USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 31
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In his time, anæsthetics had not been popularized, or brought into general use. Their properties were not so well defined, and their administration was supposed to be accompanied with more or less peril. Surgery was performed when the patient was in a state of entire consciousness. He knew he had to suffer, what it was to suffer, and that he had to endure it. Frequently the strong man had to be pinioned, or put in chains. The situation became essentially an embarrassing one to the surgeon, and a distressing. one to the subject. The scalpel could have no velvet edge, the saw no cushioned tooth. No wonder the sufferer writhed, and that the operation was performed in the midst of agonizing screams. But, despite all these embarrassments, Dr. Day rose to the alti- tude of superior and distinguished surgical eminence.
He was a man of clear judgment, positive opinions, and was extremely cautious of his conclusions at the bed of sickness. When his position was taken, it was upon tenable grounds, and none could with more delicate, acute and ringing eloquence, defend it better than he. He was free from all acrimony and resentments toward his professional brethren, and when assailed by them, had little but regrets to indulge that such things should occur. He was a man of most affable and pleasing manner ; of great polite- ness, and could read human nature as though it were a printed book-hence resulted his characteristic tact of dealing with men, of influencing masses of men, and of ingratiating himself with so many people and so many families. In point of character he was emphatically independent, and confronted the world with a manly countenance. The time-server and the timid shuffler, who only
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dare to look up at life through blinkers, and who only have an opinion to advance when there is a crowd to back it, he despised. As a public speaker he was graceful, fluent and forcible, and the active part he took in inducing subscriptions for the construction of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad will not soon be forgotten. In aid of that enterprise he was one of the effective canvassers, and one of its most eloquent advocates. Not only was he a pleasing and convincing speaker, but he excelled in conversa- tion. There was a richness, copiousness, versatility and enthusi- asm in it, which, though it sometimes bordered upon art, neverthe- less fascinated and regaled. He was an expert in controversial argumentation. Every word was as smooth as if dropped in oil.
Personally he was a man of imposing appearance, stood over six feet high, and erect as a column, and, in his more youthful days, was a model of physical development and muscular perfec- tion. In later life he became exceedingly corpulent. He was an incessant and indefatigable worker until he retired from the pro- fession of his choice - one which had rewarded him with honors, competence and wealth.
Many young men of talent took their rudimentary course in his office, two of the most prominent of these being Dr. Edward Thomson, the renowned Methodist Bishop, who died in Wheel- ing, West Virginia, March 22, 1870, and Dr. Leander Firestone, the eminent surgeon of Wooster. The former was in the office of Dr. Day from 1833 to 1836, the latter from 1839 to 1842.
There was a simplicity and unostentatious evenness of way, an intellectual equipoise, healthy frugality, persistent industry, steady integrity and sense of honor characteristic of Dr. Day, worthy of imitation. His life enshrines many a practical and noble precept. With him, we may hope, death was "but transition." He had been a devout and consistent member of the Presbyterian church from early manhood, and died in the full faith of the immortality of the soul, and its reunion with the Father of Spirit and all Life.
THE WOOSTER CHURCHES.
[NOTE .- In giving the history of the churches of Wooster we regret exceed- ingly to be compelled to go to press without a notice of the United Presbyterian church. At an early stage of our work Rev. R. H. Pollock, D. D., volunteered to prepare the desired sketch. Prior to his leaving to take charge of his new ministe- rial field at Mt. Vernon, O., he informed us that, with the exception of a very few items, he had it completed, and to others he made a similar statement. We did not see him immediately preceding his departure, and hence did not procure his MSS.
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Since his death M. C. Rouch, Esq., of Wooster, has corresponded with Mrs. Pol- lock in regard to the matter, but no such paper can be found. We do not doubt but that Dr. Pollock prepared the article, and that it is either lost or mislaid. The intelligence that it could not be procured came too late for us, either to obtain or examine the records.]
Baptist Church.
