History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 40

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 40

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"The following day my father was gone from his shop longer than usual. When he came back he informed us that he had bought a class-room, and that it would be ready for occupancy by Sunday. It was that sheep-cote. He bought only the house and the ground it stood upon-not over twenty feet square. My recollection is that he paid twenty-five dollars in cash for it -a sum of money which implied more labor than ten times that sum would today. It was deeded to him and he held the title until his death. Soon after his death the heirs deeded it to the church.

"This is the early history of the old part of the class-rooms. And now who shall say that that stream of tobacco-filth running down the white wall and besmearing the old clock-case almost its whole length was not providen- tial? It was a very frowning Providence, I remember. The property was immediately repaired and renovated. One or two of my father's apprentices carried the slab seats from our vard to the class-room, where some of them remained and did service for more than twenty years. The sheep were driven out, and the old-fashioned split scrub-broom was vigorously applied. Class

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was held on the following Sunday and every Sunday thereafter until it was finally abandoned in 1883. It did not need to be announced in the papers- there was none then, but everyone in town knew all about it before Sunday. Such an enterprise, one involving such an outlay of money and muscle, could not be concealed in what Brookville was then.

"The class having increased in numbers by 1828, one room would not hold them, for every Methodist attended class in those days. Additional ground was bought on the south of this for another room of the same size. The chimney was torn down and the two rooms were separated by folding- doors, usually thrown open for prayer-meetings. This was deeded to the church and built by subscription. The class-rooms were frequently used for school purposes. There was no public school house in Brookville until the seminary was built in the early thirties."

METHODISTS OF BROOKVILLE.

About 1820 an agitation was begun for the erection of a house of worship and on October 7, 1821, Amos Butler deeded to Samuel Goodwin and William Sims, Jr., trustees of the meeting house in Brookville, and to their successors, for the use of the Methodist society, lots 64 and 65, Amos Butler plat of the town of Brookville, upon which was erected the brick church in which the Lutherans now worship. This, the first church erected in Brookville, was dedicated some time in 1822, and was occupied by the Methodists until 1840, when the church on Mill street, now the Christian church, was built.

For the erection of this second church Samuel Goodwin and James Speer each gave five hundred dollars (the ground the church stands on being part of Mr. Goodwin's subscription) ; John W. Hitt and Robert John, three hundred dollars each; George Holland, two hundred dollars; Joseph Meeks and R. P. C. Barwick, fifty dollars each. A committee was sent to solicit donations in Blooming Grove, Springfield and Fairfield townships. Laurel contributed some, but it was slow work, the committee often only securing ten or fifteen dollars, and several calls would have to be made on the parties to collect it.

The contract for the erection of the church was let to a Mr. Bacon, and a man by the name of Speer laid the foundation. It was said that the con- tractor lost money on the church. When completed it cost two thousand one hundred dollars, of which the trustees, Messrs. Barwick, Meeks, Johns, Good- win and Hitt, paid the greater part. Rev. Allen Wiley was presiding elder and Rev. James Jones, pastor in charge at the time.

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We transcribe the following from the old church Bible under date of June 26, 1840, and supposed to have been written by Robert John, father of J. P. D. John, ex-president of DePauw University: "Today services com- menced in the new Centenary church (this name being in letters over the door in front) in the following order : Prayer meeting at 9 o'clock a. m., led by Rev. James Jones. Lesson, Kings 8, 22-61. First hymn, No. 174, Methodist hymn book, 'Prayer is Appointed to Convey,' tune, Windham ; preaching at II o'clock a. m., by Rev. James Jones, from John 9-6; [this was the first sermon preached in the new church]. Preaching at 4 o'clock by Rev. James Conwell from Romans 2:7."

This church was built by the Methodists in 1839-40 and was used in the congregation until 1884, when they moved into their present building. With- in a year after moving into the new church the Methodists sold their old church to Joseph Urmston, who used it for a skating rink. In the spring of 1886 a Christian minister (locally known as a Campbellite) held a revival in the town hall at Brookville and as a result of his efforts gained enough con- verts to establish an independent congregation. The old Methodist church was bought by the Christian church from Mr. Urmston and it has remained the property of that denomination ever since.

