USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 82
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J. Higgins, from 1861 to 1862 ; H. Miller, from 1862 to 1866; L. McGuire, from 1866 to 1871 ; A. W. Butts, from 1871 to 1872 ; S. M. Hickman, from 1872 to 1876; and A. H. Norcross, from 1876 to 1880. In 1857, the pastor in charge, was W. P. C. Hamilton : 1858, Madison Close ; 1859-60, Henry Snyder, Andrew Hueston ; 1861- 2, I. N. McAbee, W. Brady ; 1863, J. B. Tay- lor, W. Gamble ; 1864-5, N. C. Worthington, Jesse Evans, Hugh Edwards : 1866, Hugh Ed- wards ; 1867, A. D. McCormick ; 1868, A. C. Williams ; 1869, H. H. Hagans ; 1870-3, R. S. Strahl ; 1873 to 1875, D. Gordon : 1875 to 1877. D. C. Knowles ; 1877 to 1879, J. W. Robins : 1880, George M. Wilson.
Chandlersville and Sugar Grove appointments were formerly in Norwich Circuit, and, in 1869, were joined with Fairview and Duncan's Falls appointments, and known as Duncan's Falls Cir- cuit, with H. H. Hagans, pastor in charge : he was succeeded as stated above. We are indebted to Geo. M. Wilson for the foregoing data.
DAY SCHOOLS.
Abigail Bingham and Nira Chandler taught a school in Salt Creek township, in 1812-13, in the suburbs of Chandlersville, near Christian Plant's residence, in a conventional log temple. Miss Chandler subsequently became the wife of John Hammond, who, at a later date, taught school in the same building. Mr. G. P. Crumbaker is one of a small number surviving, who attended this school. About 1814, Thomas Jordan, (some of the old settlers think his name was John.) taught school in this same log school house. Thomas Brady, of Rich Hill township. and "Jerry" Warne's widow were pupils in that school. They were each eighty years old in 1880.
About 1823, Harriet Culbertson, daughter of John Culbertson, taught school in the old log building. Miss Scott and Mrs. Burnham taught there also.
April 23, 1825, the township was divided into eight school districts. No change has been made in this, except in the boundaries of some dis- tricts. These districts were soon supplied with a log school house, and inaugurated a six month's school in each. The present neat and commo- dious frame school houses were erected instead of the old log buildings, between 1855 and 1860. at a cost of a little more than $400 each.
The Chandlersville school was built in 1860. and cost $1,300. September 27th. 1879. the total number of children in the township. of school age, was three hundred and forty-seven. Of this number, one hundred and fifteen were en- rolled in the Chandlersville school district. August 31st, 1879. the total value of school prop- erty was $3.500. The total expenses of the schools for the year ending on last named date. was $2.225.02. Seventeen teachers were em- ployed for that year.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Scarcely had the first quarter of the present
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
century rolled by, than the want of more reading material was declared, and steps taken for gath- ering a library for the public. This culminated in founding what was known as the "Franklin Society Library." The society accumulated quite a collection of books, and charged the moderate sum of two dollars for membership as- sessment, and one dollar annual fee thereafter. This society went down for want of sufficient funds to support it.
CHANDLERSVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
At as early a date as 1814 a religious body of the Presbyterian faith was organized. From the seed thus early sown, has sprung the pros- perous and influential Chandlersville Presby- terian Church of to-day. In 1818, a Mr. Taylor occasionally preached, sometimes in one of the few log houses then existing, but oftener in " God's first temples." the groves. Rev. Mr. Baldridge was the first regular Presbyterian minister. He came soon after Mr. Tavlor, possibly later in the same year. Like Mr. Tay- lor, Rev. Baldridge occasionally preached in the open air, but oftener in the dwelling of Abraham Warne. Some years later the society built a small frame house, which was used until the present brick church was completed. This old frame was eventually sold to one of the Chand- lers, and used by him as a hotel stable. "To what base uses, etc." The present brick edifice was built in 1834, by Samuel Anderson. The prominent members of the organization, on com- pletion of the new house of worship, were Abra- ham Warne, John Moore, James and Llewellyn Howell, and Wm. Cooper. The seating capac- ity of the building is about four hundred ; present membership, one hundred and twenty-five.
