Elkhart County, Indiana - Chapter 15: Elevating Institutions and Organizations, 1916

Baptist, Methodist and Brethren Missionaries - First Methodist Class and Church - Castle United Brethren Church - First Presbyterian Church - St. John's Episcopal Church - First Baptist Church - First Evangelical Church - Grace Lutheran Church - St. Vincent's Catholic Chlirch - First Congregational Church - Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church - First Methodist Protestant Church' - German Evangelical Lutheran Church - First Christian Church - The Riverside Christian Church - Simpson Memorial Church - Other Churches - The Young Men's Christian Associ.^tion and Young Women's Christian Association - Elkhart General Hospital - Secret and Benevolent Organizations - The Local Independent Order of Odd Fellows Bodies - The Masons - The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks - The Woodmen and the Foresters - Knights of Pythias and Rathbone Sisters - Knights and Ladies of the Maccabees - Patriotic Bodies - Industrial Organiz.^tions - Elkhart Lecture Association - The Chautauqua - The Century Club - Other Clubs.

Many influences and agencies work toward the uplifting of a community or a city which do not formally bear an elevating stamp. There are certain institutions and organizations, however, such as churches. Christian associations, hospitals, benevolent and patriotic bodies, secret orders and lodges, industrial brotherhoods and the like, which specifically take their stand in the higher activities of life. It is a picture of this phase of the local history of Elkhart which this chapter attempts to draw ; and it is a bright and instructive one.

The religious influences and the Christian missionaries were active at the settlement of the Forks several years before the worshippers had gathered in sufficient numbers and in any special locality to divide their forces according to sect. The Baptists, the Methodists and the United Brethren sent their missionaries to Elkhart Prairie as soon as the first log cabins of that region commenced to be reared for the shelter of men and women and their families. Isaac McCoy, from the Carey Baptist Mission ventured from Niles, Michigan, and named Christiana Creek before there was anything suggestive of either Pulaski or Elkhart. He came afterward when the signs were many. Felkner and Robinson, Methodist circuit riders, and John Denham, the United Brethren Missionary, held forth in exhortation, prayer and song after Doctor Beardsley had platted his town. It has even been claimed that Mr. Denham was there before him and preached the first sermon within the present bounds of the city. However that may be, it is known that one of the first meeting-houses for those who were religiously inclined at the mouth of the Elkhart River was the house of ^Nlrs. Samuel P. Beebe, whose husband opened the first store in Elkhart. Having conducted their simple services at Mrs. Beebe's, or in some other cabin, the missionary would usually mount his horse and ride along toward Goshen, where the courthouse could be depended upon for a place of meeting, in case no settler's cabin was available.

But the Methodists seemed to gather the greater momentum during this very early period, so that in 1832 they were able to organize a class, with John Baring as leader. Their meeting-place was the hospitable log cabin of James Bannon, corner of Second and Jefiferson streets. In 1835 ElWiart became the head of an oldfashioned circuit embracing not only Elkhart, but much of the surrounding counties.

When the first schoolhouse was built, services were held there, in common with the pioneer preachers of other denominations, until 1839, when the second story of what was afterward known as Old Tammany and Bee Hive was leased. Later the society met in the Good Templars' Hall, Presbyterian Church and Masonic Hall. In

1853 a subscription was started for a church building. On February 4, 1854, the first board of trustees was formed and on August 20, 1855, the first brick was laid. Three times before completion the roof was blown off by terrible wind storms, but finally the church was dedicated (September 9, 1862), Rev. T. M. Eddy, editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, officiating.

Progress was now more rapid. A successful revival occurred in 1864, the congregation increasing in membership so that, in 1865, Elkhart became a station. A Sunday school had been organized in December, 1853, with Henry Neal as first superintendent. An organ was not placed in the church until 1869, and then not without strenuous opposition. The \\'oman's Foreign Missionary Society was organized in July, 1871, by Miss Kate Drake. The first parsonage was erected in 1874, and the North Indiana Conference entertained in 1875. Many yet remember in those days, Mahin, valiant in debate, Simpson, thrice the beloved pastor, and Mendenhall, the towering preacher. A modern era of development was ushered by Rev. W. D. Parr, who led in the erection of the handsome church dedicated February 9, 1890, by Rev. C. H. Payne. Its location is on the corner of Second and Franklin streets. A net gain of 350 in membership was made during the pastorate of Rev. J. H. Jackson and the conference again entertained. Rev. C. H. Brown, pastor ; while the renovation of the church and the erection of the fine parsonage marked the pastorate of Rev. S. Light. The following members were connected with Trinity continuously for more than half a century: ]\Irs. Sarah Hay joined in 1855; William Barger, class leader and trustee for fifty-eight years, in 1859, and Alexander Airsman and J. Guipe, in i860. The present membership of the church is 1,135.

