Fayette County, Ohio - Educational History, 1914 (part 1 of 2)

Educational History

In no one particular has the advancement in higher attainments in civilization shown itself than in the matter of progress in the science of education - for now it is really considered a science.. Here in Fayette county, as in all other Ohio and Western sections, this change for the better is remarkable. While it is true that during the earlier years of her history this state produced many great men and women, who did not have the excellent advantages vouchsafed to the student of the common school and colleges of today, but who, perforce of their inherent will power and ambition to attain to great knowledge, were finally crowned with that ever-to-be-coveted acquirement, a good English education. It is believed by many educators today that the average man and woman, as well as the average school child, of this century does not begin to appreciate and utilize the mighty moving force which our public school system affords one who wills to be well and practically educated. Like the atmosphere we freely breathe from day to day, we forget to lift our heads and hearts and offer thanks to Him that giveth such great blessings.

In the matter of school houses, their sites, their grounds, their inner plans and equipments - all has been revolutionized within thirty years in this county. The standard of teachers, too, has been elevated until it is equal to any in the world. While there may yet be some question as to the equitable prices to be paid for schooling, and the remuneration given for competent teachers, in the main the public is usually pleased to give fair wages, both in the country and town districts, to those competent to properly instruct the young. In the matter of sex, the line is no longer closely drawn; we now have far more women teachers than men, and well it is. Woman is exceptionally well suited for the tedious task of bending the young mind in the way it should go, both intellectually and morally. The profession always has been called honorable, and it is none the less so today than fifty and a hundred years ago.

There is still room for better state school laws, and beyond doubt the new law providing for county school superintendents, a system long practiced in other and younger states, is a step in the right direction.

The Old And The Modern School House

As one roams through one of the twentieth-century school buildings, and views their stone floors and marble faced hall-ways; their efficient heating and lighting plants; the excellent manner in which ventilation is obtained ; the sanitary drinking fountains, conveniently arranged in every hall-way, and then reads descriptions of the early pioneer school houses, the wonderful contrast must be uppermost in the mind. For example, here are a few paragraphs concerning the old-time methods of obtaining a limited education in Ohio and Fayette county. We quote from Dill's history the subjoined :

"Following along a blazed path through the woods, we come to the log school house. We pull the latch-string, enter, a voice from the far interior says 'Come in.' At the request of the 'master, we settle down upon a puncheon bench, the object for all eyes to gaze upon. The first thing we observe is that nearly the whole end of the house is occupied by a fire-place, within whose capacious depths the crackling blaze sends forth light, heat and cheerfulness. Our gaze being attracted to the outside, we look - not through French plate glass, but a hole made by sawing out a log and replac-. ing it with paper greased with lard. Our attention is recalled by a shrill voice: 'Master, maynt I git a drink? The urchin goes to the bucket, setting on the bench near the door, takes the tin cup from the accustomed: peg, dips it full, drinks a few sups, holding it over the bucket meanwhile, pours the balance back, looks around awhile, goes back to his seat and, with his dog-eared book close to his face, is soon lost in study.

"We observe the benches are made of flat rails and puncheons, with wooden pins in them for legs; backs they have none. The master has a table made by driving pins in the wall, and placing hewed puncheons on top of them. Under each window a similar contrivance accommodates the scholars.

"While examining these unique writing desks, we are again startled by a cry, of apparent agony: 'Master, please mayn't I go out?' Consent is: given, and the boy hurriedly moves toward the door, pausing to take down a. stick crooked in shape and carries it out with him. Our curiosity is excited, and while the master's back is turned, we ask a big, white-headed boy near us what it is for, who, upon opening his mouth wide and staring at us in blank amazement, says: 'No other boy don't darst go out while that stick is: gone.'

"Dilworth's Arithmetic, Webster's Spelling Book and the Testament were the usual text-books. It seemed to be an expressed settled fact, that during the recitation a boy could get up a better spirit of inspiration by stentorian competition with his fellows; and in the spelling class, the boy that could spell the loudest should stand at the head. It was interesting to see these boys at the end of the bench standing on tip-toes, with every muscle in a quiver, waiting for the master to say 'Noon,' in order to get out first and raise the biggest yell."

Schools Of Washington C. H.

The first school in Washington C. H. was taught in 1813 by Samuel Lootborrow, in a double log house, one part of which he used for a dwelling, on the corner of Paint and Hind streets. The school, as was common in those days, was made up by subscription and could not have continued more than one or two terms, for in 1814 the first building intended for school purposes in the village was built and James Webster installed as teacher. This was a rough, round-log structure, sixteen by eighteen feet, with a clapboard roof, fastened with weight poles, and was minus a floor. The door was also made of clapboards, arranged horizontally and secured by wooden pegs. One side of the frame extended above and below some inches, the lower end resting in a notch cut in the sill, or bottom log, and the upper end was fastened by pins, driven obliquely into the log above on each side and served as a hinge to the door. The sill mentioned above was more than two feet in diameter and it was with difficulty that the smaller children got over it into the school house. Of course the room was supplied with the customary greased-paper windows and was heated by the huge old-fashioned fireplace peculiar to those primitive days.

The building was located on the northeast side of Market, between Fayette and North streets, on in-lot No. 47, now in possession of Col. H. B. Maynard and occupied a part of the present situation of the old frame Methodist Episcopal church. Webster was followed as teacher in this building by James Clark, an Irishman, who taught here until the house was abandoned in 1816, when school was held in the old court house for several years.

James G. Gray taught in the court house first and was succeeded by Hiram M. Parish and he in turn by Erasmus Grovesnor. About the close of the latter's services a log school house was erected on the corner of Market and Hind streets and was occupied first by a man named Pearson. The house was built of round logs, which were scutched after the building was erected, and was located where the mill later stood on the southeast corner.

Norman F. Jones was Pearson's successor here and continued until the house was abandoned. After this school was held in the old court house, and in unoccupied buildings in different parts of town until 1828, when a small, one-story brick house was erected on Market street, between Main and Fayette streets, but on account of some legal technicality concerning the levy or appropriation made for the building of this house, it was thrown on the hands of the school trustees, but was afterward rented and occupied for school purposes principally until 1845, when a two-story frame school house was built on the site of the old log building, on the corner of Market and Hind streets. This house was used until the union school building on North street, between Temple and Paint, was completed in 1856, which originally was two stories high, sixty-five feet square, and contained eight rooms, four above and the same below, with a ten-foot hallway leading through both floors. The house and the site of three acres of ground cost about fourteen hundred dollars. In 1872 another story and a steam heating apparatus were added at a cost of eight thousand and three hundred dollars. The following is a list of some of the early teachers: Henry Phelps, James Latta, Smith Latta, John A. Pledge, William Westlake, Alvira Gordon, William H. Shim, Zeno Wilcox, Mr. Rawlings, Elam Hearts, A. K. Eaton, S. F. Kerr, L. D. Willard, A. S. Dickey, Dr. Donohue and Harvey Jones.

In Jefferson township, none but the very aged will recall the old fashioned school houses, with huge fire-places and greased-paper windows and the hardness of the slab or puncheon seats, and the position used by the master in teaching penmanship with a self-made quill-pen, dipped in soft-maple ink. But these all obtained in Jefferson township "when my father was a boy."

The first teacher here is remembered as David Creamer, who taught three months each year in a log cabin on the farm of Jacob Jenkins. The subscription school became very popular in a short time after the settlement of this county. On March 18, 1826, the township trustees divided this township into seven school districts. After a number of years, the log buildings gave place to better structures of frame. Later the number of school districts was increased to thirteen, and then substantial brick school houses were constructed - a great innovation in educational facilities. The county superintendent's last report will show what the condition of schools is there today.

In Jasper township the early children had very little of what even then was considered good school facilities, and not until 1816 was there a school _ house erected in the township. This was a round-log structure, with puncheon floor and seats, and was lighted with greased paper stretched over openings in the log walls. It was built by the settlers in the dark, dense woods, on land belonging to Richard Ayers, in the Coil-Bush neighborhood. There Thomas Powell was first to instruct. He commenced in 1816, almost a hundred years ago. He received but a mere stipend, sufficient to keep the wolf from his door. This building was soon replaced by a better example ot log school house and it was located a mile to the east, on the Richard Smith farm, then the property of Abraham Bush, John S. Burnett, later county auditor, taught the first school in the last mentioned building in 1818. Another school house was erected on the Coons property, a mile south of Milledgeville, early in the settlement of Jasper township. This served until 1837, when it was no longer sufficient for the increasing demands. The good citizens of the township assembled and determined to improve in the matter of a school house. They could not agree on a common site, so built two houses, one being on the John Rankin farm. Here Joel Starbuck was first to teach; he was from Clinton county. This was still in subscription school days, remember. The other building was located three miles south, on the old State road, now Washington and Jamestown pike.

It is also related that in 1828 there had been a school house built on the old Persinger farm. It was of round poles, with desks running along each side, to be occupied by pupils only, while writing. Here John T. Powell taught the first term, receiving ten dollars per month, payable in produce. Two years after this it was burned and never rebuilt.

In 1845 a school house was built on the land of Williamson Ferguson, in the center of the neighborhood, Ferguson donating the land. The house was erected by the settlers, and Miss Mary Jane Blystone, of Jeffersonville, was the first to teach there. This was a subscription school. The common ot public school system, while in force in Ohio as early as 1837, was not adopted here until much later. The people were slow to adopt it and still stuck to the subscription plan, which they believed to be cheaper, but in fact was not, all things being counted.

