USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
316
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
by Mr. Morse in a small building on Third street in West Dayton, which had been used as a Young Men's Christian Association reading room. Soon about thirty Baptists were worshiping here and were organized into a branch of the First Baptist church, possessing delegated authority to receive and dismiss mem- bers, their acts being subject to endorsement by the main body. In 1889, lots were purchased on South Williams street. The location had reference to the convenience of both West Dayton and Browntown members. The present com- modious house of worship was begun and completed in 1890 and to it was trans- ferred the work of the two missions referred to. Mr. Morse continued to be pastor until April. 1891. In July of that year, Rev. Chesley Holmes succeeded him. Rev. S. Fison was pastor from May, 1893, to December, 1894. He was followed by Rev. W. E. Pritchard in January, 1895, who continued till 1899, when Rev. W. E. Stevens took up the work and continued his devoted service until the beginning of 1909, when ill health required his resignation.
Rev. O. E. Hall, of Geneva, Ohio, called and entered upon his duties May I, 1909. The church now numbers two hundred and nine. Though in form, it is still a branch of the First church, it is practically a separate church, carrying on all the work of such a body.
MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH also began as a mission of the First church. Cottage prayer meetings in Riverdale were held in the winter of 1890-91. There was so much interest in the following winter that a Sunday-school was estab- lished in a lawn-tennis cottage on the premises of Mr. Edward Barney. Henry C. Stilwell was elected superintendent. The enrollment the first year was two hundred and nine, while about forty attended the Friday night prayer meetings. Two lots of land were purchased at the corner of Main and McOwen streets and there a comfortable house of worship was erected. It was decided afterwards to call this the Memorial Baptist church in memory of Henry C. Stilwell, who gave so much time and thought to the enterprise. This beloved brother influenced many lives for Christ. He entered Chicago Theological Seminary and felt called to the work of the ministry ; but, after one year of study there, was called away from this life. His father, the late E. R. Stilwell, was afterwards the superintend- ent of the Sunday-school. Rev. C. F. Vreeland became pastor on the field in March in the spring of 1895 ; and on December 27 of that year the mission was or- ganized as a branch of the First Baptist church, the Baptists worshiping there being delegated to carry on the functions of a church subject to the endorsements of the main body. Mr Vreeland was followed by Rev. F. G. Cressey, July, 1897 to June, 1900. The subsequent pastors have been : Rev. A. A. Cober, who left in 1906 to become a missionary to Porto Rico; Rev. Harlan P. Smith, January 1907 to October, 1908, and Rev. C. F. J. Tate, D. D., who is still leading this people in their good work. On July 1, 1906, during the pastorate of Mr. Cober, the body was set off, in response to their own request, and was recognized as an in- dependent Baptist church. The deed of the property was then given them; the house of worship was repaired and they are looking forward to enlarged service on their promising field. Their number is one hundred and fifty-three.
THE NORTH DAYTON BAPTIST CHURCH originated in a series of prayer meet- ings carried on by Rev. J. W. Icenbarger and some of his people in this section of the city in the winter of 1888-9. The interest manifested was such that the
317
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Baptist Union in 1889 were glad to accept two lots of land, John Kiser con- tributing one lot and one-fifth of a lot and E. M. Thresher contributing the other four-fifths of a lot. Funds were raised and a small chapel erected. The location was that still occupied on the corner of Chapel and Daniel streets. The total expenditure was one thousand, eight hundred and seventy-five dollars and sixty-two cents. The building was dedicated April 2, 1893. One hundred and fifteen were present at the first session of the Sunday-school, A. L. Bower- sox, superintendent. Mr. Frank Sweet, a student at Granville, preached in the summer of 1894. Rev. J. E. Thomas from Van Wert, Ohio, began to be pastor in January, 1895, and the mission was organized into a branch of the First Baptist church in November, 1896. This plan was thought the tnost practicable. Therefore the Baptist Union relinquished its control to the First Baptist church, thirteen members of which belonged to the new body. Others soon joined it from the Linden avenue and Central churches. Though the church has suffered from river-floods and by frequent removals of members from the city it has maintained the various activities of earnest evangelical organizations, has greatly blessed the community in which it is located, and has grown to number one hundred and ninety-four. Its pastor, Rev. J. E. Thomas, now in the fortieth year of his service on the field, has been permitted to see many precious results of its labors. Though still really a branch of the First church, it is, to all intents and purposes, doing full church work and de- serves an honorable recognition in this history.
