USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 36
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Taberville, consisting of 116 lots, lying south of the Wabash River and east of the Michigan Road, was laid out by Allen Hamilton and Cyrus Taber on July 11, 1853.
Besides these, there are numerous additions of more or less magnitude, laid out by John B. Shultz, W. H. Standley, William Douglass, Humphrey Taber's estate, James Cheney, T. C. White- side, Dodds & Buchanan, Cecil & Wilson, and others, at differ-
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ent times, all of which are included in the corporate limits of the city.
Churches .- The First Baptist Church was organized in 1829. On the 26th day of December of that year John Smith, Charles Polke, David Patrick, Rhoda Shields, Nancy Ross, James Smith and Nancy Smith met for consultation concerning the question of a church organization in Cass County, and the preliminary steps necessary to its satisfactory accomplishment. The articles of faith, as recognized by the Regular Baptist Church, were declared and signed by those present.
On the 20th of February, 1830, pursuant to the request of those above named, and the desire of others of like faith in Cass County, John Knight, William Hance, and John Lennon, from Deer Creek Church, and Elder Samuel Arthur, from Wea Church, met for the purpose of organizing them into a Gospel Church, Elder Arthur acting as moderator and John Lennon as clerk. A council being thus organized, the several brothers and sisters first named pre- sented their letter, which being read. the council made the follow- ing proclamation:
We, the above presbytery, do hereby certify that we have, pursuant to their request, constituted them into a Gospel Church.
JOHN LENNON, Clerk.
After organization, the church appointed Charles Polke as clerk, and adopted the name of Eel River, as that by which the new church should be known. James Smith was chosen moderator at the succeeding meeting, held on the 20th of March.
From that time forward church meetings were held monthly, and on the 19th of March, 1831, fixed "Rules of Decorum" were adopt- ed. the better to expedite business. During this period, Elder James Smith usually administered to the spiritual wants of the church. Afterward, Elder William Reese "took care of the church," and continued in that relation, at intervals, until June, 1838, at which time "Elder William Corbin was regularly invited to spend half his labors in the Gospel at this place."
Meanwhile, some differences of opinion having arisen in mat- ters appertaining to the unity of faith and practice, on the 2d of March, 1839, a revision of the articles of faith was ordered, and Elder Corbin, Aaron Yantis, William Aldrich and George Weirick were appointed a committee for that purpose. On the 6th of April
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following, the revised articles were presented, read and adopted, together with the church covenant.
In the spring of 1842 there was, for the time being, a great re- vival of interest in the affairs of the church, which seemed to calm the troubled waters of discord, and cause many new applications for membership to be presented and accepted according to usage. About this time Elder William M. Pratt, brother of the late Daniel D. Pratt, visited this county, and, participating in, gave new interest to the revival effort before in progress. Elder Pratt remained here, laboring with earnest zeal and marked effect, for more than a year, the membership having increased under his ministrations more than 200. Mr. Pratt's term of service with this church closed on the 30th of September, 1843.
On the 2d of December, 1843, Rev. Demas Robinson, succeeding Elder Pratt, began to labor with the church in the relation of pas- tor, and sustained that relation acceptably until the spring of 1845. Elder Robinson was called as a supply until a settled pastor could be secured, entering upon the duties of that relation September 6, and continuing until December 6, 1845. At that date Elder E. T. Manning was called to succeed him in the pastoral relation. For several months preceding a general feeling of disquietude prevailed among the members, manifesting itself in numerous and protracted delinquencies in their attendance upon church services. These manifestations continued with little abatement through the year.
