History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 43

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207

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LONDON FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The First Presbyterian church of London, Ohio, was born on September 29, 1829, with twenty charter members. Rev. D. C. Allen was the first pastor. The first church building, a frame structure on the corner of Fifth and. Oak streets, was erected in 1834 and 1835. On April 16, 1837, Rev. Allen resigned. his charge as pastor of the church and on April 2, 1839, Rev. E. Van Derman was-called as pastor, being installed the following day. His pastorate was short, as death called him in November, 1839. On November 20, 1840, Rev. R. C. McComb was called as pastor, his pastorate continuing until April, 1854. In July, 1855, Rev. C. W. Finley began his labors at London, Mid- way, Mt. Sterling, Genoa and Grove City, preaching also at several private houses in the community, making London his headquarters. On October 16, 1858, he was called and installed as pastor of the London church. The old church building having become too small to accommodate the congregation, it was decided to erect a new one. This building-the one now in use-was erected during the year 1850.

Major Richard Cowling, besides contributing liberally towards the construction of the church, had the clock placed in the tower at his own expense, and by his last will and testament left a legacy of five hundred dollars for the benefit of the church. During the twenty-two years of faithful service of Reverend Finley, 'the church experienced a healthful and steady growth in numbers and usefulness. His faithful and abundant labors were ended on April 13, 1877, when, after a lingering illness, the Master came to him with the gracious summons: "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." During the last two years of his life he was compelled to give up active service and by the advice of his physician was granted leave of absence for one year, during which time the Rev. A. N. Carson was employed to act as pastor.

On June 14, 1877, Rev. J. G. Patterson was called to the pastorate, which pastoral relation was dissolved on October 5, 1881. At a meeting of the church and congrega- tion, May 22, 1879, the trustees were authorized to purchase a lot and build a parson- age. The present commodious building was the fruit of that decision. Rev. John A. Ewalt, who was installed pastor on April 11, 1882, resigned on October 31, 1900, making a pastorate of almost nineteen years, in which time there were nearly three hundred accessions to the church.

On February 1, 1901, Rev. R. G. Roscamp was employed as supply for one year, after which he was called as pastor and was installed May 12. During his pastorate the church was remodeled, the pipe organ was put in, and beautiful memorial windows were donated by different members of the church. This pastoral relation was dissolved on April 11, 1906. Rev. D. C. Jones was elected supply for one year in October, 1905,

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after which he was called as pastor and was installed in November, 1906. He resigned on June 28, 1908. Rev. J. A. Liggitt began his work in November, 1908, and served until March, 1915. He was followed by the present pastor, Rev. Carl H. White.

There have been employed eleven ministers since the organization of the church. The following ruling elders have been elected and ordained: John Rayburn, William McCoy, Charles Berry, William T. Davidson, Samuel Haller, William Creath, James Rayburn, William McCormack, J. H. Kennedy, R. C. Amos, Joseph Rayburn, P. W. Taylor, Maxwell Murray, B. F. Clark, John Lohr, William M. Kinney, Noah Thomas, Robert Knight, Samuel Withrow, Berthier Lohr, Fred Webster, J. W. Mackinnon, M. Rasor, Murray Creath, Filmore Jackson, Robert Adams, Harry Armstrong, R. K. Shaw, James Bell and C. C. Hankinson.

This congregation looks back on a splendid record; nearly eighty-five years of continuous service, years that speak of God's faithfulness and man's loyalty. The present membership of the church is three hundred and seventy-five. The Sunday school, C. C. Hankinson, superintendent, has four hundred and ten members enrolled, in which is the "busy men's" Bible class, enrolling one hundred and twenty members. with R. K. Shaw as teacher and the "Golden Rule" Bible class of seventy women, with James F. Bell, teacher. The board of trustees of the church consists of John Lohr, Walter Engard, H. W. Robinson and R. K. Shaw, the latter of whom is financial secretary; George H. Van Wagener, treasurer; Walter Engard, president of the Chris- tian Endeavor society, and Mrs. John R. Tanner, president of the "Wimodaughsis" society.

