The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

later established their families in Ohio to protest southern slavery. Those who settled near Massie’s Creek would later form the village of Cedarville (Dills). Their dedication to faith and progressive causes testify to the area’s strong minds and devoutness of religious belief, a tradition that continues today and functioned throughout Martha MacMillan’s life. Cedarville’s Presbyterians would also experience peaceful yet divisive periods. In lieu of national trends, the local congregation divided over the “Old School” and “New School” controversies, mainly the result of Church government disagreements as well as political and theological issues . The two would later reunite as the United Presbyterians, but MacMillan and her family spent most of their time under the reformed Church’s Pastor Morton, who contributed to the founding of Cedarville College (MacMillan). Presbyterianism distinguished itself beyond its unique views of Church governance and doctrinal perspectives—congregants, including Martha MacMillan, were often steadfast supporters of education and progress. Cedarville best demonstrated this adherence to education by the village’s consistent pursuit of scholastic development at all levels. In addition to investing many thousands of dollars into primary education, the Presbyterian population would eventually charter Cedarville College under their denomination in 1887 (Centennial 6). Additionally, some local citizens, such as the MacMillans, sacrificed their economic production in order to send their children to school (MacMillan 1-40). Presbyterian Cedarville clearly held deep convictions about sharpening the mind. This manifested itself into the college and resulted in highly successful descendants including Whitelaw Reid, who would become a prominent diplomat and a Vice Presidential Candidate (Centennial 1-5). Beyond Cedarville’s many successes, though, Presbyterianism formed the backbone of the village, and created a central ideological and physical space where the community gathered. 99