USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 74
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This is about forty thousand dollars less than the previous collection, owing to decrease in the number of saloons in the county.
The semi-annual or August settlement and final disposition of the 1908 taxes involved the distribution of the sum of one million, one hundred sixty-one thou- sand, four hundred nine dollars and seventy-six cents. This was paid treasurers throughout the county as follows :
To incorporated towns: Dayton, three hundred seventy-seven thousand, eighty-one dollars and seventy-seven cents ; Trotwood, four hundred eighteen dol- lars and twenty-nine cents; Phillipsburg, two hundred and thirty dollars and one cent; West Carrollton, two thousand, two hundred and thirty-six dollars ; Miamisburg, twelve thousand, four hundred ninety-three dollars and forty-two cents; Centerville, six hundred twenty-eight dollars and fifty-seven cents; Ger- mantown, five thousand, one hundred forty dollars and five cents; Vandalia, two hundred forty-nine dollars and thirty-two cents; Brookville, three thousand. three hundred eighty-five dollars and twenty-two cents; New Lebanon, one hun- dred fifty-five dollars and thirty-six cents; Farmersville, six hundred twenty-two dollars and thirty-one cents ; Oakwood, one thousand, one hundred eight dollars and thirty-eight cents.
Incorporation school funds to be paid to the treasurers of the following schools: Dayton, one hundred seventy-nine thousand, fifty-one dollars and sixty-one cents; Johnsville, five hundred nineteen dollars and nineteen cents ; Farmersville, one thousand, six hundred ninety-nine dollars and twenty-one cents ; Pyrmont, six hundred twenty-two dollars and thirty-five cents; Brookville, two thousand, seven hundred and ninety-six dollars and eighteen cents; Brookville special school district, five hundred seventy-one dollars and eighty cents ; Vandalia, eighty hundred seven dollars and fourteen cents; Germantown, three thousand, six hundred sixty-one dollars and ninety-five cents; Sunbury district, two hundred seventy-two dollars and eighty-two cents ; Swartzel district, one hundred ninety- nine dollars and seventy-four cents ; West Carollton, three thousand, six hundred forty-nine dollars and thirty-four cents; Miamisburg, ten thousand, one hundred one dollars and forty-one cents; Van Buren district 8, one thousand, two hun- dred ninety-seven dollars and seventy-one cents; Phillipsburg, one thousand, one hundred five dollars and forty-three cents; Trotwood, six hundred sixty dollars and eighty-two cents; Lytle school district, twelve dollars and seventy-four cents ; Gratis district, sixty-nine dollars and fifty-three cents; Bath district, two hundred eighty-one dollars and three cents; Union township, one hundred seventy-two dollars and twenty-one cents; Oakwood, one thousand one hundred eighty-seven dollars and fifty-six cents.
There was paid to townships, fifty-two thousand, two hundred forty-three dollars and twenty-seven cents ; township schools, seventy-five thousand, one hun- dred sixty-nine dollars and forty-two cents; incorporated towns, four hundred fifty-eight thousand, seven hundred forty-eight dollars and seventy cents ; corpor- ation schools, three hundred thirty-seven thousand, one hundred thirty-nine dol- lars and seventy-seven cents; total, nine hundred twenty-three thousand, three hundred one dollars and sixteen cents. Total amount paid out of the undivided general tax fund was as follows: Madison township, twelve thousand, nine hun- dred thirty-five dollars and seventy cents; Jefferson township, nine thousand,
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three hundred and thirty-eight dollars; Jackson township, eight thousand, five hundred twenty-four dollars and forty-six cents ; Perry township, seven thousand. one hundred thirty-eight dollars and fifteen cents; Clay township, nine thousand, three hundred seventy-three dollars and fifty-nine cents; Randolph township, seven thousand, five hundred seventy-three dollars and sixty-one cents; Wayne township, three thousand, nine hundred thirty-four dollars and thirty-three cents ; Butler township, seven thousand, nine hundred twenty-four dollars and thirty- four cents ; German township, five thousand, eight hundred fifty-nine dollars and fifty-one cents; Washington township, six thousand, three hundred thirty-four dollars and thirty-two cents; Miami township, ten thousand, four hundred sixty- one dollars and seventeen cents; Harrison township, sixteen thousand, two hun- dred thirty-five dollars and sixty-eight cents ; Mad River township, ten thousand, five hundred ninety-four dollars and twenty-nine cents; Van buren township, eight thousand, one hundred eighty-five dollars and fifty-four cents.