In Concord township, as in all parts of the new country, the children of school age were forced to remain at home and help clear the land of timber and brushes, as well as till the garden patch, in place of enjoying the schools in which, otherwise, their parents would have been pleased to see them attend. But within a few years this all changed for the better, and parents then awoke to the fact that their own loved ones must secure at least a practical education - sufficient to enable them to read and write and "add sums" correctly. Therefore, the families making up the several neighborhoods commenced to start private and subscription schools. They erected log cabins and did all in their power to suitably fit up the structures that they might be warm in winter time, for that was the popular part of the year for schools - a season when the children could do nothing else! Several years since, when an attempt was being made to search out and record the school history of Fayette county, Levi Rowe made the assertion that "the first school house in this township stood on the banks of Sugar creek." The first teacher was William Sweet. He was followed by J. D. Moon. Five families, living east and west of the Randolph survey, erected a small cabin in the center of this survey, either in 1824 or 1825, and this served for school purposes. This was followed by numerous other buildings and as time went by frame, and finally brick, school houses might have been seen here and there throughout the township. Men and women of rare attainments were then secured to teach and the educational facilities were speedily taken advantage of.

In Green township, it was a matter of deep regret to the pioneers, most of whom had come in from some one of the older, better developed Eastern or Southern states, that they had to keep the children at home to work, instead of sending them to school, as they had been in the habit of doing. Money was scarce and taxes had to be paid and when that was accomplished there remained but little to pay "subscription" to a school teacher, hence many in this township grew to be young men and women without having the proper chance to attend school. Finally, some of the better educated ladies commenced teaching in their own cabin homes. They had a lot of scholars who walked as far as five miles, in order to attend these "home schools." Twenty-five pupils was.a sufficient number to establish a "subscription school" with and as soon as times admitted the settlers did this. Where parents were too poor, be it said to their credit, those of better financial standing paid the sum in addition to their own shares in such schools. One dollar and a half was the amount usually paid for the term.

The first school house here was a very rough affair erected of poles, had a puncheon floor, a mud chimney, seats of poles split in two with the flat and sometimes "'slivery" side up. Where the chinking was out the most, there the greased paper was applied for windows, as that allowed light, at the same time keeping out the rain and wind. This fearfully and wonderfully-made building was erected on the Little Wabash in 1819, where in later years the heirs of 'Squire Clay resided. This subscription district was six miles square, and in the winter of 1819 was in charge of Ebenezer Christy, a good teacher - when sober! Another early teacher was a Mr. Bradshaw. Today the township boasts of good buildings and modern furniture and fixtures in keeping with advanced ideas.

In Perry township existed the same trouble as in most other sections of Fayette county. The lack of money, need of the children's help at home, and a sparseness of settlement - all worked hardship for`those who would otherwise have had their families in school, at least part of the year. But as it was, fate seemed to order otherwise for a quite a number of years. Finally, times were better and the clearing up of land had put the parents in a position to handle the work at home better themselves, and then school houses were soon found in the township.

The Ayers schoolhouse, built in 1810, was probably the first within Perry township. It was built on lands owned by Mr. Ayers, in the Center survey. Charles Cox was the first teacher in this pioneer building. Five or six years later there were two more added, one near the present Wabash school house, on Robert Scotts land, where Rev. W. A. King lived later. This was doubtless erected for both school and church uses, as many of the earlier buildings were erected with both objects in view. The other building was erected on land owned by Judge James Crothers. Mrs. Crothers had a school in her own house prior to the erection of this building.

In 1822 a round-log school house was built on the Isaac Henderson land near the Cochran Methodist Episcopal church. Hugh Painter taught the first term here and Jackson King the second, and these two ended the schools for that house.

Early in 1815 the Tom Ellis school was built. It was just at the close of the War of 1812-14. It stood at the very edge of Martinsburg, and Isaac Woods was among, if not the first, to teach there. John Moon was one of the later teachers and he forbade the burning of sassafras wood at the school from a superstitious belief quite common then, that it would be followed by evil results. These fears, it is known, did not extend to the use of whisky, or prevent him from resorting to his bottle for "inspiration." Old men tell us that they, while attending this school, frequently saw the master sneaking away toa place where he hid his bottle and come back with a smile stealing over his face. In 1828 this building was removed to the Todhunter land. It was known as the "Quaker school house" and there, as teachers, presided Messrs. Barnett, Joseph McLure, Samuel Banks and Jacob Todhunter.

In October, 1845, the township was divided into. seven sub-districts, and later still two more districts were created, one being used exclusively for the colored children. Long before 1877 brick school houses were the general rule in this township, and today every modern facility is employed to make good the education of the rising young.

In Marion township the first school was taught by James Webster, father of Bryce Webster, in the winter of 1812, in a cabin built for dwelling purposes, on the southwest side of the Springfield and Chillicothe road. Near this, on the opposite side of the highway, a small log school house was erected in the summer of 1813, and in this Mr. Webster taught the winter term of school. It was then abandoned and in 1814 another was erected on land of Adam Turner, and there Webster taught five years.

In Madison township the first school was taught in the year 1809, a winter school, by Samuel Myers, in a log cabin near the site of the present village of Waterloo. He walked two and a half miles to and from this shack of a building. Probably the next school was that taught on William Morgan's land, in the Armstrong survey. In the winter of 1824 Thomas Johnson taught a term of school there as well as the winter following. The building was abandoned for such purposes about 1829, when a small house, eighty rods west of Yankeetown, was employed, and James Martin taught therein. Joseph Counts came as the next teacher (but few women were hired in those days). A Mr. McGary taught here three or four terms, and was followed by Julius Bicknell.

On the Urbana road, a mile and a half from Waterloo, land owned then by Jesse Barton was used for school purposes and a building was provided at Yankeetown about the same time. In about 1829-30 a building was erected in the W. Sanford survey, No. 13135. Clement Twifford, who had taught in the neighborhood before, was the instructor there. This building was burned, together with all the pupils' books. The school was then divided, one portion attending a term or two of school in an old unoccupied dwelling, then in a cabin of Richard Ciurson. In 1838 a building was erected -at White Oak and occupied ten years, when a new building took its place. This was abandoned in 1877, when an elegant frame structure was built and the district was made independent.

Of schools in Paint township let it be stated that the pioneer here, in attempting to furnish his children with even an ordinary education, realized that he had a task before him. 'The common school system, as now understood, was not known at that date anywhere on American soil. Good teachers and buildings suitable were almost out of the question. Not until Fayette county had been organized a number of years were there any regular schools. Samuel Robins has been claimed as the earliest to teach in Paint township.

On the Midway and Bloomingburg pike, a small log cabin went up about 1815 - a century ago - and there the first school was taught by one Greenley. About 1820 Thomas Fullérton, father of George S., taught in an old building on the Sulzer farm.

In 1817 the neighbors round about hewed the logs necessary to build a neat cabin on the corner of Abraham Kirkby's land, and it is said a school was immediately started there. A Mr. Twilliger first taught the "young idea" there to shoot. Robert Burnett also taught and boarded around among his patrons.

In 1853 the township was divided into eight districts and the board of education was composed of Samuel Myers, James Larrimore, Perry Salmon, John Tway, A. F. Parrott, John Flood, John Carle and Hamilton Green. On May 14th, that year, the board met and decided to build a house for each district in the township, and to levy a tax of not less than three thousand eight hundred dollars and not more than four thousand dollars to carry out that project. This was a wonderful stride! Later it was decided that each district should. have five hundred dollars to get a site and build a school house with. ;

On April 16, 1855 (mark the early date in talking of recent reforms), fifty-five young ladies, praying for the exclusion of tobacco from the school rooms of the township, were gratified by having such an order made and the same to go into immediate effect. Long skirts and tobacco spit were no friends even at that day!

The census shows that in Paint township in 1855 there were 439 white youth - 225 male and 214 female - between the ages of five and twenty-one; colored youth, 9 males, 1 female; grand total, 449.

Wayne Centralized School

At Good Hope there was erected, in 1913, a large two-story, red pressedbrick school building, known as the Wayne township centralized school. Its cost was about twenty thousand dollars. It is a modern structure, built by a public spirited township, the citizens of which have faith in the final success of this system of public schools, instead of having them scattered about over the township. Better results can be obtained. It is quite a step in advance of most counties, but ere long Ohio will be dotted with centralized schools.

The pupils are easily transported by hack to and from their homes. "They l are safer, and have better, brighter minds to do school room duty, than the students who travel in mud and dust, storm and sunshine, from half to two miles and more to attend school. The rivalry and general interest there manifest shows that ultimate good will come from this system. Its good effect is already seen here. The voters. who at first opposed the system would not now vote against the measure, since they see the benefit to be derived therefrom. The actual cost is not much, if indeed any, more than under the old system. When the advantages to be gained are all counted in - a speedy and correct education, all the way up to eighth grade, in a school in all particulars equal to those found in the cities, the cost then is no more 'than the old plan and far better in many particulars.

It is believed that before many years the children will be hurried to and from school by means of automobiles, but at present are carried in hacks provided with comfortable seats, cool in summer and warm in winter; the little folks enjoy going to school in a fashion not hitherto known.

The class of buildings in the village and cities of Fayette compare favorably with other counties. The following items regarding the Fayette county public schools have been gleaned from the state records of 1913: Grand total enrollment in county was 4,781; number of school houses in the county in 1913 was 102; value of school buildings, $378,800; number of school districts in county, 76; number teachers employed in county, 163; the wages for men were fifty-three dollars per month in elementary schools; in separate district elementary schools, sixty dollars per month for men; for women, fifty-three dollars; in high schools men received eighty-six dollars and women received seventy-five dollars per month.

Of the high schools of Fayette county in 1913, it may be said that at Bloomingburg there were fifteen boys and seventeen girls; two boys graduated and six girls; average age of boys, seventeen years, and of girls, fifteen years; total number graduates in whole history of school, one hundred and eighteen.

