USA > Indiana > Allen County > Marion in Allen County > History of Mitchell and Marion Township, Indiana > Part 6
USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > Mitchell > History of Mitchell and Marion Township, Indiana > Part 6
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH
On the 30th day of January. 1864 the following named persons met in the old Presbyterian church building and organized the Mitchell Baptist church: John Ed- wards, Lucy Edwards, Allen C. Burton, Adaline Burton, Rachael Pless, Mary Pless, Thomas Giles, Adaline Giles, Maggie Giles, Mary Giles, Matilda Dodson, Ann M. Giles, Mary Montonya, Simpson Burton, Carrie Burton, Sar h Blackwell, Hugh McNabb,
Sarah McNabb and Kate Owens.
A brick building, known as the Mitchell Baptist Seminary. had previously been erected. It was understood when this building was erected that the Baptist church should one be organized here, should have the use of the second story for church pur- poses. The newly organized church at once took steps to fit this room for church services, and soon after extended a call to Rev. Wright Sanders, as pastor. Rev. Sanders served four years, being followed b: Rev. Albert Ogle in 1868, Rev. A. J. Essex in 1871, Rev. Noah Harper in 1876, Rev. W. L. Greene in 1879, Rev. G. C. Shirk in 1881, Rev. B. J. Davis in 1883, Rev. A. C. Watkins in 1887, Rev. C. M. Carter in 1888. Rev D M. Christy in 1891, Rev. I A. Haily in 1892. Rev. J B Thomas in 1894, Rev. J. M. Kimbrough in 1898, Rev. E. R. Clevenger in 1901, Rev. G. O. Webster in 1905, Rev C. L. Merriman in 1:06, Rev. C. A Sigmon in 1908. Rev. W. E. Denham in 1911, Rev. C. Bebb in 1912 Rev. and Creed W. Gawthrop in 1913.
On the 15th day of December, 1901, the old seminary and church building was de
stroyed by fire and very soon after, the present structure, which is modern in every detail, was erected. The new building cost about ten thousand dollars, to wnich has been added improvements amounting to six thousand dollars.
From its incipiency, except for short in- tervals, the church has maintained all-time preaching and for more than fifty years has kept alive a flourishing Sabbath School, which now has an enrollment of more than three hundred. The membership of the church is four hundred and fifty.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
In the month of May, 1906, the First Christian Church, of Mitchell, was organ- ized. For almost a year the congregation met in a hall for worship. In 1907 the church completed a building on the corner of Frank and Eighth streets at a cost of six thousand five hundred dollars Pastors of the church have been: Rev. E. S. Lewis in 1906, Rev. I. Konkle in 1907, Rev. R. J. Bennett in 1908, Rev. H. A. Wingard in 1910 Rev. E. E. Petticord in 1913 and Rev. A. J. Cook, the present pastor.
The growth of the church has been al- most phenomenal. Although but ten years old it is one of the largest churches, in point of number, in the city, and maintains a Sabbath School with an average attendance of more than three hundred.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Catholic church building here was erected in 1871 The lot, upon which the building stands, was donated by Col. John Sheeks. Several years after the church was built it was remodeled and enlarged and a substantial rectory was built at a cost of four thousand dollars. The church property is now worth ten thousand dollars. The present priest in charge is Father Eise- man
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
On the 24th day of January, 1874, about fifteen persons met in Amos Adam's furni- ture store and with the assistance of Rev. William B. Chrisler, of Bedford, organized the Church of Christ. In November of the same year the church purchased the old Methodist church building on east Main
street. Since purchasing the building it has been remodeled and refurnished. The church was organized with but fifteen members, but now has a membership of more than a hundred and is wide awake to its opportunities.
LEHIGH CHAPEL
The Lehigh Chapel church building is located in east Mitchell, near the cement mills. The erection of this building is due to the generous and philanthropic people of the Lehigh Portland Cement Company. The Salvation Army has its headquarters at this building and hold regular services there. Much good has been accomplished in Mitchell by this organization.
THE HOLINESS CHURCH
The Holiness Church is located on the corner of Fourth and Frank streets. These people have a substantial frame building and a large membership. The church is said to be in a flourishing condition
COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH
Sometime in 1866, through the influence of Rev. Simpson Burton, a church of the
Baptist denomination was organized here composed of colored people These people have, for many years owned their own house of worship, which is the old brick school house on east Main street.
COLORED METHODIST CHURCH
The colored Methodist people also have a church organization here and own a brick building on Warren street.
Both colored churches maintain Sabbath Schools. The first sabbath school com- posed of colored people, in Lawrence county was organized by D. M. Alter and his daughter Maggie, in the brick building now owned by the colored Baptist people.
