History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 94

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 942

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The Union Agricultural Fair Association of Frank-

lin township was first organized as a grange associa- tion, and its name afterwards changed to the present one. Hitherto the fairs of the association have been held on grounds (about twelve acres) rented for the purpose on the farm of John P. Overhiser, about three miles west of Acton ; but this arrangement was not intended to be a permanent one, and the fairs will be held in future on grounds adjoining the village.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Acton was first organized at the house of William Rector, on the northeast quarter of section 10, township 14, range 5 east, about the year 1827. It was formed by the following-named members : William Rector and wife, George Tibbitts and wife, John Walden and wife, Jeremiah Burnett and wife, with William Rector and George Tibbitts as leaders. About 1830 they built a house of worship on the land of William Rec- tor, which was twenty-eight by thirty-six feet, and constructed of hewn logs, as was the custom in that day. The church was served by the following-named preachers or pastors (in what order cannot be given) Revs. James Havens, Francis Mclaughlin, Elijah Whitten, David Burt, Jacob Miller, John V. R. Miller, Landy Havens, George Havens, David Hav- ens, James Corwin, - - Baherrell, and Greenly McLaughlin, with William Rector as exhorter or local preacher.

About 1846, William Rector moved to Iowa, and the class began to decline and became quite weak. In 1852 they organized a class at the school-house, one and one-half miles southwest, where the village of Acton was laid out in the same year. They con- tinued to hold their meetings in the school-house until the fall of 1855, at which time they had a church edifice sufficiently near completion to hold their services in, but it was not dedicated until June, 1856. In the fall of 1853 they held the quarterly meeting in the warehouse of John Daily, in Acton. After the class was moved from Rector's chapel to Acton, John Daily, William Crosson, Henry Mc- Roberts, David Rayburn, Joseph Brenton, and C. C. Butler were class-leaders up to 1860.

They had for pastors or preachers the Rev. George

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

Havens for 1853, Rev. Thomas Ray for 1854-55, Rev. John V. R. Miller for 1856, Rev. John Brouce for 1857, Rev. -- Chivington for 1858, Rev. Patrick Carlin for 1859, Rev. Elijah Whitten for 1860, Rev. F. S. Potts for 1861, Rev. R. Roberts for 1862-63, Rev. M. Mitchell for 1864, Rev. A. Lotten for 1865-66, Rev. J. H. Tomlinson for 1867 -68, Rev. Henry Wright for 1869, Rev. B. F. Mor- gan for 1870, Rev. Thomas W. Jones for 1871-72 (number of members at this time, sixty-five), Rev. F. S. Turk for 1873-74 (number of members at this time, eighty), Rev. E. S. Spencer for 1875-76 (num- ber of members at this time, one hundred and twelve), Rev. P. S. Cook for 1877-78, Rev. William Nich- ols for 1879-80, Rev. R. L. Kinnear for 1881, Rev. Albert Cain for 1882-83. Present number of mem- bers, one hundred and thirteen. The church building was burned Dec. 24, 1879, the fire being caused by a defective flue. They commenced to rebuild is May, 1881, and completed the building so that it was dedicated on the 31st of July of the same year. The building is a brick structure, thirty-four by forty- eight feet, and cost three thousand dollars.

The officers of the church at this time are : Trus- tees, Jonas Hamlyn, David Rayburn, Frederick Doke, and Jacob Tolen ; Secretary, Austin Daugherty. Jonas Hamlyu was class-leader from 1875 to 1881. David Rayburn is the class-leader at the present time. The present stewards are James Copeland, Herbert E. Hamlyn, Charles Doke, W. S. Clover. Connected with the church is a Sunday-school having an aver- age attendance of seventy. Jonas Hamlyn has been for five or six years and is at present the superin- tendent.

