USA > Indiana > Rush County > History of Rush County, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
52I
POSEY TOWNSHIP.
daughter of George W. and Lucinda Leisure, a history of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The father of our subject died September 22, 1873. His mother, who has ever since been a widow, resides upon a farm in Ripley Township. His boyhood and youth were spent upon the old home farm, where he was born. In summer he worked upon the farm and in winter he attended the district school in which he received a good practical knowledge of the branches then taught in the public school. He continued upon the farm with his father until after the latter's death, after which he took up agricultural pursuits for himself, and to this his undi- vided attention has been given ever since. His first marriage oc- curred December 15, 1874, when Miss Mary J. Conaway became his wife. She was the daughter of Samuel and Phebe Conaway, whose history is given elsewhere. She was born May 2, 1850, and died August 29, 1884. On the Ist day of October, 1885, Mr. Price was married to Miss Anna F. Conaway, who was a sister of his former wife. She was born in Posey Township, December 22, 1864. For four years after his first marriage, Mr. Price resided with his mother in Ripley Township. In the fall of 1878, he re- moved to Posey Township and located where he now resides. Mr. Price and wife are members of the Christian Church. The po- litical affiliations of the former have always been with the Demo- cratic party. His farm, which consists of 101 1/2 acres, is situated in an excellent farming locality and nearly all of it is in a high state of cultivation.
MARTIN RIGSBEE, farmer, is a native of Guilford County, N. C., born December 24, 1818. His parents, John and Lydia Rigsbee, were natives of Chatham and Surry counties, N. C., respectively, both of English descent. When he was eleven years of age his parents came westward to this State, and first settled in Union County. A little more than two years later they came to Rush County, and after a residence of two years north of Arlington, they removed to a tract of land four miles southwest of Arlington, where the father died, May 30, 1851, where the mother died, Sep- tember 22, 1873, where the subject of this sketch spent the balance of his youth assisting to clear and cultivate the farm, and where he has ever since resided. The life-work of Mr. Rigsbee has been farming, and in this pursuit he has had marked success. He owns a splendid farm of 240 acres, 160 of which lie in Shelby County, and eighty in Rush. A good portion of his farm is in cultivation, and its natural facilities, handsome residence and other substantial improvements make it one among the best farms in that section. Mr. Rigsbee was married December 9, 1847. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Barnard, was born in Guilford County,
522
RUSH COUNTY.
N. C., the date being, June 12, 1824. Her parents, John and Eliz- abeth Barnard, were also natives of Guilford County, N. C. In 1830, they came to Wayne County, this State, and in the fall of 1836, they came to Rush County and settled in Walker Township, where they resided when their daughter Lucinda was married, and where her father died, February 19, 1863. Her mother, who is now an aged and venerable lady of nearly four score years and ten, resides at present with a son in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. Rigsbee have had four children: Alveron, Florella E., John L. and Adrian, of whom the oldest is deceased. Mrs. Rigsbee is a member of the Friends' Church. In politics, Mr. Rigsbee formerly was a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for General Harrison. Since 1856, he has supported the principles of the Republican party.
ZACARIAH T. SMALL, a prominent farmer of Posey Township, was born near his present place of residence August 30, 1850. He was the son of Josiah and Susannah (Maggard) Small, natives of North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The former, who was the son of Abraham and Delilah Small, was born February 13, ISI2, and his wife was just one day his senior, being born Febru- ary 12, 1812. He was reared upon a farm, and in winter he at- tended the district school, but the advantages were poor, and consequently his early education was but ordinary. His marriage to Miss Mattie Holding occurred January 13, 1870. She was born in Shelby County, May 31, 1853, being the daughter of John and Lydia A. (Cannon) Holding, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana, respectively. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Small settled upon the farm they now occupy, where the former has ever since given his attention to agricultural pursuits. He owns a fine farm of 240 acres, nearly 200 of which are in an excellent state of cultivation. His farm contains a handsome little residence, and improved as it is in other respects, it is one of the most desir- able locations in the county. Mr. Small and wife have had four children: Crilla, born November 22, 1870; Estella, born July S, IS73; Riley, born April 4, 1879, and Rufus K., born September 22, 1883, died August 22, 1884. Our subject and his wife are members of the Friends' Church. In politics, Mr. Small is a Re- publican.
.
