OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express

 


WELCOME
to
ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO
HISTORY & GENEALOGY
 



Source:
Caldwell's Illustrated Historical Atlas
of
Adams County, Ohio

Publ. 1880

CHAPTER VII

___________.
p. 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Page 17]
James Montgomery, John McCullough, Alexander McCullough, Robert Elliott, David McCreight, Sr., David McCreight, Jr., Jas. Wright, Robert Glasgow, Joseph Glasgow.  These persons joined in a petition to the A. R. Presbytery, of Kentucky, asking for the organization of a church, and that it be called "Hopewell," which name had already been given to the preaching station.  This name it bore until 1835, when it was changed to "West Fork," and in the year 1860, it was again changed to "Tranquility," which it yet bears.  The next step in its history was to build a tent as a temporary place of worship.  This must have been about 1807 or 1808.
     These tents are structures six or eight fact square, made of logs or boards, with three sides enclosed, and one side open, covered with boards or slabs, and a floor elevated a few feet above the ground.  They are usually built in forests or groves.  In the front or open side, with a slab or board for his desk, stood the preacher, who addressed the congregations, who were seated in front of him, on logs or on benches made from the halves of saplings split in two parts for seats, beneath the protecting shade afforded by the thick foliage of the branches of the trees above them, well calculated to remind us of Bryant's "Forest Hymn:"

"The groves were God's first temple.  Ere man learned
To hew the shaft and lay the architrave,
And spread the roof above them - ere he framed
The lofty vault, to gather and roll back
The sound of anthems; In the darklink wood,
Amidst the cool and silence, he knelt down,
And offered to the mightiest thanks
And supplication."

     Such was the starting of this church, but its subsequent history is obscure, its congregation having seemingly forgotten the injunction," the man dies but his memory should live."
     This tent, after serving its purposes a year or two, was probably succeeded by a log house, in which the congregation could assemble and worship, protected from inclement weather.  This house was built sometime in the year 1810.  It was 30x35, and used for a long time without chimney or floor.  It was afterwards enlarged by making an addition to the two sides.  This addition was in the form of a pen of three sides, joined to the main building by placing the front or open side next to it, cutting out the logs of the house opposite, in the same manner that the outside frame work was made for the old cabin fire-laces.  One of these rooms was used as a pulpit, while the door entered the opposite one.  This house was afterwards celled and weather-boarded, and used until 1853, when it was succeeded by the present one, a frame building 50x70, nicely finished inside and outside, costing $2,200.  The congregation owns about 3½ acres of land, deeded at different times, by James McIntire, Nancy McCreight and Hon. John T. Wilson.  About 1½ acres of this is used for the cemetery.
     The new organization, together with Eagle Creek and Cherry Fork, were, supplied by the following named ministers of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, to-wit:  Revs. John Steele, James Brown, Abraham Craig, James Magill, David Risk and R. H. Bishop, a part of their time.
     The first regular pastor of the congregation was the Rev. William Baldridge, who continued in charge from 1809 to 1818, giving one-fourth his time between these dates, and one-half his time from 1818 to d____, Oct. 6, 1830.  The next pastor was Rev. Robert Stewart, from 1832 until 1833, one-half his time, when he was released to give his full time to Cherry Fork congregation.  The next pastor was the Rev. John Graham, who took charge in 1841, and continued until his death, July 15, 1849, of cholera.  He was pastor of the West Fork and West Union churches, united in one charge.  The next pastor was Rev. Marion Morrison, who took charge for his whole time, in 1850, and remained until 1856, when he resigned, to accept the chair of mathematics in Monmouth College, Illinois.  The next was Rev. John Gilmore, who took charge in April, 1857, and continued until February, 1871, when he resigned.  The next pastor was Rev. Jonathan Stewart, who took charge September, 1871, and continued until his death, March, 2, 1878.  The next was the present pastor, Rev. Washington Wallace, who took charge June 1, 1879.  The congregation has had seven regular pastors, who have had charge of it during a period of 51 years; the other 11 years have been made up byu supplies, making the whole age of its existence 73 years.
     The following named persons have been ordained elders in the congregation since its organization, to-wwit: John Milligan, John McCullough, Robert Elliott and James Wright, who constituted the first board.  In 1814, John Glasgow and Matthew McCreight were ordained to the same office.  In 1832, R. B. Glasgow, James McCreight, Isaac Smith and John McCullough, Jr., were ordained to the same office.  Again there were ordained in 1851, J. M. Glasgow and Joseph McCreight; in 1856, J. M. McCreight and John Bayless; in 1860, W. P. Breckenridge and Matthew McCreight, Jr.; in 1868, William O. McCreight, Simpson Williams, Isaac N. Smith, R. P. Finley and John Eakin, were ordained elders, making in all, 21 elders who have at different times been chosen by the congregation.  The present board consists of William O. McCreight, John Bayless, J. M. McCreight, W. P. Breckenridge, Simpson Williams, R. P. Finley and John Platter; the last named person was received from a neighboring church by a certificate.
     The congregation has had the following clerks:  From its organization down to 1835, were Isaac Smith and William McCormick; from 1835 to 1844, Thomas Kirkpatrick.  The next was William M. Hays, 1844-47; John McCreight, 1848-55; David Gaston, 1855-65; James Smiley, 1866-67; Robert S. Williams, 1867-68; S. A. McCullough, 1869-80.
     The congregation at present numbers 190 members.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

William B. Gregg

Isaac Martin


 

< CLICK HERE to RETURN to TABLE of CONTENTS >


.

NOTES:

CLICK HERE to Return to
ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO
CLICK HERE to Return to
OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION
GENEALOGY EXPRESS
This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights