History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794, Part 37

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 37

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Rev. James Culbertson remained pastor of this church from the time of his ordination until his death, which occurred February 23, 1847. His first sermon in Zanesville was preached the second Sabbath in August, 1812, from Cor. III, 2 ; his last, from Matt. XXIV, 13. In those days a singular precaution was thrown around the communion service. At the preparatory service, on the day before and on the morning of communion day, tokens, consisting of a flattened circular piece of lead, about the size of a silver dime, with the letters 'L. C.' stamped on one side, were distributed to those who expected to take part in the service. These tokens were taken up on Sabbath morning after the communicant was seated at the table. No one could receive the token from the Elders whose conduct did not be- come a Christian, and no one could receive the communion without having received the token ; yet, large numbers were added to the church on these occasions. From this church was formed that at Newton, in 1829, the Putnam Presby- terian church, in 1834, and the Second Presby- terian church, in 1852. It is, therefore, the mother church of this denomination in this county, and looks with pride on the growth and prosperity of each of them, saying :

"Oh Shepherd, who leadest our souls to thee, From the desert and roeky steep, Thy rod and thy staff in the shadow we see, And thou wilt our little ones keep !"

The walls of the old church had begun to give way, and the town had grown so rapidly to the north and east after the organization of the church on the other side of the river, that it was deemed best to build in a more central part of the town. The Church purchased the lot now occupied by the Second Church building, and this was given in exchange for the lot now oc- cupied by this church. The building was erected at a cost of between $14,000 and $15,000. At the time of building, it was agreed that the pews should be free, and except two brief periods-when the pews were rented-the agree- ment was kept : they are free now.

The dedication of the church took place on the fourth Sabbath of December, 1841. The pastor was assisted on this occasion by Rev. Mr. Wylie, of Newark, and Rev. Dr. Hoge, of Co- lumbus. The latter preached the sermon.

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

The pulpit of this church was vacant for about six months after the resignation of Mr. Brown, when the Rev. Moses A. Hoge was called. He began his work here on the 26th of June, 1851.

Mr. Hoge was the son of the Rev. Dr. Hoge, many years Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Ohio ; was born and raised in Columbus, graduated in the autumn of 1838, from the University of Ohio; subsequently taught sign language in the institution for the Deaf and Dumb, in Columbus ; spent the winter of'44 and '45 at Princeton Theological Seminary ; was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Co- lumbus the year previous ; ordained and installed over the church of Athens, Ohio, June 4, 1846. He continued his pastorate in this church until the organization of the Second Presbyterian Church of this city. The two churches, how- ever, continued to worship together during the following winter. At the request of the new church, and with the consent of the old, Rev. Mr. Hoge was set apart by the Presbytery as the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, of Zanesville.

The Rev. James M. Platt was called to the pastorate of this church, and entered upon his work July 24th, 1853. He was ordained by the Presbytery, October 19th, of the same year. The venerable Father Wylie, of Newark, preached the sermon, and made the ordination prayer, and Rev. M. A. Hoge delivered the charge to both pastor and people.

Mr. Platt was born in Athens, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1826 ; his father was Rev. Isaac Watts Platt. James en- tered the University of New York in the fall of 1843, and completed his academic studies in 1847. He entered Princeton Theological Semi- nary in 1850, and completed his theological course in April, 1853, and was licensed by the Presbytery of New York.

The name of Rev. James M. Platt became familiar, not only to every household of his church, but to many not of his communion. His picture hangs on many a wall, and his face, says Rev. W. P. Shrom, "is as familiar as that of a much loved friend." His pastorate con- tinued until April, 1867. He was subsequently called to fill the pulpit in Bath, New York.

The Rev. George H. Webster was called, and came to fill the vacant pulpit October 5th, 1867. During Mr. Webster's pastorate, the old mode of church subscription and the tedious work of collecting was abolished, and the present en- velope system introduced, and the first steps taken toward the purchase of a parsonage, which was completed in the spring of 1873. Mr. Webster was thoroughly informed on literary and scientific subjects. He resigned his pastorate to take charge of the Seminary for Ladies, at Granville, Ohio.

Rev. W. P. Shrom, the present pastor, re- ceived the unanimous call of the church Novem- ber 9th 1872,and entered on his work in December following ; he was received by the Presbytery of Zanesville April 8th, 1873, and installed April

14th. The Rev. J. P. Safford, D.D., presided -Rev. George H. Webster, the former pastor, preached the sermon, from John, chapter XII, verse 32. Rev. Addison Kingsbury, D.D., gave the charge to the pastor, and Dr. Safford to the people. The installation prayer was made by Rev. T. K. Davis, of Wooster, Ohio- all in the presence of a large audience.

