USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 41
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A committee was accordingly appointed, con- sisting of J. C. Guthrie, Levi Whipple, and A. A. Guthrie, to ascertain whether funds sufficient to erect such a building could be obtained.
This committee was also instructed to adopt a plan of a house, and estimate the cost of differ- ent sites that might be offered, and report at a subsequent meeting.
It was also stipulated that the contemplated church should be under the control of the pro- posed Presbyterian Church, of Putnam, that its seats should be free, and, with the consent of the Trustees, be open to all denominations of ortho- dox Christians.
Another similar meeting was called March 16th, when the committee, previously appointed, sub- mitted a plan, proposing that the house be seventy feet long, by fifty feet wide, of one story above the basement, of not less than eighteen, nor more than twenty feet high, with a vestibule ten feet broad, and a gallery above for singers, and over this a cu- pola for a town clock, provided the subscriptions be sufficient : the audience room to be of brick, and the basement of stone, and in such style as the committee might determine.
A Building Committee was then appointed, con- sisting of Alvah Buckingham, J. C. Guthrie and Levi Whipple, and the present site selected, on land generously donated by Mr. Whipple, and the committee were instructed so soon as a suffi- cient sum should be subscribed, to collect material and complete the house at the earliest period practicable.
A subscription paper was immediately prepar- ed, and subscriptions, amounting to $5,190 ob- tained, mostly in cash, but some in labor and in trade. Of sixty-four names, three subscribed $600 each ; one $450, one $309, two $275, three $255,two $110, one $105, and two $100; the rest was in smaller sums, descending as low as three dollars. Mr. Alvali Buckingham was appointed to superintend the building. In December, 1834, with the concurrence of the pastor, a peti-
tion was presented to the Presbytery of Lancas- tor, then sitting in Zanesville, asking that body to set off the members of the church residing in Putnam and vicinity, disposed to unite in the en- terprise, and organize them into a distinct church.
The Presbytery granted the request, and ap- pointed William Culbertson to perform this duty. It was rather an ungracious service to require of a man, as he said, "to sever his own body."
The church was formed on what the Presby- tery of Philadelphia had denounced as an erron- eous and dangerous principle-the principle of "elective affinity." The organization was ef- fected on the first day of January, 1835. On that day, the individuals specially interested, met in the Methodist Church, which had been gener- ously granted for that purpose, and after a ser- mon and prayer by Mr. Culbertson, thirty-six persons, eight males and twenty-eight females, members of the United Church of Zanesville and Springfield, signified their desire to unite in a new organization, and were accordingly dismiss- ed, and constituted the Presbyterian Church of Putnam.
Their names, as recorded in the sessional rec- ords, were as follows : Levi Whipple, Eliza Whipple, Eliza Tucker, Lucy R. Whipple, Sarah Sturges, S. A. Guthrie, George N. Guthrie, Eliza Silvey, Margaret Silvey, Horace Nye, Lu- cinda Nye, A. A. Guthrie, Amelia Guthrie, Lucy Sturges, Pamelia Guthrie, Edwin Putnam, Pa- tience Leavens, Catharine Leavens, Mary Leavens, Maria A. Sturges. Peleg Ma- son, Olive Mason, Eliza Stannas, Ann Buckingham, Mary Russell, Betsey Mathews, Sarah Mathews, Susan Mathews, Mary Mathews, Mary Stickney, Eunice Buckingham, Sarah E. Safford, A. G. Allen, Nancy Stickney, Ann D. Brown, Margaret Weaver.
The church, says Dr. Kingsbury, began in 1833, had now been completed, and about the middle of February, 1835, the exact date I have not been able to find, it was dedicated to God, with appropriate services, by the Rev. William H. Beecher, a member of the Presbytery of Cin- cinnati, who commenced preaching here soon after the organization of the church. The fol- lowing hymn, written by himself, was sung on the occasion :
Thy presence fills the heavens, Oh Lord, By countless hosts art thou adored, Cherubic armies round Thee move, And bow in cestacies of love.
