Washington Township (part 21 of 21)

As time went on the church again became inadequate, and in 1892 a movement was started for a larger and better building, which was built and completed in 1894, at a cost of about thirteen thousand dollars. In addition, the church has a comfortable brick parsonage hardby the church. The church now has a membership of six hundred and twenty, many of whom are from the country for several miles around the town, and I presume it is true that on Sunday more automobiles are seen about this church than any other in Eaton, or probably about all the other churches in town combined. I am glad to call attention to the automobile as bringing people to church, for it too often is blamed with keeping them away from church. In 1909 the congregation of the Christian church added a very fine pipe-organ.

Eaton Methodism

The Methodist Episcopal church first held services in the cabin ot William Castor, in Eaton, about 1811. Occasional services were held elsewhere in the town, and it is said services were held in the jail and court house for awhile. About the year 1828 a movement was started to build a church. The members donated labor, timber, hauling and some money, and in 1829 a small church was built, the first quarterly meeting being held in 1830. The preacher at that time "rode the circuit/' the circuit preacher then being John A. Baughman. The church committee reported sixty dollars as the share of Eaton towards his salary, but the church only really paid him nine dollars twelve and a half cents. The church then numbered sixty. In 1831 the Methodists started a subscription to build a parsonage, as the town was centrally located in the circuit, and they collected about four hundred dollars, with which they bought a lot and built a parsonage, which served for many years.

In 1838 a movement was started for a new church and a building was erected at the point where the Central hotel now stands ; in fact, the rear half of that hotel is the old church, having been incorporated into the addition that was made to remodel the building into a hotel. It is said that the dining hall is a part of the old church. This church was finished in 1842 and was dedicated by that pioneer of Methodism, James B. Finley.

Again the church became too small, and in 1868 another movement was started to erect a larger and more modern edifice. Subscriptions were taken, the present grounds at the southeast corner of Maple and Somers streets were purchased, and the present two-story brick church, the largest in the county, was erected and dedicated in 1871, the same costing about forty-four thousand five hundred dollars, as finally completed and furnished. The membership of this church now numbers four hundred and forty.

Methodist Episcopal Church, Eaton

It would seem proper here to give the reader some idea of the man who perhaps more than any other was the instrument under God to spread Methodism, not only in this county, but in the state of Ohio - James B. Finley, whose mortal remains await the Resurrection in Mound Hill cemetery. His father was a Presbyterian preacher in Pennsylvania, where James was born in 1781, a few years after which date the family moved to Kentucky. In 1796 the father freed his slaves and moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, where James studied medicine and began practice, but not liking the profession of medicine, abandoned it. Being a good rifle shot and a hunter, he decided that the life of a backwoodsman was the life for him. In 1801 he married Hannah Strane and settled in the woods in Highland county, this state, where he resided until the year 1809, occasionally speaking and exhorting at meetings.

In 1809 James B. Finley was licensed as a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church and began a career that left its impress upon the lives of many people. His first circuit was Wills Creek circuit, four hundred and seventy-five miles long, beginning at Zanesville and comprising the settlements along the Muskingum and tributaries thereto and east of Zanesville.

In 1818 he had charge of the Ohio district, including the whole state and east to the mountains. He was the missionary who succeeded in Christianizing the Wyandot Indians at Upper Sandusky. In 1827 he again went on the circuit, and so continued until 1844, in which year he was appointed the chaplain of the Ohio penitentiary, holding that place until 1848, when he again began service. In 1853 he was in charge of Clinton Street church in

Cincinnati. In 1854 he moved to Eaton to live with his daughter, Eliza H., the wife of Rev. John C. Brooke, and died there on September 6, 1856.

James B. Finley was eight times presiding elder of this circuit and eight times a delegate to the general conference. During all those years of his active life his traveling was mostly done on horseback. He held many camp-meetings and revivals. He was a strong and effective preacher, of tireless energy, of infinite tact, possessed of a wide knowledge of human nature, naturally eloquent and forceful, with a wide and deep knowledge of the Bible and its history, of undoubted piety and manly character and perfectly fearless. I presume it may safely be stated that for a third of a century he exerted a wider influence for good in this state than was exerted by any man of his day and generation. At least, the Methodists so recognize his work and at every conference held in the town delegations of preachers visit his grave, regarding it as a veritable shrine of Methodism.

