Union Township (part 1 of 4)

Union Township

The tirst burying ground for Union City was laid out by Hon. Jere Smith and Dr. J, N. Converse, north of the original plat, chiefly between Howard and Plum, and somewhat north of Division street, and including what is now Oak Grove, the elegant residence and grounds of E. L. Anderson, Esq.

There were 517 lots for private owners, and Lots 25 and 20 besides. Some burials took place there, but the ground seemed not suitable, and it was but little used, and at this time many, perhaps most or all of the bodies, have been removed.

Other grounds were selected, an association was formed, and a new cemetery was established. Union City Cemetery Association was formed Febmary 4, 1803. The first Trustees were Finloy Maloy, James White, Isaac P. Gray, John L. Roaenbush, Joel N. Converse.

The company first bought six acres of land of Joel N. Converse, west of the present city limits, between the pike and the railroad. They nest (in 1807), bought about one acre of Joel N. Converse, extending the ground north to the pike, and two acres southward to the railroad; plat recorded October 21, 1870. The third purchase was twelve acres west of the cre^k (1874), This last tjact, as also the new grounds south, has never been platted into lots. Cost of the grounds: six acres at IIOO per acre, $600; three acres at $150 per acre, $450; twelve acres at $200 per acre, $2,400; total, $3,450. The original six acres were platted into 825 lots, with suitable streets between the lots, the re'-ord of the plat being made July 28, 1803, and the new purchase north has been platted. The plat was recorded October 21, 1870; number of lots, 120; size of lots, eight to thirty feet wide; price of lots in general, $1.50 per foot front; price of lots on streeta, 10- per cent extra; price of lots at comers, 20 per cent exti'a; ownere of lots, 328; price of digging graves at first, $1.50. under ten years; $2 above ton years; price of digging granes now, $3 aud $4. The company has been somewhat crippled by the last purchase, being considerably in debt on account of it, and not much improvement has been attempted. However, a hedge has been set around the cemetery, and it is now in the second year's growth. The ground is well situated for the purposes of burial, being moderately rolling. Several lots have been set apart irrecoverably for the interment of soldiers, as also a considerable space for the use of non-lot owners. Many fine monuments and some costly ones have been erected at the graves of friends, and some shrubbery has been set, and fences placed around lots, and the cemetery begins to present a neat and tasteful, and even elegant appearance. Among others is found the beautiful shaft eroctt^l as a soldier's moniunont. It makes a fine display, and is a creditable and appropriate tribute to the memory of the brave departed. It is to be regi-etted that provision was not made for engraving upon the monument the several names of the soldiers at their respective interments. The Sextons have been as follows : First, Samuel Sutton, until April, 1872; second, F. A. Hinsch, until April, 1874; third, J. M. Wren, until December, 1875; fourth, B. F. Buckingham, to the present time, July 27, 1881.

The number of interments is given herewith: Kest of the year 1872, twenty-nine; whole of 1873, forty-one; 1874, thirtynine; 1875, forty-five; 1876, sixty-nine; 1877, forty-five; 1878, thirty-six; 1879, fifty-two; 1880, fortytliree; 1881 (part), forty. The varying ^number of interments is somewhat striking: Last five months of 1880, thirteen; first live months of 1881, thirty-five; last three months of 1880, five; first three months of 1881, twenty-four; last two months of 1880, one; first two months of 1881, fourteen. The lowest number in one month is none; the greatest number is ten, viz., March, 1881.

This record of interments does not show the full number of deaths in the city or its vicinity. The Catholics have a cemetery in the neighborhood, and all persons belonging to them are interred in that inclosure. Many are taken to the places whore friends or companions have been deposited in former years. Ever since the appointment of memorial services on Decoration Day, May 80th, (or May 31st if the 3(lth fall on Sunday), by the Grand Army of the Republic, appropriate and affecting, and sometimes greatly impressive observances have l)oon hold at the cemetery from year to year. The present burial-ground is apparently well suited to its objects, and will remain doubtless permanently consecrated to its 'sadly interesting puri>oses. TJie location is at a reasonable, yet not too great distance from the city. The ground is sufficiently rolling to present an agreeable appearance, and dry enough to answer the use to which it has been devoted, with sufficient slope, moreover, to allow a ready and adequate drainage, lying on both sides of the bed of the Little Mississinewa.

The situation is retired, yet not too much so, lying between the highway leading to the fair grounds on the one hand, and the two westward railroad tracks on the other, and only just outside the city limits. As already hinted, something has been done by way of ornamentation, many tasteful and some costly monuments have been erected in memorial of friends who are " loved, not lost;" and the whole result appears to approve the judgment and justify the discretion of those who made this second selection of a cemetery for Union City. The regulations as to entrance and deportment are strict, yet not too severe, but simply intended to secure the quiet, order and decorum needful in a place allotted to the resting-place for the dead. Location Wayne Township, Section 20, Town 18, Range 1 - Amasa Payne, November 2, 1856, 84 years. Catharine Roe, January 15, 1857, 59 years. Note. - The above must have been buried elsewhere and transferred to this place, or else there was a private burying ground here before its use as a public cemetery.

John Hartman, March lU, 1804, 22 years. First Sergeant of Company C, Fifty-seventh Indiana Regiment, served two years and four months, and died at home.

White River Cemetery is very old. Friends' meeting having been established about or even before 1820. Mrs. Edwards, mother of Hamilton Edwards, resident south of Winchester, was buried in the autumn of 1881, being of a great age, 84 years.

Isaac W. and infant daughter, children of Jeremiah and Cynthia Smith (Judge Jere), died August 6, 1850, and Juno 2'.t, 1853, ages not given.

Winvhrntcr (old ; David Heaston, proprietor; seventy-seven lots: location, southwest of Winchester, Section 20, Town 20, Kange 14; size, 151^x227.^ feet; i-ecordod May 22, 1802. A. J. Neff's addition; location, south side; thirty-six lots; recorded July 1',), 1867. A. J. Neff's second addition, 126 lots; location, north and east sides; recorded August 14, 1816. Fountain Park Cemetery, established by Asahel Stone, and donated by him to the citizens of Winchester for the pmijosesof a public cemetery; size of tract, forty acres; recorded March 1, 1880).

Rebecca, wife of William Badgley, born in New Jersey December 11, 1772, and died February'.), 185iJ, removed to Fountain Park Cemetery in 1881, 86 years.

Eliiiaboth Noff. oldest daugher of John Nefi, Esq., and wife of Jacob Elzroth, Esq., bom in Bototom't County, Va., October 10, 17ll(), and died Se])tember 20, 1804, 08 years.

Capt. J. Lawrence Neff, Caiitain of Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-fom-th Indiana, commissioned in February, 1804, Resaca to Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville; killed at Kingston, N. C, at the head of his company, March 10, 1805, age not given.

John Bolender, served six years as a grenadier, three years in active service against Napoleon Bonaparte, and died December 9, 1805, 75 yeai-s.

Proiiiii^ciunis. - John Monks and witv are buried on the old Monks farm, south of AVinchester; John Irving and wife are buried on the Irving farm, south of Winche.ster; Windsor Wiggs is buried in the cemetery on the Crist farm, southeast of Spartanburg. He died November 27, 1856; Sarah Wiggs, widow of Windsor Wiggs, died August 4, 1881; William Smith, father of Hon. Jore Smith, buried on his old farm in Section 5, Town 18, Range 13; burying ground 150 feet square, iron fence around the grave; Mrs. William Smith, wife of the above, buried at the same place; D.-miel Bales, buried at Sparrow Creek Cemetery, southwest of Dunkirk.

DoTxbtloss many persons are interred throughout the county in private grounds unknown to the general public at the present time, as also to the writer of these sketches.

In concluding this memorial to the dead, it is jwoper to state that great labor lias been bestowed upon the subject, yet the result obtained cannot be supposed to be entirely uccm'ate, nor fully complete. But it may bo truly declared that the whole is as thorough as it was in the jiower of the autlior to accompli.sh; and the hope is indulged that a generous public will appreciate the difficulties of the t.isk attempted, and forgive such defects and errors as may by a critical examination bo discovered to exist.

Colored People

PERSONS of color came so early to the county, and in such numbers, and have remained, during the yeais since those olden days, dwellers in these regions, and in Randolph County in j)articular, so extensively and so permanently, that it has been deemed advisable to give an account of them in a separate chni>. ter.

There are three colored settlements in Randolph County. Ist, Greenville Settlement, northeast of Spartansburg. '2d, Cabin Creek Settlement, on Cabin Creek, not very far from Huntsville.

Tn 1822, Thornton Alexander, Sr., with a wife and nine children, moved from Warren County, Ohio, to Greensfork Township, northeast of Spartansburg. Within a few years, he entered HOO acres of excellent land. In a short time, other colored fam- 'lies followed Mr. Alexander, so that a considerable settlement was soon formed. In 1833, eleven years after he had entered the wilderness, iho following settlers were in the region:

Ezekiel Lewis, east of Thornton Alexander; Collier Simpson, north of Alexander; William Lewis; Philip Holland, near the Griffis farm; Allen Davis, near Jessup's Mill; John Randlo, near Spai-tansburg, 1833.

Colored persons continued to come in until, by 1840, the settlement had been quite large. About 1845, the Union Literary Institute, a manual labor boarding school, was established for indigent youth there by the munificence of Benjamin Thomas, James Moorman, James Clemens, Thornton Alexander and others, friends of the poor, both white and colored. Land to the amount of near one hundred and eighty acres was donated, and a charter obtained from the Logislatm-e. Rev. E. Tucker was emj)loyed as Principal, and a boai'ding house, by donations from triends of the cause, was erected. The school was opened in June, 1816, and for years the school was somewhat famous throughout the region. Good schools were scarce then, and large numbers of all colors attended from Randolph and adjacent counties. Colored youth were mombei-s of the school fi-om Dayton, Piqua, Cincinnati, Richmond, Logansport, Indianapolis, from Shelby and Mercer Counties, Ohio, and even from Mississippi. Many colored youth received an education there who have since done good work for their people.

