USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Indiana > Part 36
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During Brother Moss's pastorate a revival was held by Rev. L. E. Sellers, of Terre Haute, Indiana, when over ninety persons united with the church. Rev. Moss remained pastor of the church until October. 1908, when he accepted a call to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A new church was just estab- lished there and he became its first minister. The local pulpit remained vacant until February, 1909, when a call was accepted by Dr. Menlo B. Ainsworth, of Danville, Illinois, to become pastor at a salary the largest in the history of the church. During his three years' pastorate the Sunday school was thoroughly organized and the attendance more than doubled.
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There were four hundred and sixty persons added to the membership, about two hundred of whom united during a meeting held in a temporary taber- nacle at Home avenue and Wayne street by Rev. Charles Reign Scoville in September, 1909. In response to Dr. Ainsworth's strong appeals the church became a "Living Link" in the American Missionary Society and otherwise gave liberally to the missionary and benevolent interests of the church. . His power of spiritual discernment was very much developed and he emphasized with great power the spiritual elements of the Christian religion. He was held in the highest esteem both in the Christian churches of the country and by all the denominations of the city for his ability and Christian character. Upon leaving Franklin in February. 1912, he accepted a call to the First Christian church at Georgetown, Kentucky, where he is now located. In May. 1912, Rev. W. J. Wright, of Enid. Oklahoma, became pastor and has continued as such to the present time (September. 1913). The officers of the official board are Henry C. Barnett, president; James V. Deer, vice-presi- dent; Livy A. Young, treasurer, and Robert W. Wilson, clerk. The present membership of the church is about eight hundred seventy-five.
EDINBURG CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The first attempt to establish a Christian church in Edinburg was made in 1834, although traveling ministers had visited the village at intervals previous to that date and held meetings in the houses of the few members the town and vicinity. Among these early preachers are remembered yders William Irvin, J. Fawcett and James M. Mathes. under whose joint Lors, on the 23d day of February of the above year, a small organization as effected, with the following members: Gavin Mitchell. Rebecca Mit- hell . David McCoy. C. McCoy. J. W. Dupree. Thomas W. Thrailkeld, Elizabeth Thrailkeld. Abram Dupree and Hannah Dupree. Of the above little band, none are now living. The society held its first meetings in the resiclences of the different members, and later obtained the use of the build- ing erected by the Edinburg Benevolent Association in 1834. Here the church met and prospered until 1845, at which time the increasing growth fore- shadowed the necessity of a building of larger proportions. Accordingly, in that vear, a movement was inaugurated to erect a house of worship for the exclusive use of the congregation. A lot on Walnut street was procured, and a frame house, forty by fifty feet, erected. At the close of 1834 the mem- bership of the society numbered twenty-two, and among the additions of that year were the Thompsons, Knowltons, Waylands, Smiths, Vaughns and oth-
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ers, whose names cannot be recalled. In 1846 Abram Dupree was licensed to preach the gospel, and for that year the records show a membership of one hundred and ninety-eight.
For a number of years after its organization the church was minis- tered to in word and doctrine by Abram Dupree, William Irvin and William Oldham. From 1834 until 1870 the church enjoyed the labors of twenty- eight transient preachers. The first regular pastor appears to have been Elder B. K. Smith, who began his labors in 1852 and served one year. Fol- lowing him, in the order named, came J. R. Frame, Knowles Shaw, D. H. Gary, T. J. Tomlinson, R. T. Brown, J. F. Sloan, W. L. Germane, W. T. Sellers, William Hough, A. W. Conner, W. W. Carter, E .. W. Darst, J. H. O. Smith, N. S. McCallum, Elder P. S. Rhodes.
In 1886 a new building was commenced on that part of the lot lying south of the old house, which covers an area of ninety by sixty feet, and the ceiling of the auditorium is twenty-eight feet high. The Sunday school room in front will seat three hundred. the gallery one hundred, and when all the rooms are thrown together, which can be easily done, a congregation of eight hundred persons can be conveniently accommodated. The aggregate cost of the structure was about eighteen thousand five hundred dollars. Not the least among the potent working forces of the church is the Eureka Aid So- ciety, organized December 8, 1883, for the ostensible purpose of raising funds for furnishing or assisting in furnishing the new house of worship. The ladies deserve great credit for their untiring efforts in behalf of the church.
