USA > Indiana > Northwestern Indiana from 1800 to 1900; or, A view of our region through the nineteenth century > Part 13
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A church building was erected at length, costing fifteen hundred dollars, and dedicated in 1872. This, while a true country church, has been, with its large Sunday school, a power for good of no little weight in the southwestern portion of the county. And it is doing no injustice to others to make this record : that the two Presbyterian ministers who have made · the largest and most durable impressions for good upon the social and intellectual and religious life of Lake County have been Rev. William Townley and Rev. H. Wason. Were a third name to be added to these two it would be that of Rev. J. F. Smith, who for thirteen years, from 1885 to 1898, has been dili- gent in school and church work in the bounds of the Lake Prairie Church, who has taken a large interest in the public schools and in the social life of the com- munity. His public addresses on many occasions have been always interesting and instructive.
A third Presbyterian Church was organized in the city of Hammond in 1890. This at once became a city church, erecting a quite costly edifice and enter- ing actively upon church and school life.
A fourth church was organized at Plum Grove, in the south part of the county, with about twelve members, a few years ago, but it has lately been dis- banded. It was reported in the Minutes of 1899 and will be found named therefore in the concluding sum- mary.
OTHER COUNTIES.
In Pulaski County the Presbyterians seem not to have made an early beginning; but there are now two Presbyterian churches in the county : one at Winamac with eighty members and a Sabbath school of seventy- five members; the other at Pulaski with sixty mem-
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bers and a school of sixty-five members. Also a Christian Endeavor society connected with each church. Rev. Samuel B. Neilson, residing at Win- amac, pastor of both churches.
It has been said that about one-half of the popula- tion of Pulaski County were Roman Catholics, but that must be too large an estimate; for in the county are United Brethren, Lutheran, Advent, five "Chris- tian," and nine Methodist churches, besides the two Presbyterian ; four chapters of the Epworth League, and seven Christian Endeavor societies. Also forty- four Sunday schools.
Of the County Sunday School Association (1899) Miss Emily Hoch is President, Mr. E. C. W. Dunn of Star City, Secretary.
The first Presbyterian Church in White County was organized in 1836, Rev. J. Stocker the minister. The first meeting was in the cabin of John Wilson, a mile west of Monticello, then the members met in school houses and in the court house. This church was Old School. First settled pastor, Rev. Alexander Williamson, in 1840. Soon afterwards Rev. Samuel Steele organized a New School church, and this or- ganization in 1842 erected, it is said, the first church building of the county. First pastor, Rev. W. M. Cheever, in 1843.
In White County, in which both Baptists and Pres- byterians seem equally to prosper, are now nine Pres- byterian churches or congregations, but some have no church buildings.
In Newton County are two : one at Kentland, one at Goodland. In Jasper there is one at Remington and one at Rensselaer. In Starke County there seems to be for Presbyterians as until very recently for Bap- tists no need.
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The first Presbyterian minister preaching in Jas- per County was Rev. John A. Williamson of Monti- cello. In 1849 or 1850 was erected the first Presbyte- rian church building.
SUMMARY.
Most of the following figures are given on the authority of the Minutes of the General Assembly for 1899. These churches are all in the Presbytery of Logansport, Synod of Indiana. The first figures, after the name of the church, give the membership, and the second nuniber gives the members in Sunday school.
Churches in Lake County, 4. Crown Point, 74, IIO; Lake Prairie, 34, 75; Hammond, 94, 100; Plum Grove, 17. Total membership 219, 285.
Churches in Porter County, 3. Valparaiso, 238, 201 ; Tassinong, 68, 25; Hebron, 59, 40. Total, 385, 266.
Churches in La Porte County, 4. La Porte, 365, 260; Michigan City, 180, 215; Union Mills or Bethel, 120, 186; Rolling Prairie, 20. Total, 685, 661.
Churches in Pulaski County, 2. Winamac, 75, 125 ; Pulaski, 50, 125. Total membership, 125, 250.
Churches in White County, 8. Monticello, 310, 345 ; Brookston, 96, 71 ; Chalmers, 83, 71 ; Idaville, 71, 94; Monon, 50, 100; Bedford, 33, 69; Meadow Lake or Wolcott, 50, 50; Buffalo, 25. Total membership, 718, 800.
Churches in Jasper County, 2. Rensselaer, 100, 90; Remington, 100, 100. Total, 200, 190.
Churches in Newton County, 2. Kentland, 110, 94; Goodland, 152, 138. Total membership, 262, 232.
Whole number of churches, 25. Total member- ship, 2,594. In schools, 2,684. Amount of money
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raised in the year, including twelve items, $27,285. This is about $10.50 per member.
