USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 72
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Most Rev. Martin John Spalding, seventh Archbishop of Baltimore, was born near Lebanon, Marion county, Kentucky, May 23, 1810; his parents were natives of Maryland and descend- ants of the Catholic Pilgrims of Maryland, who established civil and religious liberty under Lord Baltimore. He graduated in 1826, at St. Mary's College, when sixteen years old-having been, when only fourteen, the tutor of mathematics; spent four years at St. Joseph's College, Bards- town, in studying theology, and in teaching in the college; four years at Rome, 1830-34, at the close of which he publicly defended, for seven hours, in Latin, two hundred and fifty-six propo- sitions of theology, and was rewarded with a doc- tor's diploma, and ordained a priest by Cardinal Pediana; 1834-43, pastor of St. Joseph's Col- lege, then its president, and again its pastor ; called to the cathedral at Louisville, 1843-48; did much laborious missionary work; 1848, was consecrated Bishop of Langone in partibus and coadjutor to Bishop Flaget, whom he succeeded as Bishop of Louisville, 1850-64; was distin- guished as a writer and reviewer, as a pulpit ora- tor, and as a controversialist and champion of the Catholic faith; was one of the editors of the United States Catholic Magazine, and author of Sketches of the Early Catholic Missions of Ken- tucky, Life and Times of Bishop Flaget, Review of D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation, Miscellanea, and Lectures on the Evidences of Christianlty-all published in five volumes, Svo .; June, 1864, in presence of forty thousand specta- tors, was installed seventh Archbishop of Balti- more; convened the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore; distinguished himself at the Œcu- menical Council of the Vatican at Rome, in 1869-70; on his return, received public honors at Baltimore and Washington; during his archie- piscopate erected many new churches, estab- lished new schools, founded and endowed noble works of charity, and wore himself out in labors for his flock. He died at Baltimore April 21, . 1872 .*
The Right Rev. William George McCloskey, Catholic Bishop of Louisville, is of Irish par- entage, born in Brooklyn, New York, November 10, 1823. He was educated at Mt. St. Mary's
College, Maryland ; studied law for three years, but resolved upon the priesthood instead, and in September, 1846, entered the Theological Semi- nary at Mt. St. Mary's, where he took a thorough course of preparation for six years. October 6, 1852, he was ordained priest by Archbishop Hughes ; did missionary service a few months in New York City ; became professor in his alma mater, and in May, 1857, Director of the Semi- nary and Professor of Moral Theology and Scrip- ture ; at the recommendation of the American Hierarchy, was made President of the new American College for Ecclesiastical Students in Rome, December 8, 1859; resided in Rome eight years, when he was nominated Bishop of Louisville, and was consecrated in the chapel of the American College at Rome, May 24, 1868. He has since been continuously in charge of the Diocese. About twenty-five years ago he re- ceived the degree of D. D. from Georgetown Col- lege, District of Columbia.
Among the distinguished dead of 1874 was the Rev. Father Robert A. Abell, of the Roman Catholic church, son of Mr. Robert Abell, a pioneer of 1788 in Nelson (now Marion) county. We condense the following account of his life from an interesting biographical sketch contri- buted to the Louisville Monthly Magazine for 1879 by Dr. C. C. Graham: He first saw the light at his father's place, on the Rolling Fork, in the year 1792. Up to his tenth year, when his father died, his mother, most likely, was his only teacher. He was afterwards sent to a country school in the neighborhood, but only during the winter months, when his labor was not needed on the farm. Attention being at- tracted to him by an extraordinary speech in the local debating society, his mother was aided in sending him to the Catholic school of St. Rose, then but recently established near the village of Springfield, in Washington county, under the direction of Rev. Dr. Thomas Wilson, of the Order of St. Dominic. Here he remained until his transfer to the Diocesan Seminary of St. Thomas, near Bardstown, in the year 1813. Father Abell was ordained in 1818, and his first mission included all Southwestern Kentucky and a part of Tennessee. He was transferred to Louisville in 1823, where, up to 1834, with the interval of a single year passed by him in Europe, he bore to its Catholic population the
* Historical Sketch of the Early Roman Catholic Church in Kentucky, published in the first volume of Collins's History of Kentucky.
