Читать книгу Centennial History of Columbus and Franklin County - William Alexander Taylor - Страница 22

Organized 1814.

The first Methodist church or class in Columbus was organized near the beginning of the year 1814, under the auspices of the Rev. Samuel West, the preacher in charge of the circuit which included this section of central Ohio.

There were but four members of the class when it was organized, George McCormick and his wife; George B. Harvey and Miss Jane Armstrong, who soon after became the wife of Mr. Harvey, the third member above. The fifth member admitted was Moses Freeman, a manumitted negro slave. Nearly ten years later Freeman and his family migrated to Liberia, Africa, there to do missionary work in the land of his nativity, he having been carried into slavery in his early youth. From what can be learned from his subsequent history he died soon after reaching Africa, and there exists no modern trace of his family.

In the same year of 1814 the proprietors of the town, in line with their policy of encouraging religion and education, donated and conveyed to the little Methodist congregation the lot on which the old Town Street church, now a part of the handsome Columbus Public School Library building, was erected, covering the lot thus originally donated and conveyed to Messrs. George McCormick, Peter Grubb, Jacob Grubb, John Brickell and George B. Harvey, trustees, by the proprietors. Near the close of the year 1814, a hewed log church with a shingled roof was erected on the lot and becomingly dedicated to the Master's cause. It was for some years used as a public school house and in this way a small revenue was derived for the further promotion of the gospel. In 1817, it became necessary to enlarge the church to accommodate the growing congregation. By adding a frame structure of equal size to the log house its capacity was slightly more than doubled.

About the year 1825 both the frame and the hewed log structures were eliminated and a somewhat commodious brick church was erected. This building continued to accommodate the flock until 1853, when it was torn down and a much larger edifice was erected, which some years ago, ceased to be a house of worship, was transferred to the Columbus city school board and incorporated into the school library, as above stated.

The lineal descendant of this, the original Methodist church of Columbus is the Town Street church at the intersection of Bryden road and Eighteenth street, Bryden road being the beautiful residential extension of Town street eastward from Parson's avenue.

Wesley Chapel—In 1846, William Neil, noted for his public spirit, donated a corner lot at Broad and Fourth streets, and on this was erected Wesley Chapel.

The first building erected was deemed commodious, but it long since gave way to the present beautiful specimen of church architecture. In 1858, Rev. William Porter was pastor of Wesley Chapel; M. Gooding, E. Booth. Richard Jones, Thomas Walker, Daniel Miner and J. E. Rudisill, trustees, and the number of members was given in the local chronicles as one hundred and fifty.

Bigelow Chapel was erected on Friend (now Main) street in 1854. In 1858 Rev. Lovet Taft was pastor; A. Cooper, E. Glover, M. Holm, W. F. Knoderer, E. H. Link, John Whitsel, J. C. Kenyon and Newton Gibbon were trustees; and the number of members given at sixty.

German Methodist Church—In 1844 the German Methodist church was erected at the corner of Third street and south Public lane and the German Methodists, as a rule attended worship there. The Rev. Paul Brodbeck was pastor in 1858 and sixty-three members were reported.

Colored Methodist Church—In 1823 the colored Methodists separated from the whites and formed a society, class or church by themselves. From 1823 to 1839 they held services in rented rooms at various points and then erected a church on Long street. In 1857 Rev. J. H. Shorter was pastor in charge. The number of members reported was one hundred and thirteen.

Whitfield Methodists (Welsh) was organized in 1848. In the same year the congregation erected a brick church at the corner of Long and Sixth streets.

The different pastors from 1848 to 1858 were: Rev. Mr. Parry, 1848-1855; Rev. David Williams, 1855-1857; Rev. Parry, 1857-1858. The number of members was seventy-three.

These comprise the organized and separate branches of the Methodist church in Columbus in 1858, coming the first half century period. On a later page is to be found the new branches added during the second half century period.

Ministers from 1814 to 1858.

One of the most interesting studies of the history of the Methodist church of Columbus is the names of the Methodist ministers, presiding elders and circuit riders, from the date of the organization of the church in 1814 to 1858, the close of the half century era of the state and city's history. Herewith, bearing the dates, in years of their ministrations, first of the presiding elders, second of the circuit riders is given the complete list.

Presiding Elders.

1814-15-16, James Quinn; 1817, David Young; 1818-19-20, John Collins; 1821, Samuel West; 1822-23, Greenburg Jones; 1824-25-26, Jacob Young; 1827, Russell Bigelow; 1828-29-30, David Young; 1831, John Collins; 1832-3334-35, Augustus Eddy; 1836-7-8-9, Jacob Young; 1840-41, John Ferree; 1842, Joseph M. Trimble; 1843-44, David Whitcomb; 1845-46, Robert O. Spencer; 1847-48-49-50, John W. Clark; 1851, Cyrus Brooks; 1852-53-54, Uriah Heath; 1855-56-57, Zachariah Cornell.

Circuit Riders at Large—1814-1830.

