History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 37

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680

USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 37

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).

Among other names signed to the above, and who thus appear as the original members of this church are the following, who are yet living: Mrs. Anastasia Robinson, Mrs. Elizabeth Senex, Mrs. Charlotte Riddle, Charles L. Hoover, and George Lyman.

At a meeting of the trustees held in Septem- ber, 1834, it was resolved to purchase lot twenty- six on State street for $250, paying half October Ist and half January Ist following.

At a meeting held April 20, 1835, C. H. Bes- sonett and Lathrop Elderkin were elected war- dens, and Joseph Franklin, William White, and C. H. Bessonett trustees. These meetings were generally held at the houses of the members. The following is the report of an important bus- iness meeting taken from the church record:

At a meeting of the congregation of St. Paul's, in the village of New Albany, held at the office of W. Griswold on Easter Monday, March 27, 1837:

Present, Rev. Ashbel Steele, Messrs. Franklin, Robinson, William White, Brown, Griswold, Beers and S. White.

On motion, Rev. Steele was called to the chair, and W, Griswold appointed clerk.

On motion, resolved that we proceed to elect by ballot five trustees agreeably to the laws of Indiana, who shall be con- sidered as vestrymen of this church for the ensuing year.

Whereupon the Rev. Ashbel Steele, Stephen Beers, Joseph

205

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

Franklin, William Robinson and Whitney Griswold were elected trustees.

On motion, resolved that we proceed to elect by ballot two wardens for the coming year; whereupon Stephen Beers and William Robinson were duly elected.

On motion, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, The general convention of the Protestant Epis- copal church of the United States of America have appointed the Right Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D., missionary bishop of the States of Missouri and Indiana; and

WHEREAS, The board of Domestic Missions of said Church have designated New Albany as a missionary sta- tion and appointed the Rev. Ashbel Steele as missionary to said station, therefore

Resolved, That we hail with delight and gratitude to Al- mighty God the new impulse given to the cause of missions and the church in our western land, and that we do consider ourselves as under the supervision of the Right Rev. Jack- son Kemper as missionary bishop.

Resolved, That we gratefully recognize the appointment of Rev. Ashbel Steele as missionary of the station, and that he be the pastor of St. Paul's church, New Albany, according to the canons and usages of the Protestant Episcopal church of the United States of America.

Resolved, That we will cheerfully co-operate with the said general convention, board of missions, bishop, and pastor in the great and good work in which they are engaged.

At a meeting held in March, 1837, Rev. Ashbel Steele, Stephen Beers, Joseph Franklin, S. White, and W. Griswold were appointed a building committee, and empowered to adopt a plan for a new church, and proceed to the erec- tion of the same. They sold the lot on State street and purchased a lot on Spring, between Bank and Upper Third streets, where they pro- ceeded to erect their first church. It was a frame building, very comfortable and commodious for the time, and cost about five thousand dollars. This church building was occupied from 1837 to 1864, when they, having determined to erect a new church building, sold the old one to the Lutherans, who in turn disposed of it to Mr. W. C. De Pauw, who moved it out on Vincennes street and established the Kingsley mission.

The church had previously secured the present lot, on Main street, between Upper Sixth and Seventh streets, where the present St. Paul's church was erected in 1864-65, the corner-stone being laid by Bishop Smith, of Kentucky, the senior bishop of the United States at the time. It was consecrated by Bishop Joseph C. Talbot. It is frame building, and cost about fourteen thousand dollars. There are at present about three hundred members of this church in the city, but only about one hundred and fifty regu- lar communicants.

The Sabbath-school was organized soon after the organization of the church, George Brown being the first superintendent. This school has greatly prospered and numbers now some three hundred members. It is divided into two schools, called the mission school and the parish school. Both schools are conducted at the church, the parish school in the morning and the mission school in the afternoon of each Sun- day. The former is under the immediate charge of the rector. The mission school was for many years held in the lower part of the city. Charles L. Hoover was superintendent of the school about thirty years. The following list comprises the names of the rectors of St. Paul's Episcopal church : Ashbel Steele, J. B. Britton, B. W. Hickox, William K, Saunders, Edward Lonsbery, T. H. L. Laird, J. B. Ramsdell, J. N. Goshorn, John Martin, John A. Childs, J. S. Wallace, J. E. Purdy, Dr. Thomas G. Carver, D. D., Dr. David Pise, D. D., John A. Gierlow, F. B. Dunham, and Walter Scott, the latter just called to the charge.

