USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 12
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In Shelby county there have been four Grand Army posts organized. They are the George Henry Post. at Morristown: Andrew Winterrowd Post. of Flatrock : Meridith Post, at Mt. Auburn ; Dumont Post No. 18, at Shelby- ville. These posts were most organized in the early eighties, and in 1887 there were about three hundred members within this county, of which one hundred and eighty were from the vicinity of Shelbyville. At the present . there are Litt two posts in the county and the membership at Shelbyville, as shown by the roster in April, 1909. was one hundred and eighty-two. The post at Flatrock is now made up of about a dozen ex-soldiers who have no regular meeting place er time, but engage in each returning Memorial Day, and thus keep alive the interest in the post. Of the post at Shelbyville, the following is an epitome compiled from the records of the post in April, 1909:
In 1867 a Grand Army Post was organized in Shelbyville, but there ap- pears to be no authentic record of the name and number and the department records make no mention of any such post.
James C. Bennett was the first and only commander. The building in which they met was burned, destroying all records and paraphernalia. It ap- pears there was no effort made to revive it, and it died. Fifteen years later, or in 1882. A. P. Boon, J. E. McGuire. Oscar Mathers. J. B. Hardeback, J. H. Bassett. T. K. Alexander. James Whitcomb. N. B. Berryman, S. L. Pierce and J. H. Vance applied for a charter for a post and they, with a number of
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others, ex-soldiers, met on July 28. 1882. in the Red Men's hall, which is now known as Grand Army Hall. J. H. Wooden, of Greensburg, was present. and proceeded to muster and organize those present, after which .A. P. Boon was elected commander. The first records are rather incomplete and some of them are missing. The post was numbered eighteen ( 18) and named "Dumont." after Gen. Ebenezer Dumont, of Indianapolis. It may be said in passing. that Terre Haute has Post No. 1 : Brazil. No. 2 : Greensburg No. 5. and Indianapo- lis No. 17.
In 1885 the post held a festival and cleared enough money to pay for the furniture then in the Red Men's hall: it has been the home of the post at Shelbyville for twenty-seven years. In that time the post has had twenty-two commanders. Of this number A. P. Boon, J. C. McGuire, J. C. Edwards, Norris Winterrowd and G. L. Haymond have died. Henry Byers and S. L. Pierce have been dropped for non-payment of dues and J. HI. Vannostrome were granted transfers. At this date there are thirteen ( 13) past commanders of this post. ranking as follows: Elisha Weakley. P. D. Harris, T. Wilkes. S. S. Carson, C. J. Limpus, J. B. Wilson, A. M. Weed, S. B. Morris, J. S. Byors. J. B. Randall, J. W. Neeves. John Shoner and A. J. Ensminger. Be- sides those there came in by transfer cards, as past commanders: T. L. Hay- mond and T. K. Alexander and James C. Bennett was "by Department en- campiment." re-instated as past commander of the old post, making sixteen past commanders, and J. K. Bowers the present commander.
Two of those who signed the charter are still members of the post, viz : T. K. Alexander and J. B. Hardenback.
There have been mustered in and received by transfer cards four hun- dred thirty-eight (438) members: ninety-four members have died and the most of them have been buried with military honors.
At this date ( March. 1909). there are in good standing one hundred eighty-two ( 182) members. Among this number there is a department com- mander, Daniel J. Ryan, a past senior vice-commander. P. D. Harris ; a past member of department council. T. Wilkes, and several members who have been delegates and aids at national encampments.
In average attendance this post ranks among the foremost of the state. and its influence in state encampments was always large whenever it chose to take a hand in the game.
Much of its success is due to the influence and help of the Woman's Re- life Corps, No 51.
In 1894 this post by unanimous vote tendered its services to Governor Claude Mathews, to maintain law and order during the "car riots." and re- ceived a reply acknowledging the receipt of the first offer of assistance and thanking the post for the same, and saying such offers went a long way toward assisting the state's officers.
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Through this post's influence. the county built a three thousand dollar cottage at the Soldiers' Home at Lafayette.
Two men succeeded in joining the post illegally, without being in the Union army; one of them dropped out before his case became known, and the other was court marshalled and dismissed.
