USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 12
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 12
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Dr. Harvey Voyles, born in Indiana in 1840, was educated at the public schools and worked at farm labor. He attended the Salem Academy and
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also Bloomington College ( Indiana State University). In 1874 he com- menced the study of his profession in the offices of Dr. James B. Wilson, at Salem, later attending the medical department of the Louisville University, from which he graduated in 1877, immediately beginning practice at South Boston, Indiana. remained two years, then located at Trinity Springs. After three years there he came to Fayetteville, this county, where he remained in practice many years. He was a Republican and cast his first vote for Presi- dent U. S. Grant.
OTHER EARLY PHYSICIANS.
At Leesville, prior to 1880, was Dr. John C. Cavins.
At Fayetteville an early-day doctor was Dr. Henry Voyles.
At Silverville were Drs. S. D. Honnocher and J. S. Blackburn.
At Mitchell were Drs. A. J. McDonald, J. B. Larkin, G. W. Burton, E. S. McIntire, J. C. Pearson. A. L. Goodwin.
At Bono were Drs. Walter Kelso, James Montgomery, George L. Dunn, Hicks, Manuel, Hugh Montgomery, Henry Malott, E. P. Gibson, I. J. Hop- per.
At Lawrenceport were Drs. Knight. Charles A. Pearson, Maybury, Brice, Newkirk, William A. Sloss, I. D. Kulkley, Ebberley, George Hort- bin. I. N. Plummer, G. W. Durment. A. F. Berry, T. W. Bullitt and J. A. Andrews.
At Tunnelton were Drs. Hugh L. Kimberlin. William Graves, J. L. Linder, Davis, L. A. Crim, H. C. Dixon, Samuel B. Howard.
At Huron were Drs. Mccullough, David Chase, G. W. White, Springer. Rodney N. Plummer, Edward Millis, H. Gather, William Yandell.
At Bryantsville were Drs. James Wilson, I. A. Rariden, A. L. Goodwin, A. W. Bare, Laban Palmer.
At Springville were Drs. John Lyon (first). Henry Lingle ( 1835), P. G. Paugh, S. Lamb, R. G. Norvell, L. S. Spore, J. Huntington, F. W. Beard, Macey Sheldon, J. T. Woodward, W. B. Woodward, J. G. Gunn, Milton Short. James Beatty.
Dr. Voyles moved to Bedford in 1890, since which time he has been in active practice, being the present health officer of the city.
Dr. Samuel A. Rariden, who was born July 1. 1814, was a prominent physician in Bedford from the early fifties till his death, on May 29, 1897. He was also a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church many years and was a great power for good, leading many a man toward a higher and better life.
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Dr. Samuel Denson was born on August 8, 1802, and died September 18, 1888. He attended the Indiana University, but on account of the cholera scare he left that institution and finished at Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia.
Dr. John Wesley Newland was born in this county in 1827, died in October, 1909. He studied with his cousin, Dr. Benjamin Newland, of Bedford, graduated at the University of Louisville, came to Bedford in 1857, was two years at Leesville and was in active practice in Bedford till he re- tired in 1900. He was very successful in a business way. He was a popular preacher in the Christian church many years and was an elder in the First Christian church at Bedford over fifty years. He enjoyed a distinction which rarely comes to any man, having ushered one baby girl into the world, as attending physician; officiated as minister when she was married; ushered her eldest daughter into the world and performed the ceremony when she was married. His death was touching, in that immediately after he offered a fervent prayer in the First Christian church, he was stricken with apoplexy and died.
Dr. Benjamin Newland, born in this county in 1821, the son of William Newland, was for many years one of the most prominent physicians in all southern Indiana, being in 1879 president of the State Medical Society. He died April 5. 1889.
Dr. Joseph Stillson, a native of the East, located here in the forties and practiced his profession probably forty years, dying about 1878.
PRESENT PRACTICING PHYSICIANS.
In the autumn of 1913 the following, and possibly a few more, were in the practice of medicine in Lawrence county :
At Bedford-Drs. H. Voyles, J. T. Freeland, R. B. Short, J. H. Hatta- ger, J. R. Pearson, N. E. Mattox, O. B. Norman, H. K. Corey, M. Simpson, C. H. Emery, E. L. Perkins, A. J. McDonald, C. E. Rariden, E. E. Mitchell, J. B. Duncan.
At Williams-Dr. J. T. McFarlan.
