History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 75

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088

USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 75

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).

D. M. Neikirk, a native, was here in 1831; David Neikirk in 1833; Joseph Neikirk in 1847, and Jeremiah Neikirk in 1839. ... William H. Norris, a native of Ohio, was here in 1831, and John T. Morris in 1838. ... Jonathan Nichols arrived in 1824, and at the first town meeting was elected a trustee.

Joseph Osborne, who came here immediately after the Anways, was chosen one of the overseers of the poor, in 1824; this was a peculiar position, as there

654

HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

were only fifty people here at the time, and the heads of families claimed to be all as rich as Osborne himself .... Gilbert M. Ogden, a native of New York State, father of Herbert G. Ogden, of Bloomville (who was born in Scipio Township in 1843), came to this county in 1836 and married Miss Sarah Jopp, of Pleas- ant Township, who died in 1854; Mr. Ogden carried on business in Republic for a time and mined in Nevada, dying in Toledo, Ohio, in September, 1884. .... D. D. Ogden came from New York State in 1836 .... Nathaniel and Eliza- beth Owen, parents of Lewis R. Owen, of Bloom Township, came to Scipio Township in 1833 from New York State. Nathaniel Owen died in 1846, his widow in 1882, aged ninety years.

T. M. Pancost was agent for the B. P. & C. Railroad in 1859. ... Alon- zo and Lydia (Phillips) Patrick, natives of New York, parents of Mrs. William W. Lapham (who was born in New York State in 1831), came to this county in 1843. Mr. Patrick died in 1863, aged sixty-four: his widow died in 1876, aged sixty-one .... Giles Pearce, who died July 30, 1858, was a pioneer. Will- iam Pearce, the first blacksmith in the township, was a free negro ... . Richard T. Porter, born in 1811 in Pennsylvania, came here in 1842. ... John D. Por- ter, who died May 13, 1854, was buried by the Odd Fellows, of which order he was a member.

Lewis Ransburg came from Maryland in 1831. Mrs. Ransburg (nee Hox- ter), was born in Yates County. N. Y., and with her parents immigrated to Seneca County, Ohio. in 1844, where she married Lewis Ransburg. Her death took place October 12, 1885, in her fifty-third year .... Abraham Reynolds, a native of New York State. settled near Republic in 1830; later moved to Tiffin. and died some years ago at Carey, Ohio .... Squire Joseph Rhoads was one of the old justices of the peace ..... Jacob and Elizabeth (Drake) Rine (both de- ceased), the former a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1796, parents of John Wesley Rine, of Scipio Township (who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, in 1826), came to this county in 1836. and shortly after lost everything by fire: a few years later Mr. Rine owned land in Hopewell Township, which he sold, and moved to Fostoria. He died in 1847. .... Timothy P. and Rhoda (Chadwick) Roberts, former, born in Massachusetts in 1784, died in 1868; the latter, born in 1792, died in 1872 (were married in 1809), came here in 1825. (Mr. Rob- erts had entered land in 1823). They were parents of Hon. Mrs. Edson T. Stickney, who was born in New York State in 1819 .... O. P. Rogers, better known as "Ped" Rogers. was among the earliest settlers of this county, hav- ing moved here from New York State, where he was born in 1816, well known in 1839 by many as a jovial and pleasant citizen. He died in January, 1881 .... Timothy P. Roberts, to whom many references are made both in the county and township histories. was born at Middletown, Conn., in 1784, died January 28, 1868. His wife, Rhoda Chadwick, to whom he was married in 1809, was born in 1792, died in 1872. Mr. Roberts purchased lands here in 1823, and two years later came to reside in the township .... Elijah Roberts, who died August 9, 1852, was among the pioneers ... . Dr. J. Roop came in 1843 .... Albert A. Rule and Samuel Rule, with their families, settled in Scipio Town- ship in 1824. Daniel Rule made his settlement in the same township in 1825. Albert A. Rule died in 1846: Mrs. Rule, Sr .. in 1848.

