USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 32
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TRINITY CHURCH had its beginnings about 1870, when the Young Men's Christian Association, seeing a field in North Dayton, decided to build a chapel and hold regular services. They built a one-story frame structure on the ground now occupied by the residence at 604 N. Valley street. Mr. C. L. Haas and the Young Men's Christian Association made an exchange of lots and the structure was moved across the street. The interest was lagging after about twelve years' labor and the association desired to sell. Daniel E. McSherry seeing a field for Methodism, bought the lot and building, partly in the interest of the local church extension society, an organization of all Dayton Methodist Episcopal churches, which afterwards ratified his purchase. The price paid was two thou- sand, five hundred dollars. The original structure is now the house of worship used by the German United Brethren church, on the northwest corner of Chapel and Whealon streets. In 1888, under the energetic efforts of Rev. W. Raper Dille, the movement was inaugurated to build a new church. As a result, a fine new brick church was erected. The work was handicapped for years by the debt on the church, but at present the property is entirely unincumbered.
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The pastors of the church have been as follows: 1883, Lafayette Young ; 1885, William R. Dille; 1890, Lafayette Young; 1891, Jonathan Verity; 1893, John S. Pumphrey ; 1894, John P. Ninde ; 1899, Earl M. Ellsworth; 1903, Owen M. Sellers; 1907, Charles P. Pumphrey ; 1909, J. E. McGee.
ST. PAUL CHURCH orginated in September, 1882, when the Rev. Thomas Collett was appointed by Bishop Bowman to Huffman avenue charge. Prior to that time, by the co-operation of Raper and Grace Methodist Episcopal churches, and the sale of certain church property in another part of the city, a lot one hundred by one hundred and forty feet had been purchased on the corner of Huffman avenue and May street. Ground was broken for a new church in November, 1882. The corner stone was laid April 14, 1883, and the building which cost twenty-two thousand dollars, was dedicated December 9, 1883, and named the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal church. The Rev. Thomas Collett was followed in the St. Paul pastorate by Rev. J. P. Shultz in 1885; Rev. J. G Vaughn in 1888; Rev. E. Burdsall in 1893; Rev. John Pearson in 1896; Rev. J. G. Vaughn in 1898, and Rev. David G. Latshaw in 1905, who is its present pastor.
In May, 1907, at a great congregational meeting, ten thousand dollars was subscribed for a new building to be the center for the Sunday-school. It was to contain a gymnasium and other institutional features. This building which is joined to the original church building and conforms to it in architecture. was formally opened on Sunday, March 1, 1908. Its cost with furnishings was twenty-six thousand dollars. Since the addition of this building, St. Paul has maintained an extensive work among young people. Her Sunday-school num- bers six hundred and fifty, and in gymnasium work, for which experienced directors are secured, the work of the school is supplemented during the week. Clubs for boys and girls, a flourishing Choral Society, and a vigorous Men's Lea- gue are results of this advance. From the modest beginning made by Thomas Collett in 1882, there is now a church numbering over eight hundred in member- ship, with a church and parsonage property worth fifty-nine thousand dollars.
HOMESTEAD CHURCH was organized as the result of the tent meetings which were held by Frank L. Doty, of Columbus, Ohio, in the year 1886, the members building a one-story frame church, and in July, 1900, Mr. J. W. Bashford dedi- cated the present large frame church, which cost about four thousand. five hun- dred dollars.
The pastors of the church have been as follows: 1894, M. K. Stephens; 1895, Archie W. Hook; 1897, George W. Vorhis; 1898, Oliver P. Hoffman; 1900, Oliver L. Utter ; 1903, J. M. Roberts ; 1904, George W. Keen ; 1905, Clarence S. Grausre ; 1906, Horace Ewell ; 1907, J. F. Probst ; 1909, W. L. Jackson.
RIVERDALE CHURCHI was organized as a Sabbath-school, April 16, 1883, and was largely the result of the work of Rev. Samuel D. Clayton. The original place of worship was in Sandmeier's Hall, on the corner of Herman avenue and North Main street. The membership is now about two hundred. In 1900, a new church was completed on Warder street, costing about eleven thousand, five hundred dollars. The church was dedicated by Dr. J. W. Bashford, President of Ohio Wesleyan University, on December 9th, of that year.
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The pastors of the church have been as follows: 1898, George W. Vorhis ; 1901, Wilbur E. Hammaker ; 1904, Elmer W. Serl; 1909, J. Smith Kirk.
