USA > Ohio > History of the Central Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, 1856-1913 > Part 19
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The presiding elders and district superintendents from 1839 to 1913 were: William Runnels, Hiram MI. Shaffer, E. Raymond, Thomas Barkdull, Samuel Lynch, Wesley J. Wells, J. M. Holmes, Elnathan C. Gavitt, Simeon H. Alderman, D. D. Mathews, David Rutledge, Isaac Newton, Leroy A. Belt, Loring C. Webster, Adam C. Barnes, Lewis M. Albright, J. M. Avann, Leroy A. Belt, James H. Fitzwater, William McK. Brackney, and Benjamin F. Reading.
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FIRST CHURCH. VAN WERT.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Van Wert was or- ganized by the Rev. Oliver Kennedy in 1839. It was a part of the Van Wert Circuit. which covered the territory of Van Wert
FIRST CHURCH, VAN WERT.
County and a part of Mercer County. The first Methodist Sunday school in Van Wert was started in 1844.
The first church building was erected in 1845. In 1855 Van Wert was made a station, but in 1858 Van Wert and Delphos were united and served by two ministers. In 1864 Van Wert was again made a station.
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During the second pastorate of Rev. Oliver Kennedy, in 1876, the first steps were taken looking to the erection of the present church. The corner-stone was laid during the pastorate of the Rev. Wm. Jones. The men who made the church possible were J. M. C. Marble, J. S. Brumback, and Dr. A. N. Krout. The church was built at a cost of about $30,000 during the pastorate of Rev. I. R. Henderson.
The last survivor of the original membership of the Church was W. A. Clark, who died in 1912.
Mrs. A. N. Krout, the widow of Dr. Krout, died in 1902, leaving the bulk of her estate, amounting to $12,000, to the trustees of the First Church. To this sum was added $9,000 by the membership of the Church and the $21,000 was expended in completing an ad- dition to the church for Sunday school purposes and to make the whole church plant up-to-date and modern in every way.
The present church property almost covers two city lots, 66 x 132 feet each, and could not be built at present for less than about $75,000. The present plant with its improvements was completed in the summer of 1908, during the pastorate of the Rev. M. M. Figley, and was used that fall as the meeting place of the Central Ohio Conference.
The First Church has at present a handsome, well-equipped parsonage worth $6,500 and a Church membership of about 1,400 and is practically out of debt. The Church is in a very prosperous condition under the leadership of its present pastor, the Rev. Jesse Swank.
VERSAILLES CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Versailles in 1847 by the Rev. James Barr, who was the first Protestant min- ister to preach in a Catholic pulpit in Versailles and, it is suspected, the last.
The services at first were held in a log church. In 1852 Revs. Henry Burns and N. B. C. Love preached here.
In 1858 a frame building was erected on the site of the present church by the Rev. H. O. Sheldon.
In 1883 the present brick church was built under the pastorate of the Rev. M. M. Markwith, and was dedicated by the Rev. A. B. Leonard, D. D., of the Cincinnati Conference.
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The charge consists at present of Versailles, Webster, Dawn, and Horatio. Versailles Church has been from the time of its organization the head of a circuit.
The names of the following persons are prominently identified with the Church: Henry Burns, John Miller, Wm. Relleck, James Medford, Jacob Miller, Geo. Hollis, Godfrey Leatherman and wife, Geo. Turpin, Elizabeth Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Stoker, John S. Wade, the Rev. Henry Burns.
The following ministers have served the circuit: James Barr, John Graham, Philip Roseberry, the Rev. Mr. Hudson, Moses B. Hebbard, Wm. Peck, A. J. Frisbie, Henry Burns, N. B. C. Love, H. O. Sheldon, John T. Bower, Samuel Boggs, Henry Boyers, John S. Kalb, Jason Young, E. C. Longsworth, John L. Bates, John C. Miller, J. A. Smith, Martin Perkey, Chas. Farnsworth, H. S. Bradley, R. D. Oldfield, John Ormerod, Valentine Staley, B. B. Powell, Geo. Matthews, M. M. Markwith, B. W. Day, J. F. Harsh- barger, C. S. Barron, J. A. Lucy, H. B. Swartz, W. S. Culp, C. F. Gowdy, M. J. Swearingen, C. M. Baker, Samuel Given, R. J. Beard, E. D. Keyes, Robert Kennedy, S. W. Scott, and E. T. Dailey.
