USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 34
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PRESBYTERIAN.
Presbyterian history in La Porte county dates back to the vear 1831. In the late autumn of that year, Mr. Myron Ives removed hither from Paris, Ill., and settled upon Rolling Prairie in a log cabin, just cast of the Little Kankakee, about one mile and a half west of the present railroad station of Rolling Prairie. He was the first Presbyterian in the county. In the May following, Mrs. Rebecca Ives, mother of Myron Ives, and his sister Mrs. Sarah Aldrich, came with their families and settled in the same neighbor- hood. About this time Alexander Blackburn, from the Carlisle church settled on a farm a little west of Rolling Prairie station. In the autumn of this year, Mr. Ives and Mr. Blackburn, went to Niles, Mich., each with a load of wheat. In the night, while wait- ing for the grinding of their grain, under the shadow of the forest, these two christian men held the first prayer meeting in the interest of the Presbyterian church in La Porte county. Soon after this. they instituted a Sabbath prayer meeting. which met alternately at the cabin of each. There was vet no stated preaching, but in No- vember, 1832, Rev. James Crawford who was at that time pastor of a church in Crawfordsville, and gave half his time to missionary work, visited the county. He heard of the prayer meeting, sought it out, and was made welcome by the little company. In the cabin of Alexander Blackburn, Mr. Crawford preached the first sermon that was ever delivered by a Presbyterian minister in this county. In the following week, on the 28th day of November, 1832, a meeting was held in Mr. Blackburn's house to take steps for the organization of a Presbyterian church: and seven persons, Charles Mowlan, Myron Ives, Sarah Ives, Rebecca Ives, Sarah Aldrich, Alexander Blackburn and James S. Hening, associated themselves
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CHURCH RECORD.
together as the Presbyterian Church of La Porte. On the 13th day of July, 1833, the Church met in the house of Wm. P. Ross in La- Porte, at which time Mr. Ross and his wife Elizabeth, David and Mary Dinwiddie, and James, Elizabeth, Catharine and Isabella Blair, were received into the organization, raising the membership to fifteen. Of this number there remain at this time, connected with the church, Mr. Ives and Mrs. Dinwiddie Wilson, the latter of whom has been a member continuously from that day to this.
On the 20th of the same month, July, 1833, a meeting was held at the Kankakee school house for the purpose of choosing elders, and further organizing the church. James Blair, Myron Ives, and David Dinwiddie were chosen to the office. Alexander Blackburn was appointed clerk of the session, and continued to fill that office many years. The next day, Sunday, July 21st, the first Commun- ion service was observed, and the ordinance of baptism was admin- istered by Rev. James Crawford, Sarah Ives being the first infant baptized in the church. The name of the Presbyterian Church of La Porte was adopted as the title of the new organization, and it was received into the Crawfordsville Presbytery. The first delegate appointed to attend the Presbytery and the Synod of Indiana was Wm. P. Ross, who was instructed "to invite some minister to visit us, with a view of preaching to this congregation." This secured the services of Rev. John Morrill, who on the first of January, 1834, began a year's labor as the first regular supply of the church. He was paid three hundred dollars for his year's labors. The first recorded death occurred this year. It was that of Mrs. Sophia Fletcher. In 1835, the church numbered a membership of fifty-six, and on the 10th of May, in that year, it was visited by Rev. Win. K. Talbot, who remained about six months. On the 20th of March, 1836, Alexander Blackburn was ordained an elder, and in May of that year, Rev. A. Carnahan visited the church by appointment of Presbytery, and held a five days service. His labors were so acceptable that a call was extended to him to become pastor, but which he declined.
