USA > Indiana > Knox County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 64
USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 64
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THE COUNTY SEMINARY.
An early law of the State provided that fines before justices of the peace and the circuit court, forfeitures, etc., should be used to found and maintain a county seminary of learning. The fund began to accumulate from the organization of the county, and was loaned by a trustee, or trustees, appointed to manage it. Robert Oliver was one of the first trustees. He was succeeded by Lewis Jones, in May, 1831, having served ten years or more. In January, 1832, he reported the total amount of the fund to be $504.741, of which $386.112 was cash on hand, and $118.623 in the form of notes drawing interest. A year later the fund was $676.831, and a year still later was $821.992, and in January, 1835, was $939.148. In January, 1836, it was $1,103.21, and September 5, 1837, was $1,343.09}. The receipts from that date to September 1, 1841, were $1,241.87}, making the total fund at the last named date $2,584.97. In 1838 a lot of ground was
714
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
bought in Washington, upon which to erect a county seminary. The construction of the brick building, though probably began in 1839, was not completed until the autumn of 1841, at which time the trustees, Samuel J. Kelso and William G. Cole, made the fol- lowing report: Total fund received to September, 1841, $2,584.97; paid to contractors, $2,584.97, leaving yet due the contractors $729.01; total cost of seminary, ground, etc., $3,313.98. Some trouble arose over the management of the funds. In 1844 Jephtha Routt, who was probably one of the contractors, obtained in the circuit court judgment for $200.62, and costs, and proceeded to levy upon the seminary property to satisfy the judgment. The
county board paid him part of the judgment, and gave him satis- factory assurance that the remainder would be forthcoming in a short time. But the property was yet quite heavily involved. Thomas Graham held a claim upon the lot and appurtenances. In some manner a sheriff's sale resulted, Graham bought certain rights, but in September, 1846, was paid by the board $420.80 for all his claims. Another suit, at the April term, 1844, "The State on the relation of Alfred Davis vs. Thomas Graham, John B. Coleman and Charles F. Wells," grew out of the management of the funds, or the construction of the building. Judgment was rendered against the defendants for $500, but the Legislature, in some manner, annulled it. Under the new constitution of 1852 county seminaries were sold, and the proceeds merged with the common school fund. December 12, 1853, the Daviess County Seminary was sold at auction, to James S. Morgan, for $1,180. Mr. Morgan failed to pay, and in April, 1855, the property was sold to the town of Washington for $500. Full payment was made by March, 1863. The seminary grounds were nine rods square.
OTHER SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
After Washington became a city, schoolhouses were built in various parts of the place. A substantial two-story brick affair in McTegart's Annex is yet maintained, as are the West End School, on Sand Hill, and the colored school. When the graded school building was completed in 1876, the schoolhouses in Turner's Annex, on West Walnut Street, and in the East End were abandoned. The graded school building of Washington is
715
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
a splendid brick structure, three stories in height and basement. It was built in 1876, at a cost of $40,000. The money to pay the cost of the construction of the building was derived from the sale of city bonds. The building is one of the substantial ornaments of the city, and is the pride of Washington's citizens. It has twelve school-rooms, well lighted and ventilated, a commodious assembly room, and is centrally located on Walnut Street, the most fashionable thoroughfare of the city.
THE GRADED SCHOOLS.
The graded system in Washington was first adopted in' 1874. Prof. W. T. Fry introduced it and acted in the capacity of super- intendent of the graded schools for three years. While Prof. Fry had charge of the schools there were seven separate school build- ings distributed throughout the city, the headquarters being at the old brick seminary. The new building was first occupied in 1877, the year that Superintendent D. E. Hunter assumed control, succeeding Mr. Fry. Mr. Hunter was superintendent for eight successive years. In 1885 he resigned, and his place was filled by Prof. William F. Hoffman, principal of the high school, who is superintendent at this writing. The following table will show the growth of the schools since the system was established:
Year.
