MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 275 was required by law to appoint a board of state examiners, consisting of three persons, who held their office for two years. This board was authorized to issue life certificates to such teachers as may be found, upon examination, to have attained "eminent professional experience and ability." These certificates were valid in any school district in the state, and superseded the necessity. f all other examinations .by the county or local boards of examiners. Each applicant for a state certificate was required to pay a fee of three dollars. There was in each county in the state a board of examiners appointed by the probate judge, their official term being three years. The law provided that it shall be the duty of the examiners to fix upon the time f holding the meetings for the examination of teachers, in such places in their respective counties as will, in their opinion, best accommodate the greatest number of candidates for examination, notice of all such meetings being published in some newspaper of general circulation in their respective counties, and at such meetings any two of said board shall be competent, to examine applicants and grant certificates; and as a condition of examination, each applicant for a certificate shall Pay the board of examiners a fee of fifty cents." The fees thus received were set apart as a fund for the support of teachers' institutes. In city districts f the first and second class and village districts, having a population of not less than two thousand five hundred, the examiners were appointed by the boards of education. The fees charged were the same as those of the county boards, and were appropriated for the same purpose. DISTRICT SCHOOL DIRECTORS. There were in the different districts, sub-districts, in which as people elected, annually, a local director, whose term pf offlce continued for three years. From this it will be seen that each sub-district had a board consisting of three directors. These directors chose one of their number as clerk, who presided at as meetings f local directors, and kept a record thereof. He also kept a record of the proceedings of the annual school meetings f the sub-district. The board of education of each township district consisted of the township clerk and the local directors who had been appointed clerks of the sub-districts. The law provided that in every district in the state there shall be taken, between as first Monday in September and. the first Monday in October, in each year, an enumeration of all unmarried youth, noting race and sex, between six and twenty-one years of age, resident within as district, and not temporarily there, designating. also the number between sixteen and twenty-one years of age, the number residing in the Western reserve, the Virginia military districts, the United States military district, and in any original surveyed township or fractional townships to which belongs section 16, or other land in lieu thereof, or any other lands for the use of Schools or any interest in the proceeds of such land : provided, that, in addition to as classified return of all the youth residing in the district, that the aggregate number of youth in the district resident of any adjoining county shall be separately given, if any such there be, and the name of the county in which they reside." The clerk of each board of education was required to transmit to the county auditor an abstract of the returns of enumeration made to him, on or before the second Monday of October. The county auditor was required to transmit to the state commissioner, on or before the 5th day of November, a duly certified abstract of the enumeration returns made to him by clerks of school districts. The law provided .that "the auditor of state shall, annually, apportion to the common-school funds among as different counties upon the enumeration and returns made to him by the state commissioner of common schools, and certify as amount so apportioned to the county auditor of each county, stating from what sources the same is derived, which said sum the several county treasurers shall retain in their respective treasuries from the state funds; and the county auditors shall, annually, and immediately after their annual settlement with the county treas- 276 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. urers, apportion the school funds for their respective counties, according to the enumeration and returns in asir respective offices:" This law provided that the school year should begin on the 1st day of September of each year, and close on the 31st day of August of the succeeding year. A school week should consist of five days, and a school month of four school weeks. The law also provided, in relation to common schools, "That they shall be free to all youth between six and twenty-one years of age who are children, wards or apprentices of actual residents of as school district, and no pupil shall be suspended therefrom except for such time as may be necessary to convene the board of education of the district, or local director of the sub-district, nor be expelled unless by a vote of two-thirds of said board of local directors, after the parent or guardian of the offending pupil shall have been notified of the proposed expulsion, and permitted to be heard against as same ; and no scholar shall be suspended or expelled from the. privilege of schools beyond the current term: Provided; that each board of education shall have power to admit other persons, not under six years of age, upon such terms, or upon the payment of such tuition as they prescribe; and boards of education of city, village or special districts shall also have power to admit, without charge or tuition, persons within the school age who are members of the family of any freeholder whose residence is not within such districts, if any part of such freeholder's homestead is within such district; and provided further; that the several boards of education shall make such assignments of as youth of their respective districts to the schools established by them as will, in their opinion, best promote the interests f education in their districts; and provided further, that nothing contained in this section shall supersede or modify the provisions of section 31 of an act entitled an act for as reorganization, supervision and maintenance of common schools, passed. March 14, 1853, as amended. March 18, 1864." Provision was made by law for the establishment and maintenance of teachers institutes, which were established for, the professional. improvement of teachers. At each session competent instructors and lecturers were employed to assist the state commissioner, who was required by law to superintend and encourage such institutes. They were either county, city or joint institutes of two or more counties, and the examination fees paid by teachers to boards of examiners were devoted to the payment of the expenses incurred by these institutes. It is said that a state, consists of men, and history, shows that no art or science, wealth or power, will compensate for the want of moral or intellectual stability in the minds, of a nation.: Hence, it is admitted that the strength, and perpetuity of this republic must consist in as morality and intelligence of the people. Every youth in Ohio, under twenty-one years of age, may have the benefit of a public education, and since the system of graded and high schools has been adopted, may obtain a common knowledge from the alphabet to the classics. The enumerated branches of. study in the public schools of Ohio are thirty-four, including mathematics and astronomy, French, German and the classics. Thus the state, which was in the heart of the wilderness but a little more than one hundred years ago, now presents to the world not merely an an unrivaled development of material prosperity, but an unsurpassed, system of popular education. SCHOOLS UNDER THE NEW LAWS, By J. R. Clarke, State Supervisor of Agricultural Education, Southeast Ohio District. A little more than a year ago (1913) our Legislature and our enthusiastic governor gave us a legal survey f all schools outside of the cities, and we have all found out what many already knew, namely; that most township and village schools were without any system; and in these everything unsanitary; unattractive and retrogressive were found that everywhere goes with a lack of system. The report of the school survey commis- MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 277 sion is full f the shortcomings f our schools and gives the school air a bad perfume —some say a worse one than it deserves. Be that as it may, it tells too .much truth for such a state as Ohio. What now would be the results if as state, through its department of public instruction, were to get out a volume of the many, many virtues and gracious centers of learning and refinement found in all corners of our state—the high and consolidated schools; the modern single room schools; the model teachers; and all those with the best equipment and physical conditions— libraries, pictures on the walls, clean rooms and premises—and God's out of doors? The message of these mnst of necessity be carried in print or by messenger to the teacher and boards who have been laggards. Laws will not create school. spirit nor make good teachers; the inspired word and the gentle touch f spirit with spirit will give us both. Briefly, the new laws provide for a well-defined school administration, for standardizing the schools; for training the teachers, and for very much more money from the state treasury for schools. Much more is provided in these laws along other lines. The administration is planned in a superintendent for each county and a local superintendent in each rural and village district, or a superintendent for a combination of these rural and village districts. The county superintendent is the state representative in each county. He will be the head of all school work in his county, if he is big enough, and if he is not, he will be sand on the machinery. He will of necessity be the county director of the teacher training schools in connection with the first grade high schools, and to do this effectively must be the peer of any teacher in the county, or his leadership will take the schools downhill. He is the clerk of the board of county school examiners; he will provide a manual of courses of study to the districts of the county, which will outline a minimum of work ; he nominates the local superintendents in most cases and does much in directing the teachers' institute work. In short; he is the legal leader of the county school forces. Will he lead educationally? We all pray for an affirmative answer—and will get this answer where the county board of education, unafraid and in its own best judgment—elects the right man—an educator who is well qualified for the work and who has shown unmistakable qualities of leadership. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT. College diplomas and high school certificates are not the most important qualifications of the new educational county official: The new school code of Ohio makes radical and sweeping changes in the organization and administration of the rural and village schools. The county superintendent has many problems to solve—problems more delicate, more important and more difficult that confront the city superintendent. It has been no easy task to install this new school machinery successfully from the outset. Judging from the duties laid down in the new code, this official must possess, in a high degree, organizing, administrative and executive ability. Among the duties of the county superintendent under the new code are the following: He shall be in all respects the executive officer of the county board of education; he shall act as secretary of the county board of education; he shall conduct a county convention of school board members; he shall prepare a minimum course of study which shall be a guide for the local boards of education; he shall nominate the district superintendents; he shall hold monthly meetings with the district superintendents and advise with them on matters of school efficiency; he shall visit and inspect the schools under his supervision; he shall have direct supervision over as training of teachers in the county normal training schools; he shall be a member of the county school examiners and act as its secretary ; he shall make reports to the county auditor, to the county board of education, and to the state superintendent of public instruction; he shall lead in managing the county institute. These are only some of the duties of this county school 278 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. official—the county superintendent, and it is very evident from these and other duties not enumerated that he should be a man of high qualifications—a man of wide range of experience and a high order of executive and administrative ability. CENTRALIZATION OF RURAL SCHOOLS. The new code places great emphasis on the centralization of rural schools. It has been demonstrated in Ohio that this form of school organization affords the best opportunity for the ideal rural school—the best opportunity for the successful teaching of agriculture and domestic science—the best opportunity for the development of the rural spirit and country life—the best opportunity to give the youth of the rural districts that kind f an education which will fit them best for asir life work. But the people of Ohio are a conservative people. There are many "stand-patters" in education, and a campaign must be waged in every township to educate the people up to a higher standard and to this more improved form of rural school organization. The new school code makes ample provision for the centralization of schools, but without able leadership very little can be accomplished. The county superintendent should not only possess strong executive and administrative experience and ability, but he should be a strong and prudent leader in all educational reforms and improvement. THE RURAL HIGH SCHOOL. The people are coming to realize more and more that equality of opportunity for the people of the rural districts means the improvement and development of the rural high school. The new code provides for this improvement. The new code recognizes the fact that the rural high school must be made the equal in all respects to the, city high school. Its aim is to make as rural high school a social and educational center for the best development of the whole rural community life. The rural high school is to become as crowning feature of our modern rural school system. The improvement and enrichment of the rural high school is one of the many good features of the new code. A good high-school education today is more essential than a common-school education was in the days of the fathers. A close analysis of as new code shows that the standards now set for rural and village schools are higher than those for the city schools. Dean H. G. Williams, of Ohio University, writes: "Ohio's greatest need within as next few months is for educational leaders. No state in the Union has swung more rapidly into the progressive educational column than Ohio, and we have today a new school code which will tend to revolutionize educational policies and practices." RESUME OF CHANGES IN SCHOOL SYSTEM. The rural school came into Ohio from New. England, first establishing itself in the Wester reserve. Only the more densely populated and progressive communities were blessed, with schools during the first quarter of the past century. The school houses were very remotely placed, and the schools served very large areas. School teachers were even more scarce, and often suitable ones could not be found. It frequently happened that a student in college found it very convenient to replenish his dwindling funds by dropping out of college for a term during the winter time and go to one of the back districts of Ohio and teach a six or even ten weeks' term of school. That young people appreciated the opportunities that thus occasionally came to them is attested by the fact that these early schools often numbered from seventy-five to one hundred pupils. Before 1852 only four branches were required to be taught in Ohio schools, namely : reading, writing, arithmetic and spelling. The men teachers were required to take examination in reading, writing and arithmetic ; but the lady teachers were let off a little easier, and for some reason—the reader may speculate—they were permitted to MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 279 substitute orthography for arithmetic. Evidence of proficiency in these branches usually secured the coveted license to teach, and these permits were from six months to eighteen months in length. After as year above mentioned two more subjects were added to the list of requirements; they were English grammar and geography. The additions have continued from time to time until today the teacher is required to pass an examination in ten subjects before being permitted to teach in the rural schools. RURAL POPULATION DWINDLING. Between 1870 and 1880 improvement in the rural schools of Ohio consisted mainly in these five things : the building of more school houses, of better school houses, raising the educational requirements of the teachers, paying better wages, and enforcing attendance on the part of the children. By 1885 or 1890 the rural school had reached its greatest efficiency and enjoyed as splendor of its sentimental glory. Soon thereafter the rural exodus began. Some rural communities in Ohio, between 1890 and 1910 lost one-third of their populations. The number of one-room school houses, which. before 1890, existed in about the right ratio to population to best serve the rural communities of the state, became too numerous in 1910, not because asre had been so many new school houses built, but because there were fewer families and.. therefore, fewer children in the rural districts of the state to make use of them, So it has come to pass that the rural schools, and the system of rural education generally, became a burden to, the rural people when considered from as standpoint of efficiency. The Ohio state school survey was the outcome of an effort to seek a remedy from these various ills of our rural school system. In the meantime, however, there were isolated efforts towards a solution of the great rural education problems. The most common method of bettering the rural schools of the state, and one which reached, in some parts, where strong educators were placed in control, a high degree of development, is as system of township supervision of the one-room elementary rural schools in connection with a township high school. In this system the civil township, usually including a village, is the school-administration unit, which is still quite common in New England, but which has quite disappeared in all other parts of the country in favor of the county unit. Ohio is the latest state to follow the accepted order of the great states of the famous American. corn belt. NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF MADISON COUNTY The county board of education at its first meeting in May, 1915, divided Madison county into supervision districts. It was decided that the three village districts, Plain City, West Jefferson and Mt. Sterling, should remain as separate supervisory districts. The remainder of the county was divided into four districts as follows: Rural district No. 1, Darby, Canaan and Jefferson townships; No. 2, Pike, Monroe, Somerford and Deer Creek townships; No. 3, Fairfield, Oak Run, Pleasant and East Range townships; No. 4, Union, Paint, West Range and Stokes townships. It is estimated that this will save the county about five thousand dollars in cost of supervision and will enable the school boards to pay their teachers better salaries. The salaries of the teachers vary in the different townships from forty-five to seventy-two dollars per month. LONDON'S HIGH SCHOOL. The new high school building at London, the county seat, was formally opened in thy, 1913: The chief speaker of the occasion was Prof. Edward E. Sparks, a former graduate of that high school, who 'is now president of Pennsylvania University. The class of 1913 had the honor f being the first to graduate from the new building. The London high school stands oh the accredited list and ranks among the best and largest schools in the state. Superintendent W. H. Rice is the head of the efficient 280 - MADISON. COUNTY, OHIO. faculty; Mrs: Lester Bidwell, English department; Miss Grace Thurness, German and senior mathematical department; Miss Marie Bowers, Latin department; Miss Marguerite Bange, history department ; Miss Beulah Wells, mathematical department; Mr. Garrison, commercial department; Mr. M. C. Wagner, scientific department. The first year in the new high school building aroused in the students a new spirit of loyalty, pride and admiration. They realized the advantage afforded by as building in each of the different departments. The gymnasium was a source of physical development and pleasure to both boys and girls. Basketball was most popular and several very interesting and closely contested games were played. The senior girls basketball team holds the girls championship in the high school. The auditorium, with its finely equipped stage, has been of great benefit; rendering the presentation of the senior play a simpler matter. The students of science have been greatly benefited. The laboratories are completely equipped and have made it possible for each student to perform the different experiments individually. Those who are taking the commercial course have had the advantage of using as most complete and up-to-date desks in this part of the state. The work in each department is made exceedingly Interesting by its head. The following sketches, one by Mrs. Minnie Creath Bidwell, on "The Study of English," and one by Miss Marguerite Bange, on "The Study of History,"' give an idea of the work done in these two department's and are illustrative of the high standard of the work in all departments. ENGLISH. "The problem of teaching English to high-school pupils is not an easy task, but one that yields genuine pleasure and constant enlightenment. The child's school life should be like his play, the outpouring of his whole being. Especially should this be so when he is occupied with those studies which involve the art side of human nature; and where can a finer opportunity for art work be found than in our prescribed course in English? it is as duty and the pleasure of the English teacher to bring the average boy and girl to look upon the art f composition as a natural mode of self-expression. All children love to express themselves, though they do not always like to express what other people think they, should. But give them subjects which appeal to inner beings, and they will cheerfully study all the rules which underlie narration, description and exposition, in order, as effectively as possible, to tell the stories they enjoy, describe the things they like, explain the games they know, and argue the points of. their beliefs. No boy, needs to be. compelled to memorize the rules of baseball if he loves our national game. Just so no boy needs to be compelled to write a composition or orally discuss a subject if the assignment be something in which he is really interested. Meet the boy on his own ground and he will do the rest. "Most of our 'classics' which now form an important part of our English course are admirably adapted for as development of literary appreciation, if the children are not forced to toil over unimportant details. But if, on the other hand, they are led to enjoy the story, to feel the chivalry of 'Ivanhoe,' to learn the great moral and religious lesson of 'Sir Launful,' to suffer and be redeemed with the 'Ancient Mariner,' new worlds will open before them. The writer has ften watched with great pleasure the growing interest f her pupils in the character study in 'Silas Manner,’ their love of the beautiful and the exciting in 'The Lady of the Lake,' and their appreciation of the nineteenth-century ideals of beauty, love and morality found in the 'Idylls of as King.' "Some one, has said, Literature is the expression of life in words of truth and beauty; it is the written record of man's spirit, of his thoughts; emotions, aspirations; it is the history and the only history of the human soul. Its object, aside from the delight it gives us, is to know the soul of man rather than his actions; and since it MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 281 preserves. to the race the ideals upon which all civilization is founded, it is one of the most important and delightful subjects than can occupy the human. mind. "Such being, the purpose of the. study of English, the appeal which it makes to pupils and to teachers is. the strongest than can delight the mind." HISTORY. "'Study the past, if you would divine the future.' In this command of the famous Chinese philosopher, Confucius, is summed up the principle which for centuries has prompted the policies, of the Chinese nation a principle which has given them, a civilization rich in culture and traditions, but nevertheless, a civilization which has, within itself, no germ f development. In the study of history, the adverse criticism is made that the past is studied to the neglect of the movement f our own times. "This may be true. However, we all interpret the present in terms of the past, and it is by the knowledge and light of a former age that we are enabled to interpret the trend of the present. Without the past there could be no present, for as present in itself is wholly an evolution of the past. Given certain conditions, human nature, is invariable, and the adage, 'History repeats itself,' must have justification for its existence. "The teachings of John Ball live over again in the present-day Socialists and the jingle which held thousands to his belief might pass for the creation of some Debs of our own day. “‘When Adam: delved and Eve. span,  Who was then the gentleman?' “Then, too, many pessimists of our own time see in the fate of the Roman empire a sinister prophecy for the United States. Surely we should profit by the experience of an age long past. To .quote Fuller : 'History maketh a young man to be old without wrinkles or gray hairs, privileging him with the experience of age; without either the infirmities or inconveniences thereof.' "It is therefore the aim of the history department f the high school to make the lives of the people of yesterday, whose tombs have long been covered by the dust of ages, stand forth free from as marks of Time and See them: as they were living, breathing human beings, who lived and loved, struggled and fought, suffered and died —maybe for a principle, and more often not. The words of the historical enthusiast. It is delightful to transport ones self into the spirit of the past, to see how a wise man has thought before us, and to what a glorious height we have at last reached.' THE DUTY OF THE STUDENT. "Nor is it sufficient merely to know just what act a certain man performed--; in short, what were the events of his life. This process creates absolutely no human sympathy, nor does it incline one's mind to a broad toleration in the passing of judgment. The student must learn to place himself in the time when these. people lived—to see the events through their eyes—to work under the same handicaps with, them in short, he must feel as spirit of the time in which his character lived; else his vision is astigmatized and as a result his judgment biased. "For the student to know merely that Philip II carried on his persecutions with a relentless severity almost without parallel Christian history and that the defeat of the Spanish Armada marks the beginning of the decline of Spanish prestige is not sufficient. Before passing judgment upon Philip, he must know what motive impelled that grim-visaged fanatic to pursue the, course which he did. He must also see how this policy reacted upon Spain and he must see the relationship existing between Philip's narrow-mindedness and Spain's decline. Also he must realize as age which 282 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. could ,produce a Philip II. It is in this way only, that the student's history will be of profit to him. Because he, has seen. the effect of the narrow-mindedness of one individual upon the history of a whole nation, he may thus be enabled to profit by experience. The student. should be taught that he may say with Shelley, 'I know the past and thence I will essay to glean a warning for the future, so that man may profit by his errors and derive experience 'from his folly.' "The history course in our high school is necessarily somewhat limited. However, in the course as it stands, we seek to give the student the broadest and most comprehensive view of the ages past, and particularly that history which will prove most useful to the student himself. "Many children, of necessity, are not able to pursue their high school course beyond the first year ; many more find it impossible to enter upon their third year of work. Largely, for this reason, English history, which is, broadly speaking, our own history previous to 1776, is taught in the first year of the high-school course. In the second year, our historical attention is centered upon the study of general history, while an advanced course is elective to fourth-year students. REASON FOR UNHAMPERED GROWTH. "The study of English history is mainly a study of constitutional growth. The steady growth of the parliamentary system, and in particular, the steady growth of the power of the people, vested on that wonderful organization—the House of Commons—runs like a clear strong thread through the entire fabric of English history. We seek for the reason for this steady, unhampered growth of democracy in England and we find it in the fact of England's insular position and in the fact that she was more free from invasion; more free from neighborhood turmoil and boundary strife than her contemporaries across the ditch,' as Napoleon called it. "In second-year history work,' or general history, 'the work of necessity cannot be so intensive. It must be extensive and comprehensive. To traverse in nine months' time the growth covered by the human race in seven thousand yearn and to trace the growth of humanity from its infancy when it made mud houses and ate out of baked-mud or clay dishes on the banks of the Nile or the Tigris or the Euphrates, to its present maturity when it plays with its own complicated 'inventions on the banks of a Panama canal or the ties of a Trans-Siberian canal or the ties of a Trans-Siberian railway or at the sluice gates of an Assouan dam—to traverse this distance is a task worthy of the effort. To trace the rise of nations to their heights of power, their subsequent decline and fall—the growth of the new from the ashes of the old—is an occupation, fascinating withal, yet not less difficult because it is fascinating. "Our interest most naturally is centered upon those countries which have touched most vitally our own lives—Greece, with her culture; Rome, with her laws; Italy, with her renaissance; Germany, with her Reformation ; France, with her political revolution; England, with her parliamentary growth, and Spain, with her ever-present example of the deadening influence of a restrictive policy. All these things claim some of our attention ; when any one of them might justly claim our whole thought. We deal with them all to the best of our ability in the attempt to feel that without that past there could be no present, as without the child there can be no man. "The realm of history is so broad, there is so much of great importance that can be touched upon only lightly and the architecture, art and culture of these nations Must of necessity be studied in connection with other courses. The best aim of our education is to obtain a clear sense of relative value, to create a broad human understanding and to inspire a deep lasting appreciation of the Good, the True and the Beautiful." CHAPTER XXV. CHURCHES OF MADISON COUNTY. There is no more potent factor in the life of any community than the church, and the influence of an active religious denomination is measured by the wholesome spirit which may be found in the community. More than a hundred years have elapsed since the first settlers of Madison county made their permanent homes here, and within that time many churches have arisen in the county. Many of them have long since closed their careers, but the good which they accomplished still remains. There are those who maintain that the people of today are not as religious as were the pioneers of the state, but things religious are not to be measured by human standards. The mere fact that there are fewer churches in Madison county today than there were fifty years ago does not argue that the people are any the less religions; neither does it imply that the life of the people is of a lower standard than it was in the "good old days." Churches may come and churches may go, but a better civilization is not gauged by the mere number of churches. Many factors have entered into the disappearance of the rural church; and not the least of these is the shifting of 'population from the country to the towns and villages. For this same reason there are hundreds and ever thousands of public schools throughout Ohio which have been discontinued within the past twenty-five years. Many a neighborhood which: had from fifty to seventy-five school children half a century ago cannot even support a school with the ninimum number required by the law at the present time. This ever-increasing drift from rural to urban centers affects not only the church and school, but life along all lines. Nor does it mean, in any sense of the word that the people are becoming less religious because of fewer churches, or more ignorant because of the abandonment of so many rural schools. There can be no question that Madison county has passed through a marked religious change during the past three-quarters of a century, nor can it be denied that things might be better. Yet it must be admitted that the, people of the county are living today much closer to the Ten Commandments' than ever before. History reveals that the forefathers were not always as good as they have been pictured; could we of today see them in their daily life we should be surprised at some of the thing§ they did. The great majority of them drank—and drank whisky; they were very pro.- fane; they were prone to fight ; they grafted in public affairs, just as has been done since; they had many shortcomings which we have not been accustomed to associate with them. Yet, they were religious—though the preacher often worked his sermon out with the aid of a whisky flask. In those cold churches of the twenties and thirties the bottle was called upon to supply the heat denied by the fireplace or rude stove. It was the way people lived in those days; in their point of view a bottle of whisky was as essential to the farmer on harvest day as the bottle of machine-oil is today. Under truly pioneer conditions did our forefathers live for many years, and to see them file to church on Sunday morning in the thirties, one would certainly think so. The historians of the Central West often find where the congregations were mostly barefooted. Some wore moccasins, some buckskin breeches and hunting shirts, with coon, fox or possum-skin caps on their heads. Many of the caps were ornamented with 284 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. fox tails. According to the custom of, the period, the men sat on the left side of the centre aisle and the women on the right. Husbands and wives and sweethearts went to and from church together, but sat apart during the services, lest their attention be distracted from the preacher's sermon. Then the women used to sing treble, and one would hear a woman's voice away above that of the congregation. They thought it was fine, but, under the new way, the men sing the tenor. The hymns were "lined I out," as it was then called. Two lines would be given out by the minister or clerk, then sung by the congregation ; then two more lines Would. be read and sung, and so I on to the end of the psalm or hymn. PRIMITIVE HOUSES OF WORSHIP. The forefathers in Madison county did not worship in beautiful churches, but gathered in their own homes, in school building& in groves when the weather per-united; and even in barns. They neither grumbled nor complained, but were joyful and happy in the position in which Providence had seen fit to place them. Their services were very 'irregular ; they had no Sabbath schools and no musical instruments. Without any of the modern attractions which are now deemed a necessary part of the church, they worshipped in a quiet, simple and unostentatious manner. Often weeks must pass without a regular minister, and then some pioneer would conduct the services; if not in an Orthodox manner, yet with true Christian spirit, " which, no doubt, found favor with the Giver of all good things. In these humble meetings—and often the little band did not number over a dozen—they thanked God for what He had vouchsafed them and asked him to continue His blessings toward them. And who is there to say that they did not do all they could to advance the cause on earth of the Kingdom of Heaven? As one writer puts it, what is wanted is "a religion that softens the