Church Of The Disciples

The Church of Christ, or Disciples church, was organized in Eaton about the year 1823, in the old public church on Water street. In 1846 the congregation decided to erect their own church, which they built at the southeast corner of Barron and Somers streets, completing it in 1849; but on account of an agreement to allow a neighbor to join with them in the building of a party wall (generally a bad agreement) the church became involved in a law suit in regard thereto, which lasted some years. Although the congregation finally won the suit, dissension had arisen, and the church dwindled. In 1873, after obtaining consent of the common pleas court, the building was sold and the money received was allowed to accumulate until 1879, in which year the church was reorganized, a lot was purchased on the west side of Barron street and a fine brick church was erected; the same containing a baptistry, the only one in town, since which time the church has done good work, and is now attracting many members. The total cost of the church was about six thousand dollars. There are now about three hundred members of the church.

Henry Mont fort was the pastor for many years prior to the cholera year, during which he and his wife died. Then came John R. Frame, Z. Brown, Enos Adamson, T. D. Garver, 1879; then came L. E. Brown, S. V. Simmons, John E. Stotler, J. \V. Moore, J. M. Brown, Wooster Williams, Clarence Baker, W. A. Guy and Harry C. Bream, 1911.

The Presbyterian Church

The greater part of this short history of the Presbyterian church in Eaton was furnished by G. H. Kelly, a deacon in the church for more than twenty years.

The first meeting of Eaton Presbyterians was held about 1819 in the cabinet shop of Thomas Morgan, on the west side of Barron street, and later in the shop of Alexander Mitchell, and finally in the public church, erected at the west end of Wadsworth street, the preachers being Peter Montfort, Alexander Porter and a Mr. Bertch or Burch, who later, in traveling the circuit, was frozen to death on the prairies of Illinois.

The Presbyterians were the first to select a site for their church under the provisions made by Bruce in laying out the town. They selected the lot they ever since have occupied, at the southeast corner of Beech and Decatur streets, on which lot then was located a sheep house. In 1824 they remodeled this structure for a church, putting in puncheon benches, no backs, and for years some of the older members carried chairs to church and home each Sunday for their own use. The pulpit was a box pulpit, four feet above the floor, and was reached by a stairway. There were two front doors, one used by the women and one by the men.

The congregation continued to grow and in a few years the house was remodeled. In 1866 Mary Hawkins, in her will, left the church a legacy of one thousand dollars, to which more money was added and the church was again remodeled and refurnished. A little later a small pipe-organ was installed, making a very comfortable and pleasant church. The congregation continuing to grow, about the year 1890 an agitation w^as started for a better and more modern brick edifice. Like all agitations with justice back of it, this one continued to gain headway until about the close of 1892, when it was decided to build, and in 1893 the building was begun, being finished the next year, at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. To the church since has been added a fine pipe-organ. One of the members of this church was Mrs. Allison Fulton, a good, old Scottish woman, who in her young days, had been used to the ringing of church bells, and she worried much because the church had no bell. She died some three years since and her w ill provided the sum of five hundred dollars, with which to purchase a church bell. A bell was purchased, her name being cast in the same. It wras hung in the church tower and every Sunday its tones ring out as sweet and clear as her Scottish heart could wish.

There are now two hundred and fifty-one members of the Eaton Presbyterian church. The records of the church do not tell all that might be desired, but so far as known the following ministers have been pastors of the church or stated supplies thereof : John M. Crabb, T. E. Hughes, Peter Gollidav, J. C. Mitchell, about 1840; John Marquis, about 1852; H. W. Taylor, 1856; G. H. Webster, i860: G. M. Haid, 1866: F. L. Lenour, 1867; J. W. Scott, 1871: John Haight, 1872; W. W. Colmier, 1874; Andrew J. Reynolds, 1875; James H. Bratton, 1881 ; J. H. Reed, 1897; G. E. Gowdy, 1892; H. A. McDonald. 1897; W. H. Sands, 1899; George G. Copeland, 1902 ; W. B. Sliirey. 1905, and C. A. Hunter, 1909.

The Sunday school of the church was organized about the year 1844 and has been successfully continued ever since, having proved a strong and efficient aid to the church. It now enrolls one hundred and fifty-seven members.

