Charlestown Township

Charlestown Township

The town of Charlestown has a very prosperous and influential congregation of i\Iethodists. Of the later history of the Charlestown church but little can be learned, but its earlier history is that of the grant, as the earliest ser\'ices held in this locality were held near Charlestown. The church here is one of the three full stations in Clark county, Wall Street in Jeft'ersonville, and Port Fulton being the other two. The church building at Charlestown is a substantial brick structure. It was dedicated in 1854 by Bishop Ames. There is also a good parsonage, offering a comfortable and convenient home for the pastor. It is valued at three thousand dollars. The congregation numbers about three hundred souls.

New W'A.Shington Circuit

The New Washington Circuit at present consists of six chapels: New Washington, Mount Zion, New Hope, Bethlehem, Saiem and Shiloh. Salem Chapel is about three miles southeast of Charlestown and was originally Gazaways, one of the first three societies organized in the county by Benjamin Lakin. The congregation now numbers sixty. The New Washington church at New Washington is not very strong, having only thirty-seven members reported at the last conference. Mount Zion was reported as having ninety members; New Hope, twenty; Bethlehem, seventy, and Shiloh, fifty.

Shiloh lays between Westport landing and Hibernia. It is one of those temples which we all turn to intuitively ; one whose history awakens the happiest and tenderest emotions. Its first members w-ere Thomas Allen and wife, John Lever and wife. Job Ingram and wife, Jacob Bottorff and family, John Hutchins and wife. Calvin and John Rutter were the first preachers. They were brothers, men devoted to the work they had chosen. In 1854 the old house of worship was replaced by a better building. This society is fairly prosperous.

The church at Bethlehem is the only one in the extreme east end of the county. The Methodist church in this end of the county sprang from a long series of successful revivals. On the same section where Jacob Giltner ran his horse mill in 1808, but on the northeast corner, lived Melsin Sargent. His house stood on the road which led to New Washington, one and one-half miles from the present post-office of Otto. Sargent was one of the first ]\Ieth- odists in this end of the county, and at his house the services of the denomination were held for many years. His house was always open to preaching, and was the regular place of worship up to 1836. Sargent moved to Jefferson county, Indiana, and died many years ago. The people who gathered at Sargent's were of various religious professions. ]\Iany of the richest experiences of this class were enjoyed there, while the church was just beginning to feel the healthful currents of a sound body politic. From these meetings the New Hope ^Methodist Episcopal church sprang into existence : l)ut during the time which elapsed previous to 1836, the }ear the church building was erected, services were often held in the dwelling houses of Michael Bern- and Eli Watkins. The church was erected in the year above mentioned, and was the first church of this denomination put up in the township. The old house was used until 1871, when it was replaced by another frame, thirty bv fortytwo feet. Rev. Calvin Ruter was probably the first preacher. He was a man of great influence among the members, and afterwards became presiding elder. Rev. Samuel Hamilton succeeded Mr. Ruter as presiding elder. He also was much admired for his excellent character. Rev. James L. Thompson, John McRunnels, Thomas Scott, Allen Wylie, James Garner and George Lock came in succession after Hamilton. Then came Enoch G. Wood, a person of great influence and possessed of an unblemished character. Rev. Joseph Taskington and John Miller were here in 1833 ^^'^'^ 1834, the latter a man of many fine parts. Rev. Zachariah Games and Thomas Gunn came next, Mr. Gunn preaching in 1835. Revs. George Beswick and McElroy (the latter an Irishman and by profession a sailor), John Bayless, W. V. Daniels, were all here in 1836-37-38. Rev. John Rutledge ser\'ed one year. After him came Rev. Isaac Owens, who preached in 1839-40-41. In 1843 Charles Bonner served the people. Rev. Constantine Jones was their circuit preacher for one year. Rev. Lewis Hulbert, assisted by Elisha Caldwell, was the preacher in 1844.

