Fayette County, Indiana - Chapter 17: The City of Connersville, 1885 (part 2 of 2)

St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. - This religious organization has had an existence in Connersville for thirty-eight years. The first priest visiting Connersville in a missionary sense was Rev. Father John Ryan, in 1846; he was then a resident priest of the parish at Richmond, this State. He visited the people of Connersville until in the summer of 1848. His successor was Rev. Father William Doyle, who too, was a resident of Richmond. He had charge of the Connersville Mission from May, 1849, until August, 1853. The residence of Andrew Apert was one of the early places where mass was saidj in Connersville. The ground on North Eastern Avenue, upon which now stands the old brick house of worship of the parish, was purchased by Father Doyle, and the church erected thereon in 1851 and named St. Gabriel's. The first resident priest of Connersville was Rev. Father Henry Peters, who came to the parish in 1853 and completed the church structure and erected the present parsonage. Father Peters served the church as its pastor for twenty-one years, severing his connection with it by death, in January, 1874. His successor was Rev. Father Peter Bischof, who, in 1876, was succeeded by Father J. B. H. Leepe, and he, in 1881, by Father J. Rudolph, who is still in charge-

The present magnificent and commodious church edifice of the congregation was commenced in the spring of 1882, the corner-stone being laid June 11 of that year. The services were conducted by Rt. Rev. Bishop F. S. Chatard, D. D., of Vincennes, assisted by Revs. Ferdinand, of Indianapolis; Peters, of Oldenburg; Fischer, of Reading, Ohio; DeArco, of Liberty; Oster, of Cambridge City, and Rudolph, of Connersville. The church was 'dedicated to the service of Almighty God, June 15, 1884. The dedicatory services were after the usual custom of the church on such occasions and were imposing. The same Bishop who laid the corner-stone conducted the services at the dedication and delivered the sermon. There were present many clergymen from various parts of the country, and a great concourse of people who participated in the exercises.

The beautiful edifice, a credit to its builders, and an ornament to the city, is located in the northwestern part of the city, and is constructed of brick with stone trimmings. It is of Gothic design. The architect was D. A. Bohlen of Indianapolis, and it was built by Downs, Ready & Co. , of Connersville. The length of the building is 165 feet; width 56 feet proper, and 75 feet across the wings; the height of the ceiling is 40 feet, and the top of the spire is 185 feet from the gi-ound; cost of building in the neighborhood of $30,000.

On the erection of the old church in 1851, school was held in the small basement below. In 1872 the present commodious brick schoolhouse was completed, since which time the schools have been conducted by the Sisters of Providence.

Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church. - Episcopal services were commenced in this parish under the charge of Rev. William Miller, November 3, 1850, the Town Hall being used for the purposes. The organization of the parish was accomplished May 24, 1852. A chapel building 40x22 feet adjoining the present edifice was erected in 1855, and services were 'first held in it on the visitation of Bishop Upfold, April 15, 1855.

November 17, 1856, the corner-stone of the present beautiful edifice situated on the southeast corner of Eastern Avenue and Sixth Street was laid by Bishop Upfold with appropriate religious services. The stone was laid in the name of the Holy Trinity. At the site of the church the Bishop and clergy with the congregation read alternately the 122d Psalm. A number of articles enclosed in a leaden box were deposited in the stone by the Rector. After the ceremonies they proceeded to the chapel, ^where^an able and eloquent address was delivered by the Bishop. The edifice was completed and consecrated November 1, 1859, by Rt. Rev. George Uphold, D. D., built mainly through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Mary S. Helm. The style of the building is early English or first pointed, purely Gothic, after a chaste and beautiful design furnished by Frank Wills, architect, of New York. Mr. Miller continued his services with the congregation for probably a year or more, and later Rev. J. W. Stewart became the regular Rector of the church and served for a period of about six years, closing with the beginning of the war of the Rebellion. Missionaries coming from the cities of Indianapolis and Richmond served the charge for a time, then in October, 1868, Rev. W. W. Hibben became identified with the parish as Lay Reader and was subsequently ordained as minister in charge. From 1873 to 1875 Rev. J. S. Harrison, M. D., served the parish as Missionary Rector. Supplies by visiting Rectors were then had until in 1879, when Rev. Jesse R. Bicknell gave to this people semimonthly and quarterly Sunday services, and following him in 1880 Rev. J. Clausen, who gave them regular times until in 1881, since which time until the spring of 1884 they have been under the missionary auspices of Rev. T. Test, M. D., of Richmond,

