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 27
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Carnahan, who began his services with the church in the summer of 1863. Rev. William D. Bunker was pastor from July, 1865, to July, 1868; Rev. P. M. Weddell from September, 1868, to the fall of 1873; Rev. Hugh A. Marshall from January 1, 1874, to April 1, 1874; Rev. IL. A. Delano from December 21, 1874, to April 17, 1876; Rev. II. M. Dean from December, 1876, to the latter part of March, 1878.
From that time to August 12, 1878, the church had no pastor, and was engaged in making arrangements with the Baptist Union, of Dayton, for the surrender of its property and debts to the union. On August 12, 1878, it voted to disband, and to give letters of dismissal to all in good standing who should apply for them previous to November 12, 1879, when the disbandment should be complete.
The Baptist Union secured the services of Rev. IL. II. Bawden, who began his labors with the "Central Baptist Union, of Dayton," November 20, 1878. In the early part of 1880, the union sold the old meeting-house and lot, and paid off the debts of the church, which amounted to a little more than four thousand dollars. When the debts were all paid off, the union had in its possession a lot on the corner of Clay and Van Buren streets, 65x32 feet, with a brick dwelling-house upon it, which cost $8,500, and they had besides $3,386.36 in cash.
J. B. Thresher, E. M. Thresher, and Albert Thresher offered to pay each one thousand dollars toward a new church building for the mission, provided a house should be built to cost not less than ten thousand dollars, and which should be free from debt. The offer made by the Threshers led to the securing of a subscription amounting to nearly eleven thousand dollars, and in addition to this, E. E. Barney offered to become responsible for four thousand dollars in cash. The beautiful church edifice which now stands on the corner of Clay and Van Buren streets is the result of these various efforts. It is a two-story brick, with a seating capacity of over five hundred. It was dedicated May 4, 1882, the sermon being preached by Rev. Dr. King, of Cleveland, Ohio. The entire cost of the building was fourteen thousand dollars. Rev. IL. II. Bawden remained pastor of this church until 1886, when he was sue- ceeded by Rev. J. W. Icenbarger, the present pastor. The membership of this church is now'about one hundred, and the number of scholars in the Sunday-school, two hundred and seventy-five.
Linden Avenue Baptist Church was organized September 20, 1872, with fifty-seven members, of whom thirty-five were from the First Reg- ular Baptist Church, twenty from the Wayne Street Baptist Church, and two from elsewhere. Rev. Frederick Chatworthy was the first pastor. He was ordained October 18, 1872, and served the church until
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September, 1878. Rev. J. HI. Parks became pastor December 1st of the same year. Not long after the organization of the church, ground was purchased of W. P. Huffman, at the corner of Linden Avenue and May Street, upon which a church edifice was erected. The auditorium is 46x86 feet, and occupies the entire upper floor of the building except ten feet at one end which is taken up by the vestibule. It has a seating capacity of six hundred persons. On the first floor are the Sabbath- school room, the Bible class room, and rooms for kitchen and pantry. The lower story was completed and opened for service in the evening of December 30, 1873, and was then dedicated by the Rev. A. J. II. Beh- rends, of Cleveland. The auditorium was dedicated December 12, 1870, the sermon on this occasion being preached by the Rev. Dr. John Peddis, of Chicago. In 1881, the membership was one hundred and seventy-five. Rev. J. H. Parks was succeeded in 1884 by Rev. E. W. Loansburs, who is pastor at the present time. There are about three hundred and seventy-five members in this church and five hundred scholars in the Sunday-school.
In addition to the churches above mentioned, there are the Brown- town Mission on Kirkham Street, between Hartford and Albany streets, which was established in 1886, and of which Rev. L. D. Morse was pastor for some time; the West Dayion Chapel located on Third Street, between Broadway and the railroad; and the East End Mission, situated on the south side of Third Street, cast of Findlay Street. .
The First German Baptist Church was organized in June, 1852, by twelve persons, who had been members of a society in Berlin, Prussia. There were present at the organization of the church, Rev. A. Heinrich, of Rochester, New York; Rev. M. Stone, Rev. Samuel Foljambe, of Dayton; Rev. J. L. Moore, of Springfield; B. C. Cane, of Carlisle; O. B. Stone, of Xenia, and J. G. Brown, of Cincinnati. The first meeting of the church was held at the Wayue Street Baptist Church, after which they met at the Sixth Street engine house until 1854, at which time it was decided to build a church edifice. Ground for this purpose, situated on East Fifth Street, was purchased of William IIuffman for five hundred dollars, upon which a church building was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars. It consisted of one story and a basement. In 1861, Rev. Henry Koehler, of York, Pennsylvania, became pastor of the church. In 1855, Rev. G. Eisele became pastor, and remained until 1877.
