USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 51
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (WILLOW).
The early history of this church has been given as a part of the Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal church in Jackson township. The congregation worshipped in that house until in the spring of 1889. Among the families who were interested in the removal of the site to the town of Willow were the Hustons, Staleys, Forts. Thomases, Paxtons, Babcocks, Mouldens and Ryons. The lot for the church was donated by .A. B. Thomas and wife. The building committee was composed of Lucian Thomas, Martin Thomas, John R. Thomas, Jr., Moses Fort and Jasper Moulden. The house was completed at a cost of two thousand and seven hundred dollars and was dedicated on February 10, 1889. At different times the church has belonged to the Char- lottesville, Maxwell and Shirley circuits. Among the pastors who have served the congregation, and who are well remembered by the people, are the Revs. Slack, Bowers, Ruley, Pierce, Albertson, Loveless. Duryce and Anderson. The congregation at present has a membership of about seventy-five. The
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average attendance at church services is from forty to fifty. Many of the adult members of the church are also in the Sunday school, which has an average attendance of about sixty-five. Among those who have taken an active interest in the Sunday school during the past years are Messrs. Thomas. Higgins, Paxton, Fort, Sherry and Collins. A Woman's Foreign Missionary Society has been organized in the church with twenty-seven members.
WILKINSON.
The original plat of Wilkinson was surveyed by Elnathan and Thomas B. Wilkinson on January 16, 1883, consisting of thirty-two lots. Since that time the following additions have been made thereto :
Vandenbark's Addition, platted by Benjamin H. Cook, William Kenyon, E. B. Byrket, J. H. Pennington, J. W. S. Graves, W. G. Bridges and P. K. May, July 20, 1893; forty lots.
South Addition, platted by Jonathan A. Ayers, trustee, November 19, 1900; thirty-two lots.
Vandenbark's Second Addition, platted by Moses W. Vandenbark in October, Igco ; twenty-seven lots.
1'. K. May's Addition, platted by P. K. May, April 8, 1901 ; sixteen lots.
Wilkinson has grown up since the construction of the railroad through that point. The discovery of gas gave the town quite a boom when several factories were located there, among them being two glass factories.
Wilkinson has two rural free delivery routes. established September 1, 1902 and May 1, 1903, respectively.
INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
Wilkinson.was not incorporated until 1914. On January 28 of that year a petition was filed with the county board of commissioners of Hancock county asking for the incorporation of Wilkinson as a town. This petition was signed by John W. Garriott. Walter S. Reeves, James F. Miller, J. L. Justice, John Yeider, Claude R. Woods, J. E. Price, W. H. Julian, Earl R. Gibbs, L. L. Cooper, J. P. Cooper, John C. Wood, Milton Collins, W. L. Collins, E. C. Martindale, George W. Sowerwine, W. S. Crum, William W. Gipe, David M. Moore, Albert Armstrong, R. H. Yelton, Joseph Smith, Clar- ence Jones, A. Paxton, D. M. Cooper, William M. Valentine, Ward Keller, Guy L. Reeves, L. L. Scudder, \. E. Nicely, Walter Apple, J. S. Smith, Clarence Walker, R. E. Chapman, J. T. Overman, V. T. Chapman, George W. Julian, Claud Davy, John Vanmeter. Wiley Tuterow, George E. Clouds, R. F. Gray, J. C. Cooper, .\. L. Mogle, John A. Wisehart, Evert Hawkins,
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E. C. Wischart. Charles Wisehart. Charles Walker. Emma L. Justice. Mary C. Scudder. Minnie Valentine and Della K. Gibbs.
The petition showed that the town contained three hundred and forty residents, of whom one hundred and two were qualified voters. The board of commissioners at their February meeting. 1914. set the 18th day of February. 1914, as the time for an election to determine whether the town should be incorporated. Niety-one votes were cast, fifty-seven being in favor of the incorporation and thirty-four against it. Upon receiving the report of this elec- tion the board of commissioners on February 21, 1914. ordered the town incor- porated under the name of Wilkinson. An election was immediately held at which the following men were elected as the town's first officers: John C. Garriott. clerk: Dr. Earl R. Gibbs, treasurer: K. C. Garriott. marshal : Dr. Julian, health officer : S. C. Staley, John Cooper and Matt F. Cook, trustees. S. C. Staley was the first president of the board of trustees.