THE DAYTON VIEW BAPTIST MISSION occupies a new and tasteful chapel at the corner of Superior and Ferguson avenues. The building was erected in 1907. The land and building together cost about ten thousand dollars, con- tributed by members of the First church. Some of them reside in the vicinity, which is a new and attractive portion of the city. No special organization has yet been formed, but a Sunday-school, preaching and a weekly prayer-meeting are maintained. The pastor's assistant of the First church, Rev. I. J. Beckwith, has direction of this mission.
THE THIRD STREET BAPTIST CHURCH is a child of the Linden avenue Bap- tist church. It was started as a mission in the autumn of 1886. Children playing on the commons were gathered into a room in the house of Mr. E. L. Spencer. As it grew it was transferred to a building formerly used as a saloon on North Jersey street. Other meetings were appointed and the work went on in the face of some discouragements. On October 7, 1887, a house of worship was dedicated at the corner of East Third and Monmouth streets. On August 1, 1892, Rev. F. L. Blowers from the Theological Seminary at Louisville came in response to an invitation to take charge of the mission. E. L. Spencer, James H. Stevens and others were earnest helpers. So greatly did the work prosper that the mission was organized into a church on May 12, 1896, Rev. F. L. Blowers being the first pastor. It was duly recognized by a council on June 9th of that year. Mr. Blowers brought to the work great devotion and the young church grew and prospered. He continued until April 6, 1897. Rev. E. S. Read was pastor from August 1, 1897. He performed faithful service till June 30, 1900. In August of that year Mr. Blowers was called to become pastor a second time. He came and ministered to the church
318
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
until the spring of 1903. He was succeeded that year by Rev. C. A. Brooks. It was during Mr. Brooks' pastorate that the church, finding its house of wor- ship too small, resolved to attempt securing a larger one. The adjoining lot of land was obtained. With aid from other Baptists of the city and from the Ohio Baptist convention, accompanied by personal sacrifices, the present building was erected in the same location and dedicated in 1907. Mr. Brooks closed his pastorate in November of that year and accepted a call to Cleveland. The present pastor is Rev. S. A. Sherman, who was called August 8, 1907. Besides the activities on the main field the church maintains a mission interest on Springfield street.
HAYNES STREET BAPTIST MISSION is at present a mission of the Linden avenue church. In January, 1894, some young members of that church, who were worshiping at the Third Street Mission, responded to an invitation to start another mission south of the Pennsylvania railway in the city. A room for the purpose was secured by them at the corner of Sherman and Parrott streets, which they fitted up with great personal effort. Afterwards for a while, they used a store room of a Mr. Anderson. For two years or more they labored earnestly. The school grew to number eighty-five and there were regular preach- ing services. The time then came when it seemed best to the Baptists of that part of the city that this mission and the one which the Baptist Union and members of the Central church had been maintaining for a while in a house on Steele avenue, should be united and placed under the fostering care of the Linden avenue church. This was done and a neat and comfortable house of worship was erected at the corner of Haynes and Parrott streets. This was dedicated in 1897. Great encouragement has attended the enterprise. Rev. A. J. McElwain, Rev. Frederick Fisher and Rev. Carrol S. Mason have been successively pastors on this field as associate pastors of the Linden avenue church.
COLORADO AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. Since the Third Street Baptist church erected its present house of worship, the old one has been removed by the generosity of Mr. James H. Stevens, to Colorado avenue at the south end of the city and placed upon a lot purchased by the Baptist Union. It has be- come the center of a flourishing mission maintained by workers from the Linden avenue church. It was first opened for services and dedicated September 8, 1907.
THE COLORED BAPTISTS. The colored people have three Baptist churches in Dayton ; namely Zion, Bethel and Mount Olive, situated respectively on Sprague, Fitch and Washington streets. Zion, the oldest of these, was started about forty years ago and has had several earnest pastors. The present pastor is Rev. W. O. Harper. At this time, the church numbers five hundred and twenty- five. Its old brick edifice was erected not long after the organization of the church, but this was superseded in 1908 by a new and attractive building very creditable to the liberality of the congregation. The Bethel church, of which Rev. J. B. Anderson is now the pastor, numbers four hundred and seventy-five. Rev. Frank Tate is at present the pastor of Mount Olive. There is also a Baptist mis- sion for colored people near the eastern extremity of the city.
