Hartley writes that the main work of deacons in the late 19th century was to care for the meetinghouses.
William G. Hartley, "Saint without priesthood: The collected testimonies of ex-slave Samuel D. Chambers," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 12, no. 2 (Summer 1979): 13–21
The Chambers settled in the Eighth Ward where they tithed and donated, received patriarchal blessings, accepted rebaptism during the mini-reformation of 1875 and attended meetings. Samuel "was appointed as assistant Deacon," noted the ward records on May 1, 1873, but he received no priesthood. Amanda became a Relief Society "deaconess." Deacons, whose main work then was to care for the meetinghouses, included adults as well as youths.