USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 23
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The present officers of the Mt. Aerie church are as follow: Pastor, WV. C. Marshall; deacons, Albert Holmes, Albert Rowland, Charles Bridges, William Feur, Kenneth Levering and Alfred Beagle: trustees, M. B. Tay- lor, Urso McCorkle. N. E. Moore, John Jackson and Charles Bridges.
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UNION BAPTIST CHURCHI.
The history of the Union church dates back ninety years, since it was established in 1825. It was brought into existence through the labors of Elder Matthew Elder, who succeeded in getting it organized on June 18. 1825, at the old Ross school house, three and one-half miles east of Greensburg. It appears that this church was not exactly an orthodox Baptist church ; at least, it was started out as the "Separate Baptist church," but just what is meant by the unusual prefix is not known. Although it was organ- ized in 1825, it was more than a quarter of a century before a building was erected for a house of worship, services being held in school houses and pri- vate homes previous to 1854. The first building of 1854 was torn down in 1858, and rebuilt four and one-half miles southwest of Greensburg. The church was recognized as a Missionary Baptist church on August 10, 1876, under the name of Union Baptist church. Matthew Elder was pastor of the church for more than forty years, and since the church has been recog- nized by the regular Baptists, the following have served: J. W. Hammock, J. W. Potter, W. T. Jolly, Ephraim Bond, John E. McCoy, W. W. Smith, F. A1. Huckleberry, T. A. and Lotus Aspy, J. E. Smith, O. L. Powers, J. G. Colter, D. C. Smith, C. E. Odell, and J. C. Nicholson, the present incumbent. The church has one hundred and sixty members at present and has ninety enrolled in the Sunday school.
ROCK CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Rock Creek Baptist church, also known as Lower Union, was estab- lished in September, 1825, with the following constituent members: Jacob, Sarah, Daniel, Ann, Robert and Clara Van Dusen and Ephraim, Anna and Cornelia Althiser-a total of nine, representing only two families. The records of the first twenty-one years have long since disappeared and little is known of the early struggles of this congregation. The church was first organized in a school house near Zenas, Jennings county, Indiana. Some of the members lived there, but the majority living on Rock Creek, four miles northwest, in Decatur county, it was the intention to build a church at the latter place. The meetings were held in Jacob Van Dusen's home most of the time up to 1850, in which year the congregation built a log meeting house on Rock creek, three miles southeast of Westport. In 1859 they sold their building for fifty dollars and for the next two years met in a school house
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three miles southwest of Millhousen. In 1862 the church, with other denom- inations whose names have not been ascertained, built a union meeting house on the present site. This same church is now used alternately by both the Baptists and the United Brethren in Christ.
When this church was first organized there was no association within reach, so this church, with others, formed the "Baptist Liberty Council." John Pavy, the first pastor, and other ministers of the denomination living in Kentucky, were bitterly opposed to slavery, and, accordingly, moved to Indiana. They formed this council and maintained it for several years. In 1843 the Rock Creek church was attached to the Madison association, but a few years later it became a part of the Sand Creek association, with which it has been affiliated down to the present time. Inability to find the records has made it impossible to give a complete list of the pastors who have served this congregation, but the following are known to have preached there at one time or another : John Pavy. John Bush, William Tyner. John Warren, Chesley Woodward, Benjamin Tucker, Hiram Pond. Christian Burkman, Nathan Frazy, Jacob Martin, George Herron, D. O. Sites ( 1866-69), John Waters ( 1860-71), Jonathan Allee and John Waters ( called a second time ). This list brings the pastors up to sometime in the seventies, but no list has been furnished of those down to the present pastor. P. A. Bryant.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
Founders of the Kingston Presbyterian church, parent of other churches of this denomination in Decatur county, were descendants of Covenanters. and so, by ancestry, Presbyterian as far back as there is any record. Their parents emigrated from western Pennsylvania to Kentucky, where they founded the Concord Presbyterian church in 1792.
In 1817 this church had two hundred members, but one of whom was a slave owner. Many were active abolitionists. Such a band could have no true home in a slave state. In 1821-1823 a number of families from this church settled in the Kingston neighborhood and organized the church there. presumably on December 18, 1823.
