USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 90
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
The West Carrollton Parchment Company, though grouped with the mills al- ready named, is independent in its organization. It was formed in 1896 or 1897 and has grown and prospered from the start. It holds a leading position in the United States in the character and extent of its products.
These three great factories now use steam for power, and the railroads for transportation, though some service is obtained from the canal, when condi- tions are favorable.
West Carrollton and Alexanderville are almost entirely dependent on these mills for their existence and in return they furnish satisfactory homes to the army of employees.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH erected a church building in 1846, and a church organization was effected April 26, 1847. The pastors of this church have been as follows: B. B. Morton, J. C. Mahon, John Mellville, Gilbert Haire, Samuel Ramsey, F. M. Wood, G. W. Hays, Samuel Findley, Rev. Atkins and G. E. Gowdy. After an interval, Rev. Winkler became pastor and continues to serve the congregation.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized about 1845 at Alexan- derville, and the intention was there to erect a church building. But the lo- cation was changed to West Carrollton, where, in 1848, a church was erected. Rev. W. A. Dunham is the present pastor.
GRACE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. On May 25 and 26, 1876, meet- ings were held to organize an Evangelical Lutheran congregation in the growing town of West Carrollton. The meetings were held in the home of the Rev. W. A. Bowman, who was the main mover in the matter. The organization was decided upon and steps were at once taken to prepare and adopt a consti- tution, which was in due time done. A public school building being offered for sale at public auction, it was bought for church purposes, by members of the young congregation, namely Messrs. Charles Miller, Jacob Geiger and John Christman.
Although the grounds and buildings were easily worth two thousand dollars, they were purchased for the sum of only five hundred dollars. Several hundred dollars more were spent in changing and remodeling the building so as to make it suitable for its church purposes. The building was on Sunday, July 16, 1876, dedicated.
The ministers who have served the congregation in its history thus far for a longer or shorter period, are the following : Revs. W. A. Bowman, (twelve years) ;
853
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
H. L. Ridenour, A. Dietrich, C. F. Tiemann, F. W. E. Peschau (as supply one year) ; and L. P. Pence, who is the present pastor.
A few years ago, the building underwent extensive changes. A pipe organ was secured and also a new church bell.
The property is centrally located and is an ornament to the village. The congregation is in an excellent condition and has a promising Sunday-school of one hundred members. With the St. John's church at Ingomar, it constitutes one pastoral charge.
West Carrollton claims a population of fifteen hundred. There is a local building association, incorporated in 1894. S. S. Connell is the present post- master. J. E. Peterson is superintendent of schools. The town has a high school with two teachers. The people of the town are cared for by two physicians, Drs. J. L. Carter and E. B. Doan, both in practice for a number of years.
ALEXANDERVILLE.
This town was platted March 24, 1815, by John Taylor. The extensive earthworks already described are near this place. The Dryden mill and distillery for a long time gave some business importance to the village. The mill, after a number of changes in management, is yet in operation. Many of the people of the village find employment in the mills at West Carrollton, of which town Alexanderville has practically become a part.
THE ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH is located in Miami township about two miles east of Miamisburg.
It is commonly called "Gebhart church," because it is located in the Gebhart neighborhood and because the land, on which it is located, was granted the con- gregation, for the small consideration of only ten dollars, by the late George Geb- hart. The land given, measures two acres and four perches, and was granted for the double purpose of church buildings, and cemetery use.
The first services held in the neighborhood, were conducted in the home of pious George Gebhart, as early as 1805.
The exact date of the formation of the congregation is somewhat shrouded in mystery, but in view of the fact that a church building was erected in 1806, or 1808, it seems safe to conjecture that the congregation was organized about that time.
The Lutherans and the Reformed conjointly put up this first old-style "Log Church." It remained in an unfinished condition for some ten or twelve years.
In 1862 the Lutherans separated themselves from the Reformed, and erected a good-sized, tasty and comfortable brick church. The Reformed continued to worship in the old church edifice, until the Reformed congregation, by the action of the Miami Classis, in convention assembled, at Winchester, in October, 1867, was declared disbanded and dissolved.