JOHN SOHN, an honored citizen of Posey Township, is a native of Germany, born May 19, 1827, being the son of Adam and Cath- arine Sohn, both of whom were also natives of Germany. At six years of age he entered school, and according to the custom of that country, he continued to attend until he was fourteen. On quitting school he became employed in an eating and drinking establishment, and was thus engaged three years. He then spent two years learn-
.
523
POSEY TOWNSHIP.
ing the tailor's trade; but this proved too confining, so he turned his attention to farming. He was married January 8, 1850. His wife, whose maiden name was Catharine Wieterholt, was also a na- tive of Germany, born May 22, 1822, and was the daughter of Conrad and Martha Wieterholt. On the 3d day of June, 1852, Mr. and Mrs. Sohn embarked for America, reaching New York on the 7th day of July following. They first settled in Ot- tawa County, Ohio, where for some three or four years Mr. Sohn was employed in quarries and dealt in cement and lime. They came to this State in 1856, and settled in Wayne County, where Mr. Sohn found employment upon a farm. In February, 1861, they re- moved to this county and they have ever since resided in Posey Township. The whole attention of Mr. Sohn since then has been given to farming, and in this pursuit he has had good success. He began with comparatively nothing, and he is now in comfortable circumstances, all of which is the result of hard work and good management. He had a farm in his native country that had been given him by his father, but when he got ready to start to America desiring to provide comfortably for his old father and mother, he deeded the farm back to them, and brought nothing with him but a little money in possession of his wife. He now owns eighty acres of excellent land situated in one of the best farming localities in Rush County, and with its convenient residence and other good improvements it is a very desirable location. Mr. and Mrs. Sohn have had fiye children: Lizzie, John, Conrad, Alonzo and Eva, of whom only Alonzo is living. He married for his wife Miss Susan- nah Rutherford, and he is the father of three children: John, Emma and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Sohn are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, as are Alonzo Sohn and wife. Our sub- ject is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge.
524
RUSH COUNTY.
CHAPTER VII.
BY REV. J. B. BLOUNT.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY-RELIGION OF THE PIONEERS-PREVA- LENCE OF RELIGIOUS SENTIMENT - THE CHURCHES -- TRAITS OF THE RELIGIOUS DEVOTEES-CHURCH OF CHRIST-METHO- DIST EPISCOPAL - BAPTISTS - PRESBYTERIANS - FRIENDS- CATHOLICS-WESLEYANS-CHRISTIAN UNION -ADVENTISTS -COLORED CHURCHES.
+ HE valued history of any commonwealth connects itself largely with the moral phase of society which is the direct fruitage of religious efforts. No com- munity in former years was considered safe, reliable or trustworthy, that was destitute of religious culture or church influence. It passed into a saying that the char- acter of the people is always in exact proportion with the amount of religious atmosphere they breathe, and, doubt- less, this is true, since the sentiment of pioneer settlements was to carry with them the very best influence of Christianity, coupled with a zeal and an earnestness that universally enlarged their ideas of worth and made itself felt by all with whom they came in contact. The first effort that was made in a new territory, usually, was to plant the religion which the settlers brought with them, either by the work of some minister, who accompanied them, or by the citi- zens themselves. Many times the "laity" formed themselves into a body and worshiped God according to the doctrine carried with them from their former homes. Many of the old landmarks- the first meeting houses-were the result of this kind of work, erected by the people in the absence of, and without the aid of, the preacher. The primitive houses were of logs planed down or hewn before placed in the building, and as was the house so the worship-in the simplicity and devotion of a humbleness that has long since lost itself in the gaudiness and flourish of the modern temples. The hardihood of the pioneer permeated his every work, and was felt nowhere with greater force than in his church regula- tions. Every county in the State has its history in this, and to trace it, becomes one of the interesting features of historical re- search. Probably no county in the State can record greater achieve-
525
RELIGIOUS IIISTORY.
