USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 35
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DR. EMIL KNAPP, a well-known young dentist of Evansville, was born at New Al- bany, Ind., September 24, 1854, and is the son of Dr. Charles and Catherine (Tuer- kes) Knapp, deceased, both natives of Ger- many. He was reared in the town of his birth, and in Spencer and Warrick counties, Ind. His education was received in the public schools of the state, and at St. Meinrad's College, in Spencer county. He came to Evansville in 1874, and about a year later began the study of dentistry in Evansville in the office of Dr. S. B. Lewis, and remained with that gentleman nearly two years. He then took a course of lec- tures at the Ohio Dental College. Return- ing to Evansville, he began at once practicing, and has continued up to the present, meet- ing with success. He is now considered one of the leading dentists of Evansville. He was married May 25, 1876, to Mary A. Ellis, daughter of Capt. August Ellis, of Evansville, Ind. To this union six children have been born, all of whom survive.
CHAPTER VIII.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY - WALNUT STREET CHURCH - FIRST AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN - METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES - ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH - BAPTIST CHURCHES - CATHOLIC CHURCHES - GERMAN LUTHERAN - GERMAN EVANGELICAL - CHURCH OF UNITY - JEWISH TEMPLES - YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION - CEMETERIES, ETC.
HE first church organization effected in Evansville was that now known as the Walnut Street Presbyterian church, which was constituted in 1821, by Rev. H. C. Banks, then pastor of the Pres- byterian church at Henderson, Ky. The following were the original members: Daniel Chute, James R. E. Goodlett, Will- iam Olmstead, Abigail Fairchild, Julia Ann Harrison, Rebecca Wood, Mrs. Chandler, Mr. Butler, Mrs. Smith, Eli Sherwood, Elizabeth Sherwood and Mary O. Warner. Daniel Chute and James R. E. Goodlett, were chosen as ruling elders.
its way up through the entire space of the building, and out by numerous accommodat- ing chinks and crannies."
In the year 1831, under the influence of Rev. Calvin Butler, who was at that time settled at Princeton, Ind., a movement be- gan to secure a house of worship. When the movement was fully started Mr. Butler changed his residence to Evansville, and under his ministry and personal supervision the work went forward. The citizens who took the lead in the enterprise were Messrs. John Shanklin, Judge William Olmstead, Luke Wood, Major Alanson Warner and Amos Clark, Esq.
For more than ten years there was no church building in the town, and this con- The original subscription paper for the erection of the building is still in existence, among the church papers, and as an inter- esting scrap of the city's history a copy is appended : gregation, as well as such others as were afterward organized, met in private houses; sometimes in an old log school-house on the lower side of Locust street, midway between First and Second; and occasionally in an old " Original Subscription. - The under- signed, being desirous to have a Presbyte- rian Meeting House for Evansville and its vicinity, promise to pay the sums severally annexed to our names, to Trustees hereafter to be appointed by the subscribers. Said house to be 30 by 50 feet, of brick, with walls 18 feet in height, to have 8 windows, with forty lights in each, of glass 10 by 12, with two doors, and a floor jointed, not planed, and a good roof: John Shanklin, $100; A. Warner, $50; N. Rowley, $20; log house which now stands on the premises of Mr. William Dean. The old court-house on the south corner of Main and Third streets was a frequent place of meeting, when an occasional preacher visited or so- journed in the town. The court-house in those early days is described as " without floors -' puncheon' seats were placed on the bare ground; the fire in winter was against the wall in a poorly framed fire- place; the smoke too often to the great in- convenience of worshippers, choosing to find Calvin Butler, $75; Luke Wood, $25 cash,
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labor, $50, $75; Wm. Olmstead, $25 cash, labor, $25, $50; Amos Clark, $50; David Negley, $25; James Lewis, $25: John Mitchell, $25: E. Hull, in labor, $5; Chas. Fullerton, $5; Silas Stephens, in saddlery, $25; Julius Harrison, $5; Richard Brown- ing, $10; Alexander Johnson, $10; Marcus Sherwood, $10; Archeppus Gillett, $10; Daniel Tool, in tailoring $5; John W. Duncan, in leather or cash, $20; Robert Barnes, $10; John W. Lilliston, $3: John Ingle, $10; Levi Price, in labor, $10; M. D. Robertson, $2.50."
In pursuance of the foregoing subscrip- tions, trustees were elected, of which the following is a copy of the official record:
" At a meeting of the subscribers for build- ing a Presbyterian Meeting House, in the town of Evansville, at the house of Alanson Warner, on the 23d of April, IS31, for the purpose of electing Trustees, in pursuance of the subscription, at which meeting David Negley was elected Chairman and James Lewis, Secretary, the following persons cho- sen Trustees : Amos Clark, Alanson Warner, WVm. Olmstead.