At Mitchell-Drs. J. C. Kelley, J. D. Byrnes, John Gibbons, George Gibbons, W. C. Sherwood.
At Oolitic-Drs. R. B. Short, Oliver Mclaughlin, Claude Dollins, Ray. At Leesville -- Dr. S. W. Smith.
At Lawrenceport-Dr. J. A. Andrews and T. N. Bullitt.
At Tunnelton-Dr. H. J. Matlock.
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MEDICAL SOCIETIES.
Here, as in nearly every county, there have been efforts to maintain medical societies, or associations. Some have succeeded for a time and some have "died a bornin'." The first attempt at these societies was in 1853, when a famous mal-practice suit had brought a large number of physicians together, and a meeting was held and a partial organization was effected, a code of medical ethics and a fee formulated. This was short-lived, though many interesting meetings were held as the result. In 1864 a meet- ing was held at Bedford to try and revive the society whose early days had been so checkered in its career. The following physicians were at this meet- ing, and are here given, as they will show who were among the physicians of that day : Drs. John C. Cavins, W. H. Smith, Ben Newland, S. A. Rariden, J. W. Newland, Joseph Stillson, W. Burton, J. B. Larkin, Isaac Denson, John A. Blackwell, G. W. Burton, W. B. Woodward, F. W. Beard, John Burton, James Dodd, P. G. Pugh, A. W. Bare, T. P. Conley, H. C. Malott, H. L. Kimberlin, J. T. Biggs, J. J. Durand, Hiram Malott, John Gunn and several others.
This organization seems to have been postponed until 1866, at which time it was really effected, and was then conducted for several years, with much profit to the members and was still in existence in the eighties. In 1875 it became a branch of the State Medical Society. In 1883 its officers were: Drs. E. D. Laughlin, president ; E. S. McIntire, vice-president ; G. W. Burton, secretary ; S. A. Rariden, treasurer ; W. H. Smith, A. L. Berry and Hamilton Stillson, censors. The records further cannot be given, as they were unfortunately lost. The society is now in a flourishing condition and meets each month at some convenient place in the county. It has about thirty members at present, September, 1913. Its officers are: President, Dr. Rich- ard B. Short ; vice-president, Dr. John A. Gibbons ; secretary and treasurer, Dr. F. S. Hunter ; censors, Dr. Claude Dollins, Dr. J. D. Byrnes and Dr. Morrill Simpson : delegate to state society meeting. Dr. J. T. McFarlin ; alter- nate. Dr. E. E. Mitchel.
CHAPTER XII.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
That the pioneer band who first settled the wilds of Lawrence county were of a religious turn of mind and believed in rearing their sons and daughters in the way of religious teachings, is made clear to the reader of this chapter, for it will here be seen that no sooner had the pioneer set his stakes and provided a shelter for his little flock, than he set about supplying his neighborhood with rude churches and invited the itinerant preachers who chanced along this way to preach the Word to them.
Guthrie township, as now understood, has the honor of being the first to entertain a preacher in Lawrence county. Something more positive than mere tradition says that early in 1816 Armenius Milligan, a Methodist preacher, located near present Tunnelton, and there held a meeting and con- tinued to do so at his and neighboring cabins. These were no doubt the earliest religious services held within Lawrence county.
Among those who worshiped with him were the Chitties, Bakers, Becks, Guthries, Flinns, Conleys, Brittons and Barnhills. Ambrose Carlton landed December 24th on Guthrie creek from North Carolina. But he had a merry Christmas with his neighbors the next day, and talked religion from the start. His little log house used to stand on the hill by Carlton's graveyard, and here he constituted a Baptist church in the first year of his sojourn. Soon he built a large brick residence, in which was a very large room, with unusual high ceilings, and the young people of modern times would say, "What a glorious place to dance." But this place was known as the Carlton home, and this room was designed for religious services, once each month, at most.
METHODIST CHURCHES OF THE COUNTY.
Among the first, if indeed not the first, Methodist societies formed in this county was that in Indian Creek township, before the first Shiloh church was erected. Several families by the name of Garten had immigrated from Kentucky, all of whom were of this religious faith. Richard Browning was a Methodist "circuit rider" in old Kentucky and became a local preacher
(9)
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at Shiloh. In 1821 a small log church was built on Mr. Pitman's place and it was named Shiloh church. It was three miles to the east of Fayetteville. Rev. Browning served as pastor eight years, when he was drowned. At one time Bishop Roberts preached on this charge. In 1840 a large frame church was built and was still in use. The Presbyterians also used this building for services some years.
