USA > Ohio > Early history of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio : with biographical sketches of the principal agents in their religious movement > Part 19
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A circuit was established, including sixteen stations at convenient distances apart. It was arranged that four of the places should have preaching every Lord's day ; and also, that in the course of a month each of the sixteen places would be favored with a Lord's day service. The other days of the week being also employed, all of these posts had frequent preaching. Several advantages resulted from this arrangement :
1. As the preachers followed one another in a reg- ular and fixed order, the churches always knew who was coming ;
2. They had regular times for the preaching and knew when to expect it ;
3. Each preacher knew, at any time, where each one of the others was ;
4. It afforded a profitable variety of talent and in- struction, giving to each community the benefit of all the talents ;
5. It removed any grounds of dissatisfaction aris- ing from the practice of limiting the more brilliant speakers to the stronger communities, leaving to the weaker places the less eligible gifts ; a practice which has caused many a well begun opening to wither, and forced many an honest and earnest worker out of the field.
This scheme of " circuit preaching" pleased as long as it lasted. But there was no general manager who, as openings were made beyond these limits, could " send forth more laborers into the vineyard." More- over, the "laborers were few ;" consequently, as the Macedonian cry came up from all quarters, by letters and by messengers, it became impossible to confine these evangelists. They could not resist these ap-
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peals. Scott, somewhat erratic, distanced all bounds. He was moved at beholding the whole country a prey to sectarianism, and having the jewel of the "ancient gospel " in his possession, he was confident it would soon turn the whole mutilated and dismembered pro- fession of Christianity back to the original apostolic unity. So, like a hero dismantled of arrangements which he felt to be an encumbrance, he flew where the finger of God directed, and stirred the land with the tidings of the gospel.
The others maintained their course for awhile. But one after another they yielded to calls for help, and so fell this first attempt at systematic order in preaching the gospel.
THE CHURCH IN HUBBARD.
Jesse Hall, for more than fifteen years, had been a member of the Baptist church in Sharon, Pa., and though living about six miles distant he was a regu- lar attendant. He was a man of unblemished char- acter, of broad sense, zealous, and given to hospitality. Such a man could scarcely fail to gather Christian people around him. In the year 1820 a church, of the same name and order, was formed at his residence in Hubbard, in which himself, A. K. Cramer, Archi- bald Price, James Price, Walter Clark and Silas Bur- nett, with their families, were prominent members. Jesse Hall was, by far, the most influential man in this organization, and as deacon, he was the leader, councillor and chief manager. For a considerable time it was the "church in his house." He was just the man to welcome the "Christian Baptist ; " and though he was very firm in purpose, the floods of
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light poured upon the world by that work revealed to his penetrating mind, a Bible basis for the Church of God not yet fully discovered by the rival sects of Christendom. In 1828, when Walter Scott came among them, as the evangelist of the association, most of the members were prepared to receive him warmly. His forcible preaching compelled a crisis, and the whole church, eight or ten only excepted, dis- carded the creed and the name of the party, and adopted the New Covenant as the divinely appointed basis of the church, with only such names as the New Testament writers employ to describe the people of God.
The church thus newly formed had about forty members. Jesse Hall and John Applegate were ap- pointed the overseers. They served with great fidelity for about twenty-five years. Their successors were Oliver Hart and Warren Burton. Orenous Hart and David Waldruff have served the church in the same capacity. And now, James Struble, H. Green and A. K. Cramer, Jr., are the acting elders.
Under the efficient management of her officers the church grew in grace and in numbers. The zeal of the brotherhood knew no bounds. Applegate, under the judicious counsels of his able co-elder, soon be- came a preacher who, while he traveled much abroad, served his own church in public instruction for at least twenty years. But they were not stinted in their views, and in the earlier days Hubbard gained great renown for the victories in behalf of the truth through their own prayers and activities, and the co- operative labors of Scott, Bentley, Hayden, Henry, Hartzel, Alton, Saunders, and both the Bosworths ;
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and a little later, of John T. Smith, Brockett and Perky. Bro. J. W. Lanphear is cherished for his able defenses of the truth in that place. In after times, W. T. Horner, William S. Winfield, Willard Goodrich, Matthias Christy, Harmon Reeves, C. C .. Smith and J. A. Thayer have co-operated in extend- ing and building up the church.
