Monroe Township (part 6 of 6)

There was, however, occasional preaching, at long intervals, from time to time, for years before there was any church building or even organization; the congregation being gathered at private residences, the court room, or the house of another denomination. Of those who thus preached were Bishop Chase, his son, Philander, and the Rev. Doctor oddridge; and these, perhaps, only when they passed through Newark-in their journeys to and from places of more note.

In 1826 this was regarded as a favorable point for the establishment of a church, and one was organized by Bishop Chase. It was represented the next year in the convention by Judge Holmes. It was placed under the missionary care of Rev. N. G. Baldwin, in connection with Zanesville and Granville; hence, having but one-third of his time. The next preacher in charge, afier a long vacancy, was the Rev. C. P. Bronson; Rev. R. T. Rogers followed him. The pastorate of these two clergymen, besides being short (only a few months each), was unfortunate, and little or nothing was done till 1833, when the Right Rev. C. P. McIlvaine, on his way to Gambier from his consecration in the east as bishop, remained in Newark two days, preaching each evening and urging the erection of a church. 'The record of this visit is as follows:

Newark. I preached once in each and then held a meeting at the house of Mr. Hazlett. The meeting was small but spirited, and one thousand one hundred dollars pledged for building."

The parish being without a rector, no further progress was made until the next year, 1834, when Rey. G. Denison, a professor of Kenyon college, Gambier, taking immediate steps were taken for building a church. The following are the names of those who subscribed for the erection of the present building: George Baker, Elijah Cooper, Alexander Holmes, Daniel Marble, Israel Dillé, Daniel 'Duncan Cy W. Searle; L.): Haughey, Adam Fleek, S. R. Conner, I. J. Christian, S. M. Browning, J. E. Walker, Thomas Morris, James Bramble, Woodford Owens, John N. Wilsop, Albert Sherwood, James M. 'Taylor, Daniel Wilkins, D. S. Wilsor, W. D. Ingman, Richard Harrison, Asahel Dunham, John I. Mooney, Smith Allen, Robert Hazlett, Boston, Charles Hoover, A. Pier, Nathan King, Joel Arnold, E. S. Woods, John Moore, George McMullen, Henry Smith, Thomas Rowe, Horace Gregory, Henry Lemley, John Hollister, James Parker, Amos H. Caffee, Young, B. W. Brice, George Hogg, Samutl Dewees, Daniel Gardiner, Martin Lincoln, C. M. Giddings, Robert Bryden, H. S. Sprague, Robert Davidson, and W. G. Oatman.

The entire charge and responsibility of its erection had been thrown upon Mr. George Baker. The estimated cost of the buiding to be erected was two thousand dred dollars; but Mr. Baker, with changes, additions and improvements ran up the bills to three times that sum. On being expostulated with, his reply was: "What difference does It make; do vou doubt my ability or willingness to pay all this additional expense? All I have belongs to the church." Under such protestations the fears of the members subsided, for Mr. Baker was wealthy, without heirs, and a man of his word.

But the best of intentions sometimes comes to naught through misfortune. Entering into an unsuccessful business partnership, this good friend of the church became insolvent, and the debt passed into the hands of one who held the vestry responsible - Mr. N, B. Hogg. This gentleman, however, was generous.

In the history of this church, as in that of every other Episcopal church in this part of Ohio, the name of Bishop Chase was closely identified, and in its establishment. His history has been written, and will not be rehis influence all-powerful ferred to here, but the herculean labors of this. His greatness. and power; the good he accomplished, and _ his. many virtues are not as well understood and appreciated as they should be; but his name will godown in history among the greatest and best of Ohio's pioneers.

The establishment of the Sabbath-school was probably coeval with that of the church, and has been maintained with a good degree of regularity since. Its membership is at present about one hundred and seventy-five.

The Methodist church of 2, William T. Williams, an immigrant direct from Wales, and James Evans and Robert Walker, Welshmen from Oneida county, New York, settled in the "Sharon valley," a few miles from Newark, in the direction of the Welsh Hills settlement. At this time there was no regular Welsh preaching in Licking county, and hence the foregoing persons united temporarily with the English Congregational church of Granville.

