PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 325 year became a regular charge and then followed : William Smith, 1856; M. Kauffman, 1858; W. J. Ellsworth, 1859; J. W. Weakley, 1860; L. D. Clayton, 1862; William S. Hartley, 1864; Thomas J. Harris, 1865 ; Alexander Meharry, 1867; J. W. Cassatt, 1871; John F. Morley, 1874 ; Thomas Collett, 1875; T. S. Cowden, 1877; A. N. Spahr, 1880; S. A. Brewster, 1883; James Murray, 1886; J. P. Shultz, 1889 ; J. L. Glasscock, 1891; J. W. Cassatt, 1892; J. L. Shively, 1893 ; Creighton Wones, 1897; L. E. Prentiss, 1899; C. H. Haines, 1901 ; W. A. Wiant, 1903; E. M. Elsworth, 1906; 0. L. Utter, 191o, and George H. Smith, 1912. Early in the forties the Methodists started a Sunday school. and have ever since maintained it, now enrolling about three hundred members. FATHER OF PREBLE COUNTY METHODISM. It would seem proper here to give the reader some idea of the man who perhaps more than any other was the instrument under God to spread Methodism, not only in this county, but in the state of Ohio—James B. Finley, whose mortal remains await the, Resurrection in Mound Hill cemetery. His father was a Presbyterian preacher in Pennsylvania, where James was born in 1781, a few years after which date the family moved to Kentucky. In 1796 the father freed his slaves and moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, where James studied medicine and began practice, but not liking the profession of medicine, abandoned it. Being a good rifle shot and a hunter, he decided that the life of a backwoodsman was the life for him. In 1801 he married Hannah Strane and settled in the woods in Highland county, this state, where he resided until the year 1809, occasionally speaking and exhorting at meetings. In 1809 James B. Finley was licensed as a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church and began a career that left its impress upon the lives of many people. His first circuit was Wills Creek circuit, four hundred and seventy-five miles long, beginning at Zanesville and comprising the settlements along the Muskingum and tributaries thereto and east of Zanesville. In 1818 he had charge of the Ohio district, including the whole state and east to the mountains. He was the missionary who succeeded in Christianizing the Wyandot Indians at Upper Sandusky. In 1827 he again went on the circuit, and so continued until 1844, in which year he was appointed the chaplain of the Ohio penitentiary, holding that place until 1848, when he again began service. In 1853 he was in charge of Clinton Street church in 326 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. Cincinnati. In 1854 he moved to Eaton to live with his daughter, Eliza H., the wife of Rev. John C. Brooke, and died there on September 6, 1856. James B. Finley was eight times presiding elder of this circuit and eight times a delegate to the general conference. During all those years of his active life his traveling was mostly done on horseback: He held many camp-meetings and revivals. He was a strong and effective preacher, of tireless energy, of infinite tact, possessed of a wide knowledge of human nature, naturally eloquent and forceful, with a wide and deep knowledge of the Bible and its history, of undoubted piety and manly character and perfectly fearless. I presume it may safely be stated that for a third of a century he exerted a wider influence for good in this state than was exerted by any man of his day and generation. At least, the Methodists so recognize his work and at every conference held in the town delegations of preachers visit his grave, regarding it as a veritable shrine of Methodism. CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES. The Church of Christ, or Disciples church, was organized in Eaton about the year 1823, in the old public church on Water street. In 1846 the congregation decided to erect their own church, which they built at the southeast corner of Barron and Somers streets, completing it in 18:49 ; but on account of an agreement to allow a neighbor to join with them in the building of a party wall (generally a bad agreement) the church became involved in a law suit in regard thereto, which lasted some years. Although the congregation finally won the suit, dissension had arisen, and the church dwindled. In 1873, after obtaining consent of the common pleas court, the building was sold and the money received was allowed to accumulate until 1879, in which year the church was reorganized, a lot was purchased on the west side of Barrdn street and a fine brick church was erected; the same containing a baptistry, the only one in town, since which time the church has done good work, and is now attracting many members. The total cost of the church was about six thousand dollars. There are now about three hundred members of the church. Henry Montfort was the pastor for many years prior to the cholera year, during which he and his wife died. Then came John R. Frame, Z. Brown, Enos Adamson, T. D. Garver, 1879 ; then came L. E. Brown, S. V. Simmons, John E. Stotler, J. W. Moore, J. M. Brown, Wooster Williams, Clarence Baker, W. A. Guy and Harry C. Bream, 1911. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 327 THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The greater part of this short history of the Presbyterian church in Eaton was furnished by G. H. Kelly, a deacon in the church for more than twenty years. The first meeting of Eaton Presbyterians was held about 1819 in the cabinet shop of Thomas Morgan, on the west side of Barron street, and later in the shop of Alexander Mitchell, and finally in the public church, erected at the west end of Wadsworth street, the preachers being Peter Montfort, Alexander Porter and a Mr. Bertch or Burch, who later, in traveling the circuit, was frozen to death on the prairies of Illinois. The Presbyterians were the first to select a site for their church. under the provisions made by Bruce in laying out the town. They selected the lot they ever since have occupied, at the southeast corner of Beech and Decatur streets, on which lot then was located a sheep house. In 1824 they remodeled this structure for a church, putting in puncheon benches, no backs, and for years some of the older members carried chairs to church and home each Sunday for their own use. The pulpit was a box pulpit, four feet above the floor, and was reached by a stairway. There were two front doors, one used by the women and one by the men. The congregation continued to grow and in a few years the house was remodeled. In 1866 Mary Hawkins, in her will; left the church a legacy of one thousand dollars, to which more money was added and the church was again remodeled and refurnished. A little later a small pipe-organ was installed, making a very comfortable and pleasant church. The congregation continuing to grow, about the year 1890 an agitation was started for a better and more modern brick edifice. Like all agitations with justice back of it, this one continued to gain headway until about the close of 1892, when it., was decided to build, and in 1893 the building was begun, being finished the next year, at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. To the church since has been added a fine pipe-organ. One of the members of this church was Mrs. Allison Fulton, a good, old Scottish woman, who in her young days, had been used to the ringing of church bells, and she worried much because the church