This church has a handsome brick parsonage on the north of the church valued at three thousand dollars. In its church work its members are active and progressive. having Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor, both senior and junior : a Women's Christian Board of Missions Society. and an athletic society for boys. The Bible school is strictly up-to-date in its methods. The list of ministers serving the Edinburg church since 1889 is as follows : Matthew Small, 1889-1895 ; Farle Wilfrey, 1895-1896: T. J. Shuey, 1896-1898; S. W. Brown. 1898-1900; D. R. Lucas, 1901 : L. Q. Mercer. 1901-1903: Matthew Small. 1904: Thomas H. Adams. 1905-1908: George W. Sweeney, 1908-1912: and William Grant Smith, the present pastor, who was called in October, 1912.
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WILLIAMSBURG CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Among the early settlers of the vicinity of Williamsburg was Elder William Irwin, a Baptist minister, who, having been convinced of the cor- rectness of the views promulgated by Alexander Campbell, went into the cur- rent Reformation, and in the spring of 1831 was instrumental in organizing a small congregation. Among the earliest members of this society were Will- iam Keeton and family, Alonzo Gale and family, Aaron Dunham and family, Jeremiah Dunham, Emily White, Richard Gonsey and family, John Prime and wife, John Elliott and wife, Milton McQuade and wife, John Wilkes and wife, and David Dunham and wife, the majority of whom had belonged pre- viously to the Baptist church. Elder Irwin is remembered as a man of emi- nent social qualities and a good preacher. Under his ministrations the little band of worshipers soon increased until a house of worship was necessary. Accordingly, a small log building was erected a year or two later, about a quarter of a mile northwest of the present site of the town. It answered the two-fold purpose of church and school house, and was used until about the year 1840, at which time the place of meeting was changed to Williamsburg. where a more commodious frame structure was erected. In the early years of its history the society enjoyed the ministerial labors of Elders Irwin and Joseph Fawcett, the latter a learned and logical preacher. Elders John L. Jones, J. M. Mathes, Aaron Hubbard, Asa Holingsworth and Hardin Watson visited the congregation at intervals, and in the meantime Elan Richard Gon- sey. a local evangelist, preached for the church, when not similarly employed in other fields. Since 1850. the congregation has been ministered to by differ- ent pastors of the faith. The brick temple of worship now in use was erected in 1860, at a cost of about three thousand dollars. It stands in the southeas- ern part of the village and is one of the best churches in the county.
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCHI.
This church is the successor of an old society which was organized a short distance north of the town in Marion county, as early as 1838 or 1839. In the fall of 1837. George Shortridge moved to the locality from Wayne county and, being a devoted member of the church. soon induced preachers to visit the neighborhood and hold public services in his dwelling and barn. In order to build up a serviceable church of his own choice, Mr. Shortridge, about the year 1840 or 1842. erected a small house of worship on his farm, in which
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an organization was soon effected. Among the earliest members of this society, were Mr. Shortridge, Charles Robinson and family, James Webb and wife, and a few others, whose names have been forgotten. Services were held regularly for several years, by Elders L. H. Jameson, Asa Holingsworth and other pioneer ministers of the Reformation, but owing to the unsettled conditions of the early residents of the community, many of whom were transients, the society soon lost the majority of its members and was in course of time abandoned. Early in the fifties, exact date unknown, a society was organized in Greenwood, with which several of the members of the old church at once became identified. Among the early members of the Greenwood society were the following: William Blake and wife, Joseph Harmon and wife, John Shortridge and wife, George Oldaker and wife. Edward Pate and wife, James Pate, Simeon Frazier and wife, Mrs. James Stewart and Hugh A. Morris. The village school house had been purchased a short time pre- vious and fitted up for church purposes, and it was in this building that the organization took place. The school house was used as a meeting place for several years, but the constantly increasing congregation made the erection of a building of enlarged proportions, necessary. Accordingly a lot in Dobbins' addition was donated by Dr. Guthree, and within a short time thereafter a brick temple of worship was erected at a cost of four thousand five hundred dollars. The church has enjoyed the labors of a number of able ministers. The first elders of the church were Hugh A. Myers, William Blake and Joseph Harmon.
