USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881 > Part 73
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Rev. Samuel Rose, a Congregational minister, preached to the church for a few months, about the year 1827. Rev. George W. Warner (now living in Columbia county, N. Y.,) preached here from November 24, 1828, to April 10, 1831. It was during his ministry that the first Presby- terian communion serviee in Coshoeton was held, January 15, 1831, in the court-house, Rev. John Pitkins officiating. The church was sup- plied by Rev. Henry Hervey, of Martinsburg, and others, until the spring of 1834, when Rev. Nathaniel Conkling began his labors here.
In April, 1834, a lease, from the county con- missioners to Samuel Lee, William K. Johnson and John Porter, as trustees, granted permission to erect a church building on the public square. By a great effort a substantial frame building, thirty by forty-two feet, was erected the same year. It faced Main street, standing back about ten feet from the line of the street, and opposite lot 316. This was the first church building in Coshocton. It had one wide aisle, in which stood two stoves, the pipes ascending straight to the ceiling ; in the north end a high box-pulpit; in the opposite end a choir gallery; four very large windows on each side and two next the street, with glass eight by ten inches. The wood-work inside and out was painted white. In later years the ladies' sewing society had the walls papered and green venetian shutters put to the windows, and the pulpit and !
double front door grained in oak, and a rag carpet placed in the aisle. It had no belfry or bell, the court-house bell being used for court, fires, funerals, school, church and political meet- ings.
During the two years' ministry of Mr. Conk- ling, the churches of Keene and Coshoeton be- came separate organizations ; a good church build- ing was erected at each of these places, fourteen members were added at Coshoeton and thirty- eight at Keene. The first year, Mr. Conkling lived at Coshocton, the second year, at Keene. He had five children; one of them, now Rev. Nathaniel Conkling, D. D., of New York City, was born at Keene. Mrs. Conkling is buried at Keene.
Mr. Conkling was succeeded by Rev. Joseph S. Wylie, the first minister who was installed as pastor of the church. During the five years of his ministry (1836-1841) some forty-eight' mem- bers were added at Coshoeton, and the church was incorporated by act of the legislature as " The First Presbyterian Church of the town of Coshocton, in Coshocton county."
In 1838, some difficulties arose which led to the withdrawal of fourteen members, who were formed (January 12, 1839) into a new school Presbyterian Church, known as the Second church. Mr. Wylie preached at Keene part of his time.
Rev. E. Buckingham preached to the second church from 1839 till 1846, in which time eighty- seven members were added and a frame church building, thirty-eight by fifty-five feet, with stone basement, was erected on lot 50, Fourth street, in 1840. The basement was used for service un- til the audience room was completed, October 14, 1849. Rev. Henry Calhoun (now of Ironton) be- gan preaching in the Second church in the spring of 1846, and remained eleven years. During his ministry sixty-two were added. He also taught school, and preached in Roscoe part of his time. April 25, 1857, fifteen members were dismissed to form a separate church in Roscoe. A very flour- ishing Sunday-school was another feature of Mr. Calhoun's ministry. This for some years was the largest Sunday-school in town.
Rev. Addison Coffey, from Lebanon, Ohio, began preaching in the First church, as stated supply, August 8, 1841, and was installed pastor August 4, 1843. The pastoral relation was dis- solved September 2, 1847. Sixty-six were added during his ministry.
He built a school-house on lot 87, and a briek dwelling on lot 85, with a view to keeping school boarders. He went to Peoria, Illinois, where he has since died. The shorter ministries of Mr. Hennigh, Mr. Jacob, and others in the First church, and of Mr. Wallace and others in the
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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
Second church, are mentioned in a table at the close of this sketch.
During Mr. Jacob's ministry, a ladies' sewing society was formed in the First church; Mrs. Joseph K. Johnson, president; Miss Isabel Sam- ple, treasurer. A society of the same sort was maintained in the Second church. Mrs. Buck- ingham, president. Plain sewing and fancy needle work, an annual fair and festival and evening mite meetings have been their sources of revenue. To this time they have contributed for repairs, and toward the erection of a new church and parsonage, some $6,500.
Rev. William E. Hunt, the present pastor, be- gan preaching in Coshocton in July, 1856, and was ordained and installed April 15, 1857. The following events of his twenty-five years' minis- try are worthy of special mention:
1. The church became self-sustaining-all the ministers who preceded him being partly sup- ported by the mission boards.
2. The acquisition, in 1857, of the parsonage on lot 314. The lot was the gift of W. K. Johnson & Co., a frame building being erected by the rest of the congregation. This was sold in 1871, to T. C. Ricketts, for $2,400. The house on this lot was burned in the fall of 1877.
