[Page XVI] -
House.  The first parish organization was effected Dec. 22d, 1841.  On that day the following persons were chosen as members of the vestry:  Charles Creuzet, Darius Maxon, Peter Menager, A. Cushing, A. C. Farrington, E. Naret, James E. Eaton, Wm. Clendinen, E. Morgan, Augustine Le Clercq,, Joseph Drouillard and Robert Black.
     At a meeting of the vestry, held Dec. 29th, 1841, Rev. J. B. Goodwin was chosen rector.  On the 13th of January, 1842, a committee of three was appointed by the vestry to procure a lot and erect a church thereon.  Messrs. Wm. Clendinen, Elisha Morgan and Alonzo Cushing were appointed said committee.  A lot was procured on Second street, and a building erected thereon, but it was never completed.
     The next election for vestrymen, as appears by the record, was held Apr. 8th, 1844, resulting in the election of J. B. H. Beal, A. Cushing, A. Vance, Julius Regnier and Thomas L. Perry.  The vestry having failed to perfect the title to the lot upon which the church was erected, a compromise was effected with the person holding the legal title, and the church building was surrendered.
     In May, 1858, the vestry purchased of the board of education city lot No. 217, with the old school house thereon, paying therefor the sum of $700.  A building committee was appointed to erect a church edifice on said lot, which was accordingly done, and the new church building was opened for public worship Sunday, Dec. 19th, 1858, Rev. A. B. Sturgess, rector of the parish, officiating.  The church was consecrated Apr. 12th, 1859, by Bishop Chas. P. McIlvaine  The total cost of lot and building was $2,341.
     At a meeting of the vestry, held in the church, Sept. 2d, 1868, the following communication was received from an unknown source:

To the Vestry of St. Peter's Parish, Gallipolis, Ohio:

     GENTLEMEN:  There now stands in the vestibule of the church, a bell, weighing 632 pounds, with hangings complete, weighing 328 pounds, in the Sunday School room, from the foundry of the Marruley's, at West Troy, N. Y., and with the following inscription:
     "Presented to St. Peter's Episcopal Church of Gallipolis, Ohio, July 1st, 1868.  In Memoriam.
     "Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob." - Isa. 2-3.
     The conditions of the donor are as follows:  That the bell is to be rung upon the occasion or celebration of no military, civil or political successes or defeats; nor upon the celebration of the 4th of July, or other national holidays, nor as an alarm fire bell.  IN brief, its use is to be confined exclusively and strictly to religious services, under the auspices and direction of the rector and wardens of the parish.  This donation, with its conditions, and with all charges paid so far, now awaits the action of the vestry."
     At the same meeting, a motion of G. W. Jackson that the donation be thankfully received, was carried.
     The following persons are the present vestrymen:  A. Vance, senior warden; W. Cherington, junior warden; W. R. Morgan, secretary; William Cherington, treasurer; S. A. Nash, E. S. Aleshire, A. L. Langley, Samuel Roberts.
     The following ministers have officiated in the parish, in the following order, since its organization:  Revs. James B. Goodwin, T. B. Dooley, A. Edwards, G. B. Sturgess, William Thompson, H. Judd, Mr. Johnson, John Gribble, H. E. Hayden, D. W. Cox, A. J. Yeater, W. T. Bowen, C. D. Barbour.
     At the present writing the parish is without a rector.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SOCIETY.

