History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 42

Author: Middleton, Evan P., editor
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 42

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Since the days of the circuit rider, who had little or no education but simply felt the call to preach, the churches of the county have been supplied with ministers trained and educated in their professions. Along with the bettering of the personnel of the ministry, has come the spread of the sect in the county. Besides the large number of Methodist Episcopal churches, there have been organized one Congregational Methodist church and three Methodist Protestant churches. one at Mechanicsburg, one at North Lewis-

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burg and one at Jenkins' Chapel. In so far as it is possible for the historian to ascertain, there have been thirty-nine Methodist societies organized, and of these twenty-nine are still active. Histories of these various organiza- tions are given in this chapter.

FIRST METHODIST CHURCH AT URBANA.

The First Methodist Episcopal church at U'rbana bears the distinction of being the first Methodist Episcopal church organized in Champaign county. The society, out of which grew the present church, was organized in 1804 with the following charter members: Saul Hinkle, Nathaniel Pickard, Abner Barret, Frederick Ambrose, James Davison, Thomas Moore and John Rey- nolds. At this time Urbana was one of the preaching points on the Mad River circuit which included most of the settlements of several counties.

Church Buildings-The first house of worship was a hewed log struc- ture and stood on what is now the southeast corner of Ward and Locust streets. This building was erected in 1811 when the little congregation was just beginning to take on form. This little pioneer log church was occupied until 1816, when a brick building, thirty-five by fifty feet, was erected on the northwest corner of Court and Locust streets. The interior arrangement and decoration were unique and bore a sharp contrast to that of today. The platform on which the preacher sat was quite high, and was approached by a flight of winding stairs on each side. The pulpit was a narrow semi-circular desk and was entirely too limited for the demonstrative efforts of the pioneer ministers. The pews were long wooden benches with straight backs and without cushions. Across the south end of the building was an anteroom from which led two stairways to the balcony that extended on three sides of the church. Against the walls and to each of the pillars that supported the balcony were affixed or hung on a nail a tin candlestick or socket with a tin back to perform the double purpose of a reflector and to guard against fire. The house was lighted with tallow candles. With very few exceptions all of the older men in the congregation chewed tobacco, and to provide for their comfort and convenience wooden boxes filled with sawdust "graced" each pew. The minister was supposed to preach, not with the use of notes or manuscript. but by inspiration. The congregation believed that he was called by God to preach and any preliminary preparation on his part would not have been tolerated. The choir sat in the gallery opposite the pulpit, but the singing was done mostly by the congregation.

In 1835 parts of the building showed evidences of decay. The congre-

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gation also was showing rapid growth and a new building was regarded as necessary. In 1836, a more commodious and convenient building was erected on the corner of North Main and Church streets. With some alteration this building was used until 1901 when it was entirely remodeled, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars, and is today one of the handsomest churches in the city.

Among the very early records of the church is an advertisement that appeared in one of the local papers asking for a sexton, who, among his other duties, would call on the different members of the society in succession and collect seven candles from each. Among his other duties he was to light the candles, keep the seats and boys in order and the dogs out of the house. For his remuneration he was to receive fifteen dollars a year.

The Pastors-From the time of organization until 1834 Urbana was a charge on the Mad River circuit and the ministers who preached here were the following: John Sale and Joseph Oglesby, 1804; John Meek and Abra- ham Moses, 1805: John Thompson, 1806: Ajet McGuire and Isaac Quinn, 1807; T. Milligan, J. Davidson and W. Mitchell. 1808; Hezekiah Shaw, William Young and .S. Henkle, 1809; S. Henkle and Hector Sanford, 1810; John Chugan, 1811 ; John Collins, Moses Tatman and John Crume, 1812; Joseph Tatman, 1813; Joseph Oglesby, 1814: Abbott Goddard, 1815; Moses Crume and Henry B. Bascon, 1816; Walter Griffith and William Williams, 1817; no record, 1818: John Sale and John Strange, 1819; Russell Bigelow and Robert W. Finley, 1820; Robert W. Finley and A. McLean, 1821; Thomas S. Hitt and George Maley, 1822: James Collard and John P. Taylor, 1823: William Lamdin and John Taylor, 1824: James T. Wells and George Gates, 1825: Augustus Eddy and Levi White, 1826; Augustus Eddy and J. F. Wright, 1827: Burroughs Westlake and Alfred M. Lorrain, 1828; Levi White and Elias Partes, 1829; W. H. Raper, James E. Donahue and Jacob W. Regan, 1830; W. H. Raper, Richard Brandriff and J. J. Hill, 1831 ; Rich- ard Brandriff and O. Johnson, 1832; George Walker and Richard Marley, 1833. In 1834 Urbana was made a station and the following ministers have served the congregation: George Walker and Richard Marley, 1834; Joshua Boucher, E. Morrow and E. Tritt, 1835-36; William Young, 1837; Isaac L. Grover, 1838-39: William B. Christie, 1840-41 ; Alfred B. Lorain and Asa B. Stroud, 1842-43; Cyrus Brooks, 1844-45; David Kemper, 1846; Michael Marlay, 1847-48; John S. Inskeep, 1849-50; William Horr, 1851 : John T. Mitchell, 1852-53: David Warnock, 1854-55; A. Lowry, 1856; M. Dustin, 1857-58; G. Moody, 1859; C. Sears, 1860: David Warnock, 1861-63; W. I. Fee, 1864-66; William Fitzgerald, 1867-70; James Stevenson, 1870-73; W.

