USA > Ohio > History of the Upper Ohio Valley, with family history and biographical sketches, a statement of its resources, industrial growth and commercial advantages, Vol. II pt 2 > Part 2
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where Beech Spring school-house now stands, near Short creek, under the spreading branches of the forest trees, with a tent or covered stand for the minister and leader of the singing, was effected the organization of this church. The first elders were Richard McKib- bon, Thomas McCune, James Clark and James Eagleson. This tent or meeting place was three and a half miles southeast of the present village of Mt. Plesant.
The first house built was a rude log one, about one and a fourth miles southeast of the place where the organization took place. It was at the foot of Hogue's hill, near the waters of Little Short creek. and was a very primitive structure, without stove or fireplace. At this house the congregation met and worshipped twenty years. A ceme- tery containing a hundred graves, wasalso made, but little now remains, except here and there a dilapidated tombstone to indicate where now sleep these silent dead. For the next eleven years the congregation occupied the Associate Reformed church. This building was a hewed log house and stood on a hill about one and a fourth miles north of the old log house at the foot of Hogue's hill, and two miles east of Mt. Pleasant.
The pastor of this church, during these thirty-one years, was Rev. Joseph Anderson, who, after serving Short Creek and Richland some time, as a supply, was installed by the Presbytery, August 20, 1800. 'He had been licensed by the Presbytery of Ohio, October 17,1798. His ordination, it is said, took place under a large tree on the farm of the late Clark Mitchell, and the honor was his (Anderson's) of being the first Presbyterian minister ordained west of the Ohio. One-third of his time was given to Short Creek and two-thirds to Plymouth. He was dismissed to the Presbytery of St. Charles, Mo., in 1835. and died at Monticello, in the same state, in 1847.
In 1829 the foundation was laid for a new house in Mt. Pleasant, and the building completed in the winter of 1829 or 1830. It is not known whether it was dedicated or not. The building committee con- sisted of Adam Dunlap, John Hogg and William Pickens. This stood for twenty-five or twenty-six years. This building became unsafe, and it was determined to build a new one, the present edifice. This house was completed in 1855. The Rev. Benjamin Mitchell succeeded Rev. Anderson as pastor, and served up until 1877, from which time Rev. W. S. Pringle has served as pastor for this congregation.
The Tivo Ridge Presbyterian Church was organized in the year 1802 or 1803, by Rev. Snodgrass. The first house of worship was erected in the year 1810, up to which time the people met for worship in various places, private dwellings, school-houses, and often in the woods. Hlav- ing served the church two years, Mr. Snodgrass was succeeded (after an interval of one year) by Rev. William McMillan. He continued pastor of this church and the Yellow creek church (now Bacon Ridge) for six years. The original session consisted of but two members, Messrs. James Cellars and James Bailey. Soon afterward Messrs. Samuel Thompson. Andrew Anderson and George Day were added to the session; and in the year 1817, Mr. Thomas Elliott also. The
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church being supplied part of the time occasionally and part statedly, from 1812 to 1818 (during which time a new house of worship was erected, 1816). Rev. Thomas Ilunt was then called to become pastor of this and Yellow Creek churches, over which he was installed May 21, 1819. About 1828, Two Ridge church employed him for the whole of his time. He continued their pastor until October 4, 1836. Mr. Hunt was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Kerr, and he, after a pastorate of four or five years, was succeeded by Rev. William Eaton, who was installed October 21, 1844. Mr. Eaton's labors as pastor of this church ceased April, 1853. The following summer a new house of worship was erected, which constitutes part of the present building, having been afterward enlarged and remodeled. After an interval of two years Rev. David R. Campbell was installed pastor. The pastoral relationship between Mr. Campbell and this congregation was dis- solved October, 1861, after which they were without a pastor for a year and a half, when they called Rev. George Fraser, who accepted the call and was accordingly installed in the summer of 1863. In the year 186;, Mr. Fraser was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Dickey, who had formerly been a member of this church. Having served this church three years he was succeeded by Rev. I. M. Lawbough, who continued pastor for but eight months. In April, 1873. Rev. Israel Price became pastor of this church for two-thirds of his time. Mr. Price leaving in the fall of 1877. the church was left without a pastor for more than a year, when, January 9, 1879, J. C. McCracken was called, and on the 6th of the following May was ordained and installed pastor.
