Circleville
Township, Pickaway County, OH
Church
History & Records
THE
CHURCHES OF CIRCLEVILLE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
As early as the beginning of the present century Presbyterian services
were held within the bounds of what was then Mount Pleasant, now Kingston,
congregation, by ministers of the old Washington Presbytery, the territory
of which embraced a part of Kentucky and southern Ohio. One of these
ministers, Rev. James Robinson, a student of the well-known Dr. McMillan,
organized, in 1808, the Pickaway church of Ross county, tow which he
ministered in connection with Mount Pleasant. He preached also
occasionally to the Presbyterians of Circleville, holding services in the
court house.
In 1822 Columbus Presbytery was constituted from the territory covered
formerly by the Washington Presbytery, and at its first meeting the
congregations of Mount Pleasant and Circleville were reported as united
and able to sustain a pastor. Rev. William Burton was appointed to the
charge of the same, and installed as pastor September 13, 1822. At this
time the Circleville church had twenty members and two elders, Jacob
Hughes and Benjamin Cox.
In 1828 the congregation was incorporated by act of assembly as the First
Presbyterian Church of Circleville. Lots one hundred and nine and one
hundred and ten were deeded by Andrew Huston to Dr. Finley and Dr. Luckey,
trustees, for the purposes of a Presbyterian church, in consideration of
one hundred dollars. A plain, one-story brick edifice was erected on the
site thus provided--the same no occupied by the congregation. The building
had sittings for some two hundred and fifty worshippers.
In the winter of 1830-31 both the Mount Pleasant and the Circleville
congregations were visited by a thorough and extensive revival, which
added fifty-six members to the Circleville church. Thus strengthened, the
members extended a call to Mr. Burton for his whole time, and he was
installed as pastor of the First church of Circleville, April 8, 1831. The
elders of the church at this time, from which it dates its separate
existence, were Matthew McCrea and James B. Finley. The number of
communicants was one hundred and ten.
The pastorate of Mr. Burton continued until the spring of 1835, when he
resigned his charge to accept one at Piketon. He was a native of
Massachusetts, a graduate of Dartmouth college, studied theology with his
uncle, Dr. Asa Burton, of Thetford, Vermont, and was a man of fine logical
and rhetorical powers.
From May 2, 1836, until March 21, 1842, the pastorate was held by Rev.
Franklin Putnam. During this period the division of the Presbyterian
church into Old School and New School took place, and the First church of
Circleville voted. August 13, 1838, to adhere to the exscinded synods. The
vote was forty-eight for to nine against such action; and, after a brief
interval, the minority peaceably withdrew and organized the Central
Presbyterian church, in connection with the Old School assembly. In 1842
Mr. Putnam, after a prosperous pastorate, resigned his charge because of
ill health, and the church resolved that "we feel it our duty and
privilege to follow him and his family with kind remembrances and
prayers."
March 11, 1844, the congregation extended a call to Dr. James Rowland, who
ministered with great acceptance and success, and with the favor of the
entire community, until his death, in 1854. During his pastorate the
present commodious and convenient church edifice was erected, at a cost of
about fourteen thousand dollars. The committee on subscriptions were, N.
S. Gregg, S. Marfield, Dr. C. Olds, Dr. Rowland, W. W. Bierce, Chauncey U.
Olds. During the erection of the building the congregation worshipped in
the seminary. The first services held in the audience room were those
connected with the interment of the Pastor, Dr. Rowland. His remains
repose under the belfry, and a suitable mural tablet in the vestibule
expresses the affection of his bereaved parishioners.
Rev. P. M. Bartlett, now president of Tennessee university, was the pastor
from January 29, 1855, until April, 1857.
December 20, 1857, Rev. Henry Calhoun, formerly of Coshocton, Ohio, began
his labors as pastor. That winter was one of deep religions interest, and
thirty persons, mostly heads of families, were added to the church at the
spring communion. After a prosperous pastorate, Mr. Calhoun resigned
December 20, 1865.
June 2, 1867, Rev. H. R. Hoisington entered upon his duties as pastor. His
services were highly acceptable to the church and the community. In 1870
the Old School and New School branches of the church were formally
re-united in the city of Pittsburgh. This step brought the First and
Central churches of Circleville into the same ecclesiastical relations,
and the subject of a union of the two was agitated. April 28, 1872, Mr.
Hoisington resigned and removed to Cleveland, Ohio, that the way might be
clear for such a union. But the Central church having declined to accept
the resignation of its pastor, the union was not consummated.
June 10, 1873, Rev. S. H. McMullin, formerly professor of church history
in the theological seminary at Danville, Kentucky, was installed pastor of
the church, and is the present incumbent.
The officers of the church at present are: trustees, J. A. Hawkes, Thomas
Miller, W. M. Drum; session, Otis Ballard, H. A. Jackson; treasurer,
William M. Drum; superintendent of Sunday-school, William M. Drum.
The number of communicants is one hundred and sixty-four; and of children
in Sabbath-school, one hundred. The church is free from all indebtedness,
provides for an annual expense list of two thousand eight hundred dollars,
and contributes an average of three hundred dollars to missionary
agencies.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Among the earliest churches of this place and vicinity is the one called
Methodist Episcopal. We only refer to what is historical, in saying that
Methodist itinerants were among the first in bearing the gospel to those
finding homes in the West.
Very early, in this century, a place of worship was established about a
mile and a half east of this, near the old Lancaster road, at the house of
a Mr. Burget. Before preaching was established here, a few members, moving
into this place, were in the habit of going there to worship. This town
was laid out in 1810, by Mr. Daniel Dreisbach. The first sermon preached
by a Methodist minister in the newly-opened town, was by the Rev. William
Swayze. Passing over the country, he made this a place of rest. Proposals
having been made for stated preaching the question of place arose. After
consultation, the public house of Mr. Andrew Ensworth, standing on the
east side of the circle, in the locality now occupied by the corner of
Court and Main streets (some say where William Albaugh's house now stands,
others, upon the ground occupied by Philip Warner), was offered and
accepted.
