USA > Indiana > Indiana Baptist history, 1798-1908 > Part 12
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good deal of aid to several of the Committees. After his return to his home the recuperation that he hoped for did not come. He was profoundly interested in the work of both the Convention and the College, and was anxious to be in the field; but his Heavenly Father had ordered it otherwise, and his brethren and friends followed his body to the grave January 25th, 1850. The Rev. T. R. Cressey says- further of him :
"He was not a literary man, he was nevertheless an ardent advocate of education. He was one of the founders of Franklin College, and never had that institution a more devoted friend. He gave to it his time and his money bountifully, and the toil of his maturer years. He realized the necessity of an ed- ucated ministry, in view of the characteristics of the age in which we live, the civil, literary and religious institutions associated with our government, and the high responsibility of the preacher of the gospel of Christ. He was not in any sense a brilliant man, nor an eloquent preacher. But as the celebrated Dr. William Carey, missionary to India, once said of him- self : 'He knew how to plead.' Elder Rees possessed that indomitable perseverance, stern self-application, unblanching fortitude and holy consecration to labor which made him a stranger to defeat in any enter- prise to which he put his hand."
CURRY'S PRAIRIE ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF VIGO, CLAY AND SULLIVAN.)
The Association was organized at Union church in 1834 with Elder Abram Stark as moderator, T. Ken-
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nedy, clerk, and a membership of 369. It was formed from the northern part of Union Association. In the Baptist Register for 1843 the number of churches given was eleven, and the number of ministers three. In 1850 there were fourteen churches and 866 mem- bers; in 1860 sixteen churches and 1,417 members and the ordained ministers were Elders D. M. Stark, Asa Frakes, F. R. Mckinney, W. B. Eldridge, E. G. Taylor, G. Crist and S. K. Sparks. The Circular let- ter for 1863 was a fairly elaborate discussion of the ordination of deacons. In 1880 there were twenty- one churches and the ordained ministers were the Revs. W. T. Cuppy, G. P. Fuson, J. B. Arnett, Wil- liam Winans, J. M. Turner, G. W. Marlow, G. W. Trent, C. R. Henderson, D. H. Nevins, J. M. Plew, S. M. Stimson, J. W. Stark, W. B. Eldridge, W. P. Sanford, C. B. Allen and E. Cooprider.
This Association has not been torn asunder and its work retarded by covetousness on the one hand which is always expressing itself in various forms of anti-missionism, but on the other has cultivated the missionary spirit, which readily accepts and promotes whatever promises the advance of the Redeemer's kingdom. From the first, so far as may be judged by the records, the Association has been heartily in favor of intelligent christian and denominational prog- ress; at least this has been so theoretically, and in some measure practically. For many years the Little Flock church led in the number of members, but at length it was equalled and then surpassed by the First Terre Haute church, which in 1905 reported 855
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members; and second to it was the Tabernacle church, Terre Haute, with 306 members.
Some of the strong ministers of the State have been pastors in this Association; President G. C. Chandler, D. D., came to Terre Haute in 1838, sent by the American Baptist Home Mission Society ; after one year he was called to the pastorate of the First church, Indianapolis, and became President of Frank- lin College in 1843. He resigned the presidency in 1851, went to Oregon, and soon engaged in building up McMinnville College. The Rev. Joseph Brown, D. D., was pastor of the First Terre Haute church from 1860 to 1870, when he was elected correspond- ing secretary of the Indiana Baptist Convention, in which capacity he served five years, when failing health obliged him to resign.
The Rev. S. M. Stimson, D. D., was pastor of the First Terre Haute church from 1865 to 1873. In addition to his pastoral work he served a short time as secretary of the Indiana Baptist Convention. At the close of the Terre Haute pastorate he travelled extensively in Europe. Upon his return he was ap- pointed district secretary of the Missionary Union and served with joy and success till declining health obliged him to retire. His brethren of the state will never forget his ringing key words-"Let every one of you." He died at Greensburg in 1894. Sometime before his death he had deposited in the Franklin College library a box containing many interesting papers, which he said was not to be opened till the expiration of one hundred years.
