USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana > Part 7
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The work done by Mr. Purdy and by his congregation has rarely or never been surpassed in this community. In addition to the erection and furnish- ing of this new church edifice and providing for the cost thereof, a fine rectory has been built and the church supplied with a large pipe organ of sufficient capacity to fill the entire building with melody.
The communicants now number one hundred and thirty, most of whom participate actively in all that pertains to the healthful prosperity of the church.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN, ST. JACOBI CHURCH.
This branch of the German Lutheran Church was organized in Logans- port in the Fall of 1848, with a membership of nine persons, of whom but four are now living: Christ Berg. Sr., Christ Berg, Jr., Andrew Dorsch and Christ Schwier.
The organization was perfected under the pastoral charge of Rev. Carl Sturcken, who afterward continued to labor for its upbuilding with an interested zeal in the propagation of its principles and the accomplishment of its mission for good, until 1864. During his administration of the affairs of the church, indeed, in the early years of his labors here, steps began to be taken by him toward the creation of a fund for the erection of a suitable house of worship. In 1852, the means at command were utilized in the erection of a respectable church edifice ou Canal street, 50 by 32 feet, and two stories high, fully equal to the requirements of his congregation. The audience room was in the upper story.
As a part of the labor performed by Mr. Sturcken, an excellent school was founded by him for the education of the children of his charge-the same edifice being appropriated to purposes of a school room. The school was a large one and well conducted, with good discipline and careful in- struction.
Mr. Sturcken is at present a citizen of Baltimore, Maryland, where, it is understood, he is still laboring to promote the interests of his church.
On the Ist of May, 1865, Rev. J. H. Jox, until then of Wisconsin, became the Pastor, and has since labored with eminent success in that relation. He is a man of quiet, unobtrusive manners, of much learning and great en- ergy of character. Possessing these elements, he seems to be exactly adapted to the wants of his people ; having thus far shown himself to be just the right man in the right place.
During the years 1867 and 1868, the congregation-which had grown from the original nine communicants to a number requiring a more capa- cious houseof worship-under the personal supervision of its excellent Pastor, built the present magnificent structure, at the northeast corner of Ninth and Spear streets. The building is of brick, with a tower containing three bells,
and surmounted by a graceful spire. This edifice is among the best speci- mens of church architecture in the city, and has a seating capacity of eight hundred.
The congregation is out of debt and owns, in addition to its church build- ing, a parsonage, school house and dwellings for each of its two school teachers, and is, therefore, in possession of elements developing into the means of promoting the greatest good to those for whose present and future well-being these judicious and painstaking efforts have been bestowed. Mr. Jox, in keeping open and in healthy condition these avenues of success, per- forms an amount of labor that would scarcely be recognized outside of his congregation, were not the results attained speaking monuments, so care- fully and quietly is it done.
Neither does his work end in Logansport ; in fact, this is the parent church, with branches radiating from it as a center throughout Northern and Western Indiana : yet he seems to guide and direct the whole, laboring with untiring industry.
The schools here, as at present conducted, are under the immediate management of two teachers, the average daily attendance being about one hundred and fifty. In these schools, religious instruction is a leading feature, the branches usually taught in our public schools receiving the atten- tion necessary to qualify the instructed for all the practical duties of life.
Although this church is now less than thirty years old, it numbers, of regular communicants, more than five hundred persons.
FIRST UNIVERSALIST.
From the organization of the county up to 1841, few sermons in advocacy of the doctrine of the ultimate salvation of the human family from error and unbelief had been delivered in this locality. At that date, Rev. Erasmus Man- ford, now of Chicago, began to deliver his messages concerning the faith that was in him to the good people of Logansport and its adjacent neighborhoods. Then, there were not more than fifteen or, possibly, twenty outspoken be- lievers in the teachings of that denomination in the entire county. Mr. Manford was an active and zealous worker in the cause he labored to vindi- cate. The bounds of his mission extended throughout the Valley of the Wabash, and beyond, wherever he could secure a hearing. He was, indeed, the pioneer minister of that persuasion in all Northern Indiana. In the Winter of 1842-3, several sermons were delivered by ministers from beyond the limits of the State to large and attentive audiences.
