200 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. Regiment National Guard, and which was located at Washington C. H. being called into the service. Company E was sent to Columbus to drill, and was finally mustered into the service of the United States, all but sixteen passing the military test upon their government examination. The original officers and men in this company were as follows : Captain, William Vincent ; first lieutenant, Charles 0. Updyke; second lieutenant, J. M. Fugate; first sergeant, Charles Stugden ; sergeants, 0. E. Hardway, Elmer Vincent, Charles Sexton, Norman McDonald; corporals, L. A. Jones, Robert Bonham, Bert Creamer, D. R. Duncan, John Gillum; musicians, Walter Paul, William Eyer ; armorer ; Charles Jarnigan; privates, Allen Allebaugh, William C. Armstrong, Ed S. Bell, William L. Bird, William F. Becker, William A. Basley, William J. Carr, E. Conway, J. W. Cook, Mack Clayton, Johnson Cubbage, Mike Creamer, Scott Cook, N. W. Davis, Pete Dempsey, H. D. Fandall, Frank Ford, Charles E. Figgins, Willis S. Gray, Howard Harley, Ross Hart, A. J. Hardy, Hirt Judy, Martin Judy, Wade Keaton, Cary Kimley, Frank Lee, Robert Marine, R. W. Marine, A. E. Marine, Arthur McKinley, Charles McCartney, Samuel Minshall, Harry McCormick, H. C. Marquett, J. H. Mitchner, John Nixon, Robert Pratt, Ellis, Lon Stevenson, Alex. Sharist, A. Shingles, Garland Slonaker, Frank Smith, Frank Sammons, E. L. Taylor, James Tincture, Jerome Taylor, Lawrence Updyke, John Vangurdy, Burton Vincent, Watson Walters, Sherman Wolf, B. F. Whited, A. W. Wilt, N. J. Coffman, Elwert Coffman, John Robbs, Sherman Reeder. After being finally mustered into the United States service, this company was sent first to Chickamauga and later went to Porto Rico. On the conclusion of hostilities the company was discharged and welcomed home, being riven a grand reception by the citizens. HERO IN TWO WARS. The only Mexican War soldier residing in Fayette county in 1913 was B. F. Jacob, aged ninety years, who lived with his son near Parrott's Station. In addition to having served in the Mexican War from 1846 to 1848, he was also a soldier in the Civil War for three years, and was lieutenant in the Forty-fourth Ohio Regiment of Infantry. Up to the age of eighty years, he had never had a doctor call on him for medical treatment. In 1913 he took part in the encampment of Ohio soldiers at Washington C. H. and appeared hale and hearty. CHAPTER XIV. EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. In no one particular has the advancement in higher attainments in civilization shown itself than in the matter of progress in the science of education—for now it is really considered a science.. Here in Fayette county, as in all other Ohio and Western sections, this change for the better is remarkable. While it is true that during the earlier years of her history this state produced many great men and women, who did not have the excellent advantages vouchsafed to the student of the common school and colleges of today, but who, perforce of their inherent will power and ambition to attain to great knowledge, were finally, crowned with that ever-to-be-coveted acquirement, a good English education. It is believed by many educators today that the average man and woman, as well as the average school child, of this century does not begin to appreciate and utilize the mighty moving force which our public school system affords one who wills to be well and practically educated. Like the atmosphere we freely breathe from day to day, we forget to lift our heads and hearts and offer thanks to Him that giveth such great blessings. In the matter of school houses, their sites, their grounds, their inner plans and equipments—all has been revolutionized within thirty years in this county. The standard of teachers, too, has been elevated until it is equal to any in the world. While there may yet be some question as to the equitable prices to be paid for schooling, and the remuneration given for competent teachers, in the main the public is usually pleased to give fair wages, both in the country and town districts, to those competent to properly instruct the young. In the matter of sex, the line is no longer closely drawn; we now have far more women teachers than men, and well it is. Woman is exceptionally well suited for the tedious task of bending the young mind in the way it should go, both intellectually and morally. The profession always has been called honorable, and it is none the less so today than fifty and a hundred years ago. There is still room for better state school laws, and beyond doubt the new law providing for county school superintendents, a system long practiced in other and younger states, is a step in the right direction. 202 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. THE OLD AND THE MODERN SCHOOL HOUSE. As one roams through one of the twentieth-century school buildings, and views their stone floors and marble faced hall-ways ; their efficient heat. ing and lighting plants ; the excellent manner in which ventilation is obtained: the sanitary drinking fountains, conveniently arranged in every hall-way, and then reads descriptions of the early pioneer school houses, the wonderful contrast must he uppermost in the mind. For example, here are a few paragraphs concerning the old-time methods of obtaining a limited education Ohio and Fayette county. We quote from Dill's history the subjoined: "Following along a blazed path through the woods, we come to the log school house. We pull the latch-string, enter, a voice from the far interior says 'Come in.' At the request of the 'master,' we settle down upon puncheon bench, the object for all eyes to gaze upon. The first thing observe is that nearly the whole end of the house is occupied by a fire-p within whose capacious depths the crackling blaze sends forth light, and cheerfulness. Our gaze being attracted to the outside, we look through French plate glass, but a hole made by sawing out a log and replacing it with paper greased with lard. Our attention is recalled by a shrill voice : 'Master, mayn't I git a drink ?' The urchin* goes to the bucket, setting on the bench near the door, takes the tin cup from the accustomed peg, dips it full, drinks a few sups, holding it over the bucket meanwhile, pours the balance back, looks around awhile, goes back to his seat and, with his dog-eared book close to his face, is soon lost in study. "We observe the benches are made of flat rails and puncheons, with wooden pins in them for legs ; backs they have none. The master has a table made by driving pins in the wall, and placing hewed puncheons on top of them. Under each window a similar contrivance accommodates the scholars. "While examining these unique writing desks, we are again startled by a cry, of apparent agony : 'Master, please mayn't I go out ?' Consent is given, and the boy hurriedly moves toward the door, pausing to take down a stick crooked in shape and carries it out with him. Our curiosity is excited, and while the master's back is turned, we ask a big, white-headed boy near us what it is for, who, upon opening his mouth wide and staring at us in blank amazement, says : 'No other boy don't darst go out while that stick is gone.' "As incentives to close application to study, we observe a rule of about FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 203 a pound weight, arid a formidable-looking beechen rod, whose acquaintance every boy in school has long ago formed. "Dilworth's Arithmetic, Webster's Spelling Book and the Testament were the usual text-books. It seemed to be an expressed settled fact, that during the recitation a boy could get up a better spirit of inspiration by stentorian competition with his fellows ; and in the spelling class, the boy that could