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Mr. Pritchard's report for February of the same year shows 247 cases of tardiness; February, 1915, 27 cases. The first colored teacher in Wilmington, as far as any record shows, was Charles Hurd, who was employed in 1853 to teach the colored youth of the town and township at one dollar per day for sixty-five days. Mr. Hurd seems to have been very successful, as he taught for many years at increasing wages, his last term being in 1867. Other men who have done excellent service as principals of the colored schools are G. W. Mitchell, G. W. Guy, Solomon Day, A. R. Guy, C. A. Napper, J. W. Stewart and the present principal, Squire Buster, who has been re-elected for his thirteenth year of service. It is interesting to note that the enrollment in the colored schools in 1870 was seventy-three, the same as in 1915, although in the latter year there were about twenty colored pupils in the white schools. The first graduating class of the Wilmington high school was that of 1873, consisting of ten members, as follow : C. A. Bosworth, Ella Moore, Olive Linton, Eva M. Wolf, 0. S. Martin, Augusta Levy, A. E. Clevenger, Eppie McMillan, W. F. Grantham and D. C. Osborn. The largest class to graduate was that of 1914, containing forty-six members. The total number of graduates is six hundred thirteen, two hundred sixty-eight boys and three hundred forty-five girls, many of whom have achieved distinction in scholarship, business and professions. The schools, and especially the high school, have been largely patronized by non- CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 151 resident pupils, the tuition of which, in the school year of 1914-15, amounted to one thousand seven hundred fifty-five dollars. To go into the detail of the inside workings of the schools, its policies, courses of study and activities in general, is precluded by the space available for this article and by consideration of the interest and patience of the reader. Suffice it to say, that there exist no illusions among teachers or pupils as to the methods or conditions by which are grown the "fruits of the mind." There is no "tempering of the wind to the shorn lamb" to such an extent that the lamb may only frisk and frolic and grow no wool. Teachers and pupils live a life together which is expected to reveal and give to the pupil a true sense of that larger life that awaits him and some measure of knowledge and will and power for the solution of its problems. The high school has held the rank of "first grade" since 1903; it was "recognized" by the Ohio State University in 1906, and fully accredited in 1908. It was put on the accredited list of the North Central College Association of the United States' in 1913 and on the list accredited by Pennsylvania University in 1915. These facts are probably the most satisfactory evidence of the quality and character of the Wilmington public schools and the attitude of the people, the devotion of its teachers and the merit of its management. CHAPTER X. CHURCHES OF CLINTON COUNTY. WILMINGTON FRIENDS CHURCH. The history of, the Friends church of Wilmington up to its establishment as a yearly meeting in 1868, is more or less obscure. Records are not available to trace in detail the history of the church from its inception up to 1868 and the present ardcle necessarily depends upon previous written accounts, supplemented by the memory of the older members of the church. In 1909, R. C. Greene, clerk of the monthly meeting at the time and still holding this office, compiled a history of the .church from the records and such other sources as were at his command. From the best authority obtainable, it appears that in January, 1825, the Friends of Wilmington requested of Center monthly meeting the privilege of an indulged meeting. This request . was granted in March, and in April of the same year the first indulged meeting was opened in Wilmington. Joel Thornburg, Solomon Starbuck, Joseph Doan, Jr., Benjamin Farquhar, Azariah Wall, Daniel Birdsall and James Stanhope had charge of the installation of the meeting. There is every reason to believe that a small, one-story, brick meeting house was erected in the same year on West Main street. The meeting thus established was only fairly started when a division appeared in its ranks. Elias Hicks paid a visit to Clinton county in the fall of 182'8 and, according to his autobiography, he was in the county from September 19 to 23, and spoke in the court house in Wilmington on Sunday, September 21. He spoke at four other, places in the county, but makes specific mention only of the meeting at Center. He preached so effectively in Wilmington that he gained a considerable following, but just how many accepted his teaching will probably never be known, since there are no official records extant of the separate meeting which his followers set up shortly after he left town. The records of the Center meeting show that many of that congregation accepted his doctrine and that they were visited by other members of the church who sought to bring them back into the fold. In 1828, the Hicksites, as his followers were called, had possession of the church building and of such records as had been kept. By 1839, however, the Orthodox Friends had so recovered their strength in Wilmington that, on December 12th of that year, they requested the indulgence of a meeting for divine worship. Accordingly, the second indulged meeting was held in Wilmington on January 24, 1839. They purehased a round-topped, octagonal-shaped brick building, which stood on the southeast corner of Columbus and Lincoln strets and which had formerly been used as a school building., The prominent members at this time were Walter and Sarah Carpenter, John Mabee, Asa Hoge, the Doans and the Haworths. This building remained their home until some time early in the sixties, when they sold it and again took possession of the church building erected in 1825. The Hicksites had apparently grown so weak that they were unable to maintain an organization and they offered no opposition to the Orthodox -Friends when the latter took possession of the building which they (the Hicksites) had been using since the schism of 1828.
CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 153 The next important step taken by the Orthodox Friends of Wilmington occurred in 1868. In January of that year, they requested Center quarterly meeting to establish a preparative and monthly meeting in Wilmington. John carter, David Curl, Jonathan Bailey, Abel Beven, Mark Peelle, Charles T. Norman, Asa Walker and Peter Osborn were appointed to take the matter under consideration and at the next: quarterly meeting, upon the favorable report of this committee, the request was granted. The Center quarterly meeting appointed John M. Pidgeon, Wiliam P. Harvey, Eber Haines, Thomas Walthol, David Curl, Mary T. Bailey, Amy Starbuck, Rachel M. Hadley and Eliza Osborn to attend the first monthly meeting at Wilmington, which was set for May 12, 1868. Hiram Coate and Abigail J. Hadley were clerks of the Center, quarterly meeting at this time. The Wilmington monthly meeting was established with one hundred seventy-eight members, representing three monthly meetings, as follows: Cen7 ter, one hundred nineteen; Springfield,' thirty-seven; Dover, twenty-two. The first minister obtaining a minute for religious service ,was David Hadley. The • first minister visiting the monthly meeting with a minute was David Hunt from Honey Creek (Iowa) monthly meeting. The second minister obtaining a minute for service was Mary N. Hadley. The second minister visiting the monthly meeting with a minute was Hazael D. Greene, from Fairfield (Ohio) monthly meeting, accompanied by Gershem Perdue as traveling companion. The first Friends recorded as ministers were Levi Mills and Henry Merrill (November, 1874). Since that date three others have been recorded as ministers—Jonathan B. -Wright, May, 1883; Louis T. Jones, February, 1909, and Alexander C. Purdy, August, 1912. From the establishment of the monthly meeting in 1868, until 1901, the church was in charge of ministers • who served without salary. During this period of thirty-three years some noted men preached at various times. In the seventies John Henry and Robert Walter Douglass, brothers, often preached at Wilmington. The former is probably the most noted evangelist the Friends church ever had in the United States and Wilmington was glad to claim him as a resident for nearly a decade. He, as well as his brother, preached not only in various parts of the -United States, but also in England as well. Both of the brothers are still living. But the one man who did more for the church during this period (1868-1901) than any other person was Levi • Mills, the present probate judge of Clinton county. Becoming a minister- in 1874, he preached in the Wilmington meeting for more than twenty years, and during . much of this time preached regularly. Before 1901 many of the professors in Wilmington College filled the pulpit at intervals, the most prominent being Benjamin Trueblood. The first regular pastor with a salary was engaged in 1901. Since that date the following pastors have served the church : Robert E. Pretlow, 1901-06 ; Prof. Edgar - H. Stranahan, 1906-07; Richard Newby, 1907-10; Ellison R. Purdy, 1910 to the present time. Wilmington monthly meeting has established two churches in the county. A preparative meeting was established at Sabina in March, 1877, and this was changed to a monthly meeting in September, 1892. The Cuba preparative meeting was set up in August, 1896, and the church at that place still remains under the jurisdiction of the Wilmington monthly meeting. The East Wilmington mission was opened in November, 1888, and, in March, 1889, a committee was appointed to have charge of the work. A full discussion of this mission is given later on in this article. The following persons have served as clerks of the monthly meeting: Benjamin Farquahar, one Year ; Amos Hockett, two years; John C. Cook, ten years; James B. Unthank, one year ; John C. Cook, one year ; James B. Unthank. one year ; Isadah Peelle, eleven years; James B. Unthank, two years; R. C. Greene, three years; Franklin S. Lamar, one year ; R. C. Greene, eight years. Mr. Greene is the present clerk. There were separate business meetings for the men and women from 1868 to 1886, the two 154 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. being consolidated in March, 1886. The clerks of the women's meeting were as follow : Caroline E. Harlin, two years; Rhoda Worthington, eleven yearg; Carrie Hadley, three years; Eunice Lewis, one year. The present pastor of the church is Ellison R. Purdy ; the resident ministers are John M. Watson, Sarah Caroline Hadley, Levi Mills, Albert J. Brown and Waldo Woody. Alexander C. Purdy is a non-resident minister. The other officers of the church are Richard C. Greene, clerk ; Ethel S. McCoy, recorder and assistant clerk ; Charles Farquhar, treasurer; C. Grant Fairley. Bible school superintendent; Ruth Farquhar, superintendent of the Friends mission of Ada chapel; A. I. Bailey, J. W. Sparks and Elijah Peelle, trustees. The elders of the church are Ellen C. Wright, Hugh McCoy, Margaret McCoy, Austin Jones, Ruth Farquhar, Mary A. Mather, Francis Farquhar, Alonzo A. Linton, C. Grant Fairley, Esther Peelle, James F. Smith, Emmet W. Hale, Ann C Brackney, Ada Jenkins, Richard C. Greene, Margaretta Peelle, Harriet W. Purdy, Charles Farquhar, Milton J. Farquhar, Laurenna Farquhar and Lura Hunnicutt. The church overseers are Josiah W. Sparks, Laura B. Sparks, Wilson Hunnicutt, Sarah Peelle, Ellen C. Hadley and Mary E. Bailey. The pastoral committee is composed of the ministers, the elders and the overseers. The work of the church is under the direction of the following committees : Home