Harrison County, Ohio - Chapter 13: Nottingham and Freeport Churches, 1900

Chapter 13: Nottingham and Freeport Churches

For several years after the beginning of the present century, the territory comprising N"ottinghani congregation, together with the region where Cadiz and Freeport are now located, as well as many other points in eastern Ohio, were mission fields, sustained in part by the Synodical Home Mission Fund of the Presbyterian Church, which had its officers and headquarters in Pittsburgh. For nearly sixteen years there was only a mission station in the vicinity where Nottingham Church now stands; and all was connected with the pastorate of Crabapple. So far as known, Eev. John Rea, pastor of Beech Spring and Crabapple, preached the first sermon in this region, on the second Sabbath of June, in the year 1806, on the old Cunningham homestead. The history of has been made familiar to many residents of Harrison county, through the sketches published in 1886, in the "Reminiscences" of Dr. Thomas Crawford, for forty years the pastor of this congregatioi*, and though the good Doctor's form is now missed from its accustomed place in the church, it is to be hoped the remembrance of his genial, helpful, kindly presence will live forever in the hearts and minds of his congregation and their posterity. In detailing the history of this church, we will follow Dr. Crawford's own words :

In this sketch we propose some historical reminiscences of the Presbyterian Church of Nottingham - its pioneers, pastors, progressive Avork, and historical incidents. In the preparation of this narrative I was

For several years the territory of this congregation was considered -within the limits of Crabapple and Cadiz churches. Although eight to nine miles distant, it was traveled by our forefathers, in hot and cold weatber, and often on foot, more regularly than do some of us who live but two or three miles distant from the house of public worship. To remedy this inconvenience and exposure, a preaching point was established in this vicinity, and the first sermon ever preached by a Presbyterian minister in tbis part of Harrison county was by the Eev. John Eea, D. D., in the summer of 180G, at the root of a large chestnut tree, standing on the eastern slope of the hill, near where the barn now stands on the Cunningham farm, and about one-half mile from this house.

The same element that settled Western Pennsylvania settled Southeastern Ohio, and gave to it, as to the former, the Presbyterianism which both possess to a very large extent. Those pioneers came into an unbroken wilderness, which required hard labor and much self-denial to gain a subsistence, and for a time many of them lived in rude and uncomfortable cabins, but wore not disposed to leave tbeir religion behind them, as is too frequently the case with many emigrating to a new country, for no sooner had they found a home for themselves in the western wilderness, than they sought a place where they might worship the Lord our God.

Ninety-five years ago this whole region was an unbroken forest, and over these hills and through these valleys roamed the wild beast of the wood, and the more savage men, with their implements of death. Near to this site passed the Indian trail to their hunting grouuds in the !Muskhigum and Scioto countries. At the close of the Ecvolutionary War, peace was declared, but only established between Great Britain and the United States.

The Indians still continued hostilities on our frontier settlements,, partly owing to the deceptions and frauds imposed upon them by the early traders. Scenes, however, began to change for the better, which opened up the way for a daring and enterprising population to come into the ISTorthwest Territory and to settle in companies, even before Congress declared Ohio to be regularly constituted a State.

But those emigrating so early not only encountered the common hardships of a frontier life, but for a few years were continually exposed to attacks from savage warriors, under such cruel leaders as the reneii'ade "Simon Girty," "Old Cross-fire," and "Red Jacket," who, with their Indian forces, infested this whole region, and continued more or less for several years after tbe white population began to locate in communities near some garrison or block-bouse, into which they were often compelled to flee in times of alarm, both for defense and safety.

others. These were but the advance of a great mass of people that m a few years scattered over a hirge tract of country. So, as by magic, the JSTorthwest Territory was settled, and signs of civilization were evident, by subdued forests, newly erected dwellings, followed by the school house and church building.

So far as we can learn, the first families that came into the bounds, and identified themselves with the congregation of Nottingham, were those of Abraham Brokaw, John Glenn, Eichard Baxter, Adam Dunlap, Samuel Lafferty, and John Price. These were the pioneers of^^esbT-' terianism in this region, and amid many trials and discouragements labored earnestly to establish a nucleus of a church, in which they finally succeeded.

