USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 22
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LITTLE FLAT ROCK BAPTIST CHURCHI.
The Little Flat Rock church was organized by twelve members of the Mt. Moriah congregation, the "wet" branch, after Mt. Moriah and Mt.
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Hebron had decided, in 1865, to unite in building a new church at the vil- lage of AAdams. These twelve were B. W. Stogsdill, A. A. Stogsdill, Lewis and Malinda Shelhorn, D. W. and Mary Shelhorn, S. A. and Eliza Shelhorn, H. L. and Emily Doggett, Mary Snickler and Elizabeth Shelhorn. Whether they withdrew at once after the union of 1865 is not known : at least, they did not erect a house of worship and effect a permanent organization until 1870. On the first Saturday in March of that year they met and decided to build a church in the Shelhorn neighborhood on the banks of Little Flat Rock. A commodious building was erected and in a few years the church had enrolled over a hundred members. Rev. Preston Jones was the leading spirit in the church for many years and served as pastor until along in the eighties. Other ministers have been : F. M. Huckleberry and S. P. Smith.
LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Liberty Baptist church was the third of the denomination to be organized in Decatur county and dates from 1827. In that year nine mem- bers met at the home of Charles Taylor, three and one half miles west of Greensburg, on the second Saturday of August. The original members were Obadiah Martin and wife, Elizabeth. John Whitlow and wife. Thomas Keel and wife, Moses Sally and wife and Andrew Nicholas. At the second meeting the members selected Obadiah Martin as their minister, he being at that time a licentiate. They set aside the second Saturday in November. 1827, for his ordination, but this ceremony was later postponed until the second Saturday in May, 1828. At that time the council, composed of Daniel Stogdel, Adam Cantwell, James Long and John Wheeldon, performed the ordination services. On the second Saturday in June following. Rev. Martin was chosen moderator of the congregation. He continued to serve the church faithfully until his death, six years later. At the third regular meeting after his death, James McEwin was invited to become the pastor, and he remained with the church as pastor until 1836, at which time the church granted a license to preach to Joseph A. Martin and John T. War- ren. These two men then ministered to the congregation jointly until 1839. when the church granted a license to Sammel Williams. From the time of Williams' advancement to the position of licentiate until October. 1840, the three men-Martin, Warren and Williams-served the congregation. At the latter date the congregation ordained Martin and Warren and the two served the church together until 1843. In July; of that year, the church called John Pavy for one year and at the same meeting chose John T. War-
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ren as assistant moderator. In 1846 the church again selected Pavy as their pastor and the following year called Archibald Leach for a period of one year. The pastors from that year down to the present time have been as follow : Jacob Martin, 1848: Daniel Stogdel, 1849: Joseph Sampson, 1850; Joab Stout, 1850, until his death. The dates of the remaining pastors have not been furnished. They are : Albert Carter, F. M. Huckleberry, Alexander Connelly, W. W. Smith, T. A. Aspy, John Huckleberry, E. Sanford and I. B. Morgan, the present pastor. The deacons of the church have been as fol- low: John Whitlow. 1828-37: Benjamin Taylor, 1837-1853; Elijah Mc- Guire, 1840-1851 : Pleasant Martin, 1852-1915 : Elijah Markland, 1854-1856; Simpson Turner, 1857-1915: James M. Brown, 1871-1915. Among the clerks of the church may be mentioned Moses Sally, Pleasant Martin, Will- iam Douglass, Samuel Howell and Richard Wright.
The first building was a log structure, twenty-two by twenty-six feet, which. however, was never completely finished. It was built about one mile north of the present building. In 1844, the church started to erect a second building, but it was not completed until 1852. In 1855 the congregation built a substantial frame building, thirty by thirty-six feet. It was destroyed by fire in 1866. In the same year plans were made for the erection of a brick building and it was finished and dedicated in 1868.
For many years after the church was organized there was little money for church expenses. The first sexton received two dollars and a half a year for his services, while today he receives a salary of fifty-two dollars. The total expenses for 1915 are as follow : Pastor, $150; assistant, $150; visiting ministers, $100; home missions, $53; foreign missions, $11.25 ; sexton, $52; Sabbath school, $50. Four members of the church gave a total amount of $251 for the endowment fund of Franklin College during 1914.
The Liberty church was first a member of the Flat Rock association, but in 1850, it united with the Sand Creek association. During the twenty-three years preceding 1850, the church admitted one hundred and three persons to membership. Of that number, eleven have been excluded, and of the members in '1850, there are two still living. In the last twenty years the church has admitted two hundred and twenty-three to membership. In the spring of 1912, Rev. S. G. Huntington conducted a revival, which brought twenty-nine new members into the church. The total membership at the present time is two hundred and eighteen.
