USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 31
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For about three months, the Sunday-school and Christian Endeavor meetings were held in a vacant dwelling house on Alberta street, near Lowes street.
Later in the spring of 1904, Mr. Lambert Woodhull, was sent there by the Rev. F. N. McMillin, to take charge of the mission.
An unoccupied storeroom on the corner of Brown and Lowes streets, was rented to which the school was removed. Sunday-school was held every Sunday for about ten months, and frequent Christian Endeavor meetings also were held.
Occassional preaching services were held by regular pastors of various de- nominations in the city, assisted by the Rev. S. L. Gillespie, who also conducted an adult Bible class.
Mr. Frank S. Bowman and his family were a great help to this enterprise from the beginning.
In April, 1905, through the courtesy of the Men's Club of Rubicon and the National Cash Register Company, the National Cash Register Extension House was thrown open to the mission for Sunday services, and the room at the corner of Brown and Lowes streets was surrendered.
In September, 1905, the corner stone for a church building was laid on lots on Brown street near Lowes and the following January the building was ready for occupancy.
April 24, 1906, the church was regularly organized with forty-one charter members, under the name Rubicon Presbyterian church. Later the name was changed to Patterson Memorial Presbyterian church.
Rev. J. W. Winder was the first pastor. The following elders were elected : W. R. Baker, E. S. Bowman and Lambert Woodhull. Mr. Winder was suc- ceeded in January, 1909, by Rev. D. Knerr, under whose labors the church is prospering.
BETHEL MISSION, one of the most typical missions in the city, is conducted by the First Presbyterian church at the corner of Monument avenue and Sears street. It was begun by the Christian Endeavor society of that church December 3, 1893, in the second story of a building owned by C. Wight and Son. The com- munity had been much neglected, and was in urgent need of friendly aid. The house, one room of which was first occupied, was later rented, and in 1899 the entire property was purchased for three thousand dollars. There were three buildings on the lot, affording a good home for the mission and the mission workers. The many forms of Christian work would put to shame many a well
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established church. A boys' club, an industrial school, a mothers' guild, becom- ing the ladies' aid society, a Sunday-school, and other organizations have been carried on. Superintendents of the Sunday-school have been: W. P. Breneman, 1893; O. H. Starner, 1899; C. J. Moore, 1900; W. P. Breneman, 1901; G. W. Bonebrake, 1905; M. O. Mclaughlin, 1906; Walter Lehman, 1907; A. S. Leh- man, 1908. A splendid succession of workers, a number of them students in Bonebrake Theological Seminary, have been employed in this mission.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Here and there among the first set- tlers north of the Ohio river were scattered Methodist families. William Hamer, before spoken of as a Methodist local preacher, who settled three miles up Mad river in 1796, laid the foundation for Methodism in the Dayton community. He settled on section 29 in township 2, range 7. In the terms of Symmes' purchase section 29 in each township was devoted to the support of religion and Symmes had invited preachers to settle on the sections thus numbered. When he failed the land went back to the government and Mr. Hamer in 1804 entered the northeast quarter of the section on which he had located, lying on both sides of Mad river. He established a mill for grinding corn, probably on his own land, and had a still house behind his cabin. At that time the operating of a still house was not against church rules or prevailing religious sentiment. Mr. Hamer's voice, when he was engaged in family prayer, could be heard at a great distance. It is said that in 1797 he formed a class of Methodists who met at his cabin.
In 1798 Rev. John Kobler, a Methodist presiding elder in Kentucky, was given 4 an assistant in his work that he might explore the field north of the Ohio. In his dairy he made this entry: "Appointed to Miami circuit-I commenced down at Fort Washington (Cincinnati), then only a few log cabins, and came up the Miami river to Mad river. While on the way I kneeled in the bushes and wrestled with God for this vast stretch of ground to be given to Methodism."
He makes the following entries with reference to his visit to Dayton :
"Lord's Day, August 12, 1798 .- Preached in Dayton, a little village by that name on the bank of the Big Miami river, and just below its junction with Mad river. Here are a few log houses and eight or ten families residing. Here I saw some tokens for good; the people seem to receive the word with all readiness of mind ; indeed, several in the little company were much affected
"In the neighborhood, there are six or eight Methodists, and among them there is a local preacher by the name of Hamer. Last year he raised a class of the few scattered Methodists here, and for a while met them as leader. I visited them severally ; as far as possible, examined into the state of their souls, and found some of them filled with prejudice. I held a second public meeting among them, and read the rules of the society; laid before them the great necessity of Christian unity in church membership, and invited all who could fellowship each other to come forward and join in class. So we organized a regular class of eight members, of whom brother Hamer was appointed leader."
