USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 28
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 28
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JOHN M. COULTER.
This was the eighth president for Indiana University. He only served a short time and resigned in 1893, having been made president of Lake Forest University.
DR. JOSEPH SWAIN.
Doctor Swain was the ninth to hold the presidency of Indiana University. He commenced his work in 1893 and served until in 1902, to go to Swarth- more College, of the Society of the Friends, in Pennsylvania.
DR. WILLIAM LOWE BRYAN, PH. D., LL. D.
Doctor Bryan, the present and tenth president of Indiana University, commenced his work where Doctor Swain left off, and his record is too well known to be enlarged upon here, in this particular connection. Under his wise administration the university is coming fast to the front as one of the nation's great educational institutions.
CHAPTER X.
NEWSPAPER HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
In the publication of a newspaper, as well as in all other branches of in- dustry, there must of necessity be a first one, and here in Monroe county it is conceded that Jesse Brandon, an ex-state printer, established the first news- paper, at Bloomington about 1826. It was styled the Bloomington Repub- lican, although its name was forty years in advance of the birth of the Repub- lican party, as now understood in American politics. Mr. Brandon came over- land from Corydon with his material and soon took in as a partner Jacob B. Lowe. There is no file of this pioneer paper extant now, but it is known from various historical events that it only survived until about 1829. Either Janu- ary 1, 1829, or January 1, 1830, appeared the first number of a small sheet, known as the Independent Whig. It was a five-column paper and its price per year was two dollars; its motto was "Measures, Not Men." In 1831 this newspaper went defunct. Indeed many have gone the same way in this county, for in Bloomington alone there have been no less than thirty-five newspaper ventures. W. D. McCollough & Company were the proprietors of the Independent Whig.
September 15, 1832, Jesse Brandon and Marcus L. Deal issued the first number of the Far WN'est, an exponent of the Whig faith. "Willing to praise, but not afraid to blame," was this paper's motto. D. R. Eckles was its pub- lisher, and its life was about two years. During the summer of 1832. Dr. Deal began the publication of the Literary Register, devoted to the special interests of Indiana College, but upon the Far West springing up, this publica- tion ceased to be issued. Subsequently, Mr. Deal issued the Bloomington Post, another Whig organ. This was conducted for about nine years, and had a subscription rate of two dollars a year or three dollars if not paid in advance. Ben Franklin was another paper started by Jesse Brandon, who seemed to be a genuine "starter" of papers! The Herald was a Whig paper established late in the forties by C. Davidson. At the same time J. S. Hester conducted an opposition paper at Bloomington. The Christian Record was a religious publication by Elder James M. Matthes. This was a monthly in the interests of the Christian Church. He also conducted the Independent
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Tribune and Monroe Farmer. C. G. Berry and Mr. Brandon were also con- nected with this paper.
The Northwestern Gasette was established in 1852, by James Hughes, and continued for a year and a half. In 1853 Eli P. Farmer and Jesse Brandon published the Religious Times, later known as the Western Times. In 1854 J. F. Walker and L. M. Demotte purchased the Times office and began publishing the Bloomington Times. This was the first real organ of the newly organized Republican party in Monroe county. Later, this plant was removed to Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1854 A. B. and J. C. Carlton founded the Bloomington News Let- ter, a Democratic organ. Howard Coe bought this paper in 1856 and com- menced to issue a seven-column paper, called the Bloomington Republican. Again the paper changed hands, and Clement Walker and W. S. Bush as- sumed control in 1858. Subsequently, Bush severed his connection and J. F. Walker became a working partner. During the years of the Civil war, and just after that conflict, this paper had a very large, profitable circula- tion. While the Republican was in existence many attempts were made to found successful Democratic papers, but without avail, such attempts proving but loss and disappointment to their owners.
In 1867 William A. Gabe began the publication of the Republican, and later changed the name to the Republican Progress, and it existed until in the nineties. In 1868, the Bloomington Democrat was founded by Thomas C. Pursel and continued for some time. He also published the Indiana Student, devoted to university interests and local news of the day.
In August, 1875, the Democrat office was sold to O. G. Hunt and J. V. Cook, who began the publication of the Bloomington Times, a Republican organ, and two months later H. J. Feltus established the Bloomington Courier, a paper still published in connection with the World, and now (1913) owned by Oscar Cravens.
