Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1933-10-26

entered into by and between George
Yarnell OF RoXbury. washington
county, state of Ohio, of the first
part, and the Christian church Of
who shall occupy, of the second
part, witnesseth: The said George
Yarnell has this day leased for the
term Of nine y-nine years renewal
for forever TO the Christian church,
who shall occupy it, a certain tract,
or parcel or lot of land situate in
Roxbury. Washington county, and
in the Ohio Company's land and
bounded and described as follows,
to-wit: Beginning at the southwest
corner at a stone Of lot eleven hun
dred and thirty-nine. thence run
ming east eight rods to a stone.
thence north 10 rods to a stone,
thence west eight rods 10 a stone,
thence south 10 rods to the place Of
beginning, containing one-half acre,
III consideration of two dollars paid
by said Christian church, with the
privileges and appurtcnances to
same belonging in town eight, range
IL. The party of first part, in con-
sideration Of the sum Of two dol
lars mentioned above, in hand, paid
by the Christian church, does here
by lease and release all right, title
and interest, both legal and equit-
able, in said premises. so long as it
shah be occupied as meeting
house In witness whereof we have
hereunto set our hands and seals
this 10th day OF November. \. d,
1S49-George (his X mark) Var
nell; Elizabeth cher X mark) Var
nell Attest: John Shrader
State of Ohio, Washington conn
ty, IS: Before me John Shrader,
Justice Of the peace, in and for said
county, came George Yarnell and
Elizabeth, wife of said George Var
nell, and acknowledged the signing
and sealing of the within coyey-
and deed for the purposes therein
mentioned or expressed and said
Elizabeth being by me examined
separate and apart from her said
husband, acknowledge that she
signed and sealed the same as her
own free will and consent, without
bo
Given under my hand this 10th
day of November, 1849.-John
Shrader, j. p.
We find from the reports of those
who attended church in the old log
house, that the seats were made OF
slabs with no backs. George Star
ling is authority for the statement
that after one had occupied one of
these pews for one and half or
two hours, you began to realize you
had been in meeting; but the old
house was crowded at the regular
preaching services. Children at
tended the services bare footed and
wearing bonnets (home made). BY
a letter written to and published in
the Sunday school paper, we find the
present building was dedicated in
the summer of 1885. More land
was acquired, and the present build
ing is on this land which is
across the road from the cemetery.
Elder Van Pelt was the minister at
that time His home was in Athens
county. Carrie McInturf Ellis, now
deceased, was secretary; Samuel
Grimes, superintendent; Marion
Russell, assistant superintendent,
and John Russell, leader of the sing
ing. We find the meeting house
was built by popular subscription.
Some gave money, some timber and
lumber, and some labor. Eli McIn-
of trustees at the time, started his
paper with 500, but before it was
finished he had $500 in it, We find
that at the time of the building of
the new house the Sunday school
had an average attendance of IS.
Later there was a falling off until
one winter only Eli McInturf and
Thomas Hopes attended. On these
occasions they each read a chapter
of scripture and offered prayer. Mr..
McInturf used to tell of those meet
ings, and said eve couldn't either
one sing or we would have sung
couple of hymns" Since that time
the church has increased and been
a power in the community. At this
time we understand the attendance
is not as large as in some former
years, but those attending should
remember Eli McInturf and Thomas
Hopes and their example.
Since writing the above, we have
had talk with Mrs. Eva Updike.
daughter of Thomas Hopes and
wife. In the conversation she told
us her father had not only been ell
der of the church, but was also
treasurer Of the Sunday school. He
had a sack made out of bed ticking,
in which he carried the money. Af-
ter his death Mrs. Updike found the
sack in which was six cents. This,
with the books and records of the
church, which had been in the care
of Mr.. Hopes, was given to George
Yarnell, Civil war veteran, and we
believe the oldest man in the COM