History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 87

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

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

beth; eleven in all. They had no Pastor for two years; Elders Drake, George and Brundage sup- plied the church with preaching once a month. From 1818 to 1824, Elder Drake served the church as Pastor, and his labors were greatly blessed. In 1827, the church called the Rev. Jesse Jones, at a salary of $100 a year, one-fourth in money, the rest in trade. He was an able preacher in Welsh and English, a scholar and a faithful Pastor. He served the church accept- ably for two years, and returned to Oneida County, N. Y., where he died, an old man and full of years, honored and beloved by all that knew him. In 1830, Elder Thomas Stephen, recently from Wales, an eloquent and earnest preacher, was called to the pastorate and served the church for six years. He is now living in Oregon, enjoying the eventide of a long and useful life. Rev. William Terrer and Rev. Thomas Hughes preached for several years in the Welsh language. In 1836, Elder Elias George was called and labored suc- cessfully until 1842. Since that time, the follow- ing ministers have labored in the service of the church : Rev. James Frey, Rev. F. V. Thomas, Rev. D. Pritchard, Rev. T. R. Griffith, Rev. R. Evans, Rev. R. R. Williams, Rev. E. B. Smith, Rev. C. King, Rev. F. Dyall and Rev. William Lect, the present Pastor.

The first Deacons chosen at the organization of the church in 1816 were John Philips and David Davies. The first house of worship was built of logs, 20x22 feet, and located near the graveyard. The settlers, without regard to denomination, were glad to help build the house of the Lord. Each one brought a few logs already hewed, and assisted in the raising and completing of the tabernacle of the Most High. The memory of that old log church is yet fragrant, and cherished by the de- scendants of those whose piety and zeal secured its erection. In 1833, the congregation built, near the site of the log chapel, a neat stone edifice 30x40 feet, and, in 1867, the present house of worship, of brick, was built at the cost of $4,500. This venerable church of Christ, now numerically strong, and spiritually prosperous, in the sixty- three years of its existence, welcomed into its fellowship and communion over five hundred mem- bers; ordained four ministers, and sent out five of her sons to preach the Gospel, one of whom, Rev. W. Williams, is a very successful missionary in India ; another, Rev. C. D. Morris, is the es- teemed Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio.

The Methodist Episcopal Church had its repre- sentatives in Radnor at an early day. Tradition informs us that, in an early period of our religious history, an itinerant preacher found his way to the settlement and preached unto the people the word of the Lord. The cabin of Henry Perry, who was a Wesleyan, afforded a house for the faithful herald of the Cross, and there the first Gospel sermon was preached in the township- probably as early as 1808. Several years after- ward, the cabin of Elijah Adams became a regular preaching place, and a class was formed. Among the first members were Henry Perry and wife, Elijah Adams and wife, Robert Perry and John Hoskins. In 1827, the writer attended a quar- terly meeting held in the double log barn on the farm of Elijah Adams. With other boys, he sat in the hay-mow, for the crowd filled the barn floor and stable to their full capacity. The seraphic Russell Bigelow was the preacher. His text was, " Which things the angels desire to look into."-1 Peter, i, 12; and his theme, "The marvels of redemption." On the mind of a boy seventeen years old, instructed in the teachings of the Bible concerning the redeeming work of Christ, and in full sympathy with the eloquent preacher and his theme, the effect of this discourse was powerful and enduring. In 1838, a frame meeting-house was built, and the congregation supplied with preaching regularly. A Sunday school was estab- lished about this time, with Robert Perry as Su- perintendent. Beside the persons already named as the early Methodists of Radnor, may be en- rolled George Wolfley, Duncan Campbell, David and Ebenezer Williams, John Owens, David Lewis, and families. In 1855, the brick meeting- house was erected-evidence of the growth and prosperity of the church.

The Radnor Welsh Congregational Church was another of the early established churches in this township. From 1818, when a large accession was made to the Welsh population of Radnor, meetings for prayer and religious conference were held in the Welsh language. These services were held in the cabin homes of the settlers, and sometimes in the log chapel, through the courtesy of the Baptist Church. In 1820, Rev. James Davies, of Aber- haferp, North Wales, organized a Congregational Church at the cabin of John Jones (Penlan). The original members were William Penry and his wife, Mary (who died in 1878, aged ninety-two years), John Jones ( Penlan), and Mary, his wife, Margaret Morgan, D. Morgans and wife, John A. Jones and