WAPAKONETA CHURCH.
. Soon after the town of Wapakoneta was settled the Methodists organized a class and in 1834 erected a church.
For two or three years, commencing with the year 1837, this building was used largely for school purposes and as a courthouse, and at the same time as a house of worship by the Methodists and other denominations.
The persons composing the membership of the Church were: James Elliott and family, Robert Mccullough and wife, James Melrior and wife, Abraham Alspaugh and wife, Martin Bair, and Mr. Gray.
The first church erected was a frame building on Mechanic Street, on a lot donated by Mr. Perriue, of Dayton, Ohio.
There was not much growth in the Church until the year 1861, when, under the pastorate of the Rev. L. A. Belt, a revival not only greatly strengthened the membership but led to the erection of a new church at a cost of $1,700.
At first this society was associated with Celina, Shane's Cross- ing, Willshire, St. Marys, and Ft. Amanda. The following min-
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isters served the Church from 1833 to 1838: John Alexander, Philip Wareham, missionary, and L. Guerney, presiding elder ; John O. Conoway; Isaac Bennett and John Stanley, missionaries, and Mr. Janes, presiding elder; and then George Armstrong, mis- sionary, and Elmer Yocum, presiding elder.
At that date the society was a mission and included fifteen classes : Van Wert, Willshire, Strauesville, Mercer, Mendon, Har- pus, Bethel, Eight Mile, Sugar Ridge, Tomlinson, Spriggs, Buck Creek, Guilford, St. Marys, and Wapakoneta.
In 1839 St. Marys, Ft. Amanda, and Wapakoneta were trans- ferred to tlic Michigan Conference, and Martin Welsh and Liberty Prentice were the missionaries and Elmer Yocum was presiding elder.
The following missionaries were the pastors of Wapakoneta from 1840 to 1853: N. B. Wambaugh, W. A. Bacon, Edward Wil- liams and James McNabb, Samuel Beatty and Amos Wilson, Alex- ander Harmount and C. A. Owens, John R. Jewett and James McBarr, C. B. Brandebury and Elisha Hook, Samuel Yourtee, Jacob S. Albright, Wm. Hadsen and R. D. Oldfield.
About the ycar 1852-53 the ministers appointed to the charge were members of the Conference and were J. F. Burkholder, Ger- shom Lease, Nathan S. Moires, Patrick G. Goode, Harrison Maltbie, F. P. Darling, Richard Lawrence, L. C. Webster, D. D. S. Reagh, - L. A. Belt, Adam C. Barnes, I. N. Kalb, C. H. Zimmerman, B. F. Crozier, under whom a fine revival was had and the membership considerably increased. In 1870 David J. Whiting was pastor, then B. J. Hoadley, Jesse Carr, Wesley S. Ray, Ira M. Jameson, Mr. Scott, W. J. Hunter, R. R. Bryan, L. H. Lindsey, M. M. Figley. In 1885 the membership numbered eighty, J. H. Cater, pastor ; D. F. Helms, D. R. Cook, W. H. Leatherman, Chas. W. Taneyhill, J. C. Roberts, during whose pastorate a new brick church was built and the membership increased. E. S. Keller followed J. C. Roberts, and while he was pastor a pipe organ was installed and the par- sonage remodeled. E. A. Strother is the present pastor and the membership of the Church is 395, and of the Sunday school, 450.
WAUSEON CHURCH.
When the first settlers came to the vicinity of what is now Wauseon they brought their religion along with them. Among
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them, from 1837 on, were Methodists. Rev. Charles Babcock, of Waterville Circuit, coming in 1838, was the first preacher. Their numbers increased as the years passed, the services being held at first in the log cabins and then, when more room was needed, in the log schoolhouses and barns of the farmers. Many were the showers of grace rejoiced in by these simple-hearted people as they worshiped the God of their fathers under these circumstances, when all were common people living in the country, there being no village nearer than seven or eight miles.