About 1812 to 1815, a local preacher, by the name of Emmet, living west of
this, in company with another, whose name is forgotten, was accustomed to
visit this place and hold occasional services. In process of time, during
that period, a class was organized under the supervision of these local
ministers, consisting of eight persons, namely Louisa Hare, Elizabeth
Burget, Margaret Botkin, Margaret Davis, John Eli, Sarah Burget, and two
colored women--Lydia Smith and her mother, Venice. Only one of the
original class survives, she who is familiarly known among the membership
as mother Hare.
Through the instrumentality of Lydia Smith, commonly known as Aunt Lydia,
a Methodist church was raised here among the people of her own color. She
died in 1875, having witnessed, according to the testimony of both white
and colored people, a good confession for Christ upwards of eighty years,
dying peacefully, at the extreme age of ninety-five or ninety-six.
The surviving member, Mother Hare, is the daughter of one who was a
pioneer Methodist in Ohio--Nimrod Bright. She is now in extreme
feebleness, being in her eighty-eighth year. She, too, for more than sixty
years, has enjoyed among her acquaintance the reputation of being a firm,
consistent, and devoted christian.
In the year 1815 or 1816, the class was regularly taken under the care of
the traveling ministry of the church. Soon after William McArthur,
subsequently known as Judge McArthur, was appointed leader. The society
formerly meeting at the house of Mr. Burget, east of the town, was
transferred to this place. The names of John Burget, John Wright, Mr.
Hasselton, and others, are remembered as being early added to the original
number; also, William Moore, father of S. A. Moore, well known to our
citizens, who lived where his son now lives, was among the early
additions, and proved a devoted friend of the church and the general
interests of religion.
The first places of meeting were school-houses and private dwellings.
Mother Hare says the first place of preaching was in a log school-house,
with slab seats; then in a better school-house, more nearly in the center
of town. When the court house was built, worship was transferred to that
building, which was used in common by nearly all the religious
denominations; then form the court house to the academy, continuing there
until a church edifice was put up, which was about the year 1830. Two
lots, numbered one hundred and seventy-one and one hundred and
seventy-two, near the academy, were purchased of Charles Shoemaker, for
two hundred dollars. The church was built of brick, doubtless made of clay
from the old circular earth wall, near which it was erected; but neither
the cost of the building, nor the length of time taken in the work, is
remembered.
This church remained as the stated place of worship until it was destroyed
by fire, in 1851. The fire is supposed to have occurred through a
defective flue. This disaster was under the ministry of the Rev. J. A.
Brunner. The first Presbyterian church was kindly offered and accepted for
preaching services, and the basement of the Episcopal church for the
Sunday-school. The pastor and members immediately went to work to secure
another building. The people of all denominations generously responded to
the appeal for a new church. Because of the town extending southward, it
was thought best to change the location. The old site was abandoned, and
the present one, on the corner of Main and Pickaway streets, was secured.
The building committee of the present edifice consisted of Jacob Welter,
Joel Franklin, and William C. Taylor, the latter recently deceased. The
cost of the present building according to Mr. Welter's recollection was
twelve thousand dollars, or upwards. The bell was the gift of a former
merchant of this city, Mr. Frederick Cogswell, now deceased. He also
endowed a pew for the pastor's family. This house was dedicated to the
worship of God by the Rev. Dr. Trimble, now of Columbus. It was several
years from the time the church was first occupied until the audience room
was fitted up for worship. From time to time sundry improvements have been
added; recently, in new windows and renovations, at a cost of two thousand
dollars. An indebtedness of two hundred and fifty dollars remains, which
the ladies are devising way and means to remove. The roll of membership
now numbers over three hundred.
This church, after being regularly established as a preaching place, so
far as can now be ascertained, was included in what was known as Pickaway
circuit--a part of the old "Scioto district." While in a circuit, it was
served by the following ministers:
In 1816 (most
likely, while he was on Fairfield circuit, by Michael Ellis; 1817
(Pickaway Circuit), Michael Ellis and Samuel Brown; 1818, James Quinn;
1819, Michael Ellis and John Solomon; 1820, David Davidson and Michael
Ellis; 1821, Cornelius Springer and Peter Warner; 1822; B. Weslake and
Andrew Kanier; 1823, Jacob Hooper and Whitfield Hughes; 1824, Wm. Stevens
and J. T. Donahoe; 1825; Z. Connnel and M. 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, J. Delay and
Abraham Baker; 1835, (now Circleville circuit), S. Hamilton and R. 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--making thirty-nine different pastors in twenty-six
years. in 1842 (half station), J. C. Bontecue; in 1843 (full station), J.
C. Bonecure--J. M. Trimble, presiding eleder; 1844, Joseph J. Hill; 1845,
A. B. Wombaugh; 1846-7, 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; 1851-2, J. A. Brunner; 1853-4, J. M. Jameson;
1855, G. W. Brush; 1856-7, C. E. Felton; 1858-9, A. Brooks; 1860-1, A.
Byers, who went into the army--his place being supplied by Rev. E. P.
Hall; 1862-3, I Crook; 1864-5, S. M. Merrill; 1866-7, T. R. Taylor, 1868,
W. T. Harvey; 1869-70, H. K. Foster; 1871, C. D. Battelle; 1872-3, T. H.
Philips--his son Howard supplying his place for the last year; 1874-6, J.
Mitchel; 1877-9, C. M. Bethauser, who is, at the present time, visiting
his relations in Germany. It will be seen, therefore, that sixty-four
different ministers have been employed, since the first organization of
the society.
