USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 11
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 11
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"In Mill Creek both the New Light and Disciple branches of the Christian church were represented sixty years ago. The Disciple church was erected in 1872, at a cost of three thousand dollars. This society was a branch of the old Scott's Prairie organization, formed by William P. Shockey, and
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which used a school house many years for its meetings. Preaching ceasing, gave rise to the Mill Creek church. F. J. Glasscock was a leading spirit and gave liberally toward the church. As many as three hundred persons, be- longed, at one time or another, to this church."
"The Christian church of Newtown was formed in 1841, the first preacher being Rev. Obedialı Ward. On account of death and removals the society went down in 1848."
"In Shawnee township the Christian church, commonly known then as New Lights, was organized March 12, 1854, in a school house in the north part of the township. It was the primary work of Rev. Samuel Gregory. The services were held in various places, usually in the school house. Be- tween 1867 and 1869, the house was destroyed by a falling tree, after which meetings were held in an adjoining township. It was indeed the people's church, and they gladly flocked to hear the Word dispensed. While it added to its numbers, many removals always crippled the church."
"In Fulton township, the Christian church, whose building was in eastern part of the township, was permanently organized in 1858. Meetings were held in schoolhouses for a numbers of years. Just before the Civil war it was designed to build a church home, but that conflict thwarted their every plan, but after the war, in 1866, a one thousand six hundred dollar house was erected and the work of the society went forward prosperously."
"The Christian church at Covington was organized about 1865. The edifice had been built in 1851 by the New Light branch of this denomination, but that having gone to pieces, the property was taken over by the Christian, or Disciples. This sect numbered in 1865 about fifteen members, prominent among whom was Dr. J. N. Spinning."
At the present date the above have all resolved themselves down to regular organizations of the Christian church, known as the Church of Christ usually in church records, but commonly known as Christian churches in the com- munities in which they are situated, and those within Fountain county are the organizations at Attica, Veedersburg, Hillsboro, Mellott, Ingersol, Scott's Prairie, New Liberty, Kingman, one near Cates, two at Covington (the pro- gressive and non-progressive, or non-organ church), and the church of Coal Creek.
Antioch Christian church, of Cain township, was located in section 5, township 19, range 6, and when first organized occupied what was known as Sulphur Springs school house, district No. 3. It was built in 1834 and became known as Sulphur Springs church. A church was erected in 1872, which cost two thousand seven hundred dollars. It was considered a neat country chapel,
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well furnished and carpeted. Up to 1881 J. M. McBroom had officiated as pastor of the society. It then had a membership of one hundred and twenty. Upon its removal from Sulphur Springs the name Antioch was given to it.
THE BAPTIST CHURCHES.
The Regular Predestinarian Big Shawnee Baptist church was organized in July, 1829. A presbytery was called consisting of Elder Johnson, Jesse Osborn, Asa Smith, Rhoades Smith, James Drake and John Orr. This was probably the first attempt at forming a Baptist church in Fountain county. It was in Richland township.
Another church of this sect was formed early in 1835 in Van Buren township, near the Progressive Friends church of later days, but it long ago passed from earth and its members lie sleeping in the cemetery near by where they once worshiped.
The Hopewell Regular Baptist church, of Newton, was organized June 27; 1835, in Montgomery county, at the house of William Davis. In 1836 the members met and on motion the church was moved to Newtown, Fountain county. In 18So this society numbered eighty-seven. It is still in existence and doing its share in the upbuilding of the Master's kingdom.
The First Baptist church of Attica was organized December 20, 1842. Its place of organization was really at Rob Roy, and its first pastor was Elder D. S. French. In July, 1844, a branch church was established at Attica, "to do business and report to the mother church at Rob Roy." Meetings were held at Jordan's hall and in 1855 a church was erected at Attica, which was still used in the eighties. Of later years the society has been unable to main- tain a pastor or regular services.
Rob Roy church was formed by the Baptist denomination at the old school house in the winter of 1844, by Rev. Garrett Riley, with thirteen mem- bers. It maintained an existence about four years, but on account of deaths and removals, the remaining members united with the church at Attica.
