CHAPTER XXVI
THE CHURCHES OF CIRCLEVILLE
LUTHERANISM IN CIRCLEVILLE.
The Lutheran Church in Circleville has been divided into two congregations since 1859, when a split occurred in the local church, due to some differences in the congregation in regard to matters of church doctrine. One party withdrew and formed the church called the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, now located on Mound street, while the party left in possession of the church property on Franklin street retained the name of the English Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The history of the early Lutheran Church in Circleville is involved in much obscurity because of the failure to preserve church record. The first congregation was organized in 1811 by Rev. Jacob Leist, who had been sent by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Pennsylvania to organize Lutheran congregations in Ohio. He conducted his first services in Circleville on August 28, 1811. From that time on until 1831 there are no records although a congregation is known to have existed. In. May, 1831, the congregation, taking the name of the "English Evangelical Lutheran Church," was organized, with Rev. N. B. Little as pastor.
Mr. Little continued in charge about two and a half years, when he resigned. On the 23rd of February, 1834, the congregation gave a call to Rev. Joseph A. Roof, who held the pastorate for 21 years when he resigned and went to Iowa. Mr. Roof held services in both the English and German languages.
During Mr. Little's pastorate steps were taken to build a church. A site was secured on Franklin street west of the county jail and here the corner-stone was laid in the spring of 1832. The building contained a basement and audience room, the dimensions being 65 feet in length and 45 in width. The basement was not occupied until 1839, in which year the audience room was completed.
After the resignation of Mr. Roof, there was a vacancy in the pastorate for two years, after which Rev. Joel Swarz, of Virginia, was secured in March, 1857. During his pastorate a division took place in the congregation, caused by the pastor's refusal to subscribe to certain articles of the Augsburg confession. Mr. Swarz succeeded in securing a following and this caused dissensions to arise. At the annual meeting held on March 7, 1859, the party corresponding to what is known as the "old school" or "high church" in other religious bodies, retired, leaving the "new school" or "low church" party, with Mr. Swarz at their head, in possession of the church. Each party elected officers claiming to continue the original organization. The so-called "Old Lutherans" brought suit to recover the church property but after taking their case through several courts finally dropped their litigation and decided to build a new church. This party remained in the Ohio Synod while Mr. Swarz and his congregation connected them-selves with the Miami Synod. The latter party retained the name of
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ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Mr. Swarz continued in charge of the church for one year after the schism had occurred, when he resigned. He was succeeded in May, 1860, by Rev. Thomas Hill, who remained in the pastorate until 1866. The next pastor, Rev. M. L. Wilhelm, was instrumental in the securing of a new church building. During his pastorate a brick structure, the present building, costing about $8,000, was begun and finished. After it was dedicated the pastor resigned and was succeeded by Rev. H. B. Miller, December 29, 1868.
The pastors since that time have been as follows : Revs. Thomas Hill, E. W. Sanders, J. M. Ruthrauff (after a vacancy of one year), J. W. Swick, J. M. Ruthrauff (returned), S. J. Turkle, C. D. Hoover, N. J. Myers (who was at the same time pastor of the Tarlton charge), R. M. McCutcheon, J. C. Schindle (after a vacancy in the pastorate of one year, preceding which a number of divinity students filled the pulpit from time to time), C. E. Frontz (who acted as pastor during the leave of absence of J. C. Schindle, then chaplain of the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, on foreign service in the war with Spain) and H. C. Garvice, the present pastor.
The present membership of the church is small. The officers of the congregation are: Trustees-- George Roth, George Presler, James Hall and Mrs. Haswell; deacons--George Presler and George Roth; elders--Mrs. Haswell and Mrs. Hall.
The party that withdrew from the old church took the name of the
TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In June, 1859, Rev. C. Albrecht accepted a call but only remained until April, 186o, when Rev. John Wagenhals became pastor. During his Pastorate the congregation obtained, by order of the Court of Common Pleas, from the director of the town, W. W. Bierce, a lot known as the "public" or "Presbyterian burying-ground," situated on Mound street near Court. Here a brick church costing $5,000was erected. The cornerstone was laid in 1865 and the structure was dedicated in May. 1866. A commodious parsonage was built on the same lot at about the same time. In 1868 Mr. Wagenhals resigned his charge on account of failing health and advanced age, after a pastorate of eight years. He was succeeded by Rev. M. B. Lenker, who was forced to resign by the withdrawal of some of the families from the church, trouble having arisen in the congregation because of synodical differences. The church was closed until February, 1871, when Rev. E. L. S. Tressel received the call of the congregation. In 1874 he resigned to accept a charge at Baltimore, Maryland.
