USA > Ohio > Hardin County > The history of Hardin county, Ohio > Part 64
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EARLY SETTLERS.
The first to penetrate the forests of Blanchard and to make a perman - ent settlement here was David H. Edgar, who was born in Beaver County, Penn., September 8, 1800, and who in 1814, with his father, Joseph Ed- gar, and his family came to Holmes County, Ohio, where the parents died. In June, 1830, David left Holmes County, and came to this county and en- tered eighty acres of land on the northeast quarter of Section 18, in Blanchard Township. There were then three families who had settled on the Blanchard in Jackson Township, viz., James E. Hueston, Joseph Bates and Daniel Hamblin, the first mentioned being his nearest neighbor-a distance of five miles. In the following winter, Mr. Edgar taught a sub - scription school, for the above-mentioned families, in an old log cabin on the Hueston farm, formerly occupied by him as a dwelling, but which he had previously vacated. This was the first school ever taught in the north part of Hardin County. In March, 1831, Mr. Edgar was united in mar- riage with one of his scholars-Miss Azuba Hamblin. During this year, he T
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
farmed the place belonging to the heirs of D. Hamblin, and, in the spring of 1832 he located in his own cabin, on the eighty acres he had entered in 1830, and here commenced the struggle of life. In January, 1834, was born to them a daughter, the first child born in Blanchard Township. Mr. Edgar says that at the time of this occurrence, there were but three women in the three townships of Jackson, Blanchard and Washington, and those three were present, and took charge of affairs on this occasion. His cabin had been " chinked and daubed," and with some deer skins tacked over the crevices in the walls, and others laid upon the floor, made the cabin as comfortable as possible for the occasion, occurring, as it did, in midwinter. But all things passed off well, and Mr. Edgar says that on no similar occasion since, with a warm and comfortable house, and the at- tendance of a skillful physician, have they ever passed through the ordeal more successfully than on that first occasion in the rude and cold log cabin, with the three neighbor women in attendance. He thinks that many in the fashionable society of to-day, with their fine houses and comforts, could they have looked in upon that scene in that rude, rough cabin, would have pronounced it death to both mother and child!
Here, in the dense forest, Mr. Edgar passed through all the trying scenes and hardships of pioneer life; cleared up his land, erected good buildings and obtained, by his labor and industry, a good farm with good improvements. He has filled most of the important offices of his township, having served as Trustee many years, as Treasurer fourteen years, and as a Justice of the Peace twenty-five years; and to him, perhaps more than any one person, the community owes a debt of gratitude for the noble pioneer work he has performed, and the aid he has given in the organization of the civil and religious institutions of the township. His wife died, June 11, 1867, aged fifty-four years. They raised a family of seven children, all grown to maturity, and are engaged in the active spheres of life. After the death of his wife, he retired from the active scenes of life, and has since resided with his children. After the incorporation of the town of Dunkirk, Mr. Edgar served as its Mayor two years. He is now in his eighty-third year, and is still able to walk about town and among his chil- dren with the aid of his crutches, and seems to enjoy life well, is very cheerful and happy, and delights in thinking of and relating the incidents of his early life-of their hardships and their peculiar habits and modes of living.
Levi Bodley was the second settler who located here. He was a native of the State of New York, but emigrated with his parents to Richland Coun- ty, Ohio, in 1816, where they died. There Mr. Bodley grew to manhood and married Rebecca Dubois, and, in August, 1833, came to Hardin County and settled on the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 18, where he resided until about 1856-57, when he removed to Iowa. In April, 1834, his wife died, and he subsequently married Rebecca B. Davis. He raised a large family of children. By his first wife were Esther Ann, Elisha, Mathew and Sarah. By his second wife, he had Charles, Eliza Jane, Will- iam, Joseph, John and Ann. Of these, Mathew, Elisha and John died in the army, in the war of the rebellion. The balance of the children are all in the West. Mr. Bodley sustained an unblemished character, was a good neighbor and a worthy citizen.
William McKelvey, a native of Pennsylvania, became an early settler of Richland County, Ohio, where he married, and, in June, 1835, he re- moved to this township and settled on Section 7, but resided here only a few years, and removed to Huron County, Ohio, where he died.
