USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 1 > Part 58
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Much of the outlying territory of the city was far removed from places of worship, and it was to meet this want by organizing another Baptist congrega- tion and erecting a suitable place of worship was the object of this conference. At a subsequent meeting held at the same place on the night of April 9. the organization was perfected, under the title of Trinity Baptist Church of Spring-
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
field, Obio, with the following official board: Pastor, Rev. J. R. Banmes: Clerk. J. J. Tuttle: Treasurer. McClung Huffman: Deacons, A. O. Hayward and J. J. Tuttle; Trustees, Lewis C. Huffman. Jacob Gram and J. J. Tuttle.
For a brief time the young church occupied the city hall, the use of which had been granted by the City Council, the first service being held on Sunday, April 12. Subsequently, a lease was secured of Central Hall, on Market street, which was occupied until January 22, 1871. On August 14, 186S, the Council of Recognition, composed of delegates from the various churches comprising the Miami Baptist Union Association, met in Central Hall for the purpose of recognizing and receiving the church as a component part of the association; the Rev. S. Williams, of Springfield, Ohio, preaching the sermon, and Rev. J. N. Weatherly, of Casstown, Ohio, extending the right hand of fellowship. Closely following this, a Building Committee was appointed, who purchased the present church lot, on the southwest corner of Limestone and Mulberry streets, and, on the 7th day of August, 1870, broke ground for the present chapel. The building was completed, and, on Sunday, January 22, 1871, was dedicated. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Rev. H. S. Colby, of Day- ton. The chapel is of the Gothic style of architecture, with a front of forty- two feet between the towers: and a depth of sixty feet. The audience room had a seating capacity for 300 persons, and also contains the library. The upper story has a large room suitable for social gatherings, with the Pastor's study annexed.
The following is a list of the Pastors, and the length of time they served the church:
Rev. J. R. Baumes, D. D., from May 2, 1868, to November 19, 1872: Rev. C. W. Rupe, from November 19, 1872, to December 1, 1873; Rev. A. B. White, from May 4, 1874, to December 1, 1876; Rev. A. L. Jordan, from July 1, 1877, to July 1, 1879.
The present Pastor is Rev. T. B. DePoy, who was called by the church March 22, 1880, and entered upon his pastoral duties April 11.
The Free-Will Baptist Church is located on Clifton avenne, Springfield, Ohio. The church building is of brick. a large and handsome structure, with an imposing and picturesque steeple, and of excellen : architectural design. It was constructed by the Pleasant Grove Free- Will Baptist Church Society, of Green Township, Clark County, and was completed in 1876, at a cost of about $7,500. The church was dedicated with the usual ceremonies by the society in February, 1877, and, in March following, the religious society that now occupies the church was organized. and placed in the charge of Rev. R. J. Poston, who served the congregation acceptably for two years. He was succeeded by the Rev. C. A. Gleason, but the society has for some time past been without a Pastor.
They have a flourishing Sabbath school of about one hundred attendants. Prof. Coates was the first Superintendent, and William Pearson is the present Superintendent. A large baptismal font has been constructed beneath the pulpit of the church, and the usual appliances for the comfort and convenience of a thriving congregation are to be found within this admirable building.
The Second Baptist (colored) Church is on Market street, between Pleasant and Kiser streets. The date of the organization of this church society, from the best information attainable, was about 1858, when the services were held in Black's Hall. on Main street, and sometimes in the court house or at private res- idences. The congregation was then very small, probably not more than seven or eight being active members. Elder George Dowdus was the first regular Pastor, and had charge during the period when meetings were held in Black's Hall. Services had been conducted by Elder Bryant, who came from Xenia for
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CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.
that purpose about once a month: also by Rev. Shelton. an itinerant, and Elder Moss. In 1865. the society purchased the lot now occupied by their church. on Market street. and constructed a comfortable brick building at a cost of about 83.000. Elder Williams was the second regular Pastor, who served about a year. and during his pastorate was mainly instrumental in clearing the church of a debt of $1,000. Elder John Allen served about oue year (1870), Elder Powell one year, Elder Meredith one year, Elder Carey about two years. Elder J. Meeks about two years, and Elder J. Reckman about a year. The present Pastor is Elder Bonner, who took charge in September, 1879. This church received con- siderable aid from white citizens and the other churches. It now numbers over two hundred members, and is in a prosperous condition.
