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 95
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
Friends have always believed it to be wrong to engage in war. As on all other questions of reform they have led on this subject, and have the satisfaction of seeing prominent men and nations come up to the standard they have always advocated-arbitration instead of war be- tween nations and between men. The following quotation From a mem- orial of the Friends to the United States Congress in 1846, when it seemed that Great Britain and the United States would go to war over the Oregon boundary question, reads like the arguments of many great men today who favor arbitration. "Your memorialists claim to be Christian patriots; lovers of the peace, and seckers after the welfare and prosperity of the nation; true friends to its honor and dignity, in the most exalted sense, and faithful subjects to your government ; wishing to live in obedience to and support of all its laws, which are not repugnant to the higher authority of the Divine laws; surely believing
659
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
the ancient proverb that . Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.' But, as a religious society of professing Chris tians, we have always held and maintained that all wars and lightings are in direct violation of the spirit, the commands and example of our blessed Saviour, who taught and now teaches his followers to Love your enemies, to bless them that curse you. to do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you.' To resort to the use of deadly weapons and to the field of battle to settle any dispute, whether of great or small moment, in support of that delusive spirit, of evil origin, misnamed honor would, we beheve, be descending greatly from the true dignity and honor of a great people, and as with individuals so with a nation, would be a wide departure from the spirit and print eipiles of Christianity and true Christian virtue.
" Fully believing that all wars are the offspring of men's wicked passions : that they are barbarous, anti-Christian and unnecessary, and productive of inexpressible evils to the parties involved: we could greatly desire that nations in their disputes might yield to the peace- able influence of the Gospel. and settle their differences in such manner as they would be settled between individuals actuated by a dignified Christian spirit, and under an exalted sense of justice, forbearance and brotherly kindness, and who would rather suffer wrong than do wrong. To this end we could earnestly desire that in cases of difficulty. a course of negotiation, entirely pacific and conciliatory, should be pur- sued ; and if this should fail to produce agreement in terms, that refer ence might be made to arbitrators, mutually chosen: men distinguished for their virtue and ability ; whose award would be faithfully and serupu- lously adhered to. and carried out without hesitation or unnecessary delay. We have entire confidence that such a course would, with the Divine blessing. never fail of success; that it would be highdy becoming the dignity and true honor of any nation, and operate as a sovereign example, not only to the other nations of the earth, but the individual citizens of our own republic."
Friends in Grant county have always advocated total abstinence from the use of intoxicants and as directed by the Yearly Meeting in 1828, have extended "labor and care for the support of our testimony against the commerce, distillation and umrecessary use of that destruct- ive article." In 1853 they joined in a petition to the legislatures of Indiana. Ohio, Illinois and Lowa -. We respectfully but earnestly request that you would enaet such a law, or laws, as will entirely prohibit the importation. distillation and sale of intoxicating liquors, except for medicinal and mechanical purposes." The membership of the church is unitedly in fayor of such prohibition today, and rejoices that a hill has been recently presented to the national congress, providing for it throughont the United States. They also rejoire that there are many signs indicating that this cause is making headway, and that the time Seems near when weak humanity will no longer be tempted by the solici- tations of those who would profit by human weakness.
The Friends here have kept up the reputation of the church wherever it has existed on the subject of education. In this county wherever they settled a schoolhouse was erected about the same time as a meeting- house, or in some cases school was held in the meetinghouse. At Mis- sissinewa, Jonesboro, Back Creek, Deer Creek, Oak Ridge and other meetings, schools were provided for near the houses for worship. Elijah Thomas taught school in what is now Marion in 1830. Susannah Baldwin taught in the log meeting house at Back Creek in 1831. Several eminent educators have been given to the world by the Friends of this county, among whom are Clarkson Davis and Lewis II. Jones.
660
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
At the opening of Mississinewa Monthly Meeting, a committee on education was appointed, and in June, 1833, this committee reported that "they have attended to the subject of locating sites for building of school houses, and have located one on Mississinewa meeting house lot near the middle of the south hne. but do not think necessary to locate any more at present. Also report that they have united in a plan of a schoolhouse to be built thereon as follows: To be built of hewn logs twenty by twenty two feet. one story high, to be covered with joint shingles, with two floors and one brick chimney; with which this post ing unites and direets the committee to make such arrangements that the building of said house will be in progress as soon as practicable."
