History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 105

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I > Part 105

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

have been had Bigelow or Third Street not have been organized. With the removal now of Town Street to the eastern part of the city an enlarged field of use- fulness will fall to Third Street.

Gift Street Church .- The origin of the first Methodist Society in Franklinton, which afterward became Franklinton Mission, then Heath Chapel, and is now Gift Street Church, is enveloped in some obscurity. If any records were kept they are now unknown, but tradition to some degree supplies their place. As far back as 1840, and possibly earlier, there was a Methodist class in this part of the city. They first met in a small house owned by Jacob Grub, on Green Street. After- ward the old Courthouse which stood on the northwest corner of Broad and San- dusky streets, and which had tben been converted into a schoolhouse, was used as a place of worship until the erection of Heath Chapel. One person, Charity John- son, who was a member as far back as 1845, still lives. From 1840 to 1850, this society belonged to the Franklinton Circuit, and was served as follows. 1840, William Sutton and James Gilruth ; 1841, Joseph A. Reeder and William Sutton ; 1842, James Armstrong and John W. Kanaga; 1843, James Armstrong and Joseph W. Smith; 1844, Stephen F. Conrey and J. W. Smith; 1845, S. F. Conrey and James T. Donahoo; 1846, Philip A. Muchner and J. T. Donahoo; 1847, P. A. Muchner and Thomas M. Gossard; 1848, Alexander Nelson and John W. Steele ; 1849, James Armstrong and James B. Austin. In 1850 it was attached to some cir- cuit where it cannot now be identified. In 1851 and on to 1856 it was in the Dub- lin Circuit and was served as follows: 1851, Samuel C. Riker and Andrew B. See; 1852, Archibald Fleming and a supply ; 1853, A. Fleming and Jacob Martin ; 1854, William Z. Ross and Levi Hall; 1855, W. Z. Ross and William Sutton; in 1856 it became the Franklin Mission and was served by James Hooper.

July 11, 1855, Michael L. and Fannie Sullivant deeded a lot 60 by 185 feet in what was then a cornfield on the National Road, but is now the southeast cor- ner of Broad and Mill streets, to the Trustees of Ileath Chapel, viz: John F. Bartlit, Ira M. Gordon, C. L. Mattoon, Gamaliel Scott, Isaac C. Aston, Philip Sommers, Ephraim Johnson, James O'Kane and Henry F. Booth. By mistake, when it came to building, the church was placed on the lot adjoining on the east the one donated us. After holding that lot by possession for twentytwo years, and the corner one adjacent by deed the same length of time, Rev. S. C. Framp- ton, the pastor, succeeded in February, 1877, in bringing about an exchange in the title, thus securing a quitclaim deed to the lot on which Heath Chapel stood.

Heath Chapel was built in 1856, under the efforts of James Hooper, the pastor of Franklinton Mission. It was named after Uriah Heath, the presiding elder, who aided the enterprise with his great energy and tart. It was an unsightly, twostory brick structure, 27 by 45 feet, the lower room partly underground, with an unfinished tower. The society always had a hard struggle for existence and the appearance of this little coop of a church did not aid in attracting supporters to it. Yet many souls were converted there from first to last, and it served its day and generation, doing much good. For many years it was connected with a circuit, much of the time being thus served by two pastors. James Hooper,

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with whom the history of this society proper now begins, was in better circum- stances financially than the majority of Methodist ministers. His family usually resided on his farm, about thirty miles east of the city, while he gave much of his time to the church, generally receiving a small salary. He had the enviable reputa- tion of giving away within the bounds of his charge more money than he received from it. He closed his useful carcer in New Salem, Ohio, November 23, 1865. After the church was built the following men were appointed to it in the order named : 1857, J. D. Hathaway and Richard Pitzer; 1858, J. D. Ilathaway and Jacob Martin ; 1859, Richard Doughty and R. B. Bennett ; 1860, Richard Doughty and Bradford Crook ; 1861, George G. West and B. Cook ; 1862, G. G. West and H. L. Whitehead; 1863, Samuel Tippetf and H. L. Whitehead ; 1864, S. Tippett and W. H. Gibbons; 1865, Isaac F. King; 1866, E. II. Heagler; 1867 and 1868, supplied by J. F. Harris.

