History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794, Part 35

Author: Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A., Columbus, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [Columbus, O.] : F.J. Everhart & Co.
Number of Pages: 600

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 35

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* was an efficient and successful anti-slavery lec- turer, in this and adjoining counties, its advocate in Presbytery and Synod, and, in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at Cleve- land, in 1857, he made an impromptu speech, which was one of the most effective in that mem- orable body. * He was a model Sab- bath-School Superintendent, and the school was for many years a model Sabbath-School. *

* He was one of the original Trustees of the "Put- nam Ladies' Seminary," and for many years their secretary and financial agent. He was one of the originators of "Woodlawn Cemetery," and. the first President of the Association, and a large part of the work of laying out and adorning that beautiful resting place for the dead is due to his skill and taste. He delivered the address of its dedication, in 1853. In domestic and social re- lations, Mr. Guthrie was eminently qualified to receive and give pleasure. The Austin Guthrie of 1873 was the Austin Guthrie of 1833, un- changed in all, except matured piety.

Then there was Major Nye, the man of mili- tary bearing and iron will, into whose vocabulary the word "can't" never entered ;- a soldier, every inch of him-whose greatest victory, how- ever, was not the victory of arms, but of habits ; whose love of personal liberty. was not more deep than his sympathy for those in bonds, and under whose stern exterior there throbbed a heart of Christian kindness and inflexible integ- rity, that would have braved the dungeon or the stake in defense of truth, and the inalienable rights of man. His early life was coeval with the first settlement of this State, and the history and experience of its tragic scenes, its patient toils and heroic sufferings, were familiar to him as household words. He was born at Chester- field, Mass., June 8th, 1786, and died February 15th, 1859.

Dr. Increase Mathews was the original pur- chaser and one of the founders of Springfield, and whom the Sabbath always found in the house of God, and whose liberal contributions were freely

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

given to the various objects of Christian benevo- lence abroad, as well as for the support of the institutions of religion at home. He established the first drug store, and was for several years the only physician in the Muskingum Valley ; a man of strict integrity, great simplicity and purity of character, and a "gentleman of the old school." He was born in Braintree, Mass., December 22nd, 1772, and died June 6th, 1856.

Alvah Buckingham was born at Ballston Springs, New York, March 20th, 1791, and with his parents and several brothers and sisters, came to Ohio in the early part of the year 1800. He came to this place in 1812, to assist his brother, Ebenezer, and with him subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which, while he was emi- nently successful, he acquired an enviable repu- tation for integrity. He possessed a clear, pen- etrating mind, and his judgment was rarely at fault. He was a member of the building com- mittee of the Putnam Presbyterian Church, and of the Ladies Seminary, and of the Presbyterian manse, as well as one of their founders. The erection of the latter was superintended by him and was aided by him in subscriptions. He was not a professor, though a liberal supporter of the Gospel and a regular attendant at the house of God, a constant reader of the Bible, a good citi- zen and steadfast friend, an affectionate husband and indulgent father.

Solomon Sturges, a native of Fairfield, Conn., was born April 21, 1796. At the age of fourteen he came by sea to Georgetown, D. C., and while the vessel was unloading, Mr. Williams, coming on board, took a fancy to young Sturges and he entered into his employ as a clerk. (Among his associates were: W. W. Corcoran, of Washing- ton City, and George Peabody, known till his death as the American Banker, of London. All of whom were then poor, but started in life, determined to become million-aires, and through the Divine power, reached the goal of their am- bition.) In 1814, at the invitation of Mr. Buck- ingham, Mr. Sturges came to Putnam, and in 1816, in connection with Ebenezer Buckingham and Alvah Buckingham, (the three having married sisters,) formed a partnership, under the firm name of "E. Buckingham, Jr., & Co.", and in the old building, still standing on the bank of the Muskingum river, at the junction of Mus- kingum and Putnam avenues, did a large mer- cantile business. * * * *

Mr. Sturges was a man of great simplicity and transparency of character. What he thought he utterd ; what he felt he manifested unequiv- ocally. He was a generous neighbor, an upright and worthy citizen, and a true self-sacrificing patriot. He equipped, at his own expense, a company of soldiers, named for him, "The Sturges Rifles," and kept them in the field for the support of the cause of the Government in the late war. He was among the very first to invest in Government securities, taking a hun- dred thousand dollars, before the U. S. loan was popular at home. He was one of the founders and Trustees of the Ladies Seminary. And to

the institutions of religion he gave a liberal support, and was a punctual attendant at the house of God. He contributed cheerfully to the vari- ous objects of Christian benevolence, and to the American Colonization Society in particular. After a course of remarkable activity and untir- ing energy, he came back from his lifes' work, to the bosom of his family, and, tenderly nursed by his daughters, died, October 14, 1864, and by his sons was borne to his burial.

