USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol I > Part 31
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By act of March 6, 1873, courts of common pleas throughout the state were abolished. The thirty-sixth judicial circuit was formed and James O'Brien was ousted from his office as judge pro tem. of the seventeenth judicial district, as Judge Davis was not an inhabitant of any one of the counties of which it was composed after being separated from the two counties mentioned. In sub- sequent years Judge O'Brien was a resident of Howard county, wherein he served upon the circuit bench as appointee to succeed Judge Overman, of Tipton.
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REMINISCENCES OF LEWIS CASS BELL.
BY OTIS C. POLLARD.
Lewis Cass Bell, claiming the distinction of being the first white child born in Cass county, and also claiming that Cass county was named after him, was yet alive in 1908, and related his expe- riences with the Indians of Howard county, over which he roamed as a pioneer hunter.
Mr. Bell knew personally the Indian chiefs of this part of the Miami reserve and hunted with them all. Chief Kokomoko was head of a village, extending from the corner of Sycamore and Main streets to Wildcat creek, and including perhaps one hundred wig- wams. Chief Kokomoko, Mr. Bell says, was friendly with the whites, and used the pale face well. Physically he was a large man, but he dearly loved his whisky, and was not of much personal force or character.
Chief Shappendocia (spelled phonetically), founder of Green- town, Mr. Bell declares to have been one of the best Indians he ever knew. He did not drink a drop, and he and his wife were the only two of his village who did not drink. The chief was greatly in love with his wife, whom he procured under unusual circumstances. Her first husband was a hard-drinking, worthless Indian and did not treat his squaw well, and upon meeting Shappendocia she resolved to leave her husband. An elopement was planned and carefully exe- cuted, but the deserted husband, learning of the situation, resolved to give pursuit and kill Chief Shappendocia. The latter, learning of this fact, dismounted from his pony, and giving the reins to the squaw, with directions to proceed, Chief Shappendocia hid behind a tree and awaited the arrival of the pursuing husband. When he came within shot, Chief Shappendocia picked him off the saddle
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and rejoined his future wife, soon marrying the woman he had made a widow. Their married life was a very happy one.
Chief Shappendocia had many of the ways of civilization. He played a violin well, was a good talker, using very correct English. His home, a cabin of two rooms, was well kept, one side being used for a small store which he conducted. The chief also farmed a lit- tle, making a specialty of corn and beans, and raised some live stock. When the Indians left the reserve, Chief Shappendocia sold out and went west with his people, but he told Mr. Bell that if he "did not like the new location he would come back," but he never re- turned.
INDIAN VILLAGES.
Chief Squirrell's village formed the third of a link of Indian settlements of the pioneer days. His seat of government was lo- cated near Pipe creek, in Cass county, but the village bore an inti- mate relation to the pioneer and social life of Howard (then Rich- ardville) county. Chief Squirrell was a small, quick, active man, a good Indian, and popular with his people and the whites.
To the north still was the powerful village of Chief Francis Godfrey, a man of massive size, whose belt was almost equal to the girth of a saddle. He had a wide and overshadowing influence over the Indians of Howard county, and even among the whites.
Mr. Bell was as much identified with Howard as with Cass county. He was a noted hunter, making his living in that way. He formed the acquaintance of "Indian Tom," who belonged to Chief Shappendocia's village, and they were boon companions in the hunt. Mr. Bell lost the Indian's friendship through a joke. Finding "In- dian Tom" asleep one day upon a log, Mr. Bell slipped up without making any noise and abstracted the Indian's rifle, which rested at his side. Then secreting himself, he cried like a wildcat. The In-
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dian jumped to his feet and grabbed for his gun, but finding it gone, instantly detected the presence of Mr. Bell. The red skin was very angry and sullenly demanded his weapon, which was at once handed him. He quit the scene with angry strides and never afterwards spoke to Mr. Bell, being so ashamed at being outdone in this man- ner, which was a blow to his pride. Whenever Mr. Bell visited the village of Chief Shappendocia "Indian Tom" always left.
