Elmwood Township

Elmwood Township

The town of Elmwood was laid out in the year 1867. Its founders were R. F. Canterbury and Dr. George Hereford, The postoflSce was established the same year, and Wm. W. Kennedy was the first postmaster. R. H. Brady built the first house for Canterbury & Hereford, who were proprietors of the first store.

The first school house was built in 1867, and James Parton taught the first school. There were about twenty-five pupils, and the teacher received fifty dollars per month for his services.

The first marriage was that of James Fitzpatrick to Miss Susan Kennedy. Rev. Joshua Barbee performed the ceremony. The first male child born was John Kennedy, son of James M. and Maria H. Kennedy, born in 186'J. The first female born was Ella Kennedy, in 1868 or 1869, of the

The first physician was Dr. Thomas Parks, a native of Augusta county, Virginia, but fi-om Todd county, Kentucky, to Saline county. The first religious services were held in the school house where the first school was taught by Rev. Tolbert, a Methodist.

M. E. Church, South Independent Order Of Good Templars

Elmwood Lodge, No. 215, I. O. G. T., was organized April 6, 1879, by Dr. Holland, of Marshall. The charter members were S. N. Beatie, Mrs. S. E. Hays, W. L. Beatie, S. T. Dysart, Mrs. M. D. Francisco, G. T. Martin, Joe Francisco, Robert Green, G. T. Nichols, J. W. Garrard, Mary and Belle Beatie, W. H. Ireland, W. A. Smith, and others. The first officers were S. N. Beatie, W. C. T.; Mrs. S. E. Hays, W. V. T.; W. L. Beatie, W. C; G. T. Martin, secretary; S. T. Dysart, W. F. S.; Mrs. M. D. Francisco, W, T.; Joe Francisco, N. M.; Robert Green, I. G.; G. T. Nichols, O. G. The present officers are S. N. Beatie, L. D.; G. T. Martin, P. W. C. T.; T. J. Dysart, W. C. T.; Mary Kennedy, W. V. T.; A. Hunter, secretary; G. R. Davis, F. S.; Belle Beatie, treasurer; J. A. Halley, C; George L. Harris, M.; Florence Kennedy, D. M.; Mattie Kennedy, I. G.; H. G. Dysart, O. G.; Sallie VParks, assistant secretary; MoUie Hays, R. S.; Virgie Davis, L. S. The present number of members is 113. The hall is over the Methodist Church, South, built by the members of that church, and sold to Elmwood Grange, No. 210, and is now owned by the grange. It is rented for the use of this lodge at $4 per quarter. It is a frame, and cost the grange $500. The P. W. C. T. states that when this lodge was organized this neighborhood was noted for the number of its dissipated young men, and the village of Elmwood sold more whisky than any other town in the county of twice its size. Soon after the organization of the lodge the liquor dealers closed up, and there has been no whisky sold in the place since. " Now," says the gentleman referred to, " we have as orderly and well-behaved a community as there is anywhere."