Arts and Sciences, Classical Department.	Theological Seminary	Combined Normal and Industrial Department.
Kezia Emery Hall, 1913		Arnett Hall, 1901 E. T. Mitchell Hall, 1912
Shorter Hall, 1867	J. G. Mitchell Hall, 1891.	O'Neill Hall, 1890
Shorter Hall, 1867  Carnegie Library, 1907	J. G. Mitchell Hall	Model School, 1889 Arnett Hall, 1901 O'Neill Hall, 1890 Howell's Hall, I900 Light, Heat and Power Plant, 1904 Poindexter Hall, 1904 Galloway Hall, 1905 Mechanic Arts, 1914 Tawawa Hospital, 1916 Bundy Hall, 1917 Beacom Gymnasium, 1918
Faculty : 11 members	4 members	23 members
Departments : Three	Two	Twelve
Students: 202	32	337

} GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 483 Dormitories for girls are maintained in Kezia Emery, Arnett and E. T. Mitchell halls ; for boys in Shorter, J. G. Mitchell and O'Neill halls. Two of these halls—Kezia Emery and E. T. Mitchell—are used exclusively for dormitory purposes, the other four also containing class rooms. CHAPTER XXX. CHURCHES OF GREENE COUNTY. The church made its appearance in Greene county with the first influx of settlers. Even before the county was organized in 1803 some of the settlers were holding religious services in their homes. The Presbyterians and Methodists came in with the organization of the county,. and while there were other denominations represented, yet these were the prevailing denominations for several years after the county was organized. The Friends were early to be found in Silvercreek township, but they have never been numerous in the county. Other Protestant denominations appeared and organized congregations before the time of the Civil War, and practically all now found in the county were well established prior to the '60s. The Catholic church dates from 1844 in Xenia and the other Catholic congregations are of later date. A study of the religious life of the county reveals some very interesting facts. It is well known that the rural church is fast disappearing, and this is as true of Greene county as of all other counties in the United States, at least twenty-five churches that once had flourishing congregations here having been abandoned. An intimate study of the churches of the county shows that there have been at least one hundred and two organized within the limits of the county. They have been divided among the townships of the county as follows : 'Bath, 7; Beavercreek, 7; Caesarscreek, 9 ; Cedarville, 9 ; Jefferson, 5 ; Miami, 10 ; New Jasper, 2 ; Ross, 44.; Silvercreek, 10; Spring Valley, 8; Sugarcreek, 8; Xenia, 25. A number of churches have irregular services throughout the year; others have services only in the summer months; a few have but one or two meetings in the year. Some have Sunday school every Sabbath, and others have Sunday school only in the summer. An effort has been made to present a complete history of all the active churches of the county, but it has not been possible to get sufficient data from some churches in order to make a complete sketch. All the churches were asked to furnish the necessary data for a brief historical sketch and most of them promptly supplied the information, while a few unfortunately neglected to do so. Some churches have kept no records, and many keep them in such a shape that they are of little value for historical purposes, but most of the larger churches have well-kept records. GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 485 UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. Historically, the United Presbyterian church, as such, dates from 1858, in which year a union was effected between the Associate and the Associate Reformed churches, the ecclesiastical connection thus formed being thereafter known as the United Presbyterian church, a religious denomination which is strongly represented in Xenia and throughout Greene county. Any attempt therefore to present a history of the United Presbyterian church in Greene county must be based upon a review of the conditions which led to the settlement here in the days, even before Greene county had a separate civic identity, of that doughty band of Kentucky colonists of Scotch birth or descent which came up here into the beautiful valley of the Little Miami in order to find in the new "free" state of Ohio a way of life denied to them in the slave state to the south. Some of these had come up here as early as the spring of 1798, in the days before Ohio was admitted to statehood, and others came in from time to time until there presently came to be a sufficient number of these Scotch settlers along the banks of the Little Miami and along Massies creek to warrant the organization of a formal church of the connection to which they devoutly held, and it was thus that there was extended a call to the Rev. Robert Armstrong, a Scottish divine, who had been serving as pastor of the united congregations of the followers of the Associate faith at Dales Fork, Millars Run and Cane Run, in the vicinity of Lexington, Kentucky, a number of the families above referred to as having come here from Kentucky having previously enjoyed his ministrations during the time of their residence in the Blue Grass state. In the published recollections of Andrew Galloway, who had a first-hand knowledge of the organization of the old Associate (Seceder) congregation on Massies creek, that writer makes reference to a trip his father, James Galloway, who had settled here with his family in the spring of 1798, had made to Kentucky in the year 1802 with his brother James, the two having "called for several days on my uncle, Samuel Galloway, who lived on McConnells run, near where Mr. Armstrong preached and was about to dispense the Lord's Supper. They became acquainted and united with him in the communion of the Lord's Supper, after which they went on to Louisville." THE COMING OF THE REV. ROBERT ARMSTRONG. "On their return," continues the Galloway reminiscences, "they stayed a day or two with my uncle, Samuel Galloway, and waited on the ministry of Mr. Armstrong and invited and insisted on him to come to Ohio and preach in our neighborhood ; George Galloway was urgent in this request and he agreed if they and the people wished it he would come. After their return they