- 50 - This was the largest gathering at this town until the year 1840, when Gen. Harrison the Whig candidate for President of the United States, came to Greenville. His presence attracted people from Michigan, Kentucky and Indiana, and the entire county seemed wild with enthusiasm. His speech was characterized as an able, eloquent and statesmanlike effort in support of Republican institutions. Harrison remained several days in Greenville devoting much of his time in conversation with his visitors to personal reminiscences, and his sociability won the esteem and confidence of all. The contract for building the first court-house in Greenville—an humble frame structure—was awarded to John Craig, and the .building accepted by the commissioners of the county June 4th, 1824. It stood on Third street, not far from the opera-house, was twenty-two by twenty-eight feet in size and two-stories high. The second court-house was built of brick and was located on the Public square. It was built by John Craig, who built the first, and his brother James. The first one cost three hundred dollars. The first jail, a log structure, was erected on the north part of Public square by Matthias Dean, at a cost of two hundred dollars, and was paid for in county orders, that at that time would only bring sixty per cent. of their face. On Sunday morning, May 2, 1827, this jail was burned by an incendiary, and in that and the following year a new jail, built of brick, was erected on the lot not far from A. F. Koops' hardware store. Contrast the cost of the first jail with the present one : the contract for which was let in 1869 for $39,750.00 ; and also the first court-house with the present one which cost $170,000.00, and we may have some idea of the improvements of the county, and the accumulated wealth of its citizens. We may say in this connection that the history of Greenville commences on the 13th day of October, 1793, the date of General Wayne's arrival upon the ground ; for he immediately commenced building the fort, and though Fort Jefferson has a date two years prior to this, it has always been conceded that Greenville was the oldest important town and settlement in the - 51 - county, and universally admitted at that early day to be the capital of the " New County." Its centennial year is in the "Near Future ;" and a monument by that time should be erected here to commemorate the historical events that have transpired within its limits. And while contemplating the vast improvements that have taken place in this county within the past century the questions may be asked : Will the next century witness the same onward progress ? Will intellectual development make the same rapid strides ? And will morality and all the Christian graces keep pace with the unfolding of the intellect ? If so, then the future inhabitants of the county will be noted for their intelligence and Christian virtues. We hope the idea may not be visionary. The benevolent societies are well represented in Greenville, and are doing good work. The financial condition is represented by two Building companies that have been in existence for a number of years, in addition to the established banks, and capitalists who assist in supplying the demand for money, together with the religious influence represented by the various churches, all in a flourishing condition. Of the county seat of Darke county we wish to say, in conclusion, that Greenville is situated on the Pan Handle Railroad, about half way between Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Ind.,—ninety-five miles from each,—at the crossing of the Dayton and Union Railroad, and Cincinnati, Jackson and Mackinaw Railroad. It is situated on a bluff with Mud creek to the west, Greenville creek to the north and east, and good water is reached at a depth of twenty or thirty feet. The city covers an area of about seven hundred acres of land, and it contains a population of about 6, 200 inhabitants. It contains three banks, eleven churches, three large school-buildings with seating room for 2, 800 pupils, two opera-houses, artificial gas-works, wagon-works, foundry and machine shop, tile-works, etc. The city owns a natural gas plant, of five wells, located on lands belonging to the city, and with an area of over eight hundred acres of gas lands under its control. These wells yield over 8,000,000 cubic feet of gas per day, of excellent quality, both for fuel and illuminating. Gas for fuel is - 52 - supplied to citizens at a very low rate, making this one of the greatest household luxuries of modern times. Thirteen free turnpikes enter the city from all directions reaching an aggregate length within the county of about eighteen hundred miles. Darke county contains about 396,000 acres of land, and is one of the richest agricultural counties in the state. Its crops of most of the leading grains excel those of any other county. The Agricultural Fair grounds adjoin the city, and in extent, beauty and convenience are not excelled in the state. The county fair is surpassed by only one other in the state. Free gas and other inducements are offered manufacturers and other business men who will locate in the city. NATURAL GAS IN GREENVILLE. AS an agricultural county, Darke stands among the first in the state. It produces all those cereals that make the farmer wealthy and independent, but its mineral products, if any, are yet undeveloped. As yet natural gas has been found in but one locality in the county, and there not in quantity sufficient to pay the expense of procuring the same. The development of this gas at Findlay and the sinking of wells for oil at Lima and other places in the state, and the success connected with experiments, created an interest among a large number of the citizens , of Arcanum, Greenville and other places in the county, and by mutual consent, as it were, they determined to prospect for oil and gas in these localities, Arcanum succeeding to a limited extent, while Greenville, failing in her efforts here, had to look elsewhere for success. To make the necessary experiment in Greenville, a subscription for that purpose was circulated, many citizens subscribing over two hundred dollars each, and when thirty-two hundred dollars was thus raised an organization was formed and it was determined to purchase the necessary machinery and apparatus to drill our own wells. These were procured at an expense of about eighteen hundred dollars ; work was begun without delay, a location in the southwestern part of Greenville was selected, the space was enclosed with a high fence and an admission fee of ten cents was charged, the belief being that the revenue thus' obtained would greatly assist in defraying the expense of drilling ; but this expectation was not realized, and in subsequent drillings this feature was abandoned. - 54 - The sinking of the first well was remarkably slow work, those employed being paid by the day ; but in June, 1886, a depth of 1737 feet was reached and the salt " or " blue-lick " water ended operations there. No gas was found and the verdict was a " dry hole. " The formations passed through (and they were similar in all wells drilled in the county), were as follows : Rock was reached at a depth of 89 feet, thus showing the thickness of the drift formation. The Niagara limestone extended from this point to a depth of 260 feet when the Niagara shale was reached. At a depth of 40 feet this limestone was mixed with flint, and at a depth of 153 feet dark shale, or drab limestone predominated ; but at a depth of 175 feet this limestone was quite white and pure and much resembled marble. The Niagara shale is of light gray color and might be mistaken for the Niagara clay, and as it came from the well was quite pliable, being easily made into balls, the material becoming hard when dry and containing a great deal of grit. From this point to 1134 feet, the drill passed through continuous shale of the Huron formation, but sometimes so dark that it might be classified with the Utica shale. This formation was not uniform in texture, but sometimes was quite compact and hard ; at other times soft and porous, enabling the drill to make rapid progress. At 1134 feet the formation changed to a lighter color, more compact, and contained much limestone. The first Trenton rock was reached at a depth of 1136 feet. The rock was darker than ordinary, quite compact, and with no flow of gas, though a little was found while passing through the shale. At 1148 feet the hardness seem to increase, and 1195 feet the limestone became whiter, but as hard and compact as before. At 1210 feet it much resembled, in appearance, the formation at 140 feet, though finer in texture and entirely destitute of the flinty formation. At 1570 feet it seemed, if possible, to be finer and harder than before, with a bluish cast of color ; while at a depth of 1610 feet coarse dark shale in loose layers again prevailed, - 55 - accompanied by a very small portion of the limestone. At 1700 feet the