At Jeffersonville there were thirty-two boys and fifty-four girls; boys graduated, one, girls, eight; average age of boys, fourteen years, and of girls, fifteen years; total number graduated in the whole history of the school, one hundred and thirty-six.

The Thoughtful School Superintendent

tendent of the high schools: the high school principal received $1,100; cost of new school house erected, $100,000; number school houses in city, seven; number seats or sittings in city for elementary scholars, 1,400; for high school pupils, 300; value of school property, $180,000; number teachers in elementary, 35; in high school, 8. The average wages paid for men in elementary, $60; in high school, $97; for women in elementary, $50, in high school, $74 per month. The number of weeks taught in one session was thirty-six. THE THOUGHTFUL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

[PUBLISHERS Notr - Despite the modesty of Mr. Allen, the supervising editor of this history, the following reference to him is considered entirely pertinent to this work. ]

The first county school superintendent of Fayette county, Prof. Frank M. Allen, has started out in the right direction to make a very efficient and practical superintendent. He has original ideas and believes in interesting and instructing the young by means otherwise than from regular text-books. He has recently presented every school house in the county with a fine, large picture of Abraham Lincoln, his only requirement being that the teacher have the pupils donate a cent or two each towards providing these portraits with suitable frames, and suggests to teachers that a small flag of our country be fastened on the wall over the portrait. These portraits are received with great pleasure by the school patrons, for who does not revere the name of "Flonest Abe ?"

Superintendent Allen has also commenced distributing to the various schools in the county two significant cards, which are to he read in school and hung upon the walls. One of these cards carries on its face "The Prayer of a Horse," while the other is the late U. S. Senator Vest's eulogy on the dog, entitled "A Tribute to Man's Best Friend."

"Feed me, water me and care for me, and when the day's work is done provide me with shelter, a clean, dry bed and a stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort. Talk to me; your voice often means as much to me as the reins. Bid me a kind good night. Pet me sometimes, that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you.

"Do not jerk the reins and do not whip me when going up hill. Never strike, beat or kick me when I do not understand what you mean, but give me a chance to understand you. Watch me, and if I fail to do your bidding see if something is not wrong with my harness; it may be I need a new collar, or my mouth may be sore from a cold or old rusty bit.

"Examine my teeth when I do not eat. I may have an ulcerated tooth, and that you know is very painful. Do not tie my head in an unnatural position or take away my last defense against flies and mosquitoes by cutting off my tail. Do not tie me out on the streets cold days and cold nights without a blanket. You know, master, it was never intended that we should be treated thus.

"And finally, O my master, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze, or sell me to some cruel owner to be slowly tortured and starved to death; but do thou, my master, take my life in the kindest way, and your God will reward you here and hereafter!

Charter Ov Secret And Fraternal Societies

In almost every part of the civilized globe there are today secret orders and benevolent fraternities doing a work for humanity impossible to accomplish in any other manner. The old-time prejudice against secret orders has long since passed. While some church creeds still hold that it is not proper, and not in keeping with Biblical teachings, the number is indeed small. To be an honored member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows or Pythian orders is but to be engaged in the daily duty of helping one's fellow-man, even as did the Master when he walked among the children of men twenty centuries ago. The principles upon which these great fraternities are founded are derived from the Bible itself. There are unworthy members as well in lodges as in churches, but that is no argument against either institution.

It will be the aim of this brief chapter to mention something concerning the organization and present standing of the three great and world-wide fraternities, Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.

Fayette Lodge No. 107, Free and Accepted Masons, at Washington C. H., the pioneer secret body in Fayette county, was instituted and commenced work on December 7, 1839, pursuant to a dispensation granted by the deputy grand master of the grand lodge of Ohio, under date of November 29, 1839. The lodge was dedicated December 26, 1840. The charter members of this lodge were Joel S. Bereman, Samuel F. Yeoman, Samuel Millikan, Joseph Bell, Jacob Ott, Valentine Coil and Daniel McLain. J. S. Bereman was the first worshipful master; Jacob Ott, senior warden; S. F. Yeoman, junior warden; James Sharp, senior deacon; Daniel McLain, junior deacon; Joseph Bell, treasurer; Samuel Millikan, secretary ; Valentine Coil, tyler.

The membership in October. 1914, was two hundred and thirty-one. Of this number there were fifty-one resident Masons. The present elective officers are: Worshipful master, Ernest E. Ellis; senior warden, Harry M. Rankin; junior warden, Ray D. Post; treasurer, William H. Dial; secretary, John L. McFadden; senior deacon, Amos Thornton; junior deacon, Omer F. Sturgeon; chaplain, E. B. Arbogast; organist, James Whelpley; master of ceremonies, Anda E. Henkle: tyler, Edwin D. Pine.

This fraternity suffered great loss in way of its hall and records in the great conflagration which swept so many valuable buildings away in December, 1911. It rebuilt and that structure is the present imposing Masonic hall, said to be fire-proof.

Fayette Chapter No. 103, Royal Arch Masons, was pei at Washington C. H. on July 1, 1867. The dispensation was signed by the following companions: John Turk, S. N. Yeoman, J. W. Cleveland, Mills Gardner, E. L. Ford, Lewis Cook, Addison Bybee, Benjamin F. Mouser and James F. Ely. The officers under the dispensation were as follows: John M. Turk, high priest; S. N. Yeoman, king; J. W. Cleveland, scribe; J. F. Ely, captain of host; Mills Gardner, principal sojourner ; Lewis Cook, royal arch captain; E. L. Ford, master of third veil; Addison Bybee, master of second veil; Benjamin Mouser, master of first veil.

This society is now in a flourishing condition. Its original name was "Eli," but was changed to Garfield in honor of the lamented President, James A. Garfield. The present eminent commander is Elmer A. Klever.

Fayette Lodge No. 107 had a membership of two hundred and thirtyone; Bloomingburg Lodge, ninety-six; Jeffersonville Lodge, ninety-six; resident Masons, fifty-one; total Master Masons, four hundred and Seventyseven; Fayette Chapter, two hundred and fifty-seven; Fayette Council, sixtyfour; Garfield Commandery, two hundred and seven; Royal Chapter, Order Eastern Star, one hundred and ninety-seven; Forest Chapter, Order Eastern Star, sixty-two; Jefferson Chapter, Order Eastern Star, ninety-five.

Bloomingburg Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized, under dispensation, September 30, 1870. Their first stated meeting was held October 7, 1870, there being but ten members at that date. The lodge was constituted December 23d of that year, under charter granted by the grand lodge of Ohio. Its charter members were John Brown, J. M. McCoy, Will-

The lodge prospered and enlarged the small hall they had provided at first, on the corner of Main and Cross streets. At the close of 1873 the membership was thirty-three, which by 1881 had increased to fifty-eight, not including deaths and removals. The society was incorporated in March, 1881, by William Clark, J. M. Noble, Henry Fulton, Henry Casey and J. M. McCoy, trustees.

In October, 1914, this lodge enjoyed a membership of ninety-seven and was in a flourishing condition. It had the misfortune to have its lodge rooms burned and all their furniture destroyed in April, 1912. But, like true brothers, they went to work and by November of that year were holding lodge in their new and magnificent hall, which was the second story of a fine yellow pressed-brick, two-story building, all owned by the order. It stands on the site of the old lodge rooms and cost, together with furniture and value of lot, about eight thousand five hundred dollars. There are few, if indeed any, lodge rooms in Ohio in towns of much larger size that possess so fine, well-arranged hall. They have a large banquet hall, kitchen, lobbies and reception rooms in addition to a good-sized hall. The Order of the Eastern Star is exceptionally strong here.

The elective officers serving in 1914 are: Worshipful master, Forest M. Hains; senior warden, John N. Browning; junior warden, Allen P. West; secretary, G. W. Gordon; treasurer, Henry Casey; senior deacon, Claude Andrews; junior deacon, John Foster; chaplain, Robert G. Andrews; tyler, James W. Willis; master of ceremonies, J. Y. Stitt; stewards, Howard Foster and C. S. Edwards. The trustees are J. M. Klever, Nathaniel Roler, W. eto | ae sd eavell:

Jeffersonville Lodge No. 468, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized January 31, 1873, by Col. C. Garris, of Washington C. H. The charter members were Mills Gardner, P. F. Johnson, James Straley, L. A. Elister, E: H. Bendle, Horney Robinson, J. C. Morris, William Wood, W. J. Horney, George Miller, Asberry Moon, J. W. Roebuck, W. F. Roebuck, G. L. Bush and Urban Hidy. Of the present history of this lodge it may be stated that the records show that the present officers are: A. A. Allen, worshipful master; W. O. King, senior warden; L. A. Kessler, junior warden; M. E. Wilson, secretary; F. A. Chaney, senior deacon; S. C. Morrow, junior deacon; C. R. Marshall, chaplain; G. H. Brock, master of ceremonies; J. G. Todd, tyler. The membership of this lodge is ninety-eight. The blue lodge is the only degree of Freemasonry here represented.

Independent Order Of Odd, Fellows

Jefferson Lodge No. 454, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was. organized July 20, 1870, with the following charter membership: J. M. Blessing, Joseph Hurless, R. Fox, A. J. Aldridge, O. W. Marshall, E. L. Jones, George H. Creamer and Lewis Bentz.

