USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 40
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HARRISBURG CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church just east of the village of Harrisburg originated out of a series of religious meetings conducted at private homes and in the school house at Harrisburg a few years before the Civil War, although there was no formal organization until 1864. The organization is said to have been effected by Elder W. G. Irwin, there being thirty-two members in the beginning. Among those who were identified with the church were Warner
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
Broaddus and wife, Edwin Wilson and wife, Edward Higham and wife, Thomas Robinson and wife and Warren Drennen and wife. A neat and commodious church building, erected in the summer of 1871, was dedicated in the fall of that year by Elder Daniel Van Buskirk.
The church has always maintained an organization, although at times small in number. Elder T. A. Hall, of Indianapolis, is the present pastor and services are conducted twice each month. An active Sunday school is maintained in conjunction with the Baptists of this community. The present membership of the congregation is twenty-four.
ORANGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church at Orange was formally organized by Elder John F. Thompson on July 4, 1829. Soon afterward a small church building was erected by Elias B. Stone, mostly at his own expense. In 1851 another building was erected, principally through the efforts of E. S. Frazee, who preached for the congregation for a number of years. In 1875 the building was remodeled into a substantial and commodious structure. Among the early pastors of the church were William McPherson, John O'Kane, R. T. Brown, George Campbell and Henry Pritchard.
In 1913 the Christian church of Indiana divided the state into six dis- tricts, and placed an evangelist in charge of each district. It was his duty to visit all of the churches and endeavor to build up all of the weaker con- gregations, the church at Orange being among these. The congregation had grown smaller year by year for the past quarter of a century, and to all intents had practically ceased holding regular meetings. Rev. C. E. Old- ham, a native of the county, the son of C. F. Oldham, of Springersville, was secured to serve the church at Orange, beginning in January, 1914. He was a graduate of Butler College, an accomplished musician and singer, as well as an effective pulpit orator. Under his leadership the church grew from an inactive membership of nineteen to a flourishing congregation of one hundred and thirty-two. During the course of a revival held in the fall of 1914 he added fifty-seven members to the church. There is also a Sunday school of one hundred and fifty members which is doing active work in behalf of the church. Roland Morris is the present superintendent. Rev- erend Oldham resigned in January, 1917, to continue his education, and was succeeded at that time by Reverend Francis.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
SAINS CREEK CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Sains Creek Christian church is another of the Christian churches of the county which began a new lease of life in 1914. The building now occupied by the congregation stands in the southeastern corner of Orange township, and was erected in the early history of the county as a union church. Several different denominations have had charge of the building at different times, the United Brethren having held regular services for a number of years. It is not certain when the Christian denomination obtained control of the building, but they have had regular services in it since the fall of 1914.
The credit for putting the church on its feet is due Rev. G. I. Hoover, who conducted a revival in the old building in the summer of 1914. Fol- lowing the revival Rev. Moody Edwards, of Glenwood, took charge of the church, and has been holding services regularly twice each month. The congregation is contemplating the erection of a new building in the summer of 1917.
SPRINGERSVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church at Springersville is the outgrowth of a Union church which made its appearance in the little village in the early history of the county. The little building which stood in the graveyard was erected for both church and school purposes, and continued to serve for both purposes until 1856, when a separate building was erected for school purposes. The first site was owned by William Dawson and later by Thomas Simpson, Jr., and it was the latter who donated the ground in the corner of the old cemetery where the "little brown church," as it was called, was built.
