USA > Indiana > Cass County > Combination atlas map of Cass County, Indiana > Part 6
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At that dato, Elder E. T. Manning was called to labor with the church, and continued to do so for several months. In the meantime, a feeling of disquietude prevailed among the membora, manifesting itself in frequent delinquencies, on tho part of mnny, in their attendance upon church services. These manifestations continued throughout the year.
December 5, 1846, Eldor C. M. Richmond was employed, his term of servico commencing October 10 preceding. Notwithstanding the frequent chango of pastora, thero was littlo abatement in the spirit of disunity, bris- ing. perhaps, more from a dissatisfaction with the nature of the old church polity than with the pastor in ehnrge. To remedy this element of discord, it was propesed to modify the artioles so as to conform essentially to the advanced opinions. Failing to secure a purpose se essential to the healthy growth and prosperity of the church and the faithful observance of Christian duties, withdrawals of membership heenmo more anil more frequent, until the necessity for a new organization, taking more ndvanced grounds is mat- tors of faith and discipline, was fully manifested. Occasionnl meetings and services continued to be held, however, until April 8, 1852, when the First or " Regular " Baptist Church in Logausport ceased to exist as such, tho Second Church, in tbo meantime, having taken its placo.
THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
was organized on the 4th day of April, A. D. 1847, in accordance with pre- vious notice of the purpose contemplated. This purpose is fully set forth in the preamblo to the now organization :
" Believing the time has come when we can hest secure our advancement in picty and roligions enjoyment, and extend aid to tho cause of Truth, hy withdrawing from the First Baptist Chureb, of this place, on account of dis- sensions and long continued neglect of Gospel discipline, and consequont innbility of said Church to pursue an efficient courso of action ; and secing no prospect of riddance from these and other obstacles to tho prosperity of said Church, we, therefore, agree to organize into a new Church, adopting tho following Constitution, By-laws, Covenants and Articles of Faith."
This meeting was presided over by Rev. C. M. Richmond; Samuel A. Hall acting as Clerk. The following persons constituted the original member- ship, having adopted the proposed nsw regulations and attached their names thereto :
J. A. Taylor, S. A. Hall, William Aldrioh, Daniel Ivins, J. H. Crain, C. M. Richmond, W. H. Aldrich, Mary A. Aldrieh, Virginia Loomis, Mary P. Richmond, Lucinda Weirick, Elizabeth Richardson and Harriet Neff.
Among the first efforts put forth by this new Church towaril insuring a prosperous future were to secure the services of an efficient Pastor, the organization of a Sunday School, and the crection of n suitnhle huilding in which to worship. Elder C. M. Richmond was chosen l'astor, and ho entered upon the discharge of hie duties at once.
The first Board of Trustees consisted of Adkins Nash, S. A. Hall and James A. Taylor, and were elected January 15, 1848.
At a meeting of the Council of Churches within Association limits, on the 26th of May, 1847. it was " Resolved, unanimously, that this Council docs hereby recognize the Second Baptist Church, of Logansport, as a regular Baptist Churob, established in accordance with Gospel principles." Eller Deweese, then, on behalf of the Council, through Elder Richmond, extended the hand of fellowship to the Church thus recognized.
On the 15th of January, 1848, Adkins Nash and Timothy C. Merritt were elceted the first Deacons.
On the same date, a donntion of $114.00, to he appropriated toward the purchase of a lot for the church, was made by the " Bnptist Female Beuevo- jout Society." of Logansport, and gratefully aceopted.
Enrly stops were taken, hy appointing npproprinte Committees of con- fereuec, to devise a plan of union of the First and Second Churches. These efforts, after numerous interchanges of opinion, were finally successful, and on the 1st of Fobruary, 1849, the plan of such union was perfcoted.
After the close of Eller Richmond's term of service, the Church was with- ont the services of a regular Pastor until July 13, 1849, when Elder Demas Robinson was chosen. lle sustainod this relation until October 5, 1850, and was succeeded hy Elder John P'. Barnett, on the 17th of November follow- ing. On the lat of February, 1852, Elder Burnett resigned his charge as Pastor. The vacancy continued until August 29, 1852, at which timo it was supplied by Elder H. C. Skinner. At the meeting on the 1st of October, 1853, Elder Skinner resigned his pastoral charge, and was succeeded, tem- porarily, by Elder Robinson, whose relationship with the Church was sum- inarily disposed of hy voting a withdrawal of its fellowship, on the 4th of March, 1854. Afterward, Elder W. F. Purker was temporarily called, but he closed thint relation in Juue, 1855. Services were irregular thereafter, until tho omployment of Rev. J. R. Ash, on the 31st of July, 1866, who continued to Inhor for the Church until March 25, 1868, when he resigned his charge.
