USA > Ohio > Franklin County > History of Franklin County [Ohio]: > Part 19
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HISTORY OF
1818, when a frame building, or rather three frames connected, and forming but one inside or large room, was erected on the west side of Front street, south of Town, where Mr. Hoge administered to his congregation until the erection of the present First Presbyterian Church, in 1830, and the first services were held in it on the first Sunday in December, 1830. In 1855, this building underwent a general remodeling, under the direction of Mr. R. A. Sheldon, architect.
On the 8th of February, 1856, the church held a semi-centennial celebration in the church building, in honor to their venerable and highly respected pastor - at which Dr. Hoge himself was the interesting and im- posing character most observed. He delivered the ad- dress on the occasion. It was an interesting recital of the circumstances attending his advent into this then wilderness, and the progress of the church and society generally, since that period. The Rev. Mr. Hall and Rev. Mr. Smith, both of the Presbyterian Church, also spoke on the occasion. Under the direction of Joseph Sullivant, Esq., whose familiarity with the church made it an easy and pleasant duty, a number of well executed pictures were hung around the room, at once disclosing a striking and graphic history of the church improve- ments above referred to. The pillars were decorated with festoons of evergreens and flowers. And the ta-
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bles were admirably arranged, under the direction of Mrs. Kelsey; and the supper was worthy of the occa- sion. The whole thing passed off well, and was a sol- emn but pleasant celebration.
During the last eight or ten years of Dr. Hoge's ministration, he was assisted by various clergymen of his denomination, until on Sunday the 28th of June, 1857, he delivered an appropriate discourse, and resigned the charge to the Reverend Edgar Woods, late of Wheeling, who was duly installed on Tuesday, the 30th of the same month.
Dr. Hoge is now in the 78th year of his age, enjoy- ing good health and preaching occasionally. He bears his age remarkably well, his hair being but slightly changed, and the movements of his tall and erect figure would indicate a man of fifty or sixty.
PRESENT ORGANIZATION.
Pastor-Rev. Edgar Woods.
Elders-James Cherry, Isaac Dalton, Thomas Moodie, James S. Abbott, Wm. M. Awl, Alfred Thomas.
Trustees-Robert Neil, M. L. Sullivant, D. W. Desh- ler, James D. Osborn, George M. Parsons.
Number of members in 1857, one hundred and seventy-five.
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HISTORY OF
THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH was organized on the first Sabbath in March, 1839. The organization at first consisted of thirty-one persons, most of whom were from the first or old Presbyterian Church. For some short time prior to the regular formation of the church, those connected with it had held their public meetings for worship in a room, prepared for that purpose, near the corner of Rich and High streets. The church was incorporated by an act of the Legislature in April, 1839, and measures were soon taken toward securing a site and erecting a house of worship.
Early in the following year, the congregation met for worship in the basement of the present edifice, and during the subsequent fall the entire structure was com- pleted. From the time of their organization till the October ensuing, the congregation had the services of the Rev. Mr. Topliff, and afterward, till May, 1840, those of Rev. George L. Boardman. During that month, the Rev. Henry L. Hitchcock, D. D., having previously received a unanimous call from the church, began his ministration among them ; and on the 24th of Novem- ber, 1841, he was regularly installed as their pastor, and continued to sustain that relation until the first of August, 1855, when he was transferred to the Presi- dency of the Western Reserve College.
Early in the following September, a unanimous call
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was tendered to the Rev. Edward D. Morris, then of Au- burn, New York, who, having accepted the invitation, began his ministerial labors on the first Sabbath of December ensuing, and was duly installed as pastor on the 2d of January, 1856.
A few years since the society had occasion to enlarge the present building to accommodate the increasing congregation, and now (1858) a larger and more elegant edifice is being erected on Third, between Town and State streets.
PRESENT ORGANIZATION.
Pastor-Rev. Edward D. Morris.
Elders-H. B. Carrington, Asa D. Lord, Chauncey N. Olds, John J. Ferson, Ebenezer McDonald, John H. Stage.
Trustees-D. T. Woodbury, A. P. Stone, Ermine Case, Jonas McCune, Collins Stone.
Treasurer-John M. Ferson.
Number of members in 1857, two hundred and forty- five.
WESTMINSTER CHURCH .- This church was organized on the 1st of June, 1854, and consisted at that time of thirty members, who had been dismissed from the First Presbyterian Church. For three years and a half
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HISTORY OF
the congregation worshiped in the lecture room of Starling Medical College. In 1856 and 1857, they erected their church edifice at the corner of Sixth and State streets, at a cost of about $15,000. It was dedi- cated on the 23d of August, 1857. The number of members at present (April, 1858,) is one hundred and sixteen. Rev. J. D. Smith has been pastor from the first, having been called to the charge of it from the First Church, where he had been for several years colle- giate pastor with Rev. Dr. Hoge.
