USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > A Century of history of the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Indiana : with sketches of it's [sic] pastors, officers, and prominent members and reminiscences of early times > Part 1
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REILLY, MARY FRENCH. A CENTURY OF HISTORY OF THE WALNUT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
A Century of History
of the
Walnut Street Presbyterian Church of
Evansville, Indiana
With Sketches of it's Pastors, Officers, and Prominent Members and Reminiscences of Early Times
Part I. By Mary F. Reilly Published in 1891 -
Part II. By Emily Orr Clifford Published in 1921
KIRKPATRICK - HEIM PTG. CO. EVANSVILLE 1921
History of the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church
1167652
PART I.
DEDICATION
To the memory of the friends of long ago, and to the members of Walnut Street Church, this volume is affectionately dedicated by
MARY F. REILLY.
MRS. MARY F. REILLY Historian of Part I.
CONTENTS PART 1.
1. Foreword-Mrs. Mary F. Reilly.
2. Documents of Trustees.
3. Other Denominations.
4. The Little Church on the Hill.
5. Rev. Calvin Butler 1831. Rev. McAfee.
6. Rev. Jeremiah R. Barnes 1838.
7. Prominent Members.
8. Rev. Samuel K. Sneed 1846 Rev. A. E. Lord 1848.
9. Rev. Wm. H. McCarer 1849.
10. Pillars of the Church" and "Honorable Women."
11. Rev. J. P. E. Kumler 1868. Rev. Samuel Carlisle 1872.
12. Rev. Charles Henry Foote, D. D., 1876 Rev. Alexander Sterritt.
13. Mr. and Mrs. John Shanklin.
14. Rev. J. Q. Adams, D. D., 1878 Rev. Seward M. Dodge 1881.
15. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Orr, and Mrs. Farrell.
16. Hon. John W. Foster, and Mrs. Eliza McFerson.
17. Mrs. E. T. Drew.
18. Professor Tinker.
19. Rev L. M. Gilleland, D. D.
20. Elders and Earliest Members.
21. The Children.
22. Old Friends.
CHAPTER I.
"The great eventful present hides the past, but through the din Of its loud life, hints and echoes of the life behind steal in."
In the address of Moses to the Israelites when he was about to retire to Mount Nebo, which was to be his final resting place, he exhorted them to rightly appreciate the "greatness" of God, who had in mercy brought them, not- withstanding their wanderings and shortcomings, safely thus far, saying "He found him (Israel) in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about; he instructed him ; he kept him as the apple of his eye."
"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead him." As if to emphasize more forcibly this beautiful and eloquent pic- ture and add additional testimony to his assertions, he said : "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many gen- erations : ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee." The condition of Israel when found in a desert land might well apply to the state of the church when first found in these western wilds, and the loving and watchful care that has been bestowed upon it finds a smile in the foregoing description.
It is now seventy years since the religious denomination worshiping in the Walnut street church had its first exis- tence, and as there is not now living one of the members of that church, when first formed, we may conclude that by the time its Centennial anniversary arrives there will be none of even the early "fathers" or "elders" to tell of "these days of old." In view of this fact, the writer and compiler of this book, who is probably the oldest person living who remem- bers any of its infancy, has thought that a short history might be of interest to some of its present and future mem-
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bers, and offers this little volume as an anniversary greet- ing to the friends and members of Walnut Street Church with the hope that the history may be continued by some younger person in future years. If the events are recorded as they transpire, much more of interest will be preserved for a future volume than will be found in this, and it is hoped that in ten or fifteen years from this time some one will be found to have kept a record of the events and pro- gress of the church who will add a second volume of the his- tory of Walnut Street Church.
The circumstances surrounding this church in its earli- est formation throw a halo about that event. Those who witnessed its early struggles for existence can remember too well the care and anxiety that filled the minds and hearts of those who were most deeply interested in its welfare. Re- ligion of any kind had seemed to be a secondary consider- ation with the greater part of the then sparse population, their greatest efforts being required to minister to the tem- poral wants of their families. Those who had come from other places where they had enjoyed religious privileges had brought their religion with them and made use of it, in a private way, but when it became necessary for it to assume the form of dollars and cents for the public use it took on a new phase, and there were very few who felt that the money could be spared to pay a preacher or build a church.
