USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 35
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CHURCH RECORD.
ure which has been much enlarged since its foundation. It is situ- ated on Monroe street, and a school house is attached to the church.
St. Joseph's church was organized into a Catholic congregation in 1858 by Rev. M. Scherer. The fine, substantial brick edifice which they occupy was built in 1859-60, and a school house was added soon afterwards. In 1865, Father Scherer went to another field of labor, and was succeeded as priest by Rev. S. Bartoz, of Polish descent. His health failing, he resigned in 1870, when Rev. John Oechtering, the present pastor, succeeded. Connected with this church are one hundred and twenty-five German and seve- ral Polish families. The church building is one of the best in the- city. It is crowned with a steeple one hundred and thirty-five feet high, with two chime bells, weighing each one thousand pounds. The Sabbath school is a flourishing one, and numbers about two hundred children.
At Michigan City there is a large Catholic church and congrega- tion, which was organized many years ago. Their house of worship is one of the best in the city, and the congregation probably the largest.
At Otis, also, there is a Catholic church, with a small but neat church building. Most of the members are Polanders.
DISCIPLE OR CIIRISTIAN CHURCH.
Of this denomination there are five congregations in La Porte county. The church at La Porte was established in 1837 by means of the efforts of Judge Wm. Andrew and Dr. Jacob P. Andrew. Their labors were earnest, unremitting and successful. The elders who have ministered to the church as pastors since that time have been John Thompson, Wm. Lane, M. N. Lord, Dr. C. G. Bartholo- mew, Ira J. Chase, James Hadsell, A. M. Collins, and Oscar F. Lane. The last named recently resigned the pastoral charge, and at this writing, (March, 1876,) the congregation is without a pastor. For many years this society occupied the building on Main street, which is now occupied by the Reformed Evangelical Lutherans. The Lutherans having, in 1867, purchased the Second Presbyterian church building, they soon after exchanged with the Christian society, the latter desiring a larger edifice; and since that time the congregation of the Christian church has occupied the commodious
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
house of worship on the corner of Prairie and Monroe streets. The congregation numbers about one hundred and fifty, and the deacons and deaconesses at present are T. J. Foster, A. P. Ireland, J. L. Boyd, Mrs. W. H. Calkins, Mrs. Angeline C. Wagner, and Mrs. "T. J. Foster. S. K. Pottenger and Isaac N. Whitehead are the elders.
The society next in order of organization after that at La Porte, is the one at Westville, which was established in 1848 by John Martindale. The congregation numbers about one hundred. Among the elders whose labors they have enjoyed are Dr. C. G. Bartholomew, and Elder Edmundson.
About the year 1850, a society of this church was established in Galena township. It was reorganized in 1872 by Elder Joseph Wickard. It has had the benefit of the labors besides others, of elders John Martindale, David Miller, Wm. Roe, Wm. C. Cum- mins, and Caleb B. Davis, who is the present pastor. The congre- gation numbers fifty.
In 1854, a church society of this denomination was established at Rolling Prairie by John Martindale, which has been one of the most flourishing in the county. In 1874, it numbered one hundred and sixty. Since its organization, it has received the pastoral labors of Elders Komer, Sargent, Sharpless, Clendennin, Wm. Roe, Jesse Roe, and Joseph Wickard. Among the prominent members of this church are Isaac N. Whitehead, Miner Nesbitt, and Absa- lom Bowell.
Besides those already mentioned, there is a small congregation of Christians at Wanatah, which has generally received the ministra- tions of the pastors of the church at Westville. The aggregate membership of the Christians in the county is probably not far from five hundred.
ZION'S CHURCH.
The congregation of this church is composed of our Jewish citi- zens, the services being the Hebrew ritual, and their rule of faith the Scriptures of the Old Testament. They occupy a very neat synagogue or church on the corner of Indiana ave. and First street, where services are held Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.
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SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
Some of the pioneers of La Porte county were members of this denomination, among whom are the well-known families of the Stan- tons and Vails, who settled here as early as 1833. Some of them came from Ohio, and others from New Jersey, some also from Wayne county, Ind., and the State of North Carolina. They soon established a meeting in the "Quaker neighborhood," north of the city of La Porte. Here for many years their services were held, ceasing about 1860, owing to the deaths that had occurred, and the removal of others. Not long afterwards, about 1869, a neat brick church was erected in La Porte by the Friends. In this year, Jacob H. Vining came to La Porte from the State, of Maine, when the scattered families of Friends, some of whom belonged to the Orthodox branch of the society, and others to the "Hicksite" branch, joined together and established a meeting at La Porte in the new church. Jacob H. Vining became the preacher, and servi- ces have been held regularly ever since. This is known as an Orthodox meeting, though in fact, it is about equally divided between the two branches of Friends.
