USA > Ohio > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families > Part 24
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WILMINGTON EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Episcopal church ( 80-called in the ['nited States) is that branch of the Christian church which, necording to tradition, was started by St. Paul in Britain about the year 60 A. D. Through varying fortunes it has continued from that day to this. Its chief officers are bishops, priests and deacons-called apostles, presbyters and deacons in the early church. It is peculiarly the church of the English-speaking peoples, num- bering twenty-nine millions of members among those who speak the English language-a third more than any other branch of Protestantism. When the United States was a colonial possession of England, the English church was naturally the first church in the colonies, being organized at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1007. It was not until after the Revolutionary War that the English church in the United States changed its name to Episcopal, the change being made on account of the dislike in those days of all things savoring of the English. At the present time the Episcopal church in the United States consists of over a million members and is steadliy growing from year to year.
The Wilmington Episcopal church is the only one of this denomination in Clinton county. It was organized in the fall of 1901 by Archdeacon George H. Edwards, of Cin- cinnati, under the direction of Bishop Boyd Vincent. The first meeting was held in the hall of the Grand Army of the Republic on Sunday, September 20, 1901. Bishop Vincent making his first visitation on December 1 of that year. The charter members were Allen E. Browning, Mrs. Mabel Cowen Browning. Emma Hill. Mrs. Grace B. Ballard, Mrs. Lucie E. Hinman, Mrs. Hannah C. Owens. Ltda Cherrington and Bertha Collett.
I'nder Archdeacon Edwards as minister. the church continued for ten years (except for the winter of 1905-06, at which time Dr. T. W. C. Cheeseman, of Circleville, Oblo. was the minister), meeting regularly each month in the G. A. R. hall. Bishop Vincent continued his visitations about once every two years for special services, at which chil- dren received confirmation in the church. On July 8. 1907. the Brown property, at the corner of Walnut and Locust streets, was purchased with the purpose of ultimately using it for a house of worship. During the ministry of Doctor Edwards the following mem- hers were added to the church : Mrs. Maude James Frisbee, Robert L .. Owens, Mrs. Minnie W. Wegman, Mrs. Jesse F. Orebnugh. Fred M. Wegman, Edith Hildebrant. Isaac Turner Cartwright and George U. Lewis. During this time the church lost by death Allen E. Browning, George N. Lewis, Isaac T. Cartwright, Mrs. Lucy E. Hinman and Mrs. Maude J. Frisbee.
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On January 1, 1911, Arcbdeacon Edwarda resigned and Bishop Vincent appointed Rev. Thomas W. Cooke, of Dayton, archdeacon, who sent his assistant, Edward Phares the first of euch month to conduct the services of the church in Wilmington, and various lay readers the third Sunday in each month. In February of that year it was determined to turn the house standing upon the Brown property into a small church building, and on July 3 the first service was held in the remodeled building. Archdencon Cooke officiating. On July 13 of the same year Mrs. Hinman died, leaving her property, valued at' three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, toward the building of a new church. On July 7, 1912, Mr. Phares became a resident minister, and services held every Sunday morning. About this time the church was declared out of debt through the gift of five hundred dollars from the Women's Auxiliary of the diocese. On August 4 of that year the Sunday school was started. The following members were added to the church during the ministry of Reverend Mr. Phares: Mr. and Mrs. Fred O. Tyrell, Mr. and Mrs. L. Phillip Kleitz and Leroy Brewington.
In January. 1914, Rev. J. H. Dodshon, of Zanesville, having been appointed arch- dencon in place of Mr. Cooke, succeeded Mr. Phares in the ministry of the Wilmington church. On October 1 he secured the services of Rev. Eugene C. Prosser. of Washing- ton Court House, to act as the resident minister, the services to be held every Sunday evening. Bishop Reese, of Columbus, the recently consecrated assistant bishop, made his first visitation to the little church on November 8, confirming three persons. On July 5. 1915, the first marriage was solemnized there by Bishop Reese, the marriage of Rev. F. C. Prosser to Miss Edith Hudebrand. The growth of the Episcopal church is a slow but steady one. The members are at present looking forward to the building of a new church in the near future.
BLANCHESTER MENNONITE CHURCH.
