USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > History of Cleveland Presbyterianism with directory of all the churches > Part 4
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Milton Church, Rittman, O.
This church was organized September 7, 1878, with seven members. The principal mover in the act was Rev. J. C.
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THE COUNTRY CHURCHES.
Elliott, pastor of the Guilford Church, at Seville, but living with his family at Rittman. The first church building was erected in 1880 at a cost of $2,700, of which $800 came from the Board of Church Erection. This building was burned in the winter of 1885, without any insurance, but in the following summer a new church was erected at a cost of $2,880. The church grew until its membership reached fifty-two in 1887, and then it declined until it reached twenty in 1892. It was self-supporting the first ten years, but the financial strain of building two edifices crippled the congregation. Rev. Mr. Elliott resigned in April, 1892. Since that time the pulpit has been supplied by pastors of neighboring churches at Doylestown and Seville, and for the past two years Rev. V. G. Sheeley, pastor of the Guilford Church, has served the congregation, the Presbytery helping to bear the expense of maintaining service.
New Lyme Church.
The Presbyterian Church of New Lyme was organized Oc- tober 16, 1887, with nineteen members. Since that time over 100 have been added to the roll. A brick church has been built, with all modern conveniences, at a cost of $5,000, and dedicated September 2, 1890. Near this church is the New Lyme Insti- tute, one of the best high schools in Northern Ohio. Professor Tuckerman is president of the school, and most of the facul- ty and some of the students are Rev. Sherman D. Taylor. members of this church. The Rev. S. D. Taylor, now in his eighty second year, and a veteran in the work, has been the successful acting pastor of this young organization from the beginning.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
Central Church, Akron.
At the spring meeting of Presbytery, 1891, a committee was appointed to organize the Central Presbyterian Church, of Akron. The only Presbyterian church in Akron up to this time was the old Middlebury church, now in the sixth ward of the city. It seemed wise in a rapid- ly growing city of 30,000 people, to thus organize a Presbyterian church in the more central por- tion of the city, providing a field that needed a church could be Rev. John C. Elliott. found. Such a field was dis- covered, but in it there was no place suitable for worship. Finally, October 15, 1891, a school house for which the city had no longer any need, was purchased by Rev. E Layport, pastor of the First Church, of Akron, and this was held for the Presbyterian Church. This small building was furnished with chairs. The Board of Publication contrib- uted liberally Sunday-school books, lesson helps, and Bibles. The Presbyterian Church at Columbus Grove, O., donated a pul- pit, and the floor was covered with matting from the abandoned church at LaFayette. The house was opened for worship the last Sunday in November, 1891, Rev. E. Layport preaching the sermon, and Rev. J. C. Elliott making some remarks. Services were held each Sunday afternoon by Mr. Layport, assisted by Revs. Elliott, Notestein and Ludlow. A week of special meet- ings was observed in November, conducted mostly by Rev. Arthur C. Ludlow, of Cleveland. The organization of the church was effected March 13, 1892. Mr. J. H. Sample, formerly elder in the church at Granville, O., and Mr. W. E. Dempsey, formerly elder in the church at Akron, were installed as elders, and Dr. J. H. Seiler, W. C. Dague and J. H. Sample, were elected trustees. The Rev. J. C. Elliott was called in April, 1892, but was not in- stalled until the completion of the new Chapel, September 16,
55
THE COUNTRY CHURCHES.
1895. The present church property is worth $7,000, and there is good prospect of its soon being cleared of the debt, which, at the present is a little over $1,000. The church is located on State street, between Main and High, and has a field for great future usefulness.
Wickliffe Church.