In June, 1879, a part of the membership, in the absence of other members, voted to surrender the charter of this lodge, sold the furniture and appropriated the proceeds to the Methodist Episcopal church of Jeffersonville. The other members returned and brought suit, but as the result a new lodge was organized, with officers as follows: Joseph Hurless, noble grand; W. C. Wilson, vice grand; George Miller, recording secretary; J. N. Yates, financial secretary; Richard Fox, treasurer; Jacob R. Hosier, Joseph Hurless, J. J. 'Thompson, trustees. At present this lodge is enjoying a membership of eighty-five. They occupy a leased hall. The officers in the autumn of 1914 were: William Higbee, noble grand; William Spangler, vice grand; L. Hay, financial secretary; A. W. Wright, recording secretary; S. M. Taggart, chaplain.

An Odd Fellows lodge was instituted at Martinsburg by Grand Master William Slater, January 1, 1862. The charter members were these: Morris R. Ellis, Murry Wilson, J. A. Arick, C. Fortier, A. L. Snider, George Binegar and C. A. Kneedler. A beautiful hall was furnished and in 1880 this lodge had a membership of two hundred. The lodge is known in record as Wilstach Lodge No. 368.

Temple Lodge No. 227, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Washington C. H. was instituted in the hall in the attic story of the old brick building on Court street, northeast of Fayette, over the printing office, March 13, 1854, and the charter was given to the following: Capt. John M. Bell, Col. S. N. Yeoman, M. Livingston, William H. Lanum and John Backenstoe. Four persons, John Millikan, C. H. Bell, V: M. Ogle and Doctor Brown, were initiated into the order on the night of the institution. The lodge continued to meet in the old attic room for about two years, when they removed to the third story of J. F. Ely's frame building on the corner of Main and East street, where also they remained two years. They then secured the third story of a new brick building on Court street, built by Z. W. Heagler. This was unfinished, but the lodge finished and furnished it and made their home in this place for about sixteen years. In the spring of 1873 they organized the Odd Fellows Building Association, which bought a piece of ground on Court street, southwest from the Vandeman corner, and proceeded to build thereon a fine business building. In the spring of 1874 the lodge removed to their new hall, which was one of the best in the state. In the following October, on the night of the 13th, this handsome building was completely destroyed by fire. A meeting of the lodge was called and held in the Masonic hall on the night after the fire and it was resolved to rebuild the hall. In the winter and spring of 1875 a new building arose in the place of the old. The lodge moved in on November 6, 1875. During the building of the new structure the lodge met in the third story of the First National Bank building. The home of the order for ten years was in the building last named, having been built by the lodge after the fire had destroyed their former rooms. But while in the midst of lodge-room work, on that fateful evening of September 8, 1885, when Washington C. H. was visited by the tornado or cyclone storm, the lodge room and the building in which it was located were totally wrecked and most of the property within destroyed, save the records. After this the court house and Grand Army rooms were used for lodge meeting places, then the Williams building on Court street. After sixteen years there, the Katz building sheltered the lodge. Six years later and it was moved to the county memorial building. The present magnificent hall, on the corner of Fayette and Market streets, was erected in 1910 and its corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on November 29, tg10. The cost of lot and building was fully twenty-two thousand dollars.

In the beginning the lodge was very weak in numbers, but has steadily grown ever since. The first elective officers were: John M. Bell, noble grand; S. N. Yeoman, vice grand; M. Livingston, recording secretary; William H. Lanum, permanent secretary; John Backenstoe, treasurer.

The present membership of the lodge is four hundred and thirty. Its elective officers are: John Madison, noble grand; William Highmiller, vicegrand; Dr. C. V. Lanum, financial secretary; E. C. Hamilton, recording secretary; J. A. Edge, treasurer; C. F. Bonham, Wilson Bachert and S. A.

Fayette Encampment No. 134, at Washington C. H., was instituted on May ar7 187 158i tae Odd Fellows hall on Court street. The charter was delivered to L. C. Karney, S. N. Yeoman, C. L. Getz, O. H. Saxton, M. Blanchard, W. S. Stewart, J. C. King, William Wilts and Charles Duffee. There were eleven persons admitted on the night of institution. Its first elective officers were: L. C. Karney, chief patriarch; M. Blanchard, high priest; William Wilts, senior warden; Dr. O. H. Saxton, junior warden; William Stewart, scribe; J. C. King, treasurer.

Knights Of Pythias Lodges

This is one of the most recent fraternities in the list of secret orders. It was established about the close of the Civil War and Lodge No. 1, at Washington, District of Columbia, was the first of the order in the world.

The earliest body in Fayette county was Confidence Lodge No. 265, at Washington C. H., instituted December 7, 1887, with twenty-one members. The burning of the hall in 1912 caused the destruction of all records, besides a fine array of relics, books, charts and lodge room fixtures. The lodge held its first meetings in Midland block, then in Odd Fellows hall in the Williams block. Since 1900 they had occupied rooms in Masonic Temple, on the third floor of the building, but that fire of 1911 caused them a great loss. In February, 1912, they moved into their new castle, in the heart of the city, which property they had purchased and rebuilt, making their present hall a desirable one, valued at fifteen thousand dollars. In 1912 there were fully a thousand members in Fayette county belonging to this fraternity. Of this the pioneer lodge in the county of Knights of Pythias, it may be stated that in September, 1909, they had' a membership of four hundred. Its elective officers were: Ray Maddox, chancellor commander; John Markley, vice chancellor; Richard Hays, prelate; W. J. Bevans, master of work; Fred Schmid, master of exchequer; L. J. Sherman, master of finance; H. M. Kingsbury, keeper of records and seal; R. A. Hyer, master at arms; Richard Elliott, inside guard; H. A. Highmiller, outer guard.

There are now lodges of this order in Fayette county as follows: At Washington C. H., Madison Mills, Jeffersonville, Bloomingburg, Buena Vista and Yatesville.

At Jeffersonville, Sunflower Lodge, Knights of Pythias, was instituted February 19, 1892, and given the charter number of 541. Its charter members were J. H. Wilt, W. L. Boyer, Frank Carr, CPA Teeters, Ira McKillip, H. L. Bendel, J. G. Boyer, T. Wilhams, J. H: Garlough,, HG, Clansine "C.

At Bloomingburg, Lodge No. 744 was organized December 29, 1905, with forty-one charter members. Its present membership is one hundred and sixteen. It erected a handsome, substantial pressed-brick building in 1912, at a cost, including lot, of about seven thousand five hundred dollars. The Uniform Rank is also here well represented. +The elective officers of the lodge here for 1914 are as follows: Chancellor commander, C. W. Larimer; vice chancellor, Grant Leach; prelate, Elmer McCoy; master at arms, Henry Elliott; master of exchequer, Nathaniel Ross; master of finance, L. D Exline; keeper of records and seal, Claude Andrews; inside guard, Robert Pummel; outside guard, Harrison Leach.

- Wherever the church spire is seen, in both town and country, there one feels that he is safe. The American-born population predominates very largely in Fayette county, and hence there are none but American denominations, to speak of. Among that rugged band of hardy pioneers who braved the dangers of a wild frontier life, away back a hundred years and more ago, there was a spirit of religion sprinkled in the communities from the first organization of the county, and as the years advanced steps were promptly taken to form churches, though possibly not as rapidly as in some other

Presbyterian Churches

The Presbyterian church of Washington C. H. was organized October 10, 1813, three years after the county was organized. There were thirteen . members and James Clark, William Blair, Samuel Waddle, Anuences Allen and Col. James Stewart were chosen elders.

The Rev. Mr. Baldridge had charge of the church for a time. After him the pulpit was supplied by several different ministers, till Rev. William Dickey came to be pastor in 1817. The church had no house of worship and meetings could not be held very regularly.

In 1817 part of the church was set off to form a separate congregation at Bloomingburg, and Thomas McGarraugh and Henry Snyder were chosen elders. Mr. Dickey supplied the church at Washington C. H. and also the one at Bloomingburg, which was now the larger. Shortly after he seems to have given all his attention to Bloomingburg and there are no records of the Presbyterian church of Washington C. H. for fifteen years.

In 1834 the church took a new start. Nine of the old members were still on the ground, and seventeen were received. James Pollock, John. Wilson, Isaac Templeton and Joseph McLean were chosen elders and S. F. Kerr was made clerk of the session.

About 1835 Rev. John C. Eastman took charge of the church and the society seemed to progress nicely. They undertook, for the first time, to erect a house of worship, and soon it was constructed and dedicated.

In 1840 Mr. Eastman left the church, after six years of faithful and successful labor. The next eight years passed with very irregular ministrations. Rev. James Dunlap and Rev. J. A. I. Lowes preached for a time.

In the winter of 1847-1848 the church was incorporated. About this time J. G. Hopkins came, as a licentiate, to supply its pulpit. James N. Wilson and Eliphas Taylor were chosen and ordained elders. Mr: Hopkins, some time after, was chosen pastor and ordained. A division in the church grew out of this. Robert Robinson and Joseph McLean, two of the elders, and others left the church, among them Col. S. F. Kerr. This was a great loss to the feeble church. Mr. Hopkins soon left, and in the spring of 1851 Rev. S. J. Miller was called to the pastorate, after which church affairs ran along more smoothly. A new church edifice was built about 1856. Rev. Miller continued pastor for fifteen years, leaving the church in 1866 with seventy-five members. l In January, 1867, the Rev. George Carpenter was called to the pastorate. He was succeeded, in order, as follows: 1884 to 1892, Rev. Samuel B. Alderson; 1892 to 1905, Rev. James L. McNair; 1905 to 1910, Rev. David H. Jones; 1910 to 1913, Rev. William I. Campbell; 1913 to present time, Rev. William Boynton Gage.

The membership is now about seven hundred and seventy-five. The present church was erected several years ago and is a modern edifice. The society also has a commodious, modern manse on the lot with the church.

