USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > History of Nashville, Tenn. > Part 50
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It is generally conceded-indeed, nowhere denied-that the first Pres- byterian divine to visit the Cumberland country and Nashville was the Rev. Thomas B. Craighead, in 1785. Mr. Craighead erected a school-house at Spring Hill, in which he taught school through the week and preached on Sundays for several years. Rev. Mr. Craighead visited various places in the vicinity of Spring Hill, among them Nashville, which was then a quite unimportant settlement. Near the close of the last cent- ury a few Scotch seceders were collected together, and a congregation formed; and to these seceders Rev. William Hume, who arrived in Nash- ville in 1801-direct from Scotland, his native land-preached several years. In 1818, however, he reunited with the Presbyterian Church of the United States, whither he was followed by the few whom he had so long and so faithfully served; and in this connection he labored until his death, some fifteen years later.
Another of the early Presbyterian divines who labored in the Cumber- land country was the Rev. Gideon Blackburn, who was licensed to preach in 1792 by the Presbytery of Abingdon, formed in 1785 upon the petition of Hezekiah Balch, Rev. Samuel Doak, and Rev. Charles Cummings. Rev. Mr. Blackburn established a Church at the new settlement of Mary- ville, gradually building up other Churches in that vicinity and preaching in the many forts in that part of the country. In May, 1786, the Presby- tery of Abingdon was divided and Transylvania Presbytery created, com-
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prising Kentucky and the settlements of the Cumberland. This Presby- tery had charge of the Churches on the Cumberland until 1810, when the Presbytery of Tennessee was formed with four members. The Rev. Gideon Blackburn left Maryville this year, and settled at Franklin, teach- ing in the Harpeth Academy to support his family, and supplying pulpits for fifty miles around. Under such an arrangement as this Nashville was supplied. As a result of his efforts here a Church was established and served by Rev. Mr. Blackburn until 1823, when he was succeeded by the Rev. A. D. Campbell, who was himself succeeded in 1828 by the Rev. Obadiah Jennings.
The Presbyterian Church of Nashville was organized by Rev. Mr. Blackburn, in November, 1814, with the following members: Mrs. An- drew Ewing, Mrs. Mary McNairy, Mrs. Josiah Nichol, Mrs. Thomas Talbot, Mrs. Sophia Hall, Mrs. Margaret Anderson, and Robert Staley. When Rev. Mr. Blackburn retired from the Church at Nashville it num- bered about forty-five members, all but two of whom were ladies. The first church-building that occupied the site of the present Presbyterian church on the corner of Church and Summer Streets was commenced in 1812, and was first occupied by Dr. Blackburn in the fall of 1816. It was completed in 1823, when the deed to the ground was made to the Presbyterian Church for $750. The church-building was erected by gen- eral subscription, and was open to the use of all denominations when not occupied by the Presbyterians. It was a neat brick building opening on Summer Street, with the pulpit on the south side; but soon after Dr. Campbell came the pulpit was moved to the east side. Rev. Obadiah Jennings was a finely educated and talented man, having been educated as a lawyer, and was the means of bringing many gentlemen into the Church-a new thing in Nashville. His health was, however, very poor, and his death occurred in January, 1822; and the church was draped in mourning for him when it was destroyed by fire on the 29th of that month, nothing being saved but the Bible and a hymn-book.
The next pastor of this Church was the Rev. John Todd Edgar, who was born in Delaware in 1792, and who came to Nashville August 4, 1833. Within three months from that time fifty-four new members were received into the Church; and during the fall a new, spacious, and elegant church-building was erected and dedicated. Dr. Edgar remained pastor of the Church twenty-six years, during which time there were eight revivals and eight hundred and ninety-seven members added to the roll. On account of his advanced age and increasing feebleness, an as- sistant was called, and Rev. Joseph Bardwell began his labors as such October 1, 1859. Dr. Edgar died suddenly, of apoplexy, November 13,
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1860; and in the following January Rev. Mr. Bardwell was regularly in- stalled as pastor.
Rev. Mr. Bardwell filled the position until February 16, 1862, when he, with the rest of the citizens, thought the city was in imminent danger of destruction by the Federal army, at which time he went South, and did not again return. From this time until July, 1865, the church was most of the time occupied by the Federal authorities as a hospital; and religious services were not held therein, except for a few months immediately after the occupation of Nashville, when the Rev. Dr. Hendricks preached. The Rev. R. F. Bunting, D.D., began his labors as stated supply in July, 1865; and was installed pastor in June, 1866. Dr. Bunting remained pastor until November, 1868, on the 15th of which month he became pas- tor of a Church in Galveston, Tex.
