USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > History of Cleveland Presbyterianism with directory of all the churches > Part 3
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Among the honored women who have shared the official responsibility of the Society in former years, are the names of Mrs. Eleroy Curtis, Mrs. E. DeWitt, Mrs. Arthur Mitchell, Mrs. C. T. Chester, Miss Mary Otis, Miss Alice Crosby, Mrs. E. H. Adams, Miss Mary Evans, Miss Anna Wolcott, Mrs. John Ewart, Mrs. J. C. Elliott, Mrs. A. H. Potter, Mrs. A. C. Miller and Mrs. D. O. Mears. Some have fallen asleep and rest from their labors, while others are still active in mission work in other places. Mrs. A. H. Potter, the Society's first and only Treasurer, was suddenly called to her reward on the morning of January I, 1894, after twenty-one years of faithful service. Mrs. C. W. Monroe was appointed to the office the following April. Mrs. A. C. Miller, who succeeded Mrs. Adams as Recording Secretary in
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WOMAN'S PRESBYTERIAL SOCIETIES.
1883, continued in that office until 1888, when her removal from the city caused her to resign. Mrs. Edward L. Day was made her successor, and continues to fill the position. In October, 1885, Mrs E .. H. Huntington, who had served as President twenty-two years, resigned, and Mrs. J. D. Chambers was elected to that office. The present officers are as follows :
President, Mrs. J. D. Chambers ; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. E. H. Huntington, Mrs. J. N. McGiffert, Mrs. E. C. Higbee, Mrs. D. L. Hickok, Mrs J. D. Williamson, Mrs. A. T. Young, Mrs. Proctor Thayer, Mrs. C. L. Zorbaugh; Recording Secretary, Mrs. E. L. Day ; Corresponding Secretary and Secre- tary of Missionary Literature, Miss Julia Haskell; Secretary of Young Peoples' Societies and Mission Bands, Mrs. C. C. Young ; Secretary of Woman's Work, and Over Sea and Land, Mrs. B. L. Millikin ; Treasurer, Miss Edith Claflin.
Miss L. T. Guilford.
Mrs. E. C. Higbee.
Mrs. A. N. Elliott.
Woman's Presbyterial home missionary Society.
By Mrs. A. N. Elliott, Corresponding Secretary.
IN response to an invitation from Rev. J. N. McGiffert. D.D., chairman of the Presbyterial Committee on Home Missions, a number of ladies, representing several churches, met in the parlors of the Euclid Avenue Presbyterian Church, on April 10, 1881, and organized a Woman's Presbyterial Home Missionary Society. The officers elected were: President, Mrs. Carroll Cutler ; Vice-President, Mrs. Mary Williamson, and Mrs. D. L. Hickok ; Recording Secretary, Miss Agnes McGiffert, and after- wards Miss L Spencer consented to act as Treasurer.
The first annual meeting of this society was held in the Case Avenue Presbyterian Church. Nine of the twenty-eight churches in the Presbytery were represented, only two of these, Ashtabula and Hudson, being out of the city. The membership was one hundred and eighty-five, and the amount of money raised during the year was $1,307. Great help and inspiration were gained during the first year from an address by Mrs. Haines, Secretary of the Executive Committee, and an animated report, by Mrs Elliott of Seville, of the Woman's meeting held in con- nection with the General Assembly meeting at Springfield.
It has been said by those qualified to know, that the forma- tion of this Presbyterial Society, and its success are due to its first Synodical Committee, Mrs. E. R. Perkins, Mrs. Carroll Cut-
Mrs. C. W. Monroe.
Mrs. Arthur Mitchell
Mrs. C. S. Pomeroy.
Miss Mary H. Pomeroy.
Mrs. M. A. Sackett.
Mrs. S. L. Severance.
Mrs. H. D. Sizer.
Mrs. Proctor Thayer.
Mrs. C. P. Treat.
Mrs. Joseph Turney.
Mrs. K. W. Wallace.
