USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 30
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In Duck Creek township the United Brethren organized the first religious society and built the first house of worship in 1852. When organized by Elder Samuel Purtee, the congregation numbered but eight members. Subsequently they united with a few New Light Chris- tians in the erection of the "Union Church," on the farm of W. F. Hollingsworth, in the southeast quarter of section 16. After a time the New Lights passed out of existence and left the United Brethren in control.
Another old United Brethren church is located a short distance south of Summitville, in the old building formerly occupied by the
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Dunkards and Disciples, but no reliable information concerning its early history has been found. Originally this house fronted in the op- posite direction, having been turned around when the road running past it was straightened so that it was on the other side of the building. The old graveyard here is upon ground donated by Thomas Cartwright, one of the pioneers of Van Buren township.
The United Brethren church in the city of Anderson was organized in the fall of 1889 by Rev. J. T. Roberts, at Westerfield's hall, on: North Main street, where the meetings were at first held. In December, 1892, a small house of worship at the corner of Sansberry and Eleventh streets was dedicated, and here the congregation held services until the completion of their present handsome and commodious church, at the corner of Ninth street and Madison avenue.
This denomination has a prosperous congregation and a handsome church building at Lapel, and the same may be said of Elwood. The church at Elwood is located at the corner of North H and Fourteenth streets. It is a substantial frame house, and, while not protentious in appearance, furnishes the active and flourishing congregation with a comfortable home. What is known as Beech Grove church in Lafay- ette township was built by the United Brethren, but has not been used by them for years. There is also a church of this faith located in what is known as the Innisdale addition at Alexandria. The congregation is small, but composed of earnest workers, and owns a neat frame house of worship.
THE CATHOLICS
While the Indiana Central canal was under construction in the lat- ter '30s, many of the men working upon it were members of the Roman Catholic church. In order that they might have their spiritual needs properly attended to, Fathers François and Bacquelin visited the dif- ferent gangs of workmen from Logansport to Anderson, celebrating mass in such places as could be obtained. The first mass in Anderson was said in a log tavern that stood at the southeast corner of Central avenue and Ninth street in 1837. Other pioneer priests followed them, saying mass in Anderson and in the Quinlan settlement. on the prairie, southeast of the town, but it was twenty years before any attempt was made to organize a parish or establish a church.
In 1857 Father Clark came as a missionary and for a few months celebrated mass in the courthouse. The following year he began the erection of a brick building, to be known as St. Mary's church, on the northeast corner of Eleventh and Fletcher streets, but it was not com- pleted until 1864, at which time Father McMahon was in charge. In January, 1866, he was succeeded by Father Crawley, who in May, 1870, started a movement for the erection of a new church. Accordingly, the lot just across the street, on the southeast corner of Eleventh and Fletcher streets, was purchased, the corner-stone of the new building was laid on July 4, 1875, and on May 29, 1877, it was dedicated.
Rev. J. D. Mulcahey came to the parish in 1891 and found that the church building was too small to accommodate the Catholic families of the parish. After consultation with some of the leading Catholics,
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it was decided to erect a new church upon the site of the one that had been built in 1864, and which was then used as the parochial school house. It was torn down, the corner-stone of the present building was laid on July 9, 1893, and on October 6, 1895, it was dedicated. The cost of this building was about $41,000.
Previous to 1860 mass was celebrated at irregular intervals in El- wood by missionary priests, the first ceremony of that character having been celebrated in the residence of John Buchanan. In 1860 Elwood beeame a "station" and was regularly attended by Father McMahon, then pastor at Anderson. From 1865 to 1884 Elwood was attended by Father Crawley and under his charge the station became a "mission." In February, 1880, Bernard Bauer and James Cornelius were given authority by Father Crawley to solicit and receive funds for the erec- tion of a church. The first church was a small brick structure, dedi- cated in the fall of 1881. It cost about $1,500. Eight years later the mission became a parish, under the name of St. Joseph's, and Rev. B. Biegel took charge as the first resident priest on Sunday, July 28, 1889.