limestone changed to its original white color and compact form, accompanied with sulphur ; and at a depth of 1737 feet bitter water and brine were found, the water being blue in color and unpleasant in taste and odor ; but after being exposed to the air for some time it became clear, the unpleasant smell disappeared and the saline or salty taste alone remained. We notice that the Trenton was reached at 1136 feet.The surface at this point is about 1055 feet above sea level, so that the Trenton rock was here reached at a depth of 81 feet below salt water. This places it much higher than at other points in this part of the state where wells have been sunk and gas obtained ; and this fact, with the compactness of the rock, will show that gas cannot be obtained here. We know of no other point outside the county where wells have been sunk, that the formations are the same as those here. A second well was sunk in the northern part of the city with the same results as the first, though sometime after the well was abandoned it was noticed that gas was escaping, and in `sufficient quantity to burn. This created quite an excitement, and it was determined to torpedo the well. The effort was made, but the charge was exploded five hundred feet below the surface : a complete failure was the result and the well was abandoned. A third well was sunk one-half mile north of the city. A small amount of gas was obtained, but the well was pronounced a failure and abandoned. A fourth well was drilled a mile southwest of the place, and a fifth about the same distance east of the city ; the latter had a small flow of gas, about as No, 3. No other effort was made to torpedo either of these wells, and they were all abandoned. The organization then purchased eighty acres of land in Granville township, Mercer county, O. , and sunk the first well in the fall of 1887. This well after being " shot " furnished about a half million cubic feet of gas per day, and the company immediately drilled well No. 2 about one-fourth of a mile from the first. This proved to be a much stronger well. - 54 - On the twenty-seventh of February, 1888, Prof. Orton, State Geologist, tested these wells with the following result: Well No. 1, 417,490 cubic feet per day ; well No. 2, 2,698,600 cubic feet per day. Total capacity of the two wells 3, x16,090 cubic feet per day. In shooting well No. i the fragments of limestone thrown out were found to be " true carbonate of lime of exceptional purity." The driller described this rock as being quite hard, containing no gas whatever, and believed it constituted the cap of the gas rock. Our people, deeming it desirable that the city of Greenville should pipe " natural gas " from the field into its corporate limits, made an effort to secure the passage of a law by our state legislature enabling our council so to do ; but in this they failed. It was then believed that the general law of the state gave them that authority and proper steps were taken for that purpose, but these proceedings were stopped by the intervention of the Circuit court. A second application was made in the early part of 1889 to our state legislature, the result of which was that a law was passed, and under it an election was held by the citizens which resulted in a vote of 767 for, to 13 against the measure. With this vote of approval the city council appointed a board of gas trustees under the law ; issued bonds to the amount of $125,000.00, and purchased the eighty acres of land upon which the two wells are located. The drilling machinery and apparatus for $5,600.00, being the actual cost of the same, although said citizens had expended about $10,000.00 in sinking the five wells in the immediate vicinity of Greenville which was a total loss. The said trustees purchased two additional tracts of eighty acres each in the same township, and leased other land in the immediate vicinity, so that they now control about eight hundred acres of good gas-producing territory and have sunk two additional wells, each producing as much gas per day as the second well. The rock pressure of these wells is about three hundred and sixty pounds to the square inch. A finished line of pipe now extends from these wells to Greenville, and in a few days all who wish can have the benefit of this cheap fuel. The united capacity of these four wells is over eight and a - 57 - half million cubic feet of gas per day, one-fourth of which will supply all the wants of Greenville at the present time, and the query now does not seem to be whether the gas will hold out, but can it be confined in the pipes, the pressure being so great. Greenville is surrounded by a rich agricultural district ; is well located for manufacturing industries ; has a large area of unoccupied territory within her corporate limits ; can furnish free gas to any organization that wishes to locate here for manufacturing purposes, and for health and convenient location is not surpassed by any other city or town in Ohio or Indiana. She invites the man with capital, the mechanic, the artisan and the day laborer to make this city their future home, GREENVILLE CEMETERY. PREVIOUS to the year 1816 the inhabitants of Greenville suffered many hardships and were exposed to many dangers, particularly from marauding bands of Indians that were almost daily to be seen in that vicinity. A treaty with them had been made at this place in July, 1814 ; their great war chief, Tecumseh, having been killed in battle, settlers from various states visited Greenville, some with a view of locating here, others for speculative investments. These conditions existing, the Indians soon found their hunting grounds still farther toward the West, and in the year above named the settlers dwelt in comparative safety. In 1818 the " Old Graveyard " lot within the line of the fort was deeded to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in fee simple; the only reservation was about two square rods of ground in which several children had been interred, and while it was not deeded for cemetery purposes, by tacit consent it was used as a general burying ground by all settlers in this vicinity. Here lies the revolutionary soldier, over one hundred years old at the time of his death ; here also lie three victims of the "Asiatic Cholera," who died in 1849, this being the only time that dreadful scourge ever visited this locality. Several soldiers of the Mexican war as well as of the late Civil war have found a last resting place within this enclosure. The lot was used as a burying ground until 1853, when Dr. G. Miesse, Sr., deeded to William Collins, George W. Coover and John Tomlinson, Trustees of the Greenville Cemetery association, part of the north-east - 60 - quarter of section thirty-four for the sum of four hundred and twenty-five dollars. These grounds were immediately laid off into lots of about twenty feet square. No system seemed to govern in the selection and use of lots in the " New Grounds," and no record can now be found of the method adopted by the trustees for the care and control of the same. The first deed on record for a lot in this cemetery bears date of November 24, 1853, and it seems that lots were rapidly selected by persons, many of whom were not responsible, and much trouble was experienced in determining who had selected and paid for the same. Notwithstanding this lack of system and want of interest manifested generally, these grounds filled up rapidly ; lots were selected by many from a distance, as it became a burial place for the " general public," and in less than twenty years it became absolutely necessary to add other territory to these grounds. The grounds already occupied, and the territory thus added will meet the demands of this community for years to come. In addition to the grounds thus condemned, the trustees purchased an adjoining lot with a commodious brick dwelling-house thereon in which the superintendent of the cemetery finds a comfortable home. The last grounds were paid for jointly by the trustees of Greenville township and the council of Greenville, and under the law three trustees, two of whom are alternately elected from the township and town, shall take charge of and manage the business pertaining to the proper condition of said grounds. The first election for a board of trustees was held at the city hall, Greenville, O., on the first day of April, 1878, which resulted in the selection of Geo. W. Moore, J. A. Schmermund and Jahugh Compton. Said trustees and said board organized by electing G. W. Moore, president ; J. A. Schmermund, treasurer, and J. A. Martz, secretary, the latter having served in that capacity the eight previous years. It was also ordered by the board that the secretary make out deeds for lots only on presentation of the receipt of the treasurer ; that persons selecting lots - 61 - shall pay for the same within sixty days from the date of such selection. On the ninth of February, 1884, I. N. Smith, Esq., of Waynesville, O., was employed as superintendent of the cemetery for one year at the rate of fifty dollars per month, his time to commence on the first of April following. He has been retained by the board in that position continuously to the present time. Improvements on the grounds in systematic order was at once begun. Rules for the care and control of the same were at once adopted ; a uniform grade was established, and the prices for work done on the grounds by the superintendent was, as far as possible, established. The superintendent is required to keep a record of all persons interred upon the grounds; also of all money received for work aforesaid, and report the same to the treasurer of the board. Streets of uniform grade have been made. Many of the lots in the " old plat " have been cut down to the established level and then sodded at the expense of the owners of the lots. Many lots have been sodded and ornamented with costly monuments, vases and beds of flowers, so that the most fastidious cannot but be pleased with its appearance. The trustees deeded to the county commissioners for the use of the " Grand Army of the Republic," twenty-four lots located in the east half of section six, upon which they wish to erect a monument at some future time to the memory of the fallen heroes who will be quietly sleeping there.   