Then came Revs. ^^'ilHam McGinnis, L. V. Crawford. John Malinder, Doctor Talbott. E. Flemming. Amos Bussey, and William jNIaupin. These latter persons bring it down to 1854. The first members were Eli Watkins, Melsin Sargent, John Tyson, Daniel Ketcham, Levi Ogle, Michael Berry, John ^^^ Jones and Samuel ^^'hiteside, all with their wives and a portion of their families.

Hexryville Circuit

The Henrvville Circuit consists of five chapels and is at present under the charge of the Rev. W. H. Thompson. The chapels are located as follows : Henrvville at Henryville, ^Memphis at ^Memphis, Underwood at Cnderwood, Mount Olive and Xew Chapel in the adjacent country. The first preaching place in this cummunity was Little Union, a school-house, which was built about the year 1830. It was a hewn log building with an old-fashioned fire- place. This building we are told was used by all denominations then worshipping in this community. This house was built about one-half mile northwest of Henryville. on the ground now known as the Little Union graveyard.

About the year 1835 the Methodists organized and built what was known as the Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal church. It was built on the farm of the Rev. Seymour Guernsey in the plat of ground now known as the Mount Zion cemetery. This house was built of hewn logs, many of them poplar, and was perhaps twenty-four by thirty-six feet in size. In 1839 the west end of the house was sawed out and an addition of frame added. This house was used as a preaching place until some time in the sixties. Henrvville had grown to have enough members of the Methodist church to reasnnablv expect that sen-ice should be held in the town, so by the consent of the Presbyterians, the Methodists used the Presbyterian church, a frame structure, standing on the bank of Wolf Run, a few rods east of the preserit Henrvville seminary. The old Mount Zion church underwent some repairs about this time, and was used for a number of years as a shelter in time of storm for those who came to bury their dead. About the year 1871 the society got together and concluded to build a church in Henryville. They selected a mechanic, known as Uncle Sammy ^^'illiams, as foreman, and the house was dedicated early in the vear 1872 with the name of Williams Chapel. In this house the people worshiped until the year 1908. The church having been remodeled through the instrumentality of the pastor. Rev. Lit Peck, was re-dedicated April 26. 1908.

The Mount Olive Methodist Episcopal class was first known as the ]\Iount Moriah class, which was organized in 1828 some three and a half miles southeast of the present town of Henryville. In 1859 or i860 the class was moved nearly a mile from the former place to Oakland school-house, where the people worshiped regularly until 1871, when Mount Lebanon Presbyterian church was built. The Methodists worshiped with them in the same building until 1899 under Rev. U. G. Abbott, when the people began building the present frame building called Mount Olive church about one mile north of the Mount Lebanon Chapel, and three miles southeast of Henryville. It was completed under Rev. J. L. Cooper and dedicated in 1900.

Willey's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal class, was organized in 1885, in the Forest Grove school-house by Rev. J. M. Norton, where the people worshiped until 1886, when the present frame building was erected and dedicated. It stands about five miles southwest of Henn-ville. The class around which the people at Willey's chapel rallied was a few survivors of the old "Boweiy Chapel" church, erected in early times about one mile west of Memphis. W'hen Bowery ceased to be used for church purposes this class erected the old "Gum Log" meeting house at Blue Lick, which served as a place of meeting for manv vears, but at this time, 1886. had gone to decav. and most of the mem- bers had either died or scattered. The few remaining ones constituted the first class at Wihey's chapel. The leaders were Joel Rose and John King.

The Underwood JNIethodist Episcopal class was organized in the year 1883. and was known as the Summit class. During this same rear the frame church building was erected, where the people worshiped regularly until November, 1908, when under the pastorate of the Rev. W. H. Thompson, Ph. B., the church was enlarged and completely remodeled. This building was re-dedicated by the Rev. M. B. Hyde, D. D., the district superintendent of Seymour district.

