-presidents ; Peter Ambos and J. P. Bruck, secretaries ; and Jacob Silber- nagel, treasurer.
TRUSTEES .- Daniel Wendel, Jacob Laurer, Andreas Dippel, David Bauer, Frederick Funke, George M. Unger, and Charles Faber.
Rev. Zeller provisionally assumed the functions of pastor, until the election of Rev. A. L. Begeman.
In April of the same year, a lot was purchased on Mound street, near Third, and the corner-stone for the new church was laid on the 5th of June following, and by December 7th the same year, the church was completed and dedicated.
The present organization : Pastor Rev. Christian Heddaeus ; president, A. Eichenberg ; vice-president, A. Kuchner; secre- tary, E. Homan; financial secretary, C. Loewer; treasurer, Franz Fassig.
TRUSTEES-C. Zapp, J. Biederkapp, H. Schmidt, H. Loewer, C. Bachmann, and Philip Haldy.
The church membership numbers 281, and the Sunday-school pupils number 310.
ST. JOHN'S GERMAN PROTESTANT EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
The pastors of the German Lutheran St. Paul's and Trinity Churches objecting to persons becoming members of their re- spective congregations who continued to act as members of secret organizations, caused a withdrawal of some twenty-six persons from the two congregations, who held a meeting at the residence of Jacob Bleile, in June, 1872, for the purpose of or- ganizing a new congregation. On July 17, the same year, an-
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other meeting was held at the old City Hall. At this meeting the constitution for the new society, to be known as the St. John's German Protestant Evangelical Church, was adopted, and fifty-six signatures obtained to the same. The society has its services at the United Brethren Church, on East Town street, until their new church building, to cost $15,000, is completed, which is to be erected on a lot on Mound street, between High and Third streets, purchased from Frederick Kuhnheim, at $5,500.
The present membership of the society is 150 ; the Sunday- school numbers 110 pupils. Rev. William Purpus is pastor; and John Burkhardt, superintendent of Sunday-school.
TRUSTEES .- John U. Richenbacher, president; Andrew Schwarz, secretary; George P. Schroll, treasurer; and John Burkhardt.
EMMANUEL'S CHURCH
Located on South Third street, south of Livingston avenue.
The Emmanuel's Church is a German mission of the German Evangelical Association, organized about the year 1857, by Rev. John Barnhard. It numbers at present thirty-seven members. The trustees of the church at present are C. Emrich, P. Schnei- der, and J. Ruppesberger. There are about seventy-five pupils attending the Sunday-school. Rev. Noah Schupp is the pastor.
THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.
The first Universalist preaching in Columbus was about the year 1837. The first regular minister of that denomination, who preached in the city, was Rev. A. A. Davis, of Delaware county. His meetings were held in the United States court- house. He continued to preach here a year or two, assisted occasionally by other preachers. The Rev. Mr. Saddler suc- ceeded him, preaching at the same place, and continuing also a year or two.
After an interval of about two years, the Rev. Mr. Abel was engaged, and continued six months. His successor was the Rev. Mr. Anderson, for about the same time. Rev. George Rogers then preached here for a short period. The meetings were held, at this time, in a rented room, in Mr. Buttles' building, cor-
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ner of High and Friend streets, now occupied by Sinclair & Scott.
Prior to this time, there was no regularly organized society. The "Universalist Society of Columbus," consisting of thirty- eight members, was organized in March, 1845, under an act of the legislature to incorporate certain churches therein named. The first board of trustees were John Greenwood, John Field, James W. Osgood, Demas Adams, and William Bambrough. The Rev. Mr. Eaton preached for the society for a few months. Rev. Nelson Doolittle was then engaged as pastor, his term commencing in October, 1845. The present church edifice was erected in 1846 on a lot on the east side of Third street between Town and Rich streets.
Mr. Doolittle resigned his charge in the fall of 1851, and was succeeded the next spring by Rev. N. M. Gaylord, then of Lowell, Massachusetts. Mr. Gaylord continued till the fall of 1854, and then removed to Boston. During the years 1855 and 1856, Revs. Gifford, Upson, and Hawes officiated as pastors. In the fall of the latter year, Rev. H. R. Nye, formerly of Brook- lyn, New York, became the pastor of the society, and continued as such till April, 1859. Mr. Nye was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Gorman, whose ministry began in the winter of 1859 and closed in 1861. Mr. Gorman was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Cantwell, who continued till 1865, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. W. Bruce, who resigned in 1868. Subsequently to his resignation the society engaged Rev. Thomas Gorman as a tem- porary supply. In September, 1869, Rev. E. L. Rexford, the present pastor, was called from Cincinnati.
The present officers of the society are : O. F. Evans, president ; A. B. Robinson, secretary ; G. W. Sinks, treasurer.
TRUSTEES .- John Field, Isaac Eberly, E. T. Hancock, B. F. Martin, and Thomas Lough.
The society numbers 160 members, and the number of church members is 115. The number of Sunday-school pupils is 140. A. B. Robinson is the superintendent, assisted by fifteen teachers.
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UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.
Prior to 1866 there was no organization of this denomination in Columbus. In that year was organized
THE FIRST UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
The church edifice is located on the south side of Town street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. The church property is valued at $15,000.
Rev. W. B. Davis was the first pastor. The present pastor is Rev. James H. Dickson. The trustees are Samuel Hively, John Helpman, and Isaac Winter. It has forty-four members, and a Sunday-school with sixty pupils.
OLIVE BRANCH CHURCH.
This church, located in Neil's addition, near the Piqua Rail- road shops, was organized in 1867 by Rev. W. B. Davis, after his retirement from the pastorate of the First Church. The present pastor is Rev. W. H. Spencer. The trustees are George Davidson, John Nelson, Joseph Fuller, John Henvon, and Wm. B. Davis. It has ninety members, and a Sunday-school of one hundred and ten pupils, with Samuel Mateer as superintendent. The church property is valued at $3,500.
MOUNT ZION CHURCH.
This church, located south of Broad street, in the southwestern portion of the city, was organized in 1870, as a branch of the Olive Branch Church. Its present pastor is Rev. James H. Dickson. Trustees-Henry Deardorf, W. B. Davis, and W. H. Spencer. The number of members is twenty-six, and of pupils in the Sunday-school, seventy-five. The church property is estimated to be worth $10,000.
GERMAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1868. It is located on the south side of Friend street, east of Seventh. It has twenty-five mem- bers, and fifty pupils in the Sunday-school. The church prop- erty is valued at $4,000.
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THE CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Located on the southeast corner of Gay and Third streets.
This church had its origin in prayer-meetings, held by a few persons, in private houses, in October, 1870. On the first of December, 1870, a small room over Samuels' drug store, No. 115 North High street, was rented for a Sunday-school and prayer-meetings. Occasionally religious services were con- ducted in this room by different preachers.
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