USA > Indiana > Henry County > Knightstown > History of the First Friends church, Brown Street between Washington and Adams streets, Knightstown, Indiana, 1876-1976 > Part 1
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HISTORY OF THE FRIENDS CHURCH
BROWN STREET Between Washington and Adams Streets
KNIGHTSTOWN, INDIANA
1876-1976
HISTORY OF THE
FRIENDS CHURCH
This book is dedicated to all FRIENDS who have served Knightstown Monthly Meeting and have gone on to receive the "prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus".
KNIGHTSTOWN, INDIANA
1876-1976
"This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you". John 15:12,14
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OUR CHURCH IN 1911 Brown Street, between Washington and Adams Streets
Furnished in modern style with art glass windows, lighted with electric lights, and heated by furnace
QUAKER YESTERDAYS
A hundred years, plus fifty more Have brought us to this hour; To think about the days of yore When Quaker faith did flower.
The early days were marked with joy, A joy that knew no measure, And everywhere the Quakers went They found 'peculiar' treasure.
Their way of life was simple quite; Their meeting houses plain- But they were staunch for doing right; From sin they did abstain.
They spoke the plainest thou's and thee's; Their speech with salt was seasoned- With horny hands they cut the trees, For 'twas God's will they reasoned.
Their dress was plain, their address too; They frowned on worldy pleasure. Frivolity they felt to rue Their lives by Christ to measure.
The Word of God their daily food, The promises they cherished; They felt their lives must count for good And evil thoughts must perish.
And now these early friends have gone, But still there lingers ever A challenge to the work begun And purpose to endeavor.
Our call is clear, the task is near, And though the way is hidden, With courage high we'll never fear, But do what He has bidden.
Kenneth Pickering January 15, 1970
FOREWORD
The committee on church history has endeavored to prepare a history for the church members, pres- ent and future, that will give them a spiritual insight into the past as well as a record of the achievements, goals, leaders, and pastors of the church. To that end, we have included the history written by Sophia Keys which records events until 1911. In preparing the history from that time until the present, we have hoped to keep it brief enough that those trying to locate certain material can readily find the information sought and also that those with limited time can obtain a knowledge of our church. To this end, we have divided the history into a chronological record of the various pastors and their influences and a general summary of the departments and their accomplishments. We realize that many contributions of church leaders, changes in the physical plant, and spiritual con- cerns that have influenced worship have been omitted. These can be found in more detail in the records of the minutes of the Monthly Meeting. In the reading of these minutes we have received spiritual inspiration, and we hope that our brief summary of these records may convey to our readers the devotion and dedication evidenced by people who were lay members just as we are.
CHARTER MEMBERS of Knightstown Meeting 1876
The Knightstown Preparative Meeting of Friends was opened 4th month 20th, 1876, with 46 charter members, whose names are as follows :
Dr. Wilson Hobbs
Zalinda Lynch Hobbs Orville W. Hobbs Mary Z. (Hobbs) Davis Walton C. Hobbs Charles M. Hobbs Fannie B. Hobbs Robert W. Hobbs Harry L. Hobbs Mary B. Charles Elizabeth Deem
Benajah Parker
Deborah Ann Parker Allen T. Kirk Lucinda E. Kirk Anna M. (Kirk) Sample
Catherine Morrison William G. Edwards William Kearns Elizabeth Kearns Rebecca J. (Kearns) Midkiff Nathan T. Coffin Jennie Coffin
David W. Douglas
Lydia M. Douglas
Ithamer W. Stuart
Margaret Stuart
Laura A. (Stuart) Morrison John E. Keys
Sophia L. Keys
Harry E. Keys James Beeman William Penn Beeman
Margaret I. (Beeman) Haines Ruth Stratton
Lemuel Murray
Abigal D. Murray Tacy Shoemaker Albert W. Aiken
Grace D. (Tatner) Aiken
Caleb M. Pelle Maria Pelle Frank H. Pelle
Walter Pelle Louisa Pelle Mary Frederick
PASTORS AND CLERKS OF KNIGHTSTOWN MONTHLY MEETING 1910-1976
PASTORS
Esther Cook
1910
Willis Bond
1914
Zeno Doan
1916
J. Edward Hartsuck
1923
Adelbert Wood
1928
Franklin Chant
1929
George Bird
1931
Kenneth Pickering
1938
Albert Copeland
1943
John Randolph
1945
Byron Leaser
1948
Mervin Kilmer
1964
Keith Mardock
1972
Gene Lewis
1975
CLERKS
Cora Harold
1911
Dossie Byrket
1912
Cora Harold
1913
Mabel Woodard
1914
Horace Woodard
1918
Edward Kreitzer
1919
Florence Hoffman
1924
T. R. Woodard
1926
Grant Hinshaw
1927
Dossie Byrket
1928
Minnie Thornberg
1933
Edith Bell
1936
Ola Pickett
1937
Steven Kiplinger
1945
Warren Edwards
1946
Alvin Hardin
1959
Joseph White
1971
HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTSTOWN CHURCH FROM 1876 TO 1911
The name of Dr. Wilson Hobbs is closely identified with the early history of the Friends Church in Knightstown, Indiana. He moved here in July, 1873. He soon became convinced that there was enough of that faith to act as a nucleus around which to fashion a church. Early in the winter of 1873, shortly before the holidays, he called a meeting in his office. There were pres- ent at this meeting: -- Dr. Wilson Hobbs, Mary B. Charles, Ithamer W. Stuart, Margaret Stuart, William G. Edwards, Catherine Morrison, Allen T. Kirk, Lucinda E. Kirk and John E. Keys, to talk over the advisability of establishing a Friends meeting in Knightstown. We felt Dr. Hobbs was led by the Spirit. We readily and cheerfully united our forces and for a few times met in his office for prayer and guidance. We found that other Christian denominations were interested in us and our mission and granted us the use of their churches for worship a few times.
