USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 17
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WASHINGTON.
The First Baptist church, of Washington, was organized on February 4, 1840. The meeting for the organization of this congregation was held in the Presbyterian church, the little organization band being composed of Revs. William Reese and John Graham and four members from the Veale Creek church. Rev. William Reese was chosen moderator of this meeting and James Johnston, clerk. Articles of faith were adopted and the follow- ing persons subscribed to the same: William Stansil, Celia Stansil, W. G.
BAPTIST CHURCH, WASHINGTON.
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Cole, Margaret Cole, Reason W. Brand, Frances Brand, Mary S. Clapp, Louisa McDonald and Eunice W. Packard. The new church was named the Washington Baptist church and Elder William Stansil was chosen pas- tor. Mr. Stansil continued as pastor of the church for a period of ten years. A writer says : "He was a strong man physically ; a fine voice; a deep thinker; he was uneducated, except the teaching of the three R's by his wife, after they were married."
Among the other pastors of the church were: Revs. G. W. Harpole, John Graham, B. B. Arnold, Hamilton Robb, T. N. Robinson, J. R. Philips, T. R. Palmer, R. M. Parks, Hillory Head, W. L. Boston, E. R. Pierce, William McNutt, Charles R. Garten and J. B. Cheirs. Rev. Palmer was a printer as well as a preacher, and, associated with Stephen Belding, founded the Davicss County Democrat, in 1867.
During the early history of the church the meetings were held in pri- vate houses, in school houses and in the court house. It was not until April, 1859, that definite steps were taken to build a house of worship. A contract was made with John Richards to erect a building, at a cost of four thousand dollars. This building was occupied in June, 1860, though not entirely completed at that time. However, it is said, that after their "twenty years wandering," worshipping from place to place, the congregation was happy to get into a home of their own. From this time dates the beginning of the larger work of the congregation.
Under the influence of energetic and efficient ministry, the congrega- tion had a steady growth for many years. There was a large increase in the membership, including many people of wealth and influence. The old church had been enlarged and remodeled from time to time to meet the require- ments of the increased membership, but the time came when a building of larger capacity was required to accommodate the congregation. The ques- tion of the erection of a larger building suitable to their needs, with modern appointments, began to be agitated about 1902. Liberal subscriptions for this purpose were readily obtained and the matter took definite shape by the employment of Architect Osterhage, of Vincennes, to make plans for the desired building. The plans were accepted and a contract was made with Patterson & Reister, of Washington, for the construction work. The work was completed and the building formally dedicated on Sunday, May 3, 1914. The new church is modern in every particular. In the architectural design the building is faultless, while the interior finish and convenience of appointments leave nothing to be desired. It is one of the most beautiful and attractive public buildings in the city.
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BETHANY CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Bethany Christian church was organized on the first Sunday in June, 1830, with the following charter members: John Davis, George Mor- gan, Benjamin Fitzgerald, William Faith, David M. Hixon and Sarah Bogard. The early history of the church is incomplete and it is not pos- sible to get an accurate statement of many interesting incidents concerning its early years. It is known that David M. Hixon was one of the three first elders of the congregation, but it is uncertain as to the names of the other two. Some time after the organization of this church, Mr. Hixon moved to Washington and was one of the charter members of the Christian church in that place.
Bethany Christian church may claim the distinction of being the mother church of the Christian denomination in Daviess county. When Bethany was organized, the nearest congregation of that faith was about forty miles distant, on the banks of White river, in Lawrence county. Since the organization of Bethany, something near twelve hundred and sixty names have been enrolled as members of the congregation. In this list are found the names of men and women who were prominent in the early religious his- tory of Daviess county, and who contributed largely to the early develop- ment of the county. The founders of this church were people of small means and it was some time before the little congregation was able to provide a house in which to hold services. For about twelve years after organization the faithful band held regular services in the homes of the members, manifesting a commendable zeal and devotion in the cause of the Master. In 1842 their numbers had increased and conditions were such that they were able to build a modest little frame house of worship. This was built on a tract of ground donated by a Mrs. Roderick. This house served them as a place of worship for over forty years. In 1888 the present brick building was erected. During its history this congregation has had the service of some of the ablest ministers in the denomination, among whom the following have served a's pastors in later years :
John Mathis, James Mathis, - Noyes, Dan Collins, 1878 to 1880; William Krutsinger, 1881 to 1887; E. G. Denny, 1888 to 1889; H. H. Adamson, 1895 to 1900; B. L. Martin, 1901 to 1902; W. M. Davis, 1902 to 1904; Shannon Baker, 1907 to 1908; Everett Stivers, 1910; R. W. Alexander, 1911 to 1915; J. H. Moore, the present pastor. A notable event in 1859 was a visit made to this church by Alexander Campbell and Bar- ton W. Stone. Ministers ordained by this church: Joseph A. Murray, May
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14, 1865; Bruce W. Fields, Dimmit Jarvis, George W. Harpold, Nathaniel Peachee, Cornelius Burke, dates not known.
