USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 74
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In June, 1830, a call was extended to the Rev. George W. Ashbridge, of Tuscumbia, Alabama, who accepted and began his pastoral work October 24, 1830. In the meantime a minute is entered in the record of September, 1830, of a sac- ramental meeting held on Corn island, then a large island with a beautiful grove oppo ite the city, now quite washed away, at which meeting four persons were received into the church.
Notwithstanding the depletion by dismissals to the Second church and to the Jeffersonville church, the session reported
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one hundred and thirty-six members to the Presbytery in Oc- tober, 1831. We find the first mention of the Third church in Louisville in letters of dismissal to parties wishing to unite with that church.
The Rev. George W. Ashbridge died during his pastorate, May 4, 1834. Dr. Robert J. Breckinridge was elected pastor December, 1834, and declined; and November 8, 1835, the Rev. W. L. Breekinridge was called and accepted, and began his pastoral charge January 8, 1836.
A few months after, on October 29, 1866, before the close of the Sunday night services, the church building caught fire and was burned down, the clock-bell in its steeple tolling 9 o'clock just before it fell. For the next three years the con- gregation worshipped in the building of the Associate Meth- odist church, on the northwest corner of Fourth and Green streets. During that interim the lot on Fourth street was sold by legislative and judicial aid, the lot on the southeast corner of Green and Sixth street purchased, and the present building erected and completed in 1838 and 1839, the lot and building costing, complete, $66,516. On its completion the first services were held in it on Sunday, July 21, 1839, and the church dedicated. The sermon in the morning was by the pastor, Dr. Breckinridge, from Psalm xlviii, 2, and in the evening from I. Corinthians, i, 24. The church reported to the Presbytery in April, 1841, two hundred and forty com- municants.
The church reported 264 members to the Pre,bytery in April, 1851. For the first time, five deacons were elected in March, 1855, who were ordained in July. Dr. William Breekinridge having resigned after a pastorate of more than twenty-two years, the pulpit was declared vacant on the last Sabbath of September, 1858, the enrolled members then numbering 334. After an interval of more than a year with- out a pastor, the congregation having called the Rev. Thomas H. Hoyt, of Abbeville, South Carolina, he accepted and began his pastoral work November 5, 1859.
In 1861, the roll having been corrected and reduced pre- viously, the church reported 277 communicants, and re- ported the largest amount of funds ever collected in any one year of its history, $23,295.55, of which only $4, 505. 50 were for congregational purposes.
During Dr. Hoyt's pastorate the church was seriously dis- turbed by the sad political troubles of the country which culminated in war. The pastor was exiled by the military authorities, and, after a long and forced absence on his part, the congregation was compelled to unite with him to ask leave of Presbytery to resign his pastoral charge in Decem- ber, 1864.
The Rev. Samuel R. Wilson, D. D., began his pastoral labors in this church in March, 1865, and continued through- out the year, in which the Presbyterian Church, in the border States especially, was distracted by those contentions and differences that resulted, in a great measure, from the bitterness of the political and civil contest that had so long agitated the country. But during that time the church was compact and united.
In 1870 the church purchased a lot and erected a missiou chapel on Chestnut, near Sixteenth, at a cost of about $9,000, now known as the Third Presbyterian Church, having been purchased for their use.
In 1871 two hundred and sixty-two communicants were re- ported to the Presbytery.
It is not necessary or advisable to go into details as to the history of the church in the past ten years. The sad events of a portion of that time are familiar to nearly all present. It is sufficient to say that after the divisions in the First church
in 1874, the First and the Seventh and Chestnut-street churches worshipped together until their union. The Rev. WV. J, Lowry, D. D., having accepted a call to the pastorate of both of those churches, began his pastoral work November 9, 1875, though not installed until January 7, 1876. After a most acceptable ministry of only two years to a congregation worshiping in a hired public hall, in which he had been en- deared to his congregation in a remarkable degree, he preached his last sermon August 26, 1877, and died November roth of the same year.
On November 13, 1878, after a protracted and painful liti- gation, the keys of this building were surrendered to the offi- cers of this church, and our present pastor, the Rev. E. O. Guerrant, began his pastoral lahors among us, preaching his first sermon in this building January 5, 1879, and the two churches were united, on their petitions, by the action of the Presbytery of Louisville, April, 1879. The church reported to the Presbytery, on April, 1881, five hundred and fifty members.
