Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-11-23
Rev. Smith Gives
Methodist History
BY Rev. ]. S. Smith.


this section of the valley. AS early
as 1852 the circuit preacher with his
saddle bags was scouting through
the county preaching in the private
houses or in the groves and looking
out for a chance to organize a class.
The first class organized was at
Jacksonville and all the county was
in the Jacksonville Circuit.
Glasses were organized at Phoenix,
Talent and in the valley above here
near the George Dunn place several
years before the class at Ashland was
formed.
In July 1854 Rev. P. M. Starr, the
presiding elder of the district, or
ganized the class in Ashland with the
following members: d. p. Walrad
and wife, A. G. Rockfellow and wife,
w. c. Myer and wife, Heaton Fox
and wife, d. P. Britton and wife,
VIM. Jequitt and wife, Mrs. Jacob
Wagner, Mrs. Anderson and Mrs.
Myer. Others from the classes at
Talent and the class up the valley
were soon transferred to this class,
forming the first church of Ashland.
OF this class A. G. Rockfellow, Mrs.
Wagner, Aunt Kate Howell and Mrs.
Anderson are still living in our midst.
Among the early preachers on the
Jacksonville circuit are the names of
some Of the men who have made the
church famous in Oregon. We find
the names of Father WILDER, c. c..
Stratton, J. D. Driver, the Royals,
Father Finn, j. w. Miller, P. M.
Starr, j. H. Roork, c. Anderson and
others, who still live in the memory
of the old time settlers.
At the conference held at Salem
in August 1878 the Ashland charge
was appointed in charge.
Previous to this the foundation
had been laid for church building
and remained standing for several
years. A building had been COM
menced and was completed soon after
his coming upon the work.
| shall not attempt to tell of the
trials and discouragements of the
disappointments and heart aches OF
the little band in their struggles to
complete their church building
These have all been forgotten in the
rejoicing over the victories of the
years of growth and prosperity
These early Methodists were not sat.
isfied with simply looking after the
spiritual welfare of the people, but
believed in better educational advan
! tages. They secured plat of ground
the one now occupied by the west
side school, and erected a building
and opened a school known as Ash
land College. A school in which
many of our older citizens received
their education. It's influence ex
! tended over Southern Oregon ant
Northern California. 1t was late
known as the Southern Oregon Nor
NAL. In 1879 Lowell L. Rogers wal
assigned to this charge and was alst
president of the college. In 1885,
Ladin Royal was pastor and re
mained two years. He was followe'
by B. j. Sharp for two years. II
1884 A. c. Fairchild was appointet
pastor and served one year, .durinj
which time the parsonage was erect
ed-at least the main part, whicI
has been added to until we have tn
present building.
Up to this time the growth of tn
church had been quite slow owing t
the slow growth of the country. Blu
with the approach of the railroa
from both north and south the tow
took on new life. In 1885 Rev. Wn
G. Simpson came upon the charg
and found a great opening and dur
ing the year sixty names were adde
to the roll He was followed b
Walton Skipworth, then a young ma
just in his second year in the confer
ence studies, who is at present paste
of our church at Grants Pass, an
who has served as district superin
tendent OF The Dalles district in tn
Columbia River Conference and a
a delegate in the last general confer
ence. Brother Skipworth is to b
with us and preach next Sunda
morning.
In 1887 II. p. Satchwell was place
in charge and remained two years
During his administration the leagu
room was built. c. A. Lewis fo
lowed for a term of three years. A
extensive revival was held and man
were added to the church. Th
kitchen was added to the parsonage
In 1892 my personal acquaintanc
with the work begins. preach
my first sermon on the last Sunda
in August 1892. At that time W
had many of the first settlers in tn
church and community. OF thos
who were upon the first board G
trustees there were still with us L
p. Walrad, A. G. Rockfellow, w. {
Myer, Jacob Wagner and c. r. Kings
bury.
Those were p-rasant years and /
many respects good to look bac
upon. Soon after coming to tn
charge we secured large organ an
by the aid of Mr.. b. X. Willis W
soon had one of the best choirs |
this part of the state. The Souther
Oregon Chautauqua Association wa
organized and an attempt made
start another college as an annex {
Portland University, but owing {
their failure IL was TUNED over I
the state for a normal school and
now closed by act of the Legislature
The times were hard, few peopl
were coming in and the growth wa
not large.
In 1894 Rev s. e. Meminger cam
to the charge and remained fiv
years. These were years of financia
depression and the town was at
standstill. There was a good spirit
ual interest and the church was bull