The entry on the okl minute book reads: "This day 1111111- ber of persons came forward after sermon by the Rev. John Moreland, and associated themselves together as a Presbyterian church, to be denominated Sand Creek church, and proceeded to chose Samuel Donnell, John Hopkins, John C. McCoy and William O. Ross to the office of ruling elder."
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A year later. Rev. John Dickey, an able pioneer preacher, visited the church, installed the elders, received fifty persons who presented letters into membership. baptized eleven children and conducted a two-day meeting. Preaching services were held but once a year until 1826, when a new church was established with twelve members at Greensburg, and the Rev. S. G. Lowry, who was selected as minister for the Sand Creek church. He was succeeded in 1833 by the Rev. John Weaver.
Presbyterian ministers of the early days received very modest remu- nerations. The following is quoted from the old minute book of the Sand Creek church :
"On settlement with Robert B. Donnell and James Thomson, collectors for the Sand Creek congregation, the sum of $572.9334 has been received in discharge of the pecuniary obligation of the call which I hold from said congregation up to the beginning of the year Jannary, 1829. The deficit of $27.0614 is hereby relinquished to the credit of said congregation, so that this instrument shall be considered a clear receipt for three years up to January I. 1829.
"Witness my hand, this 9th day of January, 1830. "SAMUEL G. LOWRY."
It is probably not an uncharitable reflection upon the benevolence of the minister, considering the meagerness of his salary, to credit the belief that probably the reason he relinquished the deficit was because the resources of the collectors were exhausted.
Two years later, political differences, destined later to rend the nation, begin to make their presence felt in the Sand Creek church. Refractory mem- bers were frequently admonished, and frequent complaints for slander show that there was a great deal of heated controversy going on. The "irre- pressible conflict" was rising in the church. In 1837 matters reached a crisis, and the church split. thirty-seven members withdrawing March 13, to found what is now the Kingston Presbyterian church. The insurgents were abolitionists, opposed to the course of the general assembly upon the slavery question. Although the weaker body in numbers, the new church lived and the old one died. After the war, the few remaining members of the Sand Creek church united with the Kingston congregation.
Upon their withdrawal, finding themselves outside the Presbyterian foldl. the thirty-seven insurgents sought shelter in a Congregational church until 1840, when they built a small frame structure, which was later transformed into a school house. Later the Congregational congregation was absorbed.
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The third edifice to be erected by the denomination was a frame build- ing and stood in front of what is now the school yard. It was not so large as the brick building erected by the congregation in 1836, but the ceiling was higher and the windows larger. After being used as a church for twelve years, it was turned over to the township for use as a school.
Two of the largest subscriptions made for construction of the old brick church were by Samuel and James Hamilton. Contracts for building it were let by competitive bidding, the contractors starting at a sufficiently high sum and bidding down. The brick-making contract was bid in for a sum close to five hundred dollars.
Until the coming of Rev. Benjamin Franklin, in 1847, the church was supplied by the following ministers : Benjamin Nyce, M. H. Wilder, Charles Chamberlain, Boram, Campbell and Jonathan Cable. The Rev. Franklin was an English missionary who had been stationed in the West Indies. The reverend gentleman found some of the customs of the male members of his congregation decidedly new, especially tobacco chewing. During his pastorate the Clarksburg church was organized.
Rev. Benjamin Nyce again became the pastor of the church in 1850. During his ministry the Free Presbyterian church, which excluded slave owners and was opposed to secret societies, was formed. . Is this body repre- sented the most extreme anti-slavery element, the Kingston church gladly united with it.
"We cannot resist the conviction that this worthy body of reformers contained a good many cranks, and Kingston had its full share both of min- isters and members," says Cammilla Donnell, in writing of the church at that place. "But our fathers were happily unconscious of the word. They went on their way regardless of the ridicule and the prejudice of the outside world, with temperance and abolition written on their door posts, reading and circulating abolition books and papers, running with great success their branch of the 'underground railroad,' voting the most extreme reform tickets, and doing their humble best to turn the world upside down."
Rev. Daniel Gilmer became the church's minister in 1854, serving for three years. He was succeeded by Rev. William Gilmer, of Cincinnati, said to have been a brilliant talker and a most persuasive borrower. Many good stories are told concerning himn.
Erection of a fourth church building was started in 1854. While the frame of the structure was being raised, there was an accident caused by the carelessness of the builder, the timbers collapsed and several members of the congregation were badly injured, two of them being crippled for life.