consulted with all the people around, for they were few in number, but 486 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO were anxious for preaching and delegated my brother James for him to go to Kentucky. He went, and shortly afterward wrote for George Galloway to meet him in Dayton to pilot him to our settlement, there being no roads but the one General Wayne had made from Cincinnati to Hamilton, and a `trace' to where Dayton now is. His request was fulfilled. Mr. Armstrong came and preached at my father's home to the following families : Matthew Quinn, Alexander Forbes, William Junkin, Elias Bromagen, Widow Criswell, who united with his congregation in Kentucky and came to Ohio in 1801, Alexander McCoy and sons, James and John Stevenson, Thomas and John Townsley, brothers, George Galloway and James Galloway (blacksmith) and afterward, soon, Joseph Kyle, Sr., and his two sons, Joseph and Samuel, Col. James Morrow, David Laughead, Sr., and his family, William and Robert Kendall and perhaps a few others. He also preached at Sugar Creek, in the house of James Clancy, who resided where Bellbrook is now situated, to a number of families, of whom the following are recollected : John and Joseph McKnight, Joseph C. Vance, father of Governor Vance, and his brother John, Capt. Nathan Lamme and family, William Tanner, James and Jacob Snowden, three Snodgrass families, James, William and Robert, Abraham Van Eaton and perhaps a few others none named were members of the Associate church, but were members of the Associate Reformed and Presbyterian churches, and were glad to hear Mr. Armstrong preach. "During his stay among us a number solicited him to come and take the oversight of them as their pastor. This he did not refuse or promise to do, but stated that he was dissatisfied with Kentucky on account of slavery. He said that slaveholders were buying large tracts of land in branches of his congregation and that there was no chance nor probability of increasing. He said if he could get his congregation or part of them, to come to Ohio, he would agree to come, if called. The people took his statement as encouraging and forthwith agreed to petition to the presbytery for the moderation of a call. My brother James presented the petition to the presbytery as a delegate from the congregation. They granted the petition and appointed Rev. Andrew Fulton to moderate the call. A short time after this appointment he preached in my father's barn and baptized my sister Ann and brother Anthony, it being the first baptism ever administered in Greene county by the Associate church, and took place about the 1st of September, 1804. The call was made out in due form and John McKnight, of Sugar Creek, and my father were appointed commissioners by the people to meet with the presbytery of Kentucky and urge the acceptance of the call. This they did and Mr. Armstrong accepted it. GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 487 PIONEER MINISTER ESTABLISHES HOME. "In the same month Mr. Armstrong went to Tennessee and was married to Miss Nancy Andrew and in October left Tennessee with his wife and her brother, Hugh Andrew, who all arrived safely at my father's house and lived in his family all winter and spring, until he got a cabin built and a stone chimney in it, for he was afraid of a wooden one. My father entered and paid in the land office at Cincinnati, fractional section No. 29, township 4, range 7, between the Great and Little Miami rivers, containing four hundred and sixty-one acres, and sold to Mr. Armstrong three hundred and one acres for the sum of six hundred and twenty dollars, and deeded the same to him in 1812. Mr. Armstrong lived on said section to the year 1813, when he sold and deeded to Samuel Goe for the sum of two hundred and ninety dollars, and bought again on Clarks run forty-eight and three-fourths acres of land from John Hunter, of Ross county, for which he paid one hundred and seventy dollars, and two hundred acres from James Galloway, Jr., .for which he paid three hundred dollars. This sale and purchase left Mr. Armstrong sixteen hundred and thirty dollars, no trifling sum in those days, and taking in his personal property and proceeds of his farm he might be considered a rich man. On this farm he lived until his death, which occurred on October 14, 1821. "It is true that his congregation in Kentucky sent a delegation to Ohio of sixteen or eighteen to view the lands in the neighborhood where Mr. Armstrong was to settle, and were all pleased with it and reported accordingly. In the spring and fall of 1804 and 1805 all, or nearly all, of his congregation followed him to Ohio and settled under his ministry. FIRST CHURCH OF THE ASSOCIATE CONGREGATION. "The first church edifice of the Associate congregation of Massies creek was built on three acres of land donated by James Stevenson for church and cemetery. It was built of round hickory logs with the bark peeled off, thirty feet square, covered with clapboards, the spaces between the logs being filled with clay. It was without a gallery or loft of any kind and the floor was of earth. In it were neither stoves nor chimney, and there was but one door in the center of the end of the house. There was an aisle running through the center. The pulpit was composed of clapboards on a wooden structure, with a window on each side. It was seated with two rows of puncheon split from poplar, and upper side smoothed off, and in each end was an upright from which two to three slabs were pinned and formed quite a comfortable back. This edifice was on the north side of Massies creek, about three miles from where it emptied 488 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO into the Little Miami river. Men and women would ride or walk twelve or fifteen miles to this church and sit and listen to two sermons without seeing fire in the coldest weather. "About the year 1812 or 1813 the second church at Massies Creek was built of hewed logs, one hundred and fifty feet distant from the first one. At this date the county had improved and several mills had been built. It was about fifty feet wide, was floored and ceiled overhead with one-half-inch poplar boards. In it were placed four pews, the