The old Union church was sold at public auction for the sum of seventy-nine dollars, which money was used to repair the graveyard fence, improve the ceme- tery lots, and so forth.
St. John's church has over one hundred and fifty members, with a Sunday- school of one hundred.
854
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
The list of the ministers who have served it in its long history are the fol- lowing : Revs. J. C. Dill, H. Heincke, C. Albrecht, W. A. Bowman, H. L. Ride- nour, A. Dietrich, C. F. Tiemann, and F. W. E. Peschau, D. D.
The longest pastorates were those of the Revs. Heincke, Albrecht, Bowman and Peschau, Rev. Dr. Peschau having had charge of it now for ten years. During his ministry, the church has undergone an entire renovation, being finely fres- coed, carpeted, with roof improved, and so forth, at an expense of one thousand dollars. The cemetery has also undergone some very fine imporvements, and the church as it stands is, indeed, a credit to the devoted flock.
The neighboring church buildings of the Zion Reformed and the Evangelical Lutheran congregations, located near the northern line of Miami township, close to the Cincinnati pike, are the successors of a church building which was long used by the Reformed and Lutheran congregations in common. About 1884 a storm injured the old building. Arrangements were made according to which the Reformed kept and repaired the old building and the Lutherans built a new church building near by. Together they make an important religious center for the community.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
Van Buren township was formed June 26, 1841, principally from the new township of Mad River, formed one month and two days earlier, and from the northern tier of sections belonging to Washington township. The township was first settled by persons who had come on through Washington township, by others who had selected lands near the Great Miami river, and by yet others who from Dayton as a center had made purchase of lands either with a view to occupying them or selling them later at an advanced price. In Mad River township, there were no fewer than thirty-six preemption tracts in 1801 when the government first offered the land for sale. These preemptioners held contracts with Judge Symmes or with proprietors who had purchased large tracts of land of him. They need not have remained on the land and may themselves have assumed the contracts of others. There was this exception, however ; according to the terms under which Judge Symmes sold land to individual purchasers, they should make improvements on the land within two years. Failing to do this, they forfeited one- sixth of the land which they had purchased, the same to be taken in a square from the northeast corner of the land purchased. This provision, however, could affect the land in Van Buren township south of the seventh range only. In Washington township, there were such forfeitures. After the expiration of said two-year term, any one who would settle on the land forfeited, make improve- ments and continue to occupy the land for seven years, would receive the title to the land without further consideration. Thus there were claim jumpers at that time as well as there have been since.
A considerable part of the nearly four thousand acres of land purchased by D. C. Cooper was within this township. As many of the purchasers of land had purchased to sell again, many changes of ownership and residence marked the early history of the township. As time passed, the encroachment of the city of Dayton on the land of the township and the influence of the city in other ways subordinated the township in a certain sense to the city.
855
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
About one-half of the township inclines toward the Great Miami river and the other toward the Little Miami river, Little Beaver creek and Sugar creek draining the east half of the township toward the Little Miami river. The divid- ing line comes near to the Great Miami in the vicinity of Oakwood, west of which is the high ground of Calvary cemetery and other broken and elevated lands. The gravel and sand hills of this region have come in recent years to be very valu- able. The stone quarries in the neighborhood of Beavertown were at a former time regarded as having great value, great quantities of stone being quarried not only for use in Dayton but for transportation to the south as far as Cincinnati, and a considerable distance to the north. Dayton's first railroad was a road con- structed by Joseph Gilmore from the Beavertown quarries to the point where Third street intersects the canal. The road was built with wooden rails. For a number of years, no large amount of stone has been taken from these quarries in consequence of the depth of the stone below the surface and of the thinness of the vein of good stone when reached. At the present time, Dayton depends much on the quarries at Centerville for the stone needed.
Some of the families most prominent in the history of the township are the Prugh, Creager, Lafever and Dean families. At a very early time, there was a log schoolhouse at the site of Beavertown. The first teacher was John Russell, and the second a man by the name of Thompson, and the third Robert Charles. The teachers were paid by private subscription. The cemetery east of Beavertown is the oldest burying place in Van Buren township. Van Buren township was especially honored by having the state hospital and St. Mary's institute within its limits. Calvary cemetery is also within its limits. Recently, Belmont, Carrmont and other suburbs of Dayton have encroached upon the township.