The Church At Bloomingburg

The Bloomingburg Presbyterian church is now ninety-seven years old, having been 'organized on November 22, 1817, with twenty-six constituent members. Fortunately for the author and reader, there still remains a good record of this old church, as it was carefully compiled during Centennial year by Rev. Edward Cooper, D. D., the third pastor, and from this the writer draws largely for the facts herein contained. At first there were four ruling elders. The first public service was held in a small barn and for some time this building and pioneer residences, which were but rude cabins, were the only places in which to worship. One of the earliest traveling preachers here was Rev. Dyer Burgess, who, in a letter in 1867 written to Rev. Cooper, said: "I distinctly remember my visits to Bloomingburg and the pleasant meetings we had, largely attended, in Colonel Stewart's barn. In January, 1817, they had invited Rev. William Dickey to preach for them, when I was in the habit of making missionary tours to that settlement; and afterwards I

The first session of this church consisted of "Father Dickey," as all knew him, as moderator, Col. James Stewart, Judge James Menary, Robert Robinson and Elijah Allen, all earnest men, of rare ability. The first sacrament was administered in Col. Stewart's barn. Father Dickey was called to become the united pastor of the church at Washington C. H., formed in 1813 and the one at Bloomingburg, and preached his first sermon November 22, 1817, when the church was really formed. In the following December he brought his family on from Kentucky and resided for three years; then, having decided to remove to Bloomingburg, a sufficient force of men and teams were sent for him,.bringing also the log cabin in which he had resided, which was placed about a half mile southwest of the present church, surrounded by a dense hazel patch.

In 1830 the old log church building gave way to a brick structure of larger proportions. This was often assaulted by whiskey and slave-power mobs, and discussions which brought people from a long distance were held in it. In 1871 a neat frame structure was built. The society is still flourishing and doing a good work in the vicinity where it was so long ago established.

The pastors who have faithfully served this congregation have included these in their order: Revs. William Dickey, Robert W. Wilson, Edward Cooper, John Woods, Clark Kendall, John Moore, Rev. Kruge.

Grace Methodist Episcopal church at Washington C. H. was organized at the solicitation of John Bohran during the summer of 1817, by John Solomon and Thomas Carr, at the house of Robert Wilson.

The pastors who have served in this church have been: John Solomon and Thomas Carr, 1818; William P. Finley, 1819; Andrew McLain, 1820; D. D. Davidson, 1821; James Smith, 1822; John Summerville and James Smith, 1823; Benjamin Laurence and George Gatch, 1824; Andrew F. Baxter, 1825-6; Z. Westlake, 1827; James T. Donahoe and Jesse Prior, 1830; Augustus Eddy and William T. Snow, 1831; William T. Snow and Henry Turner, 1832 (name changed to Washington circuit in 1832); James Turner and E. M. Dailey, 1833; E. T. Webster and. Lester James, 1834; E. T. Webster and John Rogers, 1835; C. C. Lyhand and J. A. Brown, 1836; S. Clarke and E. Estell, 1837; Eli Truett and Joseph M. Smith, 1838; James

Methodism is now one hundred and eight years old in the world - having started in 1734 in England, under John Wesley, of Oxford. And one hundred and twenty years ago it had its birth in America. The church now has forty-one thousand five hundred traveling ministers and almost seven million membership.

After the organization of the society in 1817 services were held part of the time at the old court house and a part of the time at the residences of some of the congregation until 1828. In that year the brick school on Market street, later a part of the residence of Richard Millikan, was completed and occupied by this congregation for church purposes till 1834, when the brick church on the north corner of Main and Market streets was built. This was an immense structure for a village like Washington C. H. in those days. As the walls of this building were not considered safe, it was never finished on the inside and on account of its unfinished condition it could be occupied in the summer months only and in three years was abandoned entirely. From this time until 1845 the society occupied the court house and the Presbyterian church, when a frame church was erected on Market between Fayette and North streets. This was used until 1866, when a brick church was built at

The New Church

The present beautiful church edifice of this denomination in Washington C. H. was erected in 1896, on the corner of North street and East Market. The entire building seats about twelve hundred. A pipe organ was purchased for five thousand dollars, and the bell used years ago in the old church is still in use. The church and parsonage have now an estimated value of eighty-nine thousand dollars. Wesley chapel, in another part of the city, is valued at five thousand dollars, making a grand total of church property of ninety-four thousand dollars. The membership in 1914 was reported at the conference at one thousand two hundred seventy-seven. The present church building is of a fine style and there are but few in Ohio any better, in large or small cities. The parsonage was erected in 1910. It is modern throughout.

Wesley chapel, above mentioned, is another Methodist Episcopal church of this city and is under the jurisdiction of Grace church. A good building was erected about 1904, in the outskirts of the city.

West Lancaster Methodist Episcopal church, of Jefferson township, was organized at the house of Joseph Straley, one and a half miles southeast of West Lancaster, in about 1850. After using a school house for some years it was decided best to build a log church on the Jamestown and Washington road, a mile and a half east of West Lancaster, where services were held until 1858-59, when a frame building, thirty-six by forty-eight feet, was constructed. On account of the coming on of the Civil War the building was not completed until 1863. The pioneer pastors stationed here were: Revs. Alfred Hance, Adams (who went to Texas), Joseph Tremble, T. W. Stanley, 5. S. Stivers, Cartridge and R. I. DeSelm. Later this church was in the Jeffersonville circuit and London district.

In Jefferson township another Methodist church was formed in 1865, on the farm then, or possibly later owned by Milan L. Smith, military survey 1256. An organization was effected here and maintained for many years. The Protestant Methodists also held their services there.

In Jasper township the early settlers were of a remarkable religious tendency, and of the real practical type, too. It was in 1812, two years after the organization of the county, that James Brooks, a Methodist minister of Virginia, effected a church organization here in the Coile-Bush neighborhood, and served as pastor many years. No church building was provided for this active class until 1843. This was a rude, round-pole building, and served well its purpose until 1864, when Mount Carmel church was erected one mile to the east of Jasper Mills. This cost one thousand two hundred dollars.

Another Methodist church was formed in 1840, in the township, on the Albert Mark land. One followed in 1843, on the Coons estate. These were both hewed-log buildings. In 1846 another society of this denomination was added to the township, a short distance from Plymouth. This building was in use until 1866, when a good brick building was built at Plymouth.

Another Methodist society was organized in the Center neighborhood in 1848. A school house was their place of worship till 1851. About this date a church was erected near the school house where they had worshiped, costing two thousand two hundred dollars. This was on the Allen pike. In 1878 the Harmony church, located six miles west of Washington C. H., on the Palmer pike, was established. The building cost one thousand five hundred dollars. Joel Dolby was the first minister.

In Concord township a larger portion of the early settlers were of the Methodist Episcopal faith. Meetings were held in numerous cabins. In 1830 there was no regular organized church of this denomination in the township. But between 1830 and 1832 a class must have been formed. Henry Turner is named as the first circuit rider in the neighborhood. He came over from Hillsboro and in order to meet his flock was compelled to travel over unbridged streams and without pikes, a distance of almost thirty miles each trip. He rode his horse twenty-seven days a month in order to fill all of his appointments. Other circuit riders were John Collins and William Simmons. In 1850-51 a neat and well constructed building was provided. In 1881 this church was reported to the conference as being in excellent condition.

In Green township the Buena Vista Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1831-2, on Rattlesnake creek, near present Buena Vista, in a school house where the voters of the township usually assembled to cast their annual votes. A small church was built in 1845, and ten years later a larger, better house was provided.

The oldest of all Methodist societies in this township was the Olive Chapel Methodist Episcopal church, which class worshiped in a rude log cabin for a number of years. Its history has faded with the passing of years. The last account we have is of the erection of a frame chapel about 1860.

In Perry township the first Methodist Episcopal church was organized at the home of Jesse Rowe, in 1816. Services were there continued until 1834, when Mr. Rowe built Rowe's chapel, on land of his own, David Garringer, a carpenter of the neighborhood, doing the carpenter work. After

Another church of this denomination was organized by Rev. John King, at his home, in 1820, Private homes and a school house on Sugar creek served as meeting houses until 1851, when Sugar Grove chapel, a frame structure, was erected at the cost of about nine hundred dollars.

The Cochran Methodist Episcopal church, of Perry township, was organized as an off-shoot from the Rowe church, and took place about 1820 at the house of Barnabas Cochran, who subsequently donated a lot on which the society erected a log church building, which was occupied until 1851, when a neat frame church was built at a supposed cost of one thousand dollars. i

The next organization of a church was the one at Martinsburg, prior to 1836, by Robert Buck, services being held in an empty store room. In 1838 a log church was built, and a few years later a frame structure was built.

Good Hope Methodist Episcopal church of Wayne township was organized and received as a mission by the Staunton circuit in 1857. The school house in district No. 2 was used for a meeting place until 1858-9, when, through the efforts of J. H. Parrett, a church was erected. At first there were but seven members belonging to the class and Rev. J. W. Steele had charge of the little flock. In September, 1859, a neat church was dedicated by Rev. J. M. Trimble, and by 1860 there was a membership of thirty-five. In 1878 Rev. L. C. Brooks was sent here by the conference and he was successful in carrying forward the work by almost a perpetual revival, in which many were added to the class, making in all a membership of about two hundred in eighteen months. He started to agitate a new church scheme, but, owing to depressed finances in the country, it had to be postponed until 1880, when the matter was again brought up. In the summer of 1881 the building was completed at a cost of five thousand dollars. It was erected in form of a Roman cross, surmounted by a seventy-foot tower. It was remodeled in 1900. The church now has a membership of about two hundred. The pastors since 1882-3 have been: Revs. A. R. Miller, A. B. Sniff, W.. T. Harvey, M. H. Acton, George Cherrington, Ralph Watson, B. E. Thomas, P. H. Chappelear, R. C. Orndorf, C. A. Hughes, George Creamer, and the present pastor, C. L. Pfaltgraf. The recording steward has been for many years E. D. King.