Number Enrolled. Attendance.
Average
Per Cent of Attendance.
1874
827
357
43
1875.
862
415
48
1876.
884
423
46
1877
816
465
57
1878
830
526
63
1879
800
511
64
1880
835
547
65
1881.
835
443
65
1882
856
569
66
1883
883
580
90
1884.
909
581
87.5
1885.
878
603
88.8
1886 (January)
891
669
91.8
There are eighteen teachers employed besides the superin- tendent, namely: Twelve at graded school building, two each at South Side, West End and colored schools. The Washington High School is one of the foremost schools in this part of the
45
716
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
State. It has been in existence since 1877. Its present princi- pal is W. F. Axtell. Some of the high school classes recite to the superintendent, Prof. W. F. Hoffmann. The following named persons have graduated from the high school since its organiza- tion: Class of 1878-Anna Allen, S. C. Eskridge, Emma Hoff- maister, Dora Meredith, Hattie Meredith, Mary Mills, Charles P. Scudder. Class of 1879-Lettie Meredith, Omie Sanford, Tillie F. Scudder, Laura G. Scudder, James Edmund Waller. Class of 1880-Virginia Allen, Mary Clements, Katie Dobbins, Laura Hall, Stella Lee, Walter Meredith, William H. Sanford, John H. Spencer, John E. Thomas, John Ellis Van Trees. Class of 1881 -Mattie E. Arthur, Glendora Allen, Annie Hawkins, Lizzie M. Sanford. Class of 1882-William E. Barton, Charles G. Gardi- ner, Charles G. Myers, Josie Sanford, Sallie Wright. Class of 1883-William R. Gardiner, Emma E. Hogshead, Josie B. Thomas, Annie V. Scudder. Hettie G. Seay, John B, Aikman, Eva Morehead. Class of 1884-Frank Spink, Edwin R. Axtell, Lucy Jepson, Omie Feagans, Elva C. Bondurant, Addie Cloud. Class of 1885-Frank F. Axtell, Laura Wright, Henry S. Dun- can, James Mills, Minnie Hall.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
If any record of the early school officers of Daviess County was kept, it has been lost or destroyed. Among the school examiners were W. S. Gaffney, S. H. Taylor, John R. Phillips, Noah S. Given and George A. Dyer. The first county superintendent was Prof. Edward Wise, who served one term and part of another. He was elected in 1873. His successor was Rev. E. C. Trimble. David M. Geeting served from 1879 to 1883, and was succeeded by the present superintendent, Samuel B. Boyd. Mr. Boyd was re-elected last year, receiving the unanimous vote of the board of township trustees. Mr. Boyd ranks among the first teachers of the State, and has done more for the schools of the county than any other school officer that ever served in Daviess.
COUNTY INSTITUTES.