spell the loudest should stand at the head. It was interesting to these boys at the end of the bench standing on tip-toes, with every muscle in a quiver, waiting for the master to say 'Noon,' in order to get out first and raise the biggest yell." SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON C. H. The first school in Washington C. H. was taught in 1813 by Samuel Loofborrow, in a double log house, one part of which he used for a dwelling on the corner of Paint and Hind streets. The school, as was common in those days, was made up by subscription and could not have continued more than one or two terms, for in 1814 the first building intended for school purposes in the village was built and James Webster installed as teacher. This was a rough, round-log structure, sixteen by eighteen feet, with a clap-board roof, fastened with weight poles, and was minus a floor. The door was also made of clapboards, arranged horizontally and secured by wooden pegs. One side of the frame extended above and below some inches, the lower end resting in a notch cut in the sill, or bottom log, and the upper end was fastened by pins, driven obliquely into the log above on each side and served as a hinge to the door. The sill mentioned above was more than two feet in diameter and it was with difficulty that the smaller children got over it into the school house. Of course the room was supplied with the customary greased-paper windows and was heated by the huge old-fashioned fireplace peculiar to those primitive days. The building was located on the northeast side of Market, between Fayette and North streets, on in-lot No. 47, now in possession of Col. H. B. Maynard and occupied a part of the present situation of the old frame Methodist Episcopal church. Webster was followed as teacher in this building by James Clark, an Irishman, who taught here until the house was abandoned in 1816, when school was held in the old court house for several years. James G. Gray taught in the court house first and was succeeded by Hiram M. Parish and he in turn by Erasmus Grovesnor. About the close pf the latter's services a log school house was erected on the corner of Market 104 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. and Hind streets and was occupied first by a man named Pearson. The house was built of round logs, which were scotched after the building was erected and was located where the mill later stood on the southeast corner. Norman F. Jones was Pearson's successor here and continued until the house was abandoned. After this school was held in the old court house, and in unoccupied buildings in different parts of town until 1828, The when a small, one-story brick house was erected on Market street, between Main and Fayette streets, but on account of some legal technicality concerning the levy or appropriation made for the building of this house, it was thrown on the hands of the school trustees, but was afterward rented and occupied for school purposes principally until 1845, when a two-story frame school house was built on the site of the old log building, on the corner of Market and Hind streets. This house was used until the union school building on North street, between Temple and Paint, was completed in 1856, which originally was two stories high, sixty-five feet square, and contained eight rooms, four above and the same below, with a ten-foot hallway leading through both floors. The house and the site of three acres of ground cost about fourteen hundred dollars. In 1871 another story and a steam heating apparatus were added at a cost of eight thousand and three hundred dollars. The following is a list of some of the early teachers : Henry Phelps, James Latta, Smith Latta, John A. Pledge, William Westlake, Alvira. Gordon, William H. Shim, Zeno Wilcox, Mr. Rawlings. Elam Hearts, A. K. Eaton, S. F. Kerr, L. D. Willard, A. S. Dickey, Dr. Donohue and Harvey Jones. TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS. In Jefferson township, none but the very aged will recall the old fashioned school houses, with huge fire-places and greased-paper windows and the hardness of the slab or puncheon seats, and the position used by the master in teaching penmanship with a self-made quill-pen, dipped in soft-maple ink. But these all obtained in Jefferson township "when my father was a boy." The first teacher here is remembered as David Creamer, who tang three months each year in a log cabin on the farm of Jacob Jenkins. subscription school became very popular in a short time after the settle of this county. On March 18, 1816, the township trustees divided this to ship into seven school districts. After a number of years, the log buildi gave place to better structures of frame. Later the number of school districts was increased to thirteen, and then substantial brick school houses were constructed—a great innovation in educational facilities. The county superintendent's last report will show what the condition of schools is there today. FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 205 In Jasper township the early children had very little of what even then was considered good school facilities, and not until 1816 was there a school house erected in the township. This was a round-log structure, with puncheon floor and seats, and was lighted with greased paper stretched over openings in the log walls. It was built by the settlers in the dark, dense woods, on land belonging to Richard Ayers, in the Coil-Bush neighborhood. There Thomas Powell was first to instruct. He commenced in 1816, almost a hundred years ago. He received but a mere stipend, sufficient to keep the wolf from his door. This building was soon replaced by a better example of log school house and it was located a mile to the east, on the Richard Smith farm, then the property of Abraham Bush, John S. Burnett, later county auditor, taught the first school in the last mentioned building in 1818. mother school house was erected on the Coons property, a mile south of Milledgeville, early in the settlement of Jasper township. This served until 1837, when it was no longer sufficient for the increasing demands. The good citizens of the township assembled and determined to improve in the matter of a school house. They could not agree on a common site, so built two houses, one being on the John Rankin farm. Here Joel Starbuck was first teach; he was from Clinton county. This was still in subscription school days, remember. The other building was located three miles south, on the old State road, now Washington and Jamestown pike. It is also related that in 1828 there had been a school house built on the old Persinger farm. It was of round poles, with desks running along each side, to be occupied by pupils only, while writing. Here John T. Powell taught the first term, receiving ten dollars per month, payable in produce. Two years after this it was burned and never rebuilt. , In 1845 a school house was built on the land of Williamson Ferguson, in the center of the neighborhood, Ferguson donating the land. The house was erected by the settlers, and Miss Mary Jane Blystone, of Jeffersonville, was the first to teach there. This was a subscription school. The common or public school system, while in force in Ohio as early as 1837, was not adopted here until much later. The people were slow to adopt it and still stuck to the subscription plan, which they believed to be cheaper, but in fact was not, all things being counted. In Concord township, as in all parts of the new country, the children of school age were forced to remain at home and help clear the land of timber and brushes, as well as till the garden patch, in place of enjoying the schools in which, otherwise, their parents would have been pleased to see 206 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. them