History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 30

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 30

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The following are among the faithful ministers' who have served as pastors of this church : Revs. Nathaniel Richmond, Thomas, James, Augustus Price, William Kertley, J. E. Ellison, M. T. Carver, J. B. Sommerville, Jacob Barrow, John Schenk, Harry Hill, J. H. Smith, J. H. Mitchell, T. E. Bowles, and its present evangelist pastor, Charles Stoddard.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

The Presbyterians always have been prominent in this county, especially at Noblesville. A church of this faith was organized here December 20, 1848, with a membership of less than twenty, among whom were men and women of much influence and prominence, Rev. W. H. Rogers being the moderator at the preliminary meeting at which the following persons signed the charter of the First Presbyterian church in Noblesville: Curtis Mallery, Joseph Curlin, John T. Curlin, Robert T. Curlin, Margaret Curlin, J. S. Lower, Sabina Lower, Abner Jones, Nancy Jones, W. F. Wagoman and Mrs. Dunlap. The following February Mrs. H. A. Rogers and Rachel Potts added their names to the roll of membership. Rev. Rogers was the first installed pastor and remained in charge until in October, 1854, when he was succeeded by Rev. James McCoy. Other early ministers were Revs. Ed Sco- field and L. P. Webbers. In December, 1865, it was resolved that the church building be sold if a purchaser could be found who would pay as much as one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. The building was sold and another erected on South Catherine street, one square from the court house square. That building was in use in 1880, when Rev. John S. Craig was pastor. Pastors since that date have included: Reverends J. C. Craig, Revenaugh, Gowdy, Davies, Charleton, Overstreet, Campbell, Gibson and Frank P. Miller, who is now acting pastor. The present ( 1914) mem- bership is one hundred and sixty-five. The present church was erected in 1893 and cost about fifteen thousand dollars. It is a fine brick edifice and compares favorably with any in the county. This is the only Presbyterian church in the county. At one time there was a church of this denomination in Cicero but it long since has been abandoned.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. .

This denomination never has been very strong in Hamilton county. Several attempts have been made to establish permanent congregations, but all to no purpose. At one time there was an organization at Westfield.

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Washington township, which was organized by Jabez Neal. A building was erected at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars and three hundred dollars was expended for a bell. . During the trying days of the great Civil War the congregation dissolved and never was re-organized.

Noblesville also had a Congregational church at one time, but this congregation also gradually dissolved, many of its members going into the Presbyterian church.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES.

In 1849-50 in Washington township a log house was erected a half mile south of Eagletown, and a congregation of twenty-five members was formed to hold services under the direction of the United Brethren church. The early ministers there were Reverends Hamilton, Winsett and Sherill. Twelve years later the society moved to Eagletown.

In 1866 a congregation of United Brethren was organized in Delaware township under the direction of Rev. Henry Mooth. This congregation worshiped in a schoolhouse eight years and then in 1874 built a frame church east of the village, which served till 1877, when a wind storm destroyed it and it never was re-built, services being conducted thereafter in the Baptist church at New Britton.

Bethlehem United Brethren church was written up as follows at the time of the recent dedication of the new church: "It seems that at an early day before the class had been formed at Mt. Zion in an old log church, in which services were held, Mrs. Elizabeth Crook took her two small children on horseback and rode some three miles to attend meeting in this old church and while there invited the preacher to come over and hold a meeting in her neighborhood. The meeting was held in an old log barn at the Crook home- stead and was attended by people from far and near. The result was the forming of a class with the following charter members: Trustees, Samuel Patterson, Jr., George Steffey and John Wertz: members, Samuel J. Patter- son, Margaret Patterson, Jacob Steffey, John Wertz, Anna Mary Wertz, Josiah Crook, Wilson Allen, Caroline Allen, George Steffey, William Kinne- man, Charity Kinneman, Samuel Patterson, Sr., and Elvina Cahill.

"The circuit of which this class became a part was about forty miles long, extending almost from Chesterfield, Delaware county, to Indianapolis. The early ministers of this circuit were: Revs. William Richardson, J. R. Brown, George Muth, Amos Handway, A. R. Day, William Nichol, B. Hol-

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comb, J. E. Evans, Daniel Stover, A. Carroll, Henry Muth, A. Meyer and L. W. Crawford.