"Monday, August 13 .- Rode down the Big Miami river twelve miles (Miamis- burg), and preached in an old fortress (probably the stockade and block house at
GRACE M. E. CHURCII
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Hole's Station), to a small congregation, consisting chiefly of the few families that lived at the fort. On inquiry I found that this fortress was on the frontier, and no settlement around or near them."
"August 26 .- Preached in Dayton on this Sabbath to all the people which town and country could afford, who were but few at best. The word preached was brought to bear upon the company with a powerful, quickening influence. All appeared to be struck under conviction, and some made inquiry-'What shall I do to be saved?' Some followed me to the house where I stayed, and expressed an increasing desire to be wholly devoted to God. The success of the gospel on this missionary field is no longer a problem."
"I was at this time a very sick man. Started from Dayton down to my ap- pointment at Hole's Station, twelve miles; reached the place; the people were collected; was not able to preach. Under present circumstances, I was at a loss to know what course to pursue. To travel and preach was impossible, and to lie sick at any of the houses, in these parts, would be choosing death ; as it is next to impossible for a well man to get food or sustenance, much more for one pros- trate on a bed of sickness. Next morning I started to brother McCormick's, about fifty miles distant, as the only place where I could stay with any degree of comfort."
"January 1, 1799 .- Preached in Dayton to a mixed company of traders from Detroit, some Indians, French and English. Knowing that they all had immortal souls to be saved, I took for my text: 'In every nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him'; I lifted up my voice like a trumpet, and cried aloud and spared not; laid before them the corruptions of their wicked hearts and the fearful consequences of a life of sin, in such pressing terms that many of them looked wild and stood aghast, as if they would take to their heels.
"After preaching I met the class, found them in a prosperous state, walking in the fear of the Lord."
"January 2 .- On Monday expounded the 126th psalm at Hole's Station. with considerable success."
"April 2, 1799 .- Preached in Dayton for the last time, to all that town and country round about could afford, which were not many ; subject of discourse was Esau selling his birthright. I then met the class, read the rules, and pressed on the society the various duties devolving upon them as church members. Preached at Hole's Station next day, and at Franklin at night. In time of the first prayer, a company of fifteen Indians came to the door. When we rose up from prayer, the old chief fixed his eye on me, and pushed through the company to give me his hand."
It is said that at the first there were difficulties in the Methodist class, grow- ing out of Mr. Hamer's operating the still house, but that later the occasion was removed. Mr. Kobler on August 2nd, had formed near Milford, the first regular class of Methodists in Ohio. December 3, 1806, the Methodist people peti- tioned the county commissioners for a lot on which to erect a house of wor- ship. In September, 1807, they renewed their petition in the following form:
"To the Gentlemen Commissioners of Montgomery County:
Whereas, There are lots in the town of Dayton designed as donations, for the purpose of having places of worship for different religious societies or denomi-
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nations and, as it has been suggested to us that you manifest a willingness to let the members of the Methodist Episcopal church share in the donation, if con- sistent with the designs of the donor, we feel a desire to receive with gratitude, and therefore have appointed trustees to receive the deeds for the lots according to the rules and regulations of said church. We remain, gentlemen, with senti- ments of respect, yours, etc.,
(Signed in behalf of said church),
JOHN SALE, P. E."