Griffiths (immigrants of 1815) in establishing a Welsh Sabbath-school at the old stone schoolhouse, two miles northeast of Granville, on the Utica road. This was the pioneer Welsh Sabbathschool in Licking county, and probably in Ohio. These settlers also sustained a regular weekly Welsh prayer meeting.

In October, 1834, Rev. Edward Jones traveled on foot from his home in Cincinnati, to preach a few sermons to his countrymen in Sharon valley and Granville. This feat of clerical pedestrianism was repeated by him in 1835. During this visit he Organized, October 25th, at the before mentioned stone school-house, the pioneer Welsh church of Licking county, in which he had the assistance of Rev.: William Morgan, recently from Pittsburgh, 'Pennsylvania, but living, at this time, at the Mary

Ann f:rrace, 'Pa: or + cl members were William T. Williams," Mrs. Yt) ns, James and Mrs. Evazs, Alban Alben, --:.. Albans, John J. and Mrs. Evans, Robert Walter, William Parry, William Lewis, Mrs. Lewis, Jenkin Hughes, Nathaniel Davis, Mrs. Davis, Miss Albans and Miss Jane Davis.

the Gospel at this meeting. Rev. William Morgan was employed as settled pastor of the church. Rev. William Parry occasionally supplied the pulpit until after his ordination, in 1838, when he became the settled minister, and remained such until 1853, a period of fifteen years.

In 1836 the society purchased, for a nominal sum, a lot for a church, on which they erected a frame building (the first in the neighborhood), twenty-one by thirty feet, which was finished in 1837, at a cost of three hundred and twenty-one dollars and eighty-nine cents, besides gratuitous labor performed by friends of the enterprise.

This was the first Welsh Calvinistic Methodist -church built in Ohio. There are now more than 'thirty. This church edifice was dedicated June 25, 1837, by Rev. Dr. Rowlands, of New York city, 'who was reputed to be one of the most eminent .divines in his denomination, znd whose character is known to all who are familiar with the religious literature of Wales.

In 1852, Rev. Joseph E. Davis succeeded Willin 1856 by Rev. E. 'IT. Evans, who sustained that relation until 1867, when Williaw. Parry again took charge.

The original elders, elected in 1835, were William 'T. Williams, James Evans and Alban Albans. Those subsequently elected were John J. Evans and Robert Walter in 1842, and David Hughes in 1859. tained from its establishinent, in 1833, to the present time.

This is properly the pioneer Welsh church in Licking county, because the Baptist church on the Welsh Hills, although organized in 1808, nearly thirty years before this one, is but partially Welsh, its public ministrations having generally been conducted in the English language, and only occasionally in Welsh. jority of its members had been natives of Wales or of Welsh parentaze.

The original church Luilding is still occupied by this church. The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist churches' of Newark and Granville were, to some extent, branches of this church.

The St. John's German Lutheran church was probably organized as early as 1835, by Heinrich Rickenbach and a few others. were held in a school-house which stood on 'the rear end of the first Presbyterian cliurch lot. 'Vhey rented this building for their purposes and heid mectings here seyeral years, and although no record appears, the probability is that Mr. Kickenbach preached for them in these eailicr years. In 184t they were strong enough to erect a smali brick chuich on South Filth street, on the site of the present building.

The first officers of this church were Heinrich Rickenback, president; David Fisher, treasurer; Franz Boedel, secretary; and Jacob Grasser, Jacob Paul, Carl frederick Boettcher and John Mhrgout, elders.

The present brick church was erected in 1870, For the Jast three years, the church being somewhat in debt, has not felt able to employ a minister, and Mr. EF. Kochendorfer has officiated in that capacity As their debts are about cancelled they have employed the Rev. L. Hass, who will soon take charge. There are about one hundred members connected with the church at present. A Sunday-school has been maintained since the organization of the church.

