Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-17
LACONOA NOTES.
Early Bistory-No 10.

accuracy, as the records were not preserved
The first church that We have any knOwl
edge of near LagOrda was Of rude logs, oI
the south side of what Is now the Mechan
icsburg pike, on the Zimmerman farm, 9
short distance below the present residence
of John W. Reed This was a preaching
point of the free-will Baptists as early a:
1925, and up to about the year 1850.
The date of this organization can not bt
stated with any certainty. Ii may have
been only place of occasional preaching
as no record remains from which It's history
can be perpetuated. The people who
wOrShiped there have gone the way of al
the earth, and the aged men OF the neigh
borhood remember the church goers OF this
old sanctuary as among the incidents OF
long ago. Previous to 1s43 occasional serv
ices were held by different United Brethren
ministers in the old church men,
toned above. Among the number
was Rev. Benjamin p. Wheat, who
was most efficient in organizing the parent
society About 1910 and Al Rev. Wheat
came to the house of Adam Shuey (where
John CRUDE now livesl and organized the
first L. b. class, consisting of Adam and
Hannah Shuey, their daughter, Mary, and
her husband, William Miller, thus forming
the nucleus for the building OF the old New
Conner church. long since thing of the
past. \ revival meeting was started by
this small class. at which a large number
were converted, and soon II was determined
to build church.
Father Shuey obtained an acre Of ground,
at his own expense, riding TO Cincinnati on
horseback TO procure deed for the
property.
On Feb IA. lS45. this society organized
/ by electing Adam Shuey, VIM. T. Hough
and Daniel Berger, sr., trustees, and Geo.
ArbOgast clerk.
In the latter part of ls45 the house was
built on the site of New Conner cemetery, a
half mile east of LagOnda. 1t was built of
brick. 32x40 feet, and cost $3.50. 1t was
dedicated by Rev Wm. Rhinehart The
membership at this time was about forty.
Those who contributed most literally to
the building Of this house were Adam Shuey,
! w. L. HOugh, Daniel Berger, VIM. Moore,
VIM. c. Miller, George ArbOgast, John
/ HauSe, Adam Baker and W. J. Shuey.
Adam Shuey was the first class leader,
and trustee for ten years.
New Conner served its purpose for twenty
| five years, when it was decided to build in
the village of Lagonda, to the better accom-
m0date the people. The present church
site was selected, the lot was donated by
Mrs. Ann A. Warder, mother of B. II.
| Warder. The first building was built in
! 1870. was of brick, 37X53 feet. and cost
| So 1t was dedicated in October, 1870,
b. Bishop GloSSbrenner: Rev. W. X. Al
bright was the first pastor, VIM. II. Berger
leader. with a membership of ll3. The
ministers following Albright, who served
! three years, was Rev. Chester Briggs. one
year; Rev T. F. Bushong, three years; Rev.
/ VIM. Mckee, three wears; Rev. Allen Pow
/ ell, one year; Rev. S. W. McCOrkle,
/ four years. This building served its pur-
pose well until the summer of 1883,
when il WAS decided to remodel the old
building; VIM. II. Berger, II. c. LaybOurn
and b. F. Brubaker, were elected As build
ing committee. An addition of 2SX42 fee:
was added. and the old building entirely
remOdrled and.fnished up in modern style
with tower and bell, two class rooms. at an
additional cost of nearly $4,000. The new
building was dedicated August s, 1883, by
Bishop j. Weaver, the text used was the
words And ye are complete in him"
Presiding elder. Rev. J. W. Kilbourn, and
pastor, Rev. S. w. McCorkle assisted in
! the services.
The church as remOdeled seated about 900
very comfortably, and was filled OH this oc
casiOn to its utmost capacity.
/ Before the house was formally dedicated,
the bishop announced that there was bal
ance unprOvided for upon the building of
81. 500. which must be raised before it could
be dedicated. He sent out his solicitors.
who. on footing up amounts, had 81, T30. 25
| ton paper.
AT that time (lSs3l the membership was
225. At present writing Rev. c. J. Burk-
ert is serving his frSS year as pastor, the
church has a fiOurishng Sabbath school and
about 300 members Old New Conner church
was for years attached to BeayertOwn cir
cult, the other appointments being mostly
i'll Montgomery county. The records were
kept by the clerk who lived at another point.
30 that the official record is very meager.
! The first pastor who served the new church
was Rev. Isaac Robinson, followed by The
0phOis Rork, William Miller, y. LOngacre,
George Bonebrake, William Myrshall, Pc
ter Davis, John Coons, William Wells, f.
4. Hubbard, Henry Toby, S. S. Holden.
Hofner and Norris, K. West being the last
to serve New Conner chapel.
The following ministers, with perhaps
some others, have served as presiding elder
at different times: John CcOns. VIM. Ne
Kee, w. J. Shuey. d. w. Day, p. II. Da-
Wis. c. w. Miller. II. H. Surface. J. w.
htilD. w H. W. w tllS. u. L. DN all, ~
Myers. c. J. Burkert, c. Briggs, the pres
ent elder being Rev. J. ". kilbOurn. In
the Al years of the existence of the L. b.
church here it has licensed and sent out as
ministers of the gospel, the following. a
aumber OF whom are prominent and shin
ing lights in the church: Rev. W. J. Shuey.
Daniel Berger, WIN. Lauthurn, j. G. Ak
man. George Hendle, ID. S. Gregg. William
Kinnel, William K. HoultOn, Luke f.
Pierce. John B. Doughman. James
Mcbride, certainly good showing
for one small, weak church.
About 1864, New Conner was
made a station. it being isolated so far from
any other Brethren appointment, Holden
chapel, in Montgomery county, being the
nearest.
The minutes of the first quarterly meeting
of New Conner for 1861, twenty-five years
ago. are remarkable for brevity and point,
and we give them verbatim:
NOVEMBER 10, 1861.
Meeting was called TO order by j. NJ
Marshall, preacher in charge, J. G. Aikmall
was elected secretary. 1t was moved and
carried that the missionary money be OBJ
tanned by subscription; that the Bishops
salary be collected with the missionary sub
scrption; that Father c. ShOpp receive one
dollar per months Tor services as sexton
that the trustees secure the amount in
quarterly payments; that the preachers
salary be raised by subscription quarterly
also that the presiding elders salary be
raised by public collection. Meeting ad
journed by prayer. J. &. AIKMAN,
Secretary.
The pastor. Rev. Marshall, is deceased,
and the secretary was afterward licensed tO
preach, by this church. and is now noted
minister in the far west, in the Congrega-