USA > West Virginia > Logan County > Logan > History of the city of Logan, W. Va. [West Virginia], 1823-1916 > Part 4
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"For Cows,"113; "Against Cows," 51.
Special meeting held May 1, 1915, for the purpose of appointing officers for the next two years resulted in the nomination and election of the following parties: For Chief of Police, C. O. Riffe, who received 3 votes; John Cary, who received 2 votes; and Hibbard Hatfield. James Jones and James Deskins were nominated for the office of Street Commissioner and Jones received 4 votes and Deskins 1. J. B. McCorkle was elected City Engineer and E. H. Greene was elected City Attorney.
At a special meeting held May 1, C. O. Riffe tendered his resignation as Chief of Police and upon a vote of the Council John Cary received 4 votes and Hibbard Hatfield 1. Cary, therefore, was elected to the position and Hat- field was made police and each of their salaries were fixed at $75 per month.
Regular meeting held July 1, 1915, the salary of the .
First Baptist Church
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Street Commissioner was raised from $60 to $65 per month.
Special session held July 6, the resignation of John Cary, Chief of Police was received and accepted by the Council.
Special session held July 15, Hibbard Hatfield was elected by the council to fill the unexpired term of Chief of Police and James Jones was appointed police.
A valuation of all the real estate lying in the city of Logan made and recorded at a meeting of the Council held August 10, 1915, shows real estate to the value of $12,557,- 050, and personal property to the value of $975,650, while the railway and other property assessed by the Board of Public Works show a valuation of $126,263.
At a regular meeting held September 2, the City En- gineer was ordered to place numbers on all the houses in the corporate limits.
At regular meeting held May 4, 1916, on motion the following resolution was adopted and the City Attorney and Recorder were directed to take up the matter with the Pub- lic Service Commission of the State: "Whereas, our Health Officer, Dr. McDonald, has on many occasions in his reports condemned the present depot of the C. & O. Railway and reported that sanitary conditions are irreparable, that the rooms are inadequate in size, that no janitor is employ- ed to care for the sanitary keeping of this depot, and that the men's toilet has had to be kept under lock and key by reason of no janitor. Whereas, the Logan station is shown by the C. & O. annual report to be over $600,000 above any other station on its system and that conveniences are nil compared with its importance. That the officials have de- layed from time to time any plans for the improvement of present conditions. That the sanitary conditions are fear- ful and dangerous to the public health and the present depot is inadequate and cannot be made efficient as the re- port of the said health officer sets forth, therefore, Be it resolved, That the Public Service Commission be and is hereby requested to make an immediate investigation and
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require the C. & O. Railway Co. to give to this city the con- veniences necessary for the care of the public commensur- ate quarters with the sanitary conveniences necessary and janitor to maintain and keep same." Passed by the Coun- cil at regular meeting held on the fourth day of May, 1916.
Special meeting held May 13, 1916, "Upon motion duly seconded, James Jones, policeman, is hereby declared dis- charged from the Police force of the city of Logan. The salary of the said Jones to stop from the date of his leaving the city on the tenth day of May, 1916." The names of Mitch Henderson, S. B. Bess and W. A. 'Miller were pre- sented to the Council as candidates for the position and upon written ballot, Henderson received two votes and Bess received two votes, whereupon the said balloting resulting in a tie the Mayor cast his vote in favor of Henderson and Mitch Henderson was declared elected to fill the unexpired term, and his salary fixed at $75 per month and 50 cents additional for each fine collected.
Regular meeting held July 20, 1916, Hibbard Hatfield, tendered his resignation as Chief of Police and the Council accepted the same, whereupon Mitch Henderson was elected to fill the position of Chief and Eli Gore was elected to the vacancy caused by the promotion of Henderson. The sal- aries of the two officers to remain $75 per month.
The Churches of Hagan
The First Baptist Church
The Aracoma Baptist Church was the first church to be built in Logan and the church was first organized April 2, 1891, at a meeting held in the home of Rev J. M. Wood, in what is known as the old Turley house located on the corner, diagonally across Main and Coal streets from the lo- cation of the old frame church building. The constituent
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members were: Rev. J. M. Wood, Mrs. J. M. Wood, Alice Wood, Laura Wood, Prudence Wood, Mrs. M. C. Shumate, A. S. Kelley and J. Cary Alderson. At the same meeting in which the organization was made Mrs. Lucy Keadle was received for baptism. Rev. J. M. Wood was the first pastor and J. Cary Alderson was chosen church clerk. The old rec- ords show occasional business meetings held during the next three or four years while the meetings of the church were held in various places as the church owned no house of worship. Some meetings were held in the home of the pastor, some in th e home of H. C. Ragland, and others in the court house and in the house of the M. E. Church, South.
