History of the Okeana Methodist Episcopal Church by Mrs. Rupert Conway
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Okeana dates back to 1817when it was established as part of the White Water circuit of the Ohio conference. At that time the Ohio conference included all of Ohio and portions of Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. In 1817 Moses Crume was appointed elder with Benjamin Lawrence as pastor.
A bible class was organized at the home of Ephraim Carmack which was located about a mile west of Shandon, Ohio. For the next twelve years the congregation worshiped in the Carmack home until the location of their meeting was changed to the home of Peter Youmans in 1829. In 1847, they began worshiping in the Hickory Chapel of the Congregational Church.
In 1852 the assembly constructed their own church, 30 by 40 feet, in the village of Okeana. This building served the congregation well until 1908 when a new church was dedicated. This building was made possible through the generosity of the parishioners and the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Hamilton.
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