balance of the seats being those that had been in the first church. This church became too small for the congregation, and one side was taken out and its width increased about twelve feet. This building was used until the stone one was built (1824) and occupied by Rev. James P. Smart, about two miles north from the first site. The old site is now used as a cemetery in it are the remains of Mr. Armstrong and a large part of the congregation. Out of Massies Creek, Sugar Creek and Xenia congregations of the Associate church, and Xenia Associate Reformed congregations has sprung the nucleus of all the congregations of the United Presbyterian church in the West." FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF XENIA. The claim has been made, and probably with correct historical basis, that though the Associate (Seceder) church had organized congregations in Greene county, these being the churches on Massies creek and on Sugar creek, under the ministration of the Rev. Robert Armstrong, before the formal organization of a connection of the Associate Reformed church, still the latter had its organized congregation in Xenia, the county seat, before the former. Hence, since the union of these churches in 1858, the Associated Reformed has been known as the First United Presbyterian church of Xenia, and the Associate, as the Second. Though those of the early settlers in and about Xenia holding to the tenets of the Associate Reformed faith had received occasional ministration by "supply" and even earlier through the visit of missioners, there was no formal organization of a congregation of those holding that faith at Xenia until the year 1810, when the Rev. John Steele was delegated by the Kentucky presbytery of the Associate Reformed church to moderate a congregational meeting at Xenia and to preside at the ordination of the elders of the new congregation. At a meeting of Kentucky presbytery held at Cynthiana on September 28, 1808, a petition was received from friends at Xenia asking for supplies of preaching and the Rev. Abraham Craig was appointed to preach for them on two Sabbaths in the following September and October. In 1809 Mr. Craig preached at Xenia on four Sabbaths and early in 180 Mr. Steele preached there on four Sabbaths and GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 489 at the meeting of presbytery held at Millersburg, Kentucky, on April 24 of this latter year was delegated to moderate the meeting called for the purpose of organizing a congregation at Xenia, as above noted. Upon the later filing of incorporation papers,. under the laws of Ohio, it was noted that the congregation "decided to be known by the name and style of the Associate Reformed church of Xenia, Greene county, Ohio." Before passing from this mention of formal organization, however, it is but proper to say that the Rev. Doctor Steele had made a much earlier trip up here, notes from a diary kept by him at the time setting out that he had made a missionary journey up from Kentucky into what then was the almost pathless wilderness of the Miami valley as early as the spring of 1798, he having set out from a point near Maysville on April 17 of that year, reaching the old Indian Chillicothe (now Oldtown, in this county) on the l0th and preaching at that point. On May 13 he crossed the river down into what is now Warren county and there preached at the house of Jeremiah Morrow, afterward governor of Ohio. There also is notice of his having preached at the McKnight home near Bellbrook and of tarrying at the house of James Galloway, in the vicinity of old Indian chillicothe. In the year 1811, following the formal organization of the Associate Reformed church at Xenia, the Rev. Adam Rankin and the Rev. William Baldridge were appointed to preach at Xenia. Among the two or three ministers who were sent as occasional supplies to Xenia in the year 1812 was the Rev. James McCord, who had begun his professional career as a student of law in the office of Henry Clay, but had afterward devoted his talent to the gospel ministry. In 1813 the Xenia congregation made out a call for Mr. McCord, who, however, in the meantime had transferred his connection to the Presbyterian church, and the call was returned. Thus disappointed. in their first choice of a pastor, the Xenia congregation continued to receive ministration by occasional supplies during the years 1813, 1814, 1815, and 1816, among the ministers thus serving being noted the names of Rankin, Craig, Risque, McFarland and Steele. In 1817 the congregation made out a call for the Rev. John Steele. This call was accepted and in that same year Mr. Steele moved to Xenia and entered upon a pastoral relation that continued until 1836, a period of nineteen years. Upon his resignation he moved to Oxford, this state, and there died on January 11, 1837. Following the resignation and departure of their first pastor the congregation remained without a pastor for almost two years, or until in June, 1838, when a call was extended to the Rev. James R. Bonner, who accepted and who continued as pastor of this people until April 10, 1845. Mr. Bonner was succeeded by the Rev. Robert D. Harper, who was installed 490 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO as pastor in 1846 and remained until his retirement from the Associate Reform church in 1868 and transfer to the Presbyterian church. In the meantime, however, there had been effected the historic union of the Associate and Associate Reformed churches in 1858 and thereafter the First Associate Reformed church of Xenia was known as the First United Presbyterian church of Xenia. It is a matter of special note in the congregation that the first general assembly of the United Presbyterian church, in May, 1859, was held in this church. Doctor Harper was followed by the Rev. W. G. Moorehead, D. D., who accepted the congregation's call in 1871, he having just returned in that year from eight years of service as missionary in Italy. Doctor Moorehead continued as pastor of the First church until 1875, when he resigned to accept a call to the Fourth United Presbyterian church of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas H. Hanna, who continued as