USA > Ohio > Huron County > Norwalk > History of Norwalk township, Huron county, Ohio taken from Williams' History of Huron and Erie counties > Part 12
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The affairs of the academey are managed by a board of five trustees, who meet at frequent intervals during the year, the academy itself rarely convening, save at the annual meeting in April. The following gentlemen have been members of the Whittlescy academy in the past :
M. R. Brailey, G. H. Safford, J. E. Ingersoll, W. S. Rose. S. T. Worcester, S. R. Beckwith, B. F. Roberts, J. A. Jones. Edward Winthrop, Charles Bishop, JJ. A. Jackman, I. E. Morchonse, John Cline. George Baker, Joseph M. Farr. E. M. Stone, A. Brainerd. R. W. Stevenson, D. H. Pease. C. E. Pennewell, D. E. Husted, Jairus Kennan, C. L. Boalt, S. L. Hatch. F. Sears, Platt Benedict, John Mountain, Elmer E. Husted.
The following are the present members :
G. T. Stewart. E. Gray, C. E. Newman, F. A. Wildman, O. G. Carter. C. B. Stickney. L. D. Stratton, John Tifft. N. S. C. Perkins, Hiram Rose, Franklin Sawyer, P. N. Schuyler, J. B. Ford. C. P. Wickham, G. W. Knapp, D, D. Benedict, S. P. Hildreth, Henry S. Mitchell. C. L. Kounan, D. H. Fox, S. A. Wildman, Charles A. Lloyd, C. IT. Gal- lup, James G. Gibbs. L. C. Laylin.
The annual meeting for 1879. was held Monday, April 14th. Eighteen members were present. The report of the trustees showed an ineonss during the year of 8665.25 from hall rents, and $194.92 from ground rents and assessments. (Assessments are made on the several rooms for repairs or improve- ments when necessary).
The expenditures amounted to 8923.02, of which 8178.17 was for books for the library, and 8133 was for the catalogue of the library. The balance on hand is $460.86.
Officers for the ensuing year were elected, as fol- lows : President, F. A. Wildman ; vice-president. O. G. Carter : secretary, S. A. Wildman ; treasurer, E. Gray ; trustees. D. H. Fox, C. II. Gallup, S. P. Hildreth. C. A. Lloyd and S. A. Wildman : of which board C. H. Gallup is chairman.
The use of the hall, free of expense, was tendered to the library association, for lectures or entertain- ments, to the number of nine during the year. The sum of $150 was appropriated for books, to be placed in the keeping of the library association. The trus- tees were authorized to take such action as they may deem proper in aiding the Firelands Historical Soei- ety to protect its cabinet.
The academy is one of the most meritorious justi- tntions in the place, and that gift of lot No. 1, is
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
really the substantial base of onr present valuable Young Men's Library.
LIBRARY AND READING ROOM.
. Early in Jannary, 1866, a number of our citizens convened at the town hall, to disenss plans for estab- lishing a reading room, and organizing a library asso- eiation. Resolutions were adopted expressing the objeet of the meeting, and pledging those present to the support of the enterprise. A committee was ap- pointed to draft a constitution and solicit subserip- tions.
At a subsequent meeting, held on the 24th of Jan- uary, a constitution was adopted, as reported by the committee, in which the objects of the association were declared to be, the providing for the people, and especially the youth of Norwalk, additional means for mental improvement through the agency of a library, reading room, public lectures, and other kin- dred instrumentalities. An organization was then ef- feeted under the name of The Young Men's Library and Reading Room Association, and the following officers elected : R. W. Stevenson, president ; D. H. Pease, viee-president ; T. D. Shepard, secretary ; W. M. Cline, treasurer ; directors. D. D. Benedict, E. E. Husted, T. P. Bishop and C. P. Wickham. A nucleus of a library was provided by an unconditional gift to the association, of over one hundred valuable volumes, by Mrs. S. T. Worcester.