" DAVID NEGLEY, Chairman, "James Lewis, Secretary."
To complete the house, however, it was found necessary to send Rev. Mr. Butler, the pastor, to the eastern states to solicit aid, and with the contributions obtained the trustees were enabled to complete the church in 1832. It was located on the ground where the Courier office now stands on a considerable elevation known as " the hill." The entire cost of the building did not exceed $1,300, and yet it was regarded at the time as a great advance in town arch- itecture. As descriptive of the building when completed, the following extract is made from the sermon of Rev. W. H. McCarer, preached on the occasion of the last religious service before destroying the
building, February 26, 1860, preparatory to the erection of the edifice now occupied by the congregation: "The first set of seats were plain pine benches, without backs; a slight elevation upon which was placed a second-hand dry goods box, covered with green book-muslin or baize, was ' the desk ' from which the minister gave forth the Word of Life. Subsequently, and to keep up with the times, benches with backs were introduced; and an oblong pulpit of plain panel work painted white, which enclosed the preacher so completely that when he sat down he could scarcely be seen by the aud- ience, and when he rose to preach, it was as if from a strong frontier block-house he sent forth Gospel missiles." This building for many years was the only public house of worship in Evansville. It was several times refitted and once enlarged before its sale in IS59.
The first regular pastor was the Rev. Calvin Butler, who remained with the church until 1834, when he removed to Washington, Ind. After this the church for some time enjoyed the ministry of Rev. Mr. McAfee, who was at that time laboring in the Pres- byterian church at Henderson.
In the year IS37 Rev. Jeremiah R. Barnes took up his residence permanently in the place and was invited to become pastor of the church. During this year occurred the division of the Presbyterian denomination into the " Old School " and " New School." The Evansville church became a part of the "New School " body, transferring its con- nection from the presbytery of Vincennes to the presbytery of Salem, and so remained until the union of 1870 made the denomin- ation one again. Mr. Barnes was installed as pastor of the church November 25, 1838. He continued his ministry until the autumn of 1845.
In the spring of 1846 Rev. Samuel K,
L. & Hocu AB M. D
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Sneed began his ministry to the church, and continued his labors until February, 1848.
On the first Sabbath of April, in the same year, Rev. Charles E. Lord became a tem- porary supply for the church, and continued for one year. During his ministry the church building underwent considerable repairs. | The whole interior was changed. External changes were also made, including the addi- tion of a belfry and bell.
On the 28th of October, 1849, Rev. Will- iam H. McCarer began his ministry as pas- tor, and continued his labors in this capacity until April, 1868 - a period of more than eighteen years. Mr. McCarer's pastorate was the longest, and in many respects the most eventful in the history of the church. When he came to the church it consisted of about . thirty members. During his
ministry 272 members were added. The church enjoyed several seasons of marked religious awakening during these years. Growing up with the city and being identified with its people in every good work, not only as pastor of this church, but also afterward in the First Avenue church, his name became a household word in very many homes outside of his own church and all churches where his ministry was felt and his consolations enjoyed in the time of trouble. His memory is cherished by all who knew him, as a good citizen and faithful minister of the gospel of Christ. During his ministry, and very largely under the inspiration of his faithful and untiring labors, the present church edifice was erected. The foundations were laid in the year 1859. The basement of the church was first occupied in February, IS61. There the services were held for two years. The completed church was formally dedicated on the first Sabbath of February, 1863, Rev. Dr. Tuttle, president of Wabash College, preaching the sermon. This edifice, at the corner of Walnut and Second streets,
was designed by J. D. Bulton, of Philadel- phia, and is built in the Norman style of architecture, being characterized by great size, elevation, simplicity and strength, with the use of the semi-circular arch, massive col- umns, and a great variety of ornaments, and crowned with two spiral towers. The value of the structure was probably $60,000, and for general attractiveness, convenience of ar- rangements and neatness of finish, is very noteworthy. It is 125x80 feet large, and the auditorium 65x100 feet, and will seat 1,050 persons.