The first missionarj' of the United Brethren Church in Elkhart County was Rev. John Denham who, as early as 1830, was preaching at various points in the St. Joseph \'alley. He was succeeded in 1833 by Rev. Joseph Davis. John Griffith and William Davis preached at Elkhart in later years, and two small churches were finally formed. The church in East Goshen was erected in 1879 under the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Eby, father of Rev. J. A. Eby, who served the present church in 1898-1900. The North Elkhart Church was completed in 1880. In the fall of 1889 Rev. William M. Bell was called to the field and consolidated the two churches under the name by which it has since been known, the Castle Church, United Brethren in Christ. The house of worship now occupied, comer of Middlebury and Monroe streets, was completed and dedicated December 7, 1890, under Doctor Bell, who is now bishop of the Pacific Coast district. Rev. A. Maynard Cummins succeeded him as pastor of the Castle Church in 1892; Rev. J. L. Parks came in 1893, Rev. R. P. Burton in 1897, Rev. J. A. Eby in 1898, and since the conclusion of Mr. Eby's pastorate in 1900, the following have served: Revs. R. J. Barrett, two years; J. E. Grimes, four years ; C. S. Parker, two years ; D. Robinson, two years, and J. W. Lake (now in his fifth year). The present membership of the church is 472.

The First Presbyterian Church, one of the pioneer religious bodies of Elkhart, was organized in 1840. After its members had struggled along for a few years, they were joined by a number of

Congregationalists on what was called the Plan of Union. They worked together until the year 1869, when the Congregationalists organized the present Congregational Church. A peculiar and interesting incident connected with the pastorate of the church is that two of the ministers who remained longest were upon their second term of service. Rev. W. J; Essick, after serving the church for ten months, resigned, but. was recalled and remained pastor for nearly four years. Rev. Edward Barr, after six months' service, went to another field, but was invited to return, and remained pastor for nearly six years. Rev. H. B. Townsend began his pastorate in 1888 and after over ten years of faithful service resigned in July, 1899. He was succeeded by Rev. F. H. Gwynne. The present pastor is Rev. Charles M. Herrick.

It is more than seventy years ago that the first Episcopal services were held in Elkhart, and the story leading to the event is thus told: In 1843 Mrs. Caroline Chamberlain, wife of Dr. Joseph W. Chamberlain and mother of Capt. Orville T. Chamberlain, came to Elkhart with her family. Soon afterward she sought to hold prayer book services at her home, and was rewarded by finding two families besides her own adhering to the Episcopal communion. These families were those of Eliel Farr, of Cleveland Township, and Chester Gore. Thus the first Episcopal service in Elkhart was held in the house of Dr. Joseph Chamberlain about 1845.

On Easter Monday, 1868, a meeting was called to choose the first vestry and to take steps for the legal incorporation of the parish. Ground for the first church edifice was broken in May, 1873; first service in the church held on the second Sunday in Advent, December 14, 1873. Service of breaking ground for the present beautiful church held May 14, 1895. The cornerstone was laid July i, 1895 ; first church reconsecrated November lith of that year; and the first service in the chapel of the present church was held July 5, 1896, and in the present church itself, Sunday, August 30th following. Rev. William Galpin assumed charge in 1894 and continued as rector for a number of years ; since his term of service Rev. C. S. Champlin and Rev. W. W. Daup have been in charge of St. John's parish.

The Baptists organized a church in 1856, under Rev. L. A. Alford, and in July, i860, a house of worship was erected on the site of the present building, comer of West Lexington and Third streets. There services were maintained until about 1870, when the house was leased to the Congregational Society. In 1873 services were again regularly held. By the year 1877 the membership had increased to 208. The work went steadily forward until 1888 when the house was remodeled and enlarged at a cost of $3,000 Among the pastors who have served the church are Revs. L. A Alford, E. A. Russel, W. L. Huntley, James Green, W. W. Smith W. A. Clark, J. W. Reed, H. C. Bristol, R. E. Neighbor, J. Vraden burg, G. A. Chittenden, S. C. Fulmer, Alvin A. Cober and Horace N. Spear.

The Watchtower Church of the Evangelical Association was organized in September, 1872, by Rev. William Wildemiuth by those members of the mother body who wished the services conducted entirely in English. Its services were at first held in the Division Street Church until October, 1873, when its own house of worship was completed. Rev. Joseph Fisher succeeded Revs. William Wildermuth and H. E. Overmier as the first settled pastor of Watchtower Church, in 1874. Afterward came the following:

In 1904 Division Street and \yatchto\ver churches were consolidated into the First Church, with Rev. L. S. Fisher as pastor, and its large and elegant edifice on Hickory Street near Main was completed in the same year. Following Mr. Fisher were : Rev. J. H. Breish, 1907-10; L. S. Fisher, 1911-13, and Rev. E. W. Praetorius, since 191 3. The present membership of the First Church is 650.

Grace Lutheran Church is a member of the Northern Indiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the General Synod. The beginning of its development dates back to 1865, when Rev. R. F. Delo was sent to Elkhart by the synod to organize the scattered forces of the Church of the Reformation. He started with twenty charter members, who held their meetings first in the Baptist Church and then for two years in a hall, the membership doubling in the meantime. An exodus of citizens to southern points weakened the membership and difficulties which could not be controlled caused disbandment.

In 1873 Rev. John G. Biddle revived the society, with a membership of twenty-three and a frame building on South Main Street was shared with the German Lutherans. The present site at the comer of Marion and Ninth streets was bought in 1874 for $400, and H. J. Delo, David Coleman and William Kreichbaum appointed a building committee. When the building was nearly completed a storm destroyed it, but with commendable zeal and courage the members, aided by citizens, built a second house of worship and this was dedicated in December, 1874. Reverend Biddle at that time had charge of four other churches in the same circuit and was assisted by his nephew. Rev. L. S. Keyser. After Reverend Biddle's death, January 10, 1879, his brother Rev. Frederick Biddle served the church two years, until the Elkhart Church became independent of the other churches in the charge. Reverend Biddle continuing with the country churches and Rev. J. A. Hines assum- ing the Elkhart pastorate in June, 1880. During his pastorate of fourteen months the church was repaired and its affairs systematized. Rev. H. C. Grossman was pastor from September, i, 1881, to May I, 1883; Rev. L. S. Keyser for five years from June 3, 1883; Rev. N. J. Myers became pastor on December i, 1889; Rev. W. R. Funkey on July I, 1891; Rev. D. U. Bair, September 15, 1893, and Rev. C. E. Rice on June i, 1895, serving until November, 1908. It was during Rev. C. E. Rice's pastorate that the present church building and parsonage were erected. Rev. F. A. Dressel, the present pastor, took charge January 15, 1909. Its present membership is 408.

