Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/618

606 January, and selecting officers and executive committees. There was nothing secret about it, as in the more fashionable temperance societies of later days, but it was kept up for this extraordinary length of time by citizens who were public-spirited enough to work for the public good. It kept up its organization as long as there was anything to fight. There is not at present, and has not been for many years, a place in the township where whisky can be purchased. Their book finally contained the names of about six hundred members. It is impossible to calculate the amount of good accomplished by this first temperance society, not only during the period of its organized existence, but since that time, as the seed then sown is still exerting a powerful influence for good. No names are more worthy- to live in history than those of its projectors.

The first brick house was erected by Jedediah Smith. Amos Day was the builder, and while working with brick and mortar, he was working upon the affections of the eldest daughter, Martha Smith, whom he married.

The religious sentiment of the township is well developed, seven churches belonging to different denominations having been erected within its limits, six of which now have an organ- ized and healthy existence. The first church organization, so far as known, was that of the Methodist Episcopal, about 1823 or 1824 ; their first meeting for organization being at the house of John Conwell. The first members of this Society were Wesley Barnes and wife, David Newlon and wife, John Conwell and wife, James Sirpliss, Henry Hull, Hemy Moser and wife, Richard Sirpliss. Jacob Reed, George, Robert and John McFarland and their wives, Benjamin and John J. Barnes and their wives, and Mary Pollock. Their first meetings for several years were held at the cabins of Conwell and the Messrs. Barnes, but, in 1828, they erected a log church on the site of Washington Village, about 25x35 feet. Their first ministers were Abner Grough, Shadrick Rewark, Zepheniah Bell, Joseph Reed, John Powers and Andrew Poe. The present Pastor is Rev. Mr. Lewis. The log church was used until about 1850, when the present frame was erected, costing about $1,000. The present membership is about twenty-five or thirty. They generally have a Sunday school during the summer.

During the slavery agitation, between 1830 and 1840, this church was divided, political matters being carried into the pulpit. The occasion of the division was the sermon by Elder Powers, in which he took strong ground in favor of slavery. A strong abolition sentiment had taken root among the members, and had been for some time growing and increasing. Gradually a feeling grew up among the church members which culminated in the before-mentioned sermon and a division of the church. Fourteen members withdrew and organized what that called the Wesleyan Methodist Church. The McFarlands were influential in this movement. They were strong Antislavery men, as were also the Smiths and many others of the pioneers in that vicinity. They were prominently connected with the "underground railway" and assisted hundreds of slaves in making their way to Canada. This settlement is the one referred to in the history of Springfield Township, as a safe place to which to bring fugitive slaves.

The members who thus withdrew and organized this church were George, Robert and David McFarland, Henry and Joseph Moser, William Scott. John Boden and the wives of all these gentlemen. For several years, they worshiped in the old Methodist Episcopal Church, and then erected a church of their own. It was a frame, and cost about $1,000. This church was kept up about twenty years, during which they had regular preaching, and during which time, also, the cause of their troubles had disappeared in the smoke, din and blood of a great conflict. Their church building was finally sold, and is now used in Washington Village