SWEDENBORGIAN.
This is called "The New Church," or the Society of "The New Jerusalem." It was organized in La Porte on the 14th day of June, 1859. Nine years before, the doctrines inculcated by Eman- uel Swedenborg had been introduced to La Porte, chiefly through the instrumentality of Judge Chamberlain of Goshen. He had ' made the acquaintance of Mr. and Mrs. James Andrew, Mrs. An- drew and her sister who was visiting her at the time, being believers in this faith. Mr. Chamberlain determined to secure some one to give lectures on this belief, and not long after this decision, in the year 1850, coming from Goshen, he brought with him Rev. Henry Weller. He was a man of far more than ordinary ability, and his lectures produced a profound and lasting impression. He continued preaching here, though not with regularity and when the society was organized, Mr. Weller was chosen pastor. He preached regu- larly to the society after this, except during the time when he was Chaplain of the 87th Indiana Volunteers, up to the date of his departure to the world of spirits, which occurred on the 9th day of
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
June, 1868. His death was greatly mourned by his congregation, who had for him a sincere and heartfelt esteem and affection. Rev. Woodbury M. Fernald was pastor from June 1, 1869 to May 1, 1870, when his labors ceased, and in 1874, he too passed away from earth. On the 1st day of October, 1871, Rev. Cyrus Scam- mon was appointed pastor, a position which he still holds. The society occupies a plain but very neat temple, situated in the cen- tral part of the city. It has a membership of perhaps fifty; and its Sabbath school shows a still larger number. The following are stated as essential doctrines of the New Church: The Divinity of the . Lord; the Holiness of the Word, and the Life of Charity.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.
There are two Episcopal churches in La Porte county, one at La Porte and one at Michigan City. the latter being one of the oldest church organizations in the county. They are known re- spectivelv as St. Paul's church, of La Porte, and Trinity church of Michigan City. St. Paul's was organized on the 25th day of July, 1839. At the meeting for the organization, Rev. D. V. M. John- son, Rector of Trinity church at Michigan City, presided, and Franklin Thwing acted as Secretary. The officers elected were, for Wardens, John Hobson and Franklin Thwing; for Vestrymen, James Whittem. J. R. Traver, Samuel Stewart, Thos. H. Phillips, Hiram Wheeler. T. B. Bell, Jacob Early and H. T. Holbrook. For some months after the organization, the Rector of Trinity church at Michigan City preached for the new church each alternate Sabbath. Early in 1840. Rev. Solon W. Manney was settled as . Rector, and his successors have been as follows: Rev. H. W. Roberts. 1851; Rev. F. R. Half. 1852; Rev. W. E. Franklin, 1854; Rev. A. Gregory. 1856; Rev. A. E. Bishop, 1862: Rev. J. H. Lee, 1864; Rev. F. M. Gregg. 1866: Rev. G. J. Magill, 1870; Rev. Chas. T. Coer. 1875. After a few months of very acceptable labor, Mr. Coer resigned; and the church is now. early in 1876, destitute of a Rector. A sorrowful event in the history of this church, was the death of Rev. W. E. Franklin, who in life was beloved, and in death was lamented by his parishioners. For several years, this church had no house of worship; but in 1845, the present edifice on the corner of Michigan avenue and Harrison
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street, was erected. It has since been enlarged and much improved. The communicants number about one hundred and fifty; and the value of the church property is estimated at $10,500.
Trinity church at Michigan City was established in 1836, and its first Rector was Rev. D. V. M. Johnson. Some of those who have succeeded him are, Rev. G. B. Engle, now of Indianapolis; Rev. Henry Safford, now of Cold Water, Mich .; Rev. C. A. Bruce, Helena. Ark .; Rev. Wm. H. Stoy, Logan, Utah; Rev. E. P. Wright, Sussex, Wis .; Rev. R. L. Ganter, Akron, Ohio; Rev. T. L. Bellam, Golden, Col .; Rev. J. F. Winkley, Westfield, Mass .; Rev. Dr. Reeves, now of Mich .; Rev. R. Brass, Pontiac, Mich. The number of communi-
Rev. S. S. French, is the present rector. cants is about sixty. The church property consists of a quarter block at the corner of Franklin and Sixth streets, upon which stands the church edifice. The corner stone of the present[ building was laid in 1858. It is a neat, wooden structure, on a brick and stone foundation, Its style is "Rustic Gothic." The rectory stands on the same lot. The total value of the property is about $15,000.