The Wickliffe Presbyterian Church is an outgrowth of a Union church, which had existed ten years. Fifteen members desiring a closer denominational relation, decided to form a Presbyterian church. At an extra meeting of the Presbytery, called in August, 1893, Rev. E. Bushnell, D.D., Rev. Wm. Knight, and Elder E. R. Perkins, were delegated to form a church. This was done September 3, 1893. Rev. R. W. Mclaughlin served the church one year. Rev. F. G. Blanchard supplied it six months, during which time sixteen members were added. October 31, 1895, Rev. L. E. Lewis, of Chagrin Falls, was called, preaching his first sermon November 24, 1895. Previous to his coming plans had been made for a new church, and the building, a brick structure with stone trimmings, is now completed. The auditorium seats over 300, with a Sunday- school room adjoining seating over 200. The building is thoroughly modern, costing over $7,000, and is almost free of debt.
Rev. Barnas F. Ashley.
Rev. Augustus Cone.
Rev. John G. Hall, D.D.
Rev. Henry P. Hamilton.
Rev. John D. Jones.
Rev. William M. Kain.
Rev. Milton A. Sackett.
Rev. John A. Seymour.
Rev. Horatio HI. Wells, D.D.
Rev. John N. Wilson.
East Cleveland Church.
East Cleveland Church.
TN 1804, five families from Washington, Pennsylvania, founded 4 their homes in the heart of an almost unbroken forest, east of the little settlement of Cleveland. A rough path, the beginning of Euclid Avenue, wandered tortuously through the forest. These five families brought with them their Presbyterian faith and practices, and, as religious privileges were to them as nec- essary as their homes, we find them, three years after their arrival, responding to the suggestion, and uniting with the efforts of earlier settlers in forming a church.
It was on the 27th of August, 1807, that the "Church of Christ in Euclid," was organized. The missionary in charge was Rev.
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EAST CLEVELAND CHURCH.
Wm. Wick, and tradition says that the gathering place was the barn of Andrew McIlrath. Another tradition has it that the organization was formed at the house of Nathaniel Doan, at Doan's Corners, at that time a more central place, the name of Mr. Doan standing first on the roll of the church.
The church was first organized on the "Plan of Union," but the bent toward Presbyterianism was marked, and March 15, 1810, the church placed itself under the care of the Hartford Presbytery. In the same year a log church was erected on the eastern corner of the adjoining cemetery, on land obtained from Thomas McIlrath, John Shaw, and Nehemiah Dille. Even the rude house built of split logs could not be finished until the arrival, in 18II, of two settlers whose knowledge of carpentry enabled them to make plain benches and a pulpit.
Here were held the regular services of the first church in the Cleveland Presbytery under its first pastor, Rev. Thomas Barr, and for almost twenty years this was the only church that afforded religious privileges to the early settlers of Cleveland. If the Old Stone Church is called the "Mother," the East Cleveland, or old Euclid Church, should be called the "Grandmother of Us All." Although the church is yet out of the city limits, it is properly a city church, and the Rev. D. L. Hickok. near annexation of East Cleve- land to the City of Cleveland will make it such in fact. The first interment in the Cemetery, at a corner of which the old church was built, was that of Mrs. Barr, wife of the first pastor, and this was in 1812. During the whole existence of the log church, it is said to have been the only church building upon the Western Reserve. In 1816 the log church was replaced by a frame structure, which also antedated any church building in the county. Again the people built out of their poverty with the foresight that always characterized their
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
enterprises. They planned for the future, and the frame church on the hill was, for its time, as imposing as the present new structure. Its steeple was high, and could be seen for miles around. It was the counterpart of the New England meeting house, a type found in any Puritan village.
At first this church was used without windows or pulpit, and the first meeting, which was not of formal dedication, was very unique and impressive. The legend is that there arose a terrible thunderstorm. The pastor, calling the frightened congregation to the center of the church, while the lightning rent the air and the crashing trees fell in the forest outside, led them in prayer for protection from the dangers which surrounded them. The wind swept through the empty window spaces, and his voice could not be heard on account of the furious noise of the storm, but the silent prayer-meeting, where death seemed so near, survived in the memories of those present as the most awe-inspiring service they had ever known.
