History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 49

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 49

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).

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one for those days, was used for a meeting house for more than fifty years, or until the congregation united with the West Liberty church in 1912. Some very strong characters have been found in the Glady Creek church, among whom are Henry Hanger, William Stewart, Peter Hanger, William Crockett.

A partial list of pastors who preached to the two congregations follows: Elder Fuson, Elder Linn, Rev. H. Y. Rush, Rev. C. T. Emmons, Elder Lawrence, Elder Chrisman, Rev. W. A. Warner, .C. W. Shoate, Rev. G. D. Black, Rev. Byron G. Long, Elder Brown, A. B. Henderson, Rev. S. A. Lane, Rev. G. R. Mell, Rev. Rebecca Kershner, Rev. G. W. Lawrence, Rev. L. W. Gade, Eller Spade, Rev. W. H. Thompson, Rev. L. W. Ryan, Rev. F. McCague, Rev. B. F. Clayton, Rev. J. E. Kauffman and Rev. E. C. Kerr.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH, WOODSTOCK.

The Christian church at Woodstock is in a rather feeble condition. The membership from the time of organization has never been very large and now it has dwindled to twelve or fourteen active members. The church is now without the services of a pastor and the property belongs to the church conference. Ministers who have served the congregation within the last few years are: Rev. F. G. Strickland, Rev. F. O. Snyder and Reverend Duck- worth.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES.

The Rosewood United Brethren church, located in the village of Rose- wood, was organized in the summer of 1899. Services, however, were con- ducted a few years before the church was formally organized. Rev. M. L. Miller, who served the congregation until 1899, was one of the first minis- ters. Other pastors with their dates of service include the following: A. H. Ballanger, 1899-1900; A. F. Davis, 1900-01: A. W. Denlinger, 1901-03; E. C. Petry, 1903-06; G. W. Hamilton, 1906-10; J. H. Mayne, 1910-11; M. F. Hawley, 1911-15: M. O. Stein, 1915 to the present time.

A church building was erected the year following the organization at a cost of two thousand dollars. A parsonage was built the same year at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars.

In connection with the church is a wideawake and enthusiastic Sunday school with an enrollment of one hundred and seventy-five. J. E. Hoffman is the superintendent. Another of the church's auxiliaries is a Young Peo- ple's Society composed of fifty members, of which C. A. Maurice is the presi- dent. A Ladies Aid Society is also one of the helpful organizations con-

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nected with the church. The membership of the church at the present time is about two hundred.

The Union United Brethren church in Adams township dates its organi- zation from 1832. A log church house, which was erected soon after the organization was effected, was occupied as a place of worship until 1850, when a neat frame structure was erected. The present brick church build- ing was built in 1886 at a cost of about one thousand five hundred dollars. The church belongs to the Rosewood circuit and has a membership at the present time of sixty. Rev. M. O. Stein has been the pastor since 1915. In connection with the church is a Sunday school of fifty-five members and a Ladies Aid Society of twenty members.

SALEM UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

This society, located in Harrison township, was originally organized by Reverend Antrim but remained in a dormant state for many years. In 1850, Jacob Starver, Joseph Hoffman and Roster Robinson were successful in reorganizing the society with but only six charter members. A building was erected and dedicated by Rev. Henry Comer in 1851 and is in use at the present time. The church belongs to the Rosewood circuit and Rev. M. O. Stein is the pastor. A Sunday school is maintained with an enroll- ment of sixty-five, and a Ladies Aid Society, with a membership of twenty.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH AT CARYSVILLE.

This society was organized by Rev. William Miller in 1848 with the following charter members: John Rusk, Eva Rusk, Mary Halterman, Allen Halterman, Mercy Halterman, John G. Wilkinson and Susan Wilkinson. A Sunday school was organized the same year, of which John Rusk was made the superintendent, a position which he held for many years. Shortly after the organization of the church a church house was erected with a seating capacity of five hundred. The church enjoyed an active existence until it was merged with the Antioch society in 1899, forming the church at Rose- wood.

ANTIOCH UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

The Antioch United Brethren church, in Adams township, was organ- ized about 1854 by James Wilkinson with fifteen charter members. A church house was built on section 6 immediately after the organization of the society, and was dedicated by Rev. William Miller . .

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The church played an important part in the religious life of the com- munity during its existence. In the beginning of 1899 it was merged with the Carysville society to form a church at Rosewood.

