USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 25
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animals. It is related that on one occasion he bought a black coon-skin for which he paid an extra high price. He felt very proud of this rare pelt, and boasted of its possession to every- body he met. He had as boarders at the time a number of young men who enjoyed a joke, particularly of the practical kind, and they came to the conclusion that they would play a prank on the old gentleman in which his black coon-skin would cut an important figure. He kept his peltries in a small room just off the " bar-room," and the young men waited an oppor- tunity and purloined the valued pelt. Soon after a man ap- peared at the tavern and asked Mr. Myers if he was still buy- ing furs, and upon being informed that he was, produced a black coon-skin. Mr. Myers soon came to terms with the man and the rest of the day was spent in expatiating upon the beauty of his two black coon-skins. In a day or two after- wards another man came along and offered a black coon-skin to Mr. Myers who was only too eager to buy it. This scheme was worked on the old gentleman a number of times and there is no telling how often he would have bought that coon-skin had it not been intimated to him that his boarders had been playing a trick upon him. He was very angry for awhile after discovering how he had been deceived, but finally got over it and acknowledged that it was a pretty good joke even if he did get the worst of it.
Levi Antrim was another early " tavern-keeper," and was probably the first proprietor of the " tavern " on the east side of the square known subsequently as the Myers House. He afterwards occupied a building that stood about where the residence erected by the late A. D. Williams on South Me- ridian street now stands. Mr. Antrim, like many other old- time landlords, loved his toddy and frequently became intoxi- Cated. A story is told by the old-timers to the effect that on One of these occasions he traded or sold a shot-gun to one of his boarders, who, it appears, was indebted to him for board. During the trade Antrim and his boarder had some sharp words concerning the unpaid bill, when the former, suddenly becoming confused as to who owed the bill, said to the boarder : "Well! d-d it, you take the gun and let it go on the debt if it is satisfactory to you!" As Antrim figured himself indebted to his boarder, his proposition was of course accepted. Mr. Antrim removed from Anderson a few years previous to the breaking out of the war'of the rebellion.
The first pretentious hotel building in Anderson was
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
erected in 1852 by Alfred Makepeace. . The building was a three-story brick, located on the southwest corner of Ninth and Main streets, and in its day was one of the best known and most popular hotels in Central Indiana. The names of all the proprietors who dispensed good cheer in this hotel can- not be recalled, but among the number were Henry V. De- hority, Henry Whitmore, J. P. Crampton, A. W. Sullen- berger, Frederick Cartwright and W. O. Terry.
Through strong competition, bad management and other causes perhaps, the property declined and after the death of Mr. Makepeace in 1875 the building was torn down and the present business houses that occupy its site were erected.
The " Burk Allen House" was also a popular hostelry in its day. The building occupied the present site of the Columbia Hotel and was the same that had been occupied by William Myers previous to his purchase of the famous old " Myers House," on the east side of the square. Mr. Allen changed the name of the hotel and provided entertainment for the traveling public for many years. A number of pro- prietors had charge of the property at different times, John Ross and Benjamin Sebrell being among the best known of the number. The property was finally bought by G. R. Griffith, who managed it with great success for a period of twenty years. In 1877 Mr. Griffith built a three-story brick addition to the frame building and in 1879 sold the frame to Miles Rozelle, who moved it to the south-east corner of Main and Eleventh streets, where it was used as a tene- ment house until the fall of 1895 when the old land-mark was torn down in order to give place to a brick business block. Mr. Griffith sold the brick hotel to Charles T. Doxey, who enlarged and improved the hotel and christened it the Columbia Hotel. Henry Perrett had charge of the property . for a number of years, but conducted it more as a boarding house than a regular hotel. The property is now being suc- cessfully managed by Joseph Sharp.
THE NEW GRIFFITH HOUSE.
This hotel is situated on the southeast corner of Meridian and Tenth streets, and was built by George R. Griffith in 1880. Mr. Griffith managed the property and business up to within. a short time before his death, which occurred on January 1, 1895, his son C. V. Griffith, succeeding him. This hotel is widely known and enjoys a large patronage. It is now being
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managed by Messrs. C. V. Griffith and C. M. Welchan, both of whom are acquainted by experience with the art of cater. ing to the palate of the traveling public.
