USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
After the church was completed the two pulpits,-those of Wesley and Centenary,-were occupied alternately by the preacher in charge, and his assistant. This arrangement, however, closed at the end of the second year, since which time Centenary has been an independent charge.
The following are the names of the pastors of Centenary church from the first to the present time: John C Smith, two years; William Knowles, assistant, one year; Silas Rawson, assist- ant, one year; Richard Robinson, two years; Isaac Crawford, two years; Allen Wiley, two years; T. H. Rucker, two years; Williamson Ter- rell, two years; C. B. Davidson, two years; John C. Smith, one year; L. C. Berry, Thomas H. Lynch, one year; B. F. Rawlins, two years; S. J. Gillett, two years; Daniel McIntire, two years; Elijah Fletcher, one and one-half years; R. L. Cushman, one and one-half years; N. P. Heth, two years; James Hill, three years; H. R. Nay- lor, three years; S. L. Binkley, two years; J. S. Woods, two years; W. F. Harnard, one year; Dr. James Dixon, one year; Dr. George D. Watson, two years; E. T. Curnick, present pastor.
L. C. Berry, having been elected to the presi-
189
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
dency of a college, his year was filled out by Dr. Lynch, then president of Asbury Female college, now DePauw college, of this city. James Hill was the first preacher after the pastorate was changed from two years to three. One of the most notable revivals in this church took place under his administration. Other churches also had an unusual awakening about this time, such a one as the city had never before witnessed. Though some have fallen away, there are very many persons in the various churches who date their religious life from that period, and whose conduct has evinced the sincerity and reality of the change. James Hill has been a remarkably successful minister.
The presiding elders who have served the church in this district are as follows: W. McK. Hester, Daniel McIntire, William C. Smith, John Kerns, William V. Daniels, John J. Hight, C. B. Davidson, John Kiger, Edward R. Ames and Enoch G. Wood. During the years the first of these were in active service there were no railroads in Indiana; they went to their various appointments on horseback, carry- ing the needed clothing and books in their sad- dle-bags behind them. Many of the most noted preachers composed their sermons while slowly making their way through dense forests along some Indian trail. From an old manuscript it is ascertained that the salary of the pastors, in- cluding rent of the house, for the years 1840-45 averaged $461. The rent was $65 per annum. The salary of Bishop Ames, then a presiding elder residing in New Albany, was about the same. The amount paid by Wesley chapel as her share of his claim in the year 1845 was $55.40.
1
The Indiana conference then included the whole State, and a district was, in some cases, halt as large as the conference now is.
Weddings in churches were not so common in the earlier years of the church as at present. Prob- ablythe first marriage in the Centenary church was that of Mr. Augustus Bradley, yet living, and with his worthy wife still a faithful worker in the church. This event took place September 13, 1846. Calvin Ruter, then superannuated, and a very noted minister, officiated at the wedding.
The location of the church is on the north side of Spring street, between Upper Third and Fourth.
CENTENARY SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Immediately on the opening of Centenary church the Sunday-school was organized. The first superintendent was Robert Downey. He is still living and resides at Chicago, Illinois. He · was an old superintendent, having filled that office in Wesley chapel as far back as 1829. The following is a list of the superintendents, though probably not in the exact order in which they served: Robert Downey, Dr. E. S. Leon- ard, James E. Sage, James Johnson, Dr. R. R. Town, George A. Chase, John N. Wright, M. M. Hurley, John C. Davie, Jefferson Conner, Henry Beharrel, Sr., Dr. Thomas H. Rucker, Jared C. Jocelyn, John D. Rodgers, J. H. Conner, James Pierce, William W. May.
The first secretary of Centenary Sunday-school was Louis W. Stoy, and the first librarian was J. R. Parker. Andrew Weir was secretary for about five years, but by far the senior in this office is J. R. Parker, who served the Sunday- school as secretary about twenty years in all, leaving that place and assuming the one he now holds about a year since.
For a number of years the Sunday-school was held in the basement, but the room was so dark and uncomfortable that, for a few years, the school was held in the audience' room above. In the year 1867 the floor of the old roon? was lowered about four feet, iron columns were sub- stituted for the old wooden ones, and the whole interior refitted, so that it is now one of the neatest Sunday-school rooms in the city.
