USA > Ohio > The plan of union: or a history of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches of the Western Reserve; with biographical sketches of the early missionaries > Part 8
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LENOX. This church has enjoyed for a season the labors of Dr. Cowles and Mr. Austin. Mr. Austin continues as "stated supply."
MILLSFORD. This church is now destitute.
MONROE. This church has enjoyed successively the labors of Messrs. Woodruff, Cowles, Scott, Pratt, and Woodruff. Mr. J. A. Woodruff, the present minister, is son of Rev. E. T. Woodruff. He studied a short time at Auburn Theological Seminary, and was licensed to preach the gospel. While supplying the church in Warren, Trumbull county, he received a call from the second church in Madison, and the church in Unionville, to become their pastor ; was installed June, 1834; and dismissed July, 1835.
MORGAN. This church was formerly connected with the Austinburg church, until 1819, when it received a distinct and separate organ- ization. Its first pastor was Mr. Stone, who continued with them nine years. He also supplied several other churches, during his ministry at Morgan. After his dismission, he became editor of the Ohio Obser- ver, in which capacity he remained two or three years; and after- ward removed to New England, where he spent several years, preach- ing in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Recently, he has returned to the Reserve. Mr. Tracy was the next minister in Morgan. And his successor was Mr. Child, who fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., but in consequence of ill health, never entered college. After closing his theological studies at Auburn Theological Seminary,
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NOTES -ASHTABULA COUNTY.
he came to the Reserve, and commenced supplying the churches of Morgan and Rome, October, 1829; over which he was installed pastor in the year following. He was dismissed from his charge by reason of ill health, in 1833. For the greater part of the time since his dis- mission, he has been laid almost entirely aside by sickness. He is now preaching in Warsaw, N. Y. Mr. Pratt, who preached the last year in Monroe, is his successor.
NEW LIME, ROME, SHEFFIELD, and WINDSOR. These churches are now destitute.
PIERPONT. Rev. E. T. Woodruff, is now supplying this church.
WILLIAMSFIELD and WAYNE. This church formerly embraced the whole of these two townships. But a few years since, division arose in relation to the location of a place for public worship. A small stream of water, which runs through about the centre of the then congrega- tion, was one source of contention. There were also other causes, all of which finally resulted in the formation of a new church in the township of Wayne. Mr. Coe studied theology with Rev. John Seward, of Aurora, Portage county, and Rev. Harvey Coe, of Vernon, Trumbull county. He supplied at different times, the church of Mantua, Por- tage county - of Dover, Cuyahoga county - of Williamsfield, Ashta- bula county - of Lyme, and of Greenfield, Huron county - and of Vernon, Trumbull county. Since 1822, Mr. Coe has spent a good portion of his time as a missionary among the Indians of Maumee ; and among some of the tribes living on the borders of the Lakes of St. Clair and Huron. Mr. E. T. Woodruff studied theology under the tuition of Rev. Charles Backus, D. D., of Somers, Conn. In 1800 he was ordained and installed pastor of the church in North Coventry, Conn. ; and dismissed November, 1817, by reason of ill health. He soon after emigrated to this country, and found the change of climate favorable to his constitution. His health was so much restored, that in August, 1819, he was installed over the church of Williamsfield and Wayne, and dismissed in 1835. From the time he came to the Reserve, Mr. Woodruff spent a portion of his time at different periods, as " stated supply" in Milton and Newton, Austintown, Brookfield,
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
and Southington, Trumbull county ; Parkman, Geauga county ; Mon- roe, Andover first church, and Pierpont, Ashtabula county. He still lives in Williamsfield, and preaches in Pierpont. Mr. Bascom, on closing his studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, commenced laboring in Lower Sandusky, west of the Reserve, where he preached one year. Afterward laboring in this place six months, and is now preaching in Chester, Meigs county. The church in Williamsfield is now destitute.
WAYNE. This church has enjoyed successively the labors of Messrs. Cowles, Russ, and Loring. It is now destitute.
CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
BRECKSVILLE. This church has had stated supplies successively from Messrs. Shaler, Breck, Pepoon, and Chapin. Mr. Shaler preached here a part of his time, one year while he was pastor of the church in Richfield, Medina county. Mr. Chapin studied theology with Rev. Drs. Nott and Yates, of Union College, and was settled pastor for several years in Granby, Mass. Soon after his dismission from that place, he came to the Reserve, in 1830 - labored in the townships of Newbury and Russell, where he gathered 'two churches -- went from thence to Willoughby (then called Chagrin), Cuyahoga county, and there also gathered a church, which he supplied a year or two, and subsequently he commenced preaching to the church in this place, where he still continues.
