History of Tipton County Indiana, Part 19

Author: M. W. Pershing
Publication date: 1914
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 701

USA > Indiana > Tipton County > History of Tipton County Indiana > Part 19

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ard Cobb and Philemon Plummer. A house of worship was erected on Jef- ferson Wheeler's farm about the year 1854, and a good society maintained for a period of twelve or thirteen years, at the end of which time it was abandoned, because of the members joining the Windfall organization. The first meeting in the village was held at the school house in 1866 and an or- ganization was made with fifty members. Meetings were held at this place for eighteen months, when plans were made to erect a house of worship adequate to their needs. A lot was purchased in the northern part of the village and work on the new home begun at once. The building was frame, forty by fifty feet, and cost 'twenty-two hundred dollars, also had a seating capacity of three hundred and fifty. The first pastor was Elder Jacob Blount, who stayed one year. Following him came Elder Wright, staying the same period of time, and then came Elder James Blackman, and then, in regular order, C. Quick, Mr. Taylor, M. W. Jamison, P. Blount, Mr. McGuffin, Hi- ram Ford and Mr. Franklin.

The Christian church at Windfall is now in a very prosperous condition. The church has a membership of four hundred people, with a Sunday school enrollment of three hundred and seventy-five. Rev. J. H. Mavity is the pres- ent pastor of the church, and among those who have preceded him in the last twenty-five years were Revs. Elmer Sellers, Cornelius Quick, T. H. Coon, Samuel Hawthorne, William Kenney, Wylie Ackman. Myers, C. G. Barthol- omew. William Moore, F. D. Muse, F. Miller, Stotler and A. A. Honeywell. A beautiful white brick church was begun in August, 1909, and dedicated in August. 1910. This structure cost the sum of twenty thousand dollars. The church has a Ladies' Aid Society, Men's Bible class, with one hundred and thirty-five members, the Christian Women's Board of Missions and a Young Ladies' Circle.

The Christian church was organized at Hobbs in about the year 1884. the original promoters being Silas Negley. W. C. Morgan, B. F. Good and Sherman Hobbs. Elder B. M. Blount was the first minister, he using the empty room over the Morgan store. Following Elder Blount, Warren Goody- koontz took charge, but the church did not thrive and a number of times it was on the verge of disbandment. The congregation dragged along with more or less discouragements until 1896, when A. C. George and his co- laborers bought the old township school house and converted it into a church building Up to this time. they had been using an old blacksmith shop. This gave the church new life and it began to grow until its membership increased to about seventy-five. and they considered themselves in rather a prosperous condition. Up to this time, services are held every two weeks, but it is ex-

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ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, TIPTON.

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pected in the future that there will be regular services every Sunday. The old brick schoolhouse did not meet the wants and desires of the congrega- tion, and after a brief campaign among the members they received such en- couragement that the effort was made, with the result of a triumphant suc- cess. Elvin Daniels was ordained as a minister from this congregation. The following is a list of ministers that have been employed from time to time at Hobbs : O. P. Snodgrass, B. M. Blount, T. H. Kuhn, E. E. Kuhn, John Street, M. J. Hodson, C. Taylor, M. Pyle, W. C. Bower, L. C. Howe, M. Mc- Donald, George D. Foster, Newton Wilson and J. W. Whittkamper.

The Christian church at Hobbs has at present a membership of seventy- five people. The new church building was erected in 1911, under the pastor- ate of Rev. J. W. Wittkamper, and cost approximately forty-nine hundred dollars. A. C. George, J. R. Glick and A. M. House were trustees at the time; A. M. House, J. C. Carr, and Glick were commissioners. Roscoe C. Smith is the present pastor of the congregation. This church has a very good Sunday school and a Ladies' Aid Society.

Tetersburg Christian church is the oldest religious organization in the township, and was organized in 1849. It was organized by Elder Lemuel Shoemaker, with an original membership of about twenty, among whom were George Teter and wife, Asa Teter and wife, Ebal Teter and wife, Eli Teter and wife, Mahlon Teter, George Phares and wife. William Wimer and wife. Sarah Wolford. Levi Dunn and wife, and Enos Miles and wife. The organization was made at the village school house, which was utilized as a place of worship for about twelve years, when a new church edifice was built. This house was a frame building and cost four hundred dollars, stand- ing on ground donated by Asa Teter. The first pastor was Elder Shoemaker. who stayed for a period of two years, and after Shoemaker came the fol- lowing: Revs. Abraham Cole, Samuel Poff. John Poff. George Boswell. Henry Puckett. James Humphrey, William Dunfee, Mr. Peck, John Puckett, John R. Kob, Mr. Williams, John Layman, D. W. Fowler and B. F. Jaynes.

