USA > Ohio > History of the Central Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, 1856-1913 > Part 22
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However, it was held by Mr. Amassa Bishop, a resident at that time and until his death some years ago, that the Rev. Elijah H. Pilcher preached the first sermon in Toledo and that the meeting was held in the dwelling of a Mr. E. C. Briggs, who, though not a Methodist, but of Methodist antecedents, opened his house as a place of worship. Amassa Bishop, Eli Hubbard, Noah A. Whitney and wife, Sarah and Mary Keeler, and the preacher rode to the service in a lumber wagon and comprised both congregation and choir. After a few attempts to hold worship here the effort was abandoned.
Revs. Elijah H. Pilcher and Elnathan C. Gavitt were the preachers on the Tremainsville Circuit, now West Toledo, at first called Ten Mile Creek, in 1832, and there is no doubt that both
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of these men preached in Toledo at that time. The first Methodist settling in Toledo was Mrs. Simson, who died in 1833, not long after she came to Toledo, and no minister being available, "Deacon" Keeler offered prayer and made a few remarks, and Mr. Amassa Bishop closed the service with prayer.
While Methodism in what was then Toledo dates its formal
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FIRST CHURCH, TOLEDO. (1836.)
beginning in 1832, circuit preachers for a decade doubtless had been traveling the Maumee Valley, visiting the settlements and preaching to the pioneers in their log cabins in winter and in "God's First Temple" -- the woods-in summer.
These pioneer preachers anticipated the city and led in the van of civilization. It was a lofty heroism which they displayed, mounted on horseback, with saddle-bags of ample dimensions -- serving as wardrobe, library, larder, and medical dispensary-they went forth, braving storm and danger, for the small pay of about twenty cents a day.
Toledo and vicinity was supplied from the Maumee District. Presiding elder, John Janes (father of Mr. Frank Janes, living now
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Toledo Methodism.
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FIRST CHURCH, TOLEDO. (As it now appears.)
ST. PAUL'S, TOLEDO. (About 1874.)
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in Toledo). Ira Chase. preacher. During Rev. Ira Chase's two years' pastorate he established the first society within what was then the limits of Toledo proper.
According to Clark Waggoner's "History of Toledo," the first Methodist Episcopal Church in Toledo was organized in 1836 in
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ST. PAUL'S, TOLEDO. (About 1894.)
the older part of the city, now called Lower Town, when the society purchased lots 483 and 485, Huron Street between Walnut and Locust Streets, and thereon built a frame church which was after- wards purchased by the German Methodists in 1850.
This church building is still in existence and is now located on the alley between Erie and Ontario and Walnut and Locust Streets. It has been raised and an under story erected.
Mr. Will Corlett (now of Waterville) when a boy attended its
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Sunday school, and to him we are indebted for some of these facts and these pictures.
Below is a copy of an oil picture painted "on the spot" in 1852 by that talented Toledo painter, now deceased, Mr. W. H. Machen, now owned by his nephew, Mr. Edwin A. Machen, to whom we are indebted for the privilege of using this very valuable picture of early Toledo. The point from which this picture is painted is beyond Orange Street, between St. Clair and Superior Streets. at about the rear of the Newsboys' Auditorium.
TOLEDO IN 1852. (From painting by W. H. Machen.)
KEY TO PICTURE .- The speeding team is on Jackson Avenue. No. 1, The then Protestant Episcopal Church facing Adams Street near St. Clair Street, now occupied by Trinity Church buildings. No. 10, where the present Old Postoffice stands, the building just beyond is the site of The Secor Hotel. No. 3, The Morton House, now the Produce Exchange. No. 4, now The Boody House. No. 5, The First Congregational Church. No. 6, now the Ohio Building. No. 7, The then just completed brick $2,000 First Methodist Episcopal Church of Toledo on the corner of Superior and Madison. No. 9, John Stevens' house, now the Toledo Club building. No. 8, site of the Smith & Baker building, corner of Adams and Superior Streets (Adams Street seems not then to have been de- fined).
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This society had a membership of fifty in 1845, and in 1850 of about seventy, when the congregation, feeling the need of a better location and building, appointed a committee, consisting of Thomas Southard. James Love. and Almon Hopkins, to secure a lot. The committee soon made its report and the lot on the corner of Madison
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, TOLEDO, (Present Building.)
and Superior was purchased for the sum of $800, and on it a plain brick building was erected in 1851 at a cost of $2,000.
In this building the Methodists of Toledo continued to worship, excepting those of Monroe Street, West Toledo, and a small class who about this time formed a society which was established on La- Grange Street and known as Toledo City Mission, then Ames's Chapel, and later LaGrange Street, but after 1872, St. John's Church.
