Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/478

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��HISTORY OF EICHLAND COUXTY.

��CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE CITY CHURCHES.

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The First Presbyteeian — The Congregationalist — The Associate, Associate Reformed and United Pres- byterian — The Methodist Episcopal Church — The First Baptist and Central BAPiist Churches — English Lutherans — Chi'kch of Christ — St. John's — Reformed Presby'tekian — St. Paul German Lutheran — St. Peter's Catholic — Grace Episcopal — African Methodist Episcopal — Church of God — Believers in Christ.

��MANSFIELD ought to l)e, and probably is, ■ proud of its churches, and of the interest taken in religious matters. There are sixteen churches in the city ; they are generall}^ plain and su))stantial, but some of them are spacious and beautiful. The Congregational Church, on West Market street, is justly celebrated for its beauty and finish. If churches are an indica- tion of civilization, this city can justly feel that she stands in the front rank.

In 1815, the village of Mansfield consisted of twentj^-two houses and two block-houses. That year the Rev. George Van Eman, the first Presbyterian minister here, began his labors. The services were held in the upper room of the block-house, on the square, which was then used as a court house. The following extract is from an address of Rev. S. W. Miller, published in 1876. He says, referring to Rev. Van Eman : " He was certainly the first Pres- byterian minister, and, in all probability, the first minister of an}- denomination who preached in Mansfield." Mr. John Weldon says : " I think Dr. James (evidentl}- referring to William James, the well-known pioneer Methodist), was the first preacher that settled in Mansfield. He was a Methodist, and built a log house on the corner of Third and Water streets." On the other hand, the following positive statement is preserved, made in 1838, by Henry Newman, who is still at Brj-an, Ohio, in full possession of

��mind and memory : " The first man who held religious meetings in Madison Township was Rev. Bowman, a pioneer missionary. The neighbors met at my father's cabin, three miles down the Rocky Fork from Mansfield ; in all there wei'e about eight or ten hearers, including work-hands. The place is now better known as Beam's Mill. The second preacher in Madison Township was Rev. Ceorge Van Eman, a Pres- byterian. He collected a congregation in 1814 or 1815, in Mansfield, and served the people until Rev. James Rowland came ; and, about the same time, Rev. William James came. The Rev. Charles Waddle, and the Rev. Somerville, of the Methodist Church, came to Mansfield in 1816. About the same time, or soon after, the first Methodist Church was built, a little south- east of the Big Spring, and, shortly after, the Presbyterians built a church on the hill on East Diamond street, where the new church now stands." It will be observed that the above statement is clear on two points : first, that the Rev. Bowman was the first minister who preached in the township ; and, second, that the Rev. George Van Eman was the first min- ister who preached in the town of Mansfield. There is abundant testimony that Mr. Van Eman was preaching here in the fall of 1815. The First Presbyterian Church of Mansfield was organized some time in the year 1816, by James Scott and George Van Eman, who were

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