Washington County, Indiana - Chapter 11: Churches and Religious History, 1916

Chapter 11: Churches and Religious History

The first preachers in the county, like those in almost every new country, were almost contemporary with the first settlers. None of them were salaried, none were missionaries sent out into the wilderness by church organizations and societies in more densely ])opulated parts of the country. They cultivated the soil for a living and when there was time to spare would visit around through the different neighborhoods, get a few people together in some cabin and exhort them to repentance. The service consisted of a hymn, lined out by the preacher and sung by all present, then prayer, a sermon and another hymn. The preacher usually had the only hymn book among the congregation, hence the necessity of reading two lines, singing them, then reading two more and so on. The old familiar tunes were all of melancholy character, and sermons were delivered in a 6ing-song tone and the text was followed ver\' closely. Almost everyone who came into this new country had predilictions upon religious subjects, and when a few kindred spirits happened to locate together they soon formed a nucleus around which a church organization was afterward formed and a place of worship erected.

The beginning of Christianity in this county was under many unfavorable circumstances, but here and there were a few energetic, God-fearingpeople who worked for the Master, not for reward in a pecuniary sense, but for the salvation of the people. For many years the work progressed slowly, as there were many difficulties to overcome. In the outset they experienced serious trouble with the Indians, and it was not an uncommon thing to see men accompanying their families to church on Sunday with the bible in one hand and a gun in the other. And while the energies and forces of the nation were being directed against Great Britain in the War of 1812, they were compelled to be on the watch continually or seek refuge in forts to avoid the tomahawk and scalping knife.

The First Church Organization

When peace and safety were once more restored and the Indians were moved further west, the pioneer ministers entered again with increased zeal (23) into the work of establishing churches. A tew had ah'eady obtained firm footing and were moving gradually on the road to success. One of these and the first church organized in the county, was called the "Blue River Separate (or Free-Will ) Baptists," located about four miles south of where Salem now stands, and some few years before the county seat was established. The organization was perfected in May, 1810. and the master spirit of the same was Elder John W'right. He was born in Rowan county, North Carolina, in 1785. He came to Clark's Grant in 1807, In 1808 he and his wife were immersed in the Ohio river by William Summers, of Kentucky. He found occasion to hear the gospel expounded a few times by Alexander Campbell, and at once decided to become a preacher. In January, 1810, he located in what was then Harrison, but now Washington county, some five miles below Royce's Lick, the then capital of this part of the country. His father and others came into the neighborhood in March and April, and in Alay they organized the church. This was the beginning of- the "Church of Christ," or "Christians."

Having established a church at Blue Ri\er, Elder John Wright, assisted by his father, .Vmos \\'right. and his lirother, Peter, who were all good preachers, went out into diflferent parts (if the county and organized churches. They were called "Free-^^"ill Baptists." "Xew Lights or Independent Baptists," and it was only a few years before the_\' had ten church organizations formed into what \\as termed the Blue River .Association. From the very first Elder Jnhn ^^'nght was of the iipinion that the Bible alone was the nnl}- infallible and sufficient rule of faith and practice. He was the first man in Indiana who tnnk thi-; position. He laliored tci destroy di\-isinn and promote union among all the children of God. Though at first he tr)lerated the term Baptist, or wlKite\'er term a congregation chose for a name, he afterwards came to the conclusion that it would lie better to wear some name authorized in scri]iture, to designate the entire bod}- of his adherents. In i8tq he ])re-ented to the church at Blue River a resolution to this end. As individuals he was willing that they should be called "Friends," "Disciples" or Christians," but as a body he preferred the "Church of Christ."

Christian Chi-Rch

The resolution was adn]ited and the association has since been known as the "Church of Christ at Blue River." Alost all the other congregations in the county adopted a -iimilar re^nhnion or styled themselves the "Christian Church." This church, thrnut-h the efforts of the Wrishts. took the lead in the county and has ever maintained it. Elder Jacob Wright, a son of John Wright, was also a preacher in the county for years, and Hved up until 1884. Another branch of the Free- Will Baptists was organized in 1820, about four miles northwest of Salem. The place was called Sluder's meeting house. Henry Sluder and John Custer were the leading members and the church was very prosperous, for a number of years, but its adherents moved away and the place was abandoned, and the house, a log structure, was allowed to rot down. At the present time there is a membership of about four thousand two hundred in the county, the largest church organization in the county. The church in Salem was organized in 1849, with Jacob Wright as pastor, and has always been in a flourishing condition. B. F. Taylor has charge of the church at the present time.