STORM.
On May 12. 1886. Wilkinson was partially destroyed by a cyclone, in which Glenn Smith, little son of John Smith, also Samuel White, who resided just east of the town, were killed, and Mr. White's daughter was seriously injured. Wilkinson was also visited by the storm of June 25. 1902. in which one glass factory was blown down and several men seriously injured, two of them dying from the effects of their injuries.
FARMERS NATIONAL BANK OF WILKINSON.
The Farmers National Bank was organized at Wilkinson on November 21. 1908, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. Its first offi- cers were S. C. Staley, president : George Sowerwine, vice-president : Jesse F. Evans, cashier. The present officers are George W. Sowerwine, president : J. B. Simmons, vice-president : S. C. Staley, cashier: Robert I. Marsh, attor- ney: S. C. Staley, George W. Sowerwine, John W. Wles, W. H. Simmons, J. B. Simmons, R. S. N. Oldham and J. F. Evans, directors. The bank's capital and surplus now amount to thirty-five thousand dollars.
Its stockholders are Lucy Manlove. Margaret Burris, Harrison K. Cook. Elmer Cook, Nancy V. Cook, Mary C. Cook, John F. Collins, D. M. Cooper. Jesse F. Evans, John W. S. Groves, Amos Hill. Lawrence Kennedy. W. R. Kennedy. Emma Kendall, Morning Star Lodge. Knights of Pythias: I. H. Meredith. Etta Maxwell. William Noland, R. S. N. Oldham, J. E. Noland. S. C. Staley, George W. Sowerwine. Mary Scudder, John D. Simmons, Will- iam 11. Simmons, Susie Tulley and John W. Wales.
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LODGES.
Morning Star Lodge No. 130, Knights of Pythias, was instituted at Wil- kinson on February 16, 1886, with twenty charter members. The lodge hekl its meetings in several different rooms until 1892, when a hall known as "Public Hall" was purchased and occupied until 1914. . At that time a trade was made with the Improved Order of Red Men. The lodge now owns its own building, composed of the lodge room and one business room. It also owns six shares of stock in the Farmers National Bank at Wilkinson. The estimated value of its property is five thousand dollars. Its membership at the close of 1915 was one hundred and sixty-two.
The Pythian Sisters at one time maintained a lodge, but they have sur- rendered their charter.
Evening Star Lodge No. 503. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was moved to Wilkinson from Maple Valley in 1886. It now has about seventy members.
Wilkinson also had several other lodges. The Good Templars instituted a lodge in 1886. The Daughters of Rebekah organized in February, 1896. The Red Men also maintain an organization.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first service of the Protestant Episcopal church in Brown township was held in Londenback's hall. Wilkinson, on the evening of August 20, 1885. by the Rev. Willis D. Engle, of Indianapolis. Wilkinson then numbered about one hundred inhabitants and was without a house of worship, althoughi the Friends had secured pledges toward a building, which was erected in the spring of 1887.
On September 15, 1885. the gift of a lot was secured upon condition that a church buikdling be erected thereon within three years, T. B. and Nathan Wilkinson, of Knightstown, being the donors. In 1887 the work of church construction was begun. William H. Power was superintendent of the car- penter work and Hugh Carmichael of the stone work. The building material was furnished by S. P. Jennings, of New Castle.
Mr. Engle continued semi-monthly meetings from August, 1885, until September 23. 1887. when the corner stone for the church was laid with a beautiful ceremony, conducted by Rev. W. D. Engle and Bishop Knicker- hacker, D. D., of Indianapolis.
On January 25, 1888, the building was dedicated in an impressive man- ner as St. Mary's church by Rev. Engle and a company of his brethren in the (35)
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faith from Newcastle and Indianapolis. For a number of years religious services were held regularly in this church, but having failed to secure one member who accepted the faith according to the Episcopal belief, the church was finally abandoned and later sold to the Christian church.
