USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 9
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 9
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SCHOOLS IN 1912.
From the annual report of the county superintendent of schools in Fountain county, dated August, 1912, the following facts concerning the school of the county have been obtained :
Total number of school houses in the corporations: Cain township, four; Davis township, five; Fulton township, seven; Jackson township, six; Logan township, four; Millcreek township, five; Richland township, two; Shawnee township, six; Troy township, nine; Van Buren township, four. Of this number of school houses in the county, outside of the cities of Attica, Veedersburg and Covington, twelve are built of brick and the balance of .frame. There are sixty-one school houses. In the corporation of Attica there are two buildings, both brick structures; in Covington there is only one, the high school, the other having burned on Decoration day, 1912, and is being rebuilt now; in Veedersburg there are two buildings, both brick houses. This makes a total of sixty-six school houses in Fountain county.
The number of teachers employed in all the townships, towns and cities, below the high school was: In Cain township, two males and six females; Davis township, one male and three females; Fulton township, four of each sex; Jackson township, five of each sex; Logan township, one male and three females; Millcreek township, three males and seven females; Richland town- ship, one male and ten females; Shawnee township, five males and three females; Troy township, two males and six females; Van Buren township, four males and seven females; Wabash township, five males and two females.
The total number of all teachers in all the schools of the county: Cain township, twelve; Davis township, four; Fulton township, nine; Jackson township, twelve; Logan township, four; Millcreek township, fifteen; Rich- land township, thirteen; Shawnee township, eight; Troy township, eight;
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. FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Van Buren township, twelve; Wabash township, seven; Attica city, eighteen : . Covington city, fifteen; Veedersburg city, thirteen.
This makes a total of teachers in the county, one hundred and twenty- six. The report also shows this concerning the certified high schools and also the commissioned high schools of the county : The teachers employed in the certified high schools are: Jackson township, one male teacher and one female teacher. The number of teachers in the commissioned high schools are: Cain township, one male and three female teachers; Millcreek township, one male and four females; Richland township, two males and three females; total teachers, fourteen. In the cities the teachers are divided as follows : Attica, two males and four females; Covington, two males and four females ; Veedersburg, three males and two females,-a total of seventeen and a grand total of thirty-one.
Averages in wages of the high school teachers, as relates to the princi- pals and superintendents : Cain township, $4.00 per day ; Fulton township, $3-75; Jackson township, $3.70; Millcreek township, $4.00; Richland town- ship, $4.01; Van Buren township, $4.00. In Troy and Logan the wages run about twenty per cent. higher than those above named.
Average wages of teachers in the district schools in the county: Cain township, $2.40 per day; Davis township, $2.37; Fulton township, $2.82; Jackson township, $2.69; Logan township, $2.75; Millcreek township, $6.50; Shawnee township, $2.70; Troy township, $2.71; Van Buren township, $2.37; Wabash township, $2.42. Average wages in district schools, $2.92. .
The following shows the enrollment by townships, in 1912: Cain town- ship, 301; Davis township, 164; Fulton township, 223; Jackson township, 245; Logan township, IO1; Millcreek township, 466; Richland township, 394; Shawnee township, 203; Troy township, 166; Van Buren township, 322; Wabash township, 222; Attica (city), 650; Covington (city), 450; Veedersburg (city), 452.
SCHOOL HOUSES AND REVENUE, 1910.
In 1910 the whole number of school houses in Fountain county was seventy-seven; of these, sixty were frame and seventeen brick structures. The towns and villages have, as a rule, excellent and nearly up-to-date build- ings and good instructors are employed.
In Fountain county there was, according to the state reports, in 1910, 5,473 children of school age and the common school revenue apportioned township, town or city was $9,907; congressional township revenue belong-
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
ing to township, town, city and county, was $786; tuition revenue from local taxation paid to townships since last apportionments, $20,064; revenue re- ceived from liquor licenses, paid to townships, towns and cities, $5.00, mak- ing a grand total of $30,757.
The following are the apportionments for 1912 from the common school and special school revenues :
Common.
Special.
Cain township
$
8,370.27
$ 16,418.89
Davis township
3,796.87
3,311.86
Fulton township
6,392.00
4,165.02
Jackson township
7,892.85
5,652.80
Logan township
5,191.02
1,419.13
Millcreek township
14,719.97
19,871.77
Richland township
13,487.45
19,276.25
Shawnee township
7,581.41
3,717.46
Troy township
6,484.90
3,127.84
Van Buren township
8,347.34
9,741.60
Wabash township
4,034.72
3,040.85
Attica (city)
22,146.79
9,234.62
Covington (city)
14,747.71
24,110.68
Veedersburg (city)
11,566.14
3,742.64
1
1
1
1
Total
$134,659.44 $126,831.4I
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CHAPTER VII.