THE WOODWARD AVENUE CHURCH was started about 1898. July 6, 1902, Rev. H. D. Ketcham, presiding elder of the Dayton district, and the pastor, Rev. C. Wones, raised four hundred and fifty dollars for the new church from the Broadway congregation of which this new enterprise is a protégé. The corner stone was laid Monday evening, July 28, 1902, the services being conducted by J. M. Walden.
The pastors of the church have been as follows: 1907, James M. Bennett and 1909, J. A. Easton.
METHODIST CHURCHES (COLORED).
WAYMAN AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized about the year 1837 or 1838. The trustees were Coleman Freeman, Willis Reynolds and Thomas Jones.
In the year 1840 the church was dedicated by the late Bishop Paul Quinn. It was a frame building built upon underposts.
The first regular pastor was Rev. Bird. On quarterly meeting occasions, as many as six ministers, Bishop Quinn included, would frequently come six abreast on horseback to administer Holy Communion. Bishop Quinn, in the year 1840, dedicated the first A. M. E. church built in this city, and twenty-seven years after that date, confirmed the reorganization of the same.
The second organization of the church was in April, 1867, by Rev. John H. Hogan. Through the kindness of the pastor and trustees of the Third United Brethren church the congregation was granted the use of their church to effect the organization. The reorganized congregation held services in the following places: The Third United Brethren church; Decker's hall, east Fifth street; M. E. church; McClausland hall, Wayne avenue; Buckeye church; Arnold hall, Main street ; and then at the present location on Eaker street in the fall of 1872. J. G. Yeiser was the pastor at that time.
For many years, the church was operated under a State Charter. Rev. J. G. Robinson had the charter revoked in 1908. As a result about fifty members withdrew from the church and organized the People's A. M. E. church.
The preachers from 1838, have been as follows: John H. Hogan, Henry Knight, C. E. Herbert, W. B. Salters, I. H. Welch, J. W. Becket, William Davis, B. F. Lee. J. G. Yeiser, G. C. Whitfield, R. P. Clark.
The stationed pastors have been : W. H. Coleman, W. T. Maxwell, P. Tolli- ver, D. W. Butler, Alexander Smith, J. M. Ross, C. D. White, John Coleman, Horace Tolbert, J. M. Gilmore, J. A. Collins, L. W. White, John Dickerson, T. W. Woodson and J. G. Robinson, the present pastor.
THE MCKINLEY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized in 1889 by Rev. J. H. Paine, of the Lexington conference, with thirteen members, and soon afterwards built a small frame church twenty by forty feet. They dedicated in 1897, a very neat frame structure, which will hold about three hundred people. This church is located at 178 South Hawthorn street, near Fitch. Rev. N. T. Talbot is the pastor.
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ALLEN AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH is located on Euclid avenue near Fifth street. The church was organized about twenty years ago (1889) to accommodate those members of Eaker Street church who live in that section of the city. For many years the pulpit was filled with student preachers, who were at Wilberforce, studying for the ministry.
Dr. Thos. W. Woodson, in 1906, was pastor of Eaker Street church. He was given the oversight of Allen Chapel and he built a beautiful frame building, painted and furnished it neatly. At the conference in the fall of 1907, Rev. W. H. Coleman, who was the first station pastor of Eaker Street African Methodist Episcopal church, many years ago, was made the first station pastor of Allen Chapel. During the two years that Dr. Coleman has been pastor of the church, it has grown from a struggling mission to a strong self-supporting charge of more than two hundred members.
THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH was organized in 1854. A few colored people who adhered to the Wesleyan doctrine, and who were opposed to the authority of bishops in Episcopal Methodist churches, composed the original organization.
The church has existed through these years as an almost distinct organization. They have about two hundred and fifty members, this being the largest church of that denomination in the United States.
Paul Laurence Dunbar's mother is a member of this church. He was a mem- ber of Eaker Street African Methodist Episcopal church.
The Wesleyan church is located on Short Wilkinson street. The congre- tion is preparing to build a new edifice. Rev. D. E. Bass is pastor. He has been pastor of the church for fourteen years.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In 1817, Rev. Philander Chase, a pioneer Epis- copalian missionary, visited Dayton while on a horseback exploring tour of southwestern Ohio and made an effort to establish a church organization. Having secured the names of seven settlers, he founded the parish of St. Thomas on May 15, 1817. Upon the departure of Rev. Chase the parish lapsed, but only for a short time, for in the year 1819 it was reorganized.
From October, 1821, to March, 1822, Rev. Spencer Wall was the rector. He was the only minister connected with this parish during its short existence. The services of the parish were held in the courthouse, the academy, and in other church buildings.
