USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 47
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was elected on the Republican ticket as one of Delaware county's repre- sentatives in the legislature.
July 22, 1868, Mr. Kerwood married Mrs. Susan C. Craw, widow of Ephraim Craw, and daughter of William P. Reasoner. Mrs. Kerwood passed away April 15, 1895. Mr. Kerwood is a member of the High Street Methodist Episcopal church, of Post No. 78, G. A. R., and of Muncie Lodge No. 433, F. and A. M.
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CHAPTER XXV. CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
THE METHODIST. .
High Street M. E. Church.
The history of Methodism in Muncie began in 1829, when Rev. Charles Downey held services in the two-story log court-house, or from house to house, after the old Apostolic custom. The Muncie circuit was formed in 1836, and the faithful few continued to worship God without a church home until 1839, when the first church was built. The ministers who rode the circuit, fording swollen streams, enduring many hardships, and suffer- ing great privations to keep alive the Master's work, before the church was erected, were Rev. C. Downey, G. C. Beeks, Robert Burns, F. H. Carey and Wade Posey.
The members of High Street church sit in their comfortable pews, ab- sorb the warmth and cheer that come from a modern steam-heated building, and listen to the quartet of trained voices, supported by the pipe organ, filling the entire building with a flood of triumphant music, without a thought of what it cost the pioneers to lay the foundations of this great church. We cannot estimate the cost by mere dollars and cents, but must consider the sacrifices made by the founders of Methodism to erect the two churches that preceded this one, for High Street church is the outgrowth of two other buildings.
The M. E. church that was erected in 1839 on the northwest corner of Washington and Elm streets was the first church to be built in Muncietown. There are still living some of the members of this first house of worship, and they love to tell about the grand revivals held there. The building was a frame structure 30x45 feet, costing $450. The windows were on the sides. The pulpit was in the north end, and was a square box sort of affair, with a door in each side, with two steps leading up to them, the desk in front, and a bench against the wall. The minister entered the pulpit and closed the door, thus separating himself from the people. On either side the pulpit were some benches. These were the amen corners. The seats were in four rows, a double row in the center, two aisles, and a single row next the walls.
, The men occupied the west half of the building and the women the
Methodist Church, Built 1839. the first church built in Delaware County corner Elm and Washington Streets. Cost $450.00.
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Simpson Chapel, Muncie.
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cast half, and there was a door on each side so they need not even enter the church together.
There were tallow candles around the pulpit for light. Very few had hymn-books, and the minister lined the hymns. Mr. Job Swain led in the singing. During prayer every one knelt on the bare floor; no one thought of remaining seated during prayer.
The first quarterly conference of the Muncie Station was held in this church in October, 1851. The Sunday-school reported an average attend- ance of 50 pupils and seven teachers. This was the only Sunday-school in the county. The entire claims on the Muncie Station, including the pastor and presiding elder's salaries, was $434. Twelve ministers served as pastor of this church before a new building was erected.
In 1853 it was decided that the church was no longer a suitable house for the increasing membership. A lot was purchased on the northwest cor- ner of Mulberry and Jackson streets. In April, 1854, plans for a two-story brick church with stone basement were submitted and accepted. The con- tract was let and work begun. Only the lower part was finished in 1854, and this was used until 1856, when the auditorium was completed, and Simpson Chapel was dedicated to the worship of almighty God on July 20, 1856. Bishop E. R. Ames preached the. dedicatory sermon. The church cost when completed $4.467.80. Nineteen pastors served in this church.
In the fall of 1886 natural gas was discovered in Muncie, and the town had a phenomenal growth for twelve years. Many of the new people that came to live here were Methodists, and soon this church was no longer ade- quate for the growing membership, and the trustees began to look for new quarters. Up to this time nineteen ministers had served Simpson Chapel congregation as pastor.