CHURCHES OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY.
The early settlers had various religious beliefs, but perhaps the Metho- dists predominated. The history of the county shows that a greater portion of the populace were believers in churches and the cause of one common Master-the Christ-and that as early as possible they assembled into public congregations to worship Him who made the hills and valleys in which they had come to build for themselves homes, and in Whom they and their children and children's children have ever since worshiped in befitting taber- nacles. The Methodists were first to organize themselves into a society or "class," while the New Lights, a sect of modern-day origin, came in next. Covington and the church in Van Buren township, were the first of the Methodist churches organized. Early in the spring 1823 William Cravens found his way through tangle-wood of the wilderness to the settlement in Van Buren township and preached the first sermon at the cabin of Jonathan Birch, and early in that summer the first society was formed with eight members : John Colvert and wife, William Cochran and wife, Jonathan Birch and wife, with Hiram Jones and his wife. Meetings were held for some years at the houses of Messrs. Cochran and Birch, who were elected class- leaders. The first pastors of the church were: Cord Emmett, Rev. Beggs and Elder Strange. In 1830 their number in Van Buren township was increased by the addition of the families of William Riley, Stephen Voorhees, Robert Farmer, John Lop and others, and their preaching places appointed, with the two already mentioned, one being at Farmers. The first church building in Van Buren township was erected about 1838 at Birch's Corners, a half mile east of Stone Bluff. It was a log structure, with good slab seats. It was built by Jonathan Birch and John Colvert and was dedicated by Revs. Cooper, Johnson and Barnes. The society continued to worship here until 1852, when many changes caused the society to disband, and for the next twenty years there was no regular church of this denomination in Van Buren township, but during the year 1872 came Thomas Birch, the minister in charge at Hillsboro, and organized the Sterling society and Sunday school, and in 1875 a neat church building was erected, at a cost of two thousand dollars. It was dedicated by Dr. Granville Moody, of Ohio.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
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OTHER METHODIST CHURCHES.
Away back in 1824 Lucius Nebeker, an ardent Methodist, though a broad-minded and liberal Christian, became a resident of the "Bend," in Troy township. He opened his cabin doors to all denominations who wanted to preach the gospel: A New Light brother was the first to preach in this neighborhood, holding his services at Mr. Nebeker's house, the only shingled house in Fountain county at that date. Rev. Blackwell, a Cumberland Pres- byterian minister, was next to preach. Rev. Vredenburg was the first Metho- dist minister of this section, and he arraigned Mr. Nebeker for encouraging heresy. This minister was not popular in the community and remained but a short time. Judge Birch and Mr. Nebeker worked in harmony to establish a church of the Methodist faith, and both were class-leaders. What was known as a Buckeye log school house was erected in 1828 and it was also made for a meeting house. The services at Covington were held in the early frame court house, then in the brick school house for many years. In 1840, when Dr. C. V. Jones located at Covington, the Methodist people had already begun the construction of a church. The walls had been weather-damaged before the roof was completed. The society had gathered together a flock of about fifty members. In 1839-40 Revs. James Thompson and Walter Hoffman were on the circuit, followed in the fall of 1841 by Enoch Wood and James Mershon. The brick church was finished in about 1842, and three years later one of its walls was destroyed by a violent windstorm, after which a frame front was put in, but later it had to be abandoned and services were held elsewhere. In 1852 another church was erected, serving till 1878, when it was remodeled and lasted until the present church edifice was built in 1889. The present membership of the church at Covington is three hun- dred ninety-three. The present church is still in good repair and the society one of the strongest in the city.
The Methodist church at Attica is among the oldest in the county. As early as 1829 Methodist ministers visited Attica once a month or oftener, and preached in the log school house on Washington square. At that time Rev. James Armstrong was presiding elder of this district, which embraced nearly one-fourth of the state of Indiana. After preaching in the school house for a time, services were held in a cabinet shop on Jackson street, after which they removed to the new school building. In 1841 the old Methodist church was erected at Attica, and continued to be the home of the society until 1870, when a fine brick church was built at a cost of twelve thousand (7)
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
dollars. A handsome brick parsonage was later added, costing four thousand dollars. In 1880 the church had a membership of one hundred and seventy- five. Its present membership is four hundred sixteen, and its house of wor- ship is new, costing eight thousand dollars.
