USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 13
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The Bedford church of this denomination have a building on the corner of Twelfth and K streets. It is a frame structure, erected in October, 1891, on a lot donated the society by Thomas A. Whitted.
The church society was organized May, 1891, with about twenty-five men and women of this faith. The first elders were William B. Church, William Day, William H. Boruff. The first deacons were John W. May, Elmer U. Johnson, Walter Quackenbush. Trustees were Thomas A. Whitted, William Day, William H. Boruff. The membership in the auutmn of 1913 was about three hundred.
THE BAPTIST CHURCHES OF THE COUNTY.
The Baptists date back to about 1818 in this county. The church in this county, known as Salt Creek Baptist church, was one of the first to be formed here. It was organized in October, 1821, and was a strong society. It was really constituted in 1819. The first church, which stood near the old Major Williams farm, was of logs and stood until about 1874. It was this church that split on the question of sending missionaries abroad and denounced the doctrines of Alexander Campbell. In 1835 the church had difficulty over doctrines and was divided. The church finally, in 1842, went down midst the many wrecks of dogmas and foolish creeds.
Spice Valley Baptist church was formed June 1, 1822, with Abram Mit- chell as first pastor, under whose ministry the first log church was built. In 1842 a great revival occurred and many were added to the church, seventy- five being immersed at one time. The first church was made from round poles and it had a stick-and-dirt chimney at one end. It was built in 1827 and was very low to the ceiling. A stove was first put into it in 1832. The house was burned about 1835, when it was being used as a school room. In 1837 a brick church was erected. For many years this was a strong society.
The Leesville Baptist church had its inception about 1837 three miles southeast of Leesville and was called Brown's meeting house. It was only four logs high. but so large were these logs that when hewn four of them made the walls sufficient in height for a church building. When torn down, many years later, these logs were taken to Leesville and there used for "side-walks." In 1857 the membership was removed to the village of Leesville.
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Spring Creek Baptist church is one of the oldest in the county. It com- menced its history at Springville, but in 1850 a division arose, causing a por- tion of the members to remove to Avoca. Those who remained built a neat frame church in 1878.
Guthrie Creek Baptist church was once with the White River Associa- tion, and in Jackson county at one date. It was three miles northeast of Lees- ville and was established in 1820 by John Kinkaid, John Woodmonson, Joseph Hanna and Walter Owens. It never attained any considerable strength as a church.
The Bedford Baptist church was the outgrowth of a two-weeks' revival at Bedford in 1840 by Thomas Robertson, in the old court house. He con- tinued in the Presbyterian church building a long time, and with success. In June, that year, or possibly the next, a regular organization was perfected and the membership grew rapidly. In May, 1843, land was procured by Mr. Phelps at three hundred dollars on which to build. This was carried out and the old brick church was erected, at a cost of one thousand five hundred dol- lars. The first called pastor was Rev. T. N. Robertson. In 1850 the en- rollment was one hundred and ten. Today (1913) the church has a member- ship of about six hundred. It has a beautiful church home in an edifice built of stone in 1899, which, with their parsonage, is valued at twenty-two thousand dollars. The church is on the corner of Thirteenth and M streets.
The Springville Baptist church, not now in the field, had a wonderful interesting history. It was constituted in 1825, chiefly through the influence of Samuel Owens, who then owned much of the present site of Springville village. He was one of the first ministers and members of the society whose history would be interesting, if it could be collected. Many of the members finally went elsewhere.
The Baptist church of Mitchell was organized January 30, 1864, with the following members: Rev. Simpson Burton, Carrie Burton, Allen C. Burton, Adeline Burton, John Edwards. Lucy Edwards, Rachel Pless, Mary J. Pless, Thomas Giles, Adeline Giles, Margaret Giles, Kate Owens, Mary Montanya, Ann Giles, Matilda Dodson, Sarah Blachwell, Hugh McNabb and Sarah Mc- Nabb. A brick building, costing some three thousand dollars, was erected in connection with the Mitchell Educational Society. In this building was con- ducted a school for several years, known as the Mitchell Seminary. The church grew in influence and numbers. On the 15th day of December, 1901, the building burned and on the 8th of February, 1903. a ten-thousand-dollar building was dedicated. The church was organized with a membership of nineteen, and the present membership is three hundred forty-six. The first pas-
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tor was Wright Sanders, followed by Revs. Albert Ogle, 1868; A. J. Essex, 1872; Noah Harper, 1876; W. L. Greene, 1879; G. C. Shirt, 1881; B. J. Davis, 1883; A. C. Watkins, 1887; C. M. Carter, 1888; D. M. Christy, 1891 ; I. A. Hailey. 1892: J. B. Thomas, 1894; I. M. Kimbrough, 1898; E. R. Clevenger, 1901 ; G. O. Webseer, 1905; C. L. Maryman, 1906; C. A. Sigmon, 1908; W. E. Denham, 1911 ; Charles Bebbs, 1912. The salaries have ranged from five hundred to one thousand dollars, and after the first pastorate the church has maintained all-time service.
