History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions, Part 65

Author: Richman, George J
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc.
Number of Pages: 1272

USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 65

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93; Thomas Stabler, 1894: M. E. Nethercut, 1895-96-97-98: F. M. Stone, 1899-1900; Perry E. Powell, 1901-02-03-04: W. W. Martin, 1905-06-07-08; C. E. Line, 1909; L. J. Naftzger, 1910-11-12; Charles H. Smith, 1913-14; S. L. Cates, 1915; O. A. Trabue, 1916.

The church entertained the North Indiana conference at its regular ses- sion in April, 1909.

For many years the church has had the support of a strong and faithful choir. Among the former choristers have been Asa New. Dr. J. W. Sparks, Charles Millicent, Will Handy, J. E. Mack, D. M. Stuart and T. I. Morgan. Eugene E. Davis has been chorister for the past eleven years. During this latter period the choir has given one or two concerts annually, and has ren- dered a number of high-grade selections, such as "The Holy City," "Seven Last Words of Christ," "Ruth," etc. Miss Grace Anderson has been church organist for the past sixteen years.

Sunday School .- It would be difficult to say now just when the Sunday school was first organized. It has grown until, for the past several years, it has had an average attendance of about two hundred and eighty-five. It has the cradle roll, beginners, primary, junior, intermediate and senior depart- ments. The Sunday school has six organized Bible classes holding charters from the State Sunday School Board: The American Bible Class. chartered March 15, 1909 ; the Ever Faithfuls, June 2, 1909: the Gleaners, January 19, 1914; Beacon Lights, March 10, 1914; Conquerors, February 4, 1915, and Cadets, February 14, 1915.

Following is a list of the superintendents who have served the Sunday school as far as the names can be recalled : Nelson Bradley, Adam P. Hogle, J. Ward Walker, John H. Binford, Alpheus Reynolds, Edward W. Felt, W. W. Haller, I. A. Goble. Charles H. Troy, Frank Larrabee, Samuel J. Offutt. James F. Reed. John W. Kendall and Elmer E. Gant.

Epworth Leagues .- The Wesleyan Chapter of the Epworth League was organized on April 10. 1896, and Ada New Chapter of the Junior Epworth League was organized on April 27, 1896.

The Ladies' Society .- There had been a ladies' society before the organ- ization of the society referred to at the caption hereof. The present society was organized on December 7, 1892, during the pastorate of the Rev. J. A. Lewellyn. The record gives as a reason for the new society, that "the old organization had not only grown tired, but had retired to the silent shades of the past." It was organized for the purpose of rendering to the church every service possible, financially, socially and spiritually. It bought the lot on which the church now stands, and for which the sum of three thousand five

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hundred dollars was raised. It also contributed two thousand five hundred dollars additional toward the construction of the church. Later, the ladies donated one hundred dollars to the Ada New church, and since that time have aided numerous local benevolences. The society endowed a bed in the Meth- odist Hospital at Indianapolis. For the past several years it has also furnished the weekly church bulletins, with which the members are familiar. The per- sons who have served as presidents of the society are. Mesdames Freeman Crawford, C. M. Curry, J. H. Moulden, E. E. Stoner, W. H. Scott, Ellen Bragg, S. S. Boots, J. T. Pierce, J. M. Larimore. Emma Justice, Martha Wilson, W. A. Coultrap, O. C. Brann. W. D. Getman and L. E. Dixon, who has served as president for the past five years.

Cosmos Society .- The idea of the Cosmos Society originated with Mrs. Pearl E. Tyner and was organized in 1895 with Mrs. L. W. Gooding as president. The original purpose of the society was to welcome strangers and to study the history and policy of the Methodist Episcopal church. It was not at first organized for the purpose of aiding the church by raising funds. Soon after the ladies had associated themselves together, however, the ques- tion of a new church was presented. It then took for its immediate object the raising of money with which to purchase a pipe organ for the new church. Money was raised by home socials, entertainments, fairs, exhibits, etc. Be- fore the construction of the new church, the society also contributed to the public library fund. When the Bradley Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1902, this society had a pipe organ installed at a cost of three thou- sand five hundred dollars. The society has also purchased a silver individual communion service, and in April, 1916, presented a marble baptismal font to the church. It now has a membership of about sixty-five. Following are the ladies who have served as president of the society: Mrs. L. W. Gooding, Mrs. George W. Duncan, Mrs. John Huffman, Mrs. Charles E. Henricks. Mrs John Rosser, Mrs. Wood L. Walker, Mrs. Riley Mckown and Mrs. E. S. Hart. In April, 1916, the society presented a baptismal font to the church.