We were united in asking Raysville Monthly Meeting for an indulged meeting, which was granted, and a room was immediately rented in the Reeves block early in 1874, now known as the G.A.R. Hall. Friends met on the first day of the week at 3:15 p.m., also on Fourth day evening at 7 p.m. for worship. William G. Edwards was appointed Elder and was recognized as the head of the meet- ing. Dr. Wilson Hobbs, Zalinda L. Hobbs, Catherine Morrison, Ithamer W. Stuart and Margaret Stuart also sat with him at the head of the meeting. All this number and also all our first elders and over- seers, Clerk, Assistant Clerk and the Treasurer have since been called home to receive their reward. Their zeal and loyalty to Christ and the church, as we look back upon their lives, was
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simply grand. Yet all was clothed in such simple acts of kindness, their good advice and words of encouragement given here and there, and when duty called them they seemed (to us) to go without effort. None but they know of the pleading with God for light and leading. The burdens laid upon their hearts for others, were quietly and dutifully performed and God blessed them. There are people here today, living in the light of God's love and blessings, who owe much to those faithful Friends for their good advice and wise counsel and sweet persuasion, whose memory we honor today. Let us take unto ourselves the great lessons from their lives and characters, and put them into practical use here in our church and community, and thereby be truer friends and purer Christians, doing with our might what our hands find to do in the uplift- ing and building of our church, that it may grow and become a shining light for God, and all that comes within her doors may find the sweet peace and rest that belongeth to the people of God. Let us be ready as they were when we hear the Master say, "It is enough; come up higher."
Only fourteen of the charter members of this meeting are now living, as far as we know. Eight of this number reside in Knightstown.
For a few months we were strengthened by the ministry of Mary H. Rogers. Later David W. Douglas of Maine came and remained with us until after the erection of the church building, proving helpful, both spiritually and temporally. A committee was appointed consisting of Dr. Wilson Hobbs, John E. Keys and William G. Edwards, to locate and secure a lot on which to erect a church building. The lot was bought and the present church was built during the summer and fall of 1875. John I. Morri- son and Harvey Burt were added to the building committee. John E. Keys is now the only living member of the committee that built this house.
An extract was received at the Raysville Monthly Meeting 3rd month 25th, 1876, from the
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Spiceland Quarterly Meeting informing it that they united in granting the establishment of a prepara- tive meeting at Knightstown, as requested by Rays- ville Monthly Meeting and directed that the meeting be opened at the time for holding the meeting for worship and preparative meeting in 4th month 20th, 1876, at 7 p.m., which was at our regular prayer meeting on 5th day evening. This is the date of our organization and according to the monthly meeting record we are to be known as the "Knights- town Meeting of Friends."
The quarterly meeting appointed Seth Stafford, Caleb Johnson, Jabes H. Henly, Jane Ratcliff, Mary Saint, Refina White, Francis W. Thomas, Rebecca Hiatt, Jason Williams, Rebecca Thomas and Mary H. Rogers to act in conjunction with a like committee appointed by Raysville Monthly Meeting to attend the opening, namely, William Haughton, Isaac Park- er, Charles S. Hubbard, and Joseph Pritchard. They also proposed the names of Ithamer W. Stuart, Nathan T. Coffin, Lucinda E. Kirk and Elizabeth Kearns for overseers, with whom the monthly meeting united, held 4th month, 22nd, 1876, and they were accord- ingly appointed to that station, with William G. Edwards as clerk, Jennie Coffin, assistant, and Allen T. Kirk as treasurer of the preparative meet- ing. At this time we had a membership of 46, twelve of whom were under 21 years of age. We all were members of Raysville Monthly Meeting prior to the establishment of Knightstown Preparative Meeting, 35 years ago. At the opening of our preparative meeting the time for worship was changed for holding our First day meeting from 3:15 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. Our First day evening meeting was first held 11th month, 1877. This is not a recorded meeting.