Presbyterian Church

Of the Presbyterian churches of the county, Livonia stands first in the point of organization. In February, 1816, at the house of Alex McKinney, Sr., one mile south of where Livonia now stands, this church was organized by Rev. Samuel Shannon and consisted of thirteen members. It was first called Bethel, but soon after took the present name, Livonia, and erected a commodious house of hewn logs, the first, probably, built after the town was laid off. In April, 1818, Rev. William M. Martin was installed pastor by the presbytery of Louisville, which met there that year. In the relation of pastor he was retained there - with the exception of about six years, which he spent at Bloomington, for the purpose of educating his children - during a period of thirty-two years. He possessed the true missionary spirit and perhaps there was no man in the state who did more in laying the foundations of the church in all this new country than he.

Though making Livonia his home, pastor Martin went almost everywhere and few men ever had a more extensive . acquaintance. There was hardly a Presbyterian church in a dozen counties around Washington at which he did not preach some time or other and if a neighborhood desired to organize a new church "Billy" Martin was always sent for and he seldom failed in his purpose. He delighted to preach in log cabins and was not a stickler for church rules in every instance, but adopted the shortest plans for doing the greatest good, whether they accorded with Presbyterian doctrine or not. He usually preached three discourses on the Sabbath and on communion days began the work with a sunrise prayer meeting. Seeing the need of thorough intellectual culture among the masses in order to make them the liest at Christians, he estal/hshed a school which was very successful, calling in many young men and women from this and adjoining counties.

For this school thero was built a large house of hewn logs, which was called by the students the "Log College." It continued under the management and tutelage of Reverend Martin some fifteen years. His wife lent a helping hand in the school room, especially when he was called away in church service. His life was one of true benevolence and while his purse was open to the needy he gave of the bread of life to the perishing. His three sons became ministers of the gospel and five daughters became the wives of as many ministers, all of the same faith. Two sons and a daughter went forth as missionaries to China and -A-frica. Mr. Martin died on September lo. 1850.

An unfortunate division of the cliurch growing out of the split of the genera! assembly took place in iST,i^ and a second church was organized in Livonia. To this second church Rev. Benjamin ]\f. Xice ministered for a time. After a few years the division was healed and the branches came together again. During this and up to 1864 the church was suiiported by Reverends Augley, Pering. McCrea, ^^tcKinney and Barr. The Rev. Samuel E. Barr was 2>astor up to about 1880.

The Presb}-terian church at Salem was organized on .August 15, 181 7, by Rev. Samuel Shannon with twenty-eight members. The organization meeting was held in Washington county's first temple of justice and services were held in this court house fc5r almost a year, when the first house of worship was erected on the east side of High street, at that time in a grove, in the extreme north end of town.

This building was a frame structure with south and west doors. The pulpit stood at the middle of the east side of the house and from each door there was a broad aisle running towards the same. The pulpit was ele\ated to the height of five steps. Everything about the entire structure Avas as plain as could be and no painter's Inrush ever touched any portion of the building inside or out. Up to Afay iq, 1821, it was known as L'uion church, when the name was changed to the Salem Presbyterian church. Services were held regularly in this church for twentv-fi\-e }-ears. Tn 18^59 work was l>egun on the conimodi(^us lirick building which is still a house of worship, but it was not completed till Januarv. 1842. when it was formally dedicated by Rev. James _Tohns(in. of Madison, assisting the regular jiastor. Alex McPherson.

thousand dollars. The church has had the following ministers : Revs. W. W. Martin, Benjamin C. Cressey, Solomon Kittridge, S. Sealsbury, Joseph G. Wilson, Alex McPherson, B. Cole, N. L. Steele, Charles Marshall, S. M. Warren, Benjamin Franklin, W. H. Rodgers, E. Black, T. A. Steele, I. I. St. John, James McCrea, T. W. McCoy; and later Revs. Montgomery, Sutherland, Miller, Dickey, Wilson and Forrest C. Taylor, the latter now holding this ixjsition.

At one time, about 1857, there was a division in the church and a second Presbyterian church was organized, but a union was again brought about, and the membership has moved along smoothly ever since.

After severing his pastorate with the Presbyterian church in Salem, Rev. I. I. St. John built a little chapel on the hill in the west part of Salem,' adjoming the Catholic cemetery, where for several years he conducted services regularly every Sunday, with Sunday school. He finally moved back east and latterly services have been conducted in the chapel by the Episcopalians.

