F 499 . G82 17 Copy 1 L&aJL vL**>H» ;* ; I*k&n^4:*v^> 1 OF if j JULY 4th, 1876. 15Y . rW! W* H. IRWIN, Esi„ and Rev. S. D. CROTHERS. GREENFIELD: Printed at tin* office of the Highland Chief. f4^ 0^ © HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP GREENFIELD AND VICINITY, JULY 4th, 1876- W. H. IRWIN, Esq. and Rev. S. D. CROTHERS The events that go to make up the history of a little village will not at- tract the attention of those who only deal in the magnificience of king- doms and monarchs, the conflict of Vast armies, the exploits of heroes, and the pageantry of power. We can only hope to reach a few of the thoughtful around whom linger the recollections of the pioneer settle- ment, the days of privations, dang- ers, and hardships endured by the early settlers, in preparing the way for the peace and prosperity we now enjoy. The land in this part of Ohio wa& given by the State of Virginia to her officers and soldiers of the Revolution ary War as a reward of merit for their gallant services. About 1795, the surveying of those lands was commenced in this country. This was, then, the hunting ground of the Shawnee, Miami, and Wyandott Indians; and they watched with most vigilant and jealous eye, the intru- sive white man with his chain and compass. With prophetic vision they pene- trated the future ami saw their cher- ished bunting grounds disappearing before the devastating hand of civili- zation, and often repelled the en- croachments of the "pale face" with the tomahawk and scalping knife. In July, 171)7, Adams county was organized and embraced in its boun- daries most, if not all, of what is now Highland, and was the fourth county organized in the State. At that time there were but two white people residing within the present limits of this county. Johu Wileoxon being the first settler near Sinking Spring in 1795. In August, 1798, Ross count}- was organized and the territory now con- stituting Highland, detached from Adams and included in Ross, and continued so until May 1805, when Highland was iormed from Ross, Adams and Clermont, and embraced within its bounderies about half of Fayette and two thirds of Clinton. The county was then divided into four townships; New Market, Brush- creek, Liberty and Fairfield. Madison was then a part of Fair- field and the place of voting was Be- verley Milner's, .on Hardin's Creek. New Market is the oldest town in the county, and was laid pff in 1797, and was for a number of years the county seat. Here the first term of court was held May 10th, 1805. Court was usually held in a small room in a tavern only htrge enough to accommodate the judges, members of the liar, jurors, witnesses and parties, the spectators standing out side and listening through the cracks. The jury went out into the woods and sat on a log to deliberate on their verdict, and the session of the grand jury was usually held in a tree top. At one of these early terms of the court three men were ordered by the judge to be incarcerated during the night, which order the Sheriff at- tempted to execute by putting them in a cabin, but while he was fasten- ing the door they all crawled out through an apperture between the logs. The prisoners made no at- tempt to escape regarding the mat- ter as only a good joke. But the Sheriff was not to be outdone in this style, so he summoned a force, and rearrested the men with little diffi- culty. A Mr. Barrere had commenced digging a well which he had got about twelve feet deep, into this hole the Sheriff thrust the three men, cov- ered the mouth closely with fence rails, where he left them to remain in perfect safety until morning when ordered out by the court for trial. They were taken out by means of an Indian ladder. I will leave it for the young people to find out how one is constructed. This was the first case of imprisonment in the county. In 1796 Chillicothe was laid out by Gen. Massie, and the first choice of in-lots sold for ten dollars. In 1799 a Post-office was established here. In 1S00 the seat of government of the Northwest Territory was removed- from Cincinnati by law of Congress to this place and the first territorial 3 legislature was held in 1801. June 24, 1802, Chillicothe was irfcorporat- ed, and in November ol'the same year the first constitution was framed here. It then took only three weeks to make a good constitution". At the time Highland took its posi- tion among the counties of the State, it may be interesting to the young to tell them something of the domestic condition of the people who were then its citizens. They lived in log cabins with an oc- casional exception in the towns. A lap-shingle roof and a four-light