The managers of the school from the begin- ning took an active part in the uniform lesson movement, at once adopted the system, and lent their in influence introducing it elsewhere. Cen- tenary is entitled to the credit of having one of the oldest and best sustained teachers' meetings in the State of Indiana.
MAIN STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This is an offspring of Wesley chapel, and was established about 1847, being first called Roberts' chapel, in honor of Bishop Roberts, who was serving in this part of the State at that time, and who was a very popular and earnest worker in the church. As the old church, Wesley chapel was generally known, before it received its present name, as the "Old Ship," so this little chapel was often called the "Yawl."
190
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
At first it was a "mission," or simply a Sunday school, established here because there were many children in the neighborhood that the good people of the church hoped to bring under the influences of the church. The church owned a lot here, and about the date above mentioned, a small frame house was purchased, moved upon the lot and a Sunday-school opened. This school was continued with marked success for several years, and meanwhile preaching was oc- casionally had at the house. As Methodism grew and strengthened, and the other two churches became filled with members, regular preaching was maintained at Roberts' chapel and a separate church organized there. By the aid of the present church and the people generally the present neat brick church edifice was erected in 1877, at a cost of something more than four thousand dollars. The total value of church property now here, including parsonage, is about six thousand dollars. The membership at pres- ent is one hundred and twenty-eight, and the Sunday-school, established in 1847, is still in a flourishing condition.
The church is located on Main street, between Lower Fifth and Sixth streets.
VINCENNES STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church is located on the corner of Mar- ket and Vincennes streets, and was formerly known as the Ebenezer church. This church was erected to accommodate the Methodists of the town of Providence, mentioned elsewhere. Epaphras Jones undertook to build a town here and gathered about him a few settlers, among them the family of Grahams, who were Method- ists. For many years the Methodists of this part of the town and city attended the Wesley chapel and the Centenary, but the nearest of these two churches was a mile away, and a de- sire was thus created for a church nearer home ; and the Methodists up here especially felt the need of a Sabbath school in the neighborhood. There were many children who could not or did not go to the Sabbath school down town, so Mrs. Ferdinand Graham (now Mrs. Inwood and yet living) determined to try starting a Sabbath school in her own house. This she successfully accomplished, about 1850, with about fifteen children to start with. This was the beginning of a Sabbath school that has kept up in this
neighborhood from that day to this. The school soon increased to forty or more scholars; more than her dwelling could well accommodate, and thus it was determined by the people of the neighborhood to erect a church, not only for the accommodation of this flourishing school, but for preaching also. A subscription paper was circu- lated and the money for building the present frame church soon raised. It was erected in 1851, and since that has been repaired and added to somewhat. This church grew and flourished, and became a large church compara- tively, but probably received its death blow when the Johns Street church was erected, about 1857. This latter church, standing between the Vincennes Street church and the Centenary, drew to it the larger part of the congregation. One pastor served both churches for a time. After some years this church was unable to pay its pastor and the society disbanded. After this the church building was rented to the German Methodists for five years, and they undertook to build up a church here, but also failed, keeping it only two years. There has been no preaching by the Methodists here for several years. The Sabbath school has for some years been in the hands of the Presbyterians, who rented the church and established a mission. The school numbers about forty or fifty scholars and is reg- ularly attended. One of the earliest preachers in this church was an eccentric character named Garrison. One of his peculiarities was that he would not accept any pay for preaching ; he did not believe in ministers laboring for money ; he thought the Lord would provide for him if he was faithful in preaching the gospel. He was frequently urged to take pay for his preaching but refused it ; the consequence was he was very poor and was compelled to give up preach- ing for fear of starvation.