FRIENDS CIIURCH.
The Friends church at Wilkinson was organized in 1885 under the Rev. William Watts, after revival meetings held by Revs. Seth Stafford and Clark llosier. Following were the charter members: Lorenzo D. Cook. Elizabeth Cook. Lorenzo W. Forbes, Lydia Forbes, Cicero Hardin, wife and daughter, Hezekiah Wilkinson, wife and four children. Peter Hammer, wife and four children, Newton Hammer, Clayton Perkins and wife. Soon after the organ- ization forty more members were added.
Among the pastors have been the Revs. Seth Stafford. Clark Hosier, Oliver Gotshell, Isaiah Jay, Alice Lawrence, Benjamin Hutchens, Sarah Healey and Oliver Beeson. For some time past the average attendance at church services has been about fifty.
.A Sunday school was organized in 1886. At present iour classes are maintained with an average attendance of about fifty. Adult members of the church attend Sunday school. Among the Sunday school superintendents have been Lorenzo Forbes, Ren Julian. Reuben Overman and AAllton Dotson.
The church is a frame building with a seating capacity of about two hundred and fifty. It was dedicated in 1886 by William Watts. The men serving on the building committee were Lorenzo Forbes, Asa James and Lorenzo D. Cook.
Weekly prayer services have been held ever since the organization of the church. The congregation has one of the best records in the county in giving pastors and Christian workers to the religious cause. It now has sixty-five members.
CHURCH OF CHRIST.
The Church of Christ, at Wilkinson, was temporarily organized on Jan- mary 1, 1889. On that date a number of the members who had been wor- shipping at the Christian church at Warrington, met at the town hall. at Wilkinson, for the purpose of organizing another congregation because of the inconvenience of attending church at Warrington. On March 11, 1889. the church was permanently organized under the direction of Elder Charles Blackman, who served as pastor for the ensuing year. The charter members were John W. White, Leannah F. White, Henry C. Garriott, Eliza A. Gar-
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riott. A. P. Combs, Rachel Combs, Eunice E. Woolen, Eliza Boyer. John Mingle, Sarah Mingle, Clayton Perkins, Sarah Perkins, George W. Coon, Eliza Coon, George W. Keck, John L. Carpenter, Nannie Carpenter, Ira C. Kendall. Emma F. Kendall, W. H. Power, Sarah M. Power, Ollie Lindsey, Alice McNatt, John W. Smith. A. L. Mogle. Jane Mogle, A. J. Reeves. Will- iam Keck, Charlotte Keck, A. F. Coon, Mark Coon, Catherine Coon, Sarah Coon, Benjamin H. Cook, John .\. Wisehart. Myrtle Combs Wischart. Jane Brewer, Charles Combs, Clara Brown, Laura E. Copper, William .1. Woolen, Viola Ham, Frank E. Garriott, Allen Garriott, Frances McCray, Josie Gar- field. Samuel L. Deck, George W. Sowerwine. C. F. Brower, Elsie Armstrong, Jesse Orr, Zora E. Ham, Alva Coon, Henry Gipe and Ann Gipe.
During the first year of the organization meetings were held in the Episcopal church at Wilkinson. The congregation, however, was constructing a new church and on December 29. 1889. Elder Thomas H. Kuhn, by a masterful sermon, secured the necessary pledges for the payment of the entire church debt and the new church was dedicated to the service of God. Mark A. Collins was the first pastor and began his labors on the following Sunday morning. The arrangement of this house was not entirely satisfactory, and fter a period of ten years it was abandoned by the congregation and sokl. Services were again held for a time at the Episcopal church, which had also been abandoned by its promoters. This house was then bought by the con- gregation and kept as a place of worship until it became dilapidated. The congregation then planned a new church. B. F. Hufford served as architect and builder and a beautiful and commodious house was erected. This church was dedicated on March 2, 1913, through the efforts of J. V. Coombs and the regular pastor, C. E. Schultz. The first Sunday school was organized on January 1, 1889, with B. H. Cook as superintendent. On March 11. 1889. when the church had been permanently organized, the Sunday school was re-organized and George W. Sowerwine elected superintendent, who served in this official capacity for five years.
