USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 28
USA > Indiana > Parke County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 28
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Spring Hill class was organized in 1834 in the house of Joel Blakesley, with Samuel Rush and wife, Joel Blakesley and wife, Zachariah D. James and
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wife, Jane Ford, Sarah Ponton, Stephen Harrington and wife. William Kearns and wife, Lydia Jackson, Enoch White and wife. Martha Ponton, Betsey Ponton, and Nathaniel Barnes and wife. In 1835 they built a hewed- log house, near the center of section 10, township 15, range 9, which they used for several years. The class was then styled "Goshen." They next moved to the school house a half mile to the north. In 1879 they built, at a cost of one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five dollars, a frame church thirty hy forty feet, and in 1888 had a membership of about thirty. At that date the society was known as Spring Hill.
Asbury chapel was organized as early as 1830, named for old Bishop Asbury. One of the first ministers there was Rev. DeLap. Services were held at private houses until a frame church was erected on the southeast quarter of section 36, township 16, range 10 west, in 1850. A most powerful revival was held in 1852. under the pastorate of Rev. Arthur Badley, who subsequently removed to Iowa. Other pastors were Revs. J. W. Parrett, Shaw, Thomas Bartlett, Salisbury, Clark Skinner, McDaniel, Wood, Barnard. Nebeker, Clark Skinner, Morrison and E. R. Johnson. Later the class did not prosper and finally went down.
The Center Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1837 at the home of James Wishard, where services were had many years. In 1853 a commodious frame structure was erected, costing about one thousand four hundred dollars. In 1887 the society had a membership of ninety-seven.
In Helt township Methodism has flourished from the earliest day. At Dana the society was organized in 1879 by Rev. Daniel Morrison, of the Greencastle district. Among the first pastors will be recalled Revs. Elijah Johnson, J. C. McDaniels, Woods, William Smith. The society in 1887 had a membership of sixty, an increase of twenty over the original number. A house of worship was erected in 1882, at a cost of, including the lots, one thousand eight hundred dollars. The present magnificent pressed brick struc- ture was built in 1906 and is among the finest, if not the very best, within the county.
Lebanon Methodist Episcopal church, east of Quaker Hill, was organized at a very early day. In 1887 it had a membership of thirty-five. A frame building was provided which was thirty by thirty-six feet in size.
Vermillion Chapel Methodist Episcopal church, three and a half miles southwest of Newport, erected its building about 1847. was used until in the latter part of the eighties, when it was sold and a new one built at a cost of one thousand eight hundred dollars.
At Eugene, Methodism had an early planting, it being on the frontier,
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and it naturally endured many hardships for long years. The records have long since perished, but the true spirit of Methodism still prevails.
At Cayuga this denomination built their first church in 1887-88.
At Newport, the county seat of justice, the Methodist Episcopal church existed in the very early days of the town's history, the details of which are now hard to bring to tangible light for historic record. In time they built a church building, and when it had outlived its usefulness it was sold and torn away. In 1851 another edifice was erected, and later an addition of eighteen feet was added. In 1887 the society had a membership of one hundred and seventy-five. A fine parsonage was built in 1882.
At Perrysville the history of Methodism is traced through the pioneer period down to the present, it never having died out for lack of interest. In 1887 it was stated that the loss of records made it impossible to give a clear conception of all the transactions of the little band that first planted the good seeds in that neighborhood. At the last date mentioned the church had a membership of one hundred and thirty-three. The class leaders were then B. O. Carpenter and J. F. Compton. Several social and auxiliary societies have branched off from the parent church at Perrysville. In 1843 a brick church was built, valued at three thousand dollars, forty-four by fifty-two feet in size. It was located in the southwest central portion of the town.
In Vermillion county there is only one African Methodist Episcopal church, that located at Clinton, having a membership of twenty-two.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES OF 1912.
The subjoined is a list of all the churches of this denomination in Ver- million county in 1912, as near as can be determined from the minutes of the last conference :
Clinton, J. C. Martin, pastor ; salary, $1,000; membership, 278; church and parsonage valued at $9,000.
Dana, C. E. Beebe, pastor; salary, $1,000; membership, 345; three churches, valued, with parsonages, at $14,400.
Fairview Park, A. E. Kester, pastor; salary, $800; membership, 386; value of church and parsonage property, $13.500.
Newport, A. M. Hagenbook, pastor ; salary, $800; membership, 276; value of church property, $10,500.