When peace was ratified with the Indians, and Ohio admitted into the Union of States, the tide of emigration began to flow strongly in this direction. In 1802, the great western thoroughfare passed not more than three-quarters of a mile from ISTottingham Church, which was the route from Pittsburgh by the way of Steuben ville, and from central Pennsylvania by the way of Charleston (now Wellsburg),. forming a junction in this county, which induced the location of Cadiz; then running west nine or ten miles, forked on the lands of William Ingles (now owned by James Poland). The right branch of this road passed through the Eye" plains, and on by '"'Fort Defiance," into the Sandusky region ; the left branch running by the way of Zanesville into the Scioto and Miami valleys. Howe, in his "Historical Collections" of this State, savs, "that previous to the construction of the jSTational Eoad through Ohio, this road v/as perhaps traveled more than any other route west of the Ohio river."

Mr. Ingles, then residing at the junction of the western division of this road, found it necessary to keep a public house, for the accommodation of the unexpected rush of emigration into this and other settlements further west. In the spring of 1802, he erected a large double log cabin, considered in those days a magnificent house; and supposed to be the first "Hotel" ever kept in "the bounds of this county. A part of the remains of this old tavern was still to be seen, imtil qiiite recently, as a monument of the past, though vacated long since, and in a retired and lonely spot, less than one mile north of this place, but deserted both by residents and roads.

Some award to our county seat the first public-house erected in tlie territory of Harrison county, which, according to history, is incorrect. Cadiz was laid out in 1804, by Messrs. Biggs and Beaty. In 1800. is tbe first record we have of a hotel kept in that town, by Jacob Arnold.

At this day of comparative ease and plenty, we know but little of the self-denial, privations and hardships endured by the early settlers who came into the wilderness to find a home. They mostly emigrated from New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and some of them soon sought for a place where they might worship God according to the dictates of conscience, and after the order of their Puritan fathers. But few of the first inhabitants were religiously educated, and especially in the Presbyterian faith; and that few were necessitated for a time to travel some distance to worship in the church of their choice. In 1804, the church was organized at Crabapple, by the Presbytery of Ohio, under the direction of Drs. McMillan and Kalston, nine miles distant from our present house of worship. A committee was appointed to confer with Kev. John Kea, D. D., and the elders of Crabapple church, as to the propriety of establishing a mission station in the "Ball-Lick" settlement. It was thought better, for the time being, that all in this vicinity should form a connection with that congregation, until further developments of divine Providence, which soon indicated a change, because of the distance and inconvenience of travel, constraining those in this region to have a place for public service nearer home.

In 1806, a stand was erected in the forest at the base of a large tree (before noted), where Dr. Eea preached his first sermon in this part of the county. Six weeks after, he returned and held religious services in the same place, encouraged by a much larger attendance than on the former occasion. A council was held by a few, in connection with the preacher, as to the propriety of an organization at this point; but on more mature reflection it was thought advisable to make this an outpost for missionary work, tributary to Crabapple church, and that their pastor should continue to labor here part of his time, preaching and administering the sealing ordinances of the church to such as desired them, to which all parties agreed. Although there was no formal organization of this church until several years after, yet it was virtually organized under the ministry of Dr. Eea, who continued for five years to preach occasionally at this point, a part of the time in a private house, and in suitable weather, in the grove.

In 1808, a tent was erected on the south side of the graveyard, by Abraham Brokaw, Pobort Baxter, John Glenn, and Adam Dunlap. This tent was occupied in the summer season for eight or ten years, and the house of Robert Baxter in the winter or stormy days.

In the call that was made out in 1805 by the church of Crabapple and vicinity for the labors of Rev. John Rea the one-half of his time, the representatives of Nottingham interest signed said call with the express understanding that a part of the pastor's services would be employed in this region, if desired. Fifty pounds per annum was the sum specified in the call, one-half in cash and the other half in produce; the latter to be delivered at a certain llourins: mill near the mouth of Big Short creek. In keeping with these conditions, the supplies of grain increased rapidly, at such prices as 20 to 25 cents a bushel for wheat, and 12 to 25 cents for corn and rye. It soon became necessary for the mininister to have his large stock of produce manufactured and put into market, that he might procure some funds wherewith to replenish his library, and supply the wants of his hmisohnld. When a sufficient number of barrels and lading were ready to (ill a ilat boat, a man of approved character and ability was employed to take the oversight of the cargo, and ship it down the Ohio and IMississippi rivers to some southern port, make sale, and bring back the returns, which, after paying expenses, were often quite small.