In 1892 the little church was enlarged to three times its former size, at a cost of $2,500, but it soon became evident that a new one was neces- sary. Father Biegel began the collection of funds for that purpose in 1894, the corner-stone was laid on October 8, 1899, and the building was dedieated on July 14, 1901, by Right Rev. II. J. Alerding, Bishop of Fort Wayne. The cost of the church, with its interior decorations, was $60,000.
The Catholic church at Alexandria was first established as a station and was attended by the priests from Anderson. When St. Joseph's parish at Elwood was established in 1889, Alexandria became a mission under the charge of Father Biegel, who held services there twiee a month. Early in the '90s St. Mary's parish was organized and a resi- dent priest assigned to Alexandria. A few years later the present church, a commodious brick structure, was erected at the corner of Madison and Belmont streets. Rev. F. P. Faust is the present pastor.
CHRISTIANS OR DISCIPLES
The first church of this denomination in Madison county, of which any record can be found, was organized at Frankton in 1839, by Daniel Franklin, at the house of Elijah Ring. Among the thirty members, who were at that time enrolled, were Daniel and Joseph Franklin and their wives, Edmund Johnson and wife. Elijah Lawson and wif., and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Plummer. About 1854 a majority of the members of this congregation transferred their membership to Elwood. In 1859 they came back and assisted in the reorganization of the Frankton church. A frame house of worship was ereeted in 1867 and sinee that time regular meetings have been held.
About 1840 a few Christians living in the northwestern part of Monroe township began holding meetings at their homes and shortly afterward organized themselves into the Lilly Creek Christian church. Their first meeting place was a log house, where they held services until
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1871, when a frame church was built on section 3, not far from the Boone township line. The house cost about $1,800.
In 1848 a meeting was held at the Baptist church near New Columbus and a Christian society was organized with Andrew Bray, J. I. Seward, Jesse Van Winkle and Eli Hodson as elders. Meetings were held in the Baptist church, in school houses and elsewhere until 1852, when a frame house was erected near the southeast corner of section 15, about two and a half miles northeast of Markleville. This building was destroyed by fire about 1854, but another was soon afterward erected at a cost of $1,400. For many years this congregation flourished and then began to dwindle, owing to deaths, removals and other causes. Meet- ings finally ceased and the old house of worship was sold to Thornton Rector, who converted it into a residence. In its prosperous days, this church was known as "White Chapel."
A Christian church was organized at Alexandria in 1852, with a small membership, although meetings had been held in the town for several years prior to that date. Among the early members were Jacob Cassell, Martha Cassell, Joseph Fenimore, John McMahan, Elizabeth Fitch and Aunt Betsy Perry. A house of worship was erected in 1853 and used by the little congregation until about 1863, when it was de- clared unsafe and was abandoned. Some of the members then went to the Lilly Creek church and others to other societies, but in November, 1875, the Alexandria church was reorganized by Rev. William McKen- sey and most of the former members came back. Since then the society has prospered and now owns a neat and substantial frame house of wor- ship at the corner of Berry and West streets.
. New Hope Christian church, also called the Chambers church, was organized in 1854 with seven members, viz .: Hiram and John Chambers and their wives, Susan and Mary Chambers, and Nancy Scott. Not long after the organization, Hiram Chambers donated a small tract of ground near the south line of section 27, Richland township, for a church site. In 1869 a frame house was erected thereon at a cost of about $1,500.
About 1857 Rev. Carey Harrison, a Christian minister of Hamil- ton county, came to Hamilton (now Halford) and held a "protracted meeting" in an old school house a short distance west of the village. At the close of the revival a Christian church was organized with about a dozen members. Elder Harrison continued to act as pastor for sev- eral years. No house of worship was ever erected by the society and about 1876 the meetings were discontinued.
What is now the Central Christian church of Anderson had its beginning back in the '50s, when Elders Jameson and New, of Indian- apolis, came to Anderson as missionaries of the denomination. Serv- ices were held at the Chestnut Grove school house, a mile east of the "Crossing," and at other places until 1858, when a society was organ- ized. Among the pioneer members were Bnrket Eads, Joseph Sigler, John R. Stephenson, William Mustard and John Kindle. The first 'house of worship was erected in 1861 at the northwest corner of Main and Thirteenth streets and the next year Rev. Joseph Franklin, of Covington, Kentucky, became pastor, a position he held for twelve years, during which time the membership increased to over one hun-
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dred. The present handsome and commodious church edifice of this congregation, located at the northwest corner of Tenth and Jackson streets, was erected in 1899-1900. It cost about $45,000 and is one of the finest church buildings in Anderson.
