USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 28
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" In 1:35, the name of the circuit was changed from Fall Creek to that of l'endleton Cirenit. How match the boundaries of the circuit were change ) ! have no way of knowing.
" The first quarterly conference of the Noblesville Circuit was held on the 12th day of December, 1535, James Havens was Providing Elder, and .J. (. Habin Circuit Preacher, I find the official list ture munders thirty two. I will name a few that are known to this generation . Silas Ign, Lowal Preacher . William Perkins, Forwal Preacher ; Thomas Hare, Jacob Maban, Henry Shederly, Jonathan Carey, fivorge Fodand, Hethel Danning, Pleasant Williams and John Intz.
" In 1533, Noblesville hold its first quarterly confiture October 22, 1873. Folin Hall. Presiding Elder ; L. W. Munson. Local Preacher. Thus far we have anis noted the changes of the nature of the circuit, until we have ourselves down In the Noblesville Station " The Presiding Elders of this circuit, since 185:1. have loren John H. Hull. to 1855 , Angustus Faldy. to 1859, H. A. Barnes, Comole, to 1871, Milton Mahan, to Ispi . , to 1880. A list of the local preachers we have been unable to addtain, beyond that already given. "trafo for the year just closed, Rev. S. S. Campbell, and the present one, who has been already noted at the head of' this article. The greater part of' the history herrin presented, is drawn from a discourse delivered by Rev. H. A. Cuttingham, in Modoville, in August, 187 1.
Paraand to notier given from the pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a meeting was hold on the 20th day of December, 1818, at which time a number of persons favoralde to the organization, met after a sermon by the Rev. W. H. Rogers, who neted as Mudrratur. At that time, the following persons formed themselves into a Presbyterian Church at this place: Curtis Mallory. Joseph Curlin, John T. Carlin, Robert T. Carlin, Margaret Curlin, J. S. Lower, Sabina Lower, Almer Jones, Nancy Jones, W. F. Wagenman and Mrs. Dunlap. J. S. Lower was chosen Serretary; Curtis Mallory and Joseph C'urlin, Ruling Elders.
Afterward, on the 11th of Felmary, 1819, Mrs. A. U. Hogere and Rachael Potts were received as members, and ten days later, John R. firay. Margaret P. Gray and Peter Bare were received, and, on the 3d of March fal- lowing, James G. Lane, Elizabeth Lane and Theda A. Cuttingham. Sulse- quently, meetings were held regularly by Rev. Mr. Rogers, until in October. 1851, when he chord his labors as stated supply of this church. On the Esth of July, 1856, Hev. James McCoy commenced, the church being without any pastor in the interval. March 1. 1859, the record of the church was examined by Rev. Edward Scofield, and approved. March 23, 1863, the following per- Mms were elected Trustees : J. A. Garver, Peter Hare, Aber Jones, J. T. Carlin and B. T. Curlin. Then, " on motion, it was resolved that Hev. I. P. Webber be authorized to sell the bell belonging to the church, for not less than $100;" the money to be appropriated to the painting of the church and fener, and Mr. Wehler was the mimster in charge at the time. On the 4th of' December, 1865, it was further resolved that, it' a purchaser could be found. the church be sold for 81,250.
85
NOBLESVILLE TOWNSHIP.
The present church edifice of this congregation is situated on South Cath- aring street, one square from the court house. The pastor is Rev. John S. Craig. Services are held regularly each Sunday morning and evening; prayer meetings rach Thursday evening. Connected with and under the control of this church, is an excellent Sunday school, of which Mr. J. B. Gray is Super- intendent,
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was organized about March, 1862, by Mr. Indieutt, a local preacher from Todianapolis,
For the purpose of so duing, he used the old log schoolhouse, situated three and a half miles northwest from Noblesville, on the southeast comer of the " Pleasant Evans " farm. A membership of thirteen joined at this organization.
Mr. Indientt continued doing pastoral servier for this church about three years; was then in succession followed annually by Ellers Langford, Brown and Depugh.
During the administration of Eller Henry Brown, a large, interesting and successful comp meeting was held in the woods near the old log schoollemmer, and finally, at the termination of his pastoral service with them, he left the church in a very prosperous condition.
On the contrary, at the end of another year, or at the close of Eller Depugh's pastor hip, the church had become demoralized-its influence and attendance sally reduced. While he was their Pastor, or about 1868, their place of worship was transferred to the village of Noblesville, where it has since remained.
