Source: Memories
Some Events and Persons Connected With
The First Methodist Episcopal Church
of East Liverpool, Ohio.
by Christian Metsch & C. R. Boyce
---------------------
O faithful worthies! resting far behind
In your dark ages, since ye fell asleep,
Much has been done for truth and human kind-
Shadows are scattered wherein ye groped blind;
But to rebuke the age's popular crime,
We need the souls of fire, the hearts of that old time!
--------------- Whittier.
---------------------
The oldest living authority on the early church history of this section is the venerable Alexander Wells, of Wellsville. His father, William Wells, located his family in a block house near the present site of Wellsville in 1797, and one year later received from Governor St. Clair of the Northwest Territory, a commission as magistrate for Jefferson County, which at that time comprised the territory now included in Columbiana and several other counties.
Alexander Wells was born in 1808 and remembers many of the old time circuit riders who stopped at his father's home. He has a distinct recollection of Rev. George Brown who organized the Methodist society here and describes him as a man famed throughout the Ohio valley for his ability as a preacher.
The public sentiment of those days cannot be better illustrated than in a circumstance related by Mr. Wells in describing a debating society which existed at Lancaster, O., in 1828. The meetings of this society were held in a school house and were open to the public. At the close of one of their debates a member suggested "Railroads and Telegraphs" as a topic for the next discussion. Some of the school directors happened to be present, and, on hearing this subject mentioned, they issued the following notice, signed by ten of the best citizens of the place (Mr. Wells says most of them were Methodists): "You are welcome to the use of the school house to debate all proper subjects in, but such things as railroads and telegraphs are impossibilities and rank infidelity. There is nothing in the word of God about them. If God had desired that his intelligent creatures should travel at the frightful speed of 15 miles per hour by steam, He would have clearly foretold it through his holy prophets. It is a device of satan to lead immortal souls down to hell."
Church attendance was regarded by the pioneers as a great a privilege, and many were the hardships endured in order that they might be present at the services. Men and boys walked ten miles to attend some campmeeting, and it was at these gatherings that scores were converted and became staunch members of the church. No better example of church attendance under difficulties could be found than the story of a good old sister who lived near Calcutta, and was for many years a member of this church. This woman was particularly anxious to hear a famous circuit rider who was to preach at the old Harold and Spear mill on Beaver Creek in June, 1829. Her husband was unable to attend, and as she had three small children, the prospects of her getting there seemed very dark indeed, but, of all the things that may possibly happen in this world, the thing most likely to happen is that which occurs when a woman sets her will, and so it was in this case. She persuaded her husband to saddle the trusty old family horse, "Fan," and then, taking the oldest child in front, a younger one behind and the baby on her lap, this faithful Methodist wet for five miles over a road that most of the way was simply a bridle path in the woods. It is scarcely necessary to add that with such a mother and such training these three children all became faithful members of the Methodist church, and the pictures of each of them are given in this book as being among the oldest members.
But church attendance in those days was not alone a privilege - it was a duty as well, and the absence from class meeting for three consecutive services without good cause was the subject of investigation on the part of the class leader. If his kindly advice and earnest appeal to walk more faithfully did not result in a change, the preacher talked with the erring one and if that failed - then expulsion from the church was the result. Even until recent years it was customary to ask in the leaders and stewards meeting, "Are there any that walk disorderly and will not be reproved?"
Next to the preacher, the class leader was the spiritual advisor of the members and he was usually a man selected on account of his piety and holy life. In the class room, he exhorted each member to give in a testimony by calling them out individually, and he not infrequently gave a kindly word of encouragement to some trembling member of the flock or some good advice where occasion seemed to demand it. The duties of the class leader were not alone in spiritual matters for it was his work to collect from the members of his class their offerings for the support of the ministry, more commonly known in those days as "quarterage" from the fact that it was collected four times per year. This duty and his interest in the spiritual welfare of his class made him a frequent visitor at their homes, and we cannot overestimate the strength and spirituality of the Methodist church resulting from this faithful work performed by the class leaders.
We sometimes think of the circuit riders as men who were always solemn and severe even to the point of sadness, and, while it is true that they were deeply burdened with the message which they had been called to deliver, yet they were none the less capable of mixing with all classes and enjoying the humorous side of life as well. Frequently they were lovers of good horses, and in their constant travels over the country some of them were not averse to an exchange if the results seemed promising. On one occasion a preacher who traveled the Liverpool circuit traded a particularly fine riding horse to one of the official members of this church for another horse and a bonus of $50. The preacher dwelt especially on the merits of his animal as a saddle horse for that was of course the only way in which he had ever used him, but the official brother found to his sorrow that the animal could not be used in any other way unless provision was made for certain delays which were sure to occur. Before becoming fully convinced of this fact, he attempted to drive the horse to a Quarterly Meeting which was held at the old Mt. Zion church, and when he reached that point neat the close of the service, it was after he had experimented with all the known antidotes for balkiness in a horse, finally driving in with the horse blindfolded, very much to the merriment of the other brethern.