Below are given, in the order in which they filled that position, the names of the regular pastors since 1834 :
Samuel Wilson, Thomas Gordon, Moses M. Brown, John P. Caldwell, John Kelley, Henry Fulton, M. L. Donohue, and D. M. Williamson, who now fills the pulpit.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
This society, numerically the weakest in the township, dates its organization back to 1857-58. The first regular pastor was Rev. James Shreevs. Christian Plant and Mr. Williamson were two of the prominent members at the formation of the society. The first place of meeting was in what was then known as the >> Eight-Square" school- house, well remembered on account of its un- common shape.
From his opposition to the Sons of Temper- ance. then very popular, Rev. Shreevs made himself somewhat obnoxious in the neighbor- hood. and, perhaps, delayed the early growth of the church. His ministration was of short dura- tion.
In 1826, Mr. Plant donated to the society the ground upon which its present log house stands.
and also aided in its erection. Its location is about two and one-half miles northwest of Chan- dlersville. Reverends Sisel, Cummings, and Forbyan, have, since the retirement of Mr. Shreevs, regularly filled the pulpit. The organ- ization, in 1880, had no regular pastor. The greatest number of members has been thirty- two ; the present number, twenty-two.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
In the village of Chandlersville are located all the secret and benevolent societies of the town- ship. The Masons, Odd Fellows, and Sons of Temperance, have one Lodge, each, as follows :
GAGE AND GAVEL LODGE, NO. 448, F. AND A. M.
This Lodge was instituted July 26th, 1870, and the charter issued October 9th, of the same year. The charter members were: William Frazee. W. G. Henderson, S. B. Reeder, Enos Smitley. O. H. P. Crumbaker, B. F. Richey, M. R. Mc- Clelland, D. S. Sutton, S. J. Bliss, George Smith, Henry Ludman, G. R. Crumbaker, F. R. Moorehead, John Leedom. H. C. Smitley, Robert Linn.
The first officers chosen were: M. R. Mc- Clelland, W. M .; F. R. Moorehead, S. W .; Henry Ludman, J. W. In 1880, Robert Mcln- tire was Master; I. W. Robinson. S. W. : and Jonathan Echelberry. J. W.
The Lodge meets monthly, on the Thursday evening preceding the full moon. There are forty-two members.
WAKATAMO LODGE, NO. 321. I. O. O. F.
The charter was issued May 14th. 1857. and the Lodge instituted July 3d. of the same year. These names are in the charter : A. S. Kille, I. Brittan. J. P. Safford. T. P. Crumbaker. F. S. Moorehead.
The first election resulted in the choice of the following officers: J. P. Safford, N. G. : A. C. Kille. V. G. : T. M. Crumbaker, Secretary : I. Brittan, Treasurer.
In 1880, the Lodge met each Monday night, in Temperance Hall. and had thirty-seven mem- bers.
SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
Chandlersville Division of Sons of Temper- ance, No. 325 .- The charter of this body bears date August, 1847. and has upon it these names : J. C. Wolf, Peter LePage, T. S. Moore, R. C. Barton, H. S. Virden, C. Benjamin, Thomas Passmore. R. Marshall, M.D .. William D. Col- vin.
The Lodge owns its hall, as well as the build- ing in which it is located ; is now (1880) in a fairly prosperous condition. and meets every Saturday evening.
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
ISAAC PRIOR-THE VENERABLE MRS. ELIZABETH BOGGS-PIONEERS-THE FIRST ROAD-THE NA- TIONAL ROAD - RAILROADS -FORMATION OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS -- BOUNDARIES OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP- TAVERNS-FIRST ORCHARD-FIRST HEWED LOG HOUSE-THE FIRST MARRIAGE-FIRST BIRTH- FIRST DEATH-FIRST MILL-FIRST COAL MINED -FIRST TANNERY-FIRST DISTILLERY-TIIE SCHOOLS -- BLACKSMITH-FIRST STORE-WES- LEY CHIAPEL-VILLAGE OF JACKSON-PLEASANT GROVE M. E. CHURCH -BAPTIST CHURCH - WASHINGTON CHAPEL-ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH-ST. JOHN'S UNION SUNDAY SCHOOL- MILITARY RECORD-GEOLOGY.