In this connection it may be proper to mention the fact that the church has a most beautiful and commodious parsonage prop- erty. For this the congregation is indebted to the generosity of Mr. James L. Orr and his sister, Mrs. Martha J. Bayard, who erected the parsonage as a memorial to their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Orr -two of the beloved and honored dead who were so long identified with the church. Nearly ten thousand dollars worth of property was thus transferred to the ownership of the church as a perpetual contribution to the cause of Christ and the good of the community. Rev. J. P. E. Kumler, D. D., succeeded Mr. McCarer in the pastorate, commencing his ministry to the church July 5, 1868. His pastorate continued for three years, when he was called to the First Presbyterian church of Indianapolis. The church was greatly prospered under his ministry. One hundred and fifty-eight were added to the member- ship, and much was done in a systematic way for various forms of mission work at home and abroad. After the resignation of Dr. Kumler, Rev. Alexander Sterritt sup- plied the pulpit for some months. In July, 1872, a call was extended Rev. Samuel Car- lisle, who commenced his labors with the church in the autumn of the same year. Mr. Carlisle's pastorate continued until
16
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July, 1875. He was succceeded by Rev. Charles H. Foote, D. D., who began his services in November, 1876, and continued as pastor until September, 1878. After the resignation of Dr. Foote, Rev. J. Q. Adams was invited to become the stated supply of the church, and in October, 1879, was regu- larly called to the pastorate. His ministry with the church continued until September, 1881, when he tendered his resignation, and accepted a call to labor in California. After the departure of Mr. Adams, Rev. S. M. Dodge was invited to supply the pulpit, and began his connection with the church De- cember 25th, 1881. In March, 1883, Mr. Dodge was called to the pastorate, but was never formally installed. He closed his ministry to the church in September, 1883, and, like his predecessor, entered a field of labor in the state of California. On De- cember 23, 1883, a call was extended to Rev. L. M. Gilleland, who entered on his work February 10, 1884, was formally in- stalled May 18, and has continued as pastor of the church until the present time. The fruits of success have attended his labors. The membership now numbers 300, and the church is in a very prosperous condition. The Sunday-school is in a flourishing condi- tion; Mr. James L. Orr is its superintend- ent. Its membership, including that of a mission Sunday-school on Columbia street, is 350. During the summer of 1886 the church was extensively repaired and im- proved.
church of White Pigeon, Mich., where he was ordained and installed in April, 1871. In August, 1877, he accepted a call to the church of Tidioute, Penn., where he remained until January, 1884, when he entered upon his pastoral work at the church whose his- tory is here recorded. In addition to his other labors, Mr. Gilleland has always taken special interest in educational matters, and for a time taught Latin and Greek in the high school of Tidioute, delivering also, at stated intervals, to the school a course of lectures upon special subjects. At present he is a member of the board of trustees of Hanover College, Hanover, Ind., one of the leading educational institutions of the state. During the summer of 1881 he spent sev- eral months in foreign travel, and his popu- lar lectures upon subjects suggested by his travels, have been received with great favor and appreciative interest. He has always been a tireless worker, a zealous preacher, full of life and enthusiasm, and withal a ten- der pastor and a prudent man of affairs.
Grace Presbyterian Church .- In the year 1837, the Presbyterian church in the United States of America separated into two dis- tinct ecclesiastical bodies, known as the Old School and New School Presbyterian churches. The division was happily healed by the organic reunion of the two branches in 1869. As an incidental result of the gen- eral division, the church in this city was divided; the majority, composing the Wal- nut Street Presbyterian church, adhering to the new school assembly, while the minority instituted the Vine Street Presbyterian church, in connection with the old school assembly. While these two churches have since maintained their distinct existence, their denominational separation ceased in the reunion of the two assemblies when both came under the same ecclesiastical control.
