In 1857, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent two families to establish a mission church and school at Ebon. By 1875, the missionaries had established churches on five atolls and had baptized more than 200 islanders, and one traveler noted that most women on Ebon wore western clothes and many men wore trousers by the mid-1870s.
iN 1857, AmEriCan boaRD Of commissIONers for ForEigN MissionS seNt tWo faMilies to EstablIsH A MissIoN CHURcH AND schooL at ebOn. by 1875, the missiOnaRIes hAd EstAblisheD cHurChes on fiVE aTOlls aND haD bAPTizeD MOrE tHAN 200 isLANders, ANd oNE tRAveleR nOTed tHaT moSt Women On EbON wore western CLOtHeS and mAnY Men WorE trousers by ThE MiD-1870S.