At South Main Street and Prairie Avenue are the buildings representative of St. \'incent's Parish and nearly half a century of the development of Catholic interests in that section of the city. The edifices comprise a large church, rectory, sisters' house and school.

While services by Catholic priests had been held in Elkhart at intervals during the early days, no special priest was assigned to this parish until May 17, 1867, when Rev. A. B. Oechtering, of Mishawaka, assumed charge of Elkhart as a mission. On March 8, 1868, a permanent organization was effected. Until November 27, 1869, Rev. A. B. Oechtering continued in charge. Then came Rev. John Oechtering for one year. The comer-stone of the first church had been laid July 12, 1868, and the structure was dedicated October 25, 1870. The first resident pastor of St. Vincent's was Rev. J. H. Quinlan, who was appointed to the charge in November, 1871, and remained until October, 1875. It was during his pastorate, in 1872, that the first priest's house was built. Rev. Martin F. Noll served from 1875 to 1880, and Rev. William Kroeger from May of that year until 1891. Father Kroeger's service brought great expansion in parish affairs ; for in 1880 the first school and sisters' house was completed, and in 1886 the second church, or present edifice, was erected. Rev. Henry A. Boeckelmann was in charge of the parish from 1891 to 1906, during which period (1899), the priests' house of the present was built. Rev. F. J. Jansen has served St. Vincent's since 1906, one of the important events of his administration having been the erection of the large school and sisters' house now in use; it was built in 1909. It is

The dates of the first meetings of the Congregational Church of Elkhart are unknown. Among the settlers in Elkhart in the beginnings of its history were a few families from the east who, before their migration, had been connected with Congregational churches. Prominent among these was the father and mother of John W. Ellis, who came to the county and settled on the banks of the St. Joe River in the spring of 1831 in the vicinity of what is now known as the Kenwood Golf Links.

In 1844 there was a sufficient number of families of the Congregational persuasion to unite in a formal organization, but the number of active members, the nature of the fellowship, or the regularity and place of meeting at the beginning of their life is now forgotten.

Conditions on what was then the frontier suggested to the leaders of the Congregational and Presbyterian denominations a working union between the two bodies. Accordingly the Home and Foreign Missionary societies were united for special work under an agreement known as the Plan of Union. This arrangement lasted until the year 1869. Then on account of differences, largely ecclesiastical, but partly theological, the Congregational organization was severed by vote of the two churches for worship and united work came to an end. The meeting house remained in the possession of the Presbyterian branch of the united churches, thus leaving the Congregational people without a home.

Following upon this severance of relations there was a brief period during which the little company of Congregationalists had a wandering and to some extent an uncertain life. The future of a church without a home is always uncertain, and the purchase of a lot and the erection of a church thereon were at this time beyond the ability of the little company. Those most deeply interested in the matter felt that something ought to be done, and accordingly a meeting was called for April 10, 1869, "to reorganize the Congregational church, if thought best." This meeting was called to order by John W. Ellis, and was opened by prayer offered by Rev. X. A. Hyde of Indianapolis, at that time the agent for Indiana of the

American Home Missionary Society, as it is now called, the "Congregational Home Missionary Society." After full discussion it was decided "to revive the former congregation."

Eleven names are given in the minutes of this meeting as coming from the old and entering into fellowship with each other in the new organization. D. J. Clark, Airs. Ruth Clark, Airs. Ann Bonnell, Mrs. Catherine Ellis, Mrs. L. Shuey, .Airs. A. W. Faber, A. Bugbee, John \V. Ellis, Airs. C. W. Ellis, Airs. Alary Clark, Airs. Amanda Reynolds.

On the same date a constitution, confession of faith, covenant, and ecclesiastical principles were reported to the meeting by a committee, consisting of D. J. Clark, J. W. Ellis and Alpheas Bugbee and unanimously adopted.

At the same meeting officers consisting of J. W. Ellis, clerk, and D. J. Clark, deacon, were elected to oversee the interests of the new .organization. At an adjourned meeting held on April 24, i86g, Josiah Graves was elected a trustee for one year, Joel Ellis for two years, and John W. Ellis for three years. Alpheus Bugbee was elected treasurer. These were the first officers of the First Congregational Church of Elkhart.

The first member to be received into the new body, according to the minutes, was Sheridan Enos, and from the First Congregational Church of Edwardsburg. The relation between Edwardsburg and Elkhart churches must then have been quite close and friendly, as in the records, the pastor of the church there appears as presiding at Congregational meetings, officiating at the communion service, and, on occasions as preaching a sermon to the little company.