The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church of Newark. - Rev. William Parry, of Granville, preached in Newark in August, 1836, at the house of Mr. Thomas Hughes, which stood on the lot north of the American house, owned by Andrew Smucker. This, it is said, was the first Welsh sermon preached in Newark. Few, if any other Welsh families, then resided in Newark. The text was from Luke xii. 32: "Fear not, little flock."

From this time until the autumn of 1840, there was Welsh preaching occasionally; a school-house south of the canal being used for that purpose, as well as for the purposes of a Sabbath-school, which was early established.

The Welsh citizens in town and country worshipped together, and in 1840-41, erected a church on Granville street, at a cost of five hundred and fifty-five dollars and eighty-one cents. It was finished in May, 1841, and a church was duly organized May 28, 1841, with twenty-four members, Rev. William Parry ministered to them occasionally, until September of the same year, when Rey. Hugh E. Rees, recently from Llanderfel, Wales, was called as settled pastor.

Thomas Hughes and Morgan Williams were elected deacons, and Thomas Hughes, William Parry, Morgan Williams, Timothy Winston, Richard Watkins, Thomas Dowell and Enos Owens, were elected trustees. During this year, a valuable accession to the church was Deacon Robert Owens, of Montgomeryshire, Wales, and Deacon Edward Brown and family, and a number of other families strengthened the church in 1844.

In January, 1845, a difficulty occurred in the church, and Rev. H. E. Rees and most of the congregation removed to a brick school-house on the east sidc of Mt. Vernon street, and there, on Sunday, January 12, 1845, established themselves as achurch. 'lhe minority that remained, consisting

Those removing to the school-house soon purchased that building, paying for it three hundred and eighty dollars. This served their purpose until 1856, when a new church was built on Elm street at a cost of a little more than two thousand three hundred dollars, nearly three hundred dollars of which were contributed by those outside the church.

Mr. Rees continued his ministrations until 1848, when he removed to Cincinnati. Rey. Hugh Roberts succeeded him, and remained until July, 1852, when Rev. Joseph E. Davies took charge, and continued his services until the spring of 1855. He was followed by Rev. E. T. Evans and Rev. Mr. Roberts.

That portion of the congregation which retained the church on Granville street kept up a separate organization some time, perhaps two years, but gradually grew weaker until it ceased to exist. Many of its members joined the seceding branch, which was recognized as the legitimate church.

The Welsh Congregational church of Newark. - Rey. James Davis, from the Welsh settlement on Owl creek, preached the first Welsh Congregational sermon in Newark, about 1837.

Thomas D, Jones and Nicodemus Griffiths who lived a few miles northwest of Newark, and who were very decided Congregationalists, were the first to move in the matter of organizing this church. Learning that several Welsh families of their faith had settled here and in the neighborhood, they called upon them, and the interview resulted in the appointment to meet at the house of David Jones in Lockport to consider the subject.

This meeting was held early in 1841, and was attended by Rev. Rees Powell, of Delaware county, and Rev. Seth Howell (a Presbyterian minister), who was a sojourner in the neighborhood atthe time, David Jones, T. D. Jones, Thomas Rees, David Lewis and Thomas Roberts with their families; also Mr. Evan W. Evans and Titus and Joshua Davis.

An adjourned meeting was held the next day, at the house of Thomas Rees in Newark, where the Welsh Congregational church was organized. Thomas D. Jones, David Lewis and Thomas Rees were elected deacons.

They soon after purchased a frame church building on Mt. Vernon street, furnished with ordinary wooden seats, and old ten-plate Mary Ann furnace - stoves, for a little less than five hundred dollars. They took possession March 3, 1841, and elected David Jones, Evan W. Evans, Thomas Roberts, Thomas D. Jones, David Lewis, Watkin Watkins and Thomas Rees, trustees.