The Wardens are at the present time, U. C. Follet, and W. R. Godfrey; and the Vestrymen are Charles Tryon, L. B. Ashton, Elijah Behan, A. E. Martin, John Dixey, W. R. Bowes, and Wal- ter Vail.
UNITARIAN.
On the 22nd day of June, 1875, Rev. Dr. Robert Collyer, of Chicago, upon invitation of some of the citizens, and with a view to the formation of a church of that denomination, preached in La- Porte, and steps were at once taken for a proper organization, which has been successfully accomplished. Rev. Enoch Powell was in- stalled pastor on the 7th day of March, 1876, and the following Board of Trustees have been elected: Dr. George M. Dakin, Presi- dent; Charles G. Powell, Secretary; Mrs. N. S. Darling, Treas- urer; and L. Crane, Dr. T. Higday, Mrs. Kate Owen and Mrs. Sarah Fox. Regular services are now held at the Court House, and a flourishing Sabbath school has been organized. The follow- ing is the Bond of Union, which forms the basis of the church organization.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
"We, whose names are hereto subscribed, associate ourselves to- gether as a Christian church, for the purpose of moral and spiritual improvement, and of promoting truth and righteousness in the world, through the study, practice and diffusion of pure religion, as taught and lived by Jesus of Nazareth, -" Love to God and Love to Man."
Recognizing the right of private judgment, and the sacredness of individual conviction, we require no assent to any other doctrinal statement as a basis of Christian fellowship, but we welcome all who desire to co-operate with us in advancing the Kingdom of God."
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-MICHIGAN CITY.
In the year 1835, Rev. John Morrill, of Massachusetts. who had been a short time at La Porte, came to Michigan City : and through his efforts a Congregational church was organized. Among others who were present at the organization, there were Rev. John Mor- rill and his wife, Mrs. Benjamin James, Jacob and Mrs. Bigelow. Mrs. Susan Sprague, Robert Stewart, and Joel Ferris. After the departure of Mr. Morrill, Reverends South, Chase and Townsend, preached for the infant society. The records of the church are very imperfect, but it seems that in February, 1840, a majority of the members preferred a Presbyterian form of government. A change was accordingly made from Congregational to Presbyterian, and the denomination was attached to the Logansport Presbytery. But the Congregational sentiment was still strong, and in October, 1841, the former action was reversed. On the 23rd of September, at their own request, the Presbyterian church of Michigan City was dropped from the rolls of the presbytery. On the 5th of Octo- ber, a meeting was held at which Willys Peck was called to the chair and S. H. Turner appointed Secretary ; and a resolution was adopted changing the form of government to the Congregational, and re-adopting the name by which the organization was first known, that of "First Congregational Church of Michigan City." It is probable that Rev. James Towner was at this time the pastor, but ceased to be, either at the change of name or shortly after; and Rev. Elnathan Davis supplied the pulpit. Mr. Towner died on the 2d day of March, 1844, at Michigan City.
In 1842, Rev. John M. Williams preached to the congregation
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as "stated supply," and continued his labors with them until some- time in the year 1844. A call was then extended to Rev. Erastus Colton, of Peoria, Ill., which he accepted, and was installed Novem- ber 20th. At this time Willys Peck, John Bond and Joshua R. Shedd, were deacons.
During the pastorate of Mr. Colton, in September, 1847, an in- cident occurred which is worthy of mention, as illustrating the cautious watchfulness of the church in the matter of domestic mor- als. A widow lady, Tabitha Stone was a member of the church, and in course of time married a Mr. Swenck. From some cause the marriage was not a happy one. She procured a divorce, and not long afterwards was married to a Mr. Hughes. A charge was promptly brought against her in the church, that she had violated Christian duty. It was brought in due form before the proper authority, and a hearing was had, when it was decided that " though she (Mrs. Hughes,) pleads civil custom and the practice of church members in self-justification, and asserts her ignorance of the bind- ing force of the divorce law given by our Savior in the Gospel as recorded by Matthew, and deems her act right, after reflection and prayer, yet in the opinion of this church, she erred in not delaying her acts of divorce and remarriage until she could inquire and come to a correct judgement. Her fault, however, not bearing evidence of wilfulness, but, it would seem, being a sin of ignorance, she is hereby admonished to sin no more, in a like act." It is plain that the church did not wish the uxorious sister to fall into a habit of divorce and remarriage, or that the example she had given, should be followed by others.
