USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 39
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* Estimated. t Prepared by Gen. Ephraim S. Holloway.
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.
pupils have been taught at one time. For the past ten years the average attendance has not exceeded 15. Evi Stratton was one of the teachers who continued longest in charge of the school.
The membership of the Middleton Meeting has been repeatedly diminished by the formation of societies in the adjoining townships on the south, and by the defection of those who allied themselves to other branches of the Society of Friends. To accommodate those living in the northern part of the township, a small meeting-house was built, of logs, before 1820, in what now forms the Friends' grave-yard at Columbiana. It contained at first but one room. It is said that on one occasion, when a business meeting was to be held, a partition of bed-quilts was put up. In this house worship, according to the custom of the Orthodox branch, was for a time sustained ; but most of the members in that part of the township became Hicksites, and meetings were thereafter held by that organization. The present frame meeting-house, on the side opposite the cemetery, Was erected in 1832.
HICKSITES.
The Hicksite Friends' Meeting of Columbiana may be suid to have a distinct history from the year 1832. The members about that period were Samuel Erwin, Sr., William Nichols, Thomas Mercer, John Armstrong, Thomas Wick- ersham, Moses Emery, John Dixon, John Hatcher, Lewis Morgan, Lot Holmes, Samuel Nichols, Morton Dixon, Stacy Nichols, Cyrus Mercer, William Nichols, Jr., Mahlon Nichols, and, in general, their wives.
William Nichols and his wife, Kysander, were recom- mended ministers, and John Armstrong and Thomas Wick- ersham were occasional preachers. The regular Monthly Meetings were discontinued in 1867. Since that time the members have become so few that the society is practically extinct, although still maintaining its right to the church property.
GRACE REFORMED CHURCH OF COLUMBIANA .*
The early days of the Reformed Church have scarcely found a place in local annals. A few scattered fragments of its history only can be gathered from very meagre records. In the recollection of the older members, it appears that about the year 1813 a Reformed missionary from the East by the name of Mahnesmith visited the northeastern section of the State, preaching in Mahoning and Columbiana Counties. At Columbiana he held catechetical instruction in a primitive hotel, which stood on the ground now occupied by the " Park House." This sainted pioneer a number of the older citizens heard preach. His manner of speech was plain and forcible. After one of his intensely practical sermons, a lady, on leaving the church, lightly remarked, " Heut hat es wieder gedonnert" (To-day it thundered again). Mahnesmith, who overheard the remark, replied, " Wenn es auch nur einschlagen wird !" (If it would only strike in, too !)
This first Reformed missionary's labors were continued with greater or less regularity at Columbiana until about 1830. On the 13th day of August, 1814, the "School- and Meeting-House Society for Columbiana" was organized,
the " grand and leading object" of which was to build a house on a lot of ground granted the society by Joshua Dixson, " proprietor of the town of Columbiana." Pro- vision was made in the " articles of association" for three trustees, a secretary, and treasurer, but who were first elected to these offices is not on record. " The only con- ditions of fellowship required in this society" were "a practical conformity to the principles of impartial equity, and that every member shall be considered as possessing in himself an original and inalienable right to believe and worship God as his own conscience may dictate, without being called into question by any of the other members." It was "allowed for any licensed preacher that preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ in purity to preach in the above- suid meeting-house, if he makes application to the trustees, and should it happen that application should be made for two preachers in one day, let the one preach in the fore- noon, and the other in the afternoon, so that none may meet a disappointment."
The following " names of associate subscribers," with the amount subscribed by each, and "in what received," are appended to the articles of association :
IN WHAT RECEIVED.
NAMES OF ASSOCIATE SUBSCRIBERS.
Money. Produce, Work.
Materials.
Michael Coxen.
$10
$5.111/
6 days
Abraham Fox.
6
2.3512
6
Christopher -t ..
10
2.25
6
John Bushong.
