TIMELINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE WAYNESVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCHTIMELINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE WAYNESVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (1807/08 - 2000) [ HB FAGLEY -the Waynesville,Oh Library has a great web site,that includes a history of Methodism. I found it at www.google.com and searh for "Learner Blackman" .As it is copyrighted,I cut,and pasted sections that deal most with Clermont Co's 1st ministers, but there are others,including a picture of Rev EDMUND BURDSALL,s Marathon,Oh, and mention of Rev Wm Simmons,buried Old Bethel,and his wife's kinsman,Rev Sam Latta. ] Before reading through the timeline of the United Methodist Church in Waynesville, you may like to look at http://www.gcah.org/UMC_timeline.htm, A Brief Timeline of the United Methodist Church and the American Heritage. If you like, you can study the History of the Waynesville United Methodist Church decade by decade. T72Methodism was introduced in Virginia. Thomas Smith (James Smith's father) and his family were among the first members. 1772Philip Gatch (1751-1835) was the second native American to become a circuit rider. He was assaulted, plastered with tar, which injured his health. He presided at the Fluvanna Conference in Virginia in 1779. Dec. 8, 1780Thomas Smith (1719-1786) held the Methodist conference in his home in Manakintown, Powhatan Co., Virginia. Philip Gatch emancipated his slaves at that time. Thomas Smith's daughter, Elizabeth married Philip Gatch in 1778. His three sons, George Stovall, George Rapin (or Rapeen) and James Smith, all became ministers; the first two were Baptists, and James became a Methodist minister. Dec. 24, 1784The Christmas Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland was the beginning of the Methodist Episcopal church. It was called a `Society' before that. Francis Asbury (1745-1816) and Thomas Coke were made superintendants. Philip William Otterbein, founder of the United Brethren church attended the Christmas Conference. 1787At the Conference, Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke became "Bishops". Bishop Asbury instituted the circuit rider system to reach the frontier regions. 1787George Callanhan was the first Methodist minister to preach in the Northwest Territory, at Carpenter's Fort, Jefferson County, Ohio. 1792The Republican Methodist Church seceded from the Methodist Episcopal church because of the title " Bishop". James Smith joined this group. At the time of his death he was more in agreement with the Methodist Episcopal church that his brother-in-law, Philip Gatch belonged to. He never held a pastoral charge, but preached wherever he could. 1793Francis Clark (d. 1799), of Kentucky crossed the Ohio River to preach to a few people at Fort Washington (now part of Cincinnati). Nov. 16, 1795James Smith (1757-1800) preached to neighboring families in a cabin of a settler named "Tolbert" living seven miles from Fort Hamilton. Oct. 1797James Smith arrived in Waynesville, Ohio on his second travel to the Northwest Territory and lodged with Samuel Heighway. In less than one year of the settlement he found fourteen families living in Waynesville. When he returned to Virginia he bought about 2000 acres of land east of the Little Miami River at the mouth of Caesar Creek, about 2 1/2 miles south of Waynesville. This is now 3500 Corwin Road where the Lonnie Thacker Family formerly lived. Part of the land is now in the Caesar Creek State Game Preserve. 1797Francis McCormick (1758-1836) removed from Kentucky to the North West Territory and settled on the forks of the Little Miami River where Milford now is located. He found the first Methodist church in the Northwest Territory. Aug. 2, 1798Bishop Asbury sent John Kobler (d. 1843) to the Northwest Territory to organize a new circuit called "Miami Circuit". He was the first circuit rider in the Northwest Territory. He was received, 1790 and located, 1801. Nov. 7, 1798James Smith, Philip Gatch, Ambrose Ransom, their families and others, came to the Northwest Territory. They landed at the mouth of Bullskin Run where there is a road yet called, "Smith's Landing Road" in Clermont County, Ohio. James Smith's family settled temporarily near Newtown, Hamilton County, called "Middletown station", between Columbia and Newtown. Here, their last son and tenth child, George J. Smith, who was to become a Judge, was born May 22, 1799. Feb. 1799After suitable homes were built and enough land cleared, Philip Gatch's family and others, settled on land near the Francis McCormick's settlement (what is now Milford, Clermont County, Ohio). Francis McCormick and Philip Gatch remained "Yokefellows" for the rest of their lives. Philip Gatch served as Judge of the Common Pleas Court, a Justice of Peace, and he was a member of the First Constitutional Convention in the Northwest Territory. 