Madison County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 14 of those read), 1914

Church History

Moravian Missions - Monument - The Methodists - The Baptists - Friends or Quakers - United Brethren - Roman Catholics - Christl\ns or Disciples - New Light Christians - The Lutherans - The Universalists - Protestant Episcopal Church - Church OP God - CONGREGATIONALISTS - SPIRITUALISTS - THEIR CAMP GROUNDS at Chesterfield - List op Churches in the Cities.

No doubt the first religious establishment in what is now Madison county was the old Moravian mission on the White river, a short dis¬ tance above the city of Anderson. About the close of May, 1801, John P. Kluge and his wife, accompanied by Abraham Luckenbach, a young man of twenty-four years, came from Goshen, Pennsylvania, where they had passed the winter with the missionary Zeisberger, learning the Delaware language, with a view to establishing a mission somewhere in Indiana. With them came two Delaware Indians - Thomas and Joshua - who had been converted to the Christian religion. This little party first stopped at the Indian village on the White river, opposite the present city of Muncie, where it was proposed to establish the mission, but the Indians, although they received the missionaries in a friendly manner, pointed out a place for them to settle, some distance down the river, near the village of Kikthawenund, or Chief Anderson.

The place where this mission was located was called by the Indians Wah-pi-mins-kink, or place of the Chestnut Tree, a large tree of that variety standing near the center of section 17, about two miles east of Anderson. Here the missionaries were welcomed by the Delaware chiefs and, after living in bark huts during the summer, erected a substan¬ tial log cabin for a permanent residence, into which they moved in November, 1801. They made slow progress in their work of converting the Indians, owing to a general distrust of and opposition to the whites. In March, 1806, Lukenbach and Joshua w'ent to the Indian villages on the Mississinewa in search of a new location and soon after their return to Anderson Joshua was charged with being a witch and was killed by an Indian with a tomahawk.

Joshua was killed on St. Patrick's day - March 17, 1806 - and soon after that the missionaries decided to ask the Moravian authorities at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for permission to abandon the mission. A messenger was accordingly sent to Bethlehem and Kluge and his com¬ panions waited through the summer, annoyed at times by drunken and meddlesome Indians. Early in September the messenger returned bear¬ ing the permission for the missionaries to return to Pennsylvania and on September 16, 1806, they left the mission on the White river never to return. The cabin erected by them remained standing for several years and when the first settlers came to Madison county, about 1820 or 1821, they assumed that this cabin had been erected for a fort, be¬ cause it was so much more substantial than the Indian structures that had been erected in the vicinity by the Little Munsees after the de¬ parture of the missionaries. Traces of this settlement could be seen for many years, but the plow of civilization has at last destroyed them, and the old Moravian mission is little more than a tradition.

In the fall of 1912 the chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Anderson decided to mark the site of the mission with an appropriate monument, and began a canvass for funds. The monu¬ ment was unveiled on Sunday, June 1, 1913, Jacob P. Dunn, of Indian¬ apolis, delivering the dedicatory address. Arthur W. Brady made a short address, Mrs. Arthur W. Brady spoke on behalf of the Daughters of the Revolution, and the presentation speech was made by Mrs. Henry Durbin. A special guest on this occasion was Miss Alice Kluge, of Hope, Indiana, whose father was the first white child born in Madison county, having been born at the old misson, and whose grandfather was killed by the Indians in 1806, not far from where the monument stands. The inscription on the monument is as follows:

To this denomination belongs the honor of being the first to estab¬ lish a regular religious organization in the county of Madison. Serv¬ ices were held by itinerant Methodist ministers at the house of Elias Hollingsworth, at Pendleton, as early as 1821, but no attempt was made to found a church until in 1823, when Thomas M. Pendleton, his wife and daughter, Mrs. Thomas McCartney, Mrs. Samuel Holliday, Elias Hollingsworth and his wife, Samuel Hundley and wife, James Scott and wife, and perhaps a few others, residing near the falls of Fall creek, met and organized what was afterward known as the Pen¬ dleton Methodist Episcopal church. For about nine years meetings were held at the houses of the members. On April 28, 1832, Thomas M. Pendleton and wife deeded to the trustees of the church the north half of lot No. 32, upon which a log house of worship was erected. In 1839 this house was torn down and a frame structure with a seating capacity of about six hundred was erected at a cost of $1,800. At the time it was dedicated it was the finest church edifice in the county. In 1877 it was enlarged and remodeled and was used by the congregation until the erection of the present handsome brick and stone house in 1905, at a cost of about $15,000. Among the early pastors of this congregation were James Havens, Edwin Ray, J. H. Hull and W. II. Goode, all of whom afterward became prominent in the annals of Methodism.

As early as 1824 the fe*v Methodists living in the vicinity of Perkinsville organized a class, with Benoni Freel as leader. The first sermon preached here was by Rev. James Reeder. For some time the little congregation held services in a log school house about half way between Halford and Perkinsville, but with the coming of more set¬ tlers the church grew in membership and about 1848 a brick house of worship was erected in Perkinsville. It continued to be the home of the congregation until 1888, when it was replaced by a larger and more pretentious edifice. This was the first church organization in Jackson township.

A few Methodists living in Green township, among whom were Samuel Gibson and wife, John Marsh and wife, James D. Hardy and William McCarty, organized a class in the fall of 1825 that afterward became the Mount Carmel church. Meetings were held in residences, school houses, etc., until 1848, when a house of worship was erected on the farm of Henry Manifold, a short distance northeast of the present town of Ingalls, where James Jones donated a small tract of ground for the Mount Carmel cemetery in 1862.

The next Methodist church to be organized in the county was in the town of Anderson in 1827. Prior to that time meetings had been held in private residences, particularly the homes of Collins Tharp and William Curtis. Among the first members were Collins Thay> and wife, William Curtis and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Donahue, Mr. and Mrs. Merrill, Henry Russell, Mrs. Harpold and Matilda Shannon. In 1839 Collins Tharp donated the congregation a piece of ground imme¬ diately west of Delaware street, between what are now Eleventh and Twelfth streets, for a church site and cemetery. Soon after that work was commenced upon a house of worship there, but it was never fully completed. Meetings were held there, however, for several years, when the property was sold to J. E. D, Smith, who used the unfinished struc¬ ture as a carpenter shop until it was destroyed by fire.

