Northwestern Indiana from 1800 to 1900A regional history written by Timothy H. Ball . . . .
Source Citation:
Ball, Timothy H. 1900.
Northwestern
Indiana from 1800 to 1900 or A View of Our Region Through the Nineteenth Century.
Chicago, Illinois: Donohue and Henneberry. 570 p.
NORTHWESTERN INDIANA FROM 1800 TO 1900
178
CHAPTER XIII.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
Members of different denominations
were among the pioneers. Especially were there Methodists, Presbyterians,
Baptists, United Brethren, and Quakers. Other denominations were also
represented.
It was very needful and quite pleasant, for a time, that all the members of the
small neighborhoods should meet together and listen, sometimes to a Methodist
minister, sometimes to a Presbyterian, and then again to a Baptist. All could
worship in harmony, and all would get some good from
the Scripture expositions of those earnest, zealous men, who first as
religious teachers came among the settlers. To those yet remaining who enjoyed
those earliest religious gatherings in private rooms and little log school
houses, and in the groves in summer time, the remembrance is pleasant now. There
was a simplicity, a reality, in the worship then, of which but little remains
now. As settlements increased the larger denominations began to organize
themselves into congregations for church activity and growth.
Some account of the formation of the earliest churches as it has been gathered
from different sources will here be given; and
then the number of members of the various churches at the present time. The
struggles, the changes, the individual church history,
from the organization of each till 1900, would fill a
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quite large volume. Some of the denominations, it will
appear, have succeeded much better than others, in maintaining church life and
in securing a fair amount of growth. The real good accomplished cannot be
estimated by any standards or measurements known in this world. Some churches
die and some live. As it is with men so it is with organizations, who can tell
what is really failure and what is success? In the realm of the moral and the
spiritual neither wealth nor numbers can be the sure criterion by which to
determine what God at last will call success. From
the words "Well done," when uttered by the great
Judge there will be no appeal.
Members of the following denominations at length formed organizations in these
counties, and some brief notices of each will be given: Methodist Episcopal,
German Methodist Episcopal, Congregational, Presbyterian, United Presbyterian,
Baptist, Lutheran, Reformed, Protestant Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Unitarian,
Second Adventists, Disciples or "Christians," Quakers or Friends, "New Church"
or Swedenborgians, Free Methodists, United Brethren, Believers, German
Evangelical, and Union. Also a congregation of Mormons, claiming to be
Christians.
An order passed by the Board of Commissioners of Porter County in February,
1842, gives a partial list of the denominations then. They had in 1841 closed
the doors of the court house "against preaching by any denomination of
Christians." So reads their order; but now they say: "Ordered by the Board, that
the Methodists, Presbyterians, Mormons, Universalists, Baptists, Campbellites,
Associate Reformers, Infidels and all other denominations be allowed to hold
meetings in the court house, provided they
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do not interfere with the business of the courts of the
county and political meetings."
1. The Episcopal Methodists.
As introductory to the Methodist history of this part of the State may be
fittingly placed here the following statements from
the Rev. Dr. R. D. Utter's "Conference History."
In 1820 there were in Indiana eleven circuits, all
in the south part of the State. Three of these were in the Miami District of
Ohio Conference, and eight in the Indiana District
of Missouri Conference. In 1824 the Illinois Conference was established and all
of Indiana was assigned to that Conference. In
1832, in October, was organized at New Albany the Indiana
Conference, this then including the entire State.
Dr. J. L. Smith, author of an excellent history of
Indiana Methodism, states, that in 1844 the North
Indiana Conference was formed, the line dividing the two passing through
Indianapolis. In 1852 a part of North Indiana was
cut off and a new conference formed called North-West
Indiana Conference, which held its first session in Terre Haute in
September, 1852. About the same time was also organized the South-East
Indiana Conference, holding its first session at
Rushville in October, 1852. In Indiana were then,
at this time, four conferences, each cornering in Indianapolis. The four
continued for some forty years, but a few years ago the two in the south were
united, leaving three conferences now in the State of
Indiana.
In 1823 Methodist church life commenced in Indianapolis, and there their
semicentennial was held in May, 1873.
The first Methodist preaching in this region seems
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to have been in La Porte County, probably in 1832, possibly in 1831.
According to a record or historical paper, prepared by Rev. G. M. Boyd, Rev.
