Perry Township (part 2 of 2)

The grandfather of Charles Slagel was a German by birth, emigrated to America previous to the Revolutionary war, and settled in North Carolina. It was here that the father of Charles Slagel was born in the year 1770. When a young man he went to Virginia, lived there a short time, then removed to Kentucky, where he lived until the year 1806, when he came to Champaign County, Ohio, with his family, which consisted of wife and six children. Charles Slagel, the subject of this sketch, was born in Champaign County a few months after they landed in the county (in October, 1806). About two years afterwards they moved to Montgomery County, where Charles grew to manhood on a farm. When a young man he followed teaming to Cincinnati. In 1832 he married Susannah Snyder. By this marriage there has been eleven children, seven of them are now living, viz., Barbary A., born October 3, 1833; David D., born March 26, 1835; John W., born October 7, 1839; Jacob S., born December 6, 1841; Elizabeth B., born May 17, 1848; Henry A., born May 25, 1850; and Jennie, born February 9, 1855. In 1850 he moved with his family to Shelby County, and settled on his present home in Perry Township. Mr. Slagel has always had the respect and esteem of his neighbors. Has been elected to the offices of justice of the peace and trustee of his township. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for about sixty years. His house was the home of the itinerant preacher for many years. Esq. Slagel has now retired from the active duties of the farm, and is striving to enjoy the fruit of his early labor.

was born in Virginia in the year 1804. Came to Champaign County, Ohio, in 1805. From there they removed to Miami County in 1818, where he lived till he came to Shelby County in 1840, and settled on section 18, Perry Township.

a son of the above, was born in Miami County in 1831. Came with his father's family to Shelby County in 1840. The farm on which they moved was nearly all in the woods, and boys at that day who were old enough to work had but little time for school. It was here that young Gearhart received his education, by attending school a few weeks in the winter season until he was sixteen years of age, when his school privileges closed. He continued to work for his father on the farm till 1856, when he married Miss Elizabeth Burditt, by whom he has had two -children, Marella J. and George L. Mr. Gearhart is located on section 24, Perry Township.

a younger son of Lewis M. Gearhart, was horn in Miami County in 1834. Came with the rest of his father's family to Shelby County in 1840. Here he received a limited education. He learned the carpenter trade, which he followed some ten years, but has followed farming the greater part of his life. In the year 1860 he married Miss Elizabeth Miller. By this union they have had seven children. Their names are: Harry M., born 1861; Edwin E., born 1862; Lucinda C., born 1864; Augusta I)., born 1867; William L., born 1869; Jennie D., born 1870; and Otis E., born 1877.

William Miller, the father of Mrs. Gearhart, came to Shelby County in 1824. Caleb Goble, the grandfather of Mrs. G., was born in New Jersey in 1760. About 1792 he came to Ohio, and settled near where Lebanon, Warren County, now is, with his wife and four children. Here, in the year 1809, the mother Of Mrs. G. (Lucinda Goble) was born. Caleb Goble, her father, came to what is now Shelby County in the year 1814 or 1815, and first located where Sidney now is, lived there a year or two, then moved up the river, and located on school land, near where Pt. Jefferson now is The exact time of their settlement cannot be given, but from what we can gather from Mrs. Miller it was immediatel}' after the close of the war of 1812.

was born in North Carolina in 1795. Came to Clermont County, Ohio, in 1804, where he grew to manhood, and learned the blacksmithing trade in Batavia. In 1819 he married Elizabeth Salters. They moved to Shelby County in June, 1831, and lived a short time in the town of Sidney. During this time he entered a piece of land in Perry Township, and moved to it with his wife and six children. He erected a cabin and a shop in the woods. Here he did blacksmithing and gunsmithing, also shoemaking for his neighbors. By this means he got his first land cleared. Not long after his location in Perry, his shop burned together with all his tools. This left him without means of support. In order to maintain his family he put his land into the trust compan}'. He did not get it redeemed until 1 847, when the interest on the loan had amounted to more than the principal. In 1843 his wife died, leaving him with ten children. In 1844 he married Matilda A. McDavitt. By this union there are nine children, all now living. Mr. Medaris died July 17, 1881, at the age of eighty-six years, having been a F. and A. M. for thirty-six years. He was also a Sir Kuight. He died full of honors and years.