ments in church work than Rush, nor a greater victory for religion. Religious sentiment and conviction have urged and almost compelled morality of her citizens from her settlement up to the present, until she can boast of the very broadest influence possible of the faith contained in the testimony of the Scriptures. It will not be said too strong when the statement is made that Rush County contains a more universal religious influence than any other county in the State, and according to her population has more professors of relig- ion. This is not claimed because of the superior intelligence of her citizens -of this she does not boast -nor because of deep piety, but because of the persistent effort to establish in the hearts of the people the doctrine of respective church orders. Each seemed to vie with the other and Rush became a theological battle- field in which was fought many hard and long continued battles, the end of which was not particularly the establishing of any particu- lar doctrine or especial religious theory, but to impress the hearers with the fulness and profundity of religious facts and truths. By these discussions many truths were developed, and hundreds of the citizens imbibed them, and at a very early day religious conviction upon some one or other of the doctrines overshadowed nearly the entire populace. There is now scarcely a nook or corner in the county where the citizens do not assemble for public worship on the first day of the week. In the short space of a single chapter it is not possible to give more than a brief mention of the various religions organizations which have established themselves in the county. I have gleaned information from every reliable source; by private talks, by circulars sent out with blanks to fill, and from personal knowledge, and am assured that the general mention is measurably correct. The readers of this chapter - especially the religious --- would delight to read a full history of their respective organizations, but to supply this would require the book itself in- stead of a single chapter. I hope to give a fair and impartial ex- hibit and to show defference to no organization, but do justice to all. In the matter of organization, growth and numbers, the history will not be strictly reliable since I had no source from which to draw absolute information, such as would give assurance of being entirely correct. Many of the organizations did not re- port, and this leaves me to generalize and not specify. The short- ness of the time allotted to me, too, is in the way of the most succinct reference to this most important factor of civilization and enlightenment.
The Churches .- In point of numbers the churches of the county stand in the order in which they are named: Church of Christ, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian, United Presbyterian,
526
RUSH COUNTY.
Friends, Catholic, Christian Union, Wesleyans, and Adventists. It is not expected to give any of the doctrine, the faith or the practices of these various organizations, hence none who reads this chapter will be disappointed to find no allusion to the peculiar features which distinguish them. Each order has its distinctive plea, and advances that plea as the reason for recognition. Its growth and advance depend mainly upon the persistence with which the plea is pushed. One remarkable feature of the establishment of a religious order, was the resemblance to the peculiar faith which the adherents soon acquired. Their personal appearance, ex- pression and ordinary manners indicated the influence of their faith upon their hearts. Not to personal appearance alone do we look for distinction, but there is a dress canon that marks the society as readily as circumcision distinguished the Jew. Some orders hold to the prescribed " cut of the coat, " to the regulation " width of the hat brim, " to the facial adornments in matter of " cut of whisk- ers " and to proscription upon the texture of the cloth out of which garments are made. These all found their way into the organiza- tions of Rush County, but are gradually falling back among the relics of the age when steam and electricity did as they pleased so far as man's power and knowledge were concerned. It is a matter of actual observation that in very many cases the personal appear- ance of the individual betrays his faith. In my nineteen years' ministry in the county I have noted this fact, and by that very resemblance have many times been enabled to locate both pastor and parishioner. It has been said that the minister gives color and complexion to society by his method of preaching, his habits and manner of life. This is largely true. The male members of the pioneer church shaved just like the preacher, tipped their hats, learned to wink, point the finger, squint the same eye in exactly the same unexceptionable style, all this and more, unwittingly of course, but nevertheless they did. A real verification of the laconism " like priest like people." Following these prefatory thoughts the history proper begins, according to the order above, with
The Church of Christ .- This order stands among the pioneers of religious training in the county, and has made rapid advances. In point of numbers it leads any other religious order in the county. There is a slight difference of opinion as to the first society estab- lished. The precedence has` heretofore been given to Little Flat Rock, but this is not allowed to remain undisputed. There is strong evidence, and with a fair show of exactness, that the year prior to the organization at Little Flat Rock, a church was organ- ized in the private residence of John Morris, about a mile south and west of Fayetteville. The now venerable Professor Ryland T.