The church-building erected in 1833 was burned September 14, 1848, the fire originating in the roof while the tinners engaged in making some necessary repairs were at dinner. With the church itself was destroyed the largest pipe organ in the city. The present church-edifice was erect- ed during the next three years, the corner-stone being laid by William Strickland, the architect, April 28, 1849. The first worship was held in the basement January 5, 1850; and the building was completed the fol- lowing spring, at a cost of $51,000, and was dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1851. A bell weighing four thousand and fifteen pounds, and costing nearly $3,000, was presented in 1859 by Mrs. Adelia Acklen. When the war was ended and the building was vacated as a hospital, it was thoroughly repaired at a cost of $8,000, of which the United States Gov- ernment paid $7,500.
Succeeding Rev. Mr. Bunting, the Rev. T. V. Moore, D.D., became pastor in December, 1868, and remained until his death, in August, 1871. Dr. Moore's pastorate, although brief, accomplished a great work in per- fecting a more efficient organization, and in getting all members to work. After his death the Rev. J. F. Wheeler, of Vicksburg, Miss., was en- gaged as stated supply until a regular pastor could be engaged. In Feb- ruary, 1872, Rev. Henry J. Van Dyke, of Brooklyn, N. Y., was called, and entered upon his duties as regular pastor ; but, on account of the severe ill- ness of his wife, he was obliged to take her to Europe, and so preached only a few Sundays, and resigned November 17, 1872. In January, 1873, Rev. T. A. Hoyt, of New York, was called, and took charge February I, re- maining until May, 1883, when, on account of failing health, he resigned. During his pastorate six hundred and sixty-eight members were added to the Church, and two colonies were organized as separate Churches-the Westminster, in South Nashville; and the Moore Memorial, in West End.
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In January, 1884, the Rev. Jere Witherspoon, of Jackson, was called to the Church, and entered upon his duties March 23, 1884. During the time of his pastorate six hundred and eighty-eight members have been added to the Church, and another colony has been organized into a separate Church-the Edgar Church, in North Nashville-of one hun- dred and eighty members. At the present time the First Presbyterian Church consists of one thousand members.
This Church has been very active in mission work. It established two missions before the war, and has established four others since. Three of these missions are now prosperous Churches. She is now carrying on the Cottage and the A. G. Adams Mission.
The Second Presbyterian Church grew out of the establishment of a Sunday-school, in the spring of 1842, by the young men and an older member of the First Presbyterian Church, among the few and scattered homes in the northern part of the city. This Sunday-school was opened April 13, 1842, in the basement of a warehouse owned by Colonel An- drew Hynes, in which salt was stored. Samuel Hill and A. G. Adams were the projectors of the school, which was opened with fifteen scholars and eight teachers. A series of prayer-meetings was commenced Sep- tember 25, and held through the succeeding winter, beginning at sun- rise. Mrs. Alpha Kingsley was one of the principal promoters of this enterprise, and through the Sunday-school a religious interest was awak- ened which resulted in the organization of the Second Presbyterian Church. During the summer of 1843 Revs. Allen Vancourt and R. A. Lapsley preached to the prospective members of this Church, and in the fall an application was made to the Presbytery of Nashville, then in ses- sion at Smyrna, that proper steps be taken to organize a new Church, to be named the Second Presbyterian Church. The following persons signed the application: Alpha and Elizabeth Kingsley, James and Mar- garet Erwin, James B. Ferguson, Samuel Hill, Phœbe Caldwell, Harriet Rosser, Lucy and L. A. Wingfield, Agnes Norvell, Mary Kelly, Nancy and C. H. Peabody, Elizabeth T. Clark, C. F. Williams, M. A. East- man, A. G. Adams, James M. Hamilton, Abram Stevens, Andrew J. Smith, John and Janet McCrea, George T. and C. A. R. Thompson, and Horace J. Berry. Rev. John R. Bain was appointed to organize the ap- licants into a Church, they being dismissed from the First Church in order to be thus organized. Seven others, among whom was Samuel Seay, were also dismissed that they might join the new organization. The Church was accordingly organized November 12, 1843, with a total of thirty-two members. William H. Marquis was made ruling elder; and W. B. Shapard, Samuel Seay, A. G. Adams, J. M. Hamilton, Abram
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Stevens, Samuel Hill, Foster Williams, and John McCrea, deacons. Soon afterward plans for a church-building were adopted, to be erected on land donated by Mr. Erwin, on College and Gay Streets. The cor- ner-stone of this new building was laid April 25, 1844, by Rev. Philip Lindsley, D.D., assisted by Rev. John T. Edgar. The house was com- pleted in 1846, at a cost of $11, 105.80, $1, 100 of which was raised by a ladies' fair. The house was dedicated by Dr. Lindsley in September, 1846.