Perrysville, H. N. Calton, pastor; salary, $800; membership, 282; val- uation of church and parsonage. $7,600.
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There are some country charges supplied from the above central stations of the society. But the above are the churches listed in the latest conference minutes.
AN OLD-TIME CIRCUIT RIDER.
In these days when, in the Methodist economy, the title of presiding elder has been changed to that of district superintendent, it may be of interest to know something of the character of the old-time circuit riders, and for this purpose here will be inserted a paragraph from the writings of L. O. Bishop, in a series entitled "Fifty Years Ago." He says: "S. P. Colvin was the minister here when Fort Sumter was fired upon and let me say right here that the old-time circuit rider certainly earned his salary. The Clinton cir- cuit then included Clinton, Salem, Centenary, Center and Trinity. There was, as a result. something doing for the minister all the time. They were ministers indeed. Colvin was a broad-minded man, a speaker of high ability, intensely devoted to his country, a fine companion, both in the home circle as well as in public meetings. And as a fisherman and a hunter he had no equals. Many a time I have seen him and some of our family (they were all Metho- dists or Presbyterians ) go out on a hunting trip and bring back a ten-foot pole full of game, so loaded that it required the two men to carry it on their shoulders. And such times as everybody would have. The cooks got busy and built a game pot pie, a wonderful creation of the culinary art. And the minister and the class leader, and the neighbors far and near would be in- vited to come in and enjoy the feast. And they sat down, some in calico and some in gingham, few possibly had something finer, but the quality of the clothes made no difference in their happiness. And the jokes flew thick and fast and hearty, robust laughter shook their sides, and then they would lean back from the table and roar with laughter over some bright shaft of wit or a skyrocket of humor that someone had let loose. And then they sat up to the table and went at it again. I lost my religion at these spreads by always having to wait until second or third table and then pick the bones, if the preacher and his crowd had left any to pick. But these feasts were very much like the miracle of fishes and loaves. If there appeared to be any scarcity of game pie, or fried chicken, roasting ears, dressing, mashed potatoes, pie, cake and float, etc., etc., and more etc., somehow there was always enough and some to spare and everybody was satisfied."
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THE CHURCH IN WAR DAYS.
The old frame Methodist Episcopal church of 1861 on South Main street was torn down in about 1883 and the site was then occupied by a residence be- longing to Mrs. Clara Salyards. Mr. Bishop continues : "On this particular Sunday that I am speaking of there fell upon the people of Clinton such a deep, intense feeling of an impending crisis that when Mr. Colvin spoke at times the faintest sigh could be heard over the room, so profound was the silence. Many a boy sat there that Sunday who was shortly to be enrolled in the greatest army the world has ever seen, and to take part in mighty move- ments on the chess board of the nation.
"Pretty soon we began to miss the boys from their accustomed places. For it will be remembered that those days there were about seventy-five per cent. of the people church members and ninety per cent. attended church-not so now-a-days! There were vacancies behind counters and school desks, on farms, in shops, at carpenter benches, and everywhere. It seemed as if every home in Clinton had given up one or more of its adult members. Bravely they marched to the front, behind the Stars and Stripes, a martial band play- ing in stout-hearted tones, "Jay Bird," or "The Girl I Left Behind Me." When they had all gone to the front there fell upon the homes of Clinton such a pall of silent anguish, such intense anxiety, that the wonder was that the mothers, fathers, sisters and sweethearts at home did not go mad from the very terror of the situation.
"Indeed, there is but one description in all the literature that I have read that aptly and tersely describes the conditions at home during those four long years. That sentence was the prophecy uttered nearly two thousand years ago by the Nazarene, who, looking ahead and, seeing with god-like clearness of vision all effects following from their causes, exclaimed : 'And there shall come such times as never was'."
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
Hopewell Friends church was organized at an early day in Vermillion township, this county, and was of the same "monthly meeting" as the one at Pilot Grove, Illinois. In 1887 it had a membership of two hundred and thirty. Ministers James P. Haworth, William F. Henderson and Ruth R. Ellis all served acceptably and well. The overseers at Hopewell (Quaker Hill) were Jonathan E. and Kate E. Ellis and Albert and Jane Henderson. Dinah T.
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Henderson was recorder. The church or "meeting house" was built in 1873 at a cost of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.
The Friends are not numerous enough here now to maintain many regu- lar meetings. Many of these people have long since removed to other sections of the country. No better people, however, ever graced any community than these sincere and conscientious men and women styled "Quakers," but who prefer their right name, Friends.
The Friends, however, in Eugene and Helt townships still have a good, thrifty settlement and maintain meetings at what is known as Hopewell, near Quaker ; at Henderson chapel and Lindsley, Eugene township.
UNIVERSALISTS.
A Universalist church was organized at Perrysville in 1842, and after- ward erected a house of worship, a frame structure, thirty-six by fifty feet in size, but being unable to pay for it, they finally, in 1850, sold it to the Presby- terians and subsequently disbanded. They numbered as high as fifty-five members at one time. Among the ministers who served them were Revs. E. Manford, the celebrated editor, a resident of Terre Haute; B. F. Foster, of Indianapolis ; George McClure, of Dayton, Ohio, and a Mr. Babcock. The organizing minister was Rev. Marble, of Fountain county, who preached once a month for one year. The leading members were Robert J. Gessie ("trustee and mortgagee") , Dr. Thornton S. Davidson, Dr. Porter, Messrs. Lawless and Watt. They conducted a flourishing Sunday school. The writer knows of no other societies of this denomination within this county. In fact the belief is not as popular in any part of the country as it was many decades ago. The Unitarians having taken many of the members over into their fold. Every community, however, now has Universalists in belief, but not in suffi- cient numbers to organize and carry forward a church work, as do other sects.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
In the early missionary days of Clinton some thirty years ago, there were very few Catholic families in Parke or Vermillion counties, and Rev. T. O'Donaghue, brother of the present bishop of Louisville, was entrusted with the spiritual guidance of a parish which was then almost a wilderness. In later years conditions began to improve, but not enough to warrant the es- tablishment of a parish. Clinton accordingly remained a mission of Monte-
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zuma till 1889, when Rev. Joseph T. Baur was commissioned by Rt. Rev. Francis Silas, bishop of Indianapolis, to organize a parish.
Coming to Clinton in November of the same year Father Baur first of- fered up the holy sacrifice of the mass in the home of Peter Lamb at 315 North Main street. There the faithful continued to assemble for divine worship till the year 1892, when the old Hoffman residence, now No. 303 Water street, was purchased and converted into a church. It did not long meet the require- ments of the growing congregation, however, and the present property at Sixth and Nebeker streets was secured and St. Patrick's church erected in the spring of 1894.
The wonderful resources of the Clinton coal fields and the progressive spirit of its business men began about this period to attract considerable at- tention throughout the states. As a consequence, during the pastorate of Rev. Walter J. Cronin, 1900-1906, very many people came seeking employ- ment in the mines. Those who were successful decided to make their future home in the village on the Wabash. Among them were foreign representa- tives of nineteen different nations of the world.
So vast had the congregation become in 1906 that Rev. William A. Maher, who succeeded Father Cronin in June of the same year, was imme- diately impressed with the necessity of a larger church and a school for the dissemination of Catholic learning. Through his ability to speak seven of the foreign languages he looked forward to a spirit of greater religious unity, and so began, in 1908, the erection of our present beautiful church, modeled after the cathedral of Thurles in Ireland. It is a picture of beauty, in stone and brown pressed brick, designed by Gault & Gault, of Terre Haute, and was dedicated to God's holy service June 13, 1909.
The cost of the church was about seventeen thousand dollars. The Sis- ters' school, now under charge of Sisters of St. Frances, from Oldenberg, Indiana, has an attendance of about three hundred pupils, while the congre- gation of the church numbers four thousand souls. The total value of this church property is estimated at thirty thousand dollars.
Father James L. Bolin assumed charge of the parish in December, 1910, and in the following year began the erection of the present school building, now in charge of the Sisters, six in all. Father Bolin was succeeded by the present pastor, Father William F. Keefe.
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THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This denomination, sometimes known as the Church of Christ, and many years ago as Disciples or Campbellites, at one time had a strong following in Vermillion county, but it is not so large today. There are, however, some societies of this sect, including those at Cayuga, Dana, St. Bernice, State Line society, and Clinton, but none but the Dana church has a regular pastor at this time, December, 1912. There are houses of worship in each of the towns named. At Dana there are thirty-five members; the pastor is Rev. J. W. Parks, who came in 1912, and cares for the State Line church.
