USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 35
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The first yearly meeting is said to have been held here in 1821, in the log house. But as this house could not contain the many hundreds of Friends expected from all directions, and many of them from a great distance, a temporary build- ing or shed was erected for the male members, the house being
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designed for the females. As the country was as yet sparsely settled, and as many of the settlers still lived in their log houses, it was a mattter of some speculation how lodging and entertainment could be furnished for so large a number as were expected from abroad. Notwithstanding the bad roads, the attendance was large. Some came on horseback, others in farm wagons, with a covering of cloth stretched over wooden bows. As to their accommodations and fare during the meet- ing, it is sufficient to say, they were satisfied.
At this meeting measures were taken to build a yearly meet- ing-house. A committee was appointed to report the next year. According to this report, a brick house was to be built, 110 feet long, 60 feet wide, and sufficiently high to admit of a youth's gallery ; the funds to be raised by a tax upon the mem- bers of the meeting, now composed of several quarterly meet- ings. Although the people were yet poor, the house was built, its cost and appearance exhibiting a striking contrast with the expense and style of houses of worship built at the present time. The following statement of materials and cost is said to have appeared in the Public Ledger : The number of perches of stone in the foundation, 225; 66,000 bricks; 6,473 feet of hewed timber; 1,250 feet of sawed scantling; 43,200 shingles; 1,020 panes of glass. The walls of the lower story were 22 inches thick; of the upper, 18 inches. Expenditures in cash were $3,489.91. Of the value of labor performed by members and other citizens without charge, probably no account was ever kept.
Its walls were finished in 1823; but the building was not completed until the next year. The old house still performs its wonted service. Within its walls and inclosures thousands continue to assemble to transact the business of the meeting, to witness its proceedings, and to listen to the addresses of their preachers. The building of a new house has been pro- posed, but the proposition has as yet failed to receive the approval of any yearly meeting.
The other society of the Friends, finding their grounds and house of worship insufficient for the uses of the society, and desiring a better location, sold their property, and purchased the square between Eighth and Ninth streets, and east of
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Broadway. A more eligible site could not have been selected. On these grounds they erected, in 1865, their neat and commo- dious meeting-house, and, in 1867, their three-story brick school-house, in which a school of a high order is maintained.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- This church was formed Novem- ber 15, 1839. By appointment of Presbytery, Rev. Peter H. Golliday and Rev. Edgar Hughes were present for the purpose of examining members. The persons composing the church at the time of its organization were : John Dougan, John B. Taylor, Thomas Young, Matthew B. Cochran, Ellis G. Young, Ebenezer Bishop, and Larkin Gordon, with their wives, Margaret Fryar, Mary Fryar, Cynthia Fryar, Fielding Young, Margaret E. Young, Wm. Clenedist, Jane Williams, Ann Sayre, Eliza Hamilton, Nancy Park, Parmelia Maxwell, Wm. McGookin, Sarah Sturdevant, - - Watson, Sarah Jeffries, Wm. MeGlathery, Lavina Fryar, Sarah Thompson. The first elders chosen were : John Dougan, Wm. MeGlath- ery, and John B. Taylor. The names of those who have since been elected to this office are : Moses C. Browning, Wm. L. Fryar, Thomas Hannah, Wm. Blanchard, Robert Fox, Almond Samson, Wm. C. Scott, John Cheney, Daniel K. Zeller. The first minister was Charles Sturdevant, whose pastorate continued about four years. Those who have since served the church as preachers are : Thomas Whallon; A. R. Naylor; F. P. Monfort, about five years; Rev. McGuire, who, after about a year and a half, died; John F. Smith, three or four years ; W. H. Van Doren, three or four years. In July, 1864, L. W. Chapman became minister of the church, and continued until May, 1870. In July following, J. M. Hughes commenced his labors, and was installed as pastor a few months afterward. For a short time after the organization of the church, their meetings were held in the house of the United Presbyterians. The next year they built a frame meeting-house on Front street, between Walnut and Market streets. Their present brick church edifice on South Fifth street was commenced in July, 1852, and dedicated in Janu- ary or February, 1854.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI .- This church, at the time of its organization, was called the Associate Reformed Presby-
28
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
