North Lewisburg in Champaign County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Friends Church / Friends Cemetery

Friends Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 26, 2015

1. Friends Church Marker

close up, showing text; Side A

Inscription. Friends Church
Among the earliest settlers to Rush Township were members of the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers, who emigrated from the eastern states, mostly Pennsylvania and North Carolina. At first religious services were held in the homes of devout Quakers who in turn built a small-framed meeting house on this site in 1842. The present Friends Church replaced the original structure in the 1870s at a cost of $4,245. Although not a stop on the Underground Railroad, the church supported local ardent Abolitionists who helped runaway slaves reach freedom in Canada. An epidemic during the winter of 1850-1851 reduced the Friends' membership and led to several Quaker families relocating to Iowa. The final religious service was held here on October 26, 1997, after which the church was donated to the village of North Lewisburg.

Friends Cemetery The cemetery of the Quaker Church lies to the west of this building and was used from circa 1846 through circa 1885. It was one of the earliest cemeteries in Champaign County with the first recorded burial being Moses Winder on August 5, 1846, and the last recorded burial on May 18, 1885 of Caroline S. Pim. Among those interred here are Civil War veteran William W. Fell, the first marshal of Lewisburg Harmon Limes,

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and one of the first trustees to serve Lewisburg Abner Winder Jr. As the church membership dwindled, the upkeep of the cemetery proved difficult and fell into neglect and disrepair. As with the Friends Church, the village of North Lewisburg took over owner- ship of the cemetery when it was donated in 1997.

Erected 2005 by Village of North Lewisburg Friends of North Lewisburg Branch of Champaign County Library Champaign County Bicentennial Historical Marker Committee The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 20-11.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection, and the Quakerism series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1749.

Location. 40° 13.663′ N, 83° 33.535′ W. Marker is in North Lewisburg, Ohio, in Champaign County. Marker is on W, Elm Street (County Route 111) near Winder St, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 191 W Elm St, North Lewisburg OH 43060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. North Lewisburg (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); North Lewisburg Fire Bell (approx.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 26, 2015

2. Friends Church Marker

close up, showing text; Side B

0.4 miles away); North Lewisburg, O. Service Flag (approx. 0.4 miles away); North Lewisburg, Ohio Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Pottersburg Bridge (approx. 1.9 miles away); Spain Creek Covered Bridge (approx. 1.9 miles away); Christopher Crary (approx. 3.4 miles away); Cushman Monument (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Lewisburg.

Additional commentary.
1. The Friends Cemetery
I wanted to add that my 3rd great-grandfather, Harmon Limes, is buried at the Friends Cemetery.

— Submitted August 23, 2017, by Linda Ellis of Lyndhurst, Ohio.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 26, 2015

3. Friends Church Marker

full view of marker

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 26, 2015

4. Friends Church Marker

marker can be seen at a distance

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 26, 2015

5. Friends Church Marker

the Church building, now used as the village library

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 26, 2015

6. Friends Church Marker

the cemetery, now well kept, by the Village

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 26, 2015

7. Friends Church Marker

sign designating the old Church as the Village Library

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 582 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 26, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.