Mrs. C. L. Zorbaugh.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
ler, Mrs. D. L. Hickok, and the additional member the next year, Mrs. Dr. Spining. At the second annual meeting of the Society, held in the Miles Park Church, there was greatly in- creased interest and attendance. Eighteen churches reported, and a full complement of officers was secured. A decided impulse was given the Society during this year, by eloquent appeals from such men as Dr. Roberts, Dr. McMillan and Rev. Sheldon Jack- son, and the object of Home Missions took more distinct shape, in the prayers and interest of the women of the Cleveland Pres- bytery. The work has steadily grown, and as one officer after another was called to lay her armor by, another was found to gird it on, for thus doeth the Lord his work.
During these years we have had serve us, as Presidents, such honored women as Mrs. Carroll Cutler, Miss L. T. Guilford, Mrs. C. P. Treat, Mrs. A. C. Miller, and Mrs. E. C. Higbee; as Vice-Presidents, Mrs. E. R. Perkins, Mrs. D. L. Hickok, Mrs. Mary Williamson, Mrs. E. Bushnell, Mrs. J. N. McGiffert, Mrs. J. C. Elliott, Mrs. James Williamson, Mrs. S. P. Sprecher, Mrs. J. D. Chambers, Mrs. D. O. Mears, Mrs. Wm. Gaston, Mrs. J. B. Meriam, Mrs. K. W. Wallace, Mrs. Solon Severance, Mrs. Krauss, and Mrs. Joseph Turney ; as Secretaries, Mrs. E. R. Perkins, Mrs. M. A. Sackett, Miss Agnes McGiffert, Mrs. Car- roll Cutler, Mrs. A. B. Hough, Mrs. Arthur St. John Newberry, Mrs. H. D. Sizer, Mrs. Blanchard, Miss Jennie Williams, Mrs. Darwin E. Wright, Mrs. W. R. Edwards, Mrs. W. H. Hower, Miss Mary H. Pomeroy, and Mrs. A. N. Elliott ; as Treasurers, Miss L. Spencer, Mrs. C. S. Pomeroy, Mrs. E. Bushnell, and Mrs. Josephus Craft.
The present officers are : Synodical, Mrs. E. R. Perkins, Mrs. E. C. Higbee, Mrs. J. Craft, Mrs. J. N. McGiffert, and Mrs. A. N. Elliott ; Presbyterial-President, Mrs. E. C. Higbee; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. E. R. Perkins, Mrs. J. D. Williamson, Mrs. E. Bushnell, Mrs. K. W. Wallace, Mrs. D. O. Mears, Mrs. D. L. Hickok, Mrs. J. D. Chambers, and Mrs. J. N. McGiffert ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. D. E. Wright ; Corresponding Secre- tary, Mrs. A. N. Elliott; Secretary of Young People's Societies, Miss Mary H. Pomeroy ; Secretary for Freedmen, Mrs. W. R. Edwards; Secretary of Literature, Mrs. W. H. Hower, and Treasurer, Mrs. J. Craft.
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WOMAN'S PRESBYTERIAL SOCIETIES.
The increase in membership and in offerings has been most marked. In the year ending April, 1895, 1474 members were reported, and money raised, $4,433. This Society has supported many scholarships, paid the salaries of numerous teachers, and assisted in the building and furnishing of most of the prominent school buildings lately built on what we term our Home Mission field.
This is but a brief record of the Home Mission work and workers of the Cleveland Presbytery. There is a record of their noblest deeds, and purest motives which we are sure will add many bright gems to their crowns when they gather in the home above, as "children of the King."
"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
The Country Churches.