step and tunes the Voice to melody and fills the eye with sunshine and checks the impatient exclamation and harsh rebuke. A religion that is polite, deferential to superiors, courteous to inferior and considerate to friends; a religion that goes into the family and keeps the husband from being cross when the dinner is late and the wife from fretting when he tracks the floor with his muddy boots, and makes him mindful of the scraper and the door-mat ; keeps the mother patient when the baby is cross and amuses the children as well as instructs them ; cares for the servants, besides paying them promptly; projects the honeymoon into the harvest moon; makes a happy home like the Easter fig tree, bearing in its bosom at once the beauty of the ripened fruit; a religion that Shall interpose between the ruts, gullies and rocks of the highway of life and the sensitive souls that are traveling over them." And who shall 'say that the simple faith of its forefathers was not as potent in bringing all that about as the religion preached today. The Methodists and Baptists were the first to establish churches in Madison county, and they were closely followed by a number of other denominations. The Presbyterians and Christians were early in the field and by the middle of the last century more than fifty churches were scattered throughout the. county. The Protestants had the field to themselves until about :1850, when the 'first Catholic church was organized, and since that year the Catholics have steadily grown in power and influence. But whether Protestants or Catholics, the influence of the church is always exerted in behalf of cleaner living and for a higher conception of the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. In the discussion of the churches of Madison county it seems best to submit a list of all the churches, both active and discontinued, which have appeared at one time or another in the history of the county. For the purpose of location they are given by townships, as follows: MADISON COUNTY. OHIO - 285 Union Township—Lower Glade, Methodist Episcopal ; Kingsley. Chapel. London—Methodist Episcopal, First. Presbyterian; Trinity Protestant Episcopal, Universalist, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, St. Patrick's Catholic, First Missionary Baptist (colored), African Methodist Episcopal. Somerford—Summerford Methodist Episcopal, Christian, Dunkard, or German Baptists; Tradersville, or Fletcher East, Methodist Episcopal.  Stokes—Grassy Point, Christian. Range—Sedalia, Methodist Episcopal ; Concord, Methodist Episcopal ; Bethel Methodist Episcopal ; Range, Methodist Protestant ; Sedalia, Presbyterian ; Darbyville„ Presbyterian. Fairfield—Big Plain, Methodist Episcopal ; Lilly Chapel, Methodist Episcopal ; Den, nison Chapel, United Brethren ; Lilly Chapel, German Lutheran. Deer Creek—Upper Glade, or McDonald, Methodist Episcopal ;. Lafayette, Methodist Episcopal ; Dun Lawn Chapel, Episcopal ; Lafayette, Christian, Darby—Converse Chapel, Methodist Episcopal ; Plain City, Methodist Episcopal, Universalist, Baptist, Roman Catholic, United Brethren. Canaan—Big Darby, Baptist Amity, Methodist Episcopal, Union. Jefferson—West Jefferson, Methodist. Episcopal ; Foster Chapel, Methodist. Episcopal; Blair, or Gullivan Chapel, Methodist Episcopal ; West Jefferson, Baptist ; Alder Chapel, Universalist, Sts. Simon and Jude, Catholic, Antioch Mission Union and African Methodist Episcopal. Monroe—Fair Plain, Christian ; Wilson, Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Oak Run—Christman Chapel, Methodist Episcopal. Paint—Newport, Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant. Pike—Barrow Run, Methodist Episcopal ; Rosedale Methodist Protestant, Catholic, Union ; Little Darby, Christian. Pleasant--Antioch, Christian; McKendree, Methodist Episcopal ; Mt. Sterling, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian; Christian. LONDON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Methodist Episcopal church of London was established shortly after the town was laid out, in either 1813 or 1814. The society worshipped in private residences, and belonged to a large circuit, which in 1810 had twenty-four preaching places. Its first church was :erected: on a lot at the corner of Walnut and Fifth streets, purchased from Patrick McLene for eleven dollars. Its officials were. William Erwin, Jonathan Minshall, John McDonald, William Warner, Sr., William G. Pritchard, Robert Warner, David Watson, James Greenley and Amos G. Thompson. This was a log meetinghouse with puncheon, floors and seats of split rails and was the first church structure in London. For twenty years this humble building served the congregation, Then two lots were secured on the southwest corner of Second and Oak streets, where they built a new church about the year 1840—a frame structure some sixty feet square, with a gallery and two upstairs class rooms. A small brick parsonage stood on the west side of the. church. The congregation worshipped; there, another twenty years, when this building was removed to make way for a brick building, forty feet wide, ninety feet long, with a tower seventy-two feet high. It faced Oak street and its site is now occupied by the corner residence. This church was begun in 1850 under the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Tippett, and was dedicated on February 25, 1860, by Bishop D. W. Clark, under the pastorate of Rev. Levi Hall and his colleague, Rev. A. M. Alexander. The former but recently passed away at his home in Minneapolis while a son of the latter is now a resident of London. This church cost seventy-five, hundred dollars, of which one thousand six hundred was raised at the dedication. In September following, London was made a half station, having as its only 286 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. other appointment little Kingsley chapel, three miles west of town; which has since gone out of existence. It stood on the farm of Joseph Warner and was named for Bishop Kingsley. In 1862-3 a new brick parsonage was built, which still stands as the residence of the late Dr. W. H. Christopher. It was begun by Rev. J. M. Jameson, and was first occupied by Rev. Levi Cunningham. In 1866, Mrs. Eliza Chrisman donated seven thousand dollars for a chapel at the rear of the church, which was dedicated by Bishop Clark on Christmas day. This building is now a double residence structure facing Second street. By 1868 this church . had grown strong enough to entertain the conference, which was presided over by Bishop Kingsley. Rev. H. K. Foster was then pastor, serving three years. He was followed in 1869 by Rev. C. D. Battelle, who also remained three years, the full limit. The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of this church was organized in 1871. Rev. I. F. King succeeded Mr. Battelle, staying one year, and then was made a presiding elder. Rev. T. H. Monroe came next, remaining three years, during which time the great revival under the evangelists, Mr. and Mrs. Frame, occurred. In the fall of 1875, Rev. J. T. Miller became pastor, remaining three years. He was followed by Rev. J. C. Jackson, Sr., who came from Bigelow chapel, Portsmouth, and remained three years. The next pastor was Rev. J. W. Peters, who also came from Bigelow, Portsmouth, and. remained three years. In 1881 this church again entertained the conference, under Bishop Andrews. Rev. T. R. Taylor was the next pastor for three years. Rev. J. W. Dillon followed him, staying four years,, as the pastoral term had then been lengthened to five years. In the fall of 1890, Rev. W. L. Slutz became pastor, coming from Bigelow, Portsmouth, and stayingfive' years, during which time the old church and parsonage were sold, and the present edifice erected, costing about forty-five thousand dollars. It' was dedicated on November 18, 1894, by Bishop Joyce. A house which stood on the lot of the present church was removed to a lot donated by Mr. Jereia Sweatland on Elm street,, and remodeled for a parsonage, June 17, 1894. Mrs. Slutz died in this parsonage, and on September 21, following, Rev. Mr. Slutz's two daughters and his sister-in-law were killed by a passenger train. He was followed by Rev. B. L. McElroy, from Bigelow, Portsmouth, where he had succeeded Rev. Mr. Slutz. The next autumn, 1896, this church again entertained the conference. Remaining but one year, Rev. Mr. McElroy "transferred to Ann' Arbor, Michigan, and was followed by Rev. A. H. Norcross, who stayed three years. Rev. Franklin Aka fresh became his successor, also remaining three years. Rev. D. Y. Murdoch next came as pastor, but after six months was claimed by death. Rev. J. H. Gardner filled out the unexpired year, as a supply, and Rev. T. G. Dickinson was appointed pastor in the fall of 1903, remaining fair years. He was succeeded by Rev. F. M. Evans, who remained two years, and was followed by Rev. John C. Jackson, coming from Bigelow, Portsmouth, who served five years. and was followed by Rev. C. B. Pyle, the present pastor. Under the pastorate of Rev. John C. Jackson, the church was renovated at a cost of over ten 'thousand dollars. Its present membership is about six hundred and fifty, with a Sunday school of seven hundred and forty-six, in which is a Men's Bible class that has averaged over one hundred and ten for the past year, with a memberShip of over three hundred, and also a woman's Bible class with an enrollment of about one hundred. It is impossible to give the present membership by name in this brief sketch. Among those who were prominent in early years, and many of whose families are still represented here are the Warners, the Watsons, the Farrars, the Minshalls, the Gosslees, the Dungans, Dunkin (David), the Boyds, the Joneses, the Morgans, the Chenoweths, MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 287 the Chrismans, the Clarks, the Slagles, the Adairs, the Lotspeiches, the Lohrs and the Phifers. The officiary today is as follow : Trustees, J. B. Van Wagener, R. W. Boyd, J. A. Long, Miss Minnie Cheseldine, F. C. Bostwick, J. P. Skinner, William Cryder ; stewards, C. W. Farrar, G. F. Dodds, W. T. Booth, O. E. Duff, H. H. Johnstin, H. Hathaway, L. C. Houston, T. H. Orcutt, W. E. Lukens, J. J. Yearian, S. L. Turner, B. P. Fisher, J. W. Hume, J. H. Asher, M. L.' Bryan, S.' S. Van Cleave; Sunday school superintendent, Chauncey T. Jones; president Ladies Aid Society, Mrs. C. E. Gain; president. Epworth League, Glenna West. CONVERSE CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Converse Chapel Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1816, for many years the congregation's only place of worship being the Converse school house of that neighborhood. This society subsequently became the most flourishing society in the township. In 1840 it erected the largest church edifice in that part of the county. For about thirty-five years, this commodious building was used as a place of worship. About 1875, the congregation was united with that of Plain City. FOSTER CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The first religious society to be organized in Jefferson township was. the Foster Chapel Methodist Episcopal church, at the home of Rev. Lewis Foster, in 1808. Following are a few of the names that constituted the original class : Lewis Foster and wife; Joshua, John, Benjamin and Joseph, four sons of Rev. Foster, and their wives; Rebecca Tomlinson; Cassa Dwyer; Joseph Downing, his brother Frank and . their wives, and John Hayden, wife and Among the first ministers who served the class were Rev. William Simmons, Rev. Daniel Davidson and Reverend Finley. The congregation worshipped in their respective homes, alternately, until March, 1825, when Reverend Foster and wife deeded two acres and forty-three poles to a body of trustees for the sum of ten dollars, and for the purpose of erecting thereon a church building, the trustees at that time being John Hayden, Frank Downing, John Buck, John Foster and Joseph Powers, and the deed was acknowledged before. Squire Samuel Sexton, of New Hampton. A. comfortable hewed-log church was scion erected, Wherein the notes of praise were sounded to the All-Wise, and the peoples hearts rejoiced in the privileges they then enjoyed. Later a comfortable, neat and attractive brick church was built on the same ground. GILLIVAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In 1844, largely by the efforts of the Blair family, a Methodist society was organized about four miles northwest of the town of Jefferson. In the year mentioned Rev. J. W. Young, of the Marysville circuit, was solicited to come and organize the society, which resulted in the following membership : John Blair and wife Jency, G. W. Blair, R. C. Blair, Jacob. B. Coon, J. C. Coon, Elizabeth Tillman, Leonard Thomas, J. Zadock Chapman, Hiram Stodard and Eliza Stodard. For nine years after the society was organized the members worshipped in the residence of G. W. Blair, after which they threw their mites together ; Mr. Blair donated a lot from his farm, and a frame church edifice was constructed, plain but comfortable, at a cost of about seven hundred dollars, and was dedicated in the fall of 1853, by Rev. Uriah Heath. The building served for a period of twenty-nine years, with the nominal expense for repairs of twenty dollars. The present building was constructed in 1882, at the little village of Gulivan, five miles northwest of. Jefferson. E. R. Haynes donated the lot on which the building stands. This church was known as Blair Chapel until it was moved to its present site, since which time it has gradually assumed the name of the. village in which it is located: The building is a beautiful, large structure; thirty-two by fifty-two feet, with 288 - MADISON COUNTY; OHIO. steeple and bell; surrounded by a nice lot and lighted by a gasoline lighting system. The church contains but, one room, the auditorium, with a seating capacity of about two hundred and fifty persons. The cost of its erection was two thousand six hundred dollars. This church is at present a point` on the Lafayette circuit, with Rev. J. P. Landsittel as pastor; the trustees being Harry Wilson, Clint McCoy, W. R. Prose, Thurman Bidwell, Richard Wright, Jacob Beers and Dan Hoover. The present membership is eighty-one and the congregation maintains a thriving Sunday school of seventy-five members, of which Clint McCoy is, the superintendent. Mrs. Della Bradley is president and Mrs. Thurman Bidwell, secretary of the ladies' aid society. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT WEST JEFFERSON. The society at Foster Chapel had grown and cast its seeds., in the vicinity of the village of Jefferson, but not until 1833 was there a class organized there. The original class consisted of about ten or a dozen members, among whom were Ezekiel Arnett and wife; a Mr. Mortimore and wife, who lived in a dog house where the residence of James Penne later stood, and in whose house the society was organized ; Mrs. Jarvis Pike and Mrs. Mary Lewis. The officiating minister was Reverend Gavett. The members were industrious and zealous in the good work begun, and ere long the class numbered almost double as Many as: at first. They worshipped in Mottimore's residence mostly until 1836, when they commenced holding theft meetings in the school house at Jefferson where they were served by Reverend Sutton. They experiened some unpleasantness with the Universalists, who also used the same building, and in 1837, even though the flock Was small, and not financially able, they had the will and found the way to erect a substantial frame church on lot No. 50, in the village of Jefferson. While in this house the society still enlarged, and in 1862; a more modern and comfortable brick edifice was erected at a cost of about the thousand dollars. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF LAFAYETTE. There is no evidence of the organization of a church among the early settlers along Deer creek until after the laying out of the town of Lafayette:. About 1843, a few Methodists met. together and, under the leadership of the Rev. Silas, B:. Chase, of Mechanicsburg, organized a class as follows,: Reason Lotspeich and wife, James Wright; John Shryack, J. H. Badley, Rachel Badley and Sarah Warner—seven in all—with Reason Lotspeich as class leader. Their first meetings were held in the school house. They were received into the Jefferson circuit of the Chillicothe district and from that time on had regular Preaching. About 1849 they erected a frame church edifice in the village of Lafayette, Which house of worship was dedicated in June, 1849. in the presence of David' Kemper, presiding elder. The first minister was Alanson Fleming and lie was succeeded as follow: In 1850, by John W. Locke and James T. Bail; 1851, William Sutton and Thomas J. Loyd; 1852, William Sutton: and John C. Fulton; 1853-54; Samuel T. Middleton and William Z. Ross; 1855-56, Archibald Fleming and Henry H. Ferris; 1857; William Sutton and Samuel P. Tippet; 1858, William Sutton and James Finch; 1859, John. W. Young and James Finch; 1860; Rohn W. Young and William P. Grantham; 1861, Levi Hall and William P. Grantham; 1862; Levi Hall and Jacob S. Adams; 1863, F. F. Lewis and Jacob S. Adams, after which date the church was served by the following; in the order given; Charles Lewis, Middleton, Burns, McLaughlin, Anderson, William Lewis, I. B. Brodrick, S; Hutsenpillar, C. A. Naylor, C. W. Bostwick and F. F. Lewis. Rev. Lewis was pastor about 1882: From that date until 1894 there is a breach in the pastors that the historian has been unable to fill out: After 1894 the church was served by the following pastors R. Callaghan; 1894-96; Howard E.: Wright, 1896-99; I. E. Walters, 1899-1903.; T. G. Wake-Geld, 1903-05; J. I. Tyler, 1905-09.; A. C.' Bostwick, 1909-13, and P. Landsittel, the MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 289 present pastor, since 1913. The old frame church was torn down and the present brick church building was erected in 1892. It contains an auditorium that has a seating capacity of about two hundred and a 'primary room used by that department of the Sunday school. The building is lighted by a gasoline lighting system. The present trustees are George Kaufman, Walter Headley, Johnson Headley, Sherman Simpson, A. E. Long, Lucy Beech, Herbert Harper, Louis Tracy and John Lane. The membership at present is about one hundred persons. A thriving    school is maintained in connection with the church, with a membership of about eighty. Forrest Baker is the superintendent. There is a ladies aid society of about twenty-five members, organized during Reverend Tyler's, pastorate; of which. Mrs. Alice Taylor is president and Mrs. Sylvia Tracy, secretary: In December; 1909; a women's foreign missionary society was organized, which at present has about fifteen members and is maintaining two women teachers in the   field. The president of the society is Mrs. J L. Landsittel, with Minnie Kaufman as secretary. This church is at the head of a circuit that includes the following stations, Lafayette, Summerford, Gillivan and Plumwood. Until 1913 the circuit contained only the three points of Lafayette, Summerford and Gillivan, but, in 1914, Plumwood was added to the charge. SEDALIA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH It is thought that the Sedalia—then known as Midway Methodist Episcopal church was the first church organized in Range township. The first preaching point was at the house of William M. Linton, where it appears a class was early formed probably about 1812-14, consisting of the following -persons: David Dye and wife, Joseph Pancake and wife, Lockhart Biggs and wife, Elizabeth Counts and Septimus Stuthard and wife. These nine persons, with David Dye and Joseph Pancake, as class leaders, formed the first class. Soon after the following persons were added : Thomas Hughs and wife, William Chappell and wife; Andrew Johnson and wife, Zachariah Adams and wife, Thomas Bethard and wife, Lemuel Bethard and wife, and Isaac Fisger and wife. The home of Mr. Linton continued to V be the preaching point until the erection of the David Die school house, after which, the latter building was used for church purposes until. about 1844, when a frame Wilding was erected at Sedalia, which. was occupied until the erection of the present edifice, about the year 1850. The Church is a frame building, capable of seating about three hundred persons and has a gallery in the rear. Among the first ministers who preached at this point were Reverend Nation, Rev. William Sutton, Reverend Young, Rev.. Alexander Morrow and Rev. John Stewart. The following pastors have served this station in more recent years, in order and period of their ministries as follow : Isaac Mackey, D. J. Smith, two years; L. F. Postle, 1885-88 ; D. I, Mark, 1888:92; Ralph Watson, 1892-94 ; W. L. Alexander, 1894-97 ; George Cherrington, 1897-1900 ; L. Cherrington, 1900-03 ; George F. Simms, 1903-05; A. L. Madden, 1.005-07; E: B. Foltz, 1901-09; C. N. Smith, 1909-13, and N. C. Patterson, since 1913. The present membership is one hundred and twenty-five with the following as trustees : John V. Fenny, John Allen, Jesse Hankins, Crosby Duff, R. P. Shotts, Dr. F. B. Williford, C. C. Hewit; and A. C. Kelso. The congregation maintains a prosperous sunday school of about one hundred and twenty-five members, of which Mrs. Jennie Meade is the superintendent. Mrs. Lou Richardson 'is president and Mrs. Kate Williams, secretary of the ladies' aid society of about sixty members. The women's home missionary society, of which Mrs. Florence D. Patterson is president. and Mrs: Amanda Tenney, secretary, is a progressive group of twenty-two members. It was organized on November 11, 1914, and has sent boxes of clothing; etc. to the Eliza Dee home at Austin, Texas. The circuit of which this church is the head (19) 290 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. consists of the congregations at Bethel, Concord and Sedalia, in Range township, and Newport, or Walnut Run, in Paint township. This circuit at one time also included a congregation at the Foster school house in Oak Run township. The parsonage of the circuit is located in Sedalia. A lot adjoining the church there on the north was purchased, and in the summer of 1868, a large two-story frame house was erected by Thomas Hughs, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. This parsonage is occupied by the present pastor. The pastor of the circuit preaches at each place every other week, at Sedalia and Newport on one Sunday, and at Bethel and Concord on the next. CONCORD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Methodist Episcopal church of Concord was organized in 1816-17, at the house of Richard Gosslee, :with a class consisting of the following persons : Richard Gosslee and wife, Charles Holland and wife, Thomas Dawson and wife, and a few others whose names are not now obtainable. The house of Mr. Gosslee continued as the preaching place until 1837, when the present church building was completed, and in due form was dedicated to service. In 1860, this church was remodeled and repaired, and rededicated to service by a sermon preached by Rev. A. B. See. Some of the early preachers who held services at the house of Mr. Gosslee were Jacob Hooper, James B. Findley, William Findley and William Westlake. The membership was about thirty-eight persons in 1880, but this has grown to the present membership of ninety-eight. The trustees are Nathan Gillespie, Frank Thomas, M. L. Shepherd, James Gillespie, Edward Shepherd, E. J. Gillespie, Allison Grimm, and Daniel Call. The congregation maintains a prosperous Sunday school of about fifty members, of which Oliver Shepherd is the superintendent. Mrs. Warner Snyder is president and Mrs. Maggie Call, treasurer, of the ladies' aid society. This church is a point of the Sedalia circuit, of which Rev. N. C. Patterson is the present pastor. The church is a neat frame building with a gallery in the auditorium and a basement that is fitted for entertainments. BETHEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Bethel Methodist ,Episcopal church was organized in 1820 or 1821, by the Rev. Mr. Maley at the house of John Fisher. It is thought that the class consisted of the following ten persons: John Fisher and wife, Elizabeth Fisher, John Morris, Elizabeth Morris, Robert Farrar, Isabel Cox, James Fisher, Sarah Fisher and Prudence Steel. They continued to have preaching at the house of Mr. Fisher and in the summer in the groves of the neighborhood, until the erection of the church building, which it is believed was about 1847-48. The membership now consists of about one hundred persons. The trustees are J. W. Chenoweth, Howard Chenoweth, E. M. Tway, J. F. Martin, John Gill, Charles Wissler, C. M. Foster, T. L. Creath and J. E. Baker. It has a thriving Sunday school of about fifty members, of which J. E. Baker is the superintendent. Mrs. Martha Baker is president and Mrs. Minnie Kellough is secretary, of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society. The Ladies' Aid