USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of Dayton, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneer and prominent citizens Vol. 2 > Part 26
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abolition of slavery must be the result. Many people of the free States sympathized with people of the slave States in what they believed the threatened loss to the latter of their constitutional rights. And it became necessary for all who believed that a firm, if not an uncom- promising attitude with reference to the great question at issue, should be maintained by all who were opposed to the extension of slavery, to boldly stand by the country, no matter what might be the course of the Southern States. Dr. Thomas was one of the many able public men who took a deep interest in public affairs, and was recognized everywhere as a fearless champion of human liberty. It is a remarkable fact that previous to the War of the Rebellion, almost every ecclesiastical body in the United States maintained a conservative attitude regarding American slavery. The doors of almost every Presbyterian church in the country were closed against those preachers who denonneed the sinfulness of slavery and advocated its abolition. It was dangerous to be an active Abolitionist in many portions of the free States. Dr. Thomas received his full share of the persecution and obloquy of the times. Ilis zeal, however, never flagged, and his courage never wavered until the stain upon the national esenteheon was removed.
Though the excitement incident to the Civil War was prejudicial to the spiritual interests of all the churches, the First Church, which, with the rest, felt the depression to a considerable extent, yet, on the whole, prospered under Dr. Thomas's ministrations. In 1869, more members were added to the roll than in any previous year, with the single exception of 1844, under Dr. Barnes. In the spring of 1867, the question of enlarging the church or of building a new one was agitated again. March 4th, Dr. Thomas, as chairman of a meeting called for the purpose of consid- ering this question, announced the amount of the sabscriptions obtained, and on the motion of Major-General MeCook, it was voted to reconsider the action of a preceding meeting, which was decided in favor of enlarging and improving the old building, and the entire matter of repairing or of rebuilding was placed in the hands of a committee of ten persons, as follows: T. A. Phillips, HI. Stoddard, Jr., C. MeDermont, Isaac Haas, John G. Lowe, J. W. Stoddard, T. O. Lowe, J. D. Phillips, E. A. Parrott, and Samuel Craighead. Afterward D. W. Stewart and C. Wight were added to the committee.
On the 6th of May, the trustees formally authorized the building committee to remove the old edifice, and in place thereof to ereet such a building as will, in their judgment, meet the demands of their congre- gation, and at the same time placed at the disposal of the committee all funds that had been or should be subscribed for the purpose. The general
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plan of the new building was prepared by Dr. Thomas, and the work was carried on under the superintendence of Isaac Haas, one of the elders of the church, without compensation. On entering the eastern vestibule of the church, a handsome tablet attracted the attention, on which were inscribed the names of Thomas Ebenezer Thomas, D. D., and Isaac Haas, with a brief reference to the part each performed in the construction of the building. The walls and roof of the church were completed in 1869, and the Sunday-school room was finished and used for public worship, but owing to the general depression of business throughout the country, the main audience room was not finished until seven years afterward. The total cost of the building, exclusive of the materials used from the old church, was about one hundred thousand dollars.
Before the completion of the building, Dr. Thomas was elected to a professorship in Lane Theological Seminary. Accepting the position, his pastoral relation was dissolved in July, 1871. On account of the preeminent fitness of Dr. Thomas for his position, and the strong attach- ment his congregation had formed for him, it was an extremely difficult thing for the church to agree upon his successor. Several calls were extended and rejected, and it transpired that in most of the cases where the call was rejected, it was because the parties called were distrustful of their abilities to fill the pulpit acceptably. Dr. Thomas died February 2, 1875, at Walnut Hills, the seat of Lane Seminary, and his remains ' rest in the cemetery near Dayton, the scene of his most important labors.