T HE North Springfield Presbyterian Church was organized in 1809, and is one of the oldest churches upon the Reserve. Three houses of wor- ship have served the church ; the first two were log struc- tures, the third and present church is a frame building, and was erected in 1828. Rev. Joshua Beer, who moderated the meeting when the organ- ization was effected, served the church until 1816. From Rev. E. E. Davis. that time until 1829 there were stated supplies, but at the latter date, 1829, an exceptionally long pastorate began. The Rev. John Hughes, a recent graduate of Princeton Seminary, came as a home missionary to this field in August, 1829. He was ordained and installed pastor of the church June 16, 1830, and served until April 25, 1866, when he resigned at his own re- quest. Mr. Hughes was of ministerial stock. His father was the first ordained and settled minister north of the Ohio river, and two of his uncles were clergymen. Three of his brothers were ministers, and his sister married a minister. Mr. Hughes had a son who died at the close of his Semi- nary course, and three of his nephews are ministers. He was known in the region where he spent all the years of his ministerial service as "Father Hughes." After his resignation he moved to Tall- madge, and then to Newburgh, where he died March 3, 1870. Since the resigna- Rev. John Hughes.
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THE COUNTRY CHURCHES.
tion of Father Hughes thirteen ministers have labored in this field. The longest pastorates were those of Rev. J. E. Vance, 1876 to 1880, and Rev. H. M. Walker, 1881 to 1888. The pres- ent pastor, Rev. E. E. Davis, is doing good work in this old church. Since the beginning of his labors, January 7, 1895, there have been large additions, and the outlook is very hopeful.
Rome Church.
Several years prior to 1808 the early Christians at Rome, without a pastor, conducted re- ligious services. These services were held until the war of 1812. In 1816 there was a revival, but the converts united with the Con- gregational Church at Austin- burgh. May 20, 1819, the First Congregational Church, at Rome, was organized by Rev. Giles H. Cowles, with twelve members. The church joined the Grand River Presbytery. Before 1826 Rev. Horace Palmer. there are no records, but the only pastor known as preaching between the date of organization and that date was Rev. Mr. Leslie. The pastorates of this church have been comparatively short, and the names of those who have served the church are: Revs. Mr. Leslie, Randolph Stone, Giles Cowles, R. W. Childs, Charles Danforth, H. Blodgett, Mr. Spier, Urban Palmer, F. H. Deming, Alanson Sanders, Franklin Arnold, William Millikin, Franklin McGinnis, Henry Farwell, William Kain, D. M. Hazlett, A. B. Maxwell, and Artemas Williams. The present pastor, Rev. Horace Palmer, began his work October 1, 1893, and twenty-one members have been added to the church during his two years of service.
Ashtabula Church.
The First Presbyterian Church, of Ashtabula, was organized December 6, 1821, by the Rev. Joseph Badger, of the Connecti-
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
Presbyterian Church, Ashtabula, O.
cut Missionary Society, with a membership of seven. Rev. Perry Pratt was the minister at the time, and continued in service until 1826. From that time until 1847 the church) was served by a succession of stated supplies for periods of from one to four years. In 1847 Rev. Augustus Pomeroy was installed as the first pastor, and remained until 1852. Rev. J. M. Gillett was pastor from 1853 to 1865. The present pas- tor, Rev. Joseph N. McGiffert, D.D., was installed in 1866, and is in his thirtieth year of service. The early organization of the church was Congregational, un- der the care of the Presbytery of . . Grand River. In 1850 the Presbyterian order and discipline were adopted, and elders selected and ordained. The first church edifice was dedicated in June, 1836. In October, 1892, the present beautiful and commod- Rev. J. N. McGiffert, D.D.
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THE COUNTRY CHURCHES.
ious edifice was dedicated. The number of members at present is 409. The Sunday School numbers about 350, and the Y. P. S. C. E. 100. The organization of the church consists of nine rul- ing elders, one of these, J. P. Robertson, Esq., having held the office since the adoption of the Presbyterian order, forty-five years ago, and of two deacons and six lady assistants. The Ashta- bula church is the largest of our "country churches," and Dr. McGiffert is the honored Nestor of the Cleveland Presbytery.
Guilford Church.