6. United Presbyterians.
The "Bethlehem Church of Associate Reforni Presbyterians" was an early and probably the first church of this denomination in Northwestern Indiana. It was organized July 28, 1838, one month after the organization of the "Cedar Lake Baptist Church." The organizing minister was Rev. Hannon. The first members were "Samuel Turner and wife, Thomas Dinwiddie and wife, Berkley Oliver and wife, Susanna Dinwiddie, Sr., Susanna Dinwiddie, Jr., Margaret Dinwiddie, Mary McCarnehan, Susan P. West, John W. Dinwiddie, David T. Dinwiddie, Margaret J. Din- widdie, and Elza A. Dinwiddie."* Rev. Wilson Blain was the first pastor. The second was Rev. J. N. Bu- chanan, who came in May, 1851, and was installed, according to the custom of Presbyterian churches, November 29, 1851. He still resides near Hebron, but resigned as pastor in 1897. The present pastor is Rev. J. A. Barnes.
The members of the Bethlehem Church met first at the homes of their members, then in the school house, then they erected a log building about a mile south of Hebron, and in 1852 a frame build- ing, still nearer to the village, which was moved into Hebron in 1864, and in 1879 the pres- ent church was erected. The first frame building cost twelve hundred dollars and the present one twenty-five hundred. The name Bethlehem was soon changed to Hebron, probably at the suggestion of Rev. W. Blain, through whose efforts a postoffice
*G. A. Garard in "Porter and Lake," 1882.
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was secured for the young village at "the Corners," and as there was one Bethlehem postoffice in Indiana some other name than that must be found. So church and town both took the old Bible name of Hebron.
The name "Associate Reform" of the denomina- tion was changed many years ago to "United Presby- terian." Mr. Buchanan preached not only in Porter County, but for many years in Lake County at the South East Grove and Center school houses, and, in later years, at Le Roy, where, February 18, 1888, a second United Presbyterian Church was organized, members of the Reformed Presbyterian body uniting with others in its organization. A neat and good church building was soon erected and a Sabbath school organized. Pastor, Rev. J. A. Barnes.
CHAPTER XIV.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
7. The Baptists.
Among the religious denominations the Baptists made the first start in White County, commencing evangelical work in 1834, the year in which the county was organized. The pioneer preachers were, with per- haps, some others, "Elders Reese, Corbin, and Miner." They organized the first church in the new county. For some reason-Baptists are sometimes rather slow-the Baptists in White County, for many years, erected no church building ; but at length "bought the Old School Presbyterian Church." The noble, de- voted pioneer ministers passed away. But in White County the results remained. Growth took place, a more progressive age, so called, came on. About 1860 was formed the Monticello Baptist Association, as elsewhere mentioned; and besides the church in Monticello, churches were organized called Pine Grove, Mount Zion, Brookston, Monon, Liberty Township, West Point, Wolcott, Burnettsville, and Chalmers. It is the main Baptist county in North- western Indiana. One of these churches named, the Monticello Church, has ceased to exist; but there are now nine living Baptist churches in White County.
Samuel Benjamin was the first Baptist minister whose name is found in the records of Newton County. The first Baptist meetings were held near the village of Brook. The churches of Newton now are: Prairie
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Vine, Morocco, Mount Ayr, Goodland, and Beaver City.
In Jasper County are three churches, at Rensse- laer with about ninety members, one called Kankakee, the pastor residing in North Judson, and the Milroy Township Church, organized quite recently by Rev. D. J. Huston with six members and now having about sixty, and its pastor, energetic, devoted, almost untiring in labors, passed several years ago that third "dead line" of three score an ten. There are sensible churches yet left in the land. .
The first Baptist ministers in Jasper were Elders Joseph Price and Samuel Benjamin. Of the years of their ministry and the results of their labors no rec- ords are found.
In Starke County the first Baptist Church was organized December 3, 1899, with fifty-eight members through the labors of J. W. Keller, a licentiate. This is called the Nickel Plate Baptist Church.
In Pulaski County there is no Baptist Church.
The "first anniversary" of the Monticello Baptist Association was held at Rensselaer in 1860. Its or- ganic life commenced with six churches. In 1867 Rev. D. J. Huston came into the bounds of this Asso- ciation. He was soon chosen as Moderator and has held that office for twenty-five years. He is still an active pastor, having recently built up a promising and flourishing church a few miles south from Mc- Coysburg and secured the erection of a neat church building dedicated in 1899. He was born in 1822, was a student at Franklin College and would prob- ably have graduated in 1850 with the writer of this work, but duty of another kind seemed pressing, and he commenced pastoral work near Franklin in 1847,
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in the church where Dr. T. J. Morgan's father's fam- ily were members.
