USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 47
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Soon a log house was erected on this lot and used as a place of worship. A teacher was employed for the education of their children and the school was held in the church building for many years. Among the early ministers which held meetings in the log house were Mary Hodson and Melissa Hill. A Sabbath school was organized, which was in charge of Abigail Hubbard. After a number of years of worship in the log house the society deemed it best to erect another house in which to hold their services. Willing hands set to work and a small frame house was built. This building served as a house of worship and for a Sabbath school until the year 1866. In the meantime the membership had increased, a preparative meeting had been granted, and in that year the present building was erected.
A committee composed of Elihu Coffin, Joseph O. Andrews, Jesse Brown and Benjamin H. Binford was appointed by the preparative meet- ing to consider the propriety of repairing the old house or building a new one. After investigation they reported to the meeting that the probable cost of repairing and enlarging the old house would be fourteen hundred dollars : also that the cost of building a new frame house, thirty by fifty feet. would be about one thousand dollars, furnished inside with new benches, outside with slat window shutters, painted inside and out. The meeting chose the proposition of a new building and directed the same committee to proceed with the work. A subscription had previously been taken to aid the carpen- ter in procuring material. Elihn Coffin was the contractor. The house was finished and furnished at a cost of one thousand seven hundred and eighty- two dollars and thirty-two cents. The old house was sokl for a barn for seventy-five dollars and is used at the present time as such.
As the church prospered in membership and interest it began to assume new duties. In 1883 a home mission committee was appointed by West-
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land and Western Grove preparative meetings jointly. of men and women Friends, who met monthly for consultation and to receive reports of work done. A number of cottage prayer meetings were held; visits were made to the sick and aged, to the county infirmary and county jail, giving good literature to the inmates and trying to encourage them to live upright Chris- tian lives. Often very interesting and encouraging reports are given by dif- ferent sections of the committee. This work is still carried on.
About 1800 the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was organized. whose main object was to raise money to help send and keep missionaries in the field. Raymond Holding. a member of Westland church. went to Cuba as a missionary a few years ago and still remains in the mission field.
In 1872 Walnut Ridge monthly meeting, endorsed by Walnut Ridge quarterly meeting. established a monthly meeting to be known as Westland monthly meeting of Friends, to be held on the fourth seventh day of each month at eleven o'clock a. m. (liter on the time was changed to ten o'clock a. m.), to be held alternately at Westland in the even months and at Western Grove in the odd months. The first monthly meeting was held at Westland. October 26, 1872. The committee appointed by the quarterly meeting to attend the opening of the meeting was composed of David Marshall, William Binford. Sr .. George Swain, Micajah C. Binford, Sarah J. Hill. Eliza .\. Chap- pell and Elizabeth Hunt. Josiah Binford and Lydia A. Binford were ap- pointed clerks. The first minister with a minute to attend the new monthly meeting was Charles Hubbard of Raysville monthly meeting of Friends.
On August 25, 1877, Joseph O. Andrews, Lemuel Harold and Benjamin H. Binford were appointed trustees of the meeting property. R. Barclay Binford and Jesse W. Beeson are trustees at the present time.
In the year 1890 a band of young Christians organized themselves into a Christian Endeavor Society. There were nineteen who signed the pledge as active members and started to battle through life with the great object in view of making themselves more useful in the service of God. The organ- ization was small, but the true Christian spirit was prevalent, and the society grew steadily until the organization numbered about sixty members in 1806 Later, the members began moving away, going to school and teaching. until in 1006, it was deemed best to discontinue the society.
(). Winbern Kearns, who had been recorded a minister of the Gospel by Walnut Ridge monthly meeting about the year 1870. served as pastor of this church until his death, May 8. 1894. Other ministers occasionally visited the church, but the meeting felt the need of a regular pastor and secured the services of Micajah Morris for two years. Following him were
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James 1. Price, 1897: Benjamin J. Mills, 1902: Frank N. Edwards, 1903: Levi Pennington, 1905: William J. Cleaver, 1906; James D. and Marguerite Carter, 1907: Frank N. Edwards, 1900: Isaac N. Stanley, 1911 : Thomas K. Woodard, 1914: Frank N. Edwards, 1915.
At the present time there are one hundred and twenty-one members, eighty-five resident and thirty-six non-resident. Average attendance for the past few years, about fifty-five.
With the exception of a few years at the beginning of the meeting. the Sabbath school has been maintained regularly, with an attendance of from fifty to sixty-five. There are seven classes. Adult members attend regularly. The oklest member attending is seventy-five years of age, and one member enrolled in the home department is seventy-nine years of age. This department has an enrollment of seventy-three and the cradle roll has thirty-three, with Martha J. Elliott as superintendent. Elma Binford is superintendent of the primary department.
