Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 17: Church History, 1914

First Missionaries - The Catholics - Methodists - Presbyterians - B.'iJ'TisTS - German Baptists or Dunkards - Christians or Disciples - New Lights - United Brethren - Friends or Quakers - Episcopal Church - Lutherans - Congregationalists - Seventh Day Adventists - The Church of God - Universalists - Brief Histories of the Various Congregations and Their Houses op Worship.

Long before any permaueut settlements were made in the Wabash valley by white men, Jesuit priests visited the Indians with a view to seeuring their conversion to the Christian faith. ]\Iost of the early French traders were Catholics and these early missionaries often said mass at the trading posts for the benefit of the few white people who might be living in the vicinity of the post. It was therefore natural that the Catholics should be the first to estal)lish a church organization in Miami county. The first priests to hold services at Peru came from Bardstown, Kentucky. Father Badin was here as early as 1834 and made several visits to the infant city during the next three years.

When the town of Peru was laid out two lots on tiie northwest corner of Fifth and Miami streets were donated as a site for a Catholic church. The first building erected thereon was completed in the spring of 1835. It was a modest, unpretentious stmcture and was w'ithout a resident priest until in 1837, when Father M. J. Clark was assigned to the work of building up and ministering to the parish. He remained until 1842 and during his pastorate the parish was frequently visited by Father Maurice St. Palais, whose mis.sionary w'ork took him into the states of Indiana, Illinois and ilichigan. When Father Clark left Peru in 1842, Father St. Palais was the only priest until 1846, when Father Fisher took charge. He was succeeded by Fathers McDermot, Carius and Zucker, and in April, 1860, Father Bernard Kroeger became pastor. He was an active worker and binder his charge the priest's residence was built, at a cost of .$2,000 : the Catholic cemetery was purchased and con- secrated, iiiid in iSi;.') ;i luick clmi-cli I'difice was eoiiipleted, at a cost of $21, ()()(). Till' olti fraiiic clmri-li was then taken for a sehoolhouso and used as sueli until it was destroyed by tire during the pastorate of Father' Lamour, who succeeded Father Kroeger in October, 1871, and served until September, 1^75. A new schooliiouse was ei'ected, at a cost of $lti,()Ot). When Father lleury .Meissner took charge in September, 1875, he found the parish in debt over $16,000 and the business depression that followed the panic of 1873 nuide it somewhat difficult to raise money. Notwithstanding this the new priest went to work and on December 23, 1886, the parish was out of debt. A few years ago the church bnihiing was thoroughly overhauled, the walls covered with stucco and other improvements made that has given to the congregation a comfortable and commodious home. The present mendsership is about 2,()()0 and the priest in charge is Hcv. John IT. (fncndling. The jiatron saint of the parish is 8t. Charles Hoi-roiuco.

Not long after the elo.se of the Civil war Catholic priests fi-om .Marion and Kokomo visited the town of Hunker Hill and held services at the home of Thomas (iornuui. A church was organized in 1870 and four years later a lot was purchased in the north part of town and tlir l)uilding, which had been used as a shoe shop, was remodeled for a church. In 1882 a neat frame house of worship was erected at the north end of Elm street, at a cost of $1,300 and the parish of St. Michael had a permanent home. After a number of years the congregation gave up the church organization, the members transferring their allegiance to St. Charles' church at Peru or other parishes as best suited their convenience.

As early as 1831 William M. Reyburn. who was a local preacher of this denomination, settled in Miamisport, now a part of Peru. At the request of a few ^Methodists living in the neighborhood he conducted services at the homes of some of them during the succeeding year. According to a history of the Methodist Episcopal church of Peru, prepared by W. E. Mowbray and published in Stephens' History of Miami County, a class was formed aliout the year 1835. Among the members of this class were William M. Reyburn. George S. Fenimore, William R. Mowbray and their wives anil Mr. and ]Mrs. .bilui Lowe. The first house of worship was completed in the spring of 183t). It was built by George Fenimoi-e and John Garrol and was located on West Third street, on a lot donated 1)y the proprietors of the town of Peru. The country around Peru was organized into a circuit in 1836 and the congregation was supplied by "circuit riders" until 184!). when Peru was mack' a station. The lot at the northwest corner of Main and ^Yabash streets was then purehased and the building afterward occupied by the Odd Fellows was erected. Rev. Walter L. Huffman was the fii'st pastor after the station was established.

Mr. Mowbray, in the article above referred to, says that in 1854 ' ' there was a division of the society, one part of the members remaining at the Main street church, and the other worshiping on Third street south of the site of the present new church building." According to the same authority the two congregations were united in 1859, but in 1860 another separation took place, with Rev. V. M. Beamer as pastor of the Main street church and Rev. W. R. Edmonson in charge of the Third street church. In a short time the building on Third street proved to be too small to meet the needs of the congi-egation and, according to Rev. Ernest E. Neal, who was pastor of the church a few years ago, the Second Presbyterian church, at the corner of Main and Miami was purchased. The denomination then had two churches in Peru - one on East Main and the other on West Main. The former was known as the "silk church" and the latter as the "calico church." In 1874 the two congregations were again united. Rev. John C. Mahin taking charge as pastor. The church since then has had a steady, healthful growth. The present house of worship, at the southeast corner of Main and Cass streets was erected in 1890, at a cost of about $35,000, and later a parsonage was built at the corner of Main and Hood streets at a cost of $3,000. In 1906 the official board of the church authorized Giles W. Smith to compile a history of "ilethodism in Peru." This history was afterward published. It contains pictures of the old church edifices and portraits of some of the pastors and prominent members.

About 1833 itinerant Methodist ministers visited Jeiferson township and held services at the house of William Smith, near the present town of Mexico. In 1835 Rev. John A. Brouse, a Methodist missionary, came to the settlements along the Eel i-iver and held services at the homes of the settlers. Other missionaries followed and in 1839 a small class was organized. Among the members were Nathaniel Leonard, William Eidson, Charles Murden, Nathan Raines, Henry Howes, Joseph Burke, William Smith and their wives, and Thomas Henry, Asa Leonard, Timothy, Matthew, Elizabeth and Orpha Murden. In the year 1844 a frame house was built on the Rochester road, in the northern part of the village of Mexico. This was the beginning of the Mexico Methodist church. About that time the Mexico circuit was established by the conference out of part of the Rochester circuit. In 1864 the circuit was divided, only four churches remaining on the Mexico circuit, viz. : Chili,

The Cliili ilethodist chiii-ch was organized in tin- year lS:i,S or 1S.19, though services had been lirld at tlir lionn' of Roliert .Miller a ycai- or so before that time a sliort distance oast of tlie village. Little can be learned regarding the eai-ly history of this congregation, but it is known that meetings were held at the houses of the members until about 1845, when a small frame chui-cli was built at Chili. Among the early |)astors were Revs. Allen ISkillman, Paul Jones. 0. P. Boyden. Jacob C'olciazei', P. J. Beswick, John Davis and William Reeder. In ]8()() a brick house of worship was erected, a short distance from the old frame bouse, thus giving tile congregation a comfortable and conniiodious home. The subsequent history of the organization differs but little from that of the average village congregation.