3. The purchase, in 1863, of lot 49, corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets, by the ladies' sew- ing society of the First church, for $1.000.
4. The erection thereon, in 1866-68, of a new church building forty-three by sixty-nine feet, at a cost of $15,500.
5. The reunion, after a separation of thirty years, of the First and Second churches, which was consummated September 11, 1870, after wor- shiping together for a period of three years un- der a temporary arrangement; the member- ship of the First church being, at the time of the reunion, 112; that of the Second church, seventy- five ; the session of the united church being made up of the ehlers of both churches, Rev. William E. Hunt, pastor; corporate name, The Presbyte- terian Church of Coshocton.
6. The erection, in 1871, of a new parsonage, adjoining the church, at a cost of $5,000. Two thousand six hundred dollars of this was raised as a special memorial fund to commemorate the reunion.
7. The accession of 280 members.
S. The sale of the old First church, in 1868, to J. M. Brown, for $400, now used for stores, corner Fourth and Main streets ; and the sale of the old Second church, in 1873, to J. C. Fisher and oth- ers, for $3,000, now remodeled and used for print- ing and lawyers' offices.
Besides the regular weekly services of the church, Mr. Hunt has, up to this time, conducted 265 funeral services, and performed 390 marriage ceremonies.
The church now has 209 members, with 200 pupils in Sunday-school; and besides the ladies' sewing society, already mentioned, has two mis- sionary societies and a young people's associa- tion; is out of debt, and annually raises $1,800 for current expenses, and $300 for missionary and other benevolent enterprises.
The list of ministers of the First church is as follows :
Rev. James Cunningham, 1818; missionary work at intervals.
Rev. Samuel Rose, about 1827 ; a few months.
Rev. George W. Warner, 1828-1831; two and one-third years.
Rev. Henry Hervey, about 1832; a few months. Rev. N. Conkling, 1834-1836; two years.
Rev. Joseph S. Wylie, 1836-1841; five years.
Rev. Addison Cofley, 1841-1847 ; six years.
Rev. H. K. Hennigh, 1847-1849: one and one- half years.
Rev Robert Robe, 1849-1850; one-half year.
Rev. P. H. Jacob, 1851-1855; three and three- fourth years.
Rev. T. J. Taylor, 1855-1856; a few months.
Rev. William E. Hunt, 1856; present pastor.
Following is a list of ministers of the Second church :
Rev. E. Buckingham, 1839-1846 ; seven years. Rev. Henry Calhoun, 1846-1857; eleven years. Rev. - Mussey, about 1858; a few months.
Rev. John Henderson, 1859-1860; a few months. Rev. William Bridgman, fall of 1860; three montlis.
Rev. Charles W. Wallace, 1861-1865; four and one-fourth years.
Rev. William M. Kain, 1866-1867 ; one year.
The list of ruling elders of the First church, is as follows, with date of election and years of service :
James Renfrew, 1818; fourteen years.
John Elliott, 1832; twenty-three years.
Jacob Eliot, nineteen and one-half years.
Jonathan Fisk, eleven and one-half years.
Samuel Wheeler, 1844; twelve years.
William Loder, 1844; nineteen years.
-Rolla Banks, 1844; five years.
John F. Traxler, 1844; four years.
David Noble, 1844; fourteen years.
Joseph K. Johnson, '849; twenty-three years. William Sample, 1855; seventeen years.
William Laughead, 1855; ten years.
T. S. Humrickhouse, 1867.
T. C. Ricketts, 1867.
James R. Johnson, 1867.
17
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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
Following is a list of ruling elders of the Second church :
Samuel Lee, 1839, thirty years.
A. R. Hillyer, 1839: twenty-one years. Phineas Tuttle, 1843; nineteen years.
James Hill, 1843; fifteen years.
A. D. Denman, 1860.
Josiah Glover, 1860. Chester Wells, 1862; six years. William H Robinson, 1863. Samuel Hiram Lee, 1863.
