In our travels over the country we have always tried to see places and things of interest. Many times we have been unable to give our readers a pencil picture that did justice. For many years we have passed the Catholic church at Hackney, and as yet we have never seen the inside - but we hope to before we conclude this history of the old church. Let us tell you here that for many years we had the idea that only folks who were of that belief were allowed to see the inside of these churches, when in fact we were and have always been welcome when we had occasion to enter their houses of worship.

To tell of this church, we must start before even the church was organized in McConnelsville. Which is known as the St. James.

The first record we find of these church folks dates back to 1822. In fact, the first entry in the record bears date of April 14 of that year when Father Young of the Dominicans made a trip through the valley. Perhaps we should stop here to tell you that this was an order of missionaries who made about four trips a year. Services were held in some home of the adherents of the faith. Through the kindness of Rev. Father Louis B Preston, we have the names of the men who served the work, as follows: Fathers Young, DeRaynaiker, FX Marshall, Mullen, Daniel O'Leary, Clarkson, JF. Bullock, JD Brock, FF Mattingly 1882-1887; John Meade, 1887-96. And here we find the McConnelsville church was organized, or perhaps we should say Father Meade, was the first pastor following the organization of the church, 1896-97. Edward Clark, JH Wagner, 1897-1902; John F Lang 1902-06; Michael Fagan 1906-07; John Byrne 1908-12; William Sullivan 1912-18; Francis Mueller 1918-28. Then Father Maloney was supply pastor for 10 months and was followed by Rev Father Louis B. Preston, the present pastor, who assumed the pastorate after the first of the year 1929.

The exact date of the completion of the church at Hackney seems to be uncertain. We learn that a confirmation service was held on the barn of the Jas. F. Sherlock farm in 1836, and it is said the church was under construction. The barn refereed to is still standing, and is used by the present owners Francis Sherlock and sister Agnes and Celia.

The late Jas. Taylor showed Francis where the altar was placed in the barn. At that service folks were present from all over the country.

At one time they had a choir in the church that must have been away above the ordinary church choir, judging from the reports of the younger set who now tell of them. The names as given us by the Sherlocks and Hooks are as follows: Victor Craig, Joan Sherlock, Eliza Sherlock, Katie Catherine Sherlock, Edward Sherlock, Rowland Pilkington, Edward Pilkington, Jane Pilkington Molyneux, Dan Miller.

We find the first service held by the Catholic church folk in the neighborhood, was held in the old log house at the Duffey, later known as the Wm. Nelson farm, now owned by Miss Dora Nelson, on little Meigs creek, north of Unionville; then in the homes around in the neighborhood until the church building was completed.

At the time of the building of the church the government was building the locks and dams along the river, and many of the workmen, as well as the superintendents, were Catholics, and they donated to the building fund, and we find there were several deaths among these people during that time, and they are buried here. Thus it is impossible to learn anything of the earthly career of most of them. But we find an item of interest in connection with one of these people, Rosanna McCune, and her husband, whose name we believe was James. They had a son to whom some of their relatives at their old home in North Carolina sent a mare that was in foal. The colt was a stud. After the death of his wife, and the completion of his work, Mr. McCune gave the colt to Jas. F. and Patrick Sherlock, who kept the horse for some time. When they went out to collect the insurance they were not very successful, so they sold the horse to a man by the name of Brister, and from that time the breed of horses has borne the name of the owner if the stallion.

The history of this church is to a great extent the history of the neighborhood. Do not misunderstand us - all the folks were not Catholic, but this church was the only house of worship in the immediate neighborhood.

Through the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Dolph Hook and Jas. Sherlock, we have the following names of the early settlers in the neighborhood. with the date of the coming of some of them, as follows: Patrick Sherlock 1818; James Kennedy, 1825; Martin Kennedy, 1825; Michael Kelly, 1826, Patrick Waters and brother, 1826; Patrick Callahan, Thos, Cahill and Jas. Magers, 1827, all of whom were born in Ireland; Edward and Rowland Pilkington, Thomas Pilkington, Thomas Pedicord and Susannah his wife. We want to stop here to tell you that our friend Amelia Leland told us that following the death of Mrs. Pedicord, Mr. Pedicord then and old man would come on horse back to the cemetery, and go to the grave of his wife where he would cry as though his heart would break. Mrs. Leland was then a young girl in school, and the cemetery is close by the school house.

