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Amanuensis Monday, Faith, Genealogy

Amanuesnsis Monday-History of Dresden Presbyterian Church 1819-1919/Part 2/

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Amanuensis Monday – An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. 

The following History will be presented in 6 parts each one being posted on Monday.  This is a History of the Presbyterian Church in Dresden Ohio as of 1919, that is in my possession.  My Great Grandfather was the Pastor of the Church when this piece was commissioned. I have pulled it from a earlier posting on my rootsweb family website. I hope that it brings information you can use or maybe an interesting read. Enjoy! There is more to Dresden then baskets 😀

 1819- Dresden Presbyterian Church History -1919
written by Mrs. T.M. (Mary Louise Cresap) Stevenson

CHRONOLOGY

 First Pastor-Rev. Prescott B. Smith(1819-1823)

Rev. Prescott B. Smith, the third member of the Presbyterial Commitee and noble Triumvirate, became our very first Pastor. He was a native of Vermont, was educated at Middlebury College, and ordained at Newark in 1818. He began preaching in 1818 soon after his ordination, lived in Irville. He so continued until his death in 1823, aged only twenty-nine.

Though only twenty-nine at his death, Rev. Prescott B. Smith was the Nestor of our Pastors. Some of our honored guests this evening are his grandchildren, viz., the familie of the late Mr. Horace Smith, of Adams Mills, faithful, active members of the Adams Mills Presbyterian Church. His works do follow him and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are amoung us, a blessing today.

Charter Members

The Church records give the Charter members in the following order: Daniel Stillwell, Esq., Joseph F. Munro, John C. Stockton, Mrs Mary Smith, (wife of pastor), Mary Munro, (wife of J.F.), Mrs. Sohpie Cass, (wife of G.W.), Mrs. Mary Cass, (wife of Major Jonathan), and Rev. Hildreth adds Major Jonathan Cass. As Mrs. Munro was the daughter of Major Jonathan Cass, and Rev. and Mrs. Hildreth made their home with Mrs. Munro, Mrs. Hildreth’s mother, Rev. Hildreth’s testimony is accurate.

Major Jonathan Cass was the great-grandfather of Mrs. J.W.P. Ried, Zanesville; Miss Mary Munro, Granville; Mrs. Rhoda Dunmead, Newark; Mrs. Minnie Dunmead, of the Old Munro Home; former members of the Dresden chruch and now active Presbyterians in their home towns, with one exception, and we welcome them to this Centennial reunion as we look in their faces.

Mrs. Sophie Cass, wife of George W. Cass, another Charter member, is represented in Dresden today by the widow of Dr. Edward Cass and their two sons, Dr. Edward McDowell Cass and George Cass, both soldiers in the Great War. Dr. Edward attained the title of his ancestor, “Major” overseas, and George, a non-Com on this side.

Daniel Stillwell, Esq., was great-grandfather to the Scott families, of Adams Mills, as well as to the Horace Smith families, and wonder of wonders, Hamilton Scott’s daughter, great-great-grandaughter, is present tonight helping us to celebrate and to keep the ideas of Daniel Stillwell, Esq., in the Church active. The Scotts are also grandchildren of another of our Charter members, John C. Stockton. John F. Munro, the very first elder of this Church, and his wife, Mary G. Munro, both Charter members, were also represented by here Mrs. Ried, Miss Munro and Mrs. R. Drunmead, her grandchildren. Was ever a church so blessed?

Think of it! The descendants of every single one of the Founders of this Church gathered together to help celebrate its Centennial, and all still faithful workers in the Presbyterian Church. We heartily welcome you all to this, our “Home-coming.”

Second Pastor-Rev. James Parmele(1824-1825)

Rev. James Parmele surely had a vision of the future of our Church, for he arranged to preach in the town of Dresden. He obtained the town log school house located where the Union School Building now stands, and there held his preaching services. Rev. Parmele had faith in the increase and prosperity of the town and the Church must needs be in the center of the town and grow with it. He remains only a little over a year.