PLAIN CITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Presbyterian church of Plain City appears to have been the first church organized in Madison county. Joshua Ewing and his family, James, his brother, Betsey, his sister, and their aged mother emigrated from Kentucky to Darby township in 1798 and settled a short distance northwest of the present site of Plain City. Archibald Steele, a synodical missionary of the Presbyterian church, hearing of the Ewing settlement, on the bank of Big Darby creek, went there and in 1800, in the cabin of Joshua Ewing, organized the First Presbyterian church in Madison county, if not the first church in Madison county, Joshua Ewing and Samuel Kirkpatrick being elected the first elders of the congregation. Very few families had then settled in the neighborhood and the membership of the church included the most of these. The people lived far apart and had no pastor nor stated supply. Samuel Kirkpatrick lived about eight miles to the north of the Ewing cabin and soon after such families as the Carys, the Mitchells, the Sagers, the Robinsons and others came and settled nearby. The old Ewing settlement had became known as Liberty and the church there was early known as the Liberty Presbyterian church. In the latter part of 1807 or early in 1808, a church was organized at the Kirkpatrick settlement, as a branch of the Liberty church, and Samuel Kirkpatrick transferred his eldership there and became its leader. To distinguish these churches they were designated, respectively, as the Lower Liberty and Upper Liberty churches. Rev. Samuel Wood was the first pastor. On the tombstone marking his grave appears the following inscription: "Rev. Samuel Wood, first pastor of the Presbyterian church of Upper and Lower Liberty, was installed pastor in this church June 15, 1808, and died April 27, 1815, in the thirty- sixth year of his age." Mr. Wood was born in' Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1779, and was a graduate of Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

The Upper Liberty church was situated on the north side of Big Darby creek about two miles from Milford Center. The church building was erected in 1809, and was the first house of worship to be erected in Union county. It stood on the line dividing the farms of Rev. Samuel Wood and Elder Samuel Reed, between the road and the

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old graveyard. It was a plain, primitive building of hewed logs, twenty-four feet square. All the materials and labor were supplied by the membership. It was not necessary to consult an architect and get up plans and specifications and give out the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, and then, when dedication day came, report a few thousand dollars as a debt to be removed before the Lord could get the building. This primitive building, however, was for many years without the means of heating; the people, therefore, meeting during the winter in school houses and private dwellings. The building was very plain internally; slabs, with rude legs, being used as seats. Tradition has it that two or three families, in process of time, became so aristocratic as to construct backs to their pews, thus showing that at an early date invidious dis- tinctions intruded themselves into a church. About 1822-23 an addition of eighteen feet was made to one side of the old church and the building was used until 1834, at which time a brick structure was erected at Milford Center, and the congregation removed there.

As has been pointed out, Upper Liberty was organized as a branch of the Lower Liberty church. Rev. Samuel Wood remained the pastor until his death, in 1815. From that date, Revs. William Dickey, Archibald Steele, James Hodge, D. D., Elder Hughes and others supplied the church until 1821, when Rev. James Robinson was installed as pastor. He served the church seven years. Rev. Darius C. Allen was stated supply from 1829 to 1831. The year following Rev. Benjamin Dolbear became the pastor and continued his labors with this charge until about 1838. In 1837 Lower Liberty was rent in twain by the internal dissensions then troubling Presbyterians The two branches were nearly equally divided, but a slight majority favored the "Old School" branch, Reverend Dolbear remaining with this latter division. His successor, Rev. William Galbreath, was installed on October 7, 1839, and served until April 18, 1848. Rev. Benjamin Evans was the next and last pastor of this branch. In the "New School" division, Rev. Henry Shedd was the only settled pastor, but Reverend Kuhn, Reverend Ulfeld and others acted from time to time as supplies.

Among the earliest prominent members of this church mention must be made of James Ewing, Joshua Ewing, David Mitchell, Jr., David Chapman and John Taylor. The early services were held in private homes; then in the school house, which stood on the lot where the first meeting house was erected. This primitive church stood on four acres donated by Walter Dun, and was situated about a mile northeast of Plain City, in the fork of the Post pike and the road leading northeast to Big Darby. The building was erected as early as 1820, perhaps sooner. It was a large, unfinished frame structure; weather-boarded, but not plastered; roofed, but without a chimney. The seats were only slabs supported by rough sticks. There was a broad center aisle, at each end of which a door was originally designed but never inserted. The women occupied one side of this room; the men held undisputed possession of the other.

