USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Memoirs of the Miami valley > Part 32
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Dr. Robert G. Reed, born and raised at Huntsville, Ohio, suc- cessfully practiced at Bellefontaine for about ten years, when he removed to Cincinnati, here he is now practicing as an eye specialist. Of the Bellefontaine physicians now included in the Logan County Association, as nearly complete a list as possible is here given : Dr. Carrie Richeson, who was born and reared in this city; Dr. Charles W. Heffner (of Lewistown), 1881; Dr. L. C. Pratt (son of Dr. Edwin Pratt), now about thirty-five years in local practice ; Dr. W. W. Hamer (of Lewistown), 1885; Dr. W. Gail Stinchcomb (who came to Bellefontaine at the age of ten, in 1884), and after graduation at Bellevue Hospital in 1897, began practice here ; Dr. J. P. Harbert (from Belle Center), about 1898; Dr. E. R. Henn- ing (of West Liberty) ; Dr. J. W. Young, Dr. W. C. Pay (city physi- cian, 1918), 1909; Dr. F. R. Makemson (DeGraff and Lewistown), 1917; Dr. H. A. Skidmore (West Mansfield), 1917. "In Service": Dr. Guy L. Swan, Dr. A. J. McCracken, Dr. Robert H. Butler, Dr. F. B. Kaylor, Dr. Clyde K. Startzman, Dr. W. Gail Stinchcomb, Dr. O. W. Loffer, Dr. W. H. Carey, Drs. Robert, Lester and Malcolm Pratt. The dentists of today are: Dr. Frank R. Griffin, son of Dr. A. E. Griffin, one of the principal earlier dentists of Bellefontaine, and Drs. C. N. Miles, C. W. Schroeder, J. E. Thatcher, Fred S. Wood, J. C. Longfellow, and Edw. Thompson. Drs. F. G. Burnett and Mac. J. Reid represent the Osteopathic cult.
Another well-known physician is Dr. J. W. Arbegast, born in Logan county, May 21, 1857, son of Joel and Caroline (Antrim) Arbegast, and grandson of Daniel Antrim, the first white boy born in the county. Dr. Arbegast began the study of medicine at the age of 18, but the death of his father interrupted his career, and it was not until the nineties that he was able to resume his studies. He graduated from Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute in 1894, and at once began to practice at West Mansfield, where he resided until 1912, when he removed to Bellefontaine, and has since been estab- lished here in a successful practice. Mrs. Arbegast, who was Miss Susan Leymaster, has been a comrade and helper in the professional career of her husband.
Hospitals in Bellefontaine have had short history, although
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several have been established. That of Dr. W. W. Hamer served for a time, but financial difficulties usually beset the unendowed hospital, and it closed about ten years ago, after being several years in opera- tion. Dr. Hamer has lately, in company with Dr. Henning, em- barked upon an exclusively surgical practice. Miss Wilhelmina Aikin, a good business woman, as well as a professional nurse, located in Bellefontaine in August, 1912, opening a private hospital on East Sandusky avenue, where for six years she filled a decided need of the community. Miss Aikin, who was a native of North- wood, Logan county, was trained in the Seton (Presbyterian) hos- pital in Cincinnati, and in the Queen City Hospital there, where she graduated, and afterward took the position of matron in Dr. Vale's hospital in the same city. A few years of private nursing ensued, and she thus brought to her work in Bellefontaine not only ten years of practical experience, but also great native ability and personal charm. Held in highest esteem by the local medical profession, Miss Aikin had been chosen directress of the new Mary Rutan hospital, just completed, in the north part of the city, when her most utimely death occurred, during the influenza epidemic of 1918. Her ap- pointment was a deserved tribute to her worth, and her loss is keenly felt by the city. The trustees of the hospital have elected Miss Hazel Webster, of Kenton, Hardin county, to fill Miss Aikin's place as directress. The Mary Rutan hospital was made possible by the bequest of a fund from Mrs. Rebecca Williams, in honor of her mother, Mary Rutan. The hospital is "the last word" in mod- ernity ; fireproof and accommodates at present 30 beds, including the two wards. Ample space is provided in the grounds, and the plan is so arranged that wings may be added to the structure in the future.