During the first year of its reorganized life the church met at various places, and for public worship, as a preacher could be obtained. Then was a period when the West was being settled, and among the pioneers were ministers of the gospel, able men trained in the colleges and seminaries of the East, whose spirit was to built into the new order the principles of religion and civilization. At intervals one of these pilgrims would spend a Sunday with the Elkhart church, glad to sow even by the wayside as he moved toward his destination.

On Alay 10, 1870, a meeting of the church was held, at which it was decided to extend a call to Rev. L. R. Royce for one year, which call Air. Royce accepted, and became the first pastor of the church.

It was during this pastorate that the first house of worship was erected, at the corner of Marion and Fourth streets. The place of meeting from the beginning of Mr. Royce's pastorate to the completion of the new building was the Baptist Church at the corner of Third and Lexington Avenue. On November 29, 1870, a motion was carried that this church be engaged for a period of two years. The spirit of the little church was shown in the appointment of a committee to secure a lot "for the purpose of erecting a house of worship at some future time." This committee was composed of the following members : John W. Ellis, Joel Ellis, M. E. Shuey, and the new pastor, Rev. L. R. Royce.

With a pastor and a place of meeting, the initial difficulties of the young organization seem to have been over. It is not, however, sufficient for a church to have a suitable place of meeting in a "rented house." It must have its own home or perish. This feeling led some time in 1871 to a desire that a new building be erected. This step seems to have been productive, for nearly every minute of a church meeting held during these two years contains a record of names uniting with the church by confession or by letter.

No record of the preliminary conferences regarding the matter of the erection of a new building, save the one item of the appointment of a committee above mentioned can be found. The intervening minutes deal only with ordinary church business, and probably the special undertaking was kept in a book which has been lost. On Wednesday, June 5, 1872, the cornerstone of the building was laid.

The next important step in the history of the church was the dedication of the new building on December 22, 1872. The clerk writes : "The day was very cold, the attendance as large as could be expected."

The record of the church from 1872 was one of steady growth in influence and membership. The need of a new and modern edifice commensurate with such expansion had long been a conviction on the part of the leaders of the church, but no definite action was taken until 1904. In February of that year Mrs. An'illa C. Kellogg, a friend and promised member, passed away in Indianapolis, bequeathing by her will to the church in trust property valued at $50,000, one-third of which was to be paid into the treasury of the church, and the whole property formed a trust in charge of the trustees. At a meeting of the trustees, held at the

This bequest gave the leaders in the church courage to begin an effort to secure a new building, and accordingly on April 14, 1904, a general meeting of the congregation was called. The result of the meeting was the appointment of a building committee, of which Rev. A. U. Ogilvie, the pastor, was chairman, and R. W. Monger, secretary. Work on the foundation of the new building was begun in August, 1905, a site having been purchased in the previous year on the northwest corner of South Third and West Marion streets. The corner stone of the superstructure was laid in April, 1906, and the entire building was ready for occupancy during the following year.

Although it will thus be seen that the history of the First Congregational Church spans nearly half a century it has called only eight pastors to its service, as follows : Rev. L. R. Royce, 1870 to 1874; Rev. C. S. Warburton, 1874 to 1876; Rev. H. D. Kutz, a part of one year; Rev. T. Lincoln Brown, 1878 to 1879; Rev. M. W. Darling, 1879 to 1886; Rev. George B. Safford, 1887 to 1889; Rev. F. C. Knopf, 1889 to 1899; A. U. Ogilvie, 1899 to the present time. The present membership of the church is about 300.

The church above named was organized in 1873 and two years later a house of worship was completed on the northwest corner of Tenth and Mason streets. The church has grown steadily and has a membership of 265. Its successive pastors: Rev. John Mellander and Rev. J. Vibelius, from 1873 to 1890, who served the Elkhart charge as resident pastors of South Bend ; following them, as settled pastors, were Rev. J. Theorell, 1890-94; Rev. S. A. Rydberg, 1895-1900; Rev. Herman Lind, 1900-04; Rev. F. A. Bonander, 1904-13; and Rev. Gustav P. Williams, since November, 1913-

In March, 1893, seventy-five persons who had withdrawn from the German Evangelical Association organized as an independent body, with Rev. S. Heininger as their pastor. During the summer of that year the church building on Division Street was erected. In September, 1894, the society reorganized and affiHated with the Methodist Protestant denomination, assuming the name of the First Alethodist Protestant Church of Elkhart. Rev. S. Heininger remained pastor until September, 1898; Rev. J. G. Schaibly served from September, 1898, to August, 1900; Reverend Heininger again from August, 1900, to August, 1901 ; Rev. H. Schwarzkopf, 1901- 03; Reverend Heininger for a third term, 1903-05; Rev. AI. E. Bachman, August, 1905, to January, 1909; Reverend Schwarzkopf again, August, 1909, to August, 1912; Rev. F. W. Lineberry, August, 1912, to August, 1915; Rev. Fred Clarke, since August, 191 5. The membership of the church is now 163.

The German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church was organized in 1874 by Rev. J. G. Hild of Mishawaka. The first church was erected at the corner of Hickory and South Third streets and dedicated June 21, 1874. The first pastor was ordained and installed August 2, 1874. He served until 1877, and was succeeded by Rev. ^I. Halboth, who remained until 1880. In 1882 Rev. W. L. Fischer was installed. The next pastor. Rev. J. H. Heinze, was installed in November, 1883, remaining until 1890. April 17, 1889, the corner-stone of a new church was laid, and August 25, 1889, the church edifice was dedicated. Among the pastors since 1890 have been Revs. Theodore Claus and Fred Ewald.