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H. Sutherland, 1873-75; S. D. Clayton, 1875-78; J. F. Marley, 1878-81; W. N. Brodbeck, 1881-83; F. G. Mitchell, 1884-86; C. W. Rishell, 1886-89; J. P. Porter, 1889-92 : G. W. Dubois, 1892-96; M. B. Fuller, 1896-1901 ; George Dart, 1901-03 ; J. E. Abrams, 1903-07; G. H. Smith, 1907-12; J. H. Denney, 1912-17.

The church has a membership of five hundred and ninety-two and a Sunday school composed of seven hundred pupils, of which Isaac T. Johnson is the superintendent. Other auxiliary societies are the Young People's Society composed of ninety members, of which Glen Dalton is the leader, and a Missionary Society of two hundred members.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MECHANICSBURG. By F. Ray Brown.

The earliest information which can be gained from any source concern- ing the church at this place dates back to about 1806. At this time the country was in a wild and uncultivated state, and the settlers had various ideas as to the possible future. The Delawares and Shawnees were trailing over these plains, worshipping the Great Spirit. During the years from 1805 to 1812 there came men and women from the different states, in whose hearts the seed of Methodism had already taken root. They chose to meet in God's first temple, the groves, and next in the rude log cabins. They came from their various walks in life to hear the Word which was so precious and dear to them in their native land.

It is said in recorded history that the first sermon preached in the Mad River valley, then called the Wilderness of the Northwest, was at the house of Ezekiel Arrowsmith, delivered by the Rev. James Davidson, brother of Daniel Davidson, who was at one time a member of the Cincinnati Confer- ence. Before this part of the country was organized into the conference, there was a Western conference from which traveling preachers were sent to this vicinity. Among the first preachers who came to preach in this new land were Alfred Trader and Bennet Maxey, preaching being conducted at the various homes, among which may be mentioned those of William Frank- beger, Thomas Pearce, Theodore Spain, Henry Warner, John Lafferty and John Kain. The appointments of these preachers were of necessity not very frequent, but the religious zeal of these pioneer people was not to be doubted nor was it to be overcome by such a handicap. In the absence of a preacher prayer-meetings were held quite frequently at the homes of Alexander McCorkle and Jonathan Brown, both of whom were exhorters.

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ORGANIZATION AND EARLY PASTORS.

The Ohio Conference was first formed in 1812 and the Mad River cir- cuit seems to have been instituted about the same time. The Mad River circuit was bounded on the south by a portion of country known as the Deer Creek circuit, whose limits extended as far south as Chillicothe, while Mad River circuit covered a portion of country to the north including Urbana, Bellefontaine, Zanesville, Springfield and Mechanicsburg. The following is a list of the pastors sent out by the Ohio conference to the Mad River circuit from 1812 to 1820: Joseph Tatman, 1812; Joseph Oglesby, 1813; Abbot Goddard, 1814: Moses Crume and H. B. Bascom, 1815; Walter Grif- fith and William Williams, 1816; John Sale and John Strange, 1817; John Strange, 1818; Russell Bigelow and R. W. Finley, 1819. As will be noted from the foregoing, Joseph Tatman was the first preacher sent to the Mad River circuit. He was therefore one of the circuit riders and according to tradition his experiences were many. According to this story of these pioneer preachers they met with all kinds of hardships, traveled on horseback and through all kinds of weather, often until hunger would compel them to dis- mount and catch fish which they would broil in order that their hunger might be temporarily satisfied.

The names of the constituent members which formed the nucleus for the present society cannot be ascertained, but among the families were the Kains, Woods, Cheneys, Warners, McCorkles, Millices, Spains, Owens, Bays and Wyants.