Third Pastor-Rev. Ebenezer Churchill(1825-1829)

Before the close of 1825 came the Rev. Ebenezer Churchill to care for our Zion. He ministered to the three Churches, Dresden, Adams Mills and Irville, where he lived, and gave each Church one-third of his time. He was a man of great energy, physically, mentally and spiritually. He frequently walked to his appointments, even all the way from Irville to Adams Mills, twelve miles.

The Church had then only one elder, Mr. Joseph F. Munro. There was always harmony in the session. At the suggestion of Rev. Churchill two more were added viz., Daniel Stillwell and John C. Stockton, by the choice of the congregation and session. Rev. Churchill labored with the Chruch from 1825 to 1829. During his pastorate there were received into the Church (1829) by examination, Mr. Gilbert Shaw, and Phoebe, the wife of William F. Compton, of Dresden. Received also, by letter, George Smith and his wife Polly. He also received into the Church by Baptism, three infants, viz., Henry Munro, son of J.F. and Mary G. Munro; Mary Selden, daughter of G.W. and Sophie Cass; and Samuel Shaw, son of Gilbert and Phoebe Shaw.

Fourth Pastor-Rev. John Pitkin(1829-1836)

Very soon after the departure of Rev. Churchill, Rev. John Pitkin began his labors with the Dresden Church. By this time the school house was brick and was built on the mound in what is now the Cemetery. That sounds strange, but then it was not “Gods Acre.” That was then east of the canal bridge as you go down to Old Town. When the canal was dug the cemetery was removed to its present location and the school house was returned to its former and present situation.

Rev. Pitkin was a graduate of the Ohio University at Athens, (then under Presbyterian supervision). Mrs. Pitkin was a daughter of President Wilson of that University. For a while Rev. Pitkin lived in Irville. Very soon he came back to Dresden and built a house of his own. We are glad to know that house still stands. It was the former residence of Mrs. Michael Carter, was from Main Stree back to the alley and new house errected on the site where Mr. Joshua Stump now lives, and Rev. Pitkin’s house is Mr. Stump’s garage. Another Presbyterian minister lived in Rev. Pitkin’s house, viz., Rev. William Wallace. He and his eldest son had the Dresden paper. His second son, James Wallace, was a musician and a jeweler, and he married Miss Amelia Ingalls, daughter of Major J.N. Ingalls, one of the ruling elder of our Church. Rev. Wallace has also a little daughter, Amelia, and a little son, Chalmers. Amelia later married Joames White, who was principle of the high school when the Stevenson brother, Thos. M. and Robert W., his successor, were superintendents. James White is now D. D., and their son is now a successful pastor in Ohio, both in the United Presbyterian Church. Rev. Wallace lived and died in Rev. Pitkin’s house. It was a good house of seven rooms, five below and a center hall, and two above.

Mrs. Pitkin deserves special attention. She had ideals and carried them out. She organized the First Female Prayer Meeting in Dresden, which met at her home. Then she had a vison of the Church of the future and organized the First Sabbath School ever held in Dresden and conducted it regulary, every Sabbath, in her own home. She had no helpers at first. What ever did she do with the restless little ones? How did she teach the adults at the same time? The Female Prayer Meeting soon developed worker to assist her. From that Sabbath School in 1829 to 1919-these ninety years-the Presbyterian Chruch has kept up faithfully its Sabbath School, though started by a woman.

One out come of Mrs. Pitkin’s Sabbath School was that of Ainlab S. Armenia, gathered together by Mrs. Josephine Lemert Coffing and her husband, Rev. Jackson Coffing. It was then-1860-the largest Sabbath School in the world and numbered 1600. Mrs. Pitkin has had efficient, untiring successors as Sabbath School Superintendents ever since, down to the present incumbent, S.F. Spencer.