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Funds for the construction of this building were raised by direct assess- ment, each member being taxed according to the amount of property he pos- sessed as set forth in the records of the county treasurer. Only a few. it is said, objected to paying the full amount of their assessments.
The next minister was Rev. A. T. Rankin, who served the church from 1860 to 1890. During his long pastorate the parsonage was built, land was added to the original tract, large bequests were received, a cemetery fund was raised, and, finally, the present beautiful building was erected. Suc- ceeding pastors have been as follows: J. A. Liggett, Harry Nyce, R. A. Bartlett. C. R. Adams, W. F. Scoular, W. E. Hogg, and H. M. Campbell. who has been the pastor of the church since November 20, 1913.
The Kingston church has given for furtherance of the Gospel the follow- ing missionaries : Thomas Ware, Andrew Jack, Edward Adams, Annie Adams Baird. Hamilton Henry, Eva Rankin, Rose Rankin, Jean Rankin and Hannah Evans. It has also furnished the following ministers: Harrison Thomson, Wallace Thomson, John Harney, S. H. Darvin, Austin Thomson. Eberle Thomson, Theophilis Lowry, George . D. Parker, T. D. Bartholomew, E. A. Allen, Harry Nyce, Benjamin Nyce. Edward Adams, H. B. Hamilton, Emmett Robison, with three colored ministers, A. J. Davis, Thomas Ware and Peter Prim.
Today the Kingston church occupies a proud place in the annals of Decatur county Presbyterianismn. Seed planted by the descendants of the Covenanters has multiplied beyond their utmost expectations, and strong con- gregations have sprung from the loins of the parent church. Its influence has grown wider in extent with each succeeding year.
Hanover College was organized in the old log meeting house, and its pastor was made a trustee of the institution; Harrison Thomson became a member of its faculty, one Donnell finished and furnished the college chapel and another endowed a professorship. Dr. A. T. Rankin, the grand old man of this church, dedicated the chapel.
Said Doctor Rankin, on the thirtieth anniversary of his pastorate : "What would Indiana, or the United States, or the world have been, with- out Hanover? And what would Hanover have been without Kingston ?
"Kingston furnished Bloomington a professor and the Louisville Courier Journal its greatest editor (John Harney). The first pastor of this church held the stake Carnahan drove to mark the place where Wabash College was built, and that Thomson who managed its finances so admirably for so many years, professed faith in Christ here. How far-reaching and great the influence of the church organized in a log cabin seventy-five years ago!"
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THE GREENSBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
As previously stated, the Greensburg church was organized, November 20. 1826, following the dismissal of twelve members from the Sand Creek church, who were charged with the responsibility of starting a second Pres- byterian church in Decatur county. All of them lived in the neighborhood of Greensburg. The charter members of this church were Thomas Hen- dricks, Robert Thorne, Lydia Thorne, Martha L. Mars, James Loomis. Phoebe Loomis, Benjamin Antrobus, Polly Antrobus, David Gageby. William O. Ross and Elizabeth R. Ross. The last three men named were the first elders. The first new member received was Mrs. Jane Warriner.
Family names of these pioneers no longer appear upon the church records, but in a few instances female descendants of some of these original members are now holding membership in the Greensburg church. Rev. Samuel Lowry was the first minister, giving one-fourth of his time for more than four years to the infant church. The next pastor was the Rev. James R. Wheelock, a missionary of the American Home Missionary Society. He served from 1830 to 1833, and in that period added forty-five members to the church.
Revs. Samuel Hurd, Wells Bushnell and John S. Weaver ministered in succession for short periods each until 1838, when Rev. Joseph G. Monfort became pastor of the Sand Creek and Greensburg churches. The latter now numbered sixty-three members. During his ministry the schism which rent the church into the Old and New Schools extended to Greensburg and eighteen members withdrew to form a new church. During his four years' stay one hundred and twenty-four new members were received.
Upon his departure, fifty-two members of the Greensburg church were (lismissed to found a new church at Forest Hill. His successor for a two- year period was the Rev. Joseph B. Adams. During his pastorate, member- ship in the church dwindled to fifty-two and the Rev. Monfort was again. in 1844, called to the pulpit. His acceptance was conditioned upon the reunion of the Old and New School churches, which was happily accom- plished. His second term of service lasted for ten years, after which he left to become editor of the church publication at Cincinnati.