The Christian church at Kempton at present is composed of one hundred and fifty members. Rev. J. A. Parker is the pastor. The Sunday school has an enrollment of one hundred and fifty, and the societies are the Home Workers, and the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

In the days of 1844, when Tipton was laid out, the Catholics were very few. The first priest- who said mass in Tipton county was Rev. Simon Sie-

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grist, who on occasion of a sick call to Tipton, said mass in the home of John Murphy. In 1856 Rev. D. Maloney came occasionally. Next came Rev. B. J. Force, stationed at Peru. Rev. Bernard Kroeger attended Tipton from 1864 to 1871, attended by the following assistants: Revs. C. Mougin, 1864; Law- rence Lamoor, 1865; Michael Hanley, 1867; B. T. Borg, 1869; P. Frawley, 1870, and J. H. O'Brien in 1871. Rev. John Grogan attended Tipton as a station from Kokomo.

The first church built in Tipton was in 1874, while Rev. Francis Lorde- mann was attending from Kokomo. It was a frame structure, thirty by forty feet, and cost twelve hundred dollars. Fifteen families then composed the congregation.

Rev. F. G. Lentz became the first resident pastor at Tipton in July, 1876. In 1881 he built an addition to the church. On the evening of December 14, 1885, the frame church was destroyed by fire, caused by a defective flue. Plans were immediately made for a new church and, pending its construc- tion, services were held in school rooms and halls. The corner stone for the new church was laid on June 16, 1889. On June 5, 1890, Rev. Anthony J. Kroeger became the regular pastor. Under his pastorate the church was com- pleted and dedicated on August 30, 1891. The church is built in Gothic style, of brick and stone, and has two towers, one one hundred and sixty-five feet high and the other eighty feet. Year by year since the building of the edifice additions and improvements have been made, including a three-thousand-dol- lar pipe organ in 1906.

The school house erected by Father Lentz in 1885 was a two-story brick and stone building. From 1885 to 1888 the school was taught by lay teachers, after which the sisters of St. Joseph took charge. The sisters lived in a cot- tage on the southeast corner of the school property until the summer of 1891, when they moved into their new convent, adjoining the school property op- posite the church. This is at present used as a parochial school, while the old school is still in use as a hall.

The first priest's house was built in 1876 by Father Lentz. In 1897 a new priest's house, a two-story brick and stone building, was erected by Father Kroeger. The cost was seven thousand dollars.

Rev. Anthony Henneberger succeeded Father Kroeger in Tipton, and he was in turn succeeded by Rev. F. Joseph Bilstein, who serves the church at present. The congregation numbers about one hundred and fifty families.

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ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY.

The missionary, Rev. John Medaille, S. J., of Le Puy, was the founder of the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, in the year 1650. The sisters came to America in 1836, locating at St. Louis. Since that year they have been introduced into many of the dioceses of the United States. In the year 1888 three Sisters of St. Joseph left their convent at Watertown, New York, and journeyed to Cape Vincent, and at this point crossed the St. Lawrence river to Kingston, Canada. It was a dangerous trip, for the spring thaw had caused the ice to break. The stage driver whipped his horses over the ice, to lessen the danger of breaking through the bending crust. Passing through severe snow storms in Canada, they made their way. After many days of weary travel, they reached their destination, Tipton. This was on the after- noon of March 15, 1888.

There were very few Catholic families at Tipton at that time, and the church was but a small brick building with Father Lentz in charge. The priest had induced the sisters to come, and he met them at the station. For two weeks the women were cared for until their cottage in North Oak street was ready for them. Only one room of this cottage was plastered, and it served for all purposes. The hardships and privations of the sisters were many, but they bore them in hopes of the bright future.

