USA > Indiana > Cass County > Combination atlas map of Cass County, Indiana > Part 7
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Of those who held services here in early days, the names of Rev. Mr. Todd and Dr. C. R. Johnson, who hecomo Rector of St. John's Church at Lafayette, and Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, Missionary Bishop of the North- west, afterwurd Bishop of Wisconsin, when it hecamo a separato dioceso. Of theso we have no record of any official acts, except in the ense of the latter.
It is said that an organization antecedent to the present one existed here, but when it was consummated, how long it continued to exist and under want name, are left nowy wholly to conjecture.
Tho first record of suy official aet was on Sunday evening, August 2, 1840, at tho house of Jolin S. Patterson, Esq., the baptism of Emily, daugh- ter of J. S. and E. A. Patterson, born Aug. 22, 1830, Ilenry Satterlee, Murtha nnd Emma Boyer, children of Dr. andl H. V. Fitob. The following day, live children of Dr. And S. Merrill wero haptized.
Pertinent to the organization, ive have tho following memoranda :
"The Rev. Francis I1. L. Laird, acting under tho authority of the Domestie Committee of the Missionary Society of the P. E. Church in the United States, arrived with his wife and seven children in the city of Logans- port, on the 1st day of July, A. D. 1841.
" On the 19th of the same mouth, he organized n congregation by the nome of Trinity, at which time, in the school room occupied hy the mis- sionary, a vestry was oleoted, composed of the following persona: John S. Patterson, Esq., John Oreen, Dr. T. II. Howes, Johu E. Howes, Capt. Jacob llull, Dr. G. N. Fitch, Dr. J. F. Merrill, J. S. Twells."
The erection of a church seems early to have engaged the attention of Mr. Laird, for on the 8th of August, 1842, his record shows that contribut- tions toward the erection of the first Trinity Church had been receiveil at that date, to the nmount of $946.10 in cash and securities-an excellent showing.
The ereotion of the church progressed with a fair degree of activity, tho. basement heing first completed and occupied. The audience room was used, though the building was not entirely completed, in 1843. The first record referring to tho nge of the church room bears date February 19, 1843.
The first elnss for confirmation was presented to and confirmed by Bishop Kempor (who confirmed the first five olasses), March 17, 1842. In this class was Mrs. H. V. Fitch ; in the third class, October 19, 1845, was Mrs. Tuttle. On the 8th of August, 1841, the Lord's Supper was first administered by Mr. Laird to five persons. During his reetorship, which closed sometime in the Spring of 1845, tho number of communicants in the church aggregated sixteen.
Succeeding Mr. Laird, came tho Rev. A. Clark, who was appointed mis- sionary nt Logansport, by the Missionary Society, entered upon the discharge of his duties January 16, 1845. Tiventy communicants were added during the pastorato of Mr. Clark, making 36 in all, of whom 19 were lost by removal and 3 by death, leaving a totol membership of only 14, at the elosc of his Inhors in the summer of 1848.
After the resignation of Mr. Clark, only occasional services were had, by Bishop Kemper, on the 24th of June, 1849, on a visit for baptism and eon- firmation, and at other times by Rev. Mr. Phelps, of Delphi.
Rev. Walter E. Franklin took the rectorship on the 13th of March, 1853, remaining until May, 1854. During his stay, he baptized six, married one, und eight were confirmed, Bishop Upfold officinting. At the close of his pastorate, in Mny, 1854, Mr. Franklin reported to the convention tiventy communiennts.
Rev. John Trimble, Jr., succceded Mr. Franklin, in January, '1855, remaining in obarge until March 31, 1857, his number of communicants aggregating ninetcen, three only being confirmed during his term.
For more than a year following, no regular services were held. In the Summer or Fall of 1868, Rev. Elins Burdaall became Rector, and continued in that relation until the close of the year 1859, when the list of communi- eants numbered twenty-three.
Rev. Mr. High hecame Rector in the carly part of 1860, and held the charge until the beginning of 1862, the result of his lahors exhibiting a marked increase, the list showing thirty-six communicants nt that ilnte.
Until July, 1868, the parish was without a Rector, Mr. Hudson, of Del- phi, officinting occasionally, hut with what result the record fails to disclose. At that date, Rev. A. B. Brush took charge of the parish and remained with it until near the close of 1864. On his resignation, the list of communicants numbered forty-six.