missions, foreign missions, peace, temperance, finance, social, music, Bible school, funeral and sick. The auxiliary organizations are the Women's Foreign Missionary Society, the Ladies' Aid Society, Ladies' Social Circle, Christian Endeavor, Intermediate Christian Endeavor and Junior Christian Endeavor. As has been stated, the Friends, in the early sixties, took possession of the building which had been erected in 1825. This was sold in 1870 and a brick school building, which stood on the site of the present church, was purchased. This was used as a house of worship until 1895, when it was torn down to make way for the beautiful stone structure which now occupies the same site. The new church was dedicated on July 19, 1896. Wilmington yearly meeting of Friends, with headquarters at Wilmington, was incorporated under the laws of Ohio and set off by the Indiana yearly meeting in 1892. It comprises the three quarterly meetings of Fairfield„ Center and Miami, in Ohio, and Friendsville quarterly meeting, in eastern Tennessee. The yearly meeting had a membership of six thousand five hundred and seventy-two according to the report of 1915, the larger portion of whom reside in Clinton county. Upon the establishment of the yearly meeting in 1892, James B. Unthank was elected clerk, or presiding officer, and continued in the same honorary office until 1903, when he retired from Wilmington College and moved to Indiana. Jonathan Wright succeeded him and acted as clerk until 1907, when he was compellel to retire because of ill health. Albert J. Brown has held the office since 1908. It is a matter of pride to the local Church that it is the second largest in the world. being surpassed only by the Whittier meeting in California. It is also noteworthy that Clinton county has more Friends within its boundaries than any other county in the United States in proportion to its size. ADA CHAPEL. The history of Ada chapel, or East Wilmington mission, dates back to 1888, when Lizzie R. Marvey took the first step toward the establishment of the mission. Mrs Harvey, who died on March 23, 1890, was a teacher in the primary department of the Wilmington schools for six years. Among the children under her care she found many cases of absence caused by poverty. In visiting the homes of some of the children, she became convinced that the church could be an influential factor in bettering conditions in many of them. CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 155 Accordingly, She obtained permission from the Friends church to hold a gospel meeting in one of the rude homes. In the afternoon of November 5. 1888, in company with her husband and seven friends, Mrs. Harvey met at this place to hold a religious meeting. Besides the women of the household, there were present a few school children. These meetings in private horns in East Wilmington were continued under the guidance of Mrs. Harvey alone until March, 1889. At that time she requested the monthly meeting to help her in some way. Her request was granted and a committee was appointed to relieve her of her work and continue it along the same general plan which she had worked out. This committee was composed of Lizzie R. Harvey, Caroline E. Nordyke, Aizina W. Barlow, Susannah Gallup, Rebecca Haworth, Azariah W. Doan and Asa Nordyke, to which committee were later added James Fisher and Dinah Unthank. . Finally, a small room, twelve by fourteen feet, situated opposite the colored Baptist church, was rented for two dollars per month. This was paid by a collection from the members, each week. However, the attendance increased until this room proved inadequate. Through the efforts of the Christian Endeavor Society, the matter of building a more suitable place for holding the meetings was brought before the monthly business meetings of the Friends, which, after some deliberation, instructed the Christian Endeavor to go on with the work, and consented that the trustees should have charge of the property, which was purchased in October, 1892. Caroline Nordyke, who, with others, had labored faithfully since the beginning of the work, secured subscriptions of several dollars which had not been collected. Clara Todhunter was given charge of this list, and received one hundred ninety-six dollars, including forty-two dollars from the Christian Endeavor ; also donations from Friends, citizens, and the members of the mission themselves, totaling about two hundred, and seventy-five dollars. The little chapel was inclosed in August, 1893, and was in constant use until 1911. Mrs. Harvey did not live to see the complete realization of her plans, dying within less than a year after the monthly meeting had taken charge of her work in 1889. Many times her heart was burdened and she said, "If the work were mine, I should feel discouraged; but, since it is the Lord's, I will trust Him to care for it. Praise His name. He is able." In the little account which she kept of these meetings, is found the following prayer : "February 10, 1889—God save Wilmington, and raise up a little mission chapel in Clarktown." This prayer was answered in a most striking manner when, on November 5, 1911, a beautiful brick edifice was dedicated which had been erected through the generosity of Mrs. Ada H. Jenkins. In honor of Mrs. Jenkins, the building was called the Ada chapel. During the past four years the work of the mission has been steadily enlarged and its influence for good in the community which it serves cannot be overestimated. Classes in sewing, cooking and domestic science and arts have been established ; religious and educational work is maintained and every effort made to appeal to the young people of the community in a way to direct them toward a higher plane of living. To its able and enthusiastic workers too much credit cannot be given. Mrs. Jenkins is not content to bestow "the gift without the giver," but is a tireless and efficient worker, always at her post of duty. Miss Ruth Farquhar has been superintendent of the mission for many years. From the beginning it has received the best efforts of Miss Farquhar and in her management of its many and varied interests she has displayed administrative and executive ability of a high order. FAIRVIEW FRIENDS CHURCH. The Fairview Friends church is located in Green township about four miles north of New Vienna, on the Wilmington-Highland pike. The church was organized in 1809 156 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. and at once erected a house of worship. The leader in the organization of the new church was John Henry Douglas, who held a very remarkable series of revival meetings in the neighborhood in 1868-69. Before the pastoral system was adopted, Israel Terrell and John Fisher for many years "sat at the head of the meeting." Among the ministers who have served this church may be mentioned Allen Terrell, Lizzie Marshall, Emma Townshend, Robert Luttrell, Elizabeth Larkins, J. Waldo Woody, Levi Mills, Josephus Hoskins and Frank Barrett. The present membership is one hundred and seventy-five. In 1911 a new church was erected at a cost of about nine thousand dollars. DOVER FRIENDS CHURCH. The Dover meeting began' as an indulged meeting sometime after Center was granted the same privilege in 1805. There were not sufficient members at first to warrant the erection of a building, so they worshipped at the home of Ezekiel Frazier for some time. As the Friends became more numerous, they wished to have a preparatory meeting established, and, upon requesting Center monthly meeting for this privilege, it was granted without delay. The Dover monthly meeting dates from September, 1824. The first house of worship was a rude log structure which stood several rods northeast of the present building. The present brick building was erected in 1844 on ground deeded (January 13, 1824) by Amos Hodgson to Daniel Bailey and Gayer Starbuck, trustees of Dover meeting, in consideration of three dollars. The one and one-half acres donated lie in survey No. 1,236. The recorded ministers of Dover monthly meeting since 1824 have been as follows : John Parson, 1845; Wilson Carter, 1850.; John Henry Douglass, 1858; Cyrus R. Carter, 1859; John M. Pidgeon and Louis Hunt, 1866; William P. Gallimore, 1869; Isaac Peelle, 1871; Micajah F. Moorman, 1872; Josephus Hoskins, 1874. Mr. Hoskins became the principal minister about 1880 and served the meeting most acceptably until about 1905. Since that year I. Lindley Jones, Prof. Samuel H. Haworth, Prof. Waldo Woody and Prof. Albert J. Brown have served the church. The present membership is one hundred and sixty. A Sunday school, with an average attendance of eighty, is maintained throughout the year. NEW BURLINGTON FRIENDS CHURCH. The Friends church at New Btirlington dates back to 1871, in which year the meeting was set up by Caesar's Creek monthly meeting. Among the charter members were Joseph Painter and family, Amos Hawkins and family, Phares Compton and family, Eli Compton and wife, Amos and Ann Mendenhall Compton and children, Dr. Benjamin Farquhar and family, John and Sarah Grant, Peter DeHaven and family. In 1870 the meeting bought the abandoned building of the Wesleyan Methodists in New Burlington and continued to use it until the present brick building was erected in 1894. It cost forty-five hundred dollars and was dedicated in January, 1895. Among the ministers of the meeting have been James Hawkins, Benjamin Walton, Edward R. Walton and Fesse Hawkins, the present pastor. The membership in 1915 is one hundred and sixty-three. The following auxiliaries are represented in the church : Sabbath school, Christian Endeavor and Women's Foreign Missionary Society. CUBA FRIENDS CHURCH. The Cuba Friends' church dates from the organization of a preparative meeting at Cuba some twenty-five years ago. The early history of the congregation cannot be accurately ascertained because the first record books were destroyed when the neighborhood was visited with diphtheria some years later. The inspired spirit of the organization was Eliza Bates, who lived in the country near Cuba. She started a campaign for subscriptions for the purchase of a lot, which she bought of Peter Clevenger. She CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 157 then appeared before the Martinsville monthly meeting and asked their aid in the purchase of a necessary house for church purposes. The sum needed was one hundred and twenty-five dollars. They appointed a committee to visit Cuba and decided that the undertaking was an impossible one. Mrs. Bates then carried the matter before the Wilmington monthly meeting, which also sent out a committee to look over the situation. They likewise thought that the building selected was not satisfacory, but encouraged her in her efforts and promised their aid and support. Meanwhile a tent had been purchased and a few meetings held on the lot. Mrs. Bates, with renewed courage, decided that a building could be built. She went to Alfred Villars, who gave all the rough timber necessary. A quarry north of Wilmington donated the stone for the foundation and Brown & Clark did the sawing. The men of the neighborhood came in with their teams, did the grading, dug the foundations and did the hauling and were rewarded for their services by a feast prepared by the women. The carpenters of the neighborhood donated their time and labor. Part of the lumber was carried on their backs from the saw-mill near the railroad. The building was soon finished and became known as Quaker Hill Chapel. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. Benjamin Morris. A Sabbath school was soon organized. The little band struggled on. fighting hard for existence, recruiting its members slowly. An organ was obtained a few months after the founding. Among the early ministers of the church may be mentioned the names of John Cook, who drove from Beech Grove; John Hawkins. James. Craig, Albert Jones, Eldon Ross. A great and noble part in the early organization of the church was taken by Mrs. C. C. Clark, who was the superintendent of the first Sunday school, and the constant aid of Eliza Bates, In 1896, Robert H. Luttrell, then minister, asked the monthly meeting to establish a preparative meeting for Cuba, which was done in August of that year, with Grace Biggs, as clerk, and Clyde Beard, treasurer. Seventeen conversions were made the following winter and new interest, was revived in the community. A committee was appointed in September to solicit funds to built a parsonage. It was during this winter that diphtheria visited the village of Cuba and brought sorrow to so many homes. This delayed the work on the parsonage, but it was finished before spring. Since that time the fortune of the church has fluctuated, but a steady progress has been maintained. The following have served a s ministers: John Mercer, A. M. Gibson, Samuel H. Hamilton, Mrs. Ada Lee, Homer Biddlecum, and Josephus Hoskins. Mrs. Ida Allen is the present (1915) minister. THE HICKSITE FRIENDS OF CLINTON COUNTY. The Hicksite branch of the Friends has no meeting in Clinton county at the present time, and, according to the testimony of R. L. Greene, the Hicksites have never had but two meetings in the county. In 1828 Elias Hicks paid a visit to Wilmington and as a result of his preaching he brought abOut a division in the Friends meeting in the town. Just when the division took place and who the leaders of the seceding branch were, is not known, since the early records are lost. In 1828 the division seems to have been established, the followers of Hicks being called Hicksites and those rejecting his teaching, the Orthodox Friends. Jacob Jackson was the first Hicksite minister in Jackson township, and probably in the county. The Hicksites in Wilmington outnumbered the Orthodox branch when the division was effected in 1828, and consequently they gained possession of the building. The Orthodox branch refused to worship with their radical brothers and for the fol, lowing eleven years attended meeting at Dover or Center. It was not until 1854 that the Orthodox Friends got control of the building in Wilmington again, although they had purchased an old school building in the town in 1839 in which they had been holding services for fifteen years. By 1854 the Hicksites had become so weak in num- 158 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. bers that they offered no opposition to their former brothers in Christ when the Latter took possession of the old church building. The Hicksites never again effected an organization in Wilmington. The other Hicksite meeting in Clinton county was located at Martinsville and, according to R. L. Greene, flourished between about 1844 and 1852. The Martinsville building was a frame structure, about twenty by thirty feet in size, and was in the midst of a dense woods which closely surrounded the building on three sides, an open space being cleared on the east as the door opened on that side. Christopher Hiatt was the head of the meeting and, according to the best authority obtainable, the meeting "was laid down at his death." Fir sixty years the Hicksites have not held regular meetings in the county, those still of this persuasion attending at Waynesville in Warren county occasionally. Waynesville has the only Hicksite meeting in this section of the state. SABINA FRIENDS CHURCH. The Friends church at Sabina was organized during the winter of 1878-79 as a result of the evangelistic efforts of Nathan and Esther Frame, of Jamestown, Ohio. The preparative meeting was set up by the Wilmington monthly meeting and for the first two years services were held in the Methodist Episcopal church in Sabina through the Courtesy of that denomination. In 1880 a lot was purchased on Elm street of Mrs. E. A. Newman for the sum of four hundred dollars. On this lot a one-story brick building was erected, at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. This building, with many improvements, is still in use. Among the charter members of the church may be mentioned Ellis A. and Emma Lewis, David and Mattie Edwards, Dr. A. J. and Celia Gaskins, Dr. S. B. and Adna H. Lightner, William and Mary Pavey, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Wright and Isaac and Margaret Roberts. In 1915 the church enrolled about two hundred members. The following ministers have served the church : Levi Mills, Robert Douglas, Alfred Brown, Alpheus Trueblood, Mary Moon Meredith, Benjamin Morris, Morton C. Pearson, Edgar H. Stranahan, Alfred J. Copeland, Thomas L. Scott, Lindley Jones, John F. Nelson and Eliza H. Thorne, the latter two being the present ministers. 'Mrs. Thorne has been the resident pastor for many years. The church owns a parsonage near the meeting house. A Sunday school is maintained under the superintendency of James F. Gaskins. Anna S. Lewis is president of the Ladies' Aid Society. The clerk of the church is Louisa P. Moon. CHESTER FRIENDS CHURCH. The Friends church at Chester began to hold indulged meetings in that neighborhood early in the history of the county The first services were held in a school house on the farm of Thomas McMillan, Sr., but in 1828 a lot was donated, a log church erected and since that time regular services have been held. The log building gave way to a brick structure in 1844 and this second building was in use for a period of seventy years. In 1914 a ten-thousand-dollar house of worship was erected on the old site. Anna C. Wall, the oldest living member of the congregation, remembers the days of the old log church and the dedication of the first brick building in 1844. The church maintains a Sunday school and a Christian Endeavor society. The Sunday school has been going for more than thirty years and the Christian Endeavor for half that length of time. The congregation now numbers two hundred and eighty-six members. The present resident ministers are Eber Haines, John E. Hawkins and Jennie Carey. The church is in Chester township, on the Wilmington and New Burlington pike, about a mile and a half west of Gurneyville. CENTER FRIENDS CHURCH. The history of the Center meeting dates back more .than a hundred and ten years, and the church building which they erected in 1805 has the honor of being the first house CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 159 of worship erected within the limits of Clinton county. As a matter of fact, this church was flourishing several years before Clinton county was even organized. The lapse of so many years makes it practically impossible to get exact data, but, from the best evidence obtainable, it seems that the first meeting in the Center community was held at the home of Robert Radius some time between 1800 and 1803. A deed, dated December 19, 1803: shows that James Murray conveyed fifteen acres of ground in the northwestern part of what is now Union township, to Nathan Linton, James Moon and Isaac Perkins, "Trustees of the Society of Friends on Todd's Fork." This tract was for the purpose of providing a site for a meeting house and cemetery. Just when the first church was erected is not known, neither is there any extant record showing when permission was granted to hold an indulged or preparative meeting. The late Judge Harlan, in his sketch of Robert Eachus, says: "In May, 1805, Miami quarterly allowed the holding of the proposed meeting, soon after which a house, made of hewn logs, without door or floor, was built, and meetings were held twice a week therein. This house is believed to be the first house of worship erected in what is now Clinton county." (Clinton county was organized in 1810.) A monthly meeting was granted and established at Center on February 7, 1807. With the influx of settlers of this denomination the little log church was soon too small to accommodate the growing congregation, and another log building, much larger, having two rooms, was built eight or ten rods southeast of the present site, the old building serving as a woodshed. The first quarterly meeting at Center was held March 13, 1826. The records disclose the fact that as early as 1824 the church had asked for such a meeting, but there is nothing to indicate that there was such a meeting prior to 1826. The present brick building was erected in 1828. The building is fifty by eighty feet, and, as were all the early churches of the Friends, was divided into two apartments.. During all these years this church has been an active factor in the life of the people of the surrounding community. Thousands have gathered within the quiet walls of this quaint old church and there received that divine inspiration which has enabled them to become better and more useful citizens. The church now has a membership of one hundred and five. The present pastor is Nancy A. C. Leonard. SPRINGFIELD FRIENDS CHURCH The history of the Friends church, known as Springfield, dates back more than a century. It is not only one of the oldest churches of this denomination in Ohio, but also one of the earliest west of the Alleghanies. Most of the early settlers of the Springfield neighborhod came from North Carolina, being driven from that state on account of their intense hatred of the institution of slavery. In the fall of 1806 four brothers—Eli, Isaac, Caleb and Joshua Harvey—came from that state and settled in Chester township, or rather in what was later organized as that township. The county of Clinton was not organized until four years later. These brothers built a small school house on the northwest corner of the farm now owned, by Jesse H. Harvey and in this they held indulged meetings regularly until 1812. In that year the meeting was formally organized and a house of worship erected on the site of the present church structure. The first volume of church records has been lost and consequently the early history of the church is difficult to trace. It is known that there have been three buildings erected on the same site and that the last one' was built in 1891, at a cost of twenty-six hundred dollars. A large cemetery joins the church, in which may be found graves dating back more than a century. The first person buried in this cemetery was Lydia, the wife of Isaac Harvey, who died on January 2, 1813. The loss of the early records makes it impossible to give' a complete list of the ministers and pastors who have ministered to this congregation. Among the ministers may be mentioned Charles Osborn, Enos G. Pray, Eli Newlin, Jacob Hadley, Mary N. 160 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. Hadley, John H. Douglas, and Jonathan Wright. Among the pastors have been John Kittrel, Levi Mills and Jesse H. Harvey. The church now has a membership of two hundred and it is safe to say that hundreds of others have been communicants during its long carer of more than a hundred years. A Sabbath school and Christian Endeavor society are maintained throughout the year and both organizations are doing good work in the cause of the Master. This meeting is one of the oldest in the Mississippi valley and the thousands who have come under its influence have had cause to be thankful for its guidance. The present pastor is Jesse H. Harvey. OGDEN FRIENDS CHURCH. The Ogden Friends church dates back to 1817, although it was not located at the village until 1869. The present organization at Ogden was first established at what was known as Lytle's creek, where a house of worship was erected by the congregation in 1817 on three acres of land donated for church and cemetery purposes by Richard Fallis. The congregation continued to meet here until 1869, when they bought the Methodist Protestant church at Ogden. The old church at Lytle's Creek was sold in the latter part of the seventies to Elmer McMillan. Among the ministers