James Armstrong was appointed Superintendent or Presiding Elder of the northern
district of Indiana, then called Missionary
District, in the fall of 1832, at the first session of the
Indiana Conference, and when he came into this
part of his large district, he found an organization of Methodists gathered by a
local preacher, Jeremiah Sherwood, near where Westville is now. This is
considered not only the first Methodist but probably the first Protestant
organization in La Porte County. In the fall of 1832 an organization was formed,
-- thus the records reads -- "at Door Village, or on a log in the grove where
the village now stands." There, in 1833, a chapel was built. (Rev. G. M. Boyd
calls this the first house of worship built north of the Wabash River, but the
probability is that there was a Roman Catholic chapel at Bailly Town in 1827).
In 1833 the name of the district "Missionary," was changed to "North Western."
The work of gathering congregations went rapidly on. In 1834 the name was again
changed to La Porte District. In 1836 Rev. G. M. Boyd was placed on the La Porte
circuit with Stephen R. Jones as assistant. They now had fourteen places for
preaching in the county. In 1837 a small brick church was built in La Porte.
Union Chapel, the first church building in New Durham Township, was built in
1839.
As Porter and also Lake County had at this time settlers, the missionary field
extended from La Porte westward.
Some of the statements now to be given rest on
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the authority of the Conference minutes, four bound
volumes examined some years ago at the home of Rev. W. J. Forbes in Valparaiso,
and some on his authority.
In 1834 on the South Bend Circuit was stationed Stephen R.
Ball. In that year no settlements, but few
settlers in what became Lake County. Some in Porter County. In 1835 Deep River
Mission was formed, Stephen Jones missionary. In 1836 assigned to Deep River
Mission Jacob Colclazer. In 1837 Hawley B. Beers. In 1838 Samuel K. Young. In
1839 Kankakee Mission was formed, William J. Forbes missionary, who found on his
entire field about one hundred members. In 1840 was formed Valparaiso Circuit,
including Porter and Lake, W. J. Forbes minister in charge. In 1841 on this
circuit Isaac M. Stagg. In 1842 Wade Posey. In 1843 Warren Griffith. The
Conference minutes say, Crown Point to be supplied. In 1844 North
Indiana Conference is named and Crown Point is
called a circuit.
The Conference Minutes are to be considered first-class authority and officially
correct, but in Mrs. Susan G. Wood's historic paper in "Lake County, 1884,"
which gives an excellent history of Methodism in Lake County, are some names of
devoted ministers in Lake County that are not in the Conference Minutes. These
are, for the year 1839, as a supply, Robert Hyde, and again, in charge of the
work, perhaps as a supply, a few years later, D. Crumbacker, and at the same
time, in 1843 and afterward, as a "local preacher
of more than ordinary ability," Major Allman. (Mrs. Wood, a daughter of Rev. G.
W. Taylor, has resided in Lake County since 1845.)
Pulaski is, like Lake, quite largely a Roman
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Catholic county, yet the Methodists organized the first church in Winamac, as
they are accustomed to do in most places. Their organized work commenced in
1839, the year in which Winamac became the county seat, and but two years after
what is called its first settlement.
Although many settlers came in from Europe, yet
the work of gathering congregations continued, and Pulaski has now nine
Methodist churches and four chapters of the Epworth League.
In White County the Methodists commenced organized work in 1836 or 1837, the
pioneer preachers being Richard, L. Hargraves, John L. Smith, J. Ritchie, and
Samuel Reed. There is a tradition that Rev. Mr. Lowrey preached the first sermon
in the county at the house of Robert Spencer. He came
from Rockville, but whether a Methodist or Presbyterian the tradition
does not state.
With such missionaries and pastors as those named above the work of gathering
congregations and erecting church buildings would go rapidly forward.
The Methodist Episcopal congregations in White County are, in Monon, Monticello,
Reynolds, Talmadge, Wolcott, Idaville, Burnettsville, Brookston, and three
country congregations.
In what became Newton County the Methodist preaching was for several years
across the state line in Illinois, but at length congregations were gathered and
church buildings erected in Kentland and Goodland and Morocco.
In Jasper County the first sermon, according to the tradition and record, was
preached by Rev. Mr. Walker, a Methodist, at the house of a widow, Mrs.
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Thomas. Date not given. But the first good-sized Methodist church in Rensselaer
was built in 1849.
After Remington commenced town growth, in 1860, a church building was soon
erected there.
In other parts of the county, congregations were gathered and church buildings
erected.
