History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 56

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 56

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ing for the interests of the church and its peo- ple : after the Mite Society began the work, there was soon a sufficient sum raised so that in 1877 the house was repaired, weather- boarded and painted on the outside, house raised, inside plastered, re-seated and furnished at a cost amounting to $380.85. Many of our most influential members have been taken from us by death, but others take their places. In 1892 the Society again repaired the church, painted both out and inside, carpeted it anew, and put in an organ; still it is the same old church-nothing left but the massive frame of former years. In the past 20 years, the Mite Society has benefited the church and Sabbath- school $840.72, and yet we have been set down as "devoid of religion ;" yet we strictly adhere to the rule "Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you." "Love thy neigh- bor as thyself" and especially "Bear ye one an- other's burdens."

A RECORD OF METHODIST MINISTERS AND THEIR CIRCUITS.

Robert Manly. Little Kanawha Circuit 1788 Jesse Stoneman, Muskingum and Hocking Cir-

cuit 1799

Jesse Stoneman and Jos. Chevront, Muskingum and Hocking Circuit 1800 Nathan B. Mills, Little Kanawha and Muskingum Circuit 1801

Nathan B. Mills and William Seele, Muskingum Circuit 1802

George Askins, Muskingum Circuit 1803

George Askins and Jacob Young, Muskingum Cir- cmit 1801

Luther Taylor. Muskingum Circuit

1805

Luther Tavlor and Peter Cartwright, Muskingum Circuit 1806

Solomon Langdon and William Ellington, Mus- kingum and Little Kanawha Circuit 1807

Solomon Langdon, Marietta Circuit 1808

John Thomas. Marietta Circuit 1800 Day'd Young and Vivian Daniel, Marietta Circuit. 1810 David Young and Thomas Branch, Marietta Cir- citit 18II

Isaac Quinn and Joseph Spahr, Marietta Circuit. 1812 Isaac Quinn and Shadrach Rerark, Marietta Cir- cuit 1813

Marcus Lindsey and Joseph Pownell, Marietta Cir- cuit 1814

Marcus Lindsey and Thomas A. Morris, Marietta Circuit 1815

Cornelius Springer and Thomas A. Morris, Mari- etta Circuit 1816

Thomas A. Morris and Job Baker, Marietta Cir- Cliit 1817

Samuel Hamilton and Edward Taylor. Marietta Circuit 1818

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Jacob Hooper ane Ja- T. Wells, Marietta Circuit 1819

Abel Robinson, Marietta Circuit 1820

William J. Kent. Marietta Circuit 1821

Cornelius Springer and Wilham J. Kent, Marietta Circuit 1822

Daniel Limerick and Philip Green, Marietta Cir- cuit 1823

Daniel Limerick and John Stuart, Marietta Circuit 1824 John W. Kenny and Curtis Goddard, Marietta Cir- CIL!t 1825

Leroy Swarmsted. Marietta Circuit 1826

Leroy Swarmsted and James Callaghan, Marietta Circuit 1827

Samuel Hamilton and William Hess, Marietta Circuit 1828

Jacob Young and Samuel Hamilton, Marietta Circuit 1829

John W. Gilbert and Gilbert Blue, Marietta Cir- cuit 1830

Joseph Carper and Absalom D. Fox, Marietta Cir- cuit 1831

Nathan Emery and Wilham Young, Marietta Cir- cuit 1832 Adam Poe and Edward D. Rose, Marietta Cir- cuit 1833 Edward D. Rose and William H. Lander, Mari- etta Circuit 1834

David Lewis and Martin P. Kellogg, Marietta Cir- cuit 1835

William P. Strickland and Dudley Woodbridge. Belpre Circuit 1836 James D. Webb and Joseph Casner. Belpre Circuit 1837 Matthew Scoville and Sheldon Parker. Belpre Circuit 1838 Joseph Morris and Martin Wolf, Belpre Circuit. 1839 James B. Austin and Samuel Maddox, Belpre Cir- cuit 1840 James B. Austin and John W. Devilbiss. Belpre Circuit 1841 John Dillon and Joseph Barringer. Belpre Circuit. 1842 Andrew S. Murphy and Richard A. Arthur, Bar- low Circuit 18.4.3