This old building could not be heated and was used only in the summer. In cold weather, the school house on the same lot was brought into requisition, its more limited space proving suficient to accommodate the few members who attended in that season. In 1836, a large brick structure, forty-six by fifty-two feet. was reared on the same site. It was constructed by Mr. Gifford. of Union township. The con- gregation numbered about seventy-five. Scarcely had it taken possession of this new building when the trouble arose which produced the division in the church. Of the four ruling elders then in office, James Ewing, T. M. Ewing and John Taylor adhered to the "Old School," and David Chapman united with the "New School" branch. While the congregation was strongly self-supporting, both divisions were too weak to maintain efficient organizations and struggled between life and death for about sixteen years. The "Old School" division kept possession of the church, but by agreement the

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other branch had the use of the church each alternate Sabbath. About 1853 both societies disorganized. Four years later a reconciliation was effected among the mem- bers and a new organization entered into, which re-assumed the old name, Lower Liberty.

Among the old and prominent families of this congregation were the Mitchells, Ewings, Robinsons, Gills, Currys, Rickards, Bucks, Allens, Guys, Taylors and Chap- mans. T. M. Ewing, James Ewing, Jesse Gill, Stephenson Curry, James Robinson, Jesse Mitchell and Abner Chapman were the ruling elders for many years. A number of their descendants are now prominent members of the Presbyterian church at Plain City.

As was the custom, the pews for the men were placed at one side of the church and those for the women at the other. The pulpit was in the front of the church, so that on entering the church one would face the congregation. The platform of the pulpit was about six feet high, and only the head and shoulders of the ministers could be seen, as the front wall of the pulpit was so high. The seats all had high board backs and a door next to the aisle had a button to it which was turned as soon as the children were all counted in. In those days families all sat in the same seat and the seat of each family was well known. Strangers and transients were seated in the rear of the church unless invited to sit with some family. Sunday school was held in the morning at nine-thirty, preaching at eleven; two prayers, and a sermon an hour in length. Then came a half-hour intermission for dinner, which had been brought along in baskets. After eating, all took their seats in the church for another long sermon.

The music was not classical, but there were many good voices and it was a real praise service. The singing was usually led by two of the elders of the church. As there was not a sufficient number of hymn books to go round, the two leaders would stand up in front of the pulpit and "line out" two lines of the hymn and then lead the singing. Jesse Gill and James Robinson were the leaders for many years. Later Benjamin Fay, who played a. flute and was quite a musician, organized a choir of young people. The old brick church drew great congregations during the summers and was often full to overflowing, for the people came from miles around, even from

as far away as Milford Center and Fairview, in wagons, on horseback and on foot. When the young folks would start home on their prancing horses the cavalcade would look like a troop, the young women being as skillful riders as the young men. The regular Sunday services usually lasted until about two o'clock. After the disorganiza- tion of the congregation the old church building was abandoned to the birds and bats, the windows were knocked out, the yard grew up in weeds and bushes, and so it remained until after the Civil War.

Upon the reunion of the congregation, the brick building was torn down and in 1870 the brick was hauled to Plain City, where a commodious structure, graceful in appearance, was erected on the present site of the Presbyterian church on Main street, the church then taking the name of the First Presbyterian church of Plain City, William H. Galbreath, the pastor in 1839, in the old church building, becoming the minister. Among others who served the church should be mentioned David G. Robinson and James Curry.

The old brick building was torn down in 1893, in which year the present beautiful stone edifice was erected, under the pastorate of. Rev. J. M. Work. The present church property consists of the church building and a frame parsonage, the. two valued at about twenty-five thousand dollars. The membership is about two hundred and fifty, served at present (1915) by supply.