In Starke County, what success attended the labors of the first Methodist
preacher, "Elder Munson," has not been ascertained, but in 1856 there was a
church building at Knox, and besides the congregation and church in the county
seat, there are Methodist Episcopal churches in North Judson and San Pierre and
Hamlet, making four now in Starke County. And they have good Sunday schools.
The date of the mission work in Starke has not been found, but L. W. Munson was
on the La Porte circuit in 1843.
In 1844 the Indiana Conference met at Fort Wayne,
and for the next conference year, the names of the pastors are: Monticello, A.
D. Beasley, G. W. Warren; Rensselaer, N. N. Werdon; Winamac, Franklin Taylor; La
Porte, John B. De Motte; Valparaiso, Jacob Cozad; Crown Point, Jeremiah Early.
Knox and Kentland as yet were not.
In 1852, when Valparaiso was set off as a station, the preaching places in
Porter County were fourteen: Valparaiso, Morgan Prairie, Kankakee, Ohio, Hanna's
Mill, City West, Jackson Center, Griffith's Chapel, Horse Prairie, Hebron, Union
Chapel, Twenty-Mile Grove, Salt Creek, Louis Pennocks.
Presiding elders of the Valparaiso District since 1852:
J. L. Smith, W. Graham, B. Winans, James Johnson, Conrad S. Burgner, S. T.
Cooper, W. R. Mikels,
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1871-1875. R. D. Utter 1875-1879. S. Godfrey, 1879-1880. For a time no
Valparaiso District. J. L. Smith 1886-1890. J. H. Wilson 1891-1895. S. Beck 1896
to the present time.
The date, 1840, is given for the organization of the present church in
Valparaiso, church building commencing in 1848. Membership in 1852 two hundred
and forty-five.
The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Conference was organized about
1870. In 1876 Mrs. J. P. Early of La Porte was elected Conference Secretary of
the Society. She left for California in the winter of 1880. In April of 1881 she
resigned her secretaryship. She came not back to Indiana
again.
In 1897 was published, by Rev. George R. Streeter, an interesting volume, the
Conference Biographical Album. This contained likenesses and short sketches of
many of the active members of the Northern Indiana
Conference.
The History of Indiana Methodism, by Dr. John L.
Smith, has been already mentioned. Dr. Smith came into
Indiana and commenced preaching in 1840. That was a summer of great
revivals, "some of the most remarkable," says Dr. Smith, "ever witnessed in the
West." Laboring among the Indiana Methodists for
so many years, he was well fitted, in that respect, to write their history.
Of Dr. John L. Smith, to whom the Methodists of Indiana
owe much, Rev. Dr. Utter says: "His last appointment, 1886, was
Valparaiso District. He remained in charge of the district five years, when, at
South Bend, October 6, 1891, fifty-one years from
the date of his admission on trial, * * * he requested the Conference to grant
him a superannuated relation."
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"At the close of the Conference session, 1891, he retired to his cottage home in
Valparaiso, where, at 5 P. M., Saturday, March 11, 1899, in the eighty-eighth
year of his age and the fifty-ninth of his ministry, he was transferred
from the militant ranks to the Church triumphant,
from earthly toil to his home in heaven." (See
Conference Minutes of 1899.)
In La Porte County are now fourteen Methodist churches and two German Methodist.
These are at Michigan City, La Porte, Westville, Union Mills, Wanatah, Hanna,
Door Village, and in country places called Summit, Waterford, Salem, Bald Hill,
Rolling Prairie (this a railroad station), Lamb's Chapel, and Posey's Chapel.
Since 1876 the gain in membership has been four hundred.
In Porter County are ten. In Lake thirteen, White eleven, Pulaski nine, Starke
four, Newton three, Jasper three, perhaps four.
Present membership, 1899.
The following figures are given on the authority of the Minutes of the Northwest
Indiana Conference for 1899. All the preaching
stations in the counties are not given in the Minutes, but the membership of the
smaller localities is probably included in the larger. It appears that in our
eight counties there are forty-three preachers "in charge" or as supplies, and
seventeen local preachers, making in all sixty Methodist ministers in
North-Western Indiana for the year 1899.
For the fifteen different objects for which these churches contribute in the
year, aside from ordinary expenses, the Valparaiso
District, in which most of these churches are, contributed, not including Royal
Center, $5,217. Adding to this amount the contribu-
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tions from
Brookston in La Fayette District, and of the ten amounts
reported in South Bend District, $1,658, and the full amount will be $6,875.
