History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio, Part 46

Author: Williams Brothers
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 443

USA > Ohio > Lake County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 46
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 46

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The records of that early church are meagre. The minutes of the preliminary meeting, the articles of faith, and the church covenant, are yet extant in the bold, round handwriting of Willard S. Fuller. But after saying, " We, whose names are hereafter subscribed," the names are omitted. The minutes of succeeding meetings are kept, however, with the names of recruits to the church from time to time; and on January 1, 1824, the clerk corrects the omission by gathering up the names of all members up to that time, nearly all of whom the records show to have united with the church after its organization.

The charter-members of that first Baptist church were evidently few. Among them prominently figure the names of Azariah Hanks, Benjamin King, Benja- min Rider, and their families ; perhaps, also, John King and Rufus Rider. For ten years the church was prosperous, gathering to its fold many of the influential families of the township, and reaching an aggregate membership of nearly one hundred-a large number for those years of sparse population.

During these years, however, a new element had been working its way into the Baptist church, causing much discussion, and gradually drifting it away from the old landmarks, the purport of which is seen in the following resolution, which came up for final passage at the church meeting on the 29th of March, 1829 : " Resolved, That we will reject all articles, creeds, and confessions of faith, and take the Holy Scriptures alone, believing that they are sufficient for the guidance and government of the church of Christ."

Having been received into fellowship as a Baptist church on their articles of covenant and confession of faith, when these were rejected by the passage of the

. From an historio address by W. I. Hayden.

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HISTORY OF GEAGUA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.

above resolution, they ceased to be a Baptist church, and, very properly, fellow- ship was withdrawn from the church, as I understand, by the association to which it belonged, and for more than two years there was no Baptist church in Chardon.

On the 18th of June, 1831, nine persons whose names are recorded, and who did not approve the resolution above, met, in their own language, " to establish a Baptist church," and proceeded to draft new articles and a new covenant. On October 5, 1831, the council of delegates, called for the purpose, met at the academy, in Chardon, and recognized the following members as "The First Baptist church in Chardon": Isaiah Rider, Sarah Rider (2d), Benjamin Rider, Sarah Rider (1st), Amasa C. Manley, Esther Manley, Rebecca Manley, Lucy Rider, Anson Dwight, Eliza Dwight, Rebecca Cook, Ann Cook, Simon Gager, Wm. Ober, Fanny Ober, and Betsy Vaughn.

These met from time to time to renew covenant, and to attend to the ordi- nances, wherever they could,-in the academy, in the Methodist Episcopal church,-or in private houses, enjoying the ministrations of Elders Rider, Stephen- son, Carr and others, occasionally, and increasing in numbers and strength.

On September 3, 1836, Sherman Manley, Benjamin Cook, Jesse Vaughn, and Philo Stoddard were appointed a committee to build a meeting-house. That committee seemed to have labored somewhat diligently, for there are reports from time to time; but so great were the difficulties in the way that it was July 11, 1840, when, in the language of the record, " the church met for the first time within the walls of her new chapel."

The light of that society has never gone out, though at times it may have burned dim. It has quietly kept to its work, always embracing some of the most influential citizens of the town, and to-day, though small in numbers,- only forty-two members,-it is one of the fountains of religious strength in Chardon.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The first organization of a Congregational church in Chardon was made on the 15th of February, 1834. The clergymen officiating were Revs. Dexter Witter and Myron Tracy. The following-named persons appearing were constituted said church : Sherman B. Canfield, William Young and wife, Austin Canfield and first wife, S. N. Hoyt and wife, Amanda Canfield, Susannah Shattuck, Ann A. Benton, Ralph Cowles and wife, Cornelia Ward, Lucy S. Newell, and J. O. Worrallo. Rev. Mr. Witter ministered to this church the summer next following its organization,-one sermon on the afternoon of each fourth Sabbath. His successor, Rev. Mr. Olds, was engaged for one year ; at the expiration of which, Rev. Mr. Swift ministered to it two years the whole time, and three years one-half the time, and closed his engagement the first of May, 1843. During the first twelve years the several accessions to this church were in all forty persons. For the balance of the twenty-one years its waning was manifest. On the 14th of April, 1855, a reorganization of this church was effected by Revs. Mr. Witter and Mr. Bushnell, beginning this time with a membership of twenty-four, six of whom were from the first organization. This new effort for a while promised well, and the church grew from twenty-four to forty members in the course of some ten or twelve years. At length, not having a house of worship, it became dis- pirited and the number of its members greatly reduced by removals and deaths, till at last it had but a nomimal life.