Up to this period, the church had no house of worship, which had subjected them to much inconvenience; but on the 26th day of May, 1836, "a vote was taken to build a meeting house, and
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Messrs. Niles, Howell, Skinner, Strong and Blackburn. were . appointed a committee to collect funds, choose a situation and man- age the whole affair." This led to the building on the corner of Prairie and Monroe streets, now occupied by the Christian church ; but it was not until late in 1837 that any progress was made towards the building. On the 27th of May, 1837, Rev. Wm. K. Marshall received a call to become pastor of the church, which he accepted and was duly installed. He pushed the building project. A meet- ing was held at the Court house, and after discussion of the size and kind of building to be erected, a method of raising the funds proposed by E. Morrison was adopted. This was. to create a joint stock company, the subscribers to receive the amount of their stock in pews. The estimated cost of the building was $6,000. A com- mittee was appointed, consisting of E. Morrison, Amzi Clark, A. Blackburn and one or two others. to secure subscriptions to the stock, andES.ªVan Pelt was made the first Treasurer. These were the days of "Wild Cat" money, and it was found very difficult to collect the subscriptions. Before the building was enclosed Morri- son, Clark and Howell had been obliged to make large advances from their private funds. This was in the Fall of 1840. and in 1841 the church was sold to satisfy a builder's lien. It was pur- chased by Amzi Clark, who held it in his own name, until it was finished. It was dedicated in 1842 or '43. and was deeded to A. Blackburn for the Old School Presbyterian church. with a condition in the deed, that if ever sold. the New School Presbyterians might purchase it in preference to all other parties. There was a debt of $2,000 on the building. and this became so burdensome. that in the Spring of 1846, the trustees decided to sell the property. The Methodists made a proposition for purchase, but the terms of the deed stood in the way; and a New School church having been organized in 1844, by great efforts this organization raised the required sum and secured the church edifice, retaining it until 1868, when it was sold to the Reformed Lutherans in anticipation of the building of the present commodious edifice on Michigan avenue.
The Methodists had been occupying a small brick building on the corner of Jefferson and Monroe streets, now no longer standing; and having about the time of the sale of the Presbyterian edifice to
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CHURCH RECORD.
the New School church, or a little later erected their present church building, they sold their former structure to the Old School or First Presbyterian church. It was occupied by that church for a period of about ten years. In 1862, they erected the building on the corner of Indiana avenue and Harrison street. It was partially burned in Mav, 1869, but was immediately repaired and reopened for worship on the last Sabbath of the following August, and con- tinued to be the place of worship of the first church until the reunion of the First and Second churches, Oct. 31, 1871.
The pastorate of Rev. Wm. K. Marshall over the Old School or First church, began about the first of June. 1837. and contin- ued until the first Sabbath in October, 1844, which was the longest pastorate ever enjoyed by the First church. It was attended by a good measure of success. During the time, the membership of the church increased from ninety-six to one hundred and fifty. The first Deacons of this church were ordained September 12th, 1840. They were Andrew Nickell, Jacob Drum and Elijah Mount. After the cessation of the pastorate of Mr. Marshall, Rev. James Greer. became the stated supply of the congregation, continuing in that relation nearly two years, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Steele. In October. 1849. the latter received a call to become pastor; but it was not accepted until the following April. He was installed on the 22d of September of the same year. In October, 1851, Mr. Steele asked a dissolution of the pastoral relation, in order that he might remove to Rolling Prairie, to organize a church there. On the second Sabbath of the same month, Rev. F. P. Cummins, at the request of the church, began to preach for them. His services proved so acceptable that he soon received a call to become pastor, and was installed on the 14th day of June, 1858, when it was dissolved at Mr. Cummins' request.
In the latter part of the year 1858, Rev. J. W. Hanna became acting pastor of the church and continued in this relation until the autumn of 1860. Late in the same year, Rev. R. S. Goodman began preaching for this church, and continued his labors about five years, during which time the new church was built. Mr. Good- man's labors closed in October, 1865, and in October, 1866, the pastorate of Rev. L. C. Spofford began. He was installed on the
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24th of that month. He died on the 12th of April, 1869, deeply lamented by his people, and by the entire community. About a month later, the church building was burned, yet notwithstanding these sad events, on the first Sabbath in September following. the rebuilt church was dedicated, and Rev. L. M. Stevens began a pastorate which proved to be the last for that church as a separate organization. He was installed on the 22d day of November. and continued with the church until the union of the two churches was effected on the 31st day of October, 1871.
It is now necessary to return to the year 1844, to review the history of the Second or New School church. This church was organized on the 3d day of November in that year. in a school house belonging to Rev. F. P. Cummins. Thirty members came into the new organization. twenty-six of whom were from the First church. Rev. S. N. Steele organized the church, and acted as stated supply for one year. The organization of the church was completed by the election and ordination as elders of James M. Clark and Ellsworth B. Strong. Eleven months after the organi- zation the membership mustered fifty-one.