1814, Samuel West; 1815, Isaac Pavey; 1816, Jacob Hooper; 1817. William Swayze, Simon Peters; 1818, William Swayze, Lemuel Lane; 1819. John Tevis, Leroy Swormsted; 1820, John Tevis, Peter Stevens; 1821, Russell Bigelow, Horace Brown; 1822, Russell Bigelow, Thomas McCleary; 1823, Charles Waddell, H. S. Fernandes; 1824, Charles Waddell, Alfred Lorane; 1825, Leroy Swormsted, Joseph Carper; 1826, Joseph Carper, John II. Power; 1827, Samuel Hamilton, Jacob Young; 1828, Samuel Hamilton, Jesse F. Wixom; 1829, Leroy Swormsted, G. Blue; 1830. John W. Clark, Adam Poe.

Circuit Preachers, Columbus Station—1831-1858.

1831, Thomas A. Morris; 1832, Robert O. Spencer; 1833, Russell Bigelow; 1834, Russell Bigelow, Leonard Gurley; 1835-36, E. W. Sehon; 1837, Joseph Carper; 1838, Joseph A. Waterman; 1839, William Herr; 1840-41, Joseph A. Trimble; 1842, David Whitcomb; 1843, John Miley, Abraham Wambaugh; 1844. John Miley; 1845-6, Granville Moody; 1847, Cyrus Brooks, Town street: George C. Crum, Wesley Chapel; 1848, same incumbents; 1849. David Warnock, Town street; William H. Lowder, Wesley Chapel; 1850, David Warnock. Town street; John W. Weakley, Wesley Chapel; 1851, Clinton W. Sears, Town street; John M. Leavitt, Wesley Chapel; 1852, Asbury Bruner, Town street: John M. Leavitt Wesley Chapel; 1853, Asbury Bruner, Town street; James L. Grover, Wesley Chapel; Edward Mabee, mission; 1854, John W. White, Town street; James L. Grover, Wesley Chapel; Joseph H. Creighton, Bigelow Chapel; 1855, John W. White, Town street; John Frazer, Wesley Chapel; Thomas Lee, Bigelow Chapel; 1856, J. M. Jamison, Town street; John Frazer, Wesley Chapel; Thomas Lee, Bigelow Chapel; 1857, J. M. Jamison, Town street; William Porter, Wesley Chapel; Lovet Taft, Bigelow Chapel.

In this list may be found the names of several of the greatest Methodist divines on the American continent during the first half of the nineteenth century—name inseparably connected with the growth of Methodism throughout the Ohio and Mississippi valleys.

The following church organizations of the Methodist faith at the close of the second centennial period stated as briefly as may be, show the surprising growth of the organization since 1858.

Church Edifices and Locations 1808-1909.

Broad Street: Cor. Broad and Washington. Rev. A. E. Craig.

Eleventh Street: Cor. Donaldson and Eleventh. Rev. E. L. Gilliam.

Fifth Avenue: Corner Fifth and Oakland. Rev. R. D. Morgan First: Cor. Bryden Road and Eighteenth. Rev. E. S. Lewis.

First (German): Cor. Third and Livingston. Rev. Oscar Rogotzky.

Free Methodist: 1046 Harrison avenue.

Gift Street: West Side. Rev. Peter Fry.

Glenwood: Cor. Highland and Olive. Rev. Daniel C. Canfield.

Grace: Fifth Ave. and E. Ninth St. Rev. P. H. Fry.

Indianola: J. C. Arbuckle.

King Avenue: Cor. Neil and King avenues. Rev. Lucien Clark.

Madison Avenue: Madison avenue west of Miller. Rev. C. B. Pyle.

Milo: Gibbard avenue east of Cleveland.

Mt. Vernon Avenue, A. M. E.: Mt. Vernon near 20th. Rev. J. W. Mougey.

Mt. Vernon Avenue: Cor. Mt. Vernon and Denmead. Rev. L. L. Magee.

Neil Avenue: Cor. Neil and Goodale. Rev. L. I. Hart.

North: Cor. Tompkins and East avenue. Rev. N. D. Creamer.

Oakwood Avenue: Cor. Oakwood and Newton. Rev. J. E. Walters.

Pine Street: Northeast corner Pine and Fourth streets.

St. Paul's A. M. E.: Long street east of Jefferson.

Second A. M. E.: Mt. Vernon near Twentieth.

Second German: Cor. Mozart and Gates. Rev. William A. Schruff.

Shepards: Shepards Station Rev. Charles H. Borror.

Shoemaker's Chapel: Cleveland avenue near Leona avenue.

Sixth Avenue: Cor. Sixth avenue and Sixth street.

South High Street: 1621 S. High. Rev. C. F. Prior.

Third Avenue: Cor. Third avenue and High. Rev. N. W. Good.

Third Street: Cor. Third street and Cherry alley. Rev. L. B. Sparks.

Town Street: Cor. Bryden road and Eighteenth. Rev. C. S. Lewis.

Wesley Chapel: Cor. Broad and Fourth streets. Rev. Benjamin F. Dimmick.

West Park Avenue: 87 W. Park. Rev. George A. Marshall.