This post has a record of the graves of four hundred seventy-two (472) ex-soldiers buried in Shelby county: also the names of, as well as the address of three hundred forty-two (342) ex-soldiers yet living within this county, more than one-half of whom belong to this post.
There are eighty-eight graves in the city cemetery and ninety-seven in Forest Hill cemetery.
NOTE-The above facts were kindly furnished the publishers by Comrade T. Wilkes, of this post.
The officers of Dumont Post No. 18, serving in 1909 were as follows: J. K. Bowers, commander : Robert Smith. vice-commander : William Norris, junior vice : J. B. Randall, quartermaster : T. J. Woods, adjutant.
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS NO. 51.
This corps, a helpful auxiliary to the Grand Army Post. at Shelbyville, was organized soon after the post was formed. and has been really the life of the post itself. Too much praise cannot be given these willing patriotic workers.
THE SONS OF VETERANS.
Frank Talbert Camp. No. 85. was instituted January 17. 1888. at Shelby- ville. and meets each Tuesday evening. The first officers of this organiza- tion were: Commander (then known as Captain). William A. Goodrich; Senior Vice Commander, Levi Todd; Junior Vice Commander, Omer Benne- field; Chaplain, Thomas Briggs; Horace Weakley. Horace Gerard and Isaac Allen, Camp Council; Harry Griffey, treasurer : Harry Goodrich, musician; J. Marsh Goodrich, sergeant of the guard.
The order has prospered from the start and is now full of the true spirit of patriotism. It has between seventy and eighty members. Its present officers are: Commander. Benjamin F. Mckinney : Senior Vice. James Smith : Junior Vice, Ralph L. Mckinney; Chaplain. W. I. Winton : Secretary, J. S. Mckinney: Treasurer, William E. Fagel: Guard, Edward Deitzer; Color Sergeant, George W. Mckinney: Chief Musician, B. Hines; Picket Guard, Peter Manford; Patriotic Instructor. Val. Hey.
This order meets at Grand Army hall and carries out the object for which it was organized and is assisted by a woman's auxiliary similar to that of the Relief Corps. It is truly befitting that the sons of the men who fought
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in the Civil war in this country should be banded together in friendly re- lations as one by one the old veterans are answering the last roll call and soon there will be no Grand Army of the Republic, but these their sons will then take their places in patriotic circles.
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CHAPTER XI.
CHURCH HISTORY.
Ever since the Christian era began the "Man of Galilee." and the great truths he uttered have had their devotees in all parts of the civilized world. Perhaps no section of the West had a larger proportion of believers in Chris- tianity than did the territory now known as Shelby county, Indiana. While books were few and newspapers not largely a thing of circulation at that early date. the pioneers studied what they had been taught to be the Book of books-the old family Bible. Almost every known denomiration was rep- resented among the little settlements made within this goodly portion of Indiana. No sooner had the family fairly got settled in their newly built cabin home, than their thought ran out toward some one who might perchance be induced to come into their midst, if only for a season, and preach the Word to them. And hence it was that traveling ministers and home missionaries would make their periodical calls and if possible cause enough to take interest in re- ligious things and church work, to form a society or class. Thus commenced the chapter of religious history in Shelby county, away back in the twenties. It has grown with the advance of time, so that now nearing the close of the first decade in the twentieth century church spires are seen in almost every nook and corner, while bells echo back their chimes from one side of the coun- try to another, giving evidence that this people are still a God-fearing and worshipful class of citizens. While religious sentiment and thought has some- what changed in the people's minds since 1822, and more liberality now exists, with less stickling for sectarian creeds and church polity, yet the theology is really the same as was preached by Paul at Athens, long centuries ago. Then there was but the one church organization, or denomination but now many, and it is the object of this chapter to give an account of the rise and development of these various denominations within Shelby county, as best it can be done with an imperfect set of church books and records from which to glean the more important facts.