The U N I Versalist Church

Samuel Tizzard, who arrived in 1820, as editor and manager of the Eaton Register , was the first pronounced Universalist in town. About 1825 there were occasional preachers of that faith who held meetings, and finally an organization was effected, but probably lasted as such no more than four or five years. Again occasional preaching was had, and, about 1856, those of that faith then in Eaton united with those of the same faith on Paint creek. W. S. Bacon was the first pastor and they built Friendship church, where they continued to worship as a congregation until 1872, when those who resided in Eaton determined to have a church in town in order to spare themselves a drive of five miles into the country. With this end in view, they withdrew from Friendship church, the best of feeling prevailing, organized a society and bought the lot at the northwest corner of Cherry and Somers streets, hut held services for a year in the Disciples church. In 1874 they l>egan the erection of the present brick church and completed it for meetings in 1876. the same being dedicated in 1877, at a cost of about six thousand dollars. There are now sixty members of the church, and about the same numl>er in Sunday school. The pastors have been : C. A. Lauder, 1877: Frank Evans. 1879: J. M. Getchell. 1880: J. A. Stoner: Sarah Stoner, pastor.

The first services of the Catholic church were held in Eaton, probably about the year 1853, in a building rented for the purpose, by Father Carney, who soon after was followed by Father O'Connor, and were continued in that building for some years. The building then was given up and services were held at the house of Michael Ryan, who later, for a number of years, was marshal of the village.

About 1865 services began and were regularly held at the pastor's residence until in 1879, when the present brick church was erected and dedicated, the edifice costing about five thousand five hundred dollars. Until a few years previous to the building of the church, Eaton was only a station and was supplied by Father D'Arco and Father William Daly, from Oxford and Hamilton, respectively. Since that time the charge has been a parish, with a priest regularly stationed. In 1903 the Catholics erected a fine brick residence for their pastor, adjoining the church, at a cost of six thousand five hundred dollars. The membership of the church is about six hundred and ten, a large part being from the country around the town.

United Brethren Church

The United Brethren church was first organized in 1889 and for about a year held services in a building owned by J. T. Deem. In 1890 the local adherents of this faith purchased the lot at the northeast corner of Bruce and Cherry streets, whereon they built a church, which some years later was remodeled and veneered with cement blocks, at a total cost of over ten thousand dollars. In 1904 the United Brethren built a parsonage adjoining the church at a cost of about three thousand dollars. They now have over three hundred members, with a Sunday school of about two hundred enrolled. The pastors have been: G. W. Arnold, 1889; A. Dunkelbarger, 1891 ; C. W. Kurtz, 1893: H. Secrist, 1895; T. F. Bushong, 1897; G. R. and Ruth Hemphill, 1900; C. W. Stephens, 1902; R. A. Smith, 1906: M. I. Corfort, 1909; had become much weakened by the removal or death of its members, and in 1889 the Baptist church property on Decatur street was purchased by the Lutherans and remodeled. In 1896 a parsonage was added. The membership now is about seventy, with about fifty in the Sunday school. This church and Zion church, some four miles north, are served, by the same pastor. George Baughman was the pastor to about 1892, then George Smidt, 1892; George Weber, 1896, and George Sixth, 1915.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Early in the seventies of the last century there was a class formed in Eaton of the African Methodist Episcopal church, which held meetings, sometimes at the homes of members and sometimes in a room rented for the purpose.

About 1879 Rev. Silas French became the pastor, and he started a movement for a church. In 1880 the colored brethren bought the lot at the southwest corner of Franklin and Wadsworth streets and erected a brick church and parsonage thereon. For a number of years the church grew, but for the past fifteen years it has decreased by reason of death and removal of the members, until it now numbers only about twelve, with a Sunday school of about the same number. The church belongs to the Palestine circuit and Alfred Taylor is the pastor.

In 1912 six churches of Eaton, the Methodist, the Presbyterian, the Christian, the United Brethren, the Disciples and the Universalist, united their efforts to hold a tabernacle revival. A tabernacle capable of holding about two thousand people was erected at the southeast comer of Decatur and Barron streets and the combined churches secured the services of Rev. I. E. Hunewell, who held services from November 20 to December 22, 1912. As a result within ninety days thereafter the churches received an aggregate of over six hundred accessions. If these accessions were not secured as a result of those meetings, it is a curious fact that the number was many times greater than ever before recorded in the same time.