The sisters immediately began teaching in the small parochial school at Tipton, and otherwise making themselves loved by the people with whom they came into contact. Mother Gertrude, one of the sisters, was fortunate to have a father with means to provide for the erection of a convent for them. This structure was erected in 1891. In 1893 Bishop Rademacher ap- pointed Rev. Anthony J. Kroeger as the spiritual director of the sisters. It was by his suggestion that the valuable two-hundred-acre farm, located one mile north of Tipton, was purchased. The first academy was erected on this land in the year 1903. Since then there has been added building after build- ing until the large. farm has taken on the appearance of a thriving educa- tional center. The academy erected in 1903 has a frontage of over one hun- dred and fifty feet and a depth of fifty-three feet. Several years later a new convent was built, on the lines drawn by the best architects money could se- cure. A new chapel was also constructed.

The grounds of the St. Joseph Academy are at present beautiful and artistic. Driveways, cement walks, flower beds, shade trees, and a large campus; modernly fitted and equipped buildings, including a gymnasium-all

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make the place an ideal residence for the girls attending school there. The sisters raise their own vegetables, live stock and crops. The surroundings could be no more ideal for the young girl entering womanhood, or sisterhood.

UNITED BRETHREN.

The United Brethren organized a society at the Oakland school house near the year 1873, and sustained it with a fair membership for nearly four years. The preachers during that period were Revs. Evans, McNew, John McNew and William Bais. The organization was abandoned in 1877. In 1873 the Christians, or New Lights, organized a society at the Oakland school house, under Elder Vanness, who secured a very fair membership. Public services were held at the school house until 1875, at which time the place of meeting was changed to the new Union Chapel church building, near the southwest corner of Madison township. The different pastors of this society were Elders William Hefflin, George Bozwell, De Bois and John Layman. The Union chapel was erected in 1875 by the general public for the use of the public, and favoring no particular use of any denomination. It stood on in the year 1860. The first meeting was held at the Zion school house in sec- adequate to the needs. Rev. Cobb, the founder of the society, preached for the ground donated by Joseph Henderson and cost five hundred dollars.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Baptist church at Tipton was organized in 1898 with ten members. C. M. Bragg was the first pastor, and the congregation worshipped in a hall rented for the purpose. A frame church was erected in 1900, costing, with the lot, about seventeen hundred dollars. The pastors have been Revs. C. M. Bragg, F. G. Kenney, C. M. Eddy, Robinson, Grennell, and the present one, C. M. Bragg. There are one hundred and fifty-five members of the church, and prospects are bright for many additional. The Ladies' Aid Society helps materially in the work of the organization.

The Regular Baptists organized a small society at New Lancaster school house in an early day, and sustained it for a number of years, having preach- ing at rare intervals. Their membership was few in numbers and no stens were taken to erect a house of worship. The school house and private resi- dences were used for the meetings. The minister under whom the society was organized was Elder James Ralston. The organization was abandoned many years ago.

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The Missionary Baptist church of Curtisville was organized by Rev. Henry Cobb at his residence some time prior to 1860. A house of worship was erected in the village in 1861, and afterward moved to Cobb's farm. This building was a huge log structure, in very poor condition, and was far in- church during the greater part of twelve years. Other pastors were William Hughes, Denton Simpson, J. A. Havens and Mr. Ellison.

Mount Zion Baptist church was organized by the Rev. Denton Simpson in the year 1860. The first meeting was held at the Zion school house in sec- tion 3, and a society formed consisting of twelve members. Public services were held at the school house until 1880, at which time a new temple of worship was erected. This stood in section 3, on land donated by James Ter- rell, and was a commodious frame structure valued at one thousand dollars. The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. Valentine Knight, who stayed about four years. After him came Rev. Denton Simpson, two years, and then Rev. Joseph Van Briggle accepted the pastorate and served the time of seven years. John Storm, four years, was the next pastor. Rev. Madison Carver came next.

Liberty Baptist church dates its history from the year 1853. It was or- ganized at the residence of Peter Duncan, about one and a half miles north of the village of Groomsville. The organization was made by the efforts of Rev. Henry Cobb, the original members being as follows: Roley Smith, Elizabeth Smith, John Smith, Eliza Smith, Edward Coombs, Frances Coombs, Elijah Henry and Judy Henry. Duncan's home served the congregation for about four years as a meeting place, when a log house was built a short distance north of Groomsville, on land belonging to Abraham Kirtley. This house was used as long as possible, when it was abandoned, and a frame structure erected in this place in the fall of 1882. The latter building was twenty-six feet by thirty in size, and was erected at a cost of nine hundred dollars. The first pastor of the church was Elder Cobb, who preached for a period of four years. He was succeeded by Rev. Simeon Mugg, who stayed but one year. After Mugg's time had expired, Elder Cobb was again called by the church, and remained about two years. Then came Uriah Thomas, one year, after which Rev. Denton Simpson preached at intervals for one or two years. Rev. John Storms succeeded Simpson, and stayed a little over one year, when Madison Carver was called to the pastorate. After Carver, came Storms again for a short time, who was succeeded in the year 1882 by J. K. P. Carson.