The clock purchased by the Sabbath school in 1879 is still doing faithful service. The school has purchased and placed in the library three hundred volumes of good books. E. Clarkson Elliott is superintendent of the Sab- bath school. The following is a list of past superintendents, according to records available: Isaac Harold, Mary L. Binford. Oliver Brown, David Newlin, William P. Binford, Lydia A. Binford, Lemmel Harokt, Micajah Young, Mark A. Catt. M. C. Butler. Abe L. Coffin. Olive Binford, Charles Kearns, Naomi Binford, Charles Cook, John Curry, Abigail Butler and Eldora Binford.
The present house was remodeled and reseated in modern style in 1902. at a cost of eight hundred and ninety-six dollars and fifteen cents. The building committee was composed of R. B. Binford, M. C. Butler, James Lindamood, Eldora Binford and Charity Toms. John Anderson was the contractor.
SHILOH PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH.
now of Greenfield, was organized at the home of Solomon Tyner, nearly eight miles south of Greenfield, on the fourth Saturday in June, 1841. The charter members were Solomon Tyner. John H. Caldwell, John M. Duncan. Jemima Tyner, Nancy Duncan, Caroline Randall and Rosanna Caldwell, who selected as help in this organization a council composed of the following : From Blue River church. Jacob Parkhurst, Samuel Ferguson, John Osborn. T. Porter and H. Bowen: Mt. Gilead church. J. Reeves and E. Brizendine : Mt. Carmel church, Morgan MeQuary and George Pricket: Sugar Creek church. G. Hunter and J. Beaman : Concord church, Stephen Harlan and Cicero Wilkinson.
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The charter members selected Solomon Tyner for their moderator, who presented to their council for examination their constitution and articles of faith. After a careful examination, Morgan McQuary, the moderator for the council, gave the right hand of fellowship to the moderator of the breth- ren wishing to be constituted, and, in behalf of the council pronounced them a Gospel church to be known by the name of Shiloh.
At the first meeting after organization the membership was increased by the following : Nicholas Ridlin, Hannah Ridlin, Phebe New, Nancy Por- ter, Richard Hackleman, Peter M. Newhouse and Margaret Newhouse. The church selected Morgan McQuary for its first pastor, Richard Hackleman, first clerk, and J. H. Caldwell and Nicholas Ridlin. first deacons. In July. 1841, the church attached herself to the Lebanon association.
In 1853 the question of ordaining or not ordaining deacons was taken up and decided by vote to ordain.
In January, 1854, the church appointed brethren J. H. Caldwell. James Tyner and Richard Hackleman, trustees, to receive deed for ground on which to build a church. On February 25, 1854. on motion. the church agreed to build a frame meeting house, forty by fifty feet. The trustees were to learn the probable cost and report at next meeting. The committee made a favorable report and a new frame church was erected at a cost of eight hundred dollars. It stands at the southeast corner of section 26. township 15, range 7.
In February, 1876, the act of the church of 1841, requiring articles of faith to be read at each meeting, was repealed, the acts to be read whenever called for.
In November, 1891. the church voted to hold a business meeting in Greenfield on the first Saturday of each month, and to hold services on Sunday following. It was also decided, however, to still hold services on the fourth Sunday at the former place of worship in Blue River township.
In November, 1895. the church decided by vote to build a house on a lot on North street in Greenfield for a place of worship. James Tyner. D. H. Goble and Isaac Bennett were elected trustees to do all lawful business for the church; the total cost of the house and lot was three thousand nine hundred and thirty-two dollars and fifty-nine cents.
In February, 1904, the frame building in the country where this church used to meet was sold to the congregation of the Disciples of Christ, who now worship there, and whose history follows. In July. 1904. the entire debt of the new building in Greenfield was paid.
The following men have served the church since its organization: Trus-
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tees, James Tyner. John Tyner, D. H. Goble, W. T. AAllen, George Allen. J. S. Thomas and Isaac Bennett. Pastors, Morgan McQuary, 1841 ; William Baker, 1852: George Zion and Elias Poston, 1853; Wilson Thompson, 1854; Jesse G. Jackson, 1857; David Caudell and George Weaver, 1864; George Weaver, 1867; George Weaver and A. B. Nay, 1869; A. B. Nay and Harvey Wright. 1871 ; John T. Weaver and W. N. Tharp, 1885: R. W. Thompson and W. N. Tharp. 1886; R. W. Thompson, 1889. Church clerks of records, Richard Hackleman, 1841; J. F. Watts, 1871; W. N. Tharp, 1875; D. H. Goble, 1881; W. M. Cofield, 1885. Deacons. J. H. Caldwell. Nicholas Rid- lin, James Tyner, Barnabas Coffield. D. H. Goble, Henry Mannon, J. N. Goble and W. P. Denny. Singing clerks, James Tyner, 1852; W. M. Cof- field, 1882.