Mill Creek Baptist church was formed at Lodi, about 1851, where it was known as Liberty Baptist church. The members in Fulton township, Foun- tain county, wishing more convenient location in which to worship, with eighteen brothers and sisters, set to work to secure a meeting house. About 1855 the Mill Creek church was built, prior to which time meetings were held in an old school house. The church cost four hundred dollars, but served well its purpose. In 1875 it had become too small and it was then enlarged at a cost of seven hundred dollars. In 1879 this society had a membership of sixty-two. Present data is not at hand concerning this particular church.
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Salem Baptist church, in Davis township, in 1872, was an "arm" of the Newtown church. A church was speedily erected on the northeast quarter of section 8, township 21, range 6, costing three thousand five hundred dollars. It was finely built, well carpeted and furnished. Its baptistry had two dressing rooms and all in modern-day style. The date of the perfecting of the church organization was November 23, 1872. For many years this church has af- forded a convenient place for the worshiping of the Baptist people of this section of Fountain county. The denomination, however, is not among the strong ones of this county, as the Methodist and Christian, with the Presby- terians, having always been the stronger.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES.
The United Brethren in Christ sect made its first appearance in Van Buren township at a very early date. Rev. John Hoobler wrote of his labors : "I organized the first society in Van Buren township in the winter of 1826-7, in the south part of the township, in the Bonebreak neighborhood, with nine members, and in my neighborhood in the vicinity of Chambersburg, a class of sixteen members." These were the first societies in the township. The first church building in the township was in the old town of Chambersburg, about 1838. John Walker and J. G. Lucas were among the more prominent mem- bers. The building was a log structure modeled after the pioneer style. It served as a church for ten years or more when it was removed and a large and commodious frame building took its place. Meetings were discontinued there a third of a century and more ago.
.In 1880, there were three distinct societies in the township. One, soutli- east of Veedersburg, Bonebreak's chapel, was a brick structure erected about 1850. This society was formed in 1828. The cemetery connected therewith contains the ashes of many pioneer dead, both soldiers and civilians: . Among these are Eliza Glasscock, died 1844; Daniel Glasscock, died 1844; James Reed, died 1841. A society was also formed at Stone Bluff, in 1860. Another class was formed at Vecdersburg. In all, in 1880, there were two hundred members in Van Buren township.
In Shawnee township the United Brethren church was organized in 1827, by Rev. McMahan, under authority of the United Brethren conference. It had untold struggles, and finally went down with the loss of members through removals, etc.
In Mill Creek township this society seems to have been the real pioneers in church matters. Classes were organized in different parts of the town-
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ship, meetings were held at dwellings and a log school house. About 1834 a class was formed by Rev. Cook called a "samole class." Another class was organized at Harveysburg, prior to the Civil war. Every early-day school house in this township had such meetings held in them. In 1872, in connection with the Methodist people, they built a church. A log building was raised in 18.43 for schools and this was used by this denomination ; then a frame school house served also as a meeting house for them. In 1871 a church building, costing about nine hundred dollars, was erected. The members then num- bered one hundred. In 1876, when a protracted meeting was going on, and when all were at dinner, a fire broke out and destroyed the building. The New Light church was then used until a new church could be erected. This cost one thousand eight hundred fifty-two dollars. This was named the Cen- tennial church, as it was built on the hundredth anniversary of the denomina- tion.
The German United Brethren in Christ church of Covington was or- ganized as a class in 1856, by Carl Schneider, in the Christian church. John Mayer was made first class leader and was a pillar in this society. In 1862, a church building was erected, at a cost of one thousand four hundred dollars.
PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS CHURCH -SOCIETY.
This was a society organized in 1851, in Richland township, by Simon Brown and David Wright, formerly elders in the United Brethren.church. They were first called Congregational Friends. Besides the founders, prom- inent in the society were Adison Newbor, Joshua Orren, Samuel Payshay and Daniel Porter. An early account says: "They adhered only to the strict precepts of the Scriptures. They required no particular form of worship. The name was changed in 1863 to Progressive Friends. Until 1864, they held their meetings in Shawnee township and then built a church in the northwest part of Van Buren, costing one thousand five hundred dollars. No creed is tolerated and the house is free to whomsoever will use it for religious purposes."