The New Bethel Baptist Church was organized on the 7th of April, 1827, with eight members, as follows : James Greer, Lewis O'Neal, David Woods, James Davis, Elizabeth Greer, Achsah Woods, Catharine O'Neal, and Elizabeth Davis, The Rev. Abraham Smock was called to the pastorate of the church, and served until December, 1832, during which time there was a number added to the church.

In the year of the organization (1827) they built a hewn-log house, twenty-four by twenty-eight fect, ' with a large fireplace and split slabs for seats. In

this they felt they had a comfortable place to worship God.

In January, 1833, the Rev. John Richmond was chosen pastor for one year. In February, 1834, the Rev. Thomas Townsend became pastor for one year. In June, 1835, a council met with the church and ordained Ebenezer Smith to the ministry. From 1835 to 1838 they were without a pastor. Town- send and Smith (being members of the church) supplied them alternately. In 1838 they called Townsend and Smith to supply the pulpit on al- ternate Sabbaths, and they served until 1848.

In 1842 the church by a council ordained John Ransdell to the gospel ministry. In 1843 the church built a frame building, thirty-six by forty- eight feet, at a cost of one thousand dollars. Iv 1848 the Rev. Madison Hume was called to the pastoral care of the church, and continued until 1852, when the Rev. Michael White was called to the pastorate. In May, 1853, Rev. James S. Gil- lespie was called to the pastorate, and he continued his services until 1859, when the Rev. J. H. Razor was called to the care of the church. In 1860, Rev. - Stewart became their pastor. In 1863, Rev. J. H. Razor was again called to the care of the church,

In 1866 the Revs. James M. Smith and A. J. Esscx held a meeting of two weeks, at which meet- ing ninety-three were added to the church, seventy- eight of them by baptism. At the same time the Rev. James M. Smith was called to the pastoral care of the church. While he was pastor they erected a new church building of brick, thirty-six by fifty feet, at a cost of four thousand dollars.

In 1869 the Rev. F. M. Buchanan was called to the pastoral care of the church, and served them until 1880. The Rev. N. Harper was pastor in 1881 and 1882. In 1883 the Rev. T. J. Conner was called to the pastorate. The membership at this time is one hundred and seventy-three. The Sun- day-school has an average attendance of seventy-five, with John Grames as superintendent.

The Baptist Church at the Forks of Little Buck Creek was organized on the 8th of June, 1833, at the house of Nehemiah Smith, by a council from the following-named churches: Lick Creek

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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

Church, Abraham Smock, Thomas Townsend, Thomas Bryan, Jacob Smock, and Luke Bryan ; Bethel Church, Joel Kemper, Lewis Smither, and John J. Belles ; Pleasant Run Church, John Perry and Wil- liam Herring. The council was organized by electing Abraham Smock moderator and Thomas Townsend clerk, after which they adopted articles of faith, which were signed by the following-named constitu- ent members : Elijah Vise, Susan Vise, Nehemiah Smith, Sarah Smith, William Forsythe, Sarah For- sythe, Edmond Lovitt, Mary Lovitt, Abraham Hen- dricks, Susan Hendricks, Frank Smith, Rebecca Perkins, Elizabeth Vise, Susan Vise, Francis Vise, Nathaniel Vise, Polly Vise, Benson Cornelius, Debo- rah Cornelius, Thomas McFarland, Betsy McFar- land, and Sarah Wikoff.

The first pastor of the church was the Rev. Thomas Townsend, who served them for two years; then Rev. Abraham Smock served them for two ycars ; then Ebenezer Smith. (Here the records are missing.) Since 1868 the following-named ministers have served the church as pastors, viz. : Peterson K. Par, Daniel Caudle, and Robert Thompson. P. K. Par and Robert Thompson are now serving the church alternately as pastors. Services are held once a month. The church has now thirty-six mem- bers. Nimrod Par is church clerk.

