USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > Historical collections of Coshocton County, Ohio : > Part 18
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
Coshocton Church .- The largest Presbyterian church in the county is that of Coshocton. It can hardly be called
* Recently died in Zanesville at a very advanced age, and greatly beloved.
+ Residing just out of Coshocton, in the southeast. He is a son of Phillip Waggoner, elsewhere mentioned as one of the first settlers in Oxford township; now in his seventy-sixth year.
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the oldest, it being in fact a twin church with that at Keene. Ministers traveling to, or living in the counties west and south, occasionally preached in the town from 1812 until 1818. In the latter year, Rev. James Cunning- ham, then living in Utica, Licking county, supplied what was denominated "the congregation of Coshocton and Mill creek," in which were fifteen communicants. The separation of the congregation seems to have occurred abont 1833, about which time Rev. Geo. Warner was preaching to the church. Rev. Nathaniel Conklin followed him. The first elder at Coshocton was James Renfrew, and a little later John Elliott was elected. The former had served as an elder in the united church of Coshocton and Mill creek, and the latter had served at Keene before removing to Coshocton. The services were held at first in private houses, and then in the court-house. In 1824, James Renfrew started a Sunday-school. It was held in the currying-shop of the tannery on the northwest corner of Second and Walnut streets. In April, 1834, the county commissioners gave Samuel Lee, William K. Johnson, John Porter, and their associates, a lease of a site for a church on the southwest quarter of the public square, and the congrega- tion, by a great and protracted effort, put up a substantial frame building, thirty by forty-two feet. It stands at this writing on the northeast corner of Fourth and Main streets -- used for stores. Rev. Joseph S. Wylie, the first pastor of the church, began his labors in 1835, and remained pastor about six years, passing to Apple creek in Wayne county, and afterward to Florence, Pennsylvania, where he died. Eight members made up the original organization of the Coshocton church. There was a steady increase until 1838. In that year fourteen members withdrew, and were organized into a second Presbyterian church. Rev. Addi- son Coffey, coming from Lebanon, Ohio, began preaching to the old church as stated supply, August 8, 1841, and was installed pastor in 1843. Shortly before Mr. Coffey came, Jacob Elliott and Jonathan Fiske* had been ordained elders,
*ยท Father of Rev. Ezra Fiske, D.D., of Greencastle, Indiana.
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and in his pastorate (ending September 2, 1847), David Noble, Samuel Wheeler, Rolla Banks, J. F. Traxler, and Wm. Loder. From 1847, when Mr. Coffey removed to Peoria, Illinois, to the fall of 1851, the church was supplied by Rev. H. K. Hennigh and Rev. R. Robe, now in Oregon. Rev. Prosper H. Jacob (now of Knoxville, Iowa) was pastor from 1851 to 1854. In his pastorate, Wm. Sample, Wm. Laughead, and Jos. K. Johnson were installed elders. Rev. T. J. Taylor (who died in Illinois, 1867) supplied the church for a few months in 1855-6.
Wm. E. Hunt (licensed by Steubenville Presbytery), the present pastor of the church, became such May 14, 1857, having supplied the churches of Coshocton and Keene from the July preceding. At that time there were fifty-six mem- bers of the church. At the time of Mr. Hunt's installation the Johnson Brothers (John, Joseph K., and Wm. K.) pro- posed to give lot 314 (on Main street) and the house then on it for a parsonage, provided the rest of the congregation would build an addition, all of which was done. In 1866, the brick church (forty-three by seventy feet, two towers, steeple one hundred feet, slate roof, frescoed walls, stained glass windows, etc.), corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets, was begun and finished in spring of 1868, at a cost of $15,500 .* The synod of Ohio met in it that fall. In May, 1867, T. S. Humrickhouse, T. C. Ricketts, and James R. Johnson were installed elders.
The second church was organized January 12, 1839, and in the following spring Rev. E. Buckingham, from New- ark,t became the pastor. Samuel Lee and A. R. Hillyer were the first elders. Mr. Buckingham remained until April 22, 1846. During his ministry, eighty-four were added to the fourteen original members of the church, and a frame house of worship was erected on Fourth street be- tween Main and Chestnut streets, now " Equity Building."
* The carpenter work was done by W. H. Robinson; the brick work by C. Daugherty, of Newark, Ohio.
+ Afterward at Canton, Ohio; died March, 1876.
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Phineas Tuttle and James Hill were elected elders March 27, 1843.
