Coshocton County, Ohio - Chapter 22, 1876

Episcopal, Christian Union, Etc

THE CHDRCHES - DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL, METHODIST (pROTESTANT), PRESBYTERIAN, UNITED PRESBYTERIAN, PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL, CHRISTIAN UNION, ETC.

Methodist Episcopal Churches

In relation to the Methodist Episcopal churches south of the rivers, the following has been furnished by Rev. B. F. Beazelle, the pastor of the one in Coshocton :

The first preacher who occupied tliis territory was the Rev. John Mitchell. That was in 1812. He was most likely the first Methodist preacher of Coshocton county. He organized three classes that year - one near where Plainfield now is, one at Maysville (Marquands), and one in the Robinson neighborhood, now called Bethany church. Religious services have been maintained in these places ever since, and after the lapse of nearly two generations, the fruit of this " handful of corn " is seen in a comfortable and tasteful house of worship at each place, and larger and more vigorous societies than perhaps ever before.

They were at first connected with the Tuscarawas circuit, Muskingum district, Western conference. Subsequently, it is said, they formed a part of Norwich circuit. Not later than 1820, they were included in Muskingum circuit. From 1813-23, the district was called Muskingum also, then for a time Lancaster.

That old Tuscarawas circuit included within its boundaries the following circuits and stations : Zanesville, now of the Ohio conference, Norwich, Sonora, Adamsville, Cambridge, Liberty, Washington, Milnersville, Plainfield, and Coshocton, of the Pittsburg conference, and parts of what are now Dresden and Roscoe circuits in the North Ohio conference, and doubtless other territory which can not be designated.

circuit, when the Rev. Charles Elliott was my colleague, in 1818-19, included what is now called Zanesville station, Putnam circuit, Cambridge circuit, and parts of others; and the following year, when Samuel Brockunier and James Gilruth were my colleagues, we so enlarged it as to include Washington, Coshocton, and other intermediate settlements. Those familiar with the country can see the extent of our plan by running a supposed line from Zanesville on through the settlements of Jonathan's creek to Wolf creek, below McConnelsville; thence up the river to Putnam; then by a zie-zae: route on to the bend of Wills creek, and all the neighborhoods down to Cambridge; thence to Washington, Sugar creek. Wagoner's plains, Coshocton, and Johnsou's plains ; and finally, by numerous angles, right, acute, and obtuse, back to the place of beginning. This, when I went to it, was a four weeks' circuit ; but when I left, it required a tour of six weeks, with little rest for man or horse. Our first year's work resulted in a small decrease, chiefly on account of strictly enforcing the rules of the discipline, and laying aside many delinquent members ; but the second year we received about two hundred new members, which, after deducting all losses, gave us a considerable increase."

About the year 1833, as nearly as I can tell, " the radical split,'' as it was commonly called, occurred. This rupture was produced originally by the question of "lay delegation," and led to the formation of the Methodist Protestant Church, in 1828, This event was very disastrous in its consequences to the appointments of which we have been speaking. The Plainfield society, then perhaps sixty in number, was reduced to eight. This little band, headed by Judge Thomas Johnson, continued faithful to the old church and its principles, and continued to meet on a week day, for preaching, in the school-house. From this fact, I infer that the seceding party, by odds the largest, retained the original house of worship.*

*A house of worship was erected, chiefly by Judge Johnson, in 1835. Subsequently, the congregation erected a building (frame) in Jacobs- I^ort. For the erection of this, M. L. Norris (afterward so extensively

The Marquand appointment was for a number of years seriously enfeebled, but through unflagging faith and labor, under the leadership of the earnest men, Marquand and Ballentiue, quiet and order were again restored.

At Robinson's, the society shared a similar fate. At times, prosperity would seem to return, when, by deaths, removals, or other untoward events, it would seem to be left in the same or worse condition. But the little company of earnest men and women, chief of whom, I believe, was Judge Robinson, stood firm, and the result is the substantial success of to-day. Judge Johnson died in 1840, having, however, lived to see prosperity restored to the church of his love. Judge Robinson fell at his post in 1856. Peter Marquand passed from earth about eight years ago; and Hugh Ballentine removed to the West some year's since, where he still lives.

For about five years prior to the organization of the Coshocton circuit, those appointments were connected with the old Roscoe circuit, which, during that period, was served by .the following-named preachers: Blanipied, Lynch, McDowell, Cooley, Goof, Lowell (who died of small-pox in Dresden, and was succeeded by Perkins), Camp, Brown, and Kalog. During that time, David Young and W. B. Christie served as presiding elders. I am not certain that this list is correct, nor can I give the date of appointment or length of service of any one. As we approach our own time, however, our information is more abundant and accurate.