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SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Salem Baptist church was established on the third Saturday of February, 1831, at the home of John S. Rutherford, one and one-half miles northeast of Milford. The constituent members were: Ruchard and Fan- nie Johnson, James and Elizabeth Dunn, James and George M. O'Laughlin, Mathias and Margaret Mount, Thomas and Elizabeth Jones. The first house of worship was erected in 1831, and this remained in use until 1888, when the present building was erected. It was remodeled in 1909, and is now provided with all the modern improvements. The church property is valued at three thousand dollars.
The ministers include the following: John Pavy. J. W. B. Tisdale. W. E. Spear, James Pavey, J. W. Potter, A. A. Downey, W. A. Pavey, Alonzo Aspy, T. A. Aspy, J. A. Pettit, J. F. Huckleberry, Noah Harper, E. C. J. Diekens, M. C. Welch, L. T. Root, D. P. Liston, D. P. Odell, R. H. Kent, H. W. Clark, C. B. Jones, and A. A. Kay, the present pastor. The clerk is F. L. Sasser, who furnished all the data for the history of the church. The church now has a membership of two hundred. A Baptist Young People's Union was organized in 1914.
GREENSBURG BAPTIST CHURCHES.
According to the early records, the Greensburg Baptist church was founded in 1841, by the Rev. Joshua Currier, of Connecticut, sent here by the American Baptist Home Mission Society. Prior to his coming, the Greensburg Baptists held membership in some of the older churches of the denomination in the county. The missionary was a thrifty New Englander and both he and his wife were well endowed with those attributes necessary for success in this particular field.
From their hillside home on the left of the present entrance to South Park cemetery they worked, taught and visited for seven years. The church was organized July 17, 1841, with eighteen members and united the follow- ing month with the Flat Rock association. Eight members were added the following year. after which the new church only held its own until 1848, when, with thirty-three baptisms and twelve additions by letter, the number of members was raised to ninety-seven.
Just a little later it suffered a heavy loss through the removal of the pastor and several families to Iowa. The next minister was the Rev. M. B. Phares, a young college man, who served in 1849-50. Following him came
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Ref. D. G. Heuston ( 1853-54), who was also a Franklin College man. Dur- ing his pastorate, fire destroyed the meeting house. This building had been purchased of the Presbyterians, who had erected a new edifice. The pews of this church faced the doors and it was lighted with candles.
For a time the congregation used the office of Ezra Lathrop for busi- ness and prayer meetings. Occasional preaching services were conducted in other churches. Plans for rebuilding were laid at once, and the church was completed during the pastorate of the Rev. J. W. B. Tisdale ( 1856-59). The basement of the new church was occupied as soon as it was completed. Private schools were conducted in it for a time, the teachers being James Caffyn and Rev. J. W. Potter.
The new church was a two-story structure, with thick brick walls and heavy stone steps, with iron railings. It was lighted with kerosene and. heated with two large stoves. Rev. Harry Smith was the pastor in 1860, and was followed in 1861 by Rev. M. B. Phares, who had previously served the congregation.
During the anxiety and depression of the Civil War, when many of the able-bodied members of the congregation were at the front, the Greensburg church shared its pastor with the Sand Creek congregation. Rev. Phares was unable to bear up under the consequent heavy labor and died before the war was over. He lies buried in the Sand Creek cemetery.
Rev. Ira C. Perrine, who was also a physician, served the church for a time and then retired on account of failing health. Upon his death, which took place soon after his retirement, the pulpit was supplied by a number of ministers until the coming of Rev. J. Cell, in 1864. He served for two years and was followed by Rev. L. D. Robinson, who remained for three years. During the latter's pastorate there were a number of innovations introduced into the church, including the introduction of instrumental music. a choir, Christmas trees, church socials and other means of supplementing the regular church revenues. In this period the church membership was con- siderably augmented through additions by baptism and letter.
Rev. J. S. Green, who served the church as pastor for some time, absconded in 1870 after forging the signatures of a number of his par- ishoners. He was located in Portland, Connecticut, where he was working in a tinware factory. He had formerly preached in a Methodist church there under another name. He was kept in jail for a time, during which he improved his leisure by writing a series of letters to the newspapers.