The German Presbyterian, Church was organized May 7, 1871, by Rev. F. F. Friedgen, of Shelbyville. The original membership was twenty-four. Until in 1873 services were held in the Presbyterian Church building on Fourth Street, now the house of worship of the Christian society of the city. In 1873 the German congregation purchased the building they have since occupied of the Methodists, for which they paid $2,650. It is a one-story brick building with basement, located on Fourth Street between Water and Eastern Avenue. Mr. Friedgen has served the congregation continuously from its organization, and also the Sabbath-school as its superintendent. The present church membership is about eighty.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church. - Some forty odd years ago a few of the colored people of the city and vicinity occasionally assembled for religious worship wherever suitable quarters could be found, and were administered to by Rev. William Head, of Decatur County. In an upper room of a building on the Heineman corner, and in an old loglioiise in the northern part of town (on Eastern Avenue) were amoag the places above referred to where worship was occasionally held. In subsequent years an organization was effected, and the little frame church building, now occupied as a dwellinghouse, standing on the brow of the hill just east of their present church, was erected, which was used until in 1872, when the present brick house of worship on Fifth Street was purchased of the Christian Church for $2,500.

Among the early members of the society were Mrs. Margaret Turner, George Mitchell, Mrs. Dolly Wilson, James Freeman and wife, James Franklin and wife, and a Mrs. Powell.

Revs. Davis, Woodfork, Daniel Winslow, John Myers, John Payne were some of the early preachers in charge of the congregation. Rev. Charles Jones is the present pastor of the church.

The German United Evangelical Church was organized at the court house, in August, 1882, by Rev. F. E. W. Bersch, with a membership of about forty (heads of families). Mr. Bersch served the congregation between one and two years, when succeeded by Rev. C. Thomas, the present incumbent. The society is without a church building, having worshiped since organization in the City Hall.

Warren Lodge, No. 15, F. & A. M., was instituted under a charter October 24, 1820, in an upper room of Sample's Hotel, which was located on the Boutliwest corner of what is now Eastern Avenue and Fifth Street. On this date the following-named seven men met for the purpose named, and constituted the charter members of the Lodge: John Sample, Edward J. Kidd, John Conner, Larkin Sims, Heni'y Bates, Julius Whitmore and Joshua Harlan. At their first meeting John Newland was admitted a Master Mason from some other lodge, and four petitions were presented. It is not definitely known who was the first Worshipful Master of the lodge, but from the fact that the name of John Sample appears as approving the Treasui'er's report in December, 1821, it is presumed that he was such oiScor. March 13, 1824, the lodge purchased Lot No. 18 of Larkin Sims, for which was paid $110. March 30 of the same year the lodge removed to a two-story frame building standing thereon. This was subsequently sold to W. M. Smith for 1400. Their next place of assembling was in a room over the saddler shop of Joseph Nelson, which was on Central Avenue, the first meeting at this place being held May 29, 1847.

The next move was to a room over what is now the First National Bank, northwest corner of Central Avenue and Fifth Street, where the lodge coatinued to meet until the completion and dedication of the present commodious hall, the third story of the City Hall Building, in 1849. From 1820 to 1878 the lodge had had twenty-three Worshipful Masters.