The Cross Creek Presbyterian Church .- There is one Presbyterian church in Cross Creek township, and the exact date of the first meet- ing or who preached the first sermon, cannot be definitely ascertained. but Rev. Wray was among the first preachers, and preached at the house of Thomas Elliott, as early as 1816. Rev. Obadiah Jennings. then pastor of the first church at Steubenville, visited and preached at the house of Judge Anderson, as early as 1820. Meetings were also held occasionally at the old log school-house, near where Stark school-house now stands. Rev. C. C. Beatty, in his youth. preached sometimes at the house of Walter Hanlon, and meetings were also held at the, houses of Stephen Riggs, William Dinsmore and George Day. Rev. Thomas Hunt was also among the early preachers.
In 1835. the propriety and importance of having a house of worship erected. was discussed, and in 1837 the first church was erected. It was built of brick and was a good one for that time. George Day gave an acre of ground for the church and graveyard. The follow- ing spring a petition was presented to Presbytery asking for the organization of the church. The Rev. C. C. Beatty was appointed to visit them and organize if the way was open. The church was accordingly organized with twenty-five members. The first pastor was Joseph HI. Chambers. In 18; 3 the church was consumed by fire. but the congregation erected a new building of brick in the latter part of that year. J. F. Boyd was installed as pastor in 18;o.
Bacon Ridge Presbyterian Church .- The original society from which
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this sprung was called Richmond church, and the meeting house stood about the center of section 25, township 11, range 3. Rev. George Scott organized the society in 1804. Arthur Latimer, John P. McMillan, Stephen Coe, Thomas Bay, Calvin Moorehead, Aaron Allan and Andrew Dixon were members at the time. The first pas- tor was William McMillan, D. D., who served two years. The first meeting-house was a primitive structure of rude architecture and small size, but as the congregation grew in numbers it was found necessary to build a larger house. This was done in 1820. A brick building 30x50 was erected and stood until the congregation was di- vided -the territory being too large and the membership too much scattered. Other churches being organized contiguous the brick building was torn down and a new one put up on the northwest quarter of section 13, township 11, range 3-a frame structure 33x44 feet. The records of the church being lost previous to 1840, the exact succession of pastors cannot now be ascertained. J. R. Dundas was pastor from 1840 till 1844, then came Cyrus Riggs, who was pastor at the time the "old brick" church was abandoned. Mr. Riggs was suc- ceeded by Lafferty Greer, who officiated seven years, and was in turn succeeded by Rev. John S. Marquis, who resigned on account of ill-health in 1865. William Wycoff was installed in June, 1866, and officiated until October 19, 1873. He in turn was succeeded by Rev. W. M. Eaton, whose connection with the congregation was dissolved in October, 1868, since which time the church has been without a reg- ularly installed minister, but has depended upon supplies furnished by the Presbytery, Rev. I. Price acting as stated supply at times.
Briefly have we sketched some of the earliest Presbyterian churches in this county. Many more churches of this denomination have been established in this county at dates subsequent to the founding of the above. In the county there are twenty-four Presbyterian churches with a membership of over 2,700, and a Sunday-school attendance of upwards of 3,000. The churches on the whole are prosperous and making steady growth, although some of the country churches are weakened by removals.
The history of the first Episcopalian church in Jefferson county is as follows:
St. James Episcopal Church .- In December, 1800, Dr. Doddridge entered into an agreement with a number of individuals living west of the Ohio, to perform the duties of an Episcopalian clergyman, every third Saturday, at the house of the widow McGuire. The subscrip- tion book, which is dated December 1, 18oo, contains the following names: George Mahan, William Whitcraft, Eli Kelly, George Halli- well, William McConnell, John McConnell, William McColnall, George Richey, Bejamin Doyle, Joseph Williams, John Long, Mary McGuire, John McKnight, Frederick Allbright, John Scott, Moses Hanlon. This little congregation was, we conclude, the germ of the ยท present parish of St. James in Cross Creek, as among the above named we find four of them attached to the petition signed by that parish, in December, 1813, to be sent to the general convention in
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1817, asking leave of that body to form a diocese in the western coun- try. The names are: George Mahan, William McColnall, John Mc- Connell and Benjamin Doyle. We are not acquainted with the gra- dations by which the congregation at the widow McGuire's expanded into the parish of St. James, nor how long services were held at her house; but from the pastor's papers, we find that from iS14 until his resignation in 1823, he remained rector of the parish of St. James - the Rev. Intrepid Morse then assuming charge of it, in connection with that of St. Paul's, at Steubenville. That the services of Dr. Doddridge were efficient at St. James, is shown by the fact, that when the diocese of Ohio was organized in 1818, he reported fifty-two communicants, and over 100 baptisms within two years.