The next pastor was Rev. John Chambers, who remained for a year. Then came Rev. W. A. Caplinger, a supply, who conducted a revival with
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the assistance of Rev. J. Cell, and the heart of the congregation turned to the former pastor, who was gladly recalled. He died after a few months' service and lies buried in South Park cemetery in Greensburg.
Rev. B. F. Cavons came in 1870, with his young bride, and remained for seven years, during which the church enjoyed a steady growth. The bap- tistry was constructed and other needed improvements added. Hitherto baptismal services had been held in Little Sand Creek, usually near Michigan avenue and Washington street.
The next pastor was Rev. W. E. Pritchard, who had been trained in Spurgeon's London college. He came to the church in 1881. About this time agitation was started for the erection of a new church or enlarging the old one. The church building then in use was twenty-five years old, and the congregation was much larger than at the date of its erection. No decision could be reached and the agitation continued throughout the pastorate of Reverend Pritchard and that of his successor, Rev. J. A. Kirkpatrick (1885-86).
Reverend Kirkpatrick devoted his energy to strengthening the body of the church and added many new members. During his ministry the fiftieth anniversary of the church was fittingly celebrated. During the tenure. of his successor, Rev. D. W. Sanders, the church united on building plans, tore down the old building and erected the present structure, which was cleared of debt after several years of heroic effort.
Rev. J. B. Thomas was the pastor in 1892, and was followed by Rev. W.W. Smith, who served the church with zeal and industry for four years. In 1900 Manford Schuk was called and ordained. He occupied the pulpit for a year and then left to continue his studies. His successor, Rev. H. W. Davis, served two years. The last four named were students at Franklin College and three of them spent their early life in the vicinity of Greens- burg. During the pastorate of the Rev. Davis, the pipe organ was installed.
The next pastor was Rev. J. Heritage, another English-trained minister. " While he was minister, Mrs. Joseph Wynn presented the church with an individual communion set. He was followed in turn by Rev. J. F. Frazer, Rev. J. F. Fradenburg, and Rev. J. W. Clevenger, the present minister, who took the pulpit in 1914.
In its history of three-quarters of a century the Greensburg Baptist church has had twenty-four pastors, two of whom were recalled to the pulpit. There were times when the pulpit was filled by supplies, but, for the most part, services have been regular since the organization of the church.
A number of Baptist ministers have spent their last years in Greens-
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burg and have added considerably to the power of the church. Among them have been Rev. J. W. B. Tisdale, S. M. Stimson, D. D. (for twenty-five years secretary of the Foreign Mission Society), Rev. T. J. Connor, Rev. F. M. Huckelberry, Rev. Alexander Connoley, Rev. C. M. Phillips and Rev. A. D. Berry, who brought the office of the Baptist Observer to Greensburg for a time.
The first license to preach was granted by the Greensburg church to Thomas Edkinsom, one of the constituent members. Dyar M. Christy was given a license in the late sixties, and he preached until his death, twenty- five years later. E. Hez Swem, who was the third sent out, has spent a use- ful quarter of a century in Washington, D. C. Three ministers have been ordained by the church, Rev. Manford Schuk, Rev. William LeMasters and Rev. O. A. Bowman.
A few legacies have been left the church. Ezra Lathrop bequeathed it fifteen hundred dollars, and Mahalla Ragan and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wynn left it one thousand dollars. The church has been host to the Indiana Baptist state convention four times: 1861, 1868, 1878 and 1913. It has entertained delegates and messengers from the churches of the Flat Rock association three times, in 1866, 1889 and 1913.
The first clerk of the church was Jabez Edkins. Z. A. Withrow is reported as occupying that office in 1852. Among those who held the office during long terms of years were J. N. Shirk, F. C. Eddleman, R. T. Wright and C. W. Woodward. Ezra Lathrop, George Fletcher, George Perrine, Isaac N. Shirk and Benjamin Bowers were among the early deacons. The following among others have served as church treasurer: Ebenezer Edkins, R. T. Wright. Everet Marsh, Charles Schuk, C. W. Woodward, Harrington Boyd and Hugh Taylor.
Some of the Sunday school superintendents have been I. N. Shirk. W. B. Harvey, Ira Hollensbe, R. T. Wright. Charles Williams, Everett Marsh, G. G. Welsh, Herbert West and William G. Bently. Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston was a loyal and efficient leader of the primary department for more than thirty years.
The Woman's Missionary Society was organized in 1877, with Mrs. Joseph Wynn as president, and women's prayer meetings have been a con- tinuous feature of the life of the church. The early meeting places were the homes of Mrs. Abi Lathrop, Mrs. T. Edkins or Mrs. Fletcher. For a periad of ten years these meetings were held regularly at the home of Mrs. J. B. Wheatley.
