History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 64

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060

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Jacob Rex was the Superintendent. and that

Mary L. Craighead. Eliza Laird, Catharine Harry, Mary Coulter. Amanda Gatf, Thomas Christmas, James Hazlett, Seth Godden, Joseph Parker, Joseph Heckman and Eliza Porter were the teachers. At this time, they numbered about one hundred scholars in the school. The lot now occupied by the Presbyterian Church and parsonage was donated by Mr. Wells, as we have had occasion to remark above, to any religious society who would take possession of it for a house of worship. In 1810. members of the Lu- theran and Reformed denominations first availed themselves of the benefit of this grant. and as early as the year 1810, they erected thereon a small frame church, and held possession of the premises until 1821. The location did not please the members, and it was at last surrendered. and the frame structure was sold and removed.

About the year 1827. the Presbyterians took possession of the lot, and commenced building a church, but by want of means and negligence it was not pushed forward to completion, and Mr. Morrow, thoroughly discouraged and dis- heartened, resigned his place and removed to New Philadelphia. Spiritual declension fol- lowed, and the Sunday school soon ceased its operations. There was occasional preaching by ministers in search of new charges, but they

Hopkins, of New York, came along. His wife received little encouragement until Rev. T. M.

and himself were known as experienced teach- ers, and he was induced to come to Canton, to start a school. and to preach for the congrega- tion. General apathy prevailed among the members of the church ; many persons of in-

ty from Paine's " Age of Reason," and made pub fluence in the community had imbibed infideli-

inviting one. After an interval of four years the whole. the field did not seem to be a very lie opposition to the cause of religion ; and. on

in the services of the church, Rev. Hopkins

Master, and at once took hokl of his work in vigorous and enthusiastic in the cause of his took the charge. He was in the prime of life,

this new and neglected fiekl with a vim that in- dicated snecess. The earlier members of the

Gaff, James, Harry and Ebenezer Shaw. There Robert, Thomas and James Latimer, James congregation were John Harris, Samuel Coulter,

were others, who by previous training and per-

sonal preferences were led into sympathy with the Presbyterian movement, and gave it from time to time substantial encouragement. In

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

this connection appear the names of James Hazlett, William Christmas, Dr. Hartford, Will- -- iam Raynokls, John Sloan, Seth Godden, James Lathrop, George Sloan, George Dunbar, Sr., and William Drayton, all of whom were in their day men of influence in the community. To add to the complications mentioned before, Mr. Hopkins found at first a considerable opposi- tion growing out of the new-school doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, which at that time were especially canvassed in his church, and which he himself had adopted as the true basis upon which to build up a regenerated church. Ho went, nevertheless, carnestly to work, re-or- ganized the congregation, and in a year or two began to see the fruits of his labors. The cause of the unfinished church edifice was tak- | en up anew, the women of the congregation took the matter vigorously in hand, the money was raised, and the church was finished and dedicated in 1833. Its internal arrangement and construction were of the ancient order, with a gallery on three sides, the choir occupy- ing the side directly in front of the minister. The floor pews were boxes with doors, and the seats narrow and straight-backed and high, suggesting anything else than ease and com- fort. Mr. Hopkins, nevertheless, was a popu- lar minister, and his services were well attend- ed. He was an outspoken temperance man, and his courage may be judged when it is stat- ed as a fact, that while it was the universal cus- tom of merchants in his day to keep the whis- ky bottle on the counter for the convenience of the customers, he was the first in the town to condemn and publicly denounce the tratlie in spirituous liquors. Soon after the dedication of the new chursh in 1833. he removed to an- other field on account of personal difficulties among the members of the congregation, which seriously interfered with his pastoral adminis. tration. Mr. Hopkins was followed soon after by Rev. Mr. Reeves. He was a good man. but hardly able to cope with the situation.