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

wife. J. Jones (Penlan); and Walter Penry were chosen Deacons. Mr. Davies, the Pastor of this little flock in the wilderness, was a good scholar, educated in the Theological Seminary in North Wales, and an eloquent preacher. In 1822, he received a call to the city of New York, and labored there until 1828, when he returned to Rad- nor and served the church for five years. In 1825, Rev. James Perregrin, from Domgay, North Wales, came to Radnor and preached with acceptance for two years. In 1827, Rev. Thomas Stephens, from Oneida County, N. Y., accepted a call and labored with success for one year. In 1838, Rev. Rees Powell, from South Wales, became Pastor of the church, and continued until 1852. Under his labors the church increased. In 1841, the frame meeting-house, 30x40 feet, was built. At the the time, this was a great undertaking, but the people had a heart to work and to give, so that in 1842 the dedication services were held-a mem- orable and interesting occasion. In 1853, Rev. Evan Evans was called, and served the church for three years, preaching in Welsh and English with encouraging results. In' 1857, Rev. Rees Powell was recalled, and labored successfully for five years. He still labors with acceptance in the neighboring Welsh churches of Troedrhiwdalar and Delaware, enjoying in his old age a warm place in the hearts of his numerous friends at home and in all the Welsh churches in Ohio. In 1863, Rev. James Davies, formerly from Hanfair, North Wales, but for several years the efficient Pastor of the Welsh Church at Gomer, Allen County, Ohio, was called. During his pastorate, the brick meeting-house was built at a cost of $3,000. From the subscription paper, we find that the following contributions were given: John Humphreys, $300; Robert Powell, $200; David Griffith, $100; James Thomas, $100 ; David Jones, $100 ; E. T. Jones, $100; Rees T. Jones, $100, and the following, $50 each : R. T. Jones, D. R. Griffith, Sarah Jones, John James, Owen Thomas, Evan Price, John P. Jones and W. P. Jones. On the 7th of April, 1867, twenty-three members were received into the church on profession of faith in Christ, the fruits of a gracious revival. The same year, the useful and venerated Pastor died, aged seventy-one years. His grave is in the midst of his people in the old cemetery, honored by a beau- tiful monument placed there by his sons, James and Benjamin Davies. In 1870, Rev. Thomas Jenkins, of Johnstown, Penn., was called, and his useful pastorate continued eight years. His suc-

cessor is Rev. Mr. Evans, now entering upon his laborious preaching in Welsh and English, with prospects of building up the church in numbers, and efficient efforts for the extension of religion in the community.

Radnor Presbyterian Church dates its organi- zation back to 1819. The Rev. Joseph Hughes, the first Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Delaware, extended his labors into Liberty and Radnor Townships. The church in Radnor, as we have said, was organized about 1819, and a hewed-log meeting-house, built in a beautiful grove of sugar trees, on the farm of Joseph Dun- lap. The first Elders were James Fleming, Joseph Dunlap and William Cratty. In 1825, Rev. Henry Van Deman was called to the pastorate of the united churches of Delaware, Liberty and Radnor. June 3, 1826, a sacramental meeting was commenced; the attendance was very large and during its progress quite a number were add- ed to the church. In 1829, the Welsh Con- gregational Church being without a Pastor, thirty of its members united with the Presbyterian Church, and John Penlan Jones was chosen an Elder. During the year, the additions to the church were sixty-five. In 1836, the pastoral re- lation with Rev. Mr. Van Deman was dissolved. The stone meeting-house on the bank of the Scioto River was built about 1840, but not finished until 1849. The old log church was abandoned, and, for several years, there was no Pastor. The only remaining Elder was James Fleming, who died in 1846, aged eighty-six years; a good man and a faith- ful officer in the church. In 1837, the Welsh mem- bers, for the sake of enjoying church privileges in their own language, amicably withdrew from the church. For several years, the want of a Pastor and the administration of the ordinances, the church languished; many of the old and faithful members had died, and the interests of religion in its bounds had sadly declined. In 1849, Rev. S. R. Hughes entered this neglected field and labored successfully in restoring the waste places of Zion, and the church was inspired with new life and vigor. David Davids was chosen an Elder, and, for some time, the only acting officer in the church. In 1857, Rev. C. H. Perkins was called to min- ister in the church, and Robert Mckinney elected Elder. The ministry of Mr. Perkins was greatly blessed, the church increased in numbers and ac- tivity in Christian work. In 1871, the following constituted the eldership of the church: Robert Mckinney, J. McIlvain, J. D. Newhouse and T.

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H. Howison. In 1874, the sudden death of the Pastor, so beloved and useful, left the church vacant. Since his death it has had no settled Pastor, but is supplied with preaching and sus- tains a good Sunday school.