In 1865 the brick church was taken down and the present struc-
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ture, still standing on the corner of Madison and Superior Streets, and at present occupied by business stores and offices, was erected at a cost of $60,000.
This property, purchased by a syndicate when St. Paul's society moved to the corner of Madison and Thirteenth Streets, was sold in 1913 for the sum of $300,000. Here in this edifice the society known as St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church continued to wor- ship until the year 1897, when, during the pastorate of the Rev. James M. Montgomery, the property was sold and the present church edifice of stately appearance and commodious appointments was erected on the corner of Madison and Thirteenth Streets.
St. Paul's has a membership to-day of over 1,100, in which many of the foremost business men of the city, lawyers and phy- sicians, many people of high standing, a number of artisans and persons from all the ordinary and honorable vocations of life are to be found, loyal to Methodism and active in good work.
Jn 1876, when Dr. Waters became pastor of the Church, he and his congregation were confronted with a formidable debt, the ac- cumulation of many years, of over $25,000, which by the able and wise management of the pastor and through the efforts of the members of the Church, assisted by the Central Ohio Conference in the sum of $10,000, was gradually reduced and finally fully met during the pastorate of the Rev. S. L. Beiler, 1880-83.
The ministers who have served this Church are: Martin Welsh, S. L. Yourtee, Wm. L. Harris, W. W. Winters, E. R. Jewett, J. M. Kellam, Wm. Hitchcock, John Graham, John T. Caples, Thomas Parker, Joseph Ayers, Geo. W. Collier, Alexander Nelson, Edmund B. Morrison, Henry E. Pilcher, Chas. W. Ketcham, Daniel D. Mather, Pearl P. Ingalls, Russel B. Pope, Park S. Donaldson, Gershom Lease, Wesley G. Waters, Leroy A. Belt, Samuel I .. Beiler, Daniel Strong, T. L. Wiltsie, Duston Kemble, Elias D. Whitlock, S. D. Huntspillar, James M. Montgomery, John R. Shannon, Thomas H. Campbell, Richard D. Hollington, Lewis T. Guild, and Robert O. Matthews.
SPRING STREET CHURCH, TOLEDO.
Spring Street Church, located on the corner of Spring and Mul- berry Streets, had its origin in a Sunday school organized October 25, 1891, by members of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church,
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REV. GEORGE H. WOLCOTT, PASTOR.
whose pastor at that time was the Rev. A. J. Fish.
The officers of the school were Homer Hood, superintendent; Frank H. Tanner, secretary ; L. S. Churchill, treasurer. The teachers were Mrs. Martha Clark, William Beatty, A. B. Hood, Jennie Jones, Lottie Scott, Emma Swartz, Ida Swartz, Mrs. Wm. Bartlett, and Eliza Meenan. The enrollment of the school was sixty-five.
The school for the first two or three years met in the schoolhouse on the corner of Spring Street and Stickney Avenue.
It soon became evident that if the work should prove permanent a chapel would be necessary, and accordingly the matter was brought before the Quarterly Conference of St. John's Church and a committee, consisting of Homer Hood, William Beatty, A. B. Hood, L. S. Churchill, and F. H. Tanner, was appointed with authority to look up a suitable site and to build a church. The lot where the church now stands was purchased, and the sum of $500 raised to proceed with the undertaking, and on March 31, 1895, the Rev. A. J. Fish, assisted by Homer Hood, superintendent of the Sunday school, laid the corner-stone of the chapel. Many of the Methodist ministers of the city were present, and Dr. N. B. C. Love made the address.
The Sunday school at the time of the corner-stone laying com- prised a membership of 118, with the following officers and teachers in charge: Homer Hood, superintendent; John A. Lefft, assistant superintendent ; Hattie Clark, secretary and organist ; Mrs. Martha Clark, treasurer, and Capt. E. A. Williams, A. B. Hood, H. Rendle, John A. Lefft, Lizzie Hill, Lottie Scott, Lydia Clarke, and William Beatty, teachers.
Soon after the corner-stone was laid the erection of the chapel was begun, and during the summer of 1895 it was completed.
During the winter of 1895-96 services were occasionally con- ducted by Mr. Drake and Evangelist McClean, and during the summer of 1896 W. W. Constine, a student in the Ohio Wesleyan
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University, was appointed by the presiding elder, J. M. Avann, to hold services. At the session of the Central Ohio Conference of 1896, Spring Street was recognized as a duly organized society and
SPRING STREET CHURCH, TOLEDO.
united with Western Avenue Church, with the Rev. J. C. Crider as pastor under appointment by the Conference.
