The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-11-23

Sunday, November 10th, 1889 the Rev. Samuel
Kepler, of the NJ. f. Church, preaching III the
morning and Rev. ]. Getteau preached in the
afternoon. Priorto this date there was no place
of worship in Towsontown, or in the lmme-
date vicinity, and people were Obliged to go
to hear the Gospel preached to either hunts
Westinghouse near Riders Switch, or to lay
lors, on the Hillen road, or to Evans Chapel,
on the Evans Chapel road, near Roland avenue,
either of which was three miles distant.
As the population of the place increased the
need of a church building in the town was
greatly felt and movement was at once started
to raise funds by subscription with which TO
carry out the project. Mr.. HenryB. Chew and
wife, of 'Epsom, generously gave lot of
ground containing about two acres. upon
which was standing an old magazine, formerly
used by the U. s. Government This magazine
was massive stone structure, one story high,
and it was here that Gen. Nathan Towson mus
tered his forces during the war of 1S12-14 The
walls were torn down and the stone used Ill
erecting the chapel, which rests upon the same
foundation as did the magazine. While the
chapel was being built Gen. Towson had oc-
casion to pass through Towsontown and stop
ped for awhile at Towson Hotel, (where he was
bo1n) now kept by Mr.. w. H. w, Reed, but at
that time owned and conducted by, the late
Benjamin n. Payne In the course Of CONVEX,
sation he inquired what had become of the old
magazine, and on being told it had been torn
down and that they were erecting church
building on its foundations he replied that he
supposed the Government would have no furth-
er need of the magazine and he was glad TO
learn of its being put to such good use:
1t was intended that EPSON Chapel should
be ''free church." or non-denominational, as
will be seen by the following section OF the act
of Incorporation:
pointed, shall be hereby fully authorized to re-
ceiye deed conveying the lot or parcel OF land
on which the church is erected and the title to
the said land and tenements shall be rested in
the said corporate body and their successors
forever, which said chapel shall be open to any
Evangelical minister of the Gospel fany Chris
tan denomination, subject, nevertheless, from
time to time to the control and direction OF
the board of trustees who alone shall have
power to regulate the preaching in said chapel"
The trustees appointed committee, consist
ing of three of their number, 'to arrange, reg
ulate and provide the supply of the pulpit with
the regular services of the ministry" &C., and
they were also entrusted with full power to
act in behalf of the board in controlling the use
and occupation of the building as they may
Judge correct and in accordance with the act
of incorporation and the views OF the board OF
trustees"
This committee had great difficulty in getting
ministers of any denomination, excepting the
Methodist Episcopal, to occupy the pulpit. The
Methodist ministers had always willingly
preached when called upon to do so, and the
committee finally made arrangements with the
Baltimore NJ. E. Conference that the circuit
minister should preach every alternate Sunday
morning and the intervening Sundays the pull
pit should be occupied by the Methodist local
preachers, provided that no minister of any
other denomination could be secured. This
arrangement did not suit all of the trustees, as
some of them were Epscopalians who desired
ministers of that denomination to fill the pull
pit But as none could be secured matters con-
tinued this way until 1859, when the Episco-
palians withdrew from the congregation and
worshipped in the Odd Fellows hall until their
new church, then in course of construction,
was completed.
As soon as EPSON Chapel was dedicated the
Methodists connected with the congregation
formed class meetingS, &c, and this church
was made one of the regular appointments on
the circuit. The circuit at that time was known
as Summerfield, embracing a large portion OF
Baltimore county, but Methodism increased so
rapidly in the county the circuit was divided in
1854 and EPSON Chapel was on what was after
wards known as North Baltimore Circuit.
The Methodist Episcopal congregation con-
tinued to worship in EPSON Chapel until 1871,
when their large brick church was dedicated;
since which time the Methodist Protestant con-
gregation has had exclusive use Of the chapel
Among the large number Of families i'll the
vicinity of Towsontown who worshiped regu-
larly at EPSON Chapel in its early history,
were the Ridgelvs of Hampton; the Towards,
the Chews, the Taylors, the Stevensons the
Myerses. the Harrisons, the Turnbulls, the
Merrymans, the Marshes, the Matthews and
others.
EPSON Chapel originally had gallery in it,
divided by partition, one side of which was
occupied by the choir, under the leadership of
Mr.. Robert Gray, the teacher of the public
school at this place, and the other side was used
by the colored people who attended the services.