Rev. I. IST. Baird, D.D., now of Allegheny City, Pa., in a letter to the writer, says : " I was sent to Coshocton in the summer of 1840. Found the territory I was to organize into a circuit to be bounded by the Muskingum river from Coshocton down to the mouth of Wills creek; up the same to the neighborhood of Linton ; then north to the plains near Evansburgh; thence down to the place of be- *ginning. There were societies at East Plainfield, Marengaged in building operations in Coshocton) had the contract. This building was somewhat enlarged and greatly improved in the summer of 1875.

quand's, and Robinson's. There was no society in Coshocton indeed, but one member was found there, Sister Spangler, still with you. Thomas C. Ricketts had, a little before that, united with the church in Roscoe - was yet on probation, and afterward came to us when we organized. There was a brother Conwell, also, who had been a member of the church somewhere, and joined us when we organized. But Mrs. David Spangler was the only member of the church at the time of my arrival, and to her as much as to any preacher, perhaps, our struggling enterprize there is indebted for its success. Her noble husband, though not a member, was always helpful in every way."

In 1841, Dr. Baird organized a class near the present Mount Zion appointment, the planting from which sprang the church of that name. In 1854, the following appointments were attached to the charge: Liberty, Hopewell, Peoble's, and Early's. The arrangement not proving mutually agreeable, at the end of one year they were detached. In 1855, the church at Lafayette was founded, which in recent years has attained considerable strength. . Until 1859, the circuit retained substantially its original shape, but in that year a division was made. Coshocton, Robinson's, and Lafayette formed one pastoral charge, retaining the old name. Maysville, Mount Zion, and Plainfield formed another, under the latter name. Lafayette, by request, was next year placed in the Plainfield circuit. For nine years, Robinsons and Coshocton constituted one pastoral charge ; but in 1868 the former was again included in the Plainfield circuit, since when the latter has been a station.

The first quarterly conference of the original Coshocton circuit was held at Bethany church, October 17, 1840. It will be of interest to know the names of the men constituting that body, Avhich have been furnished me from the original record by one of the members: Rev. Edward Taylor was the Elder; Rev. I. N. Baird the Preacher; James Robinson, Robert Johnson, David Richason, Hugh Ballen-' tine, T. C. Ricketts, and John M. Johnson, the Stewards. Exhorters : E. Davis and Charles Grimes. Leaders : Adam

We have seen that, at the organization of the circuit in 1840, no society of the Methodist Episcopal Church existed in Coshocton ; but for some years previous the Methodist Protestant Church had maintained one. Different men had, however, preached in the town from time to time as occasion offered, for a number of years - such as Thomas A. Morris (afterward bishop), David Young, Jacob Young, Robert 0. Spencer, Wm. B. Christie, John Dillon, and others, no doubt, of whom I have no certain knowledge.

As to the founding of the church in Coshocton, Dr. Baird further says : "I preached in the court-house, and organized the first class of twelve members in the old jury-box. It was during my second year that some steps were taken toward building a church. I can not now recall the stage of the work when I left in 1842. I left a considerable society - near seventy members, I think - and was succeeded by Rev. John J. Swayze, at that time the most popular man in the pulpit, in the conference." The twelve members of that first class were : Elizabeth Spangler, Thomas C. Ricketts, George E. Conwell, Felix Landis, David Frew, Benjamin R. Shaw, Henrietta Shaw, Nancy Decker, Martha Wallace, Mary Wallace, Abraham Sells, and Lucy Thomas.

Fortunately, from the original record-book, I am enabled to transcribe the following : " At a meeting held in the town ot-' Coshocton, May 9, 1842, by the friends and members of the M. E. Church, for the purpose of consultation as to the propriet}^ of erecting a house for public worship - Wm. McFarland having been called to the chair, and B. R. Shaw made secretary - on motion of David Spangler, it was unanimously resolved that we take immediate measures to secure a site and erect a suitable building." Accordingly a committee of five persons was appointed to secure a location and solicit subscriptions. Thomas C. Ricketts, James Robinson, David Frew, and Wm. McFarland composed the committee. An additional committee, consisting of James LeRetilley, Theophilus Phillips, and Samuel Hutchinson, was appointed to secure subscriptions in Roscoe. At a subsequent meeting, David Frew, B. R. Shaw, and George E. Conwell were elected a building committee.

After some good-natured difterence of opinion, the present location was agreed upon for the church, the ground then being owned by Joseph Rue. Whether their friends of to-day regard their selection as a fortunate one, I can not say.

A vote of thanks for the liberal subscriptions of the community is recorded, and then, among other things, the following: ^^ Resolved, That we accept the proposal of Mr. John Elliott to erect said building for the sum of $2,500, as per contract" - pa3'ing him at the same time $1,099, the amount of subscriptions then obtained.

A complete list of the contributors, with the amounts of their contributions, is also preserved. The men of that time - for we are to remember that all this took place a generation ago - believed in the pay-as-you-go plan. Numerous records of minor subscriptions were made during the four years the church was building; but when it was finally ready for use, little or nothing remained to be paid.

The church was dedicated in the early summer of 1846, during the pastorate of Rev. E. P. Jacob, by Rev. Wesley Kenny, D.D., then of Wheeling, more recently of the Philadelphia Conference, lately deceased. Since that time it has been repaired and improved at ditferent times at an aggregate expense of not less than double its original cost. In 1862, the parsonage property was secured. In the spring of 1863, the Pittsburg Conference held its annual session in it.

