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BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 775 CHAPTER VII. BY COL. C. L. POORMAN. RELIGIOUS HISTORY - EARLY MEETING HOUSES - FIRST CONGREGATIONS - GROWTH OF RELIGIOUS SENTIMENT - METHODISM IN BELMONT COUNTY -- EARLY SOCIETIES - CIRCUITS - STATISTICS - PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - BAPTIST CHURCH - CHRISTIAN CHURCH - UNITED PRESBYTERIAN - CATHOLIC CHURCH - EPISCOPAL. NOTHING connected with the early settlement, growth. and present condition of Belmont county affords greater contrast than the early and present condition of religious organizations. There is some controversy and much speculation as to which denomination was first to organize religious societies within the county, but none as to the character of the earlier houses of worship and the simple manners, habits and dress of the pioneers who worshiped in them. First Meeting Houses. - Whether the first meeting house was erected at Dillie's Bottom where the first legal settlement occurred, or at Concord, in Colerain township, near Mt. Pleasant, or west of St. Clairsville by the Baptists, or north of St. Clairsville near the present Presbyterian cemetery, by the Presbyterians, or by the Seceders in Colerain township where very early settlements took place on Scotch Ridge in Pease township and north into Colerain, or at some other point, all that were early built — in fact during the first five or ten years of the present century, were of the same general character differing only in size. Descriptions are not often given in later histories of the churches in which the expression " a hewed log church (or house) was erected." The following descriptions of some early churches give the general character of all erected at that early date: The first Trinity United Presbyterian church is thus described: The first meeting house was built in 1815, where the graveyard is now located. The structure was of round loge, 20x25, with a clapboard roof, and the whole of one end of the house occupied by the fireplace. The building was very primitive in construction and defective in architectural design, so to avoid the smoke the congregation took to a tent whenever the weather permitted." The Salem Methodist Episcopal church, organized, we are told, in 1812, " erected a hewd log church building near the western line of section T0, in Kirkwood township. Their benches in the house were small logs split in halves, the flat side shaved smooth, holes bored and sticks put in for legs, which they used for seats for several years, then made seats of boards. Their fireplace was a box set in the middle of 776 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. the house with dirt in, on which they made fire. This they used until 1816, when they made a fireplace and built a stone chimney in the center of the house." In Barnesville the Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1808, and the first house is thus described: " It was constructed of huge hewn logs contributed by the membership and friends. The house was 40x36. Two chimneys of stone were put up outside at the west corner with two immense fireplaces on the inside for wood fires. The doors occupied the east corners and led to the aisles that passed along the sides of the house to the fireplaces. Between the aisles were benches without backs - mere slabs split from large trees and with four legs to the bench to support it. The sides and end of the room were ceiled to the square. At the square two substantial girders crossed each other at right angles and were fastened into the top logs' to support the walls. There was no ceiling, so the whole of the inside of the roof was exposed to sight. A little high circular pulpit decorated with filigree work stood between the fireplaces." This, perhaps, was one of the best church buildings in the county at that date, and contrasts greatly with the present magnificent church edifices. First Congregations. - A primitive worshiping congregation, if one could be gathered into one of our present churches, would be almost as startling as Buffalo Bill's Wild West show to the nations of Europe. Tow-linen, linsey-woolsey, and red flannel, the latter in later years, constituting the Sunday as well as the week-day apparel of the pioneers, and up to 1840 to 1850 the majority of "rural congregations were thus appareled. Upon this subject of dress we quote from an early and graphic description of log cabin pioneer life, from John S. Williams, an early settler of Concord, Colerain township, who, in 1843, edited the American Pioneer, published at Cincinnati. This description shows not only the method of making the clothing of the early settlers but their method of dress: "One of my employments of winter evenings, after we raised flax, was the spinning of rope yarn, from the coarsest swingling tow, to