GREENVILLE AND GREENVILLE TOWNSHIP FROM 1840.

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If there ever was a time in the history of this nation when stagnation was wide-spread. and indeed almost universal, it was between 1840 and 1848. Darke County could not be said to be an exception to the general rule in this regard. No public works whatever, worthy of mention, were begun or carried forward within the period named, save and except the building of the second county jail. It is true, a railroad charter was secured, as elsewhere mentioned in its proper place in this work. but nothing was done in the way of construction until late in the fall of 1848, and the summer of 1849. There was but little progress, comparatively. Still the county was moving on its way. Farmers were improving their farms. but the recompense for their labor was not sufficient to stimulate ambition. There were no railroads, no turnpikes. and no conveniences to facilitate business that at all compare with what were soon after instituted and enjoyed. The nearest markets were Dayton and Piqua.. and the best prices that could be obtained for produce frequently amounted to but little more than the labor and expense of hauling the same from the more remote sections of the county. An anecdote illustrative of this is worth recording in this connection. A Dunkard, whose name we shall not give, but who will be remembered by some of the older readers of these lines, took three wagon-loads of wheat to Piqua—it having been noised abroad that that place could and would and did pay better prices just then for grain than Dayton or any other market hereabouts. Arriving there, he found the price had suddenly gone down, like the mercury before a chilling blast, and in his unqualified disgust. he forgot that he was or ever had been a Dunkard, and gave the town a sound berating, more profane than sanctimonious. He was compelled to sell one load in order to pay his teamsters and the other current expenses, but declared that he would never sell another bushel of anything in that town, and would wait for the railroad, if it didn't come for five years. Emphasis was added to the assertion by the fact that the other two loads were drawn back to Darke, and by the further fact that he never again took an ounce of anything to sell to the market that had so provoked him to the use of words specifically disapproved by the

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tenets of his religious faith. It is true he sold to a purchaser at his own home, but he " waited for the wagons " drawn by steam.

Private enterprises, in sympathy with those of a public character, progressed slowly during this period of national prostration, financially speaking. Within the limits of the corporation, as of the county, no improvements were made of sufficient moment to be made a part of history. There were no changes in the limits of Greenville, except some subdivisions of additions previously laid off, and the change of outlots to inlots. The merchants and manufacturers of the place kept on the even tenor of their way, without attempting especially great things in their lines.

But "a day of better things" had almost dawned, and, as the following paragraphs abundantly show, the county and its principal town soon moved onward in an unbroken career of progressive achievement.

Greenville, iu 1848, contained 2,000 inhabitants. There were three dry- goods stores, four groceries, and no saloons. Liquors were sold at some of the groceries, and at the bars of three hotels—the Broadway Hotel, by Charles Hutchins, the Buckeye, by J. L. Winner, and by J. R. King, of the King House. There were three churches—the Methodist, Presbyterian and the New Lights. That part of town that now lies south of Fourth street was almost all covered with a thick undergrowth of timber, and where the court house and jail now stand, water stood the greater part of the year, and supplied a favorite resort for sportsmen in pursuit of the wild duck and the pigeon. The leading doctors were I. N. Gard, Ayres, Lynch and Koogler, and turnpikes were unknown.

In 1850, Brown & Glines were engaged in tailoring, Schmidt & Knox as druggists, A. La Mott & Co. in the dry-goods and grocery business. Weston & Ulley were in the hardware trade, and William Allen was agent of the Knox Insurance Company. Sarah and Ruth Edwards kept a millinery store opposite the M. E. Church, and E. M. Hoffman was in the book trade on Main street. The business houses were actively and prosperously employed.

In 1860, the town had made striking and gratifying progress. Three important railroad lines had been constructed, four turnpike roads had been built. and, diverging from the county seat, connected with as many thriving and prosperous villages. The population had increased ; two good newspapers, the Democrat and the Journal, were being published, each with about eight hundred patrons. and then, in the midst of this satisfactory growth, war broke in and engrossed attention.

Again, this time in 1869, we survey the prospects of the city. Never in its previous history had the town made such rapid advance in the construction of new buildings. In May of this year, there were over sixty buildings in course of construction or of remodeling. A foundry and machine-shop was erected and put in operation by Messrs. James McKhan, A. T. Bodle and John Stoltz, on Third street. A building and loan association was organized and in full operation. stimulating and aiding in the building of homes. Messrs. Linderworth & Winget were busy running their planing-mill. The German Reformed congregation had bought the Presbyterian Church, on Broadway and Fourth streets. Streets had been graded, the question of a park was mooted, and, while teachers' institutes indicated interest in education, popular attention was being directed to the public schools.

The town had become now, if not before, a prominent business commercial center, with rich and wealth-producing surroundings. The principal merchants of this time were La Mott & Farver, also, in the fur trade ; Sumter & Compton, F. & J. Waring, Workman & Daily, Hart, Arnold & Co.; G. B. Wilson kept a book store on the corner of Main street and the public square, and John Van Mater was successor to Schmidt & Knox. There were dissolutions of old partnerships and new combinations. There was selling out and moving in—all the changes incident to vital energy, restless activity, dissatisfaction and plucky hopefulness, while some

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few, continued year after year in one place. in the same business, and, in time, became known and prosperous. A large. artistic school building attracted the eye, and exerted an attractive influence on the stranger. Along the broad streets were lines of shade-trees. Old structures were demolished. and upon their sites rose new ones. In June, there were in process of erection twenty-three dwellings, and a number more were contracted for the near future. In the line of manufacture. there was the steam planing-mill of Messrs. T. P. Turpen. William Kerr and M. C. Benham ; on the first floor were four machines, a planer, rip and other saws, operated by Messrs. Wallace and Mills. There were turning rooms, cabinet finishing rooms, and on the second floor were seven machines in use for finishing. The buoyancy of hopeful expectation lent courage to business men and professionals and to citizens, and in both public and private concerns the county seat felt the healthful stimulus of trade and improvement in the county, and maintained its supremacy unbroken. An event calculated to exert a potent influence on the fortune of Greenville transpired in the spring of 1877. On more than one occasion, citizens of large tracts of closely built cities have been alarmed by claims to the ownership of their lots, and to this Greenville was another instance. Samuel and James Armstrong. of Cincinnati, two brothers, sons of the early proprietor of Greenville. and owners of considerable real estate about the city, put in the market sixteen acres at $15,000. This was laid off in the south-middle part of the town, streets were graded. and already full half the area ;s occupied by good residences. The Armstrongs still hold over an hundred acres. Railroads and the schools take off a part. In 1859, four acres were condemned by the city and appropriated for school sites. upon which the present imposing and roomy structure stands. The brothers left Greenville in their boyhood and returned about 1850, to assert that lands in the city were held by a defective title, that the right of ownership was in their hands, and they served a notice of rejectment upon persons residing upon the disputed lands. The citizens employed able attorneys, and the litigation continued four or five years. at considerable expenditure of money. The prospects were dark and discouraging. when aid came from an unexpected quarter. The son of a former Sheriff. at Troy. Miami County. while looking over the papers of his father, espied an old receipt with the name of Armstrong attached. This paper was promptly sent to the city's attorneys, at Greenville. and proved to be a receipt for the final payment on the disputed territory. This, being adduced as evidence, decided the case and gave the citizens security.

