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 9
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 9
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This branch of Presbyterianism was founded in Scotland in 1733 by members who disliked certain things connected with the old Presbyterian creed. In 1753 it established its first church in this country, at Philadelphia. In 1779 this sect united with the Reformed Presbyterians and formed the Associate Presbyterian denomination. The Associate Presbyterian church of Portland Mills, originally called the Raccoon, was organized February 19, 1829, by Rev. James P. Miller, a missionary worker appointed by the synod. The first pastor here was Rev. Nathaniel Ingels, who was followed by James Dixon, who after a quarter of a century of faithful work, rested from his labors. The first meeting house was made of logs and was erected in 1831. This was succeeded in 1850 by a large frame building and again in 1874
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another took the place of that structure and cost the congregation two thou- sand six hundred dollars. It seated six hundred persons.
At present the denomination has in this county is not strong, if indeed there be an organization at all.
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
The Christian church at Rockville was organized in September, 1838, with sixteen members, and the next year a church building 30 by 40 feet was erected on lot No. 73 of the original town plat. William Cooper was the contractor and Joseph Ralston assisted him in the work of building. For twenty years and more this sect carried forward a praiseworthy work. In 1858 a large number of the members relaxed their connection when a re- organization was effected, thirty-nine men and women placing their names on the new roll. In 1862 there were over eighty communicants. Strong inter- est was manifested for a time, but in 1865 the church became completely disorganized and lapsed for a period of ten years, no service being held dur- ing that time. On February 23, 1875, a society of Christians was formed from the Boyd school house. Both that and the preaching place were called "Whitehall." By August, 1875, through Thomas Boardman, the church was transferred to Rockville, to unite with those of the same faith in that town. The congregation was raised to sixty-four members. At the end of four years attendance flagged and not over a dozen attended services. Ac- cordingly, on November 21, 1879, Thomas Boardman addressed a letter to each of the brethren exhorting them to attend on the 30th and assist in an- other organization. This call was answered by thirty-one persons renewing their membership. Of the present of this church it may be said, that it now numbers about one hundred and thirty and has a frame edifice and property worth about five thousand dollars. This was built in 1894. The present pastor is Rev. William T. Barbre, now on his fifth year as the minister.
At Catlin a Christian church was organized in Raccoon township, about 1867, with a membership of forty-two. A house of worship was erected at a cost of one thousand six hundred dollars in the village of Catlin. In 1871-2 Jacob Wright held a well attended revival. This church had its own troubles from time to time, and the faithful few .numbered only twenty-five in 1880. The building still stands, but the society has gone down.
In Jackson township, the Christians erected a church thirty by forty feet, in 1873, which building cost two thousand dollars, and had a seating capacity of five hundred. Previous to that these people worshiped with the
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Methodists, in the grove and at the mill. The house was dedicated April 10, 1874, by Thomas Goodman. Here numerous revivals and special services were held and many were added to the church on profession of faith. This church is located in the sprightly little town of Lena. The church here is not flourishing well at this date.
In Greene township the Christian people built the first house of worship in 1839 at Portland Mills, "in the face of secular opposition," wrote one of its leaders many years since. Up to 1880 there had been established three dis- tinct societies of this order in this township, the first in 1839, which society erected a church in 1850, costing one thousand five hundred dollars. The first minister was Rev. J. M. Harris. The second was the congregation that built a building at Bank's Springs, on section 5, in 1840, and this was a log structure, followed by a frame house thirty-five by forty feet. The third society was one that joined with other denominations of the community in erecting a union church building at Parkville, in 1865. This building burned later. In 1870, the Christians, through the efforts of James H. Jack, built a church costing one thousand seven hundred dollars. This was free to all denominations when not in use by this people.
In Sugar Creek township, Pleasant Grove Christian church (New Light), so called by many, was instituted at the school house in 1868, where meetings continued to be held until 1870, when a church was erected thirty- two by forty-two feet, costing one thousand dollars. Rev. L. W. Bannon was the first minister and organizer, and began with a membership of thirty persons. In 1881 this church had a working membership of one hundred and sixty.
