History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 99

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 99

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No important changes occur during the succeed- ing years, except the changes of pastors. The fol- lowing are the names of these after J. W. Gilbert

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and his colleague: Rev. T. A. S. Philips in 1835; in 1835-6, James Gurley and B. R. Maltby; in 1836-7, C. R. Lovell, J. Hill; in 1837-8, B. F. My- ers, A. Carroll; in 1838-9, John M. Reed, Martin Wolf; in 1839-40, M. A. Milligan, G. G. West and F. A. Lowry.

In 1847 Methodism felt strong enough to sus- tain two churches. Rev. E. B. Chase was the minister. A frame church and lot located on the north side of Main street, between First and Second streets, was purchased of the Universalists, for which they paid eight hundred dollars, and upon which they bestowed twenty-two hundred dol- lars in remodeling. It was dedicated to the wor- ship of God in the fall of 1848; the sermon was preached by Bishop Hamline. At the following session of the Ohio conference, which met in Newark in 1848, the church was divided. Rev. William F. Stewart was appointed pastor to the "eastern charge," and Rev. E. B. Chase was ap- pointed to the "western charge."

The following is a list of appointments during the twelve years of its existence, viz .: William F. Stewart, one year; John Dillon, one year; George W. Brush, two years; H. T. Magill, one year; James Mitchell, two years; J. H. Creighton, two years; W. T. Hand, one year; E. V. Bing, one year.

These two churches remained distinct and sep- arate until 1860, when they were consolidated. In 1864 the erection of the present edifice was projected. Rev. L. Taft was the minister. It is situated on the ground occupied by the old church. The old structure was removed, and dur- ing the four years succeeding the congregation worshipped in the house used formerly by the Eastern congregation. After four years the base- ment was ready for use, and was dedicated to the purpose of divine worship. Rev. L. Cunningham was minister. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Bishop D. W. Clark.

A heavy debt was contracted in the erection of the building which greatly embarrassed the society. In 1874 the audience-room was completed and dedicated. Rev. E. I. Jones was the minister.

The debt contracted in the first building of this church still hung upon it as a great incubus, amounting at times to ten thousand dollars. It

was not until 1879 that this heavy burden was re- moved. The threat of a foreclosure of a mort- gage held by an insurance company in St. Louis, Missouri, brought the whole church suddenly to its feet. A meeting was called, and it was deter- mined to make a final effort to discharge the debt The thirtieth day of April was set apart as a day of prayer. From nine o'clock in the morning un- til ten o'clock at night the voice of supplication was heard in the church. One lady said during these services: "At these altars I was dedicated to God in baptism, by my parents, when I was an infant. At the same altars I gave my hand to the minister as a member of the church, and here I took the sacred vows of marriage, and I had hoped that here my funeral rites might be per- formed, and must it now be forfeited and lost to the church." Before the meeting closed it was apparent that success would follow the efforts. The community was thoroughly in sympathy with the distressed Methodist church. The people, without respect to what church they might belong, said: "No, the Methodist church cannot be sold for debt." Mr. A. B. Clark, editor of the Ameri- can, when the minister, Rev. Orville J. Nave, re- lated to him the danger to which the church was exposed said, at the same time bringing his fist down upon the table, "By George! that cannot be done," and the whole city and county said amen, by willing offerings. In ninety-two days the whole amount needed, eight thousand five hundred dol- lars, was in the hands of the church treasurer and the debts cancelled. Too much cannot be said in praise of the unity of sentiment which prevailed among Christian people, and the liberality of many who were members of no church, in work- ing this society out of its crisis. Much praise has justly been accorded to the minister for the suc- cessful termination of this work.

Mr. Isaac Smucker writes as follows regarding the first Sunday-school of this church. It is al- most unnecessary to add that it has been kept up since that day and is now in a flourishing condi- tion :

"In the spring of 1831, now almost fifty years ago. there was but one church edifice in Newark, and that was in an unfinished condition, with its rough brick walls unplastered, and using slab benches instead of pews. This was the Methodist church, which stood upon or near the site of the present one, corner of

