USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 18
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work was soon erected. In 1853 the church, by request, was dismissed from the Bluffton conference and applied for ad- mission to the Miami conference. Elder Purviance preached about one year. Rev. James Elliott was pastor in 1850, Elder J. W. Marvin was pastor in 1853 and ended his work Septem- ber 1, 1854, H. K. McConnell was called as pastor May 25. 1856, resigned August 14, 1860, and was re-elected September 11, 1860. In 1857 there were sixty-one additions, and on Au- gust 25, 1859, there were one hundred and fourteen members. In the interval from 1861 to 1868 it appears that no regular pastorate was maintained .. During these years there was oc- casional but not continuous preaching. As a consequence the members became somewhat scattered although the church did not disband, nor cease to have its regular trustees. In 1868 Jonathan Gilbert, Joseph Willis and George Ullery were trus- tees, religious services were restored and a pastor supplied for a while in the person of I. S. Palmer, whose pastorate closed April 28, 1868. T. M. MeWhinney and D. K. McCon- nell both occupied the pulpit for probably eighteen months each. The church record for April 6, 1874, reads as follows : "It was thought not more than six or eight members could be relied on to engage in the work of the church immediately though many more would join in the work as soon as it ad- vanced." Among the active and faithful workers during this period of depression were James Markwith, Henry Tillman. Mrs. Tillman, Martha Ford, E. S. Reed, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. D. H. R. Jobes and Harvey Howard. These were times of testing, but the handful of members called Elder I. T. Lynn to the pas- torate in June, 1874. He served a few months and was suc- ceeded by Elder Sample. From January 16, 1875, to July, 1876, there was no regular pastor, but the church was repaired at this time and rededicated on the fourth Sunday in July, 1876. by Rev. N. Summerbell, assisted by Elder McCulla. The former was called as pastor to serve one year from October. 1876, hut, being called to Dayton to assume the editorship of the "Herald of Gospel Liberty," he was succeeded by Elder C. W. Choate, a young student, who served acceptably until September, 1878. During his pastorate the church debt was nearly paid off, the membership increased to seventy-eight (of whom fifty-one had joined since the rededication), a fair Sabbath school built up, regular prayer meetings, services maintained and preaching services held twice a month. Elder William A. Gross was called to succeed Choate. He first
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preached half of the time, but in 1880 was engaged to preach three Sundays in the month for the conference year for five hundred dollars. Rev. Gross served until 1882, and was suc- ceeded by Elder Furniss, who served a few months. Rev. C. W. Garoutte was called to the pastorate in the winter of 1883- 84 and served until the fail of 1900. During his pastorate a great revival took place, the church increased in numbers and the work was carried on with zeal. The congregation was outgrowing the building on Walnut street and it soon became apparent that a new edifice was needed to meet the require- ments of the membership. Accordingly on April 4, 1887, a building committee was appointed consisting of the following members: Samuel Ullery, W. E. Moore, Samuel Ludy and David Beanblossom. A large new lot was purchased for $4,000.00 on the south side of West Fifth street just off of Broadway and the work of erecting the new church was soon begun with Mr. Beanblossom as contractor. The structure. when completed, cost about $7.000.00 and was at that time probably the largest and best church structure in the town. C. A. Beck succeeded Garoutte in the pastorate and was in turn succeeded by T. A. Brandon : C. W. Hoeffer served from September, 1895, to 1896. G. W. Shane commenced a short pastorate in January, 1897, and was soon succeeded by WV. A. Gross. Dissatisfaction and dissension arose during this period suceeding the erection of the new church, with the result that the membership and interest decreased greatly. Under the preaching of S. G. Palmer, H. A. Smith, Omer Thomas, E. A. Watkins, P. H. Fleming and W. D. Samuels, the church has again been revived and has now one of the largest congregations and most prosperous Sunday schools in the city.
