Monroe Township (part 2 of 2)

In the St. John's valley is the Darling fort, an ancient earth-work, erected by a people of whom we know nothing. Some of the finest specimens in large collection of relics and curiosities owned by the late Dr. J. P. Henderson were taken from this fort, which is situated on the north bank of the Clearfork, a short distance south of the church. The fort is circular and contains an area of about three acres. It had embankments from the gate at the south side leading down to the bank of the river. It was visited, surveyed and explored by Judge Peter Kenney in his day. The embankments were then about three feet high, and the whole covered with a growth of timber which showed that the works had been made centuries before. The fort commands a good view of the valley, and was, perhaps, intended as a defensive work. The greater part, if not all, of these ancient earthworks were planned and constructed upon geographical and geometrical lines and measurements. Their uses and purposes are matters of vague conjectures which the people of this age will never be able to determine. Evidences exist of the occupation of this country by a race of people somewhat advanced in the arts and sciences, but who they were, from whence they came. and what became of them, are questions for speculative history.

The Pennsylvania element predominated in the early xettlement of Monroe township, but the proportion was not sufficiently large to leave distinctive racial characteristics among the generation of today.

For several vears, commencing, perhaps, in 1855, the late Rev. W. A. G. Emerson was pastor of the congregation at St. John's. Mr. Emerson was born in Fairfax county, Virginia, 1816, and died at Ashland November, 1879. He was of French descent and po-sessed many of the traits and polite accomplishments of his ancestry. In many respects Mr. Emerson was an extraordinary man. As a preacher he was one of the most eloquent and powerful. The most appropriate words were always at his command, and he never hesitated for a term to felicitously express his thoughts. His voice was under the most perfect control and capable of expressing all the emotions of the human heart. His manner was earnest and impressive and his style pleasant and fascinating. He threw such persuasive power and convincing force into his sermons that he electrified his hearers and swayed them at his will. He loved to dwell upon the goodness of the Father and of the Savior's love, and his word-pictures were beautiful and entrancing. In 1862 Mr. Emerson became chaplain of the One Hundredth and Twentieth Regiment, O. V. I., and lost his health in the service. Mr. Emerson was not successful financially - and the majority of people are not - but many who read these lines will bear witness that he was one of the greatest preachers of his day and generation.