The Springville Methodist Episcopal church was formed about 1822 or 1823. It was at the old pioneer Athons school house, where meetings were held; Josiah Athons gathered a small company and held services there. The first preacher was John May. In 1838 a new church was provided through the efforts of the minister, James Williams, and his good wife. The building stood in town at Springville, and it was a neat, solid brick building, placed on land donated by Mr. Athons. It was destroyed by fire in 1868, but in 1874 another was erected and in 1884 the society numbered seventy.
The Bedford Methodist Episcopal church dates back to 1826, when a band of Methodist people organized themselves into a class. Among the first members were such honored names as George McKnight, and wife, Mrs. Joseph Rawlins, Mrs. Joseph Glover, Ellen Peters, Mrs. Campbell and daugh- ters, Alexander Butler and wife and Robert Dougherty and wife, with a score more others. The first minister, Rev. Edmond Ray, was a remarkable man. Also another preacher here was none less than Bishop Roberts, so well known in the Indiana conference. The first presiding elder (district superintendent now) was John Armstrong. In September, 1835, land was bought of John J. Barnett, on which a large building was erected. Later it was used by the Roman Catholic denomination, and stood on the corner of High and Culbertson streets. It served the Methodists thirty-five years. Its bell was the first that ever sounded out to churchgoers in Bedford. About 1870 the society purchased the Old-School Presbyterian church building, which was used until 1899, when the present church was erected. In 1884 the church had a membership of one hundred and twenty-five and was out of debt. In 1899 the present magnificent edifice was erected at a cost of thirty- five thousand dollars. In a few years the parsonage was added and an annex, connecting all three buildings, all constructed of Bedford stone. The entire property was valued in 1913 at fifty-six thousand dollars. The present membership of this church is one thousand thirty-six.
The Methodist church at Lawrenceport originated from the little colony of settlers that accompanied Mr. Lawrence from Maryland. Among these were Alonzo Taylor, Stuart Moore, Joseph Moore, Dr. Samuel K. Knight, Charles and John Reed. Many returned to Maryland, but not until a church
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had been planted. Almost the first buildings erected were a school and church house in 1837. To them came Bishop Roberts. In 1885 this society had sixty members, but no regular church building.
The Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal church was formed by the Craigs, Hacklers and others about 1847, and that year they built a church. It was, of course, of logs and was situated near the later Hackley residence, and it had open windows for lack of glass. The first preacher in charge was Rev .. James McCann. The church served ten years and was then burned, but was rebuilt in 1865 ; however, being too small, a larger house was erected two years later. Bishop Simpson dedicated this church. Thirty constituted its membership in 1885.
From an accurate account of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mitchell, published in the Commercial in 1874, the following is learned :
In a grove near where the church later stood, the first class was formed in the somber days of the autumn of 1856. Thirteen united in this effort, and a few weeks later regular services were had. The first appointed minister there was Rev. F. Walker, he having been sent there by the 1858 Indiana conference. At the close of his third year he reported twenty-eight mem- bers, and a Sabbath school of thirty members. In 1860 a frame building was erected. In 1884 this church enjoyed prosperity, with a membership of about two hundred. A new church was built in 1874, at a cost of eight thousand dollars, including the lot. One member, Jacob Finger, contributed two thousand dollars towards this fine church edifice. With slight changes, this building is still serving the congregation. In 1911 a parsonage was com- menced. which, with other improvements, amounted to an outlay of three thousand dollars. The present membership of this church is three hundred and seventy-five.
There is an account of where there were Methodist meetings held at private homes as early as 1840, a mile and one-half from Mitchell.
Other churches of this denomination in the county are: The church at Heltonville, with a membership of three hundred and seventy-four, in 1912; the church at Mitchell, with two hundred and fourteen ; the church at Oolitic and Springville, with a membership of five hundred and twelve, in 1912; one at Tunnelton, with a membership of three hundred and fifty-three, in 1912. and the Bedford circuit.
THE BEDFORD GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH.
