USA > Indiana > Boone County > History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Volume I > Part 31
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LEBANON AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The next church to be organized in this city was the African Methodist Episcopal church, in the fall of 1870, at the residence of Thomas Lowe on South Meridian street. The Rev. Johnson Burden, of Noblesville, organ- ized a class consisting of the following persons: William Valentine and wife, Harriet Lowe, Mrs. - Terry, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. John Kersey, Andrew Johnson and wife, James Lucas and wife and perhaps others as the records of that meeting are lost and the information obtained is the personal memory of William Valentine. They held their first meetings in the old school house on East Washington street which has been remodeled and is now the residence of Alex Welsh. From there they removed to a room in the upper story of the building now occupied by A. Wysong as a seed store on the east side of the square. From there they removed to a room in the Good- win block on South Lebanon street, now occupied by Shumate's printing es- tablishment. They remained here a short time and then found a home in a room over the store now occupied by Hauser & Hogshire as a furniture store.
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In 1873, by means of various festivals and donations by citizens of the town, they were enabled to purchase a lot on South Meridian street, and built a very comfortable church edifice at a cost of about six hundred dollars. Here they have been holding their meetings ever since. During the existence of the church, the following persons have officiated as pastors: Johnson Burden, Patterson, William Cole, - Titus, Thomas Lindsay,
Jones, and others. Rev. Johnson Burden who organized the church is still a resident and honored citizen of Noblesville. He still preaches occasionally and in the intervals performs the duties of court room bailiff for the circuit court of Hamilton county-a position similar to that occupied by Toll Titus in the Boone circuit court. He is universally respected and is a favorite with the Hamilton county bar.
At various times attempts have been made to establish a Sunday school in connection with this church, but they have been unsuccessful. The mem- bership is small but strong in the faith. They are William Valentine and wife, John Valentine and wife, Sarah Lindsay, Hugh Seaton, Joshua Seaton, Ben Seaton, Cecil Scott, Melvina King, Ella Valentine, Lizzie Valentine, Lizzie Lewis and others.
JAMESTOWN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This society does not appear very early at this point. The very earliest in this section of Boone county, formed a class southeast of Jamestown near the edge of Hendricks county. Among the very first members in that so- ciety we find the names of Mariah Walker, John Porter and wife, Jesse Mc- Mahan, Elizabeth McMahan, Jolin Okey and wife, Jesse Hendricks, Mary, Henry and Martha Hendricks. This society had no meeting house but met at private houses for many years, mostly at the home of John Okey. Among the early ministers were, Enoch Wood, Rev. Utter and Jesse Hill. In 1838 a society was organized at Jamestown and the meetings were held in a church where all denominations met at that time. Among the first in this society were, Daniel Jesse, Samuel Perr, Lee Tucker, J. H. Camplin, J. Hudson. John Porter and wife, Dr. Orear, Samuel Jesse and wife, Mary Long, James Williams and Mrs. Galvin. Among the earliest ministers may be named Joseph Marsee, Daniel F. Stright and Joseph White. H. B. Ball was the
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minister in the year 1869. In 1870 and 1871, James Spinks was the minister in charge. During the administration of Rev. Spinks the first church was erected, at a cost of $3,500; it is of brick and will seat about 500 persons. It was dedicated by Bishop Bowman. At that time there was a good Sunday school and a membership of 175.
In 1872 James M. Beard became the minister ; 1873, W. P. Mckinsey ; 1874, J. S. Woodard; 1875, D. P. McKain; 1876, M. B. Wood; 1877-1878, David Handley ; 1879-1880 and 1881, W. F. Clark; 1882 and 1883, T. F. Drake, 1884 and 1885, J. L. Smith; 1886, E. W. Lawhorn; 1887 and 1888, D. A. Rogers ; 1889 and 1890, J. W. Greene; 1891 and 1892, J. H. Worrall; 1893, H. C. Neal; 1894, J. M. Stafford; 1895 and 1896, W. B. Warren; 1897 and 1898, H. H. Dunlavey ; 1899, Charles Jakes; 1900 and 1901, O. B. Rip- peto; 1902-03-04, F. K. Daugherty; 1905 and 1906, H. C. Neal; 1907 and 1908, J. J. Fischer ; 1909, A. M. Hagenbook; 1910, 1911 and 1912, W. L. Hargraves; 1913-1914, G. E. Francis. The present membership of the so- ciety is 233 and it has a lively and well-attended Sunday school.