Pleasant Grove Baptist church was formed in the sixties, when Michael Waggoner donated land upon which to build a small frame meeting house. J. Greggory was an early preacher and a faithful one, too. In 1874 the building had to be enlarged. At many of the revivals there fifty and seventy- five were brought into the church.
In the fifties there was a Missionary Baptist church formed at Helton- ville. A frame church was erected and good work continued for some time, but nothing of recent years.
The churches of this denomination in this county today are those at Bedford, Gullet Creek, Avoca, Oolitic, Mitchell, Heltonville, Fayetteville, Sil- verville, Springville, White River church, Huron, Tunnelton. These are all the Missionary Baptist churches.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
The history of this denomination dates back, in this county, to 1819. Two societies commenced work in Lawrence county during that year. The one at Bedford commenced with the history of Palestine, the original county seat town. In 1819 Isaac Reed, who was a missionary from some one of the Eastern states, entered Indiana to establish Presbyterian churches. He was a genuine Yankee and traveled in a wagon, encountering many hardships and exposures, which experience he preserved in a book of his own writing. He preached in the temporary court house at old Palestine and there organized a small church society, of which Samuel Henderson and Philip Ikerd were eld- ers. The first members were S. Henderson and family, P. Ikerd and family, William Crawford and family and William Barnhill. Rev. Reed continued to preach there until 1825, when the county seat was removed to Bedford. W. W. Martin, father of C. B. H. Martin, D. D., also preached and was the pastor for a time. The church at Palestine, however, did not remove its headquarters until 1831. On May 7th of that year, Isaac Reed called the church members together, and it appears of record that the first membership
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to organize at Bedford were William Crawford, Samuel Henderson and Philip Ikerd, elders, and Lawrence Ikerd, Christian Ikerd, Philip and Susana Ikerd, Jonathan Henderson, Jane Henderson, Samuel and Rhoda Henderson, William and Jane Crawford, Sarah McClelland, Sally Ikerd, James and Sarah Wilson, Robert and Margaret Robinson, Alexander and Rebecca Mckinney, and Henry Lowrey. The majority of these persons resided to the east of Bedford. Meetings were at first held at the court house and at the homes of the membership. About 1840 a peculiar shaped brick house was erected where later the Presbyterians erected their permanent church. It was built by Jonathan Jones, and it was used until 1868, when a small brick church was built. The last named was erected by Thomas Stephens, at a cost of seven thousand dollars, and was considered a fine building at that date. It stood on the corner of Lincoln and Sycamore streets. In 1848 the church was divided into the Old and New-School factions. The Old School, being in the minority, withdrew, leaving the New School in possession of the church property. For their use the Old School, in 1850, built a large brick church where later the Methodist church stood, on the corner of Church and Locust streets. It was arranged for both school and church purposes, with a double flight of stairs on the east end, outside. The lower story was divided into several rooms for school purposes. When the Old and New Schools united in 1859, the first building was the one occupied by the church thus formed. The Old School building became the property of the Independent church, but in 1866 it was purchased by the Methodists and by them remodeled for their church home, and was in use in the eighties. The Presbyterian church had a membership in 1884 of about eighty.
Today it has a membership of three hundred. The church edifice was rebuilt in 1901, the old church being used in the rebuilding. This society is said to be the strongest in this presbytery.
Beno Presbyterian church was formed in 1819 by Isaac Reed, the same minister who formed the church at Palestine. The first elders were David and William Green, Robert Kelso, Jonathan Huston and John Milroy. When the school house was erected at Beno in 1823, it was also used for church purposes, but early in the thirties a church house was built near the farm of David Green. Here this society met until 1845, when, moving their mem- bership to Lawrenceport, they met in a school house and church building com- bined in one. In 1850 the Lawrenceport Presbyterian church was erected, and there two presbyteries were held, 1850 and 1852. By 1880 the membership was scattered and the Methodists held services in the old building.