Early in the year 1854, tho wants of the churchi began to foreshadow the building of a house of worship of grenter capacity for the accommodn- tion of the increased membership. In February of that year, the necessary preliminary aotion was hail in the matter, and not long afterward the hilding was put under contract. The result was the erection of the pres- ent. commodious brick church, at the northeast corner of Braadwny and Seventh streets, in the city of Logansport. It was dedicated on the Uth of March, 1862.
Elder Edward W. Cinrk succeeded Mr. Ash, as Pastor, and continued in that relation until July 15, 1800, when Elder Silas Theker, who hnd been previously invited, took charge of the pastorate. Elder Tucker labored very earnestly and acceptnbly for the upbuilding of the church and the best interests of the great work ho had been chosen to perform. While in his charge, tho new house of worship, before commenced, was set npart by dedication, the dedieatory nermon being preached by him on that occasion. Dr. Tuokor continued to labor with this church until the close of the year 1871, with runrked success in his pulpit efforts and pastoral relation. Abent one year prior to the severance of his relations with this church, a enroful reviow of the situation showed a membership of 272 persons, of whom 217 were reported in good standing, 83 of doubtful standing, and 22 whose standing was unknown. Subsequently, about 85 names have leen added to the list.
After the departure of Dr. Tucker, Rev. A. H. Stote was called, and began his work on the 30th of Angust, 1872. He remained in charge until altout the 1st of July, 1877, since which time the church has heen without the services of a stated Pastor. The church, however, is in good condition and not likely to retrograde.
PRESBYTERIAN.
#KCOND On XEW SCHOOL CHURCH.
To Rev. Martin MI. Post, D. D., the credit is due of sowing the first seed, which, under his careful culturo, germinated, aud in due time developed into the Presbyterian Church of Logansport. Attracted by the prospect of a new town, on Innde purchased of the Pottawatomie Indians, of grent promise, nnd vacant of religious institutions, where be could commence his life work, and " build on no other man's foundation,'' he came here Christinas week, in 1829. Upon his advent into Lognusport, two females constituted the entire Presbyterian element within an aren of twenty miles nround. "Within forty miles, save at one place, there was no organized church. Soon a small Baptist Church, and a few months later, an equally small Methodist olass wero gathered."
In this field, nncultivated as it was, he began and laid the foundation of the church of his choice. On Thursday evening, Deeemher 81, 1829, under his direction, the first weekly prayer meeting undor tho auspioes of the Presbyterian Church was held in the " Old Seminary" building on Market street. " A union meeting for prayer, sustained hy females, wns early estab- lished, and, in times of special religious interest, numerously attended ; twenty-five or thirty such helpers in the Gospel, on some occasion, thus met from the several congregations, and from the dawn of our history, for what- ever piety nnd good works hnve existed in Logansport, the obligation is largely due to woman ; the prayers of the living and the departed nre its rich- est treasuro."
A Sabbath school was formod in May, 1830, of which Mr. Post was the Superintendent. This was the only one in Logansport for seven years, and in 1836, it numbered one hundred and twenty-five scholars. The church proper was organized on tho 22d of January, 1881, with twenty-one inem- hers, the doveloped germ vitnlized on tho 31st of December, 1829, hy the establishment of tho weekly prayer meetings, wherehy tho energies of thio faithful were concentrated and consecrated to the nohle work. "As the fruit of a roligious interest, greater, relative to tho population thnn has sinco been in the county, thirteen others were added before the close of the year" -thirty-four within a period of two yenrs after the 'institution of that humble, unpretentious prayer meeting. All this, too, was the result of earnest, unselfish effort on the part of the leading spirit directing tho work.
" Again, in 1837," says Mr. Post, " ten, hy conversion, were received at one time, and nfter having dismissed twenty-six to aid in forming country churches, there remained one hundred and seventeen members. Witbin a peried of two years (1836-7), sixty-cight had been added-tho larger part recent emigrants. Soen tho tido set baok, the population of the city for a while dimiuished, the public works-tho eanal and hridges-being eom- pleted, and tho times reversed."