Ezekiel Sampson, who settled here in 1824, was elected a fence viewer that year .... Jacob and Mary (Litzenberger) Samsel, natives of Pennsylvania, latter born in 1822, parents of Mrs. Charles Jones of Scipio Township (who was born in Pennsylvania in 1845), came to this county in 1856. Mr. Samsel died in 1877. ... John Scott, a native of Virginia, father of J. Elwood Scott, of Repub- lic (who was born in Scipio Township in 1848). was an early settler of this

655

SCIPIO TOWNSHIP.

township. He died in ISS1, aged sixty-five years. His widow, Mrs. Abbie Jane (Bugbee) Scott, of New York, born in 1822, still lives .. .. William Scoville settled in Scipio about 1527 .... Sidney Sea, better known as "Gen. Sea." is noticed in the chapter on Courts and Bar, while sundry references to him are made in the military and other chapters and in the history of Republic Vil- lage. In 1834 he had Scipio Centre surveyed and platted under the name Republic. In September, 1836, the case of John Wright rs. Sidney Smith was heard. It appears that Smith (Sea) purchased $647 worth of land from Wright in Scipio Township. of which sum he did not pay a cent, so that the court gave judgment against him. He was a peculiar character in everything, yet pos- sessed a large amount of energy together with another commodity, which early settlers allege to be " solid cheek.". ... Robert and Sally (Keller) Shaw, parents of Mrs. Sally H. Rogers. of Scipio Township, who was born in New York State in 1816, came to the farm on which Mrs. Rogers now lives, in 1837. and here died. Mr. Shaw in 1864. aged seventy-nine, and his widow in 1868. aged eighty-two .... Silas W. Shaw, treasurer of the county, died April 28. 1865. .... H. H. and Catharine M. (Bocholds) Shawberry, natives of Prussia, parents of Daniel Shawberry, of Scipio Township, who was born here in 1842, immigrated in 1832, and settled in this county in 1833. They were both born in 1799. Mrs. Shawberry died in 1868. .. . . Rev. C. B. Sheldon moved West. and was a member of the Wisconsin Con. Convention. When a member proved troublesome. the church was reorganized and admittance refused to said men- ber .... George H. Sheldon, father of Mrs. John G. Green of Fostoria. was a pio- neer .... Zephaniah and Margaret (Longstreet) Sherman, parents of Mrs. John Wesley Rine, of Scipio Township, who was born in New York State in 1834. settled in this county in that year; now in Michigan .... Daniel W. and Louisa (Paine) Smith, parents of Mrs. Richard T. Porter, of Scipio Township (who was born in Reed Township in 1841). came to this county in 1827. Mr. Smith died in 1853, Mrs. Smith in 1848 ... . David and Susan (Neikirk) Smith, parents of Mrs. Joseph Hilsinger, of Scipio Township (who was born in this township in 1839), were early settlers here .... William Smith, Jr., who died November 21. 1827, was the son of William Smith, who died July 10, 1849. They were among the pioneer settlers. .. . Hiram Smith, who died March 3, 1850, was one of the pioneers. . . . Moses Smith was an early settler, and kept a store near the Anway homestead-it is thought the first store in the township. ... Mrs. Ethan Smith, in whose barn the Presbyterian Church of Republic was organized, was a resident of Kansas in 1884. ... Abram Smith settled in Scipio Township in 1827, died three or four years ago .... Dr. Jabez Spicer, known as the physi- cian preacher, mixed up orthodox religion with predestination, and spoiled a good doctor to make a bad preacher. He removed to Hudson, Mich., and there, in his own house, committed suicide ..... J. S. Sparks is classed with the pio- neers. .... H. K. Spooner, an Ohioan, was here in 1837. .... William Stevens settled here in 1824. .... George Stearns, a native of Vermont, born in 1794. father of George Stearns, of Scipio Township, (latter born in New York State in 1826), came to this county in 1829, where he died in 1831. His widow (nee Sophia Baker), a native of New York State, born in 1797, afterward married William Fleet .... J. B. Stearns came from New York State in 1829. . .. Archi- bald Steward settled on Section 29, Scipio, in 1824, died in 1884. His son James was born in this township in 1829. Archibald was born in Pennsylvania in 1797. .... Edson T. Stickney, a native of Moira. N. Y., born in 1811, came to Seneca County July 4, 1836, and to his present farm in 1851. He is mar- ried to a daughter of Timothy P. Roberts, one of the pioneers of 1825. A family reunion was held at the home E. T. Stickney, one mile and a half east