Two annual conferences have been held here, one in 1834, presided over by
Bishop Soule; the other, in 1861, presided over by Bishop Janes.
ST. PHILIP'S (EPISCOPAL) CHURCH
The twenty-sixth day of May, 1817, the Rev. Philander Chase, who had
recently been rector of Christ church, Hartford, Connecticut, afterwards
bishop of the diocese of Ohio, conducted service 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 influences 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. Philip's 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
THOMAS WHITING
JOHN EVANS
DANIEL WRIGHT JOSHUA JOHNSON
S. M. MORGAN
WM. SEYMOUR
WALTER THRALL
WILLIAM B. THRALL JOS. G. NOXON
JOHN E. MORGAN
NEH. MCGAFFEY
J. T. DAVENPORT
In September, 1818, at a parish meeting, presided over by the Rev.
Philander Chase, the following gentlemen were elected, to serve until
Easter, 1819: Wm. Seymour and Guy W. Doane, wardens; John E. Morgan, Jas.
G. Noxon, Joshua Fulsom, vestrymen. Wm. Seymour was elected to represent
the parish in the convention to be held in Worthington on the first Monday
in January, 1819. On the eighteenth of June, 1819, th parish was visited
for the first time by the Rt. Rev. Phhilander Chase, as bishop of the
diocese of Ohio.
The first regular minister was the 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. How long the Rev. Mr. Kellogg remained as
minister in charge, the records do not show. December 23, 1829, six years
after the last recorded vestry meeting, there were a meeting of the
parish, at which a vestry was elected to serve until the Easter following.
This vestry immediately opened negotiations with St. Paul's church,
Chillicothe, and the Rev. Mr. Bausman, minister in charge of St. Paul's,
which resulted in his conducting service here one Sunday in every four
weeks, during the two years following.
The Rev. R. V. Rogers took charge of the parish, September 12, 1832. On
the twenty-sixth of December, of that year, it was resolved by the vestry
that G. W. Doane, W. B. Thrall and John L. Green, be constituted a
committee to petition the legislature for an act to incorporate the
wardens and vestry of St. Philip's church. The vestry further resolved,
that they accept the proposition this day made in writing by Mr. R.
Douglas for lot number one hundred and one, on the Mound, for which they
were to pay three hundred and fifty dollars, in seven annual instalments,
without interest; and that a committee of six be appointed to draft and
circulate a subscription for the purpose of raising funds to build a
church, and that the following persons constitute said committee: Wm. B.
Thrall, R. H. Hopkins, Robert Larrimore, G. W. Doane, J. W. Finley and Wm.
McColloch. At a parish meeting at the house of Mr. G. W. Doane, May, 1833,
Messrs. J. G. Doddridge, Wm. B. Thrall and Robert Larrimore, were elected
a committee to design a plan for a church, of the relative proportions of
the Episcopal church in Columbus, with a seating capacity of three
hundred; to contract for materials, and have in charge the building of
said charge, which was completed in the year 1834, and was a comfortable
and commodious brick building. The Rev. Mr. Rogers resigned the rectorship
to return to his home, in England, the eleventh day of March, 1836.
Previous to the erection of this church, the services seem to have been
conducted in the court house and the First Presbyterian church.
The following
were the ministers in charge from this date to the eight day of October
1865:
Revs. W. F. Halsey
W. W. Aruat
Anson Clarke
Alex. McLeaod
Chas. B. Steret
A. D. Benedict
H. N. Bishop
R. L. Nash
D. Risser
C. W. Fearns
Thos. W. Mitchell
October 8, 1865, the Rev. E. Owen Simpson took charge of this parish, in
connection with St. John's Lancaster. During the month of April, 1867, he
resigned St. John's and took full charge of St. Philip's, and remained in
charge until Easter, 1870. During this administration the parish greatly
prospered; the original church was torn down, and the present very
commodious, substantial and beautiful stone church was erected, at a cost
of fifteen thousand dollars, paid for and consecrated. Rev. E. Owen
Simpson and Messrs. Wm. B. Marfield and Alfred Williams were the building
committee. The corner stone was laid August 16, 1866, by the Rt. Rev.
Bishop McIlvaine, and the church was consecrated April 23, 1868, by the
Rt. Rev. Bishop Bedell. During the erection of thier church, the
congregation worshiped in the First Baptist Church. Sine 1870, the
following have been the ministers in charge:
Revs. W. C. Mills, H. C. Camp, J. T. Franklin, C. A. Bragdon and J. H.
Logie, the latter having been ordained deacon in the church by the Rt.
Rev. Bishop Jaggar, of the diocese of Southern Ohio, on the twenty-third
day of February, 1879, and at the same time he was appointed, by the
bishop, as minister in charge of the church.
In 1874, a rectory was purchased, at a cost of four thousand dollars,
which makes the total value of the church property about nineteen thousand
dollars.
LUTHERANISM IN CIRCLEVILLE PRIOR TO 1859.
The early history of the Lutheran church in this place is involved in much
obscurity. A division occurred in 1859, resulting from differences in
theological opinion, since which time there have been two separate
congregations, each claiming to be the rightful successor of the original
organization. We have received, from representatives of both
congregations, historical sketches, from which we condense the following
brief history of the church, down to the time of the separation.
Among the
heads of families attached to the Lutheran church, who emigrated,
principally from Pennsylvania, and settled in Circleville and its
immediate vicinity, early in the present century, are recorded the
following:
Jacob Zieger, sr., George Zimmer, Samuel Watt, Philip Zieger, Jacob Zieger,
jr., Frederick Zieger, John Valentine, Peter Apple, Valentine Keffer,
Peter Trees, Heinrich Trees, William Moyer, Peter Herbster, Heinrich Ely,
"Old Father Try," Anthony Weaver, John Weaver, John Row, Mr. Earnhart,
sr., and others.
