History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 85

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

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The Congregational church at Gambier was first located a little north of the village by the Cumber- land Presbyterians. Among the original members were Thomas Minard, Thomas Bennett, John Ben- nett, and others.

In 1867 this church was organized into a Con- gregational church. The present, or new church, edifice was erected in 1871, near the old site, and cost two thousand two hundred dollars. In 1876 the building was removed to the site it now oc- cupies.

The early pastors were the Rev. Enoch F. Baird, J. W. Cracraft, and others. Its membership at this date is thirty-eight.

The Sunday-school was organized in 1871, with

about fifty scholars; its average attendance is from thirty-five to forty, under the superintendence of William Oliver.

As far as can be ascertained Methodists were in Gambier as early as 1832. At what time a class was formed in this place there is no written ac- count, yet members of the church resided here and held prayer meetings in their cabins about that time. They generally attended at what was called "Brown's" on Schenck's creek, and were attached toDanville circuit, Michigan conference, which was supplied with one preacher, Rev. James Wilson, under whose ministry Rev. William Nast united with the church at Danville.

In the year 1838 the name of the circuit was changed to "Amity," Gambier being then an ap- pointment for preaching in private houses, supplied by two preachers, Revs. Charles Thomas and John Scoles. During that year the Lord's Supper was first administered by Methodists in Gambier. About the year 1841 the Methodists obtained the use of the district school-house for divine worship, which they held until 1854. In 1841 Rev. Wil- liam L. Harris, now Bishop, was appointed on this circuit. In 1849 and 1850 the lands around Gam- bier were surveyed and began to be sold by the Theological seminary of the Protestant Episcopal church of the diocese of Ohio. The Methodists at once began to arrange for the purchase of a site on which to build a house of worship, and after several exchanges they secured the lot on which the present church building stands, and in 1855, after many struggles, it was solemnly dedicated, free from debt, to the service of Almighty God by Rev. Thomas H. Wilson, presiding elder. In 1860 the North Ohio conference formed the Gambier cir- cuit with four appointments or stations. Gambier circuit passed through many changes in its number of stations, and its succession of ministers, and from the first Methodism centred at the Gambier station.

In 1879, the Rev. V. D. Laurence being preacher in charge, Gambier became a half station with Pleasant Valley and Hopewell charges attached to the Gambier circuit. In 1880 Gambier became a whole station with only Hopewell attached, on what is known as the Gambier circuit. Hopewell is where President R. B. Hayes taught Sunday-

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

school. In 1880 the church lot was enlarged by the purchase of some adjoining property and the lot was divided, setting off a part of it for parson- age use and a neat and substantial parsonage was erected thereon.

Gambier station of the Methodist Episcopal church belongs to the Northern Ohio conference. Its membership is eighty. Its Sunday-school is flourishing ; its average attendance being eighty-five.

Its benevolence is systematic and its church work is zealous.

The value of the church lot is about two thou- sand dollars. The value of its parsonage and lot is about two thousand two hundred dollars. The church is free from debt.

There are many beautiful and substantial resi- dences in and around Gambier. Among the num- ber is that of Mr. Peter Neff, a cut of which is here given, and though a faithful representation, the residence and grounds must be seen to be ap- preciated. Mr. Neff is engaged in developing the oil-producing lands in the Kokosing valley, an ac- count of which appears in the geological chapter.

Fifty-six years ago Bishop Chase, in the forenoon of a bright summer day (July 22, 1825,) stood upon the trunk of a fallen tree and spoke the words, "Well, this will do," and at that instant fixed for all time the location of the world-re- nowned institution known as Kenyon college. What great interests to the people of the county, the State and the Nation were wrapped up in those few words and those few moments; but the history of this college is reserved for the next chapter. The village makes no especial claim as a business place, but as a place of residence it can hardly have a superior, especially for those who have a family to educate and prepare for the duties of life. The society is excellent; saloons and other low places of resort are not allowed on the grounds, and the purity of the moral atmosphere is unex- ceptionable.