The remodeling of the circuits left Heath Chapel as a station in 1865. It did not acquire sufficient strength to support it and was abandoned after two years to a supply. In 1869 it was reopened as a station and Iloward B. Westervelt was appointed regularly as its pastor. He remained but one year, reporting eightysix members. Mr. Westervelt has since served as a presiding elder in the Ohio Con- ference and is at present on his third year as pastor of our church at Athens. In 1870 Samuel Pippett again became pastor, but before the year expired resigned his charge and at the session of the next Conference took a supernumerary rela- tion. Ile was a man of unusual ability, and had he remained in the regular work would doubtless have attained to the first rank in his conference. In business he was not successful, but commanded the confidence of the public, as well as the esteem of his brethren, to the last. After over two years of decrepitude he fell asleep at his home on Franklin Avenue, Columbus, December 24, 1888. Ilis unex- pired year at Heath Chapel was filled out by W. B. Chadwick. In 1871 Daniel Horlocker became pastor, reporting at the end of his year seventy members. Thomas G. Wakefield was sent to Heath'Chapel in the fall of 1872. He left ninetyeight members. Mr. Wakefield is one of the most valuable circuit preach- ers of this Conference and a fine theologian. David Y. Murdock was appointed to this charge in 1873 and remained three years, reporting successively fiftythree, seventynine and sixtyeight members. The varying membership reveals the trans- ient character of the population in this part of the city and the difficulty of secur- ing a hold among its permanent residents. Methodists of means who located there chose to go to the stronger churches over the river rather than assume the heavier responsibilities in this weak charge. This is always the case under like circumstances and it indicates that there is a selfish remnant remaining in the heart of converted people.

During these years this charge and some others received a missionary allow- ence from the parent Missionary Society, but in 1876, the Missionary Committee wisely, we think, cut off all appropriations to the Ohio and other Conferences. In some years following, however, a number of the stronger Columbus churches, after raising their regular assessment, would appropriate a specified portion of their surplus to the support of our pastors in these weaker charges. Mr. Mur-

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dock, its first threeyears pastor, has for many years been the Secretary of the Ohio Conference, and is now the stationed pastor at Jackson Courthouse. He was fol- lowed in 1876 by Stephen C. Frampton, who served Heath Chapel two years in connection with a country appointment some miles west, known as Skidmore's School House. Mr. Frampton is a sound and profound theologian, and also possesses a fine legal mind and knowledge, being a regular member of the bar. He was superannuated in 1889 and settled in Pickerington, where he had lived for two years preceding while serving as pastor of Reynoldsburg Circuit. He is engaged in the practice of law, preaches frequently, and exerts an extensive influ- ence for good by his godly life and conversation. In 1878 Joseph McCuskey was appointed to Heath Chapel and Neil Chapel jointly. The two following years he served Heath Chapel only, leaving it with 104 members. He was an alumnus of the Ohio Wesleyan University, but a sufferer from disease contracted while a soldier for his country, from which he was carried away prematurely, September 9, 1884.

During 1881 Heath Chapel was supplied by Doctor C. M. Bethauser, J. B. Joyce and D. Horlocker. At the end of the year it had seventy members. In 1882 Jacob P. Bishop was appointed pastor. Mr. Bishop was afterward trans- ferred to the Cincinnati Conference and thence to the Far West. He was one of the boys who had worked his way through the Ohio Wesleyan University, and deserved great credit for the attainments he reached. During his year in this charge the church was disastrously invaded by a flood from the Scioto. Elias N. Nichols became pastor in 1883, serving Heath in connection with a country appointment. Mr. Nichols was for many years one of the most devoted and dili- gent pastors of the Ohio Conference. James T. Minehart was appointed to Heath in 1884, but resigned in the spring, and the charge was supplied for the remainder of the year by James Haig. Mr. Minehart was for a number of years the Secre- tary of the Young Men's Christian Association of Columbus. He was a young man of much promise and, after leaving Ohio, for a few years did good work in the Nebraska Conference; but while pastor of Grace Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, he drifted off into faith-healing and like vagaries, and went to such extremes that he finally severed all connection with Methodism. Alonzo B. Shaw was the next pastor, appointed in 1885, and remained one year. In 1886 James Haig became pastor by Conference appointment, and was reappointed in 1887. By the death of his mother in the winter of 1888, her business developed upon him for settle. ment or continuation, and Mr. Haig resigned his charge on that account, being only a probationer in the Conference. Mr. Haig is a devout and zealous man, and a local preacher. After retiring from the itinerant ministry he began missionary work among the most neglected and depraved classes of the bad, in the South Seventh Street region of the city. He carries on several Mission Sabbathschools and has opened a Rescue Home for fallen women. The presiding elder, J. C. Jaek- son, filled the vacancy at Heath Chapel by appointment to that charge of William C. Holliday, who had resigned his circuit work a short time before In the fall of 1888 Mr. Holliday was reappointed by the Conference.