From 1874 until 1879 Rev. A. H. Shulze was pastor. He was followed by Rev. A. Pfleuger, who held the pastorate until late in the year of 1881. Early in 1882 J. H. Schneider became pastor. During his pastorate a parochial school was established, an account of which will be found elsewhere in this book.
In 1894 Rev. S. W. Mautz succeeded Rev. Schneider. He remained until May, 1898, when he was succeeded by Rev. G. J. Troutman, the present minister. In 1901 it was decided to tear away the old church to make room for a modern structure. The cornerstone of the new church was laid July 20, 1902, and the edifice dedicated July 19. 1903, practically free of debt. The cost of the church was in the neighborhood of $20,000. The committee which had charge of the construction of the church consisted of Messrs. Philip Herrnstein, John C. Goeller, H. S. Heffner, Henry R. Heffner, Chris. Wolf, W. E. Crist and Rev. G. J. Troutman.
There are at present 450 regular communicants. The church officers are as follows : Elders--Henry R. Heffner, William Heffner and Leonard Barthelmas ; deacons--Chris. Wolf, John Mack, William Gerhard and John B. Stein; trustees--John C. Goeller, E. A. Snyder and John Wardell. The superintendent of the Sunday-school is Philip Herrnstein.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
After the location and opening of the town of Circleville to settlement, the members of the
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Methodist Episcopal Church, in the vicinity were accustomed to meet at the public house of Andrew Ensworth, standing on the east side of the circle near what is now the corner of Court and Main streets. Services were con-ducted by itinerant preachers, the first of whom was Rev. William Swayze. About 1812, a local preacher named Emmett organized a class of eight members, consisting of Louisa Hare, Elizabeth Burget, Margaret Botkin, Margaret Davis, John Eli, Sarah Burget and two colored women--Lydia Smith and her mother, Venice. Lydia Smith was instrumental in the organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church of the town.
In 1815 or 1816 the class was taken under the care of the traveling ministry of the church. Judge William McArthur was appointed leader. About this time a society meeting at the home of John Burget east of town was merged into the Circleville group and the names of John Burget, John Wright and others were added to the membership. Religious meetings were held in private dwellings and also in the early schoolhouses until the construction of the Court House, when worship was held there in common with the services of other denominations.
About 1830, lots 171 and 172 were purchased of Charles Shoemaker in consideration of $200 and on this was erected a brick church, the bricks of which are supposed to have been made out of clay from the old circular wall, near which it stood. This building stood in the center of what is now Watt street, including the site of the present residence of Mrs. B. H. Moore.
In 1851, during the ministry of Rev. J. A. Brunner, the old brick church was destroyed by fire, caused by a defective flue. Efforts were at once made to raise funds for a new church. In the meanwhile preaching services were held in the First Presbyterian Church and the Sunday-school, met in the basement of St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church. Because of the growth of the town in a southerly direction, it was decided to change the location of the church. The old site was abandoned and a new site at the corner of Main and Pickaway streets secured.
The building committee of the present church consisted of Jacob Welter, Joel Franklin and William C. Taylor. The building which was erected is of brick, one and one-half stories in height and will accommodate 600 worshipers. The bell was a gift of Judge Frederick Cogswell. He also endowed a pew for the pastor's family. Several years elapsed from the time the basement was first occupied until the auditorium was completed.