In April, 1877, Walter S. Bradfute began the publication of the Bloomington Telephone, probably the first paper bearing this name, as it was about that date that the electric telephone was discovered and put in practical use. The first issue of the Telephone was about the size of a note- sheet of paper, and was full of choice, spicy local items. The Telephone office was burned in 1910, and its files and materials generally destroyed. but, Phoenix-like, it arose from the ashes and built new quarters, which building is among the handsomest in all Indiana for a newspaper publication.
Before passing to other newspaper history, let it be stated that when
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the Telephone was first established Mr. Bradfute had associated with him a young man named Arnott, but in November of the same year the publica- tion was launched, the latter left the office, after which Mr. Bradfute con- tinued alone. In 1878 the weekly was enlarged, the first time; in 1880 again, and still another enlargement in January, 1883, when it took on the form of a six-column quarto. In 1892 the Daily Telephone was started, and is now an eight-column folio, printed on a Babcock power press. It is in every way an up-to-date paper and has the good will of the community.
The newspaper publications of Bloomington in 1913 are the World- Courier, the Telephone and the Star, a weekly, with a university paper styled the Daily Student. The World-Courier, since combined, is a semi-weekly, while the Il'orld is a daily, as well as the Telephone.
James Marlin conducted a Greenback organ, The True Plan, in 1878, when the doctrine of greenback money was rife in the nation. A few months in 1880 the Bloomington Hawkeye was published; it was a Democratic paper. John East also conducted a small political organ in the campaign of 1 880.
OTHER COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
Up to 1883-84 the only other place in Monroe county where a newspaper had been established was at the enterprising town of Ellettsville, where in 1872, or possibly a year later, Howard L. Morris, editor, and S. B. Harris, proprietor, issued the first number of the Ellettsville Republican, which after two issues passed into the hands of Mr. Harris. At the end of two issues more Harris employed John Walker to edit the paper, which had a life of about six months, after which Harris assumed control for about two years, then leased his office to Charles McPheetridge, who sold to William B. and S. B. Harris. After W. B. Harris had continued a while he moved the office to Spencer, and a year later came back and was still at the helm in 1884. While he was absent, a Mr. Hyatt issued a publication styled the Graphic. S. E. Harris also issued the News for a time. The first paper was the Republican, the second the Sun, the third the People, the fourth the Graphic, the fifth the News, and the sixth the Monroe County Citiseu. The present paper of the town is the Farm and Real Estate, a seven-column folio, with a subscription rate of fifty cents per year. It is printed on a power press by gasoline power. It was established in 1881, succeeding the Elletts- ville Republican, established in 1872. It is published by B. H. Harris and is, politically, a Republican newspaper. To go more into details concerning
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the founding and publishing of these Ellettsville newspapers, it will be well to state that in July, 1872, S. B. Harris bought a printing plant which had been shipped in by a local stock company. The "company" failed to put up the cash, and Mr. Harris advanced the money. The first few issues were gotten out by Howard Morris, the promoter of the stock company, after which Mr. Harris hired John F. Walker, one of the oldest printers in the county, who had charge till the following December, when W. B. Harris took charge, and with the exception of a year at Cloverdale and two years at Spencer, has been in charge ever since. Besides this publication Mr. Harris, between 1891 and 1905, established throughout Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky, one hundred and thirty-five newspapers, the printing being done at the plant in Ellettsville. In December, 1905, the W. B. Harris & Sons Company was capitalized at twenty-five thousand dollars for the purpose of publishing a youth's magazine, Our Boys and Girls, W. B. Har- ris, editor, which was the first publication in the United States to give Shet- land ponies away as premiums. This publication attained a circulation of thirty-five thousand, and was later absorbed by the Star Monthly, of Chi- cago. The Saturday Evening Post later took up the plan of giving Shetland ponies as premiums, after first getting pointers from the Ellettsville editor and publisher.
Another Monroe county paper is the Smithville News, an independent paper established at Smithville on July 31, 1908, by R. B. Carter.
CHAPTER XI.
CHURCHES AND FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.
The religious sentiment has always been well represented in Monroe county, according to statistics gathered at various dates. In 1861, the first year of the Civil war, the Ministerial Association of Bloomington had pre- pared a table showing the standing of the various churches at that date, which may be of interest now :
The Old School Presbyterians had sittings for 350; average congrega- tion, 200; members, 105.
