USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > Historical collections of Coshocton County, Ohio : > Part 17
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They were at first connected with the Tuscarawas cir- cuit, Muskingum district, Western conference. Subse- quently, it is said, they formed a part of Norwich circuit. Not later than 1820, they were included in Muskingum circuit. From 1813-23, the district was called Muskingum also, then for a time Lancaster.
That old Tuscarawas circuit ineluded within its bounda- ries the following circuits and stations : Zanesville, now of the Ohio conference, Norwich, Sonora, Adamsville, Cam- bridge, Liberty, Washington, Milnersville, Plainfield, and Coshocton, of the Pittsburg conference, and parts of what are now Dresden and Roscoe circuits in the North Ohio conference, and doubtless other territory which can not be designated.
Bishop Morris, writing in 1839, says : "The Muskingum
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circuit, when the Rev. Charles Elliott was my colleague, in 1818-19, included what is now called Zanesville station, Putnam circuit, Cambridge circuit, and parts of others ; and the following year, when Samuel Brockunier and James Gilruth were my colleagues, we so enlarged it as to include Washington, Coshocton, and other intermediate settlements. Those familiar with the country can see the extent of our plan by running a supposed line from Zanesville on through the settlements of Jonathan's creek to Wolf creek, below McConnelsville; thence up the river to Putnam; then by a zigzag route on to the bend of Wills creek, and all the neighborhoods down to Cambridge; thence to Washing- ton, Sugar creek, Wagoner's plains, Coshocton, and John- son's plains ; and finally, by numerous angles, right, acute, and obtuse, back to the place of beginning. This, when I went to it, was a four weeks' circuit; but when I left, it required a tour of six weeks, with little rest for man or horse. Our first year's work resulted in a small decrease, chiefly on account of strictly enforcing the rules of the dis- cipline, and laying aside many delinquent members; but the second year we received about two hundred new mem- bers, which, after deducting all losses, gave us a considera- ble increase."
About the year 1833, as nearly as I can tell, " the radi- cal split," as it was commonly called, occurred. This rup- ture was produced originally by the question of " lay dele- gation," and led to the formation of the Methodist Pro- testant Church, in 1828. This event was very disastrous in its consequences to the appointments of which we have been speaking. The Plainfield society, then perhaps sixty in number, was reduced to eight. This little band, headed by Judge Thomas Johnson, continued faithful to the old church and its principles, and continued to meet on a week day, for preaching, in the school-house. From this fact, I infer that the seceding party, by odds the largest, retained the original house of worship .*
*A house of worship was erected, chiefly by Judge Johnson, in 1835. Subsequently, the congregation erected a building (frame) in Jacobs- port. For the erection of this, M. L. Norris (afterward so extensively
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The Marquand appointment was for a number of years seriously enfeebled, but through unflagging faith and labor, under the leadership of the earnest men, Marquand and Ballentine, quiet and order were again restored.
At Robinson's, the society shared a similar fate. At times, prosperity would seem to return, when, by deaths, removals, or other untoward events, it would seem to be left in the same or worse condition. But the little com- pany of earnest men and women, chief of whom, I believe, was Judge Robinson, stood firm, and the result is the sub- stantial success of to-day. Judge Johnson died in 1840, having, however, lived to see prosperity restored to the church of his love. Judge Robinson fell at his post in 1856. Peter Marquand passed from earth about eight years ago; and Hugh Ballentine removed to the West some year's since, where he still lives.
For about five years prior to the organization of the Coshocton circuit, those appointments were connected with the old Roscoe circuit, which, during that period, was served by .the following-named preachers: Blanipied, Lynch, McDowell, Cooley, Goof, Lowell (who died of small-pox in Dresden, and was succeeded by Perkins), Camp, Brown, and Kalog. During that time, David Young and W. B. Christie served as presiding elders. I am not certain that this list is correct, nor can I give the date of appointment or length of service of any one. As we approach our own time, however, our information is more abundant and accurate.
Rev. I. N. Baird, D.D., now of Allegheny City, Pa., in a letter to the writer, says: "I was sent to Coshocton in the summer of 1840. Found the territory I was to organ- ize into a circuit to be bounded by the Muskingum river from Coshocton down to the mouth of Wills creek ; up the same to the neighborhood of Linton; then north to the plains near Evansburgh; thence down to the place of be- ginning. There were societies at East Plainfield, Mar-
engaged in building operations in Coshocton) had the contract. This building was somewhat enlarged and greatly improved in the summer of 1875.