The church after being regularly established as a preaching place was included in what was known as the Pickaway Circuit, a part of the old Scioto District. It is now included in the Lancaster District. Since its establishment it has been served by the following ministers : In 1816, by Michael Ellis, while he was on the Fairfield Circuit; 1817 (Pickaway Circuit), Michael Ellis and Samuel Brown ; 1818, Samuel Quinn; 1819, Michael Ellis and John Solomon; 1820, Michael Ellis and David' Davidson; 1821, Cornelius Springer and Peter Warner; 1822, B. Westlake and Andrew Kanier; 1823, Jacob Hooper and Whitfield Hughes; 1824, William Stevens and J. T. Donahoe; 1825, Z. Cannel and Michael Ellis; 1826, Richard Brandriff and S. P.. Shaw; 1827," Jacob Delay and William Reynolds; 1828, Benjamin Cooper and J. Young; 1829, John Ferree and Jacob Hooper ; 1830, Solomon Minear and James C. Taylor ; 1831, David Lewis and H. Baird; 1832, David Lewis and Jacob Dixon; 1833, Z. Connel and W. T. Snow ; 1834, Jacob Delay and Abraham Baker: 1835 (Circleville Circuit), S. Hamilton and E. B. Chase; 1836, S. .Hamilton and E. T. Webster; 1837, Isaac C. Hunter and Harvey Camp ; 1838, Isaac C. Hunter and P. Nation; 1839, J. A. Reeder and P. Nation ; 1840, A. M. Lorraine and T. A. G. Philips; 1841, A. M. Lorraine and C. C. Lybrand ; 1842 (half station), J. C. Bontecue ; 1843 (full station), J. C. Bontecue--J. M. Trimble presiding elder; 1844, J. J. Hill; 1845, A. B. Wombaugh ; 1846-47, David Warnock ; 1848, E. D. Roe ; 1849, John Dillon; 1850, Jacob Dimmett, who remained only six months, the year being filled out by Rev. John Dreisbach; 1851-52, J. A. Brunner; 1853-54, J. M. Jameson; 1855, G. W. Brush ; .1856-57, C. E. Felton ; 1858-59,
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PAGE 278 - PICTURES (UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH; TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH; ST. PHILIP'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
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A. Brooks; 1860-61, A. Byers, who went into the army, his place being supplied by, Rev. E. P. Hall; 1862-63, I. Cook; 1864-65, S. M. Merrill; 1866-67, T. R. Taylor; i868, W. T. Harvey; 1869-70, H. K. Foster; 1871, C. D. Battelle; 1872-73, T. H. Philips, his son Howard, supplying his place for the last year; 1874-1876, James Mitchell ; 1877-79, C. M. Bethauser; 1879-82, J. M. Weir; 1882-83, E. H. Heagler ; 1883-84, C. F. Creighton ; 1885-91 M. V. B. Euans; 1891-93, W. D. Cherrington; 1895-97, J. H. Gardner; 1897-98, C. F. Creighton; 1898-1903, T. G. Dickinson; 1903-1906, L. L. Magee, who was transferred in September, 1906, to the Mount Vernon Avenue M. E. Church, of Columbus, being succeeded by Charles Laughlin, who is the present pastor.
Rev. S. M. Merrill, who was pastor here in 1864-65, attained some prominence in the Methodist Episcopal Church after leaving Circleville. In 1868 he became presiding elder of the Marietta District and at about the same time editor of the Western Christian. Advocate. In 1872 he was made Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred' last year.
During the pastorate of Rev. T. J. Dickinson a commodious frame parsonage was erected on a lot just north of the church, on Pickaway street.
The church has one of the largest congregations in the city. There are at present 540 communicants. The officers of the church are as follows : Stewards--Dr. A. H. Shaeffer (district steward), C. F. Abernethy (recording steward), Noah A. Warner (treasurer), J. F, Bales, George J. McMullen, Meeker Terwilliger, George W. Bauder, Israel U. Finkel, H. E, Graham, A, B. Vlerebome, C. D. Hess, Walter Julian and I. B. Barnes; trustees--George J. McMullen, M. E.. Dreisbach, George H. Pontius, Noah A. Warner, Dr, W. L. Peters, J. T. Bentley, S. L. Grigsby, J. H. Henderson and E. M. Rife. C. M. Mathene is superintendent of the Sunday-school.
ST. PHILIPS PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
On May 26, 1817, Rev. Philander Chase, who had recently been rector of Christ Church, Hartford Connecticut, afterward Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio, conducted services, according to the liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and preached in the town of Circleville, at which time the present St. Philip's parish was organized, with the following instrument of parochial association :
We, whose names are hereunder written, deeply impressed with the truth and importance of the Christian religion, and anxiously desirous to promote its influence in the hearts and lives of ourselves, our families and our neighbors do hereby associate ourselves together by the name, style and title of St. Philips' Church, County of Pickaway, State of Ohio, in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, whose liturgy, constitution and canons, we do hereby adopt. (Signed)