Mr. Bell, like the Indians, earned his chief money by shooting deer, wolves and game of all kinds for the furs. One year he and Isaac Fickle killed three hundred deer, besides other game. Bell was an expert shot. Early in the fall he would take rifle in hand and start into the deep forests which then covered a tier of coun- ties in the reserve. Weary with the hunt of the day, he would build a fire to keep away the wolves and gather brush for a bed and with- out bed covering of any kind lie down to peaceful dreams. Though the snow lay deep upon the ground, no bed covering was needed. Attired in wamus, buckskin breeches and moccasins, the bitterest cold would have no effect upon him. For supper he would bring down a fat squirrel and roast him by the fire, eating the toothsome meat with dry bread, always carried by the hunter.
Wolves in this country were still so troublesome in December, 1847, that a premium of three dollars and fifty cents in addition to the lawful fee was offered by the county commissioners for each scalp presented the county, clerk.
In the early forties the Indians were yet numerous in Howard county. One day several of them, while drunk, appeared at Judge Linsday's cabin door. His daughter, Mrs. L. E. Harrison, was nearly frightened out of her senses, and as the cabin was not chinked -that is, the spaces between the logs were open-she began to climb to the loft, screaming for her father at the top of her voice. When he arrived she had reached the loft and was seated on a pole.
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trembling with excitement, while the Indians roared with laughter. The judge commanded her to descend, and giving the Indians some- thing to eat sent them away.
The Indians came near breaking up the first Fourth of July celebration held in Kokomo in 1847, at the Sulphur Springs, a site since builded over, on East Mulberry street. At this time the site was covered with a dense woods. People came from over the county, but not to exceed fifty people were present, but all were in- tensely patriotic, and the day was celebrated in a memorable man- ner. The people brought their dinners and remained during the entire day. The speeches were made by Judge N. R. Linsday and Colonel C. D. Murray, pioneer lawyers. During the celebration an Indian, who was under the influence of drink, and perched in a tree, caused great confusion. David Foster, who had an unbounded influence over the red skins, strapped his blanket on his horse, rode away with the Indians following, and persuaded the feathered and painted visitors to leave the scene that the celebration might pro- ceed peacefully and without interruption. There was no lack of noise and the boom of the anvil gave all the necessary artillery and explosive effect. Judge Linsday and Colonel Murray stood upon a stump during the delivery of their speeches. It was the habit of using a stump as a platform in an early day in Indiana that the phrase originated of "taking the stump," applied to political cam- paigns.
Frequently the Indians would get drunk and run whooping through the village of Kokomo like madmen, or dash around upon their ponies. They were really dangerous, but never hurt any one. They always seemed in fear of the government.
David Foster, the founder of Kokomo, was a notable trader with the Indians of this locality. Once upon a time he sold needles to the red skins at one dollar apiece by claiming that the last needle
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maker was dead and that it would be a long time before the lost art was again learned.
Joseph and Leodicia McCoy, well known pioneers of the county, rode horseback over the Indian trail from Marion to this city, being the only way they could travel, the roads not permitting of the use of a wagon. They passed the night in the Indian camp, then to the west of the City Park site. They were cordially treated by the In- dians, being furnished with blankets for their greater comfort. When they departed the next morning the dogs barked at them fu- riously and the Indians were in a hub-bub, calling at the canines. The McCoys supposed that the Indians were sicking the dogs upon them, but later found that the red skins were endeavoring to call the dogs off from their attack. The McCoys settled in Monroe township. Mrs. McCoy lived to the age of ninety-two years, hav- ing died in Kokomo.
CHURCHES.