Poplar.Grove Separate Baptist church was first organized in the old log school house where the Jackson cemetery now is located. The society after- ward held meetings in Sharpsville for a year or two, and finally built a church

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on John Maze's farm. This building was afterward torn down, and in 1862 the church organization broke up. The early members were Reuben Jackson and wife, George Wiseman, James Bess, James Maze and wife, J. A. Maze and wife, Major Bennett, Oliver Brown and Andy Mills and wife. Elder Joy Randolph was the founder and pastor for many years. Reuben Jackson, A. J. Graham and Robert Sharp also preached at this church.

The Old School Baptist church was organized on the third Saturday in September, 1864, by a council composed of Wilson Thompson, John A. Thompson, A. B. Nay and George S. Weaver. The original members were Jesse G. Jackson and wife, W. J. Tyner and wife, Elizabeth Tharp, Charity Jackson, Joseph Hendrickson, James Powers and Elizabeth Lyon. The church was organized at the Lutheran meeting house. The church building was constructed in 1866. Elder Jesse G. Jackson was the first attending pastor.

The Windfall Baptist church was organized in the year 1871, by mem- bers of the Salem church living in the village and vicinity. The constitu- tional members were John Nutter and wife, James Edwards and wife, Eliza- beth Alexander and Vinnie Mulligan. Rev. Cobb preached about two years. and was followed by Rev. Denton Simpson, who stayed several years with great success. Revs. Odell and McDade were later pastors. The school house was used for a time as a meeting place, when the Methodist and Chris- tian churches were offered to the congregation for their use.

The first preachers in Wildcat township were of the Baptist denomina- tion. The earliest religious services were conducted by Rev. Archibald Leach at the residences of Silas Mitchell and John Pumphrey. These meetings were held at odd times, and the congregation increased so rapidly that the resi- dences were not sufficiently large to hold them. A log house was built by the people of the community, on the farm of Mr. Mitchell, and immediately after its completion a society was organized under the title of Salem church, con- sisting of the following members: John Pumphrey and wife, William Rosier and wife, and John Nutter and wife. Many additions were made to this num- ber shortly afterward, among whom were Henry and Mose Martin and their wives. The organization was consummated chiefly through the efforts of Revs. Cobb and Leach, the latter being the first pastor. He served them for about fifteen years. He was succeeded by Revs. Cobb, Denton Simpson and Carver. A neat frame house of worship was erected in 1869, costing fifteen hundred dollars.

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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, TIPTON.

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EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

The Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran church at Tipton is composed of two hundred and ten communicant members. There are seventy-eight pupils and six teachers in the Sunday school, and the societies are the Ladies' Aid and the Young People's Society. The old frame church used by this congrega- tion was constructed in 1896, but in 1905 a new brick edifice was constructed. The original Lutheran society of this church was organized in the sixties four miles southwest of the city of Tipton. In 1893 the need of the church in Tipton became so great that it was established there, and the country membership consolidated with them. Among the pastors who served before the consolidation were Revs. G. Gotsch, G. Schumm, P. Seuel and M. Ter- menstein. The first regular pastor at Tipton was Rev. H. Boester, who had charge of the entire gas belt. H. E. Steuhm came in 1901, and in September, 1905, he was succeeded by C. W. Baer. At the beginning of his pastorate, on October 11th, the new church was dedicated. In 1911 Rev. George H. Kase came from South Dakota, and was installed April 14, 1912. He serves the church at present.