47
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
relation of pastor. In 1829 it was found that the church building was not only too contracted for the accommodation of the largely-increased con- gregation, but that it was becoming unsafe from natural decay. Under the circumstances a new church was a necessity, and Father Abell began at once to solicit funds for its erection. His ap- peals were responded to in a liberal spirit by both Catholics and Protestants; and a year later the former church of St. Louis, on the site of the present cathedral of Louisville, was opened for divine services. For non-Catholics the most at- tractive feature of the service in the new church was the preaching of its pastor. Not unfre- quently were to be found among his auditors such menas John Rowan, James D. Breckin- ridge, George M. Bibb, Henry Pirtle, Patrick H. Pope, Charles M. Thruston, George D. Prentice, and others. He was an orator of extraordinary powers.
Father Abell was transferred to Lebanon in 1854, and afterwards to New Haven, Nelson county. In both places he built churches. About the year 1860 he was relieved of all oner- ous ministerial duty by his bishop, on account of physical disability. However, the remaining fourteen years of his life were not unusefully spent, nor were they altogether inactive. His services were still sought after by pastors of churches, and when his health permitted such extent of labor they were cheerfully rendered. The last position held by him in the diocese was that of chaplain to the sister servants of the In- firmary of St. Joseph, Louisville. Here he died in 1874. Up to the last day of his life Father Abell retained in a wonderful degree the in- tellectual sprightliness for which he had been noted in his prime. The fountain of his wit was as sparkling as ever, and his memory was still retentive of events that had transpired when Kentucky was as yet almost a wilderness.
THE BAPTISTS.
The First church of the Baptist faith here dates back to 1815-the third church organization in Louisville. There was long before-in 1784, it is said-a Baptist society somewhere on Bear- grass creek, numbering sixty seven members. It was received into the Long Run association in 1803, and was formed by the Rev. Hinton Hobbs. with but fourteen members. Its original loca-
tion was upon the southwest corner of Fifth and Green streets, upon the site occupied in later years by the Medical college, opposite the Courier-Journal building. In 1816 the Rev. Jeremiah Vardiman held a very successful series of meetings in Louisville, which added many to the church. The congregation grew, and held together bravely until 1839, when the member- ship numbered thirty. Eighteen then withdrew to form the Second Baptist church, which located on Green, between First and Second streets. In 1849, both of the churches being without a pastor, it is noted as an interesting fact that each extended a call to the Rev. Thomas Smith. This fact, together with the financial weakness of both, not enabling them even to repair their houses of worship, led to a reunion, which was accomplished in October, 1849, with the Rev. Mr. Smith as pastor. The lot now occupied at the northwest corner of Fourth and Walnut streets was presently bought, and the fine church now occupied was erected. Sad to say, the very first services in the new building were the obse- quies of the young and popular pastor, Rev. Thomas Smith. He has been succeeded in order by the Rev. Dis. Everts, Lorimer, Spal- ding, Wharton, J. W. Warder, and T. T. Eaton, who is now serving the church. It has a large membership, at times numbering from seven to eight hundred. From it have been colonized the Walnut Street Baptist Mission, corner of Twenty- second street; the Chestnut street Baptist church, now one of the strongest in the State ; the Hope church, at Seventeenth and Bank; the Baptist Pilgrim church, on Cabel; the Portland (Ger- man) Baptist; and last, but not least, the influen- tial church known as the Broadway Baptist.
The subjoined sketch of the early history of the East Baptist church, with other interesting reminiscences, was comprised in the address of the Rev. Dr. S. L. Helm, a former pastor of the church, at the celebration of the fortieth anni- versary of the society, January 1, 1882:
When I first knew this place, Rev. John S. Wilson was pastor of the First Baptist church, on Fifth and Green streets. Forty years ago the Baptists of Louisville were a feeble folk, not numerous or influential. They were brought together from different parts of this and other countries, with different views and customs. They were consequently not very har- monious in at their views about church matters; hence a party of them organized the Second church on Green street, between First and Second. I now find only three men living
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
who were Baptists forty years ago, namely, Jolin M. Delph, William Moses, and Jeremiah Bush, Rev. William C. Buck, D. D., succeeded Wilson as pastor of the First church. He was then succeeded by Finly, and Finly by A. 1). Sears, who is still erect and preaching the gospel in Clarksville, Tennes- see, though he is now eighty years old.