BROOKLYN. This church has enjoyed successively the labors of Messrs. McLean Bradstreet, and Drake, - Messrs. McLean and Bradstreet preached here one year, each a part of the time, while they were sup- plying the church in Cleveland. Mr. McLean was subsequently set- tled at Beavertown, Pa. Mr. Drake served an apprenticeship to the printing busines. He had serious thoughts of going in the capacity of a printer on a foreign mission ; but ill health prevented. He had for years a strong desire to study for the ministry, but could not divest his mind of the impression that he was unfit for the holy and responsi- ble work, until it was too late to pursue a regular collegiate course.
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NOTES - CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
He studied theology with Rev. S. W. Brace, of Skaneateles, and Rev. Levi Parsons, of Manlius, N. Y. - was licensed June 21, 1831, and ordained as an evangelist, August 7, 1833, and soon after, came to the Reserve and commenced preaching in this place. He had previously preached for a season in New York State.
CLEVELAND. Six years ago there were but three or four male Pres- byterian professors in town. Now the church contains nearly 200 mem- bers, many of whom are among the first in the place, both in intelli- gence and wealth. Mr. Bradstreet, the successor of Messrs. McLean and Stone, left Andover Theological Seminary with the class of 1822 - labored in Cleveland from August, 1823, to January, 1830, and sub- sequently in Vermillion, Huron county. While at Vermillion, his health failed, so that he was unable to preach, except occasionally. About this time he accepted an invitation to become editor of the Ohio Observer, in which business he continued somewhat over one year, from the summer of 1833. After leaving the paper, he commenced preach- ing in Perrysburg, on the Maumee river, in Wood county, where he still continues with improved health. Mr. Hutchings left Princeton Theological Seminary with the class of 1833, and after preaching in Cleveland between one and two years, he embarked, under the patron- age of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, on a mission to Ceylon. Mr. Aiken, the successor of Mr. Keep, and the present minister at Cleveland, left Andover Theological Seminary in 1817 - was settled for a number of years in Utica, N. Y., from which place he was called to take the charge of the church in this place. While at Utica, he was permitted to witness a powerful re- vival of religion among his people
Village Church. This church in 1834 was set off from the church in Cleveland. Cuyahoga river separates them. Mr. Keep studied theol- ogy with Rev. Asahel Hooker, of Goshen, Conn. - 'was settled for a number of years in Blandford, Mass., during which time he per- formed an agency of several months for the American Education Soci- ety-was afterwards settled in Homer, N. Y., and on being dismissed from that place, he came, by invitation, to Cleveland, and there 9 *
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
commenced laboring in December, 1833. Last May he left Cleveland and commenced as " stated supply " to preach to the church in this village. Mr. Keep, during his ministry thus far, has witnessed several revivals of religion.
DOVER. After Mr. Coe, Mr. Hyde labored here some time as stated supply, and then was called to the first church in Madison, Geauga county. Mr. McCrea studied theology with Rev. Harvey Coe, of Ver- non, Trumbull county. He continued pastor of the church in Dover about seven years and a half- then spent three years as " stated supply" in Westfield and Harrisville, Medina county - was installed over the church in Penfield, Lorain county, September, 1834, and dis- missed, October, 1835. He now resides at Westfield, and preaches south of the Reserve. Mr. Keys studied theology with Rev. James Richards, D. D., of Morristown, N. J., and now professor in Auburn Theological Seminary - and with Rev. John Rogers, D. D., of New York City - was licensed August 3, 1805 - ordained in Perth Amboy, N. J., August 21, 1807 - was installed over the church in Talmadge, Portage county, September, 1824, and remained pastor nearly 8 years - preached in Dover over 3 years, and has recently left the place. The Dover church was organized in Lee, Mass., June 5, 1811, with a view to be established in this place. The members removed in the following autumn, and at present are without a minister.