Should thy full glory on ns rise, Our life would faint in sweet surprise ; Nature Thine awful brightness veils, And sweetly milder beauty tells.
Yet, with compassion like a God, Thou leavest Thy sublime abode,
The lowly-hearted to approve, And visit with a Father's love.
To Thee, this Temple, Lord, we raise, Long may it echo with Thy praise, Whom highest heaven cannot contain, Will still in Zion, ever reign.
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
Thy priests, may righteousness adorn, Angels rejoice o'er souls new-born ; Pour from Thy throne the living flood, And let us feast on angels' food.
And now, arise, O Lord, our God, Thou Father, Spirit, Holy Word, Enter, with all Thy glorious train, -
. And with us evermore remain.
After the organization, January Ist, 1835, the congregation proceeded to ballot for three Elders, when Levi Whipple, Edwin Putnam, and A. Austin Guthrie were chosen, and, on the 21st of February, 1835, the Rev. William H. Beecher proceeded to install Messrs. Whipple and Put- nam, they having been ruling Elders in the church of Zanesville and Springfield, and to ordain Mr. Guthrie, by prayer and the imposition of hands, giving, at the close, an appropriate address, both to the Elders and the congregation. At a subse- quent meeting of the Elders, March 20th, Mr. Guthrie was chosen Stated Clerk of Session, which office he held to the close of his life. The last record in his handwriting is dated September 2d, 1873.
March 7th. 1835, the First Presbyterian Church and Congregation of Putnam was duly incorpo- rated by an act of the Legislature, Alvah Buck- ingham, Solomon Sturges, Increase Mathews, Harry Safford, William Silvey, Julius C. Guth- rie, Albert A. Guthrie, Horace Nye, Matthew Gillespie, Levi Whipple, Edwin Putnam, Samuel C. Haver, James Thompson, Robert Safford, Samuel Glass, Cyrus Merriam, and Albert G. Allen being the incorporators.
On March IIth, of this year, a congregational meeting was held, of which Mr. Culbertson was Moderator, for the purpose of choosing a pastor, and resulted in extending a call to Mr. Beecher, by a vote of one hundred and forty-eight to two, promising him a salary of not less than five hun- dred dollars, the minority stating that they were entirely willing to concur with the majority in their selection. The call, which was in the usual form, was signed by the Elders and trustees, in behalf of the congregation. The trustees were : Dr. Increase Mathews, J. C. Guthrie, and Solo- mon Sturges. This call was presented to the Presbytery, September 30th, 1835, and having been accepted by Mr. Beecher, a committee, consisting of Rev. James Culbertson, and Rev. Jacob Little, was appointed to install him. The installation services took place November 25th, following. Mr. Beecher continued to labor with this people till January 18th, 1839,' when the pas- toral relation was dissolved. His pastorate was, in many respects, a successful one.
January Ist, 1840, the Rev. Addison Kings- bury, D.D., was installed over this church by the Presbytery of Lancaster. The Rev. Jacob Lit- tle, D.D., of Granville, Ohio, preached the ser- mon, from Jeremiah iii : 15: "And I will give you pastors, according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." The Rev. Francis Bartlett, of Bethel, presided, and gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev.
Samuel W. Rose, of Burlingame, gave the charge to the people. They have all finished their course, and, having kept the faith, have entered upon their reward.
June 27th, 1854. Samuel Haver and Ebenezer Buckingham (son of Hon. Ebenezer Bucking- ham), were elected Ruling Elders.
At a meeting of the congregation, held Decem- ber 15th. 1857, after the election of a new Board of Trustees, it was resolved, "that the trustees be instructed to adopt a more efficient mode of increasing the funds necessary for the support of the church, by renting such a number of pews as they may deem expedient."
The salary of the pastor, which, in 1844, had been reduced to six hundred dollars a year, on account of alleged inability to raise more, was re- stored to eight hundred dollars, the amount stip- ulated in the original call.