In the summer of 1841 Dr. Buck began to preach in the market-house on Jefferson street, between Preston and Floyd. Having some means, Brother Buck determined to build a Baptist meeting-house on his lot on Green street. In the fall of 1841, with a little assistance from those who afterwards became members of East church, he erected a brick house. The colored people afterwards bought the building, and it is now known as the Green Street colored Baptist church.
January 1, 1842, the East Baptist Church was organized in that building, with ten members, viz., Rev, W. C. Buck and wife, M. F. Buck, Jeremiah Bush, L. B. Osborne, Ann Os- borne, Mary Holmes, Caroline Stout, Sara Stout, D. Johns, Mary Howell. Mrs. Ann Osborne was the mother of Dr. J. M. Weaver, who is now pastor of Chestnut-street church. Deacon Bush is the only member now living who went into the organization of East church. Brother Buck became their pastor, and Deacon Bush's wife was the first person he baptized after he took charge. He edited our Baptist paper at the same time that he had charge of the church.
I must now speak of that great and noble man, William C. Buck. His worth to the denomination I do not believe has ever been fully appreciated. He was a native of Vir- ginia, a man of positive convictions, and, with a clear and trumpet-like voice, bold and fearless in asserting them. He took the field for missions, and did more than any other man to break down the opposition to missionary efforts and to in- duce the churches to pay their pastors a salary. When he went through the country to stir up the churches on the sub- ject, he would speak from an hour and a half to two hours, with a flow of eloquence 1 have scarcely ever heard equaled. He was the friend of every Baptist enterprise,
The Rev. J. P. Green, pastor of the church, gave a valuable statistical summary of the re- sults of the work of his society, from which we select the following :
During the forty years, more than two thousand five hun- dred persons have been members of East church. Perhaps one thousand five hundred have been baptized into the church. During the forty years the church has had four- teen pastors, and three of these have twice been pastor. The average pistorate is a little more than two years. Brother Buck's pastorate was the longest single one-five years. Brother Helm served the church longer than any other preacher-five years and ten months. Five calls have been given that have not been accepted. During the last year [1881] 19 were received by baptism and 18 by letter- total, 37. The present number is 307. 'The church is more prosperous in financial matters than ever before; $1,550 have been promptly raised for church expenses and over $200 for missionary and benevolent purposes. In May last a plan was devised to raise money to buy a lot and build a new house. The church is not able to raise a sufficient amount at once, hence she determined to raise as much as possible each year, until the fund shall be sufficient. We have on hand now, bearing interest, $700. At this rate we hope to have $1,200 by next May. With God's blessing, we are to build us a plain, commodious house-one that will be a credit to the denomination. Thus the church promptly and cheerfully
bears a burden of $3,000 a year. We begin our forty-first year without owing any man a cent ; we begin it with grati- tude, with praise, with hope, and with prayer.
The church under the name of Jefferson street church was organized March 12, 1854, The Council was composed of the Revs. W. W. Ev- erts, S. L. Helm, S. Remington, S. A. Beau- champ, and S. H. Ford. The church was an outgrowth of a mission Sunday-school of Walnut street church. The first house of worship was on Jefferson street, near Eighth, purchased by Deacon Charles Quirey. Isaac Russell was the first Sunday-school superintendent. Rev. S. Remington was the first pastor. He continued until 1855, when Rev. J. V. Schofield took charge. He was followed by Rev. A. C. Osborn on September 29, 1858. He resigned December 10, 1862, and was succeeded by Rev. A. C. Graves March 3, 1863. He resigned February 21, 1864, and on January 29, 1865, Rev. J. M. Weaver took charge, who continues to the present time. During its history the church has passed through many struggles. The house of worship on Jefferson street was lost to them, and the congregation, for several years, met in the Universalist house of worship, on Market street, near Eighth. Then the church met for a short time in the Law School building, on Chestnut and Ninth streets. In 1866, a little building on Chestnut street, between Ninth and Tenth, the present location, was purchased from the St. An- drew's Episcopal church for $10,250, cash. In 1867, this building was enlarged to its present size for about $12,000. During the last pastorate of nearly seventeen years, it is estimated that over one thousand persons have been added to the church. Many precious seasons of refresh- ing from the Lord have been enjoyed .*
The Hope Baptist Church had its germ De- cember ist, 1867. In compliance with a request sixteen persons met that day with Rev. A. C. Williams in an old store-room just below Six- teenth, on Market street. After singing "I Want to be an Angel," they proceeded to elect officers. W. J. Hopkins was chosen Superintendent and J. W. Bradley Secretary and Librarian. The Superintendent, after enrolling the organizing members, appointed teachers for the classes pres- ent, and after singing, remarks, and prayer, dis-
* From the Church Manual, published in 1881.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