In 1890 Major J. A. Nighbert deeded to the Baptists and Christians jointly a lot on the south side of Main street at the foot of Coal street for the building of a house of worship. The house was erected in 1892 but was not fin- ished and ready for use until 1894. The most of the ex- pense of the building was borne by Major Nighbert, others contributing in smaller amounts. The trustees named in the deed were: L. D. Chambers, J. Cary Alderson, H. C. Ragland, J. A. Nighbert, J. B. Buskirk, S. S. Altizer, R. W. Peck, M. F. French, and F. M. White. In August, 1891, Major Ragland was chosen deacon, and the same year the church asked for admission into the Guyandotte Associa- tion, sending as delegates, H. C. Ragland, Alfred Buskirk, and J. Cary Alderson. The minutes record a resolution to organize a Sunday school, beginning June 4, 1894.
Rev. J. M. Wood served for about one year as pastor, covering parts of 1891 and 1892. Rev. W. G. Hoover im- mediately succeeded him and served one year. Mr. Hoover was followed by Rev. M. A. Kelly. After these brief pas- torates there was a long interval in which the church had no pastor. The next was Rev. J. A. Crawn who served four or five years, ending his work with the church in 1911. These four pastors gave the church only part of their time. devoting the rest to missionary work over the county. Rev. W. L. Richardson was called to the pastorate for full time
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in 1911 and remained with the church until April, 1913. Rev. W. S. Bradshaw, a very earnest and most excellent preacher, began work as pastor of this church August 1, 1913, and is with the church at this writing.
Through the will of the late H. C. Ragland, the par- sonage and the lot upon which it stands, came into the pos- session of the church at the death of Mrs. Ragland, which occurred in April, 1914. In 1911 the share of the Christian church in th old property was bought by the Baptist church and in the spring of 1915 the old lot was given to Judge J. B. Wilkinson in exchange for the lot on the east side of the parsonage. The church began at once the construction of a new church and the work proceeded rapidly until the time of its dedication November 21, 1915. The church house cost a little more than $23,000 and is a handsome brick structure with commodious auditorium and Sunday school rooms. There is a handsome parlor alongside of the Sun- day school rooms and convenient and airy rooms in the base- ment under its entire structure. The choir loft is supplied with a good M. P. Moller pipe organ. A week was given to the dedication services in which the speakers were Rev. M. L. Wood, D. D., of Huntington; Rev. E. E. White, of Wes- ton ; Rev. J. J. Cook, of Huntington ; Rev. A. S. Kelly, Ph. D., of Charleston; and Rev. T. C. Johnson, D. D., of Charleston. An organ recital was given by Mr. W. Andrew McNeilis, of Chillicothe, Ohio. The dedication sermon was preached in the presence of a great throng by Rev. G. R. Robbins, D. D., of Cincinnati, and was followed by a beautiful and impres- sive ceremony of dedication.
In July, 1916, Rev. J. C. Massee, D. D., pastor of the First Baptist church of Dayton, Ohio, spent two weeks in meetings in this church. The work of Dr. Massee was noted for the power and appeal of the sermons preached. The Baptist General Association of West Virginia is to meet with this church October 10, 1916.
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Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Logan
Methodism, in the Guyan Valley, as elsewhere, was the pioneer faith. The early settlers coming from the east of the Allegheny mountains had among them those who be- lieved and taught "this way." There are no definite rec- ords at hand which give the exact date of the first organi- zation, but the Western Virginia Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1850. At that time we find the work being carried on in the name of the Logan Circuit.
We also have a record of Bishop Francis Asbury, who bore the distinction of being the first American Bishop, traveling through this section some time between 1800 and 1810. We have a record that Bishop Asbury passed through the Guyan Valley from his home in Virginia on his way to Kentucky and we are led to believe that this journey led him through Wyoming county, to the Guyan river, thence down the river and it is possible that Bishop Asbury has passed over the present site of the city.