The Protestant Episcopal was another of the early church organizations of this section of the county. In 1836, Rev. Abraham Edwards, a native of Wales, educated at Kenyon College, and a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, labored in Radnor, preaching in the Welsh lan- guage. A church was established and a house of worship erected. David E. Jones, Richard Savage, William Watkins and Joseph Cox were the Vestry- men. In a few years, Mr. Edwards left the field, and after his departure, having no regular services, the church disbanded.

The Presbyterian Church was organized about 1848, and was composed of American families and the descendants of the old Welsh settlers. Rev. Henry Shedd, a faithful pioneer missionary of the Presbyterian Church and an able preacher, labored successfully in organizing this congregation and building up the interests of this church. In 1854, the brick meeting-house was built, evincing the earnest religious life of the people and their zeal in regard to the prosperity of Zion. The follow- ing are the ministers who have labored in this church : Revs. H. Shedd, M. Jones, John Thomp- son, H. McVey, E. Evans, D. Wilson and J. Crowe. The following have served the church as Ruling Elders: Messrs. Stoughton, Dr. Mann, Robert Danis, Robert Evans, J. Wise and R. Wallace. A Sunday school was organized soon after the church was formed, and has continued an important feature of church work, accomplishing much good.

The Welsh Presbyterian is of more modern or- ganization than any other of the Radnor churches. Many of the Welsh settlers were members of the Calvinistic Methodist Church in Wales, but for many years they had no distinctive church relations, but united cheerfully with the American Presby- terians or the Welsh Congregationalists. About the year 1850, it was determined to build a church. In faith and church government, the Welsh Cal- vinist Methodists are almost identical with the Presbyterian Church in this country, and there- fore they have adopted the name. and they main- tain a correspondence with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, by sending and receiving fraternal delegates, and their young men are educated for the ministry in

Presbyterian theological seminaries. The Pastors of this church have been Welsh-speaking ministers, good and faithful shepherds of the flock of Christ. Among them may be named Rev. Hugh Roberts, Rev. William Parry, and the present Pastor, Rev.' Daniel Thomas. In 1877, the congregation built a house of worship, a neat and beautiful temple consecrated to the service of God and the promo- tion of religion in the community. Their Sun- day school is conducted in the Welsh language and is attended by the parents as well as the chil- dren, a feature which everywhere characterizes Welsh Sunday schools, in Wales and in the Welsh settlements in this country.

The first Sunday school in Radnor was estab- lished April 18, 1829, in the log meeting-house. A constitution was adopted and signed by forty- two members, constituting the "Radnor Sunday School Union," John N. Cox and Morgan Williams were chosen Superintendents, and B. W. Chidlaw, Secretary and Treasurer.' The payment of 25 cents constituted any person a member. The original records, still extant, show that the school was eminently successful. The following were the teachers: John Lodwig, John Cadwalader, B. W. Chidlaw, David Kyle, Miss M. A. Adams, Julia A. Adams, Mary Foos and Nancy Wolfley. Primers, spellers and the Bible were the text-books. The records show an attendance of from seventy to ninety scholars. One Sunday, 609 verses of Scripture were recited from memory, and in five months a total of 6,990 verses. In May, 1829, the Treas- urer went on horseback with a large leather saddle- bag to Gambier, Knox Co., Ohio, and invested $6.75 in books published by the American Sunday School Union, and sold by Prof. Wing, of Kenyon College, an early and faithful friend of Sunday schools in Central Ohio. The books were of good service to the youth of Radnor, when they greatly needed such valuable helps in acquiring a taste for mental and moral improvement, and storing their minds with religious knowledge.

In after years, as churches were organized, other Sunday schools were established and exerted a wide and blessed influence on the rising generation. These schools have been conducted in the Welsh and English languages ; popular sentiment has always been in their favor. At present, six Sun- day schools are sustained in the township, and are accomplishing much good.

