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 9
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CLARKSFIELD. Mr. Robbins preached in a number of places on the Reserve, and some years since returned to New York State, where he is now laboring. Mr. Betts arrived on the Reserve in January, 1829,
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
and was installed over the church in Wakeman, in April following. In this connection he still continues, and spends a part of his time in Clarksfield, as "stated supply."
FITCHVILLE. Mr. Beach preached to several churches at different times for eight years. Was settled pastor of the church in Peru for more than two years, from July, 1827, to August, 1829. On leaving his charge in Norwalk, in 1832, he removed to Michigan, and is now settled over the church in Ann Arbor. Mr. Dunton, besides preach- ing in Fitchville, has supplied the churches of Florence, Norwalk, Peru, and Ruggles. He has recently closed his labors at Fitchville, which is now destitute.
FLORENCE. Mr. Alfred H. Betts is, at present, supplying the church in this place.
GREENFIELD. This church has been successively supplied by Messrs. Coe, Congar, Edwards, Russ, and Salmon. Mr. Edwards studied the- ology with Rev. Asahel Hooker, of Goshen, Conn .; was settled over the church in West Stockbridge, Mass., Oct. 4, 1809, and dismissed June 23, 1812. Commenced preaching in Greenfield in November, 1826 ; preached also at different periods in New Haven, and in Har- risville. Since 1831, he has preached but occasionally and now re- sides in Ripley. Mr. Salmon pursued the study of medicine, and after practicing a time, he turned his attention to theology ; studied with Rev. Dr. Woodbridge, now of New York city, and completed his education at Princeton Theological Seminary. Since his arrival on the Reserve, he has spent a considerable portion of his time in Green- field, Peru, and Monroe. He now supplies the church in Peru. Greenfield is destitute.
HURON. This church is located in the midst of a population which had long been without the restraints of the Gospel, and distinguished for its great wickedness. Till within a few years, the village, at the mouth of Huron river, was noted for immorality, Sabbath breaking, profaneness, intemperance, &c. Mr. Beecher was educated at the Southern and Western Theological Seminary, in Tennessee. After
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NOTES-HURON COUNTY.
preaching a year or two in that State, he labored as an agent for the Presbyterian Education Society, in that vicinity, for about two years longer, and came to the Reserve last fall, and is established at Huron, where he still is.
LYME. This church has enjoyed successively the labors of two pas- tors, Messrs. Sullivan, and Congar. Mr. Sullivan studied theology under the tuition of Rev. Otis Thompson, of Rehoboth, Mass. Not long after being licensed, Mr. Sullivan came to the Reserve; preached for a season in Norwalk, Ridgefield, Huron, before any churches were there formed ; was settled in Lyme about four years, and afterwards supplied the church in Wellington, Loraine county, the church in Me- dina, Medina county, and the church in Canfield, Trumbull county. He is now preaching in Durhamville, Oneida county, New York. Mr. Congar studied divinity with Rev. J. T. Benedict, of Chatham, New York; came to the Reserve in 1822 ; has supplied, at different times, a number of churches in this county, was installed over the church in Lyme, where he still continues.
MILAN. There has never been a pastor settled in this place. Mr. Shipman left Andover Theological Seminary in 1821, and after sup- plying this church nine months, returned to New England, and is now settled pastor in Southbury, Conn. Mr. Demund, soon after leaving Princeton Theological Seminary, came to this place, and supplied this church six months, and then returned to the east, and is now settled over a Dutch Reformed church in Pomplar, N. J. Mr. Judson, the present minister, after closing his education at New Haven Theologi- cal Seminary, served as agent for the American Sunday School Union, in the State of Ohio. On leaving his agency, he came to this county, and commenced preaching statedly, in Milan. He preached occasion- ally in many destitute places in different parts of the county, in some of which there were no churches formed. For a year past, he has spent a portion of his time, in connection with Mr. Congar, in conduct- ing protracted meetings in counties west of the Reserve. Many of these meetings have been attended with the manifest power of the Holy Ghost, "convincing of sin, of righteousness, and of a judg-
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
ment." There is in Milan, a flourishing, preparatory school, in high repute, named "Huron Institute." At present, it is taught by Messrs. S. C. Hickok, and B. Judson.
NEW HAVEN. The church in this place is now destitute.