The Pilkingtons, Rowlands, and Pedicords were born in England, And now back to the Irish. John O'Neil, John Crame, John Duffy, John Mulrine, John Bain, Hughey Kennedy, John Ireland. We can't help noting that we did not learn whether Ireland was named for John, or John was named for Ireland. Anyway, he couldn?t help being Irish. John was one of the first members of the church. Not knowing where these folks lived, and being unable to accurately separate the ones who lived in the neighborhood from those who lived elsewhere, we want to give you the readings of the tombstones in the little city of the death. First let us tell you that Patrick Sherlock deeded that land which comprised a 40 acres tract. To Bishop Purcell of Cincinnati. Then later Edward Sherlock got a deed from the Bishop for 40 acres, with a reservation for two cemetery lots.

The old cemetery is about a quarter of a mile from the church, and the present cemetery. The former location was where they first picked to build the church, but something happened and they changed or picked the present location. It might have been a disagreement, but as this was a body of church folk, we would rather think they found a better location. At any rate, they started burying in the grounds adjacent to the church, after which many of the bodies were moved from the former to the new grounds, but some still sleep there.

On our visit to the cemetery we found a few sand stone markers which had peeled, and the inscriptions were gone - but in most part the stones are of marble and granite and the lettering perfect as follows: James Sherlock 1819-1882; Rosa A, his wife 1836-1908; Rosanna McCune, Feb. 25, 1842; Geo. W and John S McCune; Geo. Bell, June 20 1849; six years; Edward Ryan, a native of Westmeath, Ireland Jan 7 1847, 34 years; Dennis Ryan, Feb 20, 1845, 49 years; Ann; daughter D and G Ryan Nov 12, 1834, two years and two months; Catherine, daughter D and G Ryan July 25, 1849, 22 years, four months; Edward Tague, Feb 11 1842 in 45th year; Martin Sherlock born in Tipperary, Ireland, Nov 11 1805 died Oct 11 1879; James Kennedy, born in county Tipperary, Ireland, died Dec 4, 1847, aged 67 years, Ann Kennedy alias Sherlock, wife of P. M. Kennedy October 1853, aged 37 years, Mary daughter of Thomas ands Susannah Pedicord, died Feb. 4, 1848, aged 16years; Hannah, wife of Edward Pilkington, Sept. 10 1826- Dec 9 1900 74 years, three months; Edward Pilkington, born in England April 9 1822, died Aug 26 1877.

Then we find the one bearing the following: Erected by Martin Kennedy in memory of his wife Alice Kennedy, an native of Ireland county of Tyrone, died Dec 8. 18 49, aged 51 years; Thomas Kennedy, a native of Ireland, county of Tipperary Dec 30 1847, 51 years eight months; Margaret Grame, wife of Thomas Grame, died June 6, 1852, in 32nd year; Thomas O'Neill, Nov 21 1870 aged 27 years, six months, 14 days; Honora, wife of John O'Neill, born in Baltimore, MD Mar 3, 1818, died Jan 3, 1873; aged 54 years, 10 months, one day – Mrs. O?Neill was a daughter of John Duffey; James O'Neill 1844-1921, gentleman; Mary Lutgen, 1791-1862 - Mrs. Lutgen was Dolph Hook's great grandmother, and died near Stockport; Francis, son of J and C Mulbrine, April 16 1850, aged six years; Thomas Rice, a native of county Louih, Ireland, Aug 31 1843, aged 43 years; James Dunlavey, April 28, 1841, 39 years - he was a native of Ireland, Dunegal county. Ellen, wife of John Bain, a native of Clare, Ireland, Sept 29 1858, aged 37 years; Robert Molyneux, May 14 1826 - Dec 19 1906; Jane his wife Nov. 10 1834, May 24 1921; Rowland Pilkington July 30 1852 aged 59 years; Catherine Pilkington, his wife May 24, 1858, 58 years; Henry Pilkington Jan 22 1842, seven years, three months 14 days, Margaret, Jan 25, 1845, aged 45 years, seven months and 12 days; John Sherlock Dec 19, 1884, aged 51 years 10 months fours days.