This donation was made equally by said trustees and commissioners. Many soldiers have already found a last resting place in this cemetery, and every " Decoration day " tells of the many that are yearly added to this number of the silent dead. While they thus sleep may they ever be remembered by a grateful people. Our superintendent has been diligent in labor and has shown much skill and progress in cultivating the aesthetic, and while he has thus brought out the science of beauty in nature, we notice this blended with the beautiful in art; and thus, even a cemetery may be shorn of those feelings of superstition and dread that so often impress the mind of the child or even the adult with a sense of the supernatural. While - 62 - much has thus been done in the way of commendable improvement, much more is yet to be done, and that most needed is a large monument erected upon section six above mentioned, one of which the soldiers and citizens may well feel proud. EVAN. LUTH. ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. THE Evangelical Lutheran St. John's church is situated in a beautiful four-acre grove two and one-half miles north of Greenville, O., on the so called Versailles pike. Its congregation is one of the oldest in Darke county, and probably one of the largest, numerically, of any of the denominations represented in this History. The members comprise the largest portion of the German inhabitants of the west precinct of Greenville township, extending as far as Richland, Brown and Adams townships, and a better class of agriculturalists, and more highly improved farms, barns and residences cannot be found in any portion of the county than those possessed by the members of the St. John's congregation. This church was founded in the year A, D. 1851. The few families which at that time concluded to organize a Lutheran congregation, and to call a pastor to supply their spiritual wants, lived in rude log-cabins in the midst of dense forests. Gravel-roads were then unknown ; even so called mud-roads were in many parts a scarcity; and some of the early founders of the congregation were compelled to make use of trails over muddy swamps to find the stump of the tree from which the first sermon of the newly organizing St. John's congregation was preached. The founders of the congregation were very poor in earthly goods. They left their " old Fatherland " to seek a home, fortune and free citizenship under the stars and stripes of a nation which they loved to adopt as their own, and to which they are always loyal and law-abiding. Though poor in earthly possessions, they brought with them a - 65 - progressive spirit, a will to increase their wealth, and hands accustomed to toil in the sweat of the brow, and better than all a love for their dear old Church ; and hence, though they were surrounded by hindrances and embarrassments which hampered their efforts and retarded the rapid progression of their new undertaking, they labored on energetically and began a work in God's name of which to-day they can well feel proud, —not necessarily glorying in themselves, but rather in Him who gave them both the will and power to accomplish what they began in His name. The names of the original organizers of the congregation are : John G. Deubner, (ex-county commissioner in 1880-83,) Carl C. Krueckeberg, Ferdinand Prasuhn, Frederick Meier, Frederick Dohme, Christian Krueckeberg, Ferdinand Krueckeberg, Henry Koester, Geo. Ruess, Frederick Krueckeberg and George Martz. The majority of these men were called by death from the Church Militant, and have entered, as we trust, into the Church Triumphant, in heaven. Of the original organizers John G. Deubner and Carl C. Krueckeberg are still members of the congregation, and have since its organization been its faithful officers with only now and then a term intervening. The first place of worship was a rude, unplastered log-church built in A. D. 1852. It still stands as a relic of the good old days. Years afterward it was weather boarded to give it the external appearance of a frame-church. The first pews were not quite so comfortable and ornamental as devout worshippers are accustomed to now ; they were made of trestles and rough-hewn clapboards, with the smooth side up. Though the interior had no altar-niche, it had two sacristies made of lattice-work on either side of the globular-shaped pulpit, above which one of the venerable old pastors of the :congregation, Rev. J. Lautenschlager, had affixed in a half-circle the inscription of Holy Writ : " Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." This old log-church was the place of worship for the Lutherans unlil 1876, and though it was but a rude tabernacle, visited by a plain, unpretentious people, it was the house of God, and a place where He recorded His name, and the worshippers were happy in it and - 66 - loved to meet and greet each other after the trials and tribulations of a week of hard labor : they felt God's nearness. The first trustees were John G. Deubner and Carl C. Krueckeberg, who held this office for seventeen successive years. Since then the men who have, beside these two, held office the longest, are : William Schafer, (treasurer for many years,) William Requarth, Christian Schafer, Christian Peter, Frederick Klopfer, William Schwier, Frederick Schafer, Henry Koester, Lewis Prasuhn, Carl Meier, Henry Krueckeberg, George Stratner and Carl Krueckeberg. Besides these, many have of course been officials, but these men have served in that capacity oftener and longer. The first pastor called was Rev. Paul Heit. He served the congregation two years, and that he often did so under pecuniary embarrassments, and the hardships of an early settler's life, could not have been otherwise under the then existing circumstances. His successors were Rev. Gotthilf Reichert and Rev. Joseph Lehner, each having served the congregation faithfully for two years, not only " holding " the membership present, but making a gradual though slow increase. Rev. J. Lautenschlager was the fourth pastor called. Like his predecessors, he was a faithful pastor, remaining in the charge eleven years. During all these years the congregation increased in numbers, not by " spasmodic efforts," (which soon show a like ratio of loss,) but gradually : by the mere innate power and efficacy of the Gospel of Christ, preached in the good old way. Though Rev. Lautenschlager was of a quiet and reticent disposition, his discourses were warm and fatherly, and he made friends every, where who to-day speak of him in warmest terms of love and praise. Rev. C. H. Althoff succeeded him. For eleven years he labored diligently and faithfully in the congregation, so that the old church soon became too small to entertain and seat all the members comfortably ; hence efforts were made for a new one, and in the year 1876 the above church was erected : a credit to the pastor and congregation, and the beauty of the surrounding German settlement. Its dimensions are thirty-eight by seventy feet, with - 67 - a tower one hundred feet high. The interior is handsomely and tastefully frescoed ; has a large altar-niche, with beautiful high-altar, two sacristies and side pulpit and organ loft with a richly toned and costly pipe-organ. The present pastor, Rev. C. H. Mayer, was called to serve the congregation in 1880. During the ten years of his labors the membership has almost doubled itself numerically. Improvements have been made in every direction. The old church debt was paid, more land bought, a beautiful parsonage built which stands stately beside the church, and thousands of things done to beautify the location. Peace and harmony reign supreme, and there is constant progress and prosperity in every direction. And now even the new church is getting too small, and it must either soon cease to increase in membership, or ere many years roll by preparations must be made for a still larger, grander place of worship. The officers of the Council for 1889 were : Elders, Henry Koester and Lewis Prasuhn ; Deacons, Frederick Klopfer and Christian Schafer ; Trustees, William Schafer, John C. Deubner, Carl C. Krueckeberg, Frederick Dismeier and Herman Schwier. The newly elected officers for 1890 are : Elders, George Stratner and Lewis Prashun ; Deacons, Frederick Klopfer and Charles Meier ; Trustees, William Schafer, John G. Deubner, Herman Schwier, Frederick Deubner and August Brand. The following is a list of the communicant members of the congregation, which only includes the CONFIRMED MEMBERS. Carl B. Krueckeberg, Charlotte “ Pauline “ Sophia “ Herman “ John “ Charlotte “ Henry Koester, “ Charlotte " Charlotte " Miss, Lewis “ Herman " Charlotte Prasuhn, Minnie “ Carl “ Lewis “ Abdel Peter, Minnie " Christian Koester, Emma “ Fredericka Saucier, John Dohse, Anna “ Lillie “ Lewis “ Louisa " Lewis Krueckeberg, Lewis “ Jr. Carl “ Henry Koester, Minnie " Peter Schilling, Henry L. Prasuhn, Wilhelmine “ Carl “ Margaret “ William Hoelscher, Paulina “ William Knaus, William S. Grote, Matilda “ Clara “ William “ Frederika " Henry Schafer, Katharine " Frederik Mergler, John “ - 68 - CONFIRMED MEMBERS—Continued. Charles Schafer, Mollie " Caroline “ William " William Rase, Dora " Henry Hoffman, Dora “ Simon Pollai. William Hoffman, Wilhelmine " Sophia “ William " Jr Henry Growe, Charles Grewe, Henrietta " Emma “ William “ Wilhelmine " Sophia “ Lizzie “ Christian Saucier, Anna “ Wilhelmine " Caroline “ Matilda " William " Frederik “ Hannah “ Frederik Brand, Heinrich " Frederik Schafer, Wilhelmine " Charles “ Emma “ Caroline “ Warry “ August Brand, Caroline " Minnie Meier, William Brand, Carl “ Lewis Prasuhn, Louisa " Minnie " Christian " John “ Sophia " Wilhelmine Beisner, Henry “ William “ Louisa “ Matilda Schnelle, Christian Schafer, Louisa “ Caroline “ Mollie “ William “ Jr. Daniel “ Herman Hupe, William Shafer, Mary “ John " Susannah " Frederik Deubner, Mary “ Richard Gassmann, Christian Peter. Mary “ James “ Margaret " George Stratner Louisa “ William Schnelle. Louisa “ Charles “ Matilda “ Henry Beisner. Wilhelmine Beisner. John G. Deubner. Wilhelmine " Caroline “ Louisa “ Paul “ Mary “ Simon Brand. Herman Prasuhn. George Thase. Frederik Klopfer Frederika " Frank " Mary “ Louisa “ Hannah Glase Lucy “ John “ Frank “ Joseph “ William Deubner Frederika " Adam “ Anna “ Gustavus “ Frederik Koester Rosa “ Charles H. Mayer Margaret “ Elizabeth Brown. Henry “ Fanny " Herman Schwier Wilhelmine " Anna “ Frederik Hupe John Knick Augusta " Wilhelmine Krueckeberg Carl “ Sophia “ Augusta " Charles Meier Augusta " Minnie “ Frederik " Charles " Jr. Caroline " John C. Deubner Augusta " Frederik Requarth Emma “ Louisa “ Mary “ Ida “ August “ Henry “ Charles C. Krueckeberg Caroline “ Charles “ Jr. Frederik " Amelia “ Augusta “ Lewis Scherer. Catharine " Daniel “ Henry Krueckeberg. Charlotte “ Lewis “ Minnie “ Sophia “ Christian “ Henry Krueckeberg, Jr. Charlotte “ John Ross. Gottlieb Dismeier. Charlotte " Frederik “ Wilhelmine " William Requarth, Sen. Wilhelmine " Frank “ Louisa “ Minnie “ Caroline “ Amelia “ William Koester Charlotte " Sophia " Carl Strobel. Wilhelmina Strobel John Pfitzer Hattie " Joseph " William Strobel Catharine " John “ Edward “ Lydia “ Emma “ Henry Brand Sarah " George Roesser Barbara " Ida " Cora “ William " Anna “ John Bubeck Paulina " Henry Unger Lena “ - 69 - CONFIRMED MEMBERS—Concluded. Catharine Miller. Caroline “ Frank “ Lewis “ Albert “ Lewis Deubner Wilhelmina Deubner Charles Hiddesen Charles Hiddesen, Jr. William Requarth, Jr. Emilie “ Henry Niedert. Mrs. Henry Niedert. Henry Requarth Wilhelmine " John W. Deubner Sophia “ William Hiddesen. Frederika " Sophia “ Henry “ William " Jr. William Bertram. Wilhelmine “ Charles Deubner Emma “ Gottlieb Roebeke Augusta “ Frederik “ Minnie “ William Meier Charlotte " Henry “ Carl " Frederik “ Frederik Hupe. Augusta “ Minnie " Dietrich Glander. Edward “ Caroline " Rosa Scherer Anton Knorr Ida “ REV. C. H. MAYER, PASTOR. C. H. MAYER, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church, located two miles north-east of Greenville, O., was born in Strasbourg, France, (now Germany,) on the fourteenth day of February, 1854. In the fourth year of his age he immigrated with his parents to America, residing seven years at Cincinnati, O., where he attended the public and some private schools of the city, aiming to lay a good foundation in the English and German languages. From Cincinnati his parents moved to Covington, O., where he attended the schools of that village. Having a strong desire from youth for the gospel ministry, and having often been advised by his pastors, teachers and friends to enter some university and theological seminary, he finally entered upon a course of studies at Capital University, Columbus, O., in the spring of 1871, completing his academic and theological course in the fall of 1876. His ordination to the holy office took place at Grace church, Columbus, O., Rev. Prof. M. Loy, D. D., Rev. Prof. F. W. Lehman, President of Capital University, and Rev. M. Walter, officiating. After his ordination he accepted a call from Zion's Evangelical Lutheran congregation at Hartford City, Ind., where he labored with great success for four years, until sickness in his family compelled him to leave the charge which had become dear to him. On July 23, 1880, he accepted a call from his present congregation, the Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church. Besides this, he serves two other congregations : one which he organized at Versailles, O., and the other in the so called Dininger settlement, four miles west of Greenville. In this parish his labors were crowned with even more success, the charge having more than doubled itself in active membership in the nine years of his ministry, and being now in a most prosperous and flourishing condition, so that it is one of the largest in membership in the county. Rev. C. H. Mayer is a member of the Evangelical - 73 - Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and Adjacent States, holding at this writing several offices in that body. For five years he acted in the capacity of secretary of the western district of Joint Synod and in addition to this office was this year elected president and visitator of the Auglaize conference, as well as director of Wernle Orphans’ Home, of whose board he is now secretary. From present indications he will remain pastor of his congregations and a resident of Darke county for some time to come. METHODISM IN GREENVILLE. THE history of Methodism in Greenville and Darke county, Ohio, during the early years of their settlement is now but little known. The members connected with the church at that time as well as other residents of the county with whom its history was or is familiar, have removed or been called away by death, so that its history during this period must necessarily be imperfect. From some of the members of 1833, together with entries in a class-book of that date, we find that in 1818 John P. Durbin was the first minister who preached on what was then known as the " Eaton Circuit," embracing Camden and Eaton in Prebble county, Greenville and Hiller's in Dark county, Covington in Miami county and Union, Concord and Germantown in Montgomery county. At that time there was not a Methodist in Greenville. Brother Durbin preached in the house of Abraham Scribner, a dry goods merchant and one of the first settlers of the town. He was well received and it is believed his labors would have resulted in much good, but about this time the boundaries of the circuit were changed and regular preaching at Greenville was discontinued until 1833, though during the interval sermons were occasionally preached in the court-house, dwelling-houses, and such other buildings as could be procured for that purpose. In 1833, William Oliver, residing about six miles north of Greenville, organized the first class in this place consisting of Mrs. Mother Turpen and her daughter Emeline, Dr. Sexton's wife, Mrs. L. R. Brownell, William Barrett and wife and Wm. J. Bireley and wife. This organization was effected under the preaching of - 75 - Francis Timmons and Ira Chase, circuit preachers at that time. In 1834 Jesse Prior preached on the circuit. In 1835-36 Stephen F. Cowrey and Adam Miller were the ministers on the circuit, and in the former year the building of the first Methodist church in Greenville was commenced. The lot still owned and occupied by the church was purchased by Isaac Jay for forty dollars. The church building, a frame, was completed in 1836 and cost about six hundred dollars. This amount was mostly raised by subscription.    