The first Baptist Church in Butler County was organized at Fairfield, four miles north of Hamilton, in 1800. It was for a long time the only place of worship in this region. It does not now exist. The second was Elk Creek (now Trenton). This church still exists. The third was Little Prairie (now Middletown). It was constituted in 1801. This church has always been strong and active in work for home and foreign missions. Another was Pleasant Run, about six miles below Hamilton, organized 1802, and united with the Hamilton and Rossville Church in 1829. About 1819 the Oxford Church was organized, but it has long since disappeared. The Hamilton and Rossville Church was organized in 1829. A brick house was soon after erected on a lot deeded by Leonard Garver, corner of Front and South streets, west side of the River. The unoccupied building yet stands, and has been the subject of litigation by the heirs of said Garver. This church was constituted with twenty members, and soon had a fair prospect. In 1836, when the division occured, the membership was near sixty. Of this number only three held with the mission churches. All the aforementioned churches, except the Middletown, went with the anti-mission party of 1836, and shared the fate of those who will not keep step with Divine progress. One of the three who came out from the anti-mission Baptist Church, of Hamilton, in 1836, was Mrs. Rebecca Rydon, one of the original members of the present Baptist Church.The history proper, of the present Baptist Church, of Hamilton, commences with December 31st, 1841. At that date Dr. Rydon, Rebecca Rydon, Aaron Potter and Emmerline Potter, being desirous of hearing Baptist preaching, resolved to make an effort to secure it. Rev. A. Drury, of Cincinnati, was engaged to preach every other Sunday, for one year, at the rate of $4.00 per visit. This continued for about three months, and was dropped as unprofitable to both parties. Elder Quont, of Turk Island, was then called for all the time, but this seems to have been an unfortunate settlement, for on June 20th, Bro. Rydon was appointed to inform him that he was not deemed suitable, and he closed his labors July 10th. In April, 1843, Elder Osborne was called to labor half-time for one year, at a salary of $200.00 per year; the Ohio Baptist Convention paying $50.00 of his support.
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There being no organization as yet, the membership of the Hamilton Baptists was held with the Muddy Creek Church. In April, 1844, the number of members had increased to thirteen, and they joined the Lockland Church, and were constituted a branch church at Hamilton. After Bro. Osborne's term of service expired, preaching was had twice a month in the Court House or Female Academy, by John L. Moore, A. Drury, L. Osborne, J. M. Knox, J. Blodgett, Daniel Bryant, O. N. Sage, L. Wilson and M. Warner.October, 1844, Elder D. Bryant was called to the pastorate for half time, at $200.00 per year. In December, 1844, it was determined to erect a church, and in due time a meeting house was erected on Third street, in the city of Hamilton. It was of brick, 36 x 45, and one story high; costing with lot, $3,311.00. It was occupied until 1858. It still stands, and is now occupied as a bakery and butcher shop.
Elder Bryant continued pastor until November, 1845, when he was called to the Fifth Street Church, Cincinnati. He was a good man and advanced the cause of religion in Hamilton.
December, 1845. William Roney, from the Theological Seminary, of Hamilton, N. Y., was called to the pastorate, at a salary of $300.00 per year, the Ohio Baptist Convention contributing $100.00.
January 4th, 1846, it was resolved to set apart one Sabbath of each month for the monthly concert of prayer for the spread of the gospel among the heathen.
March, 1846, the members withdrew from the Lockland Church and formed an independent church.
April, 1846, a Council of Recognition convened at Hamilton, and in due form the church was recognized and received into the fellowship of the churches of the Miami Association. The next day the pastor elect, William Roney, was ordained.
The Articles of Faith of the Church, are substantially those adopted at London, in 1643 (two years previous to the Westminster Assembly, which body adopted them in substance).
Soon after this, proper officers were elected: Trustees, Dr. L. Rydon, A. Potter, J. L Batchelder, Jos. Shotwell and J. S. Beatty. Deacons, L. Rydon and Jos. Shotwell. Clerk, W. S. Going.
Pastor Roney closed his labors with the church, June, 1848. He was living, in 1879, in the Northern part of Ohio.
September, 1848, William Ashmore was called, and served the church for about one year and nine months. He was ordained here and went from this field to his life work in China.