PUBLIC ROADS AND BRIDGES.
The most important public roads of the county lead out from Dayton in various directions. In the early history of the county a large number of these roads were established. Land owners were so eager to secure roads and land valuation was so low that they were willing to have roads cross their lands in any direction with little or no compensation to themselves. About 1836 the work of turning the roads into turnpikes began in earnest and continued until all of the leading roads were thus improved. These turnpikes were all owned by companies charging toll. In the seventies and eighties nearly all of these high- ways were bought by the county and made free to the public. Some were ac- quired under a special act of the legislature of April 12, 1880. The Mad River and Dayton and Western turnpikes were bought in 1884. About two hundred miles of toll road were thus bought, which the county paid for by issuing bonds.
Complaint came to be made that the turnpikes were not kept in as good condition after they became free as they were in before. Meager expenditures and lack of knowledge and attention were responsible in part for the conditions that came to exist. Increased travel due to the more complete settlement of the country was also in part the cause. The "good roads" movement throughout the country and local dissatisfaction with prevailing conditions led to the third era in road building in which the turnpikes were to be changed into macadamized roads. Some roads were macadamized earlier, but now macadamized roads were to become the order of the day.
In 1903 the commissioners of Montgomery county went out to view the roads in other counties where scientific roadmaking was in progress. They increased the levy forty-five one-hundredths of a mill on a duplicate of eighty millions dollars, and soon afterward began to make macadamized roads at a cost of about three thousand, five hundred dollars per mile. The first machinery purchased in 1903 consisted of a road grader, a road drag, a sprinkler, a ten ton Kelley steam roller, a supply wagon and a supply of small machinery, the outfit costing about four thousand dollars. In 1906, a duplicate outfit was purchased. State aid is granted toward the building of macadamized roads under certain con-
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ditions. The roads thus far constructed by money to which the state and the county have contributed are the following : Lebanon pike, twelve miles ; Centre- ville pike, seven miles ; Phillipsburg and Baltimore pike, three miles ; Valley pike. four miles ; Springboro road, two miles; Troy pike, five miles; Salem pike, two miles ; Beavertown pike, three miles; Germantown pike, two miles, Covington pike, five miles; National road, two and one-half miles; Willmington pike. four miles ; Smithville road, one and one-half miles. Other macadamized roads in the county, some of them built by the townships, bring the total of macadamized road up to seventy-eight miles. The two and one-half miles of macadamized pike built on the old National road, east of Vandalia, constituted a marvel in roadmaking. A cut was made through seventeen feet of solid rock, the rock taken out and being used in the building of the road. The state grants no aid unless the grade is kept below seven per cent. The steep hill west of Tadmor was reduced to a grade less than this.
There are about eight hundred steel bridges with concrete abutments in the county. One single-arch concrete bridge has been built over Bear creek. a little beyond Ellerton, the first undertaken by the county.
The prospect is good for the continuation of the movement for more substan- tial bridges and better roads. The old distinctions as to the national road, state roads, county roads and township roads has passed away. Public roads of all kinds in the county exceed one thousand miles, graveled roads extending one hundred and fifty miles and macadamized roads, as before said, seventy-eight miles. In general the care of the roads is in the hands of the township trustees, who levy the township road taxes and have authority to issue bonds to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars for the improvement of roads. The law specifies in what cases the county shall spend money on roads and bridges, and on what con- ditions the state highway commission may come to the aid of the county commis- sioners and township trustees in macadamizing roads, though much room is left open to contention as to the legal and just part to be performed by township, county and state. At present the county receives about five thousand dollars per year from the state.
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Those who have served the county in the various county offices represent a large part of the history of the county and their names are frequently wanted for reference. The lists have been made as complete as possible.