Rev. R. A. Lapsley was supplying pastor for the organization until May 9, 1850, when he was regularly installed. After eleven years of service, he retired in 1855, in poor health, and died soon after the close of the war. Rev. B. H. Charles became supply in October of that year, and Rev. John S. Hayes in March, 1857; the latter was installed in 1858, and remained until 1860. During his pastorate about fifteen members were dismissed, to form the First Presbyterian Church of Edgefield. In the latter part of 1863 Rev. R. F. Allen was installed pastor, and re- mained in that position until the spring of 1867, when Rev. W. W. Camp- bell took charge. He was installed January 5, 1868, and remained until February, 1870. The Church was then, in 1871, transferred to the Pres- bytery of Nashville, with Rev. J. W. Hoyte as stated supply. He was installed May 1, 1872; and was succeeded by John S. Young in March, 1876, who retired from the pastorate in 1884. Rev. I. S. Arbuthnot, D.D., was pastor from 1884 to 1886. The Rev. John W. Stagg was called as pastor in April, 1888, and was installed pastor in June, 1888, which position he still occupies. His ministry has been very successful in building up the Church.
The First Presbyterian Church of Edgefield was organized May 8, 1858, with thirty members, ten from the First Church, and twenty from the Second. The officers elected were: Ruling elders, Nathaniel Cross, W. B. A. Ramsey, Jackson S. White, and Robert S. Hollins; deacons, William H. Webb, Arthur C. White, and Josiah Barton. Previous to the organization of this Church there had been a Sunday-school estab- lished by D. D. Dickey, on the corner of Fourth and Fatherland Streets, and the services of the Church were held in the school-house standing here until a church-building was erected on a lot on Woodland Street, presented to the new organization by W. B. A. Ramsey, the edifice erected on this lot costing $5,433.26, and being dedicated free of debt April 3, 1859. The first pastor was Rev. J. W. Lanius, who remained until his death, September 9, 1859. Rev. J. J. Hendricks was installed pastor October 27, 1860, and served until his death, March 14, 1863. It Octo- ber, 1864, Rev. E. C. Trimble was engaged as stated supply, and re-
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mained until September 15, 1867. On November 17, 1867, J. H. Mc- Neilly was called to the pastorate, and remained until March II, 1877, and on the 25th of the same month Rev. E. C. Frierson became pastor, remaining until April 24, 1882. He was succeeded by Rev. G. A. Tren- holm, the present pastor, who was installed May 27, 1883. In August, 1886, it was decided to erect a new church-edifice, and accordingly the old building was taken down, and the present handsome edifice erected on the same lot of ground. In November, 1887, the new building was completed at a cost of $17,110.88. This building was dedicated Decem- ber 4 following, by Rev. Jere Witherspoon, D.D., Rev. J. H. McNeilly, D.D., and the Rev. J. Wood Pogue. At the present time the member- ship of this Church is three hundred and twenty.
Edgar Presbyterian Church had its origin in January, 1869, at which time Mrs. Felicia G. Porter and some others organized a mission just west of St. Cecilia Academy, and named it "Edgar," in honor of the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. E. B. McClannahan was the first Superintendent and J. B. O'Bryan assistant one year. Since that time Mr. O'Bryan has been the Superintendent. In 1871 a frame church was erected on the corner of McGavock Avenue and North Foster Street, about the center of the McGavock farm, then owned by the North Nash- ville Real Estate Company. The mill of the Tennessee Manufacturing Company was erected about the same time: Some time after the com- pletion of the new church Rev. A. H. Price was placed in charge as pas- tor, and remained two years. He was succeeded by the Rev. E. T. Brantly, who has been in charge ever since. Under his pastorate the membership increased to one hundred and eighty-five by May, 1886, when a Church organization was effected under the name of the Edgar Pres- byterian Church. The first elders were William Brantly, H. W. Sand- house, and Jefferson Saddler; and the first deacons, R. S. Dale, John Swint, and Thomas Moxley. Since that time the membership has in- creased to over three hundred. The average attendance of the Sunday- school during the year 1889 was four hundred and sixty-one. The total amount of money spent in connection with this work has been about $50,000, over $40,000 of which has been contributed by members of the First Presbyterian Church.