The next organization is the present one, made by the Plymouth Rock Con- ference, on the 24th of February, 1875, with a membership of nineteen.

The present elegant brick church-edifice was begun in the spring of 1875, and dedicated July 20, 1876, by the Rev. Dr. Walcott, of Cleveland. The cost of church and real estate, twelve thousand dollars ; furniture, organ, etc., eight hun- dred dollars ; membership, June, 1878, forty-two; Sabbath-school of one hundred scholars ; average attendance, sixty. Messrs. Carroll and Bodman, superintendents.

THE DISCIPLES' CHURCH.

A history of this church in Chardon is a history of a great religious movement on the Reserve, mainly led by Alexander Campbell, and had its origin in the Bap- tist church. The denizens of old States, broken into individuals and transplanted into an unoccupied new territory, not held under the charm of an effete civiliza- tion of an annihilated or departed race, become essentially a new people. A civ- ilized man in the woods easily reverts to barbarism or savagery. His primitive surroundings powerfully draw him towards nature. A colony planted as were the pioneers of the Reserve in some sense came to be a primitive people. Living near, in the arms, on the bosom of nature, they felt a fresh stimulus of the re- ligious elements and instincts. In the new freedom, old faiths and traditions become shams, meaning nothing ; are hindrances and torments. Man, stripped to his naked soul, seems to stand in the immediate Presence in the forests as never in man's temples in the cities. Nothing stands between him and God. The earnest, democratic Baptist, with the American traditions of his faith, in the

western woods, was peculiarly alive to these influences, and he found new readings of the teachings of the apostles and their Master.

The earlier years of the century saw a quickening of the religious sensibilities in the West, not limited to any sect, and these causes, together, in the lead of men of strong, deep, fervid natures, of souls of the heroic stamp, like Mr. Camp- bell and the men of his leading, resulted in the rapid spread of the new, or restored, views and writings of the old Christian masters. These men, from the prominence of their spokesman, who had many of the qualities of a leader, were at first known by his name, but finally adopted the English word representing the cognomen of the first followers of the Galilean Teacher.

Holding with the Baptists as to the form of baptism, differing with all ortho- dox sects mainly in the object and efficacy of the rite, and in rejecting all evidence and forms of faith and church government, save as found in the later Scriptures, which they boldly studied and construed for themselves, with little respect for old glosses, full of the new wine, zealous and fearless,-like all young sects, they became aggressive, while their intrepid leader became the most famous and skillful of all the able controversialists of his day. He did battle-royal with Robert Owen, that soft, pure-hearted, misguided philanthropist. He defended evangel- ical Christianity against the church of Rome, championed by Archbishop Purcell. He laid lance in rest and tilted with O. A. Skinner, the renowned Universalist. He furnished weapons for all the new disciples, who, truth to say, were no way averse under his example to use them. Militant were they. Mr. Campbell visited Chardon at the Baptist ministers' meeting in 1824. He produced a profound awakening. His Christian Baptist was an efficient advocate.

Such church organization as the New Testament in their hands warranted grew up in Chardon soon after this visit. King street was the locality more immediately influenced, and the Kings, their kin, and neighbors, were the first to confess the new or old faith. Lucius Smith, John Collins, Zadoc and George King, and many others who became steady life-believers. The high character of these men, and of others, their influence and zeal, gave their church at once a firm footing in Chardon.