Rev. H. Calhoun (now of Ironton, Ohio), was stated sup- ply of the church for eleven years from . April, 1846, and was followed for brief periods by Reverends Mussey, John Henderson, and Wm. Bridgeman. From November, 1861, to November, 1865, Rev. C. W. Wallace (recently of Mon- rocville, Ohio), supplied the church.
A. D. Denman and Josiah Glover were elected elders September 23, 1860; Chester Wells, September 13, 1862 ; and W. H. Robinson and Dr. S. H. Lee, March 11, 1863.
A temporary arrangement was entered into July 1,1867, by which the first and second churches were to worship to- gether under the ministry of Rev. Wm. E. Hunt, pastor of the first church, each church retaining its organization. This arrangement continued until the formal union was ac- complished in virtue of the action of the General Assemblies, under which the churches had respectively been. This was consummated September 11, 1870. The united church took as the corporate name " The Presbyterian Church of Cosh- octon," and engaged Rev. Wm. E. Hunt as pastor. At the time of union, there were on the roll of the first church one hundred and twelve names, and on that of the second church seventy-four. In 1871, the brick parsonage next the church was built at a cost of about $5,000. The old par- sonage was sold for $2,500, and the second Presbyterian church building was sold in 1873 for $3,000.
The elders at this time are William Sample, A. D. Den- man, T. S. Humrickhouse, S. H. Lee, T. C. Ricketts, W. H. Robinson, Josiah Glover, and James R. Johnson. The number of members in April, 1875, was one hundred and seventy. A large proportion of the funds for the new brick church was raised through the instrumentality of the " Ladies' Society -they having in the outset purchased the lot, costing $1,000.
Keene (Township) Church .- As stated in the preceding sketch, Rev. James Cunningham, living in Utica, Licking
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county, as early as in 1818, occasionally preached to what was denominated the Congregation of Coshocton and Mill Creek. The prominent members of the congregation (in which were fifteen communicants) were James Renfrew and Samuel Lee, of Coshocton, and Timothy and Jacob Emer- son, in the neighborhood of Keene. Services were held in pleasant weather under the trees of the forest, standing on the site of the present church of Keene. The church prob- ably became the church of Keene distinctively in 1833. The oldest sessional record now accessible is dated July 14, 1827. On that day the Rev. Thomas Barr preached, and fifteen members were received into the church. The elders were Timothy Emerson and James Renfrew. The church was supplied during 1828 and 1829, Rev. James Culbertson and Rev. J. B. Morrow, among others, preach- ing. Rev. George Warner then " supplied" for two years. In 1832, Rev. Wm. Cox preached, and the session received ten members. Rev. N. Conklin was stated supply for two years ending June 1836. Rev. J. S. Wylie followed Mr. Conklin, and served for three years. Both Mr. Conklin and Mr. Wylie also served at the same time the Coshocton church, and these churches have frequently been associated in min- isterial charge. Rev. B. I. Lowe followed Mr. Wylie, re- maining as stated supply for two years. From 1841 until 1843, the church was supplied by Presbytery. Rev. John D. Whitham was installed pastor July 7, 1843. In 1844, a division occurred, and a New School church was organ- ized. After a little time this was reorganized as a " Free Presbyterian " church, which, after a feeble life, protracted through a dozen years, became extinct.
Of the old church Rev. J. W. Knott became pastor, June 28, 1845, remaining in charge until October, 1847. Rev. Samuel Hanna (son of Rev. A. Hanna, of Wayne county) became pastor, November 11, 1848, and continued his labors until his death, in 1850. His memory is still among the people as " ointment poured forth." Rev. John Trubit, Rev. William Edgar, and Rev. C. C. Bomberger supplied the church from 1850 until July, 1856. At that time Rev. William E. Hunt began to preach, and continued until the
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next year, when, being invited to spend the whole time at Coshocton, the Kcene church called Rev. R. W. Marquis, then preaching in the Linton and Evans creek churches. He was installed November 14, 1857, and continued as pas- tor until his death, in May, 1875, and is now gratefully re- called as " the faithful pastor." Since his death, the church has been supplied by Rev. A. Cone. In 1832, John Elliott and Nathan Shannon were added to the session. John El- liott was afterward dismissed to Coshocton. Timothy Em- erson died in 1874. The present elders are Nathan Shan- non, Joel Glover, Robert MeClure, Liverton Beall, James Leggett, and W. H. Crawford. Rev. I. N. Shannon, pas- tor of the church of Terre Haute, Indiana, and also of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, was a child of this church, his father, Nathan Shannon, having long been an honored elder in it, and his own body rests in its grave-yard.