The Baptists have now altogether fifteen places of worship in Dayton.
313
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH. While in early years there were Lutheran churches to the north and to the south and west, Dayton was without a Lutheran organiza- tion until 1839. Dayton was then a town with about four thousand inhabitants. There must have been Lutherans here from the first, for two congregations of Lutherans were organized almost simultaneously; Zion's, now the First, and St. John's German church, and both congregations moved forward with rapid strides from the beginning. The German congregation had been holding services, how- ever, with more or less regularity, in the courthouse, corner Third and Main, from 1836 until their church was organized July 18, 1840.
Rev. Reuben Weiser, a Lutheran minister and missionary of the church, from the Maryland synod, came to Dayton and made a canvas of the situation with a view to the organization of a Lutheran congregation. In Mr. Frederick Geb- hart, who had come with his family to Dayton from Somerset, Pennsylvania, the year previous, and in Mr. Philip Beaver, who had emigrated from Chambers- burg, Pennsylvania, and in Dr. Elijah Ealy, he found leaders of superior fitness and strength for such an enterprise. On July 10, at 2 p. m., a meeting was held for the purpose of effecting an organization in the store-room of Mr. Frederick Geb- hart, located on the east side of Main street, between Second and Third, about the middle of the block. In the old minute-book of the church, the following account of this meeting is given :
"A meeting was held in the store-room of Mr. F. Gebhart, and the following was the course of proceedings. The Rev. Mr. Weiser, being present, drew up the following constitutional article :
"We, the subscribers, feeling the importance of forming an Evangelical Lu- theran congregation in the city of Dayton, Ohio, for us and our children, do hereby in humble reliance on the great Head of the Church, form ourselves into a Luthe- ran congregation. We acknowledge ourselves members of the Lutheran church, and of course subject to the discipline and church government of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran church of the United States."
HENRY CREAGER,
PHILIP BEAVER,
JOHN PRUGH,
PETER BAKER, FREDERICK GEBHARD,
ELIJAH EALY,
SAMUEL KELLER,
JOHN HOPPERT, I. G. HOPPERT.
The following persons were appointed officers :
Elders, Henry Creager and Philip Beaver; Deacons, Frederick Gebhart and Peter Baker; Officers of the vestry, President, Peter Baker; Secretary, Dr. E. Ealy.
It was also decided at this meeting to send a committee to Rev. D. Winters to request the use of the Reformed church for occasional services. It was also resolved that "the vestry be authorized to purchase a lot as soon as it may be con-
320
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
venient for the purpose of building a church in some eligible part of the town, the price to be left to their own discretion."
The vestry resolved on August 15, 1840, "to invite the Rev. D. P. Rosenmiller to locate in Dayton, and preach to the Lutherans every other Sabbath, provided the sum of two hundred dollars be subscribed for his support.' Rev. Mr. Rosen- miller arrived in Dayton soon after that date from Newville, Pennsylvania, and began his ministry in and about Dayton, serving a number of churches in the country districts in addition to the Dayton congregation. From the best available sources, we learn that he served congregations at Zion's on the Cincinnati pike, Mt. Zion's, near Xenia, David's church on the Lebanon pike, Aley's on the Huff- man road, Liberty. the Wolf Creek church and Union. Some of these congre- gations were absorbed later by the Reformed people, with whom the Lutheran churches in that early day generally united in a union church-building.
March 27, 1841, it was decided to secure the old "Academy" for the use of the congregation "until a house of worship shall be erected." This old building stood on St. Clair street, opposite the park, near the alley. It was found to be in bad condition, doors off, windows broken, having been used as a sheep stable for a time.
On the same date that the Academy was chosen as a temporary place of wor- ship the congregation decided to proceed at once in the purchase of a lot and the erection of a church. On April 10, the lot owned by James Douglas, and lying on the southwest corner of Fourth and Jefferson, was chosen as a location for the church. It was also decided at this meeting that "the size of the new church be in proportion to the amount of the subscription, not to exceed, however, forty- five by sixty feet. The congregation decided also to finish only the basement story at the first, and further "that the subscription be opened this afternoon at Mr. F. Gebhart's store, and that each person subscribe liberally." April 15th, the lot was purchased for one thousand and twenty-five dollars in cash, this money being furnished according to the old record, by the following three brethren: F. Geb- hart four hundred and fifty dollars, Peter Baker one hundred and seventy dollars, and Martin Smith and P. Baker jointly four hundred dollars.
