Vermillion County, Indiana - Chapter 7: Educational History of Veumillion Col-Xtv, 1913

Chapter 7: Educational History of Veumillion Col-Xtv

Article 7. section j, of the constitution of Indiana, declared that: "Knowledge and learning generally diffused throughout a community, heing essential to the preservation of a free goxernment, it shall be the duty of the government by its General Assembly to encourage, by all suitable means, moral, intellectual, scientific and agricultural improvements, and to prox'ide liy law for a general and uniform system of common schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge and ecjually open to all."

No state or territory has manifested an equally profound and intelligent interest in the subject of education as has Indiana, commencing with the territorial existence in 1800. While the Congress of the United States, under the controlling influence of Jefiferson, had been wise and far-seeing on this subject, yet it is a fact that in the organization of the new territories and states that body was more or less influenced by the men who approached Congress in the interests of the new municipalitv - men who were identified with it. .And according to whom these men were and the suggestion that they would urge, would be many of the provisions in the enabling acts on the subject of schools.

Lilieral provision had been made by the general go\"ernment for poi)ular education in all the Northwestern states. Before any of these states had been formed, while the general territory in which the}- were embraced was a wilderness, inhabited almost exclusively by savages. Congress, on the 20th of May, 1785, passed an ordinance reserving every sixteenth section of land in the territory northwest of the river Ohio for the maintenance of public schools. Two years later, in the famous ordinance of 1787, it was declared that "religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good goxernment and the happiness of inankind, schools, and the means of education, shall be forever encouraged."

in tlie incorporating act were men of large and liberal ideas of education. They reflected the true spirit of the framers of the ordinance of 1787. In the preamble to the incorporating act it was declared that "the independence, happiness and energy of every republic depended (under the influence of the destinies of heaven) upon the wisdom, virtue, talents and energy of its citizens and rulers ; that science, literature and the liberal arts contributed in an eminent degree to improve those qualities and acquirements, and that learning had ever been found the ablest advocate of genuine liberty, the best supporter of rational religion, and the source oi the only solid and im|:)erishable glory which nations can acquire."

The only acts passed with regard to the school lands b\- the Territorial Legislature were those of October 26, i8o8, and December 14, i8io. The former invested the several courts of common pleas in the territory with full power to lease the sections of land reserved for the use of slIiooIs in the several counties, restricting the leases to five years and making it obligatory upon the lessees to clear ten acres upon each quarter section. The latter act authorized the courts of common pleas to appoint trustees of the school lands in the several counties, and prohibited the wasting of sugar trees and timber thereon.

On January 9, 182 1, the General Assembly appointed a committee to draft and report to the next Legislature a bill providing for a general system of education, with instructions to guard particularly against "any distinction between the rich and the poor." This committee drew up the first general school laws of Indiana. The space allotted us forbids even a catalogue of the various enactments of the General Assembly on the subject of the public schools since the organization of the state government. Almost every session has witnessed the passage of either general or special laws pertaining to education in some form, either to the common schools or the incorporation of seminaries, academies, colleges, universities or public libraries ; and the successive governors of the state have favored the interests of pojmlar education.

Vermillion county has always taken much care to provide the best schools possible, both public and private. The last log cabin school house was superseded more than forty years ago by the more modern frame and brick buildings. A quarter of a century ago this county had school buildings as follows : Clinton township, brick, three; frame, nine. Helt township, brick, three; frame, twenty. Vermillion township, brick, one; frame, tvvehe. Eugene township brick, one: frame, seven. Highland township, brick, one: frame, eleven. Total, nine brick buildings; fifty-nine frame.

In 1887 the estimated value of school houses and lots was $59,000; of school apparatus, globes, maps, etc., about $4,000. Number of teachers employed in tlie count}-, eighty-fi\e. The nnniljer of children of school age (from six to twenty-one years) in 1886 was 4,291, and the enrollment in the schools of the county was 3.467. or about eighty per cent.

In Clinton township the first school house was a log structure of the most primitive type, located at Davidson's hill, one mile northeast of Clinton. There the only school books were the English reader, Webster's elementary speller and the New Testament, with now and then a copy of Daboll's arithmetic. Since then a remarkable growth has been seen with the ushering in and carrying forward of the free public school system, which many in the state bitterly opposed at the time, because of their lack of wisdom.

Two or more attempts have been made to locate special educational institutions, including the one just before the Civil war, known as Alyrani G. Towsley's Military Institute and the Farmer's College, which went dcjwn on account of the coming on of the Rebellion in 1861. A portion of the large frame building that was to be used permanently for that institution was afterward converted into an opera house, and its wings into dwellings.