In December. 1834, the following named persons united themselves for the purpose of establishing a Protestant Episcopal Church in Springfield. Ohio, under the name of "All Souls' Parish." The original members were William Coles. Caroline Coles, Louisa E. Couch, Elizabeth Williams, Eliza Sherman, Angusta Sherman, Joseph Sprague. Betsey Sprague, William Parker, Charles Harrold, Joseph T. Thorpe. Harvey Vinal, Elizabeth Vinal, Martha Vinal. John Newlove, Melinda E. Dewal. Henry D. Williamson, Greenfield Dooley, Samuel Clark, Jane Cool, Thriza Cook. Nathaniel Cook, Elizabeth Parker. Laura Varian, Mrs. A. E. Varian, Peter A. Sprigman. John M. Keeys, Henry Diffendaffer, John R. Tonge, Elizabeth Thorpe. James Wallace. Jr., William McClure, William N. Wilson. Nelson Weston. Peter Murray, Joseph Perrin. Nancy N. Perrin, Lydia Vance, David Gwynne. Jr .. Sarah T. Gwynne. George Mortimer. Jane Mortimer, Richard H. Hubble, Emery C. Ross. Cyrus T. Wade. Alice Wade, Edward H. Cumming, William Werden, Sarah Mason, Minerva Mason, James Bonner, Benjamin Brubaker. Samson Mason. Harvey Humphreys, Sarah A. Diffendaffer. Mary Jane Werden, Mrs. Werden, Elizabeth Dory, John Ludlow, Sarah Voorhees, William Foster. Jonathan Jackson, Isaac Hendershott, Mrs. E. G. Hendershott, John Luty, Thomas Hall, James Sykes.
On the 12th of December, 1834, a meeting of the parish was held, with the Rev. Alexander Varian, who had been most influential in establishing the church, in the chair; and at this meeting the election of Vestrymen was as follows: Joseph T. Thorpe and Joseph Sprague, Wardens: H. Vinal. George Mortimer, Peter A. Sprigman, H. Diffendaffer, Joseph Perrin, C. T. Ward, Sam- son Mason, D. Gwynne, E. C. Ross and John Cook, Vestrymen. The Rev. Alex- ander Varian was invited to take charge of the parish as Rector.
In February. 1835. a lot on the southwest corner of High and Limestone streets was purchased for the church, and a building on the south part of the lot was fitted up and used temporarily as a church. Soon after, a new building was erected on the north part of the lot. and consecrated by the Bishop Novem- ber 28, 1844. This building was used for worship until the erection of the new church, on the corner of High and Linden avenue, which was consecrated May 5, 1874. The total cost of the new church was $38,000, and was all paid for before its dedication. The parish continued under the original name . " All Sonls'" until 1842. when by act of the Legislature it was changed to " Christ's Church."
In Angust 11. 1835, the Rev. A. Varian resigned. and was followed by the Rev. Henry Payne, who continued until December. 1539. The next Rector was Rev. Willard Probary. Mr. Piesbury resigned in 1913. and was succeeded by Rev. A. T. McMurphy, who resigned his pastorate November 10, 1846. By re- quest of the Vestry. Rev. Edward H. Cumming and afterward Rev. James Stephen- son filled the pulpit temporarily nutil the Ist of November. 1817, when Rov. Rich- ard Killen accepted the charge. Mr. Killen remained in charge but a few months. when Chandler Robbins was selected to assume the position as Deacon
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and Lay Reader, and afterward on December 11, 1848, as Rector. Mr. Robbins resigned October 1, 1854. April 2, 1855, Rev. John T. Brooke was elected Rec- tor, and continued to August 19, 1861, when H. W. Woods became Rector, and resigned in 1862. The next Rector was Rev. Charles MeIlvain, called June S, 1868, and vacated the charge November 12, 1865. May 24, 1866, Rev. John G. Ames was elected Rector, and resigned December 7, 1869. He was followed by C. B. Davidson. D. D., November, 1870, who resigned February, 1873. May 3, 1874, Rev. H. H. Morrell entered npon the charge and continued until May 1, 1879. In November, 1879, the Rev. John T. Rose accepted the call, and still continues Rector in charge.
The church is prosperous and has a large and interested congregation.
During the year 1849. a few members of the now First Presbyterian Church met together from time to time at the Recorder's office for prayer, and talking over the best plans for forming a new religious society. After these consulta- tions a public meeting was called at the house of Henry E. Smith, Esq., on Wednesday evening. February 28, 1850. At this meeting, the following resolu-
tions, among others, were adopted: Resolved, That it is expedient to organize a new church in the city of Springfield, and, Resolved, That the new church be called the First Orthodox Congregational Church of Springfield.