attend. But within a few years this all changed for the better, and parents then awoke to the fact that their own loved ones must secure at least a practical education—sufficient to enable them to read and write and "add sums" correctly. Therefore, the families making up the several neighborhoods commenced to start private and subscription schools. They erected log cabins and did all in their power to suitably fit up the structures that they might be warm in winter time, for that was the popular part of the year for schools—a season when the children could do nothing else! Several years since, when an attempt was being made to search out and record the school history of Fayette county, Levi Rowe made the assertion that "the first school house in this township stood on the banks of Sugar creek." The first teacher was William Sweet. He was followed by J. D. Moon. Five families, living east, and west of the Randolph survey, erected a small cabin in the center of this survey, either in 1824 or 1825, and this served for school purposes. This was followed by numerous other buildings and as time went by frame, and finally brick, school houses might have been seen here and there throughout the township. Men and women of rare attainments were then secured to teach and the educational facilities were speedily taken advantage of. In Green township, it was a matter of deep regret to the pioneers, most of whom had come in from some one of the older, better developed Eastern or. Southern states, that they had to keep the children at home to work, instead of sending them to school, as they had been in the habit of doing. Money was scarce and taxes had to be paid and when that was accomplished there remained but little to pay "subscription" to a school teacher, hence many in this township grew to be young men and women without having the proper chance to attend school. Finally, some of the better educated ladies commenced teaching in their own cabin homes. They had a lot of scholars who walked as far as five miles, in order to attend these "home schools." Twenty-five pupils was a sufficient number to establish a "subscription school" with and as soon as times admitted the settlers did this. Where parents were too poor, be it said to their credit, those of better financial standing paid the sum in addition to their own shares in such schools. One dollar and a half was the amount usually paid for the term. The first school house here was a very rough affair erected of poles, had a puncheon floor, a mud chimney, seats of poles split in two with the flat and sometimes "slivery" side up. Where the chinking was out the most, there the greased paper was applied for windows, as that allowed light, at the same time keeping out the rain and wind. This fearfully and wonderfully-made FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 207 building was erected on the Little Wabash in 1819, where in later years the heirs of 'Squire Clay resided. This subscription district was six miles square, and in the winter of 1819 was in charge of Ebenezer Christy, a good teacher — when sober! Another early teacher was a Mr. Bradshaw. Today the township boasts of good buildings and modern furniture and fixtures in keeping with advanced ideas. In Perry township existed the same trouble as in most other sections of Fayette county. The lack of money, need of the children's help at home, and a sparseness of settlement—all worked hardship for those who would otherwise have had their families in school, at least part of the year. But as it was, fate seemed to order otherwise for a quite a number of years. Finally, times were better and the clearing up of land had put the parents in a position to handle the work at home better themselves, and then school houses were soon found in the township. The Ayers schoolhouse, built in 181o, was probably the first within Perry township. It was built on lands owned by Mr. Ayers, in the Center survey. Charles Cox was the first teacher in this pioneer building. Five or six years later there were two more added, one near the present Wabash school house, on Robert Scott's land, where Rev. W. A. King lived later. This was doubtless erected for both school and church uses, as many of the earlier buildings were erected with both objects in view. The other building was erected on land owned by Judge James Crothers. Mrs. Crothers had a school in her own house prior to the erection of this building. In 1822 a round-log school house was built on the Isaac Henderson Land near the Cochran Methodist Episcopal church. Hugh Painter taught the first term here and Jackson King the second, and these two ended the schools for that house. Early in 1815 the Tom Ellis school was built. It was just at the close of the War of 1812-14. It stood at the very edge of Martinsburg, and Isaac Woods was among, if not the first, to teach there. John Moon was one of the later teachers and he forbade the burning of sassafras wood at the school from a superstitious belief quite common then, that it would be followed by evil results. These fears, it is known, did not extend to the use of whisky, or prevent him from resorting to his bottle for "inspiration." Old men tell us that they, while attending this school, frequently saw the master sneaking away to a place where he hid. his bottle and come back with a smile stealing over his face. In 1828 this building was removed to the Todhunter land. It was known as the "Quaker school house" and there, as teachers, presided Messrs, Barnett, Joseph McLure, Samuel Banks and Jacob Todhunter. 208 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. In October, 1845, the township was divided into seven sub-districts and later still two more districts were created, one being used exclusively for the colored children. Long before 1877 brick school houses were the general rule in this township, and today every modern facility is employed to make good the education of the rising young. In Marion township the first school was taught by James Webster, father of Bryce Webster, in the winter of 1811, in a cabin built for dwelling purposes, on the southwest side of the Springfield and Chillicothe road. Near this, on the opposite side of the highway, a small log school house was erected in the summer of 1813, and in this Mr. Webster taught the winter term of school. It was then abandoned and in 1814 another was erected on land of Adam Turner, and there Webster taught five years. In Madison township the first school was taught in the year 1809, a winter school, by Samuel Myers, in a log cabin near the site of the present village of Waterloo. He walked two and a half miles to and from this shack of a building. Probably the next school was that taught on William Morgan's land, in the Armstrong survey. In the winter of 1824 Thomas John. son taught a term of school there as well as the winter following. The building was abandoned for such purposes about 1819, when a small house, eighty rods west of Yankeetown, was employed, and James Martin taught therein. Joseph Counts came as the next teacher (but few women were hired in those days). A Mr. McGary taught here three or four terms, and was followed by Julius Bicknell. On the Urbana road, a mile and a half from Waterloo, land owned then by Jesse Barton was used for school purposes and a building was provided at Yankeetown about the same time. In about 1829-30 a building was erected in the W. Sanford survey, No. 13135. Clement Twifford, who had taught in the neighborhood before, was the instructor there. This building was burned, together with all the pupils' books. The school was then divided, one portion attending a term or two of school in an old unoccupied dwelling, then in a cabin of Richard Ciurson. In 1838 a building was erected at