Doubtless the first Methodist preacher in that vicinity was Rev. Uriah Spencer, who settled a few miles east of Wauseon in 1835 or 1836. He had to give up the regular ministry on account of throat trouble and came here and settled in the woods and preached occasionally. About 1840 he was elected auditor of Lucas County, which included all this territory then.
The pastors who have served the Church here since 1838 are as follows: Charles Babcock, Alexander Campbell, Liberty Pren- tiss, J. W. Brakefield, Hatch and Thomas, Wm. Thatcher and Mower, Octavius Waters, J. M. Wilcox and Henry Warner, John Crabbs and Thompson, Ambrose Hollington and John Fraunfelter, Martin Perkey, W. W. Winters and D. D. S. Reagh, A. B. Poe and P. Slevin.
In 1860 a parsonage was built in Wauseon and it became a station. The station preachers at Wauseon have been as follows: Lewis J. Dales, F. L. Harper, P. R. Hender- son, A. M. Corey, Benjamin Her- bert, J. R. Colgan, C. G. Ferris, E. A. Berry, N. B. C. Love, John REV. CHARLES W. HOFFMAN, PASTOR. Wilson, G. H. Priddy, E. S. Dun- ham, J. D. Simms, J. H. Fitzwater, J. W. Donnan, D. F. Helms, A. B. Leonard, M. D. Baumgardner, W. E. Hill. William McK. Brackney, F. E. Higbie, W. W. Lance, Daniel Carter, and C. W. Hoffman. There were many gracious revivals during these years, the most noted of which were in the winter of 1857-58, by W. W. Winters; 1886-87, by J. H. Fitzwater;
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1889-90, by J. W. Donnan, and the spring of 1912, the splendid Honeywell Tabernacle meeting, which greatly strengthened the Church.
Among the earlier officials of the Church were these: James Pease, John Linfoot, Wm. Mikesell, Wm. Bayes, Thomas Bayes, and, after 1865, Daniel Ritzenthaler. Brother Ritzenthaler has
WAUSEON CHURCH.
been on the Official Board during the last forty years or more and is still (1914) living.
The first church building in Wauseon was the Methodist, and was started in 1855, when the town was one year old, and fin- ished and dedicated in 1857 by Rev. Thomas Barkdull, a presiding elder of the early days. This was a frame building and cost about $1,300, and served the congregation till 1874, when the present two-story brick building was begun. This was to cost $15,000, but cost $20,000 or more. The building was finished and dedicated in August or September, 1875. It was repaired and added to in 1913 at a cost of nearly $3,500.
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History of the Central Ohio Conference.
A parsonage was built in 1860, on the same lot with the church, and was used till 1874, when it was sold and the new church placed on part of the same ground it had occupied. Then till 1903 there was no residence for the pastors. In 1903 a house and lot were bought for $2,000. and this has been used ever since as a parsonage.
During the pastorate of the Rev. C. W. Hoffman, the present pastor, the Sunday school has nearly doubled in size, the Epworth League greatly increased in size, and 225 new members have been added to the Church, and material improvements made to the extent of nearly $4,000 and the pastor's salary has been increased $200. This makes Wauseon a fine, strong county-seat Church.
WATERVILLE CHURCH.
The location of Waterville gave it the advantages and facilities of water power, which was used at an early day for mill purposes. The families settling in and about the village were intelligent, and some of them well-to-do. The scenery above and below the town is picturesque. The foot of the rapids is at Maumee and Fort Meigs, and the head at Grand Rapids, a village eighteen miles above Maumee.
