Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/632

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

��terms in it. This was the first school continued through the summer season. His article of agreement stipulated that one-third of his pay sliould be in corn, one-third in maple-sugar and one-third money.

It was not till the year 1854. that the town- ship was thoroughly organized into districts, and a Board of Education appointed, and a good frame house put up in each sub-district. The first Board of Education met at Isaac Charles" house, and was composed of the fol- lowing members : Charles Palmer, Sr., John Ward. Elijah Charles, Daniel McCormick, James O. Hagerman and James Walker, since which time the schools have prospered, with regular sessions winter and summer.

The first religious service in this township was held at Peter Pittenger's house, conducted 1)y Rev. John Clingan. Preaching was con- tinued for some time at his house by the Methodist ministers before any church was built. In 182(1, a log church was built on the land of Nathaniel Osbun. now the infirmar}' farm, and services held occasionally. The first church of any size or comfort was built by the Presbyterians at livesburg, in the year 1827. It was a good frame house for those days, and cost $500. Rev. William Mathews was Pastor ; \Mlliam Houston, Abel ^Montgomery and Joseph Burget were the Deacons.

John Crabbs, John Owens and James Grod- win were the Elders ; Joseph Ward, Clerk, and James Laughlin, Treasurer. In 1831, Mr. Nathan retired and Rev. James Robinson was installed Pastor and continued a number of years. The church is not more than half as strong at the present time as it was fifty years ago. In the year 1849, the old church building- was removed, and a new one built on the site in 1852. The present Pastor is Rev. Mr. Boles.

The first Methodist Church in Olivesburg was built in 1840. Rev. M. Kinnear was Pas- tier; Dr. Mitchell and Isaac Charles, Trustees. It burned down in 1848 and Avas relmilt in

��1849. The Pastors were Rev. 0. Burgess and Jacob Pry : the Trustees, Isaac Charles and Jacob Crabbs.

The M. E. Church at Frankton was built in the 3'ear 1837. The preachers were Revs. Gavitt and Yokum ; the Trustees, Charles Pal- mer, Henry Newman, William Ferree, Andrew Oswalt. The church cost $500.

First M. E. Church at Milton was built in 1839. Pastors, Adam Poe, A. L. Harris ; Trustees — Joseph Curtis, Henr^' Pittenger, M. Mason and Ezra Osbun. Second church was built in 1875. The Pastors have been John McNabb and C. C. Ball; Trustees, William Ferguson, John Ward, H. O. Pittenger, William Hagerman, William Robinson, William Wells and S. S. Harnly. It cost $2,400.

The first parsonage in the township was built in Olivesburg in the year 1847. Trustees — Ja- cob Crabbs, Charles Palmer, Joshua Ford. It was occupied severally by Revs. Hubliard Duliois. Jacob Fegtly, John jMcNabl), John Whitworth and others. In the year 1876, it was sold, and a more commodious and convenient house built near Windsor Station, in close connection with Milton Church, and costing about $1,200. Trustees — John Ward, William Ferguson, Heniy Gollada}', James Hughes and William Foulks. It is beautifulh' situated on the southern slope of the Big Hill, 'and, with its rather picturesque surroundings, presents a pleasing view during the summer season, from the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad. It frequentl}^ calls out re- marks of passing strangers. The present Pas- tor occupying it is the Rev. C. I. Russel.

Sabbath schools were organized first in the year 1828 l)y a Mr. E. Judson, of Milan, Ohio, at Olivesburg and at Fleming's Falls. James Godwin, Superintendent at Olivesburg; Thomas Wilson, Superintendent at Flemings, and Levi Horseman, Secretary.

In 1829, the Rev. Mr. Matthews assisted in organizing a school in a cabin on Simon Morgan's land. Bartholomew Williamson,

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