USA > Ohio > Logan County > Bellefontaine > History of the First Presbyterian Church of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and addresses delivered at the celebration of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the pastorate of the Reverend George L. Kalb, D.D > Part 10
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employ one quarter of three-quarters of his entire time at West Liberty.
April 3, 1827, the congregation of West Liberty, at its request, was united by the Presbytery to the congregation of Bellefontaine so that both could obtain a double share of Mr. Stevenson's preaching, and so that both could worship in a new church, for which Bellefontaine was then arranging.
In 1830-31 the Rev. Mr. Garland preached here half of the
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WEST LIBERTY, OHIO.
time. In 1840 the Rev. R. H. Hollyday, then assisting Rev. Mr. Stevenson in the First church at Bellefontaine, preached here each alternate Sabbath.
In 1841 Mr. Hollyday organized the present church, the original members being :- Harriett Reynolds, John M. Glover, elder; Isabella Glover, Clarissa Stewart, Nancy Jane Kirkwood, Caroline Kirkwood, Laura Beebe, Eva Eliza Runkle, Sarah Chap- man, Sarah Miller, Jane Hildebrand, Margaret Andrews, Henry Secrist, Jane Morris, Dorothy Secrist, Rachel Elliott, John W. Ing- ham, trustee; Caroline Ingham, Jane McClay, Maria White, Samuel
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES OF LOGAN COUNTY.
Taylor, trustee; Aaron Mitchell, Isabella McBeth, William Kirk- wood, Mrs. Kirkwood, Marquis Wood, elder; Mary Anne Wood.
The meetings were held in a room prepared in the "Old Stone Distillery" until the erection of a church building in 1845. Aug- ust 21, 1843, the first church lot was deeded to the trustees, Sam- uel Taylor, J. W. Ingham and J. M. Glover, by Thomas B. Miller. The first building was burned in 1889. On May 17, 1890, the church lot was re-deeded to theni by Mary J. (wife of J. Emerson ) Smith, Susan F., Frances and Minnie K. Glover, and the present edifice erected. In March, 1899, the church had six elders, seven deacons, 146 members and go in the Sunday-school.
The ministers have been :- Rev. R. H. Hollyday to 1842; Rev. Milton A. Sacket, 1843-44; Rev. James H. Gill, 1846-53; Rev. William Perkins, 1854; Rev. L. I. Drake, 1855-85; Rev. Reese M. Edwards, Rev. C. W. Hempstead, Rev. David J. Blyth, Rev. Charles J. McCracken, 1899.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF RICHLAND.
This church was started by the Rev. George P. Pogue about 1846 by meetings held at David Ghormley's house. Among the original twenty-six members were :- The families of David Ghormley, elder; Eben Durkee, deacon; C. I. Brooks, Aaron Cof- let, Mr. Rogers and A. I. Van Horn.
A church building was erected in 1849 at the Rogers farm, in section 14, on the south side of the road north of the present reser- voir. The services prior to that time were held in the Van Horn school house. After the building of the Lewistown reservoir in 1850-51, the minister and most of the members gradually removed, and in 1854 it ceased to exist.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ZANESFIELD.
The first regular Presbyterian services were held in the Meth- odist meeting house about 1847-50 by the Rev. James H. Gill, pas- tor at West Liberty, and Rev. William M. Galbreath. January II, 1851, a church was organized with the following members :- Solo- mon Adams, Jane McAdin, Martha Miller, Luther Smith, Marga- ret Marquis, Sarah McCoy, Joshua Robb, Sr., Maria Adams, Eliza- beth Milner, William Marquis, Elizabeth Moore, Julia Adams, Syl- vester Robb, Wm. Cook, Effie Smith, Nancy McCoy, John Nelson, Sarah Robb, Jesse Milner, Elizabeth A. Nelson, Nancy Marquis,
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY.
Margaret Odor, Thomas McAdin, Isabella Robb, Jane Cook, Bridget Kenton, Jane McCoy, Sarah Nelson, Mary Robb, Joseph Nelson, Ann Robb, Samuel Marquis.
Many of the above had been members of the First and after- wards of the Second church of Bellefontaine, and upon the discon- tinuance of the latter they assisted in organizing this church. Two hundred and seventy-seven members have been added since the organization.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ZANESFIELD.