Fayette Council, No 6, R. & S. M., was instituted under charter February 4, 1856, or 28, 1856, Y. D. The charter members and first officers were as follows: William Hacker, T. I. G. M. ; Companion Maxwell, D. I. G. M.; Companion Lynde, P. C. of W.; Companion Wolf, Captain of G. ; Companion Higginbotham. Treasurer; Companion Ramsey, Recorder; Companion Gunn, G. & S. ; Companions Frybarger, Clinedist and Mason. Present membership about thirty. Present officers: A. M. Sinks, I. M. ; L. Mcintosh, D. I. M. ; Joshua Leach, P. C. of W. ; J. D. McNaughton, C. of G.; P. B. Wood, Treasurer; A. Watt, Recorder; Noah Tryon, S. & S.

Fayette Lodge, No. 31, I. 0. O. F., was chartered July 11, 1849, and instituted in an upper room of the building now occiipied by Dr. Vance as a residence on Fourth Street, near the Huston House, then the Canal office, by Special Deputy Thomas Wilson, of Centerville, in the afternoon of August 13, 1849. The charter members and first officers were J. F. Youse, N. G. ; Anthony Watt, V. G.; Calvin Davis, Secretary; H. J. Kern, Treasurer; J. M. Hiatt. The present officers are C. W. Woodcock, N. G. ; A. H. Reiman, V. G. ;l. M. Purt, Recording Secretary; Eli Earl, Permanent Secretary; John C. Bailey, Treasurer.

Whitewater Encampment, No. 33, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 17, 1853, by Special Deputy Daniel Moss, assisted by Patriarchs from Cambridge City. The first officers were S. M. Youst, C. P.; William P. Applegate, H. P.; J. M. Hart, S. W.; John F. Youse, J. W.; A. H. Hotchkiss, Scribe; Conrad Wolf, Treasm'er. The present officers are Thomas constituted by authority of the National Camp of Philadelphia, who granted it a charter July 31,1875. The charter members were Park Smith, H. A. Nichols, Thomas S. Cline, John S. Carr, M. P. Wherrett, J. E. McFarlan, C. M. Harrison, John Verdan, R. I. Savage, L. S. Morris, J. W. Foutz, S. Bullard, Frank Miller, J. F. Youse, Jr., William Hoover, G. S. Johnson, W. W. Morse, Morrison Long, William Harrell, John Parson, W. Kerr, John Henry and John Miller. The present membership of the Encampment and Council is about fifty. Present officers: Frank Miller, Pres. ; E. J. Whelan, V. P.; Joseph Rinehart, M. of F. & C. ; J. M. Waldrip, R. S. ; T. H. Stoops, F. S.; J. H. Fritch, Treasurer; S. W. Hutchins, Conductor; Charles Snow, I. G. ; William Enos, O. G.

C. W. Plumber, S. V. C. ; Capt. Johnson, J. W. C. ; W. N. Young. O. D. ; H. Van Kooten, O. G. ; John W. Ross, Q. M.; James M. Waldrip, Surgeon; T. M. Little, Chaplain; W. A. Jewess, Adjutant; T. J. Clark, S. M. ; Robert Utter, Q. S. The present membership of the Post is 131. The present officers are J. A. Dunn, P. C. ; Adolph Secrist, S. V. C; John A. elephant, J. V. C; W. N. Young, Q. M.; H. Van Kooten, Surgeon; T. J. Clark, O. D. ; H. B. Woodcock, O. G. ; Thomas Little, Chaplain, and John Payne, Adjutant; Robert Utter, Q. S.

Davis Camp, No. 4, S. of V., was instituted at the hall of the P. O. S. of A., in Caldwell's Block, March 7, 1884, by Col. J. E. Edmondson, of Ellettsville, Ind.. assisted by members of Connersville Post, No. 126, G. A. R. The camp was organized with a membership of nineteen, and named in honor of Lieut. A. M. Davis, who was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and died from the effects of the wound. The officers chosen were: Frank L. Johnson, Captain;