After the sale of this place to Mr. Smith, the congregation met in the school house and other places until 1849, when two lots were pur¬ chased of Robert N. Williams on the northeast corner of Eleventh and Meridian streets, where a frame house was erected, at a cost of $1,200. About 1869 the Methodist congregation purchased a lot at the southeast corner of Eleventh and Meridian, opposite the old frame church and where the Union Building now stands, where they commenced the erection of a large and commodious brick edifice. This church was completed in 1871, when the old frame house was sold to David W. Swank, who removed it to the corner of Ninth and Meridian streets, where it was used as a business house until destroyed by fire in the sum- mer of 1886. In time Meridian street became a business street and the Methodist congregation sold the property and purchased a new location at the southwest corner of Jackson and Twelfth streets, where the pres¬ ent commodious and imposing house of worship was erected in 1900, at a cost of some $50,000. This church is known as the First Metho¬ dist Episcopal church of Anderson. Since it was organized in 1827 three other congregations of this denomination have been established in the city - one on Noble street, Grace church, on Fourteenth street near Cedar, and one in North Anderson - and missions are maintained in the additions of Shadeland and Hazelwood.

According to Harden's History of Madison County, a Methodist society was formed at Fishersburg in 1827 and for a time met in pri¬ vate houses. Then a small log church was erected and used until 1834, when it was replaced by a larger one, also a log house, and this was sup¬ planted by a frame building in 1853, at a cost of $1,600. Among the early ministers at this church were a Rev. Mr. Miller, W. C. Smith, Lucien Berry and James Scott.

About the year 1831 Manly Richards, Joseph Carter, Andrew Bragg, Jacob and John Lambord, John Russell, James W. Manifold and a few other members of the Methodist faith organized a society at the old village of Menden, in Fall Creek township, known as the Antioch Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. J. N. Elsbury and Asa Beck were the first ministers. In 1842 a small frame house of worship was built, and it was used until 1868, when it became unsafe and a new one was erected about a quarter of a mile northeast, at a cost of $3,000. After the decline of Menden the church remained and meetings are still held here, though the congregation has lost many of its members by death and removals.

What is known as the Busby Meeting House was located on the south bank of Lick creek, on the Warrington pike. A Methodist society was organized in this neighborhood in 1835 and the house was erected soon afterward. In 1865 the church was abandoned, the members uniting with other congregations.

In the fall of 1836 James Hollingsworth and wife, Mrs. George Mustard, and William Lower and wife met at the house of the last named and organized themselves into a Methodist society, or class, the first religious organization of any kind in Lafayette township. The class grew in numbers, but no effort was made to erect a house of wor¬ ship until 1855, when a frame structure was built where the village of Florida now stands, at a cost of $1,700. Among the early ministers were Revs. D. F. Strite, John Leach, J. W. Bradbury and John R. Tansey. The trustees of this church have always been liberal and have allowed other denominations to use the house, when such occupation did not interfere with the regular services of the congregation.

The first church in Pipe Creek township was a Methodist society, which was formed at the residence of Reuben Kelly, a short distance east of the present town of Frankton, in the summer of 1836. The first members were Reuben Kelly, William Taylor, John Chamness, Jacob Speck, Amos Goff, Joseph Miller and their wives, and perhaps a few others. At first this congregation was a part of the Anderson circuit and the first preachers were the circuit riders. Among them were Hezekiah Smith, J. F. Stiles and J. C. Bradshaw, whose names are well remembered by old-timers. In 1867 the society removed to Frankton, where a comfortable house of worship was erected, and where the church is still located.

Mount Tabor Methodist church was organized in the northwestern part of Monroe township in 1838. The members first held their meet¬ ings in private houses, then in school houses until 1850, when a church was erected at cost of about $1,200. Samuel McMahan, David Osborn, Wright Smith, David Austin and wife and Louisa McMahan were among the first members. James Havens, Hezekiah Smith and John Hull were some of the first preachers. After a number of years this church was abandoned, the members associating with other convenient Methodist congregations.

About 1840, a Methodist church was organized in the town of Alex¬ andria. In 1845 the first house of worship was erected and was used by the congregation until 1873, when a new structure was commenced. It was completed early in the year 1876 and was dedicated on June 6th of that year. The cost of this edifice was about $7,200. This build¬ ing, which stands at the corner of North Canal and Broadway streets, has since been remodeled and added to, in order to provide better ac¬ commodations for the growing congregation. At the time this church was organized it was a part of the Pendleton circuit, but later was transferred to the Anderson circuit, where it continued until the Alex¬ andria circuit was organized. The congregation was the first to be organized in Alexandria.

About two and a half miles west of Pendleton, on the Noblesville pike, is the Pleasant Valley Methodist church, which was the outgrowth of a class formed by Elder Donaldson in 1841, at the house of Samuel Dobson. In 1852 Mr. Dobson removed to Iowa, after which the meet¬ ings were held at the house of Andrew Shanklin until 1865, when a frame church was erected on the farm of George A. Williamson, just west of Foster's branch. Previous to the erection of this house the class had been regarded as a branch of the church at Pendleton.

In 1851 a Methodist society was organized at the house of Aaron Taffe, in Boone township, by Rev. William Boyden. Seven members at that time united to form the church and Wright Smith was chosen classleader. Not long after that he built a log church at his own expense. This building was afterward sold to the township for a school house and a frame church was erected. In 1853 a Sunday school was organized, with Wright Smith as superintendent. Owing to the activity of Mr. Smith in promoting the welfare of this congregation, the church was named ''Smith's Chapel." It is located on section 21, a short dis¬ tance north of Duck creek.

A class was organized by the few Methodists living in the locality, at school house No. 5, Monroe township, about two miles east of Alex¬ andria, in 1854. It was known as the Mannering class and was a branch of the Methodist church at Alexandria. No house of worship was ever built and after some years the class disbanded, though at one time it numbered about seventy members.

The Markleville Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1850 and meetings were held at the residences of Stephen Norman and Ralph Williams, and later in an old log house. In 1856 a neat frame house of worship was erected, at a cost of $1,400, a short distance south of the town, where services are still held.

Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church is located on section 8, in the northwestern part of Richland township. A few years before the beginning of the Civil war a few Methodists living in that neigh¬ borhood began holding meetings in the Holston school house. In 1860 a neat frame house, with a seating capacity of about four hundred, was erected, at a cost of $1,200. A Methodist congregation had been organ¬ ized in this township as early as 1832 by Elias Hollingsworth and Joseph Barnes, near the Union township line. In December, 1832, Joseph Barnes donated an acre and a half of ground in the southwest quarter of section 28 for a church site, and soon afterward a log house of worship was erected, taking the name of Asbury Chapel. In 1870 a new frame church was built on the northeast corner of section 29, on the south bank of Killbuck creek, at a cost of $1,500, and w T as dedicated by Rev. Dr. Bowman, president of Ashbury (now DePauw) University, on September 13, 1870.

In the fall of 1861 Rev. R. A. New T ton organized a Methodist society with twelve members at the Minnick school house, in Duck Creek township. Five years later a small house of worship was erected by John Reel on the farm of G. H. Harting. It was known as' ' Reel's Chapel' ' and was used by the Methodists and New Lights alternately for many years.

Rev. John Pierce, Robert Goodin and a few others organized a Methodist church at Chesterfield in 1870 and the following year a house of worship was erected. For some time services were held every two weeks, but the congregation did not prosper and the church was finally dropped from the circuit.

The first camp meeting in the county was held by the Methodist Episcopal denomination in 1832, about three miles southwest of Pen¬ dleton, on the farm known as the Samuel Hundley place. Rev. James Havens and other Methodist ministers were in attendance. The meet¬ ing was pronounced a success and similar gatherings were held there annually for many years, usually in the later summer or early autumn.

On the farm of J. R. Holston, near the Wesley Chapel above de¬ scribed, was the Wesleyan Camp Meeting Association grounds, where camp meetings were held by the Methodists for many years prior to 1880 and were largely attended. After that the interest waned and in a few years the meetings were discontinued.

The First Methodist Episcopal church of Elwood was organized not long after the town was laid out in 1853. The present house of wor¬ ship, one of the finest in the city, is located at the corner of North A and Anderson streets, directly opposite the postofiice building. It was erected in 1899, at a cost of about $30,000.

There are also Methodist Episcopal churches at Lapel and Summitville, where the congregations are in a healthy condition and own handsome church edifices.

of Elwood, with fourteen members, about 1865. Ten years later the membership had increased to about sixty and a house of worship was erected at a cost of $1,000. This was probably the first society of this denomination in the county. The present place of worship is on South D street, near Anderson, w T here a comfortable frame house has been erected for the use of the church and the Sunday school.

On April 17, 1866, a Methodist Protestant church was organized at Hamilton, Jackson township, by Rev. Elias Wilson. For several years meetings were held in the school house or at the homes of the members, but in 1879 a frame house was erected in Hamilton, at a cost of $1,000, for the use of the congregation, which then numbered about thirty-five members. This building was dedicated on October 19, 1879, by Rev. J. H. Luse, president of the Indiana conference. A Sunday school was organized about the time the new church was built.

Since the organization of these two Methodist Protestant churches, a congregation of that denomination has been formed in the city of Anderson. The house of worship is at the corner of Fifth and Locust streets.

In Madison county there are three colored Methodist churches - two in Anderson and one in Alexandria. In 1873 the colored Method¬ ists of Anderson organized w r hat is known as the Second Methodist Episcopal church. Not long after it w r as formed a small frame build¬ ing, located at 1125 Delaware street, was purchased for the use of the congregation and meetings are still held there regularly.

Allen Chapel, African Methodist Episcopal church, was organized in 1890. For about six years meetings were held in such places as could be obtained, but in 1896 the membership had increased to about thirty and steps were taken to build a house of worship. A lot on the corner of Sixteenth and Sheridan streets was secured and a neat frame house erected thereon. It is considered one of the prettiest small church buildings in the city.

Shortly after the discovery of natural gas, the colored Methodists of Alexandria got together and formed themselves into a congregation. Meetings were held at the corner of West and John streets for several years, but recently the congregation has purchased the brick church edifice formerly used by the Baptists, located at the corner of Berry and Black streets.

After the Methodists, this denomination was the next to establish itself in Madison county. Tw t o Baptist churches were organized in the year 1830 - one in Pendleton and the other near New Columbus, in Adams township.

Among the first members of the Pendleton Baptist church were Nathaniel P. Richmond, J. L. Richmond, Martin Brown and their wives, Elizabeth Irish and Susannah Richmond. Nathaniel Richmond was the first preacher. In 1834 a church building thirty-two by forty feet was erected. It was used by the congregation until about 1854, when a larger house was built, at a cost of $1,400. A few years later, while Rev. Mr. Wedge was pastor and P. R. Maul was clerk, a dissension arose between these two persons that finally split the congregation in twain "by a, Maul and Wedge/' as it has been expressed in a sort of jest. The church, unable to continue its career successfully, sold its house of worship to the Friends, most of the members transferring their allegiance to the Baptist church at Anderson.

The Adams township congregation was organized about the same time as the one at Pendleton. For a while meetings were held at the residences of Caleb Biddle and - Ira Davis. New members came in gradually, and in 1834 a small house of worship was built about half a mile south of New Columbus. Among the early preachers here were Nathaniel Richmond, Morgan McQuary, W. A. Thompson and William Judd. A small cemetery was laid out near the church, where some of the Adams township pioneers found their last resting place. This church, known as the "Pewee Baptist Church," held meetings reg¬ ularly for over forty years, but about 1875 it began to wane in strength and influence. After that meetings were held at irregular intervals for some time and then ceased altogether.

In 1834 a few Baptists met at the house of Mrs. Rebecca Collier, about a mile and a half southeast of the present town of Markleville, and organized a church, w r ith thirteen members. There is some diversity of opinion as to w^hen the first building was erected by this congrega¬ tion. Harden says a house was built in 1837, at a cost of about $500, and other authorities state that it was built in 1852. All agree, how¬ ever, that it was twenty-four by thirty-six feet in size. In 1872 this house was tom dowm and a new one of larger dimensions erected, at a cost of $2,800. In both instances J. F. Collier gave the ground upon which the church building was erected, the new house being about half a mile north of the old one. It w^as dedicated by Rev. Joseph M. Brown, of Indianapolis, October 3, 1872, and is known as the Union Baptist church.

