USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio > Part 43
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Ruling Elders .- The ruling elders residing within the limits of the two congregations, and constituted by act of presbytery, Octo- ber 21, 1811, at the first session, were William Turnbull, John Tor- rence, James Bain, and Hugh Hamill.
Trustees .- William MeClellan, James Galloway, Jr., and James Winter, appointed March 26, 1814.
Pastors .- As many will feel an interest in knowing, not only those who became actual pastors, but also those who were called but declined accepting, we will give both classes.
Rev. William Hume, brother-in-law of Rev. R. Armstrong, and at that time pastor of the associate congregation of Nashville, Ten- nessee. The call on him was moderated in 1811, or early in 1812. On October 13, 1812, Mr. Hume, having referred the disposal of this call to the presbytery, that court, after much deliberation and with great hesitancy, decided against transfering.
The call on Mr. Francis Pringle was moderated by appointment of Chartiers Presbytery, most probably in 1813. Sustained by that presbytery, April 13, 1814, accepted July 19, 1814. Mr. Pringle was ordained by that presbytery, at Mt. Pleasant, Washington County, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1814, and, in pursuance of the appointment of that presbytery, installed by Rev. Robert Arm- strong, on the second Wednesday of January, 1815. From this
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pastoral relation he was released by death, on March 15, 1818. The minutes of session give neither the names nor number of those received into membership during Mr. Pringle's pastorate. The uniform oral testimony, however, was that the congregations greatly prospered under his ministry. He was greatly beloved by his people. They regarded him as an able minister, and yet not so eminent for his talents as for his piety and faithfulness. In 1817, in consequence of failing health, he went to North Carolina, to visit his brother, Rev. James Pringle, pastor of the associate con- gregation of Steel Creek, of that state, and died of consumption at the time above indicated. His brother James died of fever the following October. It is sufficiently remarkable to be noted, as one has said, that these two brothers died in the same house, in the same room, and in the same bed; they were laid in the same grave, and the same monument records their excellence and end. It appears that a sermon was shortly after preached in Xenia con- gregation, by Rev. R. Armstrong, having special reference to Mr. Pringle's death.
From the defect in the minutes of session already referred to, in neglecting to give either the names or number of persons admitted to membership, we are unable to give the number of accessions from the close of Mr. Pringle's pastorate to the commencement of the next-a period of two years and six months.
Mr. Robert Douglass. Called May 5, 1819. The called declined.
Dr. Thomas Beveridge, having been requested by the session of this congregation to give a sketch of his pastorate in Xenia and Sugar Creek congregations, gave the following :
"Having been licensed by the Associate Presbytery of Chartiers in August, 1819, my appointments led me, among other places, to Xenia and Sugar Creek, which congregations I reached the 1st of November, 1819. I preached alternately in the two congregations during that month; and the last two Sabbaths of the succeeding January. The two congregations united in a call to me, February 28, 1820. The salary promised was $500, considered at that time very liberal. The Presbytery of Kentucky, as it was then called (afterward Miami), consisted of only three ministerial members- Messrs. Armstrong, Hume, and Kennedy-and these at great dis- tances from each other. In consequence of this, the call was sent to the Presbytery of Cambridge, New York, to be presented. It was accepted August 2, 1820. That presbytery also received and
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sustained my trials for ordination. I arrived at Xenia October 4th, but was not ordained till the 9th of the next January. Mr. Hume came all the way from Nashville, to assist Mr. Armstrong in that service. At this time there was great trouble in Massie's Creek congregation, in consequence of which Mr. Armstrong resigned his charge."
Mr. David Goodwillie. Called October 22, 1824. Call declined.
Mr. Joseph Clokey was called February 20, 1827, but declined. The foregoing call on Mr. Clokey, and all the preceding ones, were made by the congregation of Xenia, in connection with Sugar Creek, as one pastoral charge. This connection was dissolved by the Presbytery of Miami on the 10th of November, 1828. The calls following were made by the congregation of Xenia alone.
Rev. Abraham Anderson. Called January 26, 1829. Call de- . clined.