Fram this last dato until the lat of October, 1866, there was no settled Rector, and as a consequence, church interests were greatly depressed and a spirit of lukewarmness developed itself, to the manifest detriment of the causo. With theso conditions surrounding, Rev. J. E. Jackson was called from Delphi und at once entered upon his duties as Rector. Under his administration, work was vigorously prosecuted, twenty-six being baptized and twenty-five confirmed, showing sixty-six communicants nt the closs of his term of service, in May, 1868.
Again, for ahout one year, there was a vacaney in tho parish, and the effeot was discouraging-"' no ono to look after the little flock, nor to break unto them the hread of life." At this time, Rev. E. J. Purdy was called, Anil he necepted tho reetership on condition that the old church edifiee, which was in a dilapiduteil condition, from the effects of o had foundation, should be disposed of and a new one erected without delay, even hefore the building of a reetory. These conditions were complied with, and the trans- position immediatoly conmenoed, tho work heing rapidly forwarded to com- pletion, so that, on the 19th of February, 1870, just twenty-soven years from tho date of the first service held by Mr. Laird, in the old church, the first service was held in the new, under the ministration of Mr. Purily. Tho new ohurob has sevonty-four pews and will comfortably sent three hundred per- sous, while the old one had but twonty-eight pews and scated no more than ono hundred and twenty. Thus, a great change has heen wrought, a change dewianiled by the improveil condition of things.
The work dono by Mr. Purdy and hy his congregation has rarely or never boen surpassed in this community. In addition to the erection and furnish- ing of this new church edifice and providing for the cost thereof, a fine reetory has heen built and the church supplied with a large pipe organ of sufficient cnpncity to fill the entire building with meloily.
Tho communicants now number one hundred and thirty, most of whom participate netivoly in nll that pertains to the healthful prosperity of the church.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHIERAN, ST. JACOBI CHURCH.
This branch of the Oerman Lutheran Church was organized in Logans- port in the Fall of 1848, with a membership of nine persons, of whom but four are uow living: Christ Berg, Sr., Christ Berg, Jr., Andrew Dorsolı and Christ Schwier.
The organization was perfected under the pastoral charge of Rev. Carl Sturcken, who afterward continued to lahor for its uphuilding with an interested zeal in the propagation of its principles and tho accomplishment of its mission for good, until 1864. During his administration of the affairs of the church, indeed, in the early years of his labors here, steps hegan to be token hy him toward the creation of n fund for the ereetion of a suitnhla house of worship. In 1852, the means at command ivere utilized in the erection of a respectable church edifice on Canal street, 60 hy 32 feet, aud two stories high, fully equal to the requirements of his congregation. The audience room was in the upper story.
As a part of the lahor performed hy Mr. Sturcken, an excellent school was founded hy him for the education of the children of his charge-the gnme edifice heing appropriated to purposes of a school room. Tho school was a large one und well conductod, with good discipline and careful iu- struction.
Mr. Stureken is at present a citizen of Baltimore, Maryland, where, it is understood, he is still laboring to promote the interests of his church.
On the 1st of May, 1865, Rev. J. Il. Jox, until then of Wisconsin, became the Pustor, and has since labored with eminent anecess in that relation. le is A man of quiet, unobtrusive manners, of muoh learning and great on- ergy of character. Possessing these elements, he seems to he exactly adapted to the wants of his people ; having thus far shown himself to be just the right man in the right plnee.
During the years 1867 und 1868, the congregation-which had grown from the original nine communicants to a number requiring a more capa- cious houseof worship-underthe personul supervision of its excellent Pastor, huilt the present magnificent structure, at the northeast corner of Ninth and Spear streets. The huilding is of hriek, with a toiver containing three hells, und surmounted hy n graceful spire. This edifice is among the best speei- mens of church architecture in the city, and has a seating capacity of eight hundred.
The congregation is out of debt and owns, in nddition to its church huild. ing, a parsonage, school house and dwellings for each of its two school lenchers, and is, therefore, in possession of elements developing into the menns of promoting the greatest good to those for wyhoge present and future woll-being these judicious and painstaking efforts have heen bestowed. Mr. Jox, in keeping open and in healthy condition theso avenues of success, per- forms an amount of lahor that would servely be recognized outside of his congregation, were not the results attained speaking monuments, so enre- fully and quietly is it ilone.
Neither does his work cud in Logansport; in fact, this is the parent church, with hranches radiating from it as a center throughout Northern and Western Indiuna ; yet be seems to guide and dircet the whole, lahoring with untiring industry.