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quand's, and Robinson's. There was no society in Coshoc- ton-indeed, but one member was found there, Sister Span- gler, still with you. Thomas C. Ricketts had, a little be- fore that, united with the church in Roscoe-was yet ou probation, and afterward came to us when we organized. There was a brother Conwell, also, who had been a mem- ber of the church somewhere, and joined us when we or- ganized. But Mrs. David Spangler was the only member of the church at the time of my arrival, and to her as much as to any preacher, perhaps, our struggling enterprize there is indebted for its success. Her noble husband, though not a member, was always helpful in every way."
In 1841, Dr. Baird organized a class near the present Mount Zion appointment, the planting from which sprang the church of that name. In 1854, the following appoint- ments were attached to the charge: Liberty, Hopewell, Peoble's, and Early's. The arrangement not proving mu- tually agreeable, at the end of one year they were detached.
In 1855, the church at Lafayette was founded, which in recent years has attained considerable strength. . Until 1859, the circuit retained substantially its original shape, but in that year a division was made. Coshocton, Robinson's, and Lafayette formed one pastoral charge, retaining the old name. Maysville, Mount Zion, and Plainfield formed an- other, under the latter name. Lafayette, by request, was next year placed in the Plainfield circuit. For nine years, Robinsons and Coshocton constituted one pastoral charge ; but in 1868 the former was again included in the Plainfield circuit, since when the latter has been a station.
The first quarterly conference of the original Coshocton circuit was held at Bethany church, October 17, 1840. It will be of interest to know the names of the men consti- tuting that body, which have been furnished me from the original record by one of the members: Rev. Edward Tay- lor was the Elder; Rev. I. N. Baird the Preacher; James Robinson, Robert Johnson, David Richason, Hugh Ballen- tine, T. C. Ricketts, and John M. Johnson, the Stewards. Exhorters : E. Davis and Charles Grimes. Leaders : Adam
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Wallace, John Chamberlain, Charles Wilcox, and Thomas Elliott. This, I believe, is the entire list.
We have seen that, at the organization of the circuit in 1840, no society of the Methodist Episcopal Church existed in Coshocton ; but for some years previous the Methodist Protestant Church had maintained one. Different men had, however, preached in the town from time to time as occasion offered, for a number of years-such as Thomas A. Morris (afterward bishop), David Young, Jacob Young, Robert O. Spencer, Wm. B. Christie, John Dillon, and oth- ers, no doubt, of whom I have no certain knowledge.
As to the founding of the church in Coshocton, Dr. Baird further says : "I preached in the court-house, and organ- ized the first class of twelve members in the old jury-box. It was during my second year that some steps were taken toward building a church. I can not now recall the stage of the work when I left in 1842. I left a considerable soci- ety-near seventy members, I think-and was succeeded by Rev. John J. Swayze, at that time the most popular man in the pulpit, in the conference." The twelve mem- bers of that first class were : Elizabeth Spangler, Thomas C. Ricketts, George E. Conwell, Felix Landis, David Frew, Benjamin R. Shaw, Henrietta Shaw, Nancy Decker, Mar- tha Wallace, Mary Wallace, Abraham Sells, and Lucy Thomas.
Fortunately, from the original record-book, I am enabled to transcribe the following: " At a meeting held in the town of Coshocton, May 9, 1842, by the friends and mem- bers of the M. E. Church, for the purpose of consultation as to the propriety of erecting a house for public worship- Wm. McFarland having been called to the chair, and B. R. Shaw made secretary-on motion of David Spangler, it was unanimously resolved that we take immediate measures to secure a site and erect a suitable building." Accordingly a committee of five persons was appointed to secure a loca- tion and solicit subscriptions. Thomas C. Ricketts, James Robinson, David Frew, and Wm. McFarland composed the committee. An additional committee, consisting of James LeRetilley, Theophilus Phillips, and Samuel Hutchinson,
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was appointed to secure subscriptions in Roscoe. At a subsequent meeting, David Frew, B. R. Shaw, and George E. Conwell were elected a building committee.
After some good-natured difference of opinion, the pres- ent location was agreed upon for the church, the ground then being owned by Joseph Rue. Whether their friends of to-day regard their selection as a fortunate one, I can not say.
A vote of thanks for the liberal subscriptions of the com- munity is recorded, and then, among other things, the fol- lowing : " Resolved, That we accept the proposal of Mr. John Elliott to erect said building for the sum of $2,500, as per contract"-paying him at the same time $1,099, the amount of subscriptions then obtained.