PRESENT ORGANIZATION.
Pastor-Rev. J. D. Smith. Elders-Wm. Blynn, Dr. R. N. Barr, J. R. Paul.
WELCH PRESBYTERIANS .- Organized in 1837. Their house of worship is a small frame building on Town street, east of Fifth. For the first ten or twelve years they had no regular pastor. . The Rev. Mr. Price, Rev. John Harris, and occasionally some others, preached for the congregation, until about the year 1849, when the Rev. Mr. Powel, of Delaware, became the regular in- stalled pastor. He continued until 1857, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Jones, present pastor.
Number of members in 1857, thirty-five.
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THE ASSOCIATE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI Was organized 19th of December, 1850, with thirteen mem- bers.
Elders-Thomas Kennedy, Hugh Price.
Trustees-Dr. John Morrison, Neil Mclaughlin, John Stothart.
No pastor has been installed in the church ; but preaching has been furnished by various ministers. Rev. L. H. Long was stationed as a regular supply from June, 1852, to June, 1854. Rev. G. W. Gowdy was appointed as a regular supply April, 1856, to continue until May, 1858.
PRESENT ORGANIZATION.
Pastor-G. W. Gowdy.
Elders-Thomas Kennedy, Hugh Price.
Trustees-Zaccheus W. McConnell, John Stothart, Neely Sawhill.
The society have a good frame building at the cor- ner of Sixth and Town streets, erected in 1852.
Number of members in 1857, thirty-six.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL .- The First Congregational Church of the City of Columbus was organized on the 29th of September, 1852, under the name of the Third Presbyterian Church. It was composed of forty-two
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HISTORY OF
members, dismissed at their own request from the Sec- ond Presbyterian Church. It adopted rules of govern- ment substantially Congregational, and its membership, with perhaps two or three exceptions, were all such. The legal organization of the society was effected the day previous. A neat frame building had been erected on Third street, a short distance north of Broad, and was dedicated July 11th, of the same year. Rev. W. HI. Marble was chosen pastor early in the following winter, and resigned his office in January, 1856. Rev. Anson Smyth, with great acceptance, acted as pastor during the eight months preceding Nov. 1st, 1856.
On the 3d of November, 1856, the name of the church, by unanimous consent and wish, was changed to that of First Congregational Church of Columbus. Rev. John M. Steele, having been unanimously called to become its pastor, was installed on the 7th of November, 1856. Mr. Steele died in New York City in April fol- lowing, much regretted by the Church and all who had made his acquaintance. In the summer and fall of 1857, the society erected their present brick church on Broad street, and it was dedicated on "Forefather's Day," December 22, 1857. Rev. N. A. Hyde accepted a call from the church, and is at present (Jan. 1858,) laboring with them as pastor.
There are now one hundred and forty-two members.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
Minister-N. A. Hyde.
Deacons-Dr. J. W. Hamilton, L. L. Rice, M. B. Bateham, Mr. Corner.
Trustees-F. C. Sessions, R. J. Patterson, T. S. Bald- win.
Treasurer-Pearl Kimball.
Clerk-M. P. Ford.
EPISCOPAL.
TRINITY CHURCH was organized in 1817, by Bishop Philander Chase.
The first Board of Church Officers were -
Wardens-Orris Parish, Benjamin Gardiner.
Vestry-John Kilbourne, Joel Buttles.
Secretary-Joel Buttles.
For a number of years the newly created church had no regular pastor nor church building. Bishop Chase, while residing at Worthington, occasionally preached for them, and for some time previous to the erection of the stone church on Broad street, which was about the year 1832 or 1833, the meetings were held in a one-story frame building on Third street, between Town and Rich.
In 1842, the church divided, and part formed into a new organization under the name of Saint Paul's Epis- copal, and erected a good brick church edifice at the
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HISTORY OF
corner of Third and Mound streets. The first regu- larly settled pastor in the Trinity Church was in 1831.
SUCCESSIVE PASTORS.
Rev. Wm. Preston, commenced 1831, retired 1841.
Charles Fox,
1841, 66
1842.
A. F. Dobb, 66 1842,
1846.
Dudley A. Tyng,
1847,
1850.
Wm. Preston, 66 1850,
1854.
66 Charles Reynolds, 1855.
Number of members in 1857, one hundred and fifty- eight.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
Pastor-Rev. Charles Reynolds.
