Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, Part 25

Author: Clifton, Thomas A., 1859-1935, ed
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 672


USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 25
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 25


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The West Lebanon Seminary was in fact a combined church and school building. It was built and designed to be managed by the Methodist church at West Lebanon-rather the old town. The lower story was to be used by the young ladies for a seminary, while the upper story was to be the class room for the church. Funds were raised by popular subscription. It is believed that the township trustees also helped in the matter of finances and hoped to send pupils of the district there. It was erected in 1851, but never reached the sanguine hopes of its founders. The original design was to make it a "female seminary and chapel." The plans, however, were thwarted and in the end it did not prove a success as an educational institu- tion. The common free school system coming in, took the place of the school and that practically ended the undertaking.


Green Hill Seminary was another enterprise calculated to better the condition of education in Warren county. An alteration in the territory of the conferences of the United Brethren in Indiana, especially along the Wa-


208


FOUNTAIN AND WASHEY YOU SEITEN, 18DEN 3.


bash valley, increased the demand of that people Toy a denemnational sefer ] somewhere in the vicinity of Muca, and Green Hill ( Milford as they know;) was selected as the site of the school, owing to it. beantil | location and freedom from unocal surroundings. Then, too, the denomination was very strong in that neighborhood at that time. The building was elected in 1869, partly with funds furnished by the Upper Wabash conference and partly by dont ns from citizens of Green Hill. The building was a large. to-story strux ure, divided into ample school rooms, it's cost being while thousand dollars. When the school opened it had eighty students, north from abroad, and it gave "tone" to the community. Boarding house Spring up rapidly and assistants were added to aid the principal. 'The higher de- partments embraced the studies separatory , entering college. Year by year, for some unknown cause, this institution dwindled down ia il in 1883 it had but fifteen scholars. It was one among the many denominational schools that could not survive the broader notions of karning and a iner. liberal view of Christianity. It went down along with real tight-laced soc. tarian religion


WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF 1912.


From the state and county reports the following facts are gathered con- cerning the public schools of this county in 1912: Amount on hand July 31, 1912, account of revenue for tuition, $52,302; amount of school fund reve- mtc on hand at date last named, $23,306.11; total amount expended since July 31, 1911, $37,120.95.


The total number of pupils enrolled during the year ending with the school year of 1911-12, in the entire county, was 2,364. By townships and towns the figures are as follows :


Adams township 265


Prairie township 150


Jordan township


173


Steuben township


1 174


Kent township 1 1


Warren township 228 1 1


Liberty township 298 1 1 1


Washington township 1 1


1


45


Medina township 1 1


I20


State Line town


1 1


1


5G


Mound township 81 1


West Lebanon town 208


Pike township


1


1


54


Williamsport town 2.85 1 1


Pine township 134


The number of teachers employed was 104; total amount paid all teach- ers within the county, $44,158.74; number teachers employed in commis- sioned high schools, 10; number of graduates from common branches of


1 1


1


1 1


FOUNTAIN AND WAHRES CONSEILS, INDIANA


study. 65 male and S: female; total, 1: general average of mother of school days in the year 113 1-3: amount of school has levied on every one hundred dollars of taxable valuation in county. 35.5 cents: the school libraries contained 5,331 volume umber de during lat sen, 20: amount paid teachers for attending teachers institutes, $1.51604: average wages, per day, for the district school teachers, Salt; average wage, per day, in the grades i town and township schools. $3. 10: sverige vages pail : , frasier- in the high schools, $4.26.


The following shows the number of school buildings in the county : Adams, four; Jordan, nine: Kem, five: Liberty, twelve; Medina six ; Mond. live: Pike, three; Pine, eight; Prairie, eight; Steuben, te : Warren, ten: Washington, three; State Line (town), one: West Lemmet (town), of: Williamsport (town), one, total in county, eighty six. Of this number of buildings. there are twelve built of brick and seventy-four of, frame.


CHAPTER X.


HELLOOPUS DENOMIN ATIONS.