About 1839 Robert ililler and his wife. E. I. Kidd and wife. Ellen Kidd. J. D. Cox, Richard and John Miller. Allen Lockridge and a few others got together and organized the Paw Paw ]\retho(list church. Meetings were held at the homes of the members until al)out 1842. when a frame church was erected on the farm of Richard Miller, ad.joining the village. This church was the leading one of Paw Paw for many years, but with the decline of the village it lost much of its former prestige, though it is still a typical countrj' church. Rev. S. C. Miller, in a historical .sketch of Richland township, published a few years ago in the Peru lu publican, says that about a month after the first families settled at Paw Paw Robert Miller and Mr. Kidd started for Peru to find a preacher to a.ssist them in organizing a church. Taking their axes with them, they blazed a trail .southwestward until they came to the Indian trace, which they followed to Peru. They did not succi^ed in finding a minister, but left woi-d with William M. Reyburn. a local preacher of the ^Methodist faith, to request the regidar preacher on his retui'n lionic to follow the Indian trace until lie came to a beech tree with a hand carved in the bark pointing to the northeast, from which place he was to follow the marks or blazes on the trees. A few days later a man was seen on horseback working his way along the blazed road and it was presumed that he was the minister. This surmi.se turned out to be correct. The preacher first reached the house of Mr. Kidd, whence messengers were sent out to other families and in a short time a congregation of nineteen persons assembled. This was the first service of the Paw Paw Methodist church.

George ^Vilkinson, Thomas Clemens. English Ogle, Baldwin and James "Wilkinson and their wives and a few others. Services were held at the homes of the members for several years before the congregation was strong enough to undertake the erection of a church. In 1844 a log house of worship was erected at the cross roads, where the town of Maey now stands, and this building was used both for school and church purposes for several years. "When the new school hou.se was built in 1860 services were held there for some time. A number of new inhabitants came to the town, which was laid out in that year, and steps were taken to erect a church building. A lot was procured in Powell and "Wilkinson's addition and the new church was dedicated in 1871. It cost about $1,400 and served as a home for the congregation for about tw'enty years, when it became too small for the attendance. A movement was therefore started which resulted in the erection of the present comfortable and commodious house of worship at the northeast corner of ^IcKee and Commerce streets. It is a handsome brick structure, with ample seating capacit.v, and was dedicated in 1895.

About 1843 a Methodist church was organized at Gilead, though services had been held at the homes of James Fiers and Alfred Dowd some seven or eight years before that date. Among the first members were Dr. E. H. Sutton, Nelson Hawley, Charles Cleland. Sullivan "Waite, Lorenzo Dowd, Alfred Dowd and their wives, Mary Dowd, Chauncey "Welton and Louisa "Welton. Alfred Dowd was the first class leader. One of the first preachers was a man named Bennett and Arentis Dowd preached to the congregation in the absence of a regular minister. Shortly after the church society was organized a house of worship was erected. It was a log structure, which served the congregation until 1867, when it w-as torn down and a neat frame house was erected on the site.

"What is known as the Olive Branch ]\Iethodist church, in Perry towaiship, was founded about 1843 and for several years was one of the strongest church societies in that part of the county. Death and removal of members so weakened the congregation that the organization was abandoned a few years after the close of the Civil war.

Meetings were held at the homes of settlers of the Methodist faith in the vicinity of Converse as early as 1842. The town of Xenia (now Converse) was laid out in the spring of 1849 and in 1855 the Methodist congregation, which had been organized some years before, erected a neat frame house on ^Vabash street, at a cost of some $600. This building answered all the needs of the society for about thirt.y years, when the growth of the congregation necessitated the erection of a new one. The old house was removed and in its place was built a handsome brick edifice, 50 by 59 feet in size, at a cost of $7,000. Among the early members of this eongregation were Joseph and John Powell, Jesse and Shadracb Elliott and their families and Louisa Kittiliall. Revs. Bowman ai](l Bi'adshaw \v(>rc two of the early preachers and the first pastor in Ihf new building in 1886 was Rev. George S. V. Howard. The Convei'sf eliureb is in a jjrospcrous condition and, next to Pern, is one of the strongest jMethodist societies in the county.

The Methodist church a1 Bunker Hill was organized in 1846, with David and Malinda Ilocknian. John and Eliza Townsend and John and Eliza Barnes as the leading members. The first meeting was held in a little log bouse that stood on the farm of John N. Huft'man, a ministei' named Davis conducting the services, and it was through his efforts that the church was organized. A few months later Lewis N. Snodderlj-, A. C. Lamborn, Jacob Coucher, James Dabney. Andrew Ounningbani and their wives. Benjamin Fish, Mrs. Moses Larimei' and a few others united with the church. With this added strength the members began to talk of erecting a church, but the first house of wor.sbip was not dedicated until 1855. It stood south of the main part of the town, not far from the Deer Creek township line, and was known as the "Railroad Chapel." Here the congregation continued to hold meetings unlil the erection of the present brick church at the corner of Elm and Broadway streets, which edifice was dedicated in 1870, with Rev. (Jeorge Havens as pastor. Since that time the church has enjoyed a reasonable degree of prosperity and it is one of the leading religious societies in the southern part of the county.

Calvary Methodist Episcopal church, the first to be organized in Erie township, was founded in the summer of 1846. The little class established at that time consisted of Daniel .Mendenhall, Frederick White and Alfred Miller and their wives, and perhaps one or two others. A minister named Donald.son was the first to hold services there, the im-ftings being held at the house of Daniel Mendenhall until about 1848, when a log house was built on the farm of Mr. Mendenhall. In 1865 a frame church was erected on the same site. It was 35 by 50 feet in size and cost about $1,600. Twenty j'ears after the erection of this building the congi-egation numbered about seventy members, but in recent years the membership has lost by deaths and removals until the church no longer wields tiic influence it did in the early years of its history.

A Methodist society was organized at the village of Miami - or rather where the village of Miami now stands - in 1846, by Rev. James Ricketts. The village was laid out in 1849 and a few years later a neat frame house of worship was erected and the church is still kept up, though its membership is not as strong as in former years.

Ebenezer ^Methodist church, located in tlie northeastern corner of Union township, has long been prominent. In 18-47 Daniel Lockwood and wife, their two daughters, Elizabeth and Robert Bain. ]Mrs. Mary Carlyle. William Hiteshew and his wife, Sarah D. Hiteshew. banded themselves together to worship after the Methodist faith. A history of this organization has been written by J. X. Baldwaiu, but it exists only in manuscript form. The members first met in a school house near the site of the present Ebenezer church. Three houses of worship have been erected. One of these was dedicated in 1859 by Rev. A. S. Larkin. Another house was built in 1900 - at lea.st it was dedicated in that year and was probably completed at that time. Mr. Baldwin's history states that the second church was dedicated by Rev. N. D. Shackelford and the third by Rev. H. W. Bennett, though there appears to be some confusion as to which was the second church and which the third, as he gives an account of the erection of only two. One building burned in 1899. The first pastors were Revs. George Guild and R. A. Xewton, of the Rochester circuit. In February, 1913, the church had .just experienced a successful revival and a notable increase in membership.