Preachers Of Coshocton Since 1860

cuit, we know nothing. The contribution - or, at all events, the allowance - of the entire circuit the first year (1840) for the support of the gospel, was $100 for the preacher and $10 for the presiding elder.

Benevolent collections were of course not thought of, and Sunday schools were yet in the future. The entire membership of that year was about 60. The membership of these two charges, as shown by the conference minutes of 1875, is 640. The amount paid for ministerial support the same j'ear, $2,1 20, and for benevolent purposes, $640. There are also six Sunday schools, with an aggregate attendance of 600 scholars.

The first {Chalfant'' s) meeting-house in Washington township was built in 1811, and the church there is regarded by many as the oldest in the county. There is a good church at Moscow, in that township. In the northwest part of the county the Methodist church was planted at several points in New Castle and Perry townships, concentrating at East Union, at a very early date, largely through the zealous efibrts of Joseph W. Pigman, a famous class leader and local preacher, settled in that locality, of whom mention is elsewhere made in this volume.

Churches were subsequently established at West Bedford and West Carlisle, which, with varying numbers, have always been accounted (especially the former) as among the more important ones in the county.

i^oscoe. - From 1820 to 1826, there had occasionally been a sermon preached in Roscoe (then Caldersburg),in the dining-room of a tavern kept by one William Barcus; but in 1826 two Methodist ministers were appointed by the Annual Conference to the Circuit in which Roscoe was embraced, and in the spring of that year the first class was formed by those ministers (their names were Abner Gongh and H. 0. Sheldon). The persons forming the class were Theophilus Phillips, Mrs. Samuel Brown, James Le Retilley and wife, Mrs. William Barcus, Rachel Le Retilley, and Joseph Shoemaker and wife. Meetings continued to be held in the same tavern until about 1828, about which time Samuel Brown joined, and the meetings were after that held at his house until 1831, in which year they built them a nice little brick church, twenty-four by forty feet. A little incident in regard to Samuel Brown. He was, by his own account, a very wicked man then. There was to be a love feast held on Sunday morning, and he went along with his wife to carry the child, not intending to stay in, but when they got there it was about time to close the door, as it was the custom in those days. So, when he stepped in to hand the child to his wife they closed the door and drew a bench against it, so that he could not get out, and was compelled very reluctantly to remain, and during the exercises he became powerfully convicted, and then and there joined the church.

In 1853, the old church being too small, they concluded to build a larger one. The old one was torn down, and one erected forty by sixty feet; and in March, 1874, it was burned and rebuilt the same year at a cost of $8,000, exclusive of materials out of old building. It is a handsome brick, same size as old one, with brick tower and fine bell. The windows are of stained-glass, and the pulpit and pews are very neat ; manufactured at Richmond, Indiana. It was dedicated December 27, 1875.

The Branch church, some six miles west of Roscoe, has long been associated with that church in a circuit, and takes rank as one of the older and stronger country churches.

Warner Cha'pel, on Bowman's section, three miles south of Roscoe, is a neat brick building, the erection of which was accomplished some six years ago, largely through the

Three miles further south is the Conesville church. Frank Wolf was largely instrumental in securing this church. The building is a good brick one of moderate dimensions.

The Warsaw Methodist Society was organized in 1843, by Rev. Mr. Thatcher, the presiding elder at the time being the Rev. Mr. Yocum. For five or six years meetings were held in the old school-house, still standing on the hill. The first members were Langdon Hogle, Andrew^ Weatherwax and wife, Joseph Meggs and wife, John Hook and wife, William Pancake and wife. The church was built about five years after the society was organized - a frame building worth something over a thousand dollars. Rev. Mr. Thatcher was followed by Rev. Finley Leonard, during whose ministry a great revival occurred, the result being an addition of some forty to the church. The number of communicants at this time is fifty, and the church is in more prosperous condition than for several years.

The Mohawk Village Methodist church was organized in the fall of 1840. In the preceding year a company from Ireland had settled in the Mohawk valley, until that time a comparative wilderness. They were followed the next year by other families of the same connection. The first company embraced James Moore, deceased (father of Robert Moore), James Moore, Sr., John Moore, and William Moore. Those coming the next year were William and James Given, William and James Thompson, and William Moore, all now living. And these families, with Thomas Treadaway and wife, composed the society at its organization. In 1841, there was an addition to the settlement, including, besides others, John Moore and family, and the well-known James and Robert of the present day. For about a year from the organization, the meetings were held in the Whittaker school-house ; then a school-house was built in the settlement, and meetings held in that. In 1849, the church was built - worth some |1,500. Within a few years it has been repaired and very much improved as to its interior. It stands near a refreshing spring of water, and is convenient and attractive in all its appointments and arrangements. The minister first in charge was liev. Mr. Camp. Rev. Leonard Parker succeeded him, and Rev. Henry Whittemore (still preaching in Northern Ohio Conference) succeeded Parker. Under his ministry quite a noticeable number were added to the society. Rev. Homer J. Clark followed Whittemore. Then came Austin Coleman, during whose ministry the church building was erected. Just prior to building the Methodist Episcopal church, he held a protracted meeting in the Baptist church, which had been built the year before. During this revival there were a great many valuable accessions. The history of the society has been marked by great prosperity. The number of members at this time is eighty-seven.