pastor until 1880, when he resigned to accept the pastorate of the First United Presbyterian church at Monmouth, Illinois. In 1881 the Rev. Joseph H. Wright became pastor of the First church and continued serving in that capacity until his death on March 20, 1889. In August, 1891, the Rev. W. B. Barr accepted a call to the First church, but he remained but little more than a year, resigning in December, 1892, to enter the evangelistic field. He was succeeded by the Rev. R. G. Ramsey, who was installed as pastor in September, 1893, and who continued serving the church until his resignation in February, 1901, to enter the Presbyterian church. The Rev. S. E. Martin preached his first sermon as pastor of the First church on April 6, 1902, and he continued as pastor until in May, 1913, being succeeded by the Rev. D. D. Dodds, the present pastor, who was installed in July, 1914. The people of the First church have had four successive houses of worship, having successively outgrown three before erecting their present handsome stone church edifice on East Market street. The first "meeting house" was erected in 1811 at the corner of Detroit and Union streets and is still standing, for many years having been used as a residence, a little brick building with two front doors. It was not long until the growing congregation outgrew this little house of worship and in 1817 erected on East Church street a brick building which, after it also had been outgrown, became utilized as a store house by a local pork packer. That church building stood on a lot directly across the street from the present high-school building. In 1848 the congregation erected their third church edifice on East Market street, a building that stood outwardly unchanged for sixty-one years, except for new windows that were added when the interior was remodeled. In 1907 the congregation decided to rebuild on the site they had so long occupied and on August 16, 1908, the last sermon was preached GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 491 in the old church. The new church was completed and ready for dedication on April 10, 1910, the total cost of the furnished building being thirty-two thousand dollars, not including the cost of the pipe organ, which was the gift of generous friends of the church. The ladies of the congregation also contributed fifteen hundred dollars toward the furnishings of the church and pledged one thousand dollars towards the debt. At the time of the celebration of the church's semi-centennial in 1860 the membership of the First church was two hundred and seventy. When the church celebrated its centennial in 1910 the membership was three hundred and five. Fourteen names appear on both rolls. In 1918 the books of the session record the names of three hundred and forty-one communicants. The Sabbath school has an enrollment of one hundred and ninety-five. Well organized auxiliaries of the church are a Woman's Missionary Society, a Young Ladies' Missionary Society, a Junior Missionary Society and a Young Peoples Society. The members of the session are : Dr. J. P. Dice, Alexander Bailey, Edwin Galloway, W. J. Cherry, C. H. Ervin, Dr. J. S. McCampbell and J. R. Nash. Mr. Nash is the oldest living member of the session and has been a member for more than fifty years. SECOND UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF XENIA. br> The history of beneficent influence exerted by what, since the "union" of 1858, has been known as the Second United Presbyterian church of Xenia covers a period of nearly eleven decades, the date of the formal organization of the congregation comprising that body having been October 21, 1811. As noted above, the immigration into this section of the Miami valley of Associate Presbyterians, especially from Kentucky, which began near the close of the eighteenth century, increased rapidly, and two congregations were soon organized, called, in the minutes of the presbytery of Kentucky, sometimes the Greene county congregations and sometimes the congregations of Massies Creek and Sugar Creek. Soon thereafter, according to Dill's chronicles, a log building was erected as a house of worship by the Massies Creek congregation on the plot of ground now marked by the old Massies Creek burying ground. About the same time a log building for the same purpose was erected by the Sugar Creek congregation about two miles north of Bellbrook, the members of the Associate church in and about the Xenia settlement being affiliated with one or the other of these pioneer organizations, chiefly the former, the congregations being under the joint supervision of one session, the Rev. Robert Armstrong, who had been the pastor of the majority of these settlers while in Kentucky, ministering to both congregations. In 1811 this joint session included the following ruling elders : Joseph Kyle, Thomas Simpson, John Gregg, Hugh Ham- 492 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO mill, George Galloway and James Morrow, residing in the Massies Creek settlement, and James Bain, John Torrence and William Turnbull, of the Sugar Creek settlement. An entry in the minutes of the presbytery of Kentucky, under date of October 21, 1811, records that "Two petitions were presented, one from Massies Creek and Sugar Creek congregations, praying for the moderation of a call, which was unanimously granted." By this act of presbytery the Xenia congregation secured a separate organization, members of the Associate communion living in and in the immediate vicinity of the village by that time having attained sufficient numbers to warrant such a procedure. Sugar Creek, however, remained as a part of the charge set off as Xenia, as is shown by an extract from the minutes of the Associate synod of May, 1813, which sets out that "the petition of the associate congregations of Xenia and Sugar Creek to be disjoined from the presbytery of Kentucky and annexed to the presbytery of Chartiers" was granted. Earlier official minutes indicate a formal organization of the Associate communion at Xenia in April, 1812, and in October of that same year, reports from that congregation having been made to presbytery at both the spring and fall meetings in that year. The