It will be seen that the Congregational church is one of the old- est in the county, and it is the only one of that denomination. It has enjoyed a fair degree of successful work, and has been presided over by some able pastors. Among others whose ministrations it has shared in later years, are Rev. Edward Anderson, who became Colonel of the Twelfth cavalry in 1864; Rev. Mr. Taylor, and the present pastor Rev. Mr. Kent.
Some other church organizations have existed in the county; but, destitute of church edifices, their church services have not been regular, and some of them at least have now no existence. Among
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
these was a Wesleyan Methodist society, which maintained regular services for a time, and also the United Presbyterian organization, which, under the pastoral charge of an excellent man. Rev. Mr. Clark, enjoyed a period of prosperity. The organization has long ceased to have regular services.
CHAPTER XXVI.
INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES.
The progress of thought as directed toward discovery and inven- tion has had its full share of developement in La Porte county. Some of its most important achievements will be noted in this chapter.
In 1848, Jacob J. Mann, who was carrying on a country wagon and blacksmith shop and his son, Henry F. Mann, who had learned the wagon maker's trade with his father, -invented a harvesting machine which cut the grain with a scolloped edge sickle, and by a double series of toothed bands; one series running on a level with the cutting apparatus and the other series running up an inclined plane, carried the cut grain up the inclined plane and deposited it into a rotating receptacle where the sheaf was collected, and thrown upon the ground in suitable condition for binding. Machines were made in 1848, and an application made for a patent which was issued to Jacob J. Mann and Henry F. Mann, June 19, 1849. In 1849, ten of the machines were made and put into operation in the harvest of that year, but on account of some defects it was found necessary to make further improvements in order to make a practi- cally successful harvester. This occupied the minds of the invent- ors until 1853, when they made another machine embracing such improvements by filing a caveat in 1853, followed by an application for a patent in 1855, and the issue of the second patent to J. J. & H. F. Mann, June 3, 1856. The improved machine was exhibited at the Indiana State Fair held at La Fayette in 1853, and was looked upon with so much favor by the farmers and examining com- mittee that it was awarded the first premium in competition with the popular machines of that day.
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INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES.
As is usually the case with inventors of valuable improvements there were many difficulties encountered by the Manns, inventors and patentees, but notwithstanding, they succeeded in building a considerable number of their machines for each harvest, and also in having some built by other parties, John D. Stewart, of La Porte, having built some, so that there have been made and used in the harvest field from 1,500 to 2,000 of the "J. J. Mann & Sons" reapers. This machine was put in competition with others at Fairs on many a hotly contested field trial, and almost universally came off with the highest honors. In many instances farmers have cut from sixteen to twenty acres of wheat in a day with one of them.
Jacob J. Mann died in the early part of 1868 at Westville, Ind. II. F. Mann now resides in Pittsburgh, Pa., and as he has not abandoned his idea of improving agricultural machinery, is now engaged in developing a combined two wheeled mower and harvester, upon which the binders ride and bind.
In 1861, H. F. Mann, then living in La Porte, Ind., invented and obtained a patent for improvement in breech loading cannon. He then proceeded to Washington to secure the adoption of his invention by the government, and in 1862, presented to the consider- ation of the goverment officers a 3 in. cast steel breech loading rifled field piece, which was tested under the direction of the late Admiral Dahlgren to the extent of five hundred rounds, upon the result of which he obtained an order for an eight inch rifle gun which was completed at Trenton, N. J., in September, 1863, and was fired ten proof rounds in October of that year. It was then removed to Washington and thence to Fortress Monroe, when it was fired twenty rounds in 1864, and in 1867 was again successfully tested under the direction of the late Gen. Rodman, chief ordnance con- structor of the government. In the early part of 1874 at the ear- nest solicitation of Mr. Mann, the gun was removed from Fortress Monroe to the West Point foundry where it was bored up to eight and four-tenths inches and rifled, after which it was taken to the govern- ment proving grounds at Sandy Hook, N. Y. Harbor, where it has been tested under direction of a board of Ordnance officers with very satisfactory results, using twenty-five to thirty-five pounds of pow-
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der and one hundred and seventy pound conical projectiles. The results obtained at this last firing compare very favorably with results obtained in this country and in Europe with government guns of the best standards. Mr. Mann is confident, and he has reason to be, that this gun will yet stand in the front rank in the armament of the fortifications of this country.