The church building, standing on a gentle acclivity, em- bracing several acres, dotted with young forest trees, is a large frame structure, most substantially built. It was erected in 1834 by Charles Farwell. The number of com- municants in 1875 was one hundred and twenty-eight.
West Carlisle Church .- This church was organized on the first day of November, 1828. Rev. James Cunningham (originally from Washington county, Penn., first settled near Marietta, afterward at Utica), had been preaching occasionally in the neighborhood, for some time, and con- tinned to preach for the church until 1834. Rev. Jacob Wolf then served the church for about a year, and after he left Mr. Cunningham again preached for the congregation a couple of years. In 1838 and 1839 the church was sup- plied by Rev. Enoch Bouton and Rev. Nathaniel Conklin. Rev. J. Matthews seems to have been the first pastor- installed November 11, 1840. Until 1846 he gave it half his time, and then the whole time until 1853. During his time the church building still in use was erected. In 1853, C. C. Bomberger was ordained and installed pastor, giving to this church half his time. During the war the congre- gation was greatly distracted, and finally divided, Mr. Bom-
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berger and a considerable portion of the congregation put- ting themselves in connection with the Presbytery of Louis- ville (Declaration and Testimony), and the new church coming afterward under the care of the Presbytery of Cen- tral Ohio in connection with the Synod of Kentucky. After several years of embarrassment, with only occasional supplies, John Foy was ordained and installed in 1870. During his pastorate the church rallied to a considerable extent, and the house of worship was repaired and improved at a cost almost equal to its original cost. Mr. Foy removed, in 1874, to Martinsburgh, Knox county, and the church since has been supplied chiefly by Rev. S. Mehaffey. At its organization the number of members was twenty-four. In 1860 there were eighty-six ; in 1874, one hundred. The first elders were Thomas McKee, James Crawford, and Adam Gault. Subsequently the following have served : A. HI. Lyons, Christopher Crothers, John Lyons, Jas. McKee, Robert Crouch, Wm. Harvey, Geo. McKee, D. D. Johnson, Lewis Bonnett, and Thomas McKee. Those in italics compose the session at this time.
Jefferson Church .- This is situated in Jefferson township, about one mile south of Warsaw. Among those chiefly interested in the organization of the church were the Elder family, and the building was located on a site given for the purpose on the farm of old John Elder. The church was organized August 19, 1837. A colony was sent out for the purpose from the West Carlisle Church, with which it has nearly always been associated in making a pastoral charge .* The principal ministerial labor has been rendered by Rev- erends Matthews, Bomberger, John Moore, and Foy. It had, at the outset, twenty-four members-had, in 1875, abont seventy. The elders first elected were Thomas Lowery, Isaac Skillman-subsequently Wm. Mccullough, James Anderson, James Douglass, Matthew Elder, Wm. Crouch, J. V. Stevenson, John McCluggage, Cyrus Elder, D. E. Laughlin. Those in italics constitute the session at this time.
* See sketch of that church.
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Clark Church .- The Clark (township) church was organ- ized March 22, 1834. Rev. N. Conklin and others had occasionally preached in the region, a number of Presbyte- rian families having therein settled. John P. Kerr and Thomas Guthrie were the first elders. There were twelve members.
The services, for three years, were held in the house or barn of Wm. Craig. The first church building was erected in 1837, by Geo. Weatherwax. Cost, about $200. The site of the building originally donated was deeded to trus- tees May 19, 1846, by Wm. Craig and wife, in considera- tion of one dollar. In 1867, a new edifice was erected-a good-sized and neatly-built frame structure.
The ministers of the church have been: N. Conklin, 1834-38; Messrs. Washburn, Turbit, and Gordon were sup- plies from 1838 to 1845 ; S. M. Templeton, 1845-47; Sam- uel Hanna, 1847-51; John M. Boggs, 1851-56; R. W. Marquis, 1857-72; A. S. Milholland, 1871-75 ; T. D. Dun- can, April 11, 1875.
The elders : John P. Kerr, Thomas Guthrie, Robert Hus- ton, George Weatherwax, Thomas Shannon, Wm. Weather- wax, Geo. R. Altman, James Endsley, Jr., and John T. Crawford. Those in italics composing the session at this time.
The original membership was almost wholly from West- ern Pennsylvania. There were twelve members at the or- ganization; in 1876, one hundred and fifteen.
Linton (township) Church .- Was organized August 15, 1833. Ten persons presented certificates from other churches (most of them from the church on Island creek, Jefferson county), and five persons asked to be received into the church on examination, among them John Glenn, afterward an elder. The church was supplied by Revs. N. Conklin, N. Cobb, J. Matthews, D. Washburn, S. Hanna, Wm. Lumsden, and Robert Robe, for nearly nineteen years. Rev. R. W. Marquis was the first pastor ; settled April 10, 1852, and remained in charge until the fall of 1857. The church was then supplied for a time by Rev. J. B. Akey.