As early as 1844-5, Rev. Wm. S. Clark was employed, temporarily, by the friends in Logansport and vicinity to preach at short intervals. From that time forward, preaching was more frequent, resulting in a greatly increased interest in the peculiar doctrines of the sect.
In the Summer and Fall of 1857, meetings and services were more fre- quent than ever before, an increased desire being manifested by the public to hear proclamation of the doctrines so generally reprobated from the pul- pits of the less liberal sects. Occasionally, ministers from other localities ventured out for the purposes of pioneer work visiting Logansport and its immediate neighborhood in their route. Whenever one such was announced to deliver his message, a comparatively large and always deeply in erested audience was sure to greet him. Among the more popular during that period, were Rev B. F. Foster, of Indianapolis, Isaac M. Westfall, of La Fayette, and T. C. Eaton, of Illinois Through their efforts a spirit of inquiry was awakened, and the determination to organize a society soon became manifest. In August and September of that year, and early in Oc- tober, there were several seasons of revival, Rev. Mr. Eaton laboring to that end.
On the 10th of October, 1857, an organization was effected, with a mem- bership of seventeen, consisting of David Neal, Joseph Edwards, Hannah G. Edwards, Joseph N. Hendrickson, Mary J. Hendrickson, Jane Eldridge, Catharine P. Davis, T. B. Helm, John Comingore, Elon Wade, James L. West, Mabil J. Wade, Susan P. Eaton, Philip J. La Rose, Elliott Lamb, James Chappelow and James J. Bates.
After that time services were held only once a month, regularly, some- times more frequently, but at irregular intervals. at which either Mr. Foster Mr. Westfall or Mr. Eaton officiated the society increasing in strength and popularity. The services of a local minister were not secured until the Fall of 1859, when Thomas Gorman was employed, and remained with the church less than one year. After the retirement of Mr. Gurman, another minister was not engaged until the beginning of 1861, when Rev. J. D H. Corwine assumed the pastoral charge. Mr. Corwine was a man of superior scholarship and very successful in his pulpit efforts, his style being easy, natural and singularly convincing. He maintained his relations as Pastor for a part of two years, a portion of his time being occupied as Prin- cipal in the Logansport Collegiate Institute.
Until 1863, the services of the church were held in the Court House. At that date, the building of the commodious church on Broadway was put under contract and completed in a reasoably short time, at a sum little in excess of six thousand dollars. The lot on which this house was erected, being one hundred and ten feet front, had been previously, in July, 1859, purchased at the low price of fifteen hundred dollars.
This house was dedicated to the worship of the All Father, on the 13th of May, 1866, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. J. H Tuttle, then of Chicago, Illinois. In the meantime, Rev. W. W. Curry, then recently from Madison, Indiana, had been selected as Pastor, and, as such, was in charge, on the occasion referred to. Mr. Curry was succeeded on the 1st day of October, 1868, by Rev. N. S. Sage, whose ability as a pulpit orator has not been surpassed by any other resident minister in Logansport. Mr. Sage continued in charge during the succeeding two years and a half, having accomplished much good.
Rev. S. S. Hebbard became the successor of Mr. Sage, on the 17th of September, 1871. After a service of six months, he closed his labors with the church. During the period from that date until March, 1874, the church
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
was without a regular Pastor. At that time, Rev. N. S. Sage was again called and accepted the pastoral charge, devoting, thenceforward, his time and energies to the work, finally closing his labors here, in December, 1876. The church has now an actual membership of near one hundred.
Soon after the organization of the society, in 1857, it came into posses- sion of a large fund bequeathed by the late Philip Pollard, for the erection of a church edifice of becoming proportions and securing a comfortable prop- erty. The building and property above referred to stand as enduring inon- uments of his liberal benefaction. A marble slab in front has this inscrip- tion : " First Universalist Church-Philip Pollard's Legacy-1863."