Julius C. Guthrie, cut off suddenly in the vigor of manhood, was a successful merchant, highly esteemed ; a man of noble bearing, of warm and generous heart, of tender religious sensibility, a constant attendant and an interested listener and worshiper in the sancturary. He was born near Belpre, Washington county, O., April 26, 1792, -- the first white person born in that part of the N. W. Territory -- now State of Ohio. He died deeply lamented, July 25, 1849, aged 57 years.

"Dr. Robert Safford, "the beloved physician," in whom we all confided, whom to know was to honor and esteem; a constant reader and ad- mirer of the Bible ; a man of profound humility, who wept at the love of Jesus, and delighted in pointing others to the light of life, and bearing them on the wings of prayer to the very foot of the mercy-seat, died on July 6th, 1854, aged 60 years. "These with others, both living and dead, were the men who composed the congre- gation when this church was first organized. Were the women in the enterprise less worthy?

First, as being eldest in years, was Mrs. Betsey Mathews, a woman of quiet, matronly dignity, of great excellence and worth, of few words, but well chosen, a prudent wife, a kind and discreet mother, a Christian of exemplary and intelligent piety. * * She was born September 28, 1775, and died May 3, 1852.

Near her in friendship and neighborhood, was Mrs. Eliza Whipple, more social but less in- tellectual, of a warm and generous nature, al- ways ready to help forward every good cause, and finding her own happiness in making others happy. She was one of the earliest residents of the place, and from her first consecration to Christ maintained a uniform, consistent Christian life.

Of a more quiet but cheerful temper, was her sister, Mrs. Patience Leavens. Her devotion to the interests of the church here and in her later home, was unwavering and most intense. She made the very atmosphere of her home redolent with her christian zeal, and all who entered could but breathe in the influence of her devont and heavenly spirit. She was truly a mother in Israel.

Mrs. Eunice Buckingham deserves a most honored place. She was born in Glastenbury, Conn., October 22d, 1792, and in August, 1816, newly married, with her husband and sisters, crossed the Allegheny Mountains on horseback, there being then no roads for carriages or wagons. Suddenly widowed in 1832 by a dreadful casualty, she met the shock with

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

Christian fortitude and submission, and brought to her new position and increased responsibilities an unwavering purpose and a conscientious fidelity worthy of all praise. As the sole head of her family, she ruled her household well. though her children were held by a silken thread. She was dignified, vet unassuming, generous, yet unostentatious, her piety gradually maturing to the end, and bringing not merely a peaceful, but triumphant death. * *

Besides paying one-half of the expense of rear- ing the Seminary building, she left $10,000 for its endowment, the interest of which is to be ap- propriated for purposes of female education per- petually. under the direction of her daughters, and their successors ; $1,000, the interest of which should be contributed to the pastor's sup- port till his salary reached $800; $1,500 toward the erection of the manse ; $1,000 to the Ameri- can Bible Society ; $1,000 to the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions ; $1,000 to the American Home Missionary Society ; $1,- ooo for the cause of emancipation, and $500 to the American Tract Society. She died Febru- ary 28, 1843.

Nor should her sisters, Mrs. Ann Bucking- ham and Mrs. Lucy Sturges, be omitted from these brief sketches, both of whom were "hon- orable women" and exemplary Christians. Mrs. Buckingham was a fine example of conscientious fidelity in all the duties and relations of life. The heart of her husband trusted in her, and her pru- dence and skill, with her habits of industry and economy, relieved him of all anxiety. Her chil- dren rise up and all call her blessed.

Mrs. Sturges was of a more retiring disposi- tion, unpretending, discreet and lovely, and a sincere and faithful disciple, adorning the doc- trine of God, her Savior, in all things ; a most devoted wife and mother, active in duty and heroic in suffering, a steadfast friend and peace maker, a generous patron of the Sabbath School, furnishing most of the means for the erection of the hall in which it now meets, and the benefac- tress of her pastor. She was born in Glasten- bury, Conn., May 22, 1800, and died July 25, 1859.