In April, 1904, Mrs. Frank McWhinney purchased for and donated to the church, a newly-built two story frame house on East Fifth street between Walnut and Ash streets for a parsonage. The church has been remodeled and redecorated twice in late years, in order to accommodate the growing Sun- day school, and provide a better auditorium. The enroll- ment on the church record at this time is 438, which the Sunday School shows 677 members at the close of 1913. Rev. J. J. Douglass is pastor of the church and J. A. Cottrell is superintendent of the Sunday School and the church is in a prosperous condition. The Christian denomination, partly because of its free and informal mode of worship, its simple
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statement of belief, its claim that the Bible alone is its creed. and its easy educational requirements for admission to the ministry, appealed to the pioneers "who sought freedom from restraint, and independence of thought and action, and deliv- erance from formal customs." Thus it became established in the villages and rural districts at an early date, where it is today in a thriving condition, and exerting a powerful influ- ence for righteousness. Probably, for the same reason, this denomination has never become very strongly entrenched in the cities, as witness the neighboring city of Dayton, where but one small congregation existed until with- in the last few years. In Darke county, it has today good sized congregations at Versailles, Ansonia, Hollansburg, Beamsville, Coletown, Woodington, Dawn, Teegarden (north- west of Woodington), besides active churches at Stelvideo, Brock. Walnut Grove (Willow Dell), The Beach, North Star, Sugar Grove (one and one-half miles east of Rossburg).
Methodist.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, which originated in Eng- land in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and grew rapidly under the preaching of the Wesleys and Whitfield, early become an active and powerful factor in the evangeliza- tion of the Ohio valley. At the time of the settlement at Marietta it was in the strong vigor of its youth, and its zealous and aggressive preachers soon established themselves in the earliest communities of pioneers and eagerly braved the dangers and hardships of riding the circuits between the set- tlements. The story of their early privations and experiences would make many volumes of interesting reading, and the re- sults of their labors are readily seen today in the prosperous churches which everywhere greet the traveler in the Ohio valley, and in the large and influential educational institu- tions in the states formed out of the old northwest territory.
The great revival, which originated largely among the Cal- vinistic settlers of Kentucky, and which was fostered by Presbyterian clergymen, soon affected the Methodist church, which was drawn almost bodily into it. This revival was characterized by some of the most remarkable physical phe- nomena known in the history of Christendom. Great outdoor meetings were held in various localities for periods of a week or more which were attended by multitudes from near and
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far. Strong men, as well as women and children, were greatly affected and manifested their agitation by jerking, dancing, falling, singing from their breasts and in other remarkable ways.
The Methodist church readily accepted and incorporated the camp meeting and the revival, and adapted itself to the needs and conditions of pioneer life. It is said that Methodist sermons were preached in Greenville as early as 1812. Rev. John Brown preached in the county in 1817. About 1818 it became a point in the Eaton circuit, which included Camden, and Eaton, in Preble county ; Greenville and Hiller's (four miles west) in Darke county; Covington, in Miami county ; and Union, Concord and Germantown, in Montgomery county, besides parts of Wayne and Randolph counties, in Indiana. At this time, it is said, there was not a Methodist in Greenville. John P. Durbin, who was the first preacher, held services in the house of Abraham Scribner, who, though favorable to the Unitarian doctrine, tendered his friendship and hospitality to the followers of Wesley. "Many manifested a deep interest in the new doctrine, as it was called, but Dur- bin had preached here only a short time when limits of the circuit were lessened and regular preaching was discontinued at Greenville by the Methodists until the year 1832, though during this interval sermons were occasionally preached in the court house, dwelling houses and such other buildings as could be procured for that purpose." Rev. Durbin became one of the most prominent preachers in the early history of the church.