SCHOOLS
In the fall of 1859 Simpson Burton re alizing the need of better educational fac- ilities in Mitchell and surrounding com- munity organized a private school in a dwelling house on the corner of Main and 9th street. He had for his assistant Miss Mary Montonya who taught the primary department. In the spring of 1860 Prof. Burton with others began organizing a stock company to erect a building to be known as the Mitchell Baptist Seminary. The
first meeting for this purpose was held in the old Freedom Church. Steps were taken at this meeting to raise funds to erect a substantial brick building which was finished in the fall of 1860. This building was de- stroyed by fire in 1902. Many were the heart aches when it was learned that the old Seminary had been destroyed.
The first session of school in the Sem- inary building began in October 1860 with Simpson Burton as principal. assisted by Carrie Graves and Mary Montonya Prof. J. K. Howard was afterward added to the faculty and for several years the school was conducted by and flourished under the direction of Burton and Howard. Per- haps no school in the state did better and more thorough work than did the old Semi- nary. The war of the rebellion together with the public free school system caused the attendance to decrease and in 1868 Burton and Howard gave up the school. Two sessions were taught during the fol- lowing year by Prof. C. L. Donaldson It is eminently proper in connection with the history of this school to say that too much
credit cannot be given to Simpson Burton. No history of this community could be properly written without giving a large place to the life and work of this noble man
In thinking of the educational history of Mitchell and community in the memory of those who are no longer young, he stands out alone and apart from all others as a benefactor and leader of the community in an educational way. In zeal and devotion to high ideals inspiring others to make the most of themselves he was unsurpassed. His career was a short one, dying at the age of thirty-nine, but as a benefactor in the town to this day pre-eminent and un. challenged. He had worked his way by reason of great persistency and self sacrifice through Franklin College, graduating from that institution in 1860. Returning home he became profoundly impressed with the need of better educational facilities for the young people of the town and community. The common schools with short terms and limited courses of study and poorly pre- pared teachers afforded the only opportun- ity of education here at that time. The high school had not come into existence. He conceived the idea of establishing at Mitchell a school for higher learning. In the interest of his undertaking he canvass- ed the entire community. Everyone had
great confidence in him as a man. His zeal, his unselfish devotion to a good cause, his untiring energy, his high ideals pro- foundly impressed every one with whom he
came in contact. He went into the homes and talked to parents and children and in- spired them to cultivate higher ideals of living. As a teacher he was eminently successful and will ever be tenderly remem- bered by his many pupils. And to this it should be added that there are many that are nearing tne close of their earthly career who will say that whatever success has come to them in this life they are greatly indebted to the teacher of their youth. Were I asked the question, "What man has performed the greatest service in this com- munity", the answer would be, without a moment's hesit tion, "Simpson Burton."
In the spring of 1865 a school was organ- ized by the Presbyterian Church congre- gation aud was called the "Mitchell Select School." A small frame building was erected on the back of the lot where the Presbyterian Church now stands. The teachers for the first year were Miss Anna Balantine and Miss Mary Alter (Barton ) Subsequent teachers were Miss Maria Sheely, Miss Mattie Brown and Mrs. Plumer.
S I. NORMAL
Mitchell lost its most valuable asset when the Southern Indiana Normal College building was destroyed in August 1900. An effort was made to raise funds to rebuild and $14,000 were in sight, but the matter was there dropped.
Students came from many states to at- tend the Normal, and the entire commun- ity was raised to a much higher moral and intellectual plane than it has since occupied. There is still a great demand and a ripe field for a similar institution in this part of Indiana.
The first building stood on Nineth street between Main and Warren, and three cot- tages were made from this old frame build- ing. The new building, a substantial brick, occupied the present site of the south side school building
Prof. W. F. Harper, now of Pomona, Cal., contributes the following. He was the first President of the College:
"The institution was established April 6, 1880, and was duly incorporated on June 7th of that year. J N. Selby was the moving spirit in the establishment of the institution Mr. Selby re minired but a brief time, however, and when the institution was meorporated I was elected as its president. Dr H L. Kimberlin was president of the Board of Trustees, Dr. J L W. Yost, vice
president; J. Y Bates, treasurer; Dr. G W. Burton, secretary. Milton N. Moore, at that time the leading merchant of Mitchell, was the largest contributor toward the erection of the building. Indeed, except for Mr. Moore's liberality, it could not have been erected. W. G. Anderson, who at that time was conducting a wholesale book and stationery business, was one of the chief boosters. Allen C. Burton, James D. Moore, M. A. Burton, Anslem Wood and E. P. Eversole were members of the first Board of Trustees. These were all devoted and faithful supporters of the new insti- tution.
Many men of prominence in Southern Indiana were our friends from the beginning. I recall especially, Professors J. M. Bloss, of Evansville; Richard Owen, of New Harmony: J. A. Wood, of Salem; J. W. C. Springston. of Leavenworth; and R. A. Ogg, of New Albany. Most of these were superintendents of schools in their respective towns and cities. Judges W. R. Garder, of Washington ; E. V. Pierson, Bedford; Hon. A. Guthrie, Tunnelton ; Col. Louis Brooks, Sboals, and many others. There were some choice people in the first faculty. Prof. W. E. Lugenbeel was our professor of mathematics and natural science. He was one of the most thorough instructors I have ever known and a man of very high ideals.
FIRST GRADED SCHOOLS
Previous to the year 1869 the only pub- lic schools in Mitchell were the schools held in a little brick building in east Mitchell and a small frame building situated at the corner of Ninth and Warren streets, As both of these were township district schools the length of the terms t ught were very short. In 1869 a board of education was appointed and steps taken to organize a graded school for the town A substantial frame building was erected on the lot where the little frame school house stood for so many years and in October 1869 the first session of the graded school began. This gave Mitchell the honor of being one of the first towns in the state to adopt the graded school system The first superintendent was Prof. McLaulin. The school has been ably conducted from its beginning. In 1881 it was admitted as a standard high school, its graduates being admitted with- out examination to all colleges and univer- sities of Indiana Ohio, Illinois and Ken- tucky. The first to graduate from the school was Mrs. Ella Munson Bennett who graduated in 1876 The graduates last year numbered fifteen. The total number of graduates since the school was organized is three hundred and forty nine. The city now has three substantial brick school buildings. Eight teachers are employed
giving instruction in high school work, sup- plemented by an able corps of teachers in the grades. More than one hundred fifty pupils will be enrolled the coming year in the high school alone. Prof. Robt. Tirey is the present superintendent The city also maintains a school for colored children.
NEWSPAPERS
The newspaper, next to the school and church, has always been a potent factor in advancing the best interest of the town and community. The first newspaper estab- lished in Mitchell was in 1865 and called the Mitchell Republican. J. M. Griffin was editor, proprietor and printer. The life of this paper was only six months. Sometime during the next year the Mitch- ell Commercial was established by Wood- ard & Rumrill. A year later these gentle- men sold out to Professors Burton, Howard, and King who conducted the paper a little over a year when Charles G. Berry took charge and was its editor for several years. Subsequent editors have been E. S. Mc- Intire, W H. Edwards, W. T. Moore, Geo. Z. Wood, J. V. Smith, E. L. Lee, Hane & Thurston, McShane & Thurston, Wool- heater & Chitty, and Howard Chitty, who is the present editor and proprietor. The Commercial will soon celebrate its fiftieth birthday and is the oldest newspaper in southern Indiana. In 1876 a paper was
established here by Charles Yockey and J T. Biggs called the Mitchell Times. Dr. Biggs later conducted the paper alone, as editor and proprietor but in 1884 sold out to Charles Yockey who conducted it uutil failing health compelled him to give it up. July 27, 1899 the first number of the Trib- une made its appearance, Moore and Tank- sley as proprietors. W. T. Moore was editor and T. J. Tanksley did all the work except the writing. The paper was first printed on a Washington hand press in the room now occupied by Will Morarity on Main street. Moore and Tanksley retired and the paper was owned and edited by T. J. Wright. Later it was owned by Sam Thurston and P. M. McBride. For a time A. N. Palmer was associated with Mc- Bride as editor. Following this P. M. Mc- Bride owned and published the Tribune until August 1907. Since which time it has been edited and published by W. E. Stipp.