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MT. STERLING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

On March 20, 1847, by appointment of the Columbus presbytery, Rev. Timothy Stearns and Rev. Chauncey P. Taylor called a meeting at Mt. Sterling for the purpose and organized a church with the following constituent members: Mrs. Margaret Creath, Sr., Mr. William Creath, Mrs. Mary Creath, Mrs. Jennie M. Alkire, Mr. Samuel Thornton, Dr. David E. McMillan; Mrs. Lydia McMillan, received by certificate from the London church; Mrs. Julia Worthington, received by certificate from the church at Chillicothe, and Amanda Creath, received on examination. William Creath was installed as elder. The church was furnished with a supply minister for many years; the first being Rev. James Dunlap. Services were continued in the old frame building until the erection of a brick edifice in 1868-69, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. In December, 1869, the house was dedicated to service in due form, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. George Carpenter, of Washington C. H. The church was dedicated free from all debt or incumbrance. The first regularly called and installed pastor was Rev. George S. J. Browne, on February 8, 1878. Since that time a new brick building has been built. The present pastor is Rev. Charles J. McCracken. Mt. Sterling is the station point of a circuit composed of the churches at Mt. Sterling, Sedalia and Darbyville.

BIG DARBY BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Big Darby Baptist church was the first church organization in Canaan town- ship and one of the earliest in Madison county. This church was instituted in 1810 by Elder John Thomas, of Champaign county, Ohio, who was a traveling minister through this then almost unbroken wilderness. He gathered together a little band of seven, which first constituted the Big Darby church, and Elder Thomas preached on the occasion. In 1812 the Mad River Baptist association was organized at the house of Abijah Ward, on Buck creek, near Springfield, where the following churches were represented : Kings Creek, Little Beaver, Nettle Creek, Antioch and Big Darby; min- isters present, Elders John Thomas, James Johnson and Lemuel Cottrel. There is no doubt that Elder Thomas was the first pastor of the Big Darby church, which at that time had no regular place of meeting, sometimes holding meetings at the homes of the members, and at other times, when two or more ministers met together, in the barn of some brother. Jehu Guthridge, an elder of the Baptist church in that early day, was the second pastor of this church, and the successor of Elder John Thomas, his name being found among the list of ministers added to the association in 1813, only one year after its organization. Elder Guthridge was succeeded by Elder Thomas Casto, who preached for the church as pastor or supply. In 1828-29, Elder Miller served the church as pastor, and was succeeded by Elder Hess, who served the church one year, some time subsequent to which; the church was served by Elder Peters. During the early history of the church, among the ministers who frequently visited and ministered to them were Elders William Sutton, Chandler Tuttle, T. J. Price and William Fuson. About 1834-35 Elder Isaac Jones was called to take pastoral charge of the church. He was a faithful and highly-esteemed minister and served the congregation until removed by death. In 1841, before the death of Elder Jones, Elder William Fuson visited the church and commenced to labor with the people of that neighborhood in a "protracted effort." The meeting continued for several weeks, dur- ing which time fifty persons confessed faith in Christ and were added to the church.

After the death of Elder Jones, Elder V. E. Bunker was called as the pastor of the church. He was from New Hampshire, a man much esteemed for his excellent qualities of heart and mind. During his pastorate, a period of trial was passed over by the church. The new members becoming dissatisfied with the old declaration of faith, what was known as the declaration of faith of the Baptists of New Hampshire'