was born in Germany in the year 1810, and married Christina C. Maulick in 1835. They had previous to their emigration to the United States three children, two of them died while quite young. They came to America in the year 1847, and located in Shelby County, Perry Township. Their only child, Mary L., married Andrew J. Kohler. They had two children, George C. and Mary L. Mrs. Kohler died in 1863. The two grandchildren now have their home with their grandfather, Mr. Maulick, they being the only descendants now left, Mrs. Maulick having died in January, 1881.

was born in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1826. Her father, Peter Croy, was born in Virginia in 1784, removed to Ohio in 1807, and married Susannah Basinger. The same year the} - located in Miami County. From there they moved to Clarke County, where they lived till the year 1830, when they came to Shelby County. Peter Croy was a soldier under Gen. Wayne in the war of 1812, and was taken a prisoner, but the particulars of his capture cannot be given. They were neighbors of the Dilbones, who were massacred by the Indians in Miami County, and suffered all the privations and hardships of the early settlers of that day. Peter Croy died in Miami County in 1864. His wife had died in 1848.

James H. Doren, husband of Charlotte, was born in Butler Count}' in 1822, and came with his parents, Thomas and Jane (Hayes) Doren to Shelby County in 1832. Here, in the year 1849, he married the subject of our sketch. By this union they had seven children, viz.: Park B., born 1850; Callie, born 1851; Samuel H., born 1854; John C. F., born 1856; Ada, born 1859; Cora, born 1862; and James, born 1864. They were located in section 27, Perry Towuship. Mr. Doren died March 25, 1877.

was bom in Pennsylvania in the year 1 822, came to Warren County, Ohio, in 1838, lived there a few years, then removed to Miami County, where in 1849 he married Alvira Scobv. They have by this marriage one child, William C., born 1853. They settled in Shelby County in

1861. Mr. Smith has been noted as a hunter. In his early life his trusty rifle was his companion in the mountains of Pennsylvania, where the bear and deer fell by its unerring aim. The wilds of western Ohio and Indiana have been his hunting grounds for many years. Mr. Smith still loves to take his old favorite rifle, and spend an idle hour in the woods, although nothing is to be found but the sportive squirrel.

was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in the year 1825. He was one of ten children. LI is father, Conklin Miller, emigrated from New Jersey to Montgomery County in the year 1800. He was one of the first settlers in the town of Dayton, and drove the first shingles on a roof in the town. Henry R.'s father died when he was only five years of age ; his mother died some two years later. He then went to live with Samuel Maxwell, who was his guardian, and came with him to Shelby County in 1835. He lived with Mr. Maxwell till he was seventeen years of age, when he was apprenticed to Daniel Kyler, of Dayton, for four years, to learn the blacksmithing trade, for which he received thirty-six dollars per year, or about ten cents per day. At the expiration of his apprenticeship he returned to Shelby County. He brought with him a set of tools, but had not a dollar of money. He borrowed two dollars to bring him to Sidney. He started his first shop near where Manning & Line's mill now stands. He commenced without money enough to buy a rod of nail iron. He used to go to Sidney to buy iron, when he carried it all home in his pocket, having no credit, and would not ask the merchant to trust him. This is the way he made his commencement in life, in the year 1849 he married Miss Catharine Beezley. By this union they had three children, viz., Samuel, born Aug. 25, 1850; John, bom Nov. 16, .1853; Mary E., born Nov. 12, 1860. Mr. Miller followed smithing until about

1862. His first purchase of a home was a lot of two acres; afterward bought eighty acres in section 28, Perry Township. Some time after this he bought the old Marrs homestead, where Wm. Marrs had settled in 1816. The old cabin built by Marrs in 1816, previous to his settlement, is still standing; also the frame barn, said to be the first one built in the county, is still standing: the lumber with which it is sided was sawed at Musselman's mill, on Mosquito Creek, over sixty years ago. The wife of Mr. Miller died Nov. 1862.