656

HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

of Republic. Tuesday, October 6, 1885, consisting of C. B. Stickney, of Norwalk; Mrs. John Thayer, Hammond, Wis .; E. T. Stickney, I. S. Stickney, Mrs. S. W. Shaw and Mrs. G. M. Ogden, of Republic, Ohio. The combined ages of the brothers and sisters came to four hundred and nine years, the eldest being over seventy-five and the youngest over sixty; the ages of Mr. John Thayer, Mrs. E. T. Stickney and Mrs. I. S. Stickney, added, making the party of nine six hun- dred and two years. The family formerly consisted of twelve children. born in Franklin County, N. Y., six of whom came West and settled and are all living. Those who staid East are all dead. Mr. Stickney was postmaster at Repub- lic for sixteen years and a justice of the peace for a number of years. ... George and Elizabeth (Small) Swigert, parents of John Swigert, of Bloomville, and Mrs. Martin V. Green and Mrs. John F. Heilman, both of Fostoria, came from Pennsylvania to this county in early days settling on their farm in Scipio Township in 1844-45, where George Swigert died in 1856. His widow died in Bloom Township in 1873. ... John Swigert. of Bloomville, born in Pennsyl vania in 1817, came to Scipio Township about 1843. when he kept a hotel four years in Republic, finally. in 1872. moving to Bloom.

Lance Todd and family came to Fort Ball from Maryland, in 1828, and the same year settled in Scipio Township .... Henry and Eliza (Walburn) Troxel, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively (both deceased), parents of Mrs. James W. Stewart, of Scipio Township (who was born in Bloom Town- ship. in 1834). came to this county, in 1834. ... Alfred Tompkins, a native of Ohio, was here in 1844. ... William A. Taber in 1852. ... Thomas Thompson, a Methodist minister, in 1832.

H. W. Van Fleet was here in 1830.

Isaac and Allie (Doan) Watson, parents of the late Mrs. J. T. Robinson, of Scipio Township (who was born in Bloom Township, in 1844), came to this township in 1830. Mr. Watson died in 1873, Mrs. Watson in 1850. ... Asa Way, who came from New York to Republic in 1833. was a member of the old bar .... Cornelius Westbrook settled in the township in 1824 .... J. B. Wil- cox, born in New York State in 1822. came to this county in 1833. ... Charles Wilkerson came from New York State in 1843. ... Isaac B. Witter settled in Scipio in 1839. died a few years ago .... John Wright settled on the site of Re- public in 1822. He was the first postmaster and justice of the peace here, and a great friend of Gen. Sea. until the lawsuit of 1836 was commenced by him against the General . . . . John P. Worstell was among the early settlers. Little information of an authentic character can be had relating to him. ... Yost and Elizabeth (Helt nee. Neikirk) Wyant, former of whom died in 1844. latter of Maryland, who died in 1868, parents of Daniel Wyant (who was born in Mary- land in 1830), came here in 1832. and in 1833 built the house in which Daniel Wyant now lives, which house is now one of the oldest landmarks in the neigh- borhood.

The subscribers to Butterfield's history in 1847. at Republic, are named as follows: Josiah Roop. Jonas Roop, S. W. Shepard. D. C. Myers, G. H. Shaw. R. Chamberlin, John Williamson. A. W. Littler, W. R. Fleming, Gad Goodspeed, A. E. Sloat, J. Maynard, Calvin P. Ranson, J. P. Maynard, G. G. Smith, N. P. Caldwell, Jansen Parmenter, W. C. Cole. J. S. Smith, W. A. Parks. G. H. Spangle, H. R. Allison, James Davis. W. M. Dildine, P. M. Smith. A. Burrell. T. Kraft. E. S. Stickney, A. G. Sargent, O. E. Page, Daniel Brown, H. P. Benton. David Lamton, W. A. Barnes, Ezra Brown. R. W. McCartney, N. Church, William Parker, W. W. Culver, A. H. Westbrook, P. De Witt, H. D. Wilson, F. S. Kendall, G. W. Haxton. D. Maltby, L. D. McCardle, R. F. Parks, Nathan Foster, Job Pettys, A. T. Miller, Peter Rumsey, D. S. Reynolds, John B. Frary, Jonathan Pettys.

657

SCIPIO TOWNSHIP.

Schools. About 1826 or 1827 the schools of the pioneer period first made their appearance in the township. Two decades later there were fourteen school districts and 953 pupils enrolled. The township board of education was organized April 18, 1853, with Jacob Brong, George Stearns, Daniel Brown, David Neikirk, William Baker, Henry Troxall, T. P. Roberts, Elijah Brown, clerks of the several districts. The Legislature passed an act creating a joint sub-district, known as the Rockaway District, embracing Bloom Town- ship, Eden Township, Clinton Township and Scipio Township. Owing to the vigilance of the township school boards the act was declared invalid, and Rock- away did not obtain the school building sought for.