PARK CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

The organization of this church followed close- ly that of the Episcopal, being organized May 19, 1835, by forty-three members (or rather se- ceders) of the First Baptist church of New Al- bany. The causes of the division of the Baptist church were numerous, and some of them have been mentioned in the history of that church; but among others the following extract from an address of Elder Hobson, of Louisville, may be mentioned :

It is claimed by the members of this church that they dis- card all human creeds and rely alone upon the Bible as the rule of faith and church government; and that obedience to all that is required of man in the New Testament is necessary to salvation. This and some minor considerations caused the split between this people and what is known as the Reg- ular Baptist organizat on.

The following is a list of members of the first organization of the first Christian or Disciple church in New Albany :

Isaac S. Ashton, Samuel C. Miller, Robert Luckey, John Miller, Ashbel Smith, Henry Moore, Nathaniel Webb, Mary Ann Wells, Elizabeth Beck, Nancy Miller, Mary Ann Smith, Hannah Garvey, Matilda Duncan, Lucy Brazleton, Caleb C. Dayton; Elizabeth Dayton, Elizabeth Beebe, Perry Garvey, Edward C. Duncan, Peter Sallkild, Eli Brazleton, Isaac Ramey, D. W. Voshall, Sophia Moore, Charlotte Carter, Melinda Sassel, Rebecca Akin, Charlotte Scribner, Abigail Brown, Lydia Shanon, Elizabeth Akin, Priscilla Akin, Mary Ramey, Sophia Ashton, Sarah Hallock, Nancy Draper,

206

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

Sarah Lacan, Lovina McCov, Sarah Monroe, Amelia Webb, John Bell, Sarah Bell, Isaac Hough, Julia Hough, Matilda Hough, Jacob Cassel, Thomas J. Murdock, Julia Ann Mur- dock, Nathaniel Price, Ann Price, Mary Ann Montague, B. O. Austin, Cynthia Rickey, James G. Spalding, Ann Cham- berlain, Sarah Sowards, Sarah Anthony, Elizabeth Guffey, Sister Sanford, and Nancy Luckey.

The first forty-three on the above list seceded from the First Baptist church ..

The following regarding the origin of this church is taken from the church record:

STATE OF INDIANA, NEW ALBANY, May 19, 1835. WHEREAS, The Baptist church of the town of New Al- bany did, on the Ist day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, for divers causes as to the then members did appear, amicably and unanimously enter into the following agreement, as appears from records found recorded in the record book of said church, in the words following, to wit:

WHEREAS, There has been existing in this church for some time past some difficulties which seem to threaten the peace of the church, to remedy which we have agreed to unite upon the Scriptures alone as the only infallible rule of our faith and practice, and from this day do agree to exercise in our- selves a spirit of Christian forbearance and recognize in each other the same fellowship that existed in the church twelve months ago when we met together in love and hailed each other as brethren and sisters in the Lord; and

WHEREAS, It has been made manifest that some of our brethren have not lived in accordance with said agreement, but have been living at variance with the spirit of the same, and have used their influence to separate or divide said church, which has rendered her, as a body, and as individu- als, a distressed people for many months past; and

WHEREAS, Said church, in her distress, at her stated meetings on the 16th day of May, A. D. 1835, did agree to divide the time as relates to the use of the meeting-house, as appears from a copy of said proceedings in the words fol- lowing:

"The reference respecting the house was taken up, there- fore, and we have agreed to divide the time, brother Wood- ruff to let us know which time he would occupy on Sunday, the 24th inst.

"The above is a true copy from the minutes.

"ISAIAH TOWNSEND, "Clerk of the Baptist church of New Albany. "B. O. AUSTIN, Recorder."

Now be it known that we do lament that such a division of time has appeared necessary, notwithstanding we do enter- tain toward those brethren who have thus destroyed our peace and have drawn away some of our brethren and sisters from the preceding agreement as aforesaid, the most friendly regard, and stand ready, whenever circumstances will admit, to walk with them upon principles set forth in the first above- mentioned agreement, and recorded as aforesaid, and are re- solved, by the help of the Lord, to live in accordance with the same, and in order that we may know what persons- members of said church-are still resolved to keep in good faith the above and first-named agreement, have mutually agreed to enroll our names this the 19th day of May, A. D. r835.