Probably a more quiet, or a more lovely spot does not exist in the State, or indeed anywhere, than the grounds contiguous to the college build- ings at Gambier. The grass-carpeted lawns, the native forest trees, the thick woods, the gravel walks, the solidity and architectural beauty of the buildings, the purity of the air, the elevation, and

the thousand and one beautiful surroundings, vis- ible but indescribable, all combine to elevate the mind, lift up the soul, and make an impression on the mind not easily erased.

CHAPTER L.

KENYON COLLEGE.

ITS LOCATION-TOUR OF INSPECTION-THE NORTH SEC- TION-THE SOUTH SECTION-COLLEGE HILL-FIRST VIEW FROM THE TOP-"WELL, THIS WILL DO !"-THE PURCHASE OF EIGHT THOUSAND ACRES-THE SITE OF OLD KENYON -- OBTAINING SUBSCRIPTIONS -- REPORT OF THE BISHOP -- THE LADIES' SOCIETY-MILNOR PROFESSORSHIP -DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUND-LAYING THE CORNER- STONE-AN INCIDENT IN THE BUILDING OF THE COL- LEGE-HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE BY PRESIDENT BODINE -THE BLAKE SCHOOL.

TN connection with the location of Kenyon col- lege, the following article, written in 1859, by the Hon. Henry B. Curtis, of Mt. Vernon, will be of interest. Mr. Curtis was one of the persons who accompanied Bishop Chase in his tour of in- spection through the county in 1825, seeking a proper site for the contemplated college :

It was a bright summer morning (July 22, 1825), that a party of gentlemen started from Mt. Vernon, with Bishop Chase, for the purpose of exploring the country eastward of, and adjacent to, this city-then a village of about fifteen hundred inhabitants -with a view to the selection of a suitable site for the Theo- logical seminary and Kenyon college. The party, besides Bishop Chase, consisted of Daniel S. Norton, esq., and myself of Mt. Vernon; John Trimble and James Rawden, of Perry township, Coshocton county; and George Melick, of Jackson township, Knox county. We were all on horseback. I was the youngest of the party, and had no previous acquaintance with the bishop, except having met him a few weeks previously at "Cully's," in Newark, and having attended the preceding evening, on occasion of his preaching at the old Presbyterian church in this place-the first time, I believe, the Episcopal service had ever been performed here.

It was known that Mr. William Hogg, of Brownsville, Penn- sylvania, owned a tract of eight thousand acres of land-two military sections of four thousand acres each-lying a few miles east of here, which, from the varied character of its surface, and beauty of its streams and valleys, it was suggested might offer a suitable location for the proposed seminary and college. And the attractive rolling character, and beautiful scenery of other tracts of land lying in that part of our county, also encouraged us to believe that we should be able to present to the bishop a site more desirable and pleasing than any that had been before proposed.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

We went out on what is here called the Coshocton road, and struck the land of Mr. Hogg, on the west boundary of what has since been called the "North Section," at the distance of about four miles. We proceeded through the section, noticing many pleasant features. The first place that attracted marked atten- tion, as probably suited for the object of our exploration, was the high elevation a little to the south of the road and immedi- ately west of what is now the farm and residence of Henry Er- rett, esq. We examined this point with a good deal of interest and satisfaction. A small stream (Schenck's creek) was wind- ing its way through a lovely valley which lay immediately east of the hill, widening as it extended southward, and presenting some beautiful views, but rather limited in extent and distance. The bishop, and indeed all the party, were pleased with the spot, but reserving our judgments for further observation and discoyeries, we proceeded into the valley, and through the en- tire section. Thence through lands of the "Rathbone" and "Campbell" sections, down the valley of the Schenck's creek, to the junction of that stream with Owl creek-to which Bishop Chase, in his subsequent maps of the college lands, gave the more euphonious name of the Vernon river-and thence turning again westward, and proceeding up that river, and generally near its margin, we again entered the lands of William Hogg, at the eastern boundary of the South section.

On this section there were several cabins, and a number of small farms opened. The road lay across the beautiful valley (that now spreads out like a great garden, immediately east of Gambier), and again striking the river, followed its margin in a pretty straight line, until interrupted by the abrupt descent of what is now the College hill, whence winding round the base, it followed the course of the stream, pretty near the present rail- road line, into and across the large bottoms and beautiful valley, that lies on the west side of the hill.

