USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 66
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The first trustees, George O. Knight, C. M. Kirkpatrick, Morgan Chandler, James T. Bodkin and S. O. Shumway, were elected in the winter of 1887. The following summer a building was crected on the site of the present church. On the day of the dedication, the lot on which it stands was presented to the Indiana Methodist Protestant conference by Nelson Bradley and wife, with a check for one hundred and fifty dollars. The membership was then weak, but possessed the spirit of earnestness. The members of the other churches, also many citizens, nobly came to their assistance and made the enterprise possible. Many of the liberal donors were S. O. Shumway, who had the church construction; W. C. Dudding. Nelson Bradley, Morgan Chandler, C. E. Kinder, J. T. Bodkin, C. M. Kirkpatrick, William A. Hough, Wiliam H. Pauley, George W. Crider. David L. Duncan, Joseph P. Knight and Mrs. W. C. Dudding.
The first church was built under the pastorate of Rev. J. C. Smith. The parsonage was builded under the pastorate of Rev. D. W. Evans, in the year 1891. The church was remodeled and enlarged in 1898 under the pastorate of Rev. D. W. Evans. In 1903, the annual conference, which convened at Muncie, set apart Greenfield as a station, with Rev. J. R. Moody as pastor. The following pastors have served this church : Rev. Charles W. Evans, 1885. one year; Rev. J. G. Smith, 1886-87, two years; Samuel J. Jones, 1888, one year; David W. Evans, 1889-93, five years; James L. Barclay. 1894, one
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year : W. L. Martin, 1895. one year : David W. Evans, 1895-1900, five years : M. F. lliff, igor. one year: S. S. Stanton, 1902, one year ; J. R. Moody. 1903-05, three years: W. W. Lineberry, 1900-08. three years: E. T. Howe. 1909, one year: J. A. Rhoades, 1910-11, two years: Clarence J. Kerlin. 1912-13, two years: AA. Adam Frelan, 1914, one year. The present pastor is Rev. George .\. Jewell. The present membership is two hunderd and fifty.
The Ladies' Lookout Society of the church consists of about sixty mem- bers, and has been for a number of years a great financial aid to the church.
The Sunday school was organized in 1885, with Dudley Hudson as superintendent, who served for two years. Since that time the following persons have served as superintendents : Mrs. Alice Tague, one year : S. O. Shumway and Cicero J. Hamilton. In 1898 Lawrence Wood was elected superintendent and has served continuously for the past eighteen years, with the exception of three years, when the office was filled by Charles M. Gibbs. S. O. Shumway and Samuel Stevens, who each served one year. In January. 1916. Lawrence Wood was succeeded by Charles E. Walker, the present superintendent. The average attendance for the last several years has been from ninety to one hundred. In 1015 the average attendance was one hun- dred and twenty-two per Sunday. The school is divided into twelve classes. one in the beginner's department, two in the primary department, one junior. two intermediate, and six adult classes.
THE GREENFIELD FRIENDS CHURCH.
This church was organized in November. 1880, when Esther and Nathan Frame held a series of meetings in the oldl court house, and Westland monthly meeting granted them a meeting for worship. The next year Robert Douglas, of Ohio, preached for the congregation every two weeks, in the old Masonic hall. The charter members were J. K. Henby and family, P. 1. Card and family, William Robb and family, J. J. Wylie and family. J. T. Binford and family, Eli Scott and family, Lemuel Harold and family, Charles Ratliff and family, M. Y. Shaffer and family, C. K. Brummer and family, Hannah Cook, Martha Binford and N. C. Binford.
The following summer, 1890, the present church building on North State street was erected. It was dedicated on December 15, and services have been held there regularly since. The building committee was composed of J. K. Henby, N. C. Binford, Eli Scott. Lemuel Harold and Mary L. Bruner. The late J. 11. Binford bought the lot and did all the legal business for the con- gregation.
The preparative meeting. the business meeting of the church, was opened
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by a committee consisting of J. O. Binford, Huldah Binford, Jonathan Jessup and Ann White, from Westland monthly meeting, on June 244, 1891. Elwood Scott, of Carthage, preached for the congregation a short time after the new building was moved into, in the spring of 1891. He was followed by Mary E. Miars, of Wilmington, Ohio, who preached from 1891-1894. Other ministers of the church follow : Lindley A. Wells, 1895 -- 98; Orville Jones, 1898-9: Oscar Moon, 1899-1901; T. R. Woodard, 1901-2: Daisy Barr, 1902-4; Thomas E. Williams, 1904-5: Edgar H. Stranahan, 1905-6; Homer J. Coppock, 1906-8 : Thomas R. Woodard. 1908-9; Isaac N. Stanley, 1909-10; Mary Miars Harold, 1910-14: Oscar H. Trader. 1914, to the present time. The average attendance is about sixty and the number of resident members one hundred and fifty-four.
