USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Indiana > Part 37
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in due time a substantial frame edifice, fifty by sixty feet in size, was erected thereon. The building was formally dedicated by Rev. E. R. Ames, after- ward Bishop Ames, and served the purpose for which it was intended until 1869. Owing to the absence of the early records of the church, it will be impossible to give a list of those who served as pastors in the early days. Until 1850 the church was the head of Franklin circuit, which for a number of years included several appointments: Edinburg, Greenwood, Mt. Auburn, Salem, Waverly, Shiloh, Glade, Clarksburg and others. Franklin was made a charge the above year, with Rev. J. B. Lathrop as the first stationed pastor.
During the pastorate of J. M. Crawford, in 1867, the church took the necessary steps toward the erection of a more commodious house of worship, and secured for the purpose a beautiful lot on the corner of Madison street and Home avenue. . Work on the new building was pushed forward as rapidly as circumstances would permit, but some time elapsed before the edifice was com- pleted. It was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, in September, 1869, Bishop Simpson officiating. The building is a handsome brick structure, fifty by eighty feet in size. surmounted by a lofty and graceful spire, and repre- sents a capital of twenty-three thousand dollars. It is a very useful religious organization in the county, with an active membership of about four hundred. A Sunday school was organized shortly after the church was established and, with but little interruption, has since continued. At present it is in a flourish- ing condition, numbering about two hundred.
The following pastors have served since the erection of the second build- ing in 1869: John Lozier. E. L .. Dolph, A. M. Marlatt, E. L. Dolph (second pastorate ). J. K. Pye, J. S. Reager, R. D. Black, J. W. Duncan. R. Andrus, S. A. Bright. C. F. Line. Charles W. Tinsley. E. H. Wood, George Smith, Thomas G. Cocks. M. S. Heavenridge, R. R. Bryan. Samuel Reid, A. D. Batchelor. and the present pastor, W. E. Edgin.
EDINBURG METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
But limited satisfaction was derived from tracing the early history of ' Methodism in the city of Edinburg, as the records of the first class have long since been lost or misplaced. According to the most reliable information it appears that a small class was organized about three miles northwest of Edin- burg, on Sugar creek, early in the twenties, and for some years public worship . was held in private residences, principally in the dwelling of an early settler by the name of Gifford. The preaching was done by traveling missionaries, who
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visited the neighborhood at regular intervals. Unfortunately the names of these early pioneers of the Cross have been forgotten. Among the early members of the old Sugar Creek class are remembered William Freeman, Isaac Marshall, Arthur Robinson, Mr. Gifford and members of their respec- tive families, all of whom have long since passed from the "church militant to the church triumphant." One of the early preachers, but by no means the earliest, was Rev. Mr. Strange, who is remembered as a very devoted and earnest Christian man and good pulpit orator. After meeting for two or three years on Sugar creek, it was decided to move the organization to Edinburg, where services were afterward held in the private residence of William Hunt, one of the earliest Methodists of the town. Here the class continued to meet until the erection of a house of worship by the Edinburg Benevolent Society, after which services were regularly held in said building for several years, the congregation increasing in numbers and influence in the meantime. In 1846 a frame building for the especial use of the congregation was erected on Walnut street.
It was made a station some time in the fifties, and among the early pastors were Andrew Hester, David Stiver, John F. McClain, Jesse Brockway, Samuel Noble, William Mopin, John K. Pye, Enoch G. Wood, Robert Roberts, Francis Potts, Dr. Gelet, Henry E. Woods, Charles W. Lee, James W. Turner' and Martine L. Wells. The church prospered greatly under the ministry of Rev. J. K. Pye, whose labors were blessed by a large increase in the membership. Rev. Mr. Roberts also was instrumental in strengthening the church, and dur- ing the pastorates of Revs. Lee, Turner and Wood large revivals were held resulting in many additions to the congregation. In 1869, a movement was inaugurated for the erection of a building of enlarged proportions. Accord- ingly, a beautiful lot on the corner of Main and Thompson streets was pro- cured for the purpose. Work upon the new building was pushed forward as rapidly as circumstances would permit and the structure, fully completed, was formally dedicated in the year 1870.
WILLIAMSBURG METHODIST CHURCH.