589
BLANCHARD TOWNSHIP.
John R. Davis came here from Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1836, and settled on Section 17. The following December, his horse strayed away, and he started to track him in the snow through the wilderness toward Marseilles, about twenty miles distant; but the snow melting away, he lost the trail, and never returned, but was subsequently found frozen to death on the ground in the woods. His family remained several years, then sold their place, but some of the children are still residents in other portions of the county.
Robert Wiles, a native of the State of New York, settled here on Sec- tion 5, in 1836. He was twice married; first, in New York, to Miss Lydia- Squires; she died August 7, 1847, aged fifty-three years. He married again, but again survived his second wife, who died December 7, 1857. He died April 17, 1859, aged sixty-six years. He was the father of the follow- ing children: William, Robert, Eunice, Seba and Alfred (twins), Edward, Russell and Elizabeth; all of whom have removed to the West, except Will- iam S., who still resides here, and in the early history of the township vas a substantial and valued citizen, and filled many of the offices of the town- ship.
Renatus Gum was born in the State of Delaware, September 18, 1817, and with his father and family came to Knox County, Ohio, near Danville. In 1838, they removed to Washington Township, this county, where they settled north of Hog Creek Marsh. Mr. Gum erected the first cabin in Dunkirk, which was of hewed logs, about 1851, just south of the railroad. He also opened the first store in this village. He is still a resident of the town.
John Fry, with his father, Enoch Fry, came here from Coshocton County, in the fall of 1834, and settled on Section 19, where they lived only a short time, both dying of milk sickness. John married Mary Mowrey, by whom he had Enoch, George, John and Jefferson, all of whom settled in this township except George, who now resides in Oregon.
George Mowrey came here from Knox County, Ohio, in the spring of 1835, and settled on Section 18, where he died, about 1844, after which his family all moved away.
Joseph B. Smith came here from Clinton County, Ohio, in 1838, and settled in Section 7, near where the grist mill now stands in Dunkirk. He died here in 1852-53. Mr. Smith was one among Jackson Township's best citizens; prompt in all his dealings, enterprising and giving his aid and assistance to all improvements and the general good of the community. He married Elizabeth Fleming, by whom he had the following children: Nancy, John, James and Elizabeth. His wife died and he married again, and by his second wife had three children. He sub- sequently moved away.
ELECTIONS AND OFFICIALS.
We find no records preserved of the first four years of the existence of Blanchard Township, but from 1838-39 to the present time there is a good record, and we here present the officials from those years down to 1870. The first elections, and those for many years, were held at private houses. The officers have been as follows:
Trustees-S. J. Lawson, William Higgins and Robert Wiles; 1839, William Higgins, C. W. Shaw and Levi Bodley; 1840, Thomas Hueston, C. W. Shaw and Levi W. Bodley: 1841, William S. Wiles, George Roberts and Thomas Hueston; 1842-43, Levi Bodley, Abner McLane and Thomas
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Hueston; 1844, James Packer, Levi W., Bodley and William C. Dewitt; 1845, John Huff, William C. Dewitt and William S. Wiles; 1846, James Ray, Henry Louthan and D. H. Edgar; 1847, Henry Louthan, James Ray and Levi W. Bodley; 1848, James A. Thomson, Jacob Mowrey and Henry Forsythe; 1849, James A. Thomson, Conrad Zimmerman and Henry King; 1850, Henry D. Miller, Morgan Gardner and Hiram King; 1851, Hiram King, Jacob Mowrey and James Ray; 1852, Henry Louthan, William Beem and Samuel Herring; 1853, D. C. Phillips, James A. Thomson and Samuel M. Louthan; 1854, S. W. Bodley, Morgan Gardner and D. C. Phillips; 1855, S. H. Packer, D. C. Phillips and W. T. Hinebaugh; 1856, W. T. Hinebaugh, Morgan Gardner and James A. Thomson: 1857, Nathan Bien, James M. Reed and James A. Thomson; 1858, W. S. Wiles, Isaac Miller and Nathan Bien; 1859-60, William S. Wiles, Jacob Woods and James A. Thomson; 1861, Jacob Woods, Isaac Miller and A. Lynch; 1862, William S. Wiles, Isaac S. Miller and Henry Louthan; 1863, W. S. Wiles, Jacob Woods and S. H. Packer; 1864, David Higgins, William Peeler and Amos Clingman; 1865, Jacob Woods, D. H. Edgar and James A. Thomson; 1866, D. C. Phillips, J. A. Thomson and David H. Edgar; 1867, W. S. Wiles, David Higgins and A. Lynch; 1868, James A. Thomson, W. S. Wiles and A. Lehr; 1869, Issac Miller, Jacob Woods and N. B. Phillips.