In August, 1897, the church building was moved to the intersection of Pigeon, Fifth and Vistula streets. Two extensive additions were made, and the entire building remodeled and refurnished. The dedicatory services occurred December 19, 1897. The First Christian Church has grown into one of the strong and active religious organizations of Elkhart.

Riverside Christian Church of Elkhart, was first organized on January i, 1899, by Judge O. W. Whitelock, president of the Eel River Christian Conference, with fifteen charter members. About the first of 1907 the church doors were closed and no sen-ices were held for three and a half years. In September, 1910, Rev. W. P. Minton, pastor of the Goshen Christian Church, organized a Sunday school in the Riverside Church and on December 14, 1910, the church was reorganized, with Judge O. W. Whitelock and Rev. W. H. Denison, of Huntington, assisting the pastor. Twenty-six signed the roll that evening and on the following Sunday when the charter was closed there were in all thirty-four members.

This is the youngest of the church organizations of Elkhart, its house of worship, on the southwest corner of East Indiana Avenue and South Main Street, having been dedicated in March, 1913. Rev. A. A. Turner was pastor at the time. He was succeeded in the same year (1913) by Rev. W. A. Huffman, who continued in charge for two years, and Rev. Karl H. Carlson has ministered to its wants since 191 5. The church membership is 125.

The original Mennonites have a large following, as well as the Brethren in Christ. The first meetings of the former were held as early as 1867, and such of their leaders as Revs. John F. Funk, Samuel Yoder and George Lambert have been active for many years. The Brethren in Christ (the new Mennonites) have a church at Ninth Street and Blaine Avenue, Rev. H. M. Metzger, pastor.

Besides the Castle United Brethren Church, already mentioned at some length, are the Grace and Second churches, located on Middlebury and Baldwin streets, respectively, and under the pastorates of Revs. Samuel R. Foltz and Jacob C. Albright. Grace United Brethren Church was organized in 1889 by Rev. J. H. Swihart.

The German Baptist (Dunkards) organized a church in 1893. The South Side Church of the Evangelical Association was founded in the same year and the Bethel Mission, of that denomination, in 1905. The mission now embraces Salem, Paradise and Trout Creek.

The Trinity Lutheran Church, corner of State and East streets, is in charge of Rev. Ottoman A. Stamm and the St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal at Liberty and Crawford, has Rev. Rufus A. Morrison as its pastor.

The Christian Scientists, under the name of the First Church of Christ Scientist, have been organized since 1896, and, in connection with their religious services have the usual pleasant reading and rest room.

And even now the writer may have missed some mention of a good and useful agent in the varied and intricate activities of the local religious bodies; but there is no intentional neglect on his part. He will conclude, however, with expressing a regret that a few to whom repeated requests for information were made, failed to respond.

Both of these organizations are doing a broad and practical work in Elkhart. They have large and well-arranged buildings in which the various departments are conducted and their activities are largely among the young men and women of the industrial classes - many of whom are without homes and adequate means of satisfying the normal longings for companionship and pleasure.

The organization for the young men in Elkhart is known as the Railroad Y. M. C. A., from the fact that its membership of 300 or more is drawn exclusively from the ranks of the railway employees. The building, which was erected in 1903, contains a good library and reading room, as well as homelike and sanitary living accommodations. The young women's building was occupied several years later, and is a haven for factory and business girls, as well as for numerous transients and strangers, who are obliged to come to the city alone and unacquainted with its safe boarding houses, or places of entertainment. Both associations are governed by boards of directors and trustees, consisting of such well known men and women that adequate safeguards and accommodations are assured.

In September, 1843, Dr. Havilah Beardsley and his wife, Rachel, deeded a tract of land amounting to about 2j^ acres and located on ]\Iiddlebury Street, corner of Prairie, to the inhabitants of Concord TowiTihip for a cemetery. It was used as such until Grace Lawn was laid out in the early 'Gos, and for some time afterward. Then the city decided to disinter the remains from the old burying grounds, move them to Grace Lawn Cemetery and build a schoolhouse on the abandoned plat. .After the removal of the bodies, under the terms of the original deed the land reverted to the heirs of liavilah Beardsley and wife, and, after some litigation, the land was purchased, the schoolhouse was built, and the former site of the old cemetery became a valuable addition to the city.

In 1862 or 1863, a committee was formed comprising John W. Ellis, Joel Ellis (his brother), Charles Beardsley, Philo Morehouse, Benjamin L. Davenport, John Davenport (his brother), Silas Baldwin and others, who were authorized to purchase land for a cemetery. They bought about twenty acres of land for that purpose of James A. Rice, an old resident of Elkhart, the tract being located on the eastern bluff of the river by that name. Charles Beardsley, being a civil engineer and one of the committee, was employed to plat three blocks of the cemetery into lots, which were sold at auction to pay for the ])urchase of the land. Additional blocks were surveyed, from time to time, as the demand increased and Grace Lawn was improved into a beautiful cemetery, and now there are very few lots for sale.

\\'ithin the last few years, Mr. Rice noticed that the cemetery was filling up so rapidly that additional grounds would soon be required. He therefore kindly deeded forty acres of land in the city limits, about one-eighth of a mile east of Grace Lawn Cemetery. This is known as Rice Cemetery, although it has not yet been much improved, but as nearly all the old residents are interred at Grace Lawn, and its area is becoming overcrowded it will not be long before the newer home will be required.