This society is the successor of an old class which was organized in the vicinity of the village as early as 1824 or 1825. Of the early history of the class but little is now known, save that meetings were held in private resi- dences for a number of years, and that it was disorganized some time prior to 1850. A re-organization was effected in 1853, with about thirty or forty members, and the same year witnessed the erection of a house of worship in
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the town, the one now used by the congregation. Among the early ministers since the re-organization were Revs. Talbott, Rice, Woods, Fish and later, Thomas Jones, Sydney Tinker, E. M. Farr, Thomas Brooks, George B. Young, J. B. Alley, Mr. Clouds, Thomas McClain, James Jamison and Isaac Turner.
GLADE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
The history of this flourishing society dates back to a very early period in the settlement of that part of Johnson county embraced within the present limits of Pleasant township. The first meetings were held in what was known as the Glade schoolhouse, near the eastern boundary of the township, as early as 1840, by Rev. Mr. Huffaker, who, the year following, organized a small class, among the first members of which were the following: John L. Mc- Clain and wife, Henry McClain and wife, Jesse McClain and wife, Jacob Peggs and wife, Sophia Cummings, Sarah J. Cummings, Elizabeth Cummings, Moses McClain and wife, Isabelle Peggs and Nancy Peggs. Of the original members all have passed from the scenes of their earthly labors. The school- house was used for a meeting place six or eight years, after which a frame temple of worship was erected upon ground donated for the purpose by Elijah Cummings. This building answered well the purposes for which it was in- tended until the growth of the congregation made a house of larger propor- tions necessary, when a more commodious structure was erected on land of Benjamin Draper, a short distance east of the original place of worship. Among the early pastors of the church are remembered Revs. J. V. R. Miller, Havens, Winchester, J. W. McMullen and William Goodwin. The church is in a prosperous condition.
GREENWOOD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In the summer of 1849 the pastor of Franklin circuit, Rev. Mr. Shafer, began stated preaching in the Baptist church of Greenwood, and the year fol- lowing, Rev. Elijah D. Long, pastor of the Southport circuit, continued preaching and organized a class, among the early members of which were the following: M. Dashiel and wife, Mrs. Selch, Mrs. Prewett, George Noble, Louisa Noble, Noah Noble, Rev. Samuel Noble, John Vorhies and wife and others whose names are not now remembered. In the fall of 1850 Greenwood was made the head of a circuit and Rev. John A. Winchester appointed pas- tor. During his pastorate the erection of a church building was undertaken, (24)
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and prosecuted to successful completion in the early part of the conference year following. The building was a substantial frame edifice which stood near the central part of town, and cost about twenty-five hundred dollars. In the fall of 1851, Rev. Jacob Whitman was appointed to the pastorate. For . the conference years of 1852-53-54 Rev. J. W. T. McMullen served as pastor, with Rev. Strange Sinclair as assistant the second year. Rev. Sinclair came next. Succeeding him were Revs. William K. Ream, W. R. Goodwin, L. Havens, A. Kennedy, J. M. Crawford, F. S. Turk, T. W. Jones, Samuel Langden, D. C. Benjamin, A. H. Reat, Jesse Miller, W. S. Falkenburg. Rev. Samuel Noble was appointed in 1882, Rev. N. Falkenburg having been trans- ferred to the Texas conference that year. In the fall of 1882 W. H. Wyd- man was appointed pastor, serving until the fall of 1885, and was succeeded by Rev. Alonzo Murphy, who, in September, 1887, was followed by Rev. C. W. Rinsley. In the spring of 1887, the society began the erection of a new house of worship, which was completed and dedicated in December, 1887.
WHITELAND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
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The organization of which the present class of Whiteland is an out- growth was founded a number of years ago at the residence of Martha Le- masters, about three-quarters of a mile southwest of the present site of the village of Whiteland. Among the early members were a Mr. Crawford, Mrs. Lemasters, Isaac Clem and wife, Creed Dawson and wife, and John Smith and wife. The first meetings were held at the residence of Mrs. Lemasters, and later a schoolhouse about three miles southwest of Whiteland served the congregation for a place of worship. Early in the forties a log house, espe- cially for church purposes, was built a short distance west of the present site of Whiteland, and was known in the early days by the name of Mt. Vernon. It was used until the growth of the congregation made a more commodious building necessary, when a frame structure was erected, about two miles west, on the land of David Smith, and the name changed to Pleasant Grove church. Here the congregation met and prospered until 1881, at which time it was mutually agreed to erect a building in Whiteland and move the organization to the village. Accordingly a beautiful frame edifice, costing two thousand dollars, was built that year, and since its completion the society has been mak- ing substantial progress in numbers and financial strength. For the first few years the church was an appointment of the Franklin circuit and later it was attached to the Greenwood circuit. The majority of the preachers mentioned
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in connection with the Greenwood class ministered to the Whiteland church at different times.