Guy W. DOANE WALTER THRALL
THOMAS WHITING JOS. G. NIXON
JOHN EVANS JOHN E. MORGAN
DANIEL WRIGHT NEIL MCGAFFEY
JOSHUA JOHNSON J. T. DAVENPORT
S. M. MORGAN WILLIAM B.
THRALL AM. SEYMOUR
The first regular minister was Rev. Ezra B. Kellogg, who commenced his parochial labors in Circleville and conducted services one Sunday in four weeks. Previous to this time the services were conducted by lay readers and occasional supplies. December 23, 1829, six years after the last recorded vestry meeting, there was a meeting of the parish at which a vestry was elected to serve to the Easter following. This vestry immediately opened negotiations with St. Paul's Church, Chillicothe, and Rev. Mr. Bausman, minister in charge at St. Paul's, which resulted in his conducting . services here one Sunday in every four weeks, during the two years following.
Rev. R. V. Rogers took charge of the parish, September 12, 1832. On December 26th of that year, Guy W. Doane, William B. Thrall and John L. Green were appointed a committee to petition the Legislature for an act to incorporate the wardens and vestry of St. Philip's Church. About this time lot 101, located on Mound street, near Court, was secured from R. Douglas in consideration of $350, to be paid in seven annual installments
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without interest. A committee of six, composed of William B. Thrall, R. H. Hopkins, Robert Larimore, Guy W. Doane, J. W. Finley and William McCulloch, was appointed to raise funds for a church building. At the same time J. G. Doddridge, William B. Thrall and Robert Larimore were appointed a committee "to design a plan for a .church, of the relative proportions of the Episcopal Church in Columbus, with a seating capacity of 300; to contract for materials, and have in charge the building of said church." The building, a commodious brick structure, was completed in 1834.
Rev. R. V. Rogers resigned the rectorship March 11, 1838, and returned to his home in England. After his departure,' the following ministers were in charge to October 8, 1865: Revs. W. F. Haisey, W. W. Aruat, Anson Clarke, Alex. McLeod, Charles B. Street, A. D. Benedict, H. N. Bishop, R. L. Nash, D. Risser, C. W. Fearns and T. W. Mitchell. On October 8, 1865, Rev. E. Owen Simpson took charge of the parish in connection with St. John's, Lancaster. During April, 1867, he re-signed St. John's and took full charge of St. Philip's, remaining in charge until Easter, 1870. During his rectorate; the original church was torn down and the present stone edifice erected in its place at a cost of $15,000. The present church is the only stone church in the city. Rev. E. Owen Simpson, William B. Marfield and Alfred Williams were the members of the building committee. The corner-stone was laid' August 16, 1866, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Mcllvaine, and the church was consecrated April 23, 1868, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Bedell.
Since occupying the present stone church, the following pastors have served the parish (the times of their pastorates are not given because of failure to find any church records) : Revs. Henry C. Camp, J. T. Franklin, C: A. Bragdon, William C. Mills, J. H. Logie, S. M. Munson, Stuart Crocket, Henry Mitchell, Cross, George Sutton, Thomas Lloyd, Bourne, J. R. Jenkins, C. A. Thomas, Snead, and Thomas W. C. Cheeseman, the present minister. Dr. Cheesenan is an Englishman, a native of Bristol, England, coming to this country about to years ago. He is a graduate of Cambridge University and took his divinity degrees at the University of London. Before taking charge of St. Philip's parish, Dr. Cheeseman was located at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
There are at present about 200 communicants in the church. The vestry consists of Dr. Cheeseman, C. E. Moeller, Howard Moore, A. L. Redman, Harry B. Clemons, Charles Gusman, Robert M. Gearhart and J. Grant Swearingen.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The First Presbyterian congregation in Circleville was organized in 1822 with 20 members and two elders, Jacob Hughes and Benjamin Cox, and on September 13th of that year William Burton was enrolled as pastor. Previous to this time pastors of the Pickaway church of Ross County had held services occasionally for Circleville Presbyterians in the Court House. In 1828 the congregation was incorporated- by act of the General Assembly of Ohio as the "First Presbyterian Church of Circleville."
Lots 109 and 110 were procured of Andrew Huston and deeded by him to Dr. J. B. Finley and Dr. William N. Luckey, trustees, as the site of the Presbyterian Church, in consideration of $100. Here was erected a plain one-story brick edifice, seating 250 worshipers. In the winter of 1830-31 a remarkable revival was held, in which 56 members were added to the church, bringing the number of communicants to 110.