missed to meet the next Sunday at 9 A. M., under the name of "Market Street Mission Sunday- school." The weather was very cold, yet they had only a few chips and splinters from a neigh- boring carpenter's shop burning very slowly in an old grate. The seats consisted of an old arm- chair and two pieces of plank ten feet long. During the week Josiah Bradley donated a large lump of coal, provided the Superintendent and Secretary would convey it from his residence, Fifteenth and Walnut streets, to the school, which they did in a wheelbarrow through the snow, thus showing how they were pressed in finances. The Superintendent had lost all he had the previous spring. The next Sunday the school increased to thirty ; books had been bor- rowed, and a few more pieces of planks had been secured for seats; thus the first lesson was taught and the school fully organized. The third Sunday found them devising ways and means of operation, etc. On asking brethren of another Baptist church for assistance, they were called begging Baptists and were told that the school would "freeze out" in a month or two. This fell heavily on the heart of the Mission Su- perintendent, but after much discouragement he sought God for direction, and, being assured that the school would stand to God's glory, cast away discouragement, looking to God for ways and means. They then extended a general invitation to the public to meet them in prayer each even- ing in the week, which resulted in the first pro- tracted meeting, lasting four or five weeks, dur- ing which twenty-two persons were converted, who connected themselves with the Chestnut Street Baptist church. In March or April, 1868, the name of the school was changed. The ex- pression "Our Hope is in God" (seventh verse, seventy-eighth Psalm) became a favorite text (for they did trust God alone), and from this the name of the school was changed to Hope Mission Sunday-school. In the autumn of 1868 the number increased to eighty, and the first year closed with flattering results to the Sunday- school. It was the first independent and self- sustaining Sunday-school in the city. At the close of the second year, December 1, 1869, the Treasurer's report showed amount of balance in the treasury to be $27.93, with about $50 worth of Sunday-school requisites, and fuel for the winter in store. The Sunday-school by this time was
wielding a great influence for good, and during the winter had taken care of twelve families for three months, furnishing food, fuel, and some clothing, and had nursed other families in severe sickness, furnishing attendants, medicines, etc. After several years of discouragement, during which the Sunday-school had been reduced to thirty scholars and three teachers, who were very punctual, the Superintendent, in great agony of soul, petitioned God for assistance, and soon the gloom was removed. He related to the school his experience and consequent conclusions, tell- . ing the teachers he wanted to see how many would stand by the Sunday-school whether in prosperity or adversity, asking all who would do so to meet him the next Sunday morning at 9 o'clock A. M. There were only three teachers and thirty-five scholars present the next Sunday ; but from that the Sunday-school began to flour- ish, soon numbering one hundred.
In the early part of September, 1874, after several weeks of meditation, about twenty Bap- tist members of Hope school decided to organ- ize a church in the vicinity of the sch ool. The property of Hope Mission Sunday-school was removed to the new location, Seventeenth and Bank streets, on Wednesday, October 14, 1874, and on the next evening, October 15, Hope Baptist Church was organized. Pursuant to the appointment, twenty-one persons, bearing letters of dismission from Chestnut street and Pilgrim Baptist churches of Louisville, met for the purpose of constituting a Baptist church. The meeting was organized by the election of W. J. Hopkins chairman, and J. W. Bradley, secretary. After devotional exercises, invoking the blessings of Almighty God, the Ar- ticles of Faith and Practice and the Church Covenant (as laid down in the Baptist Church Directory, by Rev. Dr. Edward T. Hiscox) were read by the chairman, and unanimously accepted by the brethren and sisters, who then came for- ward and signed their names thereto, depositing with the secretary letters of dismission from their respective churches. After devotional exercises, the church thus constituted resolved that the organization be known by the title of Hope Baptist church. On motion, William H. Shirley and Henry Hobbs were elected deacons, James W. Bradley church clerk, and William Smith treasurer. The clerk was instructed to notify all
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
white Baptist churches of this city of this organi- zation and ask of each the appointment of their respective pastors and deacons, as messengers to sit in council with this church on Sunday, Octo- ber 26, 1874, for the purpose of examining the causes resulting in their organization and the doctrines held by the said body; and if found worthy, to recognize Hope church as a regularly constituted Baptist church. Brother Hopkins, having been notified that he had been unani- mously chosen pastor, accepted the pastorate on the imperative condition that said Hope Baptist church should at all times faithfully discharge their general obligations, and especially under all circumstances exercise corrective discipline against any and all of its members for persistent worldliness, he being subject to the action of the Ordaining Council. To all of this the church unanimously pledged assent and support.
