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Author: clawsons
Surnames: Sharp, Wallace, Snoddy, Perrin, Parke, Warwick; Carnahan, Miller, Dawson
Classification: queries
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http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
*Not to be confused with Oxford, Benton County, Indiana*
From "150 Years in the Life of Dayton Memorial Presbyterian
Church," by Kenneth E. Yost (1984):
"Oxford Presbyterian Church in Perry Township--
"Rev. James A. Carnahan [second pastor of the Lafayette Presbyerian Church and
founder of the Dayton church] organized this church [Oxford] sometime in 1830. The first
church was known as the "Oxford Meeting House." The building was of logs and had
a dirt floor. The seats were slabs of wood mounted on chunks. The second building was a
very plain frame one with a tall peaked roof and very low side walls. The third and
present brick building had its cornerstone laid on January 15, 1871. The Reformed Church
people met with the Presbyterians for a while, but differences of opinion about their
faith caused some of the Presbyterians to leave and go to the Dayton church. Some of the
early members were the following families: George D. Sharp, William Wallace, Snoddy, Aaron
Perrin, William G. Parke, and George Warwick. The church was built on land owned by Henry
Miller. First it is very interesting that Rev. Carnahan also founded this church, located
a little over one-half mile north!
of his first farm in Sheffield township. Secondly, it seems unusual that he would later
marry Martha Dawson, a granddaughter of Henry Miller. Martha's parents, grandparents,
and many other members of this church are buried in the Oxford Cemetery." (p. 45)
Part of the time, Father Carnahan, as he was affectionately known, preached at both Oxford
and Dayton.
Martha Ann Dawson, the second wife of Rev. Carnahan, was the daughter of Charles and Mary
(Miller) Dawson. She was born in Kentucky abouat 1817. She lived with her parents and
grandparents on a farm in Clinton County. Her father died in 1830 at the age of 37; her
mother died in 1843 at the age of 51. Her grandparents were Henry and Sarah Miller. Henry
Miller died in 1846. Martha and James Carnahan had six children: James R., Eliza, Joseph
L., Lydia Alice, Sophronoia, and Martha Elmyra. Martha died about 1860.
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