In 1869 Rev. A. H. Dooley became a resident pas- tor and was elected after a little time Clerk of the Association. He remained in its bounds till 1889, having been pastor of the Prairie Vine Church for ten years. In forty years the Association has in- creased to sixteen churches. Present membership about thirteen hundred.
July 25, 1899, was an important day for this Asso- ciation, and especially for the church at Morocco. The event, which on that day called many together, was the laying of the corner-stone for a Baptist church building. The exercises, all, were of large interest. Rev. A. H. Dooley read a paper giving the history of the Baptist churches of Newton County, and "Rev. D. J. Huston, who has almost reached the four score limit, gave a good address and laid the corner-stone."* Addresses also were given by Rev. V. C. Fritts of Rensselaer, Rev. W. F. Carpenter of Goodland, and Rev. J. C. Boutell of St. Anne, Illinois. Also by the pastor of the United Brethren Church at Morocco, Rev. W. F. Hunt, and of the "Christian" Church, Rev. R. S. Cartwright. "Our venerable brother, Rev. A. I. Putnam, led in prayer."* The address of Rev. J. O. Boutell was given in the open air at the new church corner, where prayer was offered by Rev. A. H. Doo- ley.
"The Baptist organization of Morocco is in its in- fancy. The pastor is the brave, enthusiastic Rev. P. H. Foulk, who has undertaken a great work for the
*The Morocco Courier, July 29, 1899.
*The Standard, August 5, 1899.
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town and community. The plan of the church, which is the product of Pastor Faulk's own mind, is of the institutional order. The building will contain, beside the ordinary auditorium and Sunday-school depart- ment, a library and reading room, a kitchen and parlor for social occasions, a well fitted system of baths, and a large modern gymnasium." The building is of brick and stone. The estimated cost five thousand dollars. This is the first building of its kind among the Bap- tists of Northwestern Indiana. Its success will be of no small interest among Indiana Baptists in the com- ing century.
The pioneer Baptist ministers in La Porte County were: Phineas Colver in 1833 and 1834, who organ- ized the first Baptist Church in Stillwell Prairie in 1834; T. Spaulding in 1836; Alexander Hastings in 1837; Benjamin Sawin in 1838; Charles Harding, Augustus Bolles, and Samuel W. Ford in 1839. The church organized in 1834 took the name of Kings- bury, Elder Sawin became the pastor. It is a living church now.
The Rolling Prairie Church was organized June 23, 1836, "at the house of James Hunt," ministers present Elder T. Price of Michigan and Elder T. Spaulding of La Porte. Constituent members, "James Hunt, John Salisbury, Matthias Dawson, Nancy Hunt, Catherine Whitehead, Sarah Mason, Phoebe Hunt, Clarrissa Canada, Sabina Salisbury, Al- sie Dawson, and Martha Whitehead."* In 1839 a church house "was built on the grounds of George Belohaw."
This was for some years a large and prosperous
*General Packard's History.
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church, having in 1853 one hundred and forty-eight members. In 1861 it reported sixty-five members. In 1864 only forty-four. In 1870 "No report." It ceased to exist.
In the days of its prosperity it sent out several young men as ministers; among them Thomas L. Hunt, who in a few years finished up his life work in the county of Lake, where his dust reposes ; as a man, a Christian, and a pastor, amiable, exemplary, and devoted beyond many; and J. M. Whitehead, a man of power, a tower of strength, among Indiana and Illinois pastors, for many years; a chaplain of note in the Union Army in the time of the war for the life of the Government ; now in Topeka, Kansas, (1899), a man known and honored by many thou- sands.
The following extract from a letter written Sep- tember 9, 1898, by John M. Hunt of Oakland, Oregon, to his cousin, Mrs. M. L. Barber of Burlington, Kan- sas, referring to this once flourishing church, is so applicable to other early churches, only changing names, that it is given a place here. To some yet living it will have a special, personal interest.
