USA > Ohio > History of the Central Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, 1856-1913 > Part 16
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For nearly fifteen years the faithful men and women of this Church worshiped in the schoolhouse and in the Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches of the town.
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For several years this Church was a part of the Ottawa Circuit, and later was attached to the Gilboa Circuit. In the year 1884, under the pastorate of the Rev. J. S. G. Reeder, the work of erecting a new church building was begun, and in the spring of 1885, under the pas- torate of the Rev. J. R. Rushbridge, the church was dedicated.
The society prospered and grew so rapidly that in ten short years a larger and more commodious building was needed, and in the year 1895 the Rev. A. A. Thomas, one of the suc- cessful church builders in the Con- ference, led the congregation in a new church enterprise, and in 1896 the present beautiful church with a seat- REV. EDWIN L. DAVIS, PASTOR. ing capacity of nearly 1,200 was dedi- cated. The large $3,000 pipe organ in the church was donated by the late John Edwards, a prominent layman in the Conference.
The following ministers served the Church: Jason Young, O. E. Palmer, J. F. Davies, James Long, Jeremiah McCane, Rev. Maltbie, J. C. Miller, R. M. Culvier, W. E. Seuman, Rev. Reeder, J. R.
LEIPSIC CHURCH.
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Rushbridge, George Mathews, A. A. Thomas, George B. Wiltsie, Daniel Carter, W. J. Hagerman, Jacob Baumgardner, and Edwin L. Davis, the present pastor.
Leipsic Church has been represented in the General Conference three different times: once by John Edwards, and twice by Mrs. Florence D. Richards. The Church is known for its benevolent spirit and its large missionary and educational contributions.
MCCLURE.
The McClure Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1884 by the Rev. J. R. Colgan. It was a part of Grand Rapids Circuit until 1900, when the McClure Circuit was formed with Bethel, Grelton, and Sharon as the outlying appointments.
The society at McClure held services at first in the United Breth- ren Church and until 1891, when a Methodist church was built, the Rev. J. C. Sinclair being pastor.
The charter members were: S. H. Philpott, Mr. and Mrs. James Wilcox, Mr. and Mrs. John Love, Mrs. Henry Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Starks, Mrs. Jennie Anthony and Ettie; Mr. and Mrs. R. T. Bower, and John and Lucinda REV. A. C. RAINSBERGER, PASTOR. Clark.
The following brethren served McClurc as a part of Grand Rapids Circuit: J. R. Colgan, Geo. Mathews, J. T. Pope, J. C. Sinclair, E. G. Brumbaugh, S. J. Colgan, and J. A. Lucy.
Since McClure became the head of the circuit, A. J. Bussard, C. H. Parks, E. D. Cooke, W. W. Constein, B. F. Gordon, G. M. McNeely, and A. C. Rainsberger have served the charge.
McCOMB CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Pleasant- ville, now McComb, in 1835, by the Rev. M. Thrap. Benjamin Todd and wife and John S. Kalb and wife composed the mem- bership.
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Until the year 1850 services were held in log cabins and log schoolhouses by traveling missionaries. In the year 1836 the Rev. Gco. Allgire, a local preacher, came into the neighborhood and
served the society. The first Methodist church, a frame building costing $600, was built in Pleasantville (or Mc- Comb) in 1850, and in 1858 the name Pleasantville was changed to McComb.
In 1867 a new site was purchased and on it a brick building was erected at a cost of $5,000, and in 1900 the structure was remodeled at a cost of $6,000.
A new church was erected on the site of the old one, built of brick and stone, 67 x 01 feet, costing $21,000, and dedicated June 14, 1914.
This splendid new church was made possible by the untiring labors of the pastor, Rev. W. J. Green, who is in REV. W. J. GREEN, PASTOR. his twenty-fifth year of serv- iee within the bounds of the Findlay District.