Bethel Methodist Episcopal church, in Logan township, in the carly days, was the head of Methodism. As early as 1828 meetings were held in Bryant's school house, where later the church building stood. In November, that year, the first quarterly meeting was held in Crawfordsville, Stephen R. Biggs and Spencer Hunter, pastors. At that time Rev. Jacob Turman was the first minister in Bethel church, and John Campbell, class-leader. The members were the Campbells, Bryants, Wilsons, Parnells, Waldrups, Burches, Turmans and a few more. A church was built and a quarterly meeting held in it in November, 1830, Samuel C. Cooper and Samuel Benton being pastors at that time. The membership was then sixty and the yearly "quarterage" amounted to eleven dollars. Up to 1831 this was known as the Illinois cir- cuit, but the general conference in Philadelphia, in 1832, changed it to the Indiana conference, when this place fell to the Lafayette circuit. In 1835 the circuit was changed to that of the Covington circuit. In 1832 there was held a great camp-meeting at Bethel, at which about forty Indians were present, who had been driven in by the Black Hawk war.
In Shawnee township, Methodism dates back to 1828. John Strange was presiding elder, Stephen R. Beggs and Spencer Hunter circuit preachers. No class-book has been preserved, so the history of the early meetings is lost. John L. Foster was a class-leader at Rob Roy and is described as a man of versatile talent, a skillful worker in iron and an inventor. He located in Rob Roy in 1826, and it is thought founded the church in 1829. He re- mained in that location six years and was the leading man in sustaining the church until it was fairly on its feet. It was not until 1844 that a church building was erected, and it was still in use about 1890.
In Jacksonville, Jackson township, a Methodist church was organized and a building erected in 1837. After a number of years it went down, many of the members uniting elsewhere.
In Fulton township, a class was formed in 1845, at John Johnson's residence. Meetings were kept up for a number of years at private places, but in 1876 it was decided to build a house of worship, which was carried out at a cost of one thousand one hundred and ten dollars, and is known as Burnsides chapel. In 1879 the membership at this point was fifty-five.
In Davis township, at first the Methodist people worshiped at Bethel church, but later a class was formed at Maysville. Then it was moved to
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
various places, held meetings in school houses, etc., until finally, in 1871, through a subscription paper circulated by Joe Brown, a frame church was erected on the southwest quarter of section 33. township 22, range 6. It cost two thousand five hundred dollars and was dedicated in December, 1871. This was the first church built in Davis township, and here much spiritual good was done, following the erection of the church.
In Millcreek township Methodism is not as old as in other sections of Fountain county. In 1852 a class was organized at the school house at Steam Corner by William D. Parret and Rev. Jones. Meetings were held in the school house five years or so, then in a frame house. K. C. Workman and Rev. Brown were missionaries early in this field. About 1864 a church was built and the society then numbered about forty. A class was organized at Harveysburg and held meetings over a store. John W. Spencer was the first class-leader, and the first regular preacher was Father Edwards. A church was contemplated and plans had been made with the Masonic frater- nity to build a union building, that might serve as lodge room as well as church, but some difficulty arose and the "Masons withdrew and the Metho- dist and United Brethren built jointly. Doctor McNutt donated the site and a church was completed in 1860, but after twenty-odd years it went to decay.
In Cain township, at Hillsboro, the oldest church was the Methodist. The building was thirty by thirty-six feet, costing one thousand six hundred dollars. The society was formed there in 1870, with thirty-two members. The New Light doctrines were then being pressed on the minds of people in this section, and it was a long, hard struggle to maintain the new church, but finally it succeeded, and it had forty-two members in 1880, since which it has advanced.
Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal church, in Shawnee township, was started by a winter revival in 1873, conducted by Rev. Thomas Burch, at Brown's chapel. A class was then organized. During the winter of 1876-77 another revival was held by Rev. John J. Claypool, and following that a church was erected and services regularly maintained thereafter.
Prairie Chapel Methodist Episcopal church was located in section 30, township 19, range 6, in Cain township. It was built in 1859, at a cost of one thousand dollars. James B. Gray was the first pastor.
In the pioneer days the Methodists built a church on land later owned by Mr. Frazier, one mile south of Hillsboro. It was built of logs, the inside dimensions being sixteen feet square. What floor it had was made of boards sawed out with a whip saw. In the center of the room was a large opening to the ground, left for a fire place, to which no chimney was attached, the
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
smoke being left to find its way out through the numerous cracks in the roof, which was made of small poles, pinned to keep the shakes in place. The seats were made of small poles trimmed a little and then pinned to wood bent to answer the purpose of legs. Each row of seats formed a square in the room, the outer one against the wall, the others between that and the fire place. When fire was necessary, the men, with gallantry, surrendered the warmer seats inside to the women and the elders, although at times the marrow in their spines congealed, opposite the liberal openings in the wall left for venti- lation by the architect. And while the long-faced minister would discourse on the "sinfulness of sin," those seated near the fire place were being troubled more by smoke, "for the smoke of torment ascended for ever so long."