In 1872, a division occurred in the church, sixty members leaving it. These members worshiped at Rocky Mission Chapel until 1878, when the Rev. G. D. Menger having been recalled to the pastorate, they all
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returned. Rev. A. Griep has been pastor of this church since 1882, and it has one hundred and twenty members. The Sunday-school has one hundred and fifty scholars.
Zion Baptist Church (colored) was organized November 30, 1870, at the house of Humphrey Moody, in Miami City. The original members of this church were Humphrey and Elizabeth Moody, Albert Matthews, Sarah Anderson, and William Lenyer. Rev. Albert Matthews was the first pastor of the church. At first services were held in the house of the pastor of the church, then in a ball on Wayne Street, and in the Baxter Street engine house. In the fall of 1876 a lot on Sprague Street, in West Dayton, was purchased for four hundred dollars, on which a one-story brick church was erected at a cost of one thousand eight hundred dollars. Since the retirement of the first pastor, Rev. Albert Matthews, the pas- tors of the church have been as follows: Rev. Spencer Young, Rev. Albert Matthews, second term, Rev. William Harris, Rev. Henry Roberts, Rev. James Shocraft, Rev. HI. Rockhold, Rev. J. T. Olive, and Rev. Charles M. J. Clark.
Shiloh Baptist Church ( colored) is located on Hawthorne Street, between Fifth and Fitch streets. It was established in 1887, with Albert Matthews as pastor.
Grace Methodist Episcopal Church bas a history extending back to the very beginning of the settlement of the town. A class was formed in 1797 by William Hamer, which met for worship at his house three . miles up Mad River. In 1798 Bishop Francis Asbury sent John Kobler to organize the Miami Circuit, and in the prosecution of this work Mr. Kobler preached in Dayton Angust 12th, that year. Rev. Mr. Kobler in his diary mentions William Hamer as a local preacher. Rev. Mr. Kobler preached again on August 26th; and in reference to the effect of the preaching of the word, which he said in his diary was brought to bear upon the company with a powerful, quiekening influence, he noted that " All appeared to be struck under conviction, and some made inquiry, ' What shall I do to be saved?'" Rev. Mr. Kobler preached again in Dayton on January 1, 1799, and on April 2d, class meetings were held at various places in the surrounding country and at Aaron Baker's in the village. On the 22d of September, 1811, Bishop Asbury preached to about a thousand persons in the courthouse. Rev. John Collins, who had been appointed with two others to the Mad River Circuit, preached in Dayton on two successive Sundays soon afterward. Soon after this he urged upon the people the necessity of creating a "meeting-house," and three subscription papers were started to raise a fund for that pur- pose. On December 26th following, the trustees were appointed, and it
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was found that $457.55 had been subscribed toward the fund. In the winter of 1813-14 the church was incorporated by the legislature, and lot No. 155 was donated to the society by D. C. Cooper. On the east half of this Jot they built their first church, a frame one-story building, 40x30 feet in size. It was occupied for the first time in 1814, previous to which time meetings had been held in the open air in the log cabin of the Presbyterians and in the courthouse. In 1815 George S. Hons- ton was steward of this church, which was then named the Dayton Methodist Episcopal Church, and had a membership of forty. In 1818 there were sixty-three members, and two classes were formed. The Sunday-school was organized this year. The frame church erected as above narrated was used until 1828, when the work of erecting the second church building was begun, and completed the next year. This building was of brick, 50x40' feet in size, and twenty-four feet high. Owing to the short terms of the pastors in the carly history of the Methodist Church, there were many pastors here before the erection of this second building. In 1830 the Rev. Mr. Dyche became the first regu- larly stationed preacher of this denomination in Dayton. In 1832 he was succeeded by the Rev. Arza Brown. Subsequently the following minis- ters preached for this church: William D. Barnett, 1833-1834; William Simmons, 1834-1836; J. A. Waterman, 1836-1838; William Il. Lawder, 1838-1839; Samuel Hatta, 1839-1840; David Whitcomb, 1840-1841; Joseph A. Waterman, 1841-1842; William Herr, 1842-1814; J. W. Woakley, 1844-1846; Cyrus Brooks, 1846-18-17; John S. Inskip, 1847-1849; George C. Crum, 1819-1850; William P. Strickland, 1850-1852; William II. Suth- erland, 1852-1854; E. G. Nicholson, 1851-1856; William I. Fee, 1856-1858; J .M. Leavitt, 1858-1860; J. F. Marley, 1860-1862; Charles Ferguson, 1862- 1864; Asbury Lowrey, 1864-1865; William L. Hypes, 1865-1869; W. W. Ramsey, 1869-1871; J. F. McClelland, 1871-1872; M. A. Richards, 1872- 1875; T. JI. Pearne, 1875-1877; A. B. Leonard, 1877-1879; William L. ITypes, 1879-18844; R. II. Rust, 1884-1886, and B. F. Dimmick, 1886-1889.
