USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 38
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So far as there are any records to show, Love H. Jameson was the next min- ister, serving from 1835 to 1837.
Elder Padget was with the church in 1839. William Pinkerton came to the church in 1845 and after his time the records are more complete. His ministry continued until 1847.
John R. Frame served in 1848 and 1849.
He was succeeded by J. M. Henry who was with the church until 1865 with two interruptions to the continuity of the pastorate in which R. E. Pearsee served for nearly a year in 1854, and J. W. Everett served in 1860 and 1861. The work of Mr. Henry was of permanent value to the church.
When he relinquished the work in 1865 he was succeeded by J. W. Long who remained until 1866.
J. W. Van Buskirk served in 1867 and 1868; J. H. Mccullough, 1868; E. I .. Frazier, 1871 ; M. J. Dennis, 1873 ; M. D. Todd, 1875-1878. This gifted minister left the work to take up a pastorate in England.
He was succeeded by L. R. Gault who continued with the church till 1887, and under his ministry the cause took substantial strides forward.
He was succeeded by H. L. Willett who remained with the church until 1893. Under his ministry the present house of worship was erected and a new impetus given to the work. Copastor with him part of the time was W. R. Warren, who later, in the years preceding 1909, rendered distinguished service to the whole brotherhood of disciples as centennial secretary, preparing for the fitting celebration in Pittsburg, 1909, of the issuing by Thomas Campbell of the "Dec- laration and Address" which launched the movement in 1809.
R. A. Cutler, a promising youth, came to the church in 1893, but his career was cut short by his untimely death the following year.
J. J. Morgan was with the church twenty months, 1894-1896.
In 1896 I. J. Cahill became the pastor. In this longest pastorate in the his- tory of the church an old and crushing burden of debt on the building was paid ; a second church established, and funds collected for almost the entire cost of a new pipe organ.
THE WEST SIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST was organized in 1902 under the aus- pices of the Central church, who gave the new society nearly a hundred mem- bers and contributed three thousand dollars toward their material equipment.
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In the beginning the church met in a store room in a building at the south- east corner of Third and Olive streets. In 1903 a new church was erected on Williams street north of Second street, which is still its home.
The first pastor was George B. Stewart who remained till the close of the year 1905. During his ministry the church house was erected. Henry F. Keltch was the second pastor, serving a year. Asa McDaniel succeeded him serving a little over two years, 1907-1909. The pastor at the time of this writing is Wil- liam B. Phillips, under whose ministry the work gives promise of continued growth and progress.
The membership of the church is one hundred and twenty-five. The Bible school enrollment is two hundred and fifty.
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
THE FIRST CHURCH was organized in 1828 with nine members: Luther Bruen, Mr. Overlease and John Hiser. trustees. The first house of worship was built in or near the year 1828, on Main street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. The lot was subsequently occupied by the residence of G. W. Rogers. for many years, but now replaced by the ten-story Reibold building.
In 1858 a reorganization of the church was effected, the meeting place being the Miami City schoolhouse, corner of Baxter and Fifth streets. Forty mem- bers were enrolled, and a Sunday-school was organized, and regular service and Sundayschool were held here for a couple of years.
In 1859 two lots were bought on the corner of Broadway and Home avenue, where the present church edifice was built, and dedicated in June, 1860, since which date services have been held in it, though now it will no longer accommo- date the church, Sunday-school and other church organizations.
At the present time steps are being taken to erect a larger, more modern and more commodious temple.
Within the last two years two mission churches have been organized in the city, one at Walnut Hills and one at Crown Point, both in prosperous and grow- ing condition and having their own respective houses of worship.
EVANGELICAL CIIURCHES.
THE FIRST CHURCH grew out of the preaching of A. B. Schaeffer, who in the year 1840, made his first visit to Dayton, and preached as an Evangeli- cal preacher his first sermon in the house of Peter Schneider. After preach- ing a number of times for the people, two other families offered their homes for preaching services. In the year 1841 A. B. Schaeffer felt convinced that it would be a good thing to organize a society. The organization was effected with twelve people as members of the Evangelical Association. In 1842 a num- ber of other people united with the society, and in 1843 it was taken up as a mission.
In the same year a hall was rented on Fourth street in which to hold regular religious services. In this place of worship a Sunday-school was organized.