The membership in 1841 was fifteen: in 1881, thirty-seven: in 1891. seventy. The average attendance for the last twenty years has been about twenty-five.
SHILOH CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Shiloh Christian church stands at the southeast corner of section 26, township 15, range 7. On the 24th day of March, 1854, Elijah Tyner and Sarah A. Tyner, his wife, donated to the Baptists the land on which to build a church, the same to be held so long as it should be used for church purposes, then to revert back to the donors.
A regular Baptist church was organized, with James Tyner, John H. Caldwell and Richard Hackleman as trustees. This organization used the property until about 1890, when they moved their congregation to Green- field. A union Sunday school was then conducted for a time when, in 1903. after a short meeting held by Omer Hufford, of Charlottesville, an agreement was entered into by which the trustees of the Regular Baptist church, for a consideration of three hundred dollars, deeded the property to the trustees of the Shiloh Christian church. The trustees of the Christian church were Elbert E. Davis, George W. Matlock and Claude Poer.
The Shiloh Christian church was organized at the home of George W. Matlock, on the 6th day of January, 1904. The charter members were George R. Siders, Rebecca Siders, John H. Huffman, Anna L. Huffman, Carrie E. Huffman, H. J. Strakey, George W. Matlock, Ina J. Matlock, Charlie H. Matlock, Mary J. McClintock, Elbert E. Davis, Laura Davis, Paul Davis, B. T. Bennett. Fannie Bennett, Nathan Hinton, Delphia C. Hinton, Claud Poer, Marzella Poer, Henry D. Holt. Daisy Jacobs, James Wilhelm, Margaret H. Wilhelmn. W. H. Fleener, Lucinda \. Fleener and Andy Fleener. The church has a membership of about forty persons.
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On the third Sunday of April, 1904. T. J. Legg, of Indianapolis, ded- icated the church. Some noble men have served the Shiloh Christian church in its short period of service. Among them have been Ernest Addison. of Knightstown: James Conner, of Indianapolis: B. L. Allen, of Indianapolis ; E. L. Frazier, of Morristown: Carl Berry, of Carthage: N. D. Webber. of Indianapolis ; Omer Hufford, of Shirley. Evangelistic meetings have been held by L. E. Murray, Erastus Conner. E. L. Frazier. N. D. Webber, M. S. Decker. Shiloh has maintained preaching services one-half time since its organization.
The attendance during the past few years has averaged about forty. . \ Sunday school has been conducted since the organization of the church, with an attendance of about forty. There are four classes. The superintendents have been Theophilus Hargrove. George R. Siders, Claude Poer, John Iluff- man and George W. Matlock. \ Ladies' Aid Society has been organized in connection with the church.
PLEASANT VIEW FRIENDS CHURCH.
Pleasant View Friends church stood at the southeast corner of section 9. township 15. range 8. It was established under the authority of the Spice- land quarterly meeting in November, 1850. The first meetings were hekl in the school house that stood on a lot adjoining the church. Among the mem- bers of this church were William Hill and family. Libni Hunt and family. Samuel Brown and family. Phincas White, Mathew Dodson, Daniel Hast- ings, Alfred and John Hunt, Eli and Robert Brown. Daniel and John Rem. Albert White. Enoch Pierson, Amos, Samuel and John Hill.
A Bible school was connected with the meeting and was well attended for many years. Samuel B. Hill, at one time trustee of Blue River township. and for many years a prominent citizen of the county, was one of the first teachers in this Bible school, and was connected with the church and Bible school for more than a quarter of a century. Services were not held in this church after the early nineties. Since that time the church has been torn away and no evidence remains of the original church site except a small cemetery connected therewith.
WESTERN GROVE FRIENDS CHURCH.
The Western Grove church stands at the southwest corner of section 12. township 15. range 7. In the year 1864 the Friends of this neighborhood. then forming a part of the Westland preparative meeting, made a request through that meeting to the Spiceland quarterly meeting. to establish a meet-
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ing for worship and a preparative at this place. Following is the record granting the request :
"Spiceland Quarterly Meeting of Friends, held Ninth Month, Tenth Day, 1804.