About 18-47 or 1848 Methodist ministers visited Clay township and held services at the house of ;\Iorris Little. A little later a society was organized and in 1854 a frame house of worship was erected at Waupe- .coug. the first in Clay township. After a fairly successful career of about thirty years the congregation dwindled to such a degree that meetings were discontinued and the .old church was torn down. About 1880 Rev. John Evans visited Waupecong, revived the interest of the few menbers of the Methodist church living there, reorganized the church and a neat brick building was erected, at a cost of about $1,800. Since then the Methodist church of Waupecong has enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity.

About the time the first Methodist church was organized at ^Vaupecong members of that denomination formed a society in Harrison township and soon afterward erected a small frame church on the fann of Henry PoweU, near the Clay township line. This became known in time as the McGrawsville Methodist church. In this connection it is worthy of note that in the early days camp meetings were frequently held in the northeast corner of Clay township, in which the churches at Waupecong and McGrawsville took a leading part.

A class was organized at Perrysburg in 1854, by Rev. Enoch Waymire, though meetings had been held in that neighborhood more than ten years before that date. About twenty members constituted the class, but no house of worship was erected until 1865, the services up to that time having been held in the Presbyterian church. When the society ilid Iniild it ercc-ted our of the finest and tiest appointed ehurches in the county, at a cost of al)out -+2.300. This ehurc-h is still in existence, tlioufih it is not so strong in membership as iu former years.

The Methodist church at Five Corners was organized a few years before the beginning of the Civil war and in 1860 a frame house of worship was erected. It flourished for a time, but twenty-five years after it was established the membership was only about twenty.

Services were held by ^Methodist mis.sionaries iu Butler township as early as 1841, but no regular organization was effected until some years later. Then a society was formed at Santa Fe, where a neat frame house of worship was erected in 1860. Like many of the churches in the small towns, this congregation has never been very strong, but no doubt the members derive as much real fellowship from the association as they would if they lielonged to some larger and wealthier church.

Soon after the village of Birmingham was laid out in 1868 a -Methodist class was formed there and meetings were held for a time in the public school house. Rev. J. J. Cooper, of the Perrysburg circuit, acting as pastor. "With the decline of the village the church also declined and most of the members united with other congregations.

The Pleasant Hill I\Iethodist society, about four Tuiles northeast of Macy and not far from the old village of Hooversburg, was formed at an early date, the Powells, Bennetts, Carpenters and some others constituting the mcnilKn-ship. A log house of worship was erected on the farm of William Uukes some time in the '60s and meetings were held there regularly for some time. Some ten years later a frame house was erected one and a half mil(>s northwest of the old church. This has' always been a successful organization and at the close of the year 1913 the congregation was planning to build a new and more elaborate house of worship. The charge belongs to the Gilead circuit.

Rev. R. J. Parrott organized a Methodist church at Denver in 1873, with a membership of about forty, most of whom had formerly belonged to the churches at Chili and Mexico. Before the close of that year a handsome frame building, 36 by 50 feet, was eompleted at a cost of $1,500. This is one of the youngest Methodist churches in Miami county. A colored Methodist church was organized in Peru in the early '70s and the first meetings were held in the engine house by Polder Patterson. In 1874 a small brick church was erected at the corner of Third and Tippecanoe streets and Rev. Robert Jeifries was installed as pastor. It soon became evident that the society was unable to support a resident pastor and for some time ministers from Logansport or Kokomo visited the congregation at intervals. Aliout 1893 Rev. Zaeliariah Roberts became pastor, tiut .served only a short time. The congregation was never very strong and at the beginning of the present century it consisted of less than a dozen members. It now has a regular pastor and is enjoying a fair degree of prosperity.

At Gary a society of "Wesleyan Methodists was formed at a comparatively early date. An undenominational church, similar in doctrine, had its outgrowth in meetings held in a tent near the village of ]\Iiarai in 1889 by Rev. J. F. Shutters. Early the following year a society was organized and a frame house of worship erected in the village at a cost of about $1,200. It is known as the ^lission church. There are two Wesleyan churches in Peru - one on old Flax hill in the northwestern part of the city and one in North Peru. They were established about twenty-five years ago. Tlie same pastor serves both chTirehes, each of which has a substantial frame structure.

An old atlas of iliami county shows a ^Methodist church on the north side of Section 11, in Peru township, on the road to Chili, another in the northeast part of Allen township, about a mile and a half from Deedsville. and a third on the northwest ijuarter of Section 4, in Washington township, about a mile and a half from the county infirmary, but the writer has been unable to learn anytliing of their history.

Probably the youngest Methodist Episcopal church in iliami county is the one at Aniboy. It has been organized but a few years, but has been prosi)erous from the beginning. In 1913 a neat and substantial brick house of worship was commenced and was finished early in the following year, the dedication of the building being celebrated on March 15, 1914.

On Thursday, November 26, 1835, thirteen members of this denomination assembled at the residence of William N. Hood, in Peru, for the purpose of organizing a church. The meeting was presided over by Rev. Samuel Newbury. The original thirteen charter members of tlie First Presbyterian church of Peru were : Stewart and Margaret Forgy, O. P. Jennison and wife. Cornelius Vauriper. Mrs. A. M. Vauriper, Rebecca Williamson, Margaret Sergeant, Sophia C. Hood, Mary Ann Newbury, ^liss Caroline Nesbit, ]Miss Emily Sergeant and Frederick W. Sergeant. For a time the meetings were held at the house of Mr. Hood. Then Mr. Newbury piirchased a lot upon which stood a double log cabin, which was thrown into one room and fitted up with seats. This house stood on West Fifth street. Later the services were held in the cabin erected by William Smith and used for the first school taught in Peru. On January 28. 1836, was elected the first board of trustees, consisting of William N. Hood, 0. P. Jennison and Stewart

Porsy. At tlio same time F. A. Sergeant was chospii cli'i'k. Sitownrt Forsry had been elected and ordained inlinET elder at the time the society was organized.

The proprietors of the town of I'eru. William X. Hood. Richard T>. Britton and Jesse Williams, presented the congregation with a lot on West Third street and in tlie s]>ring of 1S3G a fraiiir' lionse was commenced by .John W. Timberlake and Henry Robinson. It was occupied about the beginning of the year 18.37 and was the first Protestant church erected in ]\Iiami county. A Sunday school was organized by Mr. Newbury and at the end of two years from the organization of the church the congregation numbered twenty-four members. Rev. Asa Johnson became pastor in October, 1837, and continued with the chui-ch until 1848, when he was succeeded by Rev. Milton Starr. Rev. F. S. McCabe began his ministry in Pern in July. 1852. and continued as pastor for nearly fifteen years. During his administration a new church was erected. It was dedicated on July 4, 1858, and served the congregation until the ei-ection of the pi-esciit building at the northwest corner of Main and Cass streets, at a cost of $65,000.

