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cabins, and raised their voices in unison and praise in magnifying the name of their great Preserver. Among the early pioneer preachers in this locality was Philip Younce, a German Baptist, who preached the first sermon within the present bounds of Monroe Township.

This denomination of religionists began their labors in the Miami Valley, at the same time the first ray of civilization illumined the great forest, and with a purpose as true to the development of Christianity as the magnetic needle to the pole. They have kept unswervingly to their course, have triumphed over every opposition, borne down every calumnious thrust, and to-day the beautiful Miami Valley is dotted with their churches, their schools, their other improvements and developments. In fact, the little germ planted and so carefully nourished and trained has expanded and grown, and to-day its success is without a parallel in the great Miami Valley. These people are unostentatious, make no display of finery, or a gaudy appearance, are strictly temperate, industrious, and are among the best citizens to be found in the land. They have two churches, one in Monroe Township, the other in Franklin; they are known as the Ludlow and Painter Creek District, and have a membership of 400, who are presided over by the Rev. Jesse Stutsman, Elder William Cassell and the Rev. Tobias Kreider, all gentlemen of ability and refinement, and are doing good work in the advancement of Christianity and enlightenment.

The first members of the German Baptist Church that lived in America emigrated from Swartzenau, Germany, in the year 1719, and settled in Germantown, Penn. They had been severely persecuted on account of their religious faith, and fled to America with a hope of gaining liberty and having the privilege of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own conscience and according to His word. For sixty years their progress was slow, owing to the difficulties and hardships of a new country in its unsettled state, caused by the French war of 1755 and the Revolution, twenty years later, and many subsequent Indian wars along the borders of the new settlements. The Indian's ruthless hand was severely felt, and many fell victims to the scalping knife. At times, their danger was so severely felt that when the father or sons left the house they bade their friends good bye, with a fear of never meeting them again.

But the long, long night of woe finally began to give way, and a bright morn shone forth, which has lasted for over a century, and still shines. In 1748, Christopher Saur printed the first German Bible in America, also edited the first paper ever issued from the church. They organized their first Sabbath-school in 1740, and the first annual conference, of which we have any knowledge, was held in 1778. The liberty and protection the Constitution of the United States gave them instilled new energy, and their progress became more visible.

The first meeting-house of the church that we have any account of was built in Franklin County, Penn., in 1798.

The first Brother that settled in Virginia was John Garber, in Flat Rock Valley, in 1777; he was an eminent minister, and built up a large congregation. From this valley, Jacob Miller moved to Ohio, and settled on the west side of the great Miami River, near Dayton, in 1800. He was the first one that settled west of the river, and was an able man, and labored faithfully in the cause of promoting and advancing the principles of Christianity. He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1735, and, at the time of his arrival in Ohio, the country was a dense forest, inhabited by numerous tribes of Indians. It is said of Brother Miller that he often visited them in their wigwams and sang and prayed with them, that his kind treatment led them to protect him. They said he was the good man the Great Spirit sent from the East. He raised a very exemplary family of twelve children, nine sons and three daughters; three of his sons became able ministers, and reside in Indiana, and have done much in building up the church in that State, which numbers eighty-five organizations at present. There are, at this time, about seventyfive organized churches in Ohio, with very large, commodious houses for worship.

There are organized churches in twenty of the States of the Union, and one in Denmark.with an estimated membership, in the aggregate, of over one hundred thousand.

There are eleven religious periodicals printed by members of the church, and devoted to its advancement.

There are three colleges under control of the church-one at Mount Morris, Ill.. conducted by Elder J. W. Stein; one at Ashland, Ohio, conducted by Elder S. G. Sharp, and one at Berlin, Penn., conducted by Elder James Quirter. These colleges are large and commodious, and have all the advantages and conveniences of modern architecture. The students are watched over with great care, and everything of an immoral nature is strictly excluded, and students are welcomed, regardless of religion or sect, if they conform to the moral standard required. Their church has four organized congregations in Darke County, with a membership of eleven hundred-one congregation in the southern part of the county, known as Ludlow and Painter Creek; one in the northeast part, known as Oakland; one in the northwest part, known as Union City, and one in the southwest, known as Palestine Congregation. There are twenty-three resident ministers of this denomination in the county, and they have nine houses of worship, which are very neatly constructed and finished.

