History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 68

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio > Part 68

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

We, the committee, appointed December 13, 1845, to dispose of the M. E. Church and lot, suhmit the fol- lowing :

We met the committee from the school district, and bargained with them to sell them the church building for a schoolhouse, for the sum of $1,100, $700 to be paid within one year, and the balance, $400, to he paid within four years ; possession to be given them July 1, 1846.

This building is still standing. It was owned and used by the school board for about ten years, and then sold to the City Council, by whom it is now used for corporation purposes.

At the same meeting a vote prevailed to instruct the Trustees to procure a church site ; and accord- ingly the lot on the northeast corner of William and Franklin streets was purchased of Mrs. Rutherford Hayes, for the sum of $1,900.

A sufficient subscription having been secured to warrant it, on May 6, 1846, the building commit- tee, consisting of John Wolfley, Nathan Chester and Augustus A. Welch, " let the contract to erect a house of worship," to William Owston. The building was to be a neat, plain church, 50 by 80 feet, and two stories high ; with a vestibule in the front end, above and below ; the audience-room was to have a gallery across the front end; and furnish sittings for about six hundred persons ; the seats and other woodwork, of black walnut.

The church was not finished until some time in the summer of 1847; two additional subscrip- tions being taken, one in February of that year, and the other in August, to carry on and complete the work. This edifice, for the times in which it was built, was both capacious and architectural. The cost was, as nearly as can be ascertained, about $5,600. The church was dedicated August 3,

397

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

1847, by Bishop Edmund S. Janes, assisted by Rev. Thomas E. Bond, D. D., editor of the Chris- tian Advocate, New York.

The lot purchased for the new church was a large one, with sufficient area for a church and a parsonage. An old residence, said to be the oldest brick building in town, stood on it, at the corner of the street. This was converted into the parson- age, and was occupied by the successive pastors as their home, until 1861, when the Rev. Thomas Parker, toward the close of his pastorate, had it replaced by the present comfortable and conveni- ent parsonage. The expense of this building, about '$3,500, was all secured, in good notes, in advance.

Such is the history of William street in church- building. . These two churches have been the scene of great and memorable events. The re- vivals here have been annual, and have been Pen- tecostal in their power. Of these churches, it may be said, as it was said of Zion by the Psalmist : " The Lord shall count, when he cometh to write up the people, that this man was born there."

Perhaps more conversions have occurred in these two churches than any other within the bounds of Methodism, save in those similarly favored by a Christian college or university. All through our country, filling posts of honor, and plying vocations of great usefulness, are meo and women, who, in William Street Church, found new hearts, and commenced Christian lives ; while in the dark lands of the Old World may be seen the lofty examples of a heroic and self-sacrificing spirit, begotten in obedient hearts while attending this church and enjoying her influences.

Perhaps no church has been more highly favored in the character of her pulpit ministra- tions than William Street, not so much because her regular ministers have been men of exceptional type either in ability or prominence ; but for the reason, in part, that quite frequently, through all these years, very eminent divines have stood in her sacred desk-men more than ordinary in talent and culture, who from tongues of fire, have spoken words full of heavenly unction. Without invidi- ousness, we may call special attention to a few who have preached in William Street Church. As' they are named, the reader will, perhaps, think of many others, whether pastors or visitors, who were equally choice spirits and rare preachers. For example, there was Russel Bigelow, great in Chris- tian polemics and mighty in eloquence, moving his hearers at will, and carrying them whither he

would. There was Adam Poe, clear in his analy- sis of truth, and practical in its presentation, who, with credit to himself and honor to the church, filled, in after years until his death, one of the chief offices in the gift of the General Conference. There was William L. Harris, once Pastor of this church, then Professor in the university, afterward Missionary Secretary, and now one of the Bishops of the church, who was eminent for his scripturalness, and logical in his utterances. There was the immortal Thomson, who for many years, while the successful President of the university, and afterward, as occasion served, with a melting and powerful eloquence, a perfection and simplicity of style, swayed, as the wind sways the fragile reed, the hearts of saint and sinner, of believer and infidel. There, too, was the sainted Gurley, who, while pastor and elder in Delaware, and later, while waiting for his sun to go down, set forth the spiritual things of the Word, and the possessions of the Christian, with an imagery almost incomparable, a poetry almost divine, and a fervor more than impassioned. Nor will it be invidious to name, among William Street's more recent ministers, Thomas Parker, who, in the pul- pit, was a blazing torch and an unfailing magnet.