FAIRVIEW METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church is located in White River township and was formerly known as Pleasant Hill, being organized some time between 1830 and 1835. Of its early history little that is reliable is now known. The old Pleasant Hill .so- ciety was kept up for several years and accomplished much good in the com- munity. A part of the class afterward withdrew and formed what is now the Mt. Auburn church, and still later the original society ceased to exist. Sub- sequently, a remnant of its former members reorganized and, taking sub- scriptions, succeeded in raising a building fund with which the present frame house of worship in section 28 was erected. Among the early members of the class were William K. Davis and wife, Joseph Smith and wife, Nicholas Orme and wife and others. The church is reputed as one of the flourishing appointments of Southport circuit.
MT. AUBURN CHURCH.
The history of Mt. Auburn Methodist Episcopal church dates back to 1826. The few Methodists of this neighborhood worshiped at that time in a frame church called Pleasant Hill. Its size was about twenty-four by thirty feet, and it was located on the banks of Pleasant run. one mile west of where Fairview church now stands. A few names of members of that early church now recalled are: Henry Brinton, Abner Leonard and wife, George Wright, Jesse Hughes, Julia Prewett, Franklin Sanders, Margaret Smart, Thomas Davis, Nicholas Orme, Nancy Hughes, Scott Hall, Nathan Culver, William Hull, Martin Christian, William Norton, Nathaniel St. John, Rebecca Car. ter and William Sanders. About 1840, a camp-meeting of much interest was held near that church under the ministrations of Revs. James Havens, E. R. Ames, William Richards. James Scott, Henry Brinton, William Hull and John Robe. The Pleasant Run church was discontinued about the year 1852.
In the year 1835, the first Methodist class at Mt. Auburn was organized at the home of William Harrell, now occupied by George Hughes. It was partly the outgrowth of the last named church, numbering among its mem- bers Jesse Hughes and wife, John Surface and wife, William Harrell and wife, John Robe and wife, Abner Leonard and wife, Amos Smith and wife,
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-David Melton and wife, V. C. Carter and wife, J. B. Dobyns and wife, Cath- erine Sells, W. K. Smith, John Andis and Michael Surface.
In 1836, the members of this class and others erected "the old mud school house," one-half mile west of Mt. Auburn, the building serving as church and school house for about thirteen years. Among the pioneer preachers in this house and at the near-by camp grounds during the camp meetings of 1843, 1844 and 1845 were James Havens, E. R. Ames, James Scott, Absalom Parris, H. Lathrop, John Powell, J. V. R. Miller, James Mitchell and John Robe. In 1848 or 1849, a church edifice was erected, but left in an unfinished condi- tion until 1853, when it was placed in good order. In the early days of Methodism large circuits and week-day appointments were the rule. On December 21, 1850, the first quarterly meeting for the Greenwood circuit was held in this church, J. S. Winchester, preacher in charge, and C. W. Ruter, presiding elder. At that time there were nine appointments on the work, and the total amount paid to the presiding elder and preacher that year was $364.90.
The following is a list of preachers' names serving at this church since 1850 to 1900: J. S. Winchester, Jacob Whiteman, J. W. T. McMullen, S. W. Sinclair, H. M. Boyer, W. K. Ream, W. R. Goodwin, Landy Havens, A. Kennedy, J. M. Crawford, F. S. Turk, T. W. Jones, Samuel Longdon, D. C. Benjamin, A. H. Reat, Jesse Miller, W. S. Falkenburg, S. C. Noble (supply), W. H. Wydman, A. Murphey, C. W. Tinsley, M. L. Wells, D. A. Robertson, C. E. Mead, J. T. Jones, T. K. Willis.
TRAFALGAR METHODIST EPISCOPAI. CHURCH.
This society is the successor of the old Pleasant Grove church, which was organized in the northwest part of Nineveh township as early as the year 1827. A number of pioneer families of that locality were Methodists and the names familiar in the early history of the church were the Thompsons, Baileys, Watkins, Days, Carrolls, Laws and Wilsons. Early meetings were held in the cabins of the settlers, and later the Watkins schoolhouse served as a place of worship until a building for the especial use of the congregation could be erected. Late in the thirties, Mr. Mullendore, an early settler in the northern part of the township, donated for a church building a lot about one- half mile north of the schoolhouse, and in due time a frame edifice was erected thereon. Here the society met and flourished for a number of years, and at one time became a strong organization with over one hundred members. James Hill, S. W. McHaughton and George F. Mullendore were among the early
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preachers and stated supplies of the church. Owing to deaths, removals and other causes, the membership gradually became weaker, until at one time the meetings ceased nearly altogether. A reorganization was effected in 1870, and the place of meeting changed to Trafalgar, where the same year a frame house of worship, costing the sum of one thousand six hundred and fifty dollars, was erected. This building stands near the central part of the vil- lage and affords a comfortable and commodious meeting place. Among the pastors of the church since its reorganization have been the following: Revs. Tinker, McClain, Cloud, Young, Farr, Alley and Jamison.
