Harrison County, Ohio - Chapter 12, 1900

Chapter 12

While the Associate Eeformed congregation was doubtless the first Te«'iilarly organized religious society in Cadiz, it is probable the citizens were first ministered to by the Presbyterian minister at Beech Spring - IJev. John Eea. lie is said to have preached his first sermon in Cadiz in 1804, standing under the shade of a large forest tree, which stood on the site of the present court-house. At this time, it is thought, there Avere but two buildings in the village, namely. Garret Glazener's blacksmith shop, and a log dwelling-house.

The Presbyterian Church

The first mention of Cadiz, as a separate congregation on the records of the Presbytery of Ohio, appears under date of Wednesday, June 11th, 1816. The Presbytery having met at Raccoon, in Washington county. Pa., applications for supplies were made from Cadiz and Freeport. ]\Ir. Joseph Stevenson was appointed to preach at Cadiz on the second Sabbath of July, and Elisha Macurdy one Sabbath at his discretion. Rev. John Rea was appointed to supply at Freeport on the first Sabbath of Juty. The Presbytery met again at the same place on October loth, 1816, and applications for supplies were again received from Cadiz and from Freeport. On the following day, " Mr. [John] Munson, a licentiate from Presbytery of Hartford [Ohio], was granted leave to itinerate, and ordered to supply Cadiz the fourth Sabbath of October, and Freeport, the first Sabbath of January." Rev. Moses Allen was directed to preach ut Cadiz on the second Sabbath of December, and John Rea, one Sabbath at discretion. Rev. Joseph Anderson was likewise appointed to preach at Freeport on the third Sahhath of N"oveinher; and Andrew Gwinn, at Cadiz, on the second Sabbath of November. From this time on, supplies seem to have been sent as frequently as Presbytery could furnish them, until the installation of a regular minister.

If the records to which we have had access are correct, there was but one white family living within the limits of what is now Harrison county previous to the year 1799. This was tli-e family of Mr. Daniel Peterson, and his place of residence was at the forks of Short creek. During the year 1799, Mr. Alexander Henderson and his family moved into this vicinity from Washington county, Pennsylvania. In the following year immigration set in, chiefly from- western Pennsylvania, and the ancestors of a large portion of the present inhabitants made this region their liome - the names of Craig, Jamison, McFadden, and others being almost as familiar then as now.

The immigration was evidently very rapid, for in 1820 the population of the county is given at 14,345, and in 1830 at 20,920, while the population as given in the census of 1880 is only 20,455, being less than that given in 1830 by 465.

The county was organized in 1813 from portions being struck off from Tuscarawas and Jefferson counties. I'he town of Cadiz was laid out in 1803 or 1804, by Messrs. Biggs and Beatty. The present ground was then covered by a heavy forest, and inhabited by the Indian and such wild animals as abounded in this region. The town was laid out at this precise point because of its being the junction of two roads - the one from Pittsburg via Steubenville, and the other from Washington, Pennsylvania,, via Wellsburg, leading to Zanesville. Before the building of the National Pike, this was the chief thoroughfare through the State from east to west. Very early in the history of the settlement of this county, attention was given to the organization and building of churches. The first church built in this region was what is still familiarly known as Beech Spring Church, one mile west of the eastern boundary line of this coiinty. Its first buikling was a small log structure which was destroyed by fire. This was succeeded by a larger one, holding 1,000 people, and was the center to which all Presbyterians tended from a wide range of country. It was at one period the largest Presbyterian church in this State, numbering upwards of 400 members. The P^ev. John Eoa became pastor of this church in 1804, at which time what is now Cadiz, was regarded as in the central portion of his parish. His first sermon in this immediate vicinity was preached in 1805 in a private house. As was then the custom, he continued to preach at different points in his large parish, and this region became one of these preaching points. The services were generally held on Sabbath afternoons or even- ings in private hoiipos or in the log school -house, as was most convenient. This continiied nntil ihe spring of 1817, when, under the direction of the Preshytery of Oliio, with TMr. Rea as chairman of the committee, the Presbyterian Church of Cadiz was organized.

