History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 31

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 31

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"We, the undersigned members of the Westfield Monthly Meeting, re- · quest the privilege of holding a meeting for worship and a preparative among ourselves to be known by the name of Chester, two miles north of the town

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of Westfield, in the county of Hamilton, in the state of Indiana. Said meet- ing to be held on first and fourth day of each week, except first day of quarterly and fourth day of monthly meeting weeks. The preparative meet- ing to be held on fourth day before the last seventh day in each month."

This petition was signed by Robert Tomlinson, Peter Rich, David Stal- ker, John Stalker, Joseph Moore, William Baldwin, Lydia Tomlinson, Pru- dence Jessup, Amy Rich, Annie Stalker, Deborah Moore, Mary Baldwin, Noah Tomlinson, Allen Tomlinson, Eli Carey, Isom Hiatt, Jonathan Carey, David Fodrea, Abigal Tomlinson, Martha A. Tomlinson, Mary Carey, Asen- ath Hiatt, Eliza A. Carey and Tamer Fodrea.

The Monthly Meeting at Westfield united with this request and the information of this action was forwarded to the Quarterly Meeting held at Westfield in May. 1859. The Quarterly Meeting appointed a committee to visit those Friends making the request and this committee reported to the Quarterly Meeting held in the following August, as follows :

"The committee appointed at last Meeting to visit those Friends on ac- count of their request to hold a meeting for worship and a preparative to be known by the name of Chester, have attended to the object of our appoint- ment and are free: said request be granted, which we submit to the Meeting. Signed, on behalf of the committee-Andrew F. Evans, Anna Baker."

The Quarterly Meeting made the following minute :

"At Union Quarterly Meeting of Friends, held at Westfield, Indiana, eighth month, sixth day, 1859, the committee appointed to visit Friends in the north part of the settlement of Westfield on account of their request for a Meeting for worship and a preparative, report that they have attended to the object of their appointment and are united in judgment that it would be right to grant their request, with which the Meeting unites; and appoints the following named Friends to attend the opening Meeting in the tenth month next, namely: Donagan Clark, Jacob Carson, Noah Stafford, Clark- son F. Cook, Benjamin Harold, Jesse Horney, Jemima Stanley, Sarah Hiatt, Elizabeth Bray, Edith J. Commack, Phebe Cook, Eunice Doan. (Signed) Levi T. Pennington, Ellen R. Hunt, Clerks."

In accordance with the above action Chester was organized on October 26, 1859, with Robert Tomlinson and Lydia Tomlinson as heads of the Meeting and Joseph Moore and Amy Rich as clerks. The first minister hav- ing a Meeting appointed for the proclaiming of the Gospel in Chester house, was Joseph Pickett, with M. Sittler as his companion, which Meeting was held October 31, 1859. The first marriage in Chester house was that of Henry Roberts and Keziah Lamm. The first minister recorded was Zimri

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Kivett. Several other members have been made ministers and one made a missionary to Africa, Florence Stanbrough Roberts.

The ground upon which the meeting house was built was donated to · the church by Allen Tomlinson to Joseph Moore, Allen Tomlinson and Noah Tomlinson, as trustees, in 1859. In the erection of this edifice the labor was donated by the members. A part of the house was used for a school room for eight years.

THE CHURCH AT CARMEL.

The history of the Friends church at Carmel is best told by a quotation from a booklet published by the society in 1893, which reads, in part, as follows :

"About the year 1830 a few Friends met at Harmon Coxe's, a mile and a half east of Carmel, to consult about a place to hold public meetings for worship. The decision was that the first Meeting should be held in a log cabin, one-half mile north of Carmel, and a few rods west of the road running from Carmel to Westfield. This cabin had been built by an early settler but was at this time deserted.

"For near three years this continued to be the meeting place of those upright Christian families who formed the first Meeting of Friends in Hamilton county, Indiana.

"The following are the names of early settlers who are now recalled and found on records : Benjamin Mendenhall, in 1827; Charles White, John Morris and William Hawkins, in 1828; Harmon Cox, Timothy Sumner, Barneby Newby, Daniel Warren and Jonas Hoover, in 1831 ; Stephen Hiatt, Eli Johnson, Jacob Cook, Isaac Rich and Charles Davis, in 1832. From 1833 to 1835 came in the subjoined: Zimri Cook, Jonathan Carey, Eli Phelps, Joseph and Abraham Jessup, Jonathan Evans, William Comber, Samuel Small. George West, Nathan Harold, Joseph Randall, Jr., Isaiah Davidson, Benjamin Wells and possibly a few others.