A Sunday school was organized as soon as the building was ready for use and has been held regularly since. The average attendance is about fifty : number of classes, eight. The church has always had one or more adult classes. The following persons have served as superintendents of the Sunday school: C. K. Bruner, J. J. Wylie. E. C. Elliott. N. C. Binford, W. C. Henley and Wilfred Andrews. The church owns only the church building.
The Friends Sociable was organized fourteen years ago and has had a meeting monthly since. Its object is the study of history and work of the church and the development of social life.
The Foreign Missionary Society was organized in 1899. by Lucy H. Binford, who has always been its president. It has studied the uniform lesson books and met regularly each month. The membership is about fifty.
SHILOH PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCHI.
The Shiloh Primitive Baptist church stands on the north side of North street, midway between East and Spring streets. The complete history of the church has been given in connection with the history of Blue River town- ship, where the church was originally organized.
HEAVENLY RECRUIT HOLINESS ASSOCIATION.
A Sunday school was orginally organized in the summer of 1895, by J. M. Havens and wife, A. C. Rossow and wife, Mrs. Howlett and others, at the corner of South Pennsylvania and Pierson streets. In December, 1897. this Sunday school identified itself with the Heavenly Recruit organization and selected H. S. Fuller as pastor, who began his work on January 9, 1898. The first trustees were Samuel M. Gappen, J. W. Melton and J. M. Havens. In the same year the old Catholic church was purchased and moved to lot 17
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on Pierson street. The congregation continued to worship in this church until 1906, when a cement block building was constructed. The building committee was composed of Samuel M. Gappen, J. W. Melton and Rev. H. S. Fuller. The most of the cement blocks were made by the Rev. H. S. Fuller after he had been at work all day in the chair factory. The church was dedi- cated. May 19, 1907, by the Rev. W. W. Martin, of the Bradley Methodist Episcopal church. The indebtedness of the church was not paid at that time. but left the congregation in a rather cramped condition for several years.
The Sunday school has been conducted in the church and the following persons have served as superintendents: Douglas Shook. S. M. Gappen Henry Hastings and J. W. Melton. Samuel MI. Gappen, who has been super- intendent for a number of years, is at the head of the Sunday school at this time.
The church now has about fifty members. The average attendance at services is about twenty-five. From four to six classes have been maintained in the Sunday school, with an average attendance of thirty-five. There are usually about fifteen adult church members in attendance at Sunday school. The congregation owns its own church and parsonage.
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.
This congregation was organized under the preaching of the Rev. Z. T. Mower, in 1897. He was assisted by Elder J. T. Roberts, then presiding elder of the district. The present brick church, on the southwest corner of Lincoln and Swope streets, was erected in 1898. The corner stone was laid on June 21. 1898. and the dedicatory services were conducted by Rev. W. R. Funk, of Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday, October 10. 1898. Following are the names of the pastors who have served the congregation since the date of its organization : J. C. Mower, 1897-99: F. S. Minchell and wife, returned missionaries from Africa and who barely escaped with their lives at the time of the uprising of the natives against the missionaries, 1809-1900: C. . \. and Laura Love, 1900-1902 : F. H. Linville. 1902-3; S. B. Ervin, 1903-4 : William J. Karstadt. 1904-5: O. F. Lydy, 1905-09: H. W. Robbins, 1909-13: . \. D. Smith, 1913-14. Mack Crider, 1914-15 : C. E. Small, 1915. to the present time.
The church at present has one hundred and fifteen members. The average attendance at services during several years last past has been about sixty-five. A Sunday school was organized in 1898. It now has an average attendance of about seventy-five. Eight classes are maintained and adult members of the church attend the Sunday school. Following are the names of the persons who have served as superintendent of the Sunday school since
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its organization : Myers, Viola Denny, J. H. Larimore and W. B. Ware.
The church has a Ladies' .Vid Society which was organized in 1898, for the purpose of aiding in caring for the local expenses of the church. \ Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was also organized in 1909. Its purpose is to train the young people in the work of the church.
