USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 82
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
Dr. T. A. Graham is a native of this county. He pursued medical studies with Dr. D. S. Armer, at New Washington, in 1868-69-70, and attended lectures at the Medical College of Ohio, in Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1871 ; he took the ad eundem degree at the University of Louisville in 1872. In 1871 he practiced in the town of Oregon, and in 1872 came to Jeffer- sonville, where he started a drug store the next
443
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
year, associating with him his brother, J. A. Graham, who had studied at the Louisville Col- lege of Pharmacy. Dr. Graham is health officer for the county, to which office he was appointed by the State board of health.
Dr. A. McNeil is one of the younger members of the medical profession of the city. He was a student of Dr. Younghusband, at Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and graduated from the Homeopathic college at Lansing in 1871. During the past winter he located here.
Dr. E. W. Bruner read medicine with his father at Utica, in this county, and attended lec- tures at the Miami Medical college in Cincin- nati in 1866-67. After practicing in Sellersville, New Albany, and Utica, he came to Jefferson- ville in 1879.
Dr. Gustav Fernitz is a native of Germany, and a student at the University Albertina, in Konigberg. He came to the United States in 1866, and became editor of the German Volks- blatt in Louisville, which position he occupied ten years. He then established the Daily New Era, of which he was editor one year. In 1880 he graduated from the Louisville Medical col- lege, and in July, 1881, located in Jeffersonville as a physician, his office being on lower Spring street.
JEFFERSONVILLE SCHOOLS.
Prior to the establishment of the public schools (1852), education was obtained in Jeffer- sonville as elsewhere: in private schools, taught by persons who came principally from the East, and who would teach from two to five months, then move to other places.
Among these early teachers was a Mr. Stewart and a Mr. Bushman, who believed in "no lickin', no learnin'." About forty years ago a private school for girls was established in a building called the Jeffersonville hotel, near the present site of the Ohio & Mississippi railroad depot. This school was in charge of Miss Alice Morgan, who has continuously taught private schools in the city to the present time. Not long after this a school was established for boys on Maple, be- tween Spring and Wall streets, under the care of Godfrey Belding, as teacher. The meager de- tails to be obtained concerning these private schools are conflicting as to names and dates; and, as there was nothing worthy to be called a
system, we are obliged to be content with begin- ning this account at the year 1852, when the -public school system of the city was established. The first school building was erected in that year, and still stands at the corner of Maple and Watt streets, being now occupied as a colored school. Who was the first principal of that school cannot be learned.
In 1853 the first board of school trustees was elected, and consisted of J. G. Howard, T. E. Veatch and W. L. Meriwether.
The growth of the system and attendance has been steady save during the years of the war, when the military occupation of Jeffersonville al- most suspended the schools.
In the summer of 1869 the trustees purchased the ground now occupied by the Chestnut-street school and began the erection of the building, which was ready for use at the opening of the school-year of 1870. It was intended and has since served for the accommodation of the Chestnut-street graded school and the Jefferson- ville high school. The first principal of the high school then established was H. B. Parsons. John L. Winn and M. C. Ingram were assistants.
In 1866 the city built the New Market school building on Court avenue, and in 1867, when separate colored schools were established, this building was relegated to that use.
In 1874 the Rose Hill school building was erected and a portion of it was occupied at the opening of the school year. W. B. Goodwin then assumed charge as principal, and still holds the place.
Up to the year 1874 a separate female high school was maintained. John M. Payne had succeeded Mr. Parsons as principal of the male high schools. In 1874 he gave way to E. S. Hopkins, now principal of the Chestnut-street graded schools, in the same building, and, in 1876, Mr. R. L. Butler, the present principal, took charge of the united schools.
In addition to the schools named there are two others conducted in the city, the Mulberry- street school, taught by Miss F. C. Addison, and the "Engine House school," taught by Miss Lizzie Hertsch.
In order to gain some idea of the growth of the Jeffersonville schools the following statement is appended :
For the year 1866 number admitted to schools,
444
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
823 ; average attendance, 287: number of teachers, 9.
For the year 1870 number of pupils admitted to graded schools, 871 ; to high schools, 71 ; average, 528.
For the year 1875 number of pupils admitted to graded schools, 1,235 ; to high school, 82 ; average, 803.
For the year 1880 number of pupils admitted to graded schools, 1,541 ; to high schools, 82 ; average, 1,157.