EUCLID. This church had two settled pastors, Messrs. Barr and Peet, and four " stated supplies," Messrs. Stone, Bradstreet, Scott, and Adams. Mr. Barr was father of the late lamented Joseph Barr, who died of the cholera, on the eve of embarking for Africa, to preach the gospel to the benighted inhabitants of that continent. At the time of Mr. Barr's ordination (1810), there were on the Reserve, besides himself, six Presbyterian ministers ; Joseph Badger, William Wick, Nathan B. Derrow, Jonathan Leslie, Joshua Beer, and John Bruce, three of whom are now living. Mr. Wick was the first installed minister on the Reserve, though Mr. Badger commenced his mission- ary labors a few months previous. Mr. Peet studied theology at Princeton and Auburn Theological Seminaries - was pastor of the
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NOTES-CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
church in Euclid more than 7 years and in April, 1833, was dis- missed to accept an Agency for the American Seaman's Friend Society, for the western waters. In this capacity he has acted since, and re- sides at Buffalo, N. Y. [He has lately become editor of the Buffalo Spectator. ] Mr. Adams left Andover Theological Seminary with the class of 1827. He spent some time in the Southern States, and also in New England, and arrived on the Reserve in 1834, and commenced preaching in Euclid, September, 1834, where he still continues.
NEWBURG and ROCKPORT. These churches never had regular "sta- ted supplies," but occasional preaching from different ministers, at different times.
SOLON. Two or three years since, a colony of Christians from Bos- cawen and Canterbury, N. H., emigrated to this place, where Mr. Nutting had been preaching for some time. After graduating at Dart- mouth College, he labored as an instructor in Randolph Academy, Vermont, 5 years - then three years in Catskill Academy, New York, where, at the same time, he studied theology with Rev. David Porter, D. D. After closing his services in that place, he returned to Randolph, and taught the Academy 6 years longer, except a part of one year, which he spent in teaching in Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia. In 1829 Mr. Nutting was elected professor of languages in Western Re- serve College.
STRONGSVILLE. Mr. Woodruff was settled pastor of the church in Strongsville about 9 years and dismissed in April, 1834. Mr. Blood left Andover Theological Seminary in 1831-preached about 3 years in Kentucky, and in the southern part of Ohio: from whence, in Feb- ruary, 1834, he removed by invitation, to Cleveland, to labor in be- half of the boatmen on Lake Erie, and continued here until Novem- ber following, when he commenced preaching in Strongsville.
WILLOUGHBY. In this place is established the Willoughby Univer- sity, the medical department of which has already gone into opera- tion, but not with very flattering prospects of success. The church is at present vacant.
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
GEAUGA COUNTY.
BAINBRIDGE. The present minister of this church is Mr. Slater, who also preaches a part of his time in Newbury.
BATAVIA. Mr. Barrett studied theology with Rev. William Froth- ingham, of Lynn, Mass. - was licensed by the Andover Association, June 4, 1816 - came to the Reserve in 1824 - has steadily supplied, for different periods, at different times, the churches of Batavia, Park- man, and Troy - was installed over the church in Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, in 1827, and remained pastor of that people 4 years. He now preaches to the churches in Bristol and Southington, Trum- bull county. Mr. Bridgeman closed his theological studies at Auburn in 1830, and soon after removed to Michigan, where he remained until July 1833, when he came to the Reserve and commenced preaching in Batavia and Huntsburgh. His labors are now confined to the latter place. Mr. Leslie is the present minister of Batavia.
BURTON. Mr. Humphrey commenced preaching in Burton and Can- ton (now called Claridon), and in October 1815, was installed over the church and congregation embraced in these two townships. Mr. Witter, the present pastor of Burton church, studied theology at Au- burn Theological Seminary. He has spent a portion of his time, since his settlement, in some of the neighboring churches. The church in Burton, at its formation, numbered 8 members ; it has now 125. There is an academy in this town.
CHARDON. This place is the seat of justice for Geauga county. - Mr. Olds was formerly a deacon in one of the eastern churches. After removing to this country he became an active member of the Church in Madison- was a judicious and successful laborer in protracted meetings -was licensed more than a year since by the Presbytery of Grand River, and in June, 1835, was ordained as an evangelist by the same body.
CHESTER. This church has had four " stated supplies," Messrs. Bad- ger, Burbank, Palmer, and Goodell, and one settled pastor, Mr. Scott.
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NOTES-GEAUGA COUNTY.
- Mr. Burbank left Andover Theological Seminary with the class of 1824. After preaching here and in Kirtland two years, he accepted a call from the first church in Madison, to become their pastor, and was in- stalled January, 1830. In this connection he remained over four years, and on the same day of his dismission, his successor was installed. He now supplies the churches of Mesopotamia and Bloomfield, Trum- bull county. Mr. Goodell left Auburn Theological Seminary in 1830, and was one of the seven missionaries, who emigrated that fall to the State of Missouri, where he preached nearly two years. Since his arrival on the Reserve, he has supplied the church in this place one year - the church in Franklin, Portage county, one year - and the churches of Westfield and Harrisville, Medina county, one year. He now preaches in Chatham, Medina county. The church in Chester is at present vacant.