During the winter of 1859-60 Rev. George Newhouse, a Christian minister, visited Van Buren township and held services in Allen's school house, about a mile south of Summitville. James, Thomas and Ellen Hudson and Byron Vinson and wife were among the early members of this denomination to settle in that locality, and they were among the first members of the society that was organized by Mr. Newhouse. In 1873 a frame house, thirty-two by forty-four feet, was erected about a mile south of Summitville, at a cost of about $1,500, and a Sunday school was organized. The Dunkards held a one-fourth interest in this honse, but a few years ago both the Christians and Dunkards removed to the town of Summitville, turning the house over to the United Brethren. The Christian church building in Summitville is a neat frame structure and the society is in a flourishing condition.
Four miles north of Pendleton, in the southeast corner of Stony Creek township, Forest Chapel Christian church was organized on June 10, 1860, with sixteen members. A frame house of worship was erected the next year, Rev. B. F. Gregory was installed as pastor, but the congregation did not prosper and about 1880 meetings were dis- continued.
On May 9, 1869, Elder Jonathan Dipboye organized a Christian church at Elm Grove school house, in Lafayette township, with eleven members. Meetings were held at the Elm Grove school house and other places in the township until 1872, when a frame house of worship, cost- ing about $1,000, was erected on the farm of George D. Thompson, not far from the school house.
The Christian church at Elwood was first organized about 1854. Before the congregation could erect a honse of worship the Civil war came on and for several years the church languished. After the war the work was revived and the society took the name of the Main Street Christian church. The congregation now occupies a modern and com- modious house of worship, a handsome brick structure, at the corner of Main and Eighteenth streets, and is in a prosperous state both in membership and finances. The Holiness Christian church is located at No. 2209 Main street, where the society has a small frame church, and there is a Church of Christ located at the corner of North B and Twentieth streets.
About 1876 the Baptists, Methodists and Christians of Adams township, especially those congregations near New Columbus, united in building a house of worship to be used by all three denominations alternately. This house stood a short distance of the village and was known as the "Union Church." It is no longer in existence.
NEW LIGHT CHRISTIANS
This denomination has never been very strong in Madison county. The Elm Grove church, above referred to, some years after its estab-
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lishment, became a New Light church. About twenty members of this sect formed a society in Duck Creek township and for awhile met with the United Brethren in the church on the Hollingsworth farm, or with the Methodists at "Reel Chapel," a building erected by John Reel, of the New Light congregation. North of Linwood is a small frame build- ing known as "Olivet" church, where a little band of the New Lights hold services, and there is a New Light church in what is known as Scott's addition to the city of Alexandria.
THE LUTHERANS
As early as 1847 Lutheran ministers visited the few members of that faith living near Ovid and held services in the residences of some of the faithful. A few years later a society was organized, with William Sanders, John Baker, John Mowery and wife and J. B. Cromer and wife as the first members. Meetings were held in an old log school house until 1861, when a substantial frame house of worship was erected a short distance of the village. Never very strong in numbers, the con- gregation found it burdensome to support a regular pastor, and serv- ices have been held only at irregular intervals.
At Anderson there are two Lutheran churches. St. John's Evan- gelical Lutheran church was organized on February 1, 1893, by Rev. W. J. Finck, the first meeting of the society being held in a small building on West Ninth street. Subsequently a lot at the corner of Chase and Fourteenth streets was purchased and a house of worship adequate to the needs of the congregation was erected. The German Evangelical Lutheran church was organized sometime after St. John's. It is an active growing congregation, whose place of worship is on Main street, between Twentieth and Twenty-first streets.
At Elwood, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church has a nice frame house of worship at the corner of North F and Fourteenth streets. The congregation here is harmonious and prosperous, although not large numerically. The Evangelical Lutheran church of Alexandria has been more fortunate in one respect than any other congregation in the county. It has a handsome brick house of worship at the corner of Black and West Washington streets that was erected by a wealthy New York lady and given to the Lutherans of Alexandria.