From the year of 1850 forward there has been a reg- ular assignment of pastors to this field. Some of the noted men of the early days labored here and at least one left his body to sleep beneath the sod of Logan county, being Harry Todd who was at the time pastor of the church at Logan and going to Big Creek in the lower part of the county he became sick and after a few days' illness he died and was buried on Big Creek.
The first church house to be built in the city of Logan was the one discarded a little more than a year ago. The author is in error in stating in the article relative to the First Baptist Church that this was the first church for we found upon further investigation that these churches were constructed at the same time and by the same builders and there being a contest on between the churches at the time as to which would be completed first. The Methodist church was completed just a short time in advance of the Aracoma Baptist church.
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This church was completed about 1890 or near that time. It was a plain frame structure, but it served the purpose well at that time.
Early in the year 1915 under the pastorate of Rev Guy Coffman work was begun on the erection of the new and commodious "Nighbert Memorial" Church on Coal street, which now stands as a monument to the spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion of the little band composing the membership of this church. The name is given in recogni- tion of the fact that Major Nighbert was a moving factor in the erection of the first building anda leader in he ef- fort for the uplift of the community. This present build- ing, which was dedicated June 18, 1916, Rev. W. F. Mc- Murray, General Secretary of Board of Extension, of Lex- ington, Ky., preaching the dedicatory sermon, has a value of about $42,000, exclusive of the very comfortable parson- age home which stands on another street.
At present there are about 200 in the membership of the church, about 250 in the Sunday school enrollment, a very creditable Epworth League and a flourishing Woman's Missionary Society. In fact, there are about all the depart- ments recognized in Methodism represented in this church.
With such an equipment Methodism in this community should be an aggressive force that would make itself felt in every movement for the betterment of the people, and being an evangelistic church from the beginning it will, no doubt, continue to make full proof of its ministry and give a good account of itself in all the years to come.
The following is a list of the pastors of this church from the time of its construction here in Logan: Harry Todd,in 1891; L. E. Harrison, in 1892; B. S. Chambers, dur- ing the years 1893 and 1894; H. B. Hewlett, in 1895; J. K. Bevins, during 1896 and 1897; H. F. Rice, in 1898; F. F. Shannon, in 1899; B. M. Keith, in 1900 and 1901; W. H. Nekkirk, in 1902; I. F. J. McKinister in 1903; D. K. Young, during 1904; C. B. Morris, during 1905,1906 and 1907; C. A. Bly, in 1908; J. R. Mullins, during 1909 and 1910; Guy
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Coffman, during the years of 1911, 1912, 1913and 1914. In the year 1915, Rev. W. L. Reid, of Parkersburg, W. Va., who had been filling the position of Presiding Elder for the Parkersburg District was called to Logan to take the pas- torate of this church.
Rev. Reid is a brilliant man and a very earnest preacher and an excellent pastor.
The Christian Church of Logan
The work of the Disciples in this field first began under the leadership of Alexander Lunsford, better known as "Daddy" Lunsford, who came into this field from Virignia immediately following the Civil war. On his way to the Guyan Valley he preached at every cross-road, school house, or residence where he could get together a congregation of people to hear him. He blazed the religious trail through what is now Mingo county and was the pioneer preacher of the Disciples in Logan. He was an itenerant preacher and for several years traveled over a vast section of this country preaching and spreading the gospel exhorting, con- verting and baptizing the early settlers, and among the number who were converted through his preaching were James Chafin and W. D. Garrett, better known by the peo- ple of Logan county as "Uncle Dyke." "Daddy" Lunsford preached, when in Logan, in the old log court house that was used in those days.
During this time he preached a strong sermon beneath the shade of a peach tree which stood near the mouth of Peach Creek, and from which the creek derived its name. His labors here on that day resulted in the conversion of a number of people who were immediately taken to the river and immersed. Lunsford died while in the service of the Lord, in the year of 1899, and his body lies buried in our cemetery beside the body of his wife. His daughter, Mrs. Belle Justice, mother of Con Chafin, our prosecuting at- torney lives in the city at the home of Mr. Chafin at the present time.