During Brother Crider's pastorate the work took definite shape and preparations were made for the dedication of the building, which occurred May 2, 1897, the Rev. Dr. David H. Moore, editor at that time of the Western Christian Advocate, in charge of the services.
The total cost of the lot and building was about $2,300, which was provided for on the day of dedication.
Brother Crider was returned as pastor for the year 1897-98.
At the Conference in Sidney, Ohio, 1898, Spring Street was transferred from Western Avenue to Central Avenue Church and the Rev. L. H. Gressley was appointed pastor by Bishop Joyce. During that year the debt on the church was reduced to $184.
Brother Gressley was appointed for the year 1899-00. The small debt on the church was gradually reduced by a gift of $100
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from Sister Mary Reed and persistent efforts of the Ladies' Aid Society until its mention ceased to be made.
In the fall of 1900, Spring Street was transferred from Central Avenue to West Toledo and the Rev. Geo. Matthews was appointed pastor. During the year 1901-02 the Rev. Jesse Carr was pastor; 1903-06, the Rev. Dr. N. B. C. Love; 1906-09, the Rev. Richard Wallace; 1909-13, the Rev. N. S. Brackney, and 1913, the Rev. E. D. Whitlock. After the death of Dr. Whitlock, December 23, 1913, Rev. G. H. Wolcott was appointed pastor by Dr. E. O. Crist, the district superintendent.
WESTERN AVENUE CHURCH, TOLEDO.
The Western Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. J. W. Donnan in April, 1894, following a revival held in the vicinity during the preceding months.
In July, 1894, a Building Committee was elected and a corner lot was purchased for $1,000 from John and Mary Hiett, and work was begun on the erection of a new church, the corner-stone of which was laid August 19, 1894, and the church was soon completed and occupied. The congrega- tion has grown steadily until at the present time (1914) the membership numbers about 200, with a Sunday school averaging an attend- ance of 240.
REV. ALBERT S. BOWERSOX, PASTOR.
In 1912 a parsonage was built on the rear of the lot, facing Edna Street, at a cost of about $2,000, making a very comfortable home for the pastor.
Rev. Albert S. Bowersox, the present pastor, was appointed to this charge in 1912, being the first to occupy the new parsonage. The Church has prospered
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greatly under his leadership. The Sunday school has outgrown the building, necessitating the putting in of a basement under the church, which was done during 1913-14 at a cost of about $2,000.
WESTERN AVENUE CHURCH, TOLEDO.
This has added much room and greatly increased the value of the property. This is the beginning of the remodeling of the church, which must be done in the near future to accommodate the rapidly growing congregation and Sunday school.
German Methodism in Toledo. BY REV. JOHN MAYER.
EMANUEL GERMAN CHURCH, TOLEDO.
German Methodism dates back to the year 1835. Rev. Adam Miller, the first historian of this work and a stanch friend of it, writes of the beginning thus: "At the Ohio Conference of 1835 the Rev. Wm. Nast came recommended from Mt. Vernon Circuit as a suitable person to be received into the itinerant connection and was accordingly received and for the year appointed missionary to the Germans of Cincinnati." He met with many disappointments and hardships, but he bravely held on, and in much labor, great faith, and devout praver he gained the victory. In 1843 Adam Miller could write: "From this small beginning in the latter end of the
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year 1835 a glorious work has gradually spread, and now we have German Churches in almost every town and city in the West."
It was in 1842 the first German Methodist society was organized in Woodville. It soon became a strong factor in the development of the work in this vicinity. From there a member, John von Gunden, moved to Toledo and invited the preachers of the Woodville Circuit to Toledo and to hold services in his house on Michigan Street. In the fall of 1848 the Ohio Conference sent Wm. Geyer REV. CHARLES SEVERINGHAUS, PASTOR. and P. F. Schneider to this cir- cuit. The latter came to Toledo and preached in the home of John von Gunden. He was an excellent man, full of the Spirit of God and of zeal for his mission. He was also a good preacher, magnetic and entertaining, and many people came to hear him. The house soon proved to be too small for all who wished to hear him.
In this emergency the pastor and trustees of the old St. John's Church offered their church on Huron Street to these beginners. It had become too small for their English congregation, and was offered to the Germans for $1,000. In the fall of 1850 the Ohio Conference took up this matter. A collection was taken and in less than five minutes the members of the Conference contributed $300 towards the $1,000. The remaining $700 was secured among the members and friends in Toledo. The church was renovated at a cost of a few hundred dollars, and in the fall of 1852 Toledo Mis- sion was separated from Woodville Circuit and Rev. Geo. A. Mul- finger appointed to this new charge. It was only a short time until it became necessary to enlarge the church. It was raised and a fine basement constructed under it.