Society has about one hundred members and Mrs. Beatrice Junk is the president, with Mrs. Gertrude McCallister, treasurer. The first church building is still standing and is a nice brick structure with a gallery. This church is a point on the Sedalia circuit, of which Rev. N. C. Patterson is the present pastor. BARROW RUN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Early in the settlement along Barrow Run a Methodist class was organized by John Rathburn, with himself, the Aliens; the Carrs and some others as the original members. They held their Meetings for years in private homes and in the school house, but about 1832-33, they erected a frame building for church purposes, which stood for many years in a dilapidated condition long after its use was discontinued, but which has not entirely disappeared. ,Meetings and services were held at this house MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 291 until about 1865-66. At one time it is thought that this society was quite large and prosperous, but following the death of some and the moving away of others, the church 'waned and finally became extinct, over forty years ago. Among the early ministers who preached there were Reverend Morrison, Elder William Raper, Elder George Walker, Reverend Chase and Reverend Webster. WILSON CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The origin of the Wilson Chapel Methodist Episcopal church dates from the spring of 1873, when a subscription was started and money was raised to erect a church edifice, which was built the same summer on land donated for that purpose by Washington Wilson, located on the Wilson and Winget pike, east of Little Darby creek about one-half mile, and the house was dedicated to service in the fall of the same year (1873), the dedicatory sermon being delivered by Elder I. F. King. The house was dedicated to service free from debt and incumbrance. Rev. R. D. Anderson was appointed to administer to this church and preached every two weeks the first year. In the spring of 1874 a series of meetings was held and several accessions were made to the church, and a class was organized consisting of the following persons: Mrs. Jennie Taylor, Daniel Anderson and wife, Isabel Woods and Mrs. Margaret Bradley, with Daniel Anderson as class leader. He was succeeded by Martin Huddle and he by Hiram Anderson, who was the last. Reverend Anderson was succeeded as minister by Rev. S. S. Sears, and he by Reverend Rudisil ; then came to the charge Rev. Tressen Rider, then Reverend Carter, and during 1883, Reverend Lewis was the pastor. The church at one time reached a membership as high as sixty ; but by the death of some and the moving away of others, the membership was reduced until during Reverend Lewis' pastorate it was only fifteen. At that time the church supported a good Sunday school of about sixty members, with Hiram Anderson as its superintendent. This church was discontinued a few years later. AMITY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. A Methodist Episcopal church was founded at Amity about 1833-5, when a few persons, under the leadership of John Mann, organized a class, embracing, it is believed, the following persons : Henry Downing and family, Eli Douglas and family, John Finch and family, Obil Beach, Benjamin Willey, Lorenzo Beach, Theron Eastman and wife, Rev. Henderson Crabb, and perhaps a few others, with John Mann as class leader. About 1837-38 the little congregation erected a brick church, which was duly dedicated to service, and the society continued in a very prosperous condition for several years, and at one time was quite large in membership. About 1849-50, Mr. Mann .sold out his effects, having carried on a large business in an a shery and becoming quite wealthy. He started for California during the prevailing gold excitement there, and from the time of his departure the church began to wane, and finally became extinct—more than sixty-five years ago. LILLY CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. From the best information obtainable it appears that the Methodist Episcopal church at Lilly Chapel was organized about the year 1828, with the following persons constituting the first class : Philip Durflinger, Isaac Morris, George Bell, Amos Morris, Stephen Morris, William Tway, David Sidner, David Crane, Daniel. Durfiinger and Samuel Tway, with their wives. For many years their meetings were held in private homes of the neighborhood and then in the school house. In 1850 a frame building was erected and the congregation received the name of Lilly Chapel Methodist Episcopal church. This building served its purpose until 1887, when the present church edifice was erected at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. It is a brick structure located in the center of the village of Lilly Chapel at the cross roads. A few 292 - MADISON. COUNTY, OHIO. of the ministers who have served this charge are David Kemper, William Westlake, Reverend Pillsbury, David Young, Reverend Finley, B. F. Dulling, Theodore Creighton, D. J. Smith, and J. D. Smith. The present pastor is Rev. R. S. Myers. In connection with the church is maintained a prosperous sunday school, which has a membership of about one hundred. S. A. Sidner is the superintendent. Mrs. Bessie Sidner is president of the ladies' aid society and Flora Truitt, president of the women's foreign missionary society. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF BIG PLAIN. Here as elsewhere the Methodist itinerant preachers are found early breaking into the field. A class early was organized at Spring Hill; about three miles northeast of Big Plain, and another class at the old Bales. school house. At the latter place preaching was held regularly every two weeks. These meetings were generally conducted by a number of Methodist preachers, one after the other, as they came on the circuit, until the town of California, now known as Big Plain, was laid, when, in 1852, they decided to build a church in that town. Robert Thomas gave them a lot, and, in the summer of that year a frame house was erected, and they organized with the following members John F. Chenoweth, Charles Henderson, Charles Warner, Moses Ellsworth; Hezekiah Chenoweth Andrew White; John Callander, Thomas Corder, Richard Johnson and their wives, Rachel Bales, Sabina Hume and undoubtedly a few others whose names are lost at this late date. The class leaders for many years were Hezekiah Chenoweth and Charles Warner: Among the first ministers were the Reverends Hurd, Wolf, Smith; William Sutton, Stewart and Young. Others who have served the church as pastors in later years are J. W. Waite, Herman Carter, J. P. Pillsbury, J. W. Baker, T. W. Creighton, G. A: Marshall, T. J. Danforth; N. C: Patterson, I. M. Sollars, J. S. Griffith, J. Herman Mindling and Samuel Bishop; the present pastor. This church is in the Derby circuit, which includes Derby, Big Plain, Era and McKendre stations, with the parsonage at Derby. The membership is about one hundred and thirty-five. In 1883, the present, church edifice was erected at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. The, trustees of the-. church are Dr. F. P. Fitzgerald, E. O. Fitzgerald, E. C. Griffin, Frank D. Edwards, W. R. Laird, T. W. Nowland, with T. W. Nowland and E. O. Fitzgerald as stewards:   SUMMERFORD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The first church to be organized in Somerford township was by the Methodists, about 1828, at the house of Charles Soward, by. Rev. James B. Austin, with the following members : Sutton Potee, Charles Soward, Joshua Davis and Samuel, with their wives, With Sutton Potee as class leader. About 1834, the organization changed the place of holding its meetings to Summerford, and services were held in private houses and in the: school house, until about 1843-44, when a brick church was erected in the east. part of town. There services were held until the fall of 1873, when the building was torn down and the brick was used to help build the present church, which is located in the western part of the village, at a cost of about one thousand seven hundred dollars. This house was dedicated to service by Rev. Granville: Moody on October 25, 1874. The membership of this church some ten years later was about fifty persons. At present the membership is ninety-eight. This church for several years past has been a point on the circuit of which Lafayette is the head; with the parsonage. For the ministers of the circuit see the history of the Lafayette church.- Rev. J. P. Landsittel is the present pastor. The trustees of the church are J. W. Edwards, B. H. Woosley, North Pitzer, Albert. Fisher, C. G. Wilson, Earl Edwards,     Nicewarner, Dan Hendricks and Clarence Potee. The congregation maintains a prosperous Sunday school in connection. with the church, of about eighty members, of which B. H. Woosley is the superintendent.  MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 293 NEWPORT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WALNUT RUN. One of the first, if nest the first, Churches to be organized in Madison county was the Methodist Episcopal church of Walnut. Rini, known as the Newport Methodist Episcopal church. In 1807, at the house of Jonathan Minshall, a Class was organized with three members—Jonathan Minshall and wife. and David Watson, With the former as class leader. Meetings were held; with occasional preaching, at the house of Jonathan Minshall until, in 1809, David Watson's father, Walter Watson, having located near his son's place, meetings were held at his house until 1822, when David's mother died, after which meetings were held at David's home. As the settlers in the neighborhood increased in number, the class. grew; Between the years 1816 and 1820, there was held each year, for two or three years, a camp meeting in that neighborhood, which was probably the first of the kind ever held in Madison county. People came to these meetings from many miles distant and camped in tents. At one evening meeting twenty persons joined the church, under the preaching of Rev. Alexander Morrow. The members held their meetings in private homes until the building of a public school house. about 1831-32, when the services were held in the school house, which was erected where the cemetery is now located. There the church continued to hold services' until about 1850, when the society built a church about one Mile east of Walnut Run. The building was a, good substantial frame structure, erected at a cost of about seven hundred dollars. This building served until the erection of the present edifice in Walnut Run, about 1872. It is, a neat brick building, fifty-six by thirty-two feet, and cost about four thousand five hundred dollars. At the time of the erection of the first church building the society numbered about twenty members and at the time of the erection of the brick building, about seventy-five members, and at present about two hundred and forty members. The church building was dedicated in November, 1872, With Rev. Joseph Trimble preaching the dedicatory sermon. Since the erection of the first building the church has been served by the following ministers: Mr. Smith, John Stewart, Joseph Brown, Mr. Crum, Archibald Fleming, Mr. Spahr; Samuel Tibitt; J. T. Miller, Mr. Pitzer, A. Alexander, Mr. Heath, Mr. Vananda, A. R. Miller, I. Bradrick, Mr.. King, and Isaac Mackey. For the ministers serving since the time of Rev. Isaac Mackey see the history of the Sedalia Methodist church, the head of the circuit of which the Newport church is a member. The present pastor of the circuit is Rev. N. C. Patterson, with his residence at the parsonage in Sedalia. The present trustees of the church are J. W. Johnson, James Withrow, D. M. Withrow, D. G. Kilgore, Stephen Gregg, S. E. Thompson, Frank Kulp, J. M. Neff and Byron Snyder. In connection with the church is a flourishing Sunday school, which has been in existence continuously since the erection, of the first frame church. It has a membership of about one hundred and fifty with Elroy Moody as superintendent. Mrs. S. E. Thompson is president of the ladies aid society and Oliver Withrow, president of the Epworth League. MT. STERLING METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The first class of the Mt. Sterling Methodist Episcopal church was organized in August, 1831, at the home of John Puckett, with the following members: Lewis Devon and wife, John Puckett and wife, Sophia Puckett, Sarah . Puckett, George W. Ingrim and wife, John Blain. and wife and probably a few others whose names cannot be ascertained at this late date, with John Puckett as class, leader. For the following three years the class continued to meet and occasionally had preaching at the. house of John Puckett. Some of the men who preached there. at that time were William Morrow, Jacob Martin, William Westlake and. Philip. Nation. Mt. Sterling was at that time one of thirty-four preaching points on the London circuit. About 1834, by an earnest effort, money was raised and a church building was erected on the ground now occu- 294 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. pied by the present church. This structure was of brick and cost about seven hundred dollars. In this building preaching and services were continued until the summer of 1859, when the old building was torn down and a frame edifice was erected at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. This building was dedicated in the fall of the same year, Reverend Clark, later Bishop Clark, of Cincinnati, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The historian was unable to obtain a complete list of the pastors that have served this congregation, but the following roster has been obtained through, the generous help of the present pastor, Rev. Charles E. Hill : A. R. Miller ; J. P. Pillsbury, 1881; P. B. Davis, 1884-85 ; J. M. Adams, 1885-87 ; W. S. Benner, 1887-88 ; David Storer, 1888-90 ; J. B. Bradrick, 1890-94 ; A. B. Sniff, 1894-96 ; J. W. Mougey,. 