Constitution School

Students at the one-room Constitution School posed for a photograph at the door to the building in 1908-09. Their teacher was Miss Allie Deming, daughter of Wallace and Martha Wood Deming and a lifelong resident of Constitution. She was educated in the class of the renowned John D. Phillips in Harmar before embarking on her teaching career. In 1907, Miss Allie moved in with her sister, Lottie Blue, whose home was just a short walk from Constitution School. She was a charter member of the Constitution Methodist Church and taught the Always Ready Sunday School Class. Miss Allie’s death came from a sudden heart attack at the age of 64, when one morning she went out to feed her chickens and was later found lying next to the chicken coop.

Row 1: Edith Perdew Ramp (1899-1973), Mabel Reid (1903-1983), Mabel Ritchie Meredith (1902-1977), Edith Pitts Murrey (1900-1986), Lyda Morgan Palmer (1899-1970), Carrie Ritchie Sprague (1898-1958).

Row 2: Lester Cochran (1900-1989), Leslie Ritchie (1900-1976), Glen Oesterle (1900-1963), Chancy Waterman (1901-1921), Arthur Olmstead (1902-1947), Lois Olmstead Nicks (1900-1985), Ivy Olmstead Eaton (1899-1926), Gertrude Roberts Cumblidge (1903-1982), Mary Reid Coffman (1899-1973).

Row 3: William Farley (1895-1965), William Parks (1895-1956), Lawrence Cochran (1898-1963), Edgar Morgan (1896-1973), Drusie Chalfant Crimmel (1894-1988).

Row 4: Raymond Robinson (1897-1922), Clarence Roberts (1897-1982), unidentified, Edith Oesterle Wagner (1891-1951), Bertha Hall Lineberger (1897-1982).

Row 5: Lawrence Berry (1893-1909), Clinton Oesterle (1894-1948), Raymond Pitts (1893-1978), unidentified.

Row 6: Hugh Roberts (1895-1958), teacher Allie Deming (1870-1934).

The schoolhouse stood not far from the Methodist Church on what is now Constitution Lane (Warren Township 702), just off Veto Road (Washington County 3).

Rufus Butler Sage - Writer, Adventurer, and Warren Township Teacher

"I keep in a splendid large brick school house 

situated on the bank of the beautiful Ohio, and can see the 

steamboats passing and repassing most any time if a mind to look."

Following a harrowing journey from his home in Connecticut, Rufus B. Sage arrived in Marietta, Ohio, on November 18, 1836, about seven o’clock in the evening. He was welcomed to town by his sister Jerusha, who was married to Marietta’s Baptist minister, Hiram Gear. Within two days, Rufus had accepted a position as a schoolteacher in Warren Township, along the Ohio River between Marietta and Belpre. His pay was $16 per month, and in a letter to his mother written December 11, 1836, Rufus expressed his happiness with the job: “I keep in a splendid large brick schoolhouse, situated on the bank of the beautiful Ohio, and can see the steamboats passing and repassing most any time if a mind to look.”

Rufus B. Sage

From Rufus B. Sage, His Letters and Papers, 1836-1847, Vol. 1

Ed. by LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Haven (1956)

According to H. Z. Williams’ History of Washington County, Ohio (1881), the brick schoolhouse at Constitution had been built about ten years earlier on the “upper part of Seth Bailey’s farm.” It also served as a meeting place and house of worship until the first church was built along the river road in 1837. Although the situation provided Rufus with a promising start to a teaching career, he soon learned that the job did not come without its challenges. In a letter to his mother written a few years later, November 8, 1839, he recalled his work as a teacher in Warren Township:

The building in which I taught, served the double purpose of school house and church. It was a choice place for ideas to expand and shoot forth, as there were plenty of holes in the fabric, that the tender faculty might not be too much compressed, or the lungs suffer for want of fresh air. A chimney was erected at one end of the building, with a huge fire-place in which might be placed a half cord of wood without much trouble; but the greatest inconvenience connected with a fire built in it, on a cold day was, that as fast as one could warm himself on one side, he would nearly freeze on the other; and it was very harassing to me to hear the continued yelp of "please to let me go to the fire," from a dozzen voices at once, all day long.

As all the children could not be permitted to be at the fire constantly, on account of room, complaint was made to the parents, that the teacher would keep them away from the fire till they nearly froze. The almost unanimous conclusion of the sympathizing parents was that I was too hard-hearted to have the management of children; the precious little creatures – they were not going to send them to school to freeze to death. At length, many solicited the directors, that the school should be discontinued, and such an arrangement was effected, after one month’s duration. I returned to Marietta much depressed in spirits, and nearly determined never again to act in the capacity of teacher of a common school. 

Rufus’ next position in Marietta was with the local newspaper, the Marietta Gazette, where he worked until about 1838. In 1840, he embarked on an adventure in the west, exploring the region of the Rocky Mountains and beyond. A few years later he returned to Ohio and became involved in political campaigns and newspaper editing. He soon decided that the letters and notes from his western journey should be shared in a book and traveled back to Connecticut to work on the project. In 1846, Scenes in the Rocky Mountains, and in Oregon, California, New Mexico, Texas, and the Grand Prairies, was published by Carey & Hart of Philadelphia.

Back in his hometown of Cromwell, Rufus realized how much he had missed his family. He also fell in love and married Marietta Miller in 1847. Rufus settled down on a farm, where he and Marietta raised five children. He remained in Connecticut until his death in 1893.

