History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 42

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 42

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Bethlehem Baptist church was in Bath township in section 22 near Caleb Barnum's old place. It was organized as a branch of old Indian Creek Bap- tist church, but has not been in existence for many years.

At Metamora there was also a sprinkling of Baptists and there Revs. William Wilson and Elder John Baker frequently preached this doctrine, and of the latter, it is related that he was "lengthy in his remarks."

Another pioneer church of the Baptist faith was the one situated in White Water township. about one mile south of present Drewersburg. Its name was the Johnson's Fork Baptist church, a remnant of which society still remained in the early eighties. In 1882 the old-fashioned log church building was standing as a monument of those far-away years. The many graves nearby had inscriptions on the head-stones such as Saters, Golds, Stalcups, Bentons, Russells, Stanburys, all of that faith.

In section 5 of Metamora township on the bank of White Water, was a Baptist church which was swept away by the flood of 1847. It was a brick building and had been in use for several years. The history of this church seems to have disappeared as completely as did the church and to be equally as hard to locate.

BIG CEDAR GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The early history of this church was written several years ago by John P. Brady, who was the recording secretary of the church for forty years. The following account of the early church is taken from his own record:

BIG CEDAR GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH.

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"Immediately after the constitution, in September, 1817, the church or- ganized for business by the appointment of Elder DeWeese as moderator. The first items of business were to appoint Jonathan Stout as writing clerk and Job Stout as deacon. Arrangements were also made to call upon Elder Lewis DeWeese and William Tyner for ministerial supply. The business meetings of the church were arranged for the second Saturday in each month at eleven o'clock A. M., which has been carried out with slight ex- ceptions since. One month after the organization the church met and ap- pointed Jabez Winship, moderator. At the same time Charity Merrill, Re- becca Glisson, Peggy Blue and Sarah Jones were received by letter. On this same day David Shirk was appointed deacon and Samuel Shirk, singing clerk.

"Joab Stout was received into the church on October 12, 1821, and liberated to exercise a gift within bounds of the church, September 13, 1823. David Shirk was ordained to the ministry at the same time, while Joab Stout was ordained December 13, 1828. The church enjoyed the services of Elder Stout from the time of his ordination up to February 8, 1851, when he resigned his pastorate, took a letter of dismissal and removed to Decatur county, Indiana. D. H. Drummond served part of the time with Stout as pastor. Elder George Harlan followed David Shirk as pastor of the church and continued in charge until 1854. Elder Jeremiah Whitney was received in the church on December 13, 1851, and died on December 18, 1854, while absent on ministerial duties.

"In addition to those already named, the church enjoyed, from time to time, the labors of Elder John Sparks, William Sparks, D. H. Drummond, J. C. Perrin, S. D. Harlan, T. S. Lines, A. L. Thurston, E. D. Thomas, J. Kingham and others, who made calls occasionally.

"The first church services were held in a log school house which stood near the site of the present brick house. The latter was built about 1838 and is still in use. The pioneer church is located about a mile east of Whitcomb and stands on section 18 of Springfield township. The brick for the building was made on the Shirk farm adjoining the church."

The church prospered from year to year until dissensions began to creep into the congregation. There were many things which entered into the separation of the church, and, like all religious controversies, there are two sides to the story. From the conflicting reports which have been handed through the years, it appears that the facts in the case are substantially as follows :

Some time in the forties a minister from Kentucky, Wilson Thomp-

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son by name, preached several sermons for the Big Cedar congregation, and he appears to have been the first one to sow the seeds of discord in the church. Gradually there arose two divisions in the church, one a liberal ele- ment and the other more or less radical. Questions of church discipline and management, of music in the church, of Sabbath schools and of an educated ministry were the most important factors in bringing about the ultimate separation.

Those who believed that it was not necessary for a minister to have any education were called Hardshells, or Anti-means, while the other faction were known as the Missionary Baptists, or Means. About 1869 the two fac- tions became so estranged that it seemed complete separation must ensue. Revs. Thurston and Kingham became the leaders of the Hardshells and S. P. Roberts, Ira Stout and John B. Updike, of the Missionaries. Joab Stout became pastor of the Missionary branch in 1869. Now the question arose as to the control of the church property. Both sides claimed the right to manage the church property and it was not settled until after the question was taken into court in 1871. The leaders of the Hardshells-John P. Brady, Samuel Goudie and John W. Smalley-represented one group, and Ira Stout, Sam- uel P. Roberts and John B. Updike were representatives of the Missionary branch. A compromise was finally effected whereby each division of the church was to have the use of the building half the time. The Missionary branch were to have the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays and the Hardshells the first and third Saturdays and Sundays. This agreement was to remain in force until April, 1872, at which time it was to be renewed. The factions had their own woodsheds, although both used the same stoves to heat the church. The Missionary group used an organ, hauling it to the church on their day for services and hauling it away each Sunday. This was done for two or three years and then the Hardshells allowed it to remain in the church. They had Sunday school and were advocates of an educated ministry. Joab Stout served the Missionaries for two years ( 1869-71) as pastor, and was succeeded by H. B. Rupe (1871-77).