The Presbyterian Church at Acton was first organized in Perry township. On the 30th of March, 1833, a few Presbyterians met at the house of Mrs. Mary Sebern, one and one-half miles north of where Southport now stands, and, after a sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Woods, from Proverbs xxviii. 4, the New Providence (now Acton) Presby- terian Church was organized. John S. Sebern and Otis Sprague were the first elders, and Samuel Brewer the first deacon. They were all ordained and installed on the 31st of March, 1833, having been elected on the preceding day.

The church at its organization consisted of twenty- fonr members, sct apart by the Indianapolis Presby- tery from the Greenfield (now Greenwood) Church, and one by letter from the only Presbyterian Church' in Indianapolis at that time. The following are the names of those forming the organization : Samuel

Brewer, Eleanor Brewer, Thomas C. Smock, Rachel Smock, Ann Smock, Abraham V. Smock, Simon French, Mary French, Eliza McFarland, Benjamin McFarland, Mary McFarland, John A. Brewer, Lemma Brewer, Phannel Graham, Panlina White, Jane E. McCollum, Mary Sebern, Phebe Sebern, Samuel Sebern, John Sebern, Deborah W. Sebern, Andrew C. Mann, Sally Mann, and Otis Sprague. Of this number the following now survive: Samuel Brewer and Eliza McFarland (now Thomas).

In 1838 a division took place in the church, and twenty members, including one elder, went with this branch, and seventeen, including two elders, went with the New School branch. There was no hostile feeling manifested by either.

From 1838 to 1844 the church had been irregu- larly supplied with preaching, having had only one regular supply (Rev. Sayers Gaglay) for about two years. In 1845 the church (then numbering forty- five members) clected and called their first pastor after the division. He was the Rev. B. F. Wood, who continued to serve them one-half the time until 1850.

In 1845 and 1846 they built a house of worship on the farm of Joseph Wallace, one and one-half miles east of Southport. The house was twenty- eight by thirty-six feet, a wooden structure, and cost about five hundred dollars. In 1851, Rev. Henry Coc served as pastor one-half his time. In 1852 there were but thirty-nine members, and in this same year there was a division of the church for the sake of convenience, one portion going west to the Bluff road, in Perry township, and forming the Union Church, and the other portion (seventeen members) going east to Acton, in Franklin township, and forming what is known as the Acton Presbyterian Church.

The first pastor at Acton was Rev. William A. Holliday, who gave one-half his time. In 1856 the church building was moved from the Wallace farm to Acton. It was refitted, and in it they held their church services until 1870, when they built a brick church building, thirty by forty feet, at a cost of four thousand five hundred dollars.

In 1856, Rev. P. R. Vanctta served them as pas-

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY ..

tor, and the membership was eighteen. The Rev. John Gilchrist served the church from 1857 to the close of 1859 as pastor (membership increased to thirty-nine) ; Rev. A. C. Allen served as pastor till the close of 1861, at which time he enlisted in the United States volunteer service (membership, forty- two). In 1863 the Rev. James Gilchrist supplied the pulpit. In 1864, L. G. Hay served the church one-half the time. In 1865, James Gilchrist again became pastor of the church one-half of his time, and served until the close of the year 1867. The Rev. L. G. Hay became pastor in 1868, and con- tinued to the close of 1870. The Rev. James Wil- liamson was pastor of the church from 1871 until 1882. Rev. L. B. Schryock was called and accepted the pastorate for 1884. The membership at this time is ninety-six.

In 1873 the membership had increased to seventy. A Sunday-school was organized in 1857, with Jacob Smock as superintendent. Jacob Rubush has been superintendent of the Sunday-school the greater por- tion of the time from 1870 to 1884. The average attendance is eighty.

