ALLIANCE, Stark Co.--Organized March, 1857, with thirty members, by P. K. Dibble. Elders; Asa Silvers and Elwood Patterson. Deacons; Mathias Hester, H. H. Hubbard, and Edward Pettit. Preachers succeeding Bro. Dibble; A. B. Way, J. Pinkerton, Isaac Errett, J. H. Jones, F. M. Green, E. L. Frazier. Present number, three hundred and thirty-five. Elders; A. W. Coates, J. W. Phillips. Deacons; M. Hester, Saml. Miller, J. C. Sheets, Wm. Watson, J. C. Sutton, J. M. Fogle, G. W. Thornberg.

      AUBURN, Geauga Co.--Formed April 10, 1841, with twenty-nine members, by A. S. Hayden. R. Granger, overseer; John Brown and Jonathan Burnet, deacons. This church has been aided by most of the preachers. They have a good house, and continue to meet.

      BAZETTA, WEST, Trumbull Co.--Organized December 16, 1848, by Calvin Smith, with forty members. Levi Bush and Alden Faunce, overseers; Ellis Pierce, Jas. Sage, and Jacob Dice, deacons. This church has received help from most of the preachers. Present elders; Hiram Wilber, Milo Crawford. Deacons; Jacob Shaffer, John Wier, and Jas. Wier. One hundred and four members.

      BIRMINGHAM, Erie Co.--Began in 1829, by Clapp and Rigdon, under whose influence Elder Orrin Abbott led the chief part of the Baptist church of Henrietta into the reformation. Hayden, Moss, Green, and Moody, followed up the work. Church was reorganized July, 1841, with Almon Andress and D. B. Turner, elders; and Silas Wood, Abner Hancock, and Wm. Parker, deacons. Other leading helps; John Cyrenius, B. Alton, [465] W. O'Connor, J. Encell, and R. G. White. Bro. G. W. Mapse, of Illinois, arose in this church.

      BROOKFIELD, Trumbull Co.--The ground was broken as early as 1828 by Hayden, Henry, and Hartzel. A church was formed there February 22, 1875, with thirty-three names. Deacons, Robert S. Hart and Henry Hamilton. Present number, fifty-eight. Arnold Taylor, Henry L. Patterson, and Jesse Hoagland, overseers.

      BRISTOL, NORTH, Trumbull Co.--In 1860, H. Reeves baptized twenty-eight. In 1868, J. N. Smith added fifty-five, when by him and N. N. Bartlett, the church was organized with ninety-two members. The elders were Hiram Thayer and A. A. House. The deacons: Jacob Sager and S. A. Davidson. A live church with a good house. Dr. I. A. Thayer and D. P. Thayer, preacher, arose here. E. Wakefield has been a chief support of the church.

      CAMDEN, Lorain Co.--Organized May 21, 1842, with five names; John Cyrenius, elder. Established in Kipton, November 27, 1872, with thirty-eight. Daniel Kingsbury and R. C. Eastman, elders; deacons, H. H. Crandall and James Van Dusen. Present number one hundred and thirty-four. Officers: James Van Dusen, Wm. Anderson, and Hiram Prentice, elders; deacons, H. H. Crandall, Chauncey Close, Wm. Douglass, and Frank Danzy. Pastor, James Vernon.

      CHESTER, Geauga Co.--At the instance of W. A. Lillie and A. Harper, Bro. Hartzel came in October, 1842, when the meetings began and continued. Reorganized October, 1852, by C. Smith and A. L. Soule. Alonzo Matthews, overseer; Cyrus Millard and A. Scott, deacons. A. Burns, W. A. Lillie, and J. G. Coleman, efficient helps. Present officers: C. Millard, A. Harper, and C. H. Welton, elders; Porter Scott and Albert Phinney, deacons. About forty members.

      DENMARK, Ashtabula Co.--Planted January, 1857, by Orrin Gates. It had sixteen members; S. S. Chapman and D. G. White, overseers. This body dissolved in a few years, but it lives in its representatives. Four preachers came from it, viz.: S. S. Chapman, and the three brothers H. J. White, D. J. White, and R. G. White.

      EDINBURG, Portage Co.--In 1865, a church of thirty members was planted here by S. S. Chapman, with Wm. Cowell and Cyrus [466] Turnbull, elders; and Jesse Rogers and George Stump, deacons. Succeeding helps: E. Wakefield, F. M. Green, B. A. Baker, D. C. Hanselman. Present number sixty-five. Linas Rogers, preacher. Three preachers, brothers, have arisen here, viz.: Edwin Rogers, Linas Rogers, and W. H. Rogers, sons of Jesse Rogers.