Memorial services were held last April (1879) in celebration of the semi-centennial of the organ- ization of the first Sunday school in Radnor. The

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pastors of the churches, and the citizens generally, entered heartily into the arrangement, resulting in an occasion of great interest. The services were held on Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20, 1879, in the Baptist meeting-house, while great numbers who could not gain admission were enter- tained with services at the Welsh Congrega- tional Church. Hon. T. C. Jones, of Delaware, presided, and made the opening address in full accord with the spirit and object of the anniver- sary. The following ministers were present and participated in the exercises : Rev. C. D. Morris, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Toledo, once a scholar in the school; Profs. Merrick and Camp- bell, Revs. Hawn, Icenbarger, Owens, Squiers, of Delaware ; Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, of Cincinnati ; Rev. D. Allen, of Dayton, and the local Pastors and Secretaries, Thomas and Powell. The orig- inal roll of the members of the Radnor Sunday School Union was called : John N. Cox, Morgan Williams, John Cadwalader, J. Jones (Mason), John Davies (Cooper), John Jones (Penlan), John R. Jones, Edward Evans, David Lloyd, Margaret Jones, Walter Penry, David Penry, William Gallant, David Laurence, Benjamin Kep- ler, George Wolfley, David Kyle, B. W. Chidlaw, Henry Perry, David Griffiths, John Foos, Chris- topher Moore, Ralph Dildine, D. Campbell, David E. Jones, W. M. Warren, Elijah Adams, Robert Perry, Watkin Watkins, Hugh Kyle, Eben Will- iams, David Williams, Mercy A. Adams, Julia A. Adams, B. Adams, Jane Lloyd Nancy Wolf- ley, Crosier Fleming, John Lodwig, Ab. Adams, Martha Fleming. To this roll-call only one response was made. The only survivor present was Mr. Chidlaw. George Wolfley, W. M. War- ren, B. Adams and Jane Lloyd are still living, but were not present, owing to distance and infirmities of old age. Mr. Chidlaw exhibited the old records -one of the books (" The Dairyman's Daughter ") bought at Gambier in 1829, and a piece of a log of the old chapel. These relics attracted great attention, and the eyes of the numerous descend- ants of the early pioneer Sunday-school workers and scholars, sparkled with deep interest as they gazed upon the memorials of fifty years ago. These relics will be carefully preserved ; and at the centennial commemorative services will be produced, when a few of the hundreds present to- day will survive the ravages of death, and partici- pate in the services then held. Out of this ori- ginal Sunday school, the following ministers of- the Gospel have gone forth in the services of

Christ : Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, graduated at the Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1833; was Pastor of the Congregational Church of Paddy's Run in Butler County, Ohio, for five years, and in the missionary work of the American Sunday School Union in Ohio and Indiana for over forty years ; Revs. Cadwalader and Owen, of Delaware ; Revs. Lemuel and Benjamin Herbert, faithful itinerants in the Methodist Episcopal ministry in Ohio, and Rev. C. D. Morris, graduated at the Theological Seminary, Rochester, N. Y., and for more than ten years the esteemed Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Toledo, Ohio. This Union Sunday School, representing the unity of faith among the different denominations in Radnor, continued its healthful and elevating existence for many years, a factor of great evangelistic power and efficiency in educating the intellect and heart of the juvenile population, giving tone and char- acter to society, and strengthening religious faith and life. In after years, church schools were organized, but the memory of the old mother school is a common inheritance to all her children, and together we rejoice that the Sunday school banner, with its divine text-book-sanctified liter- ature-and oral instruction, was ever planted in Radnor, and now waves over six church Sunday- schools, doing a blessed work for truth and right- eousness, helping to make our country Emmanuel's land, and us a people whose God is the Lord.

As the legitimate fruit of the religious character and pious lives of the early settlers, and the faith- fulness of their descendants, no saloon for drinking and gambling has ever been sustained in Radnor; no convict has ever represented the township in the penitentiary; seven of her sons are ministers of the Gospel, and the voice of one has been heard in the halls of State legislation. And, as an ev- idence of thrift, enterprise and prosperity, farms in Radnor are never sold for taxes.

* Delhi was a small village, situated not far from where Mr. Pugh originally laid out his town of New Baltimore. Delhi was surveyed and laid out in August, 1833, for Edward Evans, who owned the land, and (to give its exact location) is on Sec- tion 2, of Township 6, and in Range 20, of the United States Military Survey. The first house in the place was built in 1805, on the site of the Welsh Methodist Church, but by whom we could not learn. It was occupied, however, in an early

* Mr. Chidlaw, in hie history of the township, hse overlooked Delhi altogether. So far as we have been able to learn any facts of ite history, we will add them.

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day by a man named Morgan Morgans. He was the first blacksmith in the village. The first store was kept by one Obed Taylor. He sold out to W. M. & James Warren, and went to Hardin County, and started a store near the present site of Kenton in that county. Thomas Warren came to Delhi in 1809. He kept the first tavern, was the first Postmaster, and eventually died in that village.