The New Lights, or a branch (or another name for Christians), built in Howard township in 1835 a log building in which to worship. It served a decade, when they purchased the old Missionary Baptist church in conjunc- tion with the Methodist people and occupied the same jointly.
At present (1912) the Christian churches of Parke county are: The Rockville church. Union church, four miles west of Rockville, has fifty members, but no regular pastor. Christian chapel, or Daly's church, in the south part of the county where Rev. Chester Fiddler, of Terre Haute, preaches occasionally ; membership about ninety. At Mecca, this society has a good frame building and a small congregation. At Montezuma, there is an old church and a congregation of about forty membership. At Bloom- ingdale the church numbers about one hundred and twenty, worships in a frame building, Rev. Elvin Daniels, preacher. At Byron, there is a brick
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church and about seventy-five members; Rev. C. C. Dobson, of Brownsburg, preaches here. At Parkville there is a frame church and about sixty mem- bership; Rev. Bratton preaches once a month. At Bellemore and Coxville there are church buildings, but no regular services at this date.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
It is believed that Methodism was first taught in Parke county by the giant preacher from old Virginia, Rev. William Cravens, who probably preached the first Methodist sermon north of Big Raccoon creek, and he, with Father Armstrong, John Strange and William H. Smith, founded the church in Parke county. There was preaching here long before there was any organ- ized society of Methodists, but in 1823 there were enough of the Methodist faith here to meet in classes formed and which met at private houses, and at least as early as 1826 Rev. William Smith, later known by all as "Billy Smith," preached regularly in the old log court house on the north side of the public square in Rockville. It was probably in 1826 that the church was regularly organized, and from that time on religious pioneering went forward with the felling of forest trees and the killing out of snakes and wolves, both so numerous here then. The early church books show the names of Cornelius Sunderland and wife, and Greenberg and Lavicie Ward. In 1828 Rev. Samuel Brinton took charge of the church as its regular pastor. His labors were mightily blessed and for many years this was the most prosperous church within Parke county.
From the pen of Editor and Author Beadle, of Rockville, and from historic accounts published in the Rockville Tribune, the writer is able to here reproduce the early history of the Methodist church at Rockville, which is indeed complete and very interesting. We quote as follows from this historic account given in 1879-80 :
"The chastening and hallowed influences of the gospel followed close upon the footsteps of the pioneers; and a settler's cabin was hardly up before an itinerant was there with his Bible and hymn book, gathering the family for devotion around the altar in the wilderness. The first settlers were an in- tensely earnest people; they manifested no half-way religious feeling, but worked for the Lord as they worked for themselves, with loud shouts and heavy blows. An early missionary in these parts, probably the first of the Methodist faith in the county, and the one above named, was William Cravens of Virginia, a fearless and remarkable man. He was a mason by trade, and
(7)
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had been dissipated, but was converted and took a singular and solemn vow of abstinence by putting his bottle into, and making it a part of, a wall which he was building. He was powerful of frame, a slaveholder, and quite wealthy. He abandoned his former vices, and liberated his slaves. Taking the pulpit, he assailed the great evils of Southern society ; he declaimed against drinking, gambling, horse-racing and slavery as an institution. This pro- voked dangerous opposition, and mobs threatened his life. But he was bold as a lion. With Christian intrepidity he sent his appointments to those who waited for his coming with vengeance in their hearts, never failing to meet his engagements at the stated hour, nor to utter with unshaken firmness his daring sentiments. He became famous in Virginia as a preacher, and hardly less noted in Indiana. He did his Master's work and counted not the cost. John Strange and another named Armstrong, able and distinguished men who left flattering and fascinating traditions among the people, planted Methodism in this part of Parke county. Accounts are given of Methodist preaching as early as 1822. In 1824 Grimes was the circuit rider, and meet- ings were held at John Leinbarger's on the Leatherwood, and at James Starin's on the Big Raccoon. The last place is now called Pleasant Valley. A church was subsequently built there, but in the seventies had become unfit for use and was abandoned. After Grimes came Anderson, a brother-in- law of Strange. The latter was a powerful teacher of the word; it is said that he was the first presiding elder, and was followed by Armstrong and James Thompson. The first log building in Rockville occupied for stated relig- ious services was the old log court house; this was used until the brick school house, long since gone into decay, was constructed. In 1832, the Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians were still using this building for church services. The new court house was then used by all denominations. Occasionally there were great awakenings, and within these buildings were stirring revivals. The old Presbyterian church, the first house of worship, proper, erected in Rockville, was built in 1833. The Methodists enjoyed the privilege of its frequent use. In 1834, the sainted Bishop Roberts visited Rockville, and by invitation of Rev. McNutt preached in this house. A little later in the same season, Richard Hargrave, a talented young Methodist divine, was passing through the country and was invited to deliver a sermon in this Presbyterian church. He delivered in all nine discourses which it is alleged set the people to thinking on theology. It should be remarked that among the leading men were found many skeptics.