Jesse Prior continued as minister in 1837, Eli Truitt in 1838-39, Robert O. Spencer being presiding Elder, and William Barrett, George Starr and William J. Bireley served as class-leaders. William Morrow and James McNabb labored on the circuit in 1840-41, which was then reduced in limit to Darke county, and their labors resulted in the conversion of three hundred. In 1842-43 S. M. Beatty and E. Zimmerman were the circuit preachers, and were succeeded in 1844 by Jacob Brown and Cadwallader Owings. During the labors of T. A. G. Phillips, in 1845-46, strife and dissension were in a measure forgotten and the church recovered somewhat from her lethargy. Joseph Wykes was minister in 1847-48. The church prospered under his labors. As preacher Alexander Harmount was well received during 1849-50. The M. E. parsonage on West Fourth street, Greenville, O. , was purchased and he was the first minister to occupy the same. During the year 1851 David Rutledge, as senior preacher, assisted by Gershom Lease, labored on the circuit. In 1852, Jacob F. Burkholder and Franklin Mariott were on the circuit and well received. The frame church was sold to William J. Bireley for about fifty dollars. Subscriptions were taken for a brick church, the estimated cost being five thousand dollars. About four thousand dollars of this amount was raised by subscription, only a small portion of which was paid, and with this amount the work commenced. During 1853, Franklin Mariott and L. C. Webster were the ministers. The work on the church progressed to completion. W. W. Winters was senior preacher in 1854, assisted by Patrick G. Goode, and by Oliver Kennedy in 1855, and the latter, assisted by L. C. Webster and P. B. Lewis, were on the circuit - 76 - in 1856-57. W. J. Peck, assisted by J. T. Bowers, were the ministers in 1850, and during this year the church was visited with one of the most powerful revivals it has ever witnessed. During the years 1859-60 Isaac Newton, assisted by P. B. Lewis, labored on the circuit, and during the latter year Greenville was made a station. James W. Alderman served the church in 1861, and Jacob Fegtly in 1862-63. Fielding L. Harper served the charge in 1864, and he was succeeded by Charles Reynolds in 1864, and he by H. E. Pilcher in 1866. During 1865 the church debt was liquidated, and in 1866 the old parsonage was sold for eight hundred dollars and another on the same street was purchased for twenty-five hundred dollars. L. C. Webster was preacher in charge in 1867-68. The parsonage purchased the previous year was exchanged for the present lot on the same street, the trustees receiving seven hundred dollars in addition to the same. Amos Wilson was pastor during the years 1869-70. He removed from this charge to Des Moines, Iowa, and was succeeded by Horatio S. Bradley in 1870-71. The Sabbath-school during these years was in a flourishing condition, numbering as high as three hundred and forty-one members. He was followed by Askinson Berry, who remained three years, closing his labors in 1874. During his labors here the " Women's Crusade " swept over the land. A. J. Fish then served the charge for three years, closing his labors here in 1877. During his pastoral work the church was enlarged and remodeled ; an addition was placed to the front, with tower, and a Sabbath-school room was cut off in the rear by a partition which contained folding doors and these could be opened at pleasure, thus making the largest audience-room in the town. The Murphy Temperance movement swept over the land during these years and over twenty-two hundred signed the pledge in the town of Greenville alone. Much interest was also manifested throughout the county, and in this work Bro. Fish took an active part. L. M. Albright succeeded to this charge, and during the two years he was here raised over eighteen hundred dollars besides his salary and other contingent expenses, and thus - 77 - completely paid off the church debt.  He closed his labors here in 1879, and was succeeded by J. A. Ferguson who remained three years, removing from among us in 1882, and was followed by J. L. Rusbridge who stayed two years. During this time the church was again remodeled, with class-rooms and gallery ; the partition was removed and the Sabbath-school is now held in the audience-room. The parsonage was also moved back, a four-room, two-story brick addition attached in front, and now it is the most commodious and healthful parsonage we have ever had in this place. D. Bowers succeeded J. L. Rusbridge and remained two years, closing his work here in 1886.   During the last year of D. Bouers' work this charge was annexed to the Cincinnati Conference, and that conference of ministers meeting in Piqua in September, 1886, sent to us A. Bowers, as presiding Elder, and J. W. Cassatt as pastor, who has just been returned to us for his fourth consecutive year. Under his wise administration the church is free from debt. Every assessment made last year by the conference was fully raised and returned to that body at its last session. The parsonage is furnished with heavy furniture and carpets, and the church is in a most prosperous condition. For a more complete statement of Bro. Cassatt's labors among us, the reader is referred to his biography following. REV. JOHN W. CASSATT, PASTOR. JOHN W. CASSATT, son of Peter and Eliza Cassatt, was born April 28, 1828, in Washington township, Clermont county, Ohio. His early years were under Methodist parental training and in the midst of stirring Methodist revivals, and in 1842 he united with the M. E. Church. One year later, when but fifteen years old, it became necessary for him to leave home and enter upon entire self-support. Having determined to secure a liberal education the next six years were directed to that end, and by closest economy of moments and money through manifold employments, from the saw-buck to school-teaching in the public schools and Augusta College, Kentucky, he attained some measure of success. In 1852, after two years on trial, he was admitted to membership in the Cincinnati Conference. Since that time his appointments have been as follows : 1850, Rockville ; 1851, Quincy, Ky.; 1852, Milford ; 1853-54, New Richmond ; 1855, Mt. Auburn ; 1856-57, Wayne street, (Piqua) ; 1858, Wilmington ; 1859-60, New Richmond ; 1861-62, South Charleston ; 1863-65, Mechanicsburg ; 1866-68, Central, (Springfield) ; 1869-70, Trinity, (Xenia) ; 1871-73, Eaton ; 1874-77, P. E. Springfield District ; 1878-79, Greene street, (Piqua) ; 1880-82, Mechanicsburg ; 1883-85, Oxford ; 1886-88, Greenville. December 22, 1857, on Mt. Auburn, Cincinnati, he was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Wunder, who for more than thirty-one years has been a most earnest, devoted and successful co-laborer with him in every good wish and word. During the conference year 1885-86 Greenville was annexed to the Cincinnati Conference, and the annual meeting of that ministerial body was held at Piqua in the fall of 1886. The subject of this sketch was then sent as pastor to Greenville, with A. Bowers presiding Elder of Dayton district. When he reached his charge he found that the individual members of the official board had drawn from one of the banks on their note, two hundred and fifty dollars to - 80 - pay the balance due on their former pastor's salary, and that a like note had been previously given for balance due on church and parsonage repairs, which amounted to $1,262.77, and which note was only partly provided for by subscription. It was also found necessary to furnish the parsonage with the " heavy " furniture including carpets, which, with a few other incidental expenses, amounted to $394.53, thus making a total debt of over $1,907.00 which had to be paid in the near future. An effort was at once made to secure the total amount of this indebtedness by subscriptions which were to be changed to notes as soon as $1,200.00 was thus secured. The effort proved successful, the notes were taken, due at different interval, and when these matured, were promptly paid, thus liquidating the entire debt with accrued interest. A protracted meeting was held in the early part of 1887, during which the church was visited with a powerful revival. About one hundred and seventy-five were converted, nearly all of whom joined the church. The young people, members of the Sabbath school and others were equally interested in the grand work, and we trust untold good has been the result. But when the protracted meeting closed, increased vigilance and earnestness was not only taught, but were practiced in the pastor's daily life. His work has been well done, as the increased attendance at church, Sabbath-school, class and prayer meeting most surely testifies. The financial efforts for raisin̊. the salaries and the various benevolences of the church have also met with marked success. No notes have been given for salaries past due since he has been our pastor, though at times it has been a difficult matter to meet these obligations promptly and some of the members have felt that the burden