Later, lot No. 155, at the southeast corner of Main and Third streets, was conveyed to the Methodists according to the tenor of the above request. About 1807, the Methodist class began to meet in Dayton at the house of Aaron Baker, he being the first leader. September 22, 1811, Bishop Asbury preached at the courthouse in Dayton to a large assemblage of people. Dayton was at that time included in the Mad River circuit, Rev. John Collins, Rev. Moses Crume and Rev. Joseph Tatman being appointed to the circuit. At that time there were twenty-four members in the Dayton society. Efforts toward building a meeting- house were begun in 1811, but the house was not completed until 1814. The largest cash donation toward the same was ten dollars. The structure was a frame building thirty by forty feet and was painted red. It was on the rear of the lot and faced Third street. Up to 1828, the Methodists conducted frequent camp meetings at the foot of Ludlow street. Later, the camp meetings were held north of Mad river. In 1829, the frame church was sold and moved away and replaced by a brick church forty by fifty feet. On the same site, in 1859, was erected a fine, two-story, brick church. In 1848, the third and last edifice on the original site was built. The church building was fifty-five feet wide and eighty-two feet long, with end galleries and a tower in front, on which the first town clock was placed. In 1854, the church was greatly damaged by a falling wall from the building adjoining on the west, and was again injured by the walls of a new building being blown down upon it. In consequence of business houses being built about it obstructing the light and causing other difficulties, it was decided to find another location. In 1866, the ground which had not before been disposed of was sold for twenty thousand and five hundred dollars and the lot now occupied on Fourth and Ludlow streets purchased for ten thousand dollars. The name Wesley Chapel had been given to the first brick church. On the change of the church to the new location, the name was changed to the Grace Methodist Episcopal church. Dayton was made a station in 1830, since which time down to 1909, the pastors were as follows: 1830, D. D. Dyche ; 1832, Arza Brown; 1833, William D. Barrett; 1834, William Sim- mons ; 1836, J. A. Waterman; 1838, William H. Lawder; 1840, D. Whit- comb : 1841, J. A. Waterman; 1842, William Herr; 1844, J. W. Weakly; 1846, C. P. Brooks; 1847, John S. Inskip; 1849, George C. Crum; 1850, W. P. Strickland; 1852, W. H. Sutherland; 1854, E. G. Nicholson; 1856, William I. Fee; 1858, J. M. Leavitt; 1860, J. F. Marley ; 1862, Charles Ferguson ; 1864, William L. Hypes ; 1868, W. W. Ramsay; 1871, J. F. McClelland ; 1872, M. A. Richards ; 1873, T. H. Pearne; 1877, A. B. Leonard; 1879, William L. Hypes ; 1882, R. H. Rust ; 1885, B. F. Dimmick ; 1888, William MacAfee ; 1893, W. A. Robinson ; 1898, C. W. Gullette ; 1902, H. C. Jameson ; 1906, M. B. Fuller.
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Some of these pastors were men of little scholastic training, but they were earnest men, strong preachers and faithful pastors. Others were talented and scholarly, and exerted an inspiring and wholesome influence on the general community. The present pastor, Dr. Fuller, has received in a pastorate of three years, five hundred and seventeen members. The present membership of the church is one thousand and fifty-eight. The Sabbath-school has an enrollment of four hundred. W. E. Harbottle is the superintendent.
THE RAPER CHURCH from the time of its origin in 1841 until the present time, 1909, has had a highly honorable and useful career. The first board of trustees were: John Chase, Dr. W. L. Williams, Jeremiah Wilt, J. W. Griswold and Thomas H. Sullivan. In 1841, the trustees of the church secured lot number 100 at the northeast corner of Fifth and Jackson streets, at a cost of five hundred dollars. The trustees of the new church decided to call the church Fin- ley Chapel in honor of James B. Finley, the renowned laborer among whites and Indians, who was then the presiding elder. The contract was let September 2, 1841, to Daniel Coffin and Daniel Waymire at the contract price of seven hundred and sixty-three dollars without seats. The building was a one-story frame thirty- six by forty. The church was dedicated August 10, 1842. In the fall of 1842, Rev. William Herr was pastor of Wesley Chapel and William H. Raper was the presiding elder. In August, 1842, Rev. A. W. Musgrove was employed to assist Mr. Herr in his work in Dayton and had much to do in organizing the work at Finley Chapel. Rev. Musgrove was born in the year 1811 and while a youth of five years, almost entirely lost his sight. As a preacher, he was known as "the blind man eloquent." He left Dayton August 26, 1844. The first regular pastor, Moses P. Smith, entered upon his work September 5, 1844. He was an impas- sioned preacher and in his two years' service, laid a good foundation for the future of the congregation. In 1846 and 1847, Rev. William H. Raper was the pastor. So strong was the impression made by him upon the congregation, that when the new church was built in 1852, it was called in his honor, Raper Chapel. He had a strong voice, was a good singer and much shouting accompanied his ministry. He became a member of the Ohio conference at Cincinnati in 1819. He was an indefatigable worker and endured many hardships. He died February II, 1852. The new church built in 1852 was eighty-four feet long by fifty-two feet wide and cost ten thousand dollars, the improvements since costing a like sum. The chapel was dedicated January 2, 1853.