Newport, the county seat, has always been a good school town, and kept abreast with the times in every advance made in improved educational methods. In pioneer days, according to the state law, a county seminary was established here, as in all other county-seat towns. It flourished until the going out of the old pri\ate or subscription schools and the introduction of that better plan of the present common school, the free school system, when it was converted into a graded school about 1832. The building Avas a lirick structure. Additions were made to it from time to time and it was still in use in the nineties. Its location was on the heights overlooking the romantic scenes of the charming Little Vermillion river. Two of the additions were made by the town of Newport at an expense of one thousand dollars. The town purchased the property from the township, when the municipal it\- took it o\er and has had charge of the same since 1886.

The advancement made in public school affairs in this county with the passing of a half century are indeed very great. This change is noted the more vividly, when one contemplates the old log school house down by the creek, or out on the prairies, in which were taught the simplest rudiments of an education, under the hardships of a slab seat, a puncheon floor, and a fireplace for heating the same in the long, cold winter day. It goes without saying that children of today ought to master their studies more rapidh- and better than did their grandparents, and thank a higher order of Christian civilization for the most excellent school system that now obtains from one end of the country to the other. While there were many noble, brainv, well- educated men of the Hoosier state who attended these pioneer schools, the larger per cent, of all those who attended those early-day schools never achieved any great educational accomplishments. All praise to the present public school system.

The subjoined statistics will show the condition of the schools in the various townships in Vermillion county, according to the superintendent's annual report for 191 2, including the items of teachers, buildings, wages, apportionments, etc. :

The numl^er of graduates from the high school last year was : Helt township, 1 1 ; Perrysville, 9 ; Cayuga, 3 ; Dana, 1 1 ; Newport. 8 ; Clinton, 19.

There is one Carnegie Library, connected with the city and township of Clinton. All of the district schools have small permanent libraries. The present county school superintendent, John B. Butler, has been serving in an acceptable manner since 1907.

By a school enumeration for Vermillion county, taken in Ma)-. 19 10, the following facts were brought out concerning the school population : The number of school age in the several townships and towns of the county was as follows : Clinton township, 844 ; Eugene township, 33 1 ; Helt township, 804; Highland township, 478; Vermillion township, 366; Cayuga town, 212; Dana town, 206; Newport town, 163; city of Clinton, 1,468. The totals for the years 1907 and 1910, inclusive, were : 1907; 4,627; 1908, 4,818; 1909, 4,792; 1910, 4,872.

About 1904 the consolidated country school system was established in Helt township this county, and has proven a grand success. It gix'es the pupils a better, easier method of getting to and from school, and at no increased expense, all things counted, than under the separate school district,, system. This school is counted one^of the "model" sehools in Indiana. It a delightful sight to see the several teams lined uj) ready to recei\-e the children when school closes each day. They are carried in hacks to and from their homes, a radical change for the better. It is believed that this system ; will ere long become universal in the country school districts in the state.

Chapter Mti Presbvteriax Churches

The tirst denomination in this count}' to erect a house of worship was the Presbyterians, who organized at CHnton in 1831, aided by the Methodists. Running down in the course of years, in 1834 they reorganized their society, under Re\-. John Gerrish, of Helt township, who died in tlie spring of 1887. in Kansas. Jn 1887 there were fifty-five members in the Chnton Pre.slnterian church, the ruhng elders being at that date E. V. Brown and Da\id McBeth. A Sundav school was then maintained the year round, with an average attendance of ninet}' pupils. Re\". L. (l. Hay. D. D.. (jf Terre Haute, was then serving as a stated supply for this church, commencing with February, 1887. Earlier pastors and supplies were Revs. James Boggs, in 1855: John A. Tififner, two to three years: John Hawks, of Rockville, about the same length of time; Thomas (iriffith. nt .Mumczuma, tour years, and L. H. Davidson. The first church building was CdUNcrted into a barn. A new house of worship, erected about 1852. was a frame building, forty by se\-enty feet, located centrally, on the school house lot. The present church w'as erected of brick in 1896 at a cost of ten thousand dollars. Membership, one hundred and fifty.

Toronto Presbyterian church was organized either 1850 or 1831, by Rev, Gerrish. The church, which was built during 1852, was a frame structure thirty by forty feet in size, and in 1890 was still in good state of preservation, .\mong the early members of the church were James A. Elder and wife, Samuel Elder and wife. Rev. John A. TifYany was pastor from 1858 to 1866. In 1887 the number of communicants was about twenty. .\ union prayer meeting was maintained by the Methodists. Presbyterians and Baptists.