M. E. MINISTERS, ZIONSVILLE, INDIANA.
1855, in Augusta circuit, J. Marsee and G. Morgan; 1856, F. Pierce and G. Morgan; 1857, -; 1858, C. A. Brooke and F. M. Pavey ; 1859, C. A. Brooke and C. L. Smith; 1860, J. Cozad and J. Clearwaters; 1861, L. Taylor and H. N. Ornbaun; 1862, L. Taylor; 1863, G. W. Warner; 1864, John B. Demott; 1865, -; 1866, -;
1867, -
-; 1868, -; 1869, Oliver C. Haskel and R. M. Brooks; 1870, William M. Freyley and Elbert R. Dill; 1871, F. P. Colvin ; 1872, H. A. Buchtel; 1873, E. W. Lawhorn; 1874, P. S. Cook; 1875, C. S. Burgner and E. W. Lawhorn and W. B. Parr; 1876, C. S. Burgner and Francis Cox; 1877, Frank Taylor and Francis Cox; 1878-79, J. E. New- house ; 1880-81, J. A. Cullen and J. Matthews; 1882-83-84, J. F. McDaniel; 1885, W. F. Clark, also 1886; 1887, D. J. Vought, also for 1888; 1889, G. W. Bower; 1890, G. W. Bower; 1891 to 1892, S. C. Kennedy; 1893, R. C. Wil- kinson; 1894-95, E. W. Lawhorn; 1896-97, S. B. Grimes; 1898-99-1900- 1901, J. B. Sites ; 1902-03-04, E. W. Strecker; 1905-06-07-08, H. C. West- ern ; 1909, - H. C. Western; 1910-11-12-13-14, A. P. DeLong; 1914- 1915, G. L. Rulison.
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From the Zionsville Times we append the following clipping intimating the story of one of the oldest country churches in the county and showing its healthy growth to this date.
SALEM M. E. CHURCH.
First Steps Taken Toward Erection of $20,000 Structure Near Zionsville.
"The corner stone of the new twenty thousand dollar country church of the Salem congregation of the Methodist Episcopal church, near Zionsville, was laid Sunday, June 21, 1914, before a crowd of two thousand people. Prior to the ceremony an address was delivered by Raphael P. Bundy on "The Church as an Asset." T. H. Stonecipher, superintendent of the schools, also delivered an address on "The Church as an Intellectual Asset." John M. Mills spoke on the spiritual side of the church and a history of the congregation was read by E. B. Bender.
The church is one of the oldest country congregations in Indiana and is said to be the wealthiest. It was founded in 1834 on land owned by John Wood, one of the early pioneers, who immigrated to Indiana from Salem, North Carolina, and was one of the founders of the church. The first trustee was William M. Lemon, Fishback creek. It was named by Jonathan Hall and Nelson Shaw. The descendants of these men make up the church today. The church's first minister was a "circuit rider" preacher whose name has been forgotten. The present pastor is the Rev. Allen P. DeLong. The other ministers taking part in the ceremony were the Rev. F. B. Grimes and the Rev. G. L. Combs.
The church was dedicated about the last of August and became one of the most handsome in this part of the state."
THORNTOWN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The present Methodist Episcopal church is being removed in order to re- construct. It will soon be numbered with the past. It is consecrated ground for it has served as the church home of the society from the start.
At the beginning it belonged to the Frankfort circuit. Stephen R. Ball
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was the first pastor and preached here several times in the fall of 1832 and 1833 before a class was formed. In the year 1834 he was returned and or- ganized a class of twenty members.
Rev. Phelps was the next preacher and preached to the class regularly. In 1835 Ancil Beach was in charge and kept up the interest. 1836 Eli Rogers was appointed but did not often preach at Thorntown. The society waned under Rogers and Thomas J. Brown as the appointed minister of 1837, found no society or organization. On the second Sabbath of May, 1838, he organized a society of eight members, viz .: Elias Tolbert and wife, Green Foster, wife and daughter, Sarah, wife of Dr. Amos Davis and a young man, name not given. The first person to join the class was Oliver Craven. He was baptized and became leader of the class. From that date to the present weekly services have been continued. Preaching every four weeks at the beginning.
LIST OF MINISTERS.