who have served this church may be mentioned Elizabeth Haney, John C. Crites, John Kittrel, Lewis Moon and Bertha E. Day, the present pastor. The membership of the church now numbers one hundred. A Sabbath school, Ladies' Aid Society and Junior Band are maintained by the church. GRASSY RUN MEETING. Within a few years after the organization of Clinton county, in 1810, John Pearson, John Peelle, William Gallemore and others, either members of or who had been brought up in the faith and practices of the religious Society of Friends, had settled in the northern part of the county, in the part that later was organized into Wilson township. In accord with that most excellent custom of the pioneers of our country they soon began holding religious meetings, using each others' homes, in turn, for that purpose. As early as 1820 these worthy pioneers were gathered into an "indulged meeting,"— i. e., a meeting under the care of the committee set apart for the duty by a superior body. This organization was Center Monthly Meeting of Friends. When Dover Monthly Meeting was "set up" in 1824, the indulged meeting here was given into its charge as being in its limits. The first official mention is the following minute on the records of Dover Monthly Meeting, 6th of 11th month, 1824 : "The subject of the indulged meeting on Grassy Run coming before this body, resulted in the appointment of John Oren, Daniel Bailey, Jonah Frazer, Moses Frazer, Thomas P. Moorman, Gayer Starbuck and Charles Atkinson to sit with them from time to time, render them such advice as they may be enabled, and report to a future meeting; also to report a Friend for overseer of that meeting, to next meeting." The month following the date of the above extract, John Pearson's name was proposed as overseer and the meeting united in his appointment to that office. Annually, for the five years following, a committee was appointed by Dover Monthly Meeting with powers similar to the above. The year following the "Hicksite Separation,:' this minute was placed on record under date of the 16th of the 4th month, 1829 : "The committee appointed to visit the indulged meeting on Grassy Run made the following report : We of the committee attended to that appointment, had a conference with the members of that meeting and are united in judgment that the indulgence thereof has continued as long as is profitable." (Signed) David McMillan, Nathaniel Carter, Mahlon Haworth, Charles T. Moorman, Moses Frazer, William Shields, Daniel Bailey, Phoebe Haworth and Lydia Oren, "which this meeting unites with, and discontinues the indulgence of Grassy Run Meeting."
CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 161 "Alexander Oren, David Bailey, Jonah Frazer and James Bryan were appointed to attend that meeting, inform them of the above proceedings and report to next meeting." The next month this entry was made: "The Friends appointed to attend the laying down of Grassy Run Indulged Meeting—report it is complied with." Three months later the following petition was signed and forwarded: To Dover 'Monthly Meeting of Friends, to be held the 16th of 7th month, 1829. "Dear Friends: The Friends of Grassy Run, having conferred together, are united in requesting for an established meeting for worship, to be held on first and fourth days in each week. Also a preparative meeting to be held on the fourth day preceding monthly meeting week." (Signed) John Peelle, William Gallemore, George Stout, Joel Hunt, Jesse Hiatt, John Patterson, William Gallemore, Jr., Cephas Atkinson, Jesse Carter, John Pearson, Lydia Peelle, Mary Hunt, Mary Gallemore, Phebe Stout, Levicy Hiatt, Dinah Wyles, Rebecca Patterson and Hannah Pearson. "Which claiming the attention of this meeting, we appoint David Bailey, Charles T. Moorman, Daniel Bailey, Joseph Doan, Jr., and George Carter to visit them in conjunction with a committee of women Friends, endeavor to judge the propriety of granting their request and report to the next meeting." The committee reporting was continued from month to month. Under the date 19th of the 11th month, 1829, we find : "The committee continued on the request of Friends living on Grassy Run for an established meeting, report they have attended to the appointment, and are free to grant their request, which report is united with by -this and the women's meeting, and directs the request forwarded to quarterly meeting." Center Quarterly Meeting appointed a committee to consider the propriety of confirming the request, which reported that, "they had visited Friends of Grassy Run, had a solid opportunity with them, and after mature deliberation, feel their request for a meeting of worship be granted to be held on the first and fourth days except fourth day in quarterly and monthly meeting weeks, but granted not the preparative, which was united with and the meeting established 5th month 19th, 1830." Some time later the preparative was granted, being one of the preparatives forming Dover Monthly Meeting. This allianee continued until the action of the "Five Year Meeting," a few years since, in a measure abolished the preparative. Since them Grassy Run has exercised the rights and privileges of a Monthly Meeting. The name of the meeting was taken from a stream flowing near the first meeting house ground. The first house of worship was a hewed-log structure situated on land now owned by heirs of William P. Gallemore. This was in use until 1848, when a substantial frame edifice, twenty-four by forty feet, of the universal type of 9uaker meeting houses of that date, was built on land donated by John Peelle, about one mile southeast of the old location. This served its day and generation well. In 1882 the brick edifice now in use was constructed. SCHOOLS. Grassy Run has had a very gratifying record for school and college attendance. In the "forties" the meeting house was used as a monthly meeting school room and Friends were active and earnest in the cause of education. In addition to paying school tax levied by the state they cheerfully and voluntarily contributed of their means to support a system of monthly meeting schools. In 1850 the Grassy Run meeting built a school house on the meeting-house lot. In this building a very successful school was conducted until the close of the Civil War. Changes in population and improvement in the public-school system has been the cause of closing the Friends monthly meeting schools, and since then many of the young people have attended the College of Friends at Wilmington. (11) 162 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL. With little exception Grassy Run has always been favored with a resident "recorded minister." John Pearson, Cornelius Douglas, with his nephews, John Henry and Robert Walter, George Carter and his sons, Wilson and Cyrus E., Eunice Winslow, Lewis Hunt, John M. Pidgeon, Isaiah Peelle, William P. Gallemore and Joseph Whinery, with his wife Edna, at different times, through a period of more than three-quarters of a century, have been zealous exponents of the Gospel. At the "head of this meeting," for forty-five years, sat John Peelle, one of the pioneers, and rarely was his place vacant—a length of time seldom equaled, even among as long-lived a people as the Quakers. WILMINGTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Methodist Episcopal church was the earliest religious organization in Wilmington. In 1813 a class was organized which met weekly in the homes of the seven members who composed it. The seven members to serve in this spiritual kingdom were James and Lydia Birdsall, Levi and Sarah Sheppard, Israel and Kate Johns and Mrs. D. McVeigh Jones. Over this little flock of worshippers, Rev. William Austin. the father-in-law of Mrs. Lois Austin, presided. This little band of Christian workers held nightly meetings at the home of the members and at other places where they were invited. They sang, prayed and exhorted among their friends and neighbors and many souls were won to Christ through the simple, but no less effective, work of these humble workers in the Saviour's vineyard. Their fervor was rewarded for it was not long until others joined the devout little band, among the number being Thomas Gaskill and family, A. T. Sewell and family, Joel Woodruff and wife, Charles Russell and family, Daniel Jones and wife and others whose names have, unfortunately, not come down to us. It is of interest to know that Charles Russell was the father of Dr. A. P. Russell and that Amos T. Sewell was the father of Mrs. Sarah Hale, who resides on West Main street, next door to her son, Dr. W. R. Hale, and whose vigorous memory treasures a rich store of anecdotes and reminiscences of pioneer days. Mr. Sewell often talked to his daughter of the joys and sorrows of the early settlers. He, with several other Methodist families, lived about two miles out the Prairie road, which at that time was a trail through a swamp. Every prayer meeting evening they would all come to the village to church, stopping on the way by a log to have a little neighborhood prayer meeting so as to get their spiritual armor polished up, as it were, for the encounter with his satanic majesty later in the evening. AN INCIDENT. Another story serves as an illustration of how far the children have departed from the theological trails blazed by their fathers. The only grist-mill in the country was at Waynesville. All the grinding was done in the dry season, for when the rain came the roads were impassable. One of Mr. Sewell's neighbors had been out of meal and for several days had eked out sufficient for his family by grating the corn on a piece of tin filled with nail holes. He appointed a morning to go to mill, but when the day came the rain was pouring. The farmer hurriedly prepared for the trip, hoping to go and return before the road became a slough. But the wife viewed the preparations with astonishment. "Why, father," she said, "are you going without the family prayers?" He pleaded haste and left without the customary devotions. All kinds of accidents befell him and he knew it was because of his neglected duty. In the night the settlers heard him coming home, shouting and praying. They all joined him on the way and, collecting in the home of one of their number, began a revival that was talked of for many days. BUILDINGS. The rapidly-increasing membership made a church building a necessity. In 1818 James Birdsall sold to the trustees of the Methodist church the old frame house where CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 163 milling had been done by horse power. The house stood on the site of the present Methodist church. The old mill was repaired and made comfortable for church services. Levi Sheppard did the brickwork and plastering and Israel Johns, Joel Woodruff and Daniel Jones did the woodwork. The building was remodeled and ready for occupancy by the little congregation in 1819. It was in this old, overhauled mill that such strong preachers as Collins, Christie, Bigelow, Bascom, James Quinn, James Finley and others preached Christ and Him crucified. The first class had been organized into a congregation in 1814 and assigned to the White Oak circuit, Miami district, over which Rev. Samuel Parker was the presiding elder at that time. The first preacher appointed to the Wilmington church was William Burke. He and his successors held forth in the mill-church until 1833, when it was replaced by a brick edifice which was at that day one of the best in the state. Charles Russell and Levi Sheppard constituted the building committee. In 1865, Bishop Wiley laid the corner stone of the present church and it was dedicated July 29, 1866, by Bishop Davis W. Clark. The building committee was composed of J. P. Brindle, Joshua James and Thomas Wraith. The late B. F. Jones hauled the first load of brick that went in its construction. The