In 1836 a church edifice was erected on King street. Later, in 1846, a tasteful building was erected just south of Chardon square, completed in 1876. The church now numbers one hundred and twenty, under the care of Elder D. R. King and of C. B. Spencer. Among the conspicuous fruits of this early move- ment should be mentioned Elder Wm. Collins, a son of John Collins. He was born in Enfield, Connecticut, 1799, removed with his father to Chardon in 1816, was baptized in March, 1822. He prepared for the ministry under the urgent persuasions of Elder Rufus Rider, seems to have graduated at the Baptist theological school at Hamilton, was licensed by them in November, 1822, and returned to be caught up in the new movement, " was duly set apart by ordina- tion to the ministry of the word," which St. John says was God, October 26, 1826. For thirty-four years he proclaimed it, was a strong persuasive speaker, loved by his fellow-disciples, respected and esteemed by all others. He died some years ago. Much of this time he was connected with the Chardon church.

In 1853, J. W. Errett labored in the church three years, followed by James Encill, and he by R. Chapman, who died there, was succeeded by Orange Hig- gins, J. W. Ingram, W. S. Hayden, and R. S. Groves. Elder King, now in charge (1878), is highly spoken of. The deacons are L. G. King and A. B. Canfield; clerk, Seth H. Sawyer.

THE UNIVERSALISTS.

It has been the fortune of this branch of the general Christian family to be depressed by its seeming friends. Those too sinful or slothful to become orthodox have sought shelter and fancied safety in the structure of this faith. Not carefully shingled with dogma nor any too well fenced with tests of moral conduct, not a few profess the faith who will hardly find salvation within its scope should it prove true, while the belligerent atheist and deist are always seeking to build them up as a counter-irritant to orthodoxy, and the Universalists are thus handi- capped with the weight of all. It must be remembered, too, that they lack one of the inspirations of their orthodox brethren,-that of fear. Men who do not believe in Kidd's money seldom organize to find it. Those who do not believe in hell will not combine or labor greatly to avoid it, whatever else they may do.

At an early day there was a Universalist church society in Chardon, at what time formed or by whom I am not advised. David T. Bruce, and, later, Joseph Cowles, were stanch members, while Captain Paine, an admitted infidel, gave it uid, comfort, and reproach. Mr. St. Clair, an uncultivated man of ability, was an early preacher there, as was Mr. Rains, a man of some culture. Both were caught up in Mr. Campbell's movement, duly washed, and preached that faith, us was Rev. E. Williams. Dr. Bradley, and then young Tracy, preached there. The last followed in the order of the elders. Rev. Mr. Doolittle occasionally preached to them, a man of education, also Mr. Hoag. It is a religion of cul-

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LITH . BY L. M. EVENTS, PHILADELPHIA

RESIDENCE OF J. O. CONVERSE, CHARDON, GEAUGA CO., 0.

L. M. MOFFETT, ARCH! GLOIN & MOFFETT, BUILDERS.

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THE OLD HOUSE.

"The last of the old house, so long our home, recently disappeared, and only the memory of what it was remains to us. The oldest inhabitant can scarcely remem- ber when it was not a familiar object. The place of our birth and the scene of our life's purest and sweetest experiences, -the untiring solicitude and unselfish love of father and mother, ending only with life, and that joyous commingling of kindred spirits which makes even the humblest home an earthly paradise,-we

Sidney Converse

Rede banause

had learned to regard it with feelings akin to affection and reverence. With sadness we saw its walls laid low, for they were endeared by many cherished associations and fond re- membrances of loved ones, seeming, as our mind recalls them, a myriad throng who once gladdened it with their presence, but who are gone to return no more. The dear old songs they used to sing linger in memory like sweet echoes from the other shore, though their voices are stilled forever. Plain and inelegant

as the old house was, no other could ever be half so dear. But, since the forms and faces that alone endear them must vanish, why cling to walls of wood and stone, which time will also at last efface? Rather should we, with a tender tear for the past, cheerfully meet present duties and gratefully accept present blessings, while patiently awaiting the promised glad meeting after a little in our Heavenly Father's house of many mansions."-Geauga Republican, De- cember 20, 1876.