Bethlehem Presbyterian church was really a branch from the Bedford
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church. and it was located in the Crawford settlement about 1840. Three years later land was donated by William Crawford for church and grave- yard purposes. The society went down before the Civil war period.
The Mitchell Presbyterian church, as seen by a descriptive article from the pen of Thomas A. Steele, began with the organization of the Presbyter- ian church at Woodville, two miles north of Mitchell. January 24, 1855. First services were held in the school house at Woodville and continued there up to 1860. At this date the society was moved to Mitchell, where a small frame church was erected and used for ten years. In 1870 it was moved to another part of town, and a large brick edifice erected, largely the work and influence of Silas Moore and wife, Mary E. Moore. It was a two-story build- ing and in 1875 a high steeple was added, in which a town clock was placed. The first minister was Rev. John A. Tiffany, from 1855 to 1858. The same old two-story building of 1870 is still in use, with alterations and improve- ments. January 16, 1886, the auditorium of the church having been furnished, it was formally dedicated free of all debt and has served as a place of worship ever since.
The following have served as pastors, beginning with 1883: Revs. S. J. McKee, November. 1883. to November. 1884; J. H. Reed, May, 1885, to April. 1887; W. B. Harris, October, 1887, to April, 1891 ; H. J. Van Dyne, October, 1891, to October, 1896; W. C. Hall. December, 1896, to May, 1898; George W. Applegate, May, 1898, to May, 1900; H. C. Johnson, July, 1900, to August, 1904; E. O. Sutherland, July, 1905. to July, 1907 : S. M. Morton, D. D., October, 1907. to October, 1912; A. F. Davis, July 1, 1913, and is the present pastor.
The various organizations of the church are now in a flourishing condi- tion. The Sunday school is not the largest in town, but fully as vigorous as any in Mitchell. In 1906 this school established a rest station in Korea, for missionaries in the field. Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary societies are well cared for by the ladies of the local church. The present officers of this church are: Elders, W. M. James. W. E. Stipp, W. F. Logle, W. G. Old- ham: superintendent of Sunday school, W. G. Oldham. The faithful deacons of the church are A. C. Ramage, Calvin Faris, W. H. Weitknech, Albert McBride. George James.
OLD UNION CHURCH.
The second church in Indian Creek township was known as White River Union, in later years as the "Old Union Church." It was situated a mile
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south of the village of Fayetteville. The leader in this community was Abraham Kern, an earnest, aggressive, original, ideal church worker. To the first settlers he was truly an "Abraham of old," teaching what he believed to be only God's word and will, and really he walked with God! He taught the Dunkard faith. In September. 1821, they organized a regular Dunkard church, with charter members as follows: Abraham Kern and wife, William Kern and wife, David Sears and wife, David Ribelin, Jane Anderson and Daniel Oaks. Generally, they held meetings in the grove near their homes. In 1823 a small log church was built, which stood near where later they built a commodious church house. In 1843 they built a brick church, well lighted and ventilated, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars.
THE SALVATION ARMY.
At Bedford the work of the Salvation Army was commenced in October, 1909. The work was opened by Captain O. A. Schnarr and Ensign Ira Muncelle. In September, 1913, the company had a membership of forty-four soldiers and the original captain was in charge of the work. A temporary barracks was leased on East Sixteenth street, but plans are being matured by which a building will be erected for headquarters.
PENTICOSTAL CHURCH.
This religious society has been in existence in Bedford since about 1893, and has had a church building since 1896, at No. 941 North I street. Their membership now consists of about thirty faithful men and women. They aim to follow Christ's teachings and are "antisecret society" in their belief and creed. At one time they held meetings in tents hereabouts. For eighteen years they have held street meetings near the public square, each evening, when the elements would permit.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Although there were some Catholics in Lawrence county as early as 1835, regular mass was not held until the year 1850. Through the efforts of Dr. Benjamin Newland, the court house was first used to hold the celebration of mass, which was conducted by Rev. Patrick Murphy, of St. Mary's, Martin county, in June, 1851. He visited them after that date until 1859, when Rev. Louis Neyron also visited the town. From 1860 until 1864 Rev. Joseph
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O'Reilly took charge, and during that time mass was either said in private homes or in J. Francis's hall. The congregation then numbered about twenty- five families.
