Coshocton County, Ohio - Chapter 48: Schools and Chueches of Coshocton, 1881

Chapter 48: Schools and Chueches of Coshocton

SCHOOL facilities in Coshocton were meager indeed during the formative stages of its growth, and even for many years after. The ihen great West attracted many settlers who cared little or nothing for the benefits of education, and made no eflbrts to provide their children with even the rudiments of learning, and even had they been so disposed, the demands of pioneer life in other directions were so pressing as to forbid much time or attention being paid to it. There were some, it is true, who brought with them from the East a deep conviction of the necessity tf education, and who did what they could to implant it in this community ; but their resources were limited, and they made but tardy advancement.

Rev. Calhoun says: "It is worthy of being noted that, according to the best information we can obtain, five or six years after the settlement of Coshocton, it was destitute of a school of any kind." According to his statement, the first school in Coshocton was established in the year 1807, by Joseph Harris, who had the year before taught a school at the Evans settlement, in Oxford township. It was held in the house of Calvin Bobbet, which seems to have been vacated by him shortly after he built it, situated on lot 219 Second street, just north of William Burns' residence. In January, 1808, some difficulty arose between the school master and his pupils, and he was obliged to seek employment, in his vocation, elsewhere. The nature of the difficulty is unknown, but considering the season of the year, it is probable that the teacher was " barred out " for refusing to treat, as was the custom in those times, on New Years Day. However that may be, Coshocton lost its first pedagogue.

In 1809, Charles Roberts taught a school in this settlement a part of the time, in the neighborhood of Fulton's or Cartmell's, and another portion of his time in a house standing on Second street.

Israel H. Buker is also recollected as one of the early school-teachers. He was a Revolutionary soldier, was quite acceptable as a teacher and taught several quarters in a house standing on the river bank in the southwestern part of the town, on or near the south line of south ouMot number 1.

It would not be desirable, even if it were possible, to follow up each school that has been taught here. Prior to 1828 there was no school-house of any kind, though quite a number had already been built in the neighboring settlements; and the desultory schools that were taught were held wherever the use of a vacant cabin could be obtained, scarcely ever twice in the same place. About 1818, William B. Hubbard, who came here from St. Clairsville, ta,ught a quarter on lot 167 Second street, where James Johnson now resides, in a building which had previously been used by Captain Abram Sells as a furniture shop. Mr. Hubbard, from all accounts, was an excelleiit teacher; he soon after returned to St. Clairsville, and subsequently .went to Columbus, where he attained celebrity as a banker, lawyer and railroad magnate. James Madden, from Virginia, taught in a building near the northeast corner of

Secoad and Chestnut streets. He was crippled in one arm, but excelled as a penman, and taught several quarters. He afterwards moved to White Eyes township where he continued his chosen occupation. A Mr. Jackson also taught here. He is described as- a very irascible and stern individual, who wanted but the slightest provocation to exercise his pedagogical right to flog. He taught in the fall of 1828, when the hero of New Orleans was a candidate for President. An enthusiastic young Democrat innocently hurrahed for Jackson one day in the school yard, and the dignified professor, deeming this a reflection upon his name, administered to the offending youth an unusually severe dose of discipline) which rendered him very unpopular to the predominating derhocratic element of the village.

Moses L. Neel taught for a number of years, probably beginning in 1819 or 1820 in a rough cabin, standing just south of the mill on the southwest corner of Main and Second streets. He was impetuous and brilliant, and gave satisfaction as a teacher. He was a remarkably fine penman.

The court house, too, was utilized for school purposes for a few years. James Matthews taught a term hffife in 1831. He afterwards represented the county in the State legislature and served two terms in congress, 1841-5. Moses Neel also taught in the court house. All these were subscription schools. The terms, as gathered from several of Mr. Neel's school contracts for the years 1824-6 and 6, were two dollars per quarter for each scholar. Money must have been a rare article for the subscriptions were made payable in "common country produce" at the cash price when delivered. The subscribers also agreed to "furnish a comfortable school house, benches, seats, tables, fuel cut and split in good order and proper size for the chimney, and delivered at the door " of the school house. The teachers rarely ventured beyond instruction in " reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic," and usually taught only the first principles of these.