Wm. P. Shrom was born November 2d, 1840. in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. When a mere child, his parents removed to Illi- nois, where they sojourned about a year, and re- solved to make their home in Ohio, and settled on a farm a little north of Columbus, in Franklin county. It was here he grew up ; here, busied with the duties of farm-life, like every farmer's son, we hear him preaching his first sermon in soliloquy :

The bubbling brook doth leap when I come by,

Because my feet find measure with its call ; The birds know when the friend they love is nigh, For I'm known to them, great and small. The flower that on the hillside grows, Expects me there when spring its bloom has given,

And many a trec and bush my wandering knows, And e'cn the clouds and silent stars of heaven ; For he who with his Maker walks aright Shall be their lord, as Adam was before;

He'll catch each sound with new delight,

Each object wear the dress it wore ;

And he, as when erect in soul he stood, Hear from his Father's lips that all is good.

One and twenty years passed before the op- portunity presented itself for him to enter upon a classical course of study. Otterbein Univer- sity, Franklin county, was his Alma Mater, in 1868. The course of study, it will be seen, car- ried him over the period of the Nation's peril, and in consequence of the Rebellion, his studies were, postponed when the cry "we're coming Father Abraham, with a hundred thousand more !" was heard. His first service was with the 5th Indiana Cavalry. The second, as a Lieutenant in Company B, of the 178th Ohio. He was afterwards three years a student at the The- ological Seminary, of Allegheny City, Pennsyl- vania, licensed to preach by the conference of the United Brethren in Christ, in 1870, and or- dained a minister by the same conference in 1871. He began to preach in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and ere he had fully entered on the work of the ministry, Lebanon Valley Col- lege, Pennsylvania, said to him: "Come over and help us," and he accepted the chair of mental and moral science. Not willing to abandon the ministry, however, he accepted the position but one year, and became a supply to the Presby- terian Church in Ashland during the pastor's absence in Europe.

SUNDAY SCHOOL .- The advent of the Sunday School, marks an era in the life of the Church. Agencies and influences, hitherto unknown and unsuspected, were thereby brought into activity, by which the Church was enabled to reach out

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HISTORY OF. MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

beyond her Christian households, and take by the hand multitudes of people, at their most im- pressible age, and make them her true and con- stant friends.

The early methods of the Sunday School, con- trasted with those of our day, would no doubt seem crude and unsatisfactory. There was the absence of books and papers ; and we seem to hear a lingering echo of untutored voices, un- aided by musical instruments, singing, with a melancholy wail, such hymns as "Broad is the Road that Leads to Death," etc., and we ask ourselves : What was the charm to bring those learners thither, while Nature, with her won- derful resources, beckoned them to game and fish, fruit and flowers, and the songs of birds- in God's first temple? Questioning Philosophy cannot discern it. But it was there, gleaming through sympathetic eyes-the potent charm of a Christian heart. Then, as now, words of ten- derness were the magic power.

We said there were no books-there was but one, but they studied it. Perhaps there is no great advantage in the multiplicity of text books and commentaries of our day, as the great book is well-nigh lost sight of.

According to the late E. H. Church, who was one of the first pupils, the first Sunday School in Eastern Ohio was organized in "the old Court House"-at that time used by the Presbyterians, as a place of worship-in the year 1816, by Mathew Finley, Joseph Church, F. Moorehead, and Mr. Dale. It was a union of all Protestant denominations. The school was more thor- oughly organized in 1817, when . some fifteen ladies canvassed the town, for scholars. In 1819, it was removed to the new Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Fourth and South streets, and was, thenceforward, a school of the church.

The present officers and teachers are: J. M. Brunson, Superintendent ; Webster Dumm, As- sistant Superintendent ; James R. Peabody, Treasurer ; Charles E. Coffman, Secretary.

The number of teachers. 18

The number of scholars 258

The number of scholars in infant class 50

Total number scholars and teachers. 326

MOXAHALA AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- The records were in the building on the southwest corner of Main street and Putnam avenue, in the custody of Isaac Stires, at the time of the fire that destroyed that building, in the Spring of 1872, and thus the history of the church is largely traditional. We learn that this was one of the oldest churches organized in this section of Ohio-and yet, cannot fix the date of erecting the first building ; however, the lot on which the church was built, was donated by "Levi Whipple and wife, Eliza Whipple," on November 23, 1815, on the one part, "and Wil- liam H. Moore, John Goshen, James Vickers, John Laffery, John Russell, Barnabas Munroe, and Benjamin Rickets, Trustees, for and in consider-