In his historic sketches, ]\fr. Rea says: "I first saw the ground on which Cadiz is now located, in 1804, when the place now occupied hv the court-house and other public buildings, was a forest of oak, walnut, and sugar trees." Mr. Rea continued to preach after the organization of the church, as stated supply until 1820. The history of the church from its organization is a little more difficult to trace, from the fact that the early records of the church have been lost. The earliest sessional record we have been able to find is June 18, 1831 - so that fourteen years of the most valuable records are wanting.

The church Avas organized under Ohio PresbA'tery, and was for a time under its care. Then in 1819 the Presbytery of Steubenville was struck off by order of the synod of Pittsburg, and this church then belonged to that Presbytery until 1839, when the Presbytery of St. Clairsville was organized, under whose care the church is at this time.

In Steubenville records of 1820, Cadiz church appears with several others - the last on the list as "vacant, not able." The same record occurs in 1821, with the addition that Obediah Jennings, of Steubenville First Church, was appointed to preach at Cadiz. At a meeting of the Presbytery, held April IG, 1822, at Tavo Ridges, Matthew McCoy appeared before Presbytery, and presented a call for the pastoral services of Mr. Donald Mcintosh, and Avas granted permission to prosecute the call before the Presbytery of Ohio, of AA^hich he was then a licentiate. The call was accepted, and Mr. Mcintosh was ordained and installed pastor of this church, October 17th, 1822, Rev. Obediah Jennings preaching the sermon, and Rev. John Rea delivering the charge (AAdiether to people or pastor is not stated).

Rev. Donald Mcintosh was the first pastor that served this church. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, but came to this country earlv in life, and graduated in his collegiate course at Jefferson College, in the vear 1817, and was licensed to preach the gospel by the Preslayterv of Ohio.

He continued to serve the church as pastor until 182G, when the pastoral relation was dissolved on account of ill-health. ]\lr. Mcintosh then returned to the State of jSTcav York, and from there he went to Florida, in 1828, where he died in 1830. Thus early in life the first pastor passed aAvay to his eternal rest and rcAvard.

The second pastor was the Rev. John McArthur. He was born March 25, 1803, in Argyle, Washington county, N", Y. He removed to Ohio in 1819, took the degree of A. B. at Jefferson College in September, 1825, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Hartford, October 3, 1827, then in session at New Lisbon, and A\-as ordained and installed pastor of the united charge of the Ridge and Cadiz churches - in the former TSTov. 19, and in the latter Nov. 20, 18'3S, and continued until October 3d, 1837, when his relation was dissolved by the Presbytery of Steubenville. Mr. McArthar then removed to Miami University, and entered upon the duties of a Professorship in the Greek language, to which he had been elected, and for twelve years ho taught in this university, and preached to a small congregation until his death, which occurred in 1849.

The third pastor was Eev. James Kerr. He Avas born Dec. 23, 1805, in the county of Wigton, Scotland. He emigrated to America in 1832. He finished his educaiion at the University of Glasgow, was licensed to preach by the Presb3^tery of Baltimore, April 27, 1836, and was ordained as an evangelist by the Presbytery of Winchester, April 22d, 1837, and labored in Hampshire county, Virginia, until July 15th, 1838, and being invited he visited the Church of Cadiz as a candidate, and in due time received a call and was installed pastor. May 6th, 1839, by the Presbytery of St. Clairsville, and remained sixteen years the incumbent of said office until his death, which occurred April 19, 1855.

The fourth pastor was the Rev. William M. Grimes, who was born at Crabapple, Belmont county, Ohio, September 15th, 1821. He took the degree of A. B. at Franklin College in September, 1814, was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of St. Clairsville on the 18th day of April, 1850, and was ordained and installed pastor by the same Presbytery in the Church of Concord, jSTovember 20th, and in the Church of Beallsville - the one-half of his time in each place - and remained in this field of labor about six years. A call from the Church of Cadiz Ohio, was presented in the Presbytery of St. Clairsville for the ministerial labor of the Rev. William Grim^es, and after considerable discussion, the pastoral relation between Mr. Grimes and the Cliurches of Concord and Beallsville was dissolved on June 17th, 1856, with a view of his accepting the call from Cadiz, and he was installed pastor of this church in October, 1856, by the Presbytery of St. Clairsville. A call from the First Church of Steubenville, Ohio, was presented before the Presbvterv of St. Clairsville for the ministerial labors of the Rev. William M. Grimes and the pastoral relation between the Rev. William M. Grimes and the First Church of Cadiz was dissolved on January 25th, 1876, after a pastorate of over nineteen years. Very much might in truth and justice be said about each of these pastoral relations, but especially the last. Its unusually happy relations of pastor and people - the unusual results - all would be sufficient reason for continued remark. But we deem it best to leave this for future occasion, your own familiarity with this portion of the pastoral history making this the less necessary.

