USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 13
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THE BYESVILLE CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Byesville, Ohio, had its beginning in the year 1870, in the organization of a church at Rainey's Chapel, which was located about two miles from Byesville, and was organized in 1870 with eleven charter members by the Reverend Foutz. Byesville being the most central
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point, it was thought best to move the church to that place; so accordingly in 1879, the church at Rainey's Chapel was torn down and moved to Byesville and erected on the site where the new church now stands.
Since its organization the following ministers have served as pastors : Reverends Fontz, Webster, Timberlake, Waters and Stewart, while the church remained at Rainey's Chapel. Since the church was moved to Byesville, Rev- erend Stewart was its first pastor. He was followed by Reverends Dennis, Ream, Gruber, J. K. Grimes, Forsythe, Davidson, Neeley, Bowers, Collier, M. C. Grimes, Petty and W. O. Hawkins.
In June, 1907, a new church was projected and the money subscribed. At a meeting held in August, 1907, a contract was let to F. Wentz & Company for the sum of twelve thousand eight hundred and seventy-five dollars. The corner-stone was laid October 20th, that year, and it was completed the follow- ing season.
Since the building of this fine church, which is valned at twenty-five thon- sand dollars, the membership has increased to three hundred and sixty, with a Sunday school of five hundred pupils. The present pastor is Rev. W. O. Hawkins.
THE CHURCHI AT CUMBERLAND.
The Cumberland Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1852. It now enjoys a membership of three hundred and twenty-five. The records are not now at hand and cannot be obtained, hence no further detail concerning this branch of the church in the county. The minutes of the last conference show the church to have a membership of three hundred and twenty-three, with a Sunday school of two hundred and twenty; the church property is valued at five thousand five hundred dollars. The present pastor is Rev. T. H. Taylor.
THE SALESVILLE CHURCH.
The Salesville Methodist Episcopal church, located in the village of this name, was organized in the summer of 1837, with the following charter mem- bers : Francis Linn and wife, William Crouse and wife, Thomas Wolford and wife, James Foreacre and wife, John Rimmer and wife, James Bell and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson. Francis Linn was elected class leader, which office he faithfully filled until called to his home above in 1890.
The first church was built in 1840, the class having worshiped in a build- ing located on the hill north of the village; it was known as the "Temple" and was free to all denominations to hold services in. The building of the first
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church was done chiefly by the members and the material was also donated, so the cost is not known. It was located just east of the present school build- ing. The present edifice, which took its place in 1873, is located west of the school building. The material is frame and its cost was one thousand eight hundred dollars. It has been improved and repaired much since then and is now said to be worth two thousand five hundred dollars. It is lighted by a gasoline plant.
The present membership is eighty. The Salesville and Millers church, and also the Quaker City church, were on the same circuit for sixty years, hence the history of one is the same as the other. Recently the Millers church has been dropped from the circuit and is now a part of Washington circuit, also with Salesville.
Among the pastors now recalled are these : Revs. Bishop, Boyd, Butts. Phillips, Rich, Hollister, Hamilton, Rogers, Olp, Baird, Cartwright, Fouts, Webster, Grimes, Robbins, Armstrong, Taylor, Hollett, Strahl, Petty, West- wood, Wilson, Lepage, Wycoff, Merrill, Romic and Dunn, the present pastor.
OTHER METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
Rev. W. Reeves organized a class in the township of Spencer, as early as 1815 and erected a house of worship on land owned by Col. Thomas Bay, Sr., one of the first pioneers of the valley. It was a frame building, twenty by twenty-eight feet in dimension. In 1852 the class had so grown that more room was demanded and they sold to the Presbyterian church and in 1853 built again. Rev. Hamilton was pastor when this change was effected.
Quaker City church is in the Barnesville district. The church here was formed at a very early date, and the present building was erected in 1871, on the corner of Pike and Main streets. The property of the church and parson- age is estimated at six thousand dollars. The present pastor is Rev. E. R. Romig. The membership is now six hundred and ten, while the Sunday school is six hundred and forty-six.
The Claysville church has a membership of two hundred and nineteen ; Sunday school of one hundred and eighteen; church property valued at seven thousand dollars. The pastor is Rev. J. W. Rich.
At Kinbolton the church has a membership of five hundred and seventy- five, with a Sunday school of three hundred and thirty-five. The church property is valued at sixteen thousand dollars; the present pastor is Rev. M. W. Bevington.