These congregations also paid in the same year for pastoral support, including
presiding elders and bishops' amounts, more than thirty-three thousand dollars.
And the amount of expenses in Valparaiso District alone were more than seven
thousand dollars. Over fifty thousand dollars, in round numbers, will be the
amount raised by the Methodist congregations in the year 1899.
The following is the membership by counties: Lake, 1090; Porter, 1263; La Porte,
1420; Starke, 360; Pulaski, 865; White, 1462; Jasper, 762; Newton, 1189. Total,
8541.
The average membership, it thus appears, is nearly one thousand and seventy in a
county.
Number of Methodist Episcopal Sunday schools, 88. Membership in these schools,
8,921. The average of Sunday-school membership is about eleven hundred and
fifteen for a county.
The Epworth League force is also quite strong, although included largely in the
church membership and school membership.
2. German Episcopal Methodists.
Of these there are in Lake County four churches. The oldest is in Hanover
Township on Lake Prairie. The earliest families of this church were the Beckley
family, about 1840, George Krinbill and family in 1851, and then many others. A
church was organized and a building was erected about 1853. In 1874, a church at
Crown Point was organized, a church building was completed, and at about the
same time a third one at Hobart. Still later the fourth organization was
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perfected at Hammond. For fifty years the German Methodists have been an
important part of the religious element of Lake County. They have had excellent
pastors, they have been active in Sunday-school work, there has been vitality in
their religion.
In these later years the oldest and strongest congregation has been declining,
as families not of their faith have taken the lands which once they occupied.
Numbering in the county in 1884 about one hundred and fifty members, they now
number, with a large increase at Hammond, about two hundred and thirty.
In La Porte County they have an old and strong congregation, with one hundred
and seventy-five members, in the city of La Porte; and at Michigan City they
have one hundred and twenty-five members. At Crown Point and Hammond, at
Michigan City and La Porte, besides church buildings, they have good parsonages.
Entire membership, five hundred and thirty. They have only four resident
pastors, and the total amount they raise is, including the same items as were
included in the notice of the American Methodists, forty-two hundred dollars. So
it appears that where the American Methodists raise an amount equal to six
dollars for each member, the German Methodists raise an amount equal to eight
dollars for each member.
3. Swedish Episcopal Methodists.
Of these there is one organization in Lake County, at Hobart, church building
erected in 1889. Membership, --------. Probably membership forty.
4. The Congregationalists.
There were not many of this denomination among the pioneers. It is mainly in
these later years that these churches have been spreading outward
from
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New England. For the following statistics the
Congregational Year Book for 1899 is the authority.
In La Porte County are three churches, all at Michigan City. 1. Michigan City
1st Congregational, organized in 1835, present membership 264; number in Sabbath
school, 152; benevolent contributions, $180; home expenses, $1,675.
2. Emmanuel, German, organized 1891; membership,
43; in Sunday school, 72; for benevolent objects, $63; home expenses, $537. 3.
Sandborn Memorial Church, Scandinavian, organized 1893; members, 39; in school,
30; for benevolence, $20; home expenses, $381.
In Porter County is one church, Porter, organized 1891; members, 53; in school,
175; benevolence, $53; home expenses, $575.
In Lake County are five churches: Hobart, organized in 1885; Hammond, 1887;
Ross, 1888; East Chicago, 1889; Whiting, 1890. Membership in 1899: Hobart, 63;
Hammond, 51; Ross, 31; East Chicago, 66; Whiting, 64. In Sunday school: Hobart,
120; Hammond, 142; Ross, 52; East Chicago, 50; Whiting, 150.
For benevolent objects in Lake County, including missions, total amount $265,
East Chicago and Whiting contributing over ninety dollars each.
For home expenses: Hobart, $550; Hammond, $500; Ross, $222; East Chicago, $900;
Whiting, $689.
Totals. Churches, 9; membership, 674; in Sunday school, 943; benevolent objects
of different kinds outside of home expenses, $581; home expenses, $6,029. Total
amount of money raised in the year, $6,600. Nearly ten dollars for each member,
or more exactly, nine dollars and about eighty cents.
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5. The Presbyterians.
In the West and in the South Presbyterian ministers, although apparently not so
well adapted to the ways and needs of frontier life as some others, have
nevertheless gone into new settlements, carrying their very thorough education,
their scholarly ways, and their dignity and culture, into the homes of the
pioneers. If not always the first, they have generally been second or third to
enter upon new fields. The first in promoting and building up schools they have
generally been.
