Excepted from William Wolfe's "Stories of Guernsey County" - Madison Twp.
Samuel Findley was born in Western Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer and a judge. At the age of fourteen he dedicated himself to preaching the gospel. He was ordained to preach in the Associate Reformed church, he married and located in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
In 1824, Dr. Findley organized an Associate Reformed chuch at Washington, Ohio and one near the present Antrim, which at the time was called Miller's Fork.
In Washington in 1827 Findley began publishing the Religious Examiner, a monthly periodical devoted to the interests of the Associate Reformed Church. The National Road was built through Washington that year.
He purchased 160 acres of land immediately west of Antrim in the 1830's, built a cabin on it and moved his family there. In 1835, in addition to farming, preaching at three locations and editing the Religious Examiner, he organized a class of eight young men and began teaching in his cabin home. Within a short time the group outgrew the cabin and he opened an academy called the Philomathean Literary Institute. When this proved to be a success, a charter was granted by the state legislature and the name was changed to Madison College. Funding difficulties due to the Civil War caused the college to be closed.
One of Findley's sons became a doctor, four sons became ministers and two of his daughters married ministers. From the first church established by him went forth a score more of preachers, some of whom reached prominent places in the United Presbyterian ministry. Some of them became professors in theological seminaries. Two of them became presidents of Muskingum College.
After Madison College closed Dr. Findley left Guernsey County. He died at the home of a son in Newark, New Jersey.
Samuel Findley was born in Western Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer and a judge. At the age of fourteen he dedicated himself to preaching the gospel. He was ordained to preach in the Associate Reformed church, he married and located in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
In 1824, Dr. Findley organized an Associate Reformed chuch at Washington, Ohio and one near the present Antrim, which at the time was called Miller's Fork.
In Washington in 1827 Findley began publishing the Religious Examiner, a monthly periodical devoted to the interests of the Associate Reformed Church. The National Road was built through Washington that year.
He purchased 160 acres of land immediately west of Antrim in the 1830's, built a cabin on it and moved his family there. In 1835, in addition to farming, preaching at three locations and editing the Religious Examiner, he organized a class of eight young men and began teaching in his cabin home. Within a short time the group outgrew the cabin and he opened an academy called the Philomathean Literary Institute. When this proved to be a success, a charter was granted by the state legislature and the name was changed to Madison College. Funding difficulties due to the Civil War caused the college to be closed.
One of Findley's sons became a doctor, four sons became ministers and two of his daughters married ministers. From the first church established by him went forth a score more of preachers, some of whom reached prominent places in the United Presbyterian ministry. Some of them became professors in theological seminaries. Two of them became presidents of Muskingum College.
After Madison College closed Dr. Findley left Guernsey County. He died at the home of a son in Newark, New Jersey.
Excepted from William Wolfe's "Stories of Guernsey County" - Madison Twp.
Samuel Findley was born in Western Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer and a judge. At the age of fourteen he dedicated himself to preaching the gospel. He was ordained to preach in the Associate Reformed church, he married and located in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
In 1824, Dr. Findley organized an Associate Reformed chuch at Washington, Ohio and one near the present Antrim, which at the time was called Miller's Fork.
In Washington in 1827 Findley began publishing the Religious Examiner, a monthly periodical devoted to the interests of the Associate Reformed Church. The National Road was built through Washington that year.
He purchased 160 acres of land immediately west of Antrim in the 1830's, built a cabin on it and moved his family there. In 1835, in addition to farming, preaching at three locations and editing the Religious Examiner, he organized a class of eight young men and began teaching in his cabin home. Within a short time the group outgrew the cabin and he opened an academy called the Philomathean Literary Institute. When this proved to be a success, a charter was granted by the state legislature and the name was changed to Madison College. Funding difficulties due to the Civil War caused the college to be closed.
One of Findley's sons became a doctor, four sons became ministers and two of his daughters married ministers. From the first church established by him went forth a score more of preachers, some of whom reached prominent places in the United Presbyterian ministry. Some of them became professors in theological seminaries. Two of them became presidents of Muskingum College.
After Madison College closed Dr. Findley left Guernsey County. He died at the home of a son in Newark, New Jersey.
Samuel Findley was born in Western Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer and a judge. At the age of fourteen he dedicated himself to preaching the gospel. He was ordained to preach in the Associate Reformed church, he married and located in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
In 1824, Dr. Findley organized an Associate Reformed chuch at Washington, Ohio and one near the present Antrim, which at the time was called Miller's Fork.
In Washington in 1827 Findley began publishing the Religious Examiner, a monthly periodical devoted to the interests of the Associate Reformed Church. The National Road was built through Washington that year.
He purchased 160 acres of land immediately west of Antrim in the 1830's, built a cabin on it and moved his family there. In 1835, in addition to farming, preaching at three locations and editing the Religious Examiner, he organized a class of eight young men and began teaching in his cabin home. Within a short time the group outgrew the cabin and he opened an academy called the Philomathean Literary Institute. When this proved to be a success, a charter was granted by the state legislature and the name was changed to Madison College. Funding difficulties due to the Civil War caused the college to be closed.
One of Findley's sons became a doctor, four sons became ministers and two of his daughters married ministers. From the first church established by him went forth a score more of preachers, some of whom reached prominent places in the United Presbyterian ministry. Some of them became professors in theological seminaries. Two of them became presidents of Muskingum College.
After Madison College closed Dr. Findley left Guernsey County. He died at the home of a son in Newark, New Jersey.
Inscription
Erected by the U.P. Cong. of Antrim to the Memory of Rev. Samuel Findley, D.D. who was born June 11, 1786 and died Feb. 22, 1870 In the 84th year of his life. He was installed first pastor of this congregation June, 1824, and faithfully served in this capacity till -1854. His works do follow him.
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