White Oak and occupied ten years, when a new building took its place. This was abandoned in 1877, when an elegant frame structure was built and the district was made independent. Of schools in Paint township let it be stated that the pioneer here, in attempting to furnish his children with even an ordinary education, realized that he had a task before him. The common school system, as now under. stood, was not known at that date anywhere on American soil. Good teach. ers and buildings suitable were almost out of the question. Not until Fayette FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 209 county had been organized a number of years were there any regular schools. Samuel Robins has been claimed as the earliest to teach in Paint township. On the Midway and Bloomingburg pike, a small log cabin went up about 1815 – a century ago—and there the first school was taught by one Greenley. About 1820 Thomas Fullerton, father of George S., taught in an old building Sulzer farm. In 1817 the neighbors round about hewed the logs necessary to build a neat cabin on the corner of Abraham Kirkby's land, and it is said a school was immediately started there. A Mr. Twilliger first taught the "young idea” there to shoot. Robert Burnett also taught and boarded around among his patrons. In 1853 the township was divided into eight districts and the board of education was composed of Samuel Myers, James Larrimore, Perry Salmon, John Tway, A. F. Parrott, John Flood, John Cade and Hamilton Green. On May 14th, that year, the board met and decided to build a house for each district in the township, and to levy a tax of not less than three thousand eight hundred dollars and not more than four thousand dollars to carry out that project. This was a wonderful stride ! Later it was decided that district each should have five hundred dollars to get a site and build a school house with. On April 16, 1855 (mark the early date in talking of recent reforms), fifty-five young ladies, praying for the exclusion of tobacco from the school rooms of the township, were gratified by having such an order made and the same to go into immediate effect. Long skirts and tobacco spit were no friends even at that day ! The census shows that in Paint township in 1855 there were 439 white youth-225 male and 214 female—between the ages of five and twenty-one ; colored youth, 9 males, 1 female ; grand total, 449. WAYNE CENTRALIZED SCHOOL. At Good Hope there was erected, in 1913, a large two-story, red pressed brick school building, known as the Wayne township centralized school. Its cost was about twenty thousand dollars. It is a modern structure, built by a public spirited township, the citizens of which have faith in the final success of this system of public schools, instead of having them scattered about over the township. Better results can be obtained. It is quite a step in advance of most counties, but ere long Ohio will be dotted with centralized schools. (14) 210 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. The pupils are easily transported by hack to and from their homes. They are safer, and have better, brighter minds to do school room duty, than the students who travel in mud and dust, storm and sunshine, from half to two miles and more to attend school. The rivalry and general interest there manifest shows that ultimate good will come, from this system. Its good effect is already seen here. The voters who at first opposed the system would not now vote against the measure, since they see the benefit to be derived therefrom. The actual cost is not much, if indeed any, more that under the old system. When the advantages to be gained are all counted —a speedy and correct education, all the way up to eighth grade, in a school in all particulars equal to those found in the cities, the cost then is no more than the old plan and far better in many particulars. It is believed that before many years the children will be hurried to as from school by means of automobiles, but at present are carried in hack provided with comfortable seats, cool in summer and warm in winter; th little folks enjoy going to school in a fashion not hitherto known. At Jeffersonville there is a school building costing four thousand dollars The class of buildings in the village and cities of Fayette compare favorably with other counties. The following items regarding the Fayette count public schools have been gleaned from the state records of 1913: Grand tot enrollment in county was 4,781; number of school houses in the county i 1913 was 1o2; value of school buildings, $378,800; number of school district in county, 76; number teachers employed in county, 163; the wages for me were fifty-three dollars per month in elementary schools ; in separate district elementary schools, sixty dollars per month for men; for women, fifty-three dollars; in high schools men received eighty-six dollars and women receive seventy-five dollars per month. The number of volumes in library in the various schools of the count was one thousand four hundred and seventy-five. Of the high schools of Fayette county in 1913, it may be said that at Bloomingburg there were fifteen boys and seventeen girls ; two boys graduated and six girls ; average age of boys, seventeen years, and of girls, fifteen years ; total number graduates in whole history of school, one hundred and eighteen. At Jeffersonville there were thirty-two boys and fifty-four girls; boys, graduated, one, girls, eight; average age of boys, fourteen years, and of girls, fifteen years ; total number graduated in the whole history of the school one hundred and thirty-six. In Washington C. H., William McClain received $2,500 as superin- FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 211 tendent of the high schools ; the high school principal received $1,100; cost of new school house erected, $100,000; number school houses in city, seven; number seats or sittings in city for elementary scholars, 1,400 for high school pupils, 300; value of school property, $180,000 ; number teachers in elementry, 35; in high school, 8. The average wages paid for men in elementary, $60; in high school, $97; for women in elementary, $50, in high school, $74 per month. The number of weeks taught in one session was thirty-six. THE THOUGHTFUL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. [PUBLISHER'S NOTE—Despite the modesty of Mr. Allen, the supervising editor of this history, the following reference to him is considered entirely pertinent to this work.] The first county school superintendent of Fayette county, Prof. Frank M. Allen, has started out in the right direction to make a very efficient and practical superintendent. He has original ideas and believes in interesting and instructing the young by means otherwise than from regular text-books. He has recently presented every school house in the county with a fine, large picture of Abraham Lincoln, his only requirement being that the teacher have the pupils donate a cent or two each towards providing these portraits with suitable frames, and suggests to teachers that a small flag of our country be fastened on the wall over the portrait. These portraits are received with great pleasure by the school patrons, for who does not revere the name of “Honest Abe ?" Superintendent Allen has also commenced distributing to the various schools in the county two significant cards, which are to be read in school and hung upon the walls. One of these cards carries on its face "The Prayer of a Horse," while the other is the late U. S. Senator Vest's eulogy on the entitled "A Tribute to Man's Best Friend." The prayer of a horse was written by a blacksmith and veterinary, and reads thus "To Thee, My Master, I Offer My Prayer "Feed me, water me and care for me, and when the day's work is