History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 72

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

USA > Ohio > Stark County > History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 72

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From the fact that there is a record in ex- istence showing that the late Joseph Heckman, Esq., was installed as Elder June 1, 1834, it

would seem that a church was organized in Massillon at that time. It is certain that on the 30th of January of that year, there was no settled Presbyterian minister in Massillon, as the writer has a tolerably vivid recollection of a marriage that took place at that date, at which Rev. T. M Hopkins, then settled at Canton, was the officiating minister. It was not, " however, until the 17th of April, 1836," says Rev. Mr. Warner, " that a minister of this denomination went among this people with a view to steady and exclusive operations." " At that date," adds Mr. Warner, " I found a church organized. and Mr. Heckman its only Elder, and, during the first of my ministry, Mr. Parker Ilandy, Cashier of the bank of Massillon, and Darius Ford, were ordained Ruling Elders, making the session to consist of Rev. George W. Warner, Moderator ; Joseph Heckman, Clerk, and Parker Handy and Darius Ford.

" I was an ordained minister when I went to Massillon. but was never installed as Pastor of the church there."

The Trustees were Parker Handy, Harper Partridge and James O. Bloss. From the fore- going faets, it is clear that the Presbyterian Church in this city was first organized by Rev. Elijah Buck or Rev. T. M. Hopkins. Mr. Hop- kins succeeded Mr. Morrow at t'anton, as is now ions, and made the acquaintance of the Presby- > recollected, and Mr. Morrow removed to New Philadelphia where he died. The following tribute to the memory of the late Joseph Heck- man, by Rev. Mr. Warner, is so just and so well deserved that it is given a place in these rem- iniseences :

" He for many years, even unto the day of his death, with marked consistency exemplified the principles and power of his Christian faith ; and it should be added that as a citizen and public officer, his name will always, in the his- tory of the good and useful men of Massillon. be especially remembered."

Dating from April 17. 1836, the Presbyterian Church of this city has had an existence. From Rev. Mr. Warner at that date there has been a succession of ministers. stated supplies and in- stalled Pastors, who have maintained its po- sition as one of the institutions of the city. On Mr. Warner assuming the duties of the pasto- rate of the little church here, he, with char- acteristic energy, set about getting a house in which to worship. The eligible lot, on the cor- ner of Hill and Plum streets, was purchased.

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and a building erected, which served the church until 1852. during the pastorate of Rev. D. C. Blood, and during which it may be said the church grew and flourished, equal to its pros- perity in any former period. In the year above named, the old building was sold, and the pres- ent commodious one erected. The old building was purchased by J. J. Hofman, and took the name of Hofman's Church, while he continued to own it. It is now occupied by Mr. Hoke as a residence on North street. On the resignation of Mr. Blood, after many years of faithful serv- ice. he was succeeded by Rev. George A. Little, now of Warsaw. Kosciusko Co .. Ind., on whose resignation, Rev. R. L. Williams, now of Bar- aboo, Wis., was installed as Pastor : and who. in 1879, after twelve years of service, resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. N. P. Baily. D. D., who is now the Pastor. having been installed at the date above named. During that year, the church was made the recipient of a most mu- nificent gift from Hon. H. B. Hurlbut, of Cleve- land, consisting of a most commodious chapel, erected immediately adjoining the church, building, furnished and ornamented with every thing useful and beautiful, including a piano. As a church, the Presbyterian is the oldest or- ganization in the city; and, in view of the changes of the past forty-five years, while it has not escaped the trials and vicissitudes in- cident to all organizations, its permanence and prosperity, as at present organized, are assured.

There are some things connected with the history of the Presbyterian Church in Massil- lon and the old building in which Rev. George W. Warner's ministry commenced as Pastor, that should not be forgotten. first and foremost of which was the organization of the Massillon Lyceum and the great debate in the winter of 1837 on the question. " Does Justice demand the Immediate Abolition of Slavery ?" Mr. Warner and the trustees freely opened the house, which was filled to its utmost capacity every evening of the debate. and every possi- ble phase and idea involved in the question were diseussed in their length and breadth. Seed was sown that took root downward and sprang upward until the final result was. Al- though it took long years to accomplish it. Massillon became thoroughly abolitionized from being intensely pro-slavery, and on the close of the debate, the President. Ilon. Hunking Wheeler. Jr .. one of the best debaters and par-

liamentarians of that day. decided that the af- firmative had the advantage in the argument, but qualified his decision by saying, " Had the word ' expediency ' been substituded for justice. he should have decided differently." The popu- lar vote of the Lyceum was largely in the nega tive.

