USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 35
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The Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church at Gowdy has an almost continuous history running back for more than ninety years, this congregation being the successor in this generation of the church society that was organ- ized in that neighborhood about the year 1830, following the preaching of the Rev. Robert McDuffee, a "local" preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, who had come up here from Kentucky, and had held a series of meetings in a barn on the farm now (1921) owned by Robert A. Campbell, half a mile east of the village of Gowdy. This pioneer preacher also held prayer meetings in the homes of the pioneers of that vicinity and as a re- sult a church society was formed in accordance with the regulations of the Conference and a building some time later was erected as a house of worship less than a mile south of where the village later was platted. The land on which this building was erected was deeded to the church by John Andis, and the notation on the deed showing that it was received for record on March 4, 1840, in the hand of JJob Pugh, then recorder of Rush county, has the sig- nificant additional note, "fee donated," showing that the recorder's heart was well inclined toward the church. In those days the recorder pocketed the fees. Should the recorder of today "donato" the fee for recording an in- strument he would have to take it out of his own pocket. This old deed notes that " Whereas the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Orange township, Rush county, in the state of Indiana, are in want of a place of land on which to ereet and build a meeting house for the use and benefit of said Methodist church, now therefore know ve that 1, John Andis. .. . do give and grant unto
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the members of the said Methodist Episcopal Church the following parcel or tract of land to the exclusive benefit, use and behalf forever, to contain an acre in the north- west corner of the said John Andis's land in section 7 in township 12, range 8 east, in the district of land sold at Brookville; in testimony whereof the said John Andis does hereunto set his hand and seal this 29th day of Jan- uary, 1839. (Signed) John (his mark) Andis." The instrument was witnessed by William Self and Milton L. Waggoner, and was acknowledged before William Self, justice of the peace. This first Ebenezer church is re- called as a little frame building ceiled on the inside, with a pulpit requiring several steps to ascend and surrounded by a tight railing, the door of which was fastened on the inside, designed-it is narrated-to keep dogs and chil- dren out. Among the families which were numbered among the charter membership of this church were the Wagoners, the Redenbaughs, the Machlans, the McGin- nises and the Wrights, and services were held there with greater or less regularity until in 1867, when the church was abandoned and the membership transferred to the church at Moscow, which had meanwhile been growing in numbers. Among the pioneer ministers who served this old church beside Rev. McDuffee, who has been men- tioned, and Rev. Sheldon, who followed him, were W. C. Dandal, G. P. Jenkins, N. Kerrick, J. W. T. McMullen and Patrick Caslin. For about seven years after the abandonment of Ebenezer the field about Gowdy lay dor- mant, or until the year 1874, when the Rev. Asbury Wil- kinson, then pastor at Moscow, held a series of meetings at the school house (now Gowdy), and during these meet- ings created such a degree of interest that a new society was formed, ground was purchased, and a new church was erected across the road from the school house, the trustees and building committee thus acting being composed of Benjamin Machlan, Aris T. Wagoner, Philip Reden- baugh, Harrison Brookbank and Lloyd McGinnis. This
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church building was dedicated on February 10, 1875, by the Rev. Reuben R. Andrews, D. D., then president of De Pauw University, and was appropriately named Ebe- nezer. in memory of the pioneer church of which it was the lineal successor. This building was destroyed by fire on December 24, 1897, and the next year a new and more commodious edifice was erected on the same site. The present pastor of Ebenezer church is the Rev. M. E. Abel, and among his predecessors have been the Revs. Wyne- gar, Winchester, Maupin, Renolt. Ullery and Godwin. As an instance of the influence this church has had upon the community it may be noted that four of the young men reared in the church have gone out as ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church, these having been J. T. Scull, Sr., John Machlin, Merritt Machlin and John Car- penter. Ebenezer church now has a membership of one hundred, and has a Sunday school with six classes and an enrollment of forty. It is attached to the Manilla cir- cuit of the Rushville district of the Indiana Conference. The trustees of the church are George Hilligoss. J. T. Scull, Bert Reed, C. D. Alter and JJ. H. Vernon, while the stewards are George Hilligoss and David O. Alter.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Manilla was or- ganized about the year 1835, and a log building was erceted by the little congregation in which services were held until in 1853, when a frame church was begun, but for lack of funds work was temporarily suspended. In 1855, the Rev. Nimrod Kerrick was appointed to the Ar- lington cirenit and by the most strenuous efforts he suc- ceeded in finishing the Manilla church before the confer- ence in 1856. In this latter house the Methodists of Manilla and vicinity worshipped until in November. 1902, when the building was razed to make way for a new elinreh, in the meantime, pending the erection of the new building, the congregation accepting the invitation of the Disciples to worship in their church. The present hand- some church building occupied by the Methodists at Ma-
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nilla was dedicated on February 1, 1903. The cost of the building was $6,750, exclusive of the lot, which was valued at $500 and was the gift of Frank and Leonidas Mull. Mrs. Josephine Mull, daughter of the Rev. Nimrod Ker- rick, and her family were liberal contributors to the build- ing fund. The present pastor of the church is the Rev. M. E. Abel.