Thomas J. Brown, Joseph White, George W. Stafford, Ancil Beach, John D. DeMott, William Wilson, Samuel Reed, John Edwards, Henry Wells, James H. Newland, George W. Stafford, William Campbell, J. W. Becktels, William H. Smith, James B. Murshon, James Aldrich, William Campbell, H. C. Wilton, Aaron Geerney, Thomas E. Will, John L. Smith, Charles A. Beck, Wiley B. Watkins, George W. Warner, T. C. Hackney, Richard Hargrave, Luke Nebucar, F. M. Pavey, Jacob C. Reed, G. W. Bower, Leander C. Buckles, Thomas Meredith, J. W. Harris, Rev. James A. Clear- waters, Isaac Dale, John Stafford, David Hanley, James G. Campbell, W. P. Mckinsey, A. C. Geyer, J. T. Bassett, A. H. DeLong, J. C. Martin, J. D. Krewel, J. B. Rutter, S. A. Bender.
The first church, a frame building, was erected on the present site which stood until the year 1873 when the present brick structure was erected. It has served for over forty years and is now to give place to a modern struc- ture. Its walls and form will pass away only to remain in pictures and memory.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH-LEBANON,
-Patriot.
-
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THORNTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first church ( Presbyterian) was set in order in the house of Cor- nelius Westfall in 1831. However the first authentic account we have of the organization of a Presbyterian church is given in the minutes of the Craw- fordsville Presbytery held in Delphi in January, 1833, which reads, "Brother Young reported that he had organized a church at Thorntown, which was by motion taken under care of presbytery." A resolution passed at that same day session was the following, which is both quaint and suggestive after the lapse of eighty years, "Resolved that the missionary sermon be preached this evening at candle lighting." This was twenty years before the invention of the kerosene lamp. This shows that the presbytery had even at that early day a well defined and aggressive missionary policy. Indeed Claiborne Young, the founder of this church and its first pastor, was a missionary in the best sense of the word. He also founded the churches at Lebanon, New Bethel and Shannondale.
Prominent among those of the old school branch was Cornelius West- fall, who platted the village of Thorntown in 1830. Samuel E. McCorkle is the first elder mentioned in the new school records; it is very probable that he was connected with the organization before that time. The county at this time was almost a wilderness. There were no roads and no bridges. The people generally attended church on horse back or on foot. The inhabitants were few and widely scattered, each settler having chosen the choicest land on which to make his home, and it was chosen with regard to its proximity to a good water supply, as they universally depended on springs for their drinking water. In hunting for the early record of the Thorntown church one meets with especial difficulty as all records of the first five years of the church have been lost and there are no minutes of the old school branch until the year 1838, several years after the first church came into existence. All of the noble men and women who organized the church have long since gone to their reward and we are entirely dependent on the memory of the older citizens for information, except what information we have gathered from the reports of the presbytery to the general assembly.
The first thirty-nine years of its life the church maintained a precarious existence. In 1837 occurred the great division in the Presbyterian church (22)
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all over the United States, commonly called the old school and the new school. From one extreme of the United States to the other large and small churches were rent asunder, the real cause of which is not plain. Slavery may have had as much or more to do with the unhappy discussions as the difference in doctrinal points. However when slavery was dead and some of its great leaders had joined the general assembly above, the great Presbyterian body was again united and became one body as before the dissension. While this controversy was at its height the Thorntown church was in its infancy. The feeble church was made weaker, ministers moved more frequently, members of the churches emigrated and other denominations absorbed the children of Presbyterian families. Consequently as a denomination the growth has been slow and it is the more difficult to pursue its early history. One historian claims that the M. E. church of Thorntown was organized in 1831, one year prior to the date given the Presbyterian church. This may be doubted, as the same writer says the first religious meeting held in Sugar creek township was at the house of Cornelius Westfall under the auspices of the Presbyterian clergyman, Rev. Claiborne Young, in 1831, and that the first Sunday school was organized by J. L. McConnell and Cornelius Westfall in 1834, in a log house. They were both Presbyterian elders, belonging afterward to the first Presbyterian church. It is not known in what year the first edifice was erected, but the house now occupied by Mrs. Wyant on West Church street is known to be the first house of worship used by the Presbyterian denomina- tion. After the division the new school branch erected the building known as the Dr. Rose residence, this was about the year 1839. In the meantime the old school branch worshipped in various places until about the year 1857-8, when they erected the building now occupied and used by the Baptist people. In the year 1853-4 the new school branch erected a frame edifice on the pres- ent site, of about the same dimensions as the one now occupied by the Bap- tist church. These two buildings were used by the two congregations until the year 1864, when we find this record made in the minutes of the new school church, "The church edifice was destroyed by fire this morning at two o'clock. No insurance. The congregation of the old school church unanimously and cordially tendered the use of their house of worship on alternate Sabbaths with the blending of the Sunday schools into one ; which, needless to say, was gladly accepted." The fire seems to have been a blessing in disguise ; while the ruins were still smoldering the men of the church met to consider the
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question of rebuilding and before the close of the war the sum of five thou- sand dollars had been subscribed toward the cost of the present structure, which we are told in another minute cost eleven thousand dollars when com- pleted. This generous and kindly act of the old school branch was no doubt a means of hastening the reunion of the two bodies. It is, however, within the memory of one who is still living and a member of the church, that the two congregations worshipped together on alternate Sundays and held a union Sunday school, and that the two branches affiliated with each other far more freely than with other denominations.