MINUTES OF COUNCIL.
October 25, 1874.
Pursuant to the call of Hope Baptist church, messengers rom Walnut Street, Broadway, East, Chestnut Street, Pil- grim, Portland, and the German Baptist churches, met with Hope Baptist church at their place of worship at 3 o'clock, P. M. Council was organized by the election of Rev. J. M. Weaver moderator, and J. D. Allen clerk ; and after thorough and satisfactory examination, Hope Baptist church was unan- imously recognized as a regular church of Jesus Christ. The Council, in obedience to their respective churches, pro- ceeded to the examination of W. J. Hopkins concerning his Christian experience, call to the ministry, and Bible doctrines ; and after careful and satisfactory examination, the Counc.1 unanimously approved his ordination, and under the call of the church proceeded with the ordaining services. Charge to the church by Rev. William B. Smith; charge to the can- didate by Rev. J. M. Weaver; laying on of hands by the Council ; ordaining prayer by Rev. William Harris ; pres- entation of Bible by Rev. R. D. Peay ; and benediction by the candidate.
Thus was constituted and recognized the lit- tle church of twenty-one members, who, after struggling against abuse and persecution from various sources, succeeded, with God's help, in surmounting all obstacles, and in increasing its membership until, after a period of seven years, it numbered one hundred and thirty, and now has the reputation of being too strict, because they adhere so firmly to the law of God. Their aim has ever been strength in Christ, and not numbers; the sheaves they have gathered in the field of tribulation, eternity alone can reveal. While they have had many trials, yet they have enjoyed many hours of sweet communion with their God.
Rev. W. J. Hopkins, the first pastor of Hope Baptist church, retained his position as such until the summer of 1881, when he resigned ; one of the many reasons being on account of his ill-health. Rev. T. P. Potts, the present pastor, was then called, and unanimously elected his successor. *
The Broadway Baptist church is on the north side of Broadway, between First and Second streets. The organization of this church was effected May 17, 1870, by one hundred or more members of the Walnut street Baptist church, situated at Fourth and Walnut streets, asking and receiving from said church letters of dis- mission for the purpose of organizing a new society in the southern or southeastern part of the city, to be known as the Broadway Baptist church. Prior to its organization the member- ship of the Walnut street church had increased to such proportions that it was deemed wisest and best that another church organization should be effected by first building another house of worship, and on completion, such of its members as so desired should receive letters of dismission in order to unite with this new interest. So gen- erously was this new interest supported that from the date of its birth, it moved forward in its work upon equal footing with the mother church; commencing with about one hundred members, its numbers have been gradually increased until at this time they aggregate nearly four hundred. Two ministers have labored in this field, the Rev. J. B. Hawthorne and Rev. J. L. Burrows, D. D. The latter 'having recently resigned and accepted a call from Norfolk, Virginia, the church is at present without a pastor.
This property cost at the completion of the building about $100,000, all of which was paid, thus starting this new interest on its mission free of debt. By a defect, however, in construction, a portion of the building had to be rebuilt in 1874 at a cost of about $20,000. This sum was raised by issuing bonds, and thus a debt was created, which at this date has been reduced to $15,000. In December, 1875, fire nearly de- stroyed the building, but it was immediately re- constructed. Its seating capacity is 1,000, and it has one of the finest and largest organs in Louisville.
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