The schools here, as at present conduoted, are under the immediate management of two tenchers, tho average daily attendance heing about one hunilred and fifty. In theso schools, religious instruction is a leading feature, the branches usually taught in our puhlio schools recoiving the atten- tion necessary to qualify the instructed for all the practical duties of life.
Although this church is nowy less than thirty yenrs old, it numbers, of regular communicants, more than five hundred persons.
FIRST UNIVERSALIST.
From the organization of the county up to 1841, few sermons in advocacy of the doctrine of the ultimate salvation of the human family from error and unbelief luul heen delivered in this locality. At that date, Rev. Erasmus Man- ford, now of Chicago, began to deliver his messages concerning the faith that was in him to the good people of Logansport and its adjacent neighborhoods. Then, there were not more than fifteen or, possibly, twenty outspoken be- lievers in the teachings of that denomination in the entiro county. Mr. Manford was an activo and zenlous ivorkor in the cause he luhored to vindi- cate. The bounds of his mission extonded throughout tho Valley of the Wabash, and beyond, wherever he could seeure a hearing. Ile was, indeed, the pioncer minister of that persuasion in all Northern Indiana. In the Winter of 1842-3, soveral sermons were delivered by ministers from beyond tho limits of the Stato to large and attentivo audiences.
As early ns 1844-5, Rev. Wm. S. Clark was employed, temporarily, hy the friends in Logansport and vicinity to preach nt short intervals. From that timo forward, pronching was more frequent, resulting in a grently increased interest in the peculiar doetrines of tho sect.
In the Summer and Fall of 1857, meetings and services were more fre- quent than ever before, an increased desire being manifested hy the publie to henr proclamation of the doctrines so generally reprobated from the pul- pits of the less liberal sects. Occasionally, ministers from other localities ventured out for the purposes of pioneer work, visiting Logansport and its immediate neighborhood in their route. Whenever one suoh was announced to deliver his message, a comparatively Inrge and always deeply interested audience was sure to greet him. Among the more popular, during that period, wero Rev. B. F. Foster, of Indianapolis, Isnne M. Westfall, of La Fayette, and T. C. Eaton, of Illinois. Through their efforts, n spirit of inquiry way awakened, and the determination to organize a society soon beenme manifest. In August and September of that year, and early in Oc- tohor, there were several seasons of revival, Rev. Mr. Eaton lahoring to that end.
On the 10th of October, 1857, an organization was effected, with & mem- hership of seventeen, consisting of David Neal, Joseph Edwards, Hannah G. Edwards, Joseph N. Hendrickson, Mary J. Hondricksou, JAne Eldridge, Catharine P. Davis, T. B. Helm, John Comingore, Elon Wade, James L. West, Mobil J. Wade, Susan P. Eaton, Philip J. Lo Roso, Elliott Lamh, Jnmes Chappelow nud James J. Bates.
Aftor that timo, services were held only onoo n month, regularly, some- times more frequently, but at irregular intervals, nt which either Mr. Foster, Mr. Westfall or Mr. Eaton offiointed, the society increasing in strength and popularity. The services of a local minister were not seoured until the Fall of 1869, whou Thomas Gorman was employed, und romained with the church less than one yenr. After the retirement of Mr. Gorman, Another minister was not engaged until the beginning of 1861, when Rev. J. D. H. Corwine nssumed the pastoral oharge. Mr. Corwine was a man of superior scholarship and very successful in his pulpit efforts, his style being casy, natural and singularly convincing. Ile maintained his relations as Pastor for a part of two years, a portion of his time being occupied as Prin- eipal iu tho Logansport Collegiate Institute.
Until 1863, the sorvices of the church were hold in the Court House. At that date, the huilding of the commodions church on Broadway was put under contract and completed in a reasonably short time, at n sum little in excess of six thousand dollars. The lot on which this house was erected, being one hundred and ten feet front, hind been previously, in July, 1859, purchased at the low price of fifteen hundred dollars.
This house was dediented to the worship of the All Father, on the 13th of May, 1866, the dedicatory sermon heing preached hy Rev. J. H. Tuttle, then of Chicago, Illinois. In the meautime, Rev. W. W. Curry, then recontly from Madison, Indiana, had bcon selected as Pastor, and, as such, wiis in charge, on the occasion referred to. Mr. Curry was succeeded on the 1st day of Oetoher, 1868, by Rev. N. S. Sage, whose ability as a pulpit orator has not heen surpassed hy any other resident minister in Logansport. Mr. Snge continued in charge during the succeeding two years and a half, having necomplished mueh good.