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Church and Fourth streets. The community generally had contributed to its construction, and it was then being occupied jointly every alternate Sabbath by the Methodist"Episcopal so- ciety and by the Protestant Episcopal congregation, then recent- ly organized, whose ministrations were conducted by Rev. C. P. Bronson. Both congregations being so small that neither could well sustain a Sunday-school alone, it was on consultation decided to concentrate the efforts and labors of both, and of such as were not of either congregation, in organizing a union Sunday-school. This was done by the election of Dr. Daniel Marble, of the Episcopal congregation, president of the organ- ization, and Mr. Isaac Smucker treasurer. The names of the vice-president and secretary are not remembered, though it is believed that James Parker was chosen vice-president, and Miss Mary Ann Davis secretary. Mr. Milton Moore was the super- intendent. He was of the Methodist church, and was a young man of most exemplary conduct and deportment, much given to active benevolence and good works. All the officers of this early-time union Sunday-school of half a century ago, so far as they are remembered by the only two resident survivors (Mrs. Dr. Marble and the treasurer), were teachers, as were also Miss Amanda Holmes, Mrs. Robert Hazlett and Mrs. Dr. Marble. The class of the last named, after her resignation, was taught by her sister, Henrietta Trowbridge, who subsequently became the wife of Mr. Milton Moore, both yet living and enjoying a "green old age" (almost octogenarians) at Ra- cine, Wisconsin. After a successful career of a number of years, this union school came to be the Methodist Sunday- school by the withdrawal of those of Protestant Episcopal pro- clivities, who organized one in connection with that congrega- tion, which meanwhile had built a church edifice. It may be proper to remark that there was in this school a preponderance of Episcopal sentiment and influence, and hence the adoption and use therein of the Sunday-school ritual and liturgy of that denomination. And it may also appropriately be said that this union Sunday-school, although of "ye olden time," was not the first, but the second established in Newark, the First Presbyte- rian church having some years before organized one, which was in operation when this one was started, and which held its meetings in the second story of our first market-house, that stood in the middle of West Main street, facing the public square, between the Newkirk and Patton corners, and which still lives, as does also the continuation of the union Sunday- school of 1831."

The Fourth Street Baptist church is now located on the corner of Granville and North Fifth streets. It was organized in 1828, at the corner of Third and Main streets, by Rev. James Beerry.

The first members or this church were Joseph Coffman, John Vance, Peter Coffman, Margaret Coffman, Mrs. Vance, Mr. Kimpton, Mrs. Kimp- ton, Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, H. Gregory and wife, Catharine Platto, Daniel Warren and wife, and some others.

This society erected its first church in 1837, on Fifth street, just north of the canal, now occupied by Foos' carriage shop. This answered the pur-

poses of the society until 1874, when the present magnificent brick structure was erected, and which cost twenty-eight thousand dollars.

The pastors besides Mr. Berry, have been Revs. H. Gear, D. E. Thomas, Granger, Benjamin Thon- as, Andrews, Lamb, Clouse, Wooster, Abbott, Gates, Miller and Owens. The present member- ship is about two hundred and eighty.

The organization of the Sunday-school was prob- ably coeval with that of the church, and has always mantained a vigorous existence, numbering at pres- ent, about two hundred pupils. Mr. George Blood is superintendent.

Protestant Episcopal :- The early beginnings of this church in Newark are of sufficiently modern' date to be in the memory of many now living, yet it is difficult to get at anything very tangible be- fore the regular records in the diocesan journals.

There was, however, occasional preaching, at long intervals, from time to time, for years before there was any church building or even organization; the congregation being gathered at private resi- dences, the court room, or the house of another de- nomination. Of those who thus preached were Bishop Chase, his son, Philander, and the Rev. Doctor Doddridge; and these, perhaps, only when they passed through Newark in their journeys to and from places of more note.

In 1826 this was regarded as a favorable point for the establishment of a church, and one was organized by Bishop Chase. It was represented the next year in the convention by Judge Holmes. It was placed under the missionary care of Rev. N. G. Baldwin, in connection with Zanesville and Granville; hence, having but one-third of his time. The next preacher in charge, after a long vacancy, was the Rev. C. P. Bronson; Rev. R. T. Rogers followed him. The pastorate of these two clergy- men, besides being short (only a few months each), was unfortunate, and little or nothing was done till 1833, when the Right Rev. C. P. McIlvaine, on his way to Gambier from his consecration in the east as bishop, remained in Newark two days, preaching each evening and urging the erection of a church. The record of this visit is as follows:

"The churches of the Methodist and Presbyterian congrega- tions were kindly offered for the use of the Episcopalians in

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Newark. I preached once in each and then held a meeting at the house of Mr. Hazlett. . The meeting was small but spirited, and one thousand one hundred dollars pledged for building."

