Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/558

 546

��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

��southeast quarter of Section 8. The first lots were sold at auction, and the first house, built by James King, is yet standing near the lower end of the village, on the east side of Main street, a few doors below the Monroe House — Lot No. 2. The fii'st store in the place was opened by Mr. King in this building. Gen. Brooks encamped on this spot on his way to the seat of war in 1812, cleared off a little patch of ground here and cut the first road. The place was named in honor of Gov. Lucas, of Ohio. The frame hotel called the Monroe House is probably the second house in the village, and has been used for hotel purposes ever since it was built, having been several times repaired and enlarged. It stands at the intersection of the two roads that cross in the village, and has never yet had a competitor in the business. A majoritj- of the first settlers in Monroe located their lands along the Rocky Fork, near the site of Lucas, and two of the earliest schoolhouses were built in this neigh- borhood, not far apart, one called the McBride, and the other the Williams Schoolhouse. These served the purpose until the village was incor- corporated, when a two-story frame schoolhouse was erected by the corporation. In 1877,, this was moved up on Main street and is occupied by 3Ir. Swigart as a wagon-shop, and a fine brick was erected for school purposes. This building is three stories in height and cost about $6,000. The two lower stories are used for the schools, and the upper occupied by the Odd Fellows. Three teachers are employed, ^larian Douglas, son of J. J. Douglas, being Principal. The buiding was erected by John Charles. Lu- cas can only boast of one church at present. The first church organized in the place was a Baptist, about 1830, by Rev. James Johnson. The first organization occurred in a schoolhouse, and for several years meetings were held in this house ; but they succeeded, in 1838, in erecting a frame church. The original mem- bers of this society were Alexander Lakin,

��James Hewlit, Cornelius Bartelow, Thomas MofRtt, Peter Sweitzer, and others. After a time, the older meml)ers moving awa}', the organization was broken up and the church sold.

Rev. S. B. Leiter also organized a German Reformed Church here at an earl}' day ; they worshiped in the Baptist Church, and, after- ward, when that church was sold, joined with the Lutherans in building the old frame church that stood on the hill where the new brick now stands. This was called a union church, was built in 1846, and occupied by both denomina- tions. The German Reformed organization did not last, however, and the church finally came into possession of the Lutherans, who, in 1872, built the only church now in the village. It is a substantial brick, and is not yet entirely fin- ished. This church was organized about 1850, and originated, as before mentioned, from the Mount Zion Church. The original members were David Balliet, Samuel Henry, Samuel Barr, David Henry, David Leiter, John Cronie and others. The first Pastor was Rev. W. A. G. Emerson, followed by Revs. Jesse Helsell, F. J. Ruth, H, L. Wiles, and others before named in connection with the other Luth- eran churches in the township. Rev. C. S. Ernsberger is present Pastor. The member- ship is about one hundred and thirty. x\s is the case with the other Lutheran churches in this vicinity, a large and healthy Sunday school is maintained. It is a union school, the children of all religious denominations attending ; the present eni'ollment of pupils being 164. Jacob Leiter is Superintendent.

Lucas is about half a mile long, but without much width, being built principall}- on either side of a single street. It contains three black- smith-shops, one hotel, one wagon-shop, four doc- tors — Bowles, Mecklen, Conway and Skeggs ; and three stores, kept by I. C. Charles, Myers & Son, and W. W. Lemon. Charles keeps groceries and notions in the brick block on the corner, at the intersection of the two streets. Mj'ei'S &

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