The forty-three members of the Baptist church who signed the above agreement soon after pro-

ceeded to organize a Campbellite or Disciple . church as they were then called, but now known as the Christian church. A special meeting was called for June 27, 1835, over which Samuel C. Miller was chosen to preside, and the body then proceded to the election of officers. Isaac S. Ashton was chosen bishop, John Miller deacon, and B. O. Austin clerk. During the next few months the following were the chosen officers of the church: Nathaniel Price, bishop; Ashbel Smith and Caleb C. Dayton, deacons; D. G. Stewart, elder; and Henry Moore, deacon. Thomas J. Murdock was given a certificate as minister of the gospel.

A question of some difficulty was now to be settled-the division of the church property, in which both congregations (Disciple and Baptist) were interested. Conference committees were appointed by both congregations, and August 23, 1836, it was agreed that the property should be sold at auction to the highest bidder, the two churches to be the only bidders. The agreement stipulated that the successful bidder was to have possession of the church and to pay for the same within one month from the date of sale. It was ratified by both churches, and signed by Thomas Herndon, Isaiah Townsend, and Thomas B. Walker on the part of the Baptist church; and Ashbel Smith, Caleb C. Dayton, and John Mil- ler on the part of the Disciples. In accordance with the agreement the property was sold Sep- tember 1, 1836, to the Baptist church for $r,010, and the Disciples immediately made prepara- tions for the erection of a new church. The following is from the records :

NEW ALBANY, September 28, 1836.

After the committee had settled with the Baptist church concerning the meeting-house and given them full and entire possession, the brethren met to consult and make the neces- sary arrangements for building a convenient and comfortable house of worship. For the furtherance of the same the following brethren, viz., Isaac S. Ashton, Jacob Cassel, D. G. Stewart, and John Miller were chosen a committee for the purpose of selecting a suitable lot that could be obtained for the above named purpose. Said committee found one situ- ated on the corner of Lower Third and Market streets and purchased the same for the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, said lot being sixty feet front and running back from Market street one hundred and twenty feet. The lot contained two small frame dwellings which were moved to the rear of the lot, fitted up and sold to Joseph Underwood for the sum of nine hundred dollars, with sixty by sixty feet off the rear end of the lot, reserving the front on which to erect the church.

The brethren then proceeded to collect material with which to build. They also drew up a subscription paper to

207

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

be circulated for the purpose of raising funds for building purposes, but not being able to raise a sufficient sum by sub- scription to complete the house the brethren called a special meeting for the purpose of devising the best means to effect that object. After various plans were proposed and rejected, they finally agreed that each one should be taxed according to his property, or what he was worth, and that each brother should estimate his own wealth. The whole being added together it was ascertained that three per cent. on the sum total would pay the debt. The brethren thereupon executed their notes individually payable to C. N. Shields, Jacob Cas- sel, and Isaac N. Ashton, committee for the three per cent., and the committee were to attend to the liquidation of debts arising from the building of the meeting-house.

The work of building the new church went forward rapidly during the fall of 1836, and when completed it cost $4,667.87, which amount was made up from the following sources: From the sale of their portion of the Baptist church property, $1,010; from the sale of a portion of the church lot to Mr. Underwood, $900. Some private subscriptions were obtained, and the re- mainder was made up from the three per cent. fund, so that the church was paid for as soon as finished. The following extract is from the rec- ords of the church :

LORD'S DAY MORNING, January 15, 1837. The Deciples of Christ met for the first time in the new brick meeting house situatedon the corner of Lower Third and Market streets in the city of New Albany, Indiana.

Elder D. G. Stewart was the first minister, though not regularly appointed. He resigned November 12, 1837, and Thomas Vaughn was authorized in his place December 24, 1837. Vaughn was followed by J. E. Noyes, who in turn was succeeded by James Shilder. None of the above named were regularly appointed pas- tors. It was not until 1858 that the first regular pastor, J. J. Moss, was called.