Elder C. M. Richmond was chosen pastor on the 5th of Decem- ber, 1846, his term of service, however, was to be counted from the 10th of October preceding, because from that date he had been sup- plying the pulpit in the interest of the church. Notwithstanding the frequent change of pastors during the past few years, want of unity continued to prevail, more, perhaps, from a dissatisfaction concerning the nature of the old church polity, than from any other cause. To remedy this element of discord it was proposed to mod- ify the ancient articles so as to conform essentially to the advanced opinions of dissenting members. Failing in the success of a move- ment so necessary to the healthy growth and prosperity of the church, and the faithful observance of Christian duties, withdraw- als from membership became the rule rather than the exception. Finally, the necessity for a new organization, more in accord with the advanced thought of the day touching matters of faith and dis-
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cipline, was a settled conviction. Yet, occasionally meetings and services continued to be held until April 3, 1852, when the First, or " Eel River Regular Baptist Church " in Logansport, ceased to ex- ist as such. The day of its usefulness having passed, it was imme- diately succeeded by the incoming of the Second Baptist Church.
Second Baptist Church, which had perfected its organization previously, on the 4th of April, 1847, pursuant to previous notice of the purpose contemplated. This purpose is fully set forth in the preamble to the new organization:
Believing the time has come when we can best secure our advancement in piety and religious enjoyment, and extend aid to the cause of truth, by withdrawing from the First Baptist Church of this place, on account of dissensions and long con- tinued neglect of gospel discipline, and consequent inability of said church to pur- sue an efficient course of action; and seeing no prospect of riddance from these and other obstacles to the prosperity of said church, we, therefore, agree to organ- ize into a new church, by adopting the following constitution, by-laws, covenants and articles of faith.
This meeting was presided over by Rev. C. M. Richmond, Sam- uel A. Hall acting as clerk. The following persons constituted the original membership, having adopted the proposed new regulations and attached their names thereto: J. A. Taylor, S. A. Hall, William Aldrich, Daniel Ivins, J. H. Crain, C. M. Richmond, W. H. Aldrich, Mary A. Aldrich, Virginia Loomis, Mary P. Richmond, Lucinda Weirick, Elizabeth Richardson and Harriet Neff.
Among the first efforts put forth by this new church toward in- suring a prosperous future, were to secure the services of an effi- cient pastor, the organization of a Sunday-school, and the erection of a suitable building in which to worship. Elder C. M. Richmond was chosen pastor, and he entered at once upon the active discharge of his duties. The first board of trustees consisted of Adkins Nash, Samuel A. Hall and James A. Taylor.
At a meeting of the council of churches within Association limits, on the 26th of May, 1847, it was "Resolved, unanimously, That this council does hereby recognize the Second Baptist Church, of Logansport, as a regular Baptist Church, established in accordance with Gospel principles." Elder Deweese, then, on behalf of the council, through Elder C. M. Richmond, extended the hand of fel- lowship to the church thus organized. On the 15th of January, 1848, Adkins Nash and Timothy C. Merrit were elected the first deacons. On the same day, a donation of $114, to be appropriated toward the purchase of a lot for the church, was made by the
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"Baptist Female Benevolent Society," of Logansport, and grate- fully accepted.
Early steps were taken, by the appointment of appropriate com- mittees of conference, to devise a plan of union of the First and Second Churches. These efforts, after numerous interchanges of opinion, were finally successful, and on the 1st of February, 1849, the plan of such union was perfected.
After the close of the term of service for which Elder Richmond had been employed, the church was without the services of a regu- lar pastor until July, 13, 1849, when Elder Demas Robinson was again called. He continued in charge until October 5, 1850, when he was succeeded by Elder John P. Barnett, who commenced his labors on the 17th of November following. On the 1st of February, 1852, Elder Barnett resigned his charge, and the church was then without a pastor until August 29, 1852, when the vacancy was sup- plied by Elder H. C. Skinner. Subsequently, at a meeting of the church on the 1st of October, 1853, Elder Skinner resigned his charge as pastor, and was succeeded temporarily by Elder Demas Robinson, whose relationship with the church was summarily closed by voting a withdrawal of its fellowship on the 4th of March, 1854. Afterward, Elder W. F. Parker was called, but he closed his pastoral relation in June, 1855. Services were irregular there- after, until the employment of Elder J. R. Ash, on the 31st of July, 1856, who continued his labor with the church until March, 1858, when he resigned his charge.