As has been the case in many another newly settled country, the itinerant Methodist preacher was the first to proclaim the Gospel in these parts. The first regular preaching place was at the house of Mrs. Jane Sleeth, a mile north of Marion. Later they were held at the home of William H. Sleeth. The Sleeth family was originally from old Virginia, and there they had been reared in the atmosphere of the Methodist Episcopal church and hence very naturally wanted to transplant this branch of the church into communities in Shelby
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county, and in which they were not long in bringing about. In the autumn of 1821 John Sale, Aaron Wood. James Horn and William Beschamp held meet- ings at the places just mentioned. Within a few years the school-house was used also for church purposes. In 18440 the society known as the Sleeth's Class, was removed to Marion village, where in the school-house there the meetings were held until the erection of a frame church edifice. in 1862.
THIE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.
The beginning of Presbyterianism in Shelby county was in Hendricks township, July 7, 1824, and the efforts there culminated in the formation of the First Presbyterian church of Shelbyville. the history of which is here outlined, by the present pastor, Rev. L. C. Richmond :
The first Presbyterian church of Shelbyville. Indiana, had its first begin- ning in the rude and primitive log cabin of Zebulon Wallace, Hendricks town- ship. Sabbath morning. July 7. 1824. With Rev. John McElroy Dickey as the minister the church with thirteen members was organized and the Holy Communion was observed for the first time. On the IIth of October it was duly enrolled by Presbytery and the Rev. Mr. Dickey was appointed by that body to supply the church as minister during the next six months, until the next meeting of Presbytery. At the fall meeting of that body, October 7, 1826, the church reported fifteen members, three having been added since its organiza- tion in 1824. The year of 1829. the year Andrew Jackson became the Presi- dent of the United States, found Shelbyville the acknowledged social and busi- ness center as well as the county seat. As this was the only Presbyterian organization in the county it was, after careful deliberation, unanimously de- cided by the church members to change the name and location of the church to Shelbyville. Rev. Eliphalet Kent was the minister from 1829 10 1835. Following Reverend Kent were Reys. William W. Woods. Wells Bushnell, Joseph Monfort, Charles Mckinney, Samuel Orr. A. T. Hendricks, James Gil- christ and John M. Wampler. Up to 1839 the growth of the city was very slow, there being at that time not more than six or seven hundred inhabitants. The church also was small and poor with no regular house of worship. In 1839 they erected a building forty by fifty feet, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. It had no foundation, but was supported by wooden blocks five feet high. It was built of undressed lumber and never was painted. On June 20. 1851. Rev. Jolin C. Caldwell was ordained and installed pastor of the church. By this time the church had grown and improved to such an ex- tent that the members soon began to awaken to the fact that they needed a more convenient and commodious house of worship. Soon therefore it was resolved to build provided three thousand dollars could be raised for that pur- pose. . This was done and in the year 1853 the building was completed at a
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cost of about five thousand dollars. It stood upon the corner of Jackson and Harrison streets now occupied by Doble & Griffey's hardware store. The church had many pastoral supplies and it was not until February. 1850, that another pastor was selected in the person of Rev. James Smythe, who re- mained until 1866. In that same year Rey. Charles P. Jennings for the second time became the pastor. His pastorate was marked by the great growth of the church in things temporal as well as spiritual. In December, 1870, Rev. George Slutter was called as the regular minister of the church. Following Reverend Sluter was Rev. George D. Marsh, who was one of the best preachers as well as popular men that the church has had. Unfortunately his health was poor and after a short pastorate of less than two and a half yers. his ill health compelled him to give up his charge. During his illness the church was sup- plied by his nephew, Rev. Arthur Brown, the present secretary of the Presby- terian Board of Foreign Missions. He was followed by Rev. Thomas D. Hughes, a saintly and wise man, who still lives in the memory of many today as "Dear Doctor Hughes." He was pastor for nearly eleven years. It was during his pastorate that the church was moved from its old location on the corner of Harrison and Jackson streets to West Broadway. where it still stands. The new church there built, to which a Sabbath school room was only recently added. was erected at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars. Rev. Albert Piansteil, who followed him, unable to resist the alluring call of the church at Lafayette, Indiana, remained only a year and a half. Reverend Pfansteil drew large congregations, was a splendid pastor and was beloved by all. Rev. J. C. Caldwell was the next minister for nearly five years. Doctor Caldwell was a splendid man. a fine scholar, and a cultured gentleman. After his five years of service he resigned to go onto the lecture platformi, for which he was well fitted by temperament, culture and ability to excell. Rev. Martin Luther Tressler was the next minister. He was an aggressive up-to-date man and that the church is on its present excellent financial basis is said to be due to no small extent to Reverend Tressler's three and a half years of excellent service. Reverend Tressler was followed by Reverend Price, who was a most acceptable minister for about four years, when he resigned to accept a call to the large and influential church, of Geneseo, New York. At present Rever- end Price is vice-president of one of the large Southern colleges. Reverend Price was followed by the present minister, Rev. L. O. Richmond, who was called here from the church at Ironton, Ohio, in March, 1907.
