History of Hamilton County Ohio
Portraits, with biography, of Charles (Christopher) Flinchpaugh
facing page 320
transcribed by Karen Klaene


Christopher Flinchpaugh

Christopher FLINCHPAUGH born April 26, 1799 in Wurtemburg, Europe. Jacob, his father, was a common farmer; Agnes PHYLE, his mother was of common stock. Both his parents died when Christopher was a young man of fifteen summers, he coming to America in 1817, landing in Philadelphia. Out of a family of three brothers and two sisters, all of whom are dead, he was the youngest. One of the great associations and memorable events of his life, is the vivid recollection of Napoleon's campaign in 1816. The great disaster which followed his retreat, the Cossacks, the Russians, the Prussians, the French - left food scarce, and distress followed which beggars description.

Christopher, who was a passenger, worked his way in a sail vessel which was three months and two weeks in crossing. At the end of the journey, he worked one year and six months to repay the expense. However, the agreement to school Christopher nine months, furnish him with two suits of clothes from head to foot, and forty dollars in money, was not kept and our young German failed to receive his reward. From near Harrisburgh he came to Miami township in the fall of 1819, and remained ever since.

Previous to his marriage in the spring of 1821 to Elizabeth Columbia, he worked at stilling in Miamitown for one year and six months for Major HENRIE. His wife was born December 20, 1801, was of Welsh extraction, and whose father was a Revolutionary soldier. By this marriage five sons and seven daughters were born: Jacob, Henrietta, Susanna, William, Mary, Caleb, Chris, Simon, Charlotte, Christina, Hannah, Elizabeth. Out of this family only six live. From this family thirty-nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren have been born. Young Christopher was brought up in the Lutheran faith; was baptized in infancy, and confirmed when fourteen years of age, but of practical religion he knew nothing. Educationally, he had eight years of schooling, but being of a careless disposition, failed to receive any benefit. Marvelous as it may seem the first year or two he preached he was unable to read English. During his employment in the distillery at Miami, he received the first impressions of sin, while working a copper still. But the first convictions of sin hung overhead, and in one year and six months after he was converted. But previous to this time a few months, he joined the United Brethren church, under the influence of Rosalia FAGELEY, a pious woman in whose house the meeting was held. He passed from a rough, blasphemous character to a minister of the gospel. Being of a determined nature, full of good impulses, he grasped the hand of all alike - the wicked and good - and implored them to turn to Christ. His conversion was in a cornfield while plowing corn, and from thence, the Sunday following, by agreement with the still-house hands, he preached his first sermon in Chamberstown, in Miami. Great results followed, and from thence he preached to many distinguished men. Among his audience at different times were General HARRISON, Governor BEBB, Daniel HOWELL, the first male child in Miami township, and many others who long since have passed to their reward. Soon after beginning to preach in 1824, he was licensed by the United Brethren church, and travelled throughout the country, preaching in barns and log dwelling houses.

Soon after, when poverty and hardship were gathering in great clouds over head, and when the devil tempted him to cease preaching, he came from Venice, where he preached in a cooper-shop in the morning, and in the evening at a school-house, to his home a distance of twelve miles. He had had his breakfast and went without dinner and supper. Coming home about 9 or 10 o'clock, and reflecting on his hard trials, and tempted to retire from the ministry, their came a voice - a song of angels from Heaven singing, "How happy are they," exhorting him to continue. In all his memorable life, neither has seen or heard so much melody, so great a choir, and so much of God's power to save. The matter of recompense was very small and distance in circuit very great. One circuit was four hundred miles in length, and consisted of thirty-two appointments.

Sometime in 1841 or 1842, a call was made to go to Germany. For six months he debated and prayed over the question, and at one time was tempted to drive God's spirit away by drink, but finally, on account of lack of funds, did not leave America. He regrets now his failure to accept the call, but God forgives him. Once while visiting layman - which is a dream - he was invited by the member to go out and see his sheep. After going out, the sheep proved to be long wooly dogs which were sheared for sheep, illustrating a paradox in religion.

At different periods he travelled from Pittsburgh to the north of Portsmouth Evansville. The presiding elder's office was held and common preaching done everywhere. Both German and English pulpits were filled, and both English and German converts baptized and taken into the church.

One unacquainted with pioneer life; the travelling through swamp and bog: through forest and stream, and all their different parts, knows nothing of early ministerial preaching.

The following are persons and where they were baptized: one hundred children, twenty persons in Ohio river, twenty persons in Mill creek, sixty persons in Taylor's creek, ten persons in Muddy creek, fifty persons in Big Miami, river, ten persons in Logan creek, seventy persons in Johnson's fork, fifty persons in Dry fork, five persons in Indian creek, forty persons in Elk creek, fifty persons in Little and Big Twin, fifty persons in Brown's run, twenty persons in Beaver creek, and ten persons in East Little Miami.

In the matter of deaths it is believed that over three thousand funeral sermons have been preached and marriage ceremonies performed

Now, in old age, after a life full of great trial and one ladened with the choicest fruits, he, though not wealthy but left in good circumstances, is left without a helpmeet. About him, all up and down the country, are hosts of friends. Many are in Heaven and many more are homeward bound. To him God has been gracious; life with him has been a success. God, he fully believes, called him to preach. Every one to his notion is selected by his Master to go forth and meet sin.

The forest has faded before his ax as well as immorality. May God continue to bless him in the future as in the past. The present is short, but the future will find him in the best calling in our land.