This gift was immediately followed by a proposition from the "Whittlesey Academy of Arts and Sciences," in which they proposed, (in order to carry more fully into effect one of the leading objects for which the academy was organized, ) to loan to the Young Men's Association, all the books then owned by the academy. and all that might hereafter be acquired by gift, pur- chase, or otherwise, to be kept for its use, so long as the association was conducted according to the arti- cles of its organization. Also, that the academy would appropriate, at that time, $500 for the imme- diate increase of the library. and not less than $50 for that purpose, annually thereafter.
The loan acquired at that time consisted of 1554 volumes, a number of which were a present to the academy from Washington Irving. The library of the association was a short time after inereased, by a gift from the Presbyterian church, of 125 volumes.
The labors of the finance committee were attended with considerable success, as the following memoran- dnm taken from their report will show :
Union Aid Society, donation $ 76 09
Bounty Fund, donation. 663 16
.
Christian Con:mission, donation 10 00
Soldiers' And Society, donation 58 00
Alert Club, donation 480 00
Alert Club Library fund, donation. 420 00
Norwalk High School, douation 100 00
Ladies' Festival, donation 218 19
Total donations 40,025 44
With a part of the funds, thus acquired. the asso- ciation was enabled to lease suitable rooms and pro-
vide furniture. The rooms were supplied with the leading newspapers and periodicals, published at that time, and immediately became the most popular place of resort in the town. In the winter following the organization of the association, an excellent course of lectures was given under its auspices. Since that time the association has enjoyed the services of the best leeturers in the country.
In the year 1868, there were only 2623 volumes on its shelves, and 49 papers and periodicals on the ta- bles, now there are nearly 5000 volumes and over 60 papers and periodicals, in store for its patrons.
The amount of money received annually from membership tickets, and from the interest of the permanent fund, has been barely sufficient to defray necessary expenses. All additions of books that have been made to the library, have been bought by the Whittlesey academy, or by money raised by festivals, excursions, and other entertainments of like nature.
The association is not in debt, but yet it is in great need of more liberal support. It has always been the desire of the association, to occupy a home of its own. It was expected that the permanent fund, with the accumulating interest, would at some time enable it to realize that hope.
The permenent fund now amounts to $1,900," which is invested in real estate security. In addition to this, the association has invested $225, a bequest of Mrs. S. T. Woreester. It was Mrs. Worcester's request that the money should be used only in beauti- fying and adorning the rooms of the association.
The library was first established in rooms in the oldl Mansion House bloek. The rooms were inconvenient, and the books were necessarily in a disordered state. A removal was made in June, 1848, to the rooms now occupied in the Gallup block, which were fitted up at considerable expense, new cases provided, and the books arranged in systematic order, and an alphabet- ical list of the library was taken, and a catalogue pre- pared. It is the first, ever provided and was the best method of preserving the books.
The present officers are, C. H. Gallup, president ; C. W. Oakes, vice-president ; E. L. Husted, treas- urer ; G. F. Titus, secretary ; J. G. Gibbs, B. S. Hubbard, H. L. Kennan, L. C. Laylin, S. J. Pat- riek, F. Sawyer, Jr., directors : Miss S. Rowland. librarian.
On account of the loss of the minutes of the pre- liminary meetings, it is difficult to ascertain, with certainty, the names of our citizens who were most active in organizing and establishing the association, but Mrs. M. F. C. Worcester, Mrs. M. A. Corwin, David H. Pease, R. W. Stevenson and Charles P. Wickham were among them : none, however, were more efficient in the good work than Mrs. Worcester.
This institution fills a very important position among the educational enterprises of the town, and but few of them better deserve the fostering care of its citizens.
:
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
CHURCHES
1821 -- PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.