SEVENTHI-DAY ADVENTISTS.
This congregation was organized as a result of the encampment held at the fair grounds, August 29 to September 9, inclusive, 1901. . At the close of that meeting a tent was pitched on a vacant lot at the northeast corner of Noble and Walnut streets. Elder S. Y. Huntington and James II. Nichaus and wife conducted services every night for almost two months, presenting to the people such subects as Bible Sabbath Keeping, Soon Second Coming of Christ, etc. When cold weather set in, the tent was taken down and the lot purchased.
On November 10, 1901, the ground was staked off and a church com- pleted, which was dedicated on February 9, 1902. The dedicatory sermon was preached by W. W. Prescott, of Battle Creek. Michigan. The following officers were elected for the first year : S. Y. Huntington, pastor ; L. J. King, elder; Martin Dunn, deacon; S. H. Niehaus, treasurer ; Mrs. Kate Hunting- ton, clerk; Mrs. J. H. Niehaus, organist. The congregation continued to worship in this church for several years. Gradually, however, some of them moved away, while others were called to the Great Beyond, and for several years past services have been held at irregular intervals in the church.
HEAVENLY RECRUIT CHURCH.
The Heavenly Recruit church stands on the east side of .\ street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, on the east side of Brandywine creek. It was built in 1906, largely through the influence of Jolin Lewis. He was assisted in his efforts by Ben Brewer, Samuel Harding and others. Lewis and Brewer, Henry Hastings and others have preached for the congregation, but there has never been a salaried pastor.
A Sunday school is conducted in connection with the church. Services are usually held on Sunday afternoons. The attendance is small.
ADA NEW METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Greenfield school board, in 1906, erected the school house on the east side of Brandywine. Mrs. Ada New was elected as teacher of this school
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and continued her service there for a period of five years. In the meantime, she was not only the teacher of the public day school, but led in the organi- zation of a Sunday school and church. She was pre-eminently the central figure about whom those institutions grew. The Sunday school was organized before the first term of the day school closed, and in the early spring of 1907 a board of trustees was appointed for the church in East Greenfield. This board was composed of Judge Robert L. Mason. Amos Chapman, William C. Droeger. Henry Owens, Ada New and Rev. W. W. Martin, of the Brad- ley Methodist Episcopal church. On May 10. 1907. this board hell its first meeting at the residence of Mrs. New. The question of naming the new church was presented. The people of East Greenfield desired to have it named for its founder. On motion of Judge Robert L. Mason, seconded by Amos Chapman, the church was named "Ada New Methodist Episcopal Church." At a meeting of the board on May 20. 1907. Thomas Moxley was employed as architect to prepare plans and specifications for a building. It was also decided to build the church of boulders or cobble stones. On May 8. 19os, the church was attached to the Philadelphia circuit. Thursday, May 28. 1908, was set apart as "Boulder Day," when all of the people of East Green- field, with others who were willing to contribute of their time, were to gather and bring in boulders or cobble stones, for the erection of the church. The work of building progressed slowly. The excavation was finished and cement foundation walls were built in 1909. During the summer of 1009; Judge Robert L. Mason resigned as a member of the board, and a new board was appointed by the quarterly conference of the Bradley Methodist Episcopal church. The new members of the board were Albert L. New. Joshua Barrett. George J. Richman, E. E. Gant and W. W. Haller. The board organized as follows: J. H. Barrett, president : George J. Richman, treasurer, and .\da New, secretary. Thomas Moxley having gone to the state of Oklahoma. William Gordon was employed as architect in 1909. He was directed to examine the work that had been completed and report thereon. Ile reported that the basement wall was insecure and submitted plans and specifications for reinforcing it. The question of erecting a cement or frame church was also considered by the new board. The frame and cement buildings were con- sidered favorably by the board, because such bniklings could be constructed at much less cost than a cobble-stone building. Mrs. New. however, was always strongly in favor of erecting a boukler church. At a meeting on October 12. 1910, it was moved by George J. Richman, and seconded by AAlbert 1. New, that the church be incorporated under the laws of the state. This was done. Articles of incorporation were prepared by Mr. Richman
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and were signed and acknowledged by all members of the board on October 17. 1910. On November 11. 1910, a motion was made and carried that the architect prepare plans and specifications for a frame building, it being feared that the cement foundation walls would not support a cobble stone structure. and the frame building being less costly. On November 26, 1910, Albert L. New, George J. Richman, Joshua H. Barrett, William Droeger and E. E. Gant resigned. In connection with this action of the board, the record con- tains the following entry : "This was discouraging, but faith in God was not lost. Ada New, secretary."