Sabbath services were conducted by Rev. John Powell, assisted by Rev. Thomas W. Evans after his arrival from Wales, in July of this year. These joint labors were continued until 1843, when Rev. Jenkin Jenkins was chosen the regular pastor; he served, however, but one year, and was followed, in 1846, by Thomas W. Evans, who remained until 1856, and was succeeded for a few months by Rev. Rees M. Evans. Rey. David R. Jenkins then became pastor, and so continued until his death, which occurred March 11, 1861. Rev. David Price was elected pastor in October, 1862, and remained until March, 1869.

Its early history rests mostly on tradition, but the organization existed as early as 1840. It was probably organized here about or before that time. Prior to its organization the few colored people in Newark attended other churches, and their children the Sunday-schools of the white people. The names of the original members of this organization cannot be ascertained; nor those of the ministers who were influential in bringing it into existence. Some of the early ministers, however, were Revs.

William Newman, Turner Roberts and Mr. Peters. Probably one or more of these were influential in the organization and establishment of the church.

It was more than twenty years after the organization was effected, before they had a church they could call their own; meanwhile they rented rooms or buildings in various places. About 1861 or 1862 they purchased a lot for seventy-five dollars, upon which they erected the small building called the "Colored Chapel," which they occupied two or three years, and sold. They then rented and occupied the Baptist church two or three years, when they purchased the present building and lot. This building had been used as a church by the Second Presbyterians, and had been removed by that society in order to erect upon their lot, the present beautiful structure. The lot and old building cost the colored people one thousand six hundred dollars; they repaired it, and as it stands, it has cost them about two thousand five hundred dollars. The society is well established, strong and active, both in church and Sunday-school. The church membership, proper, is about forty, but the congregation is large.

The Sunday-school was organized in 1844, by William Henry and George Roots, two colored men, in a room south of the canal, then used by the society as a place of meeting for worship. This school went down once or twice, and was resuscitated, but has been for many years established on a permanent basis. 'The membership is about thirty.

St. Frances de Sales church: - The first written records of the Catholic congregation of Newark date back only to 1844, at which time, under the administration of Rey. I. Lamy, now archbishop of San Francisco, the first church edifice was erected, fronting on Granville street.

As early, however, as 1836, Rev. D. Young, of Washington, District of Columbia, visited Newark on horseback, on his way to Somerset and Cincinnati, dispensing the sacraments of the church, and attending the sick calls along the canal, then being built. as having about that time given lectures in the old court house on the square.

contributors to the erection of the frame building, now used asa barn, and standing on the rear of the church lot, are found the names of William Stanbery, Bradley Buckingham, E. McCarthy, Jonas Maurath, M. Morath, E. Koos, J. Buckell, Patricx Connelly, and Wilson and McMillen, some of whom are yet living in the city.

From 1844.to 1848, Revs. D. Senez, I. Lamy, A. P. Anderson, W. Schonat, and J. T. Boulger, attended the congregation in succession, until a regular pastor was appointed in the person of Rev. J. Branneman, who remained from 1848 to 1854, and who died at Rockaway, New York, in 1876.

In 1854, Rev. F. Bender was appointed by Archbishop Purcell, to the Newark parish, which comprised the Linnville, Jacksontown, Natchez, Kirkersville, Mattingly, and Jersey settlements.

growing congregation, and steps were taken to erect the present substantial structure, the corner stone of which was laid about 1860, by Archbishop Purcell.

Soon after the foundation of this church was laid, a heavy rain came on, and the gutters being blocked by building material, the water ran in and undermined one corner, causing it to give way; which circumstance gave rise to considerable feeling against Father Bender, then pastor, and who was superintending the work. As the building was without much architectural beauty the congregation thought it should be, at least, solid; but Father Bender intended the building should answer the purposes of a school-house and church combined, and its long service for these purposes has fully tested its strenyth and justified the faith of the builder. Rev. Mr. Bender's efficiency being appreciated at headquarters, he was appointed to the task of superintending the erection of St. Edward's church, in Cincinnati, and in retiring from the pastorate of this church, generously relinquished all claims against it for money he had advanced. He was succeeded by Rev. L. Cartuyvels, December 19, 1863.