A complete list of the contributors, with the amounts of their contributions, is also preserved. The men of that time-for we are to remember that all this took place a generation ago -- believed in the pay-as-you-go plan. Nu- merous records of minor subscriptions were made during the four years the church was building; but when it was finally ready for use, little or nothing remained to be paid.
The church was dedicated in the early summer of 1846, during the pastorate of Rev. E. P. Jacob, by Rev. Wesley Kenny, D.D., then of Wheeling, more recently of the Phil- adelphia Conference, lately deceased. Since that time it has been repaired and improved at different times at an ag- gregate expense of not less than double its original cost. In 1862, the parsonage property was secured. In the spring of 1863, the Pittsburg Conference held its annual session in it.
The Sunday school was organized August 8, 1845, with George E. Conwell superintendent, Russell C. Bryant sec- retary, and W. Wells librarian.
THE PREACHERS.
1812-13, John Mitchell ; 1813-14, John Clingan ; 1814- 15, William Dixon ; 1815-16, Joseph Kinkead ; 1816-17, William Knox ; 1817-18, John Waterman and Thos. Carr; 1818-19, John Tivis and Samuel Glaze; 1819-20, Thos. A.
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Morris, S. R. Brockunier, and Jas. Gilruth ; 1821-22, Jas. Hooper and Archibald MeIlroy; 1822-23, Leroy Sworm- stedt and M. M. Henkle; 1823-24, Burnis Westlake and David Young; 1824-25, Wm. Cunningham; 1825-26, Ed- ward Taylor and Ezra Brown; 1826 27, Zarah H. Coston, M. Ellis (sup.); 1827-28, Cornelius Springer and James Callahan ; 1828-29, Joseph Carper and C. Springer ; 1829- 30, Joseph Carper and Wm. B. Christie ; 1830-31, Alfred M. Lorrain and Gilbert Blue ; 1831-32, Jacob Delay and Wm. Young ; 1832-33, John W. Gilbert and Levi P. Mil- ler ; 1833-34, J. W. Gilbert and Charles C. Leybrand ; 1834-35, James McMahon, Cyrus Brooks, and Samuel Har- vey (until 1840, names given above); 1840-42, Isaac N. Baird ; 1842-43, John J. Swayze ; 1843-44, John D. Rich; 1844-45, Thomas McLeary; 1845-46, E. Jacob; 1846-47, James Henderson ; 1847-49, D. P. Mitchell ; 1849-50, C. Wyrick ; 1850-51, D. Trueman; 1851-52, C. A. Holmes ; 1852-54, J. E. McGaw ; 1854-55, H. Sinsabaugh and R. S. Hogue ; 1858-59, T. Davidson and H. M. Close ; 1859-60, T. Davidson and J. J. Neigh.
PREACHERS OF PLAINFIELD CIRCUIT SINCE 1860.
1860-62, George McKee; 1862-64, Joseph Shaw ; 1864- 65, John Crisman ; 1865-66, same (left, his place filled by W. L. Dixon) ; 1866-67, T. H. S. White; 1867-68, J. E. Storkey; 1868-69, same, and M. C. Harris ; 1869-70, J. W. Weaver and T. W. Anderson; 1870-71, J. W. Weaver and J. W. Toland; 1871-72, same, and H. W. Rader; 1872-73, A. V. Galbraith and T. S. Luccock (sup.); 1873-75, A. V. Galbraith ; 1875-76, H. H. Pershing.
PREACHERS OF COSHOCTON SINCE 1860.
1860-62, S. M. Hickman ; 1862-63, W. R. Fouts ; 1863- 65, W. D. Stevens; 1865-67, E. W. Brady (who, retiring before the expiration of his term, was succeeded by J. W. Bushong, who served during the remainder of the term) ; 1867-68, E. Birket ; 1868-71, S. Crouse ; 1871-73, J. D. Vail; 1873-76, B. F. Beazell.
Of statistics prior to the foundation of the Coshocton cir-
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euit, we know nothing. The contribution-or, at all events, the allowance-of the entire circuit the first year (1840) for the support of the gospel, was $100 for the preacher and $10 for the presiding elder.
Benevolent collections were of course not thought of, and Sunday schools were yet in the future. The entire mem- bership of that year was about 60. The membership of these two charges, as shown by the conference minutes of 1875, is 640. The amount paid for ministerial support the same year, $2,120, and for benevolent purposes, $640. There are also six Sunday schools, with an aggregate attendance of 600 seholars.