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The Rev. C. R. Henderson, D. D., became pastor of the First Terre Haute church in 1873 and served in that capacity for nine years. While pastor there he became deeply interested in working men, and so remarkable was his influence with them, that when a strike was impending he was able to persuade the men not to undertake it. At the close of a pastorate of ten years of the Woodward Avenue church, Detroit, Michigan, he was elected professor of sociology in the University of Chicago. He is now not only a teacher of the subject, but also an authority-espe- cially in the lines of public charities. Other ministers of the Association equally able and successful, but whose names are not as widely known, are such as the Rev. E. G. Taylor, who took an interest in the general denominational affairs of the state, and was regarded as one of the leaders in the convention.
Elder S. K. Sparks was born in Kentucky in 1785, ordained at Plum Creek church in that state, moved to Terre Haute in 1835, organized a church there and was pastor for five years; organized the Mount Zion church of which he was pastor twenty-nine years, and was an active worker in the organization of the New Providence, Salem and Second Terre Haute churches.
Elder Joseph Liston was born in Maryland in 1782, moved to Vigo county in 1815 or 1816, united with the Maria Creek church and was baptized by Elder Isaac McCoy; in 1824 he joined the Union church, of which he was a member fifty years, and was active in the formation of the Curry's Prairie Association. He died in 1875.
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Elder Abram Stark was born in Pennsylvaina in 1781, was baptized into membership in the Eighteen- Mile church in Kentucky in 1800; coming to Indiana he was pastor of Union church fourteen years, Sec- ond Prairie Creek seven years, Little Flock six years, and for limited terms was pastor of Friendly Grove and Mount Pleasant churches. He died in 1857.
Elder W. B. Eldridge was born in Kentucky in 1792, moved to Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1818, was ordained at the request of Second Prairie Creek church in 1835, and served the church as pastor for thirty-one years. He suffered a paralytic stroke while in the pulpit at Union church, from which he never recovered.
Elder Samuel Sparks was born in Kentucky in 1786, and baptized at the age of fourteen. He knew what it was to fight Indians, and in 1806 was a mem- ber of the Kentucky militia that was organized to repel a supposed invasion of the State by Aaron Burr in his southern expedition. He came to Indiana first in 1812, but finally returned to Kentucky on account of the fierce hostility of the Indians. He was ordained at the request of Plum Creek church in 1834 and shortly afterwards returned to Indiana, settling ten miles south of Terre Haute, and in 1836 made Terre Haute his home. He assisted in the formation of many of the churches and was pastor of one of them for twenty-nine years. He was permitted to baptize 1,200 persons during his ministry, and of these twelve became ministers. He did not ask nor expect any remuneration for his ministerial services, and so
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helped to delay the time when the churches which he served should come to see the duty of supporting the ministry, according to God's will.
-Elder D. M. Stark was born in eastern Indiana in 1809, and was baptized by his father into the mem- bership of the Union church in 1830. This church called for his ordination in 1844 and he served many of the churches during his twenty-three years of the ministry.
Elder George Crist was born in Indiana in 1807, was baptized into Union church by Elder S. K. Sparks, was ordained in 1842, and spent forty years in the ministry, part of the time in Indiana and part ยท in Illinois.
Elder Elias Cooprider is known to have been an honored minister in the Association.
Elder Jacob Smock, one of the pioneer ministers of the Association, was born in Kentucky in 1824. His parents moved to Parke county, Indiana, in 1825; his grandfather, William Smock, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He joined a Baptist church in 1857 and was soon afterwards ordained to the min- istry. He was efficient in the organization of two churches, and has had the privilege of baptizing over 1,000 converts. He was twice married-first to Car- oline Milligan, and to them were born six children; the wife died in 1879. He was again married, in 1881, to Dinah Wilson, a member of the Friends church. To this union one child was born-Wilma H: Elder Smock died in 1895 full of years, and ready
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for the call. His wife survives him and is an active member of the Franklin Baptist church.
The Rev. L. Kirtley, D. D., was probably the strongest preacher who ever became pastor of the First Terre Haute church. He held important pas- torates in Michigan and Ohio also; but the very in- tensity of his work led to nervous affection, from the , effects of which he died, while yet in the prime of life.
BROWNSTOWN ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF JACKSON, JENNINGS, CLARKE AND WASHINGTON.)