The first County Teacher's Institute of which there is any rec- ord was held at the court house in Washington, during the week
717
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
beginning with Monday, August 23, 1869. Dr. George A. Dyer was the president; A. W. Smith, secretary; Miss Maria Graham, assistant. The committee on program consisted of George W. Morin and Miss Ophelia Roddick. After the organization had been effected the institute adjourned to the Methodist Episcopal Church, where the balance of the session was held. The roll of teachers at that time showed the following names: G. W. Morin, J. A. Murray, W. Wise, A. Carnahan, F. Arford, A. Connolly, H. Allen, H. B. Kohr, H. Williams, J. Laverty, William Kennedy, J. C. Porter, S. Loveless, J. J. McIntire, N. J. Goshorn, Thomas Kilgore, J. C. Lavelle, F. M. Walker, L. Reaves, G. M. Robinson, Anna Kennedy, M. E. Barton, L. Wilson, L. Wells, Ria Graham, M. Stubblefield, L. Ryan, O. H. Roddick, M. Feagans, J. Feagans, L. Hogshead, J. Carnahan, Sue Cosby, M. E. Flinn, Emma Baldwin, M. Perkins, F. Agan, B. Agan, M. Dyer, L. Clark, J. Beckett, J. C. Allison, J. Morgan, E. W. Con- naughton, A. W. Arford, J. Nicholls, O. Cosby, W. H. Allison, T. J. Lavelle, M. T. Connaughton, E. S. Pershing, T. A. Wade, J. Mahoney, F. Myers, J. Winklepleck, L. Cosby, M. Gallagher, D. H. Morgan, A. W. Smith. Institutes have been held each year since that time. The last, in 1885, was attended by 160 persons. It was held during the week beginning with Monday, August 17, and had the following officers: President, S. B. Boyd; recording secretary, W. S. Davis; enrolling secretaries, Omie Sanford and Jesse Stephenson; librarian, John F. Arthur. Following are the names of the members: Sallie Alexander, Mattie Arthur, John F. Arthur, John W. Adams, Grant Allen, Josiah Allen, Frank Axtell, Hamlet Allen, Jennie Allen, Ida Allison, Nora Abel, W. H. Allison, John Akester, Kitty Bernes, Rosetta Barsh, Harrison Burriss, S. B. Boyd, Lou Burriss, J. D. Bradford, W. T. Brown, L. W. Barber, L. M. Burriss, G. W. Buckner, William A. Baldwin, Ross H. Baldwin, Millie Boyd, Ella Clark, B. F. Cole, Mrs. Mary E. Cole, Henry L. Canary, E. A. Crosson, P. M. Clark, John W. Conley, John Cooney, Aikman Carnahan, G. B. Clark, Maggie Chambers, A. M. Clark, Mary Campbell, Ida Campbell, William Conley, Ella Cosby, F. B. Colbert, M. B. Cunningham, C. J. Cooney, J. B. Crooke, Annie Davis, W. S. Davis, Harry De Witt, H. L. Duncan, William J. Danner, Joel F. Danner, Annie R. Dixon, Eugene
718
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Evans, Willis Edgin, James A. Fisher, Omie Feagans, Emma Ferguson, Anna Flint, A. O. Fulkerson, Katie Farrell, G. W. Gates, J. E. Gamble, Charles Gregory, Ida Goshorn, Dora Henry, Stewart Harrod, M. S. Hastings, Lew Hammerslry, Anna Haw- kins, Katie Hopkins, Minnie Hall, Maggie Hopkins, Laura Hall, Paris Hastings, G. D. Hoopingarner, John S. Hubbard, Maggie Heffernan, Nettie E. Jones, Lucy Jepson, Mason Jones, Tilman Jackson, E. E. Kelly, J. D. Kelly, Laura Ketcham, M. P. Kutch, W. E. Keck, C. B. Kendall, Mollie Ketcham, Ada Killion, Rebecca Ledgerwood, F. L. McCafferty, Arthur McCormick, John T. Mc- Cormick, Emma McCormick, James W. Mattingly, Ezra Matting- ly, James Manley, Lollie Moore, Tillie Millis, James A. Morgan, Mattie Mulholland, F. T. McCormick, George J. Madden, Maggie Mullin, Arthur Martin, Flora Metheny, Hugh Morgan, Maud Mc- Dougal, Kate Morgan, James Myers, D. M. Osborne, Wilson Palmer, Laura Phipps, Frank Potts, Minnie Palmer, J. M. Por- ter, John L. Pate, W. R. Porter, Noah S. Pate, E. S. Pershing, W. Z. Padgett, Ophelia Roddick, George W. Rogers, T. D. Slimp, W. P. Smoot, Lizzie Sanford, Omie Sanford, Josie Sanford, George L. Stucky, S. M. Stalcup, Ida Smiley, Jesse Stephenson, Agnes Seal, A. C. Swickard, Mary L. Tomey, J. A. Tomey, Tessa Tracy, J. W. Trueblood, Charles Watson, Sallie Wright, W. P. Walter, John Wadsworth, Lee Wadsworth, Amy Wright, George E. Williams, F. M. Walker, F. T. Ward, Samuel White, R. W. Wadsworth, Randa Wilson, H. I. Williams, W. Q. Williams, John G. Wallace, William A. Wallace, Sue B. Ward, Mary E. Ward, David Wade, Eva Young and William M. Young.