Prof. Tucker left in 1854, and, after passing through various hands, and being intermitted for several years, the institution was revived again, and Prof. Tucker took charge, and taught from 1873 to 1871).

The school is now under the supervision of Mr. Milton A. Roberts, a graduate of Spiceland Academy, a gentleman of fine talents and of high promise for future usefulness as an instructor of youth. It was originally a boarding school, but the change of tiiuos has brought it to be cl'iolly a neighlxirhood school. However, it is still accomplishing a good work for those who attend its instructions.

Most of the early settlers are dead. John Handle alone remains of the grown-up settlers, old and blind, but sprightly and cheerful. [He died, October, 1881.] Isaac Alexander, who came there as a boy seven years old, in 1822, still resides in the settlement.

Many of the men volunteered in the army and gave good service in helping to crush the rebellion and to secure freedom to the down-trodden millions of their race; and they are reaping their due reward in the enjoyment of a full citizenship, bestowed on them by a grateful country.

The settlement hero lies on both sides of the Ohio lino, with by far the largest part in Ohio. In Indiana, a territory about one mile by three is occupied, while in Ohio nearly three miles square is covered by the colored residents. In Ohio, four school districts are to bo found, with a good schoolhouse in each, three of them being new brick edifices of good construction and neat design, and schools are maintained for seven to eight months in the year.

The nucleus of the settlement in Ohio was foi-med alxmt fiftyfive years ago, by James Clemens, Sr., with his large family of boys and girls, there being eight or ten childi-en, five of whom are still living. James Clemens and his wife, Sophia, are dead, both living to be about ninety years old. He took up in his lifetime about six hundred acres of land, which is now mostly distributed among his numerous descendants. The principal residents now are Charles Clemens, James McKown, Keuben Goens, William Burden, William McKown, Zebedeo Buss, Asaniah Goens, Elijah P. Clemens, Windsor W. Epps, Leander Swaney, Sandy Jones, Riley Bass, Pen^ Clemens, Jjayton Clemens, A. J. Clemens, J. W. Clemens, Charles Carpenter. John Carpenter, Willson Smithj Mi-s. Mahala Clemens, Mrs. Dimmt, Alfred Clemens, Silas Wade, Moses Jefl'erson, Blake Durant, Sumner Durant, Silas Bobbins and many others.

In the whole Greenville settlement, some years ago, there were about nine hundred people. There is on the Ohio side a Wesleyan Church, and on the Indiana side an Afi-ican Methodist Episcopal Chui'ch. The clergyman among them are: Rev. Lemuel Stokes, Indiana side, A. M. E. ; Rev. Charles Clemens, Ohio side, Wesleyan; Rev. Perry Clemens, Ohio side, Wesloyan.

Elijah P. Clemens, teacher; Windsor W. Ej>ps, teacher and studying law; Silas Robbins, now practicing attorney at St. Louis, Mo.; Wesley Robbins, teacher, and practicing medicine; Wiley A. Robbins," faimer; John Wade, .attending school; Mai-- tin Clemens, teacher and farmer; Sunmer Durant, teacher and farmer; Blake Durant, teacher and farmer; Cassius F. Stokes, teacher at Kokomo, Ind. ; Lee Roy Stokes, teacher at Noblesville. Ind. ; Jackson Okey, teacher and f .inner; Milton A. Roberts, teacher and preacher and law student.

During the nearly sixty years of the existence of this settlement, gi'eat niunbei-8 have emigrated from this " hive'' and gone to other regions, to helji form new settlements, or to the towns for readier access to the facilities for work. New .accessions h.ive been as constantly made to their numbers, and the growth from without and from within, combined, despite the ceaseless drop- ])ing out to Grant County, to Paulding Coimty, to Michigan and where not, has raised the numbers in the settlement to eight or nine hundred souls. It is wholly a farming community, not having even the shadow or semblance of a town, unless, indeed, the old shell of a village at Tampico, on the Ohio side, be reckoned such, wherein no business, except liquor-selling occasionally and a blacksmith shop now and then, has been located or transacted for yeai-s.

The people of color seem to have a natural aptness for music. The settlement has long been noted for the ability of many of its members in this respect. Many " schools ' ' have been held among them there, with pleasing success.

From 1874 to 1878, a glee club existed in the Greenville settlement, composed of a few enthusiastic young persons - Elijah P. Clemens, Adeline Clemens, Richard Cotman, Philo A. Tucker (white), Jane P. Costen, Emma Goens, Ellen Goens, Eliz.abeth Goens and Lillie F. Tucker (white). The club took great delight together in their nmsical efforts, spending much time in prepar-

Several of the same company formed tliemselves into a " band of singers," and gave several concerts thi'ongh the region, vi^ith good acceptance and success.

During the years that are past, many celebrations have been held in. the settlement. First of August, Sabbath schools, temperance, emancipation, politics and other siibjects have called the people together at viirious times and their white fellow-citizens as well, in great numbers, and much pleasure and profit have been imparted by the addresses and exercises upon the several

At one celebration, some thirty years ago, Hon. George W. Julian, then a young and earnest anti-slavery man, sinco and for many years a noted and powerful advocate of freedom and right in the national councils, and in still later times an adherent of the modern Democratic faith, gave, before a numerous and enthusiastic assembly, in a pleasant and shady grove in the Greenville settlement, a most feeling and eloquent appeal for human liberty and right, which has not even yet been forgotten by some who that day listened thereto. And it still continues, in the minds of the advocates of human freedom who knew the earnestness of Mr. Julian in that former day, and for so many subsequent years, in the advocacy of anti --slavery, to be a standing and inscrutable mystery how he could join himself to that party with principles, aims and methods still unchanged, against which, for five and twenty years, he had waged a war so fierce, so bitter, so unrelenting. But this, like the ways of the " heathen Chinee," may bo one of the things which no man can ever find out.

Cabin Ceeek, Colored Settlement

The Greenville colored settlement began about 1822, in the State of Ohio. Not long after that date, others sought for homes in the wilderness f ai-ther west, and a nucleus was formed of what became Cabin Creek Settlement, lying chiefly, perhajis, in Nettle Creek, but extending also into West River and Stony Creek, and slightly into White River Township. Colorc-d families began to come into the region not very long after 1825, from North Carolina and Virginia, and, after a time, the settlement greatly increased, embracing several miles in extent, and comprising some eighty to one hundred families and several hundi'ed people. During later years, the number has materially lessened, the families having sold their possessions and moved to locations more suited to their notions. There are now some thirty to forty families, 'orming a single school district.

John Demory came first to the western part of the county about 1825, with Lemuel Vestal, from North Carolina, Demory being the first colored person in that part of Randolph County.

Two other colored families came soon afterward - Drew Taylor, on Eight Mile Creek, and Obadiah Anderson, in the southeast part of the county. Aftar them came Richard Robbins, Samuel Oatland and Benjamin Outland, who, as to the colored settlement proper, came first, or nearly so, shortly after 1825, settling in Stony Creek Township. Nearly all the families at present reside in Nettle Creek Township. The settlement is ex clusively a farming community, as there is no town whatever in connection therewith.

Some old fogir-s, like Rip Van Winkle, who were not aware that the world had moved during the last twenty yeai-s, foaght hard against the attempt to elect him, and were very indignant at their failure; but Mr. Roberts has proved to bo a competent and worthy officer, and the sun shines and the rain falls as in olden time.

There is also a Baptist Church, formed long ago, declining and apparently dying some years since, but revived and re-organized, and now in active operation, with a few members.

There were at onetime throe school districts and three schoolhouses in the settlement, which was then seven miles long and two miles wide. There is now only one schoolhouse, though some colored families attend at the white schools, and without objection or complaint.

A colored musical band is kept up, and its members are very proud of the fact that, at the soldiers' re-union, held at Winchester in the fall of 1880, they gained the prize offered for proficiency and skill in performance.

There is also an African Methodist Episcopal Church in regular operation in the settlement, in which worship and si are steadily maintained.

Some twentj years or more ago, sevei-al colored families had their attention called to the fact that there were cheap lands at u point between Winchester and Lynn, not far from Snow Hill. They resolved to settle there, and did so, and by and by a settlement of several families had grown up in that region. They aie located in Washington Tovraship, and form a separate school district. Their children appear to be making good progress, and the settlers in general arc approving themselves to the people in the region round about Since these various settlements began to be formed, many have emigrated to other places - to Grant County, Ind., to Paulding County, Ohio, and elsewhere. But a considerable number remain in each neighborhood still.

It is a somewhat remarkable fact, and one favorable to the colored settlers, and to the people of Randolph County at large, that, in 1851, Randolph County gave a good, majority against the famous thirteenth article of the new constitution adopted for Indiana in that year.

The people of these settlements belong mostly to the African Methodist Episcopal and the Wesleyan Chirrches. They have meeting-houses and preachers, and, on the whole, are a churchgoing people.

The first settlement at Snow Hill was made about 1838. Gabriel Moore came into the region in 1888. Michael and William Benson moved there in 1840. Benjamin Copeland settled there about 1817. Davison Copeland settled there about 1850; Littleburn Winbtirn, about 1818 or 1841). Prentiss Copeland came just before the war.

There is an African Methodist Episcopal society and a public school. Some of the residents own the land on which they dwell; others live on rented f aims. The people of the settlement are moral and industrious, and the young are intelligent and well behaved, and, by their discreet deportment, merit the confidence and esteem of the community ih general.

side of the settlements referred to. Among them may be reckoned, as having been for many years active and prominent among the people, William H. Demory, who resides some miles southvrest of Winchester. He is an intelligent gentleman, a thrifty, enterprising farmer, and an active, worthy citizen, and has the respect of all who know him. His biography is given elsewhere in this work. His father, John Demory, is said to have been the earliest colored settler in the western part of the county. An account of his life, also, is given elsewhere.

