Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/413

 HISTORY OF RICHLA:NtD COUXTY.

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��erected in Trucksville, which is yet standing, a large, square, squatty-, unpainted, uglj- thing, and is, to-da^-, the only church building in that somewhat dilapidated and demoralized town. It was erected by people of different denomi- nations, and has always been free to all denom- inations " except the Universalists," but is not extensively used for religious purposes ; it is allowed to '-rest" most of the time, and its appearance is in perfect harmony with its sur- roundings.

About 1859, a German Reformed Society was organized in Ganges, and this organization is the only one, at present, holding regular service in the church.

Among the first members of this organization were the Lybargers, Landers, Beechers, Lasers, Kunkelmans and others.

The Union Church, near Shenandoah, was erected about 1849, principally b}- the Pres- bj'terians. the German Reformed, Methodists, and Church of God. Jacob Cline gave one acre of ground for the church and grave- yard. The principal movers in the erection of the church were Christian LTrick, David Miller, Tobias Fox, George Burgoyne, Charles Saviers, Peter Secrist, William Foulks, Daniel Quinn, and Henry Young. IMinisters of every denom- ination are allowed to occup}' the pulpit. It is a large, active church, more than one hundred members of the different denominations wor- shiping here. The Sunday school is also large and active, with a membership of an average of eighty or more pupils.

Near it stands the Disciples' Church of Shen- andoah, organized in March, 1876. This society, for years, worshiped in the Union Church, but finally gi'ew strong enough to erect a building of its own, in 1879. The principal members are Doctor Starr, Frank ^lorris, David Miller, John Mercer, Henry Cline, Milo Starr, Alanson Martin and I. P. Morris. This is a neat frame building, and cost about $3,000. Rev. John Lowe was their first and also the

��present minister. The membership is about one hundred, and the Sunday school is active, with a membership of fifty or more.

The United Brethern Church, located in the northeast part of the township, on Section 3, was erected about 1860. It was organized by Rev. Hill. The principal memliers were William jNIcUmber, Joseph Walker. Samuel Rickard and John Kensil. The building is frame, and cost about $600 ; the membership is about forty. A Sabbath school is supported during the summer.

Three villages haA'e an- existence within the limits of this township, neither of which can lay claim to great attractions to the fortune seeker, or lover of the beautiful.

The oldest of these is Ganges, formerly called Trucksville. laid out by Wm. Trucks and Daniel Ayres, in the spring of 1815. It was laid out in a square, with a public square in the center.

In a very early day, a road had been opened from IMount A'ernon north to the lake, for the purpose of gaining an outlet for gi-ain and other produce. The Truckses and A^'erses fol- lowed this then ver}' new road, and located their land on the bank of the Black Fork, in what afterward proved to be the southwestern corner of Blooming Grove Township. Here, where this road crossed the Black Fork, they conceived to be a good place for a town. Mr. Trucks immediately erected a cabin for his own use upon the land he had entered, and this be- came the first cabin in the new town. He also erected a mill, on the low ground along the stream, referred to elsewhere. The Ayerses also erected cabins on their land, and were men of families and influence in that part of the township. Daniel Ayers was probably the first Justice of the Peace in the township, and held court at his cabin several years. His brother James erected a hotel on the town site, and im- mediately did a thriving business. The little town started forward with bright prospects, the road upon which it was located becoming soon a gi-eat and important highway, over

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