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The society now began to feel the need of a church property, and at once steps were taken to secure a lot. After due consideration a lot on the corner of Fifth and Walnut streets was bought for the sum of two hundred dollars, and at once a small one-story brick building, thirty-two by twenty-two feet, was erected on the rear of the lot. This building was dedicated the first Sunday in Septem- ber, 1843, by Rev. A. B. Schaeffer. Out of the small church building grew the second church, which was erected on the same lot in 1849, a two-story brick building fronting Fifth street. In 1851 this building was dedicated by Rev. Schaeffer. In 1855 the mission was changed to a station and became self-sup- porting. This society belonged to the Ohio conference for sixteen years until 1857. By an act of general conference it was transferred to the Indiana confer- ence, and has since that time been served by preachers of said conference.
In 1870 a lot was purchased on Commercial street near Fifth street upon which a commodious house of worship was erected costing seventeen thousand dollars. It is a two-story brick with the auditorium in the upper story, with a seating capacity of over five hundred, with Sunday-school and class rooms in the basement. The building was dedicated by Bishop R. Dubs, D. D.
The following pastors served the congregation from the organization in 1841 until 1866: A. B. Schaeffer, John Hall, Frederick Meyer, Jacob Burkert, Levi Hess, G. F. Spreng, A. B. Schaeffer, John Nicholai, - Koag, A. Dreisbach. John Dreisbach, Darl Strohman, Leonora Scheurman, M. Steffey, Philip Brech, F. Weithoupt, John Fuchs, G. Zimser, and George Wollpert. The pastors from 1867 and their terms of service are: M. Hohn, 1867; M. W. Steffey, 1870; J. Kaufman, 1873; J. Troyer, 1876; J. M. Gomer, 1878; C. F. Hansing, 1880; M. W. Steffey, 1882; M. Hohn, 1885; C. C. Beyers, 1888; C. F. Hansing, 1891 ; J. Hoffman, 1892; J. Kaufman, 1893; J. M. Hang, 1897; F. Schwitzer, 1901 ; J. H. Evans, 1905 to the present.
The society numbers two hundred and seventy-five members, has a wide-awake Sunday-school, a prosperous Young People's society, a Men's League, a Woman's Missionary society, a Mission Band and a Ladies' Aid society.
WAYNE AVENUE EVANGELICAL CHURCH was established because of the de. sire for an English church on the part of members of the German church, on Commercial street. Agitation for an English work began as early as 1885.
John F. Ditzel and Jacob Orreth circulated a petition for building an Eng- lish church. But the work was not done until 1888, though efforts had been made earlier. Raper Methodist Episcopal church had begun a mission Sunday school in Billet's hall, 1237 Wayne avenue, May 27, 1887; but they had also a mission in North Dayton at the same time. A number of Evangelical mem- bers were also earnestly engaged with the Methodist Episcopal people on Wayne avenue. At both places churches were needed. To abandon either mission they did not like, and to build two churches they hesitated to undertake. At a meet- ing of their official members, called to decide this matter, it was agreed to turn the Wayne Avenue mission Sunday-school over to the Evangelical people, a representative of whom, J F. Ditzel, had been invited to attend this meeting. He thanked them heartily for the "nest" that had been made, and promised by the help of God and the church, to try and make the best possible use of it. He
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returned at once to the home of Peter Grimm, 402 Wayne avenue, where the trustees of the Commercial street church were in waiting to hear the result of the meeting at Raper Methodist Episcopal church. Action was at once taken by starting a subscription list for building a church, and sending a request from the quarterly conference of the Commercial street church to the Indiana con- ference, assembled at Decatur, Indiana, April 1-3, 1888, to have a missionary sent to take up the work and organize an English Evangelical church. This request was granted, and Rev. A. O. Raber was sent to organize and take charge of Dayton English mission.
He moved to Dayton April 20, 1888. The society was organized June 5, 1888, and incorporated as Wayne Avenue church of the Evangelical association, having 29 charter members. Since then the society has had a normal and healthy growth up to the present time. The present pastor is E. Q. Landeman.