While he was in charge, an Evangelist, by the name of Rev. J. F. Avery, hell a series of meetings for several months in the Preshy- terian Church, though members of other churches in sympathy with the movement, took an active part, also, in the meetings. Mr. Avery was eminently successful in stirring up the " dry bones," and as a result of his efforts, more than a hundred converts were reported, and

among them some who had before boasted of their infidelity. As is apt to occur with purely sensational religionists, many of those in the " time of temptation " fell away, but, probably, the most disastrous effect of the excitement occasioned by Mr. Avery's preaching, was that the taste of the congregation for the plain and simple statement of Gospel truths was much disturbed, and it is recorded by one of our chroniclers of passing events, that " Mr. Reeves found himself inadequate to supply the pabu- lum desired by the congregation, and he had a call to another field, the soil of which required less stirring." Rev. Mr. Taylor followed Mr. Reeves, and being himself a man of decided convictions. he succeeded in bringing the con- gregation into active connection with the new school branch of the church. Mr. Taylor was a good speaker, and stood well generally with the congregation and the community. He re- mained only four years, but during his pastor- ate, the church was remodeled inside, and its appearance and comfort greatly improved. Rev. E. Buckingham succeeded Mr. Taylor, in 1846, and remained in continuons charge for a period of twenty-six years. Mr. Buckingham was a man of strong convictions. in some things with a strong leaning to bigotry, but at the same time honest, conscientious and zealous in advancing the best interests of his charge, according to his own convictions. There can be no doubt that the substantial position of the Presbyterian Church in Canton, to-day, is very largely due to his earnest, active and long-con- tinned labors in this field. During his very long services, Mr. Buckingham retained the love and esteem of the greater part of his congre- gation. A man of noble impulses, and fearless in the discharge of every duty, as he regarded it, he sometimes came out very plainly in his publie discourses, and taking a lively interest as he did in all public questions, he not unfre- quently trod very closely upon the toes of some of his parishioners, and little bickerings and dissatisfactions, accordingly, arose from time to time ; but as he never compromised his call- ing, and did not knowingly lend his influence or countenance to anything which might bring reproach upon the cause of Christ. and, while positive, was always the urbane and obliging gentleman, he retained a strong hold upon the affections of his people until the last. After his resignation in Canton, Mr. Buckingham re-

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CANTON TOWNSHIP.

moved to Muskingum County, and took charge of Putnam Female Seminary until his death. llis remains were brought to Canton and in- terred in the cemetery west of the city. Dur ing his pastorate in 1850, a belfry was attached to the church edifice and a bell purchased, the one still in use; in 1853. a parsonage was erected at a cost of $2.200 ; in 1857, the church was incorporated under the title of - The First

measures were inaugurated and carried out for the building of the stone church, corner of Tus- carawas and Plum streets, at a cost of about $40.000. Mr. Whitelock, of Chicago, was the architect. Mr. Buckingham was a warm friend of our public schools, and did very much dur- ing his stay in Canton to enhance their popu- larity and usefulness. When he left at last, it would be hard to decide which felt the worse, his congregation or the community at large. A few months after Mr. Buckingham left Can- ton, Rev. W. J. Park received and accepted a call to this pastorate. He gave promise of great usefulness in this field, but after a few years' service and communion, on or near the 5th day of June, 1879, he became complicated in grave charges ; his connection with the con- gregation was dissolved in July, 1879, and on the 7th of September of the same year. he was. conditionally, deposed from his office by the Presbytery to which he and the congregation belonged. From that time on until very re- cently. the congregation has had no settled minister. In January of this year. 1881, Rev. David E. Plattor received a call. and in pursu ance of an acceptance thereof, entered upon his duties last March. He was regularly in stalled on Tuesday evening. May, 31. 1881. The following brief account of his installation will be of interest in the future :

The installation of Rev. D E. Platter as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, by a committee appointed by the Presbytery of Mahoning. took place last evening in the presence of a large congre gation. The services were opened by the choir singing " How Beautiful Upon the Mountains." The Rev. D. H. Evans, Pastor of the First Presby terian Church of Youngstown, presided and preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion, after which he proposed the Constitutional questions to the Pastor-elect, then to the people. The Rev. N. P. Bailey. D. D., of Massillon, then delivered the charge to the Pastor, and the Rev. A. B. Maxwell. Letonia, the charge to the people, at the conclusion of which the installing praver was offered by Mr. Evans, and the services closed with the benediction !

by the Pastor. The floral decorations, the work of Mr. Harry Meyers, assisted by some of the ladies of the church, were very fine, and drew favorable com- ment- from many admirers.