      ELYRIA, Lorain Co.--It began in the tour of Clapp and Rigdon in 1829. Wm. Hayden soon came, followed by Green, Moody, and Jones. Church formed in 1832. It increased till there were forty members. Chief men: Herrick Parker, H. Reddington, Asahel Parmly, Dr. Butler. It expired by removals. J. D. Benedict came into the work here, leaving the bar to plead the gospel, in which he won many converts, and a wide reputation.

      FAIRFIELD, NORTH, Huron Co.--At the request of Ezra Leonard, A. B. Green came July 4, 1835. In 1836 he returned, accompanied by J. J. Moss, when the church began, with Jonas Leonard and ------ McLain, elders. W. A. Lillie, Dana Call, and Wm. Dowling; continued the work. In 1854 the church, was organized in North Fairfield with over thirty members, by the lamented Henry Dixon, whose preaching created a wide and profound interest. Many also united under the preaching of A. Burns. Present elders: Isaiah Cline, D. H. Reed, and Bro. Culbertson.

      FOWLER, Trumbull Co.--Started January, 1832, with thirty members, by J. Applegate, assisted by A. S. Hayden. Early evangelists; Wm. Hayden, Bosworth, and Allerton. Reorganized March, 1851, by C. Smith and J. T. Phillips, with thirty-five members. Elders, A. W. Porter and Milo Dugan; deacons, J. L. Jones, Menville Tyrrell. Succeeding elders, A. Humeston, Chas. Fowler, H. C. Williamson, and David Campbell. Deacons following: Hiram Porter, James McCleery, Alex Campbell, Addison Dawson, Jasper Kingsley. Present officers; A. Dawson, Lewis Alderman, Menville Tyrrell, overseers; N. C. Fisk and S. J. Rand, deacons.

      GENEVA, Ashtabula Co.--Formed October 17, 1868, with thirty-four members, under the auspices of the Ohio Missionary Society. Present, R. R. Sloan, Isaac Errett, A. S. Hayden; elders, A. S. Turney, Edward Brakeman; deacons, E. D. Gage, F. C. Baur, and H. N. Amidon. Present elders, A. S. Turney and [467] Frederick Dickinson; deacons, D. Foot and H. Saunders. Number of members, one hundred and fifty-seven.

      HAMDEN, Geauga Co.--This church originated in the labors of Rigdon and Collins. By the latter it was formed in 1829. Geo. Hale, overseer; John Bartholomew, deacon. Sustained chiefly by Thos. Campbell, Clapp, and Collins. In 1848 there were yet twenty-four members. Sometime after this it ceased to meet.

      HUNTSBURG, Geauga Co.--It arose in 1829, by the labors of Hayden, Henry, Collins, and Saunders. Brethren Howells, Chapin, Moss, Brackett, and Clarke, stood long and firmly on the ground. In 1848 they enrolled still twenty-three members. Lillie, A. P. Jones, Robison, and White, have also rendered important service there. A number of members still hold the house, and represent the church.

      HAMILTON'S CORNERS, Medina Co.--This congregation arose in the labors of J. Encell. It was organized by A. B. Green, July 23, 1871, with thirty-six members. The overseers are S. T. Adams and Chas. Kenyon; W. H. Floyd and O. Birchard, deacons. Brethren Moody, Gibbs, and I. A. Searles, have been helps. Present number, sixty-three.

      HARTSGROVE, Ashtabula Co.--Formed November, 1854, by C. Smith and O. Gates. J. Bartholomew a frequent aid. Leading members; A. Watson, N. Hubbard, I. Y. McKinney, and Edward Lee. Present number, sixty-five.

      HARTFORD, Trumbull Co.--Began in the labors of Hayden and M. Bosworth. Formed May I, 1830, by Hayden, with twenty-two members. Geo. W. Bushnell, overseer; Elihu Bates, deacon. In 1838, Alex. Spears was chosen elder; and John Bates, deacon. Orris Mason, J. B. Jones, Sam'l Bates, and Abner Banning, have also served as deacons. Present overseers, G. W. Bushnell and James Fowler. Number, fifty.

      HINKLEY, Medina Co.--Organized February, 1870, with fifty-four members at the close of a successful meeting held by R. Moffett. Dr. G. S. Gillett and Geo. E. Weber, elders; John Mussen, Lewis Finch (now deceased), C. J. Green, and Rich'd Dunham, deacons. H. N. Allen preached four years there; now H. B. Cox. A good church property. [468]

      HOWLAND, Trumbull Co.--In 1828 there arose a church in Howland, supported mostly by the brothers Drake, a noble family of devoted Christians, and Zephaniah Luce, Lewis Heaton, and other families. It is dear for the faithfulness of its members, and for the labors of all the early preachers; the Campbells, Scott, Bentley, Hayden, Henry, Bosworth, Hartzel, and many others. The church holds the ground still for the Lord.