ation of the love and respect for religion, and a desire to promote religious institutions, believing it an appointed means for the welfare and pros- perity of the Christian Church on earth, and with a sincere desire to promote pure piety in every denomination of Christians, have given, granted, aliened, released, confirmed, and con- veyed," to the Trustees above named, "for the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the town of Put- nam, and vicinity." The size of the lot being twenty-five one-hundredths of an acre, and the north half of lot number sixty-eight. It is pre- sumed that the first church on this lot was erect- ed within a year after the lot was given, as the building was a one-story frame, forty by forty feet. Some years afterward, this wooden struc- ture was removed, and a one-story brick church erected in its place. While this house was un- der construction, the congregation held religious services in the old oil mill, that stood immediate- ly north of the church site. In 1867, the brick building mentioned was superseded by a com- modious two-story edifice, forty-five by seventy- three feet. Rev. I. W. Stanley was pastor at this time. As other churches were organized, this congregation diminished, until, by increase of population, it again became the centre of sup- ply-for people are governed by convenience in church-going. The church is again meeting the wants of the community, and the increasing numbers greatly encourage the workers in the vineyard.

The names of the pastors who have served this church, are : Trimble, Spahn, McCabe ("Chap- lain"), Gurley, Sours, Fee, Merrill, Stanley, Wakefield, Monroe, Holcomb, Fellows, Porter, Jamison, Dickson, Hickson, S. D. Hutsinpiller, . and J. H. Creighton.

The officers of the church are: Trustees : J. R. Thomas, James Curtis, Theodore Thompson, P. P. Wilbur, and I. Leasure ; the Stewards : Stephen E. Stockdale, Benjamin Fenn, John Parshall, and James P. Curtis ; the Treasurer : J. R. Thompson ; Recording Steward, Stephen E. Stockdale ; District Steward, J. P. Curtis.

The first Sunday School, in connection with this church, was organized about 1830, under Jonathan Brelsford, Superintendent: and, al- though subjected to some trials, has never sus- pended. It is now in a flourishing condition. The officers are: Superintendent, Joseph R. Thomas, assisted by James Curtis. Sherman Adamson is Secretary ; Lillie McDonald, Treas- urer ; Fred Curtis and Florence Drake, Libra- rians.

ST. JAMES' PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHI. St. James' parish is the oldest Episcopal Church organization in the "Diocese of south- eastern Ohio," (which includes the southern half of the State, ) and with, perhaps, only a sin- gle exception, it is the oldest in the whole State. It was organized "at a meeting held pursuant to public notice, in the Court House, in Zanes- ville, on the 17th day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

sixteen." At this meeting, Horace Reed. M. D., presided, and John Gordon, Esq., acted as Secretary. "A vote being taken, it was unan- imously agreed that a church be founded, and that it shall be known as St. James' Church, Zanesville, Ohio." The Rev. Joseph Doddridge, M.D., was thereupon elected Rector of the parish, and the following gentlemen were chosen as officers for the ensuing year: Wardens -- Horace Reed, M.D., and Seth Adams. Ves- trymen-Jeffry Price, Moses Moorehead, E. B. Merwin and Calvin Conant. Treasurer, A. Harper ; Lay Reader, Samuel Burnham, M.D.

The parish was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of Ohio, passed the 31st day of Jan- uary, 1833. The corporators were the wardens and vestry, then in office ; but their names are not given in the records of the parish. The act of incorporation bears the signatures of David T. Disney, Speaker of the House of Representa- tives. and Samuel R. Miller, Speaker of the Senate.

The public religious services of the parish seem to have been held at first in the Court House ; but in the month of June, in 1817, and for some time thereafter, the services were held in the Methodist church, which was kindly loaned for the purpose. It was not till the year 1831, that the congregation were able to worship in a build- ing of their own. On the 17th of July, of that vear, the first church edifice was consecrated. It stood on the southeast corner of South and Sixth streets-the site of the present Eng- lish Lutheran Church. It was built of brick, and was very small and plain. In 1835, this building having become too small for the congre- gation, was enlarged to nearly double its orig-

al size : it was sold in 1841, as a preliminary to + death, in 1858, and his name is held "in grate- the erection of a new edifice.

From 1841 to 1843, the public services were held in the Senate Chamber of the Court House. The present elegant and substantial gothic edi- fice, built of finished sand stone, was begun in 1841, the corner stone being laid on "St. John Baptist's Day," June 24th. It was finished in a temporary manner, and first used for public wor- ship on Easter Day, 1843. In 1853, both the basement and the audience chamber were com- fortably and beautifully completed. The " In- strument of Donation" was executed by James Crosby, Senior Warden, and E. E. Fillmore, Clerk, and was dated August 26, 1854. The church was consecrated on the 7th of September following, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Charles P. McIlvaine, D.D.

