USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 36
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MEMORIAL CHURCH on East Fifth street, was organized through the desire of the late Rev. George W. Williard, D. D., to have a memorial erected to his second wife, Emma J. (Hiveling) Williard, daughter of Colonel J. Hiveling, of Xenia,
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Ohio, who bequeathed the sum of six thousand dollars for the founding of a church. The two lots on which the church stands were purchased on April 19, 1895, for the sum of two thousand dollars. The construction of the church was begun immediately and the corner stone was laid Sunday afternoon, August 5, 1895. Rev. W. A. Hale, D. D., made the principal address and Dr. G. W. Wil- liard performed the ceremony of laying the stone. The Sunday-school was organized on "e 4th of August in the old street car barn on the corner of Fifth and Van Lear streets. This Sunday-school was the first effort in the way of public meetings, and started on the day of its organization with one hundred and forty-two present. Mr. A. L. Shearer was the first superintendent.
An evening service was commenced in the old car barn on August 4th, and a morning service on September 22d. These services were continued until October 20, 1895, when a church organization was effected with sixty-four charter mem- bers. The congregation assumed the name of Memorial Reformed church of Dayton, Ohio, and declared itself to belong to Miami classis of the Ohio Synod. All services were held in the car barn until the first of November, when the chapel of the new church was far enough completed to permit services to be held in it. On the first Sunday of November, 1895, the Sunday-school and congre- gation moved across the street into their new home. Here they met first in the basement of the chapel. then in the present Sunday-school room. The chapel was finished and dedicated on February 16, 1896. Rev. W. A. Hale, D. D., preached the dedicatory sermon, assisted by Rev. E. Herbrook. Dr. G. W. Williard per- formed the dedicatory services proper.
The dedication of the completed church took place on May 8, 1898. At the morning service the congregations of the First and Fourth Reformed churches, with their pastors, Revs. W. A. Hale and Ross F. Wicks, united in the service. In the evening the congregations of Trinity and Second (German) Reformed churches, with their pastors, Revs. C. E. Miller and B. S. Stern, united in the service. The congregation now had a membership of two hundred and thirty. and the Sunday-school enrolled about three hundred.
Dr. Williard gave up the active work of the pastorate, November 1, 1898, and was continued as pastor emeritus until the time of his death, which occurred on September 17, 1900.
Rev. D. Burghalter became the pastor of the congregation, serving from De- cember 1, 1898 to April 9, 1901, when he assumed the editorship of "The Christian World." Rev. J. H. Christman, D. D., became the third pastor on July 1, 1901, serving until July 1, 1902, when he was called to the professorship of Practical Theology in Heidelberg Seminary, Tiffin, Ohio. Rev. H. H. Hartman, the present pastor, was elected October 19, 1902. Although the church is only fourteen years old at present it is well organized, active and progressive in its work. The membership is about five hundred and the Sunday-school enrollment is over five hundred. The Ladies' Aid Society, the Ladies' Missionary, the Senior and Junior Christian Endeavor societies are active and progressive. A strong athletic association is maintained by the young men of the Sunday-school. The church property, including a splendid parsonage, is valued at twenty-two thousand, five hundred dollars.
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THE FIRST MAGYAR REFORMED CHURCH originated in October, 1899, when Rev. Alexander C. Sutoros of Cleveland, Ohio, held the first church and communion services in a school building with only seven members. On the 23rd of November, 1902, Stephen P. Harsanyi, a student of the seminary at Tiffin, Ohio, established the Dayton Magyar church under the supervision of the Reformed church in the United States. From time to time he came to hold the Magyar church services until June 12, 1904, when he was transferred to Toledo, Ohio. John Bodry, also a student of the seminary at Tiffin, was appointed to take care of the Magyar Re- formed people. Rev. Bodry held regular Sunday church services and Sunday school. He employed the summer vacation in teaching the Magyar children to read and write.
The first regular pastor, Rev. Stephen Viray of Trenton, New Jersey, took charge of the little congregation March 6, 1906, with a salary of three hundred dollars of which the Dayton Malleable Iron works offered one hundred and twenty dollars as a yearly donation. The Home Mission Board promised some help also and later gave to the pastor a regular yearly salary of six hundred dol- lars. From this time the congregation grew rapidly. It was admitted into the Hungarian Classis in connection with the Pittsburg Synod. The pastor and elders soon bought three lots on west Blaine street for a church and parsonage. Through personal solicitations in Magyar communities, the pastor secured the funds for building a church and parsonage valued at five thousand dollars and two thousand, three hundred and eighty dollars respectively. The church was dedicated January 13, 1907, by Rev. D. A. Souders, D. D., district superintendent. He was assisted by six Magyar and several English pastors. In November, 1907, the pastor resigned. The congregation then called Rev. Andrew Kovacs to be their pastor. The membership at this time numbered one hundred and twelve. There was a debt against the church of over seven thousand dollars, which amount, through the wise direction of the pastor, was reduced to below six thousand dollars. The sum raised for congregational purposes in 1908, was two thousand, two hundred and forty-five dollars.