The pastors of the Missionary branch of Big Cedar church have been as follows: Rev. John E. McCoy, March, 1877 to December, 1888; from January. 1888, to January, 1890, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. F. M. Chamberlain and other ministers; Rev. G. W. Bowers' pastorate began in January, 1890, and ended in December. 1890; Rev. John E. McCoy was again called as pastor in January, 1891, his pastorate being ended by death, July 24, 1891 ; Rev. H. B. Rupe's second pastorate began in September, 1891, and ended November, 1892; from December, 1892, until January, 1894, I. C.

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Tedford, a student of Franklin College, acted as pastor of the church; from June, 1894, until September, 1894, R. R. G. Hodge preached for the church; at the September meeting he was formally called as pastor and continued his work until December, 1896; in May, '1897. "Rev. Chesley Holmes began preaching for the church, and in December of this year he was called to serve as pastor of the church for the year ending in December, 1898. and continued as pastor until December, 1899; on October 7, 1900, Rev. John Howard was called as pastor for the remainder of this year. At the request of the church he continued his work until December, 1901, when the last regular meeting was held by the church.

John Kingham and A. L. Thurston continued to serve the Hardshells as long as they lived. After the death of Elder Kingham, Elder Thurston continued in charge alone until his death, in 1898. Elder A. M. Hackleman served the church from 1900 to 1904. He was followed by Elder E. W. Harlan, who, in turn. was succeeded in 1907 by the present pastor, Elder E. W. Harlan.

The old members on both sides have long since passed to their reward and the once flourishing congregation is now only a memory. The children of those sturdy pioneers have moved away and the membership of both fac- tions is but a fraction of what it was formerly. The Missionaries have very few left and no longer employ a pastor. The Hardshells have service once a month. The old graveyard adjoining the church is kept in good condition and here sleep the remains of scores of worthy men and women who were once members of the Big Cedar Grove Baptist church.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

The Presbyterian church at Brookville properly dates from 1839, al- though as early as 1809 the few Presbyterians were served occasionally by Rev. Samuel Baldridge, who had charge of churches at Harrison, Lawrence- burg and Dunlapsville. For a period of twenty-five years, 1815 to 1840, the scattered members of this church had no place of worship in Brookville. During the time, Revs. Baldridge, Robinson, Dickey, Platt and Barton, and possibly a few more, preached occasionally in the town.

In 1818 Judge William B. Laughlin visited the presbytery at Cincinnati and asked that some one be appointed to visit Brookville and organize a church. Rev. Joshua L. Wilson was appointed and in May of 1818 organized a Presbyterian church in the court house. In 1820 and 1821 an effort was made to erect a church near the present site of the Catholic church, but after

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a lot had been secured and part of the material on the ground, the enterprise failed and the society soon disbanded. Nothing further was done until August 8, 1839, when Revs. John W. Scott, W. W. Robinson and William Graham began a series of protracted meetings that resulted in the formation of a church made up of seventeen members, four of whom were received on certificate and thirteen on examination. The names of these charter mem- bers were: John and Mary Campbell, M. W. Haile, Hannah Adams, Mary Hewitt, Jane McGinnis, Mary Welch, Emeline Remy, Eliza Jane Remy, Nancy May Smith, Rachel Woods, Naomi Campbell, William McCleery, George and Jeanette May Smith and Elizabeth Shawcross. The first com- munion was administered on August 1I, 1839.

At a meeting of the members and friends of the Presbyterian church at Brookville on December 2, 1839, it was resolved "That it is expedient to make an effort to have stated Presbyterian preaching." It was agreed at this time to invite William J. Pattison, a licentiate of the Madison presbytery, to supply the local church. Mr. Patterson accepted the invitation and served as a sup- ply, preaching his first sermon in Brookville on the last Sabbath in January, 1840.

