The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-12-19

toward severity sometimes. But the
church can now see how much they
owe to the pastor who stayed with
them, held them together and taught
them during the dark days. His wife,
Susan Lee Hughes, was a woman
every New Plymouth home. The
school, and the Missionary society
had her work and sympathy and vet,
the greatest good of her life was the
silent, gradual, unconscious influence
that came from humble, constant
walk with God.
Mr.. Hughes died in 1868. His chill
dren and grandchildren abide with
us to-day.
The war brought dark days to the
churches throughout the land, and
New Plymouth was no exception.
The tide of emigration to the west
had set in and many of the members
gathered in by Mr.. Hughes shad al
ready removed. After his death the
church rapidly failed in numbers.
There was no pastor. A considerable
number of the best members judged
it wise to go into the M. E. Church
that they might have church home.
In April 1865, the Presbytery of
Athens met with this church. I see
with interest the name of my father
exercises. I was still in the army at
the time and therefore have no per-
sonal recollection of his coming. This
was attended with a re-awakeningo of
Presbyterian interest in the neigh
bOrhood which resulted in the re-
union of the new and old school chur-
ches here on the 22d of March, 1866.
At that date the New School church
consisted of the following persons,
twenty-five in number: Solomon Fin
ney, Mary Ann Grippen, Lavina Il.
Gibbons, Sarah B. Finney, John III.
Bartlett, Clark Gibbons, Amanda
Bartlett, Eliza A. Lee, Lovina E.
Gibbons, Julia b. Bartlett, Achsah
A. Gray, Mary Eggleston, Louisa
Bartlett, Samuel Bay, Emily Eggle-
ston, Isaac Grippen, Elizabeth Bay,
] Clarissa Eggleston, John Karns,
Mary M. Finney, Elmira Karns, SUI
san T.. Hughes.
| THE OLD SCHOOL.
Let us turn now to the history of
the Old School wing of the church.
At the time of the division in 1914,
but six members constituted the Old
School church. These were Robert
Magee, John Brimner, Joseph Ran
nells, Mrs. Elizabeth Magee, Ralph
Bingham, Mrs. Prudence Brimner.
Robert Magee, Joseph Rannells
and Ralph Bingham were elders. For
a considerable time they were with
out pastor but with the advent of
Rev. Chauncy P. Taylor about 1850,
the church began to grow. The Pleas
ant Hill and Cumberland churches
still continue to furnish large num-
bers of excellent recruits, ,McKinneys,
Reasoners, Rannells, Bays, Boyds,
Barnets, and William Luker and
number also were received on exam
ination during Mr.. Tayior's pastorate.
BY much sacrifice and self denial a
good church building was erected.
| 1t is now the public school building
of the Village.
| Moses Cherry and family, formerly
members of the Associate, now U. P.
| Church, were also received, and in
course of time Samuel Rannels, John
Brimner, Mathew Mckinney, Moses
Cherry and John Luker served as ell
ders during different periods in the
history of the church.
Mr.. Taylor was succeeded by the
1lRev. John III. Harris in 1858. He re-
manned two years during which time
the Morgans and Thomas Meldrim
and wife became members, After
the departure of Mr.. Harris the
church was vacant for some time and
was then supplied for while by Rev.
Eben Muse. During these pastorates
many precious meetings were held
and much good done.
The shadows of the war and emigra-
IL -, Il II II II g.
time it lay vacant. The New School
of byterianism seemed to Ian
guish. At this juncture in 1866 Elder
Moses Cherry and others who had
been originally members of the u. P.
Church, and who had always lean
ing toward their first love, thought
the time ripe to make an effort to
unite the scattered forces into UP.
Church. Such a church was accord
ingly formed, but the result was that
the new church, instead of being q
union of the other two became a frag-
mentary third. Thus in this little
village there were three Presbyterian
churches.
The New and Old School were uni
ted and formed our present church,
as before related, in March 1866, un-
der the auspices OF Rev. J ohm III. Pratt
of Athens, o. S., and Rev. G. G. Hart
Of Logan, N. s.
So far as can ascertain the follow
ing persons were the members of the
Old School body. If names are
omitted the omission arises from a
difficulty in reconciling the records /:
John Brimner. VIM. g. Luker, Pru-
dence Brimner, Mary Luker, James
Brimner, Thomas s.. Meldrim, Isa-
belle Brimner, Mary A. Meldrim,
i John Luker, VIM. Noble, Caroline
Luker, Mary A. Noble, Thomas Bay,
Anna Barton, Sidney Bay, Harriet
Barnett, VIM. Barnett, Catharine
Reasoner, Mahala Rannells, Ann
Morgan.
i Inaddition to the members of the
Old and New School already men,
toned, the following Presbyterians
who had gone temporarily into other
churches or who were of the Presby-
terian birth and training, returned at
u the time of the reunion. From the
i M. e. Church, Sylvanus Bartlett,
VIM. L. Bartlett, Mahala Bartlett,
i Mary q. Luker, Alyan Finney, AL
ciste Luker, Florinda Lee. From the
United Brethren church, Peter M
Reas0ner. Thus by the blessing oi
God q strong, healthful church was
formed.