In the year 1821 the Presbyterian church was organized under the direction of Rev. D. C. Banks, who was at that time pastor of a Presbyterian church in Henderson, Ky. The membership of the church consisted of ten or twelve per- sons, and as there was no particular place of worship or stated times appointed for services the church received no additions for a long time. There were occasional meetings in private houses-sometimes in an old log school house on the lower side of Locust street, between First and Second, and sometimes in a small log house located on First street between Oak and Mulberry, which is not now standing; it was removed many years ago to the lot of Mr. Wm. Dean, corner of First and Mulberry streets. This old building was erected for a private residence, but after the Presbyterian church was completed it was fitted up for a Baptist church. An old brick Court House, painted green, with no floor and with "puncheon" seats, was also a place where the faithful assembled to hear the word dispensed. During the week, the doors being left open, sheep and other animals sought shade, or refuge from inclement weather in these sacred
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precincts. In winter time the luxury of a fire was considered necessary, which was built in a fire-place in the side of the wall, and the audience was often dissolved in tears, weep- ing, not so much on account of their own sins as for the shortcomings of the brick mason who built the miserable chimney, which sent more smoke through the building and audience than ascended heavenward. The upper part of this Court House was afterward finished into a comfortable room where the Episcopalians held service and where fairs and shows of different kinds were also held.
The "Apostolic Succession" of the present day would deem it sacrilegious to hold service in a place desecrated by ventriloquists, conjurers and prestidigitators.
A small brick school house was erected on the public square back of what is now 76 Main street. It was built the same year that the first church was, but was finished earlier and meetings were occasionally held in this. The Episcopal church was organized and its first service held in this school house, Bishop Kemper and Rev. Mr. Johnston, of Terre Haute, conducting the meeting.
At this meeting a very amusing incident took place, which was probably not put down in the records of that time, as it would have been impossible to describe it as it appeared. There had been no arrangement made for con- ducting the singing and it devolved upon the only two men present beside the Clergyman and Bishop to start the tune. Mr. Ira French, who was the only Episcopalian in the town, and Mr. Eperson, of the Methodist church, were the ones who conducted the singing. Mr. French deferred to Mr. Eperson, who started off in full voice on a short meter tune to the long meter hymn announced. It went very well till the first few words of the hymn were sung, but when the tune came to an end there were still words to sing. Of course it was expected they would stop in such a plight, but nothing daunted they held on to the last note and finished the line and continued on in this manner till three verses were sung. No one laughed and no one cried, but all laughed till they cried when they got out of the school house. Mr. French, on being asked why he continued singing under the circumstances, replied that he had appointed the chorister and he was bound to stand by him until the last. It was cer- tainly the most ludicrous affair that ever happened at an Episcopal service.
Besides the school house there were but three other brick buildings in the place at this time, the Court House
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and a two-story brick occupied by Mr. Edward Hopkins, the father of Mrs. Chas. Viele; also a two-story brick on Main street, where the old bank now stands. It was occupied by F. E. Goodsell, postmaster, and afterward by Judge Mat- thew Foster, father of Hon. John W. Foster, of Washing- ton, and of Messrs. Alex., James and Will Foster, of Evans- ville.
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CHAPTER II.
To the Rev. Calvin Butler, the people of Evansville were largely indebted for their first church edifice. Mr. Butler belonged to the Vincennes Presbytery, and was appointed to preach occasionally in this place. He urged the building of a church, and though there was but a feeble response at first to his project, with his characteristic courage and energy, he undertook the work of raising the money. There were, at that time, only about three hundred inhabitants, and none of them wealthy. The citizens who were most interested in building the church were Hon. Wm. Olmsted, Messrs. John Shanklin and Alanson Warner, whose wives were prominent members of the church, Mr. Luke Wood and Amos Clark, the latter a leading lawyer at that time, who subsequently removed to Texas.
We find among documents belonging to the church, one which shows that on April 20th, 1813, a subscription list was started, of which the following is a copy :
Original Building Subscription
The undersigned, being desirous to have a Presbyterian Meeting House for Evansville and its vicinity, promise to pay the sums severally annexed to our names, to trustees hereafter to be appointed by the subscribers. Said house to be 30x50 feet, of brick, with its walls 18 feet in height; to have eight windows with forty lights each of glass 10x12 in .; with two doors and a floor jointed, not planed; and a good roof.