The following are the names of the officers of the church from its organization : Elders, John S. Seb- ern, Otis Sprague, Simon Smock, Samuel Brewer, Peter Smock, James Clark, William H. Boyd, Syl- vester Ellis, Samuel S. Sebern, Jacob Smock, Thomas L. Clark, Samuel Potter, Jacob Rubush, A. H. Ply- mate, and William Cooper; Deacons, Samuel Brewer, Andrew C. Mann, Samuel Moore, Jacob Smock, Wil- liam J. Colley, Henry Baas, Malcomb A. Lowes, William Hutchinson, William R. Lowes, John N. Clark, John M. Clark, and William P. James ; Trustees, John V. Sebern, Andrew C. Mann, Thomas C. Smock, Samuel Moore, Jacob Smock, William J. Colley, Thomas Wallace, Samuel Mc- Gaughey, Jacob Rubush, Jehu, John, and William H. Smock. ,

The present officers are : Elders, James Clark, Jacob Smock, Jacob Rubush, A. H. Plymate, Wil- liam Cooper, and Thomas L. Clark ; Deacons, John N. Clark, William R. Lowes, and John M. Clark ; Trustees, Jacob Rubush, Samuel McGaughey, and William H. Smock.

The Big Run (Anti - Missionary Baptist) Church was organized at the house of Knowles Shaw, one-half mile east of the village of New Bethel, on the 11th of February, 1848, with ten members, viz. : Willis Smither, Hester Smither, Lewis Smither, Obadiah Davis, Mary Davis, Caleb Belles, Mary Belles, Albert Hickman, Amanda Hick- man, and James Tolen. They called the Rev. Em- mons Hurst to the pastorate of the church, and he was the only regular pastor until 1853, at which time the Rev. Erasmus D. Thomas became pastor, and has continued in that capacity to the present time with- out any interruption. They have regular services once a month.

This church used school-house No. 5 (known as the township house) as a meeting-place until the fall of 1849, when they had a house of worship erected. It was a frame structure twenty by thirty feet, and cost one thousand dollars. As time passed this build- ing became too small for the increasing congregation, and in 1871 they built a more commodious house of worship. It is a brick structure, thirty-six by fifty- four feet, and cost four thousand three hundred dol- lars. The membership at this time is ninety-two.

The Buck Creek Christian Church was organ- ized on the 21st of August, 1860, at Murphy's school-house (No. 7), with the following-named mem- bers, viz. : James Eaton, Sarah Eaton, Alexander Helm, Elizabeth Helm, George B. Richardson, Sarah Richardson, Ashley Sutherland, Elizabeth Suther- land, King Parrish, Maria Parrish, Zerviah B. Au- derson, William H. Richardson, Catharine Helm, Isabelle Hall, Sarah Hittle, Nancy Mathews, and Nancy J. Baker. Their pastors have been John Brown (one year), Butler K. Smith (one year), J. H. Mccullough (two years), Amzi Atwater, Charles Shoat (one year), J. L. Parson (one year), W. H. H. Blark (one year), Elijah Goodwin (two years), M. T. Hough and H. T. Buff (alternately, one year), W. R. Lowe (one year), M. T. Hough (two years), H. T. Mason (one year), A. H. Carter (one year), John A. Mavity (one year), W. R. Couch (two years), W. H. Boles (one year), J. M. Camfield (three years), and C. W. Martz, the present pastor, who is now on his second year of service.

531

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

Their first place of worship was the school-house where they first organized. In 1861 they built a house of worship on the northwest corner of the east half of the southeast quarter of section 28, township 15 north, range 5 east,-a frame structure, thirty-two by forty-four feet, which cost one thousand dollars. In 1880 they built their second house of worship on the same grounds. It is a briek building thirty-two by forty-two feet, and cost two thousand eight hundred dollars.

The present membership of the church is one hundred and twenty-four. Meetings are held once a month. They have a good Sunday-school, with seventy-five scholars in attendance, and sessions are held every Sunday the year round. The superin- tendent is John M. Toon. The present officers of the church are: Trustees, Henry J. Toon, Joseph Harris ; Elders, Henry J. Toon, Joseph Harris, and James E. Greer ; Deacons, Ebenezer Smith, Obadialı Eaton, and Joho M. Toon.