We find the first priest to visit the work was Father Epping. Others who served the work were Father Flanding, O'Brien, McCaffery, Perry, Wallace, Father Mattingly was the first priest that came from McConnelsville, the others being stationed at Marietta and Zanesville, John Sweesy - or Sweezy was one of the carpenters who built the church which is 32 x 50 feet. The cemetery adjoins the church, and is kept in nice shape.

William Molyneux left $500 to be used to take care of the grounds. His parents are buried here. No doubt others will see that some of their property goes to keep up the church and cemetery. The more we see and know of folks, the more are we convinced that a lot of church folks are wrong, and the more are we established in the fact that Christians are right regardless of where they worship - whether they stand to pray, or kneel, or fall on their face. The folks who can see the Christ and suffering mankind at the same time, don't have to have a brass band to go ahead with a hawker, to tell folks a Christian is passing by, and what church they worship in.

As this writing was an idea of the scribe, we feel we must adhere to should say, in the way we feel we should say, in the way we fell we should say it. So here we go: Father Preston was educated, as all priest must be, In fact he spent 12 years in college. Now some folks could spend 1200 years in college and then hot know much. Not so with Father Preston. He is, we believe, the best posted man in Morgan county on religion government, By why go on? He is so far beyond the ordinary man that we are, that we can only feel pleased, and listen in wonder when he talks. He dresses as all men of his station. But he is unlike many men of the cloth. He always has time to talk with men, and he has been a great help to the high school boys of the town, helping them with their studies. He has done more to break down the walls of sectarianism, and let folks see that Christianity is living, not simply believing and acting. Father Preston does not know that we are saying this.

Whether it is the Catholic religion we know not, but we do know we have never met a more hospitable people than that folks down at Hackney, and this is not only true of the present generation, but has been a trait of the forefathers bred and instilled in children and grandchildren. We saw the inside of the church only as we could see through the windows, but we could not help noticing the beauty of the altar and the statue. Folks remarked about the neat and substantial way the seats were made. When we inquired how many members comprise the present church membership the answer was "only five of six families." And this was not said with or in a manner of we are about gone. So far as we could tell, it was uttered with the same feelings as though they has said five or six hundred families. We wish we could gather the records of all the folks who have been a part of this old pioneer church, but at present we find the thread of many of those who were a part of the church and community, is lost to us at the present. Mayhap when these lines are read, those who read will help us to gather together and write the story of their lives. After we have told you about the folks whose mortal remains were not moved, but still sleep in the first cemetery, we want to tell you of one family who has been a part of the church, all thorough the years. Not because they have done more than some other families, In fact should you talk with any member of the family, they would tell you that they had done little, and this is only to show you what we wish we could write of all these families.

For this history and family tree, we are indebted to our good friend, Mrs. Alice Sherlock Hook, who has lived near Hackney all her life.

