Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1932-09-08

words are not known in his vo-
never been known to nor will h
le to his keen, grasping mind. He
counted upon to do his duty, and
good common sense.
Friends or Quaker church; the lat
! ter were never used and were di
verted to other purposes.
/ The original gift to our churcl
| was the lot next to Miss Isabel Boz.
mans on Main street, but this was
! exchanged for lots No. / and in
the second addition where the
church and manse now stand. The
early minutes of the church show
that on March 81, 1924, Rev. John
Hunt met with the congregation by
appointment and after his sermon
proceeded to organize a church with
Robert Robinson, Elizabeth Robin
son, Samuel McCune, Sarah Nc
Cune, Rhoda Porter. Nancy Pinker-
ton, Nancy Young and Hannah Fer
rell as members on certificates, and
Jonathan Porter, Clarissa Ferrell,
Jane Young and Margaret Price as
members on examination; he was
assisted by Elder Samuel Stanbery
of Deerfield who was the great
grandfather of Mrs Lizzie Alder
man and Mrs. Leila Timberman.
The congregation met for about
eight years in the old court house,
which was used by all the different
denominations as place of wor-
ship, as we'll as the temple of jus
tice.
Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson, one of
the original members of the church,
was also the first school teacher,
having conducted a select school as
it was called for a number of years
In the year 1892 through the ef-
forts of the congregation, this
church building was erected on the
present site, at a cost of about ST.
361. A good part of this amount
was raised by the sale of pews at
the rate of $40 and $50 each. This
building having a balcony had the
largest seating capacity of any
building in the village, and was
therefore used for all the large
gatherings of whatever kind, and
many of the notable men of those
early days have spoken in this
building.
About 1871, Alexander Campbell,
the founder of the Christian church,
and splendid orator, preached
Shannon who was governor of Ohio
about 1850 spoke here and John B.
Cough, the famous temperance lee
turer, spoke to a large crowd at
later day.
On August %, 1928, there was
large accession to the church by
certificate and among those receiy-
ed, is the name of Robert McCon-
nell, the founder of the town, and
the donor of the present church site.
This site had something of the ro-
mantle in its association, as in front
of the church where the street is
now was an Indian mound; this was
later opened and the skeleton of an
Indian chief was found.
The first elders elected and or
dained were Robt. CASTOR and Ar
thur Erwin, on April 5, 1929; they
continued to serve until they left
the village in the years 1881 and
1882.
May 10, 1892, Holmes Mead and
Joseph Mclaughlin were elected eld-
ers. Rev. Hunt was succeeded by
Rev. J. B. Plumstead on the same
date, and who was the first pastor
of the new church; he served until
1885, when Rev. VIM. Akin was in
stalled, his being the longest pas
torate, extending to 1857, a period
Of 22 years. His death occurred at
Knoxville, Tenn, in 1886. He saw
large number of his congregation
leave for the gold fields of Califor-
MIA in 1S49, a number of whom
lost their lives on the long journey;
five of the prominent families of
the church each lost a member.
About this time the first musical
instrument of the organ kind was
introduced in the church, by Chas.
w. Kinsey who was chorister; it
was disturbing element particular
ly with the older folk, but they let
it be used until concert of sacred
music was held in the church by the
choir and several other singers of
the town. 1t was a success, but
when they proposed to repeat it, it I
was forbidden, which ended in the
organ being thrown out; and Mr..
Kinsey and others withdrew. Hel
later received large salary as Choir
lister in one of the New York church
es.
In 1841 and 1912 a division oyer
the slavery question occurred in
the church, and the radical element
led by Edwin Corner and Henry