USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume I > Part 56
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township, in company with his son Oliver. In 1877 Mr. Lawrence erected his large frame residence, and in 1872 built a fine barn, and he has other substantial improvements, making his one of the finest farms in the township. He was married November 23, 1854, to Elizabeth Geitgey, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Adam Geitgey, a pioneer of that county. They have five children: Oliver, a farmer of Wayne township; John, Alice, Ida and Grover C. Mr. Lawrence is one of the leading citizens of Lafayette township, in school, church and public affairs. He has always been a staunch demo- crat. In the spring of 1889 he was selected by Judge O'Rourke as a member of the county board of equalization, a position he filled quite satisfactorily.
William Branstator, a leading farmer and the largest land-holder in Lafayette township, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, May 10, 1824. His parents, Andrew and Frances (Wilkerson) Branstator, were born, the former in Maryland, June 9, 1782, and the latter in Kentucky, Sep- tember 13, 1789. Being early settlers of Clinton county, Ohio, they were there married January 19, 1807. To this union thirteen children were born: Sarah, born August 25, 1809, died February 6, 1864; Elizabeth, December 2, 1810, died July 4, 1866; Matthias, August 24, 1812, died January 11, 1842; Catherine, January 28, 1814, died Septem- ber 1, 1842; Mary, March 17, 1816, died July 13, 1875; James, April 18, 1818, died in summer of 1886; Nancy, January 23, 1820, died July 13, 1875; Andrew, January 12, 1822, died February 1, 1876; William,- May 10, 1824; John, September 11, 1826, died April 21, 1871; Marion, November 30, 1828, died June 26, 1847; Frances, November 18, 1830; Thomas, February 22, 1834, died September 29, 1851. Frances is the widow of William O. Jones, of Huntington county. The father died June 20, 1848, and the mother May 15, 1878, in Clinton county, Ohio. In about 1839 the father visited Indiana and purchased a section of land in Allen county and one in Huntington county, and bequeathed to Will- iam the west half of the Allen county section, which is his home farm at the present. This he settled upon in 1848. The land at that time was covered with timber. Mr. Branstator erected a log cabin, and, after getting married, began the work of clearing. The farm is known as the west half of the Branstator reserve, part of sections Nos. I and 2, in Lafayette township, and sections 35 and 36 in Aboit township. Since then Mr. Branstator has added to his land until he has 597 acres in one body in Lafayette and Aboit townships, and also has a farm of 207 acres in section 36, Aboit township, altogether 804 acres in Allen county. He also owns 243 acres in War- ren and Clinton counties, Ohio, the old homestead. In 1871 he erected a large two-story brick residence, one of the finest in the township." Mr. Branstator was married on April 16, 1848, to Catherine A. Hill, who was born in Washington county, Md., May 28, 1829. Her parents, David and Sarah (Fogwell) Hill, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Maryland, were pioneers of Allen county, where the
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father died in 1847, the mother dying in Clay county, Ind., about 1873. Of their ten children, seven survive. Mr. and Mrs. Branstator have had twelve children: Elizabeth Frances, born January II, 1849, wife of Julian J. Cron, of Wayne township; Martin L., March 10, 1851, died March 12, 1857; Sarah E., June 4, 1852, wife of Henry Kress, of Lafayette township; Andrew Dallas, May 14, 1854, farming in Wayne township; Anna C., December 3, 1857, widow ot William McNair; William D., November 15, 1859, farming in Kansas; Jason Douglas, December 15, 1861, living in Aboit township; James, October 22, 1863, died October 22, 1863; Mcclellan, July 24, 1865, residing at home; Charles W., June 23, 1867, residing at home; Rosa J., December 15, 1869, died December 15, 1869, and Della May, January 23, 1873, died February 2, 1873. Mrs. Branstator is a member of the Five Points Lutheran church. Mr. Branstator has always been a prominent citizen, broad and liberal in his views, progressive and enterprising. He is a democrat in politics, and in 1867 and 1868 was trustee of Lafayette township. He is a member of Summit City lodge, F. & A. M., of Fort Wayne.
CHURCHES IN THE TOWNSHIPS.