High Street church and parsonage occupy two lots on the northwest corner of High and Adams streets. The lots were purchased for $6,000, and the building was erected in 1888. It is a modern church edifice, built of brick with stone trimmings, and the first cost was $26,000. It was dedi- cated on June 2, 1889, by Rev. C. H. Payne, D.D. Rev. C. U. Wade was pastor during the erection of this church, and for two years after. It has been remodeled since, in 1901, to suit the growing needs, at a cost of $10,000. The official board are now considering the advisability of making still greater improvements. The church now has a membership of nearly 1,500. In 1906 $4,026 was raised for missions and other benevolences, besides the pastor's salary of $2,200 and parsonage. Other running expenses of the church are $3,000 per year, so that it is necessary to raise $10,000 every year to carry on the work of High Street church.
Members of the church today who were members of the first church are: Mrs. Juliet Riley, Mrs. Mary Sample, Mrs. Edith Dungan, Mrs. Eliza-
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beth Haines, Mrs. Rebecca Maddy, Mrs. Mary Meeks, Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Franklin and Mrs. Mary Streeter. Rev. C. U. Wade was the first pastor, and Dr. Clark Crawford is the pastor now.
The Sunday-school is one of the best in the State, having an average attendance of 500. John W. Dragoo, superintendent; Fred McClelland, assistant superintendent ; Harden Roads, superintendent senior department ; Mrs. Zula M. Valentine, superintendent intermediate department ; Mrs. Olive Roberts, superintendent junior department ; Mrs. Elmer Gamble, superin- tendent primary department ; Mrs. Catherine Zihn, superintendent home de- partment ; Mrs. Mabel F. Lewis, superintendent messenger service; Ira J. McKimmey, director of orchestra. The W. F. M. S. was organized in Simpson Chapel January 23, 1872, during Rev. J. E. Ervin's pastorate ; Mrs. Mary Marsh, first president. It had 40 members the first year and raised $41.75 ; in 1906 it has 163 members and 59 life members, and raised $940.50. Mrs. Sue Harrington, president. The Y. W. F. M. S. was organized in 1899 by Mrs. C. J. Hudson, and has 45 members. Mrs. Emma M. Ervin was the first president. Miss Zenobia Stewart is president in 1906. They raised $91 for missions last year. Standard Bearers, organized in 1906, have 42 active members and 16 contributing members; Mrs. Zeralda Stewart. super- visor, and Miss Mildred Lambert, president. They do the same work as the woman's society and are being trained to step into their places at the proper time. King's Heralds have a sinall band, organized in 1902 by Miss Elizabeth Wilkinson; Miss Daisy Colvin, president. Little Light Bearers are a band of 252 children under and up to 10 years of age. This is the largest band in the Northwestern Branch. Mrs. G. W. Bucklin is the super- intendent. The W. H. M. S. was organized May 1, 1891, with Mrs. Maggie Driscoll president, and 13 members; $40 was raised the first year. In 1906 Mrs. Ida M. Watson was president; $545 was raised, besides other special work. This society has two auxiliaries, the Queen Esther Band, organized August 2, 1896, by Mrs. Elmira McCarty, and has 35 members, Miss Nellie Carmichael, president ; the Mother's Jewels have 12 members; Mrs. Jessie Mitchell, president. There is also one of the best chapters of the Epworth League in the State, organized in 1889 by Rev. C. U. Wade. It has 150 members ; J. M. Kirkpatrick, president. The Ladies' Aid Society is com- posed of all the ladies in the church. They furnish the kitchen in the church, .buy all the carpets and keep the church clean. They have bought new pews, individual communion set, and in many other ways have aided the official board in keeping up the church. They also furnish many things in the par- sonage and keep up some of the repairs. Mrs. W. A. Meeks is president. List of ministers who preached on the Muncie circuit before they had a church : Rev. Charles Downey, 1829; Greenbury C. Becks, Robert Burns, Francis H. Cary, Wade Posey. Those who served in the first M. E. church,
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High Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
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located on the northwest corner of Washington and Elm streets, were John H. Hull, J. S. Donaldson, J. L. Smith, J. H. Hull, Z. S. Clifford, Isaac Stagg, Luther Taylor, O. H. P. Ash, J. B. Birt, J. Colclazer, J. B. De Mott, Nelson Green. Those who served as pastors of Simpson Chapel, erected in 1854: Nelson Green, V. M. Beamer, H. N. Barnes, F. A. Hardin, A. Greenman, A. Marine, G. C. Becks, Benj. Smith, S. H. Rhodes, W. S. Birch, N. H. Phillips, J. E. Ervine, W. J. Vigus, E. F. Hasty, R. H. Sparks, Clark Skin- ner, F. T. Simpson, C. W. Lynch, O. Stabler, W. J. Vigus, C. U. Wadc. Those who have served as pastors of High Street M. E. church, dedicated in 1889: C. U. Wade, G. H. Hill, D. J. Naftzger, A. W. Lamport, E. B. Randle, and Clark Crawford, the present pastor.