The Lutherans also have a church organization in the township, but are not so numerous as their German Baptist brethren. They have a good church building, and a membership of about forty, presided over by the Rev. Mr. Peters, a very able clerical gentleman.

Great enthusiasm prevails among the people in regard to their church, and a true Christian feeling predominates among the members. They are the best of citizens, take great pride, generally, in educating their children, are sober and industrious, and their farm improvements are number one in every particular. They are mostly old settlers, and came here with little or no money, and, by hard labor and good management (characteristics of the German people), they have made good, comfortable homes, and are living in the full enjoyment of all the necessaries of life.

There are, also, a goodly number in the township belonging to other denominations, of which we might mention the Baptists, the Methodists, the Brethren in Christ, etc., but, as they belong to churches outside of the township, cannot, properly, be spoken of here.

SCHOOLS.

A school district was laid out in this township in 1836, three east and west and one mile in width, thus leaving out a mile on the western side. Much dissatisfaction was caused by this arrangement, so new districts two miles square were formed, and in 1837, a schoolhouse which had been partly finished was removed to Section 28. There are now seven school buildings in the township, erected at an estimated cost of $6,000. The township has a total enumeration of 548 scholars. Enrollment-males 230, females 216, total 446. Average daily attendance, 126 boys and 140 girls; average per cent in attendance 72; number between sixteen and twenty-one years of age, 39 boys and 31 girls; total, 70. Average price paid teachers per school month-men, $40; ladies, $20. Thus we see that the school advantages in this township are good, and the people in general are making strenuous efforts to educate their children, which certainly is very commendable to the patrons of the schools.

Asa Jones, Monroe's first settler. taught the first school in the tow nship. Children were obliged to come long distances, and we were surprised in looking over old records to find the average per cent in attendance quite as good as now

The journeying of the children to and from school at certain times was fraught with great peril, and the labyrinth in the woods was so intricate that roads had to be" blazed so that the children might not lose their way.

The first schoolhouse was a small log structure with puncheon floor, and

clapboard roof sections of the logs were removed to admit the light of day,and again replaced as a protection against the fury of storms and the biting blasts of winter. A fireplace in one end gave warmth and comfort to the occupants. In the severity of the winter, a semi-circle was formed around this fireplace, and frequently an exchange of places would occur, so that all might have a slight benefit of the coveted place, but I am sorry to say the schoolmaster most generally occupied the warm seat," much to the dissatisfaction of his pupils.

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Seats were improvised by splitting linn logs in two, boring holes in the ends, into which wooden pins were inserted, so that the flat side would be up. and undoubtedly these made very comfortable seats for the boys and girls of fifty years ago.

No maps, charts, globes or finely glazed black boards adorned the walls. no improved text-books to elucidate the mysteries of science, thus making school days more profitable and agreeable. Owing to these disadvantages, it was only by dint of hard labor and persevering industry that the young men and women of an early day acquired the rudiments of an education, and from these humble temples of knowledge men of sterling worth and ability have descended.

TWIN TOWNSHIP.

Twin Township was erected in July, 1817, from Greenville Township, which then comprised the whole territory within the limits of Darke County, consequently Twin was the second civil division of land made. Its limits embraced all that part of the county south of a line running due east from the northeast corner of Section 31, Town 11 north, Range 1 east.

The area of the township has been reduced by the successive formation of other townships till it now lacks one tier of sections on the east, of including all of Town 8 north, Range 3 east. Its name was taken from Twin Creek. It contains no considerable streams. Miller's Fork rises in the northwestern part, and flows in a southerly course, passing out of the township from Section 33. This stream throughout its course flows with a rapid current, and with its many tributaries affords an excellent system of drainage for the surrounding country. Painter Creek flows eastward across the north part of the town on into the Stillwater. Several creeks which flow into Ludlow's Creek head in the eastern part and afford drainage thereto.