I had once, on a previous occasion, crossed on this hill, a promontory, and was the only one of the party who professed any knowledge of the character of the plain that lay on top of its elevation ; and it was with reference to this spot that I had desired the party to return by this route. Arriving, therefore, at the base of the hill, on its south side, I called the attention of the bishop and the others of the party, to the elevation on our right, and its beautiful surroundings. The curve of the base, the acclivity of the hill, and the graceful bend of the river, with the wide opening of the valley east and west, were attractions too striking to need explanation. But it was suggested by Mr. Norton that there was not room enough on the crown of the hill for the accommodation of the necessary buildings and grounds of the contemplated institution. To this I replied that I had once crossed the hill, and that there was a level plain on top, wider than was supposed.

Bishop Chase answered by saying, "Come, Mr. Curtis, I will go up with you to the top of this hill, and we will see how it looks." The other gentlemen of the party, not having much apparent faith in the fruits of our difficult ascent, dismounted from their horses, and disposed themselves for rest in the shade at the road side, and the bishop and myself proceeded alone to mount the hill. The side was thickly set with an under- growth of oak bushes, frequently interlaced with rambling grape vines. We struggled through these tangles, on our horses, until about half way up the hill, when the bishop becoming dis- couraged with that mode of proceeding, proposed that we should take it afoot. We dismounted, hitched our horses, and then proceeded as well as we could until we emerged on the top

of the hill, on the very spot where the old college building now stands.

The heavy timber that had once covered the crown of the hill, had, principally, many years before, been prostrated by a storm or otherwise destroyed, so that, excepting a more stunted growth of brush than that we had just come through, the plain on the top was comparatively open and free from obstruction to the view. Passing a little northward, the whole panorama of the beautiful valleys that lay at our feet, the undulating line and varying surface of the distant hills, eastward, southward, and westward, with the windings of the river, all were brought into view, and presented a scene and landscape of unsurpassed love- liness and beauty. It certainly appeared so to me then, and so it seemed to strike our good bishop. Standing upon the trunk of an old fallen oak, and permitting his eye to pass round the hori- zon, and take in the whole prospect, he expressed his delight and satisfaction in the brief but significant exclamation, "Well, this will do!" He then pointed out the varied beauties of the spot, its extensive views, and the advantages that would be ob- tained by opening some parts of the contiguous forest-improv- ing the prospect in certain directions. We then returned to the foot of the hill, and found our companions amusing and resting themselves, where we had left them. The bishop expressed him- self to them in strong terms of satisfaction and delight, in re- spect to the spot he had just examined.

We all returned to Mt. Vernon together. The bishop came with me to my house to tea; and from the circumstance of my wife being a relative of Mr. Hogg-the owner of the land where the site had been selected-the conversation turned very much upon the hope of making that permanent location, and the probability of obtaining the land at a price within the means of the young institution and its then limited endowment. When he left my house, Bishop Chase expressed to me his intention to visit Mr. Hogg at an early day, with a view of securing a con- tract for the purchase of the land,"and he took with him a let- ter from me to that gentleman (with whom I was on the most kind and friendly relation), strongly recommending the objects of the bishop's proposed visit.

When I next saw Bishop Chase, which I think was sometime during the following winter, he had made a provisional contract for the purchase of the whole eight thousand acres at three dol- lars per acre-a price considered very low, as the land could readily have been sold at a higher rate. Mr. Hogg, subsequently, on the solicitation of Bishop Chase, and in view of the noble objects of the purchase, munificently rebated six thousand dol- lars from the original contract price.

At the annual convention of 1826 steps were adopted by which the purchase from Mr. Hogg was confirmed, and the permanent site of Kenyon college and its other institutions was established in their present location, and upon the identical spot to which I conducted the bishop on the occasion above referred to, and from which his mind had never wavered from the time he first stood upon the ground.