In this sketch, running through sixty-five years, you have the names of two acting pastors-eleet and seven regularly in- stalled pastors, and of them only three are living. In that time there have been, including the present session, thirty- seven elders, of whom twenty-four are dead, and there have been in all fourteen deacons.
During Dr. Guerrant's pastorate the member- ship was more than doubled. About two hun- dred and fifty at the time he was installed, it was raised to six hundred and twenty-five ; but at the time of the re-dedication, in the fall of 1881, it had been reduced by deaths and removals to five hundred and fifty. The church had then been entirely cleared of debt. Dr. Guerrant re- signed in the winter of 1881-82, and went to ie- side in the interior of the State.
THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN (SOUTH). *
In the year 1830 there was in the city of Louisville but one Presbyterian church, though at that time the city contained twelve thousand inhabitants, with the population rapidly increas- ing. In view of these circumstances it was thought a sufficient reason, had there been no other, to embark in the enterprise of establishing a second Presbyterian church in the city. Ac- cordingly, after much deliberation on the subject and having committed their cause to God, and believing that the welfare of souls would be greatly promoted by such a step, the following persons requested of the First Presbyterian church, of which they were members, letters of dismission, with a view of becoming organized into a separate church; namely: Dr. B. H. Hall, Heath J. Miller, William S. Vernon, Mrs. Sarah Cocke, Mrs. Rebecca G. Averill, Mrs.
* Abridged from the admirable Historical Sketch prefixed to the Manual of the church, and written by the Hon. George W. Morris, one of its elders.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
America Vernon, Marion D. Averill, Mrs. Martha Price, Mrs. Henrietta Wilson, Mrs. Sarah M. Barnes, Mrs. Mary Denwood, Miss Lucy C. Hall.
The request of these persons being granted, a meeting was appointed in the house of Mr. Mar_ tin D. Averill on Saturday, the 17th day of April, IS30, at which the Rev. D. C. Banks presided, and organized them into a church to be called "The Second Presbyterian Church of Louisville, Ken- tucky."
Before entering upon the election of officers, they received four members from the Presby- terian church in Frankfort, Kentucky, namely : Dr. James J. Mills, his wife, and two daughters. William S. Vernon and j. J. Miles were unani mously elected ruling elders. Application was made for the ministerial labors of Rev. E. N. Sawtell, who had been preaching for eight months as the pastor-elect in the First church ; and, not having been installed he yielded to this application, and entered immediately upon his duties.
Having no house of worship, they occupied a school-room on Green street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, where he preached his first sermon on the third Sabbath of April, 1830. On the twelfth of November, Marvin D. Averill was unanimously elected Ruling Elder, and in the same month a Bible class was organized, embracing a large portion of the congregation, who attended with deep interest and manifest improvement. On the tenth of March, 1831, the church and congregation convened for the elec- tion of a pastor. The Rev. E. N. Sawtell, who had for a year been performing the duties of a pastor, was unanimously elected. The call being made out and presented before the Louisville Presbytery, he was regularly installed Pastor of the Second church on Saturday, April 9, 1831.
On the seventeenth of April, 1831, a Sabbath- school was organized in connection with the church, which numbered during the year nearly one hundred scholars.
The church was now approaching an important crisis in her history. Though their numbers had increased, their borders enlarged, and their picty had begun to assume a more active and decided character, yet poverty still stared them in the face. Those that had been added being principally from among the youth, possessed but limited means for the support of the Gospel. The house
in which services had been regularly held was too small for the congregation, and it was soon to be removed. The serious question, What can be done in this emergency ? forced itself upon every mind. To build seemed simply impossible, and not to build was in effect to disperse the con- gregation and dissolve the church. After much deliberation it was determined to make the at- tempt, and a building committee was appointed, consisting of the following persons: Daniel Fetter, chairman ; William Garvin, John Rein- hard, William Mix, William S. Vernon, Thomas Jones, M. D. Averill. A lot of ground on Third street, between Green and Walnut, was procured at a cost of about $1,500, and subscriptions suf- ficient to authorize the commencement of the building, but how to proceed farther was a ques- tion that remained unsettled. After much de- liberation it was determined, as a last resort, that the pastor should visit some of the large cities of the North, present the claims of the church, and solicit the aid of their Christian brethren. This effort resulted in his obtaining donations to the amount of nearly $2,500. Being encouraged by this timely aid, they prosecuted the work on the building with renewed vigor, and though in- terrupted by the severity of the winter of 1831- 32, they advanced so far that in March an infant school was opened in the basement story, and in June following the same room was occupied for public worship. On the 28th of September, 1832, the house was completed and, with appro- priate services, was dedicated to the service of the Triune God. The sermon on this occasion was preached by Rev. President Young, of Cen- ter College, Danville, Kentucky.