make bed cords for sale. Swingling tow is a corruption of singling tow, as swingle tree is of single tree. The manner of spinning rope yarn was by means of a drum, which turned on a horizontal shaft driven into a hole in one of the cabin logs near the fire. The yarn was hitched to a nail on one side of the circumference next to me. By taking an oblique direction and keeping up a regular jerking or pulling of the thread, the drum was kept in constant motion, and thus the twisting and pulling out went on regularly and simultaneously until the length of the walk was taken up. Then, by winding the yarn first on my fore-arm, and from that on the drum, I was ready to spin another thread. "The unlearned reader might enquire what we did with the finer kinds of tow. It is well enough to apprise him that next to rope yarn in fineness, was filling for trowsers and aprons; next finer, warp for the same and filling for shirts and frocks; next finer of tow thread, warp for sheets and frocks, unless some of the higher grades of BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 777 society would use flax thread. Linen shirts, especially 700: was counted the very top of the pot, and he who wore an B00 linen shirt was counted a dandy. He was not called a dandy, for the word was unknown, as well as the refined animal which bears that name. Pioneers found it to their advantage to wear tow linen and eat skim milk, and sell their flax, linen and butter. "Frocks were a short kind of shirt worn over the trowsers. We eyed our shirts by pulling them off in warm weather and wearing nothing in day-time but our hats, made of straw, our frocks and our trowsers. It will be thus perceived that these things took place before the days of suspenders, when every one's trowsers lacked about ' two inches of reaching up to where the waistcoat reached down. It was counted no extraordinary sight and no matter of merriment to see the shirt work out all over the waistband two or three inches, and hang in a graceful festoon around the waist. Suspenders soon became a part of the clothing, and was a real improvement in dress. "The girls had forms without bustles, and rosy cheeks without Paint. Those who are thin, lean and colorless from being slaves to idleness or fashion, are, to some extent, excusable for endeavoring to be artificially what the pioneer girls were naturally; who, had they needed lacing, might have used tow strings, and if bran were used for bustles, might have curtailed their suppers. Those circumstances which frequently occasioned the bran to be eaten after the flour was gone, laced tight enough without silk cord or bone-sets, and prevented that state of things which sometimes makes it necessary to eat both flour and bran together as a medicine, and requires bran or straw outside to make the shape respectable. "Not only about the farm, but also to meeting, the younger part of the families, and even men went barefoot in summer. The young women carried their shoes and stockings, if they had them, in their hands until they got in sight of the meeting house, when, sitting on a log, they shod themselves for meeting; and at the same place, after meeting, they unshod themselves for a walk home, perhaps one or two miles. Whether shoes, stockings, or even bonnets were to be had or not, meeting must be attended. Let those who cannot attend church without a new bonnet, who cannot go two or three squares because it is so cold or so rainy, or so sunny, not laugh at the zeal of those pioneers for religion." Who will say that in those days of primitive simplicity there was not as much genuine love of God and his cause as can be found in the fine churches, and silk, satin and broad-cloth dressed congregations, that come with increased wealth and growing general intelligence? And yet, who will say that, comparing the weak, scattered congregation of the first thirty years of the country's history with the second, or the third thirty years of that history, that the church has been rementarded in its grand work by the change from log cabin to splended brick and stone churches, and from linsey-woolsey and red flannel to the finer but not much more costly apparel of the present? At all events the church, in the midst of its dissensions and disagreements 778 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. upon minor matters, has kept pace in its growth with any and all other interests and is a mighty factor in the education and elevation of the people. In the limited space allowed for the presentation of this subject, it will be impossible to give more than an outline of the work and • growth of the several denominations: The Methodist Episcopal Church. - The history of early Methodism in Belmont county, owing to the want of early records and continued changes in jurisdiction is necessarily brief. Its earliest operations were conducted under