In the year
1811, the Evangelical Luteran synod of Pennsylvania delegated the Rev.
Jacob Leist to go to Ohio and Organize congregations. He preached his
first sermon here on the 28th of August, 1811. As this was less than a
year after the town was laid out, it must have been one of the first
sermons (if not the very first) preached in the place. For a long time he
held services once in four weeks. All the members being familiar with
German, the services were held exclusively that language for several
years. There was no church building in town, and the meetings were held in
such places as could be obtained. After the court house was built in the
old circle, this denomination, as well as others, used it for their
meetings. It is claimed that the Rev. Mr. Leist organized a church in due
form; and, judging from the amount of material which he found here at the
time, as well as from the nature of his mission, nothing can be more
probable. And yet, if such an organization was effected, two things are
very remarkable: first, that no scrap of record can be found to testify of
its existence; and second, that it should, by common consent, have been
entirely ignored in the forming of a new organization to take its place,
some twenty years later. However this mystery is to be explained, it is
certain that records, apparently authentic, exist, which show that, in
May, 1831, a congregation, taking the name of "the English Evangelical
Lutheran Church," was organized, with the Rev. N. B. Little as pastor. Of
the meeting at which this organization was effected, Mr. George Wildbahn
was chosen president, and John Marfield secretary. Following are the names
of the gentlemen present and taking part in the meeting:
George P.
Kephart, Henry Try, George Hammel, Adam Pontious, Robert Hays, James
Carlisle, Gershom M. Peters, Moses Dawley, Michael Pontious, Joseph Landes,
Daniel Funk, Michael May, John Valentine, Henry Triece, Samuel Watt, U. P.
Kerr, Philip Zieger, John Groce, Willialm B. Thrall, Valentine Keffer, Dr.
William N. Lenker, John A. Wolfley, James Kepler, and John Ludwig.
The three last
named having been appointed a committee to examine the credentials of the
Rev. Mr. Little made a favorable report, and he was thereupon chosen as
their pastor. At the same meeting, or one held very soon after, a
committee was also appointed to confer with the Rev. Mr. Leist, who, quite
advanced in years, was still residing in the vicinity. The object of the
conference with Mr. Leist does not very definitely appear. It is evident,
however, that he gave at least a tacit assent to the organization, and
thenceforth the venerable missionary drops out of view.
The Rev. Mr.
Little continued in charge about two years and a half, when he resigned;
and, on the 23d of February, 1834, the congregation gave a call to the
Rev. J. A. Roof, who labored for them acceptably twenty-one years,
preaching partly in German and partly in English, when he resigned and
moved to Iowa.
In the fall of 1831, soon after Mr. Little commenced his ministrations,
steps were taken to build a church; the sum of two thousand three hundred
and thirty-seven dollars being raised for that purpose by subscription,
part of which was paid in money, and part in materials or work on the
building. The south half of the "area on Bastile avenue" was obtained as a
site, and the corner stone was laid in the spring of 1832. The building
contained a basement and audience room, the dimensions being sixty-five
feet in length and forty-five in width. The basement was occupied till
1839, in which year the audience room was completed.
After the
resignation of Mr. Roof, there was a vacancy of about two years in the
pastorate, when the Rev. Joel Swartz, of Shenandoah county, Va., accepted
a call in the latter part of March, 1857. He also preached in German and
English. It was during the administration of Mr. Swartz that the church
was permanently divided. We should have no heart, even if we had time and
space, to write the history of the painful theological controversy which
culminated in this unhappy division, nor of the still more painful lawsuit
by which the party that felt themselves compelled to withdraw from the
church, sought to regain possession of the property. Suffice it to say
that, at the annual meeting which was held on the 7th of March, 1859, the
party corresponding to what is known as "old school," or "high church," in
other religious bodies, retired, leaving the "new school," or "low church"
party, with Mr. Swartz at their head, (whom they retained for another
year) in possession of the church. Each party elected officers, claiming
to continue the original organization. The so-called old Lutherans brought
suit against the so-called new Lutherans, for the possession of the church
property, both parties claiming their right to it.
The decision
of the court of common pleas, in which the case was tried, was in favor of
the so-called old Lutherans. The case, however, was appealed to the
district court, which (in effect, at least) reversed the decision of the
court below. The old Lutherans could have brought suit by another form of
action, but concluded not to do so. They were served for a time by
neighboring ministers, and remained in the Ohio synod. Mr. Swartz and his
congregation connected themselves with the Miami synod. Thus two
congregations existed. The party that adhered to Mr. Swartz took (or
retained) the name of
THE ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Rev. Mr. Swartz continued in charge one year, when he resigned, and
the Rev. Thomas Hill was elected in his place, May21, 1860. He was
succeeded by the Rev. M. L. Wilhelm, March 31, 1866. During the
administration of Mr. Wilhelm a new brick church was built, at a cost of
about eight thousand dollars. He remained till the church was furnished
and dedicated, when he resigned, and was succeeded by the Rev. H. B.
Miller, December 29, 1868. Mr. Miller remained a little less than a year -
then resigned and went to Tarleton, Ohio.
The names of the ministers who succeeded him, with the length of the
ministry of each, are as follows:
The Rev. Thomas Hill (second term), one year; Rev. E. W. Sanders, three
years. Then there was a vacancy one year, and the Rev. J. M. Ruthrauff was
elected, September 13, 1874, and continued a year and a half. The present
minister, Rev. J. W. Swick, accepted a call to the charge of this
congregation, April 6, 1879.
The party that withdrew from the church took the name of
TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In June, 1859, the Rev. C. Albrecht received and accepted a call to the
pastorate of this congregation, and remained until April, 1860, when the
Rev. John Wagenhals was called. Then the Trinity 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 "city," or "Presbyterian" burying
ground; and built thereon a neat brick church, at a cost of about five
thousand dollars. It was dedicated May 27, 1866. A commodious parsonage
was built on the same lot, about the same time.