As the circuit preachers could not be with the little society but once in every four weeks, resident preachers took it upon themselves to satisfy the spiritual needs of the flock. As has already been stated, services were held at the home of John Kain, the man who laid out the village of Mechanics- burg, in the autumn of 1814. His house stood a few rods west of the main street of the village and served as a gathering place for most of the local meetings held at that time. About 1814 and 1815 a number of families moved into what is now Goshen township. Among these settlers were some devout Methodists, namely, William Wood and wife. Michael Conn and wife, and Henry Conn.

With the coming of new Methodists and regular preaching, a desire was manifested for a church house. With the assistance of the Reverend God- dard the little society secured a plat of ground with the intention of erecting a church in the summer of 1815. It was about this time that a noted revival

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camp-meeting was conducted by Reverend Goddard, Reverend Sale and Bishop Asbury. At this meeting eighty persons were converted, a great many of whom became members of the Methodist society. In 1816 another camp- meeting was held, at which time the society was again increased in member- ship.

Primitive House of Worship .- The pioneers were aware of the advan- tages of education and provided a log school house in the village of Mechan- icsburg. It was in this school house that many of the religious services were conducted, but as the society grew in strength and numbers the little log house became too small. They then began to plan for a building of their own, but not until 1819 or 1820 was the little log school house abandoned for a more pretentious structure-a new frame church, which was not completed for sev- eral years. This church was built, as most church houses were in those days, some giving work, others money, outside societies giving whatever assistance was possible. A brief description of this building may prove interesting to people of this generation. The structure was not provided with a bell. It had wood-pillared walls, rough slabs were used as benches and a four-foot inclosure, which more resembled a jail cell than a pulpit, served as a point from which the minister delivered his discourse. If tradition is to be relied upon, a kettle of coals served as the first means of heating this little house. A story is told of how one of the dear sisters when "filled with the spirit" went gliding about the room. Losing her footing accidently she fell into this kettle of coals, but when taken out she said, "They did not burn." When the weather was very cold services were conducted in the homes of the various members, but not many years passed until a small stove was provided.

If the test of membership were applied at the present time as it was then, it is doubtful whether the majority would successfully pass. If a member missed his class without a lawful excuse he was to be dropped. The society kept what they called "closed doors" at the time of the periodical "love feast," and members were admitted only by ticket, none others than "seekers" being admitted to these occasions. Flowers and bonnets were absolutely forbidden and "trails" on skirts were not tolerated.

Development of the Church .- By 1824 the church at Mechanicsburg was gaining considerable prominence and was one of the strongest on the circuit. The church building had been completed and was considered a model of its kind at that time. The village of Mechanicsburg itself was growing, having a mill, a store, a church and other improvements. About three miles from the village was a distillery, of which one of the exhorters of the society was a part owner. The liquor traffic was not regarded then as it is now, the

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church people as well as those out of the church being drinkers of pure whiskey. Camp meetings were held every summer, most of them being held on the grounds of what is now Matinee Park, and among the preachers were Bishop McKendrie, John Collins, Alexander McCorkle and many others.

In 1831 Rapier, Brandriff and Hill, were sent to a circuit of which Mechanicsburg was a part. With these preachers on the scene services were held at the various stations every two weeks and in most instances Sunday schools and temperance societies were organized about this time.

The preachers on the Mad River circuit from 1820 to 1830 are given as follows: R. W. Finley and Alexander McClain, 1820; Thomas Hitt and George W. Maley, 1821; James Collard and J. P. Taylor, 1822; William Landding and J. P. Taylor, 1823; J. T. Wells and George Gatch, 1825; Augustus Eddy and Levi White, 1825; J. T. Wright and Augustus Eddy, 1826; Burris Wesley and A. Lorain, 1827-28; Levi White and Elias Pattie, 1829.

The congregation continued to worship in the building already men- tioned until 1838, when a new brick structure was begun, the same being dedicated on December 15, 1839. This served the needs of the church for a period of twenty years, or until in 1859, when a third building was erected. This latter building was occupied by the congregation until 1904, and is now occupied by the colored Baptists. By this time the congregation had grown to such an extent, along with the need of a new building, that a fourth build- ing was erected. This last and present building was completed and dedicated on April 29, 1904. It is a modern brick edifice, ornamented with stone trim- mings, and cost twenty-eight thousand two hundred and forty dollars, includ- ing the lot.