what was termed " the Ohio circuit," first appearing in 1787. In 1789, Jesse Stoneman and Thomas Haymond were appointed to serve on this circuit, and were followed by Joseph Bowen and John Cullison in 1800, and by Benjamin Essex and Joseph Hall in 1801. There is but little record as to work done by these ministers, except that at the latter date there were 521 members in the Ohio circuit, but no information as to how many lived in Belmont county. In 1802 the West Wheeling circuit was formed within the bounds of the Pittsburgh district, with Thornton Fleming as presiding elder, and Joseph Hall as preacher, membership 394. Ministers succeeded these in the following order: 1803, John Cullison; 1804, Lashley Matthews; 1805, John West and Eli Town; 1806, D. Stephens and A. Daniels; 1807, William Knox, James Riley and J. G. Watt; 1808, R. R. Roberts and Benedict Burgess. In 1809, West Wheeling circuit was transferred to the western conference, and Jacob Young and Thomas Church appointed ministers, and in 1810 the membership was 810, having more than doubled in eight years. Jacob Young and William Lamdin were the ministers. In 1811, William Lamdin and M. Ellis. In 1812, the circuit court was restored to the Baltimore conference with John Clingman as preacher. In 1813 it was attached to the Ohio conference and the famous James B. Findley was preacher. In 1814, Barnesville circuit appears and James B. Findley and M. Ellis served that circuit and the West Wheeling circuit. As these two circuits occupied parts of the county with portions of other counties it is impossible from any records available to say exactly what the work of either was with the limits of this county. In 1824 these two circuits were made part of the Pittsburgh conference district, and in 1876 were made part of the Eastern Ohio conference then established. During this period some changes have occurred and the West Wheeling circuit and the Barnesville circuit have disappeared and the charges and circuits have grown to eighteen in number, belonging to the Barnesville, Steubenville and New Philadelphia districts. These eighteen appointments contain fifty-one churches and congregations, of which forty-one are in the Barnesville district, four in the New Philadelphia district, and six in the Steubenvill district, and the following table which we compile from the official record of the east Ohio conference, shows that these forty-nine churches had a membership of 5,780, about onemententh of the population of the county. They maintained fifty-two Sabbath schools with BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 779 4,949 pupils, and held church property to the estimated value of $152,100. That they contributed last year $15,864 for support of bishops, elders and preachers, other church collections $8,470, for sup- Mort of Sunday schools $1,524, making $25,808 for regular church work, and $27,080 for church and parsonage improvements. Total $52,888, or nearly $i0 for each member. The following table shows the condition of the Methodist Episcopal church in Belmont county, in 1889, including membership, number of churches, value of church property, amount paid ministers, col- lections for church work.

The Presbyterian Church.- In point of members, influence and number of churches, both in the earlier and later history of the county, the Presbyterian church occupies position next to the Methodist church. In fact, it was most conspicuous in the early settlement and the pioneer work of Christianity. Many of the early settlers of Belmont county were of the Scotch and Scotch-Irish stock, who had been so prominent in the formation of our government. The forms and usages of the church of Scotland were brought by them to America, and gave rise to the various branches of the Presbyterian churches in this country. The stronghold of Presbyterianism from the first had been in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and so many of the early settlers here were from those states. They brought their church forms with them, and thus the seed of Presbyterianism was planted in this fertile soil, and has grown vigorously ever since. The first Presbyterian organization in this county was effected near St. Clairsville in 1798 when the country was almost a wilderness. Rev. Joseph Anderson began a ministry of thirty years in the church of St. Clairsville (then called Richland) in 1799. The church of Crab Apple was the next in order and was organized in what is now Wheeling township, in 1804. Rev. John Rea was the first pastor, a man of great learning and influence as a pastor and preacher.   780 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.   