The following have served as elders: David Hixon, George T. Hays, A. T. Banta, Thomas Cunningham, William H. Allison, Elmer Grow and James Williams. The present officers are: Elders, W. H. Allison, W. H. Clarke, I. A. Bailey, Thomas J. Hays and Lew Harris; deacons, Joseph Meads, W. G. Banta and W. A. Hunter; trustee, T. J. Hays, Joseph Will- iams, Mort Billings, W. H. Allison and Lew Harris.
The present membership is about one hundred and seventy-five. The congregation also maintains a well-regulated cemetery.
PLAINVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Plainville Christian church was reorganized in 1888, by Evangelist Barrows and Rev. Ed McCormick. There were about fifty original members, among whom were the following: S. H. Dyer, James Wiltsman, John G. Littlell, O. H. McKittrick, Mrs. Lou McKittrick, Parnetta Rankin, Mary Killian, Ransom Law, Ann Bennington, Rachel Williams, Alice Crosley, Paul Golliher, W. O. Littell, T. E. Littell, B. F. Corlett, D. B. Burks, Mar- garet Cox, Lucy Marlatt, Lafayette Marlatt, Lizzie O'Mabey, Gallatin Eng- land, Linda England, Alice Crosby.
The first evangelist to hold a meeting was A. L. Crim, of Clark county, Indiana. At this series of meetings more persons were received into fel- lowship than were received by any other of the ministers who have held such meetings there.
The house in which the congregation worships was built in 1892, and was dedicated in that year, by Rev. L. L. Carpenter. It has served the purpose for which it was erected since that time, but it will soon have to be replaced by a new church of large capacity, on account of the en- larged membership. A nice lot in the central part of the town has been selected as a location for the new church building, and plans for its erection are being considered.
Ministers and evangelists who have served this church since its or- ganization : S. H. Dyer, A. L. Crim, Ed McCormick, F. T. Porter, G. P. Crawford, W. M. Gard, Rev. J. Tomlinson, T. Vance, Wit Littell, G. M. Shutts, G. Halleck Rowe, A. W. Crabb, R. W. Alexander, Charles H. Buchanan, the latter having served longer than any other minister, except Elder 'Dyer. Rev. Claris Yuell is the present pastor.
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The present membership of the church is two hundred and twenty. Charles Dyer is superintendent of the Sunday school, which has an en- rollment of one hundred and twenty-five, and an average attendance of one hundred. The other church auxiliary societies are the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, the Ladies' Aid Society, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF ODON.
The Christian church of Odon was established in 1852, and was re- organized by Wayne Alford in 1870. The first place of worship was in a school house. In 1853 a church building was erected which served the con- gregation until 1892, when the present building was erected, at a cost of three thousand dollars. This church was dedicated in 1892, by Dr. L. L. Carpenter. The present membership of the church is three hundred; Sunday school enrollment, three hundred and eight. The congregation has an active Christian Endeavor Society, as an auxiliary in church work, and the church is out of debt.
The governing board of the church is composed of nine elders and fifteen deacons. The present officers are: C. L. Mount, president of the board; A. A. Lane, treasurer; C. A. Pickett, secretary. Joe Callahan is superintendent of the Sunday school; Paul Sears, president of the Christian Endeavor Society.
The following have served as pastors of the congregation : John Mathis, Thomas Littell, M. Cummings, William Littell, Charles R. Scoville, J. S. Denny, C. H. Buchanan, H. A. Turney, W. B. Morris, C. M. Day, and A. C. Trusty, the present pastor.
THE ODON UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
The Odon United Brethren church was organized by Rev. Joseph Stubblefield, during the conference year of 1862-63. The first church build- ing was begun during the pastorate of Rev. John Granger, in the year 1868. The church was dedicated on May 28, 1870, during the pastorate of Rev. Ephriam Thomas, by Bishop Jonathan Weaver.
