USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 26
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
The earliest record of this church was found many years ago in a book dingy and yellow with age, quaint in style and wonderfully humorous in its many suggestions. It bears the date of October 30, 1821, and bears this in- scription : "Presented to the First Presbyterian Church of Wooster by Rea- sin Beall." This book indicates that there had been a constitution prior to that date. It also mentions the fact that on that date they had met to devise means to relieve their minister from wordly cares and avocations, and second, to provide a place for holding public worship. There are other circumstances that would tend to place the organization of the church as early as 1815. In a little house on West Liberty street, some ten or a dozen Presbyterians as- sembled before 1815, and doubtless in that house, about 1815, the birth of the church, now so strong and well known, had its origin.
Ben Douglas, in his history of Wayne county in 1878, declared that Alexander McBride told John McClellan that this church was organized with fifteen members in 1815, by Rev. William Mathews, by the order of the presbytery of Richmond, at which time Mr. McBride and Walter Buchanan were chosen ruling elders. For the first five or six years the record is silent; what prosperous or adverse winds blew over this congregation, none can now tell.
The records of the Mansfield presbytery show that Rev. Thomas Barr accepted, April 4, 1820, the call of this congregation for one-half of his time, and that on May 24, 1820, he was installed pastor over the united charge of Wooster and Applecreek. It was Reverend Barr who was chair- man of the meeting held in the Baptist church, October 30, 1821, when the constitution, as now known of record, was adopted. John Christmas, of Wooster, donated the society a lot for building purposes about that date.
257
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
This lot was situated on West Liberty street, the same being duly accepted at a meeting at the house of Reasin Beall, November 2, 1821, and the same was ordered recorded in the records of Wayne county. It now appears in book B, page 407-8-9. The committee on building went forth armed with a subscription paper which allowed the same to be made "in money, grain or such produce as is usually taken in stores, in two equal installment, viz: The first to be paid March Ist and the balance in December following." The process was a slow one indeed, but finally the first contract was let for fifty thousand bricks, for which thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents were to be paid in cash, and seventy-five dollars in equal proportions of wheat, at sixty-two cents a bushel, delivered at Mr. Stibbs' and Mr. Plank's mills. This was one- half the contract price for the brick and the remainder was to be paid in June on terms equal to that of the first installment.
To give the reader of today a glimpse of the manner of building and also of doing business in those days, it will here be pertinent to give some of the incidents and items : "Four outside doors to be made of good, sound and well-seasoned pine or white walnut boards similar to the front door in Reasin Beall's dwelling house." The thirteen windows, washboards, posts and gal- lery floors, lathing and plastering stairs to the gallery, and its front, the pul- pit, the seats and the railings, were each and all as quaintly and as minutely specified. No record is left of the date of the first meeting in this new house of worship, but it is believed that it was in November, 1825, possibly the 24th of that month. The seats were sold to the highest bidder on the 20th of that month, to raise funds with which to complete the church. Three months' time was given to bidders for a part of the price, the remainder in nine months, one-half in money and the other part in wheat, rye and corn at the market price. The following curious receipt shows that they worshiped in this building in 1826:
"I have received from Reasin Beall and others, twelve dollars in full, for making fires, lighting candles and sweeping the meeting house for the year 1827, commencing November 30, 1826, and ending December 31, 1827. "(Signed) JACOB MASON."
In such an age as this one can scarcely realize the way in which churches were built and how scarce money was. This accounts for the bartering in all kinds of truck and merchandise, even to whisky, which then went as cur- rent for debts as did corn, wheat and stock. The subscription list, said still to be retained by the congregation as a rare and curious relic of "ancient days in Wooster," will here follow :
(17)
.
258
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
"$508.75. $34 in work, $20 in bricks (2000), $16.00 in wheat, 200 bushels of wheat, $105 in sawed stuff, $42 in flooring, $47 in hauling, 258 bushels of corn, $10 in digging stumps and foundation, 175 lights of sash, $10 in poplar boards, 114 bushels of rye, ten joist at ten cents per foot, $12 in leather, $75 in cloth, five yards in linen, five yards in tow linen, twenty pounds of flax. $9.37 cents in coarse shoes, $20 in silver-work, $10 in tea- spoons, five dollars in tailoring, $6.00 in blacksmithing. $2.00 in cabinet work, $13 50 in hats, $8.00 in saddlery, $30 in nails, one spinning wheel, and forty-two gallons of whisky."