The New Salem Methodist Episcopal Church-This church at New Salem has an excellent house of worship, and all departments of its work are well organized under the present pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Pickett. The congregation organized as a definite church society on May 17, 1891, under the direction of the Rev. G. C. Clouds, then in charge of the Glenwood circuit, with the following charter members: Rev. John Green and wife, John C. Humes and wife, George Churchill and wife, Elijah Matney and wife, John Fulton and wife, Rhoda Bartlett, Ida Bartlett, Hester King, Mary A. Beaver, Harriet Beaver, Nancy Emmett, Mag- gie Carlisle, Eliza Hoffman, Emily Brooks, Allen Brown, Marinda Brown, John C. Brown, Lora Brown, Clinton Weston and Mattie Weston. The next year seven were added to the class and two years later thirty-six further accessions were made in the membership, the church by that time becoming fully established, and in 1894 a church building was erected, the trustees at the time being J. C. Humes, John Green, George Churchill, Daniel Mitchell and J. W. Anderson. This church building was erected under the pastorate of the Rev. J. T. Scull at a cost of $2,300, and was dedicated on December 9, 1894, by the Rev. D. H. Moore, editor of the Western Christian Advo- cate, and afterward a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church. In February, 1895, an Epworth League was or- ganized and has continued a helpful agency of the church. The Sunday school also is well organized and all depart- ments of the work of the church apparently are flourishing.
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The Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church, south- west of Arlington, occupying a site in the northwest cor- ner of the southwest quarter of section 35 in Posey town- ship, at a point formerly known as Sumner postoffice, maintains an active organization. The Goddard Meth- odist Episcopal church is one of the circuit of charges at present under the care of the Rev. M. E. Abel. It is well organized and has an Epworth League and a Ladies' Aid Society.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
The Presbyterian Church at Rushville was organized on January 25, 1825, under the leadership of the Rev. John F. Crowe, D. D., then president of Hanover College, it not having been long after the establishment of the county seat here until it was found there were a sufficient number of persons holding to the Presbyterian faith here- about to effect a formal organization. The first session of this pioneer church was composed of Elders James Walker, Thomas Downard and William Junkin, the other charter members of the congregation being Horatio G. Sexton, William Bell, William Beale and Elizabeth, his wife, Mrs. Sarah Jackson and Mrs. Sarah Perry. This little congregation worshiped for some years in a small brick building, which they caused to be erected, and which supplied their needs until in 1845, when under the pastor- ate of the Rev. D. M. Stewart a more commodious edifice was erected. It is narrated that Mr. Stewart burned the brick which entered into the construction of this edifice, and with his own hands helped to lay the walls. This old building is still standing, and with remodeling is serving as the lodge hall of the local lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men, 211 West First street. In 1892, under the pastorate of the Rev. George A. Beattie, the present handsome church edifice was erected, at a cost of about $25,000. It was during the long pastorate of the Rev. D. M. Stewart that a "split" occurred in the church. Mr.