rested heavily on them ; others have been educated to perform their duty in this respect, and during the past year all these obligations have been met at the proper time and our pastor was able to report at Conference that financially Greenville has done her part. Brother Cassatt successfully completed these years of earnest labor in this charge, and an unanimous rising vote of the Quarterly Conference requested the Elder to return him the fourth year. This was done, and with the knowledge that the Annual Conference would meet in Greenville in regular session next September, and the fact that the membership have the minister of their choice, is encouraging ; and we begin the fourth year of his ministry here with the earnest determination to accomplish more, spiritually and financially, than we have done in the past. With a membership united in sympathy with an earnest, zealous pastor laboring for the advancement of moral and religious influences in this community, success in a measure will be secured. REV. HARRY COMPTON, MISSIONARY. HARRY COMPTON was born September 3, 1857, in Tiffin, Ohio. His early life was spent in the city of Xenia, Ohio, until he was seven years of age. Here he lived during the period of the civil war. His recollections of "the boys in blue " seems as vivid as if it were but yesterday. The soldiers' days of drill were cheerful days to his boyhood. While the soldiers were passing through the city in heavily loaded trains, his chief delight was in trading onions for cartridges, and in filling their canteens at the spring. He delighted to hear their words of cheer and appreciation and to receive their cheerful greeting. At one time there came a carload of soldiers dressed in gray. They were Morgan's men who had been captured in Ohio. They were so boisterous and ill-looking that he cared but little about giving them onions or filling their canteens. It seemed that he caught the patriotic spirit of the times, and many days with his playmates were spent upon the commons playing the " march, march away." From this city he moved to Union City, Indiana, and after living there a few months, moved to Sidney, Champaign county, Illinois. At the age of nine years he was living in Indianapolis, Indiana, and from there he came to Darke county, Ohio. At an early age he was left without friends and compelled to seek a temporal home. While an outcast, as it were, he found a home with an earnest, Christian man, Prof. J. T. Martz, superintendent of the public schools of Greenville, Ohio. Through his influence and that of his noble wife he became interested in the M. E. Sabbath-school, where he learned many things that are precious to him to this day. His temporal soon also became his spiritual home, for while there he attended a protracted meeting held by the Rev. M. M. Markwith at Jaysville, Ohio, and during its progress was wonderfully converted to God. Through the kindness of J. T. Martz he obtained an education that fitted him for teaching, and his first school was taught in Jackson township - 83 - during the winter of 1876-77. He was licensed to preach on the eighth of May, 1878. He was engaged in teaching school for six winters, spending most of the summer vacations in attending " Normal schools and Institutes " in Darke county. While attending these schools he formed the acquaintance of one of the Darke county teachers, Miss Rebecca Myers, and on the thirteenth of April were united in marriage. The word " discouragement " does not seem to belong to her vocabulary. They accepted a call to go to South America as missionaries in the spring of 1883, and have been engaged in missionary work at Copiapo and Coquimbo, Chili, to the present time, almost six and one-half years. He was pastor of the English work and president of the English Academy for two years. For four years he was president of Coquimbo College ; one year of which time he was pastor of the English congregation. He preached his first sermon in Spanish in the latter part of the year 1888. Shortly after this he entered upon the Spanish pastorate and preached until Bishop Walden gave him permission to come home to attend the " Boston School of Theology." When through here he expects to assume his work in Chili, which is an enteresting field. EDUCATION IN DARKE COUNTY. EDUCATION in Darke county was not neglected by its early settlers, but the date of the first establishment of schools and the building of school-houses is now not accurately known. The first teachers in Greenville township were John Beers, John Talbert and Henry D. Williams ; and in the county Dow Roll, Mrs. McIntyre, John Townsend and Noah Arnold were among the pioneer teachers and did efficient work in the school-room. At this time there was no public school-fund : schools were supported generally by individual contributions from parents who sent their children to school ; the teacher received a salary of about ten dollars a month and boarded himself, while the school would continue in session three months in the year. A law passed by our legislature in '82 I , left it to a vote of each township whether a school-district should be formed, and, perhaps four years later, action in this respect was changed and township trustees were required to divide the townships into school-districts, and a tax was levied by the county commissioners for school purposes which provided a fund of about ten dollars yearly for each school-district. This amount would continue the schools in session about one month, the remaining two months' services of the teacher were paid by individual contributions. During- this time the teacher should be qualified to teach reading, writing and arithmetic, and the law of 1849 added a knowledge of geography and grammar to the three branches. Compare the above with the - 86 - large sums now annually paid for education : the full supply of teachers, the fair wages paid ; the increasing exactions of the patrons of the schools for better qualifications ; the institute ; the High schools, and the common school provided with all the modern appliances for successfully acquiring that knowledge so indispensable to the control and instruction of the young. And while we say the schools are by no means perfect, they are progressive, and compared with the past have shown surprising advancement. But we anticipate. John Beers, John Talbert and Henry D. Williams taught during the years 1818-24, and it is not known whether any effort was made to teach school in Greenville prior to the first date, or to the time they first came to this place. Talbert taught in a school-house near the Prophetstown on what is known as the William F. Bishop farm. Beers taught south of town in the settlement of Thompson, Studebaker and Arnold, while H. D. Williams taught east of Greenville in the settlement of Hays, Westfall and Carnahan. The school-houses were log-cabins, and the only means of admitting the light was an aperture cut into a log and covered with greased paper : this was a substitute for a window. The chimney was at one end of the cabin and made of split sticks, the intervening spaces filled with mud or mortar which became dry. Large logs were burned in this fire-place, and thus was the house heated in winter. The roof was made of Clapboards four feet long and weighted down with poles, while the door was made of the same material and hung on wooden hinges with wooden latch and string to secure it. The floor was made of slabs of wood, hewn on one side to make the floor level, while for writing-desks, holes were bored in logs in the walls, pins were driven in, and upon these were laid a broad slab smooth on the upper side, while the seats were made by boring holes in the ends of slabs. and pins, driven in the same for legs. In one of these cabin-schools one-half of the puncheons for the floor had been removed and that space leveled off with dirt in which rats and ground squirrels burrowed, and would often leave their holes and run across the floor during school-hours to the no small amusement of the pupils and the annoyance of the teacher. One - 87 - of these log-houses was erected on Lot No. 32 in Greenville, which at first served as a school-house and afterward for a court-house and jury-room, and there is little doubt but that Messrs. Beers, Talbert and Williams all taught school in this house from 1818 to 1824. In 1827 the trustees divided Greenville township into school-districts, and the district of Greenville chose three directors, but these could not agree and the year passed without hiring a teacher. A new board of directors was chosen the next year, and the log school-house was torn down with the intention of rebuilding it on the south-west half of Lot No. 3, but a difficulty arose in regard to raising the subscription for putting up the house and paying the salary of the teacher, and no school was held the following year. About the year 1840 two schoolhouses, each two stories high, were erected upon lots three and thirteen respectively, and these