At a meeting, held November 15th, 1858, two Ruling Elders-Samuel Haver and Ebenezer Buckingham-having declined to serve any lon- ger, and a third-Mr. Gillespie-having moved to the country, it was determined that others should be added to the Session, and accordingly, George P. Guthrie, Frederick Tracey, and Hud- son C. Ward, were elected. These brethren, having signified their acceptance, were ordained and installed on Wednesday evening, December 29th, 1858, at which time the pastor delivered an eloquent and solemn charge to the Elders and congregation, on their respective duties.
In 1866, the church was thoroughly repaired, the gallery removed, a new tower erected, and the building slate-roofed, at a total cost of be- tween seven and eight thousand dollars.
The bell was a gift, by Frank Sturges, of Chi- cago, whose childhood was spent here. The bell that summons to worship rings a melodious peal :
"Let us kneel ; God's own voice is in the peal, And this spot is holy ground. Lord forgive us ! What are we, That our eyes this glory see, That our ears have heard this sound !"
One more consecrated one : December 19th, 1866, Mr. H. G. O. Cary was elected Ruling El- der, vice, Frederick Tracy, who had removed from the city. Mr. Cary was set apart with the usual solemn ceremonies.
At the annual meeting of the congregation, for the election of trustees and other purposes, held in April, 1868, it was resolved, " that the pastor's salary be raised to at least one thousand dol- lars."
In the spring of 1871, Mrs. Elizabeth Harden- baugh presented to the church the beautiful bap- tismal font, which stands in front of the platform, at the right of the pulpit.
Mr. A. A. Guthrie, the last of the original El- ders of this church, died February 13th, 1874, and, it being deemed expedient to fill his place, on the 23d of September, following, a meeting was called, and Thomas E. Richards was elected
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
to fill the vacancy, and having signified his ac- ceptance, was, on the 27th of that month, or- dained and installed.
SABBATH-SCHOOL .- As early as 1818, a Sab- bath-School was started in this village, by Mr. Henry Safford, assisted by Mrs. Eliza Whipple, George Warner, and others. The school was held in the Stone Academy. In 1820, it was re- moved to Zanesville. In 1828, the school divided and formed a Union School with the Methodist brethren, who subsequently withdrew, and in 1835 the school connected with this church be- gan to be taught in the basement of this building, and numbered sixty-five scholars. The average attendance, from that time to 1858, was 148, and in 1859, it reached 192.
Mr. A. A. Guthrie was the first Superintend- ent. He filled that position more than forty years, Messrs. Calhoun, S. Sturges and Guthrie relieving him during.two years. In 1860, the present Sabbath School hall was built. The building cost about $2,000, of which sum Mrs. Lucy Sturges contributed $1,000. It was dedi- cated December 9th, 1860, when the pastor preached an able sermon on "Christian Culture." The school has been a priceless blessing to the children and youth of this community, and an efficient auxiliary to the church. The average attendance during the seventeen years next pre- ceding January 18th, 1877, was 236. The high- est number during any one year, was 300. Not less than 3,500 pupils have enjoyed its advant- ages. To many it has been " the gate to heav- en." Several have become ministers of the Gos- pel ; one, at least, a foreign missionary. On the death of Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Alfred Barron was chosen Superintendent, and he was subsequent- ly succeeded by Rev. George F. Moore, who now fills that office.
There are twenty-four teachers and two hun- dred pupils in the school.
At a congregational meeting, held March 15th, 1878, Dr. Addison Kingsbury resigned his charge, and asked the congregation to unite with him in requesting the Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral relation. At the same meeting, a call was made for the pastoral services of Rev. George F. Moore, of Bloomingburg, Fayette county, Ohio, who, having accepted it, was in- stalled on the 14th of May, following.
The members of the church number one hun- dred and seventy-eight. The officers are as follows :
Elders-G. N. Guthrie, H. C. Ward, II. G. (. Cary, and Thomas E. Richards.
Trustees-C. W. Potwin, Thomas E. Rich- ards, and W. N. McCoy.
