USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 41
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MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
consists of the congregations at Bethel, Concord and Sedalia, in Range township, and Newport, or Walnut Run, in Paint township. This circuit at one time also included a congregation at the Foster school house in Oak Run township. The parsonage of the circuit is located in Sedalia. A lot adjoining the church there on the north was pur- chased, and in the summer of 1868, a large two-story frame house was erected by Thomas Ilughs, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. This parsonage is occupied by the pres- ent pastor. The pastor of the circuit preaches at each place every other week, at Sedalia and Newport on one Sunday, and at Bethel and Concord on the next.
CONCORD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Concord was organized in 1816-17, at the house of Richard Gosslee, with a class consisting of the following persons: Richard Gosslee and wife, Charles Holland and wife, Thomas Dawson and wife, and a few others whose names are not now obtainable. The house of Mr. Gosslee continued as the preaching place until 1837, when the present church building was completed, and in due form was dedicated to service. In 1860, this church was remodeled and repaired, and rededi- cated to service by a sermon preached by Rev. A. B. See. Some of the early preachers who held services at the house of Mr. Gosslee were Jacob Hooper, James B. Findley, William Findley and William Westlake. The membership was about thirty-eight per- sons in 1880, bus this has grown to the present membership of ninety-eight. The trustees are Nathan Gillespie, Frank Thomas, M. L. Shepherd, James Gillespie, Edward Shepherd, E. J. Gillespie, Allison Grimm, and Daniel Call. The congregation maintains a prosperous Sunday school of about fifty members, of which Oliver Shepherd is the superintendent. Mrs. Warner Snyder is president and Mrs. Maggie Call, treasurer, of the ladies' aid society. This church is a point of the Sedalia circuit, of which Rev. N. C. Patterson is the present pastor. The church is a neat frame building with a gal- lery in the auditorium and a basement that is fitted for entertainments.
BETHEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
The Bethel Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1820 or 1821, by the Rev. Mr. Maley at the house of John Fisher. It is thought that the class consisted of the following ten persons: Jolin Fisher and wife, Elizabeth Fisher, John Morris, Elizabeth Morris, Robert Farrar, Isabel Cox, James Fisher, Sarah Fisher and Prudence Steel. They continued to have preaching at the house of Mr. Fisher and in the summer in the groves of the neighborhood. until the erection of the church building, which it is believed was about 1847-48. The membership now consists of about one hundred persons. The trustees are J. W. Chenoweth, Howard Chenoweth, E. M. Tway, J. F. Martin, John Gill, Charles Wissler, C. M. Foster, T. L. Creath and J. E. Baker. It has a thriving Sunday school of about fifty members. of which J. E. Baker is the superintendent. Mrs. Martha Baker is president and Mrs. Minnie Kellough is secretary, of the Women's For- eign Missionary Society. The Ladies' Aid Society has about one hundred members and Mrs. Beatrice Junk is the president, with Mrs. Gertrude McCallister, treasurer. The first church building is still standing and is a nice brick structure with a gallery. This church is a point on the Sedalia circuit, of which Rev. N. C. Patterson is the present pastor.
BARROW RUN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Early in the settlement along Barrow Run a Methodist class was organized by John Rathburn, with himself, the Allens. the Carrs and some others as the original members. They held their meetings for years in private homes and in the school house, but about 1832-33, they erected a frame building for church purposes, which stood for many years in a dilapidated condition long after its use was discontinued, but which has not entirely disappeared. Meetings and services were held at this house
291
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
until about 1865-66. At one time it is thought that this society was quite large and prosperous, but following the death of some and the moving away of others, the church waned and finally became extinct, over forty years ago. Among the early ministers who preached there were Reverend Morrison, Elder William Raper, Elder George Walker, Reverend Chase and Reverend Webster.