Memphis Methodist Episcnpal church was built by the Baptist society in 1870, but was sold the same year at Sheriff's sale to Daniel Guernsey, who turned it over to the Methodist congregation, which was at that time worshiping in the schonl-house. It stands in the present town of jMemphis, having escaped the fire in 1901, which destroyed nearly the whole town.

History Of The Otisco Church And Circuit

The Otisco society was organized early in 1870 in the school-house, with only eleven members, none of which are now living. It was organized by Rev. Peter H. Bottorff, as local elder. He is now living on a farm in ITica township, near Utica, Indiana. At that time Enoch G. ^^'ood was presiding elder. The following pastors served while they worshiped in the school-house : In the fall of 1870 Rev. W. H. Widman was sent on the work; his year was completed by Rev. Jacob Ruddle. Rev. A. M. Louden served one year, from 1871 to 1872. Rev. Thomas Brooks served one year, from 1872 to 1873: Rev. A. G. Aldridge one year, from 1873 to 1874. Rev, Henn.' Morrow, one year, from 1874 to 1875. Then came the Rev. W. H. Burton, who served three years in all, from 1875 to 1878. During his first year's work in the school-house, he, with the help of others, erected and completed the church which is now standing, and in June, 1876, on the 25th day of the month, the church was dedicated for the public worship of God, by the Rev. F. A. Hester. D. D. Brother Ed Covert is now the oldest living member uniting with the Methodist Episcopal church, in March of 1870. Sister Emma Nevelle, being the next oldest living member, both of these united during the pastorate of Rev. P. H. Bottorff. Brother J. A. Kirk, now living at this place was licensed as a local preacher in 1878, during the pastorate of Rev. J. T. O'Neal, D. D., who ser\'ed as pastor two years, from 1878 to 1880. Brother Ed Kirk was given an exhorter's license by Rev. George Church, who served one year, from 1901 to 1902. The following pastors have served the church faithfully and well :

The church has continued to grow from her infancy with only eleven members until now, during the present minister's pastorate. Rev. J. O. Scott, she has reached almost one hundred members.

Other chapels in the Otisco circuit are: Pleasant Ridge, a class of sixtyfive members; Beswick chapel, a class of thirty-nine members; Nabb's chapel at Nabbs, with a class of thirty-five members ; New Bethel, a class with ninety members, and Lexington, a class with thirty-five members.

The church at Sellersburg and Pleasant Grove are in charge of the Rev. E. F. Schneider. Sellersburg has a well built frame church and a parsonage of a total probable value of six thousand dollars ; two hundred ninety-four members of the church and two hundred and thirty members of the Sunday school. Pleasant Grove has a class of fifty-five members.

Sellersburg circuit consists of chapels as follows : Jacob's chapel, situated on the New Albany road between Sellersburg and New Albany, fifty-six members.

Ebenezer church stands three miles west of Memphis and fourteen miles west of New Albany. This church was built in 1842 and re-built in 1888. It has sixty members.

Bennettsville JMethodist Episcopal church stands in the town of Bennettsville, ten miles northwest of New Albany, on the Monon Railroad. - This church was built in 1852 and re-built in 1891. It has sixteen members.

The Jeffersonville circuit comprises chapels on Harrison Avenue in Howard Park, and \\'esley Chapel, in Ohio Falls. Both of these chapels are flourishing and give promise of being influential factors in the growth of these localities.

Utica Circuit

The Utica circuit consists of three chapels: Utica. New Chapel and Union. The date of the New Chapel church is not exactly known, but it is given as veiy near the date of 1800. It belonged to the oldest circuit in the state. As early as the year 1793 preaching had been lield about a mile above Utica, and several IMethodists from Louisville had their membership here on account of there being no church class at home.