With the arrival of Rev. Philip Doyle, the next visiting pastor, came also the idea of building a new church. Every preparation was made, and work started, the corner stone being laid in 1866. A Methodist church next door was the cause of a cessation of building, but in the midst of the predica- ment Father Doyle departed, and Rev. Charles Mougin, of Crawfordsville, Montgomery county, began to attend. Under him the trouble was settled by the Catholics buying the old Methodist church, and converting it into a Catho- lic church. Rev. Mougin left in 1867.
Rev. Julius Clement, of Greencastle, now made one visit. From 1868, when Rev. Henry H. Kessing became pastor at Bloomington, he regularly attended Bedford until July, 1877, visiting the place once each month. His successor at Bloomington, Rev. Leopold M. Burkhardt, from July, 1877, until March, 1879, attended twice each month. After March, 1879, Rev. John B. Unverzagt had charge, and visited St. Vincent's church on alternate Sundays, during which time many improvements were made on the church property. In 1879 Rt. Rev. Francis S. Chatard, D. D., visited Bedford and administered confirmation. Rev. Unverzagt was succeeded by Rev. T. X. Logan.
On June 15, 1885, Rev. W. H. Bogemann, of Bloomington, began to at- tend Bedford on alternate Sundays, and he continued until the advent of Rev. Theodore J. Mattingly, the first resident pastor, on October 30, 1902. During his time of attendance, Father Bogemann constructed the present Catholic church, a magnificent structure of Bedford limestone, and costing $21,191.60. The church was built in the year 1893, and was dedicated on July 29, 1894, although it had been used for services since March 1Ith of that year.
During his residence in Bedford, Father Mattingly succeeded in paying off all the debts incurred by the church, and also made improvements on the old rectory. He stayed here until the month of November, 1904. From this date until July, 1905, Father Bogemann visited again, holding services each Sunday in both Bedford and Bloomington.
Rev. G. J. Lannert took charge of Bedford on July 14. 1905, and since then has made many improvements.
Rev. Michael T. Shea arrived in Bedford in August, 1913, for the pur- . pose of caring for the Italians in the limestone quarry districts. The work in these localities is pioneer effort, the benefits having to be built from the very beginning.
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At Mitchell, this county, a Roman Catholic church was erected in 1871, due to the efforts of a few zealous Catholics who had previously held mass at the homes of the faithful, and in Johnson's hall, Main street. Being solicitous for the welfare of their children, the small congregation, fewer than a dozen families, set to work to raise funds for a church building. The trustees were John C. Donnell, William Boland, M. C. Keane and William Gorman. It seemed a great task for so few members, but by soliciting funds between Washington and Seymour, Indiana, also by contributions from people of all denominations at home, they were able to erect the present structure at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. The lot was donated by Col. John Sheeks, a Protestant. Since that time the church has been enlarged and other- wise improved, and a substantial rectory has been erected at a cost of four thousand dollars. The present priest in charge is Father J. L. Bolin. The church property is now worth about ten thousand dollars; the congregation has a membership of two hundred souls, and the society is in a flourishing condition.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Members of the Episcopal church have never been very numerous in Lawrence county until in recent years, since which time a number have settled in and near Bedford, being drawn hither largely by the stone industry, where many English and Welsh people have found employment. St. John's mission, at Bedford, now in charge of Rev. William Crossman Otte, has come to be a flourishing parish. In many ways a remarkable growth has attended the faithful ministrations of this most excellent rector, whose life is wrapped up in his church work and extension policies. In the late sixties Bishop Talbot visited Bedford, then a small town of little importance. During one of the good Bishop's visits here he baptized two children and confirmed one adult. In 1871 Rev. John L. Gay visited the place with a view of renewing the work and hoped to establish a parish. Services were occasionally held in halls and in the Presbyterian church, but lack of encouragement and support caused the work to fall again. In 1894 the Rev. Lawrence F. Cole, in the course of his missionary wake, paid, as an archdeacon, frequent visits to Bedford, holding services at private houses, and in February baptized two children. There were not to exceed six communicants in the town at that date. Later, the Rev. William F. Cook, archdeacon, resumed services in private houses and in May, 1900, presented the Bishop with a class of two for confirmation. This gentleman unfortunately had to leave the field, and noth- ing more was done until the Rev. Gilbert M. Foxwell, rector of the Bloom-
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ington, Indiana, church, took up the work, devoting a part of his time here and a part at Bloomington. After he was sent elsewhere the work lagged again. The next move was when Archdeacon Walton took the field in charge in about 1902, when he found only eight communicants, but, full of true zeal, he steadily pressed his claims to organization. A lot was donated by two ladies and, aided by a few worthy men, a building was projected, and the corner stone of the present handsome chapel, St. James's church, was laid November 12, 1905, by Bishop Francis. The building was completed in June, 1906. In May, of that year, at the annual meeting of the diocesan council, the Bedford mission was received and recognized as St. John's church.