In 1851. Moses Hart. Esq., erected a steam flouring-mill, which was put in motion by the proprietors. Messrs. Turner. The millwright work was done by D. R. DeRush. of Preble County. The mill had a capacity to grind and pack 150 barrels of flour per day. This improvement noted here was at the time spoken of as one of the most important thus far made in the county. At the commencement of business. numbers of citizens were assembled and expressed their gratification at the result. This, in connection with the building of five large, commodious business houses. each of three stories, dwellings in process of construction and churches contracted, marks one of the most favorable crises of the city. The old court house stood in the center of the capacious public square, and as a new house was imperative to meet the demands of a greatly increased official business, and to make a proper representation of Darke County, a dispute arose among citizens generally, and the business men located about the square, concerning the location of the new house. In 1874, it was intended to leave the old walls of the court house standing, and to build a vestibule tower to them, which would make the building the same as at present, but after the tower was built, excavation having been made for a basement, a wet time set in, during which the rain undermined a corner of the building, it settled, and an ominous crack showed the necessity of pulling it down, which was done, and the present handsome structure was erected, and is known and used as the city hall. It is of two stories, sixty-five feet square, a hall above, and Mayor's office, engine room and election room below. The

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contract for building was let to R. L. Robinson, A. P. Gorsuch being Mayor at the time. The cost was about $14,000.

There are in this new-old town a number of houses which have stood many years, and are, for this reason, noticeable. One of these stands on the north side of the public square, and is in use as a livery stable. It is a brick structure, among the very first erected here. The brick structure of John Hoofnagle, built by Dr. Perrine, many years ago ; the brick house of Dr. Briggs, now occupied by J. It. Knox, his son-in-law ; the Wagner House, with timely additions, stands as one of the first in town, and still in use according to the original purpose, and the poor house," now occupied by T. P. Barkalow, and situated on the west end of Main street, are examples of structures of the earlier day. Prominent even in the present, they were doubtless imposing in the past, and stand as monuments of an earlier enterprise.

Greenville has many fine residences, of which brief mention is here made of notable examples. The home of Charles Roland, at the west end of Fourth street, is a handsome dwelling, with tasteful grounds. It was built at a cost of $10,000, by E. C. Shay, in 1871. In 1861, William King built on Main street, at a cost of about $5,000, the residence of Michael Miller. In 1876, E. C. Shade erected the building on East Main street, occupied by Daniel Harney. Judge D. L. Meeker is now having built a residence, which, when completed, will be the finest in the county. Among others to attract the attention are the homes of Dr. G. Meesie. West Third street, and of G. W. Studabaker.

The fire department of the city is of recent date, and all the more complete and reliable. Previous to its organization, Greenville was dependent upon voluntary aid of citizens, as occasion required. On December 13, 1855, the Buckeye House took fire in the third story and burned to the ground. The night was favorable to the people, the air was quiet, and a rain had wet adjacent roofs, and these concurring circumstances confined the conflagration to the one building. Fears of a general destruction of property induced the removal of goods from the stores on the east side of Broadway, from the square to Third street. Goods were damaged, but the losses were covered by insurance. The house was owned by John L. Winner, and, as there was no insurance, the loss to him was heavy. The citizens, who had put forth strenuous exertions to restrict the fire to the hotel, congratulated themselves on their success. Meetings were held shortly after this experience, for the purpose of purchasing a hand fire-engine and organizing a company, but the excitement soon died away and nothing was done. A destructive fire early in 1871 again awakened public sentiment to the necessity of having some efficient protection, and led to the ordinance creating the fire department.

The ordinance creating and regulating the Greenville Fire Department was passed by the Council on June 1, 1871. A Silsby steamer, entitled Greenville " and two hose carts were purchased at a cost of $7,200. A company was enrolled, of which H. K. McConnell was Chief ; P. P. Turpen, First Assistant ; Frank E. Moore, Second Assistant ; John C. Turpen, Secretary ; D. M. Stevenson. Treasurer, and E. J. Hickox, Engineer. Ten months later. the last named resigned to accept the position of Marshal, to which he had been elected, and Mahlon Swartz succeeded as engineer till November, 1878, when Mr. Hickox assumed the position, which he has since held. J. L. Bascom was appointed Assistant Engineer February 1, 1877. The present officers of the Greenville Fire Department are : Chief, J. H. Rice ; First Assistant, A. H. Hyde ; Second Assistant. J. P. Winget ; Secretary, Jonas Hahn ; Treasurer, M. Huhn ; Engineers as stated. The department has 1,500 feet of first-class hose, and 600 feet of second-class. The engine- house is in the rear of the City Hall, and is 22x45 feet, with thirteen-foot ceiling, plastered neatly wainscoted in oak and walnut, and numerous pictures hang upon the walls, and adding to the attractiveness of the room. It is claimed for the "Greenville" that the steamer has projected water twenty feet higher than the eagle above the dome of the new court house. or about one hundred and ninety

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feet perpendicularly. and that water has been thrown by it 275 to 280 feet horizontally. and much confidence is based on her power when needed in extremity. In 1871 and 1874, at well-remembered fires, the department, with their steamer confined the flames to narrow limits, and prevented what might have been, otherwise, disastrous fires. There are three Fire Wardens. The members of the company receive pay when on duty, filling cisterns, etc., by order of the Council. The salary of the engineer is $50 per month, and of his assistant, $:35. The water supply is furnished from five cisterns, as follows : Public square, corner of Ash and East Main streets ; corner of Third and Broadway, corner of Third and Locust. corner of Main and Elm, and on the corner of Elm and Fourth streets. The present Wardens are Daniel Murphy, Alexander Harter and Joseph Saettle.