After the retirement of Eller Depugh, for about three years the church was without any permanent shepherd, leaving the somne almost wholly unor- ganized. Finally came Eller Bezkiah Harper, who, by his zeal and benign influence, infused anew the old spirit of hope and confidence into its members, succeeded in getting re-organized.and, eventually, induced his congregation to build a permanent house of worship.
Hle selected a lot in J. R. Giray's Addition to the town of Noldesville.
William F. Thomas, Benjamin Roberts, Needham Scott and William Lang. ford acted as a committee to raise funds. The lot was purchased, at a cost of 8125 ; and, while Elder Harper did not remain to see the church fully con- structed, which he had instituted, yet he withdrew from the church, leaving it well organized, and in a condition of thrift. His immediate successor, Elder Jason Bundy, carried the work forward to completion. It was ready for bring oerupied in 1871. This structure constitutes their present place of worship. It is a one-story frame building, 18x32 feet, and cost nearly 8700,
Elder J. MeSmith followed Eller Bundy, and was successful ; but Ekler A. H. Knight, who succeeded the latter, did very poorly, and his feeble labors left the church somewhat disorganized again. Elder Green, from Detroit- here a short time -- made no amends, Elder G. B. Popr did much to brace up the church again. Eller Alexander also did his work well. Then came Mr. Toutle, whose labors had the effect again to demoralize and discourage, so much so that it was with difficulty a congregation could be assembled. This the church bore with vicissitudes till the fall of 1879, when came the present Pastor, Rev. W. R. Hutchison, who, by his ability and Christian carnestness, has gathered to him a full congregation and multiplied his membership from eighteen to fifty-four.
His labors are an well appreciated that it is hoped he will he continued longer at this charge. The church has a Sunday school of about twenty members, with Mr. William F. Thomas ax Superintendent.
AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized in September, 1853, at the public schoolhouse in Noblesville, under the auspices of Rev. Jesse Young, from Indianapolis, with a membership of fifteen. Meetings were held every Sabbath, although preaching was hehl once per month only.
Hev. 1. Young remained as Pastor for the congregation up to about the fall of 1859. Regular services were then discontinued till about September, 1865, when Rev. J. Young at said schoolhouse again succeeded in getting this church to organize. Rev. Zachariah Roberts assisted much to help re-organize. At the retirement of Rev. Voung in 1859, this church was made up of seven communicants, and here it is worthy to record that those faithful seven con- stituted the membership in 1865 at the re-organization.
As formerly, preaching was held only upon days of the sacrament, or once per month. We may properly wed, too, that Auch services were necessarily held at sundry and irregular places up to the completion of their present house of worship. Following Rev. Jesse Young, since about 1866, their pulpit has
been filled by Revs. Chapman Harris, Henry Johnson, Benjamin Gardner and others, up to their present Pastor, Bev. C. A. Roberts, of Noblesville, who has successfully officiated the past two years. Rev. Benjamin Gardner estwwially was an efficient laborer in the vineyard of the Gospel, doing much indeed to build up and cement together the church. He was the moving spirit in founding and erecting their present church edifice, remaining but a very little short of participating in its final completion and dedication. Hev. Henry Johnson, his immediate successor, promptly finished what had been so well and fully begun. It had been commeneed in 1873, and was completed in 1875. It is situated on Amo street, west from Brock street. la a one- story frame, 20x30 feet, and cost 8653. The society is free from debt, and wow has a surplus fund in the treasury, with which soon to make repairs. At the withdrawal of Rev. Gardner, this body had a membership of forty-six. It now has a membership of sevroty, and is in a prosperous condition.
They have an interesting Sabbath school of about fifty-two members, with William Freeman as Superintendent.
CHAPTER II.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
High School Building-Its Cost and Furnishing-Graded Schools and their Management.
THE high-school building, known as the "Seminary," was built in the autumn of 1870, and is two stories high, besides a basement. The main building is of brick, the basement being of stone, and an eight-foot story. In dimensions, the edifier is 62x80 feet . the school-rooms are 26x29 feet, and the vestibule 20x25 feet. In all these rooms, the height is fifteen feet from flour to ceiling. There are four school apartments on each floor, ond all the same size, each having four large windows. The cloak-rooms have cach a door open- ing into the vestibule, and another into the school-rooms. Of these cloak- rooms there are two, one on either side of the entrance. The entire building is heated with furnaces, by means of which the temperature of the several rooms is uniforndy maintained, not subject to the irregularities consequent upon the oll usage.