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It was now evident to everybody that if Ileath Chapel was ever to become anything more than it bad been there would have to be a better church built. Accordingly, at the instigation of the presiding elder, Mr. Holliday called a meet- ing in November, 1888, of the members and friends of the society, and was success- ful in getting a number of citizens interested in the project of a new church which should be a credit to that part of the city. The presiding elder, Mr. Jackson, addressed the meeting and then solicited subscriptions. The small audience responded well and almost 81,000 was subscribed that night, including the sub- scriptions of the pastor and presiding elder. Mr. Holliday contiuned to solicit west of the river until he got over $3,000 subscribed in the work, material and money, the latter payable in three annual installments. In the spring of 1889 it was decided to change the location to a fine lot on the corner of Gitt and Shepherd streets. This was advantageous in every way. It insured good light for all time to come; it escaped the noise and expensive pavement of Broad Street and at the same time retained the benefit of the street cars. The lot is 79 by 100 feet and was purchased from F. Waterman for $2,200. The first payment of $550 was col- lected in a few days by the presiding elder from friends east of the river. The society was now incorporated under the name of Gift Street Methodist Episcopal Church with the following as trustees: Doctor S. H. Stewart, O. T. Fleming, & James Donley, J. F. Lerch, A. A. Shipley, George W. Davidson, George M. Peters, Captain N. B. Abbott and E. W. Seeds. The last three are members, respectively, of Wesley Chapel, Broad Street and Town Street churches. The old church was in the fall of 1888 torn down and the material prepared for use in the new building. A temporary tabernacle, 35 by 48 feet, was constructed on the corner of Broad and Mill streets, on a lot which David O. Mull granted free of charge.

With the opening of spring the pastor, together with Messrs. Abbott, Peters and Seeds, pushed the work on vigorously, and the excavation and foundation costing together about $1,200, were completed in July. On the eleventh day of that month, 1889, exactly thirtyfour years after the original lot was deeded to the society by the Sullivan's, the cornerstone of the new church was lain by the venerable Doctor J M. Trimble, assisted by Doctor J. C. Jackson. Appropriate services were held in the Market House Hall, where the meeting was addressed by several of the old pastors and old time Methodlists of the city. The impetus given to this society by the prospect of a new church so increased its Sundayschool and congregations that the little tabernacle erected in the fall preceding could illy accommodate them now, and the city authorities generously tendered them the use of the City Hall for Sabbath services. In October the foundation was covered up and the work allowed to rest till the next spring. But the workers did not rest. Pastor Holliday was untiring in his efforts and devices for securing money to complete the building and was warmly aided by Doctor Trimble, who gave very liberally to the enterprise; and by the presiding elder, and Captain Abbott, who, from the first to the last, gave nearly $1,000 himself to this church.

. Through the petition of the Ohio Conference and the personal labors of Doc- tor Trimble, the Church Extension Society was induced to give 81,800 in cash to