The pastors from 1868 to 1894 were Revs. Everett Thomson, Henry L. Brown. Samuel Wyckoff, J. B. Parmelee, Matthew M. Whitford. Leon P. Marshall and Solomon C. Dickey. On January 21, 1894, Rev. Harrv Xyce began liis labors as pastor and has since been in charge. Under liis ministr.v tlie present magnificent stone edifice at the corner of IMain and Cass .streets has been erected. The corner-stone of this building was laid with appropriate ceremonies on May 1, 1905. At that time James H. Fetter prepared and read a history of the society, from which many of the facts in this sketch have been gleaned. On June 1, 1905, the old church building on West Third, near Broadway, was sold to Harry F. Ma.sters and C. P. Eckstein for $10,000. This building was used as a court-house while the present court-house was being built. It is now used as a laundry.

The Second Presbyterian church in Peru, a society of the Old School, was in existence for several years. This congi-egation erected a brick house of worship at the southwest corner of Main and Miami streets, which was used until the First and Second Presbyterian churches were amalgamated about 1870 after which the edifice was used by the Bapitists, Methodists and Congregationalists and is now owned and occupied by the Christian church.

In 1846 Revs. A. Johnson and 0. V. Lemon, two Presbyterian ministers, visited Gilead and organized a church. Two years later a frame house of worship was erected and for several years services were held regularly, though the congregation was never strong numerically. The removal of some of the most active member so weakened the society that the church was abaudoned in 1868, the old house of worship being used as a store room for mauy years after that time.

About the year 1849 Rev. Andrew McClelland began holding meetings at Perrysburg, in the school bouse and at the home of Hamilton Simonton. These meetings resulted in the formation of a Presbyterian church with about eighteen or twenty members, among whom were several members of the Simonton family, John Leach, John Kiplinger and his wife and John MeConahy and wife. A frame church was commenced in 1850, but it was not completed until about four years later. Services were held in it. however, before it was finished, the first sermon preached in the building being on the occasion of the funeral of Hamilton Simonton in Augiust. 1852. For several years the congregation enjoyed a reasonable degree of prosperity, but after a time the membership decreased to about a dozen, when meetings were held at irregular intervals and were finally discontinued altogether.

Rev. F. S. ilcCabe, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Peru, was the first minister of that faith to preach in Butler township. After holding services for some time in a school house in the northwestern part of the township, not far from the IMississinewa river, a society was organized and in 1863 a church building was commenced on land donated by George McKinstry. It was not completed until the following year and was dedicated on September 25, 1864, a minister named Carnahan preaching tlie dedicatory sermon. This church is known as New Hope church.

A Presbyterian church known as ]\Iount Hope was organized in Washington township shortly after the Civil war and a house of worship was erected on what was known as the White farm. For some time the society was fairly prosperous, but on account of deaths and removals it was disbanded, the few members left uniting with the church at Peru or other convenient places.

Rev. William Armstrong, a missionary of the Muncie presbytery, organized the Presbyterian church at Converse on November 12, 1870, with the following members: J. M. Darby, J. K. Darby, Catharine S. and Flora Darby, J. A. and Cordelia Douglass, A. D. Kimball, Carrie D. Murray, Elizalieth Jones, A. B. Kimball, N. Dangerfield, F. :\I. Shinn, Elizabeth Piatt, David Coppock, Letelia Summers, James Parker, Lydia J. and Henrietta S. Kimball, J. M. Wright and wife, J. A. Phelps, Eunice Hand, A. P. Stout, M. P. Keasby, Emma A. Zeek and Jackson Saxon. Services were held for several years in the United Brethren or Christian churches, but in 1893 a modest frame building was erected at the corner of ilarion and Washington streets. With some alterations this house is still the home of the congregation.

I'i'olialily llic lii'st services lii'lil liy mriiiln'r.s of tliis (iriKiiuiiiation in Jliaiiii cDiiiity wn-r tluisi' coiKlucti'd by Rev. George Vopo at the house of (icorcrc Xcecc. in Allen to\viishi|). in 1838. Xo society was formed at lliat time. Ijiit in Deeenitiei-. ls:!!l. a few persons who believed in the doctrines of tlie Baptist church nu't at llie caliin of William Cool, and took tile preliminary stejis toward the organization of a chni'ch society. ^Ieetin<rs were held at the homes of the mcinlici's until the following Marcli. when the Weesau Ci'eek liai)tist clnirc'h was foi'uicd with the following memhei-s: AVilliam. Christopher and .luda Cool, Sallie Hall, Charles Cole. Maiw lioss, E/.ra (iriffitli and wife. Leonard and Powell Cool. In -Ful.N, 1S41, llie congr<'gation .joined with others of the same faith in forming the Thiiitinglon association. The lirst house of worship was huilt eai'ly in the year 1S.')1, on land donated hy William Cool. In 1853 this ehni'ch became the head of ihe Weesau Creek association and in May, 1856, the fii'st Sunday school was oi'ganized. Two of the original menil)ers of this church - William and I.eoiuird Cool - were ordained to the ministry in .Ma.v. IH.")."). In .lanuaiy, 187(), a handsome ;nid coinmodius brick cluirch was dedicated for the use of this church, Kev. J. Whiteside preaching the sermon on that occasion. This is the oldest Bajitist chui'ch in the count.v.

In the eai-ly '4()s TJev. John Davis, a Ba])tist nnnister, visited Ei'ie townsliii) and held services at the house of Salathiid Cole. A small societ.v was organized, but no house of worship was ever erected, services having been held for sevei'al yeai-s in the homes of the nieml)ei\s or at the ('alifornia school house. After the death of some of the older members the survivors united with Baptist churches at other ])oin1s and the meetings were discontinued.

The first chui'ch edilice in the town of Bunkei- Hill was erected by the Baptists in 1860, on a lot donated by James Myers and John Duckwall. The congregation had been organized nearly twenty .vears befoi'c. Among the early mend)ers wci-e Daniel Striker. William and James MeCrary, B. II. Ilann and wifi', Joseph Frazee. Williaui I'iatt and wife, John Mui'i)liy and James Mays and their wives, a .Mr. Lawrenct! aiul perhaps a few others. Rev. Samuel Dewese was one of the first preachers and the services were held at his house until the spring of 184-8, when a log church was erected about a mile west of Bunker Hill. The present building is one of the largest in the town, having a seating ' capacity of about 500.

churc-h tliat was organized about 1849 by Elder "Walters, who was the first pastor. At first there were but five members, but thirty years later the membership had increased to about 100. At that time it was one of the strono:est church societies in the county, outside of the city of Peru. Then a decline began and in 1893 the congregation disbanded, the members taking letters and iiniting with the churches at Bunker Hill, Galveston or elsewhere.

The Chili Baptist church had its beginning about 1856, though services had been held in the vicinity by Baptist ministers for several years previous to that time. "WTien the society was first organized the membership was small and it was deemed advisable not to undertake the erection of house of worship. Meetings were therefore held in the school house at Chili and another near that town until 1877, when the congregation had grown to such an extent as to render a church building of some kind a necessity. Consequently a lot was purchased and a handsome frame building 36 by 60 feet was dedicated early in 1878. This building, which cost about -i<2,000, stands in the western part of the town and is still used by the congregation.