The ancestors of Mr. Cannon are among the very earliest settlers of this county. The date of their settlement and a more full description of the family will be found elsewhere in this work, as given by one of the older members of the family. Henry S. is a son of James and Mary Jackson Cannon. He was born in Indiana in 1836. The parents of Mr. C. had removed from Shelby County to Indiana previous to his birth. In 1877 Mr. Cannon married Miss Emma Gomm, who was born in London, Eng. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon located in Perry Township in 1881.

was born in Loudon County, Va., in 1791. He emigrated from there to Muskingum County, O., but the time of his removal is not known. Here he married Margaret Kevitt. In the year 1829 he moved, with his wife and six children, to Perry Township, Shelby County, and settled on the

Beeden. His land at the time of his settlement was entirely in the woods. The first school in the north part of the township was held in an old log house on his land, and was taught by John Hathaway. Mr. Thompson lived on this farm until the day of his death, which was in 1875. His remains are now resting on the same farm, in a family burying-ground. His widow still survives him, and has her home with her son, Thomas YV., who is on the old homestead. Thomas \V. was born in 1840. In 1865 he married Miss Lovina B. Miller, a daughter of Isaac Miller. They have had born to them seven children - Elizabeth E., Emery S., William E., Albert O., Maggie, Clarence E., and Vernon.

was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1814. In the year 1818 he was taken to Miami County, where he lived till 1836, when became to Shelby County. Here, in 1841, he married Elizabeth Thompson, a daughter of Smallwood Thompson. By this marriage there were seven children, three of whom are still living, viz., Florence M., wife of Mark Riddle, Orthola T., and Dulcina, wife of Jacob Le Fevre.

Mark Riddle was born in Montgomery County in 1844, came to Shelby County in 1854, and in 1869 married Florence M. Line. They have by this union two children - Charles O., born 1871, and Harry O., born 1873. Mr. Riddle resides on the old homestead of Mrs. Riddle, where she was born, and where her father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother died. Samuel Line, the grandfather, and the grandmother, both died in 1848. Her father, Solomon Line, died in 1865 ; her mother died in 1879.

In 1755 three brothers by the name of Line came over from England with Gen. Braddock and his army. They were with him on the ninth day of J uly, at the time of his defeat near Du Quesne. Here they became separated, and all trace of one of the brothers was lost for many years. It seems that one of these brothers, for some cause, changed his name to that of Lyons. Years afterward grandchildren of two of these brothers happened to.be living in the same neighborhood in Miami County. There being such a similarity in the name of Line and Lyon, that they together traced back their genealogy, and found that the ancestors of both families came from England, and were at Braddock's defeat, and from what they could gather they were the descendants of the three brothers spoken of.

John Line, a son of one of the above brothers, was born in New Jersey. The date of ids birth we cannot learn, but we find that he was a soldier during the Revolutionary war, held a captain's commission, was wounded in a battle, and drew a pension as a wounded soldier for the balance of his life. Some time after the close of the war he married Miss Mary Baltzell, and emigrated to the territory of Ohio about the year 1800. They first located in what is now Brown County, where they remained until about 1830, when they removed to Shelby County, and located on land that had been purchased by his son, Henry C., in Perry Township. Here he died about 1834. His wife died in 1835. They raised a family of six children, all of whom came to Shelby County.