Early in the year 1854, the wants of the church began to fore- shadow the necessity of building a house of worship of enlarged proportions, for the accommodation of its increased membership. In February of that year, the requisite preliminary action was had in the matter, and not long afterward the new building was put under contract. The result was the erection of the present commodious brick church, on the northeast corner of Seventh and Broadway Streets, in the city of Logansport. It was dedicated on the 9th of March, 1862.
Elder Edward W. Clark succeeded Mr. Ash, as pastor of the church and remained until July 15, 1860, when Elder Silas Tucker, who had previously been invited, took charge of the pastorate. Elder Tucker labored very earnestly and with great acceptance for the upbuilding of the church and for the best interests of the cause he engaged to
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promote. While he was thus engaged, the new house of worship, before commenced, was completedl and set apart by dedication, the dedicatory sermon being preached by him on that occasion. Dr. Tucker continued to labor with this church until the close of the year 1871, with marked success in his pulpit efforts and pastoral rela- tion. About one year prior to the severance of his relations with the church, a careful review of the situation showed a membership of 272 persons, of whom 217 were reported in good standing, 33 of doubtful standing, and 22 whose standing was unknown. Subse- quently, 85 names were added to the roll of church membership prior to the year 1878.
After the departure of Dr. Tucker, Elder A. H. Stole was called, and began his work on the 30th of August, 1872, continuing until July 1, 1877. On the first Sunday in January, 1878, the pulpit was occupied by Rev. H. L. Stetson who was subsequently called to the pastorate and entered upon the discharge of his duties as such. Mr. Stetson has since labored succesfully, and as an evidence of that success, a magnificent brick parsonage was erected north of the church in the summer and fall of 1884. The membership num- bers at this date 221.
Second Presbyterian-New School .- To Rev. Martin M. Post, D. D., the credit is due of sowing the first seed, which, under his careful culture germinated, and in due time developed into the Presbyterian Church of Logansport. Attracted by the prospect of a new town, situated on lands recently purchased of the Pottawatto- mie Indians, of great promise and vacant of religious institutions, where he could commence his life work, and " build on no other man's foundation," he came here Christmas week, in 1829. Up- on his advent into Logansport two females constituted the entire Presbyterian element within an area of twenty miles around. " Within forty miles, save at one place, there was no organized church. Soon a small Baptist Church, and a few months later an equally small Methodist class, were gathered." In this field, uncul- tivated as it was, he began and laid the foundation of the church of his choice. On Thursday evening, December 31, 1829, under his direction, the first weekly prayer-meeting under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church was held in the "old seminary " build- ing, on Market Street. "A union meeting for prayer, sustained by females, was early established, and in times of special religious in-
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terest numerously atttended; twenty-five or thirty such helpers in in the gospel on some occasions thus met from the several congre- gations; and from the dawn of our history, for whatever piety and good works have existed in Logansport, the obligation is largely due to women; the prayers of the living and the departed are its richest treasure."
A Sabbath-school was formed in May, 1830, of which Mr. Post was superintendent. This was the only one in Logansport for sev- en years, and in 1836 it numbered 125 scholars. The church proper was organized on the 22d of January, 1831, with 21 mem- bers. The developed germ vitalized on the 31st of December, 1829, by the establishment of the weekly prayer-meetings, whereby the energies of the faithful were concentrated and consecrated to the noble work. " As the fruit of a religious interest, greater,relative to the population, than has since been in the county; 13 were ad- ded before the close of the year," 34 within a period of two years after the institution of that humble, unpretentious, prayer-meeting. All this, too; was the result of earnest, unselfish effort on the part of the leading spirit directing the work.
" Again, in 1837," says Mr. Post, "10 by conversion were re- ceived at one time, and after having dismissed 26 to aid in forming country churches, there remained 117 members. Within a period of two years (1836-37) 68 had been added, the larger part recent immigrants. Soon the tide set back, the population of the city for a while diminished, the public works-the canal and bridges-being completed and the times reversed." Within a period of thirty years from the organization of the church 382 members were received and participated in its exercises. The results attained in the eighteen years succeeding give assurance that the kind and quality of the spiritual instruction received, with the personal example of the reverend instructor, who watched over it during the early years of its upbuilding, have had much to do in the measure of the per- manency and usefulness of the church to-day.
