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Disciples
or Christian Church. This organization in Sharon
owes its origin to the visit of
Adamson Bentley and Walter
Scott, in the spring of 1828. These gentlemen were
advocates of the doctrines then being promulgated by Alexander Campbell, and came
to Sharon by invitation of the Baptists of the village, for whom they
held a series of meetings. Thirteen candidates were baptized, but a
difficulty arising as to the manner of their reception into the church
they, with twenty from the Baptist organization, thirty-three members
all told, formed themselves into a new organization on the last Monday
of June, 1828.
Of
these charter members the following names have been recovered by Joseph McCleery, to whom we are
indebted for the collection of most of the facts herein contained. The
following is the list: Bashara Hull
and wife Rhoda, Obadiah Hull
and wife Mary Ann, Anna Hoagland
(still living), John
Within
three years from the date of the organization the following, with
others whose names cannot be recalled, were added: Jesse Hoagland and wife Elizabeth, Joseph Hoagland and
wife Anna, Richard Hoagland, John
McCleery and wife Sarah,
Samuel McCleery, John Dunlap, Daniel Upson Budd, Martin Dunham
and wife Polly, Hannah Morford,
Phoebe Morford, Almira Hull, Lemual Clark and wife, Sarah DeWolf,
Rachel Hover, Leah Hover, Mary McCleery, Sr.
The
first preaching was done in the barn of Daniel
Budd, who prepared the building specially for such use.
This building answered the purpose well enough for summer and autumn
services. It was occupied because the feeling engendered by the
organization of a new congregation prevented their using the Baptist
house. The second regular place of worship was the cabinet-shop of Jesse Hoagland, which was so
occupied for several years. When he sold it preaching was done in
private houses and school buildings until 1840. At that time a frame
structure, about 30x40, was erected outside of the town limits, near
the present furnace of Spearman, Collord & Co. It was occupied
until 1852, when, owing to its ineligibility as a place of worship, it
was sold to the furnace for a store-house. In 1852 a brick edifice,
40x54, was erected on Rail Road Street at a cost of about $2,000. It
was dedicated in December of that year, Elder
Isaac Errett, then of Warren, Ohio, but now editor of the
Christian Standard, of Cincinnati, delivering the address. In October,
1881, the congregation purchased its present house on the corner of
Vine and Pitt Streets for $3, 500. It was erected in 1874 by the Second
Presbyterian Church, and dedicated by them February 14, 1875, the
entire expense being $10,500. It was re-dedicated by the Christian
Church, Prof. Burke A. Hinsdale, of
Cleveland, Ohio, delivering the address.
This congregation has had quite an array of
preaching talent. At the organization were present Walter Scott, Adamson Bentley and Thomas
Campbell. As an assistant in this preliminary work was George McCleery, father of Joseph McCleery, who is still
president of Sharon, and an active worker in the congregation which his
father assisted in establishing. George
McCleery was for many years after the organization of the congregation its cherished pastor and spiritual adviser. Following George McCleery came, in
regular succession, John T. Smith,
John T. Phillips, Harvey Brockett, Calvin Smith, Thomas Munnell, C. C.
Foot and Edwin Wakefield. These men, employed usually
about a year each, nurtured the congregation from the time the pastoral
labors of George McCleery ceased to the year 1857, when the records
begin to be more definite and authentic. Matthias
Christy, H. D. Carlton and Dr. Goodrich were then employed
a portion of their time for a year or so each. Their labors preserved
the flock up to 1862. From this date to 1870 meetings were suspended on
account of the agitations of the war, sickness, removals, apathy, etc.
From July to October, 1870, John T.
Phillips preached every two weeks. In October of that year
William Baxter, of New Lisbon, Ohio, reorganized the congregation with
seventy-two members. Its sustenance from the close of this meeting
until April, 1871, was obtained from supplies received from various
quarters. In April, 1871, Orange Higgins was employed, and remained as
pastor four years. He was succeeded by Peter
Vogel, who continued one year. In September, 1876, T. B. Knowles was secured, and
remained as pastor two years. For a year following the congregation
again depended upon supplies, John
T. Phillips and William Baxter being the chief reliance.
In February, 1880, W. F. Parker
was employed, and continued to labor one year. In April, 1881, E. A. Bosworth was secured. He
staid three years. C. G. Brelos was
in charge of the work from February, 1885, to September, 1886; Resort
was again had to supplies until the summer of 1887. From that time to
February, 1888, L. Osborn, of Youngstown, preached every two weeks.
During the month of January, 1888, a protracted meeting was held by H. B. Sherman, of Lock Haven,
Penn. A. A. McCorkle
has been employed to take pastoral charge of the church, commencing
February 1, 1888. There have been many irregular preachers at Sharon,
preachers who have aided in protracted meetings and on special
occasions. Among these may be mentioned Isaac
Errett, William Hayden, A. S. Hayden, John Henry, Jonas Hartzell, B. A.
Hinsdale, Dr. W. A. Belding, Wesley Lanphear, J. Harrison Jones and H.
B. Sherman. The membership at present is about ninety. History of Mercer County, 1888, page 388-389
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