School Statistics. - The schools of Republic presented the following statistics for the year ending August 31, 1884: Number of pupils enrolled, 160-82 boys and 78 girls- of whom 41 attended the high school: 1 schoolhouse; value of property, $3,000; 4 teachers, average salaries, $67 and $32; local tax. $1,655.55; total revenue, $2,899.55; total expenditures, $2,042.58.

The statistics of separate school No. 1, as published at the close of August, 1884, give the following figures: Local tax, $11.29; total revenues, $578.49; expenditures, $244.35; 1 schoolhouse; value of property, $500; 1 teacher, sal- ary. $40; number of pupils, 56 boys; average attendance, 32.

The school statistics of Scipio Township for the year ending August 31, 1884, are as follows: Local tax, $1,918.32; total revenue, $3, 159.36; expendi- tures. $2,342; number of schoolhouses, 8; value of property, $13,000; num- ber of teachers, 11; average salaries, $38 and $30; number of male pupils, 144; of female pupils, 135; average daily attendance, 156.

General Statistics. - The assessment of Scipio Township in 1841 gives the following figures: 22,843 acres, valued at $63,590; value of town lots, $10, - 741; 307 horses, valued at $12,280; 713 cattle, valued at $5,704; moneys invested in stores and on interest, $7,030; 2 pleasure carriages, valued at $150; total value, $99,495; total tax, $1,666.54; delinquencies from 1840. $102.94.

The valuation and taxation of Scipio Township and Republic village are as follows: 22,658 acres of land in township valued at $810,010, and chattel property, $243, 180; 282 acres in Republic valued at $120,680. and personal property valued at $56,610, making a total valuation of $1,230,480. The total tax is $17,074.06, with $112 dog tax. Republic claims only 9 dogs. The population of Scipio in 1880, was 1,836, including 715 inhabitants in Republic village.

The predial statistics of Scipio Township for 1884 are as follows: Acres of wheat, 2,709, product of 1883 crop, 21,990 bushels; rye. 10 acres; oats, 1,559 acres, product, 65, 147 bushels; corn, 1,858 acres, product. 30,915 bushels; meadow, 2,305 acres, hay, 2,512 tons; clover, 917 acres, hay, 954 tons, 830 bushels of seed; potatoes, 71 acres, 9,055 bushels; 1 acre of sorghum yielded 65 gallons of syrup; maple sugar, 970 pounds; maple syrup, 1,223 gallons; 134 hives. 340 pounds honey; 15,630 dozens of eggs; 384 acres of orchard, 3.515 bushels of apples, 18 bushels of pears; 14,310 acres of land owned and cultivated. 227 in pasture, 4,172 in forest, 125 waste, total acreage 18,834: wool shorn in 1883, 47, 753 pounds; milch cows, 388; dogs, 112; killed, 7 sheep; animals died from disease, 41 hogs, 290 sheep, 9 cattle and 7 horses.

REPUBLIC.

The original name of the location of Republic was "Scipio Centre," a name founded on the principle of the Western Reserve, which confers on the

653

HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

actual geographical center, the name of the township with the word "Centre" attached.

John Wright and Adam Hance entered lands here in 1822. In 1832 Sidney Smith (Gen. Sea) settled at Tiffin, coming from Portage County, Ohio, that year. A year or two later he purchased lands in Scipio, and in July, 1834, had a town surveyed at the Centre, and recorded under the name "Republic," which, as the General said, " was for the public good." In September, 1836, John Wright, from whom he purchased a parcel of the town site, sued him for the agreed price and got a judgment against lawyer Sea, which he is said to have paid. His enterprise was little appreciated by the people of Scipio. Of course John Wright's log house, the first on the site of the village. stood where Gale's store was in 1847, and was, in fact, Gale's store until its destruc- tion or removal about 1869 or 1871.