LA PORTE COUNTY.
As early as 1831, "in the late autumn," the first Presbyterian man, Myron Ives,
settled on Rolling Prairie, "just east of the Little Kankakee," in a log cabin.
In May, 1832, Mrs. Rebecca Ives, his mother, and his sister, Mrs. Sarah Aldrich,
came with their families and settled near; and soon also, into the same
neighborhood, came Alexander Blackburn. Soon, in the true Christian spirit of
worship they commenced a neighborhood prayer meeting which was held each Sabbath
in the Ives or Blackburn cabin. Presbyterian church life there commenced.
In November, 1832, Rev. James Crawford from the
Wabash region held religious senses in the cabin of Alexander Blackburn in
Kankakee Township, and in 1833 completed the organization of a church with
twenty members. The elders were James Blair, W. C. Ross, David Dinwiddie, and
Myron Ives. Meetings were held in a log school house on the Niles road. For some
reason the locality of this church was changed to the young and growing county
seat and it was called the Presbyterian Church of La Porte. This church was what
was then called Old School. In 1837
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work on a church building was commenced, but the house was not dedicated before
1842. In November, 1844, a New School Presbyterian church was constituted "in a
school house belonging to Rev. F. P. Cummins."
Some of the ministers who were pastors or supplies of the first church were John
Morrill in 1834, W. K. Talbot in 1835, W. K. Marshall in 1837, until October,
1844. The membership increased from ninety-six to
one hundred and fifty while he was pastor.
Rev. F. P. Cummins, a successful teacher of a private, academic school, was
pastor from 1851 to 1858. Some other pastors were:
J. W. Hanna, R. S. Goodman, S. C. Spofford, and L. M. Stevens.
Some of the pastors of the second church were: From
1846 to 1858, John W. Cunningham, in the first year of whose ministry,
after he was duly installed, eighty-eight were added to the church membership;
from 1859 to 1868, George C. Noyes, the church
membership in 1866 having reached nearly three hundred.
In 1871, October 31st, the two churches were united, and Rev. John F. Kendall,
D. D., became pastor. His was a long and successful pastorate.
The present pastor is Reuben H. Hartley. This church, with its present
membership, according to the Assembly Minutes of 1899, of 365 members, raised in
the year, for various objects, $4,830, or more than thirteen dollars for each
member. It is a strong church, with an "elegant church building" and a large
Sunday school, and ought to be in the city of La Porte, along with the other
strong churches there, as no doubt it is, a large factor for good.
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In 1845 a New School Presbyterian Church was organized near Union Mills, but it
did not grow and live.
What may be called the second, now living church in La Porte County, was
constituted, with ten members, by Rev. F. P. Cummins, in a school house east of
Union Mills, June 22, 1850. It took the name of Bethel Presbyterian Church. A
building was in due time erected at Union Mills. The church has had several
supplies and a few installed pastors, and has now one hundred and twenty members
and a large Sunday school.
The present Rolling Prairie Church may be called the third in the county,
organized in February, 1852, with twenty-eight members, and now reporting only
twenty.
And the fourth, not counting one organized in 1870 with a few members at
Wanatah, but which has ceased to exist, is the present Presbyterian Church at
Michigan City, organized May 9, 1871, with thirty-nine members. The first elders
elected were: J. S. Ford, John Orr, J. A. Thornton, and Henry W. Johnson.
In 1872 a church building was erected and Rev. J. Q. Hall was installed as
pastor. In 1896, in February, the church building was destroyed by fire. A new
building on other ground was erected in 1897.
Present membership about two hundred. Number in Sunday school in 1900, 215. Of
this large and well conducted school H. W. Johnson has been Superintendent for
twenty-five years, and A. B. Barron, Secretary for eight years, and two better
officers than these have been need not anywhere be sought.
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PORTER COUNTY.
Rev. J. C. Brown, a young licentiate, began preaching in Valparaiso December 4,
1839, and July 3, 1840, having been ordained, he with Rev. W. K. Marshall of La
Porte organized the Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso with ten constituent
members, James Blair and M. B. Crosby being the first elders. A Sunday school,
at first Union, was organized by Mrs. Brown and the pastor's brother, Hugh A.
Brown, near the close of 1840.