6
6.00
6
Frederick Keller
6
5.6216
6 “
Peter Bushong ..
8
0.8317
3
Michael Esterly
6
2.3716
6
Joseph Keekly
6
6.00
William Bushong.
15
In boards, ash and poplar.
George Grimm.
3
3.00
William Case
5
5.00
Gottleib -t.
3
1.00
Samuel Dewees ..
1
...
Geenyoe Mikkens
2
2.00
Frederick Harman.
1
1.00
John Windle.
3
3.00
Hugh Chain ..
1
1.00
John L. Desselems.
...
...
Daniel Hardman ...
3
Joseph Gewsinger.
1.50
1.50
John Frederick
1.50
1.50
The house built by this society was of hewed logs, and stood on the lot now occupied by Grace church. After it was discontinued as a preaching-place, it was used for a number of years for day- and Sabbath-school purposes.
In 1821 a movement was commenced by the Lutheran and Reformed congregations to build a new union church. When these congregations were organized is not on record, but they must have been in existence at this time, and seem to have labored and worshiped together most harmoniously. Each congregation had its own pastor, elders, and deacons, but the trustees, a secretary, and a treasurer were elected annually in a joint meeting of the congregations. The effort to erect a new house of worship was crowned with success in 1822, in which year the new church was dedicated. The house was built of brick, with galleries, and occupied the present site of Grace church. Peter Bushong and John Windle are reported to have acted as trustees during the building. Be- sides their names, the following also appear as subscribers to the building-fund : Jacob Seachrist, Daniel Hisey, Wm. Bushong, Michael Hively, Daniel Bushong, Jacob Hisey,
* Contributed by the Rev. H. T. Spangler.
t Signed in German.
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3 days
In boards, poplar, not paid.
149
TOWNSHIP OF FAIRFIELD.
Peter Dehoff, Matthias Lower, Thomas Dixon, Abraham, John, and Samuel Fox, Michael Coxen, and others. The name given this building was " Jerusalem Church." At the first communion held by the Reformed congregation in the new church sixty persons were received .*
About the time this church was built, or soon thereafter, Rev. Henry Sonnedecker became pastor of the Reformed congregation. He continued to preach for many years. His death occurred in 1851. From about the year 1845 till 1852 or 1853 a minister by the name of Palsgrove was pastor, but the congregation had begun to decline under the troublous discords of those times, and finally disbanded altogether. . Rev. Aaron Warner, then pastor at Wash- ingtonville, occasionally preached at Jerusalem church, and finally, by a year's regular supply, succeeded in reorganizing the congregations in 1858.
During 1859 a man by the name of Roemer was pastor for a number of months. In 1860 the pastorate of the still lamented James Rinehart commenced. He brought together the scattered members and imparted to the Re- formed Church an impulse the power of which is felt to this day. In 1867 the Reformed people bought out the interests of the Lutheran congregation in the church built in 1822, and during the following year, by many sacrifices and prayers, erected a handsome brick edifice, with base- ment, which is used by the congregation at the present time.
In 1870, Mr. Rinehart closed his pastorate, and his life, after having been permitted to see, during the winter, a wonderful work of grace in his church, which resulted in the addition of 70 persons.
Rev. Henry Hilbish served the congregation from the fall of 1870 to the winter of 1871-72. During his pas- torate the church was constituted a pastoral charge by itself. In June, 1872, Rev. John M. Kendig took charge of the church, and served it with great acceptance and success till September, 1878. . His ministry was blessed with a steady growth in interest and numbers. The present pastorate commenced September, 1878. Present officers : Pastor, H. T. Spangler ; Elders, Robert Bell, Simon Roninger, and Benjamin Firestone; Deacons, Josiah Rohrbaugh, Henry Werner, and Frederick Herbster; Trustees, J. C. Icenhour, Frank J. Rohrbaugh, and F. Keller; Secretary, Jonathan Esterly ; Treasurer, L. D. Holloway. Jacob Esterly, who died Feb. 22, 1878, had served the congregation for many years as elder.