On September 5, 1840, there was held a congregational meeting and by a unanimous vote Rev. William J. Patterson was duly called to the pastorate of the Brookville Presbyterian church. He accepted the call and was ordained at a special meeting of the presbytery held in Brookville, November 18, 1840, and installed later on the same day. This meeting on the date just mentioned was the first Presbyterian meeting held in Brookville, if not the first ever held in White Water valley.

It will be noticed that there have been about twenty years when the church did not have a regularly ordained minister. During much of this time services were conducted by licentiates. The complete list of ministers and pastors here given has been compiled from the original church records by Dr. J. E. Morton.

MINISTERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BROOKVILLE.

William J. Patterson, September 5, 1840- January 1, 1846. John Gilcrist, May 3, 1846 -- May 1, 1847. Ludlow D. Potter, November 12, 1847-November 1, 1853. Allen McFarland, September 1, 1854-March 16, 1856. J. W. Monfort, September 15, 1856-April 16, 1857. Russell B. Abbott, July 1, 1857-August 11, 1865.

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J. M. Drake, August 30, 1865-May 24, 1867. John H. Link, May 24, 1869-September 11, 1869. William A. Hutchinson, September 17, 1869-June 28, 1870. J. C. Burt, October 5, 1871-September 1, 1873. Jerome A. Williams, April 19, 1875 -- May 2, 1878. David R. Moore, May 26, 1878-April 16, 1886. S. J. McElwee, November 24, 1886-June 8, 1887. E. H. Adriance, September 10, 1887-April 1, 1890. William A. Echols, May 12, 1890-July 15, 1891.

E. Smith Miller, August 1, 1891-April 30, 1892. Dwight L. Chapin, June 2, 1894-February 27, 1896. G. J. Donnell, April 6, 1899-April 5, 1900. George W. Applegate, May 26, 1902-June 19, 1904. Joseph M. Wright, July 20, 1905-September 24, 1907.

J. S. Stevenson, March 6, 1910-October 24, 19II.

F. B. Stearns, November 1, 1914.

In 1840, when the Methodist Episcopal church erected their new building (now the Christian church building). the Presbyterians purchased the old Methodist building and occupied it until the erection of the present Presby- terian building, 1852-1855. The basement was fitted up some years prior to the main edifice and used for school purposes. Rev. Abbott organized the Brookville high school and conducted it in the church from 1857 to 1863. The present pastor, Rev. F. B. Stearns, preaches twice a month, dividing his time between Cambridge City and Brookville. The present membership is about forty. The church is fortunate in owning a portion of the block on which the church stands, which part runs to Main street, and on which are two good business houses owned by the church.

MOUND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church should be styled a mission church of the congregation at Brookville. During its whole career its property was vested in the name of the church at Brookville, while its services were always conducted by the ministers of the mother congregation. A building was erected on the Brook- ville-Cedar Grove pike, about four miles south of Brookville, in 1883. How- ever, services had been held by the Presbyterians in the Little Cedar church for some years previous to this. It seems that there was some disagreement between the Presbyterians and the Baptists concerning the use of the church by the former and this resulted in the building of the Mound church about a mile below Little Cedar.

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The deed for the transfer of the fifteen-hundredths of an acre in section IO, township 8, range.2 west, from Jacob and Ellen Harvey to the church was recorded March 8, 1883, the consideration being only five dollars. The church was built in the spring of that year and dedicated on June I, with appropriate services by Rev. David R. Moore, the pastor of the Brookville Presbyterian church. This was never an independent congregation, since all those who attended there were regularly enrolled as members of the Brookville church. The synod had no control over it and did not recognize it in any way as an independent church. It was served during its whole career by the pastors from Brookville up until the pastorate of George W. Applegate (1902-1904), who was the last minister to hold services there.

During this score of years services were held there on Sunday afternoon at irregular intervals, but by 1904 there were so few members residing in the vicinity that Rev. Wright, at that time the pastor of Brookville, discontinued services there altogether. The church stood idle until 1910 and on July 9, of that year. Charles Samoniel bought it from the trustees of the Brookville Presbyterian church for the sum of three hundred dollars. It is now used as a fishing camp.

Harmony Presbyterian church, located in Bath township, was organized May 26, 1837, by Rev. Archibald Craig, with charter members as follows : Henry Schultz, Elizabeth Schultz, Emily Miller, George Black, William Ferguson, Mary Ferguson, William. Webb, Catherine Webb, Mary Spiers, John Schultz, Nancy Telford, Ezra L. Bourne, Cyntha Bourne, William Gregg, Mary Gregg, Eleanor Abbott, David Black, David Robertson, Patience Bourne, Lucy Crocker, Thankful - , Joseph Welch, James Hannah, Elizabeth Hannah, Robert Spiers, Mary Spiers, Mary Welch, Susan Black and Jane Allen. The society now has a membership of sixty-five.