When Rev. Hilderth was pastor the Catechism and Bible verse were recited. Elmira Rambo led with 963 verses and the School recited 1496 texts, in one month. Miss Rambo later became a faithful teacher, and though unable to hear the sermon, was always in her place in Church, and said Dr. Macleod , an inspiration to him as pastor, faithful till called up higher. Today the Christian word studies the same lesson. Is not this an answer to Christ’s prayer?-“That they may be one.” Never before were so many adults in the Sabbath School, but we can only say, “all were faithful workers and we are thankful for them.”

The Church was growing steadily. Rev. Pitkin so inspired the people that they began to talk of a Church Building. This culminated in a meeting of the Session at one o’clock, December 1, 1833. It was resolved “That a subscription paper be opened for the purpose of construction a Presbyterian Meeting House in the town of Dresden.” Later, September10, 1835, John C. Stockton, one of the ruling elders, was appointed to solicit and recieve donation for the Building of this “Meeting House.”

In 1835 Rev. James Harrison took charge of the Church of Irville. Rev. Pitkin was still pastor in Dresden and that winter-1835-Rev. Harrions assisted him in a series of meetings. Many were added to this Church. In the spring of 1836 Rev. Pitkin had another revival. There are among those names that will interest some of you, viz., Laban Lemert and Lucy Ann, his wife; Mrs. Webb; Mrs Alloways; Mrs. Caroline Brice; Mrs. Catherine Wolf; Miss Julia Stockton; Frances B. Stockton; and Archibald Blackburn Brice, who later became D.D., the first Minister of the Gospel sent out from the Dresden Presbyterian Church. He studied at Meadville College and was some years ago the consecrated Pastor of the Nelsonville Presbyterian Church of Athens Presbytery.

An interesting Sessions Record occured April 27, 1833, which throw light upon the Presbytery to which we belonged. We quote: “On motion, Resolved, That this Session apply to the Lancaster Presbytery, in this State, for a continuance of the yearly sum, heretofore allowed, to the Rev. John Pitkin by the Assembly Board of Missions; his places of preaching to be designated as Dresden, Muskingum, Stillwell and Wachatomaka Settlement.” ” Also, on motion, Resolved, That this Session apply to the Lancaster Presbytery for the ministeral labors of Rev. John Pitkin as ‘Stated Supply’ form that first of May, (this was April 27), for one year for half his time.”(Church growing before we only had one -third)

Following this action was another revival and increase in membership. The Rev. Pitkin enthused the people to “rise up speedily and build.” In May, 1836, the Building Committee for the Presbyterian Church of Dresden was appointed. God’s House is so dear to us we would remember these names.

Building Committee for the Presbyterian Church of Dresden: Laban Lemert, George W. Cass, W.W. Brice, Thomsa M. Barson, and Dr. A.H. Brown.

The building was begun in 1836 and by the summer of 1837 it was finished with rough seats for temporary use. In the spring of 1838 it was completed, at a cost of $1,500, and God’s people rejoiced.

Rev. Pitkin had resigned his pulpit in the late spring of 1836, after faithful, notable service of seven years. His departure was much regretted by all. Then the Church called one they already knew and loved for our Fifth Pastor.

Part 1 Part 3

Happy Hunting

Amanuensis Monday, Faith, Genealogy

Amanuensis Monday-History of Dresden Presbyterian Church 1819-1919/Part 1/

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Amanuensis Monday – An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. 