Township Clerks-1838, George Roberts; 1839-43, John McVitty; 1844-45, Peter Johnson; 1846-47, William S. Wiles; 1848-49, Isaac Kin- near; 1850-52, W. S. Wiles; 1853, Samuel M. Louthan; 1854-55, F. Church; 1856, Jonathan McLane; 1857-59, D. McLane; 1860, Isaac Griner; 1861, D. A. Moses; 1862-64, L. N. Moses; 1865-66, Jonathan McLane; 1867-68, James Halterman; 1869, F. B. Woods.
Assessors --- 1842, Luther Lyman; 1843-45, William H. Johnson; 1846, Henry Munson; 1847-48, James A. Johnson; 1849, Renatus Gum; 1850, James A. Thomson; 1851, W. R. Hardwick; 1852, W. S. Wiles; 1853, Jonathan T. Packer; 1854-55, William H. Packer; 1857, John Watters; 1858-59, S. Strawbridge; 1860, Moses Louthan; 1861, D. H. Edgar; 1862, M. Louthan; 1863, J. B. Alexander; 1864-66, William D. Edgar; 1867, I. V. Miller; 1868, E. Shuee; 1869, E. F. Shuee.
Treasurers-Benjamin Johnson; 1839-45, D. H. Edgar; 1846, James A. Thomson; 1847-52, Joseph B. Smith; 1853-56, D. H. Edgar; 1857- 58, H. D. Miller; 1859-63, Samuel Bosserman; 1864-65, Charles Mahon; 1866-68, Isaiah Larkins; 1869, F. P. Gale.
Justices of the Peace-1837, Peter Johnson; 1839-45, William S. Wiles; 1843-49, D. H. Edgar; 1845, Thomas Hueston; 1849, Isaac Kin- near; 1851, Henry Louthan; 1852 -- 70, David C. Phillips; 1854-60, Will- iam Brant; 1858, A. K. Mecaskey; 1861, Isaiah Larkins.
In 1839, the Treasurer's total receipts were $60.123, and his expendi- tures $26.69, leaving on hand a balance of $33.433. In the settlement of March, 1883, the total receipts were $1,956.38, and the expenditures $720.17, leaving balance on hand of $1,236.21. In the year 1839, the Clerk received for his services during the year $3, and the Treasurer $1.50. In 1882, the Clerk received $150, and the Treasurer $74.35-quite a marked contrast!
MILLS.
The first saw mill was erected in 1853, by William Porterfield and Fred Church, on the northwest quarter of Section 18. This mill did a large business for several years, and then went out of use. In 1878, Mathew Kern erected a saw mill, in Dunkirk, which is still doing a good business.
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BLANCHARD TOWNSHIP.
In 1881, James Fleming and James Rush erected a saw mill on Section 19, and are doing a large business.
SCHOOLS.
The township was platted into school districts April 2, 1838, a copy of which was deposited with the County Auditor April 30, 1838.
The first schoolhouse was built of logs, erected on Section 7, and the first teacher was Wilmot Munson, a Yankee, a good scholar and an excellent teacher. From settlement to settlement, schools were established, and the progress in educational privileges has been quite rapid and complete -- as much so, probably, as any township in the county. The report of the Board of Edu- cation of the township, which includes the schools, excepting those of Dun- kirk, is as follows:
Total receipts for all school purposes, $3,477.62; total expenditures, $1,487.83; balance on hand September 1, 1882, $989.79. Number of sub- districts, 7; number of houses, 7; number of schoolrooms, 7, and number of teachers necessary to supply the schools, 7. Average wages per month for male teachers, $30; average wages per month for female teachers, $21; average number of weeks, schools were in session, 24. Total value of school property, $4,000. Number scholars enrolled-boys, 120; girls, 111; total, 231.