Both church and school prospered. A frame church building was erected, and at
length, the present massive brick structure became needful. The church has had
few pastoral changes. Dr. Brown, a remarkable man, teacher, preacher,
Sunday-school worker, full of labor and of untiring zeal, taking, so it was
said, his breakfast at six, his dinner at twelve, and his supper at six, all the
year round, continued as pastor till September 4, 1860. In 1862 he was appointed
Chaplain of the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Indiana
Volunteers, and died in a hospital at Paducah, Kentucky, July 14, 1862. He had
preached not only in Valparaiso, but at Tassinong, Salem, Twenty-Mile Prairie,
Eagle Creek Prairie, and at Crown Point. In his twenty years of a busy ministry
he received into church membership four hundred and seventy-five members. Well
did one of his successors, Rev. Robert Beer, say of him: "Dr. Brown was a man of
such piety, zeal, activity, and self-denial, as to make an impression never to
be forgotten by those who knew him."
The second pastor was Rev. S. C. Logan, from
October 14, 1860, to July, 1865. The third was Rev.
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Robert Beer, from
December 17, 1865, to later than 1882. The fourth was a
more than ordinary man in the qualities of a winning, noble, vigorous manhood,
Rev. S. N. Wilson. His successors have been Rev. H. B. Fleming, now pastor at
Hammond, and the present pastor, Rev. Martin Luther. Six pastors only in sixty
years.
The Presbyterian Church at Tassinong was organized by Rev. J. C. Brown, and has
been supplied usually with preaching from
Valparaiso and Hebron.
The Presbyterian Church at Hebron was organized by Rev. S. C. Logan of
Valparaiso and Rev. J. L. Lower of Crown Point, October 29, 1860, with fourteen
members. First elders: William Mackey and Amos A. Burwell. Pastors, J. L. Lower,
A. Y. Moore, Robert Beer, and others from
Valparaiso or Crown Point, and in these later years having a resident pastor, or
a seminary student.
LAKE COUNTY.
The pioneer Presbyterian minister in Lake County was the Rev. J. C. Brown of
Valparaiso, who made an exploring visit westward in 1840 and reached the home of
the Ball family at the Red Cedar Lake, which was
then one of the two religious centers of Lake County, and in that home he
preached, as it is believed, the first Presbyterian sermon in the county.
He returned to Crown Point, the new county seat, found there two Presbyterian
women, Mrs. Holton and Mrs. Fancher, arranged for preaching in the log court
house, alternating these with the Baptist pastor, Rev. N. Warriner, encouraging
the Union Sunday school which held its sessions in the same room,
195
and there, April 27, 1844, he organized a Presbyterian
Church with eighteen members. The pastors succeeding him were Rev. William
Townley, from 1846
to 1856, Rev. Mr. Schultz, J. L. Lower, A. Y. Moore, S. McKee, Dr. S. Fleming,
W. J. Young, J. McAlister, Rev. ------ Carson, B. E. S. Ely, E. S.
Miller, L. W. A. Luckey, Ph. D., J. A. Cole, W. O. Lattimore, and the present
pastor, Dr. Hearst.
A church building was erected between 1845 and
1847. The last services were held in this building August 10, 1884, when it was
replaced by a much larger brick-veneered edifice. Present membership, 74.
The second Presbyterian Church of the county was organized November 9, 1856, on
Lake Prairie, in the New Hampshire Settlement, with twelve members. These New
Hampshire families had the year before made a settlement in the heart of the
open prairie, a prairie so beautiful that some three years afterwards Professor
Mills of Wabash College, having looked over the landscape
from a knoll on one of the farms, said: "I have been thirty years in the
West and have been in every county in the State, and never but once have I seen
so beautiful a view."
Of this church on the prairie Rev. Hiram Wason, then from
Vevay, Indiana, but a native of New
England, in 1857 became pastor. After seven years of faithful and successful
service he resigned the pastoral charge, but continued to reside in the
neighborhood where he made for himself and family a beautiful home, and
continued to be active and useful until laid aside by the infirmities of age. He
died in June, 1898, eighty-three years of age. Some of his successors were B.
Wells, Edwin Post, Homer Sheeley, and for thirteen years past until 1898, Rev.