"The Name of the Church .- When established the Meeting was called Richland. The name was suggested by Benjamin Mendenhall, who had moved from a Meeting by that name in Greene county, Ohio. It belonged to Fairfield Monthly Meeting, which is situated in Hendricks county. It was at first indulged meeting, but in 1833 a Preparative Meeting was established by the above Monthly Meeting. In 1835 Richland Preparative joined with Westfield Preparative Meeting and Westfield Monthly Meeting was established by White Lick Quarterly Meeting held in Morgan county. The committee appointed to attend the opening of this Monthly Meeting

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were : Eleazor Bales, Robert W. Hodson, John Carter, Jr., Richard Day, Elizabeth Mendenhall, Ann Bales, Esther Newlin and Asenath Moore. These were all present, except Richard Day and Elizabeth Mendenhall. Westfield Meeting for some years was held alternately at Richland and Westfield.

"Richland Monthly Meeting .- In 1840 Richland Monthly Meeting was set off from Westfield and by White Lick Meeting. Those appointed to attend the opening of Richland Monthly Meetings were: Samuel Spray, Robert W. Hodson, William Whitson, James Kearsey, Samuel Millhouse, Esther Spray, Rhoda Carey, Asenath Moore, Margaret Goffin and Lydia Tomlinson.

"The first clerks of Richland Monthly Meeting were Levi Haines and Lydia P. Cook.

"In 1868 Richland Quarterly Meeting was established. It was com- posed of Richland, Poplar Ridge and East Branch Monthly Meetings, the latter two having been established a few years previous to this.

"In 1901 the name of both Quarterly and Monthly Meetings was changed from Richland to Carmel.

"First Friends Child Born .- The first child born in a Friends family was Elizabeth Ann Stanton, daughter of Benjamin Mendenhall. The first marriage according to Friends disciple was William Hiatt and Mary Moon. In 1841. Charles Lane and Julia Cook, Cyrus Carey and Margaret Harold, Jesse Small and Eliza Bond were three couples who were married in Friends Meetings.

"Education .- Very early in the history of this Meeting, the subject of education claimed its attention. Ever since 1841 committees were interested in the person of both men and women, who have kept apace with the times ever since. Liberal contributions of money and interest have been given to aid in the establishment of Union High Schools at Westfield, and from the above date until about 1878, one or more schools were merged by the Monthly Meeting. Those of Poplar Ridge and Carmel deserve special men- tion, being excelled by few, if indeed any, in the county.

"School Buildings .- At one time Richland Meeting spent three thousand dollars in the erection of a building in the north end of Carmel, which was used for several years by the public schools, after the church ceased to con- trol its management. Nor has the matter stopped here. Earlham College has had frequent contributions and a number of our talented youth have graced the halls of these and other institutions. They have developed and are developing into useful men and women, fitted for positions of honor and trust in both church and state. The freedom and elevation of the colored

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race has had a prominent place in the deliberations of the church, especially during the past. " The civilization of the Indians has, in like manner, claimed its attention.

"The mutual dependence of the early settlers made them very con- siderate of the poorer members and the Meeting has often rendered substantial help to those whose necessities required it.

"The Sabbath School .- Not among the least items of interest in con- nection with the work of the church has been the recognition and growth of Sabbath schools. This work was commenced about the year 1852, and care- fully guarded lest there should come out of it unprofitable discussions. At first there was only one class and that kept up only in summer. It was com- posed of a few students; a whole chapter was not considered too much for a lesson. The interest steadily grew until it has reached present proportions. For about thirty years school has been kept up the year round (this was written in 1893), and the enrollment had then reached one hundred and twenty.

"In addition to the above mission work, temperance reform, circulation of the Holy Scriptures, the distribution of books and tracts and evangelistic and pastoral work have been made prominent.

"The First Minister .-- The first minister that belonged to this Meeting was Samuel Stafford, who settled in 1836. The first minister recorded was Asaph Hiatt in 1849. Since that time the Monthly Meeting has recorded a number of others, among which were Elizabeth D. Reynolds and Isaac Rob- erts. Besides these ministers there have been a number of other workers of equal importance in their line of work.