With such a history, and with such men in her history, it is only truth to say that the most sacred memories and hallowed associations cluster in and about old William Street.

This church has been an ecclesiastical center for Methodism in Delaware. She is not only older than the other Methodist churches here, but she is their mother. In the year 1852, she gave South Delaware, St. Paul's Church ; and, in the year 1860, she had something to do with the origin and " raising" of Grace Church.

It is a church that, without being wealthy, devises liberal things, and its reputation in this regard is spread throughout the conference. The Pastor's salary is $1,500 ; the quota toward the Presiding Elder's salary is $220; and the contri- butions for other conference claims are usually beyond the amounts assessed. For the connectional and benevolent causes, it contributes liberally, according to its ability. In the past twenty years, it has given a little over $15,000 to the cause of missions, and in the same ratio to the other claims of church and charity.

William Street has had a varied history in its ecclesiastical connections. From the time of its organization until the year 1840, it was under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Conference. Then

398

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

it became a part of the North Ohio Conference, just formed, where it remained until the year 1856, when, by a further re-adjustment of bound- aries, it fell into the Central Ohio Conference, of which it is still a part.

While an appointment in the Ohio Conference, it was for four years a part of Scioto District, with Jacob Young as Presiding Elder; from 1823 to 1825, of Lancaster District; from 1825 to 1828, of Sandusky District, with James McMahon as Presiding Elder ; from 1828 to 1833, of Portland District, with Russel Bigelow and Greenberry R. Jones as Presiding Elders ; from 1833 to 1840, of Columbus District, with Augustus Eddy, Jacob Young and John Ferree as Presiding Elders. In the ecclesiastical year of 1840-41, it became a part of Bellefontaine District, North Ohio Conference, where it remained until the year 1844-45, with William S. Morrow as Presiding Elder. In the year 1845-46, it was assigned to Delaware Dis- trict, at whose head it has appeared ever since, with the following Presiding Elders : John H. Power (1845-47), John Quigley. (1848-51), Samuel Lynch (1852-53), Joseph Ayers (1854), Henry E. Pilcher (1855-58), Thomas H. Wilson (1859-62), Leonard B. Gurley (1863-66), Alex- ander Harmount (1867-70), Daniel D. Mather (1871-74), David Rutledge (1875-78) and Isaac Newton (1879).

From its foundation, when its membership was about a score of persons, until the ecclesiastical year of 1821-22, it was one of the preaching places on Hockhocking Circuit ; from this time until the year 1840-41, it was the head of Delaware Circuit. It had now reached a member- ship of 296 persons, and at the Conference of 1841 it was declared a " station," and Adam Poe was appointed its Pastor. Since that time, for almost forty years, it has been one of the leading and most flourishing stations in Ohio Methodism.

The appointments to William Street, allowing that name to cover its entire history, are as fol- lows, the years dating from about the last of August, severally : 1818, Jacob Hooper ; 1819, Andrew Kinnear ; 1820, James Murray ; 1821, Jacob Hooper; 1822, Thomas McCleary; 1823, Thomas McCleary and James Roe; 1824, Jacob Dixon ; 1825, James Gilruth ; 1826, Abner Goff ; 1827, James Gilruth and Cyrus Carpenter; 1828, James Gilruth and William Runnels ; 1829, David Lewis and Samuel P. Shaw ; 1830, Samuel P. Shaw and Alfred M. Lorain ; 1831, Alfred M. Lorain and David Cadwallader; 1832, Charles