The Churches of Bellefontaine
That the early establishment of religious organizations has had much to do with the character of the population of today cannot be overlooked. The pioneers who entered the trackless wilds of Logan county more than a century ago were almost without exception of recognized religious convictions and their efforts to plant the banner of Christ solidly in the new soil has had an enduring success. Laying aside all references to creeds and sects, there has been a co-operative movement for all good things by all good people from the start, and while there are changes, and the Quakers and the Covenanters and the various subdivisions of other denominations have fused into a smaller list of creeds than once prevailed, it is, perhaps, because all have become "Friends" in the best and finest sense of the word, while the line between Catholic and Protestant is less clearly defined than it used to be, in the diffused light of Christian brotherhood. After the soul-searching experiences in united effort of all schools of faith, exampled in the welfare activities of the recent world war, the members of one body see clearly the essential union of them all. That the work of that body will con- tinue to be done by its members as in the past, is evidenced by the vigorous condition of the various church organizations, and the
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eagerness with which each is pursuing its labors for the cause of Christ.
The Methodist Episcopal church was the earliest to organize a class in the city, the "meetings" held from cabin to cabin crystal- lizing at last into an organized body about 1819, the exercises thereof being conducted by Rev. John Strange, at the house of Samuel Carter. The first chapel was erected in the new county seat in 1823, and stood on West Chillicothe street, at a point between the present post office building and the old Kennedy residence. Rev. John Strange was installed as first pastor. A trifling difference separated the congregation for a period, but in 1858 this was amicably adjusted, and there has ever since remained one strong church body. Its handsome church edifice on North Main street was erected in 1889. Dr. J. L. Albritton was pastor when the new (present) church was built. Dr. Isaac Newton was pastor when it was decided to build, February 2, 1886. The building committee was appointed January 3, 1887 and consisted of John B. Williams, Robert Colton, J. M. Williamson, Alfred Butler and William Barton. Rev. Whitlock was pastor of this congregation for five years, during the boyhood of the now famous author and diplomat, Brand Whitlock, his son. Rev. F. M. Swinehart is the pastor at this date (1919).
The First Presbyterian church was organized in Bellefontaine in 1828, under the ministry of Rev. Joseph Stevenson, who came to the town in 1825 with this end in view. The Presbyterian church at Cherokee (now Huntsville) had been organized September, 1824, by Rev. James Robinson, and called the "Church of Logan." From this germ the church at Bellefontaine took motive, the services of Rev. Stevenson being divided between Cherokee, Bellefontaine, Stony Creek (Springhill, in Champaign county), and West Liberty, until 1828, when the church at Bellefontaine became the larger and was granted independence. Rev. R. H. Holliday came in 1840 to assist Rev. Stevenson in his several charges, the latter retiring about 1844. The church membership in 1835 was ninety-one. Rev. George A. Gregg followed Rev. Stevenson in 1845, and remained here nine years, dying in February, 1854, of smallpox. Rev. Raf- fensperger came in 1854, and was the first pastor who gave his whole time to this church. He remained for five years, re-uniting the con- gregation and adding greatly to its membership. Rev. George P. Bergen came after him, staying until 1863, during a period of great excitement and political dissension, through which the church made steady progress. In 1863 commenced the long and happy pastorate of Rev. George L. Kalb, D.D., his installation taking place in 1864. For thirty-five years Dr. Kalb christened, received into member- ship, married and buried the individuals of the flock, resigning in 1898 on account of his advanced years. He was made pastor emeritus and continued in the veneration of his own people and the com- munity until his death, in September, 1912. Rev. George E. Davies, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was called to the pulpit of Dr. Kalb, and installed as pastor in 1899, resigning after eleven years' service to accept a call from St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. William L. Barrett was installed pastor January 1, 1911. The membership at that time had grown to about six hundred, and has in the eight years since
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increased to nine hundred. The congregation is noted for including in its membersip an unusual number of business and professional men. At present (1918) over half of the Logan county bar are members of this church. A few of the prominent members along the years have been: Joshua Robb, Robert Patterson, Edward Patterson, Ezra Bennett, Gen. Robert P. Kennedy, S. W. Fuller, William McColloch, John A. McIlvaine and Judge William H. West. The present session consists of : John Q. A. Campbell, George A. Henry, G. Harry Aikin, Major E. K. Campbell, Dr. R. W. Chalfant, William D. Faris, Dr. John P. Harbert, Charles B. Harner, Reuben B. Keller, Max Leonard, Judge J. Duncan Mclaughlin, Fred C. Spittle, John E. West, George W. Worrell and Judge John C. Hover, who is clerk of the session. Dr. Barrett is among the strongest pulpit orators Bellefontaine has had within the memory of present citizens. The services of the church previous to 1829 were held in the first court house (afterward a tavern), and prayer meetings were held in Robert Patterson's home, which stood just north of it. The first church edifice was built of brick, forty-three feet square, and stood on North Main street. This building became by purchase the property of the Christian church a good many years later, and about 1880 passed into the hands of the Reformed or Covenanters' church, A new church was erected where the present church now stands, which during the pastorate of Rev. Davies was completely rebuilt into the modern and spacious edifice now seen.