WILSON CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The origin of the Wilson Chapel Methodist Episcopal church dates from the spring of 1873, when a subscription was started and money was raised to erect a church edifice, which was built the same summer on land donated for that purpose by Washington Wil- son, located on the Wilson and Winget pike, east of Little Darby creek about one-half mile, and the house was dedicated to service in the fall of the same year (1873), the dedi- catory sermon being delivered by Elder I. F. King. The house was dedicated to ser- vice free from debt and incumbrance. Rev. R. D. Anderson was appointed to administer to this church and preached every two weeks the first year. In the spring of 1874 a series of meetings was held and several accessions were made to the church, and a class was organized consisting of the following persons: Mrs. Jennie Taylor, Daniel Anderson and wife, Isabel Woods and Mrs. Margaret Bradley, with Daniel Anderson as class leader. He was succeeded by Martin Huddle and he by Hiram Anderson, who was the last. Reverend Anderson was succeeded as minister by Rev. S. S. Sears, and he by Reverend Rudisil; then came to the charge Rev. Tressen Rider, then Rever- end Carter, and during 1SS3, Reverend Lewis was the pastor. The church at one time reached a membership as high as sixty ; but by the death of some and the moving away of others, the membership was reduced until during Reverend Lewis' pastorate it was only fifteen. At that time the church supported a good Sunday school of about sixty members, with Hiram Anderson as its superintendent. This church was discontinued a few years later.
AMITY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
A Methodist Episcopal church was founded at Amity about 1833-5, when a few persons, under the leadership of John Mann, organized a class, embracing, it is believed, the following persons: Henry Downing and family, Eli Douglas and family, John Finch and family, Obil Beach, Benjamin Willey. Lorenzo Beach, Theron Eastman and wife, Rev. Henderson Crabb, and perhaps a few others, with John Mann as class leader. About 1837-38 the little congregation erected a brick church, which was duly dedicated to service, and the society continued in a very prosperous condition for several years, and at one time was quite large in membership. About 1849-50, Mr. Mann sold out his effects, having carried on a large business in an ashery and becoming quite wealthy. He started for California during the prevailing gold excitement there, and from the time of his departure the church began to wane, and finally became extinct-more than sixty-five years ago.
LILLY CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
From the best information obtainable it appears that the Methodist Episcopal church at Lilly Chapel was organized about the year 1828, with the following persons constituting the first class : Philip Durflinger, Isaac Morris, George Bell, Amos Morris, Stephen Morris, William Tway, David Sidner, David Crane, Daniel Durflinger and Samuel Tway, with their wives. For many years their meetings were held in private homes of the neighborhood and then in the school house. In 1850 a frame building was erected and the congregation received the name of Lilly Chapel Methodist Episco- pal church. This building served its purpose until 1887, when the present church edifice was erected at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. It is a brick structure located in the center of the village of Lilly Chapel at the cross roads. A few
292
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
of the ministers who have served this charge are David Kemper, William Westlake. Reverend Pillsbury. David Young, Reverend Finley. B. F. Darling, Theodore Creighton, D. J. Smith, and J. D. Smith. The present pastor is Rev. R. S. Myers. In connection with the church is maintained a prosperous Sunday school which has a membership of about one hundred. S. A. Sidner is the superintendent. Mrs. Bessie Sidner is president of the ladies' aid society and Flora Truitt, president of the women's foreign missionary society.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI OF BIG PLAIN.
Here as elsewhere the Methodist itinerant preachers are found early breaking into the field. A class early was organized at Spring Hill, about three miles northeast of Big Plain, and another class at the old Bales school house. At the latter place preaching was held regularly every two weeks. These meetings were generally conducted by a number of Methodist preachers, one after the other, as they came on the circuit, until the town of California, now known as Big Plain, was laid, when, in 1852, they decided to build a church in that town. Robert Thomas gave them a lot, and, in the summer of that year a frame house was erected, and they organized with the following mem- bers: John F. Chenoweth, Charles Henderson, Charles Warner, Moses Ellsworth, Heze- kiah Chenoweth, Andrew White, John Callander, Thomas Corder, Richard Johnson and their wives, Rachel Bales. Sabina Hume and undoubtedly a few others whose names are lost at this late date. The class leaders for many years were Hezekiah Cheno- weth and Charles Warner. Among the first ministers were the Reverends Hurd, Wolf. Smith. William Sutton, Stewart and Young. Others who have served the church as pastors in later years are J. W. Waite, Herman Carter, J. P. Pillshury, J. W. Baker, T. W. Creighton. G. A. Marshall, T. J. Danforth, N. C. Patterson, I. M. Sollars, J. S. Griffith, J. Herman Mindling and Samnel Bishop, the present pastor. This church is in the Derby circuit, which includes Derby, Big Plain, Era and McKendre stations. with the parsonage at Derby. The membership is about one hundred and thirty-five. In 1SS3, the present church edifice was erected at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. The trustees of the church are Dr. F. P. Fitzgerald, E. O. Fitzgerald, E. C. Griffin, Frank D. Edwards, W. R. Laird. T. W. Nowland, with T. W. Nowland and E. O. Fitzgerald as stewards.
