History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 16

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284

USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 16

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The United Brethren also had an organization there during the sixties, but did not seem to have much success and went down.

The house was still used for preaching and school until about Decem- ber, 1875, when it was destroyed by fire.

In May, 1874, after a series of meetings held at the old church by Rev. T. B. McCormick, Rev. Jacob Scaminahorn and Rev. F. M. Kerr, there was organized by Revs. Jacob Speer and F. M. Kerr a church, under the name of New Liberty church of General Baptists. The following named persons were enrolled as charter members: William J. Blythe, Eliza E. Blythe, William Lowe, Mary A. Lowe, James H. Lowe, Rosa Lowe, Daniel Kenerly, Artimesa Kenerly, and Joseph Douglass, none of whom are now living except Rosa (Lowe) Yeager.

Upon the completion of the organization, Rev. Kerr was chosen pastor, James H. Lowe as clerk, and they still held services there until the fall of 1875, and added a number of members to the church.

About November, 1875, through the kindness of the Methodists at Francisco, Indiana, the Baptist organization was removed to their church, where meetings were held for the next seven years, when they built a house of their own.

Commencing in January, 1876, there was held a protracted meeting at Francisco, which lasted several weeks and had quite an increase in mem-

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bership. And during that time and afterwards there was a number of ac- cessions from the Rev. Sands' followers of Old Providence Regular Baptist church, which increased the roll of members up to sixty to that time.

Rev. Kerr, having served as pastor to September, 1876, was succeeded by Elder Jacob Speer for two years. There being a vacancy in the office of clerk, by the death of James H. Lowe, September 28, 1876, John Marvel was chosen and served two years.

In September, 1878, Rev. William Clark was chosen pastor, N. S. Meade, clerk, and in 1879 Elder Clark was re-elected, and W. J. Blythe, clerk.

In October, 1879, having effected a consolidation with Pleasant Hill church (at Mitchell school house), a committee was appointed to raise funds and make the necessary arrangements for building a house, viz: J. S. Meade, Martin Meade, Nathaniel Martin, J. W. Blythe and S. R. Davis, and to be co-workers, with the following trustees : J. S. Meade, J. M. Gentry, N. Martin and Martin Meade, who, through their untiring efforts and the assistance of many friends in and out of the church, their work was crowned with success. There was dedicated a good substantial building on Main street in Francisco, on the 2d day of January, 1882, Rev. William Clark being pastor, and assisted by Rev. T. M. Strain, who managed the finances, and W. P. Hall, who preached the dedicatory sermon.

Meetings were then continued for some time, a number were added to the church, making the church roll one hundred and thirty-two members, the highest, except Owensville, reported to the association held at Francisco that year.

In September, 1895, Rev. William Clark, having served as pastor for seven years and wishing to retire from the charge, Rev. William Chesser was chosen, and served for the next three years, and S. R. Davis was elected as clerk. During the pastorate of Rev. Chesser, the question came came up as to organ, or no organ, which caused some warm discussions. The ques- tion was finally decided in favor of having an organ in the church, but this caused a loss of several members.

From the expiration of the pastorate of Rev. Chesser, in 1888, the church had as pastors Elders T. M. Strain, Rev. T. A. H. Laslie, F. M. Kerr, G. W. Hogan, William Clark and Josephus Lee, each one year; J. R. Ed- wards, A. D. Baker and W. E. Willis, each two years; Raymond Selby, J. P. Turner, each one year ; I. J. Turner, three years; J. W. Johnson, one year ; L. W. Spann. A. D. Baker, two years. From October, 1887, the following served as clerks: N. Martin, two years; S. R. Davis, six years; J. M.

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McGee, T. M. Wells, each two years; Ethel Lanphar, two years; F. N. Westfall, seven years; Alice Stormont, two years; Flossie Goldman, three years.

On April 29, 1909, the church was badly wrecked by storm, the south end of the roof and cupola, and the east side of the roof being blown off, and a short time thereafter the north end was badly wrecked by lightning. But in the next seven months the church was completely remodeled, inside and out, an additional room, twenty by thirty feet was added, a roomy base- inent and hot air furnace placed under the building, at an approximate cost of three thousand dollars. It was re-dedicated on the 29th day of Novem- ber, 1909, the pastor, L. W. Spann, being assisted by Rev. J. R. Edwards, managing the finances, and Rev. W. P. Deering, who preached the dedicatory sermon.