Rev. Leland M. Gilleland was born in Butler county, Pa., June 7, 1843. Having graduated from Washington and Jefferson college, at Cannonsburg, Penn., in 1868, he entered the same year the theological sem- inary at Chicago, where he spent three years, graduating in 1871. In 1870 he was licensed to preach, and immediately upon leaving the seminary accepted a call to the | Grace church was organized under the cor-
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porate name of "Evansville Presbyterian church," in 1838, by Rev. Hugh H. Patten, of the presbytery of Vincennes, to which presbytery the church adhered after the di- vision of 1837. The original members were six: B. F. Dupuy, Mrs. Mary G. Dupuy, Miss Augusta Dupuy, Miss Julia Dupuy, Boyd Bullock and Mrs. Anne Bullock. B. F. Dupuy and Boyd Bullock were or- dained and installed elders. The first meet- ings were held in the court-house at the corner of Third and Main streets. The first pastor of the church was Rev. J. V. Dodge, who was ordained and installed June 6, 1841. It is a pleasing reminiscence of those early days that the ordination took place in St. Paul's Episcopal church, which was kindly tendered for the occasion. Mr. Dodge continued as pastor till 1850, the church enjoying two precious revivals under his ministry, as a result of which large num- bers were added to its memberships, and at the conclusion of his pastorate 120 names were on the roll. He is still an habitual worshipper with the congre- gation and has always contributed to the welfare of the church by his valued counsel and cordial co-operation in every good work. Upon his resignation of the pastorate in 1850, he was succeeded by Rev. J. N. Saunders, who, owing to ill health, held the charge for only one year. The next pastor was Rev. Alexander Sterret, who was in- stalled in 1851, and continued till September 14, 1865, a pastorate fruitful of much good, and precious to the memory of many who still remain. Rev. C. B. H. Martin was in- stalled as pastor May 1, 1866, and was re- leased from the pastoral charge in the fall of 1881. Dr. Martin was one of the most intellectual, scholarly and eloquent men in this part of the state, and during his fifteen years of service in this field, did much good in the upbuilding of the church. In the
summer of 1882, Rev. James L. McNair was installed as pastor and continued in that relation till September, 1887. Mr. McNair was a faithful and efficient worker; during his pastorate the pleasant and commodious parsonage was erected, costing $7,051.00, and 133 names were added to the church roll, seventy-five of them on profession of faith. Rev. Edward F. Walker, the pres- ent pastor, was chosen December 21, 1887, and installed April 22, 1888.
This distinguished clergyman was born at Steubenville, Ohio, January 20, 1852. His father, Benjamin F. Walker, a native of Pennsylvania, was a California pioneer, and served two years as a soldier in the First California Volunteer Infantry, being honor- ably discharged at Santa Fe in 1864. He died at San Francisco in 1876 at the age of forty-eight. His wife, Elizabeth J. Tread- way, died in Ohio three years previous, at the age of forty-five. The son Edward lived on the Pacific coast from 1864 to 1881, and was married at Santa Cruz, Cal., April 7, 1875, to Miss Eliza A. Bennett, a native of Wisconsin. Their union has given to them six children, of whom the eldest, Francis A., died at the age of seven years. The names of those living are: Edith, Ed- ward B., Mabel, Bertha B. and John P. Mr. Walker began life as a printer, serving his apprenticeship at Stockton, Cal., and then working as a journeyman for two years. He received his education at the University of the Pacific at San Jose, and pursued pri- vately his studies for the ministry. He was ordained by the presbytery of San Fran- cisco, September 7, 1879, and then his min- isterial service began with the pastorate of the Third Congregational church at San Francisco for one year, followed by that of the First Presbyterian church, Virginia City, Nev., for one year. Then he came east, and after two years' attendance upon
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the Western Theological Seminary, during which time he was pastor of Glenfield and Long Island churches, he became pastor of has a membership of 150. At the present the First Presbyterian Church of Martin's time its ruling elders are: Samuel M. Archer, clerk; William G. Brown, William D. Ewing, Erastus P. Huston, James T. Walker. Ferry, Ohio, from 1884 to 1888, and thence was called to Evansville. Since his ordi- nation, he has received at least four hundred members into the church, one hundred of whom were received the year before he came to this city. He is an eloquent and forcible speaker, and a devoted worker in the sacred cause to which he has devoted his life.