The building was erected during that year, and the first service was held in it January 10, 1842. The second story was not completed until early in the year 1845. The newly organized Miami Synod met in the new church April 20, 1845, in its first regular session, on which occasion the new church was dedi- cated with solemn services. Rev. Mr. Rosenmiller closed his labors on the 15th of October, 1849, and removed with his family, to Hanover, Pennsyl- vania, where he had accepted a call to a Lutheran congregation. Before he re- moved from Dayton, the congregation elected and called the Rev. P. Riser, at a salary of four hundred and fifty dollars.
Doctor Conrad, who became the successor of the Reverend Riser, proved himself a masterful leader and a most effective preacher of the gospel. He began his labors sometime during the month of December. 1855, having been chosen by unanimous vote of the congregation December 23rd. He was very successful in evangelistic services, and such large numbers were added to the church during the first years of his ministry, that a new and larger church seemed a necessity. The membership increased during his ministry from one hundred and sixty to
--
NEW FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH
323
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
three hundred and twenty-five. On November 8, 1858, the first action was taken in this direction, on motion of Mr. J. C. Baird. The vestry was authorized to negotiate for a lot. Two lots were finally proposed, the one afterwards chosen on Main street, and owned by the Nathaniel Wilson estate, and the other known as the Morrison lot, now occupied by the Grace Methodist church. Sentiment was divided between these two lots, and when the vote was taken the Main street lot had thirty-one votes and the Morrison lot sixteen. On motion of Mr. Frederick Gebhart, who was strongly in favor of the Morrison lot, the con- gregation voted unanimously in favor of the Main street lot, and the congrega- tion thus entered upon the construction of the new church in perfect harmony. The price paid for the lot was seven thousand dollars. Five feet were afterwards sold to Josiah Gebhart for five hundred dollars, thus making the price of the lot used six thousand five hundred dollars. The old church on Fourth street was sold to the United Presbyterian church for about eight thousand dollars. Plans for the new church were presented and approved February 12, 1859. The basement story was finished and occupied Christmas, 1859. The church was finally com- pleted and dedicated January 20, 1861. Its dimensions were one hundred and twenty-one by seventy-two feet, with the Sunday school on the first floor and the auditorium on the second. The tower was carried at this time only above the roof. In 1863-4 the tower was finished, having been carried up to the height of one hun- dred and fifty-four feet. The entire cost of the church with equipment, etc., was sixty-one thousand six hundred and eighteen dollars and twenty-five cents. At this date there was a surplus in the building fund of five hundred and sixty-one dol- lars and sixty-two cents.
Dr. Conrad terminated his work March 8, 1862. The church was vacant until October of 1862, when the Rev. Daniel Steck, who had been chosen as pastor be- gan his work. Doctor Steck was a strong and eloquent preacher, and had his min- istry covered another period than the one it did, it no doubt would have been longer in time and different in results. But it was at a time when the Civil war divided counsels and necessarily created most profound feeling, and often caused serious ruptures between otherwise congenial spirits. As a result of serious division which came to the surface in 1864, the pastor was advised by the council "that it was their unanimous opinion that it would be better for him and the church if he would re- sign." This he finally did on December 7, 1864.
Rev. L. A. Gotwald, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was elected pastor on April 15, 1865, and began his labors very soon thereafter. It was during his ministry that the congregation decided that hereafter "a systematic effort be made annually to secure money for missions, education, and the Bible Society, and other worthy benevolent objects." In 1865, the congregation subscribed thirty-three thousand, four hundred and twelve dollars to Wittenberg College. About this time the con- gregation decided that the "sitting posture" during prayer is the more devotional attitude, and suggested its adoption. Rev. L. A. Gotwald was a most faithful and earnest pastor, and was much beloved by the entire congregation, and his resignation offered December 5, 1868, on account of ill health, was accepted very reluctantly.