Madison Street, Muncic.
This church was organized in Heekin Park, June 2, 1895, by Rev. N. H. Phillips and John Richards. Besides these, the charter members were: John L. Crawford, Elizabeth Crawford, Mary A. Richards, U. Ticknor, Flora Ticknor, Charles N. Ticknor, John W. Max, James Hundley, Jessie Hundley, Sophie Miller, Matilda Miller, Anna Graham, Leah Hilty, Lena Crawford. The society did not erect a building for several years. The cor- ner stone of their present church was laid in the fall of 1899, and on the following February 4, 1900, the church was dedicated by Dr. Lewis Curtis. The pastors of this congregation have been : N. H. Phillips, John K. Cecil, Herman G. Porter, I. W. Singer, Frank C. Morris.
Whitcly.
In the fall of 1895, several years after Whitely had taken its place among the suburbs of Muncie, a Methodist Episcopal society was organized in a store room on Broadway. The church building, at the corner of Courth and A streets, was begun in the same year, and was completed in 1897, at a cost of $3,000. The charter members and oldest members of this church are: Dr. Charles Frazer, Anna Frazer, Mabel Frazer, W. R. Deaton, Emma Dca- ton, Emily Shaw, Lottie Johnson, Jennie Johnson, Celia Coat, Arthur Coat, Laurence Coat, Annie Pearson, Clarence Pearson, John Pearson, E. P. Hub- bard, Sophia Hubbard, F. H. Hubbard, Rose Hubbard, Electa French, J. F. Maynard, Lora Maynard, R. R. Johnson, Cora Johnson, Emma Palmer, Cyntha Shafer, Henry Clinger, Aggie Clinger. The list of pastors is: George W. Wilson, C. W. Coons, R. S. Reed, John K. Cecil, Herman C. Porter, Charles W. Shoemaker, P. J. Albright, Gilbert E. Martin, J. Cook Graham.
Avondale.
The Avondale Methodist Episcopal Church was built during the summer of 1891, by Rev. C. U. Wade, then pastor of High Street M. E. Church. November 8, 1891, the church was duly dedicated and a society
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was formed, composed of the following: Charles W. Parr, Amanda Parr, John F. Hutchings, M. J. Hutchings, Myrtle Hutchings, E. G. Stevens, Lydia Stevens, Maggie Stanley, Nora George, Samuel Huston, Catherine Huston, Earl H. Bryant, Aggie Bryant, Catherine Cook, J. W. and Rebecca Mckinley, John and Lydia Spangler, Sarah Twibble. In 1906 improvements were effected on the church building at a cost of $1,250. The pastors wlio have served this congregation with the dates of their pastorates have been : C. U. Wade, Nov. 8, 1891, to April, 1892; A. I. Ruley, to April, 1893; T. Sells, to April, 1894; C. A. Wilson, to Aug. 1, 1895; C. W. Coons, 1895; J. F. Bailey, to 1898; C. J. Everheart, 1899-1900; C. H. Shoemaker, to 1902; G. W. Martin, to 1903; J. P. Chamnes, 1904 to April, 1907.