In 1825, the legislature passed a general bill authorizing, on certain conditions, the levying of a tax, not exceeding in amount $300, for building a school-house. Bate (or tuition) bills could be arranged for and relied on where the tax was insufficient. The minutes of the commissioners show that in June, 1828, " Upon application it is ordered by the commissioners of said county that Samuel Lee and his associates have a privilege of building a school-house on the southwest corner of the public square, in the town of Coshockton (as it was then spelled), 0.," the building to be " a good, decent brick or frame house not to be less than twenty feet square, or larger if they think it necessary." Accordingly a littlebrick school-house twenty by thirty feet, containing one room, was erected and served as the village school for about twenty years. Among the earliest teachers in the building were Mr. Barnes and Mr. O'Neal, a law student in the office of James Matthews; among its latest teachers were Messrs. Alexander, James Irvine and James Dryden and Eev. H. K. Hennigh.

" In the latter part of this period, say from 1840 to 1850, there was a growing conviction that thorough and extended scholarship had not beenv attained under the public school system as then ordered by law, and this fact and a higher sense of the importance of the religious element in education gave rise to a number of privateschools and academies. In this work at Coshocton were engaged Rev. E. Buckingham, and especially Rev. Addison Cofiey, both of the Presbyterian church. The latter built quite a good brick house with the view of making room for boarders, and had for his school-house the building now occupied by W. R. Porker, both buildings being on south Fourth street." The removal from the county of Messrs. Buckingham and Coffey, involved the discontinuance of these institutions.

The present graded schools were established under the " Akron law," passed in 1849. William K. Johnson, Joseph C. Maginity, John G. Smith, Joseph Guinther, John Tidball and Jacob Waggoner were chosen by the citizens as the first board of education. As first established, there were three departments in the schools, two primary and a higher one. William R. Powers, formerly of New York, then of Utica, Ohio, was employed as superintendent, assisted in the higher department by Miss Sallie Elder (Mrs. George Dewey). Miss Araminta Bodelle (Mrs. - H. N. Shaw) and Miss Caroline Stewart (Mrs. Samuel Denman) presided over the two primary schools. Soon after a secondary school was started -and taught by Miss Elder, her place in the higher -school being supplied by Miss Delia Eoberts (Mrs. Houston Hay). The schools at that time held their sessions in a little frame school-house in the southeast corner of the north school lot, where the little white school-house now stands, and in the basements of the Methodist Episcopal and the Second Presbyterian churches. The little brick school-house on the public square had become dilapidated, and owing to the location, objection Tvas made to repairing it.

The following petition is here given, as much for the preservation of names of old citizens attached to it, as for the interest shown in the cause of education. The petition was presented to the legislature by Timothy A. Condit, then a member of that body from Coshocton :

The undersigned citizens of the school district composed of the town of Coshocton and vicinity, respectfully represent: That with a desire of improving the public school in said district, and of establishing a central county school in which students from all parts of the county might, on, liberal .terms, enjoy educational advantages superior to those afforded in the ordinary district school, with a view to their employment in the business cif teaching, they have established and have now in successful operation in said town a Union School, under the provisions of the "act for the better regulation of public schools," etc., passed February 21, 1849, and that the expenses necessarily incurred in the organization and support of said school are so great as to amount to a heavy burden on the taxable property of said district;

The undersigned therefore pray that by an enactment of your honorable body, all fines hereafter collected for violations of the criminal law, occurring within the bounds of said district, may be appropriated to the support of said school, to be expended in the same manner as the school Jund now provided by law, etc.