"OLD HOMESTEAD - CONVERSE FAMILY.

Julius Olconverse

Julia PConverse. LITH. BY L. R. EVERTS, PHILA,PA

Mary 8. Converse

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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.

ture rather than of propagation. Later came S. P. Carlton, a man of ability, and others. Old Father Doloff probably preached there, of limited education, a man long-headed, gentle, and often sweet, with brains enough to fit a theological semi- nary and furnish forth a score of revival preachers. The society never can be said to have flourished, nor is it of consequence when it ceased.

EDUCATIONAL.

Mr. Canfield says that the first school ever taught in Chardon was in the sum- mer of 1815, in the little building for the commissioners' office, by Miss Mehit- able Hall, a sister of Reuben Hall, and afterward Mrs. Orrin Spencer, and the mother of H. N. Spencer. The first winter school was by Levi Edson, a person of academical education, an amiable, excellent, indolent man, said to be a good teacher. At an early day an academical school had an existence in Chardon, where there was early developed an appreciative spirit on the subject of edu- cation. Dr. O. W. Ludlow, a student of Dr. Denton, was an instructor of it as early as 1824 or 1825. He boarded at Aaron Canfield's tavern, on the east side of the square, and used to sound a bugle in the morning as a signal for the pupils to assemble.

*In 1826 a brick building was erected near where T. H. Eaton's store now stands. This was known as the Brick Academy. In the upper room was taught a select school or academy ; the two lower rooms were used by the district. This building was used for school-purposes until about 1840 (?). The following are among the persons who taught in the academical department of this school : Dr. Asa B. Metcalf, Dr. O. W. Ludlow, Mr. Kirtland, Sherman B. Canfield, Mr. Rust, J. O. Worrallo, and others. In the district department Mr. Harris, John Treat, J. O. Worrallo, and others were teachers.

After this brick academy was sold to John King, Abel Wilder taught a select school in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal church, when the district school was transferred, about 1843, into a two-story building, erected on land then owned by Ralph Cowles, just south of the present residence of William Munsell. From this time the select and public schools were kept separate. The former was conducted in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal church by T. W. Haney, who succeeded A. Wilder. In a short time a company was organized, who purchased the Frank Paine store-building, standing just east of A. P. Til- den's present residence. This was converted into a school-building, and a school, known as the Geauga high school, was taught there, first by T. W. Harvey, from 1845 till 1848. Mr. Harvey was succeeded by Professor Holbrook, F. S. Thomas, and R. E. Denton. Job Fish and L. W. Canfield were also instructors in this build- ing. This was about the last attempt to support a high school or academy separate from the public schools in Chardon. Meanwhile, the district schools, consisting of three departments, were conducted in the building on the Cowles lot. The following is a partial list of the teachers who taught there during the twelve years the school was continued in that place : Doctor Moore, W. N. Keeney, D. W. Canfield, B. F. Curtiss, Isaac Griffin, Mr. Thompson, Miss Nancy and Miss Lucy Merrill, Miss Gotham, Miss Amerrilla Collins, Miss Bail.

About the year 1855 the school-board purchased the building situated in front of the present school-building, and known as the Cyrus Canfield Hotel. School was continued in this building until the April of 1873, when it was transferred to the present building. During the time school was kept in the old Canfield Hotel, the number of departments was increased to five. The following persons were among the teachers employed in this building as superintendents or teachers in high school : Messrs. Barber, Bulkley, Stone, Pulsipher, Professor Norton, Doctor McBride, Mr. Edson, T. S. Gurney, William Strong, Doctor Nichols, James A. Wood, George F. Waters, W. S. Hayden, H. N. Stephenson, and Mr. Beardsley, each taught one term with pupils selected from the high and grammar departments. C. W. Carroll taught one year in the latter department. Among the lady teachers in this building we find Julia Warner, Emma Miller, Mary Bidwell, Mrs. Florence Wells, Hettie Wells, Tiffany, Bundy, Sweat, Collins, Julia Dickinson, Murray, Cleveland, Louisa Shaw, Mrs. Cook, Rhoda Thompson, Hes- sie Rogers, Alice J. Fowler, Minnie A. Taylor, Addie Davis, Kate Smith, Sara Bartlett, and Miss Russell.

