Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/610

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��HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY.

��present. An appointment was long maintained at Fairview, a point about two and a half miles northwest of the village, where there was a neat frame chapel. This house was destroyed by fire a few years since, and the place abandoned. A neat, frame schoolhouse now stands upon the same foundation.

After the log schoolhouse, previously men- tioned, had served its purpose, it was replaced with a substantial brick building, about the j-ear 18.31. It was an octagon in form, and one story high. Several of the teachers who served in the old log house have since become eminent in the nation. Mr. Delano, who has since been a member of the national cabinet, taught in this primitive seat of learning ; also Mr. Ken- non, who has since been honored with the offices of Judge and Congressman from Belmont County, Ohio. The first term of school in the new brick house was taught by Thomas Cook, who continued in the same position for a num- ber of terms. Mr. Colby, subsequently a prom- inent citizen of Mansfield and of Imnk notoriety, served also in the brick house, as teacher one or more terms. In 1851, the brick house was abandoned, as it was no longer considered safe, and a commodious frame, two stories high, and containing four schoolrooms, was erected. These were all filled with pupils at different periods, but for a few years past there has been a great decrease in the enrollment. The schools now contain about one hundred and twenty-five pupils in the several departments. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Andrews, and others, have held the position of Principal in later years. Mr. Bechtel is the present teacher. The school has never attained any higher grade than a village or district school.

Tlie Lexington Seminary was a continuation of Monroe Seminary, situated in Monroe Town- ship, and was opened in 1851 by Rev. R. Galley. The recitations were, for a time, conducted in a church, yet the school drew to itself a large share of patronage. Mansfield and Wooster

��sent many pupils to the school. In 1860, the school was removed to Lexington. A substan- tial brick liuilding was erected by a stock com- pany, and devoted to school purposes. Some trouble arose in 1866, between the seminary and the public. The Trustees ofiered the ' house for sale at 50 per cent of the nominal value. Rev. Galley purchased the house and furnished it, also making some improvements. Rev. Galley sold the house the following 3'ear to the United Presbyterian Church. They paid off all claims against the property and furnished it comfort- ably. They occupy the upper room for a house of worship, and gave the lower room to Miss Galley, the last Principal, for a schoolroom. The school was a private enterprise in no sense denominational. The enrollment in the fall of 1865, was 80 : in 1866, 109 ; in 1867, 126. The school declined in menibers for several j^ears, so that only 94 were enrolled in 1878. Rev Galley, after spending twenty-four years in the interests of the school, died in 1875, and was succeeded by his daughter. Miss Jane Galley, who continued the school until the close of the spring term of 1880, when she was married to the Rev. Mr. Dysart. This event closed the Lexington Seminar}-.

There are several other features of the town which add much to its success and complete- ness. A fine new liridge spans the river at the approach on the east of the village. It is of iron, built by a Toledo company, costing in the aggregate about $2,000. The town has one first-class dry-goods store, two gi'oceries, one hotel, butcher-shop, hardware store, one drug store, etc.

The cemetery lies northeast of the village, on the opposite side of the river on a gentle eleva- tion. It is laid out properly, fenced with a good board fence, well cared for and affords a desir- able resting-place. It originally embraced one acre ; now nine. As early as 1816, Mrs. Searles and Mrs. Gass were laid to rest here, and pre- viously a few red men had chosen a bed in this

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