The organization of the Utica class was effected at the residence of Basil R. Prather. whose house for a number of years before had furnished a place of worship. Bishop IVlcKinley was the minister in charge on the day of ordination. About 1804 a round-log house was erected on an acre of land in tract number thirty-seven, deeded to the Methodist Episcopal church by Jeremiah Jacobs ani Walter Prather. It was built by subscription, and worth, when completed, alx)ut two hundred and fifty dollars. It had but one window, clap-board roof and the old style of stone chimney. In 181 1 the house was torn away, and a new hewed-log house erected twenty-two by thirty-six feet, one and one-half stories high. It had four windows, a shingle roof, stove, pulpit, comfortable seats, and so on. This house was also built by subscription, and cost two hundred dollars. In 1836 the hewed-log house was torn away and a third, built of brick, forty-five by fifty-five feet, took its place. It had eleven windows, was one and one-half stories high, had three doors, and an altar and pulpit. This house was also built by subscription, and cost one thousand three hundred eighty-two dollars. In 1867 the chapel was repaired at a cost of one thousand four hundred dollars.

Among the first preachers at the new chapel of the Methodist Episcopal church were Revs. Josiah Crawford in 1808, Silas Payne in i8og. Isaac Lindsey and Thomas Nelson in 1810-11, William McMahan and Thomas Nelson in 1812, James Garner. Elijah Sitters. Shadrick Rucker, Joseph Kincaid. Joseph Powel. John Schrader, David Sharpe, C. W. Ruter, Rol>ert M. Baker and William Cravens, all before 1820.

The Utica Methodist Episcopal circuit was fomied in 1843, with William V. Daniels as the first presiding elder. Rev. Charles Benner was the first traveling preacher. He was followed by Emmaus Rutledge in 1845 ^^^^ James Hill in 1846: Rev. Elijah Whitten was in charge in 1847, and then for one year each the following persons : Revs. Lewis Hulbert, John A. Brouse,

Jacob ]\Iyers and Jacob Bruner. These men were all here before 1852. Rev. J\Ir. Daniels served as presiding elder until 1850, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Herns, who acted for one year. Revs. C. R. Ames and \\'illiam Dailey were presiding elders in 1851-52.

Connected with the New Chapel church is a handsome cemetery, enclosed by a stone wall on the east side and at both ends. A number of fine monuments are scattered about. The graveyard looks decidedly neat, more so than any other in the county as far from Jeffersonville. The vard is a rectangle ; has about four acres of land, and is in keeping with the church of which it forms a part. There is also a good Sunday school carried on at this point during the year. This church and Sabbath school are fair exponents of the people in this region. They are located about one mile northeast of Watson post-office.

N^ew Chapel has at present one hundred twenty-two members. It was originally called Jacob's Chapel and was one of the three first classes organized by Benjamin Lakin.

Tlie Union ]\Iethodist Episcopal church, in the northwest corner of the township, was composed formerly of members from the Lutheran church, by whom really the Methodist church was formed. Among the first members of the Lutheran church were Jacob Grisamore and wife and David Lutz, Sr., and wife. Rev. ^Ir. Frenimer, of New Albany, who traveled the entire country, was one of the first preachers. The original church building was a log structure. Some few years after 1830 a brick church was erected by the neighborhood, the old Lutheran members having moved ofif or died in many instances. This church derived its name from the fact that all denominations worshiped in the first house. After forty-odd years of use and much repairing, a proposition was made to buy or sell by both the Christian and Methodist Episcopal people, who were the leading denominations. At the sale the Methodists paid two hundred fifty dollars for the undivided half. The church was then repaired and used for a few years more, until it needed repairing again. At last a movement was made to build a new house. Money was solicited, a kiln of brick was burned on the ground, and now a handsome building is situated almost on the old site. The property is worth, including the cemetery, about eight thousand dollars. The land on which the church stands was originally deeded to the Lutheran denomination by Jacob Grisamore, but it has since become the property of the IMethodists. Mathias Crum and wife, David Spangler and wife, Charles Ross and wife, were some of the first members of the Methodist class. For preachers they had, before 1810, Revs. Josiah Crawford, Silas Payne, Thomas Nelson and others, who preached at the New Chapel church. This class has now about ninety members.