The Toronto Presljyterian church, at Bond, was organized nian\- years ago, but later the membership largely went to other ]ioints, as the countrv settled up, many going to the church at Dana. There a neat church was buih of frame, thirty-six by forty feet, besides a "rostrum" eight by fourteen feet. Its cost was about two thousand eight hundred dollars, not counting pews and other fLxtures. It was dedicated June 26, 1887, by Rev. T. D. Fyfife, of Roseville, Indiana. The leading men in building were W. M. Taylor, Samuel Aikman and Samuel Hall. This building is still in use.

At Newport the Presbyterians were early in the field, but allowed the first society to run down. It was reorganized in the spring of 1875, by Rev. Mitchell, of Clinton, with only seven members. The ruling elders were M. G. Rhoades and I. B. Fusselman, later of Danville. About 1847 a frame church was erected, forty by fifty feet, on Market street, east of the public square. This was erected soon after the organization was efTected. Later it was occupied by the United Brethren. The society was never very strong at Newport, other churches having held the field.

The Eugene Presbyterian church was first organized in 1826, when the first meetings were held in the house of William Thompson, a log cabin a little west of the depot on the Big Vermillion river. At first its name was the "River and County Vermillion Church," and comprised, April 26, 1826, Asa Palmer, William Thompson, William Wilson, Ann Wilson, William Armour, Ruhama Armour, Eliza Rodman, Hannah Laughlin, [Margaret Caldwell, Mary West, Mary Thompson, Lucy Thompson, and Susan Wilson. The first minister was Rew James Hummer, who was succeeded b}' Revs. Baldridge, Kingsbruy, Cozad, Conklin, C. K. Thompson, Venable Crosby, Henry M. Bacon and W. Y. Allen, of Rockville. In 1887 this church had a membership of fifty-two. The second place of meeting was a brick dwelling, and the third place a neat frame church, thirty-six by sixty feet, erected in 1859 in partnership with the Methodist people. Its cost was three thousand dollars; it was erected centrally in the village of Eugene. Later the church interests were removed to Cayuga and in 1902 a fine brick church building was erected, bearing the inscription, "Eugene 1823 - Memorial - Cayuga, 1902." It is located in the best part of the western portion of the town.

At Perrysville a Presbyterian church was organized at an early day and after struggling along many years finally dissolved, when it only mustered fifteen members. Their house of worship, which they purchased from the Universalist society, became unsafe, and in 1882 was sold for one hundred and fifty dollars and later torn down. There was no regular preaching after 1873, when there was twenty-one members.

Baptist Churches

Kiddie's Prairie Baptist churcli. - In 1852 a branch or mission of the Bloomlield Baptist church was' organized at Toronto, and in Juh'. 1853, it was reorganized as a separate body in the Toronto Presbyterian church, b)' Rev. G. VV. Riley. Revs. John and G. W. Riley were preachers in 1852, the latter named being the first pastor. Up to August, 1861, the following served as pastors or supplies: Rev. Joseph Shirk, William .McMasters and .\. J. Riley : thence on down later came Revs. William McMasters,. Alelvin Mc- Kee, William McMasters, Melvin McKee, D. S. French, William McMasters, A. J. Riley, G. T. Willis, J. M. Kendall, 1883; W. T. Cuppy, 1886-87.

The Tennessee Valley Baptist church was organized in September, 1872, in the Staats school house by Rev. William McJklasters, who had preached there some time previously, when it was known as the "mission." Rev. William McMasters was pastor of this church until his death, in 1886, being succeeded by Rev. John H. Rusmisel. In 1875 a neat frame church was provided at a cost of one thousand six hundred dollars. It was built in the northeast quarter of section 18, township 15, range 9 west. Present membership is one hundred.

Dana Baptist church was formed in 1880, with twelve members, by Rev. G. T. Willis. Among the early pastors now disclosed by the records were Revs. Willis, Cartwright, William McMasters, Palmer and h'ranklin. The church building, a fancy brick structure, thirty-six Ijy sixty feet, in the northern part of the village of Dana, was built in 1887 ^t a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars.

Hopewell Baptist church, a frame building about two miles north of Gessie, was the place of meeting of a society which was organized very early in the county's history by the Rabourns. A difificulty arose over Freemasonry, one side holding to the order, while the other pulled out of Christian fellowship on account of this fraternity. The two factions were called "Stippites" and "Johnsonites," after the two leading spirits of the Masonic and anti- Masonic factions. This split the little church into two parts, and neither flourished after that.