About 1818 the Methodists erected the first meeting house of the county in Washington township, just across the Green- ville township line, about four miles west of Greenville, and a half mile south of the Winchester pike. It was carefully and substantially constructed of hewed logs, and, no doubt, had the typical clapboard roof, puncheon floor, rough board pulpit and slab seats. It was still used on funeral occasions as late as 1880, but has since been torn down. Many of the pioneers of Washington and Greenville townships lie buried in the adjoining cemetery. This pioneer house of worship was dedicated by Rev. Durbin and during early days was visited by the following presiding elders: Alexander Cum- mins, John Strange, John Collins, J. B. Finley, John F. Wright, William H. Raper and William B. Christie. The "Hiller and Livergood Class," the first formed in the county,
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was organized at this church in 1818. Today, except for the neglected burial ground, the passerby would not suspect that a church was ever located here.
The Methodist churches of Darke county ought to secure and mark this site with an appropriate tablet or memorial for the instruction and inspiration of coming generations.
"In 1833 William Oliver, living about six miles north of Greenville, formed the second Methodist class in Darke county, which comprised the following members: Mrs. M. H. Turpen and daughter, Emeline, Mrs. L. R. Brownell, Mr. and Mrs. William Barrett (nee Maria Turpen) and Mr. and Mrs. William J. Birely. Francis Timmons and Ira Chase were the circuit preachers at this time and Greenville became the leading point on the "Greenville circuit" which, at times, comprised from ten to sixteen preaching places. A class was also formed at Greenville in 1833. Much opposition was ex- perienced by the Methodists at this time, as they were looked upon by some as fanatics and hypocrites, their meetings were disturbed and their ministers attacked.
Jesse Prior was on the circuit in 1834. Under his ministry Dr. J. M. P. Baskerville, Lovina Houp. Hiram Bell, Jane and Lemuel Rush and Eliza McGinnis were added to the church in the county. Steps for the building of the first M. E. Church in Greenville were taken this year. The work was begun in 1835 and completed in 1836. In this year the Greenville charge was admitted to the Ohio conference, Stephen F. Conry and Adam Miller being on the circuit. The location of this church, it is said, was determined in this way : Isaac Jay, a Quaker. identified himself with the Methodists, and deter- mined to buy the northwest half of lot No. 5 on the east side of Sycamore between Third and Fourth streets, in Greenville, and upon it to erect a suitable building, claiming that he was moved to do this as the outcome of a dream in which he saw sheep surrounded by wolves make a successful stand on this site, which was then a thicket of thorn bushes. He purchased this plot February 22, 1835, of Hiram and John C. Potter for forty dollars. The building erected here was a low frame, which cost about $600.00. Isaac Jav, William Oliver, Chris- topher Martin, William Folkerth, William W. Jordan. Jacob Chenoweth and Hiram Bell being the building committee. When the building was completed there remained a debt of seventy dollars, which was liquidated by each member of the
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above committee paying ten dollars. D. D. Davidson and Martin Wolf were on the circuit in 1836.
Following the erection of this building thirty-seven mem- bers were added to the church. In 1837 Jesse Prior again followed the circuit. A revival of religious enthusiasm be- came manifest in public and private life and the church pros- pered. Eli Truitt was on the circuit in 1838 and Edward Williams in 1839. In 1840-1841 Wm. Morrow and Jas. Mc- Nabb were on the circuit which had been reduced on the ac- count of increasing population to the limits of the county. Their labors resulted in the conversion of some three hun- dred persons, and the addition of a like number to the church. Many incidents of the power of the spirit were witnessed during the revival. In 1840 the Greenville church was trans- ferred to the North Ohio Conference.
In 1842 and 1843 Samuel M. Beatty and Eliakin Zimmer- man labored on the circuit. Jacob Brown and Cadwallader Owens labored in 1844; G. S. Phillips with C. Coleman in 1845; and with C. B. Brandeburg in 1846; Jos. Wykes and P. R. Roseberry in 1847-48; Alexander Hammond in 1849-50.