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Evansville, Ind., April 20th, 1831.
NAMES
AM'T.
NAMES AM'T.
John Shanklin
$100.00
Julius Harrison 5.00
A. Warner
50.00
Rich'd Browning 10.00
N. Rowley
20.00
Alex. Johnson 10.00
Calvin Butler 75.00
Marcus Sherwood 10.00
Archippus Gillett
10.00
Luke Wood, $25 cash $25 labor 50.00
Daniel Tool, in tail- oring 5.00
Wm. Olmsted, $25
cash, $25 labor 50.00
Jno. W. Duncan , in
Amos Clark 50.00
leather and cash 20.00
David Negley 25.00
Robert Barnes 10.00
James Lewis
25.00
Jno. W. Lilleston 3.00
John Mitchel 25.00
John Ingle
10.00
E. Hull, in labor 5.00
Chas Fullerton
5.00
Levi Price, labor 10.00
S. Stevens, saddlery ..
25.00
M. D. Robertson 2.50
(Not one of the above persons is now living.)
In pursuance of the above subscriptions, a meeting was held, which, by the following official record, organized the enterprise, by election of Trustees.
ELECTION OF TRUSTEES.
At a meeting of the subscribers for building a Presby- terian Meeting House in the town of Evansville, at the house of Alanson Warner, on the 23rd of April, for the purpose of electing Trustees, in pursuance of subscription, at which meeting David Negley was elected chairman, and James Lewis, secretary, the following persons were chosen Trus- tees : Amos Clark, Alanson Warner, and William Olmsted.
DAVID NEGLEY, Chairman.
JAMES LEWIS, Secretary.
Mr. Butler had interested himself so much in the church that he was permitted by the Presbytery to remove his place of residence to Evansville, and the above trustees, knowing that he intended making a visit to the east, hoping in some way to obtain help for building the church, gave him the following commission. The appeal is pathetic, while it shows that nothing but a strong desire to enjoy the comforts and consolations of the Gospel, could in their days of poverty, have caused them to give of their scanty means to such a cause.
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THE COMMISSION.
Rev. Calvin Butler, Sir :- The undersigned having been appointed trustees for the purpose of procuring and appro- priating funds to the building of a Presbyterian Meeting House, in the town of Evansville, have made the effort to obtain necessary subscription for that purpose, but are sat- isfied we will not be able to obtain sufficient funds in this vicinity, to accomplish the object. A number of individuals have shown by their subscriptions, the deep interest they feel in the accomplishment of so important a matter. This fact we believe will be equally obvious to others as to our- selves, when they are told that there are subscriptions from fifty to seventy-five dollars, by persons not worth more than from five to eight hundred dollars; yet, with all the exer- tion we can use, we believe we must fail in the undertaking, unless through your agency, we can procure assistance from some eastern friends. Knowing that you are about to make a journey through the eastern part of the United States, we have thought proper to request and authorize you in such manner, and at such times and places as you may think prop- er, to solicit assistance for the accomplishment of the be- fore mentioned object. It is not our intention to build an expensive building, but one that will cost between $1,200 and $1,500; but even for this small sum we are compelled to so- licit the assistance of our more blessed and wealthy friends. The importance of a place of public worship in Evansville will be acknowledged by all who are acquainted with its sit- uation. At this time there is not a convenient or comfort- able house in which to worship, in the town or its vicinity- not even a good school house. During the fall, winter and spring, owing to the uncertain and uncomfortable place of meeting, it may emphatically be said, that the cause of Zion mourns, because few attend her solemn feasts. In addition to this, the importance of the situation, both as a landing place for boats upon the Ohio River, the termination of stages, which travel up and down the Wabash River, renders this place a more central and suitable one for such a build- ing than others between the falls and the mouth of the Ohio River. As there is no other place of equal, importance in these two points of view, we therefore hope, if it is consist- ent with your views, that you will use your endeavors to procure the necessary assistance, and any donation in fur- therance of our designs, will be thankfully received and
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faithfully appropriated.
WM. OLMSTEAD, A. WARNER, AMOS CLARK.
Evansville, Ind., April, 1831.