In the fall of the year 1835, Mr. Sawtell, in consequence of failing health, resigned the pas- toral charge of the church, much to the regret of the people, among whom he had labored so faithfully and successfully. Shortly afterwards he was called to another important field of labor --- namely, that of the Seaman's Mission, at Havre, France.
In the month of December of the same year, Rev. E. P. Humphrey entered upon his duties as pastor of the church. At this period there were about 130 members belonging to the church; and, under the care of the new pastor, it continued to grow in numbers and increase in usefulness.
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In the early part of the year 1846, the session of the church granted Dr. Humphrey leave of absence for eight months, to enable him to visit Europe, in the hope of regaining his health, which had become seriously impaired. And, upon his recommendation, an arrangement was made by the session with Rev. Stuart Robinson, who was then preaching at Kanawha, Virginia, to supply the pulpit in the interim, which he did with great satisfaction to the people. Dr. Hum- phrey returned in November, greatly improved in health, and entered upon his work with renewed vigor.
The secession of members to form the Chest- nut-street, now the Warren Memorial Presby- terian Church, occurred about this time.
In August, 1853, Dr. Humphrey having been elected by the General Assembly, at its annual session of that year, professor of church history in the Theological Seminary at Danville, Ken- tueky, resigned the pastoral charge. During his pastorate there were received into the church about four hundred and fifty persons, and at the date of his resignation the number of communi- cants was two hundred and fifty-five. A call was made upon the Rev. J. J. Bullock, of Lex- ington, Kentucky, who accepted and entered upon his pastoral duties in September of that year. At the end of about two years and a half he resigned to take charge again of the school at Walnut Hills, Kentucky.
During a period of two years and a half fol- lowing the resignation of Dr. Bullock, the church was left without a pastor; yet notwithstanding this the Sabbath-school, weekly prayer-meetings, and regular church service on the Sabbath were kept up. Calls were extended to four or five distinguished ministers in different parts of the country, but one after another they declined, and the church was seriously embarrassed with the question of the pastorate until directed to one who had served the church so acceptably twelve years before. Rev. Stuart Robinson was now professor of church government in the Seminary at Danville, and the church had little hope of him. Nevertheless the call was made, as it had been to him once before; he accepted, and in the spring of 1838 became pastor of the church. The effect was highly beneficial, and new life seemed to be infused.
In the spring of the following year a meeting
was held, and steps were taken to purchase a large and desirable lot on the corner of Second and College streets, where the College Street Presbyterian church now stands, for a new build- ing in the near future. Meanwhile it was re- solved to remodel the basement story of the old church and put galleries in the audience-room, to accommodate the increasing congregation. For these improvements and the ground pur- chased, several thousand dollars were raised within two years.
During the protracted absence of Dr. Robin- son in the war period, the pulpit was supplied by Mr. John C. Young, a licentiate of the Presby- tery of Transylvania, who had been engaged by Dr. Robinson upon leaving. He was elected co-pastor at the end of two years, resigning the position upon the Doctor's return in the spring of 1866.