At Clinton the Baptist church is young in years, it ha\ing been organized in 1909 with twenty-two members, which has now grown to a menil)ersliip of ninet\-four. A little more than three years ago a few Baptist families, desiring of having a church of their own faith, banded together and invited Rev. J. M. Kendall to preach to them occasionalh-, and August 18, 1909. with his assistance, organized the First Baptist church of Chnton, - Indiana, with twenty-two memliers. About eight months after the organization of tlie church tlie i>astor resigned because of other pressing duties. The following July the state convention sent Mrs. N. B. Leslie to this important field, and under her care the work progressed rapidly, including a flourishing, modern planned Sunday school. On March ist, tliis devoted woman was sent to other fields. Then the membershi]) of the church had reached ninet\- communicants. A lot was purchased upon which to erect a church, the ])rice paid being one thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars: it is at the corner of Fifth and Walnut streets, an ideal location. March i, 1912, the present pastor. Rev. A. E. Clem, was called, since which he has de\'oted his entire time to building up the interests of the church and attending to the duties of raising funds with which to erect tlie new church, which has its foundation in ( December, IQIJ) and when completed will cost about twent)' thousand dollars. It is to be of faced brick and stone trimmings, with full-sized basement, fift\--six by eighty feet, wherein will be situated Sunday school rooms, kitchen, gymnasium, etc. In the summer of 1912 great tent meetings were held and as a result there were added to the church, under Pastor Clem and the e\angelist, Charles E, Watkins, more than twenty-five more memliers. In all, the society now has a membership of almost two hundred.

The Baptist churches in Vermillion count\- at this date are. tlie one at Clinton, the one at a point in Helt township, known as Tennessee Valley church, with a hundred niembers ; one at Dana, which had in u;ii ninet\'-six members, and proper!}- \alued at three thousand fi\e hundred dollars.

Perhaps the earliest (irganizatidu (if this denomination in X'ermillinn county was formed as early as i<S37. This was the churcli at Haneman Chapel, formed at the house of Christopher Haneman. In 1837 a class was formed by a few members of that faith, including Christopher Haneman and wife, Harriet McDowel, George VVellman and wife, Jeremiah Hammond and wife, Silas Hollingsworth and wife, Emily Bales and Isaac Johnson and wife. A brick church was erected in 1842, but not completed until 1872, thirty years later. It stood on section 6, township 15, range g. Among the pioneer ministers there may be recalled the names of Revs. John Shoey, \ViIliam Eckles, Andrew W'imset, Conyer. Jnhn .Miller, Tliomas Hamilton, Joseph Nye, Rev. Nugen. John .\. Mast and Sanmcl Potts. In 1887 there were twentv-eight

Midway United Brethren church was organized in 1857 by Rev. Joel Cogwill, with about fifteen members, in the Castle school house, which later w-as purchased and converted into a church building. It was twenty-two by thirty feet in size, and situated on section 13. township 15. range 10. Public services were discontinued there in 1887.

Bethel United Brethren church, two miles southwest of Newport, was organized many years ago. Tn 1887 the church enjox'ed a membership of forty-eight. A church building was erected about 1862.

Opedee United Brethren church was organized about 1880, and in 1886 Miss \'Vimsett was a steward. Meetings were held then in a school house. Ira Mater, of Hillsdale, was a minister in this church. Another class met at the Eggleston school house. B. F. Dungan, of Newport, was pastor of all the United Brethren churches in \^ermillion township in the eighties.

At Newport the United Brethren church was organized in 1870 by Rev. Samuel Garrigus, then a resident of Bellemore, Parke count)'. At first there were but fourteen members in this class, but by 1887 it had increased to ninet\', chiefly under the ministrations of Rev. Dungan. At the date last mentioned the society worshiped in the Presbyterian church, on Market street.

Another ven' early church of this sect was the Cross-Roads L'nited Brethren church, two miles west of Perrysville, organized before 1848. .V large frame church house was built in early years. In 1888 the membership of this society was seventy-five.

The Perrysville United Brethren church was organized many years ago, and in 1887 was called an old society. At that time the church was a frame building, thirty-eight by forty-eight feet, erected about 1837.

Mound Chapel United Brethren church was erected about 1875: was thirty by forty feet: located three and one-half miles north of Perrysville.

At Gessie the United Brethren people were organized in 1879 by Rev. F. E. Penny, of Danville, Illinois. Among the earlier ])astors in charge were Revs. J- A. Smith, J. Knowles, Kaufman, S. C. Zook, J. R. Horner. .\ church edifice was erected by the Chri.stians about 1877, a frame t\\ enty-four b)- forty feet, costing one thousand dollars, and in 1870 they sold to the United Brethren.