A few Baptists who were among the early settlers of Periy township began holding meetings at their homes about 1850 and in 1858 a substantial frame house of worship was erected on Section 15, near the old village of Niconza. This was known as the Nicouza Baptist church. It enjoyed a fair degi-ee of prosperity for several years, but with the death of the older members and the removal of others the congregation became so weakened that it lost much of its former prestige and power. Stephens' History of Miami county (page 260) says a Baptist church was built at Gilead in 1858, but this statement probably refers to the Niconza church and it may be that the location of the church was changed to Gilead at a later date. The published accounts of this society are confusing.

The Mexico Baptist church was organized at the house of George Hutchinson, near the village, June 5, 1861, most of the members having formerly been affiliated with the Weesau Creek congregation. A list of the first members shows the names of John, Elizabeth and Louis A. Shadinger, Jacob Wilkinson, Rebecca and Lucy L. Straj^er. George and Elizabeth Ulch, David and Catherine Sloppy, William and Eliza Cunningham, George and Nancy E. Hutchinson, Mary Wilkinson, Fanny Sloppy, Nancy Burnett, Jesse and j\Iary Copeland, A. W. Hedges and Sophia House. Meetings were held in the Methodist church for about two years, when a comfortable frame house of worship was erected in the northwest part of the to\vu. Revs. J. M. Maxwell. J. B. Allen and J. Barrett were among the early pastors.

the |)iii|i(ise of oi'gaiii/.iiifr a cliurcli. Tliose present at the meeting were E. H. Shirk. IT. J. Shirk. W. H. Waters, F. M. Bacon. Moses Mercer, George Geves and David DeLawter and their wives. Rev. A. Virgil, who was also at the meeting, was ehosen pastor. At another meeting on Septemhcr 11. 1866, the organization was perfected and on October 3d a number of pastors of churches in northern Indiana met in council and formally recognized the First Baptist Church of Peru as an established church. In April, 1868. 11. J. Shirk, F. Tlackley and George A. Crowell were appointed a Iniilding committee to take charge of the erection of a house of worship. The lot at the southeast corner of Slain and Wabash streets was .secured and a brick building was commenced. By the close of the year the lecture room was i)ractically tinished, and it was occupied for the first time by the congregation on New Year's da.v, 1869. At that time Rev. John Trenueman was pastor. He was succeeded in July, 1869, by Rev. F. 1). Bland, under whose charge the building was finished and dedicated on January 2, 1870. Rev. George K. Leonard was pastor from 1871 to 1882 and under his ministrations the congregation and Sunday school both grew in membership and attendance. The increase continued uiidfi- tlie leadership of Rev. B. F. Gavins, who became pastor in March, 1882, and in a few years it became evident that the old church would have to be enlarged or a new one erected to accommodate the growing membership. A new building was the decision of the members and in 1894 the old church that had served for more than a quarter of a century was torn down. The foiuidation of the new building was laid ill Ihr lail of that year and liie corner-stone placed in position with appropi'iate ceremonies. In 1895 the Iniilding, a handsome stone structure with red tile roof, was completed, the dedication taking place on Sunday, November 24th. It is one of the finest church edifices in northern Indiana and cost about $40,000. Since the erection of the new church the pastors have been H. P. Klyver, H. 0. Hellings and Ambrose M. Bailey.

The Oakdale branch of the Fii-st Baptist church was established in July, 1905. A neat, commodious building was erected in the summer of 1906 at the southwest corner of Chili and Adams avenues. An active Sunday school has been maintained continuously since, having many bright and energetic young people among its efficient workers. In October, 1913, it was organized as a branch of the First church and for the first time arrangements were made for regular series. Rev. Lee Fisher assuming the active duties of the field.

The Denver Baptist church was organized in April, 1886, by Rev. E. C. Robbiiis, who was the first pastor. Sixteen charter members were enrolled at the time of the organization and nine more soon afterward united with the church. This faithful twenty-five immediately took the necessary steps toward the erection of a church building and in 1887 a neat frame house of worship, located upon the rising ground in the northern part of the town was dedicated. Tt is thirty-six liy sixty feet in size and cost ahout $2,500.

On the map of Miami county in the old atlas already referred to, there is a ilissionary Baptist church shown on the southern part of Section 7. in Union township, about three and a half miles northwest of Denver and just west of Weesau creek, but no one has been found who can give any account of its organization.

There are several branches of the German Ba]>tist denomination and no especial effort has been made herein to differentiate very closely in cla.ssifying them, accepting for the most part of classification in Stephens' History of Miami County. The name "Dunkard" never was an official name of this denomination. It is only a nick-name and is said to allude to an abundance of water, it being a corruption of the German word ' dunker, ' ' for dipper. Of the three branches one calls itself the German Baptists, one the Church of the Brethren, and the other the Progressive Brethren. The church in Peiii is of the second above named branch, and so are the two churches in Mexico. Rev. Mr. Fisher, the pastor of the church in Peru, claims that the Church of the Brethren is the direct descendant of the old German Baptists, while the present German Baptists and Pi'ogressive Brethren are branches of the parent stock. However, as above stated, the historian is not sufficiently familiar with the church history to attempt a definite classification.

Several societies of this denomination have been organized in Miami county. Doubtless the first was that organized at ilexico about 18:17. Elder Jacob Brower, a Dunkard preacher, held services at the house of Peter Fisher before that date, and for several years after the formal organization of a church meetings were held at the homes of the members or in the school houses. In the summer season they worshiped in the groves - "God's first temples." In 1861 a brick church, fort.v-four by fifty feet, with^i seating capacity of about five hundred was built a short distance north of Mexico. Here the Browers, Fishers, Fetrows. Metzkers, Barnharts and other pioneer families of Jefferson township, who were adherents of the German Baptist faith, met regularly for years and built up a strong congregation. An offshoot of this church established another society and built a house of worship on Section 27, about half a mile north of the station of Courter and ,iust east of the Lake Erie

& Western RailroMil. Another Diinkard congregation, known as the "old order," foiinded a ehni'i-h in .Tetl'erson township at aii early date.

A Dnnkard elmreh was established in the northwest corner of Richland townshij) many years ago, but nothing of its history can be ascertained, further than that the memliers huilt a house of worshi]) on Section 3, a .short distance east of the old village of Wooleytown. What is known as the "Enterprise" Dnnkard church in Perry township, on the road leading east from Birmingham, has been in existence for many years. The members of this denouiination living in the vicinity of Santa Fe held services in the school house there some years before the beginning of the Civil war. About 1866 a Oerman Baptist eliurch was organized in the southern part of Washington township. The early meetings were held in barns, residences or school houses, but after a year or so a frame liouse of worship fort.v-five b.v seventy feet was erected on the plat or ground donated by William Biggs on Section 34, not far from Pipe creek. The membership of this congregation is made up of substantial farmers and their families.