CLERK OF COURTS-1803, Benjamin Van Cleve ; 1821, George Newcom; 1822, C. R. Greene ; 1833, Edward W. Davies; 1840, Edwin Smith; 1847, William J. Mckinney ; 1854, George W. Brown, (pro tem) ; 1855, Adam Miller; 1858, David K. Boyer; 1864, Fred C. Fox; 1870, John F. Sinks; 1876, John S. Rob- ertson ; 1882, Oren Britt Brown; 1885, George W. Knecht; 1888, Flavius Bowles ; 1894, C. M. Hassler ; 1900, Charles W. Bieser ; 1906, John C. Good ; 1909, J. M. Ebert.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS-1803, Daniel Symmes, (pro tem) ; 1805, Arthur St. Clair ; 1808, Isaac G. Burnet ; 1813, Joseph H. Crane; 1817, Henry Bacon, Sr .; 1834, Peter P. Lowe; 1838, Joseph H. Crane; 1840, William H. Blodget ;
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1841, George C. Holt; 1842, Charles Anderson; 1844, Daniel A. Haynes; 1848, Samuel Craighead; 1852, James H. Baggott; 1856, D. A. Houk; 1860, Daniel P. Nead; 1862, Henderson Elliott; 1864, Youngs V. Wook; 1866, Warren Mun- ger ; 1868, George V. Nauerth; 1870, Elihu Thompson; 1874, James C. Young ; 1876, John M. Sprigg; 1880, James C. Young ; 1882, John M. Sprigg; 1888, Rob- ert M. Nevin; 1891, J. C. Patterson ; 1894, Charles H. Kumler; 1900, Ulysses S. Martin; 1906, Robert R. Nevin ; 1909, Carl W. Lenz.
SHERIFFS-1803, George Newcom ; 1808, Jerome Holt ; 1812, Samuel Archer; 1814, David Squier ; 1815, John King; 1817, Samuel Archer ; 1821, James Hen- derson ; 1825, George C. Davis; 1829, Ebenezer Stibbins; 1833, James Brown ; 1837, Jacob Davis; 1839, Benjamin Hall; 1843, Robert Brown; 1847, David . Clark; 1851, Ebenezer Henderson; 1855, Samuel C. Emly; 1859, John Mills ; 1861, George Wogaman ; 1865, O. G. H. Davidson; 1869, Michael J. Swadener ; 1873, William Patton ; 1877, Albert Beebe; 1879, Andrew C. Nixon ; 1881, Charles T. Freeman; 1885, Frederick Weis; 1887, William H. Snyder; 1891, Charles J. Gerdes ; 1893, John L. Gusler ; 1895, Charles Anderton, Sr. ; 1899, W. C. Kersh- ner ; 1903, John A. Wright; 1907, John F. Boes; 1909, Henry Eshbaugh.
TREASURERS-1803, James Patterson ; 1805, John Folkerth ; 1807, Christopher Curtner; 1818, William George; 1820, William Bomberger ; 1834, James Slaght ; 1838, Peter Baer; 1840, Nathaniel Wilson; 1844, Joseph Davison; 1849, Smith Davison; 1853, David Clark; 1856, Jonathan Kenney; 1860, David C. Rench ; 1862, Jonathan Kenney ; 1865, Daniel Staley ; 1867, John W. Turner; 1871, Daniel H. Dryden; 1875, Henry H. Laubach; 1879, Jonathan Kenney; 1880, Stephen J. Allen ; 1884, Louis H. Poock; 1888, Frank T. Huffman ; 1892, Thomas B. Minich; 1894, W. P. Sonderland; 1898, Thomas A. Selz; 1902, Charles Ander- ton, Sr .; 1906 (to the present time), John V. Lytle.
CORONERS-1803, James Miller ; 1808, Henry Curtner; 1810, David Squier ; 1812, James Wilson; 1814, Aaron Baker; 1818, John Dodson; 1832, Phillip Kel- ler ; 1835, Jacob Davis ; 1837, John McClure, Jr. ; 1838, David Reid; 1839, Adam Houk; 1841, Ebenezer Henderson ; 1845, Theodore Barlow ; 1846, Ebenezer Hen- derson ; 1852, Samuel Richards; 1856, David S. Craig; 1858, George Nauerth ; 1860, Alber G. Walden; 1862, William Egry; 1864, William H. Rouzer; 1868, Ephraim Snyder ; 1870, William R. Bennett; 1873, Jacob Kuhns ; 1877, John P. Kline ; 1879, James D. Dougherty ; 1883, W. P. Treon; 1887, S. P. Drayer; 1890, G. C. Meyers ; 1893, H. A. Hahne; 1895, Lee Corbin ; 1898, Harry H. Hatcher ; 1903, Walter L. Kline; 1907, G. R. Schuster ; 1909, W. H. Swisher.