Not less worthy of note was Mrs. Maria A. Sturges, a decided, active, devoted Christian ; the first to see and lament any declension of the church, and the first to rejoice in the returning influence of the spirit, and to welcome the Sa- vior back to His deserted fold ; thoroughly edu- cated, retiring, yet energetic; ready to make sacrifices, and to use her facile and gifted pen, as she often did, in the cause of suffering hu- manity and of practical godliness. With all her amiability, she was yet a very positive character. By her intelligence and fervent piety, she had a marked influence, especially with regard to the culture and early conversion of children, and did more than any other member in forming and giving character to the Maternal Associa- tion, of which she was the efficient and honored Secretary. Her sudden death, in the midst of life, was deeply mourned. She died in Decem- ber, 1842.

Mrs. Parmelia Guthrie was a woman who embodied, in a high degree, many of the traits of the good woman of inspiration ; the same ac- tivity and energy characterized her house; the same prudence and discretion in her speech and behavior ; the same law of kindness, which kept her from speaking evil, and disposed her to put on it the best construction an action would bear ; the same benevolence, which made her feel she was a debtor to do unwearied acts of kindness to every one who came under her roof, or sojourn- ed in her family ; the same fear of the Lord, leading her to a prompt obedience, not only to an unwavering trust in Christ and the most fervent desires that her children might all be embraced in the bonds of the everlasting covenant. She was a faithful daughter, wife, and mother, amid the toils and privations of pioneer life, of which she has left an honorable record. She was born in Cooperstown, New York, August 20, 1799, and died March 14, 1863.

Mrs. Lucinda Nye, another of the "honorable women" of this church, was born in Newburg, Orange County, New York, April 22, 1791, and removed, with her father's family to this vicini- ty, in October, 1819. Soon after she came to this place, in the family of Mr. J. C. Guthrie, she supported herself by her needle, and subse- quently by teaching. In the "Stone Academy," she had a school of some twenty-five or thirty scholars, in whom she became deeply interested, and whom she followed with her counsels and prayers, and nearly all of whom became the sub- jects of divine grace. Soon after coming here, she united with the Presbyterian Church, of Zanesville and Springfield, and at the time of the formation of this church, was one of its effi- cient members. Mrs. Nye was a woman of great vitality and energy of character, a pattern of industry, and a lover of nature and art. Some specimens of her handiwork were the wonder * * and admiration of the beholder. *

Her faith was a very distinct apprehension of things unseen, as well as a personal trust in the Savior and a reliance on his promises. This kept her cheerful and hopeful to the end, and gave fervency and importunity to her prayers, led her to the house of God, and to her closet, and to the female prayer meeting, which was held at her house for a number of years. April 9, 1874, disease, "gentle," "not tardy," intro- duced her spirit to the joy of her Lord, and we laid the earthly tabernacle

"Beneath the turf she had often trod "

Besides these worthies now named, others equally deserving, might be mentioned ; but I have said enough to show that in its organization this congregation possessed more than an ordin- ary amount of activity, and sanctified talent.

Dr. Reed lived in a house below Judge Put- nam's, and which yet stands as a monument of the ancient town.

Levi Whipple, a sterling man, engaged with Judge Putnam in milling. He had several sons,

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

Warner, Franklin and Wells ; they engaged in trade in the West.

Harry Safford, "the Postmaster General of the village," was an earnest, positive, but genial, humorous and cordial man. The soul of any en- terprise in which he took part, and the life of any company he was in. He married the daugh- ter of General Isaac VanHorne, a leading pio- neer of Zanesville. His own family was of Eng- lish stock, through the Yankee blood of New England.

He was the foremost in every cause for the benefit of his town, and his fellow-men. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and a warm friend of its pastor, Dr. James Cul- bertson.

The Reformers of the day found in him a de- cided and active support. He espoused the cause of temperance from its birth, and was ever a zealous advocate, and example. The African had no warmer friend. Negro slavery was to him an abomination.

The Colonization Society, the prime source of the final extinction of slavery, was long sustained in this community by his active interest and la- bors. For years he was its efficient Secretary.

In politics he was a thorough Whig and Pro- tectionist ; well informed on all the questions of the day, taking his gospel from the New York "Tribune" and Horace Greely-his friends and companions.

The Sunday School, however, was his chosen field. He was never so much in his element as- in organizing and pushing a Sunday School, planting some of the first schools ever started in Muskingum county. Many are the persons who have come to his children to say that Harry Saf- ford was the man who picked them off the street and gave them a start in life, from his Sunday School.

In educational matters he took an early and permanent place ; himself, in early life, a teach- er, and well read in all matters pertaining thereto ; with a special delight in poetry, of which he would repeat large portions from the best authors, ever catching the inspiration of him who wrote :

"To thee, whose temple is all space, Whose altar, carth, sea, and skies ! One chorus, let all being raise ! All nature's ineense rise !"