terian Church. The records of this church prior to October, 1842, having been lost, the few facts of its early history here given are furnished chiefly from recollection, by one who was a member at the time of its organization. At the time of his settlement here, there were but few Presbyterians in this vicinity. The first sermon from a Presbyterian minister is supposed to have been preached by Alexander Porter, in 1824. Only occasional preaching, however, was had for many years. The first pastor, or settled minister, was Wm. M. Boyce, in 1835 or 1836. A frame meeting-house was built on Pearl street, south of Main. Among those who became members at and near the time of the organization were: Robert Grimes, Daniel Reid, A. Grimes, Jeremiah L. Meek, and John Reid, with their wives, widow Grimes, Mary Kibby, James McFadden, Mary Davidson, Isaac Conley. Robert Grimes and Daniel Reid were chosen elders. The name of Joseph McCord appears on record as an elder at a meeting of the session in 1843. The pastorate of Mr. Boyce terminated in 1851; after which the church had for many years no set- tled pastor or stated preaching. In 1858, it assumed the name of the United Presbyterian Church, and Adrian Aten became its pastor. In August, 1862, Robert Grimes, one of its elders, died. In October, 1863, Wm. S. Reid and John J. Conley were chosen elders. In 1864, it is believed, the labors of Mr. Aten as pastor ceased ; and on the 7th of May, 1866, Nixon E. Wade was ordained and installed. About the same time the society decided to build a new house of worship; and in November following, [1866,] Wm. S. Reid was chosen "to take the entire superintendence of the new church build- ing." David II. Dougan was elected treasurer; and Daniel Reid, John J. Conley, and David HI. Dougan, trustees for the ensuing year. On Sabbath, September 15, 1867, the congre- gation entered their new house of worship for the first time. The opening sermon was preached by Wm. Davidson, D. D., of Hamilton, Ohio. July 17, 1869, A. M. Weed was chosen an elder. In February, 1870, Rev. Joseph W. Clokey, the pres- ent pastor, commenced his labors, and was installed the 28th of April following.
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METHODIST CHURCHES .- Next to that of the Friends, the first religious society in Richmond was the Methodist Episcopal. The exact date of its organization is not easily ascertained. Dr. Plummer says : "The first meeting was held in 1819 in a small log house on Front street. Daniel Fraley was perhaps the first preacher in this section of country. He officiated in 1814 [it was in 1816] to Chryst, the first legally convicted murderer in Wayne county. John W. Sullivan was the first stationed Methodist minister in Richmond." Rev. R. Toby, in his discourse in Pearl Street church, April 4, 1869, on the origin and progress of Methodism in Richmond, says, that in 1822, Russell Bigelow was preacher in charge of White- water circuit. [According to Rev. W. C. Smith, in a chapter on the "Progress of Methodism," Allen Wiley and James T. Wells were appointed to Whitewater circuit in 1822, and Russell Bigelow in 1823.] We learn further from Mr. Toby, that, after some effort to obtain a house to preach in, the use of a small school-house was obtained. Mr. Bigelow, he says, preached the first sermon delivered by a Methodist in Richmond. A small class was organized, whose meetings were held for a time in the house of Mrs. Pierson. The mem- bers of this class are stated by Rev. Mr. Smith, to have been George Smith and Sarah, his wife, Mercy B. Smith, Rachel S. Smith, Stephen Thomas and Margaret, his wife, and Margaret Pierson.
Richmond having been given up for a time, Rev. James Havens, in the autumn of 1825, succeeded in re-establishing Methodism here. A frame meeting-house was built on or near the present site of the Pearl Street church; and in 1838, Richmond became a station. In 1851, the present brick church was built; the old frame building having been re- moved to Seventh street, south of and near Main, and con- verted into a dwelling house. The names of the pastors of this church, in the order of their appointment, are : John W. Sullivan, J. Tarkington, J. H. Hull, R. D. Robinson, A. Con- well, W. Wheeler, J. M. Stagg, C. W. Miller, J. II. Hull (sec- ond time), W. H. Goode, T. Webb, J. W. Stafford, S. T. Cooper, A. Eddy, V. M. Beamer, H. N. Barnes, J. Col-
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clazer, J. W. T. McMullen. Dr. T. S. Johnson, now missionary to India, C. N. Sims, N. H. Phillips, R. Toby, and J. V. R. Miller, the present pastor.
Grace Church [Methodist Episcopal,] was formed, August 24, 1858, chiefly, from members of the Pearl Street church. They bought the property now owned by the Central church, and fitted up the second story for a place of worship, which was named Union Chapel, and occupied by the society until the completion of their new house on the south-west corner of Seventh street and Broadway, which bears the name of Grace Church. This is a large and elegant, as well as the most costly church edifice in the city. It was built in 1868, under the general superintendence of a building committee, consisting of Charles T. Price, Wm. G. Scott, Isaac D. Dunn, E. M. Baylies, Clinton Mc Whinney, and Lewis Burk. The cost of the building and lot was a little less than $40,000. The names of the ministers in charge, and the years of their appointments, are as follows: J. V. R. Miller, 1858; F. A. Hardin, 1860; A. Greenman, 1861; W. H. Goode, A. S. Kin- nan, 1863; Wm. Wilson, 1865, resigned during the first quarter, and was succeeded by A. Marine, 1865; A. S. Kinnan, 1868; E. B. Snyder, 1870; A. A. Brown, 1871.