Mr. Rea was the first minister of the gospel of Christ to gather a group of worshippers in the western part of Harrison county, and amid great difficulties and much self-denial, continued his mission to this people until the Beech Spring congregation presented a call for the whole of his time, with a salary of one hundred pounds sterling, payable semiannually, which he was constrained to accept in 1810, and immediately occupied all his time in that church.

Mr. Eea established the ISTottingham Mission, in 180G, and served it at stated times from the beginning, until 1810, when all his labors were required at Beech Springs, where his pastorate continued fortyfive years, and during all this time, he was much beloved and appreciated by the people. The older members of the congregation were enthusiastically attached to him, both as a preacher and spiritual adviser, and well they might be, for he was untiring iu his exertions for their wellbeing.

Thomas B. Clark, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Hartford, Ohio, came into this vicinity in the spring of 1811, and supplied the Mission Station every fourth Sabbath for six years; for there was no formal organization of a church here then, though often considered and desired by the scattered families of the "Ball Lick" settlement, but from some cause unknown to us, it was still postponed, perhaps from the pretext that regular preaching, and the sealing ordinances were enjoyed at this place, as an outpost of Crabapple.

Mr. Clark was ordained and installed at Crabapple by the Presbytery of Ohio, June, 1811, and continued to preach there, and fill this appointment until he was dismissed in 1818. He had the credit of being quite punctual in his engagements, and rarely failed to meet his contracts for public worship, although his labors were abundant, for his pastorate covered a territory of about fourteen miles square.

When coming to this place, his road passed a flouring mill, on a branch of Stillwater. Being a conscientious and zealous man, he was exceedingly annoyed by the running of this mill on the Sabbath, and was in the habit of reproving the miller (Mr. Logan) for his desecration of the Lord's day. On oiie occasion, when coming to his preaching place at the "Old Tent," as he passed on Sunday morning, near the hour of public service, discovering that the mill was in motion, he stopped his horse, paused for a moment, as if reflecting on what was his duty, at length dismounted and tied up his bridle-strap, Avent into the mill to dissuade, if possible, his reckless friend from a continued violation of civil and divine law. But Mr. Logan evaded the minister, for, going out at the roar door, lio locked it aflcr liini, and coiniiifr round ho secured ilio other door, "makinpf," as ho said, "a prisoner of the parson," and keeping him confined until the horn- of pid)lio worship Iiad expired.

Then Mr. Clark, for a few moments, directed his discourse to the transoressor, and kindly remonstrated with him on what was his duty in reference to the claims of God and the eoiiimonwealth, and in view of his family and himself in future. ITis exhortations were 7iot lost, for the Lord succeeded these efforts to the rcforrnaiion of Mr. Logan, who became the warm friend of Mr. Clark, changed his course of life, and in a few months made a profession of religion under his ministry.

In the spring of 1821, Rev. William Wallace, an evangelist, under the direction of Steubenville Presbytery, came into this neighborhood, and after preaching here and elsewhere for about six months, he made application to Presbytery, by request of the people, for an organization of a church at the "Tent."

The request was granted, and Mi-. Wallace was chairnum of a committee that organized the Church of Nottingham, November 17, 1833, with twenty-two names on the roll, as follows: Archibald Todd, Nancy Todd, Thouias Morrow, Jane l\lorrow, William Crawford, Adam Dunhip, Abraham Brokaw, Margaret l>j-okuw, Elizabeth J^aU'erty, Samuel Lafferty, John Glenn, Nancy Glenn, John Price, Mrs, Price, William Hamilton, Elizabeth Hamilton, John Peed, Ann Heed, Pobert Baxter, Margaret Baxter, Mary W. Wallace, and Sarah McKil)l)on.

'J'he following persons were elected ruling ciders, and iinmediately ordained and installed, namely: Archibald Todd, William Crawford, and Thomas Moi-row.