During the pastorate of Rev. John S. Inskip, 1847-1849, a new brick church was erceted on the old location on Third Street. The corner- stone was laid by Rev. Arthur W. Elliott, April 10, 1848. This building was 55x82 feet in size, and had a tower in front. In 1866, more room was needed by the congregation, and a lot was purchased on the south- cast corner of Fourth and Ludlow streets. The corner-stone of the new building erected on this lot was laid July 2, 1866, and the completed building was dedicated March 27, 1870, by Revs. E. O. Haven and John S. Inskip. The present membership of this church is six hundred and fifty, and there are two hundred scholars in the Sunday-school.
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CHURCH HISTORY.
Raper Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1841. On the 9th of August a committee was appointed to estimate the cost of the new "meeting-house." On August 12th, J. W. Griswold was made a committee to convey lot Number 101, on the east side of the canal, to the trustees of the church. The lot bad previously been purchased and conveyed to him for the purpose of erecting thereon a new church building. Mr. Griswold made the conveyance immediately to the trus- tees. On August 14, 1841, the trustees named the new church Finley Chapel, in honor of Rev. James B. Finley. On the 2d of September, a contract was made with Daniel Coffin and Daniel Waymire to erect the building for $763, and on the 15th of December, a contract was made with the same parties to seat the building and make the altar and pulpit for one hundred dollars. The building was a one-story frame, which was afterward moved to the corner of Wayne and Short streets. The new church grew in membership much more rapidly than was expected, and in 1851 it became necessary to ercet a larger building. This new edifice was erected and completed in 1852, and was named Raper Chapel, in honor of a former pastor. The original cost of the new church was about ten thousand dollars, and improvements made on it since have cost about ten thousand dollars additional. A parsonage was built in 1862 at a cost of three thousand dollars. From 1841 down to the present time the pastors of Raper Methodist Episcopal Church have been as follows: Revs. Moses Smith, D. D., A. W. Musgrove, William II. Raper, Werter R. Davis, D. D., Thomas Gorsuch, William II. Lawder, Granville Moody, D. D., William J. Ellsworth, J. Ford Conrey, James T. Bail, George C. Crum, D. D., L. F. VanCleve, John F. Marley, D. D., Thomas Collett, William A. Robinson, Edward T. Wells, Lucien Clark, John N. Irvin, and Stanley O. Royal. The present membership of this church is about six hundred and sixty, and there are in the Sunday-school five hundred and fifty scholars.
Davisson Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1854. In January of that year Rev. W. Fitzgerald was appointed minister of the new church, and soon afterward a one-story brick church was erected at a cost of $2,500. The name it bears was given to it in honor of Rev. D. D. Davisson, who was largely instrumental in having the church building erected. The church remained a mission until 1857. From this time on for two years Rev. G. H. Kennedy was pastor of the church, which together with the one at Ebenezer, constituted one charge, but afterward this church was self-supporting. During the conference year 1867-1868 it was connected with the Buckeye Street Mission. Some of the more recent pastors have been Rev. G. W.
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Goudy, Rev. W. Williams, Rev. J. W. Gaddis, Rev. M. Kugler. The name of this church was changed to the Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church in 1885, and since then the pastors have been Rev. Samuel D. Clayton and Valorous P. Brown. The membership of the church is now six hundred and of the Sunday-school five hundred and twenty-five.