In later years, some persons of color have become residents of Winchester and Union City. At Winchester resides an old colored gentleman by the name of Willis Perry, whost-. biography is given. Another enterprising colored man is found there in the person of Kent Bro^vne, Esq., for several years an active, thriving and respected barber in that town. He became during the war an employe in the army of Gen. Thomas M. Brovnio, and came North with him. Kent Browne has many friends among the citizens of the county, and bids fair to achieve an honorable success.

Henry McDonald, who resides at Spartanburg, Ind., has been, through a long life, a laborious, worthy and reliable citizen, and still, though numbering more than threescore years and ten, is found vigorously plying his hammer and making the sounding anvil ring.

There have always been among this people, who would indulge in intoxicating liquors. Considerable efiforte have been put forth to check the sin and the curse of drink, with at least partial success.

In about 1850 (perhaps earlier), a temperance society was formed in the Greenville settlement, and carried on with interest and a degree of success, for, perhaps, ten or twelve years. That society finally went down. In 1874, when the Murphy movement aroused the country, a new association, auxiliary to the Christian Temperance Union, was formed and kept up for several years.

The meetings were held at the two churches at frequent intervals, and great interest was maintained for a time by speeches and essays from the members, both male and female, by volunteer singing by the young people of the settlement, by addresses from abroad, etc. And to the credit of the youth of the neighborhood, be it said, that right nobly did they each and all perform the work assigned them. Some beautiful music was presented, several excellent addresses were delivered, showing what young people, when aroused to action, can do for their country and their kind.

It is a terrible commentary on the deadly mischief wrought by the sale and use of intoxicating drinks, and how nearly impossible is the task to destroy the terrible curse, that at a liquor saloon at Tampico, Ohio, in the colored settlement, on Christmas Eve, after a drunken shooting match in the immediate vicinity, and a furious fight among the parties thereto, one man was killed outright, another was so nearly killed that for a long time his life was despaired of, and still another was so badly beaten that his face was said by one who saw him the next morning to be nearly as black as that of a Guinea negro. Four men have been nearly ever since in the Greenville jail, and the first one tried (the trial taking place diuring the week beginning Monday, March 6, 1882), has been founvl guilty and sentenced to imprisonment during life, and the trial of the second is now in progress (March 15, 1882).

For many years two churches have been maintained in the Greenville settlement, viz.: African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Indiana; Wesleyan Church, in Ohio. The churches are just one mile apart. They have been established from forty to fifty years. Great numbers have belonged, from first to last, to one church or the other, and the societies have flourished more or less during the whole course of their existence.

and revival meetings have been held, continuing sometimes for weeks together, gathering into the church fellowship sometimes scores of professed converts. Many have backslidden from time to time, but many, too, have stood fast, enduring to the end, and going up to claim the promise of a heavenly mansion from their gracious Savior and Lord. Great numbers have ''died in the Lord." Their bodies slumber in the dust; their happy spirits, set free from earth and its besetments and entanglements, have gone, we may fain hope and believe, to be forever with the Lord. Some of the members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church on the Indiana side have been Robert Scott, Matthew Lewis, Allen Davis, Daniel Burden, John Randle, Reuben Randle, Levi Linzey, the Pnrnell brothers (three or four of them), Nimrod Lewis and many others.

Among their preachers have been Paul Quinn (late Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Chiu-ch), Mackintosh, Ward, the Revels brothers. Harper, Mac Smith, Burden, Winslow, Radcliff, Chavis, Stokes and many besides.

Stw7v Hill. - There is an African Methodist Episcopal Church at this settlement, which is reasonably flourishing, but we have no account of it at hand. It belongs in the same circuit with Greenville and some others.

About 1843, Rev. Samuel Jones, from Mercer County, Ohio, came to Cabin Creek settlement and preached in a log schoolhouse near the present site of the Baptist Church (a little south of James Scott's residence). He organized a church, which has remained to the present time.

The memljers were Stephen Patterson, Isom Davis, James Scott and wife, Thomiis Robinson and wife. The meeting-house was built in 18(jO-G5. It was for some years a lively church, and several others were formed in the region, and a little association was organized. The churches were at Newport, Greenville settlement, one in Grant County and one in Rush County. A meeting of the association was held at Greenville settlement, in the Wesleyan Church, on the Ohio side.

The church at Nettle Creek languished on account of financial troubles, but in 1878 it was formed anew, with seven persons, and now consists of nine members, as follows:

At one time there were thirty-five members belonging. The preachers have been Messrs. Samuel Jones (first), Samuel Jones (second), John Jones, Lee Van, Reuben Means, Unis B. Plane (present minister).

They have Sunday school, but not very regularly. Cabin Creek {Colored) M. E. C/iwrc/t. - Began in 1833. The first meeting- house was at their old graveyard southeast of Pop lar Run Friends' Meeting-House. That house has been gone many years (closed in 1865), and they have worshiped in their schoolhouse to the present time. They are now erecting a tasteful and commodious church near their public school building, which will furnish ample accommodations for worshiping assemblies for years t(, come. The size is 28x38; cost, $700.

Some of their preachers have been John Turner, Mcintosh, Dove, Davison, Ward, William Trevan, Skipworth, Stokes, Wins low, Quinn, Crosby, Crosby, Daniel Burden, Harper, Price, Mc- Smith, Nichols, Alexander Smith, Chavis.

The members now are P. Perkins, Chai'les Smothers and wife, Peter Ladd and wife, Maria Stafford, Edward Bolden and wife, Minerva Moore, Anna Weaver, Rev. Isaac Ward, Elias Watkins, Mary Jane Smith, Mahala Perkins, Eveline Jennings, Emily Barber, Rebecca Wood, Armeta Wood, eto.

The meeting-house is in West Kiver Township, two miles southeast of Pleasant View. A large part of the .settlement is in Nettle Creek Township, though it used to extend into three - West River and Stony Creek also.

The first preacher in the settlement was Rev. Paul Quinn, then circuit-rider, afterwai'd, dxu-ing many years, Bishop of African Methodist Episcopal Church, and dying at Richmond, Ind., several years ago.

There were once eighty or one hundred families in that colored .settlement, and the Methodist class was strong and flom-ishing. The settlement and the Methodist society are both much smaller than of old.

Wo furnish herewith short accounts of some who were early pioneers among tho colored people in Randolph County, or who have boon in some way distinguished among them.

Thornton Alexander, Sr., farmer, colored, born about 1780, Ciilpeper Coimty, V3., a slave; but set free at thirty-six (ISIO). His master, Abram Sellers, brought him, with his wife and nine children, to Wan-en County, Ohio, in ISKi. He moved to Randolph County, Ind., in 1822 (first colored settlor on Indiana side in Greenville colored settlement). He entered, first and last, 820 acres of land. His patents are signed by James Monroe and Andrew Jackson. He died in 1851, aged about seventy-one years. He had fifteen children - thi-ee pair of twins. All lived to be grown but one pair of twins. He was twice married. Tho children were Gabriel and John, Henry, Thornton, Betsey, Joseph, Isaac and Jacob, Abraham, twins (no name), Lueinda, Mary, Joshua, Casey Ann.

Isaac, four times married - Virginia Clark, Charlotte Gales, Eliza Bass, Elizabeth Alexander; five children, all living. He is the only one that still holds any of his father's land.

Mr. Alexander was a very enterprising, hard-working citizen, entirely unleamou, but of good sense and with sound business judgment, very energetic and economical withal. Like the children of many another thriving, hard-working fnrmer, his family did not seem to acquire the habits of economy and thrift prac-' ticed by their father, and tho whole tract, except some fifty acres held by Isaac Alexander and his family, has hmg since slipped from the fingers of his descendants, leaving very little to show

So sadly true does tho fact turn out to be that the possession of a lai-ge property by a father, ])roves, in many instances, a nuisance rather than an advantiige to his children. Ho works and saves and leaves his estate to them. They sjiond and lose, and ore niauv years are far worse ofl' than if they had begun with nothing.

' ' When we came here I was ten years o'd. Sp;u^.ansburg had not been begun. That ground was th(!n a corn-fiold, and for several years afterward. Mr. Hawkins lived on the Hough place;

In the colored settlement, William Lewis and Philip Holland bought each eighty acres near the Griffis place. Lewis sold his, but Philip Holland kept his till his death, in 1872 or 1S73.

I was at the Indian payments the year the last one was made. The Pottawatomies wore pai<l at Eel River, Pottawato mie Mills, beyond tho Wabash, at Tippecanoe, an Indian town; and the Miamisat tho forks of the Waba,sh, being the jimction of the Wabash and Mississinewa.

There wore jiorhaps five hundred of them in each place. Tho woods were fqll of them. The Indians were sent away the next season. I saw them at Piqua as they went down the canal t« Cincinnati to tako steamers down the Ohio and on the Mississippi for the far West.

Mr. Isaac Alexander has been married four times, the fourth wife being still living. He had no children except by his third wife. He resides on a part of his father's estate, and is gi-owintr old and feeble, though still able to do more or less work.

He is the only one of his father's large family who remains in the settlement. The ri^st are either dead or removed long ago to other regions.

Born a slave in North Carolina in 17i)8. His master's name was Roland Jones. He was set free in 1832. He came to Way no County, Ind., in 1834, and to Randolph County in 1843. Ho married Mary Ann Moore in 1842. He has had eighteen children, fom- in slavery, fourteen in freedom. Eight of the fourteen are still livllig. He is a Methodist Episcopal and a Republican, and tesides ohe-half mile south of Rural, on the railroad. Although eighty-four years old, he is still strong and hearty and in good spirits, thankful to the Great Giver of all good for all the mercies received. Ho states as follows:

My master's name was Roland Jones. I had a wife and four children, who belonged to Samuel Jones. He ''broke up," ami his property was sold by the Sherifl'. My wife and children were sold on the block and taken to Alabama, and I never have heard from them since, except once, a short time after. My brotlier, Michael, and my mother, were freed with me, at my master's death.