THE PRESBYTERIANS
On September 4, 1851, Rev. Edward Schofield organized the First Presbyterian church of Anderson, with eleven members. For several years prior to that time ministers of this sect had visited Madison county at intervals and held services at the houses of the believers or in school houses. About three years after the society was organized a movement was started for the erection of a church. In 1855 a brick house, 36 by 60 feet, was built on Meridian street, between Tenth and Eleventh, at a cost of $2,500. When the Baptist church was organized in 1872 this building was sold to the new society and the Presbyterians erected a handsome edifice on the southeast corner of Ninth and Jackson streets,
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where a lot had been donated by James Hazlett. This building is now owned by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The present Presby- terian church, at the northeast corner of Ninth and Chase streets, was erected in 1904. It is a handsome brick building, with tile roof and art glass windows, and is one of the most imposing buildings of its kind in the city of Anderson.
A United Presbyterian church was organized at Alexandria on May 4, 1893, and on the 1st of July following Rev. A. K. Straw was installed as pastor. Not long after that a regular Presbyterian church was established in that city and now has a cozy frame house of worship at the corner of Harrison and Broadway streets. The First Presbyterian church of Elwood was organized about the time that natural gas was discovered there, or soon afterward, and is now in a prosperous condition. Its house of worship is a good frame building located at the corner of South A and Eighteenth streets.
THIE UNIVERSALIST
There are but two congregations of this denomination in the county- one at Pendleton and the other in Anderson. The Pendleton society was organized in February, 1859. The first meeting was held in Pendle- ton on the 6th, but the organization was effected at Huntsville on the 20th of that month. Among the early members were Joshua Crawford, John Tillson, James Cassiday, Lewis Cassiday, John Wert, John Houston, Isaac Busby and T. G. Mitchell. John Houston, John Tillson and David Bousman constituted the first board of trustees. Meetings were at first held in the second story of the seminary, the school house, or in residences, but before the close of the year a frame house with a seating capacity of about 400 was erected, at the cost of $2,500, on the corner of Main and Water streets. In 1895 the present building of brick, on the same site, was erected. It occupies the site of the old log court-house, where the Indian murderers were tried in 1824. A minister named Gibson was the first regular pastor, though the first Universalist sermon ever preached in Pendleton was delivered by Rev. R. B. Foster, of Indianapolis.
The Anderson Universalist church is a comparatively new institution and as yet has not become strong enough to ereet a fine house of worship. The meeting place of this congregation is at 710 Jackson street.
THE EPISCOPALIANS
This denomination has churches at Anderson, Elwood and Alexandria. Trinity Episcopal church, of Anderson, was organized by Rev. J. H. MeGlone, who began the work in 1890 and was the first rector after the church was established. Meetings were at first held in the Doxey Opera House until it was destroyed by fire, when a meeting place was found in the Olympic Theater. In time a lot was purchased at the corner of Thirteenth and School streets and in June, 1891, the corner-stone of the first Trinity church was laid. The building was completed in September of that year and meetings were held there until the erection of the present handsome stone edifiee on Delaware street, which was completed in 1910.
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St. Paul's Episcopal church, at Alexandria, was organized in Decem- ber, 1895, by Rev. Francis C. Woodard. Meetings were held in halls, or other convenient places for awhile, but as the congregation gained in strength steps were taken to erect a church. The result is the cozy frame house of worship at the corner of East Monroe and Harrison streets, where the meetings are now held regularly.
St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal church, of Elwood, was organized about the same time as the one at Alexandria. This congregation now occupies a comfortable frame church edifice at the corner of North A and Eighteenth streets.
MISCELLANEOUS
Mrs. Maria Woodworth, a trance evangelist, came to Anderson in the summer of 1886 and held meetings in a tent at the fair grounds. She made a number of converts and at the close of her meetings 106 persons were baptized into an organization called the "Church of God." Soon after that a lot was purchased by the congregation, at the northeast corner of Fourteenth and Brown streets, where a house of worship was erected. It was dedicated in 1887 and the meetings of this peculiar sest are still held there.