done provide me with shelter, a clean, dry bed and a stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort. Talk to me ; your voice often means as much to me as the reins. Bid me a kind good night. Pet me sometimes, that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you. "Do not jerk the reins and do not whip me when going up hill. Never strike, beat or kick me when I do not understand what you mean, but give 212 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. me a chance to understand you. Watch me, and if I fail to do your bidding see if something is not wrong with my harness ; it may be I need a new collar or my mouth may be sore from a cold or old rusty hit. "Examine my teeth when I do not eat. I may have an ulcerated to and that you know is very painful. Do not tie my head in an unnatural position or take away my last defense against flies and mosquitoes by cutting off my tail. Do not tie me out on the streets cold days and cold nights with out a blanket. You know, master, it was never intended that we should treated thus. "And finally, O my master, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze, or sell me to some cruel owner to be slowly tortured and starved to death ; but do thou, my master, take my life in the kindest way, and your God will reward you here and hereafter !  "You maynot consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of Him who was born in a stable! Amen.” CHAPTER XV. SECRET AND FRATERNAL SOCIETIES. In almost every part of the civilized globe there are today secret orders and benevolent fraternities doing a work for humanity impossible to accomplish in any other manner. The old-time prejudice against secret orders has long since passed. While some church creeds still hold that it is not proper, and not in keeping with Biblical teachings, the number is indeed small. To be an honored member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows or Pythian orders is but to be engaged in the daily duty of helping one's fellow-man, even as did the Master when he walked among the children of men twenty centuries ago. The principles, upon which these great fraternities are founded are derived from the Bible itself. There are unworthy members as well in lodges as in churches, but that is no argument against either institution. It will be the aim of this brief chapter to mention something concerning the organization and present standing of the three great and world-wide fraternities, Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. Fayette Lodge No. 107, Free and Accepted Masons, at Washington C. H., the pioneer secret body in Fayette county, was instituted and commenced work on December 7, 1839, pursuant to a dispensation granted by the deputy grand master of the grand lodge of Ohio, under date of November 29, 1839. The lodge was dedicated December 26, 1840. The charter members of this lodge were Joel S. Bereman; Samuel F. Yeoman, Samuel Millikan, Joseph Bell, Jacob Ott, Valentine Coil and Daniel McLain. J. S. Bereman was the first worshipful master; Jacob Ott, senior warden ; S. F. Yeoman, junior warden; James Sharp, senior deacon; Daniel McLain, junior deacon; Joseph Bell, treasurer; Samuel Millikan, secretary ; Valentine Coil, tyler. The membership in October. 1914, was two hundred and thirty-one. Of this number there were fifty-one resident Masons. The present elective officers are : Worshipful master. Ernest E. Ellis ; senior warden, Harry M. Rankin; junior warden, Ray D. Post ; treasurer, William H. Dial ; secretary, John L. McFadden; senior deacon, Amos Thornton; junior deacon, Omer F. Sturgeon; chaplain, E. B. Arbogast ; organist, James Whelpley; master of ceremonies, Anda E. Henkle tyler, Edwin D. Pine. 214 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. This fraternity suffered great loss in way of its hall and records in the great conflagration which swept so many valuable buildings away in December, 1911. It rebuilt and that structure is the present imposing Masonic hall, said to be fire-proof. Fayette Chapter No. 103, Royal Arch Masons, was organized at Washington C. H. on July 1, 1867. The dispensation was signed by the following companions : John Turk, S. N. Yeoman, J. W. Cleveland, Mills Gardner, E. L. Ford, Lewis Cook, Addison Bybee, Benjamin F. Mouser and James F. Ely. The officers under the dispensation were as follows : John M. Turk, high priest; S. N. Yeoman, king; J. W. Cleveland, scribe; J. F. Ely, captain of host ; Mills Gardner, principal sojourner; Lewis Cook, royal arch captain E. L. Ford, master of third veil; Addison Bybee, master of second veil; Benjamin Mouser, master of first veil. Garfield Commandery No. 28, Knights Templar, at Washington C. H was granted a dispensation August 3o, 1876, the following being the charter members : Mills Gardner, J. P. Ely, Benjamin F. Coffman, C. O. Stevens, A. C. Johnson, J. F. Hopkins, C. Garis, E. L. Ford, A. P. Kirk, E. B. Updegrove, A. M. Stimson and John R. McLain. The first knight created was Daniel McLain. C. Garis, J. F. Ely, A. M. Stimson, Mills Gardner, J. W. Woods, A. C. Johnson, A. B. Adams, J. R. McLain, B. F. Coffman were men appointed to the first offices. A charter was granted by the grand commandery on August 27, 1877. This society is now in a flourishing condition. Its original name was "Eli," but was changed to Garfield in honor of the lamented President James A. Garfield. The present eminent commander is Elmer A. Klever. In the summer of 1914 the Masonic bodies in Fayette county were as follows : Fayette Lodge No. 107 had a membership of two hundred and thirty-one; Bloomingburg Lodge, ninety-six; Jeffersonville Lodge, ninety-six; resident Masons, fifty-one; total Master Masons, four hundred and seventy-seven; Fayette Chapter, two hundred and fifty-seven; Fayette Council, sixty-four; Garfield. Commandery, two hundred and seven; Royal Chapter, Order Eastern Star, one hundred and ninety-seven; Forest Chapter, Order Eastern Star, sixty-two; Jefferson Chapter, Order Eastern Star, ninety-five. Bloomingburg Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized, under dispensation, September 30, 1870. Their first stated meeting was held October 7, 1870, there being but ten members at that date. The lodge constituted December 23d of that year, under charter granted by the grand lodge of Ohio. Its charter members were John Brown, J. M. McCoy, Will- FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 215 iam Noble, V. M. Durflinger, Edwin Alexander, treasurer, A. B. Elliott, William M. Jones, John Ott, D. M. Haysand, C. D. Hays. The lodge prospered and enlarged the small hall they had provided at first, on the corner of Main and Cross streets. At the close of 1873 the membership was thirty-three, which by 1881 had increased to fifty-eight, not including deaths and removals. The society was incorporated in March, 1881, by William Clark, J. M. Noble, Henry Fulton, Henry Casey and J. M. McCoy, trustees. In October, 1914, this lodge enjoyed a membership of ninety-seven and was in a flourishing condition. It had the misfortune to have its lodge rooms burned and all their, furniture destroyed in April, 1912. But, like true brothers, they went to work and by November of that year were holding lodge in their new and magnificent hall, which was the second story .of a fine yellow pressed-brick, two-story building, all owned by the order. It stands on the site of the old lodge rooms and cost, together with furniture and value of lot, about eight thousand five hundred dollars. There are few, if indeed any, lodge rooms in Ohio in towns of much larger size that possess so fine, well-arranged hall. They have a large banquet hall, kitchen, lobbies and reception rooms in addition to a good-sized hall. The Order of the Eastern Star is exceptionally strong here. The