ruling elders residing within the limits of the two congregations, and constituted by act of presbytery, October 21, 1811, at the first session, were William Turnbull, John Torrence, James Bain and Hugh Hammill. During the first two or three years of its organization this congregation had been holding its meetings in the court house, but in 1814 a movement was 'carried out for the erection of a house of worship and it then became necessary to elect a board of trustees, William McClellan, James Galloway, Jr., and James Winter being elected to look after the temporal affairs of the congregation. It is noted in the older chronicle above referred to that when the congregation at Xenia was organized the principle of elective affinity as regulating congregational connection was not regarded with favor. It was a time of congregational boundary lines. Accordingly, the first thing in order in the effecting of an organization was the establishment of a dividing line between the Massies Creek congregation on the one hand, and Xenia and Sugar Creek on the other. This line ran nearly north and south, and about one and one-half or two miles east of Xenia at its nearest point. There was no clearly defined line between Xenia and Sugar Creek congregations until January 14, 1822. Though the session was a joint session, having the supervision of both congregations, and all the members of the two congregations took part in the election of elders, still it was the understanding that each should have about equal representation both in the session and in the diaconate. Moreover, it was the understanding that each congregation GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 493 was responsible for its proportion of the pastor's salary, these mutual undertstandings presupposing a tacit understanding of a dividing line. Yet, to guard more certainly against difficulty, it was decided to have this line definitely fixed and this was done on the date last set out, the line running nearly north and south past the Thomas Ginn place. In 1827 the Massies Creek congregation moved its place of worship from the old site to a location on the Collins farm. In consequence of this removal a number of families of that congregation were found to be nearer to Xenia than to the new Massies Creek church and they therefore petitioned presbytery to be disjoined from Massies Creek and annexed to Xenia. Upon the granting of this petition some fourteen families were annexed to Xenia congregation and the dividing line was moved from one and one-half to two miles farther east. When, in 1833, the Sugar Creek congregation moved its place of worship from the old log church north of Bellbrook to a site on the Holmes farm, those families residing between the Little Miami and the western boundary of Xenia congregation were found so far removed from their wonted place of worship that, by act of presbytery, they ultimately were transferred to the Xenia congregation, this act virtually establishing the river as a new boundary line between the two congregations. As noted above, the first house of worship erected by what is now the Second United Presbyterian church of Xenia was built in the year 1814 on the lot immediately west of the site occupied by the present handsome church edifice at the corner of Market and West streets. That early structure was a stone building about fifty by thirtytfive feet in dimensions and in that edifice the congregation worshiped for twenty-six years, or until 1840, in which year the old church was replaced by an edifice of more ample proportions, a substantial structure seventy-five by fifty-seven feet in dimensions. In 1857 this structure was remodeled by. being given an addition of six feet in height and was adorned by the raising of two towers, one at each corner fronting Market street. In 1877 further space was needed by the growing congregation and the church was again remodeled, a lecture room, forty by sixty feet in dimensions, being added, and this edifice served the needs of the congregation until in 1905, when the present attractive and commodious stone edifice was erected at a cost of twenty-seven thousand dollars. The first parsonage owned by the church was the present residence of T. Dales Kyle, on West Church street, which was purchased sometime in the '60s. Doctor Wilson refused to live in the house and lived in a home of his own while in charge of the church, his dwelling standing at the edge of the town. Shortly before Doctor Carson came to the church in 1869 the congregation had sold the parsonage, the building above mentioned, for three thousand dollars. This money was loaned to Doctor Carson when 494 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO he came here in 1869 and he applied it to the purchase of the house in which he still lives. This building, the one in which Doctor Carson lived all the time he was in charge of the church from 1869 to 1902, was always spoken of as the parsonage although it was owned by Doctor Carson and not by the church. After he resigned his pastorate in 1902 he repaid the money he had borrowed from the church, and the trustees at once purchased the present parsonage on West Market street, next to the McKinley school building. The West End chapel, owned and directed by the church, is valued at an additional seven thousand dollars. It is apparent that for the first two or three years after the organization of this congregation its members were served by supply, though there is evidence that the congregation immediately or soon after it had been formally constructed had extended a call to the Rev. William Hume, brother-in-law of the Rev. Robert Armstrong, at that time pastor of the Associate congregation at Nashville, Tennessee, the call on him having apparently been moderated in 1811 or early in 1812, for a minute of presbytery under date of October 13, 1812, sets out that (Mr. Hume having referred the disposal of this call to presbytery) that body, after much deliberation and with great hesitancy, decided against transferring. The first pastor of the church was the Rev. Francis Pringle, the call to him having been moderated by appointment of the presbytery of Chartiers probably late in 1813, for