It is not now known when the Christian denomination first secured con- trol of the building, but it was before the Civil War. The early records of the church are missing and it was not until 1880 that the church began to keep the permanent records from which this history has been compiled. Appar- ently the congregation had become very weak by 1880; at least the present record states that the church was reorganized on the second Sunday in March, 1880. They still worshiped in the old building until 1883, when a lot was purchased by David Fiant from Thomas Simpson and presented to the church for a new building. The same year the present structure was erected, and dedicated in the fall of the same year.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA,
Upon the reorganization of the church in March, 1880, four members were chosen as deacons: Henry C. Simpson, W. H. Dales, Francis Riggs, J. M. Shepler. The man instrumental in the reorganization of the church was T. M. Wiles. With the reorganization the first trustees were Francis Riggs, S. H. Riggs, Frank Montgomery, Henry C. Simpson and W. H. Dales. Some of the oldest and most prominent members at the time of reorganization were as follow: Lewis Monger, Mary Ann Monger, Susan Riggs, Jennie Riggs, Elizabeth Riggs, Pamelia Schreiver, Mary J. Riggs, Narcus Monger, Amanda Dales, Sophronia Laflan, Huldah J. Montgomery, Henry C. Simpson, Jonathan Brown, Angie Eshelman, Elizabeth Barnes, W. H. Dales, J. M. Shepler, Myra Monger, Rosella Riggs, Addie Price, Iva Riggs, Nancy Riggs and F. M. Riggs.
In the spring of 1883 T. M. Wiles was chosen as pastor at a salary of two hundred and ten dollars a year, and services were held once a month. It was- at this time that preparations were made to erect a new building and a lot was purchased by means of a general subscription. Those who were instru- mental in the erection of the building were the following: Susan Riggs, Jennie Riggs, Mary Riggs, Francis Riggs, F. P. Montgomery, W. H. Dales, S. H. Riggs. The church was dedicated in the fall of 1883. "Among the minis- ters who served the congregation shortly after the reorganization were Elders T. M. Wiles, Eugene Scofield, Robert E. Howe.
Soon after the dedication of the new church a revival was begun which resulted in the addition of more than fifty members to the congregation. The church was occupied until 1898, when it became inadequate to the needs of the times and was remodeled. A new Sunday school room was added and also a baptistry. The church now maintains an active Sunday school, a Ladies' Aid Society and a Woman's Board of Missions. During the winter of 1914 a splendid revival was held by Elder G. Dungan, and about sixty additions were made to the church. The present membership is one hundred and forty- one and the pastor is Elder C. C. Dobson.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP.
A society of the Christian church was organized by Rev. John D. Thomp- son at the home of Judge Webb, along the river near Nulltown in 1829 or 1830. This organization in later years resulted in the formation of a society at Columbia, which erected a building there. Among the families that were identified with the church during the early period were the Johnsons, Michners, Heizers, Thomases, Utters and Blakes. The church has long since been dis- continued and the only church now in the village is in charge of the Methodists.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CONNERSVILLE.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, CONNERSVILLE.
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SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Value Member- Church
Church.
Pastor.
Services.
Ship. Property. Salary.
Sunday School Enroll- Superintendent. ment.
Alpine _
Rev. Burns
Monthly
30 $ 2,000 $ 150 John McGraw.
--- 25
Bentonville
G. F. Powers.
Semi-Monthly --
90
6,000
300
Connersville
L. E. Brown_
Weekly _
780
35,000
1,560
Harrisburg
T. A. Hall.
Semi-Monthly __ 24
1,000
350
Frank Hackleman_ IIO Frank Runyon __ 500 Union with Bap- tist.
Orange
Rev. Francis ____ Semi-Monthly __ 132
1,500
410
Roland Morris __
150
Sains Creek
Moody Edwards_Semi-Monthly __ 19
500
100
Mrs. Alfred
Springersville
C. C. Dobson ____ Semi-Monthly __ 14I
3,000
518
Henry
120
--
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
The first Presbyterian church in Fayette county was organized in 1824 in Connersville and it remained the only church of this denomination for many years. The denomination has never been numerous in the county, only five congregations having been organized, and two of these were really off- shoots of congregations already in existence. The Presbyterians, like so many other Protestant denominations before the Civil War, suffered from internal dissensions which resulted in the division of congregations. Thus there arose what were known as "Old School" and "New School" Presby- terians, a division that continued until 1869.
The early history of Presbyterianism in the White Water valley was written by Rev. Ludlow D. Potter more than forty years ago and is here given in full as far as it concerns Franklin and Fayette counties, the same ministers preaching in both counties.