elective officers serving in 1914 are : Worshipful master, Forest M. Hains: senior warden, John N. Browning; junior warden, Allen P. West; secretary, G. W. Gordon ; treasurer, Henry Casey ; senior deacon, Claude Andrews; junior deacon, John Foster; chaplain, Robert G. Andrews; tyler, James W. Willis; master of ceremonies, J. Y. Stitt ; stewards, Howard Foster and C. S. Edwards. The trustees are J. M. Klever, Nathaniel Roler, W. T. Elliott, J. P. Leavell. The following have served as masters in this lodge : John Brown, 1870;. J. M. McCoy, 1871-77; A. B. Elliott, 1878; J. M. McCoy, 1879-82 ; William Clark, 1883-87; Samuel N. Brown, 1888; William Noble, 1889; J. M. Klever, 1890; Charles D. Hays, 1891; Solon Loofborrow, 1892-93 ; Samuel N. brown, 1901; G. W. Gordon, 1902-03 ; J. M. Klever, 1904; F. M. McCoy, 1905-06; J. P. Leavell, 1907; J. Y. Stitt, 1908-09; F. E. Whiteside, 1910: V. M. Durflinger, 1911; Claude Andrews, 1912 ; L. D. Exline, 1913. Jeffersonville Lodge No. 468, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized Jannary 31, 1873, by Col. C. Garris,' of Washington C. H. The charter members were Mills Gardner, P. F. Johnson, James Straley, L. A. Elister, E. H. Bendle, Homey Robinson, J. C. Morris, William Wood, W. J. Homey, George Miller, Asherry Moon, J. W. Roebuck, W. F. Roebuck, G. L. Bush 216 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. and Urban Hidy. Of the present history of this lodge it may be stated that records show that the present officers are : A. A. Allen, worshipful master; W. O. King, senior warden; L. A. Kessler, junior warden; M. E. Wilson, secretary; F. A. Chaney, senior deacon; S. C. Morrow, junior deacon; C. R. Marshall, chaplain; G. H. Brock, master of ceremonies; J. C. Todd, tyler. The membership of this lodge is ninety-eight. The blue lodge is the only degree of Freemasonry here represented. INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. Jefferson Lodge No. 454, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized July 20, 187o, with the following charter membership : J. M. Blessing, Joseph Hurless, R. Fox, A. J. Aldridge, O. W. Marshall, E. L. Jones, George H. Creamer and Lewis Bentz. In. June, 1879, a part of the membership, in the absence of other members, voted to surrender the charter of this lodge, sold the furniture and appropriated the proceeds to the Methodist Episcopal church of Jeffersonville. The other members returned and brought suit, but as the result a new lodge was organized, with officers as follows : Joseph Hurless, noble grand; W. C. Wilson, vice grand; George Miller, recording secretary; J. N. Yates, financial secretary; Richard Fox, treasurer ; Jacob R. Hosier, Joseph Hurless, J. J Thompson, trustees. At present this lodge is enjoying a membership of eighty-five. They occupy a leased hall. The officers in the autumn of 1914 were : William Higbee, noble grand; William Spangler, vice grand; L. Hay, financial secretary; A. W. Wright, recording secretary; S. M. Taggart chaplain. Initiatory, second and third degrees are here all represented. An Odd Fellows lodge was instituted at Martinsburg by Grand Master William Slater, January I, 1862. The charter members were these: Morris R. Ellis, Murry Wilson, J. A. Arick, C. Fortier, A. L. Snider, George Binegar and C. A. Kneedler. A beautiful hall was furnished and in 1880 this lodge had a membership of two hundred. The lodge is known in record as Wilstach Lodge No. 368. Temple Lodge No. 227, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Washington C. H. was instituted in the hall in the attic story of the old brick building on Court street, northeast of Fayette, over the printing office, March 13, 1854, and the charter was given to the following: Capt. John M. Bell, Col. S. N. Yeoman, M. Livingston, William H. Lanum and John Backenstoe. Four persons, John Millikan, C. H. Bell, V. M. Ogle and Doctor Brown, CASTLE HALL, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS, WASHINGTON C. H. FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 217 were initiated into the order on the night of the institution. The lodge continued to meet in the old attic room for about two years, when they removed to the third story of J. F. Ely's frame building on the corner of Main and East street, where also they remained two years. They then secured the third story of a new brick building on Court street, built by Z. W. Heagler. This was unfinished, but the lodge finished and furnished it and made their home in this place for about sixteen years. In the spring of 1873 they organized the Odd Fellows Building Association, which bought a piece of ground on Court 'street, southwest from the Vandeman corner, and proceeded to build thereon a fine business building. In the spring of 1874 the lodge removed to their new hall, which was one of the best in the state. In the following October, on the night of the i3th, this handsome building was completely destroyed by fire. A meeting of the lodge was called and held in the Masonic hall on the night after the fire and it was resolved to rebuild the hall. In the winter and spring of P875 a new building arose in the place of the old. The lodge moved in on November 6, 1875. During the building of the new structure the lodge met in the third story' of the First National Bank building. The home of the order for ten years was in the building last named, having been built by the lodge after the fire had destroyed their former rooms. But while in the midst of lodge-room work, on that fateful evening of September 8, 1885, when Washington C. H. was visited by the tornado or cyclone storm, the lodge room and the building in which it was located were totally wrecked and most of the property within destroyed, save the records. After this the court house and Grand Army rooms were used for lodge meeting places, then the Williams building on Court street. After sixteen years there, the Katz building sheltered the lodge. Six years later and it was moved to the county memorial building. The present magnificent hall, on the corner of Fayette and Market streets, was erected in 1910 and its corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on November 29, 1910. The cost of lot and building was fully twenty-two thousand dollars. In the beginning the lodge was very weak in numbers, but has steadily grown ever since. The first elective officers were : John M. Bell, noble grand; S. N. Yeoman, vice grand; M. Livingston, recording secretary; William H. Lanum, permanent secretary; John Backenstoe, treasurer. The present membership of the lodge is four hundred and thirty. Its elective officers are : John Madison, noble grand; William Highmiller, vice-grand; Dr. C. V. Lanum, financial secretary ; E. C. Hamilton, recording secretary; J. A. Edge, treasurer ; C. F. Bonham, Wilson Bachert and S. A. Plyley, trustees. 218 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. Fayette Encampment No. 134, at Washington C. H., was institute on May 17, 1871, in the Odd Fellows hall on Court street. The charter was delivered to L. C. Karney, S. N. Yeoman, C. L. Getz, 0. H. Saxton, M. Blanchard, W. S. Stewart, J. C. King, William Wilts and Charles Duffee There were eleven persons admitted on the night of institution. Its forst elective officers were : L. C. Karney, chief patriarch; M. Blanchard, high priest; William Wilts, senior warden ; Dr. O. H. Saxton, junior warden, William Stewart, scribe; J. C. King, treasurer. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS LODGES. This is one of the most recent fraternities in the list of secret orders. It was established about the close of the Civil War and Lodge No. 1, at Washington, District of Columbia, was the first of the order in the world. The earliest body in Fayette county was Confidence Lodge No. 265, at Washington C. H., instituted December 7, 1887, with twenty-one members. The burning of the hall in 1911 caused the destruction of all records, besides a fine array of relics, books, charts and lodge room fixtures. The lodge held its first meetings in Midland block, then in Odd Fellows hall in the Williams block. Since 1900 they had occupied rooms in Masonic Temple, on the third floor of the building, but that fire of 1911 caused them a great loss. In February, 1912, they moved into their new castle, in the heart of the city, which property they had purchased and rebuilt, making their present hall a desirable one, valued at fifteen thousand dollars. In 1911 there were fully a thousand members in Fayette county belonging to this fraternity. Of this the pioneer lodge in the county of Knights of Pythias, it may be stated that in September, 1909, they had a membership of four hundred. Its elective officers were : Ray Maddox, chancellor commander; John Markley, vice chancellor ; Richard Hays, prelate; W. J. Bevans, master of work; Fred Schmid, master of exchequer ; L. J. Sherman, master of finance; H. M. Kingsbury, keeper of records and seal; R. A. Hyer, master at arms; Richard Elliott, inside guard; H. A. Highmiller, outer guard. There are now lodges of ,this order in Fayette county as follows: At Washington C. H., Madison Mills, Jeffersonville, Bloomingburg, Buena Vista and Yatesville. At Jeffersonville, Sunflower Lodge, Knights of Pythias, was instituted February 19, 1891, and given the charter number of 541. Its charter members were J. H. Wilt, W. L. Boyer, Frank Carr, C. A. Teeters, Ira McKillip, H. L. Bendel, J. G. Boyer, T. Williams, J. H. Garlough, H. L. Clausing, C FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 219 W. Davis, H. C. Hosier, D. C. Serbine, 'I'. L. Hayes, J. H. Davis, L. O. Fults, L. E. Ellis, Charles Compton, Pope Gregg, C. W. Gray, H. W. Duff, Jasper Roush and C. S. Spengler. The present total membership is one hundred and thirty. They own a well-appointed lodge room, erected in 1906, and the order is now in a flourishing condition. Its officers in October, 1914, are: W. L. Robinson, past chancellor ; J. B. Armstrong, chancellor commander ; W. W. Rontson, vice chancellor ; W. C. Coil, prelate; A. L. Franch, keeper of records and seal; J. H. Garlough, master of finance; J. W. Howard, master of exchequer ; B. D. Smith,. master at arms ; Howard Haynes, outside guard; S. C. Morrow, inside guard. At Bloomingburg, Lodge No. 744 was organized December 29, 1905, with forty-one charter members. Its present membership is one hundred and sixteen. It erected a handsome, substantial pressed-brick building in 1912 at a cost, including lot, of about seven thousand five hundred dollars. The Uniform Rank is also here well represented. The elective officers of the lodge here for 1914 are as follows : Chancellor commander, C. W. Larimer; vice chancellor, Grant Leach; prelate, Elmer McCoy ; master at arms, Henry Elliott; master of exchequer, Nathaniel Ross; master of finance, L. D. Exline; keeper of records and seal, Claude Andrews; inside guard, Robert Pummel; outside guard, Harrison Leach. CHAPTER, XVI. HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES. Wherever the church spire is seen, in both town and country, there one feels that he is safe. The' American-born population predominates very largely in Fayette county, and hence there are none but American denominations, to speak of. Among that rugged band of hardy pioneers who braved the dangers of a wild frontier life, away back a hundred years and more ago, there was a spirit of religion sprinkled in the communities from the first organization of the county, and as the years advanced steps were promptly taken to form churches, though possibly not as rapidly as in some other sections. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. The Presbyterian church of Washington C. H. was organized October 10, 1813, three years after the county was organized. There were thirteen members and James Clark, William Blair, Samuel Waddle, Anuences Allen and Col. James Stewart were chosen elders. The Rev. Mr. Baldridge had charge of the church for a time. After him the pulpit was supplied by several different ministers, till Rev. William Dickey came to be pastor in 1817. The church had no house of worship and meetings could not be held very regularly. In 1817 part of the church was set off to form a separate congregation at Bloomingburg, and Thomas McGarraugh and Henry Snyder were chosen elders. Mr. Dickey supplied the church at Washington C. H. and also the one at Bloomingburg, which was now the larger. Shortly after he seems to have given all his attention to Bloomingburg and there are no records of the Presbyterian church of Washington C. H. for fifteen years. In 1834 the church took a new start. Nine of the old members were still on the ground, and, seventeen were received. James Pollock, John Wilson,, Isaac Templeton and Joseph McLean were chosen elders and S. F. Kerr was made clerk of the session. About 1835 Rev. John C. Eastman took charge of the church and the society seemed to progress nicely. They undertook, for the first time, to erect a house of worship, and soon it was constructed and dedicated. FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 221 In 1840 Mr. Eastman left the church, after six years of faithful and successful labor. The next eight years passed with very irregular ministrations. Rev. James Dunlap and Rev. J. A. I. Lowes preached for a time. In the winter of 1847-1848 the church was incorporated. About this time J. G. Hopkins came, as a licentiate, to supply its pulpit. James N. Wilson and Eliphas Taylor were chosen and ordained elders. Mr. Hopkins, some time after, was chosen pastor and ordained. A division in the church grew out of this. Robert Robinson and Joseph McLean, two of the elders, and others left the church, among them Col. S. F. Kerr. This was a great loss to the feeble church. Mr. Hopkins soon left, and in the spring of 1851 Rev. S. J. Miller was called to the pastorate, after which church affairs ran along more smoothly. A new church edifice was built about 1856. Rev. Miller continued pastor for fifteen years, leaving the church in 1866 with seventy-five members. In January, 1867, the Rev. George Carpenter was called to the pastorate. He was succeeded, in order, as follows : 1884 to 1892, Rev. Samuel B. Alderson; 1892 to 1905, Rev. James L. McNair; 1905 to 191o, Rev. David H. Jones; 1910 to 1913, Rev. William I: Campbell ; 1913 to present time, Rev. William Boynton Gage. The membership is now about seven hundred and seventy-five. The present church was erected several years ago and is a modern edifice. The society also has a commodious, modern manse on the lot with the church. THE CHURCH AT BLOOMINGBURG. The Bloomingburg Presbyterian church is now ninety-seven years old, having been organized on November 12, 1817, with twenty-six constituent members. Fortunately for the author and reader, there- still remains a good record of this old church, as it was carefully compiled during Centennial year by Rev. Edward Cooper, D. D., the third pastor, and from this the writer draws largely for the facts herein contained. At first there were four ruling elders. The first public service was held in a small barn and for some time this building and pioneer residences, which were hut rude cabins, were the only places in which to worship. One of the earliest traveling preachers here was Rev. Dyer Burgess, who, in a letter. in 1867 written to Rev. Cooper, said: "I distinctly remember my visits to Bloomingburg and the pleasant meetings we had, largely attended, in Colonel Stewart's barn. In January, 1817, they had invited Rev. William Dickey to preach for them, when I was in the habit of making missionary tours to