The church was organized as New Liberty church of General Baptists. having meetings once a month, but about the year 1905 the name was changed to Francisco church of General Baptists and have services twice a month and pay the pastor two hundred and fifty dollars per year.

There is a Ladies' Aid Society, a Christian Endeavor, and a Sabbath school with an enrollment of one hundred scholars and an average attend- ance of seventy, Ralph Goldman, superintendent, and Mary Drysdale, secretary.

There is an enrollment of ninety members at this time in the church. There are nine members whose combined ages is six hundred and seventy- eight years, viz: J. S. Meade, eighty-six; Martin Meade, eighty; Mahala Meade, seventy-seven ; Elvira Gentry, seventy-seven; Louisa Martin, seventy-three; S. R. Davis, seventy-three; Fannie McKedy, seventy-two; William Virden, seventy; F. N. Westfall, seventy. The deacons are J. S. Meade, J. H. Loveless, F. S. Reavis, M. D King. and J. M. Stormont. Rev. W. T. Winstead is the present pastor and Ralph Goldman is clerk.

GENERAL BAPTISTS OF THE PIONEER DAY.

By W., M. Cockrum.

The first recollection that I have of seeing a religious congregation, and of hearing a sermon preached, was about 1842, when Uncle Jacob Speer stood in the door of one of my father's log cabins and preached to the people assembled before him in the yard. The same log cabin now stands in my yard-a well preserved old log building. There were but few preachers in this section at that time and but few sermons were preached.

In the early fifties the General Baptists organized Keg Creek church at

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an old schoolhouse one mile south of where Oakland City now stands, with ten members. Uncle Jacob Speer and William Reavis preached alternately to that little church, monthly, for several years. In 1856 the church was re- organized and moved into the little village where my father had built a good, substantial church building. This was occupied until the brick building which is now used took the place of it, and since the reorganization it has been known as the Oakland City General Baptist church.

Some may wish to know why the little stream for which the church was named was called Keg creek. The creek was named from an incident that happened to a corps of surveyors who in 1804 were surveying the land ceded by the Pian-Ka-Shaw Indians that year to the United States. This surveying corps had three pack-horses on which they transported their cook- ing outfit, together with their surveying outfit and two twenty-gallon kegs of Kentucky whiskey. They had a camp near the little creek, and one day a large hunting party of Indians came into the camp. The surveyors felt that it would be dangerous for the Indians to find the whiskey, so they buried the two kegs in different places in the creek near the camp; and after the Indians were gone they could find but one keg, as the parties who buried the whiskey were probably drunk while they were hiding the kegs from the Indians. Thus they named the creek Keg creek. One of these kegs was found forty years afterward. This was the same surveying corps that, a few weeks later, was working near Foote's pond, where young Ziba Cook was drowned.

The General Baptist denomination has had and does still have many true and noble men upholding the Cross, and adding greatly to the Chris- tian cause; but none of them have done more than Uncle Jacob Speer, who stood on Zion's wall for more than fifty years proclaiming the glad tidings of the Saviour's love to all mankind. Today, whilst your large assembly is holding their meeting in your beautiful church building, Uncle Jacob Speer is making music in Paradise, surrounded by a mighty host of those who under his preaching were adopted into the Christian family.

There is but little question that the Primitive Baptists were the first to hold religious services in what is now Gibson county. They had some able ministers, among whom were Reverends John Tegue, Stephen Strickland, Alexander Devin, William Hanks, James Mootree, James Strickland, Joel Hume, and many others who occupied the field at that early date in southern Indiana.

Up on Blue River these Baptists at one of their churches had a great revival and seventy-five joined the church and there was that number to be

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baptized at the May meeting. The church was located not far from the Ohio river. These people decided that they would hold their baptismal meeting at a famous place for such purpose on that river. The health of the resident minister was not good, so the congregation had him secure the services of Elder B -- , who was a strong, sturdy man and had a voice in singing that could be heard a mile away. He had a record of having baptized two thousand people during his ministry.