The Association was constituted in 1835; the first record accessible is for 1836, and it gives Browns- town as the place of meeting, Elder J. R. Tinder as the moderator and William Crunshaw, as clerk. There were four churches and 128 members. The session for 1840 was held with Union, now Hayden, church, the number of churches was nine and the number of members 406. As the years went by the number of churches declined, but the aggregate mem- bership increased-the largest being 1,921 (in 1901). Up to 1853 Union church usually contained the larg- est number of members; then Mount Pleasant usually led till 1868, when Uniontown had the largest number. In 1891 Seymour church reported 216 members and has led in the number of members since.
The Association has favored "missionary. opera- tions" from the first. Blue River church had belonged to the Mount Zion Association, but a division on ac- count of the Parker doctrine occurred, and the pro-
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testing part, after a hard struggle to maintain wor- ship, joined the Brownstown Association; and we may be fairly sure that there was a McCoy in the number, for the McCoys always and everywhere stood for missions. The minutes contain no tables of be- nevolences till 1884; then the total for benevolences proper was $359.87, the largest amount being given by Uniontown church, $202.72, in 1891 the total benevolences were $627.04, of which amount Seymour church gave $280, and of this amount state missions received $101.68. The minutes of 1906 record a total for benevolence of $1,010.16; of this amount Sey- mour church gave $868.72, and the object receiving the largest amount was Foreign Missions, $263.70.
Among the laymen of this Association deserving mention, the first place belongs to L. D. Carpenter. He was born in New Hampshire in 1844; he came to Indiana recommended to Messrs. Love and Butler, manufacturers, of Seymour, by Mr. Barney, of Day- ton, Ohio. He was engaged as bookkeeper, but also assisted the firm in other ways. He and Miss Marietta Clark, of Massachusetts, were married in 1867; they had not been in Seymour long till an opportunity came to purchase a small hardware establishment, and as Mr. Carpenter was of an energetic and far-seeing disposition, he made up his mind to borrow the means from his father, the Rev. Mark Carpenter, and begin business for himself. Prosperity attended the venture and in a few years he had the leading hardware es- tablishment in that part of the State; the retail trade amounted to $125,000 or more. And he was as lib-
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eral in giving as he was wise and energetic in accu- mulating. To the building fund of his church he gave $7,000 in all, and what is more, he was a leader in organizing the church so thoroughly on business lines that it is a model church-and has been for many years. All bills are paid promptly and the cost of improvements are provided for before the improve- ments are made. He and Mrs. Carpenter were fond of music and helped to train a choir that was of great value in maintaining the dignity and worshipfulness of the church services. And still more, Mr. Carpenter, seconded by his wife, did an excellent and efficient service in imparting noble ideals to those who came into immediate contact with them; their clerks in nearly every instance became capable and loyal chris- tian men and women, and these have gladly attributed their higher ideals to Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter. In the midst of their business prosperity there came to them the conviction that they should engage in For- eign Mission service. Accordingly, after being set apart to that work by a representative Baptist coun- cil, Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter and Miss Lenore Ayers, also of the Seymour church, went to Nemuro, Japan, where Mr. Carpenter's brother, Chapin Carpenter, had already done some work. They went at their own charges, and on the condition that if the business at home at any time imperatively demanded it, they would return.
. It was soon found that the Japanese government would not give them permanent title to land for a mission station, and so their plans were balked at
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once. Besides, one of the partners in the business at home-Mr. Frank Sawyer-had been attacked with creeping paralysis, and it was certain that he could not long survive. Accordingly the Carpenters came back to their home, and none too soon, for Mr. Saw- yer was shortly afterwards called to his reward. But the missionary spirit did not die nor decline; they made liberal gifts annually, and after Mr. Carpen- ter's death his will was found to convey all his pos- sessions, except home and life insurance, to the Mis- sionary Union-the widow receiving an annuity dur- ing her life. And the $10,000 left to his wife she promptly and cheerfully gave to the Union also, re- ceiving an annuity. But the Missionary Union was not the only object of their love and care; Franklin College, of which Mr. Carpenter was a trustee, re- ceived between $3,000 and $4,000; and the various denominational societies received the price of life memberships issued to himself and wife and Miss Ayers.