The Cottage Presbyterian Church grew out of a Sunday-school estab- lished in 1850 by Colonel A. W. Putnam, W. K. Hunter, and Alfred. Hume, on vacant grounds south of the railroad and near the Franklin pike. From fifteen to twenty children were assembled sometimes in a small kitchen of the Stephens house, and sometimes in the shade of a. large apple-tree. Soon a large room near the pike was rented and sup-
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plied with a stove, and in about two years afterward so much progress had been made that a church was erected at a cost of $1,100. Regular preaching was held until the war, when every thing was disorganized, the building wrecked, and the congregation and the Sunday-school children scattered. In 1865 Mr. McAllister reorganized the school, which contin- ues as a mission of the First Presbyterian Church.
The Second Presbyterian Church of Edgefield was organized Janu- ary 24, 1875, with fourteen members. For a time services were held in a room on the White's Creek pike, Rev. J. H. McNeilly serving as pas- tor from the organization to some time in 1878. In 1876 Colonel W. B. A. Ramsey donated a large lot on the railroad, which was divided into three lots, one of which was traded for a lot in a more favorable locality, and the other two sold. The proceeds of this sale were devoted to the erection of a handsome brick church-edifice with ample auditorium, spire, and vestibules in 1878. The entire cost of this church was about $5,- 000, and afterward an adjoining lot was purchased upon which an ele- gant parsonage was erected at a cost of $2,000. This house of worship and parsonage stands on the corner of North Second and Wetmore Streets. The church-building was named McNeilly Chapel in honor of Rev. Mr. McNeilly, the founder of the Church. The succeeding pastors have been: Revs. Alexander Cowan, W. L. Rosser, H. S. Yergel, L. S. Overman, J. W. Pogue, and the present incumbent, J. D. McMurray, a native of Nova Scotia, whose early life was spent in Australia. The Church has now a membership of one hundred and twenty.
The Moore Memorial Church was organized November 28, 1873, under the central pastorate of Rev. T. B. Moore. The first pastor was Rev. Frank Moore, son of Rev. T. B. Moore, who remained pastor until 1878, when he removed to Covington, Ky., and began the practice of law. The church stands on an elevated site on West Broad Street, the lot having cost $4,000, and the building having recently been remod- eled at a cost of $10,000. Since the retirement of Rev. Frank Moore the pastor has been Rev. J. H. McNeilly, who now has a large and enthu- siastic membership of three hundred and twenty-five. The Sunday- school has from the beginning been in charge of George G. O'Bryan, and from a beginning of fifteen scholars now has over three hundred.
The Westminster Presbyterian Church is the successor of a Church which was organized as the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1856. This body of Presbyterians was called at that time Seceders. Rev. J. H. Bryson, D.D., was one of the most active of the Seceders, and raised the funds with which to erect a small frame church-building at the corner of South College and Ash Streets. This Church continued
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to thrive until broken up by the war, and the church-building was used as a hospital by the soldiers of the Union army. After the return of peace there was an attempt made to reorganize the Church, and the little frame building was refitted principally by the exertions of a few ladies, among whom were Mrs. John Douglas and Mrs. Louisa Sinclair. This attempt was not a complete success, as in 1868 the Church was disbanded, many of the members uniting with the First Presbyterian Church. In 1879 Rev. T. A. Hoyt, D.D., and a few other earnest workers decided to es- tablish a mission in South Nashville, and rented the old frame building for its use. In this building a Sunday-school was organized February 6, of that year, with J. H. Wilkes, Superintendent. The mission was very prosperous, and it soon became evident that a regularly organized Church was a necessity. In 1879 the Presbytery of Nashville appointed a com- mission to organize a Presbyterian Church in South Nashville, the com- mission consisting of Rev. T. A. Hoyt, D.D., Rev. T. M. McConnell, and Elders J. M. Hamilton and R. J. Gordon. At a public meeting held April 6, the Church was formally organized, and by a unanimous vote the name of "Westminster Presbyterian Church" selected. Rev. T. M. McConnell became the pastor. In 1880 the society decided to pur- chase the property they were occupying, which was done for $1,750. Rev. Mr. McConnell remained pastor of the Church until 1883, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. A. Ramsey, now of Murfreesboro. Rev. Mr. Ramsey was succeeded by Rev. G. A. Russell, who after a short pastorate accepted a call to Wesson, Miss. Rev. J. G. Patton was then pastor a short time, when he removed to Orlando, Fla. In April, 1889, a call was extended to Rev. John R. Herndon, who entered upon his duties July I, and is still the pastor. This society had ever since its organiza- tion felt the necessity of a more modern and commodious church-edifice, and in the summer of 1889 determined to erect one if the necessary funds could be secured. This latter being settled in the affirmative, the plans of B. J. Hodge, a young architect of South Nashville, were select- ed, and the process of building commenced. The church is of the Gothic style of architecture, and is built of pressed brick with stone trimmings. The auditorium is fifty feet by sixty feet, and will seat three hundred persons, and the gallery will seat one hundred and twenty-five. The tower on the corner of Ash and College Streets is ninety feet high. The building is heated by steam and furnished with the most approved style of pews. The total cost of the church was about $12,000.