The day for the great meeting was at hand and ten thousand people were assembled on the beautiful shore of the LaBelle river. The weather was warm. The candidates for baptism were all in a body near a point where the immersion was to take place. The men were all in their shirt sleeves. There were three or four newspaper reporters from Louisville and other nearby cities who were therc present and ready to get reports of the wonderful gathering. The elder who was to do the work was on hands and ready to commence, wading out into the water, singing a favorite old hymn used on such occasions :

"Come, Holy Spirit, Dove divine, On these baptismal waters shine, And teach our hearts, in highest strain To praise the Lamb for sinners slain."

Locating the point that was of the right depth for the work in hand, he stuck his staff down to indicate where to bring the candidates, then com- menced the work, baptizing one a minute, singing the rest of the old hymn and others suited to the occasion, as he led the candidates in and returned them to the shore. As I said before, the crowd was immense, the weather was warm, and many were in their shirt sleeves.

A small young man whom John D. Prentice had sent there to report for the Louisville Journal, in his zeal to make a note of everything that was done, had gotten down to the edge of the water and amongst the can:lidates, who were so compact that he could not readily get out of the jam. Un- fortunately for him, he had an impediment in his speech. In other words, he was one of the most stuttering unfortunates. At times it would take him two or three minutes to say the most simple word. The minister was lead- ing the candidates in, singing as he went, baptizing and returning them to the shore.

Finally he came to where the young reporter stood, took him by the arm and started into the water, singing as loud as he could. The young reporter

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tried to pull back. Then the preacher turned and said: Never fear, young man, the water is not deep," and kept leading him on. The young man was all the time saying --

"Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-"

The preacher told him not to be scared, that the bottom was good and there was not the least danger. Getting in to where the water was deep the preacher had no difficulty in leading the resisting youth to the proper place, when he said the ceremony and put him under, head and ears! When the stuttering fellow's face and head struck the water it seemed to have loosed his tongue. Spurting the water out of his mouth, he said: "Sir, I am .a-a-a-a r-r-r-reporter and a-a-a-a M-M-Meth-Meth-Methodist!" The preacher replied : "That's all right, young man, you are not hurt in the least ; but you are thoroughly baptized all the same."

CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

The Christian church was organized in Princeton, April 7. 1889, at a meeting of the members held in what was then known as Old Temperance hall on West State street. Temperance hall stood where the Agar building now stands and at the time of the organization of the church was occupied in part by a printing office run by James McCormick, who was then editing the Prohibition Era.

The late Mrs. Laura J Baker and Mrs. E. D. McCurdy were instru- inental in bringing about the organization. Mrs. McCurdy wrote the state department of the church with reference to perfecting an organization here and, in response to her letter, Rev. J. T. Ewing, then state evangelist, was sent to conduct a meeting, which resulted in sixty-four members uniting and these became the charter members of the church.

Meetings were held in Temperance hall for a short time until Jessup's hall, corner Main and Broadway, was secured as a meeting place. Rev. J. T. Purvis was called as pastor of the congregation and in October, 1889. a deal was consummated whereby the congregation purchased from the Re- formed Presbyterian people the church buikling in East Water street. This building was occupied by the congregation until December, 1910, when they purchased the church property at Broadway and Prince streets, formerly owned by the Cumberland Presbyterians. The price paid for the building was six thousand dollars. The building is modern, is equipped with a pipe organ that cost two thousand dollars at time of installation, and has a heat- ing plant. The present membership numbers two hundred and seventy-five

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and Rev. Rome G. Jones, formerly of Anderson, Indiana, is the present pastor.

There are four other congregations of the Christian church in the county, at Owensville, Oakland City, Old Union, near Poseyville, and Nauvoo church, south of Princeton. The approximate membership of each is: Owensville, one hundred and fifty-seven; Old Union, four hundred; Nanvoo, fifty, and Oakland City, sixty members. The congregation at Oakland City was organized five years prior to the Princeton congregation.

The Christian church of Owensville was organized about 1850, and today has a membership of one hundred and fifty-seven. J. A. Persinger took charge of the church on June 14, 1913. In 1905 the church building was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars.

CATHOLIC CHURCHIES.

