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 94
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
ing from the center and to raise two Feet three inches; eleven issuty Your light windows in each apartment, glasses right by ten. this double doors in each apartment Four Feet in width, seven tret m height : th house to be manediately east of the old one; with which the meeting unites and refers the subject to Back Creek I'm parative Meeting record has been Found that tells just when this house was completed and liest used, but it certandy was ready for the first Quarterly Meeting due to be held in it, in June, 1811.
We have given the plans of the two most important meeting hours built in the county. Others were smaller, but built on the same plan. But that plan is in use no more; not a house of that kind remains in the county. About the year 1570 there began a movement that worked gradually, and in about thirty years brought about a complete revolu tion. The men and women are no longer separated in any meeting, and only one Inisiness session is held at one time. This has made the parti tion no longer a necessity, and as a result all partitions have been removed and the house remodelled, or replaced by new holdings on modern plans. As is generally the case when inovations take place m churches, or when the location of a church is changed. there was some friction and disagreement during the thirty years this change was being wrought. A beautiful incident that occurred is so exceptional that il is worthy of being recorded for the reading and imitation of all future generations. A certain monthly meeting had the subject of removing the partition mmder consideration. Many Javored and some oppovd the change, and one of the latter is the hero of this story. The " weight of the meeting" decided in favor of removing the partition, and appointed the next day for the men to gather at the banking with their tools and make the change at once. Our hero had spoken earnestly against it, but the next morning he was the first to arrive with his tools. saying to others as they came, that while in sentiment he was opposed to the change, he left it his duty to defer to the judgment of the majority of his friends, and assist in carrying out the plans that had been decided upon, just the same as if he had favored them. If the world were made up of such men it would be a long step toward the millennium.
It has already been narrated as to the complete change that came among Friends as to the question of slavery during the Eighteenth century, and which directly contributed to bringing the large emira tion to the Ohio valley. This change had been so complete as to callse them to take an active interest in the liberation of slaves, and also to give liberal aid to colored people in whatever way it could be done. In 1826 Indiana Yearly Meeting received word from North Carolina Yearly Meeting that many colored people wanted to leave that state and come to the states north of the Ohio river, and the result is Ius1 told in the words of the minute adopted : "After solidly deliberating on the subject, and having our minds clothed with feelings which breathe good will to men, we have come to the conclusion to inform Friends that we are free to extend such assistance to those who may be found among us, as one means will permit; and, although it is desir able to avoid an accession of this class of population as neighbors. We are concerned to impress it upon the minds of all that our prejudices should yield when the interest and happiness of our fellow-beings are at stake, and that we exert no influence which will deprive them of the rights of free agents, in removing to any part of the world, congenial to them." The Friends in Grant county were in accord with this expres- sion of the Yearly Meeting, and were always ready to render assistance to the colored people. Many oppressive conditions stirred them out of sympathy to do what they could for the relief of this down trodden pro-
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
the latter part referring to the secession of Deer Creek Friends. "In consequence of the departure of Indiana Yearly Meeting from the Que lenature and good behavior, and at the sathe fine prohibited white per sons from employing them, under penalty of heavy line. The attempth ! enforcement of these laws at one time in ('meinmati attected two flott sand, two hundred and fifty seven colored people, who made arran's ments to go to Canada, but their helplessness and inability to migrate is shown in an incident reported to the yearly meeting in 1829, 11h . party of "twenty-eight persons have gone with a sum not exceeding +25. When we consider that they have gone into a wilderness. and have to encounter the rigors of Cana la winter, We have to roules our minds are impressed with apprehensions that their situation will be one of great distress." Liberal contributions were made to relieve This and other similar cases and as the years passed by constant help was given. Schools were maintained for their education, committees were appointed to go to distant states and secure the release of slaves of which word was received as to very inhumane treatment, or illegal bondage. As an example, a colored boy eleven years of age was kind napped at Richmond, taken to St. Louis and sold as a slave. The Friends at once employed Attorney Abner Haines, of Centerville, and Abel Gore, of Richmond, to go in pursuit. Arriving at St. Louis they found that he had been sold to the captain of a steamboat and taken to Louisville, where they went and after much effort and expense returned him to his parents, at an expense of $175 Such cases as this and much worse were continually coming up. and the Friends gave of their means to pay the expenses incurred, feeling that any sacrifice necessary should not stand in the way of securing the rights and the freedom of a fellow being.