In 1832, the first temperance lectores delivered in the county were delivered in Massillon by Theodore D. Well, supposed to be living now in the State of New Jersey. These lectures revolu- tionized publie sentiment for the time being, and when Mr. Warner came four years later, hc put the Presbyterian Church into active work on that subject, and which lasted until he re- signed in 1810. In November. 1841, he ac- cepted an invitation to return, and did so, re- maining two years, when he tendered his resig- nation, and is now, at the age of eighty, Pastor of a Presbyterian Church at Canaan Four Cor- ners, Columbia Co., N. Y.

The first preaching by any minister of the communion known in Stark County as the United Brethren in Christ was at the tavern of Philip Slusser, in what is now Brookfield, in Tuscarawas Township, and was by Bishop New- comer, in May, 1816. From the Bishop's jour- nal, it appears that on the 24th of May he lodged with Jacob Rowland, near C'anton, and on the 25th reached Philip Slusser's. "To-day and Sunday." says the Bishop, " we held a sac- ramental meeting here," which is the first ac- count that can be had of any religious services by the United Brethren in the township. Later in the year, Rev. Messrs. David Wimar, Chris- tian Kanaga, John Wimar and Peter Wimar held meetings in the township of Sugar Creek and at Pigeon Run, in Tuscarawas Township, and at some period between 1816 and 1820 a society was formed. Among its members were Adam Shilling, George Krider, Christian Max- himer and many others. Preaching was had at private houses. The Pigeon Run Chapel was built at some time during the four years from 1816 to 1820, and regular preaching has been had in the township over sinee. In 1829 or 1830, there was an accession of new members from Franklin County. Penn., Abraham Bowman and his family, and Samuel Zent and his fam- ily. The cirenit was extended. and Brookfield was taken into that circuit. and, in 1849, a church building was erected and the different congregations were merged in the Brookfield

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

congregation, except at Pigeon Run, those within the bounds of the charge remaining there. In 1873, the congregation was trans- ferred to Massillon, the church building in 1 Massillon was erected, and since which Massil- lon has been a station. The first preacher at the station was Rev. Elias Lower, now in Michi- 1 gan. The first Trustees were Abram Bowman, John Silk, John Reeves and B. F. Booth. The present Pastor is Rev. J. M. Poulton. Present board of Trustees is Abraham Bowman, John Waggoner. John Silk, Tho's H. Seaman and the Pastor. The church in Tuscarawas Township, as well as at Massillon, is growing, and is exercis- ing a wholesome influence. The journal of Bishop Newcomer is interesting, as showing the ear- nest faithfulness of his labors in his Episcopal visit to the West sixty-five years ago. The Mr. Bowman referred to as a member of the church in 1829. was the father of Abram Bauman. Esq .. now a resident of Tuscarawas Township. and of lon. Samuel C. Bauman, of Massillon.

Thirty-eight years have gone into the great ocean of time since Elder Jonas Hartzell or- ganized the Disciples' Church in Massillon. The first l'astor was Elder Eli Regel. The first Board of Trustees was Charles London, John Bender and Isaac N. Doxsee. Mr. London and Mr. Doxsee yet survive, representatives of the doctrines of their church, and as such are representative men. and as highly esteemed cit- izens. In the " noiseless tenor of their way " the church and congregation meet at their meeting-house, corner of Hill and North Streets, and of them it should be said they are com- posed of many of the best citizens, and while they do not inerease rapidly, they are always in the front rank of every reformatory move- ment.

The following history of the German Evan- gelical Lutheran Church is furnished by Rev. P. J. Buelil, the Pastor in charge :

The members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church was gathered together and organized by Rev. P. J. Buehl, Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Zion's Church of Akron, the sermon for that purpose being preached on the 5th day of September. 1863. The regular organ- ization took place on the Ist day of January, 1864. at which time a constitution was adopted and a church council elected by the members of the church present, and installed by Rev. P. J. Buehl, and incorporated under the General