About three hundred and thirty members were now on the church roll. Nearly one-third of these went off the same year, to form the College- street church, taking the lot aforesaid and a large sum in money as their share of the church prop- erty. In 1868 measures were taken to raise $50,000 for a new site and church. Although the country was then in the worst of the "hard times," the effort was remarkably successful, and in a short time the amount was subscribed. One of the most desirable traets in the city for the purpose -- 112 feet on Broadway by 400 on Second-was bought for $36,000, but a part of it, fronting on Jacob street, was presently sold for $10,000. The lecture- and Sabbath-school rooms on the rear of the remaining lot were first erected, and dedicated in May, 1870. The General Assembly of the Church South was holding its session there at the same period, The old church on Third street-a variety theatre of late years-was sold, and the new building temporarily occupied for all services. $20,000 more were raised, and the superb edifice now standing at Second and Broadway was dedicated on Sunday, September 13, 1874, with simple but impressive ceremonies-sermon by the Rev. B. M. Palmer, D.D., of New Orleans. It had cost, without furniture and organ, about $80,000; with them, about $90,000. The pulpit was paid for by the exertions of the Children's Society of the church. The total cost of the church property was near $140,000, of which a
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part was bonded deht, and a small part floating debt. At that time, although the church was nearly forty-five years old, all four of its pastors and ex-pastors were still living.
Dr. Robinson died October 5, 1881, greatly lamented by his church and by the community. He was aged sixty-seven years, and had held this pastorate for twenty-three years and one-half. The Rev. John W. Pratt, D. D., was then called, accepted, and was installed December 5, 1881. He is now serving the church and society with great power and a steadily growing influence. The number of communicants at this writing (February, 1882) is five hundred and seventy-five.
The Sunday-school immediately attached to the church has an enrollment of about one hundred and fifty, with twenty-five teachers. Mr. A. Davidson is superintendent, and also clerk of session. The Park and Homestead Mission Sunday-schools are also sustained and officered from this church.
The following full and excellent sketch of the Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church is very kindly contributed to this work by the Rev. J. H. Morrison, its present pastor :
This church will be twenty-seven years old September 1, 1882. For more than a quarter of a century it has attested God's protecting love and favor; it has shared with other parts of His vineyard, His showers and His sunshine, His frowns and His blessings. Copying from the earliest minutes of the church records we read the following :
PRESBYTERIAN HERALD OFFICE, } LOUISVILLE, KY., August 16, 1855.
Pursuant to a call from Rev. Robert Morrison, who has been preaching for some time at Portland, in accordance with a resolution of the Louisville Presbytery, passed some time since, constituting the sessions of the churches of the city into a committee to organize churches in the city when- ever the way is open, the sessions of four of the churches were present or represented, to consider the petition sent to that conunittee from certain persons in Portland desiring the organization of a Presbyterian Church in that part of the city.
On motion, Professor S. R. Williams, of the First church, was called to the chair, and J. W. G. Simrall, of the Chest- nut Street church session, was chosen Secretary.
Present from First church, S. R. Williams, John W. An- derson, Cunan Pope. Mr. Gillis.
From Second church, A. Davidson.
From Chestnut Street church, W. S. Vernon, L. P. Yan- dell, John Milton, John W. G. Simrall.
From Walnut Street church, John Martin.
Mr. R. Morrison was then called on, and made a state- ment of the condition of affairs at Portland, and closed his
remarks by reading the petition of twelve persons resident in or near Portland praying to be organized into a Presbyterian church.
On motion, it was resolved that it is deemed expedient that the church be organized as desired.
Further, on motion, it was resolved that one elder from each of the five churches of the city, with as many pastors of churches in the city or members of the Presbytery as may be present, be constituted a committee to organize said church at some future time to be agreed upon, if the way be open.
The elders chosen were: From the First church, Curran Pope; Second church, William Prather; Chestnut Street church, J. W. G. Simrall; Walnut street church, H. E. Tunstall; Fourth church, Otis Patton.
On motion, it was resolved that this meeting recommend to the friends of our church in the city to contribute liberally of their means to raise funds to purchase a lot in Portland on which to build a Presbyterian church.
On motion adjourned.
PLUMER'S STORE ROOM, 1 PORTLAND, September 1, 1855. )
The above mentioned committee, consisting of an elder from each church in the city, were present, together with Rev. W. L. Breckinridge, D. D., pastor of the First church; Rev. W. W. Hill, D. D .; and Rev. F. Senour, D. D., of the Fourth church. At 10:30 A. M. the meeting was called to order, and Dr. Breckinridge was called to preside. After which Dr. Hill preached a sermon from Psalm cxxxvii, on the believer's love for the church.