The English Lutheran church was first organized in 1840, at the home of John Horn, by Rev. J. H. Hoffman, and had a strug- gling existence for several years, being without a pastor from 1845 to 1850. Rev. J. H. Brickley was then sent to reorganize, and at the old court house, in the spring of 1851, a congregation of seventeen members was established which immediately set about building a church, the cornerstone of which was laid in July, 1851. The build- ing was a small brick chapel situated at the corner of Detroit and Sandusky streets. The first pastor was a victim of cholera during the completion of the church, and the first service held in the build- ing was his funeral. Dr. J. W. Goodlin succeeded to the pastorate and was followed by Dr. Kuhns, Dr. Breckenridge, Rev. Shearer and Dr. W. H. Singley, who came in the summer of 1876 and infused new life into the congregation, building at the old site a large new church, which was once remodeled and a pipe organ installed before he left it in 1892. Since then the church has had uninterrupted progress under the successive pastorates of Revs. W. E. Hull, S. S. Adams, S. E. Greenawalt, and the present pastor, Rev. C. E. Rice, who entered upon his work in 1908, and under whom the church has been rebuilt at a cost of $24,000, now presenting a wholly modern and harmonious exterior, while the interior is not only commodious, but ecclesiastically correct.
St. Patrick's Catholic church was organized in Bellefontaine in 1853 by Father Grogan, and a church was built the same year. However, services had been held in homes for many years before that date, and the little Piatt chapel at West Liberty had made a Mecca for early Catholics, still previous. The original church, built on East Patterson street, stood through several pastorates, Fathers
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Thomas Sheahan, J. F. McSweeney, John Coveney (who was assas- sinated by a lunatic) and Father Young preceding Father Bourion, a clergyman of unusual talents and culture who improved and enlarged the church and also built the large parochial school which stands immediately west of it. Father Bourion was followed in 1889 by Father William Conway, and he by Father Doherty in 1894. In 1897 the church was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin, but was immediately rebuilt upon a somewhat larger scale, being dedi- cated by Archbishop Elder in 1898, at which time Father C. J. Con- way was the priest in charge. Father Conway has been followed by Fathers Benning, Singleton and Sourd, and since August 1, 1916, by Father Wm. C. Welch, who has made a host of friends in the two years of his service, both in his parish and in general society, taking a prominent part in the war activities, Red Cross and kindred work. A handsome new rectory, completed in the summer of 1918, has replaced the old house east of the church, the site being ideal for a clerical residence.
The Baptists organized in 1845, and while gathering strength and numbers for church building, held their meetings at the houses of members. In 1852 ground was broken for the original church building on the same corner (East Columbus and Mad River streets) where the present church stands. Rev. Roney was the pastor, and at least one member, Mrs. Mary Kerr, still remembers coming to see the ceremony, sixty-six years ago. Rev. A. J. Wyant was one of the earliest and best remembered pastors, and, follow- ing him, a somewhat fragmentary account indicates that Rev. James French and Rev. W. H. Stringer were among the ministers who occupied the pulpit. The church edifice has been remodeled twice, being so completely rebuilt in 1907, under the pastorate of Rev. Jasper H. Winans, that little but the old bricks form a part of the Baptist church of today. The re-dedication took place in 1908. Four years ago Rev. F. F. Fenner succeeded Rev. Winans, and the congregation is in a flourishing condition. It will celebrate its seventy-fifth anniversary in 1920.
