Summit County, Ohio Church Histories

Information from :

Samuel Lane's Fifty Years & Over of Akron and Summit County; 1892; Beacon Job Department


First Presbyterian Church

Oldest church organization in Akron. Organized 15 Dec 1831 by Revs. Benson C. Baldwin and John Hughes. Started with 26 members.

Pastors over the next 24 years:

Baldwin, Benson C. 1831-1833

Sanders, Abraham  1838-1839

Hackett, H.A. 1840-1841

Shaw, James 1841-1845


The Congregational Church of Middlebury grew out of the above organization when differences over the slave issue caused many to withdraw from the church. It was ministered by:

Hanford, William 1846

Foote, Horace  1847

Curtis, Elroy  1848-1854

When issues over slavery were resolved the two churches reunited in 1860 under Rev. William Dempsey. He pastored until 1863.

He was followed by:

Hicks, ????

Hall, G.

Avery, Henry

Other pastors were:

Barnes, C.  1874-1877

Jones, J.H. 1877-1881

Chapin, Dwight 1883-1889

Layport, Edwin  1889-???

The Baptist Church of Akron

First organized April 19, 1834 at the School House on the corner of Broadway and Middlebury St.  Called the Akron and Middlebury Baptist Church.  Elder Caleb Green was the moderator and Amasa Clark was scribe.  Members included: Horace Barton, Daniel Stewart, Henry Smoke, Mrs. Thirza Smoke, Miss C. Barton, Mrs. Elizabeth Burton, Mrs. Sally Smith, Miss Amanda Smith, Miss Elizabeth Stewart.  This notice was published in the Weekly Post June 10, 1836:

"To All Whom It May Concern,

A meeting of the members of the Akron and Middlebury Baptist Church and Society will be held at the School House in South Akron, on Wed., the 16th, at 4 O' clock pm for the purpose of organizing under their charter."

A church was erected at the corner of South and Center Street.  Eber Crane was pastor.


More to be added!!

Return to Family Pages

Return to Main Index


You are the 3020visitor to this page.

Copyright © 1998,Summit County OHGenWeb Project.