USA > Indiana > Boone County > Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana, giving an account of the early settlement of each locality, church histories, county and township officers from the first down to 1886 Biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and women. > Part 17
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The church has had the services of the following ministers : John L. Eastman, N. P. Charlot, S. N. Evans, H. W Biggs, Joseph Platt, P. R. Vlenater, J. L. Hawkins, J. B. Logan, C. K. Thompson, F. M. Symmes, J. M. Bishop, D. B. Banta.
The first thirteen years after the church was organized the congregation worshiped in the log court house, the first briek court house, the county seminary (now the Bray House), and the Methodist Church as they could get it. In 1853 the first building was erected at a cost of $1,800. A debt on the church was paid by renting it to the county for the purpose of holding court in it. About the year 1872 the building was sold to the United Presbyterians, who afterwards sold it to the Baptists.
The corner stone of the new building was laid September 1, 1873. The storm which swept over the city on the evening of September 25, 1878, destroyed the beautiful building. The next day as the people viewed the ruins, such remarks as " this ends Presbyterianism in Lebanon," were heard. It looked like it. The pastor who had labored so energetically and effi- ciently in the erection of the new building had resigned his charge ; the financial strength of the members of the church was exhausted; the building in ruins and a debt on it of $1,500. A few days after the storm a meeting of the members was called to determine what to do. Plan after plan was sug- gessed but none adopted. Finally, when it seemed that noth-
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ing would be accomplished, one member suggested that the pastor, I. M. Bishop, be requested to reconsider his resignation, and that they make the attempt to rebuild. This they deter- mined to do. By the little which the congregation and citi- zens of Lebanon could give, with the very liberal foreign aid from friends and the Board of Church Erection, the present building was erected. About $13,000 was spent on the former house and about $-1,500 on the present building.
The following is a list of the names of the trustees : B. F. Hammond H. L. Bynum, Henry VanNuys, R. W. Mathews.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, LEBANON.
BY STEPHEN NEAL.
The above church is in a flourishing condition, or, rather, a 'healthy state." Like almost every other church or society, it has had seasons of prosperity and of lethargy. Here there has been, and always will be, a " faithful few," a " leaven," so to speak. Come what will, they are, and will be, the beacon light ; a silver lining to the dark clouds that necessarily come over human organizations or societies. The history of this church is also much like others here as well as elsewhere. First a few members in accord with each other met at private houses for worship, there being no church houses to worship in. We find, about 1835, a few families in and near Lebanon thus met, first, perhaps, at the house of James McCann. Thus a nucleus was formed, around which the society of to-day has grown. Among the early elders we find the late John Shulse to have been one, and who has done much to strengthen and encourage the few in their church relations, and to specially advise them. Mr. James McCann, referred to above, at an early day resided in Lebanon, where the meetings were held. Afterward the society held its, meetings at the old seminary, where Mrs. Bray now resides. Yet later, in the old court house. Among the first members composing this little band
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we find : James and Elizabeth McCann, Zachariah and Eliza- beth Pauly, Mrs. Pauly's mother, James Forsyth, John Shultz, Elizabeth Shultz, Thomas and Martha Kersy, Mrs. Dale. The first elders were Bros. McCann, Shultz and Pauly. Soon after the society was fully organized they set about building a church on West Washington street. This was in the year 1842 or 1843. The house was a frame, well adapted to the nse for which it was built; served its day, and in 1866 it was sold to the Catholics and used by them for a place to worship. Immediately after steps were taken to build a brick church. The following members were chosen to act as a building com- mittee : George Combs, Stephen Neal, John Adair, William McLean, Robert C. McCann, John M. Shulse. And in 1867 the house was completed, at a cost of $5,000. The house is well located, and is in every way a good building. Will seat 600 persons ; size 40x60 feet. It was dedicated in June, 1867, by the late Benjamin Franklin, of Anderson, Ind. The fol- lowing elders have from time to time preached here: Adam Harney, William Young, M. W. Council, Rev. Edmonson, J. S. Bicknell, S. K. Hoshour, M. B. Hopkins, John M. Shulse, Thomas Lockhart, John O'Cain, Lov. H. Jemison, E. O. Bur- gess, A. J. Hobbs, Hiram St. John Vandake, Overman. Elder H. R. Pritchard is now the regular elder. Present «Iders : J. T. McCann, J. S. Trowbridge, Henry Spencer.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT ELIZAVILLE.