THE DOXEY HOUSE.
This hotel is situated on the north-east corner of Main and Ninth streets, and was erected by Colonel T. N. Stil- well in 1869, at a cost of about $30,000. It was formally opened to the public as the " Stilwell House," in 1871, John Elliott being the first proprietor. He managed the hotel for two years, at the expiration of which time Morrison & Petitt took charge of the property. They were succeeded by George R. Griffith, who occupied the property for four years with varying success. He was followed by Thomas Baker, II. J. Brown and others.
The property was sold to N. C. McCullough on the 14th of April, 1875, by the administrator of the Stilwell estate, and in 1876 it was purchased by its present owner, Major C. T. Doxey.
The office of the hotel was originally on the second floor which was reached from the front entrance on Ninth street by a winding stairway, but in 1892 Major Doxey remodeled the building, and added all the modern improvements necessary to render its appearance not only attractive, but its accommoda- tions first class. The property was then leased to William Leffler. who, after managing it with varying success for about a year, disposed of his interest to the present proprietors, W. H. Van Orman & Sons.
This hotel back in the '70s was the scene of many of the most brilliant social events that have ever taken place in Anderson. Balls, receptions and social parties have been given here. that in point of elegance have never been sur- passed in central Indiana.
THE HOTEL WINDSOR.
This hotel was built in the year 1878, by Cal Lee. It is situated on the northwest corner of Meridian and Seventh Streets, is three stories high and has thirty large well furnished rooms for the accommodation of guests. Mr. Lee was the first proprietor, but only for a short time, as he leased the Property to W. O. Huston three months after it was thrown Open to the public. The hotel has been under the manage-
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ment of many proprietors, the present proprietor being Mr. Alfred Cox.
THE HOTEL ANDERSON
Was erected in 1892, by Hon. J. W. Lovett and Dr. H. E. - Jones. The building was not intended originally to be used for a hotel, but after it was completed, its size and location, together with other advantageous circumstances, induced its owners to change their plans with reference to its use, and it was converted into a place of entertainment for the traveling public. It is situated on the west side of Meridian street, is three stories high with mansard roof, and architecturally one of the handsomest buildings in the city. It has had several proprietors, the first being T. S. Buckley. The present pro- prietor is Joseph Hennings. Besides these hotels there are the Spencer House, the Florintine, Hickey House, Hotel Madison, and Harter House, all of which afford comforts and accommo- dations that recommend them to the public.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE CHRISTIAN SOCIETIES OF ANDERSON-PAST AND PRES- ENT-THEIR ORGANIZATION-NUMBER, ETC.
Christianity made its way into Anderson township with the advent of the first settlers, and long before a church had been erected religious services were held in the log cabins of those who had brought with them into the wilderness the faith of their childhood. "The groves were God's first temples ," and no better illustration of this fact can be cited than the in- troduction of Christianity into Madison county The early sower who went forth to sow the seed of the gospel encount- ered difficulties and hardships that appear in this day almost insuperable. Mounted on a horse he traveled " the circuit ," stopping at the " cabin in the clearing ," with the lonely wood- man in the primeval woods by " the paths traversed by few "- wherever there was a soul in need of spiritual refreshment- to inculcate the doctrine of salvation. Their's was a calling fraught with privation and danger. But they went forth without purse or scrip, letting each day provide for itself and hoping for no other reward than the plaudit of the approving Master, " Well done thou good and faithful servant ."