The parish being without a rector, no further progress was made until the next year, 1834, when Rev. G. Denison, a professor of Kenyon college, Gambier, taking charge, immediate steps were taken for building a church. The following are the names of those who subscribed for the erection of the present building: George Baker, Elijah Cooper, Alexander Holmes, Daniel Marble, Israel Dille, Daniel Duncan, C. W. Searle, L. J. Haughey, Adam Fleek, S. R. Conner, T. J. Christian, S. M. Browning, J. E. Walker, Thomas Morris, James Bramble, Woodford Owens, John N. Wilson, Albert Sherwood, James M. Taylor, Daniel Wilkins, D. S. Wilsor., W. D. Ingman, Rich- ard Harrison, Asahel Dunham, John I. Mooney, Smith Allen, Robert Hazlett, Betsy Rowe, John Boston, Charles Hoover, A. Pier, Nathan King, Joel Arnold, E. S. Woods, John Moore, George McMullen, Henry Smith, Thomas Rowe, Horace Gregory, Henry Lemley, John Hollister, James Parker, Amos H. Caffee, James Holmes, James Young, B. W. Brice, George Hogg, Samuel Dewees, Daniel Gardiner, Martin Lincoln, C. M. Giddings, Robert Bryden, H. S. Sprague, Robert Davidson, and W. G. Oatman.

In 1836, the neat Gothic church on Second street was consecrated. The entire charge and responsibility of its erection had been thrown upon Mr. George Baker. The estimated cost of the buiding to be erected was two thousand six hun- dred dollars; but Mr. Baker, with changes, addi- tions and improvements ran up the bills to three times that sum. On being expostulated with, his reply was: "What difference does It make; do you doubt my ability or willingness to pay all this addi- tional expense? All I have belongs to the church." Under such protestations the fears of the members subsided, for Mr. Baker was wealthy, without heirs, and a man of his word. But the best of inten- tions sometimes comes to naught through misfor- tune. Entering into an unsuccessful business partnership, this good friend of the church became insolvent, and the debt passed into the hands of one who held the vestry responsible-Mr. N. B. Hogg. This gentleman, however, was generous.

Instead of demanding four thousand dollars, as he might justly have done, he settled his claim for half that sum.

The parish gained in numbers and influence under the rectorship of Mr. Denison.

Following is a list of the ministers who succeed- Mr. Denison: W. H. Newman. 1837; John Ufford, 1840; G. Denison (second term), 1841; S. A. Bronson, 1850; John Swan, 1851; F. B. Nash, 1852; Henry Blackaller, 1855; H. B. Wray, 1858; J. W. McCarty, 1859; Rev. William Bower, C. S. Bates, D.D., and Rev. F. M. Hall, the present minister, who took charge in December, 1878.

In the history of this church, as in that of every other Episcopal church in this part of Ohio, the name of Bishop Chase was closely identified, and his influence all-powerful in its establishment. His history has been written, and will not be re- ferred to here, but the herculean labors of this good man were simply astonishing. His greatness and power; the good he accomplished, and his many virtues are not as well understood and ap- preciated as they should be; but his name will go down in history among the greatest and best of Ohio's pioneers.

The present membership of this church is about one hundred and seventy-five.

The establishment of the Sabbath-school was probably coeval with that of the church, and has been maintained with a good degree of regularity since. Its membership is at present about one hundred and seventy-five.

Mr. John H. Franklin is one of the most influ- enti alof the Sabbath-school workers in this church.

The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church of Sharon valley .- In 1832, William T. Williams, an immigrant direct from Wales, and James Evans and Robert Walker, Welshmen from Oneida county, New York, settled in the "Sharon valley," a few miles from Newark, in the direction of the Welsh Hills settlement. At this time there was no regular Welsh preaching in Licking county, and hence the foregoing persons united temporarily with the Eng- lish Congregational church of Granville.

In the spring of 1833, the settlers in Sharon, with other families direct from Wales, who located in the valley, united with Walter and Nicodemus

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Griffiths (immigrants of 1815) in establishing a Welsh Sabbath-school at the old stone school- house, two miles northeast of Granville, on the Utica road. This was the pioneer Welsh Sabbath- school in Licking county, and probably in Ohio. These settlers also sustained a regular weekly Welsh prayer meeting.