had no bell. She died some three years since and her will provided the sum of five hundred dollars, with which to purchase a church bell. A bell was purchased, her name being cast in the same. It was hung in the church tower and every Sunday its tones ring out as sweet and clear as her Scottish heart could wish. 328 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. There are now two hundred and fifty-one members of the Eaton Presbyterian church. The records of the church do not tell all that might be desired, but so far as known the following ministers have been pastors of the church or stated supplies thereof : John M. Crabb, T. E. Hughes, Peter Golliday, J. C. Mitchell, about 1840 ; John Marquis, about 1852 ; H. W. Taylor, 1856 ; G. H. Webster, 1860 ; G. M. Haid, 1866 ; F. L. Lenour, 1867; J. W. Scott, 1871 ; John Haight, 1872 ; W. W. Colmier, 1874 ; Andrew J. Reynolds, 1875 ; James H. Bratton, 1881 ; J. H. Reed, 1897 ; G. E. Gowdy, 1892 ; H. A. McDonald, 1897; W. H. Sands, 1899 ; George G. Copeland, 1902 ; W. B. Shirey, 1905, and C. A. Hunter, 1909. The Sunday school of the church was organized about the year 1844 and has been successfully continued ever since, having proved a strong and efficient aid to the church. It now enrolls one hundred and fifty-seven members. THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. Samuel Tizzard, who arrived in 1820, as editor and manager of the Eaton Register, was the first pronounced Universalist in town. About 1825 there were occasional preachers of that faith who held meetings, and finally an organization was effected, but probably lasted as such no more than four or five years. Again occasional preaching was had, and, about 1856, those of that faith then in Eaton united with those of the same faith on Paint creek. W. S. Bacon was the first pastor and they built Friendship church, where they continued to worship as a congregation until 1872, when those who resided in Eaton determined to have a church in town in order to spare themselves a drive of five miles into the country. With this end in view, they withdrew from Friendship church, the best of feeling prevailing, organized a society and bought the lot at the northwest corner of Cherry and Somers streets, but held services for a year in the Disciples church. In 1874 they began the erection of the present brick church and completed it for meetings in 1876, the same being dedicated in 1877, at a cost of about six thousand dollars. There are now sixty members of the church, and about the same number in Sunday school. The pastors have been : C. A. Lauder, 1877 ; Frank Evans, 1879 ; J. M. Getchell; 1880 ; J. A. Stoner ; Sarah Stoner, pastor. ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. The first services of the Catholic church were held in Eaton, probably about the year 1853, in a building rented for the purpose, by Father Carney, PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 329 who soon after was followed by Father O'Connor, and were continued in that building for some years. The building then was given up and services were held at the house of Michael Ryan, who later, for a number of years, was marshal of the village. About 1865 services began and were regularly held at the pastor's residence until in 1879, when the present brick church was erected and dedicated, the edifice costing about five thousand five hundred dollars. Until a few years previous to the building of the church, Eaton was only a station and was supplied by Father D' Arco and Father William Daly, from Oxford and Hamilton, respectively. Since that time the charge has been a parish, with a priest regularly stationed. In 1903 the Catholics erected a fine brick residence for their pastor, adjoining the church, at a cost of six thousand five hundred dollars. The membership of the church is about six hundred and ten, a large part being from the country around the town. The priests in charge have been the Reverend Fathers John Bowe, 1875; F. M. Varelman, 1876 ; G. C. Grace, 188o; John S. Singleton, 1885; John Cusack, 1889 ; Charles Doherty, 1892; A. Adelman, 1894 ; George Hickey, 1895 ; Abraham McNamara, 1897; D. N. Halpin, 1906; James E. Quinn, 1910; Joseph M. Hyland, 1911, present incumbent. UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. The United Brethren church was first organized in 1889 and for about a year held services in a, building owned by J. T. Deem. In 1890 the local adherents of this -faith purchased the lot at the northeast corner of Bruce and Cherry streets, whereon they built a church, which some years later was remodeled and veneered with cement blocks, at a total cost of over ten thousand dollars. In 1904 the United Brethren built a parsonage adjoining the church at a cost of about three thousand dollars. They now have over three hundred members, with a Sunday school of about two hundred enrolled. The pastors have been : G. W. Arnold, 1889 ; A. Dunkelbarger, 1891 ; C. W. Kurtz, 1893 ; H. Secrist, 1895 ; T. F. Bushong, 1897; G. R. and Ruth Hemphill, 1900; C. W. Stephens, 1902.; R. A. Smith, 1906 ; M. I. Corfort, 1909 ; D. R. Wilson, 1913. GRACE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. This church was organized in Eaton about the year 1886, the members holding their meetings in the Baptist church, the. congregation of which 330 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. had become much weakened by the removal or death of its members, and in 18'89 the Baptist church property on Decatur street was purchased by the Lutherans and remodeled. In 1896 a parsonage was added. The membership now is about seventy, with about fifty in the Sunday school. This church and Zion church, some four miles north, are served by the same pastor. George Baughman was the pastor to about 1892, then George Smidt, 1892; George Weber, 1896, and George Sixth, 1915. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Early in the seventies of the last century there was a class formed in Eaton of the African Methodist Episcopal church, which held meetings, sometimes at the homes of members and sometimes in a room rented for the purpose. About 1879 Rev. Silas French became the pastor, and he started a movement for a church. In 1880 the colored brethren bought the lot at the southwest corner of Franklin and Wadsworth streets and erected a brick church and parsonage thereon. For a number of years the church grew, but for the past fifteen years it has decreased by reason of death and removal of the members, until it now numbers only about twelve, with a Sunday school of about the same number. The church belongs to the Palestine circuit and Alfred Taylor is the pastor. In 1912 six churches of Eaton, the Methodist, the Presbyterian, the Christian, the United Brethren, the Disciples and the Universalist, united their efforts to hold a tabernacle revival. A tabernacle capable of holding about two thousand people was erected at the southeast corner of Decatur and Barron streets and the combined churches secured the services of Rev. I. E. Hunewell, who held services from November 20 to December 22, 1912. As a result within ninety days thereafter the churches received an aggregate of over six hundred accessions. If these accessions were not secured as a result of those meetings, it is a curious fact that the number was many times greater than ever before recorded in the same time. EATON'S FRATERNAL SOCIETIES. Eaton Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized on May 22, 1844, with the following charter members : John V. Campbell, George Edgerley, Richard Y. Launius, Amos Yost and James W. Murray. The initial meeting was held in the first building south of the PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 331 St. Clair block on Barron street, and John V. Campbell, James Albert, Michael Filbert, Theodore Harbaugh, Alfred Denny and Andrew Mikesell were then initiated as the first- class. The treasury at that time held ten dollars and after one year the lodge had twenty members. In 1848 the lodge moved into a building that stood where the Eikenbery block now stands, on Main street. In 1855 the Odd Fellows purchased the lot at the northeast corner of Main and Cherry streets now occupied by them and soon numbered one hundred and twenty members, representing all parts of the county, this at that time being the only lodge in the county. Soon, however, a desire arose on the part of those from a distance to have lodges of their own nearer home, and this lodge furnished charter members for Lewisburg, New Paris, Gratis and Fair Haven. John V. Campbell, was the first noble grand ; James Albert, secretary, and Amos W. Yost, treasurer. On August 24, 1873, the building owned and occupied by the Odd Fellows burned down, but they determined to rebuild greater and better, and in the same year they started the present three-story brick building, completing it in the fall of 1874. They have continued to increase in numbers, on account of their good works, until today they number over two hundred members. Their success is justly due them because they have been true to their tenets : "To visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury their dead, protect the widow and educate the orphan." During the years the lodge has been in existence, in obedience to these tenets, the lodge has spent over seventy-five thousand dollars and stands ready to do more if need be. God bless the order and give it prosperity to help alleviate suffering and soothe the sorrowing. The data from which this is written was furnished me by George H. Kelly. MASONIC LODGE. Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in Eaton on January 8, 1827, the charter members being John M. Gray, Joseph C. Hawkins, David F. Heaton, Nathaniel Benjamin, Alexander Mehaffey, Ernestus Putnam, William Edgar and Eastin Morris. John M. Gray was the first worshipful master, and the first tyler was Nathaniel Benjamin, who was the last survivor of that worthy band. The first meeting was held on August 19, 1826, under a dispensation from the deputy grand master, but the date given above is the date of the charter. At the second meeting of the lodge four petitions were presented, among 332 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. these being the petition of Jesse B. Stephens, whose sword carried by him in the Mexican war, still does duty as the tyler's sword. The lodge used for a time one of the rooms of the old court house, under an arrangement with the commissioners, the county reserving the right to use the furnished room for a jury room. In 1848 the commissioners began tearing down the old court house to make room for the new one and the lodge leased a room in the third story of the Vanausdal building, at the northwest corner of Barron and Main streets. In 1853 the town council arranged to build a town hall on the northeast corner of the court house ground, and the Masons arranged to build a third story on this building for their use, and did so, completing it the next year, Thomas J. Larsh being worshipful master at the time. The lodge had no rebuilding clause in their deed. On July 4, 1859, fire destroyed that and several other buildings and the commissioners took over the ground and added it to the court house square, where it really belonged, and the "real estate" owned by the lodge was too high to reach. The lodge saved nearly all of its property, and for a couple of years was granted permission to use the Odd Fellows' building. Then, for nearly thirty years, the Masons rented a room at two or three places. Finally, in 1890, Judge William J. Gilmore offered to sell them a lot twenty-five feet wide on the west side of Barron street pt a low price if they would build. They accepted and the present three-story Masonic temple was erected, to which an addition has since been made. The lodge now has one of the most comfortable homes to be found in towns of similar size. The building was completed in 1892 and is owned jointly by Bolivar lodge and Eaton chapter. The lodge membership now numbers over one hundred and twenty-four ,brothers. For the first twenty years of its existence the Eaton lodge drew membership from the whole county, but since then four other lodges have been instituted in the county and its area is limited. Eaton Chapter No. 22, Royal Arch Masons, was organized by charter on December 23, 1837, with James L. Campbell, high priest ; Thomas J. Larsh, king, and. Daniel Harshman, scribe. They had worked under a dispensation for about a year, but the above is the date of the charter. The chapter has always occupied a room with Bolivar lodge and shared in its vicissitudes, and now owns half of the Masonic temple. It is the only chapter in the county and draws its membership from the whole county. It now numbers one hundred and five companions. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 333 KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. On May 24, 1882, charter date, Waverly Lodge No. 143, Knights of Pythias, was organized in Eaton with the following charter members : E. H. Allison, C. C. and Frank F. Rhea, J. T. Holmes, J. R. Cook, J. S. Gary, D. J. Musselman, H. H. Huete, G. Pfister, A. M. Crisler, B. F. Jervis, C. S. Price, W. B. Marsh, G. M. Orr, F. G. Thompson, C. U. Patton, O. C. Filbert, J. Taylor, Charles F. Ressler, J. J. Hume and W. P. Webb. The charter was signed by E. L. Clossee, grand commander. The Pythians occupied the third story of the Eidson building for three years, then moved across the hall into the Minor block, where they remained for twenty-eight years. In 1912 they began the erection of the Pythian temple, at the northeast corner of Somers and Barron streets, which was completed, dedicated and occupied in February, 1914, the cost being about twenty-two thousand dollars. This lodge now probably has the finest and most up-to-date lodge building in the county and has a membership of three hundred and forty. On March 30, 1897, Dorcas Temple No. 105, Pythian Sisters, was organized with twenty-five charter members, Florence Jones, most eminent chief. This society now numbers about two hundred and forty members and has always occupied the same lodge room with the Knights of Pythias. Dakota Tribe No. 73, Red Men, was organized in Eaton on December 26, 1899, with fifty-four charter members, Edward Johns, sachem. The members rented rooms at first in the Gould building, on Main street, until the year 1914, when they occupied a room in the Minor block. The tribe now has about seventy members. EATON'S MILITIA COMPANY. In the summer of 1899 Capt. W. H. Ortt organized Company F, Third Regiment, Ohio National Guard. It was mustered in on October 28, 1899, with I. J. Dove, captain ; C. W. Eidson, first lieutenant ; W. S. Jennings, second lieutenant ; G. H. Kelly, elected captain March 9, 1902 ; F. E. Dunlap, captain, September, 1906. In December, 1912, Lieut. L. J. Hapner