Another church of the same faith was organized at Markleville in 1887. A church was built and regular services were held for a time, but the interest waned and after about ten years the congregation was without a pastor. Some of the members of this society united with the church at Anderson.
The Congregationalists have never been very strong in Madison county. Hope Congregational church, at Anderson, was organized on November 22, 1891, with eighteen members, and Rev. W. C. Gordon was the first pastor. For about a year meetings were held in the Olympic Theater and later in a building on Chase street. On August 16, 1894, the corner-stone of the brick edifice at the southeast corner of Tenth and Chase streets was laid and the building was completed in September, 1895. For some reason the congregation did not prosper and in 1913 the house of worship was sold to the Friends.
At Alexandria the efforts of the Congregationalists to establish a church met with a similar fate, the building they erected there being now owned and occupied by the Baptists. There are two congregations of this denomination now in the county-one on Pendleton avenue, in Anderson, and the other a Welsh Congregational church, which has a neat frame house of worship at the corner of South P and Twenty-second streets, in the city of Elwood.
On January 15, 1892, a Spiritualist society was organized in Anderson. After holding meetings in dwellings for some time prior to that date, under the leadership of Dr. John Westerfield, the organization was given an impetus at the beginning that resulted in the erection of a Spiritualist temple at northwest corner of Thirteenth street and Madison avenue before the close of the year 1892.
Two years before this society was organized the State Spiritualist Association purchased thirty acres of land just north of and adjoining Chesterfield for a camp ground. A large anditorium, with a seating
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capacity of about 500, was built, the grounds were eleared of rubbish and undergrowth, several cottages were ereeted for the use of mediums or others who desire to sojourn on the grounds during the annual meeting, which is usually held in August. At these meetings Spiritualists come from all parts of the United States to consult with others of their belief and strengthen themselves in the faith and doctrines of Spiritualism.
In the foregoing, an effort has been made to give a true and faithful account of the various religious organizations of the county since its organization. There are and have been some religious societies that are not mentioned, perhaps, because authentic information concerning them is not available. In elosing this chapter it is deemed advisable to include a list of the church organizations in the three cities-Anderson, Elwood and Alexandria-as given in the last city directories.
In Anderson. Allen Chapel, A. M. E., Sixteenth and Sheridan streets; Arrow Avenue Christian, Eighteenth and Arrow avenue; Central Christian, Tenth and Jaekson; East Lynn Christian, 2207 George street ; Christian Congregational, Pendleton avenue; Church of God, Fourteenth and Brown; First Baptist, Fourteenth and Lincoln; First Methodist Episcopal, Twelfth and Jackson; First Methodist Protestant, Fifth and Locust; First Presbyterian, Ninth and Chase; First United Brethren, Ninth and Madison avenue; Friends, Tenth and Chase; German Baptists, MeKinley, between Twenty-first and Twenty-second; German Lutheran, Main. between Twenty and Twenty-first; Grace M. E., Fourteenth, between Cedar and Madison avenue; Holiness Christian, Twenty-fourth and Delaware; Mission Alliance, Thirteenth and Main; Noble Street M. E., 2332 Noble street; Park Place M. E., Seventh street, between Park and Central avenues; Second A. M. E., 1125 Delaware street ; Second Baptist (colored) Eleventh and Sherman; Seventh Day Adventists, Thirteenth near Hendricks; Spiritual Temple, Thirteenth and Madison ; St. John's Lutheran, Fourteenth and Chase; St. Mary's Roman Catholic, Eleventh and Fletcher; Trinity Episcopal, Eleventh and Delaware; Universalist, 710 Jaekson; Wesleyan M. E., 1209 West Ninth street.
In Elwood. First Baptist, South D and Anderson; St. Joseph's Roman Catholic, South A street; Main Street Christian, Main and Eighteenth ; Holiness Christian, 2209 Main street; Welsh Congregational, South P and Twenty-second ; St. John's Lutheran, North F and Four- teenth : First Methodist Episcopal, North A and Anderson; First Metho- dist Protestant, South D near Anderson; First Presbyterian, South A and Eighteenth, United Brethren, North H and Fourteenth; St. Stephen's Episcopal, North A and Eighteenth; Church of Christ, North B and Twentieth.
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