Dunkirk Union Schools .- Total receipts for school purposes $1,938; ex- penditures, $3,174.36; deficit. $1,236.36. Number of schoolrooms, 7; num- ber of teachers employed, 8. Average wages paid teachers per month, male, $47, female, $30. Average number of weeks the schools were in session, 32. Total valuation of school property. $6,000. Total enrollment of scholars-Primary, boys, 161, girls, 192; high school, boys 12, girls, 20; total, 385. Dunkirk Board of Education has now under contract a new brick school building, to be erected during the summer of 1883, as follows: 76x86 feet; three stories high, with basement; the first and second floors are each to contain four rooms, the third floor two rooms and a literary hall, the latter to be 36x86 feet and 16 feet high. The basement is to be seven and a half feet in the clear, and divided into four rooms intended for surplus rooms, to be used as playrooms for the children in stormy weather, for fuel, etc. The whole building is to be heated by hot air, on the Ruttan system. Said building is to be finished at a cost of $21,670. The total receipts of funds for school purposes for the Dunkirk schools, from March, 1882, to March, 1883, were $2,813.31; total expenditures, $1,721; balance on hand, $1,092.31. This building, when completed, will be the finest school structure in Hardin County.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
Dunkirk, the only town or village in the township, was surveyed and laid off into lots, streets and alleys by R. D. Millar, Surveyor for Hardin County, for Hugh D. Miller, and the same was platted and recorded, being duly acknowledged April 9, 1852, since which the following additions have been made by the following persons, as per dates attached to their names respectively, viz. :
Samuel H. Packer, September 6, 1852.
Samuel H. Packer, May 26, 1856.
Archibald Gardner, September 9, 1857.
Hugh D. Miller, June 25, 1867.
Seba Wickwire, May 26, 1868.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
S. B. Smith & J. B. Alexander, April 8, 1868.
R. Brubaker, November 30, 1868.
M. F. Larkins and S. N. Peck, April 11, 1868.
Hugh D. Miller, April 11, 1868.
J. A. Orths, May 12, 1871.
Hugh Hueston, May 15, 1871.
James Downing, January 20, 1872.
Hugh Hueston, Second Addition, May 13, 1873.
Weigle & Miller, May 15, 1874.
Hugh Hueston, Third Addition, May 5, 1875.
Joseph Alexander, May 15, 1875.
Seba Wickwire, Second Addition, November 29, 1875.
Hugh D. Miller, Second Addition, May 4, 1876.
H. Downings, August 30, 1876.
J. A. Woods, August 30, 1876.
H. D. Miller, Fourth Addition, April 1, 1876.
I. W. Martin, April 23, 1877.
H. D. Miller, November 3, 1879.
D. W. Edgar, October 27, 1880.
The town was incorporated on petition of fifty-nine resident voters, re- presented by W. D. Edgar and Isaiah Larkins, who brought the matter be- fore the Commissioners, and the prayer of said petitioners was by them granted and the town organized into an incorporated village under the name of Dunkirk, September 4, 1867.
Runatus Gum built the first house in the town and also opened the first grocery store, and William Porterfield the first good general store. Frank Waldruff was the first blacksmith. The first physician was Dr. Steyer. The first family to locate in the town was George Kinsey, and the second John Watters. Anderson Watters was the first child born in the village, in 1858. The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad was completed in 1854, and soon after the town began to improve. In 1857, Thomas Mahon & Co. opened a large dry goods store. In 1867, Bowers & Bosserman opened a good hardware store. In 1868, Mahon Bros. entered upon the manufact- ure of agricultural implements, which did a large business for several years. The town has now (1883) about 1,500 inhabitants and many fine residences, and almost all kinds of business are represented with some quite large stocks of goods.
The business of the town at present enumerates as follows: Four dry goods and grocery stores; six groceries; two boot and shoe stores; two. bakeries; two hardware, stove and tin stores; two drug stores; one mer- chant tailor; four millinery and fancy stores; three hotels; three livery stables; one furniture and music store; two harness shops; three barber shops; two warehouses with elevators; two meat markets; six physicians; one dentist; one grist mill; two planing mills, with lumber yards attached; two saw mills; one stave factory; two wagon shops; four blacksmiths; three boot, and shoe shops; one tile factory, and one marble works.