Rev. S. S. Hehhard became the successor of Mr. Sage, on the 17th of September, 1871. After a service of six months, he closed his lahors with the church. During the period from that date until March, 1874, the church was withont n regular Pastor. At that time, Rev. N. S. Suge was again called and accepted the pastoral charge, devoting, thenceforward, his time and energies to the work, finally elosing his labors here, in December, 1816. The church has now an actual membership of near oue hundred.
Soon after the organization of the society, in 1857, it came into posses- sion of a large fund bequeathed hy the late Philip Pollard, for the erection of u church edifice of becoming proportions nud seouring a comfortable prop- erty. The building and property abovo referred to stond as enduring moon-
uments of his liberal benefaction. A marhla slab in front hns this insorip- tion : " First Universalist Church-Philip Pollard's Legacy-1863."
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
About the 1st of October, 1842, Elder John O'Kane, then of Crawfords- ville, Ind., was invited, hy some of the friends accepting his form of relig- ious belief, to visit Logansport aud minister to their spiritual ivauts. He eame, accordingly, and lahored successfully several weeks. The result of his evangelizing at that time wns the organization of the first Christinn (or Disciples') Church in Logansport, anil, indeeil, in Cass County. Ehler O'Kauo was a man of superior ability, and exerted a powerful influence for gooil in the line of his enlling by his genial manner and excellent social qualities, with the adilition of his eloquent presentation of tho doctrines peculiar to that branch of church, calling many to communion with hiu. Occasionally, for several years afterward, ho visited this city and county und preached to large audieneeg, including the congregation to whom he was the first to hrenk the bread of life. These occasionul ministrations hy Elder O' Kane extended through a period of four or five years, and wore the means of keeping alivo anil activo the working elements of the original organization.
Subsequently, Elders Nelson, Hopkins, Mullis, Franklin aud other min- isters visited the church at intervals, ns opportunity offered, and delivered their meggages to the people, keeping alive the interest, almost latent, that tho mission might eventually bo accomplished. Thero were, however, no regular services held nar pastoral caro hoytowed upon tho congregation until the year 1867, nt which timo Eller William Grigshy settled here. Under his cure, the church increased in numbers, and a good influence was sprend nhroad, services being held with some degree of regularity, notwithstanding n sinted house of worship had not yet heen provided. To supply this want, different publio balls were used for congregationul worship, for several years the Court House heing secured for thut purpose. Mr. Grigsby contin- ued in charge of the pastorate for about the period of ten years, and was succeeded by Dr. H. Z. Leonard, who preached irregularly for tho congre- gation during n period of two or three years.
In the meantime, Elder Carpenter, of Wahnsh, and others camo And hield series of meetings, hy means of which a lively interest was awakened and the church was inspired with new vigor in tho promulgation of its work. 'The result was the cuployment of Elder J. L. Pursons, who was called to tho pastoral chargo of the church in tho yeur 1870.
Elder Parsons remained during the succeeding three years, laboring with great efficiency and zcal. Under his administration of affairs, the long-felt ivant of n placo of worship, permanent and of proper dimensions for tho growing congregation, was supplied. Soon after his settlement here, ho set nhout the work of devising uicans for the accomplishment of this most desirable onterpriso. His lahors, secondeil hy tho active co-operation of the congregation, wore crowned with success, and tho close of the year 1871 founil the society in the occupancy of a neat and commodious stono chapel, at the corner of Ninth und Spear streets, in the city of Logansport, erected anıl furnisheil at a cost of $8,200. Since that timo, the cougregation has inercased nearly two hundred in tho number of its members, and has other- wise been in a healthy and prosperous condition, enjoying the fruits of zealous labor in their chosen field.
At the closo of Mr. Parsons' term of service, Elder C. M. Robertson wns called, sustaining tho pastoral relation with distinguished ability during the years 1873-4. His Inhors were crowned with eminent sucecss, and the evidences of his devotion to the cause of his choice will long remnin to remind his people of the master spirit who ministered to thein in times past. While engaged in the speeiul work, this congregation, during the year 1874, mainly through his instrumentality a hranch church was organized on the South Side, and a beautiful hrick edifice erected as n house of worship, the congregation supplying it with tho needful furniture.