The above church was first organized in October, 1875, with the following members, after a meeting was held prepar- atory to its organization, the Rev. John Howks preaching a sermon, a committee reporting in favor of a church organiza- tion. This was the home mission of Crawfordsville. Names : George A. Woods, May J. Woods, Dortha J. Woods, Hamil- ton Carr, Elizabeth A. Carr, John F. Sims, Fidelia J. Sims, Margaret A. Campbell, Robert E. Burns, Elizabeth J. Burns, Martha Campbell, Margaret Wright, W. F. Byers, Lewis M.
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Fitzpatrick, Nancy J. Fitzpatrick, Mary J. Carroll, A. J. Clossin, Nancy Byers, B. L. Chalk. The following ruling elders were elected : Hamilton Carr, George A. Woods and J. F. Sims. After a sermon by the Rev. E. Barr, the above brethren were regularly inducted into office as deacons. Rev. E. Wood acted as moderator, and John Howks as secre- tary, at the above organization.
The following have served the above society or church as ministers from time to time: A. K. Naylor, Rev. J. F. Sims, Rev. J. L. Willson, W. T. Allen, N. F. Tuck, J. Howks, W. P. Koontz, A. O. Smith; present trustees: F. M. Ste- phenson, B. L. Chalk and J. Stephenson. Total number of members now (1887), 83. The church building, which is of brick, is a very handsome, substantial house, erected in 1881. The following were the building committee: Bros. William Maze, B. L. Chalk and J. F. Sims. The house was only ded- icated in 1881, by Rev. S .- -. The cost of the
building was seventeen hundred dollars. It is well located in Elizaville, and is in every way a credit to the society that built it. It will seat some five hundred persons. Bro. J. R. Chalk is the clerk, to whom we are indebted for the above information.
HOPEWELL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
BY F. C. PHILLIPS.
This church is located in Clinton Township, on the Thorn- town and Strawtown road and nine miles northeast of Leb- anon. No church in the county is more pleasantly situated or better attended. The house is a frame, 35 x 45 feet, will seat comfortably four hundred persons. It was built in 1852 at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. In April, 1837, the church was first organized here by the Presbytery at Crawfordsville, Ind. The committee consisted of Revs. Hall and Samuel Lowrey, who met at the house of Robert Oliver, now known
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as the Haller Farm. This was on the 17th of June, 1837, when Hopewell Church was organized as a church ( Rev. Hall giving the name ). The following are among the first men- bers: James Adams, Jane Adams, Ephraim Adams, Elizabeth Adams, Robert Oliver, James Campbell, Elizabeth Campbell, John Wilson, Jeremiah Cory, Mary Cory, David Vancleve, Rachael Vancleve, Martha Maxwell, James S. Hamilton, Elizabeth Hamilton, Mary Scott, Mary Oliver, James Strahn, Lucinda Willson, John Berry, Mary Berry and Silas M. Cory. Rev. Mr. Hall was the first minister. The first elders were J. S. Hamilton, Jeremiah Cory and Ephraim Adams. In 1839 Rev. W. T. Ferguson was called, who succeeded Rev. Hall, and who served the church as pastor for a period of eight years. Mr. Ferguson was followed by C. K. Thompson, fol- lowed by Rev. Evans. Rev. Mr. Hay, a Cumberland Presby- terian minister, preached here three years. F. M. Symmes, J. M. Bishop and D. B. Banta; the last named is the present minister and by his labors the church has been greatly blessed. Hopewell is now one of the strong churches of the county. When first organized the members were few and comparatively poor ; first built a log house in which to worship and occupied it until it was too small to hold the congregation, which necessitated the building of the present beautiful house. The members contributed so liberally that only one hundred dol- lars was unpaid when the house was completed. "John L. Bunton, so long a valued member, and who served as an elder, over forty years, stands as a worthy monument to this church. He was, at his own request, relieved as elder a few years ago, but is yet an active member. The first trustees were John L. Bunton, Hamilton Carr and Alexander Caldwell. I have given all the history I can get, as the records have not been kept as well as they ought to have been. The society is in a healthy condition at this writing. There is a cemetery adjoin- ing on the east, where many of the former members are buried. Others have moved away.