The Greenville Gas Company is another public improvement, contributing “greatly to the comfort and convenience of the population, and handsomely rewarding the projectors of the enterprise. The Greenville Gas Company, of Greenville. was incorporated June 11, 1874, by C. Calkins, Charles Roland, John L. Winner and Wesley Gorsuch. The capital stock is $30,000, divided into 600 shares of $50 each. The first annual election of officers, held June 17, resulted in the choice of Hon. AVilliam Allen. President ; John Devor, Secretary ; J. T. Meeker, Treasurer. and for Directors—Messrs. Allen, Devor, Moore, Meeker and Cole. In 1877, Elijah Devor superse€1ed H. M. Cole as Director. In 1878. J. A. Ries. succeeded Mr. Moore, and Mr. E. Devor became Treasurer, vice Meeker. On January 17. 1880. Hon. William Allen was President ; John Devor, Secretary ; Elijah Devon Treasurer. These three gentlemen own the greatest part of the stock. A contract to build works was completed with Messrs. Connelly, Naylor & Co., of Pittsburgh, Penn.. for $27.000. ilround was broken April 1, 1875, and the work was completed by August 17 of the same year.

The company has four miles of main pipe, and eighty-nine street lamps in use. at $2.50 per mouth each. and 130 customers. at $3 per thousand feet, with a reduction for prompt payment. The average of private consumption is 100,000 feet per month. There are six retorts, but only three are required to furnish the above supply. The gasometer measures thirty-eight feet in diameter by twelve feet in height.

Railroads have done much for Greenville, as the city contributed much to secure their assistance. The old depot was located on part of Lot 21, near to the Christian Church, on Walnut street. It is still standing, but not occupied. The new depot is a fine frame building, situated at the intersection of Walnut, Jackson and Martin streets, on a part of Jackson street vacated for the purpose and donated by the city to the company. It was built by J. J. Bloomer, of Indianapolis.

The Cleveland. Columbus. Cincinnati & Indianapolis depot, a frame, was built in 1867. at a cost of $4,000. Its dimensions are 72x42 feet. Frank McWhinney was the builder and owner. The old depot, now standing-about one hundred rods west. was abandoned on completion of the new structure.

The benevolent secret organizations of Greenville are comprised in three associations, of which we have the following record :

Greenville Lodge, No. 143, F. A. M., reaches into the past thirty-three years. On July 3. 1847. John C. Potter, Elias Brumager, William Schmidt, David Beers, William M. Wilson. Adam Koogler, Simon B. Carey and John Tomlinson, all Master Masons. met and resolved that an application should be made for a charter to the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Thereupon. a petition to that effect was prepared and signed by the above-named brethren, and subsequently by John Sweetzer, R. D. Oldfield and A. W. Sanford. This application was recommended by Ward Lodge, No. 24, of Piqua, Ohio, and July 24, 1847, a dispensation was issued to the above-named brethren by George Keiffer, D. G. M. of the Grand Lodge, Bro. W. M. Wilson to be first W. M.; John Tomlinson, S. W., and Adam Koogler, J. W. On the 20th of October, 1847, a charter was duly signed and sealed by the Most Worshipful Master of the Grand Lodge. to the brethren above named, constituting

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them the Greenville Lodge, No. 143. F. and A. M. The following tabular statement shows who have filled the office of Worshipful Master in the lodge since the date of the charter : W. M. Wilson, 1847 to 1849 ; John Tomlinson, 1849 to 1850, and 1851 to 1858 ; 0. A. Lyman, 1850 to 1851 ; W. C. Porterfield, 1858 to 1859 ; Moses Hart. 1859 to 1860 ; C. G. Matchett, 1860 to 1861, 1865 and to 1872, 1873 to 1875 ; L. S. B. Otwell, 1861 to 1865 ; F. E. Manes, 1872 to 1873 ; A. J. Arnold, 1875 to 1879, and M. F. Allen, 1879. The present number of members is ninety-four. This lodge is one of the most flourishing and best furnished in the United States.

Greenville Chapter, No. 77, was chartered October 17, 1857. It is one of the best-working and most prosperous chapters in the country. It has eighty-seven members. The following presents, in order of service since the date of the char- ter' the names of those who have officiated as High Priest : W. M. Wilson, 1857 to first election ; A. P. Gorsuch, December, 1857, to 1861: E. B. Putnam, 1861 to 1865 ; C. G. Matchett, one year ; W. H. Matchett, 1866 to 1870 ; Mr. Gorsuch, one year ; C. G. Matchett, one year ; E. J. Hickcox, 1872 to 1873 ; W. H. Matchett, three years ; C. G. Matchett, 1876 to 1878, and W. H. Matchett, 1878. and yet presiding.

Greenville Council was chartered in October, 1878. C. G. Matchett. T. I. M. ; G. D. Farrar, D. M., and A. J. Arnold, C. O, W.

Education in Greenville at an early day received but little attention. There were schools in churches and other localities by various persons. Two ordinary brick houses were built about 1839 or 1840. Some desired to unite effort and build one good house, but this was overruled. and two buildings were erected. One stood on the lot numbered 13. granted by the county in lieu of the lot sold by the Commissioners by mistake. These lots were sold a few years since. Of the teachers were John Talbert, John Beers, H. D. Williams. persons who. according to method prevailing, taught three-months winter schools. In 1851. the first effort was made to grade the Greenville school by Ebenezer Bishop. who was employed at $400 a year to take general charge of the school. This eflbrt was only partially successful, and the schools were afterward organized in four grades, and for a number of years were successfully conducted under A. T. Bodle, L. S. B. Otwell, F. Matchett (now deceased) and G. H. Martz, all efficient teachers. Mr. Mays, o1 Troy, Ohio, was afterward employed as Superintendent, the school was graded, and has been conducted as a graded school in charge of a superintendent to date. J. W. Legg, of Van Wert; William T. Wallace, of Columbus ; Alexander Miller, deceased ; J. W. Muck, E. J. Macomber, J. S. Wilson and J. T. Martz have respectively superintended the same, and the school has had a constant growth in numbers and efficiency. The Greenville High School was organized in 1868. Henry Gunder, Superintendent of the public schools of North Manchester. Ind., was the first teacher. He is a self-made man, is thorough in his explanations and practical in their application. G. S. Harter, now a teacher in the Dayton High School, had charge of the Greenville High School for four years, and though he had but little experience in teaching when he assumed the responsible position, by perseverance, diligence and strict attention to his schoolroom duties, he soon established himself as a successful teacher.

In August, 1862, being then only sixteen, Mr. Harter enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served through the war. In the battle of the Wilderness, in the spring of 1864, he was taken prisoner by the rebels, and for four months suffered the horrors of Andersonville, and for three months more those of Florence Prison. Upon his liberation on December 7, 1864, he was found reduced to a living skeleton by exposure and starvation, and was sent home to die. Under careful medical treatment he recovered, returned to his regiment, and, in June following, was mustered out of the service. His education was obtained in a two years' course at Heidelberg College, Tiffin, and a five years course at Western Reserve College. Hudson, Ohio. from which latter

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institution he graduated in the summer of 1875. He is a close student, and is devoted to his profession. E. B. Seitz, now Professor of Mathematics in the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo., had charge of the mathematical department of the Greenville High School for several years, and was a member of the Board of County School Examiners during this time. He took a mathematical course in the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, leaving that institution in the summer of 1870, and has been following the profession of teaching since that time. Mr. Seitz possesses very superior mathematical talent ; has a special fondness for this branch of study, and has already taken rank as one of the very finest mathematicians of the State, for we still claim him. He is, moreover, a contributor to the leading mathematical journals of the country, among them the Analyst, the Mathematical Visitor, and the Educational Times,, of London, England. He is a close student, a fine reasoner, and perfectly at home in the mathematical and scientific, as well as the astronomical field.