CENTRAL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- A society of Methodists, the third charge of that denomination in the city, was organized in 1867. Among the leading men in this movement were: David Sands, Barton Wyatt, George W. Iliff, James Hamilton, Dr. Daniel. Lesh, and Wm. Gor- such. The society occupied a meeting-house, on the corner of Marion and Market streets, until 1868, when David Sands and Barton Wyatt purchased the Union Chapel buildings, on Main street, previously owned by the second church, [Grace.] The place of worship is in the second story, the lower story being occupied by business men. In 1870, the property was bought by the society. The pastors of this church have been : J. R. Layton, Patrick Carland, C. W. Miller, and Thomas Comstock, the present incumbent.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- The first Episcopal services in this city were held in the winter of 1837, by Bishop Jackson Kemper, of Wisconsin. In the ensuing spring, Rev. Mr.
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Waldo came and preached two months in the Warner build- ing. In the summer and fall of this year, Rev. George Fisk, sent by the Board of Domestic Missions of that church, com- meneed his labors with this society. They occupied, for a time, the Warner building, and then removed to the Masonic Lodge room, in the back part of Joshua W. Haines' building, on Main street. The church was regularly organized in Feb- ruary, 1839. The vestrymen elected were: James W. Borden, Stephen B. Stanton, George Arnold, Harmon B. Payne, John D. MeClellan. Wardens: James B. Green and H. B. Payne. Clerk, Ebenezer T. Turner. Rev. Mr. Fisk, on account of protracted ill health, resigned his charge in 1855, and died in February, 1860. Rev. John B. Wakefield was chosen rector on the resignation of Mr. Fisk, and continues to serve the church in that capacity. The society commenced building their present church edifice in 1840, and first occupied the basement in 1842. The house was finished in 1849, aud con- seerated the 20th of December of that year.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH .- An organization of the New Church in Richmond was effected in October, 1849, by Dr. O. P. Baer, Dr. Joseph Howells, Jacob Purington, Sidney Smith, Wm. Austin, and their families. The society flourished but for a short time. Most of the families removing from the city, its support was devolved chiefly upon Dr. Baer, who procured occasional preaching from missionaries visiting Richmond, meetings being held wherever places could be ob- tained. In 1867, he hired Rev. G. Nelson Smith, of Urbana, Ohio, to preach every four weeks at his residence. And in March, 1869, was formed a permanent organization of a so- ciety for a more effective promulgation of the doctrines of the New Church. A meeting was called of " all those persons who believed the doctrines of the Lord, as taught by Emanuel Swedenborg," at which meeting Dr. Baer submitted a decla- ration of principles and doctrine, and a constitution, which were accepted and signed by Dr. O. P. Baer, Mrs. O. P. Baer, Frank Pruyn, Mrs. A. Pruyn, J. H. Elder, his wife, and daughter, Sarah Wrigley, Julia Finley, Esther Chandler, Martin L. Crocker and his wife, David Strawbridge, and Thomas Deyarmon. Five trustees were elected, to wit:
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Frank Pruyn, secretary ; O. P. Baer, treasurer and chair- man ; Thomas Deyarmon, David Strawbridge, and John II. Elder. In May following, it was resolved to build a church edifice; and a subscription paper was drawn. The lot on the south-east corner of Franklin and Walnut streets was pur- chased for $1,500; and a contract was made for the building of the house for $3,650. The whole cost, in its present con- dition, was about $6,000; of which $2,000 was raised by sub- scription, the remainder by Dr. Baer and his wife. The temple was dedicated on Sunday, January 23, 1870, by Rev. George Field, assisted by Rev. Frank Sewal. Mr. Field was elected as minister, and is serving the society with accept- ance. A Sabbath-school is well sustained by the congrega- tion. The temple is a fine brick structure, of Gothic style, seating comfortably 175 persons.