COMMISSIONERS-1804, William Brown, Edmund Munger, John Devor ; 1805-06, Edmund Munger, John Devor, Samuel Hawkins; 1807-08, Edmund Munger, John Devor, John Folkerth; 1809-10, John Folkerth, John Devor, Daniel Hoover : 1811, John Folkerth, Daniel Hoover, John H. Williams; 1812-13, John Folkerth, John H. Williams, Abraham Brower; 1814. John Folkerth, John H. Williams, David McClure ; 1815, John Folkerth, Isaac G. Burnett, John Mil- ler ; 1816-19, John Folkerth, Benjamin Maltbie, Daniel Yount; 1820-21, John Fol- kerth. Benjamin Maltbie, Henry Brown; 1822, Benjamin Maltbie, Henry Brown, John H. Williams ; 1823, John H. Williams, Benjamin Maltbie, C. Taylor ; 1824, John H. Williams, C. Taylor, Moses Greer; 1825-28, Moses Greer, C. Taylor, Aaron Baker; 1829, Aaron Baker, Moses Greer, Jacob B. John; 1830, Jacob B.
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John, Aaron Baker, James Russell ; 1831, James Russell, Jacob B. John, George Olinger; 1832-34. George Olinger, James Russell, Aaron Baker; 1835, George Olinger, James Russell, Alexander Grimes; 1836, George Olinger. Alexander Grimes, C. Emerick; 1837, C. Emerick, Alexander Grimes, John Furnas; 1838, John Furnas, David Lamme, C. Taylor; 1839, John Furnas, C. Taylor, James A. Riley ; 1840, James A. Riley, C. Taylor, Emanuel Gebhart; 1841, Emanuel Gebhart, James A. Riley, William Worley ; 1842, Emanuel Gebhart, William Wor- ley. C. Taylor ; 1843-44, C. Taylor, William Worley, Davis Waymire; 1845-46, Davis Waymire, William Worley, David Lamme; 1847-50, Davis Waymire, David Lamme, John C. Negley ; 1851, Davis Waymire, John C. Negley, John Yount; 1852, John Yount, John C. Negley, Ezra T. Leggett; 1853, Ezra T. Leggett, John Yount, Frederick Gebhart; 1854, Frederick Gebhart, Samuel Marshall, John W. Turner ; 1855, John W. Turner, Frederick Gebhart, John Yount ; 1856, John Yount, John W. Turner, Joseph H. Dryden; 1857, John Yount, Joseph H. Dryden, James Turner ; 1858, James Turner, Joseph H. Dryden, Henry Shid- ler ; 1859, Henry Shidler, James Turner, Emanuel Schultz ; 1860, Henry Shidler, Emanuel Schultz, Daniel Kiser; 1861, Daniel Kiser, Emanuel Schultz, John Wheeland; 1862, John Wheeland, Daniel Kiser, John Harshman; 1863, John Wheeland, John Harshman. Alfred Iams; 1864, Alfred Iams, John Harshman, James Appelgate ; 1865, James Appelgate, Alfred Iams, Samuel Rohrer ; 1866-67, James Appelgate, Samuel Rohrer, George A. Grove; 1868-69, James Appelgate, George A. Grove, Jesse D. Harry ; 1870-71. George A. Grove, Jesse D. Harry, Madison Munday ; 1872-73, Madison Munday, Jesse D. Harry, Samuel Martin- dale; 1874, Madison Munday, Samuel Martindale, John G. Getter ; 1875, Madison Munday, John G. Getter, Charles Crook; 1876-77, John G. Getter, Charles Crook, John R. Brownell; 1878, John G. Getter, John R. Brownell, Isaac J. Bas- sett ; 1879, John G. Getter, Isaac J. Bassett, George W. Purcell, 1880-81, Isaac J. Bassett, Lewis C. Kimmel, George W. Purcell; 1882, Isaac J. Bassett, George W. Purcell, Henry C. Marshall; 1883. John Munger, George W. Purcell, Henry C. Marshall; 1884-86, John Munger, A. Trosell, Henry C. Marshall; 1887, John Munger, J. B. Hunter, Henry C. Marshall; 1888-89, John Munger, J. B. Hun- ter, Alonzo B. Ridgway; 1890, David R. Shroyer, J. B. Hunter, Alonzo B. Ridg- way ; 1891, David R. Shroyer, L. H. Zehring, Alonzo B. Ridgway ; 1892-93, David R. Shroyer, L. H. Zehring, J. B. Hunter; 1894-95, David R. Shroyer, H. W. Kaiser, J. B. Hunter ; 1896-97, David Dean, H. W. Kaiser, J. B. Hunter ; 1898-99, David Dean, H. W. Kaiser, William I. Anderson; 1900-01, David Dean, Samuel E. Kemp, William I. Anderson; 1902-03, Charles W. Hains, Samuel E. Kemp, William I. Anderson; 1904-05, Charles W. Hains, Samuel E. Kemp, Samuel G. Clagett ; 1906-08, Charles W. Hains, William H. Van Riper, Samuel G. Clagett ; 1909, Frank Munger, Richard Gebhart, George Fair.
