The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-10-31
History of Somerset Circuit, Ohio
Conference.


The first settlement of Ohio was by q
New England Colony that landed at the
mouth of the Muskingum river, on the
9TH of April, 17SS. These were all of
Puritan stock, and no Methodists among
them, as it was not till two years later that
Methodism was carried into New England,
by Jesse Lee that preached the first Metho-
dist sermon in all that section, under the
great Elm tree in Boston Common, on a
July afternoon, 1870. At that time Ma
rieta and Cincinnati were the only two
points settled in Ohio; but when, on the
18th Of September, 1899, the first session
of the Territorial Legislature met in Gin
cinnati, and it was then only village of
500 inhabitants, built almost entirely of
structure. The population of the whole
State, in 1898, was only about 5000.
Bishop Ashbury's description of the
1888, at Clarksburg, Va, on his first trip
west of the Alleghanies, has, in measure,
characterized the border ever since He
says: "The country will require much
work to make it tolerable The people are,
many of them, of the boldest cast of ad-
venturers, and with some, the decencies of
civilized life are scarcely regarded. On
the one hand, savage warfare teaches them
to be cruel; and on the other the preaching
of antinomians poisons them with error in
doctrine. Good morlaists they are not;
and good christians they cannot be, unless
thry are better taught"-Steven's Hist. NJ
Z. Church. Intemperence and profanity,
coupled with reckless daring, and coarse
yet open handed, hospitality has generally
prevailed everywhere, ON the westward
marching border of our civilization. They
had their rough labor, rude sports, and
coarse appeals to brute force in the settle
ment of feuds and dispnles. Into this so.
ciety Methodism fought its way inch by
inch, not only against the vices, but
against the prejudices of the people. In
deed it qas been said with much of truth
that Methodism saved the West from
sinking into barbarism." I'm 1898 Rev
Kobler crossed the Ohio from Kentucky,
kneeling on the river bank 10 invoke the
divine blessing upon his nission.--O On
Christmas day he spread the sacramnetal
table for % or 80 COMMITMENTS, all there
were in the country. This was the first
regular preaching, and the first Methodist
communion in Ohio, that ten gears agc
numbered 100000 on its communion roll
In 1899, Holston, Kentucky, Tennesse
and one circuit in Ohio, constituted one
immense district with twelve preachers
No society was founded in Cincinnati til
1904. On the southeast, however, Rober
Manly had crossed over from Virginia, oc
casionally, perhaps, as early as 1895, ant
by 1899, he had boldly entered and formed
a Circuit extending up the Muskingun
for forty miles. In 1899 James Quinr
made missionary tour up the Hooking
Valley, preaching to the few families neal
the present site of Lancaster In 1S04
Asa Shinn organized the Hooking Circui
out of this territory, occupying the usua
four weeks. The next year James Quinr
and John Meek were sent to this Circui
and in 1907 we find "Ohio District Fair
field Circuit, William Pattison," in tn,
list of appointments of the "Western Con.
ference" that contained nearly all tn,
territory west OF the Alleghanies. In 1S0S
; it is Ralph Lotspiech and John Bowman
Miami District; In 1903 il is Ralph Lots
piech, Muskingum Ditrict; in 1910 Fran
els Jarvis, with james Quinn as. Presiding
Elder.
During this year the Ohio Conferenc,
was organized at Portsmouth, and OF
Christmas day, 1910, the first Methods
sermon was preached in Somerset, at tn
house of John Mains, by the Rev: Rober
Cloud, who, with Jesse Stoneman, con
tinued TO occupy this as preaching
: place for several years. In 1911 Jane
Quinn and James B. Finley travelled Fair
field Circuit. and the latter organized tn
first class in Somerset, with John Main
, leader.-The remaining four of this "im
mortal five" were Anna Mains, wife of tn
leader; John Anderson and wife, and Will
| liam Babbs. The opposition was bite
and unreasonable, but the old log Schoo
House, afterward used as chair shop, b.
= Jesse HUI, near the present site of Ditto
d HnlPs grocery, was the class sanctuar
, of these tried ones, for years. aud it re
/ sounded with the songs and shoutings o
their triumphant faith. In 1872 Williar
Lambden had charge of the circuit an
, Archibald McEIroy in 1913.
David Young was Presiding Elder j
1894; Charles Waddle p c. in 1871
! Charles Waddle and Michael Ellis, 1S1;
= James Quinn and John Mcmahon, IS1t
Michael Ellis and John McMahon in 1871
During the early part of this conferenc
Y year, John McHahon retired from tn
, work and John Stewart was called fror
: the Kanawha Circuit in Virginia, takin
his place here as Junior Preacher, Janus
ry l, 1918.
The Somerset society had now grown t
: embrace the following members. Wn
Babbs, sen., John and Ruth Murray, Joh
and Anna Mains, Toby Taylor and wife
Y Frederick Mains, SEN, and wife; Georg
t Richards and wife; Jesse G. McGoweI
:. and perhaps Frederick Mains, jun, an
wife. In June, 1919, Joseph +. Brow
/; and wife. were added to the society; an
:, Jacob Knowles and wife in place Of Tay
lor removed. That summer the societ