Madison County History and Genealogy

History and Genealogy



History of Madison County


Canaan Township Churches


From History of Madison County, W. H. Beers & Co, Chicago, 1883

The first church organization in Canaan Township, and one of the earliest in Madison County, was the Big Darby Baptist Church. This was constituted in the year 1810, by Elder John Thomas, of Champaign County, Ohio, who was a traveling minister through this then almost unbroken wilderness. He collected together a little hand of seven brothers and sisters, who first constituted the Big Darby Church, and Elder Thomas preached on the occasion. In 1812, the Mad River Baptist Association was organized at the house of Abijah Ward, on Buck Creek, near Springfield, where the following churches were represented: Kings Creek, Little Beaver, Nettle Creek, Antioch and Big Darby. Ministers present, Elders John Thomas, James Johnson and Lemuel Cottrel. There is no doubt but that Elder John Thomas was the first pastor of this church. The church at this time had no regular settled place of meeting; sometimes they would hold their meeting at the house of one of the brethren, and at other times when two or more ministers met together, they would hold a meeting in the barn of some brother. Brother Jehu Guthridge. an Elder of the Baptist denomination in that early day, was the second pastor of this church, and the successor of Elder John Thomas. In 1813, we find his name among the list of ministers added to the association, only one year alter its organization. Elder Jehu Guthridge was succeeded by Elder Thomas Casto, who preached for the church as pastor or supply, in 1828-29, Elder Miller served the church as pastor, and was succeeded by Elder Bess, who served the church one year. Sometime subsequent to this, the church was served by Elder Peters. During the early history of the church, among the ministers who frequently visited and ministered to them were the following brethren: Elders William Sutton, Chandler Tuttle, T. J. Price and William Fuson. About 1834-35, Elder Isaac Jones was called to take the pastoral care of the church, He was a faithful minister and highly esteemed. He served the church until removed by death. In 1841, before the death of Elder Jones, Elder William Fuson visited this church and commenced to labor with them in a protracted effort. The meeting continued for several weeks and fifty confessed faith in Christ and were added to the church.

After the death of brother Jones, Elder V. E. Bunker was called as a pastor of the church. He was from New Hampshire, a man much esteemed for his excellent qualities of heart. During his pastorate, a period of trial was passed over by the church. The new members became dissatisfied with the old declaration of faith, and what was known as the declaration of faith of the Baptists of New Hampshire was introduced and adopted by them, which caused dissatisfaction among the old members. The difficulty was finally adjusted by both parties agreeing to refer the matter to two brethren—Elders Enos French and T. J. Price—with a request that these brethren would pay them a visit and furnish them a declaration of faith in which they could unite. Brother French not being in good health did not visit the church, but he and Brother Price met and agreeing upon a declaration of faith. Brother Price visited the church in December, 1844, and induced the church to lay aside the two sets of articles upon which they could not agree, and adopt those he and Brother French had agreed to recommend. These were unanimously adopted by the church. Thus through the wise and prudent advise of these brethern, discord and division that threatened the life of the church were removed, and peace and harmony restored. Elder V. E. Bunker resigned the pastoral care of the church July, 1845. In September, 1845, Elder Martin, from near Dublin, Franklin County, was called to the church and served as pastor one year. During his pastorate, Brother J. B. Sutton was called to serve the church as supply once a month. He was then a licentiate and served them a short time, and resigned that he might attend school at Granville. In December, 1847, Brother James Simpson, of the Mechanicsburg church, who was serving that church half the time, paid the church a visit, and in February, 1848, was called by the church to preach for them twice a month, and to take charge of the church. In June following, a council was called by the Mechanicsburg church, and Brother Simpson was more fully set apart to the work of the Gospel ministry. Elder Enos French being Moderator, and Elder V. E. Bunker Clerk of the Council. Brother Simpson served the church as pastor for over quarter of a century. During this long period, the church generally prospered and continued in peace and harmony, but sometimes had its disturbing elements, then again Grace would calm the spirits and all would move in unison. In 1866, thirty-two were dismissed from the church for the purpose of constituting the Bethesda Church. In November, 1869, a meeting was commenced by the pastor, assisted by Brothers T. J. Price and W. R. Thomas. This was the most remarkable in its progress and the results of any meeting that was held with the church during its entire history. The meeting was continued seventeen days, and seventy added to the church. In January, 1873, Brother Simpson resigned his charge, to take effect the June following. Elder W. R. Thomas was called to serve the church as pastor one-half the time. He accepted, and served three years, closing his labors with them June 4, 1876. From that time to January, 1877, the church was without a pastor, and was visited by the following brethren: Elders John Kyle and E. B. Smith, Brothers Turner and W. S. Kent, when the church extended a call to Brother Kent, who accepted and entered upon the labors as pastor, March 3, 1877, and he has been their pastor to the present time (1882).

The first regular place of holding meetings of the church was an old log schoolhouse with paper windows The next was a small frame erected on the same lot where the present house now stands. This was used several years, when by the increase of the congregation the house was found too small to accommodate the people. And in the summer time when the weather was pleasant, it was quite common to hold their meetings in the grove near the meeting-house, and the minister would address the people from a wagon. At last the pastor and people resolved to build a suitable house for church purposes, and the building was erected. On Saturday, February 1, 1862, the first sermon was preached in the new house by the pastor, from Psalms, 27th chapter, 4th verse. Brothers Elder David E. Thomas and S. J. Price, who were present, refused positively to preach in the house till after he had preached; giving as a reason that he had labored and travailed to see the thing accomplished, and now he must be the first man to preach in the new house. Elder D. E. Thomas preached that evening; on the next day, Sabbath, Elder T. J. Price preached the dedicatory sermon from 2 Chronicles, 16th chapter, 18th verse. The house was dedicated free of all debt. The meetings were continued several days and a number added to the church.

Methodist Episcopal Church, Amity.—About 1833-35, a few persons, under the leadership of John Mann, organized a class, embracing, it is believed, the following persons: Henry Downing and family, Eli Douglass and family. John Finch and family. Obil Beach, Benjamin Willey, Lorenzo Beach, Theron Eastman and wife, and Rev. Henderson Crabb, and perhaps a few others, with John Mann as Class Leader. About 1837-38, they erected a brick church, which was duly dedicated to service, and the society continued in a very prosperous condition for several years, and at one time was quite large in membership. About 1849-50. Mr. Mann sold out all his effects, having carried on a large business in an ashery and became quite wealthy, and started for California under the prevailing gold excitement there, and from the time of his departure the church began to wane, and finally became extinct.

Union Church, Amity.—About 1866-67, by the combined efforts of the citizens of the community, led by Rev. George Hathaway, who labored diligently, a sufficient sum of money was raised, and a good comfortable frame building was erected for church purposes. This was dedicated to service the same year it was built. The edifice has remained as a union church, in which various denominations have held services. The Christian denomination at present is the principal one that has service here.

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