The pastors from 1830 to the present date follow : J. W. Ragan, 1830; WV. H. Raper, R. Brandriff and J. J. Hill, 1831 (Mad Rier circuit) ; R. Brandriff and Obadiah Johnson, 1832; George W. Walker and M. Marlay, 1833-34: Joshua Boucher and Alexander Morrow, 1835; George W. Walker and David Warnock, 1836; George W. Walker and Samuel Clark, 1837; Samuel Clark and James Smith, 1838; Joshua Boucher and Silas H. Chase, 1839; Joshua Boucher and Robert Cheney, 1840; James Armstrong and Orin Stimson, 1841 ; John Fitch and J. B. Ellsworth, 1842; Ebenezer B. Chase and John W. Keeley, 1843; Ebenezer B. Chase and William Sutton, 1844; John W. Young and Wesley Rowe, 1845; Stephen F. Conrey and C. B. Warring- ton, 1846; Joseph McDowell and C. B. Warrington, 1847; E. Estell and D. H. Sargent, 1848; P. F. Holsinger, 1849; T. A. G. Phillips, 1850-51 (removed on February 7, 1852; unexpired term, E. Owen, M. D.) ; David Sharp, 1852,

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(E. Owen, supply) ; David Kemper, 1853, (E. Owen, supply). King's Creek circuit David Kemper and D. Sharp, 1854. Kings Creek and Mechanics- burg: E. C. Merrick, D. Sharp and E. Owen, supply, 1855; J. T. Bail, H. S. Sellman and E. Owen, supply, 1856: J. T. Bail and J. Vance, 1857; W. N. Williams and D. Warnock, 1858; W. N. Williams and J. C. Kingsley, 1859: J. Fitch and W. B. Jackson, 1860. Mechanicsburg: S. F. Conrey, 1861-62; John W. Cassatt, 1863-65: John W. Mason, 1866-67; Thomas J. Harris, 1868-69; David Warnock, 1870: Edward T. Wells, 1871-72; William Fitz- gerald, 1873-74; Michael Kauffman, 1875-76; Francis M. Clemans, 1877-79: J. W. Cassatt, 1880-82; Alfred H. Beall, 1883; M. M. Kugler, 1884-86; James Stephenson, 1887-88: Merrick E. Ketcham, 1889-90; D. D. Cheney. 1891-92; James Murray, 1893-95; Edgar H. Cherrington, 1896-97; Albert N. Sparr, 1898-1901 ; Owen M. Sellars, 1901-02: Charles H. Haines, 1903- 05; John W. Gaddis, 1906-08; Homer H. Curless, 1909-15; Norman Sweat, 1916 -.

The present membership of the church is three hundred and eighty-four.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NORTH LEWISBURG.

The first regular services of the Methodist Episcopal church of North Lewisburg and vicinity were conducted at the house of Hezekiah Spain, one and one-half miles southwest of town, and regular preaching was conducted there every four weeks. This was then in the bounds of what was called the Lebanon circuit, the organization of which was effected in the year 1808. A few years afterward the circuit was divided and this division was called the Mad River circuit.

About the year 1816 a small cabin was built one mile west of town on the present site of Spain's cemetery and was used for church purposes until the year 1832. Then a more commodious hewed-log structure was erected, just north of the old one, and was known as Spain's church. The society at that time numbered about twenty members.

In the latter part of the forties a movement was set on foot which resulted in the erection of a substantial frame church at this place in the fall of 1856. The work was done under the supervision of William Audas, Will- iam Crowder, Royal Jennings, Joseph F. Gray, and Caleb F. Bowen, the cost of the building being about thirteen hundred and fifty dollars. The church was dedicated on December 22, 1850, by James L. Groves, who was presiding elder at that time. A deficit of five hundred dollars was more than met by a subscription of six hundred and forty-nine dollars. The member-

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ship of Spain's church was at that time transferred here. The old building was sold in 1881 and removed to make room for the new brick church. It was located nearly where the church now stands and was forty-two by fifty- two feet in size, with large covered entrance and gallery in front. The old building is still standing and may be seen on the premises of Frank Bales.

The erection of the present edifice was commenced under the pastorate of Rev. D. L. Hayward and was completed under that of Rev. W. Q. Shan- non. The cost of the church is unknown and seems to be a riddle which no one has ever been able to solve. A fair estimate would place it at about nine thousand dollars. The cornerstone was laid on October 31, 1881, but the building was not finished and formally dedicated until November 19 of the following year. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. C. H. Payne, then president of Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware.

The first considerable amount raised for the erection of the church was seventeen hundred dollars, which was contributed by the ladies of the church They obtained this sum from a boarding-house venture at the Urbana camp- meeting grounds. They further augmented the fund by the addition of about one hundred and fifty dollars raised in a like manner at the Mechanicsburg fair. A debt of several thousand dollars confronted the members as the time of dedication approached, but the full amount was raised with an excess of eleven hundred and fifty dollars when that day came. . But the church was unfortunate in several respects and not until after twenty-one years was the debt finally removed.