      JACKSON, NORTH, Trumbull Co.--Planted in the fall of 1852, by C. Smith, with fifty persons. Reorganized May 23, 1874, by H. D. Carlton, with thirty-four members. Elders, W. B. Dean and Joseph Pierce; deacons, Jas. Russell, Geo. Shively, and Christian Shively. Mary Shively, Mary Anthony, and Belinda Kirkpatrick, are the deaconesses. Present number, forty.

      LITTLE MOUNTAIN, Lake Co.--Organized by D. Otis, April 6, 1843. Forty-seven members. D. Otis and E. J. Ferris were the overseers; Wm. T. Rexford and Chas. Tuttle, deacons. It survived the death of its founder, the zealous Dexter Otis, a few years. In December, 1857, it ceased to meet, and the members united with contiguous churches.

      MIDDLEBURY, Summit Co.--Started March 30, 1875, with ninety members, under the labors of R. G. White, aided by H. J. White, who is in charge of the church, with Dr. M. Jewett and Almon Brown, as associate elders, and T. H. Botsford and Geo. F. Kent, deacons.

      MONTVILLE, Geauga Co.--Dr. Lucius A. Baldwin solicited O. Gates to come, who added fifteen, and organized the church, February 12, 1860, with seventeen. Dr. Baldwin and John Murray, overseers; Steven Case, first deacon. The church prospered. Anson Shaw, superintendent of the Bible-school. Meetings have been held by Gates, Burns, R. G. White, Hanselman, Ingram, Wakefield, and Thayer. N. P. Lawrence is their preacher.

      MORGAN, (ROCK CREEK,) Ashtabula Co.--Church formed May 4, 1874, with over a hundred members. The elders are M. Bretell, D. S. Bacheldor, and H. Pifer; deacons, J. Knowlton, D. R. Phillips, H. Moses, and V. D. Latimer. They have an active Sunday-school, and a valuable house, for which they owe much to the liberality of Mrs. Randall. [469]

      NILES, Trumbull Co.--In 1842, H. Brockett and J. Henry built up the church with 90. Joshua Carle and A. J. Luse were the first elders; Lewis Heaton, Abner Fenton, and Jacob Robinson, were deacons. Present officers: Benjamin Leach and L. L. Campbell, overseers. Bro. H. Baldwin served 24 years--recently deceased; deacons, H. J. Mason, Lewis Reel, and Stephen Dunlap. Present membership, one hundred. N. N. Bartlett, pastor.

      NORTON, Medina Co.--This arose from the church in Wadsworth. It was organized in 1837. It had about twenty members. A. B. Green and Gad Bronson, overseers; John Bunnell and Ananias Derthick, deacons. The Bennetts, E. Spicer, C. Beckwith, S. Tyler, Philander and Calvin Green, were leading members. It continued till 1863. P. Green arose here, and also L. L. Carpenter, of Indiana.

      ORANGE, NORTH, Cuyahoga Co.--Formed by A. S. Hayden and M. N. Warren, June 28, 7845, with fifteen members. It increased to about seventy. The elders from the first were Wm. T. Hutchinson, Ira Rutherford, Selah Shirtliff, Silas Y. Dean, Wm. Shelden and Allen Tibbitts; deacons, Ira Rutherford, Allen Tibbitts, Wm. Shelden, Marcus Lindsley, Henry Halsted, Luther Battles, Jr., and Addison Hoose. After twenty years of useful history, emigration, the foe of churches, ended its existence.

      ORANGE, SOUTH.--Planted March 2, 1845, by Bentley and Wm. Hayden. It had seventeen members. Amos Boynton and Zenas Smith were the overseers; W. A. Lillie, M. N. Warren, and Solyman Hubbell, were useful helps.

      RUSSELL, Geauga Co.--In 1841, Wm. Hayden began preaching here. In the fall of 1842, W. A. Lillie came. The "first fruits" were reaped by Hayden, June 10, 1843, in four converts. Others were baptized by Lillie. The church was formed with fifteen members, by Chas. F. Bartlett. A. L. Myron, and Benj. Soule, the Robisons, with Lillie, S. Robinson, and Matthews, were chief members. The church was built up, first by Hayden, Bentley, and Lillie; then by C. Smith, I. Errett, and Jones; later by A. Burns and J. G. Coleman. Elder S. R. Willard united here from the Baptists. In this church H. W. Everest, late Prest. of Eureka College, [470] now of Kentucky University, was ordained by A. Bentley and Isaac Errett, April 18, 1855. W. B. Hendryx began here his useful career.