The Rev. John McVey, of Lebanon Springs, New York, accepted the second call extended to him by this congregation, and began his pastoral duties September 18, 1872. His relations with this church as pastor were dissolved by the Presbytery October 17, 1874, to take effect on the last Sunday of the month. The Rev. George A. Funkhouser, a professor in the Union Biblical Seminary, at Dayton, was then engaged to preach and administer the sacraments, and remained in the pulpit somewhat more than a year. His ministrations proved highly satisfactory to the church. On the 4th of June, 1876, he was succeeded by the Rev. Benjamin B. Warfield, who had just completed a theological course at Princeton. A unanimous call was afterward extended to him to become pastor of the church at a salary of $2,500 per year. The call was de- elined by the advice of his physician, on account of a serious throat trouble with which Mr. Warfield was affected. An invitation was then extended to the Rev. Leigh Richmond Smith, of Bordentown, New Jersey, to accept the pastorate. The invitation was accepted, and he began his pastorate November 12, 1876. His first engagement was for
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six months, but before its expiration the congregation extended to him a unanimous call to the pastorate with an assured stipend of $2,500 per year. Rev. Mr. Smith remained pastor until September 28, 1880, when the relation was dissolved. The church called the present pastor, Rev. Prentiss de Veuve, D. D., October 16, 1881, and he was installed April 20, 1884.
The Third Street Presbyterian Church was established in 1838, as has been stated in the history of the First Church, on account of the division in the Presbyterian Church at large into the old and new schools. This new church organization in Dayton became a new school church, and its first session meeting was held March 11, 1888. Rev. Mr. Graves was appointed moderator, and Dr. John Steele and Peter Odlin elders. Steps were immediately taken to ercet a church. Ground to the extent of 100x200 feet was purchased on the southeast corner of Third and Ludlow streets for $2,700, and a two-story brick building was commenced in 1838 and finished in 1840 at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. The church was dedicated March 25, 1840, by Dr. Lyman Beccher, then of Lane Sem- inary. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Randolph Stone, who was succeeded by Rev. John Hall who served from 1840 until 1852. He was succeeded by Rev. G. P. Tyndall who remained until 1857. The pulpit was then supplied for about two years by Drs. Allen, Smith, and Day, of Lane Seminary. The next pastor of the church was Rev. S. G. Spees, and following him was Rev. Rollin A. Sawyer, who remained until 1870. Rev. J. HI. Montgomery, the present pastor, began his labors with the church in 1871. In 1874, a chapel was erected in the rear of the church. It is of stone, of the Gothic style of architecture and cost sixteen thousand dollars. In April, 1880, the old church building, which had been enlarged and repaired several times at ecasiderable expense, was torn down and the present imposing edifice commenced. It is of stone and of the old English Gothic style of architecture. The floors gradually ineline toward the pulpit, and the seats are arranged in cirentar form. The building cost about sixty-five thousand dollars, and is one of the handsomest church edifices in the State. At one corner of the building is a massive tower, surmounted by a tall spire; within the tower is hung the bell from the old church. The seating capacity of the audi- torium is about seven hundred and fifty. The present membership of this church is four hundred and fifty, and the Sunday-school has two hundred scholars.
Park Presbyterian Church was organized in 1851, by a colony of thirty members, who had withdrawn from the First Church, November 13, 1851. In the same year a lot was purchased on Second Street, near
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Madison, and a church was erected at a cost of four thousand dollars. It was a two-story brick edifice, and was dedicated March 13, 1853, by Rev. Mr. Kemper. The name Third Presbyterian Church was adopted the same month. The pastor, until January 6, 1852, was Rev. P. D. Gurley, and at that time the Rev. James T. Kemper was called, accepted the pastorate, and served until 1872. In 1857, the church sold its lot on Second Street, and began the erection of a two-story brick edifice on a lot on St. Clair Street, donated by Joseph Barnett. It is sixty feet wide by eighty long, and was completed at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. The auditorium has a seating capacity of about four hundred. Rev. J. R. Russell served as pastor from 1872 to 1876; the church was without a pastor from 1876 to 1878, when Rev. J. W. Walden came and remained until 1882. He was followed by Rev. Alexander N. Carson, who remained until 1886, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, . Rev. W. F. MeCauley. The membership of the church is now three hundred and sixty, and that of the Sunday-school two hundred and fifty.
The Fourth Presbyterian Church was organized November 25, 1856. It was the result of the establishment of a mission school in 1854, in Miami City. The organization was effected in Davisson's chapel, with the name of the First Presbyterian Church of Miami City. Services were at first held in the brick college then used as a military institute. Both church and Sunday-school met in this building until 1859, when the basement of the new church which the organization was erecting was ready for occu- . paney. From the time of the organization of the church until April, 1857, the pastor was Rev. James HI. Gill, who was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Grimes. Mr. Grimes remained until February, 1858, and was fol- lowed by Rev. A. C. Kemper, who remained until May, 1859. Following is a list of the ministers who have since filled the pulpit of this church : Rev. Mr. McKeehan, John Hancock, C. B. HI. Martin, Dr. Findlay, R. T. Drake, A. M. Junkin, John II. Graybeil.