The fifth pastor was the Rev. Robert Dickson, called September 18, 1876. ]\Ir. Dickson was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1818, and was educated at Belfast Royal College. The first nine years of his ministry were spent in Ireland. He came to the United States in 1850, and continued his ministry in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He served a term dur- ing the war, as Chaplain of the 100th Pennsylvania Eegiment. He was called from the Second Presbyterian Church of New Albany, to take the pastoral charge of the church in Cadiz, and continued at this place imtil 3 881, when he was called to Clifton, Ohio. The church was without a regular pastor for about two years following.

Your recent pastor is the sixth in order. The installment took place on the 14th day of June, 1883. What the results will be remain to be seen.

There have been since the organization of the church thirty elders elected, of w^hom ten are now living, and constitute the present session. The first were Matthew McCoy, John Hanna, and William Eamsay, who seemed to have been elected at the time of organizing the church. [Among other early elders Avere Robert McCullough, John Megaw, and Peter Bargerj. Most of these have been men who have left a good record, and whose influence is seen and felt to this day in the church and in the community.

I have not been able to secure either the names or the number of those who composed the church at the time of its organization, except three elders already named. But previous to the pastorate of Mr. Kerr, there had been 323 identified with the church. During his pastorate, 279 were added. Daring the pastorate of Dr. William M. Grimes 6G4 were added. During the pastorate of Dr. Dickson, 146. Since the dissolution of his pastorate, 52 have been added, making a total membership of 1,464, of whom far the larger part have passed from the church militant to the church triumphant, and we trust uniting with the former pastors in praising God in the upper sanctuary- - 464 remain, while many are scattered to every quarter and some are holding places of responsibility and trust in other churches. Two at least are preaching the Gospel to other churches.

There have been two church buildings on the ground. The first was built about 1831 or 1832. It was a large building for the time, with galleries on three sides, and was built at a cost of ahout $5,000 or $6,000. The money was raised for building by subscription, and paid partly in money and partly in labor. The brick work was done by John Pepper, and the wood work by Mr. Robinson. Before the erection of this building the services were held in the Court House and in private houses, and also in the Associate Reformed Church,

With the building of the present church you are all too familiar to need any word from me. It was dedicated May 25th, 1871, the sermon beinc preached bv Dr. S. J. Wilson, of Allegheny Seminary, the house costing about $40,000.

The method of ministerial support in those i-arly times was quite liberal, as compared with the cost of living. Suln^uriptions were sometimes made partly in money and partly in produce.

Early Churches Of Cadiz 161

At its organization in 1820, the church liad to receive support from ilie committee of Domestic Missions, which then composed the present board of Home ]\Tissions.

It has not in the past been forgetful of and will not in the future forget its debt of gratitude to this agency of the church, for helping new and growing churches in the days of their infancy and necessary financial weakness. The church has had two seasons of special revival, - one in 1840 under the ministry of Kev. James Kerr, when many were awakened and converted, and another beginning in 1865 and contiuuing for two years, during which time 120 persons united with the cliurch. This was under the ministry of Dr. Grimes.