The following have been elders :- Luther Smith, E. T. Davis, Thomas Marquis, G. P. Stevenson, Joshua Robb, C. H. Chapman, James Jameson, J. C. Smith, Justus Rutan, J. K. Abraham, Emer- son Smith. Present elders :- S. C. Robb, H. C. Miller, J. K. Stevenson and G. D. Adams.
The ministers have been :- Rev. J. K. Lyle, 1851; Rev. T. T. Smith, 1853; Rev. E. B. Raffensperger, 1857; Rev. Wm. G. Hillman, 1858; Rev. J H. Gill, 1859; Rev. James A. Marshall, 1860; Rev. Charles Hill, 1866-69; Rev. Luther Smith, 1874-79; Rev. J. T. Smith, 1853, Rev. L. I. Drake, 1859; Rev. Jas. A. Mar. shall, 1863-64; Rev. L. J. Drake, 1870-74; Rev. Luther Smith, 1874-
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES OF LOGAN COUNTY.
79; Rev. D. O. Ghormiley, 1880; Rev. Jas. A. Darrah, 1881; Rev. R. C. Colmery, D. D., 1882-83; Rev. Wm. G. March, 1882-83; Rev. G. L. Kalb, D. D., 1883-84.
Dr. Kalb has always had a fatherly care for this church, re- ceiving more members into the church than any other pastor.
Students who supplied the pulpit occasionally were :- D. G. Collins, R. Scott Stevenson and J. G. Grabiel. The later ministers have been Rev. C. W. Hempstead, Rev. David J. Blyth and Rev. Chas. J. McCracken.
June 29, 1852, Noah and Zane McColloch sold to Mr. Luther Smith, in trust for the church, lot 5, now lot 30, in McColloch's addition, on which the present church building was soon erected.
There have been Sabbath-school organizations at different times, but none very long lived until the one organized in 1890, with J. G. Grabiel superintendent. This organization has kept in good running order ever since, and at present is in a flourishing and encouraging condition, J. E. Dunaway superintendent.
A Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized in 1891 by a committee of five from the Bellefontaine society, and has been running successfully ever since.
REV. LUTHER SMITH.
Rev. Luther Smith, son of Ely and Amy (Emerson) Smith, born at Hollis, New Hampshire, August II, 1800, graduated from Brown Univer- sity in 1824, studied law, located at Paris, Kentucky, in 1827, where he opened an academy.
He married, October, 1834, Lu- cretia Caldwell, who died in Louis- ville, Kentucky. He married, second, in 1845, Effie Moody, of Clifton, Ohio, and moved to Logan county. After teaching for several years he settled on his farm near Zanesfield.
In all matters of public welfare he was a leader. He had studied the- REV. LUTHER SMITH. ology while in Kentucky. In 1874 he was licensed and ordained by the Bellefontaine Presbytery and was installed pastor of the Zanesfield church. In 1875 he built the
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY.
Presbyterian church of East Liberty in which he preached. He continued to serve in both churches until 1879, and in East Liberty church until about 1883. He died soon after. His child- ren were James Emerson, now of Piqua, Ohio, and William C. Smith.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DEGRAFF.
A petition having been presented to the Presbytery of Sidney in April, 1865, then in session at Bellefontaine, Ohio, for a Presby- terian church at DeGraff, Ohio, ministers G. L. Kalb and Alex-
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DEGRAFF, OHIO.
ander Telford and Elder Robert Smith were Presbytery's commit- tee to visit the field, and should the way be clear organize a church. The committee met May 13 of the same year and organized the church with twelve members, and at the same time Lyman Doane was elected elder and installed, having been an elder in the Lo- gansville and DeGraff church. Ten days later William Walker, a former ruling elder of the Logansville and DeGraff church, was elected a ruling elder in the DeGraff Presbyterian church and in- stalled. September 30, 1895, Lyman Doane, William Walker,
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES OF LOGAN COUNTY.