The old brick church was used until 1867, when it became necessary to build anew, and it was taken down and the present beautiful struct- ure erected, the congregation, meanwhile, wor- shiping in the Universalist church, which they rented for two years, from September 1, 1867. The building committee was John E. Noyes, D. W. Lafollette, Isaac Craig, T. F. Jackson, and A. D. Graham. Davis R. Robertson and O. Sackett were subsequently added to the commit- tee, and in May, 1869, the contract was made with John F. Anderson to do the brick work, and with McNeff & Sackett for the carpenter work. The old building was somewhat unsafe, and for the two years the church occupied the

Universalist's building the members were some- what divided as to the manner of disposing of the old church; hence the building committee was not appointed until April 7, 1869, after which the building of the new church went rap- idly forward. The corner-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies July 13, 1869, Elder Dr. Hobson, of Louisville, preaching the sermon. The following list of articles was deposited in the corner-stone: One copy of the New Testa- ment (Anderson's translation); Christian Record of June, 1869; Christian Standard, of July 3, 1869; Apostolic Times, of May 20, 1869; Christian Pioneer, of May 27, 1869; American Christian Review, of April 20, 1869; New Al- bany Evening Ledger, of July 12, 1869; New Albany Commercial, of July 13, 1869; a list of the members of the church, three hundred and eighteen in number, and one silver and one paper dime.

The building is a beautiful gothic structure, forty feet front on Market street, by ninety-five feet in depth, with ceiling twenty-four feet in height, and cost about twenty thousand dollars.

The church and Sabbath-school are healthy and well sustained at the present time.

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHAPEL.

On the 17th of January, 1875, this church held its first anniversary, a short sketch of the pro- ceedings and of the church history being pub- lished at that time. . From this it appears that the church was organized on the evening of January 15, 1874, with thirty members, and its first regular meeting held on the succeeding Sab- bath. Overseers and deacons were chosen at this meeting, and J. L. Parsons was selected as its first regular pastor. The Universalist church edifice was rented for a time until the new church could be built. A lot was soon purchased on Upper Spring street, between Fourth and Fifth, upon which the present beautiful and com- modious house of worship was erected in the months of May and June, 1874. But fifty-five days were occupied in building this church. It is a frame Gothic structure, with stained glass windows of beautiful pattern, baptistry, dressing rooms, and study. It is carpeted and other- wise handsomely furnished. It was formally dedicated July 12, 1874, John C. Miller, of In- dianapolis, preaching the discourse. The property

208

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

with furniture cost $6,100. The current ex- penses of this church are defrayed by voluntary contributions, hence the seats are all free. Up to the present time the church has had but two regular pastors, Rev. John P. Tully suc- ceeding Mr. Parsons and being the present pastor. Mr. Tully is now in his fourth year of service. One hundred and thirty-nine persons were added to the church during the first year of its existence, and the membership is at present two hundred and twenty-seven.

The officers of the church at present are A. C. Williamson and Ozem Sackett, overseers; George E. Sackett, James S. Peake, Isaac Craig, Joseph Pratt, J. W. Bracken, C. Ellis, and W. T. Ellis, deacons.

A Sunday-school was organized immediately upon the organization of the church, and great interest has been kept up, so that at present it is one of the most efficient in the city. It secured the prize-a beautiful silk banner-in 1879 at Columbus, Indiana, for general efficiency. The school numbers at present two hundred and sixty scholars.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN AND REFORMED CHURCH.

This was the next Protestant church organized in New Albany after the Park Christian church. It was organized in October, 1837. The first meeting for organization was held on State street at the dwelling of one of the members, where the church was organized by Henry Evers, who became the first pastor. The first trustees were John Plies, Henry Kohl and John H. Radecke; these, with thirty others, were the orig- inal members, and nearly if not quite all of them have passed away. The names of a few are yet prominent, however, in New Albany, among them being Niehaus, Frank, Merker, Bertsch, Reineking, Meyer, Schaffer, Lindner and others. The first property of this congregation was on State street near the bridge over Falling run, where a lot was purchased upon which a small brick church edifice was erected, in which the · congregation worshiped about twenty years. At the end of that time they purchased of the Epis- copalians the lot and frame church belonging to that denomination, situated on the site of the present German Lutheran church, on Spring street, between Bank and Upper Third. In this frame building services were held until 1869,

when the present beautiful brick building was erected at a cost of about $18,000. The old brick church building remained in possession of the congregation a number of years, but was sold and is now used as a business house. When preparations were made for building the present church the old frame building was purchased by the Methodists, who moved it to Vincennes street where they established a mission Sunday- school. The neat frame parsonage attached to the present church was erected in 1873, at a cost of $2,500.