In 1819 and 1820 the work on the church was resumed and completed. Pews took the place of planks laid across log sup- ports, window sills and glass filled the spaces left empty, and a fine pulpit graced the front. Much comfort and refinement were thus added, but through many succeeding years the old church was unwarmed in winter, and, as the congregation came on horse- back or in rude carts to attend morning, afternoon and evening services on a Sunday, they came equipped with foot-stoves and hand-warmers, and the minister preached muffled to the chin to protect himself from the cold. With the era of stoves and other comforts, changes were made to keep pace with the march of improvements. The steeple of the church was lowered and the galleries were removed. The galleries had been erected on three sides of the building, and the pulpit had been lifted high above the heads of the people. Now the church was converted, by the introduction of a new floor, into a two-story building, the upper floor containing the audience, and the basement the prayer-meeting rooms. The high pulpit was replaced by a low desk. This renovated edifice remained the house of worship until the present fine stone church was erected and dedicated.
The new work was begun in 1893. The Sunday-school building was dedicated and occupied by the church February
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EAST CLEVELAND CHURCH.
Old Euclid, or Collamer Church. The " Grandmother of Us All."
4, 1894, while the church building was dedicated November 3, 1895.
The first pastor of the East Cleveland Church, Rev. Thomas Barr, served from 1810 to 1820. Rev. Stephen Peet served as pastor from 1826 to 1833. Rev S. E. Scott and Rev. E. Adams were stated supplies from 1834 to 1836. The third pastor was Rev. H. Blodgett, from 1837 to 1843. The church then had three stated supplies, Revs. E. N. Nichols, B. S. J. Page, and Wm. H. Beecher, who served from 1843 to 1849. The fourth regular pastor was Rev. Jonathan Bigelow, from 1850 to 1854. From 1854 to 1857 the church had three stated supplies, Revs. Andrew Sharp, B. S. J. Page, and Hiram Bingham. The fifth pastor, Rev. Franklin Maginnis, officiated from 1858 to 1867. Rev. R. H. Leonard supplied the pulpit from 1867 to 1872. The sixth pastor
John D. Chambers.
James M. Coburn.
Thomas D. Crosby.
J. H. Danforth.
H. A. Hawgood.
J. F. Herrick.
Alvin F. Ingersoll.
J. B. Meriam.
Joseph Parks.
Thomas C. Richmond.
George Stone.
Charles W. Taylor.
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EAST CLEVELAND CHURCH DIRECTORY.
was Rev. H. P. Barnes, who served from 1872 to 1876. From 1877 to 1879 Rev. T. S. Scott supplied the church, and the seventh pastor was Rev. R. D. Scott, whose term of service was from 1879 to 1882. The present pastor, Rev. D. L. Hickok, was installed in 1882, and has served faithfully unto the present time. Under his guidance the old church has been transformed into what is destined to be a strong city church, and that in the near future.
CHURCH DIRECTORY.
OFFICERS.
Pastor .- Rev. D. L. Hickok, East Cleveland.
Elders .- Thomas D. Crosby, Joseph Parks, James McCrosky, Charles W. Taylor, Thomas C. Richmond, J. H. Danforth, John D. Chambers. J. B. Meriam, Clerk of Session.
Trustees .- President, A. F. Ingersoll; George Stone, H. A. Hawgood, Joseph Parks, Charles W. Taylor, J. B. Meriam; Treasurer, J. M. Coburn; Secretary, J. F. Herrick.
Sunday-school .-- Superintendent, J. D. Chambers; Asst. Sup't, W. H. Kirk; Secretary and Treasurer, John R. Emerick; Chorister, A. F. Inger- soll; Primary Department Superintendent, Mrs. J. D. Chambers.