GRACE CHURCH was organized December 8, 1907, by a committee of the Miami Classis, Synod of Ohio. On the date of organization, one hundred and twenty- six persons were received into full membership as charter members. Of these ninety-six were dismissed by letter from the Fourth Reformed church. The remaining thirty were received by reprofession of faith and baptism and con- firmation. On the date of organization the following officers were elected by ballot : Elders, C. C. Davidson, Josiah Hull and N. T. Bish; Deacons, Henry Shank, L. D. Clemnser and C. E. Bitzer. For a time the congregation worshiped in the old Fourth Presbyterian church building, corner Fifth and Summit streets, leasing the same from the owner, R. R. Chadwick. Desiring a permanent church home, a congregational meeting was held on March 8, 1908, to con- sider the matter. At this meeting, it was decided to purchase the church build- ing formerly leased. The consistory constituted the purchasing committee. In purchasing this property, the church acquired a most valuable site, espe- cially for church purposes, centrally located in a substantial resident section of the city, and for over fifty years the location of the Fourth Presbyterian church.
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During the first year of its existence the church had no regular pastor, but main- tained regular worship by securing the services of different ministers. On Decem- ber 6, 1908, Rev. N. B. Mathis of Goshen, Indiana, was elected pastor and began his ministry January 17, 1909 and continues at the present time.
The Sunday-school was organized one week before the organization of the church was effected. The attendance was one hundred and seven. From the begin- ning the school has had a steady growth and now enrolls two hundred scholars. The school is graded and has two organized classes, and is manned by an effi- cient corps of officers and teachers. Grace church is well organized for practi- cal Christian work, having a Ladies' Aid Society, Senior and Junior Christian Endeavor Societies, and a well-trained choir. Since the beginning-less than two years ago-the membership has steadily grown until it now numbers one hundred and seventy-two. The real temper of the congregation is seen in the fact that at the very beginning they declared themselves self-supporting-rather an unusual fact for a young congregation. The outlook for this new church- the youngest of the nine Reformed churches in this city-is most promising.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES.
FIRST UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. Beginning with 1810 Christian New- comer, a minister of the United Brethren church, residing in Maryland, visited Dayton on a number of his annual visits to the west, stopping and holding meetings at Lewis Kemp's east of Dayton, and at other nearby points. In 1813, he was made a bishop. In 1814, he preached in the Methodist church in Day- ton. In 1832, Bishop Joseph Hoffman settled on a farm in what now constitutes Dayton View. A few years later, he built a large and substantial house, after- ward long owned and occupied by J. O. Arnold, in which were two large rooms connected with double doors, especially arranged for religious meet- ings. Here, between 1835 and 1838, a class was formed and class and prayer meetings were held, members of the Germantown, Liberty and other classes coming to the various meetings, and the members of this class returning the visits. In 1838, Bishop Hoffman moved away, and the next we hear of a class in Dayton is the following from the Telescope of November 11, 1840, "We have been informed by a brother from Dayton that there is a small class of United Brethren in that place who meet regularly once a week for religious worship and that they are entirely destitute of preaching from the ministers of our church."
This class was organized in the year named in the house of Daniel Keifer. Daniel Bonebrake was the preacher on Clear Creek Circuit and took up an ap- pointment in Dayton. The class consisted of thirteen members. Daniel Keifer being the first class leader and John Dodds, the first class steward. After a few years the organization was discontinued.
From 1841 to 1844 there was a "Dayton Circuit." The circuit in 1843 con- sisted of twelve appointments and had two hundred and seventy members. In 1844, Dayton was made a station with Carrollton and the stone meeting-house (Beavertown) attached. In 1845, Beavertown was added to Springfield Cir- cuit and Dayton stood in connection with this circuit or in connection with Still-
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water Circuit, which included Liberty, Vandalia, West Milton, Fredericksburg and other places. The Dayton work after a time faded out.
