Scioto Township, Pickaway County, OH

Church History & Records

Commercial Point M. E. Church.--The first Methodist Episcopal Church in Scioto township was organized between 1829 and 1834. at which time a log church was built and called Point Pleasant Church. Religious services were held in the township by Revs. Austin and Philips as early as 1829 and by Rev. John McKinley, a local preacher. In 1854 a small brick church was erected in the village of Commercial Point. A portion of the walls and roof were blown down in 1873 and a new church building was erected in its place, which is valued at about $2,400. The church is now a station of the Commercial Point Circuit, which was detached from the Darbyville Circuit in 1884. In this year a frame parsonage was built in the village at a cost of $1,500. The pastors since 1886 have been the following: Revs. Byron Palmer, E. N. Nichols, B. E. Thomas, F. M. Evans, F. S. Armstrong, C. B. Longman, J. E. Gordon, F. H. Smiley, A. R. Henderson, S. A. Crosby, M. E. Cunningham and M. E. Goodrich, the present incumbent, who was assigned to this circuit in September, 1906. The church at Commercial Point has an average attendance 0f 50. The Sunday-school, of which A. J. Hott is superintendent, also has an attendance of about 50. It was organized April 18, 1847, with these officers: James W. Durrett, superintendent; Vincent I. Williams, assistant superintendent; John Martin, secretary; William Harlor, treasurer; and John Pierce, librarian. The average attendance for the first year was about 20.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Orient is about 15 years old. The church edifice is a frame structure valued at $2,000. This is a charge of the Harrisburg Circuit and the present pastor is Rev. R. C. Orndorff, who succeeded Rev. John Walters in September, 1906. The church has an average attendance of about t00. J. S. McKinley is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has an attendance of about 45.

The King's M. E. Church, about three miles east of Orient, is a charge of the Darbyville Circuit, of which Rev. F. B. Davis is pastor. The church building is a frame structure. Fred Dountz is superintendent of the Sunday-school.

A regular Baptist society, commonly known as Primitive Baptists, was organized about 1829 at Darbyville. The organization was removed, in 1874, to Scioto township to the locality now known as Matville, two miles west of Commercial Point, where a church building was erected at a cost of $600. Regular services, held once a month by Elder Hanover, have an average attendance of about 40. Annually, on the third Saturday and Sunday in June, the Baptist Association holds services in Beaver Grove near Matville, which are attended by from 3,000 to 4,006 people.

Scioto Chapel.--A class of the United Brethren in Christ was organized at Robtown about 1843, meetings preliminary to organization having been held in private houses and in an old log schoolhouse east of Robtown, built about 1822, which was afterward moved to Robtown and used as a church until 1875, when a frame structure was erected, which was named Scioto Chapel. The church is a class of the Ashville Circuit, and the names of the pastors who have had charge will be found in connection with the history of the Ashville U. B. Church. The present pastor is Rev. W. E. Rowe. The membership of the class is 52. There is a flourishing Sunday-school, of which Henry Prindle is superintendent.

The Presbyterian Church at Commercial Point has no regular minister at the present time. Services are held occasionally on appointment. It was organized about 1829 at the house of James Miller, a mile north of Commercial Point. Previous to that time services had been held in private houses occasionally. The first settled minister was Rev. Calvin Ransom. A log church, built on a lot now used as the township cemetery, was erected about 1835 and used until a frame church was built in 1857, which is valued at about $2,000. The frame parsonage is valued at about $1,000. Sunday-school sessions are held regularly with a fair attendance. T. H. Durrett is superintendent.

Source: HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY, OHIO AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS, EDITED AND COMPILED BY HON. AARON R. VAN CLEAF.  CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO