USA > Indiana > Newton County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 29
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 29
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"In the year 1885, under the pastorate of Rev. Bond, plans were adopted for two church buildings, one at Brook and the other at Foresman, which was at this time the head of the circuit, on account of being a railroad station. The plans for the two churches were the same, both being frame structures. The one at Foresman is still in good condition and doing service as a church. In the fol- lowing year (1886), under the pastorate of the Rev. B. C. Mc- Reynolds, both houses were completed and dedicated. In 1888 the Indiana branch of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad ran a line from Percy Junction through Brook to Momence, Illinois, connect- ing with the main line at that place; thus Brook at once became a live town and was again made the head of the circuit.
"In 1891 the church had become too small to accommodate the congregation and an addition was made to it by adding to its length. It is said that this improvement was brought about by the Ladies Aid of the church. In 1899, under the pastorate of Rev. J. P. Shagley, the frame church was torn down and sold to Thomas Martin who converted the material into a stock and hay-barn on his farm south of town where it still stands. And the first brick church was built on the ground which had been occupied by the old structure. It was erected at a time when material and labor were very cheap and, although money was not plentiful, subscriptions were liberal and all the necessary money was raised to pay the cost of the construction, so that on dedication day, the 31st of December, not a dollar was asked for. The total cost was nearly $8,000. Dr. H. A. Gobin preached the dedication sermon.
"It was thought at the time that the church would be ample for many years to come, but owing to the large increase in the Sunday school attendance and the advanced methods of teaching, the size and arrangement were found to be entirely inadequate for the requirements. In 1913, under the pastorate of the Rev. T. J.
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Everett, an architect was employed and plans submitted for remodel- ing the church. These plans, however, not meeting with the approval of a majority of the church board, were rejected and the matter laid over till the next year (1914), when it was again taken up, with Rev. T. P. Woodson as pastor. Plans were adopted and sufficient money was raised to begin work, which was carried to completion in 1915. The church was dedicated on the fifth day of December, the Rev. Dr. Harris F. Rall preaching the sermon and District Superintendent W. E. Mckenzie assisting with the services.
"The improvements cost about $13,000. The church now has thirteen class rooms and is ample for the need of the Sunday School and church services, and is modern in its construction, hav- ing an up-to-date kitchen, shower bath, and toilet rooms, a fine gym- nasium, steam heat, and a hot and cold-water system. It also has a large church parlor, with a fireplace at each end, which makes it a splendid room for church receptions and socials. 'In giving praise it should be given where praise is due.' The Rev. Bond was an Englishman, possessed of a great amount of the missionary spirit. As a missionary he had traveled over the Rocky Mountains, preach- ing to the miners. He came to the Foresman circuit, as it was then called, and found the people still meeting in the schoolhouses for worship. He began at once to arouse them to the necessity of hav- ing churches, showing them that all that was needed was earnest effort, some sacrifice on their part, and the churches would be an accomplished fact.
"Again in building the first brick church at Brook Rev. J. P. Shagley's untiring devotion to its accomplishment is well worthy of comment. But perhaps to no one in the building of this church is there so much praise due as to the late John Esson. He was a member of the church, one of its trustees, a member of the building committee and chief solicitor for subscriptions, and naturally felt great pride in the fact that the money was all raised before the day for dedication.
"Rev. and Mrs. T. P. Woodson, the present pastor and his wife, are entitled to much praise for the consummation of the later modern improvements and for the advancement of the church's efficiency in general. Mr. Woodson is not only a loyal worker for his church, but for the whole community as well.
"It may be a matter of interest to know that Brook and Morocco circuits were for some time joined together as one circuit, a part of the time known as the Brook circuit and at other times as the Morocco circuit. It then embraced a large territory including West
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Union, Russell Chapel, Morris Chapel, North Star, Beaver Ridge and perhaps a few others. Dating from the years 1858-82 the pas- tors who served this large circuit were John McMahan, Rev. Dun- ham, D. A. Grimes, Miles Wood, Aaron Conor, William Cox, George Guild, H. N. Ogden, Rev. Kight, Rev. Talbot, A. W. Wood, Lanty Armstrong, Rev. Campbell, Robert Calvert and John Sebring. In this year 1882 the circuit was divided, giving Brook the south half of the territory. From 1882 the pastors who have served the Brook Circuit have been John Sebring, John Harmon, Joseph Hogan, Rev. Bond, B. C. McReynolds, J. L. Greenway, Rev. Day, A. L. Clark, Jesse Wiley, Rev. Jessie, A. Ward, Albert G. Deitch, James Sawyer, J. P. Shagley, Joseph Zaring, Alfred Kummer, T. E. Ballard, T. J. Everett and T. P. Woodson. In 1903 the Rev. Joseph Zaring, a young man of great ability, died in the third year of his pastorate at Brook, in the twenty-seventh year of his age.
"Owing to the improved roads of stone and gravel and the advent of the automobile, the circuit has been reduced to the one appointment at Brook, where two services are held every Sabbath. The church at Brook has a membership of three hundred and seventy. The Sunday school has an enrollment of three hundred and twenty-five. The Auxiliaries of the church are the Ladies Aid, with fifty members; the Social Service Club, with a membership of sixty ; the Knights of St. Paul, twenty-five members; the Busy Men's Brotherhood, one hundred and fifty members ; a good orches- tra, consisting of piano, two saxophones, two violins, one cornet, one clarionet, one flute, and drum; the Boy Scouts, eighteen members ; Epworth League, a Womans Home Missionary Society, a Queen Esther Circle, Standard Bearers and Kings Heralds.
"Some presiding elders who were distinguished in their day for oratory and spiritual power who have held conferences for this society were John H. Hull, J. W. T. McMullen, John H. Cissel, Richard Hargrave, James H. Claypool, John L. Smith, Samuel God- frey, and Delos Wood. Some of the old-time earnest workers and supporters of this church, who are remembered by the older citizens, are Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Dewees, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Hawkins, Mr. and Mrs. John Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Lowe, Alexander Lowe, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Merchant, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hersh- man, Mr. and Mrs. William Sunderland, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Dewees, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Lyons, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Warr and Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Merrifield ; the last five of whom still live and take a lively interest in current events."
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MISS ELLA LYONS' STORY
To Mr. Hershman's account of the growth of local Methodism is added the following article written by Miss Ella Lyons for the memorial service held in the Brook Church on January 17, 1915: "I am indebted to my parents," she writes, "for much of the material found in this article. Instead of Aaron being the mouthpiece of another, it is quite the reverse, and I am the mouthpiece of Aaron.
"The first religious services in this locality were held by a friendly tribe of Indians about five hundred in number, who located on the Iroquois river during the Black Hawk war. Grandpa Lyons attended some of these services. One of the few incidents my father tells of these Indians is that at one time when Grandpa had gone to one of these services a chief came to him and begged him to take several large twists of tobacco in payment for some bacon which an Indian squaw had gotten for her sick chief.
FIRST CHURCH AND SCHOOL AT THE LYONS HOME
"The first M. E. Church services were held in the log cabin belonging to Grandpa Lyons. This cabin was one of three which stood about half a mile northwest of Isaiah Lyons' home. The three cabins stood in line from north to south, with sheds connect- ing them. The middle one was the living room in which church was held for about five or six years, from about 1836 to 1842. The third cabin was the latest addition to the house, and was used for the schoolhouse for much of the time. Grandpa Smith, the grand- father of Bennett Lyons, was father's third teacher in this room. So in these log cabins, the home of Grandfather Lyons, practically began the first school and the first church services in this locality. About 1842 a schoolhouse was built near the present Griggs road, and in this, church was held for two or three years.
"The first church services held in Brook were in a little school- house built where the library now stands. In this schoolhouse, about eighteen feet square, Methodists, Baptists, United Brethren and Christians all held services. Then, about 1865, when Uncle Morris Lyons was trustee, a new and larger schoolhouse was built in what is now McKinley Park. The church people gave three or four hundred dollars to this building in order to use it for church services. This schoolhouse had a rostrum and a big seat around the front. These corners were the 'amen' corners, and where the shouters usually sat. The seats were the old-fashioned double kind. If
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someone went to sleep, it was very easy to tumble out-I believe some member of our family has that pleasant recollection of tumbling out on the floor.
"Then, about 1888, the frame church was built where our church now stands, and in 1891 the newly organized Ladies Aid remodelled the building. In 1899 the present church was built, and was dedi- cated on the last day of the nineteenth century. After fifteen years the growth in the various church departments necessitated larger quarters ; therefore the church was remodeled and is now nearing completion.
"As to the ministers and their work, it would be too tedious to give a routine of names and to say something of the work of each, so I will just give a few details and incidents.
"One interesting fact is that as the church grew in numbers and power the territory, or scope of the minister, decreased. The first M. E. circuit, when church was held in the log cabin, extended from east of Rensselaer to about ten miles west of here. The services were held about once in two weeks. The minister preached every day of the week. He would go on horseback from one point to the next, hold services in the forenoon, and spend the rest of the day visiting. When he came to the log cabin here, they usually went hunting in the afternoon.
"The next change in the circuit, was when Morocco and Brook were thrown into one, with Morocco as the head of the circuit. The territory was smaller and there were about six preaching points. During this time the interesting periods of the year were the quarterly meeting and the revival services. The quarterly meeting was a great event, and people from miles around planned to attend. Mr. Wood, our present district superintendent, held one of the most successful revival services and in his sermon, two weeks ago, told of the efforts made on the part of the people to attend these meetings.
CHANGES IN CIRCUITS
"At this time Brook was still a part of the Morocco circuit, but the work became too heavy for one man and an assistant pastor was secured. About 18SI Mr. Sebring was assistant for Mr. Cal- vert, and after about a year of his assistant pastorate the circuit was divided, and this became the Brook circuit, with a smaller territory but additional points-Morris Chapel, Pleasant Grove, Iroquois, Salem, Foresman and Brook. According to the records
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for that time, the minister's salary and the presiding elder's allow- ance were $408.80, the pastor receiving $365.48, notwithstanding the fact that he had a family of five to support. No wonder that it was necessary to originate the donation party, even though a large number of the things given were useless. The record also shows an average attendance of the Sunday School to have been 333/4.
"Mr. Bond first put the movement on foot to construct a church. The membership numbered about 85. The church was built and dedicated under the next minister, Mr. McReynolds, in 1888. Then followed a period of rest under Revs. Greenway and Day, but the Ladies Aid could rest quietly no longer; so, while Mr. Wiley was pastor, they engineered a remodeling of the church. About this time a parsonage was built. Then followed Revs. Clark, Jessie, Ward and Sawyer. Under the last named the parsonage was rebuilt.
"During Mr. Shagley's pastorate the present church was built, in 1899. During the pastorate of these men just named, three of the circuit points, Morris Chapel, Pleasant Grove and Salem, were either dropped or added to other points.
"Next came Rev. Zaring, followed by Rev. Ballard. At this time the Forseman point was added to Mount Ayr, and under Mr. Everett the Iroquois point was dropped. This left Brook out of the relationship with the interesting name of the circuit rider, and left it a station with two services on the Sabbath. The history of the church during the work of the last named ministers, and from that time to this, is within the memory of most of the congregation."
LIST OF PASTORS
The records of the Brook Methodist Episcopal Church do not antedate 1882. Since, and including that year, its successive pastors have been as follows: Revs. John Sebring, 1882-84; G. M. Glick, 1884; G. A. Bond, 1885; J. W. Hogan, 1886; B. C. McReynolds, 1887; J. Greenway, 1888-90; Edward Day, 1890; J. H. Wiley, 1891 ; A. L. Clark, 1892; C. A. Jessie, 1893-94; Artemas Ward, 1894-95; James Sawyer, 1895-97; Albert G. Deitch, 1897; J. P. Shagley, 1898-1900; Joseph Zaring, A. Kummer, 1900-03; C. B. Stanforth, 1903-06; T. E. Ballard, 1906-09; T. J. Everett, 1909-13; Thomas P. Woodson, since 1913.
The records also indicate a membership of 370. The years when the different church buildings were completed were 1884, 1899 and 1915.
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UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH OF THE BROOK CIRCUIT
Continuing Mr. Hershman's history: "It is not known exactly when the first society of this church was organized at Brook. It is known that preachers of this denomination held services here before the Civil war, and sometime in the early '6os the church owned a parsonage in the village of Brook, and had a resident preacher. The circuit then embraced a large territory and was called the Iroquois circuit. The preachers made long rounds on horseback, often preaching day and night every day in the week, covering the circuit about once in three weeks. Some of those old- time preachers who came onto the scene a little later are remem- bered well-Reverend Waymire, Reverend Wainscott and the Rev- erend Garrison.
The last named was a man of very blunt speech, who generally spoke right out and called things by their right names, calling a spade a spade. He said on one occasion that he was born like the cow, with the rough side of his tongue up. There was another man who perhaps, though he never traveled this territory as a circuit rider, often preached in this community as a presiding elder of the conference. The man referred to was Jacob Kenoyer, late of this county. Although he died in the prime of life he had a wide repu- tation for eloquence and power in preaching. He was also a noted soloist, nearly always preluding his sermon with a song so beautiful in sentiment and execution that the audience would be brought into perfect spiritual harmony with the mind of the singer, and thus be prepared to receive the great gospel message he would deliver. The society at Brook passed through the usual fluctuations common to nearly all societies of that day, sometimes down and sometimes up. During one of the downs its parsonage was sold and, for some years after, there was no resident preacher in Brook, though it was still retained as a preaching point, except perhaps during short intervals in the '6os and '70s. The history of the present society dates back to 1882 and 1883, when, under the pastorate of the Rev- erend Jones, the Dr. G. B. Smith property was bought to be used as a parsonage. In 1891 Rev. H. W. Meredith had the parsonage remodeled. The Iroquois Circuit at that time consisting of Brook, Mount Zion, River Chapel, North Timber, No. 7 School House and Foresman. In 1893 Rev. A. M. Snyder was assigned to the charge and at once went to work forming plans for building a church at Brook, for until about 1886 the Brook United Brethren Society had held services in the schoolhouse.
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"After the dedication of the Methodist Church of Brook, in 1886, they were invited by the sister church to bring to it their services, which they did, occupying it on alternate Sunday evenings, until the erection and dedication of their first new church in 1894.
"At this time the name of the charge was changed to Brook cir- cuit. A few years later the charge was divided, Morocco circuit tak- ing Mt. Zion and River Chapel and North Timber, leaving Brook, Foresman and No. 7 in the Brook circuit. In the same year the society at No. 7 built a frame church and dedicated it as Otterbein Chapel, on the 3rd Sunday of September, 1894. The Brook Church was dedicated the 2nd Sunday of October, 1894, the venerable Bishop Weaver preaching the dedication sermon. The building of this church is due in a great measure to the energy and untiring efforts of the Rev. A. M. Snyder who saw the opportunities of the church in Brook, and left no stone unturned to place his society on an equal basis with any other church, making it a power for good in the community. From this time on the church and Sunday school made such growth that by 1910 the building was considered entirely too small for its requirements and was torn down and the present fine structure was erected under the pastorate of Rev. W. P. and Alice Noble at a cost of about $14,000. This beautiful church edifice is of modern architecture and is large enough for its needs. It has a seating capacity of about seven hundred, including a gallery that will accommodate about one hundred seventy-five. It has ten class rooms and well arranged basement with kitchen, dining room and water system. Brook charge has now no outside appointments, as the Otterbein Chapel was destroyed by a tornado and the point transferred to the Brook Church which now has a membership of five hundred and seven; a Sunday school enrollment of 465, and a fine parsonage erected in 1915 at a cost of nearly $3,500.
"The auxiliaries of the church are the Ladies Aid, with a mem- bership of thirty-five; the Sisters of Ruth, with a membership of fifty-five ; the Mens Brotherhood, who number one hundred twenty- five and the Endeavor society, with an enrollment of seventy-five. The church is progressive and prosperous. C. A. Sickafoose, the pastor at the present time, is a man with strong personality; is aggressive, a forceful speaker and popular with his congregation. The Sunday school also has an orchestra consisting of piano, one clarionet, two cornets, one bass, two violins, one horn, one trombone, one saxophone and trap drum; Dr. C. A. Wood, leader. The pas- tors who have served Iroquois circuit and Brook charge have been : A. Wimsett, Rev. Waymire, Joseph Coffman, Rev. Wainscott, J.
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Garrison, G. D. Shappley, W. S. Peters, Henry Rice, W. N. Coff- man, W. H. Jones, M. M. Branson, W. Vail, S. C. Zook, A. M. Snyder, H. W. Meredith, R. M. Zook, J. S. Cooper, W. P. and Alice Noble, T. H. Harmon and C. A. Sickafoose.
