The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-11-11
AURORA.
HISTORICAL NOTES, NO. ".

80 II sfli sast-i
HISTORICAL NOTES, NO. ".
We now turn our attention to an
other and very important subject, the
religious influences that were brought
to bear, and had their part in the shsp.
ing Of tho moral opinions and religi-
Gus views Of that early day. Many OF
the settlers were members of churchel
east and they brought with them those
strong religious convictions. that fsr
generations had given New England
its strong orthodox character. Previ-
Gus to the year 1909, the spiritual vel
fare of tho town was under the care ei
missionaries sent out by the, churches
east. After tho sermon Of Rev. Mr.,
Bestwick referred to in q previous
number, that of Rev. Joseph Badger
was probably the next preached in the
town. Closely following came Revs'
Joshua Barr, - Leslie, Cowles
Hooker, and West, the latter q Baptist
minister whs lived near the now, vii
lage Of Garrettsville. He eften spoke
here and for two years or 80, was hir.
cd to preach about one-fourth Of the
time. This year, Rev. Nathan 3. Oar
rev believing that q sufficient number
Of persons lived in the town who
would identify themselves with a
church, made the attempt, and on the
Both day, Of December, 1909, at the
house of Col. John G. Singletary, q
society was organized consisting OF
twelve members, all of whom are now
deceased. The first organization was
designed to be, very liberal in its
church tenets and was called the
"Chsrch of Christ" but tho year fol-
lowing the Presby terian form of gov
ernment was adopted, and jeremiah
Root, Septimus Witter and James
Henry were elected its elders. In 1911
Rev. John Seward, sent West by a
missionary society, was engaged by
the church here as its pastor. Three
years later, the church again changed
their name to Congregational, and un-
der the new order of things James
Henry and jeremiah Rost were elect
ed Deacsns. On the 4th Of August,
1914, Mr.. Seward was regularly In
stalled pastor. This ceremony, prob
ably the first on the Reserve" attract
ed a large audience, and the compare
tiyely imposing exercises were con-
Quoted in grove near the present
cemetery. Among tho clergymen
present were Revs. Leslie, Barr, Bad
ger, Cowles and Hooker. For several
years the society met in the town hall,
but afterward the room became so
small that larger structure became an
imperative necessity. In 1916 it was
decided to erect q large brick church,
the estimated cost to be about $1,000
Chauncey Eggleston, BrHinard Spen-
ser, and Robert Bissell were the com.
mittee, who engaged Robert Carleton
aud Martin Eggleston to burn kiln
of brick. The next year Frederick
Stanley commenced erecting the walls,
bat it was 1919 before the roof could
be put on, and Chancey Carver, the
contractor for the wood work enabled
to commence upon the interior. The
total absence of money-everything
being payable in trade, and that de-
fined, meant most anything that could
be driven or carried-so delayed the
work that it was 1924 before the
church was finished. 1t is little sim
gular that the first sermon within it's
walls was delivered by minister Of
another denomination, the Rev. B. o.
Plympton, a Methodist missionary.
This was some three years before the
dedication. The galleries were loose
ly foored over, and rude board seats
arranged. Standing near the centre
Of the eastern gallery, Mr.. Plympton
delivered one of those eloquent, i'm
passioned sermons, that fairly thrilled
his audience, and is still referred to
by those now living who listened to it
After this Mr.. Seward transferred his
meetings to the "brick," using the gal
leries until the dedication in June 1924
Mr.. Seward continued his pastoral re-
lations until 1874, when he took charge
Of the Solon church, continuing there
| fifteen years, when he moved to Tall
madge, where in 1873 he died, in the
ninetieth year of his age. Mr.. Seward
was in every sense of the word, zeal
Gus defender Of the faith, and at last
full Of years, honored by all, with his
work done and we'll done, he was call
ed home by the Master.
In 1910, the inhabitants raised two
hundred dollars IN "sugar and lumber
to build town hall. Lyman Webb
took the job, erecting the building
whore the Academy now stands. The
year following, il was so far complete
that the "boys" engaged it to hold
therein the first public dance in town
Abner Seeley and his brother came
| from Cleveland and furnished the mu
sic, q fiddle and tambourine, fol
which the boys paid five dollars. The
idea of dance of public character
brought out strong opposition; but
the boys carried cut their programme
The supper was furnished by Samuel
Ferguson and was well appointed in
all respects. The original idea Of the hal
was to use it on the Sabbath for meet
ings. and after thus dedicating it with
o dance, many of the church thought il
def.led, but afterward changed theil
minds, although it was some si1
| months before the entire membership
would attend meetings within 1T
walls.
This year the Government establish.
ed mail route between Warren and
/