The Dunkirk Stone Quarry was opened in 1877, and is at present operated by Hipple & Talbert, of Pennsylvania. They employ 138 hands, and are now taking out sixty car loads of stone per day. The crusher in connection with the quarry has a capacity of thirty car loads every twelve hours, the finer material being used for roads and sidewalks and the bal- ance for railroad ballasting. The stone is also used for building purposes, and this quarry is one of the leading interests of Hardin County.
593
BLANCHARD TOWNSHIP.
Mr. S. B. Davis issued the first copy of his paper at Dunkirk, July 1, 1875, called the Dunkirk Standard, and continued the publication of this paper with good success and a good patronage, until the 1st day of March, 1883, when he sold out to the present proprietors, Messrs. Owens Bros. Mr. Davis removed at once to Hancock County, where he purchased the paper at McComb and entered upon his field of labors there; and we have no doubt of his success, and that what has been a loss to the people of Dunkirk will be a gain to the citizens of McComb.
The following persons have filled the office of Mayor of Dunkirk, viz. : 1867, Isaiah Larkins; 1868-70, wanting; 1871, D. Youngker; 1872, D. M. Bowers; 1873, A. K. Mecaskey; 1875, D. H. Edgar; 1877, H. N. Hullin- ger; 1878-79, John Watters. He resigned in March, 1880, and H. J. Eager was appointed to fill the unexpired term; in 1881, J. J. Wood was elected, and is still the incumbent of that office.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Dunkirk Lodge, No. 624, I. O. O. F .- This lodge was instituted, June 1, 1876, with the following charter members, viz. : J. H. Pore, J. J. Wood, Eli Trump, Ezra Friedley, John Fry, G. G. Daling, C. M. Jones, H. H. Hullinger and S. B. Lydick, and officered as follows: J. H. Pore, N. G .; Eli Trump, V. G .; J. J. Wood, Sec .; H. H. Hulinger, Per. Sec .; G. W. Conrad, Treas .; S. B. Davis, W .; D. C. Smith, C .; W. D. Edgar, I. G., and George Neaff, O. G. The present membership, sixty-three. Present officers are M. F. Howe, N. G .; F. C. Pore, V. G .; J. W. Miller, Sec .; E. B. Leslie, Per. Sec .; F. Wilcox, Treas .; J. P. Woods, W .; M. McKins- trey, C .; L. T. Pore, I. G .; P. Yoximer, O. G. Their meetings are every Wednesday night at Odd Fellows hall, Dunkirk, Ohio.
Hardin Lodge, K. of H., No. 1,910, was instituted December 1, 1879, ยท by Deputy King, with the following charter members: James J. Wood, Charles M. Jones, Isaiah Larkins, Adam Neff, John H. Jones, Parker Longfellow, M. E. Barber, James P. Woods, Walter Teegarden, S. H. Wagoner, W. B. Wagoner, George Shira, John Beach, George A. Richard, A. M. Hostetter, William H. Lippincott, Lewis W. Hebenthal, Joseph M. Hutchinson, Christian Shultz, John H. Neff, Charles T. Snyder, Jacob Smith, Levi Curtis, and James D. Miller. Officers: J. J. Wood, P. D .; Isaiah Larkins, D. L .; W. Hebenthal, V. D .; Adam Neff, A. D .; G. A. Richards, Chap .; P. Longfellow, Treas .; C. M. Jones, F. R .; W. H. Lippincott, R .; George Shira, M. D. E .; J. P. Woods, G .; C. T. Snyder, I. G .; Levi Curtis, S. Present membership thirty-eight. Present officers: C. T. Snyder, D .; E. C. Longabaugh, V. D .; J. F. Beans, A. D .; J. P. Woods, R .; J. B. Halderman, F. R .; A. M. Hostetter, Treas. ; Frank Haskins, G .; J. S. Darst, I. G .; William Gucas, S .; George Shira, M. D. E .; M. E. Barber, P. D .; G. A. Richards, Chap. Meetings are held on Friday evening of each week, at Knights of Honor Hall, Dunkirk, Ohio. Edgar Post, G. A. R., No. 102, was instituted March 20, 1883, by J. T. Timmerman, M. D., with the following thirteen charter members: I. Diefenderfer, J. J. Wood. A. Yazel, J. B. Halderman, Daniel Edgar, John Darst, L. B. Lydick, L. W. Hebenthal, C. Hostetter, S. B. Davis, John Beans, E. C. Longabaugh and L. C. Crum. Officers as follows: Isaac Diefenderfer, P. C .; James J. Wood, S. V. C .; J. B. Halderman, J. V. C .; John Darst, O. D .; L. W. Hebenthal, Adjt .; C. Hostetter, Chap .; John Beans, Surg .; E. C. Longabaugh, O. M., and L. C. Crum, O. G.