RECORDERS-1805. David Reid ; 1813, Warren Munger, Sr .; 1831, William L. Helfenstein ; 1835. David S. Davis; 1838, William Potter; 1841, William Gunckel; 1844. J. W. Griswold; 1850, Joseph Hughs; 1856, Daniel G. Fitch ; 1859, David Ecker ; 1862, George Owen ; 1868, Johnson Snyder ; 1874, James H. Hall; 1880, Thomas M. Miskelly; 1886, Joel O. Shoup; 1892, Jesse R. Linde- muth ; 1895, Charles E. Clark; 1901, John L. Theobald; 1907, to the present time, Benjamin W. McClary.
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AUDITORS-Prior to 1821 the commissioners' clerk acted as auditor; 1821, Alexander Grimes ; 1827, Joseph H. Conover ; 1831, David D. Baker ; 1835, James Douglass ; 1837, William J. Mckinney; 1839, Isaac Douglas; 1841, John Mills; 1853, Jacob Zimmer ; 1855, Daniel H. Dryden ; 1861, Benjamin M. Ayres; 1865, Jacob M. Dietrich ; 1869, George P. Boyer; 1874, William A. Mays; 1878, Fred- erick Schutte; 1883, John D. Turner ; 1890, Harbert W. Lewis; 1896, Alfred G. Feight ; 1902, Thomas J. Kauffman, 1909, John W. Edwards.
SURVEYORS-1832, Joseph Ewing; 1835, Fielding Loury; 1838, William G. George ; 1850, John Beaver ; 1856, Joseph B. Johns ; 1862, Jacob S. Binkerd; 1868, Joseph B. Johns ; 1874, Frank Snyder ; 1880, John Hiller ; 1889, Herman S. Fox; 1895, Robert E. Kline; 1901, Edwin C. Baird; 1907, Howard R. Klepinger ; 1909, Edward A. Moritz.
COMMON PLEAS JUDGES-1880-82, Alexander Hume, David L. Meeker, James A. Gilmore, Henderson Elliott.
1883, Alexander Hume, John W. Sater, James A. Gilmore, Henderson Elliott. 1884-86, Alexander Hume, John W. Sater, Henderson Elliott.
1887, Ferdinand Van Derveer, John W. Sater, Henderson Elliott.
1888-93, Ferdinand Van Derveer (succeeded either in 1892 or 1893 by Wil- liam S. Giffin, who was in turn succeeded either in 1893 or 1894 by W. S. Dilau- tush), David L. Meeker (succeeded either in 1892 or 1893 by John C. Clark, whose term was to expire in May, 1893), Dennis Dwyer, Henderson Elliott.
1894-95, W. S. Dilautush (succeeded either in 1895 or 1896 by Milton C. Clark), Horace L. Smith, David B. Van Pelt (became judge either in 1893 or 1894), Dennis Dwyer, Henderson Elliott.
1896, Milton C. Clark, Horace L. Smith, David B. Van Pelt, Charles W. Dus- tin, O. B. Brown.
1897-99, Milton C. Clark, Alvin W. Kumler, Horace L. Smith (succeeded either in 1897 or 1898 by Thomas E. Scroggy), David B. Van Pelt, Charles W. Dustin, O. B. Brown.
1900-05, Milton C. Clark, Alvin W. Kumler, Thomas E. Scroggy (succeeded either in 1904 or 1905 by Charles H. Kyle). W. W. Savage ( succeeded either in 1902 or 1903 by Felix G. Slone), Charles W. Dustin (succeeded either in 1903 or 1904 by Edward T. Snedeker), O. B. Brown.
1906-08, Milton C. Clark, Ulysses S. Martin, Charles H. Kyle, Felix G. Slone, Edward T. Snedeker, O. B. Brown.