The following is extracted from Rev. J. B. T. Patterson's his- torical sermon, December 10, 1876 :
The history of the Baptist church, called Bethany, at Wooster, Ohio, dates from the settlement of this portion of the State. Al- though the church was not organized until 1812, some of its con- stituent members were among the first settlers. In 1812 a block- house, for the protection of the people from the Indians, who had allied themselves with the English, in the war then begun, was built on the premises of Colonel John Sloane. In the same year, in this block-house, the Baptist church was constituted, and has continued its organization unchanged to the present. From the church records I find that the first Baptists who moved to Wooster were David and Lydia Kimpton and Philip B. Griffith, who settled here in 1810. In 1811 Ezekial Jones and family, a number of whom were Baptists, setted in the same township. To this hand- ful of the faithful in the wilderness Elder Kimpton preached, with- out, however, forming them into a church. On July 25, 1812, a meeting was held in the house of Brother Kimpton, "to take into consideration the propriety of organizing a church in this new country." The following named persons were present: David and Lydia Kimpton, Ezekial and Hannah Jones, Oliver Jones, Wm. Robison, John Robison, Ann Robison, Catherine Kirken- dall, Thomas G. Jones and Philip B. Griffith. The record simply states that " several of the brethren prayed." It was voted that the organization take place on the first Lord's Day in August, and that Elder T. G. Jones should write the constitution and present it at the next meeting, on Friday before the first Lord's Day in Au- gust. On July 31, 1812, the constitution was adopted, John Robi- son appointed clerk, and church meeting for business appointed to be held on the Saturday before the first Lord's Day in each month, alternately in Wooster and at Brother Kimpton's settlement. Brother Kimpton was appointed Moderator of the Church.
On August 2, being the Lord's Day, the brethren convened in the block-house, and whilst "a body of men, armed with guns, stood guard about the building, to give warning and protect them
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in case of an attack from the Indians," the church constitution and the covenant, known as the " Philadelphia Confession of Faith," was formally and solemnly ratified, and the church constituted.
Up to April 17, 1813, the records are kept in due form, and then a break in the minutes occurs, which is thus accounted for:
There is seen a vacum in the minutes which was occasioned by the war of 1812, between the United States and Great Britian, as many were afraid of the Indian allies of Great Britian, by Reason of which some fled, and the church became luke- warm, by Reason of the war, as that was almost the universal Topick, and the event of it was of much importance to this country.
At first the brethren, as in the primitive days of the primitive churches, held their meetings in private houses, but in 1814 a frame building was erected in the rear of the lot on which the Reformed church now stands. It was situated within convenient distance of the block-house, which overlooked it. I read that the worshippers sometimes carried their guns with them to the meet- ing-house, though it does not appear that the settlement was ever disturbed by the Indians.
This house, being the only church building in the settlement, was generally used by visiting ministers of other denominations, and at times, also, as a school-house. I could not ascertain the cost of the house, but find in the Trustee's book an account pre- vious to 1819 of "cash paid for meeting-house " of $125.86. This does not include the frame-work, weather-boarding, roofing nor chimney, but mentions the flooring, and among other items, hair and hickory brooms. The house was afterward sold, and removed to the east side of Buckeye street, turned end for end, the doors and windows altered, and converted into the "Wooster City Tan- nery," where it now stands thus labeled.
Bro. Kimpton, though moderator, or overseer, was never pas- tor of the church. The first pastor was Elder Thomas G. Jones. The church, however, had in its membership several preachers, who, in connection with the pastor, not only preached to the church, but also engaged in missionary tours to the surrounding settlements.
The church was very careful in the reception of members, holding firmly to the N. T. principle, that the churches of Jesus Christ are to be composed only of converted persons.
On July 1, 1815, is the following minute : "Motion by Brother Thomas G. Jones, that members absent from church meeting,
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should not enjoy the privilege of the next communion, except they render satisfactory reasons for such absence, to the church or dea- cons."
The annual growth in membership during the earlier days of the church, can not easily be determined, because the clerk failed to mention the date of baptism in the church roll. The first list of members is appended to the minutes, and dated November 4, 1815. Among the constituted members there recorded, I find the name of Naomi Youngs, which was omitted in the list of those who met to form the church. She was at the first meeting in the block-house, but not at the previous meeting in the house of Brother Kimpton. This would make the number of constituent members twelve, instead of eleven. The whole list gives the names of one hundred and fifteen persons, who had been added by baptism and letter, to the original twelve constituted members. The list of names then continued without dates of reception. On this list I find the names of Charles and Susan Morton. Brother Morton became pastor of the church in November, 1839, Brother Jones having resigned the pastorate in May, 1839. Counting backward from the name of C. Morton to the first list, I find that during the pastorate of Elder Jones, one hundred and twenty-one members were received, of whom ninety-three were received by baptism. The record shows that the growth of the church, after the first three years, was slow, but solid.