COMMON SCHOOL FUND.
Surplus Revenue of 1836-37 $ 5,569 08
Bank Tax Fund.
550 67
Saline Fund. .
462 92
Sinking Fund (first).
10,556 23
County Seminary Proceeds.
500 00
Sinking Fund of 1872-73
6,363 86
Fines. forfeitures, ete., prior to 1853.
448 43
Fines, forfeitures, etc., 1853-85
11,001 21
Total, June 1, 1885.
$35,452 40
719
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL FUND.
Section 16, Township 1 north, Range 5 west. $ 858 40
Section 16, Township 2 north, Range 5 west. 1,422 80
Section 16, Township 3 north, Range 5 west. 1,562 00
Section 16, Township 4 north, Range 5 west. 960 00
Section 16, Township 5 north, Range 5 west. 1,000 00
Section 16, Township 2 north, Range 6 west. 1,780 00
Section 16, Township 3 north, Range 6 west
1,359 67
Section 16, Township 4 north, Range 6 west.
1,240 00
Section 16, Township 5 north, Range 6 west. 1,635 16
Section 16, Township 2 north, Range 7 west. 2,000 50
Section 16, Township 3 north, Range 7 west. 2,491 56
Section 16, Township 4 north, Range 7 west. 2,834 96
College Fund, Township 5 north, Range 7 west 98 44
Total, May, 1866. $19,243 49
A portion of Section 16, Township 3 north, Range 7 west, was unsold at the time this table was prepared, May, 1866. The congressional fund has been reduced since by losses and appor- tionments to $19,176.11 in June, 1885.
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
Including the city of Washington, Daviess County has 116. schools. Five of the school buildings are brick, and the balance are frame. The buildings and grounds are estimated at $105,200, and the school apparatus at $8,815, making the total value of the school property $114,015. There were twenty-one private schools in the county in 1885, with a total enrollment of 541. The reports for 1885 show a grand aggregate for the county of 14,- 183 days of school; 133 schools; average term, 107 days; amount paid teachers, $29,283.81; average wages of teachers, $2.07 per day. During the year 5,800 pupils were admitted to the schools, and 134 teachers employed. The public schools in Daviess County are well up to the average in point of general excellence, but the buildings outside of the city of Washington are away behind the times, and in many instances are a disgrace to the neighborhood. The buildings are mostly small, one-story wooden affairs, and many of them are not really fit for the purpose for which they are employed.
TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.
Washington Township has nineteen frame and two brick
720
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
school buildings, valued at $7,000, including the apparatus $7,900. The school fund of this township, in 1885 was as follows: Tuition, $6,918.41; special school, $1,671.22. There are twenty frame school buildings in Barr Township, valued at $16,000, with the school apparatus at $21,000. The tuition revenue of this township, in 1885, was $4,814,66, and the special school $2,220.01. Bogard Township has nine frame school buildings, the value of which in- cluding $300 worth of apparatus is $4,800. Tuition revenue,$2,- 099.01; special school revenue $838.96. Elmore Township has seven frame. buildings, value $2,800; apparatus, $300; special school revenue, $600.32 ; tuition revenue $2,382.63. Harrison Town- ship has eight frame schoolhouses, value $2,800; apparatus, $100; tuition revenue $2,614.76; special school revenue, $955.06. Madi- son Townshipschools and the schools of Van Buren Township, are the best township schools in the county. Madison has nine frame and one brick school buildings, value $6,500; apparatus, $350; tuition revenue, $3,607.96; special school revenue, $887.97. Van Buren Township has nine frame school buildings, value $5,- 400; apparatus, $90; tuition revenue, $2,304.89; special school revenue, $537.44. Reeve Township has eleven frame school houses, value $4,400; apparatus, $200; tuition revenue, $2,937 .- 90; special school revenue, $1,137.29. Steele Township has nine frame school houses, value $4,500; apparatus, $1,000; tuition revenue, $3,000.57; special school revenue, $921.65. Veal Town- ship has six frame school buildings, value $4,000; apparatus, $300; tuition revenue, $2,126.91; special school revenue, $1,237 .- 27. The town of Cannelburg has one frame schoolhouse, value $800; apparatus, $50; tuition revenue, $704.45; special school, $60.05. The town of Montgomery has one frame schoolhouse, value $500; apparatus, $25; tuition revenue, $642.11; special school revenue, $85.68. The special school revenue of the city of Washington, in 1885, was $3,243.93; tuition revenue, $10,372.01.