In the northern part of Clay township a society of Progressive Dunkards was organized a few years after the church in Washington townshi]) and a comfortable frame house of worship was erected a little later on the farm of Oliver Worll.

This denomination was first founded in Switzerland in 1525, but took its name from ilenno Simons, a leader in Holland. Since its origin it has become divided into tweh'e branches, the principal ones of which ai-e the ilciHionites. the Amish (so-called from Jacob Amen), the Old Amish, the Apostolic Mennonites and the Mennonite Brethren. The church was introduced in America in 1683, when William Penn induced some Mennonites to settle in Pennsylvania.

Xcar Cary, in the southeastern part of Harrison township, an Amish church was organized about 1849. IMcmbei's of this denomination settled in that localit.v at an early day, most of them coming fi'om Ohio. Al)0Ut 1855 a division occurred, not .so much on (luestions of doctrine as a difference of opinion regarding modern practices. The "old order" established a new church near the How-ard county line, near the line belween Clay and Ilari'ison townships. This is now known as the Mennonite church. The .\niish have no liouse of worshij). but holil meetings at the homes of the nu-mbers. All the various branches of the Mcnnointes ai'e iioled foi' theii- strict discipline, industry and i)lain manner of living.

The Christian ohui-L'h at Miami, the first to be established in the couuty, was the outgrowth of meetings held at the house of Austin Herrell and in the school houses, Revs. George Smith, Daniel Fliun and a minister named Hansberry having been among the first preachers of this faith to hold services in that part of the county. The society was organized about 1848 and a few years later a substantial house of worship was erected in the village of Sliami.

In 1856 a Christian church was erected in the village of Peoria, the first house of worship in the place. The organization was never very strong and about 1868 or 1869 the members abandoned the church at Peoria, united with others of the same belief and built a new frame church in the southeastern part of Butler township. This congregation has never prospered and meetings are held only at irregular intervals.

Elder Wayman came into Pipe Creek township in 1865 and held meetings in a school house near Pipe creek, about three miles northwest of Bunker Hill. The result of his labors was the organization of Pleasant Hill Christian church, with about fifteen membere, among whom were the Brandts, the Markens, the Meudenhalls, N. D. and M. E. Nichols, Jane Reed and Harriet Hopper. Peter Rife and Granville Mendeuhall were the first deacons. In 1875 a neat frame church was built on land donated by Jacob Brant, on Section 14. Although the congregation has never been large, harmony has prevailed among them and the church is one of the established institutions of the county.

The Converse Christian church was organized in 1868 by Rev. Henry Olinger. For a time meetings were held in the school house or at private dwellings, but in 1872 a lot in the eastern part of the town was purchased and a frame church was erected thereon. The pastor at that time was Rev. W. V. Trowbridge. In 1877 the frame church was burned and a new brick building, thirty-six by fifty feet was erected upon the site, at a cost of about $4,000. This building was the home of the congregation for a little more than thirty years, when it was replaced by the present stately structure, which cost about $13,000. In connection with the church is a strong Sunday school and it is no disparagement to other religious societies to say that the Christian church of Converse is one of the most prosperous in the couuty.

The Christian church at Macy was organized about 1868 by Rev. Aaron Walker. Grimes Horton, Lyman Hatch and Peter Carvey were the first elders. The first meetings were held in a school house that was afterward converted into a residence. In 1873 a brick chapel was erected and it is still owned by the congregation. The corner-stone of a new buihliiiL'' was hiid in November, li)ll{, Imt the ctlificc was not coiiijjleted at the close of that year. The cost of this building, ineliiiliiiir the lui-iiishings, will be in excess of $12,000. It is a haiidsoiiie brick structure, centrally located, and will seat about 800 people.

In January, 1893, Elder T. J. Legg, state Sunday school evangelist of the Christian church, organized a Sunday school in Peru. The first meeting was held in the basenu'Ut of the Odd Fellows' building on East Main street on Januai-y 15th. Later in the year the state missionary board sent Rev. Charles M. Fillmore to assist in the organization of a church. After holding revival services for about five weeks, Mr. Fillmore succeeded in organizing a congregation, including a number of Peru's representative people. Not long afterward the old Congregational church at the southwest corner of Jlain and Miami streets was purchased and refitted as a house of worship. This building was dedicated on October 15, 1894, as a Christian church. Rev. L. L. Carpenter, of Wabash, conducting the services. It was a great satisfaction to the members to know that the new church started upon its career out of debt. Since the organization services have been regularly held and the congregation is in a reasonably prosperous condition. The building occupied l)y this society has had a varied history. It was built and used by the Old School Presbyterians for a time, after which it was used successively by the Baptists, the St. Paul Methodists and the Congi-egationalists. When the last named denomination aliandoned the building it stood idle foi' a lunnber of years liefore it was bought and remodeled by the Disciples.

The New Lights, or New Light Christiaus, were represented in Erie township at a very early date, but no regular organization was ever effected. Meetings were held at the homes of some of the early settlers and several ineflfectual efforts were made to arouse sufficient interest to justify the establishment of a church. Failing in this, the meetings were finally discontinued.

The first regulai- New Light church established in the (county is known as Eel River chapel. A history of this congregation published in the Peru Republican of July 15, 1910, gives the names of the charter members as Elijah Co.\, Jane Gallahan, Thomas and Milly Skinner, Margaret Reed, Fannie Branaman, Elizabeth Taylor Payne and Rebecca Stroud. On P^diruary 21, 1841, the little congregation adopted the name of "Christian Salem Church." In the fall of 1843 a frame house of worship was built on the farm of Elijah Cox, near the Eel river, at a cost of $600, and the congregation afterward became known as the Eel River chnn-li. At a nipeting: held on Februar.y 21, 1881, exactly forty years after the cliiirch was first organized, steps were taken to build a brick chapel "to be controlled by the Christian denomination."' The building was completed and dedicated early the following year.

The ]\Iount Zion New Light church, about two miles west of Bennett's Switch, was organized in the late '60s and George Wininger presented the congregation with a house of worship. This church is still in existence and though not strong numerically is in a fairly prosperous condition.

The first church of the United Brethren in Miami county, of which there is any authentic record, was formed in Erie township, at the house of Samuel Philabaum, in 1849. Among the early members were Samuel Philabaum and wife, Michael Dice and wife, David Repp and wife, David Zimmerman and wife and a Mrs. Barnett. In 1850 a hewed log house of worship was erected on the farm of Mr. Philabaum and subsequently a nice frame house was built upon the same site, at a cost of about !f!l,700. A Sunday school is conducted in connection with the church.

In 1856 Rev. Cyrus Smith visited Xenia (Converse) and organized a United Brethren class, consisting of Seth and Mary Summers, Zachariah Clevinger and wife, Thomas and Hannah Darby, Charles Branam and Mary A. Clevinger. Meetings were at first held at the house of Mr. Summers and later in the Wesleyan Methodist church. In 1859 a frame church was erected at a cost of about $800 and was used jointly by the two denominations until the Wesleyan Methodists disbanded, when the United Brethren came into full possession. In 1872 the building was enlarged and remodeled, since which time it has been known as the United Brethren church of Converse.