We give below the names of the Methodist
ministers who were pastors OF EPSON Chapel
from the time of its dedication until 1871, when
they ceased to worship there, many of whom
are now dead but whose names will no doubt
be remembered by our older citizens Revs,
John W. Richardson, ]. L. Gibbons, s. Nc
Muller, Joseph Plotner, Andrew jameson, NJ.
g. Hamilton, Thomas Sewall, Thomas B. Sar-
Hawley, John Maclay, J. A. McCauley, s. A.
Wilson, A. Griffith, f. Gearheart, Charles B.
Tippett, H. B. Ridgaway, WV, Tudor, Robert
J. Vinton, James S. Thomas, Joseph S. Lee,
G. Il. Gray d. H. Parish, Charles f. Thomas,
John A. Gere, John S. Deale, f. E. Church, r.
c. Haslup, Charles Cleaver, J. H. Marsh, Chas.
0. Cook, Thomas Daugherty, w. w. West
wood and John w. Cornelius.
The presiding elders were Revs. John Davis,
NorvaI Wilson, John A. Collins, n. J. B. Nor
gan, John Baer, Henry Slicer, Thomas B. Sar-
gent, J. McKendree Riley, Joseph France and
John S. Deale.
The original board of trustees was composed
of John Ridgely of H., Henry B. Chew, James
Howard, Isaac Taylor, Sr., Amos Matthews,
H. c. Turnbull, Edward S. Myers, o. p Mer
ryman and DR.. Josiah Marsh. All of these
gentlemen have since died or resigned except
ing Mr.. Merryman. The trustees who now
have control of the property are Q. ?. Merry
man, DIR. G. M. Bosley, Samuel Il. Parks,
Joseph S. Bowen, William Grason, Charles r.
Chew, James E. Dunphy, Joseph B. Mitchell
and Jacob Wisner.
The Newly Elected County Officers
Mr.. Charles ]. Beckley of the 4th district, the
now Sheriff of Baltimore county, took the oath
of office on Tuesday morning, before the Clerk
of the Circuit Court, and at once entered upon
the discharge of his duties. His bond, which
is in the penal sum of $4,000, was signed by
Messrs. r. r. Boarman, R. c. Tracey, ]. Smith
Orrick and George G. Tracey. Mr. Beckley APP
pointed George c. Tracey, clerk, and William
NJ. Risteau, chief deputy: r. R: Boarman,
Esq, will be counsel to the Sheriff. Mr.. Tracey,
who has succeeded Mr.. Benjamin P. Butler as
clerk, had for some years held a position in the
office of the County Treasurer and IS well
known young man. 1t was generally under
stood that Mr.. Butler was to have been retained
by the Sheriff and when it was learned that he
had to go, much surprise was expressed and his
friends manifested good deal of indignation.
Mr.. Beckley will occupy the jail with his family
and it is said that one of his sons will fill the
position of warden.
Mr.. George W. Yellott, of the 18th district,
the newly elected Treasurer and Collector of
Texes, will take charge of the office on Tues
day, December Sd. He has appointed Mr.. J:
Hartman Schone, of the 18th district, chief
clerk, and Mr.. Thos. r. Lawrence, Of the 18th
district, assistant. Mr.. Oscar johnson, who
has been an efficient clerk in the Office for
several years, will be retained for some time
although it is said to be the intention of Mr..
Yellott to run the office with two clerks. Mr..
Schone is an eX-Treasurer and having had long
experience in the office is entirely familiar with
all its duties.
- The County Commissioners, Messrs. Todd
and Smith and Mr.. Robert Magruder, the latter
being q new member of the Board, will qualify
on Tuesday. December Sd. 1t is understood
that they will re-appoint Mr.. NJ. +. Conner, of
the 9Th district chief clerk and auditor. He
has held this position since the retirement of
Mr.. John Crowther, Jr., and is popular Off
cial and thoroughly posted on all the duties of
the Commissioners office. 1t has not yet been
definitely determined whether the force of the
office Will be reduced or not.
AS to the States Attorneyship there are no
new developments. The appointment will not
be made until the commissions of the Judges
arrive. The names that are mentioned for the
office-it being understood that Major Yellott
is not an applicant for it-are Messrs. John
Grason and Frank |. Duncan, both Of whom
have strong backing for the place. Mr.. John
+. Centrum and Col. ID. G. Mcintosh neither
of whom are applicants, are also being named
in connection with this office and it is just pos
sible that clark horse may secure it.
School Board Meeting--The County
School Board met at TowsontOwn on Wednes-
day, the president, Mr.. S. M. Rankin, in the
chair and Col. Chas. B: Rogers, secretary.
The secretary was directed to write to the
Col Il, IIoV