Sears Street Methodist Episcopal Church was started in 1857 as a Sunday-school. This Sunday-school was organized October 11th, of that year, in what was then the Friend's meeting-house on Sears Street. Rev. Maxwell F. Gaddis was the first superintendent, and was assisted by the following officers: S. C. Emily, assistant superintendent; Charles Parrott, treasurer; Thomas B. Stevenson, librarian; and Charles Bur- vinger, secretary. The Sunday-school grew into what was for some time known as Gaddis Chapel, and afterward into the Sears Street Methodist Episcopal Church. This church was organized November 17, 1860, and was re-organized January 1, 1861, by the Rev. J. F. Chalfant. The first board of stewards was composed of John Birch, J. H. Cheever, Alexander McCandless, and J. Hicks. Among the preachers who delivered sermons to this congregation just previous to and immediately after the organiza- tion of the church were the following:'Rev. J. J. Hill, of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Waynesville, Ohio; Rev. John F. Marley, of Wesley Chapel, Dayton; Rev. Maxwell F. Gaddis, Bishop Matthew Simpson. Bishop Morris, and others. There was a great revival in this church in February, 1861, by which upward of one hundred new members were received into the church. Rev. Mr. Gaddis was the first pastor of the church, remaining in that capacity until 1862, when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Marley, who was succeeded June 11, 1863, by the Rev. William Simmons. On the 24th of November following, the society purchased the Friends' meeting-house for nine hundred and fifty dollars. Rev. Mr. Simmons remained pastor of the church until 1866, when he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. E. F. Hill who remained one year and was followed by Rev. M. F. Gaddis. Rev. J. B. Ellsworth was pastor during the years 1868 and 1869, and Rev. A. Bowers during 1870 and 1871. Rev. G. II. Kennedy was pastor during 1872; Rev. William B. Polling, 1875; Rev. W. N. Williams, 1876 and 1877; Rev. J. W. Gaddis, 1878, 1879, and 1880, and Rev. J. Y. Lemming in 1881. In 1882, the church was disbanded for the purpose of forming the East Dayton Methodist Episcopal Church. The old chapel building was sold for two thousand dollars, and a lot on the corner of Huffman Avenue and May Street was purchased upon which to ereet a larger and more imposing structure. The membership of the church at this time was one hundred and fifty-two.
The First German Methodist Episcopal Church of Dayton was
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organized in 1810 with twelve members. In 1843, they built a church edifice on the corner of Jackson and Sixth streets. It was a one-story brick and cost nearly two thousand dollars. About the close of the war the building was sold and a lot bought on the corner of Clay and Van Buren streets, upon which the present church building was erected. It is two stories high and cost fourteen thousand dollars. It has a seating capacity of nearly six hundred people. Following is a list of the ministers of the church: Mr. Englehart, Mr. Riemeschmeiver, Joseph Hebner, John Kessling, Charles Shelver, George A. Bruenich, George Dancker, John Bier, Wilhelm Ahrens, John Hopen, Jacob Rhodweilder, Bouneville Braumiller, Christian Foegler, George Dancker, Charles Kissenger, Conrad Gohn, George Widman, Earhart Wunderlect, J. F. II. Pietrman, Edward Ulniet, Philip B. Weber, John Bier, F. W. Rhinehart, A. Kressley, John Swinefoot, Charles Bozenhard, George Schwinn, Charles Militzer, J. C. Egly, and H. E. Wulzen. This church bas now about one hundred and ninety members, and the Sunday-school has one hundred and twenty-five scholars.
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church is located on the west side of Valley Street, north of Chapel. It was established in 1884. Its pastors have been Rev. Lafayette Young and Rev. W. R. Dille. Its membership is two hundred and fifty, and there are nearly two hundred scholars in the Sunday-school.
St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church is located on the corner of. Huffman Avenue and May Street. It was established in 1884. Its pastors have been Rev. Thomas Collett and Rey. J. P. Schultz. The membership of the church is now about four hundred and forty, and the number of scholars in the Sunday-school is five hundred and fifty.
Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church ( colored) was organized in 1842. Soon afterward they bought a lot of the Daughters of Zion, a colored society, and upon this lot erected a one-story frame church build- ing on Wilkinson, between Bruen and Ziegler streets. In 1854, they sold this building and erected a two-story brick church at a cost of about two thousand and five hundred dollars. The following ministers have had charge of the church: Shadrach Green, Charles Clemens, Robert Anderson, John Fall, William Jackson, Thomas Clinton, Benjamin Gardner, L. C. Kiner, and J. E. Artis. At the present time there are one hundred and forty members in this church and sixty scholars in the Sunday-school.
Baker Street African Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. W. T. Maxwell, Rev. Philip Tolliver, and Rev. Alexander Smith have been the pastors of this church.
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
Buckeye African Methodist Episcopal Church is located on Haw- thorne Street, between Fifth and Fitch. Rev. J. M. Payne has been pastor of the church since 1888.