A frame church for the use of the United Brethren was Iniilt in Washington township in 1869, though meetings had been held at private dwellings twenty years before that time. It cost about $900, is located on the north side of Section 24, near Little Pipe creek, and is known as Crider chapel.

The United Brethren church at North Grove, erected in 1870, is said to have been the first house of worship built in Harrison township. It is the outgi'owtli of meetings previously held by Rev. Jolm Leach at the homes of James Graham and John Wilson, as early as 1848.

Mount Zion church of the United Brethren, located about two miles east of Bennett's Switch, was organized about 1854. After a reasonable successful career for several yeai's the congregation became so weak- fncd by ilc.iths ami removals that it (lishainlcd. The huililiiiK "as purchased l)y B. F. Zc'hriiig and removed by him and A. E. Zehring, William K. Green and James Coiicher to Bennett's Switch, where it is now used by the Methodists, to whom it was sold at cost by the men who removed it to the village.

A church of the Tnited Brethren was established at Waupecong some time in the "cSOs with a small meml)ership, but its histoi-y cannot be learned. The church at Maey was established in 1892 and soon afterward erected a neat frame building in the northern part of the town. This congregation is in a reasonably j)rosperous condition, although not sti-ong in numbers.

A young, and i)robal)ly the strongest, society of Unit(ul Brethren in the county is the one at Peru. It was organized aljout the beginning of the present century. A lot at the corner of Main and Clay street was soon afterward purchased and on June 2, 1901, tlie corner-stone of the building was laid bj' Rev. W. M. Weekley, of Dayton, Ohio, chairman of the church erection section of the denominational work. The box deposited in the corner-stone contained copies of the Peru newspapers, religious publications, etc. When completed the cost of the building was about $10,000.

Some five or six years ago a few United Brethren began holding meetings at their homes at Denver. As their numbers increased they met in one of the school rooms or in a public hall for a few months, when a congregation was regularly organized and steps taken to erect a church. The lot at the corner of Pyson street and Washington avenue was purchased and in the summer of 1910 a neat frame church was erected tliereon, where regular services have since been held.

Just before the gi'eat land sale in 1847 a few Quaker families .settled in the southeastern part of the county and not long after their coming they organized w'hat is now the Amboy Friends' church. Among the original members were John Pearson, Nathan Arnold, William and Eli Overman and their families, Joshua Canaday, Hiram Pearsoii, Mordecai Painter, Michael and Parker Hollingsworth, Daviil Reynolds and Calvin Edgerton. The first house of worship was a deserted dwelling, but in a short time a log church was erected .just north of the present town of Amboy. Meetings were held in it until 1865, when a large frame house was liuilt in its place. Re\'. Zimri Hockett was one of the first preachers.

Another society of Friends was organized in the extreme southea.steru <'ornci- of Jackson towiishi]) and theii- house of worship was built about lialf a mile north of wheiv Converse now stands. There was also a Friends c4mrch established in the southeastern part of Harrison township at a comparatively early date. This denomination has never spread over the county like some of the others. At the beginning of the present century there were three Friends churches in the county, with a total membership of over 500. all located in Jackson township, whicli is sometimes called the "Quaker neighborhood."

There is but one society of the Protestant Episcopal church in Jliami county and that is located in the city of Peru. On May 2, 184-3. a few persons who lielieved in the doctrines and form of worship of the Episcopal church met for the purpose of organizing a parish. Among these were M. W. Seely, Albert Cole. James 'SI. DeFrees, John S. Twells. James Douglas, George L. Dart, E. P. Loveland, H. M. and John W. Stone, D. B. Tyler, H. J. Reese, Jonathan W. Smith and 0. M. Clark, with respective families. Under the sanction of the Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemjjer, at that time bisliop of the Northwest, and with the assistance of Rev. H. L. Laird, an Episcopal minister of Logansport, the parish was organized and designated as St. James. Bishop Kemper visited Peru the following July and held services, at which time three additional members were confirmed.

At a meeting held at the office of il. W. Seely, in Peru. April 8, 1844, Henry J. Rees and D. W. Tyler were elected wardens, James M. DeFrees, Merritt W. Seely and John W. Stone, vestrymen. ^Messrs. Seely and Rees were appointed a committee to draft a code of by-laws for the government of the parish. They made their report to a parish meeting on June 20, 1844, when the by-laws were adopted. In the early spring of 1846, Rev. Fortune C. Brown, of New York, was eaUed as rector and remained in charge of the parish for about eighteen months. After his departure Henry J. Rees conducted services as laj' reader for about two years, when he left Peru and the services were discontinued, except when the parish was occasionally visited by Bishop Upfold. In the winter of 1869 regular services were held for a short time by Rev. Thomas Taylor, of Delphi, and the following spring Rw. E. J. Purely, of Logansport held services a few times and awakened anew the energies of the members.

On the evening of May 26, 1870, a meeting was held in the second story of a building at the northwest corner of Main and Broadway streets, at which time the parish was reorganized and the name of Trinity Episcopal church was adopted. A. C. Fiske and Milon P. Smith were elected wardens and C. E. Ruthei-rord. xcstryTiian. \ir\-. W. X. Dmiiiani was called as rector on July 1, 1870. and meetings were held regularly in a room over Shirk & Miller's store, where the First National bank is now located. Befoiv the close of the year a lot at the northeast corner of Main and IMianii streets was purchased and on September 19, 1871, the corner-stone of the first Episcopal church in IMiami county was laid under the direction of Bishop Talbott. Rev. IMr. Rolierts, of Indianapolis, delivering the sermon.

The church erected then served as the home of the congregation for more than fort.v .years. On June 3. 1918, the corner-stone of the new church was laid according to the Episcopal ritual, Bishop John ITazen White, of South Bend, officiating. An incident that occurred in conneetion with this ceremon.y was something out of the ordinar.v. When Bishop White visited Garv, some time before, for the purpose of laying the coi-ner-stone of an Episcopal church, the stone masons ob.jected to his using the trowel because he was not a member of their union. The bishop begged to be permitted to proceed, saying that he would make it all right for the next time. Consefjuentl.v, he .ioined the stone masons' union and when he came to Peru he carried his membership card, but no ob.iection was offered to his officiating or using the trowel. The eontract cost of the new building was $20,000. It was not completed at the beginning of the .vear 1914. The walls are of oriental velour tirick. laid with black cement, and wiim completed thr cliui'ch will br an ornament to the city.

During the pastorate of Rev. Edward \V. Avei'ill. tlic gnild liall was erected in the rear of the churi-h. It is a substantial brick structui'e and is still standing.