Mr. Samuel Wilson. Called May 3, 1830. This call was accept- ed on September 20, 1830. Mr. Wilson was ordained and installed April 27, 1831. Rev. N. Ingles preached and presided in the ordi- nation, and Rev. Dr. Carson, of Tennessee, gave the charges to the pastor and congregation. This congregation had been vacant from April 5, 1824, until September 20, 1830, a period of six years and five months, but received from presbytery all the supply of ordi- nances and pastoral care in its power to give. To Rev. James Adams, especially, who had been installed as pastor of Massie's Creek congregation a short time before Mr. Beveridge's resignation, was due from Xenia congregation a lasting debt of gratitude for his prompt and very acceptable ministerial services whenever needed, and in his power to render. During this period of vacancy thirty- six members were added -. thirty on profession, and six on certificate.
On the 20th of September, 1830, commenced the pastorate of Mr. Wilson, and it continued for a period of twenty-five years and six months. In May, 1855, he was elected to the professorship of The- ology and Hebrew in the Xenia Associate Theological Seminary. Finding his labors in the seminary and congregation rather too bur- densome, but especially because the synod had indicated it as rather their wish that he would give his undivided attention to the sem- inary, he tendered to the Presbytery of Miami his resignation of the pastoral care of the congregation, which was accepted March 18, 1856.
Mr. S. B. Reed. Called December 1, 1856. Call declined.
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Mr. R. B. Ewing. Call sustained September 21, 1858. Ordina- tion and installation, January 20, 1859. Dr. Clokey preached on the occasion, Rev. J. P. Wright presided in the ordination and in- stallation, Rev. R. E. Stewart delivered the charge to the pastor, and Dr. Beveridge to the people.
During the period of nearly three years elapsing between the res- ignation of the former pastor and the installation of Mr. Ewing, there were received into membership on profession, twenty-four; on certificate, twenty-four-in all, forty-eight; and dismissed, fif- teen. The pastorate of Mr. Ewing continued about nine years, during which time there were received into membership on profession, one hundred and two; on certificate, one hundred and fifteen-in all, two hundred and seventeen; and dismissed, twenty-two. Through- . out his pastorate he continued, as his predecessors had done, to preach twice on the Sabbath, except in the three winter months of a few years, when, at the request of the congregation, he preached but once, that the Sabbath-school might meet in the afternoon. At the beginning of his pastorate he, like his predecessors, had his alternate years of district catechetical instruction and ministerial family visitation, but after some time ceased from them altogether. At his own request, he was released from his charge January 14, 1868. The pastorate remained vacant two years, during which time there were received into membership on profession, twelve; on certificate, fifteen-in all, twenty-seven; dismissed, forty-one.
J. G. Carson-1870-1880. In May, A. D. 1869, a call was made out for Rev. J. G. Carson, pastor of the congregation of Cannons- burg, Pennsylvania, in the Presbytery of Chartiers. This call was accepted by him in October, and his installation took place toward the last of December of that year. Rev. J. W. McNary preached the sermon, Dr. Herron delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. W. A. Robb to the people. At the beginning of this pastorate a considerable number of the congregation-between forty and fifty members-including two of the elders-Messrs. Morrow and Mon- roe-separated from the congregation, and uniting with the Re- formed Presbyterian congregation, which agreed to come into the United Presbyterian Church, formed the Third United Presbyterian congregation of Xenia. This reduced the membership of the con- gregation to about one hundred and eighty-five members, which, however, in the first fifteen months was again increased to its pre- vious number of two hundred and thirty. During the first year,
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also, notwithstanding its diminished strength, the congregation un- dertook and accomplished the entire refitting and furnishing of the interior of the church, at an expense of over $3,000, the whole of which amount was subscribed and paid by the time the work was completed.
The Third United Presbyterian Church of Xenia, was organized December 9, 1869, by a union of thirty-five members of the Re- formed Presbyterian Church, and forty members from the Second United Presbyterian Church of Xenia.
The first communion was held by Rev. W. II. McMillan, January 23, 1870. On March 28, 1870, a call was made for Rev. W. II. McMillen to become their pastor, which he accepted, and was in- stalled in June of that year; remained pastor till January 28, 1873, when he received a call to Alleghany, Pennsylvania, which he ac- cepted.
November 3, 1873, a unanimous call was given to Rev. R. Turn- bull, which he accepted, and remained pastor till September 17, 1878, when he received a call to Detroit, October 8, 1878. A unanimous call was made for Rev. W. G. Morehead, D. D., which he accepted, was installed December 17, 1878, and now is their pastor.