The first Presbyterian minister of whose labors in this region ( White Water valley) we have any record was Rev. Sammel Baldridge, who organized a society of seventeen members at the house of John Allen, near Harrison (Dearborn county), where he preached steadily until 1814. From 1810 to 1814 he worked as an itinerant missionary in the White Water valley, having various preaching places from Lawrenceburg to Dun- lapsville (Union county ). He preached at Brookville, at Robert Templeton's and at Robert Hanna's (all three places in Franklin county). At that time there were several families in Franklin county (which, at this time, included more than half of Fayette county) who were adherents to the Presbyterian faith. Among these were Mr. and Mrs. Bar- bour from Ireland, Judge Arthur Dixon and wife and brother, Mr. Young, John Vincent and wife, Robert Templeton and wife, the Knights and Mr. and Mrs. William McCleary. All of these resided in town (Brookville) except Mr. Templeton, the parents of Mrs. Ryburn and one of the Dixons. The latter lived on the Rushville road at the foot of Boundary Hill. He (Dixon) afterwards moved to a farm near Connersville and a few year's afterward united with the Methodist church.
Arthur Dixon was a blacksmith. He removed to Connersville in 1823 and his wife was one of the early members of the church organized there. After the removal of Reverend Baldridge from Harrison, there was occasional preaching at Harrison, Brook- ville. Somerset (now Laurel, in Franklin county), and adjacent places, by Reverend Robertson, of Kentucky, Rev. James Dickey, of Ohio, and others. for four or five years, during which period several other families had settled in the valley. From 1816 to 1825 efforts were made to gather these people into churches. This resulted in the organ- ization of churches at Brookville (1818), Mount Carmel (1820), Somerset (1823). Con- nersville (1824) and Bath (1825).
All of these churches except the one established at Connersville were within Franklin county.
There have been three Presbyterian churches organized in Conners- ville and two in Orange township. The first one in the county seat dates
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA,
from 1824, the second one came into existence in 1851, the two being amal- garnated in 1869. The German Presbyterians in Connersville effected an organization in 1871. The only other churches of this denomination were organized in Orange township before the Civil War, one being the offshoot of the other, and both have long since been discontinued.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT CONNERSVILLE.
In the year 1824 the Cincinnati Presbytery of the "old school" of the Presbyterian church sent Rev. Daniel Hayden to Connersville to preach, and, if practicable, to form a society. Reverend Hayden came to the village on Saturday, October 22, and preached in the court house the following day and then on Monday organized the society. A. Van Vleet, Adam Smelt- ser, and John Boyd were elected the ruling elders. For a number of years after the organization the society was without the services of a pastor, but were supplied from time to time by preachers sent out by the presbytery. In 1833, the congregation built a church building on the lot later occupied by the Caldwell block. The building was twenty-five by thirty-five feet in size and was erected by Sherman Scofield. The church lot was deeded to Adam Smelzer, David Ferree and Julius Whitmore, the trustees, by John Williams. This edifice served as a place of worship until about 1845, when the trustees sold the property to George Frybarger and purchased the site owned by Abraham B. Conwell. This deed was made on April 14, 1845.
The first regular pastor of the church of which there is any record was Rev. J. M. Stone, who served the congregation for a number of years, at the end of which time his connection with them was dissolved and he was succeeded by Rev. Charles Sturdevant, who remained as pastor of the church until 1845, when he was succeeded by Rev. William Pelan, who was the pastor for twenty years, preaching his farewell sermon on June 1, 1868. The Rev. William Pelan was more extensively known throughout the valley than any other minister of that denomination, and was a popular man with the masses, in and out of the church.
In the autumn of 1868 Rev. H. M. Shockley was appointed to take up the work in this place and he served the congregation for a period of one year. In 1870 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. John H. Link, of the Evangeli- cal Lutheran church of Connersville.
In 1851, the Hamilton Presbytery authorized. Rev. Daniel Tenny, of Oxford, to organize a "new school" church at Connersville. Accordingly, on August 16, 1851, the organization was affected in Temperance Hall,
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
James McCann and F. M. Roots being then chosen as elders. For a time this church was supplied with ministers by order of their presbytery.