In 1853, it was determined to erect a suitable school-house. A considerable amount of feeling was manifested in regard to the location of it. Some were anxious to have it erected on the quarter block (two original town lots), at the northeast corner of Fourth and Main streets, fronting the public square. Others insisted upon placing it upon the square at the norti end of the town, given by the original proprietors of the town for that purpose. The latter carried the day. The building (a two-story brick, thif ty by eighty feet, with belfry,) was finished in 1855. A. N. Milner, a merchant and general operator, took the contract at about $4,500. A small allowance was subsequently made, but it was claimed that he was out of pocket very largely, whether by proper cost or through want, of management, is disputed. The brick work was done by Henry*- Davis; the carpenter work, et^., by George Hay. The bell was added six or eight years afterwardpurchased by the fines paid in that year by the violators of the liquor law. The shade trees which adorn the large school yard, were planted by superintendent W. A. McKee. When this school-house was built, the board of education was composed of B. R. Shaw, J. C. Tidball, Jacob Waggoner, A. L. Cass, H. Cantwell and William Sample.

There are no accessible records, from which to obtain the complete list of names and periods of feervice of the subsequent members of the board, but the following persons have served in this capacity since : John Frew, Thomas Campbell, H. N. Shaw, James Dryden, J. G. Stewart, Henry Davis, W. H. Robinson, A. J. Wilkin, J. C. Pomerine, A. H. Spangler, D. F. Denman, J. M. Oompton, J. S. Wilson, C. H Johnson, T. J. Madden and W. W. Walker. The board at this time embraces G. H. Barger, Henry Davis, Williand .Crowell, E. J. Pocock, William Carnahan and W. H. Robinson.

To meet the demands of a rapidly increasing enrollment the board in 1870 erected a two-story brick on the northeast corner of Walnut and Seventh streets. In 1874 a small frame was erected on the southeast corner of the north school lot, and the accomodations being still insufficient, two primary schools were set up in a private house on Chestnut street, just east of the railroad.

In 1876 an imposing three-story front addition was built to the school-house on Walnut and Seventh streets. The plans were furnished by Johnson & Kremler, of Columbus, ,and the work done by the Coshocton planing mill company. Its cost was $15,000,

The growth of the schools during the decade which has just ended has been rapid. For the year 1879-80 there were 681 pupils enrolled and the average daily attendance was 565. Thirteen teachers are employed. The course es^tends over a period of twelve years, four in each of the three departments, primary, grammar and high. The first graduating class was that of 1879, containing six members; the class of '80 consisted of seven members. Several futile attempts have Iseen made to establish advanced educational in- in this place. " In 1870 the Presbyterian Church of Coshocton made a proposition to give the frame church building for a school-house, and a strip of ground - now occupied by the parsonage - whereon to erect a boarding house, to a "board of trustees appointed by the session, but including representative members of other denominations, to the nvimber of two-thirds of the board, if the community would assist in securing not less than 15,000, wherewith to erect the boarding house. Over $4,000 were subscribed - all but $800 by members of the Presbyterian Church, but the community manifested so little interest in this movement to secure the ' Coshocton Female - College,' that the church, after waiting a year, withdrew the proposition and proceeded to erect a parsonage with the fund so far as it had been contributed within the church.

" A few years later Rev. Mr. Lee, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the president of an institution called the One^Study University, undertook to start a branch of that university under the name of ' Coshocton College ' but the effort also was quite abortive - the concern leading a feeble life for a year or so, and then passing away."

In early days preaching could only be had occasionally, and this was usually by ministers either engaged in western missionary work, or passing fortuitously through the county. Prior to 1811, there was probably no preaching in Coshocton. Rev. Calhoun is authority for the statement that, in 1810, " from all we can learn, there was not a praj'ing family in the town, and probably a Christian prayer had never been offered on the town plat."