was established in Harrison county as early as the year 1801. The first Methodist emigrants settled on the south branch of Short creek, and consisted of Joseph Holmes, Samuel Humes, William Walraven, Isaac Buskirk, and others. Soon after, Thomas Dickerson came from Kedstone, Fayette county , Pennsylvania, and cleared some land and built a cabin near the settlement. Through his labors and influence a Class was formed, prayer meetings Avere established, and the people instructed in religion. Following the labors and progress of this good man, came the itinerant minister - Asa Shinn - and the first M. E. church of the county was erected and named "Dickerson." In the year 1802, the first seed was planted by Henry Johnson, who penetrated the forest to that place, and gathered to him after awhile a Methodist class. As early as 1814, there v.-ere societies organized at Eankin, Deersville, Bethel, Morris West's, two miles northeast of Cadiz, and at Cadiz. In the years 1807-8, Rev. James B. Finley traveled througli this region and organized a number of classes in the western part of the county. He preached with such ])Ower as to impress himself aud his message upon the minds of the people, so that neither were ever forgotten. Eev. Finley has given us in a book of his life, an account of his work during these years and a description of his circuit as it had been formed by the Eev. James Watt. It was called "Wills Creek Circuit," and was not less than seventy-five miles in extent. "Beginning at Zanesville and running east, it embraced all the settlements on the Wheeling road, on to Salt Creek and Buffalo fork of Wills creek, thence down to Cambridge and Leatherwood, on Stillwater, including all the settlements on its various branches to the mouth, thence up the Tuscarawas through New Philadelphia, thence up Sanfly Yiew to Canton, and on to Carter's, thence up Sandy to Sugar creek and down said creek to the mouth, thence down the Tuscarawas tc> William Butts, thence down to the mouth of White Woman, thence after crossing the river, and including all the settlements of the Wapatomica, down to Zanesville, the place of beginning."

About this time the societies and the classes in the territory of Harrison county were placed in West Wheeling Circuit. This circuit was composed of three counties, Harrison, Belmont, and Jefferson, snd belonged to the Baltimore Conference. While in the Baltimore Conference, Thornton Fleming was presiding elder, and R. E. Roberts preacher in charge. At a conference held in 1808, the West Wheeling Circuit was ti'ansferred to the Western Conference, with James Quinn, presiding elder; Jacob Young, preacher in charge; and James Wilson, James Watts, and Thomas Church, assistants. Tog;ether with these brethren were others, named. Revs. Michael Ellis, Caleb Humphrey, and Archibald McElroy, the latter at that time a vigorous local preacher, and afterwards a regular itinerant for years.

The early history of the chiirch scarcely furnishes a more singular character than that of McElroy. He was without advantages in his youth, and of very limited education. But endowed with good sense, great natural and moral courage, and withal an honest man, he enjoyed the confidence of all who knew him. Possessed of stout frame, manly bearing, and open and frank countenance, and being absolutely '^fearless in pursuit of the right, he won the respect of all, even those of the baser sort.'' At a time when the traffic in intoxicating liquors was some part of almost every man's business, and when scarcely a man was to be found, either in the pulpit or out of it, to open his mouth upon the subject, McElroy 6ame forward with lance and trumpet - an unpolished lance, but a trumpet with no tmcertain sound - and made war with the beast. He delivered hundreds of temperance lectures, the most electrifying ever heard in the State of Ohio. Without any temperance organizations, or newspapers to support him, with many of the clergy opposed to him, and very few to encourage him, alone in those pioneer times, he lifted up his standard. As a preacher he was earnest, enthusiastic, and successful. It is said that at one of his quarterly meetings the church could not hold the congregation, and they resorted to a grove in the neighborhood. The master of a dancing school in the place and some of his pupils went to the church late, and finding it vacated, danced awhile, when the master said: "Now let us go to the church aud get converted." When they reached the ground the preacher. Rev. Swayze, was closing his sermon with a thrilling exhortation. The master listened for a few minutes, and fell to the ground crying aloud for mercy. McElroy was on hand, and he saw the dancing master down, he improvised an altar and cried: "All hands to, here's a bull in the net, here's a man who taught the people to serve the devil by rule, and I pray God to break his fiddle, convert his soul, and turn his heart to sing his praise." Eev. J. B. Finley says in his Autobiography that this occurred at St. Clairsville, but Alfred Brownson insists that it took place at Cadiz.

In those years, when churches were very small, and when the settlers lived in cabins, and many of them in rude huts, the people sought the groves, and camp meetings were of wonderful interest and success to the new and restless church. We have accounts of these meetings being held within the bounds of West Wheeling Circuit as early as 1808. In that year there was one held at St. Clairsville, under the management of James Quinn and Isaac Young, at whix^h, with very little ministerial assistance, more than one hundred were added to the church.