The Indiana conference of the Evangelical association, in session at Decatur, Ind., April 1-3, 1888, appointed the following building committee: Rev. H. Arlen, P. E. of this district; Rev. C. C. Beyrer, pastor of Commercial street church ; Rev. A. O. Raber, pastor of the mission; J. F. Ditzel, Peter Grimm, E. Pfauhl, of the Commercial street church; O. D. Casterline, of the Raper Methodist Episcopal church, who was very anxious for this church to build in this part of the city. Steps had been already taken with a view to building, before the annual conference above mentioned convened, in the way of obtaining subscriptions, and one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-eight dollars had thus been secured before April 1, 1888. Immediately after the organization steps were taken for the purchase of a lot. After much and careful debating the pres- ent commanding location, corner of Wayne and Xenia avenues, was bought from William Satkamp and wife, July 7, 1888, for two thousand, five hundred dollars cash. The contract for the building was let to J. F. Ditzel. who had the church completed in a short time. October 7, 1888, it was dedicated by Bishop J. J. Esher. The other bishops of the church were also present, and other able representatives of the church, as the board of missions met in this city at that time. Total cost of lot, building, seats, and furnace was five thous- and, seven hundred and fifty-eight dollars. Of this the Commercial Street church contributed one thousand, three hundred and ninety-five dollars. What the Ladies' Aid contributed is not reckoned in the above cost. The last payment to cover the indebtedness was made in April, 1892. Since then the surroundings have been much improved, though at a great cost, by paving walks and streets.
THE DUNKER CHURCHES.
Although a few pioneers in the vicinity of Dayton represented among the Dun- ker fraternity took up land as early as 1801, there was no organization of the church in the city until about 1844 or 1845. There appears among the early records the following transfer, in consideration of one dollar, of "Peter Auginbaugh to Henry Yost, Levi Booher, and William Bland, trustees of the Baptist Brethren, com- monly called Dunkers or Tunkers, lot 77 in grantor's plat, March 7, 1845."
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THE FIRST DUNKERS in Dayton worshipped in a plain brick structure on the south-east corner of Jackson and Van Buren streets. This house was built upon the lot above mentioned about the year 1845. Elder Moses Shoup was the first bishop of the Dayton church. This was in reality one of the houses of worship of the Beaver Creek German Baptist congregation, Greene County, Ohio. The Dayton pulpit was supplied for some time by ministers of the four Brethren churches near Dayton, each furnishing a speaker every eight weeks, thus giving the city church service once every two weeks.
The original founders of the congregation used the old building as their place of worship until about fifteen or eighteen years ago, when the property was sold and a new site was secured on the corner of May and Philadelphia streets, where the East Dayton church of the Brethren (Conservative) now worships. This church is now in charge of Elder John W. Fidler as pastor, and numbers about fifty communicants.
THE WEST DAYTON CHURCH of the Brethren ( Conservative) is located on Col- lege street and was organized in 1889. The organization was effected at the home of Elder Samuel W. Hoover just outside the city, and the present building on Col- lege street was erected and dedicated in the autumn of the same year. The first regularly supported pastor of this church was Rev. Charles A. Bame, who had charge of the congregation from 1902 to 1907 inclusive. The church is now in charge of Elder David S. Filbrun and numbers about 160 members.
THE BRETHREN ( PROGRESSIVE). On June 7, 1883, the Brethren (Progressive) met in their first general conference in what is now known as the Victoria theater, Main and First streets, Dayton, and effected a permanent organization, incorporat- ing the denomination under the simple name of Brethren. This branch of the fraternity worshipped jointly with the Conservative branch in the old church on Jackson and Van Buren streets and was supplied in the ministry by Elder Samuel Kiehl and Elder J. A. Ridenour. The later efforts to establish a congregation in the city of Dayton were begun by Dr. J. M. Tombaugh about 1895 in a vacant busi- ness room on West Third street. Later a church building was purchased on Clem- mer street and the pastorate was in charge of Rev. Z. H. Copp. In 1900 a church building was purchased on Conover street, near Home avenue and Rev. J. L. Kim- mel became the pastor there. By 1904 the congregation had grown to 133 souls and Rev. Martin Shively was called to the pastorate. Under the leadership of Rev. Shively, assisted by many faithful and energetic workers the church at this time, 1909, has grown to a congregation of 326 souls. Other ministers in this congregation are Rev. Samuel Kiehl, Rev. William C. Teeter, and Rev. James A. Ridenour. The church is doing aggressive work in the city and has recently built an addition to accommodate the large and growing Sunday school which en- rolls over 350 members.