After Dr. Samuel Lee became a resident of the place in 1811, Rev. Timothy Harris, a Congregational minister, of Granville, who had accompanied him from Vermont, used to preach here occasionally. Others, doubtless, whose names are now lost beyond recall, conducted meetings in private houses, from time to time, during the decade that followed the organization of the county. The first denomination to effect an organization in Coshocton was the Presbyterian. Its history has been kindly furnished by James R. Johnson, as follows:

The churches of Keene and Coshocton were originally one organization. The date of organization, as gathered a few years later; from the earliest members, is shown by the following entry in the record book, in 1827 :

As nearly as can now be ascertained this chur'ch was formed in the fall of 1818, by Rev. J. Cunningham, of Richland Presbytery. It was called "The Church of the Congregations of Coshocton and Millcreek ; " and at that time was composed of the following members :

Church services were held in private houses until after the erection of the court-house, in 1824, and the brick school-house, in 1828 ; both on the public square.

A record was begun July 14, 1827, at which time Rev. Thomas Barr preached, and eighteen additional members were received. From this time the church had preachiftg more regularly, the services being mostly held at Keene, as the membership there was much greater than at Coshocton.

In 3824, with the assistance of Rev. James Cunningham, the first Sunday-school in the county was started, in Coshocton, under the superintendence of James Renfrew. It met for a time in the currying shop of his tan-yard, on Second street; then in the tavern, corner Second and Walnut streets; then in the court-house, and later in the school-house. In January, 1829, we find fourteen teachers and seventy-six pupils enrolled. This school has been kept up regularly till the present day.

Rev. Samuel Rose, a Congregational minister, preached to the church for a few months, about the year 1827. Rev. George W. Warner (now living in Columbia county, N. Y.,) preached here from November 24, 1828, to April 10, 1831. It was during his ministry that the first Presbyterian communion service in Coshocton was held, January 15, 1831, in the court-house, Rev. John Pitkins officiating. The church was supplied by Rev. Henry Hervey, of Martinsburg, and others, until the spring of 1834, when Rev. Nathaniel Conkling began his labors here.

In April, 1834, a lease, from the county commissioners to Samuel Lee, William K. Johnson and John Porter, as trustees, granted permission to erect a church building on the public square. By a great effort a substantial frame building, thirty by forty-two feet, was erected the same year. It faced Main street, standing back about ten feet from the line of the street, and opposite lot 316. This was the first church building in Coshocton. It had one wide aisle; in which stood two stoves, the pipes ascending straight to the ceiling ; in the north end a high box-pulpit; in the opposite end a choir gallery; four very large windows on each side and two next the street, with glass eight by ten inches. The wood-work inside and out was painted white. In later years the ladies' sewing society had the walls papered and green Venetian shutters put to the windows, and the pulpit and double front door grained in oak, and a rag carpet placed in the aisle. It had no belfry or bell", the court-house bell being used for court, fires, funerals, school," church and political meetings.

During the two years' ministry of Mr. Conkling, the churches of Keene and Coshocton became separate organizations; a good church building was erected at each of these places, fourteen members were added at Coshocton and thirtyeight at K^ene. The first year, Mr. Conkling lived at Coshocton, the second year, at Keene. He had five children; one of them, now Rev. Nathaniel Conkling, D. D., of New York City, was born at Keene. Mrs. Conkling is buried at Keene.

Mr. Conkling was succeeded by Rev. Joseph S. WyUe, the first minister who was installed as pastor of the church. During the five years of his ministry (1836-1841) some forty-eight members were added at Coshocton, and the church was incorporated by act of the legislature as " The First Presbyterian Church of the town of Coshocton, in Coshocton county."

In 1838, some difficulties arose which led to the withdrawal of fourteen members, who were formed (January 12, 1839) into a new school Presbyterian Church, known as the Second church. Mr. Wylie preached at Keene part of his time.

Rev. E. Buckingham preached to the second church from 1839 till 1846, in which time eightyseven members were added and a frame church building, thirty-eight by fifty-five feet, with stone basement, was erected on lot 50, Fourth street, in 1840. The basement was used for service until the audience room was completed, October 14,, 1849. Rev. Henry Calhoun (now of Ironton) began preaching in the Second church in the spring of 1846, and remained eleven j-ears. During his ministiy sixty-two were added. He also taught school, and preached in Roscoe part of his time. April 25, 1857, fifteen members were dismissed to form a separate church in Roscoe. A very flourishing Sunday-school was another feature of Mr. Calhoun's ministry. This for some years was the largest Sunday-school in town.

