Madison County History and Genealogy

History and Genealogy



History of Madison County


Pleasant Township Churches


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

It appears that the first religious society to enter this township and organize into church work was that known by the name of Christian. On June 30, 1812, a few persons of this faith assembled at the hosue of Forgus Graham, and entered into compact as follows: "We, the undersigned Christians, hereby organize ourselves into church fellowship by taking the Bible as our only rule of faith and practice, and Christian character as our only test of fellowship,a nd Christian as the only name, and to be known as the Deer Creek Christian Church." This was signed by the following: Forgus Graham, Betsey Graham, Malinda Graham, Francis Grnat, Nancy Grant, James Graham, Polly Graham, Roling Grant, Betsey Grant, Samuel Powell and Betsey Powell. There may have been a few other names signed at that date, but it is believed they were added subsequently. They had no church edifice, but the society met and had preaching at the house of Forgus Graham for many years; occasionally, however, preaching took place at other houses in the neighborhood. inthose times, when the country was sparsely settled, and few and bad mud roads, it was difficult to hold preaching with any regularity; hence, the people often became negligent of church duties, and then the society would have to be re-organized. This was the condition with this church. It was re-organized February 27, 1825, under the same name as before. And again, on March 25, 1832, was re-organized under the same name, Deer Creek Christian Church, with Forgus Graham and John Alkire as Elders and Patrick Davidson and John Graham as Deacons, and John Graham as Clerk. The next and final re-organization was effected February 13, 1854, by Elder Samuel Wilson and Cyrus Gordy, under its former name. In September, 1858, money was raised by subscription and a house erected for church purposes, which was formally dedicated November 21, 1858, by Elder Dr. Dawson, at which time it was decided that it should hereafter be known as the "Antioch Christian Church." In 1864, the following persons were elected Trustees: John M. Smith, John S. robison, A. N. Wilson, H. G. C. Alkire and F. O. P. Graham. The present pastor is M. M. Lohr.

Mt. Sterling Methodist Episcopal Church.– In August, 1831, a class was organized at the house of John Puckett, with the following members: Lewis Devoll and wife, John Puckett and wife, Sarah Puckett, Sophia Puckett, George W. Ingrim and wife, John Blain and wife, with, perhaps, one or two others, whose names cannot now be recalled, with John Puckett as class leader. The class continued to meet and had preaching occasionally at the house of Mr. Puckett for about three years. Among the first ministers who preached here were Rev. William Morrow, Jacob Martin, William Westlake and Philip Nation. This place was then one of thirty-four preaching points on the London Circuit. About 1834, by an earnest effort, money was raised and a church edifice was erected on the same ground where the present one stands; this was a small brick church and cost about $700. In this building preaching and services were continued till in the summer of 1859, they pulled down the old church building and the present frame edifice was erected, at a cost of $2,500, and, in the fall of the same year, was dedicated to service. Rev. Clark preached the dedicatory sermon (since Bishop Clark, of Cincinnati). The present membership is now about 200, with D. H. Douglass and James Jones as class leaders; Stewards, James Jones and D. H. Douglass; Trustees, Isaac Moore, Henry Blain, John McCafferty and J. W. Ingrim. The present pastor is Rev. Pillsbury. A flourishing Sunday school is connected with the church, which has an average attendance of about 135, with J. W. Ingrim, Superintendent, and D. H. Douglass, Assistant Superintendent.

Mt. Sterling Presbyterian Church.–On March 20, 1847, by appointment of the Columbus Presbytery, Rev. Timothy Stearns and Rev. Chauncy P. Taylor, at a called meeting for the purpose, organized a church with the following constituent members: Mrs. Margaret Creath, Sr., Mr. William Creath, Mrs. Mary Creath, Mrs. Jennie M. Alkire, Mr. Samuel Thornton, Dr. David E. McMillan, Mrs. Lydia McMillan; received by certificate from the London Church: Mrs. Julia Worthington, by certificate from the church at Chillicothe, and Miss Amanda Creath, received on examination. Mr. William Creath was installed as Elder. The church was furnished with a supply minister for many years; the first was Rev. James Dunalp. Services were continued in the old frame church building till the erection of the present brick edifice, in 1868-69, at a cost of about $2,000. In December, 1869, the house was dedicated to service in due form. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. George Carpenter, of Washington, C. H. It was dedicated free of all debt or incumbrance. The first regularly called and installed pastor of the church was Rev. George S. J. Browne, on February 8, 1878. The present membership of the church is sixty-five. Present Elders: A. B. Hughs, J. H. Schryver, W. J. Hodges and N. J. D. Kauffelt; Trustees, Dr. J. S. McClintick, George Kious and J. G. Loofburrow. Present pastor, Rev. Robert H. Cunningham. The church has had a regularly organized Sunday school since in March, 1878; present average attendance, fifty-five scholars, with N. J. D. Kauffelt, Superintendent.