Andrew S. Murphy and Charles H. Warren, Bar- low Cinc:it 1844

Arza Brown and John W. Towgle. Barlow Cir- Cuit 1845

D. D. Mather and Levi Cunningham. Barlow Cir- cuit 1846 D. D. Mather and J. H. MeCutcheon, Barlow Cir- cuit 1847

J. H. Mccutcheon and James Given, Barlow Cir- cuit 1848

Joseph Barringer and Stephen Frampton, Barlow Circuit 1849

Abraham Cartlich and John R. Prosc. Barlow Cir- cuit 1850 Abraham Cartlich and David C. Benjamin. Bar- low Circuit 1851

Isaac Reynolds and David Mann, Barlow Circuit .. 1852 Isaac Reynolds and Michael Sheets, Barlow Cir- cuit

1853

William W. Cherrington and William F. Filler, Barlow Circuit 1854

William W. Cherrington and A. C. Kelly, Bar-

low Circuit 1855

Josiah Forest and Owen Gifford, Plymouth Cir- cuit 1856 F. Sibley and Sammel Rankin, Plymouth Circuit. 1857 E. Sibley and J. 1. Pilsher. Plymouth Circuit. . . . 1858 William Gleun and J. P. Calvert. Plymouth Cir- cuit 1859

William Glenn and Samuel Rankin, Mymouth Cir- cuit 1860 Wilson Gardner and George Murray, Plymouth Circuit 1861 Stephen Ryland and Damel Ricketts. Plymouth Circuit 1862

J. H. Hopkins and Daniel Ricketts ( supply ), Ply- mouth Circuit 1863

J. H. Hopkins and Gabriel Payne, Plymouth Cir- cuit 1864

J. D). Hathaway and Ellis (supply ), Ply- moutlı Circuit 1865 J. D. Hathaway and Daniel Ricketts, Plymouth Circuit 1866 John W. Steele and Milton B. Cooley ( supply). Plymouth Circuit 1867 John W. Steele and Gabriel Payne ( supply ), Ply- mouth Circuit 1868

W. H. Sayre and R. D. Morgan. Plymouth Cir- cuit 1869

W. H. Sayre and W. H. Mock, Plymouth Circuit. 1870 Robert Callahan and W. H. Mock, Plymouth Cir- cuit 1871

Rober: Callahan and T. R. Locell (supply ). Ply- mouth Circuit 1872 Robert Callahan and J. Antrim (part of year), Plymouth Circuit 1873 Isaac M. Sollers and George R. Copeland, Ply- mouth Circuit 1874

Isaac M. Sollers and Joseph C. Haddox. Ply- mouth Circuit 1875

H. Gortner and C. W. O'Neal, Plymouth Circuit. 1876 William Abernathy, Plymouth Circuit 1877

E. Sibley, Plymouth Circuit 1878 F. Sibley, Plymouth Circuit 1879

F. M. Smith, Plymouth Circuit 1880

J. G. Jones, Plymouth Circuit 1881

J. G. Jones, Piymouth Circuit 1882

T. W. Monroe. Plymouth Circuit 1 883

P. S. Butts ( six months). T. W. Monroe (balance of year), Plymouth Circuit 1884

T. T. Buell, Plymouth Circuit 1885

T. T. Buell, Plymouth Circuit 1886

T. T. Buell, Plymouth Circuit 1887

L. C. Alexander, Plymouth Circuit 1888

L. C. Alexander. Plymouth Circuit 1889

1 .. C. Alexander, Plymouth Circuit 1800

C. A. Anderson, Plymouth Circuit 1891

F. B. Cheadle. Plymouth Circuit 1892

PRESIDING ELDERS SINCE 1836.