In August, 1905, Rev. William Crossman Otte was wisely selected to take charge of this mission. Under his excellent management and rare leader- ship, appointed services have been maintained ever since. A Sunday school was organized, and St. John's Guild is another active organization of faithful women. There are also other church societies, all of which have had their useful place in building up the church.
The church edifice, which is only one-third builded, but complete so far as it has gone, will be cruciform in shape and one hundred and six feet long when completed. Its width is forty-three feet in the transept. It is purely Gothic in style of architecture, and built of the famous Bedford stone. The membership in September, 1913, was one hundred and fifty communicants.
In addition to the handsome beginning toward a fine edifice, the society has the supreme enjoyment of possessing one of the finest Bedford stone rectory buildings in this section of the country. It was erected as a memorial to Miss Jane Crossman Otte, deceased daughter of the pastor, Rev. William Crossman Otte, who passed to the better world on August 18, 1908, dearly beloved by all who knew of her womanly virtues and rare goodness in every act of her life-charitable and faithful to all classes. With the coming and going of the future decades, this handsome two-story residence, just to the north of the church, facing M street, will stand as a lasting monument to one whose pure life and noble deeds have indeed made the world better by her having lived and labored for the uplift of her race. This building was built by both church members of all denominations and the outsiders, all taking pride in aiding toward its construction. It was dedicated on St. Peter's day, 1909.
CHAPTER XIII.
FRATERNAL AND SECRET SOCIETIES.
In almost every locality in the civilized world may be found one or more subordinate lodges of the three greatest civic fraternities-Free and Accepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. In many communities all three are well represented, as is the case in Lawrence county, Indiana. It will not be the object here to go into a detailed history of such lodges in this connection, but to give a general description of where and by whom these societies were established.
The first secret organization formed in Lawrence county was the Ma- sonic lodge at Bedford, in June, 1851, upon petition of R. R. Bryant, J. B. Buskirk, M. W. Houston. John Daggy, W. M. Leach, A. N. Wilder, Benjamin Newland, John P. Fisher, James W. Pro, James M. Warren, S. A. Raridon and William Malott. The grand lodge of the state granted them a charter, to work as a Free and Accepted Masonic lodge, known as Bedford Lodge No. 14, the first worshipful master being J. B. Buskirk.
Bedford Lodge No. 14 has a present membership of three hundred and fifty. The officers are as follows: Louis Roberts, worshipful master ; Wal- ter A. Pitman, senior warden: John MacMillan, junior warden; Herman E. McCormick, treasurer ; McHenry Owen, secretary ; Paul S. Higman, senior deacon ; John Maddox, junior deacon; Claude J. Black, steward; Robert G. McWhirter, steward; John W. Findley, chaplain: William B. Reeve, tyler ; Allen Conner, L. Berry Emery and Sherman L. Keach, trustees. The lodge meets on the second and fourth Saturdays at their hall at No. 1011 Fifteenth street.
Hacker Chapter No. 34, Royal Arch Masons, has a membership of two hundred. The officers are : Charles H. Strupe, high priest ; Walter J. Bailey, king; Raymond H. Williams, scribe ; Joseph R. Voris, treasurer ; McHenry Owen, secretary; Jasper H. Wyman, captain of the host ; Frederick F. Storer, principal sojourner ; Fred N. Strout. Royal Arch captain ; Julian Calonge, grand master of the third veil : John MacMillan, grand master of the second veil; Herman E. McCormick, grand master of the first veil : James B. Wilder, guard.
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