List of Pastors-The preachers who served the local church and also the one at Spain's, in so far as can be ascertained, follow : George W. Walker and Michael Marley, 1833-34; Joshua Boucher and Alexander Morrow, 1835; George W. Walker and David Warnock, 1836; George W. Walker and Sam- uel Clark, 1837; Samuel Clark and James Smith, 1838; Joshua Boucher and Silas Chase, 1839; Silas Chase and I. B. Cartlitch, 1840; I. B. Cartlitch and Abraham Wombo, 1841; T. A. G. Phillips, 1842; William Letsinger, 1843; William Letsinger and Valentine Beemer, 1844; Elijah H. Field, 1845; Joseph W. Smith, 1846; James F. Donahue, 1847; David Sharp and Edward P. Hall, 1848; Philip Nation and William Cheever, 1849; Philip Nation and A. U. Beall, 1850; David Warnock and Thomas M. Thrall, 1851 ; Thomas D. Crow and Wesley Denit, 1852; George W. Harris and Thomas Audas, 1854; James T. Bail and John Vance, 1855; Samuel Brown and John M. Sullivan, 1856; Joseph W. Smith and John M. Sullivan, 1857; David Sharp and James Manning, 1858; N. McDonald and David Sharp, 1859; W. N. Williams and D. Sargent, 1860-61 ; W. B. Jackson and T. E. Fidler, 1862-63; W. Webster

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and J. Verity, 1864-65 : J. C. Deem and E. McHugh, 1866-67; H. M. Curry and Thomas Audas, 1868; H. M. Curry and John Shinn ( Reverend Staley supplied for Reverend Shinn), 1869; George W. Kelley, 1870-72; A. U. Beall, 1873-74; J. F. Loyd, 1875-76; G. H. Kennedy, 1877-79; L. D. Hay- ward, 1880-81; W. Q. Shannon, 1882-84; C. F. Gowdy, 1885-87; Daniel Carter, 1887-90; H. J. Bigley, 1890-95; J. W. Miller, 1895-97 ; C. W. Hoff- man, 1898-1900; J. A. Spykee, 1900-02; J. F. Newcomb, 1902-04; E. H. Snow, 1904-05; R. E. Carter, 1905-07; G. C. Mosher, 1907-09; J. F. Rich- ardson, 1909-10; Michael Yeagle, 1910-14; J. W. Horne, 1914 to the present time. The membership roll of the church contains the names of one hundred and seventy-five members.

The Old Church Bell-There are a few reminiscences connected with the church bell that are interesting. This bell was cast at Cincinnati and was shipped from there to Urbana in the fall of 1850. From there it was brought to this place by Thomas Spain on a log wagon. When within one mile of the village, Spain began to ring the bell, and by the time he reached the public square all the inhabitants of the village had gathered to welcome their new acquisition. The bell was in due course of time raised to the belfry of the church just then being completed, where it remained for thirty years. The bell was then carefully lowered to the ground, only to be elevated to its new position in the belfry of the new brick church.

For a number of years after the bell was first placed in position it rang regularly every evening at nine o'clock as a curfew bell, warning the villagers to put out their lights and retire for the night. At this time it was also the custom to toll the bell on the death of any of the inhabitants, usually giving one stroke for each year of the departed. The first death that the bell announced was that of Mrs. H. D. Gowey, the mother of M. C. Gowey.

On the evening of April 18, 1861, this bell sounded to the village the first note of alarm of the Civil War, calling for volunteers in defense of this country. An excited and tumultous meeting was held, at which two of the boys, S. H. Kennedy and William Jackson, volunteered. Before noon of the following day eleven more had signed the muster roll, thus making thirteen who enlisted as a result of that meeting. After this, the calls of the bell in this respect were frequent, as the church served as headquarters for the gath- ering of supplies and a place in which the women gathered to sew and make bandages for the soldiers in the field.

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GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, URBANA.

The Grace Methodist Episcopal Church was the second one of that denomination to be organized in Urbana. In 1854 the organization was brought about and in the next year, under the direction of Rev. John Mitchell and several prominent laymen, a substantial brick edifice was erected on Water street. After this building had been occupied for twenty-four years, the congregation, under the direction of Rev. A. N. Spahr, determined to erect another structure. The later one, which stands on the corner of Main and Market streets and is occupied at the present time, was built in 1879 and was dedicated on June 22 of the same year by Bishop Bowman. Thereafter the church was known as the Grace Methodist Episcopal church.

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History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 42

Author: Middleton, Evan P., editor Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Middleton, Evan P., editor
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1196