**The book "Memories" was contributed to Genealogy Pit Stop by Cookie Sisco, with the desire that it be shared with all of you.
Showing posts with label Memories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memories. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The First Methodist Society
Source:
Memories
Some Events and Persons Connected With
The First Methodist Episcopal Church
of East Liverpool, Ohio.
by Christian Metsch & C. R. Boyce
Not many generations ago, where you now sit, circled with all the exalts and embellishes civilized life, the rank thistle nodded in the wind and the wild fox dug his hole unscared.
After a hundred years of silent preparation a bud appears upon the century plant and then a flower - the purpose of its life unfolds. So God reveals His ways. We often think that we have planned our lives, but, after all, if we've been true, we simply walked in paths where God directed us. His purposes, but others, looking back from the elevation of the years, will discover some good reason why we lived.
The truth of this stands out quite clear as we study the early history of our town and note its progress step by step. It was in 1772 that Thomas Fawcett and his bride left old Ireland to seek their fortunes across the sea. Coming direct to Washington County, Pa., they established a pioneer home and until 1798 lived quite uneventful lives. At that time they became interested in the cheap lands of the Northwest Territory, recently opened by the government. For $3651.00 they purchased a tract of almost 1100 acres, and with their family of eight children immediately started for their new possessions. Most of that journey was made through forests then unbroken save by the trail of some Indian band, or along winding paths where herds of deer came to the water's edge to drink.
Near the shore line of the ohio River, they built their cabin in that green wilderness, not even dreaming, perhaps, that it would one day mark the site where men would congregate and build a town; but one by one the other settlers came and built their cabins there until, in honor of its founder, they named the village Fawcettstown and in the later years rechristened it East Liverpool. In 1823 there were only six of seven families in the settlement and Second Street was but a crooked bridle path along the river shore. An old grist mill - the first in Columbiana County - stood at the mouth of Carpenter's Run and represented the chief business interest of the village.
On the hillside near the present location of the Central School Building, stood a little log school house, and it is to this we turn with greatest interest for it has to do with the story which is to follow. It was a building of most primitive design. The crevices between the unhewn logs were plastered up with clay, and at the west and south openings were left for light and over these was tightly drawn dark, heavy paper, soaked in oil to make it more transparent. Within, the floor was rough, displaying all about the axe strokes of some early pioneer; the seats were simply benches without backs and the desks, a single board around the wall supported by pins driven in the logs.
This rude building was not only the place where the stern schoolmaster held sway, but was as well the public building of the town and was open for such religious meetings as any denomination might wish to hold. Prior to this time it had been customary to hold religious services in different homes in the community and these meetings were attended by many who came for miles to hear the soul-stirring sermons of the early Methodist circuit riders. While Thomas Fawcett and his family were Quakers, their home was freely opened for those public meetings, and it is said on good authority that the first sermon ever preached in East Liverpool was in their home from the text, "And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the tree: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."
Among the Methodist circuit riders who occasionally stopped at the village, was teh Rev. George Brown, of Wheeling, and on one of these visits in 1827, at the home of Claiborne Simms, Sr., the first Methodist class was organized. The names of the members of that class during the first few years were Jesse Johnson and wife; James and William Warrick and their wives; the Fawcett sisters; Claiborne and Basil Simms and their wives; Mrs. Robert Fawcett; Simeon Johnson and wife; Mrs. nancy Anderson; William G. Smith and wife; Mother Abagail Smith; Samuel Lyon and wife; John Lyon; Able Coffin and wife; Benjamin Davidson and wife, and also other members of the Stone, Johnson and Stevens families. After they had organized, they immediately took advantage of the privilege of using the old school house and opened a Sunday school with Jesse Johnson as superintendent.
Perhaps we cannot get a better idea of the customs of those days than to attend the services in that old log school house on a certain Sunday in May, 1828. The hillside was covered with forest trees, now green and beautiful in their springtime splendor and the flowers were blooming everywhere, and the children coming over the paths through the woods had gathered bunches of them along the way. Barefooted, freckled faced, dressed in homespuns, but with little hearts as innocent and pure as the air of that spring morning, the children gathered in that old school house at 9 o'clock, and when the leader of the music struck teh tuning fork they all joined in a hymn of praise. Then the superintendent offered prayer with all the earnestness of a man whose life was sincere. The teachers were at liberty to take up any portion of the Bible for their days lesson, and not a little time was spent in the study of the catechism of the faith and doctrines of our fathers. The chief aim of the teachers of the smaller classes was to encourage the memorizing of scripture, and a record was kept of the number of verses committed and spoken by each member of the class. There was more or less rivalry in this matter of learning verses, and there were two girls in the school - Mary Ellen and Ann Eliza Johnson - who were in after years able to repeat the entire New Testament.