Rev. A. Meharry was pastor at the time it was being erected. Those were busy days for the Aid Society for they raised one thousand one hundred seventy-seven dollars and ninety-eight cents, a large sum for the period just at the close of the Civil War. The auditorium was at this time left unfinished, and in 1871, during the pastorate of the Rev. A. U. Beall, the work was completed, and the room was dedicated by Dr. I. W. Wiley, then editor of the Ladies' Repository and the next year elected bishop. Bishops Walden, Moore and Cranston have frequently visited Wilmington and preached from its pulpit. Three bishops, H. B. Bascom, T. A. Morris and S. M. Merrill, have served this church either as pastor or presiding elder. Mrs. Elizabeth Quinn Taylor, now a member of the church, is the daughter of the Rev. James Quinn, who was pastor here eighty-three years ago. Wilmington has twice entertained the Cincinnati conference, in 1874, when Rev. William Runyan was pastor, and Bishop R. S. Foster, of Boston, was the president, and again in 1894, during the pastorate of the Rev. E. T. Lane, and at this session Bishop D. A. Goodsell, of New York, presided. In 1840, the church was divided on the slavery question, a number forming themselves into an independent congregation, thus anticipating by a few years the rending of the church in the United States into the church North and church South. IMPROVEMENTS. In 1902 the church was greatly improved by putting steel walls and ceiling on the auditorium and making a general change in the whole church plan. In 1913, the year the church celebrated its centennial, the building was redecorated within and repainted without; other interior improvements were made at the time, but the greatest addition was the pipe organ, which was installed that year with appropriate ceremonies. The parsonage, on East Columbus street, was built about twelve years ago during the pastorate of Rev. J. S. Pumphrey. The present membership of the church reaches nearly four hundred; the Sunday school enrolls about three hundred and the Epworth League about fifty. Of the present official board, C. C. Nichols, D. M. Rudduck, A. H. Rains, C. R. Fisher, Amy F. Hale and Emma S. Jones have each served twenty-five years or more, while J. S. Kimbrough, S. D. Chancellor, William Mann, G. M. Colvin, George Buckley and L. G. Bangham, in other churches before coming to Wilmington, have, with their terms here, filled the places of stewards or trustees for an equal period. For twenty-seven years C. R. Fisher has been in charge of the music in the church, and his father was chorister for nearly as long a period before him Mrs. C. R. Fisher has been organist for nineteen years. It is interesting to note that Mrs. Sarah Hale and Mrs. Mary Hale Brindle were both members of the church for more than three-quarters of a century. 164 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. The family of the first class-leader, Levi Sheppard, had been for one hundred years continuously on the church roll till the death of his grandson, Frank S. Broomhall, in October, 1913. Among the early families of this congregation who are yet represented in our membership we note the names of the following : Austin, Sewell, Hale, Rudduck, Sayres, Fisher, Fuller, Russell, Hinman, Brindle, Lacy, Shewalter, Frazer, Darbyshire, James, O'Neal and Quinn There have gone from this church into the ministry, A. D. Raleigh, G. M. Edgar, A. B. Austin and the present district superintendent, C. M. Van Pelt, who was born and reared in the bounds of this parish. And as minister's wives, Mrs. Raleigh, Mrs. Edgar and Mrs.. Stephen Holland may be mentioned. Among those holding places in Methodist and other colleges and academies may be noted C. B. Austin, Frank Austin, H. M. Buckley, A. C. Conger, Eva Wolf and 011ie Austin. Deaconesses Sarah Ireland and Rhua. Deakin were members of this congregation. And hundreds have gone to other communities to bless the world, and enrich the life of the church and kingdom wherever their lot has been cast. In these hundred years not less than two thousand five hundred people have been affiliated with this church, and the work it has done for them, and through them for the Kingdom of God, only eternity will reveal. Every form of. Christian activity, evangelistic, educational, social and benevolent, has been fostered and forwarded by Wilmington Methodism. CENTENNIAL SERVICES. By action of the official board, Sundays, December 7 and 14, 1913, were named as the dates for the centennial celebration. On the first date the pastor presented the salient facts of the church's history, and on December 14, the Rev. George H. Dart, D. D., who was pastor of the church at the semi-centennial in 1863, was present and preached to the delight and profit of all. The pastor, with C. C. Nichols and D. M. Rudduck, was appointed a committee to prepare for publication a short history of the century of the church's life, and a roster of its present members. The different church organizations are all doing effective and acceptable work. The Sunday school is prosperous and successful. The Epworth League is accomplishing helpful results in the life of our young people. The Ladies' Aid Society is alert, efficient and loyal, a mighty force and factor in the material, social and religious life of the church, and through it, of our. community. Both of the woman's missionary societies, foreign and home, are rendering splendid service in cultivating a broad and comprehensive grasp of the church's work in the whole world and giving largely in both fields of toil, for the speedy accomplishment of that great purpose. There is no. great Christian enterprise on earth, to which Wilmington Methodism does not contribute its prayers and means. THE PASTORATE. Wilmington was on a circuit from the beginning of the organization of the church until 1849 and since then has been an independent charge. The list of ministers, with the dates of their service, is here given as published in the last church directory: William Austin, 1813; William Burke, 1814 ; R. W. Finley and J. Oglesby, 1815; R. Bigelow and J. Waterman, 1816; Samuel Brown and Francis Landrum, 1817-18; B. Westlake and H. Brown, 1819-20; J. C. Brooke and T. S. Helt, 1821 ; B. Lawrence and W. Walker, 1822-23; (in 1824 Wilmington became the head of the circuit) N. B. Griffith, 1824; John Sale, 1825; Andrew F. Baxter, 1826; John S. Taylor, 1827; Richard Brandriff, 1828; G. W. Maley, 1829-30; James Qunn and J. M. Goshorn, 1831; W. D. Barrett and C. W. Swain, 1832-33; J. W. Clark and R. Chaney, 1834; F. Butler and Z. Wharton, 1835; J. Laws, S. H. Holland and Wetter Davis, 1836-37; W. D. Barret, 1838; James Quinn, 1839; J. W. Howland and James Quinn, 1840; E. B. Chase and Z. ConnelL 1841-42; L. P. Miller and I. N. Mark, 1843; W. Parish and D. C. Johnson, 1844; J. J. Hill and O. P. Williams, CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 165 1845; J. W. Keeley and C. J. Meredith, 1846; J. F. Chalfant and S. M. Merrill, 1847 ; A. W. Tibbetts, W. B. Jackson, 1848. In 1849, Wilmington became a station and since then the pastors have been : J. W. Fowble, 1849 ; J. P. Conrey, 1850-51; W. S. Morrow, 1852; C. H. Lawton, 1853-54; T. Collett, 1855-56 ; H. Baker, 1857 ; J. W. Cassatt, 1858 ; T. S. Dunn, 1859 ; S. A. Brewster, 1860 ; G. H. Dart, 1861-62 ; A. Meharry, 1863-65; S. D. Clayton, 1866-67; S. Weeks, 1868; H. M. Keck, 1869 ; A. U. Beall, 1870; William Runyan, 1871-73 ; L. F. Van Cleve, 1874-75; J. P. Porter, 1876-78; C. Ferguson, 1879-1880; J. H. Lease, 1881-83; James Stephenson, 1884-86 ; G. W. Kelley, 1887-88; H. D. Ketcham, 1889-91; E. T. Lane, 1892-94 ; A. N. Spahr, 1895.97; John Pearson, D. W. Clark, 1898; C. F. Enyart, 1899; E. T. Wells, 1900-01; J. S. Pumphrey, 1902-06 ; C. L. Conger, 1907-14 ; J. J. Richards, 1914. BLANCHESTER METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The adherents of the Methodist Episcopal faith had made several attempts to establish a church in Blanchester prior to 1878, but failed. In the fall of that year the Cincinnati conference determined to take the work up and establish a church here. The population of the town was nine hundred, but there were only seven members of this faith to be found in the village. The cabinet appointed Rev. A. Hamilton to the Butlerville charge, with the understanding that Blanchester Should be a part of the work, Rev. J. F. Bail being the presiding elder. Arrangements were made for preaching in the Free-Will Baptist church for a stipulated rent. Reverend Hamilton organized the first permanent Methodist Episcopal church society in Blanchester, December 23, 1878, with the following charter members : John Johnson, Emily Johnson, Viola Johnson, Philip A. Snyder, Barbara Snyder, Margaret A. Arnold, Catherine Crosson. In the following year they determined to build a church home. It was a heroic undertaking, considering their number and financial ability. The summer was spent in securing subscriptipns and in planning, in the fall of 1879 the foundation was laid, and in the spring of 1880 the church building was commenced and completed in the summer of the same year. It was in semi-Gothic style, with a seating capacity of two hundred and sixty, and built at a cost of four thousand dollars. It was dedicated on August 22, 1880, by Bishop Peck, of Syracuse, New York, who returned the pastor for the third year, at the end of which time he left but two hundred dollars on subscriptions to collect and one hundred and seventeen members. The trustees at this time who assisted in putting through the erection of the new building were:• D. H. Moon, P. A. Snyder, J. Chivington, Isaac Starkey, Owen West, Charles Lee, Wilson Gaskill, E. M. Mulford and John Johnson. For fifteen years this church society was served by faithful pastors with varied success. In the fall of 1895 Reverend Hamilton was appointed to the church for the second time, with the understanding that the church society proceed to remodel and enlarge the first structure. "Man proposes, God disposes." On October 18, 1895, the great fire, which swept Blanchester, consumed the first Methodist Episcopal church, leveling the brick walls that had stood the wear of years without even a crack. After a struggle, the church and Sunday school found a home in the Primitive Baptist church at a fair rental. But they were compelled to build, with but one thousand dollars insurance and a debt of nine hundred dollars on the parsonage to offset that. At the first meeting of the trustees, formal action was taken authorizing the pastor to secure plans for acceptance. D. H. Moon, H. G. Gates and Frank Losh were appointed as a building committee, with the pastor as superintendent. The work was slow, owing to the large number of buildings being erected at this time. The style of the church is pure Gothic, with cathedral windows in handsome design. It has a seating capacity of six hundred. Its furniture is of the latest pattern and 166 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. design. It is frescoed in an artistic manner, with electric fixtures of brass, with English gilt finish in beautiful design. The foundation stone is from Greenfield and the white sandstone and coping from Cleveland, while the pressed brick for the walls is of a dark red color. It was built at an outlay of from nine thousand to ten thousand dollars. The dedication services were held on April 4, 1897, Dr. Charles H. Payne, D. D., LL. D., of New York, officiating, assisted by Dr. T. H. Pearne, presiding elder, Dr. Louis Curtis, of. Cincinnati, and others, with, suitable services during the week, closing Sunday, April 11, by sermon from Doctors Gullette and Spahr. The membership at present numbers over four hundred, the Sunday school, three hundred ; with two ladies' societies and a promising Epworth League, with senior, intermediate