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
About the 1st of October, 1842, Elder John O' Kane, then of Crawfords- ville, Ind., was invited, by some of the friends accepting his form of relig- ious belief, to visit Logansport and minister to their spiritual wants. He came, accordingly, and labored successfully several weeks. The result of his evangelizing at that time was the organization of the first Christian (or Disciples' ) Church in Logansport, and, indeed, in Cass County. Elder O'Kane was a man of superior ability, and exerted a powerful influence for good in the line of his calling by his genial manner and excellent social qualities, with the addition of his eloquent presentation of the doctrines peculiar to that branch of church, calling many to communion with him. Occasionally, for several years afterward, he visited this city and county and preached to large audiences, including the congregation to whom he was the first to break the bread of life. These occasional ministrations by Elder O' Kane extended through a period of four or five years, and were the me ins of keeping alive and active the working elements of the original organization.
Subsequently, Elders Nelson, Hopkins, Mullis, Franklin and other urin- isters visited the church at intervals, as opportunity offered, and delivered their messages to the people, keeping alive the interest, almost latent, that the mission might eventually be accomplished. There were, however, no regular services held nor pastoral care bestowed upon the congregation until the year 1857, at which time Elder William Grigsby settled here. Under his care, the church increased in numbers, and a good influence was spread abroad, services being held with some degree of regularity, notwithstanding a stated house of worship had not yet been provided. To supply this want, different public halls were used for congregational worship, for several years the Court House being secured for that purpose. Mr. Grigsby contin- ued in charge of the pastorate for about the period of ten years, and was succeeded by Dr. H. Z. Leonard, who preached irregularly for the congre- gation during a period of two or three years.
In the meantime, Elder Carpenter, of Wabash, and others came and held series of meetings, by means of which a lively interest was awakened and the church was inspired with new vigor in the promulgation of its work. The result was the employment of Elder J. L. Parsons, who was called to the pastoral charge of the church in the year 1870.
Elder Parsons remained during the succeeding three years, laboring with great efficiency and zeal. Under his administration of affairs, the long-felt want of a place of worship, permanent and of proper dimensions for the growing congregation, was supplied. Soon after his settlement here, he set about the work of devising means for the accomplishment of this most desirable enterprise. His labors, seconded by the active co-operation of the congregation, were crowned with success, and the close of the year 1871 found the society in the occupancy of a neat and commodious stone chapel, at the corner of Ninth and Spear streets, in the city of Logansport, erected and furnished at a cost of $8,200. Since that time, the congregation has increased nearly two hundred in the number of its members, and has other- wise been in a healthy and prosperous condition, enjoying the fruits of zealous labor in their chosen field.
At the close of Mr. Parsons' term of service, Elder C. M. Robertson was called, sustaining the pastoral relation with distinguished ability during the years 1878-4. His labors were crowned with eminent success, and the evidences of his devotion to the cause of his choice will long remain to remind his people of the master spirit who ministered to them in times past. While engaged in the special work, this congregation, during the year 1874, mainly through his instrumentality a branch church was organized on the South Side, and a beautiful brick edifice erected as a house of worship, the congregation supplying it with the needful furniture.
After Mr. Robertson closed his term of service, the church was without a pastor for a short season, yet services were conducted with considerable regularity by leading lay members of the church. Ultimately another Pas- tor was called in the person of Elder C. W. Martz, who remained in charge during the year following, but was a less efficient Pastor than Elder Robertson.
Upon the close of the term for which Elder Martz had been employed, services were again held by lay members, who thereby prevented the subsi- dence of interest in the observance of Christian duties. In the meantime, traveling Elders occasionally occupied the pulpit, until, some time in the Spring of 1877, Elder John Ellis was engaged as the minister in charge, and who now continues in that relation. At present, services are held regularly every Lord's day, morning and evening, in their comfortable chapel, and in connection with these services is a model Sunday school, the management of which is under the superintendence of Mr. J. B. Winters. There is one fea- ture in the management of this school that has, in the experience of this church, been one of the most powerful levers in securing continuity of inter- est in both school and church. It consists in each member of the church and congregation being also a member of the Sunday school, thereby estab- lishing unity of interest and mutual co-operation in whatever tends to develop the most earnest effort for the success of the cause they labor to advance.
NORTH SIDE CHURCH.