John Ferree 1836

Samuel Hamilton 1837

Isaac C. Hunter 1841

John Ferree 1842

Robert C. Spencer 1843

Jacob Young 1845

E. M. Boring 1852

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

PRESIDING ELDERS -- CONTINUED.

I. W. Clark 1856

B. N. Spahr 1860

John Fraver 1865

S. Af. Merrill

1867

A. B. See

1868

F. H. Dixon

1872

James Kendall

1876

Henry Gortver 1878

S C. Frampton 1883

T. M. Leslie

1886

G. W. Burns

1892

The African Methodist Episcopal Church.

It is not definitely known when the African Methodist Episcopal Church was formally or- ganized, but meetings were probably held as early as 1860, at first in private houses, and later in the lecture room of the Baptist Church. The mentbership was small, but in 1865 the "Old School" Presbyterian Church on Third street was purchased. The membership has steadily increased, and much good has been ac- complished. The Sunday-school has a good number of attendants, and a small library.

The Wesleyan Methodist Church.

Among colored circles the Wesleyan Meth- odist Church, situated on Second street, be- tween Sacra Via and Montgomery streets, is an important factor. Services were first held in a building on Third street, above Scammel, and next in a school building on the corner of Third and Scammel streets. The old engine house on Fourth street was next purchased, and moved to Second street, on the location of the present church structure. Services were held in that building for a number of years, until about four years ago, when during the el- dership of Rev. Amos Lawrence, the present church edifice was erected. Funds for the new building were raised by the members, and also by a number of church entertainments. The church building is neat and comfortable, and the church society is large and flourishing. The church has an excellent choir, and a large Sab- bath-school.

The First Presbyterian Church.

Presbyterianism was late in effecting a per-

manent organization in Marietta. There seem to have been those of Presbyterian preferences among the early settlers, for a movement to- ward the forming of a second church organiza- tion, Presbyterian in polity, in the lately found- ed village was started in 1803, under Rev. Ste- phen Lindley. A church buikling was begun on lower Third street, near the river, but was never finished. It is doubtful whether a reg- ular organization was effected, and in 1816 the enterprise was given up. For many years the Presbyterians in Marietta worshiped with the old Congregational Church. It is well known that early in the last century, under the so- called "Plan of Union," the relations between Presbyterianism and Congregationalism were very close, and Presbyterians, coming to Mari- etta, were quite content with the already exist- ing church, which they regarded as prac- tically their own. But as the city grew in population, the separation was sure to come ; that it was so long delayed proves how harmonious the relations were. In 1841 a Presbyterian Church connected with the "Old School" branch was established; a house of worship was built on Third street, and services were held there for some time. The building is now owned by the African Methodist Epis- copal Church. This little Presbyterian Church ceased its separate existence after a few years, but was united with the Beech Grove Presby- terian Church, about six miles to the east of the city. On several later occasions the sug- gestion of a Presbyterian organization was made, but nothing further was done until 1805.

In the summer of that year, a favorable op- portunity having occurred, the movement start- ed again, and this time it succeeded. On Au- gust 27th the church was organized with 53 members, and was shortly after received by the Presbytery of Athens, of which it is still a part. Of these 53. the names of 14 still stand on the church's roll; probably a third of the rest are living. The first elders elected were Silas Slocomb and Sala Bosworth, both now de- ceased. The first trustees were J. D. Cotton, M. D., Silas Slocomb, R. R. Dawes, Stephen Newton, and G. N. Eells. Rev. Henry Bal-

395

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

lantine, D. D. now of Baltimore, Maryland, was called to the pastorate, and the building now owned by the Central Christian Church was erected and dedicated January 28, 1806. In June, 1869, after a most successful work, Rev. Mr. Ballantine resigned, on account of impaired health, and in the following Septem- ber Rev. William Addy. D. D., was called. llis long and blessed pastorate continued for 22 years, but in December, 1891, this good man passed away to his reward. During this per- iod the present parsonage was purchased, and the church enlarged. In June, 1892, Rev. William E. Roe, D. D., was installed as pastor, which office he still occupies. In June, 1897. the present handsome stone building was dedi- cated, and the name, previously "The Fourth Street Presbyterian Church," was changed to "The First Presbyterian Church of Marietta." Subsequently a fine organ was put in, largely through a bequest of the late Miss Mary Cone. of Marietta, and the debt, resting on the church was provided for.