Mr. Burton's pastorate continued until the spring of 1835, when he resigned to accept a charge at Piketon. In May of the following year Rev. Franklin Putnam was called and he remained until March, 1842.
During the pastorate of Mr. Putnam occurred the division of the American Presbyterian Church into the Old School and the New School branches. In the vote taken by the Circleville church, 48 favored the New School, while 9 favored the Old School. The latter withdrew and organized the Central
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Presbyterian Church, which maintained a separate existence until 1883, when the churches were reunited.
For a time the meetings of the new Central Church were held in the old brick Academy building. Rev. George Wells was called as pastor and during this period the services for several years were held on alternate Sundays in the Lutheran Church. Later a small frame church was erected on the ground now occupied by the Odd Fellows' Block on Main street. This, however, did not long serve the purposes of the congregation. James McCoy donated a lot on Main street and on this a large brick edifice, costing $6,000, was erected. The dedication took place in June, 1854. In 1869 the building was enlarged and in 1873 was again extensively improved.
After the death of Rev. George Wells, Mr McKennon became pastor of the Central Church and served a short time. Rev. Milton A. Sackett was next called; he removed shortly afterward and was succeeded by Rev. George L. Kalb, who held the pastorate for 10 years. In the fall of 1864 Rev. William Mac Milian began a pastorate of 13 years. After Mr. MacMillan's resignation, Rev. William Carson presided until the union of the two Presbyterian churches was consummated, in 1883. Then the Central Church building was purchased by the Baptist congregation, in whose possession is still remains.
In 1842 Mr. Putnam, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, resigned his charge because of ill health. On March 1, 1844, a call was extended to Dr. James Rowland, who held his charge until his death, in 1854. During the last year of his ministry a large and handsome brick church was begun on the site of the former edifice. Before its completion the death of Mr. Rowland. occurred and the first service, held in the basement of the building, was the funeral service of the pastor. His remains were buried under the belfry and a memorial tablet erected in the entrance to the church. During the erection of the building, services were held in the old Seminary, at the corner of Court and Mound streets, now the property of Mrs. William Renick.
Rev. P. M. Bartlett, later president of the University of Tennessee, was pastor from January 29, 1853, until April, 1857. He was followed by Rev. Henry Calhoun, formerly of Coshocton, Ohio. The first year of his pastorate was noteworthy in that 30 persons were added to the church at the spring communion. He resigned December 2o, 1865.
From June 2, 1867, until April, 1872, Rev. H. R. Hoisington was pastor. In 187o the Old School and the New School branches of the church were reunited, but the union failed in Circleville owing to the refusal of the Central Church to accept the resignation of their pastor. In June, 1873, Rev. S. H. McMullen, formerly professor of Greek in Miami University and professor of church history in the theological seminary at Danville, Kentucky, was installed as pastor. He held the position until 1883, when the pastors of the two churches resigned' in order to open the way to the amalgamation of the two churches.
In congregational meetings, officers for the united church were chosen. On March 21, 1883, these met for the purpose of organization, with Rev. James P. Stratton, D. D., of Crawfordsville, Indiana, the pastor elect, acting as moderator. The members of the session of the united church were Otis Ballard, Adam McCrea, Joseph Wallace, Henry A. Jackson and M. H. Lewis. The first sermon by the new pastor was on Sunday, April 22, 1883. The pastorate continued until January 3, 1897, when Dr. Stratton, his resignation having been accepted, left to accept the charge of a church at Tiffin, Ohio. His retirement from the ministry took place last year.
On April 27, 1897, Rev. F. L. Bullard, then pastor of a Dayton church, received a call from the congregation. He entered upon the duties of his office in the following May and continued as pastor until his resignation was accepted in 1902. During his pastorate, the old church was torn down and a handsome pressed-brick structure erected in its place. The auditorium of the new building seats 600 worshipers and contains several fine memorial windows. The cost of the church was about $30,000. The body of Dr. Rowland was disinterred
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and then buried under the tower of the new church.
In November, 1902, Rev. David S. Tappan, D. D., formerly president of Miami University, received a call from the congregation. He is the present pastor.