In relation to the church at Keene, two respectful applications, at some months interval, were made to the minister in charge for information. Both were unanswered. An intelligent gentleman was then commissioned to make direct personal application. His answer is in these words : "Nothing can be learned of the early history of the M. E. Church here that can be made available for your purposes. There seem to be no 'records' to refer to, and there is no member to consult who was living here at the time the church was organized. I can get no information from the Rev. Mr. Disney, and succeed no better with his laymen. I can only abandon the fruitless search."* The society is an old one, and the building a good frame.

At Canal Lewisville a very neat frame church was built in 1872, chietiy through the efforts of David Markley. The appointment is one in connection with Kecne, and the congregation has had a pleasant history and enjoyed great prosperity.

The church at Bakersville was organized about 1848, and is now enjoying its second house of worship (dedicated February 7, 1875), the old one having become unadapted to the size and character of the congregation. Making part of this charge are several appointments in the county round about, chief of which is "White Eyes. The number of members at Bakersville at this time is about seventy, and in the whole charge some two hundred and twenty.

The church at Bloomjield was built during the summer of 1871. It was dedicated January 14, 1872. Its cost was about $2,500. The congregation was organized with a membership of twenty. Thirty-three were soon thereafter added under the labors of Rev. A. E. Thomas, the minister at that time in charge. The present membership is about seventy-live. The Sunday-school has ahvays been a most interesting department of this church. It was organized in March, 1872, with E. J. Pocock as superintendent.

The Methodist (Protestant) Church dates its organization in Coshocton county in 1830. The first movement seems to have been at Jacobsport, where to this day probably the strongest organization is found. The building is a commodious frame.

On the plains above Lafayette a church (the appointment was called "Phillips'") was organized at an early day in the histor}' of the denomination, which has always since manifested much vigor. It occupies a substantial brick building.

At Coshocton, some thirty years ago, the M. P. Church was a comparatively strong one, with the best house of worship (the brick on Locust street bet-ween Second and Tiiird) and largest congregation of the place. It soon thereafter began to decline, and for a number of years has

The interest of the M. P. Church about Coshocton has of late years been concentrated at Moore's school-house, two miles below Coshocton, where there is at this time quite a fair congregation.

Besides the points thus far noticed as occupied by this denomination, there are appointments at Littick's, in Franklin township ; at Union Church, in Oxford township ; at "Wolfe's ; at Bird's Run, in Linton.

Among the more prominent ministerial laborers in the advancement of the interests of this denomination have been Cornelius Springer,* N. Sneethen, J. Dolby, William Munhall, Israel Thrapp, Joseph Hamilton, John Baker, D. Truman.

Among those connected with the various organizations in the earlier days were : In Coshocton, David Waggonerf and wife, and Zebedee Baker and wife ; in Franklin township, Isaac Shambaugh and wife, the Litticks, Browning, Bancroft, and Maston ; at Moore's school-house, the Moores, the Porteus', and McBanes; at Jacobsport, John Davis, S. V. Powelson, the Bakers, Chappies, and Magness ; in Lafayette township, the Loozes and Phillips, etc.

It is said that there are some fifteen localities (all south of rivers) at which services under the direction of this denomination are held ; and the number of members in the county is estimated at some five hundred.

Presbytekian Churches

f Residing just out of Coshocton, in the southeast. lie is a son of Phillip Waggoner, elsewhere mentioned as one of the first settlers in Oxford township ; now in his seventy-sixth year.

the oldest, it being in fact a twin church with that at Keene. Ministers traveling to, or living in the counties west and south, occasionally preached in the town from 1812 until 1818. In the latter year, Rev. James Cunningham, then living in Utica, Licking county, supplied what was denominated " the congregation of Coshocton and Mill creek," in which were fifteen communicants. The separation of the congregation seems to have occurred about 1833, about which time Rev. Geo. Warner was preaching to the church. Rev. i^athaniel Conklin followed him. The first elder at Coshocton was James Renfrew, and a little later John Elliott was elected. The former had served as an elder in the united church of Coshocton and Mill creek, and the latter had served at Keene before removing to Coshocton. The services were held at first in private houses, and then in the court-house. In 1824, James Renfrew started a Sunday-school. It was held in the currying-shop of the tannery on the northwest corner of Second and Walnut streets. In April, 1834, the county commissioners gave Samuel Lee, William K. Johnson, John Porter, and their associates, a lease of a site for a church on the southwest quarter of the public square, and the congregation, by a great and protracted effort, put up a substantial frame building, thirty by forty-two feet. It stands at this writing on the northeast corner of Fourth and Main streets - used for stores. Rev. Joseph S. Wylie, the first pastor of the church, began his labors in 1835, and remained pastor about six years, passing to Apple creek in Wayne county, and afterward to Florence, Pennsylvania, where he died. Eight members made up the original organization of the Coshocton church. There was a steady increase until 1838. In that year fourteen members withdrew, and were organized into a second Presbyterian church. Rev. Addison Cofley, coming from Lebanon, Ohio, began preaching to the old church as stated supply, August 8, 1841, and was installed pastor in 1843. Shortly before Mr. Coff"ey came, Jacob Elliott and Jonathan Fiske* had been ordained elders, and in his pastorate (ending September 2, 1847), David Noble, Samuel Wheeler, Eolla Banks, J. F. Traxler, and Wm. Loder. From 1847, when Mr. Cofiey removed to Peoria, Illinois, to the fall of 1851, the church was supplied by Eev. H. K. Hennigh and Rev. R. Robe, now in Oregon. Rev. Prosper H. Jacob (now of Knoxville, Iowa) was pastor from 1851 to 1854. In his pastorate, "Wm. Sample, Wm. Laughead, and Jos. K. Johnson were installed elders. Rev. T.J. Taylor (who died in Illinois, 1867) supplied the church for a few months in 1855-6.