"Some old-time supporters of this church are still living and others are venerated in memory, and yet live in the example of their lives and the good work so well begun in their day. There comes to mind the names of Mr. and Mrs. John Myers, Sr., who lived long lives of usefulness and died beloved by all who knew them; Mr. and Mrs. David Hess, the latter known as Aunt Betty, who but recently passed away at the age of ninety-five. All her life a veritable bundle of loving kindness, she reaped, as she has sown, a harvest of love and tender care in her declining years. Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Ponsler, another old couple, have long since gone to their reward, but will live in the memory of those who knew them best. And Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lyons, who in their quiet way completed their lives of sterling honesty and charity, which lay like an open book as a guide for those around them. Of those who are still living, but have passed the three-score-and-ten mark, Mr. and Mrs. William Corbin, Isaac Sell, Mrs. James Kendall and Mrs. Hannah Dickson, are the connecting links that bind the past with the present." It may be added that the present church membership is 504.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
"The Church of Christ of Brook, or the Christian Church, as it is usually called, had its inception in the minds of Mrs. Sherman White, Mrs. B. F. Newell and Mrs. F. C. Rich, who organized a society in which they were joined by Mrs. W. P. Griggs and Mrs. Thomas Martin. This society held its first formal meeting in the old schoolhouse in 1895.
"Dr. and Mrs. G. B. Smith, Jacob D. Rich and Mrs. C. A. Von- dersmith, who had been temporarily affiliating with the Methodist church, now joined the society and the Rev. Mrs. Crank took charge as pastor. The Warner Hall was secured as a place for public services and the Christian church society became a permanent organization in the town of Brook. Sherman White, Jacob D. Rich, B. F. Newell, G. B. Smith and F. C. Rich were elected trustees, and plans begun at once for the erection of a church building.
"A building fund was started by serving an ice cream festival on the lawn of Mrs. Sherman White. This fund was added to in various ways but chiefly by donations and subscriptions solicited by
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a committee. The society was small but energetic, and the people were generous, even members of other denominations furnishing substantial aid. The committee also extended its solicitations to other towns and received help ; notably, from Kentland and Morocco and from the society at Pleasant Grove. Enough money was soon raised to justify the beginning of work and the new church was begun in the spring of 1897. The building was completed and the church dedicated in the fall of the same year by the Rev. J. V. Coombs. The original cost of this church was about $4,500. When taken into consideration the fact that at the time of its construction building material and labor were very cheap, it can be more easily seen how such a splendid church could be built at such small cost. The same church at this time would probably cost $10,000. Addi- tions have since been made to the church in the way of improve- ments, notably of the tower and basement. The church is well equipped for the needs of the congregation; has a seating capacity of about 425 ; six Sunday school class rooms ; is furnace heated ; has a serviceable kitchen and dining room in the basement and a bap- tistry beneath the rostrum, and is well lighted and commodious. The society has a membership of two hundred and sixteen, with a Sun- day school enrollment of about one hundred seventy-five. The auxiliaries of the church are the Ladies Aid, eight members; Kings Daughters, thirty members; Endeavor Society, twelve; and Mis- sionary society, twelve.
"The first pastor, after the Rev. Mrs. Crank, to serve the church, was the Rev. Clifford S. Weaver, a young man very popular in the community, who resigned after the second year to go to Japan as a missionary, remaining there seven years. Other pastors have been Rev. Kelley, Rev. Collins, Rev. Beckelheimer, Rev. Gehres, Rev. Mrs. Goodacre, Rev. Tucker and Rev. J. L. MacDonald, the present pastor, who is now serving his fourth year. Mr. MacDonald is a broad minded, Christian gentleman, charitable toward those who differ with him in opinion and has done much toward church har- mony and good fellowship in the town."
To the foregoing may be added information secured directly from Mr. MacDonald and the records of the church. Mrs. S. M. Crank assumed charge of the society July 1, 1896, the church mem- bership then being twenty-two. Meetings were held in Dobbins Hall, Mrs. Crank preaching for the organization an indefinite time. Following her Rev. Clifford T. Weaver preached alternate Sun- days until the new church was dedicated, October 24, 1897. He also supplied the pulpit for some time after. During 1898 Rev.
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