The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1869. An auxiliary society was organized in the Methodist Episcopal church in Greenfield, Indiana, in 1880. Its very existence was one of ups and downs, until 1889, when the treasurer of the conference organization located in Greenfield, and new life and new members were added at each regular meeting. With a membership of over one hundred in the woman's auxiliary and sixty in the children's societies, it is recognized as a valuable asset in the church economy. It has educated two girls in Peking, China, and supports a Bible woman in Korea,

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besides doing its pro rata share in the support of six missionaries sent out by the North Indiana conference. During the thirty-six years. approximately three thousand dollars have been raised for the cause. Its motto is "Saved for Service ;" its aim, "Every woman in the church in the society, and every non-Christian woman in the world. a Christian." Several elect women, full of faith and courage, have made the work rich in fruitage during the years. and have gone to their reward. Others are efficiently filling their places. Mrs. Jolin H. Binford has been president of the society for the past twenty-five years.

GREENFIELD CHRISTIAN CHURCHI.

In an early day there moved from Kentucky to Greenfield four families who were advocates of the doctrines and practices of the Christian church. They were the Sebastians. Branhams, Offutts and Rainses. Between 1840 and 1854, ministers of this church occasionally visited Greenfield and meet- ings were held in private houses, the old seminary building, in the court house, and in the old Methodist church.

The church was organized in the old Methodist Episcopal church in the spring of 1854. under the ministry of Elder J. C. Thornberry. The charter members were William Sebastian, Elizabeth Sebastian, Joseph Clayton. Hun- phrey Offutt. Lewis Sebastian and Mrs. Amos. The form of organization consisted in the members signing an agreement to take the Bible as their rule of faith and practice. By the close of the year, the membership had grown to fifty in number.

The leaders in the work of erecting a church house were A. K. Branham and Lewis Sebastian. The former at that time was not a member of the church, but he donated thirty-five feet of the lot for the new church, the other ten feet being donated by Colonel Tague. This lot was on the east side of the court house square. The old court house. the first one erected by the county on the public square, was purchased for two hundred and fifty dollars. It was torn down and the brick carried across the street to form in part the walls of the new church. The building when completed cost two thousand dollars, and served the congregation as a place of worship for forty years. It is the building now occupied by the D. H. Goble Printing Company. Of those prominent in the church during these years, mention should be made of George Barnett, who was during most of that time an elder in the church.

The building now occupied by the church was begun in the year 1895. during the first pastorate of Rev. B. F. Dailey, who drew the floor plans of the building, of which the architect was John Felt. The building committee was

CHRISTIAN CHURCH, GREENFIELD

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composed of Morgan Chandler, A. K. Branham, Dr. W. R. King. John Ryon and Morris Hinchman. The corner stone was laid on July 9. 1895. Ad- dresses on that occasion were made by Elders Dailey. E. S. Conner and D. R. VanBuskirk. In the corner stone were placed a Bible. a history of the church written by A. K. Branham, copies of the newspapers published in the city. an account of the building enterprise, and a roll of the officers of the church and church organizations. The building cost about twenty-five thou- sand dollars, and was dedicated on February 23. 1896, by Z. T. Sweeney, of Columbus, Indiana. It was the first of Greenfield's modern churches and reflects great credit upon the enterprise and faithfulness of those who made it possible.

Among the earlier ministers who occasionally visited the church were John O. Kane, John B. New, Bennett Edmondson, C. Blackman and S. K. Hoshour. While on his last tour through the West, Alexander Campbell spoke from the pulpit of the old church.

The following men have served the church as regular ministers in the years indicated : Littleton Rains, 1855-58 ; A. F. Hobbs. 1858-61 ; J. C. Mc- Cullough. 1862. During 1863 and 1864 there was no pastor. George Camp- bell, 1865: Thomas Lockhart, 1866; James F. Sloan. 1867-69: Dr. . I. G. Thomas. 1870-74: James F. Sloan, 1875: Walter D. Campbell. Anderson Chastaine, J. L. Parsons, 1888-90; E. S. Conner. 1891-93 : B. F. Dailey. 1894- 95: William Gard, 1896-97: B. F. Dailey, 1898; T. H. Kuhn, part of 1899: B. F. Dailey, December 1899 to March, 1904; F. B. Sapp, April, 1904 to May, 1906; V. W. Blair. August. 1906 to March, 1909; R. O. Rogers, May, 1909 to August, 1910: B. F. Dailey, 1911-12; M. S. Decker, 1913 to the present writing.

It will be noted that B. F. Dailey served the church as pastor four dif- ferent times, aggregating over ten years. During his first ministry the church was built and during the last, a three thousand dollar pipe organ was installed. The church property as it stands today represents an expenditure of thirty thousand dollars.