Normal City M. E. Church.
The Methodist congregation in Normal City was organized June 16, 1900. The building of the church was begun December 11, 1900, and when finished cost $8,000. A parsonage was built through the untiring efforts of Charles J. Everson while pastor, and is one of the best in the city, costing $3.200. The church was built with extensive plans to meet the conditions resulting from the founding of the Normal University, it being designed to afford sufficient accommodations for the students. When the university failed it was seen that the church was larger than needed, and the members were unable to meet the financial obligations. Rev. Everson has borne the brunt of the labors in rescuing the church from bankruptcy, and since the commencement of his ministry the indebtedness has been reduced from $3,100 to less than a thousand dollars, and that is, at this writing, provided for. As stated, the parsonage has also been built in the meantime. Mr. Everson has served the church four years. Those preceding him were: J. K. Cecil, six months; W. A. Griert, two years and a half; P. J. Albright, one year. The charter members and oldest members now living are: Mr. George Birt, Mary A. Covalt, T. J. Cheeseman, Martha Higman, A. R. Hoover, Mary J. Hoover, Emily F. Martin, J. W. McDaniel, Barbara Mc- Daniel, J. W. Mendenhall, Lucy Mendenhall, Philena Wilson.
Yorktown .*
In the year 1871 I came to this place and opened a small millinery store. The town was about one-fourth the size it now is, but was big enough to have two saloons and several fighting men in it. The Methodist Episcopal church stood upon the ground now owned by Sol Donovan and is occupied by a dwelling near Mrs. Mock's home. It was a very old frame building with leaky roof and smoky stove. A few faithful hearts kept the fire burn-
"The article on the Yorktown church, written by Mrs. Elizabeth A. Mattho and revised by the present pastor, contains so much incidental history that we feel justified in publishing it entire.
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ing on the Lord's altar. Rev. Fish was the pastor. He lived in Middletown and preached every three weeks in the afternoon. His salary was mostly paid by Mrs. Dr. Hittle, who was a life-long Methodist.
The members of the class so far as I am able to remember them were Mrs. Hittle, Thopolis Davis and wife, Mother Moore and family, Mrs. Eliza Parkinson, Joshua Dickerson and wife, Mrs. Jane Bryant, Joseph Burgess and wife, Samuel Bennett and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Browning, Mrs. Nancy Swift. The old members now living are Mr. and Mrs. Henry Over- mirc, Mrs. Elizabeth Matthe, Mrs. Esther Mock, Mrs. Mary Marker, Mrs. Nancy Jane Swift, Mrs. Mary Yingling.
The names of the old ministers up to the present time are as follows : 1868, Revs. Rammel and Murray ; 1869, Rev. John Pittinger; 1870, Rev. Jolın Cain; 1871, Rev. John Black; 1872, Rev. Fish ; 1873, Rev. McDaniels; 1874, Rev. John Pierce ; 1875, Rev. McCarty ; 1876, Rev. McKaig; 1877-8, Rev. Wolpert; 1879, Rev. Thos. Sells; 1880-1, Rev. Wayman; 1882, Rev. Wolverton, who left the work; 1883-5, Rev. J. W. Miller; 1886-7-8, Rev. Powell, and Rev. John H. McMahan came to finish out the work as a supply when the work was divided; 1889, Rev. Reinhart came and stayed three months and Rev. Melvin Pittinger took his place, remaining until 1892; 1892-4, Rev. William Peck; 1894-6, Rev. John S. McElwee; 1896-7, Rev. Chas. W. Shoemaker; 1897-1903, Rev. Edgar L. Jones; 1903 to Oct. Ist, 1904, Rev. Herman G. Porter ; Oct. 1st to 1906, Rev. L. A. Sevitts; 1906-8, Rev. Walter W. Kent.