Not all of the pioneers were God-fearing men and womeny bal the maior- ity of the early settlers leaned toward some one of the other of the orthedog churches, while a few were of the Universalist belief. The Methodist. I've -- byterian and Christian sects were the principal chuches of Warren cn ally. After enjoying the advantages of small church organizations for less than a decade, many of the people found themselves churchless. The pioneer classes and churches had not been properly sustained, and fell by the way-ide. The . record they kept, if any they may have had, perished with the death of the organization. it is to be regretted that there can be found no record of the first churches formed by the Methodists, Presbyterians, United Brethren, Christians, Bapt ts and Universalists, all of whom it is known had such organ- izations prior to 1830, all of which shows the early tendency . ; the first men and women who came to develop this county.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.


Ilere, as in most counties, the Methodist people were pioneers in church work, the United Brethren coming in at about the same date. It was in 1828 that the class was formed at Gopher Ilill. in the southwestern part of the county, and it was among the first, if not indeed the first Methodist church in the county. The famous Gopher Hill schoolhouse was for many years known as the home of Methodism. This class was one of the largest and strongest working religious bodies within the county. Among its earlier members may be named the Johnsons, Lucases, Kents, Cunninghams, Clems. Riners, Switzers, Jones, Dixons, Russells, and others whose names are now obsolete. Rev. Buckles was among the first ministers here. A union church building was erected in the fifties, but long afterwards the Methodist secured sole control.


At Independence, Rev. Fraley organized a Methodist class in about 1833. The old schoolhouse served for a meeting house. In 1835-36 there was a great revival in this church and more than thirty united with the class. The Universalists also held services in the same building, and by reason of this


271


FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.


bitter feelings were engendered. On one occasion a Methodist brother rose and called the Universalist a liar, for luch he later had to make an apology.


Among the early members of this class were Samuel Thomas and wine, Mr. Mofin, Mrs. Tripp, Frederick: Ritenour, Daniel Doty. Mrs. Coats, Samuel Willams, Isaac Wavesire and others. Their clutch edifice was created about 1842, and it is believed, from good evidence, that it was the first lurch maild ing erected within Warren conuty.


The Methodists at Pine Ridge date back to the organization of a class in 1831, at the house of Isaac Metsker. Rev. James Mcc me and John C. French organized this class, and Rey. Fraley served as pastor a number of years. After 1834 meetings were held in school houses until 1845, when a church w erected.


At Willianisport. about 1833, Rev. Cooper, a Methodist minister, who was a typical "circuit rider." visited the neighborhood and organized a Meth- odist class, among whom were William Search and wife. Laurence Russell and wife, James Bell and wife, David Etnire, Jacob Etnire, Nicholas Shafer and Mr. Davis. Meetings were held regularly, either in the school house or court house. An independent circuit was created at Williamsport about 1837. The county commissioners agreed to donate a lot upon which to build a church. provided the building was erected within three years, when a deed was to be executed for the lot. The building was not erected and the commissioners extended the time in which to build, but nothing was accomplished. In 1846 they called themselves the Free Church Association, and thus sought to unite with other orthodox church members and outsiders, and build a union church. but this scheme failed also. The old court house was used for a meeting place, as before, and continued so to be used until in Civil war times, when a church was erected. It was dedicated July 17, 1864, by Rev. Dr. Bowman. This served the society until the present edifice was built in 1895; it is a beautiful stone structure built on modern plans.


The Methodist church at Lebanon was organized in 1837, in the school building, by Rev. Ansel Beach. The second pastor was Rev. C. Hall. HIG served his church well, and through him many of the early classes in this county were formed. A church buikling was erected in Lebanon about 1849. and the brick house, in the new town, in 1867, the latter costing four thousand six hundred dollars.


At Marshfield, the Methodist church was formed by Rev. C. Hall at the close of the Civil war. A union building was erected, but subsequently it became the property of the Methodists.


272


MOUNTAIN AND WARPEN COFFEE, INDEN.


many years thereafter hold it services in the Sand hon d. Then a te thousand five hundred dollar nan building was posted in the use of !! society The church was formed be Kes. Mal ...


At State Line City the town had no socker been Manche the Math- odist people commenced to organize themselves for gy I work. The Imer- bership was largely from old membership at the Gopher Hill das. A beal inl frame church was elected in 1803-61.