A month later the same committee reported a recommendation "that one aere of land be purchased of the southeast corner. west half of south west quarter of section 20, township 21, range & cast for school pur poses and that a schoolhouse be built thereon mneteen Feet square of hewn logs, covered with shingles." The meeting directed the commit- tee to purchase the land, make arrangements for the creation of the building, and raise the money by a "Free subscription." The land was purchased as directed, and both school buildings were created, and used l'or school purposes.
It seems strange in this day that any people should go to the expense of providing school facilities. In order that this may be better under- stood, the following direction of the Yearly Meeting of 1830 is quoted, and it will be seen that the action of the Friends here was in com pliance with this direction : "In the immigration of our members to this country they became in many cases widely scattered from one another, while the hardships and labors inseparably connected with making new settlements in the very wilderness opposed to inconsiderable obstacles to the establishment of schools. In addition to this, it is believed, the advantages of education have not. in some instances, ben duly appre viated; and thus a degree of apathy and indifference has been pro- dueed, which may have been increased by the existence of real difficulties.
"The public seminaries in the state of Indiana, and the district schools in the state of Ohio have also been brought into consideration, as creating more or less difficulty, in the different sertions of our Yearly Meeting. And we nnite in proposing that the judgment of the Yearly Meeting should be pronounced against our members participating in those seminaries, supported, as they are, in part by fines imposed upon the Society of Friends, on account of one of its Christian testimonies ; and that our members be advised, as much as practicable, to avoid any connection with the district schools, as being founded on a system which, should the society be brought completely within its operation, would powerfully militate against that testimony of our society, which has for its object the guarded education of the rising generation.
"In order that our members may be aronsed to the importance of this concern, and that a system of education may be adopted calculated to remove the difficulties in which the subject is involved, we propose that Quarterly and Monthly Meetings may appoint committees to ex- amine the state of schools, and of the education of our youth, within their respective limits; and to take such measures as they may apprehend to he necessary to promote the establishment of schools, to be both nudler the tuition of teachers in membership with us, and under the direction and superintendence of committees of the respective Monthly Meetings taking care that such schools, where practicable, may be located so as to afford the opportunity for the scholars, in company with their teach- ers, regularly to attend some meeting of Friends.
661
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
"In the establishment of these schools it will devolve on Monthly Meetings to extend the necessary care to secure the legal title to such real estate as may be procured for the purpose, and where it may appear to be necessary, from the scattered situation of Friends, or from other causes, to render pecuniary aid to indivaluals, in order to afford their children an opportunity of acquiring a suitable portion of educa- tion. that such be laid before the respective Monthly, or, if Heressary, the Quarterly Meetings.
"And believing it important that the minds of our children should, at an early age. be stored with truths relating to life and salvation we propose that reading the Holy Scriptures should form a part of the daily exercises of our schools
So the Friends of Grant county were only conforming to the diree- tions of the church when they provided school property, and mantained schools at their own expense, even though a public school system had been provided by the state, for reasons indicated in the foregoing extrael.
Changes in circumstances gradually brought about change in the relation to the public schools, until it was thought no longer neers- sary nor desirable for the Friends to maintain separate schools. For a long time, however, there was a eurious blending of the two in Priends conunities, and even the public schools went in a body regularly once a week to the Friends midweek meetings, but this custom no longer exists anywhere in the county.
During several years the schools at Mississinewa. Deer Creek, and Back Creek were superior to other schools, being provided with the best. available teachers, and as a result they were patronized by many who sent their children from other communities.
Fairmont Academy, a school established and maintained by Fair- mount Quarterly Meeting, originated at a later period. Indirectly it owes its origin to Clarkson Davis, a Grant county Friend. He had taught at Mississinewa and stonesboro, and possessed the rare native talent of a horn teacher, giving such inspiration to his pupils that his life was ever after a part of their own. He became principal of Spice- land Academy, and gave that school its excellent reputation through- out the state and even beyond it, and from it were graduated eminent educators of national reputation. This school became the model for the Friends at Fairmount, who felt that their young people required better facilities than the public schools at that time provided.