"Cornelius Sunderland was foremost in founding the first class. Smith
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was on the circuit in 1826 and laid the foundation of Methodist success. A little later came Cornelius Swank and Samuel Brinton, when many were re- ceived into the church. Swank was a better man than a preacher. Still later came Samuel Cooper. Prominent among the lay members of those early days were: Elisha Adamson and wife, Samuel Noel, John Linkswiler and wife Rebecca, Samuel Baker, David Reeder, James Justus, Scott Noel and wife, Gen. John Meacham, Mark Meacham, Dr. Peter Q. Stryker, John- son S. White and wife Hannah, Thompson Ward and wife, Miles Hart and wife, Uncle Perry Cummings, Greenberry Ward, Governor Wright and wife Louisa, and those whose names have been lost with the flight of years. For several years betwen 1833 and 1850 the society was divided into three classes ; one met at the church right after service, one at Governor Wright's house, and the other at Dr. Stryker's house. An era of great prosperity to the church began in 1833 and continued till 1850. In the spring of 1855, there was a powerful revival and many members were added to the church. Mrs. Elisha Adamson was a spiritual and talented woman and Mrs. Governor Wright was an exceedingly pious and hard working church laborer, who always shouted in meeting. Miss Mary Watt was another devoted Christian lady. In these three gifted women the spirit of fervent work and consecra- tion were happily blended and sweetly displayed. Miss Watt was a school teacher and died in 1847."
The society had used successively the log court house, the brick school house, and the new court house, but in 1837 decided to build a church. Their numbers were indeed few enough, and their means small enough, for such an undertaking, and the burden came heavily on the few abler ones. But they succeeded in building a large house, now long since known as the "Old Church." It was finally sold to the African Methodist people and used by them until about 1900, when it was torn down. It is related that Samuel Noel mortgaged his farm for money with which to complete this church building, and possibly others did the same thing. Its cost was two thousand five hundred dollars. A parsonage was built two or three years later. The Indiana conference was held in this building the year after its completion. It served the congregation twenty-eight years and was then abandoned, the society returning for another year to the court house. Rev. Thomas Mere- dith held the last services in the old church in 1865. The next spring the foundation for a new building was laid, and that year the house was finished. Rev. Meredith circulated the subscription and raised the money with which to build the church. It was erected on lot 30 of the original town plat of Rockville. The oldest record book begins at the datings in 1837-8.
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Of the present church building and society at Rockville, let it be under- stood that the church erected in 1865-6 served until about 1900, when it was really rebuilt, the old walls being used and new ones provided to enlarge the church somewhat and in 1910 the building was thoroughly overhauled and a new front and rear rooms and modern basement constructed, really making a new church edifice of the old structure, giving the present commodious build- ing. These recent improvements cost the church ten thousand dollars and included the furnace heating plants, a splendid pipe organ, a large gallery, carpets, stained windows, etc. It was dedicated by Bishop David H. Moore, February 13, 1910. What is known as the Mary L. Noel parsonage belongs to this society and is valued at five thousand dollars.