The Lore City church has a membership of three hundred and thirty-
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five, with a Sunday school numbering four hundred and twenty. Church property valued at twelve thousand eight hundred dollars. The pastor is Rev. C. R. Poulson.
The Senecaville Methodist Episcopal church has a membership of four hundred and six, with a Sunday school numbering four hundred and twenty. The present value of the church property is thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars. The present pastor is Rev. F. G. Fowler.
Pleasant City has a church property valued at fifteen thousand dollars and a membership of five hundred and sixty. Its Sunday school has a mem- bership of six hundred. The present pastor is Rev. R. J. Norris.
The church at Washington has a membership of nine hundred and eighty- five and its property is valued at nine thousand five hundred dollars. The present pastor is Rev. W. H. Stewart.
At Buffalo the membership is about one hundred and fifty and the value of church property is estimated at six thousand five hundred dollars. The present pastor is Rev. J. F. Cash.
There are other Methodist Episcopal churches in the county that have not been properly reported to the editor of this work. Among these are preach- ing places at Hopewell, Birds Run, Antrim, Londonderry, Wesley Chapel, etc.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church of Quaker City is an old organization. In 1859 they had a good building in the eastern part of the village. This was aban- doned in March, 1875, for the new brick building on the corner of South street and Broadway.
There is also a society in Cambridge, but they own no building. They hold services over a business house on the north side of Wheeling avenue.
Another church society is the Associaters,-a branch of the Methodist Episcopal church,-who by some are termed "Holiness People." They believe in a much higher life than that taught by the church generally. Some of the best citizens in Cambridge unite with this sect in their weekly worship.
THE FRIENDS CHURCH (QUAKERS).
Among the early settlers in various part of Guernsey county the Friends predominated, especially in the vicinity of what is now Quaker City, where the Hall family planted a church of this faith. A meeting house, as they call churches, has always been maintained near the village, and a prosperous soci-
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ety of Friends has had much to do with the morals and religion of the con- munity. At an early day the Friends had a much harder time than at present. Just before the opening of the war of 1812-14, with England, the Friends, carrying out their belief that war was always wrong, aggressive or defensive, refused to engage in that war and were badly dealt with by the authorities. They had heavy fines imposed upon them and in cases sacrificed much of their property. In cases, the fine collectors were cold, hard-hearted officials who feathered their own nest, as well as causing this sect any amount of trouble and loss of valuable property. One Elijah Dyson, then sheriff of Guernsey county, took it upon himself to enforce the law as against these people and through his arrests made bad work among them and worked incalculable injury to them. Among these people are found some of the "salt of the earth" and today the members of this sect are honored for the carrying out of their religious convictions.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first Catholic church in Guernsey county was probably erected about 1840 at Washington, where some years previous a number of Catholic families had settled. They continued to worship there until about 1865, under priests from various parts of the state, especially those from Beaver township, Noble county (then within Guernsey). About 1867 Father Jacket, pastor at Tem- peranceville, Belmont county, built the church at Gibson Station. He used some of the material of the church at Washington in the construction of this church. Father Jacket came to Temperanceville in 1854, from Tennessee, serving this congregation and others in this vicinity, traveling on horseback over Guernsey, Belmont and Noble counties. In 1868 he was transferred to Coshocton, Ohio. Fathers O'Brien, Laughlin and Hall succeeded Father Jacket in the order named, each remaining but a short time. About 1870, Rev. Father Heary, now of Dennison, Ohio, came to Temperanceville, and at- tended to the wants of the Catholic people of Guernsey county. He said mass and held services part of the time at the residence of Steve Quinn, at the cor- ner of Second street and Gomber avenue, Cambridge, and part of the time at Michael Slaymons, at Guernsey Mines. At that date there were not more than a dozen families near Cambridge.
Father Heary was followed by Father Montag, who for a long time held services at Slaymon's, Guernsey Mines, then at Adam's hall, near the court house, which building was leased by the Catholic people. Later the Carlisle Hall, on Wheeling avenue. Cambridge, was rented. Following Father Heary came Rev. Nathaniel McCaffrey in 1897, who was the first priest to regularly
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reside at Cambridge. Shortly after his coming, the Catholics bought the Shultz property, at the corner of Gomber and North Ninth streets, and while they were erecting a small church on the rear of the lot, he said mass and held services at William Armbuster's, on West Wheeling avenue.