The New School Presbyterians had sittings for 225; average congre- gation, 150; members, 83.
The United Presbyterians had sittings for 300; average congregation, 100; members, 60. (This was Professor Wylie's church.)
The United Presbyterians, under Mr. Turner, had sittings for 500; average congregation, 250; members, 225.
Methodist Episcopal, sittings, 500; average congregation, 300; mem- bers, 230.
The Baptists had sittings for 250; membership, 40.
The Christian church had sittings for 400; average congregation, 200; members, 175.
This gave a total of all sittings, 2,525; average congregation, 1,200; total membership, 916. Bloomington then had only 2,200 population.
THE METHODIST DENOMINATION.
This denomination, with the Presbyterians and Baptists, were pioneers in this county. They all established church homes about the same time and very soon after the county was organized.
At Bloomington, the Methodists occupied the field in 1820, by organiza- tion of a class, and six years later erected their first church. Among the early members were Joshua O. Howe and wife, Daniel Rawlins and wife, Benjamin Freeland and wife, Samuel Hardesty and wife, Ebenezer Shep- ard and wife, Mrs. Wright, Jonathan Legg and wife, Naomi Otwell and family, James H. King and wife, Abraham Pauly and others.
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The first church building cost six hundred dollars and Elias Abel wheeled mortar for it and the Wrights did the brick work. It was sold in the forties to the Baptists, and in the sixties to the Catholic people. The Methodists erected a new house of worship in 1846, when Rev. Owen was pastor. It was the custom to have a door-keeper, and in place of a bell to call the congregation together, a large tin horn was used. In 1873 another more modern and much larger edifice was built on College street, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars, which served until the completion of the present magnificent stone edifice, surmounted with a double-cross, which at night time is kept illuminated by electricity, the expense being provided for by a prominent member, now deceased. The cost of the present building was about one hundred thousand dollars, and it was finished in 1909, and stands on the corner of Washington and Fourth streets. The present member- ship of the church is one thousand two hundred and seventy, and its pastor is Rev. J. W. Jones.
A Methodist class was organized at the Putnam school house, in Bean Blossom township in 1832 and there met for many years. Early in the fifties a church building was provided in the southern part of the township and services have been kept up in the township ever since, at various points.
In the thirties a class was formed in Van Buren township, with Lewis Dale as a pastor, in 1850. A building was erected later at Stanford and the society has always prospered.
In Indian Creek township the Methodists were first in the religious field. the first class being formed in the Walker neighborhood, about 1825. This was known as Mt. Salem church and was famous in early days for its revivals of power and attendance from far and near. Finally the church was divided, some uniting at Stanford and others at various places for conven- ience.
In Clear Creek township, early in the fifties, a Methodist class was formed at Smithville.
In Polk township, in the fifties, a class was formed and a church or- ganized, known as Chapel Hill, a building soon being erected. Later one was built at Pleasant Valley. Salem Chapel was another early organized society.
A Methodist church, styled Wesley Chapel, was organized in Rich- land township in the twenties.
(20)
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METHODISM IN 1912.
At the date of the last conference report ( 1912) the following appears :
Bloomington, Eighth Street church-436 membership; church property valued at $2,500.
Bloomington, First church-1,270 members; church property, $105,- 000; parsonage property, $7,500; pastor, Rev. J. W. Jones: church owes, $3,500.
Ellettsville-300 membership; church property valued at $4,200.
Harrodsburg-470 membership; church property estimated at $4,500. Stinesville and Paragon-180 members; value of church property, $6,- 400.
Smithville-Membership, 94.
Cross Roads-Membership, 110.
Whitaker-14 membership.
Total membership in Monroe county, in above charges and churches, 2,801. The total of all benevolences collected in 1912 in the Bloomington district was $11.747. Total value of church property (estimated), $133,600.