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SALEM U. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OR MUD CREEK CHURCH IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
The above church was organized on Mud Creek, in Clinton Township, on October 7, 1837, and soon after a log house was built which served the society as a place of meeting up to the building of the present house in 1854, costing about one thou- sand dollars. The building is a very good frame; will seat nearly five hundred persons. John H. Reynolds organized the first church with the following members: Hugh Wylie, Jacob Hopkins and wife, Robert Stephenson and wife, Isaac Hopkins and wife, J. M. Burns and wife, Mary Wylie, Mary Burns, Sarah Stephenson, A. B. Clark and wife, J. H. Sample and wife, Isabelle Sample. J. H. Bonner was the first settled minister here; the following were the first elders: J. M. Burns, E. B. Clark and J. H. Sample. The above church is in a healthy condition at this time ( 1886), and has for over forty years been a popular place to church goers. The ceme- tery adjoining is well located, and where many pioneers are sleeping. The first burial here was Mr. Robert Stephenson, who was killed by a falling tree in 1837. The following min- isters have served this society : J. H. Bonner, R. R. Coon, J. D. Glenn, J. R. Bell, J. P. Wright, James McCrea, Chancy Murch, S. H. McDill, who is now the pastor. The present membership is seventy-eight. Sessions clerk, Moses Turner ; church clerk, Robert Stephenson. Present elders are as fol- lows: Hugh R. Wylie, Dr. Brand, William Stephenson. James Mulligan, Joseph M. Sample, John F. Crawford. Trus- tees, W. H. Wylie, R. S. Stephenson, James M. Turner.
LUTHERAN CHURCH AT WHITESTOWN.
BY REV. J. C. BARB.
Among the religious denominations of Boone County, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Whitestown, deserves special mention. About the year 1834, Rev. E. S. Henkle organized
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a congregation of Lutherans east of Whitestown. This congre- gation was composed of John Good, Sr., Adam Catron, John Neese, Solomon Neese, Daniel Buck, John Peters, Jacob Ditz- enberger, John Miller, Peter Keslerig and their families. This congregation first worshiped in the house of John Good, Sr., next under a shed that stood on the ground where the Lutheran Church now is. They also worshiped for a time in a school house that stood on the same ground. About the year 1840 they built a log house 30x24 feet, in which they held religious services for many years. That log house at this writing still stands, although it is in a very dilapidated condition. Old settlers tell us that the congregations which assembled here to worship God were often so large that they were necessitated to hold services in the grove. The people came to this place of worship from all parts of the surrounding county, some on foot, some on horseback and some in farm wagons, for in that day of mud roads, buggies and spring wagons were not in use. The first person that was buried near this church was Daniel Buck, about the year 1834. This denomination of christians, by additions to the church, increased to such an extent that in the year 1851, Revs. J. A. Rudisill and J. Good organized a congregation in a log house that stood on the farm of Ambrose Neese, in the southeast part of what is now known as Whites- town. They worshiped in this house for a short time, then, by permission granted them, worshiped in a log church house in the northeast part of said town. Soon, however, they built a large frame building which was known as the Lutheran Church until the year 1868, when the present commodious, substantial and comfortable brick building, known by the name of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, was erected. This church stands in a convenient part of the town, and its mem- bership is composed of many of the leading citizens of Worth Township. The early Lutheran ministers of this section of the country were Revs. Henkle, Rudisill, Good, Grounds and Livengood. Since their day the church has been served by Revs. M. S. Stirewalt, Jacob Wesner, C. L. Lauer and J. G.
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M. Hursh. The present pastor is Rev. J. C. Barb, who was ·called to the work in 1883. But few of the original members are now living. The church is said to be in a prosperous con- dition. The church roll contains one hundred and eighty-five names.
PLEASANT VIEW CHURCH. (NEWLIGHT.)
The above church was first organized in Jefferson Town- ship in 1836. The meetings at first were held at private houses. It was at the house of Adam Kern where the meet- ing was held looking towards an organization. A man by the name of Myers, from Montgomery County, proposed to come on the 6th of November, 1836, to take the initiatory steps to that end. But it seems he did not come, but Benjamin Beeman came in his stead. This good old man not only cane, but, it seems, remained, and from time to time preached for them for over twenty years. The following are the eight names composing the first persons who became members at that time : Adam Kern, James Hall, Jane Hall, Arice Pauly, John Bowen, John Pauly and Miles Hall, all of whom are dead except Arice Pauly and James Kern, and who attended the fiftieth anniversary of the church Nov. 6, 1886, on which occasion a good time was had and over 1,000 persons attended. Near 1,000 persons' names have been enrolled on the church book here from first to last-hundreds have died, others have moved away. There are now over 140 members enrolled, and Pleasant View is in a flourishing condition, and has done untold good in the neighborhood. Its work has gone out. Many who first joined here have become useful members of other churches, while the good work goes on here. The present house was built in 1870, at a cost of $1,500. It is 40x60 feet, and will seat 500 persons. The following are the trustees : Barton Hall, James Bowen and Cornelius Riggins. The following have served as church clerks: Adam Kern, A. H. Hill, A. D. Beck, Dreury Jackson, G. E. Bowen and
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DR. WILLIAM D. STARKEY.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
Samuel H. Huckstep. Bros. Kern and Jackson are deceased. The following have served as deacons: Bros. Adam Kern, John Bowen, Arice Pauly, H. B. Kern, James Mount, Barton Caldwell, C. M. Riggins, A. D. Beck, Jacob Harlam ; the last three are the present deacons (1886). There is also a flourish- ing Sunday-school kept up a good part of the year at this church. Also, a cemetery adjoins, where many of the former members are buried. The first buried here was in the year 1841. This well-known house is on the road leading from Lebanon to Dover, six miles from the former and three from the latter place.