TRAFALGAR CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The early history of the Trafalgar Christian church is enveloped in con- siderable obscurity. From the most reliable information it appears that services were held at the residence of Thomas Lynam as early as 1848, and among the first members were the Lynam, Watkins, Duckworth and Thomp- son families. Henry Branch, Benjamin Branch, William Clark, E. Clark, Absalom Clark, with others, became members in a very early day also. Elders Thomas Lynam and Asa Holingsworth did the first preaching for the congre- gation. A small log building. with one door and a single window, was erected about 1849 or 1850. It stood about one mile southwest of the village on Indian creek, and was used by the congregation until replaced by a frame structure a few years later. The second building stood a short distance south of the present house of worship, and answered the purposes for which it was intended until about the year 1870. For a number of years the organization
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was known as the Hensley Town Christian church, and among the members in 1860 were the following: George Duckworth, Thomas Gillaspy, G. T. Bridges, Jerry Dunham, Thomas Lynam, Nancy E. Lynam, Eliza H. Lynam, Matilda M. Lynam, James S. Lynam, Thomas O. Lynam and John D. Lynam. The present house of worship is a frame building, erected about 1870, in size is thirty-five by forty-four feet and was erected at a cost of fourteen hundred dollars.
Since 1890, the following have ministered to the church at Trafalgar : John C. Miller, C. A. Stephens, Prof. Garvin, J. C. Ashley, Rev. Creighton, C. A. Johnson, Jabez Hall (1902 and 1905), J. W. Carpenter ( 1903 and 1904), I. N. Grisso ( 1906 and 1907), B. F. Dailey (1908 to 1911), C. R. Bulgin (1911), W. C. Morro (1912), and C. H. Scriven (1913).
UNION CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church is located in Nineveh township and was organized on June 12, 1853, Elder Richard Gosney officiating. The organization was the out- growth of a series of meetings conducted by Elder Asa Holingsworth, during the progress of which a great religious awakening was experienced, resulting in the conversions of over thirty persons. The organization was effected with the following members: Clark Tucker, Sr., Margaret Tucker, Lydia Tucker, George Hargan, Benjamin Branch, Matilda Branch, Susan Branch, Mary Sattewhite. Henry Branch, Sarah A. Branch, Francis Branch, Delia M. Tucker, John H. Featherngill, Martha J. Featherngill, Thomas Branigin, Paulina Branigin, James Kimberlin, George F. Featherngill, George Huston, Emily Beadles, James Townsend, John Morgan, James Lawhorn, Sarah Kerby, Joseph Lee, Sarah Duckworth, Mary A. Huston, Sarah J. Hunter, Samuel Brown, Mary G. Brown, Parthena Tucker, Loven G. Pritchard and Nancy Pritchard. The first church officers were Benjamin Branch, elder : Thomas Tucker and D. F. Featherngill, deacons. Meetings were first held in a log school house, but soon after the organization a frame building was erected on land donated for the purpose near the line of Franklin and Nineveh townships. This was a substantial edifice, thirty by forty feet in size, and served as a place of worship until 1869. In the year the present handsome brick structure was built at a cost of nine thousand dollars. It is a two-story building, forty by sixty feet.
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CLARKSBURG CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in what was known as the Leatherwood school house, about one mile north of Clarksburg, on the 14th day of April, 1846, by Elder Love H. Jameson, of Indianapolis. The charter members were C. G. Dungan and wife, John Irwin and wife, David C. Mitchell and wife, Joseph Dupree and wife, John Eastburn and wife, L. M. Dupree and wife, Moses F. Clark and wife, Robert Ross and wife, Oliver Harbert and wife, John Harb- ert and wife, Richard Harbert and wife, Stephen Tinker and wife, John W. Curry and wife, James Williams and wife, Silas Breeding and wife, John J. Dungan and wife, R. B. Green and wife. Thomas Parttock and wife, Joseph Irwin, James Tinker, Amos Williams, Parcus Harbert, Mary A. Parttock, Hisler A. Green and Father Harbert. The first officers were as follows: Elders, C. G. Dungan and Joseph Dupree; deacons, M. F. Clark and J. J. Dungan. The building was not fully completed until 1849, and was used as a meeting place until 1873. During the first few years of its history the church had no regular pastor, but was ministered to from time to time by different preachers, among whom were Elders L. J. Jameson, Thomas Lockhart, Asa Holingsworth, John O'Kane and George Campbell. In 1849. Elder Giles Holmes became pastor, and labored as such the greater part of the time until his death, in 1860. The present pastor is Rev. Samuel Small and the present membership is three hundred, and there is a flourishing Sunday school maintained. Other pastors of recent years are the Revs. Frazier, Conner, Manker, Davis, Yocum, and Mullendore. Of these the last named, the Rev. William Mullendore. of Franklin, has served the congregation the longest time.