The following History will be presented in 6 parts each one being posted on Monday.  This is a History of the Presbyterian Church in Dresden Ohio as of 1919, that is in my possession.  My Great Grandfather was the Pastor of the Church when this piece was commissioned. I have pulled it from a earlier posting on my rootsweb family website. I hope that it brings information you can use or maybe an interesting read. Enjoy! There is more to Dresden then baskets 😀

History of Dresden Presbyterian Church
1819-1919

written by Mrs. T.M. (Mary Louise Cresap) Stevenson

 “Hitherto that the Lord helped us.”- 1 Samuel 7, 12

 

Ohio became a State, November 24, 1802. So when the Presbyterian Church was organized, the State was only “sweet sixteen” and one month old. The town of Dresden was laid out by Major Jonathan Cass, a Revolutionary officer,who brought his family here, in 1801, and soon after laid out the town, which therefore, is as old as the State.Looking backward, as we should, what of our Nation is that year of our organization-1819? Our Fifth President waswas James Monroe, of Virginia, from 1819 to 1825. Today he is probably the most talked about of any of our former Presidents.

 

President Monroe and his Notable State Papers
 

The “Monroe Doctrine” is a Shibboleth to arouse every patriotic citizen, men and women, to enthusiasm. Our newspapers, religious and secular, or Senators and Congressmen, everybody, official and unofficial, are all discussing the Monroe Doctrine, as they believe it to be, for or againt. the “League of Nations.”

Nothing has so crystalized and immortalized patriotism in our land, for 1819 to 1919, as the famous Monroe Doctrine. “Friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” and the American continents by the free independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European Power. France and Germany tried by sending Maximilian to Mexico; poor Maximilian and poor Carlota. How the past and the present are linked together! 1819-1919! President Wilson has been touring the country showing what he believes to be the harmony between the Monroe Doctrine and the League of Nations.”

In 1819, when the Dresden Presbyterian Church was organized, over in England, George III, the Pharoah, who oppressed our forefathers and called our Revolutinary War ” A Presbyterian Rebellion” (perhaps with astuteness as Presbyterians always stood for liberty), was still living. ( He died in 1820)

The times of 1819 were similar to those of 1919. an upheaval of the nations was just settling down. France and the “Man of Destiny” had been at war with England, Prussia, Germany and Russia. Bonaparte had been shorn of his power, like Germany today, and banished to St. Helens, as the Kaiser is an exile in foreign land; and on the lonely island in 1819 Bonaparte was then living, grieving, and the world was the, as it is today, drawing long breaths of peace and liberty, after this Wold War.

 

Some Events of 1819
In 1819 the very first ocean steamer crossed the Atlantic, from Savannah Ga., to Liverpool, Eng. In 1919 our brave aviator have crossed the same ocean in winged ships, by the “sky trail.”

In 1819 transportation was by horseback., Conestoga wagons, stage coach, and down the streams in flatboats. Today-1919- it is by autovans, carriages, or by the lightning express, sixty miles an hour, and across the continent in flying machines.

In 1819 the War of 1812 had been adjusted and a treaty of trade and commerce made with England. The “Star Spangled Banner,” the anthem of the War of 1812, had been written and sung form Lakes to Gulf and from Ocean to Ocean. A son of Maj. and Mrs. Jonathan Cass, two of the Charter members of the Dresden Presbyterian Chrauch, Capt. Charles L. Cass, served in the War of 1812 and was given a sword by the City of Zanesville for bravery. His great grandchildren are members today and active workers, viz., the family of Veda Howell, Mrs. Alta Stilt and Mrs. Mary Crabtree, etc.

Another son of these same Charter members of the Dresden Presbyterian Chruch, Gen. Lewis Cass, was Secretary of War, 1831 to 1836, and Secretary fo State 1857 to 1860, Governor of Michigan, and lastly, Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1848. You see how this Dresden Presbyterian Church has been in touch with this great nation.

In this notable year of 1819, of the organization of this Dresden Presbyterian Church, another important event took place, viz., a treaty with Spain, who then ceded the whole of the province of Florida to the United States, which she had claimed since 1565. Spain also at that time-1819- settled the boundary of Mexico. It seems to us in the light of late events, the Hidaloys of Mexico don’t know this and its will take stronger hand than Spain’s to settle that matter.