In 1862 Rev. P. F. Schneider was sent to this charge the second time. During his pastorate of three years the property on Huron Street was sold and a church built on Ontario Street. Great re- vivals occurred. The Lord prospered this work in a wonderful manner. In 1880 this property was sold and the present location, corner Walnut and Ontario, bought.
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EMANUEL GERMAN CHURCH, TOLEDO.
During the administration of Rev. Henry Jend the present fine church was built. A number of preachers, some of them known throughout the whole connection, came from this congregation. Their names are: Louis Loos. John Loos, Ulrich von Gunden, George Schwinn. John J. Keller, Fred Schmidt. John E. Braun, and Conrad Boecklin. This is a short history of the Emanuel German Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the Rev. Chas. E. Severinghaus has been the pastor for the last four years.
GALENA STREET GERMAN CHURCH, TOLEDO.
In 1892 the property on Galena Street and Ontario was bought. The pastor of the Emanuel Church. Rev. Gustav E. Hiller, or- ganized a Sunday school and built the chapel. This was the be- ginning of the fourth German Methodist Episcopal Church in Toledo. It is at present supplied by Rev. John J. Bockstahler. 21
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SALEM GERMAN CHURCH, TOLEDO.
In 1887 Rev. C. A. Militzer was appointed to start a new mis- sion in East Toledo. Rev. George Wahl secured the fine location corner of Federal and Nevada Streets. On it was built a small church. A member of the Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, Theobald Schunk, built a parsonage for this new mission. Under the leadership of the present pastor, John H. Holtkamp, the old church was sold and a new and excellent church erected costing about $6,500.
ZION GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH, TOLEDO.
One of the most prosperous of the German Churches is the Zion Church, on Segur Avenue. It was in the year 1858 that a member, Fred Schweizer, moved to the so-called "bloody fifth ward." This man, full of zeal for the extension of the Kingdom of God, set about to change the deplorable conditions among the residents of the South Side. He bought a lot on Harrison Street. There they built the first Methodist chapel. An efficient Sunday school was organized and maintained, and it furnished the nucleus to not only the Zion German Methodist Church, but also the be- ginning of the Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church. Our chapel was rented to onr English brethren for a small sum of money. Brother Schweizer was a stern man with strict rules concerning the propriety of the house of God for which he worked so hard, and when his English brethren did not meet his ideal he promptly ordered them out. This gave them their start, for they were com- pelled to look for quarters of their own. In 1873 the old property on Harrison Street was sold and the present property bought. Under the efficient leadership of Rev. August F. Mueller the fine Zion German Methodist Episcopal Church was built. It cost $12,000 and was a large undertaking for the small but faithful congregation. Several preachers came from this charge. Their names are Carl Krueger, Arnold C. Baur, and C. F. Kuhnle. Many people have been converted at the altar of this church. It has been a lighthouse for the Germans on the South Side.
Zion Church is known as one of the most spiritual, with prayer- meetings second to none in Toledo in point of attendance and fervor. In 1910 the church was renovated at a cost of $3,000. This sum was contributed as a free-will offering without any solicitation.
In 1913 an addition to the church was built costing $5,700. In
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ZION GERMAN CHURCH. TOLEDO.
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less than one year $4,000 of this sum had been paid in cash and the rest of the cost se- cured. All this is done on the free-will offering basis. This new addition contains modern equipped toilet rooms and a heating plant in the basement. On the main floor is a large society hall with kitchen. Above this is a seven-room apartment for the janitor. With the commodious parson- age near the church, Zion con- gregation has a most excel- REV. JOHN MAYER, PASTOR. lent plant. The pastor, John Mayer is serving his tenth year for this charge.
THE METHODIST UNION, TOLEDO.
The Methodist Union of the Methodist Episcopal Churches of Toledo District was organized at the beginning of the term of office of E. O. Crist as district superintendent of the Toledo Dis- trict in the autumn of 1908.
The organization was first known as the Methodist Federation of Toledo District and incorporated December 3, 1908, but later the name was changed to the Methodist Union.
Suitable rooms were rented and furnished in the Nasby Building, on the sixth floor, where an assembly room and office for the district superintendent and general headquar- ters for Methodist interests are maintained.