Laws of the State of Ohio by the name of The Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's Church, in the City of Massillon. The following members were elected to constitute the first Church Conneil. As Deacons, Hermann Schreiber, Adam Gemminger, George Schueir and Peter Bause ; as Trustees, George Speigel, Balthazer Ketterer and Peter Diemer ; Treasurer, Gattfred Danner ; and Clerk, J. Frederick Lehmann. On the 22d of February, 1864, Rev. P J. Buehl, of the city of Akron, was called as the regular pastor, which call was accepted. as advised by high officials of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, on the 4th day of May. 1864, and on the 16th day of the same month moved his family to the city of Massillon, and since said time has remained the regular pastor of said church, now more than seventeen years. On the 12th day of May the Church resolved to purchase the premises upon which now stand the church buildings, then owned by Arvine C. Wales, and the estate of William S. Wetmore, deceased, and, after grading and much prepara- tion, the present buildings were erected. First, a schoolhouse for a German and English Con- gregational School, which was dedicated on the 1st of January, 1865. After preaching from the 6th of September. 1863, to the 1st day of February, 1865, in a building called Hofman's Church, on North street, now changed into a dwelling-house, and from the last above date to October. 1870, in the lower room of the Masonic Building on Mill street. On the 13th day of June, 1869, the corner-stone of the new church edifice was laid with becoming ceremonies, and on the 18th Sunday after Trinity, A. D. 1870, the same was finished and dedicated to the service of the Triune God. The building is 47 feet wide, and, with the projection of the tower and altar place, is 110 feet long, with a tower 170 feet high, the whole of first-class finish and materials. Near the schoolhouse and church edifice stand two dwelling houses, one a par- sonage and one a dwelling for the Congrega- tional teacher and organist, built since the building of the church edifice. The congrega- tion increased during the first year to a com- mnieant membership of ninety-seven members of both sexes. It now numbers 300, exclusive of 130 children of school age, which are taught to a certain age in the Congregational day school in German and English, and the relig- ious principles of the word of God and the

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CITY OF MASSILLON.

doctrines of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. To the above should be added that the church edifice and grounds of the Evangelical Lutheran Church are surpassingly beautiful. The buildings are surrounded by an Osage orange hedge, which is kept trimmed and in the highest state of cultivation, inside of which are shubbery, flowers and evergreens, among which are carriage-ways and graveled walks, all of which are kept so neatly that the place is an object of the admiration of all strangers visiting the city. All the ornamentation of the grounds is the work of Rev. Mr. Buchl. who, in addition to the duties of the pastorate, finds time to embellish the churchyard with flowers and shubbery, and keeps them in order beyond similar work in point of taste and ele- gance in the city.

On the 7th day of June, 1836, the Parish of St. Timothy's Church was duly organized, ac- cording to the Canons of the Protestant Episco- pal Church. a charter therefor having been previously obtained through the influence of Hon. David A. Starkweather, member of the Ohio Senate. The Rev. John Swan was elected the first Reetor, October 10, of the same year. the corner-stone of the church edifice having been laid by Rey. Charles P. Mellvaine, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio. On the 13th of May. 1843, the church was consecrated by Bishop Mellvaine. On the 15th of July, the Rev. John Swan resigned the charge of the parish. July 26, 1846, Rey. Anson Clark ac- cepted a call to the parish, and remained in charge until May 11, 1851. From October 1, 1851, until April 3, 1859. Rev. Edward 11. Cumming was Rector; from July 1. 1859, to July, 1865, Rev. Henry II. Morell was Rector : from February 1, 1867. to May 1. 1871, Rev. G. W. Timlow; from October 1, 1871, to October 1. 1872, Rev. Wilifred II. Dean ; from May 15. 1873, to March, 1877, Rev. W. M. Probasco, who died that month of small-pox.

The present Rector, Rev. R. D. Brook, took charge of the parish October 16. 1877. having been unanimously elected thereto by the Vestry.

The first Vestry wore James Duncan. Herman B Harris, James S. Reynolds, Hunking Whee- ler. Charles K. Skinner, Dwight Jarvis, Matthew Johnson and George Paine. The present Vestry are Thomas Mccullough. Senior Warden ; Hi- ram K. Dickey. Junior Warden ; Thomas

Ilopper, Augustus J. Ricks, Moses A. Brown, Jacob G. Bucher, James R. Dunn, II. 1] Everhard, Edward B. Upham, and John G Warwick.

Through the long period of forty-five years. St. Timothy's has been one of the standard institutions of the city. The beautiful location of the church and parsonage, in one inclosure. at the southeast corner of Tremont and East streets, attracts the attention of strangers visit ing the city. and is, of itself, an enduring monument of the liberality of Hon. James Dunean, whose generosity was restricted only by his means.

