The Roman Catholic Church was one of the first church buildings in Seneca Township. The Calais M.E. Church was organized by John Stephen, as a first class leader, in 1841. Among the first members were Mr. and Mrs. John Stephen; Mr. and Mrs. William Runnells; Noah Runnells; Elizabeth Runnells; Jane Runnells; Z. Johes; Sarah Oglebay; and others. Reverend Jacob Miller was the first minister in charge. This society built a church in 1876, being 32 feet by 42 feet in size and having a seating capacity of about 500. It was dedicated by Reverend Pershing from Pittsburgh on November 18, 1876. Another early pastor was Reverend Garrett.
The Union Chapel M.E. Society built a church edifice in 1867. This church was dedicated by Reverend E. Ellison. The class leader was Christian Weinstein.
Services were held by ministers of the Christian Church as early as 1823. One of the preachers at that time was Reverend Caleb Nice. A society of this denomination was organized by Reverend Jones of Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1875.
Glady M.E. Church was built in 1869 and Reverend James was the pastor in 1881. Alexander Porter organized a Sabbath school in 1820 and Hiram Danford organized a Sabbath school in 1840.
A carding machine was in operation as early as 1820. The population of Calais in 1880 was 159 and the population of Seneca Township and the Village of Calais combined at that time was 1,302.
Statistics for the school year ending on August 31, 1881, were as follows: Total amount of money paid to teachers within the year -- $1,672.00; Total amount of money paid for fuel and other utilities within the school year -- $130.00; Number of schools -- 6; Total value of school property -- 3,000.00: Average wages paid to teachers within the school year -- $36.00; and the total number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 293. There were two teachers in one school located in Calais in 1880. Lady teachers received a salary of $20.00 per month and the gentlemen teachers received a salary of $40.00 per month.
In 1880, the officers of Calais were as follows: J.J. Burton, Mayor; Thomas McCoy, Marshal; Joseph Hodge, Treasurer; C.L. Eberle, Recorder; G.W. Coultas, Councilman; Josian Miller, Councilman; James Hannahs, Councilman; J.B. Craig, Councilman; J.H. Goodhart, Councilman; Elijah Stephen, Councilman; James W. Warner, Justice of the Peace; and J.H. Hamilton, Justice of the Peace.
Page last updated March 2025