In 4th month 23rd, 1876, our church was dedi- cated by the late David B. Updegraff, assisted by John Henry Douglas and David W. Douglas. At the monthly meeting held 5th month 26th, 1877, a com- mittee was appointed to revise the list of elders.
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They appointed William G. Edwards and Margaret Stuart as elders for Knightstown Preparative Meeting. These were our first elders.
The early members of this meeting have pass- ed through some very dark and trying times. After our meeting house was dedicated there was a shrinkage on our subscription list on account of the panic of 1876, causing an indebtedness on the church building. Ithamer W. Stuart and Lemuel Murray, members of this meeting, borrowed the money from the bank for the full amount of this indebted- ness at 11 per cent interest. Our meeting, to make them secure, deeded them the church property. Our membership at that time was poor and few in number and not able to pay the interest which had accumu- lated until the total amount of interest and prin- cipal was fifteen hundred dollars. Mr. Stuart and Mr. Murray became uneasy. Then a Catholic priest came to them and offered to buy our church building. It seemed to them this was the only way to pay off the note in the bank. This was a gloomy hour for the Knightstown meeting, when the clouds were so dark and heavy that we could scarcely believe they had a silver lining. Sometimes we think the pres- ent generation would sink under such burdens. But God in His infinite love and because of our faith, turned the clouds into brighest sunshine, and the church grew in grace and in knowledge of the Master, and today we stand as it were, shoulder to shoulder with the churches of our town.
Raysville Monthly Meeting held Ist month 27th, 1877, gave our meeting the first ray of hope, by authorizing Isaac Parker and Samuel Pritchard, trustees of Raysville Monthly Meeting, to sell the old "Elm Grove" meeting house and grounds, "as that meeting had been laid down by the sanction of the quarterly meeting," and the monthly meeting pro- posed to use the proceeds toward relieving the indebtedness incurred by Friends of Knightstown in building their meeting house, which is within the limits of Raysville Monthly Meeting.
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At Raysville Monthly Meeting, held 11th month 24th, 1877, the trustees reported that they had sold the Elm Grove meeting house for two hundred and fifty dollars and appropriated the funds as directed.
John E. Keys asked for thirty days time to see if the rest of the money could be raised. He visited White Water Quarterly Meeting held at Richmond, Indiana, and met with some encouragement, also at Walnut Ridge and Carthage meetings, thereby cutting down the indebtedness to nearly nine hun- dred dollars. He also visited our own quarterly meeting at Spiceland on Seventh day, where he made a statement of our financial difficulties. Amos M. Kenworthy, then of Westfield, Indiana, arose and said, "Let the meeting proceed with the business. I will pay off the indebtedness of Knightstown meeting myself. No Catholic priest can buy the Knightstown Friends Church, for there is a place in Knightstown for a Friends meeting." On the following 2nd day Amos M. Kenworthy came to Knights- town and arranged with the bank and Lemuel Murray and Ithamer W. Stuart to pay off the remainder of the indebtedness, which then amounted to a little over nine hundred dollars. Amos returned to Hamilton County, sold his home, and came back and paid off the debt on our church. By unanimous consent of the members of our meeting, we deeded Amos all of the ground lying east of the church building, with the exception of two feet. This was all our meeting had to give in return for his generous gift to us. We feel our church owes a debt of gratitude to Amos M. Kenworthy that we never can repay, for he made darkness light before us and crooked things straight. The Lord, in a miraculous way, provided the means for Amos to build him a cottage home on the ground our meeting gave him. He served for a time as our pastor. New hope and life came to the little Knightstown meeting under his ministry, assisted by his
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Christian wife, Phebe H. Kenworthy. During the revival of 1881, held by him, there were 30 persons who were added to our membership. A real spiritual uplift came to us all.
Amy Fulghum, who was much beloved, accepted a call to serve as our pastor during 1884. She held a revival early in the year of 1886, assisted by Emma S. Garritson. This revival was much noted for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. During this revival 67 members were added to our church at the monthly meeting held 2nd month 27th, 1886. In all, 91 members were added to Knightstown meeting during that year. Emma S. Garritson remained here and assisted Amy Fulghum in the pastoral work of our meeting until 5th month of 1887.