Helping Hand Society .- One of the active agencies of the church has been the Aid Society, organized in the carly history of the church, and renamed the Helping Hand Society in 1894. It paid on the new church building three thousand five hundred dollars. Under its auspices, the pipe organ was placed in the church. Over half of the cost of the instrument was paid by the Helping Hand Society. The faithful women who have worked in this society, have helped to tide the church over many a crisis.

The Missionary Society, auxiliary to the Christian Woman's Board of

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Missions, was organized by W. K. Arbell, a returned missionary from Jamaica, on February 26, 1888. Following were the first officers : Nola Mathes, presi- dent; Anna Brown, vice-president ; Isabella Slifer. secretary; Pauline King, treasurer. The charter members were, Mrs. Nola Mathes, Anna Brown, Mel- lie Wills, Arabella Slifer, Melissa Cooper, Pauline King, Rebecca Magann, Nancy Chandler, Lottie Glascock, Mary Bottsford, Eliza Addison. Two char- ter members are still in the work, Mrs. Mathes and Mrs. Slifer. The society has had a splendid growth, spiritually and in numbers. It now has fifty-two active members.

During the last twenty-five years a Christian Endeavor Society has been the center of the activities of the young people of the church and has contrib- uted largely to their social and spiritual culture.

Sunday School .- Early in the history of the church a Sunday school was organized. It is one of the most potent factors in the life of the church. Its average attendance of late years has been probably between two hundred and fifty and three hundred. It is made up of classes ranging from beginners to adults. The Loyal Men's Bible class was chartered June 14, 1913, and has been for years one of the most active departments. The "Sunshine Circle." a class of young ladies, formerly known as Class No. 9, has always been very active in the Sunday school. In 1904 this class laid the foundation for what has since become known as the "Associated Charities of Greenfield," the his- tory of which is given elsewhere.

Some of the superintendents have been George Barnett, William J. Sparks, O. L. Carr, J. B. Pusey, J. D. Meek, W. B. Bottsford, Frank Morgan, W. S. Montgomery, W. C. Goble, Ora Myers, William A. Service, Samuel Kassan and George Wiggins. The Sunday school has at times had the largest enroll- ment of any school in the county.

The church on two occasions, in 1896 and in 1903, entertained the state convention of the Christian church of Indiana. . Its persent membership is about five hundred and fifty.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.

The Presbyterian church, of Greenfield, was organized on the 30th day of July, 1855. There is a tradition which has been written into some of the histories of the church that Dr. B. F. Duncan and John Wilson were watching by the bedside of a sick friend and that near the hour of midnight they were inspired to make plans for the organization of this church. . \ petition was presented to the Indianapolis presbytery. "Old School." at its regular session held in April, 1855, at the Presbyterian church at Hopewell, Indiana, praying

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said presbytery that a Presbyterian church be organized in Greenfield, In- diana. This petition was signed by John Milroy, Alexander Crocket, Nancy Crocket, John Foster, John A. Richie, Samuel Milroy, Eliza Crocket, B. F. Duncan, Martha Meek, Ellen Stirk, James Bracken, Hugh Gambrel and Thomas D. Walpole.

The presbytery granted the prayer of the petitioners and appointed the Revs. David Monfort and David Stephenson, and James Blake, a ruling elder. as a committee to organize the church. This committee met on July 30, 1855. at the Christian church in Greenfiekl to perfect the organization. Jolm Foster was elected ruling eller and was ordained immediately. The following per- sons were received as members at this meeting, in addition to those who signed the above petition : Mary Milroy, Sarah Gambrel, Abbevill Foster, Isabella Cheney, Samuel Creviston and Mary Creviston. The name adopted for the church was "The First Presbyterian Church of Greenfield, Indiana." The first meeting of the session of this church was held on December 2. 1855, the members present being John Foster, the only ruling elder, and David Mon- fort, moderator. This session received at its meeting, on examination, Isaac Rardin, he being the first convert to unite with the church. The first infants baptized were James AAlvin Meek, Richard C. Stirk and Caroline E. Stirk.

.After this church was organized, and until the congregation was able to have a church building of its own, the members worshipped in the old Masonic hall, at the southeast corner of Main and Pennsylvania streets. It was not until in the fall of 1867 that the congregation commenced the erection of the first church edifice at the corner of South and Pennsylvania streets in this city. This building was completed in the winter of 1868, and on Sunday morning, December 20, of that year, the congregation took leave of the Masonic hall. The Rev. Isaac W. Monfort, their pastor, preached the fare well sermon from the text, "For who shall despise the day of small things." The first service held in the new church was on the same Sunday evening, which was a prayer service and was in the gallery of the new building. On the following Sunday the new church was dedicated, the Rev. Robert Sloss preaching the dedicatory sermon.