The present membership is slightly over 300 ; since the beginning 800 in all have been connected with the church. At present the elders are Stephen Newton, Charles H. New- ton, Elmer M. Monfort, Clifford E. Corwin, and Charles D. Webster. Quite recently 11. B. Shipman, an elder for many years, passed away. The trustees of the church are J. D. Cotton, president; Charles HI. Newton, secre- tary; T. M. Sheets, treasurer : W. F. Robert- son, L. J. Cutter, G. B. Sunderland, and M. F. Noll. The Sunday-school numbers 240; the superintendent is Clifford E. Corwin. The president of the Christian Endeavor Society is William Wagner; of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society, Mrs. W. E. Roe: of the Women's Home Misionary Society, Miss S. J. Cutler ; of the Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs. . 1. W. Hutchison.

With a central situation, complete equip- ment, and a united people, its early struggles past and on the pleasantest terms with all its sister churches, the Presbyterian Church looks forward most hopefully to its future work, be- lieving that it will not be unimportant.

The First Unitarian Society in Marietta.

On January 30, 1855, the following call ap- peared in the Marietta Intelligencer:

To the Friends of Unvarian Christianity in Marietta

The day has arrived when I think an attempt should be made to form and organize a U'itarian. bbera!, na- tional, religious society in this place, for the worship of God in Cinty and not in Trinity, in accordance with the plain. numy tified letter of the Bible I shall De mest happy to meet sich Cristian friends at the court room of the Court House, on Saturday next. Feb. 3. at seven o'clock. P. M., that we may exchange Christian views of our duty to God and man, and then and there agree, if we can, upon our future course. NAHUM WARD,

In accordance with the above notice, a few friends assembled at the appointed honr, and were addressed by Mr. Ward in regard to the object of the meeting; after which he submit- ted the following, as a basis of organization for ' a society :

We. the undersigned. citizens of Marietta and vi- cinity. in the county of Washington and State of Ohio, Believing in the Unity, and in the paternal char- acter and merciful government of God; in man's nat- ural capacity of virtue, and hability to sin; in the sun pernatural authority of Jesus Christ, as a teacher sent from God; in his divine mission as a Redeemer; in his moral perfection as an Example: in the remedial as well as retributive office and intention of the divine punishment in the soul's immediate ascension, on re- lease from the body. to its account and reward; and that salvation rests, not on superficial observance of rites or on intellectual assent to creeds, or on any ar- bitrary decrees, but, under the grace of God, on the rightness of the ruling affection, on humble faithful- ness of hfe. and integral goodness of character :-

Overlooking all minor differences, sinking all alien- ating controversies, in th: generous and conciliatory spirit that bacomes us best, that we may go forth and live the Christian life, not as a form, but a principle. with a warmer philanthropy, a holier conservation. a deeper piety a more umted front. than we have yet shown: in the fear and affection of God, in the faith and love of Christ :-

1)› form and organize ourselves, and such per- sons as may hereafter unite with us, into a church and society, to be known and called the "First Unitarian Society in Marietta."-

The foregoing basis of organization being then signed by a number of persons, Nahum Ward was elected chairman, and John C. Mc- Coy, Jr., secretary.

396

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

A code of by-laws was then adopted for the government of the Society, and in pursuance of the provisions of the first by-law, Nahum Ward, William S. Ward and John C. McCoy, Jr., were elected the first Board of Trustees.

The church building was begun on July 2, 1855, when the first corner stone was laid, and from that time until its dedication, June 4, 1857, the work was pushed steadily forward. The entire cost of this splendid structure, with furnishings, including an organ which at the time was the finest in the city, together with the lot upon which the building stands, amount- ing to about $25,000, was contributed by Mr. Ward.