The present Methodist churches within the county are incluone of the following: Williamsport, with a membership of 277: value of church. $12,000; parsonage, $2,000. West Lebien, with a membership of 116; valuation of church, $3,500; parsonage. $1,000. State me, with ninety members ; church valuation $2,000; parsonage, $800. Pie Village circuit, made up of five appointments, has a total membership of 323 : church valuation, $14,000 : parsonage, $2,000. Pence circuit, of four appointments, has torai membership of 114; church valuation. $4.000 ; parsonage, $2,000. At Kramer a class was organized by the pastor from Williamsport, Rev. A. C. Northrup. in 1911, that has forty-eight members. Kramer Chapel, owned by others than the Methodists, is used as a meeting place. College Corners, near the north line of this county, is supplied with a class, attended upon by the pastor from West Lafayette.


PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.


The Presbyterian denomination has never been called a strong one in this county, yet it has organized some churches that have kept alive the "faith of the fathers," and still maintain their existence among the other sects. At Williamsport, at a very early date, there were a considerable number of Presbyterians, who listened to preachers who came in, or traveled through the county, and from neighboring ministers in near-by counties. December 20, 1850, the Williamsport church was formed, Rev. A. F. White, LL.D., of Attica, presiding. The first members were Mrs. Il. A. Ray, Mrs. Anna Brandenburg, Mrs. Elizabeth Schlosser, Mrs. Rebecca Pearson, Mrs. Dorcas Bryant and Miss Jane McCorkle. Cin is Newell, in 1851. became ruling elder. Rev. Amos Jones was the first ordained minister in charge. The first church building was erected in 1853. For a score of years the churches here and at Attica were associated together and one pastor served both societies. The present church at Williamsport, which was erected in 1889, is a hand- some brick building, beautifully situated. The membership is now one hitin- dred and fifty.


1


FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDULVA.


At State Line City, during the fifties, was formed a Presbyterian chiacch Ex de ministers were Revs. Bacon, Little and Steel. frame chinch w. built in 1800. The original memle . include the Roses, Stevensons. An- drews, Mis. Frasier, John Kerry, Dr. A. M. Porter, Mrs. Lucas, Mrs. Car michael, Mr. Dubois, George Elliott and other. The present membership is only fifteen, and there are no regular services


At Lebanon, at one time, the Presbyterians flourished vel. Soon after 1850 a building was created in which to worship, but when the new town started up it was removed thither. Rev. Crosby was pastor when the re moral took place. West Lebanon has always been a favored place for good churches. The Presbyterian, number sixty now.


The present Presbyterian churches in Warren county are these: Will- iamsport; Marshfield, with sixty-six members. owning a frame church erected many years ago; State Line; West Lebanon.


THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.


Pror earliest history of this county the Christian denomination, under one licad mother, has been prominent and numbered among the strong sects of the county. One of the oldest churches in the county is the Lebanon Christian church, or Church of Christ, organized in about 1828, and for many years proved by its numbers and good works to be one of the strongest. . \t one date, prior to 1881, it had a membership of two hundred and fifty. Their brick church was erected in the old town early in the forties. It is believed that it was founded by Rev. D. D. Hall, au able minister and a capable gentle- man. In 1869, in the new town, they erected a church at a cost of four thou- sand dollars.


A class of this denomination was formed in Washington township. on Clear Branch, about 1857, but no church was built by the society. The Rogers meeting-house class. on Little Pine creek, was formed about 1840.


At State Line City, some time during the Civil war, a church of this sect was formed, and a building, erected in 1868. At that time it was the only brick church building in the town: its cost was about two thousand one him- dred dollars.


At Williamsport, late in the sixties, there was formed a Christian church. and a building was erected in the seventies. Rev. L. L. Carpenter preached the dedicatory sermon.


( 18)


TOUNIMA AND WARRIORS COUNTER, INDEN


The county now has the following chun. he- styling them Are Chmelh of Christ, but by there uninformed bedauch f lance still called ( hisside Williamsport, Pine Village, Wet Lel man the strongest in Wane cod of this seet), Independence, State Line, and one in My country kum a Pleasant View, in Jordan township


THE CARITH'S CARCI


The christian denomination was early in this field, in first was formed poter to the Campbellite durch, so called and was in Warren county only. The only society now in existence here is that of the Hedrick Christian church, organized August 13. 1801. by Rev. Mary J. Vinen, daughter of Elder 2. M. Wilkins This building cost one thousand two hundred and sixty dollars. Mrs. Vinson ervel as pastor for a number of years. The present deacon of the church are George Bell, L. Carpenter and Joseph Clarcy. In tori Rev. Isaac Eml e was pastor, but meeting with a misfortune and having his foot amputated, he left the work. They are now seeking another pastor. The present secretary is Mrs. Moe Grady. Warren county is within an Ilinois conference of this church. Seve attempts at organizing and sup porting a church here in Warren county have been made, but without good results.