With the Friends everywhere, those in Grant county cheerfully assisted in giving personal help to slaves, in petitioning the legislatures and congress for the abolition of slavery, and for the repeal of laws that unjustly discriminated against colored people, such, for instance as a law that rendered incompetent the testimony of any colored person in any court where a white person was involved a law that contributed mich to gross immorality. A branch of the "underground railway" Jed directly through this comty, and toany a passenger was carried between dark and dawn from one station to another by friends in Grant county.
It seems strange that with such a unanimity as there was on this question in the church a division, or separation should come to the church on account of it. It will, perhaps, never be possible for those of us who have been born since those terrible anti-bellum days to fully understand the situation. To read the minutes of Indiana Yearly Meet- ing from its beginning in 1821 to 1813. one cannot but be convinced that there was the most tender solicitude and care to do all against slavery and for the slave that could be done. Every year the subject came up, and the most active measures were adopted, and large amounts of money were given, and there is never a word that would indicate anything but the greatest nity in what was done. But a division came on this very subject, and Grant county did not escape it.
The separation first came in the Yearly Meeting. At a meeting of the speeders held at what is now Fountain City, a new Yearly Merting was organized, and a committee appointed to organize subordinate meetings wherever followers were found. With the suggestion and help of this committee, the friends of Deer Creek met on the 25th of February, 1843, and adopted the following as their opening minute, the first part of it regarding the separation in the Yearly Meeting, and
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
the latter part referring to the secession of Deer Creek Formde .In consequettee of the departure of Indiana Yearly Meeting from the Ville and genuine principles of the society in regard to our testimony. against slavery: and because of its arbitrary. prosemptive and un herten measures, a meeting of anti slavery friends convened at Newport, Wayne county. Indiana. And after giving the subject a serious and deliberate examination, it was the unanimous conclusion that the elf constances under which they were then placed as members of the body rendered it indispensabley necessary to separate themselves thete from. They. therefore, then, the Seventh day of Second month. . \ D. 1543, associated themselves together as a religions society in the rapae ity of a yearly meeting under the title of Inhana Yearly Meetme of Anti-slavery Friends: embracing in its limits all those members of Juliana Yearly Meeting who adhere to the genuine principles of the society residing in the district described in the discipline of the Yearly Meeting, from which they then separated themselves; and appointed a committee to advise and assist anti slavery friends within their limits in setting up and establishing such meetings as are recognized in the discipline and order of the society.
"And we, the Anti-slavery Friends, residing within the limits of Mississinewa and Back Creek Monthly Meetings of Friends, believing it to be right to establish a Monthly Meeting among ourselves, do, with the advice and assistance of a part of the aforesaid committee, this the 25th day of the Second month, 1813, associate ourselves together in the capacity of a Monthly Meeting under the title of Deer Creek Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Anti slavery Friends, embracing in its limits all those members of Mississinewa and Back Creek Monthly Meetings who adhere to the genuine principles of the Society of Friends. "
At this meeting Thomas Baldwin was appointed clerk for the day. and the following month Joseph Allen and Bailey Pearson were made permanent clerks of the men's meeting, and Giney Ballinger and Lydia Baldwin, clerks of the women's meeting. Persons whose names appear as actively participating in the meeting during the remainder of the year 1843 were Thomas Baldwin, Kenben Overman, James Allen, Daniel Thomas, James Hollingsworth, Bailey Pearson, John Shugart, Henry Overman, Joseph Allen, Giney Ballinger, Lydia Baldwin. Joshua Small, George Shugart, Robert MeCracken, Daniel Thors , Rachel Coppock, Mary Shugart, And Jones, Elizabeth MeCrack1. Mary Harris, Jonathan Macy, Cornelius Shugart, Hannah Macy, Mais Hollingsworth, John Coppock, Jr .. John Allen, Obadiah Jones William Ballinger, Sarah Shugart, Elizabeth Small. Gulic Coggeshall. Rachel Thomas, Jonathan Macy, Mark Davis, William Morris, Routen Small, Nathan Hollinsworth, Rachel Allen, Maris Howell. Milly Bogate, John Moorman, Job Jackson. Verting Kersey, Rebecca Davis, Mablon Na.d. Thomas Osborn, Wyllys Davis, David Jay, Naney Osborn, Hannah Howell, Jane Pearson, Nathan Coggeshall, Peter Rich, Henry Overman, John Harris, Barnaba Bogue, Rebecca Perry, Moses Rich and Lydia Jackson.