was placed in command, the captain having resigned, and on February 3, 1913, Hapner was elected captain and is at present in command. A detail from the company served in Springfield, Ohio, during the riots in that city in 1906, over the burning of the negro quarter's. The whole company was called to Columbus during 334 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. the riots in that city in August, 1910, and on March 26, 1913, Governor Cox placed West Dayton in charge of Company F, under Captain Hapner, the city being under martial law, for the relief of the flood sufferers, to clean the city and for rescue work, which place they held until relieved after some ten days. In all its services Company F obeyed orders so well that the state authorities decided that it deserved an armory building. In 1910 the sum of four thousand dollars was raised by subscription of citizens, headed by Governor A. L. Harris, and a site was purchased at .the southwest corner of Vine and Main streets, on which the state erected a fine armory of boulders and cement at a cost of about twenty-four thousand dollars, with two thousand dollars' worth of furniture furnished by the company. The drill room seats about seven hundred people. It was built in 1911. The company now numbers but about fifty at roll call. COMMERCIAL CLUB. In 1905 a Commercial Club was organized, of some fifteen or twenty men, for the purpose of boosting the town and assisting in such ways as they could to bring business to the town and to improve and make the town better. This club met in the town hall until 1914, when they rented the third story of the Thum building. J. E. Parker was the first president and L. L. Brown was the first secretary. The latter has held the office ever since. The club now has about one hundred members and has done much good, besides encouraging men to "boost" instead of to "knock." The junior Order of United American Mechanics, Lodge No. 6, was organized on October 15, 1899, with twenty-five charter members. This lodge at present rents a room on North Maple street and meets every Monday evening. The first counsellor was Charles Wiley and Harry Clear was the first secretary, which office he still holds. The lodge now has forty members. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. Mulkaren O'Cain Post No. 3, Department of Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized on March. 23, 1883, with forty-two charter members. B. F. Davis was the first post commander. This post now has sixty comrades. There are Grand Army posts now only at Eaton, Camden, Lewisburg and New Paris. Three other posts have perished because of the death of PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 335 members and long before another history of this county is written the comrades of the existing posts will have answered the last roll call and search must be made among dusty and forgotten records for even the names, but for each old comrade, in life, and in death, may it be, "requiescat in pace." Woman's Relief Corps No. 9 was organized on January 29, 1887, with twenty-nine charter members, Mrs. Kate Coovert, president. This corps now numbers thirty and has always used the Grand Army of the Republic hall. 333 - CHAPTER XXIII. MONROE TOWNSHIP. Monroe township was the last township of the county to be settled because of the swampy and wet condition of large tracts of the land. Twin creek crosses the northeastern section, Bantas fork through the five southwest sections, and Dry fork, south of West Manchester, flows southeast into Twin creek ; while Price creek, rising in Darke county, comes into the township about a mile east of the northwest corner of the township, flows diagonally across and leaves it within less than a mile north of the southeast corner of the township. The township is so near the beginnings of these streams that the land is extremely level, there probably existing no abrupt or steep hill, as much as twenty-five feet high, in the township. Rocky run heads as a tile ditch in section 31 of this township. The soil is of clay, with limestone subsoil, the drift material being covered from ten to twenty feet in most places. It is said that originally there were great quantities of poplar and walnut growing in the forests, but now nearly all has been removed by the lumberman. The land is now mostly cleared, many miles of main ditches having been constructed, furnishing outlets for many more miles of farm ditches, until today splendid farms, with fine buildings, occupy lands that one hundred years ago were swamps, at that time inaccessible, except in the dry season or when frozen over. The soil is of the most productive variety and in all discussions as to the best township in the county, even the enthusiast from some other township is willing to admit that Monroe may lead his township ; but if not, then his is best. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Charles Armantrout, near Hamburg; William Brown, in section 29; John Jellison, in section 23 ; Isaiah Adams, near Hamburg; Jacob Baker, in section 16; Aaron Crisler, in section 26, and the Murdocks, west of Eldorado, probably were the first settlers arriving in the township, the date of their arrival being from two to four years before the War of 112. Josiah Davisson, who settled in section 14 in 1816, is said to have found quite a number of neighbors scattered about the township. Elias Bunger arrived about PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 337 1817. Jonathan Shurley settled in section 16, in 1815, and lived there until his death in 1879. He had eleven children in his family and many of his descendants yet reside in the township. About the same time came David Fudge, Moses Ireland, Peter Swerer and Moses Thompson. William Pence, who settled in section 31, in 1825, had been a captain 'in the War of 1812, and came from Virginia. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. The first school house was built, about 1825, in section 10, Jerry Pence, teacher, others soon following. Under our present school law eight good country school houses have been erected in the township, but already a movement is being agitated either to centralize the schools of the township or allow the western half to be centralized with Eldorado, the eastern half to be centralized with West Manchester, where there already exist excellent village schools. The first church was the United Brethren church, built in 1830, in section 23, on Aaron Crisler's farm, but now gone. The congregation of this church later built a frame church near the east line of section 25. In 1832 the Baptists built a church in section 14, which gave way to a frame church some thirty years later. In 1850 the. Universalists erected a church in section 9, near the Monroe cemetery, and it was used for many years. The German Baptist church, now the Church of the Brethren, about 1862, erected a church in section 22 on Price's creek, which, about 1905, was remodeled. This congregation now numbers about one hundred members, with a Sunday school enrollment of about one hundred and fifty. About 1882 the friction between the "progressive" element of this congregation and the "old order" became so great that the latter withdrew and erected a frame church of their own on the Eaton and Eldorado road, in section 20, and are now known as the Old Order Brethren. They number about eighty members. The German Baptists, some forty years ago, joined