USA > Indiana > Grant County > Centennial history of Grant County, Indiana, 1812 to 1912 : compiled from records of the Grant county historical society, archives of the county, data of personal interviews, and other authentic sources of local information > Part 90
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The third house built in the county was in the city of Marion, located on West Second street, dedicated December 1, 1912. For many years preaching services were held at different places by ministers from the Landess congregation. Not much of permanent work was effected, how over, until it was taken up by Elder I. W. Norris in the spring of 1911. The membership grew rapidly, some sixty uniting with the church in one year. They now have a membership of nearly one Inindred, with J. W. Norris and Ross Gottschall, ministers. In the southern part of the county there have lived a number of members who were identified with the Summitville congregation in Madison county. A minister, Charles Wood, lives at Matthews.
The membership of this fraternity in Grant county is small com- pared with the large churches in Huntington. Wabash and Miami counties. The Church of the Brethren bas abont eleven thousand mem-
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
bers in Indiana and ninety thousand in the United States Forty years ago there was little interest in higher education, missions, Sunday schools and young people's meetings. Today there are ten colleges in the United States; there are missions in Sweden, Denmark, China and India ; Sunday-schools are found wherever there is preaching, and in many places there are Christian workers' organizations for special bom lit of the young.
The church holds closely to the Bible for its direction. The annua! conference from time to time places certain interpretations upon the meaning of Biblied doctrines, and prescribes the best methods of carry- ing out Bible principles. Members are received into the church by baptism, trine immersion being the mode used everywhere. The chief ordinances for Christian fellowship and culture are Feet Washing, the Lord's Supper- a Tall meal-the Communion, and Kiss of Charity. The sick are anointed with oil, with a bodily healing in view hat cluelly that the sick receive the spiritual blessings. Non-conformity to the world in dress is still insisted upon. The church does not believe in seeret societies, going to law with brethren, going to war, nor taking the legal oath. For many years the church was served altogether by a free ministry, but with changes in the economical conditions of the country, a supported ministry is growing rapidly. Ministers and dea- cons are elected by their congregations. In this as in the government of the church every member has a voice. The system of church gov ernment is both democratic and representative. Beyond the local church. there is the state district conference, and over all the general conference
XOVILL. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH By Charles L. Carter
T. H. MeCormie was preaching in Grant county in 1575-1876, and seeing the great field of work decided to establish a church in Marion. the county seat. A temporary organization was formed in 1876 and a lot was purchased at the corner of MeClure and Ninth streets for $900.
The building was erected under the supervision of G. W. Tingley, architect and bilder, and dedicated Inne 21 1577, by O. 1. Burgess, president of the Northwestern Christian University, assisted by A. M. Atkinson, of Wabash. On the first Lord's day in July, 1877, the church was permanently organized by T. H. MeCormie, who became its first min ister. There were thirty charter members, cach pledging themselves under the following covenant : " We, the members of the body of Christ, do enter into covenant with each other and agree to become members of the Church of Christ in Marion, Indiana, and in so doing we pledge our lives and all we have, if need be, to maintain the cause of Christ. "We further pledge ourselves that we will be bound by the Word of God in all things, and that where it speaks we will speak and where it is silent we will be silent, being governed in all things which make for peace and the things whereby one may edify another."
On July 22, 1877, the Bible school was organized. It has continued until the present time and is one of the largest and best organized schools in Marion. The ministers who have served this congregation of Disciples are: T. H. MeCormie, 1877: M. T. Hongh, Is78; R. S. Blount, 188] : W. A. Hongh, 1882; T. M. Wiles, ISS4; A. R. MeenHongh, 1887; J. V. Cooms, 1888; E. A. Pardee, 1890; J. M. Pyle, 1892; J. 11. Vinson, 1893; S. W. Brown, 1895; A. H. Davis, 1897: E. L. Frazier, 1898; W.
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S. Buchanan, 1901; Milo Atkinson, 1906; J. Boyd Jones, 1907 J. P. Myers, and Rollin A. Bennett, the present pastor.
On December 14, 1899, a lot was purchased at the corner of Boots and Eighth street for $2,500. On July 11, 1900. The old church prop- erty on MeClure street was sold for $550. The building of the taber marle was commeneed July 20, 1900, and with the heroic efforts of E. L. Frazier, minister, and his faithful membership was completed and delli- cated October 21, 1900, at an expense of $2,000. This served for the congregation until October, 1908, when it was taken down and the lot cleared for the present building. Excavations were made and a part of the foundation wall was built in October and November, 1905. The work was resumed in the spring of 1909, under the management of Il. 1. Stafford, Sheridan, Indiana. The present building is a masterpiece of architecture in its simplicity. It was dedicated February 19, 19IL. There is nothing line or fancy in either the structure of its furnishings. but there is a beauty about the symmetry and harmony that appeals to the most exacting eritie. It is a well lighted structure and has the larg est seating capacity of any church in the city.