The following is copied from the records of St. James parish: At a meeting of the congregation of St. James, on the first of December, 1816, the petition to the general convention, for leave to form a dio- cese in the western country, was signed by over twenty-five persons, among them the original signers to the first subscription book. The church was consecrated in 1825 by Bishop Chase. The first pastor of the congregation was Dr. Doddridge, who remained until 1823. The pastors who labored after him, and their term of service, were Rev. Intrepid Morse, from 1823 until 1837; Rev. Richard Grey, from 183; until 1851; Rev. Humphrey Hollis, from 1851 until 1855; Rev. Charles Flams, from 1855 until 1857; Rev. Edmund Christian, from 1857 until 1863: Rev. Henry .A. Lewis, from 1863 until 1866; Rev. W. E. Webb, from 1866 until 1868; Rev. T. K. Coleman, from 1868 until IS;o; Rev. Joshua Coupland, from 1870 until 1875. The St. James was the second Epis- copal church organized in the northwestern territory, the first being at Marietta. The last pastor in charge was Rev. James M. Ilillyer. This church has been somewhat disorganized for the last two years, being without a pastor, but efforts are being put forth at present to open its doors to its members regularly. Its membership is about forty.
St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church, Steubenville, Ohio. -- The parish of St. Paul's church, Steubenville, was organized on the 17th day of May, A. D. 1819, at the residence of William R. Dickenson, by the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, bishop of the diocese of Ohio. The article of the association reads as follows:
" We, whose names are hereunto affixed, deeply impressed with the truth and importance of the Christian religion, and anxiously desirous of promoting its holy influences in the hearts and lives of ourselves, our families and neighbors, do hereby associate ourselves together by the name, style and title of St. Paul's Church, Steubenville, in con- nection with the Protestant Episcopal church, in the state of Ohio." The parish thus organized proceeded to elect officers for its govern- ment. and Brice Veirs was chosen senior warden, George Chapman, junior warden, and Nicholas Hutchins. Jacob C. Hoagland and Ephraim Root. Jr., vestrymen. The organization then effected has continued by uninterrupted succession to the present day. The parish was regu- larly incorporated by the legislature of the state in 1825. The first
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rector was the Rev. Intrepid Morse. He took charge of it near the beginning of its corporate existence, but about half of his time for the first few years was given to the building up of other congregations in the neighborhood. When he was absent the service was read by lay readers, among whom Mr. Edward Wood seems to have officiated most frequently. The congregation had no church, but worshipped sometimes in the room over the old market house, sometimes in the building then belonging to the congregation of Kramer Chapel. In 1822 they took up a temporary abode in the upper room of the old academy, still standing on High street, where they remained until their first church was ready for occupation. Through the labors of the women of the parish the lot on the corner of Fourth and Adams streets was purchased, and the men then taking hold of the work money was collected and the corner stone of a church was laid by the Rev. Intrepid Morse, on the 9th of July, 1832. The address on the occasion was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Wheat, of St. Matthew's church. Wheeling. The church was opened for service on September 13. 1833, and duly consecrated to the worship of . Almighty God on Decem- ber 8, 1833, by the Rt. Rev. C. P. Mellvain, bishop of the diocese. This building was occupied for forty-six years. In 1879, the elegant stone structure now occupied by this church was built. The corner stone was laid May 13. 1879. The church has had but five rectors during its existence. The Rev. Intrepid Morse, who had charge of it from its beginning up to 1865; Rev. Charles Gillett, D. D., from November 20, 1865, to October, 1867: Rev. Andrew Hull, D. D., for about two years ending IS;1; Rev. Thomas D. Pitts, from 1871 to ISSo; Rev. R. W. Grange from ISSo to 1889. The present rector is Rev. Charles D. Williams, installed June 17, 1889. The membership at present is about 175, with a Sunday-school of 125.