in the erection of a Union church in section 12, called Twin Creek chapel. About 1890 they sold out their interest to the Christian church, the other organization. They claim to have had an organization in the township some years previous to the time of the Mexican war. About 1879 the Christian church and the German Baptists united to (22) 338 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. build a church on the east line of section 12, called Twin Creek chapel, as noted above, and about 1885 the Baptists sold their interest to the Christian church, since which time the latter congregation has controlled the church. This church now numbers about one hundred members, with a Sunday school of about the same or larger number. R. P. Arrick is the pastor. There are five cemeteries in Monroe township, all under the control of the township trustees. Monroe cemetery, the largest, is in section 9 and is much used. Hamburg cemetery, just west of the town, in section 17, is little used. Brown cemetery lies at the eastern edge of section 12. These are probably the oldest public cemeteries, having been laid out and used from the earliest settlement of the township. The Wehrley cemetery, in section 22, was originally laid out by the Dunkards, probably between 1840 and 1850. The Stump cemetery, on the south line of section 19, just west of Banta Fork, was used as such over sixty years ago. In addition there were a few family cemeteries scattered over the township. Owing to the slight fall of the streams no water mills were ever erected in the township, the early settlers getting their milling done by the mills in Harrison, Jefferson and Washington townships. There were two or three mills in the township some thirty years ago, but the larger mills have crowded them out of business and they are closed. The saw-mills seem to have gone the same way, centering in the villages of the township. ELDORADO. The first house erected in Eldorado, one mile south of the north county line, was built by Leroy R. McWhinney in 1852. McWhinney also started a store and mill, depot and grain house, near the track of the Dayton & Western railroad, which then had just been completed; then laid out the town on his own land and continued business for a number of years. The village was incorporated in 1875, Matthew T. McWhinney being elected as the first mayor, he having purchased the business formerly owned by Leroy R. McWhinney. Hamburg, about a mile south of Eldorado, was settled first, Samuel Adams having started a store there at an early day. About the same time a church society of United Brethren was organized, which built a church there in 1848. Most of the business of the western part of the township was done at Hamburg and the postoffice was located there ; but the railroad went through a mile north of the town, Eldorado was laid out, and postoffice and business moved to the railroad. Hamburg consequently ceased to grow, PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 339 although a number of its older citizens hoped for a railroad as long as they lived. The United Brethren in 1868 built a church at Eldorado, and the membership of the Hamburg church, in time, was transferred to the new church, which, in 1892, built a brick house of worship at a cost of about six thousand five hundred dollars. This congregation now numbers one hundred and thirty-five, with over one hundred and fifty enrolled in the Sunday school. E. S. Weimer is the pastor. In 1869 the Universalists built a brick church in Eldorado, and the membership of Monroe Universalist church, in section 9, was transferred there, the old house being abandoned, which made the church a strong organization. In 1909 the congregation built a fine brick church at a cost of over five thousand dollars. The church now has a membership of eighty or more with one hundred and five enrolled in the Sunday school. B. F. Eaton was the first pastor, then J. H. Blackford served, in all, for twenty-five years. Other pastors have been O. P. Moorman, Henry Blackford, J. A. Stoner and Mrs. Sarah Stoner, the latter of whom is the present pastor. In 1854 a steam grist-mill was built and was successfully run for many years, but it is now silent. The school building in Eldorado is a fine brick building of four rooms, erected about the year 1882. Four teachers are employed and John Schlotterbeck is the superintendent. In 1908 the building was remodeled at a cost of over three thousand dollars. Until about the beginning of the Civil War the school house was outside of the village, in the township, but about that time the school house was erected in the village. The school now enrolls about one hundred pupils. The Knights of Pythias lodge at Eldorado was formed in 1888, with J. D. Gartrell, chancellor commander and charter members, Isaac Miller, J. H. Mills, J. A. McCabe, J. A. Davisson, F. P. Campbell, William S. Campbell, W. H. Beard, M. T. McWhinney, W. E. Judy, C. H. Staton, John Eddins, D. Lockwood and Harvey Disher. At first, for about a year, the lodge meetings were held in the McCabe building. The lodge bought the old Methodist Episcopal church building, erecting thereon a second story, and now owns a neat lodge home, entirely free from debt. The lodge now numbers one hundred and six members. The village owns its own council chamber and its own electric lighting system, buying the current, delivered at the corporation line, from Greenville, providing twenty-one street lights and the commercial lighting. For the past 340 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. two years this lighting has been done at a profit. A gas-pipe line was built into the village in December, 1913, and has quite a number of patrons. The business of the town is done by one bank, two groceries, one dry-goods store, one clothing store, one hotel, two grain elevators, two coal yards, one harness shop, one livery stable, two restaurants, one 'agricultural implement store, two stock buyers, two hardware stores, one furniture store, one drug store, three blacksmiths, three buggy dealers, two barbers and a creamery. The village also has a telephone exchange. George McCoy is the present mayor. WEST MANCHESTER. Like Eldorado, West Manchester just grew up as a collection of residences around the station of the Dayton & Western railroad. Under the laws of Ohio it was called a hamlet and governed by three trustees, except that the schools were under the control of the township board of education (the town never having been incorporated), and it so continued until March, 1900, at which time the trustees, on petition, ordered an election to advance the hamlet to a village. This election was held on April 2, 1900, and the progressive proposition was carried by a vote of two to one. A census showed a population of three hundred and seventy, and on October 1, 1900, the final resolution was passed making West Manchester a village. John W. Hoffman was elected the first mayor and R. H. Siler the first clerk. Hagerstown, about a mile northeast of West Manchester, was laid out in an early day, and the first postoffice in the township was established there in 1832. A store was opened and the place did quite a little business, but the railroad came, the station was located, and in 1855 the postoffice was moved to West Manchester. Business also moved to the latter point; the people either followed or sought other locations, and Hagerstown, as a town, has become