The church building occupied at the present time was erected at a cost of about $20,000, and was dedicated in May, 1874. It stands on the corner of Fifth and Summit streets. In 1871, when Miami City became a part of the city of Dayton, the name of this church was changed to the Fourth Presbyterian Church. The membership at the present time is a little over one hundred and sixty, and the number of scholars in the Sun- day-school is about one hundred and seventy-five.
Memorial Presbyterian Church was organized in April, 1868, by a committee from the Dayton (New School) Presbytery. The ground upon which the church building was afterward erected was purchased carly in 1867, at a cost of one thousand dollars. A frame building was created
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during the spring and summer following, which cost about one thousand five hundred dollars, and was 28x40 feet in size. It was dedicated July 7, 1867. A Sunday-school was organized the next Sunday, and Lambert Woodhull was made the superintendent. There were fifty-eight scholars present on that day, and as Sunday's came, the numbers so increased that it soon became necessary to enlarge the building. Two rooms were therefore added, and on the 29th of October, 1867, it was determined to have preaching in the chapel. Rev. Joseph B. Little was selected as the preacher, and he entered upon his duties November 10, 1867. The name under which the church was organized was the East End Presbyterian Church of Dayton. Fourteen persons, most of them members of the Third Street Church, presented certificates of dismission from that church which had been granted them that they might unite in the organization of this church. Rev. Mr. Little labored with the church twenty-three months, and in October, 1869, a call was extended to Rev. James R. Ilughes, of the Presbytery of Blairsville, Pennsylvania, then the old school. He began his labors November 28, 1869, was installed April 23, 1870, and remained pastor of the church until the present time.
The membership of this church is now two hundred and ten, and the number of scholars in the Sunday-school is nearly four hundred. In 1871 it was determined to erect a new and larger church building, and friends of the enterprise in the Third Street Church contributed fourteen thousand dollars, and about three thousand dollars was contributed by members of the church itself and their friends. On October 13, 1872, the first story was occupied and dedicated. The Ladies' Society of the church contributed the carpets, gas fixtures and chairs. As a memorial of the reunion of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church, and of the liber- ality of those who had contributed so liberally toward the erection of the church edifice, the name was changed to the Memorial Presbyterian Church, of Dayton, Ohio. This was upon a petition which was granted in May, 1872. The total cost of the church and ground was about nineteen thousand dollars. There are several societies connected with this church.
The Riverdale Presbyterian Mission was established as a Sunday- school, under the care of the Third Street Presbyterian Church, in 1884, in a building on North Main Street. In 1885, a beautiful one-story frame building was created on the north side of Herrman Avenue, just east of the hydraulic.
The United Presbyterian Church was regularly organized November 23, 1860. An attempt had been made to organize such church in 1853 by a few of those who held to the views of the old Scotch Covenanters,
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but it was not successful. The effort which did succeed in the organiza- tion of the church, was made in 1859. In May of that year, Rev. J. W. Bain was appointed stated supply and served one year. There had been a church building erected on the southwest corner of Fourth and Jeffer- son streets in 1841 by the First English Lutheran Church which was purchased by the United Presbyterians, and this still serves them for a house of worship. The pastors of the church have been as follows: Rev. J. B. Foster, E. Creny, W. S. MeClanahan, Robert Stewart, W. S. Owens, T. A. Hutchinson, D. H. French, the present pastor. The church at the present time has fifty members, and one hundred and fifty scholars in its Sunday-school.
The First Regular Baptist Church. But little is known as to who were the first Baptists to settle in Dayton or its vicinity. In 1806, an application was made by Charles Roc for land on the southeast corner of Main and Third streets as a site for publie worship. The application was made on behalf of the " Baptist Union Congregation of Dayton." This land had been donated to the town for public purposes by D. C. Cooper. Some time afterward the petition of this church, which was then called the "Anabaptist Church," was granted, but no use appears to have been made of the grant, and that the claim of the Anabaptist Church to the land was never perfected, is evident from the fact that this particular piece of land was afterward conveyed by Mr. Cooper and his heirs.