Before the Sunday school had adjourned, the preacher arrived and a number of the men who had ridden quite a distance on horseback were tying their horses in the woods and were then stopping to greet each other for this was one of the few occasions when they met.
When they gathered in the school house for the service, the children were seated on the low benches in the center of the room and forming a wider circle the older people sat upon the highter benches and leaned against the writing desk for a support. For a few moments there was perfect quietness within and only the call of a wild bird to its mate and the neighing of a restless horse among those tied in the forest broke the stillness of that Sabbath morn. The preacher arose with solemnity and read two lines of an old humn. All joined in singing them and then two more lines were read, and thus alternately he read and the little company sang.
Praying in those days meant asking God for the things that were needed and it was done in such an earnest, simple manner as to indicate that an answer was expected. After such a prayer had been offered, the text was announced, and then, taking up the divisions of his subject in firstly, secondly, thirdly and fourthly for almost one hour, the preacher thundered forth the requirements of God's law and dwelt no less upong the dangers of its neglect.
Men and women were visibly impressed with the duty so clearly set forth and the children listened, half in awe and half in admiration, at the serious eloquence of the preacher. It was either at this service or one held soon afterwards that Adam Poe, a son of the famous Indian fighter, became deeply convicted of his sins, and while rowing across the Little Beaver on his way home he was wonderfully converted, or, as he expressed it in after years when he had become a Methodist preacher, "the Sun of righteousness arose with healing in his wings."
When the preacher had finished his sermon that day he announced that on the second Sunday followign another circuit rider would preach in the school house at early candle light. No other hour for the evening service was ever set than "early candle light," but that was as clear a call as the ringing of a bell.
The meeting adjourned and each departed, those living nearby sharing in the breaking of 'bread with their brethern who lived miles away and with the preacher who must hurry on to preach elsewhere that afternoon.
Even those who were children at that service have one by one been gathered in that silent spot - the city of the dead. The little bare feet that would not touch the floor have walked all through the paths of life and are now still. The little sunburned faces have long since faded into the marble white of death, but the lessons that were learned have brought to us the civilization of our time and the memories of those pioneers whould be to us as sacred as the worship of that day.
**The book "Memories" was contributed to Genealogy Pit Stop by Cookie Sisco, with the desire that it be shared with all of you.
Memories
Some Events and Persons Connected With
The First Methodist Episcopal Church
of East Liverpool, Ohio.
by Christian Metsch & C. R. Boyce
Not many generations ago, where you now sit, circled with all the exalts and embellishes civilized life, the rank thistle nodded in the wind and the wild fox dug his hole unscared.
After a hundred years of silent preparation a bud appears upon the century plant and then a flower - the purpose of its life unfolds. So God reveals His ways. We often think that we have planned our lives, but, after all, if we've been true, we simply walked in paths where God directed us. His purposes, but others, looking back from the elevation of the years, will discover some good reason why we lived.
The truth of this stands out quite clear as we study the early history of our town and note its progress step by step. It was in 1772 that Thomas Fawcett and his bride left old Ireland to seek their fortunes across the sea. Coming direct to Washington County, Pa., they established a pioneer home and until 1798 lived quite uneventful lives. At that time they became interested in the cheap lands of the Northwest Territory, recently opened by the government. For $3651.00 they purchased a tract of almost 1100 acres, and with their family of eight children immediately started for their new possessions. Most of that journey was made through forests then unbroken save by the trail of some Indian band, or along winding paths where herds of deer came to the water's edge to drink.
Near the shore line of the ohio River, they built their cabin in that green wilderness, not even dreaming, perhaps, that it would one day mark the site where men would congregate and build a town; but one by one the other settlers came and built their cabins there until, in honor of its founder, they named the village Fawcettstown and in the later years rechristened it East Liverpool. In 1823 there were only six of seven families in the settlement and Second Street was but a crooked bridle path along the river shore. An old grist mill - the first in Columbiana County - stood at the mouth of Carpenter's Run and represented the chief business interest of the village.
On the hillside near the present location of the Central School Building, stood a little log school house, and it is to this we turn with greatest interest for it has to do with the story which is to follow. It was a building of most primitive design. The crevices between the unhewn logs were plastered up with clay, and at the west and south openings were left for light and over these was tightly drawn dark, heavy paper, soaked in oil to make it more transparent. Within, the floor was rough, displaying all about the axe strokes of some early pioneer; the seats were simply benches without backs and the desks, a single board around the wall supported by pins driven in the logs.
