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 48
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Presbyterian. - This order made its first effort in Rushville, in January, 1825, and was then organized there by Dr. J. F. Crowe.
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It had at the beginning twenty-eight members. Its growth was much advanced by the effective labors of J. H. Stewart, Wm. Sickles, J. S. Weaver, Thomas Barr, D. M. Stewart, H. H. Cambern, Robert Sutton, John Wiseman and others. There are now three separate organizations in the county. They have never been a very aggressive people, and this fact may account for their not hav- ing increased in numbers to a greater extent. Being among the first to plant their faith in the county, they have become identified with all the county's interests. Their discipline is, as a general thing, precise and regular, and for this reason, there are but few communicants who ever abandon the faith when once fully indoc- trinated. There are a few local organizations which have been abandoned, but their membership adhere to the teaching and the supervision of the Presbytery. Among the pioneer preachers of this order, one now remains as a tower still, though chiefly in mem- ory. I refer to the venerable D. M. Stewart. No minister in Rush County has done more work than he, nor has had a greater interest in the moral and religious growth of society. He has been iden- tified with nearly every measure which looked to the elevation and the protection of society, and for the last fifty years his name has been a household word in the county, and especially in the Presby- terian families. Chiefly to him is due the growth and perpetuation of his church in the county of his adoption, and his memory alone is a strength that will carry the church along for years to come. There is a small band at Homer, and a lively remains of a former organization known as Beech Grove, just east of Arlington. The remnant of this band is now at work at Arlington, and has the efficient services of J. D. Thomas, who, by a co-operative action of the White Water Presbytery, supplies the weaker points and ministers to destitute places. Under his effective efforts the Homer church and Arlington band have been greatly strengthened and considerably augmented. Besides these points, Mr. Thomas labors at various school houses, and is succeeding in calling the attention of a great many to the doctrines and practices of the church. There is growing a deeper missionary spirit, and with its enlarged views and broader catholicity, it is making itself felt to a far greater extent. The old Calvinistic ideas that once characterized the initial principles as fundamental facts upon which the superstructure of Presbyterianism was erected, are being either displaced by a broader sentiment of a universal brotherhood, or are gradually being ig- nored as having belonged especially to a day when light was less diversified throughout the religious horizon. Certain it is that the church of to-day has fewer restrictions and is characterized by a
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latitudinarianism indicative of a desire for deeper and wider frater- nization.
United Presbyterian .- This religious body established itself at Milroy about the year 1830, and has at the present time four assem- blies in the county, namely: Milroy, Richland, Shiloh and Rush- ville. There is also a small band at Glenwood. The most earnest and devoted laborers, and to whom the success of the church is mainly due, were: John N. Presley, J. F. Hutchison, S. M. Baily and N. C. McDill. Two of these still minister to the church in the county. Mr. McDill has labored ardently many years for the church at Richland and has been identified with its working and interests for nearly his entire life. In fact, his efforts have achieved the success, if they were not instrumental, in establishing the church. Besides this, he has largely aided the work throughout the county and elsewhere. The organization of a congregation of this faith was effected in Rushville in 1879 under the labors of J. F. Hutch- ison, and numbers now about 55. The most prominent ministers who served this congregation or assembly are, A. P. Hutchison, S. R. Frazier, and the present well-beloved pastor, N. L. Heidger. The order has a house for each assembly in which to worship, and is extremely zealous and devoted to all the principles which give it distinction from other religious orders. One of its most striking features is its close adherence to the primitive custom-psalm singing. There is an assiduity in this that amounts to almost dog- matism. Yet this good people would part with their lives sooner than yield up this fundamental factor of their public worship. They truly are a devoted people, and to this fact as much as to any other, perhaps, may be attributed the reason for the fastening of the attention of the people to the claims which they urge as a reason for recognition. Among their membership are found some of the most intelligent professional men of the county, and men zealous for every public improvement. In every vicinity where they are established, their leading men are public spirited and usually take the advance steps toward measures considered bene- ficial to the general public. They are a missionary and a Sunday School people, yet not characterized by an aggressiveness that would assure rapid growth.