The only fact that could be discovered with reference to Sunday-school work in the earlier years of Grace church is that, in 1833, Peter Dehoff was superintendent. In May, 1866, Mr. Rinehart, then pastor, reopened the school by appointing Elders Jacob Esterly and Robert Bell superin- tendents. Mr. Bell entered heartily into the work, and continued as superintendent until January, 1878. The present officers are Josiah Rohrbaugh, Superintendent ;
Jonathan Esterly, Secretary and Librarian ; Miss Lestie Rohrbaugh, Treasurer. Enrollment: 4 officers, 13 teachers, and 222 scholars.
DISCIPLES CHURCH, EAST FAIRFIELD.
About the year 1825 a society was organized at East Fairfield which entertained the doctrines of the " Primitive Christians," and worshiped according to the forms of that body several years. It had among its members persons belonging to the Crozer, Fisher, Ferrall, Cunningham, Morlan, Wallahan, and other families. They built a meet- ing-house on a lot which now forms a part of the cemetery, west of the village of East Fairfield. In this church Revs. Jones, Seachrist, and other Christian ministers preached, and about 1827 Rev. Joseph Gaston became the pastor. John Ferrall and William Cunningham were elected to perform the office of deacons.
In February, 1828, Revs. Walter Scott and J. G. Mit- chell, missionaries -of the Disciples' Church, held a series of meetings which produced many conversions and caused the society to adopt the tenets of the Disciples, all but six of the members voting to make the change. Rev. Joseph Gaston continued as minister, and the deacons be- came elders. Dr. Fisher was appointed deacon. The present elders are Aaron C. Baker and L. W. Morlan ; the deacons are Henry Morlan and W. C. Baker. These offices have also been held by Henry Morlan, Sr., Amos Dillon, Abel Lodge, John Wallahan, Joel Simpkins, William Pet- tit, - Macy, - Fisher, Jacob Booth, and L. L. Beck. Among those who have ministered to the church have been Revs. Gaston, Saunders, Campbell, Lanphear, Baxter, Way, Reeves, Moss, Hillick, Hayden, and Callahan. The so- ciety has about 140 members and a flourishing Sunday- school, of which Frederick Heacock is superintendent.
The old meeting-house was used until 1851, when the present neat brick edifice was erected on the opposite side of the street. Henry Morlan and Laban Ferrall are the trustees of the property.
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST, MIDDLETON.
A class of thirteen members of this faith was organized in 1860 by the Revs. Turner and Paxson, and soon after- wards a log meeting-house for its use was built, on land purchased for the purpose from Robert Gilbert. The church building is 24 by 36 feet in size, and is controlled by a board of trustees, whose first members were Jesse B. Hook, John McConnell, and Jacob W. Seachrist. The present trustees are Henry Seachrist, John Gilbert, and Emanuel Lower.
The church is connected with the societies in Middleton and Unity townships, in a circuit which is at present under the pastoral care of Rev. George Kettring. Other pastors following Mr. Turner were Revs. Bonewell, Traver, Dilley, Booth, Bowers, Perkins, Slusser, Deihl, Randall, Lower, Faulk, Low, Begley, and Singer.
BIBLE-CHRISTIAN CHURCH, MIDDLETON.
This society was organized in 1861, by the Rev. D. V. Hyde, with about 20 members. The meetings were first held in private houses, but during the ensuing year a plain
. After the separation of the two congregations-Reformed and Lutheran-the latter worshiped in the old Methodist meeting-house. A few years later they built a fine house of worship of brick in the southern part of the village, which received the name of " Jerusalem Church." A sketch of the society's history was promised for this volume, but did not come to hand .- ED.
1
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.
frame meeting-house was built in the western part of the village, which is yet the home of the society. The first trustees were Gilbert Williamson, Thomas Case, and J. F. Richey.
