USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 39
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The log structure was soon found too small to accommodate the grow- ing congregation and in 1821 steps were taken to provide a new and larger building. In 1822 Elder Oldham donated an acre of ground about half a mile west of the first church, a short distance south of the present site of Lyonsville, and here was erected a second log church, under the direction of Matthias Dawson, Aaron and Jonathan Haughman. This continued in use until 1860 when a frame building was erected at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars ..
Elder Stephen Oldham served as minister until his death in 1834. Other early pastors were William Sparks, George Harlan, Daniel. Conner and Thomas Lyons. In 1885 Elders Reed and Parker were ministering to the church. The congregation has been served by many ministers of more than local importance, and it is only within the last decade that no regular services have been held. The membership has grown smaller and smaller with time, and now the number is comparatively few.
SECOND REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH ON WILLIAMS CREEK.
This church was made up mainly of members formerly belonging to the Lick Creek church, and was instituted on July 21, 1832, representatives being present from the churches of Lick Creek, Franklin and East Fork.
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The original membership was composed of the following: Eleazer Carver. Gregg M. Thompson, Abigail Trowbridge, Mary Johnston, Anna Drapier, Harriett Thomas, Phoebe Thomas, Schuyler Jagger, D. F. Thomas, Eliza- beth Stephens, Benjamin Stephens, Martha Morphew, W. M. Buck, Ellen F. Buck, Elizabeth Carver, Phoebe Jagger and Elizabeth Rich.
The first letter of the church and messengers were sent to the meeting of the White Water association on July 21, 1833, the latter being prepared by Gregg M. Thompson and Nathan Morphew. In the following August the church was received into the association as one of its members.
The first clerk of the church was Nathan Morphew, who was followed by G. M. Thompson. For several years prior to the erection of a church building, services were held at the school house then standing on the site of the edifice that was erected in 1846.
Among the pastors who served the congregation were the following: Elders James Newhouse, G. M. Thompson, Wilson Thompson, John Sparks, David Drummond, William Sparks, E. D. Thomas and Charles Reed.
This church, like many of the other country churches of Fayette county, has had a long period of prosperity and usefulness. Within recent years it has gradually declined until its membership is too small to employ a full- time pastor. Services are still held at intervals.
PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH ON VILLAGE CREEK.
The Village Creek Baptist church (the Primitive branch) began its existence as an organized body on July 24, 1824, with the following members : Robert Gilky, Thomas Wolverton, William Denman, William Sparks, Phineas McCray, Stephen Harlan, James Wood, Sarah Gilky, Mary Denman, Mary Sparks, Mary Harlan, Sarah McCray and Hannah McCray. The society was organized at the home of Robert Gilky. For the next two years services were conducted at the homes of the various members. The first church, a small hewed-log building, was erected in 1826 and served as the place of wor- ship until 1848, when it was replaced by a brick structure located about a mile and a half southeast of Connersville, which was later replaced by the present frame building. Among the regular resident pastors of the church have been Elders Minor Thomas, George Harlan, William Sparks, Samuel Harlan, Walter Benson and Charles Reed.
Although no regular services are now conducted, the congregation still maintains its organization and the influence of the church is vital.
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One of the very early Baptist churches in the county was located in sec- tion 20, Connersville township. No definite information can be gained as . to when it was organized or when it was abandoned. However, it is known that the members belonged to the Primitive branch of Baptists. Among the members were Samuel Martin, Ann Martin, Benjamin Booe and Philip Hoyl.
CHRISTIAN CIIURCHES.
The history of the Christian church in Fayette county dates from the latter part of the twenties. The church in this county is what is sometimes known as the "Campbellite" church, a designation formerly used to differen- tiate it from another denomination claiming the right to the name "Chris- tian," the latter being commonly called the "Newlight" church. The New- light branch never secured a foothold in Fayette county to such an extent that its members were strong enough to organize a congregation of their own.
The organization of the first Christian church in Fayette county may be traced directly to John P. Thompson, a Baptist preacher, who came from Bracken county, Kentucky, to Indiana, in 1822. He became the pastor of the Baptist church at Little Flat Rock in Rush county and preached the orthodox doctrines of his church until about 1828. The story of his conver- sion to the doctrines of Alexander Campbell is an interesting chapter in the religious history of Indiana.