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In 1860, Rev. John Moore, D.D., became pastor, and con- tinued as such for some two years. Rev. G. W. Fisher was the next pastor, 1864-68. After being supplied for two years, the church called to the pastorate Rev. J. B. Steven- son, and he was in the place more than a year. Rev. W. B. Scarborough, the present pastor, took charge in 1872.
At the organization of the church, there were fifteen members ; now there are ninety-three.
The first elders were Alex. Matthews, Sr., and Alex. Mat- thews, Jr. Being unacceptable to the congregation, they were soon removed. Eldredge Foster, J. Fort, John Glenn, and Wm. Love were in the office. All dead.
The present session is composed of A. Shaffer, A. Sib- ley, John Glenn (second), and Robert Daugherty.
The congregation is using its second house of worship. The first was an old wagon-maker's shop, repaired and re- fitted. The present is a very neat frame building, erected in 1868.
Mr. John Gunby, residing at Snow Hill, Maryland, but owning land in the vicinity of this church, left it a legacy of $1,000 in 1874.
Evans' Creek Church .- The first house of worship stood on a hill, about a mile out of Bakersville, overlooking the creek. It was a log one. The present is a neat frame structure, in Bakersville, built in 1861. The church was organized April 29, 1833.
During almost its entire history, it has been associated with the Linton church, having the same pastors, except in the case of Rev. John Moore, D.D.
The elders have been: James Jones, David Walters, Wm. Shannon, Robert Lyons, John Buck, David G. Miller, and John Miller. Those in italics are the present session.
The number of members at this time is seventy-three.
Roscoe Church .- The Roscoe church was organized April 25, 1847. Rev. H. Calhoun supplied it for eleven years, and it received a part of the time of Revs. Henderson, Wallace, and other pastors of the Second church of Coshocton. At
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the organization there were fifteen members. Under the care of Mr. Calhoun, and also at a later day under the labors of Rev. C. W. Wallace, Rev. S. P. Hildreth, and Rev. H. C. McBride, considerable accessions were received to the church ; but it has, at this writing, hardly as many as when first organized. The elders have been James Hill, George Bagnall, T. Carnahan, S. Sayre.
Chiefly through the spirited exertions of Mrs. P. W. Medbery, a good frame building was erected about 1849.
In 1847 a church was organized at " the Valley," on the road from Coshocton to Newark, six miles west of Cosloc- ton, and a squared-log church built. Rev. P. H. Jacobs, of Coshocton, and Rev. C. C. Bomberger supplied it from 1847 to 1860.
The neighborhood had at first a few Presbyterian fami- lies, but death and removal to the west soon effaced these, and as the territory was occupied from the start by other denominations, this retired from the field.
In 1863, the old organization having become extinct, a second effort was made, but with no better success than the first. To this second congregation, Rev. John Moore, D.D., while settled in Jefferson church, ministered. In the first organization, William Crooks was an elder; in the second, John McCluggage. The church never numbered a score of members.
At East Union, in early days, an unsuccessful effort to establish a Presbyterian church was made; also at Waka- tonita Cross-Roads.
After " the split" of 1838, attempts were made to start "New School " churches at Linton and Keene, but there was no success at either place.
The whole number of Presbyterian communicants in the county at this time is about eight hundred and fifty.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.
An "Associate Reformed Presbyterian " Church was planted in Adams township nearly forty years ago. Its
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chief friends were the Campbells, Daughertys, McFaddens, Funks, Smiths, and Warrens. The principal ministerial service was rendered by Rev. D. F. Reed, the congregation being associated with Millcreek. A house of worship was built about 1840, but it was many years ago burned, and the church became, after a time, extinct.
In relation to the other United Presbyterian churches, a member of the Amity church communicates the following :
The United Presbyterian Congregation of Amity, Keene township, is composed of the Associate Reformed Congre- gation of Millcreek and the Associate Congregation of Keene, which occupied substantially the same territory.