Early in the year 1818 the first publie religious services in the township were held at the log house of Platt Benediet and consisted of reading the service of the Protestant Episcopal Church and a sermon, by a layman. After that, and on the completion of the new court house (now Central hotel on Whittlesey avenue), those services were kept up with more or less regularity for some years. In a letter written by Mrs. Ruth Boalt, wife of Capt. John Boalt and mother of Charles L. Boalt, to her daughter, in Watertown, N. Y., and dated June 12, 1820, she says:
" We have no minister with us, but I have the pleasure to inform you that this society meets at the court house every Sabbath and reads the church ser- vice and a sermon. *
* Lester read the sermon last Sabbath."
On January 20. 1821, a number of persons of Nor- walk and vicinity, calling themselves members and friends of the Protestant Episcopal church, met at Norwalk village. Platt Benediet was appointed chair- man and William Gardiner elected clerk. The fol- lowing named persons were then enrolled es members or friends of the church: Platt Benedict, Luke Keeler. Amos Woodward, William Gardiner, Ami Keeler. William Woodward, Gordon Woodward, David Gibbs, Moses Sowers, John Keeler, John Bealt, Samnel Sparrow, Asa Sandford, Henry Hurlbut. E. Lane, William Gallup, and Enos Gilbert, eleven in all. Of that number, Ami Keeler is the only survivor.
At that meeting it was voted to organize the parish of St. Paul's Church, Norwalk, and to adopt the con- stitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, and the following officers were elected: Amos Woodward, senior warden: Luke Keeler, junior warden ; Ebenezer Lane, clerk, and Platt Benedict, John Keeler, John Boalt, Ebenezer Lane, and Asa Sanford, vestrymen. As no clergyman was then to be bad, Platt Benedict, John Boalt, Amos Woodward, Samuel Sparrow and Ebenezer Lane were chosen as lay readers.
The occasion of tuis meeting was the visit of the Rev. Mr. Searle, an Episcopal minister, who on the next day, January 21, 1820, performed divine service, (the first in Norwalk) and also administered the rite of infant baptism to Louisa Williams, Theodore Wil- liams, Willian Gallup and Eben Lane. These were also the first baptisms in Norwalk. On the next day he baptized one adult. Henry Hurlbut, and also the children of Captain John Boalt, as follows: Amanda. Clarissa and Martha.
From that time on to 1826 meetings and lay read- ings were kept up and at long intervals the Res. Mr. Searle made other visits and administered many bap- tisms.
In Angust, 1826, Rev. C. P. Bronson was engaged to officiate for such portion of his time as funds couldl be raised to pay him for. In 1828 efforts were made !
to raise means with which to build a church, and Mr. Bronson was sent east to solicit assistance. The re- sult was that on his return he reported the collection of donations amounting to one thousand three han- dred and thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents, but did not offer to pay over the funds and never did. This unfortunate affair discouraged the enterprise. Bronson's connection with the church was severed in 1829 and no minister was employed until 1833, when Rev. John P: Bausman took charge at a salary of $400 per year for two-thirds of his time. He remained only one year. Then a Mr. Eaton officiated as a lay reader, -services still being held in the court house --- and the congregation was called together by Amni Keeler blowing a tin horn.
In 1835 Rev. E. Punderson took charge and re- mained about four years.
At the time the first effort, already mentioned, was made to raise funds to build a church edifice, in 1828, the site of the present church and burying ground (four acres) was purchased in the name of St. Paul's Church from White, Tweedy and Hoyt for sixty-one dollars. The deed is recorded July 12. 1828, in vol- ume five of deeds at page six hundred and ten.
In 1834 another effort was made to provide a build- ing and proved so far successful that the larger part of the present structure was erected at a cost of two thousand and twenty dollars. It was completed in 1835 and was consecrated by Bishop Mellvaine, June 26, 1836.
In 1837 the original organ (now rebuilt) was pur- chased of A. Backus, Esq., of Troy, N. Y., at a cost of six hundred and sixty dollars.