In 1828 the teachings of Campbell, as set forth by eloquent Kentucky preachers, particularly by the Rev. John Smith, reached the ears of young Thompson in Rush county. The more he heard about the new doctrine the more interested he became, and finally he decided to return to his old home in Kentucky and investigate the new movement at first hand. He made the trip in the summer of 1828 and the new doctrine appealed to him so strongly that he became fully converted to it, and renounced the doctrines of the Baptist church which he had been serving so faithfully.
Shortly after Thompson returned to his charge in Rush county he issued a notice that there would be a meeting at the house of Elias Stone, a farmer living near Fayetteville (then called Danville), on Sunday, October 5, 1828. On that memorable day Thompson preached the first sermon in eastern Indi- ana advocating the doctrines as set forth by Alexander Campbell. This meet- ing was followed by a revival at his church at Flat Rock (in Rush county) and in the course of a few weeks he had baptized about one hundred persons.
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It seems that most of the members of the various Baptist churches which Thompson had previously organized were willing to follow him into the new church. This was not accomplished, however, without considerable dissension and, as a result, religious controversies were found everywhere throughout this section of the state. Many churches became divided, and schisms brought about which exist to this day.
Thompson naturally became the moving spirit in the organization of all the Christian churches in this section of the state and, being a man of unusual energy and ability, his efforts were attended with marked success. The first formal organization in Fayette county was made at Fayetteville, the church being established on July 4, 1829. About the same time he effected an organization at the home of Judge Webb, then living near Null- town, the members later erecting a house of worship at the village of Colum- bia. Connersville followed with an organization in 1833; Bentonville, in 1836; Fairview (just across the line in Rush county), in 1843: Harrisburg, in 1864, and Alpine, in 1898. An organization also was early effected at Springersville. At the present time there are seven distinct societies of this denomination in the county, located at Connersville, Harrisburg, Orange, Springersville, Alpine, Bentonville and the church known as Sain's Creek, located in the southeastern part of Orange township.
CONNERSVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
[The following history of the Christian church at Connersville was writ- ten by Marguerite Thiebaud, assisted by Louisa Nelson, Balzora Schofield and other members of the congregation. Miss Thiebaud spared no pains to obtain the fullest possible data regarding the early history of the church, and the history as she compiled it is here given. It was read before the congre- gation on June 15, 1908, on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of the church. The editor has brought the history of the church down to date .- The Editor. ]
In the early part of the nineteenth century the little village of Connersville was one of the most important trading posts in the White Water valley and was made a stopping place by all travelers in the middle west. Thus the inhabitants of this little settlement were, in a way, kept in touch with the world at large. So it is not surprising that when the teachings of Alexander Campbell were causing so much excitement in Kentucky and the neighboring states that their influence should be felt even in Fayette county.
In the summer of 1832 Dr. Ryland T. Brown, a man of great intel- lectual ability, a scientist of note, and later state geologist and still later a
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professor in Northwestern Christian College, at Indianapolis, settled in Con- nersville, where he engaged in the practice of medicine. In August of the same year Gabriel Ginn and his wife, Hannah, removed to the village from the Webb neighborhood. As both of these families soon gained prominence in the community, and as they had previously become interested in the Chris- tian church, it was largely through their efforts that the first organization was effected here. For some time these two families, together with a few others, held meetings of prayer and devotion in the Ginn home, which is supposed to have stood where the Big Four depot is now located.
In October, 1832, Elder John O'Kane stopped in Connersville on his way to Milton and held services for several successive days in the court house. These meetings resulted in several accessions to the little band. Again on Christmas Day, O'Kane made the village a visit. By this time the country was being aroused by the teachings of such men as O'Kane, John P. Thomp- son and Gabriel C. McDuffee, and Christian churches had been established at Fayettesville and Nulltown. This fact made the little company of Disciples at Connersville all the more anxious to organize themselves into a church, and at length this was brought about, in January, 1833.
LIST OF CHARTER MEMBERS.