The present building, a beautiful brick edifice, standing among large. maple trees, on one of the finest locations in Odon, was erected in 1904, while Dr. J. T. Hobson was pastor. It was completed and dedicated, April 30, 1905, by Dr. C. M. Brooke, Rev. S. Z. Todd being the pastor at that
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time. The Ladies' Aid Society completed the basement of the church, at a cost of about three hundred dollars. This church is one of the best-organized churches in the county. While the membership is not the largest, it com- prises a band of active and devoted workers in the cause of the Master.
The following are the names of those who have served as pastors of this church since its organization :
Joseph Stubblefield, 1862-63; William Wheeler, 1863-64; Z. B. Ellege, 1864-66; John Granger, 1866-69; Ephriam Thomas, 1869-71; Thomas But- ler, 1872-73; I. K. Haskins, 1873-75; J. D. Current, 1875-77; H. C. Funk- houser, 1877-78; J. Riley, 1878-79; W. A. Richardson, 1879-82; D. Ar- baugh and A. Myers, 1882-83; D. Arbaugh, 1883-84; John Breden, 1884-87; W. J. Johnson, 1887-88; A. B. Condo, 1888 to June, 1890; A. C. Scott, June, 1890, to September, 1890; A. W. Arford, 1890-91; A. C. Scott, 1891-92; L. L. Schoonover, 1892-93; J. A. Bell, 1893-96; H. W. Lash- brook, 1896-97; A. W. Arford, 1897-98; J. C. Mills, 1898-1900; J. T. Hob- son, 1900-01; J. W. Gilley, 1901-03; J. T. Hobson, 1903-04; L. T. Todd, 1904-05; W. E. Snyder, 1905-09; D. P. McCoy, 1909-II; L. L. Schoonover, 1911-12; T. A. Garriott, 1912-14; D. P. McCoy, 1914-15.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN DAVIESS COUNTY.
It is, perhaps, idle today to go back earlier than 1819 to find any Catho- lics in Daviess county. True, priests and bishops passed through, en route from Louisville and Vincennes and back, but to dwell on these would be no more fruitful of satisfactory results than to claim that a certain old converted Indian chief, who was camped with his tribe on the bank of White river about 1795, and who used to attend mass at Vincennes, was the first Catho- lic in the county. To leave the merely hypothetical and come down to the authentic, and not to narrow the honors too much, the Murphys and the Spinks at Washington, and the Montgomerys at Black Oak Ridge, were the first Catholic settlers in Daviess county,
The first church in either county was the rude log one put up at Black Oak Ridge; the second was the log one at St. Mary's; the third was at St. Simon's, Washington; the fourth at St. Rose, Mt. Pleasant; the fifth, St. Patrick, at Glencoe; the sixth, the one at Miles settlement; the seventh, St. Patrick's, at the present site; the eighth, St. John's at Loogootee; the ninth, St. Martin's, at Haw Creek; the tenth, St. Louis, at Shoals; the twelfth. St. Joseph's; the thirteenth, St. Michael's. Several churches were built at some of these points, for instance, four at St. Peter's, two at St. Simon's,
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four at St. Mary's and two at Loogootee. Three of the above, those at Mt. Pleasant, Miles's settlement and Glencoe, have been abandoned for other sites, the last named only partially, however, so we have at present ten parishes proper-four in Martin and six in Daviess county. The great ma- jority of the Catholic population are those who came from Kentucky or Ireland. The Germans stand next as to number, though they are quite modern as to date of settlement. There are and have been a few French families; a few other families came direct from Maryland and a few from North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The first settlers were attracted to these counties because of the rich land for sale at a very low price. This "land craze," as it may be called, gave rise entirely to St. Joseph's, St. Peter's and St. Mary's parishes and largely to that of Mt. Pleasant. The Wabash & Erie canal gave rise to St. Patrick's parish, and- added materially to St. Simon's, St. Peter's and St. Mary's. The Ohio & Mississippi railroad gave rise to St. John's at Loogootee and added to all convenient to its line. The opening of the coal mines at Washington, Can- nelburg and Montgomery added many new names to the lists of St. Simon's and St. Peter's, benefiting the former much more substantially than the lat- ter, and largely gave rise to the church of the Immaculate Conception. The piking of the state road from New Albany to Vincennes, which work was never finished, benefited chiefly the Mt. Pleasant or present Haw Creek parish. The last, and also most important, influx of Catholics was occasioned by the concentration of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad shops at Washington, Indiana.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
St. Mary's, Daviess county, located in Barr township, was visited in 1828 by the Rev. Simon P. Lalumiere, who celebrated the august mysteries in the house of Nathaniel Spalding. The house still exists and is pointed out to the stranger as the beginning of St. Mary's. Divine services con- tinued to be held at this house for about five years. Bishop Brute writes : "A few days after (November 6, 1834) I went with the Reverend Mr. Lalumiere who visited his two missions-first St. Peter's and then to St. Mary's. The last was not quite completed and I was requested to name it. It was a great happiness to me to put the first church which I was called upon to bless in my new diocese, under the patronage of the Blessed Mother of God, so 1 named it St. Mary's, and promised to return again in two weeks and bless it when it was finished."