In the latter part of the ninetles the Mennonites began holding services in Bian- chester in a large tent. Rev. Jobn Hall was the leader of the band of worshippers and by 1808 had built up a congregation which felt able to erect a building. This frame building Is still standing on Wright street and has been closed for some time. The church fourished for a number of years and then gradually grew weaker until there were not enough members to justify the employment of a pastor. The church is now classed with the large number of Clinton county churches which have closed their doors.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH.
The Seventh-Day Adventist denomination was the outgrowth of what is known as the Millerite movement, which began in the I'nited States at Lou Hampton. Washington county, New York. This movement bad as its basis the proclamation that the second coming of Christ to this earth was to take place in a few years, and those adhering to this faith were known as Millerites. They proclaimed the coming of Christ to take place on the 22nd day of October, 1844. The followers of this movement consisted of devout believers from every Protestant denomination of that time and they were joined by many ministers of different denominations in the I'nited States, who united in the proclamation of Christ's return to this earth and its destruction on the aforesald date. After this date was passed and Christ did not return. many of the ministers of that time and many adherents of the former movement were turned out of the Millerite organization. They banded themselves into a permanent organization and denomination, which took the name of Seventh-Day Adventists.
Among the most prominent members to further the organization of this denomination and make it a lasting body were Joseph Bates, J. N. Loughborough, James White and Ellen G. White. This body has for its purpose the preaching of the messages of the three angels in Revelations 14. This organization has gone forth with its work until at present they have a large following in seven different countries of the world. Churches
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and conferences have been organized in every state in the Union, and the present strength of this church is one hundred thousand members. The organization consists of a general conference, two division conferences, and many local conferences where they are strong enough to organize.
Many sanitariums, colleges and schools in different parts of the world are maintained by the followers of this faith. Many printing houses in different lands are devoted entirely to their publications The work of this denomination consists in preaching and publishing their sermons. These publications are sold and last year the sule of these publications amounted to over two million dollars This is the only denomination in the world that sends out its books by the carlond, their demand being so great that this is necessary.
The first Seventh-Day Adventist church to be organized in Clinton county was located at New Antioch. This was organized in July, 1877, with thirty-two charter mem- bers, as follow : Richard Vandervort, Catherine Vandervort, Naman Naftager. Mary Naftager, William Bloom, Mirauda J. Bloom, John A. Haughey. Ann B. Haughey. Charlotte Haynie, Jobn W. Durham, Mary E. Naftager. Mary Sprigs, James Hogan, Mary Bernard, Sarab Bloom, Martha Pond, Jennie Bloom, Butler Naftager, Melissa Bloom, Emily Bloom, Emily Naftager and Anna Naftsger. The first church building was erected and dedicated in January, 1883.
The second church society of this faith was organized at Bloomington, Ohio, in May, 1887, with a membership of thirty-six. The charter members were Jessie and Hattie Pope, E. B. Haughey, Emma Haughey, Stephen Haughey. Nancy Young. Jonah Wical. Pamelia Wieal. Caleb and Mary Cline. Jane and Arvil Bariette, Rebecca Bowmaster. Marcisen Compton, Eva. Frank, Daisy and Mollle Huffaker. A. G. Haughey, J. B. and Ella Wical. Louisa Johnson and Warren Hudfaker.
The third church to be established in Clinton county was organized at Wilmington in August, 1887, with the following charter members: J. M. Rannella, Susnn B. Rannells, Mrs. M. M. Palmer, Mrs. Lydia Babb, Alberta Starbuck, Georgia Palmer. Bell Palmer and Hattle Palmer. The first permanent organization was the ontgrowth of a six-weeks* meeting held in a tent in Wilmington. This meeting was well attended and much enthusiasm shown for a permanent organization. This was brought abont through the combined efforts of Revs. H. M. Cotrell and L. B. Haughey. There are at present thirty- five members in this congregation. An active Sabbath schoof and a missionary society are also maintained by the church.
Many of the different members of the societies at New Antioch and Bloomington have gone to distant parts as missionaries, others have passed over the great divide until the congregation of these two places were thinned to such an extent that it was decided to abandon them and concentrate their efforts on the Wilmington church. The place of meeting in Wilmington is a rented hall over the First National Bank. Regular meetings are held and, although small. the church is on a strong financial basis.
8T. COLUMUKILLE CATHOLIC CHURCH. WILMINGTON.