NORWALK. This place is the seat of justice for Huron county. The church has been supplied successively by Messrs. Beach, Dunton, Bar- ber, Clark, Saunders, and Newton. Mr. Clark left Auburn Theologi- cal Seminary in 1833; preached here one year, and is now supplying the church in Brownhelm, Loraine county. Mr. Saunders, after grad- uating, was tutor, for some time in the college of New Jersey. Sub- sequently to completing his theological education at Princeton, he was settled over the church in South Salem, N. Y., for eleven years ; came to Ohio in 1834, and after supplying the church in Norwalk a while, died of pulmonary affection, in Milan, June 3, 1835. Mr. Newton was tutor in Yale College for two or three years; studied theology at New Haven, Conn., and came to Norwalk in July, 1835.
PERU. Mr. Salmon is the present minister of this place.
RIDGEFIELD and MONROE. Mr. Palmer preaches to this church still, when his health will permit.
RIPLEY. This church has no " stated supply."
RUGGLES. Mr. Buffett, son of Rev. Mr. Buffett, of Greenwich, Ct., left Andover Theological Seminary in 1823; was settled in Atwater, Portage county, about six years ; supplied the church in Ruggles one year, and now resides in Franklin, Portage county. This church is now vacant.
SANDUSKY. This church is established in a place which promises to become quite populous and wealthy. The church is now destitute. Mr. Robbins, on leaving Andover Theological Seminary, entered upon his duties, as tutor in Transylvania University, in Kentucky, to which he had been previously elected. In this station he remained over one year. After leaving the University, he came to the Reserve, and com- menced preaching in Sandusky. While here he was ordained as an evangelist by the Huron Presbytery. He is now settled over a church in Oxford, Mass. Mr. Roberts studied theology with Rev. H. Daggett,
NOTES -LORAINE COUNTY. 113
of Cornwall, Ct .; preached a number of years in the State of Maine; came to the Reserve in 1834, and supplied Sandusky one year. He is now preaching south of the Reserve.
VERMILLION. Mr. Lyon was pastor of this church two years; and after his dismission, he taught a select school in Brownhelm, Loraine county. And subsequently he supplied the churches of Granger, and Sharon, Medina county. Mr. Griffith, son of a clergyman in England, studied theology at Hackney College, England. He came into this county about the year 1832, and after preaching one year, returned to his native land. Mr. Barber preaches here at present.
WAKEMAN. Mr. Betts is the present pastor of this church.
LORAINE COUNTY.
AMHERST. The church in this place has occasional supplies.
AVON. Mr. Ladd commenced preaching in 1811, in England, while he was connected with the Wesleyan Methodist denomination. He continued in this connection thirteen years, and in 1824 he withdrew from the Methodists, and united with the Congregational Dissenters. He was pastor of a church in that denomination, in England, until 1834, when he came to America. Since his arrival, he has been preaching for most of the time in Avon.
BROWNHELM. Mr. Betts studied the profession of medicine, and practiced the same for a number of years. He studied theology with Rev. William Hanford, of Hudson, and now of Windham, Portage county ; has preached at different times to several feeble churches in Huron county, and vicinity, under the patronage of the Connecticut Missionary Society ; was installed pastor of the church in Brownhelm in April, 1821, and he remained in this connection for more than twelve years. He now preaches in Florence. Mr. Clark is the pres- ent minister in Brownhelm.
COLUMBIA. The church here is vacant.
CARLISLE. Mr. Eastman studied theology with Rev. Evans Beards- ley, of Morris Flats, N. Y .; preached for several years in that State ; then came to the Reserve, and now lives at Oberlin.
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
ELYRIA. This church has ever pursued the scriptural course of having a settled pastor; and has enjoyed successively the labors of three ministers - Messrs. Lathrop, Shipherd, and Eells, and been fre- quently blessed with revivals of religion. Mr. Lathrop studied theol- ogy with Rev. Mr. Armstrong, D. D .; was settled pastor of this church for five years, and was dismissed in August, 1830, to enter upon a permanent agency for the American Home Missionary Society, for the Reserve and Michigan, which office he still holds. Mr. Shipherd stud- ied theology with Rev. Josiah Hopkins, of New Haven, Vt., and now of Auburn, N. Y. After completing his education, he performed an agency for the American Sunday School Union, for the State of Ver- mont, a year or two; came to the Reserve in 1830; commenced sup- plying the church of Elyria in October of that year ; was installed in February following, and dismissed in September, 1832. Soon after his dismission, he and Mr. Philo P. Stuart, formerly connected with one of the South-western Indian Missions, projected and executed a plan for establishing a colony of Christians in the township of Russia, Loraine county, to which they gave the name of Oberlin. Their original plan was, to connect with the colony an institution of learning, where youth of both sexes might be prepared for the various depart- ments of life. At first, they aimed at nothing more than a good " pre- paratory school." The plan has, however, been since changed, and preparatory collegiate and theological departments have been estab- lished with various modifications. Mr. Shipherd commenced preach- ing at Oberlin in September, 1833, and was installed pastor of the church in that place in July, 1835. Mr. Eells, the present pastor of Elyria church, is son of Rev. James Eells, of Charlestown, Portage county. After closing his education at Princeton, he, in connection with his father, commenced a Manual Labor School in Worthington, Ohio, from which place he was called to take charge of the church in this town.