In the spring of 182 1, fifteen members of the Salem church who resided in the country east of Salem organized themselves into a church and erected a house of worship about a mile and a half up the creek east of Canton and named it Franklin. This church was quite prosperous ' for many years and a large burial ground was laid out and is still maintained. About 1840 the membership concluded that a house, of worship would be more convenient to all at New Philadelphia and a building was accordinglv erected, when the old Franklin church was abandoned. The church at New Philadelphia built another house of worship at a point called Beech Grove, three miles farther east, where services were held regularly for a great many years. The organization of Bethlehem church took place on April 10, 1824 The first person licensed to preach in Indiana was ordained and installed over the united churches of Bethlehem and Blue River in June, 1826 The Blue River organization never built a house of worship but meetings were held at Mrs. Armstrong's residence, near Fredericksburg, for a time, when It disbanded. Bethlehem church was in Jackson township, near Martinsburg and Its first pastor was Isaac Reid. For manv vears thie church was very prosperous, but a number of active members moved away and in 1843 It united with the Greenville church; but in 1877 they rebuilt a church on the old Bethlehem grounds and put the church again in good working condition. ^ preach till his death, in 18^4. The church in the pa'-t derived much of its persistent working ability and high moral tone from those who came into its fold from the old Covenanter church.

The Covenanters

The Covenanters are now an organization of the past. At one time this was a very strong and influential sect on Walnut Ridge. Their intiuence was for good and no doubt is still felt in that community. They were a people that were bitterly opposed to slavery and emigrated from South Carolina because they desired to live and rear their families in a free state. Most of them came to Washington county in 181 5 and at once had a society of several families. For some years they sojourned in the wilderness without the preached gospel. Sometimes, once or twice a year, a minister would come along and preach to the little flock for a Sabbath ur two.

In 1823 Reverend Lusk, who was an itinerant missionary, came into the settlement and tarried for two weeks preaching most every da\' at homes of the faithful. The society increased considerably during his stay and put up a log meeting house, where services were held regularly fur many years. At the first communion there were eighty communicants. They aided and abetted those who were active in conducting the "underground railroad," and when a slave succeeded in getting to the Co\-enanter neighborhood he was considered safe.

After the Civil War the society diminished graduallv, the old ones (Hed and the young ones in many instances moved off, which (1isru])ted the society forever. As long as the old adherents to the faith lived, when there was no preaching they gathered in some of their neighborhing families and spent the forenoon of everv' Sabbath reading the r>ible and instructing their children along religious lines and duties. The\- were \ er\- strict ol)ser\-ers of the Sabbath; cooking no meals, cutting no woixl ;ind on]\- caring for stock as necessity demanded.

Among the early emigrants to this count}' there were a number of Germans who were members of the Lutheran church. As early as ]Si6 a Doctor I'frimmer preached frequently at the residence of Joseph Reyman, who lived north of Salem and at other homes east of Salem. Rev. Rhinerson preached occasionally in \\'ashington township and at Henry Wynian's, near Martinsburg. In 1822 a church was organized near Ilarristown and a log meeting house erected. Connected with this church were Col. Henry Ratts and family, John Paynter and family, Peter and Jacob Naugle and their families, Mr. Goss and family, the Zinks and their families, George Holstein and family, Mr. Daily and family, Mr. Plowman and family, George Scifres and family and Mrs. Ward. In 1837 this church was abandoned and a new one was erected in Salem on the lot where Asa Elliott now resides. The church was called Zion and services were maintained for a few years when it was abandoned.

Among the ministers who preached here were Reverends Zink, Moretts, Ruser, Gaerhart and Henkle. Se\eral of these ministers were very highly educated Germans. Other churches came in and during their revivals succeeded in enrolling many of the Lutherans under their banners, so the few who remained faithful to the church, seeing that an organization could not be maintained longer, sold the property and that was the end of the church in Washington county. A few adherents to the Lutheran faith lived south of Martinsburg and got together occasionally for church services, but no building was ever erected and the organization dfd not last many years.

Roman Catholic Church

The only Roman Catholic church organization that ever existed in the county was in Salem. They finally l>ought an entire block on the east side of High street between Mulberry and Hackberry streets, which had been held by some early comers for church or school purposes, as it was the most eligible situation in town for such purpose. In 1856 a brick church was built and the same was dedicated by Bishop M. J. Spaulding, of Louisville; Kentucky, June 2, 1857. At that date the church had considerable following in and around Salem and Fathers Murphy, Xeeron, Doyle, Gintz, Pensor. Kintrip, Dick and Kenneth served as priests at various times. A cemetery was purchased and laid out on the north of Crown Hill. But those who were once active in this church work moved awav or died until there was little following left and about 1895 th'e church and block was sold to private parties. Afterward the Church of Christ people purchased the old church .ind have conducted services there regularly for several vears.