Enumeration, Enrollment and Average Attendance .- The fol- lowing table shows the enumeration, enrollment and average at- tendance of school children in the county schools of Daviess County for the years ending July 31, 1884, and 1885. The blank spaces indicate a failure on the part of teachers to report:
TOWNSHIPS.
No. School ..
No. School ..
Enum.
Enroll ...
Average ......
Enum .....
Enroll.
Average .. ..
Barr
..
51
28
18
53
43
40
22
17
82
47
35
91
48
25
34
33
20
34
27
19
18
57
36
30
56
35
25
40
39
31
57
41
32
19
38
31
20
47
37
26
10
47
29
20
48
. .
. .
20
65
49
40
38
25
15
69
45
34
65
46
25
12
52
30
18
50
33
41
23
32
25
19
13
48
38
24
41
37
22
60
28
22
62
40
27
14
34
29
19
44
23
12
45
30
6
68
47
37
27
44
38
26
18
118
55
41
134
66
52
8
39
23
15
53
31
16
19
33
22
13
9
57
24
14
67
30
23
20
63
37
23
56
32
23
10
39
28
23
41
31
22
21
24
22
18
23
18
10
11
39
25
18
25
20
17
. .
. .
. .
1
42
34
27
49
41
22
40
29
19
47
34
27
2
58
51
28
59
95
64
37
3
37
33
24
48
30
19
27
21
11
14
19
8
91
64
42
85
10
29
32
20
27
38
79
47
33
20
50
38
29
11
53
27
22
60
37
25
35
26
19
48
. .
. .
. .
1
41
37
16
40
27
19
52
44
36
55
42
38
2
41
32
28
34
31
27
69
39
28
74
50
31
Madison
48
40
31
63
45
·
75
54
31
71
62
39
146
38
34
150
43
33
65
42
29
66
52
39
·
29
20
39
25
26
44
27
49
48
27
8789
36
25
13
36
30
14
39
36
36
38
56
41
·
. .
. .
. .
.
45
32
17
60
44
22
6
50
39
21
8
41
23
83
60
43
96
64
45
68
37
21
41
33
19
Steele
40
26
11
45
27
13
51
37
16
41
33
15
22
12
0000
23. 23
7
82
32
18
74
39
23
·
8789
41
39
22
43
33
25
52
32
18
48
33
19
64
48
33
64
52
31
Van Buren ..
38
28
23
47
29
22
46
41
28
57
46
34
62
50
30
62
51
35
67
44
23
61
52
35
53
54
40
56
47
36
5
47
33
20
43
41
21
Harrison.
51
44
27
64
51
33
7
38
30
22
35
35
25
93
83
54
89
89
42
ac
51
39
25
48
. .
65
52
19
75
44
..
5
44
22
12
41
26
14
Elmore
62
43
26
67
39
28
7
61
35
18
68
50
19
-
12
92
50
39
86
52
31
4
47
39
24
55
28
18
Veal
87
61
50
105
62
36
5
50
29
20
48
33
20
1
3
67
55
36
68
44
30
6
58
40
20
60
.