The history of this township, though not ex- tensive, is replete with interest, and dates back almost as far as any other in the county, and, fortunately, can be verified in the details here given, by persons yet living, particularly the venerable Mrs. Elizabeth Boggs, from whom many interesting incidents have been obtained, and who came here, with her husband, in 1805.
The first settler was Isaac Prior, who came with his family, from Pennsylvania, and settled on the Wheeling road, five miles from Zanesville, A. D. 1801 ; the land is now owned by A. C. Howard. He made the first clearing, and plant- ed the first corn in the township. He built the first hewed log house, and kept the first tavern, or hotel-these terms had the same meaning.
John Dickson came soon after and built his cabin and cleared three acres, near "Three-mile Spring ;" he, also, kept a place of entertainment.
John Slack, from Loudon county, Virginia, came in 1806, and built a hewed log house- which he roofed with shingles-about five miles from Zanesville, on land now owned by James Galloway. He, with his sons, Jacob and George, opened a road from his house to the Wheeling road, on the route now used as the Adamsville road. Jacob Slack drove the first team over that road, from his father's house to the Wheeling road.
Moses Boggs, from Delaware, came in 1805, and purchased land from Noah Zane, in the eastern part of the township. He had a family of six children-three boys and three girls. Ile was a County Commissioner from 1840 to 1843.
During this year, came, also, Joseph Evans and family, George Crain and family ; Joseph Vernon, wife, and twelve children ; John Echel- berger, Jacob Livingood, and Elijah Hart. The latter two were from Pennsylvania. John Wal- ters came soon after, probably early in 1806. during which year General Robert McConnell, from Pennsylvania, came and settled on the land now owned by William Fox. It is said that these pioneers died on, or very near, the places they settled, excepting Robert McConnell, who removed to McConnellsville, which place he started.
John Spears came in 1810, and purchased the
tavern stand formerly kept by Job Dickson, and kept tavern there until his death, June 21, 1816, and the property was rented to George Huff.
George Swank, from Loudon county, Vir- ginia, came in 1811, and located on the farm now owned by his sons. He is remembered as a very hospitable German, who delighted in entertain- ing his friends. He died in 1841.
John Robertson came in 1812.
John Wall, from Eastern Pennsylvania, came in 1820.
The following are believed to have come here before 1816, but the time cannot now be fixed : Isaac Beatty, J. W. Spry, William McConnell, Spencer Lehew, John Price, George Jay, Wil- liam Keatly, Albert Cole, and Samuel Cassel ; and the Suttons and Batemans probably came before 1820.
Jonah Hague, from Virginia, came in 1822, with a family of fifteen children. L. McLain and John McCashlin came soon after.
The first road was opened by Jacob Slack, from what is known as Conrad's place to the old Wheeling road, intersecting the latter a short distance east of the late James Moore's farm. This wasin the summer of 1806, and, in 1813, the Adamsville road was surveyed, and located on this tract ; it was the first county road in the township.
The National Road passes through the south- ern part of the township, a distance of six miles, and is the only pike in Washington township.
RAILROADS.
The Baltimore and Ohio R. R. passes across the township at its lower third, from one side to the other, and gives the benefit of that important road to the township, for all purposes. The "C. & M. V." traverses the western border of the township, crossing the "B. & O.," at Zanesville, and diverging from it at section five, in this town- ship, having run parallel with that road from Zanesville to this point, thus giving the town- ship the benefits of competing lines to this point ..
