History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c., Part 66

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c. > Part 66

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mansfield H. Gilkison is responsible for a few items following : Stephen Curran went out one day, near the spring, to make elapboards, and. while he was at work, left his dinner on a stump. Happening to look in the direction of the stump during his labor, he saw a large black bear helping himself to his dinner. Curran, finding he could not scare bruin away by yelling at him. attacked him with his ax. The bear showed fight, but Curran was also plucky, and finally the bear beat a retreat ; but ran directly toward the public square, where he was overtaken by Curran, who seized him by the tail. The Irishman had, in the mean time. been making considerable noise, and quite a crowd had collected. The bear whirled rapidly about, Curran holding to the tail for some time, until, his hold slipping, he was thrown several feet away. and, notwithstanding the crowd, or, very likely, because of it, the bear ran away clown the ravine behind the North American, and escaped.

He says the first show in town was that of a lion, exhibited in a barn on the alley in rear of the former location of the Farmer's Bank, oppo- site the North American. He thinks the first sermon was preached by the Rev. Van Eman, a

Presbyterian, on South Main street, where the Lexington road forks. He spoke in the open air, and stood on a platform made entirely of round logs. Other logs were lying about for the use of the audience. Jacob Lindley was first Mayor, and John G. Peterson first Marshal of the town.

At a Methodist Episcopal Conference, held in Mansfiekl in 1872. the famous old Methodist circuit rider, Mr. Harry O. Sheldon, was present, and made the statement that he assisted in organizing the first temperance society in Ohio. It was organized in the old log court house on the square, and himself and Rev. James Row- land, then living, were the only surviving mem- bers of that society. He also stated that he organized the first Sabbath school ever held in Mansfield. He was at that time (1872), editor of the Oberlin New Era. He must have fol- lowed very closely the Rev. William James (not Jones), who was the first Methodist preacher, and, very likely, the first preacher of any de- nomination in Mansfield. It cannot be cer- tainly ascertained whether it was James or Van Eman, the Presbyterian preacher. James was gored by a bull belonging to himself. and killed.

Hotel-keeping seems to have been the prin- cipal business in those early days. About every other cabin was used at one time or another for a " tavern." A great many people were coming and going, looking at and entering lands, surveying, etc., and nearly all the earliest settlers became tavern-keep- ers. Mr. John Wiler, who is still living. was among the first of these. He came to Mansfield in 1819, a single man. He under- stood baking and brewing, and rented of a Mr. Styers, who lived in the country, near town, the log building then standing on the site of the Wiler House, probably the same building erected by Murphy. Here he started a bake- shop, and after a time started a brewery, or a small establishment down on the flat, which he

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

called the " Devil's Teapot," where he manufact- ured ale or beer, and perhaps spirits, and kept a ; saloon in addition to his bakery. He soon did a good business and made money. He was a hearty, go-ahead, jovial fellow, and those who indulged in the "ardent " (and there were few who did not in those days) liked to patronize Wiler, partly on account of his genial disposi- tion and partly because he always laid a nicely sugared cake on top of each glass as he handed it out. He was thrifty and paid Mr. Styers the rent promptly. After a time. he concluded he could make more money by keeping a hotel in addition to his other business ; but he was a single man, a serious ob- stacle to his plans. He was not a man, however. to let difficulties so small as that stand in his way. Mr. Sty-

ers, his landlord. had several girls, and one day. when Wiler went to pay his rent, he asked Styers for one of them for a wife. That gentleman brought out his oldest daughter, arrangements were soon made, and in a short time the Wiler House came into existence. This lady proved to be one of the best of wives. The marriage took place in 1819. Mr. Styers assisted the young couple by presenting them with the property, and in a short time the enterprising and indus- trions Wiler added to it, and in 1831 built a two-story brick, which is yet a part of the Wiler House. Additions have appeared from time to time until the building reached its present grand proportions. It has been well managed, always considered a first-class house, and so remains at present.

JAM

ST. JAMES HOTEL.