The families of James Trimble, John Burk and Edward Powers were the first Catholles to settle in what is now Clinton county. They were natives of Ireland and left their native land on account of the persecution to which they were subjected in the community In which they lived. On coming to this county. in 1807. they located near the present village of Cuba and in their humble log cabins they held the first Catholic services in the county. These families were worthy citizens any many of their names may be found in the lists of the citizens who assembled at the monthly musters until the close of the War of 1812. It is not known how long these families remained in the county, neither is it kuown where they located on leaving it. but it is certain that they all left at an early date. James Trimble was a man of education, a school teacher, in fact, while the heads of the other families were farmers.
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As far as known, the next Catholics to settle in the county were Thomas and Arthur McCann, also natives of Ireland, who located in Wilmington in the summer of 1811. They opened a pottery on South street and continued to follow this line of activity for many years. During the War of 1812 they took a prominent part in upholding the cause of the United States against the mother country. It appears that the McCann brothers left the town of Wilmington about 1818, but where they went or what eventually became of them is not known.
Just who were the next Catholics to settle in the county is a matter of conjecture, but there is no authentic record of any coming to the county from 1818 until the arrival of Patrick Denver, Patrick Dolan, William Rankin and Hubert Clement and his brother-in-law. John P. Bigville. The latter two were natives of Belgium, in the province of Superior. The three former came to the county direct from Ireland. These men came to the county in the early thirties and many of their descendants are still living in or near Wilmington. The Denvers aud Rombachs eventually became among the most prominent and influential men of the county and some of the members of both families became national figures
Although there had been Catholles In Clinton county from the time It was organized, It was not until August, 1852, that mass was said for the first time in the county. At that time Rev. Thomas Blake celebrated the first mass In the home of Jerry Coakley on Sugartree street. Father Blake was brought overland from Corwin, Ohio, by Michael Devanney, Patrick Creedon and Timothy Coakley. At that time he was stationed at Xenia, having come to this country from Ireland In 1850. There were ten persons present at this first mass in Wilmington : Michael Devanney, wife and daughter, Timothy Coakley, Patrick Creedon, Jeremiah Conkley and wife. Catherine Knaughton and two young men whose names have not been preserved. When mass was sald in the same bonse a month later, there were eleven persons present and for the succeeding two year's mass was said regularly once a month at the homes of Devanney and Coakley. In 1854 the Catholics had increased in numbers until Father Blake found it necessary to provide larger quarters. ('linton hall was first secured and, some time later, the little congregation located in Preston hall.
Father Blake remained in charge, with occasional visits by Rev. Cornelius Daly and Rev. Philip Foley. until October, 1862, when he was succeeded by Rev. John B. 'O'Donohue. Father O'Donohue was also a native of Ireland and, after receiving a good education in his native land, came to Cincinnati in 1848, where he was ordained to the priesthood In IN3. When he took charge of the mission at Wilmington. in the fall of 1×62, he also had charge of the churches at Milford. Loveland. Morrow, Lebanon and Washington Court House. Father O'Donohue was an Indefatigable worker and during his long service in this section of Ohio he built or acquired churches at Greenfield. Love- land, Milford. Morrow, Wilmington and Washington Court House, besides the pastoral residence at Millsboro.
The first step toward the acquisition of property in Wilmington was taken by Father O'Donohue In the spring of 1863, when he made a tentative contract for the old nursery lot in the southwest part of the town. However, the congregation was not satisfied with the site and the present lot was finally secured. at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars. On June 6. 1866, ground was broken for the first Catholic church in Wilmington, and eighteen days later the corner stone was laid by the Right Rev. Sylvester H. Romperans, bishop of Columbus. Four years were to elapse before the building was rendy for dedication, although services had been regularly held in it for some time previously. The dedientory services, on October 5, 1870, were in charge of the Most Rev. John B. Purcell. archbishop of Cincinnati, at which time the church received the name of St. Columbkille.
The church building is a brick structure, thirty-five by sixty feet, with a striking
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spire, surmounted by a large gilt cross. On the tower, at the base of the spire, are four similar symbols of Catholicism, the whole giving to the front a handsome appearance. The church has undergone many Improvements since it was first erected and, being no longer of sufficient capacity to meet the demands of the congregation, at this writing. there is being planned and about to be erected a better and bandsomer St. Columbkille's on the same site as the first structure.