First Baptist Church .- This church was first formed in Xenia by nine persons, who had taken letters from the Cedarville, and Cæsar's Creek Baptist Churches for that purpose. They were Rev. T. P. Childs, Sister A. E. Childs, Rev. Wm. McDonald, Sister Lucinda McDonald, Thomas MeDonald, John and Elizabeth Birth, Ebenezer and Melinda Hatch; five brethern, and four sisters, representing only four families.
The church was organized November 2, 1844. Rev. T. P. Childs acting as moderator, and John Birth as clerk. After due delibera- tion, articles of faith, and a church covenant were adopted. On the 30th of the same month, Rev. Childs, who had labored so earn- estly, and efficiently in organizing the church, was called to the pastorate. At the same meeting, Sister Susanna Parcell and her two daughters, Catharine and Martha, presented letters of dismis- sion from another church, and were received; being the first acces- sions after the organization.
On the Thursday before the last Sunday in December, 1844, the church dedicated its new house of worship. On Sunday, June 8, 1845, Joshua Jones was baptized, the first recorded.
The first celebration of the Lord's Supper recorded, took place
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August 10, 1845. During this year, the church united with the Mad River association. This year, also, for the first time the church held thanksgiving services.
January 10, 1846, delegates were appointed to meet with others at Cæsar's Creek, for the purpose of forming the Cæsar's Creek association.
July 11, 1846, Rev. T. P. Childs resigned his pastorate, after a service of nineteen and a half months, during which time five per- sons had been received by baptism, and fifteen by.letter:
September 12, 1846, letters of dismission were granted to Rev. T. P. Childs, and Sister A. E. Childs, the first dismissions on record.
December, 1846, Rev. S. Marshall was called to the pastorate, served regularly for one year, and half the time, three subsequent months. June, 1848, Rev. J. R. Downer was invited, and accepting, was subsequently ordained, and served the church until 1850.
At the church meeting, March 30, 1850, a call was extended to Rev. G. D. Simmons, at a salary of four hundred dollars. In Nov- ember and December, 1850, the first revival of note was enjoyed, the pastor being assisted by Rev. S. Gorman, in which thirty-six were received-twenty-four by baptism, and twelve by letter. In May, 1851, Rev. G. D. Simmons, closed his labors as pastor, on ac- count of inadequate support, with the regrets of the church. Brother Simmons' pastorate, was marked by the admission of many mem- bers, who in after years became shining lights in the church. The church was without a pastor until October of the same year, when O. B. Stone accepted an invitation, and was ordained March, 1852. The first expulsions are found in the records of August 9, 1852.
October 8, 1853, Rev. Stone resigned, and December 10, 1853, a call for three months was extended to Rev. Parmalee; March 11, 1854, a regular call was given him, and he was ordained March 23, 1854, a special invitation being given to Rev. M. Stone, of Cincin- nati, Ohio, to preach the ordination sermon. The spring of 1854 was a fruitful year for the church. November, 1855, Mr. Parmalee resigned.
January 12, 1856, Rev. J. W. Weatherby was called to take his place. The first summary of membership is given in the minutes of September 5, 1857, showing eighty-seven members in good standing, the church having in thirteen years increased from nine to eighty-seven. Early in 1858 a protracted meeting was held, Rev. Webster assisting. Many were converted and added to the church.
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The old house of worship having been previously disposed of, the new building was dedicated July 22, 1858, Rev. T. L. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, officiating. Total cost of new building, with lot, $10,000.
The report to the association for 1858, shows eight baptisms, five additions by letter, one excluded, and eight dismissed by letter.
March 13, 1859, Rev. Weatherby resigned his charge, having served three years and two months.
Until December 1, 1859, the church was without a pastor, when Rev. A. Guy took charge, and in June, 1865, closed his labors, leaving the church again without a pastor.
During the summer the church was supplied by Bros. Charles Morris and G. M. Peters, then pursuing their studies in. college.
In December, 1865, Rev. I. Childs entered upon the pastorate, and continued until March 1, 1867; during his pastorate the church was repaired at a cost of $744.00. In November, 1867, Rev. A. B. White began his labors as a supply, closing them March 25, 1868. On June 13, 1868, a call was extended to Rev. B. Bedell, who accepted, and supplied the church one-half the time from July 1st to October 1st, when he entered upon the full dis- charge of his duties. In 1870 there was a membership of eighty- three, four less than in 1857.