The oldest congregation of the Catholic denomination in Gibson county is that of St. James. Father Czackart, a Redemptorist. from Illinois, is the first priest known to have visited this congregation He celebrated holy mass in the house of F. X. Weis in 1836. He continued to visit during 1837. Rev. A. Deydier, of Evansville, next ministered to the congregation until 1840. From the 9th of April, 18440, until May, 1842, Rev. Roman Wein- zoepfel, of Evansville, had charge. From October, 1842. until the latter part of 1845 the mission was in charge of Rev. Conrad Schniederjans, who lived at St. Wendel. During his time a log church, thirty-five by twenty-five feet, was erected, but the bishop refused to hold services therein until he had a deed to the property. This was effected on the return of Father Weinzoepfel in April, 1846, and the chapel was blessed on July 25, 1847. Bishop Bazin authorized the pastor to rent the seats in the chapel, but the action so in- censed the people that they broke into the church on the night of January 23, 1848, and destroyed the pews. Father Weinzoepfel was brought into court for breaking the Sabbath, and the bishop interdicted the church. On July 25, 1850, the ordinary harmony was restored in St. James.

In the month of March, 1855, Rev. F. W. Pepersack was appointed resident priest. On July 25, 1855, the corner stone of the new church was laid. The church, of Roman architecture, was completed that year, also a commodious parsonage. Father Pepersack remained until June, 1866. Rev. M. Ficker came next, and he died July 18, 1868. The Benedictine Fathers had charge until September, and then Rev. J. B. H. Seepe became pastor until the spring of 1875. He was removed on account of poor health,

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and the Benedictine Fathers again took charge. On July 12, 1875, Rev. J. J. Merckl took charge, and in his time added a sacristy, repaired the parson- age, and otherwise improved the property. He also built the church at Haubstadt.

CATHOLIC CHURCH AT HAUBSTADT.

Prior to 1866 the Catholics at Haubstadt belonged to the St. James congregation. In this year a frame school house was built at Haubstadt, in 1867 a franie dwelling was built, and ten years later the church, under direction of Father Merckl. Rev. George Widerin was the first resident priest. coming on July 12, 1877. The next pastor was Rev. Bernard Ewers. The church cost twelve thousand dollars, and there is a beautiful frame par- sonage adjoining. A large building for a parochial school is also kept. Other pastors have been Revs. Ewers, Zoglmann and Seter.

St. Bernard's church is situated about ten miles southeast of Princeton. The members were formerly a part of the St. James congregation. The church is a mission, and is attended either from Princeton or Haubstadt.

St. Joseph's church at Princeton was built in the year 1866 by Rev. F. W. Pepersack. Up to this time Princeton Catholics were members of St. James. Until his death on July 18, 1868, Rev. M. Ficker visited St. Joseph's. Rev. Henry Hug attended until 1868, and Rev. J. B. H. Seepe paid visits until the spring of 1875. Rev. J. J. Merckl also came until the next year. In 1876 Princeton received its first resident pastor, Rev. Alexander Koesters. On his arrival a parsonage was built. Rev. George Widerin, pastor of Haub- stadt, had charge from July 15, 1877, to February, 1878. Rev. B. H. Kin- triep, the second resident priest, was here from March 3rd to November 3, 1878. Father Widerin attended until IS79, when Rev. A. Oster came from Vincennes until February, 1880. Rev. John Joseph Macke also attended. Rev. Celestine Schwarz was the third resident priest, from December 7, 1880, until June, 1882. The next pastor was Rev. Augustine Peckskamp, who was appointed August 10, 1882. Then followed Revs. Peter Hommers, E. B. Ledvina, William A. Jochum and present pastor, Rev. Nicholas Hassel, who came in June, 1912.

The present membership of this congregation is two hundred and seventy-five. There is a fine parochial school in conjunction with this church. It now has an enrollment of about one hundred pupils.

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THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

The following is from the pen of Rev. R. Mueller ( of the Johnson town- ship Evangelical church), written in 1884:

This congregation was formed during the latter part of the decade of 1840, or the beginning of 1850, and from a small beginning the growth has been gradual and healthy. The first pastor was Rev. Weil, of the Lutheran synod; he served them about one year. After he left he established a Luth- eran church at Hahnville, to which about one-third of the congregation followed him; the remainder comprised about thirty members. A new preacher, Rev. Adams, was called and served about one year; his successor was Rev. Schrenk, who lived in Darmstadt and preached here once in two weeks. This was prior to 1856, from which year all meetings and records were kept in the regular record book. In 1856 Rev. Buhler devised rules and by-laws for the congregation, which were accepted. The old church could not accommodate the meetings and during the year 1865 a new edifice was built and Rev. Gulbue was called into this pastoral charge. The congre- gation joined the Evangelical Union of the West. The present name of this ecclesiastical body is the Evangelical Synod of North America. From 1869 to April, 1884, Rev. J. G. Rausch administered to this congregation. The congregation is the possessor of a new, commodious church and pipe organ. The old church is kept in good repair and used as a parochial school. It is located in Jolinson township. Since 1854 there have been baptized in this church four hundred and two children and two hundred and seven confirmed.