"The First Christian Church," or, as it is called today, the Church of Christ, was originally organized with fourteen members, at a meeting held in the basement of the Baptist church, at a date not set down in the chronicles. From this lowly beginning the society emerged in 1857 to build a "hall" on East Columbus avenue, which they used as a church until about 1870, when they sold it for business purposes and purchased the old chapel of the Presbyte- rians on North Main street, paying for it the sum of sixteen hundred dollars. This was later sold to the Reformed church congregation. Revs. A. F. Abbott, T. A. Brandon, William Lawrence and several other pastors ministered to the congregation until May, 1878, when the church was closed for want of a pastor. Removals and deaths had depleted the membership from sixty to twenty, yet it continued to hold together as an organization through various ups and downs -chiefly downs-until 1896, when a movement to build a new church resulted in a substantial rally under Rev. D. D. Burt. The new edifice was erected on the corner of East Sandusky avenue and Park Place, at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars. Twelve
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years later it was remodeled at a cost of four thousand more. On the fifteenth of January, 1915, the church was totally destroyed by fire. Undaunted, the congregation at once took steps to rebuild, and extra ground was purchased on the west, to build larger. Funds were quickly raised, and the contract was let, in April, fol- lowing the fire. The cornerstone of the new temple was laid August 22, 1915, and the building completed and dedicated early in 1916. December 31, 1915, the membership numbered eleven hundred per- sons, an increase of six hundred in the preceding fourteen months. The beautiful new temple, of pale buff brick and white sandstone, stands west of Brown park, and is a fine example of classic archi- tecture. All its inner working forces are in a high state of organi- zation, and full of ardor. Following Rev. Burt, the pastors have been, in order, Revs. A. S. Morrison, 1898, E. S. Muckley, 1900, W. T. Groom, 1903, Roy L. Brown, 1907, C. C. Wilson, 1912, U. E. Hootman, 1913, and Rev. Traverce Harrison, who came in 1915, and will stay, it is hoped, many years.
From the union of the drifting elements of the Associate and Associate Reformed societies in Bellefontaine and vicinity, that had existed since the early thirties, the United Presbyterian church was formed briefly subsequent to 1858, the Rev. Joseph Hatton, of the Associate Reformed church remaining in charge of the new organization until April, 1859, after which it was without a regular pastor until 1862. From 1862 until 1865 Rev. W. H. Jeffers was in charge, being followed by Rev. John Williamson, D.D., who led the congregation through over twenty years of vigorous growth. The original church edifice was built on an elevated site on North Detroit street and provided an auditorium of ample size, which was improved from time to time and served the congregation until the eighties, when, during the pastorate of Dr. Williamson, the new church at the corner of East Sandusky avenue and Mad River street, was built. The old church may still be seen on Detroit street, surrounded by many evidences of the mutations of time. It has long been used for factory purposes. The "New" church, now over thirty years old, was built upon so modern a principle that it bears rigid comparison with those of twentieth century architecture. Dur- ing Dr. Williamson's pastorate he formed "The Young People's Prayer-Meeting," which was the earliest organized young people's body connected with the Presbyterian church in the United States, antedating the Christian Endeavor by some years. Members of this society are still living, among them some of Bellefontaine's oldest citizens. After Dr. Williamson's retirement, four pastors, J. W. Allen, D.D., J. D. Simpson, D.D., Rev. John S. Dague, and Rev. W. T. Mabon successively filled the pulpit until 1918. Rev. G. L. Brown has accepted a call to this congregation and will occupy the pastorate beginning January 1, 1919.
The first parish of the Episcopal church organized in Belle- fontaine, 1856, had an existence of only two years. A second attempt to organize an Episcopal parish was made in 1859, when Rev. Robert Paul, an Episcopal clergyman born in Ireland and settled in Phila- delphia, occasionally preached in the old courthouse. About this time, there being no church, a temporary altar was set up in the
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Dunham home on east Chillicothe avenue, where little Emma Dun- ham and Annie Blaney were baptized by Rev. Paul. December 26, 1860, "Grace Church" was organized at a meeting in Dr. Gilson's office, the old Methodist chapel on west Chillicothe was purchased, and for a few years the little parish struggled along, but failed on account of its too small membership. In 1874, at the invitation of Mrs. N. E. Patterson, Rev. Julian held a service in the firemen's hall, over the engine house, and for some time thereafter services were held at this place, conducted by different clergymen. A guild was formed, with E. Douglas, A. S. Knapp, George Foote and W. A. Arnold as officers, and Rev. A. B. Nichols was called to the rec- torate the same year. His salary was limited to five dollars and expenses for each visitation. 'The records are somewhat misty and incomplete, but the services were held in the firemen's hall until a lot was purchased by the committee (Mrs. William H. West, J. G. Campbell and James McKinney) on East Chillicothe avenue, and a frame chapel erected, which was consecrated January, 1879, by Bishop Bedell. With some fluctuations of fortune through which the parish maintained an existence, kept alive by a latent germ of loyalty and faith, the year 1893 was reached, bringing to the rectorate for ten succeeding years the Rev. J. W. Thompson. In 1903 he retired, and Rev. Thomas G. C. McCalla followed him. The roof of the old chapel had by this time been pronounced unsafe, and the building was sold to Frank I. Gray and converted to mercantile uses, while a new church site was purchased on the corner of East Sandusky and Park streets. The cornerstone of the new church was laid July 23, 1917, by Bishop Leonard, and the name of the parish then changed from Trinity to Holy Trinity. The first service in the new church was held in July, 1908. The succeeding rectors of the parish, after the retirement of Rev. McCalla in 1909, have been Rev. S. S. Powell, October, 1909, to October, 1911; Rev. John Stuart Banks, February, 1912, to March, 1915; Rev. John Williamson, March, 1915, to May, 1918; Rev. William Seitz, came to the Belle- fontaine parish in June, 1918. The present vestry is: John E. Miller, senior warden; Claude Southard, junior warden; Charles Lentz, clerk; William Wissler, treasurer; and Harry Loth. The new church is of rough gray stone with red tiled roof, and the archi- tecture is true to churchly traditions, very simple, yet modern withal. Instead of a tower, an arch, in the old mission mode, seems to invite the hanging of a bell.