The Bethel Baptist church, located three miles north of Markle¬ ville, was organized about 1836. Until 1853 meetings were held in the school house near that point, but in that year a frame house of worship was erected, at a cost of $1,000. James F. Collier w r as the first pastor, The first trustees w r ere Jackson Judd, James Ellison and Silby Clark. About 1862 a division arose that destroyed the usefulness of the church and some years later a denomination known as the Church of God came into possession of the house.

On June 18, 1842, the Little Killbuck Old School Baptist church was organized at the residence of Moses Maynard, with ten members. Rev. W. A. Thompson was the first pastor. In 1844 a log church was built on the farm of Christopher Maynard, near the southern boundary of Richland township. At the regular meeting in July, 1871, a dif¬ ference of opinion occurred upon some doctrinal point, which resulted in several members withdrawing and taking with them the church rec¬ ords. This faction held meetings in the school house until a council of the neighboring churches decided the other side to be the regular church. But the mischief had been done. After a precarious existence of a few years the congregation ceased to hold meetings and the church went down.

In 1843 Rev. Nathaniel Richmond organized a Baptist church at Fishersburg, where a small house of worship was erected the next year. Mr. Richmond acted as pastor for some time, but the congrega¬ tion was never strong enough numerically to carry the burden of organ¬ ization and after about twenty years it gave up the effort.

John W. Forrest founded the village of Forrestville, on the north¬ west quarter of Sectional, Boone township, in 1850, and about three years later a Baptist church was organized there. Mr. Forrest, who was a local preacher of that denomination, officiated at the organiza¬ tion, but Rev. James Smith is said to have been the first regular pastor. In 1857 a neat frame church was erected, at a cost of about $1,400. It stood upon Mr. Forrest's farm and was known as * 4 Forrest Chapel .' 9 After several years the society became disorganized.

A congregation known as the Mount Pisgah Baptist church was or¬ ganized in Monroe township in 1856, about four miles northeast of Alexandria, by Rev. John W. Forrest. No church was ever erected, the meetings being held in school house No. 6. The society was never very strong and after about twenty years it was abandoned, the mem¬ bers affiliating with other convenient Baptist churches.

Four miles northwest of Alexandria and a mile east of the old vil¬ lage of Osceola, the Lilly Creek Baptist church was established in 1858, though meetings had been held in that neighborhood as early as 1852. The first pastor was Rev. James E. Ellison. On May 2, 1868, the church was reorganized and in 1871 a frame church building was erected at a cost of about $1,000. It was dedicated on the first Sunday in August of that year.

Through the efforts and influence of J. B. Anderson, a Baptist church was established at Chesterfield in 1869, with Rev. J. C. Skin¬ ner as pastor. Regular services were held for four or five years, but no house of worship was ever erected. Then, weary of the struggle for existence, the little flock disbanded, the members uniting with the Bap¬ tist church at Anderson.

It may seem strange that no Baptist church was organized at the county seat for nearly fifty years after the erection of Madison county, but such is the case. On October 23, 1871, a number of members of this denomination residing in Anderson, in conference with members of the Baptist congregations at Pendleton and Chesterfield, organized, the First Baptist church of Anderson. On January 2, 1872, the Ches¬ terfield church was consolidated with the new organization, and it was followed on the 23d of the same month by the Baptists of Pendleton. On October 19, 1872, the building committee appointed by the church purchased of the trustees of the Presbyterian congregation their house of worship on Meridian street for $2,000. Previous to the sale of this property the Presbyterians had borrowed $1,000 from the state school fund and placed a mortgage upon their church. This mortgage was assumed by the Baptists. At that time the Baptist congregation num¬ bered about thirty members, none of whom could be called wealthy, and after holding meetings for some time in the building they were unable to pay the mortgage. The building was therefore sold by the state to satisfy the loan made to the Presbyterians some years before. This church occupied the lot upon which the Hurst block now stands, on the west side of Meridian street, between Tenth and Eleventh. In 1890 the Baptist church was reorganized by Rev. J. W. Porter. During the next three years meetings were held in Oriental hall and such other places as could be conveniently secured for the purpose, but in 1893 a lot at the corner of Fourteenth and Lincoln streets was purchased, upon which was erected a house of worship. It w T as not completed for nearly three years after work on it was commenced. In May, 1896, the building was formally dedicated and since that time the church has been prosperous, ranking today among the strongest religious organiza¬ tions in the city.

Zion Baptist church, about two miles north of Summitville, was organized in February, 1874, with Rev. J. J. Langdon as the first pastor. In 1878 a frame house of worship was erected, at a cost of about $700. This church is located on section 17, a short distance east of the Mich¬ igan division of the Big Four Railroad.

The Baptist church at Alexandria was organized on December 23, 1895, and for some time held meetings in the Red Men's hall. As the society grew in strength it was not long until a small house of worship was erected at the corner of Berry and Black streets. This building was recently sold to the colored Methodists and the Baptists bought the old Congregational church edifice at the corner of West Church and Canal streets, where they have a comfortable home.

One of the strongest Baptist churches in the county is the First Baptist church of Elwood. It was organized about twenty years ago and has been fairly prosperous ever since it was established. In the summer of 1913 a new house of worship was erected by this congrega¬ tion at the corner of South D and Anderson streets, which is regarded as one of the handsomest churches in the city.

The first Baptist sermon in Van Buren township was preached at the house of Thomas Cartwright, a short distance south of Summit¬ ville, but the date of that meeting is veiled in uncertainty. Meetings were held from time to time after that, and the result was the organiza¬ tion of a Baptist church, which now has a fine brick building on East Mill street in the town of Summitville. The former house of worship occupied by this congregation was recently sold to the Dunkards.

A colored Baptist society, numbering about thirty members, was organized in the city of Anderson in 1890. It is styled the Second Baptist church. After meeting in various places for some time, a lot at the corner of Eleventh and Sherman streets was purchased and a small house of worship erected, w r here Meetings have since been held regularly.

Probably the first society of this denomination in Madison county was the one organized near Summitville at an early date, but no reli¬ able information concerning its early history is obtainable. For a number of years the congregation owned a one-fourth interest in the house of worship erected jointly by the Dunkards and Christians, or Disciples, on section 31, on the farm once owned by Thomas Cart- wright. The outgrowth of this organization' is the present Dunkard church of Summitville, which not long ago purchased the old Baptist church on East Mill street, one square east of the new Baptist church.