Unable to provide support for its spiritual leader, discouragement ensued and many of those nominally connected with the parish of St. Thomas allied them- selves with other denominations as social and other influences drew them. Only a few remained faithful to the church.
In 1830 Rev. Ethan Allen visited Dayton and conferred with such of the church people as he was able to meet. Finding them much discouraged, he con- tinued on his journey to Cincinnati, but on October 21st he returned and secured the Presbyterian meeting-house, which had been erected in 1817 on the north-
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west corner of Second and Ludlow streets, and held services on Sunday, October 24, 1830.
The following day a subscription paper was started to secure support for Mr. Allen. Fifty-nine persons pledged the aggregate sum of three hundred and twenty dollars a year toward his salary, so thoroughly had he awakened their zeal on the previous day.
To Mr. Allen the credit of re-establishing the church in Dayton must be given. On May 15, 1831, the articles of association of Christ parish were signed. One hundred and three persons listed.
The first vestry was elected at a meeting held in the courthouse, June 25, 1831, which was the customary place for holding services, and at the same meeting it was resolved to start a subscription for the purchase of a lot and the erection of a church building. Almost a year later, one thousand, eight hundred dollars hav- ing been raised, the lot on the east side of Jefferson street, about one hundred feet north of Fifth street, was purchased at a cost of four hundred and eighty dollars and the new edifice contracted for. On June 16, 1833, the church was opened for divine worship.
Bishop McIlvaine made his first visitation to the parish November 17, 1833, consecrating the church and confirming a class of twelve persons, the first con- firmed here.
In January 1832 the children of the congregation were gathered in the court room and the first Sunday-school of Christ church established, seven teachers and thirty-six scholars being enrolled. This school was discontinued in May of the same year to be resumed in the gallery of the new church edifice July, 1833. Sub- sequently, with the completion of the basement, the Sunday-school was removed there. As many of the other religious bodies did not maintain Sunday-schools, this school became in a measure a union school for the children of the town and was largely attended.
In October, 1843, Mr. Allen tendered his resignation, leaving behind him a fully organized parish.
The Rev. Richard S. Killen entered upon his duties February 4, 1844, retir- ing October 15, 1844.
His successor, Rev. W. W. Arnett, began the third rectorship January 5, 1845. resigning October, 1849. It was during his incumbency that the house adjoin- ing the church on the north was purchased to be used for a rectory.
Rev. James B. Britton assumed charge November 12, 1849. The records show a growth in numbers and in financial strength and the need for addi- tional room being evident it was determined to enlarge and improve the church. The improvements, including the rebuilding of the front of the church, caused an indebtedness of four thousand dollars upon the church and rectory. Upon the resignation of Mr. Britton, Rev. H. H. Morrell became the rector, November 4, 1855, retiring July 13, 1857.
Through the sale of the rectory and thirty feet of ground for two thousand, five hundred dollars November 19, 1855, partial relief was secured from the debt incurred by the remodeling in 1852.
Rev. John Woart became rector in October, 1857. During his administra-
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tion, the parish was relieved of indebtedness, and, in 1859, the church tower was completed.
The second parish in Dayton, St. Paul's, was organized May 12, 1859. This step was premature and its existence terminated in 1863.
April 3, 1860, Rev. Anthony TenBroeck entered upon his duties as rector. Many members having withdrawn to ally themselves with the newly organized St. Paul's parish and sectional animosity arising with the breaking out of the Civil war the growth of the church was much retarded, for Dayton was a border city and contained many sympathizers with the southern cause. Riots in the city were frequent and even the church was desecrated, as appears from a resolu- tion of the vestry passed May I, 1865, offering a reward of two hundred and fifty dollars for the arrest and conviction of the persons who removed the mourn- ing decorations and destroyed the flags draped in memorial to the late President Lincoln.
Under these unfavorable conditions Rev. Edward H. Jewett became rector October 19, 1862. During his administration the membership increased, those returning who had united with the now extinct St. Paul's parish. The indebted- ness was entirely raised.
On June 19, 1870, Ascension Chapel, located at the corner of Warren and Monroe streets (now Burns avenue), was opened. From this mission grew the St. Andrew's church.
In the year 1868 a Sunday school was started in the old church building on Fifth street, opposite Eagle street. This field was abandoned a few months later. The workers of this school organized a new school in the southern part of the city using the Woman's Home then located on the site of the Miami Valley Hos- pital, removing in 1869 to Ascension Chapel. July, 1868, Rev. Royal B. Balcom undertook the mission work of the parish, but because of the illness and absence from the city of the rector, Mr. Balcom assumed the work of the parish to the neglect of the mission. The work was continued without a spiritual head.