OLD UNION CHRISTIAN CHURCH. BY F. M. TROTTER.
The above popular church is located in Jackson Township, five miles northeast of Jamestown and nine miles south west of Lebanon, and one and one-half miles south of Ward, on Eel River. The church was first organized 1838 by Benjamin ' Beeman. The ceremonies took place in a barn. A log house was soon built on the site where the present house now stands, which served them long and well. The following members belonged to the first organization as follows : Thomas Spencer, Sarah Spencer, Squire Dale, Elizabeth Dale, James Myers, Evalin Myers, John H. Nelson, Mary Nelson, Thomas Scott, J. Dinsmore, Elizabeth Dinsmore. Thomas Spencer gave the land on which the old and present houses were erected, and also the beautiful cemetery just west, and where many of the former members are buried. The following ministers have labored here from time to time: Benjamin Beeinan, Thomas Quillen, Samuel Deinwoody, L. W. Bannon, Jonathan Martin, A. L. Carnev. In 1866 the present house was built, a frame 40 x 60, but costing sixteen hundred dollars. It will seat six hundred persons, and is in every way a credit to the society that built it. It was dedicated on the fourth Sabbath in Octo-
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EARLY LIFE AND TIMES.
ber, 1886, by Elder Thomas Carr. Since its dedication the following ministers have served the church as follows: Jona- than Martin, A. L. Carney, Jesse Parey, Henry Kincaid, E. D. Simmons, A. J. Akers and F. M. Trotter, who is now the pastor in charge. Of the eleven pastors five have joined the silent majority. The following are deacons : William Wilhite, I. P. Heady, O. B. Pratt, Lewis Nicely and Wm. Reese. The trustees are Elisha Jackson, William Reese. The church has had on its rolls five hundred members since its organization ; present number of members one hundred and fifty. The society is at this writing (1887) in a healthy condition under the pas- torship of F. M. Trotter, who kindly furnished the above.
BIOGRAPHIES.
JOHN AIRHART.
This old veteran was born in Virginia, August 24, 1814, and was a son of Peter Airhart. John was married to Catharine Loop the 7th day of January, 1841, in Jefferson Township, Boone County. Mrs. Airhart was the daughter of Christian and Eva Loop, who were also pioneers of Boone County, com- ing as early as 1834. Mr. Loop died in 1879, aged ninety years ; Mrs. Loop died in 1866; both ara buried at the Provi- dence Cemetery, in Jefferson Township. John Airhart's par- ents are also buried at the same cemetery. John Airhart, the subject of this sketch, was among the early citizens of Jefferson Township. He came October 6, 1834. Has resided on his present farm since 1842. He drove a team from Virginia, and on arriving here found but little to encourage him. Their neighbors were few and far between, but those few were social in the extreme. Some of his happiest days were spent in his " cabin " home in the woods. Mr. Airhart is a good citizen and enjoys the confidence of his neighbors. His active days, however, are over. He and his aged companion are quietly living at home, having went through life in all its phases : have had their joys and sorrows like others who were pioneers. There was born to them two children, Eva Elizabeth, born 10th of December, 1841 ; she was married to Franklin Wheat!y November 7th, 1857. The other child died in infancy. Mrs. Airhart belongs to the Christian Church. In person Mr. Air- hart is tall, dark hair and complexion.
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HENRY AIRHART.