were used as the school-houses of the town until the year 1868 when the " old school " building was erected. It contains seventeen school-rooms, one of which is fitted up with stage and settees for general school exercises. The building also contains a room for the superintendents. The entire building is heated with steam from a large boiler, the water being heated with natural gas. In many of the early schools the pupils were required to study in a loud tone ; hence called a " loud school," the object being to let the teacher know that they were engaged upon their lessons and not in mischief. Classes in arithmetic and writing were never formed, but each pupil " ciphered away at will, " and received personal assistance from the teacher when the same was needed. Writing was taught by the teacher " setting the copy, and the pupil trying to imitate the same. The " quill pen " was used by the pupil, and the " master " was expected to make the pen and mend the same when the pupil thought it unfit for use. The custom of " barring out " the teacher and compelling him " to treat " about the holidays was indulged in by the pupils as a general custom, and sanctioned by the parents ; but this relic of barbarism has almost entirely disappeared. In 1851 the first effort was made to grade the Greenville school by Ebenezer Bishop, who had previously - 88 - taught a subscription school in the building owned by Dr. Ayers, and in the M. E. church, and who was afterward employed to superintend the schools at a salary of four hundred dollars per year. His effort was only partially successful. The schools were afterward organized into four grades, and for a number of years were successfully conducted by G. H. Martz, A. T. Bodle, F. D. Matchett, L. S. B. Otwell and J. T. Martz. Mr. Mayo, of Troy, O., was afterward employed as superintendent, the school graded, and has been so conducted to the present time. The superintendents in their order of service : E. H. Mayo, one year ; I. W. Legg, three years; J. T. Martz, three years ; W. T, Wallace, one year ; Alexander Miller, two years ; H. J. Macomber, one year ; J. S. Wilson, two years ; J. T. Martz, seventeen years; F. G. Cromer, one year. The High school was organized in 1868. It has a good laboratory, the apparatus of which cost over six hundred dollars, specimens in geology and archology, and a library. The High-school building was erected in 1844, is two stories high with basement, and contains ten large and commodious school- rooms, and one audience-room capable of seating six hundred pupils. The room is arranged for general exercises ; is neatly frescoed ; contains modern opera-chairs ; has stage and furniture with a valuable upright piano, the cost of all being about two thousand dollars. The entire building is heated with the Ruttan heating and ventilating furnace, the fuel now used being natural gas. A regular course of study has been arranged for the High school, and when the students complete the same with the required standing they are graduated, receiving a diploma printed on parchment. One hundred and nine pupils have graduated from this school since its organization ; their names and respective classes are as follows : Class of 1873—A. C. Lindermuth, *L. Matchett, *Florence Landsdowne, Aurelia Rosser, Allie Smith, Mary E. McAlpin, Lizzie McAlpin, Mary Lynch, Kate Markwith. * Died August 5, 1877, * Died November 30, 1874. - 89 - Class of 1875—Emma Kerlin, Victoria Lindermuth, Mollie Mitchell, (now deceased). Class of 1876—Charles Roland, Ida Probasco, Sadie Shaffer, Allie McNeal, (now deceased). Class of 1877—Ella Ault, Flora Harter, Minnie Garber, A. C. Robeson, Delia Porterfield, Clara Rhotehamel, Anna Lecklider, C. E. Porterfield. Class of 1878—Rollin F. Crider, Frank D. Meeker, Sadie Smith, Henry T. Miller, Dema Gregg, Estella Dunlop. Class of 1880—Leona Jenks, Ada Helen Squier, Callie Biltimier, Lizzie A. McKennan, Ammon J. Mider, Allie Judy, D. L. Gaskill, J. H. Martz. Class of 1881—Nettie 'Wilson, Mamie Miller, Mary Stallman, Belle Bowman, Emma Allread, Tillie McCaughey. Class of 1882—Walter Meeker, Samuel Hager, George Jobes, John Kerlin, John Lucas, Edward Roland, Sadie Gaskill, Ada Bartling, Besha Garst, Arra Plowman, Alma Walsh, Callie Mayburn. Class of 1883—Maggie Mann, Nannie E. Allen. Class of 1884—Mary L. Auld, Lizzie Garst, Cora J. Klinger, Laura Sorber. Class of 1885—Sopha Hart, Celia M. Beers, Ella Stull, Gertrude Ditman, Nellie Meeker, Vinora Thompson, Alvin Stephens, Alice Kunkle. Class of 1886—Ida Dorman, Kitty Matchett, Alice Rothman, Hattie N. Lecklider, Otho E. Lucas, Debbie Hankins, Charles S. Stephenson. Class of 1887—Olive J. E. Grubbs, Nannie Eller, Blanche Bornstein, Millie Chenoweth, George J. Martz, David McNeal, Pearl L. Matchett, Minnie Stallman, Edith Rasor, Della Winget, Jacob Morrison, Herschel Haldeman, Adelbert Martz. Class of 1888—B. M. Allen, Ambrose Rasor, James Rehling, Alvin North, Gertie Henne, Nannie Meeker, Ora Porter, Inez Ditman, Carrie Creager, Virgie Meeker, Laura De Laplain, Lollie Ditman, Junie Hall. - 90 - Class of 1889—Charles Herr, Birdie Haldermann, Frederick Cassatt, Nellie Garst. There are in the county one hundred and seventy-eight subdivisions, nine separate districts, and nine sub-divisions included in separate districts. The average wages of gentlemen in primary township schools the past year was thirty-nine dollars per month ; ladies, twenty-six dollars. In separate districts, gentlemen forty-eight dollars ; ladies, thirty-eight dollars, for primary teaching. In High school, gentlemen, seventy-five dollars ; ladies, thirty dollars. As nearly as can be now ascertained the first school in Patterson township was taught in 1841. The township contains eight sub-districts, each with commodious school-house. There are six such districts in Wabash township, and as many brick school-houses. The first school-house was built in 1844 and Elijah Raines was the first teacher. In 1840 the first school-house was built in Allen township. It contains nine sub-districts, and, we are informed, six brick and three frame school-houses. Mississinawa township has nine school-houses, and it is believed the first house was built in 1851. The first school-house in Jackson township was built in 1835 and Amos Barrier taught the first subscription school the same year, and Michael Spayd the first Public school in the year following.  The township has ten school-districts in a flourishing condition, with eight brick and two frame school-houses. John Hufman taught the first school in Brown township in 1827. There are nine sub-districts in the township, beside the Graded school of Ansonia, of which P. C. Zemer is the efficient principal, and he is also one of the County-school Examiners. York township contains six school-districts ; the first school-house was built in 1837, and the first school was taught by J. P. Hafer in 1836. It is supposed that the first school-house was built in Richland township in 1825 ; the first teacher was John Wilkins, and his successor was Thomas Cranson. The township contains seven districts with as many convenient, substantial school-houses. Wayne is one of the oldest townships in the county, having been organized in July, 1817, and the first school-house was erected in 1821. It contains - 91 - ten sub-districts and the graded schools in Versailles, which are well organized, and there is a large three-story brick school-building which is an ornament to the town and a credit to its citizens. The first school-house was built in Adams township in 1830. Samuel Homer was the first teacher of the Public school and Jacob Hershey taught the first subscription school. The township contains twelve sub-districts in addition to the graded schools at Bradford, under the efficient management of Prof. P. E. Cromer and that at Gettysburgh with J. S. Royer as principal. Greenville township has eighteen sub-districts in addition to the graded-school in the city of Greenville, which furnishes employment to twenty-five teachers, including F. G. Cromer, the superintendent. The first school was taught in the township in 1818, mention already having been made of the teachers. Samuel Cole taught the first school in Washington township in the winter of 1818-19 and the pioneer school-house was built in 1821. The township contains eleven school districts with a convenient and substantial schoolhouse in each district. William R. Jones taught the first school in German township in 1820, in which year the first school-house was built. The township contains eleven districts, besides the one in Palestine, which gives employment to two teachers. Neave township has five school-districts with as many substantial brick school-houses, containing all the modern conveniences. In 1820 the first school-house was built, and Mr. Hart taught the first school in the winter of the same year. Van Buren township contains eight substantial brick school-buildings, the first house being erected in the township about half a