Bergamin Frase
529
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
Brown, of Indianapolis, presided at this meeting, and "Aunt" Neppy Summers, now of Greensburg, a most reliable pioneer and devoted Christian, together with I. B. Long, are the witnesses in behalf of the Morris organization. It was not long after the organization until they carried the society to Fayetteville, and it became the nu- cleus of the present organization at that place. As a general thing church records are so poorly kept that it is out of the ques- tion to get at the exact facts of any organization. We have, for the most part, to depend upon the memory of the "oldest inhab- itant," which, to say the least, is a bad tablet from which to read important records. Whether the organization in the house of the pioneer, Morris, or the one at Little Flat Rock, can claim the honor of first existence. is not so vital an element in a history like this, since it is not the fact of beginning so much as the fact of develop- ment that is important. The Flat Rock has precedence so far as continuity of place is concerned. It began in 1827, under the in- spiration of Elder John P. Thompson, who, having formed the Flat Rock Association of the Baptist Church, when he was brought into the light of the teaching of the Scriptures, as urged by Alex- ander Campbell,. Walter Scott, B. W. Stone and others, himself turned to that faith of the Church of Christ, and carried his recently constituted Flat Rock Association with him and organized them anew upon the " Bible and the Bible alone " as the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice. This motto became the battle cry, and indeed is the " shibboleth " of this religious order to-day. Their ritual, their discipline, their faith, and their order of worship must be read first from the teaching and practice of the apostles before they will be adopted as authoritative in church government. The work so well begun by Elder Thompson was greatly aided by that wonder- fully fearless and aggressive pioneer, John O. Kane, who came to the county in 1832. He labored several years in building up the work and his success was marked at every point of contact. From its small beginning it now stands first in point of numbers and wealth and wields an influence that must be felt by all who come under the light of its teaching. As a church, it is strongly mission- ary, both home and foreign, being inspired by the great commission "Go into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." By a united effort of the churches of the county it formed a co- operation with the congregations of the Church of Christ of Fay- ette County, and employed an Evangelist who spent his entire time among the weaker places. This effort alone resulted in an increase of the membership of the county, of more than 150, besides this, the regular church work increased equally by as many more. There are now fourteen local organizations situated
17
530
RUSH COUNTY.
as follows: Raleigh, Center, Carthage (colored), Hannegan, Plum Creek, Fairview, Ben Davis, Rushville, Arlington, Manilla and Homer, Big Flat Rock (Littles), Milroy, and Little Fat Rock. These local organizations support preaching, each one-fourth, one- half, three-fourths or all the time, and in the absence of the minis- ter the local talent is always sufficient to instruct and entertain the body. Nearly every congregation has its Sunday School and all the legitimate means for the edification of the body are resorted to and exercised with an intelligent and a commendable zeal. This church in its various organizations enjoyed the faithful labors in the early days of its history in the county, of such men as William Mc- Pherson, Arthur Miller, John Walker, James Smith, A. Banks, G. C. McDuffer, Ruben Garret, James Conner (still living and at work), Jacob Daubenspeck (now near ninety years old and yet able to teach), and others. The living representatives of the pulpit in the county are J. W. Conner, E. Scofield, W. S. Campbell, J. E. Taylor, J. Daubenspeck, P. Weaver (colored), and the writer. The church also enjoys the visiting ministry of E. S. Frazee, Will- iam Mullendore, W. S. Tingley, and the county Evangelist, A. W. Conner. If there have been omissions, it is an oversight, but it is thought that this is the past and present pulpit of the Church of Christ, of Rush . County. .
Methodist Episcopal .- The honor of the pioneer work in relig- ious teaching in the county lies between this order of worshipers and the Regular Baptists. It can not be definitely ascertained which denomination has the precedence in regard to this matter. As early as 1821 James Havens preached this faith in the southern part of the county, and at nearly the same period John Linville or- ganized a class in the southeast corner. They mention among their early laborers in the county, R. Beggs, James Havens, Jo- seph Tarkington, William Evans, John Strange, A. Cummins, Allen Wyley, Calvin A. Ruter, B. F. Griffiths, G. K. Hester and others who were indefatigable in their labors to establish the cause. Perhaps the best known, at least the name of widest repute in this county, as well as in other portions of the State, is James Havens. It can be said truthfully that he was a wonderful man, and the name Methodist Episcopal Church in Eastern Indiana is not com- plete nor fully honored when unaccompanied by that of this re- markable man. His strong and vigorous constitution, his profound mental organization and unlimited energy, coupled with an almost unparalleled religious zeal, made him an emphatic "planter and waterer" of the young church for which he expended his very best energies. Under such enthusiastic tutorage this church has grown to gigantic proportions and stands not lower than second in point of