Withiu a period of thirty years from the organization of the church, three hundred and eighty-two members were received and participated in its exercises. The results attained in the cighteen yenrs succeeding give assurance that the kind and quality of the spiritual instruction received, with the porsonal examplo of the reverend instructor wbo watched over it in the early years of its upbuilding, havo hnd innch to do in the measure of its permanency and usefulness of the church to-day.
" Fatber Post," as he was familiarly known, continued his pastoral relation with this church from its organization until 1866, when he was relioved from activo work in that relation. He was succeeded hy Rev. Adolphus S. Dudley, whose term of servico commenced immediately upon tho close of Dr. Post's thirty-sixth year of patient watch-care over the iu- terests vital to the uphuilding and prosperity of the society best known as " Fatber Pust's Church."
While Dr. Post thus ceased to labor as the Pastor of this church, in Lo- gansport, his time was appropriated almost exclusively to missionary work nmong those branches of the parent church in the city, which his paternal care bad planted and nurtured in the country adjacent, during the latter years of his useful and exemplary life.
Mr. Dudley commenced bis work with an interested zeal commensurate with the magnitude of his task, continuing thus to maintain, by his assidu- ity, the extensive popularity of the church acquired through the long years of Father Post's pastoral experience. He remained in charge during the succeeding three years, at the end of which time Dr. Jnmee Matthews was chosen to succeed him.
The church, under his ministrations, mnintnined its former prestige in the religious world. Dr. Matthews resigned his charge sometime during the Spring of 1874. After a short interval, Rev. Robert B. Stimson was clothed with the pastoral charge in Dr. Matthews' stead, continuing in that relation until the last of April, 1876. He was succeeded, a short time after by Rev. Roswell C. Post, the youngest son of the late Martin M. Post, who" in fact founded the church and to whose example and watch-osre it owcs so much to-day. Than now, perhaps, the church was never in better condi- tion, and its sphere of usefulness never so completely occupied ag at present. At this writing, preliminary steps are being taken to enlarge nud beautify their house of worship. Enrolled membership, 210.
FIRST, OR OLD SCHOOL.
Until 1838, when the Presbyterian Church of the United States was divided into two distinct hronches, the New Sobool, or Second Church, as- ft is now knowu, comprised the whole family of the Church in Cass County, which was representod hy Dr. Post, to whoss fostering care it is indebted for the high rank awarded to it in this community. From that date a grad- unl separation of the adherents of the two elements began to take place, the breach continuing to widen until, by the action of the Logansport Presby- tery, some timo subsequently, the disintegration hecame complete. The outgrowth of theso proceedings of the controlling authority of the Church at Large was the organization of what was declared to be the " Old School Church."
This new organization dates its existence from the 19th of March, 1840. At that date, it took the name hy which it continued to he known until the re-union wns effected a few yenrs ago. Afterward, it was known as the First Church. A year or two prior to the division before mentioned, the Rev. John Wright, the father of John W. and Williamsou, who had been, for the thirty-two years preceding, Pastor of the church at Lancaster, Ohio, resigned his charge at that place and took up his residence in Logansport, whither his two sons hud preceded him. Upon its organization, Mr. Wright took charge, temporarily, nnd, the Sunday following, James Harper nnd William Brown wore ordained hy him as Elders, the first chosen by the New Church. In the ahsenco of these Intter gentlemen, Joseph Corbit, who had been ordnined as euch during his residence in Ohio, acted as Elder pro tem.
The first Board of Trustees chosen consisted of Joseph Corhitt, Jnmes W. Dunn and John W. Wright. The first regular Pastor was Rev. James Buchanan, in the Spring of 1841, who continued to sustain that relation until the time of his death, in September, 1843. From the date of organi- zation up to the period of Mr. Buchanan's death, there were fifty-three addi- tions to the original eighteen who constituted the first membership.
Sometime in the year 1842, Willinaison Wright donated to the church Lot number 64, in Tipton's Second Addition to Logansport, on condition that n stone edifice should ho crected thereon at a cost of not less thm $2,000 and mniutainod as a church. Tho necessary building was accordingly erected on said lot, heing comploted in 1842, and subsequently enlarged by adding 20 feet to its length ..
The first meetings of the society were held in the second story of a frame building on the northwest corner of Broadway and Fourth street, at thnt time, before and ufterward used as a school room. The site of that huild- ing is now occupied by McTaggart's Block. In this room the organization was consummated, where, also, the successive meetings were held from that time forward until toward the close of the Sumner or early Fall of the year 1840. Then, a room in the third atory of a brick building on the north side
of Market apnee, was prepared and oceupied for church purposes, until the Fall of 1842, when the new eburch, being completed, was first nsed.