The German Methodists held services in Covington in 1862, through Rev. Stahl, and in 1863 Rev. Conrad Welzeman labored here six months and in the fall of that year organized a small class. A little later a small church was built, at the cost of two thousand dollars, but later services were dis- continued.
FREE METHODISTS.
This denomination organized a church at Attica in 1874, under Rev. C. S. Gitchell, of Michigan, who first held revival services. The same year a three-thousand-dollar church was erected and a parsonage, costing the same. These are still in use and meetings held regularly.
METHODISM IN THE COUNTY, 1912.
The conference minutes show these facts: Covington, 393 members; value of church, $17,000. Attica, membership, 416; church property, $21,000. Veedersburg, membership, 170; church property, $6,000. Newtown, member- ship, 220; church value, $7,000. Waynetown and Hillsboro, membership, 193; value of churches, $8,000. Kingman, no official report.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
Among the early settlers there were many Presbyterians, and it was not long before they assembled and took measures to organize themselves into a church society. How well they succeeded is seen by the church record they have made-one to be justly proud of-both in and outside the county seat. Men of learning, and filled with the true spirit of self-sacrificing Christianity, were found among the pioneer band and these headed the organization of the .
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Presbyterian churches in Fountain county, the moral and religious influence of which is still ever widening and deepening.
The chief history of the Presbyterian church at Covington is contained in the following account of it delivered by Dr. A. L. Spinning, on the occa- sion of the eightieth anniversary of its founding, June 8, 1912, from which are quoted the most important historic points :
On Saturday, June 9, 1832, Rev. E. O. Hovey and Rev. E. Kingsbury, secretary, organized the Presbyterian church in the court house at Covington, with fifteen members, and ordained James Long and Daniel McLain elders. Sunday, June 10, 1832, the members of the church united in celebrating the Lord's Supper. Rev. E. O. Hovey was born in East Hanover, New Hamp- shire, 1801, graduated at Andover, Seminary, 1831; at Dartmouth, 1828; ordained at Newburyport, 1831, and in September, that year, came to Indiana. He preached his first sermon in 1832; was one of the founders of Wabash College in 1832 and was one of the professors from 1834 to the date of his death, March 10, 1877. His biography is an important part of the history of Fountain county and Wabash College.
Rev. E. Kingsbury, his associate and a frontier genius, was born in New Hampshire in 1800; graduated at Amherst, 1827; studied theology at Auburn and Union, Virginia, and Prof. Balentine considered him a smart, earnest genius of the time he lived and preached. His first sermon was preached at Danville, Illinois, where he died in 1868. His ministry in Cov- ington was marked with good results and good fruits are still found in many places; thus "the empire of the dead speaks stronger and stronger to each succeeding generation."
Among the list of about twenty-five eminent pastors are these: Reys. E. O. Hovey and E. Kingsbury, founders; John N. Saunders, 1839; John Fairchild, 1842; Samuel D. Smith, 1842; A. W. Freeman, 1847; Charles K. Thompson, 1848-50, who erected the church building; Samuel Wilson, 1850; Henry M. Bacon, 1852-59, chaplain of the Sixty-third Indiana. Infantry ; William N. Steele, 1859; Henry H. Cambern, 1862-66; Nathaniel Williams, 1866; Joseph W. Torrence, 1871 ; William P. Kontz, 1874; John W. Bishop, 1879-83; Rev. Bennett, 1884; C. F. Beach, 1885; W: Wilmer, 1887; J. A. Smith, 1888; J. M. Bolton, 1890; Fred R. Rosebro, 1893-96; R. Burr, 1896; C. E. Fowler, 1898-1902; Ezra Van Nuice, 1902; J. T. Orton, 1905; H. K. Fox, 1907.
Of Rev. Charles K. Thompson, a most remarkable man, it may be said that he only spent two years in Covington, but during his ministry the first Presbyterian church was built in 1848-49 on ground bought of James V.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Buce; it stood until 1899. Mr. Thompson's father, with evidence of remark- able mental and physical heredity, came west from New Jersey and settled in Hamilton county, Ohio. In 1802 he removed to Knox county, Indiana, where Charles K. Thompson was born. In 1828 he went to Hanover College, which was in a log house in a back yard and had twenty-six students. Here he graduated in 1834 in a class of six-the first class. Ile spent his life of thirty-five years in preaching at Covington, Lebanon, Crawfordsville and did heroic service in developing this section of Indiana.
