Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-04-16
METHODISM.
Continued from first page,)

ShV hl..keN, feglly
lS62...S. H. Alderman.
lS63...L. Nj. Albright, j, Shannon.
lS64...T. N. Barkdull, j. Shannon.
lS65-66...T. N. Barkdull.
lS67-6S.,. A. Hollington.
lS69...J. S, Kalb.
lS70-7l...J. II. Wilson.
lS72-73-74...N. B. G. Love.
1876 77...J. H. Bethards.
$751; l.. Clark, T. j. Pope.
lST9-S0 S1...W. A. Yingling.
SS2...J. l.. Scott.
1883 saw. H. Scoles.
1885 Sc S7-Ss-s9.. &C. B. Wiltsie.
1890 9l-92-93...J. @. Shaw.
lS94-9 -95-9697... d. H. Bailey.
This is a complete list of pastors and
the length OF pastoral service.
Only l3 pastors out of 45 from 1920 to
1871 served two years.
The first pastor served three years
was the writer, 1872, 73, "A.
Since then one pastor, Rev. G. B.
Wiltsie, served five years, and Rev. d.
q. Bailey, now serving his fifth year.
This is the Oldest organized station
in the Maumee valley, and has always
been noted for its loyalty and liberality.
When we were pastor we dug up the
greater part of the history of the
ociety and put 1t in printed form.
This history has been OF use to several
rarties who since have written about
this church. Among the original pion-
GERS whom we interviewed when pas
tor 81 years since were John Webb,
Nother Stafford, Peter Cranker, Will
lard V. Way and Francis Hollenbeck.
Mr. Webb's acquaintance commenced
in 1922. Mother Spafford's earlier,
while Peter Cranker, w. V. Way and
F. Rollenbeck come later. The char
ter members of the first class were Mr..
and Mrs. Spafford, MIR. and Mrs. Hub
BILE, Of Ft. Miami, and Mr.and Mrs.
ulemented with outside friends and
supporters. In the absence OF the
Methodist itinerants the Presbyterian
missionary, Rev. Van Tassel, preached
Tor the class and friends. The Webb
md Spafford homes were the ''preach-
ing places" until brick school house
was built and it was church as we'll as
school until 1886, when Rev. L. B.
furley was presiding elder and o.
! Mitchell pastor, the present church was
built, the first in the Maumee Valley.
The representative Of the Baptist
people was Deacon Hali, who kept an
inn known as the Baptist Inn, while
Mr.. Spafford's house was known as the
Methodist Inn.
The year the church was built was
memorable on account OF the drama of
war which was played in the Maumee
Valley between the Michlganers and
he Buckeyes. Perrysburg was the
headquarters of Governor Lucas and
his staff.
The Michigan forces had headquar-
ters at Sylvania, while the Ohio SOL
diers were mostly where Toledo now is.
The chief officers found it more pleas
ant at Perrysburg than in the then
little town of Toledo. DR.. Gurley,
then young man full OF zeal, eloquent
and popular as an orator, won the
good will of Governor Lucas, who was a
Methodist, and others, and on one Sum
day morning large sum was realized
for building the church. 1t was
crowded through to completion and
paid for. The cost was about 1000
In 1866 the church was remodelled
with tower, new bell and stained glass
windows, the total cost being about
$500, Rev. Il. N. Berkdull, pastor.
In 1874 now furnace was put in and
thorough ventilation provided for. In
1887 painted, papered, ETC., and new
seats, and carpeted in 1898 at cost OF
over $500. Rev. d. 81. Bailey, pastor.
In 1878 a parsonage was erected, cost
ing about 81 900, under the pastorate oil
the writer.
The church to-day is homelike, and
IL is inspiring to stend in the identical
pulpit and preach where all the presid.
ing elders, and most of the preachers
OF the Maumee valley have stood as
pastors or visitors during the past
sixty years.
Glorious memories gather about this
pulpit chair and altar. Here the
gifted sons of the church have declared
the glorious gospel to be the power o.
God unto salvation. Here the offer O
peace and pardon has been accepted
and around this altar have communei
a great many who form part of the
"Choir Invisible" above. oh how
sweet the songs OF the sanctury ant
the anthems of praise, sung here By
three generations of singers! Not one
of those who worshipped here in 1885,
are here now. They are not dead bu