The First church grew out of a class formed east of the canal in connection with the Springfield Circuit. The time of its formation is indicated by the fol- lowing extract from the diary of Rev. H. Kumler, Jr., then serving as presiding elder: "I lay sick in Dayton, Montgomery county, November 23, (1848) ; could not fill my appointment (in Dayton) last night. There is now in Dayton a little class just organized." From 1849 to 1852, all the work in and about Dayton was in connection with Springfield Circuit. The two years following, Dayton First church, Miami chapel and Beavertown were in connection and served by Rev. W. R. Rhinehart, a part of the time assisted by Rev. D. K. Flickinger.
The pastor of Springfield Circuit in 1848 when the class was formed out of which grew the First church, was Rev. Robert Norris, who was assisted by Rev. William J. Shuey. This class was organized in a small upper room in the Oregon engine house on the southwest corner of Sixth and Tecumseh streets. At the first meeting, six persons agreed to become members. These were C. Fry, Daniel Kiefer, Mrs. Fannie Bowen, Mrs. Mary Ann Lewis, E. W. Mc- Dowen, and Mrs. E. W. McDowen. Shortly afterward, Mr. and Mrs. John Dodds, John W. Crabbs and a few others joined the organization. For the first few years. the chief obstacle to the growth of the society was the want of a house of worship. However, the society was strengthened in 1850-51 by valuable accessions from the country and the erection of a church building was undertaken in 1852, at the corner of Sixth and Logan streets. The building was a two-story brick building and was completed and dedicated the same year. It served the congregation until 1873. The city bought the church in 1872 and on coming into possession the following year, converted the same into a city prison and mayor's office.
The first regular pastors of this congregation after the erection of the church building were Rev. William R. Rhinehart and Rev. D. K. Flickinger, serving jointly. A Sunday-school was organized in which D. L. Rike and E. W. Mc- Gowen were active workers. The growth of the church was much aided by the establishment in Dayton in 1853 of the publishing house of the denomination. In 1856, there were ninety-two names on the role. At a revival in 1860-61, under the pastorate of Rev. W. J. Shuey, one hundred and four persons were received into the church. The work of the church was in a measure retarded by the enlistment in the army of many of the members. In 1858, under the `leadership of J. B. King and John Lawrence a mission was begun among the colored people of the city, which resulted in the organization of the Third United Brethren Church on Ludlow street.
In 1872, during the pastorate of Rev. C. Briggs, it was decided that further expansion and usefulness would be almost impossible in the old location and house of worship across the canal. After the old church passed into the hands of the city, the congregation was permitted temporarily to meet in the St. John's Lutheran Church on St. Clair street. Meantime the trustees rented the Universalist church on Main street for the time till a new church could be built.
FIRST UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
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The location selected for the new church building was on the north side of Fifth street midway between Main and Jefferson, the lot being purchased in 1872. In 1873, a commodious brick church, with auditorium above and Sunday- school and class rooms below, was erected. In December of that year, the lower rooms of the church were ready for occupancy. In 1874, under the pastorate of Rev. E. S. Chapman, began a new era of prosperity for the congregation. In December, 1876, the main audience room was completed and dedicated. In 1866, under the lead of T. N. Sowers, a mission was established on High street, and for fifteen years the First church conducted there a flourishing Sabbath- school, which grew in 1881 into the character of a church.
In 1886, under the direction of the United Brethren Ministerial Association of the city a mission was planted in the southern part of the city, which later grew into Oak street church. Other churches were later formed largely by the assistance of the First church.
In consequence of the noise of the street and the proximity of large busi- ness houses, a change of location was again agitated. The result was the sale of the church property on Fifth street in 1905, and a relocation on the south- east corner of Fourth and Perry streets secured. The present church edifice with pastor's residence attached, was dedicated July 1, 1906. The cost of the entire plant was one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. Its membership num- bers eight hundred and fifteen.
The following is the list of the pastors of the church beginning with 1852: 1852, W. R. Rhinehart; 1853, W. R. Rhinehart and D. K. Flickinger; 1854, D. K. Flickinger and L. S. Chittenden ; 1855, John Walter : 1856, John W. Price ; 1857, H. Kumler; 1858, H. Kumler and A. Owen; 1859, W. J. Shuey ; 1861, W. H. Lanthurn; 1863, D. Berger ; 1864, J. M. Marshall ; 1865, J. M. Marshall, died ; W. J. Shuey, supply ; 1866, W. McKee; 1867, S. M. Hippard; 1869, P. H. Davis; 1870, C. Briggs; 1873, W. J. Pruner; 1874, E. S. Chapman; 1882, S. A. Mowers; 1888, L. Bookwalter; 1894, G. M. Mathews; 1898, John P. Miller ; 1908, Cyrus J. Kephart.