"There is one plain picture now before me that often presents itself, and that is, where we were often at church, your uncle Milton [Rev. J. M. Whitehead] and brother Thomas [ Rev. Thomas L. Hunt] in the pulpit of the old church, your uncle Jasper and deacon Betteys just in front, and just behind on the next seat, uncle John Hefner, brother William, and uncle David Stoner, and a few others. Then your uncle Newton, and Alfred Salisbury, and several more male singers, and a half dozen female singers, rise and join in singing old Coronation; and as they
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sing I see your Grandmother and Mrs. Betteys and your aunt Polly, and many others, all drinking in the music, while the seats on each side are full, but some of the faces are almost faded out, while many others are very distinct yet. Shall we meet again? Yes, in the great 'Beyond' we shall meet again. Those who have loved the Lord and tried to do His will, as they understood the word, will surely join in singing that 'New Song' that the 'Revelator' speaks of, whether they were members of our church or not, or may be not members of any church." Surely a blissful hope! And quite surely with no Baptist church build- ing in Northern Indiana are more rich and pleasant associations connected than with that old frame build- ing and its large, box-like pulpit of Rolling Prairie. Such men as have preached from that pulpit are not readily found now. The revival there in mid-summer of 1839, Elder A. Hastings, in the prime of his man- hood, pastor, was one to be through life remembered. And the ordination there, February 27, 1846, of T. L. Hunt, Stephen G. Hunt, and J. Milton Whitehead, was one of the memorable occasions. "For nearly five years these three young brethren supplied the pulpit of the Rolling Prairie Church, preached in the neigh- borhoods around, and kept up, for a time, six Sab- bath schools."
"During the five years of labor on Rolling Prairie about sixty were baptized by the three home mission- aries."
But abundant as is the material we must leave this once consecrated place, where such men as Elder Hastings and Elder Sawin have been, and in the neighborhood of which they died, both living to an advanced age; and such visitors from Central Indiana
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as Elder W. Rees and Elder U. B. Miller, and where Elder S. W. Miller, the veteran of all, so often preached. Of the last named, this record must be made. Born in July, 1812, married in Ohio in May, 1834, ordained at Belmont, for fifty-five years he was actively engaged in the work of the ministry, and is still living with his wife (1899) sixty-five years from the time of his marriage, in their comfortable and pleasant home in the city of La Porte, not able to engage in active duties as formerly, having been twice injured by accidents, yet enjoying a good degree of health. He can recall the names of some thirty min- isters with whom he has been associated who have gone before him to the other shore. He is now more than eighty-seven years of age. Near him reside his son-in-law, Rev. W. S. Hastings, and at Door Vil- lage, one of his associate laborers, Rev. G. F. Bray- ton, both born March 24, 1822, both now retired from active ministerial labors, although ten years younger than Elder Miller. Honor should ever be given to whom honor is due. The pastors now are young. With some churches the "dead line" is fifty, and with some it is down to forty. Shame!
The La Porte Church was organized in 1838. This is now the large Baptist Church of the county. Its earlier pastors were Charles Harding till 1840; Silas Tucker, afterwards Dr. Tucker of Logansport, till 1845; E. W. Hamlin for one year, 1846; Morgan Ed- wards, "the sailor preacher," for a few months in 1849; R. H. Cook for a year and a half, to July, 1851 ; for a short time in 1852 again Morgan Edwards; S. C. Chandler, and in 1853 Gibbon Williams. In later years quite a number have been pastors, among them H. Smith, J. P. Ash, and Addison Parker. Present pastor, Rev. G. C. Moor.
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The other living churches of the county are, Swed- ish Baptist at La Porte, organized in 1884, and the church at Michigan City, in 1889. Michigan City is another of those places where it has been difficult for a Baptist church to live. One was organized in that then young town in 1836 or early in 1837. Its life as a church was short. Again in 1853 a "newly con- stituted" church at Michigan City was "received" into the Northern Indiana Association. Pastor "Rev. A. Hastings." But soon its visibility was lost. A third church was organized in 1889 and it is not yet re- garded as a self-supporting church. Seventy-nine Baptist are a small band among fifteen thousand peo- ple.
The early Baptist history of Porter County is ob- scure. Some claim that Rev. Alpheus French, known as Elder French, an aged Baptist minister, preached the first sermon in Valparaiso in 1836. Others think that a Baptist church was organized in Center Town- ship in 1835 or 1836 by Rev. Asahel Neal and that he preached the first sermon in Valparaiso in the house of William Eaton. If such a church was or- ganized it did not live. In 1836 there were in the county four ministers, Eider French, Baptist ; W. K. Talbott, Presbyterian; Cyrus Spurlock and Stephen Jones, Methodists.
The present church in Valparaiso was organized June 10, 1837, with twelve members. First deacons, John Robinson and John Bartholomew. First clerk, Jacob C. White.