Goddard and J. M. McDowell; 1833, Leonard B. Gurley and John C. Havens ; 1834, John C. Havens and R. Doughty ; 1835, Joseph B. Austin and William Morrow; 1836, Nathan Emery and Joseph B. Austin ; 1837, John Alexander and Ebenezer T. Webster ; 1838, William S. Morrow and John W. White ; 1839, William S. Morrow and John Blanpied ; 1840 and 1841, Adam [Poe; 1842, David Warnock; 1843, Adam Poe; 1844, William L. Harris ; 1845 and 1846, Henry E. Pilcher ; 1847, Cyrus Sawyer ; 1848, E. Yocum ; 1849, Horatio S. Bradley ; 1850 and 1851, Lor- enzo Warner; 1852, Joseph Ayers ; 1853, Charles Hartley; 1854 and 1855, Leonard B. Gurley ; 1856 and 1857, Alexander Nelson ; 1858 and 1859, James M. Morrow; 1860 and 1861, Thomas Parker; 1862, Loring C. Webster; 1863, 1864 and 1865, Alexander Nelson ; 1866 to spring of 1869, Wesley G. Waters ; from spring of 1869 to the fall of the same year, Park S. Donelson ; 1869 and 1870, Daniel D. Mather; 1871 and 1872, Franklin Marriott; 1873, 1874 and 1875, Russel B. Pope; 1876 and 1877, Isaac Newton ; 1878 and 1879, Elias D. Whitlock.

The foregoing facts and statements are a part of the interesting history of William Street Church, the parent society of Delaware Methodism. Truly this church has performed a wide mission. It has not only exerted a gracious and salutary influence for the moral elevation and improvement of the community in which it is established, but it has aided in a large degree the great and holy endeavor of the church at large to spread Christianity throughout the country and in many portions of the Old World. Its Quarterly Conferences have enjoyed the presence, and had the counsel, of not a few great preachers and able advisers. Its con- gregation has been among the most active and be- nevolent in Methodism in fostering and furthering the great cause of missions ; especially has it called into this department of church work, the women, old and young, who with commendable devotion and faithfulness have been abundant in labors to send the word of life to the heathen, and the hope of heaven to the dying. And to-day, after an existence spanning two generations, during which time its members have constantly been changing, it has a membership counting 550, and an out- look encouraging and hopeful; and, if in the near future, this prominent church shall be able to consummate its present designs as to a better and more modern church edifice, the next half-century will be able to record higher successes, and a

399

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

brighter history than that which has just closed with so much of gratitude for a kindly Providence and an alway-present Christ.

The early history of the St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church* is largely involved in obscurity. The records now accessible are meager and imper- fect; something may, however, be ascertained from tradition, as well as from such written records as are at hand. It is well known that some Lutheran families were scattered here and there among the earliest settlers in Delaware County. Of these pioneer families may be mentioned those of Fred- erick Weiser, Henry Worline, Mr. Welschaus, Andrew Harter and others. They were natives of Pennsylvania, coming here from Northumber- land, Bucks and other counties, and were settled in Delaware and the vicinity as early as 1810 and 1811. These few families, many years ago, were more or less regularly favored with the preaching of the gospel. It appears from such data as are within reach, that the Rev. Charles Henkel, of Shenandoah Co., Va., was the first Lutheran minister who visited the Lutheran families along the Olentangy River, between Columbus and Del- aware. Before any one dreamed of railroads, before roads were made, when Indian trails and footpaths were the only lines of travel, this pioneer preacher found the few scattered Lutherans in and about the present site of the city of Delaware, and readily suc- ceeded in organizing them into a pioneer congrega tion. Indeed, they were glad once more to hear the, old gospel tidings that had cheered their hearts and had brought peace and gladness into their former homes. It was their delight to bring their little children to Jesus by means of the same old baptism to which they had been so warmly attached in former years, and to appear at the altar where the same old sacrament of the body and blood of the Lord was administered. The old familiar sound made the wilderness in which they had chosen their lot seem to them like a new home. The old tidings of salvation following them into the forests of Ohio, reminded them that God is everywhere present, and pleasantly recalled the old, cheering promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

But the bloom of civilization did not burst forth in this wilderness without hard labor and severe privation. For a very little while it seemed well enough to have the word preached in the small and inconvenient log dwellings of the settlers.

But soon the need of a place of worship began to be felt. A church was needed, and that meant work. The productiveness of their primitive farms was comparatively limited ; market prices were low, and money was hard to get. The people usually found it difficult even to pay their taxes. Accord- ingly, instead, at first, of building a church, the use of Shoub's Hall, on the present site of the new city hall, was secured as a place of worship. Probably in this hall a permanent organization of the Delaware Lutheran congregation was effected. A constitution was adopted January 28, 1821, and signed by the Rev. Charles Henkel, Pastor, and by fifty-five lay members. During the space of some seven years, Pastor Henkel continued to serve this congregation. He resided at Columbus, Ohio, where he had charge of another congrega- tion, but came to Delaware every four weeks. Great success attended his labors, and he was held in high regard by his hearers. He preached in both the German and the English languages, at first in Shoub's Hall, and then in the old conrt- room, which was for some time used as a place of worship.