He gave his sons more than a "liberal educa- tion ; he gave them what the best colleges of the land could give. Dr. James M. Safford, after a course at Yale, was appointed State Geologist of Tennessee, and made an elaborate and schol- arly report of the geology of that State. IIe subsequently became Professor of Chemistry in the Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennes- see. Rev. J. P. Safford, D.D., after a course of study at Boston, and Princeton, was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, and set- tled at Frankfort, Kentucky. He was afterwards appointed District Secretary of Missions for Ohio and Indiana, and filled that position to the entire satisfaction of Zanesville Presbytery, being re-

peatedly re-elected, and occupied that office at the time of his death, which occurred at his resi- dence, in Zanesville, July 10, 1881, and which was as peaceful and serene as if he was sleeping. He leaves five children, two sons and three daughters ; two brothers, Rev. James M. Saf- ford, of Tennessee, and Isaac Safford, of Cali- fornia, and two sisters, Mrs. Triplet and Mrs. Barney, of Coshocton, Ohio.

Early settlers, having the profits of the chase in view, and hearing the good report concerning the "Northwest Country," were eager to settle in this region. Henry Crooks, from Martins- burgh, Virginia, came in 1797, and settled near the mouth of the Licking river, on the hillside, about the north end of Pine stseet, as now des- ignated. He was engaged with Jonathan Zane and John McIntire, in operating a ferry across the Muskingum river, assisted by William Mc- Cullough, who had settled on the east side of the river. [The ferry consisted of two canoes, fastened side by side. ] In 1798, Andrew Crooks came, and settled on the west side of the river, near the ferry landing, but subsequently re- moved to the east side of the river. During this year, George Mathews came, and built a cabin on the hill now called "Putnam Hill.

TOWN OF NATCHEZ .- Proprietorship seemed contagious in those days. The success of Zanes- town and Springfield, while yet in swaddling clothes, was not without its effect. And, as there was no legal hindrance to the creation of another Paradise, tradition informs us, that in 1806, General Isaac Van Horne laid out the town of Natchez. The boundaries were about as follows: On the east, by a line west of the Muskingum river, beginning not far from the Main street bridge, taking in a part of the Pine Street Hill, and extending near the intersection of the National road and the Licking river, and having that stream for its northern boundary, and the Muskingum for its eastern boundary. This boundary included the "house built by Henry Crook, in 1797, on the north side of the bluff near the north end of Pine street," and he thus became the first settler in the town of Natch- ez. The second house was built by General Isaac Van Horne. Isaac Zane built a house on the site now occupied by Thomas Drake, be- tween Spring and Young streets. In this house "the accustomed dance of the good old colony times," was kept up during the entire week be- tween Christmas and New Year following its completion.

CHAPTER XII.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

THE SECOND STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL- THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN-MOXAHALA AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL-ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL LUTHERAN-FIRST BAPTIST-ST. THOMAS [RO- MAN CATHOLIC] - SOUTH STREET AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL-MARKET STREET BAP-

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

TIST-SEVENTH STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL -ST. NICHOLAS' [ROMAN CATHOLIC-GERMAN] -TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN-SECOND PRESBYTERIAN-ZION BAPTIST [COLORED ]- PUTNAM PRESBYTERIAN-THIRD BAPTIST [COL- ORED -UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST-K'NE- SETH ISRAEL-SOUTH STREET METHODIST EPIS- COPAL-HUNGARIAN BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION -AFRICAN WESLEYAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL- THE WELSH CHURCH [UNION SUNDAY SCHOOL ].

The churches of Zanesville have maintained a steady growth, and, notwithstanding the de- nominational differences, will be found to have the Spirit of the Master pervading them, as any one may observe who becomes even slightly ac- quainted with their workings. They appear in this chapter in the order of their organization, as follows :

HISTORY OF THE SECOND STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

BY JOHN W. KING.

Before the year 1800, there was no preacher here-and we have no means of knowing who were members. In that year, the Western Con- ference, which included all of the territory west of the Alleghany Mountains, sent John Stone- man to the work on the Muskingum and Hock- ing rivers. His field of labor was some three hundred miles wide. He was followed, in 1801, by J. P. Chenowort, who was succeeded, in 1802, by N. B. Mills, and he, in 1803, by William Reed.