The first convert received after the congregation took possession of the new building was Mrs. Hattie B. Stitt, who united with the church on Jan- uary 5, 1869. The ministers who have filled the pulpit of the church, either as stated supply or pastors, from the time of its organization, with the dates of their appointment, are: David Monfort, 1855, three years: William Sickles, 1859, one year; O. T. Giddings, 1860, two years; M. 11. Shockley. "1862, one and one-half years ; Abbott, 1865. six months: Isaac

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W. Monfort. 1866, four years; Eben Muse, 1871, six months: John Dixon. 1872. four months: John B. Logan, 1873. ten months; Charles T. White. 1874, two years: Joseph B. Lowery, 1877. one year ; Lewis Lorremer, 1878, two years: S. A. Jamison, 1880, five months : James H. Hawk, 1880, thirteen months : J. A. Brown, 1883: David R. Love, 1884, four years; J. P. Hutch- ison, 1889-91: S. S. Aikman, 1892-3: E. W. Souder, 1894-96: W. H. Sands. 1896-09: James Clare Leach, 1901-03: George C. Noetling, 1903-06: J. Gil- more Smith, 1907-08: Joseph B. Williamson, 1908-13: John F. Charlton, 1914-15; Wilfred Lindsay, 1915. to the present time.

Rev. David Monfort was a man of great spirituality, positive in char- acter and beloved by all who knew him. He was not a profound preacher. but a remarkable talker: tender hearted and sympathetic. of good executive ability and a fine judge of human nature. To him the church was indebted for all the early labor done in said church and we may add that he was its founder. He conducted a very successful revival during his three years' pastorate and in 1860 he returned to Greenfield and conducted a second re- vival. Reverend Monfort received into the church one hundred and twelve members. He was the founder of a day school that was conducted in the Masonic hall for eight years. During this time we had no organized school system in Indiana, no county superintendent, no county institutes, and no standard of education by and through which teachers obtained their schools: but the man who taught for the least money and taught the most hours in the day was the most successful candidate. Yet this school, under the man- agement of David Monfort and his successors, assumed a very high standard in point of education and multitudes of young ladies and gentlemen from abroad sought this school to complete their education, and a large number of teachers went forth from the school. This was the only denominational school ever taught in this county and all those who patronized it, or were familiar with its workings, will testify to its value.

The ruling elders who have constituted the sessions of the church are : John Foster, Joseph Mathers, Robert E. Barnett. Andrew Patterson. Hugh B. Wilson, G. B. Spinning. Thomas Cain, Franklin Gilchrist. James Com- stock, Nathaniel P. Roberts, Marion Steele, L. A. Vawter. H. J. Williams. Later eklers, with dates of appointment and period of service, are the follow- ing: Robert Williamson, clerk, October 14, 1900 (ceased to act April 1. 1907) : George W. Souder, October 14. 1900 ( died September 27. 1915) ; J. Warren Comstock, October. 1900 ( died January 1. 1911 ) : Jesse H. Bundy. October 5. 1005 (still serving ) : John A\. Riley, clerk. April 9. 1907 (died December 8, 1911) : 1 .. E. McDonakl. April 9. 1907 (served three years) ;

OLD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCII, GREENFIELD

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI, GREENFIELD

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Benjamin S. Binford, William P. Johnson, Arthur Williamson, William II. Smart, Earl Gambrel and Ernest Bovey. The latter six are still serving.

The deacons who have constituted its various boards are, Isaac Rardin. Benjamin F. Duncan, J. Edwards. H. C. Chapman, Daniel Chittenden, E. 1. Judkins, John C. Butts, Jerome Williams, Warren Comstock, Walter Roberts, L. A. Vawter, John T. Lineback, John A. Hughes, George W. Sonder, William P. Wilson, John Bohn, Alfred Rottman, Charles Carter, Lee O. Harris, W. P. Johnson, Frank S. Hammel, Arthur H. Williamson. Will A. Stewart, William H. Marsh, O. N. Boyd, R. L. Ogg and O. N. Dugan.

The auxilaries of the church are the Young People's Societies of Chris- tian Endeavor, junior and senior; Sunday school, Woman's Missionary Society and Ladies' Aid Society.