ZION UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

The Zion United Brethren church, located near Rosewood in Adams township, was organized several decades ago, but it is now nearly extinct. The church belongs to the more radical school of the United Brethren denomi- nation.

BOWLUSVILLE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

The Bowlusville United Brethren church, of which Reverend Heer is the pastor, is one of the younger churches of that denomination in the county. The church building stands just over the line in Champaign county. The membership, which numbers sixty-seven, is about equally apportioned between Champaign and Clark counties.

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, WOODSTOCK.

The first Universalist sermon ever preached in the vicinity, was delivered in 1832 or 1833 by Father W. H. Jolly in a small grove owned by Benjamin D. Sibley, and situated east of the old brick school house on the eastern edge of town. Since at that time there was not an avowed Universalist in the community, that sermon was discussed by the people for months afterward. Following Father Jolly, came Rev. George Rodgers, who delivered two or three discourses in the school house.

About 1833 Asher A. Davis, a young man of eighteen or nineteen years of age came to the vicinity as a settled pastor of the New Light church, a denomination having a church organization and a building about four miles east of Woodstock. Soon after Reverend Jolly and Reverend Rodgers had preached here, Mr. Davis began to mix a little Universalism in his sermons. This aroused considerable excitement among the members of the church, and Reverend Davis was removed from his pastorate. In a few years Davis returned and preached a few strong, unadulterated Universalist sermons. The very members of the New Light church, who had been most clamorous for his removal on account of his Universalist tendencies, proclaimed them- selves. and soon organized a society which was not a church but a mere organization.

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Rev. W. Y. Emmett was probably the first clergyman who preached regularly for the society. About this time Rev. John A. Gurley and Rev. E. M. Pingree, who came from Cincinnati, preached occasionally. In the winter of 1842 or 1843, Brother Emmett held an oral discussion with Elder Price, a Presbyterian clergyman, at Milford Center, five miles east of Wood- stock. After the discussion, Elder Price came to Woodstock and delivered a disgusting tirade against Universalism. It is reported that he boasted that he had demolished Universalism, root and branch, and had buried it beyond any hope of resurrection. Cyrus Waite, a young man about twenty- four years old, replied to Elder Price's tirade, and his effort was regarded remarkable for a young man of his age and experience.

The winter following the discussion at Milford Center, Father Emmett organized the first Universalist church at Woodstock. The meeting for that purpose was held on North Railroad street in a building, which in later years was utilized as a blacksmith shop. Soon after the church was organized. Rev. George Messenger began to preach once or twice a month. He was instrumental in inducing the members to erect the first church building, which was occupied for half a century. It was a large and well-proportioned brick edifice with a gallery on both sides and at one end. This building was dedicated in June, 1844, the occasion being the meeting of the Ohio state convention of Universalists, which was held at Woodstock. No record of the dedication has been found, but it is the general belief that the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. John A. Gurley. The ministers who served the church during the next decade were: Cyrus F. Waite, Dr. R. Biddle- come, J. C. P'itrat, Henry Gifford, W. B. Linnell, Elihu Moore, James A. Gooch, William Ebert. N. Doolittle, Alpheus Sweet and perhaps others whose names cannot be obtained.

Progress of the Church .- Prior to 1863. no regular services were held for a long time, but on the evening of January 6. of that year, Rev. J. W. Henley, then pastor at Mt. Gilead, conducted religious services. He had arranged to preach one Sunday a month at Irwin, but, being encouraged by the attendance that stormy evening. he arranged to divide the day between Irwin and Woodstock. He received little encouragement for a few months, but in June of the same year, eleven young ladies united with the church. This marked the beginning of a new era. During the year several other per- sons united with the church and a reorganization was effected. Just before the year expired, Rev. J. W. Henley and Rev. Cyrus F. Waite were elected as joint pastors. The former, however, received an urgent call to Spring-

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boro and resigned. Rev. George H. Vibert took his place for a short time. Reverend Waite continued as pastor until his death in September, 1865. About that time Rev. A. M. Sowle, pastor of the New Light church, was converted to Universalism and was made pastor of the church. Rev. S. P. Carlton was the next pastor, and served the congregation for a period of four years, during which time several additions were made to the church. Following him came T. N. Glover, C. H. Dutton, Mrs. Lotta D. Crosley, W. J. Crosley and A. Day. In the spring of 1864 Doctor Henley was invited to become pastor of the church and served the congregation for a period of six years, during which time nearly forty members were taken into the church. Rev. A. K. Beem, who was perhaps the next pastor, served for nearly two years. At the expiration of this time he accepted a call from a church in Iowa.