The ministers serving the Church from 1835 to 1860 were: M. Thrap, David Bulle. Harvey Camp, W. S. Lunt, Wesley J. Wells, Samuel Mower, James S. DeLisle, T. H. Wilson, H. S. Bradley, Wm. Deal, P. A. Drown. and others whose names arc unknown ; and from 1860: John Sterling, Geo. W. Money, Henry L. Nickerson. David Gray. I. N. Kalb, John S. Kalb, John Farley, Joseph Good. J. T. Bower. John H. Wilson, Joshna A. Smith, Oscar Palmer, A. C. Barnes, Richard Biggs, W. J. Hodges, T. J. Pope, J. M. Longfellow. G. H. Priddy, I. N. Smith, L. O. Cook, Jesse Carr, John W. Hill. Win. Danlap, Jefferson Williams, John Parlette, C. C. Kennedy. W. H. Scoles, H. J. Keister, B. F. Read- ing, C. G. Smith. E. I .. Davis. J. W. Gibson. Daniel Carter, and W. J. Green.
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The presiding elders and district superintendents have been John Graham. H. S. Bradley, L. C. Webster, W. W. Winter, Alex- ander Harmount. I. R. Henderson, A. C. Barnes. L. A. Belt, J. L. Albritton. W. W. Lance. E. D. Whitlock, and J. H. Fitzwater.
McCOMB CHURCH.
Three members of the Central Ohio Conference have come from the MeComb Church: J. S. Kalb, I. N. Kalb, and M. C. Wisely. McComb, until J. W. Gibson became pastor, was the head of a two- point circuit, Dukes Chapel being the outlying appointment.
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MARYSVILLE CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Marysville in 1827, and was a part of London Circuit, Ohio Conference, with the Rev. Samuel P. Shaw and the Rev. John C. Havens as senior and junior preachers.
The charter members were: George Minturn and wife; Newton Hicks and wife; George Snodgrass and Miss Hannah Fox, a sister of Mrs. Minturn-all who could be found to form a Church organi- zation; and as the preachers required seven members in order to organize, Silas G. Strong, a Presbyterian, loaned his name to make up the number. There was no Presbyterian or other Church in the place at that time.
Afterward Mr. Strong withdrew his name from the Church and assisted in the organization of a Presbyterian Church. The society at first held religious services at the home of George Minturn, who was ap- pointed class leader.
In 1829 Silas G. Strong conveyed lot number 112, on the northwest cor- ner of what is now known as Fourth and Walnut Streets, to Adam Wolford, Hezekiah Bendick, Newton Hicks, Wm. Worley, Samuel Badley, Andrew Amrine, and William Gregg, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the consideration of eight dollars.
In 1837 the first church building REV. JAMES F. OLIVE, PASTOR. of this society was erected on the lot at the cost of $590. This building continued to be the place of worship until the year 1854, at which time a new church edifice was erected on the southeast corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets, and this church continued to be the place of religious services until the erection of the present edifice, which was begun in 1892. On the completion of the auditorium in Decem- ber, 1896, it was dedicated by the Rev. Levi Gilbert, D. D., and on the completion of the entire church in 1900 it was dedicated by the Rev. David H. Moore, D. D., editor of the Western Christian Advocate, now a bishop of the Church.
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Among the notable ministers who have served the Church are James Gilruth, S. M. Merrill (afterward one of the eminent bishops of the Church), L. C. Webster, Henry E. Pilcher. Leonard B. Gurley, N. B. C. Love, Alexander Harmount, Daniel D. Mather.
FIRST CHURCH, MARYSVILLE, OHIO.
Oliver Kennedy, Parker P. Pope, and Wesley G. Waters-three of whom are living: Love, Webster, and Waters.
The present membership of the Church is about six hundred and seventy-five, with five hundred enrolled in the Sunday school. The present pastor is the Rev. James F. Olive. [This sketch was furnished by Judge John M. Broderick .- EDITOR.]
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MARION METHODISM-EPWORTH CHURCH, MARION.
Methodism was first organized in Marion in the year 1826 by Rev. James Gilruth, with a class of twelve members. It had no meeting place except in the homes of the devoted few until 1834, when the first Methodist meeting house was completed. This was a one-story structure, 21 x 36, and was near the entrance to the old cemetery. This served as a place of worship for about ten years. In 1842 Marion was made a station, with Rev. Henry Pilcher as the first station preacher. Owing to the rapid increase in membership this building was inadequate for the accommodation of the people.
In 1845 a larger and more suitable two-story stone building was erected on the northwest corner of North and East Streets, known as the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church of Marion. The Annual Conference met in this church in 1845.