For the year 1882 number of pupils admitted to graded schools, 1,800 ; to high schools, 77 ; teachers employed, 32.
The following is a full list of the school trus- tees of Jeffersonville from the beginning, with their terms of service: J. G. Howard, 1853-55, 1869-76; Thomas E. Veatch, 1853-54; W. L. Merriwether, 1853-55; Myron Stratton, 1854-61; W. M. French, 1855-61; Nathaniel Field, 1855- 63, 1865-70; Gabriel Poindexter, 1861-63; Wil- liam H. Fogg, 1861-63; John M. Ingram, 1863; Robert Curran, 1863-65; C. Leonhardt, 1863-65; Thomas S. Crowe, 1865-67; J. H. McCampbell, 1870-73; Charles Rossler, 1873-75; Hugo Alben, 1875-80; William Lee, 1876-79; O). C. Stealey, 1879; George Pfau, 1880.
DARMAN S. KELLY,
the present superintendent of instruction at Jef- fersonville, was born in Owen county, Indiana, June 25, 1852.
He was educated at a private academy at Patricksburg, in the same State, at Ascension seminary, at Sullivan, Indiana, and at the Indi- ana State Normal school at Terre Haute. He began teaching a country school; he was later two years in charge of his old school at Patricks- burgh. In February, 1876, he became principal of a ward school at Evansville, Indiana, and in 1877 became assistant superintendent of the Evansville schools under John M. Blass. That place he retained until March, 1881, when he was elected superintendent to fill the place of Mr. Bears for the balance of the year. He then came to Jeffersonville in his present capacity.
CHURCHES.
METHODIST.
The Wall-street Methodist Episcopal church is oldest in years of any church in Jeffersonville. Preaching services were held as early as 1808,
in which year a class was formed, of which Rev. William Beaman was the leader. It met for some years in a private house on the site of the present church building, and was under minis- terial charge of Rev. Moses Ashworth, who at that time traveled the Silver Creek circuit. The original class contained twelve members, all of whom are long since dead. Richard Mosely was one of the first members, and his daughter, who became Mrs. Tuley, was the last among the early members. She died in 1873. The members were poor and had to worship wherever there was a house containing rooms sufficiently large to ac- commodate the audience. The old court-house was used as a house of worship for all denomina. tions, and with others the Methodists shared its hospitality. Among the early preachers were Moses Ashworth, Josiah Crawford, Bela Raine, Isaac Linsley, William Mc Mahon, Thomas Nel- son, Charles Harrison, Shadrack Ruark, James Garner, Joseph Kinkaid, Joseph Purnell, John Cord, and David Sharp, all of whom preached here before 1820. The present pastor, who has served the church since 1879, is Rev. John S. Tevis. He was also at this station in 1860.
The German Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1845. A small brick church was built on Locust street, which was used until 1877, when the present substantial and neat brick building was erected on the corner of Maple and Wall streets. In 188r a neat parsonage was built adjoining the church, the two buildings, with lot costing not far from $13,000. There is a membership of about one hundred and twenty, and a Sunday school of about ninety.
Some years later the Methodist church South organized a church which is still continued. The house of worship is on Market street west of Spring.
An African Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Claysburg about 1842, where quite a settlement of colored people had gathered. Preaching had been held for some years in pri- vate houses, before a church was formed. The first house of worship was a log building ; the sec- ond, a frame, was built on Prison hill, the congre- gation having changed to that part of the city. This building was burned, as was the third, which was built near by, on the public square. The present church was built in 1880, on Court ave- nue, near Ohio avenue, and is not finished.
445
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1867, and soon built a small frame house, which was used until 1876, when a new building was erected near the Gov- ernment store house, and is now occupied.
EVANGELICAL REFORMED.