Wm. E. Hunt (licensed by Steubenville Presbytery), the present pastor of the church, became such May 14, 1857, having supplied the churches of Coshocton and Keene from the July preceding. At that time there were fifty-six members of the church. At the time of Mr. Hunt's installation the Johnson Brothers (John, Joseph K., and Wm. K.) proposed to give lot 314 (on Main street) and the house then on it for a parsonage, provided the rest of the congregation would build an addition, all of which was done. In 1866, the brick church (forty-three by seventy feet, two towers, steeple one hundred feet, slate roof, frescoed walls, stained glass windows, etc.), corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets, was begun and finished in spring of 1868, at a cost of $15,500"* The synod of Ohio met in it that fall. In May, 1867, T. S. Humrickhouse, T. C. Ricketts, and James R. Johnson were installed elders.

The second church was organized January 12, 1839, and in the following spring Rev. E. Buckingham, from Newark,! became the pastor. Samuel Lee and A. R. Hillyer were the first elders. Mr. Buckingham remained until April 22, 1846. During his ministry, eighty-four were added to the fourteen original members of the church, and a frame house of worship was erected on Fourth street between Main and Chestnut streets, now " Equity Building."

Rev. H. Calhoun (now of Ironton, Ohio), was stated supply of the church for eleven years from April, 1846, and was followed for brief periods by Reverends Mussey, John Henderson, and "Wm. Bridgeman. From IN'ovember, 1861, to November, 1865, Rev. C. W. Wallace (recently of Monroe ville, Ohio), supplied the church.

A. D. Denman and Josiah Glover were elected elders September 23, 1860; Chester Wells, September 13, 1862; and W. H. Robinson and Dr. S. H. Lee, March 11, 1863.

A temporary arrangement was entered into July 1,1867, by which the first and second churches were to worship together under the ministry of Rev. Wm. E. Hunt, pastor of the first church, each church retaining its organization. This arrangement continued until the formal union was accomplished in virtue of the action of the General Assemblies, under which the churches had respectively been. This was consummated September 11, 1870. The united church took as the corporate name " The Presbj^terian Church of Coshocton," and engaged Rev. Wm. E. Hunt as pastor. At the time of union, there were on the roll of the first church one hundred and twelve names, and on that of the second church seventy-four. In 1871, the brick parsonage next the church was built at a cost of about $5,000. The old parsonage was sold for $2,500, and the second Presbyterian church building was sold in 1873 for $3,000.

The elders at this time are William Sample, A. D. Denman, T. S. Humrickhouse, S. H. Lee, T. C. Ricketts, W. H. Robinson, Josiah Glover, and James R. Johnson. The number of members in April, 1875, was one hundred and seventy. A large proportion of the funds for the new brick church was raised through the instrumentality of the " Ladies' Society - they having in the outset purchased the lot, costing $1,000.

county, as early as in 1818, occasionally preached to what was denominated the Congregation of Coshocton and Mill Creek, The prominent members of the congregation (in which were fifteen communicants) were James Renfrew and Samuel Lee, of Coshocton, and Timothy and Jacob Emerson, in the neighborhood of Keene. Services were held in pleasant weather under the trees of the forest, standing on the site of the present church of Keene. The church probably became the church of Keene distinctively in 1833. The oldest sessional record now accessible is dated July 14, 1827. On that day the Rev, Thomas Barr preached, and fifteen members were received into the church. The elders were Timothy Emerson and James Renfrew. The church was supplied during 1828 and 1829, Rev. James Culbertson and Rev. J. B, Morrow, among others, preaching. Rev. George Warner then " supplied" for two years. In 1832, Rev. Wm. Cox preached, and the session received ten members. Rev. N^, Conklin was stated supply for two years ending June 1836. Rev. J. S. Wylie followed Mr. Conklin, and served for three years. Both Mr. Conklin and Mr. Wylie also served at the same time the Coshocton church, and these churches have frequently been associated in ministerial charge. Rev. B. I. Lowe followed Mr, Wylie, remaining as stated supply for two years. From 1841 until 1843, the church was supplied by Presbytery. Rev. John B. Whitham was installed pastor July 7, 1843. In 1844, a division occurred, and a New School church was organized. After a little time this was reorganized as a " Free Presbyterian " church, which, after a feeble life, protracted through a dozen years, became extinct.