The construction of the Bellefontaine and Indianapolis Railroad rendered this building unsuitable as a place of worship. During the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Kennedy in 1854 there was erected a large two-story brick building on the corner of Center and State Streets. Here for thirty-five years Methodism grew and flourished.
Owing to the growth of the city and building surroundings, the Church in 1889 decided to sell the State Street site and build in a more suitable locality. Under the pastorate of Rev. R. W. Wallace the corner-stone of the present Epworth Church was laid at the southwest corner of Center and Vine Streets. The church was completed at a cost of $50,000. It was dedicated December 27, 1891, by Bishop I. W. Joyce. At that time the Church had a membership of about six hundred. It now has a membership of more than eighteen hundred. It has a Sunday school with an enrollment of more than fifteen hundred. It has helped to establish Wesley and Asbury Churches, both now doing efficient work in building up the interests of Methodism and strengthening the King- dom of God in the growing city of Marion. Throughout all her history Epworth Church has been true to the spirit and genius of Methodism.
The pastors who have served this Church are as follows: A. Lorain, John C. Havens, Erastus Felton, Zephariah Bell, Harvey . Camp, Philip Nation, John W. White, Uriah Heath, John Alexander,
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John Blanpead, John G. Bruce, Jeremiah Hill, Isaac M. Williams, Peter Sharp, Wm. C. Pierce, H. E. Pilcher, George W. Howe, Henry Whiteman, L. B. Gurley, Horatio S. Bradley, John Graham, Joseph F. Kennedy, James A. Kellam, Thomas H. Wilson, Jacob F. Burkholder, Isaac Newton, Thos. H. Parker, Wm. D. Goodman, George Mather, Jacob M. Holmes, William Deal, L. A. Belt, William Jones, I. R. Henderson, L. C. Webster, T. L. Wiltsee, Gershom Lease, Adam C. Barnes, Richard Wallace, John L. Hillman and Daniel Stecker (assistant), Stewart C. Wright, Albert E. Smith, David H. Bailey, C. R. Havighurst, and G. A. Scott, the present pastor.
WESLEY CHURCH, MARION.
Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church of Marion was the out- growth of a revival held in West Marion in 1897 by the Rev. E. S. Dunham. The charter members were: Daniel Nucapher, L. V. Nucapher and wife, T. F. Spragg and wife, O. A. Parr and wife, Mrs. O. J. Elliott, Mrs. Schroth, James Osborn and wife, Robt. Branson, Charles Windfield and wife and Edith and Walter (their daughter and son). The church building was dedicated in 1901, the Rev. J. W. Donnan, pastor.
H. C. Burger, Mrs. Koil, E. H. Snow, C. E. Rowley, H. V. MeCleary, and D. N. Kelly have been the other pastors.
MAUMEE CHURCH.
Methodism was introduced into Maumee (formerly called Maumee City, later South Toledo) at a very early date.
The first definite record is found in a statement made in a letter from the Rev. Elijah H. Pilcher, dated September 9, 1875, at Detroit, Mich., in which he states that he was appointed on the Monroe Circuit in 1832, with Elnathan C. Gavitt as his associate. There had been preaching at intervals by Methodist itinerants for some years prior to his coming to Maumee, but he organized the Maumee society January 21, 1833, in the home of Mr. James Jackson, who had been appointed Indian Agent by General Jackson.
The members of the first class were: Mr. Gibbs (of Perrys- burg), Mary Sophia Hunt, Hannah Sophia Hedges, James Jack- son, and Anna Maria Jackson.
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Later, on the 12th of May, 1833, he received the following persons by letter: Samuel Chadwick, Catherine Chadwick, Lewis Sifford, James Brooks, James Lafferty; and on trial: Rebecca Knight, Chloe Gibbs, Lucy Whittum. Sarah Dolson, Louisa Nutt, Sally Gunn, Lucy Blinn, Catherine Spafford, Julia Charter, Ipsa Dolson, John Runnels, and Charles P. Hunt.
MAUMEE CHURCH. (Built in 1837.)
The church edifice was erected in 1837, during the pastorate of the Rev. Orin Mitchell. Prior to this time the services were held in the schoolhouse.