Rev. Addison Cdffey, from Lebanon, Ohio, began preaching in the FiTst church, as stated supply, August 8, 1841, and was installed pastor August 4, 1843. The pastoral relation was dissolved September 2, 1847. Sixty-six were added during his ministry.

He built a school-house on lot 87, and a brick dwelling on lot 85, with a view to keeping school boarders. He went to Peoria, Illinois, where he has since died. The shorter ministries of Mr. Hennigh, Mr. Jacob, and others in the First church, and of Mr. Wallace and others in the

History 01' Coshocton County

During Mr. Jacob's ministry, a ladies' sewing society was formed in> the First church; Mrs. Joseph K. Johnson, president; Miss Isabel Sample, treasurer. A society of the same sort was maintained in the Second church. Mrs. Buctingham, president. Plain sewing and fancy needle work, an annual fair and festival and evening mite meetings have been their sources of revenue. To this time they have contributed for repairs, and toward the erection of a new church and parsonage, some |6,500.

Rev. William E. Hunt, the present pastor, began preaching in Coshocton in July, 1856, and was ordained and installed April 15, 1857. The following events of his twenty-five years' ministry are worthy of special mention :

2. 'The acquisition, in 1857, of the parsonage on lot 314. The lot was the gift of W. K. Johnson & Co., a frame building being erected by the rest of the congregation. This was sold in 1871, to

5. The reunion, after a separation of thirty years, of the First and Second churches, which was consummated September 11, 1870, after worshiping together for a period of three years under a temporary arrangement; the membership of the First church being, at the time of the reunion, 112 ; that of the Second church, seventyfive ; the session of the united church being made up of the elders of both churches, Rev. William E. Hunt, pastor; corporate name. The Presbyteterian Church of Coshocton.

6. The erection, in 1871, of a new parsonage, adjoining the church, at a cost of $6,000. TTwo thousand six hundred dollars of this was raised as a special memorial fund to commemorate the reunion.

8. The sale of the old First church, in 1868, to J. M. Brown, for $400, now used for stores, corner Fourth and Main streets ; and the sale of the old Second church, in 1873, to J. C. Fisher and others, for $3,000, now remodeled and used for printing and lawyers' offices.

Besides the regular weekly services of the church, Mr. Hunt has, up to this time, conducted 265 funeral services, and performed 390 marriage ceremonies.

The church now has 209 members, with 200 pupils in Sunday-school ; and besides the ladies' sewing society, already mentioned, has two missionary societies and a young people's association ; is out of debt, and annually raises $1,800 for current expenses, and $300 for missionary and other berievolent enterprises.

The Methodist Protestant church at Coshocton was organized soon after the disruption in the Methodist church, in consequence of 'which the Methodist Protestant denomination sprang into being. It was probably in the year 1830 that Rev. Rufus Richason formed a little class consisting of Zebedee Baker and Susanna his wife, David Waggoner and wife, Mary Darnes, and one or two others. The early preaching was held in the court-house. About 1840 the erection of a substantial brick church was begun, and completed a year or two later. It stands on Locust street between Second and Third, and of late years has been occupied by the German Lutherans. During the winter preceding its erection, a noted series of revival meetings were held at the court house by Rev. William Munhall. As a result of these meetings one hundred and thirty accessions were made to the three churches then organized, a large proportion of the converts joining the Methodist Protestant society. Not long after the church began to decline ; the membership steadily decreased until within a few years when services were wholly discontinued. The last minister was Joseph Thrapp. Of the early preachers may be mentioned Joel Dolby, Israel Thrapp, Zachariah Ragan, John Burns, N. Sneethen and Rev. Reeves, whose wife also could preach a sermon when it became necessary. Among the more prominent ministerial laborers of a somewhat later day were Thomas Stevens, Phineas Inskeep and Joseph Hamilton.