JOHNS STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This building is located on Eleventh street, between Spring and Market. It is a substantial brick, and was built about 1857. £ Mr. John Conner donated the lot upon which it stands, and its first members and originators were mem- bers of Centenary and Ebenezer churches. The donation of the lot and the number of Method- ists living in the neighborhood were the induce- ments for building the church, though its estab- lishment probably caused the downfall of Eben-
191
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
ezer. Its first minister was William B. Mason, and some of its first members were Mrs. William Akin, Miss Sue Shively, Mrs. Genung, Mrs. Kate Petre, James Turner, Mrs. Martha Turner, and others. Eleventh street is sometimes known as Johns street, so named in honor of Mr. John Conner, the donor of the church lot. At the time the church was built Rev. John Kreiger was presiding elder on this circuit, and the same gen- tleman is at this time acting in the same capacity. J. Ravenscraft and Robert Kemp, both now ministers, were also among the original members, as was also James Forman, who was the first Sabbath-school superintendent. Mr. Kemp was also among the first superintendents of the Sab- bath-school.
The ministers of this church have been as fol- low: William B. Mason, J. H. Ketcham, Joseph Wharton, Lee Welker, Benjamin F. Torr, George Telle, Charles Cross, J. J. Hite, John Julian, J. H. Klippinger, George F. Culmer, William McKee Hestor, T. D. Welker, Ferdinand C. Iglehart, Henry J. Talbot, Hickman N. King, Francis Walker, E. T. Curmick, and Dr. Walter Underwood, the present minister. The present membership of this church is about two hundred and thirty.
The organization of the Sabbath-school was coeval with that of the church, and has been kept up with a good degree of success, the mem- bership at present being about one hundred and twenty.
KINGSLEY MISSION.
This religious institution was established through the munificence and great interest in the Methodist church of Hon. W. C. DePauw, a wealthy and influential citizen of New Albany. In 1864 the Episcopalians, desiring to build a new church, sold their old one to the Lutherans, who in turn sold it to Mr. DePauw, who caused it to be moved out on Vincennes street, where he is the owner of considerable properly. He placed the building on one of his vacant lots, put it in good repair, and opened a . "mission school," or Sunday-school. There were many children in this part of this city that did not at- tend the Sabbath-schools down town, and Mr. DePauw hoped that much good could be ac- complished here by the establishment of a school. He has not, probably, been disap- pointed, having labored faithfully himself for the
establishment and permanent success of the school. He has been the superintendent of the school since it started, attending every Sunday afternoon, with Mr. J. H. Conner as assistant.
The mission was named in honor of Bishop Kingsley. Meetings for preaching and prayer are frequently held at the mission house, and like the other mission mentioned it may, as it is hoped, become an established and regularly or- ganized church.
THE GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The organization of this church occurred prior to 1850. Before this the German Method- ists had never felt themselves strong enough to support a church, and had been attending the English churches. The originators of the first organization were the Dirkings, the Meistors, the Ehrharts, and probably some others. The fol- lowing list of names appears on the church rec- ord: Frederick Dirking and his wife Anna, John G. Smith, Frank Graf, Agnes Graf, Christian Dirking, Catharine Dirking, Eva Graf, Frederick Sieveking, Christiana Sieveking, William Arns- mann, Catharine Arnsman, George Ehrhart, Anna Ehrhart, Gerhard Niehaus, Anna Maria Niehaus, Adelheit Neihaus, Barbara Newbaur, Catharine Fuhrmann, Conrad Helm, Barbara Helm, Simon Knauer, Anna M. Knauer, John Knauer, An- dreas Menzinger, Gotleib Menzinger, John Mor- gen, Elizabeth Morgen, Anna C. Zeilmann, Henry Jesberg, Phillip Seitz, Jacob Green, Phillip Sharf, T. Seitz, and Frederick Dauber.
The few German Methodists at first met for prayer and conference at each other's houses, and after forming a class, their meetings were held in one of the city school-houses until 1863, when their present church edifice was erected. They have had but three regular pastors, the first being Rev. Mr. Heller, the second, Rev. Mr. Moot, and the third and present pastor, Rev. C. Fritchie. The church building is a neat, sub- stantial brick located on Fifth street, between Market and Spring. It is 40 x 70 feet in size, high ceiling, and comfortably furnished. The society is in a flourishing condition, having, at present, about one hundred and seventy-five members.
The Sunday school was organized in the early days of the church organization, and still contin- ues in a flourishing condition, with a membership of one hundred and fifty.
192
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
COLORED METHODIST CHURCHES.