and junior chapters in good working order. The church and its workings are harmonious in every respect. The ministers who have served this society from the beginning to the present time are: Alexander Hamilton, 1878-80; J. F. McColm, 1881-83 ; H. D. Ketcham, 1884; H. D. Ketcham and A. T. Cowgill, 1885; F. M. Kirgan and Rev. Thompson, 1886; Rev. Crawford and Ira E. Trice, 1887; Charles J. Hartley, 1888; Reuben McColm, 1889 ; C. I,. Winget, 1890-91; James H. McNary, 1892-94 ; Alexander Hamilton, 1895-97; Charles H. Haines, 1898-90; George W. Vorhis, 1901-05; A. T. Cowgill, 1906-07; Rev. Bailey, 1908-9; Walter Nash, 1909-11 ; Walter Gray, 1911-13; and the present incumbent, Rev. C. B. Stevens, who came to this charge in September, 1914. NEW VIENNA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Methodist Episcopal church at New Vienna, traces its history back to about 1842, when the first class was formed under the evangelistic efforts of Rev. C. B. Warrington, an itinerant preacher. He succeeded in organizing a small congregation, so small, however, that they were not able to build a church. They rented the Baptist church for a year and then fitted up a private dwelling, then standing on a lot occupied in later years by Mrs. Eliza Dennis. They continued to hold services in this building until 1850, when they erected a building near the site of the present church. Mrs. Mary Bowers was the first member of the church and the only Methodist in the town when the Rev. Warrington, began his first revival. Among the charter members were Thomas Hale and wife, Jonathan Wright and wife, Eliza Matthews, William and Ann Noble, Thomas Williams and Julia Moyer, later the wife of Rev. C. H. Savage. It has not been possible to obtain a complete list of the ministers who have served the church. The list which follows gives their names in approximately the order in which they served : C. B. Warrington, Francis A. Timmons, James Webb, Jeremiah Ellsworth, Levi Cunningham, T. M. Gossard, Anthony Musgrove (a blind man), Joseph Gatch, John S. Jackson, Allen Thompson, D. Calahan, A. N. Spahr, S. A. Brewster, H. Stokes, T. A. G. Phillips, M. P. Zink, E. H. Field, John Shinn, James Porter, Wesley Webster, J. H. Middleton, S. W. Edminston, 3.. R. Hunter, J. McShultz, Lafayette Young, R. E. Smith, G. M. Edgar, J. G. Black and Gilbert P. Austin, the present Pastor. In 1876 the church started to erect a new building, but it was not completed until 1884. The building is a two-story brick structure and cost about ten thousand dollars. The lower story was completed several years before the upper, and services were held on .the ground floor until money was raised to finish the upper story. The auxiliaries of the church include a flourishing Sunday school of two hundred members, under the superintendency of B. T. Penn, and the Epworth. League, under the presidency of Kathleen Haines. The church membership now numbers one hundred and fifty. SABINA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Methodist Episcopal church at Sabina was organized by Rev. William Smith in 1850, with about thirty members. The same minister had held services for the five CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 167 years previous in a school house, but no organization had been effected. George Brown, J. H. Middleton and D. II. Sargent were prominent pastors during the infancy of the church. In 1860 the congregation bought a lot formerly occupied by a distillery for two hundred and seventy-five dollars. I_n 1862 they built a frame structure, at a cost of three thousand dollars. The list of pastors, as taken from the records of the ‘church, is as follows: J. H. Middleton, 1860; J. Botkin and J. F. Hull, 1861; D. H. Sargent, 1862; Elisha Parke, 1862; M. N. Maxey (served only three months on account of his health), 1863; W. G. Smith, 1863; Nimrod McDonald, 1864; Samuel Brown, 1865; Samuel Brown and Reverend Lloyd, a local preacher, 1866; A. D. Raleigh, 1867-68 (during 1868 the circuit was changed so as to throw Sabina and Reesville together) ; H. Wren (of Wren, the record says, "Nothing to say—only Sabina couldn't go him nor he them, so they left each other alone in their separate glory") ; 0. N. Marsh, 1870 (in this year the record states that there were eighty-two full members, ninety-six probationers and that seventy-one had been baptized) ; J. I. Taggart, 1872-73; E. M. Cole, 1874; D. Lee Aultman, 1875 (Aultman was sick with the typhoid fever and D. S. Ferguson was secured to finish out the year) ; D. Lee Ault-man, 1876-77; at this point there is a gap in the church records until 1886; J. W. K. Shultz, 1886 (in this year services at Reesville, which had been attached to Sabina, were discontinued) ; L. M. Davis. 1889-94; J. R. Colley, 1894-96 (in September, 1894, Sabina became an independent charge; a church was erected at Sabina, at a cost of $11,000, and a parsonage built, at a cost of two thousand dollars) ; Gilbert P. Austin; 1896-1901; R. K. Deem, 1901-04; William M. Coffman, 1904-07; J. S. Pumphrey, 1907-13; J. E. Thomas, 1913-14; D. M. Stafford, since 1914. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The African Methodist Episcopal church of Wilmington dates back to 1833, when Wiley Runnella, of Cincinnati, came to the town and held the first meeting at the home of William Brown on the corner of South and Sugartree streets. At this time the church was formally organized with the following charter members: James Wheeler, James Ward, James Kimble, William Stewart, Anna Rutledge, Minnie Kimble, Mary Prior, James Lucas, Winnie Goode and Sarah Payne. The meetings were held at private homes until 1838 when a rude log church was erected on Lincoln street. This building was in use until 1852 when the present brick building was erected, at a cost of eight hundred dollars. In 1879-80 nearly a thousand dollars was expended in remodeling the building and in May, 1880, it was rededicated by Rev. E. Cumberland, of Greenfield, Ohio, and Reverend Mortimer. of Cincinmiti. A collection of one hundred and fifty dollars was taken up in the afternoon to apply on the church debt. The congregation has long since paid all of its obligations and is now on a sound basis and doing good work among the colored people of Wilmington. Early records of the church are missing and it has been impossible to secure a complete list of the ministers, with the dates of their service. As near as can be ascertained, the following list is the order in which the ministers have served the church: Revs. Lee Watkins. T. Hogan, Edward White, A. March, Charles Bundy, Charles Green, K. W. Toney, W. J. Johnston, M. R. Wilson, J. T. Byrd, J. S. Ferguson, J. W. Barber, R. A. Adams, H. N. Smith, A. Knox, Jesse Smith. J. FL Meredith, Charles Dorsey, Charles Newsome, John Coleman, George Williams, C. D. White, T. W. Woodson, F. D. Day, C. E. Williams, W. T. Beck, and Charles H. Sheene, the present pastor. The church now enrolls one hundred and twenty-nine members. A Sabbath school and Ladies' Aid Society are maintained and are accomplishing good work in their respective spheres. This church has been a potent force for good during its whole career of more than eighty years and, under the ministrations of the present pastor, is increasing its usefulness year by year. 168 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. SABINA AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The African Methodist Episcopal church at Sabina, locally known as Allen chapel, was organized by Rev. Charles Bundy on January 1, 1879, in a brick school house on North Hulse street. The charter members were Rev. John D. White, Edward Rolins, Martha Patterson, Catherine Logan, Patience Morrell, Eliza J. Lytle, Emma Lytle, Emma Wadkins, Mary Fields, Dorias Mitchell, Leo Morrell, Margaret Jones, John Fields and Simpson Mitchell. The congregation worshipped in the colored school building until about 1883 when they bought a lot and erected a building at, a cost of a thousand dollars. On March 22, 1885, the church was completely destroyed by fire, but within a year a new building was erected under the direction of, the pastor, Rev. Moses R. Wilson, and dedicated by Bishop Campbell. The second building cost six hundred ninety-eight dollars and twenty-five cents. The pastors of the church from the beginning are as follow : Charles Bundy, Moses R. Wilson, R. M. Turner, John W. Steward, J. W. Young, Charles Gray, W. J. Johnson, W. L. Tolliver, M. M. Smith, D. D. Lewis, Thomas E. Knox, F. D. Taylor, S. W. White, H. E. Newsome, A. E. Simmons, H. A. Grant, R. P. Clark, T. W. Johnson, H. H. Edwards and J. P. Maxwell, the present pastor. There are sixty-five members at the present time SABINA METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH. As early as 1830 the Methodist Protestants had commenced to hold services in Richland township, at the home of John Harper, in the Posey survey. Two years later the little congregation began holding meetings at the home of E. Roberts and continued to meet there regularly until 1841. In that year they built a church on the Roberts farm, which became known as the Bethel church. This church was burned a few years later and was at once rebuilt on the old site. The congregation remained here until 1860, when they decided to build a churCh in the town of Sabina at a cost of three thousand dollars. This was a one-story frame structure, with a seating capacity of about three hundred and fifty. Upon the completion of the church in Sabina the congregation at the Bethel church removed in a body to Sabina and discontinued the old church. The frame building in Sabina stood for many years and was eventually replaced by the present ten-thousand dollar brick edifice. The church also has a membership of two hundred and ninety. It maintains a Sunday school, but has no other auxiliary organizations The present pastor of the church is Rev. A. L. Reynolds. Among the ministers of the church may be mentioned the following: Jonathan Flood, Alzed McGuire, Benjamin Ryan, Joel Dalbey, A. H. Trumbo, William Evans, A. H. Bassett, R. Rose, R. T. Boyd, J. M. Young, J. H. Webster, R. Dobbins, A. Channell, J. J. White, S. H. Ebans, E. P. Winans, G. W. Fowler, J. R. Thompson, A. V. Shepherd, C. C. Caddy, W. E. Stubbs, J. M. Littler, M. V. B. Evans, G. W. Leadom, T. D. Howe, W. B. Warrington, Z. D. Hickman, P. F. Johnson, P. B. Chaney, O. P. Stevens, W. Ravencraft, J. Hastings, A. N. Barlow, J. W. Spring, A. B. Kingsley, J. Shepherd and Dr. A. L. Reynolds, the present pastor. PORT WILLIAM METHODIST. PROTESTANT CHURCH. The Methodist Protestants of Liberty township built their first house of worship in 1832 under the leadership of Samuel Haynes and William Ireland. Haynes donated the ground on which the church was erected, became one of the first trustees, was a deacon for many years and during his whole life was a zealous worker in his denomination. Other prominent members in the early history of the church were Obed Waln, Andrew Strickle and James Antram. The first building ,was a log structure and was replaced by a frame building in 1844. After the death. of. Haynes, on February 17, 1864, the interest began to wane and in a few years meetings were discontinued altogether. This first Methodist Protestant church was locally known as Mt. Pleasant. Several years later there was a revival of interest in the church in Liberty township