In 1834 a Methodist class was formed, Elam Day being pastor, and the persons composing it were: Jane Adams, Thomas Gleason and wife, Harriet Farnsworth, Hannah Cross, John Hoag, Elisha Hanson, Sarah Bailey, Whitcomb Haskins, John Pray and wife, and a little later Catherine Showwater and husband. The Quarterly Conference records from 1836 to 1848 state that the Waterville Circuit was large, including most of the territory, excepting Perrysburg, in the Maumee Valley and embracing appointments in Wood, Lucas, Henry, and Fulton Counties. REV. CHARLES W. JAMESON, PASTOR. It was a large and representative circuit, and out of it were formed many other circuits since 1840.
The Maumee Society was formed about the same time, and for many years it was associated with Waterville Circuit.
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History of Churches-Alphabetically Arranged.
The records of this circuit were secured by Dr. Love from the Rev. John A. Shannon, a preacher in the Maumee Valley at an early day, to whom they were intrusted for safekeeping and to be finally placed with some Methodist historical society.
The records were in the handwriting of D. Ramsay, the record- ing steward of the circuit, and were designated as the "Records of Waterville Mission, Maumee District, Michigan Conference."
The original minutes are in the handwriting of the Rev. John Janes, presiding elder, with the name of Wesley Shortis signed as secretary.
The presiding elder, John Janes; Alanson Fleming and Wesley Shortis, missionaries, and John Stewart, a steward, were all the persons present at the third Quarterly Conference.
At the fourth Quarterly Conference in 1837, of the nineteen official members on the circuit there were present Urial Spencer, local preacher; Leonard Pierce and Henry Warner, exhorters; Lewis Ramsey, steward; John Wood and Thomas Gleason, class leaders, whose characters were passed, and the licenses of Thomas Pray and Henry Warner were renewed.
The presiding elder was given a missionary appropriation of $50, and Fleming and Shortis $25 each; Janes received as quarter- age for the year $29, and $7 for traveling expenses; Fleming re- ceived as quarterage $88, traveling expenses, $13-together, $101; * Shortis fared a little better, his allowance exceeding this by a few dollars; and at that time this was the best paying circuit in the Maumee District.
Early the next year Wesley Shortis sickened and died and was buried near Springfield, a small village a mile from Holland. His death caused widespread sorrow throughout the circuit and called forth resolutions expressing deep sympathy with the mission, but failing to say anything about his relatives.
At a quarterly meeting in the year 1838 Henry Warner was licensed to preach. He was for many years a member of the Cen- tral Ohio Conference and for twenty years a resident of Perrys- burg, where he died and was buried.
The first Quarterly Conference of 1838 a course of study for local preachers was adopted comprising English grammar, rhetoric, history, geography, arithmetic, and general ecclesiastical history.
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History of the Central Ohio Conference.
(There seems to have been but little if any immediate necessity for arithmetic, since there was not much to count up.)
The fourth quarterly meeting was held in the barn of Elisha Trobridge, near Delta, and the one following in a schoolhouse near Samuel Barrett's in the neighborhood not far from Waterville.
Up to the last of the year 1840 there was no church building or parsonage at Waterville, and no Sunday school on the circuit under the control of the Methodist Church, but soon thereafter a church and parsonage were built. The church was begun in 1841 and finished in 1844 or 1845.
In 1884 the total receipts for ministerial support were a little over $30, the presiding elder, the Rev. J. A. Kellam, receiving $7.50, and the pastor, the Rev. H. K. Bain, $25.
In 1846 the treasury was as lean as ever. The Rev. Thomas Barkdull was presiding elder; Wm. Thatcher, senior, and Samuel Mower, junior preacher. Strange as it sounds, the Church at Waterville, having an indebtedness of $460, decided to rent the pews in order to pay it off.
Out of this old Waterville Circuit has grown prosperous stations and circuits in Wood, Fulton, Lucas, and Henry Counties.
Within the winter of 1912-13 Waterville, under a great re- ligious awakening, received over one hundred persons into the Church, and as one of the lasting results the society is erecting a new church edifice, to cost between $15,000 and $20,000.
WHITE HOUSE CHURCH.
The society at White House was formed March 8, 1866, by the Rev. Benjamin Herbert, in compliance with the request of a number of the members and other friends living at White House.