In 1819. the German Protestant clement having increased rapidly. a meeting was called of those of the German Evangelical Church. In a legal proceeding of a later date, they were sned as the German Evangelical Church of St John, and to that style the trustees answered. At the date above named. there were forty- eight families. At the meeting an organization was effected. and the Rev. Dr. J. G. Buettner. a most scholarly and elegant gentleman, was chosen Pastor. He remained four years. Of the original forty-eight families, but seven or eight remain. The number of families now composing the membership is two hundred and sixty-five. This church has grown in wealth and influence. The first meeting-house is the stone building on East street, south of St. Timothy's Protestant Episcopal. In that they inet for long years, and when it got so small as no longer to be used for that purpose, they purchased the beautiful lot on the corner of Tremont and Mill. than which none is more eligible in the city. and on that they have erected a large and commodious building an honor to themselves and the city. Their former meeting-house has been sold to the Union School District, and, as a schoolhouse, is useful. It was built in 1840, and after twenty years of use as a church, was sold. In 1863 and 1864 there was a secession from the church of about fifteen families, making about seventy-five mem bers. on account of a difference of opinion on the subject of parochial schools, those who withdrew being in favor of establishing schools of that character. At that time Rev. Mr. Weisgerber was Pastor of the old German Evangelical Church. He was a positive man in all his opinions, and especially positive in his opposition to distinct schools. under the

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management of the church. lipon the fact being settled that, under the government of the German Evangelical Church. parochial schools would not be established, the withdrawal took place, and the German Evangelical Lutheran Church was at once organized, and is now one of the institutions of the city. Under the fostering care of Rev. O. W. Shetlar, the old German Evangelical Church is moving onward, embracing in its membership a most useful and intelligent class of the German population of the city and township, and largely increasing in numbers. by the unparalleled immigration from the Fatherland, and the influence and well-directed labors of its worthy Pastor.

In October, 1835, Rev. O. N. Sage, now of Cincinnati, a Baptist minister, arrived in Mas- sillon, then a young gentleman from Erie, l'enn., unheralded and unknown, and as he says " not knowing the name of any one of the people of the place." In those days, the village being on the fuil tide of successful competition with all the neighboring towns, paying always the highest prices for produce of all kinds, its fame as the "wheat city" of Ohio attracted the young Baptist Minister. It seemed to him to he the field wherein he could labor and leave at least " some footprints on the sands of time."

" Footprints that perhaps another Sailing o'er life's solemn main. A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, might take heart again."

The young minister was right in his conclusion, as the following extract from a pleasant letter received from him indicates. He " found a quiet temperance house kept by William M. Folger, and preached the next day in Hogan & Harris Ilall to a good. attentive audience. Before leaving the hall, it was resolved by the people that a meeting house should be built, and the young man was informally invited to become a citizen of what was then known as the most enterprising business place in the interior of Ohio.

When it is remembered that there was not at that time a half a dozen Baptists in the town- ship of six miles square. it will strike the reader singularly that on the second day after the ar- rival of Mr. Sage, which was on the first Sab- bath, and on hearing his first sermon, that his congregation should resolve that a house should be built, and he invited to become a citizen. The people of Massillon were not disappointed.

The name of Rev. Orrin N. Sage is kindly re- membered by the few who remain, who listened to his preaching, and who will never forget his earnest labors to fashion and improve the social and moral condition of the then plastie society of Massillon.

The encouragement given to Mr. Sage of course set him at work. Ile purchased the lot on the northwest corner of North and Mill streets, which was then the extreme northern boundary of the village, and. with untiring en- ergy, erceted the church edifice now there. As soon as it was inclosed and convenient rooms in the basement could be finished, religions wor- ship was had there, and the first Baptist Church of Massillon was organized, with Mr. Sage as its Pastor. The church edifice, under the gen- eral management of Mr. Sage, the funds for which were furnished, mostly, says Mr. Sage, " by the business men of the place, who had no particular devotion to any religious sect ; but a a kind word for all."