Friends .- In an early day of the organization of the county, there was a settlement of North Carolinians formed west of Carth- age. This settlement was composed mostly of Friends. There being a goodly number of them they soon formed themselves into a society and built a comfortable log meeting house, which has long since been displaced by an imposing and substantial brick edifice now
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known as Walnut Ridge. The organizing of this society dates back as far as 1821 or 1822, and was composed mostly of two families the Hills from North Carolina, and the Binfords from Virginia. From these sprang three organizations, two in Rush, and one in Hancock, just west of Walnut Ridge. In 1840, the monthly meet- ing of Walnut Ridge, organized the band at Carthage, William Binford, who was their leading pioneer preacher, and his memory is greatly revered by the society to-day. He was truly a devoted man and with the piety of the great founder of the Society of Friends -- George Fox -he was well calculated not only to plant but to perpetuate the work so royally begun. They have a beautiful and substantial brick house at Carthage, also a neat and commod- ious new frame building, two and one-half miles northwest of Manilla. They number between 500 and 600 in the county, and have as spiritual advisers, David Marshall, Elwood Scott, K. Miles and R. M. Hare. They pay no salary to their ministers, but those who give the greater portion of their time to the ministry are com- fortably supported by liberal donations. They are great educators and take the lead usually in public enterprises which they consider essential to the good of the community. You never see a poor Friend. They are all good livers because they help those of their order. By industry, economy and close attention to business they have succeeded in amassing large wealth and in this particular command, in proportion to numbers, greater wealth than all the other orders of the county combined. When you strike the hand of a Friend you strike the hand of an honest man, but one, too, that wants its own, even to a penny. The worship of the society has undergone material change in the last few years. Singing and public prayer were unknown in their devotion until recently. Their worship was an impressive silence until some member was moved, by an impression of duty, to arise and speak, and this speaking was, as a general thing, very brief. None but the old societies still ad- here to the time-honored custom of the days of " Lang Syne."
Catholic .- The first successful effort to establish a Catholic Church in Rush County, was in 1853. Henry Peters, a minister of that church stationed at Connersville, began monthly teachings at private houses in Rushville in that year. He succeeded in building up an organization, and four years later they built their first house for worship. In 1867, they built a larger and more substantial house, and now have a private school building attached, and the order is enjoying equal prosperity with any of the churches of the county. The zeal of the membership is remarkable. Many of the communicants live quite remote from the church, yet at nearly all stated meetings or regular sessions they go, it matters not what the
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surroundings or the state of the weather. Zeal of this kind bearing on the proper lever would move the world. The church has had as teachers, T. J. McMullen, Rev. Mr. Adams, E. J. Spelman and the present pastor, Rev. Mr. Mackey. It is in a season of pros- perity and enjoys the assistance of some of the best social workers in the county. The large majority of the members are of Irish descent, yet there are several German Catholics living in the south- western part of the county. These, I believe, go to Shelbyville to worship. No order of religionists anywhere has greater veneration for the doctrine that distinguishes it, or the forms of worship which characterizes it, than do the Catholics. In this they are worthy of praise. What we profess to love that we ought to honor and give the deepest devotion.
Wesleyans. - There is a small organization of this branch of Methodism on Little Blue River, three and one-half miles southwest of Arlington. The organization has existed some thirty years and have a comfortable house in which to worship. They are served mostly by local talent, but for the last two or three years have had monthly visits from Mr. Spond, of Jay County. The membership for the most part is active and energetic and like the regular Methodists are full of zeal in all their religious devotions. They are a Sunday School people and believe in missionary work and are laboring to extend their influence as far as their financial ability will admit. They have not made the progress that the Methodist Episcopal has, presumably because they are less aggressive. It requires great push and persistence, to plant a religious doctrine, especially when that doctrine may be an openly controverted one.