Several attempts had been made prior to 1890 to erect a new church, or to remodel the old one. However, it was not until 1893 that Rev. John R. Carpenter succeeded in initiating a movement, which resulted in the erec- tion of a beautiful new house of worship, located on the site of the old church. This new edifice was dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 14, 1895. The occasion was one of interest and rejoicing among the people of Woodstock. The dedicatory service was in charge of Doctor Cantwell, who was suc- cessful after continuous effort of four hours and a half in relieving the church from all debt. This beautiful edifice, when fully equipped and furnished, cost approximately six thousand dollars.

The handsome parsonage, which was erected in 1903, was made pos- sible by a gift of five hundred dollars by E. Burnham.

Pastors of the church, other than those mentioned, include the follow- ing: Henrietta G. Moore, O. G. Colegrove, who served the church until April, 1907, a period of nine years; Dr. L. E. Rexford, Stewart Baker, 1909- 10; Harlan Glazier, 1915 to October, 1916, and Elmer Robinson, June, 1917, present pastor.

This church is regarded as one of the strongest Universalist centers in the state, and it is by far the strongest in the county.

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, MILLERSTOWN AND ST. PARIS.

A Universalist church was organized at Millerstown in September, 1860. by Rev. T. S. Guthrie, with a membership of twenty-six. Not many years elapsed until a church building was erected, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. S. P. Carlton. In 1879 the building was sold to the Bap-

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tists and the members joined with adherents of the same faith at St. Paris in forming the church there. The old Methodist church was purchased for four hundred dollars and Rev. James Lower was called as the first pastor. He served the congregation only a short time and was succeeded by Rev. B. Blackford. The congregation, which flourished for many years, has been dormant for some time; however, meetings are held sometimes by the few families that remain.

The church house stood where Doctor Baker's house now stands. It is now in the "flats", and is used as a store room.

WESTVILLE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

The Universalist church located at Westville was formally organized on April 29, 1877, with sixteen charter members. The erection of a church building was begun shortly after the organization had been made, the edifice being dedicated on January 13, 1878, by Rev. S. P. Carlton. The structure was very beautiful and commodious in every respect. The approximate cost was eight thousand dollars; the greater amount of which was contributed by Squire Loudenback, who also gave the church an endowment for its annual support. The church has had no regular pastor for several years, but preach- ing services are conducted quite frequently by calling in preachers from other places. The church maintains an active Sunday school, and continues to be an important agency for good in the community.

EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

Church of the Epiphany .- The church of the Epiphany in Urbana was organized into a parish in 1847, under the rectorship of Rev. Charles B. Stout. Such men as Dr. Adam Mosgrove, Abraham and Samuel Robinson, T. M. Gwynne, W. F. Slater, John Morrison and others were among the charter members. In 1849 the present church building was erected on the corner of Kenton and Scioto streets, and about the year 1884 the building was greatly improved under the rectorship of Rev. E. M. McGuffey. The present seating capacity of the church, exclusive of the choir, is about two hundred and fifty : all of the seats are free. The parish has had a long and varied experience, but its present condition, both numerically and finan- cially, is very gratifying.

During the existence of the church the following rectors have had charge of the parish : Charles B. Stout, 1848-53: N. C. Pridham, 1853-54; T. J.

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Grover, 1855-56; W. H. Dyer, 1863-65; John A. Dooris, 1865-69; W. J. Patrie, 1868-70; Wallace M. Probasco, 1870 -; James B. Britton, 1873 --; C. L. Pindar, 1876 -; Edward M. McGuffey, 1881-85; James H. Davet, 1886 -; Frank J. Mallett, 1889-91; Frederick Brookins, 1892-93; George E. Edgar, 1893-95; D. C. Wright, 1896-1900; Francis B. Baer, May 12, 1901 to October 1, 1902; J. M. McGrath, October, 26, 1902, to January 18, 1903; Charles A. Eaton, September 20, 1903, to February 28, 1904; H. M. Nodder, June 1, 1905, to December 31, 1905; R. M. Brown, February 10, 1907, to April, 1908: A. P. Bissell, January 1, 1910, to March 5, 1911; Augustine J. Smith, December 11, 1911, to June 1, 1915; W. A. Stimson, October, 1915, to the present time. The communicants of the church num- ber about one hundred.