The church of Rockhill, in Pultney township, was organized in 1812. No settled paster was over it for many years, but in 1834, Rev. Benjamin Mitchell, D. D., began a faithful ministry there, and continued twenty-three years. He had this church in connection with Mt. Pleasant, in Jefferson county, twelve miles distant, and over all that intervening country he was the only Presbyterian minister, traveling everywhere and preaching to the people. Many churches have been organized on that field in the last half century. The church of Morristown was next organized in 1824. Then came the following in the order of their date of organization: Concord, in 1831; Stillwater, in 1832; Wheeling Valley, in 1838; Martin's Ferry, in 1841; Powhatan, 1850; Wegee, in 1851; Bridgeport, in 1851; Bethel. in 1857; Barnesville, in 1859; Bellaire (1st), in 1860; Scotch Ridge, in 1869; Farmington, in 1870; West Brooklyn, in 1871 Coalbrook, in 1875; Bellaire (2d), in 1881; Bannock, in 1884, and Pleasant Valley, in 1887. These twenty-one churches represent the present strength of Presbyterianism in Belmont county. To gather them and bring them to their present state has required diligent and faithful labor. The pastors have been faithful and zealous men and the membership has been composed of some of the most intelligent and best class of citizens. New houses of worship have been recently erected in St. Clairsville and Bridgeport, the unfinished building of the first church of Bellaire has been completed, and a movement is on foot to rebuild at Rockhill. The twenty-one churches of this county form a part of the Presbytery of St. Clairsville, and their report to the last general assembly of the Presbyterian church is as follows: Total number of communicants, 3,078; total number of persons in Sabbath schools, 2,955; congregational expenses for year ending April, 1889, $33,522; contributions to benevolent objects in same time, $7,392. Such is, in brief, the origin and growth of the Presbyterian churches in this region in the last ninety-two years. The Baptist Church. - One of the oldest churches in the county of which there is authentic record was built by the Baptist organization in Richland township, about one and one-fourth miles west of St. Clairsville. It was a log building and said to have been built in 1798, and was used for many years as a Baptist church. It was subsequently abandoned, and a small grave yard is all that is left to mark the spot. The Stillwater Baptist church was organized November 28, 1816, with John Prichard, Nathaniel Skinner and Elijah Stone as elders. The first building was a log house, which was at a later date replaced by frame building. This church prospered for fifteen years and the congregation was quite large. In 1831 Alexander Campbell preached to this congregation and as a result it was divided, the larger part of it going to the Disciples or followers of Mr. Campbell. The church building was sold to the Disciples, and those who still adhered to the Baptist church, re-organized and built the church, still retaining the BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 781 name of "Stillwater," at Rockfield, in Flushing township, where it has since remained a prosperous society. In 1850 a frame church took the place of the log building erected in 1832. The present membership is about 150. The Ebenezer Baptist church, at Belmont, was formed by a part of the Stillwater church congregation after the division of that body in 1831. The church was organized in 1835, with William R. McGouen, William Stone and C. Skinner as elders. The first building was of logs, which was replaced in 1853 by a frame church which is still in use. The Martin's Ferry Baptist church was organized in 1836, with six members, by Revs. G. C. Sedwick, R. S. Sedwick and T. M. Irwin. At that date there was no meeting house in the place, but by earnest work this small congregation succeeded in erecting one in 1841. The congregation grew and prospered and in later years erected a much larger building, which is still occupied by a congregation of about 150 members. The Christian or Disciples Church.—This church organization is of modern origin, having its origin as a separate church in the teachings of Alexander Campbell. Baptism by immersion being its special doctrine its converts were largely from the regular Baptist church, and its first church holding in this county was in the absorption of the major part of the membership and the church property of the Stillwater Baptist church, which became the " Stillwater Christian church." This congregation erected a church near Hendrysburg, in Kirkwood township, in 1832. In 1840 there were but eight congregations in what was then the sixteenth congressional district, and these employed three ministers, Revs. John Flick, Charles Van Voorhies and Alexander Hall. These congregations were frequently visited by Alexander Campbell, and his father, Thomas Campbell. The origin of the most of the Christian or Disciple's churches go back to the date of the missionary labors of Alexander Campbell, and his