In 1839. Rev. Anson Clark, of Medina, took charge until September. 1840. when, on account of ill-health, he severed his connection as pastor, and went south, but returned and took charge agam in February, 1841, only to remain until June of the same year.
November 1, 1841, Rev. J. J. Okili, of New York, took charge, but resigned November 14, 1812.
December 18, 1842, Rev. Alvan Guion took charge at a salary of three hundred and seventy-five dollars, but "'if the vestry found it inconvenient to pay that amount. he was to accept three hundred and fifty dollars." He resigned May 2. 1844.
September 30. 1844, Rev. Sabin Hongh, of Mic- higan, took charge at a salary of four hundred dollars per year. and house rent free.
About May 1. 1846. he resigned. because The believed several of the leading doctrines of the church were at great variance from the principles of eternal truth."
April 7, 1847, Rev. Edward Winthrop. of Marietta, was called and took charge at a salary of five hundred dollars, remaining until a disease of the throat con- strained him to resign in 1854.
June 26, 1854, Rev. George Watson, of Oswego, New York. was calle and took charge at a salary of eight hundred dollars, and remained until June 27. 1864. lle was followed by Rev. Henry Tullidige ou
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
March 25, 1865, who resigned April 22, 1867. Rev. William Newton took charge May 8, 1867, and re- signed June 26, 1870. Rev. II. H. Morrell took charge October 1, 1820, and resigned April 6, 1874; and the Rev. R. B. Balcom, the present incumbent, took charge July 15, 1874.
Benedict Chapel was erected in 1863-4, at a cost of about four thousand dollars, of which amount Platt Benedict contributed about one thousand and five hundred dollars, -- hence its name.
In 1868, a bell was purchased and placed in the tower, at a cost of about four hundred dollars.
1823-METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
In the year 1818, Rev. Alfred Brunson, who is yet living, was appointed to the Huron circuit, of which New Haven was the most southerly appointment, and which, on an irregular path, reached to Venice, a few miles west of the city of Sandusky, thence easterly through the township of Perkins to the mouth of Black River, embracing twenty-four appointments which are reached by two hundred miles of travel. One of these twenty-four appointments was at Hanson Reeds, about two miles south of Norwalk, and this was the first Methodist preaching in the vicinity of Norwalk. At the same place, the first Methodist Sunday school was organized in 1823. During this year True Pat- . ter and James Mclntyre were appointed circuit preachers of Huron Cireuit, and a preaching place was established in Norwalk with a class of seven members, which had increased in the following year to thirteen. Hanson Reed, Lester Clark, Job T. Rey- nolds, John Laylin, Charles Laylin (for many years a local minister), Danici Stratton. Jabex Clark, Perry Beckwith, Janies Wilson. Armon Roscoe. A. Powers. Prudence Inman, Thomas Hobbes. Ollie Clark and Jane Buchanan, were its members.
The book of the recording steward shows that these faithful ministers received for their services the sun of fifty dollars, of which sam Norwalk contributed about ten dollars. The pay was, no doubt. thank- fully received, but it is not supposed that any of it was used in speculation. In the years 1826 and 1827 Shadrach Ruark and Adam Poe supplied the work and shared the hospitalities of the pioneers. The follow- ing entry occurs in the official record of the year 1826:
"Angnst 21st. 1826 .- This day paid to Bro. S. Ruark, seventy-two cents, the same being the money received at a collection made at a meeting in Nor- walk, yesterday. M. KELLOGG. Cireuit Steward."
