Page XVII -
assisted by Elders GAbriel Hurgo and Conn.  Among its original members were Gabriel Hurgo, Henry Howard, Isaac Lewis, Susan Ward, Judah Ward, Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Lewis.
     Rev. J. B. Stewart served as pastor, and kept the records of the church as clerk until 1838, when Fielding Spears was elected clerk, who served in that capacity for fifteen years.  Gabriel Hurgo served as deacon, and Henry Howard, Isaac Lewis and Gabriel Hurgo as trustees.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, (COLORED).

     This society was organized in 1872, with George W. Mason, Henry Bell, and Amos Black, trustees.  Rev. George W. Mason was appointed pastor, who continued with them for four years.
     They purchased a church edifice formerly owned by the colored Baptist society, on Third street, between Spruce and` Pine streets.  Rev. Daley was their second pastor, who continued in the pulpit for one year, when Rev. Thomas Owens was appointed, who remained in that capacity until 1878, when, the society failing to meet their obligations for the purchase money, their church building was sold.
     They still exist as an organization, but have no regular pastor.  The society belongs to the Washington conference, the largest in the United States, including the states of Ohio, Maryland, and East and West Virginia, and has a membership of about 30,000.

THE GALLIA COUNTY COURT HOUSE.

     The first court house erected in Gallia county was upon the public square, below the centre and fronting on Second street.  The following, in relation to the matter, is taken from the county records:

     "November 9th, 1806.  Ordered. That two thousand dollars be appropriated for the building of a brick court house; to use six hundred dollars out of the revenue of the present year, eight hundred out of the revenue of 1807, six hundred out of the revenue of 1808.  Ordered, That the house will be forty feet long and thirty feet wide; that the foundation be of stones; the stones to be hewed, and to be two feet above the ground; the remaining in brick.  That from the ground to the first floor, two feet nine inches; from the first floor to the joices of the second floor, seventeen feet.  There shall be a chimney in the building of the foundation and of the walls of brick.  It shall be let to the lowest bidder, and the making of the window frames."
     The stone and brick work was offered to the lowest bidder, Dec. 30th, 1806.  The bidders were Robert Allen, J. P. R. Bureau, Levi Stedman and Charles Mills (one of the commissioners).  The former opened with a bid of $1,800 and after lively competition, it was awarded  to Charles Mills for $1,325 - the lowest bid.  The balance of the work was then offered, William Bridges, Levi Stedman, Thomas Rodgers and Charles Mills competing for the contract.  The highest bid was $1,800, and it was also finally given to Charles Mills for $825.
     "July 12th, 1807.  Ordered, that one dollar be paid to Samuel Barlow for whiskey to bidders, house room, &c., the day the court house was adjudged."
     "Feb. 13th, 1807.  Ordered, that the commissioners of the county think that the court house undertaker [contractor] can have liberty to digg and make his brick on the publick square, and that for the purpose of filling up the holes twenty dollars is appropriated.  Ordered, that order for two dolars be given to Francis Le Clercq for making the draft of the court house.
     "Sept. 2d, 1812.  Orapha Strong, commissioner, attended three days to superintend finishing the court house."
     The total cost of this building was $2,417.23, and it was several years afterward torn down and rebuilt upon the lots donated by J. P. R. Bureau and S. F. Vinton for that purpose, on the north side of Locust street, between Front and Second - the present site.  On the night following the first day of the fall term of court, in November, 1858, this building was burned by incendiaries, who were apprehended, tried and convicted, at the same term of court, and sentenced to the penitentiary - two for fifteen years each and one for ten years.  The court house was rebuilt in its old style and occupied the ensuing year, the county, in the meantime, using for a court room, and for the accommodation of the several officers, the building now known as the Sherman house.  May 3d, 1877, this building was burned by incendiaries, who were arrested and sent to the penitentiary - one for and one for eight years - the ten-year man having since been pardoned out.
     The present magnificent structure cost the county forty thousand dollars, and was completed and occupied in the summer of 1879.  During its erection the county officers were distributed about in various building in its immediate neighborhood and court was held in the German Lutheran church, on Third street.  In the belfry of the new building has been placed, at considerable expense, a town clock of excellent workmanship.

MORNING DAWN LODGE NO. 7, F. & A. M.,

was chartered Jan. 5th, 1810, by Lewis Cass, Grand Master.  Charter members - Edward White Tupper, Andrew Lewis, Robert Safford, William Clendinen, Francis Le Clercq, Nathaniel Gates, Lewis Summers, Robert Hereford, Robert McKee, Joseph McMullin and William Jones. 
     Henry Brush, secretary of the Grand Lodge, duly deputed Deputy Grand Master for the work, did, on April, 27, A. D. 1810, duly constitute, consecrate and install the said lodge.  Andrew Lewis was first Worshipful Master of the lodge; Edward W. Tupper, S. W., and Robert Safford, J. W., and which was done at the house of J. B. Ferrard, on city lot No. 186, in Gallipolis, Ohio, which was a two-story brick house; and the lodge continued to hold its meetings in the second story of said house for some time, until a room for the meetings was had in Gallia Academy building, situated on lot No. 117, where the lodge met until it ceased active work, for prudential causes, owing to the anti-Masonic excitement, say about 1828.  Active work was resumed in 1848, in a second -story room on lot No. 101, and the lodge has continued its active work ever since, though having several times changed its room of meeting.  Its name hints to spirit truth upon the event thereby mystically expressed and understood by the Master Mason.
     The lodge has in its possession a fine likeness of Robert Safford, the first Junior Warden.