The present officers of the church are: Trustees--Charles E. Groce, Dr. Hartley R. Clarke, Elgar Barrere, J.. G. Hayes and Dr. Dudley V. Courtright; session--G. G. Stouch, George F. Grand-Girard, Willis Ludwig, Dr. G. H. Colvill, William T. Bell and Wayne Caldwell; superintendent of Sunday-school, Dr. G. H. Colvill; congregational clerk, Harp Van Riper.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
Previous to the organization of a regular congregation in Circleville, the United Brethren Church for several years maintained a printing establishment from which was issued a church paper called the Religious Telescope. This plant was located on East Main street on property purchased by a board of trustees consisting of Rev. John Russell and George and' Jonathan Dreisbach, who had been appointed to the office at a general conference held in May, 1833. Rev. W. R. Rhinehart was editor of the publication.
The first regular preaching services began in the spring of 1837, when services were held. at the Court House once in two weeks by Rev. William Hanley. The following year services were transferred to the old Academy building and a United Brethren society of 100 members was organized.
In 1839 a brick church was erected on the property on East Main street. During the first few years the church had a hard struggle for existence; the salaries of the ministers were only raised with the greatest difficulty and the indebtedness on construction of the church was not raised until 1854, when, 14 years after its construction, it was finally dedicated. In 1852, the congregation being unable to support a pastor, it was attached to the Pickaway Circuit. At an annual conference in 1866 it was resolved that the Circleville church be called a mission church and that it receive an appropriation from the conference funds to sustain it. Rev. D. Bonebrake was appointed to take charge of the congregation.
In recent years the church has prospered under the long and successful pastorate of Rev. A. E. Wirght. The old church becoming inadequate, it was decided to tear it down and rear a modern edifice in its place. The new church, a handsome brick structure, was completed in 1898 at a cost of $12,000. It contains sittings for 800 worshipers. The building committee consisted of Rev. A. E. Wright, Emanuel S. Neuding and George Smith.
Rev. J. Coons was the first pastor in the old church. Since his time the records are not all complete, but as near as they can be followed, the church since then has served by the following ministers : 1840, W. W. Davis ; 1841-42, P. Brock; 1842-43, L. Davis; 1843-44, E. Vandemark; 1844-45, D. Edwards; 1845, -- Kretzenger (serving only until fall) ; 1845-56, R. Hastings; 1846-47, J. M. Spangler ; 1847-48, .H. Jones ; 1848-49, J. M. Spangler ; 1849-51, William Fisher; 1851-52, J. Swarence; 1852-53, T. Sloan; 1853-54, W. W. Davis; 1854-55, William Fisher; 1855-56, J. S. Davis; 1856-57, E. Vandemark; 1857-62, no record; 1862, William Fisher; 1862-66, no record ; 1866-67, church a mission under D. Bonebrake; 1867-71, William Brown; 1871-72, D. Bonebrake ;;1872-75,;D. A. Johnstone ; 1875-76 Peter Wagner; 1876-78, J.Everhart; 1878-80, J. M. Mills; 1880-83, A. E. Davis; 1883-86,.P. L. Hinton; 1886-89, H. A. Bovey; 1889-90, W. E. Amsbaugh ; 1890-93, W. W. Reimer; 1893-1905, A. E. Wright; 1905, A. Orr, the present incumbent.
There are at present over 800 communicants. The trustees of the church are: J. J. Brehther, Emanuel S. Neuding, George Denman, George Smith, A. English, Frank Gordon and S. Holdren. Emanuel S. Neuding is the superintendent of the Sabbath-school.
ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first religious services held in Circleville according to the forms of the Roman
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Catholic communion were in the spring of 1841, at the house of Mrs. Turner. The next were in the fall of the same year, at the house of Andrew Lynch.
The old church was situated on Franklin street directly north of the spot where the Presbyterian Church now stands. The ground was purchased of Thomas Huston and was partly covered by the ditch and embankment of the old circle. Work on the church began in 1843 but it was not completed until 1846. The parochial residence connected with the old church was built in 1854 at a cost of about $2,000. The whole was sold in 1868 for about $2,500 and the price put into the new church.
The ground for this structure, which is situated on Mound street, was bought of Henry F. Page for about $I,400 and' presented to the church by one of its most liberal benefactors, Edward Smith. The building was commenced in the summer of 1866 but it was not entirely completed until 1874, although services were held in it previous to that time. The cost of the building was about $15,000. In 1872 a new parochial residence was built just east of the church.
In or about the year 1886, land was purchased adjacent the parochial residence on the east and' here was erected a large school and convent building, an account of which will be found elsewhere in this book.