The membership at one time amounted to about one hundred, and fo'r three years the church formed a separate station. A Sundayschool was organized soon after the church was built, and for a while was considered the best in Coshocton.

dates back to the year 1840. Prior to that year different ministers had preached in the town,, from time to time, as occasion offered, for a number of years - such as Thomas A. Morris (afterward bishop), David Young, Jacob Young, Robert 0. Spencer, William B. Christie, John Dillon and others. A few years ago Rev. B. P. Beazell prepared a historical record of the circuit to which Coshocton belonged, from which most of the following has been taken. Rev. J. N. Baird says:

I was sent to Coshocton in the summer of 1840. Found the territory I was to organize into a circuit to be bounded by the Muskingum river, from Coshocton down to the mouth of Will's creek; up the same to the neighborhood of Linton; thence north, to the plains near Evansburg; thence down to the place of beginning. There were societies at East Plainfield, Marquand's and Robinson's. There was no society in Coshocton - indeed, but one member was found there. Sister Spangler. 'Thomas C. Ricketts had, a little before that, united with the church in Roscoe; was yet on probation, and afterwards came to us, when we organized. There was a Brother Conwell, also, who had been a member of the church somewhere, and joined us, when we organized. But Mrs. David Spangler was the only member of the church at the time of my arrival, and to her, as much as to any preacher, perhaps, our struggling enterprise there, is indebted for success. Her noble husband, though not a member, was always helpful in every way. I preached in the court-house, and organized the first class of twelve members in the old jury box. I left a considerable society - near seventy members, I think - and was succeeded by Rev. John J. Swayze, at that time the most popular m-an in the pulpit, in the conference.

The twelve members of that first class were : Elizabeth Spangler, Thomas C. Ricketts, George E. Conwell, Felix Landers, David Frew, Benjamin R. Shaw, Henrietta Shaw, Nancy Decker, Martha Wallace, Mary Wallace, Abraham Sells and Lucy Thomas. It was organized within a few months after Dr. Baird's arrival. Dr. Baird was a faithful and efficient worker, and at the expiration of his two years' term of service, left the society in a prosperous condition. Preaching was continued at the court-house until the church was built. This was begun during Dr. Baird's pastorate. The original record book bears this inscription : "At a meeting held in the town of Coshocton, May 9, 1842, by the friends and members of the M. E. church, for the purpose of consultation as to the propriety of erecting a house for pubUc worship - WilUam McFarland having been called to the chair, and E. B. made secretary - on motion of David 'Spangler, it was unanimously resolved that we take immediate measures to secure a site and a suitable building." Accordingly a committee of five persons was appointed to secure a location and solicit subscriptions. Thomas C. Eicketts, James Eobinson, David Frew and William McFarland, composed the committee. An Mditional committee, consisting of James- Le- Eetilley, Theophilus Phillips and Samuel Hutchinson, was appointed to secure subscriptions in Eoscoe. At a subsequent meeting, David Frew, B. E. Shaw and George E. Con well, were elected a building committee.

A vote of thanks for the liberal subscriptions of ihe community is recorded, and then, among 'Other things, the following : " Resolved, That we accept the proposal of Mr. John Elliott to erect said building for the sum of $2,500, as per con- -tract;" at the same time paying him $1,099, the amount of subscriptions then obtained. Four years later, when the building was finally ready for use, little or nothing remained to be paid. The church was dedicated in the early summer of 1846, during, the pastorate of Rev. E. P. Jacob, by Eev. Wesley Eenny, D. D., then of Wheeling' Since that time it has been repaired and improved at different times at an aggregate expense of not -less than double its original cost.

Until 1859 the circuit retained, substantially, its original shape, but in that year a division was made. Coshocton, Robinson's and Lafayette formed one pastoral charge, retaining the old name. Lafayette, by request, was next year placed in the Plainfield circuit. For nine years Robinson's and Coshocton constituted one pastoral charge ; but, in 1868, the former was included in the Plainfield circuit, since when the latter has been a station.