In addition to the above Methodist churches there are in the city two colored churches of this denomination, known as Jones chapel and Cros- by chapel. The colored element has always been an important one in the city. In an early day there was quite a community of.colored peo- ple in what was known as West Union, north of the town of New Albany. Here the first colored Methodist church was organized about 1840, and flourished more than a quarter of a century. Their services were conducted in the houses of the members for a few years, when they erect- ed a frame church, known as Bridges chapel. In 1859 a few colored people of this congrega- tion having located in New Albany, determined to establish a church here. They first organized with ten members, and their meetings for several years were held in their houses and in the school house. About 1872, the old church in West Union having been abandoned, was taken down, and a portion of it used in building the present church, known as
CROSBY CHAPEL,
so named in honor of Bishop Crosby. It is located at the corner of Lower Second and Elm streets. The first pastor of this church, after locating in New Albany, was Rev. W. A. Dove. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles Burch, F. Myers, R. K. Bridges, J. W. Malone, T. Crosby, Jesse Bass, Morris Lewis, Richard Titus, A. Smith, and H. H. Thompson, the present pastor. The present church building cost about one thousand dollars. The present membership is about one hundred. The Sunday-school of this church was organized in West Union about the time of the church or- ganization, and has been kept up since.
JONES CHAPEL,
named in honor of Bishop Jones, is located on the corner of Lafayette and Spring streets, the proper name being Zion African Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Jones is at present and has been for years a very popular bishop. An old colored preacher from Louisville, known as Father R. R. Briddle, was the principal organizer ot this church, meetings for organization being held on the corner of Lower Fourth and Main streets, in what is known as London hall. He remained with the church four years, and was followed by Elder Bunch, during whose pastor-
ate the present church building was erected in 1872. The ministers who followed Mr. Bunch were Elders Forman, J. B. Johnson, Samuel Sherman, and William Chambers, the present in- cumbent. The membership of this church is about one hundred and fifty, and the church property is valued at $2,000. The organization of the Sunday-school was coeval with that of the church, and now numbers about forty scholars.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The following history of this church is chiefly abridged from a centennial sermon delivered June 25, 1876, by the pastor, Rev. Samuel Conn, D. D .:
In 1816 there was but one settled Presbyterian pastor within the limits of Indiana and Illinois Territories, and half a dozen missionaries. New Albany was a village of three years old with a population of about two hundred. On the 16th of February, 1816, the few Christians of the Presbyterian faith and order living at New Albany and Jeffersonville met at the latter place and organized the Union church of New Albany and Jeffersonville. The minister offici- ating was Rev. James McGready, a Scotch-Irish- man from Pennsylvania, who, after laboring in the Carolinas and Kentucky, had been commis- sioned by the general assembly to do missionary work and found churches in the Territory of Indiana. The Lord's supper was administered, and the following members were enrolled: Gov- ernor Thomas Posey and wife, John Gibson and · wife, James M. Tunstall, James Scribner, Joel Scribner, Phœbe Scribner (the mother of Joel), Esther Scribner (the sister of Joel and afterward Mrs. Hale), and Anna M. Gibson. Thomas Posey and Joel Scribner were chosen elders. A little later Mary Meriwether (wife of Dr. Meriwether) and Mary Wilson (a widow) were added to the number.
Within a short period the Jeffersonville mem- bers all withdrew. Thomas Posey and wife re- moved to Vincennes; John Gibson and wife removed to Pittsburg, and united with the church there; and James Tunstall, Mary Wilson and Anna M. Gibson joined the church at Louisville; leaving only four members, all of whom resided at New Albany, namely: Joel, James, Phœbe, and Esther Scribner.
The church having thus lost the character of
193
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
a "union church," it was proper that it should be re-named and re-organized. The members assembled, therefore, on the 7th of December, 1817, in the back parlor of Mrs. Phoebe Scrib- ner's house, being what is now the middle part of the old High Street house, or Commercial hotel. The moderator of the meeting was the Rev. D. C. Banks, pastor of the church at Louis- ville, by whom many of the earlier churches of Indiana were organized. It was then "Resolved that, as all the members of this church residing at Jeffersonville have withdrawn, and all the present members reside in New Albany, the Union church shall, from this time, be known as the First Presbyterian church of New Albany." At the same time Jacob Marcell and Hannah, his wife, were received as members of this church, from the church at Elizabethtown, New Jersey; and Stephen Beers and Lydia, his wife, and Mary Scribner (wife of Joel), were received on letter from the church at Louisville, Ken- tucky. The church then proceeded to vote for two additional elders, and Jacob Marcell and Stephen Beers were unanimously elected and subsequently ordained and installed as ruling elders. These, together with Joel Scribner, con- stituted the session.