In October, 1834, Rev. Edward Jones traveled on foot from his home in Cincinnati, to preach a few sermons to his countrymen in Sharon valley and Granville. This feat of clerical pedestrianism was repeated by him in 1835. During this visit he organized, October 25th, at the before mentioned stone school-house, the pioneer Welsh church of Licking county, in which he had the assistance of Rev. William Morgan, recently from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but living, at this time, at the Mary Ann furnace,

The original members were William T. Williams, Mrs. Williams, James and Mrs. Evans, Alban Al- bans, Mrs. Albans, John J. and Mrs. Evans, Robert Walter, William Parry, William Lewis, Mrs. Lewis, Jenkin Hughes, Nathaniel Davis, Mrs. Davis, Miss Albans and Miss Jane Davis.

Rev. William Parry was licensed as a minister of the Gospel at this meeting. Rev. William Morgan was employed as settled pastor of the church. Rev. William Parry occasionally supplied the pulpit until after his ordination, in 1838, when he became the settled minister, and remained such until 1853, a period of fifteen years.

In 1836 the society purchased, for a nominal sum, a lot for a church, on which they erected a frame building (the first in the neighborhood), twenty-one by thirty feet, which was finished in 1837, at a cost of three hundred and twenty-one dollars and eighty-nine cents, besides gratuitous labor performed by friends of the enterprise.

This was the first Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church built in Ohio. There are now more than thirty. This church edifice was dedicated June 25, 1837, by Rev. Dr. Rowlands, of New York city, who was reputed to be one of the most eminent divines in his denomination, and whose character is known to all who are familiar with the religious literature of Wales.

In 1852, Rev. Joseph E. Davis succeeded Will- iam Parry as the settled minister. He was followed

in 1856 by Rev. E. T. Evans, who sustained that relation until 1867, when William Parry again took charge.

The original elders, elected in 1835, were Will- iam T. Williams, James Evans and Alban Albans. Those subsequently elected were John J. Evans and Robert Walter in 1842, and David Hughes in 1859. The Sabbath-school has been regularly sus- tained from its establishment, in 1833, to the pres- ent time. The services in this church have always been conducted in the Welsh language.

This is properly the pioneer Welsh church in Licking county, because the Baptist church on the Welsh Hills, although organized in 1808, nearly thirty years before this one, is but partially Welsh, its public ministrations having generally been con- ducted in the English language, and only occasion- ally in Welsh. It is probable, however, that a ma- jority of its members had been natives of Wales or of Welsh parentage. The original church build- ing is still occupied by this church. The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist churches of Newark and Granville were, to some extent, branches of this church.

The St. John's German Lutheran church was probably organized as early as 1835, by Heinrich Rickenbach and a few others. Their first meetings were held in a school-house which stood on the rear end of the first Presbyterian church lot. They rented this building for their purposes and held meetings here several years, and although no record appears, the probability is that Mr. Rickenbach preached for them in these earlier years. In 1841 they were strong enough to erect a small brick church on South Fifth street, on the site of the present building.

The first officers of this church were Heinrich Rickenback, president; David Fisher, treasurer; Franz Boedel, secretary ; and Jacob Grasser, Jacob Paul, Carl Frederick Boettcher and John Ehrgott, elders.

The present brick church was erected in 1870, and is surmounted by a chime of three bells. For the last three years, the church being somewhat in debt, has not felt able to employ a minister, and Mr. F. Kochendorfer has officiated in that capacity free of charge. As their debts are about cancelled

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they have employed the Rev. L. Hass, who will soon take charge. There are about one hundred members connected with the church at present. A Sunday-school has been maintained since the or- ganization of the church.

The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church of Newark .- Rev. William Parry, of Granville, preached in Newark in August, 1836, at the house of Mr. Thomas Hughes, which stood on the lot north of the American house, owned by Andrew Smucker. This, it is said, was the first Welsh ser- mon preached in Newark. Few, if any other Welsh families, then resided in Newark. The text was from Luke xii. 32: "Fear not, little flock."

From this time until the autumn of 1840, there was Welsh preaching occasionally; a school-house south of the canal being used for that purpose, as well as for the purposes of a Sabbath-school, which was early established.

The Welsh citizens in town and country wor- shipped together, and in 1840-41, erected a church on Granville street, at a cost of five hundred and fifty-five dollars and eighty-one cents. It was fin- ished in May, 1841, and a church was duly organ- ized May 28, 1841, with twenty-four members. Rev. William Parry ministered to them occasion- ally, until September of the same year, when Rev. Hugh E. Rees, recently from Llanderfel, Wales, was called as settled pastor.