Washington.
1123456789
46
60
40
56
33
22
11
56
37
30
63
40
29
40
40
29
33
39
22
12
49
43
35
36
46
22
36
37
31
45
42
25
13
62
35
26
73
45
22
73
39
32
63
50
32
14
57
37
31
54
40
35
35
20
13
15
23
40
35
33
18
12
16
39
36
30
43
31
17
50
31
22
14
28
23
14
15
34
19
9
23
20
9
37
30
21
16
29
22
10
23
..
63
17
58
32
15
41
7
3456
53
44
33
52
38
32
26
29
24
12
29
24
Bogard
39
52
29
56
36
30
16
30
19
12
76
87
40
94
72
44
12345
39
34
20
50
46
30
12345
45
35
25
47
6
103
84
50
80
80
50
1984
59
32
20
62
6
60
50
33
73
56
31
69
49
29
64
. .
. .
60
57
41
75
43
35
19
52
41
789
54
49
31
62
59
33
51
33
54
36
789
25
23
30
19
16
48
27
14
35
. .
.
. .
. .
. .
1234
1884.
1885.
1884.
1885.
Enum ........
Enroll ..
Average .....
Enum ...
Eoroll.
Average ......
....
123
29
19
47 62
20
53
789
78
56
38
Reeve
456
12345
. .
.
32
50
722
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
ENUMERATION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Following is the report of the county superintendent to the State superintendent of public instruction, of the enumeration of children between the ages of six and twenty-one years, in Daviess County, for the year 1885:
WHITES.
COLORED.
CORPORATIONS.
Total.
Males.
Females.
Males.
Females.
Barr Township.
518
490
1008
Bogard Township.
239
243
482
Elmore Township.
251
199
450
Harrison Township.
246
216
462
Madison Township.
348
319
667
Reeve Township.
306
276
582
Steele Township.
239
231
470
Van Buren Township.
246
217
463
Veal Township.
218
204
422
Washington Township
491
432
15
14
952
Town of Montgomery
55
52
1
108
Town of Cannelburg.
83
97
180
City of Washington.
818
869
37
43
1767
Totals
4058
3845
53
57
8013
County Board .- The County Board of Education, as consti- tuted September 1, 1885, contained the following members: James A. Swick, Washington Township, Washington; S. L. Ketcham, Madison Township, Keck's Church; James H. Fanning, Barr Township, Montgomery; A. T. Conley, Harrison Township, Glendale; James Heinbaugh, Steele Township, Plainville; El- kanah Allen, Bogard Township, Epsom; Peter Wadsworth, Jr., Van Buren Township, Raglesville; Steward Porter, Reeve Town- ship, Alfordsville; Thomas J. Payne, Elmore Township, Owl Prairie; Jeremiah Goodwin, Veal Township, Cumback; Samuel B. Boyd, county superintendent, Washington.
723
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
CHAPTER IX.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS OF THE COUNTY-THE PRESBYTERIAN CON- GREGATIONS-THE ROMAN CATHOLICS-THE EPISCOPAL METHOD- ISTS - BAPTIST ORGANIZATIONS - THE CHRISTIANS -THE COLORED CHURCHES.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATIONS.