The present officers of the congregation are as follows: Rollin .A. Bennett, pastor ; R. W. Weaver, W. D. Lett, H. L. Erlewine. E. L. Wol- cott and James W. Westfall, trustees; T. C. Wiles. C. L. Carter, G. W. Keith, C. E. Stewart, R. W. Weaver, W. D. Lett and E. U. Caffer. elders: F. R. Heck, A. J. Brady, S. S. Wright. Heury Yale F. T. Parker, J. M. Barkley, J. W. Westfall. V. M. Bombarger, Ofis Hoch. I. E. Moore, J. H. Poston, R. D. Barley, Lee Stevens, Charles Thomas. A. L. Frighner, Stuart MeGowan, W. B. Noff. R. E. Rhoads. G. A. Kendall, C. L. Bradford, George Streib. Chester Macon. JJ. Winters Clint Cretsinger, deacons; I. E. Erlewine, chairman of the official board: (. E. Stewart, secretary; T. (. Wiles, financial secretary ; Dr. S. R. Wright, treasurer; George R. Wharton, roll custodian ; (. 1. Carter, historian ; 0. E. Stewart, Sunday school superintendent, I. C. Marvin, assistant ; Miss Jessie Frank, church stenographer.
All departments of the church are in flourishing condition and the growth of this organization is assured. A very commendable feature of the business side of this body is that there is one common treasurer for all departments of the church work. He is the banker for the church, so that instead of there being "'many treasurers" there is but one, with one bank account. Regular monthly meetings are held, at which time reports are read and passed upon by the official board. The member- ship mmubers eight hundred and seventy-live at this time, with from three hundred to three hundred and fifty in the Bible school. Charles Underwod. Vernon Nelson and I. H. Saunders have been ordained and sent out to preach from this congregation. Miss Jessie Prank is now taking a course in college, fitting herself for a missionary. Several of the organizations of the church are either supporting or assisting in the support of missionaries in the foreign field.
The Central Christian church was organized in 1899, with about forty members from this congregation, and in 1905, Third church was organized with abont thirty members from this congregation. Other congregations throughout the county have their own houses of worship and are in flourishing condition. The congregation at Fairmount having lately dedicated a splendid building for its new home.
The church at Swayze was organized by Brother J. Snodgrass at the old schoolhouse building, with twenty-eight charter members, in the year 1890. They first bought a store room on the corner of Lyon and Washington streets. From here they removed to the north end of town in a few frame structure. This building was destroyed by fire in 1907. Vol 1-40
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
With faith unshaken they went to work and built the present house, it commodious brick building, which was dedicated in 1908 of successful meetings have been held from time to the with the result that membership today numbers one hundred and seventy live. The present minister is A. P. Hodges.
There are flourishing churches at Gas City. Van Buren, Range Lane and Center, but their officials did not respond to the call for information concerning them.
NOIX. THE BAPTIST CHURCH
By Rev. R. W. Point
The spot is still known as the Indian Village in Pleasant where the Baptists organized the first church in Grant county. The wigwams in the red man's village have all disappeared, but not all traces of his descendants, for there are "half breeds" who still hold membership in a Baptist church at the "village." It was sometimes called Meshingo- mesia Village, after the last chieftain of the Miamis. The name of the church is I'mon Baptist, and it evidently had a very early existener im the history of tirant county.
There are no records to show an organization previous to last, but the fact that in that year it is spoken of as a reorganization of "con sistent members" indicates that there had already been a society, pos sibly of Indians who were somewhat wayward possibly wood Indians. There is mention of this church in the history of Pleasant township. It is a matter of Baptist history that Rev. Isane MeCoy was sent by the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society to Fort Wayne in 1820, to evangelize the Indians in that locality, and it is very probable that he reached the banks of the Mississinowa in the extension of his missionary efforts. Old records show that June 1. 1861, Union church was reorganized and the entry reads as follows: " Consistent members of a regular Baptist church of our Lord Jesus Christ situated on the Indian Reserve in the county of Grant and state of Indiana. I'nion church reorganized June the first, 1861," and the number of these "consistent members" was twenty three, all marked "natives" except seven and two of the seven Joseph Havens and P. L. Carter, were marked as having died in the army.