CLINTON COUNTY, 'OHIO - 169 which resulted in the organization of a congregation at Port William and the erection of a substantial brick building at that place. This church has been maintained regularly since its re-establishment in the village and is now in charge of Rev. Charles Cultzbach. The last 'report to the conference credits this church with two hundred and forty-three members and a Sunday school enrollment of two hundred and seventy-seven. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCHES OF MELVIN AND REESVILLE. There have been Methodist Protestant churches at Melvin and Reesville for many years, but neither congregation is very strong at the present time. Both churches have buildings and have maintained more or less regular services. In 1915 Rev. John Mercer, a minister of the United Brethren church, was the pastor of both churches. VILLARS CHAPEL AND CLARKSVILLE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCHES. The Methodist Protestant churches at Villars Chapel and Clarksville owe their existence to the zeal of one man, the late James Villars. He erected the church known as Villars chapel in 1868, the inscription plate in the front of the building reading: "James Villars Chapel, 1868, Free for all Christian Denominations." This is a large, two-story building and is one of the largest houses of worship in the county. During the summer of 1915 it was completely overhauled and now presents a very attractive appearance on the interior. At the present time the pastor is Rev. Hamilton. The church at Clarksville was also the gift of Mr. Villars, but it long ago ceased( to hold services. About 1904 the building was sold to Frank Hoggett, who converted it into a stable. He also bought the parsonage and it is now used as a private residence. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WILMINGTON The First Baptist church of Wilmington was organized on August. 6, 1853. At the meeting at which it was organized delegates from the churches at Caesar's creek, Jonah's run, Port William, Spring Valley, Washington, Cedarville, Centerville and Cowan's creek were present. The original membership was composed of the following: James S. Hoblett, Dr. Joseph K. Sparks, Robert and Mary Wood, William Williams, James Phillips, J. C. C Dowden, Sterling Bartlett, Rhoda Morris, Mary Hoblett, Elizabeth Darbyshire, Olive Bartlett and Hannah Griffith. The first board of trustees consisted of James S. Hoblett, J. K. Sparks, Robert Wood and William Williams Elder S. Marshal] was the first pastor. The board of trustees agreed, on September 13, 1853, to build a church building, at a cost of about ten thousand dollars, and a neat one-story brick structure, size about sixty-six by forty-four feet, was constructed. The edifice was dedicated on the last Sunday of July, 1854. In 1865, a square tower was added to the front of the church; at a cost of about fifteen hundred dollars. In, 1871, about four thousand dollars was spent in the remodeling of the church, a gallery was constructed across the rear of the room, new pews put in, the walls frescoed and new stained glass .windows added. The re-opening of the church took place on Sunday, June 4, 1871, with a sermon by Doctor Jeffrey, of Cincinnati, who preached from the following words, "Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous for good works." In. 1914 this church built a new edifice of stone, hard brick and tile. The interior is finished in- beautiful dark oak. The auditorium has a seating capacity of about, seven hundred persons. A new pipe organ is to be installed by September 1, of this year, (1915). The new church cost twenty-seven thousand dollars. The membership in 1915 included two hundred and one persons, with a total membership from the beginning of about seven hundred. Its auxiliary works are the Sabbath school, the Young People's Society, the Ladies' Aid Society, the Women's Missionary Society and the Young Ladies' Missionary Society. The ministers who have served the church as pastors are: Rev. Elder S. Marshall, 170 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. August 6, 1853, to February 11, 1854 ; Rev. J. N. Chapman, April 8, 1854, to May 12, 1855; Rev B. B. Bedell, October 8, 1856, to December 9, 1866 ; Rev. B. G. Siegfried, December 9, 1866, to May 31, 1868; Rev. A. E. Anderson, February 13, 1869, to some time later in the same year ; Rev. W. Kidder, July 9, 1870, to February 26, 1871; Rev. B. G. Siegfried, June 4, 1871, to June 23, 1872 ; Rev. B. H. Gardner, January 10, 1873, to June 7, 1873 ; Rev. W. E Prichard, October 1, 1874, to May 10, 1876 ; Rev. B. G. Siegfried, May 8, 1878, to 1881; Rev. A. K. Sargent, September. 1881, to 1887; Rev. N. E Bennett, two pastorages, covering eleven years; Rev. J. L. Gough, one year and five months; Rev. Mason, one year ; Rev. Robert Golder, three and one-half years; Rev. Henry Brandt, April 1, 1907, to the present time (1915). FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, BLANCHESTER. The First Baptist, church at Blanchester was known as a Free-Will Baptist church upon its organization in 1852, later as the Free Baptists, and since 1913 as the First Baptist church. The early history of the church is more or less obscure, but it appears that meetings were held in private homes as early as 1845. It is certain that the first building was erected and dedicated in 1852, the lot on which the church stood being purchased of Christopher Lazenby. The first trustees of the church were Levi Sever, Bonham Fox and Edward Crossen. The charter members were Doctor Wilford and Jane Cusick, Jonathan and Joanna Fox, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Day, Mrs. Rebecca Baldwin, Hitty Whitney and Mrs. Robert Stephenson. There may have been others, but, owing to the loss of the first record book, the list of charter members has been necessarily gleaned from the memories of some of the oldest living members at the present time. The pastors from 1852 to 1879, supplied from inquiry, served in the following order, the dates of their several years of service being unobtainable : Cyrus Dudley, 0. E. Baker, P. W. Perry, Thomas Poston, I. D. Reed, Lash, Tribbetta and A. M. Simonton. The church record is complete since 1879 and the pastors since that year are as follows: W. C. Hulse, 1879-81; C. A. Gleason, 1881-83; R. M. Cloud, 1884-89; M. S. Waller, 1889-91; B. F. Zell, 1891; Nathan B. Crabtree (and father) 1891-93 ; Samuel E. Kelley, 1894-97; A. R. Toothacre, 1898-1901 (two years and nine months) ; W. W. Deckard, 1901, November 1, 1903 (resigned) ; Charles P. Collett, January 1, 1904-06; A. J. Osborne, 1906-09; Thomas Lasley, 1909-12; J. H. Hollingsworth, 1912-14 ; Andrew Turkington, January, 1914-June 1, 1915. The present brick building was erected in 1881 and has been extensively improved from time to time, until now it is one of the most attractive churches in the town. A frame parsonage was built by the ladies of the church in 1890. There is probably not another parsonage in the state which has been erected under similar conditions. In 1875 there had been organized a Ladies Sewing Circle and for many years Mrs. Sarah Smith was the untiring president of the organization. For at least ten years prior to 1890 this organization was engaged in raising money for a parsonage and, as one of the members of the club told the historian, they had quilts and other products of their handiwork in every state in the union. They finally raised enough money to erect a two thousand-dollar parsonage without calling on the men of the, church for a single cent. This circle has also assumed the responsibility of keeping the parsonage in repair since it was built. Another unique organization in the church is a band of young ladies known as the Silent Toilers. They were organized in 1891 under the presidency of Mrs. Minnie Rice and within five years they raised by their own united efforts five hundred dollars to clear the church of debt. Since that time they have raised money for carpeting the church, as well as making other valuable improvements. This same group of girls organized a mandolin club in 1895 and gave frequent concerts in the church and elsewhere. They CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 171 played for entertainments, receptions, commencements and on various other occasions, and in this way raised enough money to buy a five-hundred-and-fifty-dollar vocation. The history of the church would not be complete without making mention of the bell. It was bought in Cincinnati in the fall of 1855 and was the first church bell hung in Blanchester. The following eight persons donated the one hundred and fifty dollars necessary to make the purchase: Dr. Wilford Cusick, $30; Bonham Fox, $30; Joseph D. Smith, $15; Jonathan Fox, $15; Hetty Whitney, $10; Rebecca Baldwin, $10; Edward Day, $10; Robert Stephenson. $10. This bell still calls the members to worship. An interesting incident in the church occurred on May 30, 1915. On that day the report of the Sunday school of sixty-three years previous (May 30, 1852) was read in the Sunday school. A striking coincidence of the report was that there were ninety-one pupils present in 1852, the same number in attendance in 1915. An old record gives the following teachers of the Sunday school in 1858: Thomas Ball, H. Halford, William Pierson, Moses Pierson, R. S. Eastham, Nancy Pierson, Delia Cusick, Martha Titus, Rebecca Baldwin and Esther Gustin. The report of September 19, 1858, the date these teachers were elected, closes by saying that "I think by God's help this will be a good school. May the God of Jacob bless us and may much good be done. William P. Wolf, secretary." The Sunday school in 1915 had two hundred and twenty-five enrolled. William C. Arbogast is the superintendent. There are forty children on the cradle roll and a goodly number are enlisted in the home department. On each Easter Sunday flower seeds are given to all the children and the flowers later find their way into the homes of the sick and afflicted. As has been previously stated, the church was known as a Free-Will Baptist church at the beginning, but it is not generally known outside of the church that several years later the church dropped the word "Will" and simply called themselves Free Baptists. In 1913 the church voted to become a Regular Baptist church under the local name of the First Baptist church of Blanchester. This did not imply any change in church polity or discipline and was only a formality which was deemed best for the church. Some time before this permission had been given by the general conference to call all Free Baptist merely Baptists and it was in accordance with this ruling that the Blanchester church changed its name. The church now has a membership of two hundred and is in a very flourishing condition. The pastor's salary is raised by the duplex envelope system and is paid him in weekly installments. COWAN'S CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH. The Baptists of Washington township effected the first religious organization in the township about the year 1818-19 The charter members, nine in number, were Peter Lieurance, Sr., Peter Lieurance, Jr.. Lucy Lieurance, Hannah Lieurance, William Mount. Hannah Phillips, Amy Phillips, Susan Conner and Polly Michael. Early records are not available, but it seems certain that in 1818 or 1819 the elder Peter Lieurance donated a tract of land for a church and cemetery, and that a rude log church was at once erected. This first church was not near the present building, which was erected some years later in the eastern part of the township. The present building is a frame structure and cost eighteen hundred dollars at the time it was erected. Rev. Hiram Burnett helped to organize the church in 1818 and remained its pastor for many years afterward. He was followed by Jacob Layman and James How. About 1835 Elliott Raynes, an eloquent preacher from Kentucky, came into the neighborhood and preached the doctrines of Alexander Campbell so effectively that he practically split the Baptist church in twain. In fact the Christian church thus organized soon became the leading church of the township and has so remained to this day. James How, John 172 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. Rodger, together with Rev. Raynes, were the leaders