The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 57

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county > Part 57

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).

"Under these circumstances some felt themselves drawn powerfully to seek footsteps of the primitive Christians, and desired earnestly to receive in faith

t.J t ordained testimonies of Jesus Christ according to their true value. At the she time they were internally and strongly impressed with the necessity of the o dience of faith to a soul that desires to be saved. And this impression also le them at the time to the mystery of water baptism, which appeared unto them a,a door into the Church, which was what they so earnestly sought.

"Finally, in the year 1708, eight persons consented together to enter into a c enant of a good conscience with God, to take all the commandments of Jesus Crist as an easy yoke, and thus to follow the Lord Jesus, their good and faithful spherd, in joy and sorrow, as his true sheep, even unto a blessed end.

"These eight persons (five brethren and three sisters) covenanted and united t'ether as brethren and sisters into the covenant of the cross of Jesus Christ to fm a church of Christian believers. And when they had found in authentic E'tories that the primitive Christians in the first and second centuries, uniformly, acording to the command of Christ, were planted into the death of Jesus Christ La threefold immersion into the water-bath of holy baptism, they examined dili- ghtly the New Testament, and finding all perfectly harmonizing therewith, they vre anxiously desirous to use the means appointed and practiced by Christ him-

526

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

self, and thus according to his salutary counsel, go forward to the fulfillment of all righteousness.

"After this the said eight persons were more and more powerfully strengthened in their obedience to the faith they had adopted, and were enabled to testify pub- licly in their meetings to the truth; and the Lord granted them his special grace so that still inore became obedient to the faith, and thus, within seven years time, namely, to the year 1715, there was not only in Schwartzenau a large church, but here and there in the Palatinate there were lovers of the truth, and especially was this the case in Marienborn, where a church was gathered; for the church in the Palatinate was persecuted, and its members then came to Marienborn. And when the church here became large it was also persecuted. Then those that were persecuted collected in Creyfeld, where they found liberty under the King of Prussia.

"Since the persecutions in the form of poverty, tribulation and imprisonment, by which they were oppressed, made them only the more joyful, they were tried m another manner by men of learning, seeking to confound them with sharp dis- putations and subtle questions of which the forty searching questions of Eber- hard Ludwig Gruber will sufficiently inform the reader."

About this time the church at Schwartzenau issued a publication containing the questions which I have above referred to, with their answers annexed, contain- ing also a discourse between a "father and son," in which is set forth the humble doctrine of primitive Christianity. The publication was especially designed "for the instruction of those pure-minded persons who are seeking after truth." After the removal of the church to America (of which I shall next speak), and some of the fathers having fallen asleep, it was thought good, for the benefit of those who should rise up to conduct the affairs of the church in their stead, that this same testimony should be republished, which was done and is still preserved amongst ils, and known as the "Writings of Alexander Mack," from which I have made several quotations.

But the church in Germany being sorely oppressed by the hand of persecu- tion, in the year 1719 twenty families crossed the great deep and landed at Phil- adelphia, seeking an asylum in the bosom of this new country and blessed land of religious liberty. And in the year 1729, ten years later, about thirty-nine per- secuted families came over to join the little band already here.

Among this last number was Alexander Mack, who was the first minister and teacher chosen by the church. "He, however, did not live long to enjoy the quietude of a home under the mild government of Pennsylvania. In 1735, six years after he came to America, he closed his labors on earth. He was buried in the Brethren's public burying ground in Germantown, and the following in- scription in the German language marks the place: "Here rest the remains of A. M., born 1679, and died 1735, aged 56 years."

The brethren first settled at Germantown, Philadelphia, and in various other surrounding localities. Among some of the earlier noted ones in the ministry were Alexander Mack, Sr., Peter Becker, Christopher Saur, Johan Naas, George Adam Martin, Abraham Duboy, Michael Pfauts, Martin Urner, Sr., George Klein, Martin Urner, Jr., Michael Frantz, Christian Lanecker, Peter Eigenberger, Jacob Stull, Johannas Zug, Jacob Beshore, Peter Keyser, Jr., and others. This Peter Keyser was much noted for his wonderful knowledge of the scriptures. He had the entire New Testament and part of the old by heart. After he became blind, in his more advanced years, he would point out his text and read it off as well as when he had his vision.