Methodist Episcopal Churches

The first iMethodist organization in X'erniillion county was effected some time previous to 1830, at the house of John \'annest, the tirst settler in the county. The class then comprised, besides Mr. Vannest and his halfbrother, George Rush, James and Amos and Joseph Reeder and the Brannon family. The minister, who walked his rounds every four weeks, was of that good and old-fashioned Methodist type of ministers always loved by his followers. Revs. Smitli and ]\Ic(iinnis were among the zealous preachers of that early day. Itinerant Methodist ministers of pioneer times were noted for their energy and daring in threading the wild woods and prairies in search of the isolated settler, for the purpose of preaching to him the gospel and of organizing classes as soon as he could find enough to meet, coming from far and near. The early history of these various Methodist classes has become lost with the shuffle of passing years, and we are obliged to leap forward in imagination over a half century in the history made by the.se faithful men and women, who first planted the good seeds of Methodism, the fruits of which this generation and those yet unborn are and shall reap from great spiritual gifts.

Coming down to 1887 it is learned that the society at Clinton comprised ninety-four members. The class leader was then L. H. Beckman; stewards, James M. Hayes and Robert Allen. The pastor was Rev. J. B. Combs. The circuit was in the Greencastle district. Northwestern Indiana conference, with Rev. A. A. Gee, of Greencastle. as presiding elder. As lo a house of worship it may be stated that the Methodists here passed from the log cabin residence and the school house to a frame church, erected mainly \)y the Presbyterians in 1831 ; and next to a frame building, thirty-eight by sixty feet, built about 1852, at a cost of one thousand four hundred dollars. Again in 1883 an imposing brick edifice was erected, forty b\' eighty feet in ground measurements, at a cost of six thousand fi\'e hundred dollars. This building, w ith some alterations, is still doing service.

Toronto Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Februarv, 1S53. by Rev. John Lach, who died in 1867. .\mong the first members were John Jenks and family, William Jordan and wife. Almeda Jenks. John R. ^Vishard and wife, Mrs. Tiller Jenks and a few more. In 1875 a great and sweeping revival was held by Rev. Jacob Musser. In 1887 the church had a meml>ership of sixty,, with Stephen Jenks as class leader. Services were then held in the Pre.=bvterian church b\- Re\'. \\'^illiam Sniitli.

Parke And Vermjli.Ion Counties, Indiana

At Hillsdale the Methodist Episcopal church was organized July ii, l88o, by Rev. Thomas Bartlett, with the following- memliership : John W. Casebeer, class leader (.still living), S. R. James, Matilda James, Margaret Owens, Dr. E. Mack, Mrs. Mack, Martha Strowbridge, Ella Casebeer, A. B. Casebeer, Sarah Wilson, Mary McLaughlin, Jane Williamson, Wallace Thompson. Mrs. Thompson, Elizabeth Newell. R. Wilson. Thomas J. Williamson, Bertie Casebeer, Billy Ponton, Charles Bassett and IMrs. Mary Marvin.

A fine frame building was erected, thirty-four by forty feet, costing one thousand six hundred and fifty dollars, in 1883-84. principally by the donations of "Sister Bricker." The ground was donated by 2\Irs. Mary (iibson. The first pastor here was Rew J. V. McDaniels. Following him came Revs. E. R. Johnson, Joy, J. T. Woods, W. A. Smith. Preaching was had on alternate weeks. The membership in 1887 was twent}--fi\-e. The class leader was at that date William Tincher.

One of the oldest societies of this denomination was the old Salem Methodist Episcopal church, one mile north of Summit Grove, where preaching after this faith was had by Rev. Chamberlain in 1821-22. The next preacher was Rev. Dr. William James, a Virginian, who came to this count)- in October. 1822, when he preached in the log barn of John Helt. and later in a small log cabin school house with split-pole seats. He preached and practiced medicine until 1826, when he started for New Orleans with a boat load of corn, and died en route. The next minister was Rev. \\'arner, of Parke county, who organized the class in the spring of 1828, in the log school house on Kelt's prairie, under the name of the "Helt's Prairie Class." Samuel R^arson and wife were the principal members. Others were John Helt and wife, Samuel Rush and wife. Mrs. Elizabeth Helt, Mrs. Mary Helt. lulmund James and wife, Collon James and John James and wife. These faithful followers met at the school house and at the house of Samuel Rush until 1S46, when they erected a frame house at the center of section 22, township 15, range 9 west. In 1878 this building was sold and a commodious brick structure erected on the old foundation, about thirty-two by sixtv feet, at a cost of two thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight dollars. In 1888 there were more than one hundred members in good standing and serxices were held every other Sabbath. The i)astor was then Rev. ^^'. A. Smith and the class leaders James Harrington, James A. Miller, \^'right James. INIartin Harper and Frank Helt.