This church, which is an off-shoot from the one just noticed, was organ- ized on the 18th of April, 1874, on the north side of Eel River. The meet-
ings held in that locality resulting in the organization commenced in Octo- ber, 1871, under the auspices of Dr. H. Z. Leonard and others. On the 12th of February, 1873, a series of meetings was commenced looking to the organ- ization of a separate society, and continued with general regularity until the date when the organization was perfected. At this time, there were twenty seven members, Dr. Leonard being the officiating minister. Of those twenty-seven original members, twenty-two were baptized by Dr. Leonard, from October, 1875, up to that date.
The organizing services were conducted by Elder William J. Howe, of Chicago, in the brick meeting house, under the control of the society. The instituting ceremonies being completed, the Elder delivered an elaborate discourse on the subject of church officers and their duties. This com- pleted, Elder Howe was called to the chair as President of the meeting, and Benjamin Sparks appointed Secretary. Then, H. Z. Leonard and S. A. Custer were appointed Elders by the presiding officer, which appointment was confirmed by a rising vote of the membership of the new church, and by the Presiding Elder declared the regularly constituted Elders of the congre- gation. In like manner, Levi D. Horn, Amos Mobley and James Wilson were appointed and confirmed as Deacons ; thus, also, Mrs. Clary and Mrs. Morehart were appointed Deaconesses. The present membership is sixty- three. Services are held regularly, and a Sunday school has for some time been in successful operation.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN.
This branch of the Presbyterian Churh of the United States, until within a few years past, had not found many advocates of its peculiar doctrines among the religiously inclined of our population. However, in accordance with the experience of all countries whose continually increasing and chang- ing population brought people of all phases of religious opinion together in the same community, so here, the law of progress exerted itself and from these evolved the elements necessary to the introduction of the forms of worship recognized by the communicants of the church of Cumberland Presbyterians In the course of time, religious teachers of that persuasion began to do missionary work in our midst with satisfactory results. Yet it was not until October, 1875, that formal steps began to be taken toward the cultivation of the fields thus opened. At that time, the Board of Missions of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church appointed and located Rev. A. W. Hawkins, Missionary in Logansport.
The labors of Mr. Hawkins were not without success, and, in January, 1876, the inducements were such that the hall of the West Side Engine House was secured, in which to hold regular services. In May following, the congregation was organized, according to the formularies of the church, with a membership of thirty-five persons, zealously interested in the cause and desiring to promote its prosperity and usefulness, Mr. Hawkins being retained as Pastor.
In June, 1877, the congregation purchased a part of Lot No. 201, in the original town of West Logan, fronting on Broadway and Pawnee streets, for which they paid one thousand dollars. About the 1st of September follow- ing, a church house was commenced, 32x55 feet in size, and one story high, and completed in due time, the structure being neat and comely in appear- ance and well adapted to the purpose for which it was erected. It was dedicated to the worship of the Most High, according to the forms of this branch of His church, on the third Sunday in December, 1877. Since that time, the church has prospered satisfactorily; the labors of the Pastor seem to be efficient and directed to the development of Christian examples.
FREE MASONRY.
The ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons, for centuries past, has been the handmaid of civilization, her members carrying with them into the unbroken wilderness the fraternizing influences which have been found to be of such momentous value, even in the habitations of the unlettered savage. The primal settlements of Cass County did not constitute an exception to this rule. The first settlers here were members of this honorable fraternity, the effect of which was manifested in the early steps taken to establish a lodge. The moving spirit in this purpose was Gen. John Tipton, who was, at the time, a Past Grand Master of Masons in the State of Indiana. Accord- ingly, through his instrumentality, on the 24th of June, 1828, when Logans- port was but a little more than two months old, a dispensation was issued by the acting Grand Master, Elihu Stout, on the representation that at Logans- port, Indiana, there resided a number of members of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons who were desirous of associating themselves together, to those brethren, authorizing them to assemble and work together as a lodge. Under this authority, on Monday, the 25th of August following, M. W. John Tipton, P. G. M., instituted the first lodge in Cass County, afterward known and designated as Tipton Lodge, No. 33, the first officers being Hiram Todd, W. M: ; Chauncey Carter, S. W .; John McGregor, J. W .; Hugh B. McKeen, Treasurer ; John B. Duret, Secretary ; James Foster, S. D .; D. F. Vandeventer, J. D .; Robert Scott and Richard Chabert, Stewards, and Antoine Gamelin, Tiler.