The Acton Baptist Church was organized at Acton on the 13th day of January, 1866, with twenty-five members, viz .: John N. Eades, Elisha Baily, Mary Baily, William Everett, William Mor- gan, Naney Morgan, Saralı Morgan, Mrs. Everett, Mahala Everett, Susan Morgan, Naney Phemister, John Morgan, John T. Phemister, Sr., James M. Smith, Elizabeth J. Smith, Joseph C. Smith, George W. Crossen, Mary Crossen, Thomas Foster, Permelia Foster, Martha Baas, Delila Jenkins, Jane Keeler, Cumi Keeler, Nancy Leavitt. At the same time the Revs. James M. Smith and A. J. Essex held a meet- ing of some two weeks' duration, and added thirty- four to the church, the Presbyterians giving them the use of their house of worship for the meeting. At the elose of this protracted effort the church ealled Rev. James M. Smith as their pastor, who continued to serve the church half his time until June, 1869, when Rev. F. M. Buchanan was called to the pastorate, and continued half his time until January, 1873.

The Rev. H. C. MeCaleb was pastor half his time for the years 1873 and 1874 Rev. T. J. Murphy was pastor for the year 1875, and the Rev. D. D. Swindall in the same way for 1876. In the year

1877 the church had no pastor. The Rev. C. King was pastor in 1878 and 1879. The church was without a pastor in 1880. The Rev. James M. Smith was again called to the pastorate, and served one-fourth of his time for the years 1881 and 1882. The Rev. F. M. Buchanan was again ealled to the pastorate, and is now acting as such one-fourth of the time. The present membership is ninety-nine. Sabbath-sehool sessions are held every Sabbath. The number of scholars in attendance is fifty-two. T. J. MeCollum is superintendent of the Sunday-school, and has been since 1868 except one year (1875). The trustees of the church are William MeGregor, L. F. Montague, and Henry T. Craig ; Deacons, T. J. MeCollum and J. F. McCollum ; Clerk, L. F. Montague.

The Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as a elass in the year 1832, at the house of James McLain, with about fifteen members, principally of the families of MeLain and Perkios. In 1836 they built a log meeting-house on James McLain's land, and this was used as a house of worship till about 1853, when they ereeted a frame building, in which they continued to hold their services for about twenty years, when the church organization ceased to exist. The location of this church is near the west line of the township, and near its centre from north to south.

The Methodist Chapel, so called, of the Methodist Episcopal Church is located in the northwest corner of Franklin township. The first class at this place was organized about 1838, at the house of Nathaniel Owens, its members being principally of the fami- lies of Owens, Reyburn, Mclaughlin, Stoops, and Arnold. Soon after the organization, they built a log church on land then owned by Simon Peters (now by - Cottman). About 1860 this old building gave place to a frame church, which was erected on the same site. In this they worshiped about ten years, after which the organization went down, and services were discontinued. The church building is still standing, and although no preaching is held there, it is used as the meeting-place of a flourishing Sabbath-school of about fifty scholars, not under charge of the Methodist denomination, but under

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

the patronage and superintendency of a daughter of F. M. Churchman, Esq.

The Church of the United Brethren, which wor- shiped in a church building located near the centre of the township, was organized about 1855, at the house of Isaac Collins. The greater part of its members were of the Collins family. Their first meetings were held at Collins', and in the school- house for a year or two, when they erected a frame church building which is yet standing, though the church organization became dismembered and ceased to exist several years ago.

The oldest burial-ground in Franklin township was opened on land of William. Rector, at the place where the Rector Chapel was built. It is not now known who was the first person interred in this ground. It is not used now, no burials having been made in it for several years.

In the graveyard at New Bethel the first inter- ment was that of Reuben Adams, on whose land the burial-place was laid out. It was at first a plat of about one acre, which has since been increased to about two acres. The ground is now nearly filled with graves, and contains some handsome monu- ments.

