History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 75

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Ohio > Licking County > History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present > Part 75

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

The first meeting, according to the record held by this church after their arrival in Ohio, was February 7, 1806, at which they took into consid- eration the expediency of choosing a special com- mittee to correspond with missionary societies and ministers of the gospel, on the subject of obtain- ing the ministrations of the word of God in this place. They chose for this purpose James Coe and Samuel Everett, jr.

June 15, 1806, this church had the sacrament of the Lord's Supper administered to the members for the first time since their removal here, by Rev. Samuel P. Robbins, pastor of the Congregational Church of Christ in Marietta. A regular record of the church proceedings were kept by the clerk, Mr. Everett. This record shows that various lec- tures were read by the secretaries, dating back as far as February 7, 1806. On Wednesday, February 19th, a lecture was read by Mr. Hoge, a missionary of the general assembly. This was the Rev. Dr. Hoge, who settled about this time as pastor of the Presbyterian church at Franklinton, and removed with that church to Columbus, remaining its pas- tor until his death, in 1864. His pastoral labors with that people covered a period of over fifty years.

April 24, 1808, Rev. Timothy Harris, a licen- tiate from Vermont, preached his first sermon in Granville. On the nineteenth of December of that year, Mr. Harris was ordained pastor. Revs. Lyman Potter, Samuel P. Robbins, James Scott, John Wright, Jacob Lindley and Stephen Lindley were present and officiated. Mr. Harris graduated at Middlebury college, Vermont, and came to Granville a single man, but soon married Bethiah Linnell, daughter of Joseph Linnell. He was a man of fair ability, good scholarship, great modes- ty and undoubted purity. He continued preach- ing many years in this church, and died about the year 1822. His place was supplied by Rev. Ahab Jenks, who was dismissed about 1825. It was thought that Mr. Jenks became obnoxious to the church, or a portion of it, because he consented that the masons who were at work on a house he was building, late in the fall, might work on the Sabbath. After the dismissal of Mr. Jenks, they had no regular pastor until about 1827 or 1828, when Rev. Jacob Little was settled.

Just previous to the death of Mr. Harris, or from 1818 to 1822, the state of religion and mor- als was rather low in Granville. Mr. Harris had be- come an invalid, meetings were not regularly held, and but little religious interest was manifested.

Illustrative of this, some of the young people devised a theatrical performance, and obtained permission of the church authorities to occupy the church for that purpose. A stage was improvised on the top of the unfinished pews. Tragedies were performed, and perhaps some farces; comic songs were sung, and the performances were con- tinued two nights. No charge was made. The house was well filled; people coming from Newark and the surrounding neighborhoods. The names of a few of the performers were Matthew Adams, jr., Hiram Pettibone, Stephen Smith, Calvin K. Warner, William Wing and Jeremiah Jewett. The trustees, however, soon came to the conclusion that the church was not the proper place for such performances.

During Mr. Little's pastorate the following inci- dent is said to have occurred: It was decided that a bell should be purchased for the church. An estimate was made as to the cost, and a subscrip- tion raised to cover, as was supposed, the expense of procuring the bell and hanging it in the tower. A day was appointed for raising it to its place, and the people assembled in large numbers to witness the operation. Too late, it was ascertained that the cost of the bell and other expenses were much more than was expected, and no more money could be procured to pay this 'debt. Everything was ready, the people were assembled, and yet the rais- ing was delayed, when it leaked out in some way that more money must be raised, to pay the deficiency, else the bell could not be put in its place. . The assembled crowd did not pro- pose to be cheated out of the object for which they came together; money enough was immediately raised to cover the debt and the bell put in its place. 'It is thought that this was the first church bell in the county.

A frame church' edifice was erected about 1815, but not entirely finished until 1827, when Mr. Lit- tle took charge. This was the building in which occurred the theatrical performances. Prior to the erection of this frame church in 1815, two others

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had been in use by this congregation. One, a log, was erected in the winter of 1805-6, and was used until about 1810. It was used as a school-house and church together, and for other public meetings. About 1810 this congregation erected a small frame which was in use until 1815, when the larger frame above mentioned was erected. This latter build- ing was removed about 1864, and the present fine brick edifice erected.