win- dow were looked upon as verging upon aristocracy and did not meet with much encouragement. The furniture was of the rudest charac- ter, as the difficulty of transporta- tion prevented their bringing it with them. When they arrived at their destination, the indispcnsible cabin was first erected, then a piece split out of a log, holes bored in it with an auger and four rough legs put in it, for a table. Stools and bedsteads were made in much the same way, but the most of the family slept on the softest puncheons of the cabin floor. Shelves in the corner made of clapboards on wooden pins constitut- ed the "dressrs 1 ' on which were kept the pewter plates, cups, knives and forks, wooden bucket, skillet and hominy pot. There was no regular physician in the county at that time; the old women did all the doctoring and they scarcely ever killed any body with their herb teas. The little sick- ness they had- in those days was genuine. There were no lawyers liv- ing in the county and as a conse- quence the terms of court were short Preachers were very scarce, never theless the people were very pious; and a Sunday in those days would put to- shame one of our high toned modern Christian Sabbaths. Every man was sufficient mechanic to build his own cabin and to make the domestic necessaries, such as shoes, ploughs, harness, sleds, f the place went annually on horseback to Phila- delphia to purchase their stock of goods. It took from six to seven weeks to make the trip. The goods had to he wagoned to the Ohio river; thence boated down to Ripley, and from there wagoned to Greenfield. Laboring as the people did under so man}' disadvantages for want of the improved methods of transporta- tion, it is not to be wondered at that they worked energetically to secure a railroad. On the second day of May, 1851, Charles White, an old Revolutionary soldier, then in the ninetieth year of his age, threw the first dirt on the M. <& C. R. R., near where the depot now stands. Thousands of people assembled to witness the ceremonies and to rejoice over the .prospect of soon being able to go east and west by rail. On the .first clay of May, 1854, this hope began -to be realized, that being the clay upon which the first regular passenger train ran over the road. In 1811, the first stone house was built in the place by Noble Crawford and was used as a hotel and called the "Traveler's Rest." The house is still standing and is the residence of Dr. Joseph McGarraugh. When it was built it was much the finest house in the place. Crawford kept the post-office here and was the first Postmaster, and this was the second office established in the county. The mail was carried by a boy on horseback, making the trip once a week. The mail carrier was then re- quired by law to blow a horn when approaching an office. In 1808, George Sanderson moved here and purchased nearly all the in and out-lots in the south and west portion of the town, fenced, plowed and cultivated the same in wheat and corn. He built him a house near where R. H. Miller resides and dug the first well in the town on the lot of Henry 1 DePoy. Mrs. Jane Edwards is one of his children and is the old- est living person born in the town. Here she has resided for sixty-seven years and has never been out of the town over a week at one time. In 1814, David Bonner came here from Chillicothe. He was a wool- carder by trade, and soon after he came here built a portion of the old part of the Harper House which he used for carding wool. He run the machinery by means of a tread wheel on which he worked horses, oxen and sometimes cows. In 1822 he put up a large woolen and cotton factory on the lot now owned by Sam'l Murray. In 1834 he introduced steam to run ■the machinery. About the same time he put in mill stones to grind corn, and a pair of burrs to make flour. In the summer of 1837, about mid day his factory burned down. The next year he built the stone i building now owned by the Odd Fellows and used it for a short time as a factory. When he sold this be retired from business, but he contin- ued to reside in town until his death in 1853 at an advanced aged. About the year 1814 a man by the name of Chichester, built the house how occupied by C. II. Crothers as a saloon, where he kept tavern. There w:.s a large two story porch in front of the building which was a great place of resort during the summer evenings. The porch in that daj was a very fine piece of work- manship and was put up by William McMillen, Esq., who at that time was counted the best carpenter in the country. Jerry Wilson, succeeded him in 1823, and at the same time carried on the saddlery business, Stewart Brown