Of the old church Rev. J. W. Knott became pastor, June 28, 1845, remaining in charge until October, 1847. Rev. Samuel Hanna (son of Rev. A. Hanna, of Wayne county) became pastor, November 11, 1848, and continued his labors un|il his death, in 1850. His memory is still among the people as " ointment poured forth." Rev. John Trubit, Rev. William Edgar, and Rev. C. C. Bomberger supplied the church from 1850 until July, 1856. At that time Rev. William E. Hunt began to preach, and continued until the next year, when, beiug invited to spend the whole time at Coshocton, the Keene church called Rev. li. W. Marquis, then preaching in the Linton and Evans creek churches. He was installed i^oveniber 14, 1857, and continued as pastor until his death, in May, 1875, and is now gratefully recalled as " the faithful 'pastor.'" Since his death, the church has been supplied by Kev. A. Cone. In 1832, John Elliott and Nathan Shannon were added to the session. John Elliott was afterward dismissed to Coshocton. Timothy Emerson died in 1874. The present elders are ISTathan Shannon, Joel Glover, Robert McClure, Liverton Beall, James Leggett, and W. H. Crawford. Rev. I. N. Shannon, pastor of the church of Terre Haute, Indiana, and also of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, was a child of this church, his father, Nathan Shannon, having long been an honored elder in it, and his own body rests in its grave-j^ard.

The church building, standing on a gentle acclivity, embracing several acres, dotted with young forest trees, is a large frame structure, most substantially built. It was erected in 1834 by Charles Farwell. The number of communicants in 1875 was one hundred and twenty-eight.

West Carlisle Church. - This church was organized on the first day of November, 1828. Rev. James Cunningham (originally from Washington county, Penn., first settled near Marietta, afterward at Utica), had been preaching occasionally in the neighborhood, for some time, and continued to preach for the church until 1834. Rev. Jacob Wolf then served the church for about a year, and after he left Mr. Cunningham again preached for the congregation a couple of years. In 1838 and 1839 the church was supplied by Rev. Enoch Bouton and Rev. Nathaniel Conklin. Rev. J. Matthews seems to have been the first pastor - installed November 11, 1840. Until 1846 he gave it half his time, and then the whole time until 1853. During Jiis time the church building still in use was erected. In 1853, C. C. Bomberger was ordained and installed pastor, giving to this church half his time. During the war the congregation was greatly distracted, and finally divided, Mr. Bom- berger and a considerable portion of the congregation j^utting themselves in connection with the Presbytery of Louisville (Declaration and Testimony), and the new church coming afterward under the care of the Presbytery of Central Ohio in connection with the Synod of Kentucky. After several years of embarrassment, with only occasional supplies, John Foy was ordained and installed in 1870. During his pastorate the church rallied to a considerable extent, and the house of worship was repaired and improved at a cost almost equal to its original cost. Mr. Foy removed, in 1874, to Martinsburgh, Knox county, and the church since has been supplied chiefly by Rev. S. Mehafiey. At its organization the number of members was twenty-four. In 1860 there were eighty-six ; in 1874, one hundred. The first elders were Thomas McKee, James Crawford, and Adam Gault. Subsequently the folloAving have served : A. II. Lyons, Christopher Crothers, John Lyons, Jas. McKee, Robert Crouch, Wm. Harvey, Geo. McKee, D. D. Johnson, Lewis Bonnett, and Thomas McKee. Those in italics compose the session at this time.

Jefferson Church. - This is situated in Jefterson township, about one mile south of Warsaw. Among those chiefly interested in the organization of the church were the Elder family, and the building was located on a site given for the purpose on the farm of old John Elder. The church was organized August 19, 1837. A colon}' was sent out for the purpose from the West Carlisle Church, with which it has nearly always been associated in making a pastoral charge.* The principal ministerial labor has been rendered by Reverends Matthews, Bomberger, John Moore, and Foy. It had, at the outset, twenty-four members - had, in 1875, about seventy. The elders first elected were Thomas Lower}', Isaac Skillman - subsequently Wm. McCullough, James Anderson, James Douglass, Matthew Elder, Wm. Crouch, J. V. Stevenson, John 31cCliiggage, Cyrus Elder, D. E. Laughlin. Those in italics constitute the session at this time.

Clark Church. - The Clark (township) church was organized March 22, 1834. Rev. N". Conklin and others had occasionally preached in the region, a number of Presb3^terian families having therein settled. John P. Kerr and Thomas Guthrie were the first elders. There were twelve members.