UNIVERS W ISTS.


Those believing in the universal salvation of all mankind have never been very numerous in Warren county, at least the church records do not show that they have succeeded long in maintaining their societies. About 1833 the Universalist people organized a church society and occupied a school house in conjunction with the Methodists, which denomination was formed into a class at about the same date at Independence. While holding revival services in the public school house, the plans somewhat interfered with the hokling of Universalist services, and no little bitterness was the result. The school director, Daniel Moffitt, a just and wise official, decided that the Universalists should have the right to occupy the building as the arrangements had been previously made, and they did.


In West Lebanon, in 1879, the Universalists erected a church building, costing one thousand two hundred dollars. At that time the society had a membership of fifteen. Rev. Grandy was then pastor. The sect has not made much advancement in the county, nor in most sections of the Union, of recent years.


FOUNTAIN AND WARRES CANNEDS. AND


This is an all denomination in Waren county Som Es far klar to the writer, the first United Bretinen minister to cross the Wabach mit. Warren county was Rev. Job i Dunhan, a typical pioneer circuit rider. a mat of deep piety and broad culture. He journeyed on horseback to the venin of Green Hill ( no town there then where he had learned that several cam -: families of that church bad settled and were waiting his arrival. A few families had gathered at the cabin home of William Bailey, carly in the antitien of 1828. They came to listen to the Word of Life from the lips of a man it whom they had implicit confidence. He organized a class. The dozen or more adults who had thus assembled saw him take huis saddle-bags from off his jaded, tired animal and throw them over his shoukker and then wend his way toward the cabin door. There was nothing in his make-up and general appearance to impress the congregation. He was slouchy, threadbare, in significant in stature, and seemed to feel his own interi rity. Ile shuffled into the room, looking at no one, threw his saddle-bags on a stand, took ont a Testament that had seen much wear and at once began reading in a low voice. puny and hesitating. He did not offer prayer, but as he advanced his voice took on a firmer tone. his Ggute lost its bent and withered appearance, his eyes began to take on a new light and lustre, and ere long his little congregation were bent forward, with eyes fixed upon his face, intenthy listening to each word as it fell from his lips. He finished the chapter, and then began to point out the moral of the lesson he had chosen. After sweeping on twenty or more minutes, he seemed not to be the same man as before. His voice thundered. and his eye, with a glow of sparkling magnetism, was lustrous, hold'ig his audience spell-bound. He was eloquent, logical and extremely forceful, and the sentiment expressed was one of honesty and purity of soul. His little band of listeners were worked up to high tension, and cried for joy over the truly holy pictures of Christian life and future happiness which he so befittingly pictured. The result was he innnediately formed a class of the Baileys, the Davises, the Andersons, the Cooks, the Greens, the Magees, Talbers, and a few more. A month later he visited the class again, and the Bailey cabin would not begin to hold the throng. This was true in hundreds of pioneer places. This faithful man of God rode through all kinds of weather, endured all kinds of hardships and formed churches, the result of which has been the planting of the Christian relig mi throughout this county. Some of these men were highly polished and well educated. but this was not the rule. They may have been rough and uncultured, but they had the living fire of Christianity with', and


270


this was the way they kindled it in the heart of the hand piotr die for the go this trini for, Rev. Danthon, de la revival of Green , and the water. Strengthened the class he had foraje! More that booty were called to the of ss and it proved to be one of the best procupay for god of Wary royalty A church was built in 184 an I veed anti- the & may we created in the. This is one of the churches of early date in sterlina townelpp.


In the thirties there was a United Brethren dass fand at Indepen Vency. cared for by the pastors of the church at taken. Hill. A meeting, hans wa ereciel about r& aring, if not the fire, regular durch chfices within Warren county.


At present this society is represented in the county at Independente.


CHUR: IL OF : OB.