Eaton'S Fraternal Societies

Eaton Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized on May 22, 1844. with the following charter members: John V. Campbell, George Edgerlev, Richard Y. Launius, Amos Yost and James W. Murray. The initial meeting was held in the first building south of the

St. Clair block on Barron street, and John V. Campbell, James Albert, Michael Filbert, Theodore Harbaugh, Alfred Denny and Andrew Mikesell were then initiated as the first class. The treasury at that time held ten dollars and after one year the lodge had twenty members. In 1848 the lodge moved into a building that stood where the Eikenbery block now stands, on Main street.

In 1855 the Odd Fellows purchased the lot at the northeast corner of Main and Cherry streets now occupied by them and soon numbered one hundred and twenty members, representing all parts of the county, this at that time being the only lodge in the county. Soon, however, a desire arose on the part of those from a distance to have lodges of their own nearer home, and this lodge furnished charter members for Lewisburg, New Paris, Gratis and Fair Haven. John V. Campbell, was the first noble grand; James Albert, secretary, and Amos W. Yost, treasurer.

On August 24, 1873, the building owned and occupied by the Odd Fellows burned down, but they determined to rebuild greater and better, and in the same year they started the present three-story brick building, completing it in the fall of 1874. They have continued to increase in numbers, on account of their good works, until today they number over two hundred members. Their success is justly due them because they have been true to their tenets : "To visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury their dead, protect the widow and educate the orphan." During the years the lodge has been in existence, in obedience to these tenets, the lodge has spent over seventy-five thousand dollars and stands ready to do more if need be. God bless the order and give it prosperity to help alleviate suffering and soothe the sorrowing. The data from which this is written was furnished me by George H. Kelly.

Masonic Lodge

Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in Eaton on January 8, 1827, the charter members being John M. Gray, Joseph C. Hawkins, David F. Heaton, Nathaniel Benjamin, Alexander Mehaffey, Ernestus Putnam, William Edgar and Eastin Morris.

John M. Gray was the first worshipful master, and the first tyler was Nathaniel Benjamin, who was the last survivor of that worthy band. The first meeting was held on August 19, 1826, under a dispensation from the deputy grand master, but the date given above is the date of the charter.

The lodge used for a time one of the rooms of the old court house, under an arrangement with the commissioners, the county reserving the right to use the furnished room for a jury room. In 1848 the commissioners began tearing down the old court house to make room for the new one and the lodge leased a room in the third story of the Vanausdal building, at the northwest corner of Barron and Main streets. In 1853 the town council arranged to build a town hall on the northeast corner of the court house ground, and the Masons arranged to build a third story on this building for their use, and did so, completing it the next year, Thomas J. Larsh being worshipful master at the time. The lodge had no rebuilding clause in their deed. On July 4, 1859, fire destroyed that and several other buildings and the commissioners took over the ground and added it to the court house square, where it really belonged, and the "real estate" owned by the lodge was too high to reach. The lodge saved nearly all of its property, and for a couple of years was granted permission to use the Odd Fellows' building.

Then, for nearly thirty years, the Masons rented a room at two or three places. Finally, in 1890, Judge William J. Gilmore offered to sell them a lot twenty-five feet wide on the west side of Barron street at a low price if they would build. They accepted and the present three-storv Masonic temple was erected, to which an addition has since been made. The lodge now has one of the most comfortable homes to be found in towns of similar size. The building was completed in 1892 and is owned jointly by Bolivar lodge and Eaton chapter. The lodge membership now numbers over one hundred and twenty- four brothers. For the first twenty years of its existence the Eaton lodge drew membership from the whole county, but since then four other lodges have been instituted in the county and its area is limited.

Eaton Chapter Xo. 22, Royal Arch Masons, was organized by charter on December 23, 1837, with James L. Campbell, high priest; Thomas J. Larsh, king, and Daniel Harshpian, scribe. They had worked under a dispensation for about a year, but the above is the date of the charter. The chapter has always occupied a room with Bolivar lodge and shared in its vicissitudes, and now owns half of the Masonic temple. It is the only chapter in the county and draws its membership from the whole county. It now numbers one hundred and five companions.