The very excellent hotel, now known as the St. James, also has something of a history. Sam- uel Bukias, before mentioned as the first tin- ner. had his shop on that corner. He owned two small frame houses then. standing together, in one of which he lived. These caught fire and burned down. During this fire, Mrs. Bukias escaped from the burning buildings and ran through the crowd to the Wiler House ; then, remembering her baby, ran back. caught it up, wrapping it in her apron, and again pushed her way through the crowd to the Wiler. Being greatly excited. she had dropped the babe in the street, and did not miss it until she came into the house. Almost frantic. she ran back again and found it in the street, unhurt, among the tramp- ing, rush and con- fusion of the excited crowd. Bukias afterward died. and his widow married a man named Felix Leiter, who started the first hotel there in 1830 or 1831. The building was frame, and was also destroyed by fire. In 1844, a Mr. Teegarden built a small brick hotel there, which he called the Teegarden House, the beginning of the pres- ent structure. It has changed hands and names many times, being called for a long time the Weldon House, Mr. James Weldon, son of Rolin Weldon, being its owner and proprietor. He died February 20, 1872. He came to Mans- field in 1810. when he was six years of age. remaining here until his death. Ile learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, and afterward dealt largely in stock with John U. Tanner. In early days, he made sugar every

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

spring just east of town, his camp being located Among the later buildings. for hotel purposes, is the Atlantic House, foot of Main street, erected in 1864. by the Atlantic and Great where the Mennonite Church now stands. From the public square to the creek on the east. was, at that time, one of the finest sugar-tree groves " Western Railroad Company, and was opened in all this region. Old settlers remember the wooden bowl which he always kept well filled with sugar, free to all comers. After the return of Gov. Bartley from Congress, he and Weklon engaged in the dry-goods business together. He was in the mercantile business nearly forty years. The St. James has been remodeled and added to from time to time. About 1860. it was purchased by its present owner and pro- prietor, Mr. Lewis Vonhoff, and some time after its name changed to St. James. It is first class in every particular.

The Phoenix Hotel, which occupied the corner of North Park and East Diamond streets, was one of the oldest in the city. It was destroyed by fire on the night of November 23. 1866. some of its inmates barely escaping with their lives. It had not been used as a hotel for some years before it was destroyed, but had, just be- fore the fire. been repaired by its owner, H. C. Hedges, and generally been made over into storerooms and offices. After its destruction. Mr. Hedges built a brick block on its site. which was also destroyed by fire soon after its com- pletion. and in 1872 he erected the present sub- stantial and roomy structure.

for business in January, 1865, by C. C. Town- ley. its first proprietor. Four years after, in 1869. Barnard Wolf erected a fine brick hotel. on the corner of East Diamond and Fourth, which he called the Barnard House. It is brick, four stories, and will accommodate about 150 guests. It now bears the name of the Sherman House. In addition to these, there are the European, Tremont, North American. and sev- eral other hotels, of more or less importance. Next to the Wiler. the North American stands without a rival in age. It is a question which is the older of these two. but the probability is, the first "tavern " stood on the site of the North American. This building has been added to. from time to time, until it is quite spacious. About 1873. it was purchased by Mr. Jabez Cook (since deceased) and Mr. Rit- ter. These gentlemen remodeled and rebuilt it in its present shape. It is still an excellent hotel. kept. at present, by Homer Wright. Mr. Ritter. one of the owners of it, and his brother, came to this country in' 1818. landing at Baltimore. William died. November 8, 1873. aged sixty-one : Joseph lived nearly a year longer. dying October 20. 1874, aged seventy- nine. They came from Brakerl, Westphalia. Germany. Joseph worked at his trade (tanner).

The old Mansion House was among the earli- est hotels. It occupied the corner of West Market and Walnut streets-was erected and in Baltimore. until 1822. when he removed to kept by Jacob Lindley, the first Mayor of the Canton. Ohio, and from there to Mansfield. in town. The Baptists purchased it. pulled it down, , 1833. and erected the present substantial church.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE CITY CHURCHES.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN-THE CONGREGATIONALIST-THE ASSOCIATE, ASSOCIATE REFORMED AND UNITED PRES- BYTERIAN-THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-THE FIRST BAPTIST AND CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCHES- ENGLISH LUTHERANS-CHURCH OF CHRIST-ST. JOHN'S-REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN-ST. PAUL GERMAN LUTHERAN-ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC-GRACE EPISCOPAL-AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL-CHURCH OF GOD -BELIEVERS IN CHRIST.

M ANSFIELD ought to be, and probably is, proud of its churches, and of the interest taken in religious matters. There are sixteen churches in the city ; they are generally plain and substantial, but some of them are spacious and beautiful. The Congregational Church, on West Market street, is justly celebrated for its beauty and finish. If churches are an-indica- tion of civilization, this city can justly feel that she stands in the front rank.