In 1860 Elder George Hoover organized a Dunkard church about a mile north of Ovid, in Adams township. For several years meetings were held in the school house or at the homes of the members. In 1873 a brick house of worship was erected near the north line of section 7, at a cost of $2,500. It was two stories in height, the upper floor being used as an auditorium and the basement exclusively for the celebration of the Holy Communion. At one time this congregation was large and prosperous, but it has been weakened by deaths and removals until reg¬ ular meetings are no longer held.

A German Baptist society was organized in the western part of Green township in 1872 and soon afterward a house of worship w'as built on the farm of David Richards, near the southeast corner of sec¬ tion 21. This church is known as "Beech Grove Church,'' though it is sometimes called "Frey's Church," on account of the long services of Rev. Enoch Frey as assistant pastor.

About 1890 a few members of this denomination in Anderson began holding meeting among themselves at their homes and in 1892 a small Dunkard church was erected on McKinley street, between Twenty-first and Twenty-second. The congregation is not strong, but the few mem¬ bers are zealous in support of their church.

Among the early settlers in Fall Creek township were a few mem¬ bers of this peculiar sect. In May, 1834, Enos Adamson and his wife deeded to Hezekiah Morgan, William Hunt and Abraham Adamson, trustees for the Society of Friends, a tract of three acres in the south¬ west quarter of section 15, near the present village of Huntsville, for a consideration of fifteen dollars, the ground to be used as a church site and cemetery. Later in the year a society was formed at the house of Jonathan Thomas and in 1836 a small log meeting house was erected upon the ground purchased two years before. Jehu Middleton was the first regular preacher. The Pendleton society was a branch of the Milford monthly meeting until 1839, when it became an independent monthly meeting. In 1857 the society erected a frame house, at a cost of $800. For a time the Whitewater quarterly meeting was held once a year at this church, which was abandoned some years ago, so that there is now no regular place Tor holding meetings in the township, al¬ though a number of that belief still reside in the vicinity of Pendleton.

On January 13, 1894, a few Friends in Anderson met and organized a society, under the leadership of Rev. W. S. Wooton. For a while the meetings were held in the second story of a frame building on West Tenth street. Then the residence at the northeast corner of Fourteenth street and Central avenue (206 East Fourteenth street) was purchased and converted into a meeting house. Two years after the organization of the society it numbered about one hundred members. It continued to gain in strength and in the summer of 1913 purchased the brick church formerly occupied by the Hope Congregational church, at the southeast corner of Tenth and Chase streets. The Friends also have a church in Lapel.

As early as 1835 the few members of the United Brethren faith liv¬ ing near Chesterfield organized a society and built a brick house of worship. Among the first members were Daniel and Brazleton Noland, John Suman, William Dilts and their wives, J. C. Guston and Henry Russell. The last named was selected as class leader and a minister named Smith was the first pastor. The church erected by this little band stood on the tract now occupied by the county poor farm. A small graveyard adjoined the church, where some of Union township's pio¬ neers lie buried, among them Allen Makepeace, William Dilts and John Suman. This society has long since become extinct.

Sometime in the early '40s a few believers in the doctrines of the United Brethren assembled at the house of Samuel Gentry, a short distance east of Perkinsville, and organized themselves into a congre¬ gation. William Parkins was one of the moving spirits and was the first preacher. He was frequently invited to other localities to conduct services and on one occasion walked eighteen miles to preach a funeral sermon. For about ten years meetings were held at the homes of the members or in the school house, but in 1852 the church became strong enough to justify the erection of a frame house of worship in Perkins¬ ville, at a cost of about $1,000. Here the congregation worshiped for many years, and unless the house has been recently torn down it is still standing.

As early as 1836 a small society of United Brethren was organized in Hancock county, not far from the Madison county line, by Rev. David Storer. Meetings were at first held in a school house in Hancock county, but as most of the members lived in the vicinity of the old vil¬ lage of Menden, the first house of worship wa§ erected there about 1844. The first preacher here was a man named Steward. At one time this society numbered about sixty members and was in a flourishing condi¬ tion, but it became so weakened in time that meetings were held irreg¬ ularly for awhile and then abandoned altogether. In the meantime a society had been organized in the town of Pendleton, where some of the Menden congregation renewed their membership in the church. The United Brethren church at Pendleton is a neat, substantial structure on the corner of John and High streets. v

In Duck Creek township the United Brethren organized the first religious society and built the first house of worship in 1852. When organized by Elder Samuel Purtee, the congregation numbered but eight members. Subsequently they united with a few New Light Chris¬ tians in the erection of the "Union Church," on the farm of W. F. Hollingsworth, in the southeast quarter of section 16. ' After a time the New Lights passed out of existence and left the United Brethren in control.

Dunkards and Disciples, but no reliable information concerning its early history has been found. Originally this house fronted in the op¬ posite direction, having been turned around when the road running past it was straightened so that it was on the other side of the building. The old -graveyard here is upon ground donated by Thomas Cartwright, one of the pioneers of Van Buren township.

The United Brethren church in the city of Anderson was organized in the fall of 1889 by Rev. J. T. Roberts, at Westerfield's hall, on North Main street, where the meetings were at first held. In December, 1892, a small house of worship at the corner of Sansberry and Eleventh streets was dedicated, and here the congregation held services until the completion of their present handsome and commodious church at the corner of Ninth street and Madison avenue.

This denomination has a prosperous congregation and a handsome church building at Lapel, and the same may be said of Elwood. The church at Elwood is located at the corner of North H and Fourteenth streets. It is a substantial frame house, and, while not protentious in appearance, furnishes the active and flourishing congregation with a comfortable home. What is known as Beech Grove church in Lafay¬ ette township was built by the United Brethren, but has not been used by them for years. There is also a church of this faith located in what is known as the Innisdale addition at Alexandria. The congregation is small, but composed of earnest workers, and owns a neat frame house of worship.

While the Indiana Central canal was under construction in the lat¬ ter '30s, many of the men working upon it were members of the Roman Catholic church. In order that they might have their spiritual needs properly attended to, Fathers Francois and Bacquelin visited the dif¬ ferent gangs of workmen from Logansport to Anderson, celebrating mass in such places as could be obtained. The first mass in Anderson was said in a log tavern that stood at the southeast corner of Central avenue and Ninth street in 1837. Other pioneer priests followed them, saying mass in Anderson and in the Quinlan settlement on the prairie, southeast of the town, but it was twenty years before any attempt was made to organize a parish or establish a church.