For the names of these ancient worthies and early fathers of the church in America, I am somewhat indebted to the information afforded me by the bio- graphical sketches of most of these bretliren as heretofore written out and pub- lished by our brother, A. H. Cassell, of Harleysville, Pa.

Through the untiring efforts of the above named brethren and others the

527

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

embership increased pretty rapidly, and the church soon spread from German- iwn and Philadelphia into various other parts of the State and into New Jersey, aryland and Virginia. From thence, by the arduous labors of our fathers, the 'rders of Zion were enlarged more and more. The old brethren, on horse-back, nde their way across the mountains and valleys into the dense forests of Ohio ¿d Indiana, organizing churches and establishing the faith.

Union and harmony seemed to prevail in the churches to a great extent, and te membership increased and spread still farther west-over the broad prairies of le far western as well as into some of the southern States-and at the present (te, April, 1881, we have churches in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ilhi- jis, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Colo- lo, Oregon, and in some of the Territories, Texas and California, with a ministry fifteen to twenty thousand, and a membership of from seventy-five to one Indred thousand.

The church in this county is divided into six districts or churches: The Day- 11 Church, Lower Miami Church, Bear Creek Church, Still Water Church, near yton, Wolf Creek Church and the Salem Church. These six churches have at tis time ten meeting-houses or places of worship, twenty-two ministers and about 1.elve hundred members.

I am not able to give any definite date when these several churches were ganized, but the first and oldest of the six is the Lower Miami Church. Elder cob Miller, who was born in Franklin County, Pa., in 1735, was the first brother fat settled here. He moved to Ohio in the year 1800, and settled about four miles authwest of Dayton on the west side of the great Miami River, where he lived dout fifteen years, and died in 1815 at the advanced age of four score years. The cunty, at this time, was yet a dense forest inhabited by the Indians. Through te kind treatment which these Indians received at the hands of Brother Miller, tay very much respected him, calling him "the good man whom the great Spirit sht from the east."

This church was organized between 1800 and 1808. Brother Miller served here Elder for many years; then Brethren Benjamin Bowman, Abraham Miller, Jederick Holler, Michael Moyer, Daniel Noffsinger and now George Holler, who I.s Jacob Holler, his son, and James A. Ridonour to his assistance in the min- iry. This church has a neat frame house about six miles southwest of Dayton, 1 the Germantown Pike, where the congregation meets for worship every two veks.

Daniel Miller, who settled on Wolf Creek in 1804, and George Shoup, who stled on Beaver Creek in 1805, were the first brethren, and their wives the first : ters that lived in the vicinity of Dayton.

The members of the Dayton Church meet for worship on the corner of «ckson and Van Buren streets, in a brick house, built for that purpose number of years ago by M. Shoup, D. Kneisley and Bro. Oughenbaugh, Trustees. The first Elder here was Daniel Miller; and then Eld. Holler, Michael Moyer, Moses Noup, and at this time George Holler has the care and oversight of the church Ire.

The Bear Creek Church was organized perhaps seventy-five years ago, and had times as many as 300 members. They meet every two weeks for worship in teir large brick house, on the Eaton Pike, six miles west of Dayton.

The oldest Elder in this church, of which I have any knowledge, was Father wman-David Bowman, Sen .; then his son David-David Bowman, Jun., and ten David Brumbaugh and Isaac Bright, with J. W. Fitzgerald, George Miller d John Bowman as their assistants in the ministry.

The Still Water Church (near Dayton) was organized perhaps pretty soon after the Bear Creek Church. My recollections of this church carry me back to some dirty-five or forty years ago, when old Joseph Garber had the charge here. After

528

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

that Father Nead (Peter Nead) served as the Elder, and then Abraham Flory and Phillip Wampler, and at this time Abraham Flory with John Smith and Samuel Kinsey and George Garver as their fellow laborers in the ministry. This church has at this time perhaps 250 members, with two houses for worship-a brick, the "Lower House," on the Free Pike, four miles west of Dayton, and a large frame house, the "Upper House," on the Salem Pike, nine miles west of Dayton and three miles east of Salem.