Henry C., one of these children, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1795. He lived with his parents until arriving at manhood, when he went to Miami County. Here, about the year 1816, he married Elizabeth Millhouse, a sister of Mrs. Dilboue, who was killed by the Indians. They raised a family of eight children, viz., John, Stephen, 'William, David M., Margaret A., Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Amy J., only three of whom are now living. Mr. Line died in 1851, his wife having died in 1847. They came to Shelby County in 1833.

was born near Lexington, Kentucky, in the year 1800. He is a son of Joseph and Magdalena (Hoost) Line. The father of Joseph Line was one of the three brothers who came over from England with Gen. Braddock (spoken of elsewhere). Joseph, together with his brother John, was in the Revolutionary war. He was born in New Jersey about 1756. From New Jersey they removed to Kentucky, but the time of their removal is not known. From Kentucky they came to Ohio in 1812, and located in Brown County, where they lived until 1835, when they came to Shelby County with their son Abraham, where the father died in 1841. Abraham married Sarah Line (a daughter of John Line) in 1820. They have had born to them twelve children, five of whom are still living, viz., Levisa, John, James, Levi, and Jacob. Mr. and Mrs. Line are both still living, he in his eighty-second and she in her eighty-fifth year, they having travelled the journey of life together for sixty-two years.

a son of Henry C. Line, was born in Miami County in 1822. He lived with his parents until he arrived at his majority. In 1846 he married Miss Mary A. Robinson. For a couple of years after marriage he resided with his parents. He then bought a farm for himself, on which he lived until the death of his father, when he returned to the home place, on which he resides at the present time. They have raised a family of ten children, whose names and dates of births are as follows: Arvesta, born 1847; Easton H., born 1849; Oscar B., born 1851; Ohio B., born 1854; Charles, born 1856; Agnes I., born 1858; Dewit F., born 1861; Ellwood S., born 1863; Morris R., born 1866; and Olive M., born 1868.

Mr. Line is one of the prominent and successful farmers and stockraisers of his township, having made that his business through life. He has made for himself and family a comfortable home, and is now living in the enjoyment of a competence for his remaining days.

a son of David M. Line, was born in Shelby County in 1849. In 1872 he married Miss Polly A. Maxwell, a daughter of Abraham and Susan M. (Vaughn) Maxwell. The} 7 have had born to them one child, viz., Claude Maxwell.

a son of Richard W. Valentine, was born in Shelby County in the year 1836. He lived with his father until he was twenty-three years of age, at which time he married Nancy J. Bailey, a great-granddaughter of Thomas Bailey, whose checkered life is given in another place in this work. After marriage Mr. Valentine moved to Indiana, where he remained until 1866, when he moved to Illinois, where he remained until

1875, when lie returned to Shelby County, and located in Perry Township. He is the owner of the William Richardson homestead, one of the early settled farms of the country. They have reared a family of seven children, whose names are as follows: Mary A., Jonas I., William F., Levi E., Richard H., Samuel A., and Earl. Mr. Valentine is the owner of a well-improved farm with good building, a view of which is shown in this work.

was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1825. Came with his father, Samuel Maxwell, to Shelby County in 1835. He was by trade a miller, and owned the mills on Mosquito Creek, where the Manning and Line mills now stand. In 1846 he married Melvina Vaughn. By this union there was born to them six children, Polly A., Brezilla II., Loretta J., Edmund S., Franklin V , and William W.

Mr. Maxwell died in 1864. His widow still survives, and resides near the old homestead. Thompson Vaughn, the father of Mrs. M., was born in Virginia in 1791, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1811 he married Ann Diekensheets. There were born to them twelve children. Mrs. Maxwell, one of the twelve, was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1827 (where her father had settled iu 1815). Came with her parents to Shelby County in 1835.