The clerk neglected to give names of the church members who gave these contributions, even to those who donated whisky. The whole subscrip- tion amounted to $1,568.58. The amount obtained from sale of seats was $1,136.15. Delinquent subscriptions, $184.40.
In September, 1829. Reverend Barr, having had a long, hard pull at church building, resigned as pastor.
After several unsuccessful attempts, the union existing between Woos- ter and Applecreek charges was abrogated September 13, 1831, after which time Wooster had her own pastor all the time. In January, 1840, steps were taken toward the providing of a more commodious church. But deep water had yet to be crossed by the congregation, and delays were thwarting the plans for building-they had foes within and foes without. Rev. Joseph Chambers was called to the pastorate in 1850, but only remained until August, dying in the following month. Again the matter of building was broached and sub- scriptions taken freely, the same to apply on a church to be erected on West Liberty street, the old site. But through the work mostly of the ladies of the church the project was changed and the new plan was to build on the site of the present church. A building committee composed of five men-J. P. Coulter, James Jacobs, Ephraim Quinby, Isaac Johnson and Rev. J. N. Shep- herd-was set to work again with renewed vigor. The cost of this structure was between five and six thousand dollars. The first meeting was held in the new church January 2, 1854, when E. Quinby, Jr., was elected trustee, and he later served as treasurer a number of years. Steps were taken to provide the church with a suitable parsonage at a meeting held January 11. 1859. The lot on which the building was erected was purchased of Mr. Quinby for seven hundred and fifty dollars.
In 1870 the Westminster church was organized, in connection with the Wooster University, which was a child of the original Presbyterian church of Wooster.
259
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
In 1874 the church was remodeled, wings added thereto and in all there was an outlay of about fourteen thousand dollars.
The record of membership is as follows : Organized in 1815 with fifteen members; when Reverend Barr was made pastor the membership had reached thirty-three ; when he left it had one hundred and seven; from 1846 to 1853 the aggregate membership was three hundred and seventy. In 1878 the mem- bership had reached, after counting out all removals, deaths and other changes, a net of four hundred and sixteen. According to the records of the church in 1909 the church was made up of five hundred and twenty members. The present house of worship is the same as in 1854, aside from the improve- ments made from time to time. The present pastor is Rev. David Ayrton Heron.
The pastors have included the following, though not possibly all, in the order here named: Rev. Matthews, 1815 on for a number of years; Thomas Barr, many years; William Cox, one year ; William Wiley, one year : George W. Warner, from 1832 to 1836: William McCandish, 1839 to 1849: Joseph H. Chambers, 1850 to August of same year, when he died; J. N. Shepherd, 1850 to 1851 ; James H. Baird, to 1854: J. B. Stewart, to 1857: R. Colmery, to 1860; S. W. Miller, called 1868 to 1874; T. A. McCurdy, D. D .; Oscar A. Hills, D. D. ; Hamilton W. Lowery, D. D .; Scott F. Hershey, LL.D., Ph. D .; David Ayrton Heron, came from Indianapolis in July, 1908.
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church is in Wooster and is the outgrowth of the Wooster Univer- sity and the child of the First Presbyterian church of the city. Its present membership is three hundred and fifty-five. The Westminster congregation worshiped in the chapel of the university from its organization in 1874 until December, 1901, when the University building was destroyed by fire. In the spring of 1902 the present Memorial chapel of the university was dedi- cated, built at a cost of forty thousand dollars, the money having been secured through the liberality of a number of friends. In style of architecture it follows strictly the English gothic of the thirteenth century. The building is a light buff Ohio sandstone and will accommodate about eleven hundred peo- ple. The five-thousand-dollar organ was constructed by the Austin Company of Hartford: Connecticut.
The list of pastors who have served this congregation is as follows : Revs. T. K. Davis, D. D .: A. A. E. Taylor, D. D .: S. F. Scovel, D. D. : Ed-
260
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
ward W. Work; S. Hale Young; J. J. Lucas, D. D .; O. A. Hills, D. D .; Chalmers Martin, D. D .; John Leonard Tait.
MARSHALLVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church was organized January 19, 1843, by Rev. A. Hanna, with a membership of fifty-seven. Rev. John Andrews was the first pastor, in 1843.
SUGARCREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1816, but had held services as early as 1814. The charter membership was twenty-three. Rev. James Adams, who formed the society, remained from 1814 to 1823. The first meeting house was of logs, and it was situated two miles west of Dalton; the second was on the site where the third church was erected in 1853-54.
ORVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Prior to the formation of the church at this point occasional services were held. Rev. Archibald Hanna preached the first sermon in the interests of this sect in 1852, in an old school house. No further record of any services is had until those of July 9, 1854, by Rev. John E. Carson, held in the Union church. Here they henceforth worshiped until the basement of their own church was fit for occupancy. During the ministry of Reverend Semple, the church was organized July 25. 1865. The original membership consisted of the following : Mr. and Mrs. Gailey, Mr. and Mrs. Reaser, Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Johnston, James A. Taggart, Margaret F. Crites, Rebecca Wilson, Lydia Wilson, Mary L. Wilson, Mary J. Ewing, Delilah McFarland, Sarah A. Orr, Rebecca M. Storrs, Catherine Schriber and Sarah J. Taggart.
Rev. Semple's labors ceased September 16, 1866, and he was followed by Rev. M. L. Anderson. Up to 1878 there had been connected with this church two hundred and fifty-seven persons. The number in 1909 was shown to be two hundred and sixty-three. The same brick church erected in 1871 is still doing good service. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph V. Findley.
PRESBYTERIANS IN CANAAN TOWNSHIP.
The first church organized in Canaan township was by the Presbyterian people at Jackson, May 25, 1827, with sixteen members. Nathan Hall and Thomas Hays were chosen ruling elders. In 1838 the congregation called
261
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
its first regular pastor, Rev. Thomas Barr, who served them nearly forty years. Their second house of worship was erected in 1837, the third in 1854, and at present the congregation is flourishing with a church membership of sixty-two.
WAYNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This Presbyterian church was organized August 22, 1833, with thirteen members, by Rev. William Cox. The original members were as follows : James and Sarah McCoy, Robert and Elizabeth Eakin, Moses and Sarah Foltz, Margaret Beer, Abigail Johnston, Nancy Orr, John Rose, Mary Rose, Mary Lawrence and Maria McClarran. Its membership is now about fifty.
PRESBYTERIANISM IN GREENE TOWNSHIP.
The Presbyterian was the fourth church to be formed in Greene town- ship, the date being in 1830.
APPLECREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This is one of the pioneer churches in Wayne county. It dates its or- ganization from 1815 or 1816 and it was brought about by Reverends Hughes and James Adams. The membership was at first thirty persons, four of whom were James Bingham, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jonathan Peppered and Moses Dunham. These were ruling elders. The first church was built in 1817, the congregation being occasionally supplied until 1819, when Rev. Joseph Harper became the stated supply. In 1820 Rev. Thomas Barr set- tled as pastor at Wooster and Applecreek. In 1825 a larger house was built and in 1830 Rev. William Cox became pastor. In 1837 he was followed by Rev. Richard Graham and he in turn by Rev. Joseph Wylie. During his pastorate a third church building was erected and there was a great revival in the church. In 1850 came Rev. J. E. Carson. In 1860 Rev. Andrew Vir- tue came and remained almost nine years. In 1868 came Rev. W. Engleson, who in 1875 was followed by Rev. S. C. Ferris. Then came Rev. J. C. Truesdale in 1878 and remained seven years. The next pastor was Rev. L. T. Laverty in 1885, during whose pastorate the present church was erected. In 1891 came Rev. A. W. Verner, who served until August 2, 1896, then came Rev. G. S. Hachett, who served until 1902. Rev. J. W. Boyer then became pastor and preached until October, 1906, when Rev. D. H. Johnson
262
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
came in May, 1907, remaining until May, 1909. The church was repaired during this period. The present pastor is Reverend McGrath. The mem- bership is two hundred and thirty-one.
PAINTVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The church of Paintville-now Mt. Eaton-was organized June 20, 1818, with thirteen members. The Rev. James Adams officiated at the or- ganization. Up to 1878 this church had on its rolls four hundred and nine persons. The names of the first members were James and Margaret Kilgore, Jane Mckinney, William Kilgore, Isabelle Kilgore, William Hunter, Mary Hunter, Rowland Armstrong, Jane Armstrong, John Anderson, Agnes Anderson, James Galbraith and Sarah Galbraith.
The present membership of this church is eighteen. The present pastor is supplied.
OTHER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES OF THE COUNTY.
Creston is supplied with a pastor at present from other places; it has a membership of one hundred and fifty-two.
Fredericksburg has one hundred and seventy-eight members.
Shreve has a church of one hundred and eighty-six members; Rev. Leonard Twinem is the present pastor.
Dalton Presbyterian church has a membership of one hundred and ninety-nine. with Rev. Joseph V. Findley, as present pastor.
