Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/587

 HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��Tabor, Tobias DuBoyce, Treat Orton, Charles Post, Jay Smiley, Isaac Hanley, M. Chapin, Joseph Curran and some others.

Mr. Smiley donated ground and was influ- ential in erecting the church. This building was erected about 1820, and answered the pur- pose until 1842, when the present frame building was erected, on the corner of Gaml^le and North streets. The present Pastor is Dr. A. Nelson, and the membership about two hundi-ed.

A Sunday school was organized about 1834, l:)y Charles Post, who was the first Superintend- ent. This school has been continued ever since, and at present the attendance is about one hun- dred and fifty. Dr. J. M. Ballard is Superin- tendent.

Up to 1854, this class belonged to what was known as the " Plymouth Circuit ;" after that, it became part of " Shelbj- Circuit," consisting of Shelb}', Pleasant Glrove and Mount Pleasant. In 1863, it became a station.

The Presb3'terian Church of Shelby is located on South Brcfadway. It had its origin at Tay- lor's Corners in Jackson Township, and was among the first organizations in that part of the count}'. The first meetings of this societj- were held about the 3-ear 1822 or 1823, at the cabin of Mr. Smith. Five persons beside jMr. Smith attended this meeting ; these were Mr. Camp, John Kerr, John 31. McClintock, Mr. Cummins and Aaron Rambo. These petitioned the Presljytery for an organization, which was gTanted. This little society heard preaching oecasionalty at the cabins of its members, but was not regularly organized until 1831. At that date, they met in the JMethodist log church at Shelby, and were organized by Rev. G. WolflT. About this time, or a little later, they erected a log church on John Kerr's farm, but for some reason did not occupy it, and in 1834 erected a frame church near the site of the present build- ing. Thej' were unal)le to finish this church immediately, and held their meetings and or- ganized their Sunday school some time before

��the building was inclosed. In 1835, Moses Louthan, Calvin Clark (yet living), and Jesse Kerr (who died about a 3'ear ago), were added to the church.

Their ministers, after Wolff", were Rev. Will- am Mathews, in 1834 ; Nathaniel Cobb, 1836 ; Robert Lee, 1837. From 1838 to 1841, they were only occasionally supplied. Luther Dodd came to them in 1841, dividing his time for six years between this and the church at Rome, and giving his entire time to this church for three years more. Mr. Dodd went away in 1851, after which the pulpit was supplied occa- sionall}' by John M. Ferris, Luke Dorland and William McMillen, a licentiate, until 1856, when the Rev. J. A. Marquis was regulai'l}- called, remaining two years. Following Mr. Marquis, came R. R. Moore, in 1858, remaining until 1864. In 1865, Rev. J. K. Kost took charge, and was followed in 1859 by W. W. Anderson. Mr. Anderson was followed in 1877 b}' the present minister. Rev. J. W. Thompson.

The Sunday school was organized in 1834. Calvin Clark was the first Superintendent. This school has been continued until the present time, and now has a membership of one hun- dred and twenty, while the church memljership is about one hundred and ten.

The third religious societ}- in Sharon Town- ship, and the first outside of the town of Shelb}-, was the Evangelical Lutheran, at present lo- cated on Section 11, two and a half miles west of Shelby.

The earliest meetings of this society were held in the cabin of Mr. Hocksmith, aliout the year 1830. In May, 1832, the church was or- ganized by Rev. F. J. Ruth, who is yet living and preaching. During the same year, the society erected a log church, which stood until 1856, when the present frame building was erected at a cost of $2,000.

]Mr. Ruth continued to preach for this con- gregation nineteen years, and was followed by Revs. D. Sprecher, D. Summers, A. R. Brown,

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