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The Reverend M. de St. Palais was appointed the first resident pastor of St. Mary's, and remained from 1836, the year of his arrival in this country, until 1839, when he was removed to Chicago. The log church becoming too small for the congregation, Father de St. Palais built a new church.
The Rev. John Guerguen became the second pastor, and had charge of St. Mary's and the neighboring missions until 1848, when he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. P. J. R. Murphy. Father Murphy had charge also of Mt. Pleasant, and built a church there. The town and church are now both extinct. Bishop Flaget, accompanied by Father Abell, in August, 1823, confirmed thirty-four persons at Mt. Pleasant; in 1829 Bishop Flaget again visited the place, and found about forty Catholic families there.
The Rev. John Mougin resided at St. Mary's from 1858 to 1860, when he built a church at Loogootee, and resided there until 1866, visiting St. Mary's from Loogootee. Reverend J. Lablanc was pastor of St. Mary's, residing at St. Mary's, until February, 1873, attending also Miles's settle- ment, eight miles from St. Mary's. For six months St. Mary's was then attended alternately by the pastors of St. Peter's and of Loogootee. The Rev. G. M. Ginnsz came next, and was pastor from November, 1873, until September, 1875. The Rev. John W. Doyle succeeded him and was the pastor for three years. During the pastorate of Father Doyle the first steps were taken for the erection of a new church, the one so long occupied having become too small for the congregation. Plans were made and the work of construction was begun in 1879, the church being completed in the spring of 1881. This is the third church built by St. Mary's congregation and is their present place of worship.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.
One of the old record books at St. Simon's contains the following names as being those confirmed at St. Patrick's by Bishop de la Hailandiere on November 24, 1845: James Taylor, Stephen Pennington, Michael De- laney, William Kane, George Major, John Delaney, John Brewer and Thomas Agan. Land was first secured about 1837 at old St. Patrick's, or Glencoe, as it was usually called, by Father Lalumiere, who bought eighty acres with the intention, it is said, of laying off and founding a town, to be known as O'Cownettsville, but this project fell through and the land was sold. Soon the place was attended from St. Peter's and in 1840 the Reverend J. Delaune built the first and only church, which was of logs.
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Part of the land on which the church stands was devoted to burying purposes for those convenient to it and is known as the new cemetery, though the old cemetery was continued in use for the benefit of the cluster of families liv- ing in that locality. The present St. Patrick's church was built in 1860 by Reverend B. Piers, who was then attending the parish from Montgomery.
In 1880 Father Doyle resigned on account of ill health, and he was soon after succeeded by the Rev. G. M. Ginnsz, who showed considerable spirit in his efforts for the betterment of the parish and people. As one means to this end he organized St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society, with a mem- bership of sixty. This did much good for sobriety, charity and benevolence, and is still in existence. In 1883 he made some improvements and added the finishing touches to the priest's house, which was built by Father Doyle. But his most important and, of course, most arduous work was the building of the chapel and school house on the site of old St. Patrick's. He began this work in August, 1887, and completed it in November of the same year. This building is of brick and contains two well-furnished schoolrooms, each twenty-two by twenty-eight feet, and prettily arranged chapel that con- tains twenty-four pews. The total cost was four thousand dollars and not a cent of debt remains on it. The chapel is used only for the celebration of mass when persons are brought there for burial in the old burying ground. The building is quite a handsome and showy one and the people of that locality are proud of it ..
ST. PETER'S CHURCH AT MONTGOMERY.