The Methodist Protestant church at Coshocton was organized soon after the disruption in the Methodist church, in consequence of which the Methodist Protestant denomination sprang into being. It was probably in the year 1830 that Rev. Rufus Richason formed a little class consisting of Zebedee Baker and Susanna his wife, David Wag- goner and wife, Mary Darnes, and one or two others. The early preaching was held in the court-house. About 1840 the erection of a sub- stantial brick church was begun, and completed a year or two later. It stands on Locust street be- tween Second and Third, and of late years has been occupied by the German Lutherans. Dur- ing the winter preceding its erection, a noted se- ries of revival meetings were held at the court house by Rev. William Munhall. As a result of these meetings one hundred and thirty accessions were made to the three churches then organized, a large proportion of the converts joining the Methodist Protestant society. Not long after the church began to decline; 'the membership stead- ily decreased until within a few years when serv- ices were wholly discontinued. The last minister was Joseph Thrapp. Of the early preachers may be mentioned Joel Dolby, Israel Thrapp, Zacha- riah Ragan, John Burns, N. Sneethen and Rev. Reeves, whose wife also could preach a sermon when it became necessary. Among the more prominent ministerial laborers of a somewhat later day were Thomas Stevens, Phineas Inskeep and Joseph Hamilton.
The membership at one time amounted to about one hundred, and for three years the church formed a separate station. A Sunday- school was organized soon after the church was built, and for a while was considered the best in Coshocton.
The history of the Methodist Episcopal church
dates back to the year 1840. Prior to that year different ministers had preached in the town, from time to time, as occasion offered, for a number of years-such as Thomas A. Morris (afterward bishop), David Young, Jacob Young, Robert O. Spencer, William B. Christie, John Dillon and others. A few years ago Rev. B. F. Beazell prepared a historical record of the cir- cuit to which Coshocton belonged, from which most of the following has been taken. Rev. J. N. Baird says:
I was sent to Coshocton in the summer of 1840. Found the territory I was to organize into a cir- euit to be bounded by the Muskingum river, from Coshocton down to the mouth of Will's creek; up the same to the neighborhood of Lin- ton; thence north, to the plains near Evansburg; thence down to the place of beginning. There were societies at East Plainfield, Marquand's and Robinson's. There was no society in Coshocton- indeed, but one member was found there, Sister Spangler. Thomas C. Ricketts had, a little before that, united with the church in Roscoe; was yet on probation, and afterwards came to us, when we organized. There was a Brother Conwell, also, who had been a member of the church somewhere, and joined us, when we organized. But Mrs. David Spangler was the only member of the church at the time of my arrival, and to her, as much as to any preacher, perhaps, our strug- gling enterprise there, is indebted for success. IIer noble husband, though not a member, was always helpful in every way. I preached in the court-house, and organized the first class of twelve members in the old jury box. I left a considerable society-near seventy members, I think-and was succeeded by Rev. John J. Swayze, at that time the most popular man in the pulpit, in the conference.
The twelve members of that first class were : Elizabeth Spangler, Thomas C. Ricketts, George E. Conwell, Felix Landers, David Frew, Benja- min R. Shaw, Henrietta Shaw, Nancy Decker, Martha Wallace, Mary Wallace, Abraham Sells and Lucy Thomas. It was organized within a few months after Dr. Baird's arrival. Dr. Baird was a faithful and efficient worker, and at the expiration of his two years' term of service, left the society in a prosperous condition. Preach- ing was continued at the court-house until the church was built, This was begun during Dr. Baird's pastorate. The original record book bears this inscription : "At a meeting held in the town of Coshocton, May 9, 1842, by the friends
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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
and members of the M. E. church, for the pur- pose of consultation as to the propriety of erect- ing a house for public worship-William McFar- land having been called to the chair, and R. B. Shaw made secretary -on motion of David Spangler, it was unanimously resolved that we take immediate measures to secure a site and erect a suitable building." Accordingly a com- mittee of five persons was appointed to secure a location and solicit subscriptions. Thomas C. Ricketts, James Robinson, David Frew and Wil- liam McFarland, composed the committee. An additional committee, consisting of James Le- Retilley, Theophilus Phillips and Samuel Hutch- inson, was appointed to secure subscriptions in Roscoe. At a subsequent meeting, David Frew, B. R. Shaw and George E. Conwell, were elected a building committee.
A vote of thanks for the liberal subscriptions of the community is recorded, and then, among other things, the following: " Resolved, That we accept the proposal of Mr. John Elliott to erect said building for the sum of $2,500, as per con- tract; " at the same time paying him $1,099, the amount of subscriptions then obtained. Four years later, when the building was finally ready for use, little or nothing remained to be paid. The church was dedicated in the early summer of 1846, during the pastorate of Rev. E. P. Jacob, by Rev. Wesley Kenny, D. D., then of Wheeling. Since that time it has been repaired and im- proved at different times at an aggregate expense of not less than double its original cost.