Christian Union .- During the War of the Rebellion there arose an antagonism between partisan members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, which resulted in a division upon matters political. So strong did the antagonism become that there ceased to be fraternization between the opposing elements, and the spirit be- came permanent. Notwithstanding this separation the part that pulled off held strictly to the doctrine of the church whence they came further than to discountenance anything like political or partisan reference to governmental policy from the pulpit. When they went out and reorganized, or rather established a new order upon old tenets, they took to themselves a new name-Christian Union. In 1868, I. H. Rector came to Rush County and began to present the claims of this new order, near Homer, and succeeded in establishing a church on the farm of Mr. Sells. They have a neat and comfortable house erected at the point where the organi- zation was effected, and a membership of ninety. The leading ministers of this church are F. Price, S. Watts, H. Ellis, and O. H.
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P. Abbott, who now ministers to them. They pay $250 for min- isterial services for one-fourth time. They number among their membership the leading citizens of the community -the most ac- tive members of society, and feel that they have done no wrong in divorcing themselves from the mother organization, because they considered themselves politically ostracized. While, as they con- sidered, they could not live without religious influence and devotion to God, they could live without the protection and guidance of that body which constantly ignored them because of their political views. There is but the one organization of this order in the county so far as known to the writer. Doubtless they would have largely in- creased had it not been that at the close of the war the min- istry whose offensiveness had driven so many away from their fellowship, ceased to bar the door against those of opposite polit- ical faith, and many who had gone out returned, and others who thought seriously of going out, remained. It is not probable that this order will ever branch out much in this county since its doc- trine and practice are so nearly the exact counterpart of the church whence they came out that separate organizations are not only useless but wholly indistinctive.
Adventists .- About four years ago Elder A. W. Bartlett, an Adventist minister, came to Rush County and began a series of lectures on the law and the fulfillment of prophecy at Goddard's, two and one-half miles east of Homer. He lectured there about a month and then removed his services to Arlington, where he re- mained about the same length of time. These lectures succeeded in fixing the attention of a few to the claims of this order for the Decalogue and in securing the promise of some fifteen persons to keep the Sabbath as recognized in the law given to the Jews. About two years afterward, Elders Huffman and Godsmark pitched a tent at Homer and lectured upon the same subjects for a period of ten weeks. They succeeded in effecting an organization of some seven souls and in having a house for worship built. They still hold seventh day meetings there, but have no regular preacher. They have made slow progress with their new doctrine and have not called out a sufficiently strong element to impress the community with the plausibility of their teaching. It is not prob- able that they will gain any permanent position among the churches of the county since their doctrine antagonizes and revolutionizes all other religious orders.
Besides what have been mentioned there are some two or three organizations that are apparently independent. In the southwest corner of Ripley Township is one of these, and it has received the name of "Fast Quakers" because it is composed of Quakers or
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Friends, and Methodists. In the combination the distinctive plea of each is lost and the amalgamation completely destroys the identity of either. The usual quietness of the devotion of the Friend is wholly lost in the extreme emotional zeal of the Methodist. They have erected a very neat house about three and one-half miles southwest of Carthage, and hold occasional meetings there still. Several organizations of the various churches have been abandoned on account of having been unable to maintain themselves. Ripley Township had two of this kind-one a Christian and one a Bap- tist. The Baptist belonged to the colored people and was situated in what is known as the Beech. The Christian on the road leading from Carthage to Knightstown, about half way between the two places. This congregation had a passably good house, which when they disbanded, was given to the colored Disciples of Carthage. They moved the building to Carthage and used it for church pur- poses until 1875, when they erected a new building which they now use. The Baptists have two houses in the county not now much in use, and the prospect is that at no distant day they will be entirely vacated. One of these lies southwest of Rushville seven miles, and the other is situated in the western part of Noble Township. Besides these, I have no report of any other organization, either existing or abandoned, except the Moscow Methodist Episcopal Church, in which there is apparently no "lamp" burning at the present.