1896-99 ; H. K Wright, 1899-1901 ; A. A. Sayre, 1901-05; S. A. Crosby, 1905-09; Charles E. Hill, since 1909. The frame church building was used by the congregation until 1912, when the present beautiful building was erected at a total, cost of about twenty-two thousand dollars. The cornerstone of the new building was laid on July 20,. 1912, by Bishop Daniel H. Moore, of Indianapolis. The church was dedicated on. August 31, 1913, with Bishop William F. Anderson preaching the dedicatory sermon. The building is a handsome brick structure, trimmed in stone. It contains an auditorium and a Sunday school room that may be thrown together and is then capable of seating about eight hundred persons in view of the speaker. The basement is equipped with: a kitchen and a dining-room for the use of the auxiliary, societies of the congregation. It also contains the heating and ventilating apparatus and a large room that may be finished as a gymnasium and social room. The entire building is lighted by both electricity and gas.. The church owns its parsonage, a neat frame cottage, which was built in 1865 and was remodeled in the winter of 1901-02, during the pastorate of Reverend Sayre. The church is planning to build a new parsonage in the, near future, adjacent to the church. The present membership is about three hundred and twenty-five and Herman Carter, C. H. Clark, IT. Clay Johnson, William Blaine, John S. Core, Harvey G. Beale and Willis Jones are the trustees of the church. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained, which has an enrolled membership of about four hundred and an average attendance of about two hundred and fifty. Milton Shepherd is the superintendent of the Sunday school. LOWER GLADE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. It seems certain that the first church organized in Union township was on Glade run, and is now known as the Lower Glade, or Melvin, Methodist Episcopal church. About 1808-09 several persons met at a log house on the farm later owned by Preston Adair, situated between what. is known as the upper glade and the lower glade, and there, by the Rev. Mr. Pavey, a class' was organized consisting of the following persons: John McDonald,. James McDonald, Charles Ewing, Samuel Ewing, John Ewing, Jacob Sidener, John Adair, James Wright, Eliza Wright, William Erwin and his mother, Charles Melvin, John Melvin, Benjamin Melvin, Joseph Melvin, and their wives, Isaac Wright, James Wright, William Ragan, Abby Melvin, Schuyler McDonald, Phebe Melvin, Henry Coon and wife and Polly McDonald. While they continued to hold their meetings at this log house, they were ministered to by the Reverends Pavey, Smith, Bacon, Robert Finley, James Finley, William Sutton and William Simmons. About 1812, by mutual agreement, for the convenience of the members, the class was divided, those who lived in the vicinity of the upper glade, forming a class, which was the nucleus of the McDonald church, or the Upper Glade Methodist Episcopal church, and those who resided in the vicinity of the lower glade constituted a class, and the beginning of the church, the hikory of which is here given. This class was composed of the following: James McDonald, William Erwin and his mother; Schuyler McDonald, Charles Melvin, John Melvin, Benjamin Melvin, Joseph Melvin, Henry Coon, and MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 295 their wives ; Abby Melvin, Phebe Melvin, Adam Bennett and wife ; Jacob McCuen, Samuel Adair and wife, and John Harrison and wife, numbering twenty-six members in all. They held services in the house of James McDonald, and the homes of the others, and in the school house until about 1831, when they erected a log meeting house, which at that time was considered a fine structure. It was probably dedicated by Rev. William Simmons. The people worshipped in this log house for some time without a floor, the minister preaching to the people from a platform of boards laid upon some of the hewed joists. Many years afterward this log building was weather-boarded and repaired, and made to take on quite an improved appearance. Thus fitted up, this house continued to serve the people until 1881, when arrangements were made to erect; upon the same site; a substantial brick edifice, which was built by James Self, of London, and was a fine specimen of workmanship. This house was thirty-two by fifty-four feet, with an eight-foot tower projecting in front, making the extreme length sixty-two feet. In the interior, the house was neatly and tastefully; furnished, the seats being of heavy ashwood, trimmed with walnut. The whole cost of the building was a little over twenty-seven hundred dollars. The house was dedicated to services on June 11, 1882, by the presiding elder of the district, Rev. J. F. King. The sermon was delivered on 'Sabbath morning at ten o'clock, from' the text, "We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy temple." (Psalm 65, iv). There were present two of the former pastors, Rev. A. M. Alexander and Rev. B. Tressenrider, also Rev, J. W; Peters, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of London, all of whom participated in the services. At the close of the discourse, a financial exhibit was made by the pastor, and the congregation was asked for six hundred and twenty-five &liars, the amount necessary to liquidate the indebtedness of the church. The response made to the call by the elder was both generous and general, and in a half hour or so; the Membership and friends contributed about eight hundred and ten dollars. Several friends 'who were not present had remembered the church and had sent subscriptions. This liberality enabled. the church to pay all of its indebtedness and to provide itself with a good bell. After the subscription, the church was presented, on the part of the trustees, by Brother J. J. Melvin, and was then formally dedicated to God as a house of worship, according to the ritual of the church. Rev. John. Waite was pastor at that time. This building was occupied until August 23, 1912; when during a storm; the tower was struck by lightning, setting fire to the edifice. The progress of the fire was swift and all that could be saved was the pulpit furniture. Insurance to the amount of two thousand dollars was carried on :the building and came as a relief to the church in distress. The pastor at that time was Rev. E. A, Harper. Others who Were pastors in the Old brick church Were Revs. Pearly Davis; Pillsbury, George Marshall, Herman Carter, J. W. Baker, Danford, Sollars, Creighton, Steel; Darling, George M., Hughes; Gilmuth, Crosby and Watson:, The present handsome frame structure was completed in January, 1915, at a cost of about two thousand four hundred dollars. This church has had no minister or regular preaching since August; 1912. Its Sunday school was organized in April, 1915. with J. J. Melvin as superintendent. The present membership of the church consists of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Summers, Libby Summers, Edward Summers;, Mrs. Nancy Wheeler, Mrs. George Street, Mrs. James Holway, Mrs. Rebecca Lane and J. J. UPPER GLADE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. It is thought that the first church organized within the present limits of Deer Creek township was the Upper Glade, or, as it is also called, the McDonald, Methodist Episcopal church. Further below in the glade, was a settlement of Methodists, of whom the Melvin family were numerous and active, and a class was early established there and a church organized. But it was too far distant for the people of the upper 296 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. glade to attend so, about 1812, a. class was organized at the upper glade with the following members: .John McDonald, Jacob Sidener, Samuel Samuel and John Ewing, Daniel Wright and John Adair, with their wives. Their meetings were first held at their several homes. One of these homes where they met most often, and whose "latch string" was ever out to the intinerant minister was that of John McDonald, and from him and others of the McDonald family the church received strong support throughout the 'many years* Of its existence. After the building of the 'log' school house on Mr. McDonald's land the meetings of the Methodist class were held there, where they continued, and where they had preaching as often as possible, until, about 1836, when the members contributed of their means and erected a frame building on a site provided by John McDonald; where they later erected. their brick church. In this building they worshipped until the building became so dilapidated that it could no longer be occupied, after which they again resorted to the school house. Finally the members and people again rallied, contributing freely of 'their 'means, and, in the fall and winter of 1873, a neat and comfortable brick church edifice was erected. When ready for dedication, in March, 1874, it was clear of debt, lacking but forty dollars, whereupon George G. McDonald came forward with two twenty-dollar bills; cleared all indebtedness, and the church was dedicated free of all incumbrance. The church prospered and increased in membership, until at the period of her greatest prosperity it probably hundred seventy or seventy-five members. Some forty years ago the church began to decline. However, the organization continued to be maintained until July, 1912, in which month a severe wind storm visited the county, wrecking the old church. It has never been repaired; though the old walls are still standing. At that time the membership consisted of about forty persons. This membership was then transferred to the West Jefferson church for the first year, and since that time has scattered. The remaining members continue to hope that they will again be assigned a pastor and then hope to erect a new building: Meanwhile irregular meetings are held when the opportunity offers itself in the school house. The Sunday school is still maintained with about twenty members; Mrs. Howard McDonald, superintendent.  