Who's Who at Akron Gospel Hall, OH

Akron Gospel Hall, Akron, Summit Co., OH (OB) +1898-2025+

Early Correspondents

• Dan Becker +1898+
• M.W. Becker +1927-1932+
• Joseph Bercaw +1936-1966
• Thomas Wright 1967-1991
• Kenneth Webb 1992-present?

Resident Workers

• Harry Becker 1913+
• William B. Johnson +1944

Notable Families

Becker family

AA 1949-6: With Christ: Cleveland, OH: "Harry Becker of this city went home on June 3, after a brief illness when many of the Lord’s people prayed for him. The Cleveland Press of June 4 said, “Harry Becker led a dual life of preacher and railroad engineer. He began his preaching career in 1913. His 'pulpit’ was the Tom Johnson Square. Devoted to this personal evangelism, he spoke to thousands of passers by. Before coming to Cleveland six years ago he lived in Columbus, Orville and Akron. Until he made his permanent home here, his preaching on the square was during railroad stopovers.” Traveling in his years of retirement on a railroad pass made it convenient for Mr. Becker to travel and he was often seen at conferences of the Lord’s people. He attended the Christian Workers' Conference each year. Mrs. Becker requests prayer for his son Dan who gave evidence of being troubled as he listened to the Word, and also for his daughters who are away from the Lord."

• Dan Becker +1898+
• Harry Becker +1913+ (d. 1949)
  • Dan Becker
• M.W. Becker +1927-1932+. 1927 @ 376 Orleans Ave., 383 Kathryn Pl., Akron & 681 19th St., Cuyahoga Falls; +1930-1932+: 1733 19th St., C.F.;
• Frank Becker +1946+. He served as a pallbearer that year for William P. Douglas' memorial service, as a brother representing the Akron assembly. See Assembly Annals 1946-6 and/or the Soper family.

Bercaw family

From +1936-1966, Joseph resided at 928 Bisson Ave., and served as a correspondent for AGH during this time.

• Joseph Bercaw +1936-1966+

Calderhead family

See Who's Who at Lincoln Heights Gospel Chapel (formerly the old Mansfield Gospel Hall) for a more detailed biography of the Calderhead family. Mansfield Gospel Hall, founded prior to 1936, had a division in 1948 when they rebranded as LHGC, and David transferred to AGH with some of his children, and Agnes stayed with other children in Mansfield until presumably the start of the newer Mansfield Gospel Hall founded about 1959 thru the preaching of Norman Crawford, Lorne McBain, etc.

Then it is assumed that David & Agnes reunited in co-founding the new MGH. Some of their descendants also assisted with the founding of Clyde Gospel Hall founded about 1958. David was commended to the Lord's work presumably while in Scotland, also in his time in Phillipsburg, New Jersey 1930-1931+, and definitely by the assembly in Asheville, North Carolina when he removed in 1940 to the old Mansfield Gospel Hall.

• David Octavius Calderhead 1948-1958? (b. 1897 Camnethan, Lanarkshire, Strathclyde, Scotland - d. 1980 Mansfield, OH), son of James Calderhead (b. 1860 Galston, Ayrshire, Strathclyde, Scot. - d. 1930 Larkhall, Strathclyde, Scot.) & Elizabeth Keer Borland Sharp-Calderhead (b. 1858 West Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire, Strathclyde, Scot. - d. 1930 Larkhall, Scot.).
• Agnes Morton McFarlane Calderhead (b. 1897 Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scot. - d. 1989 Mansfield, OH), daughter of John Ross McFarlane (b. 1872 Carluke, South Lanarkshire, Scot. - d. 1944 Hamilton, ON) & Christina Gray McLean McFarlane (b. 1875 Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, Scot. - d. 1925 Hamilton, ON).
  • Elizabeth "Betty" McFarlane Calderhead Hoffman 1948?+ (b. 1922 Larkhall, Scot. - d. 2019 Mansfield, OH).
  • James "Jim" Calderhead (b. 1925 Larkhall, Scot. - d. 2005 Mansfield, OH).
  • Peter Thomas McFarlane Calderhead lived in 1928 at Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland, dying as an infant.
  • David McFarlane Calderhead 1948+? (b. 1937 Asheville, Buncombe, NC - d. 2011 Mansfield, OH). Wife (1959): Rowean N. Davis Calderhead, daughter of Bernard J. Davis.
  • Anna Jean Calderhead Cunningham 1948?+ (b. 1937 Asheville, NC - d. 2011 Bellaire, Harris, TX).
    • Laura Ann Cunningham (b. 1961 Akron, Summit, OH - d. 2022 Loveland, Larimer, CO).