it is noted that the call was sustained by that presbytery on April 13, 1814, and was accepted on July 19, 1814, Mr. Pringle probably having been serving as supply in the meantime. The Rev. Francis Pringle was ordained by the presbytery of Chartiers, at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1814, and in pursuance of the appointment of that presbytery was installed as pastor at Xenia by the Rev. Robert Armstrong on the second Wednesday of January, 1815, his pastoral service continuing until his death on March 15, 1818. The congregation then again was served by supply while seeking a new pastor and on May 5, 1819, extended a call to the Rev. Robert Douglass, which call was declined, and later a call was extended to the Rev. Thomas Beveridge, of excellent memory, which call was accepted. The story of Doctor Beveridge's coming to Xenia is best written in his own words, written years afterward, as follows : "Having been licensed by the Associate presbytery of Chartiers in August, 1819, my appointment led me, among other places, to Xenia and Sugar Creek, which congregations I reached the 1st of November, 1819. I preached alternately in the two congregations during that month and the last two Sabbaths of the succeeding January. The two congregations united in a call to me, February 28, 1820. The salary promised was $500, considered at that time very liberal. The presbytery of Kentucky, as it was then called (afterward Miami), GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 495 consisted of only three ministerial members—Messrs. Armstrong, Hume and Kennedy—and these at great distances from each other. In consequence of this, the call was sent to the presbytery of Cambridge, New York, to be presented. It was accepted August 2, 1820. That presbytery also received and sustained my trials for ordination. I arrived at Xenia October 4th, but was not ordained till the 9th of the next January. Mr. Hume came all the way from Nashville to assist Mr. Armstrong in that service. At this time there was great trouble in Massies Creek congregation, in consequence of which Mr. Armstrong resigned his charge." Doctor Beveridge's pastorate continued for four years, at the end of which time he resigned on account of his health, February, 1824, and on October 22, 1824, the congregation extended a call to the Rev. David Goodwillie, which was declined. Xenia and Sugar Creek meantime continued to be served by supply and on February 20, 1827, extended a call to the Rev. Joseph Clokey, which also was declined. By action of the presbytery of Miami the connection between Xenia and Sugar Creek was dissolved on November i0, 1828, and on January 26, 1829, Xenia extended a call to the Rev. Abraham Anderson, which was declined. On May 3, 1830, a call was extended to the Rev. Samuel Wilson, who accepted the same on September 20, following and on April 27, 1831, was formally installed as pastor at Xenia, the pastorate meanwhile having been vacant for a period of six years and five months, during which time the Rev. James Adams, who had been installed as pastor at Massies Creek, succeeded the Rev. Robert Armstrong, a short time before the resignation of Doctor Beveridge, had rendered the essential ministerial services. For twenty-five years and six months, the Rev. Samuel Wilson served as pastor at Xenia, his resignation, which was accepted by the presbytery of Miami on March 18, 1856, having been based upon synod's indication that he give his undivided attention to the duties of his position as professor of theology and Hebrew in the Xenia Theological Seminary, to which chair he had been elected in May of the preceding year. On the 1st of December, following, the congregation extended a call to the Rev. S. B. Reed, which was declined. On September 2 I , 1858, presbytery sustained the call extended to the Rev. R. B. Ewing and on January 20, 1859, Mr. Ewing was formally installed as pastor, Doctor Beveridge delivering the charge to the people on that occasion. Mr. Ewing was thus first pastor after the "union," the old Associate church thenceforward being known as the Second United Presbyterian church of Xenia, the Associate Reformed church, by right of priority of organization, taking the name of the First United Presbyterian church after the union. At his own request Mr. Ewing was released from his charge on January 14, 1868, and the pulpit remained vacant, the congregation meanwhile being served 496 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO by supply, until in May, 1869, when a call was extended to the Rev. James G. Carson, at that time pastor of the congregation at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, in the presbytery of Chartiers. This call was accepted in the following October and in the following December began Doctor Carson's long pastorate, which continued for more than thirty years, or until the pastor's voluntary retirement on September 1, 1902. About the time of the beginning of Doctor Carson's pastorate at Xenia a considerable number of the congregation—between forty and fifty members, including two of the elders—had separated themselves from the Second church and had united with about an equal number from the Reformed Presbyterian congregation to effect the organization of the Third United Presbyterian church in Xenia, thus reducing the membership of Second church to about one hundred and eighty-five; which, however, in the first fifteen months of Doctor Carson's pastorate was restored to its previous number of two hundred and thirty. During the first year of that pastorate, also, notwithstanding its diminished strength, the congregation undertook and accomplished the entire refitting and furnishing of the interior of the church, at an expense of more than three thousand dollars, the whole of which amount was subscribed and paid by the time the work was completed. Following the resignation of Doctor Carson in 1902 there was a radical change in the history of the Second and Third United Presbyterian churches of Xenia, a change which finally resulted in the merging of the two congregations, the new congregation taking the name of the Second and the pastor of the Third. Dr. W. S. McClure had been pastor of