Patrick Sherlock, the first Sherlock to land in America, was born in Tipperary, Ireland, 1785. He spent his young days and grew to manhood on the Emerald Isle. Early in life he married Ann Clare, who was born in Queens county, Ireland. In 1875 [sic], and together they lived in Ireland where four of their nine children were born. Patrick, like all Irish, rebelled under the rule of England, and decided to come to America. In 1818 with his family and few belongings, he left Ireland. His transportation was on a sail ship. After many weeks of hardship he landed at Baltimore, Md. From Baltimore he came overland, made many stops and the last one being at Barnesville. He went out from there to seek a location. It happened he came down the Muskingum valley. At this time there were no dams in the river, and on the low bottomland were pools of water causing much sickness. And at this time there was an epidemic of ague, so Patrick decided to seek a home on higher ground. He came up on what is now Hackney ridge, and bought from the government 160 acres at $1.25 per acre. This same land is still owned by Frank Sherlock and sisters Celia and Agnes. His family consisted of his wife and nine children - namely, Mary, Martin, Edward, Hannah, John, Patrick, Eliza, Katherine, and John. Mary and Edward never married. Hannah married Edward Pilkington. They had four children, William, Mary, Ida and Teresa. All are deceased but Teresa who lives in Caldwell. John married Sarah Cooper. The last years of his life he lived in Iowa. They had no children. Eliza who married Michael Tague, lived all her married life in Perry county. Their children Vincent and Charlie are living. Katherine married Patrick Powers. They had no children. Their home was in Perry county. Johan married Dan Miller, and has town boys. One was probate judge. He lived in Perry county. James F married Rose McHugh. Their children - Celia, Agnes, Frank, and Stephen (deceased). Patrick married Bridget McHugh. Of their ten children we learn Katherine, Elizabeth, Vincent and Frank are living in New Lexington. Martin married Nancy A. Geary. She was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and emigrated to America with her uncle, Thomas Geary, at the age of 15 years. They located in Washington county, not far from Churchtown; bought 160 acres of land from the government, and this farm has retained the name of the "Geary" place. Nancy taught school for several years, until her marriage, after which they too bought 160 acres from the government. This land is in Morgan county, and joined the land owned by his father Patrick Sherlock. They spent their entire life on this farm, and reared their family of six children - namely: John, James, Thomas, Mary, Anna, and Katherine. James married Rachel Reed and they had four children - Louis, Laura, Elizabeth and Charlie. Thomas married a western lady, Rilla Darling. They were parents of one child, Eddie. His home was in Denver, Col. Katherine married Samuel Reed. To them were born three children - Amelia, Jessie and Clarence. Mary never married. Anna married James Gormley, and had eight children - Mollie, Arthur, Katherine, Rose, Frank, Clare, Celia and Zita. Mollie, Katherine and Clare are deceased. John married Mary Welsh, and born to them were six children - James M. Thomas E, John M, Alice, Fred and Vincent S, deceased.

Now let us tell you about the cemetery at the mound. The following known graves are there:

Three children of Dr. Kelly, Patrick Touhey, Nancy Cahill, Bridget Cahill, Annie Waters, John Maher. James Maher and eight or ten unmarked graves. In our reading of inscriptions on tombstones we have found many peculiar things. On the monuments in the Hackney cemetery we noticed what we thought were the letters "I. H. S." After consulting Father Preston. We find the characters are the first three of the letters of the Greek word which compose the sacred named Jesus. We are quite rusty on the Greek, and we find the up-to-date composing room of the newspapers, do not carry the Greek letters in their cabinets. But the English letters will give you an idea of what we mean. Some of the laymen informed us that the characters meant "Jesus Savior of Mankind." Which is going only a little farther than the explanation of Father Preston. When you look at these monuments, we hope you may see as do we, that these folks are saying to us, as we stop to read, "Jesus the Savior of Mankind."

Should we spend months gathering material, we would no doubt be able to add much to the writhing. And yet leave out much. At this time we feel we should offer this work to the folk interested, and perhaps later, with the help of Father Preston, and all who know the history, write a more extensive history, with a title "The Catholic Church in Morgan County."

John Duffy was Irish. He came to America prior to 1812 for we find he was a soldier of the war of 1812; was working in Baltimore, Md. In 1817; came to Meigs creek (Unionville) in 1819. The date of his death is lost. His grave, at the west end of the wooden bridge at Unionville, is marked by a small cannon and several cannon balls, which were placed there by the O'Neal family. But no dates are found there. We are sure his death occurred before the cemetery at Hackney was laid out, else he would have been buried there. Perhaps the records show it, but for the benefit of those of you who do not have access to the records we want to tell. Father Epping the first priest to hold services here was in charge in Zanesville, when the first church was built, and John Duffy who was a carpenter, worked on the building. John O'Neal came over with Alexander Campbell. On the way over, Mr. Campbell told Mr. O'Neal of his plans to organize a new sect. They were great friends and many letters passed between the two after they separated, and after he founded his church. James O?Neal?s monument was made from the jamb stone in their old home, it being his wish that the stone should mark his grave. The wife's name is also in the stone. Graves of other members of the family buried here, are unmarked. Thomas, Peter, Mary, and Sarah. John is buried at Columbus.

Regardless of church affiliation of sectarian belief, the people of Center are proud of this old church, proud of the hard working, honest hospitable, honorable, God fearing folk, who have been and are a part of the old church.

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