century ago, and Mordeica Ford was one of the first or earlier teachers. John Hess built the first school-house in Franklin township, in 1838, though private schools had been taught in the township prior to this date, and the first teacher was David Clevine. The township contains eight districts and school-houses well arranged. There are now seven school-houses in Monroe township. Asa Jones taught the first school in the township in 1836. Twin township has nine school districts, besides the school at Arcanum under the excellent management of Dr. Minnich as principal, and the schools at Ithaca - 92 - and Gordon. The first school-house was built in Butler township in 1824. Samuel Satterly taught the first school in the township, followed by James L. Hunt and P. V. Banta in 1833. There are nine school-districts in the township, each with a good school-house. The first school-house in Harrison township was built at Yankee-town, in 1819, and Moses Woods was the first teacher. The township has six district schools, besides the school at Hollansburg which includes two districts, and the school at New Madison, which has a large and commodious school-building with all the modern conveniences. It is located in the south-west part of the town on a lot which contains seven-eights of an acre. The school is graded, and for the past few years has made proper advancement under the excellent management of Prof. Disher, the principal, who is energetic and efficient in his work, a good disciplinarian, and thorough in his methods of instruction. The first school-house (built of logs,) is still standing, has been used for religious and other meetings, but is now used as a stable. The second schoolhouse (brick,) is located on Main street, near the brewery. It was built in 1850 and is still standing, but we have not learned the use to which it is applied. The school-houses in the county are generally large and commodious brick or frame structures, arranged with all the conveniences f0r modern teaching, and are generally supplied with maps, charts and apparatus for the illustration. of science and the various subjects to be tanght, and we find that the country schools generally are in as fair a way for intellectual progress as are the city or village schools of the county. For the influence that brought about these results we must look to the Darke County Teachers' association, which was organized in 1859, and at first consisted of four members : J. T. Martz, A. T. Bodle and L. S. B. Otwell, then the County School-Examiners, and John W. Spayd. To these members were added: Jacob Baker and J. W. Giffin. But little progress was made by the asfociation during and for several years after the war, though special efforts were made, and the first Teachers' Institute was held in. the " old court-house," then occupying the site of our present - 93 - city-hall, in the summer of 1860. The instructors were : A. J. Rickoff, then superintendent of the Cincinnati schools ; Prof. Lang, of Kenyon college at Gambier, Ohio ; A. L. McKinney, of Troy, O., and J. T. Martz, who taught mental arithmetic and who was also president of the association. At the institute held January 1, 1869, and presided over by Geo. H. Martz, Ezra Post (who was secretary,) and J. T. Martz were appointed to revise the constitution of the association. The committee reported a constitution which was on motion adopted by the institute, and persons affixing their names to the same became members of the association. Thirty-three persons signed the same, and thus it may be seen that after ten years of hard labor the original six members had succeeded in increasing the membership to thirty-three. The opposition to Teachers' Institutes by certain township clerks and teachers was such that at the above meeting the following resolution was adopted : " Resolved, That in the opinion of this association any person who is not in favor of County Teachers' Institutes, is not worthy of the privilege conferred by the school system of the State of Ohio." At this meeting the introduction of singing in school was ably advocated, but it also met with strong opposition. How to develop moral character in pupils was discussed as institute work in the first one held in the county. In fact, nearly all of the main principles of education now taught in our schools were first introduced in our institutes : fought for there by our most intelligent and experienced teachers, arid after being thus introduced, were then taught by the different teachers in the schools of which they had charge. But such was the opposition of certain local directors to these meetings that they refused to employ teachers who belonged to the association or who attended the meetings of the same. At the institute held in August, 1869, the president called upon the teachers who attended the preceding session, but only ten responded, which showed the indifference and lack of interest manifested by the teachers in general, though at this - 94 - institute Prof. Crosby, of Lima, O., was paid sixty dollars for one week's instruction. J. S. Wilson, of Greenville, was paid one hundred and twenty dollars for two weeks' instruction ; . Henry Gunder, of Greenville, was paid sixty. dollars for two weeks' work, and a donation of twenty dollars was made to the secretary for keeping the minutes of the institute while it was in session. ' The constitution was then amended so as. to pay the secretary not more than three dollars per day for services actually rendered while .the institute was in session. This clause is still. in force, and the secretary is annually paid twenty dollars for two weeks' services while the institute is in session. The secretary is required to keep a correct history of the proceedings each day, and these minutes are to be preserved, as well as the minutes of the association, . so , that any transaction may be . referred to as a matter of record. At the session of the institute held in December, 1869, the "Old School" building in Greenville, O., was dedicated, and addresses were delivered by Superintendent E. E. White, of Cincinnati, axed F. Merich, D. D., President of the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. These addresses were well received and did much to strengthen the cause of education among the teachers and citizens attending the same. The Greenville High-school building has never been publicly dedicated, except by local exercises of the teachers and pupils of the Greenville school. For the past ten years the meetings of our Teachers' association have been held in all the principal places in the county, and much interest has thus been elicited. The meetings have been largely attended by teachers, patrons and . officers of the country schools, and they are made profitable to all who attend. As with the meetings of the association, so with the attendance at the sessions of the institute, the enrollment of which is over three hundred; and if its interests are protected by all those who should be its friends, its influence will yet increase until the name of .every teacher in the county will be enrolled upon, its records. COUNTY OFFICERS. JUDGE DAVID L. MEEKER, COMMON Pleas Judge and attorney at law, was born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1827. His boyhood was spent on a farm and he received a common-school education, and took a course in academic instruction ; taught school several terms, and read law with the late Judge Ebenezer Parsons, of Miami county, and vas admitted to the bar in 1851. In May, 1853, he opened a law office in Greenville, and in 1856 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Darke county, and re-elected in 1858. In 1861 he was elected Common Pleas Judge in the first sub-division of the Second Judicial district, but resigned in 1866; in 1872 he was appointed by Governor Noyes to fill a vacancy on the same bench, occasioned by a resignation, and in 1873 he was elected to the same position without opposition ; again, in 1878, upon the recommendation of all parties, he was unanimously elected, his term expiring in 1883 ; in 1887 he was elected to the same position, which he is now filling. He has been married twice : in 1857 he was married to Miss Mary A. Deardorff, from which union eight children were born ; she died in 1876, and in 1878 he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie D. Crisler, of Eaton, Ohio. Politically he is a Democrat, but has no enmity to any party and thereby draws friendship from all political sources. It is needless to add that he is one of the most highly respected citizens in Darke county. His long career as an attorney and jurist has enabled him to accumulate a handsome fortune, and a cut of his elegant and substantial residence, which is equaled by few if any in the county, is found elsewhere in this volume. His repeated calls to the highest office in the gift of the people of this county, is an index of the universal esteem in which Judge Meeker is held in this section of Ohio.