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (German).
This church was organized at the instance of the Indianapolis Presbytery. New School, in 1867. The organization was perfected by Henry Burkler, Sr., Mathias Schoelch, John De Prez, George Posz, Henry Hale, John Maholm,
-
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August Schwall, John Mohr. Jacob Stephens and John Shutt. Rev. Francis Friedgen was largely instrumental in bringing the organization about. He served as pastor until March. 1872, and was followed by Rev. I. Eshmeyer. educated in Germany, and ordained in 1855. Until 1872 services were con- ducted in the old Presbyterian church, on the corner of Jackson and Harrison strects. In that year, however, the society completed its own edifice on East Washington street, at a cost of six thousand five hundred dollars. Henry Burk- her being by far the largest contributor. By 1878 the church had a member- ship of one hundred and forty communicants. Early in 18So dissensions arose and differences between influential members and the pastor, and a large nun- ber left the church-about seventy in all. In 188; the membership was about fifty. A new church building project plunged the society in more difficulty. and the society finally went in with the Lutherans, but after a time that body did not seem to fellowship properly with this people. They commenced a large and costly edifice in Shelbyville, on the corner of Broadway Pike and Jackson streets. This was about 1902. but after having the foundation in and well under headway the society met with reverses-many of the member- ship being opposed to the costly structure, etc., left the church and many final- ly found church homes in the German Evangelical Protestant church. where they still worship. The building mentioned was never completed. and now there is no trace of its material.
The Boggstown Presbyterian church was organized in 1831-32. by Rev. E. Kent. a missionary preacher. assisted by William Woods. At first services were held in a log house, but about 1833 the society erected a frame church. which was used until 1852, when another and better building was erected at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. The society struggled on for many years, but finally was greatly depleted. There is still a society in the neighborhood. and has its own building, in which it conducts service.
THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, OR CHRISTIANS.
The years following the first settlement of this county were made memor- able by the religious awakening in the West. The strong battlements of de- nominational exclusiveness were being attacked and carried by storm. People would not accept the dogma of any denomination without the authority for such dogma could be found in the Bible. Anything else was human innova- tion and unworthy of belief. As a result new doctrines were evolved and old ones modified. The reformation started by Alexander Campbell. Barton Stone and Walter Scott, grew in magnitude and extended far beyond the limits contemplated by the originators. The teachings of Alexander Camp- bell were considered heterodox by the Baptists, with whom he had hitherto been associated, and in 1827 they severed all connection with the reformers.
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who then organized a new church, which was called by them the Church of the Disciples of Christ, or Christian church, but by their opposers the Camp- bellite church. The cardinal principal of their organization was the rejection of all creeds or confessions of faith, and the adoption of the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice.
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SHELBYVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. (By Rev. James P. Meyers.)