In the western part of the county in the fall of 1891, Pomona ChajTel was built as the result of a series of meetings held in the school-house near by.

Baird S History Of Clark Co., Ixd Morton Memorial Church, South

For several years during tlie latter part of tlie sixties a little band of eleven Alethodists met regularly and held services in the old engine house on Maple street between Pearl and Mulberry, and called themselves Southern Methodists. The names of the eleven charter members of the church are JNIan,' E. \\'elburne, Edwin H. W'elburne. J. R- Lingenfelter, Esther F. Lingenfelter. Sarah Potter, Martha Campbell, Caddie Bosworth, Judith A. Bellis. George McKensie, G. W. Baxter and Anna L, Guernse}\ Of these four are still living, and are Mrs. Potter. ^Irs. Bosworth, G. \\ . Baxter and Esther F. Lingenfelter. This was in 1868, and Rev. Samuel W. Speer, D. D., was the pastor from Xovemljer 8, 1868, until July, 1869. At that time Rev. Silas Xe^vton became pastor and remained until October of the same year. Rev. Jacob Ditzler was sent as pastor in 1869, but did not serve. In the year 1869 the idea of building a church edifice was conceived and carried out, and the first Southern ]\Iethodist church in Jeffersonville was erected at Maple and Mulberry streets and was dedicated March 13, 1870, by Bishop Kavanaugh. The first pastor for this new church was the Rev. R. D. Pool, who came July 21, 1870, and remained until the conference was held four months later, when the Rev. Thomas G. Bosley was sent October i, 1870, to become pastor and he remained five months.

Irregular supply was furnished from March, 1871, for three months, and on July 30, 1871, John Lewis came as pastor and served three months. In October, 1871, Rev. F. G. Brodie became pastor and he remained six months, and was followed by Rev. J. E. Martin, who occupied the pulpit for six months also.

In October. 1872. Rev. Samuel Lovelace was installed as pastor and he served the church faithfully for three years and was followed by Rev. J. M. Phillips in October, 1875, who was pastor for two years. Rev. George Brush became pastor in October, 1877, and remained two years and the Rev. George Foskett came in October. 1879. and was pastor for four years and was greatly loved by all the members.

Rev. Granville Lyons served one year, coming in October, 1883, and he was followed by the Rev. John M. Crow in September, 1884, and he in turn was followed by the Reverend Gaines.

About this time the Big Four bridge was planned and the railroad company purchased of the church trustees the old building and the members concluded to build a larger and better church. For some time after the building was abandoned the church was used by a religious sect who called themselves the Feet Washers, or All Saints. Later, when a split occurred in the Christian church, some of the members secured the building and held services there for about two years, calling themselves the Second Christian church.

In 1893 the Morton Chapel ^Methodist Episcopal church was erected on Locust street, between iNIaple street and Court avenue, and the following ministers have served as pastors in the new edifice : Revs. Charles Crow, G.

B. Overton, George Campbell, B. F. Bigg, J. RI. Lawson, J. F. Cherry, J. B. Butler and S. M. Miller. In 1887 the membership consisted of three hundred sixty members and now over four hundred are enrolled on the church books.

At the time when the old church was in use the parsonage was at 100 Ohio avenue, at the foot of Maple street. \Mien Morton chapel was erected a parsonage was erected adjoining the church.

The name Morton Memorial church was given after the death of Dr. David Morton, who was secretary of the church extension. He had been veiy active in raising funds for this church.

This congregation was organized in 1845 by the Rev. Conrad Muth. The first church building was erected on Locust street in 185 1 by the Rev. G. Heller. The second church building was erected on the site of the present building in 1877, at the corner of Maple and Watt streets by the Rev. Jacob Brockstahler. The congregation was organized originally from among the early German settlers, and it is still largely composed of the descendants of these people. At the present time the church is really more English than German. German preaching being retained only in the Sunday morning service. Its present membership is one hundred three. In 1908 a beautiful pipe organ was installed. The officers of the church are Jacob Schwaninger,