SUMMERFORD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first church to be organized in Somerford township was by the Methodists, about 1828, at the house of Charles Soward, by Rev. James B. Austin, with the following members: Sutton Potee, Charles Soward, Joshua Davis and Samuel, with their wives. with Sutton Potee as class leader. About 1834, the organization changed the place of holding its meetings to Summerford. and services were held in private houses and in the school house until about 1843-44, when a brick church was erected in the east part of town. There services were held until the fall of 1873. when the building was torn down and the hrick was used to help build the present church, which is located in the western part of the village, at a cost of about one thousand seven hundred dol- lars. This house was dedicated to service by Rev. Granville Moody on October 25, 1874. The membership of this church some ten years later was about fifty persons. At present the membership is ninety-eight. This church for several years past has been a point on the circuit of which Lafayette is the head, with the parsonage. For the ministers of the circuit see the history of the Lafayette church. Rev. J. P. Landsittel is the present pastor. The trustees of the church are J. W. Edwards. B. H. Woosley. North Pitzer, Albert Fisher, C. G. Wilson, Earl Edwards, H. Nicewarner, Dan Hendricks and Clarence Potee. The congregation maintains a prosperous Sunday school in connection with the church, of ahout eighty members, of which B. H. Woosley is the superintendent.
293
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
NEWPORT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WALNUT RUN.
One of the first, if not the first, churches to be organized in Madison county was the Methodist Episcopal church of Walnut Run, known as the Newport Methodist Episcopal church. In 1807, at the house of Jonathan Minshall, a class was organized with three members-Jonathan Minshall and wife and David Watson, with the former as class leader. Meetings were held, with occasional preaching, at the house of Jonathan Minshall until, in 1809, David Watson's father, Walter Watson, having located near his son's place, meetings were held at his house until 1822, when David's mother died, after which meetings were held at David's home. As the settlers in the neighbor- hood increased in number, the class grew. Between the years 1816 and 1820, there was held each year, for two or three years, a camp meeting in that neighborhood, which was probably the first of the kind ever held in Madison county. People came to these meetings from many miles distant and camped in tents. At one evening meeting twenty persons joined the church, under the preaching of Rev. Alexander Morrow. The mem- bers held their meetings in private homes until the building of a public school house. about 1831-32, when the services were held in the school house, which was erected where the cemetery is now located. There the church continued to hold services until about 1850, when the society built a church about one mile east of Walnut Run. The building was a good substantial frame structure, erected at a cost of about seven hun- dred dollars. This building served until the erection of the present edifice in Walnut Run, about 1872. It is a neat brick building, fifty-six by thirty-two feet, and cost about four thousand five hundred dollars. At the time of the erection of the first church building the society numbered about twenty members and at the time of the erection of the brick building, about seventy-five members, and at present about two hundred and forty members. The church building was dedicated in November, 1872, with Rev. Joseph Trimble preaching the dedicatory sermon. Since the erection of the first building the church has been served by the following ministers: Mr. Smith, John Stewart, Joseph Brown, Mr. Crum, Archibald Fleming, Mr. Spahr, Samuel Tibitt, J. T. Miller, Mr. Pitzer, A. Alexander, Mr. Heath, Mr. Vananda, A. R. Miller, I. Bradrick, Mr. King, and Isaac Mackey. For the ministers serving since the time of Rev. Isaac Mackey see the history of the Sedalia Methodist church, the head of the circuit of which the Newport church is a member. The present pastor of the circuit is Rev. N. C. Patterson, with his residence at the parsonage in Sedalia.
The present trustees of the church are J. W. Johnson, James Withrow, D. M. Withrow, D. G. Kilgore, Stephen Gregg, S. E. Thompson, Frank Kulp, J. M. Neff and Byron Snyder. In connection with the church is a flourishing Sunday school, which ' has been in existence continuously since the erection of the first frame church. It has a membership of about one hundred and fifty, with Elroy Moody as superin- tendent. Mrs. S. E. Thompson is president of the ladies' aid society and Oliver With- row, president of the Epworth League.