Joseph O. Binford, beloved by all our member- ship, came on call to serve as our pastor, Ist month, 1893. He soon opened a series of revival meetings, assisted by John Pennington. Thirty- three members were added to this meeting. During the same year seventy-five members were added to our church. These have been the three marked periods of revivals in the history of our Knights- town meeting of Friends, when God's Spirit came upon the church with such wonderful power. Many who have joined our meeting during these three noted revivals are active members and doing much good for the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God, while many of this number are now on the other shore, whose memory we still revere for their un- tiring efforts to assist in building up the cause of Christ.
While our church has not increased so much in numbers during any revival or year since the above dates, yet there has been a steady growth, both spiritually and temporally. Our meeting has been blessed with excellent ministers from its earliest organization to the present time. While some have not been as successful as others in gathering into the church yet they have sown good seed and others
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have done the reaping, yet all have done the best they could and none have been failures, and many of these pastors whose wise counsel and pastoral care will never be forgotten.
Samuel C. Mills is the only minister who died while pastor of this meeting. His work among us was satisfactory.
The names of all ministers who have served as pastors of Knightstown meeting are as follows: -- Mary H. Rogers, David W. Douglas, Henry Merrill, Amos M. Kenworthy, Seth C. Rees, Amy Fulghum, Emma S. Garritson, Alfred Brown, Joseph O. Binford, Samuel C. Mills, Minnie Bassett, Morton C. Pearson, Elbert Russell, Oscar Moon, S. Adelbert Wood, Levi T. Pennington, Frank B. Rhodes and Esther Cook, our present pastor, beloved by us all and who is doing much good for the upbuilding of the cause of Christ.
Our Bible School was first organized in the spring of 1874 in the G.A. R. Hall, while we were yet an indulged meeting, with William G. Edwards as superintendent. There were two classes organized, with Mary Z. Hobbs Davis and John E Keys as teach- ers. Attendance, 21. The monthly meeting record shows that in 9th month 23rd, 1876, we had an average of about one hundred scholars.
Our Young People's Christian Endeavor was organized in 4th month 10th, 1889, with a member- ship of 25.
The Junior and Intermediate C. E. Society was organized 11th month 6th, 1892, with 15 members.
Our Home and Foreign Missionary Societies are well organized and doing excellent work.
Our Ladies Aid Society was organized August, 1907, with a membership of 38. Since then they have earned more than $600.00. They have recarpeted and repapered the church and put in new "art glass" windows, and paid $25 each year to the pastoral fund, also assisted the church financially other- wise, and now have nearly $50 in the treasury. Their work is highly appreciated by the entire membership.
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Our church has always been blessed with a well organized and efficient choir. The faithfulness of our young people is praiseworthy and appreciated by the entire meeting.
During the first twenty-five years of the organization of Knightstown meeting we have lost by death fifty-nine members. During the past ten years our loss by death is 56 members, making a total loss of 115 who have died while members of this meeting, since the organization thirty-five years ago. Many of this number's memory will ever be sweet for their beautiful lives and Christian influence. We now have a membership of 285.
Raysville Monthly Meeting of Friends was open- ed and held at Raysville meeting house, Henry County, Indiana, on the 25th day of 4th month, 1857, agreeably to an extract from Spiceland Quar- terly Meeting of Friends held 3rd month 14th, 1857.
The name of Raysville Monthly Meeting was changed to that of Knightstown Monthly Meeting in 5th month 25th, 1895, which is now held at Knights- town instead of Raysville as formerly. It is held on the 4th Seventh day of each month and consists of five different particular or local business meetings, namely: -- Raysville, Grant, Knights- town, Wilkinson and Shirley. The name of Knights- town Preparative Meeting (under the new discipline) was changed to that of Local Business Meeting in Ist month, 23rd, 1902.
Knightstown Monthly Meeting of Friends is tributary to Spiceland Quarterly Meeting which was organized in 3rd month, 1840, which was held at Spiceland, Indiana.
Spiceland Quarterly Meeting is tributary to Indiana Yearly Meeting which is held at Richmond, Indiana, and was organized in 9th month, 1820. This is the largest Yearly Meeting of Friends in the world.
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Let us all be faithful unto the end of life's journey and God will give us a crown of life.
Respectfully submitted, SOPHIA L. KEYS,
Recorder of Knightstown Meeting of Friends. 4th month 23rd, 1911.
P.S. -- The above history was prepared and read by Sophia L. Keys at the service of the 35th anniversary in commemoration of the organization of Knightstown Meeting of Friends, Fourth month 23rd, 1911.