BAPTIST CHURCH .- This church and society, which has ex- isted about seven years, commenced holding its meetings in April, 1865, in No. 3 Engine Hall, with an attendance of twelve to eighteen persons. A Sabbath-school of 30 scholars was commenced in June following; and on the 30th of July, a church of 22 members was formed. After having wor- shiped in the hall about six months, they met in what was known as Hadley's Hall. In 1866, a lot on Eighth street, near and north of Main, was purchased for a house of wor- ship. In April, 1867, a larger room having become necessary, meetings were held in Phillips' Hall, until the completion of the lecture room of the new church edifice, in January, 1869. This building was commenced in June, 1868, with very limited means within the society. Rev. J. P. Agenbroad, the pastor, E. E. Beetle, and C. S. Farnham, were appointed a building committee, and were also to collect funds. The building has been completed, except the spire and some internal arrangements. By the observance of a strict econ- omy, it has been brought to its present condition, at a cost not exceeding $15,000. It is a spacious, convenient build- ing, containing a pastor's study, and a room designed for festivals and other social gatherings. The membership of the church has been increased to about 150. To the assidu-
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ous labors of its pastor, is the church greatly indebted for its temporal and spiritual prosperity.
A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was organized in Richmond, in 1835. Rev. Peter Crocker, not then residing in the city, commenced preaching to the congregation every alternate Sabbath. The society, having no house of worship of its own, hired a house in the south part of the city. The dea- cons of this church were John Sailor and - Phelps. At the expiration of one year, Mr. Crocker removed to the city, and the congregation became his sole charge. In 1839, the or- ganization was discontinued, and most of its members united with the Presbyterian church.
RICHMOND FRIENDS' MEETING was organized in 1864. They occupied as their place of worship, a meeting-house on the corner of Marion and Market streets, until 1867, when their present house of worship on Fifth street, commenced in 1866, was completed. This meeting was composed of what is termed the "Orthodox" Friends, and its formation was indneed by the excessive numbers of the old meeting, and the inconvenience of attending meeting for worship in the remote part of the city. The new building is a neat and commodious edifice of moderate size, being 75 by 45 feet, and costing about $15,000. The building committee consisted of Charles F. Coffin, Hugh Maxwell, Benj. Johnson, Stephen Mendenhall, and John Nicholson. This is one of the four preparative meetings which belong to the old Whitewater monthly meeting.
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH AND CONGREGATION, the first Catholic church, for both German and Irish Catholics, was built by Rev. Father John Ryan, in the year 1846, corner of Pearl and Sycamore streets, where now the new church stands. The new building was erected, under Rev. Father J. B. Seepe, in the year 1859. It is 120 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 40 feet high. In 1870, the steeple was completed, being 110 feet high, and three bells were purchased, and a fine clock, under the direction of the present pastor, Rev. F. Hundt. The St. Andrew's congregation has about 200 families, and has three schools under the direction of one male teacher and two sisters.
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GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH .- This church [St. John's,] was organized in 1845 or 1846; and a brick house of worship was erected in 1846, on South Front street, and en- larged in 1855. Their first pastor was E. C. Shultz; the pres- ent is Gottlieb Lovenstein. Number of members, about 200.
Another GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH [St. Paul's,] was organized in 1853. Their house of worship is on South Franklin street. Their first pastor was Rev. Schamm; the present is J. Rehsteiner. The congregation numbers about the same as that of St. John's.
IRISH CATHOLIC CHURCH [St. Mary's.]-The date of its or- ganization has not been furnished. The church building was erected in 1853-54, for the English Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, organized in 1853; the expense of the building, $7,000, having been borne principally by Lewis Burk. About twelve years ago, it was purchased by the Catholics, and has since been enlarged. First pastor, Father Aegidius Mertz; second, Father John Villars; and for the last four years, Father Frank Moitrier.
Benevolent Socictics.
CHILDREN'S HOME .- This truly benevolent institution is worthy of record in our history. It was established April 1, 1867, and is under the management and control of a society known as the "Union Relief Association," whose object is to aid the indigent of the city. The good work of seeking out the needy and the suffering, and of administering relief, was actively prosecuted for a few years, when it became apparent that greater good could be accomplished by gathering up the destitute children, orphans and half orphans, and those in an equally pitiable condition, abandoned by their natural guardians, and placing them where not only their physical wants would be properly attended to, but where especial care might be bestowed upon their moral and intellectual culture. The object of the institution is to procure for them good and permanent homes, where they may grow up under these wholesome influences, and become useful members of society. The Home has fully met the expectations of its founders, and has thus far been wholly supported by voluntary con-
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tributions. The beneficial results of the quiet labors of the members of the association, are constantly increasing the number of the friends and patrons of the institution.
HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS .- This institution was organized November 4, 1867, under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association, by a committee of ladies, appointed by the association. The object of the founders of the Home is the relief of suffering females-women and children-es- pecially the reclamation of that most unfortunate and abandoned class whose reformation is generally supposed to be hopeless. The Home is at present on South Seventh street. Of the inmates, those who are able to labor are furnished with work. Some are provided with homes in good families, or in other ways cared for. The average number of inmates has been less than 25. The number ad- mitted during the year has averaged about 115. Of the class denominated " fallen girls," the yearly average is nearly 50. Among these have been several marked cases of reformation.
The officers of the society are : Rhoda M. Coffin, president ; S. A. Iliff, vice-president ; R. A. Mendenhall, secretary ; Mrs. J. Elder, treasurer ; Mrs. E. L. Johnson, superintendent; Mrs. R. A. Stanton, matron.
Building Associations.
The object of a building association is to raise moneys from the savings of its members, to be loaned to members of the association, for use in buying lots or houses, and in build- ing and repairing houses, and for such other purposes as are provided for in the act of the legislature, approved March 5, 1857, authorizing the incorporation of such associations.
The capital stock of each association is limited to $100,000, and is divided into shares of $200 each. Seven of these as- sociations have been organized in Richmond since March, 1870, with an aggregate capital of $700,000. The titles of the associations and the names of their officers are as follows:
PIONEER BUILDING ASSOCIATION, organized March 7, 1870. Directors-Charles P. Peterson, president ; Edward H. Conkle, vice-president ; John H. Dickman, secretary ; W. P. Wilson,
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treasurer; Richard A. Howard, James M. Poe, Lewis K. Harris, Frederick Maag, M. E. Hillis.
RICHMOND BUILDING ASSOCIATION, organized April 18, 1870. Directors-Daniel K. Zeller, president; Daniel B. Crawford, vice-president ; James J. Russell, secretary ; Ethan C. Kelly, treasurer; James M. Poe, Benj. W. Elliott, Thomas J. Newby, Charles P. Peterson, Jonas W. Yeo.
WHITEWATER BUILDING ASSOCIATION, organized January 9, 1871. Directors-James M. Poe, president ; Charles P. Peter- son, vice-president; James J. Russell, secretary ; John W. Randall, treasurer; Wm. II. Brandall, John H. Dickman, George W. Mallis, Arthur A. Curme, Peter Johnson.
MECHANICS' BUILDING ASSOCIATION, organized February 7, 1871. Directors-Lewis K. Harris, president; Henry H. Meerhoff, vice-president ; John H. Dickman, secretary ; Wm. Bartel, treasurer; John H. Dickinson, Henry Meyer, Henry Cutter, Richard A. Howard, W. Hawecotte.
FIFTHI BUILDING ASSOCIATION, organized February 14, 1871. Directors-Edward Bellis, president; Oran Perry, vice-presi- dent; James J. Russell, secretary ; David H. Dougan, treas- urer; Clement W. Ferguson, Arthur A. Curme, James M. Poe, Wm. J. Hiatt, Edward II. Dennis.
SIXTII BUILDING ASSOCIATION, organized March 7, 1871. Directors-Frederick Rosa, president ; George H. Snyder, vice- president; John H. Dickman, secretary ; Henry Cutler, treas- urer; D. Feltman, Geo. Schnelle, Geo. Hasecoster, John Kochring, Henry Tieman.
SEVENTH BUILDING ASSOCIATION, organized April 18, 1871. Directors-John S. Lyle, president; Phil. F. Wiggins, vice- president; James J. Russell, secretary; John B. Dougan, treasurer ; James M. Poe, Benj. W. Elliott, James E. Thomas, Stephen S. Strattan, M. W. Hobbs.
Richmond Industrial Association.
This association was organized May 12, 1870, with a capital stock of $30,000, divided in shares of $10. It purchased of Nathan Hawkins 32 acres of ground lying on Seventeenth street for $15,000. Expended for improvements, about $16,000. First Board of Directors-Jonas W. Yeo, Arthur
Strobridge & Co Lith . Cin. O.
Thomas M. Bennett.
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A. Curme, Edward Y. Teas, J. M. Gaar, T. W. Roberts, W. H. Bennett, W. C. Starr, John J. Conley, Levi Druley, Ste- phen Farlow, John Brooks. Officers-J. Milton Gaar, Presi- dent ; Jonas W. Yeo, Vice-President; Oran Perry, Secre- tary; C. W. Ferguson, Treasurer ; C. Fetta, Superintendent. Annual meetings are held on the first Monday in February. The officers for 1870 were re-elected in 1871. The first Fair was held September 25th to 30th, inclusive. The second fair, September 11th to 16th, inclusive. Both fairs were attended with complete success, equaling the state fairs in the quantity and quality of articles on exhibition.
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