Now, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, every year of which has but added new evidence of the sagacity, sound judg- ment, and good taste of Bishop Chase in the location which he made, and the wisdom of the convention and its committee that confirmed that decision, it is pleashnt to recur to these remi- niscences of the infancy of the institution, when, indeed, it had neither a local habitation nor a name, and to contrast its condi- tion in the days of its obscurity and feebleness, with its present proud position. Old Kenyon, as the boys love to call her, has

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

indeed won her way upward, gloriously and successfully. The clouds that have sometimes hung upon her horizon, have passed away; and she stands this day a peeress among the noblest in- stitutions of learning in our country-an honor to the diocese -and a monument of the wisdom, and to the fame of the noble founder.

From a report made by Bishop Chase in 1827, the following extracts are taken:

Concerning the collections from our friends in the Atlantic States to aid in the erection of our college buildings, I cannot speak in terms of sufficient respect and thankfulness. The hearts of thousands were open to us; and of all classes many were found willing to assist us. From relations in Vermont and New Hampshire, I received between three and four hundred dollars. From friends in Philadelphia, rising of three thousand; from those in New York, about that sum; front Providence, Rhode Island, nearly five hundred; and from Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Portsmouth and Portland, in all sufficient to canse the sum received to amount, if I have counted right, to nine thousand two hundred and twenty-eight dollars.

Besides this, I hear that there are moneys in Philadelphia un- collected, and lying in the handis of friends, to the amount of several hundred dollars.

Mr. Bacon is still soliciting subscriptions for us at the south, where, considering their wonted liberality, and our great need, I have good hope of his success.

Here I cannot but mention, though the result is not yet · known, the very great hopes of a liberal collection from the exhibition in New York, of that celebrated picture, the Capuchin chapel, for the benefit of Kenyon college, Ohio, which Benjamin Wiggins, esq., so liberally granted, just before his leaving this country for London. The exhibition is to commence on the tenth of September next (1827), and continue so long as pro- ductive of profit. As this picture is considered the most perfect exhibition of the art of optical deception by painting, so as to make us doubt of its being a fiction even while beholding it; there is little reason to doubt the combined result of good taste, of a laudable curiosity, and of a benevolent desire to aid a use- ful institution. The public will take this method of benefitting Kenyon college, which so many thousands are uniting, both in England and America, to benefit.

What has excited my most grateful sentiments, and which, no doubt, will call forth similar feelings from you and all that shall hear of it is, that, influenced by the example of the industrious and benevolent exertions of some ladies in England, put forth in aid of the plan to promote religion and learning in the west, many of our American ladies, with an emulation truly praise- worthy, have formed themselves into circles of industry to unite their efforts for the benefit of Kenyon college. This has taken place in Gardiner and Portland, in the State of Maine; in New- buryport and Salem, Massachusetts; and the same is expected in other places. Already have some of them made their offer- ings of considerable value, and they still continue their pious and useful exertions. All this is done and doing in these places, besides what some pious and devoted ladies in Philadelphia and New York are doing to maintain beneficiaries at our college and seminary. What bond of affection this will constitute between them and our benefactors in England, and ourselves in the west, I will leave to you to judge. The pure streams of piety and benevolence will mingle, though their fountains re- spectively be in different and far distant lands.

One thing more, and I shall close my report of the success with which God has been pleased to crown my endeavors, dur- ing the past year, to increase the funds of Kenyon college.

Arthur Tappan, esq., of New York, actuated by a spirit of uncommon liberality, has subscribed one thousand dollars to found a professorship, to be called the Milnor professorship, out of respect to the Rev. Dr. Milnor, rector of St. George's church, New York, who is to have the naming of the professor. The subscription is based on the condition, that, within one year from the date of his signature, in January last, there be raised for the founding of this professorship, ten thousand dol- lars, considering his own donation a part thereof.

To this has been added the subscription of one hundred dol- lars, on the same conditions, by W. W., esq., of New York.

My own brother, the Hon. Dudley Chase, of Vermont, who loves me, and takes a lively interest in Kenyon college, but whose fortune, compared with many others, is small, was so deeply affected at the liberality of Mr. Tappan, of the Presby- terian persuasion, that he generously assured me of another thousand, provided I previously obtained the other seven thou- sand and nine hundred dollars before the end of the year.