In the spring of 1869, when the erection of this building was finally theter- mined upon, the School Board consisted of Messrs. T. T. Butler, E. M. Mor- rison and John Stephenson, who, having procured plans and estimates, set themselves about the accumulation of means to that end. The estimated cost of the building was 822,000, to complete which would require an amount, over and above that on hand, of about $20,000; hence, on the 8th day of May, 1869, corporation bonds were ordered to be issued, from the sale of which to make up the deficiency. Twenty days later, the former order was made more definite, and the board declared that bonds of the aggregate sum of 820,000, in denominations of $1,000 each, payable in twenty years, and directed a levy of 50 cents on each $100 valuation of taxables in the corporation. The pro- posed bonds for the amount named were not issued, however, until the 25th of June, 1870. In the mean time, on the 8th of April preerding, Mr. T. T. Butler, one of said board, resigned his trust, and Leonard Wild was appointed in his stead. On the day following the issue of these bonds, Messrs. E. M. Morrison and John D. Stephenson, two of said board, tiled with the County Auditor, their bond, in the penalty of 810,000, to secure the corporation on the sale of bonds so issued, the said Trustees having been appointed to nego- tiate auch sale. October 4, following, the board directed the Treasurer to redeem $1,000 of the school bands, and pay the same to b. Wild for one of said bonds negotiated to him.
In the winter of 1871-72, the school board having filed a report of their transactions in that behalf, a committee, consisting of J. Stafford, A. Kline and P. Kastelhune, was appointed to audit the sune. This committee, on the 27th of January, 1872, submitted their report of such examination, in substanco as follows :
Proceciis of bonds, less discounts (20,000). .... $21,678 00
Proceeds of bonds, less discounts (2,000). 1,880 00
Total amount of funds received. ៛23,458 00
Total amount of funds expended, including buildings, out-
bouges, furniture, etc ...... .$21,062 85
Indebtedness yet dne and unpaid, about ..
2,300 00
Total cost of building and attachments .$24,262 86
Paid out of special achnol funds
.$804 85
86
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
At the same session, an ordinance before passed in reference to the surren- der of' a portion of said bonds, was amended as follows :
That, " so much of an ordinance passed September !, 1871, as requires the Board of Trustees to surrender fifty (50, of the bonds issued on the 28th of April, A. D. 1870, of the denomination of one hundred dollars cach, and not yet negodiated on account of other boards issued in their place, be, and the same is hereby, amended, so that they be required to surrender only ten ( B) of said honda, leaving the total amount in their hands to be arrounted for, 824,000."
On the 13th of May, 1872, it was ordered by the board " that 83,500 lw appropriated to pay interest on bonds isaned April. 1872, and September, 1871. for the purpose of furnishing and finishing I'nion Schoolhouse, Said find to apply in reduction of said principal and interest.'
The total cost of building, 8:30,505.02, amount of building fond need, $23,631.37 ; amount of special school fand used, $0,570.15. The building without furniture, heating apparatus, and other improvements to the building and property, erst about the sum of $21,000, the additional items being made up of furnishing supplies, fencing, grading, lightning rods, incidentals, etc.
GRADED SCHOOLS,
Almost ten years ago, the corporation School Trustees of Noblesville inan- gurated a system of graded schools, from which the prosent eficient system has KTOWE. After a careful examination of the method of work of similar schuuls ekewhere, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of such as came under their notice, the division into grades to menpy one building in commen, under the management of a competent principal, was deemed most advisable and adopted accordingly. To make this sy stom a supress therefore, a proper build- ing adapted to that purpose was the desideratum, and they set themselves earnestly alumt the work with such surress in result as we have already seen. The building was congdeted and ready for ocenpaney some time during the year 1873, under the superintendenee of Mr. L. Wild. It was not until this date, therefore, that the working economy of the system began to be fully developed. Since that time there has been a gradual improvement in the management, which was subsequently placed under the charge of a superintendent. In June 1875, Prof. B. F. Owens, of Columbus, Ind., was appointed to that position, and, so far as we know to the contrary, he gave general satisfaction ; at least the results appwar to have been satisfactory. How long he continued dues nut
At this time, the schools appear to be successfully managed under the Superintendente of Prof. E. W. Renbelt. From a report of this gentleman, sub. mitted alumt the Ist of May, 1880, of the workings of the several schools under his charge, we glean the following farts :
"This, the sixth monthly report of the Noblesville schools, embracing the daily che's standing and monthly examination, is considerably above our last two reports. The teachers and pupils both deserve credit and the approba- tion of parents for their good work. The schools are now running as nicely mand as harmunionsly as I ever have known them to run. The total enrollment is 595, and will reach 600 or more by the time school closes. The third term has now begun and will last eight weeks. Schools will chere on the 1 1th of May. Commencement exercises will take place Thursday evening, May 13, at the Methodist Episcopal Church. and the high school exercises at the city ball, in the 11th of May. These exercises will be advertised in time, and "very parent and patron of the school should be present."