and A. J. Freshour being his apprentices. He sold out to Rice Vass about 1835; he sold to Major Mussou, who continued to serve the public until his death. Vass then bought the property back and continued in the hotel business until his death, except a year or so when S. W. Smith had it leased. In 1814 Captain James Collier, moved on the farm just east ot town now owned b} r his son, Col. William Collier. Captain Collier was one of the persons that every true American de- lights to honor— a Revolutionary sol- dier. During the most of the time he was in the service he belonged to what was called the "Flying Camp;" a body of men used to make rapid movements on the enemy. Much of the time he was in the service he was with Gen. Washington; w:is with him in the memorable retreat through New Jersey, and the terrible suffer- ing of Valley Forge. He took an ac- tive part in the battle of Long Island, helped to fight the battle of White Plains, assisted in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton and was in the battle of Brandywine. For his gallant services he was presented by Gen. Lafayette with a fine sword which is still in possession of the family. In 1832, the govern- ment granted him a pension of forty dollars a month. He cherished to his last days a hatred of the Tories. Died January 30th, 1844. Charles White, another Revolution- ary soldier in early times settled on the farm now owned by William Taylor. His house was always the noted place of resort for itiner- ant preachers. He was the first Methodist class-leader in this part of the country, and filled that position for nearly fifty years. He participa- ted in a number of battles and con- tinued, through life, a devoted lover of his country and the cause of liber- ty. In 1835, he moved into Greenfield where he lived until near the close of his life. His last days were spent with his son-in-law Hugh S. Evans. He died at the advanced age of nine- ty-three years. Hugh Smart came to Greenfield in 1824, and entered into thediy goods business with William Hibbin in the room now occupied by Hyer Bros. In 1840, he built the house where his widow and son D. L. Smart now re- side. From 1835, to 1838, he served as one of the associate Judges of the county. In 1848 he was elected to the upper house of the State Legisla- ture, and to him Salmon P. Chase was indebted for his nomination to the United States Senate. In 1851, he built the three story brick build- ing on the corner of Main and Wash- ington streets. About 1815 a man by the name of Fullerton put up a still house east of Second and north of North streets. He run it for some time and sold out to Samuel Nichols; he to Rice Vass and he to Joseph Rodgers. Many years ago it burned down and it was generally supposed to have been fired by an incendiary. As early as 1811 Samuel Holliday erected a small distillery near the present residence of R. S. Douglass. Whisky by the early settlers was considered indispensible and freely used, as it is at the present time. In 1821, David Kinkead kept hotel in what is now known as the South- ward propert}^ just east of Judge Norton's house. He sold'out to Jos. • Lawhead and he to Samuel Wasson. The first physician in the town was of the name of Garvin Johnson, who boarded with Noble Crawford, and afterwards married his daughter. John C. Strain, moved to the farm where he now lives in 1808; he is in the ninety-third year of his age and so far as I can learn is the oldest settler in the towhship. Prominent among the early pio- neers were Thomas and Hamilton Rodgers, who came to this county in 1804, selected and surveyed their farms and the next year built their cabins and were the founders of the settlement about five miles below town. Among the men of who came here in an early day of whom the present generation have a recolection was William Boyd. He took part in the Revolutionary War, and also the war of 1812. He, took a great interest in the affairs of the Government and was very jealous of any encoachment upon the rights of the people. He died at the age of ninety-two, having been sick scarcely a day in his life until his last sickness. His son T. M. Bo3'd, when he came hej-e in 1814, was eleven years old, and to him I an greately indebted for m any facts that make up this sketch. Greenfield was incorporated in 1841 and the next spring the following of- ficers were elected. Hugh Smart, Mayor, Clayboarn Lea, John Boyd, Samuel Smith, Charles Robinson and John Eckman, council ; Dr. James Beard, Recorder and Jerry Wilson, Marshall. Mr. John Mains is the oldest per- son living in the town, being in his ninety-third year; his wife is in her eight} r -eighth year. They have been married seventy years and have lived fortv years in this place. The following persons have been living here for over fifty years. Thos. M. Boyd, Nelson Bell, A. J. Fresh- our, R. C. Kinkead, J. P. Morrow, W. W, Bell, Mrs. Hugh Smart, Mrs. John Adams., Mrs. Jane Edwards, Mrs. Dr. M. Dunlap, Mrs. John Perry, Mrs. Hugh Beaty, Mrs. Wil- liam McMillen, Mrs. R. J. McAlpiii and Mrs. J. D. Hudson. On the 11 of August 1847, Grand Master, Thomas Spooner instituted a Lodge of Odd Fellows, here, W. C. 10 Frye, R. C. Kinkead, Nelson Bell, James M. Grove, and E. B. Tut hill being the Charter members. October 20th, 1859, a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was or- ganized, Silas Irion, James O. Peny, Thomas Patton, Sanford Bradley, James Kaufman, Horace Strickland, G. W. Smalley, Rev. W. J. Quarry, Charles Robinson and Dr. William McCollum, being the Charter mem- bers. Oct. 2nd, 1872, a Lodge of Chapter Masons was organized. Chapter members, J. B. Eckman, W. W. Bal- lard, T. M. Packard, A. J. Smart, Jos. Fultz, G. W. Pope, W. B. Littler, John Chestnut, and Jas. P. Simpson. June 15th, 1874, an Encampment was instituted. Chapter members, W. B. Clark, S. C. Murray, Samuel Hamilton, W. H. Evans, A. G. Binne- gar, W. H. Logan, and J . M. Elliott. There are now in the town two thousand, one hundred and eighty-six persons. Four dry goods stores; seventeen groceries; three drug stores; eight saloons, seven shoe stores and shops; three clothing stores ; three tailor shops ; four hotels ; four harness shops; eight churches; five ministers; eight physicians and three lawyers. October 1 858, the first Agricultural Fair was held. July J Oth, 1865, the great raid on the saloons was made, in which the women spilled the whiskey. In the fall of 1869, there was a great "Free Turnpike" excitement. At that time there was nothing but mud roads, but during that and the jiext year, all the principal roads leading in the town were graded and McAdamized. June 24th, 187o, the cornerstone of the Town Hall was laid; dedicated this July 4th, 1876. On the 18th day of May, 1876, ground was first broken on the Springfield, Jackson and Pomeroy Rail Road at Waverly. We have hastily passed over a period of seventy-six years of our local history. How rapidly the time has fled, and what advancement lias been made. The contemplative mind cannot look over the past with out interest and profit. We can not honor too much the men who with a daring that put danger at defiance, opened the way to the peace and pros- perty we enjoy. While the moccasin, buckskin hunting shirt and foxskin cap; the rifle and scalping knife; the camp and the encounter with the bear, panther and Indian arc now only seen in the dim distance of the past, we can award all honor to the memory of the pioneer. Of them it has been well said: "That the memory of our fore- fathers is worthy of historic or se- pulchral commemoration. No people on earth in similar circumstances ever acted more nobly, 0* bravely than did they. No people of any eountiy, or age made greater sacri- fices for the benefit of their posteri- ty, than those which were made by the first settlers of the western re- gions. What people ever left such noble legacies to prosterity as those transmitted by our forefathers to their defendants." n THE CHURCHES OF GREENFIELD AND VICINITY. The (irst settlers of Greenfield and vicinity, were, to a large extent, men who feared God and kept his -command ments. They were men who loved the Bi- ble and the sabbath, and, before any house of worship was erected the gospel was preached from cabin to cabin and the woods rang with the praises ofthe hardy settlers. THE ROCKY SI'RING CHURCH. In the year 1805 a settlement was -begun four miles below Greenfield by Thomas Rodgere and his brother. The Rev. James Hoge, who was •afterwards pastor of the First Presby- terian Church of Columbus for forty .eight years, came into the settlement in the following year, tor the pur- pose of looking after some land, in which he had an interest near the imouth of Hardin's Creek. He was invited to preach and a stand was erected in the woods at a fine spring on Rattlesnake, on the farm where David Strain first settled which was a part of the land then owned by Mr. Hoge. It has been supposed that this was the first sermon preached within the bounds of the present Township of Madison. This, at any rate, was the first step that was taken towards the foundation of the church that was organized in that neighbor- hood three years afterwards. The records of Washington Presbytery state that on the 4th of October 1809, "A number of people on the Rattle- snake Fork