Church of Our Savior, Mechanicsburg .- The Church of Our Savior at Mechanicsburg, located on the east side of South street, was organized in 1892 by Charles Belleville, Dr. John H. Clark, Marion Howard, Wash P. Moore and Thomas E. Shepherd, the executive committee. A beautiful brick edifice of Gothic architecture was erected in 1893 at a cost of six thou- sand dollars. The church was re-dedicated in December, 1895. The church is equipped with a pipe organ and brass altar furnishings, and is adorned with beautiful windows. Thus it is one of the most distinctive churches of the city.

The pastors who have served the congregation include the following : G. H. Edwards, 1892-93; G. E. Edgar, 1893-95; R. B. Foot, 1895-96; N. Slayton, 1896-98; F. V. Baer, September 4, 1898, to May 5, 1901; J. M. McGrath, supply for a few months; Charles E. Byrer, 1902-05; W. A. Pear- man, 1905-07; Reverend Zimmerman and A. E. Jones, 1910-11; A. H. Mar- shall, 1911-15: William A. Stimson, 1916-17. In connection with the church is a very active Sunday school, a junior auxiliary of twelve girls, and a woman's guild.

ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

St. Michael Catholic church, located on Walnut street, Mechanicsburg, was organized as a mission in 1867. The parish was not organized until 1880. Prior to 1867, the few Catholics in and about Mechanicsburg attended divine service at Urbana or Rosedale. Occasionally mass was celebrated by a missionary priest in the home of some member. Since 1872, the pastor of the Marysville parish has attended to the religious needs of St. Michael's church.

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Rev. J. F. Kearney of Urbana was the first pastor to minister to the religious needs of the parish. He was succeeded in his work by Rev. J. Welsh of Urbana. Other pastors in the order of service are the following: Rev. H. Kiffmeyer, 1872-74; Rev. H. Paul, 1874-75; Rev. H. Menke, 1875- 76; Rev. P. P. Mazuret, 1876-80; Rev. M. L. Murphy, 1880; Rev. J. H. Brunner, 1881 ; Rev. A. Dexter, 1881-89; Rev. John F. Hickey, 1889-91 ; Rev. John G. Vennerman, 1891-1903; Rev. John Cusack, 1892; Rev. Herman Rechtin, 1903-06; Rev. John J. Kelley, present pastor, appointed in August, 1906.

The erection of the present brick structure was begun in 1885 under the pastorate of Rev. A. Dexter. It was dedicated by Most Rev. William Henry Elder, D. D., archbishop of Cincinnati, on Thanksgiving Day, 1886. The original cost of the edifice was about five thousand dollars. The church was remodeled during the pastorate of Rev. John G. Vennerman, in 1901.

In connection with the church is a Sunday school of twenty-three mem- bers, taught by the pastor and assisted by Anna Dorsey. Other auxiliaries are the Ladies Aid Society and the Holy Name Society. The choir is com- posed of six members, with Gertrude Hackett as organist.

The present wardens of the church are William Hackett, Sr., Michael Dorsey, P. H. Tully and John Dundon. The present membership consists of thirty-eight families, or an individual membership of one hundred and thirty-five.

One of the most beneficent gifts ever received by the church was given by Bridget Tully, who died on October, 1904. According to her will, she gave her home to the parish to be used as a pastoral residence.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH.

The church of the Immaculate Conception at North Lewisburg was organized as a mission in 1863, and as a parish in 1869. However services were conducted by missionary priests prior to this date. Ground for the church was donated by Patrick Moran and wife, and a frame structure was erected under the pastorate of Rev. A. Young, of Bellefontaine, in 1869. The building was remodeled in 1903 during the pastorate of Rev. John G. Vennerman.

Among the pastors of the church have been the following: Rev. A. Young, 1869; Rev. P. P. Mazuret, 1876-80; Rev. M. L. Murphy, 1880- Rev. J. H. Brunner, 1881; Rev. A. Dexter, 1881-89; Rev. John Hickey, 1889-91;

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Rev. John G. Vennerman, 1891-1903; Rev. H. Rechtin, 1903-06; Rev. John J. Kelley, present pastor, appointed in August, 1906.

The auxiliaries connected with the church include a Sunday school of thirteen members, taught by the pastor and assisted by Frank Tehan ; a Ladies Aid Society, and a Holy Name Society. The wardens of the church are J. H. Benedict and P. M. Burke.

The present membership of the congregation consists of eighteen families or an individual membership of seventy-seven.