The names of the old trustees so far as we are able to find out are: Wm. K. Helvie, Jas. Burgess, Sam. Parkinson (all dead) and David Camp- bell. The old church was dedicated in June, 1878, during Rev. McCarty's pastorate, which stood until the present beautiful structure was built.
My parents had taken their membership to the Pike's Peak school house a few years previous, where a small class had formed and where my sister Taressa and self had become members under the pastorate of Rev. Leroy Rammel. There was also a few Protestant Methodists here at that time who held services once a month in the old church. Jason Miller was the pastor. Father Warfel and wife belonged to that church.
The Presbyterians owned an old brick church that stood on the ground that the old school house stands upon. The members of their class were: Dr. Horne and wife, Dr. Slack and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Yingling and their family. They had preaching once a month by Dr. Todd of Muncie. Neither church had any Sunday school class or prayer-meeting.
Near this church stood the school house, which was a low, one-story frame building, containing two rooms. Mr. Austin VanWinkle and Henry Brandon were the teachers. Mr. VanWinkle superintended a small Sunday school that met in this building. Very few parents attended. It was looked
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upon as a kind of prelude to the day school. Mr. Van Winkle lived in the country and on Sunday morning when the weather was bad he would not come, hence there was no Sunday school for that day. I remember one . morning when he did not come the boys insisted that we have Sunday school anyway. Jacob Koonts volunteered to lead the singing if I would open with the lesson. I was very much disturbed about the prayer, but finally found the Lord's Prayer in the Bible and we read it in concert.
The next spring, Rev. Fish was removed and Rev. McDaniels was sent on the work. The Sunday school died out, with the close of the day school, and the next winter a different teacher was employed who did not take up this work.
The next spring, Bro. John Pierce was sent to the work and we were put into the Muncie District. He resided in Muncie and preached at Mount Zion, West Chapel, and Daleville, Yorktown. I think he also preached at Florence Chapel, Anthony town.
By reason of the death of some of the members, the class had drifted from Pike's Peak to Daleville. The next winter Mr. H. H. Shoemaker and . Julia Sparr of Muncie were employed as teachers in the school. They imme- diately opened the Sunday school in the old house, with Mr. Shoemaker as superintendent and Miss Sparr as secretary. She had a sweet voice and led the singing. One song I remember as being a great favorite with the school was "Gates Ajar." The parents began to take more interest, which resulted in a Bible class, taught by Mr. Shoemaker. Owing to the sickness of his wife he was compelled to give up the school, and a Mr. Bodkin took his place. He did not continue the Sunday school work.
In the spring of 1874 Bro. Pierce was removed and Bro. Carnes canie. He immediately took steps toward building a new church and prevailed upon my parents to bring their membership back to Yorktown. He organized a building committee and a board of trustees. David Campbell, Daniel Park- inson, Joseph Burgess and my father, William Helvie, were the trustees.
The members of the Pike's Peak church put their names here also. There was Aunt Betsy Helvic, Esther Richmond and Mr. Bratton and family. Hard work was done that year in subscribing for the new building. The Protestant members joined with us, for all realized the need of strength for the new building. There were Father Warfel and wife, Mr. Jester and wife, Jiles Patterson and wife and Mrs. Carrie Spann. The old church and : lot was sold to David Campbell. One lot was bought of and another do- nated by Mr. Summers. In December the contract was let for the building and everybody was happy.
The women of the town put their heads together and planned for a new carpet for the rostrum and aisles. They succeeded in getting the carpet for the platform, but objection was raised against the matting for
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the aisles, as it was considered useless to put something for the men to spit upon. Finally Mother Moor offered to weave a rag carpet if the material was furnished. By much hard work we got enough together to make it. The next year Bro. McCarty was sent on the work. In June the new church was dedicated. The young men of the town, at the very last moment, bought the new bell. In the afternoon a Sunday school was organized, with William Fontick as superintendent. Prayer-meeting was decided upon and Joshua Dickerson chosen class leader. Mrs. Henry Overmire, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Spann, Mother Moor and Father Warfel were the teachers.