Spring Hill class was organized in 1834 in the house of Joel Blakeslev. with Samuel Rush and wife. Joel Blakesley and wife, Zachariah I). James and wife, Jane Ford, Sarah Ponton, Stephen Plarrington and wife. \\'iiham Kearns and wife, Lydia Jackson, Enoch White and wife, Martha Ponton, Betsey Ponton, and Nathaniel Barnes and wife. In 1835 they built a hewedlog house, near the center of section 10, township 15, range 9, which they used for several years. The class was then styled "Goshen." They next moved to the school house a half mile to the north. In 1879 they built, at a cost of one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five dollars, a frame church thirtv bv forty feet, and in 1888 had a membership of about thirt\-. At that date the society was known as Spring Hill.

.\sbury chapel was organized as early as 1830. named for old Bishop Asburv. One of the first ministers there was Rev. DeLap. Services were held at private houses until a frame church was erected on the southeast quarter of section 36. township 16, range 10 west, in 1850. A most powerful revival was held in 1852, under the pastorate of Rev. Arthur Badley, who subsequentl}- removed to Iowa. Other pastors were Revs. J. W. Parrett, Shaw, Thomas Bartlett, Salisbury, Clark Skinner, McDaniel, Wood, Barnard. Nebeker, Clark Skinner, Morrison and E. R. Johnson. Later the class did not prosper and finally went down.

The Center Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1837 at the home of James AVishard, where services were had many years. In 1853 a commodious frame structure was erected, costing about one thousand four hundred dollars. In 1887 the society had a membership of ninety-se\-en.

In Helt town.ship ^lethodism has flourished from the earlie.st day. .\t Dana the society was organized in 1879 by Rev. Daniel Morrison, of the Greencastle district. Among the first pastors will be recalled Re\-s. l^^lijah Johnson, J. C. AIcDaniels, Woods, William Smith. The society in 1887 had a membership of sixty, an increase of twenty over the original number. A house of worship was erected in 1882, at a co.st of, including the lots, one thousand eight hundred dollars. The present magnificent pressed brick structure was built in 1906 and is among the finest, if not the very best, within the county.

Lebanon Alethodist Episcopal church, east of Quaker Hill, was organized at a very early day. In 1887 it had a membership of thirty-five. A frame building was provided which was thirty by thirty-six feet in size.

Vermillion Chapel Methodist Episcopal church, three and a half miles southwest of Newport, erected its building about 1847. ^^'^^ used until in the latter part of the eighties, when it was sold and a new one built at a cost of one thousand eight hundred dollars.

Parke And Vermillion Counties, Indiana. 3Oi

and it naturally endured many hardships for long years. The records ha\-e long- since perished, but the true spirit of Methodism still prevails.

At Newport, the county seat of justice, the Methodist Episcopal church existed in the very early days of the town's history, the details of which are now hard to bring to tangible light for historic record. In time they built a church building, and when it had outli\ed its usefulness it was sold and torn away. In 185 1 another edifice was erected, and later an addition of eighteen feet was added. In 1887 the societ\- had a membership of one hundred and seventy-five. A fine parsonage was built in 1882.

At Perrysville the history of Methodism is traced through the pioneer period down to the present, it never having died out for lack of interest. In 1887 it was stated that the loss of ^ records made it impossible to give a clear conception of all the transactions of the little band that first planted the good seeds in that neighborhood. At the last date mentioned the church had a membership of one hundred and thirty-three. The class leaders were then B. O. Carpenter and J. F. Compton. Several social and auxiliary .societies ha\-e branched ofT from the parent church at Perrys\-ille. In 1843 ^ brick church was built, valued at three thousand dollars, forty- four by fifty-two feet in size. It was located in the southwest central portion of the town.

Methodist Episcopal Churches Of I9I2

The subjoined is a list of all tlie cluirches of this denomination in \'ermillion county in 1912, as near as can be determined from the minutes of the last conference :

There are some country charges suppHed from the above central stations of tlie society. But the above are the churches listed in the latest conference