The church first worshipped in a frame building, standing a few rods south of the present cement church building. Before the building of a regular church home, many services were held and a large number of sermons ·were preached in private houses and barns. Harmony and Mt. Carmel churches were branches of Bath church, located on the county line between Franklin and Union counties. The four active Presbyterian churches in Franklin county today are the ones at Brookville. Mt. Carmel, Harmony and Drewers- burg.

The following have faithfully served as pastors of the Harmony church : Archibald Craig. Ellis Howell, John W. Scott, David Swing, C. H. Raymond, William Rodgers, J. M. Wampler, W. W. Colmary, J. P. Englestrom, Frank Grandstaff, William H. Sands, J. W. Royer, F. G. Stevenson, F. F. Dobson, N. C. Shirey, M. Baer, B. W. Jones and William J. Frazier, the present pastor.

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The Mt. Carmel Presbyterian church, at Mt. Carmel, in Springfield town- ship, was organized at the home of Nimrod Brackney, in 1824, by Rev. John Thompson, assisted by his two sons, Revs. William and James. Rev. Will- iam Thompson was the author of "The Land and the Book." The charter members were: Joseph Goudie, who died September 19, 1879, aged eighty- four ; Catherine Webb, who died September 16, 1879, aged ninety-one; Mrs. Sarah James, who died in 1881 ; Mrs. Susan ( Milspaugh) Hinds, who died in 1892. The following served as elders: James Goudie, John Cummins, Peter B. Milspaugh, Charles Hasson, Andrew Reed, Samuel Sering.

The present membership of the church is eighty-six. The first church building was a brick erected in Mt. Carmel, in 1828. The second was erected in 1870, and a third a few feet south of the old brick which is still standing.

The pastors have been as follows: Revs. Archibald Craig, from 1828 to 1834; Samuel B. Smith, from 1834 to 1837: Francis Monfort, 1837 to 1846; J. A. I. Lowes, 1846-47: James Gilchrist, 1848-60; P. H. Golladay, 1860-64; H. W. Guthrie, 1865-68; J. B. Atkins, 1868-71; A. S. Thompson, 1871-73; G. D. Parker, 1873-75: M. E. McKillip. 1875-80: W. H. Moore, 1881-83 : J. P. Engstrom, 1884-86; H. F. Olmstead, 1886-90; A. O. Raber, 1891-94: James Hale, 1895-96: J. M. Montgomery, 1896-98: W. W. Montgomery, 1898, part of the year ; J. M. Bolton, 1899-1902 : G. W. Applegate. 1902-04: R. C. Hart- man, 1904-07 : B. S. Jones, 1908-10: C. L. Herald, Ph. D. from August, 1910 until present date-1915, and still pastor.

There is a Presbyterian church one mile north of Drewersburg in White Water township, which building was formerly owned by the Baptist Associa- tion, who purchased the property in 1854. In September, 1876, Mrs. Eliza- eth Sater bought the property-land and building -- and gave it to the Mt. Carmel Presbyterian church. In 1881 the old building was torn down and replaced by a beautiful little frame building, which was dedicated January 8. 1882. It cost one thousand three hundred sixteen dollars and forty-three cents and all but one hundred and sixty dollars raised by dedication day and paid. This is still standing and used as a place of worship. The same ministers preach at Mt. Carmel and Drewersburg.

What was known as Bath Presbyterian church in Fairfield township, was organized in 1822. The members were scattered over a large neighborhood. common alike to Union and Franklin counties. The original building was in Union county, about two and one-half miles northeast of Fairfield. It was finished in 1825. At one time this was the strongest church in the Presby- tery. Two hundred and thirty-four members were received into its fellow- ship, and two hundred and thirty-one were baptized. Among its early min-

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isters were Revs. Isaac N. Ogden, Thomas A. Hughes, Archibald Craig, David B. Reed, James B. Gilchrist, L. D. Potter, D. D. McKee and John Gilchrist.

In 1857 the organization was removed to Fairfield, where a new church was erected. In 1874 this church received a bequest of one thousand dollars from A. W. DuBois, of Fairfield, deceased. This was to be expended in restoring the building as a house of worship, and it was so expended. It was re-dedicated July 18, 1875, when several members were present who had united with the church fifty years before that date, and yet the record says not one of the charter members were then living. The church is now dis- continued.