Aaron Mitchell. William Campbell and P. Craig were elected Trus- tees of the church, at the same time Henry Huling and G. Cal- land, formerly deacons of the Presbyterian church of Spring Hill, were elected deacons in the DeGraff Presbyterian church. Rev. W. H. Honnell, of the Presbytery of Transylvania, was the first minister to serve this newly or- ganized church; he served the church as a supply. The Rev. F. M. Kumler has served the church as pastor since April Ist, 1893. During this time the church has been greatly en- 6 couraged and built up, the membership being more than doubled, and a convenient and substantial parsonage built. The church has the rotary sys- tem of eldership, and the pres- ent Board of Elders are :- James Hays, W. E. Harris, A. H. Moore, T. H. Ross and. J. W. Walker. Jacob Kloepfer, J. W. Wieginan, Henry Huling and A. B. Huston constitute the present Board of Deacons, REV. F. M. KUMLER. while James Mays, Solomon Wambaugh, A. H. Moore, Ja- cob Kloepfer and Hiram Huber make up the Board of Trustees.
Charter members were :- Lyman Doane, Martha Doane, Nancy Murphy, William Campbell, Martha Barnhart, Jane Boggs, Eliza- beth Huston, Mary A. McElroy, Hannah Reynolds, Aaron Mitchell, Sarah C. Mitchell, Martha Mitchell.
Pastors and supplies of the DeGraff Presbyterian church were: -Rev. W. M. Galbreath was pastor of Spring Hill church from 1849 to 1853. During that time he preached at DeGraff, how reg- ular is not known. The records do not inform us as to this, but he preached here as late as 1865. The church home was built in 1856, and dedicated on New Year's day, 1857.
Rev. W. H. Honnell was stated supply here from May, 1865, to April, 1868. Then Rev. Alexander Telford became stated sup- ply in September, 1868, and continued until 1873.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY.
Rev. Joseph Lower became pastor in August, 1874, and so con- tinued until 1876, In September, 1876, Rev. A. B. Struthers became stated supply and so continued until 1879. Then Rev. F. Lynn became stated supply in September, 1879, and so continued until some time in 1880. Then for about six years the church was sup- plied by students of theology, Dr. Kalb filling in by preaching in the afternoons, Messrs. Marshman, D. G. Collins, R. S. Stevenson and J. G. Grabiel being some of them.
In 1886 Rev. J. E. Alexander became pastor for one-half of lis time and so continued until some time in 1889.
Early in 1891 Rev. J. G. Grabiel became stated supply and so continued until some time in 1892.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BELLECENTER.
This church was indirectly the successor of the churches of Pleasant Valley and Richland, which see.
It was organized December 9, 1852, the first pastor being the Rev. J. A. Weeks; the elders, Alvin Clark and James Dunlap.
The original members were :- Rebecca Zimmerman, Samuel Lambert, Elizabeth C. Hukill, John Zimmerman, Francis Mains, Maria MeLaughlin, Joseph Patton, Sarah Pilbrick, Susan Gebby, Elizabeth Hemphill, Eleanor Lambert, Hazzard Hopkins, Mary Clark, James Dunlap, William Yates, Margaret E. Patton, Andrew Yates, J. L. Hemphill, Eleanor Hemphill, Mary Hemphill, Alvin Clark, Jane Scott, Mary J. Martin, Margareta Yates, C. C. Scott, Sarah Deer.
The early services were held in the old Methodist church and in the school houses.
January 1, 1857, the trustees, William Ritchie, James Ritchie, and A. Clark, purchased lot 69, where the present church building was erected. The other ministers have been :- Rev. William Young, 1855-58; Rev. Henry M. Shockley, 1870-76; Rev. John K. Argo, 1893-95; Rev. Amos Bartholomew, 1859-67; Rev. A. J. Clark, 1877-93; Rev. Edward P. Elcock, since 1895.
Some of the other officers have been :- Elders James Ritchie, Joseph Clyde, William McLain, William Lowrey, James Sherrat, Archibald Jameson, Josiah R. Laughlin, Seth Taylor, Samuel Har- bert, William R. Ritchie, John A. Hemphill, John L. Clark, Deacons :- Josiah R. Laughlin, R. B. Simpson, William Hoon,
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES OF LOGAN COUNTY.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BELLECENTER, OHIO.
William Hemphill, S. H. Bergert, C. Zahler. Present trustees :- A. J. Wallace, William Torrence, H. J. Mack, Davis Zahler.