This society was organized first as a Presbyterian society, whose build- ing stood where later stood Thomas Whitted's mill. The first and only pastor
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this society ever had was Rev. Koph, who, in 1864, organized a church, but he was not acceptable to his flock, and when, in 1866, Frederick Ruff, a Methodist minister from New Albany, preached in Bedford, he won most of the members to his faith. In 1871 Philip Duher preached for these people regularly. In 1872 a small frame school house was purchased on Eastern avenue, between Mitchell and Culbertson streets, which they converted into a church. In the early eighties the membership numbered fifty-three.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The followers of Alexander Campbell, now styled "Christians," have always been a strong denomination in Lawrence county. Thirty years ago they had twenty churches, but the following are all for which statistics can now be given : Bartlettsville, 125 members; Bedford, 400; Bryantsville, 52; Christian Union, 60; Indian Creek, 32; Leatherwood, 300; Leesville, 13; Mount Pleasant, 60; Port William, 67; Popcorn, 25: Springville, 100.
Indian Creek Christian church was at first a Baptist society. In 1818 a small company of believers of this faith met at the house of Wesley Short and there an organization of a church took place. To Wesley Short and Jonathan Jones must be ascribed the honor of founding this church, the first in the township. In 1821 a building was erected; it was small and constructed of poles and had open windows. There was a large double chimney in the center, with a double fire-place fronting each end of the room. So much wood was consumed there that it was no uncommon sight to see some good brother deacon coming to church with his Bible under one arm and a sharp axe under the other. This building served until 1827, when the membership had grown to be one hundred and twenty-seven. This was all under the care of Wesley Short. It was in 1827 that the Old-School, Regular Calvinistic, Iron-side, Hardshell Baptists, all of which names were applied to them, withdrew and formed the Indian Creek Christian church. The chief leaders were the Shorts, Mayfields and Armstrongs. A new church was built that year, on Indian creek. It was made of logs, cut near by, and this served for fifteen years, and some say twenty years. In 1846 John Short and wife deeded land near Indian Creek bridge, upon which to erect a neat frame church. It was thirty-five feet square and cost one thousand five hundred dollars. From that date on the society was prosperous many years.
Leatherwood Christian church was first of that denominaiton ever estab- lished in Lawrence county. This was effected in 1830, at the house of Robert Woody, five miles east of Bedford. The first members were inclusive of
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these : William and Susan Newland, Robert and Norman Woody. Peter and Margaret Smith, Martin Smith, Benjamin Hensley and Katy Peed. Martin Smith was chosen evangelist. At the first meeting Stever Younger donated one acre of ground on which to build a church. It was a log house, twenty- five by thirty-five feet in size, furnished with slab seats. In 1840 a better building was provided, which was of brick, forty by sixty feet, costing about two thousand five hundred dollars. Later a finer edifice was erected. In 1850 the membership had reached four hundred. In 1884 it was the second largest church of the denomination in this county, and had three hundred membership.
Springville Christian church was established really through the breaking away of Wesley Short from the old Baptist church in 1830 and accepting the teachings of Alexander Campbell. In 1848 Campbell visited Mr. Short. In the eighties, a grandson of Mr. Short, Quincy Short, was pastor of this church.
The Bedford Christian church has a history reaching back as far as 1835, although its written history only goes to 1846. In 1835 Elder J. M. Mathes was induced to leave an appointment and preach at the Bedford court house. For the next eleven years many of this faith came to this locality and in May, 1846, Elders O'Kane and Jameson effected a permanent organi- zation. For a few years they met at the school house and at the Baptist church, later at the Presbyterian church, after which they provided them- selves with a church building of their own. The corner stone of their build- ing was set in 1854. The basement was partly finished and occupied in the fall of 1855. In 1853 the membership was fifty-one; in 1856 it was seventy- six ; in 1858 it was one hundred and eighteen ; in 1864 it was two hundred and fifty-two; in 1884 it had reached four hundred. Its present membership is about fourteen hundred.
The present magnificent stone edifice, near the federal building, was erected in 1900 at a cost of thirty-seven thousand dollars. It occupies lots . next to the Methodist church, the two denominations holding the whole front of the block, and their two buildings are the finest and largest within the entire county.
The New Union Christian church was the result of a division in the old Shiloh church. In a protracted meeting held by the Christians in 1867, Rev. J. M. Mathes was reminded of the terms under which the society used the building, that no sectarian sermons were to be preached. This hint was taken and the Christian people went to a school house near by and conducted the remainder of their services, and many Methodists united with them. Ground
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for church and cemetery purposes were donated by William Tannehill and a large church was built. It cost one thousand dollars and was situated about three miles to the west of Bedford.