In December, 1883. after the question had been taken under advise- ment by several in a private way, Jesse Hiatt. then a Fairmount merchant, arose in the Quarterly Meeting held at Back Creek and made a proposition that the meeting take under advisement the establishment of an academy. Dr. A. Henley, Joel B. Wright. Jonathan Winslow, Milton Winslow. Asa Bond. Ellwood Haisley, Abel Knight, Henry B. Rush, Levi Hiatt, James M. Ellis, Enos Harvey, Nixon Winslow, Lewis Hockett, Samuel C. Cowgill, James L. Williams, Willis Cammack, Mat- tie P. Wright. Louisa Rush, Eunice P. Wilson, Adeline E. Wright, Mil- le Little, Thirza Howell, Mary Bond, Mary Rush, Sallie Harvey and Keziah Haisley were appointed to consider the question and report their judgment to the next meeting. This committee reported favorably and instructions were given to purchase land and erert a building. Jesse Haisley, Sanmel C. Wilson, Dr. P. H. Wright, Enos Harvey, Abel Knight and William C. Winslow were appointed trustees. The building was completed and school was opened on the 21st of September, 1855. From that day to the present the school has been successful. Just ten years after the beginning a larger and better building had been erceted, and
662
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
was formally dedicated September 7, 1895. An addition almost doubling the capacity was erected about two years ago, and included a fine gymna- sino, and the building was provided with steam heat and other modern improvements. To the regular college preparatory courses have recently been added agricultural and domestic science departments. An endow . ment fund of more than $23,000, has been provided, and the school prop- erty has cost more than $35,000. The present board of trustees consists of Aneil E. Ratliff, president; Ida E. Winslow, secretary ; Jantes Bell, treasurer; Ora Winslow and Lin Wilson and Thurlow W. Shugart. Hiram Harvey is treasurer of the endowment fund. The faculty is com posed of Albert R. Hall, principal; Dora M. Ellis, Latin and German ; William M. Coabran, English and pedagogy; Addie E. Wright, his- tory and domestic economy ; Benjamin T. Purviance, semence; Balith Phillipy, instrumental music; Cordelia Davis, vocal music and draw- ing. There were forty four graduates this year, and of the large nutil- ber who have graduated in other years many hold lagh positions of honor and profit. While the school is under denominational control, it is non-sectarian, the present faculty representing four different denominations, and students of all denominations are in attendance.
During the first twenty-live years there were not many ministers among the Friends in this county. Thomas day was among the first, if not the first to be located in the county. Isaac Jay was transferred as a minister from a meeting in Ohio to Mississinewa Meeting in Isa0. llis son, Allen day, left this county when still a young man, and was recorded a minister elsewhere. Very few persons were recorded as ministers until after 1860. Between 1860 and 1870 a change came over Friends meetings, and was much more manifest in the following twenty years. But it was not in Grant county alone; it came to this county breause it existed elsewhere. The preaching that had been done by Martha Wooten Allen, and others who came around on itinerant visits, had created a hunger for good preaching. It also awakened desires in the hearts of the people for better living, or, to be understood better, it was a revival feeling It was under this condition that an occurrence took place that had a marked effect.
The Friends in three Quarterly Mertings surrounding Wilmington Ohio, had asked Indiana Yearly Meeting to grant them a Yearly Mot ing of their own. After prayerful consideration it was decided that while it is desirable to estaldish Yearly Meetings for a sufficient num. ber of Friends who are remote, it is not advisable "to establish small bodies so near to each other," so the request was demed. Years after the same request came again and was granted : Friends in Grant county made a similar request in 1902 for a Yearly Meeting at Marion, but it was refused. But in refusing the request from Wilmington, the Yearh Meeting was "introduced into much feeling on account of many Friends who seldom enjoy the privilege of attending our annual assembly." As a remedy, a committee was appointed and instructed to hold Gien- eral Meetings at suitable plaers where Friends were too remote from Yearly Meeting for many of them to attend ; and it was suggested that "we think the leading object of these meetings should be Divine wor. ship, but it may also be right and proper to devote some time to the con- sideration of subjects of general interest to Friends."
The following year, in August. 1868, a General Meeting was held at Back Creek in accordance with the directions given. It was attended by the ablest preachers in the church, and the report given to the Yearly Meeting by the committee, said : "A General Meeting was held at. Bark Creek, in Grant county, Indiana, on the 14th, 15th and 16th of eighth month last. The weather was very fine. The meetings were held
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
in the grove. From two to six thousand persons were in attendant. The meetings were remarkably orderly and attentive. Two sessions were held each day. All were meetings for worship except two. In these the subjects of worship, the ministry, and mission work were considered. The meeting throughont was satisfactory and solemn.'