UNIVERSALISTS.
Here, as in most counties, there have been a few who have held to the doctrine of final and universal salvation of all mankind. The number has been small, however. Prior to 1854 there were some such in Fulton township, this county, who united with the Disciples branch of the Christian church in the north part of the township, and jointly erected a meeting house thirty-five
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by fort -five feet in size, costing one thousand dollars. There were far more Disciples than Universalists, and when the war came on meetings were aban- doned. The Universalists had never used the house more than eighteen months it is said. In the Christian or Disciple wing there were fifteen men- bers. Finally, the Universalists abandoned the work and left it to the Dis- ciples.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
Prior to the building of their church in Covington, this denomination hield their services in the court house, in halls and private rooms. Father Flaherty was early in charge of the circuit embracing Fountain, Montgomery and Warren counties; his time was so occupied that he was only able to visit Covington occasionally. Before 1860, Dr. S. J. Weldon donated three lots, a beautiful site for buildings, for a new church edifice. The corner stone was laid and the coming on of the Civil war prevented the superstructure going up, until the war had ended, and in 1866 it was pushed forward. Its cost was five thousand dollars. A school building was erected in the rear of the church, and in 1880 the congregation numbered six hundred, men, women and children. The church building named is still doing service, but the congregation is small and no regular pastor serves Covington.
At Veedersburg is located another Catholic church, which congregation worships in the same old framne church built many years ago.
At Attica the Catholic people organized and built a church in 1860; also built a parsonage and laid out a cemetery. The congregation grew rapidly and in 1890 erected the present brick edifice, and the work is now in a pros- perous condition.
Other church societies in this county, with the general history of which the author is unacquainted, are the Jewish and the Episcopal denominations, both of which have had societies in Attica for many years, the Jewish (Bene Jesurn) being organized in 1867 and became one of prosperity. In 1880, the Episcopalians had a society with twenty communicants.
LUTHERAN CHURCHIES.
In 1858 a Swedish Lutheran church was formed at Attica, and held services in the south brick school house. The following year they crected a church of their own and grew in strength and numbers. The first pastor was Rev. Norlins. While the society is small, services are still maintained at this point.
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In Jackson township, the first church formed was the Lutheran, whose building, a log structure, was the first church house in the township. It stood a mile to the east of Jacksonville. The land was donated by Jacob Bowman, and it was built about 1837. In 1856 this society raised a good frame building, well finished and furnished; it had two front entrances and four large win- dows on either side of the building. The inscription in front was "Evangeli- cal Lutheran Phannel Church." A cemetery was platted in the rear of the church. The absence of a large German element in this county has been as- signed the cause for there not being more and larger churches.
A society of Lutherans was also organized in Jackson township, toward the north line, in 1869, and they built Emanuel church that year, at a cost of eight hundred dollars. The organization took place under Rev, E. S. Henkle, with a first membership of twenty. It soon grew to sixty.
( HAPTER VIIL.
