School was held in Mahalasville from the 1850s to around 1900 in the Methodist Church at the top of Voyles Road. Aliff School is also documented as a frame structure, in Jackson Township, at the top of Voyles Road. Photos in the Morgan County Scrapbook suggest there was a brick school called Aliff School, this may have been on the same road as the former Baptist Church, since both are reported to have been on a road which no longer exists. Some of the photos refer to Aliff School as District 10, which was the Jones School's district number in Washington Township. Some of the same families seem to be represented in the photos of both Jones and Aliff schools, they include; Hickman, Frownfelter, Thacker, Renner, Gribbs, Johnson, Lloyd, Elgin, Whestine, Baker, Cain, Tucker, Coffey, and Williams.

In 1912, the Jones School, District 10, was built in Washington Township, one mile north of Mahalasville. This is a large brick structure and has been used as a church, and a residence since being retired as a school. The families or individuals listed as having attended Jones School include; the Renners, Farleys, Parkers, Whitakers, Elgins, Guinns, Lemons, Coffeys, Robinsons, McNeffs, Platts, Williams, Normans, Kitchens, Smiths, Millers, Thackers, Hastings, Gaskins, Averys, Prathers, Fishels, Bakers, St. Johns, McDaniels and Schoolcrafts.

     In modern times children in Jackson Township attend Indian Creek Schools, part of the Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson School Corporation, and those in Washington Township attend Martinsville Schools. Washington Township is part of the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville.

BIOGRAPHIES

GENERAL WILL A. ADAMS was born near Greenville, East Tennessee on October 24, 1839. Both his father, David B. Adams and his mother, Desdemona (Orto) Adams, were native of Tennessee and of Scottish descent. Miss Mary K. Butler of Belmont County, Ohio became his bride in 1861. The same year he enlisted in the 22nd Indiana Volunteers and by the end of the war had been promoted to Colonel of the 145th Indiana Regiment. He was later discharged from military service as a Brigadier General. After his service to the United States he worked as a merchant. He and Mary were the parents of four children; Amanda, Ada L., Edwin B., and Emma D. Adams.

MOSES T. COFFEY was the fifth of ten children born to Lewis and Delilah (Turpin) Coffey on May 24, 1831, in Morgan County, Indiana. His parents had moved to Indiana in 1828 from Kentucky and were of English and Irish descent. Lewis Coffey bought and cleared the land for his farm , worked as a flat boater and then died when Moses was 13. After his father's death, Moses worked to support his family. With hard work he was eventually able to obtain 50 acres of good land. In 1852, he married Lucinda Renner, daughter of Philip and Mary (Bidleman) Renner. Thirteen children were born to them, only eight were named. They were; George W., Mary J., John D., Philip L., Barbara A., Eliza C., Martha P., and William T. Coffey. Moses Coffey was elected Justice of the Peace in 1874 and served for four years.

ROBERT C. DAVIS was born, December 18, 1833, in Hancock County, West Virginia. His parents were Enoch and Nancy (Cunningham) Davis, of West Virginia. Their ancestry was Welsh and Irish. The family moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania where Robert was educated and graduated high school. He became a traveling salesman at age 17. In 1856, Robert married Louisa H. Ritchey. They were the parents of ten children; John C., twins: William W. and James W., Ella M., Eva E., Nancy J., Robert, Charley C., Edgar, and Lela. In Mahalasville, Mr. Davis was a postmaster, railroad agent, express agent, and merchant.

DAVID S. DODSON was born, August 2, 1834, in Hardin County, Kentucky. His father, was John B. Dodson, a native Kentuckian and of English descent, his mother, Catharine (Ament) Dodson, was from Holland, and of German descent. David was raised to farm and lived with his parents until age 25 when the started learning his trade as a blacksmith and wagon maker. Mr. Dodson moved to Mahalasville and opened his business in 1862. Miss Sarah E. Helton, native of Morgan County and daughter of W.W. and Nancy (Hale) Helton, became his wife in 1868. She bore him one daughter, Judith K., and both she and the child died shortly thereafter. David S. Dodson was elected Justice of the Peace in 1878 and 1882.

W.W. HELTON was born, October 25, 1807, in East Tennessee, the fifth child of Beecher and Susan (Winkler) Helton. His parents were from North Carolina. Beecher was of English heritage and Susan's background was German. Our subject, W.W. Helton, married Miss Nancy Hale in 1827. They moved to Jackson Township, in 1828 and purchased 310 acres. He was a shoe maker for a time and later a farmer and stock raiser. The couple raised ten children. Their names were; James B., Eliza J., Julia A., Harriet L., Sarah E., Mary C., Nancy, Miranda, John W., and Susan C.

GEORGE W. KEMP was the sixth child of James and Christina (McGowen) Kemp of Kentucky. His paternal grandparents were John and Nancy Kemp of North Carolina. He was born December 9, 1849 in Morgan County, Indiana, and lived with his parents until age 23 when he began his own business and eventually acquired 165 acres of improved land. He married the former Mrs. Caroline (Norman) Hamilton, daughter of Joseph T. Norman and Betsey E. (Williams) Norman. They raised three children; Rebecca J., Andrew J., and Sarah E.

JAMES M. McGOWAN was born January 3, 1840 in Morgan County, Indiana, to John and Malinda (Thomas) McGowan. Polly A., Andrew J., Thomas, Greenberry, Sarah, and Elizabeth were James' siblings. During the Civil War, from 1862 to 1864, James served in Company H of the 7th Indiana Volunteers. On March 15, 1865, the daughter of John and Adaline Martin, Miss Nancy A. Martin, became his wife. Mr. and Mrs. McGowan were the parents of John, Rebecca J., Mary E., Nancy A., James M., Nora A., and William J. McGowan. The McGowans farmed in Morgan County, moved to Monroe County for several years, and then returned Morgan County to purchase a 490 acre farm in 1873.

JOSEPH H. NORMAN was born in Jackson Township, Morgan County, Indiana on October 8, 1839. He was the sixth of eight children. James Norman, of North Carolina, and Sarah A. (Harrison) Norman, of Tennessee, both of Irish descent, were his parents. Joseph was raised to farm and married Ruth Kemp on March 28, 1861. Joseph and Ruth parented George W., Robert C., Harriet V., Samuel A., and Edward Norman. The Normans farmed 96 acres of well cultivated land.

JOHN J. NORMAN was born, October 25, 1807, in East Tennessee, the fifth child of Beecher and Susan (Winkler) Helton. His parents were from North Carolina. Beecher was of English heritage and Susan's background was German. Our subject, W.W. Helton, married Miss Nancy Hale in 1827. They moved to Jackson Township, in 1828 and purchased 310 acres. He was a shoe maker for a time and later a farmer and stock raiser. The couple raised ten children. Their names were; James B., Eliza J., Julia A., Harriet L., Sarah E., Mary C., Nancy, Miranda, John W., and Susan C.