In the Spring of 1844, Rev. Thomas Crowe, of Hanover, Indisna, wBs enlled as Pastor. lle was a young man of much promise and greatly beloved by his congregation, but in consequences of the failing health of his wife, hs returned to her former home, in the Full of 1847. During his ministry, William Thornton, Andrew Young and Robert Rowan were elected additional Elders. Thero were, also, eighteen members ndded to the church.
From the time of Mr. Crowe's departure until the Fall of 1848, Dr. F. T. Brown, licensed at a presbytery in Logansport, supplied the pulpit here, before accepting a enll from the First Church in Madison, Indiana. Other supplies wero only tronsient. Succeodiug Frederick T., Rev. Hugh Browu was called to the pastoral charge of the church, in the Fall of 1848, having, meantimo, returnod from Chinn, whither ho hnd gone as a missionnry. Ile remained in charge here one year, and deolining to remain longer, ho moved hence to Northern Illinois. During his ministry here, however, there were twenty-four additions to the membership of the church.
The next Pastor was Rev. Adam Haines, a young minister of promising ahility, who, in consequence of bad health, did not remain long, nnd finnily surrendered his trust into the hands of Rov. Levi Hughes, the latter taking charge of the church as its Pastor, in the year 1852. Mr. Ilughes held the pastorato until the Fall of 1869, when he resigned and removed to Minne- apolis, Minnesota, as a means of recuperating his ovortaxed mental and physical enorgies. As a result of his Inhors here, the olureh building was enlarged, tho basement overhauled, prepared and furnished for tho Sundny school, and a large addition made to the membership of the church. From that time until the Spring of 1861, the pulpit was temporarily supplied hy Rev. H. R. Henneigh and Rov. Il. W. Shaw, tho latter, during that period and before, being Principal of tho fligh School.
At the time indicated nbove, Rev. J. C. Irwin, having beou called, took the pastoral chargo. During his ministry, tho parsonage property adjoining the church was purchased, and hns sinco heon used as such. The ministry of Mr. Irwin was very successful, aad ho labored zcalously to execute the trust reposed in him. At one time, a leave of absence for three months was granted him, to canvass for the endowment of the Logansport Presbyterian Academy. While he was thus ahsent, tho pulpit was supplied by Rov. C. H. Dunlop, who awakened a livoly religious interest, the result of which was sixty-four additions to tho membership of the church. Theso, with tho other additions under Mr. Irwin's personal ministrations, innde the total increase one hundred and thirty members, during tho term of service whioh closed in the Summer of 1867.
"Ou the 1st of August, 1867, Rev. William Greenough, of l'iqua, Ohio, on a previous call of the church," beenmo Pastor, nad continued in that relation until tho fall of 1870. 'The accessions during the timo be lahored with the ohuroh were seventy, in a period of three years.
Ho was succeeded hy Rov. L. M. Scofield, the present occupant, in Jan- unry, 1871. Under his ministration, tho church and Sunday School have greatly increased in the number of their members and the efficiency of their lahors. The good results wrought out hy tho superior exceutive ability of those having in charge the management of churoli affairs made the necessity for further enlargement of the dimensions of their place of worship appar- ent. With this object in view, plans and specifications wero agreed upen nnd the work of remodeling the old structure commenced aheut the 10th of September, 1877. So rapidly was tho work pushed forward that tho ning- nificent new church edifice, now completed, was ready for occupancy on the 2d day of December, 1877, and services ware accordingly held thoro on that day.
METHODIST CHURCH.
As the Methodist was the Church of the pioneer work in Indiana gener- ally, so, especially, in the Wabash Valley, soon after the first settlements had heen minde, itinernuts of tho Methodist persuasion began to visit this locality, delivering their messages of peace and good will to andiences eon- sisting of a few of the scattered settlers, brought together hy the patient searching out und earnest solicitation of the messengers themselves.
In September, 1828, the Western Conference of the M. E. Church was held at Madison, Indiana. At this scesion, Rev. Steven R. Beggs was ap- pointed to the Crawfordsville Circuit, embracing Crawfordsville, Covington, Attien, Lafayette, Delphi, Logansport and Fort Wayne. At tho succeeding Conference, beld in 1829, Mr. Beggs was appointed especially to the Logans- port Mission, embracing Logansport, Delphi nnd Lafuyette. The appro- priation for missionnry purposes that year aggregated no more than $50, a stipend so small that at the end of the first quarter, Mr. Begga was relieved from duty here and sent to another charge. Ile wae succeeded in this field hy Rev. Hnckaliah Vrendenburgh. His success does not appear to have heen great, from the infrequent mention of his name.