FOUNTAIN COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
One of the most potent factors in the settlement and development of any new country is the press, and here in Fountain county not more than a decade had slipped by, after the first stakes were stuck, before prominent men begar to cast about for some one acquainted with the "art preservative" to come in and establish a weekly newspaper. The pioneers in this profession, in this county, were Messrs. Henry Cominigore and George W. Snyder, who, in 1836, established the Western Constellation. They conducted this paper at Covington, and not long after they gave way to J. P. Carleton, and he was succeeded by J. R. Jones, who changed the name of the paper to The People's Friend, under which title it still runs, as a Democratic paper. Jones was a native of old Virginia, and took charge of the paper here in 1841. He brought a new hand-press with him from Cincinnati, by boat, up the Wabash river. It was founded as a Democratic organ and through all the shifting scenes of political strife, wars and rumors of wars, it has remained steadfast in the faith of pure, undefiled Democracy, even unto this day. In 1846 Jones sold to Solon Turman, who came from Perryville and remained publisher of the Friend until 1853. That year he sold to Edward Puilen. Pullen sold in 1860 to Charles L. Hansicker and went South. He soon became major in the Con- federate army. Hansicker had been an officer in the Mexican war and served as county recorder of Fountain county at one time. He sold the paper to H. R. Claypool, a native of this county. He being elected to an office in the state, sold to his foreman, H. V. B. Cowan, who in turn sold to John H. Spence and he to Ezra Voris, who, in 1874, sold to Benjamin Smith. T. D. Collins bought Smith out and in 1877 sold to Edward Hanes, and he to Charles .Guinn. Spence's next adventure was starting the independent paper at Vee- dersburg, called the Fountain County Herald, but not succeeding in this, he went to Attica, and there established the Attica Herald. From thence he went to Lafayette and started a Greenback paper in the palmny days of that party. Later he went over to Republicanism and was a potent factor in that party. In 1874 he removed to Covington and began publishing the paper styled Spence's People's Paper in the interests of the Republican party. The Indiana Statesman was founded by John B. Martin, the first issue being on
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July 29, 1882. It was a temperance and Greenback organ. Martin sold, in order to attend to his law business, in January, 1883, or rather leased the paper, to Edward W. Copner and he continued it until March, 1883, when Martin sold to Hon. I. E. Schoonover and he removed the plant to Attica and began the publication of the Attica Enterprise. Later it became the Fountain- Warren Democrat. The Covington Republican was established by John H. Spence and Albert Weber, as Spence's People's Paper, the Republican organ of Fountain county. Mr. Spence was born in Covington, Indiana, September 4, 1833. From 1850 to 1854 he resided in California, engaged on the " Daily Mining Express. On his return to the States, he worked at different times on the Evening News, St. Louis, Missouri; the Flag, Bloomington, Illinois, Cole's County Ledger; started the Gasette, the first paper at Mattoon, Illinois. In 1859 he purchased the People's Friend, Covington, Indiana, which he pub- lished fourteen years. As already stated, he came from Lafayette to Coving- ton, again in 1874, and began the publication of the paper styled Spence's People's Paper. He remained at the head of this paper until 1887, when he sold to W. F. Vogt, but continued as editor, the name being changed to the People's Paper. Following the death of Mr. Vogt in 1893, the paper was sold to the Covington Republican. Following the death of Mr. Gwynn, in 1897, the paper was purchased, in June of. that year, by T. A. Clifton, its present owner. Since that time, with the exception of one year, the paper has been owned and edited in an able manner by Mr. Clifton, who has made the paper a fearless advocate of Republican principles and of the better interests of the county and vicinity. "
At Attica, the first newspaper was the Journal, in 1845, by Enos Canut and Jonathan C. Campbell, who brought the plant from Independence, where it had been issued as the Wabash Register. Later it moved to Williamsport and there was known as the Commercial.
In 1851 James P. Luce, later of the Indianapolis Journal, started ,the Attica Ledger, at Covington. In 1852 he sold to Isaac A. Rice, but it being a Republican paper the Democrats soon made it too lively for him there and he removed to Attica, where he conducted it till 1858. In 1860 its editor and owner was up for Congress, but died at Delphi while making his canvass. Clark W. Bateman succeeded Mr. Rice and ran the paper four years, then it was sold to O. F. Stafford in 1862 and on the night of January, 1864, it was consumed by fire. A new outfit was purchased and no numbers missed. In 1864 he sold to Benjamin F. Hegler, who conducted it a decade or more and in 1874 sold to Lewis D. Hayes and Albert S. Peacock, who conducted it until 1879, when the latter retired and Hayes continued till 1880, when he sold to A. S. Peacock and H. C. Martin, who put in power presses and greatly im-
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proved the plant. In 1895 a daily was established in connection with the weekly, they having purchased the Newes, which was a daily. Mr. Peacock was appointed postmaster, when he, with Messrs. Cook and Campbell, incol porated the Ledger Printing Company, which company dissolved in 1900, when Edgar Webb and W. G. Ross bought the paper. which soon all belonged to Webb, who conducted it five years, and failed, and Mr. Peacock was made receiver and after five months and on October 1, 1911, the present owners, Ross Bros. (Henry F. and W. G.), purchased at receiver's sale the entire property. It is a first-class plant, doing a splendid business, with improved machinery. Every man who has ever run a daily in Attica (as well as in most small places) has failed, but the weekly is a paying proposition, if handled right. '
The Attica Daily Tribune was established in 1912, as a seven-column, four-page paper.