My master had his fourth wife. We were to work the place and take care of her till she died, and we were to have the surplus of all we could make off the jilace, and Michael and myself were to have each one a horse and four- sheep, and our freedom.

We took care of the widow till she died, and then we settled our affairs and moved to Indiana. We had $100 in money, and loft $125 behind, which we got afterward. We came with John Jones, who sold out and moved to Indiana.

I had but little, but, by the blessing of God, I have been able to care for a family of fourteen children, and now see my eightyfourth year, and I hope to be kept in peace and comfort till God shall see fit to call mo homo.

Samuel Jonos, who owned my wife, was very prominent. He was High Sheriff of Rowan County; had been elected to the Logislatiu-e (both Houses) several terms, and was administrator of many estates; married into the wealthy Brown family, and got a largo legacy from his wife's grandfather. My master gave a fine plantation to Samuel and Robin Jones, and took his share in slaves, and tlien sot them free.

Samuel Jonos fiom-inhe<l round like a ' ' green bay tree " for awhile, and then " broke up" and "went to sticks." The Sheriff sold his property, and he "took the prison bound," as it is called - i. o. , he was sent to jail for debt, but was allowed to live outside the jail under obligation not to go beyond a certain specified limit. Ho was a "Head Mason," and, in fact, was prominent in most matters of the region and time. Many believed that he " broke " fnll-haudod.

Born in 1807, in North Carolina, a slave; set free by Rowland Jones(see William Benson); married Nancy Lewis inlSH'J; came to Randolph County, Ind., in 1840. He has had children: was a farmer, and a Eopubli fifty-seven years old.

Bom in Carroll County, Tenn., August 2, 1840. His mother had been freed before he was bom, but she, and he, too, lived on the plantation where she had been a slave till he was twentythree or twenty-four years old.

He went into the ai'my as a hostler for Col. Thomas M. Browne, starting the -' Cold New Years," January 1, 1804, and continuing with him through the marches of the regiment in Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, till the Colonel was mustered out of service, at Hempstead. Texas, in the spring of 1800. Coming with Col. Browne to AVinchester in March, 1806, Kent began W once as a barber, and has followed that busi-

He had no education when young, and has not taken time to acquire any since, but he is shrewd and active in business, and highly respected by his fellow-citizens in the town of his residence.

Was born in South Carolina, a freeman, in 1782. He came to Tennessee, and afterward to Wayne County, Ind., and again to Darke County, Ohio, Greenville settlement - the latter movement in 1888. He had thirteen children, eleven of whom became grown and were married and nine are now living. Their names were William, James, Priscilla. Lucy, Silas, Lewis, Daniel, Thomas, Caroline, John, Joel, Sidna, Biddy. He died in 1848. His wife, Polly, died in 1870. She is said to have been several years older than her husband, and to have been upward of a hundred years old when she died, in 1876. If so, she must have been born before the Declaration of Independence was made, and she had lived through the entire period of our independent national existence.

Born in 1702 in South Carolina. He was a slave, owned by Joshua Hickman, a Baptist. His wife wa.i Ann Maria Johnson, who was born in "Old Maryland," nine miles from Georgetown, D. C, about 1800. She belonged to Mr. Newsam. They were set free and came to Wayne County, Ind., in 1882, moving afterward to Randolph County (Cabin Creek settlement), and still after that to Greenville settlement.

Abraham Cotm.an died in the winter of 1870, aged eightyfour years. Ho bought two diiferent tracts of land near Cabin Creek. First, he entered forty acres of land, and afterward boi.jht forty acres nearer Winchester. His widow is now living, and^resides in Greenville settlement, northeast of Spartanburg.

Wiis born August 10, 1823, in Charlotte County, Va., his ancestors having been free for several generations, during at least seventy or eighty years. He was one of fourteen children, thirteen of whom became grown and were married, and seven or eight are i/-, '"'.ther died in Virginia, in 1848, at the age of sixty years, havir , been a wagon-maker by trade, at which trade also Hillry work;; 1 in his youth and early manhood. His father was in good circumstances, owning 130 acres of land in Virginia, and he was an active, intelligent man, though without book education.

Hillry came, in 1855, to Washington City, working there at his business as a wagon-maker. lu 1861, he came West to Oxford, Ohio, in 1801, going afterw;ird to Iowa, working on a firm one year in Johnson County, eighteen miles from Iowa City. He spent three years at Michigan City, Ind., turning neck-yokes with Hostler & Myers. In 1866, he set up business in turning neck-yokos, etc., at Portland, Ind., entering a partnership witli J. N. Templar of that place. He invested |2,0Ua in that enterprise, and was so unfortunate as to lose the whole In 1868, he changed his place of business to Union City, at which place he remained until about 1881, when he removed to Parker (Morristown), on the Bee Line Railroad. At Union City, he was in business with various persons, Messrs, Hartzell, Mason, Stocksdale, Willson, etc. Mr. C. has very little education, but he possesses great mcchanic.il skill, having invented several ingcniou.s machines - .is an oscillating engine, a lathe for turning neckyoke.-i, for both of which he obtained patents, and whicii seem both ingenious and practical, though, like many another skillful mechanician, he always lacks for means to make his contrivances extensively available.

He has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Davis, and they were married at Oxford, Ohio. She died at Michigan City, having been the mother of four children, three of them still living. His second wife was Mrs. Anna (Ratliffe) Berry, who, though twice married, has had no offspring.

Ever since setting up business at Portland, Ind., he has been engaged in the turning business in some form. If he could command capital equal to his business activity and shrewdness, he would indeed make a. stir among his fellow-citizens; as it is, he has, for many years, been wide-awake, and ever active and enterprising among his fellow-citizens.

Was born in Charleston, S. C, in 1774, He mawied Sarah Kobison in Anson County, N. C, in 1801. He came to Randolph County, Ind., with Lemuel Vestal, in J 825, on Stony Creek, near the Thornburg.s. He had eleven children, as follows:

Mary, married William Weaver, living: Irvin, John, Hannah; Robert, living in Cabin Creek settlement; Charles, Coleman; AVilliam, living southwest of Winchester: Zachary; Phebo Ann, married Jacob Felters, living; Maston.

He was the first colored man to settle in the west part of Randolph County. The second there was Drew Taylor, on Eight Mile Creek. The third was Obadiah Anderson, near Wayne County.

Mr. Demory owned eighty acres of land and a house and lot in Winchester, at the time of his death, which took place in 1800 in his eighty-sixth year.

Is the son of John Demory, above mentioned. His biography is elsewhere given. We add some sketches describing his (juaint and varied adventures from his own lips. He now owns the eighty acres west of Winchester that used to belong to his father. He ib a prosperous and thrifty farmer.

Second addition, Carter's; S, L. Carter, proprietor. Fifty lots, E. h Watson, surveyor. Location, east of Howard and north of Division. New street east and west. Carter street. Recorded July 17. 18r.3.

Third addition. Converse and Misaissinewa Valley Railroad; thirty-two lots, many ot them larije. Location, north of Division and west of Howard, in tha northeast quarter of Section 25. IS. ]. Recorded Deceiaber 13, ISoO.

Fourth addition. Haney, Fisher & Fcriruson's. Jacob Haney. R. L. Fisher. David Ferguson. pro[)riet6rs. Forty-t.vo lots. Location, soma distance west, north of Oak. New streets north and south. Sycamore, Mulberrv, Chatham. Recorded October -23, 1800.

Fifth addition. MinnicKs: John Minnick, proprietor. Twelve lots. Lonikion. north of a narrow street next north of Division and b-twaen H>w.ird and Plum (south part of Lot 50, Converse and ^lississinewa Valley Raih'oad Addition). Recorded August -20. 18G7.

Sixth addition. Bradford's; Joel Bradford, proprietor. Nine lots. Location. bLitween Union and State Line, north. Recorded September 30. 1807.

Seventh addition, Cart^n'"s Second; S. L Carter, proprietor. Forty-live lots. Between State Line and Howard, north part of town. Rei'orded November "2. 1872.

Eighth addition. S. C. Carter's: S, C. Carter, projirietor. Eight lots. Location, north of Minnick's Addition, between Howard and Plnni. north part of Outlot No. 50. Recorded April 17. 1874,

Ninth addition. T R. Turners; T. R, Turner, proprietor. Six lots. Location, east side of Howard, north of S. L. Carter's Addition Recorded August 8, 1874.

Tenth addition. Worthington's; W. T. Worthington, proprietor. Fourteen lots. Location, west of Haney & Ferguson's Addition, west ot Chatham street. Recorded December 24, 1 874,

Eleventh addition. Worthington's Second. W. T. Worthing ton. )iroprietor. Fifteen lots. Location, north of Carter's Secotid .\d.lition. Recorded Decembpr 21. 1874.

Twelfth ad.lite.n. FisliPf-s: K. S. Fisher. Charley Heitzman. proprietors. Sixteen lots. Location, south of S. L. Carter's Second Addition, east of Howard. Recorded February 10, 1875. I Thirteenth addition, (rullett's; .^lex GuUott, proprietor. j Twenty-five lots. Loc:ition. e;ist ot BothtLst's brickyard, nortlii west part of town. Recorded February 18, 1875.

Fourteenth addition. Dotv's, Moi-ris Dot\'. iiroprietor. Six : outlets. Location, between Howard and Pliim to North pike. I Recorded August 27. 1875.

Fifteenth addition. Doty's Second; Morris Doty, projirietor. Five lota. Location, west" of Plum, Piu'k and north to pike. Recorded ()ctr)l,er 14. 1875.

Sixteenth addition. Turner's, August 8. 1874. Replatted bv Third Buihling and Loan As.sociation. Six lots. Location, same as Turner's Additi.>n (ninth). Recorded June 1, 18'-.0.

