USA > Indiana > Knox County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 66
USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 66
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ART. 6 .- We believe that God has chosen a people to everlasting life, not for any peculiar merit in them, nor to the exclusion of any other from the benefits of salvation, but that His name might not cease from the earth, and that all may have an opportunity of coming to the knowledge of the truth.
ART. 7 .- We believe that that divine wisdom which laid the plan and pro- vided the means for calling the heirs of glory, will guide them in the way of holi- ness, and that power which wrested them from the grasp of Satan will guard them during the whole of their pilgrimage till they arrive at the heavenly Canaan.
ART. 8 .-- We believe that, as mankind are by nature enemies to God, that their nature must be changed before reconciliation can take place, and that this change is produced by the immediate operation of the Spirit of God.
ART. 9 .- We believe that there will be a general resurrection of the dead, and that all mankind shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ, when those that have done good shall enter into full possession of the joys of Paradise, and those who have done evil shall be shut up in the regions of despair.
ART. 10 .- We believe that the joys of the righteous and the miseries of the wicked will be of equal duration, and both commensurate only by eternity.
ART. 11 .- We believe that none but baptized believers can be members of the visible church of Jesus Christ, and that the word baptize signifies to immerse, and was so understood and practiced in the days of Christ and his Apostles, and that believers were the only subjects.
ART. 12 .- We believe that God has appointed one day in seven for rest and religious worship, and that the first day of the week ought to be observed as such in resting from our worldly concerns, excepting works of necessity and mercy.
The new church was called the "Washington Baptist Church," and Elder William Stansil was chosen pastor. The first member received by baptism was John Kennedy, and the first by letter was Ann Sanford. Among the other pastors of the church have been Revs. G. W. Harpole, John Graham, B. B. Arnold, Hamil- ton Robb, T. N. Robinson, J. R. Phillips, T. R. Palmer, R. M. Parks, Hillory Head, W. L. Boston, E. R. Pierce, William Mc- Nutt, Charles L. Garten and J. B. Cheirs. Rev. Mr. Palmer was a printer as well as a preacher, and associated with Mr. Stephen Belding in 1867 in founding the Daviess County Democrat. The most prosperous time with this church was during the pas- torate of Rev. R. M. Parks, the four years following July, 1869. During the early history of the church the meetings were held some- times in private houses, in schoolhouses and the court house. The
737
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Baptist Union Association was held in this place in 1842 on the farm of the late Thomas Hyatt, two years after the organization of the church, whose history we are attempting to record. The Sunday-school was organized in 1866. Its present membership is 100 with an average attendance of fifty.
Mount Olive Baptist Church, No. 1, is situated on an acre of ground in Section 31, Barr Township, donated by A. T. and S. C. Morgan. A society was organized here in 1825, but after a short- lived existence disbanded on account of some internal dissensions. In 1844 a reorganization was effected, and among the members then were John McCracken, Jesse Morgan, William McCracken, Solomon Webber and their wives, and L. C. Morgan, Sarah J. McCracken, Charles and Richard Gehee, Roland Sutton and others. The present membership is seventy-two. The present build- ing is a one-story frame structure, capable of seating 300 people and cost about $700. Many residents of the neighborhood, al- though of different faith, contributed liberally toward the erection of the church building, and the society is in a fairly prosperous condition.
Mount Olive Baptist Church, of Madison Township, was or- ganized January 30, 1875, with thirty-nine members, at the school- house in District No. 6. Rev. J. Cornelius was the first pastor ; following him in the order named were Revs. R. M. Parks, D. Manley, J. C. Warriner. Since the latter the church has had no pastor and at the present writing is on the decline. The member- ship is eighty-one.
Aikman Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1844. Seven- teen persons met in a schoolhouse near Aikman's Creek, in Har- rison Township, and organized the Baptist congregation that has since been known as Aikman Creek Baptist Church. Among those present at this meeting were J. W. Harpole, William Stan- sel, Thomas Donaldson, Benjamin Fitzgerald and William Cole. Elder John Graham became the pastor of the new church that year, and he was succeeded by Elder William Stansel, in 1848, who resigned two years later. The pastors since that time have been Elders F. Slater, Lewis Loveless, D. L. Crane, who died in 1873, H. Head, W. McNutt, J. W. Hannamack and P. H. Evans, Rev. D. Manley is the present pastor. The church building is a frame structure and has been built about twenty years. It cost $1,000
738
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
The church's present membership is 150, and it has the following officers: Deacons-W. W. Jones, W. Akester, T. Smith; trustee -Job Gilly; clerk-Thomas Smith.