The benevolent work has been as follows, as reported by Dr. Kingsbury-who says, "only since 1849 can the exact amount be determined. though a proximate estimate can be given for the whole period." * *
* The following figures are below, rather than above the amount
contributed by the congregation since organi- zation, viz. :
For Home Missions $10,389 00
For Foreign Missions 9,577 00
For Education 2,831 00
For Publication 1,497 00
For Church Erection 2,622 00
For Ministerial Relief 644 00
For Freedmen 192 00
For Contingent Fund of the General Assembly 286 36
For Miscellaneous 6,337 00
Total for Benevolent Purposes $34,375 36
Current Expenses of the Congregation 42,000 00
Original cost of the Church $ 6,000 00 }
Charges and repairs on Church. 10,000 003 16,000 00
Grand Total .. $92,375 36
THE PARSONAGE .- The foundation of this house was laid in the autumn of 1848. The next summer, the walls were put up and enclosed. The brick were laid by Benjamin Tuttle and John Randall, and the woodwork was done by Joseph Collins and John Metcalf. The Buck- ingham Manse, as it was called, cost about $3,700, of which $1,500 was bequeathed for the purpose by Mrs. Eunice Buckingham, on condi- tion that the congregation raised in cash, $1,500 more, which they did. Mr. Alvah Buckingham superintended its construction and paid the ad- ditional expense, above the estimated cost. The erection of this building, besides supplying a want of the church, transformed a spot, previously a skating pond in winter, and an unsightly waste in summer, into beautiful grounds, with a com- modious residence for the pastors of the church, for which the donors will ever be "held in grate- ful remembrance."
THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH, [COLORED. ]-This church was organized in the old brick school house, on Moxahala avenue. Putnam. August 29th, 1863, by Rev. Isaac Jones, who was also the first pastor, and served the church very ac- ceptably for ten years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Adam Green, who served during 1874 and 1876. Rev. Isaac Jones was again called to the pastorate in 1878, and served two years. when he was succeeded by C. M. J. Clarke. the present pastor.
The first Deacons were :- John Cook. B. Ter- rill and George Rutes.
The Sabbath School was organized in 1874. with Rev. A. Green as Superintendent. The school has twenty-five pupils and three teachers. the pastor superintending.
The building occupied by this congregation was erected in the early part of 1870. It is a one story frame structure, twenty-four by forty feet, situate on Moxahala avenue, between Har- rison and Pierce streets, and cost. with the lot, about $2,500.
The present officers are :- Deacons-John Cook and Henry Ennis. Clerk-F. Palmer.
This church organization is subject to the Eastern Ohio "Anti-Slavery Baptist Associa-
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
tion ;" Elder James Poindexter, of Columbus, Ohio, Moderator : J. M. Meek, of Ripley, Ohio, Secretary.
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST .- This church was organized at the house of Mr. Frederick Greul, on Eighth street, April 8th, 1865, by the Rev. Casper Streich, of Pomeroy, Ohio, who was sent here by the German Conference of U. B. The following persons constituted the church organized : Fred Greul, Barbara Greul, Christopher Bischoff, Henry Veit Bauer, Ger- tie Bauer, Julius Bauer, Christian Bischoff, Susan Bischoff and Kate Streich.
The first pastor was Rev. Casper Streich. The first officers were : Class Leader-Christian Bischoff.
Steward-Christopher Bischoff.
Secretary-Christian Bischoff.
Trustees-Christopher Bischoff, Fred Greul and Henry Veit Bauer.
During the first year, the congregation wor- shiped from house to house. Their church, a substantial brick building, sixty by twenty-eight feet, was built during 1866, and is located on lot eleven, square eighteen, west side of Seventh, between Main and Market streets, and, with the lot. cost $4,000.
The congregation has been served by the fol- lowing ministers: Rev. Casper Streich, three years ; Rev. Wm. Orth, three years ; Rev. Jacob Scholler, two years ; Rev. C. Stumpf, one year ; Rev .- Busetiecker, one year ; Rev. George Schmidt, three years ; and now, by Rev. Edward Lorenz, who is serving his second year.