"Church Buildings .- After holding meetings for three years in the log house west and north from Carmel, the Friends, in 1833, concluded to build a house on the ground where the house just vacated now stands. This was a log house at first, eighteen by twenty feet, but in 1835 another room near the same size was added. The floor in this structure was made of hewn timber of even thickness. The fire-place was in the center of the room and was a square box filled with clay and mortar. Charcoal was used for fuel.

"The frame house vacated in 1893 was commenced in 1843 and finished in 1845. The first sermon that was preached after the house was so it could be used. was by Daniel Williams, of Wayne county, in the autumn of 1844. The next five years of the Meeting's history shows the largest membership and attendance the Meeting has ever had. After that time Meetings began to be established nearby.

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"There was a peculiar feeling of sacredness in the minds of many on leaving this old house on account of the many blessings and memories which cluster about the old walls and cemetery nearby.

"The church that was first occupied in 1893 is a commodious structure, having two rooms. The largest is thirty-four by fifty-two feet, the other twenty-five by thirty feet. These are separated by folding doors and can easily be thrown together. The building has a seating capacity of five hun- dred. It is heated by a furnace, has a slate roof, stained window glass, circle seats in the larger room, and has all the necessary requirements of modern churches."

THE CHURCH AT SHERIDAN.

The Friends church at Sheridan was founded in the summer of 1888, the first Meetings being held once every two weeks in the Methodist church. There was also several Meetings held in school houses during the summer .. It was then removed to the south room of the upper story of Union Block, over a beer saloon, where Meetings were held until January, 1899, when a church house was completed and ready for occupancy. There is no record of the society dating back of 1890, hence it is impossible to speak of early membership. At that date there are about one hundred and forty members. There are now one hundred and twenty-five members-not as many as for- merly. The building was remodeled several times before the new one was erected. The pastors here have included the following: Revs. William Haworth, Eunice Furnace and John Griffin, who preached here as resident ministers, receiving no salary until November, 1893, when Oliver Hunt was engaged, who was followed by Thomas Inman, Zeno Doan, Shoesmith, in 1902, who preached a year, then John Griffin till 1906, when Addison Parr came. The next was Charles Hudleston, 1907 to 1909. Then came Addison Parr again, remaining until 1911, he being followed shortly by William Smith, who remained till the fall of 1912, when I. G. Lee and wife, present pastors. came to take charge of the work, and have enthused new life into the church. Robert Pelt, an evangelist, resides at Sheridan and works in all the surrounding country.

HINKLE CREEK FRIENDS CHURCH.

Hinkle Creek Friends church is situated six miles northwest of Nobles- ville, in Jackson township. at the corner of Noblesville and Washington

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HINKLE CREEK FRIENDS CHURCH AND CEMETERY

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townships. The community was settled in the early thirties and meetings were held at the homes of the settlers for two or three years before any church organization was made. The Meeting was organized in June, 1836, and the first house, which was of logs, was built in that year.

The first frame house was twenty-six by twenty-six feet and was erected in the early forties. This house was destroyed by fire in 1872 and was replaced the same year by the present commodious structure, which is thirty-six by fifty-two. This house was remodeled a few years ago, nearly all the work being done by the members.

The Meeting was established by Westfield Monthly Meeting, to which it was attached for some years. The charter members of the Meeting were William and Sarah Rich, Richard and Hannah Rich, James Rees and wife, John and Mary Beals, Jesse and Dinah Beals, Jacob and Esther Carson, Amer and Achsah Hiatt, Jonathan and Esther Haworth, Joel and Phoebe Rees, Jonathan and Esther Rees, Enos and Lydia Hiatt, Joseph Sumner and wife, Samuel Sumner and wife, James Harris and wife, Edward and Eliza- beth Bray, and probably .some others. When the Monthly Meeting was es- tablished, Jacob Carson was appointed clerk and William Pickett, assistant. Esther Carson was the first recorded minister.

Later ministers recorded by this Meeting were William Haworth, Jack- son Morrow, Amos and Lydia Carson, Albert Willets and Raymond Hold- ing. The latter was a very efficient missionary in Mexico until the recent disastrous wars in that country, which compelled him to bring his family away.