father, in 1828 to 1834, and these converts have been as leaven in each location that has worked until church organization has resulted in church construction. The Christian church at Bellaire is the largest in the county, and has the best church building. James Martin and his wife removed to Bellaire, in 1832, and were the first believers in this neighborhood. In 1833 Alexander Campbell and his father preached in a grove on Indian run, and several baptisms occurred. John Archer, who may fairly be termed the father of the church here, settled on Trough run in 1835, with his wife and his sons, and exerted an influence that added members to the young church rapidly. In 1838 the family removed to Bellaire, and the cooper shop of Mr. Archer was the only church until 1846, when the first church, a one-story brick, was erected on the lot now occupied by the Second ward public school building. The congregation grew rapidly requiring a larger building and the present fine structure on Belmont street was erected. The church now numbers 350 members, contributing for preaching and incidentals per year $1,487.94; for educational purposes, S313.21;   782 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. for missions, $111.83. The Sabbath school numbers 222 members, contributing annually for self-support, $104.91; and for missions, $73. 13. The Barnesville Christian church was erected in 1842. In 1857 the society purchased the Methodist Episcopal church building on Church street. The congregation now numbers 175 members. The first Sabbath school was organized in 1852, and from the start was prosperous. The Auburn church near Morristown was organized in 1854, but was merged with the Morristown congregation in 1862. This church now has 170 members with a Sunday-school with eighty members, and is in a prosperous condition. The church at Hendrysburg was organized in 1867, and erected their church building in 1869. It has a membership of about T0o members. One of the oldest churches in the county is on Captina creek in Wayne township, of which Hon. Harvey Danf0rd is now a leading member. It was organized as early as 1833, and e,rected a church edifice in 1835. This building was burned down in 1850, and rebuilt, and was partly blown down in 1872. The present structure is a substantial brick building 30x36 feet, and cost about $1,500. The church has a membership of about 13o and a flourishing Sunday-school. In 1855 a number of members withdrew from this church and organized a new society and erected what is now known as " The Chestnut Level " Christian church, with a membership of about sixty. The United Presbyterian Church. - Most of the churches of this denomination in this county were organized as Associate, or Associate Reformed Presbyterian churches, and assumed their present name and connection when the union between the two was consummated at the joint synod held at Pittsburgh, May 26, 1858. The first Associate Reformed organization in this county was that of the " Upper Wheeling Associated Reformed congregation," organized about the year 1805, the first sermon being preached by Rev. Alexander Calderhead. He was succeeded by Rev. William Taggart. The first meetings were held in a tent. The first meeting house was built of logs about two miles southewest of Uniontown, which was replaced by a brick one in 1837. In 1855 Rev. William Taggart resigned, the congregation removed to Uniontown, and the present structure built. The church assumed the name of United Presbyterians, in 1859 and Rev. D. F. Reid continued as pastor until 1864, when, a schism in the church on political questions occurring, a large number of members seceded and re-adopted the name of " Associate Reformed congregation." Unity United Presbyterian church, Wheeling township, was organized in 1814 by Rev. John Walker, and the first meeting house built in 1815, where the graveyard is now located. The house was of round logs 20x25. The next building was of hewed logs built in 1820. In 1833 a brick building 53x65 feet was erected and was succeeded by a frame building, the present structure, 38x58 feet. In 1841 the congregation reached 250 communicants, which is double the present number. BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 783 The congregation at St. Clairsville was organized in 1830, in connection with the Associate Reform church. The first regular minister was Rev. Hugh Parks, in 1831, who served the congregation until 1839. He was succeeded in 1842, by Rev. Alexander Young, who served very acceptably and with marked success until 1857. After two years of vacancy he was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Johnson, who was installed and entered upon his pastorate in June, 1859. Under his ministry during the war he was intensely loyal and refused the right of communion to those who were not so, and a number left that church