The dedicatory services were conducted by Rev. S. K. Lothrop, D. D., President of the American Unitarian Association, assisted by Rev. Drs. Miles, of Boston, Ellis, of Charles- town, and Burnap, of Baltimore. At the com- mencement of these services, Mr. Ward made a formal presentation of a deed of the property to the trustees of the society.

In June, 1856, William S. Ward was elect- ed treasurer of the society, which position he filled until the time of his death. During his life time, Mr. Ward made a gift to the society of the lot adjoining the church, upon which the parsonage now stands, besides providing by his will a fund that went far towards paying for the parsonage itself. He was the first su- perintendent of the Sunday-school and re- mained in that position until his death.

. Rev. Rushton D. Burr was the first settled minister. He was followed by W. L. Gage, after whom came in course E. C. Guild, I. J. Mumford, J. M. Windsor, F. May Holland, E. W. Hathaway, W. C. Fismey, J. Riley Johnson, C. H. Dutton, F. S. Thatcher, J. T. Lusk and E. A. Coil, the present pastor.

Among those who were active in the early support and management of its affairs were Gen. I. C. H. Smith, Capt. J. F. Huntington, Theodore Scott, William Warren, Dr. Felix Regnier, Judge Davis Green. James M. Booth, Capt. Owen Franks, James Holden, J. W. Baldwin, Capt. Beale Whittlesey, A. S. Cur- tis, J. J. Brenan and many others.

In May, 1869, a union between the Society

and the "First Universalist Church of Mari- etta," was consummated for the purpose of jointly carrying on the work of the societies. This union has proven a most happy one and today it would be difficult to point out those who belong to the one or the other of these two faiths.

The Society from its organization has been an efficient agent for good in the community, carrying on to the extent of its ability all the departments of religious and charitable work. It has been especially prosperous during the administration of Rev. Mr. Coil, and is at this time stronger in every respect than ever before.

Probably no citizen of Washington County except the late Douglas Putnam, ever contri- buted so much for religious and charitable purposes as the founder of this church. He deserves especial praise for his large-hearted generosity, but as proper mention is made of him elsewhere in this history nothing further will be said here of him or his work.

The Universalist Society.

A Universalist Society was organized in Marietta in 1817. On the 2nd of February, 1832, the Legislature passed an act to incorpor- ate the "First Universalian Religious Library Association, of Marietta." It was the purpose of the Society to build up a large collection of valuable miscellaneous books, and to this ob- ject the property which annually accrued to the Society was appropriated. The more promi- nent members were Griffin Greene, Jr., James M. Booth, Stephen P. Hildreth, Argalus Pix- ley, Louis Mixer and Count de Bonny. It is not known just when the Society began to hold religious services. The frame church, on Sec- ond street, was built in 1842. It was dedicated by Rev. J. T. Flanders, who was then regular pastor. One room of this building was fitted for the library, and used for that purpose until the books were destroyed during the flood in April, 1860. In March, 1850, the Western Liberal Institute was established and placed under the care of this church.

The ministers prior to the union with the Unitarian Society were: J. T. Flanders,

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

George S. Weaver, T. C. Eaton, Mr. Bartlett, Thomas Barron, Mr. Ilicks. J. M. MeMasters and J. W. Henley. The church, previous to the destruction of the library, in which the min- isterial funds of 30 years had been invested, was in a very flourishing condition The li- brary contained about 3,000 volumes, and many liberal Christians supported the Society that they might receive in return the benefits of the library.

In the spring of 1869 a successful move- ment was set on foot for uniting the First Uni- tarian Society and the First Universalist Church into one society, which since that date has maintained public worship in the church edifice erected by Mr. Ward.

First United Brethren Church.