The membership now is two hundred and nine and the Meeting is in good condition. The pastor is Arthur Hendrickson. A. L. Horney is the superintendent of the Bible school. The present trustees are B. C. White, M. C. Beals and P. A. Bray. Many members of this Meeting have served the county and various ownships in different capacities. M. L. Cardwell is now county treasurer and J. D. Bray, recorder.

The first funeral was that of a young daughter of James and Nancy Fisher. This occurred in 1836. The large cemetery adjoining the church is an object of pride to the members and especially to the trustees, who have spent so much time of recent years on its improvement. Additional ground has recently been purchased and laid off in lots, with walks and a gravel drive, with nice iron fence and gates. There is a large fund on interest for the maintenance of the cemetery, which is constantly being added to, thus insuring its permanency.

About twenty soldiers of the Civil War are buried here and one, Will-

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iam Sumner, of the War of 1812, and their graves are carefully looked after . by their comrades and friends.

FRIENDS CHURCH AT NOBLESVILLE.

The Friends church at Noblesville is one of the youngest churches in town. A few Friends living in Noblesville decided to meet and plan for the organization of that denomination. The first Meeting, at which a dozen persons were present, was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. Stanley, on South Tenth street. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Amos Sanders and son of Westfield, Mr. and Mrs. John Harrold, Mr. and Mrs. James Hollo- well, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Roberts and Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Phelps. This meeting was held in the summer of 1890. Shortly after that a sum of money was raised by subscription to fit up a hall for services. This sub- scription paper was started August 3, 1890, and as soon thereafter as possi- ble the room over the present site of Albert's shoe store was fitted up for church services. Meetings, church and Sunday school were held in this hall until February 28, 1892. After this, until the opening of the new church, Meetings were held in the county superintendent's room in the court house, the last services being held there October 16, 1892. The following Sunday, October 23, 1892, the church on Division street was dedicated. The entire cost of the erection of the church was four thousand, four hundred dollars.

Rev. Amos Sanders began as pastor when the Meetings began in the hall. He was then living in Westfield, but in November, 1890, he moved to Noblesville. During the month of July, 1891, the lot was purchased where the church was later erected. On September 1, 1891, work was begun on. the new building. At the organization of the Monthly Meeting, February 2, 1893, members were received from East Branch, Westfield and Hinkle Creek Friends churches and also from the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. Several were taken in by request. The membership at that time was about one hundred and sixty-eight.

Rev. Amos Sanders and his wife were very earnest workers in the new church. To them is largely due the early growth and prosperity of the church, both in spiritual and temporal things. Rev. Sanders continued as pastor until October, 1900. The pastors following Rev. Sanders up to the present time have been Revs. Brown, Lewis, Reise, Hawkins, S. Newlin, F. Moorman, F. Cope and the present pastor, Mrs. Gertrude Reinier. This is the third year of Mrs. Reinier's pastorate and the church has had quite a

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growth during that time. Numerous members have been added to the church and Sunday school rolls and a new Sunday school room and base- ment have been built to the church, at the cost of twenty-six hundred dollars. The walls, also, have been newly decorated, and the structure now is one of the most beautiful and commodious churches in Noblesville. The present membership is two hundred and sixty and the church is in a very flourishing condition.

GRAY MEETING.

A Friends' Meeting was organized at Gray as early as 1850. The meeting for many years was called East Branch Meeting of Friends. It was established by Richland Monthly Meeting as a Preparative Meeting, and later became a Monthly Meeting. Some of the early members were Samuel Stafford and wife. Robert Lancaster and wife, Ornan Bond, Levi A. and Hindman Haines and their wives, Jared Patten, Joseph Randall.

The old frame building that stood for many years where the present structure stands, contained two rooms. The upper part of the partition that separated the two rooms consisted of shutters that were raised-opened-on all occasions except at business meetings. The sexes sat in separate rooms. It may have been that "distance lends enchantment to the view," but cer- tainly no girls ever appeared fairer to the eyes of young men than did the Quaker maidens sitting on the other side of that partition.

The name of East Branch Monthly Meeting was changed to Gray when a post office by that name was established in this community. This meeting has always had a large and faithful membership. The attendance on Sab- bath morning is always large.