The correspondence and other papers of Rufus B. Sage are held in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Source: Rufus B. Sage, His Letters and Papers, 1836-1847, Vol. 1, Ed. by LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Haven (1956)

The Constitution Methodist Church

"The new building is a modern structure, 
pleasantly situated above high water mark, and cost $4,500."

The first church building in the Constitution area had been constructed in 1837 to serve a Presbyterian denomination, but was washed away in the flood of 1913. A new church was built on a high hill in Gravel Bank, a safe distance from the Ohio River. By 1915 the Methodists of the community decided they were ready for their own building.

Methodist Episcopal Sabbath School of Constitution

(from an undated manuscript record book)

The people gathered at the School house Sunday, June 21st in the year of our Lord 1914 to organize the M. E. Sabbath School. After singing Whosoever Will May Come Mr. John Kunz prayed that God would let his blessing rest upon the efforts of his people. Singing of No, Not One.

Mr. J. F. Briggs was chosen chairman of the meeting. Allie Deming, Secretary.  Election of Officers.  Mr. John Kunz was chosen Superintendent with Mr. John Baker and Mr. Lycurgus C. Hall for Assistants. Miss Allie Deming, Secretary.  Mr. Robin Baker, Treasurer with Donald Blue for his assistant. Mrs. Abbie Kunz, Organist when we had secured an organ.  Mrs. Lotta Blue, assistant.

Committee on Entertainment. Mrs. Lotta Blue, chairman. Gilbert Deming, Carrie Ritchie, Lucile Berry, Mary Reid, Robin Baker.

Finance committee. Mr. James Blue, chairman. Mrs. Katie Blue, Mrs. Blanche Noland, Mrs. Cora Hall, Mrs. Frank Henthorn, Mr. Sandy Blue.

Mrs. Lotta Blue, Librarian and with the assistance of Mrs. Kunz and Mr. Hugh Reid to select the song books to be used in the Sunday School.

It was then voted to buy our supplies from the Methodist Publishing House. It was decided that Mrs. Cora Hall should write to Mrs. Strain with regard to the price of the organ left at her home.

Robin Baker took up the collection which amounted to $8.05. This to be used to purchase supplies for the new organization.

After the distribution of cards to the children and singing When the Roll is Called Up Yonder Mr. John Baker dismissed us with prayer.

We adjourned to meet June 28th at half past nine o’clock.                                             

Allie Deming, Sec’y.

Methodists Will Build Church at Constitution

Marietta Daily Times, March 9, 1915

The trustees of the M. E. Society of Constitution recently purchased a lot from the Constitution Stone Company and are preparing to erect a new church soon. The building committee consists of Charles Stephan, Hugh Reid, and Omer Covey. They have plans and specifications for a modern two-room building with basement and furnace. This Society was organized last fall and has a membership of 70. The Sunday school enrollment is 97.

This organization is a division of the old Warren Presbyterian church. This was one of the oldest churches in the county, and was conveniently located on the Ohio’s bank about midway between Constitution and Gravel Bank, but was totally destroyed by the 1913 flood. When it came to rebuilding it, the new church was placed on the parsonage lot near Gravel Bank.

This left the Constitution people without any church or Sunday school, so the new organization was formed. The church is flourishing under the efficient pastorate of Rev. Robert Weed of the Marietta district. Any contributions toward the new building will be gratefully received by the committee.

Will Dedicate New M.E. Church at Constitution

The Register-Leader, June 10, 1915

The new Constitution M. E. Church, located at Constitution, Ohio, will be dedicated next Sunday, June 13, 1915. Rev. Albert E. Smith, D.D. Ph.D., president of Ohio Northern University, will preach at 10:00 a.m. and at 2:00 p.m.

Rev. F. M. Evans, District Superintendent, will have charge of the dedicatory services. Rev. Charles Stephan of Oakland, Maryland, and Rev. Fred O. Weed of Albany, Ohio, will be present and assist. Evangelistic services in the evening. All welcome.

History of M. E. Church at Constitution, Ohio

Marietta Daily Times, June 24, 1915

The M. E. Society, Constitution, was organized August 31, 1914.  On March 13, 1915, ground was broken for the new church; and just three months later the new church was

completed and dedicated, June 13th. The services were fitting and impressive. Rev. Albert Edwin Smith, D.D. Ph. D., President of Ohio Northern University, delivered two excellent sermons. When he gave an opportunity to aid the new church the people responded generously, raising $1,618 which cancels all indebtedness. Many thanks are due Messrs. F. D. and M. E. Coffman and sister Etta, for their liberal financial support. 

The dedicatory services were in charge of Dist. Supt. Rev. F. M. Evans, who called the nine trustees (men) to the front, and they formally gave over the new building to the services of the Lord. A number of ministers were present and took part in the services. The choir rendered some excellent music and the male quartet sang a number of selections.  The church was filled to overflowing. 

The new building is a modern structure, pleasantly situated above high water mark, and cost $4,500. It is well finished, has a furnace and gas lights, and was built almost entirely by the surrounding people. It is well arranged and will accommodate several hundred people.  Much credit is due the building committee, composed of Messrs. Charles Stephan, Hugh Reid and Omer Covey, for the efficient manner in which the work has been carried on; also to the pastor, Rev. Robert Weed, for his kindly assistance in every way.

The church has a membership of 70. The Sunday school enrollment is 120. The Ladies’ Aid Society has a membership of 42. The spirit of unity and peace pervades the entire community.  May this church truly be a “city set on a hill whose light cannot be hid.”