594
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
CHURCHES.
Blanchard River Disciple Church was organized in the schoolhouse on Section 16 by Rev. Philip Axline, in the summer of 1871, consisting of the following six members: David Higgins and wife Charity, Thomas Cham- berlin and wife. and Isaac Miller and wife Emily, and they bore the ex- pense and burden principally of erecting the present church building, which was built, the same summer, at a cost of about $1,200. A series of meetings were held and many additions made to the church soon after its organization. The first Elders were John Miller and Thomas Chamberlin, The church was duly dedicated the following fall. William W. Dowling preaching the dedicatory sermon. The following ministers have served the church as its pastors: Revs. Philip Axline, William W. Dowling, Mr. Griffin and Adam Moore. At the present time, they have no pastor, but ex-
pect soon to be supplied. The following have served as Elders: Thomas Chamberlin, John Miller, George Tressler and Enos Shannon. Present membership is about forty. A Sabbath school was early established, and has been kept up during the summer season, with an average attendance of about forty-five, with E. Shannon as Superintendent.
Harris Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. ---- This church was organized in the Miller Schoolhouse, on Section 16, January 1, 1869, by Rev. F. Plumb, with the following twelve members: H. Groat, Lucy A. Groat, Drucilla Shannon, Jane Maxwell, S. M. Louthan, M. A. Louthan, Oliver Smith, David Higgins, Charity Higgins, Abigail Sapp, Elizabeth Marquis and Mrs. Smith, with Hiram Groat as Class Leader. They held their meetings in the above schoolhouse, until the spring of 1871, when, during that summer, they erected their present frame church, at a cost of about $1,000. The house was dedicated in the fall of 1874, Rev. S. S. Roberts preaching the dedicatory sermon. Ministers who have served as pastors: Rev. J. C. Miller, I. N. Smith, Joshua M. Longfellow, Joseph Wykes, Will- iam W. Lantz and L. O. Cook, the present pastor in charge. Class Lead- ers: H. Groat and William Callahan. Present membership, thirty-four. A Sabbath school is conducted through the summer season, with an aver- age attendance of about sixty-four; R. F. Holmes, Superintendent.
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Blanchard Christian Church was organized, December 2, 1866, by Elder N. Hurd, in the Miller Schoolhouse, on Section 16, with the following constituent members: James A. Thomson, Elizabeth Thomson, William C. Thomson, Sarah Johnson, Sarah E. Johnson, John Steele, Sarah E. Reeder, William McLane, William Hinebaugh, Mary Hinebaugh, Show Hinebaugh, Charlotte Hinebaugh, Frances Dickey, Delilah McLane, Mary McLare, William Hall, Elizabeth Hall, Zerrah Hurd, Sarah Hurd, John Hurd, Jane Hurd, Elder N. Hurd, Sylvia Hurd, George Hull, Jane Hull, Enoch Fry, Sarah Fry, N. S. McCloud and Mary E. McCloud. They held their meetings in the above-mentioned schoolhouse, until the summer of 1875, when they erected their present church, at a cost of about $1,000, and the same was duly dedicated to service on the third Sunday of July of the same year. Elder A. C. Hanger, of Union County, Ohio, preached the dedicatory sermon. Ministers who have served as pastors are Elders N. Hurd, Elijah Grubb and H. H. Holverstott, the latter being the present pastor of the church, who has served them over thirteen years. The fol- lowing have filled the office of Deacon: Elder N. S. McCloud, John Steele and Enoch Fry. The present membership is about sixty-four.
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