Madison chapel was organized as a church in 1868 by Rev. David Smith. But before that services had been held by the Methodist Protestant and

Presbyterian denominations for a dozen or more years. The church edifice was erected in 1869. It was dedicated December 19th, L. Cunningham preaching the sermon. On the day of dedication he raised about seven hundred dollars to free the church of debt. Its total cost was about two thousand five hundred dollars. Henry Fulton donated one acre of land for burial purposes and gave one hundred and fifty dollars towards the building of the church. Later it became a part of the Mount Sterling circuit.

In Paint township there was organized a Methodist Episcopal church in 1835. A revival was held by Rev. Wolf and was highly successful. In 1840 a frame structure was built and called Union chapel. It was usually occupied by the Methodists; however, a New Light minister, named Lewis Green, occasionally held his services there. This church finally went down for lack of interest and support.

Good Hope circuit was organized from Staunton circuit in September, 1873, and embraced the societies at Good Hope, Sugar Grove, Cochran and Martinsburg. During 1874 there were added to the church many new members, and the repairs and changes on the building cost about one thousand dollars. In 1880 the total membership was three hundred ninety-one.

The first church in Marion township was formed in 1814. It was the Methodist Episcopal, and took place at the house of George Newman, at which place services continued to be held for over two years, then being changed to the residence of George Bohrer. In 1818 Salem Chapel, a hewedlog structure, was built on a lot donated by Flemming Twifford, in survey No. 7,559, for church and burial purposes. The first to preach here was Rev. Bacon. The Salem burying ground is the oldest of any within this township. In 1822 the church was burned, but was soon rebuilt on the old site. Henry T. Bascom, the celebrated preacher, was among the first pastors. In 1833 this church was transferred from the Deer Creek circuit to the old Washington circuit, and was occupied until about 1853. The early members included the best men and women of the township.

Pleasant Hill, or "Yankeetown," Methodist Episcopal church, in Madison township, was organized at John Thomas's house, in Pickaway county, two miles east of Yankeetown, on the Circleville road. The first members were William Timmons, John Thomas, William Morgan, Leonard Jefferson and Samuel Bennett. All but two lived in Fayette county. Henry B. Bascom formed the society and was its first preacher. The first six years services were held at the house of Mr. Thomas and at Morgan's, after which a hewedlog house was erected a mile east of Yankeetown, on the Circleville road.

At Jeffersonville, the Methodist church was organized in 1878, when John Williams was class leader and Ed. Gray steward. The present membership is one hundred. The present brick edifice was erected in 1889-90, and dedicated in September of year last mentioned. It is located on Maple and Walnut streets and cost fourteen thousand dollars. Before this building was erected the society always worshiped in the old Union church building, on Main street. The pastors serving this charge have been in order as follows: Revs. J. E. Moore, David Mann, R. I. DeSelmn, T. Herman Carter, W. S. Benner, R. A. LeMaster, J. M. Stewart, R. H. Griffith, C. S. Naylor, Edwin Sherwood, L. W. Miller, W. H. Mitchell, W. J. Prior, G. D. Clifford, T. L. Haas, and H. K. Wishon, present pastor.

The Bloomingburg Methodist Church

There is a dispute as to which was really the first church organized in Fayette county, and it stands between the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal people, both dating as far back as 1813. The church of the Methodist denomination in the county dates from 1813, three years before the town was platted. At first the place was styled New Lexington, and some called it "New Purchase." This dates back to nine years before the birth of U. S. Grant. It was organized by Jesse Rowe, for whom Rowe's chapel was named in later years. Rev. Ralph Lotspeich was the first minister sent to Bloomingburg and the first quarterly meeting was held at the house of Joel Woods, on Paint creek, in 1811. It will be understood that there was a circuit which included this station prior to the formation of the church at New Lexington (Bloomingburg). The first house of worship was erected prior to 1820; it was a frame structure which stood on the north side of the alley from the later Presbyterian church building, and it was abandoned in 1850. During the year last named a lot was purchased and in 1851 a building was enclosed, but not finished until 1853; it was dedicated by Dr. Frederick Merrick. In 1856 the society had a membership of fifty-six. In 1862 it was transferred to what was styled the Bloomingburg circuit, having previously been within Washington circuit. In 1894 a new building was erected at Bloomingburg, costing about eight thousand five hundred dollars; the corner-stone was laid June 5, 1894. At present the membership is three hundred and thirteen, and the appointment at Madison Mills has a membership of two hundred and seven. At the latter point a frame church built in 1869 is still doing service;

African Methodist Episcopal Church

The African Methodist Episcopal church was organized at Dennis Brown's house in July, 1867, by Reverend Arnett, of Circleville, and services were held at the house of several members of the congregation for more than a year. Hamilton was rented and occupied for some time, after which the congregation rented the old Methodist Episcopal church, where services were held about one year. In 1875 a committee, consisting of David Rogers and Mills Gardner, were appointed to negotiate the purchase of the old Catholic church, on Main street, for this congregation. This they accomplished, paying two thousand dollars for the property. Mr. Rogers donated one thousand dollars to the society toward the purchase.

The charter members of the church at Washington C. H. were: Dennis and Frances Brown, Sarah Jackson, Harry Terry, C. and Margaret Johnson, Agnes Weaver, Thomas and Sophia Kees. The membership is now one hundred and seventy men 'The society is called Rogers African Methodist Episcopal church. The pastors having served are: Revs. Edward Wright, Wadkin Lee, R: Green, -H: W. Toney, CS. Bundy, J. W. Steward, B. N. Carson, Shilo Brown, H. M. Turner, Alfred Mercer, Edward Humpberry, C. H. Johnson, A. J. Means, R. J. Moetemore, H. E. Steward, Smith Carter, WSEP. Myers, G. W.. Cotton, O. R. William, J. B: Harwood, L. W- White, S. W. White, T. W. Woodson.

Methodist Protestant Churches

This denomination was early in the field in this county, the same being an outgrowth of the Methodist Episcopal church. -> In 1845 such a church was organized at Plymouth, and meetings were held at a school house a short distance from the village, Robert Dobbins serving as the first and last minister, for the work was abandoned in 1846. Later a church of this denomination was organized in Milledgeville.

The Pleasant Valley Protestant Methodist church was organized in a school house on the William Waddle farm, on Snow Hill pike, with original members as follows: Henry and Lucy Luttrell, Eli Plummer, Bird Webb, Jacob Allen, Sarah Allen, Samuel Allen, a local preacher, Harriet Allen, Deborath Morris, Joseph Stevenson and wife and. Mr. and Mrs. William Tainer. A good frame church building was erected and served for many years. This was associated with the Washington circuit.

with the formation of the denomination. Robert Dobbins had long been a consistent member and pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, but became dissatisfied and proceeded to organize a society under the discipline of the then new denomination. Up to 1835 meetings were held in school houses and at private houses, but during that year they erected a small frame build-' ing in which to worship, at the lower end of the cemetery in Green township. This served until 1857, when another church was erected. This society in 1880 was reported as not strong, but made up of faithful believers. Reverend Hinkle was pastor at that date.

In Madison township a church of this denomination was formed at White Oak, by Raymouth Hussey, and services held in school houses until 1858, when a frame building was erected. Here the Universalists, Friends, Baptists and others also used to hold their meetings.

Mount Olive Methodist Protestant church was formed by Rev. Father Dobbins, of Jamestown, Greene county, Ohio, and at first consisted of the following members: Henry Burnett and wife, Thomas Burnett and wife, Peter Fultz and wife, John Coile and wife and George Hinkle and wife. For fourteen years services were held in the winter season at the different dwellings of the members and in summer in barns and in the groves. Father Dobbins came at stated intervals to preach. In 1831 he removed to the banks of Sugar creek, four miles west of Washington, and settled in the midst of his small flock, in whose interest he worked until his death, on January 13, 1860, at the age of ninety-two. In 1843 this little congregation, with the help of some outsiders, erected a large hewed-log church on the banks of Sugar creek, on land owned by Daniel Bush, which was dedicated as a Methodist Protestant church, but which was named Union church, as it was understood that when not occupied by the Methodist Protestant denomination it was to be free to all and any other churches. The membership increased very slowly. |

About the year 1856 it was thought best for the convenience of some of the members to divide the class, which was accordingly done, and the branch organization held services in what was called the Coile school house, two miles north of the church, till 1863, when the society erected an elegant frame church on the farm of Isaac Coile, near the Coile cemetery on the Plymouth pike, and named it Sugar Creek chapel from the name of the creek on whose banks it stood. The members remaining in the class at Mount Olive, considering the old church too much dilapidated for further use, in 1863 selected a site on the farm of Samuel Coile, on the Wilmington pike, three miles west

The Methodist Protestant church at Jeffersonville was a part of the original circuit embracing five points, but is now reduced to points as follows: Jeffersonville, Spring Grove, Plain View and Blessings chapel. The church here was organized in 1829-30 by Rev. A. H. Trumbel. It now has a member in the person of Father Wallace Creamer, who is ninety-six years old and has been a member in this church for seventy-seven years. He lives just west of Jeffersonville. The society at Jeffersonville erected a church in 1874 which served well until 1901, when the present large red brick edifice was constructed and is valued at twenty thousand dollars. The 1914 membership is two hundred and thirty-one. A good frame parsonage is on the next lot adjoining the church lot. Among the ministers who have faithfully served are Reverends Kingsley, Jonathan Flood, O. P. Stevens, James Baker, Reuben Rose, Ravenscroft, J. P. Williams, S. S. Fleming, J. F. Hedrick, E. H. Woodworth, J. E. Bailey, J. Shepard, J. Webster, M. M. Campbell, M. R. Stover, E. W. Price, B. B. Courtwright and C. B. Doty, the present pastor.