At the time of the consecration, the church tower was unfinished, and remained so for about twenty-four years, being finished in 1878, at which time a bell (weighing upwards of 2,000 pounds) was placed in the tower; this fine bell was the gift of Mrs. C. W. Chandler, of Ger- mantown, Pa., and formerly a member of this parish. The stained glass windows were dona- ted a few years before the completion of the tow- er, by the late James R. Cooper. The organ, now in use, was purchased in 1851. As nearly

as can be ascertained. the total cost of the church was about $20,000.

The handsome and commodious rectory of the parish, on North Fourth street, was purchased in 1863.

The succession of Rectors of the parish, as given in the records, is as follows : Rev. Joseph Doddridge, M.D., who served from the organiza- tion, October 17, 1816, to 1818; Rev. Intrepid Morse, from 1818, to January, 1822 ; Rev. Phil- ander Chase, Jr., from June, 1822, to January, 1823 ; Rev. Joseph Doddridge, M.D., from No- vember, 1824, to June, 1826; (Rev. Mr. Langs- ton officiated during part of the year 1826. ) Rev. Amos G. Baldwin, from December, 1826, to some time in 1831 ; Rev. John P. Robinson, from September, 1831, to April, 1832 ; Rev. William Suddards, from February, 1834, to 1835 ; Rev. William A. Smallwood, D.D., from July, 1835, to March, 1853 ; Rev. George W. DuBois, from September, 1853, to January, 1856; Rev. J. W. Claxton, assistant minister, from July, 1855, to January, 1856-Rector from January, 1856, to March, 1857 ; Rev. George W. DuBois, from March, 1857, to May, 1857; Rev. Thomas G. Addison, from May, 1857, to October, 1859; Rev. William A. Newbold, from November, 1859, to some time in 1863 ; Rev. John M. Lea- vitt, from 1863 to 1866. The present Rector, Rev. J. Fohl, D.D., took charge of the parish in April, 1866.

At the various times when the rectorship of the parish was vacant, the public services were conducted by Lay Readers. For thirty-one years, (from 1825 to 1856) James Crosby acted as Lay Reader. Mr. Crosby also held the office of Senior Warden from 1832 to the time of his ful remembrance" for his constant interest in the parish, and his unwearied efforts to promote its prosperity.

The parish Sunday School was organized in 1834, and ever since has been carried on without interruption, and generally with much efficiency and success. The number in attendance in Feb- ruary, 1880, was about one hundred and forty scholars, and eighteen officers and teachers. There is also a Mission Sunday School connec- nected with this parish, numbering about two hundred scholars, and fifteen officers and teach- ers. The number of communicants connected with the parish when it was organized is not known ; in 1819, the number was twenty-two; in 1831, the number was thirty; in 1840, it was ninety ; in 1842, only eighty-seven ; in 1850, it was one hundred and twenty-five; in 1860, one hundred and ninety-three ; in 1870, it had two hundred and forty-five. Death and removals made the number smaller during the next ten years ; the number reported by the Rector in 1869, was two hundred and twenty-eight.

In March, 1817, five months after the organ- ization of the parish, a Parochial Missionary So- ciety was formed, and ever since then the parish has taken an active interest in Mission work.

The contributions to Diocese, Domestic and

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

Foreign Missions, have always been large, in proportion to the financial ability of the parish.

On Sunday, February 28, 1819, the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, D.D., officiated, delivering his first sermon in the Diocese after his consecra- tion as Bishop.

On Saturday, November 24, 1838, the Rt. Rev. Charles P. McIlvane, D.D., began his ministry and work as Bishop of Ohio, by officiat- ng in this parish.

On Sunday, October 28, 1859, the Rt. Rev. G. T. Bedell, D.D., entered upon his work as assistant Bishop of Ohio, by officiating in this parish.

On Thursday, May 13, 1875, the Rt. Rev. Thomas A. Jaggar, D.D., began his work as Bishop of Southern Ohio, by officiating in St. James' Church, Zanesville.

The Apostolic rite of Confirmation was admin- istered for the first time in this parish, May 23d, 1819, by Bishop Chase. The services were held, by request, in the Presbyterian meeting- house, on the corner of Fourth and South streets. Twenty-five persons were confirmed.

In the year 1825, the Convention of the Dio- cese met in this parish, for the first time.