Baptist Church

Baptists were among the very first church workers that came into the county. Their first church organization was perfected only a few months after that of the Christian, or Free-will Baptists. The Baptist churche organized in the count}' in the fore part of the nineteenth century were ali what was known as "Hardshells," believing in predestination and opposed to foreign missionary wcrk and Sunda\- schools. They also believed that all preachers were called to the ministry by direct voice of God. This voice they heard while at labor on the farm, in the still hours nf night - under most all kinds of conditions and circumstances. ,\nd when they received the command to go furth and ])reacli for the salvation of souls, they promptly obeyed the call.

The first Baptist organizutiun perfected in the county was at the house of Colonel Dawalt, September 7, 1810. about three miles east of Salem and one mile east of Roy.se's Lick. Its membership was made up of emigrants from North Carolina and Kentucky, l-'or the tirst three years after the church was organized .services were held around at the homes of the members and were necessarily very irregular. In July, 1S14, a log church was completed, rather a rude affair, with ])tHir fixtures. The benches were made of split and hewn logs, the pulpit and Hnur nf puncheons. This church was called Sharon and the tirst regular pastor was hTder John Wilson, who preached occasionally till the house was erected and after that at stated times. In 1817 he was succeeded by ITder James McCoy, who, in 1819, was ordained to the full functions of the ministry, after which tune he was called to the pastoral care of the church and remained ni charge until the church was dissolved, November, 1830. Elders Moses Sellers and Isaac Worrall united with this old bo(,ly but remcnecl their memljership to other Baptist churches out of the county before they were ordained to the ministry, but each of them was afterward prominent in organizing new churches in the countv while they lived. Most of the members of this body went to Salem and assisted in organizing the church there a1)out the time Sharon was di.sbanded.

The next church organized in the county was the Clifty Baptist church at Mt. Carmel, in 1815, with twenty-one members. In this body Elder Thomas N. Robertsi n commenced his labors in the ministry and remained here some ten vears The last ]>astor was Elder Harrison Cornwell, who put in his entire time and life preaching in Washington and adjoining counties. Reuben Starks was for a time pastor of this church preceding Cornwell.

Mill Creek Bai)tist church was next organized with twehe member^, on June 5. 1S.22. at which time a council was called for this i)uri)ose from Union, Sharon and (^oncord churches, all ^f which are now ilissnlved.

Occasional meetings had been held in the neighborhood for several years prior to that date. At the organization meeting, Stephen Stark was chosen moderator and Elder Royse McCoy, clerk, the latter also served as pastor from date of organization to June 28, 1834. The first church house was a log building, located four miles southwest of Salem and was dedicated on August 3, 1823, the sermon on the occasion being preached by Elder Rossan, assisted by Elder James McCoy.

Jikler Jacob Crabbs was second pastor, who took charge on October 24, 1835. About this time the anti-mission spirit infested the churches of Lost River Association, of which Mill Creek was a part and a split occurred, when Mill Creek church pulled out and joined the Bethel association in 1837, of which she is still a nieml)er. Crabbs continued as minister to 1844,. except six months \\hen John C. Post was pastor. On the fourth Saturday in Xoveniber. 1844, J',lder William McCoy was chosen pastor, which posir tion he filled till January, 1891, covering a period of forty-seven years.

The church is now ninety-three years old and has had three meeting houses. There are very few churches in the county that have been kept up so long or have been so successful as Mill Creek.

The organization of Hebron church occurred on August 21, 1819, with only thirteen members. Under the pastorship of James McCoy, John Wilson and Arch Johnson it grew at one time to o\'er f)ne hundred. In 1876 there were Init fourteen communicants

About ten miles east of Salem, Zoar church is situated. Its organization took place in 1830 an<l at one time numbered seventy-five members. Elder John Wilson was pastor as well as a member of this body. The church at Salem was organized on January 17, 1829, with fourteen members. .\n imposing structure for the day was this first place of worship, built at the south end of Water street. At a cost of ten thousand dollars a new brick church was erected on the corner of High and Walnut streets. The pastor now in charge is E. P>. McKinley.