It is generally known that the Cumberland Presbyterian Church had its origin in Dickson County, Tenn., February 4, 1810, at the residence of Rev. Samuel McAdow. The originators of the Church were, in ad-
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dition to Rev. Mr. McAdow, Rev. Finis Ewing, Rev. Samuel King, and Licentiate Ephraim McLean, who immediately after the formation of the first Presbytery of this Church was ordained a minister. The next meet- ing was held in March, at which there were present the above-mentioned ministers, five licensed preachers, and eight candidates. They adopted as their standard of theology the Westminster Confession of Faith shorn of the idea of fatality. For some time after this most of the preaching by members of this denomination was by itinerant ministers. In 1813 Robert Donnell began preaching in Nashville, but encountered consid- erable opposition from some of the regular Presbyterian preachers. He, however, secured the use of the court-house for a place of public preach- ing, and boarded at the hotel. Soon the court-house was closed against him, and the Mayor offered him the city hall. Then the Mayor died, and the hall was likewise closed. On account of the great opposition in town Mr. Donnell changed his appointment to the house of Mr. Castleman, in the country, and here were converted several of Tennes- see's distinguished men. By the aid of Rev. James B. Porter the court- house was again secured, and a protracted meeting held. In 1828 a Church organization was formed with seven members, six ladies and one gentleman. Rev. James Smith was the first regular pastor, coming in 1831 and remaining two years. Under his leadership a building was com- menced where the present edifice stands on North Summer Street and Cumberland Alley. The committee to receive subscriptions and super- intend the erection of the building consisted of the following gentlemen : Governor William Carroll, Ephraim H. Foster, Andrew Hynes, Robert Woods, John H. Smith, George Crockett, David Park, John Harding, Samuel Seay, H. R. W. Hill, John P. Hickman, James Walker, Paul Shirley, John Austin, John Webber, James Bell, Hon. John Bell, John Price, Jeremiah Dotson, and Hon. Felix Grundy. George Crockett was the Treasurer of the committee. Hon. Felix Grundy made the largest subscription, to be paid in land. The pastors of this Church have been as follows: Rev. Abner McDowell, 1831-33; Rev. R. C. Hatton, 1834- 36. For the next four years the Church was without a regular pastor, A. G. Goodlett and John P. Campbell supplying the pulpit at irregular intervals. Rev. A. G. Burney was pastor, 1841-43; Rev. Samuel M. Aston, 1845-46; Rev. J. L. Smith, 1847-50; Rev. J. C. Provine, 1850- 53; Rev. Matthew Houston Bone, 1854-55; Rev. Wiley M. Reed, 1856- 62; from 1862 to 1866 the Church was without a pastor, and from 1866 to 1882 the pulpit was most ably filled by Rev. A. J. Baird. During the pastorate of Dr. Baird the present elegant church-edifice was erected, completed, and dedicated. The movement resulting in its construction
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was inaugurated in 1866, when a number of the members bound them- selves to pay a certain monthly sum into a sinking fund. In 1868 a por- tion of ground adjoining the old lot was purchased, thirty-three feet in width, for $4,000. In 1872 the congregation had so increased that the old church became too small. Seventeen thousand dollars was raised among the members by the pastor, and after the organization of commit- tees for the solicitation of subscriptions an architect was sent North to in- spect the latest church-buildings, and to make plans for a church to cost $35,000. Upon his return $29,000 had been raised, and soon afterward $5,400 more was secured. After several hinderances and drawbacks the building was at length completed July 1, 1874, and dedicated August 2 by Dr. Richard Beard, of Lebanon. A pipe organ was presented by the Dorcas Society, a silver communion and baptismal sets by members of the Church, and an elegant Bible for the pulpit by the Nashville Ameri- can. Rev. J. J. Sprowls, D.D., was called to the pastorate in December, 1882, and began his labors January 5, 1884. He was regularly installed May 4, 1884, Dr. W. E. Ward presiding, Rev. R. M. Tinnon preaching the sermon and Dr. Baird delivering the charge. Dr. Sprowls served until 1888, when the present pastor, Rev. J. W. Hubbert, was called.
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