Dr. Little's pastorate extended over thirty-nine years. He was very popular, a man of ability and influence, and much beloved by his people. The society over which he presided was not only a religious society, but it had the courage as early as 1831 to take a strong stand against intemperance. Whiskey drinking, as is well known, was freely in- dulged in by men of all parties and conditions, as well as by church members, even the Puritan blood of this church not excepted. Dr. Little was a prime mover in this first temperance society, and its influence soon became so potent for good that strong drink was no longer tolerated in the church.

Dr. Little was followed by Revs. David Beech and Mr. Dudley, and the present pastor, Rev. D. B. Hervey. This church is yet large in numbers, and in a flourishing condition, having changed to Presbyterian about the time the old and new school Presbyterian churches united.

The Sunday-school of this church was first or- ganizid soon after the advent of the colony in the county, and has been successfully continued until the present time, and is now large and active.

It may be proper here to state that the first Pres- byterian preaching in the township was probably by Rev. Thomas Marquis, in 1803. This gentleman visited the Raccoon valley at that date and preached a sermon in an unoccupied cabin, probably that erected by John Jones and vacated by him after the decease of his wife. Patrick Cunningham at- tended this service, and, like all the settlers at that time, was poor and had hoped some of them would tender the requisite hospitalities to the minister; but they all left without inviting him to remain over night, for the reason, pephaps, that each thought his means inadequate to entertain him properly. After all had left, Patrick, whose theological views were in sympathy with those of the preacher, told him that he would gladly entertain him, but that he

had nothing fit to set before him. On this subject a colloquy took place between them which developed the fact that corn for the horse, and milk, com bread and potatoes for the preacher were on hand, whereupon a tarry until the next day was soon ar- ranged. Mr. Marquis afterward, in 1807, held communion service in Newark for the few scatter- ing Presbyterians, and this is about the extent of his operations in this county, so far as remembered He was from Washington county, Pennsylvania.

The first Episcopal preaching in Granville, it is believed, was by Bishop Chase, of Kenyon college On his way from the east, he passed through this place, was requested to hold services and did so. His own short record of it is thus given in 1819: "On my way home, I preached and performed service at Granville. The audience, though assem- bled at two hours notice, was attentive, and further services were requested."

From time to time Episcopal services were held by different ministers passing through, but it did not become a regular preaching station until 1826, when Rev. N. G. Baldwin, taking Granville in con- nection with Zanesville and Newark, organized a parish here.

From that time to the present, though occasion- ally with long intervals of neglect, the parish of St. Luke's, Granville, has had services. The fol- lowing ministers have officiated: Revs. P. Chase, J. Morse, N. G. Baldwin, George Denison, S. A. Bronson, W. C. French, E. A. Strong, Thomas Corlett, E. B. Kellogg, C. S. Doolittle, and J. W. McCarty.

In proportion to its numerical strength and pecu- niary ability, St. Luke's church ever set the other par- ishes of the diocese a good example. Zealous, active and liberal, though but a small band, the members in 1837, erected on the public square a house of worship, which externally was an ornament to the town, and internally tasteful and neat. With furni- ture and organ, its total cost was a little over seven thousand dollars, in those days by no means a small sum.

St. Luke's was, for many years, self-supporting: able to keep a pastor of its own, and give him a respectable living; only, however, by great effort

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and self denial on the part of its members, who, in the best days of the parish, never numbered more than sixty-seven.

That which mainly gave the church strength and stability was the presence of the ladies' seminary, connected with it. In 1838 Rev. Alvah Sandford commenced an Episcopal school for young ladies, which, for many years, was very successful. The buildings in which this school was kept, had been erected by a Baptist society under the lead of Charles Sawyer, in 1832. Mr Sawyer becoming embarrassed, was compelled to dispose of the build- ings, and they were purchased by the Episcopal church.

Those connected with this institution, combined with resident Episcopalians, made a weak church comparatively strong.

This institution, passing into the hands of another principal, Rev. C. S. Doolittle, it was de- cided some years ago to remove it to Mansfield. This was a misfortune to the people of St. Luke's, as it deprived them at once of the regular services of a resident pastor-a deprivation which had the most depressing effect. Since that time the par- ish here has simply kept together, holding its own, perhaps; having a few additions from time to time, but losing by removals about as much as it gains.

The main consolation of the good people of St. Luke's is, that what has been their loss, has been gain to some other parish, that many of those who are an honor to the church, in other portions of the diocese, entered on their Christian course at Granville.

Rev. J. W. McCarty ministered to the church about ten years. Regular preaching has not been sustained since 1873, but occasional services are yet held. Rev. Hall now ministers to the people of this church occasionally.