The membership at the date of institution was twelve, and the number was increased to eighteen before the end of four months. Nearly all of the pioneer settlers who came to Cass County during those few months were members of the order and soon thereafter affiliated with Tipton Lodge.
On the evening of December 23, 1828, the first death in the membership of Tipton Lodge occurred. At that time, James Foster died, at Miamisport (now Peru), and was buried with Masonic honors by the Lodge, on Christ- mas Day. His, therefore, was the first Masonic funeral in the county. Robert Hars, another member of Tipton Lodge, died on Christmas night, and was buried by the lodge on the 27th of December, 1828. During the succeeding ten years, the following brethren were elected and served one or more terms as Worshipful Master : Hiram Todd, John Tipton, Chauncey
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Carter, Hiram A. Hunter, John B. Duret, Jacob Hull, John Yopst and John Green.
The first meeting of members of the Masonic fraternity in Cass County, which resulted in the institution of Tipton Lodge, was held in an upper room of Gillis McBean's Cabin Hotel, at the southwest corner of Market and Bridge streets, in Logansport. For a short time subsequently, the meetings continued to be held there, until a more convenient hall was procured. Several different rooms, from. time to time. were used for this purpose, among them Mcalister's building and the old clerk's office, the latter being used for a longer period than any other prior to the use of the Lodge Hall on the northeast corner of North and Fourth streets.
At an early day, in the history of this Lodge, the building of a Masonic Hall was put under contract, but the progress toward its completion was slow, and it was not ready for dedication before the 2d of August 1827. At that time, the necessary preparations having been made, M. W. John Tipton, P. G. M., in the name of the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana, "dedicated the new hall to Masonry, to Virtue and Universal Benevolence, in ancient form." Spear S. Tipton delivered the dedicatory oration. The Committee of Arrangements, on that occasion, was composed of Gen. John Tipton, Uriah Farquhar, Chauncey Carter, Gen. Walter Wil- son and John Yopst.
On the 28th of October following, a proposition was received from Logan Royal Arch Chapter, then recently organized, to purchase a one-half interest in the hull and the lot upon which it was erected. At a subsequent meet- ing, held on the 4th of November, a conference of the committees of the two bodies, respectively, having in the meantime been held, a report, embodying the details of the agreement arrived at, was submitted, considered and then unanimously adopted. Upon the basis of that agreement and the execution of the necessary papers, Logan Chapter, No. 2, became possessed of a one- half interest in that property. Since then the joint ownership has con- tinued intact.
Tipton Lodge, now, in the fiftieth year of its existence, as in the past, occupies a respectable position among the sister lodges of this jurisdiction. Membership, 116.
GALVESTON LODGE, No. 244.
On the 6th of November, 1857, a dispensation was granted, authorizing members in the vicinity of Galveston to work as a Lodge. May 25, 1859, a charter was granted to Galveston Lodge, No. 244, with James D. Loder as the first W. M .: Alexander Murphy, S. W., and T. Baldwin, J. W. Mem- bership, 64.
ORIENT LODGE, NO. 272,
was organized at Logansport, on the 1st day of June, 1860, under dispensa- tion granted May 30, 1860; working now under a charter dated May 25, 1861. Horace Coleman was the first Master ; S. B. Richardson and Geo. F. Johnson the first Wardens. The last report shows a membership of 163.
WALTON LODGE, NO. 423.
A dispensation was granted to John M. Bottenberg and others, at Wal- ton, on the 24th of August, 1869. After working satisfactorily until the 23d day of May, 1871, a charter was granted, designating John M. Bot- tenberg, as the first W. M .; William Booher, S. W., and A. C. Shope, J. W. Membership, 37.
NEW WAVERLY LODGE, NO. 484.
To the members at New Waverly a dispensation was granted, sometime in the year 1873. On the 26th of May, 1874, a charter was granted, pre- scribing James A. Adrian as W. M .; Abram Ellis as S. W., and Robert E. Dean as J. W. Membership, 36.
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