Seth Stafford was present at this meeting and said he wanted to put his seal to the truthfulness of this history. --- S. L. K.
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HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTSTOWN CHURCH FROM 1911 TO 1976
Esther Cook, a Henry County native, assumed the pastorate of the Knightstown Meeting in 1910. In 1911 the thirty-fifth anniversary of the estab- lishment of the meeting was celebrated and heart- felt appreciation for the faithful work accomplished by previous pastors and lay members was given. At the same time concern was expressed that the present and future members remain steadfast in the desire to see God's blessing and to praise Him for all goodness bestowed on the local group. Emory Reese, a noted translator of the Bible, was a speaker at a missionary meeting. Special services were conducted in 1912 by Milo Hinkle and Dalton Lewis resulting in spiritual uplift and a united membership joyful in praise of God and reverent in the desire to do His will.
In 1914 Willis Bond became pastor. Non- participating and non-attending members were en- couraged to become active. It was hoped that a more united and dedicated membership could effec- tively promote church growth and fellowship.
Zeno Doan accepted the call to lead the Knightstown Meeting in 1916. Three trustees were appointed in 1917 that they might work with the finance committee in promoting the interests of the church. In 1919 Raysville, the fourth of the five meetings originally in the Knightstown Meeting, established its own monthly meeting, leaving the Knightstown congregation as the sole business meeting in the Knightstown Monthly Meeting. Zeno Doan's interest in youth attracted several young people who later gave their lives to Christ and became staunch church workers. Social calls were made and spiritual counsel given to those troubled with doubts and fears so that their concerns might be allayed and their lives strengthened through faith and prayer.
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J. Edward Hartsuck and his wife, Laura, spent five dedicated years from 1923 to 1928 in service to the Knightstown Meeting. His pastoral report often indicated as many as forty visits to members during a month. Mission work and cottage prayer meetings were his concerns. Since these were the depression years following the first World War, the church often faced financial difficulties and although at times payments were in arrears the debts were never large. Local church expenses and Yearly Meeting assessments were met by a membership united in spiritual belief and determined that their church would not be among those laid down. Member- ship rolls were reviewed in hopes of generating interest and participation from local people who were non-attenders. The women's missionary society through diligent work met its quoto. Sophie Keys was recognized for her thirty years of service as recorder and her fine work in organizing and pre- serving the minutes of the Raysville and Knights- town Monthly Meetings. An interesting letter was sent to President Coolidge and our senators and representatives protesting the spending of $ 700, 000, 000 on a battleship. The communication stated that the church did not believe in preparing for war in peace time and cited as an example that William Penn with his Quaker hat and coat had been a better defense against the Indians than a coat of mail and a musket. When Edward Hartsuck's resigna- tion was presented to the monthly meeting, he was asked to reconsider; but after prayerful thought he felt it was time for him to leave. For several months the pastoral committee sought a new minister. Adelbert Wood, a Friends' minister and a member of the Knightstown Meeting, served as temporary pastor for the meeting.
Franklin Chant and his wife, Lillian, answered the call to assume pastoral quidance of the Knightstown Meeting in September, 1929. During his first month he made forty-two pastoral calls.
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The dedication of the ministers of this time was certainly evidenced by the many hours they spent in fellowship and worship with individuals of their congregation. The church members were challenged to walk close to God so that His mission might be accomplished and their lives guided into a closer communication with their Master and their fellow man.
George Bird and his wife, Christie, accepted the call to serve the Knightstown Meeting, begin- ning September 1, 1931. Certainly George Bird was a fervent believer in God and a true disciple, for during the years he served here, his very meager salary was usually in arrears, church work had to be curtailed, and Yearly Meeting assessments were met with great difficulty. Under these adverse circumstances and often serving three or four months at a time without any pay, he continued to exhort his flock to press on to deeper experiences in faith, to strive steadily toward a better life filled with charity and good will, and to praise God for the blessings bestowed upon us. He and his wife made many calls each month and also en- couraged their members to visit in fellowship with each other. In the year 1932, he made 386 visits. The attendance at church and Sunday School, though fluctuating from time to time, continued to in- crease. Adelbert Wood, with the blessing of the local church, visited several churches in the East and in Canada, feeling that God was directing him to be of service. The local meeting cooperated with a traveling minute and through prayer wished him the blessings of the Lord. Even though funds were needed to meet local expenses, much emphasis was placed on missionary work and every effort was made by the women of the church to meet the monthly apportionment. Special recognition was given to Dr. T. R. Woodard following his death in 1937. His many years of faithful service and especially his long tenure as a teacher for young people will long
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