Doctor Monfort was succeeded by his father, Rev. Francis Monfort. Rev. Charles Axtell, Dr. Joseph Warren and then by Rev: David Monfort. His pastorate commenced in 1858 and lasted until 1867. It was broken for two years, when the Reverend Monfort left his church to serve as chaplain
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in the Union Army. During this period the pulpit was filled by Rev. Ben- jamin Nyce. Reverend Monfort was a learned man, but extremely absent- minded. He would often ride for miles upon a country road, meeting many of his friends without recognizing any of them.
In 1868, Rev. J. C. Irwin accepted a call and remained until 1874. He was considered by many to be one of the most instructive preachers of his day. During his pastorate, the parsonage was built. The pulpit was vacant until 1876, when Rey. G. R. Alden began his pastorate. It was marked by two important events, a highly successful revival and a fire which destroyed the church building. During his pastorate, for the first time the voice of a woman was heard in prayer meeting. Before this, the Greensburg Presby- terians had given strict heed to the Pauline injunction regarding the silence of women in churches, deeming it of perpetual force. Today, without their assistance, Presbyterian prayer meetings might often relapse into the quiet of a Quaker meeting.
Dr. Robert Sloss became pastor of the church in November, 1879, and during his stay the present church building was completed. He continued as pastor until his death in 1895. He was followed by Rev. William Tor- rence ( 1886-1891), Rev. R. G. Roscamp ( 1892-1894). Rev. J. W. Parker, Rev. Robert Bartlett. Rev. Robert Dunaway and Dr. Walter H. Reynolds. whose pastorate commenced in 1908.
From its very beginning, almost, the church has enjoyed a steady and healthy growth. Organized with twelve members, it had risen in the lapse of a quarter century to about two hundred. After fifty years there were two hundred communicants. In its seventy-fifth year it had four hundred and fifty-three members.
The church has erected three houses of worship. The first was upon the site of the present Baptist church and was sold to that congregation. The second was upon the site of the present building. It burned down in 1876. the fire starting by accident while a social gathering was being held. After a year of discussion, it was decided to erect a new building rather than rebuild the old. The new church was dedicated March 30, 1878, free of debt. In 1896 extensive alterations were made, a debt lifted and a pipe organ installed.
The congregation has never received large gifts or legacies, but has been dependent upon itself. Thomas Montgomery bequeathed the church one thousand dollars in 1874, to be invested for a permanent income, and in 1883 Misses Eunice and Elizabeth Hendricks gave their homestead to the church for an "Old Ladies Home." This use of the building not prov-
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ing practical, its rental was applied to poor relief until, with consent of the donors, the building was sold in 1894.
Ilarrison House bequeathed the church six hundred and sixty-one dollars in 1893, and two years earlier George Carson left the church one thousand, four hundred dollars, the interest of which could be used in con- ducting a mission Sunday school in Greensburg. The Carson Memorial mission was opened a year later and the church supplements, as may be neces- sary, the income from the legacy. An industrial school for girls, a history class for boys and a sewing circle for women are maintained by this mission.
Besides an active Sunday school, there are a number of other church organizations. There is a Christian Endeavor Society, a Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society and a Ladies' Aid Society.
No passing creeds and isms have found expression in the pulpit of this church. The church has resolutely stood for the whole Bible and for Pres- byterian standards, when understood as its correct interpretation. For many years it has ranked second or third in the Whitewater presbytery in numer- ical strength.
On July 3, 1907, a violent windstorm toppled over part of the heavy tower, which crashed through the auditorium, almost wrecking the build- ing. For a time it was thought that it would be necessary to construct a new church. as architects and structural engineers declared that the structure was damaged beyond all hope of repair. It was later found that the founda- tions and portions of the walls were intact and the building was partially reconstructed. A new heating plant was installed, new walks laid and other improvements made, which, with the reconstruction of the building, cost the congregation eighteen thousand dollars. The rebuilt church was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, May 9, 1909. While the building was being repaired, the congregation met in the G. A. R. hall and later in the church basement.
The old church, built in 1845, which burned down, was at various times used in part as a school and postoffice, and later Doctor Cook had his office in it. While the postoffice was located in the church, yeggmen blew the safe and made away with a small amount in stamps and coin.