The building now occupied was erected in 1866 by the new school branch. During the interval between the fire and the erection of this building the two congregations used the old school church building (now the Baptist church). The union was consummated in 1870, after the new school branch had taken possession of this their new home. At the time of the reunion this church had for its pastor the Rev. H. L. Dickerson, the old school branch had the Rev. H. F. Patterson. When the union was consummated they were both retained for one year, when they agreed to resign and accept other charges and not embarrass the united church in making any choice between them. At the time of the reunion, when it became necessary to have a name for the united church, the following resolution was passed by the united church, "That for all local matters pertaining to the church, the two congregations being combined into one to be known as 'The Presbyterian Church of Thorntown.'" Thus eliminating the titles by which they had been known as the First and Second Presbyterian churches.
The last report of the old school branch gave a membership of one hun- dred and two. The new school branch as one hundred and thirty-eight. This should have given us a membership of two hundred and forty. However, our report to the general assembly is given as two hundred and ten. Several times since the membership has fallen below the two hundred mark. The general assembly authorizes our sessions to place non-contributing members on what is known as the retired list, this shortage may have been caused by this procedure, and although Thorntown has practically stood still for forty years, the church has grown until now we have three hundred and seventy- two contributing members, besides some who live at a distance and are not on the active roll.
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The church before the division is known to have had two pastors, the Rev. Claiborne Young, the founder, and Rev. Robert Hall.
During the period of the division the old school branch was served by seven pastors, Rev. W. F. Ferguson, Rev. S. N. Evans, Rev. C. K. Thomp- son, Rev. S. R. Seawright, Rev. Isaac B. Moore, Rev. J. Mitchell and Rev. R. F. Patterson.
During this time the new school branch was served by Rev. David Jones, Rev. Thompson Bird, Rev. W. N. Stinson, Rev. Benjamin F. Cole, Rev. William R. Stevens, Rev. Franklin Putnam, who died here in 1859; Rev. Isaac DeLaMater, and accepted the chaplaincy of the 72nd regiment in the Civil war; Rev. R. P. Wells and Rev. H. L. Dickerson.
From the time of the union until the present time the church has had as its supplies and pastors, Rev. H. L. Dickerson and Rev. F. F. Patterson, jointly ; Rev. T. B. Atkins, who is still living; Rev. D. R. Colmery, Rev, R. F. Caldwell, Rev. S. W. Elliott, who met such a tragic death at Winona a few years ago in an attempt to save the life of his grandchild; Rev. Samuel Saw- yer, Rev. James Williamson, who holds the record for the longest pastorate, eight years; Rev. John H. Sherrard, Rev. U. L. Montgomery and the Rev. H. N. Ronald.
Of this number three are still living, Rev. T. B. Atkins, U. L. Mont- gomery and W. R. Williams ; besides Rev. William Folk, who as a student of Wabash college supplied this pulpit for a short time. There are five wid- ows of former pastors who survive. They are Mrs. S. R. Seawright, of Delphi ; Mrs. R. F. Caldwell, of Sharpsburg, Ky .; Mrs. S. W. Elliott, of La- Fayette; Mrs. James Williamson, of Indianapolis, and Mrs. James H. Sher- rard, of Wilkinsburg, Pa.
There have been twenty-four men who have been ordained as elders in the church during its history, not including Dr. Hurt or the present board, which makes a total of thirty-four. These were Cornelius Westfall, J. L. McConnell, Samuel E. McCorkle, James Adams, Simon Loup, George Mc- Laughlin, Dr. J. M. Boyd, James K. Matthews, James C. Hague, Milton McCorkle, Larkin Thompson, J. C. Maxwell, Joseph Bryan, A. F. Cochran, J. T. Williamson, Charles Welch, Mitchell Henderson, John Higgins, David Cory, John Majors, Robert Hamill, James Clark, John C. Vannice, and Dr. H. M. Rose.