The three organized churches of the Dunker fraternity in the city are all doing active work along Sunday school and missionary lines. Their Young Peo- ple's societies are also quite active and are doing valuable service in their de- partment of Christian endeavor.
The Old German Baptist Brethren (old order) have no organization in the city, but a number of them reside here and they are among the most highly respected and honored people in their communities.
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THE FRIENDS.
Many years ago the Friends had an organization in Dayton and a meeting house on Sears street where the patrol house now is. For some reason after a time the organization went out of existence. A recent effort to establish a so- ciety in Dayton has better promise of success.
Rev. Oliver Frazier started a Friends church in Dayton in 1907. At the start the denomination numbered only a few families. For one year the pastor preached only on Sunday evenings, and by dint of hard pastoral work built the congrega- tion up to nearly triple its original size.
Professor Murray S. Kenworthy of the chair of Biblical literature at Earlham College succeeded Mr. Frazier and held the pulpit until September, 1909, when he entered the Divinity School of Harvard preparatory to taking a pulpit at Lynn, Massachusetts. Rev. Ada Elliott Lee, the present pastor, has completed a course at Earlham College and held the pastorate of the Friends church at Fountain City, Indiana, for one year before coming to Dayton. The congregation now num- bers seventy-five members. The meetings at present are held in the Young Wo- men's League on Fourth street.
Plans are now being perfected for the purchase of a lot and the erection of a home upon it at a cost of not less than $20,000.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCHES.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, was organized in March, 1894, with nine members, as follows: Mr. John R. Hatten, Mrs. Malinda E. Hatten, Mrs. Eliza P. T. Houk, Mrs. Daisy Meade, Mrs. Catherine Houk Talbott, Mr. Chas. E. Kidney, Mrs. Alice Kidney, Miss Lily Pierce, Mr. Lloyd B. Coate. Mr. John R. Hatten was elected to have charge of the services which were first held in Pruden block. He served the church acceptably for eight years until rota- tion in office was inaugurated.
In April, 1895, Mrs. Eddy ordained the Bible and "Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures," (the Christian Science text-book) as pastor of all Chris- tian Science churches, and services are conducted by readers in lieu of pastors. Soon after this Mrs. Eddy established a "Board of Lectureship," and "Com- mittee on Publication." It is their duty to correct erroneous ideas in regard to this teaching and present Christian Science to the public in its true light. Since these steps were inaugurated the cause of Christian Science has grown more rapidly in Dayton, and throughout this and foreign lands.
Mr. Lloyd B. Coate and Mr. Max J. Seifert have served as first reader of First church for a term of three years respectively. At the present time Mr. Albert Fischman is first reader of the church.
Services were held at different places before the present church property lo- cated on the boulevard near Third street, was purchased in 1902. This edifice was formerly occupied by the Congregational church. It has since been decorated and furnished with new pews. The property is now valued at about $20,000. The present membership is 200.
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SECOND CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, was organized in December, 1905. Services were first held in the Reibold building and later at the old Loomis home- stead, 125 West Third street. In December, 1907, Second church purchased the Nixon property, 117-119 East First street, at a cost of $21,000, and remodelled it into a desirable church home. Present value of property is esti- mated at $28,000. Present membership is about 100. Miss Effie M. Hecker was elected first reader of the church and served acceptably three years. At present Mrs. Ella M. Richardson is first reader.
First church maintains a public reading room at 601 Commercial building, and Second church reading room is in their edifice. These reading rooms are open daily to the public where authentic literature on Christian Science may be read, purchased or borrowed.
Both congregations are prosperous and increasing in membership and at- tendance. In January and July of each year Christian Science churches observe communion services and at that time members are received into the church. Christian Scientists do not urge church membership but leave all people free to choose for themselves.
CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE.
This Christian organization believes in and proclaims a four-fold gospel- Jesus Christ Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King. The Alliance had held meetings in Dayton for a number of years but the first local organization was formed about eight years ago with Rev. D. W. Kerr as pastor. Their place of worship is located at Fifth and Walnut streets. Their membership is about one hundred, nearly all of whom are members of various Christian churches in the city. The Sunday-school connected with the Alliance numbers about seventy members. The Alliance is very aggressive in Christian missions.
THE SALVATION ARMY.
