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Sugar Grove celebrates 225 years

Special services, luncheon planned this weekend

By JULIE STENGER 7 min read

TORONTO -- It was first known by the name Hales Meeting House. Its second name was the Sugar Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. Today, it goes by Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, although some locals just refer to it as the Old Sugar Grove Church and Cemetery.

Yet, through all these name changes, one thing has always remained a common factor -- the many interesting stories surrounding the church and leading up to what is now its 225th anniversary celebration.

This weekend, the church will hold a special presentation for all community residents, beginning with a morning church service at 10:45 a.m. A luncheon will follow at 12:30 p.m. and a historical service will take place at 2 p.m. The community is invited to attend this celebratory event. One does not need to be a member to attend any of the services.

The time was the mid-1790s.

There was no Toronto or Steubenville. Or even an Ohio for that matter.

There were woods, not roads. Forest animals, not people.

Revolutionary soldier William Maple would be the first to permanently settle in this vast wilderness referred to as the "Territory Northwest of the Ohio."

He built a cabin for his family approximately two miles from where the Sugar Grove Church would later be located.

Years later, William Stoakes came from Loudon, England, and built a cabin just a half-mile below Knoxville. This was the same year Jefferson County became a county, yet still six years away from the state of Ohio or Knox Township coming into existence. And still, no roads or bridges. No towns, churches or schools. Everywhere lied only wilderness.

Others would soon come along.

Flora L. VerStraten-Merrin, president of the Jefferson County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, explained how the church first came to be.

"When Anthony Wayne defeated the Indians at the battle of Fallen Timbers, the area began to fill up rapidly," she began. "In 1796, Henry VanTilburg, who was a Revolutionary patriot, came to Sugar Grove Ridge. The Johnstons came in 1798, followed by the Hales and many others."

Others included Jacob Nessley, who had settled on the river's east side but came across to the west side to help organize the church.

"When Randall Hales came into this land, he built a more-secure and comfortable hewed, log cabin along the upper edge of the field, which is now the cemetery," VerStraten-Merrin said. Hale and Pritchard called the neighbors together in this 15' x 20' log house of Randall and Annie Hales. This became known as Hales Meeting House.

In 1798, a Methodist Society was formed, with Charles Hales as the class leader.

Those who attended the first Methodist meeting in Sugar Grove were Jacob Nessley, Randall Hales, Charles Hales, James Pritchard, Nathan Shaw, Joseph Elliott, Robert Maxwell, John Sapp, John Clinton, Jacob Buttonberg and John Herrington.

VerStraten-Merrin noted Nessley owned several thousand acres of land and was the greatest horticulturist of his time. With such exceptionally high standards, it was men such as this who were able to organize a Methodist fellowship under the severe religious requirements demanded by Wesley and his followers.

The cabin of Randall Hales, which was 15 by 20 feet, was the center of this religious organization from 1798 to 1902. The old log schoolhouse was used for educational purposes six days a week and on Sunday religious services were held all day long.

The congregation grew rapidly and the old log house was outgrown so the men erected a 20-by-25-foot round log house and named it, "Hales Meeting House." This building was then used as a school house and meeting house until 1814 when a hewed log cabin building twenty-five by thirty feet was erected near it for church purposes only for their flourishing congregation.

It was during this time, as the Methodist denomination was rapidly growing, that Methodist camp meetings came into being throughout the country.

The building was reconstructed three times before it burned down in 1841.

In 1841, a brick church was built using clay. A large wood-framed church was then built in 1902, according to officials. It included a bell tower this time.

The current church, built in 1971, is located on state Route 152, adjacent to the newer cemetery. In 1989, a bell tower, housing the bell from the 1902 church, was added.

There are two signs recently added which depict information about the church and the schoolhouse.

"The two new historical signs were designed and laid out by me," VerStraten-Merrin stated. "Shirley Bartels, a member of the church, worked with me to put the historical information together for the signs. Shirley also had several old photos of the church, past church buildings and the old schoolhouse that is still standing."

"The church photo is what it looks like today," she continued. "The old bell from the church was placed into a bell tower beside the current church building to honor the memory of their pioneer ancestors that built up the church in this area."

Schoolhouse history

The first building, the old "schoolhouse" was made of old, hewn logs and was round in shape. It measured 25 feet in diameter. The schoolhouse was used as a place of education for children whose parents could afford to pay the $1.50 charge (per child) every three months. That is the equivalent of $2,485.29 today.

Archibald McElroy, an Irish Schoolmaster, was teaching a three-month term of school to the few children whose parents could afford to send them.

"To show how 'God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform,' it just so happened that the Irish schoolmaster had been converted under John Wesley before coming to America, and he not only helped to organize the society, but he became the first preacher of Hales Meeting House," VerStraten-Merrin said.

Those students who were fortunate enough to go to school attended classes six days a week. Sundays were designated for religious services, which started at 10 a.m. until candle-lighting time.

Schoolmasters read from the scriptures, starting the day with prayer. Many people could not read, so the schoolmaster was expected to show his proficiency in education by being able to.

Church records show many had to sign their names with a cross since they could not write.

Methodism had started in this neighborhood and many were opposed to the enthusiastic Methodists. Rules and regulations were very severe, according to officials.

The newly-erected schoolhouse sign, located at the old cemetery, states photos and much of the history provided on the signs was given by church member Shirley Bartels.

"She identified most of her classmates," the sign reads.

"It was through the efforts of Shirley and her desire to recognize the rich history of the church, school and graveyard -- in 2023 celebrating 225 years of history."

In 1905, a one-room schoolhouse was built down the road from the church building.

It closed in 1944 but is still standing today, although the bell tower has since been removed and it is currently privately-owned.

The Sugar Grove Pioneer Cemetery, located across the street from the newer cemetery, is where the first settlers and their families were buried, VerStraten-Merrin said.

"There are five bronze markers honoring the men who fought in the Revolutionary War."

The local Sons of the American Revolution, who at that time was directed by member George Livingston, worked with Ver-Straten-Merrin on locating each man's history and burial location.

"We held a graveside service complete with a military honor guard and 'taps'," she said.

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