The first services in the new Methodist church were held in the chapel March 2, 1884, although the formal dedication did not occur until the 15th of the following June. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Bishop Thomas Bowman, who took for his sermon the text, "It is more blessed to give, than to receive." This text was peculiarly appropriate in view of the fact that there was still four thousand dollars to be raised to clear the church debt. Before the services were closed the money was raised and the church started out in its new building free of debt. It had cost nine thousand dollars, of which sum the women of the church raised about three thousand. The yearly report in 1884 showed that the church had a total of two hundred and thirty members. During the past thirty years various improvements have been made to the church in the way of adding to its convenience and comfort. A pipe organ was installed during the pastorate of John W. Dun- can, his wife being the first organist. A parsonage, built while James E. Fisher was pastor of the church, is located immediately east of the church and cost about six thousand dollars.

The present pastor. Rev. F. L. Priest, assumed charge of the church in September, 1911. The Sunday school superintendent is John C. Shirk, under whose administration the membership of the Sunday school has increased to

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two hundred and seven. The church membership is three hundred and thirty- five, or an increase of ten per cent. under the present pastor.

The list of pastors of the Brookville Methodist church from 1806 to the present time is as follows: 1806-7, Thomas Hallon and Silas Payne; 1807-8, Joseph Williams ; 1808-9, Hector Sanford and Moses Crume : 1809-10, Thomas Nelson and Samuel H. Thompson; 1810-II, Moses Crume; 1811-12, Robert M. Finley ; 1812-13, John Strange; 1813-14, David Sharp; 1814-15, William Hunt; 1815-16, Daniel Fraley; 1816-17, Benjamin Lawrence; 1817-18, William Hunt; 1818-19, Allen Wiley and Zachariah Connell; 1819-20, Arthur W. Elliott and Samuel Brown ; 1820-21. James Jones ; 1821- 22. Allen Wiley and James T. Wells: 1822-23, Russel Biglow and George Gatch; 1823-24. John Everhart and Levi White: 1824-25, Peter Stevens and Nehemiah B. Griffiths ; 1825-26, James Havens ; 1826-27, James Havens and John T. Johnson ; 1827-28, Thomas Hitt and James Scott; 1828-29, James L. Thompson : 1829-30, James Havens: 1830-31, Michael Taylor and Isaac Kimble; 1831-32, John W. McReynolds and William Daily ; 1832-33, Joseph Tarkington and Hiram Griggs; 1833-34, Charles Bonner and John Robbins; 1834-35, John W. McReynolds and William M. Daily.

In 1835 the Brookville circuit was organized and it continued to be served as such until it was made an independent charge, in 1848. 1835-36, Boyd Phelps and M. L. Reeves ; 1836-37, Isaac Kelso, H. S. Dane supplied ; 1837-38, J. T. Robe and H. S. Dane: 1838-39, James Jones and Lysander Wiley, 1839-40, James Jones and F. A. Conwell; 1840-41, W. W. Hibben and C. B. Davidson ; 1841-42, W. W. Hibben, James Hill and Landy Havens ; 1842-43, Miltaiades Miller and O. H. P. Ash ; 1843-44, Miltiades Miller and Samuel P. Crawford: 1844-45. R. H. Robinson and G. H. Mclaughlin ; 1845-56, Joseph Tarkington and H. Mclaughlin: 1846-47, Joseph Tar- kington and Thomas C. Crawford; 1847-48, Williamson Terrell and J. Whiteman.

In 1848 Brookville was deemed large enough to support a resident minister and has continued as an independent station since that time. 1848- 49, Williamson Terrell ; 1849-51, E. H. Sabin ; 1851-52, William Fraley.

The Southeast Indiana Conference met in September. 1852, at Rushville. This conference had been organized by the general conference of the church in the same year. The following ministers are those who have been stationed at Brookville since that year : 1852-54. Thomas Eddy ; 1854-55. E. D. Long ; 1855-56, Hiram Gilmore; 1856-57, James E. Lathrop; 1857-58, Samuel Langdon : 1858-59, E. G. Tucker (health failed and he resigned) ; 1859-60, John W. Mellender; 1860-61, W. W. Snider: 1861-63, James Crawford;

WESLEY CHAPEL, METHODIST EPISCOPAL. Built in 1835, Remodeled in 1875.

WHITCOMB M. E. CHURCH.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BROOKVILLE.

HARMONY CHURCH, BATH TOWNSHIP.

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1863-64, T. N. Ralston ; 1864-65, Giles C. Smith : 1865-67, Charles Tinsley ; 1867-70, Thomas H. Lynch : 1870-72, Martin C. Wells ; 1872-74, William H. Harrison : 1874-77, A. N. Marlatt : 1877-80, Thomas B. McClain ; 1880-81, William H. Harrison : 1881-84, E. H. Campbell; 1884-86, John G. Chafee; 1886-87, Thomas R. McClain ; 1887-92, John W. Duncan ; 1892-97, Enoch H. Wood: 1897-02, John H. Carnes; 1902-06, George Cochran: 1906-1I, James E. Fisher : 1911, Fielding L. Priest, present pastor.