This report gives the average standing of the pupils of the different classes individually, with the names of the teachers respectively, and makes in excel- lent showing. The " Stars," in grade A, stand 97.1 nud 98 ; in grado B, 91.1 and 06.1 ; in grade 0, 97.7 and 17 ; grade 1, 35 and 91.2, per cent.
The present Trustees are down tiranger, d. C. MerCole, F. A. Hawkins, W. J. Martin and Elwood Wilson.
NORMAL INSTITI TE.
On the 7th of July, 1877, a Normal Institute was organized in Noblesville, at which twenty nine of the teachers of the county were present, every town- ship in the county being represented. The institute was under the manage- ment of Prof. Jumex Ballwin, assisted by an efficient corps of teachers in the several departments, composed chiefly of resident trachers or those from the . Immediate vicinity. This session, hell especially for the preparation of our teachers for the netive duties of their profession, exerted a most excellent influ- cure in the progressive anceres of the county and corporation schools, as subsequent exminations and reporta have fully shown. Since that dute, other unound sessions have been held with equal success, and have, as a consequence,
breume a fixture, the general school system of the State making it nerevary that schools for the practical training of teachers be held onee a year, or as much more frequently as the situation demands. These, with the State Nor- mal Schools, are expected to afford all required facilities for the proper educa- tion of profissional teachers, whose duty it will be to instruct in turn coming
CHAPTER IN.
NEWSPAPERS.
1 EMMONS. a practical printer of Eastern birth, came here carly in . the year 1836, and immediately commenced the publication of a news. paper. braring the significant name of The Spirepaper, the first mmber uf which was issued January 12. 1836, neutral in politics. The paper was printed on an 18x25-inch sheet, or four 1201 1-inch pages, and was a fine speri- men of the typographie art in that day, and would compare favorably with the appearance presented by the better class of newspapers printed to-day. It was a neat and comely sheet, and the make-up of original and selected matter was above the average, The patronage was not large, and the enterprise was not a paying que; hence, it yielded to the pressure of circumstances, and the publi- cation was suspended on the 220 of March, 1838. In the course of time, it was revised by F. M. Scott, who continued its publication for several months with indifferent stress, when, finally, it erased to be issued.
In the mean time, Mr. Emmons had gone away, but returned ngain to Noblesville in 1812, and commeneed the publication of the Little Wistern. It was a four-page paper also, with four columns to the page, the size being 1x2; inches, and was Democratie in polities. A file of this paper is still in existence here and well-preserved, commencing with the issue of June 1. 1842, and ending with the issue of January 25, 1815. It was published weekly. on Saturday. At about the latter date, Mr. Commons was appointed to a clerk- ship in Washington City, and held the position during the four years succeed- ing. I'pon his return to this place, by the way of Parker-burg, in Virginia, to Lawrenceburg, he was attacked with the cholera, and died a few days after his arrival. During the absence of Mr. Emmons, in Washington, the paper was temporarily suspended. Subsequently, however, P. C. Lawyer, I. T. Cox, F. M. Randall and perhaps others, were engaged in the control of the paper.