INDUSTRIES
Mitchell is justly proud of its factories and especially the great lime and cement plants located here. The manufacture and use of cement in this part of the country is of comparatively recent date. Until recent years the American Portland Cement in- dustry was confined to a small locality
known as the Lehigh Cement District in eastern Pennsylvania named after the Lehigh Valley in which district the natural cement rock of the eastern United States was first developed. As cement is a heavy, bulky commodity it does not bear distant railroad transportation except at prices al- most prohibiting its general use. So that it was to the mutual interest of both manu- facturer and consumer that raw material be located and developed in the manufacture of cement as near a center of distribution and consumption as would eliminate as far as possible the high freight cost of this use- ful article. Recognizing this fact the Le- high Portland Cement Company began to prospect in many localities for suitable raw materials and through the active efforts of Noble L. Moore and John H. Edwards, were attracted by the enormous beds of limestone near Mitchell and the extensive beds of shale near here. An investigation followed which resulted in locating their first western mill at Mitchell in 1901. They commenced the manufacture of cement at this mill which has a capacity of two thousand barrels per day, in August 1902. The use of cement increased enorm- ously and to supply this increasing demand the same company built a second plant here in [905. This plant has a capacity of four thousand barrels per day. The daily
product of the two plants is over six thous . and barrels which makes this one of the most important cement producing centers west of the Alleghanies. The amount of limestone and shale used in the manufact- ure of this cement is about 80% limestone and 20% shale. This mixture requires a thorough grinding to a high degree of fine- ness, previous to burning. This and other processes necessary in the manufacture of cement cali for the heaviest crushing and grinding machinery and a very large ex- penditure of power and labor. The amount of coal used at the plants here approximates sixteen thousand tons per month while the amount of limestone and shale used is more than two thousand tons per day. The operation of the mills and quarries gives employment to six hundred or seven hund- red men at a monthly pay roll of over forty thousand dollars. The manufactured pro- duct requires the best railroad equipment for shipping and with an average of one hundred and seventy-five barrels to a car- load the daily requirements are thirty or forty first-class box cars During the busy season of the year the shipments often amount to as much as twelve thousand barrels per day. Nearly every city, town and hamlet in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, southern Michigan and southern Wisconsin are familiar with cement made at Mitchell.
GLOSING THOUGHTS
These Sketches of Local History be- gan when this community was an un- broken wilderness, and with Mitchell when it was practically a forest. Long years have sped away. The unbroken wilderness has been transformed into beautiful fields, orchards and gardens, and where a little over a half century ago was a dense forest we now have a thriving and beautiful city. On al- most the very spot where less than a century ago nothing could be seen but the thin wreaths of smoke which as- cending, marked the spot where the pioneer had built his cabin, now huge volumes of smoke from our great manufacturing plants almost obscure the sun, while the ceaseless roar of tireless machinery proclaims to us the Empire of Mechanical Genius.
When the history of the community, as I attempted to give it, began, the hiss of the rattlesnake. the howling of wolf, and the scream of the panther could be heard, where now patriotic songs of Sunday school bands can be heard which speak to us of Christian civilization. The little cabin which
was the home of our forefather no longer exists The little field and truck patch which gave him a scanty supply of bread and vegetables have been swallowed up in the extended meadow, orchard and grain field.
We must remember that these great changes have not taken place in a moment's time; not by the magic hand, but by the patient toil of brave and sturdy men and women. It was these noble men and women who swept away the forest and laid so well the foundation for the comforts and civilization we now enjoy.
In giving these sketches to the read- ers of the Tribune it is my sincere hope that they have derived as much pleasure from reading as I have in writing them. One pleasure, at least, results from studying the past history of a community which has made as many changes as ours has; it lengthens the retrospect of lives With me I am sure it has had that effect, and did not the definite number of my years teach me to the contrary would think myself much older than I am. The experien- ce of those who have been reared in large cities or old settled communities, where from year to year the same un- changing aspect of things presents it- self, is said to be quite different. There
life passes away as an illusion or dream not having been presented with any striking events or changes to mark its different periods and give them an imaginary distance from each other. With them life ends with a bitter com. plaint of its shortness. Could one have witnessed all the changes in our com- munity and city that I have described from time to time they would have been gradual and scarcely preceptible. But the view from one extreme to the other is like the experience of crossing one of the great lakes, with the Cana- dian wilds upon one shore and the civ- ilization and enlightenment of our own country upon the other. To those of us who have spent our lives here, as we look back over the history of the community and realize that not one of the early pioneers is now living, we cannot avoid the most serious reflect- ious. We cannot fail to be reminded of an ancient Greek General who, when he saw from a high hill, the plains covered with his soldiers and the sea with his ships he, in the pride of his heart, pronounced himself the most favored of all mortals. But reflecting that in a few short years to come not one of the many thousands he then be- held would be alive, he burst into
tears at the brevity of human life and the instability of all human things.
If in reading these sketches there has been created in the minds of the readers a local veneration and respect for the memory of the pioneers, who by toil and hardship, have made our country what it is today, then the writing has not been in vain.
There is a tendency on the part of some to depreciate our own city and surroundings. There should be in- stilled in the minds of the boys and girls in our schools a love and pride for Mitchell and surrounding commun- ity and a desire to know more of their history and tradition. They should be taught that our city can be made as beautiful, our orchards as productive, our fields as fertile and our people as talented as are to be found anywhere. To cherish the past should be our pleasure, to improve the present our aim, and to anticipate more glorious changes in the future our brightest hope.
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