Ladies' Home and Foreign Missionary Society .- President, Mrs. D. L. Hickok; Vice Presidents, Mrs. Sarah Swift, Mrs. Seth Bourn and Mrs. J. D. Chambers; Treasurer, Mrs. W. H. Gaylord; Secretary, Miss Lou Bardwell; Secretary of Literature, Miss Mary Taylor.
Ladies' Social Union,-President, Mrs. Frank Welton; Vice President, Mrs. H. A. Hawgood; Treasurer, Miss Ida Procunier; Secretary, Mrs. W. H. Kirk.
Christian Endeavor Society .- President, Charles H. Taylor.
Junior Christian Endeavor .- Superintendent, Mrs. J. M. Coburn.
REGULAR MEETINGS.
Sunday morning service, 10:00 a. in .; Sunday-school, 11:30 a. m .; Junior S. S. E., 5:00 p. m .; Senior Y. P. S. C. E., 6:00 p. m .; Evening ser- vice, 7:00 p. m. Church prayer-meeting Friday night, 7:15.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
MEMBERS.
Adatrs, Franklin
Adams, Mrs. Marcella-Bachelder
Adams, Agnes
Aldrich, Adella
Antisdale, Mrs. Stella-Minor
Baldwin, Mrs. Sophia-Doan
Bardwell, Mrs. Jennie-Hill
Bardwell, Louisa E.
Beckley, Dora Jerusha
Beers, Nancy N.
Berneike, Mrs. Mamie-Thompson
Birge, Cornelius W.
Birge, Mrs. Julia-Currier
Birge, Mrs. Emma-Jones
Bivin, George D.
Bonnett, Edward M.
Bonnett, Mrs. Lucy-Bates Bourn, Seth
Bourn, Mrs. Mary A .- Swett
Brewer, Mrs. Emily-Dutcher
Brush, Adaline
Buckley, Mrs. Lucy A .- Lee
Buckley, John Burton
Buckley, Lucy May
Buckley Bion R.
Burton, Mrs. E. Antoinette-Meriam
Burton, Martha A.
Burton, Jessie A.
Burton, May F.
Busch, Gertrude
Cameron, Mrs. Elizabeth-Simmons Chambers, John D.
Chambers, Mrs. Jessie-Parmelee
Chapman, Dr. Hattie B.
Chapman, Allan A. Chapman, Evalena Belle
Chapman, Gracie May Chapman, Jessie Laura
Clark, Mary A. O.
Clark, Lydia G. Clark, M. C. D.
Clark, Mrs. Catherine-Baughman
Clark, George Nelson Clark, Mary C. Clark, Robert Leslie
Clark, Charles Baxter
Cleveland, Mrs. Evangeline-Tompkins Cleveland, Selina Georgiett
Cline, Mary E. Coburn, Janies M.
Coburn, Mrs. Mary Eliza-Hickok Coburn, E. Janet Crosby, Thomas D.
Crosby, Mrs. Adaline-Ingersoll
Crosby, Mary L.
Crosby, Anna E.
Crosby, Henry M.
Crosby, Mrs. Harriet-Luster
Crosby, Bertha H.
Currier, Mrs. Emma-Ruple
Currier, Charlotte
Danforth, J. H.
Danforth, Mrs. Kate-Ingersoll
Danforth, Catherine Howard
Danforth, Arthur Edwards
Daniels, Mrs. Emily-Covell
Daniels. Emily C.
Day, Hiram
Day, Mrs. Amanda D .- Fox
Day, Joseph A.
Day, Mrs. Elizabeth-Waterman
Day, Lizzie May
Dunham, Elizabeth
Emerick, Mrs. Ida Belle --- Day Emerick, Mrs. Nellie-Day Emerick, John R.
Felton, Mrs. Sarah A .- Rogers
Fenton, Dr. Cora-Hoard
Ferguson, Mrs. Agnes M.
Ferguson, William B.