At the church meeting, October 15, 1816, a number of breth- ren living at Mohican made application for the church to send their minister and other brethren to constitute them into a church,. and ordain as their minister, Brother Alpheus French. The church endorsed the application, and sent as their representatives, D. Kimpton, T. G. Jones, Oliver Jones and John Robison, and on the 13th of October, 1816, a church at Mohican was duly constituted. This, I understand, to be the first Mohican church.
The land on which the first church was built was donated by William Robison. October 4, 1817, the church resolved to have a weekly prayer meeting.
"In 1819 all the Baptist churches in Pennsylvania, west of the Allegheny river, and all the churches in Ohio, east of Wooster, and as far north as the Lake, were included in the Beaver Associ- ation." This Association was organized in 1809, by twenty-five delegates, representing ten churches. Five of the delegates were ministers. In 1819, the Mohican Association was formed from
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the Beaver Association. The Wooster church assisted in forming that body, and remained a member of it until 1840. In 1818, the Beaver Association held its meeting with the Wooster church.
Brother Hand was pastor of the church two years, 1818-19, during which time Elder Jones was engaged in general missionary work. Brother William W. Hickox, whose name afterwards ap- pears as a minister, was licensed by this church in 1819.
From 1821 to 1830, there is an unaccountable gap in the records. In the minutes of the Wooster Association for 1842, I find the following, in a historical sketch of the churches in the As- ciation, which may, in part, account for it: "From the time of its constitution until 1827, the church enjoyed almost uninterrupted prosperity, although her increase in numbers was comparatively moderate. * * In 1827, a schism was produced in the body by the introduction of the sentiments of Alexander Campbell, at which time some seventeen or eighteen members seceded, and went over to the 'Disciples.' It was several years before the church fully recovered from the shock."
Returning to the church records, I find, in 1831, that a hand was employed by the church "to work for Elder Jones, that he might be able to devote more time to preaching " among them. On March 5, 1831, it was resolved to build a new meeting-house. The church seems to have had great difficulty in raising the amount necessary to complete the building. It was not finished until 1839, immediately after Mr. Morton succeeded to the pastorate. The house was floored and plastered through the efforts of the sis- ters, one of whom informs me that she promised forty dollars (a sum much more valuable then than now), not knowing how she could raise it, but "believing that God would help her, and it was all paid." She still lives and worships with us -Sister Cynthia Van Ostern.
The house has been altered since then. At first there was a gallery extending around the sides and end of the building. These were removed, and the house remodeled in 1865. Mention is made of Mr. Thomas Fisher, who, for a while, preached to the church. He subsequently moved to Kentucky, where he was mur- dered.
During the pastorate of Brother Jones, the Wooster Associa- tion was formed in 1837. It was composed of the Massillon, East Union, Warren, Wooster, Salt Creek, Sugar Creek, Sandyville or Magnolia, Ist Mohican, Canal Dover, Greene Township and Clark
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Township churches, eleven in all, with eleven ordained ministers, one licentiate, and 453 members. Some of these churches were afterwards known by other names.
On January 1, 1839, after serving the church twenty-seven years, twenty-four of which he was with the church, Elder Jones resigned.
Brother Charles Morton, after first supplying the church, was called to the pastorate February 29, 1840.
On April 6, 1844, Brother John Croll, was elected deacon ; and after 32 years of service, still discharges the duties of that office. On June 30, of this year, Brother Page was invited to supply the church for six months, and on the 4th of January, 1845, was elected pastor. The church reports to the Association this year 248 members, some having been dismissed by letter, others excluded; two added by baptism, and twelve by letter. The pas- torate of Brother Page ceased in April, 1850. Brother Page, dur- ing his term of service baptized twenty-six; received by letter forty-one; dismissed by letter forty ; excluded twenty-six.
December 4, 1845, the subject of instrumental music was brought up for discussion, and the matter indefinitely postponed. October, 1846, a resolution "to continue the choir" was passed. January 16, 1847, a special meeting in regard to instrumental mu- sic was held, and the following resolution adopted ; "Resolved, that instrumental music be prohibited from coming into this church henceforth." December, 1847, a motion was passed, "that mem- bers at evening service be allowed to conduct the singing as suited themselves." I record these facts to show the opinion of the brethren of that day on this most perplexing subject of church music, and also to show that the church controlled the matter of public praise.