St. Lucas German Evangelical Reformed church was organized in May, 1860, the first members being J. L. Rockstroh, Louis Henzler, Andrew Bauer, Herman Preefer, Henry Sittel, John Ruehl and others. A small church was bought from the Presbyterians, opposite the city hall, which is yet occupied. In 1870 a lot adjoin- ing was purchased and a parsonage built. The membership is about one hundred and eight families. The pastor is Rev. H. M. Gersmann.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Jeffersonville Presbyterian church was organized May 22, 1830, by Rev. Messrs. Cobb, Cressy, and Sneed. The first members were Warwick Miller, Mrs. Martha Miller, Samuel Meriwether, Mrs. Mary Meriwether, Miss Sarah L. Meriwether, Mrs. Sarah Stephenson, Mrs. Jane Gilmore, Mrs. Ann Wade, Mrs. Eliza Weathers, and Miss Sarah Armstrong, all of whom came from the church of Louisville to establish a church in this place. There were also received on examination Mrs. Rebecca Reeder and Miss Sarah Rue. Samuel Meri- weather was chosen ruling elder, and also acted as clerk of the church. June 1, 1830, Rev. Michael A. Remley was received as stated sup- ply. Meetings were held at the old court-house, but the church felt the need of a permanent home, and the corner-stone of a church edifice was laid September 24, 1832. On the Ist of December, 1833, Rev. E. P. Humphrey suc- ceeded Mr. Remley as stated supply, and was followed in August, 1835, by Rev. Mr. Russell. January 1, 1836, Rev. P. S. Cleland came and served the church one year. Rev. H. H. Cam- burn succeeded Mr. Cleland, and two years later came Rev. John Clark Bayless, who also minis- tered two years. Then followed Rev. William H. Moore, Rev. R. H. Allen, Rev. S. F. Scovel, Rev. Dr. Thomas Crowe, and in 1871 the pres- ent pastor, Rev. J. M. Hutchison.
The first church edifice, a brick, of one story, was used until 1860, when the necessities of the congregation demanded additional accommoda-
tions, and the present brick church was erected on the corner of Chestnut and Walnut streets.
The present membership is about three hun- dred and forty. A Sabbath-school of two hun- dred and fifty is sustained, besides a mission school of two hundred members.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
A church of this denomination was organized in Jeffersonville in 1830, by Dr. N. Field, who, in addition to being a medical man, is a preacher of considerable note. The first members were Christian Bruner and his wife Mary, Fanny Mc- Garrah, Mary Riker, Mary Philips, Elizabeth Wright, and Mrs. Sigmond. In the afternoon of the day of organization, which was Sunday, March Ist, the church admitted Mrs. Sarah A. Field, wife of the pastor, and Sarah Phillips, who were at that time baptised into the faith. Meetings were held at the old court-house, which was the general meeting place for all denomina- tions for some years. A church was built in 1840, which remains in use. Dr. Field was the pastor for eighteen years. The present member- ship is about one hundred and seventy-five. A Sunday-school is well sustained.
THE SECOND ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Differences regarding doctrine and church discipline arose in the Christian church, which culminated by the withdrawal of the pastor, Dr. Field, with quite a portion of the flock, and the third Sunday in August, 1847, a new church was formed, which was designated the Second Advent Christian church. Their meetings were held in a hall until 1850-51, when a church building was erected, which is yet occupied. Of the one hundred and thirty members now connected with this church, some sixty or seventy came out from the Christian church. Dr. Field, now a venerable, but hale and well preserved man, has been the pastor for thirty-five years. A Sabbath-school is well sustained, and is industriously instilling the principles of Christianity into the minds of the youth of the church.
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Some few years before 1836 preaching services were held here under Episcopal forms, and a church organized with a few members, nearly all of whom were women. In 1837 a small frame church was built on Spring street, which was used as place of worship many years. Occasional
446
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
services were held by ministers who came over from Louisville for that purpose. The first reg- ular preacher was Mr. Page, a school teacher from Louisville, who administered to the needs of the church for several years. He recently died in Washington, District of Columbia. After his retirement services were very irregular for some time, when Mr. Chapman came as rector. He remained a short time, as did his successor, Mr. Totten. The next preacher was Mr. Austin, from New Albany, who afterwards went to Terre Haute. The present rector is Rev. Mr. Carey. For some eleven years after the formation of the church a home was provided for the minister at the house of Mr. S. H. Patterson, who, though not a member of the society, knew the members were not able to make such provision for his comfort as they would like. After the close of the war the old church building was removed, and the then rector, Mr. Austin, bought one of the barrack buildings on the breaking up of Camp Joe Holt, and moved it to Mulberry street, where it was transformed into the neat church now occupied by the congregation.
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
The first Baptist church was organized in 1836 by Rev. William C. Buck, at that time editor of the Baptist Banner, which was published at Louisville. Thirteen members were present at the organization. L. B. Hall and wife, James Gill, William McCoy, Frank King, and Mis. Halstead were of the number. A church was built on Market street, between Wall and Elm, the same year. This church was occupied until some time after 1860, when it was burned. The congregation then bought the old Episcopal church, and used it until the present house on Maple street, between Mulberry and Ohio ave- nue, was built in 1868.