"For some time meetings were held in the private houses of members, but soon a log church was erected near the site of the present church. In the sixties the old log cabin church gave way to a better edifice of frame, which for more than half a century was one of the landmarks in the country. The recently dedicated church is a handsome building and duly appreciated by the community in which it stands in Fall Creek township." At present the society has a membership of one hundred and fifty. The church build- ing was remodeled in 1913 and is now presided over by Rev. C. R. Archer who also has charge of the work at Union church.

The Union United Brethren church, not far from Bethlehem, was or- ganized in 1877 and a building was erected in 1883. This congregation now has one hundred and twenty-five members. Rev. William Gossert was the organizer of this church.

NOBLESVILLE UNITED BRETHREN.

The United Brethren church at Noblesville was organized by Rev. M. F. Dawson, the charter members being : Mary Frazier, Mary McVey, Samuel George and wife, Susan Wall and David Stage and wife. The present (January, 1915) membership is one hundred and eighty-three. A church building was erected under the pastorate of Rev. A. C. Wilmore and dedi- cated December 22, 1895. This is a frame building on the corner of Plum and Eleventh streets and cost between two thousand eight hundred dollars and three thousand dollars. In 1913 the building was remodeled under the direction of Pastor John Rosenbarger at an expense of about two thousand four hundred dollars, the re-dedication taking place on June 15th of that year. Under the pastorate of Rev. D. W. Zartman in 1899 a good. frame parsonage valued at about two thousand dollars was built next to the church building.

Following is the order in which the various ministers have served this church : Revs. M. F. Dawson, M. Hobson, A. C. Wilmore, W. M. Karstedt, D. W. Zartman, S. M. Leidy, C. J. Roberts, D. P. Coldren, W. L. Waldo, O. P. Cooper, John Rosenbarger and J. M. Tuggle. This society has had a splendid growth and numbers among its membership many leading citizens of the community. All departments are well organized especially so the Sunday school which is regarded as one of the best conducted schools in the county.

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Mount Vernon United Brethren church in Fall Creek township was or- ganized in April, 1840, by the Rev. William Stewart. The original class consisted of nine members and was formed at the Barnes schoolhouse. In 1842 Isaac Helms donated a lot and a log church was erected, which served the class till 1858, when a better house was erected. This was a frame church twenty-six by thirty feet, costing one thousand dollars. Among the original membership were Samuel Brooks and wife, John Heath and wife, Alonzo Sherman and wife, Hugh Duke and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Davis and Isaac Helms and wife. The society now has a membership of sixty. The frame church above named was repaired and remodeled in 1911 at a cost of three hundred dollars. The present board of trustees are: Marion Brooks, M. E. Ogle and Arthur Wolfgang.

Among the ministers whose names are not soon to be forgotten in the community which they so unselfishly served were: Revs. Stover, T. E. Evans, Hanway, Batty, Mures, J. M. Ware, Gronendike, Crawford, Roberts, Tharp, McNew, Veal, Robins, J. Halsread, Gossett, Baily, Rice, Darling, M. F. Dawson, Jarvis, J. Dawson, Willmore, Lydy, Bartlett, Hunt, Wyant, Hobsin, Kinneman, Smith and Kindred.

At an early day there was no church of this primitive order at Sheridan, the few disciples who lived in this community having no church home nearer than Boxley. They had the occasional use of the Methodist church and sometimes preaching brethren on their way to other appointments stopped over here. In 1885, however, plans were laid to erect a church building and the following year one was finished and dedicated by Abraham Plunkett, Messers Hand, Coyner and Simpson being selected as the first overseers of the little flock. There are now two hundred and seventy-five members in this congregation. The following have served as pastors: Revs. Plunkett, Goodykoontz, Hudson, McKinzie, Hall, Mavity, Brickert, McCallum, Con- ner, Burton, Brown and W. D. Bartle. In 1910, when Elmer Payne was pastor, the present church building was erected. Other ministers were A. A. Assetor, Rev. Jackson and the present pastor, Rev. L. H. Graham.

In 1838 a church of this denomination was organized at Boxley by Tom Lockhart. A church building was erected in 1860, at which time there were twenty-five members. After this the society gradually declined and in 1893 it was re-organized by Mr. Goodcomb.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.