The name, First Baptist Church of Valparaiso, was adopted February 8, 1840. The first pastor was Elder French, who continued for five years. The sec- ond was H. S. Orton. The third was W. T. Bly, 1844
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to 1847. The fourth was Elder A. Nickerson, for five years. The fifth was Harry Smith, 1854, continuing as pastor for six years. The sixth was G. T. Brayton for one year. The seventh was Jirah D. Cole, one year, May, 1861, to May, 1862. The eighth, J. M. Maxwell, nearly two years. The ninth, M. T. Lamb, one year. The tenth, Otis Saxton, one year, from October, 1867, to October, 1868. The eleventh, Elder Harper, for six montlis. June, 1869, "No pastor" is the report to the Association.
The next pastors were: W. A. Caplinger, two and a half years, W. A. Clark, nearly two years, E. S. Riley from October, 1875, to 1885 or 1886, then brethren Banker, C. J. Pope, Dr. Heagel, W. E. Ran- dall, and W. E. Story, the last closing his pastoral work in 1899. In 1885 Rev. E. S. Riley was Moder- ator of the Association and Rev. C. J. Pope was Clerk in 1887 and in 1888.
The Northern Indiana Association with which the churches of La Porte, Porter, and Lake are connected, held its first annual meeting in 1837, extending into counties further east than at present. A division, for convenience sake, took place at South Bend in 1845, when 1,126 members were reported. Meeting in 1846 at Valparaiso, 654 only were reported. Of the pastor here at this time, a true pioneer minister, the follow- ing sketch is inserted :
Rev. William T. Bly was born in Norway, New York, January 20, 1812, studied at Hamilton, was married in 1839 to Miss Elizabeth Miller, sister of Elder Miller of La Porte, became pastor at Valparaiso in 1844. He also went into Lake County once in each month, and in 1845 was pastor there of the Cedar Lake Baptist Church, baptizing in that year, in the
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Lake of the Red Cedars, T. H. Ball, Elisabeth H. Ball, Mrs. Sarah Farwell, Eli Church, and in Janu- ary, 1846, Fanny C. Warriner. His salary was not large, and, like Rev. J. C. Brown, the Presbyterian pastor, he added something to it by teaching in Val- paraiso a "day school."
He was a very earnest, devoted, faithful preacher and pastor. He was a pastor in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota. He went into the last State in 1853, where he organized and assisted to organize several churches, and there died at Etna, June 16, 1897, eighty-five years of age. A few yet remain who knew him well in the days of his early ministry in Indiana.
In Lake County the pioneer Baptist families settled in 1836 and 1837 not far from the Red Cedar Lake. They were the large Church and Cutler families, the two Warriner families, and the Ball family.
Their church, taking its name from the lake, was organized June 17, 1838, Elder French, of Porter County, the minister present. Its pastors were: N. Warriner, ordained as its first pastor ; W. T. Bly, A. Hastings, Uriah McKay, and Thomas L. Hunt. As missionaries and visiting pastors it enjoyed the occa- sional services of Elders French, Sawin, Whitehead, Brayton, Kennedy, Hitchcock, and N. V. Steadman, of Evansville, who in April, 1855, baptized the last member received into this church, Henrietta Ball, then thirteen years of age. In its life period as a church it had nearly one hundred members. It was quite a model church. Population changing, the rec- ord says, "some being about to remove," this church was disbanded January 17, 1856, having existed sev- enteen years. Its history is given in "The Lake of the Red Cedars."
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Since the organization of that church in 1838, eleven other Baptist churches have been organized in Lake County, making twelve in all, and of these, two only, one at Hammond organized in 1887, and another at Hammond organized in January, 1899, are now maintaining church life.
In the life time of seven of the ten churches not now manifesting church life, were baptized one hun- dred and seventy-five, and of all these ten or twelve are now left in the county.
The Hammond church of 1887 reported in 1898 three hundred and two members. The "Baptist Mes- senger," a church paper, under date of January 21, 1899, says: "A few weeks ago the First Baptist church dismissed from its fellowship seventy-six mem- bers, who expressed their determination to organize a second Baptist church in Hammond. We under- stand that such church has about perfected its or- ganization, assuming the name Immanuel Baptist church. We suppose that members of any society, who are dissatisfied with their relationship and asso- ciations, have a right to withdraw and make a society of their own."
The recognition of such a right is surely liberal and noble. Many have in the past denied it.
Of the first church at Hammond S. W. Phelps has been pastor since 1893.
In La Porte County the Baptists number about five hundred and fifty members; in Porter three hun- dred members; in Lake, at Hammond, three hun- dred; in Stårke sixty, and in Pulaski, no church; in White about nine hundred ; in Jasper one hundred and sixty, and in Newton four hundred. Total member- ship about twenty-six hundred. Of the eight county
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