A Little piece of Paradise… College Hill, Ohio - SELFCRAFT

Chapter 12 Early Worship 25“The first preaching I can remember on College Hill was in my father’s barn. 26 The preacher was theRev. T. Thomas, a Welshman, known as an Independent or Congregationalist. He afterward became thepastor of the Welch Congregational Church at Paddy’s Run in Butler Co., where he died in 1831. ThomasE. Thomas, D.D., a distinguished Presbyterian clergyman, the late President of Lane Seminary, was hiseldest son. After the building of the brick school house the Methodists had started meetings once in twoweeks. There were two preachers on the Miami Circuit, and they came here alternately. This being acomparatively insignificant field, their meetings were on week days, and the attendance was very small.In 1816 Danforth Witherby, a local Methodist minister, purchased a part of the Spencer farm, built andoccupied a cabin on the west side of the road nearly opposite the Gano residence. He was by trade acooper, and erected a large shop, and with his sons made lard kegs and pork barrels.Being a licensed preacher, but not under the control of conference, as a matter of duty and pleasurehe preached often on the Sabbath at the school house. A few years later, Aaron Burdsall rented theSpencer residence, and resided there a number of years. He, too, was a local preacher, and between themwe had preaching almost every Sabbath. They were very unlike in their mode of sermonizing. Mr.Witherby selected his subject, divided into two heads, and was methodical, deliberate and often veryeloquent, and for a man of his education was a superior preacher. Burdsall was a good, sincere man, butvery scattered and made a great deal of noise. He was a better exhorter than sermonizer. T. B. Witherby,our esteemed neighbor, who has resided here since 1816, is a son of the Rev. Danforth Witherby, who in1831 removed to Oxford where he died at a very old age.The first church edifice in which people of the hill were interested was at Mt. Pleasant. The housewas built to accommodate all denominations who chose to occupy it. The principal contributors to itserection were Presbyterians and Universalists, and the house was occupied by them on alternate Sabbathsfor several years. William Cary, David Gaston, John LaRue and Samuel Tomlinson were its temporal andspiritual pillars.When Cary’s Academy was built the services were divided between the church at Mt. Pleasant andthe chapel of the academy. About the year 1850 (note: 1853), a church was organized of College Hill. 27From that time the church at Mt. Pleasant began to decline. The Gaston and the LaRue families passedaway, and that field was abandoned by the Presbyterians as hopeless. The Church on the hill continuedfor some years to occupy the chapel of the academy, and then the chapel of Farmers’ College, until thecompletion of the present church edifice (1855). When this was built the number of members was small,and but few were financially able to contribute. The church cost about $12,000, one half of which wasgiven by William and S. F. Cary. Other liberal contributors were F. G. Cary, D. B. Thomas, John Covertand Samuel Wilson.The house of worship at Mt. Pleasant fell into decay and by order of the Presbytery the wreck wassold and the proceeds turned over to the College Hill Church. Through the voluntary and valuableservices of John W. Caldwell, Esq. the fund thus obtained enabled the church to purchase the schoolhouse and convert it into a chapel.The Methodists procured a lot at the corner of Belmont and Laurel Avenues, but were never strongenough financially or otherwise to build a house of worship and the disposed of the lot and abandoned thefield.In 28 early times camp meetings were numerous in July and August, and were attended by very large25 Historical Sketch of College Hill and Vicinity, Samuel Fenton Cary, 1886.26 A 50 X 50 foot log cabin situated on the property of The Oaks.27 lead by Rev. Robert H. Bishop28 Historical Sketch of College Hill, op. cit.86