George W. Reynolds, who will be recalled by many citizens of Toledo, moved to Maumce in 1841, and at once became an active member of the Church and soon was appointed recording steward. During the year of his membership in the Church he bore the greater part of its financial burdens, often paying hundreds of dollars a year to the various eauses of the Church.
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Dr. Pilcher is the authority for the following list of presiding elders and preachers whose labors covered the territory about Maumee City and a good part of the Maumee Valley in the early days, down to 1840. This list is of such historic importance that we give it in full, with the dates:
1820-Ohio Conference. Lebanon District, James B. Finley, pre- siding elder; Detroit Circuit, John P. Kent.
1821-Lebanon District, John Strange, presiding elder; Platt B. Morey preacher on Detroit Circuit, but died, and John P. Kent filled out the term.
1822-Lebanon District, James B. Finley, presiding elder; Detroit Circuit, Alfred Brunson and Samuel Baker.
1823-Miami District, John Strange, presiding elder; Detroit Cir- cuit, Elias Patte and Billings O. Plympton.
1824-Sandusky District, James B. Finley, presiding elder ; Detroit Circuit, Elias Patte and Isaac C. Hunter.
1825-Detroit District, William Simmons, presiding elder ; Detroit Circuit, John A. Baughman and Solomon Manier.
1826-Detroit District, Zerah H. Coston, presiding elder ; Monroe Circuit, John A. Baughman.
1827-District and presiding elder the same; Monroe Circuit; George W. Walker and James Armstrong.
1828-District and presiding elder the same; Monroe Circuit, George W. Walker.
1829-Detroit District, Curtis Goddard, presiding elder; (name of district and elder same for three years) ; Monroe Circuit, Jacob Hill.
1830-31-James B. Finley.
1832-Detroit District, James Gilruth, presiding elder; Monroe Circuit, Elijah H. Pilcher, Elnathan C. Gavitt.
1833-Detroit District, James Gilruth, presiding elder; Monroc Circuit, E. H. Pilcher and William Sprague.
1834-Maumee District, Leonard B. Gurley, presiding elder ; Mon- roe Circuit, William Sprague and S. F. Southard.
1835-District and presiding elder same. Perrysburg Circuit, Wm. Sprague.
1836-Michigan Conference organized. Maumee District, John Janes, presiding elder; Maumee and Perrysburg Circuit, Cyrus Brooks.
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1837-District and elder the same; Maumee and Perrysburg Cir- cuit, Orin Mitchell and David Burns.
1838-District and elder the same; Maumee and Perrysburg Cir- cuit, James A. Kellam.
1839-District and elder the same; Maumee Station, Oliver Bur- gess.
1840-North Ohio Conference organized. Maumee District, Wes- ley Brock, presiding clder; Maumee Station, Jonathan E. Chaplin.
1842-From this time on the pastors were as follows: Ebenezer R. Hill, Horatio S. Bradley, Wesley J. Wells, George W. Howe, Edward R. Jewett, William S. Lunt, Thomas J. Pope, Uri Richards, Thomas J. Pope, Ralph Wilcox, Edmund B. Morrison, William S. Lunt, Ambrose Hollington, Wesley G. Waters, Lewis J. Dales, Jacob F. Burkholder, Benjamin Herbert, Samuel Lynch, Russel B. Pope, Parker P. Pope, Thomas N. Barkdull, H. J. Bigley, Franklin Marriott, W. W. Winter, Theo. W. Brake, Abram Hopkins, Frederick Miller, William V. Marsh, M. A. Casey, C. B. Cannon, B. N. Boardman, O. D. Wagner, J. W. Donnan, W. H. Smith, A. Hopkins, J. C. Crider, R. E. Carter, C. W. Collinge, R. W. Wallace, C. S. Barron, Frank Hook, E. L. Motter, J. W. Reynolds, E. D. Smith, and E. D. Cooke.
New life is coming to this old, historic Church. Within the last year the membership has been more than doubled and a real live evangelistic spirit pervades the regular services. Rossford Church, on the east side of the river at the city limits of Toledo, is con- nected with Maumee, and is equally progressive and prosperous under the present pastorate of Rev. E. D. Cooke, who is a grandson of the Rev. James B. Finley.