The church of Guilford, at Seville, was organized June 25, 1831, with thirteen members. In 1838 seven members with- drew, and with some others formed a Congregational church. In 1853 the Presbyterian Church of LaFayette was organized with members exclusively from the Guilford Church. Rev. Varnum Noyes was the first pastor of the latter church. Commencing his labors September, 1831, he was installed September, 1836, and continued pastor until May, Rev. Virgil G. Sheeley. 1849. An effort was then made to unite the Presbyterian and Congregational churches. Rev. Charles C. Danforth supplied the pulpit, but the effort was not successful, and the former pastor, Mr. Noyes, was recalled to the Presbyterian church in 1852, and continued his labors until 1871. Thus Mr. Noyes preached thirty-seven years in this church, the same term of service as that of Mr. Hughes in the North Spring- field church. Mr. Noyes died April 20, 1888. The Guilford Church was supplied by Rev. J. C. Elliott from 1871 to 1885. Rev. Wm. L. Notestein was installed pastor October 21, 1886, which relationship was dissolved April 13, 1892. The church was then supplied until the present pastor, Rev. Virgil G. Sheeley, was installed Nov. 27, 1894.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
The following persons have gone from this church as ministers and as mis- sionaries: Ministers-David Smith, Ros- well Chapin, William Turner, J. L. Caughey. Missionaries - Rev. H. V. Noyes, Miss Harriet Noyes and Mrs. Martha Noyes Kerr, to Canton, China; Mrs. Mary Sloaks Dunlap to Bankok, Siam. The church has built two houses of worship, the first in 1838, and the second in 1857. The membership has generally been small, as a large propor- Rev. Varnum Noyes. tion of the young people seek business in other places, where many of them are filling places of usefulness in the churches. The membership for the last ten years has varied from ninety-seven to 147.
Orwell Church.
The Orwell Presbyterian Church was an outgrowth of a Congregational church changing to the former polity November 19, 1831. The church at that time had eleven members. In 1833 this church adopted the following resolution, viz: "That we will receive no one into this church unless he agrees to abstain from drinking, manufacturing and vending ardent spirits, excepting for medicine." The first pastor was Rev. Charles Danforth, who began his work in 1835. The first building was commenced in 1840, and finished in 1841. From that time until 1874 nine ministers served the congregation: Revs. Mr. Palmer, B. Y. Messenger, C. J. Pitkins, Lewis Gadden, Amos Dressor, Franklin Arnold, Wm. Millikin, Franklin Maginnis and E. Latimer. In 1876 there was a revival in the churches of Orwell that added largely to Rev. John E. Carroll.
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THE COUNTRY CHURCHES.
them, and in the following year, 1877, the Presbyterian Church was rebuilt and re-dedicated. Seven ministers have served the church since that time until the present pastor, Rev. J. E. Carroll, was chosen in 1894: Revs. H. King, Wmn. T. Richardson, J. E. Vance, Alexander Ross, Sherman D. Taylor, M. Knowles, and H. P. Hamilton. The present membership of the church is seventy- five. With a Sunday School of 150 pupils, and a Christian En- deavor Society of 50 members, this church has a prosperous outlook.
First Church, of Akron.
The First Presbyterian Church, of Akron, was organ- ized December 15, 1831, with twenty-six charter members. The village was then called Mid- dlebury. Rev. Benson C. Bald- win was the first pastor, and Woolsey Wells and Richard Chapman were the first elders. Mr. Baldwin served the church seven years. Rev. Mr. Alanson and Rev. H. A. Sackett sup- plied the church for a time, and in 1841 Rev. James Shaw was installed as pastor. Remarkable revivals marked his ministry. Rev. Edward Layport. Rev. William Hanford and Rev. Horace Foote supplied after Mr. Shaw left, and in March, 1848, Rev. Eleroy Curtis became pastor. Prior to this time an effort had been made to sever connection with the Portage Presbytery, and this failing, a number of members seceded and formed a Congregational church. This weakened the mother church. In 1854 Mr. Curtis closed his labors. During the next four years the church had supplies. In 1859 the Presbyterian and Congre- gational churches were united under a plan of union, and Rev. Wm. Dempsey served the union church four years. Rev. George C. Hicks then supplied two years, and Rev. John G. Hall for three years, when Rev. Mr. Avery took charge from 1871 to 1874, when the church returned to the Presbytery. Messrs. A. L. Cotter, Henry Hart, and John K. Robinson were elected elders,
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
and Rev. C. E. Barnes became pastor in 1874, serving three years. Mr. Barnes was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Jones, who served about three years. Then followed the five-year pastorate of Rev. Dwight L. Chapin, during which time the present house of worship was built. Rev. E. Layport, the present pastor, began his labors in May, 1889, and in 1890 the parsonage was built. The present membership of the church is 150. The Sunday School numbers 185 pupils, and there are Junior and Senior Christian Endeavor Societies.