The Wolf Creek Church has perhaps 350 members at this time, and has also two houses for regular meetings-a frame house of medium size near the Eaton Pike, about ten or twelve miles west of Dayton, and a large brick on the Wolf Creek Pike, near Brookville. Here the council meetings and their love feasts are usually held. Elder Pfoutz had the charge of this church years ago, then Christian Arnold, Abraham Erbaugh, Joel Wogaman, and at this time Samuel Garber is the Elder, with Conrad Brumbaugh and Jacob Garber to assist, and John Kimmel, Simon Mixell and Henry Garber fellow laborers.

The Salem Church has perhaps 250 members, who meet for worship every other Sunday or oftener in their large frame house on the Pike, two miles east of Phillipsburg. They have also an interest in a house about four or five miles north, at Georgetown, where they also have regular meetings. Forty years ago this

church had Elder Jacob Karn for their Bishop and Elder. Since then John Stude- baker , John Bower and at this time David Murray, with Abraham Detrick, S. . Shellaberger, J. Solenberger and Jesse Kinsey as co-laborers in the ministry,

Now, for the further information of the readers of this work, I wish to set forth, briefly, a few of the outlines of our faith and practice :

We believe that in all God's creation MAN was the chief object; that God created him for his own glory, and that He will reward him for obedience as well as punish him for disobedience.

We believe that though God suffered the transgression, in Eden, He made pro- vision by which the sin could and would be removed in due time. The great and wise plan of salvation will only be fully comprehended by those who will take spe- cial pains to study the character of God and to acquaint themselves with His vast purposes.

We believe that after the patriarchal and Mosaic dispensations had served their purposes, and the "time being fulfilled," the great provision for the salvation of the human family was manifested in the person of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, whom God had foreseen and provided for this special purpose before the creation.

We believe that Christ, by the shedding of his blood on Calvary, canceled the Adamic son, and made good what was lost in Eden; and that hence man is account- able to God for his own sins only; and further, that God, through Christ, did deliver to us His plan of salvation, which is based upon conditions.

We believe that Christ organized and set up his kingdom in the hearts of all true believers, and that this is the only kingdom or organization needed by man and recognized by the Father.

We believe that Repentance, Faith and Baptism are essential to church fellow- ship and constitute the conditions upon which the remission of sins and the gift of the HOLY GHOST is promised- agreeable to Mark. i, 15-16: and Acts, ii, 38.

We believe that applicants for membership should be carefully examined to know that they have been properly moved, that their motives are pure and that they "bring forth fruits meet for repentance." Hence we pay them a private visit and get an expression from them as regards repentance and faith; when also we learn their willingness to comply with the doctrine of nonconformity to the vain fashions of the world, not to "swear" before a court of justice, not to sue at law, and not to go to war to kill their fellow-man. A portion of the 18th chapter of Matthew is read to them with appropriate instructions and questions as to their will- ingness to so conduct themselves towards their fellow members as is therein demanded for the sake of reconciliation and peace in case of offenses. And, further,

529

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

while upon their knees in the water, we demand of them a public confession of the Lord Jesus Christ, a renunciation of sin and a covenant of obedience to God in Christ Jesus unto their lives' end. Upon this good and faithful confession we baptize them by a threefold immersion, agreeable to the great commission: "In he name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." We baptize face forward because a backward work is not in harmony with the general progress of Christianity, and all figurative baptisms do teach a forward action. Hands are id on the head of the one so baptized and a blessing is invoked upon the newly- born in Christ, who now rises up to walk in newness of life-a full member of the vody of Christ.

We hold baptism as the rite of initiation into the church and the act in which he pardon of sins is promised as taught in Mark: "He that believeth and is aptized shall be saved;" and Acts. ii, 38. Repent and be baptized every one of ou for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." und according to the instructions given to Saul, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise nd be baptized, wasling away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

At our Communion seasons we wash one another's feet according to the lesson nd pattern taught us by Christ in John, 13th chapter.

We eat the Lord's Supper, a common and full meal, expressive of the term, nd in the evening, when a supper is proper. After which we enjoy the Commun- ion-the bread and wine-as emblems of the broken body, and shed blood of a rucified redeemer.