Mktiiodi.St Ceittrch

The first Methodist body in the county was organized in 1816 at Salem. The first church services were held in private homes and in the court house, which was open to all denominations. The first church erected in the county was called the "Cooley meeting house." about two miles southeast of Salem on the Jeffersonxille road. This church is supposed to have been erected about 1818. It was a very important point in the old Salem

The first' church erected ni Sale.n was on Last Poplar street ,n 828. j As all old records are los' few particulars of this early church a- avadab e^ Of tlus church Rev. Wdham Shanks was first paster. He probal K lad n,ore to do ..th the organization of Methodist churches ni NX ashn.gton countv than anv other nnui. He was an able man and an earnest church worker. He was of Scotch ancestry and his parents were Presbyter.ans. but hfe entered the Methodist ministry m i8u. at h,s home ,n \ .rguua^ He was ordained bv Bishop Asburv m 1813. He marr.ed a daughter of the celebrated William Oavens and came west m 18.2. In 1825 he was adnutted to the llhn.ns conference and was apponUed to the Sa em station and for a number of vears traveled what was known as the Salem crcmt. He was a great friend to the cause of education and was the leader m advocating'the^oundmg of Asbury University. In 1835 he acted as its first agem ^ohcitmg donations and. subscriptions from its fnen<ls to put up the first college btfilding. It wa^ at his suggestion that the name "Asbury Colleo-e" was first adopted. He was for fifty-two vear. a minister ot the gosl.el and fo. twentv-fivO vears was never known to luiss an appointinent.

The second building m Salem was erected on the corner of High and Market street, the building now being occupied by the ^^'-^ ^^ ^epartn.ent Th,. church was dedicated on September 10, 1854. Dr. W dham Dailv officiating. Mauv pastor, who m after vears became eminent divines and occupied exalted stations in life were at dift'erent times stationed with the Salem church.

In 18QO Merril Weir, of New .\lbanv. desired to erect a luouument to his mother upon the .pot where he was born and offered to donate funds for a new church to be known as the 'AVeir memorial. fhe otter was gladlv accepted and the present edifice was erected and de<licated m 1891. The present pastor is F. W. Hart, D. D. (Others who have served as pastors in this church since the erection of the ,ew building are Reverends Zanng, Wood, Clinton. Brown, O'Xeil. Batcheb.r, Robertson and kenworthv.

Friends, Or Quakers

-\s early as 1808 some Ouakers came into the county in search of homes foi themsehes and their pcple. bur the tide of emigration did not set in until about 1810. Most of them were from slave-holding states- South Carolina, Georgia and X'irginia- and tliev came m trains nt fifteen

The old Blue River monthly meeting was organized seventh month, first, 181 5, and the building of a meeting house was begtm that winter and completed in 1816, on land donated by Matthew Coffin. This house was originally of two rooms, twice as large as the building is now and it is said there was then scarcely room for those who came there regularly for worship. On January 6, 1816, a meeting was held at this place and a committee was appointed "to promote the civilization of the Indian natives," and also a committee "to consider the establishment of an Institution for the Instruction of our Youth."

In 1 818 a house was built about eight miles west of Salem called Mt. Pleasant, near where Smedley now stands. This house has long since gone down, but a graveyard still marks the place. About 1820 the Blue River church house was too small to accommodate all who belonged there and a new church was built near Seba, called Poplar Grove. This house, too, has long since disappeared.

Weddings were all held at these chufch houses and when the ceremony had been completed the partners signed their names in the church book with witnesses thereto. Priscilla Hunt, who later married Joseph Cadwalader, was a celebrated minister in her day and was called to visit the meetings of friends far and wide. Edmund Brooks came west, in 18 16, to preach : Elihu Hoag came from Vermont ; Hannah Thompson, from North Carolina; Stephen Gillett, a French minister; Hugh Judge, from New York; Dungen Clark, from North Carolina; and many others visited the church from time to time and conducted services through a series of years. Upon one occasion Samuel Coffin and sister wanted to hear one of the above eminent divines and they had but one ox to carry them, so Samuel walked while his sister rode the ox a distance of seven or eight miles.

It was through the influence and practice of these early Quakers that the practice of having whisky in the harvest field and at all public gatherings was broken up.

In 1828 an unfortunate division occurred in the church in all parts of the country and the division extended to this county. The old Blue River monthly meeting was t«rn asunder, one branch becoming the Hicksite, the other the Orthodox. The Ixjdy known as the Hicksites were so named from holding to the views advanced by Elias Hicks, of Long Island. They retained the old church and the Orthodox branch held meetings at the private homes of members and at Nathan Trueblood's mill house for a time until a buikling was erected about a mile and a half northeast of old Blue River. Here the Orthodo.x people still worship. In 1841 the Highland Creek meeting house was erected, five miles northwest of Salem, where a strong congregation is s'ill in existence.

The early Quakers deemed 'it a part of their Christian duty to look after the Indians. A special committee was appointed to look after the scattering bands of savages who still were to ])e found in the surrounding country and members of this committee made frequent visits among the red men in this and adjoining counties to assist if possible in bettering their condition and keep them on peaceful terms. The Quakers were always strong advocates for good schools and did much in early times to place the county in the front rank along educational lines.