Quite important is it, that in an account of the development of that part of the county of Allen which is mainly agricultural in its industries, brief mention, at least, should be made of the rise and growth of the churches. Hand in hand with the school came the church to the early settlers, and both were potent factors in the work of progress. The missionary piercing the trackless wilds, to carry the gospel to the scat- tered pioneers, could speak with great power to his hearers, for it was apparent that only the love of his cause guided and sustained him. Remuneration he could not hope for, but he never sought in vain for lodging and sustenance for himself and his horse. His reading and preaching and fervent prayer and song brought back the old days at home to the weary toiler in the forest, and cheered him to renewed exer- tion, that ere long the advantages of church association and the com- fort of its sacred rites might be his again. The early church and school often occupied the same rude log cabin, and frequently the shelter was erected primarily for a house of worship of the sustaining Power that the settlers felt. was supreme even in the boundless forests, amid wild animals and Indians not long since in savage warfare against his race. These early church classes exerted a great influence for good, and the distinct methods of various denominations in the development of character can be traced to-day in the diverse character of different localities. In the following pages of this chapter a brief account will be given of the establishment and growth of societies of the different denominations, except those elsewhere treated of, throughout Allen county outside of the city of Fort Wayne.
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Methodist Episcopal Church .- Without the township of Wayne, in which the earliest settlement was made, the first preaching of the gos- pel to the American settlers of which record can now be found, was in the Maumee settlement in Adams township. There, at the house of John Rogers, services were conducted by Reuben Nickerson, of the Methodist Episcopal church, in 1828, and he was followed by Rev. James B. Austin, James Holman and Richard Robinson, at the same place previous to 1832. In 1834, Rev. Holman held religious meetings at the home of Richard Andrew in Aboit township, and two years later a class was organized there, which is one of the oldest in the county. There were then twelve members, and they were ministered to by Rev. Stephen R. Ball, once in four weeks. He preached at Fort Wayne, with South Bend and Logansport in his circuit. This pioneer died some ten years ago, in Steuben county. In 1842, a log building was erected to serve alike for church and school. This class is still in existence and now worships at Friendship chapel, built a few years ago, in the Coesse circuit. Another class of similar age is that which was the origin of the Methodist church at Huntertown. Meetings were begun in 1834, at the house of Horace F. Dunten, by Mr. Nickerson, and ministers of various denominations alternated in their visits. In 1836, with six members, the class was organized at the house of James Thompson, by Rev. Ball, and two years later the Caswell school-house became the place of meeting. In 1846, a frame church was erected, 30x40 feet in dimensions, at a cost of $1,500, and this has since been the home of the church. Its present pastor, A. L. Forkner, has a circuit including 180 members in Allen county. Another zealous pioneer of Methodism, the Rev. Mr. Black, preached in Lake township at the home of William Grayless, in 1834, but there was no attempt to organize a class here for many years. Jesse Heaton, sr., a faithful Methodist, had services at his home in Marion township, as early as 1835, conducted by Rev. James Harrison, and their efforts resulted in the formation of a class in 1836, consisting of eight members. At Mr. Heaton's house the little band continued to meet for ten years, and then occupied the school-house at Middletown. In 1852 they erected a comfortable house of worship in the village, at a cost of $800, which has served the society up to the present. To this organization, in its various places of meeting, nearly all the venerable pioneers of Methodism in this region, ministered, and at an early day the membership was quite large. But the organization of more con- venient churches for various neighborhoods has decreased the atten- dants. One of the oldest Sunday-schools in the county was started here in 1837, being first organized by Jared Wharton, as'a union school, and it is still conducted on that plan. In 1842, a number of the members organized the Williamsport class, at the house of John Snyder, the meet- ing being presided over by Rev. Jesse Sparks. A school-house was soon afterward occupied as the house of worship, but that being destroyed by fire, Mr. Snyder's residence was used until the neat church, now in use, was built in 1869, at a cost of $1,200. Both the Middle-
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town and the Williamsport churches are in the Sheldon circuit, in charge of Rev. A. G. McCarter. A flourishing pioneer church class was that organized by Rev. Ball in 1835, in Pleasant township. There were fifteen members, and meetings were held from house to house until 1844, when a log church was erected on land donated by Horney Robinson. This was succeeded in 1866, by Brenton chapel, a commodious frame building, which cost $1,200. It was well attended, but the centers of settlement having changed, and new organizations formed that drew away mem- bers, the church finally was disorganized, and now no services are held.