GRAFTON, LA GRANGE, and PENFIELD. These churches are now destitute.
OBERLIN. Mr. Shipherd is the present pastor of this church.
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NOTES -MEDINA COUNTY.
OLMSTEAD. This church is destitute.
RIDGEVILLE, and SHEFFIELD. The present minister of these two churches is Mr. Monteith, who was the first, or one of the first min- isters, who preached in the city of 'Detroit. He also, at the same time, labored in other parts of the territory of Michigan. Subse- quently he was, for a season, professor of languages in Hamilton col- lege ; and afterward, instructor in the Manual Labor Academy estab- lished in Germantown, near Philadelphia, Pa. From 1833, until the summer of 1835, he was teacher of the high school in Elyria, where he now resides.
WELLINGTON, and BRIGHTON. Mr. Smith was a member of Dart- mouth college, but left the college during his senior year, and did not graduate ; studied theology a short time with Rev. Messrs. Lawton, of Hillsborough, Whiton, of Antrim, and Kingsbury, of Mount Ver- non, N. H .; was licensed by the Hollis Association in January, 1825, and came to Wellington June following; and after preaching here and in the township of Penfield one year, he returned to New England, and was ordained as an evangelist, by an ecclesiastical council Sep- tember, 1826. For several years past, he has been preaching in Maumee, Ohio, and vicinity. Mr. Talcott, the present pastor of Wellington, came into the county soon after he completed his educa- tion, and was installed October, 1828, and has preached since, one year a part of his time, in Penfield.
MEDINA COUNTY.
BATH. This church has enjoyed successively the labors of Messrs. Woodruff, Shaler, and Smith. It is now destitute. Mr. Shaler stud- ied theology with Rev. Dr. Elliot, of Conn .; came to the Reserve fifteen or sixteen years since, under the patronage of the Connecticut Missionary Society ; was settled pastor of Richfield church nine years, and has labored here and in other towns as stated supply, at different periods and for different lengths of time. He now resides in Rich- field. Mr. Smith, the present minister, left Andover Theological Seminary in 1821; came to the Reserve in the year following, and
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
preached one year in Boardman, Canfield, and Ellsworth, Trumbull county. After this, he spent over two years as a missionary in Illi- nois and Missouri ; subsequently returned to the Reserve; has since labored in several places at different times, and for three years past has preached in Richfield.
BRUNSWICK. Mr. Barnes formerly preached in New York State for a number of years. Since he has been in the Reserve, he has labored at different times in Brunswick, Medina, and now supplies Weymouth church. Mr. Laine left Andover Theological Seminary in 1834, and was installed pastor of this church in May, 1835.
CHATHAM. The present minister of this church is Mr. Goodell.
GRANGER. Mr. Taylor studied theology with the late Rev. Dr. Hyde, of Lee, Mass .; was settled twice, for a number of years each, in Connecticut ; came to the Reserve five or six years ago ; supplied the churches of Granger and Hinckley for a season, and now resides in Freedom, Portage county. The church is vacant.
GUILFORD. Mr. Noyes, after remaining at Dartmouth College over one year, left on account of ill health; studied theology with Rev. Mr. Ide, of Medway, Mass .; came to the Reserve, October, 1831, and has ever since been supplying this church.
HARRISVILLE. This church is nowdestitute.
HINCKLEY. Mr. Laine, of Brunswick, preaches here a part of the time.
LA FAYETTE. Mr. Boutelle left Andover Theological Seminary in 1831; spent over three years in the western part of Ohio, and com- menced preaching in this place and in Westfield, August, 1835.
LITCHFIELD. Mr. Smith studied theology with Rev. P. V. Bogue, of Harpersville, N. Y .; was licensed in 1832, and ordained as an evangelist in 1834, by the Chenango Presbytery, and came to this place in June, 1835.
MEDINA. Mr. Lee, the present minister of this place, came to the Reserve in November, 1834, soon after closing his studies in Auburn Theological Seminary.
Weymouth Church. This church is located in the corner of Medina
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NOTES-MEDINA COUNTY.
township, and its present minister is Mr. Barnes, who is also preach- ing a part of his time in the corner of Granger township, where there is no church formed.