ROSSFORD CHURCH.
During the year 1899 Mr. Edward Ford built the large plate glass works of the Edward Ford Plate Glass Co., on the southeast bank of the beautiful Maumee River, in Ross Township of Wood County, just outside the city limits of Toledo, and named the village Rossford. This great enterprise required hundreds of men in its operation. Mr. Ford built about fifty cottages and a public
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school building of four schoolrooms. Other business and residence buildings were built by individuals who foresaw in the near future the industrial and business importance of this place.
Leaders in Church extension were also alive to the opportunities in prospect at this new suburb of Toledo. The Maumee . Valley Electric Railway has been in successful operation since August, 1894.
October 28, 1894, Dr. J. M. Avann, presiding elder of Toledo District, called on the people of the settlement and made appoint- ments for a Sunday school and preaching service to be held the next day, beginning at 10 A. M. Dr. Avann on Sunday, October 28th, conducted the first session of the Sunday school and preach- ing service held in Rossford.
Dr. Avann was only a little in advance, for at 2 P. M. of the same day the wide-awake Rev. McLain and five teachers came over from the Central Christian Church in Toledo and conducted a Sunday school service. The Christian Missionary Society continued their work for two years and built a handsome little church, which was bought in 1902 by the Methodist society, Captain T. B. Ford, of Ford City, Pa., contributing $1,000. Mr. Edward Ford also rendered valuable aid at this time. The enterprising members of the Episcopal Church, the United Brethren, and the English Lutheran also made efforts at organization. Finally the field was left in charge of the Methodists, members of other denominations joining them in earnest Christian endeavor in the work of the Kingdom.
Rev. John R. Colgan was appointed preacher in charge, who, with his wife and daughter Lewella, became teachers in the Sabbath school. B. D. Kauffman was appointed superintendent of the Sunday school and served faithfully six months, when E. M. Warner took charge, and his daughter, Miss Jennie Warner, a member of Mrs. Dr. McVeety's class of St. Paul's Methodist Epis- copal Church, Toledo, became chorister, teacher, and leader among the young people in Sunday school and Church work.
The original members of the Church were: Esther Pepper, Precilla Pepper, Precilla Cooper, Thomas Pierpoint, Wm. Simms and wife, Elida King, Laura C. Venable, Pheba Gray, Edna John- son, Laura J. Johnson, Louise Zurney, Ida Zurney, Charles Kier, Sarah Kier, Adele Westfall, Edward H. Martin and wife, George
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Smithers and wife, Frank Martin, E. M. Warner and wife, Mar- garet Warner.
The following pastors have served this Church: John R. Col- gan, C. S. Barron. R. C. Woodruff, Jesse Carr, B. L. Rowand, N. S. Brackney. C. W. Taneyhill, J. W. Reynolds, E. D. Smith, and E. D. Cooke. the present (1914) faithful and efficient pastor.
[Mr. E. M. Warner, who furnished the history of Rossford Church, is a son of the pioneer preacher, Rev. Henry Warner .- EDITOR.]
MENDON CHARGE.
The Mendon Charge now consists of Mendon, Bethel, and Wesley. Methodism was planted in this vicinity in an early day, sometime between 1830 and 1835.
REV. JOHN B. GOTTSCHALL, PASTOR.
The following are some of the names of the first Meth- odist preachers in this com- munity: Pryor, Raper, Finley, Alexander, Gurley, Conway, Hudson, Armstrong, Beatty, Shone, Brock, Lease, Wykes, Wilcox, Boggs, Murlin, Drown, Mounts, Carr, Clemons, Her- bert, Crooks, Lemasters, Wood- ruff, Markwith, Strong, and others.
A loyal, earnest Methodist constituency has been reared here as a result of the labors of these faithful and efficient ministers.
The Rev. J. B. Gottschall, the present pastor, is serving in his seventh year on this charge.
METAMORA.
Some time in the year 1854 a Methodist society was organized here and began to worship in a house one mile east of Metamora.
The circuit was composed of Sylvania, Richfield, Center, Meta- mora, Tiney, and the Red Schoolhouse, near Lyons; John R. Colgan and Henry Boyers served the charge, one living at Sylvania
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and the other at Swanton. Reuben Treadway and wife, Simon Ford and wife, Hiram Parker and wife, Mrs. Winchell, Mr. Kellogg and wife composed the original membership.