The new trustees appointed to take the places of those resigning were Rev. Paul Truitt, Nevil Reeves, William Droeger, Henry Owens and Ada New. The pastor, Paul Truitt, suggested, on November 27, 1910, that the Sunday school room be cut off, and that just the oblong building be erected. In relation to this suggestion the record recites: "The secretary objected, saying that if we only have faith in God, who could build all, since the Sunday school room is a great convenience, especially for the regular weekly meetings, Sunday school committees, etc., and would be a great saving of fuel, lights, etc."
On December 3. 1910, the trustees had another meeting. at which the question of cutting off the Sunday school room was presented. Some work of tearing down the foundation had already been done, which was causing dissatisfaction among the people. The pastor and Nevil Reeves spoke in favor of cutting off the room as suggested. Henry Owens finally cast his vote with them, which apparently decided the matter. The record of the meeting, however, recites: "The secretary expressed herself as opposed to this, but pledged to leave it with God and the men." The record under date December 5, 1910, recites further, "There being great dissatisfaction regard- ing the tearing down of the foundation, the pastor called a mass meeting of the citizens to see what the majority of the people desired. . After a discussion. the majority vote was cast in favor of keeping the Sunday school room as at first planned."
In the meantime, funds had been collected and the work of constructing the cobble stone building had proceeded slowly. On April 17, 1911, however. the secretary made the following entry in the church record: "The walls are now finished to the square. Thank God, they are beautiful and substan- tial."
The corner stone of the building had been laid on October 4. 1908. Bishop John II. Vincent made the principal address on that occasion. The new house was dedicated on Sunday, September 17, 1911. The dedicatory
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sermon was preached by Dr. William D. Parr, of Kokomo. The vesper service was conducted by Bishop Vincent.
The building committee at the time of the completion of the church was composed of the following men : William C. Droeger, Charles Warren and Alonzo Gibson.
The building is a beautiful cobble stone structure. For its very existence. all credit must be given to Mrs. New. The church was in process of con- struction for a period of four years. Her boards of trustees resigned because of the lack of funds, the apparent inability of raising funds, and because of the lack of business methods in the prosecution of the work. Probably, the church could not have been built if the ordinary rules of business procedure had been observed. Mrs. New possessed a faith that overcame all obstacles. and that transcended all possibilities of finest business organization.
CHRIST'S UNION MISSION CHURCH.
For several months prior to the summer of 1908 a number of the families in the western part of Greenfield worshipped at private residences and in rooms that were rented for that purpose. In that year Mrs. Malissa Cooper donated to the school trustees of Greenfield the real estate upon which the public library now stands. The house that stood upon this lot she gave to the people above referred to, to be used as a place of worship. The building was moved to the northwest corner of Walnut and Franklin streets, where it was remodeled for church purposes.
Lewis Shumway. Henry Tibbitts and James Finnell were selected as trustees to care for the property of the church. They have served in this capacity to the present. Among those who have worshipped here are John Johnson and wife, Dolly McPherson, Matt Richey and wife, Roy and Tilgh- man Shirley, William Rhody and wife and others.
A Sunday school has been conducted in the church, of which Henry Hastings, Tilglunan Shirley and others have been superintendent. The Sunday school usually has an attendance of from twenty-five to thirty-five. Church services are held on Sunday morning's, also Sunday afternoons and generally on Tuesday evening. The church has never had a salaried pastor. Henry Hastings, Lucy Page and others have preached there.
CHRIST SCIENTISTS.
In July, 1914. the people of this faith in the city of Greenfield effected a little organization and arranged to meet at the homes of the members for worship. but generally meeting at the home of John Corcoran, on Douglas
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street. In the spring of 1915 the rear room in the Gates block, over the book store, was rented, and since that time services have been held there on Sun- days and Wednesday evenings. Following are the names of the people who have met for worship regularly with the little band of Christ Scientists : John Corcoran and wife, Mrs. Charles Williams, Mrs. George Davis, Mrs. John B. Hinchman, Mrs. Charles G. Gant, Mrs. W. S. Gant, Mrs. Caroline Goble. Mrs. Clyde Townsend, Mrs. Charles M. Gibbs, Mrs. John Halsall, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hudson, John Bohm, Sr., and Mrs. J. B. Knight.