This denomination long has been a power in Hamilton county. The oldest Christian church in the county probably is the one at Noblesville, the

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congregation of which recently celebrated its eightieth anniversary. This church was founded here in November, 1834, by a few men and women of this faith and it was not long before a frame church building was erected near the site now occupied by the Baptist church on South Ninth street, formerly the Evangelical church. Then came a brick building on the loca- tion where stands the present Christian church, in the center of the city. The last named was erected in 1897 under the direction of Rev. E. S. Conner, and is a handsome brick edifice.

Preceding the Civil War period there arose a sectional dissension in the church which was not healed until after the great civil conflict had ended, after which all was union and harmony. This "split" occurred in the forties under the pastorate of Reverend Edmundson. Among the ministers well remembered by the older residents of this county may be recalled: Revs. John Longley, Thomas Burnau, D. H. Gary, the Coles and Rosses, Schofield, J. W. Loher, O. S. Reed, Edmundson, Mercer. E. B. Barnes, Starr, and Darst. The present membership of this church is five hundred and the present pastor is Rev. L. C. Howe.

In reviewing the history of the four score years of service of this church, one cannot but feel that great good has come to the community through the weekly ministrations from this pulpit where nothing but the simple New Testament truth has been preached and then fairly well lived out by the men and the women of the congregation during the days fol- lowing.

THE CHURCH AT CLARKSVILLE.

The following is a report of the organization of the Christian church at Clarksville, this county :

"We whose names are hereunto subscribed solemnly agree and covenant with each other and God our Heavenly Father, to constitute a church of Jesus Christ, to be known as Antioch, taking the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as our only rule of faith and practice and would humbly pray that the blessings of our Heavenly Father may rest upon us now and ever more. Dated this 18th day of March, 1860."

The above was subscribed to by the following persons: John Burk and Mary Burk, John C. Kinneman and Elizabeth Kinneman, Silas and Mary Helms, Michael Bennett, Michael Souders, James L. Danaha, Asenath Danaha, George Burk, John T. Danaha (killed at the battle of Stone River), Z. D. Whetsell, Eliza Whetsell, Miriam Lennen, Martha J. Kinneman and Sarah Burke.

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The treasurer's account shows that during the first year of the history of this church there was collected the sum of sixty-one dollars and sixty-five cents.

From 1860 to 1867 the church was without a home of its own. This was seven long years of church life and hard struggles. Meetings were held at Bethel Methodist Episcopal church through the kindness of that people. A series of revival meetings were held there, and several were added to the church, including T. J. Shoemaker, William and Mary Brittain, Fannie Leonard and several others whose names are not now at hand. These meet- ings were held under the administration of Rev. Burnau. Later, meetings were held in schoolhouses, especially that located a little east of where Z. W. Paulsel now resides.

A favorite meeting place during the summer season was under a large oak tree on the farm now owned by W. L. Hosmer, just to the north of Clarksville. These meetings continued at various points, a Sunday school was organized and held its sessions in the old schoolhouse. In the spring of 1867 Mrs. Sarah Nicholson deeded to the trustees the plot of ground now occupied and the church-house was erected, being dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on the last Sunday in August, 1867, by Reverend Burnau, assisted by Rev. Van Winkle. Probably the greatest progress ever reported by this church was during the years between 1860 and 1870, when scores were added to the roll of membership.

The first funeral service held in the church was that held over the remains of the little daughter of Harrison and Mary Nicholson, a short time after the dedication of the building.

The present membership is one hundred and eighty. The present build- ing, a frame structure, was erected in 1850 at a cost of eight hundred dol- lars. The following have served as pastors of this church: Revs. Thomas Burnau, Hobson, Charles Martz, Axline, Dale, Daugherty, Van Winkle, Gary, Wilson, A. H. Morris, Wiley Ackman, Mark Collins, J. F. Ross, J. P. Finley, Kerr, J. C. Kutts, Sells, C. B. Taylor, 1900: L. T. Van Cleave, 1901; W. H. Knotts, 1902; B. L. Allen, 1903; Goodykoontz, 1904-5; T. A. Cooper, 1906-7; Morris, 1908: Samuel Hawthorne, 1909-10; E. C. Kuhn, 19II ; E. C. Wells, 1912; G. A. Waller, 1913; Rev. Payne, of Irvington, 1914.