A school-house had been built by Rev. F. Bender as early as 1858. Rey. Cartuyvels remodelled it, put a large addition to it, and transformed It into a parsonage, having removed the schools to the west side of the church building. He also renovated and added to the comfort and convenience of the church by painting, putting pine floors in place of brick, placing furnaces in the basement and making various other changes, requiring an outlay of a considerable amount of money. A lottery scheme was started by the church, which was successful in discharging a portion of this indebtedness. Some dissatisfaction, however, existed in the congregation, and this, together with the fact that Rev. Cartuyvels, although having assistants at various times, among whom was Rev. P. T. Daly, was no longer able to attend to his duties on account of age, and infirmities, caused his removal, and Rev. N. Pilger was appointed in his place.

During these years the school had been sustained first under private teachers, then under the care of the sisters of charity, who, from their little earnings and charity fairs, succeeded in time in buying a lot on the corner of Granville and Pearl streets. This society, leaving Newark to make way for the sisters of St. Dominie, sold this lot to the pastor, Rev. N. Pilger.

Mr. Pilger was succeeded in 1874, by Rev. L. DeCailly; the present pastor. This gentleman first paid the debts of the church, then removed the old buildings to the rear of the lot, and put a new floor in the church edifice, making it two stories. He then erected the present beautiful brick parsonage, on the corner of Granville and Pearl streets, and both spiritually and financially lifted the church out of many of its former difficulties.

The present membership is about sixteen hundred, of whom about one thousand or eleven hundred are communicants. The school attendance in four rooms averages two humdred and fifty scholars, the larger boys being under the charge of M. F. Kirnes. About three hundred children belong to the Sunday-school.

From past progress, it is expected that the strength of the church will so increase in a few years that a new church edifice will be needed, and with this view the church has secured and holds in reserve a beautiful lot, fronting Granville and Sixth streets.

located on Fourth, south of the canal. Its organization dates back to about the year 1847, and Rev. Conrad Gahn was, probably, more influertial than any other person in its establishment. The original members were Mr. Imhoff and wife, Mr Young and his daughter Caroline, Mrs. Kirsch

John Reiff and wife, and a little later, Joshua Zartman and wife, and others. Their first meetings were held in the school-house in that part of town, a frame church building, at a cost of one thousand four hundred and eight dollars, which is yet in use. The first pastor was Rev. Nippart, who is now in Germany. Conrad Gahn succeeded him. The present minister is Rev. Trinker. The society is small:at present.

The Salem German church, of Newark, was organized October, 4, 1857. The corner-stone of the church building was laid October gth, of the same year. 'The church was dedicated March 28, 1858. Rev. W. C. Kiesel was the first pastor. The first elders were David Fisher, John Durkis, August Auer, and Peter Sacks. The number of members at the organization was forty-nine, all males. this church until 1861, and was succeeded by Rev. R. Shide, in the autumn of that year. Mr. Shide was pastor until the spring of 1864. Rev. Phillip Roser was pastor from 1864 to 1866, and was followed by Rev. F. H. W. Bruechert, who was a graduate of the Presbyterian German Theological seminary at Dubuque, Iowa. The present pastor is Johannes Kromer, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany.

The Sabbath-school has been in existence since the organization of the church. This church belongs to the Zanesville presbytery, and is therefore a member of the Presbyterian church of North America.

valley, was organized in 1864 by Rev. B. Green. There is a large settlement of people of this denomination in this valley, and the church was The original members were James M. Tomkins, John Showman, Jacob Showman, Monterville Lucas, A. Lucas, James Elliott, M. N. Odel, and fifty-five others. In the same year the church was built at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars. The present membership is about twenty-five. A Sundayschool was organized in 1866, Mr. M. N. Odel being the first superintendent.