Father O'Donohue was the faithful leader of the congregation from 1862 to Noven- ber, 1882, when he was succeeded by Rev. Michael O'Donohue, who remained with the church as its beloved pastor until 1907. He was followed by Rev. A. Higgins. The present membership now numbers a hundred and ten families.
The church has had a resident priest since 1882. Father M. O'Donohue being the first to devote all of bis time to the church.
ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, NEW VIENNA.
The first Catholic services at New Vienna were held In 1874 by Rev. John B. O'Donohue in a private home. Irregular services were held from that time in the homes of members of the church for several years. In 1875 a small brick church was erected by Rev. Michael O'Donohue and dedicated on September 29 of that year. But owing to the small number of Catholics, regular services have not been maintained.
MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC CHURCH, BLANCHESTER.
The Most Holy Name of Jesus church at Blanchester was erected in 1873 by Rev. Michael O'Donohue. The building cost about fifteen hundred dollars. The congregation has always been small and it has not been possible to maintain regular services at all times, At the present time the church is a mission of St. Martin's church in Brown county and attended by Father Connell from that church once a month.
CHAPTER XI. CLINTON COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
It has been just one hundred years sluce Clinton county had its first newspaper and during this century at least fifty-two papers have appeared on the journalistic borizon of the county. No less than thirty-four of these have been published in Wilmington ; Blanchester and New Vienna have furnished six each; Sabina five and Clarksville one. This list would probably be Increased If it were possible to get the exact facts, but the names of only fifty-two papers have been found. In the appended list may be found a schedule of these papers arranged by towns and, as near as possible, in the order of their appearance.
WILMINGTON.
True American, 1814 or 1815; Galaxy, 1821 to 1823: Spectator, 1823 to 1824: Western Argu#, 1824 to 1829; Clintonian, 1829 to 1830; Clintonian and Formera Repository, 1830 to 1831 : Clintonian and Farmera and Mechanic Journal, 1831 : Constitutional Republican. 1831; Democrat and Ruitroad Advocate, 1832 to 1833; Democrat and Herold, 1882 to 1841: Farmers' Herald, 1832 (three months) : Western Whig. 1838 to 1839: Clinton Republican, 1839 to 1913; Franklin College Monthly, 1864 to 1868; Journal of Education, 1868; Journal, 1868 to 1913: Democrat Star. 1844: People's Press, 1847: Bonner, 1848 to 1849: Reveille; Empyrean, 1850 to 1851: Herald of Freedom, 1851 to 1855; Independent, 1855: Democratic Advocate, 1852: Independent Citizen, 1855 (December 14, one issue) : Watchman, 1856 to 1863; Clinton Democrat. 1864: Aid to Progress, 1868 to 1873: Tanner and Typo, 1808; Weekly Gazette, 1970 to 1871; Clinton County Democrat, May 14. 1880, to present time: Journal-Republican, January, 1913: to present time; Clinton Review, 1914 to 1915: Daily Herald, 1915.
BLANCHESTER.
Herald. 1870 to 1871; Marion Independent, 1871 to 1872; Star, 1875 to __ ..; Repub- lican ; Star-Republienn to present ; News, July 22. 1915, to present.
SABINA.
Telegram, November 6. 1874 to 1877; News. 1877 to 1803: Record. 1800 to 1893: Neirs- Record, July, 1893. to present ; Tribune, April 11, 1894, to present.
NEW VIENA.
Christian Worker, 1870 to --: Oliver Leaf, 1870 to -: Bible Lesson Leaf, 1870 to -: Messenger of Peace, 1870 to -: Register, 1878 or 1879; Record, 1870; Reporter. The Herald has been for a time published at Clarksville.
Newspaper men have frequently tried to sum up. in a pithy paragraph, the function of the newspaper and thousands of articles have been written on its Influence on modern life. Perhaps no more apt summary of the place of the newspaper in our civilization of today has ever been written than that of Joseph H. Finn, a newspaper man of Chicago. and delivered by him as part of an address before the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World in the spring of 1915. His apostrophe follows:
"I AM THE NEWSPAPER."
"Born of the deep, daily need of a nation-I am the Voice of Now-the incarnate spirit of the Times-Monarch of Things that Are.
"My 'cold type' burns with the fireblood of human action. I am fed by arterles of
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wire that girdle the earth. I drink from the cup of every living joy and sorrow. I know not day nor night nor season. I know not death, yet I am born again with every morn- with every moon -- with every twilight. I leap into fresh being with every new world's event.