In March, 1899, this church had 6 elders, 5 deacons, 236 mem- bers and 143 Sunday-school scholars.
PARISH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PLEASANT TP.
This church was organized by the Rev. William H. Honnell February 1, 1866, in a frame building previously occupied by the Methodist denomination, which stood on the west side of the Bokengehalas Creek, where the Bellefontaine and Logansville road now crosses the same. Among the original twenty-eight members, March 1, 1867, were :- Joseph E. Carr, elder; Nancy (Douglas) Carr, Josephine Carr, Joseph Rathmell, elder; Hannah Rathmell, Mary Rathmell, Robert Parish, elder; G. Turner Parish, deacon; Margaret Parish, Mary Parish, Sarah Parish, Annie ( Mak- emson) Hamer, Daniel Hamer, Margery (Horst) Hamer, Mary E. Hamer, John Parish, Ellen (Douglas) Parish, Marcellus Stew- art, Angeline Turner, Albert Turner, Rebecca Rish, Hannah Beale, Eliza Martin.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY.
Mr. Honnell began preaching here in 1865. The Parish organ- ization was discontinued on October 24, 1867, as the above men - tioned meeting house had burned, and all of above named mem- bers were received by letter from this church into the DeGraff Presbyterian church.
NOTE .- Rev. William H. Honnell, son of William and Ellinor (Wilson) Honnell, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born October, 6, 1828, was educated at Sidney, (Ohio), Oxford College and Danville (Kentucky) Theological Seminary. Was chaplain, First Kentucky Cavalry, U. S. A., 1861-65. Preached in Ken- tucky, pastor at DeGraff and Parish, 1866-69, later at Rushsylvania. Moved to Evart, Kansas, in 1886.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF RUSHSYLVANIA.
The Presbyterian church was organized June 3, 1867, by a commission of Sidney Presbytery, consisting of the Reverends G. L. Kalb and A. Bartholomew and Elders William McColloch and Samuel Hoover, with thirteen members, five by certificate and
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, RUSHSYLVANIA, OHIO.
eight on profession of their faith. Those by certificate were three from Bellecenter Presbyterian church, viz .:- W. F. Lowrey, his wife, Amanda, and Sarah Stewart. From the Bellefontaine Presbyterian church :- John C. Walter and Eliza, his wife. Those
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES OF LOGAN COUNTY.
on profession were :- Catharine Lideigh, Maria Hemphill, Henri- etta Carson, Anna J. Howard, Elizabeth Heller, Jacob Grabiel and Mary J., his wife.
Seven of the original members are living still, viz .:- Sarah Stewart, Anna J. Howard, John C. Walter and Mary J. Grabiel, members of the Rushsylvania Presbyterian church at present. The other three are Amanda Lowery, a member of the Presbyter- ian church at Lyons, Kansas; Maria Hemphill, now living in Chi- cago, and Catharine Lideigh, a member of the Lutheran church near New Jerusalem, this county.
At the organization W. F. Lowrey, having been an elder in the Bellecenter church, and Jacob Grabiel were elected elders and John C. Walter, deacon.
REV. J. E. ALEXANDER AND FAMILY.
Rev. W. H. Honnell was the first stated supply of the church, serving about six years. Rev. Solomon Cooke was stated supply for six months. The first building was erected in 1879, a frame costing about $2,500.
Rev. J. E. Alexander came on the field in 1875, then a student
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY
in Lane Theological Seminary, and has had charge of the church since that time, being still its pastor.
The church has had a healthy, but not a rapid growth and had in March, 1899, six elders, 6 deacons, 157 members and 130 Sunday-school scholars. A new building was erected in 1893-94, being dedicated in July, 1894. It was built of brick with stone trimmings, slate roof, basement with heater, bowled floor circular pews, with lecture room and two infant class rooms, all so arranged as to be connected with the main audience room when necessary. The auditorium will seat 300, and with the Sabbath- school department 500 can be comfortably seated. It is located on a corner lot and the highest point on Main street. It cost, including lot, about $5,600.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EAST LIBERTY.