The funds raised by Mr. Butler of friends in the East enabled the Trustees to go forward with the enterprise, and the manner in which Mr. Butler and the donors intended they should be expended, the following receipt found among the church papers conclusively shows:
"Rec'd of Rev. Calvin Butler, Three Hundred Dollars, which we pledge ourselves shall be sacredly appropriated for the purpose of building a Presbyterian Meeting House in the town of Evansville.
AMOS CLARK, WM. OLMSTEAD, A. WARNER,
Trustees of the Society.
There is also among the church papers a title bond given by John B. Stinson, a Baptist preacher in which he binds himself to convey to these Trustees the lots upon which the church was built: "In and for the consideration of one hundred dollars," which at that time was the fair valuation of the property.
There is also the deed itself, by which John B. Stinson actually conveys the property to said Trustees, stating in ex- act language: "To the Trustees of the Presbyterian church and congregation."
The building contracts specify that the church to be built is to be a "Presbyterian Meeting House." The mason's contract, dated January 14th, 1832, reads as follows:
"It is agreed between Amos Clark, Wm. Olmsted and Alason Warner, Trustees of the Evansville Presbyterian church and congregation of the one part, and John H. Camp- bell of the other part as follows, to-wit: The said Trustees agree to furnish brick, lime and sand for building the walls of the Presbyterian Meeting house, in Evansville."
Another contract dated April 17th ,1832, begins as fol- lows:
"Article of agreement between James Ring of the one part, and the Trustees of the Presbyterian church and their successors on the other part, witnesseth that the said Ring agrees to frame the timbers and put on the roof of the Pres-
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byterian Meeting house now building in Evansville;" and the following receipt shows that the brick were also pro- vided :
"Received Evansville, October 26th, 1831, of A. War- ner, Trustee, for the Evansville Presbyterian church and congregation in Evansville, one hundred and seventy-seven dollars sixty-two and a half cents, for which I have delivered s'd Warner and the other Trustees a kiln of brick, in the town of Evansville, supposed to be 65 thousand, and bind myself to make that amount up by the first day of May next, should they fall short.
BARNEY CODY."
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CHAPTER III.
From the foregoing papers it will be seen that the church was fully designed to be a Presbyterian church. When the subscription paper was actually in circulation, those who solicited the donation were instructed by the Trus- tees to say that when there were no Presbyterian services in the church the use of it by any other Evangelical denom- ination would be gladly granted, and this promise was ful- filled and no instance can be referred to when it was re- fused.
For six years after its erection other denominations did use it more than the one to whom it belonged, as after Mr. Butler left, the church was for some years without a regular pastor. This gave rise to the idea, with some, that it was a Union church, which was never the case, except through courtesy and friendly feeling which always pre- vailed with our pastors towards other denominations. Here is a quotation from a sermon of our late, well beloved pas- tor, McCarer, in speaking on the subject: "I remember the words of the Master when he said: 'A new commandment, give I unto you that ye love one another.' I wish to dwell in unity with all my brethren in Christ. And I say this more cordially, because in calling to remembrance the former time there arise before my vision scenes of blessed Christian in- tercourse, and I love above any mere denominationalism, all who bear the image of the Savior, and are thus members of one spiritual body."
In speaking of the brethren who had frequently occu- pied the pulpit of his church, he said: "Within these walls our Methodist brethren often met, and we mingled with them our sacrifice of praise and rejoicing."
The venerable Father Wheeler, whom many still re- member, also Father Parrett, both godly men, whom every- one honored, had their appointments for months together in this house of worship. These two good men were both Eng- lish, with a strong Yorkshire accent. Some persons will yet remember the deep, sonorous tones of Father Wheeler's
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voice when he prayed, as he never forgot to: "Hopen now thy beneficent, and, hand pour (pronounced power) out thy blessings hupon hus." His manner was so impressive, that one felt the real presence of Him whom he addressed. He frequently spoke of the Almighty as the great "High Ham." His preaching was sound and spiritual, and his memory is a precious boon.
The peaceful and benign face of Father Parrett comes before me as he humbly and modestly rose in the pulpit, and in the same low tone proceeded to read his text, and give the heads and divisions of his subject. As he proceeded, he became more enthusiastic, and in the close of his sermon was truly eloquent. His words were of peace and good will to all.