In view of the dilapidated condition of the ohurch, Mrs. David Spangler, who was one of the original members of the church, and has always "taken a deep interest in its prosperity, made the following proposition to the members and friends of the M. E. church, of Coshocton, June 12, 1879:

" On condition that the sum of $5,000 be raised to erect a Methodist Episcopal church, in the village of Coshocton, I promise to give the south half of lot No. 56, in said village, being situated on the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, for the purpose of erecting said church edifice." The offer was unanimously accepted by the trustees a few days later, a subscription paper put in circulation, and the amount speedily raised. The old church building, which stands on Third street (lot 147), between Chestnut and Locust streets, and the adjoining parsonage, which was secured in 1862, built by Charles McCloskey, were sold to D. R. Culbertson for $1,250. It was abandoned by the congregation in the fall of 1880, services and Sunday-school being held in the city hall during the winter of 1880-81, until the new church was ready for occupation.

At a meeting of the trustees, December 8, 1879, the contract for building the church was let to S. C. Dillon, of Dresden, for $8,603; for which amount he was to finish the building entire except glass for windows, frescoing, heaters and seats in Sunday-school room. The aggregate cost was in round numbers $10,000. The ladies aid society, organized February 17, 1873, a very efficient auxilliary to the church organization, has been active and earnest in its support of the new enterprise, and has contributed largely to its success. The church is. one of the finest structures in Coshocton. It was dedicated, free of debt, April 24, 1881, by Bishop Warren, of Atlanta, Ga. The membership of the church is 235.

The Sflnday-school was organized August 8, 1845j with George E. Conwell, superintendent, Russell C. Bryant, secretary, and W. Wells, librarian. One of the early entries in the " minute book" is this: "It would be much better to have the male and female scholars kept in separate rooms, and we hope the congregation will build a school-house." The earliest record of attendance is five teachers and thirty-five scholars. From that day of small things the school has gone steadily on, with increasing advantages and numbers, doing incalculable good. There are now eighteen classes and over 300 members enrolled. E. J, Pocock is serving his fifth term as superintendent of the school; I. B. Dillon is secretary and Miss Ida Anderson, treasurer.

The . German Lutheran congregation, which now worships in the old Methodist Protestant church, was organized about forty years ago in Roscoe. It appears that no record has been kept and little is known of its early history. The meetings were at first held in the old brick schoolhouse on the hill, but when the Presbyterian church was erected at Roscoe, in 1849, the members of the German Lutheran church contributed $300 to the building fund, and in return had the use of the building each alternate Sunday. The majority of the membership becoming residents of Coshocton, services were transferred to this place. They were held for a number of years in the old Second Presbyterian church on Fourth street, now "Equity Building;" then the present house of worship was engaged and sincewDccupied, and kept in repair by the society. The membership, through dissatisfaction, has been consi'derably reduced during the last few years, and is now quite limited. Rev. Grumer, of Newark, supplies the congregation at present.

St. George Catholic church was built in 1859. Rev. Serge De Stchaulepinkoff - a Russian priest who, on becoming Catholic, had been compelled to leave his country - was sent to Coshocton the year before, as pastor of the several country churches previously established. Soon after he arrived, he organized the church at Coshocton, and the following year, under his direction, this church was erected. It is located on lot 102, Third street, between Chestnut and Locust. Among the earliest adherents to this faith who settled in and about Coshocton, and became identified with the church at its organization, were Thomas Collopy, Mr. Trainer, James Hallesey, George Factor, Joseph Guinther and Joseph O'DonnelL The first pastor continued in charge for some three years and was succeeded at short intervals by Fathers Andres, Rauch and Nordmeyer - all sent by Rev. J. B. Purcell, Archbishop of Cincinnati. In January, 1869, Rev. John M. Jacquet was appointed pastor by the Right Rev. J. H.. Rosecrans, who, the year before, had been made First Bishop of Columbus. Through his ii^strumentality both the church building and the pastoral residence have been much improved, and all debts against the charge paid off. The membership is somewhat limited in number, and for some years has remained about the same.