The Presbyterian church of East- Liberty was not a separate organization, but part of the Zanesfield church. Among the early members were :- Charles H. Chapman and George Adams, elders; Effie, wife of Rev. Luther Smith; Mary, (Brown) wife of G. D. Adams; Emily, (How) wife of C. H. Chapman; Ellen, wife of Joshua Dickinson, daughters Sallie and Jennie; Elizabeth, wife of J. M. Jameson, and daughters Barbary (McNiel) and Mary (Winner); Richard Armstrong and wife, Eliza, (Bell) and children Eliza J., (Irwin) Effie, (Humaker) Sallie, (Ferguson) Margaret (Smith) and John; Harriett, wife of John Armstrong; Winfield Akey, Emerson Smith (son of Rev. Luther Smith) and wife, Mary (Glover) Smith.
Rev. Mr. Smith was pastor of the congregation until about 1883. July 24, 1875, the trustees of the Zanesfield Presbyterian church, of East Liberty, purchased a lot, 120x88 feet in size, in East Liberty, and erected a church building in 1876. This was occupied by them as a church and by the Union Sunday- school, of East Liberty, under Moses Emerson, (father of Captain J. D. and George W. Emerson) as superintendent, until 1883, when so many moving away the services were discontinued.
The property was conveyed April 4, 1885, to the Disciple church by Alfred McAtee, George D. Adams, J. C. Smith, James Jameson and Thomas Flack trustees of the Zanesfield Presbyterian church of East Liberty.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES OF LOGAN COUNTY.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF RIDGEWAY.
The Ridgeway church was organized June 29, 1875, by a com- inittee of the Bellefontaine Presbytery consisting of Rev. George L. Kalb and Elder J. C. Walter, with five members, viz .:- Nancy Early, William J. Early and Alexander Denison on examination and profession of faith in Christ, and Amy A. Hill by certificate from the Rushsylvania Presbyterian church. W. J. Early and Alexander Denison were elected, ordained and installed elders, and the church declared organized under the name of the Rush Creek Presbyterian church, by the Presbytery. The name was changed to that of "The Ridgeway Presbyterian church." The organiza- tion was effected in the "White Swan School House," about two miles south of Ridgeway. At Ridgeway in 1878-79 a church build- ing was erected, costing about $2,200, which was dedicated in the fall of 1879. The building is a neat brick structure and will seat 225. This church never had a regularly installed pastor. For the most time Rev. J. E. Alexander, pastor of the Rushsylvania Presby- terian church, had supplied them with preaching, every two weeks in the afternoon. The membership at present is about 32.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY.
ADDRESSES DELIVERED
AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASTORATE OF THE REV. GEORGE L. KALB, D. D., OF THIS CHURCH, SEPTEMBER 28, 1898, AND THE SEVENTIETH ANNI- VERSARY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OF BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO, 1828-1898.
PROGRAM.
Prayer.
Music.
The Founders of the Church and their Decendants W. V. Marquis
The Pastors of the Church . Dr. S. W. Fuller The Children of the Church, Who have Entered the Ministry and Mission Field. Mrs. S. A. Buchanan
The Children of the Church J. E. West
The Work and Influence of the Church in the Community
Rev. G. W. Hamilton, D. D.
Music.
Our Temples of Worship E. J. Howenstine
The Singers in Israel. G. M. Stevenson
Our Pastor, His Work and His Influence . W. H. West Our Pastor's Wife. Mrs. J. M. Riddle Reminiscences.
Benediction.
The addresses were delivered in the auditorium of the church. The Bellefontaine Presbytery was in session. Its proceedings were · postponed for this occasion and its members took part.
Rev. Mr. Fulton, of Kenton, moderator of the Presbytery, pre- sided. He explained the part the Presbytery had been required to take in severing the relationship, as pastor, of Dr. Kalb to this church. By appointment of the Presbytery, Rev. Edward P. Elcock delivered an address reviewing Dr. Kalb's long pastorate and his connection with this Presbytery.
THE FOUNDERS OF THE CHURCH AND THEIR DECENDANTS.
BY W. V. MARQUIS.
Many of the founders of this church were decendants of the sturdy Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who fled from the Old Country to establish and maintain, on American soil, the principles of religious and political liberty denied them in their native land.