In August, 1837, the yearly meeting for Trumbull County met in Hubbard. It was one of the largest assemblies ever gathered on the Reserve. Preachers and people came from far in those days, creating great enthusiasm. To this one came Campbell, Bentley, the Bosworths, Henry, Hartzel, G. W. Lucy, Applegate, Clapp, Rudolph, J. J. Moss, and A. S. Hayden ; nearly all of whom preached, exhorted, and held evening meetings during the great occasion. There were thir- teen converts.
Two years later, this church had an accession of several members during a meeting in Youngstown, conducted by A. Campbell. Among them were Jesse Hall, Jr., Aaron Smith, James Struble, Moses Cole and Jesse Hougland.
The growth of the church has been gradual. No root of bitterness has ever sprung up to cause a divis- ion. They began without any church property. For a few years, they held meetings in a building rather useful than costly, owned by the elder Jesse Hall, and which he finally deeded to the trustees, with the grounds belonging to it. Subsequently, they erected on eligible grounds a permanent and valuable edifice ; and with a present living member- ship of one hundred and seventy five, the church in Hubbard seems likely to pass from the present into
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the hands of the next generation, a light and a bless- ing to that whole country.
SKETCH OF JOHN APPLEGATE.
"Tell us the story of the earlier times. Describe the men who lived in them, and relate to us their deeds." So cry out thousands, to whom the stirring events and the struggles which made and marked our early history have come down in mere fragments of information. It is not mere curiosity which prompts the call for this knowledge. It is a just and laudable desire for a knowledge of the causes and conditions which originated this great work, the effort to recover the Christian institution, in all its parts, from the mixture and corruptions of the long, dark day of papal superstition. Gratitude, doubtless, also mingles in the demand, that due honor may be rendered to the moral heroes to whom this generation is greatly indebted for their prompt espousal of the truth, then freshly brought out from the sacred Scriptures, and for their able, untiring, and self-sacrificing advocacy of it amid fearful struggles and against formidable foes.
Beloved among these memorable men, and distinguished in the circle of his labors, was Bro. John Applegate. He was born May 13, 1797, in Bordentown, N. J. Cradled in the lap of frugal industry, he early saw the practical side of life, from the necessity imposed on him to contribute to the wants of the family. Ohio, at the time of his removal into it, had been only five years a member of the Federal Union. Its fertile soil was the El Dorado of hope to the working people in the States of the sea-board. The West- ern Reserve, in particular, was receiving large accessions to its young population by immigration from New Eng- land and other portions of the East. To this inviting land came the Applegate family, when John, the subject of this
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sketch, was only ten years of age. They settled in Hub- bard, Trumbull County.
Through his father he inherited the Baptist faith. His Inother was a pure-minded, conscientious adherent of the Quaker doctrine. John, very early in life, was the subject of deep and pungent religious convictions. From about the fifteenth year of his age up to his twenty-first year, the tempests of religious conviction, with all their harass- ing doubts, despondencies, and dimly gleaming hopes, swept across his breast. The gospel of his day was moul- ded in the most rigid school of Calvinism. Its doctrines resounded in thundering tones in groves, under forest trees, and in school-houses, by the Knox-like preachers of that early time.
No sweet voice from Calvary came to his terrified con- science. He languished for relief. Sometimes he quite resolved to abandon hope, and yield ; to sink down among the eternally lost. Then from this vortex he fled, shud- dering at the horrible despair. He saw Calvary, and the meek sufferer there, "but, oh! for the elect alone he suffers there and bleeds. Oh! that I could but know it was for me ! 'Come,' he says, 'come unto me-you shall find rest.' But, then," his soul in anguish cried, " that blessed voice is for the elect alone ; I may not be one; I dare not stir to go." If some earnest comforter spoke of the loving Jesus, and of his invitation to sinners-" Yes, but I know not the way-I can do nothing but wait; if I am to be lost, I can but fulfill my destined doom." A genuine " experience " it was, according to the standards of that day. Much of it ever remained a blessed memorial in his humble and truly Christian heart. Yet how much of needless torture might have been saved him ; how much earlier he might have found "peace in believing," had the plain gospel plan of salvation been pointed out to him in the hour when he was seeking to "flee from the wrath to come ! "
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At length the "darkened cloud " withdrew, and peace shone in on his soul. He gave in his experience, was re- ceived by the vote of the church, and was baptized in a stream in the vicinity of his residence, in the month of March, 1818, by Elder West. He was then in his twenty- first year.