On page two hundred and thirty-nine of the "Church Register," published at Philadelphia, July 28, 1827, may be found an account of the laying of the corner-stone of Kenyon college ; from which the following extract is taken :

The ceremonies and solemnities of laying the corner-stone took place on the 9th of June (1827). I think proper, for the satisfaction of those who have not been on the ground, to state that the college grounds, amounting to eight thousand acres, lie inan oblong square form, length from north to south five miles, and width from east to west two miles and a half. The north half, through which the main road to Coshocton passes, is watered by Schenck's creek ; through the south half, on which the college is located, runs, in a very circuitous manner, Vernon river, whose waters are more pure and perennial than any other in the State, or, perhaps, in the western country ; this river enters the tract belonging to the college on the western side, about midway from north to south, of the south four thousand acres, and runs nearly half the distance through it, in an east- erly direction, till it meets with the base of those commanding grounds, from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet above the level of the water, on the top of which are located, in an area of about fifty acres, the town of Gambier and Kenyon col- lege. The river then turns to the south and southeast, and opens to the view a most fertile and beautiful region. A park of lofty trees completely surrounds the college (except at the north), and covers all the descending grounds, consisting of some twelve or fourteen acres. Here, in this smooth and well adapted area, seemingly by the hand of God prepared for the purpose ; on this site, raised above, and forever must be secluded from the noise and busy scenes of life, we saw the preparations for the commencement of this great, good, and benevolent work. As I approached it, after having attended divine service, and heard an excellent sermon under the spread- ing trees, by the Rev. Mr. Morse, I could not but feel as sel- dom I ever have before felt. I blessed God for having permitted me to see the commencement of a Christian institution, the fountain of so many blessings to the present and to future gen- erations. Filled with these thoughts, which the scene, of itself,

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was calculated to inspire, I was called to witness a most appro- priate service, the solemnity of which will be, I trust, imprinted on my memory as long as life shall last.

The Bishop commenced it by saying, "Except the Lord build the house, their labor is but vain that build it."

The ceremony was an impressive one, but too long for insertion here.

The following incident in the building of the college is worthy of preservation, in connection with its location. It is an extract from Bishop Chase's Reminiscences, of June, 1826. He was the first Protestant Episcopal bishop of Ohio, and the work to which he refers was the building of Kenyon college, the Theological seminary and Bexley hall. An immediate resolution was formed for a total prohibition of ardent spirits on College hill. This measure, at the time, was thought rash and unadvised-it was an unheard of thing, for few buildings in America had been erccted without the use of liquors. The Bishop writes :

J. H. was the head carpenter on Gambier hill, and often was he with the writer in consultation on the ways and means of proceeding with the buildings. On entering the college service, he had agreed, as all the rest had agreed, to refrain from the use of spiritous liquors. The writer thought him friendly to this measure, and as he was a Baptist missionary, that he would second the views of the bishop in promoting temperance. But in this there was sad disappointment. What with the love of liquor, the fondness for being the head of a party to maintain the "unalienable rights of an oppressed people," and the desire of humbling the bishop, the promise made when he came on the hill was laid aside, and a combination with the hands was formed, and their grievances were made known by petition. Mr. H. was the "scribe," and the first to subscribe ; and a ma- jority of the rest, to the number of nineteen, chief men of the company, "men of renown," followed his example. This famous petition was in the following words :

"To the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase:

SIR: We, the undersigned, being mechanics and laborers under your employ, have agreed, after mature reflection, and a consultation held upon the subject, to address you a line by way of petition, thereby to make known to you our united re- quest, which request, we presume to think, and humbly trust, will not, by you, be considered unreasonable; and from many considerations we are inclined to believe it not only necessary, but beneficial, both for the preservation of our health and the forwarding of the business in which we are engaged. Request as follows: That you will grant us the use of spiritous liquors three times a day, while we may be occupied in your service, in quantity, one small glass at each time; inasmuch as it has be- come a custom, not only in this State, but throughout the United States, to have it more or less at places where public works are going forward, a moderate use of which, in our opin- ion, would greatly forward the business in which we are en- gaged. The principal reasons which we urge for asking the foregoing, are the following, to wit: Having to work the prin- cipal part of the time under the influence of the sun's rays, and

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 85

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096