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Stewart resigning to take charge of a congregation which was organized at Pleasant Grove, about four miles west of Rushville. This latter body, however, was not long lived, and in time merged with another congregation of Presbyterians that was organized at Homer, but which ceased its activities some fifteen years or more ago. The Rushville church years ago, under the pastorate of the Rev. J. D. Thomas, organized a mission church in West Rushville, erecting a small building for the purpose in the vicinity of Reed's elevator, but after several years of service it was abandoned, the dwindling attendance not warranting its continuance. The Presbyterian church at Rushville has a membership of 347, and a Sunday school enrollment of about 300, with more than twenty classes and twenty-six officers and teachers. The church ses- sion consists of the minister and six elders, the deacons and the trustees being the other officers of the congrega- tion, and all departments of service are well organized. The church records show that the first pastor was the Rev. James H. Stewart, who served, however, but a few months, and was succeeded by the Rev. William Sickles, who remained four years, he being succeeded in turn by J. S. Weaver, Thomas Barr (who died in 1835), David M. Stewart, who served until the "split" in 1854 and was followed by the Rev. H. H. Cambern, who was succeeded in turn by Robert Sutton, John Wiseman, Eberle W. Thompson, A. E. Thompson, George H. Britton, J. D. Thomas, W. H. Sands. George A. Beattie, Thomas H. McConnell, J. L. Cowling. J. B. Meacham, D. Ira Lam- bert, George F. Sheldon and the present pastor, the Rev. Walter L. Kunkel. The several auxiliaries of the work of the church are well organized and progress is reported along all lines of endeavor. It has been written of the old building on Noble (First) street that "it was the scene of many precious revivals. Forty-four members were received at one time. Among the members of the church in those early years was Governor Samuel Bigger.
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He was an active worker and led the singing. Rev. Stew- art. speaking of him, said: 'It was a grand sight to see him stand out in front of the congregation and leading them in the sonorous hymns known and sung by all.'" Besides the members of the original session of this church, mentioned above. the following have served as elders of the congregation: William B. Laughlin, Rob- ert Robb. William Beale, Duncan Carmichael. Samuel Stewart, Samuel Bigger, Robert English. W. H. Martin, J. W. Junkin, Samuel Danner. J. D. Carmichael. W. B. Leech. T. J. Meredith. William A. Pugh. Eli Buell. Eli- sha Bodine. Charles B. Bodine. Virgil H. Bodine, John Carmichael, David Graham, Ulysses D. Cole. William Beale, William A. Cullen, William W. Arnold. L. M. Car- michael, Joseph L. Cowing, Heber H. Allen. Edward A. Junken. John D. Megec. John F. Boyd. James W. Hog- sett. Richard Fleehart. William S. Meredith and Charles Liddle. In a "souvenir" sketch of this church written some years ago it was noted that "the church is well or- ganized in all its departments of work, and in better con- dition financially and spiritually than ever before in its history. It is now one of the leading churches in White- water Presbytery. and is regarded as one of the best in the state. It has a noble band of women ; a faithful corps of Sabbath school teachers. while the board of deacons, trus- tees and the session are composed of men who not only stand high in the community, but are recognized as earn- est Christian men. "
The only other Presbyterian church in the county is the Ebenezer Presbyterian church in section 4 of Wash- ington township, which is attached to the Lewisville charge and which has been maintained by the Presby- terian families of that vicinity since it was organized in October. 1831. under the direction of the Rev. Mr. More- land. Robert Mitchell and wife. Thomas Hayden and wife and JJohn Maple and wife being the original mem- heis. Robert Mitchell being the first ruling elder. In
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January following the membership was doubled, and George Maple was elected elder. The congregation grew until at one time it was one of the strong rural churches of the Whitewater Presbytery, but removals and other incidents of the changing times have in recent years seri- ously depleted the numerical strength of the church. Those who have long been identified with Ebenezer church feel, however, that the church has been a great power for good in the neighborhood.