Rev. C. Stuerken, a minister of the Evangelical l.utiieraii cliurch, came to Peru in 1849 and held services in a little frame school house on W(>st Second street. The onl.v members of the denomination in the town at that time were Paul Kleemann. Thomas Hetzner, L. Kolk, Charles Koederer. John Bazner and Adam Waltz, and a few members of their families. Owing to the fact that the congregation was small, Mr. Steurken visited it only at irregular intervals and after a time the meetings were discontiiuied entirely for about a year. He then bi'gaii his visits again and a church was regularly organized in 1858, with Rev. H. Horst as pastor. He remained but a short time, when Mr. Steurken returned to the congregation and in a little while a small brick building was erected on West Second street, near Hood, in 1861 a number of nuMiiliers were added to the eongregatioii and during the next decade the growth of the church was steady, though soniewliat slow. Early in the '70s a movement was started for a new house of worship. The lots at tlie southeast corner of Jlaiu and Fremont streets was purchased, the cornerstone of the new building was laid on ^lay 22, 1875, and the church was formally dedicated on April 2, 1876. It is a brick structure, 40 by 75 feet, with a tall spire, and still serves the congregation as a home. Where the old church stood on West Second street a handsome two-story brick school house was erected in 1905.

In the year 1855 two ministers named Geisel and Uphouse, members of the Fulton circuit of the Indiana conference of the Evangelical Lutheran church, began holding services in the vicinity of Bunker Hill. Four years later Mr. (ieisel conducted a series of revival meetings that resulted in the organization of a class or society, of which Peter Walters was the leader. From 1861 to 1863 Rev. R. J. Trometer had charge of the work in that part of the cOTinty. During the next two years Rev. II. Fisher was the pastor of the little flock. Then came Rev. J. Kaufman, who in turn was succeeded by Mr. Uphouse in 1867. For a time meetings were held in the homes of the members ; then the school house west of the town was secured and services were held there until 1874. In that year a brick house of worship was erected on Elm street, in the south part of the town, where the congregation still has its home.

A society of the German Evangelical Association was formed in Perry township, a short distanC-e east of Gilead, and in 1858 a frame house of worship was erected near the village, at a cost of $700. Among the early members were the Ault, Smith and Barnheisel families, Cornelius Barnheisel donating the land for the church site.

At the Buffalo school house, in the northern part of Perry township, a society of the Reformed Lutheran church was organized in 1880, by Rev. E. Hershey. About a year later a small frame hoTise of worship was erected on land donated by Samuel King. Prior to that time a Lutheran society had been oi-ganized at the Greenland school house and held meetings there for some time. It was finally disbanded and most of the members united with the Buffalo congregation.

The Evangelical church at the corner of Fifth and Water streets, in the city of Peru, was dedicated on January 19, 1902, Bishop Thomas Bowman officiating. At that meeting !f;1.500 were contributed and the new building was cleared of debt. This society was organized on November 26, 1898, at the home of George Vanblai'icum, with seven members.

III DercinhiT. Ilic littli' society secured the liiill over tlu' express office on East Third street. On Ajiril 14, ]8!)9, Rev. Kdwai'd Oliver took charge as pastor and from tliat time the society grew until it was strong enough to erect its own sanctuary at the corner of Fifth and Water streets, as above stated.

So far as can be learned there has never been Init one society of this faith in iliami eount.v. In April, 1876, Kev. J. B. Parmelee, then pastor of the Presbyterian church in Peru, resigned his position and procured a letter of dismission from the ]iresbytery. At the same time some of the members of the Presbyterian church withdrew and, under the leadership of Mr. Parmelee, organized a Congregational church. The old church edifice that had been used by one of the Methodist societies, located at southwest corner of ]\Iain anil Miami streets, was secured by the new denomination and for a time the Congregationalists were fairly prosperous. Then some of the membei's returned to the Pre.sliytcrian ciiiirch, and after the departure of j\lr. Parmelee for other fields of lal)or Kev. Mr. Cooper took charge, but the society soon went down. The Christian church aftei-wai'd pui'chased the clnii-i-h building.

A society of this denomination was organized at Bunker Hill in 1870, by Rev. S. 0. Lane. Among the first membei-s wert> Allen James, H. G. Curtis. Alexander Baxter, Granville Hedrick, .lolm Turner and their wives, Mary Crowder and Mary Clouse. Sei-vices were held at the homes of the membei's iintil 1882, when a fi'ame house of worship was built in Duekwall's addition, on Kim street. The congregation was never very strong in numhcrs and some time in the early 'Ofls nieetin<is were discontinued. The Dunkards then obtained the privilege of using tiie building and hold services there about once a month.

In 188:5 a Seventh Day Adventi.st church was organized at Denver by two ministers named Reese and Covert. The original membership was about twenty. Kor about two years services were held in the old college building, but in 188;") a frame church was built in the southeastern part of town at a cost of $800. A Sunday school was soon afterward organized willi Jesse Woods as superintendent. Sei-vices were held for .seve7-al years, when both church and Sunday .school pa.ssed out of existence, though there are still a few people of that faith living at Denver and in the iinmnliate vicinity.

existence for the past ten or twelve years. R<>eently meetings have been held at the dwelling of Thomas ilcCarty at the extreme end of West Third street.

A short distance south of the village of Peoria was once a congregation of this faith, which has a peculiar history. One of the early .settlers in Butler township - a Mr. Hahn - had saved $500, with which he intended to purchase land in Iowa. Just as he was about to start for that state became converted by a minister of the Church of God and his conversion was so sincere that the $.500 went toward building a church on his farm. The house was finished about 1856 and for some years Mr. Hahn had camp meetings on his farm near the church. He even went to the expense of erecting sheds for the horses of the visitors and every year provided food for a large number of those who attended the meetings. About 1860 the church began to decline and finally the old house was abandoned. Hahn's farm was sold to E. H. Shirk, who sold it to a man named Crull. When Mr. Crull announced his intention of tearing down the old church the people of the neighborhood raised a fund and bought it and a small tract of land. Here the Methodists and Christians have since held meetings, but the Church of God that once worshiped there is only a memory.

There was another Church of God in the county at one time and the old church edifice is still standing in Perry township, a mile or two in a southeasterly direction from the Enterprise Dunkard church. Almost directly across the road from it once stood a Methodist church, which, after it was abandoned, became known as the "old shell." It disappeared probably fifty years ago.

Salem Universalist church, four miles south of Peru in Washington township, had its beginning as early as 1858, when Rev. J. Brooks visited that part of the county and held a few meetings at the residence of some of the settlers who believed in the doctrine of the "Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, and the final destruction of all sin and wrong." Eben Mosely and his wife, A. B. Edwards and wife, and a family by the name of Clymer were the original members of Salem church. During the thirty-five years following the first visit of Mr. Brooks, no formal organization of a society was attempted, though several Universalist ministers came into the neighborhood and held meetings, either at the home of some believer or in the school house. In February, 1893, tlie church was organized and the same year a frame eliuifli luiilding 32 by 48 feet was erected. Rev. .M. L. Pope was installed as pastor and under his ministrations a number of new members were added to the congregation. The church property is valued at $2,000.

A society of this faith was organized in Peru in 1902, with Miss Sadie Nordyke as tirst reader and Mrs. C. W. Fultz as second reader. The society holds its meetings in a brick building on the north side of East Fifth street, between Court and Wabash streets. At the close of the year 1913 ilrs. Laura V. Harter held the position of first reader and A. E. Fisher that of second reader.