The following ministers have served this branch, known as the Second Presbyterian church, in the order named: Rev. J. Steward, two years; Rev. James Brownlee, two years; Rev. Eli B. Smith, two years. It was during the latter's pastorate, September 3, 1855, that the new church build- ing was dedicated. Reverend Smith was succeeded by Rev. B. F. Morris who served the congregation two years. He was followed by Rev. Daniel Bassett, and the latter by Rev. A. D. Jemison. Next came Rev. Alexander Parker, who served the pastorate from June 3, 1866, until October 24, 1870.
On November 14, 1869, the two schools of the Presbyterian church in the United States were united and on the 24th of the following October the First Presbyterian church and the Second Presbyterian church of Con- nersville became one church with one hundred and ninety-one members. On April 6, 1871, the building of the Second church was chosen by vote as the future place of worship. The building was repaired in 1876 and was reopened on Sunday, August 27, 1876, with a sermon by Doctor Cooper, of Covington, Kentucky.
The pastors who have served the congregation since the union of the two congregations include the following: Rev. G. O. Little, January, 1871, to August, 1873; Rev. H. H. Budge, October, 1873, to August, 1874; Rev. H. W. Woods, March, 1875, to January, 1877; Rev. A. C. Junkin, October, 1877, to October. 1883; Rev. T. H. Hench, February, 1884, to October, 1894; Rev. Charles H. Little, January, 1895, to March, 1898; Rev. H. Mount, June, 1898, to August, 1903; Rev. George C. Lamb, November, 1903, to December, 1909: Rev. W. H. Clark, February, 1910, to 1914, and the Rev. W. D. Lewis, June, 1914, to the present time. The present member- ship is three hundred and fifteen.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES OF ORANGE TOWNSHIP.
The first Presbyterian church in Orange township was organized in the twenties, but owing to the loss of the church records the history of the church is very obscure. Some of the first settlers of the township were of this faith and they appear to have held services at more or less regular intervals for some years before they had a building. A lot for church and cemetery purposes was donated by Samuel Hornaday (in section 3, adjoin- ing the Rush county line), and a building was erected thereon. The build- ing was several years in the process of construction, its completion evidently
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
being delayed on account of the schism in the Presbyterian communion in 1833. Among the first members of the church were the Russells, Dills, Craigs and others of the immediate neighborhood.
The first congregation, as has been stated, started the erection of a building, but it was not fully finished until 1848 or 1849. When the divi- sion in the church occurred in 1833, those adhering to the faith of the "old school" withdrew, and built another house of worship about a half mile south of the parent church. This second building seems to have been com- pleted about a year after the building started several years previously had been finally completed. The seceders included the families of John Alexander, Mr. Reed, Mr. Gowdy, Robert and Martin Gamble, the Hustons and others.
The membership of the churches was not sufficiently large to employ a regular pastor and both branches had what were known as "supply" pastors. For several years prior to the Civil War Rev. Josiah Dodds had charge of the "old school" branch, and afterwards, the Reverend Robb, the Reverend Johnson and the Reverend McClerkin served the congregation. The "new school" branch was served by Rev. Andrew Heron during the decade prior to the Civil War, and from about 1860 until the building was burned in 1881, it had only "supplies." Even before the time of the destruction of their building by fire, however, the congregation had been holding most of their services at Glenwood, and after the fire the congregation continued to meet there, not rebuilding on the old site. The congregation has been dis- banded for several years.
GERMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Nearly a half century ago the German population of Connersville increased to such an extent that some of the spiritual minded workers advo- cated the idea of organizing a German Presbyterian church. Both the Reformed and Lutheran advocates favored such a move and began to invite neighboring German ministers to hold divine services, which were held in the Presbyterian church building. This movement developed into a church organization, which was effected through the instrumentality of the Rev. Francis F. Freidgen, who was called from the German church at Shelbyville, Indiana, and on March 7, 1871, organized the First German Presbyterian church of Connersville. Twenty-four members were included in the charter membership and these, through their trustees, filed articles of incorporation on June 22, 1871. According to the laws and usages of the Presbyterian
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
church three elders were elected on May 7, 1871, in the persons of John A. Gartlein, Herman Schroeder and Conrad Weitzel.