Mr. A. was born in Augusta County, Va., October 5, 1825. He was the son of Peter and Elizabeth Airhart. Henry came to Jackson Township, Boone County, in the fall of 1834, where he has ever since resided, and where he owns a fine farm and enjoys the confidence of the people he has so long lived among. He has served three terms as Township Trustee, to the entire satisfaction of the people. By trade he is a carpenter, but by choice has spent most of his time on the farm. Henry is one of fourteen children who came to this county, seven of whom are now living, and seven have joined the silent majority with their parents. Peter Airhart died in February, 1857. Henry was married to Rhody M. Beck in April, 1846. One child was born to them. Mrs. A. died January 15, 1850, when he again married Miss Mary M. Golliday in January, 1856. Seven children were born to them, as follows: Rodelphia E., married to Z. M. McCarty ; Luella M., married to John Dean ; C. G. Airhart, married to Adda Canine ; V. G. Airhart, resides at home ; Adia R., mar- ried to Walter W. Coones ; Loretta A., married to J. C. Ashly ; Lora, deceased. All the above children reside in Jackson Township, except Mr. and Mrs. Dean, who reside in Jefferson Township. Henry Airhart belongs to the Baptist Church, and is a stanch Democrat, first, last, and all the time.
FREDERICK BRENDELL.
The subject of this sketch was born in North Carolina at the close of the last century. Was married, about the year 1820, to Catherine Miller. Came to and settled on Little Eagle Creek when the county was new, and near the Boone County line, where he owned a large tract of land, and one of the finest farms in that part of the country. About the year 1842 he built a brick residence-one of the very first on
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the creek. He was, as well as his first wife, members of the Eagle Creek Regular Baptist Church, and perhaps two of the original members. He, many years ago, 1848, sold goods at his home, and also was a blacksmith, both of which were great conveniencies to the new county. He died about fifteen years ago, in the highest esteem of all who knew him, and is buried in the cemetery on his farm. He is the father of Permains and Edward Brendell, two No. 1 men, and who live on or near . the old home farm. Both are members of the Christian Church at Little Eagle Creek, near their homes. Permains was first married to Miss King, the second time to Miss Stultz, daughter of Thomas Stultz. Edward married Charity Stultz, sister of M. P. Brendell's second wife. Edward lives in the old house built by his father, and owns all, or a part of the old homestead. M. P. Brendell lives a short distance east, where he owns a fine farm. Both are engaged in stock-raising, as well as being engaged in agricultural pursuits. They are just in the prime of life, near fifty-five and fifty years, respectively. Frederick Brendell, the subject of this sketch, was three times married, but the names or dates we have not at our command.
BENJAMIN BOOHER.
The subject of this sketch is a German by lineage, but an American by birth, education and life. His grandparents came from Germany to this country in the latter part of the seventeenth century, and settled first in the western part of Pennsylvania, and afterward in Virginia. Their son Jacob, the father of the subject of this sketch, married Elizabeth Bar- net in the early part of the present century, and settled in Sullivan County, East Tennessee. Jacob Booher was the father of twelve children, of which Benjamin, the subject of this sketch, is next to the youngest. He is also one of the three surviving children.
Benjamin Booher was born in Sullivan County, East Ten- nessee, September 5, 1821, and when he was thirteen years old
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his father moved, with his family, to Montgomery County, Indiana, and settled two miles east of the present site of Dar- lington, where many of his descendants yet live, an honored and well- to-do people.
Much credit is due the Booher families for making the country in that immediate vicinity what it now is-productive, beautiful, and possessing all the qualities of a good neighbor- hood.
Benjamin Booher received his education when there were not such facilities as we now have. The school building that he attended was an open log cabin without any floor but the earth. The benches were made of round logs split once, with diverging pins in the ends for supports. The chimney occu- pied cne entire end of the house. The writing desk was a wide tcard laid on sloping pins in a log on one side of the cabin, The pens used in writing were made from the large feathers of geese and buzzards. The teacher and the methods of teaching were as novel as the house. Such is a brief de- scriptici of the school that Mr. Booher attended. Although his education was limited, yet he so improved it that with the good native talents with which he is blessed he is fully qualified for the transactions of the ordinary business of life. He is a good reader, and keeps himself well informed on the various subjects pertaining to the interest of the common citi- zen. He is a pioneer, and one of the leading citizens of Boone County.
On the 20th day of October, 1842, Mr. Booher was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Beeler, whose parents came from East Tennessee to Indiana only a few weeks before Mr. Booher arrived.
' Mrs. Booher was born in East Tennessee, January 11, 1823. Her grandparents on her father's side came from Switzerland ; on her mother's side from Ireland. Mrs. Boo- her's advantages for an education were similar to those of Mr. Booher, for they attended the same school. The result of their marriage is twelve children, in the following order :
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