The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-08-17
History Of the NJ. r.. Church in Find.
lay. Ohio
by REV. ]. wYKKs, PASTOR.

History OF the NJ. r.. Church in Find.
lay. Ohio
ny REV. ]. wYKEs, PASTOR,
In 1882 Mission was established
at this place, called Fort Findlay
Mission" and held its first Quarterly
meeting at Duddleson's school house.
Nov. 18th and 18th, Rev. G.. Jones,
Presididg Elder, Elan Day and Ben.
jamin Allen, Missionaries. Previous
to this time, however, Fort. Findlay
had been visited by several ministers
who were connected with the Wyan-
dot Mission, at Upper Sandusly, o.,
among whom were the Rev's L.
Thompson, E. G. Gavitt and j.
Hooper, as missionaries, and Jacob
Young and Russell Bigelow, as Pre-.
siding Elders.
There is no record in existence, rs
far as l can learn, of the org,inization
of the first class at this place. 1t is
thought by some to have been as
early as 1929 or 80, while others
place the date at about the time Of
the establishment of the mission
The following persons, residing at
or near Fort Fhidlay, part of whom
composed the first class, were the
original members of the society:
John Baker, Mary Baker, Isaac
Baker, Rebccca Baker, Catharinc
Swabb, jacob Foster, Mary Foster,
Thomas Slight, Mrs. Slight. Sarah
Carlin, (wifc of S. Carlin) Aaron
Baker, Elizabeth Baker, William De-
witt, Henry Baker, Parlec Carlin, Sa-
rah Carlin and others whose names
cannot bic ascertained.
At the first quarterly meeting, the
society was evidently alive to its
duties-to the cause of God-hence
one committee was appointed to esti.
mate the cost Of building parson-
age at Ft. Findlay, and another to
ascertain the expense of erecting o
church in "Grecr's neighborhood"-
now Mt. Blanchard. The financial
report at this first quarterly meeting
on the Mission, from sixteen ap.
pointments-includipg $50 appropri-
ated by the Missionary Society-was
S6S 42-the sum Of SlS AZ being all
that was received from the classes.
The work was continued by Mis-.
sionary labor until the Conference Of
1886, during which time the follow
ing ministers oiliciated
In 1928 ELAN Day and Joseph
Newson.
In 1S34-5 w. b. Bradford and
Mckendree Thrapp, with II. p. Shel.
don and L. b. Gurley acting us Pre-
siding Elders.
In 1896 Elan Day returned TO
the Mission with Mark Delaney as
colleague.
We find by the minutes that in
1861 the name Of "AIission' was
dropped and that Of "Findlay Cir.
cuit'' adopted, with II. Whitcman,
p. c., and G. w. Breckinridgc, A. p,
and presume it became self.support.
ing. During this year new church,
40X50 feet was built on the otwherC
the parsonage now stands, at q cost
OF about 500. Previous to this
time the society met in the Court
House and at private houses.
Fiom this time until 1850 the fol
lowing ministers oillciatcd on tho
circuit:
In 1878, j. c Convey and l.. r
Hill; 1890 4D, s.. M Allen and w. O.
fiuo sits. Adam Poe was Presiding
Elder in 1850, and w. Runnels
succeeded him the following year and
continued four years. In lS39-40,
Jonas Wilson and Richard Biggs
lS41-2, John Tibbles and Henry
Warner. This year witnessed an eX.
tensive revival, and many were add
ed to the church. In 1923 Harvey
Camp and Philip Start; 1881, II
G. Dubois and Luke S. Johnson, J
Il. Kellam, p. Il. John Orr and j
c. Russell followed in lS44-5; II s
lIimber and j. S. KaIb in 1S45-G
with L. Barkdull, p. f. Wesley j
Wells and j. Mover in 1867, sue
cceded in 1918 by T. j Pope ant
G. w. Brandabcry, with G.. "
breckenridge as Presiding Elder
j. Crabbs was with T. j. Pope i,
1S4S-0. In ls40-50, w. S. Lunt an'
Alanson Foster, with w. c. Pearcc
p. T.. .-...- NJ,
Dnring these few years the societ,
had rapidly increased, both ia mum
bcrs and wealth, and the old churcl
was deemed insufficient in size to com
fortably accommodate the congrga
ton. The society therefore decided
TO take two very important steps il
advance, viz to ask to be made a sta
tion and to erect new house Of wor
ship in more convenient locality
The request was complied with, an'
in lS5O-5l w. S. Lunt was returnet
us pastor
The new church was soon FINISHED
"A c0mmodious building 48xS0 feet
and in it the M e. society worship
ped for nearly ,llfseen years, and hay
enjoyed many happy seasons, and t.
many it will ever be sacred spot
for there they gave their hearts t,
God and obtained mercy.
Two great mistakes occurred il
the erection of this church:
First-The foundation was insult
cient, consequently the walls cracked
rendering the building insecure. an,
alsn nrpvpntinD tho OagihilitV cf oV