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this enterprise, the first help ever received from the Society by the Columbus Dis- triet. The exigencies of the case justified this donation. Here was a population west of the river of nearly eight thousand souls, practically a city standing alone, and not a Protestant place of worship in it. The wealthy Methodists of Columbus had been giving their hundreds, and sometimes thousands, for years to the Church Extension Society and had never until now asked for a cent in return. Doctor Trimble now pledged that society $250 a year for four successive years if they would make this donation, and the presiding elder promised them every dollar of it back from this district alone in the next annual collection - a pledge more than fulfilled by including Doctor Trimble's individual gift. The membership of this charge was but 125 when the work of building was undertaken. If left to itself, no effort could have been more hopeless. By the assistance of others success was not only assured but an inspiration was given to other Protestant denominations, and within the year both the Baptists and the Episcopalians received large donations which enabled them to establish churches. A new era of prosperity opened for the West Side also at this time. Several fine city additions were put on the market and an electric railway was established on West Broad Street. Events proved that, under Providence, the building of this church was taken at that tide in the affairs of men which leads on to fortune. In the spring of 1890 the work of build- ing was resnmed. More money was needed, however, than was available. The City Church Extension Society this spring enlarged its scope so as to include the rebuilding of old churches in its work. It promised to aid Gift Street. But, as the money was not yet subscribed, its Building Committee, consisting of Colonel A. G. Patton, George M. Peters and H. C. Lonnis, generously advanced the money on their personal notes, as they have done on several other occasions. Thus started again, the work was pushed rapidly ou, and on Sabbath, July 27, 1890, the Sunday schoolroom was formally opened. Rev. W. D. Cherington preached the sermon. Doctor Trimble than asked for $1,200 to assist in completing the auditorium. Chaplain DeBruin, D. Horlocker, James Haig and W. D. Cherington worked in the audience, and $947 was subscribed. At night Doctor J. C. Jackson, after preaching made another appeal and $167 more were seenred.

Work was now resumed in the auditorium. Ten of our generons laymen advanced $200 each, until the old lot could be sold for $2,000 cash, which was done in the fall. November 30, 1890, Rev. D. H. Moore, D. D., preached the dedicatory sermon, after which he called for $700, most of which was secured. Doctor Trimble, assisted by the presiding elder, then dedicated the church to the worship of Almighty God. At night Rev. J. C. Jackson, D. D., preached, and the remainder of the $700, with a good margin, was subscribed. The cost of the entire building was about $10,000, all of which he paid but about $1,200 amply covered by subscription. The church was planned by Doctor S. H. Steward, and the building superintended by J. W. Yost, architect. The society has now a membership of about two hundred, with a bright future before it. W. C. Holliday, to whose careful and wise management much of the success in building was due, is now serving his fourth year as pastor of the charge.

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Neil Chapel. - Neil Chapel, located on the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Collins Street, was the seventh Methodist Episcopal church of Columbus. At the Conference of 1870 Rev. Daniel Horlocker was appointed to serve Heath Chapel, and under the patronage of John F. Bartlit, to organize a new church in this then extreme northwestern part of the city. There was a small but growing community here, composed mainly of employés of the factories built on the banks of the Olentangy at this point. Mr. Horlocker held his first services in the bouse of Joseph Walker, with an audience of seven persons. His first five members consisted of J. W. Walker and wife, their son Joseph Walker and his wife, and Ephraim Webb. At the end of six months he felt justified in leaving Heath Chapel to be served by supplies for the remainder of the year while he gave his entire time and labor to this new field. With his characteristic devo- tion and industry Mr. Horlocker secured means for building. Robert E. Neil, a son of Hannah Neil, of precious memory, gave a lot on condition of its reverting to the donor in case the church should ever be moved off. The work of building was begun and in December, 1872, the lecture room was finished and dedicated by Doctors Trimble and Byers. Building material and labor were high, and the church which had then cost $7,000 was left with the auditorium unfinished. At the close of Mr. Horlocker's second year he left a membership of thirty persons, and the next year, 1873, he reported one hundred and ten. Lovett Taft was the second pastor, serving one year. J. E. Rudisill came next, remaining three years, until 1877. Although his work was blessed with extensive revivals, such was the transient character of the surrounding population, that he reported each year one hundred members only. Joseph McCuskey was appointed pastor in 1878, serving it one year in connection with Heath Chapel. He reported but seventy members. In 1879 D. Horlocker again took charge, remaining three years; the second year he reported 101 members, but his last year only seventy-eight. J. W. Wait was sent as pastor in 1882, remaining one year. He was a college graduate and a man of great devotion and much ability. He this year instituted a journal in the interests of promoting holiness, called The Beulah Land. He dis- played much editorial ability, and his magazine had a growing circulation. But gradually he wandered off into the extreme of faith-healing, and at the close of his year at Neil Chapel left the ministry, and opened a " faith home" in this city. He left a membership at Neil Chapel of seventyfive. C. F. Prior was appointed pastor in 1883, serving one year, and leaving one hundred members. In 1884 the charge was left to be supplied, and was served by James T. Minebart in connection with Heath Chapel. In 1885 D. Horlocker was sent the third time as its pastor. During this year he raised, by indefatigable industry, money enough to finish and furnish the auditorium, which was opened for use for the first time in December, 1886. The year was also one of great revival, and Brother Horlocker reported to Conference 223 members.