St. Peter's is the oldest parish in either Daviess or Martin county, and was built about 1818, by Catholics from Kentucky, a church-loving people, who had not been here long before they were sought out by Fathers Blanc and Champonier, of Vincennes. The first settlers were the Montgomerys, the Kidwells, and the Dants, and it was at the house of Mr. Montgomery that mass was first said. Very soon-perhaps in 1820-these men, under the direction of Father Blanc, built a rude log church, scarcely sixteen by twenty feet. When Father Blanc was recalled to New Orleans in 1820, he was succeeded in his visitations by Reverend Championer, who visited the place monthly for about two years. He was succeeded by Reverend Lalumiere, who visited the settlement from Vincennes for a time, and afterward became its first resident pastor. He is credited, as early as 1823, with building a hewed-log church, twenty-four by thirty feet, and a
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frame one, forty by sixty feet, which was completed in 1827, and blessed by Bishop Flaget in 1829, assisted by the young Father Abel, on which occasion forty-seven persons were confirmed. The third church was of brick. Part of these bricks were intended for college buildings, but, with the removal of Father Sorin to the northern part of the state, these buildings were lost sight of. The church was built by French carpenters from Vin- cennes under the direction of Right Reverend Bishop de la Hailandiere, and Father Ducoudray, who was later its pastor. It is said by some that these carpenters were brought over especially to do the bishop's work. Certain it is, that much of their work was very faulty and this church did not last long. One of the subscriptions later on was for strengthening its walls, to render it safe. This was soon after Father Piers took charge in 1847, and it could not have been built longer than five years, as Father Sorin left in 1842. It was then decided to erect a new church, and to exchange the old site to the proposed site, Montgomery. The church was completed in 1869, at a cost of eight thousand dollars, a great part of the work being done by the parishioners. Father Piers had all the features of the building planned before he began the work, and carved out with a pen knife a perfect model of the contemplated structure. The church was blessed on July 18, 1865, and August Farrell and Sarah Healey were the first couple married in it. The substantial two-story frame school building Father Piers put up soon after, and in 1885 the present school building was completed. The bell- tower and steeple were put on the church in 1887, and a fine new bell was purchased. John Byrne taught here, or in the parish, during war-times, and left behind him some creditable work in the way of well-trained minds- several of his pupils subsequently figuring conspicuously in the affairs of Daviess county. Miss Byrne, a niece of Father Piers, also conducted the school creditably a number of years, and afterward Frank Walker. The school is not now maintained.
The succession of clergy, as gleaned from records and traditions, is as follows, with no uncertainty, unless as to exactness of two or three dates: Rev. Napoleon Blanc, previous to 1820; Rev. M. Championer, 1820 to the time when Rev. S. P. Lalumiere took charge, and remained until 1837; Rev. M. de St. Palais until 1839; Rev. J. Delaune until 1841; Reverend Granedir only transiently; Rev. E. Sorin until 1843; Reverends Chartier, Courjault, Francois Parret, transiently during 1843, after the departure of Father Sorin; Father Ducoudray, 1842 (end of year) until 1847; then Father Barthol Piers until 1895, when Father P. Rowan took charge.
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INTERESTING REMINISCENCES.
In connection with Reverend Father Sorin's stay in this parish the following will be of interest: In August, 1888, on the occasion of the celebration of Father Sorin's jubilee, at Notre Dame, John Breen and a Mr. Kelley were the only ones present from the locality of St. Peter's. During their stay Mr. Breen, in a conversation with Father Sorin, referred to the tradition among the people here as to his intending to found a col- lege at St. Peter's, and he told this incident of his stay here :
"Yes; I, with some of the brothers, was temporarily at St. Peter's. We were upon very close rations, too. One day a neighbor named Hayes came to see me and asked how I was. I told him that I was not feeling well; that I had not had anything for dinner that day. He at once requested me to send some of the brothers with him and he would see that I was not without my dinner another day. I did so, and soon we had several sacks of meal, meat, and other desirable provisions."
On the same occasion he related to Mr. Breen the circumstances of his leaving the southern for the northern part of the state as follows :
"Bishop de la Hailandiere sent for me and told me of the extensive lands near the lakes in the north, and offered them to me on the condition that I would found a college there; I did not want to go, but he insisted, and proffered me his horse to ride; I went, and the trip took me a week. I was pleased with the place and at once made arrangements to establish ourselves." One of the brothers who left St. Peter's with Father Sorin, Brother Vincent, lived to be more than ninety-three years of age.
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