The departure of Mr. Carpenter to his heavenly home was as sudden and unexpected as his life had been useful and happy. He and Mrs. Carpenter had gone with the Rev. C. H. Hall, D. D., and some members of his family to Lake Superior for their summer outing in 1892. In the midst of their pleas- ures, while Mr. Carpenter and Dr. Hall were out in the lake bathing, it was seen by those on shore that they were struggling against drowning. Dr. Hall was able to reach the shore, but Mr. Carpenter sank. When the train bearing the casket and the friends
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reached Seymour, a thousand citizens were there to express their regard and sympathy ; the Rev. A. Ogle, the former pastor, and the Rev. W. T. Stott con- ducted the religious exercises, after which the body was laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery on a bluff overlooking White river; and while the audience dis- persed, the old church choir remained to sing again some of the hymns that Mr. Carpenter had loved so well.
One of the oldest and best known ministers in the Association was Elder John R. Tinder, who was born in Kentucky. He came to Indiana in 1832 and united with the Indian Creek church, and was its pastor till his death, in 1850. He was also moderator of the Association till his death.
Another of the earlier ministers was Elder Moses Sellers, who was born in North Carolina in 1796. He came to Washington county, Indiana, in 1814 and moved to Clark county in 1817. He was ordained at the request of Little Flock church, which he served as pastor for thirty-seven years.
Elder John Bell, born in 1819, was moderator for nineteen years.
The Rev. William Gillaspy, another influential minister in the Association, was born in Indiana in 1813. He was ordained at the request of Grassy Creek church in 1839, and was a foremost advocate of missions and education.
The Rev. Isaac Coker was born in North Carolina in 1812, and was ordained in Kentucky in 1837. He preached his last sermon at the advanced age of 92
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at Mount Pleasant church. He said of himself: "I am a regular missionary landmark Baptist."
The Rev. J. R. McCoy, one of the strong men of the Association, was clerk of the body for twenty-two years, and was asked to preach the introductory ser- mon on seven different occasions. The Circular let- ter written by him in 1867 on "The Unity of the Faith," gives evidence of clear thought and loyalty to the teachings of God's word.
The Seymour church has been peculiarly honored in that so many of its pastors and members have been called into the general work of the denomination. The Rev. A. S. Ames, one of the first pastors, was for several years district secretary of the Missionary Union; he died in 1888; the Rev. Albert Ogle, an- other pastor, was for twenty years the superintendent of missions of the Indiana Baptist Convention; the Rev. R. E. Neighbor, still another pastor, has been recording secretary of the Convention for twenty- four years and therefore secretary of its Board; the Rev. A. B. Chaffee, D. D., another pastor, was presi- dent of Bishop College for seven years; and S. H. Huffman has been district secretary of the American Baptist Publication Society for over twenty years. Few churches in the State have been as highly hon- ored in having their pastors and members called into the general work of the denomination.
WHITE LICK ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF HEND- RICKS, PUTNAM, MORGAN, OWEN AND MONROE.)
This association was organized at Friendship meet-
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ing house, Morgan county, October 30th, 1835, with ten churches aggregating 319 members. Elder J. W. Thomas was chosen moderator and S. Dunagan, clerk. Benedict is authority for the statement that the churches which went into this Association came from the Danville, White River and Eel River Associa- tions; and most likely their sympathy for missions and kindred objects led to the measure. In 1840 there were nine churches and 580 members, and the ordained ministers were Elders B. B. Arnold, J. Rynerson, J. Jones, T. Broadstreet, W. Pope, A. Pasly, J. Skelton and L. Mayfield. By 1845 the total membership was 1,215 and there had been added to the ministry Elders Boswell and A. Bland. At the session in 1841 the following churches were received -New Maysville, Mount Enon, Bethel, New Hope, Liberty and Big Walnut.