In 1868 the
Rev. Mr. Wagenhals resigned his pastoral office, on account of feeble
health and advanced age, having served eight years. In the same year the
Rev. B. M. Lenker accepted a call from the church, and remained until
1870.
On account of
a diversity of opinion in the Ohio synod, on certain doctrinal points in
dispute among the clergy, a division took place in the English district of
this congregation. A number of older families withdrew, as they were not
willing to make these questions a test of true Lutheranism, having
previously been considered open questions, left to the discretion of
pastors and congregations. The members remaining in the church after the
resignation of Mr. Lenker, were served first by the Rev. E. L. S. Tressel,
and subsequently by the Rev. A. H. Schultze, who resigned in May, 1879 -
the pastorate being still vacant.
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.
At a general conference, in May, 1833, it was resolved that the United
Brethren church should have a printing establishment of its own, and that
said establishment be located at the town of Circleville. So, to carry out
this resolution, the conference appointed a board of trustees consisting
of George Dreisbach, Jonathan Dreisbach and Rev. John Russel. On the
twelfth day of April, 1834, the trustees bought a printing press, together
with type and causes; and also a lot and two houses of Mr. Z. R> Martin,
on North Main street, and on the thirty-first day of December, 1834, the
first number of the Religious Telescope was issued, with Rev. W. R.
Rinchart as editor. The publication of the Telescope was conducted for
several years without any church organization, there being no members of
the society in town except the editor, and perhaps some of the employees
of the office.
In the spring
of 1837, Rev. William Hanley, with his family, moved to Circleville, and
during this year regular preaching, on alternate Sabbaths with the
Universalist preachers, was kept up in the old court house, standing in
the center of the circle, where the two main streets now cross. In the
winter of 1838, services were held in the academy, instead of the court
house, a building situated in the northeast part of town, close to the lot
occupied by the old Methodist church. During this year [1838] a very
interesting meeting was held, during which penitents were often seen on
the streets enquiring for the United Brethren prayer meeting, and in some
cases, as soon as they entered the enclosure of the meeting, they would
fall upon their knees and beg for an interest in the prayers of God's
people. This meeting resulted in the conversion of a number of persons,
and the organization of a United Brethren society of about one hundred
members. The tide of the public sentiment was turned in the direction of
the new organization, and the people were generally anxious to hear what
the newcomers had to say on religious subjects. The academy building was
becoming entirely too small for the attendance; hence, during the year
1839, a church house was erected on East Main street, sixty-six by
forty-six feet, made of good material, and, at the time, the largest, and
perhaps the best, in the town.
On the
nineteenth day of October 1839, the first quarterly conference was held in
the new church, with the Rev. J. Coons as pastor. The official members of
the first conference were Rev. J. Coons, Rev. Elias Vandemark, Rev.
William Hanley (being then editor of the Religious Telescope), William
Freman, W. R. Rinehart, Robert Levering, Samuel Hargus, James Moodey and
Abraham Hostteton. During this year the church did not meet with any very
flattering success. A few, however, were converted and joined the church.
At the annual
conference of 1840 Rev. W. W. Davis was sent to Circleville as pastor. He
had some success, but received such a small salary that he would not stay
longer than one year. It would be well to remark here that the reader will
have to excuse the writer for not giving the salary of the early pastors,
as there is no record of it. AT the next conference, in 1841, Rev. P.
Brock was appointed as pastor, and labored for one year, with little
encouragement. He was assisted during the year by the Rev. W. G. Jarvis.
In the spring of 1842 Rev. L. Davis, now Dr. Davis, of Union Biblical
seminary, Dayton, Ohio, was placed in charge. During this year there was
quite a falling off in the membership. In the year 1843, Rev. Davis was
succeeded by the Rev. E. Vandermark. During this year the church was much
embarrassed by debt, and, as a result, had little or no prosperity. In the
spring of 1844, Rev. D. Edwards was appointed as pastor. In May, 1845, the
general conference of the whole church was held in Circleville. At this
conference the pastor, Rev. D. Edwards, was elected editor of the
Religious Telescope, and was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. I.
Kretzenger. During this year the Scioto conference changed its time of
meeting from spring till fall; hence, in the fall of 1845, Rev. Kretzenger
was succeeded by Rev. R. Hastings. In October, 1846, Rev. J. M. Spangler
was called to the station. He remained its pastor for two conference
years, and his labors were blessed with good results. At the close of
1847, Rev. H. Jones was appointed as pastor, and served one year. In the
fall of 1848, Rev. Spangler was again appointed. In 1849 Rev. William
Fisher was appointed, and served two years. During the last few years the
church had been gradually decreasing in membership, and its success, as a
separate congregation, was despaired of. Rev. J. Swarence was succeeded,
in 1852, by Rev. T. Sloan. At the close of this year it was admitted that
it could not succeed alone, its membership being of the poorer class and
unable to support a pastor; consequently it was attached to Pickaway
circuit, in charge of Rev. W. W. Davis. During this year, parties holding
claims against the church became impatient, and the sale of the church was
threatened; consequently at an annual conference held at the Moris church,
Pickaway county, it was resolved that a vigorous effort must be made to
lift the claims. The conference appointed Rev. William Hanley to solicit
funds for that purpose, and on the twenty-fourth day of September, 1854,
after a debt of over two thousand dollars was provided for, the church was
solemnly and joyfully dedicated to the service of almighty God, fourteen
years after it was built.
At the
conference above named (1854) Rev. Mr. Fisher was again appointed its
pastor. This year the salary was exceedingly small - indeed, smaller than
ever before, owing to the removal of the Telescope office of Dayton, Ohio,
which had occurred the year previous. In the year 1855 we find the Rev. J.