February 19, 1869, Rev. Irving Magee of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, entered on his ministry in Dayton which proved to be a brief but most productive one. It
324
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
was during his pastorate, in 1870, that a great revival of religion swept a host of people into the churches of Dayton, and especially into the Lutheran church. This revival was brought about through the special prayer of the pastors, and was con- ducted by the pastors alone. Under date of March 6, 1870, Rev. Mr. Magee writes in his private records : "This has been the most wonderful day of my life, one hun- dred and seventy-five persons received this day into the church, four hundred and eighty-eight communed." Within the next four weeks fifty-six others were added, making a total of two hundred and thirty-one persons received by the Reverend Magee, within one month. Two hundred were added to the Sunday-school, mak- ing it the largest school in the city; a Young Men's Christian Association and a Woman's Christian Association were organized, and in the First Lutheran church the work of educating young men for the ministry was pushed forward with remarkable success. In the next few years, three and sometimes four young men were being supported at one time by the church, the Ladies' Social and the Sunday-school in Wittenberg College. In 1870, the present plan of sup- porting the Sunday-school out of the church funds was inaugurated. Under this plan the entire contribution of the school is used for benevolent work in the church outside of the immediate congregation. The Sunday-school room was frescoed and new windows were put in at this time. January 10, 1869, the con- gregation decided to proceed to purchase a chime of nine bells to be added to the one already in use, making ten in all, and a committee was named to carry this into effect.
The Rev. J. B. Helwig, of the First church, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was chosen pastor and began his work January 15, 1873. His pastorate was a brief one, but a most fruitful one in spite of that fact. It was terminated August 23, 1874, the pastor having been called to take up the presidency of Wittenberg College.
Following the resignation of Doctor Helwig there was a vacancy from August, 1874 until January 24, 1875, when Rev. T. T. Everett, of Red Hook, New York, began his ministry, which was terminated March II, 1877.
Dr. G. F. Stelling was elected pastor of the church July 1, 1877, and began his work about August I. During his ministry the church was repaired at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. October 1, 1881, Doctor Stelling closed his labors to accept a call to the First Church, of Omaha, Nebraska.
Rev. J. H. Barclay, D. D., of Baltimore, Maryland, entered upon his work here early in January, 1882, and served the church until October 31, 1886, when on account of continued ill health, he tendered his resignation, which was accepted.
From October 31, 1886, until June 1, 1887, the congregation was without a res- ident pastor. Rev. E. E. Baker, a student of theology in the Wittenberg Semi- nary, was chosen pastor February 6, 1887, and took up his residence here June Ist of that year.
After eleven years of service, which is the longest pastorate in the history of the congregation, the Reverend Baker resigned June 1, 1898, and removed with his family to Cleveland, Ohio.
Following an interim of eleven months, Rev. D. Frank Garland, D. D., the present pastor, began his ministry, May 1, 1899. During that summer improve- ments to the church were made, which cost about one thousand dollars, and later further improvements, costing one thousand five hundred dollars were made.
325
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
For some years the question of enlarged equipment for social and Sunday- school purposes was agitated, and on one occasion a general plan of enlargement was proposed, but the majority sentiment of the congregation seemed to incline towards a sale of the Main street property and the erection of a new and modern church in a quieter section of the city as near to the old location as possible. Several proposals for the purchase of the property were made during the past five years, which, for one reason or another, did not result in a sale, until on January 9, 1905, the matter was finally settled. On that date the proposition of the Ma- sonic Temple Company to purchase the Main street property for one hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars net was accepted by a unanimous vote of the congre- gation. In this sale the organ, chime of bells, pews, pulpit and other articles, were excepted. The selection of a new location then became the chief con- sideration of the congregation, and on May 27, 1905, the present property, known as the Smith property, located on the southeast corner of First and Wilkinson, was purchased for forty-five thousand dollars. The size of the lot is two hundred feet in depth and ninety-nine feet in width, with an additional six feet for lawn purposes under the old "door-yard" law. The deed for this property was delivered July 1, 1905. Steps were then immediately taken to secure plans for a new church. The congregation was practically a unit in its desire for a stone church, a building that was churchly in exterior and interior, with a modern Sun- day school room, ample facilities for social gatherings apart from the strictly re- ligious departments of the church, the best heating and ventilating system, and ample space in the approaches to the church and to the several departments. The plans were finally completed and the contract was let to Henry Turvene & Son. The work on the excavation for the new building was begun October 23, 1905. The corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies, April 29, 1906, at 3:00 p. m.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.