The pioneer ministers in Madison county were Metho- dists, and to this fact is doubtless attributable the large and influential membership of that denomination. A number of families of Methodist predilections had settled at Anderson, and the first M. E. church was organized in 1827. Anderson at that time belonged to the Indianapolis circuit, which was Subsequently changed to the Fall Creek circuit and afterwards to the Madison circuit. Previous to this, meetings were held za t the homes of Elias Hollingsworth, Collins Tharp, William Curtis, and others. James Havens was the presiding elder. Rev. Havens was not an educated man and his piety was as rugged perhaps as his person, which was not very prepos- sseessing, to say the least. He was a fiery talker and pursued Sinners with a tongue that never wearied in the use of flam- ing metaphor-often using language that was taken as per-
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sonal by persons who were " out of the fold." It is said that in one of his camp-meeting efforts near Pendleton at an early day, he drew a vivid picture of a sinner that offended one of his audience. Some time after the meeting was over the of- fended man met Havens riding along a road and stopped him with a salutation that left no doubt in the mind of the rev- erend gentleman that the man intended to assault him. The man appeared to be very angry and ordered Havens to dis- mount, saying that he owed him a thrashing for alluding to him in his sermon at the camp-meeting and that he proposed to pay him. Havens endeavored to placate, the man, whom it would be appropriate to call Dennis, but he would accept no explanation. Nothing would satisfy him but a fight. Ha- vens realized that he could not avoid an encounter and asked the man if he would give him time to pray before he fought. Permission was given and Havens dismounted, hitched his horse to a sapling, and kneeling on the greensward offered up a fervent prayer to the Lord to remember him in the strug- gle he was about to engage in for Ilis sake. After his sup- plication he rose and said to the man :
" You will bear witness that the fight we are about to engage in is not of my seeking and that I fight you under pro- test. The fight may be unequal, as you are somewhat larger than I, and I ask you to promise me that when I ' holler enough ' you will desist from fighting and let me go."
The promise was made and they went at it. Both were hardy, muscular men and capable of dealing good, strong blows. Havens displayed as much spirit and energy in the fight as he did in his sermons, and the result was that he soon had his adversary down and crying " enough." But Havens kept right on regardless of his cries until he had given him as sound a thrashing as one man dare give another without becoming a homicide. After the man got on his feet he said to the victorious preacher, " I thought we agreed that when one of us . hollered enough' the other was to quit fighting?" " My friend," said Havens, " I do not know what you thought concerning this business we have just been engaged in, but whatever your thoughts may have been they were evidently wrong. I suppose you were so sure of whipping me that you did not consider it necessary to exact any promises ; you made the promise but I said nothing about letting you off if you cried . enough.' I gave you just what you richly deserved, and now hope that you may repent of your sins and
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be saved." The story of this fight went round " the circuit," and no doubt had a salutary effect, as no man ever had the temerity to attack Rev. Havens afterwards for what he said about sinners.
Notwithstanding the M. E. church had been organized in 1827, it was probably not until 1889 that the society had a place of worship of its own. Collins Tharp, in that year do- nated a tract of land to the society for a cemetery and church. This tract of land was used for many years as a place of burial, but is now the site of many pleasant homes. It is situated immediately west of Delaware street, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets. A church was begun on the land soon after the donation was made, but was never entirely completed, and after being used as a place of worship for several years was sold to J. E. D. Smith, who converted it into a carpenter shop. It was afterwards consumed by fire.
In 1849, the society which had been holding services in the school house and other convenient places, purchased two lots on the north-east corner of Meridian and Eleventh streets of R. N. Williams upon which a frame church, 36 x 50 was erected, at a cost of $1,200. A small parsonage was subse- quently erected just north of the church. This church was used by the society until 1870, when it was sold to D. W. Swank, who removed it to the south-west corner of Meridian and Ninth streets, where it was converted into business rooms. Early in the summer of 1886 it was consumed by fire.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH.
This edifice, which stands on the north-east corner of NIeridian and Eleventh streets, was erected in 1870, at a cost Of many thousands of dollars, and at the time it was built was t Fa e largest in the city. It has a lecture room, also a number of class rooms in the basement and an auditorium above that cam n accommodate six hundred people.