BROOKVILLE CIRCUIT.

This circuit has five churches, West Fork, Union (Whitcomb), New Trenton, Center (Palestine or Wynn) and Elm Grove. The minister in charge of the circuit, Rev. H. M. Elwyn, resides in Brookville and preaches in each church every other Sunday, alternating between morning, afternoon and evening services. Each church has Sunday school the year round with exception of Center and Elm Grove, which have Sunday school only during the summer season. This circuit had a total of three hundred and eighteen members, with property valued at seven thousand dollars, according to the conference report.

West Fork church has a brick building, located on the banks of White Water, about three miles west of Brookville. It was established in the sev- enties and has always been attached to the Brookville circuit. The Union church, or Whitcomb, as it is locally known, is located in Brookville town- ship, in the village of Whitcomb. In an old moth-eaten Bible, which still lies on the pulpit, is written some interesting facts which have been given the historian by George S. Golden. The old Bible says the church was built in 1861 and dedicated the same year by the Rev. Dr. John W. Keeley, of Brookville, who was assisted by the circuit pastor. Rev. J. W. Winchester. However, meetings had been conducted for three or four years previous to this time in an old log house which served the double purpose of a school building and a house of worship. As soon as the congregation numbered twenty-five souls the courageous little band decided to build the building just mentioned. Fifteen new members were added to the church in the fall of the same year the church was dedicated. The acre of ground on which the church was erected was donated by William Cumins and some of the forest trees which surrounded the little church in 1861 still lend their grateful shade to the worshippers. The first board of trustees was composed of William Tucker, E. S. Adams. John McCoy, John Greenley and John J. Kennedy. The trustees in 1915 are Royal Updike, Oliver Miles and George S. Golden.

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The church at New Trenton was born in the tavern of Thomas Man- warring and, strange as it may seem to the present generation, religious services were held in the bar-room of the tavern. It may be literally true that Manwarring sold whiskey and at the same time was active in religious affairs. It must be remembered that in those days the selling of whiskey was not incompatible with membership in the church and that our good old fore- fathers drank whiskey with as much religious fervor as they sang songs of praise. The tavern of Manwarring served as a house of worship as late as 1835, and it is reported on good authority that Rev. Thomas A. Goodwin preached the last sermon in it to the clinking of the glasses over the bar. In 1835 a Methodist church was erected in the village of New Trenton, due largely to the enterprise of Benjamin Smith. Eighty years have passed since that time, and today this church boasts of more than a hundred members.

The Center church, usually called Palestine, is located in Springfield township, near the Brookville township line, one mile north of the village of Palestine. This church was established in the sixties and has been in con- tinuous existence down to the present time.

The Elm Grove church is located in Metamora township, on Pipe creek. in section 7, about two miles southeast of Metamora. This church was estab- lished in the early part of the seventies, immediately after Abbott's chapel, two miles to the south in Butler township was abandoned. A building was completed in 1874 and services have been regularly held from that year down to the present time. For several years the church has been attached to the Brookville circuit. An active membership of nearly fifty insures the church a sufficiently large congregation for effective work in the community.

FAIRFIELD CIRCUIT.

There are only two churches on the Fairfield circuit, one at the town of Fairfield and the other at Colter's Corner, in Bath township. Although the circuit has only two churches, yet it has a total membership second only in numbers to the Metamora circuit. The Fairfield church was organized in the early days and has maintained an organization down to the present time. With one hundred and eighty members, the church has the largest member- ship of any church in the county with exception of the town of Brookville. The present pastor is Rev. Oscar Polhemus.

The Bath Methodist church at Colter's Corner was organized about 1860 under the leadership of Grover Laird. A building was erected two or three years later and Rev. Montgomery became the first pastor. The church has

Correction for Reifel's History of Franklin County, Indiana (1915)

Reifel's history, on p. 427, in the second full paragraph under "LAUREL CIRCUIT," lists stained glass memorial windows in the Methodist Episcopal church at Laurel. One he lists as "Martha Elizabeth Taylor Brown." Below is a photo of the window, clearly saying "Mother Elizabeth Taylor Brown," not "Martha Elizabeth Taylor Brown."

The window was given to the church by Thomas Brown (born 1848) in memory of his mother, Elizabeth Taylor Brown (1807-1896), who was born in North Thoresby, Lincolnshire, England, and is buried in Laurel Cemetery. She was the widow of Thomas Brown (1804-1871).

Please put this correction in your copy of Reifel's book.