About this time the little band of worshippers were joined by Elder Jesse Holton and family, who had recently moved from Kentucky to a farm a few miles north of town, thus bringing the charter members up to about seventeen. Among these were Gabriel Ginn and wife, James McCann. Sr., and wife, Jesse Holton, wife and son, Alexander C. Holton and daughters. Elizabeth and Mrs. Mary Helm, Daniel Morrison, Mrs. Jacob Vandergrift, Rhoda Mckinney, Mr. and Mrs. Paqua, Dr. R. T. Brown and wife and Elijah West, a colored servant of the Holtons.
Shortly after the founding of the church Elder O'Kane removed to . Connersville and had the distinction of being the first regular pastor. Because of his wonderful strength and ability, as well as his vehement and awe-inspiring sermons, he was often known as the "Cyclone of the Reforma- tion." During Elder O'Kane's residence here a religious paper under the title of the Christian Casket was published in connection with the church. It was a monthly paper of sixteen pages, but was discontinued at the close of the first volume ( 1834).
In those early days it was frequently necessary for the villages which were fortunate to secure the services of a minister, to permit him to hold
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services in other portions of the country as well, and so during Elder O'Kane's pilgrimages of this sort, Elder Jesse Holton and Dr. R. T. Brown served the church in a pastoral relation. Holton died in 1839 and ill health compelled Dr. Brown to abandon the practice of medicine about the same time.
For two years the society continued to meet in the court house and dur- ing this period many noted men held services there. Prominent among these was Love H. Jamison, who is remembered by all who knew him as a great and good man. It was during one of these meetings that Louisa Nel- son united with the church and was baptized. At the same service in which Miss Nelson came into the church, Martha Ginn, a girlhood friend of Miss Nelson, was also baptized. Later she moved to the west and had not been heard of until a few days ago when Miss Nelson received word that her friend, now Mrs. Dale, is still living and resides at Cedar Vale, Kansas. The wife of Reverend Jamison is also living [1908] and is taking a promin- ent part in the jubilee services which are being held in the Central Christian church at Indianapolis today, [June 15, 1908].
CARRIED THE MESSAGE EAST.
Another noted preacher of this early period was John Longley, a small, earnest man, who throughout his career, baptized more than three thousand people. One Sunday morning while Reverend Longley was holding service in Connersville, George Campbell, a young man from Connecticut, was among the congregation, and to this youth from the East the principles of primitive faith as taught by this religious body, were both new and impres- sive. At the close of the sermon he stepped forth and confessed this new faith, and on the following day he straightway set forth to prepare himself for the ministry. Indeed, he was such a successful minister that even today the name of George Campbell is held in the utmost regard.
In the latter part of the year 1834 or the first part of 1835, Rev. S. K. Hoshour, one of the greatest preachers the Christian church has ever known, came to Connersville. He was one of the most highly educated men of his time, and his eloquent sermons, together with his impressive personality, are remembered by many of the present congregation. Reverend Hoshour lived at Centerville, where he was engaged in teaching, and for fifteen years he preached in Connersville once each month. Louisa Nelson remembered distinctly his first sermon and recalled that his text was found in the eighth
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chapter of Jeremiah. Reverend Hoshour later taught in the Northwestern Christian University at Indianapolis.
VISITED BY FOUNDER OF CHURCH.
But perhaps the interest and enthusiasm were never so great in Con- nersville as when Alexander Campbell visited the local congregation in 1834. Little is known of the events connected with his coming, beyond that he was entertained, with forty other visitors, at the home of Sherman Schofield, a man prominent i nthe early church organization.
At length the meeting place of the little company of men and women who bore the name Christian was changed, and for some time services were held in an upper room of the county seminary, which was situated where the Fifth street school building now stands. The organization had gradually gained both members and strength and at this time (the latter part of the thirties) they determined to build a house of worship for themselves. Sher- man Schofield donated a lot on the bluff of East Fifth street hill and pre- parations were immediately made for the erection of the building. The contract was given to Schofield and work was begun as soon as possible. Clark Porter, the father of William and Robert Porter, laid the brick for the walls of the new edifice. Before the building was completed, however, Andrew Ringer, an evangelist of some note, came to Connersville to hold a meeting. Services were begun in the seminary, but the crowds soon became so great that it was necessary to find rooms elsewhere. As a result, benches and boards were carried from the school to the unfinished church building, and there, before the walls were completed or the windows even in place, the meeting was successfully continued. At length the building was completed and in January, 1841, the little company of Christians entered their first real temple of worship.