OAKWOOD.
Oakwood, first platted in 1832, and replatted with additions later, after much opposition and many difficulties succeeded in obtaining a charter as a village to itself in 1907, the court records showing the legal papers to have been pre- sented for record July 29th of that year. The plat as recorded includes the ter- ritory covered by a number of former plats. The northern limits of Oakwood meet the southern limits of Dayton. The idea in securing a separate incorpora- tion for Oakwood seems to have been to maintain the management of the affairs of that suburb independently of the decisions and actions of the municipal au- thorities in Dayton. The people of the village show taste and determination in making Oakwood in every way a model place of residence. The first officers who were elected in Oakwood and who are still in office are : Mayor, H. E. Tal- bott ; Clerk, H. E. Parrott ; Marshall, T. U. Chambers ; Members of Council, James M. Irwin, William A. Kreidler, John C. Munday, John Olt, Dr. D. G. Porter, J. E. Sauer. At the October election in 1909, HI. E. Parrott was elected mayor : George E. Keller, clerk; T. U. Chambers, marshal. The members of the board of education are : President, B. F. Hershey ; G. W. Hartzel, Col. Meade, Allan R. Drundett, C. H. Barton. Temporary arrangements are made for school accommodations. A good lot has been bought, on which a suitable building will be erected. The school and general finances of Oakwood are in excellent condi- tion. The village includes eighty voters and a population of about five hundred.
856
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
BEAVERTOWN.
This is the name of a small village four miles southeast of Dayton. In 1812 Ephraem Arnold established a blacksmith shop at this place. The first physician locating here was Dr. Sample, who is credited with being the first doctor to prac- tice medicine in Van Buren township. A number of dwellings and a few stores make Beavertown a convenient neighborhood center.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. A small log cabin meeting-house called Beulah church, built about 1799, marked the spot afterward called Beavertown. The Presbyterians, New Lights and Baptist churches held meetings here at a very early time. William Robinson and occasional preachers from Kentucky preached for the Presbyterians and Nathan Worley for the New Lights. In 1823 the "old stone church" was built. The United Brethren soon came to use this church and later were left as almost exclusively occupying the field. Until about 1844 little is known of the United Brethren congregation at Beavertown.
In 1844 Dayton was made a station with Carrollton and the stone church at Beavertown attached, Rev. W. Collins being the preacher in charge. In 1845 Beavertown was added to the Springfield circuit, Rev. T. Rork, preacher in charge. It seems to have remained in this connection up to 1852.
In 1851 and 1852 Dayton First church, Miami chapel and Beavertown were in connection and served by Rev. W. R. Rhinehart, and part of the time assisted by Rev. D. K. Flickinger.
The first Sunday-school in this community was organized in the old stone church by a family by the name of Runyan.
This old church was burned down, but not until after it had been abandoned as a place of worship.
In 1851 and 1852 a great, sweeping revival was held in this church, the outgrowth of which was the building in 1853 of a brick church on the site of the present church.
In 1881 or 1882 an addition was built to this church to be used by the infant department and for prayer and Y. P. C. U. meetings.
On the night of May 12, 1886, the church was badly damaged by a storm which swept over the country. It was repaired at a considerable cost; but was always afterward deemed unsafe, and in 1894 the congregation arranged to tear it down and erect a new house of worship. As a result of their planning and sacrifice, we have our present beautiful, commodious structure, erected in 1895: at a cost of five thousand dollars.
This church was one of the charges on a circuit known as the Beavertown circuit until 1887, when it thought itself able to support a pastor, since which time this has been known as Beavertown station.
Rev. G. W. Arnold is the present pastor of the Beavertown church. The present membership of the church numbers one hundred and seventy-eight.
THE SHAKER COMMUNITY.