In 1886 James Mitchell was the pastor, doing good work. This is one of the saintly names of the Ohio Conference Ministry ; its bearer still lives in Delaware, Ohio. In 1887, W. V. Dick served Neil Chapel. There was much agitation this year in favor of rebuilding in a new location, but all efforts ended in only distract-

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ing the membership and neutralizing the pastor's work. In 1888 J. M. Adams took charge. A valuable portion of the members had withdrawn to other churches at the close of his predecessor's year, but the result was to spur up those who had hitherto been derelict, and, in consequence, the year eventnated unusually well. Charles V. Pleukharp became pastor in 1889. His father and mother had been among the most liberal supporters of this church in former years, and their names remained in honored memory upon its windows. The church was now sadly in need of repairs, in roof, walls and basement floors. Its location, which at first seemed a wise one, had now become fatally out of place by reason of the city growing wholly away from it. These facts led its energetic young pastor to push for a new church in a more eligible location. C. D. Firestone, A. G. Patton and other members of the local Church Extension Society, were enlisted in favor of this project. At a special meeting held in the spring of 1890, under the super- vision of the writer, who was presiding elder of the district, the society resolved unanimously to do all they could toward securing a new church. The pastor worked zealously, and also subscribed liberally, although it was now evident to him that he would have to seek another climate for his health.

Mr. R. Neil now agreed to give a quitelaim deed to this property provided the church would buy another in his addition, which they did, on the corner of Goodale Street and Neil Avenue, for $3,000. The Church Extension Society now took hold of the project in earnest, and a beautiful chapel, costing about $6,000 and accommodating about 500 auditors, was built aud ready for dedication by Decem- ber 21, 1890. President J. W. Bashford preached the sermon, and Doctor J. M. Trimble, assisted by Doctor J. C. Jackson, dedicated the building. About $2,000 was raised on that day ; the Church Extension Society of this city furnished a large portion of the total cost, without which the society could have done nothing for themselves. In the preceding July, Rev. C. V. Pleukharp, for reasons already stated, took charge of our church in Raton, New Mexico, and Rev. J. M. Rife, who had for one year been pastor there, was appointed by the presiding elder to fill out the unexpired year at Neil Chapel. At the Conference of 1890 he was reappointed pastor of this charge, which he serves at this writing. The name of the church was this year changed to Neil Avenue. It now has a bright future before it. Its membership has already greatly increased and is rapidly growing. The day of its fluctuations and reverses is happily passed. We expect it to report a membership of 300 this year.

Broad Street Church. - Broad Street, Columbus Methodism's finest church structure and wealthiest congregation, is the child of Wesley Chapel. The growth of the city eastward, and the consequent emigration of many of Wesley's members in that direction, led to the desire on their part of a church home nearer their own doors and to meet the wants of that part of the city. John F. Bartlit and David S. Gray owned a fine, large lot on the southeast corner of Broad Street and Wash- ington Avenue, on which they had paid over $3,000, or about onehalfits value at that time. This lot they generously offered to donate if the people of that community would build a Methodist Episcopal Church upon it and assume the deferred pay- ment of $3,000. The offer was accepted, and at the fourth Quarterly Couference of

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Wesley Chapel, held in September, 1874, the following board of trustees for the proposed church was elected : John F. Bartlit, David S. Gray, Jesse W. Dann. William R. Walker, Thomas Vause, William Davis and Homer C. Lewis. In the

BROAD STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

spring of 1875 it was decided to build at once, and J. W. Dann, Thomas Walker and Thomas Vause were appointed a building committee. A frame church on the rear of the lot, and facing Washington Avenue, was erected at a cost of 83,000. On the

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eighteenth of July it was dedicated by Rev. D. H. Moore, D. D., and on the follow - ing Sabbath the new charge was organized with Rev. Joseph M. Trimble, D. D., as its pastor, being appointed by the presiding elder, Rev. B N. Spahr. Ninety persons, mainly from Wesley Chapel, that day presented their names for member- ship in this new charge, which was born an infant Hercules. At its first Quarterly Conference, held August 26, 1875, a board of stewards, a board of trustees and a Sundayschool superintendent were elected. As temporary pastor for this year Dr. Trimble was assisted by Rev. J. L. Grover.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 105

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202