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James Chafin and "Uncle Dyke" Garrett, who were converted under the preaching of Lunsford, took up the work of the Lord and we are proud to state that "Uncle Dyke" is in our midst at the present time and while he is growing old he has never lost the religious energy or the love of the work and is, today, busily engaged in the Lord's vineyard and doing all within his power to advance the Mas- ter's cause while he remains on earth.
"Uncle Dyke" has some rather unique sayings, prov- ing thereby that "Billy" Sunday was not altogether original in his sayings and one frequently used by him is the follow- ing: "Some people call themselves soldiers for Jesus who have never 'busted' a cap at the devil." James Chafin died some years ago in Wyoming county.
Marion Covet came into the county during this time and assisted in the work and it is related that upon one occasion while he was engaged in holding services at the mouth of Peach Creek, he was interrupted by some men who were drunk. This led him to remark: "I would love to take God's mattock and dig the devil out of all drunkards."
F. S. McNeeley, better known in those days as "Phaub" was baptized by "Uncle Dyke" Garrett and became a preach- er in this field.
Then about 25 years ago G. W. Ogden, District Evan- gelist under the West Virginia Christian Missionary Society came from over in Raleigh and endeavored to gather to- gether the scattered Disciples and establish churches in this valley. In this he was partially successful.
A little later A. M. Dial who had been converted under the preaching of James Chafin, assisted in the work. Rev. Dial is now located at Louisa, Ky.
B. G. Ritchie, who is now located in the southern part of the state, along the Virginia border, was one of the parties converted under the ministry of Marion Covet.
The gentlemen in this field to be engaged in the min- isterial work during the latter years are J. Greene Mc- Neeley, Lewis Chafin, of upper Main Island Creek, M. K.
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Diamond, of Barnabus, and Smith Vance of Monitor Junc- tion, who has just recently been ordained.
Of the above ministers, Rev. J. Greene McNeeley is located in Logan, and has for the past thirty years been en- gaged in the service of the Lord. During this time he has preached in almost every nook and corner of the county. He has officiated at the marriage of a greater number of people of Logan county than any other minister within her borders. He has married numbers of people and then performed the funeral services for them at their death. He has also married parties and in later years married their children. Rev. McNeely is now in the prime of life and is just as zealous, just as ambitious and full of the Spirit as ever and continues to do valiant service for the Master.
The Christian Church in Logan was organized in 1890 or 1892 and the congregation worshiped in the building con- structed by Major Nighbert and used jointly by them and the Aracoma Baptist church.
They continued to use this place of worship until 1912, when they disposed of their half interest in the union building and purchased the lot upon which the present church building now stands.
Evangelist A. Linkletter of the West Virginia Chris- tian Missionary Society came to Logan in 1906 and held a revival service at which there were many converted and on August 6, 1906, the Christian church was organized with a membership of 46.
W. D. Garrett and J. Greene McNeely were called to fill half time as pastors of the church until 1911 when John S. Simpson was called for full time. After this time the church was supplied temporarily until February 1, 1913, when Joel Lee Jones, the present pastor, was called. During the first year of the ministry of Rev. Jones the congregation worshiped in the temporary court house on the corner of Coal and Stratton streets. During this year the pastor's residence at 431 Main street was built and during the fol- lowing year the frame house of worship, the first owned
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solely by the Christian congregation, was built. During® these three and a half years of Rev. Jones' ministry the membership of the congregation has grown from 64 to 250. The church has a graded Sunday school of a membership of 250. The congregation is planning at this writing to begin on August 20, 1916, a revival service in their church and the pastor will be assisted by C. H. Hohgatt, a noted evangel- istic singer of Chicago.
Within the next five years it is the intention of the con- gregation to construct a modern building for a house of worship and needless to say that when constructed it will compare favorably with the other churches of the city.
Some of the rivival services that have been held in this church during the past few years were conducted by Roud Shaw, of Harper's Ferry, Ky., in 1912; O. G. White, of Beth- any, W. Va., in 1913; and Rev. W. B. Hendershot, of Hunt- ington, W. Va., in 1916; at which many were converted to the Lord's cause.
Joel Lee Jones, the present pastor, is a young man, a learned and scholarly divine and an able orator. Rev Jones has taken a deep interest in civic affairs since coming to Logan and has had the courage to denounce sin, both in public and from the pulpit. He is deeply interested in edu cational affairs and has taught one session in the high school of Logan and expects to teach again during the com- ing session, filling the position of instructor in English and Foreign languages on the high school faculty.