An Old-Time Circuit Rider

In these days when, in the Methodist economy, the title of presiding elder has been changed to that of district superintendent, it may be of interest to know something of the character of the old-time circuit riders, and for this purpose here will be inserted a paragraph from the writings of L. O. Bishop, in a series entitled "Fifty Years .\go." He says: "S. P. Colvin was the minister here w hen Fort Sumter was fired upon and let me say right here that the old-tin^e circuit rider certainly earned his salary. The Clinton circuit then included Clinton, Salem, Centenary, Center and Trinity. There was, as a result, something doing for the minister all the time. They were ministers indeed. Colvin was a broad-minded man, a speaker of high ability, intensely devoted to his country, a fine companion, both in the home circle as well as in public meetings. And as a fisherman and a hunter he had no equals. Many a time 1 have seen him and some of our family (they were all Methodists or Presbyterians) go out on a hunting trip and bring back a ten-foot pole full of game, so loaded that it required the two men to carry it on their shoulders. .And such times as everybody would have. The cooks got busy and built a game pot pie, a wonderful creation of the culinary art. And the minister and the class leader, and the neighbors far and near would be invited to come in and enjoy the feast. And they sat down, some in calico and some in gingham, few possibly had something finer, but the quality of the clothes made no difference in their happiness. And the jokes flew thick and fast and hearty, robust laughter shook their sides, and then they would lean back from the table and roar with laughter over some bright shaft of wit or a skyrocket of humor that someone had let loose. And then they sat up to the table and went at it again. I lost my religion at these spreads by always having to wait until second or third table and then pick the bones, if the preacher and his crowd had left any to pick. But these feasts were very much like the miracle of fishes and loaves. If there appeared to be any scarcity of game pie, or fried chicken, roasting ears, dressing, mashed potatoes, pie, cake and float, etc., etc., and more etc., somehow there was always enough and some to spare and e\-erybody was satisfied."

Parke And Vermillion Counties, Indiana. 3O3 The Church In War Days

The old frame Methodist Episcopal church of 1861 on South Main street was torn down in about 1883 and the site was then occupied b\' a residence belonging to Mrs. Clara Salyards. Mr. Bishop continues : "On this particular Sunday that I am speaking of there fell upon the people of Clinton such a deep, intense feeling of an impending crisis that when Mr. Colvin spoke at times the faintest sigh could be heard over the room, so profound was the silence. Many a 1)oy sat there that Sunda}- who was shortly to be enrolled in the greatest army the world has ever seen, and to take part in mighty movements on the chess board of the nation.

soon we began to miss the boys from their accustomed places. For it will be remembered that those days there were about seventy-five per cent, of the people church members and ninety per cent, attended church - not so now-a-days ! There were vacancies behind counters and school desks, on farms, in shops, at carpenter benches, and everywhere. It seemed as if every home in Clinton had given up one or more of its adult members. Bravely they marched to the front, behind the Stars and Stripes, a martial band playing in stout-hearted tones, "Jay Bird," or "The Girl I Left Behind Me." When they had all gone to the front there fell upon the homes of Clinton such a pall of silent anguish, such intense anxiety, that the wonder was that the mothers, fathers, sisters and sweethearts at home did not go mad from the very terror of the situation.

"Indeed, there is but one description in all the literature that T ha\e read that aptly and tersely describes the conditions at liome during those four long years. That sentence was the prophecy uttered nearh two thousand years ago by the Nazarene, who, looking ahead and, seeing with god-like clearness of vision all effects following from their causes, exclaimed: 'And there shall come such times as never was'."

Society Of Friends

Hopewell Friends church was organized at an early da\- in Vermillion township, this county, and was of the same "monthly meeting" as the one at Pilot Grove, Illinois. In 1887 it had a membership of two hundred and thirty. Ministers James P. Haworth, William F. Henderson and Ruth R. Ellis all sen'ed acceptably and well. The overseers at Hopewell ("Quaker Hill) were Jonathan E. and Kate E. Ellis and Albert and Tane Henderson. Dinah T.

The Friends are not numerous enough here now to maintain many regular meetings. Many of these people have long since remoxed to other sections of the country. No better people, ho\\e\er, e\'er graced any community than these sincere and conscientious men and women styled "Quakers," but who prefer their right name. Friends.

The Friends, however, in Eugene and Helt townships still have a good, thrifty settlement and maintain meetings at what is known as Hopewell, near Quaker ; at Henderson chapel and Lindsley, Eugene township.

Univers.U.Ists

A Universalist church was organized at Perrysville in 1842, and afterward erected a house of worship, a frame structure, thirty-six by fifty feet in size, but being unable to pay for it, they finally, in 1850, sold it to the Presbyterians and subsequently disbanded. They numbered as high as fifty-fi\e members at one time. Among the ministers who serx-ed them were Revs. K. Manford, the celebrated editor, a resident of Terre Haute: B. F. Foster, of Indianapolis; George McClure, of Dayton, Ohio, and a Air. Babcock. The organizing minister was Rev. ]\Iarble, of Fountain county, who preached once a month for one year. The leading members were Robert J. Gessie ("trustee and mortgagee") , Dr. Thornton S. Daxidson. Dr. Porter, Messrs. Lawless and Watt. They conducted a flourishing Sunday school. The writer knows of no other societies of this denomination within this county. In fact the belief is not as popular in any part of the country as it -was many decades ago. The Unitarians having taken man}- of the members o\er into their fold. Every community, however, now has Uni\ersalists in lielief, but not in sufficient numbers to organize and carry forward a church w ork, as do other sects.