"The committee appointed on the request of Friends living west of Westland for a meeting for worship and a preparative, report that they have visited Westland Preparative Meeting and the Friends making the request. and are united in the belief that it would be right to grant the same, which is united with and the meeting established accordingly, by the name of Western Grove. The following Friends were appointed to attend the opening thereof at the time proposed. in Eleventh month next : Jesse Bond, Charles S. Hub- bard, Jason Macy. Hannah Dickinson, Elizabeth Edwards, Deborah Bond. Eliza Butler and Nancy Bales.
"CALEB JOHNSON, "LUCINDA WHITE. "Clerks."
Pursuant to the foregoing minute, Western Grove preparative meeting was opened and held eleventh month, sixteenth day. 1864.
Following were the charter members : Isaac Beeson, Elias and Margaret Marsh, Jonathan and Mary Jessup. Jacob and Rebecca Jessup. Elihu and Nancy Coffin, Mahlon and Mary Beeson, William P. and Mary Annis Out- land. John and Sarah Hunt, Mathew and Laurinda Jessup. Joseph J. and Lydia B. Lamb. Elkanah and Mary Reece. Josiah and Lydia Lamb, Timothy and Rebecca Lamb. Edward and Mary Butler, Martha Marsh and Aaron S. White. Jonathan Jessup and Nancy Coffin were appointed to time or sit head of the meeting. William P. Outland was appointed first clerk of the meeting. Jacob Jessup. John Hunt and Elihu Coffin were appointed trustees.
The house and lot, consisting of two acres, were bought of Isaac Beeson for the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars. The house, which was a hewed-log building, was used for several years previous as a "potter's shop." and was known by that name for nearly nine years, when a committee. com- posed of Jonathan Jessup, John Hunt, Lewis G. Rule and Elihu Coffin, were appointed to solicit money and material for a new church building. Much of the material was donated. The timber from which the seats were made was donated by Jonathan Jessup; also one oak tree sufficient in size when made into shingles to make the roof. Solomon Catt cut. rove and dressed the shingles by hand. Elimin Coffin donated the rock for the foundation and Henry Coffin and his brothers delivered them. Much time and help
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were given by all to forward the work. Elkanah Reece did the frame work of the building, the finishing being done by another carpenter. Beside the donations of material. the cost of the building was near fourteen hundred dollars. In the eleventh month, 1873, the dedicatory services were conducted by Caleb Johnson, with a crowded house.
Joseph O. Binford was the only resident minister until 1893. His work and services as a minister during these years were wonderfully blessed of God and the community is much better by his having lived in it. From 1893 until 1897 the meeting was without a regular minister or pastor. Following are the pastors who have served the congregation since 1897: Lindley A. Wells, 1896-7; Mary T. Willson, 1907-9: Levi T. Pennington, 1903-5: William J. Cleaver, 1905-6: James D. and Marguerite Carter, 1006-8; Frank N. Edwards, 1908-10: John M. Binford, 1910-12; Charles M. Elliott, 1912-15 : John R. Kitterman, 1916. Lindley A. Wells, who was called in the fall of 1897, was the first salaried pastor for the meeting.
The older generation that organized the meeting has passed to its reward, but the church now has about one hundred members and is in a prosperous condition.
A Sabbath school was also organized in 1864. Some of the men and women who have served as superintendent of the school are. Lewis G. Rule, Isaac N. Hunt, Henry B. White, Thomas L. Marsh, Mary T. Willson. J. J. Beeson, Riley .A. Catt and Orlando F. Addison, the latter being superinten- (lent at this time. The school has five classes with an average weekly attendance of sixty.
In 1898 the women organized the Women's Sewing Circle for the purpose of raising funds for remodeling the church, which had been used since 1873. In the spring of 1893 a committee was appointed to cooperate with them and the work of remodeling was done, at a cost of three hundred and thirty-two dollars. In 1914 the church was reseated with circle seats, at a cost of four hundred dollars.
LITERARY SOCIETIES, CLUBS, ETC.
The young people of Blue River township took a great deal of interest in literary and debating societies, exhibitions, etc., during the seventies and eighties. One of the societies that is well remembered was organized in the neighborhood of the Western Grove church. After the present frame church was built the old log house was moved a little to the north of the present building. where it was used for many years for social and literary purposes. Exhibitions were given. debates were held and literary programs were ren- dered for a period of ten years or more. Among the young people of the
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community who took an active part in the society were Isaac N. Hunt, Lucinda Hunt, Harvey J. Catt, Jesse Reece, Mary A. Hunt, Luther Jessup, A. T. Hunt, Rebecca A. Catt. F. N. Coffin, Fannie Lamb, O. M. Hunt, Henry Coffin. Jennie Reece. M. A. Catt, Robert Lamb, Narcissa Coffin, Albert Reece, Lucinda Catt. Jennie Jessup. Eliza Lamb and J. W. Beeson.