1799-1800Henry Smith (d. age 90), from Kentucky became a circuit rider on the Scioto circuit. He wrote "Recollections and Reflections of the Old Itinerant" about 1848. Circuit Riders: Sometimes they were called "itinerant preachers" or travelling preachers. They usually stayed no more than one or two years on the circuit at a time. The first circuit rider was the senior preacher who was ordained as elder and had authority to administer the sacraments, perform the marriage ceremony and other like duties. The second preacher was usually "a junior" who could only hold religious services. "P.E." is a presiding elder. 1800Philip William Otterbein founded the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. July 28, 1800James Smith (1757-1800) died of a billious fever. He was buried on his bro- ther-in-law, Philip Gatch's farm. "Old Gatch Yard" is now a part of Greenlawn Cemetery, Milford, Ohio. Dec. 1800"Widow" Smith (Elizabeth Porter Smith) (1763-1825), her nine living children and at least two of their former slaves, Ned and Caesar; now emancipated, removed to the nearly 2000 acres east of the Little Miami River and at the mouth of Caesar Creek, about 2 1/2 miles south of Waynesville. The log house built by Mr. Weeks was ready, but not completed yet. A brick house was built in 1825, which is still standing. 1801One of the first camp meetings held in America was near Paris, Kentucky, at Cane Ridge. Ministers of all denominations preached to thousands of people. James B. Finley and Peter Cartwright were converted by the Methodists preaching there. They became well-known Methodist circuit riders. 1801Miami Circuit was added to Scioto Circuit to cover the Ohio Territory. Henry Smith and Lewis Hunt were circuit riders. Henry Smith was received 1794. Lewis Hunt was received, 1799; died 1801. 1803Evangelical Church began. 1804-1805John Sale (1769-1827) and Joseph Oglesby (d. 1852), circuit riders of Miami and Mad River circuit; William Burke, presiding elder (d. 1870). William Burke was the first presiding elder of the Northwest Territory. He was secretary of Western Conference from 1800-1811. He was accused of treating an elder with contempt and was expelled in 1820. Joseph Oglesby was ordered in 1812 by the Methodist conference to emancipate his slaves that he inherited by marriage. He practiced medicine and became a well-known physician in Madison, Indiana. He afterwards had an Illinois circuit which stretched across the Mississippi River into Missouri. John Sale was received, 1797, died 1827. Joseph Oglesby was received, 1803 located 1836. William Burke was received 1792, expelled 1820. 1806John Thompson; John Sale, P.E. (1769-1827) John Thompson was received 1820, located 1826. 1807Adjet McGuire (b. c1778-1857), Isaac Quinn; John Sale, P.E. (1769-1827) Adjet McGuire was received to the Western Conference in 1803, located 1808. Isaac Quinn was received 1807, located 1817. Mad River circuit was made separate from Miami Circuit with 25/26 preaching places; Widow Smith being one of the stations. This is the first year it is recorded that she held meetings in her home. John Sale's brother, Robert Sale met Magdalene Smith at one of the meetings at Widow Smith's (Magdalene's mother). They were married Nov. 10, 1808 by John Sale. Judith Smith was married to Hiram Brown in 1817 by John Sale. May 23, 1807Quarterly meeting held at Mt. Pleasant near Mt. Holly. (Location unknown, but believe it is inside of Wayne Township, Warren County at the border of Greene County. So far no records can be found of their history.) Sept. 14, 1807The Western Methodist conference at Chillicothe, Ohio with Bishop Asbury and William Burke, secretary. 