The Evangelical St. Peter's church was organized in the early fifties. Being the only church home available to the German immigrants who settled in and about Princeton, there were included within its fold members of all the different branches of the Lutheran church, and as a result the church was known as Lutheran, now as Reformed Lutheran, and again as Evangelical Lutheran, etc. Since 1879 the church has been Evangelical. For many years it remained an independent congregation. During the pastorate of the Rev. William F. Mehl, the congregation was received into the membership of the Indiana district conference of the Evangelical synod of America.

In 1858 the church bought of the First Reformed Presbyterian church the lot now occupied by the Christian church at the corner of Broadway and Prince streets, and in 1873 exchanged this property for the property of the Cumberland Presbyterian church on east Emerson street. The brick building

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was subsequently torn down and the present church house and parsonage erected upon the site.

Owing to the fact that Princeton is not a German town the congregation has never been a large and powerful one. In the past it has sought only to give a church home to German immigrants, and the only language used in the church service until recent years was German. Both English and German have been used in the church services since the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Mehl.

The present membership numbers fifty-six. The Sunday school has an enrollment of thirty-five. The congregation has no regular pastor at present. The board of elders are William Toelle, president; H. H. Niekamp, vice- president ; Philip Leaser, secretary, and John Portenheimer, treasurer.

THE COLORED CHURCHES OF PRINCETON.

About Civil-war time the colored people of the Methodist Episcopal faith organized a church at Princeton and are still a separate society but under the control of the regular Methodist church. Afterwards what is known as the African Methodist Episcopal church was formed here and both are doing good work among their people, and have each a church building and prospering. The former is on Seminary street, while the other is on Prince street.

The colored Baptist church at Princeton, styled Olive Branch Baptist church, was organized right after the close of the Civil war. At first they worshipped in an old shed, until such time in 1871 as they came to be able to build their present frame church, at No. 712 Broadway, which is ample for the congregation. The present membership is one hundred and eighty, about four-fifths of whom reside in the city and the remainder in the surrounding country. The present pastor, Rev. W. E. Clark, came from Kentucky about one year ago, succeeding Rev. Waddell, who died here.

This denomination also has a strong church at Oakland City, this county.

OTHER SOCIETIES.

At Princeton are also the societies of Advents, Christian Science, Episco- pal, Salvation Army, etc., each doing religious work in their own peculiar manner. The United Brethren church at Oakland City has a membership of one hundred and fifty, and is now in charge of Rev. J. W. Settle. The

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church was built about 1883, of frame, and cost one thousand five hundred dollars. The society was formed in the early fifties. There is also a colored church known as the Church of Christ, at Patoka, with a membership of thirty-five; Hester Grear is present pastor.

CHAPTER XII.

MEDICAL MEN OF THE COUNTY.

It is to be regretted that no more comprehensive data can be secured for this chapter. We are indebted to that respected old veteran. Dr. W. W. Blair, of Princeton, who is still in active practice, in his eighty-seventh year, for the following sketch of the earlier physicians of Gibson county :

"When I began the practice of medicine in Princeton, May 15, 1850, it would have been an easy matter to have gathered up the history of every man who had practiced medieine from 1805 on up to that date, but we had little thought then that a time would come when the history of those early days would be so much sought after; the work immediately before us occu- pied our every effort. Many of the 'first settlers' were then still living.

"In a brief paper furnished Dr. G. W. H. Kemper, of Muncie, Indiana, for his 'Medical History of Indiana,' the most elaborate work of the kind ever published in the state, I supplied the following items :

"Fifty or sixty years ago it would have been easier to have gathered information regarding the history of Gibson county than at the present day, for at that time there were quite a number of the first settlers of this county who could have given the names of all who had been practitioners in this vicinity, from about the year 1805.

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History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 16

Author: Stormont, Gil R Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen Number of Pages: 1284

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284