In 1857 Father Clark came as a missionary and for a few months celebrated mass in the courthouse. The following year he began the erection of a brick building, to be known as St. Mary's church, on the northeast corner of Eleventh and Fletcher streets, but it was not com¬ pleted until 1864, at which time Father McMahon was in charge. In January, 1866, he was succeeded by Father Crawley, who in May, 1870, started a movement for the erection of a new church. Accordingly, the lot just across the street, on the southeast corner of Eleventh and Fletcher streets, was purchased, the corner-stone of the new building was laid on July 4, 1875, and on May 29, 1877, it was dedicated.

Rev. J. D. Mulcahey came to the parish in 1891 and found that the church building was too small to accommodate the Catholic families of the parish. After consultation with some of the leading Catholics, it was decided to erect a new church upon the site of the one that had been built in 1864, and which was then used as the parochial school house. It was torn down, the corner-stone of the present building was laid on July 9, 1893, and on October 6, 1895, it was dedicated. The cost of this building was about $41,000.

Previous to 1860 mass was celebrated at irregular intervals in Elwood by missionary priests, the first ceremony of that character having been celebrated in the residence of John Buchanan. In 1860 Elwood became a "station" and was regularly attended by Father McMahon, then pastor at Anderson. From 1865 to 1884 Elwood was attended by Father Crawley and under his charge the station became a "mission." In February, 1880, Bernard Bauer and James Cornelius were given authority by Father Crawley to solicit and receive funds for the erec¬ tion of a church. The first church was*a small brick structure, dedi¬ cated in the fall of 1881. It cost about $1,500. Eight years later the mission became a parish, under the name of St. Joseph's, and Rev. B. Biegel took charge as the first resident priest on Sunday, July 28, 1889.

In 1892 the little church was enlarged to three times its former size, at a cost of $2,500, but it soon became evident that a new one was neces¬ sary. Father Biegel began the collection of funds for that purpose in 1894, the corner-stone was laid on October 8, 1899, and the building was dedicated on July 14, 1901, by Right Rev. H. J. Alerding, Bishop of Fort Wayne. The cost of the church, with its interior decorations, was $60,000.

The Catholic church at Alexandria was first established as a station and was attended by the priests from Anderson. When St. Joseph's parish at Elwood was established in 1889, Alexandria became a mission under the charge of Father Biegel, who held services there twice a month. Early in the '90s St. Mary's parish was organized and a resi¬ dent priest assigned to Alexandria. A few years later the present church, a commodious brick structure, was erected at the corner of Madison and Belmont streets. Rev. F. P. Faust is the present pastor.

The first church of this denomination in Madison county, of which any record can be found, was organized at Frankton in 1839, by Daniel Franklin, at the house of Elijah Ring. Among the thirty members, who were at that time enrolled, were Daniel and Joseph Franklin and their wives, Edmund Johnson and wife, Elijah Lawson and wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Plummer. About 1854 a majority of the members of this congregation transferred their membership to Elwood. In 1859 they came back and assisted in the reorganization of the Frankton church. A frame house of worship was erected in 1867 and since that time regular meetings have been held.

About 1840 a few Christians living in the northwestern part of Monroe township began holding meetings at their homes and shortly afterward organized themselves into the Lilly Creek Christian church. Their first meeting place was a log house, where they held services until

In 1848 a meeting was held at the Baptist church near New Columbus and a Christian society was organized with Andrew Bray, J. I. Seward, Jesse Yan Winkle and Eli Hodson as elders. Meetings were held in the Baptist church, in school houses and elsewhere until 1852, when a frame house was erected near the southeast corner of section 15, about two and a half miles northeast of Markleville. This building was destroyed by fire about 1854, but another was soon afterward erected at a cost of $1,400. For many years this congregation flourished and then began to dwindle, owing to deaths, removals and other causes. Meet¬ ings finally ceased and the old house of worship was sold to Thornton Rector, who converted it into a residence. - In its prosperous days, this church was known as 4 4 White Chapel/ ,

A Christian church was organized at Alexandria in 1852, with a small membership, although meetings had been held in the town for several years prior to that date. Among the early members were Jacob Cassell, Martha Cassell, Joseph Fenimore, John McMahan, Elizabeth Fitch and Aunt Betsy Perry. A house of worship was erected in 1853 and used by the little congregation until about 1863, when it was de¬ clared unsafe and was abandoned. Some of the members then went to the Lilly Creek church and others to other societies, but in November, 1875, the Alexandria church was reorganized by Rev. William McKensey and most of the former members came back. Since then the society has prospered and now owns a neat and substantial frame house of wor¬ ship at the corner of Berry and West streets.

New Hope Christian church, also called the Chambers church, was organized in 1854 with seven members, viz.: Hiram and John Chambers and their wives, Susan and Mary Chambers, and Nancy Scott. Not long after the organization, Hiram Chambers donated a small tract of ground near the south line of section 27, Richland township, for a church site. In 1869 a frame house was erected thereon at a cost of about $1,500.

About 1857 Rev. Carey Harrison, a Christian minister of Hamil¬ ton county, came to Hamilton (now Halford) and held a "protracted meeting" in an old school house a short distance west of the village. At the close of the revival a Christian church was organized with about a dozen members. Elder Harrison continued to act as pastor for sev¬ eral years. No house of worship was ever erected by the society and about 1876 the meetings were discontinued.

What is now the Central Christian church of Anderson had its beginning back in the '50s, when Elders Jameson and New, of Indian¬ apolis, came to Anderson as missionaries of the denomination. Serv¬ ices were held at the Chestnut Grove school house, a mile east of the "Crossing," and at other places until 1858, when a society was organ¬ ized. Among the pioneer members were Burket Eads, Joseph Sigler, John R. Stephenson, William Mustard and John Kindle. The first house of worship was erected in 1861 at the northwest corner of Main and Thirteenth streets and the next year Rev. Joseph Franklin, of Covington, Kentucky, became pastor, a position he held for twelve years, during which time the membership increased to over one hun- dred. The present handsome and commodious church edifice of this congregation, located at the northwest corner of Tenth and Jackson streets, was erected in 1899-1900. It cost about $45,000 and is one of the finest church buildings in Anderson.