Wardens-A. H. Pinney,# H. P. Smythe.
Vestry-J. R. Swan, J. W. Andrews, Wm. Dennison, jr., Thos. Sparrow, James A. Wilcox. Secretary-H. P. Smythe.
SAINT PAUL'S EPISCOPAL .- This church was organized in 1842, and soon after they erected the brick edifice at the corner of Third and Mound streets. The church was composed principally of members who withdrew from Trinity Church and formed a new organization under the name of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church.
Number of members in 1857, forty-five.
* Mr. Pinney died in Oct. 1857, after this list of officers was made.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Their successive pastors have been, Rev. Henry L. Richards, Rev. A. M. Loutrell, Rev. William C. French, Rev. Thomas P. Tyler, Rev. Mr. Kellogg, Rev. N. Irish, Rev. James A. M. La Tourrette, Rev. James L. Grover, March, 1858.
UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF COLUMBUS.
Universalist preaching was first introduced into Cc- lumbus about the year 1837. Rev. A. A. Davis, of Delaware County, was the first regular preacher of that denomination who ministered to the people of this place. He held his meetings in the United States Court House, and continued from one to two years, occasionally assisted by other of his brethren of the same denomina- tion. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Saddler, who continued also some one or two years, and held his meetings in the same place.
There was then an interim of some one or two years without any regular preacher, when the Rev. Mr. Abel was employed to minister to the society, and he continued only half a year, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Anderson, who continued about the same length of time, and was succeeded by Rev. George Rogers a short time. During this time the meetings were held in a rented room in Mr. Buttles's building at the corner of High and Rich streets.
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HISTORY OF
Up to this time there was no regularly organized society. In March, 1845, the society organized under " An act to incorporate sundry churches therein named," by the name of the "Universalist Society of Columbus," and appointed John Greenwood, John Field, James W. Osgood, Demas Adams, and William Bam- brough, the first Board of Trustees. They first ob- tained the services of Rev. Mr. Eaton a few months; and then Rev. Nelson Doolittle, of Akron, Ohio, was employed as pastor of the society. His term com- menced in October, 1845. The society had then pur- chased from the German Saint Paul's Church their lot and old frame church on Third street, which served for a time, until in 1846, it was removed, and the present church building erected on the same site.
In the fall of 1851, Mr. Doolittle resigned his charge, and the society passed complimentary resolutions, stat- ing that, "he had for six years served them ably and faithfully," and recommending him " to the kind regard of the brethren among whom he might thereafter reside."
In the spring of 1852, the services of the Rev. N. M. Gaylord, then of Lowell, Massachusetts, were secured, and he removed to Columbus, took the pastoral charge of the congregation, and continued till the fall of 1854, when, having received a call from Boston, he removed back thither. During part of the year of 1855, the
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Rev. M. Gifford, and then the Rev. Mr. Upson were en- gaged temporarily, as pastors ; and during the winter of 1855 and '56, the Rev. Mr. Haws, in like manner, offi- ciated. Since the fall of 1856, the Rev. H. R. Nye, formerly of Brooklyn, New York, has very ably filled the office of pastor. At the organization of the society in 1845, they numbered thirty-eight members; their number now, in April, 1858, is about ninety.
PRESENT ORGANIZATION.
Pastor-Rev. H. R. Nye.
Trustees-John Noble, John Field, F. C. Kelton, H. H. Kimball, J. H. Riley.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The first Baptist Church in Columbus was organized in 1825- Rev. George Jeffries, Pastor. Their first church building was erected about the year 1830, on the east side of Front street, between Friend and Mound. It was a plain, one-story brick building, which was after- ward used by Dr. Curtis for his Medical College, and was then converted into a dwelling house, and is still standing, and used as such. About the year 1834, the Rev. Mr. Cressey came from the east to this place as a missionary, and was soon engaged as the regular pastor of the Baptist Church of Columbus. During his time,
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HISTORY OF
in 1836, the present church building, at the corner of Rich and Third streets, was erected. He left about the year 1842, and was succeeded by Rev. Daniel El- dridge, who continued some three or four years, when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Cheney, who continued until he gave place to the Rev. Henry Davis, who enter- ed upon his pastoral duties in February, 1853.
Number of members in 1857, three hundred and two.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
Pastor-Rev. Henry Davis, D. D.
Trustees - Orsamus Allen, Wm. W. Mather, Thomas Roberts, Leonard L. Smith, Jeffrey Powell, Nathan Da- vis, Oliver P. Hines.
GERMAN LUTHERAN REFORMED.