The first M. E. parsonage, on West Fourth street, was pur- chased in 1848. David Rutledge and Gershom Lease had charge of the circuit in 1851 and it was determined to erect a larger meeting house as soon as practicable. Jacob Burk- holder and Franklin Mariott labored on the circuit in 1852 and 1853. In 1852 the little frame church was sold to W'm. J. Birely for $50. Subscriptions were taken for the purpose of building a new brick church at an estimated cost of $5,000. About $2.000 was subscribed at this time, only part of which was paid when work was commenced. Backwardness in paying subscriptions retarded the work. The trustees were compelled to borrow $1,500 to complete the work, and mort- gaged the property for that amount. This debt lingered and embarrassed the congregation for ten years, when it was as- sumed by members of conference in the fall of 1862. The mortgage was not canceled, however, until 1865. Franklin Mariott and Loring C. Webster were ministers in 1853; W. WV. Winters and Patrick G. Good in 1854-55 ; Oliver Kennedy, L. C. Webster and P. B. Lewis preached on the circuit in 1856; W. J. Peck and John T. Bowers in 1858; during which year the congregation at Greenville was visited by one of the most powerful revivals it had witnessed previous to this time. and a large number were added to the church. The church
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was transferred from the Ohio to the Central Ohio Confer- ence in 1856. Isaac Newton and P. B. Lewis labored as min- isters in 1858-59. In 1860 Greenville was made a station with one appointment at Coletown. Jas. W. Alderman served this charge in 1860: Jacob Feghtby in 1861-62; Fielding L. Harper 1863; during whose short pastorate the appointment at Cole- town was discontinued. Chas. Reynold, 1864; Henry E. Pil- cher. 1865; during this year the old parsonage was sold for $800, and another on lot No. 1, of the same street, purchased for $2,500. Rev. L. C. Webster was the pastor in 1866 and 1867. The parsonage purchased in 1866 was exchanged for one on part of lot No. 2, the trustees receiving $100 in addi- tion to same.
Amos Wilson served the charge in 1868-70; H. J. Bradley came in the fall of 1870 and served one year. During his administration the Sabbath school had an attendance of over two hundred and at one time had 341 members. Rev. A. Berry was pastor from 1871-74. During Rev. Berry's pas- torate a movement was started to remodel the church build- ing. A contract was entered into with Robison & Fryber- ger to remodel the church for $2,916, making the Sunday school room separate from the main auditorium, and rais- ing the roof five feet. Rev. A. J. Fish served from 1874 to 1877. During his pastorate the remodeling was completed and the church redecorated with a large new bell in the tower donated by Wm. Allen.
Rev. L. M. Albright was pastor from 1877 to 1879, and suc- ceeded after much labor in paying off the debt due on the last improvement. Rev. J. A. Ferguson served from 1879 to 1882 and was suceeded by J. L. Rushbridge, during whose pastorate the parsonage was enlarged, remodeled and en- closed with brick, and the church building remodeled by re- moving the partition, erecting a large gallery with enclosed rooms beneath for separate Sunday school classes and repair- ing the building in a suitable manner.
Rev. David Bowers succeeded Rev. Rushbridge in 1884. This charge was attached to the Cincinnati Conference in 1886 and Rev. J. W. Cassatt became the pastor. The parson- age was now provided with heavy furniture. A protracted meeting was held in the early part of 1887 during which scores were added to the church. Most of the latter became earnest, efficient workers and have proved a tower of strength to the church. Rev. Cassatt served until June, 1891, his be-
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ing the longest, and one of the most efficient pastorates to that date. On account of age and declining health, he with- drew from the ministry, and passed his remaining days in Greenville, where he expired, greatly beloved by the com- munity.