Friendship Baptist Church in Elmore Township was consti- tuted in 1865. At present the society has a membership of eighty- seven, and is occasionally attended by the Baptist minister, who resides at Odon. D. J. Ketchum is the clerk, and among the prominent members are William Clinton and wife, J. C. Warner, Robert Herron and J. C. Ferguson.
The Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Reeve Township was con- stituted in 1841, and among the early members were Michael Truelove and Charley Allen. The present membership is ninety- four. The Church building was a union house until 1879, when the Baptists became the sole owners. This building was erected in 1859, and is worth about $700.
CHRISTIAN CLASSES.
The Christian Church at Oden was organized in 1845. Some of the old members of the church were John Hastings, Charles Kilgore, Howel Hastings, Robert Cunningham, Golman Cun- ningham, Abraham Curran and their families. A small frame church building was erected in 1856. It was used for a few years, and finally was sold because it was too small to accom- modate the congregation. In 1867 the building that is now used was put up at a cost of $1,000. It is a frame structure. The church is in a fairly prosperous condition. and has a membership of about seventy-five persons. During the summer months a Sunday-school is maintained.
The largest Christian Church society in the county is the Owl Prairie Church, in Elmore Township, one-fourth of a mile north of Elmore. It has a membership of 200, and is, of course, highly prosperous. It was organized in 1858. An organization pre- vious to that time, the date of which is lost, was suffered to go down. The organization grew rapidly after 1858, and nearly all the church-going people for a circuit of five miles around be- longed to it. The church building was erected about the year 1879, is a frame, and cost $1,000. It was built under the ad- ministration of Rev. A. Elmore. Among the early members of this church were Stephen Elmore, William D. Elmore. Wilson
739
HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Gadberry, John A. Gadberry and their families. Some of the members since that time, and who are yet belonging, are Rev. William E. Ritter, Celia A. Ritter, Alfred Kinnaman, J. J. Smi- ley, H. S. Stalcup, Amos Stalcup, William Slump, James H. Moore, Harvey Manning and others. A Sunday-school is main- tained during the summer months.
Just on the edge of Barr Township, six miles a little north of east from Washington, is Antioch Christian Church, which was built on 1868, on a small lot of land donated by Capt. Green Mc- Donald, at a cost of $1,000. It is a frame, and is surrounded by a graveyard, in which lie the bones of many of the pioneer citi- zens of this neighborhood. The trustees of the church at the time the building was put up were Green McDonald, Thomas H. Jones and Frank McDonald. The minister in charge at the time was the Rev. Wayne Alford. Some of the early members were William and Zedick Dickerson, Asenath McDonald, Ruth Jones and Ziporah McDonald. The organization has been suf- fered to relapse until it has almost passed out of existence, though occasional services are held there. A Sunday-school sometimes runs for a short time during the summer season.
Liberty Christian Church is located near Henry Shively's, in Van Buren Township, on the Bedford road. It was organized thirty years ago and the building was put up about that time. Among the early members were William Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Henry Shively and John Perkins. The organization is yet maintained but it is very weak.
Concord Christian Church is located about one mile north- east of Epsom in Bogard Township. The society was organized in 1867, and among the first members were James Prewitt, Joseph Hastings, Starling Sims, Thomas Allen, John Littell and others. The membership now numbers forty-seven. The church build- ing, which is a substantial frame, was built in 1874 and cost $1,200.
Bethany Christian Church, in Barr Township, about five miles east of Washington, was organized on the 3d day of Janu- ary, 1830, and the members at that time were John Davis, George Morgan, Benjamin Fitzgerald, .William Faith, David Hixson and wife and Sarah Bogard. Private houses were used as places of worship until the society had grown from a little
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
band of seven to such a number as to necessitate the building of a church house, which was done. The building, a modest frame one, cost $500 and will seat 250 persons. The present member- ship of the society is 150, and it is in good working condition.