At Metamora Presbyterianism flourished for a time but not for many years has the denomination been in existence. In 1845 Rev. John Gilchrist made this place a stopping place and preached about once a month, in the afternoon. Previous to this there had been irregular services a number of years. After Rev. Gilchrist left Brookville there was no preaching until Rev. Ludlow D. Potter began his labors in Brookville and Bath. In 1849 Mr. Potter began regular services once each month. At the autumn meeting of the White Water presbytery in 1850, the church at Metamora asked to be ad- mitted to that body, and the request was granted. The original members were then recorded as: John Cartner and wife; Mrs. Maria Banes, Jonathan Thomas, Gilbert Van Camp, Margaret Watson, Isabella Watson, Mary Cooley, Mary Ann Bell, Elizabeth Beler, Emeline Thomas. That year the widow of David Mount donated a lot and a building was erected, and dedi- cated in 1851, by Rev. Dr. J. W. Scott. The old building still stands and is used as a public hall.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

The oldest organization of the Christian denomination in Franklin county is the one located at Metamora, formed July 18, 1841-almost three- quarters of a century ago. The charter members were as follow : Arnold Murray, Hannah Lamb, Catherine Pond, H. B. Martindale, George Stewart, John Garrett, Archibald Hahn, Levi Sherwood, John Thomas, Sarah Murray, Hugh M. Davis, Jesse Washburn, Eliza Martindale, Sampson Jones, John Mormann, T. H. Conner, Marinda Higgs, Thomas H. Pond, William Lamb, Henry Pond, Nancy Pond, David Clark, Sarah Jane Pond, Hannah Hawkins, William Wheeler, Mrs. Van Camp, Mrs. Senour. None of the charter mem-

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bers are now living. Over five hundred names have been recorded on the rolls of this society. The membership is now eighty-five.

The first building used for church purposes was the upper room of a large frame building located about two hundred feet east from the present church edifice. There the organization was perfected in July, 1841. The present building, dedicated by L. L. Carpenter, January 1, 1872, cost about three thousand dollars. It is in size thirty by fifty-eight feet. The furnish- ings cost an additional five hundred dollars.

The following have served as pastors at Metamora: Revs. Manning Smith, W. F. Parker, William H. Kerr, Rogers, J. P. Hadley, W. G. Irvin, J. M. Land, L. E. Brown, W. W. Witmer, Omer Hufford, D. W. Campbell, H. S. Riggs, I. N. Teeter, William Kraft, J. V. Coombs, C. C. Cline, Drash, B. F. Cato, L. A. Winn, Allen Wilson, W. Jones, D. W. Milligan, E. L. Frazier, E. W. Akerman and Walter Crawley, the present pastor. It is interesting to note that Alexander Campbell visited Metamora and preached two sermons to the local congregation.

BROOKVILLE.

The first attempt to organize a Christian church in Brookville may be dated from Monday, November 25, 1850. On that date Alexander Campbell came from Rushville and preached in the building now owned by the Christian church, then owned by the Methodist Episcopal church. Then Knowls Shaw held a meeting in the courthouse in 1866 and organized a church with twenty-five or thirty members. They rented the German Methodist building, now owned by the United Brethren, for fifty dollars a year. Here Rev. Thomas J. Murdock preached for a year or two, but the congregation was not strong enough to keep up. The building was given up, although the members met at private homes for a while.

The present Christian church at Brookville was established in May, 1886, by J. H. O. Smith, state evangelist, with charter members as fol- low : Dr. William Munnell, Mrs. Dr. Stodard, Robert Henry, Mr. and Mrs. Austin, John Dennett, Lucretia Dennett, Ed O'Hair, Caroline O'Hair, Keturah Templeton, R. D. Templeton, Wylie Templeton and Scott Tem- pleton.

Rev. Smith conducted a series of meetings from April 9 to May 18, 1886, and during this time received ninety-three into the church by im- mersion and about thirty others renewed their membership by letter. In

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June the trustees of the new organized church purchased the old Methodist building, and on July 25 the church was dedicated by Rev. J. H. O. Smith with appropriate services. He was assisted by Rev. J. B. Chafee, of the local Methodist church, Elder Foster, of Indianapolis, and Elder James Oakshett, of Brookville. This same building had been dedicated by the Methodist church June 28, 1840, and there were twelve people present at the dedication in 1886 who had attended the one forty-six years before.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 42

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