Seventeenth addition. Livengood's : Maria C. Livengood. administratrix of J.acob Livengood. jn'oprietor. Forty -five lots Location, north, between Howard and Plum, and west of Plum. New street. Lynn, east and west Recorded April (i, 1877.

Eighteenth addition, .lacksou's: J. R. Jackson, proprietor. Seventy-two lots and a park. Location, south of Park (including Park), west of Pimn street Recorded November, 1880, New streets north and south, Jackson; east and west Fisher. Heitzman.

Union City, Ind.. wiis lirst laid out by Hon. Jore Smith in ' 1819, containing 252 lots, and was afterwm-d replatted and enlarged-with 4S3 lots, this latter plat having been recorded February (., 1S54. The original plat of the town comprised 100 a<-res, or li;ilf ii mile sipiiue, being the southeast quarter of Section 25. IS. 1 west

Large additions have been made from time to time (about eighteen or more, in all) in Indiana, till the entire town in that State covers nearly a mile square - perha})s rather more than that

It is a curious fact that, north of Division street which marks the north line of tho quarter-section, and of the original half- . mile plat, there ai-o scarcely any east and west streetB. How the

Simeon Branham

')- 1^71. /fat y-n SIMEON BRANHAM. Siincmi Branham was born in Scott County, Ky., in 1806. His mothpi' (liffl in 1813 ; Ms father married again and removed to Jefferson Coiiniy, Inci., in 1815 (sixty-seven years ago), and to Bartholomew County, Ind,. IS2n, after the public lands there had been surveyed, but before they had lieeu offered for sale, Mr. Branham, the elder, died soon afterward (in 1822). The subject of our sketch was then a lad of sixteen years, one out of fifteen children, t«n by the first wife and five by the second. Mr. Branham says : " My father was very poor, and his death left his widow utterly destitute. I assisted her to her brother's, forty miles distant, and then struck out into the world, to fight the battles of life, poor, friendless, an orphan. As I was going along through the woods on that sad journey of kindness and affection to assist my widowed and desolate step-mother, I looked out upon my future career, and reflected : ' Here I am, a poor, helpless orphan boy I What I become, I must, by God's help, achieve for myself. I cannot afford to drink spirits, nor use tobacco, for such an expense will keep me poor, and I can never rise. By the grace of God, I will never use either.' And I nevej have. By His strength I have been enabled to keep sacred the solemn vow that in my lonely and helpless orphanhood, in that dreary forest path I made." Simeon Branham moved to Jennings County, Ind., 1831 ; to Johnson County, Ind., 1849 ; and to Union City, August 23, 1853, and this city n his home ever since that day. He married Jemima Chambers 835. They have had six children, five living still. '. was a carpenter and wagon-maker ; sold goods for twelve years ; followed railroading and track-laying for four years. At Union City he has kept eating house and hotel, as also a boot and shoe store, and a stiire. He built the Branham House in 1855, and opened hotel in ;iik1 has continued in it mostly ever since. Mr. Branham is an aria-publican, and an active member of the Disciple Church, having a Trustee from the beginning. He has often been solicited to serve iiwn in various public capacities, but he has, for the most part de- 1 such service. He was, however. Town Trustee, and also School A.'e of Union City. When he was a youth, he followed wagoning.

I Three brothers and two sisters are supposed lo be liviug, onp :, stein Chicago, and one in Iowa. The brothers are in Anderson, Ma.i iusvillo and Princeton, Ind.

Mr. Branham has been, during his life, remarkably active, energetic and reliable, and has been blessed with a good degree of worldly success. He is highly esteemed and beloved by his fellow-townsmen, and by the public generally. His hotel was established almost at the commencment of the business activity of the place and of the railroads centeri-ng here, and it has enjoyed from the start an extensive and reliable patronage.

The reputation, success and esteem attained by our worthy friend is an affecting example of what, in this blessed country of ours, a poor, friendless orphan lad may achieve by the Divine blessing upon his faithful and persevering labors. Be the motto of every poor orphan, and of everybody else as well -

" Never give up I It is wiser and better Always to hope, than once to despair." Je.vim.\ Chambers Branham was born in the Territory of Indiana, in that portion which has since become Jefferson County, on the 10th day of October, 1811. Her parents were James and Mary Chambers, wH6 were both natives of North Carolina, but came to the Territory of Indiana a short time prior to their marriage, probably in 1807. When she was ten years old, her father died, and eight months later, her mother died, leaving her and five other children with limited means and to the uncertainties of pioneer life. She was raised on a farm, without educational advantages, and subjected to the necessity of earning her own living. She was married to Simeon Branham at Vernon, in Jennings Count}-, in 18 - , since which time her life has been parallel with his, and to whom she has been a helpmeet and counselor in all the events of a long, active and useful life. Mother Branham yet lives in the enjoyment of fair health, and the love and respect of all with whom she is acquainted. It is a noteworthy fact, as seen by their biographies, that both her husbauLi and lierself were poor orphan children - she, at the age of ten, and he at about sixteen years. And that desolate, impoverished orphanage helped ratlier than hindered their substantial prosperity, since it gave them that stern energy and that sterling economy and that sturdy self-reliance, withnut which any advantages and opportunities, however great, prove ever useless and vain.

Source changes here: from Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana : with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by Smith, John L., Writer on Local History, published 1914; 50,010 words in this source stream.

Union Township

Union is located about three miles southeast of Windsor. Rev. John Smith, United Brethren preacher, came into the neighborhood where John Thornburg lived about 1831. Upon his preaching, the people liked his doctrine well and the union church was formed b}' Friends and Methodists. The log church near the cemetery was built about 1838.

Divisions in the church arose and the mieeting house was sc^ld and another erected farther south. This church stood in the south edge of the old cemetery. Another was built there in 1883. Still another which is now standing was built just south of the old one in recent years.

The Farmland meeting was established in 1881. Benjamin Morris, a minister, was authorized by the Cedar preparati-\'e meeting to hold meetings at Farmland. They organized with about thirty members and held their first services in the old school house.

They then purchased the old Christian church located in the west edge of the town and kept that building until about 1890. This building was burned and the present structure has been erected only a few years. Other Friends churches in the county affiliating with the Friends church are Bear Creek, Franklin township, Mt. Pleasant, Martindale, Bloomingsport and Rural in Washington township ; Brown's chapel, Greensf ork, and Losantville.

Winchester

This was largely through the influence of Elkanah Beard and his wife, both prominent ministers among the Friends, who took up their residence in Winchester in 1873.

It would be impossible for people of their ability and energy to do anything but start a movement toward the establishment of a church. This they did and began to hold services in the city hall. The mterest grew rapidly and two years later a preparative meeting was established as was also a monthly and quarterly meeting. A church was erected in 1876 which met every condition of the meeting for a number of years.

The Winchester quarterly meeting comprises the counties of Randolph, Blackford^ Delaware and Jay and is said to be the largest quarterly meeting in the world. In 1901 a new church was erected and dedicated to the services of the Master. A short time afterward a pipe organ was installed in this church, and it is said to be the first church of Friends to have a musical instrument of this kind.

The Winchester meeting is an unusually strong one, full of interest and growing rapidly. This is due in a measure to the excellent influence for a number of years of Mr. and Mrs. Elkanah Beard. Mr. Beard was born in Washington township in 1833, the son of William Beard and a grandson of Dr. Paul Beard, one of the first pioneers of that part of the county. His wife, Irena, was the daughter of Silas Johnson and the granddaughter of Jesse Johnson, another pioneer of that vicinity. She was born in 1835 and they were married in 1852.

Mr. and Mrs. Beard lived near the Lynn Friends meeting house until 1873 when they moved to Winchester. For eight years they regarded Winchester as their home although much of that time was spent away from home. They spent part of the time during the war in the south, doing work among the freedmen. They had charge of the Friends schools in Mississippi and Louisiana. Schools being located at Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi, Levy, Papaw Island, Lauderdale, and Youngspoint, Louisiana. They came north in 1869 and went to India as missionaries. They spent one year in the city of Benares on the Ganges, and one year at Jabbalpoor, in Central India. After three years' service in India, Mr. Beard's health having failed, they returned to America. Mrs. Beard was also an .invalid at this time. They were very successful as missionaries and much of the work established by them has today grown and is today a memorial to their many sacrifices. After they took up their residence in Winchester they entered other fields of missionary work. They spent a few years among the Indians, most of the

Mr. and Mrs. Beard after their many years of service, administering to the wants of others and carrying the message of peace and love where it is most needed, again moved near their old home in Lynn. They have been very thankful to be considered instrumental in God's hands, to do His will wherever called and the spirit of faith and trust has guided them through many a trial to great victory. Mr. Beard died in 1910 in Lynn and his wife still survives, peacefully waiting the summons to come up higher and "enter into the joys of the Lord."

Ministers of the church have been Elkanah Beard, Henry Merrill, Abijah Wooten, Simpson Hinshaw, Charles E. Hiatt, Edward Woodard, William J. Sayers, George C. Levering and Frank Cornell.

Christian Church

Churches of this denomination began to be established in the various settlements of the county. One of the first and perhaps the first church to be built was at "White River,"' two miles southwest cf Farmland. This class was organized in 1838 and for a short time held its meetings in the school house located near the present site of the church. In 1839 a log church was built. This gave way in 1850 to a brick church which is still standing. This church, however, was remodeled and made modern but a short time ago.

In 1854 a part of the membership of this organization formed a church at Farmland and met in the school building of that town. They built a church in the west part of the town known as the "West Church" in 1867 and worshipped there many years. They now occupy a modern church on North Main street. This edifice was erected about ten years ago. The church is in a very prosperous condition. The next church of this denomination was built in Washington township at Liberty. This was built as early as 1838. Their first preacher was Jesse Brumfield.

Internal dissensions created trouble. The church was practically broken down but was revived in 1866 and is today a very prosperous organization.