About the same time he was married to Miss Fanny Cramer, a woman worthy of his affections, and who, with even step and equal hand, bore her full share of the hard- ships incident to her position. Abounding in the domes- tic virtues, she managed her household with great prudence and discretion, and lived his faithful companion in all his life-work till very near his own departure.
Immediately after his conversion, he began to "exercise" in meetings. He was a rapid and ready talker. His articu- lation was very distinct and complete. He commanded a good voice, penetrating, and very agreeable to the ear. He was a singer of more than common excellence. He soon filled his soul, and the meetings, too, with the songs of joy in which he expressed the peace and hope, and love of a new-born soul.
He continued to work among the Baptists for six or seven years, distinguished for great activity and a burning zeal. Wherever a word could be spoken for the Master, his diffi- dence yielded to the pressing sense of duty and the ear- nest impulses of his warm Christian heart.
The churches and ministers in all North-eastern Ohio were beginning to be agitated by certain views-by some, looked upon as dangerous, by all regarded as novel and bold-of the Campbell's, father and son. In the year 1826, Applegate heard these gifted men in Warren. His free mind was, by his own reading of the word of God, partially prepared to receive some modifications of those rigid views which had caused so much trouble in his own experience, and he went with the determination to hear fearlessly, and give due weight to all he heard. But he
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was cautious ; and on returning, he received the faithful chidings and reprimands of the older brethren for giving heed to new things.
Soon after this, Walter Scott came to Austintown. He was producing there a great stir among the people. This was the spring of 1828. All the way from Hubbard to Austintown came Applegate to hear Scott. He was afraid of him. Bentley, from Warren, and Schooley, from Sa- lem, were also there. After the hearing, Applegate drew the sword and joined in battle. The method of enlisting converts was too quick. Genuine conversion could not be so short a work. Faith, "with all the heart," in Jesus was not enough to prepare for baptism, without relating an experience, such as the fathers and mothers in Israel could approve. So went the investigation. He thought he " whipped them all out ; " and, reiterating the ancient cry, " To your tents, O Israel," he took leave of them and de- parted. Riding on a few miles, his horse went slower, as he thought over what he had heard. At length he halted, and resolved to return and give these brethren a farther hearing. This he did, and on leaving them a second time, Scott and Bentley sent by him an appointment for Hub- bard.
He addressed himself with new zeal, with deep and prayerful interest, to the study of the word of God, re- solved to be fully prepared to meet and discomfit them. But this reading partially disarmed him. He decided to " let them alone," lest he might be fighting against the truth.
The winter of 1829-30 saw the full consummation of these changes in his views. Bolder now became his testi- mony. He read the Word of Life to the people, and testified publicly every-where. Authorized by the church, he went to other places to teach the way of life ; and without any direct intention on his part, and before he was aware of it, Applegate "was among the preachers." He visited
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Brookfield, Hartford, Fowler, Bazetta, and many other places, exhorting the brethren ; and wherever he went he revived the spirits of the fainting, and poured the oil of joy into the souls of the Lord's people.
Few men were ever more patient, persevering, or endur- ing of privation and toil, in fulfilling the duties of the Christian ministry. Unpaid, yet uncomplaining, he trav- eled on horseback, often afoot, over the rough roads of a country yet new, never failing to meeet his appointments. Impelled by a lofty and sacred sense of duty, he denied himself the happiness of a home, whose limited store of earthly wealth was sweetened by the endearments of pure, genial and religious affection, that he might teach sinners in the great congregation the plain way of the Gospel of God's salvation. In those days preaching " paid " poorly in the pocket. Nor was fame reaped from it. Surely the long-continued toils and hardships of the preachers of that early day of the Reformation vindicate them from all imputations of selfishness, and stamp them with a lofty zeal and heroic chivalry worthy of all admiration.