The Enon Baptist church was formed by a split from the First church on matters of doc- trine, and built a house of worship, which was occupied perhaps two years, but the congrega- tion being unable to pay for the building, it was sold by the sheriff to satisfy creditors and the organization was given up.
The First Colored Baptist church was organ- ized about 1861 by Philip Simcoe, who became its pastor. A church building was erected on Illinois avenue, between Seventh and Eighth
streets soon after organization. This was occu- pied until rebuilt by the present pastor, W. M. Miller, in 1881.
The Second Colored Baptist church was also organized by Philip Simcoe about 1865, by a split from the First church. A building was put up on the corner of Indiana avenue and Sixth street, which is yet used. The pastor for some time past has been Harvey Johnson, who preach- ed his farewell sermon in April last.
ST. ANTHONY'S AND ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHURCHES (CATHOLIC).
At quite an early period in the history of Jeffersonville a number of Catholic families settled here, and mass was celebrated in private houses. The first visit of a priest recorded is that of Father Daniel Maloney, who celebrated mass at a private house on the bank of the river, at that time owned by Mr. Wathen. It was known as the Hensley house, and was a three- story brick building. Soon after a German named Zapf raised money by subscription, and a brick church, 25 x 50 feet in size, was built. The corner-stone of this building was laid with appropriate ceremonies, by Bishop Spalding, of Louisville, August 10, 1851. Father Otto Jair, a Franciscan monk, of Louisville, said first mass in the unfinished building. In March, 1854, Father August Bessonies came to take charge of the parish, accompanied by the bishop of Vin- cennes, Dr. St. Palais. Father Bessonies re- mained until November 5, 1857, during the time attending a congregation on the knobs back of New Albany, besides seven surrounding stations. He was succeeded by Father William Doyle, and he by Philip Doyle, his brother. In 1860 Father Philip Doyle was removed, and the congrega- tion was without a settled minister for a year, but was visited on Sundays by a Franciscan from Louisville. In December, 1861, Father Ostlan- genberg was appointed pastor, and remained in charge until 1863, when Father Philip Doyle was returned. In April, 1864, Rev. J. A. Michael succeeded him. The English-speaking portion of the Catholics then resolved on building a chuich for themselves. Father Ostlangenberg took the first steps toward laying the foundation of the new church, on land donated by the bishop of Vincennes and Father Bessonies, at the northeast corner of Locust and Chestnut
447
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
streets, Bishop Spalding, of Louisville, officiating on the occasion of laying the corner-stone, Octo- ber 8, 1863. This was during the war, and many Catholics were encamped as soldiers in and about the city. The foundation of the church was built by Father A. Michael, but the build- ing was not completed until after he left in 1867, when Father James Mougin, of New Albany, at the request of the bishop of Vincennes, under- took to put up the walls. This was done in time to have it blessed on St. Patrick's day, March 17, 1868. The congregations were attended by Father Mougin until December, 1868, when the present rector, Rev. Ernest Audran, formerly rector of the cathedral at Vincennes, came and took charge, and has since completed the church, improved the grounds, and built a school for boys, which has an average attendance of about one hundred. This school is in the care of the Sisters of Providence, seven in number. They also opened a school for young girls some years since, in the pastor's residence, which was vacated for their use, until the Community to which they belong bought a lot opposite the church, and established the school there, with a membership of about one hundred and ten.
Among the first members of the Catholic church were John Burke, Thomas Bow, D. Bow, Mrs. Kennedy, Theobald Manning, C. Lausman, E. Spinner, Frank Voigt, E. Hurst, and others. The present number of families is about three hundred and fifty, besides thirty fam- ilies of colored members.
St. Anthony's was the name of the first church, and its history is largely included in that of St. Augustine's. After the English-speaking members formed a new congregation, the Germans re- mained in the old church until 1878, when the present church edifice was built by Father Leop- old Moczigamba. He was succeeded by Father Joseph, Father Avalinus Sczabo, Father Clement, and again by Father Moczigamba. The present pastor is Father Anthony Kottever. Since the second church was organized the Germans have purchased a cemetery, near the Eastern cemetery, in which members of both churches are buried.
The schools of St. Anthony are conducted by the Ursuline Sisters, three in number. The con- gregation comprises some one hundred and thirty families.