In the Spring of 1846, Rev. John W. Cunningham began a long and useful course of labor with the church. On the 30th dav of May, 1848, the Presbytery of St. Joseph received Mr. Cunningham from the union Presbytery of Tennessee, and also placed the Second church of La Porte upon its roll. The next day, the new pastor. was installed. In the first year thereafter. eighty-eight were added to the church, sixty-four of whom were received ou profession of faith. The two years following also showed large additions. and in the last year of Mr. Cunningham's pastorate thirty-nine were added to the church on profession of faith. His pastoral relation was dissolved in June, 1858, his labors having extended over a period of more than twelve years.
In January, 1859, Rev. George C. Noyes was invited to the vacant field, and his labors began on the 13th of the following March. He was installed May 15, 1860. In April of the next year, the church reported a membership of 236. In 1866 an addi- tion of fifty was made on profession of faith, and the membership of the Second church was then at the highest point it ever attained.
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CHURCH RECORD.
It was near the close of Mr. Noyes' pastorate that the old church building was sold, and the initial steps taken for the erection of the new one. The pastorate of Mr. Noyes was a long and successful one, continuing until the 2d of November, 1868, when it was dissolved at the pastor's request, and on the 15th of the same month, his labors closed.
On the 9th of May, 1869. the congregation extended a call to Rev. Wm. C. Scofield, which was accepted; but he was never installed. On the 9th of June, 1871, Mr. Scofield signified to the session his determination to retire from his labors at an early day, alleging the ill health of his wife as the cause, and he preached his last sermon on the Sabbath following the dedication of the new church edifice, July 23rd, 1871. Rev. John F. Kendall preached to the congregation on the following Sabbath, and on the 21st of August, a call was extended to him to become pastor of the church. After a brief delay this call was accepted, and his labors with the church began on the second Sabbath in October. Nego- tiations were in progress at the time for the union of the two churches, which were happily terminated on the 31st day of October by the consummation of the union under the name of " The Presby- terian church of La Porte." This vacated the former call to Dr. Kendall, and on the 12th of November, a meeting of the con- gregation was held, and he was unanimously invited to become pastor of the united church. The call was immediately accepted, and the installation took place June 4th, 1872. At that time the sermon was preached by Rev. Henry Kendall, D. D., of New York, brother of the pastor, charge to the pastor by Rev. R. Beer. of Valparaiso, and charge to the people by Rev. J. Q. Hall. of Michi- gan City. A new Board of Elders were elected for the united church, on the 23d day of November, 1871. The four following were the first chosen, and they were requested to perform such duties only as might consist with their advanced age, Anson Gregg, A. P. Andrew, Sr., Amzi Clark, and Myron Ives. Five others were then elected for the active duties of the eldership, con- sisting of Wm. H. Boyd, Samuel Harvey, Julius Barnes, L. N. Frary, and E. D. Barrows. Only a few days afterwards Amzi Clark was called to his rest and reward. Father Andrew followed
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
in a few months, and Anson Gregg shortly thereafter. They were all sincerely mourned by the church which held so'large a place in their sympathies, their love and their prayers.
The pastorate of Rev. John F. Kendall, D. D., still {continues, and the relations between pastor and people are of the most cordial, harmonious. and affectionate character. The union of the two churches has been most happy. The elegant church building is paid for. there is a large and flourishing Sabbath school, and noth- ing seems to stand in the way of a higher degree of usefulness than at any former period. The eldership has remained unchanged since the death of the three venerable fathers named.
An incident worthy of note in this record of the Presbyterian church of La Porte will conclude the story of its history. In the year 1873, on June 22d, a special effort was made to bring together at the communion service of the church all the oldest members. When the appointed hour came those upwards of seventy years of age were requested to occupy the front seats. Thirteen responded to the request. and two others would have done so, but were detained at home by ill health. Five of this number, Mrs. King, Mrs. Lemon. Mrs. Forsman. Mrs. Forrester, and Mr. Harmon. were over eighty years of age, and one of them, Mrs. King. the venera- ble mother of Polaski King, over ninety. The scene, especially for this new. western country, was a rare and impressive one.