During the mouth of March, this little flock secured the services of Rev. J. C. White, who was their first spiritual guide. He continued with them until October, 1854. On the 27th of April following his call, an Ecclesiastical Council, called by the church, decided unanimously in favor of organizing a Congregational Church, and proceeded the following day (Sabbath) with appro- priate services.
In 1851, a lot was dedicated to the church by W. M. Spencer, on which a building was erected for $3,700. The church entered the basement of their new edifice October 31, 1851; previous to that time they had held their meetings in the city hall. The church was dedicated April 28, 1553, by Rev. Boynton, of Cincinnati. A debt of about 83,500 was incurred in remodeling the church. It was canceled in July, 1856, by a noble effort on the part of the church and society, aided by friends from abroad and by Granville Moody, a Methodist minister, who made a humorous appeal to the people, saying he had come to put the " finishing touches" on the new church. This was during the pastorate of Rev. Hugh McLeod, who served from May, 1855, to December, 1857. His successor. Rev. Edward W. Root, served from October, 1859, to October, 1865. Rev. A. H. Ross served from February, 1866, to January, 1873. During his term, the interior of the church was remodeled and greatly improved at an ex- pense of $3,000. Rev. Joseph L. Bennett was called April, 1873, and served until December, 1874. He was followed by the present Pastor, Rev. William H. Warren, in September, 1875. The church began with thirty-nine members. now has a membership of 350.
The building is a two-story brick with a square belfry about sixty-five feet high. It has on the first floor one Sunday school and two smaller rooms, and up-stairs the auditorium capable of seating 600 people. The church is in a very flourishing condition.
The English Lutheran Church was originally organized May 7, 1841, by Rev. John Leiman, with abont forty members. The first officers of the church were Jacob Shuman, Elder: Jacob Cook and Daniel Reifsnider, Deacons. Rev. Leiman resigned his pastorate in 1844, and the church was allowed to perish. It was, however. re-organized in 1845 by Dr. Ezra Keller and three other men. whose names were Kurtz, Filbert and Cook, in the house of Jacob Strager. The first communion service was held January 11, 1846. In 1845, immediately after re-organization, the subject of building began to be agitated. Previous to this,
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CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.
the services were held in the court house. Shortly afterward, a lot was pur- chased, 100 feet deep by 100 feet front, of Peter Murray, for $250, and on the 14th of June. 1845, the corner-stone of the church was laid, the services being held in the Universalist Church by Dr. Keller. It is impossible to ascertain the cost of building this church, as it was built by piecemeal, and it was a long time before it was finished. It was remodeled and partially rebuilt in 1869 and 1870. $20,000 being expended for that purpose. In 1873, the spire, which was 161 feet high, was struck by lightning and destroyed. The value of the church property is estimated at from $40,000 to $45,000. It is located on the corner of High and Factory streets, is a two-story brick, sixty-four by ninety-four feet, and is furnished with an $1,800 pipe organ and a very large bell. The first floor is taken up by one large Sunday-school room, with a seating capacity of 650. The second floor comprises the vestibules and the large auditorium, capa- ble of seating, with the gallery, 750 persons. The following is a list of the ministers of the church from its first to the present, as gleaned from an old and very incomplete record: Dr. Keller, 1845 to 1549; Prof. Diehl, January to June, 1849; Drs. Sprecher and Conrad, June, 1849, to 1854; Rev. A. Esick. 1854 to 1856; Rev. A. J. Waddell, 1856 to 1857: Rev. J. H. Heck, IS58 to 1862; Rev. Officer, 1862 to 1863; Rev. M. Titus, 1863 to 186S; Rev. J. B. Helwig, 1868 to 1869; Rev. M. W. Hamma, 1869 to 1878; Rev. M. J. Firey, the present Pastor, was called January, 1878.
The church owns, or will own, a beautiful two-story brick parsonage on the corner of Center and Clark streets. It is valued at $5,000, and is held by them on the following conditions: The church is to rent it of the present proprietor for three years, at $300 per year, at the expiration of which time they can have it for $2,000. They have commenced the rental, and have the money in bank to complete the purchase, so that now they virtually. own it.
Augsburg Chapel was built by the English Lutheran Church in 1879, at a cost of $500, on ground purchased by them for $800. It is situated on West North street, and was built for missionary purposes. It is a one-story frame, comprising one room capable of holding 400 people, in which Sunday school is held every Sabbath.