May 4, 1872, the board of education, consisting of E. V. Canfield, J. E. Stephenson, and Philo Pease, let the contract for erecting the present building to Couley & Gloin for twenty-two thousand three hundred dollars,-the building to contain five school-rooms, one recitation-room, one chapel, cloak-rooms, etc., two stories high, and to be in size sixty-four feet by seventy-eight feet. To provide for the payment of this amount, the board issued two series of bonds at eight per cent., payable September 1, 1876, and September 1, 1881.

June 25, 1878, the board of education authorized the issuing of seventeen thousand dollars in bonds, in denominations of one hundred, two hundred, and

five hundred dollars, bearing interest at six per cent., payable semi-annually ; bonds payable September 1, 1877; the proceeds arising from the sale of these bonds to be applied to redeeming second series, issued in 1872.

In the spring of 1873 the present building was completed, and the schools were opened there. From that time until the fall of 1875, W. S. Hayden was super- intendent. He was succeeded by Alvin Smith, who held that position three years. Miss E. Metta Rogers has been assistant in high school for some years, since the schools have been in the present building. The grammar department has been taught by C. W. Carroll, Miss Arvilla Goodel, C. R. Hollis, H. N. Stephenson, Miss Kate Smith, Miss Fannie M. Bard, Frank Howard, and Mrs. Anna T. Treat. The intermediate by Miss Minnie Taylor, Miss Kate Smith, and Mrs. Bennett. The secondary by Miss Kate Smith, Miss Laura M. Stephen- son, Miss Mattie Parker, Mrs. Adaline Benton, Mrs. Louie V. Smith, Mrs. Rose Burnett, and Miss Mary Pomeroy. The primary by Miss Alice J. Fowler, Miss Sarah N. Wright, Miss Laura J. Burdett.

The school-building is now furnished with suitable philosophical and chemical apparatus, is well seated, and continues to present numerous advantages to stu- dents from without the district.

The teachers for the school year of 1878-79 are C. W. Carroll, superintendent and principal of high school ; Miss E. Metta Rogers, assistant in high school ; Mrs. Anna T. Treat, teacher of grammar department ; Miss Emma Stuart, teacher of intermediate department ; Miss Mary E. Pomeroy, teacher of secondary depart- ment; Miss Laura J. Burdett, teacher of primary department.

SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.

Chardon Chapter, No. 106, R. A. M., was instituted October 17, 1868. The following were the charter members : Companions, Harlo N. Spencer, Isaac N. Hathaway, Henry K. Smith, Royal P. Munsell, Perley Fuller, Joseph T. Sherman, Tracy W. Scott, Hercules G. Carroll, Luther P. Scott, Rufus H. Tucker, Henry S. Wood, Henry Bartlett, and Byron W. Canfield. The first officers were : H. N. Spencer, H. P .; I. N. Hathaway, K. ; H. K. Smith, Scribe; H. S. Wood, C. of H .; R. H. Tucker, P. S .; T. W. Scott, R. A. C .; H. Bart- lett, G. M. 3d V .; P. Fuller, G. M. 2d V .; J. F. Sherman, G. M. 1st V .; R. P. Munsell, Treas. ; B. W. Canfield, Sec. ; L. P. Scott, Guard. Stated convoca- tions, first and third Tuesdays of each month. Total present membership, seventy. The officers for 1878 are : A. W. Benton, H. P .; I. N. Hathaway, K .; Henry Bartlett, Scribe; C. W. Osborne, C. of H .; M. L. Maynard, P. S .; S. E. Bod- man, R. A. C .; J. A. Wood, G. M. 3d V .; L. V. Carpenter, G. M. 2d V .; S. L. Griffith, G. M. 1st V .; T. C. Smith, Treas .; L. C. Cowles, Sec .; L. M. Moffit, Guard; and J. C. Hollis, organist.