After Pastor Henkel had been called away from his Columbus and Delaware charge, a period of about fifteen years intervened, during which the congre- gation made considerable progress in external growth ; but the internal growth seems to have been meager. The old constitution was neglected and almost forgotten. The people had almost lost sight of the old landmarks of Lutheranism. Yet, during this period of spiritual carelessness and in- difference, quite an amount of activity was dis- played. The congregation was served by several successive Pastors. Rev. Mr. Shulz served a very short time, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Weil. Rev. Mr. Snyder, a young man of promising tal- ent and of good repute, preached less than a year ; he died in 1835, and his body lies at rest in the old cemetery. Subsequently, the Rev. S. S. Klein served some eight years; and, during his pastorate, the first church was built about the year 1834, on the corner of William and Henry streets, the site now occupied by the German Reformed Church. This church was the property of both the Lutheran and the German Reformed congregations. Quite an amount of real toil and self-denial was required to accomplish the work. The people contributed their money and their time; and the labor of build- ing was shared by both Pastor and people. Mr. Klein worked faithfully and daily until the new church was ready to be occupied. Previous to the

* By Rev. H. A. Becker.

400

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

building of this church, the Lutheran people of Delaware had assisted, by their contributions, in building the Episcopal church, in which they also, for a time, conducted their divine service.

The former Pastor, the Rev. Charles Henkel, died at Somerset, February 2, 1841. His death seems to have aroused the minds and hearts of the people to a sense of duty. The truth that had cheered and comforted them in earlier days was once more remembered; and a few weeks after they had heard of the death of their former Pas- tor, a meeting was held at which the old constitu- tion was once more unanimously adopted, and the blessing of a merciful God invoked upon the con- gregation. About this time the Rev. Mr. Pope became the Pastor. But things do not seem to have moved along smoothly ; the re-adoption of the old constitution made trouble; and some who had learned to love the careless, free-and-easy system of church government, that had for some time pre- vailed, were not willing to be governed by the old power of Gospel truth. Accordingly, a committee was appointed in November, 1845, to submit a re- vised form of the constitution, as well as ways and means of having it more stringently enforced. This committee, consisting of John Hoch, George Wachter, Conrad Brougher, John Troutman, Frederick Weiser and Benjamin Ely, met on the 15th of November, and, at a subsequent meeting of the congregation, their work was approved and the revised constitution adopted by a large ma- jority.

In 1848, Mr. Pope removed from Delaware ; and, in 1849, the Rev. M. Loy became the Pastor of the congregation. Mr. Loy labored here with much success during a period of some sixteen years. In the first years of this period, the conjoint ownership of the church property on the corner of William and Henry streets was dissolved ; and the new stone church on William street was built in 1852, and has since been occupied by the congre- gation. A new constitution, the one now in use by the congregation, was adopted August 31, 1852. The congregation increased largely in mem- bership, as well as in spiritual prosperity ; not, however, without trials and perplexities. Yet, the Lord dealt very graciously with his people, causing many eyes to be opened, so that the truth of His mighty word was recognized and accepted. At this time the contest with secret-society- ism was successfully waged. This is the his- tory of a Lutheran congregation; and no one should expect, in such a history, to find any

peculiarities omitted. Not, however, in regard to this question only, but in regard to all others, has the congregation taken a truly Lutheran and scriptural position. They who desire to form a more intimate acquaintance with the doctrines of the Lutheran faith, have easy access to them in our Book of Concord ; and we constantly challenge comparison of our doctrines with the Holy Script- ures themselves. They are our only rule of faith and practice. This true position came to be occu- pied more and more during the period of Mr. Loy's ministry. Mr. Loy resigned his pastorate here to accept a professorship of theology in the Capitol University, Columbus, Ohio, where he still re- mains.