the Third church since 1897, and became the first pastor of the new congregation upon the consolidation. Doctor McClure remained with the new church until 1912, when he resigned. The church was without a regular pastor until Rev. Huber Ferguson came in 1913, his service extending until 1917. In the fall of the latter year the present pastor, Rev. Charles P. Proudfit, was installed. The present membership is three hundred and fifty-five, and all the departments of the church are in a flourishing condition. The Sabbath school has an enrollment of three hundred and sixty-five and is under the superintendency of Wier Cooper. The Woman's Missionary Society, with Mrs. B. R. McClellan as president, has a membership of fifty ; the Young People's Society has a membership of sixty-five. The West End branch of the church has a membership of fifty-five, with a Sabbath school, Heber Douthett, superintendent, of one hundred. THIRD UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF XENIA. The career of the Third United Presbyterian church. of Xenia began on December 9, 1869, and formally closed on March 25, 1903, at which latter (late the congregations of the Second and Third United Presbyterian GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 497 churches voted to merge their congregations. The history of the Third church was carefully compiled in 1892 by J. C. McMillan, then the only living member of the original organization of 1848, and here is appended a verbatim copy of his manuscript, which now forms a part of the records of the church : The Third Presbyterian church of Xenia was the successor of the Reformed Presbyterian church of Xenia, which was organized on February 12, 1848, under the following circumstances : Ten families, members of the Reformed Presbyterian congregation of Massies Creek, under the care of Rev. Hugh McMillan, pastor, living in and of the vicinity of Xenia, Ohio, who for fifteen years had regularly attended there, believing that an organization was desirable in Xenia which would save traveling some twelve and fourteen miles on Sabbath, held a meeting on February 12, 1848, at which it was agreed to petition the Ohio presbytery for an organization. The petition was signed by Daniel McMillan, James C. McMillan, Alexander Wier, John Little, John B. Wright, James Bratton, Robert Cooper,. William H. Stewart, William McQuiston and James Chalmers. These men, with their families, made a total proposed membership of the new church of thirty-six members. This petition was granted and Rev. Andrew Heron, D. D., was appointed to organize the congregation, this being done on June 17th, 1848. Daniel McMillan, Alexander Wier and John Little were made elders. The Methodist Protestant church on Church street not being regularly occupied was secured for public worship, and here regular services were held until some time in 1849. In that year the congregation decided to build a church and a committee was appointed to look for a lot. Daniel McMillan, being the owner of the lots on the corner of Columbus and Market streets, valued at $1,000, proposed to donate them to the church and also subscribe $500 to the building fund. This was accepted. D. Crandall was employed to prepare a plan not to exceed $4,000, for a building 42 by 62 feet. A committee was then appointed to raise the funds, and the building was erected that year, although it was not ready for regular services until April, 185o. The deed for the property was made to Alexander Wier, John Little and James C. McMillan, trustees, and their successors in office—but with this proviso : "That should this organization cease to exist, any other ecclesiastical body adhering to the same doctrinal standard as held by the Reformed Presbyterian church should have the use of the said property for a house of worship." Rev. G. McMaster, D. D., and Rev. .Hugh McMillan preached the two first sermons at the dedication. Rev. J. A. Crawford was the first pastor and continued in charge for about seven years at an annual salary of $500. Rev. Robert McCaslin, the second pastor, served about six years. John Armstrong and Robert Bryson were added to the session in 1854 after the death of Alexander Wier. John Miller, James C. McMillan and William McQuiston were elected elders in 1856. After the release and removal of Rev. Robert McCaslin the congregation was without a pastor for three years. The last communion was held by Rev. J. Y. Boice, then of Cincinnati, in May, 1869. The Ohio presbytery being reduced to three ministerial members, it was found difficult to obtain supplies in the Reformed Presbyterian church. A meeting was held in order to ascertain how many of the members were willing to unite with the Presbyterian church. The basis of union that was adopted by the delegates of the Reformed Presbyterian, the Associate Reformed and the Associate churches was read, all adhering to the same doctrinal standards, forms of worship and government. It was agreed by all present to accept this as the basis on which we were willing to unite with the United Presbyterian church without any sacrifice of principles of the Reformed Presbyterian church. It was then resolved to present a petition to the Xenia presbytery to be received as a congregation under the care of that presbytery. James C. McMillan, James (32) 498 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO Bryson and Thomas B. Harper were appointed to present the petition, the same being accepted, and H. P. Jackson was appointed to preach on Thanksgiving Day, November 18, 1869, and arrange for the reception of the new congregation. At this time a proposition came from members of the Second U. P. church principally, and some from the First U. P. church, of Xenia, to unite and form the Third U. P. church. The First and Second U. P. churches of Xenia contributed 37 members and the Reformed Presbyterian church 38 members, making a total for the new Third U. P. church of 75 members. December 9, 1869, was appointed to form the organization. Rev. H. P. Jackson called the session to order. James C. McMillan, James Bryson and William McQuiston, elders of the Reformed church, and George Monroe, Joseph Morrow and H. J. Bonner, of the