The Dayton Corps of the Salvation Army was organized December 7th, 1883, by Captain Emma Lewis who had authority to do so from headquarters then located at Cleveland, Ohio.
There are two separate departments; the Spiritual and the Industrial. The former located at the Salvation Army hall, 419 East Fifth street conducts its meetings every evening on week days and three times on Sundays.
Adjutant and Mrs. Coates have recently been assigned to this corps but owing to the serious sickness of the Adjutant, Captain and Mrs. Deemer are placed in charge temporarily. There are forty members on the roll.
Ensign and Mrs. Harvey E. Wood have charge of the Army Industrial home at 343 East Fifth street, where cheap lodgings are given. It has a capac- ity of 56 beds. Men's meetings are held twice a week. Clothing, furniture, etc., are gathered from the city and surrounding towns and sold or given to the poor by order of the officer in charge of the Army Corps.
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MISCELLANEOUS. In addition to the congregations named there are in Day- ton congregations of Universalists, Free Methodists, the Church of God, Men- nonites, Seventh Day Adventists and others.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
The Catholic church in Dayton had a comparatively late origin. Of the people who came to Ohio, it is estimated that 89 per cent were of American birth, and that of the II per cent of foreign birth two-thirds were German, the majority of the last named being Lutheran or Reformed. No Catholics were among the first arrivals at Dayton. The first Roman Catholic family of which we have direct knowledge was that of Robert Conway, residing on Ice alley between First and Second streets east of Jefferson street, who came to Dayton in 1832. It is as- serted, however, that there were several Catholic families in Dayton prior to that time. Mr. Conway, the year of his arrival, arranged with Father E. T. Collins, of Cincinnati, to take up his residence with him in Dayton. During the years 1832 and 1833, a number of Irish and German families of the Catholic faith settled in Dayton. Cincinnati had already become a bishopric and the few priests at the dis- posal of the bishop were sent on tours of visitation throughout the state. Among those who visited Dayton were Fathers Thienpont, Juncker, and Stephen Theodore Badin, the first priest ordained in the United States.
EMANUEL CHURCH grew out of these visits. The Conway residence was the first house of worship. The language used in the church services was exclusively German. The first church building used was a one-story brick building located on St. Clair street opposite the park. A part of the building was used as a bakery. In 1836, Father Thienpont was made the first pastor. The year following, the work of building a church was inaugurated, the church being dedicated Novem- ber 26, 1837. The new church was located on Franklin street between Ludlow street and Prairie avenue. The church was of brick, 85 feet long, 50 wide, and 33 high. It was dedicated by Bishop Purcell. Father Thienpont was succeeded in the pastorate in 1844 by Father D. Juncker, under whom the congregation greatly prospered making necessary an enlargement of the church building. At this time the church also bought a large organ and three magnificent pure white marble altars. Rev. Mr. Juncker served as priest of this church until 1857, when he was elected bishop of the newly erected bishopric of Alton, Illinois, in which capacity he served until his death in 1868. In 1857, Rev. Father John F. Hahne . was sent to Dayton to succeed Rev. Father Juncker. He remained until his death in 1882. During his pastorate, he had the assistance of a number of priests, the principal ones of whom were his brother, Father Charles Hahne, and Father Wil- liam Scholl. In 1869, it became necessary to begin planning for a new church building, as the walls of the old building had become unsafe. The site selected was just east of the old church site. The building was begun in September, 1871. The building is of brick, 166 by 84 feet in size. There are two towers in front each 212 feet high and one in the rear 150 feet high. The auditorium will seat one thousand five hundred people and the children's gallery will seat six hundred in addition. The cost of the church was nearly one hundred thousand dollars. It was dedicated October 6, 1873, with imposing ceremonies, Archbishop Purcell
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being in charge and preaching the dedicatory sermon. After the lamented death of Rev. Father John F. Hahne in 1882, he was succeeded in the pastorate by his brother, Rev. Father Charles Hahne, Rev. Father William Scholl being his first assistant. Rev. Father Charles Hahne has continued as pastor of Emanuel church until the present time (1909). He is now the oldest priest; both in point of age and ordination in the archdiocese. He was born March 12, 1833. The venerable Father Hahne is ably assisted in his manifold pastoral duties by Rev. Bernhard Robers, the present assistant pastor.
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