After Mr. Robertson elosed his term of service, tho church was without A pastor for u short senson, yet services wero conilucted with considoruhle regularity hy leading lay members of the church. Ultimately anothor Pas- lor was enller in the person of Elder C. W. Martz, who remained in charge during the year following, but was a less efficient Pastor than Elder Robertson.
Upon the close of the term for which Eldor Martz lnd heen employed, services wore again helil by lay members, who therchy preyouted the subsi- dence of interest in the observance of Christian duties. In the meantime, traveling EIders occasionally occupied tho pulpit, until, some time in the Spring of 1817, Elder John Ellis wns engaged as the minister in chargo, and who now continues in thut relation. At presont, services aro held regularly evory Lord's day, morning and evening, in their comfortablo chapel, and in connection with these services is a model Sunday school, the management of which is under the superintendence of Mr. J. B. Winters. Thero is one feu- turc in the management of this school that has, iu tho experienco of this church, been one of the most powerful levers in securing continuity of inter- est in hoth school nnil chureli. It consists in cach member of the church und congregation heing also a member of the Sunday school, thereby estab- lishing wuity of interest and mutual co-operation in whatever tends to develop the most earnest effort for the success of the causo they lahor to advance.
NORTH SIDE CHURCII.
This church, which is an off-shoot from the one just noticed, was organ- ized on the 18th of April, 1874, on the north side of Eel River. The meet- ings held in that loenlity resulting in the organization commeneed in Oeto- her, 1871, under the Auspiccs of Dr. 11. Z. Leonaril and others. On the 12th of February, 1873, n series of meetings was commeneed looking to the organ- ization of a separate sooicty, and continned with general regularity until tho dato when the organization was perfeeted. At this time, there were twenty seven members, Dr. Leonard being the offieinting minister. Of those twenty-seven original members, twenty-two were haptizeil hy Dr. Leonard, from October, 1875, up to that date.
The organizing services were conducted by Elder William J. Ilowe, of Chicago, in the hriek meeting house, under the control of tho society. The instituting ceremonies being completeil, the Elder delivered un olahornte discourse on the subject of church officers and their duties. This eom- DIeled, Elder Howe was called to the chair as President of the meeting. and Benjamin Sparks appointed Secretary. Then, B. Z. Leonard and S. A. Custer were uppointed Elders hy the presiding officer, which appointment was confirmed hy n rising vote of the membership of the new church, and by the Presiding Elder declared the regularly constituted Elders of the congre- gation. In like monner, Levi D. Ilorn, Amos Mobley and James Wilson were appointel ani confirmed ns Deacons ; thus, also, Mrs. Clary and Mrs. Morehart were appointed Denconcsses. The present membership is sixty- three. Services are held regularly, and a Sunday school has for some time heen in successful operation.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN.
This branch of the Presbyterian Churh of the United States, until within A few years past, had not found many advocates of its peculiar doctrines among the religiously inclined of our population. However, in accordance with the experience of all countries whose continnally increasing and chang- ing population hrought people of all phases of religious opinion together in the same community, so here, the law of progress exerted itself And from these evolved the elements ncecssury to the introduction of the forms of worship recognized by the communicants of the church of Cumberland Presbyterians. In the course of time, religious teachers of that persuasion began to do missionary work in our midst with satisfactory results. Yet it was not nutil October, 1816, that formal steps hegan to be taken toward the cultivation of the fields thus opened. At that time, the Board of Missions of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church appointeil and located Rev. A. W. Hawkins, Missionary in Logansport.
The labors of Mr. Hawkins were not without success, anil, in January, 1876, the inducements were such that the hall of the West Side Engine House was secured, in which to hold regular services. In May following, the congregation was organized, according to the formularies of the church, with a membership of thirty-five persons, zealously interested in the canse
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and desiring to promote its prosperity and usefulness, Mr. Hawkins being retained as Pastor.
In June, 1877, the congregation purchased a part of Lot No. 201, in the original town of West Logan, fronting on Broadway and Pawnee streets, for which they paid que thousand dollars. Ahout the 1st of September follow- ing, a church bouse was commenced, 32x55 feet in size, and ons story high, und completed in due time, the structure heing neat and comely in appear- once and well adapted to the purpose for which it was ereeted. It was dedicated to the worship of the Most High, according to the forma of this branch of His, church, on the third Sunday in December, 1877. Since tont time, the church hns prospered satisfactorily ; the labors of tho Pastor ssem to be efficient and directed to the development of Christian examples.
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