Organized in 1821. Their first house of worship was a frame building, on Third street, where the Universalist Church now stands. In 1843 and '44 they erected their large brick edifice at the corner of High and Mound streets. In 1856 it was destroyed by fire; but was soon rebuilt again. This society was for a time known by the name of "Saint Paul's Church."
Their successive Pastors have been -
Rev. Charles Hinkle, commenced 1821.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Rev. Wm. Schmidt, professor, commenced about 1829 -died in 1839.
Rev. Charles F. Schaffer, commenced in 1840.
Rev. Conrad Mees (present pastor), commenced in 1843.
Number of members in 1857, reported at five hun- dred.
THE GERMAN REFORMED
Was organized May 1, 1846, by Rev. Hiram Shall, and soon after erected their brick church building, on Town street, between Fourth and Fifth. The successive pastors have been -
Rev. A. P. Freese, commenced October 1846-retired in 1849.
Rev. George Williard, commenced 1850 - retired in 1855.
Rev. Henry Williard, commenced 1857.
Number of members in 1857, thirty-five.
TRINITY GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.
Organized 28th of January, 1848. They for a time held their meetings in Mechanics' Hall, then in the church on Mound street, near Third. In 1856 and '57, they erected their large church edifice, one hundred and
25
.
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HISTORY OF
five feet in length, by fifty-seven wide, at the corner of Third and South streets-George Kannemacher, builder.
The corner stone was laid July 28, 1856, and the building was dedicated December 20, 1857. The Rev. Wm. F. Lehman was pastor from the beginning.
PRESENT ORGANIZATION.
Pastor-Rev. William F. Lehman.
Elders-William Knoderer, Jacob Anthony. Deacons-F. Voltz, A. Adam, F. Abbe, Wm. Koch. Secretary-Philip Schmeltz. Treasurer-J. Gruebler.
Number of members in 1857, reported at three hun- dred.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL PROTESTANTS.
Organized and erected their church, on Mound street, about the year 1842 or '43.
First pastor, Rev. Mr. Pegeman.
Second " Robert Clemen.
Third, and present, Rev. Mr. Graff.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
This is an organization formed in the early part of the year 1858. Their meetings are held at Mechanics' Hall. Rev. Robert Clemen, Pastor.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
ROMAN CATHOLIC.
HOLY CROSS. - Organized in 1833, and soon after erected a small stone church, on Fifth street, between Rich and Town, which served to hold their religious worship in until the large brick edifice was erected, close by it, in 1845 and '46, when the little stone church was converted into a school house. Rev. Mr. Borgess, priest. Number of members reported in 1857, three thousand.
ST. PATRICK'S. - Organized in 1852, and soon after erected their brick church, in the north-east part of the city.
Early in the fall of 1857, the Rev. Mr. Meagher, who had been their pastor for several years, was, by the Bishop, transferred to Cincinnati, and the place is now filled by Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald, priest.
Number of members reported in 1857, fifteen hun- dred.
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. - Organized in 1857, by Rev. John Barnhard. Place of worship on Third street, near South Public Lane. Number of members in 1857, fourteen.
COLORED BAPTISTS-Sometimes called the Second Baptist Church .- Was organized in 1840, and soon after
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HISTORY, ETC.
they erected a pretty good brick church edifice on Gay street, between Third and Fourth. Their number is now reported at one hundred and three. The office of pas- tor is at present vacant.
ANTI SLAVERY BAPTISTS, (Colored.) - Organized in 1847. They have a brick church on Town street, be- tween Fifth and Sixth, erected some six or seven years since. They report their number of members at one hundred and four. James Poindexter, late pastor -- office now vacant.
ISRAELITES, OR JEWS. - Organized in 1852. Place of worship in Siebert's building. Rev. S. T. Goodman, priest. Number of members, twenty-eight.
Although this Chapter, such as could not be derived from books or records, was obtained from the best sour- ces, generally from the pastors themselves, or their church officers, it is not to be expected that the number of members was in all cases precisely correct; or if it had been, it would not have remained so many days. It should be observed, also, that different churches have different rules, in regard to membership - some count all baptised children as members, while others do not. This may account for the very large numbers reported by the Catholic Churches.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
COLUMBUS CEMETERIES.
North Graveyard - Prohibitory Ordinance of 1856 -Its Repeal, etc. - East Graveyard - Catholic Graveyard - Green Lawn Cemetery - Date of Incorporation - Pic Nic and Dedication, etc.
THERE are four burying grounds that may properly be included under this head. First, the old North Graveyard ; second, the East Graveyard, or burying place ; third, the Catholic burying ground ; and fourth, Green Lawn Cemetery.