In Clinton there are also a few families of this denomination, but who are known as the "Antis," as they are radically opposed to the use of church organs and many of the modern societies that are known in other religious societies as auxiliaries, such as Sunday schools, Epworth Leagues and Christ- ian Endeavors. They simply take the plain teachings of the New Testament, without credit or form of any sort, and they, too, style themselves "Christian," while many of the other of like general doctrinal belief call themselves the "Church of Christ," or "Christ Church."
The Clinton Christian church (first church) was organized in 1889 in Crabb's Hall by the Rev. W. W. Jacobs, of Kansas, Illinois, and during his stay with them the society prospered well, but after his departure from their leadership they declined until 1894, when Rev. H. M. Brooks, of Paris, Illi- nois, appeared on the scene and reorganized the church. It was in February of that year that their church house was dedicated. It is a good brick struc- ture located on the corner of Seventh and Blackman streets. Among the ministers who have served here all have done well their part toward building up the church, which now has a membership of about two hundred and fifty, who are daily trying to magnify the Christ, their Lord.
UNITED BRETHREN UNION CHURCHES.
The United Brethren Union church, at Cayuga, was organized March 18, 1906, by Rev. C. Long, with D. L. Sollers, deacon ; O. S. Harvey, steward; Harry Kiger, clerk. In 1909 a neat frame church was erected at a cost of one thousand dollars. The membership of this church is now eighty-five. Rev. John Wells, of Clinton, is the present pastor in charge. The new church building is provided with a good bell and church organ.
This denomination is also represented in this county at Cromersville and Clinton.
CHAPTER IX.
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES IN VERMILLION COUNTY.
FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.
Vermillion county has the following Masonic lodges, all prospering, in the autumn of 1912: At Clinton, Jerusalem Lodge No. 99; at Newport, Newport Lodge No. 209; at Perrysville, Unity Lodge No. 344: at Cayuga, Cayuga Lodge No. 584; at Dana, Asbury Lodge No. 320.
At Clinton. Freemasonry was first instituted prior to 1843, but interest in its workings declined and the charter was finally surrendered. Jerusalem Lodge No. 99 was chartered May 29, 1850, and has ever since been kept alive. The charter members of this, the first lodge in the county, were: Sylvester Redfield, worshipful master, who later removed to Nebraska: John N. Perkins, Hiram Barnes, John R. Whitcomb, Benjamin R. Whitcomb, William S. Price, James Gazsoway, James McCulloch, Nathan Sidwell, J. J. Moore and William Barrick. The membership of this lodge in 1912 was one hundred and twenty-two, and its elective officers were then : J. N. Frist, wor- shipful master : Mahalon Stark, senior warden ; George Boatman, junior war- den : Ivan W. Scott, secretary: Arthur B. Roberts, treasurer ; Henry Adam- son, senior deacon.
The Masonic hall of Clinton was erected in 1902 and is valued at about ten thousand dollars.
At Dana, Asbury Lodge No. 320 was chartered May 24, 1865, by the following charter members: Morris Hager, John Aye, Thomas S. Hood, James Osborn, Selah Temple, Thomas A. Edmundston, John Bilsland, Henry Jordan, William F. Bales, William F. Ford. The lodge was first organized at Bono, now called Toronto. Its present membership is seventy-eight. The lodge was built as the second floor of a building in Dana, the rooms being especially prepared for lodge room uses, and the property is valued at one thousand two hundred dollars. The officers in the fall of 1912 were as fol- lows: James R. Douglas, worshipful master; Davis S. Williams, senior warden : S. E. Scott, junior warden; H. L. Fillinger, treasurer ; C. B. Jackson, secretary; F. B. Lowrey, senior deacon; Jacob S. Randall, junior deacon ; E. B. Thompson, tyler.
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Newport Lodge No. 209 was instituted May 26, 1857, and its first officers were: Thomas C. W. Sales, worshipful master : Abel Sexton, senior warden ; Henry F. Jackson, junior warden. The lodge now has a membership of forty, and its last officers are: Charles N. Fultz, worshipful master; John A. Hughes, senior warden; M. B. Carter, junior warden; H. V. Nixon, senior deacon; Joseph McCormick, junior deacon; Jesse Fultz, secretary; V. R. Nixon, treasurer. The lodge built its present hall about 1900 at a cost of one thousand two hundred dollars and later bought the second story of the build- ing adjoining, so that it now owns the whole second floor of the two-story brick building situated just west of the court house on the west side of the square, being about forty-four by fifty feet and divided into a large room, and two rooms on the south which are used for a dining room and kitchen.