At the Methodist Chapel in the northwest corner of the township is a burial-ground of about one acre, which is well filled with graves though not crowded. One of the first interments in it was that of the wife of Simon Peters.

The graveyard at Mount Zion Church, near the west line of the township, contains about one acre, and is only partially filled. The first interments here were made about 1835.

At the Little Buck Creek Church is a burial- ground still in use, which was laid out on land entered by Nehemiah Adams. The first burials in this ground were made about 1833.

A burial-ground was opened on the David Morris farm in 1835, and is still in use. It is not in con- nection with any church, and there is no house of worship near it.

The cemetery at Acton is a ground of about two acres, a part of the old Leeper farm, purchased from

William Leeper, and laid out as a cemetery in 1866. The lots in this cemetery are all sold, and many fine monuments have been erected in it. Improvements are constantly being made in the ground, though it is yet far from being completed in accordance with the design, which is based on the modern idea of cemetery embellishment.

Schools .- Very soon after the pioneer settlers had established themselves and their families in their rude log cabins, and cleared a sufficient space of ground to raise crops enough to iosure them a subsistence, they took measures (inefficient though they were) to pro- vide for their children the means of acquiring some of the rudiments of education by opening primitive schools, which were usually taught by persons who were employed at farm labor during the summer, and who during the winter taught school for a term of six weeks to two months, receiving a mere pittance for their services. The first schools were taught in the east part of the township in the Buck Creek settlements, but others were opened very soon after- wards in other parts, as soon as enough settlers had come in to form a neighborhood school. Thomas Townsend and William P. Smith were the first two persons who taught school in Franklin township, but it is not certainly known which of these was the pioncer. Peter Townseod, Abraham Smock, and Price N. Batts (son-in-law of Reuben Adams) were among the other early teachers of the township. The first schools were usually taught in deserted cabins which had been built by " squatters" who, after a temporary occupation, had deserted them and moved away. Where log buildings had been built as places of worship, they were also invariably used for schools. And as the township became a little more thickly settled, each neighborhood of two or three miles' radius had its school-house. They were all nearly the same,~a low log building of about eighteen by twenty-two or twenty-four feet in size, with a log cut out on two sides, leaving openings which, when covered with greased paper in place of glass, formed the windows of the house. In one end of the school- room was a fireplace plastered with clay or mud, sometimes communicating with a "stick chimney" on the outside, and sometimes having no chimney at

Thomas Schooley

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FRANKLIN. TOWNSHIP.

all, except a hole in the roof. The floor was of puncheons, the seats and benches of split logs, with the split sides dressed to comparative smooth- ness. A high, rude, and uncomfortable writing desk (or more properly shelf ) was formed in a similar way. None of the requisites or equipments of the modern school-room were found in these houses. Everything was rough, uncomfortable, and discourag- ing to both pupil and teacher, yet the schools taught amid such surroundings were the best that could be had in those days, and in them many a child acquired the rudiments of education, and laid the foundation of an honorable career.

About 1836, under the Congressional townsnip school system, rather better school-houses were built on about each four square miles of territory through the township. These houses were built by the peo- ple of the neighborhood, while the fund derived from the sale of the school lands aided in maintaining in- different schools in them for short terms. Upon the establishment of the present system, Franklin took a place abreast of the other townships of the county in the improvement of its schools.

Franklin township has now eleven school districts, and the same number of school-houses (seven frame, and four brick). Schools are taught in all the houses, and two of them are graded schools. There are also four private schools taught, with an average attendance of forty-four. In 1883, fourteen teachers (uine male and five female) were employed in the public schools. Six teachers' institutes were held in the township during the year. The average total daily attendance of scholars was 371; whole number of scholars admitted to the schools, 625 ; average length of school terms in the township in 1883, 114 days; valuation of school-houses and grounds, $14,500.

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History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 94

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 942

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 942