CHURCH ORGANIZED IN A BARN.

The Arcadia Christian church was organized in a barn on the farm of Moses Martz. Thomas Lockhard was the first minister and also one of the

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earliest of this sect in Indiana. Meetings were held in school houses at first, but in 1869 the organization was formally perfected and a frame church was erected on the corner of Olive and Main street. This church was or- ganized by twenty-four members under the direction of Elder C. B. Austin, of Noblesville. Before the real organization was effected nineteen different ministers had preached to these people. These received no regular salaries, but were paid by donations. There were forty-two preachers from the in- ception of the society until the erection of the new church building. In 1896 the Sunday school had a membership of one hundred and forty-two. In time the old church became too small and May 31, 1896, the corner-stone was laid for a new edifice, situated one square south of the old site. This new structure cost about $7,000. The church today is in a splendid condi- tion.

OTHER CHURCHES IN COUNTY.

Betheny Christian church was erected in 1863. This was a frame build- ing thirty-six by fifty feet and cost one thousand four hundred dollars.

The Buena Vista Christian church was organized October 1I, 1874, with a membership of forty-six. In 1875 a church building was erected on a lot costing two hundred dollars, in the southeast part of the village. It was a neat frame structure, well finished and had ash seats, trimmed in walnut. Its cost was two thousand five hundred dollars, and a bell was added costing one hundred and fifty dollars more.

In the year 1845 Rev. Carey Harrison organized a church at Arcadia, with twenty-five members. In 1850 a lot was given the society by Isaac Martz and a church and school were built on the same. This was used until 1866, when a new building took its place, costing two thousand two hundred dollars.

The Christian church at Atlanta was founded in 1842 with three mem- bers. The first preaching services were held in a barn and were conducted by Rev. Stampfer, who chanced to pass through the country. There were ten conversions at that meeting. Other preachers in that early day of the church were Revs. VanDake, Cora Harrison and others whose names are lost in the flight of years, but whose labors were not in vain.

This society was reorganized about Civil War days, at which time B. M. Blount became. the regular minister. In the reorganization Bethany (now Omega), five miles to the east of Atlanta, became the centralization point. A church building was erected in 1876, under the direction of B. M. Blount. In 1809 this building gave way to a more commodious structure, which was

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fully finished a year later. The present membership of the Arcadia church is four hundred and a Sunday school attendance of two hundred is reported. Though the early records of this church were destroyed by fire, it is known that the following ministers have been among the number who have served at this point : Revs. Frazer, Grasso, Conner, Van Cleave, Cooper, Sumner, Jackson, Pierce, Hemsey, 1905 ; Long, 1906; Baker, 1907; Honeywell, 1910; Montgomery, 1913.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Mt. Pleasant Evangelical Lutheran church-the Arcadia church-was organized in November, 1837, with fifteen charter members. It was situated near Cicero, two miles east of Arcadia. Land was donated by Peter Achen- bach on which to build a church. This was cleared of forest trees and brush and a neat frame building erected in 1838-9. In 1855 a new constitution was adopted, after which the organization was called the "English and German Evangelical Lutheran Church." A new church building was then erected near the site of the old, this present church property being valued at about eighteen hundred dollars. Associated with Mt. Pleasant, both being in the same charge, is the Olive Branch church, which conducts its services in a school house northeast of Noblesville and which has a membership of sixty.

Immanuel church was erected two miles east of Arcadia in 1848 by the German members who had attached to the Mt. Pleasant church. In 1853 this church building was burned and a frame church was built to take its place and was still in use in the early eighties. The cost of this structure was six hundred dollars.