Millersburg has an organization of two hundred and twenty-four mem- bers, with Rev. Charles J. McCracken as pastor.
West Salem and Congress churches have a membership of one hundred and twenty-eight. with Rev. Claude R. Culbertson as present pastor.
Doylestown is supplied by other churches : it has a membership of forty- eight.
Hopewell is supplied by other places ; it has a membership of two hundred and five.
Rittman Presbyterian church has a membership of seventy-five; the pres- ent pastor is Rev. H. E. Nicklen.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In Wayne county there are now three separate congregations of this de- nomination-at Wooster. Fredericksburg and Dalton.
263
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Of the Wooster church it may be stated that the Associate congregation of Wooster was organized in August, 1817, and Rev. John Walker, D. D., and Rev. William Wilson presided at the meeting, which was held in a large tent erected at the south end of Buckeye street in Wooster,
The Associate Reformed congregation of Wooster was organized in 1843, its pastor being the Rev. J. H. Peacock. Its worship was commonly held in the court house.
These two organizations were united into one congregation in 1858, under the present name of "The United Presbyterian Congregation of Woos- ter," having then a total membership of one hundred and twenty. The pastors of the Associate congregation and the United congregations were : Rev. Samuel Irwin, from 1819 to 1835; Rev. Joseph McKee from 1837 to 1849; Rev. Hugh Sturgeon from 1852 to 1856; Rev. J. W. McFarland from 1857 to 1864; Rev. R. H. Pollock, D. D., from 1865 to 1875; Rev. Daniel A. Wallace, D. D., LL.D., from January 1, 1878, to October 20, 1883 ; Rev. R. A. Gilfillan, from May 1, 1885, to April 18, 1886; Rev. John A. Wilson, D. D., from November 1, 1886, to October 29, 1893 ; Rev. J. D. Irons, D. D., from October 1, 1894, to November 1, 1895 ; Rev. J. O. Campbell, D. D., from May 17, 1896, to October 15, 1901 : Rev. W. A. Littell, from March 2, 1902, to December 1. 1908. The congregation is now without a pastor.
Dr. David A. Wallace was called to a professorship in the Xenia Theo- logical Seminary of the church, but died at the close of his pastorate in Wooster. Dr. John A. Wilson was elected to a professorship in the United Presbyterian Seminary at Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Dr. J. D. Irons was elected to a professorship in Xenia Theological Seminary and Dr. J. O. Camp- bell was elected to a professorship in Westminster College, at New Arling- ton, Pennsylvania.
The first house of worship in Wooster for this denomination was erected by the Associate congregation in 1819 and stood on South Buckeye street in the south part of the city. It was a frame building. The second building was on the same site, erected in 1837. The present church building, located on North Bever street, is a brick structure erected in 1868, at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars.
During the pastorate of Dr. David A. Wallace a large and commodious Sabbath school room was added to the present church building, and during the pastorate of Dr. John A. Wilson a handsome parsonage was purchased by the congregation, on East Bowman street.
The elders of this congregation are at present, James T. Stitt, Dr. H. 1.
264
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Hart, W. T. Peckinpaugh and Mahlon Rouch. The trustees are as follows : J. S. Wallace, William King, Harry Hurst, W. J. Giffen, Dr. L. A. Yocum, Robert H. Smith and T. E. Ewing. The present membership of this congre- gation is one hundred and ninety-three.
FREDERICKSBURG UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Fredericksburg United Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. William Wilson, in 1818. Prior to 1858 this congregation was called the Seceders, or Associate Presbyterians. Some of the first of the church were : John Sorrel and George Miller, who had settled in the neighborhood in 1812 and 1813; William Truesdale in 1817, and Samuel Miller, David Cox and George Boon. The first place they called meeting house was built of logs and stood near the old Associate burying ground on the hill. In 1821 Rev. Sam- uel Irvine, D. D., was ordained pastor of this and three other congregations. In 1838 a brick building was built in the southwest part of town. At pres- ent they worship in one built later. The membership is now fifty-seven, and the pastor is Rev. W. J. Grimes.