About 1894 the church became disorganized : preaching services were held only occasionally for four or five years, and for several years no Sunday school was conducted. In 1900 the school was again re-organized. Guy Reeves was chosen superintendent, who at the end of one year was succeeded by George W. Sowerwine, who has now acted as superintendent for fifteen years or more. During the twenty-five years of the life of the Sunday school it has grown from an average attendance of probably forty to an average attendance of perhaps eighty. Many of the adult members of the church are also members of the Sunday school.
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The first officers of the church were Elders H. C. Garriott and John W. White: deacons, .A. P. Combs and Ira C. Kendall : clerk. George W. Sower- wine; treasurer, Benjamin F. Cook. The church at present has a member- ship of one hundred and sixty-five. The following men have served the church as pastors: Charles Blackman. 1889-90; Mark .A. Collins, 1800-91: Aaron Walker, 1891: A. W. Jackman. September, 1891-94: David Gary ( occasionally ), 1894-98 : A. J. Cheesman, 1890-1900; R. L. Handy, 1900-02: Carl Vanwinkle, 1902-00: Omer Hufford and B. F. Daily, occasionally, 1900- 1012: C. E. Shultz, 1912-14: J. P. Myers, 1914-15 : Frank Summer. 1915-16.
WILKINSON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church in Wilkinson was organized in 1891, under the pastorate of Rev. Perry E. Powell. It was organized with eight charter members, some of whom were Mr. and Mrs. Emelie Julian. Mary Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Creteress. The people of this church worshipped with the Friends in their church until 1912. It was during the pastorate of Rev. Oliver Van Wie that his people saw a new vision and got an idea of doing things on a larger scale. Under the able and worthy leadership of this pastor the people got together and decided that if they were to take care of their people as they should that they must have a church. In 1911 they began to build the Methodist Episcopal church, and on April 14, 1912, it was dedicated by Rev. W. D. Parr. The church cost about six thousand dollars. It is a beautiful church and well fitted to house the congregation for some time to come. The present membership is seventy-eight.
There is a break in the pastors from 1893-95. Perry E. Powell, 1801- 03: S. F. Harter, 1805-06; F. W. Sandifur. April, 1800, to November, 1800: L. P. Pfiefer. November, 1806-08: E. E. Wright, 1808-1900: M. M. Reynolds. 1000-1902: B. F. Hornaday, 1902-0): F. B. Westhafer. 1903-05: G. Ilart- man Bright. 1905-06: W. F. Loveless, 1906 08: John Phillips, 1908-11 : Oliver Van Wie. 1911-13: C. W. Anderson. 1913-10.
The Methodist Sunday school as a distinct organization from the Friends commenced in the spring of 1912. with .A. C. Faurot as superintendent and he has continued in this capacity ever since. The average attendance is seventy-eight. There are seven classes. The adult members of the church generally attend the Sunday school.
M'CRAY CEMETERY.
The MeCray cemetery is located on the east side of the old state road. a short distance northwest of Wilkinsm. Soon after Moses Metray settled in Brown township, in 1833. a beautiful girl who resided with her parents
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several miles to the northward ran away from her father's home in company with her sister, to keep a tryst with a young man whom she was to marry. The evening set for the elopement was bitter cold, and the snow was deep and falling fast. The girl, faithful to her promise, reached the spot where the McCray cemetery is now located, where she was supposed to meet her lover. He believed the weather to be too severe for the girl to venture out and failed to meet her. She and her sister crawled into a hollow log to await his coming, but morning dawned upon the frozen corpse of the bride-to-be. The sister lived long enough to tell the tale to Moses McCray, whose house was only a few rods distant, and who found their frozen bodies. Mr. McCray laid the body to rest on the spot where she died. Hle carefully protected her grave, and the following year built a school house nearby. In 1837 his own daughter, Sara, died and he buried her near the grave of the faithful girl lover. He then laid off, fenced and cleared the ground, and gave to the pub- lic the cemetery which bears his name, and where his own body rests. For thirty years he was trustee of the cemetery. He was succeeded by his son. John McCray, who gave the trusteeship to Robert Slaughter about fifteen years ago. Mr. Slaughter has been an efficient trustee, and with the help of the interested public has converted this pioneer cemetery into a beautiful burial spot.