We here give brief sketches of some of the earliest Methodist Epis- copal churches in this county:
The Holmes Methodist Episcopal church, now an appointment on Smithfield circuit, Steubenville, is probably the oldest Methodist Epis- copal church organization in Ohio. . The first church building ever erected west of the river by that denomination was the original house put up by this congregation in 1803, on the banks of Short creek. It is called the Holmes meeting house, after Jacob Holmes, a prominent member of the society and local minister, who lived near it. It was a hewed log house, about twenty-six feet long, with chimney in the side. The fireplace was not less than seven feet in the clear, the height of story nine feet. The joists were close together and covered with clapboards, forming the ceiling. The roof was clapboards hell on by weight poles. The floor was of puncheons, and the seats were made by splitting small-sized trees in two pieces. The house ranged with the creek, and the door was in the end fronting the southeast. There was not one dollar in money expended in the building. The people came together, cut the timber, hewed the logs, split the clapboards, and put up the building. Jacob Holmes, Charles Moore. Richard Moore, Isaac Meek and Mr. Crane originated the enterprise. There
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was preaching occasionally at Jacob Holmes's and Isaac Meek's before the building was erected, but there is no account of any preaching earlier than 1800. This church was abandoned in ISI0, in consequence of the difficulty of crossing the creek in times of high water and ice, in the winter season. The creek now runs over where the graveyard was, including nearly, if not all, the location of the church. Some of the bodies in the graveyard were removed to other cemeteries, while others were doubtless carried away by the waters. The logs of the building are still preserved, and canes have been made from them and presented to eminent ministers.
In 1810 a new house was completed, about a half mile from the first and on higher ground. The ground, which was secured for the church and graveyard, was deeded to Jacob Holmes, John Stoneman. Will- iam Storer. Jacob Jones, James Smith, S. Moore, E. Pierce, R. Moore and John Barkhurst. The house, originally, was a singular structure. It was a long narrow building; the pulpit and door were in the sides. The pulpit place was made by the building of a large pen of logs out- side and connected with the main walls; the same arrangement was made at the door, forming a large vestibule, giving the house the ap- pearance of an ark, with large wheel houses at the side. For several years it had neither stoves nor chimneys. Two places were made on the floor, of stones and mortar, and the house was warmed by burn- ing charcoal on these elevations. Some seventy ministers have preached to this church. Up to the year 1829, there was a large and flourishing society, when the unfortunate division took place re- sulting in building a Methodist Protestant house of worship a mile away. In February, 1874, the trustees agreed to build a new and more commodious house. It was commenced in June and completed in November.
The Kramer Methodist Episcopal Church .- In preparing the history of any local church in Methodism, we meet peculiar difficulties, not from any lack of material, but from the fact that our early work was connectional instead of local; and, consequently, the records are widely scattered through " quarterly " and "annual conference minutes.' The plan of the early itinerants was to embrace as much territory in a circuit as could be traveled around in four, six or eight weeks, preaching each day and establishing prayer meetings, and forming classes in private houses. As these clases grew in numbers and churches were built the work was divided until at last the station was formed. There was then no missionary society to assist in the sup- port of the ministry. The country was wild, the settlements distant - -- roads not made -the church was to be gathered from the wilderness. The itinerant could only hope for a bare support as he followed in the path of the pioneer and gathered the people to preach the gospel. The Ohio circuit, which finally embraced Steubenville, was formed in 1 .. but the first Methodist preaching here, of which we have any account, was in the summer of 1704. when Samuel Hitt and John li. Reynolds preached a few sermons in the midst of much opposition. Their circuit embraced Ohio county in Virginia, Washington county in
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Pennsylvania, and the settlements on both sides of the Ohio river from the mouth of the Muskingum to near Pittsburgh.
In 1810 a class of twelve was permanently formed, with Bernard Lucas as leader, and the meetings which had been carried on for ten years previously at different houses in the town, were still continued, but with renewed vigor. In 1811 Bezaleel Wells gave the church a lot on which to erect a suitable building. Many of the large gather- ings previously had been held in the old log court house. In 1821 the church building was increased by the addition of a large cross build- ing which gave the church the name of the "old ship." In 1830 the church suffered a loss of membership of some ninety members that withdrew and formed the Fifth Street Methodist Protestant church. In 1854 the "old ship" was dismantled and the present edifice was erected and called the Kramer church, in recognition of the munifi cent gift from Allen Kramer, of Pittsburgh. The Kramer church has been the scene of many large and successful revivals, and has always been at the front in active Christian work. The Hamline Methodist Episcopal church was formed from the Kramer in 1844. The Thomp- son chapel was formed from it in 1868, by an amicable division, sixty- three members leaving to establish the new church.
