USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A standard history of Elkhart County, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development, Volume I > Part 30
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
estimated that the parish includes 2,700 souls of the Catholic faith ; men, women and children.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The dates of the first meetings of the Congregational Church of Elkhart are unknown. Among the settlers in Elkhart in the begin- nings of its history were a few families from the east who, before their migration, had been connected with Congregational churches. Prominent among these was the father and mother of John W. Ellis, who came to the county and settled on the banks of the St. Joe River in the spring of 1831 in the vicinity of what is now known as the Kenwood Golf Links.
In 1844 there was a sufficient number of families of the Congre- gational persuasion to unite in a formal organization, but the num- ber of active members, the nature of the fellowship, or the regu- larity and place of meeting at the beginning of their life is now forgotten.
Conditions on what was then the frontier suggested to the leaders of the Congregational and Presbyterian denominations a working union between the two bodies. Accordingly the Home and Foreign Missionary societies were united for special work under an agree- ment known as the Plan of Union. This arrangement lasted until the year 1869. Then on account of differences, largely ecclesiastical, but partly theological, the Congregational organization was severed by vote of the two churches for worship and united work came to an end. The meeting house remained in the possession of the Presbyterian branch of the united churches, thus leaving the Con- gregational people without a home.
Following upon this severance of relations there was a brief period during which the little company of Congregationalists had a wandering and to some extent an uncertain life. The future of a church without a home is always uncertain, and the purchase of a lot and the erection of a church thereon were at this time beyond the ability of the little company. Those most deeply interested in the matter felt that something ought to be done, and accordingly a meeting was called for April 10, 1869, "to reorganize the Congre- gational church, if thought best." This meeting was called to order by John W. Ellis, and was opened by prayer offered by Rev. N. A. Hyde of Indianapolis, at that time the agent for Indiana of the
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American Home Missionary Society, as it is now called, the "Con- gregational Home Missionary Society." After full discussion it was decided "to revive the former congregation."
Eleven names are given in the minutes of this meeting as coming from the old and entering into fellowship with each other in the new organization. D. J. Clark, Mrs. Ruth Clark, Mrs. Ann Bon- nell, Mrs. Catherine Ellis, Mrs. L. Shuey, Mrs. A. W. Faber, A. Bugbee, John W. Ellis, Mrs. C. W. Ellis, Mrs. Mary Clark, Mrs. Amanda Reynolds.
On the same date a constitution, confession of faith, covenant, and ecclesiastical principles were reported to the meeting by a com- mittee, consisting of D. J. Clark, J. W. Ellis and Alpheas Bugbee and unanimously adopted.
At the same meeting officers consisting of J. W. Ellis, clerk, and D. J. Clark, deacon, were elected to oversee the interests of the new organization. At an adjourned meeting held on April 24, 1869, Josiah Graves was elected a trustee for one year, Joel Ellis for two years, and John W. Ellis for three years. Alpheus Bugbee was elected treasurer. These were the first officers of the First Congre- gational Church of Elkhart.
The first member to be received into the new body, according to the minutes, was Sheridan Enos, and from the First Congregational Church of Edwardsburg. The relation between Edwardsburg and Elkhart churches must then have been quite close and friendly, as in the records, the pastor of the church there appears as presiding at Congregational meetings, officiating at the communion service, and, on occasions as preaching a sermon to the little company.
During the first year of its reorganized life the church met at various places, and for public worship, as a preacher could be ob- tained. Then was a period when the West was being settled, and among the pioneers were ministers of the gospel, able men trained in the colleges and seminaries of the East, whose spirit was to built into the new order the principles of religion and civilization. At intervals one of these pilgrims would spend a Sunday with the Elkhart church, glad to sow even by the wayside as he moved toward his destination.
On May 10, 1870, a meeting of the church was held, at which it was decided to extend a call to Rev. L. R. Royce for one year, which call Mr. Royce accepted, and became the first pastor of the church.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
It was during this pastorate that the first house of worship was erected, at the corner of Marion and Fourth streets. The place of meeting from the beginning of Mr. Royce's pastorate to the com- pletion of the new building was the Baptist Church at the corner of Third and Lexington Avenue. On November 29, 1870, a motion was carried that this church be engaged for a period of two years. The spirit of the little church was shown in the appointment of a committee to secure a lot "for the purpose of erecting a house of worship at some future time." This committee was composed of the following members: John W. Ellis, Joel Ellis, M. E. Shuey, and the new pastor, Rev. L. R. Royce.
With a pastor and a place of meeting, the initial difficulties of the young organization seem to have been over. It is not, however, sufficient for a church to have a suitable place of meeting in a "rented house." It must have its own home or perish. This feeling led some time in 1871 to a desire that a new building be erected. This step seems to have been productive, for nearly every minute of a church meeting held during these two years contains a record of names uniting with the church by confession or by letter.
No record of the preliminary conferences regarding the matter of the erection of a new building, save the one item of the appoint- ment of a committee above mentioned can be found. The interven- ing minutes deal only with ordinary church business, and probably the special undertaking was kept in a book which has been lost. On Wednesday, June 5, 1872, the cornerstone of the building was laid.
The next important step in the history of the church was the dedication of the new building on December 22, 1872. The clerk writes: "The day was very cold, the attendance as large as could be expected."
The record of the church from 1872 was one of steady growth in influence and membership. The need of a new and modern edifice commensurate with such expansion had long been a convic- tion on the part of the leaders of the church, but no definite action was taken until 1904. In February of that year Mrs. Arvilla C. Kellogg, a friend and promised member, passed away in Indian- apolis, bequeathing by her will to the church in trust property valued at $50,000, one-third of which was to be paid into the treasury of the church, and the whole property formed a trust in charge of the trustees. At a meeting of the trustees, held at the
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home of Mr. J. H. Cainon, on March 21, 1904, the terms and con- ditions of this will were accepted by the board.
This bequest gave the leaders in the church courage to begin an effort to secure a new building, and accordingly on April 14, 1904, a general meeting of the congregation was called. The result of the meeting was the appointment of a building committee, of which Rev. A. U. Ogilvie, the pastor, was chairman, and R. W. Monger, secretary. Work on the foundation of the new building was begun in August, 1905, a site having been purchased in the previous year on the northwest corner of South Third and West Marion streets. The corner stone of the superstructure was laid in April, 1906, and the entire building was ready for occupancy during the following year.
Although it will thus be seen that the history of the First Con- gregational Church spans nearly half a century it has called only eight pastors to its service, as follows: Rev. L. R. Royce, 1870 to 1874; Rev. C. S. Warburton, 1874 to 1876; Rev. H. D. Kutz, a part of one year; Rev. T. Lincoln Brown, 1878 to 1879; Rev. M. W. Darling, 1879 to 1886; Rev. George B. Safford, 1887 to 1889; Rev. F. C. Knopf, 1889 to 1899; A. U. Ogilvie, 1899 to the present time. The present membership of the church is about 300.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TRINITY CHURCH
The church above named was organized in 1873 and two years later a house of worship was completed on the northwest corner of Tenth and Mason streets. The church has grown steadily and has a membership of 265. Its successive pastors: Rev. John Mellander and Rev. J. Vibelius, from 1873 to 1890, who served the Elkhart charge as resident pastors of South Bend; following them, as settled pastors, were Rev. J. Theorell, 1890-94; Rev. S. A. Rydberg, 1895-1900; Rev. Herman Lind, 1900-04; Rev. F. A. Bonander, 1904-13 ; and Rev. Gustav P. Williams, since November, 1913.
FIRST METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH
In March, 1893, seventy-five persons who had withdrawn from the German Evangelical Association organized as an independent body, with Rev. S. Heininger as their pastor. During the summer
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of that year the church building on Division Street was erected. In September, 1894, the society reorganized and affiliated with the Methodist Protestant denomination, assuming the name of the First Methodist Protestant Church of Elkhart. Rev. S. Heininger remained pastor until September, 1898; Rev. J. G. Schaibly served from September, 1898, to August, 1900; Reverend Heininger again from August, 1900, to August, 1901; Rev. H. Schwarzkopf, 1901- 03; Reverend Heininger for a third term, 1903-05; Rev. M. E. Bachman, August, 1905, to January, 1909; Reverend Schwarzkopf again, August, 1909, to August, 1912; Rev. F. W. Lineberry, August, 1912, to August, 1915; Rev. Fred Clarke, since August, 1915. The membership of the church is now 163.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
The German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church was organized in 1874 by Rev. J. G. Hild of Mishawaka. The first church was erected at the corner of Hickory and South Third streets and dedicated June 21, 1874. The first pastor was ordained and installed August 2, 1874. He served until 1877, and was succeeded by Rev. M. Halboth, who remained until 1880. In 1882 Rev. W. L. Fischer was installed. The next pastor, Rev. J. H. Heinze, was installed in November, 1883, remaining until 1890. April 17, 1889, the corner-stone of a new church was laid, and August 25, 1889, the church edifice was dedicated. Among the pastors since 1890 have been Revs. Theodore Claus and Fred Ewald.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
This church was organized with five members October 23, 1878, by C. F. Mortimer, of Chicago. Meetings were held at the homes of the members until a lot was purchased and building erected on Middlebury Street. This was dedicated January 19, 1879. The congregation worshiped here until the building was sold to the city in 1883. In 1889 another building was erected on West Franklin Street. This was dedicated December 29, 1889. The church has since been ministered to by Reverends Osborne, W. A. Rich, F. D. Pettit, C. E. Pomeroy, W. H. Rust, C. W. Martz, N. H. Shep- pard, A. M. Laird, A. J. Tomlinson, S. G. Buckner and F. C. Leke.