C. H. Frizell, one of the present teachers in the High School, was born in the town of Greenville. His father was Colonel of the Eleventh and Ninety-fourth Regiments Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Our teacher's parents are both dead. He entered the Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Md., but, his health failing, he was compelled to resign his position. His education was principally obtained in the school which he is now teaching, and the facilities there offered enabled him to obtain a thorough knowledge of the sciences and mathematics, as well as a familiar knowledge of the Latin and German languages. He is thorough and practical in his teaching. mild but firm in his methods of government, and has secured the confidence and esteem of his pupils.

H. L. Frank, also teacher in the high school, was born in Darke County Having a desire to obtain a good education. he repaired to Otterbein University, at Westerville. Ohio, and completed a six-years classical course, graduating with honors in June, 1876. He has taken a complete course in mathematics and the languages. is a good scientific and classical scholar, and is familiar with the branches he teaches. He was promoted from a lower grade in the Greenville school to his present position, and has sustained himself in both grades.

The Greenville High School was organized in 1868. It now enrolls over one hundred pupils, and is in a prosperous condition. The room is furnished with ninety-eight single seats and desks for pupils, two teachers' desks and an organ which cost $175. It is the largest and best furnished school room in the county. Of the pupils attending, sixty-two studied United States history ; ten physiology ; nine. physical geography ; fifteen, natural philosophy ; twenty, German ; thirty- two, algebra ; fifteen, geometry ; eight, trigonometry ; seventeen, Latin ; two, Greek ; thirteen, Constitution of the United States ; ten, chemistry ; eleven, geology : ten, botany ; eight, book-keeping ; ten, surveying ; thirteen, astronomy, and two. meteorology. The school building was completed in 1868. It covers an area of twenty-four and one-half square rods, is three stories high, contains seventeen rooms exclusive of the basement, the laboratory and Superintendent's room. The building contains over seven hundred and twenty-three thousand bricks, and was erected at a cost of $25,000, exclusive of heating apparatus and gas fixtures. The basement contains the coatroom, janitor's workroom and furnace and boiler. The entire building is heated by steam supplied from this boiler, which is twenty- six feet in length, four feet in diameter, and contains a capacity of seventy barrels of water. The heating apparatus has not given general satisfaction, because of the want of proper arrangement Of the heating surface, and the school board has been at a heavy expense yearly in increasing the heating surface, and making the necessary repairs. Citizens have also objected to the location of the boiler in the basement of the building, deeming it unsafe ; and the intention is to remove it at the close of the present school year. The laboratory contains over $500 worth of philosophical and chemical apparatus, and the Board of Education has placed in the library the Revised American Encyclopedia, and Webster's Unabridged

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Pictorial Dictionary, at a cost of $104. The rooms are supplied with the necessary globes, outline limps, charts, cubical blocks. etc., and the school is in a prosperous condition. Within the past year. the board has placed a neat. substantial iron fence around the school lot, at an expense of $1.975. while the lot. containing over four acres of ground, has been set in costly shade trees. making it thereby both pleasant and attractive to the pupils. At present, there are fourteen grades in the school, with a total enrollment of 900 pupils. Many non-resident students avail themselves of our school facilities, and the tuition paid into the treasury from this source has been over $2.50 per year, exclusive of the amount received from the normal school.

The average cost of running the school one year maybe summed up as follows : General expenses, including janitor's salary and his fuel. $1.313 ; coal, for furnace, $460.70 ; salary of seventeen teachers. $7.365 ; total cost of school one year, $9,138.70.

The building and grounds are in charge of Harvey Tucker, the janitor. who is also the engineer. n'e is a practical workman, diligent and careful in the discharge of his duties, is an ingenious mechanic : makes the erasers as well as the blackboards in the school building, and thus saves the board many items of expense. His salary is $40 per month, with his house rent and wood furnished. The Board of Education has also provided a fund which furnishes books for those pupils whose parents are unable, financially. to get the same. and thus no child is deprived of the advantages of education which the school affords.

The Greenville Board of Education consists of six members. L. E. Chenoweth, the President, is a young attorney of marked ability. His father is a resident of Washington Township, this county ; is one of its pioneer settlers and has been a Justice of the Peace for many years. At the breaking-out of the rebellion in the spring of 1861, Mr. Chenoweth, though attending school at the time, resolved in his own mind that his first duty was to his country. and, with fourteen students of the same school, offered his services to the Government. He enlisted as a private in Company E, Sixty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and, by meritorious conduct, was promoted to First Lieutenant, and to Captain of Company I, Sixty-ninth Regiment, after which promotion he was appointed Assistant Acting Quartermaster of the Second Brigade, First Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, on the staff of Brig. Gen. George P. Buell, and, at the close of the war, was honorably discharged from the service. He married Miss Effy, second daughter of Noah Arnold, Esq., a wealthy farmer of the county, who has also been mentioned as one of the first teachers in the county. Mr. Chenoweth acted as agent for a school-furniture company, knows the wants of the schoolroom, for he, also, has followed the profession of teaching, and supplies the same so far as it is practicable.

Daniel Henne. Clerk of the Board, is a native of Germany, and emigrated to this country in 1857, locating near Hamilton, Ohio. At that time he had little of this world's goods, but he was not ashamed to work, and engaged himself to a farmer at monthly wages. By diligence and economy he had saved $867 in six years. In 1863, he returned to Germany, and stayed there two years, at the end of which time he returned to his employer near Hamilton, engaging to work for him at $26 per month, when other hands were getting only $13. In 1867, he came to Greenville, married Miss Anna Weitbrecht, and went into business in the fall of the same year. By close attention to business, he has accumulated property which places him in easy circumstances, and, as a grain merchant, during the past year, has been remarkably successful in applying the chancres of the markets to his own advantage. He buys and sells about four hundred loads of crrain annually ; loading 800 bushels of oats to the car ; 470 bushels of wheat, and'500 bushels of corn. He is a practical business man, and has a good education in German. He has been Clerk of the School Board five years ; has been Township Treasurer three years, being re-elected to both offices by increased majorities, and as an officer his acts give general satisfaction.

