HISTORY OF THE OHIO CHAPEL CHURCH

OHIO CHAPEL 100 YEARS

FROM 1855 to 1955

Click here to see a list of ministers who served

    As the population increased in the community there was need of a Church. In the beginning Joseph Blazer organized a Sunday School.
    The Sunday School was held in a log school house located on a hill between Route 7 and the Mutton Hollow Road. Later a circuit rider held monthly services there.
    Farmers furnished the timber from their farms. The logs were hauled to a sawmill on the river- front. This mill’s name was Clipper Mills.
    The Church pattern was sawed here, others gave money, and many gave free labor. James Hamilton and Alexander Willey were the contractors.
    When it was dedicated, it was named Ohio Chapel. Some of the early members of Ohio Chapel were families of the following: Joseph Balzer, Mr. Lesley James Hamilton, John Chevealier, John Nesbitt, Monroe Cauffman, The Willey’s. George Poole.
    Then there was the Plymales, The Brown’s and Bruckers, The Kinders, McConnell’s Dickey’s, Iron’s, Cottrells, Brothers, Robert’s and many others.
    This Church had two entrances, one for the men and the other for the women. On entering, one would see the high back seats painted red. In the aisle were small chandeliers holding oil burning lamps, two other lamps were on each side of the pulpit in brackets. Next were two large coal stoves. The pulpit was a low platform, on it a table which held the Bible.
    In front of it was a long bench known as the mourner’s bench. In the corner near the, elderly women usually sat, and on the opposite side, elderly men usually sat. This was called the Amen corner.
    Later an organ was purchased. Frank Nesbitt was the first organist and continued to be for many years, since that time many changes have taken place.
    Many members remember the wrought iron fence, the trees and the large Church yard.
    Recently a fuel oil furnace has been added or installed and three Sunday school rooms added.
    The front doors were given in the memory of: Mr. and Mrs. William Harrington, by their daughter Arista Boggs.
    The bell, which was a part of Raccoon Island Community since 1896, now hangs in its new tower here at Ohio Chapel. For a number of years this was on the River.
    Jacob Riggs, father of Earnest Riggs, purchased it from the White Collar Line, and it now hangs in the tower at Ohio Chapel , and it was rung for the first time at Clay Chapel Church in 1896, but now send forth its messages from Ohio Chapel Church, Come to Worship, We see this grand old Church for the past century it has served generations of the past as a house of Worship, and still continues the present generation for the same purpose in which it was founded.
    Our grateful thanks to Parney Willey. For giving to us this history as she remembered it as told to her by her mother.

August 26, 1955
Recorded by Nellie Stover
Church Record Official
Transcribed by Marian Schoonover

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