BUSY HOUSEWIVES' CLUB.
The Busy Housewives' Club was organized at the home of Mrs. J. F. Smith on February 4, 1915. It was organized by the ladies of Wilkinson for the purpose of promoting interest in needlecraft and for social develop- ment. The club meets in the homes of the members on every second Thurs- day afternoon. The club is not identified or federated with any other clubs of the county.
SUNSHINE CLUB.
The Sunshine Club of Wilkinson was organized in August, 1914, and has sixteen members. It is not a member of either the county or state federa- tion, but is conducted on the same plan with officers and executive com- mittee. \ well-arranged program is prepared, consisting of miscellaneous topics, such as domestic science, current events, Indiana history, Bible lessons, music, and care and education of children. The club meets on the third Thurs- day of each month, devoting the entire afternoon to the program aside from the time required to partake of the tempting refreshments the hospitable hos- tess has prepared. The club colors are pink and white. All the members are true bearers of their motto, "Scatter Sunshine."
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THE WILKINSON BAND.
The Wilkinson Band was organized by Aubrey M. Thomas on June 7. 1915. It meets for practice at the town of Wilkinson and is composed of the following members: William White, Herman Cook, Elmer Hasler, Ward Julian. Ward Blakely, Arthur Harlan, Earl Johns and Lawrence Kennedy, clarinets : Glen Johns. Roy Hassler, Ray Owens, Forest Yetter, Mattie Cook, Ferris Woods, Chester Kimmerly, cornets: Russel Yetter. Barren Cooper, Elmer Blake, Lawrence Johns and Fay Masters, altos: Russel Orr, Robert Blakely, tenors : Hoyt Blakely. Melborne Allec. Willie Judkins, Bertie Kuhn, slide trombones; R. D. Masters and Joe Bird, baritones ; Virgil Whetsell and Clarence Walker, tubas ; Ilarvey Williams, bass drum: Charlie Kimmerly and Glen Woods, snare drums.
The band has not yet purchased uniforms, but is getting well started and is preparing to play through the coming campaign. Mr. Thomas, the director. has had a long experience with hands and is an accomplished cornetist. For the past year or two he has also directed an orchestra that has played for several of the commencements in the county.
SHIRLEY.
The probability of a town became evident when the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan railway, now a branch of the Big Four, was constructed across the east end of Brown township, in 1890. The original survey of the town was made by John W. White and Sylvester Hamilton, in October, 1890, and consisted of twenty-three lots in Hancock county and a number in Henry county. Since that time the following additions have been made :
John W. White's First Addition, platted by John W. White, May 14. 1804: forty-four lots.
Trustee's Addition, platted by George W. Sowerwine, trustee, May 21, 1896: seven hundred and ninety-eight lots.
Kuntz & Higi's Addition, platted by Shirley Lumber Company and Charles P. Kuntz, November 4. 1899 : seven lots.
Only two buildings were erected in 1890. the residence of John Larimore and a blacksmith shop. C. L. Storer built a saw-mill, which was destroyed later by fire. In 1891 B. F. Taylor erected another residence and a business room, which he used for a grocery. The postoffice was also located in this building and Taylor became the first postmaster. In 1892 Joseph Steffey built a residence and John W. White erected a stone building on the corner of
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Main and Center streets. Among the very early comers were George F. Fouty, druggist, and J. W. Kitterman, dry goods and groceries.