Among all our early preachers no one had less of vain ambition. Without guile and without envy, he was happy when others preached. If any surpassed him in apparent public usefulness, or won more rapidly the favor of the people, his joy at the success of the Master's work suffered no abatement through envy. He esteemed other preachers better than himself, and voluntarily chose the lower seat at the great spiritual feasts when many proclaimers of the gospel and multitudes of souls assembled at the great yearly meetings of North-eastern Ohio. Yet was he not the less esteemed, and the greetings of the people testified the depth and sincerity of their affection for him.
In the spring of the year 1866, he removed from Hub- bard, so long his home, to Iowa, to reside with his young- est son Charles, near Monticello, Jones County. Two years after his removal came the time of his mourning for
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the death of his wife. During their long pilgrimage, so complete had been their union in life, so like a stream without a ripple or an eddy had flowed their mutual affec- tion, that her death was a shock almost insupportable. Five or six months after this event, in the fall of 1868, he returned to Ohio, visited well-remembered friends, and extended his journey to his original home in the State of New Jersey. In the spring of 1870 he returned again to Iowa, and made his home with his sons, James and Charles. Though age was now on him, and the " outer man " be- ginning to show signs of decay, he still preached almost every Lord's day. A peace-maker still, as in all his life, he labored to reconcile differences among brethren, some instances of which, among the very last acts of his life, are cherished with gratitude by the brethren where these ministrations of mercy were performed. He preached his last sermon at Nugent's Grove, Linn County. Overex- ertion and a sudden change of weather caused a severe cold. Typhoid fever followed, from which he never re- covered. Nearly eight weeks he languished under this terrible scourge. His love of singing continued to the last. Frequently during his sickness he raised his feeble voice in melodious praise.
Near the closing scene he was visited by Rev. - Wil- son, a Presbyterian minister, who asked him if he knew him. By a nod of the head he gave the affirmative reply. Mr. Wilson then repeated a part of the twenty-third Psalm : " The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want." The dy- ing hero waved another response, and soon the vessel of clay alone remained.
Thus died, on the 17th day of February, 1871, in Scotch Grove, Jones County, Iowa, at the residence of his son James, Elder John Applegate, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, having been a preacher of the gospel over forty years.
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BAZETTA-BACONSBURG.
The Baptist church here was formed January 22, 1820-eight members. James and Dorcas Bowen, William and Anna Davis, Samuel and Rachel Hoad- ley, and Samuel and Elizabeth Bacon, were dismissed from the church in Warren for that purpose. These, with Asher and Esther Coburn, Samuel B. Tanner and Anna Tanner, Martin Daniels and a few others, composed the church. Four persons, baptized the day previous, of whom Eben R. Coburn and John F. Coburn were two, were received that day. Bro. Bentley officiated. Asher Coburn and Samuel Hoad- ley were the first deacons. No bishops were ap- pointed, the Baptist order recognizing no such officers apart from the preachers.
This church continued till the " times of reforma- tion." Her highest reported number, at any time, was forty-four. Bro. Edward Scofield, one of their number, was an earnest Christian, a man of liberal views. Being a good exhorter, he was very useful. He got hold of the "Christian Baptist." Its editor, in his triumphant vindication of the scriptural bap- tism in his debates with Walker and McCalla, had made a highly favorable impression on the Baptists every-where. He had thus gained their confidence, which gave a wide circulation to this his first periodi- cal. The reformation for which he plead was not a negation. It consisted in a well matured effort to introduce Bible views, and to establish New Testa- ment Christianity. Such views, so clearly propoun- ded, and so well sustained by argument and Scrip- ture, created a commotion every-where-some advo-
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cating, some opposing them. The brethren in Ba- zetta were not behind in these investigations. The traditions of less favored times were losing their hold on the people. The great stir in Warren, in January, 1828, shook the church in Bazetta like the heavings of an earthquake. Indeed, its impulse spread like a tidal wave over the country. It was a time of Bible research, such as had not been known. The eman- cipation from the traditions of the church was com- plete-deference to the teachings of God's word was equally complete. The "lively oracles " were accepted as meaning what they said. This grand principle brought all parties face to face on the Bible. People studied it as they never had before. It was custom- ary to keep a copy at hand, on the desk, or the coun- ter, that every-where, and on all occasions, the appeal to it could be instant, and its decision was final. The disciples were becoming strong in the faith ; many of them able to teach others. The church divided on these principles-the greater part moving on under the leadership of the apostles, a small minority ad- hering to the received standards.