Streetsboro Church.
This church was organized January 14, 1833, by Rev. Beriah Green. It was a Congregational church, under the care of the Portage Presbytery. Thirty united with the church at its formation, presenting letters from Congregational churches in the East, and from the Presbyterian Church at North Spring- field, Summit County. The two elements did not always work in harmony, nevertheless the work prospered. Worship was conducted in a school house until the church building was dedi- cated, June 29, 1837. In 1870 the building was rebuilt and re-dedicated. Feb. 15, 1874, Rev. H. H. Wells, D.D., com- menced special meetings, which added a large number to the church, and February 28, 1874, a meeting was called to adopt the Presbyterian form of government. The church has had but one installed pastor, Rev. Samuel Lee, 1840 to 1849. Many ministers have supplied the pulpit, but through all the successes and failures the church has never been closed, except for repairs or for union services.
Willoughby Church.
This church was organized April 15, 1833, as the First Presbyterian Church of Chagrin, afterwards Willoughby, with nine members. In the sixty-three years of its existence it has had twenty-one ministers, only three of whom were installed. At the beginning the church was received into the Cleveland Presbytery, but in 1837 it was made a Congregational church. Under the pastorate of Rev. H. S. Clark (1840 to 1846) the church was again made Presbyterian, with the exception that the elders were elected for three years instead of for life. In July, 1848, the church again changed to the "First Congrega-
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THE COUNTRY CHURCHES.
tional Church of Willoughby," although it remained in connec- tion with the Presbytery. In 1870 the church adopted the Presbyterian form of government, and has since remained in the Cleveland Presbytery. On August 5, 1880, Rev. Arthur J. Waugh came and served the church ten years. During this period of service the old edifice was supplanted by a new church building costing $10,000. Mr. Waugh resigned to accept a call to the Willson Avenue Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, and after a three-years supply of the church by Rev. F. G. Weeks, the present minister, Rev. Selden C. Dickinson, a Congre- gationalist, began his labors. The whole number received into membership during the existence of this church is 549, the pres- ent membership being over 100. Two missionaries have gone forth from this church, Miss Laura Emily Carpenter going to China, and Miss Eliza D. Everett to Syria, where she now labors. Miss Carpenter returned to this country, and died about 1861. The Missionary Societies are flourishing. The church has a good parsonage, and the whole property, worth over $15,000, is free from debt.
Northfield Church.
At Northfield, on the 9th of November, 1833, a number of people met in a log school-house to form a church. Rev. Caleb Pitkin moderated the meeting, delegated so to act by the Presbytery of Portage, but it was left to the people whether they would form a Presbyterian or a Congregational church. It was not until 1837, however, that the congregation resolved that the form of church govern- ment should be strictly Presby- terian. In October of that year the church petitioned the (O. S.) Rev. Joel C. Glover. Presbytery of Wooster for men- bership in that Presbytery, which petition was granted. The 3
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
pastors and supplies of this church have been: Revs. C. J. Abbott, M. A. Fox, Mr. Crittenden, John Andrews, William Campbell, Luke Dorland, W. B. Marsh, William Hamilton, D.D., M. E. Caldwell, afterwards a missionary to Bogota; J. G. Hall, D.D., R. R. Marquis, W. M. Donaldson, and W. W. Tait. The present pastor, Rev. Joel C. Glover, was called August 16, 1891. This small church has given five young men to the ministry. Northfield is noted for the moral and Christian character of its citizens, which is in a large measure the result of the influence of the Presbyterian church.