This was first a branch of the Christian church, at West Lebanon, this county, and was organized for the purpose of co-operation and to give the scattered membership ar opportunity to hear preaching without going so far. In the autunm of 1853. Rev. Shortridge began pretching the doctrine of the soul - sleeping, or the meconscious state of the dead and February 1. 1854. forwied the Peach Grove church, as then called. on account of a large peach orchard near the home of David Evans, where the early meetings were held The officers at that time were: D. D. Evans. John Millhollin and James A. Snoth, elders, and Henry C. Benje. Wilfred Pugh, and later Sam- del B. Mathis, were the deacons. For several months services were either held in the house or barn of D. D. Evans, and after the Central school house was erected in 1855, it was used. Its capacity was increased by stretching a canvas at one end and thus doubling its capacity when more than an ordinary large crowd was expected. Among the families thus associated in this work may now be recalled the family names-Abolt, AAbbbott. Butroff. Benje, Call, Crowe, Claflin, Dowler, Evans, Frankeberger, Fleming. Gallimore, Honser, Howard. High. Lewis, Mathis, Millhollin, MeClintock, Mellott. Owens, Pugh. Pendle, Quick, Reynolds, Shanklin, Shortridge, Smith, Shader. Tharp. Tulli-, Waters, Warrick, Young.


According to a previous call the churches of Warren county met Angust 15. 1859. for the purpose of devising some means by which more hearty cu- operation could be secured in the county. The roll of churches showed either a membership at each place or delegates present, as follows: West Lebanon, seventy six : Williamsport, eight ; Peach Grove, twenty-eight. Little


FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COINDIES, INDIANA


seems to have been accomplished beyond appointing a company ce 1 1: 00 nic uts by which co-operation might be secured in all the adjening fontos


During the early seventies the congregation, feeling the med of a fee wantat home, erected their prosent house of worship, calling of Fixedat View by which name it has ever since been known. It is situated a me all three quarters from the "Peach Grove." and three miles in my the Center -les house, where they had been holding meetings. It was dechiented in August 1872, In Rev. H. V. Read, of Chicago, "Brothers Halsca!, Winston. Match and Stephenson assisting " One of the pledge made when the house was huit was that when not in use by its own people. it should be open to other denominations, so that it has witnessed nearly all kinds of preaching by nearly every grade of preacher. The first preacher for the Church of God was Rev. Shortridge who was followed by Revs. Shockey, Nathan Hornady. Sr. and Jr., Blaine. W. L. Chase, Dr. Knight. Dr. Weston Moyer and Z. Campbell. Also others were faithful as pastors. including R. V. Lyon, J. M. Stephenson. Hatch, Wagner. Reed. Winslow and Halvead, who in time were succeeded by Connor. Chase, Austin, Zilmer and Rev. Woodward .and wife. In all there have been held there but three conferences, the first at the school house; the second, October, 1875, which was a regular st ve meeting. In August, 1893, the state conference was invited to meet here in Warren county and hold its session at Pleasant View church, and they accepted. There were present many from other states, including some from Chicago. The largest delegation was from Argos.


This church has had its periods of stiesess a 1 depression, especially during the eighties, when there were no regular services held. But it survived and at last accounts had a membership of more than seventy, though by removals and death., the society does not now enjoy that number. Meetings are held usually once a month, Rev. Woodward and wife, of Michigan, presiding. This church went through the scathing fires of early-day criticism, and has been in the thickest of the fight for truth, but it has never wavered, even when the membership was small and no services were held regularly. Clinging fast to the foundation principles of the truth, as they saw it, they have sent forth many noble, sturdy characters into distant parts of the country. The most remarkable series of meetings held by this chunch were conducted by Res. Lyon, when the house was crowded for six weeks every night, and again by Rev. Connor, Rev. Woodward and wife and Rey. Zimmer. This is the only church of this denomination within Warren county.


2. 5


HUNENN AND WARKI'S COUNTRIES, INDIANA


Montes, a society was formed at Rainsville, and late in the mego Hime erected a ride meeting house. It was a small frame structure which of 1-13 was used as a barn apon a farmi. The binding, however, had been sold to the Methodist people before this, and the Baptist society, wen dey .. OFhet die nominations meeting with store popular favor have taken the field a onerhy bold by the Baptist denomit. tien. There are new no Baptist churches within the county.


The Friends had a society in the northern part of Warren county as early as 1830, but the society has never grown to be of much importance. the num- ber of this faith in the county never Ming been large and is les, today chan over.




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