The services, for three years, were held in the house or barn of Wm. Craig. The first church building was erected in 1837, by Geo. Weatherwax. Cost, about $200. The site of the building originally donated was deeded to trustees May 19, 1846, by Wm. Craig and wife, in consideration of one dollar. In 1867, a new edifice was erected - a good-sized and neatly-built frame structure.

The elders : John P. Kerr, Thomas Guthrie, Robert Huston, George Weatherwax, Thomas Shannon, Wm. Weatherwax, Geo. R. Altman, James Endsley, Jr., and John T. Crawford. Those in italics composing the session at this time.

The original membership was almost wholly from Western Pennsylvania. There were twelve members at the organization; in 1876, one hundred and fifteen.

Linton (township) Church. - Was organized August 15, 1833. Ten persons presented certificates from other churches (most of them from the church on Island creek, Jefferson county), and five persons asked to be received into the church on examination, among them John Glenn, afterward an elder. The church was supplied by Revs. N. Conklin, N. Cobb, J. Matthews, D. Washburn, S. Hanna, Wm. Lumsden, and Robert Robe, for nearly nineteen years. Rev. R. W. Marquis was the first pastor ; settled April 10, 1852, and remained in charge until the fall of 1857. The church was then supplied for a time by Rev. J. B. Akey.

In 1860, Rev. John Moore, D.D., became pastor, and continued as such for some two years. Rev. G. W. Fisher was the next pastor, 1864-68. After being supplied for two years, the church called to the pastorate Rev. J. B. Stevenson, and he was in the place more than a year. Rev. W. B. Scarborough, the present pastor, took charge in 1872.

The first elders were Alex. Matthews, Sr., and Alex. Matthews, Jr. Being unacceptable to the congregation, they were soon removed. Eldredge Foster, J. Fort, John Glenn, and "Wm. Love were in the ofiice. All dead.

The congregation is using its second house of worship. The first was an old wagon-maker's shop, repaired and refitted. The present is a very neat frame building, erected in 1868.

Evans' Creek Church. - The first house of worship stood on a hill, about a mile out of Bakersville, overlooking the creek. It was a log one. The present is a neat frame structure, in Bakersville, built in 1861. The church was organized April 29, 1833.

During almost its entire history, it has been associated with the Linton church, having the same pastors, except iu the case of Rev. John Moore, D.D.

The elders have been: James Jones, David Walters, Wm, Shannon, Robert Lyons, John Buck^ David G. Miller, and John Miller. Those in italics are the present session.

Eoscoe Church. - The Roscoe church was organized April 25, 1847. Rev. II. Calhoun supplied it for eleven years, and it received a part of the time of Revs. Henderson, Wallace, and other pastors of the Second church of Coshocton. At the oreranization there were fifteen members. Under the care of Mr. Calhoun, and also at a later day under the labors of Rev. C. W. Wallace, Rev. S. P. Hildreth, and Rev. H. C. McBride, considerable accessions were received to the church ; but it has, at this writing, hardly as many as when first organized. The elders have been James Hill, George Bagnall, T. Carnahan, S. Sayre.

In 1847 a church was organized at "the Valley," on the road from Coshocton to Newark, six miles west of Coshocton, and a squared-log church built. Rev. P. H. Jacobs, of Coshocton, and Rev. C. C. Bomberger supplied it from 1847 to 1860.

The neighborhood had at first a few Presbyterian families, but death and removal to the west soon effaced these, and as the territory was occupied from the start by other denominations, this retired from the field.

In 1863, the old organization having become extinct, a second efibrt was made, but with no better success than the first. To this second congregation, Rev. John Moore, D.D., while settled in Jefierson church, ministered. In the first organization, William Crooks was an elder; in the second, John McCluggage. The church never numbered a score of members.

After "the split" of 1838, attempts were made to start " New School " churches at Linton and Keene, but there was no success at either place.

United Presbyterian

chief friends were the Campbells, Daughertys, McFaddens, Funks, Smiths, and Warrens. The principal ministerial service was rendered by Rev. D. F. Reed, the congregation being associated with Millcreek. A house of worship was built about 1840, but it was many years ago burned, and the church became, after a time, extinct.

The United Presbyterian Congregation of Amity, Keeue township, is composed of the Associate Reformed Congregation of Millcreek and the Associate Congregation of Keene, which occupied substantially the same territory.

The first members of the A. R. Church came to Keene township during the summer and fall of 1817, of whom Robert Boyd was the first, who came May 4, 1817. He was an educated man, and w^as considered by some of his friends as at one time the best scholar west of the mountains. His wife was a sister of Rev. Gilbert McMaster, D.D., of the Covenanter Church, father of Rev. E. D. McMaster, of the 0. S. Presbyterian Church. He came from Ireland when quite a young man. His father, William Boyd, was au elder in Rev. Kerr's Church, Cookstown, Tyrone county, Ireland, father of Revs. Joseph and Moses Kerr, of Pittsburg, Pa. The first preaching they had was in the summer of 1818, by Rev. George Buchanan, of Steubenville. He preached occasionally afterward; and Robert Boyd and George Ford, formerly elders in his congregation at Steubenville, acted as a session here. George Ford said there was no other organization between this and Steubenville. After 1822, Revs. David Proudfit, David Norwood, and Moses Kerr supplied occasionally.