In St. Joseph township, in 1836 or 1837, meetings were held by Rev. True Pattee, one of the first settlers, and Rev. Golthite. About the same time a preacher of much power, Rev. Edward Hickland, of the Methodist Protestant denomination, created a great excitement among his hearers in this vicinity and elsewhere, by preach- ing the speedy dissolution of the universe. Not content with picturing with startling verbal imagery, the reward of the good, and the future torment of the wicked, he displayed colored cartoons to illustrate his texts. When the day of wrath announced by him, March 2, 1838, arrived, some believers, it is said stood ready in their ascension robes, to ascend to a better world. But the failure of his prophecy ended his influence. The members of the Methodist church in this township kept up their meetings, though irregularly, until the erection of the St. Joseph church, in 1865. It is a frame building, 34x45, and was dedicated by Rev. J. V. R. Miller, Rev. James Greer becoming the first pastor. It is supplied by the New Haven pastor and the member- ship is consolidated with Wayne Street church, Fort Wayne. In 1836 Rev. Hickland preached in Cedar Creek township and the result was the organization of a class, which met until the members of other denominations, which had united in this, withdrew. In 1845 the with- drawal of the Methodist Episcopalian members occurred, and they organ- ized a class under Rev. Dowd, which met at Silver's school-house until 1851, when a log church was erected. This was the parent church from which Mt. Olivet and Robinson chapel societies sprang, but it soon ceased to exist itself on account of these withdrawals. In 1851 the organization at Leo was effected, and a small frame church was erected, which was used until 1878, when one of larger dimensions was pur- chased. The Leo circuit includes 203 members, and the pastor is now A. H. Currie. In 1864 the members at Cedarville erected a good frame church, which is included in the Leo circuit.
The beginning of the present flourishing society at Wesley Chapel, Eel River township, was in the winter of 1837-8, when meetings were held at the home of John Valentine. In the spring following the class was organized at the house of John McKee, with about twelve mem- bers. John Bennett was class leader, and Rev. James Ross made the class occasional visits. Meetings were held in the old hickory school- house, until 1843, when a hewn-log church was erected. The congre- gation increased, and in 1865 a handsome frame church was erected at
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a cost of $2,500, which was dedicated February 18, 1866, by Rev. S. N. Campbell. There are now about seventy-five members and B. Sawyer of the Cherubusco circuit is pastor. In Jefferson township Rev. David Pattee preached in 1838 in the log school-house of the settlement, and several years later a class was formed, which subsequently joined the New Haven church.
In 1838, Rev. True Pattee began preaching in the township of Springfield, and about five years later, in the winter of 1843-4, a class of twelve members: Marcus Brown, Horace Skinner, William Sweet, Richard Anderson, Alphonzo Pattee, and their wives, and Mrs. M. John- son and Ahira Pattee, was organized at the school-house on section 28. There meetings were held regularly until 1854, when the old Harlan church was built in the town of Maysville. Since 1843 regular pastors have been in charge, the present minister being T.F. Frech, and the church has prospered, having now about 114 members, and a handsome brick church, which was built in 1881 at a cost of about $6,000. Two other churches in the county are included in the Maysville circuit, East Spring- field and Scipio, and includes about 180 members in Allen county. The Scipio church is the outgrowth of meetings held at Gehial Park's in 1840, by Benjamin Dorsey.
Brief mention has now been made of the work of the preachers of the Methodist Episcopal church in the township up to 1840, and the organizations which followed their efforts. In the latter named year a church organization was made in Washington township, composed of George Ashley, Daniel Opleger, Uriah J. Rock, James W. Flemming, and their families, and several years later they built a small log church on land donated by Mr. Ashley in the northwest part of the township, and there they first worshipped under the guidance of Rev. J. W. Winans. This primitive building stood many years, and finally became the home of the sexton of the cemetery. In the latter part of 1872 the new church was erected at the village of Wallen, and its first trustees were John Ervin, George Opleger, James P. Ross, George Sunderland and David L. Archer. This prosperous society is part of the Hunter- town circuit. The Sunday-school was established in 1844, and has ever since been in existence. In 1841 Rev. Jesse Sparks organized the Massillon class at the house of Charles Peckham, in Madison township. The next year a lot was donated by John Edwards, and a hewn-log church was erected, which was free of debt, as the work was donated by Jabez Shaffer, Charles Peckham, John Edwards, and Adam Robin- son. Here the class worshipped until 1856, when the frame church now in use was erected. The membership, at first twenty, increased to seventy-five, but has again decreased. It is included in the Monroeville circuit.