Rev. C. A. Price was pastor in these early days. Rev. William Lee. a Civil war veteran, served the church about eighteen years as pastor In the year 1911 the Rev. B. Parviance was pastor, and at the present time. 1913, the interests of Union church are looked after by Key. Wil liam E. Rix, Harmony associational evangelist. The house of worship is a frame building ocenpying an oblong piece of land containing one and seven-tenths aeres, set off by the Grant county court in I>6 to Wil liam and Robert Peconga, trustees of Union Baptist church. In the rear of the church and on the north end of the traet belonging to it is a graveyard, in which only Indians are buried, and the moment mark ing Meshingomesia's grave hears his name and the information that he died December 16, 1879, aged about ninety-eight years. This plot is a portion of what was once a large reservation granted by the United States government to the Miami tribe of Indians. Therefore this local- ity may still be spoken of as the Indian Village and as the Indian Reservation. As far as the Indians still living are concerned it is a reservation where they may bury their dead-a sort of a happy hunting ground on Grant county soil once trod by their warriors.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
Union Baptist church is indeed an historie spot, and in the not far distant future it will command greater interest from the people of Grant county than at present. Its proximity to the battle field. the now famous battle of the Mississinewa, will insure it the proper recognition in history.
The Baptist church at Sims, known among Baptists as the Pipe ('rock church, was organized in ISTO, meetings being held in the public schoolhouse until 1892. when a house of worship was created in the town of Sims. John Harper and wife and Isaac Decourery and wife were charter members. Rev. J. B. Somerville was an early minister. In the year 1899 Rev. R. W. Fryer because pastor and served two years. At this time Isane Decourrey, who was prominent in the connells of Baptists, was deacon. From the time of its organization he looked after its interests. He was its carnest spiritual and financial support. Dea. con Decourecy Followed the ways and customs of the early settlers of Grant county and his "latch string" was always out to the itinerant preacher. Even a tramp was never turned away hungry. Sans church has never had any rich members, and therefore it has always been " sore pressed" to pay the preacher. Many a time after a failure to raise a collection. Dearon Deconrecy would hand the preacher a dollar, which at the last moment he had some way secured. He has gone to his final reward, having died April 9, 1909, and so with John Harper and his wife-all gone to their eternal home. Isaac W. Ronth, a Civil war veteran, still remains to do service in the church. Key. Jacob Barrow, of Windfall, followed Rev. Fryer, and he met with success, as witnessed by an item in The Marion Chronic January 2, 1901, saying: " Regard- less of the blizzard eighteen Shus residents arrived in Marion yesterday and were baptized by Rev. JJ. W. Clevenger at the First Baptist church." In 1905 Rev. .. . Buckles, of Greentown, was pastor, and in 1908 Rev. T. E. Covington served the church a few months. In 1910 Miss Laura M. Grinsted visited Sims, her service not limited to the Sabbath school. Although not having ministerial credentials, she is an able preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1910 Rev. Buckles was pastor again, and in 1912 Rev. A. J. Croy was called, and the present organization is: J. B. Mercer and William Murphy, deacons, and Mrs. A. J. Croy, church clerk.
In 1885 the Baptist State Mission Board commissioned Birv. W. D. Weaver and sent him as a missionary pastor to Marion, and the First Baptist church is the result. He found a few local Baptists and they we're not long in effecting an organization with the following charter members: Rev. Weaver and wife; Mrs. N. L Higher, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Grindle, Mrs. O. A. Sprague, Russell L. Squiers, Mrs. Cornelia V. Squiers, John Murphy and Mr. and Mrs. Malott. Very soon Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Meade and Mrs. Sarah Davisson were received as members. Mr. Squiers was the first and for a while the only deacon. Later Mr. Meade and W. O. Anderson were elected to serve with him. During the pastorate of Rev. E. G. Shouse, John Wilson and L. M. Overman were added to the board of deacons. For a number of years the church sory ire was held in White's hall, now the Iroquois block, and after five years Rev. Weaver resigned the pastorate to become city school superintend- ent. During his pastorate a plain brick church, costing $10,000, was erected at Nebraska and Fourth streets, which served the congregation a quarter of a century.