Some of the ministers who have labored here are: Nathan S. Davis, Anson Cox, Brison Hiatt, in early days. Some of the more recent ones are : Jehu Reagan, Mrs. Holliday, David Hadly, and the present one, Thomas Brown. The pioneer members have all passed away. Many of them lie sleeping in the beautiful little cemetery that adjoins the church on the north.

POPLAR RIDGE MEETING.

Poplar Ridge Meeting was established December 26, 1850, sixteen families joining in the request. The first meeting house was erected on a two-acre tract of land donated by Jonathan Wilson. In 1860 Mr. Wilson donated two acres for school purposes, being instrumental in establishing

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what was for many years known as "Poplar Ridge Seminary," where the church and parsonage now stand.

As the years passed the meeting grew in numbers and influence, the members standing ever ready to do anything for the advancement of the com- munity. The first minister was Franklin Merideth. Jehu Regan has been pastor for five years. Henry Hodgin was the first minister acknowledged by the monthly meeting and John Reagan is now the only living charter mem- ber of this society ..

OTHER CHURCHES.

In Noblesville there are thirteen religious societies, most of which have been treated in the pages preceding this from data furnished the author. Aside from such churches may be mentioned, in brief, the following: The Wesleyan church on South Fifth street, where there is a good building and a membership of about one hundred under direction of a faithful pastor.

The Christian Holiness church, on East Wayne street, has a good build- ing and supports a pastor.

The Seventh Day Adventist church, corner of Sixth and Pleasant streets, has a fair building and regular services are held.

The Dunkard church, in Lincoln Park, has a good building but a small membership.

Bible Truth Mission, located on East Maple street, has a small member- ship, but a faithful attendance.

The Christian Scientists also have a good society in Noblesville, but do not own any church edifice.

One of the greatest religious revivals ever conducted in Hamilton county was that in Noblesville during the month of January, 1915, commencing January 3d and continuing until the end of the month, by Bob Jones, the Alabama evangelist, who. with his company, consisting of his assistant, Mrs. Allison. Prof. Mckenzie and wife and Mr. and Mrs. Meinardi, conducted the month's campaign in a large tabernacle built of lumber and covered with paper. This structure easily seated 2,500 people and there were few services when it was not filled to overflowing. The first three weeks there were over eleven hundred converts. In all there were near fifteen hundred conversions. The expenses of the campaign amounted to four thousand dollars, including the one thousand eight hundred and forty-six dollars paid the evangelist, through contribution.

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CHAPTER XX.

EDUCATION.

SOMETHING REGARDING THE SCHOOLS OF HAMILTON COUNTY.

A history of the schools of Hamilton county would be incomplete if it did not contain at least a short sketch of the growth of the school system of the state of Indiana.

The Sixth Article of the old Ordinance of 1787 declared that "religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happi- ness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever en- couraged."

The Federal Enabling Act that was approved April 19, 1816, and which gave to the people of the Indiana Territory the right to form a constitutional and state government, contained a paragraph which said that the section numbered sixteen in every township should be set apart and the proceeds of the sale of this section should be used for the support of schools and also one entire township should be reserved for the use of a seminary of learning.

Article IX of the Constitution provided for a system of schools, begin- ning with the common, or township schools, up through the county semin- aries to and including the State University, the tuition to all of which schools was to be free and gratis to all.

It is always easier to put on paper a plan of procedure than it is to carry out that plan, so it was many years before the school lands could be sold and a fund created sufficient to support a public school. In the early days in Hamilton county. as in the other counties of the state. the schools were "subscription schools." The person who desired to teach in a com- munity wrote up an "article," in which he agreed to teach pupils a certain number of weeks at so much per pupil. Parents "signed" for their children, and when a sufficient number of "signers" were secured the school was duly opened. Frequently the "article" set forth the branches that the teacher would offer. They were usually reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic. The teacher would teach arithmetic to the "Single Rule of Three." or "Dou-

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ble Rule of Three," as the community desired. Sometimes geography was taught, and in one instance in this county the teacher agreed to teach that the world is round, or flat, just as a majority of the people in the neighborhood wished. If the teacher was married and lived in the neighborhood he would often accept at least part payment of the tuition in provisions. Butter, eggs, pork, corn, tow-linen and leather were some of the articles accepted.

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History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 31

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

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