on that account, and many of his young parishioners volunteered, went into the army and never returned. He served with marked ability until 1874, when he resigned his charge. He was succeeded in April, 1875, by the present very efficient pastor, Rev. Thomas Balph, who has acceptably served the congregation since. The present membership is about 170. The United Presbyterian church of Martin's Ferry was organized with sixteen members on the 4th of June, 1851, under the Associate Reform Presbytery of Steubenville, by Rev. T. L. Spear and Thomas Sweeney, James Waddle and J. R. Dickey as elders. A church costing $2,000 was erected, and Rev. D. G. Bradford was the first pastor and served until 1857. Rev. R. G. Campbell was pastor from 1857, until 1867, in connection with the Centerville church, Rev. J. R. Slents served from 1869, to 1873, and was succeeded in 1874, by Rev. W. Weir, and he by Rev. A. E. Brownlee, who is still in charge. The church at Warnock's and at Belmont, on the line of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, was organized in 1827. The church at Warnock's, built in 1828 of brick, was replaced in 1871 by the present neat structure. Rev.. Joseph Closkey was the first minister. Rev. Samuel McArthur succeeded him in August, 1838. In 1853, Josiah Alexander served the congregation, and was followed in 1858, by Rev. William Grimes, and at this period the church name was changed from Associate Reform Presbyterian to United Presbyterian. This pastorate continued until 1862. In 1865, this church on political grounds, withdrew from the United Presbyterian synod, and united with the Associate Reform synod of the south. Rev. W. S. Moffat became pastor in 1867. The Catholic Church. - The first Catholic church in this part of the state was the St. Francis church in Beaver township, Noble county, just beyond the western border of Belmont county, a majority of whose members resided in and around Temperanceville, in Somerset township, Belmont county. A log building was erected in 1822, on lands given by Mr. Gallagher, and was called St. Dominic's church. In 1854 a large building of brick was erected in which the congregation still worship. The church now numbers 250 communicants. The Bellaire Catholic church was organized during the construction of the Central Ohio R. R. in 1855, by Rev. Michael Kennedy, but when the road was finished it was found that the congregation could not support a minister, and Bellaire was dependent upon Rev. John W. Jaquet, then resident at the Beaver church. In 1857 the property on Belmont 784 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. street was purchased and the erection of St. John's church commenced, one of the lots having been donated by John H. Sullivan. The church grew steadily under the ministration of Father Jacquet, until 1869, who was succeeded by Rev. P. J. Duly, who built and paid for the pastoral residence in 1870. Rev. Thomas Whalen succeeded for a year,.and then Rev. P. H. D. Steyel, who built an addition to the church, purchased a bell and enlarged the school building, ending his service in 1878. Rev. D. B. Cull, a very popular clergyman, succeeded him, and was very successful until his death in 1887. He raised money and purchased the desirable lots at the head of Guernsey street, and raised money toward the construction of a new church and school building. He was succeeded by Rev. Fitz, the present pastor, who will, during the present year, begin the erection of the new church and school buildings. The church now has over i,000 communicants, and over 200 children in the schools taught by the sisters of charity. The Martin's Ferry Catholic church erected in 1872, a frame church, 25x45. It was a mission supplied from Bellaire, until 1875, when Rev. J. A. Maroney took charge as resident pastor; succeeded in 1877 by Rev. Joseph Tuohy. Rev. Mattingly is the present pastor. There are several small missions along the B. & 0. railroad, supplied from Bellaire and Beaver churches, that have in all 300 or 400 communicants. Episcopal Church. - In 1872 "Trinity Mission, Bellaire," was organized by Rev. John Long, of Wellsville, Ohio. The society rented and used for over six years a building on the corner of Belmont and Thirty-sixth streets, formerly occupied as a cabinet-shop. At the organization there were eight communicants. Rev. Jacob Rambo took charge of the mission in 1873. In 1878 a lot was purchased on Noble street, north of Indian run, and a neat frame building 25x45 feet erected, costing about $2,150. At this time the membership was forty- eight. The succeeding ministers were Rev. John S. Gibson in 1880; Rev. W. W. Walker in 1882; Rev. W. S. Campbell in 1887, and Rev. Charles O'Meara in 1890. The present membership is about the same as in 1878. There is an Episcopal church at Martin's Ferry with a neat new church building, and fifty members.