The eastern half and north part of Twin Township have a flat surface, originally swamp lands. The rest of the land has a more elevated and rolling surface. The soil is rich, black and very productive. Corn, wheat, oats, flax and barley are successfully and profitably grown, and the cultivation of tobacco is gradually assuming greater proportions as acreage annually increases, the strong soil being well adapted to sustain its rank growth. There is scarcely any waste land. Most farms are well improved, and the general appearance of the country suggests thrift and enterprise. Twin was early settled. Miller's Fork, with swift water and high land, attracted the settlers' eyes, and Wayne's trail from Lewisburg to Fort Jefferson and Greenville rar. along the banks of the stream. Here the pioneer was monarch, untrammeled by society restraints, and free to wage war with the kingly trees of the forest. The pioneer of Twin Township was Jacob North. The date of his arrival is conjectured to have been previous to or during the war of 1812. He moved from the Lewisburg settlement and built his domicile on the creek bank, near the present location of the township cemetery. His sojourn was but transient. The passions of the red men were aroused, and depredations upon his little property became frequent. North was several times admonished to leave the locality, but he apprehended no danger and still remained. At length, Stoner and Elliott fell victims to the tomahawk and scalping-knife, and the pioneer was marked as a victim. One day, a half-breed quietly stepped into into his cabin and informed him that for the safety of himself and family he had better return

to the settlement at once. Acting upon this advice, Mr. North and his wife gathered up their few movables and went back to his old home. Shortly following his departure, a party of Indians surrounded his cabin and burned it to the ground, and it was probably well for the owner that a friend had given him warning. Thus terminated the first attempt at a residence in the land of Twin Township.

On Christmas Day, 1800, a company of emigrants began a long and toilsome journey from North Carolina westward, across the Ohio River, and northward, into the Indian country. Accounts of the fair, fertile valleys of the Miamis had reached their homes and incited them to go forward to settle upon the banks of the Upper Miami. These emigrants located north of Dayton, in the fertile valley of the Stillwater. From the ranks of this colony, about 1816, came the first permanent settlers of our township. The van was led by Richard Robbins, born in Randolph County, N. C., where he celebrated his marriage previous to his removal to the Stillwater. He became a resident of Twin Township in 1815, having settled on land just west of the present site of Ithaca. From this dates the actual settlement of the township. The war had closed, but the Indians remained, and white and red men regarded each other with distrust. Both went armed. One day, while Robbins was feeding some pigs which were confined in a small pen to protect them from the wolves, the sharp report of a flint-lock rifle was heard, and the settler saw an Indian neighbor withdrawing his body behind a tree hard by. He charged the attempt to shoot him upon the Indian, who earnestly denied any such intention. Robbins would not be convinced. He always maintained that the shot was fired with a view of getting possession of a fine rifle much coveted by the Indians. The settler was carried off by an attack of the measles, in 1824. David Lucas, from the same company of immigrants, followed Robbins in 1816, and located just south of Ithaca on land owned by Champe McGoff. In the same spring, two brothers, William and Eli Curtner, entered land and began a clearing further up Miller's Fork, on land now owned by Mr. Albright. These men located here in March, and in May following, a son. named William, was born to Eli Curtner, and this was the first white child born in the township.

Land

The fall of 1816 brought in a few more settlers from the Stillwater. was cheap and good, and attracted many intent upon securing themselves homes. One after another settled along the creek and began his labor, encouraged by the older settlers, former neighbors. In the fall, came Philip Shank, his father, Frederick, and their families, and entered the land now owned by George Corwin. Again the season went round, and again there came an influx of immigrants. David Shearer and James McDole settled on the Colville farm, just west of Ithaca. The Shanks were natives of Virginia; and of the earliest settlers on the Stillwater, Philip Rutter, of Virginia, and Daniel Baumgardner, of North Carolina, located on Section 16, school land; three brothers, Isaac, Thomas and George Walker, primarily from Rhode Island, and later from Virginia and Tennessee, from which State they early made their way to Stillwater Valley, whence they moved to this township, locating on land owned by Troxel & Trump. Frazee Doty came in the spring of 1817, and settled just west of Ithaca, on land now owned by Matthew Guy. Mr. Doty was one of Twin's prominent townsmen, and officiated as a local minister. A few years ago, he removed to Missouri, where, a short time ago, he was found by the roadside dead, as was the horse which he had been driving. The cause of the accident was unknown. Mrs. Doty, his widow, Mrs. Shank, wife of Philip Shank, and Mrs. Curtner, wife of William Curtner, are the only surviving persons of the original first settlers. During the fall of 1817, quite an addition was made to the settlement from Stillwater. Andrew Burkett was one who came at this time. For several years, immigration was slow, but constant. We are not able to trace in order the arrival of settlers; however, we may recall Michael Bickett, Emery Rogers and William Lemon, who was the first Justice of the Peace and Captain of the militia company of the neighborhood. For many years, the east and northeast parts of the township remained somewhat unsettled, owing to