Of the very earliest movements of the Methodists in Canton, in the absence of authen- tie records. but little is known. The first active Methodists of whom there is any knowl- edge were William Hill and Philip Schlosser. Presbyterian Church of Canton;" in 1856, . These men frequently met, discussed the situa- tion, and deprecated the lack, according to their judgment, of religious interest among the first settlers ; they accordingly agreed to help improve every opportunity to encourage meet- ings for divine worship. Whenever a missionary came to town they made themselves active in providing and giving notice of the place of meetings. These and a few other of the earlier Methodists frequently came together in private houses, afterward in the old log court house, and still later in the old schoolhouse, corner of Plum and Tuscarawas streets. For many years the members of this persuasion were acenstomed to meet in this old school building on Sunday morning for prayer and class meet- ings, and to preserve their identity as a special denomination of Christians. During this time, it is said, that John MeLean, afterward Judge of the I'nited States Supreme Court, but at that time a young man, on a tour through Northern Ohio, stopped over Sunday in the Eagle tavern, kept by Philip Dewalt. He had been from his youth an ardent, devoted Methodist, and to his latest day he made it a point to attend relig- ious services on the Lord's Day, and he never missed an opportunity to do so if his health permitted him to be out. His case is one of many others among our public men, who con- sistently, by profession and practice. have given their approval to the doctrines of our holy religion. On the Sunday morning he spent in Canton, Judge MeLean inquired of Mr. Dewalt whether there was any Methodist meeting in Canton on that day, and was informed that there was probably such a meeting in the schoolhouse. After finding out the location of the schoolhouse he directed his steps thither, and. on entering and taking a seat, he found a small number of persons holding a prayer- meeting. This closed soon after, and Mr. Schlosser announced a class-meeting, and re- quested all not members of the church to leave, and all not members left ; but Mr. Me-

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

Lean remained. For his benefit the request to leave was repeated more emphatically, but he still kept his seat, and the exercises commenced. The presence of a stranger of such command- ing appearance as Judge Mehean put a damper upon the meeting. There was no enthusiasm, and the meeting for a time was exceedingly cold and formal, until finally Father Schlosser, addressing the stranger, asked if he had any- thing to say. Upon this invitation the Judge arose, and, in a low, distinct voice, narrated his experience. He talked very impressively, elo- quently, and with such pathos as had never before been heard in their meetings ; he carried his audience with him, and soon there was not a dry eye in the room. Mr. Schlosser, upon his conelusion, congratulated him on being a better man than he had thought he was. As i early as the year 1825, the society had acquired considerable strength and influence. Among the active new members were John and Thomas Bonfield, John Webb, Mother Cake, Peter Tof- ler and Newberry Cline. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Rex, originally of the Lutheran Church, united with them. At this time Canton was a " regn- lar appointment," with preaching once a month, and five years later, in 1830, every two weeks. The regular place of meeting was the upper room of the old Academy, corner of Tusca- rawas and Phun streets. Revs. Frey. Plimpton Ruckel, Kent, Graham, Sheppard and Harry O. Sheldon were among the earlier preachers on this circuit. Sheldon was somewhat peculiar ; a stout, muscular man, he did not hesitate long to take rowdies in hand who disturbed his religious meetings, and he could generally, as it became well known that, being without fear, he would, if necessary, fight for the Lord. as well as labor for him. Mr. JJohn Buckius tells of his being nearly beaten on one occasion. Mr. Sheldon, after the introductory services were over, got up to preach, and began by say- ing, "I have been thinking of two texts, and revolving them in my mind as No. 1 and No. 2, and am undecided which to take." George Tofler, a well-known character of the town, called out promptly, "Take No. I." The min- ister was astounded, but soon recovered himself and responded, "So be it." and announced as the text, " lle being dead, yet speaketh," upon which he then preached an excellent and impressive sermon. The first camp-meetings were held for several years in William Hill's

woods, two miles northwest of town, drawing immense crowds of people. They were after- ward held in Williams' woods, north of town, and subsequently in the Yohe settlement. on the Steubenville road.