     By reference to the preceding history of the settlement of Gallipolis, it will be seen that the Catholic religion was the first observed.  One or more priests came with the first settlers from France, arriving with them in October, 1790, and mass was held on every Sunday morning in the council room within the stockade upon the public square.
     There are no early records of this church in existence, but the statements handed down from that early day are to the effect that the form of religion was so intimately associated with the troubles that drove them from "La Belle France, and landed them in this strange, wild region with such feelings of sorrow, homesickness and regret, that they nearly all turned from it, neglected the duties incumbent upon them as good Catholics, and in a manner became alienated.  The result was that the priests soon stood almost alone in their fealty to their church - "their occupation gone" - and they met with so little sympathy and support that they were almost reduced to the point of sympathy and support that they were almost reduced to the point of starvation and obliged to abandon their almost reduced to the point of starvation and obliged to abandon their zealous effort and depart.  About the year 1812, a bishop was sent from Detoit to try to awaken an interest in the community in the cause, who held services in a log house on the bank of the river, nearly three squares above the public square, immediately below the present incline railroad side truck to the river.  He met with little encouragement or success and soon abandoned the field.
    After that time nothing substantial seems to have been attempted until 1852, when Bishop Purcell came here and purchased a site on Grape street, between Second and Third, of Mrs. J. G. Devacht, paying therefor the sum of five hundred dollars, fifty dollars of which was bestowed upon the church by Mrs. Devacht as a donation.  A neat and pretty divide was erected on this lot, which they have since occupied.  The contract was taken by James Mullineaux at a cost of about twelve hundred dollars, which was raised by subscription.
     Father Allbrich was the first priest appointed to the charge, who divided his services between this point and pomeroy, as did also all but two, who were afterward sent.  He remained for four or five years and was followed by Father Gells next came Father John Kallenberg, Father Jesseng, Father Loedig, Father Kramer, Father quirk, Father Dorsey and Father Hartney.  Those who devoted their entire services to this point were Father John McKernan and Father John Gamber.
     Since about the first of January last no regular services have been held.  The society is formed of sufficient numbers to sustain a flourishing church, but they are not blessed with sufficient means to enable them to do so, and they have never been self-sustaining.

BAPTIST CHURCH SOCIETY.

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

     Universalism was preached in Gallipolis as early as 1830, by Revs. Mr. Sweet, Waldo, and others, services being held at the Court House, which then stood in the Public Square.  This  was continued until 1850, when funds were raised by public subscription.  Mainly through the generosity and energy of the late Charles Creuzet, who also donated a lot for the purpose, a commodious church was erected, which was dedicated in October, 1860.  The friends of the cause maintained preaching at regular intervals, and numbers were received into fellowship with the denomination, although no church organization was in existence.
     In April, 1877, Rev. Andrew Wilson, agent for the State Universalist Convention, visited Gallipolis, and a regular church organization was effected and officers elected, since which time the church has grown and prospered.  The membership, although not large, includes some of her best and most cultivated people of the town and county.

THE AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH SOCIETY.

of the Ohio Conference, was organized about the year 1822, Henry Bell, William Napper, Thomas Scott, John Gee and ____ Paxton being the first trustees.  Their first meetings were held in a school house, located upon Pine street, between Second and Third streets, every four weeks, the services being conducted by a circuit preacher.  Their first regularly appointed pastor, of whom a record can be obtained, was John Gibbons, about 1840, who occupied the pulpit two years.  The list of pastors from that date to the present is as follows:  Rev. Coleman, one year; Jeremiah Lewis two years; Rev. Williams, one year; John Gibbons, three years; Arthur Howell, two years; Rev. Gellespie, one year; John Gibbons, three years.  For a time, commencing at about the beginning of the late war, in 1861, they were without a pastor, and in 1863, Rev. Peters was appointed, who continued with them for two years; Rev. Mortimer, nine months; Rev. Morgan, one year; Geo. W. Mason, nine months; Rev. Lee, one year; Rev. Hurley, one year; one year no pastor; Rev. Smith, one year; Rev. Cumberland, two years; Rev. Bell, three years.   The present pastor, Rev. J. W. Barber, has been with them since 1880.
     Their first church was built on the opposite side of the street from the school house on Pine street, first occupied by them, and completed in 1849.  This building was torn down in 1868, and a neat little church edifice erected, under the supervision of their pastor, Rev. George W. Mason, which they have since owned and occupied.
     The present church membership is about 150.

BAPTIST CHURCH (COLORED)

     This society was organized in Isaac Lewis' house, a short distance from the city, about the year 1833, and was called Paint Creek Church, taking its name from the small stream that empties into the Chickamauga, a short distance from its mouth.  It was instituted by Elder James B. Stewart

See Page XVII -

< BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS OF HISTORY OF GALLIA COUNTY, OHIO >