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OUT-OF-DOOR BEAUTY SPOTS
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In August, 1897, the church building was moved to the intersection of Pigeon, Fifth and Vistula streets. Two extensive additions were made, and the entire building remodeled and refurnished. The dedicatory services occurred December 19, 1897. The First Chris- tian Church has grown into one of the strong and active religious organizations of Elkhart.
THE RIVERSIDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Riverside Christian Church of Elkhart, was first organized on January I, 1899, by Judge O. W. Whitelock, president of the Eel River Christian Conference, with fifteen charter members. About the first of 1907 the church doors were closed and no services were held for three and a half years. In September, 1910, Rev. W. P. Minton, pastor of the Goshen Christian Church, organized a Sun- day school in the Riverside Church and on December 14, 1910, the church was reorganized, with Judge O. W. Whitelock and Rev. WV. H. Denison, of Huntington, assisting the pastor. Twenty-six signed the roll that evening and on the following Sunday when the charter was closed there were in all thirty-four members.
The following pastors have served the church: Rev. Mary A. Strickland, Rev. M. A. Tompkins (assistant to Reverend Strickland), and Rev. G. R. Hammond, 1899; Rev. J. A. Wood, 1907; church closed, 1907 to 1910; Rev. W. P. Minton, 1910 to 1912; Rev. H. R. Jay, 1912. to 1915; Rev. J. J. Beisiegel, since 1915. The church has a membership of about 200.
SIMPSON MEMORIAL M. E. CHURCH
This is the youngest of the church organizations of Elkhart, its house of worship, on the southwest corner of East Indiana Ave- nue and South Main Street, having been dedicated in March, 1913. Rev. A. A. Turner was pastor at the time. He was succeeded in the same year (1913) by Rev. W. A. Huffman, who continued in charge for two years, and Rev. Karl H. Carlson has ministered to its wants since 1915. The church membership is 125.
OTHER CHURCHES
The foregoing by no means concludes the entire list of churches which meet the diverse and insistent wants of Elkhart religionists.
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The original Mennonites have a large following, as well as the Brethren in Christ. The first meetings of the former were held as early as 1867, and such of their leaders as Revs. John F. Funk, Samuel Yoder and George Lambert have been active for many years. The Brethren in Christ (the new Mennonites ) have a church at Ninth Street and Blaine Avenue, Rev. H. M. Metzger, pastor.
Besides the Castle United Brethren Church, already mentioned at some length, are the Grace and Second churches, located on Mid- dlebury and Baldwin streets, respectively, and under the pastorates of Revs. Samuel R. Foltz and Jacob C. Albright. Grace United Brethren Church was organized in 1889 by Rev. J. H. Swihart.
The German Baptist (Dunkards) organized a church in 1893. The South Side Church of the Evangelical Association was founded in the same year and the Bethel Mission, of that denomination, in 1905. The mission now embraces Salem, Paradise and Trout Creek.
The Trinity Lutheran Church, corner of State and East streets, is in charge of Rev. Ottoman A. Stamm and the St. Paul's Meth- odist Episcopal at Liberty and Crawford, has Rev. Rufus A. Mor- rison as its pastor.
The Christian Scientists, under the name of the First Church of Christ Scientist, have been organized since 1896, and, in con- nection with their religious services have the usual pleasant reading and rest room.
The Salvation Army is also engaged in its own special work.
And even now the writer may have missed some mention of a good and useful agent in the varied and intricate activities of the local religious bodies; but there is no intentional neglect on his part. He will conclude, however, with expressing a regret that a few to whom repeated requests for information were made, failed to respond.
THE Y. M. C. A. AND THE Y. W. C. A.
Both of these organizations are doing a broad and practical work in Elkhart. They have large and well-arranged buildings in which the various departments are conducted and their activities are largely among the young men and women of the industrial classes-many of whom are without homes and adequate means of satisfying the normal longings for companionship and pleasure.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
The organization for the young men in Elkhart is known as the Railroad Y. M. C. A., from the fact that its membership of 300 or more is drawn exclusively from the ranks of the railway employees. The building, which was erected in 1903, contains a good library and reading room, as well as homelike and sanitary living accommodations. The young women's building was occupied several years later, and is a haven for factory and business girls, as well as for numerous transients and strangers, who are obliged to come to the city alone and unacquainted with its safe boarding
RAILROAD Y. M. C. A., ELKHART
houses, or places of entertainment. Both associations are gov- erned by boards of directors and trustees, consisting of such well known men and women that adequate safeguards and accommo- dations are assured.
THE OLD ELKHART CEMETERY
In September, 1843, Dr. Havilah Beardsley and his wife, Rachel, deeded a tract of land amounting to about 21/2 acres and located on Middlebury Street, corner of Prairie, to the inhabitants of Concord Township for a cemetery. It was used as such until Grace Lawn
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
was laid out in the early 'Gos, and for some time afterward. Then the city decided to disinter the remains from the old burying grounds, move them to Grace Lawn Cemetery and build a schoolhouse on the abandoned plat. After the removal of the bodies, under the terms of the original deed the land reverted to the heirs of Havilah Beardsley and wife, and, after some litigation, the land was pur- chased, the schoolhouse was built, and the former site of the old cemetery became a valuable addition to the city.
GRACE LAWN AND RICE CEMETERIES
In 1862 or 1863, a committee was formed comprising John W. Ellis, Joel Ellis (his brother ), Charles Beardsley, Philo Morehouse, Benjamin L. Davenport, John Davenport ( his brother), Silas Bald- win and others, who were authorized to purchase land for a cem- etery. They bought about twenty acres of land for that purpose of James A. Rice, an old resident of Elkhart, the tract being located on the eastern bluff of the river by that name. Charles Beardsley, being a civil engineer and one of the committee, was employed to plat three blocks of the cemetery into lots, which were sold at auction to pay for the purchase of the land. Additional blocks were surveyed, from time to time, as the demand increased and Grace Lawn was improved into a beautiful cemetery, and now there are very few lots for sale.
Within the last few years, Mr. Rice noticed that the cemetery was filling up so rapidly that additional grounds would soon be required. He therefore kindly deeded forty acres of land in the city limits, about one-eighth of a mile east of Grace Lawn Cemetery. This is known as Rice Cemetery, although it has not yet been much improved, but as nearly all the old residents are interred at Grace Lawn, and its area is becoming overcrowded it will not be long before the newer home will be required.
ELKHART GENERAL HOSPITAL
The Elkhart General Hospital is an institution whose three years of life have furnished proof that it meets a vital public re- quirement. The building is of reinforced concrete construction, modern in all ways, has accommodations for sixty-five patients and its main body is two stories and basement. Its location is also pecu-
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liarly fortunate. Situated on a pronounced elevation in the west- ern part of the city adjacent to McNaughton Park, with its mineral springs and facilities for recreation, and commanding a pretty view of St. Joseph River; sufficiently removed from railroads and street cars to insure quiet, and yet near enough so that it may be readily reached by visitors, its location has obvious advantages. It was opened to the public in the summer of 1913. At that time the Clark Hospital was the only institution of the kind which was at all gen- eral or public in its nature.
Closely connected with the General Hospital is the Elkhart Training School for Nurses, which was organized July 1, 1899. The
THE ELKHART GENERAL HOSPITAL
first board of directors consisted of Drs. A. L, Fisher, W. H. Thomas, Porter Turner, H. A. Mumaw and C. D. Goodrich. They early adopted the plan of thorough classroom instruction, with a maximum of bedside experience, a policy that has enabled grad- uates successfully to pass the examinations prescribed by the Indiana State Board of Registration, and has assured each one a technic and breadth of view commensurate with the responsibilities of the profession.
During the first years of the school's existence, lectures and recitations were conducted by members of the local profession, while practical training and experience was obtained in the Clark Hos- pital. With the opening of the Elkhart General Hospital, however, a more satisfactory environment, a better equipment and larger
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clinical opportunities were afforded the school and its teaching staff, with increased library and laboratory facilities.
The training school is intimately associated with the hospital and is incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana. The ad- visory board consists of five practicing physicians of Elkhart. This board co-operates closely with the officers and the board of directors of the hospital. The superintendent of the hospital is the directress of the training school and performs the duties of her offices subject to the general authority of the boards of directors. The school is under her immediate supervision and control. Her authority extends over all that pertains to the discipline and duties of the nurses and pupils, to their conduct at all times as well as to their instruction.
A. F. Beardsley, the first president of the board of directors, was succeeded by Conrad Ziesel, Jr. W. B. Hile and L. M. Simpson are still secretary and treasurer, respectively. Maude F. Essig is now superintendent of the training school, her predecessor having been Agnes E. Moloney.
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS
Elkhart has its full share of the old-time secret and benevolent organizations connected with Masonry, Odd Fellowship, Pythian- ism, Maccabeeism, etc., and, for its size, an unusual number of industrial brotherhoods and unions. It is to be noted as rather unusual that the usual order of precedence as between the Masons and Odd Fellows is reversed at Elkhart, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows having been established before the Free and Accepted Masons by a number of years.
THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS BODIES
Pulaski Lodge No. 60, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was the first secret society organized in the hamlet of Elkhart, its charter being granted July 13, 1848. Elkhart Encampment was chartered in May, 1870, and the Daughters of Rebekah (Naomi Lodge No. 67) was instituted in May of the following year. On April 1, 1899, the Odd Fellows' Temple was completed at a cost of $25,000, and the different bodies of the order have since met therein.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
THE MASONS
The history of Masonry in Elkhart dates from 1855, when a dispensation was granted to organize Kane Lodge No. 183, Free and Accepted Masons. Thomas G. Davis was its first worthy master, and his successors have been: Strafford L. Maxon, John McNaughton, Oliver H. Main, Nathan Markel, Charles T. Greene, Christian Theis, Charles G. Conn, Jacob W. Iler, Sol. D. Light, John W. Stalker, A. A. Bradeen, Frank A. Muzzy, Edward F. Reich, Isaac Nadel. James A. Taylor, George B. Hoopingarner, Herbert A. Graham, John F. Werner, Walter J. Diehl, George W. Taylor, Galen C. Shirley, Amandus MI. Smith, E. A. Doke, Galen C. Shirley, Ira H. Church, Ernest A. Skinner, Selmar E. Miller. Anthony W. Davis, Ira E. Zigler, Arthur E. Cole and Harry B. Gampher. At present the lodge has nearly 500 members. Oliver H. Main is credited with the longest service as worthy master, hav- ing held the office for fifteen years-1859-63, 1807-73, and in 1875, 1877 and 1878.
Concord Chapter No. 101, Royal Arch Masons, was organized under charter dated October 21, 1886. It was constituted in the following month by Elmer Crocket, deputy grand high priest, of South Bend. S. P. Wilcox, the first high priest of the chapter, was suspended in 1886, and his successors have been William Reich, Edward F. Reich, Henry E. Stone, George B. Hoopingarner, Isaac Nadel, Charles A. Zorn. Charles A. Davisson, Frederick J. Stego, John F. Werner, Herbert A. Graham, Frank E. Bryson, Emory A. Doke, Amandus M. Smith, Richard Turnock, Eustace L. Burns, John T. Killey, William A. Bird, and Enock H. Turnock. There are over 200 members connected with the chapter.
Elkhart Commandery No. 31 dates from April 30, 1884, when it was chartered. Its eminent commanders: Charles G. Conn, Gar- nett L. Arnold, Franklin A. Muzzy, Eugene L. Foster, James A. Taylor, Jedekiah M. Hughes, Frank D. Finney, Edwin D. Foster, George B. Hoopingarner, William A. Allen, Melvin U. Demarest, George H. Fister, Charles D. Goodrich, William J. Gronert, Judson B. Martin, John B. Davidson, Herbert A. Graham, John F. Werner, William E. Specht, John H. Wineland, Charles A. Davisson, Peter C. Kendall and A. M. Smith. About 140 members of the order belong to the commandery.
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