In 1845 the first religious meeting in Milan township was held by Rev. True Pattee, but no organization was formed. The Monroeville' Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1847, with fourteen mem- bers. They met at the house of John Barnhart, and were ministered to
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by Rev. John Palmer. The church lived and prospered, and in 1865 their present handsome church at Monroeville was erected, during the pastorate of A. C. Curry, and dedicated by Rev. John Hill. The pres- ent pastor is B. S. Hollopeter, and he ministers to a circuit including about 200 members. In 1849 another class was organized by Rev. Palmer, at the house of William Grayless, in Lake township. In 1850 they erected Lake Chapel, five miles north of Arcola. But the growth of the village of Arcola led to the organization of a class there in 1867, and four years later the latter organization erected a neat frame church, at a cost of 1,600, which was dedicated in September, 1871, by Rev. A. Marine. This drew to some extent from the membership of Lake Chapel. But both are still flourishing and are now in charge of Rev. I. W. Kemberling, of Coesse. In 1850 another society was organized in Perry township, and in the following year a donation of land was made by Andrew Byers, upon which in 1852 a frame church was erected, and dedicated by Prof. Robinson, in honor of whom it was named Robinson Chapel. It is included in Leo circuit.
In 1852, the first class in Lafayette township was organized by Rev. Almon Greenman, at Beach school-house. Meetings were held there, and afterward at Hoosier school-house, but during the time of civil war the membership was much reduced. In 1869 a reorganization was made, and during the next year, a good frame church, 36x50 feet in dimensions, was erected at a cost of $2,200, and was dedicated as Munson chapel. There are now about seventy-five members who are ministered to by J. B. Allemann, of Roanoke circuit.
The class at New Haven was organized July 7, 1861, by Rev. E. W. Erick, of the Massillon circuit, there being but five members, Rev. True Pattee, Lorenzo Pattee and wife, Mrs. Sarah Pattee and Miss Emily Tinkham. The class remained in the Massillon circuit until 1863, when it was assigned to Harlan circuit, and in 1865 it became a separate charge known as New Haven mission, with an appropriation of $125. The building of the Methodist Protestants was used until 1866, when a brick church was erected by Henry Burgess. This was dedicated by Rev. R. D. Robinson, February 24, 1867. The pastor now in charge is J. C. Dorwin, who also has in charge Bower's chapel, in St. Joseph township, which society was organized many years ago, and the circuit includes ninety-five members.
In 1877, as a result of meetings held by Rev. C. H. Brown, at East Liberty, Monroe township, a class of forty members was organized, which held services at first in the United Brethren church. In 1879, a neat brick church, Shiloh, was erected, 32x40 in size, about a half mile north of East Liberty, which is a point in Monroeville circuit. The - church at Sheldon is a flourishing one, and A. G. McCarter, now sta- tioned there, has a circuit with 137 members. At Hoagland, in 1888, a society was organized, which now meets in the Baptist church. The various churches of this denomination in Allen county are now under the care of Elder M. Mahin, a veteran pastor.
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Among the early pastors who carried the gospel to the pioneers, besides those already mentioned, should be named Elder Hargrave Phelps, Shobe, Joseph Harrison, F. A. Conwell, John P. Jones and D. P. Hartman.
Baptist Church .- In 1835, the courageous and enterprising ministers in the mission work of this church held meetings at various places throughout the county of Allen. At the house of Joshua Goheene, under the ministration of Rev. Gildersleeve, a society was organized which met at the residences of the member named and of John Ross, until 1850, when the Eel River church absorbed the membership.
In Marion township Rev. Robert Tisdel and Rev. William Corbin labored, and so effectually that in 1838, on February 6th, six Baptists, under their leadership, Margaret Rock, Michael Rock, Christopher Lipes, Susanna Lipes, Sarah Morton and Bada Morton, formed an or- ganization and began holding meetings at the house of Christopher Lipes. In 1849, they erected a small church at a cost of $400, which was used twenty-one years. In 1870 the creditable edifice now used, Bethel church, above the village of Williamsport was built, at an ex- pense of $1,200, but the church is not active at present, and there is no regular preaching. The members of this church and the Methodists in union organized a Sunday-school in 1835, on the west bank of the St. Mary's, south of Williamsport.