Until 1859 the circuit retained, substantially, its original shape, but in that year a division was made. Coshocton, Robinson's and Lafayette formed one pastoral charge, retaining the old name. Lafayette, by request, was next year placed in the Plainfield circuit. For nine years Robinson's and Coshocton constituted one pasto- ral charge; but, in 1868, the former was included in the Plainfield circuit, since when the latter has been a station.
In view of the dilapidated condition of the church, Mrs. David Spangler, who was one of the original members of the church, and has always taken a deep interest in its prosperity, made the following proposition to the members and friends of the M. E. church, of Coshocton, June 12, 1879:
"On condition that the sum of $5,000 be raised to erect a Methodist Episcopal church, in the vil- lage of Coshocton, I promise to give the south half of lot No. 56, in said village, being situated on the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, for the purpose of erecting said church edifice." The offer was unanimously accepted by the trustees a few days later, a subscription paper put in circu- lation, and the amount speedily raised. The old church building, which stands on Third street (lot 147), between Chestnut and Locust streets, and the adjoining parsonage, which was secured in 1862, built by Charles McCloskey, were sold to D. R. Culbertson for $1,250. It was abandoned by the congregation in the fall of 1880, services and Sunday-school being held in the city hall during the winter of 1880-81, until the new church was ready for occupation.
At a meeting of the trustees, December 8, 1879, the contract for building the church was let to S. C. Dillon, of Dresden, for $8,603; for which amount he was to finish the building entire ex- cept glass for windows, frescoing, heaters and seats in Sunday-school room. The aggregate. cost was in round numbers $10,000. The ladies aid society, organized February 17, 1873, a very efficient auxilliary to the church organization, has been active and earnest in its support of the new enterprise, and has contributed largely to its success. The church is one of the finest struc- tures in Coshocton. It was dedicated, free of debt, April 24, 1881, by Bishop Warren, of At- lanta, Ga. The membership of the church is 235.
The Sunday-school was organized August 8, 1845, with George E. Conwell, superintendent, Russell C. Bryant, secretary, and W. Wells, libra- rian. One of the early entries in the "minute book" is this: "It would be much better to have the male and female scholars kept in separate rooms, and we hope the congregation will build a school-house " The earliest record of attend- ance is five teachers and thirty-five scholars. From that day of small things the school has gone steadily on, with increasing advantages and numbers, doing incalculable good. There are now eighteen classes and over 300 members enrolled. E. J. Pocock is serving his fifth term as superintendent of the school; I. B. Dillon is secretary and Miss Ida Anderson, treasurer.
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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
A catalogue of the pastors of the church is as follows: 1840-2, Isaac N. Baird; 1842-3, John J Swayze; 1843-4, John D. Rich; 1844-5, Thomas MeLeary ; 1845-6, E. P. Jacob; 1846-7, James Hen- derson ; 1847-9, D. P. Mitchell; 1849-50, C. Wyrick; 1850-1, D. Truman; 1851-2, C. A. Holmes; 1852-4, J. E. McGaw; 1854-5, H. Sinsabaugh and R. S. Hogue ; 1858-9, T. Davidson and H. M.Close ; 1859- 60, T. Davidson and J.J. Neigh; 1860-2, S. M. Hick- man; 1862-3, W. R. Fouts; 1863-5, W. D. Ste- vens; 1865-7, E. W. Brady, who, retiring before the expiration of his term was succeeded by J. W. Bushong; 1867-8, E. Birket; 1868-71, S. Crouse; 1871-3, J. D. Vail; 1873-6, B. F. Beazell ; 1876-8, W. L. Dixon; 1878- - , J. Brown, the present pastor.
The German Lutheran congregation, which now worships in the old Methodist Protestant church, was organized about forty years ago in Roscoe. It appears that no record has been kept and little is known of its early history. The meetings were at first held in the old brick school- house on the hill, but when the Presbyterian church was erected at Roscoe, in 1849, the men- bers of the German Lutheran church contributed $300 to the building fund, and in return had the use of the building each alternate Sunday. The majority of the membership becoming residents of Coshocton, services were transferred to this place. They were held for a number of years in the old Second Presbyterian church on Fourth street, now "Equity Building;" then the present house of worship was engaged and since occupied, and kept in repair by the society, The member- ship, through dissatisfaction, has been considera- bly reduced during the last few years, and is now quite limited. Rev. Grumer, of Newark, supplies the congregation at present.