Some of the persons constituting the Shaker society came to Montgomery county before the year 1800. The organization of the society, however, was in
857
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
1805, when, according to the records of the society, John Huston, a wheel- wright by trade, opened his mind and became a firm supporter of the faith. In 1806, three principal families, those of James Milligan, John Patterson and Wil- liam Stewart, were the main families in the society. John Patterson, a cousin of Col. Robert Patterson, was sometimes called "Shaker John." The Shaker village known as Watervliet was located in section 13, township 2, range 7. The community also owned adjacent land, some of which was deeded to it by some of the early converts to the society. The Watervliet community was subordinate to the Union Village community in Turtle Creek township in Warren county, the latter being in connection with the mother society of Mount Lebanon, New York. John Eastwood "opened his mind" in July, 1807; in August following, Caty, his wife, "opened her mind," and the family became a part of the society; four of the sons remained in it, and one of them, the venerable Moses Eastwood, was for a long time "first in care" or elder, at Watervliet.
The industry of the members was mainly directed toward general agriculture. Sheep-raising and wool-growing was at one time the principal interest, and other varieties of live stock have been raised. Garden seeds were formerly raised to a considerable extent. A carding mill and gristmill were in operation upon the premises. The society owned about eight hundred acres of very fertile land. In the early days of the community, the members were characterized by unusual thrift.
Great prejudice was felt against the members of the Shaker community by the people of the surrounding communities on account of their peculiar cus- toms and beliefs. The society as originating in England with "Mother Ann" at the head, required of its members a community of property and a celibate life. By receiving accessions from converts now and then, and also accessions at times from other Shaker communities, the society was maintained for over one hundred years. July 1, 1909, what is called the Shaker farm was bought by the State of Ohio to be used for purposes in connection with the state hospital the deed being made by the officers of the Union Village society. The transfer was made possible by an order of court. The passing away in like manner of the Union Village community, will probably soon take place, as James Fennesey, for a long period the manager of the affairs of that community, has recently resigned and there seems to be no one to take his place. What will become of the few aged members of the community and the valuable property at Union Village is an undecided matter. The Shakers of Montgomery county are remembered for their industry and quiet and upright life. For many years, they had charge of stands in the central market house.
Perhaps no institutions are more closely interwoven with the history of the township than two of its rural churches. The first of these to be noticed is the
SUGAR CREEK CHURCH.
This church is a local congregation connected with the United Presbyterian church. Near the close of the eighteenth century a request for preaching, on the part of members of the Associate church in Kentucky, was received by the mother church in Scotland. In response to it, Revs. Robert Armstrong and
858
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Andrew Fulton were sent out with authority to establish the presbytery of Ken- tucky and organize congregations as the conditions might warrant. In 1802, Rev. Robert Armstrong crossed the Ohio and entered the valley of the Little Miami. Having carefully spied out the land while going here and there, and preaching as opportunity was afforded, he returned to Kentucky in 1803. Here he found many of his people greatly disgusted with the system of slavery that was prevalent in that country. On hearing from him a favorable report of the country he had just visited, they determined to emigrate with him to the state of Ohio. Crossing the Ohio, they settled for the most part in that part of the coun- try which is now known as Greene county.
On September 2, 1804, the Associate congregations of Sugar Creek and Mas- sie's Creek were organized and Rev. Robert Armstrong installed as pastor over the united charge. The early history of the congregation is obscure. No rec- ords have been preserved and even tradition seems to have failed. At the organ- ization of the congregation, it seems clear that Messrs. James Bain and John Torrence were elected to the eldership, and either at that time or shortly after, were elected Messrs. William Turnbull and Hugh Hamill. Being without a house of worship, they held their services in the grove during the summer and in private houses in the winter. A house of worship soon proving a necessity, they built a temporary structure of round logs. This soon proved unsatisfactory and steps were taken for the erection of something more substantial. A site was chosen about one mile north of Bellbrook, near what is now known as the "old graveyard." In a historical sermon delivered by Rev. J. B. McMichael in April, 1871, when the present house of worship was entered, there was the fol- lowing description of the "old Meeting House:" "It was not constructed from the goodly cedars of Lebanon, but of the gnarly gums of Sugar creek, and ac- cording to his financial ability, the head of each family was to furnish so many logs. When this was done and the house was up, furnishing it with seats was next in order. Each family hewed their own slab, constructed their own bench according to their own taste and skill in mechanical execution; so that between them there was a wonderful uniformity of difference. These seats were not cushioned and many of them had no backs on them."