The Christian Church at Alfordsville was organized forty years ago; Franklin, T. J. and Wayne Alford, Joseph P., Elmer and Benjamin Gilley, William Harmon, Henry Edwards, Alfred Wayne and Joseph Wilson being among the first members. A church building was put up in 1860 near Alfordsville. Three years ago this was abandoned, and a new one erected in Alfords- ville, costing $700. This is a strong church and has a member- ship of 180.
Hudsonville Christian Church was organized in 1878 by El- liott Chappell, Squire Samuel C. Taylor, Winnie Colbert, Tollive Colbert, John Brown and others. The log church that belonged to the Methodists was purchased and is still used. The present membership is sixty.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
There are two Cumberland Presbyterian societies in Daviess County and three church buildings. The oldest is located in Washington. It was organized fully sixty years ago, but the early church records were lost. About 1825 the Cumberland Presbyterians had a camp-ground in the McTegart woods adjoin- ing Washington, where summer meetings were held. Among the early members of this church were Frederick Myers and wife, William Ward and wife, Edward Streepy, Friend Spears, Ashbury Alexander and Jesse Crabb. The first church was built in Wash- ington in 1854. It is still in use. It is a one-story frame, situat- ed on the corner of First and Hefron Streets and cost $2,500. Prior to this time the meetings were held in the court house, schoolhouses and in the old Presbyterian Church. The present membership of the church, including the class at Mt. Olivet, is sixty-five. There has been no regular pastor at this church for several years, and services are only occasionally held. The Sun- day-school, which was organized in 1855, is still kept up and has a membership of forty.
Mt. Olivet Cumberland Class is a branch of the Washington Church. Among the first members of this class were Hunley
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Singleton, Henry Scudder, John Davis, John Scudder, William F. Wood and William Ragsdale. The church building used by this class is a neat frame, worth $1,000, and situated three miles south of Washington on the Petersburg road.
Shiloh is a log church situated two miles west of Raglesville. It was built by the people of the neighborhood, and belongs to no particular denomination. It was put up about sixteen years ago. For a while it was used by the Winebrenarians, and is occasion- ally occupied by a Baptist minister.
The Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church near Glendale, in Harrison Township, formerly belonged to the Washington congregation, but a dissolution was effected in 1879. The first church built was burned in 1885, but a new one was immediately erected and dedicated in November, 1885, by Rev. H. C. Yates. The new church cost $1,200. There are fifty-six members at present. Among the early members were William, Richard, and John Clark, F. A. Ward, Hamlet Robinson, James Mattingly and John Russell.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES.
Mud Pike United Brethren Church, in Elmore Township, was organized in 1876, Joseph M. Boyd and Abraham Weaver being among the first members. A frame church building was put up the year following the organization. It cost $1,000. This church has a present membership of about seventy-five.
The Odon class of United Brethren has a membership of sixty, and a Sunday-school. It was organized in 1866 by a Rev. Mr. Turner. The church building was put up by the Methodist Episcopal and United Brethren congregations jointly, and occu- pied by them until the new Methodist Episcopal Church was completed, and the United Brethren became owners of the old church, which is worth $1,000.
Pleasant Hill United Brethren Church, three miles north of Odon, in Madison Township, has been organized twenty-seven years. Jacob Winklepleck was one of the founders of the church. In 1860 a frame building, costing $800, was put up. This class at present numbers seventy-five members.
New Bethel United Brethren Church, in Bogard Township, is one of the strongest in the county, the membership being 100. The society organized in 1879, and built a splendid church that
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
cost $1,200. Absalom Myers was the minister in charge, and among the early members were Alex, and Andy McCall, Alfred Peachee and Samuel Bair. This is a very prosperous class. There is a class of United Brethren in Barr Township, near Montgomery, that has an existence of eighteen years, but no church house. Mount Olive Baptist Church is used for their meetings. There is a talk of building a church at Montgomery soon.
In the fall of 1861 a United Brethren Church was organized at Raglesville by John Young and wife, John Y. Clark, and Ab- salom Myers and wife. The class now has forty members and own a one-third interest in the Methodist Episcopal Church building.