This meeting is remembered as the greatest religious orcasion ever held in the county. The able preaching had a marked effect upon the hearers, and it became their ideal during the years that followed. The June sessions from this tinte on of the Regular Quarterly Meeting were attended by large muubers, as at that time of the year many able preachers were likely to be present. At times as many as ten thousand .people came, and stands were created on the grounds at various places for the preachers to ocenpy as pulpits at the same time that services were conducted in the house. Early on Sunday morning, buggies car- riages and wagons rolled in on the dusty roads, and excursion trains were run from both north and south on what is now the Big Four Rail- road. The Friends saw that what at first was a desire to come and hear the gospel preached, had given way on the part of many to a desire to come and have a good time -even to the extent of unscrupulous persons bringing jutoxicants to sell to others. At the request of the Friends, excursion trains were stopped, and those who came merely to have a good time were discouraged from coming, and this remarkable custom became a thing of the past.
It was about the time of the General Meeting mentioned that reviv- als among the Friends began to occur. At Oak Ridge a remarkable revival came among the school children, and at other places the work went on till all Friends meetings were affected by it. When many converts had been gathered new problems confronted the church, and led to securing pastors for the various meetings, and other changes so recent that it is unnecessary to mention them here.
We have tried to cover a little of the history of the Friends in Grant county. Much more could be given of interest, especially to those who are descendants of the Friends. From the very beginning they have had much to do with the growth and prosperity of our people. Most of those whose names have been mentioned have closed their eyes in the sleep of death. If those who live will be as faithful to the duties of the present generation as these were to theirs, the blessings of a righteous civilization will be multiplied.
OVI. GRANT COUNTY SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
While the books in use by the Grant County Sunday School Associa tion at the present only date back to the Century year there were San- day school conventions and workers galore prior to that time. There has always been some effort in the Christian church, and Christian doe- trine and catechism schools are part of the history of Grant county. All over Christendom such schools were first limited to the denomina- tion employing such agency, and the man who really gave the present day Sunday school system to the world was Robert Raikes, of Clonees- ter. England, who had made a study of the poor in that community and in 1781 he gathered some children together and employed teachers for them in order that they might learn not to desperate the Sabbath. Others canght the spirit and inside of five years there were 250,000 snch children under Sunday school influence, and in the Twentieth
661
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
century all Christians accept the Sunday school as the moment branch of modern church extension service.
About ten years after Robert Ratkes called the world's first Sunday school together, the idea was introduced into l'inladelphia and It soon spread all over the United States. December 19, 1590, was the first centennial amuversary of a Sunday school m the Eunited States, and it had grown from one dozen interested persons in Philadelphia to mense proportions. The first Sunday school in Grant county was a I'mon Sunday school held in the circuit court room in 1841, and ten years later the first independent Sunday school was opened by the Washing ton Street Christian church, now The Temple (Congregational;, and while it is small, this Sunday school has had rontimmons existence. When Robert Raikes had only a few followers John Wesley wrote: "Who knows but what some of these schools may become nurseries for Christians," and the movement spread and the truth is generally accepted that in order to have the aduh a church commungeant. the child must be instructed along reflesiastic lines, and the modern churches are planned with the convenience of the Sunday school in matad.
While one of the Sunday school songs is "desus paid i all." there is some expense connected with association work, and it is the plan of the Indiana Sunday School AAssociation to tax each individual Smalay school in Indiana three cents an emolled member, and on this basis Grant county should raise at least $390, as there were thirteen thousand enrolled last year, although some only attended often cuongh to increase the assessment and ent down the average attendance. Als my name written there!" means something to the Grant County Sunday School Association, which must sometimes wrestle with a deficit and the appor tionment has been kept down to $100 on that account. While Grant likes to pride itself on being a first line or banner Sunday school county, the county association has its difficulties When C. W. Halpenny was general secretary of the Indiana Sunday School Association he experi meuted with Marion, Richmond and Evansville, and found that only a small percentage of the children of the public schools were in regular attendance at Sunday school, although the enrollment of adults and all reaches about twenty-five per cent of the population.