The first communion was held in the fall of 1828, by Rev. Samuel Findley, D.D. The members at that time were Robert Boyd and wife, George Ford and wife, John Wilhams and wife, Thomas Hamilton and wife, Joseph Marshall and wife, Robert Boyd (Jr.) and wife, Mrs. Xaucy Foster, Mrs. Sarah Ford, et al.

Robert Boyd died I^ovember 25, 1826. George Marshall died September 30, 1834 He was a solid farmer, and the father of Colonel William Marshall.

Rev. D. F. Reid settled as first pastor in 1841, in connection with Millersburg and White Eyes, and labored with a good degree of success for about sixteen years.

The Associate Congregation of Keene was organized August 26, 1838. Robert Boyd and Robert Karr were ordained elders. Rev. Samuel Irvine officiated. Members : Robert Boyd and Elizabeth, his wife, Robert Karr and wdfe, William Boyd, John Karr and wife, Sarah Boyd, John Boyd, John Elliott and Martha, his wife, Robert Tidrick and w^ife, John. Williamson and wife, James Johnson, Samuel Boyd and Nancy, his wnfe, and John Loder.

Revs. S. Irvine, Joseph McKee, Samuel Hindman Mc- Cleans, and others, supplied occasionally. In April, 1845, Rev. James M. Henderson was settled as pastor, one-fourth of his time in connection with Northfield and Claysville. He labored thus one year and nine months with a good degree of success, w^hen he was released from this part of his charge. He was a strong advocate of temperance and opponent of slavery. The most striking instance of his labors here was a sermon that he preached from the text " Thou shalt not surely die." A Universalist preacher, by the name of Eaton, was making quite an excitement, and drawing a number of influential and enthusiastic followers after him. Mr. Henderson gave four weeks' notice that he would preach on the subject in the Keene 0. S. Presbyterian Church. There was a large audience to hear him, and he handled the subject in such a man ner that Uuiversalism has had a quietus on it in these parts ever since. August 26, 1853, James T. Boyd and James Boyd were ordained and installed elders.

In November, 1854, Rev. John P. Scott was settled onethird his time in connection with Millersburg and labored one year and nine months with success, when he was released from this branch of his charge.

September 4, 1858, the A. R. Congregation of Millcreek and the Associate Congregation of Keene formally went into the United Presbyterian Church.

Pursuant to a notice given on the last Sabbath in April, the congregations of Millcreek and Keene voted unanimously to consolidate into one congregation and session, under the name of Amity. This " action was ratified " by Presbytery, October 15, 1861.

The session was Rev. W. A. McConnell, George Ford, John Irvine, William Richie, Richard Richie, James T. Boyd, John Williamson, and James Boyd.

Mr. McConnell 'labored Avith ability and success until some difficulties arose. He resigned his charge at the meeting of Presbytery, June, 1864, on the ground that he had not got the encouragement and support to harmonize the charge he was led to expect. He left on the 13th of September, 1864. At that time Amity had one hundred and thirty members. Amity has had no settled pastor since. The membership at present is forty-seven.

The congregation of Arondalew^^ organized autumn of 1873, Rev. Andrew McCartney ofliciating. Elders Robert C. Warren, Claudius Hamilton, James T. Boyd, and John

Protestant Episcopal

Bishop Mcllvaine preached in Coshocton in the old Presbyterian church, standing on the square while it was not yet quite completed, 1835. Several unsuccessful movements have been made looking to the organization of a congregation of the P. E. church in Coshocton. For more than a year, preaching by a minister of that church was kept up in Roscoe. Rev. C. Sturgiss lived for some time, about 1844, in Keene, conducting an academy and preaching to a little flock at '' the Knob," in Millcreek township, where, through the influence of John Mitchell and others, a church was organized about forty years ago. There is, at that place, a neat little stone church, but only a few members, and there has been no service for nearly two j^ears.

A movement was made for a church of this order at jN'ewcastle, and services were conducted for some time by the professors at Gambler, but little headway was made.

Rev. J. D. Nunemacher is preaching to a congregation (without organization) composed mainly of Lutherans, in Coshocton, following in a line of work carried on for twenty years. There is also a congregation of similar sort at Helmick, in Clark township.

At " Ramur Meeting-house," in Keene township, there is gathered a " Christian Union " church - a denomination growing out of the late war, proclaiming as one of its cardinal doctrines, " no politics in the church."

Another organization of same kind was organized in East Union, in 1866, and numbered over a hundred members. Still another church of this order is on Severns' Ridge in New Castle township.

United Brethren

ing-house in Keeue township, but during the late civil war it was so divided and distracted as to become practically extinct, and was supplanted by the " Christian Union " church, now worshiping in same building.

It is understood that there are two respectable congregations of United Brethren in the east part of the county, one in White-eyes and one in Crawford township, but no detailed accounts of them have been obtained.