In June. 1835. the town consisted of Runnel's tavern, Gale's store, Amos Hall's shoe-making establishment. William Pearce's blacksmith shop (a colored blacksmith) and a few log dwelling houses. The situation urged Smith to adver- tise the town. and this he did through the columns of the Tiffin Gazette. He advertised all his lands and lots at Republic and Tiffin, but did not succeed in disposing of all. as when he moved to Cincinnati in 1838 he appointed lawyer Chapin his agent until his return to Republic in 1840. A year later he had his name changed to Sidney Sea by the Legislature, and in 1843 put himself forward for military honors, winning the position of brigadier-general of mili- tia. Once in uniform he made every effort to ape the manners of Baron Steu- ben, one of Washington's distinguished German officers, noted for his soldierly bearing and qualities, and went so far as to address the unmilitary body. known as the Seneca militia, thus: 'Look bold! Look fierce! Look like the devil! Look as I do!' He was generally obeyed, but the loyal old militia of Seneca County looked forward to parade day as they would to circus day. On one occasion he caught one of his men in the act of jumping out of George W. Black's restaurant at Tiffin. Riding furiously up to him, he addressed the hungry soldier thus: "Attention! Great Jehovah! Look down on this! A son of Republic. a free born American soldier, in the service of his country, eating George Black's gingerbread on parade. Shame! Shame! Shame!" About this time he removed from Republic to Tiffin and in partnership with Luther A. Hall, carried on a law office for some time. Again. when such partnership had not existed. he went to Kentucky as the legal agent of Jere- miah Carpenter, an old settler of Venice, to look after his interests there. He failed to satisfy Carpenter that his accounting was exactly correct, and as a result Gen. Sea went to jail in 1846. February 5, 1847, Judge Reuben Wood, of the supreme court, whose term of office fortunately ended Febru- ary 6, that year. came to Tiffin. heard the arguments of R. G. Pennington and Oliver Cowdery in behalf of Sea, and ordered his release. A year later the family moved to Wisconsin. Such is an outline of the history of the be- ginning of Republic and the man who founded it.

Original Town and Additions. - Republic was laid out on the southeast cor- ner of Section 16. and northeast corner of Section 21 by D. Risdon in July, 1834, for Sidney Smith. subsequently known as "Gen. Sea." The eastern and southern additions were made in September, 1835, for Sidney Smith by Surveyor Shoemaker. Waggoner's addition (Lots 155 to 249), was surveyed by George W. Gist for Samuel Waggoner and approved January 20, 1837. Patrick's addition was surveyed by George W. Gist in July. 1837, for Shepherd Patrick. Samuel Waggoner's addition of out-lots was made in August, 1841. Samuel Waggoner's Burying-ground addition (south part of east half of north-

659

SCIPIO TOWNSHIP.

east quarter of Section 21) was surveyed in December, 1844, Weiker & Schoch's first addition was surveyed in March, 1849, and Roy G. Perry's in April, 1849. Farewell Retreat Burying-ground addition was made for Timothy P. Roberts in September, 1848. In 1874 additions were made by Alfred Jenck, H. Bromley, D. D. Ogden and Conrad Dagons.

Organic and Official .- There are no records whatever of the organization of the village of Republic, or of the transactions of the town council from 1853 to 1866. It has been ascertained, however, that M. V. Bogart was mayor in 1853; W. S. Hamilton in 1854-55; A. A. Hall in 1856; N. P. Col- well in 1857; Joseph Boyer in 1858; A. A. Hall in 1859-60; Daniel Metzgar in 1861-62; W. S. Hamilton in 1863. The officers and council from 1867 to 1885 are named as follows:

1867-68 .- N. P. Colwell, mayor; J. Corbett, recorder; John Scott, D. D. Ogden, L. L. Berry, P. Bollinger, E. S. Chittenden, council.

1869 .- N. P. Colwell, mayor; I. B. Witter, recorder; Philip Griffin, D. D. Ogden, S. Lapham, J. W. Stewart, Jacob Stuky, council.

1870 .- C. Osborne, mayor; J. S. Smith, recorder; George Duesler, J. Scott, Philo Bugbee, George Karsner, S. F. Hall, N. P. Colwell, council.

1871 .- C. Osborne, mayor; J. S. Smith, recorder; George Karsner, P. Griffin, W. V. Bromley, council.

1872 .- W. H. Pearce, mayor; J. W. Mills, recorder; S. Lapham, George Duesler, Robert Chamberlin, council.

1873 .- W. H. Pearce, mayor; J. W. Mills, recorder; Thomas Smith, Philip Griffin, George Karsner, council.

1874. - J. W. Shaw, mayor; N. E. Childs, recorder; S. Lapham, G. A. Hisey, A. Kellogg, council.

1875 .- J. W. Shaw, mayor; N. E. Childs, recorder; Thomas Smith, Will- iam Pancost, D. Troxell, council.

1876 .- Stephen Lapham, mayor; Jesse Spooner, recorder; C. D. Turner, D. D. Ogden, Elwood Scott, council.

1877 .- Stephen Lapham, mayor; Jesse Spooner, recorder; E. Chittenden, Leroy Rice, Israel Rice, council.

1878. - Stephen Lapham, mayor; John A. Colwell, recorder; A. Tompkins, S. J. Beigh, A. Palmer, council.