Pleasant Hill

This church was established some time before 1847. Meetings were held at a Mr. Constables. A frame church was built in 1850 and the present brick house in 1876. The church is located in the northeast corner of Jackson township and is in a thriving condition.

Shiloh

This church is located two miles north of Farmland. Preaching began in that neighborhood about 1852. Meetings were held in a log house east of where the present building now stands. The first house was built in i860 and was made of brick. In 1880 the present frame building was built. The church is not very strong numerically, having lost nearly all its members to surrounding churches.

Pleasant Grove

This church is situated in the southwest corner of Stoney Creek township and was organized February 20, 1858, by Elder William Terrell, with nineteen members and it was originally organized under the name of "Stoney Creek," but in 1859 was united with the Pleasant Grove church, and assumed that name. The church has been a prosperous one.

Olive Branch

This church is in Franklin township and was organized in 1858 by Rev. Larkin MuUin. The church was reorganized in 1866 and a new building erected in 1870. The church has been very prosperous. A new church was erected in 1913.

Windsor

This church was built the fall of 1859, under the direction of Rev. Larkin Mullin as pastor. The church stands near the cemetery and school house. The membership is not nearly so large as it formerly was but is in a thriving condition.

Pleasant Grove, in Ward township, was built in 1877 as a union church. The Disciples, Methodists and Christians built the church and occupied it jointly for a long while. The Christian organization was affected in 1865. This organization now has use of the church. It is now known as Good Hope. Pleasant Grove, in Stoney Creek township, near the south center of the township northwest of Poplar Run Friends church, was built in 1846. The original organization was affected south of where the church now stands, but when the building was built was decided to put it where it is now. The church has always been strong and active and is of a great deal of importance today.

This church was organized in 1865 and the house built in 1866. It started with a membership of about twenty-five good, earnest Christian people. The church has prospered, until today it is one of the most prosperous of that denomination in the county.

This church, in Green township, was organized in 1877 in the school house south of Shedville. They numbered about thirty-two at their organization. The present house, which they occupy east of Shedville, was built in 1880.

edifice on the corner of North and East streets. This church is one of the most prosperous of the county and is a source of much good to the uphfting of the spiritual life of Winchester.

The Christian church has its centers in different parts of the county that are in a prosperous condition and doing much for the cause of the church.

There is Clear Creek church, in Ward township ; Carlos, Buena Vista, in West River township ; Mt. Zion and Antioch, in Nettle Creek township.

Among prominent ministers of the Christian churches have been Rev. Thomas Addington, born in 1829 in Wayne county. Fie moved in Randolph county in 1834, settling near Maxville. In 185 1 he married Martha Ann Hughes. They spent most of their life on a farm on Bear creek, in Franklin township. Mr. Addington was a student of the Union Literary Institute, and Liber College, in Jay county, and was ordained a minister in 1858. He was one of the most powerful preachers of that denomination in eastern In- diana. He was always found working in the cause of right, never fearing to extend his hand in the name of mercy. Mr. Addington was a soldier in the Civil war and was held in the highest esteem by his comrades. He is the author of a number of pleasant articles and has \\ritten at least one book, "Jim Baker," a story of a slave boy who was a classmate of his in Union Literary Institute.

Rev. Larkin MuUin, father of the Rev. Franklin Mullin, now living in Farmland, and himself a prominent minister of the Christian church, was another one of the pioneer ministers who did a great work among the early people of the county.

Mr. Mullin was an enthusiastic, God-fearing man, and never lost an opportunity to help his fellow-man or admonish him to a better and more upright life.

Disciples Of Christ

The Disciples church, which is sometimes called the Christian, and to distinguish from the other branches of Christian, Campbellites, was not among the very first to appear in Randolph county, but its ministers began to come about 1830.

One of the earliest ministers was the Rev. Hosea C. Tillson, of Bethel, Wayne county. Mr. Tillson was one of these strong men who believe in carrying the Word to those who needed it and were willing to hear it, and served as a traveling minister for a great number of years. Mr. Tillson, at one time, in talking of his experiences, said "The outfit of the pioneer preacher was a large supply of the Love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit, a pocket Bible, a hymn book, a horse, a pair of saddle-bags and a large cape overcoat to keep warm in winter and to shed rain in summer, tied on behind the saddle when not needed. He took no umbrella, because it could not be used riding through the thick woods."

Mr. T. began to serve in the ministry in 1830. He preached first at Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, traveling to Cincinnati and Kentucky, crossing the river again at Aurora, Dearborn county, Indiana, and going thence to Wayne county, preaching and also working at his trade as a cooper.

In 1830 he first preached in Randolph county. Of this experience he said, in a paper, read at a meeting of ministers of the Disciples church, held at Spartanburg February 2, 1882: "A small settlement had been formed on the Little Mississinewa, four miles north of where Union City now is. My old school teacher and other friends had moved up there into the woods. James

Wickersham, James Skinner and Thomas Wiley were among them. 1 preached there to twenty persons, which was all there were in the neighborhood.' Returning home through Newburg (Spartanburg), he left an appointment to preach there, in June, which he fulfilled. Some of the Friends had moved to Fort Wayne, and he was invited to visit that place, which he accomplished in August, making a three days' horseback ride through the wilderness, and thence six miles down the river, where the meeting was held in a cabin on the banks of the stream. He says : "On Sunday morning large canoes came sailing on the river, loaded with people, and landed near, filling the cabin. One woman asked for immersion. Her request was granted, which was supposed to be the first baptism in the waters of the beautiful Maumee." Returning, scarce of money, he fed on blackberries and baited his horse on the wild grass, and, at other times he ate black haws, thinking of John the Baptist and his "locusts and wild honey."

He continued his visits to the settlement north of Union City in 1837, accompanied by the two Harlans, and, in 1838, began to baptize into the faith of Jesus. The settlement had increased and a cabin would not hold the people, and the men made a booth of bushes at the cabin door, with fence rails for seats, while the preachers' horses stood tied to the trees, eating corn brought in their saddle bags. We quote again, in substance: "The first week in January, 1840, the meeting was held in Thomas Wiley's hewed-log house before his large log-heap fire. Brother Wiley cut the ice a foot thick, and. in a heavy snow storm, we baptized James Wickersham and his wife and some others, and, at night, several more by the light of hickory bark torches, thus getting both my suits of clothes wet, but Sister Wiley had them well dried by morning. In the spring of 1842 we ordained Thomas Wiley and Charles Smith elders of the church there by the laying on of hands." In 1840 he was called by Jonathan Thomas to preach at his new saw-mill, on Clear creek, east of Deerfield, at which place he continued to preach for three years with much success. He preached also at Brook's creek, in Jay county, and at Petersburg and Walnut Corner, Randolph county.

South Salem, Springboro (north of Lynn), etc., were begun about the same time. He states : "We were called to Joel Howe's cabin, in the edge of the big woods west of Spartanburg, in the summer of 1839. An acre was cleared, a loose plank floor was in the cabin, but the cracks were not stopped. A large sycamore gum stood near, with a hole cut in one side for a smokehouse. The first two meetings, not more than eight persons were present, but in the early winter, at the third or fourth appointment, the house was so full of people that we could scarce get in. They had come from the settlements south out of curiosity. But the Lord was there in the power of the Spirit, and tears flowed freely. At night, we preached at Davis' schoolhouse, south of Spartanburg, to a crowded house."

Shortly afterward, at the same house, and at Brother Silas Davis' dwelling, two meetings were held at the same hour by Brothers Valentine Harlan and Tillson, and two brethren, John Starling and Nathan Hedgepeth, were baptized at Davis' spring. "Soon after that, Bethpage meeting-house was built and a great work spread through all that region. * * * j am the last one of the pioneer preachers left on the shores of time in these parts, and I am 'only waiting till the shadows are a little longer grown.' " Mr. T. baptized many believers, some years more than 200. He says in his paper : "The old horse was dead long ago. The old saddle was torn up in 1843 (when I was out with Brother Franklin), but here is the old saddle-bags and Father Harlan's old hymn-book, like the one I had, and here is the old cape overcoat; and last, and best of all, here is the old backwoods preacher in good health and with as warm a heart for the prosperity of Zion as he had fifty years ago."

Mr. Tillson's description of the bluff pioneers, who were the agents in God's hand for causing the beginning of the Gospel of the Kingdom in those wildernesses is very quaint and striking :

"Joel Howe, taking his little sorrel mare with rope-rein bridle and sheepskin saddle, and going to Bethel (eight miles) one Sunday morning dressed in home-spun clothes of flax and tow, with straw hat and feet all bare, was the angel of mercy appointed to be the herald of salvation that should open the gates of the New Jerusalem to that infant community. James Wickersham and James Skinner, two poor brethren coming down to Whitewater to buy breadstuff, urged me to come up on the Little Mississinewa and break to their famishing souls the bread of eternal life. Sister Nancy Leabo, at Walnut Corner, whose husband died, leaving her to struggle on in poverty and want, called me there to preach his funeral. Jonathan Thomas, in his shanty built of rough plank, urged me to come and speak the words of heavenly consolation to himself and his neighbors, east of Deerfield. The meetings there were held, first in a Methodist brother's cabin, then at the saw-mill, the men seated on the logs in the mill-yard like pigeons in the trees. When preaching on Bear creek, northwest of Winchester, Brother James Level and wife came on horseback nine miles to meeting on Sunday morning, returning at evening. Souls were 'hungry for the Word' in those times and would endure hardships to reach the spots of blessing, where stood the servants of Christ to feed the eager, waiting crowds with the bread furnished from the Master's hand."

The experiences of Mr. Tillson were the experiences of all pioneer preachers and a church established by such sincere men could not help but prove of lasting good. The church of which he spoke. New Lisbon, Jackson township, was formed July 7, 1839, and has continued to be one of the best churches in the county.