This society is attached to the Waterville Charge. A new lot was purchased in 1913. The church was moved to the new lot and remodeled in 1914, giving a basement and an addition for Sunday school purposes. Rev. Charles W. Jameson is the present pastor.
WEST MANSFIELD CHURCH.
The West Mansfield society was organized about the year 1830 with the following members and perhaps others: Benjamin Lane and wife, John McDonald and wife, Abraham Branson and wife,
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Isaac Mattox and wife, Alva Chase and wife, Joseph Hanes and wife, James R. and Louisa Curl, and Incease Southard, a famous singer at camp-meetings and revival services. Benjamin Lane was a local preacher, and John McDonald was the first class leader.
Soon after the class was organized the first house of worship was erected one-half mile south of West Mansfield, on the farm which was then owned by Benjamin Lane, but now known as the Dr. J. R. Skidmore farm. This first REV. CLARE B. HEISTAND, PASTOR. church was called Lane Chapel. It was of primitive style and was built of hewed logs. In 1853 Nation Chapel, or the Old Brick Church, was built near the cemetery, one mile east of West Mansfield. This house was forty feet long and thirty feet wide. Philip Nation, the pastor, who superintended the building, dedicated it to the worship of God. In a few years this building was considered unsafe. In the winter of 1866-67 it was condemned. At that time an excellent revival was in progress with Rev. Dean and Rev. Edward McHugh in charge. The services were transferred to the United Brethren Church, West Mansfield,
- where the revival continued. It was thought best to rebuild in West Mansfield. The present site on which this new building is erected was purchased by the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the Frederick Keller heirs. In 1867 a new and com- modious frame building was begun. In 1868 it was completed and dedicated by Bishop Davis W. Clark; Rev. Dean and Rev. Edward McHugh were still the pastors in charge.
In 1886, during the pastorate of the Rev. J. C. Bolton, this structure was remodeled and enlarged at the expense of $1,500. The reopening services were conducted by Dr. C. H. Payne, presi- dent of the Ohio Wesleyan University. During April and May 1912, this frame building was razed to the ground preparatory to the construction of the beautiful and commodious brick structure, the corner-stone of which was laid June 6, 1912.
In its carly history West Mansfield was a part of the North Lewisburg Circuit, Urbana District, Cincinnati Conference.
18
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History of the Central Ohio Conference.
In the fall of 1870 the East Liberty Circuit was formed and consisted of East Liberty, Mt. Moriah. The Annual Conference made an allowance of $100 for pastoral support.
The names of the pastors since 1861 are: W. N. Williams, D. H. Sargeant, Wm. B. Jackson, T. E. Fidler, Wesley Webster, Jonathan Verity. J. C. Dean, Edward McHugh, H. M. Curry, John Shinn, C. J. Evans, J. F. Hull, E. P. James, W. H. H. Smith, W. B. Jackson, C. J. Wells, S. W. Carey, J. R. Hunter, J. C. Bolton.
In the fall of 1886 East Liberty Circuit was transferred from Springfield District, Cincinnati Conference, to Delaware District, Central Ohio Conference.
Ashford Hall was pastor in 1887-88; B. B. Powell in 1888-90; W. M. Craig in 1890-91; Jacob Baumgardner in 1891-94, and C. S. Barron in 1894-96.
During the pastorate of Brother Barron, East Liberty Charge was divided and West Mansfield and North Greenfield became a charge. A parsonage was built in 1895. October 30, 1910, West Mansfield was made a station, North Greenfield being placed with East Liberty.
February 18, 1912, subscriptions for a new church had reached $12,000 and in the same month the contract was let to Mr. L. E. Woodworth, Bellevue, Ohio, to erect a large and commodious edifice. June 6, 1912, the corner-stone of the new church was laid by the Rev. Wm. McK. Brackney, D. D., superintendent of Delaware District. The church was built at a cost of $18,000, and on April 13, 1913, it was dedicated by the Rev. W. D. Parr, D. D., of Kokomo, Ind., assisted by the Rev. B. F. Reading, D. D., district superintendent of the Delaware District.