The Sabbath school of the English Lutheran Church is one of first impor- tance in point of numbers in the city. It was organized November 12, 1845, with the following officers: A. R. Howbert and Mrs. C. Keller, Superintendents; D. Harbaugh. Secretary and Treasurer; and sixty-four members. It continued quite small until 1866, at which time it numbered 300 scholars. Since then. it has continued to increase in numbers and interest until the average enrollment now is 690. They at one time had over 900 enrolled, and tried hard to make it 1,000, but failed. The present board of officers is: P. A. Schindler, Superin- tendent: B. F. Prince. Assistant Superintendent; R. T. Nelson, Secretary: B. F. Funk, Treasurer: Frank Rightinver. Biographer; Robert Remsberg and L. H. Pursell. Librarians; A. Studebaker, Usher; Mrs. Breckenridge, Superin- tendent of Primary Department; A. L. King, Assistant: W. J. Dixon, Secre- tary; Finance Committee, Mossrs. Rightson, Hosterman and Grove. There is in the school a gentlemen's Bible class of 100 members, and a ladies' Bible class of thirty-five members.
The German Lutherans, for some time previous to 1845, held meetings in the court house, in private houses, or in any room that could be obtained. being addressed by any minister passing through the city or coming on invitation. In 1545, they were organized into a church. with a membership of seventy-tive, by Rev. Schladerm. as St. John's Lutheran Church. who served them as Pastor until 1819, when he was succeeded by J. C. Schulze. He in turn was succeeded by Rev. Charles Stroud in 1557. After a pastorate of nineteen years, Mr.
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Stroud was, in 1970, succeeded by Rev. C. Betzler. Rev. T. A. Polster was then called in 1873, after which the present Pastor, C. W. Knuth, succeeded, in Sep tember, 1875. The church has a membership of 400 now. It is under no svn- odical body. being what is termed an "independent charge." The church is built on a lot purchased in 1849 for $200. It cost originally $6.000 in con- struction, but has recently been enlarged at an expense of $5,000. It is now val- ued at $20,000. It is a two-story brick, with the usual complement of rooms for church and Sunday school services.
Owing to a disagreement among the members of St. John's Lutheran Church, twenty-three families separated themselves from the church in 1851. and formed Zion's Lutheran Church. They were headed and organized by Rev. J. C. Schulze, who was Pastor of St. John's Church at the time of the split. and. espousing the cause of the discontented members, became their fust Pastor. The church is under the Joint Synod of Ohio. They held their meetings in the court house for about two years after their organization. when they purchased a small church on North street. between Limestone and Spring streets, of the Methodists, giving therefor $500. They worshiped in this building until 1867. when they sold it to the African Methodist Episcopal Church for $1,200, and built their present house at a cost of $22.000. The ground on which it stands was dedicated to the church by Mrs. Margaret Burger. The church was dedi- cated in 1867, Rev. Loy preaching the English dedicatory address, and Rev. Layman the German. Rev. Schulze was followed in the pastorate of the church by Rev. Lorenz: he by Rev. H. Hinkle in 1869. The present Pastor, F. W. Alt- hoff, succeeded in November, 1872. The church building is a two-story brick. with belfry not yet completed. It has on the ground floor a Sunday-school room, a day school room and three rooms in which the sexton lives. Up-stairs there is the main auditorium, capable of seating 400 people, and the vestibules. The property is now valued at only $20.000, having cost considerably more on account of its being built just after the war. There is now an actual membership of 150, and 375 communicants.
Connected with the church is a Sunday school of 150 scholars, which has been in existence since the church was organized .. It is, and always has been. superintended by the Pastor. There is also a day school of about seventy scholars connected with the church. It is supported by tuition paid by the scholars; is taught by the Pastor, and is under the supervision of the Church Synod.
Previous to the year 1837, the believers of the doctrine of Universalism had no church society formed here, and no stated meetings. They had services once in a great while, by ministers passing through the town, or near it, who would, on invitation. preach for them. These meetings were first held in the schoolhouse, and were largely attended by members of all churches, out of curi- osity. They were afterward held in other churches, courteously opened to thom. The first minister who ever preached the doctrine here was Rev. Mr. Fisk. of New Jersey. about 1833. Four years after this. John Wynn, known as Father Wynn. conceived the idea of establishing a church here, and to this end he headed a subscription paper with $1,000, and started out personally to raise more. He succeeded in getting enough to build the church, and. in March of the same year, 1537. John Lowry donated the lot on Washington street. between Factory and Center, where the church now stands. The contract for building the church was awarded to Mr. Wynn. at from $1,000 to $5,000. It is a one-story brick building, of very ordinary appearance, but is said to have been. when built. the handsomest church in town. About the time the contract for building was awarded, the church society was organized, and Rey. George Mas- senger chosen Pastor. He preached the dedication sermon in the summer fol-
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CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.