The Rev. Edward Jones, now of Cincinnati, is believed to have preached the first Welsh sermon 'in Granville, at the residence of Mr. Jenkin Hughes, about the year 1834. About this time also, a Sabbath-school was organized. These ser- vices and Sunday-school exercises were conducted in a rented room over the post office.

Revs. Edward Jones, William Parry and William

Morgan were occasional preachers until 1840, when Rev. William Parry became the settled min- ister. He remained until 1852, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph E. Davis. Rev. E. T. Evans became the settled minister in 1856.

At the organization in 1839, William Ellis, John Jones and William T. Williams were elected elders. J. J. Hughes and John R. Owens were subsequent- ly elected.

A small Sabbath-school is connected with the church.

The first church edifice was erected in 1843; this was succeeded, in 1856, by the building now occupied. Services in this church have always been conducted in Welsh.

The Welsh Hills Baptist church was organized Sep- tember 4, 1808, in the cabin of David Thomas, by Elder James Sutton, assisted by Mr. Steadman. It was styled the "First Regular Baptist Church of Granville," because of its location in Granville town- ship. It continued to be known by that name until 1819, when, upon the organization of the Regular Baptist church, in the village, its name was changed to its present title.

The original members of this organization, nine in number, were Theophilus Rees, David Thomas, jr., Nathan Allyn, jr., David Lobdell, Joshua Lob- dell, Thomas Powell, Elizabeth Rees, Elizabeth Jones and Mary Thomas. Theophilus Rees was elected deacon, and Mr. Lobdell clerk.

They worshipped in private houses for some time, but a log building, with a puncheon floor, and, in size, about eighteen by twenty feet, was erected during the year 1809, on the Rees purchase, about one mile northeast of Granville, which was used, more or less, for a church and school-house several years, when a building, twenty by twenty-four feet was erected two miles north, of round logs, pun- cheon floor and pulpit.

Mr. Phillips donated a few acres of land in connection with this church for a cemetery, in which he and many of his family and descendants are buried.

In 1822, this church was used as a school-house and accidentally burned down,

Deacon Theophilus Rees had also donated some

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ground for a cemetery where the original church stood, which is yet known as the "Welsh Hills cemetery," and in which he and his family are buried. It was given by him February 6, 1808, and on the same day, Rees, son of David Thomas, was buried there, being the first interment. David Lewis and Simon James dug the grave.

These meeting-houses were used alternately, for the better accommodation of the old people of these neighborhoods.

A school-house, standing at a point about mid- way between these meeting-houses, was used some years for church purposes, and private houses were, meanwhile, frequently used for this purpose, as well as churches.

In 1823, a large hewed log meeting-house was built near the site of the one that was burnt, where services were conducted until 1834, when it, too, burnt during its occupancy as a school-house.

After this, a stone school-house, on the farm of Rev. Thomas Hughes, was occupied by the church two years.

At present the services of this church are held in a comfortable frame church-building standing near the old Cambria mills, erected in 1836. It is about thirty by forty feet in size.

Deacon Theophilus Rees may justly be re- garded as the founder of the Welsh Hills church. Through his influence and exertions it was organ- ized, and four of his family were among the first members of it. He lived only about four and a half years after its organization, when it had at- tained to a membership of thirty. He died in February, 1813, aged sixty-six years. He exer- cised the functions of deacon until his death, and was a useful, intelligent and Christian pioneer.

The Welsh Hills church was among the first organized in Licking county. The small Method- ist organization on Hog run, ministered to by Rev. Asa Shinn, in 1803-'4, and the organization ef- fected on the eastern borders of the county through the instrumentality and labors of Rev. Joseph Thrap, in 1805-6, together with the Con- gregational church of Granville, organized in Mas- sachusetts, in 1805, and a Methodist church in Newark, being the only ones of prior date, with- in the present limits of the county.

This small church had preaching very irregu-

larly for the first two years of its existence. Rev. Thomas Powell preached occasionally, and other pioneer preachers, braving the dangers and priva- tions incident to life in the wilderness, sometimes visited and preached for them. Meetings were, however, held regularly, and every month the church met for praise and prayer.

June 10, 1810, Rev. J. W. Patterson, who had recently settled in the county, became settled pas- tor, and continued that relation until 1816.

Elder John Mott, of Knox county, was chosen pastor, and although aged and infirm, continued his ministerial labors six years.