About 1823 certain Baptists moved to Dayton from the vicinity of the Lebanon church and other places, and at their request ministers occasionally visited them and preached to them. Among these visiting ministers were Rev. Stephen Gard, of the Elk Creek church, in Butler County, and Rev. Wilson Thompson, of the Lebanon church. The church at Daytor was organized May 29, 1824, by a small council, which assembled here to draw up the constitution of the church. Elder Jacob Mulford, of the Wolf Creek church, drew up the articles of faith. The church council heid its first meeting on the porch of William Huffman's house, on the corner of Third and Jefferson streets, where the Beekel Honse now stands. After services on the next Sunday, Mrs. Huffman was baptized in the river a little east of the head of Main Street, and this was the first baptism ever witnessed in Dayton. In September, 1824, the church was received into the Miami Association, and for the next two years was supplied once a month by Elders Thompson, Gard, Martin, and others, and in 1826, Rev. S. D. Burnett was called to the pastorate. Large additions were made to the congregation, and a house of worship was created on the west side of Main Street, between Water and First streets. This structure was used during the war as the young 45
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men's gymnasium. At the end of Mr. Burnett's second year there were eighty-four members in the church. The young minister, becoming deeply interested in the teachings of Alexander Campbell, carried most of his church over with him to the neglect of everything like articles of faith or creed. The final step was taken March 24, 1829, and thus the church became what was then called a Campbellite Church. This portion of the church held the property, and the remaining members of the First Reg- ular Baptist Church were for a time without a house of worship. There were only seven who remained true to their original faith, and they met in the house of Elizabeth Crowell and passed a resolution to " keep the stand of the First Baptist Church in Dayton." At a subsequent meeting they excluded the pastor and those of the church affiliating with him, from the Baptist Church of Dayton, notwithstanding those thus excluded consti- tuted a large majority of the church and had already excluded the small minority which found it necessary to take this action, merely as it may be supposed, for their own satisfaction. The minority also petitioned the supreme court for possession of the property, but their petition was denied. The little undaunted band' continued to hold prayer and con- ference meetings at private houses, and occasionally used the old courthouse. They had preaching for two years by Elders Thompson and Mulford, Elder Thompson and Elder Gard having done much to hasten the division in the church by the preaching of " sound doctrines," which at that time to them meant "election and limited atonement," and opposition to "educated ministers, Bible and missionary societies, and all human institutions."
In 1834, several additions were made to the little devoted band by letter, and the members rented a small church building from the United Brethren congregation, standing on Main Street. Rev. Samuel R. Clark was invited to the pastorate, and, accepting the call, preached half the time for this church, and the other half for the church at New Carlisle. Rev. Mr. Clark died September 11, 1835, the membership having at the time of his death reached thirty-eight.
At this time came the anti-mission into the Baptist Church, the "old school" being opposed to spreading the gospel in any other way than by preaching, while the " new school" favored missions, Sunday-schools, etc. The Dayton church cast its lot with the new school, and in 1837 Elder Martin E. Cook became pastor of the church. On February 25th, this year, the church was incorporated. Elder John L. Moore came to Day- ton in the summer of 1838, and in January, 1839, became pastor of this church. The membership of the church at the time was only fourteen males, and less than fifty, including females, While they altogether paid
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taxes on less than $10,000, yet for the purpose of erecting a church they subscribed over $2,000. A lot was purchased on the northeast corner of Jefferson and Fourth streets for $1,350, and a church building commenced, the basement being ready for occupancy in December following. The building was not completed until 1842, and cost $5,164.50. The feeble membership could not have built this church without outside assistance, which was given them with liberal hand; and to those who, though not belonging to their church, yet contributed to the erection of their build- ing, they have always felt very grateful. The names of these contribu- ting non-members were as follows: Thomas Clegg, Joseph Gilmore, D. M. Curtis, Joshua Clements, Charles Anderson, Robert C. Schenck, Peter Aughinbaugh, J. D. Loomis, Joseph Barnett, Samuel Doyle, G. J. Curtis, George B. Holt, Dover & Cullum, P. P. Lowe, E. E. Brown, William Ray- mond, Elijah Reeves, James McDaniel, J. R. Wagoner, G A. Hatfield, R. N. and W. F. Comly, F. C. Estabrook, E. Fowler, Samuel T. Harker, John Mills, John Garner, D. W. Wheelock, David Stevenson, G. W. Bomberger, John HI. Achey, Dickson & George, William Davie, E. Favorite, Thomas Parrott, J. Patterson, HI. A. Fry, William Ogan, B. F. Ells, David Stone, Cozad & Brown, P. Voorhees, J. D. Phillips, Thomas Brown, Samuel Forrer, Simon Snyder, Lewis Lindsler, Samuel McPher- son, Richard Green, Oliver Kittridge, C. Koerner, William Parrott, A. Pruden, John W. Harries, and Henry Bacon.
