Andrew Rabb

The Rabb and Storms families of Franklin, Warren County, Ohio (The Jersey Settlement) were related, both being descendants of George Ward and Mary Grier Ward, originally from . They were further related to the Death, Ainsworth and Petticrew families.

Many of these families were Scots Irish families who had immigrated from the Ulster Plantation to East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Ohio and from there some of them had gone to Rockbridge County, Virginia and then moved back north, e.g., to Ohio. From The Jersey Settlement, some families moved further west to Indiana.

Churches of Franklin Twnshp

"The Christian Church. —The date of organization of the Christian Church, I have been unable to find, but it was probably organized at a very early date. In the Ohio Argus and Franklin Gazette, of September 9, 1837, we find the following notice:"

"The members of the Christian Church of Franklin Township, are requested to meet in the Union Meeting House, in said township, on the Saturday previous to the second Sunday in October next, to take into consideration the propriety of relinquishing the further use and occupancy of the Lots No. 39 and 41, in the town of Franklin, and the meeting house thereon."

(Signed), A. RABB.

"The Union Meeting House above mentioned, was situated on the farms of A. Rabb and Daniel Storms, and was used as a schoolhouse during the week For this purpose it was large, so a swinging partition was made which was removed on Sundays. This building was about two miles southeast of town, and here the country people gathered to listen to the words of Rev. N. Worley and his son Caleb, and, after a number of years, to Elder James Maple. This building proved too small, and, some time about 1850, a spacious brick was erected in Franklin, just south of the present railroad depot The congregation was always a large one, being composed largely of farmers, who came for several miles to attend services and by many townsmen who loved to listen to the sermons of Elder Maple, and also to meet their country friends and relatives. Rev. Maple left this charge to go to Indiana, and, for several years, no regular minister was assigned them. Finally, Rev. T. M. McWhinney came and took charge of this congregation. He soon saw the need of a larger and more commodious building, and, by strenuous efforts, raised the funds to erect the present fine church edifice, and on June 15, 1872, the corner-stone was laid, Rev. A. L. McKinney, of Troy, Ohio, delivering the address."

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohwarren/Beers/IV/frt/0529.htm