Thomas Hughes and Morgan Williams were elected deacons, and Thomas Hughes, William Parry, Morgan Williams, Timothy Winston, Rich- ard Watkins, Thomas Dowell and Enos Owens, were elected trustees. During this year, a valua- ble accession to the church was Deacon Robert Owens, of Montgomeryshire, Wales, and Deacon Edward Brown and family, and a number of other families strengthened the church in 1844.

In January, 1845, a difficulty occurred in the church, and Rev. H. E. Rees and most of the con- gregation removed to a brick school-house on the east side of Mt. Vernon street, and there, on Sun- dav, January 12, 1845, established themselves as a church. The minority that remained, consisting of eight or ten members, retained possession of the church.

Those removing to the school-house soon po. chased that building, paying for it three hundred and eighty dollars. This served their purpose = til 1856, when a new church was built on E: street at a cost of a little more than two thouser: three hundred dollars, nearly three hundred dolis of which were contributed by those outside z. church.

Mr. Rees continued his ministrations u. 1848, when he removed to Cincinnati. Rex. Hugh Roberts succeeded him, and remained u ::: July, 1852, when Rev. Joseph E. Davies took charge, and continued his services until the spring of 1855. He was followed by Rev. E. T. Evans and Rev. Mr. Roberts.

The services in this church are conducted 1 the Welsh language.

A Sabbath-school has been connected with the church since its establishment, and has genera !! been a large, active one.

That portion of the congregation which retained the church on Granville street kept up a separate organization some time, perhaps two years, but · gradually grew weaker until it ceased to exist Many of its members joined the seceding branch. which was recognized as the legitimate church

The Welsh Congregational church of Newark- Rev. James Davis, from the Welsh settlement on Owl creek, preached the first Welsh Congregationi' sermon in Newark, about 1837.

Thomas D. Jones and Nicodemus Griffiths who lived a few miles northwest of Newark, and who were very decided Congregationalists, were the first to move in the matter of organizing this church Learning that several Welsh families of their faith had settled here and in the neighborhood, they called upon them, and the interview resulted in the appointment to meet at the house of David Jor.es in Lockport to consider the subject.

This meeting was held early in 1841, and ma attended by Rev. Rees Powell, of Delawan county, and Rev. Seth Howell (a Presbyteras minister), who was a sojourner in the neighbor hood at the time, David Jones, T. D. Jones Thomas Rees, David Lewis and Thomas Roberts with their families; also Mr. Evan W. Evans and Titus and Joshua Davis.

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An adjourned meeting was held the next day, at he house of Thomas Rees in Newark, where the Velsh Congregational church was organized. Thomas D. Jones, David Lewis and Thomas Rees vere elected deacons.

They soon after purchased a frame church build- ng on Mt. Vernon street, furnished with ordinary wooden seats, and old ten-plate Mary Ann furnace itoves, for a little less than five hundred dollars. They took possession March 3, 1841, and elected David Jones, Evan W. Evans, Thomas Roberts, Thomas D. Jones, David Lewis, Watkin Watkins and Thomas Rees, trustees.

Sabbath services were conducted by Rev. John Powell, assisted by Rev. Thomas W. Evans after his arrival from Wales, in July of this year. These joint labors were continued until 1843, when Rev. Jenkin Jenkins was chosen the regular pastor ; he served, however, but one year, and was followed, in 1846, by Thomas W. Evans, who remained until 1856, and was succeeded for a few months by Rev. Rees M. Evans. Rev. David R. Jenkins then became pastor, and so continued until his death, which occurred March 11, 1861. Rev. David Price was elected pastor in October, 1862, and re- mained until March, 1869.

In 1867 this society erected a fine brick church, costing seven thousand dollars.

Weekly prayer meetings and a Sabbath-school have been regularly maintained since the organiza- tion of the church.

The pulpit and other services have generally been conducted in the Welsh language.

The African Methodist Episcopal church is located on Church street, between First and Second.

Its early history rests mostly on tradition, but the organization existed as early as 1840. It was probably organized here about or before that time. Prior to its organization the few colored people in Newark attended other churches, and their chil- dren the Sunday-schools of the white people. The names of the original members of this organization cannot be ascertained; nor those of the ministers who were influential in bringing it into existence. Some of the early ministers, however, were Revs. George Coleman, Ratliff, Major J. Wilkinson,

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 99

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