During these times of strife and war it is very fitting and appropriate to reproduce an article that was placed in the cornerstone of this church on September 12, 1869. The article follows :

"In the year of our Salvation 1869, on the twelfth day of September, the day dedicated in Christian liturgy to the Holy Name of Mary the Virgin, Mother of God the Redeemer, and in honor and in invocation of that name, many people devoutly standing around, Rev. Nicholas Raymond Young, by the favor of, and in virtue of faculty granted by the Bishop of the Diocese laid this cornerstone, as a perpetuate testimony to truth and faith. Pope Pius IX sitting in the chair of St. Peter, John Baptist Purcell being Arch- bishop of Cincinnati, Ulysses S. Grant being President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes being Governor of Ohio, the American Republic hap- pily reposing in the bosom of peace."

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH, ST. PARIS.

The Sacred Heart Catholic church at St. Paris was organized in 1882 by Father Cary. A beautiful site was secured for the building, which was erected the same year at a cost of approximately four thousand dollars. This building was partly destroyed by fire on July 6. 1914, but was immediately repaired. The church has had a struggle to maintain an existence, but, through the efforts of a few devoted members, the principles of the church have ever been furthered. The membership of the congregation numbers about forty souls. The church has been served by a large number of pastors, among whom were Fathers Cary, Bulger, Mazeiret, O'Keefe, Brown, Crowley, McNamara, Seward, Doherty, Ryan, Skulen, Shoemaker, Vaughn, Berkmier, VanDerbusch, Lehman and Bergher.

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ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, URBANA. Rev. George Hickey, Pastor.

The first Catholics at Urbana were Irish immigrants, who came for the most part in the forties and fifties as railroad laborers. At first they were few in number, and had little of this world's goods, yet they were filled with the riches of faith. Literally they were strangers in a strange land, living in the midst of people who viewed their faith and their nationality askance and with suspicion. Their life was truly a hard one. In the beginning, all the religious services they had occurred when an occasional priest came by. Later on, when a priest was stationed at Springfield, he attended to the wants of the Catholics of Urbana and the vicinity.

For the greater part of this sketch we are indebted to the genial editor of the Catholic Telegraph, Dr. Thomas Hart, who, with painstaking care, ransacked the old files of the Telegraph for items concerning Urbana and brought to light many facts and incidents for which heretofore we had sought in vain, notably among them the date of cornerstone laying, and dedication and the title of the church. The following we take from the pages of the Telegraph :

"Archbishop, then Bishop Purcell, made his first episcopal tour of his diocese, at that time including the entire state, in 1834. In his letter to the Telegraph, August 1, 1834, he writes: 'In Urbana there are only two Cath- olic families. They are deservedly esteemed by their fellow citizens for many excellent qualities and afford in blameless integrity of life the best refutation of the prejudices sometimes not culpably entertained, but too often maliciously communicated against Catholics, by those to whom their lives and doctrines are unknown, or whose interest, crime-it is to misrepresent them. The bishop preached in the court house at Urbana and proceeded the next day to Dayton in company with an esteemed friend, Rev. Father Collins."" (As Father Collins prepared the mother of the present pastor for her first communion and was for years her confessor as well as her ideal of the Cath- olic priest which she often held up to her sons for imitation, it is most inter- esting to know that he was one of the first priests to visit Urbana.)

In 1850 Urbana was attached to Springfield as a mission, mass being celebrated once a month by Father James Kearney. At first, mass was said in the market-house; later the court house was secured as the place of wor- ship. When ill health compelled Father Kearney to leave Springfield for Cincinnati, Father Howard continued the monthly visits to Urbana.

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In 1852 Father Meagher was sent to Urbana to organize a parish. He remained but a short time, however, and Father Howard resumed his monthly visits. In January of 1853, we find the Archbishop including Urbana in his episcopal visitation, preaching and administering the Sacraments. The account of this visit relates that five hundred dollars is on hand, as much subscribed, and a fine lot promised for a church, "the building of which has long been delayed." Father Grogan was sent to Urbana and commenced in the spring of 1853 work on the church. The foundation was laid by Thomas Conway (whose daughter is the widow of the late mayor, David Green, and who, with her sister, Mrs. J. D. McCarthy, are still members of the parish). On the feast of Corpus Christi, May 26, 1853, the cornerstone was laid. The Telegraph thus records this interesting event in its issue of June 4: "The cornerstone of the Urbana church was laid with the usual formalities last Thursday. The stone is being hauled for the foundation and the brick will be burned on the ground adjoining the church. Like that of Bellefontaine, it will be sixty by forty feet."

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History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 49

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