1808A log meeting house was built on Widow Smith's land, "one mile from the mouth of Caesar Creek, one third mile north of Widow Smith's house". "Money was collected to pay for a circuit rider to preach to all who came to worship." Widow Smith's share was $6.00 a year. George S. Sale, Rev. and Mrs. James Smith's grandson, describes the log meeting house: "There was no clearing near it except about one half acre in the center of which the cabin stood. The site was a high gravelly knoll over looking both the valleys of Caesar's Creek and the Little Miami. In dimensions it was about 20 feet by 18 feet by 9 feet high, blue ash logs hewn on bothsides, cabin gables, clapboard roof nailed on, no hoists or upper floor, one door, two windows, one on either side; the pulpit at the end opposite the door." "The most remarkable feature of the edifice was the device for warming the house. In the center of the floor was a brick hearth about six feet square on which to pile a lot of charcoal to be ignited on meeting days to warm the interior. The spaces between the logs were well chinked and daubed with lime mortar; there was a good tight door and no ventilation except through the roof. The roads to and from the church were only bridle paths with wild touch-me-nots on either side almost as high as a horse's back. The nearest clearing was one quarter mile distant. A small spring nearby was called, "the meeting house spring." After the little log church was no longer used, the building was moved to a spot where the Zell, Sale and Smith farms joined and a former slave named "Washington" lived there. 1808Thomas Milligan, William Mitchell, James Davidson,William Young; John Sale, P.E. (1769-1827) Thomas Milligan was received 1798, located 1809. William Mitchell was received 1807, expelled 1812. James Davidson was received 1804, located 1808. William Young was received 1808. He drowned 1812 while attempting to cross the Ohio River. Aug. 24, 1808Bishop Francis Asbury preached at Widow Smith's. This was the first place he preached in Warren County. 1809Hector Sandford, Saul Henkle (1782-1837); John Sale, P.E. Hector Sandford was a member of Chillicothe Methodist Episcopal church where Gov. Worthington worshipped. Hector Sandford was received 1806, located 1810. Saul Henkle was received 1806, located 1811. Saul Henkle's daughter, Catherine married James Smith Halsey, Judge of Clark County, Ohio, who was a grandson of Rev. James and Elizabeth Smith. Saul Henkle was Clerk of Common Pleas Court in Springfield, Ohio. He edited and published the "Gospel Trumpet" and wrote editorials for the "Western Pioneer". 1809Bishop Asbury preached at the Philip Goode house and stayed there overnight. Philip Goode's house was 1 1/2 miles east of Waynesville; east of his brother's Gaines and Burwell's homes. 1810John Clingan; Solomon Langdon, P.E. John Clingan was received 1807, located 1813. Solomon Langdon was received 1800, located 1813. Mad River and Xenia circuit was formed. Aug. 17, 1810First camp meeting was held on Philip Goode's land for several days. 1810-1811John Collins (d. 1845), Moses Crume, John Tateman; Solomon Langdon, P.E. John Collins founded Bethel church near Bantam, Clermont County, Ohio in 1808; one of the first Methodist churches in the Northwest Territory. He is buried there. A granddaughter, Sarah Eliza Simmons was born there; a daughter of William Simmons. She married Charles G. Meredith, who died in Lebanon while he was stationed there and they are buried in Lebanon cemetery. William Simmons and Charles Meredith were both Methodist circuit riders. John Collins was received 1806: Moses Crume was received 1808, died 1839. No record for John Tateman. Solomon Langdon was received 1800, located 1813. Aug. 1811Camp meeting held on Philip Goode's land for several days. In 1814 his family removed to Xenia, Ohio. Oct. 5, 1811The Western Methodist Conference was held at Cincinnati, Ohio with Bishop William McKendree (d. 1835) and Learner Blackman. Learner Blackman was a brother-in-law to John Collins. He came from Atlantic City, New Jersey. In August 1806, he helped administer the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to the first Methodist Society held in Louisiana. William McKendree was received 1788, elected Bishop 1808 and died 1835. [Click here to read his Last Will & Testament] Learner Blackman was received 1800, died 1815. 1812The membership doubled in the Methodist churches in Ohio after the New Madrid earthquake. 1812-1813Benjamin Lakin, Adjet McGuire (b. c1778 - d. July 26, 1857) There were three camp meetings held on the circuit. Wilson Edwards was the leader in the Waynesville area. Benjamin Lakin was received 1795. Adjet McGuire was received 1803, located 1808. Benjamin Lakin lived at Point Pleasant, Clermont County, Ohio. In 1810 he was a missionary to the Wyandot Indian Nation at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. He started his ministry in Kentucky. He went to the meeting house in his hunting shirt and moccasins. He never married and was a "local preacher". "Such was his thundering eloquence that he astounded his congregation wherever he went."