While the Deer Creek Friends were proceeding with their Anti slavery Monthly Meeting, the meetings from which they had seeded were wrestling with the question of what they should do in the new situation that had come.
On April 14. 1843, at Mississinewa Monthly Meeting, complaints were made against Joshua Small, Bailey Pearson, George Simgart, John Shugart, and William Ballinger. "for being out of unity with Friends. seeeding from the Society, and assisting in setting up meetings con-
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
trary to the order of discipline." As usual, these complands were referred to committees, and on their recommendation the following month all were disowned, as were also Jane Pearson, Mary Shugart, Sarah Shugart, and Giney Ballinger, against whom the women's feel ing had taken action ou similar complaints. Similar complaints against others followed in succeeding months, until the following persons wir alt disowned: John Allen, William Morris, Mablon Neal, Daniel Thomas, Elizabeth Morris, Frances Allen, Hannah Macy, Nathan Cog geshall, Giulie Courgeshall. Maris Neal, Rachel Thomas, Jonathan Mary, Joseph Allen, Barnaba Bogne, Robert MeCracken, Enoch Davis, Thomas Baldwin, John Moorman, Elizabeth MeCracken, Rebecca Davis, Mary Moorman, Mary Harris, Amos Small, Lydia Baldwin, Milly Bogue, Reuben Small. Elizabeth Small. Verling Kersey, Thomas Harris, John Harris, Francis Davis, Sarah Davis, Sarah Harris, James Allen, Rachel Allen. Lucinda Allen, Jane Small, and Abigail Wright, forty-eight per- sons in all.
Back Creek Monthly Meeting at the same time carried on a similar work, and disowned John Coppock. Obadiah Jones, Moses Rich, Ann Jones, Martha Coppock. David day, Lydha Jackson, Peter Rich, Job Jackson, John Rich, John Coppock, dr. James Hollingsworth, Demaris Howell. Rachel Coppook, Jan Hollingsworth, and Elizabeth This was disowned for having " married in a meeting of the late seeders known as Anti-slavery Friends."
It is interesting to look at the records of the meetings on both sukes of this separation. We will now give attention a little while to the ter urds of Deer Creek Meeting of Anti-slavery Friends
In March, 1543, representatives were appointed to attend "the con- templated Quarterly Meeting to be held at Mississinewa the fourth Seventh day in this month." This Quarterly Meeting was held, for it was reported that the representatives all attended, but whether it was held in the Mississinewa meeting house, no record has been found to tell. In the same month a meeting for worship was established at New Hope meeting house, and in June it was requested that New Hope Friends be granted a Preparative Meeting to be called Mississinowa Preparative Meeting of Anti-slavery Friends to be established on the west bank of the Mississinewa river, near the east end of Jonathan Macy's lane. " As this request was granted, and the location was dif ferent from New Hope meeting house, it may be inferred that a house was erected near the east end of Jonathan Macy's lane.
In August the Anti-slavery Friends of Oak Ridge requested a meet ing established, but this request was never granted. A similar request for Centre Meeting at Jonesboro was granted.
A peenliar complaint was made against a member in August, as follows: "For endeavoring to put mischief between man and wife, for making contradictory statements, for threatening to take a stick to il woman and to kiek her. and For making use of unbecoming language af the same time, and for tying up and whipping unreasonably our of his daughters near the age of fifteen years, for joining another religions society." He was promptly disowned.