Then let it be recorded that the first Catholic church in Cambridge was on Gomber avenue, between Seventh and Eighth streets, and it was dedicated by Bishop Watterson in December, 1897. The Bishop being of national reputa- tion, and many never having seen a bishop, the attendance was very large. This good bishop was noted for his zeal in the cause of temperance.
The first parish formed in Cambridge was organized by Father McCaff- rey, who was succeeded by Father James Slevin, who remained only eight months, retiring on account of his extreme old age. Then came Rev. C. H. A. Watterson as pastor, beginning his labors in July, 1901. The congregation grew and flourished spiritually, under his administration. In June, 1904, he was selected to organize a parish in East Newark, Ohio. The same year and month he was succeeded by the present able pastor, Rev. J. H. Wagner. Under his guidance, the congregation has almost, if not quite, doubled its member- ship.
In 1910 (present year) there is being completed a magnificent brick church, with a parochial school building on the lots above described, on the corner of Gomber and North Seventh streets. This is known as St. Benedict's church. The church will easily seat seven hundred persons. The interior finish of this building is indeed elegant ; its altars are works of high art, the main one costing in excess of eight hundred dollars. This church building is considered one of the finest in this section of the country. Its dedication was on Sunday, November 20, 1910, when Bishop Hartley, of Columbus, officiated, being assisted by Father Waterson and Father O'Boylan, of New- ark, and Father Mattingly of Lancaster.
The Slavish Roman Catholic church at Byesville was begun in June, 1905, and completed in November of the same year. It was erected at an expense of seven thousand dollars, and its location is on Fifth street, south of Main. The congregation in 1907 was over seven hundred. A nine-room parsonage was provided south from the church, at a cost of five thousand dol- lars. Rev. E. F. Rahtarsik, pastor, was the man who put this church on its present standing.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.
The Methodist Protestant church at Cambridge was formed by Rev. Cornelius Springer, in 1830, with seven members, Thomas McIlyar and wife,
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Peter Corbet and wife, Zephima C. Suitt and wife and Thomas Sarchet. Mr. Sarchet did not become a full member until 1832.
Services were held in the lower room of the old Masonic building, on Seventh street. A small brick church was built in 1832, Thomas Sarchet having donated the lot and built the church. In 1832 the society was reor- ganized and Thomas Sarchet, Solomon Tomolson and wife, Sarah Tingle and others, became members in full communion. The local church at this time be- longed to Cambridge circuit. Rev. William Reeves and wife and Rev. George Broure served as evangelists before any regular pastor was appointed. Rev. Jacob Meyers and Rev. A. H. Basset seem to have been on the Cambridge circuit at this time and preached at Cambridge, as Rev. Springer lived at Zanes- ville. The first pastor in charge was Rev. Jacob Ragan, he having been ap- pointed by the Pittsburg conference in the autumn of 1832. Rev. Ragan died here October 3, 1834, and his body rests in the old cemetery here. Singular enough to relate, it appears that with the passing of all these years only two pastors died in Cambridge from this church, Revs. Ragan and John Rowcliff. Rev. Dobbins filled out Rev. Ragan's time. The records show that Revs. J. Burns and George Claney were appointed pastors of Cambridge circuit in 1834 and supplied Cambridge. Rev. John Herbert came in 1836; Revs. Israel Thrapp and A. H. Basset, in 1838 and 1840. Following came pastors, Jacob Nichols and John Rowcliff, the latter dying in 1846. Then came Rev. Wil- liam Munhall and Rev. Washington Mannard in 1849. These were succeeded by George Caney and Joel Thrapp. This brings it to 1851, when Cambridge became a station and Rev. Springer became pastor in 1852. In 1853 came William Ross: Rev. Washington Mannard, 1855; Rev. John Burns, 1860. Then Cambridge was attached to Cambridge circuit again and Rev. C. L. Sears and Rev. J. W. Case were appointed pastors in 1863. In 1865 came Revs. J. M. Woodward and T. H. Scott. In 1866, Revs. E. S. Hoagland and Rev. Walter Moore served. In 1871 came Revs. J. W. Woodward and O. V. W. Chandler. 1872, came Rev. K. M. Woodward. At that date Cam- bridge again became a station and Rev. S. A. Fisher was appointed pastor in 1873.