Brother Page was succeeded by Elder E. T. Brown, who was called to the care of the church in May, 1850, and soon after took charge. As before stated the membership was then 200. Brother Brown served the church until 1856. In 1851 I find that the church reports 248 members. In the minutes of 1852 the report is only 60 members, but this is evidently a mistake of the printer, as the minutes of 1853 report a total of 242. In 1854 the total was 213. In 1855 a still further diminution is reported, the total being 208. In 1856 only 175 members are reported. The total gain during this pastorate was, by baptism, 61; by letter, expe-
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rience and restoration, 23. The total loss was, by death and exclusion, 10; by letter, 89. Net gain, 84; net loss, 99.
In March, 1853, a committee was appointed for building a ves- try and baptistry. On July 1, 1854, Brother Joseph H. Larwill proposed to donate a number of lots, held by the Wooster Ceme- tery, to the Baptist church, "on condition the church inclose the same with a suitable fence," and on the 2d of September presented the church with the deed for the same.
In March, 1855, a number of persons were dismissed by letter to form a church at Millbrook. This accounts in part for the great number of dismissions under Brother Brown, but there were many removals about that time farther west.
Brother Brown was succeeded by T. J. Penny the same year, 1856, who served the church as pastor till 1860. Brother Penny was followed by Elder John Bolton in 1861. The year following the church reports 121 members. Brother Bolton having resigned in 1862, Elder P. M. Weddell was called to the pastorate in 1863. The total net gain during this pastorate was 54 members; 21 of these were converts in the Sunday-school. In 1865 the church building was remodeled.
In 1868 there was no pastor. Church reports 206 members. In 1866, no report in the minutes. In this year Rev. G. M. Pres- ton became the pastor. The following year the church reports 196 members and 153 in the Sunday-school. In 1871, 195 mem- bers reported; no pastor. In 1872, 201 members reported.
In this year the church secured the services of Rev. Alexander McFarlane, who had just emigrated from Scotland. In 1873, 207 members reported. The baptisms this year were 9, and additions by letter, 2; whilst the diminutions are, by letter, 2; death, II. This would make 199, instead of 207, which is the number re- ported the following year, 1874. In 1874, Brother McFarlane resigned the pastorate, and accepted a call from the Baptist church at Port Huron, Mich. He was succeeded by Rev. Hugh A. Mar- shall, June 21, who resigned the pastorate the June following. In 1875, the church reported to the Association a loss of eleven mem- bers by death, among whom were some of the oldest and most effi- cient members.
In August, 1875, the Wooster Association met with this church. On the afternoon of the Sunday closing the meeting, a Sunday-school meeting was held, and some manifestation of inter- est on the subject of religion being made by some of the scholars,
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Rev. J. B. T. Patterson, a visitor from Virginia, was requested to remain and preach during the week. On the following Lord's Day he baptized three persons in the creek near the city. In Oc- tober following, he settled with the church as pastor. In the fall of this year the new lecture room was completed. This building was erected by a legacy left for the purpose, by Sister Mary B. Larwill, who died a few years previous. The baptistry was also deepened and remodeled, and a heater connected with it, the funds for this purpose being donated by Sister Joseph H. Larwill.
LIST OF PASTORS, DEACONS, CLERKS AND TRUSTEES.
Pastors and Preachers.
Deacons.
1810-David Kimpton. (Overseer.)
1812-Thomas Griffith Jones, pastor till 1839; Brother Kimpton, modera- tor.
1819-Thomas Hand, supplied as pas- tor.
1832-Frederick Freeman, Thomas Fisher, Rev. J. B. Swaine.
1839-Charles Morton.
1845-S. B. Page.
Clerks.
1850-E. T. Brown.
1812-John Robison.
1856-T. J. Penny.
1836-William Punches.
1839-Jefferson Alexander.
1862-P. M. Weddell.
1840-Thomas Woodland.
1868-No Pastor.
1842-J. W. McMillan.
1869-G. M. Preston.
1843-Jonathan B. Diebell.
1844-Thomas Woodland.
1847-W. H. Taylor.
1874-Hugh A. Marshall.
1850-Emanuel Schuckers.
1875-J. B. T. Patterson.
1855-Thomas Woodland. 1868-H. D. Durkee.
Trustees-As far as Could be Ascertained.
1816-Philip B. Griffith, Wm. Jewel, Oliver Jores John Lawrence, Wm. C Larwill.
1831-John Smith, Samuel Quinby, Benjamin Bentley.