MIAMI CHAPEL came into existence in connection with Stillwater circuit. In 1846, F. Bonebrake, with a preacher to be supplied, was the preacher on Stillwater circuit. George Bonebrake was on the Springfield circuit. It was probably un- der the administration of F. Bonebrake that in 1846, the first Miami Chapel class was organized. The number that gave their names was seven, as follows: John Dodds and wife, Ellenor Nicholas, Frederick Shupe, Sr., and wife, Mrs. El- mira Rhinehart, and Mrs. Rachel Wheeler. For a while this congregation wor- shiped in a school house known at that time as Goliday school building, located near Bolender avenue, within one-half mile from where the church now stands.
In the year 1848, Mr. Joseph P. Fleming and wife donated, through their agent, Mr. Simon McClure, three-fourths of an acre of land to Frederick Shupe, Sr., and Reuben Dillow, in trust for the use and benefit of the United Brethren church.
On this piece of ground, a mile southwest of Dayton a brick church was built in 1848. The building was enlarged in 1852. Later other additions and improve- ments were made.
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At the conference beginning January 6, 1848, Greencastle (Miami Chapel class), Snyder's (Beardshear class), and Dayton from Stillwater circuit were constituted "Greencastle circuit," thus showing the growth and prospects of Miami Chapel class, which had just arranged for the building of a church home, Wil- liam Ault, preacher in charge. The conference which met again in September, 1848, seems to have placed all the work about Dayton, certainly that east of the river, on Springfield circuit, Robert Norris, preacher in charge, W. J. Shuey as- sisting part of the year. If Miami Chapel class was on Stillwater circuit this year it was served by William Cochran.
From 1849 to 1852 all of the work in and about Dayton was in connection with Springfield circuit, William Miller, preacher in charge in 1849; William Miller and W. G. Wells in 1850; G. C. Warvel and W. G. Wells in 1851. In all cases where a single date is given the date is for the beginning of the conference year. The two years following Dayton First church, Miami Chapel, and Beavertown were in connection and served by W. R. Rhinehart, a part of the time assisted by D. K. Flickinger.
The following pastors have served the congregation: 1849, William Miller and W. G. Wells ; 1851, G. C. Warvel and W. G. Wells; 1852, W. R. Rhinehart : 1854. W. G. Wells ; 1856, W. R. Rhinehart ; 1857, J. Kemp ; 1858. Swain Corson ; 1859, J. Kemp ; 1860, B. W. Day ; 1861, H. Garst ; 1863, J. Kemp ; 1864. J. G. Aik- man ; 1865, T. F. Bushong ; 1867, H. Kumler ; 1868, P. H. Davis; 1869, C. W. Mil- ler ; 1870, J. D. Holtzinger; 1871, William McKee; 1872, H. Toby; 1873, G. L. Gilbert ; 1874, M. R. Drury ; 1875, W. H. Chandler ; 1876, J. D. Holtzinger ; 1877, T. F. Bushong ; 1880, E. W. Bowers; 1881, R. F. Powell; 1882, E. W. Bowers; 1883, G. W. Arnold ; 1884, M. R. Bair; 1887, H. Doty; 1889, William Cleaver ; 1892, J. E. Snyder ; 1894. M. B. Spayd; 1895, T. F. Bushong ; 1896, J. H. Mayne ; 1897, A. Dunkelberger ; 1900, M. C. Van Sickle; 1903, W. H. Klinefelter ; 1907, J. W. Flory. The church membership numbers two hundred and thirty-five.
HIGH STREET CHURCH grew out of a Sunday school established by T. N. Sowers of the first United Brethren church in 1865. On the 24th of November, 1881, a class of twelve members was organized with Rev. G. M. Mathews as pastor. The trustees were A. N. Beal, Orion Bouck, and E. W. McGowen. The class leader was W. A. Shuey, the steward, Alfred Nelson and the superintendent of the Sunday school, A. N. Beal. A brick church building which with enlarge- ments has continued to serve the congregation to the present time, was built in 1880. The following pastors have served the church: G. M. Mathews, 1881 ; E. S. Lorenz 1884; J. W. Kilbourn, 1886; T. F. Bushong, 1889; J. J. G. Graham, 1891; William Cleaver, 1892 ; G. W. Arnold, 1897: J. M. Replogle, 1900: John Owen, June, 1902; J. W. Flory, September, 1902 ; E. E. Saul, 1907, to the present time.