J. F. Smith, now residing in Crown Point.
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A church building was erected at length, costing fifteen hundred dollars, and
dedicated in 1872. This, while a true country church, has been, with its large
Sunday school, a power for good of no little weight in the southwestern portion
of the county. And it is doing no injustice to others to make this record: that
the two Presbyterian ministers who have made the largest and most durable
impressions for good upon the social and intellectual and religious life of Lake
County have been Rev. William Townley and Rev. H. Wason. Were a third name to be
added to these two it would be that of Rev. J. F. Smith, who for thirteen years,
from 1885 to 1898, has been diligent in school and
church work in the bounds of the Lake Prairie Church, who has taken a large
interest in the public schools and in the social life of the community. His
public addresses on many occasions have been always interesting and instructive.
A third Presbyterian Church was organized in the city of Hammond in 1890. This
at once became a city church, erecting a quite costly edifice and entering
actively upon church and school life.
A fourth church was organized at Plum Grove, in the south part of the county,
with about twelve members, a few years ago, but it has lately been disbanded. It
was reported in the Minutes of 1899 and will be found named therefore in the
concluding summary.
OTHER COUNTIES.
In Pulaski County the Presbyterians seem not to have made an early beginning;
but there are now two Presbyterian churches in the county: one at Winamac with
eighty members and a Sabbath school of seventy-five members; the other at
Pulaski with sixty mem-
197
bers and a school of sixty-five members. Also a
Christian Endeavor society connected with each church. Rev. Samuel B. Neilson,
residing at Winamac, pastor of both churches.
It has been said that about one-half of the population of Pulaski County were
Roman Catholics, but that must be too large an estimate; for in the county are
United Brethren, Lutheran, Advent, five "Christian," and nine Methodist
churches, besides the two Presbyterian; four chapters of the Epworth League, and
seven Christian Endeavor societies. Also forty-four Sunday schools.
Of the County Sunday School Association (1899) Miss Emily Hoch is President, Mr.
E. C. W. Dunn of Star City, Secretary.
The first Presbyterian Church in White County was organized in 1836, Rev. J.
Stocker the minister. The first meeting was in the cabin of John Wilson, a mile
west of Monticello, then the members met in school houses and in the court
house. This church was Old School. First settled pastor, Rev. Alexander
Williamson, in 1840. Soon afterwards Rev. Samuel Steele organized a New School
church, and this organization in 1842 erected, it is said, the first church
building of the county. First pastor, Rev. W. M. Cheever, in 1843.
In White County, in which both Baptists and Presbyterians seem equally to
prosper, are now nine Presbyterian churches or congregations, but some have no
church buildings.
In Newton County are two: one at Kentland, one at Goodland. In Jasper there is
one at Remington and one at Rensselaer. In Starke County there seems to be for
Presbyterians as until very recently for Baptists no need.
198
The first Presbyterian minister preaching in Jasper County was Rev. John A.
Williamson of Monticello. In 1849 or 1850 was erected the first Presbyterian
church building.
SUMMARY.
Most of the following figures are given on the authority of the Minutes of the
General Assembly for 1899. These churches are all in the Presbytery of
Logansport, Synod of Indiana. The first figures,
after the name of the church, give the membership, and the second number gives
the members in Sunday school.
Churches in Lake County, 4. Crown Point, 74, 110; Lake Prairie, 34, 75; Hammond,
94, 100; Plum Grove, 17. Total membership 219, 285.
Churches in Porter County, 3. Valparaiso, 238, 201; Tassinong, 68, 25; Hebron,
59, 40. Total, 385, 266.
Churches in La Porte County, 4. La Porte, 365, 260; Michigan City, 180, 215;
Union Mills or Bethel, 120, 186; Rolling Prairie, 20. Total, 685, 661.
Churches in Pulaski County, 2. Winamac, 75, 125; Pulaski, 50, 125. Total
membership, 125, 250.
Churches in White County, 8. Monticello, 310, 345; Brookston, 96, 71; Chalmers,
83, 71; Idaville, 71, 94; Monon, 50, 100; Bedford, 33, 69; Meadow Lake or
Wolcott, 50, 50; Buffalo, 25. Total membership, 718, 800.
Churches in Jasper County, 2. Rensselaer, 100, 90; Remington, 100, 100. Total,
200, 190.
Churches in Newton County, 2. Kentland, 110, 94; Goodland, 152, 138. Total
membership, 262, 232.
Whole number of churches, 25. Total membership, 2,594. In schools, 2,684. Amount
of money
199
raised in the year, including twelve items, $27,285.
This is about $10.50 per member.