Bethel Presbyterian church of Union Mills is the second in age in the county. It was organized June 22, 1850, by Rev. F. P. Cummins, in the school house about two miles east of Union Mills. Mr. Cummins preached there until 1856. The original members numbered ten, of whom Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McPherson, and Mr. and Mrs. Bird McLane yet remain. It may here be stated that a New School Presbyterian church had been organized near Union Mills in 1845, but at the time when the present church was organized. it had ceased to exist. At the first meeting John Billington and John Moon, Jr., were elected elders, but Mr. Moon declined to serve. In 1854, David Finley was elected to the office. In 1857, Mr. Billington died, Mr. Finley removed to Illinois, and Wm. Way was chosen and ordained to the office. He discharged its duties alone until 1870, when the session was enlarged by the election of Job H. Northam. Seth Loomis and Amos Brown.
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CHURCH RECORD.
The church edifice was erected at Union Mills in 1851, Rev. F. P. Cummins himself hauling from Michigan City much of the lum- ber used in its construction.
Early in 1856 Rev. John Fisher became the minister of the con- gregation. He was succeeded the next year by Rev. J. M. McRae, who supplied also at the same time, the church at Rolling Prairie. Upon the cessation of Mr. Mc Rae's labors, the pulpit was vacant seve- ral years, when in July, '61, Rev. R. C. Mckinney began to supply the church. He was succeeded in 1863 by Rev. C. E. Evans, and he in 1867 by Rev. F. M. Elliott. He was installed in May, 1868, being the first regular pastor of the church. His labors closed in 1871; and in the summer of 1872, Rev. S. E. Smith began to sup- ply the vacant pulpit, and still remains there, although not an in- stalled pastor. Considerable additions were made to this church in
1869 and 1870. Again in March, 1876, there was a decided awakening, when Mr. Smith was assisted in his labors by Rev. Dr. Kendall of La Porte. The church has been useful and influential, and its prospects for future usefulness are very encouraging.
The Rolling Prairie church stands next in order of time. The first organization of a Presbyterian church in La Porte county took place, as has been stated, at the house of Alexander Blackburn, half a mile west of Rolling Prairie, but this organization became the First Presbyterian church of La Porte, and must not be confounded with that now existing at Rolling Prairie, which was organized in February, 1852, Rev. John Steele who had left the La Porte church for the purpose, heading the enterprise. Twenty-eight members were enrolled, many of them going from the church at La Porte. Alexander Blackburn and B. F. Piper, who had been elders in the La Porte church, and John S. Hawkins were appointed elders, and James Catterlin and Wm. Wetherhold deacons. Mr. Steele re- mained with the church a little over three years. During this time sixteen of the original members had withdrawn, because of removals, among them Blackburn, and one of the other elders. James Cat- terlin was ordained elder, June 24, 1855, and still occupies the office. At the close of Mr. Steele's ministration the membership had increased to fifty, though it had lost some of the best and most zealous among them. June 27, 1856, Dr. T. D. Brown and Cor-
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
nelius Hermans were ordained elders; and following Mr. Steele, Rev. F. P. Cummins preached to the congregation a year or more, when Rev. J. M. McRae commenced in April, 1857, a period of labor with this church, extending over nearly two years. His labors were successful. a revival was enjoyed and twenty-nine were added to the church. During parts of the years 1860-1. Rev. F. P. Cummins again acted as supply for the church. and was afterwards succeeded in this duty by pastors at La Porte. Rev. R. S. Good- man, and Rev. L. C. Spofford. Rev. Walter Forsythe. of South Bend, and Rev. J. Lowry. In the year 1869-70. Rev. J. H. Nevius, of South Bend. supplied the church regularly. and with much acceptance and usefulness. During the past year Rev. Henry Johnson a theological student of the seminary at Chicago. has preached once in four weeks.
The church edifice was erected in 1857, and the membership now numbers about forty.
The next Presbyterian church organized in the county was that at Wanatah. In 1870, Rev. F. M. Elliott. of Union Mills, found a few Presbyterians at Wanatah and formed them into a church. He preached to them while he remained at Union Mills. and has been followed in his labors there by Rev. S. E. Smith. Mr. Frank McCurdy and Mr. Orville Adams are the elders. They have no church edifice, and the number of the membership is less than twenty.