Kev. William Wallace, a member of the Presbytery of Steubenville, having spent a few months in this and other missionary points in the western part of the county, a call for one-half of his labors was made out by the congregation of Nottingham, ]\Iarch 18, ,1833, signed ])y Archibald Todd, liobert Baxter, and fourteen others, moderated by Pev. John Pea, and carried up to the April meeting of the Presbytery and put into the hands of Mr. Wallace, who, signifying his acceptance, was duly installed pastor.

The stipend was to be paid quarterly, one-fourth in cash and tlireefourths in produce. Money was scarce, and little to sell with which to procure it. The products of the ground were few, until the wilderness was subdued and turned into cultivated fields; and after a supply of grain was had, the markets were so distant, the ]al)or of shij^ping so tedious and costly, that when the expenses were paid the agriculturist had little left.

The whole amount of salary promised Mr. Wallace was but three hundred dollars per annum, paid equally by this and tlie Freeport Church, To us this appears like short allowance for the preacher, as it surely was. Yet it would go as far in those days toward supporting a

Eev. William Wallace, son of John and Margaret (Anderson) Wallace, wsis horn in Chester county, Pa., March 17, 1787. He finished his academic education at Jefferson College, Pa,; studied Theology under the direction of James Hervey, D. D., and was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Steubenville in the spring of 1821. He entered the service of his Divine Master as a domestic missionary, going through the new settlements of eastern Ohio, and hunting up families of the Presbyterian order, and when finding one or more such families in any destitute place, he would publish a notice for preaching at some convenient point, and in this way was instrumental in gathering up and forming nuclei from which have arisen some of our most prominent congregations.

After reporting progress to Presbyter}^, he was appointed chairman of a committee that organized several churches in this territory, and among them the Churches of Nottingham and Freeport, and to each of the last named places he gave one-half of his labors for eighteen years, until his health so failed that he was compelled to resign his charge in 1839, and after two years of increasing infirmities, he died of heart disease, December 18, 1841, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, having spent twenty years in the work of the ministry.

Eev. Gilbert M. Hair was then in charge of this congregation two years. Mr. Hair graduated at Wasbington College, Pa., in 1838, studied Theology (while teaching an academy in Martinsburg, Ohio), with Henry Hervey, D. D., and was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Eichland, October, 1810. He received a call from the congregation of Nottingham, and was ordained and installed pastor of this church in the Spring of 1841, by the Presbytery of St. Clairsville, and continued in this relation two years. Another opening oft'ering itself more to his mind, he then asked and received a dismission in April, 1843, to the church at Wellsburg, W. Va. Mr. Hair, after laboring successfully in fourteen different charges, died June 5, 1884, at Elyria, New York.

Thomas E. Crawford, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Steubenville, immediately received a call from the church of Nottingham. He began his ministerial work October 19th, 1846, and in due time was ordained and installed pastor, continuing in this office fort}'' years. He graduated at Franklin College, Ohio, in 1 844, and on the same day was chosen Professor of Mathematics in said College; and during the time of his teaching there, he read Hebrew under the President, Eev. A. D. Clark, D. D., and Theology under Dr. Eea. He soon left college for the purpose of completing his studies; and was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Steubenville, October 6th, 1846.

He was born near New Athens, Ohio, March 8th, 1821, and when but a few months old, his parents and family removed to Jefferson county, near Steubenville, Ohio. At the age of fourteen, he began his academic studies, preparatory to entering college. In the eighteenth year of his ago, he -nnitcrl Arith the church under the ministry of Eer. Jacob Coon, of ^STew Athens, during a revival of religion that occurred among the students in 1840.

After he received authority to preach, he took a traveling certificate to the Presbyterian church and Presbytery of ]\Iarion, but ncTcr reached the place; for when ready to start. Dr. Rea insisted on him filling an ap- :)ointment at the Church of ISTottingham, which was vacant, and at once le received a call, and returning his traveling certificate to the Presb}^- tery of Steubenville, was regularly dismissed to the Presbytery of St. Clairsville, and in due time was ordained and installed pastor of said church, for tAvo-thirds of his time; and the one-third at Deersville, as stated supply for nine years, from October, 184G, when he was called to spend all his time and labors at the Church of ISTottingham.