A camp meeting was held near Cadiz in 1812, which was attended by many of the leading preachers of the Conference. Bishop Asbury came from a meeting at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, to attend the meetinoat Cadiz. Jacob Gruber, then presiding elder of the Ohio District of the Baltimore Conference, accompanied him. Eev. William Lambden, v.dio was probably in charge of West Wheeling Circuit, was present, with the able support of such men as Rev. J. B. Finley, Eev. Michael Ellis, and Eev. Archibald McElroy. The order at the meetings was generally good; but a slight interruption occurred on Saturday night. On that occasion Bishop Asbury took the stand at midnight, and after saying some kind things, told the rabble that the Methodists were not all sanctified, and if they perssted in disobeying the rules of the meeting they would find that out. The Bishop preached during the meeting. The ministrations v/ere all able, and much good was done.

Just when the Methodists of Cadiz commenced their worship is not known. As early as 1806 or 1807, a few families met together from time to time, going from house to house with prayer and religious services. More frequently, than at any other place, these services were held at Brother James Simpson's, the father of the renowned Bishop Simpson. The services continued until about 1815, when the society was organized, and a Board of Trustees chosen for the purpose of erecting a house of v/orship. Thi^i Board consisted of Matthew Simpson, the Bishop's uncle, William Tipton, Joseph Tingley, and Thomas Inskeep. On April 20,

1816, they purchased the lot at the south corner of Spring and Buffalo streets, and erected thereon a small church. In this church the Methodists of Cadiz worshipped without pride or ostentation, and without preserving much history, for twenty years.

In this building, which is still standing, although now much dilapidated and used for a tenement house, the renowned Bishop Simpson preached many of his most powerful sermons. In fact, he was at this time sent as an associate pastor to the church, and made his home there.

Being of very progressive views, he suggested to the church the advantages of having a Sabbath School. The older and wiser brethren shook their heads and said it would not do to bring the children into the church with their dirty faces on Sabbath, that they had hard work enough to keep the house clean and in order as it was. The young* preacher finally succeeded in the organization of a Sabbath School in the house, upon the condition that he would give the house an extra sweeping after Sabbath School. This is reputed to be the first Methodist Sabbath School established, and the only one existing in the entire county for many years.

Before the removal of Mr. Simpson, measures were introduced with a view to the incorporation of the Society, and to replace the old church with a more commodious and better structure. In December, 1835, the Legislature of Ohio passed an act of incorporation, and Matthew Simpy/son, Edward Tipton, William Tingley, Eobert McKee, James Poulson, V Phillip Trine, John Davis, George White, and Elijah Laizure are named in the act as trustees. The Matthew Simpson named at the head of the list was an uncle to the Matthew who afterward became Bishop Simpson.

When this church was incorporated, Cadiz was the chief appointment of the then St. Clairsville Circuit. The other appointments were Pickerson's, ISTew Athens, Stiers, Uniontown, Eaton's, Wesley Chapel, Bates', Neff's, Weige's, Crozier's, Mt. Glenn or Cross Eoad, Scott's, Bridgeport, Martin's Ferry, Grose's, and Harrisville; two preachers on the circuit. The first record of names of preachers is Eev. I. C. Taylor, pastor in charge when the second church was built, and James Drummond, his colleague, the latter having been received on trial at the conference the spring previous.

Cadiz remained on this circuit until 1866, when it became a regular station. The lot upon which the second church was built, and upon which now stands the third commodious structure, was deeded to the congregation by William Tingley and wife. Mr. Tingley was permitted to live many years afterward, and was one of the church's most ready and willing workers. Among other names as members appear Edniond Tipion and wife, Eobert McKee and wife, Michael McConnell and wife, Cliarles Chapman, wife and daughters, Judge Turner, Mrs. Major Lacy, Thomas Thompson, Matthew White, Mrs, William Arnold, and Mrs. Dr. McBean. All of them have been called from the church militant to the church triumphant- The second church building was commenced in 1835, but was not completed until 1836. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Eev. Wesley Browning, of Wheeling. Bishop Simpson, who was stationed then in Monongahela City, preached at night.