U. P. church, constituted with prayer. The officers and members of the Reformed Presbyterian church were received, retaining the use of the church property under the direction of the three trustees, James Bryson, W. H. Stewart and Hugh M. Wier. Those of the U. P. church having their certificates were also received and the ecclesiastical union was formed and the organization of the Third United Presbyterian church of Xenia was completed. The congregation was allowed to supply the pulpit for a time. Rev. Baldridge, W. T. Meloy, W. P. McNary and W. H. McMillan were heard, the latter holding communion on January 23, 1870. On this date the congregation held a meeting and a vote was taken without nomination for a pastor. Rev. W. H. McMillan received a large majority of all the votes cast. It was agreed to ask the presbytery for the moderation of a call. Rev. James G. Carson was appointed to moderate on March 28, 1870, who, after preaching a very appropriate sermon from Romans I, 16, asked the congregation if they were prepared to go forward with the call. They answered in the affirmative, and the name of Rev. W. H. McMillan was proposed to be inserted unanimously, and $1,200 was proposed as his salary. All the members present signed the agreement, and the three trustees signed the bond for the salary. The call being approved by the presbytery, it was forwarded to his presbytery in Illinois and by him accepted. In a short time Rev. McMillan was installed as the first pastor of the newly organized Third Presbyterian church of Xenia. He remained until January 23, 1873, when he was released to accept a call to the Second U. P. church at Allegheny. On November 3, 1873, Rev. Richard Turnbull was called and installed, remaining five years, being released on September 17, 1878, to accept a call to Detroit. Rev. W. G. Moorehead was called on October 18, 1878, he being at the time a professor in the Xenia Theological Seminary. He accepted with the understanding that his services should not interfere with his duties in the seminary. He continued with the church until September 15, 1885, when he was released, the seminary requiring all of his time. Rev. J. W. Smith was called in April, 1886, and installed on the 4th of the month. He was released after four years' service to take charge of a church at Warren, Pennsylvania. The congregation next presented a petition to Rev. W. W. White, a professor in the local seminary, but he declined the offer. Rev. W. J. Buchanon, of Media, Illinois, was next invited to come and preach two Sabbaths and hold communion. He came and gave such satisfaction that a call was extended to him on March 23, 1891. A call was moderated for him, which he accepted, his salary to be $1,200. He took charge on the second Sabbath in June, 1891, and was installed in December, 1891. At that time there were about 160 members on the roll. The Third U. P. church had 75 members when organized and showed an increase of 140 per cent in 22 years. The writer at the present time is the only surviving member of the organization of 1848. [This concludes the original manuscript of J. C. McMillan, his final statement being to the effect that his work was "done by request," the manuscript being dated March 28, 1892.] Rev. W. J. Buchanon was succeeded in September, 1897, by Rev. W. S. McClure, who was in charge of the church until it effected a union with GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 499 the Second United Presbyterian church, and then became the pastor of the united congregations, the new congregation being called the Second United Presbyterian church. The year 1902 saw the Second United Presbyterian without a pastor, Dr. J. G. Carson, who had been pastor since 1869, resigning on September 1, 1902. It is at this point in the history of Presbyterianism in Xenia that the prejudices of a century had their last hearing. The old questions, such as music in the church, secret societies, and various others, were thoroughly discussed during 1902 and 1903. The facts in the merger are that both the Second and Third United Presbyterians needed new buildings, and yet neither congregation was strong enough to build a church. For this- reason and also for the reason that many of the members of the two churches could not see the necessity of trying to maintain two separate congregations, the more progressive members of both churches began to agitate the merging of the two congregations. The discussion was carried on during the fall and winter of 1902 and 1903 and finally resulted in the two congregations coming to an agreement whereby the consolidation was effected. The record shows that on March 25, 1903, the session of the Third church unanimously adopted a resolution accepting the proposal of the Second church, and this date may be said to mark the official close of the Third church as a distinct congregation. At a subsequent meeting of the sessions of both churches, Rev. W. S. McClure was called as pastor of the united congregations, the new church carrying the name of the Second Presbyterian church. Thus closed the career of the Third United Presbyterian church of Xenia. Its church property was later sold, and the new church at once began plans for the erection of a new building. This new structure, as before stated, was completed in 1905 at a cost of twenty-seven thousand dollars. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT JAMESTOWN. The United Presbyterian church at Jamestown is a worthy daughter of the old Seceder church organized under the ministration of the Rev. Robert Armstrong on Massies creek in 1804, the latter having included in its membership all those of the early settlers of Greene county who held to the Associate faith. Presently the settlement along Caesars creek gained sufficient numerical strength to feel that it could support a church of its own, many finding the trip to the Massies. Creek church too long for convenience, and in the spring of 1831, following a sermon preached by the Rev. John Kendall in John Duncan's barn, five miles east of Xenia, the people of that neighborhood began to talk about an organization. John Duncan was sent as a commissioner to presbytery with a petition for an organization.