Methodist Episcopal Church of Richmond.About the year ISoo. a young Methodist preacher by the name of Joseph Hall came to Ohio and married Miss Dillah Moores, daughter of James Moores, of Salem township, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 2. township 10, range 3, where Mr. E. Burchfield now lives. He preached occasionally at the house of his father-in-law, James Moores, after- ward at the house of Stephen Ford and Ilenry Jackman alternately. until a small log church was built on the land of Henry Jackman. The first class was formed about 1SOS, of which the following persons were members: James Moores and wife, Elizabeth; Henry Jackman and wife, Christina; Joseph Hall and wife, Dillah; Stephen Ford and wife, Ruth; George Hout and wife, Christina. Judge James Moores was the first class leader. During the year 1832, a church (brick, 40x44) was built at Richmond. This building, with some alterations, stood until 1861, when it was replaced by the present structure (45x06, brick) at a cost of $5.000. Location, east side of South Sugar street. There are at present 265 members.
Mt. Tabor Methodist Episcopal Church .- Rev. James B. Finley first preached in that locality, at the house of Adam Jackman, in the year 1814, and organized the first class. Members of class: Richard Coulter and wife, Adam Jackman, Mary Jackman, Margaret Jack- man, Jane Patterson, Isabel Whittaker, George Alban, Garrett . Abert- son, Strickland, William Nugent, Richard Jackman, Jane Jackman. Jane Armstrong, John Crawford, James Crawford, Martin Swickard, Margaret Swickard, Jacob Vail, and some others whose names are not remembered. Richard Coulter was the leader of the class.
Preaching was continued at the house of Adam Jackman for twelve years. The first church edifice -a brick building - was then erected.
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In this building the society continued to worship for thirty years. In the year 1856, the present neat and commodious frame building was completed and dedicated. With the exception of a brief interval it has always been connected with Richmond.
Long's Methodist Episcopal church, in Cross Creek township, was organized about 1803. It was an offspring from the Episcopalian church of that locality. J. B. Finley was probably its first minister.
The Methodist Episcopal church in this county is strong and vigor- ous and has kept pace with the increasing population. There are at present thirty Methodist Episcopal churches within the limits of Jefferson county, with a membership aggregating about 5,000.
The Methodist Protestant church in this county dates back to 1827, and the first church of this denomination was organized at Mt. Pleasant. The first Methodist church built was a small brick, built in the village of Mt. Pleasant about the year 1815, at the east end of the town, on ground owned by David McMasters, a local minister. The house was used some years for school purposes. About the year 1827 the subject of lay delegation commenced to be agitated in the church, and during that year a separation took place. With but few exceptions the members withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal or- ganization and organized non-Episcopal societies. They continued to occupy the same church building. The lot had not been leased by the society, and David McMasters dying in that year, it was subse- quently deeded to the Methodist Protestant organization, which was organized in 1829 by William B. Evans, a local minister. Samuel Pennington was the first class leader; Rev. David McMasters, Anna McMasters, Aaron B. Townsend, Mary Withrow, Mrs. Kurlin, James Davis and wife, were some of the original members, none of whom are now living. In 1839 the old house was taken down and a new church building erected on the same site, 40x50 feet. When the new house was near completion it took fire from a defective flue and de- stroyed the roof and plastering, delaying its completion until 1842. During the rebuilding the society occupied the Presbyterian church. The new house when finished was the house of the Union Sabbath school, and was used for temperance meetings, school exhibitions, and other public meetings, and was replaced by a new house 4ox60 feet, in 1Soo, on the same lot. This structure has basement and vestibule, and was dedicated by Alexander Clark in the winter of 1869, costing about $6.000. The society, like all others, has had its days of pros- perity and its seasons of adversity. This church now numbers 380 members, and a Sunday-school of 320 children, and twenty teachers. J. D. Murphy is the present pastor.
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