The present officers are: Class Leaders : Christopher Bischoff and John Heins.
Stewards-Jacob Stemm, Chris Deitz, and Chris Findeiss.
Trustees-Fred Greul, Christopher Bischoff and Henry Haas.
Secretary-Chris Deitz.
Treasurer-Christopher Wietzel.
The congregation embraces eighty-five mem- bers.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL-was organized about the same time, and has ever been an encourag- ing arm of the church. The number of pupils now in attendance is sixty, the number of teachers eleven. The Superintendent is Mr. Theodore Fye. The school has a good library, the nucleus of which was made at the time of organization. The present Librarian is Christian Findeiss. The church has no debts, and is prosperous. In matters of religion, they are subject to the ruling of the Ohio U. B. Association.
THE SOUTH STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI .- The inception of this church, was a mission, organized in 1865, under the direction of Rev. J. H. Gardner. By the munificence of Rev. David Young, a member of the Ohio An- nual Conference, the congregation gathered in the new field of labor were enabled to purchase a lot on the northeast corner of Seventh and South streets-extending to the alley between Seventh and South, with a frontage on Seventh
of about one hundred feet-and to build a neat, one-story church, which they located on the eastern part of the lot, cornering on the alley. The church was built, and finished, during 1869. By his will, Mr. Young authorized the Trustees of the Second Street Methodist Episcopal Church, whom he made Trustees of "the Young Fund," "to purchase a lot, and build a house of worship thereon, within the city of Zanesville, for the use and occupancy of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the United States of Amer- ica, by the ministers and members of said church, according to the discipline and regula- tions thereof ; with free seats therein, forever." And that "the house of worship, when erected, shall be free from debt."
In 1866, Rev. R. B. Bennet was pastor in charge, and, at the end of one year, was suc- ceeded by Rev. A. H. Windsor, who served two years, and was succeeded by Rev. James Mitch- ell-during whose ministry the church was erect- ed. The lot and church cost about $9,000. Rev. E. H. Hagler was the first pastor to occupy the chapel, and thenceforward the Sunday School was held there. In 1870, Rev. Levi Hall was pastor in charge-and about this time the congregation began to increase. The next pastor was Rev. William Porter, who entered upon his labors in 1872, and served three years. He was followed by Rev. J. E. Sowers, who served two years.
In 1878, Rev. C. D. Battelle was sent to this charge, and served three years, and finding the infirmities of age upon him, asked for the super- annuated relation, which was granted, amid ex- pressions of tenderest regard. During the first year of Mr. Battelle's ministry with South Church, Rev. William Porter died (May 27th, 1879) ; he was greatly beloved by the church and clergy, and about twenty of the ministry attend- ed his funeral-May 29, 1879.
The Trustees of South Street M. E. Church, in 1881, were H. Corbin, J. Mercer, W. Sealover, D. Zimmer, R. Adams, I. Ballenger, G. Mc- Carty, and D. Brookover.
The Stewards for the same year were M. Richmond, E. G. Miller, D. Tharp, J. Williams, A. Sealover. and L. Flowers.
The present pastor is Rev. M. W. Acton.
The membership numbers one hundred and sixty.
In May, 1880, John R. Bowls, one of the most useful members, was removed by death. In that sad hour, he exhibited the triumphs of the faith he had lived. December 10, 1878, J. T. Vest, a worthy member and useful officer, passed away. And the church also mourns the loss of James McBride, Martha Mercer, William Love, and George Best.
The Sunday School was organized in 1865, and has always been the nucleus of the church, in its inission work.
The Superintendent, David Brookover, is as- sisted by George McCarty. Secretary Sarchett is an efficient officer. Dr. A. Jordan, the Treas- .
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
urer, is a fixture. The Librarians are Olatha Cross and Lizzie Grooms.
HEBREW CONGREGATION [K'NESETH ISRAEL. ] -At a meeting held in Nevitt's Hall, September 20th, 1868, the following preamble was adopted, and the agreement signed :
"WHEREAS, It becomes us, as Israelites, to form a more compact organization as a religious body ;
"We, the undersigned, agree to become active, contributing members of a Hebrew congrega- tion, to be organized in the city of Zanesville.