In 1819 came the beginning of Ohio State legislation as to a canal connecting Lake Erie and the Ohio River. In 1819 the first railroad west of New York State led from Toledo, Ohio, to Adrian, Mich. In 1919 railroads touch nearly every town in Ohio; and Dresden has four.

It was a glorious epoch in which to begin a Church. Therefore, in 1819 the Dresden Presbyterian Church was organized in a log school house, about a mile below Adams Mills, where the main road comes out on the banks of the Muskingum. Since the days of your Pilgrim Fathers the Church and the School house have been closely connected.

The Ministerial Committee, sent by Presbytery that gathered with this little consecrated band of men and women in the log school house in 1819, were: Rev. James Culbertson, of Zanesville; Rev. Mr. Root of Cincinnati; and Rev. Prescott B. Smith, of Irville.

Rev. James Culbertson was the consecrated pastor of Zanesville First Presbyterian Church. He received a call to the largest Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, but declined, saying “his duty lay in Zanesville” and there he lived and served, 1811 to 1844, and died.

Of Rev. Mr. Root, of Cincinnati, we have been unable to learn anything.

Part 2

Happy Hunting!

 

Ramblings, Two Cents Worth

I Had A Dream

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Very rarely do I have a dream that will wake me and that I will remember every detail. This morning such a dream occurred.

I will not go into every detail, because as in all dreams there is great feats that happen that would not have happened in life.  The gist of the dream was, I was watching a friends  belonging and it js placed  in my yard for safe keeping. My family  left for the evening and I was watching TV alone. You know that feeling when you think something or someone is watching you, well I sensed that and I turned to see a police officer standing in my living-room. Question on my mind is why are you in my home? I then  looked out the door and he had some friends (not officers) loading my friends belonging on to a truck. He threw me money for what he thought the belonging was worth. He left, there was no threatening other than that he was in my house when not invited and he took what did not belong to him or I. After this the dream gets a bit crazy, some how I find him again and I hold him down to the ground for what is hours (yeah I know this wouldn’t happen in life). In the morning I finally get help and there is a big arrest scene hollywood style, choppers and all.

I was pondering what in the world this dream might mean. I believe dreams such as these have a message or they would not be remembered. My personal take on  is just this:

I think the friends belonging represents freedom, for we are the guardians of freedom, we don’t guard it just for ourselves we guard it for our friends and the generations to come. Sitting at the TV watching without regard to what was happening around me I was  letting down my guard so that some one could quietly walk in and take that freedom away and offer me a price for it! Is that not what is happening to our country today? We are quietly giving up our freedoms in trade for governmental control.
Holding down the officer for hours could just mean my feeling of frustration and isolation. Holding back the avalanche much like the little dutch boy held back the flood with his finger.

I truly think we are nearing the bottom of the slippery slope and it will be a up hill battle, but it  I believe it is a battle that is winnable . I don’t think entitlements and such are a way to  make us strong, I deserve to be happy and the government owes me this! The government only owes you the right to seek happiness as the Declaration of Independence so boldly says”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Read the Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution  and the Bill of Rights for yourself. See how much we are loosing slowly,  as we complacently sit by.

This country is great, but she is becoming a mere shadow of what she once was. She has called out and righted many wrongs. She has sought equality for all of her citizens. Yet as we speak the lines between the three branches of our government are weakening, if not being deleted. Some how it has become an almost expected thing for the judicial branch to make laws, something that was never intended by our founders or by the Constitution which is  the standard for which all things are to be proved by , not used as a changing document that suites special interests as they come along. Judges are bring to play foreign laws that have nothing to do with our Constitution.

The Executive branch feels it need not consult the other branches before it acts and the Legislative branch well, I am not sure what is going on there they surely isn’t  paying heed to those who have put them were they are.

This battle can be won, but it must be won by the citizens at the poles. It is sad that somewhere between 30% and 50% of the registered voters vote and only about 71% of eligible American’s are registered. To read more on registration and voting click here.