      SOUTHINGTON, Trumbull Co.--An old, stable church. Most of the Baptists accepted the principles of reform, when this congregation started in 1828, under T. Campbell,--by whom Sam'l Haughton was baptized,--and Scott and Applegate. It has always kept the light burning, and now numbers about one hundred. Present elders: Wm. Bronson, Wm. Haughton, and Harvey McCorkle; deacons, Henry A. Haughton, and Charles Wannemaker, who is clerk.

      SOLON, Cuyahoga Co.--This church has a rich history. It arose by the labors of W. Hayden and A. Bentley, when S. Norton, H. Baldwin, S. D. Kelley, L. S. Bull, C. Jewett, and others moved in from Aurora. The church was reorganized, November 29, 1841, by M. L. Wilcox. Simon Norton, S. D. Kelley, elders; Henry Baldwin, C. Jewett, and L. S. Bull, deacons. In March, 1842, E. Williams held a meeting, when J. M. Hickox and wife, and many others united. Most of the preachers have held successful meetings here--Jones, Green, Hartzel, and Perky. As regular supplies, Garfield, Everest, Hinsdale, Hill; present pastor, C. M. Hemry. Chief men in later times, C. B. Lockwood and E. C. Parmlee. Present number, one hundred and fifty.

      THOMPSON, Geauga Co.--Formed January 1, 1848, by E. J. Benjamin, with thirty names. Jacob Norman and Simon Baur, elders; Paul Baur and Hiram Stevens, deacons. Bro. O. Gates was a frequent and efficient help, by whom many were added; also H. Reeves, E. Wakefield, and J. W. Errett. Later, J. G. Encell, R. G. White, J. W. James, Bartlett, Ingram and Cook. Present number, severity, with Chas. W. Foot and Simon Baur, elders; and Paul Baur, Lewis Keener and Henry Malin, deacons.

      TRUMBULL, EAST, Ashtabula Co.--October, 1858, Bro. Gates, assisted by J. G. Encell, held a meeting here, ending with twenty-eight conversions, when the church started with forty-five names. Wm. Nelson was elder; and Harvey Curtiss, deacon. H. Reeves and J. Bartholomew, were cooperating preachers. [471]

      WARRENSVILLE, Cuyahoga Co.--The Mormons having made inroads here, A. Bentley, following them up, rescued several, and baptized Mrs. Louisa Hubbell, in May, 1831. The church was set up by Wm. Hayden and J. J. Moss. Isaac Moore was a leading member. The brethren of Newburg and Cleveland met with them. Soon Solyman Hubbell and A. T. Hubbell were appointed elders. Moses Warren, baptized at the yearly meeting in Newburg, 1835, was a deacon and an elder. In December, 1842, a meeting was held by Collins, Alton, and A. S. Hayden, resulting in forty-nine conversions. In September, 1843, a great yearly meeting was held there by Hartzel, E. A. Smith, of Ky., and eleven other preachers. The church flourished many years, till it was dismembered by death and removals.

      WILLOUGHBY, Lake Co.--The members on Waite Hill and about Willoughby were congregated as a church in that town, September 28, 1873, under the auspices of the O. S. Miss. Society, R. R. Sloan and A. S. Hayden officiating. Elders, A. B. Green and W. A. Lillie; deacons, H. H. Hall and H. J. Randall. It began with thirty-nine names. Present number, eighty. It has a good Sunday School, and is flourishing under the charge, as preacher, of A. B. Green.

      SULLIVAN, Ashland Co.--The church in Sullivan was established through the agency of Sylvanus Parmly and his amiable family. He was a gentleman of much intelligence and weight of influence in the county. He and his family learned the gospel in Elyria. In the year 1832, having moved to Sullivan, he opened meetings. At his instance Wm. Hayden came; his singing and sermons won the people, and fourteen were associated as a church. A fiery opposition, cruel in its perversions of truth, assailed the work, but it was nobly defended by the intelligent sisters as well as the brethren. Moss, Green and Moody, heroically seconded their efforts; John Henry held there successful meetings, as did also John Reed and James Porter. In June, 1838, under Bro. Reed's labors, J. P. Mann and Milo Carlton, now of Kansas, with many others, turned to the Lord. Bro. Moody and G. W. Lucy conducted a meeting which resulted in bringing in twenty-seven converts. M. L. Wilcox gave powerful support to the cause. All these brethren and others, especially the first named, watered the seed sown, and on that field many ripe sheaves have been reaped by the Lord of the harvest. Few churches have been more severely tried, yet it still keeps its light burning. [472]

[EHD 465-472]