The Elkhart General Hospital is an institution whose three years of life have furnished proof that it meets a vital public requirement. The building is of reinforced concrete construction, modern in all ways, has accommodations for sixty-five patients and its main body is two stories and basement. Its location is also pecu- liarly fortunate. Situated on a pronounced elevation in the western part of the city adjacent to McNaughton Park, with its mineral springs and facilities for recreation, and commanding a pretty view of St. Joseph River; sufficiently removed from railroads and street cars to insure quiet, and yet near enough so that it may be readily reached by visitors, its location has obvious advantages. It was opened to the public in the summer of 1913. At that time the Clark Hospital was the only institution of the kind which was at all general or public in its nature.

first board of directors consisted of Drs. A. L. Fisher, W. H. Thomas, Porter Turner, H. A. Aluniaw and C. D. Goodrich. They early adopted the plan of thorough classroom instruction, with a maximum of bedside experience, a policy that has enabled graduates successfully to pass the examinations prescribed by the Indiana State Board of Registration, and has assured each one a technic and breadth of view commensurate with the responsibilities of the profession.

During the first years of the school's existence, lectures and recitations were conducted by members of the local profession, while practical training and experience was obtained in the Clark Hospital. With the opening of the Elkhart General Hospital, however, a more satisfactory environment, a better equipment and larger

The training school is intimately associated with the hospital and is incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana. The advisory board consists of five practicing physicians of Elkhart. This board co-operates closely with the officers and the board of directors of the hospital. The superintendent of the hospital is the directress of the training school and performs the duties of her offices subject to the general authority of the boards of directors. The school is under her immediate supervision and control. Her authority extends over all that pertains to the discipline and duties of the nurses and pupils, to their conduct at all times as well as to their instruction.

A. F. Beardsley, the first president of the board of directors, was succeeded by Conrad Ziesel, Jr. W. B. Hile and L. M. Simpson are still secretary and treasurer, respectively. Maude F. Essig is now superintendent of the training school, her predecessor having been Agnes E. Moloney.

Elkhart has its full share of the old-time secret and benevolent organizations connected with Masonry, Odd Fellowship, Pythianism, Maccabeeism, etc., and, for its size, an unusual number of industrial brotherhoods and unions. It is to be noted as rather unusual that the usual order of precedence as between the Masons and Odd Fellows is reversed at Elkhart, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows having been established before the Free and Accepted Masons by a number of years.

Pulaski Lodge No. 6o, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was the first secret society organized in the hamlet of Elkhart, its charter being granted July 13, 1848. Elkhart Encampment was chartered in May, 1870, and the Daughters of Rebekah (Naomi Lodge No. 67) was instituted in May of the following year. On April i, 1899, the Odd Fellows' Temple was completed at a cost of $25,000, and the different bodies of the order have since met therein.

The history of Alasonry in Elkhart dates from 1855, when a dispensation was granted to organize Kane Lodge No. 183, Free and Accepted Alasons. Thomas G. Davis was its first worthy master, and his successors ha\e been: Strafford L. Maxon, John AlcXaughton, OHver H. Main, Xathan ^Larkel, Charles T. Greene, Christian Theis, Charles G. Conn, Jacob W. Her, Sol. D. Light, John W. Stalker, A. A. Bradeen, Frank A. ;\Iuzzy, Edward F. Reich, Isaac Xadel, James A. Taylor, George 1!. Hoopingarner, Herbert A. Graham, John F. Werner, Walter J. Diehl, George W. Taylor, Galen C. Shirley, Amandus M. Smith, E. A. Doke, Galen C. Shirley, Ira H. Church, Ernest A. Skinner, Selmar E. Miller, Anthony W. Davis, Ira E. Zigler, Arthur E. Cole and Harry C. Gampher. At present the lodge has nearly 500 members. Oliver H. Main is credited with the longest service as worthy master, having held the office for fifteen years - 1859-63, iS(^---t,. and in 1875, 1877 and 1878.

Concord Chapter No. loi. Royal .-\rch Masons, was organized under charter dated October 21, 1886. It was constituted in the following month by Elmer Crocket, deputy grand high priest, of South Bend. S. P. Wilcox, the first high priest of the chapter, was suspended in 1886, and his successors have been William Reich, Edward F. Reich, Henry E. Stone, George B. Hoopingarner, Isaac Nadel, Charles A. Zorn, Charles A. Davisson, Frederick J. Stego, John F. Werner, Herbert A. Graham, Frank E. Bryson, Emory A. Doke, Amandus M. Smith, Richard Turnock, Eustace L. Burns, John T. Killey, William A. Bird, and Enoch H. Turnock. There are over 200 members connected with the chapter.

Elkhart Commandery No. 31 dates from April 30, 1884, when it was chartered. Its eminent commanders: Charles G. Conn, Garnett L. Arnold, Franklin A. Muzzy, Eugene L. Foster, James A. Taylor, Jedekiah M. Hughes, Frank D. Finney, Edwin D. Foster, George B. Hoopingarner, William .A. Allen, Melvin U. Demarest, George H. Fister, Charles D. Goodrich, William J. Gronert. Judson

Elkhart Council Xo. 79, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered twenty years after the commandery, or to be more exact, on October 19, 1904. Its thrice illustrious masters : Herbert A. Graham, George

B. Hoopingarner and Amandus AI. Smith. Membership about 125. Starlight Chapter No. 181, Order of the Eastern Star, was organized under charter dated April 23, 1896. Its worthy matrons have been: Juliette A. Stone, Franc Finn (past grand niatrdn ). Alice Carpenter, Martha McMillan, Ida Sanford, Adelaid Wishart, Elizabeth Floyd, Aimee Rush, Alice Straw, Lodema Santlers. Mary Sanborn, Sybil Bird, Beulah Rowan, Edna Burns and Gertrude Strego. Worthy patrons : Isaac Nadel, G. B. Hoopingarner, L. D. Sanford,

C. A. Davisson, Edward Goard, Frank Towsley, J. O. Goff, A. M. Smith, Richard Tumock and J. G. Schact. Starlight Chapter has a membership of about 280.