On the evening of June, 16th, 1895, the city of Greenville was visited by the largest conflagration ever occurring in its history. The fire seemed to be of incendiary origin and be- gan in a stable belonging to Mrs. Winner, about the middle of the alley running from Broadway to Sycamore street, be- tween Third and Fourth streets. The flames spread rapidly to the rooms of Dr. Win. Matchett, the Mozart Hall, the Huddle Block on Fourth street and the M. E. church. The latter soon became a sea of flames, the roof yielded to the fire fiend, fell and the interior became a caldron of flame; the tower, serving as the chimney to a furnace, was soon an area of white flame; the bell, yielding to the intense heat, was soon burned from its moorings, and being partially melted fell with a crash. After the fire was subdued nothing but the bare walls remained to mark the spot where the devoted members of this congregation had met so often for praise and devotion. The pulpit, stand, organ and a few books were all that were saved from the general ruin. Perhaps nothing better could illustrate the undaunted faith and zeal of this congregation than what happened immediately. "The official board met on the following morning, communications of sym- pathy and a desire to assist us in our time of need were freely tendered us by the Presbyterian, Lutheran and other church- es, which were received in the spirit in which they were ten- dered. The Board resolved at once to build a new church, but to locate it on lot No. 4, if the same could be purchased on favorable terms. Those terms were at once secured, a com- mittee appointed to secure the insurance ($2.500.00) from the fire insurance company ; a subscription list was at once cir- culated, a respectable amount secured, and a contract en- tered into for a new church. The work progressed rapidly and on April 21, 1896, the cornerstone of the new edifice was placed in position. Work was pushed rapidly and the build- ing was dedicated on Sunday, Feb. 20, 1897. Dr. J. F. Marly, of Springfield, Dr. C. H. Payne of New York, and Dr. D. H. Moore of Cincinnati, were present and participated in the ceremonies of the occasion. The sermon by Dr. Payne was
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said to have been one of the finest ever heard in Greenville. During the forenoon services it was announced that the build- ing and grounds had cost $27,025.10 and that all had been paid except $7,020. Dr. Payne succeeded in raising a little over $9,000, putting the church completely out of debt and having a surplus of nearly $2,000. The new structure is one of the largest and finest churches in Darke county. It is built of pressed brick with slate roof and stained glass win- dows. Besides a large and well fitted basement, it has a finely appointed auditorium with a seating capacity of about 600, a large Sunday school with separate class rooms, bal- cony and assembly room, which may readily be thrown to- gether, besides a Board room. The large church auditorium is nicely furnished with pews, body brussels carpet and a large pipe organ, and has beautiful art glass windows. It is lighted by electricity and heated with a furnace. In the tower hangs a peal of three bells, a bequest of Mrs. Sophia Koop, placed in 1907. Rev. Conger, who had been largely in- strumental in building and financing the new church, finished his seven years' pastorate in September, 1901 and was suc- ceeded by Alpheus B. Austin, who served aceptably until September, 1904. Calvin W. Elliott served from this time until September, 1906, and was followed by Charles H. Haynes, who served four months. A. L. Brokaw served from January, 1907, until the summer of 1910. and was suceeded by Charles Clifford Peale, who remained three years. The present pastor, Merrick E. Ketcham, was assigned this charge in 1913 by the West Ohio Conference, which had just been, formed by the consolidation of the Cincinnati and Central Ohio Conferences.
The following persons have acted as superintendent since 1859: George H. Martz, 1859 to 1870: Henry A. Webb. 1870 to 1874: Jacob T. Martz, 1874 to 1884: Wm. B. Hough, 1884 to 1894; Ammon J. Mider, 1894 to 1897 : Geo. W. Rosser, 1897 to 1899; W. B. Hough, 1899 to 1900; Chas. M. Davenport. 1900 to -
At the Rally Day services, Sunday, October 30, 1910, all of these superintendents were present and took an active part in the exercises.
The present church. officials are: Recording secretary. John H. Martz; financial secretary, Chas. M. Davenport : treasurer. R. R. Winters : treasurer-secretary benevolences, (14)
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Frank H. Jobes; organist, Miss Lottie Leas; chief usher. Z. T. Dorman ; janitor, C. Stubbs.
Trustees: President, John Whiteley ; John H. Martz, Geo. W. Mace, J. L. Selby, W. A. Newby, R. T. Humphreys, S. C. Reigle, C. M. Davenport, A. G. Keighley.
Stewards: Jas J. Martz, A. J. Mider, Edward Martin, Enoch Westerfield, Geo. F. Taylor, Geo. W. Rosser, Frank H. Jobes, J. A. Folkerth, E. D. Irwin, F. U. Schreel, Floyd Kerwood.