Knights Of Pythias

H. Allison, C. C. and Frank F. Rhea, J. T. Holmes, J. R. Cook, J. S. Gary, D. J. Musselman, H. H. Huete, G. Pfister, A. M. Crisler, B. F. Jervis, C. S. Price, \V. B. Marsh, G. M. Orr, F. G. Thompson, C. U. Patton, O. C. Filbert, J. Taylor, Charles F. Ressler, J. J. Hume and W. P. Webb. The charter was signed by E. L. Clossee, grand commander.

The Pythians occupied the third story of the Eidson building for three years, then moved across the hall into the Minor block, where they remained for twenty-eight years. In 1912 they began the erection of the Pythian temple, at the northeast corner of Somers and Barron streets, which was completed, dedicated and occupied in February, 1914, the cost being about twenty-two thousand dollars. This lodge now probably has the finest and most up-to-date lodge building in the county and has a membership of three hundred and forty.

On March 30, 1897, Dorcas Temple No. 105, Pythian Sisters, was organized with twenty-five charter members, Florence Jones, most eminent chief. This society now numbers about two hundred and forty members and has always occupied the same lodge room with the Knights of Pythias.

Dakota Tribe No. 73, Red Men, was organized in Eaton on December 26, 1899, with, fifty-four charter members, Edward Johns, sachem. The members rented rooms at first in the Gould building, on Main street, until the year 1914, when they occupied a room in the Minor block. The tribe now has about seventy members.

Eatons Militia Company

In the summer of 1899 Capt. W. H. Ortt organized Company F, Third Regiment, Ohio National Guard. It was mustered in on October 28, 1899, with I. J. Dove, captain; C. W. Eidson, first lieutenant; W. S. Jennings, second lieutenant; G. H. Kelly, elected captain March 9, 1902; F. E. Dunlap, captain, September, 1906.

In December, 1912, Lieut. L. J. Hapner was placed in command, the captain having resigned, and on February 3, 1913, Hapner was elected captain and is at present in command. A detail from the company served in Springfield, Ohio, during the riots in that city in 1906, over the burning of the negro quarters. The whole company was called to Columbus during the riots in that city in August, 1910, and on March 26, 1913, Governor Cox placed West Dayton in charge of Company F, under Captain Hapner, the city being under martial law, for the relief of the flood sufferers, to clean the city and for rescue work, which place they held until relieved after some ten days. In all its services Company F obeyed orders so well that the state authorities decided that it deserved an armory building. In 1910 the sum of four thousand dollars was raised by subscription of citizens, headed by Governor A. L. Harris, and a site was purchased at the southwest comer of Vine and Main streets, on which the state erected a fine armory of boulders and cement at a cost of about twenty-four thousand dollars, with two thousand dollars' worth of furniture furnished by the company. The drill room seats about seven hundred people. It was built in 1911. The company now numbers but about fifty at roll call.

Commercial Club

In 1905 a Commercial Club was organized, of some fifteen or twenty men, for the purpose of boosting the town and assisting in such ways as they could to bring business to the town and to improve and make the town better. This club met in the town hall until 1914, when they rented the third story of the Thum building.

J. E. Parker was the first president and L. L. Brown was the first secretary. The latter has held the office ever since. The club now has about one hundred members and has done much good, besides encouraging men to "boost" instead of to "knock."

The Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Lodge No. 6, was organized on October 15, 1899, with twenty-five charter members. This lodge at present rents a room on North Maple street and meets every Monday evening. The first counsellor was Charles Wiley and Harry Clear was the first secretary, which office he still holds. The lodge now has forty members.

Grand Army Of The Republic

Mulkaren O'Cain Post No. 3, Department of Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized on March 23, 1883, with forty-two charter members. B. F. Davis was the first post commander. This post now has sixty comrades.

members and long before another history of this county is written the comrades of the existing posts will have answered the last roll call and search must be made among dusty and forgotten records for even the names, but for each old comrade, in life, and in death, may it be, "requicscat in pace " Woman's Relief Corps No. 9 was organized on January 29, 1887, with twenty-nine charter members, Mrs. Kate Coovert, president. This corps now numbers thirty and has always used the Grand Army of the Republic hall.