In 1840 Elder S. S. Parr became pastor of the church and remained until December, 1843, when he was succeeded by Rev. Frederick Snyder, who remained until 1850. The next pastor was Rev. Samuel Foljambe, who resigned at the close of 1855. Ile was followed by Rev. Samson Talbott, who came in June, 1856, and remained until July, 1863, when he accepted the presidency of Dennison University, at Granville. Dur- iug this year the old church was disposed of, a lot purchased on Main Street, 100x200 feet in size, and the present beautiful, commodious, and massive edifice erected. The church and lot together cost $45,856, of which sum the church cost $37,000. It was dedicated free from debt October 25, 1863, by the Rev. E. G. Robinson, D. D., of New York. Professor II. Harvey, of Hamilton Theological Seminary, was then called to the pastorate, accepted the call, and preached for the church on the 20th of December, 1863, although he could not enter on his pas- torate until the following April. Rev. HI. Colby succeeded to the pastor- ate in 1867, and has been the able and efficient pastor until the present time. The membership of this church is now six hundred and eighty, and the number of scholars in the Sunday-school is five hundred and twenty.
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The Wayne Street Regular Baptist Church was organized December 29, 1848, by forty-four members of the First Regular Baptist Church, who had sought and secured letters of dismissal therefrom. On January 9, 1849, they were publicly recognized as a regular Baptist church by a council of delegates from the Baptist Church, called for the purpose of considering the question of their recognition. For several weeks the church was known as the "Oregon Regular Baptist Church of Dayton." The first officers of the church were J. B. Turner, J. MeCammon, and John Washington, deacons; J. II. Thomas, clerk; John Ewing, treasurer; J. B. Turner, S. P. Clarke, and John Clarke, trustees. For some time the congregation held religious services in the church owned by the Dunkards, and afterward in the Oregon engine house, which was soon found to be too small; consequently, ou February 27, 1849, they resolved to build a church edifice of their own. For this purpose ground was purchased of E. Thresher for three hundred dollars, Mr. Thresher giving one half of the ground, as it was valued at six hundred dollars. The condition of this partial donation was that the lot should be devoted exclusively to the purposes of erecting thereon a Baptist church. A brick building, 40x60 feet in size, was begun, but while it was in progress the cholera broke out, and, in consequence, the work on the building was greatly delayed. The basement, however, was completed in time for occupancy January 1, 1850. The exercises of the occasion were conducted by Rev. F. Snyder, of the First Regular Baptist Church, assisted by Rev. J. L. Moore. The auditorium was completed and dedicated in 1853.
The first pastor of this church was the Rev. S. Gorman, who remained until May, 1852, when he was succeeded by Rev. Marsena Stone, who remained but a few months. In April, 1853, Rev. J. Chambers became the pastor, and remained one year. He was followed by Rev. Nicholas S. Bastian in October, 1854, who remained until the spring of 1856. During the winter of 1855-1856 there was a great revival in the church, which was conducted by the pastor, assisted by Rev. D. E. Thomas, who was stated supply for several months during the summer of 1856. There were added to the membership, as a result of this revival, six by letter, live by experience, and seventy-four by baptism; eighty-five in all. In October, 1856, Rev. E. W. Dickinson became the pastor, and remained until August, 1861. During his pastorate, in the winter of 1858-1859, there was another revival in which the First Regular Baptist Church united. As a result of this revival, there were made fifty-six additions to the church. Rev. Mr. Dickinson was followed by the Rev. E. F. Strickland, who served one year. The next pastor was the Rev. D. F.
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