"Father Post," as he was familiarly known, continued his pas- toral relation with this church from its organization until 1866, when he was relieved from active work in that relation. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Adolphus S. Dudley, whose term of service com- menced with the close of Dr. Post's thirty-sixth year of patient
.
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watch and care over the interests vital to the upbuilding and pros- perity of the society best known as "Father Post's Church."
While Dr. Post ceased to labor as the pastor of this church in Logansport, his time was appropriated almost exclusively to mis- sionary work among those branches of the parent church in the city, which his paternal care had planted and nurtured in the coun- try adjacent, during the later years of his useful and exemplary life.
Mr. Dudley commenced his work with an interested zeal com- mensurate with the magnitude of his task, continuing thus to main- tain, by his assiduity, the extensive popularity of the church, ac- quired through the long years of Father Post's pastoral experience. He remained in charge during the succeeding three years, at the end of which time Dr. James Matthews was chosen to succeed him. The church, under his ministrations, maintained its former prestige in the religious world. Dr. Matthews resigned his charge some time during the spring of 1874. After a short interval Rev. Robert B. Stimson was clothed with the pastoral charge in Dr. Matthews' stead, continuing in that relation until the last of April, 1876. He was succeeded, a short time after, by Rev. Roswell C. Post, young- est son of the late Martin M. Post, D. D., who, in fact, founded the church, and to whose example and watchful care, it owes so much to-day. The church, perhaps, was never in better condition, and its sphere of usefulness never more completely occupied, than at that period. During his pastorate, extensive improvements, before com- menced, were vigorously prosecuted, and when he was called to a larger sphere of work, this church and congregation parted with him reluctantly.
In January, 1881, Rev. Edward S. Scott was called, and upon the completion of the improvements referred to, he was duly in- stalled pastor of the church April 10, 1883. Since that time, as before, the church prospered greatly, under his administration, and a healthy interest has continued to be manifested. The congrega- tions are large, and the Sunday-school, conducted as an auxiliary of the church, has a good attendance, and, with the officers and teachers in charge, is doing an efficient work.
The church property in its present condition has cost about $20,000, and is free from debt. Indeed, the financial condition is said to be most encouraging, and its recent experiences in spiritual
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growth warrants the expectation of a larger measure of Divine favor.
First, or Old School Presbyterian .- Until 1838, when the Pres- byterian Church of the United States was divided into two distinct branches, the New School, or Second Church, as it is now known, em- braced the whole family of the church in Cass County, and was repre- sented by Rev. Martin M. Post, to whose fostering care it is indebted for the high rank awarded to it in this community. From that date a gradual separation of the two elements began to take place, the breach continuing to widen until, by the action of the Logansport Presbytery, at a later period, the disintegration became complete. The outgrowth of these proceedings of the controlling authority of the church-at-large was the organization of what was declared to be the " Old School Church."
This new organization dates its existence from the 19th of March, 1840, when it took the name by which it continued to be known until the reunion was effected some years ago. Afterward, it was known and designated as the First Church. A year or two anterior to the division before mentioned, the Rev. John Wright- father of John W. and Williamson Wright-who had been, for the thirty-two years preceding, pastor of the church at Lancaster, Ohio, resigned his charge at that place and took up his residence in Logansport, whither his two sons had preceded him. Upon the. organization of the church here, Mr. Wright took charge of it tem- porarily, and on the Sunday following, James Harper and William Brown were ordained by him as elders, the first chosen by the new society. In the absence of these latter gentlemen, Joseph Corbit, who had been ordained as such during his residence in Ohio, acted as elder pro tem. The first board of trustees chosen consisted of Joseph Corbit, James W. Dunn and John W. Wright, and the first regular pastor chosen was the Rev. James Buchanan, in the spring of 1841, who continued to hold that position until the time of his death, in September, 1843. From the date of the organization up to the period of Mr. Buchanan's death, there were fifty-three addi- tions to the original eighteen who constituted the first membership.