The church has enjoyed the ministerial labors of the Revs. Hauger, Hurd, Winget, McCowan, Nelson, and Cameron ; but for the past year-1878-79-has had no regular pastor. The present membership is about 80. John Stapleton, David Grim, and John Bushong are trustees.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF COLUMBIANA.
A temporary organization of persons of this faith (Disci- ples) to the number of seven was effected, Dec. 29, 1876, by the Rev. J. F. Callahan, an evangelist. Meetings were there- after held in the school hall, and in January, 1878, the or- ganization was placed upon a permanent basis by the selec- tion of the following officers : Elders, Obadiah Klingingsmith and David Hoffman ; Deacons, Peter M. Wansettler, George Beck, and J. M. Williams; Trustees, J. F. Callahan, J. M. Williams, and P. M. Wansettler.
In August, 1878, a hall on Main Street was fitted up for the use of the society, and is now its place of worship. The members number 23, and since April, 1879, have been under the pastoral direction of Rev. Herman Reeves, who then succeeded Mr. Callahan. He is also the superintendent of the Sabbath-school, which has 45 members.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF COLUMBIANA.
Application for the formation of a church was made to. the Presbytery of New Lisbon, May, 1865, and that body appointed Revs. A. B. Maxwell, William Gaston, and Elder Hugh Dobbins a committee to attend to the prayer of the petition. After deliberating several days, the church was organized May 13, 1865, with 13 members, and George O. Frasier, J. T. Barclay, and William Geiger as trustees.
In July, Rev. William C. Faulker, a licentiate, began his ministry with the church, and was ordained to the pastoral office the following October. He remained a year, and was followed, January, 1867, by Rev. John Gilmore, whose pastorate extended to 1868. In November, 1868, Rev. J. G. Hall became pastor, and remained for a little more than a year. In December, 1870, Rev. William C. Smith succeeded, and continued until April, 1872. The next pastor was Rev. T. P. Johnson, who remained more than one year. Since the fall of 1874 the Rev. A. B. Maxwell has ministered to the church as a stated supply, in connection with his pastorate of the church at Leetonia.
In May, 1867, John Campbell and Robert Close were elected the first ruling elders; March 31, 1870, William Geiger and George O. Frasier were chosen ; and in January, 1877, J. H. Trotter and O. N. Gaylord became the elders of the church. The membership in May, 1879, was 35, and the Sunday-school had 40 members.
The first meetings were held in the school hall; but in 1867 the present frame meeting-house was erected by Hiram Bell for the society. While the frame was being raised, one of the workmen, Thomas Taylor, of Middleton, was killed by falling timbers. The present trustees are John G. Beatty, J. H. Trotter, and William Shaler.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF COLUMBIANA.
Among the settlers of the northern part of the township who were Methodists were the McGregory and Hum fami- lies, John Voglesong, William Wright, John Maury, John Fitzpatrick, and others, to the number of a score. Preaching was supplied about once a month by the clergy on the old Beaver circuit, a full list of which is given in an account of the New Lisbon church.
In 1834 a small meeting-house was built on the Peters- burg road, under the trusteeship of John Voglesong and John Fitzpatrick, which was intended primarily for the Methodists, but was to be free for other denominations when not occupied by the former. It was dedicated by Father Swazey, one of the pioneer Methodist ministers. This house was used until 1859, when the present church- edifice, on the lower part of Main Street, was erected by a building committee composed of William Wright, Daniel Deemer, and Daniel Stouffer. It is a well-proportioned brick building, and has lately been much beautified. In 1873 a parsonage was erected on the lot next south. The trustees of this property, in 1879, were Jacob Beard, Samuel Sheets, Daniel Stouffer, J. B. Powell, William Wallace, John Beard, David Esterly, E. Greenamyer, and E. Overholser.