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THIRTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
Many others can trace their ancestry back more than two cen- turies; to the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis the 14th, of France; at which time, MacCaulay says in his history of England, "That in a few months fifty thousand of the best fam- ilies quitted France forever," by reason of the persecution of the Huguenots (or Presbyterians.) "Nor were they such." he further says, "as a country can well spare, being, generally, persons of intelligent minds; of industrious habits and of austere morals."
These refugees emigrated chiefly to Pennsylvania and Virginia, thence to Western Pennsylvania, to Washington and adjoining counties; thence to Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Knox, Licking, Muskingum and probably other counties in Eastern Ohio, some ultimately locating in Logan county.
The first name that appears upon the records is that of the pastor, Rev. Joseph Stevenson. "The Pastors of the Church" hav- ing been assigned on the program to another person, it is unnec- essary for me to refer to his long life and services. He was born Marclı 25, 1779, died February 24, 1865. The next three names appearing on the record are those of the first Session, chosen by the church at its organization in 1828, to-wit :- Joshua Robb, John Wilson Marquis and Robert Patterson.
Joshua Robb came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, about 1824. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; was in the battle of the Thames, in Canada, and present when the celebrated Indian chief, Tecumseh, was killed by the Kentuckians. He was a giant in stature and in strength, being over six feet in height. At one time three or four ministers met in Bellefontaine by appointment to go in company to a meeting of Synod in Columbus. Mr. Robb accompanied them on foot. When the party reached the town of Zanesfield, five miles east, Judge Robb said he would "go on ahead and report to the Synod that they were coming." He ar- rived at Columbus several hours in advance of the gentlemen on horse back. He died at Lima, Ohio, at an advanced age, about 1862.
Robert Patterson came from Licking county in 1824; was chosen Clerk of the first Session and continued to serve for 12 or 15 years. He was one of the early merchants of Bellefontaine, and prominent and active in the church, in business and in the public affairs of Logan county. He was born in County Down, Ireland, 1789, and died at the residence of his son-in-law, Rev. R. H. Holly- day, at Findlay, Ohio, September 7, 1867.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY.
Jolın Wilson Marquis, whose name frequently appears in the records, came from Washington county, Pennsylvania. He was accidentally killed on the railroad track between Bellefontaine and Ridgeway, Ohio, about 1859.
Thomas Marquis, the next of the early elders, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, October 2, 1767. Removed thence to Washington county, Pennsylvania, thence to Belinont, Knox and Logan counties. He served as elder in Logan county and else- where (before coming liere) more than half a century. He died October 19, 1851, at the age of 84, in Montgomery county, Ohio. The names of other pioneer members are John McCracken, 1833; John Faris, 1836; David Patterson, 1833; James Kerr, 1836.
I presume they may all be properly considered as founders and pioneers of Presbyterianism in Logan county. It is impos- sible to trace the numerous decendants of these people in the brief time allowed. They are scattered all over this land-from the lakes to the gulf and from ocean to ocean.
In the list are to be found names eminent in church and state, in science, literature and art, and in war :- The Stevensons, Robbs, Kerrs, Marquises, Pattersons, Nelsons, Cooks, McCrackens, Moores, Farises and Byers. The names and faces of their decend- ants are familiar to the people of this church, and of this com- munity at the present time.
The first one hundred members admitted to this church, including the founders, were equally divided between the men and the women, there being just fifty of each.
Of the last eight hundred and seventeen members admitted, two hundred and eighty-one were males and five hundred and thirty-six were females-a preponderance of females over males of about two to one. The reasons for this preponderance are left to be explained by others.
PASTORS OF THE CHURCH.
BY SETH W. FULLER, M. D.
The following ministers have served the First Presbyterian church of Bellefontaine :- Rev. Joseph Stevenson from 1825 to 1843, 18 years; Rev. R. H. Hollyday, assistant to pastor six months, 1840-41; Rev. George A. Gregg, 1844 to 1854, 10 years; Rev. E. B Raffensperger, 1854 to 1859, 41/2 years; Rev. George P. Bergen, 1859 to 1863, 4 years; Rev. G. L. Kalb, D. D., 1863 to 1898, 35 years.
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THIRTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
For a year prior to Mr. Gregg's pastorate the pulpit of the First church had supplies by Rev. Mr. Sacket, of West Liberty, Rev. Mr. Spence, of Sidney, and Rev. Mr. Beddow.
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