A lasting tribute to the first congregation whose historic act is still swinging in the corridors of time deserves mention and the names enrolled so long ago were as follows: James Long, elder; Sarah Long, John Fisher, Margaret Fisher, John Long, Sarah Long, Charles Campbell, Sr., Daniel McLain, elder; Elizabeth McLain, Zion Breden, Jane Evans, Isabelle Mer- ril, Hugh McConnell, Margaret Hannegan, Margaret Hull (by letter), Will- iam Long, Sally Ann Long, Margaret McConnell, by profession. These nineteen members were the charter members who organized the church in 1832. There is but one here who has seen each of the above, and that is our old friend and fellow-townsman, Hezekiah Martin, aged ninety-five years.
A second Presbyterian church (of the Old-School order) was organ- ized here in 1852 and existed until 1870, when both churches were united. Their building stood where the Cardiff house now stands.
Places of meeting for the Presbyterian people from January, 1832, to June 7, 1849, was in the old court house, the Methodist church, Baptist church and old school house. The mid-week services were usually held at private homes. In 1848 Rev. Thompson began working for a new church building, which was finished and dedicated June 7, 1849, by Rev. I. G. Wilson, of Lafayette, who used as his text Rev. xxi:2-3. Rev. A. F. White, of Attica, and Rev. E. Kingsbury, of Danville, who assisted in first founding the church in 1832, also in dedicating its first building in 1849, besides preaching here frequently, were present, thus showing Rev. Kingsbury to have been a strong worker for the church and an enthusiastic genius.
Of the parsonages it may be said that on August 26, 1878, a parsonage was given to the church by Mrs. Jane Campbell. It is situated one square from the old school house and was used as a parsonage until 1899. The old church and parsonage were then sold and the present church built in 1900, under the pastorate of C. E. Fowler. It was dedicated June 9, 1901, the sermon being by Dr. Craig. The debt of the new church was cancelled in 1906, during the services of Rev. Orton. Rev. W. K. Fox, the pastor since 1907, has been active for two years in assisting the church to obtain a new
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
manse. On December 2, 1911, the church purchased the residence south of the church building for its manse, and thus for a second time the church has a complete home, with a loan to be taken care of in the future years.
While we are recording historic tribute to such men as pastors Hovey, Kingsbury, Cambern and Bishop, we must recall their associates and the fruits of their work in assisting in providing in our community such men as Hon. Ed. Hannegan, Gen. Lew Wallace and Daniel W. Voorhees, and also Mr. Davidson, men who became illustrious by the genius they possessed and made a name in literature, politics and law. In the great problem of social economics the Presbyterian church has done its part creditably and well.
The Coal Creek Presbyterian church was organized December 3, 1827. A company of devout Presbyterians had moved from the Ohio synod in the autumn of 1826, and at once sought a church home of their own faith and creed. The record of an early meeting is as follows: "For two or three long years we sighed and prayed, for we still remembered Zion, and ex- claimed : 'When shall we go up and appear before God to worship in His holy temple.'" They did not pray in vain. In the fall of 1827 Rev. James Thompson, from the Cincinnati presbytery, then settled in Crawfordsville, visited the church in state of organization, and tendered his services once a month for the time being. On December 3d twenty persons met at the house of William Miller, bringing certificates of membership from other churches, and proceeded to give direction to their purposes to organize a church. The organization was perfected in March, 1828, at the house of Edmond Parrott. Soon- the membership had grown to forty-nine. James Thompson was its pastor from the first. The church took advanced grounds on the subject of temperance, and declared : "In view of the wide-spreading evil and desolating influence of intemperance in our land, the elders of this church will abstain entirely from the use of ardent spirits except when recommended as a medi- cine, and recommend this action for adoption by all the members of the church and community." A temperance society was thereupon organized comprising twenty-nine members. Camp meetings were held in the four quarters of the county. Mrs. Mary C. Hovey, widow of Prof. E. O. Hovey, wrote to Rev. Bishop as follows: "There is one scene I love to think of; it was a camp-meeting somewhere near Rob Roy, which I attended in 1832. There were many Indians there in their tents, much interested in the praying and singing. They had paddles hung around their necks, and certain charac- ters on the paddles which they seemed to worship." In March, 1832, a meet- ing of the west part of the church and congregation was held at the house of James Miller to select a site for a meeting-house and James Miller made a
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