Gilbert Station, located on the C. & M. V. R. R., six miles from Zanesville, on the property of O. C. Shirtz, derives its name from Gilbert Beatty. In 1872, Mr. Shirtz built a storehouse, and started a postoffice, at this place. . In 1875. he opened a general store, and built a large building for a flouring mill, and grain house : this, however, has not been completed. Mr. Shirtz is the first and only postmaster. In 1879, he built a blacksmith shop. These enterprises constitute all there is, beside the railroad busi- ness, at Gilbert Station.
THE FORMATION OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
WEDNESDAY, June 5, 1822.
The Commissioners met, agreeable to adjourn- ment, present, all three, as heretofore.
A petition having been presented, from a number of the inhabitants of Zanesville town- ship, north of the military line, praying that a township may be struck off from the said Zanes- ville township, and the Commissioners, believing
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
the same necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants and township officers, whereupon, the Commissioners order a new township to be struck off, according to the following bounda- ries. to wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of township one. in range six, on the military line. thence running west with said military line, to the southwest corner of Beeford's farm, on the Wheeling road, thence north, with the west boundary line of Beeford's farm, nntil it strikes Joseph Sheets' land, thence west and north with the west boundary of said Sheets' land, to lands belonging to John Lehue's estate, thence west and north with the west boundary of Lehue's land, on the line between Lehue's land and Jeffrey Price, with said line northerly to Mill Run. thence down Mill Run to the Muskingum river, thence up the river till it strikes the east and west line, through the centre of township two, in range seven, thence east with said line between Jackson and Copeland's land, and on with said line until it strikes the range line be- tween ranges six and seven, at the northeast cor- ner of the fourth quarter, of the second township, in the seventh range, thence south with the range line, between range six and seven, to the place of beginning, which shall constitute a new township. to be called Washington township ; also, ordered that the Auditor advertise for an election, to be held at the house of Mathias Col- shier, on the twenty-second day of June, instant, to elect a sufficient number of township officers, in. and for said township of Washington. [See Commissioners Journal of this date, pages 87 and 88.]
THE ELECTION OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
The first election held in Washington town- ship, was at the house of Mathias Colshier, on the 22d day of June, 1822, for township offi- cers. Joseph Evans, Anthony H. Woodruff, and George W. Jackson, were Judges, and John Howell, and Wm. Evans were Clerks.
. As the result of this election, the following were declared to be the township officers, to wit :
Trustees-Robert McConnell, Moses Boggs and James Huff.
Overseers of Poor-Robert Culbertson, and Robert Boggs.
Clerk-Samuel Orr, Jr.
. Supervisors of Roads-John Harris, Anthony Woodruff, and Nicholas Closser.
Fence Viewers-Nicholas Closser, and Ma- thias Colshier.
Treasurer-William Culbertson.
Justices of the Peace-(The first elected Au- gust 10, 1822,) George W. Jackson, and Moses Boggs.
Constables-George Slack, Leonard Lull, Anthony H. Woodruff.
On December 28th, 1822, Samuel Orr, Jr., Clerk. left the township, and the Trustees ap-, pointed John Howell in his place.
The election of April 7, 1823, resulted as fol- lows :
Justices of the Peace-John Robertson, and John Howell.
Trustees-George Huff, George Presgrove, and A. HI. Woodruff.
Clerk-John Howell.
Treasurer-William Culbertson.
Constables-George Slack, William Jones, and Leonard Lull.
On April 7, 1823, A. H. Woodruff was ap- pointed Assessor, and Leonard Lull, Lister.
The township officers in 1880, were as fol- lows :
Trustees-John Detenbeck, J. W. White, and Levi Bunting.
Clerk-Wm. M. Bateman.
Treasurer-F. A. Heenan.
Assessor-B. F. Saunders.
Constable-S. T. Presgraves.
Justices of the Peace-Con. O'Neil, and A. Evans.
The first claim against the township was in favor of Samuel Barstow, for burying John Mc- Casky, December 28th, 1822; the amount re- ceived was $12.18.
The boundaries of Washington township are as follows : On the north by Madison township, south by Wayne township and a part of the city of Zanesville ; east by Salem and Perry town- ships, and west by the Muskingum river and Zanesville.