Christ Church. The first services of the Episcopal Church in Dayton were held May 15, 1817, by Rev. Philander Chase, who was at the time on a missionary tour through Southern Ohio. Immediately a parish was organized and named St. Thomas. Only seven persons signed its articles of association. The organization, however, seems to have had but little vitality, as it was two years later when the Rev. Philander Chase, who had in the meantime been consecrated bishop of Ohio, held a second service in Dayton. This was in October, 1819. As a result of this second visit of Rev. Mr. Chase, St. Thomas Parish was re-organized November 27th following, its articles being signed by twenty-seven persons. Judge Joseph II. Crane and Warren Munger, Sr., were among the number. Al- though this organization was thus early effected, the parish was withont a regular minister natil October 19, 1821. , At this time Rev. Spencer Wall, a deacon in charge of the missionary work at Piqua and Spring- field, took charge of the congregation, preaching on alternate Sundays and serving until March, 1822. St. Thomas Parish had no other regular pastor. There were, however, other clergymen who held occa- sional services for several years. Among these ministers were Samuel Johnson, Thomas A. Osborne, Ezra B. Kellogg, Galen MeMillan, and Alexander Hall. During these years services were held in the Lancas- terian schoolhouse on St. Clair Street, in the churches of other denomi- nations, in the courthouse, and in private houses. The struggle to maintain the church was, however, too great, and St. Thomas ceased to exist some time in 1827. From that time until 1830 there was no church, but on the 7th of October of that year the Rev. Ethan Allen, who was) on a missionary tour of inspection throughout the southwestern portion of Ohio, visited Dayton and stated his mission to Judge Crane and Warren Munger, Sr., and proposed to hold services the next Sunday. Receiving no encouragement, however, he left town next morning, but returned October 21st, bringing with him letters of introduction, stating his mission. His services were this time accepted, and the use of the Presbyterian church secured. In this church, which stood on the corner of Second and Ludlow streets, two services were held October 24th. A subscription paper was started the next morning to raise money for the support of Mr. Allen, and fifty-nine persons pledged three hundred and twenty dollars toward his first year's salary. He entered regularly on his duties in the old courthouse on Sunday, November 24th. Articles of association for the parish were signed May 13, 1831, and in 1835, the
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church was incorporated by a special act of the legislature under the name of Christ Church. On June 25, 1831, a subscription was started for the purchase of a lot and the building of a church. May 17, 1832, it was reported that eighteen hundred dollars had been raised and a lot was selected on South Jefferson Street, which cost four hundred and eighty dollars. The edifice erected on this lot was completed and opened for service by the rector. The general style of the building was Gothic and it was 65x45 feet. November 17, 1833, Bishop Mellvaine made his first visit to the parish and consecrated the church. In October, 18-13, Rev. Mr. Allen resigned and was succeeded by Rev. Richard S. Killen, who entered upon his duties February 4, 1844, and resigned October 15th of the same year. He was succeeded by Rev. William W. Arnett,
who remained five years. Rev. James B. Britton took charge of the parish November 12, 1849. In Juue, 1852, on account of the increasing congregation, a new front was added to the building at a cost of about five thousand dollars. Upon the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Britton in 1855, a call was extended to Rev. II. H. Morrell, who became rector in November, 1855, and remained until July, 1857. Rev. Jolm Woart was the next rector. On May 12, 1859, a second parish was established in Dayton, which was named St. Paul's. This parish remained in existence until 1863, when its warden, John Powell, closed his report to the con- vention. In March, 1860, Rev. Anthony TenBroeck became rector and remained in charge until April 20, 1862. Rev. Edward II. Jewett became' rector October 19, 1862, and remained eight years, during which time the membership and financial strength of the church largely increased. In April, 1868, a committee of the vestry and the ladies established a mission which resulted in the organization of Ascension Chapel, which was consecrated June 20, 1870. The Rev. Edward P. Wright, D. D., became rector in November, 1870, and during his rectorship the present brick church edifice was erected. It stands on First Street, between Main and Ludlow. The corner-stone was laid July 12, 1871, by Bishop Bedell, and the building was opened for worship March 22, 1874. It is in the Gothic style of architecture and is trinnned with Dayton limestone. It has a seating capacity of seven hundred persous, is 126x68 feet in size, and the extreme height of its steeple is 166 feet. The cost of this edifice, including the lot upon which it stands, was forty-seven thousand dollars. Rev. E. II. Jewett became rector of Christ Church for the second time May 18, 1878, and resigned in May, 1879. Rev. J. T. Webster became rector January 1, 1880, and was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. IIer- bert J. Cook, in 1886. The membership of this church is now five hundred and twenty, and that of the Sunday-school is four hundred and ninety.
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