Atlantic is a thriving little village of about 150 inhabitants, situated in the
southwest part. It owes its origin and prosperity to the N. Y., P. & O.
Railroad, which passes through its midst. James Nelson in 1863 started
the first store, and a few years later C. M. Johnson the second. The town
did not obtain a start for several years, but it has since grown steadily,
though slowly.
It was formerly known as Adamsville Station. The village now contains
three general stores, one hardware, one millinery and two drug stores,
a cider-mill and jelly factory, an extensive agricultural implement agency,
a carriage-shop, a blacksmith-shop, one hotel, one livery stable, two
public halls, three physicians, a good two-story frame schoolhouse, one
church and two societies.
Atlantic Lodge, No. 78, A. O. U. W., was instituted with twenty-one
members July 1, 1874. Its first officers were J. B. Grove, P. M. W.; J. M.
Nelson, M. W.; J. D. Dunbar, G. F.; John Duncan, Overseer; Joseph
Duncan, Recorder; William Lackey, Fin.; J. L. Johnson, Receiver; N. R.
Menold, G.; I. L. Menold, I. W.; S. P. Menold, O. W. The membership is
now twenty-eight, and meetings are held every Wednesday evening.
Enterprise Council, No. 12, R. T. of T., was instituted with nineteen
members August 16, 1878. Its charter officers were: A. B. Gaston, S. C.;
C. M. Johnson, V. C.; W. G. Gaston, P. C.; S. Gordon, Chaplain; J. C.
Hunter, Recording Secretary; D. H. Walker, Financial Secretary; T.
McMillen, Treasurer; T. Henry, Herald; H. J. Gaston, Guard; E. Kreichbaum,
Sentinel; Dr. S. Gordon, Medical Examiner. There are now thirty-four
members, and meetings are held each alternate Saturday evening.
A grange was organized here a few years ago but is no longer active.
The First Presbyterian Church of Atlantic was organized in November, 1874,
with about forty members. Most of its early members had withdrawn from
the Adamsville United Presbyterian Church in consequence of the opposition
of the latter to the grange and other secret orders. The first Ruling Elders
elected were: James Hamilton, George K. Miller, John N. Kerr and S. M.
Kerr. Rev. Isaac W. McVitty supplied the church a year, then Rev. D. R.
Kerr, a licentiate, until April, 1876, when he accepted a call as pastor. He
resigned in December, 1878. Preaching by supplies then occurred until June,
1879, when Rev. O. V. Stewart was installed, remaining until October, 1881.
The pulpit was then filled by supplies until April, 1883, when Rev. J. B.
Fleming, the present pastor, was installed. The membership is now ninety.
The church edifice is a handsome building, the corner-stone of which was laid
in June, 1876, and which was dedicated January 16, 1877, free of debt, by
Rev. B. M. Kerr. Its cost including lot was $3,300.
Hanna's Corners Methodist Episcopal Church, the only other religious edifice
in the township, is located in the southern part of Tract 22. It is frame, built in
1872 at a cost of about $1,700. The former meeting house of this society
stood about one and a half miles southeast, and was known as Keen Church.
It was built about 1830. Prior to its erection the class worshiped in a hall built
over John Keen's wood-house and fitted up by him for this purpose. The class
was organized prior to 1815, and numbered among its early members: Adam
and Dinah Keen, Joseph Mattocks and wife, the Siselys, Polly Henry and
John McEntire. Early meetings were held on week days and occurred only
once in four weeks. The society now numbers 112 members and is connected
with Salem Circuit, the recent pastors of which have been: J. Abbott, 1870-71;
J. A. Hume, 1872-73-74; J. L. Mechlin, 1875-76; A. R. Rich, 1877-78-79; J. F.
Perry, 1880; James Foster, 1881-82-83. Evansburg is a station on the New
York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, located on the north line of the township.
The postoffice is Stony Point.
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