The Rev. Edward P. Wright, D. D., succeeded Mr. Jewett, November 27. 1870. A Sunday-school was started in Dayton View, but owing to the prox- imity of the Christ parish to the new enterprise the work was abandoned although the construction of a house of worship was well under way.
The event of this rectorship was the erection of the present church. On May 13, 1871, the sale of the old lot and the purchase of the new lot for seventeen thousand dollars was reported. The corner stone of the present church was laid July 12, 1871, by Bishop Bedell. During the erection of the church the con- gregation worshiped in temporary quarters.
Following the retirement of Dr. Wright, the Rev. E. H. Jewett was recalled to the rectorship, resuming the office May 18, 1873. Through the personal efforts of Dr. Jewett building operations were continued during the panic of 1873, and the mortgage incurred on the church was materially reduced.
On April 3, 1879, at noon, the church narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire. The timely efforts of the young men saved it from heavy losses.
Rev. Jesse Thomas Webster succeeded Rev. Jewett January 1, 1880. During Mr. Webster's rectorship the indebtedness upon the parish was entirely removed and the church consecrated by Bishop Jaggar November 17, 1883. The increased
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activity of the church and declining health of the rector made necessary the ap- pointment of an assistant. Rev. John H. Logie entered upon his duties June 14, 1885. Through the death of Mr. Webster the following May, the church lost a man whose untiring energy and devotion to his work endeared him to his people.
Rev. Herbert J. Cook began work May 1, 1887, following Rev. Frederick M. Bird, who served as a supply.
Since that time the following have been the rectors: Rev. Yelerton Peyton Morgan, October 1, 1895; Rev. John Dows Hills, November 15, 1899, and Rev. Holmes Whitmore, the present rector, June 15, 1902.
Associated with Mr. Whitmore have been Revs. Donald Brookman, Edwin T. Lewis, and at present Elmer N. Owen.
Progress has been marked and steady. Immediately after the formation of St. Andrew's parish in 1889, mission work was begun in the eastern part of the city and Calvary Mission formed, Chaplain Lewis taking charge. An active participa- tion in the life of the community has been taken. The church has been remodeled, a new organ and furniture installed. The parish work is well organized and efficient.
ST. JOHN'S MISSION on Findlay street, between Fifth and Main streets, has been provided with a parish house which is also used for religious worship. This is under the care of the clergy of Christ church. Rev. Elmer N. Owen is the present rector.
ST. MARGARET'S MISSION (colored) was started under the rectorship of Rev. Morgan (1895-99) and was cared for by Rev. Joseph P. Cleal, of the Christ church. Rev. Arthur Marshall is the present rector. The mission is located on Norwood avenue.
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, located at the corner of Buckeye and Pulaski streets, began as the mission known as Ascension Chapel, located at the corner of Warren and Monroe streets (now Burns avenue). Ground was purchased by Christ church on Ascension Day, 1868. The building was erected and opened June 19, 1870, by Bishop Bedell, at which time a class of six persons was confirmed. The cost including the lot was about nine thousand dollars. In 1884 Ascension Chapel was repaired at an expense exceeding one thousand, five hundred dollars.
This mission was served by the assistant ministers of Christ church until October, 1889, when Rev. Peter Macfarlane, who as assistant of Christ church had been in charge, became the first rector of the new parish.
Rev. Thomas W. Cooke is the present rector.