Topographically .- The variety of landscape is remarkable. The surface is generally undu- lating, with large areas of bottom lands of rich sandy loam, very productive and well adapted to garden products. The uplands are dotted with wood and field, and the entire township is well watered. Mill Creek, Coal Run, Blunt's Run and a number of smaller, nameless streams, penetrate the western portion of the township, and flow into the Muskingum river. And the eastern portion is watered by Little Salt Creek and its tributaries. Many of the pioneer cabins are still to be seen, in marked contrast with the pleasant homes of later times.
EARLY TAVERNS.
The first tavern, kept in what is now Washing- ton township, was by Isaac Pryor, who came from Pennsylvania in 1801, and located on the Wheeling road, five miles from Zanesville. He was a great hunter, and kept his table well sup- plied with all kinds of game.
Job Dickson came later in the same year, and opened tavern in a log cabin at "Three Mile Spring." He sold out in 1810, to John Speers. -Bates came in 1804, and opened tavern on Mill Run, but this is all we know of him.
William Manahan built a brick house for a hotel in 1832. It was located about four miles from Zanesville. It is now occupied by Samuel Smith, but not as a public house.
The days of taverns, as they used to be, have drawn to a close, and the name is seldom heard. The humblest effort at accommodation of the traveler, is dignified with the title of hotel.
The first hewed log house, shingle roof, was
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
built by Isaac Pryor, on the farm now owned by A. C. Howard, and the second, by John Slack, who came from Loudon county, Virginia, in 1806. The latter was on land now owned by James Galloway, on section twelve.
Robert Slack was first elected Infirmary Direc- tor in 1875. and now fills that position.
The first marriage was John Mercer and Eliza- beth Vernon, 1807.
.
The first birth was Rebecca Vernon, daughter of Joseph Vernon.
The first death was Elijah Hart, who died in December, 1807. The second was Jane Slack, who died in 1817.
The first mill was a saw mill, built by William McConnell, in 1810. The second was by Wm. Beatty. The latter was run by ox power, (a tread mill). Place unknown.
THE FIRST COAL MINED.
The first coal mined in Muskingum county, was in Washington township, on Mud Run, by John Bates, in 1811. He hauled coal to Zanes- ville and sold it by the bushel, one or more. In 1814, John Spears opened a bank and dug what he wanted for his own use.
The first tannery was built by Albert Cole ; place and time unknown.
The first distillery was built by George Jury, 1819 : place unknown.
THE FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOLS.
The first school house was the conventional log building, with puncheon floor, slab seats and desks, and a fire place in imitation of the crater of a burning mountain. It was built in 1816, on land near were Bowers' and Vernon's farms corner, and on the former. The first teacher was Ellen Spinner. Samuel Cassel taught school in a similar temple on the Walton place, about the same time.
The township has now the following subdis- tricts and enumeration :
No. I-Twenty-five males and twenty-four females.
No. 2-Twenty-eight males and twenty-eight females. No. 3-Thirty-two males and thirty-one females.
No. 4-Twenty-two males and eighteen females.
No. 5-Thirty-five males and thirty-seven females.
No. 6-Fifty-eight males and fifty-one females.
March, 1826, the Trustees divided the town- ship into five school districts. District No. 1, contained twenty-four house-holders ; No. 2, con- tained thirty-one house-holders ; No. 3, twenty- four house-holders ; No. 4, eighteen house- holders ; No. 5, thirty-five house-holders. So that from the above recital, one school district has been added, and each has a school house and school.
The first blacksmith was John Price, but at what period is not now known, only that it was prior to 1820.
The first store was kept by Henry Conrad, on the site occupied by A. J. C. Bonus. This was about 1820.
WESLEY CHAPEL M. E. CHURCH.