The Seventh Day Advent church is located on Sixth street, between West Main streets. It was-organized May 14, 1878, at the residence of Joseph Walton, M. D., on Nurth Fifth street, by Elder J. H. Waggoner. original members were Joseph Walton, Basil B. Francis, Mary Francis, Lucinda Sayre, Harriet Harrison, Samuel W. Brooke, Maria W. Brooke, Julia A. White, Charles C. Chrisman, Hannah F. Francis, Minnie A. Lumley, Charles C. Cooper, Mary Cooper, Melissa J. Dowell, Rachel A. Fowler, Phyla R. Hutchins, and Mary Lawrence.

August 31st a tent was pitched on Fifth, near Granville street, and meetings held there until September 23d, when Wilson's hall was rented for their purposes. Meetings were held during the winter of 1877-8, in the various churches and in Dr. Walton's house. The church was erected in the fall of 1878, and dedicated December 29th, of that year, by Elders D, M. Canright and Burrell. The building is a square frame, and cost one thousand five hundred dollars. They have no settled pastors. 'the membership is now twenty-eight. The Sabbath-school was organized January 15, 1878, and has amembership of thirty-five.

ganization moved away soon after, and no services were held between the years 1851 and 1857, when the society was reorganized by Rev. J. P. Stuart, with twenty members, as follows: James White, Dr. E. R. Tuller, Jane P. Tuller, Henry Jones, William M. Cunningham, William B. Arven, Mary C. Baldwin, Fannie A. Baldwin, R. E. Jones, Ellen Marvin, Jennie Rees, John Cunningham, Henrietta M. Roney, John O. Jones, Elizabeth Bryant, Julia A. Funk, Caroline Jones, William M. Baldwin, Julia C. Baldwin, and Valeria Arven.

The first lectures on the new church doctrines were delivered in the court house, by Professor Bronson, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; the early meetings of the organized society being held in the second story of the market-house, corner of Main and Fourth streets. Dr. E. R. Tuller was the leader of worship.

and cost, with the lot, eleven hundred and sixtyfive dollars and ninety-three cents. But two settled pastors have been employed; the first being Rev. A. J. Bartels, from 1862 to 1863, one year, and the second Rey. S. H. Spencer, one year, from 1874 to 1875. Worship has been conducted at other times by leaders selected by the society and by visiting ministers. The membership reached forty-three at one time, but by removals and death it has been much decreased.

Plymouth Congregational church, of Newark, was organized May 21, 1879, with sixty-six members, thirty-one by letter and thirty-five on profession,

The organizing council, of which Rev. Samuel Wolcott, D. D., was moderator, and Rev. Henry C. Haskell, scribe, was composed of representatives of the following churches, viz: Euclid Avenue church, of Cleveland; Plymouth church, of Cleveland; the Congregational church of North Amherst; First Congregational church, of Columbus; High Street Congregational church, of Columbus; the Congregational church of North Columbus; the Congregational church of Alexandria; the Congregational church of Lock; the Congregational church of Mansfield; the Congregational

The Rev. E. L. Jones had been preaching to the congregation for seven months before the organizing council was called, first in the opera house, | afterward in the Murphy home, then in the city hall.

The services attending the organization were held in the city hall; the Rev. R. G. Hutchens, D. D., preaching the sermon, and Rev. D. S. Jones. expressing the fellowship of the churches. Immediately after the organization of the church, the members extended an unanimous call to Rev. E. I. Jones to become their pastor.

At ten o'clock the next morning, May 22d, the council met to examine the pastor-elect on doctrine and experience, and decided to proceed with the installation, which took place in the presence of a very large congregation on the evening of the same day: Installation sermon by the Rev. Frank Russell, installation prayer by the moderator, charge to the pastor by the Rev. T. H. Hawks, D. D., right hand of fellowship by the Rev. Henry C. Haskell, charge to the people by the Rev. R. G. Hutchens, D. D., closing prayer by the Rev. John Jones. The exercises throughout were characterized with dignity, ability and much spiritual power.

On the first Sabbath in June, the church enjoyed its first communion, when seven were added to its membership on profession of their faith in Christ.

The present membership of this church is one hundred and forty-six. They have no church edifice, but occupy the City hall and the churches of other denominations.