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
The second permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory, which included the whole region northwest of the Ohio river, took place at Columbia within the present eastern limits of the city of Cincinnati. Two years after that event the first protestant church in all that territory was formed. It was in the year 1790. It was a Baptist church. Six of the members of the colony had been members of the Baptist church at Scotch Plains, New Jersey, namely: Benjamin Stites, John S. Gano, Thomas C. Wade, Greenlight Baily, Mrs. Baily and Edmund Bux- ton. They were organized into a church by Rev. Stephen Gano, a brother of one
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of the members, who had come west to visit his father, Rev. John Gano. The father had been pastor of the First Baptist church in New York city and had been a noted chaplain in the Revolutionary army. He had come west late in life and had settled in what is now Maysville, Kentucky. The son had been a surgeon in the army and had passed through many thrilling experiences before entering the ministry. After his visit to the West, he became the distinguished pastor of the First Baptist church of Providence, Rhode Island.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. When in 1795 the town of Dayton was laid out, it was chiefly settled by families from Columbia or Cincinnati. Mr. Daniel C. Cooper, one of the party who made the first survey and who became the titular proprietor of the place, partly by the acquisition of preemption rights and partly by agreements with the settlers, reserved the four corners at Main and Third streets for public buildings. In the record of the commissioners of Montgomery county as early as 1806, we find that one Charles Roe, in behalf, as it is stated, of the "Baptist Union Congregation of Dayton" applied for a donation lot as a site for a house of worship according to Mr. Cooper's offer. A few months later, September 8th, 1807, it is recorded in the same book that the petition of the Anabaptists (which must mean the same con- gregation) was granted, and then follows in due form an agreement on the part of the county commissioners to deed to the Baptist organization lot 156 on Main street and certain burial lots as soon as deeds should be received by them from Mr. Cooper. As late as 1812, a part of the cemetery south of Fifth street was understood to belong to the Baptists.
That original Baptist congregation does not seem to have been strong enough to follow up and realize the claim to real estate which it had so early obtained. For, turning to the record of conveyances, we find that the lots in question were afterwards deeded by Mr. Cooper to other parties. The commencement of the Baptist interest which more directly developed into what is now known as the First Baptist church may be associated with the coming to Dayton about 1823 of certain other persons of these views from Lebanon and various places. At their request Baptist ministers occasionally visited them and preached for them. Among these were Stephen Gard, pastor of the Elk Creek Baptist church at Trenton. Butler county, and Wilson Thompson, pastor of the Baptist church at Lebanon. In the division which afterwards took place among the Baptists both of these men went with the "Old School." Thompson was a man of much natural ability, strong in debate and popular as a preacher. Gard, though less brilliantly gifted, was also highly esteemed by those who knew him best. He was kind and win- ning in manner and devotional in spirit.
It was on the 29th of May, 1824, that a council assembled in Dayton to es- tablish a Baptist church. As the result of a difficulty, which afterwards arose, there is preserved in the files of Montgomery county the original minutes in the handwriting of Elder Corbly Martin, who was clerk of the council, also the names of those present and the names of the constituent members of the church. The council was composed of seventeen persons, nine of whom were ministers. Besides those already mentioned, there was Elder John Thomas, who was for some years pastor of the King's Creek church, Elder John Guth- ridge, who performed much pioneer work, Elder Nathanael Tibbets, who had
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been pastor of the First Church of Cincinnati and who is said to have been a man of great energy of character, Elder Jacob Mulford, who had been pastor of Wolf Creek and Tapscott churches, and Elder Daniel Bryant, who lived to per- form long and faithful service, being the last of the little group to leave this life. They agreed not to adjourn until all had preached, and the record of the council indicates the times and places of their respective appointments. Elder Bryant had been united in marriage a few weeks before with a Miss Corwin of Lebanon and was at this time pastor of the Mill Creek Baptist church. He was always progressive in his ideas and in sympathy with every good enterprise. He had also a pleasant vein of humor. He died in 1875. Elder Thompson was the moderator of the council. An afternoon was spent in the examination of those who wished to constitute the church. These were Simeon Stansyfer, Elizabeth Stansyfer, Garrett Thompson, Andrew Clark, Rebecca Clark, Rebecca Snider, Elizabeth Crowell, William George and Nancy Daniels. The articles of faith were carefully considered. They took high Calvinistic ground in common with those of other Baptist churches at that time, using on some points stronger ex- pressions than most Baptist churches of the present day would wish to use in such a document. They insisted that the redemption which Christ wrought out was "special and particular," in other words, that it was only for the elect. To these articles was appended the declaration that "we consider ourselves under obligation to attend to the example that Christ gave his disciples by washing their feet. 'Ye ought also to wash one another's feet.' Yet the omission of this observance by any member shall not be a bar to fellowship." This declara- tion led to considerable discussion, according to the testimony of Elder Bryant, but it was finally passed as being harmless and gratifying to some, but "feet- washing" was not afterwards observed by the church. Up to that time it had been practiced as an ordinance by different Baptist churches but was falling into disuse. Elder Tibbetts gave the right hand of fellowship and anounced the little body a Church of Christ. Elder Gard offered the recognition prayer and Elder Guthridge preached the sermon, which was coupled with a charge to the church. The council held its first meeting on the porch of the house of William Huff- man, which stood at the northwest corner of Third and Jefferson streets. On account of the hospitalities then frequently enjoyed it was often spoken of as "the Baptist tavern."
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