S. Davis as pastor. Rev. Mr. Davis was an excellent man, also a good
pastor and preacher. He filled his own pulpit with credit, and had
frequent invitations to exchange pulpits with other ministers of their
town. But alas for the church! just when his success in building up her
interests seemed a fixed fact, the Master called him from labor to reward.
In the fall of 1856 Rev. E. Vandemark was again placed in charge. During
this year the church and pastor became involved in a difficulty about his
salary and secret societies, that resulted in almost the entire overthrow
of the church.
From July,
1857, to January, 1862, we have no records whatever upon the journal of
the proceedings of the church. At the last-named date we have Rev. Mr.
Fisher again as pastor. From the close of 1862 to 1866 we find another gap
in the records. I believe there were no services kept up during this time.
At an annual conference in September, 1866, it was resolved that
Circleville church be called a mission station and receive an
appropriation from the conference funds to sustain it. Rev. D. Bonebrake
was then appointed to take charge of the congregation. In coming to the
work he found the membership reduced to twenty-nine members. His labors
were greatly blessed, and a number added to the faithful few. Rev. Mr.
Bonebrake received a salary of five hundred and forty dollars. In Oct.,
1867, Rev. J. H. Dickson was placed in charge, and received a salary of
four hundred and sixty dollars. Mr. Dickson remained in charge three
years, receiving about the same amount of salary each year. His labors
were blessed with fair results. In October, 1870, Rev. William Brown
received the appointment. This year there was considerable decrease in the
membership by removals. Mr. Brown received four hudred dollars. Rev. Mr.
Bonebrake, in 1871, was again returned. His labors, however, were not so
successful as before. His salary, this year, was only three hundred and
twelve dollars. In 1872, Rev. D. A. Johnstone received the appointment and
was continued for three years, with fair success, receiving a salary of
five hundred dollars each year. In October, 1875, Rev. Peter Wagner was
appointed, receiving a salary of three hundred and twenty-five dollars.
Rev. Mr. Wagner was succeeded, in 1876, by the Rev. J. Everhart. Owing to
ill health, Mr. Evarhart had but little success. He received for his
services a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars.
The annual
conference of 1877 appointed Rev. J. M. Mills. Mr. Mills took charge of
the congregation when it was in a very weak condition. He had, however,
some success the first year, and received a salary of five hundred and
fifty dollars. At the conference of 1878, Mr. Mills was again returned,
and at this writing - July, 1879 - is still laboring successfully, and is
well received by his church and community.
The present membership of the church is one hundred and ten; Sabbbath-school
scholars enrolled, one hundred and seventy-five; average attendance, one
hundred and twenty.
Present official board of the church:
J. M. Mills, Stephen Miller, Henry Pontious, Samuel Denman, E. Cave, A.
Moris, James Sims, and George Denman.
THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was organized with about twelve members, by the Rev. I. Davis, in the year
1834. The succession of pastors since that time is as follows:
The Rev. Messrs. Burd, Adkeson, T. Lawrence, L. Davis, Tilman, Coleman,
Peters, Arnold, Gibbons, J. Tibbs, W. Lewis, W. D. Mitchel, W. Davison and
R. H. Morris, who is the present pastor. Its membership numbers, at this
time, one hundred and sixty-three.
Mr. Morris and his band of faithful workers are now in the midst of a
great struggle to build a new church edifice, the corner stone of which
was laid only a few days ago, with appropriate ceremonies. It is to be a
very fine building, forty by sixty feet in dimensions. The congregation
have insisted on calling it "Morris Chapel," in honor of their present
beloved pastor.
THE FIRST REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH
In 1838, a number of persons holding letters from Baptist churches in
different States, especially Virginia, decided to organize themselves into
a regular Baptist church. For this purpose, on the twenty-seventh of July,
the following persons met at the house of Abram VanMeter; Gershom M.
Peters, Jacob Van Meter, Acker King, Thos. B. Godard, Milton Peters,
Samuel Creighton, Enoch Lamb, Nahum Newton, Maranda Peters, Emily Van
Meter, Maria Van Meter, Mary Van Meter, Adelaide Newton, Amy A. King, Eve
Everett, Agatha Menear, Priscilla Lamb and Eliza Lamb, and adopted
articles of faith and a church covenant. They were recognized by a
council, called on the eighteenth of August, composed of the following
persons: Dr. Jonathan Gonig, president of Granville college, who addressed
the church; Rev. T. R. Cressy, who preached the sermon; Rev. Jacob Drake,
who made the prayer, and Rev. Ezra Gonig, who gave the hand of fellowship.
There was also a Mr. John Rees present, from Granville church.
Of these original members, six died in the fellowship of the church; three
were excluded; one joined the Presbyterians; one Acker King, is still an
active member, having held the office of deacon from the organization of
the church to the present time. The recognition services took place in the
Presbyterian church, which was kindly offered for this purpose. On the day
following the recognition services, Charles Dean was received and baptized
by D. E. Thomas.
The first
pastor was Rev. Isaac K. Brownsen, who had just graduated from the
Theological seminary, at Hamilton, New York, and who, after his ordination
at Petersboron, New York, was sent, under the auspices of the Home Mission
society, to the then western State of Ohio, and though the influence of
Rev. T. R. Cressy, of Columbus, came to Circleville, and took the
oversight of the church, Oct. 1838, and remained with them fifteen months.
A portion of this time he was joint pastor of the church at Frankfort, so
giving each church but half the time preaching. A few were added by
baptism, but several families moving away, the church was much weakened.