1835-Hngh Morton, Peter Ambrose, John Smith, T. L. Punches.
1837-Hugh Morton, John Larwill, Alfred G. Glass. 1840-John Larwill, Samuel Quinby, John Ziegler. 1841-John B. Larwill, Jacob M. Eberman, Samuel Quinby. 1875-S. Routson, John Myers, James Taggart. 1876-S. Routson, John Myers, H. B. Swartz.
1839-Thomas Rees.
1840-John Zeigler,
1844-John Croll.
1850-John McCully, J. M. Choate.
1854-Evans Parker, J. B. Trimble, John Myers.
1861-John Bolton.
1871-No pastor.
1873-Alex. McFarlane.
1812-Oliver Jones.
1814-John Robison.
1835-Peter Ambrose, Jonathan Smith.
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First Presbyterian Church.
The appended historical survey of the First Presbyterian church we extract from a Centennial sermon delivered by Rev. T. A. McCurdy, D. D., its eloquent and popular pastor, to a large and in- telligent congregation, July 2, 1876. It is a concise and pictorial presentation of the rise and progress of the church from 1815 to the present time. We greatly regret that our space will not justify the re-production of the entire sermon :
In passing at once to the history of this congregation, I share with you in the general regret that no accurate records of the or- ganization of this church exist. Much uncertainty therefore hangs over the birth-hour of this congregation-an uncertainty that is painful, and yet not without its salutary lessons. It must be remembered that the organization of this church dates back to the hour when all this region round about was peopled with the wild, untutored savage-when this was all a wilderness, whose grim sol- itude was unbroken save by the sound of the pioneer ax responded to by the war-whoop of the treacherous Indian. In the dangers to which the early fathers were exposed, in the hardships to which they were subjected, in their anxiety for the comfort and mainte- nance of themselves and families, they seem to have been content with the privilege of religious worship without giving attention to a minute history of the circumstances incident to such a privilege in "the wild wilderness of pioneer life." Our regret is no reflection on the real or apparent neglect of the first settlers. They entered the wild-wood, following the path of the Red Man, with no security of life other than their trust in the providence of God, to convert the wilderness into a garden, to extend civilization, to make con- quest in God's name for civil and religious liberty ; and wherever they went they took with them the ark of God and worshiped around its sacred shrine. As the wilderness resounded with the woodman's ax, so from the altar of God and from the altar of their hearts, grateful praise and prayer arose to heaven.
It is somewhat remarkable that in nearly all the first settle- ments of Maryland, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, there was an element of Scotch Irish Presbyterianism, and wherever it located it found a place for the worship of God. It is true that this element had a limited representation in the early settlement of this region, but large enough to sow the seed of Presbyterian faith and polity. They had in them the ring of the true metal and blue
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was their color. Their circumstances were such as to lead them to cast all their care on Him who had watched over their fathers in the dark days of the persecution amidst the glens and highlands of Scotland. Their fathers had, in spite of persecution, found places for worship in the rocks and caves of the earth. Their blood shed in defense of the faith had become the seed of living truth, which sprung up to bloom and bear fruit in all lands, and nowhere did it so rapidly 'germinate as in American soil. Among other fruits of righteousness from this goodly seed is the First Presby- terian church of Wooster, Ohio.
The earliest record of this church is found in a book, dingy and yellow with age, quaint in style, and wonderfully humorous in many of its suggestions. Its date is October 30, 1821, and bears this inscription : "Presented to the First Presbyterian Church of Wooster, by Reasin Beall." The first record of the constitution of the church indicates that the organization was anterior to the date of this record. It shows that "the members of the First Presbyterian congregation of the town of Wooster, in the State of Ohio, convened in their congregational capacity on October 30, 1821," for a two-fold purpose: First, to provide ways and means, whereby they might relieve their minister from worldly cares and avocations; and, second, to provide a comfortable house for religi- ous worship. Outside this record we have no information as to the precise date of the organization of this church, but a combina- tion of circumstances point unmistakably to an organization much earlier than 1821. The very first sentence of the first record assures us of this. It expresses the longing of pious hearts for a comfortable house in which to worship God, and an earnest desire to relieve the pastor from worldly cares and avocations, that he might devote the whole of his time to their spiritual necessities, implying, evidently, that hindrances in these regards had obtained in consequence, as we may well suppose, of pecuniary inability to meet these wants at an earlier hour.
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