the swampy condition of the surface, but, in time, these lands were entered, drainage was resorted to, and, as elsewhere, they have become by far the choice farming lands of the country.

The early settlers have nearly all been called from their toils and privations to final rest. Peace be to their memories, green grow the grass over their graves. May the present generation preserve inviolate, and carry to perfection, the sacred heritage bequeathed by them. In this as in nearly all newly settled countries, the industries dependent upon trade were slow of development. Pioneer wants were proportionate to their abilities to satisfy them. Milling was done at the Stillwater and Big Twin, at the Lewisburg settlement, for many years. The first mill-and this appellation is scarcely applicable to it was erected upon a branch in Section 32, by John Osbrook. This was the old-fashioned corn cracker, and cracked corn then constituted one of the staple articles of food. The daily capacity was limited to a few bushels, and the mill ran but a short period of the year. The first saw-mill built was on Miller's Creek, near Ithaca, by the enter prising John Colville. This man was an early settler, and by energy and enterprise did much for his neighbors and for the township. This mill, like the preceding, was imperfect and rude, but answered its purpose and well fulfilled its work. As the country increased and the wants of the townsmen demanded more pretentious manufactures, these were supplied by remodeling the old mills or by building others. The water-power of the country was defective and difficult of being utilized. Steam power had to be introduced. The first steam grist-mill was erected in Ithaca, by Caswell Sharp. This marked an epoch in the milling line of this section of country. The mill is still in use, being owned and operated by Watson West, and doing good work. In order to preserve the health and spirits of the community, a copper still was erected in the southern part of the township by Daniel Phillips. It was probably the only one ever operated in Twin Township. How long this " 'venomous worm was operated, or what was its capacity, it is not known, but it was inefficient to meet the local demand. If ever intemperance reigned and ruined in after-times in the history of the township, but little harm can be charged to this still. There are now in the township three grist-mills of good capacity and four saw-mills, three of which are circular, with large capacity. These, with several manufactories in Arcanum to be mentioned hereafter, now mark the improvement which the industry and enterprise of a half century have wrought in the township. Almost as soon as the settler had provided a shelter for himself and family, he took counsel with his neighbor for the erection of a place for public worship. From house to house the preacher traveled until increased numbers permitted a house, and as time wore on this was kept in repair, until increased wealth enabled the worshipers to erect churches in cost and character in accord with the times.

The first ones to bear the glad tidings of salvation to the settlers of Twin Township were Abraham Sneethan and Levi Purviance, of the Christian society. Who came first is not known, and a third name, that of John Williams, is given as a cotemporary with them. This trio were early engaged in the work of disseminating Gospel truths. The first church built in the township was by the Christians, on land now owned by W. H. Tillman. At a later period, they erected another church, just one mile south of Arcanum. Both of these have gone down years ago, and now the denomination which was seen to have planted the first germs of practical religion in Twin Township has no organization within its boundaries. The United Brethren in Christ had the next regular organization. They built their first church in Ithaca, where the present one now stands, which building was the second of the kind raised in the township, nearly fifty years ago. The church interest is strong and healthy at both Ithaca and Arcanum.

The Methodists, progressing with the van of civilization, were here, as elsewhere, early promulgators of the Scriptures in Twin Township. The first organization was effected at Ithaca, in 1840, with forty-two members, and two years

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