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From June, 1850, to October, 1851, the church was without a pastor, but kept up regular meetings. A Sunday school was organized soon after the house was completed, and was continued with much success. The pastors were usually superintendents of the Sunday school, and during their absence, Aaron Potter held this office with honor and efficiency.1852, Rev. H. M. Richardson became pastor. He came from the Seminary at Rochester, N. Y. He was ordained here. The membership was then 72. The pastor's salary was raised to $600.00.
In 1853, the Miami Association met for the first time at Hamilton.
Pastor Richardson was a man of fine ability, a scholar, and a successful pastor. During his administration, the present house of worship, a two-story brick on Basin street, in rear of Court House, was built at a cost of $10,500.00; and notwithstanding the heavy load, the regular benevolent contributions were kept up. Bro. Richardson was pastor ten years. Under his care the church increased to nearly 200 membership. He left with many regrets, and has been as eminently successful in his subsequent work.
Rev. C. B. Keyes supplied a short time.
November, 1862, Dr. J. M. Pendleton was called at a salary of $700.00. Dr. Pendleton resigned in 1865.
January, 1866, R. V. W. Snow was called at a salary of $1,200.00, and was soon after ordained. He served the church faithfully and successfully, until 1868, when he resigned and soon after died. Next followed Rev. R. Telford, pastor for one year.
Rev. N. A. Reed was then called, July 19th, 1869, at a salary of $1,500. July, 1871, the church feeling unable to pay the salary, Bro. Reed resigned. His work was successful as far as he had opportunity.
November, 1871, Rev. T. Hanford, of Mr. Spurgeon's College London, was called, at a salary of $1,000. Bro. Hanford resigned in 1876, after a good measure of success as pastor.
The church declined in membership by removals, during the first few years of his stay, but afterwards there were numerous additions by baptism and letter.
Sunday, January 17th, 1875, the house was badly damaged by fire,to the extent of about $1,125.00, fully covered by insurance.
An interim of occasional preaching and short time supplies, followed Bro. Hanford's pastorate, from February, 1876, to May, 1878, when Rev. W. A. Smith, of Walnut Hills, was called at a salary of
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$800.00 per year. He was ordained, and served acceptably until in 1879, he resigned, and accepted a charge in Cleveland, Ohio. The total membership at this date was 136.Early in 1880, a call is recorded to P. M. Weddell of Troy, Ohio, but it does not appear that he ever entered fully on the field as pastor. A pastorless season continued until March, 1881, when Rev. Homer Eddy was called, and continued pastor until April, 1886. Bro. Eddy was an earnest, energetic worker, and the membership was considerably increased under his administration.
From this date, until September, 1886, the church was hearing supplies, when the present pastor, W. K. Dennis, was called.
During the three years, to the present, the church has made steady progress. The house, which was in a very shabby condition inside, has been remodeled and beautified by a rearrangement of the pulpit, baptistry and organ recess, with choir platform, rearrangement of seats, new furnaces, stained glass windows, carpeting the whole house, new chandeliers, with fresco and painting and drapery to match. The Sunday school room was also renovated, and made more attractive and serviceable, at a cost of about $3,300.00, $2,000.00 of which was paid for at the time.
The Ladies' Industrial Band have the honor of being the chief workers in this much-needed work, and we owe it to their untiring energy, that so much was paid for on the spot.
Our membership is not so large as it was, on account of pruning out some of the dead branches, of which we have perhaps more than the usual lot that is found in every church.
There have been several additions by baptism and by letter. The congregations are larger, and of a more permanent character. The Sunday school is in a flourishing condition, and the young people have been gathered into a Society of Christian Endeavor.
In closing this epitome of our history, it is fitting to mention that Sister Meeley, just recently deceased, left legacies as follows: To the Church, to invest, interest to be paid on pastor's salary, $300.00; to paint outside of Church, $200.00; to Home and Foreign Missions, $200.00 each.
The Church has had a checquered history. Its past is known to us. Its future is known only to God. But He is in the future, and we pray that it may be a bright and shining light, "till He come."
============== [From the Miami Baptist Association Minutes, 1899, pp. 20-22. Document from the Miami Baptist Association Office, Cincinnati. Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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