Dr. Walter Hunter Reynolds, the present pastor, is the son of A. J. Reynolds, a Presbyterian minister. He was born in Cincinnati, educated in Wooster College and received his theological training in McCormick Seminary, Chicago. He was given the pulpit of the River Forest church of Chicago upon completing his theological course and later became assistant pastor of the Third Presbyterian church of Chicago, which has a large con-
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gregation. Before coming to Greensburg, he had charges at Marion, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska.
CLARKSBURG PRESBYTERIAN CIIURCH.
The minute book of the Clarksburg Presbyterian church gives the fol- lowing account of the organization of that church :
"Clarksburg, Indiana, May 20th, 1848.
"At the time and place above written, Rev. James McCoy, acting as a committee of the presbytery of Indianapolis, organized into a church of Christ at their own request and as such set apart by prayer the following brethren and sisters, all of whom were recommended as members in good standing of the Presbyterian church, viz-
"Robert Mitchell and Barbary Mitchell, his wife; Robert M. Stout and Polly .Inn Stout, his wife; Jackson G. Lowe and Polly Jane Lowe, his wife; James Donnell, Thomas Donnell and Mary Donnell, his wife; Euphemia Donnell. Euphemia Braden, Angeline Donnell, Cassender Donnell, Susan Donnell and Ruth Jane Braden.
"On motion the church agreed to be known by the name of the Clarks- burg Presbyterian church and the church proceeded to elect two ruling elders. Luther A. Donnell and Robert Mitchell were chosen. After appro- priate counsel given to the church by the Rev. James McCoy, the meeting closed with prayer by the Rev. Benjamin Franklin."
Rev. A. I. Rankin was probably the best known minister of this church, filling its pulpit for a period of thirty years. He was followed by the fol- lowing ministers: Harry Nyce, R. A. Bartlett, C. R. Adams, W. F. Scon- lad and the present pastor, Homer M. Campbell. The church now has a membership of one hundred and twenty.
SARDINIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Sardinia church was established in 1851 by the Rev. Joseph Mon- fort and, until it was closed in 1915 and sokl to the United Brethren de- nomination, exerted a wide influence in that section of the county. The church was built upon land donated by John McCormick. B. F. Gaston, who is still living, attended the first Sunday school held there.
Among its charter members were John G. McCormick, Matilda Mc- Cormick, William McCormick, Elizabeth McCormick, James Risley, Sarah Risley, Eliza Hankins, James Gregg and Angeline Gregg. C. J. Moore and
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Dyer Moore were later elders in this church. \ frame church was built in 1852 at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars. With the passing years the church gradually grew weaker and on February 22, 1915, sold their building to the newly organized United Brethren congregation. At that time there were only eight members left.
SPRING HILL UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Spring Hill United Presbyterian church is the only one of this denomination in Decatur county and dates back to the early twenties. It was not known by this name when it was organized in this county in 1825. the present name not coming into general use until May 26, 1858. It was formed by the union of the Associate Presbyterian (or Seceder church) with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church at the City of Pittsburgh on the date above mentioned. This denomination differs from other Pres- byterian churches in that their songs of praise to God in public and private worship are the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, dictated by the spirit of God, known in the Bible as the Book of Psalms.
When this branch of Presbyterianism was organized at Spring Hill the church was named New Zion, in honor of the congregation in Lexington. Kentucky, from whence many of the first members came. Their old church in Kentucky was known as Zion and by prefixing New to their church in Decatur county they felt that they were honoring their old church. This name was retained until 1872 when it was thought advisable to change it to Spring Hill.
The first preaching which the infant society enjoyed was in 1821 or 1822, when an associate minister, Reverend Armstrong, stopped over for a day while making an overland trip from Illinois to Ohio. The next preach- ing was by Rev. Alexander Porter, then pastor of the Hopewell church, in Preble county, Ohio. Among other ministers who preached to the few men- bers of the church previous to its formal organization in 1825 were Revs. John Steel, Hugh Mayne, John Reynolds and S. P. Magaw. The church legan its career as an independent congregation on July 30, 1825, when it was established by a committee representing the First presbytery of Ohio. This delegation was composed of Rev. David McDill. Sr., Elders John Foster and William Caldwell, and Thomas Henry, Sr., who had recently settled near Spring Hill.
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