only a memory. The Cincinnati Northern railroad crosses the Dayton & Western railroad in the village, but the roads have separate depots. Brown's Station, on the Dayton & Western railroad, is situated about a mile and a half east of West Manchester, near a water station of the railroad. Some half dozen houses are clustered about the station, but all the business of the hamlet is transacted at West Manchester. The United Brethren organized a society in West Manchester about 1867, and the next year built a church and organized a Sunday school. Their first church was a frame church. The congregation grew and in time the building became too small ; the premises were sold, a new site was purchased and in 1901 the present commodious brick church was erected, at a cost of PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 341 about seven thousand dollars, which bids fair to last for many years. The church now numbers about one hundred members and the Sunday school one hundred fifty or more. E. S. Weimer is the present pastor. The church is situated at the southeast corner of North and High streets. The Christian church was organized about 1890, and the same year the congregation built a frame church on West Orchard street, at a cost of about three thousand dollars. This congregation quickly grew and proved to be a live and growing organization. It now numbers one hundred and ten members, with a Sunday school enrollment probably greater. H. C. Crampton is the present pastor. Lodge No. 520, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized with twelve charter members about 1873, and the same year built a three-story frame building at the northwest corner of Main and Scott streets, renting the lower story for business. About 1904, the Odd Fellows removed the frame building, replacing it with a three-story brick building, at a cost of over seven thousand dollars. In 1906 the lower story of this latter building was sold, the lodge retaining the two upper stories. This lodge now numbers one hundred and twenty members. On August 17, 1892, Crescent Temple No. 353, Daughters of Rebekah, was organized and occupies same lodge building. Crescent Temple numbers about sixty members. In 1907 the Junior Order of United American Mechanics was organized. This lodge purchased the lot and building at the southwest corner of Scott and High streets and remodeled the same to suit its purposes. It now numbers over eighty members. SCHOOLS, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. The first school was conducted in a country school house near the railroad, about one-half mile east of the village, which all the children of the village attended until 1874, in which year a school house was erected in the village. In 1886 the present four-room brick school house was erected at a cost of about twelve thousand dollars. The school now enrolls about one hundred pupils. R. M. Brown is the present superintendent. D. A. Petrey was the superintendent in 1907 ; C. F. Geeting, 1903 ; C. M. Eikenberry, 1898; William Buck, 1897 ; Oscar Creager, 1896 ; George Buck, 1892. Some twenty-five years ago a tile-mill was started by one Holtsmiller, who operated it for a number of years. About the year 1900 this mill passed into the hands of Nelson & Myers, who, finding a large body of tile-clay, 342 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. erected a large building and sheds just north of the village, and now operate the plant on a very extensive scale, manufacturing all sizes of clay tile up to twenty-four inches, annually shipping many car loads. This is the most extensive business in the village. The pipe line for natural gas was laid through the village in 1913, and has quite a number of patrons. The West Manchester Lighting Company was organized some years ago by local parties. They strung wires for street and commercial lighting and have the contract with the village under a franchise, but the company buys the current from Greenville, delivered at the corporation line. There are about forty street lights. The village has a local telephone exchange, the system being connected with the neighboring villages. The physicians of the village are Dr. C. W. Carter and Dr. Carl Beane. The business of the town is transacted by one bank, one grain elevator, four groceries, two dry goods stores, one hardware store, one machine shop, one jeweler, one plumber, two coal-yards, one lumber-yard, one livery stable and garage, one furniture store, one agricultural implement store, one butcher, one harness and shoe shop, two barbers, three blacksmiths, tile works and two hotels. The village owns its own waterworks system, built in 1903, at a, cost of about eighteen thousand dollars, the water being obtained from three driven wells near the southeast corner of the -town, driven to a depth of some eighty feet, from which water is pumped to a stand-pipe, which supplies the village. CHAPTER XXIV. GRATIS TOWNSHIP. Gratis is the southeast township of the county, and may be described as rolling land generally. Along the southern line, measuring from the west line, is a strip of level land about three miles long by one and a half miles wide. When the county was first settled this land was wet and much of it swampy, but, by drainage, it has become the most fertile land of the county. Twin creek touches section 3 and 2, but neither branch of the stream crosses the north line to exceed one-half mile. Elk creek touches sections 35 and 36, but slightly. Into these streams the whole township is drained by smaller streams flowing northwardly or southwardly from a ridge of high land that crosses the township east and west near the center line. It should not be understood that this ridge is a hill, for it is simply the top of the two north and south slopes, and in many places the traveler will cross the divide without observing it unless his attention be called thereto. Along the eastern side of the township two streams, each called Pleasant run, have their source near the line between sections 13 and 24, one swinging north into Twin creek, and the other flowing south in Elk creek. Along each stream is a fine body of gently sloping farm land, exceedingly fertile. Beginning near the southern border, a road runs directly north, near and along the high land of the western slope for a distance of five miles, with the valley always in sight. There is no more agreeable pleasure drive in the county, the road being good, the view always pleasant and the outlook prosperous. Along some of the streams is some broken land, but it is of small proportions, the land smoothing out as soon as the hill top is reached, and there are no hills of any great height. The climb from Pleasant run, east of Greenbush, is the longest hill climb in the township, going up a hundred and thirty feet to the county line in a little less than a mile, but the slope is gradual all the way up. There are no railroads touching Gratis township, and it contains no factories except a saw-mill at Gratis and one at West Elkton, and the 344 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. carriage factory of I. Talbert & Sons, now Talbert & Company, at West Elkton. This is the only carriage factory in the county that has survived the fierce competition of the great factories. The only reason that can be given is that they do no cheap work, the buyer soon learning that he has the full quality of work that he paid for; naturally he brags of that fact, and that drives away no customers. Gratis township is essentially a farming community, the main crops being those generally raised in this latitude. The houses and farms look comfortable and well kept, the land is productive and the farmers prosperous. The origin of the name of the township is given in the chapter on organization, at least that is the story told by Judge Jacob Chambers and George D. Hendrix, who got it from those who were prominent in the affairs of the county at the time it occurred. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settlers of Gratis township were John Leslie and John Long, who, about i800, some claim as early as 1798, located on section 36. Leslie took the south half and it has been a tradition in the township that near the banks of Elk creek stood a very large sycamore or cottonwood tree, some eight or ten feet in diameter, that was hollow at the base, with an opening some two or three feet in diameter, and he made it his home for about three or four months until he could find time to build his cabin. The next year Leslie brought his family of five sons and three daughters from Pennsylvania and there are many of his descendants yet living in this and the adjoining counties. Shortly after Leslie, came Alexander Pugh from Georgia, who bought some eight hundred acres in Pleasant Valley, north of Greenbush. About the same time William Swisher settled on section 1, north of Twin creek, and near him, about the same time, Hezekiah Phillips settled; his daughter, Rebecca Phillips, is claimed to be the first white girl born in the county. In 1804 Abraham Neff settled on Twin creek and later built the first mill. In the same year Levi Kinman came, and Abraham Wimmer and Nicholas and Jacob Gift settled at Gratis. A little later, Daniel Boone settled south of Gratis on a stream that yet bears his name. It is claimed he was related to the hunter, Daniel Boone, of Kentucky, whence he came. At the time the present United States Constitution was adopted, there existed a strong anti-slavery faction, and the Quaker element of the United States, by religion, precept and practice, had always insisted on the prin- PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 345 ciple that Lincoln later expressed so well, that "No man was ever created good enough to own another man." This agitation forced the compromise on the slavery question into the Constitution, and also forced that principle into the Ordinance of 1787, that involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, should never exist in the Northwest territory. The Quakers, on account of their tenets, had for years, in the border and Southern states, been derided and, in some cases, partly ostracised by their slavery neighbors, and looked upon the Northwest territory (for they were ever a reading people) as the land of freedom. Hence, when the danger of Indian forays had passed, great numbers of them sold out, and, with their families and what they could haul, headed for the Ohio river as the boundary line to be passed. Also, many of the younger men came to hunt for homes in the territory, and, when found, they returned and brought back as wives the waiting sweethearts. These are the real reasons that caused many Quaker settlements in this state. These are some of the reasons that made the Quaker settlement in this township, to which must be added. the fact that the Great Miami valley was' then, as now, reputed to be one of God's garden spots, and the other fact that in those localities from which they came they had to depend much on people of their own faith for consolation in sorrow and for social enjoyment. Hence, when moving to a new country, they hung together. During the years 1803, 1804 and 1805, over fifty families from the Carolinas and Georgia settled in southern Preble and northern Butler counties, the central point being around West Elkton, and of the number nearly all were Quakers and all acquired land. Some of them later became possessed of hundreds of acres, many farms yet being owned by descendants of the early owners. We will name a few and, so far as known, their location : Samuel Stubbs, from Georgia, settled in section 29. His grandson, S. N. Stubbs, still owns most of the farm. With Samuel came eleven brothers, it is claimed, who all settled in the township in that neighborhood or on the land nearby in Butler, and nearly all reared large families. Daniel Chrisman, from North Carolina, settled in section 11. Richard Brown, from Georgia, settled in section 20. Jonas Randall, from South Carolina, settled east of West Elkton. Christian Fall and Benjamin Fall, his son, settled near Greenbush. John Riner, from Virginia, settled in the eastern part of the township. Francis Jones, from Georgia, settled near West Elkton. Jesse Kenworthy, from South Carolina, settled on section 32. William Gifford, from North Carolina, settled east of West Elkton. Nathan Maddock and Samuel Maddock, his father, from Georgia, headed a colony 346 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. of some fifty people to the land of freedom; they settled generally in southern Preble and northern Butler. Samuel Maddock settled in section 32. Thomas Stubbs settled near West Elkton. Joseph Stubbs and his son, John, settled on section 34. Jonathan Roberts, from North Carolina, settled just across the line in Butler county, but many of the families have since moved into this township. George Kelley, from Virginia, settled near the middle of the township. Simeon Loop, from Pennsylvania, settled in the western part of the township. All the above named are claimed to have come before the close of 1805. William Hixon, from Georgia, came in 1806 and settled in section 9. Thomas Talbert came in 1807 and settled near West Elkton. Elijah Mendenhall, from Georgia, settled in 1806 in section 34. Martin Sayler, from Maryland, settled on section 3 in 1809. He was a millwright and helped build most of the mills for a number of years. William Clevenger, from New Jersey, settled on section 24 in 1806. Nathan Hornaday, from North Carolina, settled in section 18 in 1806. Peter Prugh, from Maryland, settled on section 26 in 1813. A few years later than the above we find the names of Job Smith, John Thomas, Joseph Mullendore, Jacob Furrey, Abraham Flory, David Branson, Elias Mackey and Jonathan Horner, who appear as owning land in the township. Those early settlers nearly all left large families and their names are still prominent in the community. Race suicide was unknown in that generation. CHURCHES. About 1848 the Congregationalists built a church at Greenbush, but the membership was not strong enough to support it, and some ten years later they sold out to the Methodists and United Brethren, who, for many years previous, had maintained organizations, and they continued to use it together until some twenty years since. Then the Methodists sold their interest to the United Brethren, which is now the only church in the place, numbering about fifty members. The pastor, Charles Snyder, serves both the church here and at West Elkton. It is said that the Sunday school numbers a great many more than the church, which predicts a bright future for the church. The German Baptists have the only country church in the township, a fine frame structure, located at the crossing of the Quaker trace and the Gratis and Camden roads. The first church was a small frame church about a mile east