During the latter's pastorate the second church was erected, the same costing seven thousand dollars, and was dedicated November 26, 1876, Revs. J. J. Murray and Alexander Clark officiating, assisted by clergymen from the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1879 Rev. S. S. Fleming became pastor. Then came Revs. E. H. Scott, 1880; A. Sarchet, 1881; J. W. Thompson, 1882: M. L. Jennings, 1883; J. A. Thrapp, 1887; F. A. Brown, 1890; G. E. McManiman, 1895; J. A. Selby, 1896; S. A. Fisher, 1901; C. E. Sheppard, 1904: W. E. Harrison, 1910, and still serving as pastor.
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During the seventy-five years history of this church there seems to have been thirty-one regular pastors. Of these only twelve are now living. It was during the pastorate of Rev. Selby that the third church building was erected at a cost of thirteen thousand and ten dollars. It was dedicated June 19, 1898, by Doctors F. T. Tagg, of Baltimore, and M. L. Jennings, of Pittsburg, as- sisted by Doctors D. C. Coburn, W. L. Wells, J. A. Selby and F. A. Brown. During Rev. Sheppard's time as pastor here, the heating plant system was installed and a beautiful pipe organ was secured and other improvements made upon the church, which is indeed a model house of worship.
BYESVILLE.
The Byesville Methodist Protestant church was organized about 1873, Rev. John Burns, D. D., of the Cambridge Methodist Protestant church, offici- ating. The organization took place in the home of Liburn B. Rodgers, then living at Old Town, just east from Enon Baptist church. The following is a list of charter members: L. B. Rodgers and wife, Isaac Hoopman and wife, Wesley Gorsuch and wife, Mary ( Kaufman) Cummings.
At first they met at private houses and in a log building at the forks of the road near Trail run, where they worshiped until the fall of 1853, when a church known as Bethlehem, was dedicated, Rev. Joel Thrapp, D. D., officiat- ing. This served until 1880 when the society bought a lot and erected a new church at the corner of Main and Depot streets in Byesville, which served until 1903, when the present commodious edifice was erected, at the corner of Main and North High streets.
The pastors who have faithfully served this people include these : Rev. William Ross, Rev. Joel Thrapp, D. D., Rev. Orr, Rev. Israel Thrapp, Rev. William Sears, Rev. Case, Rev. John Burns, D. D., Rev. E. S. Hoagland, Rev. J. C. Ogle, Rev. Thomas Scott, Rev. A. Harrison, Rev. J. P. King, Rev. J. M. Woodward, Rev. O. V. W. Chandler, D. D., Rev. S. A. Tisher, D. D., Rev. W. L. Wells, D. D., Rev. J. B. McCormick, D. D., Rev. W. H. Guy, Rev. S. S. Fisher, D. D., Sc. D., Rev. G. E. McManiman, D. D., Rev. Joseph Gray, Rev. W. S. Caims, D. D., Rev. D. C. Weese, Rev. C. R. Blades, Rev. C. S. McGrath, Rev. C. E. Stockdale.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Presbyterianism has always been a strong factor in the county-both the regular and United Presbyterian bodies. The following facts have been fur- nished by the present pastor of the Presbyterian church at Cambridge, at the request of the publishers of this work :
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In the year 1827 Rev. William Wallace was authorized by some presby- tery to visit the village of Cambridge and establish a Presbyterian church organization. In accordance with directions he effected such an organization in April of that year. Three elders were elected, viz: Thomas Oldham, James Wilson and Jesse Johnston. Their meetings for preaching services were held in the court house, and for some time Rev. William Wallace min- istered to the congregation, preaching for them at stated intervals. In the year 1834 the names of John B. Thompson, M. D., David Burt and Ebenezer Smith were added to the roll of sessions, and the names of Silas Burt and Michael Rogers were added in the year 1837.
About the year 1837 Rev. James Black supplied the church for some little time ; he was followed by Rev. John Arthur, who supplied the congregation for two or three years. After this Rev. William Wallace furnished whatever preaching service they had until the year 1850.
At a congregational meeting held in 1845 the following elders were elected : Samuel Wilson, Hugh Wilson, Thomas Oldham, Jr. Later the name of John McFarland was added to the roll of eldership. The church records will show that these men were of the strictest sect, and administered the law accordingly.
The congregation of Cambridge was a part of the presbytery of Zanes- ville and when the union of the Old-School and New-School Presbyterian churches was formed it was transferred to the presbytery of St. Clairsville.