In June, 1906, during the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Flory, a lot on the northeast corner of Richard and High streets was purchased at a cost of five thousand dol- lars. This lot which is now fully paid for is designed as a site for a large church building adequate to the growing demands of the congregation.
The church membership numbers two hundred and twenty-nine. The enroll- ment of the Sunday school is three hundred and sixty-seven. Other societies con- plete a good working organization.
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SUMMIT STREET CHURCH was organized in 1871, the most of the members coming from Miami Chapel, a United Brethren church then a short distance south of the corporation limits. For two years a Sunday school with occasional preach- ing services had been held in the Ells' book bindery east of Summit street near the corner of Fourth avenue and Summit street. A house of worship, par- tially completed, was dedicated May 21, 1871, by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner. It stands on Summit street a little north of Third street. It was called at first the Home Street United Brethren church from the name by which it was supposed the street would be called. The building was a two-story brick structure with a large tower, which was never, however, completed. The use of the building was con- fined to the first story, no attempt having been made to complete and furnish the auditorium. The lower part consisted of a Sunday school room, used for church purposes, and five small rooms. In this condition the house was used. for eight years by Union Biblical, now Bonebrake Seminary. Rev. John Kemp was the leading member of the congregation at this time. In 1880, the walls were taken down to the first story, the tower entirely removed and the building completed as a one story building, rooms being added at the rear for Sunday school purposes. The entire cost of the reconstruction was eight thousand, ninety-eight dollars and ninety cents, of which sum Mr. John Dodds paid three thousand. one hundred and sixteen dollars and twenty-nine cents.
In the period when the church was in process of formation Rev. C. W. Miller (1869-70) and Rev. J. D. Holtzinger ( 1870-71) were the pastors at Miami Chapel. The first regular pastor of the Summit Street congregation was Rev. J. P. Landis, 1871-74. The subsequent pastors were C. Briggs, 1874; A. W. Drury, 1875; William Dillon, 1876; Bonebrake Seminary faculty, 1877 ; editors of the Telescope and agent of the Seminary, 1878; Seminary faculty, 1879; W. M. Beard- shear, 1880; M. H. Ambrose, 1881; W. C. Day, 1882; G. M. Mathews. 1884: S. W. Keister, 1889; R. Rock, 1892; W. H. Klinefelter, 1894; C. W. Kurtz. 1897 ; C. J. Burkert, 1900 ; P. M. Camp, 1905 to the present time. The pastorate of Rev. G. M. Mathews was specially marked by extensive revivals and large ingatherings of members. The congregation secured a few years ago an excellent pipe organ, Mr. Carnegie contributing one thousand dollars toward the cost.
From the first, the church has had many stanch members, some of them in the laity and others general officers of the United Brethren church. Besides, this is the home church for the faculty and a large number of the students of Bonebrake Theological Seminary. The congregation does not aspire to being a seminary congregation. At the same time, it gives a hearty welcome to all who are brought by the seminary to its vicinity.
In all the years of its history, the Sunday school, connected with the church, has been flourishing and influential under a succession of efficient superintend- ents. No Sunday schou. in the city has a more efficient teaching force. The Sun- clay school has an enrollment of five hundred and sixty. The congregation and the Sunday school with various adjunct departments, have outgrown the capacity of the present church building. A lot on which to erect a new church building has been purchased at the northwest corner of Third street and Euclid avenue, on which it is expected a large and suitable church building will be erected in 1910.
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The present church membership numbers six hundred and five. The local Woman's Missionary Association is one of the largest and most liberal in its offerings in the entire denomination. The Ladies Aid society, the Christian Endeavor society and other organizations perform a large part in the work of the congregation.
The Home Avenue and Troy Street United Brethren churches were largely aided at their beginning by the Summit Street congregation.
THE OAK STREET CHURCH is located at the corner of Oak and Bonner streets, South Park. It had its inception with the city association of United Brethren pastors at a meeting held in the spring of 1886. In May the first board of trustees was elected by the quarterly conference of the First United Brethren church and Rev. L. Bookwalter was appointed as pastor of the mission.
In June ground was purchased for church and parsonage buildings. The first Sunday-school session was held in the home of Mr. Leopold Billet on July 4, 1886, eighty-six scholars being present. On October 31st, the chapel was formally dedicated and one month later the church was organized with fifty charter mem- bers. On August 27, 1888, Rev. E. A. Starkey was appointed pastor and the mis- sion continued a thrifty growth during his pastorate of three years.
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