PERRY TOWNSHIP

TOPOGRAPHY.

BOUNDS, ACREAGE AND VALUATION.

PIONEERS.

     The names of a few of the old pioneers are: John Swan, James Wilson, John Core, David Irons, Jno. Ferneau, Nathaniel Willis, Jno. Shields, Benj. Umpstead, Jno. Penn, George Eubanks, Stephen Berry, Samuel Garner and David Eubanks.
     Among the living of the oldest settlers the following names are given: David Townsend, James Wilson, John J. Core, Daniel Ferneau, Levi Rittenhouse, Robert P. Jones, Mrs. Elizabeth Lindsey, Misses Rebecca and Rhoda Eubanks, Miss Elizabeth Penn, Wm. Greenfield, Enos Wilson, Isaac and David Nelson, Joseph Elliott, Christian Cameron, Samuel Rittenhouse and John Treber.
     Just when Perry Township was organized cannot be told, but about 1825, as it is mentioned about that time.  The township records for a number of years are lost, and a search for them proved unavailing.  The officers the present year are given: Trustees, L. C. Wilson, E. S. Jones and L. J. Anderson; Treasurer, J. W. Rigdon; Clerk, E. G. Tener; Assessor, Dr. J. W. Little; Constable, Wm. Parker; Justices of the Peace, W. M. Sylvester and James A. McCord.
     The population in 1840 was 565; 1850, 653; 1860, 625; 1870, 748; 1880, 879.

CYNTHIANA

is a very pretty little village, and has a handsome as well as rich country around it.  The hamlet was laid out between 1835 and 1840, by David Eubanks, brother of Misses Rhoda and Rebecca Eubanks.  He gave the name in honor of his wife, Anna, and daughter, Cynthia.  He died in the State of Missouri, Aug. 21, 1857, aged seventy-four years.  Its location is on the northeast corner of the township, about a mile from the west line of the county.  It is nearly on a line with the four points of the compass, north, south, east and west.  Its principal business street is called Main, and the following are the business houses: J. W. Rigdon and Head Bros., general stores; M. W. Dunham, grocery store; Mrs. S. M. Kerns, millinery store; N. Ralph, shoe shop; John Martino, shoe store; Dan'l Bryan, blacksmith shop; Albert Caplinger, gun shop; J. T. Traber, marble yard; Davis Rish, Chair and repair shop.  W. O. Greenfield has a blacksmith shop on the east side, and G. W. Kelley has a tan-yard on the same side. L. C. Wilson is the Postmaster, and the office is kept at Rigdon's store.  The professions are represented by W. S. and J. W. Little, as resident physicians, and John Martino, lawyer.  The population is about 175.  In 1850 it had a population of 134.  Baker's Fork of Brush Creek runs near the place.

SCHOOLS.

     There are seven school districts in Perry Township, as follows:
Sub-district No. 1, Bryan School - Teacher, Miss Julia Jones; scholars, forty-five;
Sub-district No. 2, Melson school - Teacher, Ida Smith; scholars, fifty-seven;
Sub-district No. 3, Cynthiana School - Teachers, E. G. Tener and Miss Nana Jones; scholars, sixty-seven.
Sub-district No. 4, West School - Teacher, James Butler, scholars, twenty-seven;
Sub-district No. 5, Penn School - Teacher, H. Hempstead; scholars, sixty-five;
Sub-district No. 6, Bell Hollow School - Teacher, R. W. Smith; scholars, twenty;
Sub-district No. 7, Jimtown School - Teacher, F. M. Kelley; scholars, forty-four.
     In 1812 a tannery was located in Perry Township, probably the first one in the county.  John Ferneau, father of Daniel Ferneau, was the proprietor.

CHURCHES.

     The Methodist Episcopal Church, of Cynthiana, was organized in 1841 by Rev. Henry Horton, some twenty-five persons joining the society.  In 1843 a log church building was erected in the north part of the town, which served in the north part of the town, which served them for ten years. The Trustees were: Thomas James, John H. Freeman and Aaron Ferneau, the pastor being Rev. John Steward.  In 1853 the society erected a brick church, which, when completed, was under the ministerial care of Rev. Jos. Trimble, and the membership was then eighty-five.  This new church was erected in the south part of the village.  For twenty-nine years this church served them, but in March, 1882, it was unfortunately burned down.  They now hold service every other Sabbath, and have the use of the Presbyterian church.  The pastor is Rev. Samuel J. Middleton.  They have a Sabbath-school with an enrollment of twenty-five scholars.
     Christian Union. - This church was organized at Cynthiana in 1864, by Rev. J. Givens; membership twenty-five.  Their church building was erected in 1868.  The society has grown to a membership of fifty-five, with, at this time, Rev. P. P. Wolfe as pastor.  Preaching is held once a month.  The Trustees are: Joshua Ferneau, William Sylvester, Joseph Ferneau, Daniel Ferneau and Daniel Bryan.
     The United Brethren Church was also located in Cynthiana, and is one of the oldest churches in the county, having been organized in 1820.  The first pastor was Rev. William Steward, and the society had only a membership of fifteen.  They had no regular place of worship for many years, the residences of the member and the old log school-house doing duty on all occasions.  They built a very neat frame church building in the north part of the hamlet of Cynthiana in 1839.  Sixteen years after, this building was taken down and a brick chapel erected on the same site.  The first regular pastor in the new church was Rev. William Sampson, and Trustees: R. P. Jones, Joseph Pierce and John Core.  The church has now a membership of forty-seven, Rev. George W. Dever, pastor, and John J. Core, R. P. Jones and John Cameron, Trustees.  Service is held every other Sabbath, and Sunday-school weekly, with some forty pupils.
     The Presbyterian Church, of Cynthiana, was organized May 7, 1846.  Their present place of worship was erected in 1849.  Rev. William Huston was then the pastor, and James Wilson, Joseph H. Wilson and Newton Murphy were the Trustees.  At present the church is under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Samuel Kerr, and the Trustees are: Lewis Wilson and Enos Wilson.  The church is in a fairly prosperous condition and service is held every two weeks.
     Fairview Chapel - This is the name given to the Christian Union church which was organized by James McKibbens in 1882.  They erected their church building the present year, 1883.  Preaching is held every two weeks by their pastor, Rev. Henry Hiller, and the Elders of the church are: Isaac Losy, Lewis Decker and James Anderson.  The membership is fifty.  A very flourishing Sunday-school is held every Sabbath day, with an average attendance of thirty-two.

BIOGRAPHICAL