In the year 1829, John Hazzard and Cyrus S. Car- penter were appointed preachers, and on the 24th of November. 1829, a lot was purchased of E. Whittle- sey & Co., near the east end of seminary street, and soon after a church was built. In 1845, the church and parsonage were sold for debt, but the church was redeemed the following year : the parsonage, in the mean tinte, was consumed by fire. In 1843, Norwalk was separated from the rest of the circuit and placed under the pastoral care of Edward MeChine, but the
following year it was strengthened by the addition of Milan, which arrangement lasted but a few years, when Norwalk became self supporting. On the 25th day of December, 1853, the society, at the call of the pastor, Rev. J. A. Mudge, met and appointed a board of trustees. The trustees immediately organized and took possession of lot No. 12, corner of Benedict avenue and Main street, dedicated by E. Whittlezey, Fer., acting, in fact, as trustee for himself and others, to the building of a meeting house." A subscription was commenced January 4th, 1854, and on the 26th day of October, 1856, the church, an ex- cellent one for its time, was dedicated by Dr. Edward Thompson.
Extensive repairs and changes were made under the pastorate of Rev. A. Palmer in 1867, and a sermon was preached at the re-opening by Bishop Kingsley.
A number of the presiding elders of the district, and preachers of Norwalk, have risen to eminence in the church. In early days, Russel Biglow was pre- siding elder. Those who heard him, never forget. the most remarkable man, as a minister, of his day. With eloquence like a flame of fire, and pathos, piety and energy, that none could stand unmoved before, his praise filled the land ; but he died in 1834, when only forty-two years of age. L. B. Gurley was the poet preacher. Dr. Edward Thompson, brilliant as a writer and very able as a preacher, afterwards a Bishop, is well remembered in this place. W. L. Harris, with fine executive ability, once a minister here. is the business Bishop of the church, and few churches have. taking the whole list together, ever been more faithfully or ably served. The preseut membership of the church is three hundred and fifteen, with a very flourishing Sunday school of over two hundred scholars.
Since 1830, the church has been served by the follow- ing ministers: 1830, J. Janes, J. Ragan ; 1831, E. Chase, A. Minear ; 1832, A. Minear, C. S. Carpen- ter ; 1833, H. O. Sheldon, E. Thompson : 1834, J. Wheeler, E. C. Gavitt ; 1835, L. Hill, J. M. Gos- horn, D. Burns: 1836, L. Hill, Thomas Barkdul; 1837, Hiram Shaffer, J. M. Goshorn: 1838, T. Dunn, W. C. Huestis : 1839, W. J. Wells, C. Saw- yer ; 1840, T. Dunn, W. R. Disbro : 1841, David Gray. W. R: Disbro : 1842. J. McMahon, T. Cooper; 1843, E. McClure ; 1844, Thomas Barkdull, W. C. Pierce : 1845, Joseph Jones, W. C. Pierce : 1846, II. S. Bradley. L. S. Jolmson ; 1847. W. L. Harris ; 1848, M. Rowley ; 1850, E. S. Grumley : 1851, Jesse Durbin : 1852, Thomas J. Gard : 1853. J. A. Mudge: 1855-6, E. R. Jewitt : 1857, C. L. Foote: 1858. S. Mower : 1860, W. H. Seeley ; 1802, J. A. Mudge ; 1864, Thomas Barkdull : 1865. T. Hartley : 1866, A. R. Palmer : 1862, T. F. Hildreth : 1822, F. M. Searles : 18:5, E. Porsons : 1878, J. S. Brondwell.
1830 -- FIRST PRESBYTERIAN.
This church was organized on the 11th of February. 1830. by Rev. Messrs. A. H. Betts. Daniel W.
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
161
Lathrop and John Beach. It consisted of nine men !- bers-five males and four females. It was organ- ized as a Congregational church, and taken under the care of the Presbytery of Huron. Rev. John Beach was the stated supply of this in connection with the church in Peru, sustained in part by the Home Mis- sionary Society. He remained here untill some time in 1831, when he removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan. The church was then supplied once in two weeks by Rev. E. Barber, who was the principal of the Haron Institute at Milan. His successor was Rev. Chapin R. Clark who commenced his labors in September, 1833, and continued them one year.
Rev. Stephen Saunders, of Milan, formerly a much esteemed pastor of a church in Salem, New York, afterwards supplied for a few months, until feeble health prevented his further labors. He died in the early part of the year 1835.