Of the churches to the west and north of Coshocton (in North Ohio Conference) we have these notes :
The first (Chalfant's) meeting-house in Washington town- ship was built in 1811, and the church there is regarded by many as the oldest in the county. There is a good church at Moscow, in that township. In the northwest part of the county the Methodist church was planted at several points in New Castle and Perry townships, concentrating at East Union, at a very early date, largely through the zealous efforts of Joseph W. Pigman, a famous class leader and local preacher, settled in that locality, of whom mention . is elsewhere made in this volume.
Churches were subsequently established at West Bedford and West Carlisle, which, with varying numbers, have al- ways been accounted (especially the former) as among the more important ones in the county.
The West Bedford, church antedates the other several years, and is one of the oldest churches in the county. It was organized about 1819.
Roscoe .- From 1820 to 1826, there had occasionally been a sermon preached in Roscoe (then Caldersburg), in the din- ing-room of a tavern kept by one William Bareus; but in 1826 two Methodist ministers were appointed by the An- nual Conference to the Circuit in which Roscoe was em- braced, and in the spring of that year the first class was
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formed by those ministers (their names were Abner Gough and H. O. Sheldon). The persons forming the class were Theophilus Phillips, Mrs. Samuel Brown, James Le Retilley and wife, Mrs. William Barcus, Rachel Le Retilley, and Joseph Shoemaker and wife. Meetings continued to be held in the same tavern until about 1828, about which time Samuel Brown joined, and the meetings were after that held at his house until 1831, in which year they built them a nice little brick church, twenty-four by forty feet. A lit- tle incident in regard to Samuel Brown. He was, by his own account, a very wicked man then. There was to be a love feast held on Sunday morning, and he went along with his wife to carry the child, not intending to stay in, but when they got there it was about time to close the door, as it was the cus- tom in those days. So, when he stepped in to hand the child to his wife they closed the door and drew a bench against it, so that he could not get out, and was compelled very reluctantly to remain, and during the exercises he be- came powerfully convicted, and then and there joined the church.
In 1853, the old church being too small, they con- cluded to build a larger one. The old one was torn down, and one erected forty by sixty feet; and in March, 1874, it was burned and rebuilt the same year at a cost of $8,000, exclusive of materials out of old building. It is a handsome brick, same size as old one, with brick tower and fine bell. The windows are of stained-glass, and the pulpit and pews are very neat; manufactured at Richmond, Indiana. It was dedicated December 27, 1875.
The Branch church, some six miles west of Roscoe, has long been associated with that church in a circuit, and takes rank as one of the older and stronger country churches.
Warner Chapel, on Bowman's section, three miles south of Roscoe, is a neat brick building, the erection of which was accomplished some six years ago, largely through the
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efforts of the Austins, Biggs, and others formerly connected with Roscoe. It is a point in the Roscoe circuit.
Three miles further south is the Conesville church. Frank Wolf was largely instrumental in securing this church. The building is a good brick one of moderate dimensions.
The Warsaw Methodist Society was organized in 1843, by Rev. Mr. Thatcher, the presiding elder at the time being the Rev. Mr. Yocum. For five or six years meetings were held in the old school-house, still standing on the hill. The first members were Langdon Hogle, Andrew Weath- erwax and wife, Joseph Meggs and wife, John Hook and wife, William Pancake and wife. The church was built about five years after the society was organized-a frame building worth something over a thousand dollars. Rev. Mr. Thatcher was followed by Rev. Finley Leonard, during whose ministry a great revival occurred, the result being an addition of some forty to the church. The number of communicants at this time is fifty, and the church is in more prosperous condition than for several years.
The Mohawk Village Methodist church was organized in the fall of 1840. In the preceding year a company from Ireland had settled in the Mohawk valley, until that time a comparative wilderness. They were followed the next year by other families of the same connection. The first company embraced James Moore, deceased (father of Rob- ert Moore), James Moore, Sr., John Moore, and William Moore. Those coming the next year were William and James Given, William and James Thompson, and William Moore, all now living. And these families, with Thomas Treadaway and wife, composed the society at its organization. In 1841, there was an addition to the settlement, including, besides others, John Moore and family, and the well-known James and Robert of the present day. For about a year from the organization, the meetings were held in the Whit- taker school-house; then a school-house was built in the settlement, and meetings held in that. In 1849, the church was built-worth some $1,500. Within a few years it has
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been repaired and very much improved as to its interior. It stands near a refreshing spring of water, and is convenient and attractive in all its appointments and arrangements. The minister first in charge was Rev. Mr. Camp. Rev. Leonard Parker succeeded him, and Rev. Henry Whitte- more (still preaching in Northern Ohio Conference) succeeded Parker. Under his ministry quite a noticeable number were added to the society. Rev. Homer J. Clark followed Whittemore. Then came Austin Coleman, during whose ministry the church building was erected. Just prior to building the Methodist Episcopal church, he held a pro- tracted meeting in the Baptist church, which had been built the year before. During this revival there were a great many valuable accessions. The history of the society has been marked by great prosperity. The number of mem- bers at this time is eighty-seven.