It was in February, 1844. that Thomas Ellis and Elizabeth Macy were married at Deer Creek, for which offense the latter was disowned by Back Creek Monthly Meeting, as already mentioned. A ratio of apportionment on record shows that the Quarterly Meeting was com- posed of Deer Creek and Young's Prairie Monthly Metings, the latter being in Michigan. The ratio may give some idea of the relative strength of the two meetings. Deer Creek being assessed sixty two and one half per cent and Young's Prairie, thirty-seven and one-half per cent
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HISTORY OF GRAVET COUNTY
In November. 1811, the meeting " becoming con rued do domu of some individuals who have formerly taken part with us may fail ings for discipline, but have since lett us. 'appointed a continue take the subject into consideration, see them. If not ary and for! This committee made the following report jest two years after the ginning of the monthly meeting. .. We the commuter appointed wi continued to take the subject mito consideration relating to those Del viduals who in time past for a while did walk with us, etc., have attended to the appointment, seen them on the subject, and are united in malahe the following report ; Whereas the following name | persons did for a time after our secession Frem Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends. attend our meetings, and refused to have their names recorded as members with us, we therefore do certify that we do not consider such as month bers with us, viz. Nathan Hollingsworth, Wyllys Davis, Verting Kersey John Ratliff, Oladiah Jones, Ann Davis, Mary Hollingsworth, and Rhoda Hodson.'
Two months before this, as the records of Back Creek Monthly Meeting show, one of the persons just named applied for a mission once more info the meeting from which he had seceded, the minute belles as follows :
"Obadiah Jones produced an offering to this meeting, expressing dissatisfaction with having seceded from Friends and having dentified himself with those formed Anti-slavery Friends, and requesting to be again united with Friendsa which was read, and after a time of deliberation thereon, this meeting appoints David Stanfield and Mat thew Winslow to visit him on the occasion and report to next meeting." The next month he did not appear fully ready to continue his offer ing." but in another month the meeting "united in judgment that he is sincere in his acknowledgment, and he produced an offering which was read, and after a time of deliberation theron, this meeting is free to accept."
All this shows that a change of mind was affecting some of the mem bers of the Anti slavery meeting, although it continued about thirteen years longer. Just what caused this may only be conjectured. but it may be that they concluded that the difference that had caused the separation had been magnified, and that after all there was more nuity among the members of the two divisions than they had imagined. That both sides were honestly actuated by conscientious seruples cannot be doubted, and as is likely to be the case it is quite probable that mental concessions were made on both sides, and their minds and bearts Were growing closer together again. The records of the meetings on both sides show that from this time on the seceders gradually went back to the church from which they came, until at the last a considerable mm ber all went as one body, and there was no more division.
In September, 1845, Giney Ballinger, one of the women's clerks was disowned, "for denying a statement she made in a Monthly Meeting." In January, 1846, Mississinewa Preparative Meeting was discontinued. and the next month "the lot of land and house, " "near the east end of Jonathan Macy's lane" was ordered to be sold, and the proceeds applied to "Imilding the Yearly Meeting house."
Deer Creek Meeting seems to have dealt promptly with those who lost interest, and the following persons were disowned principally for "neglecting the attendance of religions meetings :" William Ballinger, Elizabeth Ballinger Draper, Maria Ballinger, Sarah Thomas Copp. Thomas Mason, Bailey Pearson (another of the clerks), Alexander Fra- zier, Jane Frazier, Jane Pearson, Jane Small, Joshua Small. Orpy Thomas Broderick. Charlotte Thomas. Rebecca Davis, Jr., Jans Allen,
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
Asenath Pearson, Anna Pearson, Joseph Pearson, William Davis, Daval Jay, Joseph Allen (another clerk), Ruth Pearson, Rachel Thomas, Reuben Small, desse Pemberton, Hiram Jackson, Mahlon Neal, Hannah Jackson, Noah Harris and Naney Harris.
James Allen, as we have seen, was one of the persons disowned. One would guesss that a little romance was connected with his return to membership. Five years after his disownment, on request of Clear Lake Monthly Meeting, probably located in Michigan, Deer Creek gave its consent for that meeting to receive him as a member. Two months later James Allen and Martha Wooten informed Deer Creek Meeting that they intended marriage with each other, and he was "directed to produce to next meeting a certificate of his clearness of like engage- ments with others From Clear Lake Monthly Meeting of Anti slavery Friends, " and Elias Coleman and Barnaba Bogue were "appointed to sce that the rights of the children of the woman Friend are secured according to law." Martha Wooten Allen is remembered as an able minister, and the people gathered in large numbers to hear her preach. Her sons, Andrew, Abijah F., Isom P. and William S. Wooten, have also been popular as able preachers.