Colored Churches .- The enjoyment of church privileges by the colored people of this city and county was first effected through the instrumentality of the Methodist Church. About 1871 or '72 a Rev. Mr. James came from Shelbyville occasionally and preached the word of God to the people of his race, and at length founded a church organization which, however, was not completed until the Rev. Daniel Tucker had replaced Mr. James. It is known as the Second Methodist Episcopal Church. For several years meetings were held at the houses of members, and at such public places as could be conveniently obtained for the purpose. The membership at first numbering only nine, increased so rapidly that the need of a church building began to be seriously felt. On August 2, 1877, the benevolent Mr. George C. Clark conveyed to the Trustees of the church, as a gift, a lot in the northeastern part of the city suit- able for the erection of a church building. Many white citizens contributed small amounts and by means of festivals among the col- ored people a sufficient sum was raised to erect a substantial and commodious frame structure. Rev. Henry Moreland first preached in the new church and the present pastor is the Rev. Cary Nichols. The church has continued its growth, until now there are fifty-seven
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communicants. The only other church organization among the colored people is that known as the Second Baptist Church which came into existence about four years since. Before a church was built Elder John Williams, of Indianapolis, preached in the court house and at the houses of church members. About two years ago means were raised by subscription and a neat frame church in the northeast part of the city was erected. Since the church was instituted the membership has grown from seven to fourteen. The Rev. Frank P. Green, of Shelbyville, is at present the pastor in charge.
These churches have planted the moral germ to which more than to any other influence Rush County is indebted for the high state of civilization she has attained. No county in the State can lay claim truthfully to a more universal church going populace, nor deeper veneration of the citizens for religion and religious in- fluences. In these pages the writer has endeavored to do the strictest justice to all, and has depended largely upon the reports furnished for the facts as set forth in the foregoing history. This history, doubtless, would have been more interesting had it indi- vidualized the respective congregations, but there was a limit of both time and space, besides the work demanded a general and not a specific history. It would be a pleasing pastime, and also a most interesting work for the general public to have fully written up step by step, the facts and incidents pertaining to the church work of this county, from its beginning until now. Should any or- ganization or rather order feel aggrieved or slighted by statements or omissions, I would beg that such be considered accidents and not intentional. There can be none prouder of the moral influences being exercised for the elevation of our citizenship than myself, and hence I could not intentionally disparage any of them however strong I might differ from them as to their claims for truth as their basis. I believe that the general history herein contained is as nearly correct as it can be gotten, since the source whence we must draw information has not the reliability of well kept records. In concluding, I can but express the hope that the church work may continue on to still greater accomplishments.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 1
JAMES W. ANDERSON, whose portrait occurs on another page of this volume, was born in Greensburg, Ind., March 24, 1832, and one of two sons to the marriage of Samuel L. and Eliza- beth (McCracken) Anderson, the former a native of Fayette County, Ky., of Scotch origin, and was born March 27, 1808, being
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the second son to the marriage of James and Mary (Logan) An- derson, natives of Cumberland County, Pa., who, in early life emi- grated to Kentucky, where James Anderson died in 1815. The wife of James Anderson was afterward united in marriage to Rev. William Bellbridge, and removed to Adams County, Ohio. The father of our subject in boyhood learned the tanner's trade, and in 1829 he located in Decatur County, Ind., where he continued his trade until his death, which occurred in 1835, and the following year Mrs. Anderson married Isaac Sorden, her death occurring early in 1837. The boyhood of Mr. Anderson was spent upon the farm and his education was limited to that obtained at the country school. He came to Rush County in 1852, and located in Richland Town- ship, where he engaged in farming and trading. As a farmer, he has always been a leader, and as a trader and business man, one of the most prosperous in Rush County. His home farm is located near the village of Richland, consists of 480 acres, and is one of the best improved in this part of Indiana. October 16, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Livonia, eldest living daughter of Pres- ton E. and Eliza (Donald) Hopkins, natives of Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born six children, viz .: Alice E., Samuel B., Mary E., John (deceased), Lyle H. and James W.