Since the building of the Columbus & Toledo Railroad, which swerved a little out of its course for the purpose of scooping in a handsome sub- scription offered by the Delhi people-the name of the place has been changed from Delhi to Radnor, after that of the township. Of the early history of Delhi, we know but little beyond what is given above. Modern Delhi, or Radnor, as it is now called, contains three general stores. One of these is kept by John Powell, who has been doing business on the same corner for twenty years, and is a wealthy Welshman. Another of these stores is kept by E. R. Shork, but owned by a Mr. Cum- mins, and was established two or three years ago. The other store is owned and operated by Thomas & Jones, young men who have just started in busi- ness and are full of enterprise. The post office is kept in Powell's store by W. P. Harmon, who is Postmaster. The village has two blacksmith-shops, one kept by Hoard and the other by Jones, a Welshman. There are also two shoe-shops. Jones Brothers have a tile factory and saw-mill near the railroad station. They are young and enterprising business men, and doing well.

In addition to the above exhibit of its business, Radnor has quite a flourishing Odd Fellows' Lodge. It was instituted May 17, 1854, as Delhi Lodge, No. 250, I. O. O. F., with the following charter members: Thomas Morton, Benjamin

Williams, John Baker, D. J. Cox and Thomas Silverthorn. At the organization, the following persons were admitted to membership: Joseph Turney, Valentine Dildine, W. C. Mills, Morris D. Morton, Thomas W. Rowland, Thomas Perry, Thomas W. Cox, A. G. Fleming, David Lawrence, G. S. Spicer, Robert Davis, William Evans, Evan T. Jones, Thomas P. Jones, Thomas R. Roberts, Ralph Minter, David L. Jones, G. Morrison, John T. Rowland and Thomas D. Griffiths. The elective officers were Thomas Morton, N. G .; Ben- jamin Williams, V. G .; D. J. Cox, R. Sec .; John Baker, P. Sec., and Thomas Silverthorn, Treas- urer. The present membership of the lodge num- bers about fifty, and the elective officers are J. P. Jones, N. G .; C. C. Miller, V. G .; M. Jones, R. Sec .; S. Lewis, P. Sec., and Thomas C. Evans, Treasurer. The lodge owns its hall and fixtures, and, besides, has a fund invested of some $2,000. Their hall is in a two-story brick building 22x50 feet in dimension.

As a matter of interest to its members, we make the following extract from an address delivered be- fore the lodge, by Past Grand H. C. Olds, April 26, 1870, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniver- sary of the Order in the United States :

"During our existence, we have admitted to membership by initiation, eighty-one, and by card, ten, making a total number of ninety-one; of this number, eight have passed from the earthly lodge to the grand lodge above. Quite a number of others have withdrawn, and are now members of other lodges. Three other lodges owe their parentage to this."

Since 1870, we are informed, there have been forty-four initiations, making the total number ad- mitted 135, since the original organization of the lodge.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXI .*

MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP-DESCRIPTION AND SETTLEMENT-HISTORICAL SCRAPS-CEMETERIES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS-VILLAGE OF NORTON.

" Once o'er all this favored land, Savage wilds and darkness spread,

Shelter'd now by Thy kind hand, Cheerful dwellings rear their head. Where once frown'd the tangled wood, . Fertile fields and meadows smile ;

Where the stake of torture stood, Rises now Thy churches' pile."

A BOUT Marlborough Township there clusters much that is historical and interesting. It takes its name from the fact that all the earliest set- tlers came from Marlborough Township, Ulster County, N. Y. It was erected into a separate town- ship soon after the county was formed, as the follow- ing entry in the records of the Commissioners' Court will show : " A petition was this day, June 15, 1808, presented to the Commissioners of Delaware County, by Nathaniel Wyattand others, praying for a new township, by the name and style of Marl- borough, of the following boundaries : From the east of Range 18, of the United States military surveys, to the west side of Range 19, and from the south line of Township 6 to the Indian bound- ary line. Resolved by the Board of Commission- ers, that the said petition be granted. The same is therefore erected into a separate and distinct town- ship, by the name and style of Marlborough, and bounded as follows : Beginning at the southeast corner of Township 6 and Range 18, of United States military surveys, then north on the east line of Range 18 to the Indian boundary line, thence westerly, with said Indian boundary line, to the west line of Range 19, thence south with the said west line of Range 19 to the south line of Town- ship 6, thence east with the south line of Township 6, till it intersects the east line of Range 18 to the place of beginning." Although the proposed township was to cover a large area, it was some time before the requisite number of names could be obtained as required by law. A man by the name of Morgan, who had been working around and whose home was nowhere because it was every- where, was the one called upon to save the town-

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 87

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