The Lord's supper was administered as is usual, in connection with the re-organization, and "there being no communion service, two large pewter plates, belonging to Mrs. Phœbe Scribner, were used for the bread, and, being of a very · fine quality, were considered very appropriate."
The church closed the year 1817 with nine members, whose names have all been mentioned. The church had no regular preaching until the autumn of 1818, but were dependent upon occa- sional supplies from missionaries and others. In October, 1818, Rev. Isaac Reed began his labors as stated supply with this congregation, and remained until October, 1819. During his min- istry twenty-five members were received, and at the close of 1819 there were thirty-two in com- munion. Up to the time of Mr. Reed's arrival there had been no additions to the church from the world, but his work was so greatly blessed that of the twenty-five received during his stay fourteen were admitted on profession of their faith, the first of such additions being Calvin Graves, received on examination October 3, 1818. Mrs. Elizabeth Scribner-then the widow
of Nathaniel Scribner, and afterward the wife of Dr. Asahel Clapp-and the late Dr. William A. Scribner, were among those who were received in 1819, upon evidence of a change of heart.
Under Mr. Reed, a small church building was also erected-a very plain frame structure, about forty feet long and thirty feet wide, having un- plastered walls, and with rough board floors, seats, and pulpit. The congregation had been occu- pying it only a few months when it was destroyed by fire. After this they worshiped, for a time, with the Methodist brethren, and at the house of Mr. Joel Scribner-the present home of Mrs. Dr. Scribner. The congregation becoming too large for Mr. Scribner's house, they afterward went to the old court-house-a rough, half-fin- ished building, which remained in that condition until it was replaced with a new one.
In February, 1819, a confession of faith and a solemn covenant were adopted by the congrega- tion, and these were to be subscribed by all ap- plicants for admission. The confession included all the points of the Calvinistic system, in its strict integrity. A few years later a simpler and briefer confession was substituted, but, like the former one, it contained the main doctrines of the confession of faith.
In this year, also, a Sabbath-school was organ- ized in connection with this church, which is believed to have been the first Sabbath-school in Indiana, and was certainly the first in New Albany. The distinguished honor of inaugurat- ing this enterprise belongs to Mrs. Nathaniel Scribner and to Miss Catharine Silliman-after- ward Mrs. Hillyer, and a sister of Mrs. Lapsley.
At the close of Mr. Reed's year he was com- pelled to abandon the field on account of the in- ability of the church to support him, Nathaniel Scribner, the principal supporter, having been removed by death. The church was again dependent upon occasional supplies until 1822. The congregation, however, met regularly for worship on the Sabbath, one of the elders lead- ing and reading a sermon, These meetings were said to have been very profitable, and were remembered with the greatest interest by those who engaged in them. At the close of the year 1820 there were thirty-five members; in 1821 thirty-three, and the same number at the close of 1822.
After various unsuccessful attempts to secure
25
194
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
a minister, the church succeeded in employing the Rev. Ezra H. Day. He commenced his labors as stated supply in October, 1822, and died at his post, September 22, 1823. At the end of that year the number of communicants was reduced to twenty-four.
The month following the death of Mr. Day the congregation met with another grievous blow in the loss by death of Joel Scribner, a ruling elder from the beginning, and the life and main- stay of the church.
The church was now seeing its darkest days, the loss of nine prominent members by death and removal leaving it in a truly destitute and afflicted condition. Of the twenty-four mem- bers remaining there was not one, actually re- siding in New Albany, who would pray in public. It was then that the female members came to the front, and several ladies, among whom were Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Ayers, Mrs. Robinson, and Mrs. H. W. Shields, met in Mrs. Hale's room at the High Street house to organize a female prayer-meeting and gather up whatever material might be left. This prayer-meeting has been a source of blessed influence and spiritual power during almost the whole of our church's history.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.