Of the Washington circuit it may be stated that it contains five preaching points and societies within Fayette county. These are situated as follows: Mt. Olive, where a church was erected in 1864, and now valued at five hundred dollars. Here a new church is in course of erection. . The membership is seventy. At Milledgeville, a church was built in 1882, value two thousand five hundred dollars; membership about twenty at this date. At Harmony, a church was built about 1877; present membership, fifty. Pleasant Valley, between 1865 and 1868, a society was formed; present membership, about seventy. At White Oak Grove a church was formed before the Civil-war period. It now has a membership of one hundred and fifty. These buildings are all frame structures. Then there is one more church of this denomination in the county, that at White Oak, Madison township; its membership is now very small and it is supplied from Jeffersonville now.

The Christian Church

Missionary Society. It is a mission of the district board. They instructed J. C. Irvin to go to Washington and make a reconnoisance. He visited all

In December, 1874, Rev. W. W. Sawyer and Mr. Irvin joined in a union service of Baptists and Disciples, which meeting lasted one week; an intercommunion service was held and friendly relations cultivated. This year several sermons were preached in the city hall.

During the next winter, Elder Robért Moffett, state evangelist, of Cleveland, Ohio, held a meeting of three weeks in the Baptist house of worship, which was well attended. The interest, good from the beginning, increased to the close. At this meeting two young ladies were added to the church.

The board, encouraged by this meeting, determined to make the mission permanent. J. C. Irvin was continued in the management. ,His health failing, however, he was not able to preach and was compelled to abandon active work. During the year 1878 he held Bible service and social meetings in the temperance hall. These meetings began as early as November, 1877, and were held regularly thereafter.

The organization dates from April 6, 1879. There were but six members present, whose names were J. C. Irvin, Mrs. J. C. Irvin, Miss Jennie Davis, Mrs. Maggie C. Hess, Mrs. Julia Benjamin and S. Eldan Irvin. In November, 1880, a Sunday school was organized in the city hall and the meetings removed to that place.

In 1884 the society erected the present brick edifice on the corner of East Temple and North streets. It has served until the present, but is entirely too small for the rapidly-increasing congregation, and plans are maturing for the building of a more modern and a much larger church building. The present membership is over four hundred and the Sunday school is more than' three hundred and growing monthly. Rev. Bowman Hosttler, present pastor, has been connected here since 1910. He was preceded by Reverends Wingerd and W. H. Bowden, the last named being pastor for five years.

The only other church of this denomination in Fayette county is the one at Pleasant View, in the midst of an excellent farming community not far from Jeffersonville. The society does not have a regular minister at present, but is supplied by that grand old man, Rev. J. O. Flax, who is a wealthy land owner of that section, and has preached this doctrine for more than thirty years for this congregation. This church was formed in 1877 and a building at once erected and is still in use. The membership in 1881 was reported

Holland, and under peculiar trials, as they had to contend with the warring elements of the Baptist, United Brethren and Methodists. In 1858 a real church organization was finally effected at a school house. They were then usually styled Campbellites or Disciples. A Sunday school was not formed until 1874.

The. United Brethren Churches

About 1831 a society of this denomination was organized at the house of David Turnipseed, and various home meetings were held until 1850, when the Otterbein chapel was built in Marion township. During the Civil War this society went down, but in 1881, when a Methodist church was built this society held frequent meetings. A frame church was built, as noted already, and a general conference of the denomination was held therein in the autumn of 1850. Among the delegates present was one colored preacher, who, on account of race prejudice, had hard work to secure boarding accommodations, but was finally taken care of by Mr. and Mrs. Fuller Hess, of the community, he being a leader in the Christian church. A Sabbath school was formed in 1851, with Thomas Roseboom as its first superintendent. This denomination largely united with the Christian and Methodist Protestant denominations in later years.

Baptist Churches

In Madison township, the Baptist society organized a church July 17, 1813, being among the oldest churches in Fayette county. The charter members were Samuel, Lucretia and Caleb Gaskill, Peter Timmons, Lettie Pancoast, Barzilla Rozel, Polly Rozel and Sarah Vandaler. Thomas Crabb and Catherine Blue were baptized into this church in October, 1813. Rev. Isaac McHenry was the first pastor called and commenced in 1813. After three years the society was without a pastor for eight years, but not long after this. Rev. J. B. Moore, of Kentucky, was called and served twenty-five years as. pastor. From the date of formation of the church up to 1829 services were held at the homes of various members, and from that year on to 1844 a school house was occupied. Later John Messmore erected a suitable church for the*congregation, at Waterloo. Its cost was eight hundred dollars.

Pleasant View Baptist church was organized in Jefferson township near Pleasant View, by N. M. Longfellow, with about twenty-five charter members, in 1865-6. Soon thereafter they erected a frame edifice in which to. worship. In 1880 there were fifty members. Among the early-day pastors.

Paint Creek Baptist church was organized in 1818, and in 1840 it had a membership of more than a hundred, while the association had five hundred and forty-five in all,-the same being known as the Scioto Presbyterian Baptist Association, organized in 1805, Pleasant Run being the first church formed in the association. When the Civil War came on, there was a split in this church which was never healed.

Good Hope Baptist church, according to a sketch written many years since by Rey. S. C. Tussing, was organized in 1834. The woods served as the meeting places, there being no suitable houses in which to worship. Elder Snelson was perhaps the first preacher to bring a message to these Baptist believers in Wayne township. In 1838 a meeting house was erected and served many years. The first regular pastor was Elder Burnet, who preached only once a month. Elder J. R. Moore finally was called to preach in conjunction with Reverend Burnet, and in time a great trouble arose which severed the church membership. It was over "home" and "foreign missions." It was bitter in its character. One faction held to paying only toward home causes, while the other wing contended that foreign fields should also be looked after. Elder Burnet and his minority of nine members left the others in 1832 and organized a church of their own known as the Good Hope Baptist church. These members were as follows: John Harper, Delilah Harper, Susannah Brakefield, James and Rebecca Cory, Greenup Campbell and wife, Elizabeth Bainter and Parence Brannon. The other wing, after a time, refused to let this side worship in the building and so they built one of their own. At this point was finally built the village of Good Hope. In March, 1881, a new church building was commenced, a brick structure thirty-six by forty-eight feet, costing two thousand five hundred dollars. At that date this church had a membership of seventy-five. The present (1914) membership is thirty-three. The pastors serving since about 1890 are: Revs. D. Trickler, W. R. Thomas, J. B. Islep, B. J. George, N. H. Long, J. Niddic, J. Giboney, Arthur Cooper, Albert Venting, N. H. Long, T T.. Carey, N. A. Cush.

The Regular Baptist Church of Christ, in Paint Creek, was made up of members transferred from Caesar's Creek church, in Greene county, in 1822. Services were held in the vicinity up to 1846, when an edifice was provided the congregation, at Bloomingburg, and it was then known as the First Regular Baptist church. Here the first pastor was Elder Chandler Tuttle, who died in 1863; after this the church soon went down.

The Old School Baptist church in Paint township at first met at various buildings within the vicinity, then erected a small chapel on the Bloomingburg and Midway pike. After a number of years' struggle the society ceased to exist.

Fairview German Baptist church was the first Dunkard society in Fayette county. It was founded here by John Cadwallader and Peter Eyman. A school house was built in 1844 and the land was donated with the understanding that the building should also be free to this society. Cadwallader commenced preaching in the new building. In 1853-4 a building was erected at the junction of the New Holland road and the Chillicothe and Washington pike. It was a frame structure, forty by sixty feet. Meetings were had twice each month.

The First Baptist church of Washington C. H. was formed by eleven persons, namely: John Franks, William Harper, Z. W. Baughn, Samuel F. Yeoman, Asenath Yeoman, Bethiah L. Yeoman, N. K. Dikerson, Mary Franks, Rebecca Baughn, Rebecca Blue and Mary Curry. These were the constituted members of the church. For many years Asenath Yeoman was the only Baptist in Washington.

The church was organized in due form on February 21, 1840. Revs. Azel Waters and Albert Wedge acted as moderator and clerk. The session was held in the Presbyterian church.

The pastors have been: Revs. Azel Waters, Albert Wedge, A. D: Freman, W. D. Woodruff, I. K. Bronson, Thomas Goodwin, W. D. Woodruff, J. W. Heistand, J. B. Tuttil, C. T. Emerson, J. RA Powell, Winham Kidder, Armstrong, W. W. Sawyer, S. T. Griswold, C. A. McManis, J. R. Powell, C. W. Lloyd, C. V. Northrup, T. B. Collins, W. H. Wagoner, W. J. Coulston, W. B. Hartzog, A. J. Tuttle, July, 1900, to August, Toor; J. J. Kett, September, 1906, to December 10, 1908; W. A. Gibboney, November, IQ01, to November, 1902; F. W. Irvin, December, 1902, to September, 1906; A. W. West, May 16, 1900, and present pastor.

This church now enjoys a membership of two hundred and fifty-eight. On August 24, 1844, this church was received into the Straight Creek Baptist Association, but in 1849 it was transferred to Caesar Creek Association (now Clinton). In 1847, when Rev. A. D. Woodruff became pastor, services were held in the old court house. In 1862, under Rev. T. C. Emmerson as pastor, a house of worship was erected at a cost of eight thousand dollars. On September 8, 1885, a cyclone destroyed the church, but on September 2r, 1888, a new church was dedicated, the cost of which edifice was ten thousand dollars. In 1890 a parsonage was provided the society.