Since the year 1896 Chas. Bennett, M. D. Scott, Chas. W. Hoffman, D. C. Yoder, J. J. Richards, G. C. Mosher, and C. B. Heistand have been the pastors.
WESTON CHURCH.
The first regular services conducted by Methodist ministers in Weston were held in 1861. In that year Rev. John Shannon, as senior, and Rev. Thomas N. Barkdull, as junior pastor, were sent to what was then called Bowling Green and Gilead (now Grand Rapids) Circuit. They added Weston and Tontogany and some
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other places to the list of appointments. They held meetings in Weston for some six weeks. The following persons were converted in those meetings: Matilda and Mrs. Hannah Clark, Emmeline and Anna Clark, Mrs. Margaret Taylor, Martha and Harriet M. Taylor, Marie Thompson, Marie Healy, Byron B. Baldwin, Edward Baldwin, George Smith, and Miles Montross.
Three of these four men converted at this time lost their lives soon afterward in the Civil War. Edward Baldwin was the only male member of the Church left in Weston. He was class leader and steward and had to look after all the interests of the Church. REV. E. L. MOTTER, PASTOR. He carried wood, built fires, rang the bell in the little schoolhouse where the congregation worshiped. He and a few good women kept up the prayer-meetings on Thursday nights for nearly two years.
During the pastorate of Rev. George Mather the following per- sons were added to the Church: John Stage, Cynthia Stage, Mary Osterhout, Mr. and Mrs. Woodesy, Amy Filo, H. R. Atkins, Eliza- beth Atkins, J. E. Clark, Thomas Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, Mary Morehouse, and Nancy Phenix.
About this time a Rev. Mr. Baldwin, of the Presbyterian Church, came to Weston and organized a society. The Presbyterians and Methodists together built a little wood church by the help of the Presbyterian Church Extension Society, which furnished $300, and this gave the Presbyterians the ownership of the building. Both societies used the church together in perfect harmony until 1870, when the Methodists went to themselves, moving into the first Methodist church in Weston during the pastorate of Rev. John Graham.
The next pastor was Rev. Adam C. Barnes, who served the Church three years very successfully. He was followed by Rev. Peter Biggs, who was very successful in winning converts, receiving seventy-two heads of families into the Church, besides many young people.
The present beautiful brick church was begun under the pas- torate of Rev. Jacob. Baumgardner, who solicited the larger part
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History of the Central Ohio Conference.
of the money for the building. He was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Shaw, during whose pastorate the church was finished in 1896.
The Church has been served by the following faithful pastors: Thomas N. Barkdull, John Shannon, George Mather, John Farley, John Graham, A. C. Barnes, Peter Biggs, Young, Spencer, Duvall, Bates, Farris, Long, Ballmer, Jacob Baumgardner, J. C. Shaw, Miller, Lounsberry, George Matthews, W. N. Shank, D. C. Yoder, and E. L. Motter, who is the present pastor.
This Church is now a very strong, vigorous organization with
WESTON CHURCH.
a large and growing Sunday school and congregation. During the last year Rev. Motter has received nearly one hundred members into the Church.
A movement is now on for the building of a new parsonage, which will make this a very complete church plant.
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WILLIAM STREET CHURCH, DELAWARE.
William Street Methodist Episcopal Church was the first of this denomination organized in the city.
Methodism in Delaware is the outgrowth of more than eight decades. It was planted in the providence of God sometime in the year 1819 by the Rev. Jacob Hooper, of Hocking Circuit, Scioto District, Ohio Conference. The way had been opened for him by the earnest prayers and the good words of a few godly persons who had emigrated to Delaware County at an early date in the history of Ohio.
From data as reliable as can be obtained we learn that a class of seventeen members was organized in that year, composed of the fol- lowing persons: Abraham Williams and wife. James Osborne and wife, John G. DeWitt and wife, Thomas Gallihen and wife, William Sweetser and wife, Ebenezer Durfee, Pardon Sprague, Franklin Spaulding and wife, Stephen Gorman, William Patton, Moses Byxbe, and possibly others. Mrs. Spaulding, who has been dead many years, was the last survivor of the class.
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