53I
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
numbers in the county; and as to zeal it may be ranked as first. None but those who were in the forefront of the battle in the pio- neer days know of the hardships, the trials, the privations and sac- rifices that had to be undergone and were made by the sturdy frontiersman. The planting of the religious germ in the beginning of the settlement of this county was not done by the smooth trav- eling by rail or the easy transportation in the buggy over nicely graveled roads, nor was the germ imbedded in the hearts of the people from nicely carpeted pulpits out of gold-clasped Bibles, resting upon velvet-upholstered stands. The temples of nature- God's first temples-were the meeting places of these bold, brave, God-loving people; the canopy their covering; the trees their shel- ter and rude steps of poles and desks of slabs their pulpit, from which came the intonations of voices tuned to the melody of grace divine, out-gushing from hearts touched by the sweet peace of a devoted innocence, giving to God all praise for his mercy and good- ness to his creatures. This church has some thirteen local organ- izations, with as many houses, situated as follows: Carthage, Walker's, Sharon, Ball's Chapel, Arlington, Rushville, Raleigh, Falmouth, Glenwood, Milroy, Manilla, Goddards and Ebenezer; also a point or two where work is done, but as yet has no local or- ganization. Each congregation has semi-monthly .preaching, ex- cept where there is a settled pastor. The work of the church manifests itself through its Sunday Schools and other aids which it has called to its support. The church is thoroughly missionary in spirit and is usually first to reach a new point and plant its doctrines. From reports furnished me I infer that the annual increase of mem- bership for the county is from 100 to 200.
Baptist .- In point of numbers the Baptist stands third. They established themselves here in a very early period of the county's history, almost if not quite simultaneous with the Methodists. As early as 1821 there was an organization of this people known as the Flat Rock Church. John P. Thompson, who figures in the foregoing pages of this chapter, was the founder of that church, and made monthly visits to them. This church established itself in Rushville in 1822, and has the honor of locating the first religious organization in the beautiful capital of Rush County. Elder Thompson was a bold, brave defender of his faith, and was strictly conscientious in all his convictions. He was neither dogmatical nor dictatorial, but a learner from the Great Master, hence an humble man. As fast as he learned he appropriated, and when he was con- vinced that much of the doctrine he had formerly advocated was unscriptural he, with about sixty of his former parishioners, aban- doned the faith of their fathers and merged the Flat Rock Associ-
532
RUSH COUNTY.
ation into the Church of Christ. There were several organizations of this people at this early date, and nearly every organization had a local preacher. These were greatly aided by Wilson Thompson, John Sparks and George Harlan from Fayette County. The brav- est, most fearless, and at the same time, most aggressive of these was Wilson Thompson. He was certainly the most zealous, and at once the most deeply wedded to the Baptist faith of any of his co-laborers. He never lost an opportunity to enter the field of dis- cussion wherein were assailed any of his theological tenets. Of the several orders of the Baptists there are now in the county five local congregations. Two in Center, one in Walker, one in Noble, and one in Washington. The split in the Regular Baptist Church in Rush County took place in August, 1845, on the ground where the new church house erected by the Christian Church near Raleigh, now stands. There was at that time a meeting house, known as the " Zion Church, " and belonged to the Whitewater Association, standing on this site. The controversy which ended in division began at the East Fork Church. Elder Sparks began to advocate conditional salvation and Elder Hatfield, a local preacher for that congregation, opposed with such offensive criticism as to cause Elder Sparks to prefer charges against him which resulted in the withdrawal of fellowship from Hatfield. Mr. Hatfield appealed to the Whitewater Association for redress and the hearing took place at the Zion Church on the date as above stated. Wilson Thomp- son defended Hatfield, and David Drummonds supported the church in its action in excluding Hatfield from its fellowship. The ground upon which the house stood belonged to Mrs. Nancy Cook, and she was appealed to as to which party should have possession. She decided in favor of Elder Thompson, whereupon, Elder Sparks called upon his friends to know how many would fol- low him to a grove about one mile south. The trial was had on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday much the larger part went with Elder Sparks to the grove. The rights of property was finally tested in the civil courts, and by a kind of compromise meas- ure or conciliatory, or whatever it may be called, East Fork was given to the Sparks' party and Zion to the Thompson. The mem- bership of all the orders of the Baptist in the county is not very large, and their annual increase is small. They have never been a missionary people, nor do they believe in the Sunday School, and for this reason have not grown rapidly. Very few of their minis- ters, if any, are salaried, as the early teaching of the order was ad- verse to a paid ministry.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.