The pastors of the church since Columbiana was detached from the appointments in the southern part of the county have been as follows : 1854, J. Ansley ; 1855, J. Ansley, G. Pollock ; 1856, George Crook, J. D. Turner; 1857-58, G. D. Kinnear ; 1859, D. Hess, L. S. Keagle ; 1860, D. Hess, M. S. Kendig; 1861, J. McCarty, W. Long; 1863, G. D. Kinnear, L. Payne; 1864, J. Burbidge, E. M. Wood ; 1865, A. J. Rich, J. H. Conlee; 1866-67, R. Cunning- ham, L. A. Tallman ; 1868-70, J. J. Jackson, D. Mo- meyer, Wm. J. McConnell; 1871, T. S. Hodgson; 1872- 73, Wm. Darby ; 1874, J. J. Hays; 1875, J. Z. Moore; 1876-77, A. E. Ward; 1878, O. H. Edwards.
The church has a membership of 162 in full standing and on probation, and has a flourishing Sunday-school, of which O. T. Holloway is superintendent.
EAST FAIRFIELD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Methodist meetings were held in East Fairfield as early as 1835, but no organization was attempted until a few years later. Among those who were instrumental in form- ing a society are remembered George H. Brown, Wm. En- sign, and William Henderson. About 1842 a small house of worship was built and used until the present edifice was completed, in 1876. The new building has a very inviting appearance, and was erected by a committee composed of George Jeffries, Lambert Williamson, and Joseph Patton. They, with Robert Martin, constitute the board of trustees. The old house was sold to the citizens of the village, who have converted it into a public hall.
The church has about 40 members, and has been served by the same ministers as the church of Columbiana. The present preacher is Rev. C. H. Edwards.
WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH OF LIBERTY HILL.
After 1840 a number of members of the Methodist Epis- copal church in Fairfield withdrew and formed themselves
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TOWNSHIP OF FAIRFIELD.
into a society with the above name. Meetings were first held at the houses of John and Adam Hum, who were among the chief members of the society, but in 1847 a small house of worship was built near the cemetery in the northern part of section 14, which was used until 1873. That year a new church was built in the locality called Humtown, which was consecrated by the Rev. Adam Crook, April 10, 1873. At the same time a conference of the denomination was held there. The present trustees of this house are John Van Fossan, Adam Hum, and Barnard Jackman.
The membership of the church is small, numbering but 14. Samuel Lower is class-leader, and Rev, H. S. Childs pastor. Among others who have preached to this people are remembered Revs. Selby, Trago, Savage, Beckwith, Lawhead, Palmer, and Nolen.
BETHEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Some time before 1840 a meeting-house was built of logs on the farm of Elias Holloway, on section 29, which was at one time occupied by a large and very flourishing congregation of more than 100 members. Among these were persons belonging to the Freed, Zepernick, Ney, Croft, Crook, Ward, Rogers, Henry, Wullahan, and other families. The organization of Methodist societies in the surrounding villages, and the removal of members, so much weakened the society that it was allowed to go down before 1860. Since then occasional meetings have been held, but the building is now unfit for further use.
UNION CHURCH OF UNIONVILLE.
About 1835 the people of the western part of the town- ship built a small meeting-house on the present Bielhart place, on the New Lisbon road, in which a society of Bible- Christians and others worshiped, the latter belonging chiefly to the Church of God, or " Winebrennarians." The prin- cipal ministers were Revs. Andrew Hange and E. Louge.
In the course of ten years this house was removed to a point on section 20, three-quarters of a mile northeast from its old site. The title to the new property was vested in Samuel Ney, David Galbraith, and Samuel Heaton, and their successors, as trustees, " to be free to all the sons and daughters of Adam" for public worship. Since then the house has been occupied by various sects besides the denomi- nations before named, but no society has been formed in this locality. The building has lately suffered from disuse. For a number of years a good Sunday-school was conducted there by Rev. J. Anglemeyer, of the Church of God, who lived in the neighborhood.