In the minutes of 1842 is found a report by Elder B. B. Arnold, who had been chosen missionary of the Association ; it gives evidence that he was a man of positive convictions and great energy. These statis- tics are given :- miles travelled, 1,763; days of labor, 253; sermons preached, 205 and number baptised, ninety-five. He spoke of strong opposition on the part of the popular errorists of the day ; he said very plainly that while he had been from home preaching, his family at home were comparatively helpless; no statement is found as to how much he received for his services. At the session with Union Valley church in 1872, Elder John Jones presented, in brief, the his-
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tory of the Association from its organization to date. Many items of interest are found in this history :
"Big Walnut, now Green Castle, was organized in 1822 upon the general union of Baptists; she yet maintains in the strictest sense the principles on which she was constituted-notwithstanding she was dropped from the Eel River Association a few years ago, with which she had been attached from her infancy, and the only cause was this : she endeavored to maintain original Baptist principles, and a majority of the As- sociation, being of the new test party, could not fel- lowship anything but this new ism. Consequently they dropped her out of their body. Oh! these are times that try the faith of pioneer christians all over the country with the introduction of Parkerism and opposition to education, conventions and all benevo- lence."
The reader will not fail to get an insight into the struggles which missionary Baptists were obliged to engage in in this Association at that time. At the session in 1847 Elder J. Jones was made a life mem- ber of the American and Foreign Bible Society; and resolutions were passed favoring Home and Foreign missions, and Sunday Schools; so it seems that Park- erism had "bruised only the heel" of the missionary spirit in White Lick.
At the session in 1853 strong resolutions were passed in favor of total abstinence from all intoxi- cating liquors as a beverage. In 1855 it was resolved that on account of the large territory included in this Association, "a division will be made by a line run-
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ning east and west to include Mount Edon and Lib- erty churches on the north, the northern part to retain the present name and organization, and from these two churches south to form a new Association, which is now called Friendship. The tables for 1903 show a membership of 2,014. Union Valley reports 203 members, and Corinth 201.
Among the pastors are the Revs. R. N. Cline, E. D. Wright, E. R. Redmon, J. H. George and Martha Runyon. Among the laymen of the Association the Crawford brothers deserve first mention. They were in Franklin College in 1849, the address of E. C. Crawford, being Plainfield, and that of J. Y., being Clayton. They both became prosperous business men and they and their wives were consistent and faith- ful members of Baptist churches. J. Y. Crawford was called home by death in 18- after a life devoted to the service of the Master; and his wife, who had fully sympathized with him in all his motives and plans, still takes a lively interest in the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom.
Several years ago, at the suggestion of the Rev. N. Carr, then Financial Secretary of Franklin Col- lege, she gave a bond for a legacy to the College of the value of $10,000. Her home is one where the Bible has a prominent place, and into which, if the vis- itor should look, he would find many evidences of reading and study. E. C. Crawford and wife are still living and their eyes are permitted to see the begin- ning of a great work which their own thoughtful lib-
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erality has made possible. (Further reference to this enterprise will be made later in this work.)
Among the more prominent ministers who have had pastorates in the Association is the Rev. Leroy Mayfield, who was born in Kentucky in 1791. He moved to Indiana and joined the Vernal church, Mon- roe county, in 1818. He was an advocate of mis- sions, Sunday schools and education, and therefore was obliged at once to contend against Parkerism and keep up the contention during most of his ministry. His death occurred in February, 1851.
The Rev. John Jones was born in Kentucky and moved to Indiana in his early life. He was naturally vigorous and positive and so was able to conquer difficulties that a less resolute minister would fail to master. He labored in the clearings and fields by day and studied the Bible by night; the directness and fervency of his public prayers were never forgotten by those who heard them. He became a well-informed man, and his sermons not infrequently had great pow- er because of their genuine oratory. He aided in the organization of several of the churches of the Asso- ciation. He died in September, 1852.
The Rev. Reuben Coffey was born in North Car- olina in 1790, joined the Yadkin Baptist church in that State, and was ordained to the ministry in 1814. He came to Indiana in 1832 and was pastor of Bethel church, Owen county, for many years. He was one of the founders of Franklin College, and for many years the college catalogue contained the name of one
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or more students akin to him. He died in Owen county in 1854.
The Rev. Jacob Rynerson, a very useful minister, was born in Kentucky in 1788, and came to Hend- ricks county, Indiana, in 1832. After many years of service he fell asleep in 1873.
The Rev. John Rynerson, who spent most of his ministerial life in Hendricks county, was born in Kentucky in 1805. He came to Indiana on account of his dislike of slavery. He died in 1864.
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