Second Baptist Church, Colored

The Second Baptist church of Washington C. H. was organized June 12, 1855, by Elder George W. Bryant, with three members: Jordan Kelly, James L. Thornton and Boswell Kelly. Jacob Emmons, a licensed preacher, was called as a supply, and preached for them until the year 1858, when Elder A. Carter was called to the pastorate. In the latter part of 1858 he departed this life. He was succeeded by Elder R. Allen, who continued in charge of the church until 1860, when he was succeeded by Elder A. Pratt, who continued pastor till 1866. He was succeeded by Elder Cox.

Up to the year 1867 there had been no special revival of religion, but the church had gradually grown from three members to thirty. In the winter of 1867, under the administration of Elder Cox, an interesting revival took place and thirty -persons were added to the church. Elder Cox remained pastor till 1872, when he was succeeded by Elder John Powell, who remained pastor till some time in the year 1873. Elder Powell was succeeded by W. A. Meredith, a licensed preacher who was ordained in 1875 and remained pastor till about the year 1877. During his pastorate a very interesting revival was held, which resulted in the addition of twenty-seven members to the church. Elder Meredith was succeeded by Elder Benjamin Smith, who took charge of the church in 1878 and remained pastor till June, 1879, when he was succeeded by Elder E. M. Marion, in September. On the first of January, 1880, a revival of religion was begun and resulted in fifty additions to the church, making in all about one hundred and sixty members who had been received into the fellowship of the church.

In the year 1857 the church purchased a lot on North street, opposite the Central school building, and built a frame house, in which they held - services until about the year 1868, when the old house was torn down, and a brick building erected, costing about two thousand five hundred dollars.

There has been a Sabbath school connected with the church since the year 1858. The society still flourishes, but no data was furnished the author. It is understood that a new building is being contemplated in the near future. There is also a good colored Baptist church at Bloomingburg.

The Friends Society

of 1805, soon after which they begun to hold informal meetings on the corner of Mr. Toddhunter's yard, but no organized effort took place until 1809, when a subordinate branch was had and it was styled the Walnut Creek church. Many of its later membership resided in Highland county. In 1880 the society numbered two hundred. It was doubtless this society which in later years built the brick edifice near New Martinsburg which in February, 1904, was demolished by the great wind storm. It was a fine building, situated in Walnut creek, and was built about 1892. It was completely destroyed, the roof having been blown into a near-by field and the main structure reduced, before anything was known of it by the neighbors.

The Free Church Association

In about the year 1848 the citizens of Jeffersonville organized a society which had for its object the erection of a church, to be non-sectarian in its character and to be occupied by the various denominations alternately. The stockholders met March 6, 1848, and purchased a part of the school lot in district No. 13 and decided to erect a house of worship thereon, which was to be of frame, fifty-four feet in length and thirty-eight feet in width. It was stipulated that the house should be used by all denominations and the Sons of Temperance were granted the privilege of building a stairway to the garret and occupying the same, provided they made the necessary improvements. Its friends subscribed nine hundred eighty-three dollars and fifty-seven cents, in addition to which separate funds were raised for the stoves and lamps, the latter by the ladies. The church was occupied by the Methodist, Universalist and Methodist Protestant denominations and has been in charge of a nonsectarian board of trustees.

First Universalist Church

The First Universalist church of Jeffersonville was organized in August, 1860, by Rev. E. Moore, of Locust Grove, Adams county, Ohio, in the Union meeting house. Officers were soon elected as follows: William Palmer, Joseph Hidy, John F. Gregg, deacons and trustees; Gilbert Ferrell, treasurer, and H. K. Peterson, secretary. Rev. Moore continued as pastor eight years and was succeeded by Rev. W. S. Bascom, who gave way to Rev. L. D. H. Corwin, and he in turn to Reverend Tucker, who remained three years. Then followed Miss Prud Le Clerk, a distant relative of Napoleon Bonaparte, and she died Christmas day, 1878. In 1873 the society commenced to build

. a church edifice of brick, costing four thousand dollars. In 1881 this society had a membership of about sixty-three. At one date it had enrolled over eighty members, but death and removal from the county had depleted its numbers largely. The organization is still maintained, however. Mrs. H. McGrew is the present secretary of the church. Meetings are not kept up regularly.

Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church

On Thursday evening, December 4, 1879, presided over by the Rev. J. H. Logie, rector of St. Phillip's church, Circleville, a meeting was held at the residence of Mr. J. M. Love. At that meeting all the persons in Washington C. H. who were interested in the Episcopal church were present. An organization was effected by the election of an executive committee, composed of the following gentlemen: J. M. Love, Edwin Bird, R. M. Champion, J. S. Gold, Clarence Snyder, Edwin Proctor and Charles A. Palmer. These gentlemen were invested with authority to act in the capacity of a vestry, Messrs. Love and Bird to act as wardens.

Previous to this date (December 4, 1879) occasional services had been held by the Rev. Mr. Logie, of Circleville, and the Rev. Mr. Fischer, of Chillicothe, but at this meeting arrangements were made for regular services, and the first of such services were held on Thursday evening, December 11, 1879. At this service further arrangements were made by which the Rev. Mr. Logie was to take pastoral oversight of the work and, with the assistance of the neighboring clergy, hold services on alternate Sundays in the Baptist church.

The first Sunday service was held December 28, 1879. In the afternoon the Sunday school was organized. At first the school met at the residence of Mr. Love, but its growth was so rapid that it became necessary, in the course of three weeks, to take it to the church. For several months the services were held in the Baptist house of worship, but were removed to the city hall and subsequently to the court house.

On the 16th of May, 1880, the mission was placed in the hands of the Rev. Norman H. Badger, who thus became the first rector of Trinity church. His tenure of office, however, was very short, he being called to a parish in northern Ohio in January, 1881. For three months the mission was without a pastor. 'The Sunday school was, however, carried on by the ladies of the congregation, of whom mention may be made of Miss Nannie Love, Miss Julia Campbell, Mrs. J. C. Von Buhlow, Mrs. Champion and Miss Tinnie

In March, 1881, arrangements were made by which the Rev. George Rogers, a graduate of Bealey Hall Theological Seminary, Gambier, Ohio, and a presbyter of the diocese of Kentucky, took charge of the mission.

With the passing years this church has not succeeded as have others, and at present the membership of communicants is small. They do not worship in a building of their own, but have frequent services.

This church was formed at Washington C. H., about 1904, by O. T. Terguson. It now has a membership of about one hundred. It owns a church building valued at from one thousand eight hundred dollars to two thousand dollars. The pastors who have had charge of the work since organization was perfected are Revs. O. T. Terguson, J. H. McKibban and Hw. Leeth,

There are also churches of this denomination in Fayette county, as follows: On the Fayette county side of the village of New Holland is found a handsome church property. There the work was organized by J. H. McKibban, in 1902. At Pancoastburg, Reverend McKibban also formed a church in 1902. The work was also organized at Jeffersonville, this county.

The oldest church building in Fayette county was destroyed by a severe wind storm in February, 1912. It stood on land owned by William S. Parker, five miles north of Bloomingburg, and was erected by the Baptist denomination about 1813 to 1815. It was a frame structure and for many years has been used as a machine shed by the owner of the farm where it stood. It was on the side of the Bloomingburg and Sedalia pike. The storm demolished this old landmark and threw its ancient roof across the highway into a field.

Catholic Church

Catholic worship in Washington C. H. was begun, and for some time maintained, under very trying circumstances. Father Blake first celebrated mass in 1852 in a shanty occupied by Michael Flynn, while engaged in constructing the Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley railroad. The attendants were principally railroad men, most of whom left when the road was completed. The following, however, remained and became the pillars of the present flourishing society: John Coghland and his brother, Thomas, Michael O'Garrath, Martin Brannan, John Saunders, Patrick Burke and mother, Mr. Grady and Michael Flynn. Father Blake continued to preach occasionally until the road was finished, after which Father Duffey, who was stationed at Circleville, came once a month, bringing with him a choir from that place. He first celebrated mass at F lynn's house, but shortly afterward Ely's hall, then just completed, was engaged, and Father Duffey continued to ceme until his death, which occurred at Circleville about one year after his first services at Washington.

After Father Duffey's death, Father Reagan, stationed at Lancaster, came occasionally during one summer and ministered to the flock. After him, Father Everett, of Lancaster, paid it one visit; and he was followed by Father Fitzgerald, of Columbus, who celebrated mass once. Father Pindar, who was stationed at Circleville, then came once a month for about one year, and mass was celebrated at Ely's hall and confessional held at John Sander's house.

Near the close of Father Pindar's services, the Catholic church on Main street, now owned and occupied by the Colored Methodist church, was completed, and was dedicated by the Rev. Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinnati. Father Pindar and Father J. B. O'Donohue were present at the dedication. Pindar remained with this charge about one year, when he apostatized, married, and became an Episcopal minister. Archbishop Purcell appointed Father J. B. O'Donohue, stationed at Morrow, to take charge of the congregation.

About six months after Father O'Donohue's appointment, he proposed to the congregation the erection of a more commodious place of worship, in a part of the town more suitable for a cemetery. Accordingly the church property on Main street was sold to the Colored Methodist church for the sum of two thousand dollars and three acres of land were purchased of Judge D. McLain at one hundred dollars per acre, east of town, just outside of the present corporation limits, on which a substantial two-story brick church, forty by sixty-two feet, was erected.

In the fall of 1879 Father Felton, by nativity a German, succeeded Father O'Donohue. During his pastorate a fair was held, which was attended largely by Protestants, and one thousand, seven hundred dollars was cleared to the congregation, which was to be appropriated toward purchasing a residence for the priest. In August, 1880, Father Felton was transferred,