that settlement; and afterwards I 222 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. visited Bloomingburg frequently, enjoying the Christian fellowship of Brother Dickey and the members of his congregation." The first session of this church consisted of "Father Dickey," as all knew him, as moderator, Col. James Stewart, Judge James Menary, Robert Robin. son and Elijah Allen, all earnest men, of rare ability. The first sacrament was administered in Col. Stewart's barn. Father Dickey was called to be. come the united pastor of the church at Washington C. H., formed in 1813 and the one at Bloomingburg, and preached his first sermon November 22, 1817, when the church was really formed. In the following December he brought his family on from Kentucky and resided for three years; then, having decided to remove to Bloomingburg, a sufficient force of men and teams were sent for him, bringing also the log cabin in which he had resided which was placed about a half mile southwest of the present church, surrounded by a dense hazel patch. In 1830 the old log church building gave way to a brick structure of larger proportions. This was often assaulted by whiskey and slave-power mobs, and discussions which brought people from a long distance were held in it. In 1871 a neat frame structure was built. The society is still flourish. ing and doing a good work in the vicinity where it was so long ago established. The pastors who have faithfully served this congregation have included these in their order : Revs. William Dickey, Robert W. Wilson, Edward Cooper, John Woods, Clark Kendall, John Moore, Rev. Kruge. METHODISM IN FAYETTE COUNTY Grace Methodist Episcopal church at Washington C. H. was organizes at the solicitation of John Bohran during the summer of 1817, by John Solomon and Thomas Carr, at the house of Robert Wilson. The pastors who have served in this church have been : John Solomon and Thomas Carr, 1818; William P. Finley, 1819; Andrew McLain, 1820; D. D. Davidson, 1821; James Smith, 1822; John Summerville and James Smith, 1823; Benjamin Laurence and George Gatch, 1824; Andrew F. Baxter, 1825-6; Z. Westlake, 1827; James T. Donahoe and Jesse Prior, 1830; Augustus Eddy and William T. Snow, 1831; William T. Snow and Henry Turner, 1832 (name changed to Washington circuit in 1832) ; James Turner and E. M. Dailey, 1833; E. T. Webster and Lester James, 1834; E. T. Webster and John Rogers, 1835; C. C. Lyhand and J. A. Brown, 1836; S. Clarke and E. Estell, 1837; Eli Truett and Joseph M. Smith, 1838; James FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 223 Laws and Henry Wharton, 1839; James Laws and B. A. Cassat, 1840; Joseph A. Reeder and B. A. Cassat, 1841 ; John Fitch and O. P. Williams, 1842; Noah Hough, 1843; N. Hough and Martin Wolf, 1844; John W. Keeley and B. N. Spahr, 1845 ; Keeley and V. Beemer, 1846; J. B. Austin and Archibald Flemming, 1847 ; J. B. Auston, 1848; T. W. Chandler and S. Haines, 1849; Samuel Brown and M. G. Baker, 1850; M. G. Baker, S. Middleton and J. C. Reed, 1851; Barton Lowe and H. F. Green, 1852 ; B. Lowe and William Sutton, 1853; Moses T. Bowman and W. Sutton, 1854; I. P. Morris and J. T. P. Williams, 1855-6. It was constituted a station, with one hundred and sixty-seven members, and Thomas H. Phillips was pastor in 1868-9; Henry T. Magill, 1860-1; Isaac Cook, 1862-3; E. H. Dixon, 1864; E. P. Hall, 1865-6; J. B. Brodreck, 1867-8-9; G. F. King, 1870-I ; Samuel A. Keene, 1872-3; A. C. Hirst, 1874-5 ; James H. Gardner, 1877-8-9; W. D. Chemingten, 1880; T. M. Leslie, 1880-83 ; J. W. Peters, 1883-86; W. H. Lewis, 1887-88; D. C. Thomas, 1888-9i ; Franklin McElfresh, 1891-96; A. E. Johnson, 1896-97; W. H. Lewis, 1897-99; A. H. Norcross, 1899-1902; J. C. Arbuckle, 1902-07; Thomas W. Locke, 1907-12 ; Frederick E. Ross, 1912 and still pastor. Methodism is now one hundred and eight years old in the world — having started in 1734 in England, under John Wesley, of Oxford: And one hundred and twenty years ago it had its birth in America. The church now has forty-one thousand five hundred traveling ministers and almost seven million membership. The Ohio Methodist conference was held at Washington C. H. in the month of September, 1914. After the organization of the society in 1817 services were held part of the time at the old court house and a part of the time at the residences of some of the congregation until 1828. In that year the brick school on Market street, later a part of the residence of Richard Millikan, was completed and occupied by this congregation for church purposes till 1834, when the brick church on the north corner of Main and Market streets was built. This was an immense structure for a village like Washington C. H. in those days. As the walls of this building were not considered safe, it was never finished on the inside and on account of its unfinished condition it could be occupied in the summer months only and in three years was abandoned entirely. From this time until 1845 the society occupied the court house and the Presbyterian church, when a frame church was erected on Market between Fayette and North streets. This was used until 1866, when a brick church was built at the cost of fourteen thousand dollars. 224 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. THE NEW CHURCH. The present beautiful church edifice of this denomination in Washington C. H. was erected in 1896, on the corner of North street and East Market. The entire building seats about twelve hundred. A pipe organ was purchased for five thousand dollars, and the bell used years ago in the old church is still in use. The church and parsonage have now an estimated value of eighty-nine thousand dollars. Wesley chapel, in another part of the city, is valued at five thousand dollars, making a grand total of church property of ninety-four thousand dollars. The membership in 1914 was reported at the conference at one thousand two hundred seventy-seven. The present church building is of a fine style and there are but few in Ohio any better in large or small cities. The parsonage was erected in 1910. It is modern throughout. Wesley chapel, above mentioned, is another Methodist Episcopal church of this city and is under the jurisdiction of Grace church. A good building was erected about 1904, in the outskirts of the city. West Lancaster Methodist Episcopal church, of Jefferson township was organized at the house of Joseph Straley, one and a half miles southeast of West Lancaster, in about 1850. After using a school house for some years it was decided best to build a log church on the Jamestown and Washington road, a mile and a half east of West Lancaster, where services were held until 1858-59, when a frame building, thirty-six by forty-eight feet was constructed. On account of the coming on of the Civil War the building was not completed until 1863. The pioneer pastors stationed here were; Revs. Alfred Hance, Adams (who went to Texas), Joseph Tremble, T. W. Stanley, S. S. Stivers, Cartridge and R. I. DeSelm. Later this church was in the Jeffersonville circuit and London district. In Jefferson township another Methodist church was formed in 1865, on the farm then, or possibly later owned by Milan L. Smith, military survey 1256. An organization was effected here and maintained for many years. The Protestant Methodists also held their services there. In Jasper township the early settlers were of a remarkable religion tendency, and of the real practical type, too. It was in 1812, two years after the organization of the county, that James Brooks, a Methodist minister of Virginia, effected a church organization here in the Coile-Bush neighborhood, and served as pastor many years. No church building was provided for this active class until 1843. This was a rude, round-pole building, and served -