TIIE TABERNACLE MEETING.
All the churches of the city united in an evangelistic campaign in No- vember, 1914. A tabernacle was erected at the northwest corner of East and North streets. Ministers and laymen labored on its construction. Dr. H. II. Hall, of Pennsylvania, led the meeting, which continued for three weeks or more, during the month of November. All of the ministers and churches gave their support to the effort. Intense interest was manifested, and the tabernacle, which accommodated from fifteen hundred to two thou- sand people, was filled to overflowing every evening. Alnost four hundred conversions were reported.
MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION.
On .November 24, 1902, a permanent organization was effected among the ministers resident at Greenfield, known as the Ministerial .Association. Its charter members included J. M. Thompson, pastor of the Baptist church; J. Clare Leach, of the Presbyterian church; Perry E. Powell, of the Methodist Episcopal church; S. S. Stanton, of the Methodist Protestant church; B. F. Dailey, of the Christian church : Daisy Barr, of the Friends church, and F. H. Linville, of the United Brethren church. Rev. Daisy Barr was elected president of the association and F. H. Linville, secretary.
At the first meeting the subject of tithing was discussed and the opinion prevailed that "it is as binding now as in former years." It was decided on that occasion to distribute a tract on "tithing."
The association is still maintained and includes all of the resident min- isters at Greenfield. Regular meetings are held and matters for the general good are discussed.
CHAPTER XIX.
GREEN TOWNSHIP.
Green township, named after John Green, one of the very carly settlers. is located in the north central part of Hancock county. It is six miles east and west by five miles north and south. The civil township lies in two con- gressional townships. Sections 12. 13, 24, 25 and 36, off of the west end of the civil township, lie in congressional township 17 north, range 6 east. The remaining twenty-five square miles composing the township lie in congres- sional township 17 north, range 7 east.
Green township was first organized at the September term of the board of commissioners, in 1832, and was formed from the northern parts of Jack- son and Harrison townships. At that time it included all of what is now Green and Brown townships. Brown township was organized as a separate township at the September term of the board of commissioners, in 1833. Since that time Green township has had its present boundaries.
Its surface is generally level except along Sugar creek, where it is rolling. Sugar creek enters the township near its northeast corner, then comes down almost to the middle of the township and takes a westerly course almost to its west line. It then turns sharply, cutting the west line of the township about a mile north of its southern line. There is no other natural drainage, but a large number of open ditches have been constructed, both from the north and south, which empty into Sugar creek. These open ditches, with a system of tile drains, give the township a complete system of artificial drainage. The level surface of the township, together with a fertile soil, makes it admirably adapted to heavy farming.
The first land entry in the township was made by William Shortridge on May 26. 1820, who entered the northeast quarter of section 19, township 17, range 7. Among other families who came at a very early date and entered land in Green township, as shown by the tract book in the county recorder's office, are the following : James Alford, Frederick Jackson. Henry Collins, Levi Jackson, Harvey Scott. Matilda Edwards, George Baity. William Cass. Elizabeth Green, Ichabod Ashcraft, John L. Alford, Andrew Alford. George Davidson, George Y. Atkison, Henry Jackson. Samuel Smith. Joseph S. Watts, Joseph Murfin, Drewney Reynolds, Thomas L. Fuqua. Robertson Jarrett. George Shortridge, Andrew Bragg, Dempsy Jackson. John D. Cooper, Lucinda MeCray. James Cass, William Willett. John Green, Alfred
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Henby, Neri Jarrett. Isaac Magruder. Enos Jarrett, William Shortridge. Nicholas Jarrett, John Mckinsey, David Hittle, William Barrett, Levi Rash. Samuel Wilson, George Henry, Morris Pierson, Elijah S. Cooper, Alford Thomas, Moses Gibbs, Robert Curry, Jacob Amick, Abraham Rhue. Robert Sanford, David McKinsey. Andrew F. Hlatfield. Edward Barrett. Stephen Jackson, Robert Wilson, James Walker, Henry Hunt, Jonathan Dunbar, John Gibbs, Henry Manifold. James Judkins, William Amick, Logan Alford. Jacob Kingery, Harper Reed. Rolla Personett, John Power. Joseph Barrett. William Wilson, John Rash. James Wilson, Vincent Cooper. Paul Moore. Robert Jackson, Hugh Gibbs, James Drury, Isaiah Jackson. Seth Wilson. David Piper.
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