Fortunately for Kokomo and Howard county the first settlers were men and women who believed fully in both religion and educa- tion, and as soon as they had provided themselves with homes, however rude and uncomfortable they may hove been, they began to plan and prepare places and means for the education of their children and at the same time to hold religious services. Because of the fewness in numbers the early meetings were small congrega- tions. The first meetings were held in the homes and the people traveled miles to attend service, and usually as soon as a half dozen people of the same faith could be gotten together a church would be started. That did not mean that there would then be regular
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preaching service. Often the church was compelled to be content with only an occasional sermon from a minister who made a wide circuit and served a large district. There were many earnest Chris- tians then who were strong exhorters, who made stirring appeals for the better life.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
While Kokomo had but thirty families in 1848, there were enough Baptists among them in 1847 to organize a church with seven members. Who were the ministers of that early Baptist church neither written history nor tradition tells us. History tells us that the last recorded meeting of that church was held August 26, 1858, and that there were about one hundred members, and that of this number were Corydon Richmond, Matthew and Mrs. Murden and Denton Simpson. Denton Simpson, we know, was then living in Taylor township. Up to that time it was accounted one of the flourishing churches of the little town. Corydon Rich- mond was one of the foremost citizens of the community and a lead- ing physician. Matthew and Mrs. Murden were highly respected citizens, and Denton Simpson was one of the learned men, who had been the village schoolmaster. It is said that they disbanded by mutual consent. Why they disbanded by mutual consent there is not a hint.
For the next sixteen years Kokomo was without a Baptist church, and of the one hundred members who had disbanded and broken up their church home only three or four are left. Many of the others drifted off into other folds and some had gone into the beyond.
In 1874 W. A. Stuart and family moved to Kokomo. Mr. Stuart was a hustling real estate dealer and an earnest Baptist, as
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were his family. He and his wife began immediately to look about for Baptists. They found a very small remnant. They organized a Baptist Sunday school and began earnestly to build up the Bap- tist faith where it had been permitted to go down. The school met at the old Third Ward school building, at the corner of Clay and Taylor streets, with W. A. Stuart as superintendent and R. L. Upton as secretary. The school prospered. Early in December, 1874, was established what was called the Sunday school prayer meeting. The Rev. Joseph Brown, missionary of the Baptist state convention, was present and preached.
On February 6 and 7. 1875, and at his request, a meeting was held on Monday following to discuss the Baptist situation. Twelve Baptists were present and participated and passed a resolution unani- mously to organize a church. A meeting was appointed for Feb- ruary 18th, when an organization was completed with eight mem- bers, as follows: James W. Fisher, Nancy P. Fisher, Minnie B. Fisher, Drusilla A. Rickard, Sarah C. Gray, W. A. Stuart, B. H. Stuart and Naomi Upton. A council was convened March 20, 1875, to consider the recognition of the organization, of which Rev. B. R. Ward was moderator and Jackson Morrow was clerk. This meet- ing occurred in the midst of one of the most violent snowstorms that ever visited this section, and while six members were sick at home, leaving but two to represent the church at the meeting. Every ele- ment of discouragement was present and it seemed to the council that failure was sure to follow. While discussing this phase of the matter Grandpa Thomas, of Galveston, said: "Brethren, let 11s give them a chance." That decided the matter. The council voted to give them a chance.
EARLY STRUGGLES.
With little influence in society, few in numbers with a property valuation of less than one thousand dollars, limited in ability as to
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leadership, without a house of worship, without a pastor, and all this under the shadow of six strong church organizations, one of which was built up to ninety members by a revival meeting held in the same house and to whom was given the use of the house one-half of the time from January till September following, when the wants of the pulpit required its entire use. In the meantime, and until November Ist, the pulpit was supplied by neighboring ministers lending their services. When ministerial aid failed ser- mons were read or prayer and conference meetings were held.
Ministers who gave their services were Joseph Brown, P. Odell, B. R. Ward, J. C. Burkholder, W. N. Wyeth, P. McDade, S. Cornelius, and others.
A meeting of days followed the recognition service, mainly conducted by Burkholder, in which eight members were received by baptism. Three more were received during the summer by bap- tism and five by letter, making twenty-four members, when Rev. S. Cornelius, D. D., was settled as pastor. November 1, 1875. twenty-seven more members were added, chiefly as a result of meet- ings continuing from January I to February 20. 1876. On June I. 1875, the Third Ward schoolhouse was purchased, with one and one-half lots, for two thousand dollars, five hundred dollars in cash and the balance in one and two years. This was promised without knowing where it was to come from. John Kenower, of Huntington, paid the first one hundred dollars and M. H. Thomas fifty dollars and the remainder was raised within the church. Under Rev. Cornelius' pastorate the membership increased to eighty-eight. April 26, 1878, Norman Carr became pastor and remained till September 25, 1882, when he resigned to become financial agent of Franklin College. Rev. Carr did a grand work while pastor. Dur- ing his pastorate of four years and five months the membership increased to two hundred and twelve, the church in the meantime having lost one hundred by deaths and removals.