The next spring (1876) Bro. McKaig was sent to us, and Dick Hall was made superintendent of the school. He organized the first teachers' meeting. He also introduced the Lesson Leaves, which caused some people to think we were not studying the Bible.
The next year Bro. Woolpert was sent here and remained two years and lived in Yorktown. During the year 1879 Bro. Sells was the pastor, living in Middletown. Bro. Wayman succeeded him in 1880, being on the work two years. We had left the town for some time, and upon our return we found that Dick Hall had died and James Cook had moved away, and the Sunday school had taken a vacation for want of a superintendent. Very little interest was shown in church matters, but one good sister suggested that we pray for the Lord to send us a superintendent. The result was that in 1883 Bro. L. D. Colvin and family moved to town and brought their letters to the church. We immediately organized a Sunday school, with him as superintendent, his son Frank as chorister, and Mary Overmire sec- retary. An organ was purchased and the school was well attended.
That year Bro. Miller was sent here and remained two years. In 1885 Bro. Wolverton was sent to us, but gave up the work in a few months. The local preacher filled out the year. In 1886 Bro. Powell became our pastor and remained three years. About this time we were feeling the need of a resident minister and commenced to talk parsonage. But this would mean a division of the circuit, and this my father greatly opposed, feeling sure that Yorktown and Mount Zion could not support a minister alone. The matter was brought to a climax by Middletown becoming a station and we were left without a pastor.
Bro. McMahan of Middletown was sent to us as a supply, but did not bring his family. Owing to the sickness and' death of my mother nothing was done toward the building of the parsonage for several months. One thing was sure, the church board made no effort toward it.
About the last week in July Mrs. Sparr and several other ladies of Muncie desired to organize a W. C. T. U. and set a date for that purpose. The first time they came there was not enough to organize, but they made another date, and as some of our women were very desirous to have a society
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of that kind we organized with 18 members. Mrs. Syntha Pauline was president and Mrs. Nettic Goings secretary. Quite a number of our country friends were included in this company, among them being Mrs. J. H. Koontz, Mrs. David Campbell, Ida Aldridge and others. This was the first woman's organization in Yorktown, and while a great many of the members were inspired with the hope that it would banish the saloon from our village, some of us had a hope that through it we could build a parsonage. So in a short time a few of us met in Mrs. Colvin's parlor to discuss the situation and form plans whereby we could carry out both objects. Our plans were laid before the society and met no strong objection. We had Mr. Harvey Koonts write us a form to take subscriptions on and commenced the work at once. The church board fell into line readily and came down with their subscrip- tions and advice. Mr. Colvin, Mr. Warfel and my father were made a kind of advisory board and all helped willingly. Enough subscriptions were taken during the fall to insure the success and some time had to be given to let them secure the amounts. Rev. Reinhart was removed at the end of the first quarter and his place filled by Bro. Melvin Pittinger, who was most helpful. So the building slowly but surely was finished. Mrs. Flowers had organized a Loyal Legion, and through their efforts the means was raised to build the veranda. The next year Bro. Pittinger was returned to us and married a very sweet young wife and brought her to the little home we had worked so hard to get ready for them.
In 1892 Bro. Peck was sent to us and stayed two years. In 1894 Bro. McElwee was sent to us and remained two years. During his pastorate the Woman's Aid was organized and has not had a day's rest since. Then came Bro. Shoemaker for one year. He organized the Epworth League, with Miss Daisy Colvin president and Miss Melissa Helvie Jones as president of the Juniors. In 1897 Bro. Jones was sent here and remained pastor six years. During his second year Miss Harriet Kemper organized the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society with Mrs. Mary Williamson president. It has been one of the greatest blessings in showing us the need of those less for- tunate, and is educating us to self-denial and helpful work. During the first year of Bro. Jones' pastorate he held a good revival, and on his return for a second year it became expedient to build a new church.
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