The following are the pastors serving the church after Rev. Weaver : Revs. E. G. Shouse, I. F. MeDonald, D. R. Mactiregor, J. W. Clevenger and A. B. Strickland, who is now in his seventh year and under whose pastorate the church has had steady growth. Two missions previously
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
opened have become active, spiritual churches, the George Street Baptist church and Immanuel Baptist mission. The year 1913 marks a date of great interest for Marion Baptists, the plain brick church in which they have worshipped God twenty five years having been torn down and in its place we have a more connuodious, modern structure a model of iwanty in the way of a house of worship. It fronts on Fourth street with a side entrance on Nebraska, and is Inmult of Persian rup brick trimmed in Bedford store, and it is equipped with all modern church Turmshings. Our new church was buttit at a cost of $25,000, the site already owned by the Baptists, and is unique m one thing a stream of water is flowing under it. The main auditorium and side galleries accommodate six hundred people, and one thousand is the entire seat ing capacity of the church, the Sunday school room being an archi textual continuation of the auditorium. The following is the official roster: Pastor, Rev. A. B. Strickland ; assistant pastor. Res. Charles Stoddard : clerk, Mrs. George Unger; treasurer. E. D. Bender : den ons, W. O. Anderson, D. J. Allen, George Landuer, Dr. J. F. Loomis. W. (' Glaize. Andrew Jackson and F. G. Johnson ; trustees, John C. Hlaswell. John 11. Schaumleffel, George Brown, I. F. Rose and A. F. Cotton.
Fairmount Baptist church was organized in 1556, Zion Baptist church which had previously existed in the country, and which was des handed by letters given its members, being the nucleus for it. There is mention of Zion church in he Pairmount township chapter. Those who had church letters were called together, and the record says: "Articles of organization of Fairmount Baptist church dom this 25th day of May. 1886," and this arm of Zion church extended to Fairmount asse bled at 2 p. m., and organized by choosing James E. Price clerk pro fem. Those having letters were called and responded as follows: Emery Swindell, Rhody Swindell, Cornelius Price. Hannah Prive, Wilminia Prive, Fernando C. Creek, William Morford, Catharine Creek, Joseph Leach, Louisa beach. James M. Fowler, Luficia Fowler. bla Fowler, Mbert Fowler and wife. The pastor was Elder R. J. Gorbit, and the deacons were: Joseph beach, Emery Swindell and John Frost.
The Calvinistic articles of faith adopted are of interest Int too long to insert, their headlines reading: "Of the Scriptures; of the Tritt God; of the Fall of Man ; of the Way of Salvation ; of Justification ; of the Freeness of Salvation; of Grace in Regeneration; of Repentance and Faith ; of God's Purpose of Grace; of Sanctification; of the Pers verance of Saints; of the Harmony of the Law and Gospel; of a Gospel Church; of Baptism and the Lord's Supper: of the Christian Sabbath ; of Civil Government ; of the Righteous and the Wicked; of the World to Come." At a monthly meeting held June 16, 1889. Rev. M. T. Carver accepted the call as pastor. Later pastors were lies. T. W. fox and Rev. A. B. Somerville, and it was during the pastorate of Rev. Somer ville that a $5,000 church edilir of brick was constructed and at shil serves the requirements. When the church was built the trustees were James Fowler, Joseph Leach and Emery Swindell. As a result of a series of meetings in March, 1892, conducted by Rev. Somerville, there were twenty-one apressions. Other pastors were Revs. T. C. Smith, M. Smith, L. Aspy, T. W. Cox, 6. HI. Fry, C. J. Casey, J. F. Griffith, C. A. Morehouse and D. R. MacGregor. There are seventy-five members and the 1913 roster is: Deacons, John Frost, Ephraim Bartholomew, and B. F. Thompson; trustees. J. A. Winslow, E. Bartholomew and William Parrill; clerk, Miss Ethel Coahran.
The Baptists were the first to organize a church in das City. hold- ing the first service in a store room in what was then known as Harris- burg. Gas City because the name of the town when gas was discovered.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
In 1887 this church was organized, and not long after it occupied a spacious frame building, but in 1909 it was sold and the congregation bought the Presbyterian church, which was more centrally located. The pastors have been : Reys T. C. Smith, W. .. Delhandy, C. H. Fry A. Kay, Joseph Belcher, Edward Armstrong, and Mes. N. B. Leslie. The orgamzation is: Deacons, J. W. Carney, N. V. Cooper and J. W. Turnipseed ; trustees. Enoch Burgood, Rev. Fry and A. K. Ludwig; treasurer, Mrs. D. B. Simpkins; clerk. B. H. Brenbarger.