On the 23d of January, 1830, a notice was published in the Pottawatomie Times, the only newspaper then in Logansport, that on the following Saturday evening, und Sunday morning at 11 o'clock, January 30 and 31, Rev. M. Nudenburg, Methodist, would presoh in the Seminary, then the only publie huilding in Cass County adapted to auch purposes.
At this date, it is undorstood, the first class was formou, out of which has grown the Methodist Church of to-day in Cass County. Their first class was composed of Judge John Soott and wife, Joseph Hall and wife, Ben- jamin Enyart and Joel Martin.
Meetings were then held usually at the Seminary, and not unfrequently nt private residences, by this nuoleus of n church, until 1837, when a small class room was built on the east side of Sixth street, about midway between Broadway and North street. In this building, meetings of the class were held ; and here, also, the first Sunday school was orgonized. Subsequently, in 1889, a hriek church, of fair dimeosions, was built on the same lot. By thie time, the membership had increased se that a building of the propor- tions of the one just erected was a necessity. During the queceeding twelve or thirteen years, this was the house of worship of the congregation. In the meantime, two sessions of the General Conference were held thsre, with ample seating room,
MINISTERS.
Commencing with the year 1828, the following are the names of the Min- isters, in their order, who have held the relation of Pastor of this church : Steven R. Beggs, Heckalish Vrendenburgh, S. C. Cooper, Amnsa Johnson, J. A. Brouse, B. Westluke, Mr. Trusler, J. Cololazer, George M. Beswick, Mr. White, S. Reid, W. L. Huffman, William Wilson, I N. Stagg, W. Wheeler, J. Black, Thomas Sincx, Il. B. Beers, R. D. Robinson, V. M. Beamer, H N. Barnes, Nelson Green, A. Greenmnn, B. Webster, J. N. Campbell, J. W. T. MoMullen, Safety Layton, W. J. Vigus, M. H. Mendenhall, M. Mahin, N Gillam, R. H. Sparks, J. R. Stilwell and C. W. Lynch. Rev. M. Mahin is now in ohnrge a second time. It is proper. also, to state that several of these gentlemen have served two or more pastoral terms, while others have heen sent as supplies. And it will be further of interest to say that this church, since its organization, has nover heen without a Pastor.
THE BROADWAY CHURCII
was commenced in 1861 and forwarded to completion as rapidly as the mag nitude of the undertaking would permit, being first occupied about 1864, and has a seating capacity of six hundred on the upper floor and three hun- dred on tho lower. Tho secicty numbers over three hundred, while the Sunday school has more than two hundred efficient workers.
THE MARKET STREET CHURCH
is a branch of the Broadway Church, and had its origin in the organization of n Sabbath school in the eastern part of the city, on Market street, This organization was perfected in 1866, and was made emineatly successful through the superintendence of Sheriden Cox and T. B. Louis, who first labored in that direction. The society was organized in the Fall of the same year, and in the Spring following. Rev. E. Ilendrioka was appointed Minister in charge, who, proving unequal to the taak, was superseded hy P. Carland. In the Summer of 1868, a tabernacle was erected on the south-
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east corner of Market and Fifteenth streets, and used for church purposes. In the Fall of 1869, n comfortable frame church, nenr tho site of the taher- nacle, was crected und dedicated. This society has succeeded in accomplish- ing much good, thus for, in its mission.
WHEATLAND STREET CHURCH.
This branch, also, is the outgrowth of a Sunday school organization, in the Summer of' 1873, in the vicinity of Wheatland street. The formation of a churob followed soon after, and has had A prosperous enreer. On the 21st day of Novembor, 1876, tho building erected under the auspices of this society was dedicated to the worship of God by Rev. Dr. Robinson, of Fort Wnyne.
TRINITY CHURCH-EPISCOPAL.
Of the earliest efforts to establish this branch of the Christian church in Logansport, no record now remains, the families of that faith who resided here in the first years of the city's history having moved niny or passed to the life beyond. It is manifest, however, that there were such, and that they felt the want of church nssoeintions.
The family of Dr. O. N. Fiteh, who came to Logansport in 1834, was the first of which we have now any satisfactory account, who were members of this churoh. They still remain here, and, their connection with the parish is unchanged.
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