The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-06

| AS far as Ilcan learn, the Method!ss 8
should be the next to be noticed in
| their work in Canton. I find II difficult
to obtain authentic records of the eatl-
lest movements: but think 1t is true
that, my grandfather, Philip Schlosser,
| Qn later years written Slusser). and
| William Hill were the first resident
Methodists. They often discussed and
| planned to have a church of their faith
| established here, and they improved
| every opportunity to have preaching
services and class meeting as often
as possible, Among the first to preach
were a presiding elder by the name Of
I Waterman, and Rev. ]. Graham, who
was circuit preacher. They preached
here occasionally as early as 1917.
/ Whenever missionaries came along
1.-THE Method.sts here were quite active
to work up meeting for them. They
had no regular place of worship.
ISometiines they would meet in private
houses and occasionally they would
occupy the old log court house that
stood on the block of lots where the
Yohe hotel now stands on North Market
street, and finally they met quite
| regularly In the old frame school house
| that then stood on the block of lots
on West Tuscarawas street where the
high school building now stands. This
old one-story school house was later
| moved to the northeast corner of Nc
Kinley avenue and Tuscarawas street
and occupied for a number of years
by the late John McCurdy as n cabinet
shop, and In later years was moved
about forty feet north on said LOT,
where 1t stood until few years ago,
when 1t was condemned as nuisance
and torn down.
After the FIRST brick school house was
erected on the school lot on West Tus-
carawas street, the Methodists held
| their meetings for several years in the
east room. upstairs, of said building.
l cannot find a definite date of the
organization of society Of the Metho-
| dists, but think it must have been
about 1922. In 1923, or near that time
| John Mclean, who afterward became
a judge in the United States supreme
court, and whose sympathies were al
ways with the Methodists, was stop
ping one Sunday in Dewalt's tavern In
| Canton, and inquired if there was any
Methodist meeting in the village and
he was directed up to the academy
where he found few persons gathered
in the capacity of a prayer meeting
which at that time was led by Grand
father Philip Slusser. The leader was
almost paralyzed to see man of such
when opportunity offered, Mr.. Nc.
Lean got up and spoke so kindly anC
eloquently that he won the hearts OF
all present.
About this time Rev. William Tip
ton was the circuit preacher for Can.
ton. think they only had one sermon
every fortnight In 1924 Rev. DAME
Goddard was the preacher, but it wa.
only a circuit station ana continued
thus for some time. The society be.
gan to grow, and in 1926 they had quite
a number of new and useful members
among them were the Doctor!
Bonfield, Thomas and John, Joh,
Webb, Peter Tofer, Mother Cak,,
Jacob Rex and Newberry Cline. While
they met in the upper room of the ole
academy they had various preachers
among whom were Revs. Frey, Plimp
ton, Ruckel, Kent, Graham, Sheppard
and Sheldon.
During this time the question of buy
ing lot and making an effort to built
house of worship for themselves wa.
quite generally talked Of, and DR.
Bonfield, Newberry Cline and William
Dunbar were appointed a COMMITTEES
to look Up a location. In 1880 they
bought the block of lots that lay be
: tween Mckinley avenue and Dewal
street, and facing on Eighth street an,
running back to Ninth, and In 1888 bull
upon said lot near the middle Of tn,
Eighth street front, and Just abou
where Miss Mary Cross now lives, tn
frame church of which our picture Il
quite correct. The building was 4Ox5
in size. all in one audience room, only L
feet high inside. The two outside doors
as shown, opened directly into tn
church. The women in early time
, always took the west side and the mel
the east. 1t was not permitted then a
now to have the sexes sit together. Tn
contractor and builder was the lat
Thomas Cunningham. well remembe
when said block was entirely vacan
and used as a pasture lot by the lat
Daniel Dewalt and others.
!. Soon after the completion Of thei
first house Of worship. their circui
preacher Rev. Milton Colt died and wa
buried little south of the church; tn
remains some years thereafter were re
moved to the cemetery. Abou
time of the completion of this house Q
worship. Edward White. Joshua Sax
e ton, William Dunbar. George N. Web
and Daniel Gotshall became quite &C
tive and useful members.
In 1887 e. C. Patterson and wifi
settled in Canton and very soon prove
d to be valuable members of the Metho
J, dist church. and thus continued unit