During the winter of 1859-60 Rev. George Newhouse, a Christian minister, visited Yan Buren township and held services in Allen 's school house, about a mile south of Summitville. James, Thomas and Ellen Hudson and Byron Vinson and wife were among the early members of this denomination to settle in that locality, and they were among the first members of the society that was organized by Mr. Newhouse. In 1873 a frame house, thirty-two by forty-four feet, was erected about a mile south of Summitville, at a cost of about $1,500, and a Sunday school was organized. The Dunkards held a one-fourth interest in this house, but a few years ago both the Christians and Dunkards removed to the town of Summitville, turning the house over to the United Brethren. The Christian church building in Summitville is a neat frame structure and the society is in a flourishing condition.

Four miles north of Pendleton, in the southeast corner of Stony Creek township, Forest Chapel Christian church was organized on June 10, 1860, with sixteen members. A frame house of worship was erected the next year, Rev. B. F. Gregory was installed as pastor, but the congregation did not prosper and about 1880 meetings were dis¬ continued.

On May 9, 1869, Elder Jonathan Dipboye organized a Christian church at Elm Grove school house, in Lafayette township, with eleven members. Meetings were held at the Elm Grove school house and other places in the township until 1872, when a frame house of worship, cost¬ ing about $1,000, was erected on the farm of George D. Thompson, not far from the school house.

The Christian church at Elwood was first organized about 1854. Before the congregation could erect a house of worship the Civil war came on and for several years the church languished. After the war the w r ork was revived and the society took the name of the Main Street Christian church. The congregation now occupies a modern and com¬ modious house of worship, a handsome brick structure, at the corner of Main and Eighteenth streets, and is in a prosperous state both in membership and finances. The Holiness Christian church is located at No. 2209 Main street, where the society has a small frame church, and there is a Church of Christ located at the corner of North B and Twentieth streets.

About 1876 the Baptists, Methodists and Christians of Adams township, especially those congregations near New Columbus, united in building a house of worship to be used by all three denominations alternately. This house stood a short distance of the village and was known as the "Union Church." It is no longer in existence.

lishment, became a New Light church. About twenty members of this sect formed a society in Duck Creek township and for awhile met with the United Brethren in the church on the Hollingsworth farm, or with the Methodists at 4 'Reel Chapel/' a building erected by John Reel, of the New Light congregation. North of Linwood is a small frame build¬ ing known as "Olivet" church, where a little band of the New Lights hold services, and there is a New Light church in what is known as Scott's addition to the city of Alexandria.

As early as 1847 Lutheran ministers visited the few members of that faith living near Ovid and held services in the residences of some of the faithful. A few years later a society was organized, with William Sanders, John Baker, John Mowery and wife and J. B. Cromer and wife as the first members. Meetings were held in an old log school house until 1861, when a substantial frame house of worship was erected a short distance of the village. Never very strong in numbers, the con¬ gregation found it burdensome to support a regular pastor, and serv¬ ices have been held only at irregular intervals.

At Anderson there are two Lutheran churches. St. John's Evan¬ gelical Lutheran church was organized on February 1, 1893, by Rev. W. J. Finck, the first meeting of the society being held in a small building on West Ninth street. Subsequently a lot at the comer of Chase and Fourteenth streets was purchased and a house of worship adequate to the needs of the congregation was erected. The German Evangelical Lutheran church was organized sometime after St. John's. It is an active growing congregation, whose place of worship is on Main street, between Twentieth and Twenty-first streets.

At Elwood, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church has a nice frame house of worship at the corner of North F and Fourteenth streets. The congregation here is harmonious and prosperous, although not large numerically. The Evangelical Lutheran church of Alexandria has been more fortunate in one respect than any other congregation in the county. It has a handsome brick house of worship at the corner of Black and West Washington streets that was erected by a wealthy New York lady and given to the Lutherans of Alexandria.

On September 4, 1851, Rev. Edward Schofield organized the First Presbyterian church of Anderson, with eleven members. For several years prior to that time ministers of this sect had visited Madison county at intervals and held services at the houses of the believers or in school houses. About three years after the society was organized a movement was started for the erection of a church. In 1855 a brick house, 36 by 60 feet, was built on Meridian street, between Tenth and Eleventh, at a cost of $2,500. When the Baptist church was organized in 1872 this building was sold to the new society and the Presbyterians erected a handsome edifice on the southeast corner of Ninth and Jackson streets, where a lot had been donated by James Hazlett. This building is now owned by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The present Presby¬ terian church, at the northeast corner of Ninth and Chase streets, was erected in 1904. It is a handsome brick building, with tile roof and art glass windows, and is one of the most imposing buildings of its kind in the city of Anderson.

A United Presbyterian church was organized at Alexandria on May 4, 1893, and on the 1st of July following Rev. A. K. Straw was installed as pastor. Not long after that a regular Presbyterian church was established in that city and now has a cozy frame house of worship at the corner of Harrison and Broadway streets. The First Presbyterian church of Elwood was organized about the time that natural gas w T as discovered there, or soon afterward, and is now in a prosperous condition. Its house of worship is a good frame building located at the comer of South A and Eighteenth streets.

There are but two congregations of this denomination in the county - one at Pendleton and the other in Anderson. The Pendleton society was organized in February, 1859. The first meeting w T as held in Pendle¬ ton on the 6th, but the organization was effected at Huntsville on the 20th of that month. Among the early members were Joshua Crawford, John Tillson, James Cassiday, Lewis Cassiday, John Wert, John Houston, Isaac Busby and T. G. Mitchell. John Houston, John Tillson and David Bousman constituted the first board of trustees. Meetings were at first held in the second story of the seminary, the school house, or in residences, but before the close of the year a frame house with a seating capacity of about 400 was erected, at the cost of $2,500, on the comer of Main and Water streets. In 1895 the present building of brick, on the same site, was erected. It occupies the site of the old log court-house, where the Indian murderers were tried in 1824. A minister named Gibson was the first regular pastor, though the first Universalist sermon ever preached in Pendleton was delivered by Rev. R. B. Foster, of Indianapolis.

The Anderson Universalist church is a comparatively new institution and as yet has not become strong enough to erect a fine house of worship. The meeting place of this congregation is at 710 Jackson street.