The George Street Baptist church had its beginning in earnest mis- sionary work in 1905, in the Sabbath school and cottage prayer meetings in the homes of the community. No one deserves more credit for it than Miss Laura M. Grinsfed, who found out where such meetings might be held and then advertised the appointments. It was Miss Grinsted who looked after an empty house in which to hold the Sabbath school, and at its close the local preacher was usually present, according to her arrangement. Miss Grinsted carried forward the work in the community from an empty dwelling to an empty store room and into a church home, working all of the time under the supervision of the First Baptist church, and in November, 1911, George Street church was organized with the following members: Miss Grinsted. Mrs. Levi Arnold, Charles Wilson and others. Rev. Lawrence Bell became the first pastor in 1907, and during his pastorate a building was bought from the German Reform denomination and moved from Adams street to George street, $1.100 being the expenditure. In the summer of 1913, an addition was made of Your Sunday school rooms, and there are ninety-seven members. Rev. W. W. Long began his pastorate in 1909, and has been with the church four years. The official roster is: Clerk, Bruest Vive; treasurer, Samuel Arnold; deacons, Charles Wilson, Otto Skimmer, Marion Hiser and John Young; trustees, F. A. Harrold, Milton Wilson, and Charles Wilson. The church property is valued at $2,500, and George Street church is doing a good work in the community.
Immanuel Baptist mission at the Nome Corner is still under the supervision of the First Baptist church, When Rev. Strickland com- meneed his pastorate with the First Baptist church this mission con- sisted of five members worshipping in an old store room on the Jones- boro road, but now there are seventy-live members and they worship in a fine chapel two squares west of the Jonesboro road just off of Mor- ton boulevard. Rev. Charles Stoddard, assistant to Rev. Strickland, of the First Baptist, preaches at the mission.
C. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH
By W. H. Rogers
Eighty-five years ago a number of aggressive clergymen and laymen, who favored lay representation in the general and ammal conferences of the church, with their kindred and those who followed for opinions sake, were at first congregated under a provisional government with the name Associated Methodist churches, common ecclesiastical views soon completed the evolution of a seet, and these Christians became the Meth- odist Protestant church, the constitutional convention meeting on the second day of November, 1830. Every forward movement, whether in church or state, is a restoration rather than a revolution, the progressive element being guarded and qualified by the conservative. It asks indeed, for the old paths, but having found them moves forward therein,
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
not backward. The Methodist Protestant church represents such a movement ; its demand for the mutual rights of the ministry and the laity having been as we believe, a progressive return to the ideals of Wesley, and to the prevailing usage of the Apostolic church. The historie individuality of the Methodist Protestant church Is not dependent upon lay representation alone, while m all the great symbols of the Christian faith our church parallels the others called evangelical. embracing with them all the fullness of the Apostles' Creed. Its elementary principles are designed to lay hold upon those specific rights and privileges, the conservation of which history has shown to be essential to religious liberty. These dementary principles admit but one order in the ministry of the church, establishing presby torial equality as well as equality between the ministers and the lay men. The pastoral or ministerial office and duties are divine appoint ment and all the elders in the church of God are equal, but ministers are forbidden to be lords over God's heritage, or to have dominion over the faith of the Saints. They hold the church to a basis which is pre eminently Christocentrie and Biblical, as distinguished from everything traditional or ceremonial. Christ is the only head of the church, and the word of God the only rule of faith and conduct. They proclaim and conserve the rights to private judgment in matters of religions Every man has an inalienable right to private judgment in matters of religion, and an equal right to express his opinion in any way which will not vio late the law of God or the rights of his fellow man. They recognize the integral nature of every society of believers in Jesus Christ, recognize such society, when assembled for religious worship. As a Christian church of divine institution, vesting therein the right of local self government, with the exclusive right of property in their houses of wor ship, and to any rule infringing upon these rights they do solemnly pro- test. Of the illustrious men of the Methodist Protestant church. I mention but three: Nicholas Suethen, the reformer, was the father of Methodist Protestantism. He took the broken fibres of ecclesiasticism and wove them into a church government. the most American the world ever saw. No man in his day was able to meet the numerous and con vincing arguments for a liberal church polity which he advocated. Another was Asa Shinn, the theologian, whom Dr. Adam Clark declared the greatest reasoner in America. Thomas 11. Stockton, the orator, was the most eloquent preacher of our church and perhaps was next to Whitefield. the most gifted orator on the American continent.
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