RICHFIELD. Mr. Cooke studied at Williams College, but did not graduate; acquired his theological education under the tuition of Rev. John H. Rice, D. D., and Professor Hiram Goodrich, of Prince Edward, Va .; was licensed by the North Suffolk Association, Massa- chusetts, in August, 1830, and was ordained as an evangelist in September following; supplied the church in Richfield one year; the church in Plymouth, Richland county, one year; then the church in Gainesville, N. Y., one year, and is now preaching in Bloomfield, Michigan.
SHARON. Mr. Johnson, the present minister, was settled in the ministry a number of years in New York State; and after his health failed, he came into this country, and settled in this place where he is now preaching.
WADSWORTH. Mr. Jerome studied theology with Rev. Charles Backus, D. D., of Somers, Conn .; was settled over this church for nearly three years ; returned to New England, and died in New Hart- ford, Conn., April, 1832. Mr. Fay studied theology with Rev, Mr. Ide, Medway, Mass .; was licensed in 1826 ; ordained in 1830, at West- borough, Mass., his native place ; and soon after emigrated to the Re- serve under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, and supplied the church of Wadsworth about five years. Mr. Fay was a faithful and useful minister : he usually enjoyed perfect health and was not unable to preach, on account of ill health, a single Sab- bath, until his last sickness. He died much loved and lamented by his church and his brethren in the ministry. This place is now des- titute.
WESTFIELD. The present minister of this church is Mr. Boutelle.
YORK. Previous to the commencement of Mr. Russ's labors in this place, which was more than one year before his installation, Mr. Churchill, a licentiate, preached one year to this church. He was formerly connected with the Methodist denomination.
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
PORTAGE COUNTY.
This county was organized in 1807. In 1820, it contained a popu- lation of 10,095 ; and in 1830, a population of 18,826. It embraces thirty townships and twenty-eight churches, nine of which are vacant. There are six townships, in which there is no Presbyterian or Congre- gational church. Ravenna is the seat of justice.
AKRON. This is an important place, situated at the junction of the Mahoning canal with the Ohio canal. The church has been recently formed, and now enjoys the labors of Mr. Brooks, who, after complet- ing his education, spent some time in Illinois, from which place he came to the Reserve. He supplied for a season the church in Edein- burg, in connection with this.
ATWATER. Mr. Field came to the Reserve at an early day, and after preaching for a season from place to place, as a missionary, he stat- edly supplied the church in this town for one year ; and then moved into one of the southern States, where he taught school for a time, and died near Natchez, the 7th of August, 1827. The present minis- ister is Mr. Beardsley.
AURORA. This church has enjoyed the labors of one pastor, for more than twenty-three years, under whose preaching it has been blessed repeatedly with large accessions to its number. Mr. Seward labored both before and after his installation, a part of his time as a missionary in the vicinity of Aurora.
BRIMFIELD. There had been a church formed in this place for a number of years previous to 1832, when, having become almost ex- tinct, it was reorganized. Mr. Graham, the present minister, was born in Ireland, but educated in America. He was licensed by the Portage Presbytery in 1834, and afterwards supplied the church in Franklin a part of the time for one year.
CHARLESTOWN. The church in this place was formed in Middle Granville, Mass., in 1811, by Rev. Joel Baker. At the time of its or- ganization, the church consisted of six members, and soon after emi-
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NOTES-PORTAGE COUNTY.
grated to this country. Mr. Pitkin came to the Reserve in 1816, and was settled pastor in this place about eight years, from whence he was called to act as agent for the Western Reserve College, which was then in its infancy. Mr. Coe, after graduating, taught school for a number of years in different places in the Reserve; subsequently was licensed to preach, and was pastor of the church in this place over four years; supplied, for a time, the churches in Freedom and Brim- field, and for nearly two years past, has taught the academy in Tal- madge. Mr. Eells, the present minister, studied theology with Rev. Charles Backus, D. D., of Somers, Conn .; was settled over the church in Westmoreland, N. Y., for a number of years ; subsequently labored as an agent for the Western Education Society of New York ; con- nected with Hamilton college six years; came to Ohio in 1830 or 1831, had in connection with his son, commenced a Manual Labor School in Worthington, from which place he removed to Charlestown in 1834.
CUYAHOGA FALLS. The church was formed under flattering pros- pects, and since Mr. Baldwin left the place, it has been supplied mostly by some one of the officers of the Western Reserve College.
DEERFIELD. This church was formed at an early day, and has been supplied more or less, by Rev. Messrs. Joseph Treat, and Joseph Har- per. It is now destitute.