With the increase of population in Anderson the acces- si ns to this denomination have been so large that two churches besides the First M. E. church are now required to accommo- dia Te the membership, namely, the Noble street and North A x anderson M. E. churches. The Methodists also have two missions, one in each of the additions known as Hazlewood an Shadeland. 19
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Following the Methodists in this part of the county were the Catholics, priests of that church having visited Anderson as far back as 1837. Masses were first said by Father Francois and Bacquelin, in a log tavern at the southeast corner of Cen- tral avenue and Ninth street, mention of which has been made elsewhere in these pages. They came from Logansport to look after the spiritual needs of the Catholics employed on the canal. They were succeeded by other pioneer priests, and in 1857, Father Clark came to Anderson, and for a while cele- brated mass in the court house. In 1858, the foundations of St. Mary's church were laid on the site of the present magni- ficent temple of worship, at the northeast corner of Fletcher and Eleventh streets. The building was not completed until 1864. Father Clark was succeeded by Father Fitzmorris, who had charge of the Catholic congregation until 1860, when he was succeeded by Father McMahon. This priest is still remembered by the older members of the church and citi- zens generally, as a man of many marked traits of character. He was relieved by Father Crawley in 1866, and subsequently joined the Fenians in their ill-advised and disastrous raid into Canada that year. He was captured and thrown into prison where he remained for some time, no little diplomacy being employed to secure his release.
In 1870 the lot at the northeast corner of Fletcher and Eleventh streets, just opposite the old church, was purchased, and on the 4th of July, 1875, the corner stone of a new place of worship was laid. The building was dedicated on the 29th of May, 1877, and services were held there until the completion of the present noble temple, when it was con- verted into a school building and has since been used as such exclusively. In the meantime Father Crawley was suc- ceeded by Father Weichman, a young priest who rendered himself popular with all classes of people, not only on ac- count of his ability and eloquence as a speaker, but for his many genial qualities. He came to Anderson in 1884 and was relieved in 1891 by the present pastor, Rev. J. D. Mulcahey. Immediately following the discovery of natural gas in Anderson the membership of the Catholic church grew very rapidly, and soon after Father Mulcahey was installed as priest he began taking steps toward the building of a new place of worship that would be commensurate with the number and
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importance of his congregation. The place selected upon which to erect the new edifice was the site of the first Catholic church, in which the parochial school had been held for a number of years. This building was torn down, and the work of laying the foundation of the new edifice was begun. The corner stone was laid on the 9th of July, 1893, with ap- propriate ceremonies and on the 6th of October, 1895, the new temple was dedicated.
This occasion will long be remembered in Anderson, as the ceremonies were conducted by the bishop of the diocese, as- sisted by a corps of clergymen, and accompanied by a civic demonstration, that for pomp and splendor has never been equalled in the city's history. Excursion trains were run on all the railroads, and thousands of people, including many military and other organizations connected with the church, visited the city to witness the ceremonies and take part in the pageant that followed.
This temple was erected at a cost of $41,000, and stands as a monument both to the untiring christian zeal of Father Mulcahey. who so ably officiates at its altar, and the liberality of the Catholic congregation in Anderson. It is easily the largest and finest church edifice in the city.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This society was organized at Anderson in September, 1851. through the instrumentality of Rev. Edward Schofield, and numbered but eleven members at the time of its organiza- tion. But the membership was active and zealous, and in 1 855 a brick church 36 x 60 feet was erected on Meridian Streets, between Tenth and Eleventh street, where the Hurst block now stands. The building cost $2,500. In 1872 it was Sold to the Baptists and not long after the Presbyterians erected their present handsome church at the south-east corner Of Jackson and Ninth streets. The ground upon which the church stands was donated by the Hon. James Hazlett. The Pastors have been Revs. Edward Schofield, J. S. Craig, A. S. F eid, W. M. Grimes, W. J. Wood, W. H. Zeigler and S. N. \\'ilson, the last named being the present minister in charge.
THE DISCIPLES' CHURCH.