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MT. PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH.
The members of the Baptist church living in the southern part of Jack- son township met at the home of James Blankenship on the third Saturday of February, 1835, and organized the Mt. Pleasant church. The constituent members had been attached to the Bear Creek church, in Bartholomew county, before this time. They numbered ten, as follows : William T. Strib- bling, Achsa Stribbling, John Chambers, Elizabeth Chambers, John Graham, Eliza Graham, James Blankenship, Mary Blankenship, Mary Chambers and Catherine Eli. At the home of John Chambers the new church was reor- ganized by the council on February 28, 1835, Bear Creek, Mt. Moriah and Vernon being represented in the council. They worshipped in private homes for two years, and in 1837 erected a log church, which was supplanted in 1860 by a brick building. The church has drawn her membership from a large territory, with Sardinia as her center. Among pastors of this church are the following: Chesley Woodward, William Vawter, John Pavy, Hiram Pond, John Stott, Ira Gleason, AAlbert Carter, F. M. Huckleberry, W. Y. Moore and J. C. Nicholson.
DRY FORK BAPTIST CHURCHI.
The Dry Fork church was constituted in February, 1835, at the home of Enoch Garrison, with the following constituent members: John Patrick and wife, Enoch and Margaret Garrison, Elizabeth and Sarah Patrick, Susan Morgan, Rebecca Black and Eleanor Tazewell. For the first six years after the organization, the congregation held services in the homes of the mem- bers, and then built a rude log church. In 1852, a substantial frame struc- ture was erected one-half mile south of Newburg in Jackson township. The pastors of this church include the following: A. Leach, John Vawter, James Blankenship, William Moore, G. W. Pavey, Evan Snead, G. W. Patrick, Absolom Pavey, James Pavey, Joab Stout, B. Denham, Hugh McCalip, W. E. Spears, F. M. Huckleberry, John W. Potter and Albert Carter. Dry Fork is the mother of the churches of Westport and Mt. Aerie (Letts).
WESTPORT BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Westport church is an arm of the Dry Fork church and was organ- ized January 4, 1851, with twenty-three members, as follows: Richard (16)
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Childers, Benjamin Childers, Elizabeth Childers, James Hamilton, John Buck, Lewis T. Scott. Catherine Shields, Susan Morgan and sixteen others, whose names have not been preserved. The formal organization was in charge of a council from Mt. Pleasant, Dry Fork and Sand Creek churches. A build- ing, erected in 1852, is still in use. The pastors of the church include the following: Hiram Pond. G. W. Patrick, Joab Stout. Hiram Christie. J. W. Reynolds, G. W. Herron, Benjamin Wilson, Jonathan Allee, W. E. Spear. John Waters, John Stott, J. C. Remy and .A. A. Kay.
ROSSBURG BAPTIST CHURCHI.
The Rossburg church was established on March 1. 1851, by a council representing the churches of Pipe Creek, West Fork. Delaware and Napoleon. The charter members were as follow: James . Alexander, William W. Hol- lensbe, John FF. Hollensbe. James Updike, Andrew J. Martin, Sanford Stapp. Albert I. Osborne, Rev. Sylvester Ferris and seven others. The pastors have been Sylvester Ferris, J. C. Perrine, Enoch Tilton, James W. Lewis, James M. Smith, Obediah Martin, Horace Wilson, Spear, Simms, Frank Level. J. W. Tisdale, George W. Bowers, Alexander Connelly and W. O. Beatty, the present pastor.
The Rossburg church, in its existence up to 1915. perhaps had its palm- iest days in the period from 1860 to 1890. It was during this period that George Washington Bower, who served the Rossburg church as pastor much of the time from 1864 until 1913, was in the vigor of life and action and the church in its youth and power. Since 1800, or thereabouts, a noticeable decrease in the activity of the church has come about due to the removal of many members and families from the church community and the age and feebleness of older members.
Since 1890, however, much excellent work has been done periodically at Rossburg and, continuing through this later period, many souls have been converted, under the ministry of Reverend Bower and others, to the Christian life: so that faithful hearts and hands have kept sacred to service the meeting house where once the pioneer pastor of the early day proclaimed the Gospel of truth, and where, at the memorable little pulpit, many an erring, though good and precious soul, was led forward, born again, into the new and true life of the Redeemer.
One of the older members of this church. writing of it in 1915, said: "In the period from 1860 to 1890 many a time, and many a time, have I seen such large crowds attend church services at Rossburg that all could not get in the
REV. G. W. BOWER AND WIFE.