Superintendent of Sunday school, Chas. M. Davenport ; president of Epworth League, Floyd Kerwood ; superintend- ent of Junior League, Miss Hazel Folkerth; president of Home and Foreign Missionary Society, Mrs. M. E. Ketcham ; president of Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs. Ed Mong.
This church now has a membership of 530 and the enroll- ment in the Sunday school is 428. The current expenses of the church for the year 1913 were $2,295.00 and the amount contributed for missions, $1,636.00, making the total budget for the year $3.931.00.
Probably no other church in Greenville has exercised a more steady and powerful influence for good than the First Methodist Episcopal. With its present large membership and excellent equipment it promises to continue in the forefront of local denominations for many years.
Other congregations of this denomination are located at the following points: Versailles, Arcanum, Ansonia, Pitts- burg, Gettysburg. Rossburg, Lightsville, Gordon, Webster, Jaysville, Fort Jefferson, Shook's Chapel (Wabash town- ship), the German M. E. church, Greenville, O., which was organized in 1852, under the pastorate of Rev. Wm. Floerke, erected a frame church building on Ash street near Water street in 1855 and a parsonage on Water street in 1857. Sun- day school and preaching services have been conducted here with regularity since its organization but, owing to the fact that the present generation of members all speak English flu- ently, it is generally recognized that this congregation will discontinue or merge with the First M. E. church within a few years.
The Presbyterian Church.
About 1818 Greenville and vicinity became a missionary field for the Presbyterian church. Nicholas Pittenger and John Ross are credited with holding meetings here at this
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period. In that year Rev. Shannon, who had served as chap- lain in one of Harrison's Kentucky regiments, preached at the residence of Wm. Martin. A Presbyterian society was formed as early as Feb. 14, 1821, at which time the following persons signed a call for the formation of a corporate body : L. Bascom, James Craig, William L. Wilson, John Craig, William McKhann, Jesse McGinnis, John Armstrong, John Devor, Benjamin Murphy, David Fisher, John McFarland, William Clark, John Beers, Robert Hood, James Buchanan, Heman L. Aiken, Stephen Perrine, William Martin, David Irwin, James Devor, A. Scribner, Easton Norris, James Stevenson (senior and junior), H. McCune, George I. Isham, Erastus Putnam, John Miller, William Lipe, Thomas Stoke- ly, Charles Steward, George W. Hight and John Briggs. Agreeably to legal notice, the above-named met at the house of Linus Bascom on March 10, 1821, and elected Easton Nor- ris, clerk, and for trustees, Benjamin Murphy, William Mar- tin and Linus Bascom, and they also placed the organization on record as the "Greenville Presbyterian Society." Septem- ber 9, 1825, a congregation collected at the house of Benja- min Murphy for the purpose of being organized into a church. The Rev. John Ross officiated, and, having concluded relig- ious exercises, he set apart Benjamin Murphy and Linus Bas- com as elders, and Robert Robinson was re-elected as elder. John Ross commenced preaching in 1825 and remained with the congregation till 1831. In 1833, the society, at a called meeting, detached a portion of their number living in Adams township to form the Mount Pleasant church, now the Gettys- burg Presbyterian, whose first pastor was Rev. Isaac Ogden. The society at Greenville did not have regular preaching for some time previous to October, 1841, when Alexander Gulick was installed pastor, and divided his time between the two societies named, remaining two years. November 31, 1844, Rev. Badeau was engaged, and served four years. May 12, 1849, Rev. John A. Weeks commenced preaching, and was succeeded in 1853 by Rev. R. M. Mccullough, who was pas- tor but one year. Rev. Orlando Clark was secured for the year 1857. Two years later D. B. Wycoff served six months, previous to departure for India as a missionary. In June, 1860, Rev. C. B. H. Martin became pastor, and served a year acceptably. Next came John W. Drake, from 1862 to August, 1864.
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