During 1819, Elder George Evans supplied the pulpit temporarily, and for a year there was no settled minister.

About 1823, Mr. Owen Owens, of this church, was licensed to preach, and during his missionary operations, organized "Liberty," "Genoa" and "Homer" churches.

In March, 1823, Elder Thomas Hughes, a licentiate from Wales, who settled in the neigh- borhood, was chosen pastor, and supplied the church regularly until 1832, when he resigned. During his pastorate services were held in the stone school-house, and in the old log church.

Elder James Berry served the church one year after Elder Hughes resigned.

In 1833, Mr. Hughes again became settled minister, and served the church until 1841.

Seventeen persons united with the church dur- ing his ministry, and the aggregate reached seven- ty-one members. Mr. Hughes' resignation was again reluctantly accepted, the church esteeming him a man of sound judgment, and of great wis- dom in counsel.

Elder James Sargent, a young man from Gran- ville college, served the church very acceptably one year. During his ministry thirty persons were received into the church. After his resigna- tion, Messrs. Roberts and Owens, students from Granville college, supplied the church a year or more.

In 1844, Elder David Pritchard, of New York State, was chosen pastor, and remained two years.

In 1846 William Smedmer engaged to supply the church three-fourths of the time, which he did until 1848, when he resigned, and was succeeded

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by E. S. Thomas, who remained about two years. He was succeeded in 1849 by Rev. J. W. Heistand.

In 1851 Thomas Hughes was called for the third time to the pastorate of this church, and died September following, after having been a member of the church for fifty years, most of that time in the ministry.

After his death, the church was served some time by Rev. Dr. Bailey, president of Granville college, and Rev. J. Lawrence. They were fol- lowed in 1853 by Rev. N. Clouse, who remained two years. In January, 1855, Rev. Dr. Hall be- came minister, and served five years, frequently assisted by Mr. Clouse and Rev. E. D. Thomas. Mr. Clouse became pastor again in January, 1863, and continued three years; being succeeded by Rev. B. J. Powell, who also served three years. President Talbot followed for one year, and Rev. A. Jordon for nine months. Revs. J. Kyle, N. Clouse, Miller and Thornton have successively occupied the pulpit since Mr. Jordon's time. During seventy-two years this church has been four and a half years without a pastor. The long- est pastorate, that of Rev. Thomas Hughes, was seventeen and a half years. At present there are fifty members connected with the church; and the Sabbath-school, organized about 1825, contains sixty members.

The Muskingum association was formed in this church in May, 1811, in the building first erected, by Revs. William Brundige, Jacob Drake, William Thrift and J. W. Patterson. This church remained with said association until 1841, when it united with the Columbus association, with which it is yet connected.

The services in this church have generally been conducted in the English language, but occasion- ally in Welsh.

The First Baptist church of Granville was organ- ized in 1819. In Howe's history of Ohio, it is stated that the first Baptist sermon preached in Granville was by Elder Jones in 1806. This is undoubtedly the "Chaplain Jones" of revolution- ary fame, who often visited Licking county, and especially. Granville and the Welsh hills, and

preached to his Baptist friends, and a sketch of whom will be found in another part of this work.

This society may be considered an offspring of the Welsh hills church, founded by Deacon Rees. When their numbers increased sufficiently about Granville, they ceased attending the old church, and organized one of their own. In 1828 they erected a brick church in the west part of town, upon the present site of Professor A. M. Thresh- er's residence, and since that time have erected a frame church on the public square, opposite the Congregational church, and disposed of the old brick building.

From the record dated June 6, 1819, the follow- ing names appear as the first members of the church: Levi Nichols, James Hair, Abraham Chandler, Sanford Castile, Timothy Spellman, jr., Thomas Green, David Adams, Salome Squire, Mary Atwood, Philander Jewett, Sarah Crow, Mary Drake, Rhoda Burnet, Annie Chandler, Jerusha Baker, Sarah Kelly, Betsy Case, Lovina Woods and Polly Phelps.

After Chaplain Jones, Elder George Evans was probably the first preacher for the congregation. He continued his ministerial labors from the or- ganization of the church until October 26, 1822. He was a missionary from Massachusetts. At the above date, he was succeeded by Elder John Han- over, who preached until 1825, and was succeeded by Elders DeBolt in 1825; Hanks, in 1826; James Berry, in 1828; Allen Darrow, after 1832; Henry Carr, from 1842 to 1847; Silas Bailey and Professor John Pratt, until 1851; Jeremiah Hall, D. D., from 1851 to 1853; N. S. Burton, eight years; J. D. King, one year; J. C. Fernald, until 1873, and W. C. P. Rhodes to the present date (November, 1880.)