Roman Catholic Churches

In the early missionar_\' days of Clinton some thirt)- years ago, there were very few Catholic families in Parke or Vermillion counties, and Rev. T. O'Donaghue, brother of the present bishop of Louisville, was entrusted with the spiritual guidance of a parish which was then almost a wilderness. In later years conditions began to improve, but not enough to warrant the establi.shment of a parish. Clinton accordingly remained a mission of Monte-

Coming to Clinton in Noxemlier of the same year Father Baur first i)ffered up the holy sacrifice of the mass in the home of Peter Lamlj at 315 Xorth Main .street. There the faithful continued to as.semble for divine worship till the vear 1892. when the old Hoffman residence, now No. 303 Water street, was purchased and converted into a church. It did not hjng meet the recjuirements of the growing congregation, however, and the jiresent proi)ert\- at Sixth and Nebeker streets was secured and St. Patrick's church erected in the spring of 1894.

The wonderful resources of the Clinton coal fields and the progressi\-e spirit of its business men began about this period to attract considerable attention throughout the states. As a consecjuence, during the pastorate of Re\'. Walter J. Cronin, 1900- 1906, \e\-y many people came seeking employment in the mines. Those who were successful decided to make their future home in the village on the Wabash. Among them were foreign representati\-es of nineteen different nations of the world.

So \ast had the congregation become in 1906 that Re\'. William A. Maher. who succeeded Father Cronin in June of the same year, was immediately impressed with the necessitv of a larger church and a school for the dissemination of Catholic learning. Through his ability to speak seven of the foreign languages he looked forward to a spirit of greater religious unity, and so began, in 1908, the erection of our present beautiful church, modeled after the cathedral of Thurles in Ireland. It is a picture of beauty, in stone and brown pressed brick, designed by Gault & Gault, of Terre Haute, and was dedicated to God's holy ser\ice June 13, 1909.

The cost of the church was about seventeen thousand dollars. The Sisters' school, now under charge of Sisters of St. Frances, from Oldenberg. Indiana, has an attendance of about three hundred pupils, while the congregation of the church numbers four thousand souls. The total \ahie of this church property is estimated at thirty thousand dollars.

Father James L. Bolin assumed charge of the parish in December, 1910. and in the following year began the erection of the present school building, now in charge of the Sisters, six in all. Father Bolin was succeeded 1)\- the jiresent jiastor, h'ather A\'illiam F. Keefe.

The Christian Church

This denomination, sometimes known as the Church of Christ, and many years ago as Disciples or CampbelHtes, at one time had a strong following in Vermillion county, but it is not so large today. There are, however, some societies of this sect, including those at Cayuga, Dana, St. Bernice, State Line society, and Clinton, but none but the Dana church has a regular pastor at this time, December, 191 2. There are houses of worship in each of the towns named. At Dana there are thirty-five members; the pastor is Re\-. J. W. Parks, who came in 19 12, and cares for the State Line church.

In Clinton there are also a few families of this denomination, but who are known as the "Antis," as they are radically opposed to the use of church organs and many of the modern societies that are known in other religious societies as auxiliaries, such as Sunday schools, Epworth Leagues and Christian Endeavors. They simply take the plain teachings of the New Testament, without credit or form of any sort, and they, too, style themselves "Christian," while many of the other of like general doctrinal belief call themselves the "Church of Christ," or "Christ Church."

The Clinton Christian church (first church) was organized in i8<S9 in Crabb's Hall by the Rev. W. W. Jacobs, of Kansas, Illinois, and during his stay with them the society prospered well, but after his departure from their leadership they declined until 1894, when Rev. H. M. Brooks, of Paris, Illinois, appeared on the scene and reorganized the church. It was in February of that year that their church house was dedicated. It is a good brick structure located on the corner of Seventh vind Blackman streets, .\mong the ministers who ha\e served here all ha\e done well their ]>art toward building up the church, which now has a menil)ership of about two hundred and fifty, who are daily trying to magnify the Christ, their Lord.

United Brethren Union Churches

The United Brethren Union church, at Cayuga, was organized March 18, 1906, by Rev. C. Long, with D. L. Sollers, deacon; O. S. Harvey, steward; Harry Kiger. clerk. In 1909 a neat frame church was erected at a cost of one thousand dollars. The membership of this church is now eighty-five. Re\-. John Wells, of Clinton, is the present pastor in charge. The new church building is ])ro\-ided with a good bell and church organ.