of Paint creek, wishing to be known by the name of Rocky . Spring congregation petitioned to be taken lender pur, care and receive sup- plies." The name of ".Rocky Spring" was suggested by Mr. John Wilson in memory of a congregation of that name in Pennsylvania. The first ciders ordained in this church were, James Watts, Samuel Strain, George Adair, Samuel McConnel and Wil- liam Garrett. Mr. Watts and Mr. Strain had both been soldiers in the American Revolution. The former had borne a commission as Captain under General Marion. The first person buried in the Rocky Spring Churchyard was a sou of Col. Thomas Rogers. The venerable building where the gospel had so long been preached was injured by a storm, March 18, 1876, to such an extent as to be no longer of any service. The following is a list of pastors and supplies that followed Mr. Pittenger. Samuel D. Hoge, Dyer Burgess, Jacob W. Eastman, Joseph W. Gillespie, S. P. Dunham, R. W. Wil- son, E. Grand Girard, Alexander Leadbetter and McKnight William- son. In November 1871, this church was united to the Second Presbyter- ian church of Greenfield. THE ASSOCIATE REFORMED AND UNITED 1'RESBYTERIAN CHURCH. On the 25th of July 1810 the As- sociate Reformed congregations of Ckillicothe and Buckskin made out a pastoral call for Samuel Crothers a Probationer under the inspection of the Presbytery of Kentucky. He was ordained and installed pastor January 31, 1811, with the under- standing that he was to preach one third of his time to the Buckskin 12 congregation. At this time William Smith and Alexander Morrow were Trustees ; Noble Crawford, Collector, and Benjamin McClure, Treasurer. On the 12th of January 1811 a congregational meeting was held at the house of Mr. Alexander Scroggs, and measures were taken to purchase ground and erect a house of worship. The ground selected was on the land of Mr. David Matthews, near the residence of Mr. Hugh Milligan. A log building was erected that sum- mer, and the church was henceforth called Hop Run from a small stream near at hand. The pulpit was so high that some, who are now fathers in the church, remember sitting under it in their boyhood, on communion occasions, when the house was crowded. A hearth was prepared in front of the pulpit, on which ignited charcoal was placed in sufficient quantity to warm the room. It was soon found that this would not do, as the gas from the charcoal arose in such quan- tities that persons were carried from the house in a fainting condition. In 1813 Mr. Crothers resigned the pas- toral care of the church at Chillicothe and gave his whole time to the Hop Run church. In April 1814 the church consisted of 80 members of whom 27 had been admitted during the preceeding year. In 1818 the pastoral relation was dissolved and Mr. Crothers removed to Winchester, Ky. At this time the session con- sisted of Alexander Morrow, Ben- jamin McClure, David Matthews, Wilson Stewart and Thos. Ghormlev. The next pastor was Rev. Jainei Brown. The sessional records art' lost and we have no means of ascer- taining the length of his pastorate. About the year 1835 the stone church now used as a school build ing was erected and Rev. John Gra- ham was called as pastor. He was followed by Rev. James Arbuthnott, and in 1854, by Rev. Andrew Ritchie. In 1859 the officers of this church were Rev. A. Ritchie, Pastor; Alex- ander Scroggs, Alexander Watt, Thos. Wallace, John Buchanan, Thomas A. Read and John W. Beard, Elders ; and A. M. Blain, R. Collier and Allen Stinson, Trustees. The session of the United Presbyterian Church con- sists at the present time — July 4th, 1876— of Alex. Watt and Thomas A. Read, Elders. In 1865 Mr. Ritchi* was followed by Rev. R. K. Camp, bell as pastor of the United Presby- terian Church. THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. On the 11th of May, 1869, Rev. R. K. Campbell and his congregation united with the 0. S. Presbyterian Church and assumed the name of the Second Presbyterian Church of Green- field. Mr. Campbell tendered his resignation October 17th, 1870 and was followed by Rev. A. B. Brice D. D. who was pastor from November 14, 1871 until January 1st, 1876. At present the church is without a pastor. THE FIKST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. While residing in Winchester, Ky., the Rev. Samuel Crothers, formerly pastor of the Hop Run congregation, united with the Presbyterian Church. 