During the year 1878 the church building was repaired at a cost of $978.00.
The year 1853 witnessed the greatest revival it had ever known, thirty-six having been baptized, three admitted by experience, and five by letter; and in June, J. W. King and Thornton Lucas made the church a present of a good parsonage. In 1877, eleven were received, and the report showed a membership of one hundred and nine. October 8, 1878, Rev. Bedell closed his labors, after a pas- torate of ten years, the longest in the church, having baptized sixty- six. November 6, 1878, a call was extended to Rev. C. W. Currier, accepted, and he was ordained January 16, 1879, and is the present incumbent.
Methodist Church .- The exact date at which a Methodist church was organized in Xenia, can not now be ascertained. According to an old record, Xenia appears on the list of appointments for Mad River Circuit, June 19, 1808. It is probable the organization took place about this time; John Sale, presiding elder, and Thomas Milligan and James Davidson, circuit preachers.
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A quarterly meeting was held January 30, 1819, at Rehoboth meeting-house, Rev. Moses Crume presiding, at which the building of a place of worship was discussed, resulting in favor of erecting a house at Xenia, and Frederick Bonner, Chappel Bonner, Richard Conwell, Peter Pelham, and Thomas Perkins, were appointed trustees. It is recorded that a quarterly meeting was also held at the house of Philip Good, July 24, 1819. In 1828 this church was transferred to the Union Circuit, and at a quarterly meeting at Rehoboth, it was resolved to build a parsonage at Xenia. In 1835 the church at Xenia was considered strong enough to assume the responsibilities of a station. Rev. Anza Brown was appointed to the charge. The first quarterly meeting at this station was held November 21st and 22d, 1835, Rev. W. H. Raper presiding.
September 19, 1863, it was resolved to build a second church, and Alfred Trader, Charles R. Merrick, and William Seveney, were appointed a committee to circulate a subscription to procure a building lot. The enterprise was favorably considered by the public, and subscriptions were freely made. Two of the oldest members of the church, Michael Nunemaker and Silas Roberts, though not identified with the new charge, each gave one thousand dollars. November 14, 1863, William I. Fee, pastor of the church in Xenia, and a warm friend of the movement, appointed a board of trustees for the new church, consisting of Alfred Trader, Wil- liam Sweeney, Alfred Thirkield, Moses D. Gatch, Charles R. Mer- rick, William F. Pelham, Samuel Newton, John L. Conable, and Henry Barnes. J. M. Blackburn, architect, submitted plans and specifications, March, 1864. The contract was let to Drees and Patterson for $18,000.00; the subscriptions then amounting to $15,000.00. May 14, 1864, the first stone was laid, and the work progressed steadily until its completion.
May 21st a resolution was passed, asking the bishop to form a separate charge in Xenia, under the name of Trinity Church, which was accordingly done, and Rev. Geo. C. Crum was appointed pastor.
The first services were held September 25, 1864, in the chapel of the Xenia Female College, to a congregation of about one hundred. A Sunday-school was organized, with William Sweeney and Alfred Thirkield superintendents. November 30th, of this same year, services were held by J. L. Grover, of the First Methodist Episco- pal Church, in the lecture room of the new church. October 1,
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1865, the church was dedicated by Dr. Wiley. In the fall of 1867, Rev. John W. Fowler officiated as pastor, remaining until August 30, 1869. He was succeeded by M. Dustin ; who in 1871 was fol- lowed by J. W. Cassatt; who in turn was succeeded by D. J. Starr, in 1873. In 1875, George C. Crum became pastor, remaining two years, when W. M. Brodbeck assumed the pastorate, giving place, in 1880, to Sylvester Wells, the present pastor.
Lutheran Church .- In 1843, Rev. J. Lehman preached to a little flock of Lutherans in the German Reformed Church, the present African Methodist Episcopal Church, on the corner of Monroe and Church streets. The same year he organized this little band into a congregation, and served them until 1847. IIe then resigned, and Rev. Solomon Ritz took charge. The following year a house of worship was built on West Main Street, which is still occupied by them. Rev. Ritz resigned in 1852, and was immediately succeeded by Rev. A. Bartholomew, who served until 1854, after which it was supplied by Rev. G. Peters for some months, and then by Rev. J. Borus for a short time. Rev. J. Geiger took charge in 1856, and served until 1859. From this time until August 25, 1861, the con- gregation was without a pastor, when Rev. J. F. Shaffer took charge, and is still with them, now in the twentieth year of his pastorate.