The following pastors have been connected with this church: Henry Evers, George Brau- dan, Carl Daubert, Henry Trulsen, Frederick Dulitz, Carl Blecken, Alois Anker, - Kling- sohr, F. A. Frankenbery, Carl Mayer, Frederick Abele, Christopher Uroung, F. W. A. Riedel, Carl Nestel, John Bank, and Gottlob Deitz, the present incumbent.

The membership is at present about two hun- dred, only about half of whom are full members. The congregation has been a member of the American Evangelical Synod of North America since 1865, in which year it was united with a small German Presbyterian congregation which had been struggling along for several years. A . Sunday-school has been connected with the church nearly ever since its organization, and is yet in a flourishing condition with a membership of one hundred and sixty. The present superin- tendent is John Baer.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

This society, known as the United Brethren in Christ, was organized in 1848, and a church building erected on Spring street at the corner of Lower Sixth, which is yet standing, a weather- boarded, weather beaten frame on a brick founda- tion. The first pastor was Rev. Daniel Shuck, and during his pastorate about forty people were mem- bers of the church. Mr. Shuck was succeeded by Rev. John W. Bradner, under whose preach- ing the membership increased to about one hun- dred. Subsequently the interest in the church declined until at present there are but twenty- eight members. No regular preaching and no Sunday-school has been held here for a number of years. Occasionally services are held and hopes entertained that it may yet start into new life.

209

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

This church was organized at Woodward hall, corner of First and Main streets, in 1857. Quite a number of people holding this religious belief early settled in and around New Albany, most of them being from the Eastern States and among the most intelligent and cultivated of the citizens. When the Rev. Mr. Moss was preach- ing for the Disciples, he made a remark intended for the ears of the Universalists, that he intended to make them renounce their doctrine or the Bible; or, in other words, he would create against them a public sentiment that would compel them to join an orthodox church or be considered in- fidels. The Universalists were not at that time organized, but they were people of means and education. They immediately sent to Louisville for W. W. Curry, a Universalist preacher of that place, and withal a very smart man, subsequent- ly an editor and at present in one of the depart- ments at Washington. Mr. Curry responded to the call and came over to New Albany to defend their faith. A public discussion took place at the Disciple church lasting some ten days, and then was continued some time in Louisville, al- ways to crowded houses. Neither denomination, however, received a death blow by this discus- sion, but the Universalists certainly became stronger and more aggressive, and out of it grew the organization of their church and the erection of the present church building. The church edifice is located on Spring street between Upper Third and Fourth, and cost ten or twelve thous- and dollars. W. W. Curry was their first pastor, and so continued until the war called him into the service of his country. Among the principal originators of the church were John Kemble, Benjamin Lockwood, John Noyes, Dr. Lewis Nagle, Edward Nagle, John W. McQuiddy (the old newspaper man), - Kelso, and a few others. The church was erected about 1860, and preaching continued more or less regularly until 1879, since which time there has been no Universalist services held in the house, with an occasional exception. The building has been frequently rented to other denominations, and it is now in use by a society calling themselves "Southern Methodists."

THE HOLY TRINITY (CATHOLIC) CHURCH.

The Catholic church of New Albany came 27

into existence about 1836; prior to this time, however, and, indeed, at a very early date, Catho- lic services had been held at the houses of the Catholic people by priests traveling from one point to another. The first Catholic church in the county was the St. Mary's, located in Lafay- ette township near Mooresville, and to this the early Catholics of New Albany resorted. The Rev. Father Neyron was one of the earliest Catholic priests engaged in the establishment and building up of St. Mary's church. It is believed that Father Badden who, it is said, was the first Catholic priest ordained in America, was the first to say mass within the limits of this county. He was a Frenchman, and traveled much throughout the United States, but especially in the West, establishing Catholic churches and schools. He did not have any particular abode during many years of his life, but lived about among the brethren. Later his headquarters were in Kentucky. He and Father Louis Neyron secured the site, and established Notre Dame college at South Bend, Indiana. Father Abel, of the church at Louisville, was also one of the earliest priests to visit New Albany, and minister to the religious requirements of the few Catholics in the town. For many years Father Badden came to New Albany at least once a month, and held mass, and after a time, when Father Neyron and Father Abel came, services were held at the houses of the Catholic members at New Albany once a week or oftener.

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.

History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 37

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680