Brooks' Turbine water wheel was invented in 1854. Improve- ments were from time to time made in it by E. B. Brooks and his brothers, and in 1871, M. A. Brooks took out a patent for an im- proved water wheel. The first one was made in La Porte by Brooks and Husselman. These wheels are now manufactured at the ma- chine works of J. N. Brooks, and they have been very extensively used in the West.
In the year 1859, George W. Miles, of Michigan City, invented a Felloe Bending machine, which is now in use in the La Porte wheel factory, has been improved by that company, and proves to be a machine of great utility. The Wheel Company are also using a machine which is very ingeniously arranged for the shaving of spokes. It is the invention of W. W. Smith, of La Porte, and was produced by him in the year 1872.
In the line of discoveries rather than inventions, there is to be noted especially the discovery of a remedy for what is called the opium habit, or the practice of eating opium, a habit which entails untold suffering on its victims. Until the year 1868, there seemed to be absolutely no remedy for this dreadful disease, if disease it may be called, and when the habit was once fixed, there was no relief but in the grave, which in most cases was soon reached. In the year 1868, a mechanic in La Porte, working at his trade, which was that of a brick-layer, discovered a remedy by which those who had fallen victims to this fearful habit might be able to save them- selves from a fate more terrible than that of the bound Prometheus.
It had been frequently declared that the disease of opium eating was incurable. High medical authority had said so. Dr. Oppen- heim pronounced it "a fatal fascination never to be broken by any wily stratagem or open force whatsoever". Dr. Pidduck had said that the opium eater "can no more break away from the habit than the paralytic imbecile can throw off his lethargy," Dr. Elliotson
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"could not find the first instance of voluntary renunciation," and Dr. Palmer, of Ontario, had never even heard "of the first instance of permanent reformation after the habit had been confirmed." There seemed absolutely nothing to open the labyrinth of woes in which these poor victims wandered, not one ray of hope to cheer the desponding sufferer.
But the time had come when this, like all other evils to which human flesh is heir, was to yield to a remedial agent of nature; and it fell upon Dr. Samuel B. Collins to pioneer the way to freedom and happiness for this wretched portion of humanity. Another hidden secret of nature was given up, this time to a humble mechan- ic; and his voice was like a star in Egyptian darkness to those who had so long waited without hope.
Dr. Collins has been practicing medicine since about 1860, and when he first made known his great remedy, it was received as most important discoveries have ever been, with incredulity and even ridicule. But there was a man in La Porte, in whom all had confi- dence, one of the first settlers of the place, a large property holder, and an eminently respectable and upright citizen. For years he had been afflicted with the opium habit, and was rapidly going down to the grave. He tried the Collins discovery, and was cured; and when he declared on oath that he took the remedy between the 18th day of July, and 13th day of December, 1868, when he found him- self absolutely and totally cured, there was no room to doubt the efficacy of the discovery. Prejudice, ridicule and incredulity all gave way before it, and the fortunes of Dr. Collins were made. Since then his course has been one of continued triumph. The fame of his remedy has gone all abroad, and is known at this time almost throughout the civilized world. As at the beginning, so still it continues to perform its work. From every quarter testimo- nials have come as to its efficacy, until a book larger than this volume might be filled with them. Almost from the home of Dr. Collins comes this :
UNION MILLS, IND., September 30th, 1872. DR. S. B. COLLINS, La Porte, Ind.,
Dear Sir :- After taking a nostrum prepared by a * * * * for the opium habit, and being made very sick there-
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by at each dose, I concluded to try your remedy, having learned that you are the sole discoverer of a painless and permanent cure for the dreadful habit of opium eating.
I am rejoiced that I did so, for after taking your remedy for about twelve months, I found myself, as I truly believe, entirely cured, and I am now comfortable without any medicine whatever.
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