The church has about one hundred members. It has suffered much from removals, twenty-two letters having been granted in one year. But it is a well organized and vigorous congregation, always meeting the requirements of the synod in benevolent con- tributions. Though not strong in numbers, it is earnest in purpose, and will not be delinquent in the obligations laid upon it. There were but nineteen members when the present pastor took charge in 1861. Since then the growth has been gradual and healthy.
UNION SCHOOLS.
Upon examination it has been found that the earliest record of union schools is dated September 28, 1838.
At this time Xenia was organized into what might be termed a corporation district, and William Ellsberry, chairman, David Mon- roe, treasurer, and Alfred Trader, were constituted a Board of Ed- ucation, David Monroe giving bonds, in the sum of two hundred dollars, for the faithful performance of his duty.
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On the 6th of October following, at a conference of the school directors and the trustees of Xenia Township, "All that territory adjacent to the town of Xenia, which formerly belonged to school districts Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, was attached to the school district formed by the corporation of Xenia."
The following school board was organized October 12, 1839: John Alexander, chairman; David Monroe, treasurer; James Gowdy.
This board made the following order, November 16, 1839:
The northeast district shall hereafter be known as sub-district .No. 1.
The southeast district shall hereafter be known as sub-district No. 2.
The southwest district shall hereafter be known as sub-district No. 3.
The northwest district shall hereafter be known as sub-district No. 4.
No record informs us how the boards were constituted from the year 1838 to 1842, except in one instance. The board organized October 6, 1840, was appointed by the township clerk. On the 16th day of September, 1842, William Y. Banks, H. G. Beatty, Samuel Crumbaugh, and James C. McMillan were elected school directors, according to the act of March 7, 1842. Previous to this time the board consisted of three members only.
In accordance with an amendatory act, passed March 11, 1843, an election was held on the 15th of September, 1843, and the board was constituted as follows :
John Alexander, chairman, elected for three years; Samuel Hutchison, elected for two years; David Monroe, treasurer, elected for one year; Joshua Wright, elected for one year.
No further changes were made in the law organizing the board for the next ten years. Sometimes the people were interested enough in matters appertaining to the schools to meet and elect their own servants. At other times the appointment was left to the township clerk.
During the year 1847 the question of uniting the schools began to be agitated. Sometime during this year, at a meeting held for the purpose of considering this question, on a motion to unite the schools, David Monroe voted in the affirmative; no other person voting for or against. A division of the question was called for, and carried in the affirmative.
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Pursuant to a notice published in the Xenia Torchlight, the householders of district No. 11 met on the 20th day of September, 1847, at the school house in sub-district No. 2, and by a vote of one hundred and fifty to twenty-seven, resolved to levy a tax of $4,000, for the purpose of building a new school house. Other buildings and lots were ordered to be sold-the school house in sub-district No. 2, for a sum not less than twenty dollars. The contract for the new building was made March 11, 1848, and the edifice was com- pleted in the following fall or winter.
On the 1st day of January, 1849, Mr. Josiah Hurty was employed as the first superintendent of the public schools of Xenia, at a sal- ary of six hundred dollars per annum. He continued his superin- tendency two years and a half, till the close of the school year, July 11, 1851. During this time the school was graded, the term high school applied to the highest department, and a code of regulations published.
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Mr. D. W. Giltillan was appointed superintendent August 16, 1851, and continued one year. He was succeeded by Rev. James P. Smart, who was appointed July 7, 1852, and continued until his resignation, July 21, 1855, a period of three years. On the same day Mr. P. H. Jaquith was appointed, and continued until the close of the school year in 1857.
Mr. J. E. Twitchell commenced the superintendency of the schools in September, 1857, and continued, with signal success, un- til his resignation, June 25, 1861. Mr. George S. Ormsby was ap- apointed August 10, 1861; was succeeded by George W. Welch, in 1879, who.is the present incumbent.
Present board : Coates Kinney, J. W. Shields, A. G. Wilson, To- bias Drees, James B. Monroe, J. F. Shaffer.
On the 14th of March, 1853, the general school law of Ohio was passed, entitled "An Act to Provide for the Reorganization, Super- vision, and Maintenance of Common Schools." Under this act the following board of education was organized:
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