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
PAYING OUT OF DEBT.
A debt of one thousand two hundred dollars on the church had been paid and a parsonage costing one thousand dollars had been purchased. On the Ioth day of January, 1883, N. C. Smith became pastor, doing a good work spiritually and causing the deht on the parsonage to be paid. In 1893 the church, having outgrown their house of worship, built their present commodious brick structure, moving the old house back and building on the front. They have now a property valued at twelve thousand dollars. This house was built while the Rev. J. H. Wynans was pastor of the church. The money to pay for the construction of the new church was collected largely from the membership. The largest giver outside of the membership was Monroe Seiberling, of the Plate Glass Company and one of Kokomo's first and most liberal givers.
Other pastors have been Allen Hill, E. G. Shouse, J. C. Rhodes, G. B. McKee and J. W. Clevenger. The Rev. McKee was prob- ably the ablest preacher ever holding a pastorate in Kokomo. The membership in 1908 is two hundred and eighty. The church at present is without a pastor, and is also out of debt.
In reviewing the history of this church the conclusion must be that it is the outgrowth of faith. Its members have not been of the rich nor those highest in social circles. The success of this church must be ascribed to Him who uses the weak things of the earth to manifest His power and glory. The Baptists hold many views in common with other evangelical denominations. They believe in a personal God of infinite perfection, in the fall of man. the atonement through Christ's death, the resurrection from the dead, the final judgment, the everlasting blessedness of the right- eous and the everlasting punishment of the wicked. The central supremely characteristic doctrine of the Baptists is their belief in a
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regenerated church membership. As baptist symbolizes regenera- tion ; that is, spiritual death and resurrection through faith in the death and resurrection of Christ, so nothing but the immersion of the believer represents the truth symbolized by scriptural baptism.
Those who have been prominent in the work of this church are W. A. and Mrs. Stuart, Rev. B. R. Ward, Sampson Lett, W. T. Merrill and Mrs. Murden.
THE NORTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
Many years ago the Baptist church began a mission Sunday school on North Smith street, near the site of the Doxey factory, in a vacant frame house quite simply fitted up for this purpose. This met a ready response from the people of that section, which had no church nor Sunday school other than this. For several years this work was carried on with but poor equipment in the way of a house and furnishings. After W. S. Armstrong had platted an addition to Kokomo on North street, being a part of the T. A. Armstrong estate, he offered the Baptists a choice lot at the corner of North and Morrison streets if they would build a church- house on it. The Baptists accepted the offer and in the fall of 1904 laid the cornerstone of a new church, and one year later. in the fall of 1905, dedicated a neat frame church costing two thou- sand dollars, free of debt.
Before the dedication Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Armstrong pub- licly donated the lot to the Baptist people for church purposes and made a deed therefor. The lot was valued at three hundred dol- lars. A little while later Harry and Lizzie Linsday jointly donated a second lot adjoining the other. Neither of these families were Baptists and their actions were regarded as special favors. This church is located in a section of the city without other church facili- ties and thus presents a rare opportunity for Christian work.
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The chief workers and promoters of the work in this mission field are Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Smith and J. A. Rivers.
MAIN STREET CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
BY OTIS C. POLLARD.
The Christian, or Disciples', church was organized on the 21st day of February, 1851, with seven members. They were Lewis Anderson and wife, Thomas Shepard and wife, John E. Linsday and wife and Edward W. Shepard. Lewis Anderson, Edward Shepard and John Linsday were elected trustees: Thomas Shepard and Lewis Anderson elders. Two of the members died a few years later, Lewis Anderson and Edward Shepard. In a few months Thomas A. Armstrong and family moved to this city and took membership. The membership in a short time was further aug- mented by the addition of Martin M. Preble, Benjamin B. Preble, Alfred H. Plough, and families. For six years this faithful band of followers of the Lord, with a few recruits from time to time, as the village of Kokomo increased in population, met in the homes of the members of the congregation, to break bread and serve their Master as best they could. At times they hired a hall in which to worship and, as often as possible, secured some one to preach. The preaching for several years was mostly done by the elders of the church without any compensation whatever, "yet they pros- pered."