Ferguson, Harriet Maber
Feaux, Ada La
Fuller, Julia Howes
Gates, Albert
Gates, Mrs. Isabella-Wight Gaylord, Mrs. Laura-Bowen
Glenn, Mrs. Mary Ann-Nash
Graham, Eliza J.
Graham, May Elizabeth
Graham, Jessie Eunice
Graham, Theodora Goodale, Mrs. Eliza-Wheal
Haddow, William
Haddow, Mrs. Isabelle-Tweedie
Hale, William H.
Harrison, Wm. H.
Harrison, Lissa Hawgood, H. A. Hawgood. Mrs. Eliza M .- Bourn Heiser, Mrs. Mattie-Rankin Heiser, Attie Pearl Heiser, Jessie Henderson, Grace M.
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EAST CLEVELAND CHURCH DIRECTORY.
Henderson, Florence Herrick, J. F.
Herrick, Mrs. Flora-Waring
Herrick, Flora Scott
Herrick, Pauline Waring
Herrick, Howard Waring
Hickok, Mrs. Eliza-Merrill
Holley, Mrs. Catherine-Vail
Hougland, Charles D.
Hougland, Mrs.Sarah Catherine-Day Hougland, Mary M. Hougland, Gertie Estella Howard, Mrs. Josephine-Vincent
Ingersoll, Alvin F. Ingersoll, Mrs. Della-Bishop Ingersoll, Mary Elvira
Jayred, Williamn, Sen. Jayred, Mrs. Emma-Lock Jayred, Charles W. Jenson, Mrs. Anna F. Jenson, Ida Christiana Judd, Mrs. Mary-Cleveland
Kachel, Mrs. Bertha-Guse Kennedy, Mrs. Martha-Bauder King, Thomas King, Eunice E.
Kiefer, Mrs. Alice-Steele
Killey, Mrs. Nellie-Ferguson Kirk, William H. Kirk, Mrs. Martha-Graves Kraus, Josephine
Lock, Albert O. Lock, Mrs Jennie-Hougland Long, Levi Long, Mrs. Mary-Kraus Long, Frederick Levi Long, Robert Meriam Long, Mary Alice Lucas, Mrs. Abbie-Morrow Luster, Mrs. Helen-Ellsworth Luster, Bertram E. Luster Ernest W. Luster, Nettie E. Luster, Mary Belle Luster, Blanche E.
McCrosky, James McCrcsky, Mrs. Sophia-Barber McCrosky, Frederick Mckenzie, Donald Mckenzie, Mrs. Mary J .- Van Horn Mckenzie, Catherine G. Mckenzie, Mary Mapes, Cassius C.
Mapes, Mrs. Augusta-Frizell
Mapes, Dr. Tracy E.
Mattox, John W.
Mattox, Mrs. Mary-Wight
Maxwell, Mrs. Nancy-Ferguson
Meriam, J. B.
Meriam, Mrs. Helen-Morgan
Meriam, Alice M.
Mer: am. J. Winthrop
Minor, Mrs. Sally-Antisdale
Minor, Lulu A.
Morgan, Charles T.
Morgan, Mrs. Mary-Roach
Morgan, Whittier R.
Morrow, David W.
Myers, Lena P.
Myers, Thomas C.
Myers, Mrs. Clara-Taber
Myers, Clara Belle
Myers, Julia E.
Ogram, Jennie S.
Page, Mrs. Mary-Parks
Page, Emily
Page, Alice
Palmer, Mrs.ShatticeHortense-Blair
Palmer, Mildred May
Parks, Joseph
Parks, Mrs. Maria Jane-Thorp
Parks, Beaumont
Parks, Howard
Parks, Robert
Parks, Norman
Parks, Emma Bentley
Parks, Phoebe Katherine
Parks, Mrs. Harriet-Hendershot
Parks, Sheldon
Parks, Mrs. Clara-Street
Parks, Sterling
Parks, Horace F.
Parks, Leonard
Patch, Mrs. Mabel I .- Howard
Patterson, David H.