"Those who created me cease to be. The brains and heart's blood that nourish me go the way of human dissolution. Yet I live on-and on.
"I am majestic in my strength-sublime in my power-terrible in my potentialities- yet as democratic as the ragged boy who wells me for a penny.
"I am the consort of kings the partner of capital-the brother of toil. The inspira- tion of the hopeless -- the right arm of the needy-the champion of the oppressed-the conscience of the criminal. I am the epitome of the world's Comedy and Tragedy.
"My responsibility is infinite. I speak, and the world stops to listen. I say the word, and battle flames the horizon. I counsel peace, and the war lords obey. I am greater than any individual-more powerful than any group. I am the dynamic force of Public Opinion. Rightly directed, I am the creator of confidence; a builder of happi- ness in living. I am the teacher of patriotism.
"I am the hands of the clock of time-the clarion voice of civilization. I am the newspaper."
TRUE AMERICAN.
Clinton was barely four years old when the first paper was started, sometime during the winter of 1814-15. This paper bore the patriotic title of True American and was established by Rice Gaddis and Israel Abrams in the village of Wilmington. No copies of the paper have been preserved and its history is therefore necessarily obscure. How long it was issued is unknown, but it was only a few years. Abrams severed his con- nection with It in 1816. According to the account given in the former history of Clinton county, a stray copy of the paper, dated August 15. 1816, was No. 66 and this would place the initial issue on May 20, 1815, provkiing the paper was Issued regularly every week. Tradition says that after the paper was discontinued, Gaddis took the press to his home on Todd's fork, where he did job work for awhile.
THE GALAXY.
The second paper to make its appearance In Wilmington was given the name of Galaxy by its founder, George Denny. The first issue of this paper was on October 29, 1521, and seems to have been anti-slavery in sentiment. It led a more or less checkered career for about two years, passing awny sometime during 1823. It was a weekly, with a subscription price of two dollars per year.
THE WILMINGTON SPECTATOR.
In December. 1823, and probably Immediately after the Galaxy suspended publica- tion, Jeremiah Reynolds commenced the Wilmington Spectator but it died of Inanition in the eleventh month of Its existence. This paper was probably a supporter of Henry Clay for President. Why the paper was discontinued will always remain more or less of a conjecture, but it is a fair presumption that lack of patronage fully accounts for Its brief career.
THE WESTERN ARGUS.
The Arst issue of the Western Argus made its appearance on November 11, 1824. under the management and editorial supervision of B. Hinkson and J. MeManis. This firm retained its connection with the paper until November 17. 1825, when they sold it to John B. Seamans. The new editor evidently thought he could better the paper by chang- ing Its name, since sometime during 1826 it appears as the Wilmington Argus. The paper struggled along until June 26. 1529, when it made its last appearance.
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THE CLINTONIAN.
After the discontinuance of the Argus in the latter part of June, 1820. there was no paper in the county until sometime in November of the same year. At that time W. H. P. Denuy started the Clintonian and on April 4. 1830. rechristened it the Clintonian and Farmers' Repository. The new name evidently did not bring the editor the desired results, for in the following year he burdened It with the new title of the Clintonian and Farmers' and Mechanics Journal. This new name was more than the sheet could stand. In a short time the editor was advertising it for sale, "as he wished to go into other business," and sometime in 1831 the paper breathed its Inst. Whether he sold it or gave it away, or quietly let it rest, the historian has been unable to ascertain. It is more than probable that the press and equipment were used by the next courageous editor who started a paper in Wilmington.
A QUARTET OF SHEETS.
The Constitutional Republican was established in May, 1831, by John Cribfield, and continued six months.
Samuel Pike and Thomas B. Palmer began, in July, 1832, the publication of the Democrat and Railroad Adrocate, but it lasted only about a year.
About this time, July, 1832, The Demoerat and Herald also made its initial appear- ance. There seems to be no punitive evidence as to who founded this paper, but the earliest known copy in existence, bearing the date of April 19, 1833, shows that it was printed by Pike & Camron. On May 10. of the same year. Pike & Mckibbin were the publishers, but by June 7, 1834. Camron had become the editor and publisher. It remained in Camron's charge until January 2, 1835, when it came under the control of J. & T. MeKibbin. The Inst Issue of this paper was dated January 8, 1841.
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