The first members of the A. R. Church came to Keene township during the summer and fall of 1817, of whom Robert Boyd was the first, who came May 4, 1817. He was an educated man, and was considered by some of his friends as at one time the best scholar west of the mountains. His wife was a sister of Rev. Gilbert McMaster, D.D., of the Covenanter Church, father of Rev. E. D. McMaster, of the O. S. Presbyterian Church. He came from Ireland when quite a young man. His father, William Boyd, was an elder in Rev. Kerr's Church, Cookstown, Tyrone county, Ireland, father of Revs. Joseph and Moses Kerr, of Pitts- burg, Pa. The first preaching they had was in the summer of 1818, by Rev. George Buchanan, of Steubenville. He preached occasionally afterward; and Robert Boyd and George Ford, formerly elders in his congregation at Steu- benville, acted as a session here. George Ford said there was no other organization between this and Steubenville. After 1822, Revs. David Proudfit, David Norwood, and Moses Kerr supplied occasionally.
The first communion was held in the fall of 1828, by Rev. Samuel Findley, D.D. The members at that time were Robert Boyd and wife, George Ford and wife, John Williams and wife, Thomas Hamilton and wife, Joseph Marshall and wife, Robert Boyd (Jr.) and wife, Mrs. Nancy Foster, Mrs. Sarah Ford, et al.
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In 1834 George Marshall, Samuel Hamilton, and John Irvine were elected elders.
Robert Boyd died November 25, 1826. George Marshall died September 30, 1834. He was a solid farmer, and the father of Colonel William Marshall.
George Ford lived until some ten years ago, dying at a very advanced age. He was a man of strong will and ar- dent piety.
John Irvine removed a few years since to Iowa.
The brick church was erected in 1834. The present frame church was erected in 1856.
Rev. D. F. Reid settled as first pastor in 1841, in connec- tion with Millersburg and White Eyes, and labored with a good degree of success for about sixteen years.
William Richie and Richard Richie were ordained elders November 10, 1857.
The Associate Congregation of Keene was organized August 26, 1838. Robert Boyd and Robert Karr were or- dained elders. Rev. Samuel Irvine officiated. Members : Robert Boyd and Elizabeth, his wife, Robert Karr and wife, William Boyd, John Karr and wife, Sarah Boyd, John Boyd, John Elliott and Martha, his wife, Robert Tidrick and wife, John Williamson and wife, James Johnson, Sam- uel Boyd and Nancy, his wife, and John Loder.
Revs. S. Irvine, Joseph McKee, Samuel Hindman Mc- Cleans, and others, supplied occasionally. In April, 1845, Rev. James M. Henderson was settled as pastor, one-fourth of his time in connection with Northfield and Claysville. He labored thus one year and nine months with a good degree of success, when he was released from this part of his charge. He was a strong advocate of temperance and opponent of slavery. The most striking instance of his labors here was a sermon that he preached from the text " Thou shalt not surely die." A Universalist preacher, by the name of Eaton, was making quite an excitement, and drawing a number of influential and enthusiastic followers after him. Mr. Henderson gave four weeks' notice that he would preach on the subject in the Keene O. S. Presbyte- rian Church. There was a large audience to hear him, and
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he handled the subject in such a manner that Universalism has had a quietus on it in these parts ever since. August 26, 1853, James T. Boyd and James Boyd were ordained and installed elders.
In November, 1854, Rev. John P. Scott was settled one- third his time in connection with Millersburg and labored one year and nine months with success, when he was re- leased from this branch of his charge.
June 16, 1855, John Williamson and James McKenzie were ordained and installed elders.
September 4, 1858, the A. R. Congregation of Mill- creek and the Associate Congregation of Keene formally went into the United Presbyterian Church.
July 1, 1859, Rev. William A. McConnell was settled as pastor of the congregations of Millcreek, White Eyes, and Keene.
Pursuant to a notice given on the last Sabbath in April, the congregations of Millcreek and Keene voted unani- mously to consolidate into one congregation and session, under the name of Amity. This " action was ratified " by Presbytery, October 15, 1861.
The session was Rev. W. A. McConnell, George Ford, John Irvine, William Richie, Richard Richie, James T. Boyd, John Williamson, and James Boyd.
Mr. MeConnell 'labored with ability and success until some difficulties arose. He resigned his charge at the meet- ing of Presbytery, June, 1864, on the ground that he had not got the encouragement and support to harmonize the charge he was led to expect. He left on the 13th of Sep- tember, 1864. At that time Amity had one hundred and thirty members. Amity has had no settled pastor since. The membership at present is forty-seven.
The 'Rev. J. C. Boyd, of Utica, Ohio, and the Rev. Joshua W. Wait, of Lincoln county, Tennessee, were reared in this congregation.
The congregation of Avondale was organized autumn of 1873, Rev. Andrew MeCartney officiating. Elders Robert C. Warren, Claudius Hamilton, James T. Boyd, and John
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Doherty. Membership, about forty-five. They have a very neat frame building.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.
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