For years they gathered here on each Lord's Day and in their peaceful and unassuming manner worshipped their God. Many successful revivals were held during the period that followed, the congregation being visited by the leading preachers of the middle west, among whom were George Camp- bell, John Sweeny and the Pinkerton brothers from Kentucky. Joseph and Benjamin Franklin were also frequent visitors to the church. Often when things seemed depressing and the people desired a change, the pastor would summon someone whom everyone loved, to hold a few days' meeting, and in such times Rev. D. R. Van Buskirk was usually called.
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In 1849 Henry R. Pritchard held a successful meeting here, and from that time often conducted services in this community. Because of his knowl- edge of Bible subjects and his cheerful willingness to impart information, he was called a "walking encyclopedia." Until his death he never ceased in his untiring efforts in behalf of the church.
NOTABLE SUNDAY SCHOOL REVIVAL.
Time passed swiftly and in the course of time few of those who endured the early hardships were left, but their children were carrying forth the work which these sterling pioneers had begun. About 1868 it became pos- sible to take up the work in larger measures and a Sunday school revival took place. A large class of men who saw the need of Bible training was organized with the pastor, Rev. S. R. Wilson, in charge, and soon the inter- est became so intense that about two hundred members were enrolled. This growth in the Sunday school caused the entire church to aspire to greater things, with the result that in 1869 Rev. Knowles Shaw, a preacher and singing evangelist, was secured to conduct a revival in August and Septem- ber. The meeting was one of the greatest ever held in Connersville.
Again in 1871 Louis Pinkerton and John Shackleford carried on a revival meeting which lasted eleven weeks, a meeting of almost phenomenal character. In 1872 Rev. Black Wiles, of Covington, conducted a revival of great importance. By this time many new members had been added and a spirit of enthusiasm filled the congregation. The little building on the river bank, which had served them for over thirty years as a place of worship, was no longer sufficient for the needs of the enlarged congregation. At this juncture the Old School and New School Presbyterians of Connersville effected a consolidation and the Christian church purchased the building occupied by the older branch of Presbyterians, the purchase being con- cluded in July, 1872. The deed was signed by William Huston, Valen- tine Leonard, Thomas M. Little, John Gilchrist, F. M. Roots, Edward F. Clay- pool, William Pepper and W. J. Hankins.
The Christians paid thirty-five hundred dollars for the building and at once began extensive repairs on it, finally expending about three thousand dollars in overhauling the building and refurnishing it. In the meantime they had sold their old building to the Second Methodist Episcopal church of Connersville. The new house of worship was dedicated on June 1, 1873, by Rev. Isaac Errett, editor of the Christian Standard, of Cincinnati.
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From the organization of the church in 1833 until 1873, a period of forty years, nine different pastors had served the church. John O'Kane, Thomas Coughley, Jacob Vail and Charles Evans were the early ministers, but no records were kept of their services and it is impossible to give the years of their respective tenures. Following Evans came Matthew R. Henry, 1859-60; R. L. Howe, 1861-63; William Irwin, 1863-66; S. R. Wil- son, 1866-71; William Irwin, 1871-73.
CONGREGATION STEADILY GAINS IN STRENGTII.
For a number of years after the congregation had moved to the Fourth street building the church continued to develop gradually along larger lines and to gain strength in so doing. During this period the Christian Womens Board of Missions was organized, and with the Ladies Aid Society, proved to be of lasting importance. The first evangelistic meeting held in the new church was conducted by J. C. Hobbs, while later other successful revivals were held by J. H. O. Smith, J. V. Coombs, and Revs. Fowler, Doris and Spicer. In the fall of 1888 Rev. Ira J. Chase, later governor of Indiana, held a remarkable meeting here, which resulted in about fifty accessions, which, at that time, was an unusually large number for a revival meeting.
In 1888 the church became imbued with the spirit of progress and decided to improve their house of worship. The building was again remod- eled, decorated and rededicated by Rev. Sweeny, of Columbus, Indiana. The years came and went, the church took an active part in all movements of the community which stood for better citizenship, and in every way attempted to fulfill the highest mission of the church. Little arose to disturb the even tranquility of the congregation : various ministers who came to guide this band of four hundred souls, soon learned to love them, and then were called to other fields. Thus runs the history of all churches and the history of the Christian church of Connersville is no exception to the rule.