The First Christian church of Mitchell, Indiana, was organized on May 27, 1906. Previous to this formal organization much thought had been given to the work, and many private exchanges of opinion had been made, when a few would meet after the day's business had closed. On September 3, 1905, a very important meeting was held in the Methodist church, at which meeting plans were agreed upon and never for a moment were these plans altered or forgotten. The following scripture texts were read at that meeting : "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature"; "Neglect not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is"; "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." Another very important meeting was held in the Baptist church, in February, 1906. During this meeting L. H. Stine, then of Tipton, Indiana, encouraged the people to a more determined effort. The Ladies Aid Society was organized December 18, 1905. with sixteen members. Mrs. James W. Batman was the first president, and Mrs. Wayne Gilly has the same position at present. This organization has done a wonderful work for the advance- ment of the church, having earned and collected several thousand dollars, which has been spent in the Lord's work. The church building is a cement brick veneer, erected by Ball Brothers, of Brownstown, Indiana. The seating capacity is three hundred and twenty-five. The corner stone was laid on June 8, 1907. This service was conducted by Brother Harley Jackson, of Seymour, Indiana. The building was dedicated to divine worship on Septem- ber 8, 1907, by F. M. Rains, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The total cost of building and equipment was seven thousand dollars, and all loans have been paid. They have the following evangelists and ministers to conduct special meet- ings : T. J. Legg and Mrs. Lola Calvert, H. H. Clark, Harley Jackson, Rufus Finnell and Miss F. Kimble, R. W. Abberly and William Leigh. Regular ministers have been as follows: E. S. Lewis, I. Konkle, H. J. Bennett and H. A. Wingard. Others who have visited and encouraged the society are the following : M. C. Hughes, Dr. J. W. Newland, E. Richard Edwards, Levi Batman, John Williams, Ira Batman, Amzi Atwater, Quincy Short and John WV. Marshall. The church building has been open, and the Lord's table spread every Lord's day since the building was dedicated to the Lord's work. Their purpose is to exalt the Christ, and bring men and women into His king- dom. The church was organized on May 27, 1906. by W. T. McGowan, of Indianapolis. Indiana. There were about eighty charter members, and there
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has been a steady growth, having enrolled five hundred and fifty names, with a president resident membership of three hundred and twenty-five. The present (1913) elders are J. W. Batman, W. S. Burris and John Cutsinger (non- resident). The deacons are J. H. Landreth, Howard Chitty, Ambrose Hos- tetler, A. O. Hackney, Marcus Smith, Harve Porter, Joseph Duncan. Trus- tees, J. W. Batman, Columbus Smith and Ambrose Hostetler.
PRESENT CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
In the autumn of 1913 there were the following churches of this faith within the county, and possibly a few more smaller ones: Bedford, where there is a membership of 1,513 enrolled, and property valued at $50,000. A $37,000 church was erected in 1900 and in 1913 was all paid for and the society had no debts hanging over its head.
At Mitchell the church had a membership of 325 and property valued at $8,500.
At Guthrie, 50 members, with property valued at $600.
At Popcorn, a membership of 24 and a church valued at $300.
At New Union the value of the church is only $100, and the member- ship is 55.
At Mount Union the church property is valued at $500, and the member- ship is 80.
The Bridge church, near Springville, is valued at $500, and the member- ship is 12.
The Mundell church is valued at $800, and the membership is IO1 ..
There are churches at Tunnelton, Barlettsville, the Fishing Creek church at Stonington, a work at Inhook, Heltonville, Mt. Pleasant and Bugs Chapel, near Peerless. Also a good society at Leatherwood.
Perhaps the present property of this denomination in the county is valued at about $75,000.
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.
This is a branch of the original Christian, or earlier the Campbellite church, founded by Alexander Campbell. 'It has been styled the "Anti church" on account of its people not believing in the numerous modern attachments to church society life, such as Sunday schools, with the different leagues and young people's societies, etc. Also they are opposed to the use of instru- mental music in the churches, and also to the numerous missionary societies carried on in most of the evangelical churches of Christendom. Among the
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followers in this county of this particular church are very many excellent men and women, who tie their faith, as they see it, on the teachings of Christ.
This denomination has societies at Leesville, Mitchell, Bryantsville, Fay- etteville, Oolitic and Bedford, Williams, Port William, Mount Olive, Fair- view, Pin Hook, Bartlettsville.
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