Notes for: Eli Morris Gaston
The Methodist Protestant Church was introduced into Doddridge County, WV by Eli Morris Gaston and his brother Daniel. These two young men came onto the headwaters of Hughes River in 1843 and purchased several thousand acres of wooded land where they established homes. Eli and his wife Rulina set up housekeeping in a one-room log cabin on Gaston Run in December 1846. Later they constructed a two-story log home where they spent their entire married lives. This house burned down in 1910. Property consisting of 214 acres on Middle Fork of Hughes River, 11 miled southeast of the court house, was formally conveyed to Eli by his brother Daniel in 1847.
In 1846 the Gaston brothers succeeded in having a Methodist Protestant minister come into the new settlement and preach at Eli's home. Arrangements were made for regular services, and the people built a log house for school and church services. The new house was named Harmony because of the fine spirit of harmony and cooperation among the people composing the new settlement. In 1866 the old log house was replaced by a neat frame building which served the congregation until 1901, when a large modern house of worship was built. The Reverend Mortimer Ireland (b. 8/8/1835) was pastor at that time. Charter members included Eli Morris Gaston and Daniel Gaston and their wives, J. E. Strother and his wife, John Hart and wife, S. M. Gaston and wife, and Samuel Richards. Others who joined later included R. Husk and wife, Isaac Hileman and wife, John I. Gaston and wife, T. W. Chapman and wife, J. S. Britton and wife, and George Pierce and wife. This was considered to be the best congregation of its denomination in Doddridge County.