The first church building was erected in 1866. The present church was built at a cost of $4,000 in 1895.
There is a very comfortable parsonage. The circuit consists of Metamora, Tiney, and Santee. Rev. Gilbert A. Edmunds is the present (1914) pastor.
MONTPELIER CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Montpelier was organized in 1839 in the log cabin of Wm. Hoskinson, two miles east of the town, when Revs. James Stanley and J. H. Frees were pastors.
The charter members were: Wm. Hoskinson and wife and their daughter Parmelia, Henry Ferguson and wife and their daughters Mary and Jane. In 1850 the schoolhouse in Montpelier became the preaching place.
The first church, costing $2,000, was built during the Rev. Wmn. Coulter's pastorate in 1870-71. The present edifice, called St. Paul, was built under the supervision of the Rev. M. C. Howey and dedicated in 1892.
When the Rev. E. E. McCammon was pastor the commodions parsonage was built, and improvements in the way of a bath-room were made under the pastorate of the Rev. L. H. Gressley.
Montpelier was at first an appointment on the Bryan Circuit, which included all of Williams and part of Defiance Counties. Later Pioneer became the head of the circuit. In 1879 Montpelier became a station, with Eagle Creek attached.
The following is a list of the ministers of the charge, many of them serving two at a time: James Stanley, J. H. Frees, Zara Norton, Drice Hatch, S. H. Alderman, John L. Ferris, Chester Coleman, W. W. Winter, Samuel Morrison, Samuel Boggs, F. W. Wilson, Alanson Foster, W. K. Barnes, John Burgess, Samuel Fair- child, Henry Chapman, A. H. Walters, Benj. Herbert, S. B. Cutler, David Ocker, John A. Shannon, Thomas Parker, Jason Wilcox, Jacob Albright, Solomon Lindsey, J. W. Thompson, Henry Warner, Henry L. Nickerson, J. H. Beardsley, Wm. Thatcher, J. W. Miller, John Poucher, Henry Boyers, Jason Wilcox, G. W. Money, W. H. Taylor, John Boyer, Jabez Shaffer, H. Van Geeny, Chas. Hoag,
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A. C. Barnes, Henry Plant. F. P. Olds, E. H. Cammon, Wm. Coulter, B. B. Powell, E. S. Dunham, J. W. Hill, Jonathan Zook, M. D. Scott, C. S. Barron. H. J. Keister, Mortimer Gascoigne, Jefferson Williams. E. E. McCammon, R. D. Hollington, J. H. Priddy, Oramel Shreeves. P. B. Cuppett, L. H. Gressley, and J. C. Shaw.
St. Paul Church is a flourishing Methodist society in a rapidly growing town with a population of over 3,000.
MT. BLANCHARD CHARGE.
Mt. Blanchard Charge is composed of two preaching places, Mt. Blanchard and Houktown, a village four miles northwest.
The society of Mt. Blanchard is one of the oldest in Hancock County, and the first to be organized in Blanchard Township.
The class was organized in a log cabin, the home of Wm. J. Greer, in 1828 by Revs. Elnathan C. Gavitt and Thomas Thompson, at that time preaching to the Indians at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. The log cabin in which the class was formed is the possession of Mr. M. C. Greer, the grandson of Wm. J. Greer, and is occupied by his great-grandson, Harry J. Greer. Here and at the home of a Mr. Lake religious serv- ices were held until the erec- tion of a log schoolhouse in the fall of 1833, which was the meeting place of the society until 1838, when a frame church was built, the first in the village, begun under the pastorate of the Rev. Jason Wilcox and com- REV. LAVERDE B. SMITH, PASTOR. pleted during the pastorate of the Rev. James DeLisle.
Three buildings have been occupied by the society, all of which are still standing. The present edifice was begun in 1904, during
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the pastorate of the Rev. E. T. Dailey, and completed during the pastorate of the Rev. Samuel Given the following year. It is a beautiful brick structure with an auditorium of five hundred sittings, Sunday school and class rooms, basement with kitchen, assembly and dining rooms, furnace and coal rooms, and is provided through- out with electric liglits.
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