In tracing, back the genealogy of the above, we can go back to the middle of the eighteenth century, when Stutfei Kerns came to America from Germany, and settled in Pennsylvania. Here he married Barbary Utt. They raised a family of eleven children. Joseph, one of the eleven, was born in Pennsylvania in 1786. Was brought by his father to Ohio in 1794. They located near Cincinnati. While living here he and four of his brothers enlisted in the army, and served under Gen. Harrison. Soon after the war he married Barbary Markley, and immediately moved to Miami County, where he now resides in his ninety-fifth year, having lived on the same farm about seventy years. They raised a family of nine childen. Jacob, the fourth child of the above, was born in 1822. He lived with his father in Miami County until 1843, when he came to Shelby, and, the same year, married Emiline A. Elliott. They have raised a family of four children, viz., Joseph L., Stephen W., Cyrus T., and Cerena M. Mrs. Kerns died in 1873.

was born in Union County, O., in 1855; married Mary S. West in 1878; have one child, Charles Wesley, born 1879. Mr. Poling resides at the home of Mrs. West, who came to Shelby County iu 1829.

Source changes here: from History of Shelby County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, by Hitchcock, Almon Baldwin Carrington, published 1913; 2,118 words in this source stream.

Perry Township

Begins on the southeast corner of section 4, town. 2, range 13, east line of Shelby county; north with the aforesaid county line to the northeast corner of the county; thence west with the county line to the line between sections 29 and 30. town. 1. range 7; thence south with the line between the aforesaid sections, continued on to Miami river, and across the river; thence with the river down to the land between sections 10 and 9, town. 1, range 13; thence with the last said line east, to continue on to the place of beginning.

Perry township is one of the original townships of this county, it having been organized as a part of Miami county, June 10, 1817, two years prior to the organization of Shelby county. Its early and subsequent boundaries may be described in general as follows : In 18 19 Perry township embraced all the territory now included within the townships of Perry, Orange, Green, Salem, Jackson and a part of Clinton. In September of the above year Orange township was separated and in March, 1820, Green township was separated from Orange. In 1825 the county commissioners made entry as follows concerning the boundaries of Perry township:

"Perry township begins on the southeast corner of section 4, town 2, range 13, east line of Shelby county; thence north with said line to the northeast corner of the county ; thence west with the county line to the line between section 29 and 30, town 1, range 7; thence south with the line between the said sections; continued on to the Miami river and across said river; thena with the river down to the line between sections 10 and 9, town 1, range 13 thence with last said line east to continue on to the place of beginning." In March, 1826, a portion of the above described land became a part of Clinton township, and in June, 1826, the north tier of sections of Green township was attached to Perry, and all that part of Perry lying north of the Miami river was created a new township to which was given the name of Salem, and in June, 1837, all of fractional township No 1, range 14, which belonged to Perry, was attached to Salem township, which included that part of said fractional township lying south of the river, and mis, in 1854, once more became a part of Perry township.

And Representative Citizens 377

Surface, Soil and Drainage - With soil of rich, sandy clay and black loam, the early pioneers to this section found great promise of agricultural success as the surface of the land is generally level, its slight undulations providing for satisfactory drainage, which is toward the north, the boundary line in that direction being the Great Miami river. Other streams of importance are Big and Little Indian creek, Mosquito or Tawawa creek and Turkey Foot creek, the last named watering the central part of the township. Corn, wheat and grasses do remarkably well in Perry township and the prosperity of the agricultural sections is further indicated by the general intelligence and progressivenecs of the citizens. Here may be found some of the best constructed and best kept roads in the county and it is no unfamiliar sight to see on them the automobiles of the farmers. The C. C. C. & I. (Big Four) Railroad crosses the township from east to west. The township has good schools, with modern equipments, further data in regard to which may be found in the chapter on education.

