The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-11-11

church appeared to be the general re-
sort for sheep, which they quietly en-
tered and lodged in the sanctuary dur
ing the night. At times of public SER
vice the hsuse had to be washed out and
cleansed for the occasion, and when
the meeting ended, the sheep returned,
for the lot was uninclosed, and the
house being public property, there was
no one to take care of it, when not in
use.
The Presbyterian church then stood
it now stands upon Il lot donated
by the proprietor of the town for relig-
ious purposes; and the old frame Metho-
dist church sto, d upon the lot where
Mrs. Rensman now lives, donated by
he proprietor for similar purposes.
These were tie church facilities of
Eaton in 1926. The Christian denomi-
nation, or New Lights, was then large
" in the ascendancy; and its ministry
was able ana missionary in its bearings.
Its popular ministers then were Barton
Stone, Devid l~urviance, William Kin
caid, Caleb Werley a. d George Slider.
These were men of fine talents, and
while they lived the church prospcred,
but when they died, it went into de-
cay. The members lost the spirit;
some back-slid and others went to the
Complexities. Other denominations
sprang up and prospered on the down.
fall f the "New Lights" as they were
called.
Such was Eaton in 1885,. and such
were Il e manners and customs of its
Inhabitants, their educational and re-
ligious cond ton. Not IL of The per-
sons then actively connected with the
affairs of life, are now living, except
Jonas Albright, Colonel Robert Quinn,
Mrs. Kline, Mrs. Morgan and aunt
Patsy Vanausdal. Like so many aged
trees standing in a cleared landscape,
they still live as mementoes of the
past.
In 1875 the town is largely developed;
its streets and alleys neatly graded; the
side walks paved; streets and alleys eX-
tended and the whole town site well
drained by proper eng neering. Anew
Court House; the public s uare beauti-
fully shaded by young maple trees; the
old Jail removed, and Il new Il of
modern style erected, and the entire
premises neatly enclosed by a suLstan-
tial iron fence. A town clock in the
tower of the Court House, which regu-
lates the time throughout the country.
The M~ethodists, PresbyteIians, Bap-
fists, Christians, Unfversalists AMI
Catholics have large and commodiOus
churches where the several %denomina-
tons met and worship. Sabb til
schools have been instituted and are
wei attended by the children, where
they receive profitable moral and re-
ligious Instructions. An elegant City
Hall, one of the chief attractions of the
town, has been erec.ed for the use of
the ublic and city council. An excel
lent steam engine anu fire apparatus
now belong to the town, standing ready
IN ELECTROMAGNETIC CITY Hall, for
any emergency. The OliCe depart
ment is regulated by the city council.
Streets lighted aud good order is main
tanned throughout the municipality.
Shade trees are planted and grow lux
uriantly along the streets, Which, DUR
ing the spring and summer, gives the
town a rural aspect and contributes
largely tc the health and beauty of the
locality.
The educational facilities of the town
have proportionately advanced with
the imp m and the increase OF
population. Two large and commodi-
Gus school houses have been'erected in
town, of sufficient capacity to accom-
modate all the children. These school
houses are well ventilated and erected
in modern style, where the best graded
schools are taught in the county. The
old hipped roof school house has long
since disappeared, but some of the pu-
pills who wire taught there, are still
living and vene;a e the locality.
Instead of II printing press in town,
there are now two i'll operation both
we'll sustained by the reading public.
The mail, instead of being carried OH
horse back, is o transported by steam
and news is communicated by electric
dispatch. The dry go lis and grocery
business has correspondingly increased
with the population, hardware stores,
planning mills and the lumber business
have been de- elOped and are now in
sucee sful operation. Steam has been
brought into requirement for not only
saving and dressing lumber, elevating
grain and travel, but in manufacturing
flour. In all the mechanical branches,
Ill UIlt arts anu 81 itliCtS LiiO w" u Id
advanced and is now fully up with the
age. The buildings are well construc-
ted, and look new, from n end of the
town to the other. Streets clean and
the town is beginning to put OH city
airs.
The cemetery grounds have been
greatly enlarged and beautified by lay
ed out in walks which are grayeled
and neatly defined. The monuments,
head stones and sta:uary are a credit to
the town and speaks veil for the people
in thus placing lasting mementoes to
the dead. And in fine, taking Eaton
with her surroundings, as she now
stands, she is IL of the pretties
towns in the State, and with all hel
facilities one of the most desirable
points to live at in Ohio. What Z
change!