CEMETERIES.
The first general burying-ground known was located on the river front, between Spring and Pearl streets. It was between Front street and the river, for, strange as it may seem to the people of to-day, there were reserved between Front street and the river a row of lots fronting nearly the entire original plat of the town. Next adjoining the river, and on the bank, was Water street, which if still accessible would be not far from the present ferry wharf-boat at low water. The river encroached so rapidly on the bank at this point that it was thought best to grade down the bluff and pave a levee. The contract for this grading was let to Mr. J. H. McCampbell, who prosecuted the work to com- pletion. Many bodies were found buried during the grading, the hard walnut cases having with- stood the action of the soil through some forty years. The remains were carefully gathered to- gether and moved to the old cemetery, between Market and Maple streets, west of Mulberry, were they were again buried, the city procuring an appropriate monument, which was placed on the spot.
The old cemetery between Chestnut and Mar- ket streets has been used so many years that no one can now tell when the first burial took place in it. This ground has not been used since 1862, an ordinance passed in May of that year forbidding its further use.
Long before this time Walnut Ridge cemetery was located in the northern part of the city, where the dead were buried. In 1864 a tract of five acres was bought adjoining the eastern limits of the city, which was set apart by action of the council in August, the management being vested in a board consisting of five directors. In addi- tion to this the members of the Catholic church- es purcahsed grounds near by where the dead of that faith are buried.
SOCIETIES.
MASONIC.
The first lodge instituted in the county of Clark was Posey lodge No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons, which was organized under dispensation in 1818, and the following year received a char- ter. In 1820 the Grand Lodge of Indiana met with Posey lodge. The representatives to the Grand Lodge at this time were Reuben W. Nel-
448
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
son and John H. Farnham. Visitors were Samuel Peck, James Nesmith, Thomas Wilson, Charles M. Taylor, Israel Gregg, William Wilkin- son, and James McNeal. This probably repre- sented nearly the entire membership of Posey lodge, which remained small during its existence. In 1828 the lodge surrendered its charter, it be- ing found impossible to sustain it at that time.
Clark lodge No. 40, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, was chartered December 17, 1818, and was so named in honor of General George Rogers Clark. Its first officers were Thomas D. Lemon, M .; B. C. Pile, S. W .; and Robert A. Heiskell, J. W. This lodge is still in a flourishing condi- tion and has raised many worthy Masons in the sixty-four years of its existence. Meetings are held in the Masonic hall, on the corner of Spring and Chestnut streets.
Jeffersonville lodge No. 340 is of compara- tively recent date, its charter having been issued May 29, 1867, the officers appointed by the Grand lodge to open the lodge being William H. Fogg, M .; Theodore W. McCoy, S. W .; and William Beard, J. W. The officers of this lodge for 1882 are: Harry T. Sage, W. M .; William B. Hayes, S. W .; Isaac Mckenzie, J. W .; Alfred O. Schuler, treasurer; John R. Shadburn, Jr., secretary; Nate E. Heinsheimer, S. D .; Daniel M. Austin, J. D .; William H. Isgrig, tyler; George W. Lukenbill and William Powers, stewards. Calvin W. Prather, who was master of the lodge in 1870-71-72-73, was elected grand master of the State in 1880, which office he now holds.
Jeffersonville council No. 31, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered October 29, 1869. The members to whom were granted the charter were William H. Fogg, James G. Caldwell, Robert S. Heiskell, Simeon S. Johnson, John G. Briggs, Thomas Sparks, Reuben Wills, Matt A. Patter- son, W. H. Snodgrass. William H. Fogg was first T. I. G. M .; James G. Caldwell, D. I. G. M .; and John G. Briggs, P. C. of W.
Jeffersonville commandery No. 27, was insti- tuted April 26, 1876, with Simeon S. Johnson, E. C .; Richard L. Woolsey, G .; and Calvin W. Prather, C. G.
Horeb chapter No. 66, was chartered May 23, 1867, by W. H. Fogg, T. W. McCoy, W. H. Snodgrass, J. W. Sullivan, J. G. Caldwell, and others. The officers were J. G. Caldwell, H. P .;
T. W. McCoy, K .; W. H. Snodgrass, scribe. All Masonic bodies hold meetings in their hall on the corner of Spring and Chestnut streets. This lodge hall has been leased for a long term of years, and is comfortably, though not extrav- agantly furnished for the purpose.
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.