McCord United Brethren Church, two and one-half miles southeast of Alfordsville, Reeve Township, was organized in 1859, and a log church was built. Among the early members were Henry McCord, James Gilley and Fielding Gilley. This society is weak in numbers at present.
THE COLORED CHURCHES.
There are two church societies of colored people in the coun- ty, both of which are located at Washington. The African Meth- odist Episcopal Church is the oldest. It was organized in the fifties by Jacob Hawkins, and among the original members were Charner and Charles Hawkins, Jesse Perkins, John Thomas, Eli Hawkins and Manny Ballow. The first church building was a frame one, built in 1853, one mile west of Washington. This building was afterward converted into a schoolhouse, and a new church was erected alongside of the old one in 1867. Two years later both buildings were destroyed by fire. The next building to be erected was a brick edifice put up in the city of Washing- ton in 1883 at a cost of $1,100. It is situated in the West End. The present membership is seventy, and Rev. Zack Roberts is the pastor in charge.
The Second Baptist Church (colored) was organized in 1867 by Caleb Naylor, Taylor Lyons, Andrew Sullivan, and others. A church building was erected on the sand hill adjoining the city of Washington in 1880. It is a frame building, and cost about $600. The present membership of the church is thirty-five, and the pastor is Rev. E. H. Fletcher.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
THE AIKMAN FAMILY. The history of Daviess County, Ind., would be incomplete without a detailed sketch of the above- named family; not because they have been holders or aspirants of office, or have urged themselves upon the notice of the citizens of their county, but because from their earliest settlement in this county, in the person of John Aikman, they have been promoters of the advancement and well-being of the community in which they have resided, largely by their liberality, industry, and public enterprise, which, as a whole, are the predominant char- acteristics of the family. They have represented the county from its very earliest settlement, and have been identified with her in all the progress she has made, and as early pioneers and citizens of a late date, have endured their full share of hardships, and assisted in leveling the sturdy oak, and clearing and developing farms. James Aikman and his descendants constitute one branch of the family. James is the eldest of twelve children-five brothers and two sisters now living-born to the marriage of John Aikman and Mary Barr. He was born in Bourbon County, Ky., January 7, 1810. Both parents were natives of the " Blue- grass State," and when James was but a small boy, came to Daviess County, Ind., and located on a tract of land, which the father entered, two miles south of Washington. Five years later the family removed to the "sugar land " neighborhood in this township, where they resided until a few years previous to the father's death (which occurred in 1850), when they moved to Washington. John Aikman was a quiet, unassuming man, and accumulated considerable means by his frugal and industrious
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
habits. James secured a limited education, attending in the old log schoolhouse of early times. When twenty-two years old he married Sarah Banta, a native of Nicholas County, Ky., born Janu- ary 1, 1814, and began farming for himself. For fifty years he was a tiller of the soil, and succeeded in accumulating 400 acres of land, one-half of which is under cultivation, and managed by his sons, who reside upon it. In 1874 he and his wife removed to Washington, and have since lived a retired and happy life, sur- rounded by the comforts their industry has secured. They became the parents of eight children, these five now living: Samuel, Henry, John, Sarah D., and Martha Anne. Mr. Aik- man has been a Republican since the organization of the party, and previous to that time was a Whig. He and his wife have been members of the Presbyterian Church for over forty years. He has resided in Daviess County longer than any other living person, so far as is now known. Samuel T. Aikman was born November 2, 1839. He secured a common school education, and married at the age of thirty-nine, locating on part of his father's farm. He was married to Martha Cunningham in 1878. They have two children: Claud and Maud. Henry Aikman was born January 30, 1842, and secured the same education and rearing as his brother. February 19, 1867, he was united in marriage to Laura E. Bradford, who lived to be the mother of three children, only Clara B. living, and died July 30, 1870. In September, 1873, he was married to Sarah L. Williams, who bore him six children, these five living: Willie M., Mamie, Gertie, Henry C., and Paul. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. John Aikman was born February 27, 1845, and was reared upon the same farm that Samuel and Henry were. He was married, in 1870, to Permelia Allen, who bore him six children: James, John A., Edward T., Grace, Charles, and Sicily. He served in the late war, enlisting in the Forty-second Indiana Volunteers in 1862, and remained in the service two years. The sons are all industrious and prominent farmers, and belong to the Republican party. Sarah L., the elder of the two daughters, was born August 24, 1847, and is now the wife of Simeon Coleman, a young farmer living at Topeka, Kas. They were married in 1873, and have two children: James W. and Jessie A.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Martha Anne, the younger daughter, was born July 25, 1849, and yet resides with her parents.