There may be at this date ( 1913) a few country churches not here enumerated.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian church at Bloomington was organized on September 26, 1819, by Rev. Isaac Reed. The first members included Henry Kirk- man. David H. Maxwell, Mary D. Maxwell, John Ketchum and wife, Eliza- beth Anderson, Elizabeth Lucas and Patsey Baugh. The society was or- ganized at the old log court house which stood where now stands the county jail. The first regular minister was Rev. David C. Proctor, who took charge in 1822, preaching three-fourths of his time in Indianapolis. He was suc- ceeded in 1825 by Rev. B. R. Hall. principal of the State Seminary (now University). Andrew Wylie supplied the pulpit from 1830 to 1834; Rev. Ranson Hawley served from 1834 to 1841 ; Rev. W. W. Martin, from 1843 to 1845; Rev. Alfred Ryors, from 1845 to 1847; Rev. Levi Hughes, from 1847 to 1851; Rev. Thomas Alexander, from 1851 to 1853: Rev. F. H. Laird, from 1855 to 1856; Rev. Lowman Hall, from 1856 to 1857; Rev. T. M. Hopkins, from 1857 to 1869: Rev. A. Y. Moore, from 1869 on for a number of years. The first church was erected in 1826 and another in 1859- 63. that still did service in the eighties.
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In June, 1852, the Second Presbyterian church was organized with eleven members, eight from the First church. Rev. Bishop became stated pastor in 1857. In April, 1870, the First and Second churches were united under the pastorate of Rev. A. Y. Moore, which union was called the Walnut Street Presbyterian church. From date of organization in 1819 to 1882 there had been received into church fellowship eight hundred and twelve members, and twelve ministers had gone forth from the church to do good work for the Master.
The United Presbyterian church of Bloomington was composed of all branches, Associate (Seceders), Associated Reformed (Union), and the Reformed Presbyterians, which were separately organized in 1833, 1834 and 1838. The three branches remained separate until 1864, when the As- sociated Reformed, under Rev. William Turner, and the Associate, under Rev. John Bryan, came into the above named union, forming the United Presbyterian congregation. In 1869 the Reformed congregation, under Rev. T. A. Wylie, came into the union. The members were mostly from North Carolina and left on account of slavery. At the time of the union the membership was about two hundred. In the early seventies their church was erected in the northern part of the city.
Of the First Presbyterian church of Bloomington it may be stated that it is located in a new thirty thousand dollar stone edifice on the corner of Sixth and Lincoln streets. It now has a membership of more than four hundred, including many of the present faculty of the university, which institution has a student pastor, Rev. Thomas R. White, and the church's regular pas- tor is Rev. John R. Ellis.
The Reformed Presbyterian church, located on Walnut street, was organized in 1820 by the Scotch-Irish Covenanters from South Carolina. Its neat little brick edifice is still intact and there the faithful from both town and city meet regularly and hold divine services after their own fash- ion, and here much spirituality is observed. Midweek day prayer services are held at present.
The United Presbyterians, above mentioned as among the early socie- ties of the city and Monroe county, have a church on the corner of College avenue and Ninth street. Their membership is now about two hundred and fifty. This congregation maintains a mission on Maple Heights. Among the last pastors is the Rev. Thomas H. Hanna, Jr.
The Presbyterian denomination also has churches at Ellettsville and Harrodsburg, the latter of the Cumberland sect or branch.
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Bethesda Presbyterian congregation, east of Bloomington, was organ- ized in the thirties. An acre of land was bought in section 3, township 8, range I west. Another society was formed and land was donated on sec- tion 29, by Mr. Campbell, and in 1856 a church was erected there known as "Christian Union."
The Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized at Harrodsburg in the fifties, meetings being held at the school house.
Another famous church was the Cumberland church of Richland town- ship, which was formed in 1830.
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
While this denomination has never been as strong in the county as some other churches, yet it has been represented at many places in this county from early in the twenties, when a small society was formed at Bloomington, the Fosters, Stones and Vanoys being leaders in the organiza- tion work.
In Richland township the old Vernal Baptist church was one, if not the very first organized in the county. Meetings were held during the winter of 1817-18, but a real society was not perfected for several' years thereafter. A rude log church was built in the Sanders neighborhood about 1826, and used until 1838, when a frame church was built further north and three-quarters of a mile from Ellettsville. So open and cold was the log church that in wintertime services were held at private homes. The first minister was Rev. James Chambers, who was succeeded by Rev. Leroy Mayfield, who served thirty years. Bethany Baptist church, another in the same township, was early in organizing.