In 1830, a lot was purchased on Eighth street, near the corner of Plum street, and a frame church. 40x50 feet, was built upon it by Thomas Cunningham. There being no pavements at that day except on Market and Tuscarawas streets, and very muddy walking in every other part of the town during the winter. a tanbark walk was constructed to the church. Soon after the completion of the church building, Rev. Milton Colt, who was then on this circuit, took siek at Father Tofler's and died. He was buried upon the church lot, but his remains were afterward removed to the cemetery. Da- vid White and Joshua Saxton, of the Reposi- tory, William Dunbar and Daniel Gotshall, of the Democrat, George N. Webb, Sheriff of the county, and William, were, at this time. all prominent and active members. The oldest members still living are Frederick Hafer, re- siding on North Poplar street, and Barbara Ann White, on Cherry street. Next to them come Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, on South Market street, who settled in Canton in 1837. Rev. John M. Goshorn and wife came to Canton the following year, and started a female seminary. They were active members of the Methodist Church, and were both well fitted to conduct a first-class school. Mainly through the instrumentality of Dr. Thomas Bonfield, backed by the liberality of a few generous citizens not members of the church, means were secured to erect a good- sized seminary building, on the lot adjoining the church. corner of Eighth and Plum streets. This building still stands, though for almost a generation past it has no longer been used for school purposes. It has also been greatly changed and remodeled within and without, and has for many years been used as a residence by Mr. John Buckins and family. The brick house on the corner of Poplar and Fifth streets, so well known as the old Grant corner, was occu- pied as a boarding-house, and was the first house in town furnished with a bell-pull. This was a very great temptation to the young gen- tlemen of the town desirous of obtaining inter- views with the young ladies, which were only sparingly granted by the worthy Principals. The seminary was well patronized ; pupils from

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CANTON TOWNSHIP.

a distance were in attendance, Graduation Day was made memorable, and the exercises well attended ; and this institution did much to ele- vate the standard of female education in Can- ton. On the opening of the seminary, the con- gregation, feeling assured of more liberal con- tributions, secured the services of a stationed minister, Rev. Edward Burkett, who was the first stationed minister of the Methodist Church in Canton. It soon became evident, however, that the congregation was too weak to give him an adequate support, and they were therefore compelled again to forego regular Sunday serv- ice, and re-enter the circuit. This embraced Canton, Hartville, Greentown, Greensburg, Bethlehem, Sparta and Miller's Church, in Pike Township. The ministers who followed Mr. Burkett on the circuit were Rev. Messrs. White, Hare, Cramer. Baker, Mel'ue, Swasey, McAbee. Jackson and Scott, with probably a few others whose names have not been ascertained. Mel'ue was here in 1840, and became a convert to Mil- lerism, a prevalent hallucination of that day which dazed the minds of a great many good people all over the country. Believing the end of all things and the day of judgment to be near at hand, McCue turned his horse out to grass, arrayed himself in a white ascension robe, and put himself in readiness patiently to wait the summons of Gabriel's trumpet to meet the Savior in the air. But alas ! Mr. Miller's signs and calculations were not as infallible as they were thought to be, and the angel did not blow the trumpet at the appointed time. The com- pletion of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chi- eago Railroad through Canton in 1851-52. and the advent of Ball, Aultman & Company, who were active members of the Methodist Church, gave the organization here new life and vigor. The congregation increased, the contributions grew apace, and it was not long before they had regular, stated preaching. The old church on Eighth street was soon deemed inadequate, and in 1862, a large and at the time, and to the time of its destruction, a very grand and im- posing structure was erected for the use of the congregation, on the corner of Poplar and Tus- carawas streets. An old citizen of ('anton says, that " upon its occupancy, a new order of wor- ship and paraphernalia were instituted. The cushioned seats. carpeted aisles, grand organ, and the promiscuous seating of the sexes were regarded by many as a wicked innovation. The