Among the converts in Scott's meeting, in War- . ren, were Enos Bacon and Daniel Faunce. At their invitation, Scott and Bentley came to Bazetta in May, and added a number more; who, taking member- ship in the existing church, were counted as Baptists. In the fall Thomas Campbell came and organized the present Church of Christ in Bazetta. Bro. Aaron Davis writes : " He had to fight every inch of ground. There was division in the ranks of the Baptist church, but most of the members fell in with the 'new doc- trines,' as they were called. This stirred the ire of
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Elder Woodworth, the pastor. The contest was sharp for awhile, as he said he would have a fair fight in an open field. And surely it was sharp for a time, but he was soon vanquished ; and most of the church fell in with the 'new doctrine.'"
The church numbered twenty-eight at the begin- ning. They found in the Scriptures that, under the apostles' teaching, there were elders in every church. Proceeding to organize on the divine model, they elected Samuel Bacon, Samuel Hoadley and Asher Coburn, bishops or elders ; and James Bowen and Asher W. Coburn, deacons. This was done in Father Bacon's barn, the only place they could get for their meetings. In the fall, when cool weather came, they repaired to his house. Finally a school-house was obtained, which served, for a few years, till a meet- ing-house was erected. During this period, and for many years, they had no regular preaching. They were served in occasional appointments, and two days' meetings, by the preachers then in the field ; and, later, by Green, Jones, Brockett, Phillips, James Calvin, Gates, Henselman, Dr. T. Hillock and I. A. Thayer.
Several churches arose from this one. West Ba- zetta, Fowler, Mecca and Greene, started with mem- bers from this hive. In respect to its officers, fewer changes have been made than in many churches. After Samuel Hoadley, one of the first overseers, John Sanders was appointed. He served a few years. After him Aaron Davis, who has stood as an elder about thirty-eight years. In the place of Sam- uel Bacon, Calvin Smith was chosen. In the place of Asher Coburn, the lamented Daniel Faunce was
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elected overseer. At his demise, Otis Coburn. Then, after him, Seth Hulse, who serves now with Davis. The present number is about one hundred and eighty. A good house, and Bro. R. T. Davis for settled preacher.
Several preachers have arisen from this church. The wise and excellent James Hadsel, of Indiana, arose in this church. John T. Phillips began here, though he was not sent out by this congregation. Here Harvey Brockett-the sainted Brockett-was helped on his feet. They found him in Farmington, showing zeal and ability in exhortation, which gave promise of a bright future. They moved his family to Bazetta, and with some help from abroad, they purchased and gave him thirty-five acres of land for a home. And Calvin Smith, famous above his asso- ciates.
The church in Bazetta has long been generous in sustaining the yearly meetings of the county ; one held in August, 1841, is spoken of with much inter- est. It was attended by Henry, Lanphear, S. Church, Green, Jones, Dr. Robison, Winfield, Brockett and others. There were thirty-nine conversions ; Bro. John T. Phillips was one of that number.
BIOGRAPHY OF CALVIN SMITH.
Among the unchronicled dead, whose labors will be held in perpetual remembrance, is the name of Calvin Smith. He lives in the affectionate remembrance of the many whom he turned to righteousness. Very many churches throughout North-eastern Ohio, with some in the East, to New York and New England, and in the West to Wiscon- sin and Iowa, will never cease to cherish the memory of this remarkable man.
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Calvin Smith was born October 30th, 1813, in the town- ship of Vernon, Trumbull County, Ohio. His father died when he was between five and six years old. He contin- ued to live in poverty, with his mother, until he was eleven years of age, when he went to live with Ezekiel Beach, of the same town. When he was nearly fourteen, his mother was married again to Isaac Meecham, of Kinsman. He chose his step-father for his guardian, who bound him out to learn the blacksmith trade. During the six years he re- mained at this business, he was employed less at the anvil than at the desk, as an accountant. But other impulses fired his soul. His quick discernment and penetrating mind surveyed the wide domains of our intellectual nature, and he longed to enter, possess, and cultivate that prolific soil. During the time of his apprenticeship, he omitted no opportunity to read and study. With a temperament immensely active, with a keen and quick discernment and a most retentive memory, he gathered knowledge as the miser gathers gold. At twenty he bought his time and commenced teaching school, still employing every availa- ble opportunity to advance in education.
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