MT. STERLING METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first class of the Mt. Sterling Methodist Episcopal church was organized in August, 1831, at the home of John Puckett, with the following members: Lewis Devoll and wife, Jolm Puckett and wife, Sophia Puckett, Sarah Puckett, George W. Ingrim and wife, John Blain and wife and probably a few others whose names cannot be ascertained at this late date, with John Puckett as class leader. For the following three years the class continued to meet and occasionally had preaching at the house of John Puckett. Some of the men who preached there at that time were William Morrow, Jacob Martin, William Westlake and Philip Nation. Mt. Sterling was at that time one of thirty-four preaching points on the London circuit. About 1834, by an earnest effort, money was raised and a church building was erected on the ground now occu-
294
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
pied by the present church. This structure was of brick and cost about seven hundred dollars. In this building preaching and services were continued until the summer of 1859, when the old building was torn down and a frame edifice was erected at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. This building was dedicated in the fall of the same year, Reverend Clark, later Bishop Clark, of Cincinnati, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The historian was unable to obtain a complete list of the pastors that have served this congregation. but the following roster has been obtained through the gener- ous help of the present pastor, Rev. Charles E. Hill: A. R. Miller; J. P. Pillsbury, 1881; P. B. Davis, 1884-85; J. M. Adams, 1885-87; W. S. Benner, 1887-SS; David Storer, 1SS8-90; J. B. Bradrick, 1890-94; A. B. Sniff, 1894-96; J. W. Mougey. 1896-99; H. E. Wright, 1899-1901; A. A. Sayre, 1901-05; S. A. Crosby, 1905-09; Charles E. Hill. since 1909. The frame church building was used by the congregation until 1912, when the present beautiful building was erected at a total cost of about twenty-two thousand dollars. The cornerstone of the new building was laid ou July 20, 1912, by Bishop Daniel 1I. Moore, of Indianapolis. The church was dedicated on August 31, 1913, with Bishop William F. Anderson preaching the dedicatory sermon. The building is a handsome brick structure, trimmed iu stoue. It contains an auditorium and a Sunday school room that may be thrown together and is then capable of seating about eight hundred persons in view of the speaker. The basement is equipped with a kitcheu and a dining-room for the use of the auxiliary societies of the congregation. It also contains the heating and veutilating apparatus and a large room that may be finished as a gymnasium and social room. The entire building is lighted by both electricity and gas. The church owns its parsonage, a neat frame cottage, which was built in 1865 and was remodeled iu the winter of 1901-02. during the pastorate of Reverend Sayre. The church is planning to build a new parsonage in the near future, adjacent to the church. The present membership is about three hundred and twenty-five and Herman Carter, C. H. Clark, H. Clay Johnson, William Blaine, John S. Core, Harvey G. Beale and Willis Jones are the trustees of the church. A flourishing Sunday school is main- tained, which has an enrolled membership of about four hundred and an average attendance of about two hundred and fifty. Milton Shepherd is the superintendeut of the Sunday school.
LOWER GLADE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
It seems certain that the first church organized in Union township was on Glade run, and is now known as the Lower Glade, or Melvin, Methodist Episcopal church. About 1808-09 several persons met at a log house on the farm later owned by Preston Adair, situated betweeu what is known as the upper glade and the lower glade, and there, by the Rev. Mr. Pavey, a class was organized consisting of the following persons: John McDonald, James McDonald, Charles Ewing, Samuel Ewing, John Ewing, Jacob Sidener, John Adair, James Wright, Eliza Wright, William Erwin and his mother, Charles Melviu. John Melvin, Benjamin Melvin, Joseph Melvin, and their wives, Isaac Wright, James Wright, William Ragan. Abby Melvin, Schuyler McDonald, Phebe Melvin, Henry Coon and wife and Polly McDonald. While they continued to hold their meetings at this log house, they were ministered to by the Reverends Pavey, Smith, Bacon, Robert Finley, James Finley, William Sutton aud William Simmons. About 1812, by mutual agreement, for the convenience of the members, the class was divided, those who lived in the vicinity of the upper glade, forming a class, which was the nucleus of the McDonald church, or the Upper Glade Methodist Episcopal church, and those who resided in the vicinity of the lower glade constituted a class, and the beginning of the church, the history of which is here given. This class was composed of the following: James McDonald, William Erwin and his mother; Schuyler McDon- ald, Charles Melvin, John Melvin, Benjamin Melvin, Joseph Melvin, Henry Coon, and
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MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