In relation to the church at Keene, two respectful appli- cations, at some months interval, were made to the minister in charge for information. Both were unanswered. An intelligent gentleman was then commissioned to make di- rect personal application. His answer is in these words : " Nothing can be learned of the early history of the M. E. Church here that can be made available for your purposes. There seem to be no 'records' to refer to, and there is no member to consult who was living here at the time the church was organized. I can get no information from the Rev. Mr. Disney, and succeed no better with his laymen. I can only abandon the fruitless search."* The society is an old one, and the building a good frame.
At Canal Lewisville a very neat frame church was built in 1872, chiefly through the efforts of David Markley. The appointment is one in connection with Keene, and the con- gregation has had a pleasant history and enjoyed great prosperity.
In 1874, mainly by the efforts of John Richmond and J. B. Peck, a tasty and convenient Methodist church was
* Was not this the church in which Rev. Charles Elliott, D.D., and other worthies of Methodism were trained ?
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built at Orange, and a congregation formed, supplied for the present from New Comerstown.
The church at Bakersville was organized about 1848, and is now enjoying its second house of worship (dedicated February 7, 1875), the old one having become unadapted to the size and character of the congregation. Making part of this charge are several appointments in the county round about, chief of which is White Eyes. The number of members at Bakersville at this time is about seventy, and in the whole charge some two hundred and twenty.
The church at Bloomfield was built during the summer of 1871. It was dedicated January 14, 1872. Its cost was about $2,500. The congregation was organized with a membership of twenty. Thirty-three were soon there- after added under the labors of Rev. A. E. Thomas, the minister at that time in charge. The present membership is about seventy-five. The Sunday-school has always been a most interesting department of this church. It was or- ganized in March, 1872, with E. J. Pocock as superin- tendent.
The whole number of members of the M. E. Church in the county is reported at sixteen hundred.
METHODIST (PROTESTANT) CHURCHES.
The Methodist (Protestant) Church dates its organiza- tion in Coshocton county in 1830. The first movement seems to have been at Jacobsport, where to this day prob- ably the strongest organization is found. The building is a commodious frame.
On the plains above Lafayette a church (the appointment was called "Phillips'") was organized at an early day in the history of the denomination, which has always since manifested much vigor. It occupies a substantial brick building.
At Coshocton, some thirty years ago, the M. P. Church was a comparatively strong one, with the best house of worship (the brick on Locust street between Second and Third) and largest congregation of the place. It soon thereafter began to decline, and for a number of years has
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not attempted to hold any service. The building has of late years been occupied by the German Lutherans.
The interest of the M. P. Church about Coshocton has of late years been concentrated at Moore's school-house, two. miles below Coshocton, where there is at this time quite a fair congregation.
Besides the points thus far noticed as occupied by this denomination, there are appointments at Littick's, in Frank- lin township; at Union Church, in Oxford township; at Wolfe's ; at Bird's Run, in Linton.
The pioneer organizer among the early Methodist Pro- testants was Theophilus Richison.
Among the more prominent ministerial laborers in the advancement of the interests of this denomination have been Cornelius Springer,* N. Sneethen, J. Dolby, William Munhall, Israel Thrapp, Joseph Hamilton, John Baker, D. Truman.
Among those connected with the various organizations in the earlier days were : In Coshocton, David Waggonert and wife, and Zebedee Baker and wife; in Franklin town- ship, Isaac Shambaugh and wife, the Litticks, Browning, Bancroft, and Maston ; at Moore's school-house, the Moores, the Porteus', and McBanes; at Jacobsport, John Davis, S. V. Powelson, the Bakers, Chapples, and Magness; in La- fayette township, the Loozes and Phillips, etc.
It is said that there are some fifteen localities (all south of rivers) at which services under the direction of this de- nomination are held; and the number of members in the county is estimated at some five hundred.
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