In 1815, the village of Mansfield consisted of twenty-two houses and two block-houses. That year the Rev. George Van Eman, the first Presbyterian minister here, began his labors. The services were held in the upper room of the block-house, on the square, which was then used as a court house. The following extract is from an address of Rev. S. W. Miller, published in 1876. He says, referring to Rev. Van Eman : "He was certainly the first Pres- byterian minister, and, in all probability, the first minister of any denomination who preached in Mansfield." Mr. John Weldon says: "I think Dr. James (evidently referring to William James, the well-known pioneer Methodist), was the first preacher that settled in Mansfield. He was a Methodist, and built a log house on the corner of Third and Water streets." On the other hand, the following positive statement is preserved, made in 1838, by Henry Newman, who is still at Bryan, Ohio, in full possession of

mind and memory : "The first man who held religious meetings in Madison Township was Rev. Bowman, a pioneer missionary. The neighbors met at my father's cabin, three miles down the Rocky Fork from Mansfield; in all there were about eight or ten hearers, including work-hands. The place is now better known as Beam's Mill. The second preacher in Madison Township was Rev. George Van Eman, a Pres- byterian. He collected a congregation in 1814 or 1815, in Mansfield, and served the people until Rev. James Rowland came ; and, about the same time, Rev. William James came. The Rev. Charles Waddle, and the Rev. Somerville, of the Methodist Church, came to Mansfield in 1816. About the same time, or soon after, the first Methodist Church was built, a little south- east of the Big Spring, and, shortly after, the Presbyterians built a church on the hill on East Diamond street, where the new church now stands." It will be observed that the above statement is clear on two points : first, that the Rev. Bowman was the first minister who preached in the township; and, second, that the Rev. George Van Eman was the first min- ister who preached in the town of Mansfield. There is abundant testimony that Mr. Van Eman was preaching here in the fall of 1815. The First Presbyterian Church of Mansfield was organized some time in the year 1816, by James Scott and George Van Eman, who were

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directed to do so by the old Presbytery of Lan- caster. At the organization, there were six male members and seven female. Two Elders were elected-George Coffinberry and Richard Hoy, the former of whom had been an Elder before coming to Mansfield; the latter had been a member of the Associate Presbyterian Church. In 1820, when the Associate Presby- terian Church was organized in Mansfield, he transferred his membership thereto, and was at once intrusted with the same important office. In 1817, G. Berryhill, Mathias Day, and Noah B. Cook, were elected and ordained Ruling Elders.

Mathias Day, Sr., was born in Chatham, N. J., in 1791, and came to Mansfield in 1816. He was a master carpenter, and superintended the erection of nearly all the early buildings in Mansfield. In 1817, he married Sophia Grimes, who then held the office of County Recorder. After their marriage, the office was transferred to Mr. Day, who held it fourteen years. Ile was long a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a strong antislavery man. He died March 21, 1866.

Mr. Van Eman was installed by the Presby- tery of Lancaster. The exact date is unknown, but it was prior to October, 1817, the date of the erection of the Presbytery of Richland by the Synod of Ohio. Mr. Van Eman applied for a dissolution of the pastoral relation in May, 1820, but was not dismissed until August the same year. There was no church edifice in his time, the services being sometimes held in private houses, but generally in the court house. In his report to the Presbytery in April, 1818, he says : "Mansfield Church consisted of forty- five members, April 1, 1817. Since added, on examination, fifteen ; on certificate, ten ; total now in communion, seventy." In 1867. he writes to Mr. Davis : " When I came to Mans- field, there were about ten communicants ; when I left. about forty."

In August, 1820, Rev. James Rowland first visited Mansfield. The following April, at the

request of the church, then consisting of about twenty-five members, the Presbytery appointed him stated supply for one-half of his time for one year, the church promising him $200 on subscription. at the same time allowing him one- half his time for supplying other churches con- tignons to Mansfield. He was ordained June 26, 1821, and installed April 8, 1823. During his pastorate, which continued over seventeen years, being from April, 1821. until November 25, 1838, one-half his time for seven years, and the whole of his time afterward, he preached within the bounds of this church thirteen hun- dred and seventy sermons ; baptized forty-eight adults, and three hundred and thirty-two infants : solemnized two hundred and fifty-seven mar- riages, and received into the communion of the church, on examination and profession of faith, two hundred and twenty-two. and on certificate one hundred and fifty-seven. After the dissolu- tion of the pastoral relation, in 1838, Mr. Row- land continued as stated supply until April fol- lowing ; and also supplied the pulpit at subse- quent times, as occasion required, living among them until his death in 1872, as a prudent and loving father and friend. Sometime during the carly part of his ministry, a frame church was ereeted on the spot where the present edifice stands.