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Jahugh Compton. Treasurer of the Board, was born in Greene County, and is one of the first business men of Greenville. He has been a member of the School Board since 18,62. and has a thorough knowledge of the practical workings of the school. Under his official notice, he has seen the school grow from four to fourteen grades : assisted officially in condemning the present school lot, and was active in taking the initiatory steps which resulted in the erection of the present commodious school building. He has always favored those enterprises which inure to the public benefit. He is a practical business man, acts from a sense of duty. and is always found advocating those measures that tend to advance the interests of the school and community. D. S. Heim is one of our practical business men, is systematic in his work, prudent and sound in judgment, and a warm friend of education. He has lived in Darke County since 1839, and has been a resident of Greenville twelve years. ten years of that time being spent in public business. As a member of the School Board. he is careful, prudent and consistent. His acts met with public approval, and lie was re-elected by a largely increased majority. W. I. Todd has been a member of the Board of Education for four years, and has been in public business during the greater part of the time he has resided in Greenville. Daring the late war, lie was one of those who heeded the call of his country, and enlisted in the Eighth Ohio Battery. in 1862. He became Quartermaster of this Iatterc. and remained in the service three years and three months. More than one year of this time was spent at Vicksburg, and he was also stationed at Natchez and Yazoo City. Mr. Todd was attentive to his duties while in the service, and was honorably discharged. He is a successful business man. appreciates education. is in favor of furnishing those facilities necessary to conduct the school successfully. and his views relative to educational matters secured his last election by a vote five times as great as his competitor. M. T. Allen is the youngest member of the Board of Education. and was elected by a handsome majority. He was born in Darke County. received a common-school education, but having a desire for a more extended education. he repaired to Otterbein University. at Westerville, Ohio, where he remained as a student for one and a half years ; he then attended a school at Dayton for one term. after which he taught school for several years, and read law & frim. this time. in l869, he commenced the practice of law in Winchester, Ind. He finally came to Greenville in the spring of 1872. commenced the practice of law. and has continued in the profession to the present time. Mr. Allen is a man of fine personal appearance, easy address, and fluent in speech. He has a good knowledge of law. is attentive and persistent in protecting the interests. of his client. and is a successful practitioner. Having been a teacher himself, he has a practical knowledge of the wants of the schoolroom, and seems to comprehend what is necessary in order that the school may move along harmoniously. He is a practical business man, favors all those enterprises that will result beneficially to the public. and his election was secured by cause of the interest he has manifested in the successful carrying-on of the school here. He acts in complete harmony with the other members of the board, and this cannot but result beneficially.

In addition to the high school mentioned, the Preparatory High School Grade is taught by James H. Woodbury. In this grade, some of the high school branches are begun, and the pupils prepared, by thorough drill and examination, for the higher grade. Mr. Woodbury is a practical teacher, a thorough disciplinarian. and his pupils make that progress in their studies that is commendable to both teacher and pupil. Frank M. White has charge of the " A" Grammar Grade. He has had five years' employment in the school. He labors under a great disadvantage, in having lost both of his arms, and using artificial substitutes ; but his teaching is thorough, his government is mild but firm, and his pupils soon learn to respect and love him. He is also a member of the County Board of School Examiners, having served in that capacity about eight months. Estevan Lawrence is teacher of the " B " Grammar Grade ; this is his first year's experience

432 - HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.

as a teacher in the Greenville School. He is a cripple, being injured in one of his limbs, and walks at a great disadvantage, but his pupils respect him ; he is thorough in his explanations, an experienced teacher of vocal music. and a graduate in bookkeeping and commercial arithmetic. In addition to his grade, he has charge of the commercial department of the high school, and pupils receive a thorough drill in this department. James B. Robinson has charge of the " C Grammar Grade, and this is his second year's experience as teacher in the Greenville School. and was a student at Otterbein University, Westerville. He also teaches a class in physiology, from the high school, and has taken special pains to illustrate the subject practically by a skeleton and chart. His teachings in this department. as well as in his own proper grade, have been quite successful. He makes his teaching plain, nothing is passed until it is thoroughly understood, and pupils need not. in a higher grade, review the studies passed over here. Mr. Robinson is a practical chemist, having had charge of a drug store for a number of years. He thoroughly understands vocal music, and is a practical business man. Miss Maggie C. Mead has charge of the A " Grade, Intermediate Department, and has been a teacher in the school nine successive years. She is a good disciplinarian. thorough and systematic in her teaching ; her pupils are orderly and respectful. and her room is governed with seemingly little effort on her part. She is quiet in the schoolroom, and her pupils imitate her in this respect. Her motto is, - A quiet teacher insures a quiet school." She requires thoroughness on the part of her pupils, and will not recommend promotion to a higher grade without being satisfied that the pupil can sustain himself in that grade. Mrs. Sarah K. Hetzler has charge of the " B" Intermediate Grade, and is teaching her seventh successive year in the school. She is a widow, and supports herself and three children by her own industry. As a teacher, she has given general satisfaction, and her pupils are required to understand a subject well before an advance is made. The " C " Intermediate Grade is taught by Miss Kate Schmermund. who has been employed for eight successive years. She has sustained herself well in her grade. is a good disciplinarian, and order and system prevail in her room. The study- of geography is begun in this grade ; it is taught by topic. and, while the study- is new to the pupils, they soon become interested in all their studies. Miss Lizzie McKennan has charge of the " A " Primary Grade, this being her first year. She is a member of the graduating class of 1880, received her education in the Greenville School, is a good scholar, and, as a teacher, has given entire satisfaction. She has not only taught her grade this year, but has also kept along in her studies. reciting iii the morning and evening, and thus, by industry and perseverance, has completed the high school course of study with her class. Miss Sarah White has had charge of the "B " Primary Grade for five successive years. This grade is necessarily large, but the best of order prevails in the room. She is prompt and systematic in her methods of instruction, teaching her pupils the necessity and importance of being quiet and orderly in the schoolroom. The pupils in this grade make very commendable progress. Miss Mary E. Allen has charge of the" C " Primary Grade. She has been a teacher in the Greenville School for eight successive years. She had charge of the Primary Grade before it was divided. She is kind and attentive to small children, careful in her methods of instruction, requiring her pupils to give the elementary sounds of letters, speak the words correctly, and observe the rules of reading taught to primary pupils. Mrs. Lucinda Ratliff has charge of the " D " Primary Grade. Here the pupils receive their first lessons in schoolroom duties. Writing, lettering, figures, letters and words on the slate and blackboard is required of the pupil ; object lessons are taught, together with the first principles of reading. New pupils are constantly being introduced in this room, and the grade is difficult to teach successfully. Mrs. Ratliff is particularly adapted to this kind of work, and has given morel satisfaction as teacher. She has been employed for five successive years. arials doing a good work in her department. Miss Anna Stallman has charge of