M'KENDREE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In March, 1852, a class was organized at the King school house The Rev. David Smith, consisting of the following members: William Stone, Elizabeth Stone, Washington Morain, Nancy Morain, Eliza Ann Morain, Harrison Morain, Lizzie Morain, Albert Stone, Joseph Lane, Mary Lane, William Lane, Dilliann Lane, Samuel Thornton, Catharine Thornton, Philip Kyle, Mary Kyle, Harriet Kyle, John Kyle, Rachel Frazier, Millie Smith, Matilda Oglesbee, Mary King, Stephen. Anderson and Margaret Anderson, with William Stone as class leader. Their meetings continued to he held in the school house above mentioned for about three years, after which they purchased a house and lot; the building was a large log house, which had been erected for a dwelling, but had never been finished or occupied. The congregation finished this building and. fitted it for church purposes, and used it as a house of worship until the summer of 1874, when a substantial and comfortable frame church was erected; which was occupied the same year, but Was not dedicated until in October of 1879. Rev. Joseph Trimble, of Columbus; preached the dedicatory sermon, and the building in due form was set aside for the worship of God. This church is at present on the same circuit as Derby, Era and Big, Plain. TRADERSVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Tradersville, or Fletcher East, Methodist Episcopal church was organized, it is believed, at the school house in 1838. Among the first members who organized a MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 297 class were Moses Bales, Rev. Eli Adams, Mr. Geer, Isaac Newman, Charles Higdon, William Davidson and their wives and Edwin West and his wife, Margaret, and daughter. About 1843-44 they erected a frame church, in which services were held for many years. In 1873 another frame church was erected, at a cost. of about two thousand two hundred dollars. The church at one time was numerically strong and prosperous, but in later years decreased, many moving away and others dying. Some of the first or early Ministers of this church were the Revs. Eli Adams. George Boucher, Cherry, Conrey, Ellsworth, Williams, Keck, Jackson, Fiddler, Hull, Havens and Smith. Others who have served this church were J. H. Davis, R. Callaghan, Howard E. Wright, J. F. Walters, T. G. Wakefield and J. I. Tyler. In 1909 this church was on a circuit composed of itself, Wilson Chapel, Lafayette. Upper Glade and Lower Glade churches but in that year it was dropped. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PLAIN CITY The Methodist church at Plain City is the oldest one of the denomination in Madison county. It dates from 1815 when seventeen members of the church organized a class at the home of Titus Dart, about a mile south of Plain City. Six years later (1821) the little congregation built a church a half mile south of Plain City, which was known as the Block church. This church, was dedicated by Rev. Russell Bigelow. The next building was erected .on East Main street, in Plain City, in 1848 and dedicated in 1850 by Rev. Uriah Heath. In 1875 the third house of worship was erected, the location being on North Chillicothe street. This third church was dedicated by Dr. C. H. Payne. The present beautiful structure was completed in 1903 under the pastorate of Rev. W. A. Palmer. The dedicatory sermon was preached by J. W. Bashford, president of Ohio State University. The list of pastors who have served this church during the century of its existence includes practically every minister who has preached in this section of Ohio. The list follows: Robert Finley, Collins, R. Finley, Hooper, Solomon, Glaze, Baker, Stewart, Alsup, Baker, W. Finley, Carl., Simmons and Davidson, Ballard and Branduth, Carnell and J. Smith, Shaw & Haven, Wood and Haley; Banahoe and Williams, Lawrence and Crabb, R. Finley and Simms, Davidson and W. Worrow, Wooley and W. Worrow, Camp and Cartney, Westlake and Kemper, Manear and S. Chase, J. B. Finley and Sutton, A. Morrow, James Brown, Owens and J. Brown, Gilruth and Havens, Parcels and J. Smith, Webster and Johnson; Sutton & Kimber, Young and Warritigton, Young. and Hud, Webster and J. Brown, Holtzinger and Hauffman, Gaseox and Millize, Sharp and Gilruth, Sharp and Risker, E. Chase and Muril, Muril and Loyd, Taft and Martindale, Mann and Adams, Wharton and Adams, Wharton and Miller, Sangman, Law and Slocum, Sangmas, Bennet and Granthan, West and Ferris, West and Heagler, Tippet and Heagler, Tippet and Mann; Lewis, Moore, .Carrol, Prudens, Pilcher, S. Danshoe; Adams, Henley, Ferris, Sayer, Tressenrider; Rudisil, Brandbick, Rife Smith, Tilfer, Creamer, Partle, Croaks, Palmer, Evans, Smith, Prim.; Wilhim, and S. A. Stephan, the present pastor: This church since its early history has supported a sunday school, which, in the way of a continuous record is probably the oldest Sunday school in the county. It also has a Ladies Aid Society, that has been an important factor in the continuous prosperity of the church. The Epworth League supplies the younger members of the congregation with their religious training. The other auziliary societies are the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, Woman’s Home Missionary Society nd the Standard Bearers. The membership of the church at the present time is five hundred and thirty. PLUMWOOD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH The Methodist Episcopal church, of Plumwood, was organized on July 13, 1897, with the following board of trustees: William Murray, Henry Watrous, James Rutan, A. E. 298 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. Garrett, S. K. Reece and J. W. Elkins. Among the ministers who have served the congregation may be mentioned H. E. Wright, J. E. Walter, T. E. Wakefield, J. I. Tyler, A. C. Bostnick, G. M. Hughes, E. A. Haber, J. A. Weed, A. L. Rogers and J. L. Landsittle. The church erected a frame building in Sanford at a cost of eight hundred dollars. The building stands on lot 86 on the main street of the village. The auxiliary organizations of the church include a flourishing Sunday' school, Epworth League and a branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The present membership of the church is seventy-five. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF LONDON. The St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal church of London has its buildings, located on West Center street, on ground made sacred and hallowed by having been the previous site of the Catholic church. Its earliest meetings were held in the homes of families ; that of Mrs. Sarah Jenkins, then living on the Chrisman land, being the most prominent. About the year 1870 the services of pastors became more regular, the interest and. congregation increased and the voluntary use of halls was given for services; especially the Silver Urn Masonic hall, which was then over what is now Lanigan Brothers' store. In the first preserved records is found the name of Rev. George Robison, a theological student of Wilberforce University, in charge. Owing to its proximity to this institution, it has been the policy of the conference to serve this point mostly from that source. Rev. George Whitfield, beginning in 1872, gave three years' service, during which the present location was purchased. The Union Sunday school in Toland hall, that had been established and fostered by such Christian spirits as I. S. Davidson, William Morgan, Giles James, Mrs. George W. Lewis nee Beir, Miss Lida Farrar and Frank Shaw, associated with Reuben Heathcock, George Black, Spradely Betts and George White and others, was succeeded by a separate Sunday school organized on December 1, 1872. In securing the above property and in the support of the ministry too much credit can hardly be given to Edward Mumford and family, Mrs. Clarrisa White, Mrs. Eliza Nicolson and the family of Robert Jenkins, who in those early days of the church extended the hospitality of their homes to the pastors without stint or expectation of pay. During this administration the society was incorporated. About that time a very helpful factor was brought into service in the person of S. B. Norris, then and for a number of years a teacher in the public schools. Rev. Burton Lewis was the pastor in 1875, followed by E. W. Taylor .in 1876 and M. R. Wilson in 1877, the latter continuing for four years, by which time the society had attained the dignity of a well-organized and fairly well-furnished mission. The Year 1880 brought' Rev. W. T. Artis, a strong and vigorous man, who extended his energies beyond the limits of the immediate vicinity and established a strong and active class near Mt. Sterling, in Pleasant township, in school district No. 9, thereby nearly doubling the membership. Among the standard-bearers of this class were the Lowry brothers, then prosperous farmers of that locality; With this addition, petition was made and the mission was changed to a station. With the previous success a threatened calamity came, the collapse of the venerable church building, but Providence provided a man sufficient for the emergency, the Rev. Silas French. With an abundance of latent determination; a good stock Of experience, and aided and encouraged by such noble-hearted people as Hon. S. W. Durflinger, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Watson and other like-minded spirits, within six months the present substantial brick structure was dedicated and ready for use. Having incurred a debt, it required wisdom and activity to meet the demands, but Rev. Jesse Henderson in MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 299 1885, Alexander Smith, in 1886, and J. D. Singleton, 1887 to 1889, had well nigh met all obligations. In the meantime the spiritual and moralizing influence had not faltered. In their time and turn, Hilman Hurd, Noah Hodges, Addison Tyree, William Tyler, Theopholous Cromwell, P. Q. Jenkins, Washington Boone, Frank Lowery, Elias Lowery,  Miss Emma Washington, Anna Phonosdall, Maime Jenkins, Arshel Taylor, Sarah Roberts, Grace Roberts and many others to whom limited space will not permit refer- ence, stood like beaten anvils to the stroke and did what they could. From the incep- tion of the temperance cause by the women's crusade, the Murphy movement, mission work, Christian endeavor, church aid, Allen league, men's bible study, Sunday school institute and ladies' sewing circle all have had a place and received more or less attention. Rev. Isaac Williams was appointed pastor in 1880, C. H. Coleman in 1891, Joseph Stevens in 1893, J. H. Grant in 1894, George Bundy in 1895, J. W. Young in 1896, R. P. Clark, in 1898, M. N. Culpher in 1900, E. L. Bell in 1903, and Benjamin Carson in 1904, the latter of whom advised and got the consent of the society to purchase a parsonage. George H. Cotton came in 1906, but was soon transferred to Lockland and his place was supplied by S. H. Savage, who was followed by C. D. Young in 1907 ; R. B. P. Wright in 1908, J. H. Mason in 1910, S. S. Adkins in 1911, and I. H. Alston. in 1912, the latter being followed in 1915 by W. W. Dawkins, the present incumbent. The trustees are Richard Taylor; Horace Bo Tyree, Elias H. Lowery. The society, at no time since its incorporation, in 1873, has been without a regularly appointed pastor, and its services at no time have been suspended, except for some temporary purpose. A pure Gospel in accordance with its church faith has been proclaimed. Its sunday school and other auxiliaries have been kept well intact: The society, thankful for- the 'blessings of the past; hopes still to be of use for the -uplift of those who may attend its services. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WEST JEFFERSON. The African Methodist church of West. Jefferson was, organized in 1865, when the spirit of Methodism was first kindled among the colored people of that town, of whom it seems fitting to mention the names of Mary Smith, Andrew Bayless and wife, David Slago, Louisa Walker, Pereene Ricks, Mary Cooper and a few others. This class was first visited by Rev. Edward Wright, and through his efforts a few accessions were made, and the society was regularly served with a minister., The membership for the next twenty years included about twenty. The society first worshipped in private dwellings, and mostly assembled at the ho.use of "Mother" Smith, whose door was always open and her reception warm to, any who might desire to enter. The second step, by and by, was to rent a house; though very poor,. it answered the purpose, and finally, in 1870, the members purchased. their present property, the old academy and surrounding grounds. This. building still stands, but is no longer used as a church. Of late years the society grew weak and presently discontinued services, although it still possesses the church, which is under the Control of a board of trustees. Regular services have not been. held for about ten years. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH OF ROSEDALE. About 1840 a few persons, under the leadership of John H. Surfus, caused the erection of a brick church in the west part of the village of Rosedale, then called Liverpool, in which was organized a Protestant Methodist society. The class embraced John H. Surfus and wife, I. Whitcomb and wife, some of the Williams family and a few others. This society continued as an organization but a few years, as, after the death of its principal support, Mr. Surfus, it dwindled away and the property was sold to the Catholics, who held services there for several years, after which their organiza-