The membership of the church numbers nine hundred and eighty-five. The Sunday-school enrollment is six hundred and fifty-five. Mr. Pearl N. Sigler is the superintendent. The present church building was dedicated May, 1904. It is a commodious and modern structure in every way and well adapted to the diver- sity of 11ses required by an up-to-date and aggressive congregation.
The pastors of the church since the pastorate of Rev. William H. Raper have been the following: 1848, Werter R. Davis ; 1850, Thomas Gorsuch ; 1852, W. H. Lawder; 1853, Granville Moody ; 1855, W. I. Ellsworth ; 1857. J. F. Conrey ; 1858, Enoch G. West ; 1859, George C. Crum; 1861, LaFayette Van Cleve ; 1863, Moses Smith ; 1865, J. F. Marley ; 1868, George C. Crum; 1871, Thomas Collett ; 1874, W. A. Robinson ; 1877. F. T. Wells; 1880, Lucien Clark; 1883.
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John N. Irvin ; 1885, S. O. Royal; 1888, D. W. Clark ; 1893, L. E. Prentiss ; 1898, J. J. McCabe ; 1904, V. F. Brown ; 1908, Wilbur E. Hammaker.
BROADWAY CHURCH, first known as Davisson Chapel, was organized in 1855. Before this time there was no Methodist church west of the river, but union prayer and preaching services had been held in a store-room, rented for that pur- pose, at the corner of Third and Williams streets, and many cottage prayer-meet- ings and class-meetings had been held in the homes of the people. The first class-meeting of the society was held in the home of Mrs. Sponsler, the house now standing at the southwest corner of Fourth and Williams streets.
In 1854, Rev. William Fitzgerald was appointed by the Cincinnati Confer- ence to organize the work in what was then called Miami City. So well did he succeed, that in his second year upon the lot on the southwest corner of Fourth and Broadway, a plain brick structure of one large room was built. In those days before the war, both labor and materials were cheap, and the cost was only one thousand, one hundred dollars. A warm-hearted Methodist minister, named Rev. Daniel D. Davisson, contributed five hundred dollars to the building fund, and so the new church was named in his honor-Davisson Chapel. In Broadway Church today a marble memorial tablet, erected by the King's Daugh- ters of the church, commemorates the generosity of this noble Methodist preacher, who gave the helping hand to this struggling enterprise. Truly "other men have labored, and we are entered into their labors." Among those who helped found the society, built the church, and pushed forward its work at the beginning were: Judge Swain, Simon Snyder, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Shoemaker, Mrs. Washing- ton and her daughter, Mrs. Sponsler.
The history of this church naturally divides itself into two parts: the Davis- son Chapel period and the Broadway period. The first lasted from 1855 to 1884, twenty-nine years. The second covers the years from 1884 to the present time, a period of twenty-five years. In the first period. there were sixteen pastors, each with an average term of less than two years. During the second period, there have been only eight pastors, with an average service of over three years.
The pastors of the Davisson Chapel period, with their terms of service were as follows : 1854, Rev. William Fitzgerald ; 1856, George H. Reed; 1857, George H. Kennedy; 1859, Wesley Webster; 1860, John F. Loyd; 1861, Maxwell P. Gaddis ; 1864. William Simmons ; 1866, T. A. G. Phillips ; 1867, John F. Hull; 1868, George W. Kelly; 1869, George H. Kennedy, the second time; 1872, John T. Short; 1873. William N. Williams; 1876, William Herr; 1877, Charles F. Gowdy ; 1878. John W. Gaddis; 1881, Matthias M. Kugler.
The Sunday-school began small and remained so for a long time. Forty at Sunday-school was a good attendance in those early days. The first superintend- ent was Fred Leatherman, and only by special effort did he succeed in carrying the school through its first year. N. M. Hull, one of the early secretaries, tells yet how he used to go outside the door and count all the pupils he could see com- ing, and wait as long as possible before he read his report, in order not to make too bad a showing in the matter of attendance.
In those early days the Sunday-school library consisted of but few books. So to meet this want, in 1862, a supper was given, at which about eighty dollars was realized. This was invested in new books, to the great delight of the boys and
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girls. D. G. Brown, father of Superintendent Edwin J. Brown, of the Dayton city schools, was several times elected superintendent, serving in all fifteen years.