Early Settlement - In February, 1814, David Henry located in section 28, on the bank of Mosquito or Tawawa creek, and he was the first settler within the present limits of Perry township. In the following year he was joined by Samuel and William Robinson with their families, and in 1816 came William Marrs, and prior to the organization of the county in 1819, George Chiles, Charles Johnston, Thomas Wilkinson, Peter Musselman, William Richardson, Charles Weeks and Benjamin Manning had established homes here. At that time primeval conditions still prevailed over 'this part of the county, the settlers visiting each other and making their neecSsary trips to mill mainly by way of Indian trails, and it may well be believed that when the Sidney and Urbana road, the first in the township, was completed, that the piqneers felt that a great want was supplied. As to mills the first one built was of logs, on Mosquito creek, a fine location which is still utilized as a mill site, and was erected by Charles Mason, a colored man. The second flouring mill was erected by William Pepper. David Henry, the first settler, not only put up the first log house but also the first frame one. The lumber that William Marrs made use of in the building of the first frame barn, was cut in the township and sawed in Peter Musselman's mill on Mosquito creek. Henry C. Line became locally envied, perhaps, as he was able to build a brick house in 1836. Into the Henry family came the first births, David and Sally Henry, twins, who were born February 17, 181 5.

From the very beginning the township, as a concrete body, recognized its responsibilities and in making provision for adequate government, selected representative citizens for officials. The list of those who have served in the office of justice of the peace from 1817 until 1910, inclusive, as follows: ston, April 22, 1846; Simon Hornbeck, October 24, 1846; Charles Johnston, April 10, 1849; David Henry, November 3, 1849; Wm. R. Reid (resigned May 24, 1852), April 17, 1852; Charles Johnston, June 26, 1852; Charles Slagle, October 24, 1852; Marshall Pepper, June 27, 1855; G. R. Forsythe, November 1, 1855; Marshall Pepper, April 16, 1858; G. R. Forsythe, October 19, 1858; Wm. Dunlap, April 22, 1861 ; Marshall Pepper, October If, 1861 : Thomas Kizer (resigned Feb. 2, 1865), April 23, 1864; John Matthias, Feb. 22, 1865; J. V. Wilson, Feb. 12, 1868; Isaac Speer, April 13, 1868; Isaac Speer, April 11, 1871 ; J. V. Wilson, Marshall Pepper, April 10, 1874; G. W. Clark; Marshall Pepper, April 17, 1877; G. W. Clark, April 20; 1877; A. J. Davidson, April 19, 1880; G. W. Clark, April 14, 1880; J. D. Ferree, 1886; G. W. Clark, 1886; J. D. Ferree, 1889; S. B. Cannon, 1889; Jacob Cost, 1892; S. B. Cannon, 1892; G. W. Clark, 1895; T. J. Robinson, 1895; C. J. Jackson, 1897; R. J. Rugh, 1898; G. W. Clark, 1898; S. B. Cannon, 1901 ; A. J. Struhle, 1903; George E. Hahn, 1904; George E. Hahn, 1908; S. B. Cannon, 1910. The following citizens make up the board of trustees of Perry township in 1912 : Charles Peppers, Walker Zimpfer and M. N. Lucas, N. C. Enders of Pemberton being township clerk. There are many family names familiar in this section at the present day that appear in the earliest township records and they may be recognized in the following list of those who paid road tax in 1818; James Bryan, John Bryan, Adam Conuts, William Drake, James Dingman, Jr., Daniel V. Dingman, John Francis, Caleb Goble, John Hathaway, Jesse Jackson, William Johnson, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Edward Jackson, Alexander Jackson, Elisha Kirtland, George Morrison, Elijah Montoney, William Minnear, Abraham Minnear, William Morris, Luke Norris, Rodham Talbott, Daniel Vandemark, in District No. 1, of which James Dingman was supervisor. Those in District No. 2, of which Asa Hubble was supervisor, were: George Chiles, Asa Hubble, John Hunt, David Henry, Charles Johnston, William Marrs, John Medaris, Peter Princehouse, Henry Princehouse, William and Samuel Robinson, Mathias Sturm, Henry Sturm and Henry Sturm, Jr., G. Thompson, Charles Weeks, John Mathews and Peter Musselman.