ยท
In the spring of 1835, the organization of the church was changed from Congregational to Pres- byterian, and on March 7, 1836, an act of incorpora- tion was obtained, giving the society a legal existence under the name of the First Presbyterian Church and congregation of Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio.
In March, 1835, on the suggestion of Rev. Mr. Judson, of Milan, an invitation was sent by the church to the Rev. Alfred Newton, of Connecticut. to visit them, with a view of being employed as pastor should there be mutual satisfaction. Having previ- onsly determined to make the west his field of labor, he was the more ready to receive the proposition with favor; and accordingly complied with the invitation. He connnenced his labors here on the first Sunday in July, 1835. The church, then, was not only small in members, but weak in pecuniary resources. The whole taxable property of its members and supporters, according to the duplicate of that year, did not ex- ceed ten thousand dollars. Aid had been received yearly from the Home Missionary Society, bat when Mr. Newton came, the church became at once self- sustaining, and has always remained $0.
.
In 1836, and again in 1837, Mr. Newton was il- animously invited to become the pastor of the church, but each time declined, wishing, before he became permanently settled, to sec the issue of efforts which were then being made for the erection of a house of worship.
Services were held in the academy until its destruc- tion by fire in February, 1836. Another place of worship was soon extemporized in the attic of a brick block on West Main street. It was an unfinished room, with naked rafters and walls. Unplaned boards without backs were the seats for the audience, and the pulpit was constructed of tea chests and dry goods boxes. With theee primitive appointments, the church continued to hold its meetings on the Sab- bath from February to June, when the old court house was secured.
This was the place of meeting for more than a year. Meanwhile the society was taking vigorous measures
to secure a building of its own. In 1837 a lot was proenred and work begun. The church was finished about the first of July, 1838, at a cost of about ten thousand dollars, including lot and organ. It was dedicated on the 24th of July. On the same day, also, Mr. Newton was installed pastor by the pres- bytery.
The church worshiped in the building that was then dedicated for more than thirty years, but it was at length felt to be inadequate to their necessities. In 1867. a movement began in the congregation to secure a new house of worship. With various hindrances and discouragements, this was prosecuted until the completion, in 1870. of the present sanctuary, at a cost, with the lot, of abont twenty-five thousand dol- lars. It was dedicated on the last Sabbath of July, 1870, with a debt of about five thousand dollars rest- ing upon it. This proved to be a heavy burden upon the society. In January, 1878, a vigorous attempt was made to reduce it, and by the Ist of May, 1879, the last dollar had been paid, so that now the church is entirely free from debt. On the day of dedication Dr. Newton laid aside the official care of the church. which he had borne faithfully for thirty-five years.
In an historical discourse from which much of the preceding facts have been gathered, preached by Dr. Newton on concluding the twenty-fifth year of his ministry in the church, June 24, 1860, he was able to report that since the organization of the church the membership had increased from nine to one hundred and fifty, and that more than sixty thousand dollars had been contributed for religions and educational purposes at home and abroad. Since then the annual contributions have increased rather than diminished.
Dr. Newton, after his resignation, continned with the church, as pastor emeritus, until his death. which occurred the 31st of December. 1878. The funeral services were held in the church, on the second day of Jannary, 1879. His presence was sadly missed, not in the church only, to which he had given the best years of his life, but throughout the hole com- munity, which knew him only to esteem hiz: for bis many christian virtues. He rests from his labor-, bnt his work: follow him.
When Dr. Newton resigned the pastoral office, Rev. Henry H. Rice was unanimously elected to succeed him. He remained with the church for four years, resigning in the fall of 1874, and was soon after called to the Westminster church of Sacramento. For nearly a year the church was without a pastor. In the summer of 1875, Rev. James D. Williamson, the pres- ent pastor, was invited to supply che pulpit for a year. Afterwards he was invited to accept the office of pas- tor, and was installed October 3, 1876.
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