None of the orders has made more substantial progress within the past twenty years than the Elks. Elkhart Lodge No. 425. of that order, was installed March 30, 1898, with twenty-seven charter members. Its present membership is about 600. The first exalted ruler of the Elkhart Lodge was R. C. Barney ; the one now in the chair, H. C. Knight. Its property, or Temple, on South Main Street, with its handsome and commodious rooms for ritual, social and rest purposes, represents an investment of approximately $100,000.

The Modern Woodmen of the World, Independent Order of Foresters and other orders have also old and tried organizations, the Foresters having been instituted since 1893.

The first Knights of Pythias body was Elkhart Lodge No. 75, instituted October 29, 1877, and the Uniform Rank of a later day is known as Elkhart Company No. 18. Elkhart Temple No. 14, Rathbone Sisters, the women's auxiliary, was instituted in May, 1890.

Elkhart Tent No. 3, Knights of the Maccabees, was chartered February 26, 1886, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen (Elkhart Lodge No. 23) in April, 1888.

The Ladies of the Maccabees are also very strong, their organization (Indiana Hive No. 22) being formed in February, 1895, by Mary M. Danforth, supreme medical examiner, of Port Huron, Michigan.

Elkhart has been industrious in organizing and supporting various organizations of patriotic origin connected mainly with the Grand Army of the Republic for the past thirty-five years.

Elmer Post No. 37, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized and mustered in, November 8, 1881, and the Women's Relief Corps connected with it in May, 1885. Shiloh Field Post and the Relief Corps were founded in 1883 and 1884, respectively.

The first industrial organization to be formed in Elkhart was the German Workingman's Society, in 1873. ^t had its own hall on South ]\Iain Street. In 1883 the first of the brotherhoods connected with the railroads was formed - Prospect Lodge No. 162 - the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, in June of that year; in April of the following year John Hill Division No. 248, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was organized and ladies' auxiliaries of them both were formed in the early '90s. The cigar makers, metal polishers and brass workers, tailors, retail clerks and others came into line with their unions, also in the '90s, and such movements were so strong in the later portion of that decade that in 1900 (February loth) the Central Labor Union of Elkhart was organized under the charter of the American Federation of Labor.

While Elkhart's character as an industrial center has fostered the growth of industrial organizations somewhat at the expense of purely social and literary clubs, there was one association which was an intellectual stimulus to all classes for a period of forty years. The Elkhart Lecture Association, to which reference is obviously made, both in its inception and growth, was largely due to E. C. Cickel, who is mainly responsible for the facts which follow.

Although the Elkhart Lecture Association was organized in 1879, the real foundation of the movement dates back to 1875, when E. C. Bickel, as secretary of the Elkhart Lecture Union, succeeded in securing a strong lecture course for the winter, and Mr. Bickel has been identified with the lecture movement in the city since that time. This first season's attractions were secured after a lengthy correspondence, it being before the day of lecture bureaus, from whom a full line of attractions can now be secured. During this first winter the citizens gathered to listen to a splendid list of platform celebrities. General Kilpatrick, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Professor Winchell, Abbie Sage Richardson and Hon. Will Cumback. No season tickets were sold and the venture was carried through at a financial loss. Three years passed before the infant movement was revived. It was in the fall that a number of citizens gathered together for the purpose of securing talent. At this meeting a plan was formulated which has been in operation ever since. A committee was chosen and organized as follows : President, S. Maxon; secretary and treasurer, E. C. Bickel; Rev. AL W. Darling, J. S. Rice, D. H. Christophel and E. H. Jenkins. Season tickets were placed on sale after a course had been selected and from that time for many years, the association steadily grew stronger. After thirty-two years of splendid work it was merged into the Chautauqua movement.

The average number of entertainments was twelve each year and their scope was even broader than the title of the association implies, as concerts of a high order are given as well as lectures, both by home and national talent. The reputation of the Elkhart Lecture Association extended far, not a few who held its platform having names of world-wide fame. During the nearly forty years of its life such celebrities appeared in its courses as Henry Ward Beecher, Lyman Abbott, Mary A. Livermore, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Justin McCarthy, Susan B. Anthony, T. Dewitt Talmadge, Lew Wallace, Frank W. Gunsaulus, John B. Gough, Joseph Cook, Robert Collyer, John Henry Barrows, James B. Angell, Murat Halstead, Emil G. Hirsch, George Kennan, James Whitcomb Riley, Alexander \Mnchell, Hiram W. Thomas, F. Hopkinson Smith,

David Swing, Anna Shaw, Clara Louise Kellogg, Richard A. Proctor, Robert J. Burdette, George B. Cable, Bill Nye, George C. Lorimer and S. P. Leland.