McKenard Methodist Episcopal Church.–In March, 1852, a class was organized in the King Schoolhouse by Rev. David Smith, consisting of the following members: William Stone, Elizabeth Stone, Washington Morain, Nancy Morain, Eliza Ann Morain, Harrison Morain, Lizzie Morain, Albert Stone, Joseph Lane, Mary Lane, William Lane, Dilliann Lane, Samuel Thornton, Catharine Thornton, Philip Kyle, Mary Kyle, Harriet Kyle, John Kyle, Rachel Frazier, Millie Smith, Matilda Oglesbee, Mar King, Stephen Anderson and Margaret Anderson, with William Stone as class leader. Their meetings were continued to be held in the schoolhouse above mentioned about three years, when they purchased a house and lot; the building was a large log house, which had been erected for a dwelling, but had never been finished or occupied. This building they finished and fitted up for church purposes, and used it as a house of worship till the summer of 1874, when the present substantial and comfortable frame church was erected and occupied the same year for worhsip; but the house was not dedicated until in the fall of 1879, when, in October of that year, Rev. Joseph Trimble, of Columbus, came here and preached the dedicatory sermon, and hte house was in due form set apart for the service of God. The present membership is sixty-five, with Frederick Toops as class leader; Steward, Albert Stone; Trustees, William Lane, Stephen Anderson, Albert Stone, John W. Timmons and Jonathan Warren. Pastor, James Shoup. In connection with the church they have a flourishing Sunday school, which has existed from the first organization of the church. At the present time it has an average attendance of about fifty scholars, with William Lane as Superintendent.

Mt. Sterling Christian Church.–From the best information we can now obtain of the history of the Christian denomination in Pleasant Township, more than seventy years ago it was organized, at the house of Forgus Graham, as given above, in the history of the Antioch Church. And it is believed that soon after its organization, it received some members from the vicinity of Mt. Sterling, although at that time Mt. Sterling was not in existence, and that they continued to meet with the Antioch brethren, and were identified with them in church relationship until about the year 1825, when the church at Mt. Sterling was organized with these constituent members: George Hornbeck and wife, John R. Robison and wife, John J. Smith, Pleasant Southward and wife, Mary Alkire and George Alkire, with John R. Robison and George Hornbeck, as Deacons, and George Hornbeck, Clerk. The first pastors who ministered to the church were James Burbridge, Forgus Graham, Daniel Long and George Alkire. For several years, services were held at private houses, and among the houses at which they most frequently met were htose of George Hornbeck, Mary Alkire, John J. Smith, John R. Robison and George Alkire. In 1837, they erected a brick house for church purposes, on the site of the present church building. This house served the church for several years, but was from its erection a very defective building, and finally was pronounced unsafe, and was taken down. The membership of the society became greatly reduced by death and removals, and finally, the organization ceased to have an existence.

From this time they had occasional preaching by various ministers of the denomination, held in the Methodist Church, but not until February 3, 1870, did the church again have an identity as a religious body. At this date the church was re-organized, by Rev. W. N. Overturf, with fifteen members, of whom F. O. P. Graham and D. E. Robison were made Deacons; B. F. Thomas, Clark, and William Heath, John R. robison and B. F. Thomas, Trustees. During the year 1871, the present neat and substantial brick church was erected and furnished at a cost of $4,200. In this house there have since been services held regularly every alternate Sabbath to the present time. The present membership is sixty-five. Present officers, same as last given above, except that G. W. Durham is now Clerk, and Rev. Albert Dunlap is pastor. The church has a flourishing Sunday school.

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