T THE oldest church society in Daviess County, and, in fact, one of the oldest religious organizations in the State of Indiana, is the Presbyterian Church of Washington. Its history dates back to the year 1811, when meetings of members of the Presbyterian Church were held in private houses in the vicinity of the spot that Washington now occupies. The history of the early struggles of the society are very meager, as no record can be found, if indeed, any was kept. Rev. Samuel Scott, whose home was near Vincennes, made occasional visits to the little soci- ety here in 1811, and preached to them in the dwelling of the late Richard Steen. The Indian war that ended with the battle of Tippecanoe sadly interfered with the worship of the congregation, and they were obliged to fly to the forts for protection from the marauding bands of redskins, and for a long time the spiritual adviser, the Rev. Mr. Scott, was compelled to remain at home because of the fierce and cruel savages then infesting this part of the country. As soon as the excitement and danger attending the Indian outbreak had died away, the forts were deserted, and trav- eling missionaries of the Presbyterian and |Congregational faith made occasional visits to their followers here. The first Presby- terian minister to settle here was the Rev. Robert Davis, who preached and taught school here in 1813. Mr. Davis was suc- ceeded by Rev. John Dickey, to whom is due the credit of bring- ing about the building of the first Presbyterian Church of Daviess County. This building was erected in 1814, and stood on the bank of Palmer's Creek, two and a half miles southwest of Washington. An old settler thus describes the building:
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724
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
"It was built of round logs, each from ten to twelve inches in diameter, and was eight logs high, with a roof of clap- boards, rib and weight-pole fashion. The clapboards were four feet long, and from six to eight inches wide. This kind of roof was made without rafters, sheeting or nails. The house had neither chinking nor daubing between the logs. It was destitute of floor, except the ground, and had neither fire-place nor window, the openings between the logs being sufficiently large and numer- ous to admit both light and air. The house had but one door, which was in the south end and directly opposite the pulpit. The building was a rude affair."
During August, 1814, the church was regularly organized, and the following elders were chosen and ordained: Joseph Kelsoe, Ninian Steele and Ephraim Thompson. Rev. John Dickey was a son-in-law of Ninian Steele. The first sacrament of the Lord's supper was at the log church in 1814, and was con- ducted by Rev. James McGrady. Rev. James McGrady, and others, whose names cannot be learned, supplied the society with preaching until 1828, when Rev. Ransom Hawley, father of the present pastor, took charge of the church, and remained here for six years, organizing a Sunday-school and a temperance society during the time. Mr. Hawley was followed by Rev. John C. Butler, and the Revs. Adams, Martin, Campbell, Wall and Henry L. McGuire, in the order named. Mr. McGuire was the pastor in 1849, and remained during the time of the terrible cholera epidemic, and until 1852, when Rev. Samuel C. Taylor became the pastor. Following Mr. Taylor came the Revs. John L. Mar- tyn, A. T. Hendricks, and H. B. Scott. During the latter's pas- torate, which closed in 1860, there was a large accession of persons to the church who have proven among the most valuable members. Rev. Francis Lynn was the next pastor, and after him Revs. S. V. McKee, Cornelius McCain, Augustus Taylor, Hugh H. Car- son, Alexander Sterrett, E. C. Trimble, E. Burnett, John Ger- rish, D. D., and the present pastor, Ransom E. Hawley, who has had charge of the congregation since 1880. The log church was abandoned soon after its completion, and in 1815 a frame building was erected on the lot in Washington where the Christian Church now stands. This building was eventually supplanted by a brick
725
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
house, which was afterward sold to the Christian congregation, and in 1869 the present church edifice, on the corner of Walnut and Second Streets, was completed at a cost of $5,000, the lot being donated by the late Philip Cruse. The present member- ship of the church is 200, and the Sunday-school, which is in a most prosperous condition, 125. Following are the names of the elders and deacons of the church from the date of its organiza- tion to the present time: Elders-Ephraim Thompson, Joseph Kelsoe, Ninian Steele, John Allen, Esek Hopkins, David Logan, James Graham, James Calhoun, John Aikman, John Stringer, Samuel J. Kelsoe, John S. Allen, Levi Williman, Ira McCloskey, William Long, Hiram Williman, Zelek Hopkins, William Hel- phenstine, David H. Kennedy, Adam Greenfield, James Aikman, David Kribs and Peter Farnwald. Deacons-James Aikman, William McAdams, David A. McCloskey, Moses Allen, Hugh Aikman, Jacob Hoffmaister, George Keith, John M. Taylor, N. H. Jepson, Hiram Hyatt, Thomas J. Axtell.
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