The Reformed Presbyterian or Covenanters' church in Belle- fontaine was organized about the later seventies and the Rev. Finley M. Foster was installed its first pastor, in the little brick church which was the original home of the Presbyterians, and which the Church of Christ had been using for some years. The congregation is not large, but numbers some of Bellefontaine's staunchest citi- zens. Rev. Foster retired from the pastorate in August, 1887, after which no incumbent was of long residence for a number of years. In the early part of August, 1900, Rev. J. M. Faris accepted a call to this charge, taking rank at once as one of the strongest members of the Ministerial Association in Bellefontaine. He died in the autumn of 1918, respected and esteemed by all who knew him. His
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place has not as yet been filled, and this church is without a pastor.
The Church of the Brethren was erected as a mission in 1907, and became a regularly organized congregation in 1909. Their building, on South Detroit street, is a neat chapel of cement con- struction. Rev. Abraham Horst and Rev. Josiah Weaver occupied the charge for the first few years, but for more than half the time since its organization the church has been without a regular pastor, and the present minister, Rev. William Tinkle, who came to the charge in August, 1918, has had but a short time in which to put new vigor into his little flock. The membership is now fifty, and is on the increase, while the general outlook is encouraging. The A. M. E. church on South Main street, is a neat structure, well attended by its people. Rev. W. P. Myers is its pastor. At the Second Baptist church (colored) Rev. J. M. Green is pastor. The regular pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist church is Rev. E. W. Benton, and the church stands on West Sandusky street.
Fraternal, patriotic, civic and philanthropic organizations in Bellefontaine are in equal alignment with such movements in the average city, with a few points of special interest to mark some of them. The secret orders, Knights Templars, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, are all of old standing, doing the work usually expected of these societies, and aid perhaps to an unusual extent in the efforts of other charities. The orders of Sons of Temperance and Good Templars were also organized in the earlier days of the struggle against the liquor evil, dating as far back as the forties, and giving place to the more modern movements in that direction which came into prominence after the Civil War.
The first of all the philanthropic bodies to organize was the Women's Christian Temperance Union, formed originally by the association of about five women who had taken leading parts in the great woman's crusade in 1873-4. Among the number were Mrs. J. R. Smith and Mrs. Thomas W. Riddle. The date of organization is not positive, but the later seventies doubtless saw the initial steps of the movement, for the state convention of the Union was held in Bellefontaine in 1883. The work gathered force, and membership increased for a number of years, but as other societies began to form, interest became divided, and four or five years ago only twenty- eight members might have been counted. Since the election of Mrs. Mary B. Yoder to the presidency, four years ago, there has been a revival of interest, and the Bellefontaine branch now numbers two hundred members, while in the county at large there are one hundred and ninety more. The Bellefontaine contingent contributed one hundred dollars to the "dry" campaign fund last year, the county members adding seventy-one dollars. In addition to this the local W. C. T. U. has adopted a French war orphan, money has been sent to the "economy kitchens" and to the W. C. T. U. ambulance in France. Mrs. Yoder, the president, is also state lecturer and or- ganizer in Ohio. The vice president is Mrs. Charles Gregory ; treas- urer, Mrs. W. H. Bushong; secretary, Mrs. W. S. Hamilton. The county president is Mrs. W. S. Jones of Bellefontaine.
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