We salute one another with an "Holy Kiss," according to the teachings of Paul nd Peter.

We anoint the sick with oil "in the name of the Lord," according to James , 14.

Our principles of nonconformity to the worldly fashions in dress and that of oncombativeness, we gather from the meek, humble and self-denying character f Christ and his apostles, as well as from the plain teachings of the Scriptures and le general spirit of the Gospel throughout.

We believe in the spread of the Gospel by a live and active ministry and the pright walk and conduct of all the members. "Let your light so shine that others lay see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven."

We preach the gospel "without money and without price." "Freely ye have ceived, freely give." But we think it right and do consider it our duty to assist le poor and relieve the wants of the needy, whether private members in the church t those who labor in the ministry.

In fine, we believe in a plain, humble, devoted life of faith, prayer and good ork throughout, bringing into subjection both soul and body to the glory and onor of God, that we may finally obtain an inheritance in the unsullied climes of ngehc felicity.

APPENDIX.

Since writing out the above brief history of the church, a separation or division, am sorry to say, has taken place amongst our people, and in order that the aders of this work may have an idea of the cause of this division, I will resume y pen and explain.

For a number of years after the planting of the church in America, she enjoyed auch peace and quietness. Her harmony was not generally disturbed more than common to all churches. But in later years, as the membership became more umerous, there was urged upon her, through the district meetings to the annual Meetings, deviations, new measures and changes from the old and former usages ad order; and as these were asked for and urged again and again, the annual onference began to give way, and as the advocates of these measures became more umerous and stronger, the annual conference continued to yield more and more.

530

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

These deviations and departures from the old "land marks" of the church had quite a grievous effect, and the old Brethren, or those who favored the old order an old usages of the church, began to protest against the things which seemed t make void the early principles of the church and to mar her peace and make troubl in the body. Hereupon, the old Brethren, or old order of Brethren, as they wer now termed, began to send petitions to the conference, praying that body that thes objectionable measures, to which she had in a measure consented, might b removed and that she fall back to her former decisions and former usages. But a these points could no more be fully reached, the advocates thereof being in th minority, and a strong foothold having been gained in the church by them, thei various efforts seemed to be rather unfruitful, they called a special conference, whic was held near Arcanum, Ohio, on the 24th day of August, 1881.

To this meeting were invited all the officers of the church who were favorabi disposed to the old order. Here, after the condition of things in the churchi wer set forth, a paper was produced and read in which were set forth the causes of th existing troubles, with resolutions to withdraw from the fast movements and devia tions, sanctioned by the annual conference. The paper was passed and the resul was a division in the church.

The separation was thien soon made in all the churches of this county as we. as in many others in the brotherhood. A large number in the several churches of this county stand with the old Brethren or old German Baptist Church, but th majority go with the annual council and her decisions.

Those who still hold to the rulings of the conference have so far claimed th right to the meeting houses, and have therefore bolted the doors against the ol order worshipers in nearly all the houses. The old order Brethren have therefor so far worshiped in private houses, barns and school-houses. But they expect tf build themselves houses for worship soon. The district meetings and the annn conference will be held by the old order worshipers at the usual time, but mor after the former manner. Very truly, SAMUEL KINSEY

GYPSIES.

The settlement of gypsies in this county had its origin in the year 1856, whe in the fall of that year came the "pioneer" families, chief among whom werl Owen Stanley and Harriet Worden, his wife, Levi Stanley and his wife, Matild Joles, with their families. Others accompanied them, most of whom had don some extended travel before striking this camping-place, which was for a time no far from Fairfield, on what was known as the Jack "Frick" farm, then or th "Davis" farm in Montgomery County. The Stanleys soon became propert holders, Owen purchasing the "Black" farm, situated about eight miles north ( Dayton, and now owned by Levi Stanley. In the course of years the families ( Stanleys and Jeffreys have accumulated considerable of property, located princi pally in Harrison Township, with some in Wayne, Mad River and Butler. Thes families with their numerous descendants comprise the Dayton class of gypsies however, there are many other families and some differing in nationality, wh often frequent, in their wanderings, this vicinity, but are not considered local. C these are the families of Wells, Harrisons and Coopers, the former being quit numerous and are a big, hardy class of people, coming from a settlement nea, Detroit, Michigan. The Harrison's are from the vicinity of Washington City There is also a tribe darker in complexion than any yet mentioned, and of a rough ugly nature. The Dayton settlement is made up of an English class. The Star leys were quite numerous in England, and there boasted as being a better clas of the traveling tribes, which we believe to be true, as will appear in the progress ( this sketch.