their wives ; Abby Melvin, Phebe Melvin, Adam Bennett and wife; Jacob McCuen, Sam- uel Adair and wife, and John Harrison and wife, numbering twenty-six members ill all. They held services in the house of James McDonald, and the homes of the others. and in the school house until about 1831, when they erected a log meeting house, which at that time was considered a fine structure. It was probably dedicated by Rev. William Simmons. The people worshipped in this log house for some time without a floor, the minister preaching to the people from a platform of boards laid upon some of the hewed joists. Many years afterward this log building was weather-boarded and repaired, and made to take on quite an improved appearance. Thus fitted up, this house continued to serve the people until 1881, when arrangements were made to erect, upon the same site, a substantial brick edifice, which was built by James Self, of London, and was a fine specimen of workmanship. This house was thirty-two by fifty-four feet, with an eight-foot tower projecting in front, making the extreme length sixty-two feet. In the interior, the house was neatly and tastefully furnished, the seats being of heavy ashwood. trimmed with walnut. The whole cost of the building was a little over twenty-seven hundred dollars. The house was dedicated to service on June 11, 1882, by the presiding elder of the district, Rev. J. F. King. The sermon was delivered on Sabbath morning at ten o'clock, from the text. "We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy temple." (Psalm 65, iv). There were present two of the former pastors, Rev. A. M. Alexander and Rev. B. Tressen- rider, also Rev. J. W. Peters, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of London, all of whom participated in the services. At the close of the discourse, a financial . exhibit was made by the pastor, and the congregation was asked for six hundred and twenty- five dollars, the amount necessary to liquidate the indebtedness of the church. The response made to the call by the elder was both generous and general, and in a half hour or so, the membership and friends contributed about eight hundred and ten dollars. Several friends who were not present had remembered the church and had sent subscriptions. This liberality enabled the church to pay all of its indebtedness and to provide itself with a good bell. After the subscription, the church was pre- sented, on the part of the trustees, by Brother J. J. Melvin, and was then formally dedicated to God as a house of worship, according to the ritual of the church. Rev. John Waite was pastor at that time. This building was occupied until August 23, 1912, when, during a storm, the tower was struck by lightning, setting fire to the edifice. The progress of the fire was swift and all that could be saved was the pulpit furniture. , Insurance to the amount of two thousand dollars was carried on the building and came as a relief to the church in distress. The pastor at that time was Rev. E. A. Harper. Others who were pastors in the old brick church were Revs. Pearly Davis, Pillsbury, George Marshall, Herman Carter, J. W. Baker, Danford, Sollars, Creighton, Steel, Darling, George M. Hughes, Gilmuth, Crosby and Watson.
The present handsome frame structure was completed in January, 1915, at a cost of about two thousand four hundred dollars. This church has had no minister or regular preaching since August, 1912. Its Sunday school was organized in April, 1915. with J. J. Melvin as superintendent. The present membership of the church consists of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Summers, Libby Summers, Edward Summers, Mrs. Nancy Wheeler, Mrs. George Street, Mrs. James Holway, Mrs. Rebecca Lane and J. J. Melvin.
UPPER GLADE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
It is thought that the first church organized within the present limits of Deer Creek township was the Upper Glade, or, as it is also called, the McDonald, Methodist Episcopal church. Further below in the glade was a settlement of Methodists, of whom the Melvin family were numerous and active, and a class was early established there and a church organized. But it was too far distant for the people of the upper
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MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
glade to attend; so, about 1812, a class was organized at the upper glade with the following members: John McDonald, Jacob Sidener, Samuel Samuel and Jolm Ewing, Daniel Wright and John Adair, with their wives. Their meetings were first held at their several homes. One of these homes where they met most often, and whose "latch string" was ever out to the intinerant minister was that of John McDonald, and from him and others of the McDonald family the church received strong support throughout the many years of its existence. After the building of the log school house on Mr. MeDonald's land the meetings of the Methodist class were held there, where they continued. and where they had preaching as often as possible, until, about 1836, when the members contributed of their means and erected a frame building on a site provided by John McDonald, where they later erected their brick church. In this building they worshipped until the building became so dilapidated that it could no longer be occupied, after which they again resorted to the school house. Finally the members and people again rallied. contributing freely of their means, and, in the fall and winter of 1873, a neat and comfortable brick chureh edifice was erected. When ready for dedication, in Mareh, 1874, it was elear of debt, lacking but forty dollars, whereupon George G. McDonald came forward with two twenty-dollar bills. cleared all indebtedness, and the church was dedicated free of all incumbranee.
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