The Methodist Episcopal church of Granville, although one of the first organized is, as usual, last to take steps for the preservation of its his- tory. No records have been kept until in later years, and consequently its earliest history has dis- appeared. Howe's "Historical Collections" says :

"In the fall (probably the fall of 1806, though no date is given) the first Methodist sermon was preached under a black walnut tree; the first class organized in 1810, and the first church erected in 1824."

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It has been ascertained that this class organized in 1810 was at the house of William Gavit, by the Rev. James B. Finley. This was then called the Knox circuit. The names of the members of this class do not appear, but the names of the minis- ters that immediately succeeded Mr. Finley are Revs. Elisha W. Bowman, 1811; Michael Ellis, 1812; David Knox, 1813; Samuel West, 1814;

John Solomon and John McMahon, 1815; Shad- rick Ruark, 1816; Henry Baker and Philip Green 1817; Thomas Carr and Leonard Lane, 1818, and Thomas Carr and John Solomon, 1819. In 1820 the name of the circuit was changed to Granville. Rev. S. B. Frampton is the present minister, and the church and Sabbath-school are in a flourishing condition.

CHAPTER LI. GRANVILLE CONTINUED.

AN IMPORTANT LEGAL INSTRUMENT-EARLY MILLS-FIRST FARM HOUSE-FIRST BIRTH AND MARRIAGE IN GRANVILLE- FIRST CEMETERY AND FIRST BURIAL-MUSIC-EARLY DOCTORS-FIRST COURT IN THE COUNTY-WILLIAM WING AND HIS CONTRIBUTION-THE LICKING EXPORTING COMPANY-PRICES OF PRODUCE AND OTHER THINGS-OHIO CANAL-MR. BRIGGS' PAPER -- THE "WANDERER "-"THE GRANVILLE INTELLIGENCER"-"LICKING BEE'-THE "DENISONIAN"-THE "HEBARIUM"-THE "COLLEGIAN "-THE "GRANVILLE TIMES"-THE DEAD PIONEERS- FIRST POSTMASTER-THE GRANVILLE ALEXANDRIAN SOCIETY-THE GRANVILLE FURNACE-THE FORGE-DISTIL- LERIES-OIL-MILL-SALT WELL-VARIOUS OTHER BUSINESS MATTERS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF GRANVILLE-THE. CLOCK FACTORY-MILITARY MATTERS-FIRST MERCHANTS-CHARLES SAWYER-LATER MERCHANTS-ABOLITION TROUBLES SNAKES-LIVING DESCENDANTS OF THE PIONEERS-FIRST MASONIC LODGE-WATER WORKS-PRESENT BUSINESS.

NE of the most important legal instruments to

the Granville colony was the partition deed, executed by Mr. Samuel Everett. It partitioned the land among the people of the colony, and was signed by seventy-eight proprietors, in the pres- encelof, and attested by, Abraham Wright, justice of the peace. It bears date of March 8, 1806, and contains twenty-eight closely written pages of foolscap. It appears upon the records of Fairfield county, and is the most lengthy written instrument of the kind upon the records of the county. It was executed gratuitously by Mr. Everett. He was a ready accountant and good conveyancer. He was the father of Harlow, Revel and Israel Everett.

One of the things most needed for the conveni- ence and improvement of the country was a saw- mill. For the purpose of building one, a mill- wright named Phelps, and four men as assistants, had been sent out to the purchase in the spring of

1805. They came in company with Mr. Coe and his surveying corps. A site near where the old furnace stood was selected, and a temporary mill erected. They dammed the Raccoon for the pur- pose of procuring a supply of water, but evidently they did not understand damming a western stream in a new country, and the first freshet swept it away. The mill was abandoned before it was ready for operations. This was a drawback and disappointment to the colony; and from this cause more light and transient dwellings were erected than otherwise would have been.

By the fall of 1806, a saw-mill had been erected further down the stream by Augustine Munson, with a capacity of four thousand feet per day. A reasonable supply of lumber to meet the wants of the colony was now to be had, and the heavier and more substantial structures began to be erected.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 75

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826