The church was organized with a membership of eighteen, as above named. When the congregation took leave of the old hall in 1868, it had grown to one hundred and forty. It has a present membership of about three hundred. Its members now worship in an elegant brick edifice, erected in 1906, at the northeast corner of Pennsylvania and South streets. This house was erected at a cost of twenty-four thousand dollars. The corner stone was laid on September 21, 1906, the address of the day being delivered by Dr. D. W. Fisher, president of Hanover College. The stone contains a copper box, in which were placed copies of the records of the church. papers. coins, etc. The house was dedicated. April 14. 1907, by Rev. J. W. Powell. The average attendance at services during the past several years has been approximately one hundred persons.

A Sunday school was organized in connection with the church in 1855. Following are the names of the persons who have served in the capacity of superintendent of the Sunday school since its organization: Rev. D. Mon- fort. Joseph Mathers. Robert. Hull. W. G. Thomas, J. H. Stevenson, R. E. Barnett, H. B. Wilson, Marion Steele, R. E. Barnett, William A. Wilson, William Glascock, Quitman Jackson, A. H. Rottman, William Marsh, Dr. B. S. Binford and A. H. Rottman. Of the above. R. E. Barnett served for more than sixteen years. Q. D. Hughes also served as secretary for a period of fourteen years. The Sunday school as now organized has fifteen classes, with an average attendance of about one hundred and fifty.

Prior to the organization of this church, a Presbyterian church, "old school." was organized in this city by the Reverend Harper, of Madison county, in 1840. Their place of worship was the old Methodist Episcopal church which stood on South State street. In 1841 a Presbyterian church,

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"new school," was organized by the Reverend Broadman. Its members wor- shipped in the old seminary building. Neither of these organizations was permanent and no authentic records of them are known to exist. It was not until the organization of the church in 1855 that Presbyterianism had any permanent organization in Hancock county.

ST. MICHAEL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The first Catholics in Greenfield celebrated mass in the homes of the several families prior to 1860. In that year services were held for the first time in the old building which has been sold and removed to the south part of the city for the Mission church. The first mass was read by the Rev. Father Bessonies, the aged priest of St. John cathedral, Indianapolis, for a congregation of fifteen families. Father Bessonies read mass occasionally for the next two years; then, as now, there was no resident priest, and the congregation up to 1876 was under the control of the pastor of the cathedral at Indianapolis.

In 1862 Rev. Father O'Reily was pastor, followed by Father Brassett and Father McMullen, now of Richmond, Indiana. Father .Aldering. now of St. Joseph's parish, Indianapolis, was the next priest to read mass. Then came Father Donovan, from Brownsburg.

In 1879. the control of the parish was given to the Franciscan Fathers. with their home at the Sacred Heart church at Indianapolis. At that time the church was organized and became known as St. Michael's Roman Catholic church. The first priest from the Sacred Heart church was Father Arsenius. Father Alexius took his place for three years and then Father Arsenius returned for two years.

Following are the names of the Franciscans who have been pastors of the church since 1877: Fathers Arsenius Fahle, Alexis Berenard. Rudolph Herstman, Angelus Bill, Lawrence Pauly, Simon Schwartz, Zachary Ehler. Valentine Dorenkemper, Jasper Thoennessen, Philibert Haase, Nazarius Kaiser, Alexis Bender, Hyacinth Schroeder, Amelian Zumkeller, Marian Glahn and Father Lendger.

Father Angelus was sent and read mass for four years. He was succeeded by Father Lawrence. At this time. the congregation becoming large. the priest began to accumulate a fund for the erection of a new church. Father Simon was sent instead of Father Lawrence : then came Father Zachary, who. finding that the old building was too small for his congregation, went to work to build a new one. In the early part of 1897. a building committee was appointed and plans drawn for the erection of the present edifice. The

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contract was awarded to Peter Clements, of Indianapolis. The first mass was said in the present church before it was completed, February 27. 1898.

At present the church has about one hundred members. Mass is held on Sundays at nine-thirty a. m. and three p. m., with an average attendance of from fifty to sixty.

Instruction is given to the children by the priest in the teachings of the church. There are usually from ten to twenty in this class.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCHI.

The Methodist Protestant church of Greenfield, Indiana, was organized in the Presbyterian church in 1885, by the Rev. Hugh Stackhouse. There were forty-nine members, of whom Mrs. Josephine Knight and James T. Bodkin are the only ones who retain membership in the church. Services were held in the home of the pastor. Charles Evans, for about one and one-half ycars prior to the organization. For a short time afterward, services were held in the Grange hall. The congregation then worshipped for a time in the brick blacksmith shop which stood where the barn of the New Milling Com- pany now stands, on East Main street.

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History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions, Part 65

Author: Richman, George J Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc. Number of Pages: 1272

Author: Richman, George J
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc.
Number of Pages: 1272