PROBATE JUDGES-1880, J. L. H. Frank; 1882, William D. McKemy ; 1891, John W. Kreitzer; 1894, Obed W. Irvin; 1900, Benjamin F. McCann; 1906, Charles W. Dale; 1909, Roland W. Baggott.
THE DUNKER CHURCHES.
This religious fraternity, which had its origin in Germany in 1708, was repre- sented among the earliest settlers in Montgomery county, in the vicinity of Day- ton. After the organization of the church in Germany, its members suffered much persecution and were invited by William Penn to come to his colony, Penn- sylvania, which a number of them did in 1719. They settled at Germantown, now a part of Philadelphia. Here they organized the first church in America in
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1723, and chose Peter Becker as their minister and bishop. From this beginning at Germantown they prospered among the German colonists and pushed west across the southern part of Pennsylvania, south through Maryland and into Vir- ginia. In the early part of the nineteenth century they pushed westward into Ohio and other parts of the country west of the Appalachian mountains.
The name Dunker or Tunker was first given to them in derision because of their method of baptism, that of forward action by trine immersion, and will always, doubtless, cling to them.
Until 1881 the Tunker fraternity was, at least outwardly, a united body, though within there existed some discontent because of differences of opinion among its members in different parts of the brotherhood. The general conference of the body was held that year in Ashland, Ohio, and before the conclusion of its sessions, the old order element withdrew. They had presented a petition, framed by a large council of elders, which had met between Salem and Phillipsburg, this county, asking for definite expressions of disapproval upon the movement in the denomination, favorable to Sunday-schools, missions, and higher education chiefly. The petition was not favorably acted upon, hence the withdrawal of those who favored its requests. Later in this same year the old order movement was fully organized in this county.
A revulsion of feeling in the church seemed to follow the experiences of 1881, and the general conference of 1882 witnessed the formal expulsion of the pro- gressive leader, Elder H. R. Holsinger, of Berlin, Pennsylvania. A convention of his friends was called to meet at Ashland, Ohio, June 29, 1882, with a view of perfecting plans by which it was hoped that the conference of 1883 would undo the work of 1882. The convention was held, but failed of its purpose, and on June 7, 1883, the so-called progressives met in their first general conference, in what is now known as the Victoria theater, Main and First streets, Dayton, Ohio, and effected a permanent organization under the simple name of Brethren.
The three branches of the fraternity are at the present time represented in Montgomery county and are known legally as the Church of the Brethren (Con- servative), the Brethren (Progressive) and the Old German Baptist Brethren (Old Order).
There are in 1909, nine congregations of the first, six congregations of the second, and four congregations of the third, each having one or more places of worship in the county, and city of Dayton.
They hold in common the following fundamental principles :
They believe in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, the divinity of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
They believe in faith, repentance, prayer, and baptism by trine immersion as essential to church membership.
They accept the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice.
At communion seasons they wash one another's feet, according to the lesson and pattern taught by Christ in the thirteenth chapter of John's Gospel.
They eat the Lord's Supper, a common meal in the evening, after which they partake of the communion-the bread and wine-as emblems of the broken body, and shed blood of a crucified Redeemer.
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They salute one another with a "holy kiss," according, as they believe, to the teachings of Paul and Peter. This salutation is always observed during com- munion services.
They "anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord," according to James 5:14.
In all legal procedure they affirm instead of taking the prescribed oath, citing Jesus as authority for their practice when he said, "Swear not at all, but let your communication be yea, yea, nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
They are unalterably opposed to war, refusing to engage in sanguinary con- flict under any and all circumstances, finding authority for such a stand in both our Lord and his apostle Paul, who by precept and example gave exposition to the doctrine.
They believe and practice the simple life.
They believe in the spread of the Gospel by a live and active ministry and the upright walk and conduct of all the members.
The first minister of the Dunker fraternity in this county was Jacob Miller, who entered land along the Miami river about four miles southwest of Dayton, as early as July 28, 1801. He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1735, and moved to Ohio in 1800. He organized the first church in the county in October, 1805, one mile south of what is now the Soldiers' Home, and it was known as the Lower Miami church. Elder Miller died in 1815 at the advanced age of four score years. "The county at this time was yet a dense forest inhabited by Indians. Through the kind treatment which these Indians received at the hands of Elder Miller, they very much respected him, calling him 'the good man whom the great spirit sent from the east.' "
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