THOMAS J. AXTELL was born in Washington, Penn., February 3, 1835, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Weir) Axtel, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father removed with his family to Knox County, Ind., in 1836, where he engaged in the mercantile business in the town of Bladensburgh, and here our subject was reared. After securing the ordinary English educa- tion he began clerking in his father's dry goods store. When sixteen years of age he left home and clerked in Mount Vernon, Ohio, for four years. After taking a trip to Texas he returned to New Albany, Ind., and in the winter of 1859 came to this city and engaged in the dry goods business for himself, con- tinuing until the war broke out, when he sold out his business, and was traveling salesman for A. L. Scoville & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, for four years. He then returned to this city, and he and F. M. Myers formed a partnership in the dry goods business. In 1879 he purchased Mr. Myers' interest, and has since success- fully conducted the business alone. He keeps an excellent stock of goods, and is doing quite well financially. October 16, 1862, he married Edna A. Rodarmel, daughter of Samuel Rodarmel, who was a prominent man of the county. To them were born three children, all of whom are living: Edwin R., Frank F., and Ella E. Mr. Axtel is a warm Republican, and takes an active part in political affairs. He has been a member of the city council, and is now a member of the city school board. He is a Mason, Knight Templar degree, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
JOHN A. BAIR, sheriff of Daviess County, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June 11, 1841, and was one of eight children born to John F. and Louisa (Keplinger) Bair, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The subject of this sketch was brought up by his parents in his native county, and there secured an ordinary English education. He was trained to a farmer's life, and accordingly, in 1862, located on a farm in Wabash County, Ind. In 1865 he returned to his native county, and in the spring of 1866 removed with his parents to Daviess County, and farmed one season in Van Buren Township.
-
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
In 1867 he married Sidney Zeigler, a native of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, whose parents removed to this county some years previously. After his marriage he resided two years in Van Buren Township, farming in summer and teaching school in winter. He then removed to Madison Township, where he lived four years, when he engaged in saw-milling, and continued in this business with good success until 1884. He was elected by the Democratic party sheriff of Daviess County, which office he is now filling. Mr. Bair has always been an unswerving Demo- erat. In 1862 he enlisted as a recruit for the Eighty-ninth Reg- iment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but was prevented from enter- ing into active service by the capture of the regiment at Mum- fordsville, Ky. He was honorably discharged on account of physicial disability, caused by a wound in the right ankle. Mr. Bair is the father of four children, three of whom are living: Daniel W., Curtis H. and Ada P. Mr. and Mrs. Bair are both members of the United Brethren Church, and he is justly recog- nized as one of the enterprising and successful citizens of Da- viess County.
E. A. BALDWIN, farmer, of Daviess County, Ind., was born in Vermillion County, Ill., April 28, 1850, and is one of fourteen children, all yet living, born to Jesse W. and Eleanor ( Harris ) Bald- win, who were born in Ohio. A number of years after marriage they moved to Vermillion County, Ill., thence to Chicago, where the father followed real estate agency, and was financially successful. He is yet residing in that city. The father is about eighty-five years of age and the mother ten years younger. Our subject was reared on a farm until nine years old, when he went with his par- ents to Chicago, where he secured a fair business education. He resided there until about nineteen years old, when he returned to Vermillion County, and about 1873 came to Washington, Ind., and was in the drug business for about nine years. He then went to Montgomery Station and kept a drug store for three years, and then came to his present place of residence. May 1, 1881, he was united in marriage to Mary C. Prosner, a native of Licking County, Ohio, born October 14, 1854, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Price) Prosner, who were natives of South Wales. To them were born two children, one of whom died at
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
fourteen months old, Willie, and one now three months old, Otto C. The wife owns 165 acres of very fine land, and is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Baldwin is a warm Repub- lican in politics, and is an enterprising young farmer.
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