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the German Primary Department. She is a graduate from the Greenville High School. and during the first year of her teaching, she continued her studies and graduated with her class at the close of the year. She teaches the English classes in the German and English department, alternating with the teacher in the charge of the two rooms. She has good executive ability, is mild but firm in her government. and, as teacher, gives general satisfaction. Louis Hoffman is the teacher of the German and English Department, and teaches the classes in German from the high school. He has taught ten years in the Greenville School, and understands vocal music, which he teaches to his pupils successfully. Mr. Hoffman is versed in several languages, and teaches the German in two grades. Vocal music is taught in all grades daily. This department is in charge of J. A. Porter, formerly employed in the schools of Galion, Ohio. He is also a teacher of instrumental music. In May, 1873, thirteen teachers were employed, and in June, 1878. seventeen. The enrollment for the latter year was 894. Of these, 465 were males and 429 females. The enrollment in the high school was 156. The average monthly enrollment was a total of 684 ; of these, 95 were enrolled in the high school. The average daily attendance was 621 ; of these, 88 were enrolled in the high school. The per cent of attendance was 93 in the high school, and 91 in the other grades. Tuition received from non-residents is an item of revenue to the district. Five commencements have been held since the high school was organized. The names of graduates are as follows:

Class of 1873—A. C. Lindermuth, George Gunder. E. L. Matchett and Florence Lansdowne (Matchett died August 5, 1877, and Lansdowne November 30, 1874). Amelia Corker. Allie Smith. Mary E. Roland. Lizzie McAlpine, Kate Hicks and May Lynch. Class of 1875—Emma Kelin, Victoria Lindermuth and Mollie Mitchell (since died). Class of 1876—Charles Roland, Allie McNeal, Ida Lynch and Sadie McCune. Class of 1877—Ella Ault. Flora Meeker, Minnie Garber, A. ('. Robeson. Delia Klinger. Clara Roland, Anna Stallmann, C. E. Porterfield. Class of 1878—Rollin F. Crider. Frank D. Meeker, Sadie Meeker. Henry T. Miller, I )ems Martin. Estella Dunlap, and the graduating class of 1880 are Leona Shade. Ada Lindsey. Callie Bettimer, Lizzie McKeman. Ammon Mider, Allie Judy. D. L. Gaskill and J. H. Martz.

The ecclesiastical history of Greenville is really to a great extent that of the county. since from the city have gone forth the elements of outside organization. The Presbyterians seem to have perfected an organization as early as February 14. 1821, when the following-named persons signed a call for the formation of a corporate body : L. Bascom. James Craig, William L. Wilson, John Craig, William McKhann. Jesse McGinnis, John Armstrong, John Devor, Benjamin Murphy, David Fisher. John McFarland. William Clark. John Beers, Robert Hood, James Buchanan, Heman L. Aiken. Stephen Perrine, William Martin, David Irwin, James Devor, A. Scribner, Eastin Norris, James Stevenson (senior and junior), H. McCune, George I. Isham, Erastus Putnam, John Miller, William Lipe, Thomas Stokeley, Charles Steward, George W. Hight and John Briggs. Agreeably to legal notice, the above-named met at the house of Linus Bascom on March 10, 1821, and elected Eastin Norris Clerk, and for Trustees Benjamin Murphy, William Martin and Linus Bascom. and they also placed the organization on record as the Greenville Presbyterian Society." September 9, 1825, a congregation collected at the house of Benjamin Murphy for the purpose of being organized into a church. The Rev. John Ross officiated, and,. having concluded religious exercises, he set apart Benjamin Murphy and Linus Bascom as Elders, and Robert Robinson was re-elected as Elder. John Ross commenced preaching in 1825, and remained with the congregation till 1831. In 1833, the society, at a called meeting, detached a portion of their number living in Adams Township to form the Mount Pleasant Church, now the Gettysburg Presbyterian, whose first Pastor was Rev. Isaac Ogden. The society at Greenville did not have regular preaching for some time previous to October. 1841. when Alexander Gulick was installed Pastor,

434 - HISTORY DRAKE COUNTY.

and divided his time between the two societies named. remaining two years. November 31. 1844. Rev. Badeau was engaged. and served four years. May 12, 1849. Rev. John A. Weeks commenced preaching, and was succeeded in 1853 by Rev. R. M. McCullough, who was Pastor but one year. Rev. Orlando Clark was secured for the year 1857. Two years later. D. B. Wycoff served six months. previous to departure for India as a missionary. In June. 1860. Rev. C. B. H Martin became Pastor, and served a year very acceptably. Next came John W Drake. from 1862 to August. 1865. H. A. Newell to 1868. an excellent speaker easy of bearing and portly in person. The society received its greatest stimulus during his pastorate, either before or since. John S. Gourlay. a talented man preached for a year or so, then. on April 7. 1872, J. C. Eastman was invited to occupy the pulpit as a temporary supply. and remained from that time until April. 1880.

The Second Presbyterian Church was formed June 21, 1843, and continued its existence until the year 1865. when. February 21, the elders of this and the other church met. and, after a full consultation, passed the following resolution, to be presented to their respective congregations : Resolved, 1. That we unite with the Old School Presbytery, and take the First Church for a house of worship. the united church to make a call for a Pastor.

Both congregations unanimously acceded to these propositions. and the united societies met February 2,8, and formally agreed upon the union of their interests. On May S. 1865, an election of a Board of Trustees was held. and James B. Avery was Chairman and William Kerr, Clerk. The election resulted in the choice of James B. Avery. A. Gaskill, M. Creager. Stephen Baird, Charles Tate and David B. John. April 6, 1877, the membership actual was 182 the Sabbath school membership was 166 ; amount contributed for Pastor's salary, parsonage and other objects, was $2,914. A year later, there were 210 members. The statistical report for the year ending April 12,1880, is in part as follows : Whole membership. 185 contributions, $1.416.83 ; number in school, 169.

St. Paul's Pt9testaut Episcopal Chu rch dates from the year 1832. In that year. Rev. Alva Guion, recently located at Piqua, visited Greenville to address the people on the importance of sustaining a Sunday school, and of establishing a library of religious books for children. This was done, although at this time, there was not an Episcopalian in the village. In the spring of 1833, Rev. Guion. on visit, was pleased to find a convert in the person of Mrs. Eliza A. Briggs. In 1835. an article of association was drawn up and circulated in Greenville, twelve persons subscribed their names to it, and in 1836, nine more were added. and the next spring the number was increased to twenty-five. The following is a copy of the article, and of the names attached, May 29, 1837 : " We, whose names are herewith affixed, do hereby associate ourselves together under the name of the Parish of St. Paul's Church : John and Eliza A. Briggs. W. B. and Mary A. Beall, Jane E. Ross, Evaline Dorsey, Margaret Kilbourne, Daniel R. and Ann B. Davis, Margaret Baird, Joseph R'oss, Thomas F. Kilbourne, Stephen Perrine, W. M Wilson. Eliza Duncan, Elisha Dawes, Hiram Potter. Francis Waring. William M. Crane, William McKhann; A. L. Northrop, John Wharry, H. Arnold. H. D. Williams and Chloe Herkeiner."