Mr. Rowland was succeeded in April, 1839. by Alexander M. Cowan. His was a stormy pastorate. and was terminated in August, 1842. In the autumn of 1840, a second Presbyterian Church was organized. as the result of a long and bitter controversy between two factions. The church was about equally divided, and the fire only burned higher and waxed hotter by virtue of the oil that the Presbytery poured npon it. until, for the sake of peace, a second organization was granted. This organization erected and occupied the building on Mulberry street. now used by the Roman Catholics as a school. Of that church, Mr. Rowland was stated supply for a time, and, after him, the Rev.

HISTORY OF RICIILAND COUNTY.

466

F. A. Shearer, who was installed in November. 1843, and continued to hold that relation until the two churches were re-united by act of the Presbytery, in 1846. After Mr. Cowan, the pulpit was supplied for a longer or shorter time in succession. by S. M. Templeton, in 1842 ; Evan Evans. in 1843; W. C. Kniffin, in 1844 ; T. F. McGill, in 1845; James W. Dickey, in 1847 ; J. E. Marquis, in 1854; J. W. McGre- gor, in 1857. The latter resigned in October of the same year, and was succeeded by J. R. Burgett. His labors, though brief, were greatly blest to the church. lifting them to new life and vigor ; and the months of January and Februruary of the following year were made memorable by the addition of seventy-five new members. The people said, "Let us arise and build."

The corner-stone of the present church edi- fice was laid on the 17th of September, 1858, and the first service held in the basement Feb- ruary 25, 1859, Rev. John Loyd preaching on the occasion. Mr. Burgett was followed, in No- vember, 1859, by Henry R. Wilson, D. D., who continued until September, 1860, when Mr. Rowland again officiated until March. 1861. At this time, Rev. George Morris received a unanimous call, and occupied the pulpit until November, 1863. During Mr. Morris' time, the audience chamber of the new church was occu- pied for the first time, dedicatory services being held August 20, 1862, the congregation having worshiped several years in the basement. Fol- lowing Mr. Morris, came Thomas K. Davis, who was installed September 21, 1865. He remained until January 1, 1867, when he resigned, and, in the following May, David Hall, of Brady's Bend, Penn., became Pastor. During his pas- torate of six years and eight months, much good was accomplished, and 181 members added to the church. He was a man of great ability and energy, and much beloved by his people. On the retirement of Mr. Hall, the Rev. S. W. Miller, was chosen Pastor.

Mr. Miller was elected Pastor March 30, 1874 : preached his first sermon May 8, 1874, and was installed June 9, 1874. The growth of the church has. under kind Providence, been rapid and encouraging, and now numbers about three hundred members.

During the five years ending April 30, 1879, 175 persons were added to the church, 95 on examination and profession of faith, and 80 by certificate from other churches ; $19,388 has been contributed, being an average of $3,879 annually, distributed as follows, viz., $2,179 to the missionary work of the church at large, and $17,219 to the work of the church at home. During the past year, the ladies have refit- ted the interior of the church, the expense being about $1,600, making it in beauty and comfort second to none in the city. Rev. Miller resigned the pastorate in April, 1880, and the pulpit is now vacant.

The officers of the church are : Ruling Elders, Joseph Smart, Thomas MeBride, J. J. King, John Simpson, Ph. D., L. J. Bonar and William McCoy ; Trustees-Thomas McBride, J. J. King, E. J. Forney, Joseph Hedges and A. C. Patterson.

The Presbyterian Sabbath School was the first organized in Mansfield. and is therefore the pioneer. The exact date of its organization cannot be ascertained, but it was between the years 1816 and 1819. It was organized where the first meetings of the Presbyterian Church were held, in the block-house on the square. The Presbyterians claim to have organized this school, but it was attended for some years by Christians of other denominations. Scholars were then too few to divide up, and all worked together for the general good. Mathias Day came to Mansfield in 1817, and it is supposed he was the first Superintendent. When Mr. James Purdy came in 1823. he was elected Superintend- ent. At that time, there were no Sunday-school books, the Bible and hymn-book only being used. It was the only school of this kind until