THE NORTH GRAVEYARD, adjoining the north line of the city, was the first. One and a half acres of this lot was donated by the proprietors of Columbus on the second of July, 1813, for a " burial ground for the use of the citizens of Columbus," and commenced being used for that purpose soon after, though Mr. Kerr, who was authorized to make the deed of conveyance, did not do it until the 21st of April, 1821. He then conveyed it to "the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Colum- bus and their successors in office,"-to be used solely as
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HISTORY OF
a public burying ground, and for no other purpose, with a proviso, "that if the corporation should cease, or the ground from any cause should cease to be used for that purpose, it should revert to the grantors or their heirs."
In February, 1830, William Doherty and wife con- veyed to the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Columbus about ten acres, partly surrounding the above, and making about eleven and a half acres in all.
This purchase was made expressly for the enlarge- ment of the burying ground, (though not so expressed in the deed,) and was, by the Town Council, laid out into lots for that purpose - pretty uniform in size and shape, and the lots were sold by the town authorities, and a form of receipt and certificate of purchase was adopted and used in lieu of a deed, and signed by the Mayor.
In October, 1845, John Brickell also added a strip of ground, twenty feet in width, along the north side of the above grounds, which he laid out into lots, and con- veyed direct to the purchasers- the corporation having no title to, or control over them.
These three pieces of ground are now all enclosed by a good board fence, embracing near twelve acres, and constitute what is generally called the North Grave- yard. This burying place, with the exception of Brick-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
ell's lots, has always been under the control of the Town or City Council, and they have always appointed one of their own body a kind of special committee man, or superintendent, to keep the plat of the grounds, make sale of the lots, and receive the pay therefor, and- also a sexton to attend to the digging of graves, his compensation being defined by ordinance.
A part of the ground, however, being set off for that purpose, was free for the use of any one without charge. And another part was designated for, and sold to, col- ored persons on the same terms as to whites.
On the 21st of July, 1856, the City Council at- tempted to prohibit burials in this graveyard, making it a penal offense to use the lots for the very purpose that they had themselves sold them. The following is a copy of the ordinance passed on that occasion :
" SEC. 1. Be it ordained and enacted by the City Council of Columbus, That it shall be unlawful to deposit or bury any dead person in any graveyard within the present corporate limits of said city, or in the enclosure commonly known as the North Graveyard.
" SEC. 2. Any person or society of persons violating any provision of this ordinance, shall, on conviction thereof, before the Mayor, be fined the sum of twenty- five dollars and the costs of prosecution.
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HISTORY OF
" SEC. 3. This ordinance to be in force from and after the first day of November, 1856."
This act of the Council created, to say the least of it, a general surprise, and several communications express- ive of that surprise immediately appeared in the newspapers of the city ; and on the 18th of August, in the same year, the ordinance was repealed.
THE EAST GRAVEYARD, situate on the Livingston road, so called, about a mile and a half east of the Court House, contains eleven and a quarter acres, and was conveyed to the City of Columbus by Matthew King and wife, in the year 1839, without specification or restriction as to its uses. It was, however, bought for the express purpose of a burying ground, and part of it was laid out into family lots, and sold and conveyed similar to those in the North Graveyard.
THE CATHOLIC BURYING GROUND, situate in the north- easterly part of the city limits, contains three and a quarter acres, and was, on the 11th of September, 1848, conveyed by Peter Ury and wife, to "John Baptist Purcell, Roman Catholic Bishop, of Cincinnati, Ohio, as such Bishop, as a burial ground, etc., and to his heirs and assigns forever-to be held by said Bishop in trust as a burying ground for the Roman Catholics of Colum-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
bus," though the ground had been used for this purpose some two or three years before the date of this deed.
This location was objectionable to some of the resi- dents and property holders in that vicinity, and in the summer of 1856, they petitioned the City Council to prohibit further interments. The reasons assigned for asking the prohibition were, that the decomposition of the dead affected the water in the neighborhood - and that.the said burying ground was a great objection to the settlement of the neighborhood and the improve- ment of the adjoining lots. This petition doubtless led to the passage of the foregoing prohibitory ordinance, so far as related to this cemetery.
GREEN LAWN CEMETERY .- Although this' cemetery is situated beyond the jurisdiction, and entirely independ- ent of the city authorities of Columbus, yet as the cor- porators and principal part of the stockholders reside in Columbus, it is proper to class it amongst, and indeed as the principal one of the Columbus cemeteries. It is situate in Franklin Township, about two and a half miles westward from Columbus.
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