Those who have lived since 1836 and re- member the inflation of the currency and con- sequent panie in the following year, will remem- ber how easy it was to lay out cities, and in part to build them up. Massillon went into the wildest speculations. Corner lots, that have since been sold for less than a tenth part of the then prices, brought $5,000, and more was paid in " hand money" than they were worth ; the result was bankruptcy and ruin, in which the First Baptist Church of Massillon was a snf- terer. The church editiee was ereeted on the credit of the subscriptions of those persons " who had a kind word for all," who subscribed without thinking of the pay day. In 1837 came the crisis. Gen. Jackson, President of the United States, the year bef re had issued his famous "specie circular," and in May, 1837, a general suspension of specie payments by the banks all over the country took place, and suspension of payments in anything, by in- viduals, followed. The church had a heavy debt, and which was an inenbus from which it never recovered. Mr. Sage remained five years, struggling to save the property and keep the congregation and church. especially, intact. It was the darling object of his early life as a minister. His health, from labor and anxiety, broke down, and he was compelled to seek an- other home. His successor was Rev. S. B. Page, D. D .. now of Cleveland, who found about one

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CITY OF MASSILLON.

hundred members connected with the church, who were increased during his ministry to about one hundred and twenty. Mr. Page was Pastor in 1811. As services were had in April that year on the occasion of the death of President Harrison, the opening hymn, as is well romem bered. commencing with the lines.

" God moves in a mysterious way Hli- wonders to perform."

How long after that year he remained is not certain. The church being burthened with a heavy debt and acerning interest, struggled for many years. The business of the town changed and went into new hands, who were in no wise responsible for subscriptions to the church nor were members. As an organiza- tion the church could not be sustained. Super- added to all other calamities, it passed into the pastorate of a most unpopular minister, under whose pastorate the house was closed forever to the Baptists, and the church was scattered. Few yet remain who were members. Among those who are yet living should be named An- drew B. Cox and William Bohanon. respected citizens of the Third Ward in this city. The building was sold at Sheriff's sale, under a de- cree or judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, and the First Baptist Church of Massillon exists only in history.

Although the Baptist Church organized by Mr. Sage was the organization of that com- inunion in the city. he was not the first Baptist minister who had preached there. As early as 1830. Elder JJchu Brown. by occupation a mill- wright. who did a great amount of work for Mr. Duncan, preached on alternate Sundays at his boarding-house. corner of Oak and Erie streets. He was a man of strong mind. and did his duty faithfully as he understood it. He was elected in 1833-34 to the House of Repre- sentatives in the General Assembly of the State, and afterward removed to Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co .. Ill. Rev. O. N. Sage is now, and for thirty- seven years has been, a resident of Cincinnati, beloved and respected by a large cirele of friends.

The first preaching or address by a Priest or Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in this city was by Bishop Purcell, and was in what was then Johnson's. now Beatty's. Block. on the corner of the canal and Main street. in the room now occupied by the Knights of Pythias. The Bishop had been in the northern part of the diocese. Ohio being then included in the

Diocese of Cincinnati, on an Episcopal visit, and took Massillon en route on his return. Timothy Finnegan, an active Irish Catholic, procured the hall for the Bishop. This visit was in 1838, and before many of the since nu merous German Catholic population had settled in the Tuscarawas Valley, in the neighborhood of Massillon. The old church at Canton. St. John's, being the only one in this part of Ohio, except a little church in Lawrence Township, naturally drew around it the immigrants of that faith.

The few Catholies in Massillon were not without religious services. The first celebra- tion of mass was by Rev. Father Hoffman. from Canton, in a private house. He continued to visit the members of the church during the vear 1836, as circumstances permitted him to do so. The next year, Father Yunker had serv- ices in a little one-story dwelling house, since raised to a two-story building, near the corner of Mill and Plum streets, and also had service at the house of Patrick Harney. northwest of where now stands the station house and other buildings of the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railway, which house is yet standing, and is one of the oldest frame houses in the township. having been built and occu- pied by an early settler by the name of David Anderson, Esq .. and father of Samuel M. Anderson, now of Dalton. Squire Anderson will be remembered as one of the early Presby- terians of the Tuscarawas Valley. In 1838. Father Kuhr, from Canton, had services in the third story of fen. Gardner Field's building on the west side of the canal. This was a com- paratively large and comfortable room, but it could not be had at all times, and the t'atholics were driven into private houses. They next met in 1840. in a small frame house on Charles street, near the corner of Muskingum ; then at Widow Ertle's, on North Mill street. near the present residence of David Kerstetter. Esq. That year services were also hekl at the house of Timothy Finnegan. in a building yet known as the "Finnegan House." corner of Mill and North streets. Timothy was a scholarly Irish- man. Tradition has it that he was educated for a priest, but was captured by a bright Irish girl. whom he married, and then learned the trade of a cooper, at which he excelled. as he did in defense of his religion. He finally re- moved to Cincinnati, where he died.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 72

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