This rude building was not only the place where the stern schoolmaster held sway, but was as well the public building of the town and was open for such religious meetings as any denomination might wish to hold. Prior to this time it had been customary to hold religious services in different homes in the community and these meetings were attended by many who came for miles to hear the soul-stirring sermons of the early Methodist circuit riders. While Thomas Fawcett and his family were Quakers, their home was freely opened for those public meetings, and it is said on good authority that the first sermon ever preached in East Liverpool was in their home from the text, "And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the tree: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."
Among the Methodist circuit riders who occasionally stopped at the village, was teh Rev. George Brown, of Wheeling, and on one of these visits in 1827, at the home of Claiborne Simms, Sr., the first Methodist class was organized. The names of the members of that class during the first few years were Jesse Johnson and wife; James and William Warrick and their wives; the Fawcett sisters; Claiborne and Basil Simms and their wives; Mrs. Robert Fawcett; Simeon Johnson and wife; Mrs. nancy Anderson; William G. Smith and wife; Mother Abagail Smith; Samuel Lyon and wife; John Lyon; Able Coffin and wife; Benjamin Davidson and wife, and also other members of the Stone, Johnson and Stevens families. After they had organized, they immediately took advantage of the privilege of using the old school house and opened a Sunday school with Jesse Johnson as superintendent.
Perhaps we cannot get a better idea of the customs of those days than to attend the services in that old log school house on a certain Sunday in May, 1828. The hillside was covered with forest trees, now green and beautiful in their springtime splendor and the flowers were blooming everywhere, and the children coming over the paths through the woods had gathered bunches of them along the way. Barefooted, freckled faced, dressed in homespuns, but with little hearts as innocent and pure as the air of that spring morning, the children gathered in that old school house at 9 o'clock, and when the leader of the music struck teh tuning fork they all joined in a hymn of praise. Then the superintendent offered prayer with all the earnestness of a man whose life was sincere. The teachers were at liberty to take up any portion of the Bible for their days lesson, and not a little time was spent in the study of the catechism of the faith and doctrines of our fathers. The chief aim of the teachers of the smaller classes was to encourage the memorizing of scripture, and a record was kept of the number of verses committed and spoken by each member of the class. There was more or less rivalry in this matter of learning verses, and there were two girls in the school - Mary Ellen and Ann Eliza Johnson - who were in after years able to repeat the entire New Testament.
Before the Sunday school had adjourned, the preacher arrived and a number of the men who had ridden quite a distance on horseback were tying their horses in the woods and were then stopping to greet each other for this was one of the few occasions when they met.
When they gathered in the school house for the service, the children were seated on the low benches in the center of the room and forming a wider circle the older people sat upon the highter benches and leaned against the writing desk for a support. For a few moments there was perfect quietness within and only the call of a wild bird to its mate and the neighing of a restless horse among those tied in the forest broke the stillness of that Sabbath morn. The preacher arose with solemnity and read two lines of an old humn. All joined in singing them and then two more lines were read, and thus alternately he read and the little company sang.
Praying in those days meant asking God for the things that were needed and it was done in such an earnest, simple manner as to indicate that an answer was expected. After such a prayer had been offered, the text was announced, and then, taking up the divisions of his subject in firstly, secondly, thirdly and fourthly for almost one hour, the preacher thundered forth the requirements of God's law and dwelt no less upong the dangers of its neglect.
Men and women were visibly impressed with the duty so clearly set forth and the children listened, half in awe and half in admiration, at the serious eloquence of the preacher. It was either at this service or one held soon afterwards that Adam Poe, a son of the famous Indian fighter, became deeply convicted of his sins, and while rowing across the Little Beaver on his way home he was wonderfully converted, or, as he expressed it in after years when he had become a Methodist preacher, "the Sun of righteousness arose with healing in his wings."
When the preacher had finished his sermon that day he announced that on the second Sunday followign another circuit rider would preach in the school house at early candle light. No other hour for the evening service was ever set than "early candle light," but that was as clear a call as the ringing of a bell.
The meeting adjourned and each departed, those living nearby sharing in the breaking of 'bread with their brethern who lived miles away and with the preacher who must hurry on to preach elsewhere that afternoon.
Even those who were children at that service have one by one been gathered in that silent spot - the city of the dead. The little bare feet that would not touch the floor have walked all through the paths of life and are now still. The little sunburned faces have long since faded into the marble white of death, but the lessons that were learned have brought to us the civilization of our time and the memories of those pioneers whould be to us as sacred as the worship of that day.
**The book "Memories" was contributed to Genealogy Pit Stop by Cookie Sisco, with the desire that it be shared with all of you.
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