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was introduced and adopted by them, which caused dissatisfaction among the old members. The difficulty was finally adjusted by both parties agreeing to leave the matter in the hands of two brethren-Elders Enos French and T. J. Price-with a request that these brethren would pay the disunited congregation a visit and furnish it a declaration of faith on which it could unite. Brother French, not being in good health, did not visit the church, but he and Brother Price met and agreed upon a declaration of faith, whereupon Brother Price visited the church, in December, 1844. and induced the church to lay aside the two, sets of articles upon which it could not agree and adopt those he and Brother French had agreed to recommend. These were unanimously adopted by the church. Thus through the wise and . prudent advice of these brethren, discord and division that threatened the life of the church was removed . and peace and harmony were restored. Elder V. E. Bunker resigned the pastoral care of the church in July, 1845. In September, 1845, Elder Martin; from near Dublin, Franklin county, was called to the church and he served as pastor for one year. Dur- ing his pastorate, Brother J. B. Sutton was called to the church to serve as supply once a month. He was then a licentiate and served but .a short time, resigning in order that he might attend school at Granville. In December, 1847, James Simpson, of the Mechanicsburg church, who was serving that church half the time, paid the church a visit, and in February, 1848, was called by the church to preach twice a month and to take charge of the church. In the month of June following a council was called by the Mechanicsburg church and Brother Simpson was more fully set. apart for the work of the ministry of the Gospel, Elder Enos French being moderator and Elder V. E. Bunker, clerk of the council. Brother Simpson served the church as its pastor for over a quarter of a century. During this long period, the church gen- erally prospered and continued in peace and harmony, but sometimes had its disturbing elements; then again Grace would calm the spirits and all would again move in unison. In 1866 thirty-two were dismissed from the church for the purpose of constituting the . Bethesda church. In November, 1869, a protracted meeting was begun by the pastor, assisted by Brothers T. J. Price and W. R. Thomas. This was the most remarkable in its progress and results of any meeting held within the church during its entire history. The meeting was continued seventeen days and seventy new members were added to the church. In January, 1873, Brother Simpson. resigned his charge, the resignation to take effect in the June following, after which Elder W. R. Thomas was called to serve the church as pastor one-half the time. He accepted and served three years, closing his labors on June 4, 1876. From that time to January, 1877, the church was without a pastor and was visited from time to time by the following brethren: Elders John Kyle and E. B. Smith, Brothers Turner and W. S. Kent, after which the church extended a call to Brother Kent, who accepted and entered upon the labors as pastor. on March 3, 1877, serving until 1882. The present pastor (1915) is Rev. F. M. Myers,

The first regular place of holding meetings of the church was an old log school house with paper windows. The next was a small frame building erected on the same lot where the present church now stands. This was used for several years, when, by the increase of the congregation the house was found too small to accommodate the people. In the summer time, when the weather was pleasant, it was quite common to hold meetings in the grove near the meeting house, the pastor addressing the people from a wagon. At last the pastor and people resolved to build a suitable house for church purposes, and the present structure was erected. On , Saturday, February 1, 1862, the first sermon was preached in the new house by the pastor. from Psalms 27, iv. Elder David E. Thomas preached that evening and on the next day, Sabbath, Elder T. J. Price preached the dedicatory sermon from Second Chronicles, 16, xviii, .the house .

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being dedicated free from all debt. The meetings were continued for several days and numbers were added to the church. The building is at present in very good condition und presents a beautiful appearance, surrounded by the cemetery, with the cozy white parsonage close by.

FIRST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF LONDON ( COLORED).

The First Missionary Baptist church of London (colored) was organized on the fourth Sunday in February, 1866, by Elder George Dardis, with the following mem- bers: John Cain, Samuel Johnston, Levi Taylor, Samuel and William Lewis, Alfred Henrys, Henry White, Lemuel Lewis, David Cain, Isaac Jenkins, George H. Hill, Precilla Carter, Julia Rammah, Laura Cain, Eliza Taylor, Nacy Wintersmith, Alice Mack, Josephine Roberts, Mary Butler, Francis Whales, Lucy Lewis, Julia Andrews, Jennie Robinson, R. Meredith, A. D. Meredith, Elizabeth Wright and Henry A. Johnson. A frame house was purchased by these members, together with a lot situated on Fourth street of Michael Carroll, for one thousand dollars, and the same was occupied by the society as a place of worship until the building of the present brick structure. In the spring of 1876 preparations for the building of a new building were begun, and on July 16 the corner stone was laid by Silver Urn Lodge No. 29, Free and Accepted Masons. Visiting lodges of the same order from neighboring places were in attend- ance, and music for the occasion was furnished by the Columbus barracks band. In the morning services were held in the court house, Rev. James Poindexter, of Columbus, preaching, and in the afternoon the same minister delivered an address in the Presby- terian church, after which the procession formed and marched to the church, where the ceremonies were performed in an impressive manner. The building, a one-story brick, located on Fourth street near Water street, was completed in 1881. at a cost of about two thousand five hundred dollars. The church also owns a small, but neat, frame parsonage which adjoins the church. The pastors have been the Revs. George Dardis, William Balay, William Alfred, Peter Everett, Henry Randolph, Mr. Lewis, C. E. Morris, B. J. Shadd and the present pastor, Cyrus A. Payne. The present member- ship is ninety-two.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 43

Author: Chester E. Bryan Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1207

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207