This is in the Greencastle district of the Methodist church. The present membership in Rockville is three hundred and eighty-seven, and the church is valued at twenty thousand dollars, which is exclusive of the parsonage property. Since 1880, the pastors have been in the following order: Revs. John L. Boyd, 1880; L. S. Buckles, 1884; O. R. Beebe, 1885; J. G. Camp- bell, 1887; F. M. Pvey; John A. Maxwell, 1895: T. F. Drake, 1896; S. P. Colvin began in 1896; H. N. Ogden, 1900; H. L. Davis, 1901 ; F. W. Hixson, 1903 ; D. D. Hoagland, 1906; A. P. Delong, 1908; Alfred S. Warriener, 1910 and still pastor in 1912-3.
In Reserve township a Methodist church was formed shortly after the settlement at Montezuma, on the old canal. The church building was erected in 1849, by Rev. Hezekiah Smith, who visited the vicinity about that date and infused fresh spiritual life into the settlement. In 1880 the records show a membership there of seventy.
In Union township, the first Methodist class meetings were held at the home of Thomas C. Burton. Much later and in 1846 Canaan church was erected. This region was then a part of Rockville circuit, but later was known as the Bellemore circuit. In 1868 the society built a new church at Bellemore. Bishop Bowman dedicated this building.
In Raccoon township the first work of Methodism was the first of any within the township; the date cannot now be determined, but suffice to state that it was at a very early pioneer day. A society was there organized in 1825, but preaching had been had, long before that. Another society was organized at about the same date at the neighborhood of the brother of the noted Rev. John Strange. A church was built on the farm of James Crabb. The first to become pastor in Pleasant Valley was Rev. William Taylor. This church was quite successful for some time. In 1859 a twenty-one-day
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revival was held and many added to the church. In 1855, at Pleasant Valley, a church was built, and at one time there were more than a hundred and ten members enrolled. The society at Bridgeton was organized in 1866.
In Penn township the Methodists organized and built a church in 1850, under Rev. H. Smith and in 1879 there were over a hundred members.
In Florida township, as in most other townships in the county, barring a few only, the Methodists were first in starting church work. The first Methodist preaching in this township was held at private houses. Rev. William Mac, a local minister, did the first work for the church in this region, holding his first meeting at the home of David D. Loree. In 1834, Isaac Owens came in as the pioneer missionary minister, preaching his first sermon at the house of Capt. Daniel Stringham, a Revolutionary soldier. At that meeting eleven united with the church. Meetings were subsequently held in Mr. Loree's barn and carriage house. The place of meeting was then changed to a school house in the northwest corner of the township and still later to one on Banjamine Newton's land. The first church in the township was built by this denomination. In the spring of 1850 Friend C. Brown deeded an acre of ground in section 7, to the trustees of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Florida for the purpose of erecting a church upon it. In 1872 a second church was provided to take the place of the old one. A well planned cemetery was made near this church, and there repose the remains of many of the devoted members, as well as others long since departed from earthly scenes. In the northwestern portion of the township is another hand- some building erected by this same society, at the foot of the bluff, around which, on the side of the hill, is a beautiful cemetery.
In 1830 Elijah Ward hield meetings in the houses of settlers, and later in the log school house, and in a store building, finally at Roseville, where Rev. William Black preached the first sermon in 1859. In 1860 a frame building was erected at an expense of one thousand two hundred dollars. In the autumn of 1870 forty members, under Rev. Thomas Marshall, com- menced holding meetings in the Dailey school house and effected an organiza- tion. Another part of the Roseville congregation organized a church at Cox's school house in the summer of 1869. Churches or classes were also formed at the Doty school house in 1878 and other points within this town- ship which has ever been noted for its Methodism.
In Liberty township a Methodist church was erected in 1846, costing three hundred and fifty dollars in cash and much hard labor. The member- ship at one time was two hundred, but dwindled to twenty-five by 1880. Rev. Isaiah Smith was the first preacher there.
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In Jackson township, prior to 1856, worshiped the Methodists in school houses, as best they could, but at that date they decided to build, Mansfield was chosen as the building site and an edifice was built at a cost of eight hundred dollars.