At the time of my installation as pastor, the Board of Elders consisted of Archibald Todd, Kathan Tanneyhill, Alexander Russell, Alexander Beall, William Kirkpatrick, and John W. Milligan. Shortly after, Joseph Rea and Allen AVallace were added to the Session; but one of the former is still living and quite infirm, being far advanced in years. All those men were reliable and trustworthy in counsel. In 1863J A. J. Rea and Samuel ]\I. Wallace were introduced into the Session. In 1870, John W. Hilton, Jacob Compher, and William Scott were added to the Board of Elders.

The first house of worship erected by this congregation was a logcabin, which stood a short distance above the "Old Tent," and was built in 1821 by Abraham Brokaw, Thomas Morrow, Archibald Todd, Adam Dunlap, and Samuel Lafl"erty. The last two named men having o-ood teams, were requested to draw in the logs, whilst the balance of the labor was divided according to choice. The ladies, by personal efforts, procured the nails and glass. It was a rude structure, but answered the purposes for the time being. In the winter season, a pile of logs was built on an earthen platform in the center of the building, and fired up to warm the auditory, whilst the smoke escaped as best it could from the roof. This house corresponded in the main with the improvements of those days, and was e([ual in architecture to the dwellings of the worshippers. There were no Boards of Home Missions and Church Erection in those times to aid young and feeble congregations to build houses or sustain preachino- in their midst. There was, however, a Synodical Fund for the purpose of aiding mission stations. Money was scarce and hard to be got; and had there been convenient markets, there was not grain to sell, for the land was not yet cleared out, but crops were produced abundantly in proportion to the ground brought under cultivation.

The second house of worship was a brick building, fifty by forty feet, and began to be constructed in 1828, but was not completed until' 1833. The congregation worshiped in this edifice twenty-nine years, until it became rather small for the people that desired to attend church, to be comfortably seated. It was deemed necessary to call a meeting to consider

According to previous notice, the people met in the month of August, 1859, to confer upon the subject, in relation to building a third house of worship. The books were opened at said meeting, and about one-half of the whole amount of money necessary to complete the structure was subscribed on sight, in less than thirty minutes. _ Duplicate papers were prepared and sent around to the absentees, and in due time returned with the required money pledged. A building committee was appointed at a meeting held February 3, 1860, and directed to erect a house seventy-three by fifty feet in the out, with gallery in front, twentyfeet story in audience room, and tower one hundred and six feet high.

The committee, after receiving sealed proposals on a certain day, let out the contract to Mr. John McGraw, of Wheeling, W. Va., who undertook and finished the entire building ready for occupancy, in a satisfactory and workman-like maimer. And this house was dedicated, free from debt, to the worship of Almighty God, April 18th, A. D. 1861, and continues to this time.

Freeport Presbyterian Church

This church was organized in 3 821, by the Presbytery of Steubenville. Messrs. Holliday, Leaper, and Ivincade were ordained and in- St-dled ruling elders. For five years before that date the congregation had received occasional supplies from Presbytery, some account of them already having been given in connection with the sketch of the Presbyterian Church of Cadiz. The first pastor was Eev. William Wallace, who divided his services equally between Nottingham and Freeport. He supplied both pulpits until the spring of 1839, when he was compelled to resign, on account of failing health. He died of heart failure, Dec. IS, 1841. Mr. Wallace was a man of ardent piety and practical worth. The Freeport church attained a larger membership and greater efficiency under his pastorate than it has ever enjoyed since.

Eev. John Hattery, an evangelist from Washington Presbytery, became stated supply at Freeport in 1843, for two-thirds of his labors, and remained until 1847. He was succeeded by Eev. Samuel Mahaffey, who served as stated supply for something over eight years. From 1857 to 1859, occasional supplies were sent by Presbytery; and in the latter year Eev. John B. Graham became stated supply, giving Freeport a portion of his time, and remained until 1865, when he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Washington. After his departure, Eev. Samuel Mahaffey was again invited to supply Freeport for one-half his time, and served the conorecation from 1867 to 1873. He was succeeded, three years later, by Eev. H. E. McDonald, who remained until 1881.