The youngest Presbyterian church in the county is that at Mich- gan City. Many years ago, the Congregational church at Michi- gan City was Presbyterian about one year, and there has always been in the church an element which preferred the Presbyterian polity and system of church government, and in the early part of 1871. a portion of the members took steps for the formation of a Presbyterian church. A meeting was held in March for general consultation. the result of which was that twenty-nine person, at a subsequent meeting, held March 27th, asked for letters of dismis- sion. These adjourned to the house of C. H. Hall, and there fe- solved to organize a Presbyterian church in Michigan City. On the Sunday following. April 2d, services were held for the first time. Rev. C. VanSantvoord of Chicago, preached. On the fol-
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CHURCH RECORD.
lowing Sabbath, Rev. J. Q. Hall, of Minnesota, preached to the new organization, and was called to the pastorate on the 13th. Au- thority having been obtained from the Presbytery of Logansport, the church was duly organized on the 9th day of May, with a mem- bership of thirty-nine; and J. S. Ford, John Orr, J. A. Thornton, and Henry W. Johnson were elected elders. John Orr died on the 16th day of May 1873, and B. F. Sammons was elected to the vacant eldership. Thus this church began its existence. There were- great zeal and earnestness among the members, a revival came in the winter following the organization, and the number of the mem- bership was increased to seventy-seven. There was an early deter- mination to erect a house of worship, steps were taken to this end in the summer of 1872, and on December 19th, the present church edifice was dedicated, a sermon being preached on the occasion by Rev. Arthur Mitchell, of Chicago. A large and flourishing Sab- bath school is connected with this church. Mr. Hall accepted the call which he had received, and was regularly installed pastor on the 5th day of June, 1872. His pastorate still continues, and has been attended with a high degree of success and usefulness.
LUTHERAN.
The Evangelical Lutheran church at La Porte, was established in the year 1857. Several families of this faith were living in La- Porte, and they invited Rev. H. Wunder, of Chicago, to preach for them. This he did for a time, when they effected a church organi- zation, and called as their first pastor, Rev. T. Tram. He was a laborious and useful minister, and under his charge, the congrega- tion grew and flourished. They had no house of worship, and for some months, their services were held in a school house. They then built a small frame church on C. street. But the congrega- tion still grew, larger accommodations were necessary, and in 1863, they built the brick edifice which they now own and occupy, a handsome and substantial building. It is neatly finished. and sup- plied with all conveniences to make it attractive and comfortable. Rev. G. Kuechle was pastor for several years, after 1863. The present pastor is I. T. Neithemmer. There are one hundred and ninety families represented in the congregation. The society sup-
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
ports its own schools. which number nearly three hundred pupils. This church is known as St. John's Evangelical Lutheran.
There has been for many years a Lutheran church organization at Michigan City, having a good house of worship, and a large congregation. Owing to some disagreement between the pastor and a portion of the church, which occurred in 1875. a division was recently effected, and a part of the membership retired. These will, without delay. proceed to the erection of a new house of wor- ship.
There are many Lutherans also in other parts of the county. Attached to the La Porte charge, a number reside in the vicinity of Kingsbury, and have preaching three miles south of that village as often as once a month. At Westville there are also quite a num- ber. They are without a house of worship, and are attached to the Lutheran charge at Valparaiso. In addition to these there is a church edifice not far from Wanatah, which is occupied by a branch of the Lutheran church. The membership of the churches in this county is attached to the Synod of Missouri.
The St. Paul's Evangelical Reformed Lutherans also have a .church organization in La Porte. and a church edifice on Main street, which was formerly occupied by the Disciple or Christian .congregation. Rev. Jacob Linder is the pastor.
The membership of the foregoing are all composed of persons of German nationality, and there is, in addition to them, in La Porte. a Lutheran church organization composed of persons of Swedish nationality. They own a church edifice on D street in Andrew's addition, where regular services are held every Sabbath, bv Rev. G. Lundahl, the pastor.
CATHOLIC.
There are two Catholic church organizations and buildings in the .city of La Porte, St. Joseph's Catholic church. (German.) and St. Peter's. (Irish). The latter is the older organization, its existence being almost coeval with that of the city. Rev. Father Kilroy, who was a man of great force of character. and influence with his people, was many years the officiating priest. Rev. Father T. O. Sullivan now ministers to this congregation, which is one of the largest in the city. Their house of worship is a neat frame struct-
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