Some of these men were in office for a great many years. Notably Dr.
r
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Boyd, who was an elder for fifty-two years, and served as clerk of the ses- sion for twenty-four years, 1847-1871. Samuel E. McCorkle, the first elder of the new school branch, served as an elder for forty-eight years. Dr. H. M. Rose was elected an elder at the time of the reunion and was made clerk soon after and was continued during the remainder of his life, thirty-four years. Thomas V. Caldwell and C. W. Johnson, twenty-eight years each.
As to the personnel of these men I shall give only facts of especial in- terest. The election of a man to the office of ruling elder is an expression by the congregation of their estimate of his Christian character, and their re- election is to be taken as a vindication of their correct lives, and my opinion of the personal worth of any one of them might seem to detract from others, who though more humble may have been just as worthy of our praise. There were two men who were at one time or another elected to the eldership who declined the office on the ground that they considered the office should be filled only by men of the highest and most exalted Christian character, and the office so sacred that they could not assume to be fitted to occupy such, thus proving to the world that they were the better qualified to serve in such an office, having a full appreciation of the sacredness of the office. These men were T. J. McCorkle and James Johnson. No more worthy men could have been found and they thus proved their fitness by their humble attitude as they were both men of the highest Christian character, Mr. McCorkle be- ing one of the pioneer Sunday school men of the county and serving this Sun- day school as its faithful superintendent for more than forty years.
The first minutes we have of the old school branch are dated Septem- ber, 1858, and signed by James Adams as clerk. We still have this family with us in the person of Mrs. Ida Patton Matthews, who is a granddaughter, and her grandchildren, who are great-great-grandchildren of James Adams. It is positively known that Cornelius Westfall and Lindsey McConnell were elders prior to this date.
We have the minutes complete of the new school branch from the date of its organization in 1838. The charter members of that organization were Samuel and Jane McCorkle, Milton and Elizabeth McCorkle, James and Mary Johnson, Thomas J. and Mary McCorkle, Margaret Higgins and others. Of this number there are two families still represented in our membership, S. E. McCorkle and James Johnson. The family of T. J. McCorkle is represented in the person of his son, James H. McCorkle, from whom we will hear later ;
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and also Mrs. Harrison, a daughter of Margaret Higgins. Samuel and Mar- tha Kinkaid were admitted into the new school church at the first meeting after the organization. This family is still included in our membership, and one member, Mrs. Elizabeth Kinkaid Corrie, has the distinction of being the first name on the roll, having united with the church before any member now living. There are other families who have been connected with- one or the other branches of the church for a great many years. The Hamill family is one. Mrs. Elizabeth Hamill was admitted into the new school branch in 1848, by certificate from the old school branch, and her son remembers to have heard her say that she was a charter member of the old first church. This gives this family the longest family connection. The Matthews family have been members of this church since 1851; a large family and all having been members of this church at some time. Mrs. Northrup, of Iola, Kansas, is the oldest person now living that has ever held membership in the old Thorntown church. She is still able to attend church, and she and her hus- band were the main stays of the Iola church from its organization to his death. She and her three sons are still among the strong supporters of the church today.
There are nineteen members of this church living here now that were members of one or the other of the churches at the time of the reunion.
Those who were members of the old school branch are: H. W. Hill, Mrs. J. C. Vannice, Mrs. Susan LaFollette, Mrs. Ida Patton Matthews, Mr. H. W. Henderson, Mrs. Sarah Henderson Hamill and Mrs. Isabell Craig Cline.
Those having membership in the new school branch are: Mrs. Eliza- beth Kinkaid Corrie, Eliza Matthews, Miss Martha Matthews, Miss Alice Johnson Kinkaid, Miss Hester Matthews, Charles W. Johnson, Mrs. E. R. Jaques, Mrs. Emily Brainard, Mr. Lewis W. Jaques, Mr. Joseph C. Jaques, Mrs. Mary Belles McCorkle and Mr. George Coulson.
The Thorntown Presbyterian church has from its organization been one of the leading influences of this community, and its members among the lead- ers in any movement for the betterment of the moral conditions of the com- munity. Its lady members took a very active interest in ridding the place of the doggeries which were everywhere present in our state before we had our present option and remonstrance laws. Many of the citizens witnessed the raid made by the ladies of the town in the 50's when the women rolled the
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whiskey barrels into the street and one woman, a member of this church, took an ax and caved in the heads of the barrels and allowed the liquor to run into the gutter ; the men standing near by to see that they were not molested. This was an act of self-protection of their families and was not condemned by the citizens. The men of the town afterward demolished and rid the town of the traffic, for a time at least.
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