MT. CARMEL. CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church is located in Nineveh township and was organized by Elder John C. Miller, on the 28th day of March, 1870. The original members were : Valentine Burget, Nancy Burget, Lucinda Burget, James B. Bell, Mary Bell, Cynthia A. Cook, John W. Collins, A. B. Dunham, Nancy Dunham, Mary Gillaspy, Catherine A. Linton, J. W. Linton, Noah F. Linton, Charles M. Linton, Nancy Matthews, Sarah E. McFaddin, Cornelius McFadden, T. J. McMurry, Christina McMurry, Lethana McMurry, Mary McMurry, Sophia Jacobs, P. C. Jacobs, Sarah J. Slack, Rebecca A. Smyser, Sarah J. Smyser, Amelia Smyser, Mary E. Smyser, James Shoemaker, Susan Shoemaker, J. F. Wheaton. Lucinda Wheaton, James Work, Margaret Work and W. W. Wilk-
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erson. The house in which this congregation now worships is a neat frame building and was erected in 1870.
SAMARIA CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church at Samaria was organized several years ago, and for some time met for worship in a store building, which had been fitted up for church purposes by the Christians, Methodists and Baptists. In the fall of 1887, a house for the especial use of the Christian congregation was erected, since which time the church has grown and prospered. There is a good mem- bership at this time. There is a congregation of the Christian church at the village of Needham, where a neat and substantial temple of worship was erected several years ago, and this society has accomplished a good work in the community. There is also a flourishing Christian church in Blue River township, a few miles from Edinburg, which has a large membership. The house of worship is a commodious frame structure, and the society has been a potent factor for good in the community.
UNION VILLAGE CHURCH.
According to some, the Church of Christ at Union village was organized at the residence of Wesley Deer as early as the year 1834. The first record coming to the writer's notice reads as follows: "The disciples of Christ at Rock Lick, in Union township, in Johnson county, Indiana, knowing it to be their cluty and privilege to live together in a church relation to each other, do give themselves to their Lord and one another, taking the gospel of Christ as the only rule of faith and practice. Done by agreement this 28th September, 1838.""
IElder Thomas Jones was among the first preachers, and a log house of worship was erected near the present residence of ex-Trustee James Brown. As no deed for the property was obtained, a subsequent owner of the land re- fused the congregation the use of the building, and later a frame building was erectecl on the farm of Wesley Deer. This building was burned by an incendiary, as it was supposed, and it was replaced by another structure, which was also destroyed by fire during the Civil war.
A bout the close of the war, the church erected a building at Union Vil- lage, according to Banta's History. But better evidence is at hand that the church was removed to Union Village December 1, 1846. The present fine building was dedicated August 19. 1896.
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Among its pastors have been the following : B. K. Smith, Joseph Davis, Aaron Hollingsworth (who preached nine years for a total salary of sixty-five dollars), Hiram Deer, Thomas Lockhart, Perry Blankenship, Hamilton Phil- lips, John R. Surface. James Heney, William H. Boles, S. J. Tomlinson, B. F. Dailey, B. F. Treat, 1899 and 1901, Edgar Daugherty, J. M. Cross, F. D. Mjse, 1902-1905, M. V. Grisso, 1905-1907, I. N. Grisso, 1905 and 1912, Aubrey Moore 1907-1911, B. L. Allen, 1911, C. E. Dobson, 1913.
Elder John C. Miller preached to this church continuously from 1857 to 1900, except for nine years. Thirty-four years of self-sacrifice and devotion to his work has made John C. Miller's name revered in the community.
BLUFF CREEK CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church is located in White River township and was organized a number of years ago, as early, perhaps, as 1834 or 1835, in a Baptist church that stood near the village of Far West. The Baptist society had been in existence for some years, but at the time services began to be held by ministers of the Christian church, it was extinct. Among the early members of the Bluff Creek congregation were Henry Brown, Mary Brown, Daniel Brag, Lydia Boaz, Jacob Sutton, Abigail Sutton, William Dunn, Christina Dunn, John Warren and wife, Barbara Tresslar, Valentine Tresslar. Mary Tresslar, Henry J. Tresslar and others whose names cannot be recalled. Elders Will- iam Irwin, James Fawcett, John B. New and J. L. Jones ministered to the congregation during the early years of its history, and later it enjoyed the labor of some of the leading preachers of the Reformation. For many years the old Baptist church building served as a place of worship. It was removed to the village of Brownstown in 1884, and thoroughly remodeled and greatly improved. The church has been a potent factor for good in the community, and is still in a flourishing condition.