Spartanburg. - In 1838 a church was organized at Spartanburg. It was brought about by the division of the Christian (New Light) church of Bethel, Wayne county, dividing upon the doctrines taught by Rev. Campbell. The majority of the congregation left the original church and soon organized the Disciples church at Spartanburg where they built a log meeting house about 1840. This church was known as Bethpage and stood south of Spartanburg. This church immediately became a famous place for debates between the two divisions of the original church. The membership grew very rapidly and became sufficiently large to justify the building of new churches. One was built at Gilead, southwest of Spartanburg, three miles, in 1854 and the other at Sugar Grove southeast of Spartanburg which was used for meeting purposes until the building was built in Spartanburg, the church at the latter place was built about 1868 and is still occupied by the congregation of that community. It has, however, been remodeled and is a neat, up-to-date church, enjoying all the prosperity that comes to an organization composed of live, wide-awake, enthusiastic members. The next church in the county to be built was at White River Chapel north of Snow Hill. The church was built there about 1856 but the membership was never very strong and the church was eventually abandoned.

Union City - The Union City church was organized in 1858 by the Rev. Thomas Wiley with twenty- four members. The trustees were Simeon Branham, Thomas Wiley, Isaac Beal and J. E. Paxson. The Rev. Thomas Wiley was the first elder and also the pastor. It was largely through the influence of this strong man that the church was put upon a foundation that should make it one of the strongest institutions of the country. Mr. Wiley had a good field in which to work, as there were no churches in Union City at that time, his being the first. The building was begun in 1853 but was not completed until 1858. The lots upon which the church stands were donated by Jere Smith, one of the founders of the city and one of the ardent adherents to the Disciples Church.

The congregation increased very rapidly and it became necessary in about twenty years to build a new building. This church was begun in 1875

The growing congregation again made it necessary to increase the capacity of the church. To this end the church was remodeled in 1 901. At ^at time the large auditorium was made larger and the church modernized in every particular. A pipe organ was afterward installed.

The church was again remodeled in 19 13 but scarcely had been completed until it was partially destroyed by fire. It has, during the summer of 1914, been rebuilt and stuccoed and is again placed in the class of the finest. The church today is one of the most prosperous in the country, regardless of denomination, and has perhaps the greatest membership of any Disciples church in the county, and perhaps the greatest of any church, regardless of denomination.

Winchester. - The church at Winchester was the next to be organized. Rev. I. P. Watts, one of the pioneer workers of the Disciples church and a man to whom the general public is under an everlasting obligation for his devoted life to it, has written, "Story of a Christian Church. '' The church referred to is the Winchester church and with the permission of Mr. Watts we here reproduce the story.

The Story Of A Christian Church

"In the summer of 1866, I was admitted to the bar of the Randolph Common Pleas court. I had been a member of the Christian (Disciple) church from the age of fifteen years. Had been reared in a very strong infidel community and from the age of eighteen to twenty-one, I held many public debates with skeptics and infidels. In 1862, I went to the war and during all that time kept up my study of the Bible and the Bible I carried through the entire war is still on my desk. When admitted to the bar, I found a very strong infidel sentiment in the court-room which was very distasteful to me. One day in June, 1866, I entered into a hot discussion with Moorman Way which attracted the attention of Judge Jerre Smith, William D. Frazee and Judge J. W. Haynes. After it was over Judge Smith came to me and patted me on the shoulder and said, 'Young man, I like your spirit. What church do you belong to ?' I said the Christian or Disciple church. He said, 'Why that is the church I belong to.' William D. Frazee came up just then and said, 'Young man, you did well ; what church do you belong to-' I said the Christian or Disciple church, and he said, "Why, that is the church I belong to.' And I said, 'Whv haven't you a Disciple church here.' The result of (44) the interview was that Jerre Smith agreed to try to buy the old Presbyterian church on Meridian street that was then empty and without a congregation. In a few days, he saw Samuel P. Ludy, the trustee of said church, and bought the same for $400. Smith, Frazee and myself had a new roof put on the church and a bell was bought and on the 26th day of August, 1866, the Christian church was organized by Butler K. Smith and George W. Thompson.

The charter members who entered into that organization were Jerre Smith, Isaiah P. Watts, William D. Frazee, Joshua C. Moltbie, Elizabeth Moltbie, Elias Clevenger, Martha M. Watts Clevenger, Robert R. Williams, Vashti Williams, Sarpeta C. Williams, Mary Browne (wife of Gen. Tom Browne), Beulah Leake, Malinda Patty, Sarah Ireland, Minerva Shaw, and Sarah Irvin.

At this organization Jeremiah Smith, Isaiah P. Watts and William D. Frazee were by the church elected elders. Robert R. Williams and Joshua C. Moltbie were chosen as deacons. The meeting was continued for over a week and on August 27, Edmund Engle made the good confession and was immersed by Elder George W. Thompson. The church continued to grow and many are the names that were added to the church from time to time. Of the original number at the organization, all have passed away and but one is now a member of this church.

Elder Isaiah P. Watts has been an elder ever since the organization and a trustee ever since 1874. December 28, 1874, Jerre Smith died. In 1870, William D. Frazee had moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, and I. P. Watts was the only teaching elder left.

From 1866 to 1874, we had employed able ministers of the Gospel to preach for us as often as we could pay them. Those that I remember were Butler K. Smith, George W. Thompson, Barnhill Polley, Hardin Harrison, George Campbell, Henry R. Prichard, Love Jameson, Prof. R. T. Browne, Elder James Matheros, Elder Benjamin Franklin, Elder Aaron W. Moore, Elder William D. Moore,, Elder J. O. Beardsley, Elder Hugh T. Morrison, Elder J. W. Ferrell, Elder Valentine Thompson, Elder Elijah Goodwin and Elder Thomas Munnell. June 4th, 1876, the new church was dedicated. Elder J. C. Tul'ly, of Union City, Indiana, preached the dedicatory sermon.

The history of the new church building is as follows: In 1875, Brother Jerre Smith having taken the deed to the old church in his own name and having before his death made provision in his will that the Christian church should have the building provided they pay to his estate the sum of $400 within one year after his death, it became necessary for the church to raise that amount sometime in the spring of 1875. Elder I. P. Watts met Gen.

Tom Browne on the north side of the public square and said to him : 'Tom, we have to raise money and pay for the Jerre Smith church soon or we won't have any place to meet. What will you give to help us ?' Tom studied a moment and said : 'Watts, I won't give a cent to buy that old church.' My heart went clear down, and with head down, I started home when a short distance away Gen. Browne called me back to him and said : 'Watts, while I won't give a cent to buy the old church, I'll tell you what I will do. You get two men to go down and appraise the old church and I will give all they say it is worth to build a new one.' I grabbed him by the hand and said :. 'Tom^ you are a man after my own heart. I will give as much as you will.' We turned into a store nearby and bought a small blank book (which I have yet) and Gen. Browne wrote on the first page thereof a subscription contract to build a new church as follows : 'Thomas M. Browne, Isaiah P. Watts and Edmund Engle, trustees of the Christian church of Winchester, Indiana, propose erecting in behalf of and for the use of said church, a church building thirty-five by sixty feet; the said building to be of brick, with stone foundation, slate roof, a spire, and a neat and approved style of architecture.

'We, the undersigned, undertake and promise to pay said trustees for the uses and purposes aforesaid the sums respectively subscribed by us and set opposite our names at the following to wit : One-half of said sum when the walls of said building are erected, and the residue thereof when said building is completed.'

Those that subscribed $50 were Silas Colgrove, Judge Felix Sims, T. W. Kizer, O. Smith, Hudson & Beeson, William D. Kizer, R. A. Leavell, W. A. W. Daly, James Houser. Lee Ault. John Richardson, Simon Ramsey, L. M. Jones, Gideon Shaw. Nearly everybody in town subscribed from twenty-five dollars to ten dollars on the new church, and on June 4, 1875, when dedicated about $1,200 was subscribed besides thirteen shares in building and loan association which was carried as follows: I. P. Watts, five shares; Edmund Engle, six shares, and Mary J. Browne, two shares.

At the dedication, T. M. Browne subscribed $200; Edmund Engle, $200; Isaac Ingle, $100; E. L. Watson, $50. Those who gave $25 each at dedication were Levina Austin, Elizabeth Reinheimer, Nathan Reed, Richard Bos-

A. G. Campfield, who was then building the court house, was given the contract of building. Mr. J. C. Johnson, the architect of the court house, furnished Gen. Browne with the plan and specifications without charge. Edmund Engle and I. P. Watts, trustees, superintended the work. Engle did most in superintending the building; L P. Watts did about all the soHciting and collecting after the first day. The first day Gen. Browne and L P. Watts got $2,500 to start with. The cost of lot and building was something over $7,000. After all had been collected that was possible, L P. Watts deeded 120 acres of land in Missouri to Mr. Campfield and $800 was credited on the church debt to him.

Until the dedication of the new church, we had never used instrumental music in the church, as a large majority of the members were at that time opposed to instruments in church worship. I had bought a very small silvertoned organ for the Sunday school and we had used it in the Sunday school for years and the young people wanted to use it in the dedicatory service. Elder Felix Sims was the only elder that had objected and I sent the girls of the church to him. He consented they might use it on that one day. They did and it was used ever after.

The first twelve or fourteen years of the church, Elder L P- Watts preached for the church except when the elders could afford to hire some one to come and preach over Sunday. And when the church was able to have a minister half time. Brother Watts preached the other half and paid more than any one else to the man we hired and he did this willingly without any compensation except the love of the church which he always had from the time the church was organized. It had a Sunday school and for the first two years it was held at 2 :30 p. m. so as not to interfere with the other schools of the town. Brother I. P. Watts was the fiirst superintendent and filled that office for seven years and also taught a class of twenty young girls during that time. Many of them became members of the church. At first we had no music but our voices. Jerre Smith brought his flute to pitch the tunes at Sunday school. Brother Watts saw the need of some other help and bought the little silver toned organ which we carried to the new church. , Brother Elder Engle was the next superintendent and was a good one and held the place for many years after we got into the new church.