The Eel River church, above alluded to, was organized December 21, 1844, by Elder Wedge. At the first regular meeting, Appleton Rich was chosen deacon, and John Ross clerk. Rev. A. S. Bingham became pastor May 16, 1846, and was retained in that position more than twenty-five years. In 1850, a frame house was erected near Hel- ler's corners, and dedicated September 28. This was insufficient in later years, and a substantial brick church was built at a cost of $4,400. This was dedicated by Rev. Rider, August 25, 1878.
In Washington township meetings were frequently held by ministers of all denominations, but it was not until 1846 that the First Baptist church was organized by Rev. Alfred Bingham. He remained in charge one year, was succeeded by Elder Adams for a similar period, and then that worthy pioneer of the township, Thomas Hatfield, acted as minis- ter until about the beginning of the civil war. After his resignation, interest in the organization soon flagged, and in a short time it was abandoned.
On the fourth Saturday in October, 1854, ten members of this denom- ination met at the Beech school-house, in Lafayette township, and organized an "Old School" Baptist church, of which Mark S. Gaskill was chosen deacon and clerk, and Rev. Joseph Williams, pastor. Four years later fourteen members withdrew to join another organization, and the society was therefore much crippled.
A Free Will Baptist church was organized in Lake township in 1852, and a church was erected in the same year, but on account of deaths
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and removals the society gradually ceased to be, and the church building was transferred to the Methodists.
United Brethren Church .- Some of the most prominent of the pas- tors of this church who labored in this county during the early years of the organization here were, John Hill and his son, J. W. Hill, M. John- son, C. B. Whitley, L. S. Parver, F. B. Hendricks, W. S. Bay, W. Miller, W. McKee, J. L. Luttrell, S. T. Mahan and Z. H. Bonnell.
Rev. John Hill, a devoted circuit preacher, who died at Monmouth about 1876, held services at the barn of Samuel Clem, in Monroe town- ship, in 1845, and a church was organized with six members. For sev- eral years meetings were held at the houses of members until an arrangement was made by which this society and the Methodists erected a building to be used in common. In 1873 the Bethlehem church was erected at East Liberty, in dimensions 34x46, which cost $1,600. It was dedicated by Bishop J. J. Grosbrenner. The present pastor is W. L. Waldo.
In 1854 a class of sixteen was organized, at the house of John Miller, in Pleasant township, which was the beginning of the congrega- tion which now worships at Liberty chapel. The first church building, a log structure, was erected in 1859, and dedicated by Rev. P. Landen, and served as a place of worship until 1868, when the chapel was erected at Five Corners. T. M. Harvey is now the pastor of the con- gregation.
The society of this denomination which now meets in a neat church at Cedarville, was organized in February, 1861, at Hamilton, with fifty members, by Rev. Jonathan Thomas, pastor. They erected a church at Hamilton at a cost of $1,200, but sold it in the same year, 1875, to the Methodist Episcopal church, and built a new edifice at Cedarville, which was dedicated by Elder David Holmes in April, 1877. Rev. T. O. Tussing is now in charge of this and the Maysville church. The house of worship of the latter was erected about 1858.
The society which meets at Prairie Grove chapel, in Wayne town- ship, was organized in 1888, but is really a re-organization of an older society, which worshipped there a number of years ago, but had become disorganized. The re-organization was with twenty members, and a local minister, G. W. Carder, is now in charge.
About 1875, the Nine Mile society in Marion township, which met in a log church on the Wayne trace, was disorganized. It was one of the early organizations in the county. The Williamsport church was organized in 1868, with four members. The house of worship was erected and dedicated in 1874, Rev. J. L. Luttrell officiating. At pres- ent the membership is thirty, and Rev. J. P. Stewart is in charge.
Presbyterian Church .- In 1836, and subsequently, Rev. Rankin, of Fort Wayne, an able minister of this denomination, held services at a cabin on the site of Huntertown, at the house of Christian Parker, in St. Joseph township, and elsewhere; and several years before, Rev. Chute, of Ft. Wayne, had in 1829, first carried the gospel to the new
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homes of the settlers of Washington township. But no organizations within this church were made, except near Hoagland, in 1859. This society was organized with fifteen members, and James English and John McConahy as elders. In 1869 a church building was erected at a cost of about $1,000, but the organization is now dissolved.
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