ARIEL LODGE, NO. 156, I. O. O. F.

     The date of the charter of this society is January 17th, 1850, and the following is a list of its charter members:  B. M. Firor, James McCromley, Samuel Bateman, James Harper, Henry Venier.  It was instituted May 17th, 1850, when the following officers were elected:  James Harper, Noble Grand; Henry Venier, Vice Grand; James McCromley, Secretary; V. M. Firor, Treasurer.
     The lodge is at present in a very prosperous condition, and has a membership of ninety-seven.  They occupy a fine hall on Front street opposite the public square, and their regular time of meeting is Tuesday evening of each week.  The following are the present officers:  M. R. Gross, Noble Grand; M. S. Hum, Vice Grand; Charles T. Brown, Secretary; John A. Hamilton, Treasurer.

NAOMI LODGE NO. 55 KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.

     Naomi Lodge, No. 55, Knights of Pythias, was organized June 14th, 1873, by Chancellor Emerson, assisted by several brethren of Myrtle lodge, No. 27, of Ironton, who instituted and installed the following members and officers:  Charter members - George Alexander, James P. Hott, Peter B. Pritchet, E. L. Gills, J. R. Safford, John Mullineaux, Ira W. Booton, William Gatewood, R. Ceiphy, E. S. Tippens, James gills, J. F. Jenkins, S. Goetz, Joseph Kinghorn, Frank Souverain, A. D. Summers, H. H. Bolles, G. W. Heaton, S. A. Rathburn, S. S. Pritchett, Clarence Phelps.  Officers - R. M. Cochran, C. C.; W. T. Minturn, V. C.; John T. Hampton, K. of R. and S.; C. H. McCormick, F. S.; John C. Vanden, B.; John A. Vanden, V. P.; John L. Williams, P.
     Since its first organization the lodge has had a healthy increase, and is now in a prosperous condition.  The following are the officers for the current term; J. P. Hott, P. C.; G. W. Schenk, C. C.; Harry Gibbard, V. C.; W. G. Brading, Prel.; H. H. Bolles, K. of R. and S.; L. Billings, M. of T.; M. Z. Cadot, M. of E.; J. F. Martin, M. at A.; Charles Martin, I. G.; A. C. Hughes, O. G.

COURT HOPE,  U. S. FORRESTERS, NO. 74.

     This order was organized under the name of Court Hope, I. O. F., No. 7, in Gallipolis, Jan. 12th, 1876.  The names of the charter members were:  A. Newton, F. M. Holloway, A. D. Summers, E. Skees, N. P. Fenner, Moses Mock, Hugh Thorn, James Bashaw, W. K. S. Hall, Daniel Williams, Thomas Ramsey, John Lupton, N. S. Angel, Dr. John Sanns, A. T. Brown, W. R. Morgan, Dr. J. A. Vanvleck.  First officers - E. Skees, C. R.; A. D. Summers V. C. R.; N. P. Fenner, R. Sec.; Moses Mock, Treasurer.
     The order was reorganized Sept. 1st, 1881, under the name of Court Hope, U. O. F., No. 74.  The charter members in the new order are as follows: F. M. Holloway, E. Kees, A. D. Summers, T. Ramsey, J. Lupton, J. Sanns, J. A. Vanvleck, A. T. Brown, J. Hamilton, M. Mock, T. Guyn, W. R. Morgan, F. Kessler, E. Ward, H. Selfredge, C. Watson, W. K. S. Hall, and P. A. Sanns.  Present officers: T. Ramsey, C. R.; T. Buyn, V. C. R.; A. D. Summers, R. Secretary; J. Sanns, Treasurer; A. T. Brown, F. Secretary; J. Hamilton, Chaplain; J. Lindle, S. W.; W. S. K. Hall, J. W.; F. Kessler, S. B.; S. Black, J. B.; J. Sanns, J. llupton, T. Ranney, Trustees.  The present membership numbers about fifty, and the order is flourishing and successful.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR.

     Gallipolis Knights of Honor, Lodge No. 535, was instituted Mar. 23, 1877.  The charter members were:  W. T. Minturn, A. M. White, L. F. Maguet, H. N. Ford, S. F. Neal, E. S. Campbell, W. H. Hutchinson, J. M. Alexander, J. R. Safford, W. W. Mills, D. W. Davies, E. S. Aleshire, T. L. Bell, G. W. Clark, E. H. Neal, J. L. Guy, E. E. Spaulding, A. F. Moore, J. G. Cherington, and F. M. Bovie.  Its first officers were as follows:  E. S. Aleshire, P. D.; W. T. Minturn, D.; E. E. Spaulding, V. D.; D. W. Davies, A. D.; W. W. Mills, C.; J. M. Alexander, G.; A. M. White, R; S. F. Neal, F. R.; J. L. Guy, Treasurer; J. R. Safford, Guardian; J. G. Cherington, S.
     Present officers: E. L. Gills, P. D.; T. W. Prose, D.; E. G. Alcorn, V. D.; A. F. Moore, A. D.; H. N. Ford, R.; J. T. Hanson, F. R.; S. H. Brossius, Treasurer; J. C. Schenk, G.; F. M. Holloway, C.; J. W. Cubbage, Guardian; D. H. Baldridge, S.  The lodge has a present membership of fifty, and meets the first and third Fridays of each month, in

See Page XVIII - Gallipolis

< BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS OF HISTORY OF GALLIA COUNTY, OHIO >