In August, 1851, the Noblesville Nors, having been previously published by F. M. Rawdall, was purchased by A. R. Gray and J. W. Evans, who changed the name to the Hoosier Patriot, and continued the publica- tion under that name for the succeeding six months, during the excitement attendant upon the action in Congress on the " Kan-as-Nebraska" bill, when it was sold by the publishers to H. W. Clark, Sr. He, in turn. continued to puldish the paper for some time under the same name, when it passed into other hands. Subsequently, it was published under the name of the True Whig, by L. E. Rumrell, and by Rumrell & Hardy, for a series of years, Some time in the year 1862, Messrs Hardy & Clark became the purchasers. In the fall of that year, however, it passed into the hands of S. K. Christy, who, a few weeks after, changed the name to the White River Clipper, the first number of which appeared in September of that year. Under the administration of Mr. Christie, the size of the paper was increased to seven rolumus, in 1865, which was maintained until the last day of December, 1868. For a considerable portion of the preceding four years, the Clipper had a " patent " or " f'hirago inside." At that time, the paper and office were purchased by A. M. Conklin, who, on the 7th day of January, 1889, issued the Hamilton County Register, in its stead. On the 11th of March following, the Register was increased to an eight-robimy paper, and was continued in that form until March 8, 1871, when it became n nine-rohnun paper, and came ont in n new dress. At that time, the offer, which was in Hall's building, was entirely refitted, new type, a new " Day " jobber, and a " Potter power press." These new features were supplied at a cast of alot 83,500, and were the result of persevering industry and judicious management, having ne- quired through these agencies an enviable position in the newspaper world, exerting an influence for good without parallel in this community, being almost exclusively devoted to county affairs, and but little to politics.
The Noblesville Commercial made its first appearance on the 7th of January, 1870, issued under the proprietorship of H. R. Stephenson. It was a seven- euhoun paper, and was published by him during the succeeding year. On the last of December, he rented the office to other parties. Subsequently, the Commercial was published by Mesera. Miles & Bodenhaminer, both practical
87
NOBLESVILLE TOWNSHIP.
printers, who had previously rented the office. I'nder their administration, the paper presented a neat and attractive appearance, being much improved iu style and make-up, and promised to be a successful enterprise. Just how long it was published and by whom, we have not now the means of knowing.
" The Noblesville Ledger, one of the popular papers of the city, from the interest manifested by it in regard to local affairs, having a place and history elsewhere in this volume, the reader is thereto referred for information.
The Noblesville Republican, a new paper. commeneed its career in the spring of 1880, the first work in March. It is a quarto, six-column paper, edited by J. B. Cheadle, and makes its appearance regularly every Wednesday, from the office on the southeast corner of the public square, over Dann's hardware store. The Republican is ally conducted, its columns being well filled with local and general news. It is entitled to and is receiving a liberal patronage.
CHAPTER V. BENEVOLENT ORDERS-MASONIC.
Hamilton lange, No. 32-Marting Inder Dispensation-Work Satisfactory- Charter Granted-Stricken from the Roll of Lodges in 1835-Nur Charter Granted to Hamilton Lodge, No. 57-It's Progress-Present Status-Noblesville Chapter, No. 14, Instituted- Its Progress-Present Membership.
1
MITE Onder of Free and Accepted Masuns had an early representation in T Hamilton County, some of the earliest, if not, indeed, the first, who settled here, being members of that ancient fraternity. The influence was such as to induce brethren of the " mystic tie," residing within the arra cir- cumseribed by the jurisdiction round about to affiliate together, and thus strengthen the hands of " heatherly love, relied and truth " existing muong them. Society had not long been organized in the county when a disposition began to manifest itself which enhuinated in a request from M. W. Elihn Stunt, Grand Master, for a dispensation authorizing them to work. This request was granted and a dispensation issued accordingly, bearing date March, 1828. The first meeting was held on Saturday evening, March 29, 1828, and the officers manmed in the Grand Master's authority were JJeremiah Framing, Wor- shipful Master; William Conner, Senior Warden , and Nathan D. Shoemaker, Junior Warden. There were present, also, Francis B. Cogswell, George Shirts, John D. Stephenson, James B. Hall, residents ; and Peter Dunning, a visiting brother from Center Lodge, No. 23, Indianapolis, Ind. The dis- pensation was issued to the brethren ummed, empowering them to work as Hamilton Lodge. At this first meeting, the authority was accepted and entered of record, when the lodge thus constituted proceeded to the election of others, with the following result : John D. Stephenson, Secretary ; Francis B. C'ogy- well, Treasurer ; Daniel Heaton, S. D. ; George Shirts, J. D. ; James B. Hall, Tiler ; the Master and Wordens were those named in the dispensation as above. A committee, consisting of William Comer and John D. Stephenson, was appointed to draft by-laws for the lodge at the same meeting. The second meeting was held on Saturday, April 26, which was the Saturday evening next before the full moon in April of that your ; hence, the stated meetings were determined to be held on Saturday, on or immediately preceding the full moon in each month.
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