The pastorate of Mr. Armstrong continued until sometime about the year 1813, when the united charge of Sugar Creek and Massie's Creek was divided, and Mr. Armstrong gave his whole time to the latter. A little later, it appears that Sugar Creek and Xenia were united as one congregation and in November, 1814. Rev. Francis Pringle was ordained and installed pastor by the presbytery of Chartiers. As this presbytery was located in western Pennsylvania, and the only mode of travel was upon horseback, one can imagine something of the in- convenience and discomfort that were suffered in attendance upon meetings of presbytery in those days. Mr. Pringle's health failing him he was released in 1817 and died in the following year. On February 28, 1820, a call was made out for Rev. Thomas Beveridge, and in October, he moved to Xenia and on January 8, 1821, he was installed as pastor. Both branches of the congregation, Sugar Creek and Xenia, were served by the same session. After a pastorate of three years, Dr. Beveridge was, on account of failing health, released.
859
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
In the year 1829, it was deemed advisable to separate the congregation into two congregations, Sugar Creek and Xenia. The Little Miami river was made the dividing line. After this separation, a call having been extended to Rev. James Templeton, it was by him accepted, and he was installed as pastor on July 26, 1830. The old log structure having now well served its day and gen- eration, it must give way to something more modern. A change of location seemed advisable as the old building was too near the eastern boundary line. In 1832, a new site was chosen about two miles west of the old one and upon it a large and substantial brick building was erected. This building served the congregation until 1871, nearly forty years. Mr. Templeton continued to minister to the congregation until 1838, when he resigned. In the following year, Octo- ber 25, 1839, Rev. G. M. Hall was ordained and installed as pastor. During his pastorate, the congregation passed through a peculiar and trying experience. Rev. Andrew Heron, pastor of the Caesar's Creek congregation (Jamestown) having been found guilty of attending a week-day service, in the interest of some African negroes, conducted by Rev. H. H. Blair, who had been deposed by synod for adhering to the Bullions party, was suspended from the ministry for insub- ordination. He found a strong sympathizer in Mr. Hall, and they, with the majority of their congregations, organized the Free Associate presbytery of Miami. A number of the congregation still remained in the Associate church. These called as their pastor Rev. Cyrus Cummins, who was installed on October 23, 1846, and his pastorate continued until 1853. By this branch of the church Messrs. Ebenezer E. Andrew, J. Stewart Wead and Nathan Thompson were elected to the eldership. The Free Associate presbytery soon dissolved and Mr. Hall returned to the fold of the Associate synod. He soon demitted his charge and the congregation finally connected with the Associate Reformed church under the supervision of the presbytery of Springfield. Thus we have two congregations and two denominations where one existed before, and both occupying the same building. By arrangement, the Associate Reformed branch had the use of the building three-fourths of the time and the Associate, one- fourth. In 1848, Rev. H. H. Johnston was installed as pastor over the Asso- ciate Reformed branch. He continued as pastor until 1851, and during this time Mr. Robert Bradford was added to the eldership. Mr. Johnston was suc- ceeded by Rev. R. W. Henry, who served as pastor some two years. It was pos- sibly a year or more after his release that Rev. R. E. Stewart was called. He was installed on September 12, 1856. During his pastorate, there took place the memorable union of 1858, when the Associate and Associate Reformed churches were united under the name, the United Presbyterian church of North America. This served to unite the two branches of the Sugar Creek congregation and it again became one, and so continues. About this time, in order to accommodate those in the southern part of the congregation and also open up a field for mission work, it was decided to erect a church building in Bellbrook. This was done and services were held in it every Sabbath after- noon. After four years of service, Mr. Stewart was called to his reward and his body laid to rest in the Bellbrook cemetery.
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.