MAHLON BROOKS, who has been a resident of Richland Town- ship for the past forty-six years, was born on a farm eight miles east of Brookville, Franklin Co., Ind., September 6, 1816, being the son of Eli and Sarah Brooks, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania and Ohio, respectively. He was reared upon a farm in his native county, and on the 23rd of May, 1839, he was united in mar- riage to Sarah A. Peterson, who also was a native of Franklin County, born October 10, 1823. In 1841, Mr. Brooks moved to this county and settled in Richland Township, where he has ever since resided. He has lived upon the farm he now occupies since IS44. His first wife died April 11, 1843, and in August, 1844, he married Mrs. Catharine Baughhon, who was born in Roanoke County, W. Va. Her maiden name was Catharine Pursinger. She remained the wife of Mr. Brooks until the year 1870. On the 22nd day of October of that year, the marriage of Mr. Brooks and Miss Caroline Heddrick was solemnized. She was born in Frank- lin County, this State, July 17, 1840, being the daughter of Fred- erick C. and Dortha Heddrick, who were natives of Germany. The first marriage of Mr. Brooks resulted in the birth of two children: Emily, who is now the wife of Joseph Horton, of Anderson Town- ship, and a son that died in infancy, unnamed. He and his present wife are the parents of three children: Eva, Cora, and Leah Ella, all of whom are living. Mr. Brooks and wife are members of the
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Methodist and Christian churches, respectively. In politics, Mr. Brooks is a Republican.
BEAUFORT L. CONNER, one of Richland Township's substan- tial farmers and honored citizens, was born in Fayette County, this State, November 11, 1816. He was the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Conner, both of whom were natives of the State of Vir- ginia, and the former was a native of Culpepper County. His father and mother accompanied their respective parents to Boone County, Ky., while both were yet very young. There they be- came acquainted and in about the year 1813, they were united in marriage. They immediately set out for Fayette County, this State, traveling the whole distance on horseback. They located upon a tract of land seven miles south of Connersville, where the subject of this sketch was born, and where his parents both spent the rest of their lives, and where both are buried. His mother died early in July, 1841, and his father died about the first of July, 1866. The subject of this sketch continued with his parents upon the old home farm until after his first marriage, which occurred November 15, 1836, or when he was four days past twenty years of age. The lady that became his wife was Matilda Anderson, who was born in Campbell County, Ky., April 3, 1817. Her parents, Henry and Nancy Anderson, were also natives of Kentucky. For three years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Conner resided in Fayette County. They then removed to Huntington County, this State, but a year later they settled upon a farm in Franklin County, where they lived for a period of eight years and six months. They then came to Rush County, and located upon a farm in Richland Town- ship, which has been the home of Mr. Conner ever since. His first wife died July 3, 1861, and on December 18, 1861, he was married to Mrs. Mary Jane Anderson, who was born near George- town, Brown County, Ohio, Angust 1, 1837. She was the daughter of William and Jane C. Thompson, both of whom were also natives of Brown County, Ohio. On November 5, 1856, she was married to James L. Anderson, who died December 28, 1857. The first marriage of Mr. Conner resulted in the birth of eight chil- dren, as follows: William H., Daniel H., Martha A., John E., Cicero, Ben F., Leroy and Mary O., all of whom are dead. Mr. Conner and his present wife are the parents of two children : Jennie T., and Beaufort L., both of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Con- ner are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Conner has been a member of that church since about 1840, and his father was a preacher in that church for forty years. Our subject owns a fine farm of 160 acres, about 140 acres of which is in a good state of cultivation. It is fitted up with a handsome residence and other
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