In 1804, the Ohio District of the Western Con- ference was formed, with William Burk as Pre- siding Elder, and George Askins was appointed to the work in this part of the State. [Rev. John Goshen held the first Love-Feast ever held in Zanesville, in 1805; among the prominent Methodists of that time, were: "Mother Goff," Samuel Parker and wife, and Mrs. Dr. Hillier -according to E. H. Church.] Mr. Askins was followed by James Quinn and John Meek. They were succeeded, in 1806, by Luther Taylor ; and, in 1807, came that man of wonderful life- Peter Cartwright. In 1808, there is a doubt as to who labored in this field, but it is believed that Isaac Quinn and William Patterson were here. In 1809, the Muskingum District was formed, out of part of the Ohio District, and James Quinn was appointed Presiding Elder, and James Watts and Ralph Lotspeed were ap- pointed to our part of the District. In 1810, William Sale was Presiding Elder, with no change made in the preachers. The following year, came John Stronge and Jacob Mills. In 1812, James B. Finley was appointed, and this was thought a promising field.

Our present Ohio Conference was formed in 1813, including the Muskingum District, and in

it we first find the name of Zanesville as an ap- pointment, which is as follows :

Year. Presiding Elders.

Preachers.

1813

David Young,

John Clingan,

1814

William Dixon,

1815.

Joseph Kinkead,

1816 Jacob Young,

William Knox,

1817

Thomas Carr,

1818

Samuel Glaze,

1819

( Charles Elliott,

1820

Jonathan Stamper,

Sam'l C. Brockemier,

S James Hooper,

1821

Charles Waddle,

Archibald McElroy,

1822 Jacob Young,

Leroy Swormstead, Moses M. Hinkle.

The next year the Zanesville station and the Zanesville circuit were constituted distinct, sep- arate appointments, in the Lancaster District, with Jacob Young as its Presiding Elder, and John P. Durbin sent to Zanesville as its first Methodist Episcopal preacher, during its first year as a station, fifty-seven years ago. A mem- orable space of shining years-freighted with "showers of mercy," and spiritual harvests, dur- ing which the membership has grown to one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three. How long the roll on this shore, and how many names are written in the Book of Life on the other shore?

Year. Presiding Elders.

Preachers.

1824

.Jacob Young,

L. Swormstead,

1825

James Quinn,

1826

David Young,

1827 David Young,

Joseph Carper,

1828

W. B. Christie,

1829

Nathan Emery,

1830

1831 L Swormstead, Absalom D. Fox.

The next year, Putnam was first made a preaching place, and James Gibruth and Abner Goff appointed there. In 1832, L. Swormstead was Presiding Elder, and Zanesville had J. M. Trimble. In 1833, the Zanesville District of the Ohio Conference was first formed, and the ap- pointments were as follows :

Year. Presiding Elders.

Preachers.

1833

L. Swormstead, "

J. M. Trimble,

1834

Absalom D. Fox,

1835 J. Faree,

David Whitcomb,

1836

D. Young,

James Courtney,

1837

William Simmons,

1838

William H. Lawder,

1839 Robert O. Spencer,

William H. Lawder.

1840

John W. Stone,

1841

W. R. Davis,

1842

J. F. Conway,

1843

J. B. Finley,

Jos. A. Waterman,

§ William Young,

1844

J. A. Waterman.

Uriah Heath,

Urialı Heath,

S W. J. Ellsworth,

S W. J. Ellsworth.

" John Waterman,

John Tivis,

Thomas A. Morris,

§ David Whitcomb,

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

The next year, the society of Seventh Street was formed from the Second Street Church, by geographical lines, and the church whose record we have been tracing was thenceforth known as Second Street Church.

Year.

Presiding Elders.

1845

J. B. Finley,

1846

J. M. Jamison,

1847

M. Dustin.

1848

1849

Jacob Young,

Asbury Lowery.

1850.

1851

E. M. Boring.

1852

J. M. Trimble,

J. W. White.

1853.

1854

J. A. Bruner.

1855

1856

J. W. White,

Ansel Brooks.

1857

1858

J. A. Frazier.

1859

1860

J. A. Frazier,

1861

Benjamin St. J. Fry. J. A. Creighton.

1862

1863

H. K. Foster.

1864 D. D. Mather,

D. H. Moore.

1866 T. H. Phillips,

This year the South Street Mission Church was established, with A. H. Windsor, preacher in charge.

Year.

Presiding Elders. T. H. Phillips,

Preachers. D. H. Moore. Thomas R. Taylor. «

Isaac Crook.

1871

1872

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History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794, Part 35

Author: Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A., Columbus, Ohio, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: [Columbus, O.] : F.J. Everhart & Co. Number of Pages: 600

Author: Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A., Columbus, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [Columbus, O.] : F.J. Everhart & Co.
Number of Pages: 600