In March, 1850, Rev. H. Tschieder was appointed resident pastor of St. Joseph's. Previous to his pastorate, mass had been celebrated here either by visiting priests or by the incumbents of St. Mary's, Chillicothe, among whom were Revs. D. Young, Henry Juncker and Dehope. Father Tschieder remained here until the summer of 1851, when Rev. Michael Ford was appointed. He was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Thisse, who remained until 1856, when J. D. Duffy was appointed pastor. Father Duffy died June 4, 1865. Then followed Revs. Edward Fitzgerald and C. L. Pinder. The next priest, Rev. Sergius I. Stchoulepnikoff, was a Russian nobleman previous to his conversion and later ordination to the priesthood. He remained in Circleville until June, 1872, when, while on avisit to Columbus, he mysteriously disappeared and' was never heard of again. Rev. A. M. Mazeaud was the next pastor for a short period, being succeeded by Rev. D. B. Cull, who came here in 1872. In 1874 Rev. A. O. Walker succeeded him and was pastor here for eight years. The next pastor, Rev. M. M. Meara, was appointed on April 20, 1882. His pastorate, extending over a period of 23 years, has been the longest so far in the history of the congregation. In 1905 Father Meara became pastor of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Columbus. He was succeeded here by Rev. J. S. Hannan, the present incumbent.
The present congregation is made up of 162 families comprising 65o persons. The board of wardens consists of Father Hannan, John Dodds (vice-president), John Kirwin (secretary), Charles E. Stocklen (treasurer), Matt C. Smith and John Cummins.
CALVARY CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
Was organized by the Ohio Conference in 1869, under the pastoral charge of Rev. William Whittington, missionary. The church prospered and so it was decided to secure a site and build a church. A lot was purchased at the corner of Washington and Mill streets and here, in 1872, the present brick edifice was built. The late D. B. Wagner took a very prominent part in the building of the church, and during his lifetime was an earnest worker in the church and a large contributor to the support of the same.
In 1871 Rev. Jesse Lerch succeeded Mr. Whitington as pastor. Since his pastorate the following: ministers have served the Circleville charge : A. Vandersall, 1874-77; S. S. Condo, 1877-80; D. C. Echerman, 1880-82; G. P. Spreng, 1882-84; W. H. Bucks, 1884-86; J. H. Gamertsfelder, 1886-87; A. N. McCauley, 1887-89; A. C. Stull, 1889-9o; J. H. Lamb, 1890-92; Behner, 1892-93 ; J. W. Miesse, 1893-97; A. Vandersall, 1897-1901; J. S. Mills, 1901-03; Weaver, 1903-04; H. L. Zachman, the present incumbent, 1904-.
The present number of communicants is
284 - HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY
247. The church officers are as follows : Trustees--B. Bolender, S. W. Manley, H. S. Miller, F. Krinn and A. Lower; superintendent of the Sunday-school, A. Lower.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The first regular Baptist congregation was organized in 1838. The organization was recognized by a council called' for that purpose and in October the first pastor, Rev. Isaac K. Brownsen, who had just graduated from the theological seminary at Hamilton, New York, and who, after his ordination was sent under the auspices of the Home Mission Society to the then Western State of Ohio, came to Circleville and took the oversight of the church. He remained for 15 months, a portion of which time he was joint pastor of the church at Frankfort. Services were held in the Court House, the Atheneum building and the school building. Rev. John A. Peters succeeded Mr. Brownsen as pastor.
In September, 1840, the church joined the Scioto Association. In 1841 the death of the pastor, Mr. Peters, occurred. For a time services were then held by the two neighboring pastors, Rev. W. D. Woodruff, of Frankfort, and Rev. T. R. Cressey, of Columbus. Then Rev. Henry Billings was called to the pastorate, preaching on two Sundays in each month. He remained one year. In 1844 Edward Lyons was ordained and' he served as pastor for six months. He was followed by Rev. W. D. Woodruff, who remained for two years. During the following three years the pastorate was vacant.
In 1850 Eli Todd, L. L. Woodruff, J. .H. Welsheimer and A. King were : appointed a committee to purchase a site for a church building. A lot was secured on Court street and here was erected a small and comfortable structure. It was dedicated October 19, 1851. Rev. D. A. Randall was then called but he had only served for six months when he was forced to resign because of ill health. He was succeeded by Benjamin Bedell, a recent graduate of Granville, who after preaching a few months was ordained. He served a pastorate of three years and eight months.