St. George Catholic church was built in 1859. Rev. Serge De Stchaulepinkoff- a Russian priest who, on becoming Catholic, had been compelled to leave his country-was sent to Coshocton the year before, as pastor of the several country churches previously established. Soon after he arrived, he organized the church at Coshocton, and the following year, under his direction, this church was erected. It is located on lot 102, Third
street, between Chestnut and Locust. Among the earliest adherents to this faith who settled in and about Coshocton, and became identified with the church at its organization, were Thomas Collopy, Mr. Trainer, James Hallesey, George Factor, Joseph Guinther and Joseph O'Donnell. The first pastor continued in charge for some three years and was succeeded at short intervals by Fathers Andres, Rauch and Nordmeyer-all sent by Rev. J. B. Purcell, Archbishop of Cincin- nati. In January, 1869, Rev. John M. Jacquet was appointed pastor by the Right Rev. J. H. Rosecrans, who, the year before, had been made First Bishop of Columbus. Through his instru- mentality both the church building and the pas- toral residence have been much improved, and all debts against the charge paid off. The mem- bership is somewhat limited in number, and for some years has remained about the same.
A Regular Baptist church was constituted at Coshocton, August 23, 1834, the services being held at the house of Wilson McGowan (who was a leading member and for many years clerk of the congregation), and conducted by Elders John Pritchard, George C. Sedgewick, William Spen- cer and William Purdy. Elder Sedgwick Rice was the minister until May 5, 1838, when he was at his own request released. He died some time thereafter, leaving a pleasant recollection of him in the community as a godly man and an able and earnest advocate of his church. After his services ceased, the church was supplied by several brethren for several years, until it seems to have been practically dissolved about 1848. The McGowan, Bryant, Welch, Burt, Coe, Carhart, Farwell, Loder, Miller, Estinghausen, Whitte- more, Babcock, Sprague, Elliott, Wright and Odor families seem to have been connected with this movement. At one time there were some thirty-seven members. The services were held in the court-house. Benjamin Coe was the last clerk of the congregation.
A recent effort to establish another society of this faith in Coshocton has met with success. Rev. H. L. Gear, financial secretary of the Ohio State Baptist convention, held a series of meet- ings in the Protestant Methodist church during January, 1878, and on the 31st day of the same
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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
month a church was here constituted, to be known as the First Baptist Church of Coshocton, with the following membership: Elizabeth Bonnett, Flora Love, Mary E. Gardner, Delilah Henry, Anna Breightman, Sarah Felton, Elizabeth Burt and Almedia Coe. The articles of faith and church covenant, as found in J. Newton Brown's Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, were adopted. On the same day a council, composed of members of Dresden, Pleasant Hill, Tomaka and Chestnut Hill Baptist churches, met at the same place. After an examination of the articles of faith, church covenant, and reasons for organ- izing a Baptist church in Coshocton, the council recognized the organization with the following services : Sermon, by Rev. J. P. Hunter ; charge to the church, by Rev. J. Wright; and hand of fellowship, by Rev. H. L. Gear. February 2, Rev. J. P. Hunter was called as first pastor of the church. He entered upon his pastoral duties April 1, 1878, and at the expiration of eighteen months resigned. The church was then without a pastor for a few months, but Rev. D. Trichler was soon called to the charge, and entered upon his work in February, 1880. The church began holding services in Central Hall, in March, 1878, and in the following month it was resolved to erect a house of worship. Within a year a neat and comfortable edifice, substantially built of brick, was completed, at a cost of $3,457. It was dedicated March 16, 1879. The present officers are : Rev. D. Trichler, pastor ; E. W. Williams,
deacon ; John Robinson, E. A. Breightman, and E. Williams, trustees; L. P. Hay, clerk. The church numbers forty members. A mite society is an active auxiliary in benevolent enterprises. A Sunday-school was organized at Central Hall in the spring of 1878, and is now in good work- ing order, superintended by E. Williams. It contains abont fifty scholars.
Trinity Church, a congregation belonging to the Episcopal Church, was organized at the law office of W. S. Crowell, in October, 1878, by the adoption of articles of association. November 2, following, S. D. Brewster was elected the first rector. The first services were held December 8, 1878, in McClain's Hall, which is still the place of meeting. The financial affairs of the body were managed by a committee appointed for the pur- pose until January, 1879, when the first officers were elected. James S. Wilson was chosen Sen- ior Warden; W. S. Crowell, Junior Warden; and W. W. Bostwick, L. T. Judd and Thomas Wilson, Vestrymen. Rev. S. D. Brewster continued at the head of the society until February, 1880, when Rev. J. M. Hillyar was elected rector. The original members numbered twenty-seven; there has since been a material increase in member- ship.
A successful Sabbath-school was established July, 1879, which has been under the manage- ment of W. S. Crowell since its organization. Its membership is about fifty.
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