Prior to 1872 the people of the Methodist faith living in the south por- tion of this township concluded to have better church home facilities, hence built a neat church at Lena, at a cost of one thousand three hundred dollars.
In Washington township, in about 1872-3, a Methodist society was or- ganized by Rev. James C. Stemor.
In Sugar Creek township a congregation was organized in 1855, in a school house near Daniel Heath's residence of later days, where they wor- shiped until 1858, when they built a frame house, which was burned by in- cendaries during the Civil war. The house was rebuilt in 1862 and opened for worship in January of that year. The society was constituted through the efforts of Mr. Edwards, an old Welsh gentleman. It was formed with fourteen members and in 1880 had thirty-four. A building then in use cost one thousand one hundred dollars.
In Howard township the first church of this or any denomination was of rough logs and was erected in 1833, and known as Mckenzie's chapel. William Smith and William Bilbo were the prime movers in the formation of this class. Samuel Cooper was their first minister.
The African Methodist Episcopal church at Rockville was organized in 1872 by the Rev. Jesse Bass. Patrick Thomas and Louisa Black began a protracted effort in Rockville, in May, at Thomas's house, and carried their meetings from house to house. In five weeks they were able to form a society, composed of the following persons: Patrick Thomas, Louisa Black, William Lewis, Samuel Kirkman, William Brower, Sarah Williams, Jesse Brower, Eli Kirkman, Cynthia Kirkman, Ransome Coble, John Robinson, George Robinson, George Williams and Jerry Craven. This earnest little band of colored worshipers, as soon as they had organized, purchased the old Methodist Episcopal church, for one thousand five hundred dollars. Among the first pastors were Revs. Nathan Bass, John McSmith, John Hart, John Myers, Johnson Burden and W. S. Lankford. The church building was described in 1880 as being forty-four by sixty feet on the ground, and was a good substantial building, standing on lot number 20, in the West division, and had a frontage of one hundred feet and was one hundred and sixty feet deep. They soon added to the building and provided a comfortable parsonage, the entire property having cost them two thousand dollars. They
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were, in 1880, free from all debts, save the small sum of forty dollars. The society then numbered sixty-five. The Sunday school then numbered forty- nine pupils, Prof. John Wilson being superintendent and Augustus Roberts, secretary.
The above named building served until about 1900, when it was torn down and the present building erected on its site. The church now has a membership of about forty-two persons and, while not large in numbers, is doing an excellent work among and for the few colored population of Rock- ville who espouse the Methodist Episcopal faith. The present district super- intendent or presiding elder, Rev. Charles Hunter, has charge of the work in a very large scope of Indiana territory and is an old soldier of the Civil war, a man of good learning, extended travel and highly intelligent, just the right man to forward the best interests of the church and in every way equal to many of the white presiding elders in this and adjoining states. The present pastor is Rev. Handy Thompson, who has recently been appointed to Rockville church.
At one time there were two other churches of this denomination within this county, but owing to removals of the floating colored population these have ceased to exist as societies.
LORENZO DOW AT ROCKVILLE.
From an interview with the pioneer lady, Mrs. George W. Sill, in the eighties, the subjoined is gleaned :
"A few years after the noted Lorenzo Dow was announced to preach here and the word was sent all over the county, awakening great interest. The day came, and with it as motley a congregation as Parke county ever saw. A huge log, roughly leveled, was the pulpit. Near it were a few seats occupied by the women and young children, and a few of the most "sub- dued" men. Behind them for some distance were all sorts and conditions of people, sitting on logs and stumps, or stood leaning on their long rifles, or against the trees. On the outskirts of the crowd were several hunters clad in buck-skin with beaded moccasins, the whole adorned by the handiwork of squaws, and to one side was a small group of Franco-Indian half-breeds and with them two or three full blooded Indians. No one had seen the preacher enter the crowd, when most unexpectedly he bounded on the log and, doffing his wolf-skin cap, glared around in a manner that seemed more like insanity than anything else, giving them near him a decided shock. In a minute the
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