Patterson, Mrs. Josephine- Beers Pavey, William H.
Phillips, Mrs. Nancy-Sheldon
Phillips, Grace May Ponten, Mrs. Maria-Clark
Procunier, Ida
Prouting, Agnes
Race, Agnes P. Radcliffe, George W. Radcliffe, Mrs. Fannie-King Richmond, Thomas C. Richmond, Mrs. Saralı-Linscott Richmond, Warren W.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
Roach, Mrs. Diantha-Sawyer Ruple, Mrs. Rebecca-Coon
Ruple, Adelbert Rush, Mrs. Sarah-Haycox Rush, Eva May
Rush, Blanche
Rush, Arthur Clyde.
Scott, Mrs. Matilda-McClintoch Seymour, Mrs. Sarah-Spooner Seymour, George B. Seymour, Mrs. Elizabeth-Doan
Springborn, Annie E. H.
Stamberger, Mrs. Emma-Kraus Stoll, Frank R.
Stone, George Swift, Mrs. Sarah-Spaulding Swift, Grace
Taylor, Henry
Taylor, Charles W.
Taylor, Mrs. Polly-Adams Taylor, Seth H.
Taylor, Mrs. Blanche-Minor
Taylor, Charles H.
Taylor, Mary D. Taylor, Arthur C.
Taylor, F. Heber Thompson, Mrs. Harriet-Thorp
Thompson. Jennie A. Torrey, Bertha I.
Vorce, LaFayette D. Vorce, Mrs. Agnes-Haskell
Walworth, Ida Welton, Mrs. Lue E .- Wemple
Wight, Frances Wilkes, Lillian May
.OLD STONE CHURCH .. PUBLIC SQUARE
First Presbyterian, or Old Stone Church.
history of the First Presbyterian, or Old Stone Church.
T HE First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, was the out- growth of a Union Sunday-school, held in a primitive log court house, on what is now the Public Square. The court house itself was made of hewn logs, boarded outside, and painted red. Cleveland was then a straggling village of 150 inhabitants.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
The school, opened in June, 1819-Mr. Elisha Taylor, superin- tendent, and Mr. Moses White, a leading Baptist, secretary- issued Tuesday, September 19, 1820, into the organization of the First Presbyterian Church. It was due to Mr. Taylor, chiefly, that the little band of fourteen, six upon confession of faith, were led to "adopt the Presbyterian doctrine and discipline." The names of the charter members are thus chronicled in the records of that time: Elisha Taylor and Ann, his wife; T. J. Hamlin, P. B. Andrews, Sophia L. Perry, widow; Bertha Johnson, widow; Sophia Walworth, Mrs. Mabel How, Henry Baird and Ann, his wife; Rebecca Carter, widow, Juliana Long, Isabella Williamson, Miss Harriet How, Minerva Merwin.
At this time Cleveland was a very unpretentious village, located in an allotment a mile square, mostly uncleared, but ex- ceedingly eligible as a site for residences. In 1820 the first stage coach arrived from the East, and gave the citizens public com- munication with the outside world. Two years later the first steamer plowed the waters of Lake Erie, increasing the facilities for traffic and travel. At that time there was a little hamlet at Doan's Corners, and another at Newburgh. Between, rose primitive forests, where wolves and bears sometimes con- tested the right of possession.
For thirteen years, until the basement of the first "Old Stone Church " was ready for occupancy, the little band of believ- ers had no fixed habitation. For two years they met in the court house, but sometimes in the school house on St. Clair street; then in the academy, also on St. Clair street; and finally in the third story of Dr. Long's building, now embraced in the American House. The congregation was still small and poor, and the building of a church was a formidable undertaking. But the society having been incorporated in 1827, plans were adopted, and the building commenced on the present site in 1832, was dedi- cated February 26, 1834. The number of communicants at this time was ninety-four. Up to this time there had been no settled ministry, and the supplies had been rather transient than stated. The ministers who supplied were as follows: Rev. Randolph Stone, 1820-1821; Rev. Wm. McLean, 1822; Rev. S. J. Brad- street, 1823-1830; Rev. John Sessions, 1831, a part; Rev. Samuel Hutchings, 1832-1833; Rev. John Keep, 1833-1835. The
Rev. Samuel C. Aiken, D. D.