When the Indiana State Sunday School Association convention was held in Marion in 1906, Grant county was assessed $100, and the was a slight deficit. The present county organization is: President G. I. Clapper; vice president, .1. 1. Duncan; secretary treasurer. Mas Ella Brewer, and while not all the schools report to the venus asse viation, there is record of one hundred and eleven Sunday schools in the county. with others in prospect. It is composed of all the Protestant Sunday schools in the county, and while there are no membership fees all are members who care to cooperate with the association. Conven tions are held in all of the townships and some of the towns have separate associations. All are part of the county, which belongs to the state, and there are national and international or world Sunday school conventions. While many Sunday school officers and teachers never attend conventions, there are others who are faithful, and Grant connty is sometimes well represented in state conventions.
A generation ago there were many Sunday schools open in the sum- mer time and laid down when winter rame on, but now there are ever- green Sunday schools all over Grant county. It is said that Oak Chapel United Brethren Sunday school is the first rural school to operate through the winter, but now country Sunday schools flourish all the year round. The standing criticism is that there are two Sunday audi ences in the churches of the towns the children attending Sunday
665
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
school and leaving before the church service, and the merger service was first practiced by the Marion Central Christian church, the Sun day school beginning late and being continued into the regular worship of the congregation. The burning question is how to hold the eint dren for the regular service of the church, and the merger plan may be the solution of the difficulty. The Sunday school has been the great agency for the removal of denominational barriers, and in the county convention all denomiabonahsm or sectariamsm is buried in the com mon interests, and no questions are raised about which there is lack of umty.
The International Sunday School Lesson Series was adopted in ammal convention in Indianapolis in 1872, and Grant county carly availed itself of all its advantages. The graded system was adopted in 1910. and while some commmities are in advance of others, it has not yel become popular in tirant county. While some Sunday schools adhere to the Bible, most of them use the lesson commentarios from their denominational publishing houses, although uniform lessons are studied -thanks to the International Sunday School Association. All the family in the Sunday school, and all the Sunday school in the church service is an ideal not yet attained in many communties, although there are exceptions and in some places practically all the church is found in the Sunday school service. When the church heconies con- ventionalized and the Bible regarded as a set truth, there is danger ahead and activity is necessary. It is usually through the Sunday school that knowledge of the Bible is carried into the homes, although the Sunday school teacher may have the same difficulty in finding the Book of Jonah that she would in locating St. Jacob in the New Testa- ment. Ponder the Bilde until it is written on the heart, say the Sun- day school advocates, and get the little girl who learned the Golden text : "Ye cannot serve God and Mamma, " is not an isolated example of inefficient teachers.
Knowledge of psychology is as essential to the success of the Sun- day school teacher as the teacher in the public schools, and there has been some agitation of the question of pay for the Sunday school teacher in order to secure eficient service, although it is argued that the evangelistic or missionary spirit would thus be eliminated, and the ultimate purpose defeated. The teacher needs to have a message and to know the Bible -the best selling book of all the ages- and yet it is charged that people play at Sunday school work the mose serious thing in the world. The Sunday school is the source from which the church must receive aid and the 1912 Grant county report shows live hundred and fifty-six additions to the church from the ranks of the Sunday school, and a number of Sunday school do not report such things.
The Indiana Sunday School Association has inaugurated a plan of teacher training, and every year it graduates men and women who are better able to teach in the Sunday schools. The first class gradu ated from the teacher training department was in connection with the Marion meeting in 1906, and there were four in the first class gradu ated from Grant county the following year at the Kokomo convention : Aneil E. Ratliff, Mrs. Ruth Ratliff. Hiram Harvey and Mrs. Sadie Harvey, all from Little Ridge Friends Sunday school, but each year since then some have graduated and the results are apparent in better teaching service. In most persons there are periods of honest doubt. and the Sunday school teacher should be master of the situation. If the Sunday school has any excuse for existence, it must be to lead thin young into definite Christian experience, and many teachers have not Vol. 1-43
666
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
yet attained to that ability. If the Sunday school does not reach the people it cannot do them service. It is an effective medium for spread- ing the gospel of love, and it is a social center not fully appreciated by the entire community. Robert Raikes will be remembered by the Chris- tian world on account of the institution founded by him, and the Sun- day school is certainly an agency for good when men and women make the most of the opportunity. "Every member present every Sunday on time with a liberal offering, a prepared lesson and a mind to learn," is the motto of The Temple, the oldest consecutive Sunday school in Grant county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.