P 0 C st ar
Methodist Episcopal Church, of Logan
Willim Hinchman, of Monroe county, Virginia, moved to and settled at the mouth of Rich Creek in Logan county, in the latter part of the seventeenth century. Not willing to rear his family apart from the religious influences, while he was no Christian at that time himself, and his wife being a Methodist, he invited a Methodist preacher to come into the wilderness to preach to them the story of Christ and
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was freely offered a place of rest and shelter for the itin- erant preacher.
This was at the nearest date, according to the most authentic information which was given by Joseph W. Hinch- man, grandson of William Hinchman, one hundred and four- teen years ago.
This home, with the increase of population, was not large enough to meet the increasing demands of the commun- ity. The idea of a church was promulgated and a log one was erected on the east side of the Guyan river, one half mile below the present town of Wilbur.
No records are available as to whom the first pioneer preacher was but traditional records are that Rev. Arters was early in the field, then in succession Revs. Hair, Reed, Hinman, Richard Brooks, and J. J. Doliver, D. D., father of ex-United States Senator Doliver.
In the meory of George F. Browning, of Logan, there was Methodist preaching in Logan proper sixty-five years ago. Benjamin Hager being the preacher in charge. He the cross. Their only place for worship was the Hinchman home. This for years was not only a place of worship but covered quite a large territory as circuit rider, reaching his appointments about every four weeks. Logan was one of them. His successors in part were Robert Hager, Cris- lip and Vanlinden Sanford, with D. H. K. Dix as junior preacher. Through the earnest efforts of the above and others of Methodist faith the true standard of the Bible Christian life was planted in this locality, with Logan as a station. J. W. Bedford, D. D., began his ministry in Logan and adjoining counties and earned the title of "Walking Joe." He, in 1906, came to serve a few Methodists in Logan. He organized the present church and laid the foundations and began the superstructure of the church now standing on Stratton street, which was completed in 1906, the dedi- cation sermon being preached by Rev. A. B. Riker, D. D., now pastor of a church in Parkersburg, W. Va. J. S. Thornburg took charge of the church in Logan in. 1906
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and he with a few earnest, faithful helpers pushed the church to a successful completion and continued to serve the church for four years as pastor.
J. G. Dickey was appointed to the Logan church by the West Virginia Conference on October 10, 1910, and served as pastor for two years. He was succeeded by Rev. R. A. Lemasters, who took up the work and with affliction in his home and somewhat discouraged he pushed the work to the close of one year. R. H. Skaggs was then appointed to, and took charge of the church work in October, 1913. With zest he pushed the work to the doubling of the mem- behship. J. H. Funk, his successor, the present pastor, took up the church work October 10, 1915.
Rev. Funk, in the estimation of his congregation, is one of the most popular pastors they have ever had in Logan. He is an able preacher and has the respect and love of his members as well as all those that are fortunate enough to know him ..
Presbyterian Church of Logan
A historical sketch of this church must necessarily be brief because the existance of the church has not been so long .
In looking over some of the sessional records the pastor of the church finds that the first Presbyterian minister to visit this field was Dr. Newton Donaldson of, Huntington, and Dr. Ernest Thompson, of Charleston, in 1903. After ' preaching at Logan these men recommended to the Kana- wha Presbytery the opening of a permanent field here. For several years the Presbyterial Evangelist visited this field and preached at regular intervals instructing and en- lightening the people.
In the spring of 1906 Rev. M. E. Hansel accepted the call from the Home Mission Committee to become Stated Supply and organize a church as soon as possible. That same year a petition was presented to Kanawha Presbytery
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for the organization. This was granted and under the lead- ership of Rev. C. W. McDonald, Evangelist, a congregational meeting was held in January, 1915, and Rev. F. C. Brown, the present pastor, was called to become pastor of the Logan church alone. He entered upon his duties in June, 1915.
The Lord has blessed both pastor and people in their fel- lowship. A splendid brick manse has been built, the mem- bership has doubled and the church has become self-sus taining in the past year. At present the congregation is raising a fund for the erection of a new church in the not far distant future, the present quarters having become too small. The future of the church is bright and it endeavors to do its share in advancing the Kingdom of the Lord in Logan.
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