MOTHERGAS e ~ELIZABETH TAYLORG BROWN.

Jay Brown Wright, Ph.D. 416 Brooklea Drive Fayetteville, NY 13066-1404 December 2007

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also been known as Winchester chapel, in honor of a minister of the church by that name. Rev. Polhemus, the present pastor, has built up the congrega- tion until there are now one hundred and forty members enrolled.

LAUREL CIRCUIT.

The Laurel circuit was changed by the conference of 1914 to include Laurel and Columbia in Fayette county. Before that time Wesley chapel, in Posey township, had been attached to the Laurel circuit. However, the church at Columbia could not pay the pastor and Wesley chapel was again attached to the Laurel circuit. Rev. M. S. Taylor has charge of this circuit.

The Methodist Episcopal church at Laurel dates back to an early class of which James Conwell was the head and leader. At first the society wor- shiped in a little log church which stood in the cemetery. This was the church built by Benjamin Maple about 1820. In 1831 they built a brick building one and a fourth miles above the village of Laurel, near Mr. Conwell's home. This was known as "Bocum church." They next worshiped in the old Pres- byterian church until the completion of their present story-and-a-half brick edifice, which was finished in 1846. It was dedicated, November 1, 1846, by Bishop Hamline. In 1907 the old church, which was evidently a well-built structure, was overhauled and remodeled. A modern heating plant, new cir- cular seats, a fully equipped basement for the work of the Ladies' Aid So- ciety, with all modern kitchen equipments, was made in a substantial manner. The expense was about two thousand seven hundred dollars. The interior was all made new; stained glass memorial windows bearing the following inscriptions were provided at that time: "Elizabeth Hunsinger," "Rev. J. L. Brown and wife," (the then pastor and his wife), "Sunday School," "Ep- worth League," "John T. Wilson, Julius C. Burgoyne, Isaac Weir, Richard M. Day, Trustees," "Newton Grant," "James Shea and family," "Martha Elizabeth Taylor Brown," "Father and Mother," by Sarah Clements ; "Amos M. Council," "Mrs. Catherine Reiboldt" (now living and eighty-eight years of age).

The church at Laurel was a station by itself from 1882 to 1910 and then for two or three years had Columbia added to its work. In 1913 Col- umbia was cut off and Wesley chapel, Posey township, was added and one pastor serves the two charges now. The present membership is two hundred and the Sunday school has a membership of about one hundred.

The pastor's record having been lost, it is impossible to give the list complete. It is known that Rev. James Havens was the pastor first stationed

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at Laurel after the church was dedicated in 1846. He held a revival and added three hundred to his church; in 1851 Rev. John McCollough had a second great revival at which many more were added. Rev. John Sullivan was among the earlier pastors. The present pastor is Rev. M. S. Taylor, who has been pastor at Laurel on two occasions. The present value of the church property is seven thousand eight hundred dollars, including the parsonage that was built many years ago.

Wesley chapel is situated four miles west and one mile south of Laurel, near old Bull Town, in Posey township. It is a small frame building answer- ing well the purposes of the Methodists at that point. The building at Wesley chapel formerly stood at Andersonville, but was moved to its present location many years ago.

METAMORA CIRCUIT.

Metamora circuit includes the churches of Blooming Grove, Cupp's chapel, Ebenezer and Metamora. This circuit has a total membership of three hundred and fifty-four and is now served by Rev. E. F. Lewis.

In the village of Blooming Grove there was formed one of the early Methodist Episcopal churches of the county. A class met at the homes of William and Charles Harvey, William Smith, at David Glenn's and later at a school house. Finally a brick building was erected and services have been held regularly since that time. In 1869 a large, handsome church edifice was erected in the village of Blooming Grove and the old building became the township hall. Just north of the village is the old burying ground where repose the dust of many pioneers. The present membership is one hundred and thirty-five.

Cupp's chapel is located in section 2 of Metamora township, near the Salt Creek township line. It was so named in honor of Joseph and Rebecca Cupp, who deeded (September 19. 1873), to the trustees of the church the lot on which the building now stands. They also gave sufficient land for cemetery purposes. A comfortable frame building was erected at once and from that time forward the church has been a useful factor in the life of the commun- ity which it seeks to serve. Services are now held every Sunday and a flourishing Sunday school is maintained the year round.