In the year 1834, the first ordination service ever held in this parish took place, Mr. Suddards (af- terwards Rector) being ordained to the Deacon- ate.

The seal of the parish, chosen by the vestry, January 7th, 1851, was "the head side of a dime." On the 7th of September, 1854, it was changed to "the head side of the American quarter dollar, for 1854," and this order is still in force.

The officers of the parish are as follows : Rec- tor, Rev. J. T. Ohl, D.D. ; Senior Warden, E. E. Fillmore ; Junior Warden, W. R. Hazlett ; Vestrymen, M. M. Granger, George F. Russell, George M. Jewett, F. J. L. Blandy, George W. Hazlett, George C. Townsend, and George D. Gibbons ; Secretary, George M. Jewett ; Treas- urer, George F. Russell. Superintendent of Sunday School, G. W. Hazlett ; Superintendent of Mission Sunday School, Robert Fulton. Pres- ident of Ladies' Missionary Society. Mrs. John Hazlett ; Vice-President, Mrs. C. G. Dillon ; Secretary, Miss Anna Jones ; Treasurer, Mrs. G. F. Russell.

Rev. Dr. J. F. Ohl resigned his pastorate, in order to take a position in Kenyon College ; his resignation took effect the last Sunday in Au- gust, 1880. Thereupon, the Parish called the Rev. I. McK. Pittenger, from Cleveland, Ohio, where he had been an assistant at St. Paul's, in charge of St. Luke's and Grace Church, New- burg. Mr. Pittenger is a recent accession from the Presbyterians, and comes with the reputa- tion of a successful ministry. He entered on his rectorship at Zanesville, on Christmas Day, 1880.

LUTHERAN CHURCH .- The inception of this church may be traced back to Nicholas Border and his wife, Elizabeth, who came to Zanesville in 1803. They brought with them the seed of

the faith, which has grown into the present flour- ishing tree. In the course of human events, the infant daughter they brought with them became the wife of John Bowman, who came in 1817. Following him, came Jacob Reese, Sr., and his wife, George Clapper and wife, Michael Sock- man and wife, Solomon Myers and wife. Chris- topher Spangler, Peter Sockman and wife. and, as their hearts went out in words of Chris- tian love, they met with one accord at each others' houses, for worship. Mrs. Susannah Bowman, the oldest, living, of the company which formed the circle alluded to, remembers attending the first of those "cottage meetings," at the house of a Mr. Schmeltzer, on the corner of Fourth and South streets.

In those days, evangelists traveled over this re- gion, scattering seed-thoughts of faith. Among them were Weiser, Foster, and Andrew Hinkle. whose visits were irregular. The first house of worship built by this denomination, was a small, frame structure, erected in 1818, on the northeast corner of Seventh and South streets, and which contained a pipe organ, made by L. P. Bailey, a skilled workman, then, as now, held in high esteem. In 1820, the little flock selected Rev. Samuel Kaemmerer as their pastor, and elected John Alter and Peter Sockman as Elders, Jacob Bowman and Jacob Brock as Deacons, John Bowman and Jacob Mercer as Trustees, and John Bowman as Treasurer. About this time. Jacob Mercer and wife, Mrs. Hannah Smith. Miss Sarah Border, and Daniel and Solomon Bor- der, were added to the church. The pastor's wife, and daughter (Mrs. Elizabeth Conway). and another daughter (Mrs. Susan Cole), and Charlotte, Charles, and Paul Kaemmerer, and Walter Kelly and wife, were also members of the church.

The services of this church, during eighteen years, were conducted in German and English : the former in the morning, and the latter in the afternoon. As their numbers increased. the English-speaking portion, preferring to have services in the forenoon as well, determined to reorganize and form a new church.

ST. JOHN'S ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, the society embracing the English- speaking members, was organized in 1839, with the following officers :

George Clapper, Solomon Deffenbaugh, and John Bowman, Trustees : Jacob Reese and John Alter, Sr., Elders; J. J. Brock and Abraham Arter, Wardens : William Schultz, Secretary and Treasurer.

Members-Nicholas Border and wife. Jacob Reese and wife, John Alter and wife. Peter Sock- man and wife, Isabella Ream, John Bowman and wife. Philip Munch and wife, J. J. Brock and wife, Solomon Deffenbaugh. Edney Man- ley, Margaret Leutz. Mary Mercer. Solomon Reese, Solomon Culp, Frances J. Mooney. Ja- cob Livingood, Catharine Ritz, Mary Ann Wright, J. K. Wright, and about twenty-five others.

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History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794, Part 37

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