The first president of this organization was Mr. Homer Hood, of St. John's Church. The second president was Mr. E. R. Hiett, of St. Paul's, and Mr. J. W. Lane, of Ep- worth, is the present president.
MR. HOMER HOOD.
The object of this organization is to "unify, harmonize, and develop the material, social, and spiritual in- terests of the Methodist Episcopal Church in all branches in the Toledo District, and to maintain an office for the district superin- tendent with rooms to be used as general Methodist headquarters."
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REV. JOHN GRAHAM.
REV. JOHN GRAHAM united with the North Ohio Conference in 1844. When the Central Ohio Conference was organized, in 1856, he became one of its charter members.
Rev. John Graham was a very faithful pioneer preacher. He was a man with more than ordinary ability as a speaker, and was endowed with unusual executive ability. He gave to the Church many years of faithful service, and one term of four years as presiding elder. At the close of his long and faithful years of service he retired, choosing as his place of residence Richwood, Ohio, where he had served as pastor. He never lost his interest in the work of the ministry and the Church, but continued to be a wise counselor and helper to the close of his life. Honored and beloved by a wide circle of friends, he came quietly and contentedly to the close of his life March 9, 1903. He died in his home in Richwood, and is buried in the Richwood cemetery.
He married Miss Jane G. McGee, who was in every sense of the word a helpmeet to her husband. She was esteemed by all who knew her, and lived to the ripe old age of eighty years, when she fell asleep in Jesus and was laid to rest beside her husband in the Richwood cemetery.
Two children were born to these parents-a daughter, now deceased, who became the wife of Mr. C. F. Garberson; and a son, Edwin R. Graham, who is now the Resident Agent of the Methodist Book Concern at Chicago, and is displaying unusual executive and business ability in caring for the great interests of the Church entrusted to him, proving himself to be indeed a worthy son of noble parents.
REV. PARKER P. POPE, D. D.
Rev. Parker P. Pope, D. D., united with the Central Ohio Con- ference in 1869. and died in the active service March 22, 1911, while pastor of Grace Church, Lima.
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In all his ministerial life of over forty-one years he was never prevented from taking active part in the Sunday services of the Church but four times by illness. Dr. Pope was indeed abundant in labors and faithful to every trust committed to him.
Dr. Pope was the son of Rev. Thomas J. Pope. His mother was the daughter of Rev. Russel Bigelow, one of the eloquent pioneer preachers of early Ohio Methodism.
Dr. Pope served two terms as presiding elder; was elected a delegate to the General Conference of 1900, and served as pastor, some of the leading Churches of the Conference.
REV. HENRY J. KEISTER.
Rev. Henry J. Keister was born in Clinton County, Pa., No- vember 14, 1853, and died at Willshire, Ohio, May 28, 1910.
He joined the Central Ohio Conference in 1882, having previ- ously served five years in the Central Pennsylvania Conference.
He was a faithful, earnest, evangelistic preacher.
REV. CHARLES FARNSWORTH.
Rev. Charles Farnsworth was born in Vermont, where he spent his boyhood and early manhood. He united with the Central Ohio Conference in 1868.
He was a quiet, faithful, earnest, sympathetic preacher, faith- ful to every duty assigned to him.
He died in peace July 6, 1908, in his cottage at Lakeside, Ohio.
REV. MARK RICHARDSON.
The Rev. Mark Richardson was born in Ireland, and died in Maumee, February 22, 1897, aged eighty-three years.
He preached first in Wood County in 1846, and in Miami in 1847. He was licensed as a local elder and held this relation for fifty years, to the time of his death.
He served under appointment of presiding elders many of the Churches of Maumee Valley successfully.
He had an impressive personality, an excellent voice, an ac- curate memory, and was a ready and forceful speaker. He drew large congregations, and preached by request at Annual and District
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REV. JOHN GRAHAM.
REV. PARKER P. POPE, D. D.
REV. HENRY J. KEISTER.
REV. CHARLES FARNSWORTH.
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Conferences and Lakeside Chautauqua Assembly and other large meetings.
REV. MORTIMER GASCOIGNE.
Rev. Mortimer Gascoigne was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 14, 1853, and died in Putnam, Conn., June 19, 1905.
His grandfather was one of the charter members of the old, historic John Street Church, New York.
In his early manhood he decided to go West to Minnesota. He went as far as Toledo, Ohio, and there stopped to pay a visit to his former pastor at Albany, then serving as pastor of St. Paul's Church, Toledo, the Rev. Dr. W. G. Waters. The Central Ohio Conference was in session at that time in St. Paul's Church, Toledo, and Dr. Waters urged him to unite with it, which he did in the fall of 1881.
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