Pursuant to canonical notice, members assembled May 29. 1837, at the dwelling of Dr. John Briggs, to organize a parish, and the following names were elected to the Vestry : John Briggs, W. B. Beall, Thomas F. Kilbourne, Joseph Ross and A. L. Northrop. A building committee was chosen January 13, 1840, which consisted of William M. Wilson, W. B. Beall and Hiram Potter. In due time,' the building was erected, completed and properly furnished. Upon its site, on the northwest corner of Third and Walnut streets, on the site of the present new chapel, the pioneer church stood until 1879 or 1880, a period of forty years. From 1840 to 1852, N. Badger, of Troy, J. J. Okill, J. W. Talford, William Miller and Rev. Wiggins officiated at regular intervals. In 1846, nine persons were

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confirmed by Rt. Rev. C. P. Mcllvaine. In 1851, Daniel E. Brown became Rector,. and maintained that relation to St. Paul's Parish until 1860. May, 17, 1855, fourteen persons were confirmed. Up to March 23, 1868, confirmations were forty-three, J. N. Lee became Rector, November 17, 1860, and served until November 30, 1862. From this date until 1866, there was no regular minister. Rev. J. H. McElray then served a year, when there was an interval until January, 1871, when Richard Wainwright was installed Rector, succeeded by George B. Sturgis, who closed connection with the church July, 1874. The present incumbent is Rev. David W. Cox, in charge since 1877. The new church is of recent construction, and as said, occupies the old site of the pioneer structure. The membership is about forty. The Sabbath School Superintendents between 1832 and 1853 were Mrs. E. Briggs and Evaline Dorsey. Later, the school was conducted several years by B. Hubbard, until 1859. Mr. Webb is now in charge. The school attendance is sixty.

The Methodist Episcopal Church began the construction of a house in 1835, and its location was determined by the following circumstance ; Isaac Jay, a Quaker, identified himself with the Methodists, and himself determined to buy the present church lot, the northwest half of No. 5, in Greenville, and upon it to erect a suitable building. He was induced to make the purchase from impressions made by a dream, in which he saw sheep encompassed by wolves make a successful stand at this site--then a thicket of thorn bushes. He paid $40 for the site, then owned by Hiram and John- C. Potter, and received a deed February 22, 1835. In 1836, the meeting-house was completed, under the supervision as building committee, of Mr. Jay, William Oliver, C. Martin. William Folkerth, William W. Jordan, .Jacob Chenoweth and Hiram Bell, at a cost of $600. There was a debt of $70, which was discharged by each member of the committge paying $10. A revival, adding thirty-seven to the church, followed the completion of the house.. The Methodist Episcopal parsonage of Fourth street was purchased in the fall of 1848 ; Rev. Harmount being its first occupant. in 1852, the frame church was sold to William .J. Bireley. for $50 and subscriptions were taken for the purpose of Building a brick church. estimated to cost $5.000. The sum of $2,000, only part of which was paid. having been subscribed, work began but was greatly retarded by lack of means. Finally, $1,500 was borrowed, and the work completed. In 1869. Greenville was made a station with one appointment. Isaac Newton, Pastor, drew large congregations. and much interest was shown. James H. Alderman was in charge next ; then .Jacob Feghtby, sometimes called the " quiet brother." During his stay the organ was first introduced into the church, with strong opposition from aged members. In 1864. Fielding L. Harper began work, but in consequence of ill-health, discontinued work. and soon after died. Charles Reynolds was in charge in 1865, followed next year by Henry E. Pilcher. The parsonage was sold for $800, and another on the same street purchased for $2,500. Rev. L. C. Webster preached in 1867-68. and Joseph Ayers. whose term of service expired with the latter year. was the Presiding Elder. The new parsonage was exchanged for another on the same street, the Trustees receiving $700 in addition to the same. The Sabbath-school was prosperous ; monthly concerts were held, and 200 children attended. During 1868, 1869 and 1870, Amos Wilson was preacher in charge. and Joseph Wyoks. Presiding Elder. Next came H. S. Bradley, and, in 1871, Rev. A. Berry was appointed to this charge, and remained three years. From the fall of 1874 to that of 1877. Rev. A. J. Fish was Pastor, during whose time the church was dedicated by Rev. A. Marine, now of Fort Wayne, Ind. The church membership reached 161. There was not a death during the year. Rev. M. L. Albright came in the fall of 1877. and remained two years. The present Pastor, Rev. J. A. Ferguson. is in charge. Since the dedication in 1875, considerable improvements have been made at a cost of $6,900. The bell donated by William Allen, has a weight of 1,525 pounds. The building stands on the east side of Sycamore street. between Third and Fourth streets. The present actual membership is 200.

436 - HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.

The Christian Church was organized January 3, 1841, by Elders Elijah Williamson, John B. Robertson, Hallet Barber and Elisha Ashley. At a regular meeting held July 31, various matters were adduced. among which was a resolution to attach the church to the Western (Bluffton) Conference. It seems that in October 15, 1833, Lot No. 23 was deeded by Solomon Riffle and wife to William Martin, John Swisher, Alexander Craig, David Potter and John N. Parcell, for the use and benefit of the first Christian Church that might be organized in the town of Greenville, for the purpose of erecting thereon a meeting-house. A house was erected and at the time whereof we write the society by right took into possession house and lot. The members increased in seven months from ten to eighty-eight, and the Pastors in order up to August. 1841, were Elders J. B. Robertson. H. Barber, D. Purviance. L. Purviance, E. Ashley. I. Trenton and E. Williamson. The first Christian Church was incorporated January 21. 1842. In 1857. there were sixty-one additions, and August 25. 1859, there were 114 members. John Stephenson and John Van Meter were appointed Deacons August 1. 1846 ; Elder Williamson was chosen Pastor for one year from July 31. 1847. In April following, steps were taken toward the erection of a brick meeting-house. The old house was sold March 7, 1849, for $105. The Episcopalians allowed the society the temporary use of their house till their own could be built. August 10, 1854, Elder Marvin was Pastor. who. having resigned in 1856, Elder H. K. McConnell was invited to the pastorate, and was employed for 1857 and 1858. From this time a decadence set in, and in time but few members remained. On April 6, 1874, it was stated that besides Rev. McConnell, M. Palmer and Elder McWhinney were the only ministers to that date who had preached and labored for the society.