The pastorate of the Rev. Francis F. Freidgen continued for fourteen years and was blessed spiritually and in number, receiving one hundred and forty-six members during his ministry. Upon his resignation, the Rev. Daniel Voltz was called, July 28, 1885, and the latter was instrumental in making many needed improvements about the church building. Rev. A. M. Lewis supplied the pulpit from the time Reverend Voltz resigned, in 1889, to 1891, at which time Rev. Jacob Hummel, the evangelist, was called and served until 1893 and then was succeeded by Rev. Edward A. Elfeld, of Portsmouth, Ohio. During the latter's ministry of seven years many acces- sions were made to the church and a local branch of the Christian Endeavor Society was organized. On May 18, 1901, Rev. Julius F. Schwartz was called, after graduating from the German Presbyterian Theological School of Dubuque, Iowa. He served the congregation about fifteen years and was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. A. F. Staiger.
The congregation, after having leased quarters for one year decided to procure a church home of their own. The. Methodist church had increased in membership to such an extent that it became necessary for them to secure a more spacious house of worship and they offered their property for the consideration of two thousand six hundred and fifty dollars. On April 29, 1872, the trustees accepted the offer and paid one thousand dollars cash and the remainder in two years. This edifice is situated on Fourth street. About 1886 a number of changes and improvements were made in and about the building. Two entrance ways were closed and one main approach lead- ing into the main assembly room was built. The total cost of the alterations and additions was seven hundred and ten dollars. The building was again remodeled in 1911 at a cost of one thousand six hundred dollars.
The congregation owns a beautiful and spacious nine-room parsonage, which was erected on a lot adjoining the church and completed in August, 1896. The manse was erected at a cost of one thousand six hundred dollars and was paid for soon after completion. The present valuation of the entire property exceeds five thousand dollars.
The church maintains an active Sunday school, a Loyal League and a Ladies' Aid Society. The present membership of the congregation is one hundred and thirty-six.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, WATERLOO.
The United Brethren church at the old village of Waterloo has been out of existence for just about half a century, so long ago that few people are now able to recall that such a church ever actually existed. The best account of this once flourishing congregation has been furnished by William Dungan, of Connersville, a member of the church during its early career. There was a small cemetery at the north edge of the town and in this some of the citizens of the village and surrounding community started to erect a house of worship about 1852. After the frame had been raised it was decided to remove the building to a site within the village, so the frame was taken down and reconstructed on the new site. The building was completed before the end of the year 1852 and opened for services.
The records of the church have disappeared along with the church and its members. As far as is now known the only charter member still living is James Henry. Other early, if not charter members, were Jacob Heider, Marshall Hurst, Doctor Gillum, Doctor Rose and Mrs. William Forrey. Thomas Price was one of the first preachers of the church. In 1855 occurred a famous revival under the direction of Rev. William Nichols, during which about one hundred members were added to the congregation. Among this number was William Dungan, then a boy of thirteen years of age, and the authority for this account of the church. The church prospered for at least ten years, but the Civil War came on and most of the members were lost by the end of that struggle. In fact, by the close of that struggle there were not enough members left to keep the church in existence, and the building itself seems to have been torn down in 1866 or 1867. Mr. Dungan says that it was torn down board by board, timber by timber, its various parts being used for kindling-wood by the villagers. Thus passed away the first and only church the village ever had and now nothing but the memory of the once flourishing band of worshippers is left to posterity. When the church was in its prime it had the largest Sunday school in the county.
PALESTINE UNITED BRETHREN.
Along the south fork of Bear Creek in Jackson township there once lived a number of families who were adherents of the United Brethren church. For many years services were held in a neighboring school house. In 1872 or 1873 a small building was erected and used as long as the con-
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
regation was in existence. The families who were prominent were the Lakes, Reeds, Wrights and Sherwoods. That old church building is now owned by the Lakes and is used as a tobacco warehouse.
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP UNITED BRETHREN.
During the early fifties a United Brethren Society was organized in the southwestern part of Columbia township and about 1855 a church build- ing was erected near the creek in section 30. Reverend Shumway organized the society and was the minister for several years. Rev. John Morgan and Rev. Alexander Carroll were also ministers of the congregation. Among the early members were the Stephens, Wilson and Cushner families.
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