NOLD MENNONITE CHURCH.
The house of worship of this denomination, near the west line of section 7, was erected in 1873. It is a neat but unpretentious structure of brick, 40 by 48 feet, on a fine knoll, on which have been left standing many handsome forest-trees. It is the second house which has occupied this place. Its predecessor was a log building, put up about 1828 by the Nolds, Stouffers, and others in Beaver and Fairfield townships, who entertained the Mennonistic belief. Preaching was held alternately in this and in the
Overholser neighborhood soon after the country was settled, and thereafter in the 'Metzler neighborhood, the three churches having always had the service of the same pastors. The principal ministers have been Jacob Overholser, Jacob Nold, Henry Stouffer, Rudolph and John Blosser, Jacob Wissler, and Samuel Good. The present ministers are Jacob Culp, Joseph Bizler, and Peter Baysinger. The church has about 50 members, and is under the trustee- ship of John Z. Nold and Jacob Stouffer.
SOCIETIES. ALLEN LODGE, NO. 276, F. AND A. M.
This organization is at Columbiana, and was chartered Aug. 1, 1855, on the petition of the following persons: George Lamb, D. K. Bertolette, John C. Ansley, R. H. Carpenter, John M. Allen, Benjamin Allen, Moses Men- denhall, Lewis W. Vale, Thomas C. Allen, John Baker, Allen Coulson, Philip Fetzer, and John L. D. Heinman. D. K. Bertolette was elected the first Master; John C. Ansley, Senior Warden; and R. H. Carpenter, Junior Warden.
The meetings of the Lodge have since been regularly held at Columbiana. There have been 166 members, but deaths, removals, and the formation of lodges at Leetonia and East Palestine have reduced the membership to 40. The pres- ent officers are, William Lamb, M .; E. S. Holloway, S. W .; A. C. Bell, Jr., J. W .; B. F. Todd, Sec .; Augustus Mil- ler, Treas .; C. E. Mason, S. D .; R. H. Carpenter, J. D.
PANORA LODGE, NO. 410, I. O. O. F.,
was organized at Columbiana, Nov. 18, 1869, with 14 mem- bers and the following officers: A. Sturgeon, N. G .; J. T. Barclay, V. G.
The Lodge has had 85 members, and at present reports 60, having the following officers : William Brenneman, N. G .; Levi Arnold, V. G .; Hiram H. Crouse, Sec .; A. C. Bell, Jr., Per. Sec .; Dale S. Stouffer, Treas.
The village of Columbiana has had other societies, chiefly of the nature of temperance, musical, and literary associations.
STOCK-GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF EAST FAIRFIELD.
In the spring of 1872, Isaiah Holloway, Thomas Hol- loway, C. P. O'Hanlon, Isaac Stallcup, T. B. Crook, and others, combined to establish monthly cattle sales at or near East Fairfield. Stock-pens were built near the brook west of the village, and sales successfully begun. This satis- factory result induced the formation of the present associ- ation and the holding of a fair in the fall of 1872, on the ground prepared for the stock sales. The fair was a success, and convinced the members of the utility of their project and caused them to establish it on a permanent basis. Ac- cordingly, the following year, 12 acres of grove land oppo- site the place where the first fair was held were leased from John Bradfield, substantially enclosed, and improved for the uses of the society. Here the fairs have since been held during three days of each year, and have been well attended. These have proven profitable and pleasant occasions.
The average receipts have been about $700 per year, the greater part of which has been disbursed for premiums.
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.
The first officers of the association were, President, Isaiah Holloway ; Vice-President, Isaac Stallcup ; Secretary, C. P. O'Hanlon; Treasurer, J. J. Todd.
The association has about 140 members, and in 1879 had as officers, Gilbert Williamson, President; W. W. Patton, Secretary ; and George A. Jeffries, Treasurer.
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