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
The United Presbyterian Church at Rushville-As previously has been pointed out, the elements of that branch of the Presbyterian family known as the United Presbyterians, which took their name following the union of the old Associate (Seceders) and Associate Reformed Presbyterians in 1858, were found in this section of Indi- ana at an early day in the settlement of this region, Ten- nesseans, Kentuckians and South Carolinians who came here to escape the incubus of slavery which had attached itself to those states. The church at Clifty, just over the line in Decatur county, is said to have been established as early as 1825, and settled its first pastor, James Worth, in 1830. This church first was known as New Zion and later as Spring Hill. From that congregation of Asso- ciate Reformed Presbyterians and others of the same faith living in Anderson township, another church was organized in 1835, called Flat Rock, afterward Bethesda and later Milroy. The Rev. John N. Presly, an energetic young man from South Carolina, became the pastor of that church in 1837, and also of the Shiloh church, which had been organized in 1835 in Center township, the nucleus of this latter church having been the Hudelson families from Kentucky. In 1857, the Rev. J. F. Hutch- inson, who had come here from Ohio, was installed in these charges, making his home in Rushville, and later was in charge of the church at Glenwood, his colaborer
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in this field having been the Rev. N. C. McDill at Rich- land. The first steps looking toward the organization of a congregation of the United Presbyterian church in Rushville, were taken on the evening of August 25, 1879, at a meeting called at his then residence. 611 North Har- rison street, by the Rev. J. F. Hutchinson. D. D., who at that time was pastor of the joint congregation of Milroy and Glenwood. Meetings for conference and prayer were held regularly every week until October 1, 1879, when the congregation was officially organized by a com- mission appointed by the Presbytery of Indiana. The commission consisted of the Rev. N. C. MeDill, D. D., and elders Prof. Robert Gilmore and James P. Brown, and the exercises were held in the old Presbyterian church, located on First street. now owned and occupied by the Improved Order of Red Men. Following are the names of the charter members of this church: George H. Pun- tenney. Mrs. Josie Puntenney, Joseph L. Pinkerton, Mrs. Sarah Pinkerton, Prof. David Graham, Mrs. Caroline Graham, Miss Anna J. Graham, Miss Minnie R. Graham, George W. Young, Mrs. Naney Young. James W. Mitch- ell. Mrs. Jennie Mitchell, Thomas M. Green, Alexander Gibbony, Mrs. Jennie Hudelson, Mrs. May Gibbony and Margaret Henry. The first session was as follows: George H. Puntenney, Prof. David Graham and Joseph 1. Pinkerton, and the following made up the first board of trustees: James W. Mitchell. George W. Young and Thomas M. Green. The following is a list of the pastors of the congregation: Rev. A. P. Hutchinson, Rev. S. R. Frazier, Rov. N. L. Hidges, Rev. W. H. French. D. D., Rev. E. G. Bailey. D. D., Rev. W. P. MeGaroy. Rev. W. IT. Clark, Rev. A. W. Jamison, D. D., Rev. John T. Aikin, and the present pastor, Rev. E. G. Mckibben. The first building was a brick structure. located on the site now occupied by the First Missionary Baptist church on Mor- gan street. and was dedicated April 25, 1880. The second building and the one now occupied, corner of Harrison
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and Seventh streets, was dedicated on October 28, 1906. The membership at this time (1921) is 200; Rev. E. G. Mckibben, pastor; clerk of session, Thomas M. Green; clerk of congregation, Byron C. Wainwright; treasurer, Wash Allen. The session consists of the following: A. C. Brown, R. A. Innis, Wash Allen, B. L. Trabue, Dr. J. T. Paxton and Thomas M. Green. Trustees-Samuel H. Trabue Harry A. Krammer, W. O. Frazee, George Green, John Davis and H. E. Barrett. The Sabbath school has an enrollment in the main school of 214, and in the cradle roll of 22. Superintendent, Thomas M. Green. The Young People's Christian Missionary has an enrollment of about forty; Byron Wainwright, pres- ident. There also is an active Woman's Missionary So- ciety, and a Ladies' Aid Society.
The United Presbyterian Church at Milroy is the successor of the old Associate Reformed Presbyterian congregation of Bethesda, which was organized in 1835, and which some time after the memorable "union" of 1858, whereby the differences long existing between the Associate Presbyterians (Seceders) and the Associate Reformed Presbyterians had been reconciled and the two assemblies merged into one, since known as the United Presbyterian, tool on the new name and has ever since been known as the United Presbyterian Church of Milroy. The Bethesda congregation was organized on October 15, 1835, under the ministry of the Rev. John N. Presley, with the following charter membership: Alex- ander Innis and wife, James Innis and wife, John Innis and wife, Joseph Innis and wife, James W. Stewart and wife, David Askren and wife, John Campbell and wife, Nathaniel Campbell and Martha Innis. The building erected by this congregation on the west side of Little Flat Rock, just south of the present cemetery, sufficed until 1879, when it was destroyed by fire, and was re- placed by a new and much more commodious edifice, erected in Milroy, and this latter in turn was supplanted