CLARIDON. Mr. Humphrey's successor was Mr. Tracy, who studied theology with Rev. Bennet Tyler, D. D., while he was President of Dart- mouth College. Soon after the close of his studies, Mr. Tracy came to the Reserve, and was settled pastor of this church about 6 years. Having received an appointment from the American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions, to an agency in their behalf, in In- diana, he was dismissed October, 1834. During his ministry at Clari- don, there were several extensive revivals of religion, some of the sub- jects of which are now preparing to preach the gospel. : Mr. Pratt is the present minister in that place. There is an academy here taught by a Mr. Canfield, graduate of Yale College.
CONCORD. Mr. Swift studied theology with Rev. Chester Wright, of Montpelier, Vt. After being licensed, he preached awhile in Bethel, Vt., and subsequently in the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio. He labored as stated supply in Charlestown and Brimfield one year, and has since been preaching in this place and in Richmond.
HAMPDEN. Mr. Cobb is son of Rev. Dr. Cobb, of Rochester, Mass. He left Andover Theological Seminary in 1825 - preached a short time in the southern part of Massachusetts - afterwards,'two or three years in the Island of Nantucket - arrived on the Reserve either at
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
the close of 1829, or early in 1830; preached for a time in Huntsburg and Mesopotamia, and in October, 1830, was installed over the united churches of Hampden and Kirtland. From the latter he was dismissed in April, 1833, and from the former in September, 1834. Subsequently he taught the Academy in Parkman, and at the same time preached to the church in that place, and to the churches in Bristol and Southing- ton. He is now laboring south of the Reserve. Mr. Stuart left An- dover Theological Seminary in 1828; was settled for a number of years in Essex, Vt. ; came to the Reserve in January, 1835, and after supplying this church and that of Montville for six months, he re- turned to New England.
HUNTSBURG. This church has had stated preaching at different times, from Messrs. Strong, Witter, Cobb, Wilson, Lyman, and Bridge- man. Mr. Strong came into the country over 16 years ago, and after preaching several years, he left the ministry entirely, and devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. He now resides in Madison. Mr. Wil- son, on closing his studies at Auburn Theological Seminary, came to the Reserve, and preached one year to the churches of Huntsburg and Thompson, over the last of which he was installed February, 1832, and dismissed April, 1833. He has since been preaching in Sherman, N. Y. Mr. Lyman studied divinity with Rev. Dr. Porter, of Catskill, N. Y .; was settled once or twice in New York, and subsequently came to the Reserve, and after supplying the church in Painesville about one year and a half, in 1826 and 1827, he returned to New York, where he labored as stated supply, or settled pastor, until 1832, when he returned to the Reserve, and has since been preaching, at different times, in Huntsburg, Montville and Thompson. At the last mentioned place, he still continues. Mr. Bridgeman is the present minister in Huntsburg.
KIRTLAND. This church has enjoyed successively the labors of Messrs. Badger, Burbank, Cobb and Coe. Mr. Coe never graduated, but received the degree of A. M. from Yale College. While pursuing his Theological studies, he attended a course of lectures, delivered by Rev. Dr. Taylor, of New Haven, Conn .; was licensed in November,
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NOTES -GEAUGA COUNTY.
1831, by the New Haven Association, and in July following, he com- menced preaching in Kirtland, where he still continues.
LE ROY. Mr. Austin is the present minister of this town.