The Disciples' Church, or Church of Christ, was organ- ized about the year 185%, through the agency of Elders Jameson and New, of Indianapolis. who came to Anderson
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and vicinity during the '50s and held meetings at various places, but principally at the " Chestnut Grove school house," one mile east of the "Crossing." The first members here were Burket Eads, John Kindle, Joseph Sigler, John R. Stephenson and William Mustard, the last two named being the only surviving members of the original organization. In 1861 a permanent house for the society was built at the north- west corner of Main and Thirteenth streets, and in 1862 Joseph Franklin, a resident of Covington, Ky., received a call from the congregation to locate here and look after its spiritual needs which he accepted. Elder Franklin remained as pastor of the church until 1874, and during the time was instrumental in adding a large number of names to the roll of the church membership. He was assisted at times in his minis- terial labors by his father, Elder Benjamin Franklin, who was admittedly one of the ablest exponents of the Disciples' faith of his day. The church is in a flourishing condition and steadily increasing its membership. A number of able min- isters have occupied the pulpit of this church since it was erected. The present incumbent is Elder W. M. Harkins.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
This society had an organization in Anderson in 1871, be- ing composed of members of the Baptist denomination resid- ing at Chesterfield, Pendleton and this city. In 1872 the building committee of the church purchased of the trustees of the l'resbyterian church the latter's place of worship on Me- ridian street. The Baptists were few in number, however, and being unable to meet the payments on the building it finally reverted to the trustees of the l'resbyterian church. After giving up their place of worship the Baptist society had no permanent house in which to hold its meetings and the or- ganization languished. In 1890 a successful effort was made to reorganize the church by Rev. J. W. Porter. Meetings were held in Oriental hall and other places and the society prospered. In 1893 the society began the erection of a place of worship at the south-east corner of School and Fourteenth streets. Work on the building progressed slowly and it was not until May of the present year that the building was dedi- cated. The society now has a membership of 150, and through the efforts of the present popular pastor, U. M. Mc- Guire, is gradually becoming one of the strongest denomina- tions in the city.
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THE CHURCH OF GOD.
In the summer of 1886 Maria Woodworth, a trance evan- gelist, made her appearance in Anderson and held a series of meetings under a tent at the fair grounds. She subsequently removed her tent to Ruddle's grove, across the river, where she continued her meetings with wonderful. success. Her preaching and methods appealed to the emotional nature of her hearers and the result was that 106 persons who had been converted through her efforts were baptized at the close of the meeting. The scene of the baptism was at the bridge across White river near the cemetery, and thousands of people as- sembled to witness the unusual occurrence. The morning the converts were baptized they assembled at the tent in the grove and at the appointed hour marched to the river with hands joined and singing with the greatest fervor one of their re- vival hymns. The scene was impressive in the extreme to all who believed in such manifestations of religious rapture and was likened by them to the scene that occurred at the Pente- costal feast. Soon after the close of this remarkable meeting, at which more that two hundred had professed religion, the new converts organized a society known as the Church of God, purchased a lot at the north-east corner of Brown and Fourteenth streets and began the erection of a place of wor- ship. This building was completed and dedicated in 1887, the president of the eldership of the Church of God being present and delivering the dedicatory sermon. The first regu- larly appointed minister was the Rev. Spiher, who was fol- lowed by Mrs. Frank Shelly. The minister in charge at pres- ent is Elder W. R. Covert.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The organization of Trinity Episcopal church in Ander- son is due to the efforts of Rector J. H. McGlone, who came here in 1890 and at once began the work of organizing a so- ciety of Episcopalians. There were but few members of this denomination in the city at that time, but he called them to- gether and announced his purpose of organizing a church. This was done, and the first meetings of the congregation were held in the Doxey Opera House, which was subsequently burned. Meetings were also held in the Olympic Theatre building. In the meantime a lot was purchased by the trus- tees of the church at the southeast corner of School and Thir- teenth streets and in June, 1891, the corner-stone of Trinity
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Church was laid. The work, which was under the immediate supervision of Rector McGlone, was not permitted to drag and in September of the same year the building was com- pleted and, there being no debt hanging over it, consecrated with appropriate ceremonies by Bishop Knickerbacker. A handsome rectory was also erected at the same time the church edifice was being built, and like it, when completed, was free of debt. Considering his small congregation, the smallest in the city and poorest, perhaps, so far as worldly possessions are concerned, Rector McGlone deserves great credit for the successful accomplishment of this work. Without his activ- ity, perseverance and good management the work would no doubt have failed. He is still the rector in charge and one of the most popular ministers in the city.
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