The Richland Evangelical Lutheran church of Sharpsville was organized by Rev. A. H. Scherer in the Mud creek school house on June 23, 1857. There were nine members at the time of the organization, namely : John Long, Jona- than Ulrick, Henry Swing, Oliver Saunders, Jane Long, Barbara Swing, Martha Ann Saunders, Sallie Swing and Ladoskey Swing. The church building. two and a half miles southwest of Sharpsville, was built in 1863, at a cost of nine hundred dollars. On January 8, 1879, meetings were begun to be held at the Cole school house, owing to the greater facilities. Alonzo Scherer, S. P. Snyder and Samuel McReynolds are other pastors who have preached for the church.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Presbyterian church of Tipton was organized at Normanda by Rev. John Dale, on July 14, 1850, with the following enrollment : Andrew Evans, Susan Evans, Elizabeth J. Montgomery, Charles Rumsey. Sarah Rumsey, Elizabeth Paul and Martha E. Goar. Andrew Evans was ordained as elder. The Normanda church, by order of the Logansport presbytery, was dis- solved, and out of it and the Amith church, near Boxley, Indiana, a new church was ordered to be organized at Tipton, to be named the Tipton Pres-

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byterian church. Rev. John Dale and J. E. Rumsey were appointed a com- mittee to carry out this order, which they did on September 24, 1854. A frame church edifice was erected on West Jefferson street, where the Ed-La garage is now located, where it served its purpose until 1904 when the present brick and stone structure was built on the corner of Jefferson and West streets, at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. On the steeple of the old church was a lightning rod, on which was a large gilded ball. During the Civil war a soldier standing in front of the Long hotel, a square away, shot a minie bullet through this ball, creating considerable excitement and indignation. The leaders of the church had in mind the two-fold purpose, to educate the children and advance the church.

The Presbyterian church of Tipton is now in an excellent condition and rapid growth is prophesied for the future. The membership is about two hundred, and there are the Ladies' Aid Society, and other smaller organiza- tions, which aid in the work of the church.

Hopewell Presbyterian church, two and a half miles east of Sharpsville, was organized February 22, 1873, by Rev. J. S. Craig, by permit of the presbytery of Muncie, synod of northern Indiana. The organization consisted of eight members, who were William Bowlby, John C. Henderson and wife, Abraham V. Voris and wife, Martha S. Voris, Ann Caldwell, Lydia Kirk- patrick and Olivia M. Davis. William Bowlby and John C. Henderson were chosen elders, and Abraham V. Voris, deacon; Bowlby, Henderson and John Kirkpatrick were named as trustees, and plans were immediately laid for the erection of a church house of worship. This building was completed in the summer of 1874, costing sixteen hundred dollars, and dedicated in October by Rev. J. S. Craig.

COUNTRY CHURCHES.

In the country of Tipton county are many small churches thriving and exerting their good influence on the people. Some of them are small, but nevertheless they are important and are deserving of brief description.

Sandbank Christian church is located three and a half miles east of Tipton, and has about eighty members. Rev. Heflin of Russiaville is the pastor. New Hope has a Christian church three miles south of Tipton, with one hundred and twenty-five members, and presided over by Rev. G. D. Fos- ter of Tipton. Tetersburg Christian church has one hundred and fifty mem- bers, with Rev. A. L. Featherstone as pastor. Union Chapel, eight miles southeast of Tipton, has one hundred members; Rev. Johnson, of Indianap-

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olis, is the pastor. East Union Disciples' church is ten miles southwest of Tipton, has one hundred and fifty members, and Rev. Bartle, of Indianapolis, is the pastor. Albright Methodist church is eight miles southwest and has one hundred and twenty-five members. Jackson Station has a Separate Bap- tist denomination with one hundred members; Rev. Bruner is in charge. Rev. Omar McCoy is in charge of the United Separate Baptist, twelve miles northwest of Tipton, having one hundred members. Meins Baptist church near Groomsville has fifty enrolled. The Methodist church in Groomsville has seventy-five members, and is in charge of Rev. Modlin of Kempton. The Dunkard church, three miles north of Kempton, has fifty members, but no regular pastor. Hopewell Presbyterian church, northeast of Tipton, has seventy-five members. Hopewell Methodist Episcopal has two hundred mem- bers, a modern brick church, and is in charge of Rev. Liddle of Goldsmith. There is another Methodist church named Wesley chapel three miles west of Tipton, with one hundred members, in charge of Rev. Liddle. The West- point Disciples' church. in the northwest corner of the county, has one hun- dred members. The Prairieville Christian church, northwest of Tipton, has two hundred members, and a modern brick building with Masonic hall over- head. Rev. Agme is the pastor. There is a Dunkard church six miles north- east of Tipton, in Liberty township, and the pastor is Rev. John Stout.

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History of Tipton County Indiana, Part 19

Author: M. W. Pershing Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Number of Pages: 701

Author: M. W. Pershing
Publication date: 1914
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 701