From Rev. Elwood Scott is learned the following interesting mei- dent concerning Martha Wooten Allen. She believed it her duty to appoint a meeting at Oak Ridge. On account of her being an Anti- slavery Friend, the Friends at Oak Ridge did not consent to let her use their meeting house for the purpose of holding a religious meeting. At the same time most of them were anxious to hear her preach. Arrangements were made in some way for the meeting to be held at Josiah Hockett's sawmill, and a large crowd gathered to hear her, melud- ing many who had refused her the use of the meeting house. There in the midst of logs, humber and sawdust, she gave an eloquent sermon that charmed her hearers. After the Deer Creek Anti slavery Meet- ing was discontinued, she became a member of Back Creek Monthly Meeting, and by that meeting was once more recorded a minister in 1863, but died April 13th of the same year, in the sixty-third year of her age. Often since then has her name been mentioned as a great preacher.
The records of Deer Creek Meeting show two items different from those usually entered, due no doubt to the great respect for the two persons named : "George Shugart, an elder and member of Deer Creek Monthly Meeting of Anti-slavery Friends, departed this life 10th Month, 10th, 1851, aged 81 years, 1 mouth and 10 days." The other is a similar record of John Shugart, "dercased the 15th of Ninth Month, 1853, aged 58 years, 9 months and 10 days."
There is no record that shows how this meeting came to a con clusion. The book of the men's meeting eloses with the record of June 16, 1855, and of the women's meeting, March 18, 1836. Evidently there were later records in both books, but they have been torn out and de stroyed. The last record of the men shows that JJonathan Hockett was that day appointed clerk, and Bennett B. Coleman, now an aged member of the Presbyterian church in Jonesboro, was appointed assistant clerk, Ann Jones was the last clerk appointed by the women.
After the Anti-slavery Meeting had existed just fifteen years, the following minute of Mississinewa Monthly Meeting shows that it came to an end; "John Allen, Thomas Harris, Mary Ilarris, Nathan Cog- geshall, Gulie Coggeshall, Thomas Baldwin, Amos Whitson, Rebecca Whitson, Sarah Shugart, Hannah Jones, George Shugart, Abigail Shu- gart, John S. Harris and Sarah Harris request to be joined again in membership with Friends, with their minor children who have not Vol 1-42
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IHISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
rights of membership in the Society of Friends, namely. Newton Har ris, Elizabeth, Sarah, Lney, Millicent and Rhoda Coggeshall, William and Hiram Whitson, Lewis Il. and Antoinette Jobes, Henry W., Thomas N., and Mary Jane Shugart, Martha Knight, an adopted daughter of George and Abigail Shugart, Benajah, Mary, William D. and Natey Jane Harris, which being considered by this meeting, resulted in the appointment of Isaac Elliott, Jesse Thomas, doel Overman, Wyllys Davis, Rachel Elliott, Jane Hollingsworth, Ann Overman and Rhoda day, to visit them in their families, and collectively if it be thought best. and report to next meeting."
Here was the interesting co incident of persons being appointed on a committee to welcome back seeeding members, with whom they themselves had seceded, they having been received back some tine before. It must have been a time of joy too deep for utterance, when all realized that after fifteen years of separation with its attendant bitterness, they were once more united. The applicants were all received back into the fold, and were again brought into such perfect unty that those of us who have come along later would never know, save by tradition and the written records, that a separation had ever existed. And the united body rejoices that human slavery has been abolished, and the united church is now giving attention to questions that involve the highest personal freedom through a redeemed life.
There are so many things that properly enter into a history of the Friends in Grant county that it is not practicable to speak of them all in a chapter like this. A few will be mentioned in addition to what has already been given.
First, the development of Bible schools . ht June, 1835, Mississinewa Monthly Meeting appointed a committee "to promote and have the oversight of establishing a Scripture reading school, or schools, on First days afternoon, " and the women's minute adds, "to endeavor to keep good order." Three months later the committee reported a school held at Mississinewa, and one at Back Creek, once in two weeks at each place, "productive of some good, as it has had a tendency to stimulat- ing some of our youth to that of reading the Holy Scriptures." In March, 1840, by the advice of the Meeting for Sufferings a committee was appointed "to open and hold First day school for Scriptural instruction and report occasionally." After six months came the report that they "opened schools agreeably to direction, and continued them for a time, all of which are discontinued." Gradually more attention was given to the subject, until at the present time a Bible school is held at every meeting place the year through, and the church joins other churches of the world in the study of the international lessons, and of the more modern graded lessons.
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