BARGERSVILLE CHURCH.
The Church of Christ at Bargersville was organized in a school house near the village, April 7, 1861, by Elder J. R. Surface, twenty-eight persons constituting the original membership. The first officers were the following : Elders, Willis Deer. George O. List and John Clore : deacons, Joseph Combs, Abraham Clore and Abner Clark: treasurer, Abraham Clore: clerk, John Clore. Since its organization the church has been ministered to by different pastors from time to time.
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CHRISTIAN CHAPEL, UNION TOWNSHIP.
This society was organized at the Beech Grove church, Hensley township, in January, 1876, by Elder A. Elmore. The original membership was eigh- teen. In the fall of the above year, a frame building was erected in Union township, and since that time the congregation has been in prosperous condi- tion with a steadily increasing membership. The first officers were I. L. Rags- dale, Benjamin Thompson and Frank Vandiver, deacons. Benjamin Thomp- son was also treasurer and James Davis, secretary.
NEW HOPE, WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP.
The New Hope Christian church was organized December, 1883, in what is known as school house No. 10, White River township, Elder E. W. Darst officiating. About sixty-five members went into the organization, and at the first meeting elected the following officers: Elders, C. M. McCool, George W. Wyrick and R. J. Johnson; deacons, W. H. Dresslar, W. F. Williams, J. W. Stewart and John Hardin ; treasurer, David Glassburn ; clerk, L. B. Zaring. The church has made commendable progress.
'MT. PLEASANT CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church in White River township on the Morgantown Road one half mile south of the county line, was organized on the 17th day of April, 1884, Elders B. M. Blount and E. W. Darst, with a membership considerably excess of sixty. The first meetings were held in a building formerly used L
the Presbyterians. But the same year in which the organization was
y Fected a subscription was taken, resulting in the erection of the present beau- f1il temple of worship, in section 28, which was formally dedicated the fol- wing fall. The membership has steadily increased and Mt. Pleasant, at this ine, is one of the flourishing Christian churches of the county, numbering at this time one hundred communicants. A good Sunday school is maintained throughout the year and has proved a valuable auxiliary to the church. The names of the pastors in their order are: Neil McCallum, L. R. Wilson, John C. Miller, Edward Daugherty, W. C. Moore, J. C. Anderson, -- Baird, B. F. Dailey and N. D. Starr.
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YOUNG'S CREEK CHURCH ( CHRISTIAN CONNECTION ).
This is an old organization, dating its history from about the year 1829 or 1830. It was founded by Elder Joseph Ashley. one of the earliest settlers on Young's creek, and among its first members the following names are the most familiar : Elijah Dawson and family, William Harter and wife, James Mitchell and wife, Samuel Dawson and wife. Fleming Harter and wife, Lucinda Ware, Martha Williams and members of Elder Ashley's family. For some years meetings were held in private residences, but later a school house about one mile north of the present building was secured for church purposes. A frame edifice a short distance north of the present house was erected in the year 1851 or 1852, and was used by the congregation until 1875. In the latter year the neat frame building in which the church now worships was erected at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. The church has a good Sun- day school. which has proved an able auxiliary.
FRANKLIN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
It is in:possible to fix definitely the date of the organization of the Meth- odist church in Franklin, as the records of the original class, if any were kept. are not accessible. It is known that the settlement in the county of a number of Methodist families secured the presence and attention of traveling ministers, and doubtless led to the temporary formation of classes or societies, as they are called, and in that way unquestionably gave the church here a historical existence in a very early day, yet it is not at all certain that the denomination had any permanent footing in Franklin until about the year 1832. From the most reliable information obtainable, the first class appears to have been organ- ized in one of the above years, but memory fails to recall the names of but two of the original members. W. W. Robinson and wife, parents of Rev. D. R. Robinson, D. D., of Indianapolis. For some years after the organization the class met for worship in the dwellings of the members, and later in neighbor- ing school houses, but the methods of the church in those early days were such that it is not possible now to give a reliable account of what it accomplished. About the year 1844. a room in the county seminary was secured for church purposes, and here the congregation worshiped until 1847-48. The increase in membership in the meantime foreshadowed the necessity of a building for the especial use of the church: accordingly. in 1848. a lot on the corner of Jefferson street, between Madison street and Home avenue, was procured, and
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