Reverend Bower was, for nearly forty years, pastor of the Rossburg Baptist Church.
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church. That was especially so when Bower preached regularly there." But in the later period, when Bower continued to minister at Rossburg. the con- gregation had become scattered and many old familiar faces he had known, were absent. On one occasion when he preached there, not long before his death, in 1913, he remarked in the course of his sermon, looking like the pictures of Whittier, "Most of my congregation are out here," as he pointed to the "silent city," with its "windowless palaces" there on the hill.
.And so it was that to a large extent the life of George W. Bower became the life and history of the Rossburg Baptist church through a long period of time. His life in his period with the church was an embodiment of the character and life of the church. By his sturdy, powerful preaching and honest example, many a person was led through baptism into the new and true life. He had much to do with the religious integrity of eastern Decatur county for half a century.
George W. Bower was born in Adams township. Ripley county, Indiana. September 29, 1836, and died on February 19, 1913. He received what education he had in the common schools and taught during eleven terms of common school. He married Nancy Miller, March 17, 1866, who was always a faithful helpmate in her husband's work at Rossburg. Mr. Bower was "born again" in February. 1864, and united with the Pipe Creek Baptist church. He was baptized by Rev. James M. Smith, March 16, of the same year. IIe was chosen superintendent of the Sunday school in March, 1864, and served in that position for three years. On July 27, 1867. the church licensed him to preach. He preached his first sermon on Sunday. December 16, 1866, at his home church. his text being John 3:14-15. He was ordained on December 27. 1868, by his home church, at the request of the Franklin church, at Pierceville. Indiana, which had called him as pastor for one-fourth time. His longest pastorate was at Rossburg and Pipe Creek churches. He preached at Elkhart for twenty years; at Hogan Hill, thirteen years ; at Hopewell, seven years ; Ingar Creek, six years ; Washington, six years ; and at other churches from one to four years. He was a member of the Baptist state convention board for several years, when the members were elected by the associations.
.A summary of his work follows: Regular sermons preached. 5.675: funeral sermons, 478; whole number of sermons preached, 6,153; marriages solemnized, 204; number baptized, 588. He gave more time to Rossburg than to any other one church. Anyone who met him never failed to be impressed by his lofty, though kind and simple, puritan character: by his honesty. his integrity, his strength of will and his moral and spiritual power. His works live on and on in this church he served.
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The officers of the church in 1915 were: Trustees, Alfred MI. Hooten, Forest Higdon, David Martin: clerk, Mrs. Emma Gwinn; treasurer, Forest Higdon.
MT. AERIE (LETTS) BAPTIST CHURCH.
MIt. Aerie church was organized in the latter part of 1872. as an arm of Dry Fork. the organization following the establishment and successful career of a Sunday school at that point. A revival was held in the early part of 1874. during which forty-three members were added to the church. This meeting was under the direction of John W. Potter, who was then pastor of the Dry Fork church, and aroused so much interest that a request was made for an independent organization. This was granted, and. on Thursday, April 23, 1874. the Mt. Aerie church formally began its career. At the time of its recognition by the council, August 29, 1874, it enrolled sixty-six mem- bers, among whom may be mentioned Allen W. and Sarah R. Lett. James Fowler, G. T. and Mary J. Davis, Rachel Davis. John and Ruth Holmes, Chesley Holmes, John S. and Sarah J. Adams. S. H. and Nancy Thompson, J. H. Stout, John W. Stout. Andrew Alexander, Emaline Brunton and John Hunter. The pastors of this church have been John W. Potter, Albert Carter. John E. McCoy, W. W. Smith, J. O. Burroughs. E. Sanford, H. W. Davis, Chesley Holmes, J. F. Huckleberry. J. E. Smith. A. D. Berry. W. F. Roberts. W. F. Wagner, B. R. Robinson and W. C. Marshall, the present pastor. A substantial brick building a half mile from Letts, was built the same year the church was organized and was surmounted by one of the largest bells ever brought into the county. This is one of the strongest rural Baptist churches in Indiana, and now has a membership of three hundred and twenty-five. An active Sunday school, with an average attendance of one hundred and fifty, is maintained. The parsonage is in the town of Letts and is valued at two thousand dollars, the value of the church building and grounds being estimated at ten thousand dollars. The pastor is paid a yearly salary of nine hundred dollars. A well-kept cemetery adjoins the church and there lie hun- dreds of the members of the church who have helped to make it one of the strongest influences for good in the community.
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