There is also Eastern Star Chapter No. 236 in connection. The present worthy matron is Fannie Carter; worthy patron, Charles N. Fultz; associate matron, Edna Hollingsworth; conductress, Goldie Fultz; associate conduct- ress, Nellie Wait.
At Eugene, this county, a Masonic lodge was instituted in 1847, with about forty-seven members. Among the first officers were: C. M. Comages, worshipful master; Harvey Skelton, senior warden; Dr. R. M. Waterman, junior warden; George Sears, secretary; Anthony Fable, treasurer. After about ten years this lodge went down on account of removals to side towns and newly organized lodges, such as were formed at Newport. Lodi and Perrysville. Harvey Skelton was the last master of the Eugene lodge as above instituted.
With the springing into existence of Cayuga, the lodge was moved from Eugene there and now is in a prosperous condition, but no facts were fur- nished the compiler.
At Perrysville, Unity Lodge No. 114 was organized about 1850, at least that early, and increased to thirty-four members. The lodge flourished until May, 1859, when its charter was surrendered. Nothing further was accom- plished in Masonic circles until May 29, 1867, after the close of the Civil war period, when Unity Lodge No. 344 was instituted with the following charter officers : \V. B. Moffatt, worshipful master ; Jamies Hemphill, senior warden : Jacob S. Stephens, junior warden; William Jarrauld, secretary: Robert E. Townsley, treasurer; H. M. Townsley, senior deacon; Jolin Wolf, junior deacon; Thomas Scott, tyler. The present officers are Alexander Grubbs. worshipful master ; Roy G. Jester, senior warden; Arthur Blunt, junior war- den : Robert O. Jones, treasurer ; J. F. Compton, secretary. They own their own lodge room.
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Of Chapter No. 125, Royal Arch Masons, at Clinton, it may be stated that its charter was revoked by the grand chapter in November, 1912, and now there are no chapters of Royal Arch Masons within Vermillion county.
The only commandery of Knights Templar in this county is at Clinton.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
The earliest lodge of Odd Fellows organized in Vermillion county was Charity Lodge No. 32. chartered at Perrysville April 20, 1846. The first officers were: Irad Abdill, noble grand; Charles Boyles, vice grand: T. S. Davidson, secretary; Thomas Cushman, treasurer: John Dunlap, warden : C. N. Gray, conductor ; John A. Minchell, recording secretary. In 1887 this lodge had a membership of nineteen: they owned their own building and had property valued at one thousand three hundred and forty-eight dollars. Dur- ing Civil war days this lodge was kept alive by six faithful members. Present membership is forty-seven.
Highland Encampment No. 163 was instituted December 7, 1885.
Rebekah Lodge No. 218 was instituted July 24. 1882.
Amant Lodge No. 356 was instituted November 16, 1870, with about a dozen members, which had increased to seventy-five by 1887. The present membership is one hundred and seventy-three.
Unity Lodge No. 827. a newer lodge, has a membership of one hundred and five.
Clinton Encampment No. 143 was chartered May 16, 1876.
Vermillion Lodge No. 182, Rebekah degree, was organized July 9, 1877.
Setting Sun Lodge No. 583 was organized April 27. 1881, at Cayuga, with seventeen members, and the following officers: William H. Hood, noble grand : E. B. Johnson, vice grand : H. O. Peters, treasurer : D. W. Bell, secre- tary. The present membership is sixty-two.
Dana Lodge No. 581 was organized February 10, 1881, with eighteen members, and Hiram Shepard, noble grand; Julius C. Groves, vice grand; and Fred Rush, secretary. The membership of this lodge in 1912 was report- ed as one hundred and fifty-four.
Vermillion Lodge No. 594. at Newport, was instituted in the room over the furniture store of David Hopkins by Past Grand Hiram Shepard, under a charter granted May 18, 1882, on the petition of Robert E. Stephens, Lewis Shepard, Thomas Cushman, F. V. Wade, Julius Groves and J. M. Taylor. The first officers were: Lewis Shepard, noble grand : Robert E. Stephens.
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vice grand ; Thomas Cushman, secretary; J. M. Taylor, treasurer. The lodge now has a membership of seventy-eight.
Hope Lodge No. 268, Daughters of Rebekah, was chartered November 18, 1886.
Vermillion Lodge No. 594, at Newport, was instituted July 6, 1882. Its first officers were: Robert E. Stephens, noble grand; Thomas Cushman, sec- retary ; James Chipps, treasurer.
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