DALTON UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The United Presbyterian congregation of Dalton was organized by the Associate Presbytery of Chartiers in 1820 at the home of John McDowell. Rev. Samuel Irvine was the first stated supply and Rev. Joseph McKee was the first pastor, his pastorate lasting from 1836 to 1842. Services were first conducted in private houses and in a tent erected on the farm of James Doug- las. In 1828 a log church was built, which was used until 1839. when a frame building was erected in Dalton. The present brick church was erected in 1871. The following is the succession of pastors : Rev. J. R. Doig, 1842- 1848; Rev. D. W. Collins, D. D., 1850-1852 ; Rev. J. Y. Ashenhurst, 1854- 1856; Rev. A. McCartney, 1858-1860; Rev. W. M. Gibson, 1863-1867; Rev. J. G. Madge, 1870-1896; Rev. Will H. Hubbell, the present pastor, was in- stalled as pastor in June, 1897. The congregation has greatly prospered under his leadership. There were one hundred members when he took charge and about one hundred and fifty new members have been added since. The Sabbath school has grown from an enrollment of fifty-nine to one hundred and sixty. Not only has the congregation made many improvements on the church building during the present pastorate, but a fine modern parsonage
265
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
has been built for the pastor. The session at the present time is composed of Thomas E. McDowell, Allan Arnold, D. C. Rudy and C. R. Snavely. The board of trustees consists of Albert E. Dague, Lewis S. Berg and Oliver IV. Hanenstien.
CHURCH OF GOD.
The founder of this denomination was Rev. John Winebrenner, a Ger- man Reformed minister, who about 1830 preached in Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania. He was too excitable to longer be retained and tolerated in the Re- formed church, and separated from it in 1825 and formed the Church of God. This church was organized in Pennsylvania and soon planted itself westward and is now well known in many sections of the country. At Woos- ter, Ohio, it was organized in May, 1848, by Elder A. Medgrew, with a mem- bership of but sixteen persons. The officers were : Charles Hoff. elder ; J. P. Winebrenner, deacon. June 27, 1850, the lot and bethel were purchased from J. P. Winebrenner. Rev. G. U. Harn commenced his labors as pastor in April, 1851. January 24, 1866, they rented their house to the United Presbyterian society until they could erect one of their own. Their first church property was purchased for the sum of sixty-nine dollars and fifty cents by Mr. Winebrenner from Lindol Sprague and John Hanna, adminis- trators of the James Clendennen estate. It was the old building to the east of the present bethel. It was repaired and fitted up for a church and sold at five hundred and thirty dollars. The new church building was commenced in 1854, and completed in 1855, by David Atkins, at an expense of four thousand seven hundred and thirty dollars. It is forty-five by sixty-five feet. with vestibule and basement above ground. It was dedicated August 5, 1855, by Elders J. Winebrenner and A. Swartz. On the morning of August 7. 1854. a serious accident befell the workmen at this building. The girders and rafters for a half of the structure fell to the ground, carrying with the frame work and timbers the many working men. Citizens soon went to the scene of disaster, accompanied by physicians. The list of killed and injured is : Mr. Henderson, of Milbrook, killed: John Cope, of Massillon, wounded; Henry Miller, hurt; Joseph Kimber, hurt ; David Atkins, collar bone broken : Henry Harris, badly bruised ; Charles Pond, fractured bones; John Hamicar, Charles Hickman, John Vanmeter, D. Baker, A. Hummer and a Mr. Smith, injured.
At this date the church is still in use. The membership of the congre- gation is one hundred and sixty and the present pastor is Rev. W. E. Turner.
266
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
This denomination now has churches at Aukerman, Moreland, Smith- ville and Overton, in Wayne county.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP CHURCH OF GOD.
This church was built in 1843, at Moreland, Adam Weiker, Isaac Tate and Samuel Metzler being the chief movers in the enterprise. The first preacher of this charge was Archibald Megrew and following him was Jona- than West. In 1878 the membership had grown to thirty.
ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Wooster parish of the Episcopal church was organized in December, 1840, by Hon. Levi Cox, J. W. Schuckers, Henry Lehman, James Johnson, J. C. James, David Sloane, George James, John A. Holland, R. H. Cather- wood and a few other associates, of Wooster and vicinity. They adopted the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States of America. This parish was incorporated by act of the Legislature of Ohio in February, 1841. In April, 1841, Rev. Ervin Miller was called to the rectorship. Services were held in the court house until December, 1841, when the first services were held in the new church edifice, on West South street, erected by the parish, on a lot donated by James L. Bowman. Serv- ices were held there until May, 1860, when the building was regarded as un- safe and was abandoned and sold, after which services were held in the base- ment of the English Lutheran church and later in Arcadome Hall until No- vember, 1860, when a new edifice was ready for occupancy. This was built on the corner of Market and North streets. The first church edifice was consecrated in May. 1842, by Bishop McIlvaine, and the new Gothic church in 1867 by assistant Bishop Bedell. In 1869-70 the parish erected a frame building as a rectory.
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.