MADISON. First Church. This church formerly spread over the ter- ritory, occupied now by the second church, and the Unionville church. But in consequence of a flourishing village in Unionville, on the line of the town, and south of the centre, and of the village at Centreville; and also in consequence of the three ridge roads, one mile between each other, and running east and west, and thus territorially dividing the congregation, a division of feeling sprung up, which finally re- sulted in the formation of two new churches. The first church has had three pastors : Messrs. Hyde, Burbank, and Kelly, and four "stated supplies," Messrs. Winchester, Pratt, Austin, and Stone. Mr. Hyde was the son of the late Rev. Dr. Hyde, of Lee, Mass., with whom he studied theology. Mr. Hyde supplied for a time the churches of Dover and Sheffield; and in August, 1819, was installed over the first church in Madison. His father preached the installa- tion sermon. He continued in this place for three or four years, when, suffering considerably from pulmonary affection, he returned to New England, and died at his father's house, in Lee, August 12, 1824. Mr. Winchester studied theology with Rev. Holland Weeks, of Abington, Mass., and came to the Reserve in 1825, having preached, for some time previous, in the vicinity of Rochester, N. Y. He labored a por- tion of his time, after his arrival in Ohio, in the two churches in Mad- ison. From 1831 until his death, he devoted his whole attention to the restoration of the Jews. He believed in their literal return to Jerusalem, before their conversion, with all their Mosaic rites and ceremonies. Mr. Winchester "was a friend to the descendants of Abraham, and had studied the prophecies respecting their future des- tination, perhaps more than any other man now living. He devoted many of his last years almost wholly to the study of the prophecies respecting their restoration. Nor was he contented with theory and speculations alone. He labored for three or four years indefatigably, to turn the attention of the Christian public to the subject, and to
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
persuade the Jews that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. To accomplish which he denied himself the domestic comforts he might have enjoyed, in the bosom of an affectionate and beloved family, traveled thousands of miles in the United States; crossed the Atlantic, and spent one summer in England. He expected soon to embark for the shores of the Mediterranean, with a hope he might do something to prepare the way for the return of Israel to the land of their fathers. He con- structed a map of the land of Palestine, and a grand view of the tem- ple, as described by the prophet Ezekiel." He died in Madison, where his family now reside, August 17, 1835. Mr. Kelly is the present pastor of this church.
Second Church and Unionville Church. Since Mr. Woodruff's dis- mission, Mr. Saunders, who had previously taught the Academy in Painesville, has commenced preaching as " stated supply " to these churches. He studied theology at New Haven Theological Seminary.
MONTVILLE and MUNSON. These churches are now destitute.
NEWBURY. Mr. Slater is the present minister of this place.
PAINESVILLE. This church is situated in the bosom of a flourishing village, on the banks of Grand River. Mr. Derrow was one of the first ministers who came to the Reserve. After leaving Painesville, he was settled in Vienna, Trumbull county. Mr. Loomis was settled in Painesville five years. After his dismission, he returned to New York, and there died. Mr. Sheldon was successor, and subsequently settled in Franklin, Portage county. Mr. Adams studied theology with Rev. Drs. Nott and Yates, of Union College ; was settled for a number of years in Ludlowville, N. Y .; preached in Milan and Sandusky, Huron county ; settled in Painesville three years and a half, from which place he returned to New York, and has since been preaching in Hammondsport, on Crooked Lake. Mr. Fitch left Andover in 1830; was settled in Belfast, Maine, one year or more, and afterward preached in one or two places in that State some time, and then came to Painesville, where he still continues.
PARKMAN and RUSSELL. These churches are now destitute.
RICHMOND. This flourishing village is in the township of Paines-
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NOTES -HURON COUNTY.
ville, and situated near the mouth of Grand River. Mr. Swift is the present minister.
THOMPSON . Mr. Lyman preaches here at present.
TROY. Mr. Pool, the present minister, never had a collegiate edu- cation, but received the degree of A. M. from Williams College. He studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard, of Shelburne, Mass.
HURON COUNTY.
There are twelve townships in which there is no Presbyterian or Congregational church, though in Margaretta, in May, 1819, there was a church formed, which, however, has for several years been extinct. A Mr. Smith, recently from New York, is preaching in that town and in the vicinity.
BERLIN. This church has been supplied successively by Messrs. Betts, Judson, Barber, and Crawford. Mr. Betts labored here a part of his time one year and a half, and Mr. Judson, two years and a half. Mr. Barber, on closing his theological education, entered upon an agency for the American Sunday School Union for Ohio, for a season ; afterwards preached two or three years in Marion county, from whence he was called to instruct in the Huron Institute at Milan in this county. While principal of the Institute, he preached on the Sabbath to some of the neighboring churches, as his health would permit, which finally became so much impaired as to compel him, in the summer of 1835, to relinguish the business of teaching. He now supplies the church in Vermillion. Mr. Crawford studied divinity with Rev. S. Porter, of Geneva, New York; and, after being licensed, preached for a time in that State. Over a year since he came to Berlin, and is now the " stated supply " of the church in that place.
BRONSON. This was connected with the church in Peru, until some time in the present year, when a new one was formed. It is now destitute.
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