of the present building, on the same road, built in 1858, and PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 347 locally known as the Brubaker church, but, proving too small and not centrally located, about 1890 the present site was purchased and a new building erected. The church seems to be in a prosperous condition. In 1874 they erected a fine brick church at the northwest corner of section 1, which was called Twin Valley, or Lower Twin, church, but as the years passed the population shifted, and it was found that a church located in Gratis would be more central and better accommodate the brethren. And as the old Presbyterian, later Reformed, church had died out, the building was for sale; so the church was bought, more ground purchased and the structure improved. Since about 1912 the old location has been abandoned. The church now numbers about seventy-five members and Aaron Brubaker is pastor. EDUCATION. The first school taught in the township was in 1806, in a log school house about a half mile southeast of West Elkton, and soon thereafter there were other schools started, all subscription schools, of course. There are now seven good schools houses in the township outside of the villages. The township has been agitating the question whether to centralize the schools or join the south half to the West Elkton school and the north half to the Gratis school. Since the above was written, just that result has been accomplished, and Gratis has also been given a strip off the south side of Lanier township, while West Elkton is seeking a strip off the north side of Wayne township, Butler county. The results will make two strong schools, with first-class material. DISTILLERIES. The township now has the reputation of being one of the dryest of the dry, but traditions from the early settlers still linger, which indicate that it was not always thus. From 1811 to 1830 there is said to have been from fifteen to twenty small distilleries in the township, nearly all, if not all, within the northern half of the township, for the Quakers, then as now, would have none of it. During those years, or a part thereof, Christian Fall, Daniel Chrisman and Peter Riner operated such stills, and there were others, each man using his own grain. Those who had no still, traded grain for whisky, and it now is averred that the quality was of the best. The use of whisky was so common at all gatherings, such as harvesting, log rollings and house raisings, that none but the strongest willed and the bravest men 348 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. dared refuse to furnish it; but the movement to curtail the trouble breeder spread because it was right, until today it is used only in secret. But the township was not alone in the distilling business, for there were during that time a hundred stills operated in the county for longer or shorter periods. CEMETERIES. There are, or were (some are now forgotten), a number of small cemeteries, called family cemeteries, scattered about the township. Some settler lost a wife or child, or the settler himself died, and, the roads being only trails and there being no regular public cemetery, a little plot of ground, generally on high land, was fenced off on the farm. The body of the loved one was deposited there, and carefully guarded. As their neighbors lost some member of their families they were granted permission to bury on the family plot, and in this way sometimes quite a number of graves were made. One such, on the land formerly owned by Jonas Brubaker, who married Rebecca Phillips, the first white girl baby of the county, is now inclosed by an iron fence, and lies on the hill top about a hundred yards west of Fair View cemetery at Gratis. It is now kept up by the township trustees, as are several others. Fair Mound cemetery, at West Elkton, now called locally the Quaker cemetery, was laid out in 1805, and the first person to consecrate the ground with her dust was Martha Maddock, one of the family that was so prominent in leading the hegira of Quakers from Georgia and the Carolinas to the land of freedom. She died in 1805, being the first white person to die in the township. The cemetery continued to be used until the limited space- was practically filled a few years since, when it ceased to be generally used. In 1870 a new, large and fine cemetery was laid out by the township trustees on the high land north of the village, and it is now occupied by many graves. The name, Fair Mound cemetery, is still retained for this one. In 1832 a public cemetery was laid out just west of Gratis, then Winchester, and the first burial was Richard Housel, the same year. But as time passed, the silent majority became too great, and in 1870 a new cemetery, called Fair View, was laid out, to which additions hare since been made, until it now extends from the Eaton to the Camden road, and is one of the finest burial grounds in the county. The Greenbush cemetery is located near the south line of section 13, the land really being willed in the first place by John Riner for a public cemetery, but there was an error in the will, which was later cured by a deed PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 349 from John Chrisman. The first burial is said to have been that of Mrs. Betsey Ellis, in 1828. All the cemeteries since 1875 have been placed by law in the care of the township trustees, and as we see, in the few short years of life, how rapidly the cemeteries are expanding, and then remember how long time is, we can not but think Bryant was right when he wrote : "All that tread the earth are but a handful To the tribes that slumber in her bosom." WEATHER. There has been handed down a tradition from the early settlers that during the winter of 1803-4, there was a snow fall of over thirty-two inches, being the deepest ever known. I received the story from reliable old men of the township over forty years ago, who had been so told by their fathers. One other incident I can not help relating was told me in 1880 by John Chrisman, as reliable an old man as lived in the township, who was born in 1797, and came to Pleasant Valley with his father in 1805. He said that during the winter season about the close of the War of 1812, I think about 1816, while he was yet a boy, some member of the family being sick, a doctor was sent for. He came, of course, on horseback, and when he reached the house in Pleasant Valley it was snowing so violently that it was impossible to see more than about a hundred feet, and the thunder was pealing and rolling so loudly that the doors and windows rattled. The doctor, without knocking, threw open the door, jumped inside, slammed the door shut, and exclaimed, "It's a thundering snowstorm," which Mr. Chrisman said so well described it that he never forgot it, and that he, before or since, never saw any such storm. PIONEER INCIDENTS. The early white settlers found no Indian villages in the township, except along Twin creek. Along the east part of the north. line was .a camp of Miami Indians, who seemed to belong to a band of that tribe that was lower down on that creek. They had a trail through the township, going to the trading post at Fort Hamilton, and hunting parties of Indians camped for short times at some of the springs, but no one was ever molested by them. It has been very seldom, if ever, that Quakers and Indians fought. The most prominent man of the early days of settlement was Samuel