The first number of the Attica Bulletin was issued July 27, 1860, by George H. Marr. He continued one year. He tried also to run a daily, but failed of proper support.
The paper known as Spence's paper at Veedersburg started the Attica Herald in 1874, but only continued in the place a short time.
In 1878 George Rowland established the Attica Journal, which survived only about one year and was then removed to Covington.
The Fountain-Warren Democrat; the Democratic organ for Attica and vicinity, was established in 1880, as a Democratic paper. It has been in the hands of the following proprietors : Messrs. Thayton, Melcher, Richard Neill, and the latter, in June, 1892, sold to the present owner, George M. Williams. He found it an eight-column folio and changed to a six-column quarto, its present size. It is run on electric power presses. The job department is a special feature, and individual motors are used for this purpose.
At Veedersburg, the first newspaper was established by James Sterns in 1875, as the Veedersburg Review, neutral in politics. In 1876, G. W. Snyder succeeded to the ownership of this paper and changed the name to that of Reporter. It became a radical Republican sheet, owned by Arthur HI. Clark, and was purchased by T. A. Clifton in 1889, and the plant moved to Williams- port, Warren county, Indiana, becoming the Warren Review in 1891.
The next and present newspaper at Veedersburg is the New's, established in 1889 by Charles Berry who has continued to conduct a live independent local journal ever since. It is an eight-page six-column paper devoted to all that is of interest to the large list of subscribers in the vicinity of Veeders- burg. A gasoline engine affords the power by which this paper is printed.
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THE NEWSPAPERS OF 1912.
The following is a list of the newspaper , published in Fountain county in 1912 :
The Covington Friend, established in 1839; the Covington Republican, established in 1874; the Attica Ledger-Press, established in 1851; the Foun- tain-Warren Democrat (Attica), established in 1880; the Attica Daily Tri- bune, established in 1912; the Veedersburg News, established in 1889; the Hillsboro Times, established in 1898; the Newtown Enterprise, established in 1908; the Kingman Star, established in 1898; the Stone Bluff Reporter, estab- lished in 1912.
ASTEPTER
Tanking is among the matter branches of LuPe. the pen new country. The pioneer. as a general alle has not had much money to deposit, neither a credit by which he vouk borrow mente na first be ph. needs dig and deive, chop and sphit and her and plow, before he has acor. mula'ed sufficient means to allow any surplus. Some of the earlier transactions in newv settlement. ua' & needed the banks, but so rare the cases hive been that it has usually been a decade or score of years in any new country, save 12 " recent settlement. bi the middle and far West, before bank, have been estab lished
The first attempt at banking in a regular legalized manner in Fountain county was at Attica, in February 1854 Ore anchoring for the statey pr. a quotation from the well-preserved newspaper flex of the Hlabach Contratar. published at Williamsport, by. Enos Canutt, who editorially ghou, from the All.ca Ledger of the host issue.in February, 1854, in which he says :
"The Bank of Attica .- We have the pleasure to announce the above in- stitution, so indispensable to the business interests of our place, has just gone into operation under the general banking laws of this state. The capital stock is three hundred thousand dollars. of which we are infourned fifty thousand dol- lars has been already paid in. Asa Stevens, president ; J. D. " uiter. cashier
"The above gentlemen have established themselves here for the purj .- c of doing a legitimate bauking business, and in the abundant testimonials of good character which they bring with them from New York and elsewhere. the community has a guarantee of their integrity and ability to conduct their institution both satisfactorily and successfulh. They are fitting ip a room in the Company Hotel and in a few dass will be ready to issue exchange and offer other banking facilities."
The advertisement of this, the first Fountain county bank, as it appeared in the Wabash Commercial, printed at Williamsport, red as follows :
"This bank will make collections in this and adjoining states and remit proceeds promptly on day of payment, at current rate of exchange on Nes York, without further charge Will allow interest on all deposits at stated
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