The county line road, running north and south between Hancock and Henry counties, became Main street. It was still a dirt road and soon became impassable, dangerous even for travel on horseback. About 1892 a move- ment began for an improvement of this street by graveling it. The work was accomplished under the law providing for improvement of highways by levy- ing assessments on adjoining properties. A few more houses were erected before 1895, but the town was virtually at a standstill until that time. In that year the C. P. Kuntz Lumber Company was organized and began doing a large business. It burned in 1900. Beginning with 1895 and following, a number of lots were sold and about thirty buildings were constructed. Among them were the residences of A. C. Van Duyn, now an attorney of Green- field; Frank E. Garriott, later deputy county auditor of Hancock county ; A. S. Houck, Dr. Ralph Wilson, E. W. Varner, I. L. Camplin, W". L. Byrket and Shaw Brothers. Among the business men who had established them- selves by this time were George F. Fouty and Frank E. Garriott, general mer- chants: \. S. Ilouck, druggist; II. S. Wales, hardware; John Lisher, meat market : Shaw Brothers, livery stable ; Joseph Steffey, blacksmith, and George Craig, barber. A local newspaper was also established, known as the Shirley Enterprise, which was published for two or three years. In the meantime the streets had been graded and street lamps had been placed at the principal street corners.
INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
On October 11, 1898, a petition was presented to the board of commis- sioners of Hancock county, asking that the town be incorporated under the name of Shirley. This petition was signed by S. S. Houck. A. Sherry, E. M. Johnson, William A. Johnson, Samuel Smith, James Allison. A. C. VanDuyn. AAllen Robinson, E. M. Warrick, Samuel Price, J. E. Larimore, Joseph Rob- inson, F. E. Mauck, William Croank, G. C. Shaw, Frank Gebhart. John F. Warrick, Benjamin L. Byrkett. James Robinson. C. F. Wilkinson, Ike Lari- more, Thomas Crouch, J. L. Shumaker, C. A. Franklin, W. O. Newton, F. E. Shaw, Charles E. Snider, Charles F. Metsch, Dan Ulner, Clinton Ridgeway, W. G. Burns. B. F. Taylor and W. T. Baker.
The board of commissioners ordered an election held on October 22. 1808, to give the qualified voters an opportunity of determining whether the town should be incorporated. Twenty-seven votes were cast in favor of incorporating, thirteen against it. A report of the election was made and the
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board of commissioners on December 13, 1898, ordered the town incorporated under the name of Shirley. At the first election for town officers held May 1, 1899, the following men were elected: B. L. Byrkett. clerk: Henry S. Wales, treasurer : Isaac Cronk, marshal: Milton D. Masters, Joseph Steffey and Sylvester Hamilton, trustees.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
In 1809 B. F. Martindale purchased from Robert Martindale all Ins holl- ings in Shirley. He then invited Messrs. Shell. Miller and Litzenberger to establish a glass factory in the town. They agreed on condition of receiving as a bonus a plat of ground, a gas well, and one thousand dollars in cash. These conditions were met and a bottle factory was put into operation according to contract. It was at first difficult to get dwellings and sufficient business rooms. Later in the fall of that year he also erected the bank build- ing and donated about one-half of the first year's rent as an inducement to have a bank locate in the town. M. E. Woods accepted his offer and estab- lished the Bank of Shirley, which stands on the Henry county side of the street. In 1900 the Banner glass factory was organized. with D. Gabrielle. president : Louis Waterloo, secretary, and John Lafever, treasurer. To secure this factory Mr. Martindale again guaranteed a bonus of one thousand dollars in cash and a gas well. Three hundred and fifty dollars of the cash bonus was subscribed by citizens of Shirley. This factory gave Shirley an increase of about five hundred people. In 1901 W. 11. Wood laid out Woodlawn Addition, consisting of one hundred lots on the Henry county side of Main street. He brought the Baker Brothers window glass factory to the town, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. The Hoseck Chimney House, operated by seven Hoseck brothers, came in 1901. The Shirley Rad- iator and Foundry Company was also established, which gave employment to about one hundred and fifty men and added greatly to the population of Shir- ley. In 1902-03 the population of the town was estimated at from fifteen hundred to seventeen hundred.
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