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in 1912 by the present handsome church edifice erected by the congregation at Milroy. The church at Milroy has a present membership of fifty, with a Sunday school en- rollment of ninety-three, and the present pastor is the Rev. James McMichael. of Spring Hill, in Decatur, pastor also of the church at that place. During the years which have elapsed since the organization of the old Bethesda church some of the strongest figures in the Indiana Synod of the United Presbyterian church have served in the pastorate at Milroy, these ministers including the Rev Nathan C. MeDill, whose work there and at Richland and in connection with the old Richland Academy endeared him to all in his generation, and the Revs. James I. Fra- zier, William A. Hutchinson, J. G. Freeborn, Alexander R. Rankin, J. F. Hutchinson, Ainsworth Hope, F. W. Schmink and Paul Stewart. Unhappily the old records of the congregation were destroyed by fire some years ago, and much valuable historical material of interest to the community thus was lost. This church some years ago was strengthened by the abandonment of the old United Presbyterian church at Richland, which suc- cumbed to removals and the growing importance of the neighboring village of Milroy and the members remain- ing in the Richland congregation merged with the Milroy congregation or assumed other ecclesiastical connections. The Richland congregation originally had been a congre- gation of the Associate Reformed Presbyterians and they held to their basic tenets until some time after the Asso- ciate and Associate Reformed Assemblies had adjusted their differences in 1858, as will be witnessed by the following copy of a resolution, dated March 26, 1866, on' file in the office of the county recorder, and which was received for record two days later: "The following pre- amble and resolutions were adopted: Whereas, the Asso- ciate Reformed church has united with a sister church, and on account of this union there has been a change of name to the United Presbyterian church ; and, Whereas,
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the legislature of the state of Indiana has passed a law for the benefit of churches thus uniting, therefore, Re- solved, that our organization be under this law and hence- forth be known under the name of the United Presby- terian church of Richland, and as such elect our officers." Richland congregation was organized in April, 1839, as a means of giving those members of the Spring Hill con- gregation who lived in and about Richland a more acces- sible place of worship, and at the outset had twenty-two members, mostly Kentuckians of the Associate Reformed faith, who had settled in that neighborhod, and upon its organization was united in one charge with the Associate Reformed (Bethesda) congregation at Milroy, the Rev. John N. Presley serving both stations. Mr. Presley served for ten years and in June, 1851, was succeeded by the Rev. Nathan C. McDill, then just licensed, who con- ducted his first service and pronounced his first benedic- tion at Richland, where his beneficent ministrations were so long to continue, and whose service in connection with the old Richland Academy has been referred to in the chapter on schools in this work. For seven years Mr. Mc- Dill gave half time each to Richland and Milroy and then Richland required all his service, a labor of love that was continuous in that community for more than forty-five years. Among the ministers of the United Presbyterian church who were sent out from the Richland congrega- tion were R. E. Stewart, J. P. Cowan, T. B. Stewart, W. M. Butler, S. H. McDill. D. C. Stewart and E. B. Stewart, all of whom attained excellent charges. Mention has been made elsewhere of the company of young men from Richland congregation and from Richland Academy, which Captain McKee led into service during the Civil war, and many of whom did not return. Miss Mary Logan, long a missionary to India, represented the con- gregation in the foreign mission field. "But after all," as Doctor McDill observed in a review of Richland church written by him in 1895, "the great part of those who have
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been the bone and sinew of this and all such congrega- tions, are the fathers on the farm and the mothers in the home, who toil and labor and pray and finish their work and die."
The United Presbyterian Church at Glenwood, also an outgrowth of the old Associate Reformed connection, was organized on September 11, 1847, the leaders in the movement having been Archibald F. Martin and wife. James Gray and wife, John McKee and wife, James McKee and wife. Thomas Ochiltree and wife and others. Martin and Gray were the first elders. A church build- ing was erected in that same year and is still serving the needs of the congregation, which now numbers about forty. but is without a pastor. The elders of the congre- gation are Marcus Kendall and James Ochiltree. Among the early elders who served this church are mentioned Robert MeCrory and Hugh Grav. The first pastor was installed as pastor. he also serving the Shiloh church. gregation. In May, 1857. the Rev. J. F. Hutchinson was installed as pastor, he also served the Shiloh church. Other ministers who served at Glenwood were James I. Frazer, Adrien Aten, A. R. Rankin and W. H. French. The old Shiloh United Presbyterian church, here men- tioned, for years exerted a wholesome influence in the neighborhood in the northeastern part of the county. but in the '90s was absorbed by stronger churches. It was organized as a congregation of the Associated Reformed faith on September 16. 1832. with John Hudelson and Samuel Maze as ruling elders, the organization having been effected in the home of the former, who was a Ken- tuekian. and who resided on the line between Rush and Henry counties. The first pastor of this congregation was the Rev. John N. Presley and others who thus served the congregation were Mathew Lind, Samuel Miller, R. E. Stewart, JJ. F. Hutchinson, Henry W. Crabbe, Thomas P. Dysart. Samuel A. Bailey, JJohn Pollock and George 1. Gordon.
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