Rev. Wm. H. Goodrich, D. D.
Rev. Arthur Mitchell, D. D.
Rev. Hiram C. Haydn, D. D.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
Rev. John Keep, the last stated supply, December 18, 1834, moderated a meeting on the west side of the river, which resulted in the organization of the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, and he became its pastor. This church is now the First Congre- gational Church, of Cleveland.
All the stated supplies were devoted and excellent men. In 1835, the year President Finney began his work at Oberlin, Samuel C. Aiken, D. D., of Utica, N. Y., was called to the pastor- ate of the First church. He accepted, entered upon his labors the 7th of June, and was installed the 24th of November.
At this time Cleveland was a village of 5,080 inhabitants, and the next year, 1836, became an incorporated city. Besides Trinity Church, incorporated one year after the Old Stone, the Methodists had gained a footing, the Baptists were organized, the Roman Catholics had built their first church in 1835 on the flats, and the first Bethel Church had been opened on the side hill. There were now five denominations represented in the village. At Newburgh a church had been organized in 1832, now the Miles Park Church, and at Doan's Corners a Presbyterian Church was organized in 1843. One woman, it is said, carried it for Presbyterianism against forty men, but it did not remain Presby- terian. After ten years of independent life this church became the Euclid Avenue Congregational Church. Eastward, in Colla- mer, there had been a church since 1807.
Soon after Dr. Aiken settled, as pastor of the First Church, the church building was outgrown, and to relieve the pressure a colony of "twenty of the best families" went forth in 1836 to form a second Presbyterian Church, securing a charter under date of April 3, 1837. After a year the enterprise was abandoned, and the members returned to their old church home. The finan- cial crash of 1837 is thought, for one thing, to have crippled its strength.
A powerful revival in 1840, under the ministry of Rev. J. T. Avery, added to this church about 170 members, and prepared the way for a secession from the church of some who had become dissatisfied with Dr. Aiken's conservative position on the slavery question, to form a Congregational Church. This enterprise was wrecked by Second Adventism, the current "perfectionism" of the day, and kindred errors. The church edifice of this new
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1. Rev. Aaron Peck.
2. Mr. B. F. Shuart.
3. Rev. J. W. Simpson.
4. Rev. Rollo Ogden.
5. Rev. Jos. H. Selden.
6. Rev. Wilton M. Smith.
7. Rev. Giles H. Dunning. 8. Rev. Burt E. Howard.
10. Rev. R. A. George.
11. Rev. John S. Zelie.
9. Rev. William Knight.
12. Rev. F. W. Jackson.
Associate and Assistant Pastors of Old Stone Church.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIANISM.
enterprise was sold and the members disbanded, some returning to the mother church.
In June, 1844, the Second Presbyterian Church was organ- ized on the old charter of 1837. The meeting for the formation of this church was held in the basement of the Stone Church, Dr. Aiken presiding. Fifty-five letters were granted by the First Church to those forming the new organization.
Six years later, March 25, 1850, as a result, in part at least, of the anti-slavery agitation, another church of thirty members was formed, known for two years as the Free Presbyterian Church, but since then as the Plymouth Congregational Church.
It was about this time, February, 1851, that the first railroad entered Cleveland from Columbus. It was a great event, bring- ing to the city as it happened, over Sunday, a great many notable men, who listened to Dr. Aiken's commemorative sermon, which has become historic. The text was the graphic word picture of Nahum: "The chariots rage in the streets, they jostle one against another in the broadways; the appearance of them is like torches, they run like lightning."
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