We further agree to pay an initiation fee, of three dollars, and dues at the rate of six dollars per annum ; we further agree that as soon as a suitable place of worship is provided, we will as- semble for Divine worship, at least one Sabbath in each month.
[There were some other minor stipulations made at the time].
[Signed. ] "Wolf Dryfus, Michael Steinfeld, Marx Cahen, J. L. Dryfus, R. Shoenfeld, Meyer Shoenfeld, Jacob Shoenfeld, Benj. S. Dryfus, Herman Weber, Jacob Wollner, Simon Good- man, J. Kraus, Abe Kohn, Adolphus Hartman, W. Freedman, L. Freedman."
The meeting was then organized, W. Dryfus presiding, and B. S. Dryfus acting as Secretary. M. Steinfeld and B. S. Dryfus were appointed a Committee on Constitution and By-Laws, with instructions to report on the following Sunday.
At the meeting on Sunday, September 27th, 1868, the Committee reported a Constitution and By-Laws, which, after some amendments, were adopted and spread upon the minutes.
The following officers for the ensuing year were then elected :
President, Wolf Dryfus ; Vice-President, M. Steinfeld ; Treasurer, M. Cahen ; Secretary, B. S. Dryfus ; Board of Trustees, W. Freedman. J. L. Dryfus, and Rudolph Shoenfeld.
The congregation rented a room in Alter's building.
The following committee was appointed to as- certain the most suitable place for a burial ground : M. Steinfeld, W. Freedman, and J. L. Dryfus. February 7th, 1869, Mr. R. Shoenfeld donated a Sephar Thora (scrolls of the law), to the congre- gation, for which a vote of thanks was passed.
March 14th, 1869, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Cahen and Wollner, was appointed to procure a suitable person as Hazan and teacher. with instructions to confer with Mr. B. Tauber, and request him to present his credentials, which being complied with, he was elected Hazan and teacher for one year, dating from March 13th, 1869. Whereupon, a voluntary subscription of five hundred and sixty-five dollars was made to defray the expenses incurred. On the 21st of the same month, Mr. Tauber's salary was in- creased to six hundred dollars per annum, and at the same meeting, the Board of Trustees was in- structed to apply to the Legislature, during the same week, for a charter.
August Ist, 1869, it was resolved, that the con-
gregation organize as a corporation, under the act of the General Assembly, entitled " An Act for the creation of incorporated companies in the State of Ohio, passed May Ist, 1852."
The following persons have served as Hazan and teacher, succeeding Mr. B. Tauber :
Greenblatt, A. R. Levy, and F. Lowenberg ; the latter is the present incumbent, and also teaches the Sabbath-School class. The following are the officers of the society : R. Shoenfeld, President ; M. Weinberg, Vice President ; J. Frank, Secre- tary ; W. Dryfus, Treasurer.
October 5th, 1873, the congregation joined the Union of American-Hebrew Congregations, con- cerning which the following extracts, from an ad- dress delivered at the convention, are given, il- lustrative of the genius of Israelites, here and else- where, in the United States.
The convention originating the Union of Amer- ican-Hebrews, met in Cincinnati, July 8th, 1873, Julius Freiberg, President, and Lipinan Levy, Secretary.
" Blessed be ye all who come in the name of the Lord. The Shofar has sounded from hill to hill. and from valley to valley ; the fires have been kindled on the mountains of Judea, to call together the faithful, and the heart of Israel is awakened through the west and south of our glo- rious new Land of Promise,' the land of relig- ious liberty. We have assembled to form our- selves into a Union of the Jewish Congregations, for the purpose of diffusing light. knowledge and the spirit of religion among the Jews of this, our adopted country ; we propose to establish a Jew- ish Theological Seminary, to educate young Jewish preachers, who shall promulgate the re- ligion of our fathers, in the language of our coun- try, and in the spirit of the age in which we live."
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