Prof. Loy's successor was the Rev. C. H. L. Schuette, at that time a student of theology in the Capitol University. The last baptism admin- istered by Mr. Loy was on July 16, 1865, and the first by Mr. Schuette was on July 29th following, showing that the vacancy in the pastorate was very short. Mr. Schuette served the people very acceptably during nearly eight years, when he, too, was called to a chair in his Alma Mater. Some- time in the same year, 1873, the Rev. Emanuel Cronenwett accepted a call to this congregation, and his labors here extended from June, 1873, to January, 1877.

On May 22, 1877, the present Pastor, the Rev. H. A. Becker removed to Delaware in response to a call extended by the Delaware congregation. The congregation now numbers 450 or more confirmed members, besides a large number of baptized chil- dren. The average attendance at public service is encouragingly good, and during the past year the Sunday school has had an average attendance of 120 pupils. Many things are not as they should be, yet it would be exceedingly ungrateful to say that the Lord is doing nothing for us. The congregation, owns the church on William street, and the parsonage, No. 194 North Sandusky street, and is free from debt. With the prayers of our people for their own temporal and spiritual wel- fare ascending to the throne of grace, with their earnest and faithful work for the church, and with their devoted attendance upon the public worship of God at all appointed times, no reason can be seen why the Lutheran congregation of Delaware should not succeed. By the grace of God, some of the evils with which we are contending will be successfully overcome; the coldness and indiffer- ence that seems to prevail in some hearts will vanish, and our zeal and earnestness in prayer and work

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

401

will increase. Then shall days of greater blessing and of richer prosperity dawn, and God will receive the praise.

Zion's Reformed Church* comes next in the order of organization. Among the pioneer fami- lies of Delaware County, there was a considerable number. from East Pennsylvania. As they were all of German descent, and were brought up in German communities, they could feel themselves properly at home only in their native German element, and in the use of their own language. Especially was this true in a religious view. A characteristic of the Germans is that they carry Germany with them in their hearts wherever they go, and hence, wherever they put up their tents, there is " Des Deutschen Vaterland." Even the blessed Gospel seems to them more precious when it is proclaimed in the trumpet tones of the lan- guage of Luther and Zwingle.

These families generally belonged to the Re- formed and Lutheran Churches. They had found rich farms and comfortable homes here, but they were far away from their kindred, and the holy altars where they had been baptized and confirmed. They were not in their natural element. As the fish seeks the clearest water, and the bird the purest air, so these pious souls sought a congenial spiritual home for themselves and their children. Nor did they seek in vain. The longed-for and happy hour came at last, when, in their own conse- crated temple and around their own sacred altar, they could thankfully and joyfully unite in their beloved German Te Deum,

"Nun danket alle Gott, Mit Herzen, Mund und Haenden , Der grosze Dinge thut, An uns und allen Enden."

In the year 1834, these families united in erect- ing a church edifice, which was to be the joint property of both the Reformed and Lutherans. This edifice was erected on an acre of ground bought of Milo D. Pettibone for $50, on what is now the corner of William and Henry streets. It was built of stone, 30x45 feet in size, and cost $1,300. For three years before they were organ- ized into a church, the Reformed members wor- shiped in this house, and had the Gospel preached and the sacraments administered to them by the Pastor of the Lutheran congregation. But few, besides themselves knew that they were Reformed

and they were commonly regarded as members of the Lutheran Church.

In 1837, however, they resolved to effect an organization of their own. They secured the serv- ices of Rev. C. H. A. Allardt, the necessary steps were taken, an appropriate sermon was preached, and "In the name of God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost," they were declared to be a Christian church, to be known by the name of Zion's Reformed Church, of Delaware, Ohio. Those who had been chosen to fill the respective offices were now solemnly ordained and installed. The church consisted of eighteen members. Its first elders were Abraham Call and Henry Fegley, and its first deacons, Jacob Miller and Israel Breifogel. The frail little bark was now afloat on the sea.

This congregation stands in connection with "The Reformed Church of the United States," is under its control, " and is in all respects governed by its rules and regulations." The contents of its faith are the Holy Scriptures, as set forth in the Heidelberg Catechism; and its government, both in spirit and form, is strictly presbyterial. Its aim is to cherish and enjoy true Christian freedom, in believing and cheerful obedience to divine au- thority and law, and to obtain salvation from sin, and eternal life in Jesus Christ-the " Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 68

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818