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

1826, when the Methodists felt strong enongh to have one of their own. The Presbyter- ian school was continued without interrup- tion in the old frame church, on the corner where the present church stands, until 1857. when the frame building was taken away to make room for building the new church, and the Sabbath school was held for awhile in the Episcopal Church and in the old Baptist Church, on East Third street. About this time. there being some division in the church, the school was discontinued for a short time. In October, 1857. it was again organized, and a Mr. Furgeson elected Superintendent, followed shortly by a Mr. King. It was held in Melo- deon Hall, but soon removed to Sturges Hall. Here it continued until the lecture-room of the present church was completed. In 1861. Hon. William Johnson was Superintendent. He was followed by Mr. Vance ; the Pastor. Thomas K. Davis, and Mr. Crawford Spear. Mr. Vance was re-elected in 1865. and served until some time in 1866, when L. J. Bonar, the present Superintendent, was elected. Mr. Bonar has filled the important position long and faithfully. and the school has greatly prospered and grown under his judicious management. He entered upon the work with great zeal, which has not flagged for a moment. Not only has the school been kept in a prosperous condition, but other schools have grown out. and are considered part. of it. In 1869, a school was started at Canton, China, through Miss Hattie Noyes. The collections of this school were sent out to Canton, and were used in sustaining the branch Sunday school, with a membership of twenty- five girls. In the summer of 1865, the Union Colored Sunday School, of Mansfield, was organized, mainly through Mr. Bonar's efforts. Its meetings were held on Sabbath afternoons. and Mr. Bonar was for some time its Superin- tendent. This was an undertaking of much difficulty, as many of the members, having been recently freed from slavery, were unable

to read. A night school was established, in which these people were first taught the rudi- ments of the English language. Mr. Isaac Pleasants, a colored man. was afterward elected Superintendent, and the school was continued some years under his charge. when it was placed under the care of the Young Men's Christian Association. In the fall of 1869, a Sunday school was organized in John's Addi- tion, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Sunday School. Its first meeting was at the house of Mr. A. W. Lobach. there being no church in that part of the city. By permission of the Board of Education. it was held for some time at the schoolhouse. Mr. Bonar was Super- intendent of this Sunday school until 1870, when Mr. Hamsher was elected.

The organization of the Congregational Church of Mansfield was first agitated in - 1833. In the antumn of that year, James B. Walker, then a layman. happened in Mans- field on business, and was requested. by Ma- thias Day, Sr., and others. to draft a paper, containing the reasons for and articles to the organization of a new ecclesiastical society. This paper contained. in part, the following : "Resolved, That we will form ourselves into a new ecclesiastical society, whose object shall be to employ an evangelical minister. of the Pres- byterian or Congregational denomination, and to use all other means to promote the influence of the Gospel in the town and county of which we are residents."

To the articles of association were appended the following names : Thomas Smith, Thomas Taylor, Daniel Cook, Williamson Carothers, Samuel Smith. William Maxwell. Thomas Smith, A. Sutherland. Luther Cook. Robert Bowland, Robert MeComb. E. P. Sturges, Jedediah Smith. Edward Sturges, J. M. May. Jacob Parker, M. Douglas, Jr .. Edwin Grant. David Wise. John Walker and Robert Lowry.

This association proenred. temporarily. for a place of worship, the upper room of the

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

warehouse of E. P. and E. Sturges, in which they for a time assembled.

In 1835, this association resolved to have a church building, and formed a meeting-house association, of which Thomas Smith was Presi- dent ; E. P. Sturges, Treasurer ; Williamson Carothers, William Maxwell. C. L. Avery. C. T. Sherman and Robert McComb, Directors. They ·proceeded to purchase four acres of ground, on West Market street, upon which they erected a substantial brick building, with basement for lecture and Sabbath-school purposes. April 3, of the same year. the Congregational Church of Mansfield was organized, by the Rev. E. Judson and Rev. Enoch Conger, members of the Pres- bytery of Huron, Ohio. They made the follow- ing minute of the organization : "We, the un- dersigned, being present at Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio, on the 3d day of April, A. D. 1835, as missionaries of the American Home Mis- sionary Society, proceeded, in compliance with their request, to organize the persons whose names follow, into a Congregational Church of the Lord Jesus Christ : George L. Hovey, Elizabeth Hovey, Sarah G. Nelson, Belinda Curtis, Jerusha M. Sturges, James Loughridge, Jolin E. Palmer, Edwin Grant, Mariah B. Suth- erland, John Walker. Sarah Hoy and Nancy Smith."

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Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968