Villages - The village of Pemberton, the leading commercial center of the township, is situated seven miles east of Sidney and derived its name through brotherly devotion, Civil Engineer Pemberton, officially connected with the construction of the C. C. C. & I. Railroad through the county, securing this honor for his brother, General Pemberton, a distinguished Confederate officer during the Civil war. The land was surveyed in 1852, sixty- four lots being included, and was platted by Benjamin C. Wilkerson, John H. and Leonard T. Elliott and George R. Forsythe, as proprietors. Calvin Morris opened the first grocery store, Isaac Wilkinson and Irvin Nutt, the first dry goods store, William Johnston, the first blacksmith shop, David Lemon, the first wagon shop and J. V. Wilson, the first hotel. Dr. Edward Stockton undoubtedly was the first physician and the first postmaster was Joseph

Smith. At one time the town was the home of numerous business enterpriser including grocery and dry goods stores, drug store, grain elevator, sawmill. shingle factory, butcher shop and concrete stone works. Some of these industries still continue. The population is about 325. and includes a number of wealthy retired farmers. There are now two grain elevators in Pemberton and one other not far from the village. There is also a general store and three groceries and restaurants, and two blacksmith shops. Hain & Gebhardt have a well-drilling machine with which they are doing a good business. J. H. llickenbotham, of Pemberton, has a threshing machine and sawmill.

The village of Pasco in the western part of the township has a population of about fifty-two, with one general store. In the vicinity are also a flour mill and a blacksmith shop.

Baptist Church - The Baptist church has been a strong religious body in Perry township since 1830, when the first society was organized with eleven members (December 3) under the name of the Miami church, by Rev. Willie Hance. Moses Frazer and Moses Frazer. Jr. The first deacon was Peter Kiser and among the first members were: Peter Kiser. Catherine Kiser. Michael Cox, Mary Jackson. Nancy Wilkinson and Sarah Manning. House to house meetings were held through the first five years, but in 1835 the Baptists fixing near the dividing line of Shelby and Logan counties united in the erection of a church edifice at Quincy, in Logan county, and there the united congregation attended until 1873, when the building was destroyed in a great storm of that year. In 1874 the Shelby Baptists built a church of their own at Pemberton, expending $4,000, the membership at that time being seventeen. It reached its highest point in membership in 1893, when there were 206 members. At present there are 131. The pastors have been Elders R. Duncan, E. Bunker, S. M. Brower, A. T. W'iant, A. Snider, D. Bryant, F. ]. Sheppard. J. Ross. H. H. Witter. F. M. Taylor, L. J. Baker, C. R. Sargent. \V. H. Gallant, J. W. Hartpence and G. L. Winters. The church maintains a well attended Sabbath school.

Methodist Episcopal Church - The Methodists organized a church society in Perry township in 1833. Rev. Sims meeting Booth Burditt and wife, George Pool and wife, William Moore and wife, Marcus Feck and wife and Air. McVeigh and wife at the home of Booth Burditt. This band of Christian workers was small but very earnest and they continued to meet for worship in private houses and in the schoolhouse until 1843, when they erected a small frame church half a mile north of Pemberton and the name of Indian Creek church was adopted. In 1857 the Pemberton Methodist Episcopal church was organized; it was remodelled in 1885 and again in 1912. It now has a membership of 125, with Rev. Houser as pastor. A well conducted Sunday school is maintained. This feature of work was started by William McVeigh, in his own house, and he never ceased to take a keen and active interest in it.

United Brethren Church - Unfortunately the earliest records of this church body in Perry township have not been preserved, but it is known that prior to 1820, perhaps in 1819, Rev. Jacob Antrim, on a religious mission, came to the home of Judge David Henry and formed a class, Mrs. Henry being a member of the same. In 1863 the church membership had become strong enough to consider the erection of a place of worship and when Samuel Young donated land on Mosquito creek, a frame building was erected thereon, known as Tawawa United Brethren church. Among its leading members a generation ago were the Peckhams, the Marrs and the Peppers. The Pasco United Brethren church was organized in 1892 and has a present membership of 150, with Rev. E. C. Hollinger, pastor.

Dr. W. M. Gaines ably represents the medical profession in Perry township. Some interesting facts in regard to the schools of the township may be found in the chapter on education.