Among the first to be converted by the teaching of Alexander Campbell was Father Obediah Butler. He at once became an apostle of the new re- ligion, and soon had a sufficient following to organize a church class, which was effected in the spring of 1834. The meeting for that purpose was held at the house of Ovid Butler, that stood on the southeast corner of the public square, the present site of Teal's block. The little band that met Father Butler on that occasion and who constituted the charter membership of the church, was composed of James M. Smith, Sallie Smith. John Weakley, Nancy Weakley, Silas Jaen and wife, George Bates and wife, E. Knowlton and wife, Ovid Butler and wife and Spencer Thayer and wife. Of the history of this church for many years following its organization but little is known. What- ever of historic value there was has passed into oblivion with the death of those early members. It is known, however, that the organization was kept up, and at the time of the coming of Mrs. Martin Ray and her mother, Mrs. Nancy Cross, both devout Christians, meetings were occasionally held. al- though of infrequent occurrence, and often without the assistance of a min- ister. The members were few and poor, and could not afford to pay for the services of a preacher nor build a house in which they might meet to worship. But hungry for religious associations they met in the dwellings, which for the time they would transform into the temple of God. They came not to mock, but to pray and worship, and no doubt from that little band of believers arose the pure incense of unsullied faith and conscious and unwavering con- secration. It is believed that God looked down with the same, if not deeper and more perfect approval than he does now upon the piles of stone and brick, covered and burdened with elaborateness of ornament till the human eye is wearied to behold. Meetings are remembered to have been held in the second story of the building now occupied by Ziegler's restaurant. Here it was that Reverend New. the father of Hon. John C. New. preached. He was a man of great earnestness, plain and practical. very pronounced in his likes and dislikes. Reverends O'Kane and Prichard may be classed among the pioneer preachers of the Christian church of Shelby county. They were both men of rare ability, forcible speakers and conscientions workers. It is probable
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that the best type of a pioneer preacher was found in Rev. Decatur Davis, who occasionally preached at this place. He was illiterate, and it is said by one who knew him intimately that he read no book but the Bible, and that he had committed it to memory, having at his command the whole of it, when it be- came necessary to sustain a position taken.
In the early part of the fifties the old organization was revived, and meet- ings for a time held in Concert hall. The lot upon which the church now stands was bought and the foundation for a building laid. Sufficient money could not be obtained to erect a building and the lot was in a few years sold at Sheriff's sale. It was redeemed, however, and in 1867 a frame build- ing was erected thereon. The church was forty by sixty feet, and with its improvements, costing two thousand five hundred dollars, made during the year 1887. the property became worth six thousand dollars. A few of the older members who worked hard to sustain the church during its strug- gle for existence were Bailes Coats. Jacob Wagoner. Isaac Woods, E. M. Wil- son, Mrs. Nancy Cross, Susan Ray, Mother Davisson, Mr. and Mrs. Wingate and the Weakleys.
The officers then were : A. P. Bone. Doctor Clayton, J. L. Haymond and Charles Culbertson, ellers: John Toner, senior and junior, Dr. E. W. Leech, T. J. Claycraft, John Whitehead and John Dobbins, deacons; A. P. Bone and William A. Moore, trustees. The following are those who had served the church in the capacity of pastor: Reverends Goodwin. Davis, Hughes, Wilson, Burroughs, Hopkins, Roberts, Stanley, Ackman, Samuel Tomlinson, J. H. Edwards, a missionary to Australia, and H. H. Ness- lage. Reverend Nesslage was a native of the Empire state, where he was born August 22, 1854. He received his elementary training in the schools of New York City, and at the age of twenty, entered Bethany Col- lege, West Virginia, where he remained for four years, completing both the literary and theological courses. His first work was at Bellefontaine, Ohio. Reverend Nesslage was a young man of both natural and acquired ability, and was an earnest and conscientious worker.
One of the greatest auxiliaries of the church was the Sunday school, which was under the management of Mr. Charles Culbertson, superintendent. The attendance was large and much interest manifested.
MT. AUBURN CHRISTIAN CHURCH. :
Through the efforts of Joseph Fassett, the following little band of Chris- tians were organized into a church at Mount Auburn in the summer of 1837 : William Record and wife, M. J. Nelson and wife, Giles Holmes and wife, Isaac Rodgers and wife, Joshua Nolton and wife and Elisha Townsend and wife. Of this number, Mr. and Mrs. Record are the only survivors who still retain
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their membership in the church. C. M. Allen and wife. William Cutsinger and wife and Abner Conner. although not members at the time of organization. joined soon after, and are now among the oldest and most respected members.
After Fasset. William Irwin and T. J. Edmonson served the church for many years in the capacity of pastor. Rev. John Brazleton, of North Vernon, Indiana. the present pastor, has served the church in a most acceptable manner for many years. The first building was of logs and was probably completed as early as 1840. In 1854. the present frame house, costing about eight hun- dred dollars, was completed and dedicated, and with the additions and recent improvements, it is in fairly good condition. The present officers are-Elders. C. M. Allen. Thomas Clarke and Henry Lisk: deacons-John Clarke and William Cutsinger.
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