Then there were the two Baptist brothers, John B. and Benoni Stinson. The voice of the latter, one heard, would never be forgotten. They were good men, but persons of whom it might sometimes be said, that they had more reli- gion than discretion. They were uneducated sons of toil, and the vigorous efforts put forth through the week to fell the trees and till the soil, extended into the services of Sab- bath, and while the words of truth and righteousness were delivered in stentorian voice, after the manner of many of the preachers of that day, the gestures were most expressive. The bible was taken up and laid down with great force, and the pulpit pounded with excessive vehemence, which gave an impressiveness to their sermons, which, to those accust- omed to such preaching, was relished and approved. Their religion was genuine, no doubt, for they were highly respect- ed in the community. Devout ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, also preached in the "Church on the Hill," as it was called, and held their stated congregational meetings there. Rev. Benjamin Hall, one of their best preachers, was always welcomed by all denominations who came to that church to hear him.
The building and completion of a church in those days, was a great event, and the congregation was as proud and happy as they held their first service in this humble edifice, as those who now worship under frescoed ceilings, where the light through memorial and stained glass windows shines upon them.
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CHAPTER IV.
The Church on the Hill stood on the highest elevation in or about the place, being surrounded with forest trees, and as much of the land was low, a good part of the year found the water standing in pools in all directions; the ground was just marsh most of the time. Where Strouse & Bros. building on Second Street now stands, was the site of the church, which can scarcely be realized, as the hill has disappeared in the grading of the streets. It was of modest dimensions, 30x50 feet, without the least attempt at orna- mentation, and cost $1,300. The first set of seats were of plank with part of the bark left on them, smoothed off on one side and without backs; large hickory sticks being driv- en in for legs. After a while these were superseded by plain pine seats, also without backs. The pulpit was a dry goods box covered with green baire. Subsequently seats with backs were introduced and a plain oblong pulpit took the place of the dry goods box. It was paneled and painted white, and so high that the good man who addressed the congregation was completely obscured from view when he took his seat, and his meditations could not be disturbed by the eyes of anyone being upon him. When he rose up in the pulpit he made a sort of a "Jack-in-the-box" appear- ance, or, as one of the pastors said, "he seemed to be sending forth missiles of the Gospel from a stronger frontier block house," but after a time this pulpit was relieved from duty, and one more sightly filled its place. The edifice was light- ed with tallow candles placed in an arrangement made by the tinner, the back of which answered as a reflector, and one was hung at each side of the large windows, where the tallow dripped gracefully upon the window sill, where per- sons leaned their elbows during service and found their clothing ruined when they went home. The choir occupied the long seats by the side of the pulpit.
The good people of New England had responded to the call for aid, and those who had no money to give, gave some article which they considered a luxury, that they could do
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without. Articles of jewelry and bead reticules, which had just come into style, costing from $5 to $12, were cheerfully given by conscientious women and disposed of for money on Mr. Butler's return. One of these reticules is still in exist- ence. The whole amount collected in the East was $300,00, which with the sum of the subscriptions was not sufficient to clear the church of debt, and then as now the women came to the rescue and through the instrumentality of sewing so- cieties and fairs the money was raised by which the debt was paid. The sewing society was a pleasant feature of those days. The gentlemen became members and paid their initiation fee, some in money, others in articles out of their stores. Mr. Willard Carpenter paid his in ribbon, and there was no end to the pin-cushions, needle-books, fancy aprons, night-caps and genuine good articles that were sold at the fairs. Ready made articles of clothing were kept always on hand for sale at any time, which was a great convenience and furnished quite a revenue. The society was also a be- nevolent organization. If any one was ill or had sickness in their family the ladies met and sewed for them, making up their family clothing for the season, and if any sick or destitute person came within the knowledge of the society, goods were bought and made up for their families. The so- ciety, while helping to pay the debt on the church, assisting the poor and keeping up the current expenses of the church, did not forget the Missionary cause, and in 1837 reached the point of being able to send $30.00 to the American Board of Foreign Missions, and in 1839 it sent $37.50. In 1840 the sum contributed was $84.94 for which thanks were received and an earnest appeal for a continuance of the interest in the cause. But the calls at home next claimed our attention and the contributions to that cause as a society ceased.
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