This organization first appears on the minutes of this circuit, January Ist, 1816. The first class, however, was organized about 1808. The early meetings were held in private houses and in groves. The homes of John Bowers, Joseph Bowers, Isaac Beatty and John Vernon, were among the places of meeting. The society con- tinued to worship in this migratory manner until 1823, when a hewed log building was erected for this purpose, and dedicated in the fall of that year. The building was built by the male mem- bers, who plied their own skill and teams, and raised the building. A few nails and a small quantity of glass added, and they had a meeting house free from debt. It was located on the farm owned by John Bowers, Sr., near the Perry township line, and was sometimes called "Bowers' Church." It was used as a place of worship until 1846, when a new house was erected on George Border's farm, in Perry town- ship. This building cost about one thousand and sixty dollars. It is a frame structure, 40x58 feet.
The following persons have served as minis- ters, from 1816 to 1877 :
Presiding Elder, Jacob Young, William Knox, John Waterman, Thomas Carr, John Tives, Samuel Glaze, T. A. Morris, Charles Elliott, James Gilruth, Samuel Brockunier, Jacob Hooper, Archibald McElroy, Leroy Swarmstedt, M. M. Henkle, B. Westlake, J. P. Durbin, David Young. William Cunningham, Thomas Beachem, E. H. Taylor, Ezra Brown, Z. H. Coston, Michael Ellis, C. Springer, J. Calihan, Joseph Carper, W. B. Christie, A. M. Lorane. Gilbert Blue, Jacob Delay, William Young, J. W. Gilbert, L. P. Miller, C. C. Lybrand, James McMahon, Samuel Harvey, C. Brooks, H. Gearing, H. S. Fernandes, Dudley Woodbridge, Andrew Carroll, James Gurley, George Fate, J. S. Brown, James Armstrong, F. H. Jennings, T. R. Ruckel, Andrew Magee, Ludwell Petty, Chester Morrison, Walter Athey, J. N. Baird, David Cross, E. H. Taylor. C. E. Weirick. P. HI. McCue, D. P. Mitchell, M. W. Dallas. Robert Boyd, James McGinnis, John Hare, Noah Speck, J. II. White, Hosea McCall, W. D. Bell. John Mason, W. C. P. Hamilton, H. M. Close, Henry Snyder, Andrew Huston. I. N. McAbce, J. J. Brady, W. Gamble, N. C. Worthoring, Wil- liam Gamble, J. Evans, N. B. Edwards, F. W. Vertican, A. D. McCormick, J. E. Williams. T. C. Hatfield, D. C. Knowles, E. B. Webster. E. J. Smith, J. K. Rader.
The first Sabbath-school was organized by Jo- seph Church, in the summer of 1833. and was only continued about three months, when it was given up until 1851, when it was again organized by the Rev. D. P. Mitchell, with j. W. Spry as superintendent. The school still continues, and is in a prosperous condition.
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
THE VILLAGE OF JACKSON.
The village of Jackson was surveyed into lots, and recorded October 20, 1830 ; the site is on the land owned by Spencer Lehue, four miles east of Zanesville. on the National Pike. It is a quiet village, without a store, tavern, or post- office, and seems chiefly to serve as a monument of the engineering of Charles Roberts, who sur- veyed and platted it. If any one desires to avoid the bustle of life, and to enjoy the felicity of per- fect quietness, where only the neighbor's gossip is likely to interrupt his philosophic, or other med- itation. commend him to Jackson. This state of things has been maintained for the last half cen- tury, and it is likely to continue, so make a note of it for the benefit of tourists : for surely they will rejoice to find a place that has neither been writ- ten up, nor sketched : here is a virgin field for them.
PLEASANT GROVE M. E. CHURCH.
The church was organized at the brick school house (on John Orr's farm), in 1842. A class was formed at that time, consisting of John Wall, Amanda Wall, James Walwork, Margaret Wal- work. Lucretia Brown, Patsy Shiflet, Lloyd Bishop, Mrs. Bishop, James Smith, Margaret Smith. and Nellie Hart. Stephen Schafer was class leader. The meetings were held in the school house about three months, and then moved to the tobacco barn of Wm. Brown, and were continued there about fifteen months, when the present meeting house was finished. This edifice was the result of contribution of material, labor, or money, according to the ability of the donor. It was dedicated in the fall of 1843, by Rev. John Waterman.
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