EDINBURG. This church, previously to 1834, had occasional sup- plies, chiefly from Messrs. Storrs, Sheldon, and Nash. From Novem- ber, 1834, Mr. Brooks supplied it six months. Mr. Bissell, the pres- ent minister, studied theology with the late Rev. Luther Hart, of Ply- mouth, Conn .; came to the Reserve about the year 1827, and was set- tled pastor of the Church in Twinsburgh over seven years. While here, he taught an academy for some time, and was very useful, both as a teacher and a pastor. In September last, he removed to Edinburg.
FRANKLIN. This church has had one settled pastor, Mr. Sheldon, and two " stated supplies," Messrs. Goodell, and Graham ; and is now destitute. Mr. Sheldon left Andover Theological Seminary in 1823 ; and soon after came to the Reserve. He was settled over this church in 1825, and continued pastor four years. He also supplied the church
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
in Stowe for a time, and the church in Painesville, Geauga county. In 1829, he was appointed agent of the American Bible Society for Ohio and Michigan, in which capacity he still continues with his usual energy and success,
FREEDOM. Mr. Treat studied theology under the tuition of Rev. Ebenezer Porter, D. D. He was ordained in Woodbury, Conn., May 5, 1814, and soon after came to the Reserve under the patronage of the Connecticut Missionary Society ; was installed in Windham, Sep- tember, 1817, and dismissed Oct. 1827. He has supplied a number of churches at different times ; labored in Garrettsville two years previ- ous to the formation of a church in that village, and is preaching there still. Mr. Rockwell, the present minister, studied theology with Rev. Josiah Hopkins, of New Haven, Vt., and more recently of Auburn, N. Y. He was settled for a number of years in Vermont, and in July last, came to the Reserve and commenced preaching in this place, where he still continues.
GARRETTSVILLE. This village is situated on the corner of Nelson, Hiram, Freedom, and Windham. Mr. Treat is the present minister.
HUDSON. This town is called after Mr. Hudson, the first settler in the township. He came to the place in 1800, and removed his family in the year following. He crossed Lake Erie five times in an open boat or canoe. He is still living. Mr. Hanford was settled over the church in this place in 1815, and dismissed in 1831, having received a call to become pastor of the church in Windham, where he still labors. Mr. Doolittle, the present minister, studied theology with the late Rev. Luther Hart, of Plymouth, Conn .; was settled for several years in north-east Pennsylvania, from whence he was called to take the charge of the church in Hudson.
WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE CHURCH. The Professor of Biblical Theology is regarded as the pastor of the church. Mr. Green was the first elected to this office. He had been settled over the church in Brandon, Vermont, a number of years, from which place he was called to Kennebeck, Maine, and from thence to this college. He is now president of Oneida Institute. Mr. Folsom, after leaving Andover
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NOTES -PORTAGE COUNTY.
Theological Seminary in 1831, spent some time in the southern States; in the winter of 1832 and 1833, he preached three months in Cleve- and, Ohio, and from thence he was called to a professorship in Lane Seminary. While there, in September, 1833, he was invited to the professorship in this college, which he now fills, and is pastor of the church.
MANTUA. This church has enjoyed successively, the labors of Messrs. Coe, Seward, Pepoon, Hopkins, and Danforth. It is now destitute. Mr. Hopkins studied theology with his brother, Rev. Josiah Hopkins, now of Auburn, N. Y. He was settled for a time in Vermont ; came to the Reserve in 1830; and supplied this church and that in Shalersville, one year. He is now, and has been for three or four years past, preaching in Canton, Ohio.
MIDDLEBURY. Mr. Baldwin left Andover Theological Seminary, in 1822, and has been preaching in this place about five years ; a part of the time, however, for two or three years he preached in the vil- lage of Cuyahoga Falls.
NELSON. Mr. Fenn studied theology with Rev. Bezaleel Pinneo, of Milford, Ct .; was pastor of the church in this place about sixteen years, and in April last was dismissed to accept a call from the church in Gustavus, Trumbull Co. While at Nelson, he supplied for a time, the churches in Windham and Southington.
NORTHFIELD. Mr. Pitkin is the present minister of this church.
PALMYRA. This church .has had but little stated preaching, and and is now destitute.
RAVENNA. Mr. Storrs was the son of the late Rev. Richard S. Storrs, of Longmeadow, Mass. He studied in the College of New Jersey until his junior year, when, by reason of ill health, he left college. After regaining his health in some degree, he pursued the- ological studies under the tuition of Rev. Dr. Woolworth, of Bridge- hampton, Long Island. In 1813 he was licensed to preach ; and in 1817 he entered Andover Theological Seminary, where he remained three years, After closing his studies there he proceeded to the south,
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