This denomination has churches at Anderson, Elwood and Alexandria. Trinity Episcopal church, of Anderson, was organized by Rev. J. H. McGlone, who began the work in 1890 and was the first rector after the church was established. Meetings were at first held in the Doxey Opera House until it was destroyed by fire, when a meeting place was found in the Olympic Theater. In time a lot was purchased at the comer of Thirteenth and School streets and in June, 1891, the corner-stone of the first Trinity church was laid. The building was completed in September of that year and meetings were held there until the erection of the present handsome stone edifice on Delaware street, which was completed in 1910.

St. Paul's Episcopal church, at Alexandria, was organized in Decem¬ ber, 1895, by Rev. Francis C. Woodard. Meetings were held in halls, or other convenient places for awhile, but as the congregation gained in strength steps were taken to erect a church. The result is the cozy frame house of worship at the corner of East Monroe and Harrison streets, where the meetings are now held regularly.

St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal church, of Elwood, was organized about the same time as the one at Alexandria. This congregation now occupies a comfortable frame church edifice at the corner of North A and Eighteenth streets.

Mrs. Maria Woodworth, a trance evangelist, came to Anderson in the summer of 1886 and held meetings in a tent at the fair grounds. She made a number of converts and at the close of her meetings 106 persons were baptized into an organization called the ' 4 Church of God." Soon after that a lot was purchased by the congregation, at the northeast corner of Fourteenth and Brown streets, where a house of worship was erected. It was dedicated in 1887 and the meetings of this peculiar sect are still held there.

Another church of the same faith was organized at Markleville in 1887. A church was built and regular services were held for a time, but the interest waned and after about ten years the congregation was without a pastor. Some of the members of this society united with the church at Anderson.

The Congregationalists have never been very strong in Madison county. Hope Congregational church, at Anderson, was organized on November 22, 1891, with eighteen members, and Rev. W. C. Gordon was the first pastor. For about a year meetings were held in the Olympic Theater and later in a building on Chase street. On August 16, 1894, the corner-stone of the brick edifice at the southeast corner of Tenth and Chase streets was laid and the building was completed in September, 1895. For some reason the congregation did not prosper and in 1913 the house of worship was sold to the Friends.

At Alexandria the efforts of the Congregationalists to establish a church met with a similar fate, the building they erected there being now owned and occupied by the Baptists. There are two congregations of this denomination now in the county - one on Pendleton avenue, in Anderson, and the other a Welsh Congregational church, which has a neat frame house of worship at the corner of South P and Twenty-second streets, in the city of Elwood.

On January 15,1892, a Spiritualist society was organized in Anderson. After holding meetings in dwellings for some time prior to that date, under the leadership of Dr. John Westerfield, the organization was given an impetus at the beginning that resulted in the erection of a Spiritualist temple at northwest corner of Thirteenth street and Madison avenue before the close of the year 1892.

Two years before this society was organized the State Spiritualist Association purchased thirty acres of land just north of and adjoining Chesterfield for a camp ground. A large auditorium, with a seating capacity of about 500, was built, the grounds were cleared of rubbish and undergrowth, several cottages w T ere erected for the use of mediums or others who desire to sojourn on the grounds during the annual meeting, w r hich is usually held in August. At these meetings Spiritualists come from all parts of the United States to consult with others of their belief and strengthen themselves in the faith and doctrines of Spiritualism.

In the foregoing, an effort has been made to give a true and faithful account of the various religious organizations of the county since its organization. There are and have been some religious societies that are not mentioned, perhaps, because authentic information concerning them is not available. In closing this chapter it is deemed advisable to include a list of the church organizations in the three cities - Anderson, Elwood and Alexandria - as given in the last city directories.

In Anderson . Allen Chapel, A. M. E., Sixteenth and Sheridan streets; Arrow Avenue Christian, Eighteenth and Arrow avenue; Central Christian, Tenth and Jackson; East Lynn Christian, 2207 George street; Christian Congregational, Pendleton avenue; Church of God, Fourteenth and Brown; First Baptist, Fourteenth and Lincoln; First Methodist Episcopal, Twelfth and Jackson; First Methodist Protestant, Fifth and Locust; First Presbyterian, Ninth and Chase; First United Brethren, Ninth and Madison avenue; Friends, Tenth and Chase; German Baptists, McKinley, between Twenty-first and Twenty-second; German Lutheran, Main, between Twenty and Twenty-first; Grace M. E., Fourteenth, between Cedar and Madison avenue; Holiness Christian, Twenty-fourth and Delaware; Mission Alliance, Thirteenth and Main; Noble Street M. E., 2332 Noble street; Park Place M. E., Seventh street, between Park and Central avenues; Second A. M. E., 1125 Delaware street; Second Baptist (colored) Eleventh and Sherman; Seventh Day Adventists, Thirteenth near Hendricks; Spiritual Temple, Thirteenth and Madison; St. John's Lutheran, Fourteenth and Chase; St. Mary's Roman Catholic, Eleventh and Fletcher; Trinity Episcopal, Eleventh and Delaware; Universalist, 710 Jackson; Wesleyan M. E., 1209 West Ninth street.

In Elwood. First Baptist, South D and Anderson; St. Joseph's Roman Catholic, South A street; Main Street Christian, Main and Eighteenth; Holiness Christian, 2209 Main street; Welsh Congregational, South P and Twenty-second; St. John's Lutheran, North F and Four¬ teenth ; First Methodist Episcopal, North A and Anderson; First Metho¬ dist Protestant, South D near Anderson; First Presbyterian, South A and Eighteenth, United Brethren, North H and Fourteenth; St. Stephen's Episcopal, North A and Eighteenth; Church of Christ, North B and Twentieth.

In Alexandria. First Baptist, West Church and Canal; Christian Science Society, Odd Fellows' hall; St. Paul's Episcopal, Monroe and Harrison; Evangelical Lutheran, Washington and Black; First Christian, Berry and West; First Methodist Episcopal, Canal and Broadway; German Lutheran, Central avenue and Broadway; Joyce M. E. Chapel, Park avenue and Fifth street: Colored Methodist Episcopal, Berry and Black; Mission church, Harrison and Polk; New Light, Scott addition; United Brethren, Innisdale addition; St. Mary's Roman Catholic, Madi¬ son and Belmont; First Presbyterian, Harrison and Broadway.