THE FRANKFORT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
 

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THE FRANKFORT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The Frankfort Sun of June 6, 1896, Painter and Cross, publishers, contained the following article relative to the early history of the church and to the dedication services of the new church building:

"Frankfort charge was taken from Deercreek charge and organized in 1840. The first Methodist Episcopal Church was built of logs in Frankfort in 1812, on property owned by Reese or John MCNEILL. In 1832 the old log building gave way and a small brick building was completed and by Rev. Fletcher STEWARD. The first preacher in charge was David REED. He was succeeded by Zachariah WHARTON in 1841, and as was the custom then he only served one year, being followed by Joseph HILL in 1842. The pastors from then on were as follows: 1843-1844 Ezra BROWN; 1845, Ebenezer WEBSTER and A. MEHARRY; 1846, A. MEHARRY and Rev. BROWN; 1847-1849, William SUTTON and Professor NELSON; 1850, James ARMSTRONG; 1851, Edward ESTELL; 1852, Joseph BROWN and Thomas PHILLIPS; 1853, Joseph BROWN and Joseph MORRIS; 1855, J. W. STEELE and William MCCLINTICK; 1856, William MCCLINTICK and L. DRAKE; 1858, David SMITH and William MULLENIX; 1860, W. P. CHERRINGTON and N. P. HUGHEY; 1862, Edward ESTELL, who died while in charge; 1864, John STEWARD; 1865, John MARTIN and J. M. WEIR; 1866, J. M. WEIR and Joseph MORRIS; 1868-1871, U. L. JONES; 1871-1873, Levi HALL and Thomas HALL; 1874, S. M. BRIGHT; 1875, Zachariah WHARTON; 1876, W. H. GIBBONS; 1876-78, W. P. MCLAUGHLIN; 1878-79, Thomas WAKEFIELD; 1879-83, W. T. JONES; 1883-85, Isaac MACKEY; 1885-87, L. C. BROOKS; 1887-92, Frank GILLILAN."

In 1892 L. H. BINKLEY was appointed to the charge. After being on the charge about three months, Rev. BINKLEY called a conference of the official board in which meeting a new church building was talked of and after about one year's study and consideration they concluded to build, hence a building committee was appointed, consisting of J. N. BLUE, R. B. CLAYPOOLE, J. B. CLARK, J. O. HOTTHINE, Malcolm PORTER, John SANFORD, B. A. STAGGS, and Beecher CLINE, and it is to the untiring efforts and faithful work of this committee that our community is adorned by the splendid edifice dedicated last Sunday. The committee proceeded to raise the discipline amount necessary to build, and having secured the amount in about four months, work was begun in February, 1895. On Thursday, September 15, 1895, the cornerstone was laid, the sermon being delivered by Dr. D. H. MOORE of Cincinnati. The church was completed at a cost of $15,000 in May 1896. This church has been incorporated under the name of the Frankfort M. E. Church.