In 1854 the congregation purchased of John Bohan, then audi- tor of the county, lot No. 45, in the original plat, for which thirty dollars was paid. Early in 1857 a building committee was ap- pointed, of which A. F. Armstrong was a member, and during the year the frame church, a building painted white and known as the
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old Christian church, was erected on East Mulberry street and completed at a cost of about one thousand eight hundred dollars. It has a seating capacity of three hundred. In this building the congregation worshiped for thirty-two years, from 1858 to Feb- ruary, 1880. Early in the year 1866, while in this building and during the pastorate of Rev. R. E. Pearee, the organ, as an instru- ment of worship with music, was introduced into the services of the congregation. It created a commotion for a time, some believ- ing it to be a machination of the devil. The final result of the con- tention over the matter was the passage of two resolutions by the congregation, the first of which called for the resignation of the pastor and gave him but fifteen days in which to resign. He re- signed. The second resolution permitted the church organ to remain in the church building, but with the strict condition that it was not to be played upon but was to remain quiet during the services on the Lord's day. It was agreed that it would be available for use in Sunday school and at weekday meetings. These resolutions gave general satisfaction and were adopted by a unanimous vote.
In 1872, while under the pastorate of Rev. James W. Conner. the membership had increased to two hundred and twenty-three members, and the congregation was able to pay its pastor a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per annum and yet keep out of debt. Of the early church Thomas Auter and Thomas A. Armstrong were members of decided personal characteristics. Auter was at one time an elder, and a very ardent man in his religious convictions.
BOTH PREACHER AND JANITOR.
He could not only preach successfully, but he served as janitor with all the ardency of his nature and nothing pleased him more than to ring the church bell, summoning the faithful to worship.
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Ardent also in his sympathies, and hearing of the mistreatment of John Russell, a negro just arrived from the South, Elder Auter waited upon the man whom he had been informed had threatened to kick Russell out of a place Russell had entered and informed the party waited upon that if there was any kicking to be done just to kick him, Auter. As the elder was a large and active man, the invitation was not an alluring one and was never accepted. A beau- tiful picture is that lingering in the minds of the older members of the congregation, who recall that nearly each Sunday, while in the old church, Thomas A. Armstrong, venerable and feeble, attended upon divine services. He was supported upon two canes and con- ducted to the front by his sons, where he occupied a large arm chair, provided for his use, near the pulpit, in order that he might hear. He invariably wore a large red bandana handkerchief about his head. In this instance was exemplified the truth of the scriptures, "Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the earth." His children each enjoyed a long life. Martin B. Preble and others of the pioneer members were forceful personali- ties, valiant soldiers for the Lord. In 1875 lots were purchased of Worley Leas for three thousand dollars, on which was erected the brick church destroyed by fire, and predecessor of the present beatt- tiful stone structure, now called the Main Street Christian church.
In February, 1876, plans were submitted and approved by the congregation for a new structure. A building committee was ap- pointed and instructed to go forward at once, its duty being to secure subscriptions and erect the building. In the fall of 1876 a cellar was excavated and the foundation put in to the first joist. In 1877 the walls were constructed and the roof placed. But in 1877 nothing further was done, the building funds having run short. In 1879 the floors were laid and rough plastering spread. Temporary doors were placed and the windows nailed up with
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plank. In this condition the building committee turned over to the officers of the church a building encumbered with an indebtedness of fourteen thousand dollars. The audience room was seated with chairs, the members each furnishing one or more chairs. On the first Lord's day in February, 1880, with the floor bare and the win- dows planked, the congregation held the first services in the new church building. The membership, then less than three hundred. was badly discouraged, yet were true and faithful to the cause which had been entrusted to their hands. Rev. E. L. Frazier held the first protracted meeting in this church in February and March, 1880. Rev. J. L. Parsons was the first pastor of the new church, being called in May following its occupancy. He tried hard to infuse new life into the church, but resigned in February, 1881.
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