Evangelical Church.—Originally the Greenville appointment belonged to the Miami Circuit, Ohio Conference. At first, there was no regular preaching. but ministers visited this section from Dayton, Cincinnati and other places, and preached in private houses. A small class was formed in 1842. Peter Roth, afterward minister on this circuit, became the leader. Among members of the class were M. Kline, Renssellaer, Leetz and Koenig. The present church, a medium-sized brick structure, with a seating capacity of about three hundred, is located on the southeast corner of Fourth and Ash streets, was the first one built. The work was done in 1858, and the sermon of dedication was preached by Bishop Long, Revs. Platz being Presiding Elder, and B. Rush. circuit preacher. Indebtedness was paid off at this time, and later a comfortable parsonage was erected on the same lot. The following have been Presiding Elders from 1842 until the present : Revs. Censor, Schaffer. Kopp, Fry, Dreisbach, Platz, Fisher, Myer, Fuchs, Krueger and Baumgartner. The preachers have been Abraham Schaffer, Philip Por, Eli Kliplinger, Lewis Einsel, Jacob Keiper, John Hoffman, John G. Censor, B. Rush, Peter Roth, John Nikolai, C. Glans, B. Uphaus, George Holley, Peter Getz. Christian Heim, A. E. Dreisbach, Ph. Schwartz, Charles Schamo, George Nolpert, Edward Evans, E. R. Troyer, Reuben Reigel, George Klepper E. R. Troyer, E. T. Hochsletler and F. Lanner. Greenville has not yet been made a station, but is still an appointment, with preaching once in two weeks. The membership of the circuit is 243, and of the town is 28.

German Methodist.—The first preaching in Greenville by a minister of this denomination was by Rev. William Floerke, October 2. 1852, who remained two years. Services were held in dwellings. Some of the original members of the society were J. W. Fischbach, Charles Bittermire, Charles Klarig, Loveroy, Klarig, Fred Steinramp and J. G. Martine. The second minister was J. A. Schmeremund, under whose administration the present church was built in 1855, at a cost of about $900. The parsonage was bought for $350 in 1857. It has been materially enlarged and improved. The lot. the site of church and parsonage, is located on Ash street. between Main and Water streets. The entire property is valued at $2,500. The Sabbath school was established in 1850. and has been

HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY - 437

kept up ever since. There has also been regular preaching. The membership is small. Old members have died, new ones have moved away. The proportion of English-speaking Methodists has increased, and there is little numerical gain. It forms a part of the German Central Conference. Presiding Eldere have been William Ahrens. M. Collander, J. A. Kline, Conrad Ghau, Jacob Rothweiler, G. C. Fritche, E. Reimschneider and L. Olinger. The pastors of this congregation have been from the first as follows : William Floerke, J. A. Schmeremund, William Ahrens, Conrad Bier, Charles Helwig, Henry Fuess, Paul Brodbeck, F. Severinghaus. John Leppert, L. Dunker, Jacob Gabler. Adam Weber, John Ficker.

The German Reformed Church.—St. Paul's congregation. The division of the Dallas charge by detaching the congregations of Beamsville and Gettysburg. gave rise to the organization of a central congregation on a new charge. In September. 1864, the Rev. T. P. Bucher, of Dayton, preached in Greenville, in the Old School Presbyterian Church, to a large congregation. Revs. W. McCaughey and A. Wanner preached here subsequently. Sufficient interest seems to have been awakened to provide for the formation of a society, and, September 19,1864, this was effected. Six members of the German Reformed Church were present at the meeting. and the names of five others were presented. The following names were entered—Philip Hartzell and wife, Mrs. Clem Barthing, S. Creager, Mrs. E. C. Baer and Mrs. Margaret Webb.. The meeting was held in the dwelling of Mrs. Barthing. On March 12, 1866, Rev. W. McCaughey was still Pastor. A month or so later, a building committee was appointed, and, in September, the church owned by the Christians was rented for six months from October 14. November 1,1866, the Committee on Location reported a lot on the corner of Third and Vine streets. owned by John Harper. In the spring of 1869, the church became very dilapidated, and the house of the Old School Presbyterians was purchased for $1000 cash. The funds were secured by borrowing $3,600 of Mr. Alter, of Cincinnati. but owing to the desire of the Presbyterians to wait for the union of the two schools. action was delayed. In February, 1870, the property was sold at auction. to Turpen. Benham & Co. The Harper lot was sold, and a purchase made of part of a lot from Dr. T. J. Kindlesberger, for $1,000, on May 30, 1870. Church building was pushed, and. in 1874, the new St. Paul's Reform Church was dedicated. The Pastor. Rev. W. McCaughey, was assisted by Rev. David Winters, D. D.. of Dayton. and others. The entire cost of the building was about $5,400. In speaking of it a local paper said : The church, a model of neatness and beauty, is pronounced the finest in the county, will comfortably seat about three hundred persons. is well ventilated, and is heated by a furnace. The walls and ceiling are beautifully frescoed, the design and finish of the windows really imposing, the pulpit tastefully constructed, the aisles carpeted, and the congregation have the handsomest house of worship in the town." The first communion season in the new church was held February 16. 1873. Rev. McCaughey, who had been with the church since its origin, tendered his resignation and preached his final sermon on the evening of September 6, 1874. The pulpit was for a time supplied by R. B. Reichard, who, resigning in the fall of 1876, was succeeded by Jesse Steimer, who came in the spring of 1879. and remained till the fall of 1879.

January 1, 1880, Rev. Samuel Mere, D. D.. assumed the pastorate, and is the incumbent. The membership is now about seventy-five. The Sabbath school connected with this church was organized in the spring of 1867, and numbers fifty-five.

The Baptists had an organization at Greenville at an early day, and erected a frame church, but it has gone down.

The United Brethren had a church prior to the war, which was sold at auction, and bought by Prof. Martz, and used as schoolhouse ; then sold to Catholics about 1862, who greatly improved it.

The Catholics have a popular and faithful priest, and here, as elsewhere, that ancient society gains ground.

It is notable in the foregoing history of the city that few persons are found

438 - HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.

constantly in the foreground of very prominent interest, social, financial, educational and religious, while their following is stanch and confident. In this we may learn the influence of energy, wealth and public spirit in developing and making attractive a village or a city. Greenville has fine buildings, private and public. Her interests are in safe hands, and the city offers many inducements to a residence there ; not alone in the sociability of the citizens, but in the influences of public institutions and prevalence of progressive and elevating tendencies.