The young church took hold it its work with zeal, and at a time when the
question of anti-missions was agitating the churches throughout the State,
took decided grounds in favor of missions, and the first Sabbath evening
of each month was devoted to prayer and contribution to that object. The
tenth day of November, 1838, was observed by them as a day of fasting and
prayer; thus the work began in humble reliance on God. They were too poor
to erect a house of worship, so they met in the octagonal court house, a
portion of the time, and another portion in the Atheneum building and
public school building. They were not left without a pastor when Mr.
Brownsen went away, as Rev. John A. Peters had moved into the
neighborhood, to be near his brother, G. M. Peters, and, though in feeble
health, he undertook the pastoral care of the church, and preached; not
only in the town, but at Mrs. Pancake's three miles west of town.
In September,
1840, they joined the Scioto association, and in May, of the next year,
organized a Sunday school, which was not a common thing in those days,
commencing with forty scholars, and soon increasing to seventy-five, a
number which has not been greatly exceeded since. G. M. Peters was the
superintendent. The pastor's health was gradually failing, so that the
preaching and baptizing were mostly done by neighboring pastors. In
November, 1841, the pastor died, greatly regretted by all the church.
Shortly after his death, two of the neighboring pastors, W. D. Woodfuff,
of Frankfort, and T. R. Cressy, of Columbus, held a series of meetings
that resulted in much good to the church, and ten persons were baptized,
and at a communion season that followed, thirty-two persons sat down to
the Lord's table together. The church was dessirous of securing a pastor,
and applied to a Rev. M. Wheaton, of Columbus, but failed to secure his
services. Rev. (afterward Dr.) J. L. Moore visited the church and preached
a few weeks, but not with a view to the pastorate. His labors were very
acceptable, and several were added to the church. At the June meeting, a
committee, consisting of G. M. Peters, A. King, J. H. Welsheimer and J.
Jaswell, was appointed to inquire into the expediency of building a house
of worship. At about the same time Rev. Henry Billings was called to the
pastorate, preaching two Sabbaths in the month. He remained with the
church one year, and when he left, the church abandoned the idea of
building a house of worship, though the committee had gone so far as to
lease a lot for six years. The cause was in rather a discouraging state,
and what made it still worse, they were unfortunate in calling a young man
named Edward Lyons, and at his urgent request called a council to ordain
him, February 21, 1844. He stayed with them but six months, and left them,
weakened by his influence, which was not good. He was published in the
Cross and Journal, by vote of the church.
The next year,
in March, Rev. W. D. Woodruff became pastor, and the Sunday-school was
revived, and E. P. Peters elected superintendent; but he did not hold the
position long, for in November L. L. Woodruff was chosen to that office.
At the end of two years the prospects of the church were so low that Mr.
W. D. Woodruff resigned the pastorate to go to a more hopeful field. Still
a few members held on to the cause, and were not willing to give it up. In
August, 1850, the few members came together at the house of J. H.
Walsheimer where a vote was taken appointing Eli Todd, L. L. Woodruff,
John H. Welsheimer and A. King a committee to purchase a lot on which to
erect a house of worship. Mrs. Catharine Brower, of Pennsylvania, was here
at the time, visiting her daughter, Mrs. Anna B. Darst, and took a lively
interest in the work, and volunteered to raise funds among her friends
east, which was greatly appreciated by the little church, for with that
timely aid, and by borrowing fifty dollars, they were enabled to build the
house in which they still worship; a small but comfortable house,
twenty-five by fifty feet, which was dedicated October 19, 1851. Rev. -
now Dr. - D. A. Randall was called to the pastorate, but after preaching
six months he was obliged to give up the worked on account of ill health.
The church was loth to part with him, as his preaching and work were very
acceptable, indeed, to all. Through Mr. Randall the church was induced to
extend a call to Benjamin Bedell, a recent graduate of Granville college,
who was invited to preach to them six months, with a view to final
settlement. Mr. Bedell arrived in Circleville the last of January, 1853.
Before the end of February it was deemed advisable to call a council to
ordain him, which was done Mar. 2, 1853, Rev. Dr. H. Davis, Rev. S. T.
Griswood, Rev. W. D. Woodruff and Rev. D. A. Randall participating. This
pastorate was the longest the church ever had, being three years and eight
months. During that time the church enjoyed two revival seasons, and more
than doubled its membership.
In the spring of 1855, after a very interesting work, in which the pastor
was assisted by Rev. H. A. Brown, it was decided to proceed to put up a
parsonage on the church lot. It was quite an undertaking for the church,
but by much personal sacrifice, and with outside help, it was accomplished
and the pastor moved into it on the third day of July, the same year. That
was a very joyful period for the church, and it was hoped its dark days
were over, but it was not be so. The Scioto association met with the
church that year, in August, and during the session of the association the
pastor was laid aside the sickness from which he did not sufficiently
recover to resume labor for several weeks, and wehn he did resume labor
the interest had sensibly diminished. The heart of the young pastor was
discouraged, but he did not decide to leave the field until September,
1856, when several families, that had been good helpers, having moved
away, and the congregation being reduced to a very small number, the
pastor gave in his resignation and went to Wilmington. The church was
greatly enfeebled and disheartened, and suspended meetings, and for a
period of sixteen years the church stood idle, only as it was rented to
other denominations, who occupied it while they were building their own
houses of worship. It was thus occupied by the Episcopal, English
Lutherans and Evangelical churches. In June, 1872, Rev. J. Kyle, a
missionary of the Scioto association visited the place and found the few
old brethren that were left, together with quite a number who had moved
in, ready to resume work, and as they could have preaching only
occasionally, they chose Mr. A. C. Elster a leader of the meetings. Rev.
Dr. S. Talbot, president of Dennison university, and Rev. A. J. Lyon, of
Lancaster, preached for a few times till, in November, they called Rev. J.
Chambers to preach for them half the time. There was no especial growth,
but they kept together and sought to regain the ground that had been lost.