Some time in the year 1842, Williamson Wright donated to the church Lot No. 144 in Tipton's Fourth Addition to Logansport, on condition that a stone edifice be erected thereon, at a cost of not less than $2,000, and maintained as a church. The necessary building
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was accordingly erected on said lot, being completed in 1842, and subsequently enlarged by adding twenty feet to its length.
The first meetings of the society were held in the second story of a frame building on the northwest corner of Broadway and Fourth Streets, before, at the time, and afterward used as a school-room. The site of that old building is now occupied by McTaggart's Block. In this room the organization was consummated, where, also, the successive meetings were held from that time forward until near the close of the summer, or early in the fall, of the year 1840. Then a room in the third story of a brick building on the north side of Market Space was prepared, and occupied for church purposes until the fall of 1842, when the new church, being completed, was first used.
In the spring of 1844 Rev. Thomas Crowe, of Hanover, Ind., was called as pastor. He was a young man of much promise and greatly beloved by his congregation, but in consequence of the fail- ing health of his wife he returned to his former home in the fall of 1847. During his ministry, William Thornton, Andrew Young and Robert Rowan were elected additional elders. There were also eighteen members added to the church.
From the time of Mr. Crowe's departure until the fall of 1848, Dr. Frederick T. Brown, licensed at a presbytery in Logansport, supplied the pulpit here, before accepting a call from the First Church, in Madison, Ind. Other supplies were only transient. Succeeding Frederick T., Rev. Hugh Brown was called to the pas- toral charge of the church in the fall of 1848, having meantime re- turned from China, whither he had gone as a missionary. He re- mained in charge here one year, and, declining to remain longer, he removed hence to northern Illinois. During his ministry here, however, there were twenty-four additions to the membership of the church.
The next pastor was Rev. Adam Haines, a young minister of superior ability, who, in consequence of ill health, did not remain long, and finally surrendered his trust into the hands of Rev. Levi Hughes, the latter taking charge ot the church as its pastor in the year 1852. Mr. Hughes held the pastorate until the fall of 1859, when he resigned and removed to Minneapolis, Minn., as a means of recuperating his overtaxed mental and physical energies. As the result of his labors here the church building was enlarged, the base-
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ment overhauled, prepared and furnished for the Sunday-school, and a large addition made to the membership of the church. From that time until the spring of 1861, the pulpit was temporarily sup- plied by Rev. H. R. Henneigh and Rev. H. W. Shaw, the latter, during that period and before, being principal of the Logansport High School.
At the time indicated above Rev. J. C. Irwin, having been called, took the pastoral charge. During his ministry the parson- age property adjoining that of the church was purchased, and has since been used as such. The ministry of Mr. Irwin was very suc- cessful, in that he labored zealously in the execution of the trust reposed in him. At one time a leave of absence for three months was granted him, to canvass for the endowment of the Logansport Presbyterian Academy. While he was thus absent the pulpit was supplied by Rev. C. H. Dunlap, who awakened a lively religious interest, the result of which was the addition of sixty-four members to the church. These, with the other additions under Mr. Irwin's personal ministrations, made the total increase 130 members during his term of service, which closed in the summer of 1867.
"On the 1st of August, 1867, Rev. William Greenough, of Piqua, Ohio, on a previous call of the church," became pastor, and continued in that relation until the fall of 1870. The accessions during the time he labored with the church were seventy, in a period of three years.
He was succeeded by Rev. L. M. Scofield in January, 1871. Under his administration the church and Sunday-school were largely increased in the number of their members respectively, and in the efficiency of their labors. The good results wrought out by the su- perior executive ability of those having in charge the management of church affairs made the necessity for further enlargement of their house of worship apparent. With this object in view, plans and specifications were agreed upon, and the work of remodeling the old structure commenced about September 10, 1877. So rapidly was the work pushed forward that the magnificent new church edifice, soon after completed, was ready for occupancy on the 2d day of De- cember, 1877, and services were held there, accordingly, on that day. Mr. Scofield continued to serve his church faithfully and well, laboring assiduously to promote its best interests until failing health called upon him to relinquish his pastorate and seek rest in other fields.
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