About the first of October, 1853, Rev. William V. Milligan, a young man who had been licensed by the presbytery of St. Clairsville in April, 1853, went out to Uniontown, Muskingum county, Ohio, to preach for Rev. William Ferguson, while Rev. Ferguson would fill an appointment that he had made at Cambridge, Ohio. The young man suggested that Rev. Ferguson let him fill the appointment at Cambridge, the request was granted and on the first Sunday of November, 1853. Rev. Milligan preached his first sermon for the congregation that he was to serve for forty-five years. He agreed to preach as supply until the first of April, 1854. During the winter his work was very successful, and the records show that there were two meetings of the session held that winter for the purpose of receiving new members. As the pastor in charge was not an ordained minister, Rev. William Ferguson moderated one meeting and Rev. Jacob Milligan the other. The congregation was so well pleased with the ministrations of Rev. Milligan that in the spring of 1854 they gave him a call to become their pastor, and in the little brick church which oc- cupied the site of the present commodious structure, he was ordained by the presbytery of Zanesville, May 10, 1854.
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The history of the congregation is practically the history of the work of Rev. W. V. Milligan, D. D., for the next forty-five years. The work begun on the first Sabbath of November .. 1853, was continued without intermission or a single vacation, missing but two Sundays appointment till the last Sab- bath of November, 1898. The last service of Doctor Milligan was Sabbath evening and a large congregation was present. At the close of the service Doctor Milligan announced that the pulpit of the Presbyterian church would be vacant that night at twelve o'clock. Doctor Milligan retired from the active work of the ministry with the good will of not only the members of his own congregation, but of the entire community. Coming to the congregation fresh from the seminary, he had given to the congregation a life of faithful service ; the strong, vigorous church that he left as a monument is a fitting testimonial to the character of that service rendered, not as unto man but as unto God. Since Doctor Milligan resigned he has seen three pastors called to the pulpit. The present pastor attributes much of his success to the help- ful counsel and cheerful advice given by him, who, as a father in Israel, is loved and respected by all who know him. He has already passed the mark of four- score years, yet is his natural force not abated, nor his interest in the congre- gation which he served so long lessened.
When Doctor Milligan took charge of the work in 1853 there were eighty- three names on the church roll. The village of Cambridge had a population of less than a thousand, and had at least four other congregations at work in this limited territory, viz: Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, Bap- tist, and Associate, afterward the United Presbyterian. The growth of the Presbyterian organization was a steady one, about twenty names being added each year, and when Doctor Milligan closed his pastorate in 1898 the church had a membership of two hundred and fifty.
Doctor Milligan was quite a builder in more senses than one. In 1857 the congregation, under his direction, erected a building costing over four thousand dollars, and in 1893 the present modern structure was erected at a cost of twenty thousand dollars.
In 1876 Rev. William Bryant was elected elder. In 1892 the following were selected elders: Samuel J. McMahon, Alexander Fulton, Jonathan F. Oldham, W. B. Green and Howard W. Luccock. In the year 1900 William F. Dollison, Samuel W. Luccock, Oscar Dougherty, Robert H. Mills and Sam- 11el E. Boden were elected to the eldership, and in 1906 the following were elected and installed as elders: C. C. Laughlin, George M. Williams, Chester Lloyd, J. M. Carr, Edward B. Milligan, E. A. Scott and J. M. Wood.
Rev. W. F. Weir, D. D., was elected to the pastorate of the congregation,
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May 24, 1899, and was installed August 6th of the same year. Doctor Weir came to the congregation just at a time when an active, aggressive man was needed. Cambridge had begun to grow very rapidly. He proved to be just the man for the place. In a short pastorate of less than four years he added over two hundred members to the church and when he left the congregation, to accept a call to Ashtabula, he left a strong, vigorous congregation of over four hundred members.
On July 15, 1903, Rev. Ken C. Hayes was called to the pulpit made vacant by the resignation of Doctor Weir. Rev. Hayes was installed September 28. 1903. Doctor Hayes was a very forcible preacher, a man of most pleasing personality, and had a quiet but successful pastorate of six years, when he resigned to accept a call to another congregation.
The present pastor, Rev. William L. McCormick, was installed Septem- ber 21, 1909. Since the beginning of the present pastorate there have been ninety accessions to the church and the congregation is in a most prosperous condition financially, and on every hand there is evidence of the presence and blessing of the Holy Spirit. At present the congregation has a membership of almost five hundred, and the prospect for future growth were never more promising.
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