They moved the
house of worship to the side of the lot on which it stood and purchased an
organ, so that, when Mr. Chambers left, after two years' labor, the church
was in condition to go right forward, and they called Mr. J. Adams, just
from Chicago Theological seminary, to the pastorate. In the meantime the
house of worship had been repaired and gas fixtures introduced. Mr. Adams
began his work in August, 1875, and was ordained the next month, September
16th, Rev. Dr. D. A. Randall, Rev. G. G. Harriman, Rev. E. W. Dannells,
Rev. J. Chambers and Rev. W. W. Sawyer taking part in the services. The
pastor addressed himself to the work before him with characteristic
energy, and his work told for good. The cause rose sensibly under his
ministration. The membership increased from twenty-seven to sixty-one
during his three years and one month pastorate. When, at length, he felt
compelled to resign and leave the field (September, 1878,) it was a great
grief to many members of the church. The church then recalled Rev. B.
Bedell, a former pastor, who returned to this, his first pastorate, and
began his second term of service in October, 1878. The first work that was
done was to repair the parsonage, so that it was made a very comfortable
home for the pastor.
In this review of the forty years' history of the Baptist church of
Circileville, we find that over twenty years of that time they had no
pastor and no regular service. There have been connected with them, from
first to last, two hundred and eight members. They have had nine pastors -
I. K. Brownson, j. A. Peters, H. Billings, E. Lyons, W. D. Woodruff, D. A.
Randall, B. Bedell, J. Chambers and J. Adams; for deacons - A. King, G. M.
Peters, J. J. Bugh and F. L. Lemon; thirteen clerks - N. Newton, S. K.
Greenleaf, E. Lamb, E. P. Peters, G. Dalton, W. C. Gildersleeve, C. T.
Emerson, L. L. Woodruff, W. H. H. Stone, W. H. C. Dodson, A. C. Elster, S.
Ward and L. D> Lyon; seven Sunday-school superintendents - G. M. Peters,
E. P. Peters, Dr. S. H. Potter, L. L. Woodruff, A. C. Elster, S. Ward and
F. L. Lemon. For the year 1877 and the present year (1879) they have
maintained mission Sunday-schools; of the school for the year 1877, which
was located three miles in the country, L. D. Lyon was superintendent, and
of the school established this year, in town, Dr. J. C. King is
superintendent.
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In 1838, just after the disruption of the Presbyterian denomination, the
Central Presbyterian congregation was formed. In the old church, known as
the "First," the minister Mr. Putnam, and a majority, voted to join the
New School branch. They retained the old site and building. The minority
withdrew peaceable and came down town to organize the Old School church -
the one now called the "Central." Of the sixteen or seventeen persons who
formed it, only one is now remaining. They held a meeting in "Squire"
Bell's parlor, in the house now owned by Mr. L. S. Scovil. Dr. James Hoge,
of Columbus, organized them as a church. In various parlors they
worshipped. It was "the church in the house." Out on one of the streets
called East Street which started from the center of the town like the
spokes from the hub of a wheel - for the town was circular - stood the old
brick academy. Here, for a time, the Old School Presbyterians worshipped.
Rev. George Wells, a young man, became the first pastor. He was ordained
and installed at a meeting held in teh Lutheran church. The audiences
increased, the house became too small, and the Rev. Mr. Roof, of the
Lutheran church - a warm personal friend of Elder Matthew McCrea -
tendered the use of the Lutheran church. For two years the congregation
worshipped there every two weeks. Subsequently they rented a large room in
the building called Olds' block - a room over the Wallace dry-goods store.
The lower room was occupied as a liquor saloon. Hon. Samuel Galloway, one
evening, beginning a temperance address in the church room above, rose and
gravely said:
"There's a Spirit above and a spirit below;
The Spirit above is a Spirit divine -
The spirit below is a spirit of wine.
But the people were not satisfied with a room merely; they wanted a house
and home of their own for worship. Elder Matthew McCrea said he would
build a church on his own lot, if they could not get one elsewhere. They
leased ground where now is Wagner's grocery store, and reared a little
frame church. A thankful company they were. They put a little bell up in
the cupola, and elders and ladies' hands pulled that bell rope and rang
the people to worship. A noted revival came upon them in that little
house. But their five years' lease expired. Their house was purchased and
moved across the street. It is now the hardware store of Mr. Ensworth. The
congregation moved again into Olds' block, and worshipped in the lower
room. Mr. Wells, their pastoral, died, and Mr. McKennon became their next
minister. Soon he was succeeded by Rev. Milton A. Sackett.
Mr. James McCoy donated to the church the lot of ground whereon their
present edifice stands. A subscription of one thousand six hundred dollars
was made, and the congregation began to build. Six thousand five hundred
dollars were finally expended on the building. For two years the basement
only was used for worship. Then the upper room was finished, and, in 1865,
June 3d, the church was dedicated to the service of God. The ministers
present, besides the pastor, were Rev. W. C. Anderson, D. D., of
Chillicothe, Rev. Josiah D. Smith, of Columbus, and Rev. J. M. Lowrie, of
Lancaster. The dedication sermon was by Mr. Smith; text - "We have thought
of thy loving kindness, O Lord, in the midst of thy temple."
Mr. Sacket,
the pastor, removed, and Rev. George L. Kalb, now of Bellfontaine,
succeeded him for ten years.
In the autumn of 1864 Rev. William McMillan, the present pastor, assumed
the charge. The congregation increased, and the Sabbath-school, under the
superintendence of Mr. A. McCrea, so enlarged that there was not room
enough in the lower chamber. It was the largest school in the synod of
Columbus, Old School.
In January, 1869, the building was enlarged by twenty feet in length. In
1873 repairs again were needed, and the entire roof was removed, the walls
heightened, and the present elegant architecture finished.
Source: 1880 History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio Publisher:
Williams Bros. 1880
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