13 Having received an invitation to re- turn to Ohio and organize a church at Greenfield, he complied with the request, and on the 24th of June, 1820 the. First Presbvterian church was organized. It consisted at this time, of sixty communicants ineluding Rev. Samuel Crothers Moderator of of the Session, Eligah Kirkpatrick, Wilson Stewart, and Hugh Ghormley, Elders, thirty-five persons from the Associate Reformed church of Hop Run, ten persons admitted on testi- monials from the Presbyterian church and seven on personal examination. In September of the same year seven- teen additional members were re- ceived. Of the seventy-seven per sons constituting the church at the close of the year 1820, only six are now living, viz: Mr. R. S. Douglass, Mrs. Elisabeth Murray, Mrs. Mary Ann Matthews, Mrs. Jane Elliott, Mrs. Sai'ah Smith and Mrs.vMarjery Wilson. Mr. Crothers was installed on the second Saturday of May, 1822, and remained pastor of this church until his death July 20th, 1856. In 1821 a stone meeting house was built on the site of the present edi- fice, which was erected in 1854. While the first house was building, the congregation worshipped in a grove a short distance east of the residence of Mr. James Robinson. It has often been remarked by the aged members of the church that during the entire season that they worship- ped in the open air, their meetings were never interrupted by inclement weather. The Rev. John Wiseman was pastor of this church from Sep- ! tembcr 7th, 1857 to July 1st, 1863. He was a native of Scotland, and died May 2nd, 1876 in the 75th year of his age. Rev. S. D. Crothers began his min- isterial labors in this church Dec, 6th, 1863, and was installed pastor Dec. 3d, 1864 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. As early as the year 1806, the home of Governor Allen Trimble in Hillsboro, was a regular preaching place on the Scioto circuit. Rev. John Sale was then Presiding Elder, and Rev. James Quinn, preacher in charge. No organized society exis- ted in Greenfield until one was formed in 1822, by Rev. Jacob Delay, of the Ohio Conference Prior to this date, services were frequently held at the house of Chas. White, who then lived on the farm now owned by William Taylor, in the dwelling of a Mr. Mitchell who lived in the property now owned by Martin Devoss, and in a Cabinet shop on the corner where F. M. Robinson now re- sides. Among those who composed the first class were Charles White, class leader; Thomas Stewart and wife, William Collins and wife, Edgar Mitchell, Cool, Robbins, Jennings, Moore and Jones. The first church was of brick. It was never finished on the inside, the walls being left without plaster, and in 1833 it gave place to a large edifice built of stone. The floor in the aisles and before the altar of this church was made of brick, to prevent noise in walking. This remained until the year 1844, when the entire floor was renewed and 14 tBC brick finally removed. The, build ing is yet standing', and is occupied as a carriage paint shop. The edi- tiee now in use was erected in 1860. A handsome two story structure, nearly completed, was prostrated by a tornado, and the present house was built immediately afterwards on the same foundation indicating an energy that is well worthy of being held in remembrance. Since the charge be- came a station it has been served by the following named Pastors: David Reed 1841, Arza Brown 1842, Max well P. Gaddis 1843, J. G. Blair 1844-45, A. Morrow 1846, John Dil- lon, jr. 1847, E. A. Roe 1848-49, C. II. Lawtou 1850, M. G. Baker 1851, J. C. Bontecou 1852-53, S. Bennett 1854 55, J. J. Hill 1856, W. J. Quarry 1*857-58, C. R, Loved 1859-60, T. S. Cowdcn T861-62, M. Kauffman 1863-64, S. Weeks 1865 67, S. D. Clay- ton 1868-70, W. Fitzgerald 1871-72, F. G. Mitchell 1873-75. The Sabbath School cause found early advocates, and well preserved records from the year 1830 contain the names of several now seniors in society then registered as children. As a. specimen of the completeness of these records, we give the names of the "Officers and Managers" of the M. E. Sunday School under date of February 2, 1830. President, Chas. White; Vice-President, Robert Bucfc Managers: Joseph Lawhead, John Boyd, John Corner, W. McDonuel, David Furry, Levi Jennings, S. 1\ ( oo 1, William Scott, Lyman Daniels and William Mains. Superintendents Moses F. Shin, and Sainuel Mains; Secretary, Daniel Cool; Librarian, Lyans Daniels, and Treasurer, John Eckman. Teachers: Marinda Allen, Catherine ( 'ottle, Laura McWert, Martha McWert, Julian Middleton, Julietta Jennings, Eliza Vass, David Furry, William Blair, Albert McWert, Charles Bobinson, Samuel Holliday, Josiah Rhodes, Joseph Lawhead arid* William Shadford. In 1850, the middle of the present century, the officers' of this church were as follows: Class leaders, Johrr- Mains, Jacob Middleton, S. F. New- comer, Andrew Ream's, Sainuel Eshel