In Van Buren township, early in the forties, the United Baptists formed a society near Stanford and in 1850 they built a neat church. The old Baptist church in the south part of Richland township for years drew large congregations from Van Buren township.
The old Hebron Baptist church, in the southern part of Indian Creek township, was formed in the forties, and its influence was felt many dec- ades-indeed it is still going on.
In Clear Creek township an early Baptist church was formed in the Nichols neighborhood, probably about 1828. There were numerous points within this township at which smaller classes of this denomination did ex- cellent pioneer work.
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In Benton township, as early as 1834. a Baptist society was formed, near the residence of Lewis Stevens, and it was styled "Little Union." It was noted for its spirit of enthusiasm and faithful work.
In Bean Blossom township, a Baptist church was formed in 1840, known as "Jack's Defeat." Another Baptist church was Mt. Carmel, built in the forties. After Stinesville started up, their old log church was abandoned, and the Baptists, Methodists, Christians and Lutherans united and built a "box" church in the village, which was used until a better building was erected in 1883-84 by the Baptist denomination. The Methodists retained the old building.
The present Baptist church at Bloomington is located on the corner of Washington and Fourth streets: it is a splendid stone structure of recent construction, modern in all of its appointments. It has a large, active con- gregation and attends well to the needs of the Baptist denomination in the city. Its latest pastor is Rev. James A. Brown.
There are now ( 1913) Baptist churches at both Stinesville and Elletts- ville, both doing an excellent work.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, OR CHURCH OF CHRIST, OR CHURCH OF DISCIPLES OF CHRIST. By Amzi Atwater.
In the early day of our country's history a goodly number of religious teachers advocated reform chiefly by rejecting creeds and taking the word of God as their only guide. Two of the most learned and worthy of these were Barton W. Stone, of Kentucky, and Alexander Campbell, of Virginia. Both of them had been educated as Presbyterians. Stone began his reformatory work about ten years before 1800, Campbell nine years after that time. Some of the followers of Stone arrived in Bloomington by the time the town was laid out in 1818. As they had no church building they met from house to house, in their log cabins in winter and in a grove to the northeast in summer. The Christian church chapel is not far from the place. Here they held great camp meetings, often with much sensational exhorting. John Henderson was their preacher. He was a large man, had a strong voice and was a great singer. Old settlers said that the voice of John Henderson, singing the old-time hymns at evening, could be heard a mile away. He had in his employ an ex-slave brought from Kentucky. The people called him "Black Aaron." He could preach and act out his sermons at the same time. When he took David and Goliath as his text he would fold his handkerchief into a sling, put in the stone, whirl it and let it fly, then turning quickly he
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would personate Goliath, receive the stone in his forehead and fall down dead on the platform.
THE COURT HOUSE OF 1826.
When the brick court house was built in 1826 Barton Stone came from Kentucky and held meetings in it, which made a fine impression on the pioneer hearers. The people at once bought a lot and built a house to serve both for school house and church. This lasted them, with one enlargement, about fifty years. The church parsonage stands on that lot today. Stone and Campbell having conferred together as early as 1824, and they and their followers many times later on, and having come finally to almost a perfect agreement, a union was effected in 1833, in which the views of Campbell more largely prevailed.
THE DOCTRINES AND THE NAME.
Faith and repentance were now much preached and baptism by immer- sion to be administered at once without a mourner's bench delay. The com- munion was now observed every Sunday. Some people had called the asso- ciates of Stone "Newlights." Some now called the church "Campbellite," but the members objected and desired to be called simply "Christians," or "Disciples of Christ." The deed of the above named lot (167) was given in 1826 to the "Trustees of the Christian Church." Though Stone himself joined forces with Campbell, some of his associates never did go into the "new organization." A few have remained firm to this day and very gen- erally say they have the first claim to the name "Christian Church" as a distinctive name. Thus some confusion exists. Campbell always preferred the name, "Disciples of Christ." Again in these later years a marked division has sprung up between the more progressive and more conservative of the churches-the one readily adopting missionary and Endeavor societies, Sun- day schools and organs, the other rejecting them. The latter party tend to the exclusive use of the name, "Church of Christ," which all acknowledge to be as Scriptural as "Church of God," both being used in the New Testa- ment. Thus again some ambiguity has arisen. The writer hopes that this careful explanation will remove all confusion from the mind of every reader.
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