An account of the work of the Lutheran church at Arcadia was sent to the author by a student of the public schools, from which account we have made the following extracts: In the early forties Freiden Wynecken, the first Lutheran missionary, found scattered through this section many Penn- sylvania Germans of this religious faith. His circuit from Fort Wayne to Seymour was made on horseback. After his time came the Reverends Kuns and Ficke, and in June, 1852, Rev. Frederick Schumann was installed pastor, after which a rude church was erected, the same being dedicated January 6, 1853. Then, in 1854, came Rev. J. L. Daib, who was followed by Rev. G. Reinhardt, under whose charge a new church was erected, the first one having been destroyed by fire. Following this came Rev. Koestein- ing, who built a parsonage and added a parochial school. Following this faithful minister came Rev. M. M. Michael and in 1869 came Rev. Schles-

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selman, who preached and taught school until 1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Bethke, who had spiritual direction of the congregation from 1875 to 1888. Since this latter year the ministers have been: Revs. Huss- man, nine years; Rev. Jensen, who not only established the English-speaking school and preached also in English, but under whose direction a new brick church was erected at Arcadia; in 1900 came Rev. Theodore Hahn, who served until 1903, he being followed by Rev. Bopp, who remained till 1910, when the present minister, Rev. G. A. Schimmel came to the charge.

Bethel English Lutheran church at Cicero was organized October 12. 1856, with eight members. . The organizer was Ambrose H. Scherer. This society now has a membership of one hundred and five. A church was erected from brick material in 1864 and has been several times repaired. Today it is said to be worth two thousand dollars. A parsonage, valued at one thousand five hundred dollars, is a part of the church property. Among the earlier ministers may be recalled Revs. Presley, Kuhn, Martin, Mohler, Hamer, Mumma, Shanks and Mohler. Rev. M. L. Smith is the present pastor.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

The Catholics never have been very strong in Hamilton county, though there have been a few parishes in existence at different points with the passing years. These include St. Mary's Catholic church in Jackson town- ship, which was organized in 1840 by Rev. Father Backlen. A church build- ing was erected there in 1863, at a cost of one thousand one hundred dollars, but the parish declined and finally was abandoned, at present there being but .one Catholic church in the county-that located at Cicero, at which point the members of this denomination from Noblesville and the upper portion of the county are served by a priest residing out of the county. The church build- ing at Cicero is a substantial structure, but the membership, since the removal of the glass factories from that point has been very small.

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

The Friends have always been a strong denomination in these parts. Many of the sturdy pioneers of Hamilton county were of this faith and Meetings were early established throughout the county, which have been kept up until the present day. Many of the best people within Hamilton county are faithful members of this society and the good accomplished by their presence can only be known in the endless years of eternity.

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Early Meetings were held by the Friends in Clay township about the year 1833, when twenty families met at Jacob Cook's in the northeast part of the township and organized a "Monthly Meeting."

At the village of Aroma, in the northeast part of White River town- ship, in 1837, eleven families of this religious faith met and held meetings at the house of Caleb Harvey. A log meeting house was erected and served well its purpose until 1870, when a better house was provided by the pur- chase of a school house, which was remodeled for church purposes.

The first public worshippers in Washington township were Friends, who organized a society in 1834 at the home of Ambrose Osborn. Twelve famil- ies constituted the first membership of this church. A meeting house, twen- ty-four by forty-eight feet in size, was built in 1835. This was divided into two rooms, each twenty-four feet square, separated by a heavy log partition. This building was in use until 1848, when it was torn away and a frame church, fifty-six by seventy feet in dimensions, was erected, at a cost of one thousand dollars.

In 1841-42 the Friends organized at Eagletown, the first meetings being held in a log cabin on Ephraim Stout's place. Fifteen members constituted the first meeting and two years later a meeting house was erected for their use. This church society was a radical branch of the anti-slavery type and had withdrawn from the Westfield Monthly Meeting on that account; later they united with the Anti-slavery Friends Society. In 1855 the meeting was reorganized at Eagletown, where a comfortable edifice was built, which was still in use in the eighties, in which year the society had a membership of one hundred and thirty.

The Chester Friends church has a history beginning with the first set- tlement of the neighborhood. In February, 1837, Robert Tomlinson, with his family, settled two miles north of Westfield. In September, of the same year, Enoch Jessup and family settled near by. In good time other families came to the neighborhood, most of whom belonged to the Friends church. There was no church nearer than Westfield. As there were no roads the mode of traveling was on foot or on horseback. This distance was traveled for a few years until they believed they ought to have a church established in their own neighborhood. To this end, on March 31, 1859, the following petition was presented to the Westfield Monthly Meeting :

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History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 30

Author: John F. Haines Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051