1879 .- Stephen Lapham, mayor; John A. Colwell, recorder; W. H. Anway, S. C. Neikirk, J. B. Wilcox, council.

1880 .- Stephen Lapham, mayor; John A. Colwell, recorder; no record of council.

1881 .- Stephen Lapham, mayor; John A. Colwell, recorder; no record of council.

1882-83 .- George Tubbs, mayor; John A. Colwell, recorder; X. F. Charles, G. W. Hemingway, Charles Lease, A. T. Jones, Eli Beard, D. D. Ogden, council.

1884 .- E. R. Sage, mayor; William Robinalt, recorder; M. Breyman, F. B. Ogden, Peter Coffman, H. McCartney, X. F. Charles, G. R. Hemingway, council.

1885 .- E. R. Sage, mayor; William Robinalt, recorder; X. F. Charles, Israel Lease, M. Breyman, council; E. Scott, marshal; E. R. Sage, B. Cris- sell, F. Moore, P. Griffin, William Pancost, A. T. Jones, board of education.

CHURCHES.

The Presbyterian Church* was known at Republic previous to 1831,

*From Rev. D. D. Biggar's History.

660

HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY

for prior to its organization Rev. James Robinson, pastor of Melmore, preached there. September 17, 1831, a number of citizens of Scipio met at the house of Ethan Smith, when Abram Tremain, Rufus Bishop and Brainard Cleveland were elected ruling elders. April 19, 1832, a society was organized with the following members: Abram Tremain, R. Bishop, B. Cleveland, Will- iam Smith, of Scipio, N. Y .; William Van Fleet and wife from Melmore; Eliza Church, Sophia Cleveland and Susan Bishop from Homer, N. Y .; and Martha Tremain from Genoa. N. Y. At this time a resolution adopting the Presbyterian confession of faith was carried, and in the barn attached to Ethan Smith's house the organization was perfected. For some time after services were held in the barns of T. P. Roberts and Ethan Smith, and in the winters within Smith's house. Rev. James Robinson was the first preacher, receiving $75 per annum, and a monthly call to shorten his sermons. At this time there were only a blacksmith shop and a little store at Republic. In 1834 the vil- lage was surveyed and platted by one Shoemaker, settlement was retarded and the progress of this church slow. Rev. John McCutchen was the first resident pastor, having preached here April 22, 1832. He remained almost ten years, and won a membership approximating 100 for the church. December 10, 1837, a protracted revival was closed by Mr. Mccutchen, and twenty-five members added to the society, of whom one, Orange Cooley, alone remains. Mr. Mc- Cutchen left August 20. 1841. Rev. John Spicer, a doctor (who committed suicide in Wisconsin), was called in 1842, and filled the pulpit until 1844, although Rev. John Whipple came in 1843. Both were succeeded by Rev. Merrit Harmon May 23, 1844, who remained until 1846. During the cam- paign of 1844 politics claimed the greater attention of members, and created serious dissensions in the church circle. An ecclesiastical trial, too, was car- ried on from October 3, 1845, to July 2, 1846. Rev. Calvin Ransom came January 2, 1847, left in October of that year, and after many changes settled at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lost his eyesight. Rev. C. B. Sheldon came August 25, 1850, and had charge until July 7, 1855. He was ordained and installed pastor October 8. 1851, and was the first regularly installed minister of the society. June 6. 1856. Rev. F. Putnam arrived, and he remained until 1857. November 10 of that year Rev. Samuel Montgomery came and re- mained until April 3, 1859. Rev. J. B. Parlin came in September, 1861, and was pastor until May 29, 1864. From October, 1865, until September, 1866. Rev. William Newton was pastor. In the latter year he was called to the church at Melmore. In 1868 Rev. R. S. Lockwood was pastor, and about this time the services of Rev. Henry Rice were recognized. March 14. 1874, Rev. Alvin Baker took charge and continued pastor until October 10, 1875. Mr. Baker died in 1884. Rev. Walton Pattinson was pastor of the churches at Republic and Bloomville from July, 1876, to April, 1878. In 1880 Rev. R. B. Moore was called. During his pastorate the church building at Republic was erected. Rev. D. D. Biggar filled the pulpit afterward. The list of rul- ing elders comprise the names given as elected in 1831: Joseph Curtin and Ethan Smith, elected April 11, 1838; Gaylord Smith in 1842; Joseph Creque, Orange Cooley and Henry Chamberlain in 1851; Elroy C. Smith, B. Rush, Porter Payne, and Lyman F. Payne in October, 1877.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1088

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088