Broadway has always been known as a revival church. This was true in the early days as well as later. During Mr. Gowdy's pastorate, about twenty-five professed conversion. A revival which occurred in the first year of Rev. J. W. Gaddis, brought sixty souls into the fold. At this time the church was weak in finance and in numbers, so the salaries were small and there was no parsonage.
One long step forward was taken in 1879. A revival in the first year of Rev. J. W. Gaddis' pastorate bore fruit in his second year in the shape of a substantial brick parsonage, built on the next lot south of the church. The building fund was started by Mrs. Reel, who donated to it a city lot, which, when sold, netted the fund two hundred dollars.
During the Davisson Chapel period, the membership was steadily growing all the while. The church was organized with twenty-five members; in the pas- torate of Rev. John F. Hull it had reached seventy ; and when Rev. J. W. Gaddis came to the charge eleven years later, it was two hundred. The three-year pas- torate of Rev. M. M. Kugler prepared the way for the period of expansion which was soon to take place.
In 1884, Rev. Samuel D. Clayton was sent to Davisson Chapel. A revival spirit seemed to be in the air, and pastor and people caught it. It was not the result of deep planning and careful organization upon the part of the leaders of the movement, but it seemed to come from above upon the people. It occurred during the winter of Mr. Clayton's first year, and continued exactly one hun- dred days. The singing during the entire meeting was led by C. G. Shipley, Sr. The attention of the whole city was attracted, and the west side was stirred from center to circumference by this great revival, in which a thousand persons pro- fessed conversion. The converts filled the ranks of the sister churches, and the membership of Broadway mounted to about eight hundred. From that time to the present, a quarter of a century, Broadway has been one of the strong churches of the city.
The present church building, christened "Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church," was erected in 1885, Mr. Clayton's second year, upon the site occupied by Davisson Chapel. It was a necessity on account of the enormous increase in the membership. While it was in process of erection the congregation wor- shipped in a temporary frame building erected for the purpose on a vacant lot across the street. The cost of the new church building was ten thousand five hun- dred dollars.
During the Broadway period of the church's history, the roll of pastors is as follows: 1884, Samuel D. Clayton ; 1887, Valorous F. Brown; 1890, Charles H. Haines; 1893, Francis M. Clemans; 1898, Creighton Wones; 1902, Calvin W. Elliott ; 1905, John Lloyd; 1907, Sherman P. Young.
The revival spirit and large accessions have marked most of these pastorates. Mr. Brown proved to be an excellent organizer, as well as revivalist, and raised the standard of the church financially. During his three years' term, he received two hundred and fifty-four members on probation and one hundred and ten by letter. During the same time an indebtedness on the parsonage was paid off and the present church hall was erected.
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Mr. Brown was succeeded by Mr. Haines, a young minister of great culture and spirituality, now a professor in Gammon School of Theology at Atlanta, Georgia. His pastorate is remembered by many in connection with a wonderful revival under the leadership of that remarkable and somewhat eccentric evange- list, Rev. John Naugle. Within two months after coming to Broadway, he or- ganized the Broadway chapter of the Epworth league. In his honor the local chap- ter of the Junior league, organized several years later, bears the name of "Haines chapter."
The work of Dr. F. M. Clemans, during his five years as pastor, will be long remembered. As a preacher, he was eminently satisfactory. He was a most enthusiastic temperance advocate.
Mr. Wones was quite the reverse of his predecessor in personal appearance, but just as full of self-sacrificing zeal. A deeply spiritual man himself, he coveted also for his people the best gifts. Broadway still remained a revival church.
Three rooms were added to the parsonage during this pastorate, and through the active cooperation of the Broadway membership and the leadership of Mr. George W. Stevens, a new Methodist church was planted in the west end on Woodward avenue.
Mr. Wones was succeeded by Rev. C. W. Elliott, who remained three years. Noted for strong physique and power of will, he labored earnestly to perfect the church organization. In July, 1905, the church celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its founding.
The next pastor. Rev. John Lloyd, a Scotchman by birth, was gifted with great eloquence in the pulpit and on the rostrum. To a fine flow of language, he added aptness of illustration and brilliancy of thought, which attracted attention where- ever he spoke.
The present pastor, Rev. Sherman P. Young, Ph. D., entered in 1909 on the third year of his pastorate. The membership of the church now numbers nine hundred and twenty-five. There are six hundred members in the Sunday-school. The present superintendent is W. C. Reeder. The president of the Epworth league is E. F. Brewster.
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