lowing. Among the first to join the church were Mrs. Messenger. the Pastor's wife, John Wym, Rufus Pearce, Mr. Bancroft aud Mrs. Bancroft, the latter coming from the Presbyterians. The ministers who have presided over the church from its begining are: Rev. George Messenger, Revs. Pingrew, Em- mett, Biddlecum, Waite, Lionell, Weaver, Turner, Demorest, Bossaman, Tom- linson, Henley, Carlion, George. Ashenfelter. and the present Pastor, Rev. Guthrie. The order of these Pastors may be broken, as the records are all lost, and the memories of very old people have to be relied upon for the facts.
It is the custom of the people of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church to hold tent meetings during the tenting season. and, in August, 1878, such a meeting was in progress in this city under the charge of Elders Wagner and Stone, sent thither by the Ohio Conference. At the close of these meetings, some sixteen people of the city and vicinity commenced a series of meetings, and, on the 11th day of December of that year, effected the organization of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Springfield. Its membership then consisted of the follow- ing named persons:
Robert J. Hill. Dorcas L. Hill, Sarah E. Hill, Hamilton W. Cottrell, Mary L. Spring, Maggie Cottrell, Phoebe Taylor, Margaret McClellan, Mary A. Man- ning, Abram Mcclellan. Anderson Wilcher, Jennie Husted, Joshua A. Cottrell. Alice Sparrow. Mary Hill and Albert Wike.
They first met and held service at Allen's Hall, on West Main street; are now at 253 East Main street, second floor. The first Pastor was Elder H. W. Cottrell, who was succeeded by William Cottrell, the present Elder. The church has now a membership of thirty.
The Christadelphian society was formed in 1868, with a membership of thirty. There has been a division of their number, and now there are but fif- teen. They meet in Central Hall, corner of Main and Center streets. They have no ministers. All are on an equal footing. and any one can expound the Scriptures who desires so to do, but the principal leader of the society is Dr. Reeves, Market street. As the society is somewhat new, we will say they believe, among other things, that "eternal life" is this life prolonged to eter- nity, and that Christ's coming will be a literal coming, and that He will estab- lish a physical kingdom here, reigning Himself while in the flesh.
The Disciples of Christ was a Campbellite society (now extinct), organized by Edmund Pimlott, in Black's Opera House, in 1869. There were but twelve or fifteen members at first, but had increased to twenty-five at the time of dis- banding, which was in September, 1879, and on account of Rev. Pimlott resign- ing, and of some misunderstanding with the Tenth District Missionary Society, under which they were working.
The K. K. Oher Zeedukah (which, being interpreted, is " The Holy Congre- gation of Benevolent Men") is a Hebrew congregation, formed in 1867 with ten members. They formerly met in private houses, but now meet in King's Hall, No. 24 South Limestone street. There is a membership now of over forty. They were first presided over by Rabbi MIvers, in 1868. He was followed by Rabbi Strouse in 1571. He by Rabbi Freedman in 1872, and he by the present incumbent of the office. Rabbi Greenbaum, in 1874.
The present officers of the society are as follows: President. Samuel Wald- man; Vice President and Treasurer, S. Lessner: Secretary, I. Isaaco: Trustees, L. Adler, L. Stern and M. M. Kaufman.
The Catholic Church of Springfield .- The history of Catholicism* in Clark County is identical with its record throughout Ohio- a missionary priest visit- ing a settlement once or twice a month, seeking out the Catholics, ministering
>The history of the Catholic Church in Springfield and Clark County has been prepared exclusively by the au- thorities of that church.
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to their spiritual wants, and finally forming a congregation from the few fami- lies scattered over a county, and the synopsis of its history is told.
It is true that, long before the advent of the whites to the great Northwest Territory, the Catholic missionary, braving death in every form, traveled through- out its trackless forests and navigated its then unknown rivers, preaching the word of God to the red man, teaching him the great truths of the Gospel, and often yielding up his life at the hands of those he came to save.
Those intrepid priests thought nothing of the dangers to which they were exposed, being wrapped up in the salvation of souls, and all the great discov- eries in the Northwest were the result of the zeal of those missionaries in behalf of Christ and His church.
Sixty years ago, Catholics were scarce in Ohio, and in 1817, at the first mass celebrated in Cincinnati, the Rev. Dominick Young officiating, seventeen Catholics were present, all that could be found in Cincinnati at that date, to attend divine service.
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