man, Samuel Mains and John W. Evans. Stewarts: John Eckman, John Boyd, James Robinson, William Scott, Hugh S. Evans, J. Say re, and S. Eshelman. Local Preacher: Wm. Shadford. Extorters: Sam'l Mains. Thomas II. Phillips. TIIK BAPTIST CHURCH. On the 31st, of October 1820, a regular Baptist Church was consti tuted by a council consisting of Elders: Nathan Cory, Heze- kiah Johnson, Jacob Layman and William Baker, and Deacons: Smith Johnson, Isaac Sperry and Thomas Cloud. The first members I of this church were William Beals, Thomas Berry, Levi Rogers, Philip Wagner and their wives, and Thomas ' Smalley. The following is a list of Pastors of this church from its organization. Jacob Layman, L. Freeman, D. K, Brown son, G. A. Clark, L. Whitney, J. Sarjent, Mr. Brown, 0. B. Hendricks, A. B. White, J. Chambers and S. T. Griswold. Hugh Smart and wife 15 united with the church June 19th, 18:50. Through his liberality, about the year 1833, a frame building was erected as a house of worship, on the lot now occupied a by stone edifice, which was built in 1840, and re- modeled in 185G. THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL Church. This church was organized in the year 1840. Edward Raines, Thomas Bird and Solomon Turner were the first Trus- tees. The folloAving is a list of the pastors of this church, with the dates of their service: M. M. Clark, 1840-41; Watkins Lee, 1842-43; Atchinson, 1844; Ishman, 1845-46; Samuel Ratcliffe. 1847—48; Samuel Wells, 1849-50-51; Watkins Lee, 1852-53-54; Sam'l Wells, 1855-56; 57; Watkins Lee, 185S-59; James Paine, 1860; William Newman, 1861; T. A. Wood D. D., 1862; I. Dillon, 1863; Cooper, 1864-65-66; E. Wright, 1867; I. Dillon, 1868-69; William Mogan, 1870-71; C. E, Green, 1872- 73-74; William Davidson, 1875; N. Mitchell, 1876. Their first house of worship was a log building erected about the year 1843. They purchased the one which they are now using from the Free Presb3-terian Church in 1866. A Sabbath-school was begun in this church about the year 1864. C. P. Hackett was the first Superinten- dent. Kindly assistance was ren- dered by other churches, and al- though there were many discourage- ments in the beginning, the school has gradually increased in numbers and interest, until the present time. TFIE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The organization of this church was effected October 13th, 1848. The committee appointed by Presbytery for this purpose consisted of Rev. John Rankin, Rev. W. G. Kephart and William Ke}'s. Twenty-one members were enrolled, and James McConnel and Wm. Smith were e- lected Elders. Rev. A. L. Rankin was chosen sta- ted supply for one half of his time November 13th, 1848. In the follow- ing 3'ear the church building was e- rected which is now owned by the A. M. E. church. Rev. D. M. Moore was called as supply in April, 1851, and labored until 1865 when the congregation disbanded. GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. This church was organized in February 1854, by Rev. J. A. Cline. The first members w r ere Conard Ru- ple and wife, Mrs. Louisa Maeder, Stewart Hoffman, and C. Newbeck and wife. In 1854 a building was purchased from the School Board and converted into a house of worship on the lot now occupied by the brick church, built in 1873. The following ministers have held the pastoral office in this church: G. Bollinger, D. G. Reiber, C. G. Frits- che, E. Wunderlesch, J. Jehn, J. Phetzing, J. W. Fishbach, Conard Bier, George Weidman, Charles Helwing, Charles Lurker, Edward Ulrich, William Ahrens, Louis 18 Dunker, J. W. Fishbach, David Cressly, Otto Wilkie and Henry Warner. st. bonna's cataolic church. The organization of this church took place in *1 856, about which time their house of worship was erected. Father Jno. O'Donohue served as pas- tor from 1856 until 1859, and Father Michael O'Donohue, from that time until the present. SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH. On the 8th of July 1866, a council was held at which elder J. Powell served as moderator, and elder J. M. Meek as clerk. A church was or- ganized consisting of fourteen mem- bers, ten of whom was received by letter. John Cannon and T. II. But- ler were elected Trustees. The following persons have served as pastors : John Powell, four years ; Benjimen Sailes, two 3 r ears; Asa Pratt, one year, and Samuel Can- one 3 r ear. There church building was erected in 1874, previous to this they worshipped in the school houses in Smith's district about three miles northwest of Greenfield. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 750 260 6 * LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 750 260 6