Owen Stanley, styled by the Dayton gypsies "king," was born in Reading Bershire, England, and died February 21, 1860, in the sixty-seventh year of hi

531

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

je. His wife, the queen, departed this life August 30, 1857, aged sixty-three ars. They were succeeded to the throne (permitting us to call it such,) by their n Levi and his wife, Matilda, (now deceased). This kingdom and queenship is it a popular notion ; there is no investiture, no authority or state. Listen to the ords of the venerable "Uncle Levi," who says, "Why, there is nothing in it more an a good man, a good woman. Our people trust me and love me as they did y father and mother before me, that is all. They do pretty much as I tell them, id we all work together, and that is all there is in it." King Owen and Harriet ved as they had lived, "roof-dwellers." When Matilda died, although in the ithe sunshine of Mississippi, in January, 1878, in the camp, she was the hier of farms and town lots, having reached the point of independence. Said "e bereaved husband, "We have seven children, and their children are learning ry fast, and it won't be long before we'll go no more a roaming." The race of psies differ as do other classes of men, in their religious views; some are Orthodox mile others are Catholic in their opinion. "I once saw, "says a writer on the sub- jet of gypsies," a woman in a gypsy tent reading the Bible to a circle of nine (ildren, all her own, and though on coming near, her blue eyes and light hair sowed her to be English woman, the daughter, as I found, of a game-keeper who Id married one of the Boswell gang, yet the interest which she assured mne the vole camp took in it, was sufficient evidence that it is only for want of being tight, that they still remain in ignorance of the best knowledge. They have been s long treated with contempt and severity, that they naturally look on all men as their enemies. For my part, when I see a herd of them coming some solitary vy, with their dark Indian faces, their scarlet cloaked women, their troops of little Tacious savages, their horses laden with tents, beds, etc., I cannot help looking q them as an eastern tribe, as fugitives of a most ancient family, as a living e'gma in human history-and feeling, with all their Arab-like propensities, they I've great claims on our sympathies and on the splendid privileges of a Christian 1:d."

The following invocations are part and parcel of the devotions of gypsies: "ur father who dwellest there in the heaven, may Gentile and Gypsy love thy nne. Thy kingdom come. May they do thy word here on earth as it is done there ithe heaven. Give us to-day our daily bread, and forgive us indebted to thee as forgive them indebted to us. Suffer not that we fall into no temptation, take us of from all evil. Thine is the kingdom, my God, thine the strong hand, thine all godness in all time, Aye, Amen.'

"Sweet Goddess, give me health, Holy Goddess, give me luck and grace, Werever I go, and help me, Goddess powerful and immaculate, from ugly men, tit I may go in the road to the place I purpose; help me Goddess, forsake me not, Cddess, for I pray for God's sake."

It is said by one, to whom, in conversation with the late Matilda and family a und their camp-fire, the following remarks were addressed: "Here is our book oprayers. Although we do not read it glibly as do some others, we know it when w hear it, and we love it as all our people have done." She went on to speak of tl churches in Bristol by the sea, giving a fair account of the north porch of St. Ary, Radcliff, and the Norman gate-way of the Abbey, and last she said, "We are la-minding, God-fearing," and then gravely added king Levi, "and tax-paying, too, . we are glad to pay these taxes in this country, where we enjoy our living and h e our fair chances alike." There spoke out the true Briton; such, then, is Stan- ie's gratefulness and piety, well calculated to enliven those to the name born. Tase different families of Stanleys and Jeffreys are looked upon by the people of Mhtgomery County as a good and honest class of people, and the universal reonse of all who have had business transactions with them, is that they were ver honorable. Their word is considered as good as their note, and, in short, they anas "old wheat in the mill." This tribe, while the possessors of considerable

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.

The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 57

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214