The first house of worship owned and occupied by the church was erected in 1843 at a cost of $2,108, at the corner of Vine and Second streets, and, because of its loca- tion, became popularly known as Vine Street church. During the long and fruitful min- istry of Rev. C. B. H. Martin, the present church edifice was built at a cost, including the lot, of $65,023, and dedicated Septem- ber 13, 1874. Its style of architecture is the castellated Gothic, its symmetrical pro- portions combining strength and beauty. Its interior is finished and furnished in the highest style of modern art; and the audi- torium has a seating capacity for 700 per- sons. The church building was erected and dedicated without the incurrence of a debt. Its architect was Robert Boyd; the building committee was composed of the following gentlemen: W. E. French, N. M. Goodlet, L. Ruffner, jr., S. M. Archer, C. Preston, and W. G. Brown. In the same year, 1874, the name of the organization was changed to "Grace Presbyterian church." During the past year there has been constructed a beautiful and convenient lecture room, at a cost of about $17,000, the munificent gift of Mrs. Caroline S. Mackey - in memory of her parents, Judge John and Sarah Law. The church is in a very properous condition, its membership
now numbering 250. Its Sunday-school, with Mr. R. M. Millican as superintendent,
First Avenue Presbyterian Church .- The Second Avenue Presbyterian church was organized in December, 1872, with a mem- bership of twenty-five, with Loring G. Johnson as elder. June 1, 1873, John Sava- cool and Otto F. Jacobi were also made elders, and John B. Williams was made a deacon. The Second Avenue church was dissolved November 10, 1875, forty-six members withdrawing for the purpose of forming a new church to be called the First Avenue Presbyterian church, which was or- ganized November 11, 1875, with Rev. W. H. McCarer as pastor; Otto F. Jacobi, W. H. Wood, and R. L. Brown, elders; J. B. Williams, W. J. Harvey, and W. Z. Smith, deacons; O. F. Jacobi, Jacob Weintz, Nick Elles, John Greek, and W. J. Harvey, trus- tees. Immediately upon the organization of the new church steps were inaugurated for the building of a suitable house of worship. The work was rapidly pushed forward, and on April 2, 1876, the new building was dedicated to the service of God with appro- priate exercises conducted by Rev. W. H. McCarer. At that time the membership of the church was fifty-seven; about four years passed before it reached a hundred. That God has blessed and prospered it is shown by the fact that it now numbers 300. In the old church Rev. V. B. Van Arsdale was pastor until 1874, when Rev. W. H. Mc- Carer was installed. From that time until his death, in February, 1880, he served the congregation faithfully and with great devo- tion. His was a remarkable career. For nineteen years he was the pastor of the Walnut Street Presbyterian church, and for
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six years pastor of the new charge. His character was full of loveliness and his life full of good works. His successors have been Rev. H. A. Dodge, Rev. Hutchinson, Rev. Linn, Rev. David Van Dyke, and Rev. Joseph S. Grimes, D. D., the present pastor. Dr. Grimes is an able, earnest and eloquent preacher. The Sabbath school has nearly 200 members; William Lambert is superin- tendent. The present trustees of the church are: William A. Heilman, jr., John Jordon, O. F. Jacobi, Jacob Weintz, William New- man, W. J. Harvey, and G. E. King.
Cumberland Presbyterian Church .- The religious denomination known as the Cum- berland Presbyterian church was organized in Dixon county, Tenn., in 1810, with three members. So popular were its doctrines, that the number rapidly increased, and many missionaries were sent out in various direc- tions, particularly in the south and south- west. As early as 1817 " circuit riders " crossed the Ohio, and held camp meetings in various portions of southern Indiana. Many converts were made, and a large por- tion of them associated themselves with the new organization. Among the sturdy pioneer preachers of this church who are still held in precious remembrance by many of the people of Evansville and vicinity are: David Lowry, William Lynn, James Ritchey, Hiram A. Hunter and William McLeskey. The congregation of Cumber- land Presbyterians as it now exists in Evans- ville was formally organized by Rev. William Lynn, with twenty members, in a log school- house in Knight township, January 31, 1841. The brief covenant under which they asso- ciated themselves together was as follows: " In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority which He has given His church, we, the undersigned, do, for each other's mutual help and comfort, agree to form ourselves into a society to be known
by the name of the Evansville Society, and place ourselves under the care of the Indi- ana Presbytery, and agree to be governed by the discipline of the Cumberland Pres- byterian church." On the same day Will- iam Underwood, Stephen D. Hopkins and John C. Henson were elected elders, and Isaac Knight was elected deacon. Mr. Henson acted as clerk of the session for over twenty years. As the number of members residing in Evansville gradually increased, the thought of erecting a house of worship in the city began to be seriously considered. At length, in 1851, a suitable edifice was erected at the corner of Second and Chestnut streets, where the Owen block now stands. This work was accom- plished principally by a few men and wo- men, who, though without great wealth, were too deeply interested in the work to ad- mit of failure. Among them were: Mr. and Mrs. John C. Henson, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Sherwood, Mrs. Judge Foster and Mrs. Paulina McCallister. A few years after its completion, the church was almost totally destroyed by fire, but it was at once rebuilt. During the first five years of its history there was no regular pastor, but the congregation was served by missionaries or pastors from other churches, among whom were: Revs. William Lynn, H. A. Hunter, Benjamin Hall, E. Hall, and J. E. Bates. In 1846, Rev. Samuel Darr commenced preach- ing with a view to regular pastoral labor. In 1852, after the erection of the first church building, Rev. James Ritchey was installed as pastor. He was followed by Rev. J. S. Jacobs in 1855, who remained but a short time. In 1858, Rev. Aaron Burrows was called to the pastorate. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Burrows entered the con- federate army, and was killed in battle. Rev. J. G. White became pastor July 17, 1860, and was succeeded July 17, 1865, by
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