Another literary society was organized during the early eighties in the neighborhood of the Gates school house, which stood at the northeast corner of section 36, township 15. range 7. Not only the young people of the im- mediate neighborhood participated in giving the programs of the society, but young people from Greenfield, including Will H. Glascock, Logan Glascock, S. E. Jackson and others, also appeared upon the platform with them. Among those whose names can be recalled are R. W. Brooks. J. 11. Brooks, Sarah Brooks, Luther Hackleman, Alice Hackleman, Lida Ann Holden, Nora Hol- dlen. M. B. Morrison, Ada Morrison, Logan Glascock, Will I1. Glascock, Edward Jackson, Ollie Bentley, D. H. Gates, Jr., Sarah E. Gates, R. D. Andrews. J. M. Tyner. F. M. Moore, and Lin Binford. The society inet every two weeks and remained in existence from about 1883 to 1887.
On one occasion, probably in the spring of 1885, the society gave a play entitled, "The Queen of Welber Heights." A stage was built at the foot of the hill in the woods of Francis M. Moore on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 25, township 15. range 7; the audience was seated on the hillside and the play given in the open air. It drew an immense crowd, and the gate receipts on that evening were worthy of mention for the society. This play is still remembered as one of the star occasions of the society.
The Blue River Township Temperance Association also carried on its temperance campaigns during the latter seventies and eighties in all parts of the township by means of literary programs. Entertainments were given in the different school houses with the idea of getting something before the young people that was clean, wholesome and uplifting, and that also im- pressed upon them the dangers and evils of intemperance. Other societies of shorter duration were organized.
Since the decline of the old-fashioned literary society more systematic study has been begun by the organization of ladies' clubs. The first of these, which had its inception at the Mt. Lebanon church, but which included a number of ladies of Blue River township, was the Country Literary Club. Another was the
WESTERN GROVE WOMAN'S CLUB.
The Western Grove Woman's Club was organized in 1910, with four- teen charter members. The purpose of the club is mental and social improve-
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ment. It has both an active and an honorary membership, and is limited to twenty members of the Western Grove neighborhood. At present there are eighteen active and four honorary members. There are two standing committees-the program committee and the relief committee. The motto of the club is "To Promote the Welfare of the Community." The club colors are red and white: its flower, the carnation. Miscellaneous programs have been given. Special emphasis has been placed on the home. Economics, and the study of Indiana history, with music. readings and magazine articles will make up the work for 1916. The club has access to the Greenfield library and is a member of the County Federation of Women's Clubs.
Following are its active members : Marticia W. Beeson, Mary Bentley, Lena Binford, Rebecca Binford. Ella R. Briney. Pharaba Catt. Anna Haw- kins, Gladys Hamilton, Jennie Jessup. Elmina Jessup. Laura Jessup. Mary Jessup, Grace Jolmson. Amy Parnell, La Merle Parnell, Hazel Powers. Eva Pusey. Catherine Pusey, Nelle White, Pearl White. On the honorary list are Grace Howard and Elmina Wallsmith. In Memoriam: Della Coffin and Bessie Snow.
The following ladies have acted as president : Ella R. Briney, 1910: Lena J. Binford, 1911 : Rebecca Binford. 1912: Ella R. Briney, 1913 : Elina Jessup, 1914: Grace Johnson, 1915.
THE FOUR-CORNER SOCIETY.
The Four-Corner Society was organized in the year 1913 and was fed- erated with the Country Clubs' Federation of Hancock county in 1914. The club consists of sixteen active members of the Western Grove neighborhood. Its object is the intellectual and social improvement of its members. The phases of work of the club are domestic science, music and literature.
SUNSHINE CLUB.
The Westland Ladies' Sunshine Club was organized in October, 1913. for the purpose of stimulating more friendly intercourse among friends and neighbors, and for the mental improvement of busy housewives and mothers. The club meets the third Tuesday in each month and the members discuss household problems, current events, and any other item of interest that may come before the club.
Light refreshments are served at each meeting and a portion of the time devoted to social conversation. With the exception of a small amount of charity work and flowers for the sick, the club has no special work to report.
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