The United Brethren Church was organ-

ized with a membership of about 90 sometime during the winter of 1857. In the early part of the winter a series of protracted meetings were commenced, which resulted in one of the greatest revivals ever known in Marietta. This revival increased the membership to nearly 200. It was deemed advisable by these converts and others who had taken part in the meetings to organize a church independent of the Wesleyan Methodist, whose pastor had conducted the pro- tracted meetings, and a vote taken for the pur- pose, showed a decided partiality for the United Brethren, and the conference at its next ses- + sion formally received the new organization as the United Brethren Church of Marietta. A' new chapel affords the congregation, now a large one, a comfortable place for ser- vices.

CHAPTER XV.

THE PRESS.

Probably the leading factor which makes and signifies a country's development, intellect- ually, commercially, and politically, is the news paper. It is both the cause and the effect of a permanent and substantial upbuilding of a community, and bears much on its face of the surroundings in which it has its existence. 1 newspaper may be pretty thoroughly relied upon to express what manner of people com- pose the moral, social, and business make-up of a settlement, be it large or small.

It seems scarcely within the realm of be- lief to think that here at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers-a locality that in the beginning of the 19th century was consid- ered to be on the frontier, at the very outposts of civilization-there should be erected such an institution as a newspaper, but such is the fact, for the year isof was witness to the es- tablishment of a newspaper which exists today, and bears every evidence of permanency.

The white people who first came into this valley were of New England stock -- Yankees ; and associated with their fortitude and thrift was that desire to keep in the very front line as regards education and the dissemination of in- telligence and information. The result of this feeling was the establishing in the "Stockade" on the north side of Washington street, be- tween Front and Second streets, of the Ohio Gazette and Virginia Herald, a name assumed doubtless for the promotion and perpetuation of a friendliness between the people on both sides of the Ohio. Wyllys Silliman and Elijah Backus were the owners and editors-divid-

ing their time between the practice of law and the promulgation of intelligence. The paper was born December 18, 1801, and its size was by no means commensurate with the length of its name ; for compared with our papers of the present day, it was a mere leaflet, containing little that would appeal to the tastes of the pres- ent day readers. Most of the matter pertained to the doings of the East-particularly Con- gress, and miscellany of a not particularly at- tractive kind occupied a portion of the space each week. About all that pertained to local affairs were the meagre advertisements of legal notices. The papers of that time could not strictly be termed newspapers, for the hap- penings recorded were in most cases weeks old, and were obtainable only through the slow channels operating in that day.

Writing in those days bore a different ap- pearance from that we now are accustomed to follow. It had in it a dignity and grace which would seem to befit the powdered wig, the rui- fied shirt, the knee breeches, and the buckled shoes. The editor seemed by his expressions to be in court attire with a lexicon of polished phrases and "Chesterfield's Letters" at his el- bon. His position in his community must have given just cause for jealousy on the part of the village blacksmith, whose prestige had heretofore been indisputable.

The outfit on which was printed the Gazette ( for short ) was purchased by Messrs. Silliman and Backus in Philadelphia, and was very simple and crude as compared with the plants of today. The press was of wood with a flat

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

stone for its bed, and to "pull" a sheet was an involved operation, requiring the undivided at- tention of a man and boy : the man inserting the same between type and platen, pulling sev- eral hundred pounds at a big lever to give the impression, then releasing and returning the frame to a position for taking out the printed sheet and to make room for its successor. The boy spent his time inking the types, either with balls of buckskin or a roller made of a con:po- sition of glue and molasses.

The early editor was necessarily not partic - ular as to what he did, for he could not act in any one particular capacity. He was cchitorial writer, news compositor, "ad"-setter, press- man, roller-maker, machinist, circulation mar, and about everything but "devil." This latte. functionary did the coarser work about the place : and no doubt in his thoughtful moments looked upon the editor as a god, occupying an exalted position in whose direction he humbly wished his toes to point.

In 1803 Mr. Backus was elected to the State Senate and later moved to Pittsburgh where in 1807 or 1808 he died. Mr. Silliman, the other member of this firm of publishers, also enjoyed political honors-serving in the State Legislature in 1803, and afterward going to omnesville where he held the position of regis- trar in the Land Office, a political place given to him under Jefferson, whom he and his part- ner supported.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 56

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490