Hyslop family

AA 1946-12: With Christ: Akron, OH: "Mrs. Alex Hyslop passed into the presence of the Lord on August 4th at the age of 58 years. She was saved 45 years ago in Ayrshire, Scotland, came to this country in 1906, was identified with the Assemblies in Indiana and for the last 16 years at Akron, Ohio. She is survived by her husband, two daughters and four sons, all saved and in the assembly. Brethren R. McCracken, Steve Mick and Oswald MacLeod spoke seasonable words at the funeral service."

• Alex Hyslop
• Mrs. Alex Hyslop 1930-1946 (d. 1946)

Johnson family

• LOI 1945-2:
  • With the Lord: William B. Johnson: Our brother, a well known servant of the Lord, late of 927 Chalker St.,

Akron, Ohio, passed suddenly but peacefully into the Lord’s presence on Dec. 1, 1944. He had been in ill health for some years but had breakfast as usual, and while reading the scriptures with Mrs. Johnson, went home to be with Christ. Brethren W.P. Douglas and R.W. McCracken, both of Cleveland, spoke at the funeral service. We commend Mrs. Johnson to the prayers of the Lord’s people." Memorial officiated by W.P. Douglas.

• • W.P. Douglas, 2016 Brunswick Rd., E. Cleveland, OH: "Our aged brother nearing his 85th birthday is not able to move about much, but on occasions he can minister the word of God with freshness. He took part in the funeral service of brother W. B. Johnson of Akron, Ohio. Writing to a friend recently he said, "Few have had a longer race nor have been the recipient of greater care, thought and love of a gracious, forbearing and patient 'God, for as

long as I have been-now in my 68th year of grace. Surely I can say "Who is a pardoning God like Thee, Or whohas grace, so rich and free."

• • Widows of the Lord's Servants: "Honor widows that are widows indeed" (1 Tim. 5:3). Since we last published a list of widows of the Lord's servants in the issue of April 1944, four more sisters have been bereft of their husbands. This brings the list of sisters thus widowed in the past five years to 33.
    • Mrs. William Grierson, 4406 Greely St., Houston, TX: widowed 5-28-1944
    • Mrs. Ansley Goodwin, Pugwash Junction, Nova Scotia, Canada: widowed 8-4-1944
    • Mrs. Alfred Mace, c/o Mrs. Knutson, 3035 S.E. Aukeny St., Portland, OR: widowed 9-9-1944
    • Mrs. W.B. Johnson, 927 Chalker St., Akron, OH: 12-1-1944

• William B. Johnson +1944 (d. 1944 Akron, OH)
• Mrs. Johnson +1944-1945+

Soper family

AA 1946-3: "With Christ: John Soper, 70, departed to be with Christ January 28th. Ho was saved and associated with the assembly in Akron for the past 48 years. He left his father's homo In Detroit, because his father continued to bring before him his need of God's salvation. A printer by trade, he camo to Akron and obtained employment in a large printing establishment. He had never seen such large machines, as they gave him to operate; and was looking in a puzzled way at the machine when a young man spoke to him and said “Let me set up that job for you” and at once he started John at work. After lunch he came again and set up the job and started the machine, and then kindly said to John Soper, “Young man are you a Christian?' The arrow of conviction entered bls soul as he answered, “No! I am not.” From that time on Dan Becker lost no opportunity in witnessing to Mr. Soper and as a lost guilty sinner be accepted Christ as his own personal Saviour; ho became associated with the assembly in Akron soon after and bore a good testimony. He loaves an aged widow, also a brother and sister. R.W. McCracken took the funeral services."

• John Soper 1898-1946 (1876-1946)

Webb family

Kenneth has served as a correspondent at AGH since 1992.

• Kenneth Webb +1992-current?

Welsh family

OR 1932-3: Gone Home: Akron, OH: "Mrs. Harley Welsh passed suddenly into the presence of the Lord January 9th. In fellowship here about thirteen years. Brethren Duncan and Becker spoke to a large company at the hall, and Brother White spoke at the grave. Prayer Is requested for the husband and the family of four children."

• Mrs. Harley Welsh 1919-1932 (d. 1932 Akron, OH)

Wright family

Thomas served as a correspondent at AGH from 1967-1991.

• Thomas Wright +1967-1991+

Sources

• 1904-2024 AAB's
• Ancestry.com
• Assembly Annals (AA): 1946-3&6; 1949-6
• Letters of Interest (LOI): 1945-2
• Our Record (OR): 1932-3&5