"Although I have lectured from Maine to Oregon, I have never met the equal of the Elkhart Association," were the words used by Mrs. Mary A. Livermore upon the occasion of one of her visits to Elkhart, and many are the words of praise that have fallen from the lips of the brilliant men and women who have appeared before its audiences.

Upon the occasion of Dr. Lyman Abbott's visit to Elkhart he was driven about the city by a member of the committee. "I don't care to see your handsome residences, I see enough brown-stone fronts at home," exclaimed the reverend gentleman. "I wapt to see the homes where your poor people live." Upon being informed that he had seen where the workingmen lived and that most of them owned their own homes, he was filled with astonishment and thought that he had at last found a modern Utopia. Later Doctor Abbott devoted nearly a page to Elkhart in the Christian Union, declaring that it was an ideal western town, and frequently thereafter he referred to it in his lectures.

The foregoing are but samples of the impressions left upon the minds of the noted characters who charmed and instructed the local public through the good offices of the lecture association. S. Maxon remained as president during the first few years, that is, from 1879 to 1883, when he was succeeded by H. T. Browning. After Mr. Browning's retirement in 1884, M. W. Darling, W. H. Thomas and W. H. Anderson served as presidents. E. C. Bickel, who was its first secretary and treasurer in 1879, served as treasurer from 1882 until the association was dissolved in 1907. D. H. Christophel, W. H. Thomas, A. P. Kent, W. H. Anderson and F. G. Stahr were secretaries.

In 1906, E. C. Bickel entered into correspondence with Charles L. Wagner, secretary of the Slayton Lyceum Bureau, Chicago, and, through their joint labors, the annual meeting of the National Lyceum Association was held at Elkhart. As that body represented much of the best platform talent of the country, the Chautauqua movement was given an impetus which resulted in the winding up of the Elkhart Lecture Association and the founding of the St. Joseph Valley Chautauqua in 1907. W. F. Stanton was made president, and E. C. Bickel, secretary and manager and treasurer. The beautiful grounds of the Chautauqua are on the St. Joseph River, within easy access of Elkhart and other centers of population.

The Century Club is the leading organization of the kind in the city, and has come to stand, for all that is stalwart in its social, commercial and industrial welfare. Its beautiful house, located on Main Street, just north of Jackson, was erected for the club by H. E. Bucklen at an expense of $20,000.

Quoting from a souvenir of the club issued at the time of the dedication of the new club house : ''While at all times the Club may not have shown that enterprise and energy which some of the most exacting and unreasonable outsiders thought it should exhibit, it has always been alive to the best interests of the city, and has quietly fostered and furthered many an enterprise which today is the pride and honor of Elkhart.

Made up as it is of the men who have been at the very foundation of Elkhart's prosperity in the past, and of those who are today bearing the heaviest burdens of our present prosperity, the Century Club is fairly entitled to a very large share of the credit for the enterprise which our city manifests. The years intervening between 1892 and the present have been years of alternating depression and prosperity, and the Century Club, during the dark days of 1893 and 1894, through its committees and officers, as well as through its solid membership, did much to preserve and maintain the prosperity of Elkhart, which in the conditions existing are remarkable."

The architectural design of the front of this club home is very striking, while the general scheme of the interior in arrangement of rooms, as well as in decorations and furnishings, shows artistic taste. One enters the lounging room first upon ascending the broad stairs. This is finished in Flemish oak, similar to the other rooms on the main floor which comprise card room, billiard room, with specially constructed tables, gentlemen's parlor and director's room. The auditorium is a most attractive room with high ceiling and beautiful decorations; it proves alluring upon entertainment or dancing nights.

The Century Club was organized for- purely business and social purposes in 1892, when, at the request of Otis D. Thompson, who was then mayor of the city, and E. C. Bickel, a number of business men met to consider plans for the furtherance of the city's industrial interests. The gentlemen at that meeting were Otis D. Thompson, A. R. Beardsley, W. S. Hazehon, H. B. Sykes, G. B. Pratt, F. K. Fernald. J. W. Fieldhouse, O. X. Lumbert, E. C. Bickel and A. P. Kent. At a second meeting of these men the organization itself was completed and the club named "The Commercial Union," afterwards changed to "The Century Club of Elkhart, Indiana." The first officers of the club were : Strafford Maxon, president ; Otis D. Thompson, vice president ; A. P. Kent, secretary ; Howard F. Smith, treasurer.

Almost immediately the officers and committee became active, working in the interests of the city and a great many industries have been located in Elkhart as the direct results.

The membership of the club is approximately 200, made up of business men who have the interests of the city at heart and who are today bearing their burdens willingly that Elkhart may enjoy the prosperity to which it is entitled, chiefly by reason of the fact that its many industries are flourishing.

The Public Service Board and the Century Club have been untiring in their eff'orts, and questions of great importance of Elkhart have been taken up and disposed of and advantages that could not possibly have obtained have been realized by this organization.

Elkhart has several active women's clubs, most of which are affiliated with the State Federation. The first club of this nature to be organized was the Fifteen Circle Association, formed in i88g and incorporated in 1894 for literary, social and philanthropic purposes. Mrs. A. E. Babb endowed it with a library which, with later accretions, was turned over to the Carnegie Public Library in 1903. The Woman's Club was organized in 1902, the Woman's Art Club in the '90s, and other organizations confined in member-

Besides, there are the Jefferson and Elkhart Driving clubs, the Elkhart Choral Society and the Elkhart Socialist and Industrial associations.