From the very first the church has been in the front rank as far as sound doctrine and ability in the pulpit was considered. When able we procured the ablest men in the state to preach for us. Universalism of the Bellou type was preached and infidelity of the Ingersol type was prevalent. While in the old church Elder George W. Thompson, of the Christian church, held a four days' debate with Guthrie, of the Universalist church. It was held in the old M. E. church on account of room. It was a victory for the true faith. Afterward Elder Butler K. Smith of the Christian church, held a debate with S. P Carlton, the champion debater for the Universalists. It continued four days and was a very strong debate, but Carlton himself admitted his defeat. And many of his followers went into other churches. This debate was held in the old M. E. church. The great Infidel Underwood came here and made his (as he thought) unanswerable lecture against Christianity. Brother I. P. Watts raised $50 in two hours and sent for Professor O. A. Burgess, of Butler college. He came and his lecture was held in the City Hall., It was crowded. For two nights he went to the M. E. church on invitation and delivered three lectures each time, nine in all. The town had never before or since heard better or more eloquent lectures on the whole subject of dispute by infidels and Winchester has had a better and clearer spiritual atmosphere ever since.

It was a number of years after the new church was dedicated before the church was able to employ a minister full time. We had half time preaching by hired ministers all the time and Brother Watts the other half. Among these I recall Elder A. H. Moore, Elder Garey, Elder Vinson, Elder John Ellis. During the time Ellis was here he and Brother Watts held a meeting for four weeks, preaching turn about each night. The result was forty-five additions, thirty out of the Sunday school. After that the church had Brother Wise, of Indianapolis, for all time, Brother Chatley was first I believe. Brother Arch Hall, of Butler, Brother Dailey, Brother A. W. Hall, Brother C. E. Wells, Brother Hough, Brother Hammond, Brother James Floyd, Brother H. C. Patterson, Brother Vernon and Brother Persinger. During its existence the church has had over a thousand members and today is one of the great moral and spiritual forces in Winchester and has commenced the building of a great new church.

But, however great it becomes in the future it will never have a more faithful membership than it had in its beginning. And the story of its pioneers will always leave a sweet halo around their names. As the last of these saints of the long ago, I have written this story that though dead they are not forgotten."

The "great new church," spoken of by Mr. Watt6, is one of the most . beautiful edifices to be found in eastern Indiana and is a monument to the energetic membership composing this church. It was erected in 1912 and will cost when completed, approximately $30,000.00.

The building committee having it in charge was A. L. Nichols, Albert King and H. E. McNees. They were aided by the membership in particular, the public in general in the construction of this building but it has been largely through their untiring efforts that the splendid work has been done. The trustees of the church are Anderson Lesley, A. E. Ludy and I. P. Watts; the elders, I. P Watts, Isaac Poyner, A. L. Nichols, T. W. Watts, Frank Roberts, James L. Chenoweth; deacons, Anderson Lesley, H. E. McNees, Charles Tillson, John T. Beeson, Albert King, Ray Lesley and N. R. Chenoweth.

Other churches of this denomination in the county that are now in a prosperous condition are located in South Salem, Ridgeville, Parker, and Lynn.

South Salem

South Salem was established about 1843 ^"^^ fo'" ^ while was very flourishing. The house was built about 185 1. The membership was not so large as formetly but the church is in a thriving condition and maintains a splendid Sabbath school. The organization at Lynn is very prosperous and one of the most vigorous churches of the county. They have a very large mernbership which has made it necessary to remodel the church. This they are doing during the summer of 1914. The church is being enlarged a great

Their ministers have been : George Waggner, J. M. Land, Roy L. Brown, J. A. Brown, Mr. Stibben, W. M. Cunningham, M. O. Jarvis, H. F. Rector, J. L. Sharritt. The present elders are : T. M. Nichols, E. E. Ford, A. R. Hiatt, J. B. Chenoweth and Fred Horn. The present trustees are: Norman Anderson, Charles Hiatt and Edd Lipp.

The organization in Ridgeville is not very flourishing numerically but is under good leadership and no doubt will continue to survive. The church at Parker was organized under the leadership of Rev. W. D. Stone of Union City in 1886.

Mr. Stone was instrumental in the organization of other churches. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1826 and moved to Winchester in 1839. Having a keen desire for learning he attended the county seminary at intervals from 1839 to 1847. ^^ 1847 he enlisted in the 4th Indiana Volunteers as a private for services in the Mexican war and served for fourteen months. He has lived at various parts of the county, Harrisville, Salem, New Lisbon, Spartanburg, Winchester, Parker and Union City.

He enlisted in Company "I" of the 17th Ohio Volunteers in the war of 1 86 1, for three months and then re-enlisted in the 11 8th Regiment Ohio Volunteers and was made Captain of Company "C."

Mr. Stone was an active, wide-awake and somewhat eccentric man, but very energetic and a successful educator and preacher. He was idolized by his pupils and greatly esteemed and appreciated by the churches of which he was a member. His motto was "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do with all thy might." Mr. Stone was honored by being elected representative to the state Legislature in the year 1890 and honored the state by his service there.

On his becoming a citizen of Parker his religious zeal immediately asserted itself and he proceeded to organize a church at that place. The church prospered under his guidance and is today a memorial to his excellent services there. Mr. Stone removed to Union City, where he passed his last days among those with whom he had associated for years. He was indeed one of nature's noblemen and lived a life such that any community might be proud to own him as one of her sons.

Dutch Reform

This church is located at Pittsburg and was organized about 1870. This is the only church of this denomination in the county. It is a prosperous church, maintaining a good Sunday school and is live and wide-awake to the best interests of the community.

United Brethren

Numerically speaking, the United Brethren of this county is represented by seven churches, located at Zion, Green township; Saratoga, Ward township; Prospect, Jackson township; White River Chapel, White River township; Lynn, Washington; Mt. Pleasant, Greens fork; and Modoc, Nettle Creek.

These churches did not affect any organization in the county until about 1850, when a church was started at Antioch, in the edge of Losantville. That house ceased to be used about 1855. For twenty years they worshiped in a small house west of Jordan Hoisted.

A new society was formed in Losantville in 1875, which met for a while in a public hall but afterward built a church and is in a prosperous condition. Zion, one mile south of the consolidated school house, in Green township, was started about i860. Rev. David Gunkle preached there a number of years in a school house. The meeting house was built in 1875. The organization started with about twenty members and is today one of the strongest of that denomination in the county. The church has recently been remodeled and is now a modern, up-to-date structure. The denomination in Jackson township has its church at Prospect, east of Pittsburg. The congregation is not large, but is full of interest.

White River chapel was formed about 1865, and their church was built in 1872. For several years they held their meetings in the old Concord church, but each society concluded it was best to have a house to itself and two houses were built.

Mt. Pleasant (Pin Hook) is located in Greensfork township. The Disciples first used the school house in this neighborhood and preached there for a while, but formed no organization. As early as 1866 the Friends started a mission school, which proved to be large and full of interest, numbering from sixty to one hundred and twenty. This was kept up for three years, when a preacher of the United Brethren church held a meeting there and formed a society of that order. At first they held their meetings in the school house, but later built a church near the school house by remodeling an old house. They are today in a fairly prosperous state.

Churches at Lynn and Modoc are not very large but are able to make themselves felt in the community where they are. One of the most, if not the most, prosperous church of this denomination is-located at Saratoga.

The United Brethren church, like all other great churches, has had its internal dissensions and conditions which have resulted in division of the church. This deiiomination, in about 1894, divided upon the question of secret orders, the "Radicals" believing that secret orders were inimical to the best interests of the church. The "Liberals," believing that secret orders should be permissible, at least, and should be left to the discretion of the individual member. The dissension reached its climax when a suit was brought about to control the property of the church. This resulted in the courts deciding in favor of the "Liberals," and the property in most cases was given into their care. The matter seems to be amicably adjusted so far as the churches of this county are concerned, and but very little is heard concerning the old difficulty.

United Brethren Church, Saratoga, Indiana

The history of the United Brethren church in Saratoga dates from its organization in "1871 in the school house under the pastorate of Rev. A. Douglass and was a part of the Auglaize annual conference. The charter members were Sarah Lollar, William Fraze, Nancy Fraze, Elisha D. Lollar, Mary A. Lollar, Joseph W. Lollar and Sarepta Lollar. Two years later, in 1873, under the pastorate of S. T. Mahan, a church building thirty-six by fifty feet was erected. It was dedicated in July, 1873, Rev. Milton Wright, of Dayton, Ohio, officiating. The society enjoyed a steady- growth, and in 1893, under the pastorate of Rev. J. I. Kline, the church was rebuilt and enlarged to accommodate the growing congregation. The improvements consisted of a Sunday school room, vestibule and tower, veneered with brick and covered with slate. By the Act of the General Conference in 190 1 Saratoga was made a part of White River Annual Conference.

In 1908, under the pastorate of Rev. A. C. Wilmore, the church was again enlarged to meet the needs of the increasing Sunday school and church membership. This extension consisted of an addition fifteen by forty-seven feet with basement. An up-to-date steam heating plant was installed. This addition provided a large choir loft, primary room and choir vestibule.

The reopening services were conducted by Bishop H. H. Fout, Dayton, Ohio. The church membership at present is 319. J. B. Sarff is the superintendent of the Sunday school, which is the largest in the history of the church.

Congregational

Winchester - About 1870 a church of this order was formed at Winchester, embracing a small number of members. Measures were taken looking" for permanent occupancy of the field, and subscription was raised for a meeting house, a lot purchased, and a preacher engaged. The movement, however, seemed not to succeed, and, though the organization may never have been formall)^ dissolved, the building never was built.

Occasionally Rev. L. P. Rose, Congregational Home Missionary agent for the state of Indiana, would conduct religious services in Winchester during his visits to that place.