The Nineveh Methodist Episcopal circuit is composed of six churches : Nineveh, with 95 members; Trafalgar, with 93 members; Pisgah, with 94 members: Friendship, with 66 members; Mt. Olive, with 67 members, and Kansas, with 42 members, the last named being located in Bartholomew county. Services are held in each church every alternate Sunday. Since 1890, the following pastors have served this circuit : Revs. W. C. Crawford, W. O. Wycoff. H. L. Sterrett, S. W. Troyer, U. G. Abbott, John F. Harvey, W. A. Schell, Charles H. Rose, George Church, J. M. Huddleson, A. E. Pierce, J. W. Weekly and J. W. Cordrey.
The Pisgah Methodist Episcopal church is one of the oldest church or- ganizations in the county. having acquired a church site from Robert Davis on August 7. 1833, located at the center of section 19 in Blue River township. In 1866, a substantial brick house was erected, in which the congregation still worships.
WESLEY CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL UNION.
This church was organized in the spring of 1878, as a branch of Shiloh church, in Morgan county. For some time meetings were held in a school- house near the village, but in the fall of the above year a neat frame building was erected. Among the early members of the class were the following per- sons : James Matthews, George Smith, John W. Taylor, John Selch. Henry Knok, John Shrockmorton and John L. Knox. The following preachers have ministered to the church since its organization: Revs. Charles Woods, Asbury, Thomas Thomas Jones, J. V. R. Miller, Charles Spray, Samuel C. Kennedy and John D. Hartsock. The society belongs to the Waverly cir- cuit, Indianapolis district.
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FRIENDSHIP CHURCH, METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
This is an old organization located in Hensley township, and meets for". worship in a frame building. not far from the Morgan county line. This . society is not as strong as formerly, but is still in good condition.
SALEM METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This is an old organization in White River township and dates its ex- istence from about 1834 or 1835. The first meetings were conducted by Rev. Jacob Brumwell, at the residence of Anthony Brunnemer, and among those who became members in an early day were Jacob and Charlotte Brumwell, Berrien and Catherine Reynolds, William Dresslar, Margaret Dresslar, George Duke, Mary Duke, John Taylor, Sarah Taylor, Anthony Brunnemer, Magda- lene Brunnemer, Henry Dresslar, Malinda Dresslar, William Brunnemer, Sarah Brunnemer, Abraham Lowe, Harriett Lowe and a number of other early settlers of the community. In 1848, Henry and Elizabeth Dresslar deeded to the trustees of the congregation a lot for church purposes, upon purpose for which it was intended until 1868, at which time the present frame edifice was erected upon the same lot. Among the pastors of Salem in the which was erected. a little later, a log house of worship. It answered the early days are remembered the following: Revs. Farmer, Beck, Brown. Crawford, Huffaker. McMullen, W. C. Crawford, George Havens, Landy Havens, Goodwin Sparks, Shelton, St. Clair, J. M. Crawford, Boyer, Ream, Kennedy. Smith, Wilks, Crane, Heavenridge, Woods, Charles Woods, Jones, Asbury, Rhoades. Miller. Sray. C. Kennedy, and Hastrock. The church is reported in a prosperous condition.
ROCK LANE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was organized at Clarksburg about the year 1873 or 1874. A substantial frame house of worship was afterward erected at a cost of two thousand dollars, and the society, though weak in numbers, the membership being about forty, made substantial progress. The church is a point on the Acton circuit, and is ministered to at this time by W. D. Woods, and the present membership is one hundred twenty-five. Other recent pastors have been Revs. H. E. Davis, Martin Brown, George Garrison, Austin Young, Troyer and Hall.
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AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, FRANKLIN.