A Regular Baptist church was constituted at Coshocton, August 23, 1834, the services being held at the house of Wilson McGowan (who was a leading member and for many years clerk of the congregation), and conducted by Elders John Pritchard, George C. Sedgewick, William Spencer and William Purdy. Elder Sedgwick Rice was the minister until May 5, 1838, when hfi was at his own request released. He died some time thereafter, leaving a pleasant recollection of him in the community as a godly man and an able and earnest advocate of his church. After his services ceased, the church was supplied by several brethren for several years, until it seems to have beep practically dissolved about 1848, The McGowan, Bryant, Welch, Burt, Coe, Carhart, Farwell, Loder, Miller, Estinghausen, Whittemore, , Babcock, Sprague, Elliott, Wright and Odor families seem to have been connected with this movement. At one time there were some' thirty-seven members. The services were held in the court-house. Benjamin Coe was the last clerk of the congregation.

A recent effort to establish another society of this faith in Coshocton has met with success. Rev. H. L. Gear, financial secretary of the OhiO' State Baptist convention, held a series of meetings in the Protestant Methodist church during January, 1878, and on the 3l8t day of the same^ month a church was here constituted, to be known as the First Baptist Church of Coshocton, with the following membership: Elizabeth Bonnett, Flora Love, Mary E. Gardner, Delilah Henry, Anna Breightman, Sarah Pelton, Elizabeth Burt and Almedia Coe. The articles of faith and -church covenant, as found in J., Newton Brown's Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, were adopted. On the same day a council, composed members of Dresden, Pleasant Hill, Tomaka and Chestnut Hill Baptist churches, met at ^he same place. After an examination of the articles of faith, church covenant, and reasons for organizing a Baptist church in Coshocton, the council recognized the organization with the following services : Sermon, by Rev. J. P. Hunter ; charge to the church, by Rev. J. Wright; and hand of fellowship, by Rev. H. L. Gear. February 2, Rev. J. P. Hunter was called as first pastor of the church. He entered upon his pastoral duties April 1, 1878, and at the expiration of eighteen months resigned. The church was then without a pastor for a few months, but Rev. D. Trichler was soon called to the charge, and entered upon his wor^ in February, 1880. Tfie church began bolding services in Central Hall, in March, 1878, and in the following month it was resolved to -erect a house of worship. Within a year a neat and comfortable edifice, substantially built of brick, was completed, at a cost of $3,457. It was -dedicated March 16, 1879. The present officers are : Rev. D. Trichler, pastor ; E. W. Williams, deacon ; John Robinson, E. A. Breightman, and E. Williams, trustees; L. P. Hay, clerk. The church numbers forty members. A mite society is an active auxiliary in benevolent enterprises. A Sunday-school was organized at Central Hall in the spring of 1878, and is now in good working order, superintended by E. Williams. It contains about fifty scholars.

Trinity Church, a congregation belonging to the Episcopal Church, was organized at the law office of W. S. Crowell, in October, 1878, by the adoption of articles of association^ November 2, following, S. D. Brewster was elected the first rector. The first services were held December 8, 1878, in McClain's Hall, which is still the place of meeting. The financial affairs of the body were managed by a committee appointed for the purpose until January, 1879, when the first officers were elected. James S. Wilson was chosen Senior Warden; W. S. Crowell, Junior Warden; and W. W. Bostwick, L. T. Judd and Thomas Wilson, Vestrymen. Rev. S. D. Brewster continued at the head of the society until February, 1880, when Rev. J. M. Hillyar was elected rector. The original members numbered twenty-seven; there has since been a material increase in membership.

A successful Sabbath-school was established July, 1879, which has been under the management of W. S. Crowell since its organization. Its membership is about fifty.