Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-07-03
History Of the ME. Church
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO.
BY REV. ]. II. CONKLE.
From the forthcoming History of Belmont
County.

f. Church many difficulties are to be
met, not the least of which is the con-
nectiOnal character of that Church. A
local Church has been connected prima-
rily with large circuit, in early times
including frequently whole counties.
To this, st. Clairsville is no exception
The Presiding Elders district was even
more wide-spreading, covering territory
now occupied by one or more annual
conferences. The early preachers of
Methodism were primarily and princi-
pally Evangelists. This was wise ar
rangement, as the scanty populations
were to be followed into their widely
separated hamlets and cabins, to be
saved, and organized into churches.
These churches grew by and by into sta
tiOns and self-suppOrting circuits. This
history may be characterized prior to
1885, as much narrative of Belmont
county Methodism as of the Church of
st. Clairsville. Indeed, it necessarily in
cludes the southern half of Harrison
county. 1t is probable that only for
brief periods does it include GAINESVILLE
and its immediate surroundings. This
record has been compiled from the gen.
eral minutes up to 1924; and since that
date from the official records of the
Quarterly Conference, accurately and
neatly kept by the late John C. Tall
man and Stephen Gressinger, Esqs.
1t is probable that Belmont county
was not visited by Methodist preachers
prior to 1900, may be not till 1902; but
to preserve the symmetry of the hiStO-
~, it may be necessary to remember that
Ohio Circuit first appears on the min
utes in 1887. RedstOne, west of the AL
legheny mountains, precedes it by two
years, and Pittsburgh and Clarksburgh
almost Immediately succeed it. In 1793,
Washington, Pa, appears on the min
utes, with Samuel Hit and Ephraim
Chambers as preachers, who probably
visited the small settlements about
Wheeling. Ohio Circuit embraced any
settlements in this territory prior to
the organization of the West Wheeling
Circuit, and Methodist ecclesiastical
events occurring on this circuit, are
proper subjects of record in any history
of this Church. Holding, as we do, that
Methodism had no existence in this
county prior to 1900, we omit the names
of the preachers prior to 1899, when Jes-
Sc Stoneman and ThoS. Raymond were
appointed to serve on the Ohio Circuit
the latter dying June 13, 1799, aged So
years.
1SO0-JOs. Rowen, John Gullison.
1SO1-Benj. Essex, JOS. Hall; men,
bership 521.
1SO2-The Vest Wheeling Circuit first
appears on the minutes within the
bounds of the Pittsburgh District, with
the renowned ThrontOn Fleming as 2. E.,
and Jos. Hall as preacher; membership
394
1SO3-John Cullison.
1SO4-Lasley Matthews.
1S05-John West, Eli TOwne.
1S06-D. Stephens, A. Daniels.
1SO7-Wm. Knox, James Reiley, ]. G.
Watt.
1S0S-R. r. Roberts, Benedict Bur-
CESS. Later the former of these became
an eminent preacher, and was one of the
Bishops of his Church.
1SO9-West Wheeling Circuit is found
in the Western Conference, with Jacob
Young and ThOs. Church, as preachers.
During this year we commence to move
among the certaintieS of local Methodist
history 1t is remembered by. Major
Thompson, and others, that Jesse Parks
and Jacob Myers were reputable local
and frequently preached ear
lier than 1909. On July 10 of that year,
Vachel Hall, Henry Mozier, Henry
Johnston, Robert Dent. and Jos. Harris,
bought, as Trustees, from Jos. Hedges,
the lot now known as the Methodist
Cemetery, on which they erected in the
autumn of that year-fOr those days-a
large frame church, with gallery facing
the pulpit. OF probable cost and time
Of dedication. we have neither record
nor tradition.
1S1O--Jacob Young, VIM. Lambdin-l
both of whom were famous preachers;
$40.
1S11-Wm. Lambdin, NJ. Ellis.
1S12-Restored to Baltimore Confer
ence; John Clingham.
1S13-Connected with Ohio Confer
,nce, and having the famous James b.
Findley as preacher, to whom Ohio owes
very much for his untiring efforts in
the new civilization then
bringing up in our State.
1S14-Barnesville and West Wheeling
j. B. Findley, NJ. Ellis.
1S15-West Wheeling-Abel Robert
ION, M. Ellis.
1S16-Archibald McElroy.
1S17-William Knox
1S1S-It is likely this year st. Clairs-
lille was included in Barnesville Cir
uit, and had Cornelius Springer and
Bennett Dowler as preachers-the form
II becoming famous in the secession of
he NJ. p. Church in 1928, and dying
within the present decade at GAINESVILLE,
ohio.
1S19-Wm. Cunningham, Jos. Carper.
1S20-West Wheeling re-appears on
he Ohio District, VIM. SwayZe, r E.;
-acob Young, T. r. Ruckle, preachers
901.
1S21-John Graham, Zarah II. Costin
still living-in Iowa.
1S22-James Mcmahon WIN. Cunning
am.
1S23-John Graham, Samuel r. .BrOcku-
ier.
1S24-JOhn Mcmahon, John Walker.
)uring this year the Pittsburgh Confer
nee was organized, and this section was
and so continued until the
last Ohio was organized in Sept, 1876.
lmong the famous preachers who served
his District as Presiding Elder from its
Iethodist Ecclesiastical organization to
SPA, may be named Valentine Cook,
)avid Hit, Thronton Fleming, James
.uinn, Jacob Young, David Young
nese were brothers, believe-James b.
'indley, VIM. SwayZe, John Waterman
to whom it is said congregations would
listen for an hour and 4 half
tanding in snow ankle deep-as one of
ur citizens testifies. 1t seems from the d
eneral Minutes that Thronton Flem-
lp and Jacob Young were Presiding \