This church was organized in the year 1868, with the following mem- bers : Augustus Hammond, Mary Leonard, Mary Elkins, Jane Blakely and Mary Stark, Rev. Whitton Lankford officiating. The following pastors have ministered to the church from time to time: Revs. Henry Brown, Henry Depew, Hezekiah Harper, Joseph Alexander, Whitton Lankford, John Fer- geson, Danial Winslow, Alexander Smith, John Jordan, M. Lewis, Richard Titus, Nathaniel Jones, George Pope. The building in which the congrega- tion formerly met for worship. a frame structure on West Madison street, was erected and dedicated in the year 1868.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH, JOLLITY.
While a few of the survivors of pioneer times still remain, many have passed away and with them the landmarks they erected. A few of the pioneer incidents have been preserved and cherished, but man is mortal and the mem- ory weak and uncertain, hence much of the early history of this community is buried in eternal oblivion. :
Pleasant, yet sad it is, to recall the scenes of the past. Pleasant because we see faces of dear ones. Sad, because it is a picture of memory, unreal, and will vanish like the mists of the morning.
Back in the gray and misty dawn of the history of Jackson township there came two men and settled in what is now known as the Jollity neigh- borhood. These men, William Shipp and Burgess Waggoner, brought their families from Kentucky and settled, the former in the field across the road from the present residence of William Brockman, the latter on the place now owned by George Sanders, Jr.
In the latter part of the following year, 1823, Richard Shipp and fam- ily. Tandy Brockman and family and. Samuel D. Sandefur, just east of school- house No. 3, on land now owned by Mrs. Marsh. Most of these had come from Baptist communities in Kentucky, and after coming into their new homes in the wilderness they continued to live as neighbors, meeting from time to time in their respective homes for the purpose of worshiping God. In 1828 or 1829 they formed themselves into what in the early history of the Metho- dist Protestant church was known as Union societies, which afterward took the name of Associated Methodists.
In 1830, soon after the convention at Baltimore, Maryland, where all
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the Associated Methodists, as a denomination, took the name of Methodist Protestant, these four families organized as a Methodist Protestant church and elected Thomas Shipp as class leader. The church was organized at the home of Tandy Brockman, and the eight members who went into the organ- ization at that time were Tandy Brockman, Martha Brockman, Richard Shipp and Mary Shipp, his wife, Thomas Shipp, his son and Mary, his daughter- in-law, Samuel D. Sandefur and his wife, Elizabeth.
In 1832 Peter Clinger came as the first Methodist Protestant preacher. Concerning the pastors from 1832 to 1840 we have no record, but in 1837 a committee was elected to plan and oversee the building of a house suitable for worship, as they no longer wished to worship in the public building which stood on the land now owned by James Sanders, Jr. The house was built by Matthew Kelly and Josiah Frady for the sum of three hundred dollars, the timber being furnished by Thomas Shipp. The house was completed and dedicated in 1840 or 1841.
The following is a list of the pastors who served the work while a part of Sugar Creek circuit: Thomas Shipp, 1840, and in 1841 Thomas Shipp with George Evans as assistant; 1842, Thomas Shipp; Charles F. Williams from 1843; 1844, Joseph Shipp; T. Shipp and Samuel Morrison, 1845 and 1846; James Edmiston, 1847; 1848-50, H. Collings; 1850-53, Thomas Shipp; 1853-54, Union J. Gardiner; 1854-55, J. W. B. Taylor; 1855-1856, Thomas Bland; 1856-1857, John Bogle; 1857-1858, John Bogle and S. Gentry; 1858- 1859, Thomas Shipp: 1859-1860, S. M. Gentry; 1861-1862, John Gardner; 1862-1863, Charles Williams; 1863-1865, Samuel Louden; 1865-1866, E. M. Moels ; 1866-1868, Hugh Stackhouse; 1868-1872, H. M. Boyer, the last year of whose ministry the present building was erected at a cost of five thousand dollars. This building was damaged later to the extent of four hundred and fifty dollars by the cyclone of 1876.
Those who have served as pastors in the present building are: 1872- 1873. Salem Shumway; 1873-1874, H. M. Boyes; 1874-1876, J. H. Luse; 1876-1879, John Heim; 1879-1880, B. M. Clark; 1880-1882, S. H. Flood; 1882-1885, T. E. Lancaster; 1885-1888, S. J. Jones; 1888-1890, John Mc- Phail; 1890-1895, J. O. Ledbetter; 1895-1897, J. R. Lenhart; 1897-1900, J. G. Smith ; 1900-1902, S. S. Stanton; 1902-1903, M. F. Iliff.
MT. ZION METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.
This church was built in 1852 and was dedicated by the Rev. Thomas Shipp. The charter members were as follows: Isaac Duckworth, Robert
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