The pastors of the church since 1873 have served in the following order : A. A. Knight, 1874-76; U. B. Watkins, 1876; T. M. Wiles, 1877-80; Rev- erend Meade, 1880; C. A. Robinson. 1881-82; John A. Thomas, 1883-84: W. W. Whitmer, 1885-86; J. H. Vinson, 1886-88; W. W. Stairs, 1888-90; George E. Platt, 1890-91 ; G. B. Vanarsdal, 1891-94: T. A. Hall, 1894-96; Reverend Rice, 1897; George Darsie, 1897-1901 ; J. C. Burkhardt, 1902-07; Reverend Newcomer, 1907-12; L. E. Brown, December, 1912-17.
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A NEW HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
One of the most important events in the history of the church during this period was the founding of the Society of Christian Endeavor during the ministry of Reverend Stairs ( 1888-90). Within twenty years after the congregation went into their new home on Fourth street, it was very evident that larger quarters were necessary. The question of a new building was agitated during the pastorate of Reverend Darsie ( 1897-1901), but nothing more was done at this time than to purchase a lot at the corner of Central avenue and Eighth street, the lot costing the sum of fifty-three hundred dol- lars. It was not, however, until 1903 that definite plans were completed for the building of a house of worship on the new site. It was planned to build a church which would satisfy all the demands of the congregation for many years to come, and to this end it was proposed to construct a building of greater proportions than the congregation at that time really needed. The accepted plans of the architect and the subsequent successful bidder of the contract contemplated a structure to cost about thirty-four thousand dol- lars. This seemed like an almost prohibitive amount, but those in charge of the construction never faltered and went valiantly to work to raise the money. Their first canvass resulted in donations of seventeen thousand dol- lars, while on the day the church was dedicated (October 15, 1905) an additional sixteen thousand dollars was pledged.
The dedicatory sermon was preached on Sunday, October 15, 1905, by Dr. F. M. Rains, of Cincinnati, before an audience that taxed the capacity of the church. The building is a Gothic structure of brick and stone with a tile roof and copper gutters. One of the most striking features of the interior of the building is the series of Biblical scenes painted on the walls, the work of an artist. B. F. Harris, of Union City, Indiana. The main part of the building is finished in golden oak, the basement being finished in hard pine. It has a fine pipe organ, Sunday school rooms, a beautiful baptistry, dining room and all the appointments of a modern house of worship.
BENTONVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church at Bentonville was organized about 1836, the first organization being brought about by the efforts of Elder Jolin O'Kane. Among the charter members were George Van Buskirk and wife, Philip
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Shrader and wife. Trueman Munger and wife, Moses Ellis and wife, and Richard Kolb and wife. Services were first held at the homes of members, but in 1840 a building was erected, a frame structure, which stood south of Bentonville a short distance. This building was in use until 1884, when the present building was erected at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. The ground, an acre and a half, was donated to the church by John Gille- land, and a cemetery was established adjoining the church. Among the early ministers of the congregation were the following: John O'Kane, Elijalı Martindale, Jolmn Longley, John Brown, Jacob Daubenspeck, R. T. Brown, Thomas Conley, W. G. Irvin, Elijah Goodwin and Lewis Wilson.
The church maintains an active organization and regular services are conducted by Rev. G. F. Power, of Falmouth, Indiana. The present mem- bership is ninety. An active Sunday school of one hundred and ten mem- bers is in charge of Frank Hackleman, as superintendent.
ALPINE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church at Alpine came into existence in 1898 and has maintained an organization since that year. There were a number of mem- bers of the denomination in the community and they secured the old frame church erected by the Baptists in the fifties, the deed for the same being made on November 29, 1898. The only surviving trustees of the old Fay- ette Baptist church were B. F. Conner and George M. Newhouse, and they sold the building and lot to John H. Gray, William Seal and Euphrates I. Chance, trustees of the Christian church, on the date mentioned. The new congregation remodeled the building and has held regular services since it was established. The present pastor is Reverend Burns, of Gwynneville, Indiana. The present membership is thirty. A Sunday school of twenty- five is in charge of John McGraw, as superintendent.
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