in the new church. The list of ministers, as furnished by the church, is not complete, and the dates given supposedly indicate when each pastorate began Whether the minister served until his successor was appointed is not known. The list as furnished follows: Rev. Layman, 1838-39; David Pond, 1840; Wedge, 1845 ; Waters, 1848; E. Tilton, 1850; J. B. Sutton, 1851 ; H. H. Brown, 1856; G. Taylor, 1858; J. Sargent, 1860; John Dunkleman, 1861; R. Cunningham, 1870; J. R. Powell, 1871; D. D Johnson, 1875-89; John Barrett, 1894 ; Jacob Baker, 1895; C. E. Griffin, 1897; J. H. Cosby, 1898-1900; J. L. Maddox, 1903 ; C. W. Shinn, 1905; G. C. Crippen, 1906; M. F. Bagby, 1907; N H. Long, 1910-15. The church has an active Sunday school and a Junior Missionary Society. The present church building was erected in 1897 and dedicated on August 15 of that year. BLANCHESTER PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS. The Blanchester Primitive Baptist church is the only one in Clinton county and dates fgom 1885. For some time prior to that year services had been held in private homes, but in that year the present house of worship Was erected. Among the early prominent members were Corwin Reed and wife, J. C. Keaton and wife, H. C. Baker and wife and Mrs. Benjamin Wilson. Most of these are Still living. The few pastors of the church include Walter Yeoman, Corwin Reed, George Waddell and C. P. Ballard, the present incumbent. Reverend Ballard became connected With the church as pastor in March, 1912, and has settled in Blanchester to speitd the remainder of his days. He will no doubt remain in charge of the church as long as he lives. He also preaches at Waynesville, Laurelville and Cumberland, none of these churcheS, however, being in Clinton county. The Blanchester congregation numbers seventeen persons. They have no church auxiliaries of any kind, their belief being that they are unnecessary. The Primitiire Baptists all themselves Regular Baptists, and they are also known as "Hard-Shell" Baptists. As far as has been ascertained, the only other Primitive Baptist churches in the county were in Vernon township. The Clarksville church was established as early as 1823, but it did not seem to have maintained an organization only for a short time. Another church of this denomination is reported as having been built on the college township road, a mile and a quarter north of Clarksville. This church early disappeared and nothing definite concerning it has been found. According to the most reliable accounts, the Primitive Baptists were unable to attract the younger generation and that, with the death of the first members, the church ceased to exist. Whatever the cause may be, it is certain that as a distinct denomination it will soon have disappeared altogether in Clinton county. WILMINGTON COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH. The Colored Baptists of Wilmington and vicinity effected a formal organization in 1870 with the following charter members: A. G. Mallory, Daniel Jackson, Fannie Lewis, Benjamin Morris, Phoebe Morris, Jacob Emmons, Katherine Mallory and Asa Pratt. For the first two years the members met at their homes, but in 1872 they erected a substantial little brick church. The first pastor was Asa Pratt, who was assisted by and later succeeded by, Jacob Emmons. Owing to various causes the church was unable to maintain an effective organization and a few years ago meetings were discontinued altogether. CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH. The Central Christian church of Wilmington is an offshoot of the regular Baptist church, which in the early years of the nineteenth century worshipped on the south side of Columbus street, between Walnut and Lincoln. The separation occurred in 1828 or 1829, and almost the entire membership of the Baptist church went with the Christian church. Services were continued for a time in the old church and the Baptist church CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 173 remained only in name. But, inasmuch as the ground on which the house stood was donated for purposes of the Baptist church, otherwise to revert to the donor, they removed the material to a lot on Walnut street, between Columbus and Locust streets, and there built a one story brick church, which building they occupied until the erection of the present beautiful church edifice. The church building on Walnut street was erected about the year 1833 or 1834. The early records of the church are very incomplete, and the pioneer ministers and charter members are not named. The first pastor of the church of 'whom there is any record is Rev. Thomas J. Melish, who assumed the pastorate in 1851. The membership at that time was one hundred and eve. From reliable sources the information is gathered that, preceding 1851, and, in fact, about the time of the church organization, much credit should be given the memory of Rev. George McManis. It is to him that the church is indebted for the spirit of truth and righteousness in this locality. Among those who have labored for the church may be mentioned Revs. Aylett Rains, William Pinkerton, E. H. Hawley and those grand old pioneers of the reformation, Walter Scott and D. S. Burnett. Later pastors have beeii S. H. Bingman, 1874-75; W. S. Tingley, 1876; A. A. Knight, 1877-79; Carroll Ghent, 188081; C. J. Bartholomew, 1882-83; W. D. Moore, 1883-86; George Anderson, 1886; J. B. Knowles, 1886-87; Gay Waters, 1889-91; Enos Campbell, 1891-92; F. M. Green, 1892-96; W. A. Roush, 1896-98; A. B. Griffith, 1898-99; E. J. Meachem, 1900-08; J. M. Gordon, 1908-10; E. S. DeMiller, The church edifice now occupied by this congregation is located on the corner of South and Columbus streets. It is an imposing structure, one-story high, with freestone trimmings. The basement is of brick and was completed in the spring of 1874, being first occupied in the spring of that year. The main auditorium remained in an unfinished state for more than five years. It was completed and was formally dedicated on Sunday, April 16, 1882, by Rev. Isaac Errett, D. D., of Cincinnati. It was finished at a cost of ten thousand dollars. On the northwest corner of the front of the building is a large tower, surmounted by a tall spire. The bell of the old church was suspended in this tower, but inattention to the iron fastenings left it insecure, and, on a Sunday in January, 1875, while the sexton was ringing it for Sunday, school, the bell broke loose and fell to the pavement, breaking it into pieces. The following June, a new bell was secured and suspended. Its weight is seven hundred and fourteen pounds; with hanging attachment, about one thousand pounds. NEW ANTIOCH CHURCH. By J. W. Robinson. The society which subsequently became the New Antioch Christian church was organized by Elder Samuel Rogers in 1816 and was known at the time of its organization as the "Newlight" church. The New Antioch church is located on the Wilmington and Lexington pike, near the village of New Antioch and five miles southeast of Wilmington, the county seat of Clinton county. The change of name from "Newlight" to "Christian" was gradual, lasting for a year or more. The first radical change was noted when George McManus, a sinner, demanded baptism at the hands of Elder Samuel Rogers. It took much reasoning to convince Elder Rogers that a penitent believer should be baptized "for the remission of sins." Thig occurred in January, 1827, and after that date this idea of the meaning of baptism was taught. About one year later the Lord's Supper was made a weekly observance, and it has so continued to the present time. About the same time the views of the Campbells began to be agitated, and they were embraced by this congregation as far as they accorded with the views of the New Testament. Thus the "Newlight" church was merged into the Christian, or Church of Christ, about the year 1827. A few of the persons that labored in this church in its infancy, besides Elder Samuel 174 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. Rogers, were Aylette Rains; William Irvin, J. Lucas, B. U. Watkins, Walter Scott, David Thompson, Joshua Swallow, Jonas Hartzel, D. S. Burnett, George McManus, James Vandervort, L. H. Jameison; H. K. Hoshour and B. F. Pirkey. A few of the charter members were Jonah Vandervort, the Bashores, Roberts, Hula and McKenzies. When the congregation was first organized the people met at the homes of the members, or in their barns, or held opern-air meetings; and when a building became necessary a small brick church was built. This was erected in the year 1822 near the site of the present church. This small building was used until a more commodious structure was built in 1857. The first house was built with a large open fireplace in each end. The pulpit was on one side and the entrance on the other. It was lighted with tallow candles in tin hangers on the walls, with two of three on the pulpit. The church was named "Antioch" by Elder Rogers. Later the village near by took the same name, and still later the "New" was prefixed when a postoffice was established there. On account of incomplete records, nothing is known as to the cost of the first church building. Suffice it to say that the labor in erecting it was donated by only a very few of the members. The records of the Present building show that it cost 'about two thousand seven hundred dollars in money, besides much donated labor by members of the congregation. According to the specifications, the house was to be a neat, substantial brick structure, with stone foundation, the size to be thirty-five by forty-five feet. Barnett Bashore, William Walker and P. H. Vatidervort, as trustees of the church, let the contract of the building to William McMillen, of Wilmington, received the subscriptions and paid for the building when completed. Some indications of the progress of the times are noted when we take into consideration that a beginning was made with fireplace and tallow candles, thence to wood stoves and kerosene lights, thence to coal stoves and gasoline lamps, thence to a furnace and gasoline lighting plant. The congregation purchased a parsonage in the village in 1908 for one thousand five hundred dollars. This dwelling proved unsatisfactory and in 1913 it was sold and a new parsonage erected near the village at a cost of one thousand eight hundred dollars. A minister is now employed all his time, instead of half of his time, as was the practice for many years. Many ministers have preached for this congregation since its organization, some of whom were John Boggs, W. J. Irvin. John Taft, John I. Rogers, E. I. Vandervort, Samuel Matthews, A. D. Fillmore, A. Gardner, R. L. Howe, J. H. Dodd, E. H. Hawley, W. C. Rogers, Thomas D. Garvin, J. H. Jones, A. A. Knight, F. M. Green, J. C. Irvin, J. M. Pyle, Josephus Blair, S. H. Bingman, J. S. Hughes, W. J. Howe, Samuel Traum, John Truax, W. D. Moore, E. D. Murch, J. Irvin West, E. P. Couch, T. S. Buckingham, H. M. Garn, R. H. Dodson, G. W. Hall, and the present minister, H. S. Snyder. Several persons who have been members, and some of whom began the Christian life with this congregation, have gone forth as ministers of the gospel, namely: James Vandervort, E. I. Vandervort, George McManus, Samuel, William and David Matthews, L. E. Brown, J. S. Hughes, W. J. and R. L. Howe, J. M. Pyle, F. P. Sayers, Nathan Sims, W. J. and W. S. Utter, and Arthur W. Vandervort. At present the congregation numbers about one hundred and sixty members. They have maintained a Lord's Day school for many years, meeting every Sunday and teaching the Scripture lesson as given in the International Sunday School Lesson Helps. The Ladies' Aid Society has been a live auxiliary to the church for several, years, and much work in a material way has been accomplished by them that otherwise might have remained undone. |