In 1855 Rev. H. A. Brown became pastor and served until the September of the following year, when he withdrew and went to Wilmington. Soon after his arrival a parsonage was erected on the church property. About the time of his withdrawal, the congregation was greatly weakened by the removal of some of the families and as a result the church stood idle for a period of 16 years, except as it was rented to other denominations who occupied it while they were building churches of their own.
Early in 1872 A. C. Elster was chosen leader of the meetings of the congregation. In November of that year Rev. J. Chambers preached twice each month. He remained for two years and was followed by J. Adams, a graduate of the Chicago Theological Seminary. He began his work in August, 1875, and was ordained the next month. After his resignation in 1878, he was succeeded by Rev. B. Bedell, a former pastor.
In 1883 the congregation began to consider the matter of building a new church. Plans of construction were being discussed when, the First and Central Presbyterian churches having formed a union, an opportunity was offered to secure the church building theretofore used by the Central Presbyterian congregation. The plan of building was dropped and the latter site was purchased. This property remains in the possession of the Baptist Church.
Since securing the new location the following pastors have served the congregation : D. W. Hulbert, 1883-86; I. N. Carman, 1886-89; C. R. Sargent, 1889-91; no regular pastor, 1891-93 ; T. D. Morse, 1893-94; W. J. Stith, 1894-95 ; G. A. Woods, 1897 ; E. C. McClain, 1897-98; James Mullaney, 1898-99; H. W. Cole, 1900 for a few months). Since that time there have been no regular pastors -and of late no church organization whatever exists, the church standing vacant.
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1834 by Rev. L. Davis, with a membership of 12 persons. The church grew rapidly and plans were laid for the building of a church. Property was
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secured on South Washington street and here in the year 1879 the cornerstone of a brick structure, 40 by 60 feet in dimensions, was laid.
Since the pastorate of the founder of the church, Rev. L. Davis, the church has been served by the following ministers : Revs. Burd, Adkesson, T. Lawrence, L. Davis, Tilman, Coleman, Peters, Arnold, Gibbons, J. Tibbs, W. Lewis, W. D. Mitchell, W. Davison, R. H. Morris (who was most active in securing the construction of the present church building), Moses Wilson, Bell, George Maxwell, Hammonds, C. E. Newson, J. N. Steward, John Coleman, J. N. Young, S. W. White, C. W. Dorsey, B. L. Simmons, F. B. Taylor, J. A. Viney, W. H. Thomas and W. P. Meyers, the present minister.
The church has now a membership of 80. The church officers are as follows: Trustees--W. A. Holmes, Henry Johnson, Travis Turney, W. L. Garnes and Richard Redman; stewards--Henry Johnson, Travis Turney, J. A. Viney, Mary Dickerson, Eliza. Johnson, Irene Turney, Elisha Hazlewood, Henry Redman and W. M. Stanup.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, AFRICAN.
The Second Baptist Church, the largest and most prosperous of the colored churches in the city, was organized in 1856 by Rev. William Norman, with three communion members--Lucy Winters, Enoch Weaver and Sarah Hollinsworth. For some time their meetings were held in the houses of the members but before the first year had ended they had purchased a lot for a church, with a dwelling house on it which was, used for their religious services until 1869, when the corner-stone of the present structure was laid. The lot is located on the corner of Canal and Mill streets. It was bought for $600 and was paid for at the end of the fourth year.
The present brick structure, which was built in 1869, cost $4,500, but this debt was also cleared away at the end of the fourth year. The site of the church probably will be changed in the near future, owing to the plans for double-tracking a railroad in the immediate vicinity.
Since the labors of Rev. William Norman in the organization of the church, the church has been served by the following pastors Revs. Grayson Jones, Elder Day. (from Springfield), Jesse Meeks, Andrew Hunt,. William Norman (second term), Andrew Hunt (second term), Wallace Sheldon, William Nash, J. L. Murray, R. D. Grant, I. N. Meritt, Thomas, Coleman, Samuel Brown,. Gilman, J. A. Brooks, J. T. Stewart and G. Jordan, the present pastor.
The present membership of the church is about 100. The church officers are as follows : Trustees--Ed. Cooper, Thornton Green and Frank Lewis ; deacons--Jonas Wyatt, J. Thomas, M. Reed, J. Redman and Frank Stevens; superintendent of Sunday-school, Mrs. Henrietta Green.