The United States is worth saving, will you step up and do you’re part? Will I be left alone to hold the tide back? What will the ending be?

Good Evening and God Bless

 

Genealogy, Ramblings

It Only Comes Around Every Four Years / Leap Day in Your Family Tree

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Tomorrow is leap day!

What is leap year? It takes about  365 days 6 hours for the earth to rotate around the sun. To make up for the extra 6 hours each year, one day every four years is added so that we don’t end up with winter in July and many other strange occurrences.
Now why February was chosen that I am not quite sure.

I decided to have a little fun with my family tree to celebrate leap year. What celebrations happened on this day in my ancestral family lives. I found only 3 celebrations for that day in my tree, but with all the blank spaces in my research there must be more.

The genealogy program I have on my lap-top is Legacy. In the Legacy program there is, like most other programs, an application that allows you to make a calendar. In Legacy you can print/view a whole year or just a month. I pulled up February of this year and found the following celebrations in my family tree. This would be the path to find the calendar in Legacy>Reports>Books/Other>Calender Creator. There is also Calendar List Report just below Calender Creator that you can use as well.
In 1804 on the 29 of February, Edmund Hallett was born to Samuel and Phebe Hallett Hallett. Edmund is the 4th great-great grandson William and Elizabeth Fones (Winthrop, Feake) Hallett which makes him my 3rd cousin 6 times removed, pretty removed I would say. Phebe is the descendant of William and Elizabeth. I have nothing on his father Samuel but I would not at all be surprised if he was also descended from Elizabeth and William.

The 29 of February 1872 Miss Jeannette Mitchell Thompson was born to William J. and Ellen Binnie Thompson in Dundee Illinois. Miss Jeannette is the wife of Harris Aleck Campbell. Helen Amelia Thompson Sunday is her sister and William Ashley Sunday her brother-in-law. Miss Jeannette is not related to me by blood she is a step daughter to my great-grand Aunt Anna Kaye.

On 29 of February in the of 1876 Mr. David Watt Burgess m. Miss Margaret (Maggie) Kaye daughter of Byron and Ellen Smith Kaye. David was the son of William and Elizabeth Ann Watt Burgess. They married in Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario at the home of Mrs. Ellen Kaye. Note to self, I wonder if they celebrated Sadie Hawkins in 1876 in Canada did Maggie ask David for his hand, or did David see an opportunity to only have an anniversary every four years and off the hook for the other three. Interesting thoughts!

Who in your family tree celebrates an important day on 29 of February? Check it out and have some fun! Here is a List of Leap Years.

Happy Hunting!

Genealogy, Ramblings

Is The Writing On The Wall?

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Can you read this?

or this?

I will bet you’re thinking OH NO! her she goes  with the “thank a teacher” spiel.  I can truly thank a teacher. Will my grand-children be able to thank a teacher? To my surprise, I learned that my grand-daughters and my great-niece are not learning cursive in school oh they can read type written word and print. I don’t know how far-reaching  this  trend is, but my grand-daughters live in Arizona and my niece in Michigan.

The line of thinking, so I have heard, is that there is no reason to learn cursive.  With  the use  of computer and use of the typed word being prevalent why spend the time to learn such archaic communications, there is no need for it.

This bothers me on so many levels that I can’t begin to tell you. I think the major one would be from a genealogist/historian view-point, in two generations who will read the documents of old, such as the constitution. I know many of these documents are transcribed  into type. Many thousands have not. You ask me why the concern about transcribed documents.
Coming from a back ground where I learned to always read for myself, to test what is true and what is false. In this I can see the truth of our history being buried in illiteracy of the written word.  You and I both know how a typed document can so easily be changed where the original is not. There will be very few that can go back to the orignal and say…no this is what that document actually says. You’ll have to get a special degree in something that is taught now in the early years.

Like so many things of old it will become but a memory, something belonging to the ancients.
Cursive scholars, what a thought.