Ebenezer church formerly stood near the southern line of Blooming Grove township, in section 23. A log church was erected here before 1820 and became the center of Methodist activities early in the history of the county. Rev. T. A. Goodwin, the late well-known minister of this denomina- tion, wrote many years ago :

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"The Ebenezer church was probably fifty years ago (this was said in 1880) the strongest Methodist society in eastern Indiana, in point of wealth and general standing ; at least I have no knowledge of any community which was its equal. The house was a little log house, using charcoal in a hearth in the middle of the church for heating purposes; but there were few places in Indiana then and there are not many now that can present such a set of men as Thomas Smith, Thomas Slaughter, Richard and Isaac Clements, Capt. Thomas Webb, David Genn, Daniel Skinner, Blacklidge Lynn and several others whose names I cannot recall. As a class they were educated above the average of their day and they were stalwart Christians as well as model farmers and citizens. The fathers all sleep, as well as most of their children, here and there an old man, like David Slaughter and William Lynn, remain- ing as representatives of the second generation."

In later years the Ebenezer congregation built a frame house of worship across the line in Brookville township. The church has declined, along with the other rural churches of the county, and now has only thirty-six members.

Today (1915) there is a cemetery where stood the little old log church. The building was removed and a large church was erected, though not on the same ground. The old burial place contains the remains of many who figured in the early church of that locality. The first Sabbath school in the town- ship was organized at this place, with Thomas Smith as superintendent ; this was early in 1822. In 1819 Charles Hardy had taught his famous singing school here.

The Methodist Episcopal church at the town of Metamora traces its history back to the early days of Franklin county, when Allen Wiley and John Strange were riding the Methodist circuits of the White Water valley. The first meeting place was at the house of William Gordon and later at a log meeting house which was built on the farm of Mr. Gordon. At one date the society met at the wagon shop of Mr. Kennedy in the village, and there a memorable revival sprung up in 1840 under the preaching of Rev. James Conwell and Joseph Barwick. In 1843 or 1844 a frame church, called "Wat- coot," was erected in the cemetery. near the village of Metamora. In 1853 a better church building was erected in the village. It now has one hundred and forty-four members, the third largest Methodist congregation in the county.

MT. CARMEL CIRCUIT.

There are four churches on this circuit. namely: Mt. Carmel. Wesley, Springfield and Asbury, all being located in Springfield and White Water

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townships. This circuit has a total membership of one hundred and seventy- eight and is now in charge of Rev. L. D. Park, who makes his home at Mt. Carmel.

The Mt. Carmel church had a society descending from a pioneer class, of which John Clendening was the first leader. The old Stewart homestead, north of Mt. Carmel, was the headquarters for the class for many years, but in .1850 a house of worship was erected in Mt. Carmel. The records of the church give as members in those early days the following: John Clendening, Sr., and wife, Nancy : Isaac Wamsley and wife, Rachel; Ely James and wife, Susan; Reuben Phelps ; Thomas Keen, a local preacher; Thomas Gregg and wife, Nixon Olive and others. When the society was moved to the church above mentioned, the principal members were Nixon Stewart, Jacob Larens, Caleb Seal, the Clarksons and a few whose names have been forgotten with the flight of years. There are now fifty-six members.

Wesley chapel, in section 10 of White Water township, was built in the forties and remodeled and rededicated September 26, 1875, by Rev. Dr. Moore, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Alonzo Murphy, the regular pastor. Upon the occasion last mentioned there was raised by voluntary subscription the amount of six hundred and ninety-seven dollars. It was donated by the fol- lowing : Lemuel Sparks, one hundred dollars; Hannah Heron, one hundred dollars ; Jacob Conrey, John Sparks, Elizabeth Hyde, each fifty dollars ; Will- iam Whitehead, Cassa Mitchell, Rev. A. Murphy, George S. Golden, Mrs. M. L. Davis, each twenty-five dollars; Ezra Portteus, Samuel Walling, Will- iam Lowes, John Dixon, George Willson, Thomas Willey, R. E. Burns, L. Gregg, C. Merrill, Mary Truitt, J. W. Bess, G. S. Ladson, Mary A. Cofield, W. H. Black, each ten dollars; William Laird, Mary Conrey, A. Raridon, W. Storms, F. Fossett, A. Cooper, Isaac Larne, Thomas Nesbet, Daniel Baughman, Sarah Wilson, W. W. Lowes, Mrs. M. J. Baughman, David Portteus, each five dollars. Donations of one dollar each were received from J. M. Johnson, Mahlon Stokes, H. Greatbatch, John Follick, W. J. Waltz, G. S. Larue, John Lowes, James Fossett, Jane Stevens, Clara Johnson, Elizabeth Portteus, M. J. McClellan, Cary Conrey, A. Colinder, Jeanette Whitehead and Mrs. M. A. Holden.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 40

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648