Solon Church.
i
The Solon Presbyterian Church was organized April 24, 1834 It was first organized on the independent plan, but in 1840, "feeling the need of the sympathy and help from with- out, more than it could secure under a purely Congregational polity," the church joined the Cleveland Presbytery, under the old plan of union. This relation was sustained until 1871 when, on August 27, the church was fully organized on the Presby- terian plan. A year after Rev. William V. Chapin. organization a house of worship was erected, a very plain, modest building. In 1853 this house was enlarged to its present pro- portions, the steeple built, and the bell placed. The record of that time reads: "Old Priest Seward," who served the church for sixteen years, the longest pastorate it ever had, "preached for the first time in our meeting house enlarged and repaired." In pastoral service the experience of the church has been that of short duration. In the early days professors from the Western Reserve College often supplied the pulpit. There have been the following pastors and stated supplies: Revs. Calvin Porter, J. Morton, E. Ward, John Seward, D. W. Sharts, Wm. C. Turner,
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THE COUNTRY CHURCHES.
H. M. Walker, M. D. Steen, Henry Curtis, A. M. Chapin, John Seymour, H. S. Childs and John E. Carroll. The present pastor, Rev. W. V. Chapin, began his labors in August, 1893, and the field has been richly blessed. Over 100 members have been added to the membership, which had been forty-five, and almost all the members thus received have come upon confession of their faith. For the first time in its history the church has be- come self-supporting. There is a good C. E. Society, and the present building may be replaced by a new one.
Parma Church.
November 7, 1835, a meet- ing was called to organize a lit- tle band of Christians into a church. Dr. S. C. Aiken, of the First Church, of Cleveland, presided. The Confession of Faith and Covenant recom- mended by the Cleveland Presby- tery, were adopted. It was ex- pected that the church would be Presbyterian, but the majority having been connected with Con- gregational churches, Dr. Aiken refused to urge them to do what they did not at heart wish to do, "These brethren," said he " wish Rev. Julius Spencer. to organize a Congregational church, and Congregational it shall be." Eleven persons joined this church by letter, and one upon confession of his faith. Services were conducted in a school-house until a "meeting- house " was constructed. It was a plain frame building, and was ready for use in 1841. There have been twenty-five different periods of supply in the pulpit of this small church, down to the present supply, Rev. Julius Spencer, who began his labors October 1, 1892. There have never been over sixty members connected with this church at any one time. After the special meetings conducted by Rev. H. H. Wells, D. D., the church took the full form of Presbyterian government, April 3, 1874.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
Independence Church.
This church was organized June 24, 1837, by missionaries under the employ of the Connecticut Missionary Society, with but six charter members. For nearly twenty years the church had no pastor, but was supplied by different missionaries until the settlement of Rev. B. F. Sharp, in October, 1854. Mr. Sharp is the only pastor the church has ever had. In January, 1855, measures were instituted for the erection of the present house of worship, services having been previously held in a log school- house, and in the Town Hall. The present stone church building was completed at a cost of $2,594. This building was paid for under the pastorate of Mr. Sharp, and has been the home of the congregation ever since. This church has a very limited field of work. The population has greatly changed from that of pioneer days, and Lutheran and Roman Catholic families have come into the place with their churches, but preaching services are main- tained in the old Presbyterian church, conducted for the most part by students from Oberlin Theological Seminary.
Kingsville Church.
This church was organized in 1844, from the remnants of a previously existing Congregational church. At first the govern- ment was a compromise between that of the Congregational and Presbyterian polity, in order to please the old members of the former church. The church has gradually merged into the Presbyterian form, with a few exceptions that still cling to it as inherited rights. The first pastor and reorganizer of the church was Rev. C. E. Williams, who served eight years. There have been ten pastors and stated supplies since. Rev. H. W. Palmer, the second pastor, served the church eighteen years. Rev. D. L. Hickok served eight years. The other terms of service were short. There have been added to the church, since its organiza- tion, 455 members. The present membership is eighty, and Rev. A. H. Caughey, a member of Erie Presbytery, is the stated supply.
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