Chardon Lodge, No. 93, F. and A. M .- The first lodge of this society was established on the 16th of January, 1828, with the following charter members : Edward Paine, Jr., C. L. Ferris, Thomas R. Wheeler, D. St. Clair, J. D. T. Bruce, Chandler Pease, S. V. R. Laraway, Asa Foote, Orrin Spencer, Merrick Pease, and Roderick White. This charter was granted by Thomas Corwin, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. The first officers were Edward Paine, Jr., W. M .; Reuben Brown, S. W .; David T. Bruce, J. W. The first meetings of this lodge were held in the chamber of the residence of David T. Bruce, on Water street, then in one of the jury-rooms at the court-house, and afterwards in the hotel of Cyrus Canfield (the old main school-building, now occupied by Witler & Son for a planing-mill).

The charter of the present lodge bears date October 18, 1842, and gives the names of constituent members as follows : Manning Shumway, William Fox, B. F. Avery, H. M. Merrell, R. White, Chester Moffatt, John Willey, Hiram Wes- cott, Samuel Ford, Edward Paine, Jr., Orrin Spencer, E. P. Norton, Watrous Mentor, Jeremiah Johnson, S. V. R. Laraway, David T. Bruce, and others. Of- ficers on organization : Henry M. Merrell, W. M .; B. F. Avoy, S. W .; R. White, J. W .; Orrin Spencer, Treas. ; David T. Bruce, Sec .; Watrons Mentor, S. D .; Manning Shumway, J. D .; John Wiley and E. P. Norton, Stewards. When the extensive conflagration prevailed in Chardon in July, 1868 (further notice of which is given elsewhere), the lodge-room was destroyed, and nearly all its contents. This entailed a heavy loss, from which the society has never fully recovered. They however rebuilt, and have now an elegant hall; are in a pros- perous and harmonious condition. Present membership, ninety-three. Stated communications, second and fourth Saturday evening of each month. Officers for 1878: L. M. Moffett, W. M .; C. W. Osborne, S. W .; L. V. Carpenter, J. W .; Alonzo Pease, Treas. ; S. L. Griffith, Sec. ; M. L. Maynard, S. D .; F. S. Morris, J. D .; Henry Bartlett, Chaplain ; J. A. Wood and George F. Center, Stewards; O. O. King, Tyler ; and J. C. Hollis, organist.

Chardon Lodge, No. 213, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 5, 1853, with James L. Comstock, L. A. Hamilton, A. L. Rogers, Daniel Warner, Jr., and Lucius E. Durfee as charter members. The first officers were A. L. Rogers,

* By C. W. Carrol, Esq.

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N. G .; L. A. Hamilton, V. G ; L. E. Durfee, Sec .; Daniel Warner, Jr., Treas. ; A. H. Gotham, C .; S. McGonigal, W .; Eli Bruce, I. G. ; J. S. Wright, R. S. S .; A. Cook, L. S. S. Present membership, sixty. Regular meetings, Monday even- ing of each week, in Odd-Fellows' Hall, second story of No. 9, Union block. The officers for 1878 are H. Bickle, N. G. ; A. H. Chamberlain, V. G .; Z. S. War- ren, W .; W. L. Canfield, C .; I. W. Canfield, R. S .; L. D. Pease, P. S .; O. O. King, R. S. to N. G .; E. A. Johnson, L. S. to N. G .; A. Pard, I. G .; C. A. Sanger, R. S. S .; M. H. Hamlin, L. S. S.

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History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio, Part 46

Author: Williams Brothers Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 443

Author: Williams Brothers
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 443