After sermon Dr. Breckinridge took the chair, and the divine blessing having been invoked, the letters of persons intending to unite with the church to be constituted, were placed in his hands, and were as follows: Mrs. Jane Mc- Culloch, Miss Mary McCulloch, Miss Hectorina McCulloch, Mrs. Emma Duckwell, Mrs. Elizabeth Dick, Newton Boles.
The first three persons presented letters of dismission and recommendation from the Second Presbyterian church, Louis- ville, and Mrs. Dick from the Walnut street church, Mrs. Dnekwall from the First church, New Albany, Indiana, and Mr. Boles from the Springfield church and the Presbytery of Wooster. All these were found in order and received by the committee. An opportunity then being given for per- sons to present themselves for examination with a view to the profession of their faith, M1. William A. Boles and Mrs. Melvina McKnight came forward and were examined. Mr. Boles never having been baptized, this ordinance was admin- istered to him by Dr. Breckinridge. These eight persons then came forward and signified their desire to unite in organizing a Presbyterian church in Portland, and covenanted to walk together in a church relation, according to the acknowledged doctrines of the Presbyterian church, and were thus consti- tuted into a church.
It was thought best to defer the election of officers for a lit- tle season. After prayer by Rev. F. Senour, the benediction was pronounced and the committee adjourned.
At a subsequent meeting. Joseph Irwin was received from the First church, Louisville.
CITY SCHOOL HOUSE, November 18, 1855,
At a meeting of the Presbyterian church and congregation, immediately after preaching, previous notice having been given, an election for church officers was held, which resulted in Mr. Joseph Irwin being chosen to the Eldership and Mr. N. Boles being chosen as Deacon.
CITY SCHOOL HOUSE. December 8, 1855. A Congregational meeting of the Portland Presbyterian
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church was this day held for the purpose of electing a board of trustees. Dr. G. H. Walling was called to the chair, and N. Boles appointed as Secretary pro tem.
The following persons were duly elected as Board of Trus- lees: Daniel McCulloch, John Graham, Joseph Irwin, Dr. G. H. Walling, N. Boles.
At a subsequent meeting. Daniel McCulloch was chosen Treasurer and N. Boles Secretary.
Thus far we have copied directly from the minutes of the church. Rev. R. Morrison con- tinued to preach for this church at various times, but whether regularly does not appear from the minutes. Also Dr. W. L. Breckinridge and Rev. J. H. Rice preached and conducted sacra- mental meetings at various times. During this time additions to the church and ordinations and installment of officers are reported. Mr. Joseph Irwin was solemnly set apart as elder March 30, 1857, as before elected, but Mr. N. Boles was not set apart as deacon, he having re- moved to Denmark, Tennessee.
In 1857 the church obtained leave to secure the services of licentiate A. A. E. Taylor, of Cin- cinnati Presbytery. May 6, 1858-Thursday after- noon-the candidate completed his trial pieces before Presbytery at an adjourned meeting held in the Portland Avenue church. At 712 P. M. he was installed pastor as follows: Rev. Stuart Robinson preached the sermon from Luke iv., 18, 19, in the presence of a large audience, after which the pastor elect was solemnly ordained and set apart to the work of the ministry by prayer and the laying on the hands of the Pres- bytery. Rev. W. W. Hill, D. D., delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. M. G. Knight the charge to the people.
September 19, 1859, the pastoral relation between Rev. Mr. Taylor and this church was dissolved by Presbytery. During Mr. Taylor's ministry the church constantly received acces- sions to its membership, and with variations had twenty-nine on the roll when he was succeeded by Rev. Edward Wurts, December, 1859. It does not appear from the minutes whether Mr. Wurts was installed as pastor or not, but he con- tinued to serve the church until June, 1865. Under his ministry, with the faithful assistance of the session, the n.embership increased from twenty-nine to eighty-three, and other interests of the church in proportion.
Rev. W. W. Duncan succeeded Mr. Wurts in charge of the church in the year 1865, between June and August. The session then, and for
some time previous, consisted of Joseph Irwin, D. McCulloch, and H. Roberts, with W. H. Troxell and Joseph P. Green as deacons.
Mr. Duncan remained in charge only about one year. Rev. C. B. Davidson then succeeded him for nearly a year. In the interim Rev. R. H. Kinnaird and others preached occasion- ally, and moderated the meetings of sessions.
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