6. United Presbyterians.
The "Bethlehem Church of Associate Reform Presbyterians" was an early and
probably the first church of this denomination in
Northwestern Indiana. It was organized July 28, 1838, one month after the
organization of the "Cedar Lake Baptist Church." The organizing minister was
Rev. Hannon. The first members were "Samuel Turner and wife, Thomas Dinwiddie
and wife, Berkley Oliver and wife, Susanna Dinwiddie, Sr., Susanna Dinwiddie,
Jr., Margaret Dinwiddie, Mary McCarnehan, Susan P. West, John W. Dinwiddie,
David T. Dinwiddie, Margaret J. Dinwiddie, and Elza A. Dinwiddie."* Rev. Wilson
Blain was the first pastor. The second was Rev. J. N. Buchanan, who came in May,
1851, and was installed, according to the custom of Presbyterian churches,
November 29, 1851. He still resides near Hebron, but resigned as pastor in 1897.
The present pastor is Rev. J. A. Barnes.
The members of the Bethlehem Church met first at the homes of their members,
then in the school house, then they erected a log building about a mile south of
Hebron, and in 1852 a frame building, still nearer to the village, which was
moved into Hebron in 1864, and in 1879 the present church was erected. The first
frame building cost twelve hundred dollars and the present one twenty-five
hundred. The name Bethlehem was soon changed to Hebron, probably at the
suggestion of Rev. W. Blain, through whose efforts a postoffice
__________
*G. A. Garard in "Porter and Lake," 1882.
200
was secured for the young village at "the Corners," and as there was one
Bethlehem postoffice in Indiana some other name
than that must be found. So church and town both took the old Bible name of
Hebron.
The name "Associate Reform" of the denomination was changed many years ago to
"United Presbyterian." Mr. Buchanan preached not only in Porter County, but for
many years in Lake County at the South East Grove and Center school houses, and,
in later years, at Le Roy, where, February 18, 1888, a second United
Presbyterian Church was organized, members of the Reformed Presbyterian body
uniting with others in its organization. A neat and good church building was
soon erected and a Sabbath school organized. Pastor, Rev. J. A. Barnes.
NAVIGATION OF
NORTHWESTERN INDIANA FROM 1800 TO 1900
FRONT MATTER AND DEDICATION
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
- GENERAL OUTLINES
CHAPTER 2
- THE INDIANS
CHAPTER 3
- THE EARLY SETTLERS
CHAPTER 4
- WHAT THE EARLY SETTLERS FOUND
CHAPTER 5
- PIONEER LIFE
CHAPTER 6
- COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS
CHAPTER 7
- OUR LAKES AND STREAMS
CHAPTER 8
- LAKE MICHIGAN WATER SHED
CHAPTER 9
- TOWNSHIP AND STATISTICS
CHAPTER
10 - RAILROAD LIFE
CHAPTER
11 - POLITICAL HISTORY
CHAPTER
12 - THE WAR RECORD
CHAPTER
13 - RELIGIOUS HISTORY
CHAPTER
14 - RELIGIOUS HISTORY
CHAPTER
15 - RELIGIOUS HISTORY
CHAPTER
16 - SUNDAY SCHOOLS
CHAPTER
17 - TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF NEWTON AND JASPER
CHAPTER
18 - TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF WHITE, PULASKI AND STARKE
CHAPTER
19 - VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIES OF LAKE
CHAPTER
20 - VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF PORTER
CHAPTER
21 - VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIES OF LA PORTE
CHAPTER
22 - EARLY TRAVELS
CHAPTER
23 - PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CHAPTER
24 - PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS
CHAPTER
25 - LIBRARIES
CHAPTER
26 - OTHER INDUSTRIES
CHAPTER
27 - SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
CHAPTER
28 - THE KANKAKEE REGION
CHAPTER
29 - DRAINING MARSHES
CHAPTER
30 - ANIMALS AND PLANTS
CHAPTER
31 - MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
CHAPTER
32 - COURT HOUSES
CHAPTER
33 - ARCHAEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS
CHAPTER
34 - BIRTH PLACES OF PIONEERS
CHAPTER
35 - McCARTY
CHAPTER
36 - ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE
CHAPTER
37 - ALTITUDES
CHAPTER
38 - MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
CHAPTER
39 - SOME STATISTICS
CHAPTER
40 - WEATHER RECORD
CONCLUSION
Transcribed by Steven R. Shook, April 2012