style of preaching was also changed, being less emotional and more logical, directed more to the head than the heart. Shouting, which con- stituted so prominent a feature in protracted meetings and revival occasions, became almost obsolete. The old members were slow to accept the new departure, but the world moves, and they were compelled to move with it or be left by the wayside." The new church was built upon the site of the first St. Cloud Hotel, erected, furnished and kept by Mr. John Buck- ius and his son-in-law, Will Hawk. It was burned down but a short time before. This church edifice was also destroyed by fire on the first Sunday in January of the present year, 1881. The weather had been excessively cold for a number of days, and it took a great amount of firing-up to make the audience room comfortable during the meetings held in it for a few days previous to holding communion services. On this Sunday a large congregation had assembled with the Pastor, Rev. Dr. H. Miller, and the services appropriate to the cele- bration of the Lord's Supper had progressed almost through the act of blessing the clements of the communion. While on their knees, en- gaged in prayer, two or three gentlemen dis- covered fire m the upper part of the church, and gave the alarm. Confusion prevailed for a moment. but a few hasty and earnest words from the Pastor restored order, and in a very few minutes, the congregation, without accident, had escaped from the doomed building, but not a moment too soon. In a minute or two, the flames burst furiously through the roof, and be- gan mounting the tall and stately tower which surmounted the building, and in a few hours, notwithstanding the heroic efforts of the fire department to stay the ravages of the destroy- er, it was a total wreck, and nearly all its con- tents were burned up with it. The congregation, however, not disheartened, resolved to go ahead as soon as the weather would permit, and " build a new temple, which should surpass the glory of the old one." At this writing the work is progressing rapidly, and will be pushed energetically forward to completion. The de- signs for the new building are gotten up by Mr. Frank O. Weary, and are to be seen at his office in the County Surveyor's room at the court house. A writer in one of the local papers says :

Judging from these designs the building will be of one of the finest church structures in this part of

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

the State. It will be a mixture of the gothic and modern styles of architecture, and will be built of pressed brick, with Berea stone trimmings. The length of the structure will be one hundred and thirty-four feet, in the shape of a letter T, with the cross arm running east and west at the south end of the building. The front will be seventy-nine feet long, with three entrances, a stairway turret on the east side, and the tower rising to a height of one Indred and thirty-five feet at the west. The audi- ence room, which will be on the first floor, is 72x65 feet. The pulpit will be located at the north end with the choir and organ back of it. Main entrances are on each side of the pulpit. The seats are de- signed in amphitheater style, and the floor is raised two feet igher in the rear than in the front. In the center of the sides of the auditorium are large win- dows, topped by gables on the outside. Three ad- cional double windows are on each side. Three large doors, 15x18 feet, at the south end of the audi- ence room, separate it from the Sunday-school room ; when desired, these doors slide down into pits, pro- vided for the purpose, and thus throw the two rooms into one. The Sunday-school room will be divided into two stories, each of which will contain five class-rooms, arranged in a semi-circle, and fac- ing the general Sunday-school room, at the north end of which is the Superintendent's platform. The class-rooms are to be separated from the regular Sunday-school room by doors with glass panels. The ceiling of the audience room will be finished in walnut paneling and fresco work ; that of the Sun- day-school room will be made dome-shaped with a skylight at the top. The means of entrance and exit to the first floor are numerous. The andience room is provided with two large entrances, and the Sunday school room with four. The north end of the structure will be raised five feet from the ground. and the south end seven feet. This makes a nice, airy basement, which will be divided into lecture and supper rooms, ladies' and gentlemen's parlors. cooking and serving kitchens, store rooms, pantries. toilet rooms, janitor's room, cloak rooms and boiler room. In the latter, will be located the steam boil- ers, which will furnish the heat for the building. Ventilating registers will be put in the wainseoting of the audience and Sunday school rooms, which will be connected by flues with the ventilating tower, located at the juncture of the roof of the main build- ing and the hip roof of the Sunday school part of the structure. The inner part of the building will be finely finished in walnut, and the large windows will be furnished with stained glass. The roof will be surmounted by an ornamental tile easing, and the gables will be topped with stone trimmings. In the tower, a place will be made for a chime of bells. The contraet for the foundation, to be of Massillon stone, has been let to Mr. John Melbourne, who will begin work as soon as the ruins are cleared away. Contracts for the other work will be let, and it is expected that the building will be under roof before snow flies. The estimated cost of this magnificent structure will be between $60,000 and $75,000.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 64

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060