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Surnames: Fountain County IN Archives History - Books .....Churches
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Fountain County IN Archives History - Books .....Churches 1881
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb(a)yahoo.com August 25, 2006, 4:19 am
Book Title: History Of Fountain County
CHURCHES.
When weather permitted, the groves were the pioneer temples of worship. No
silver-tongued church bell bade the plain christian heart to a church whose
spire pierced the cloud. The home cabin or the log school-house, or, a little
later, the log church, received the worshipers with a silent welcome. Away back
in 1824 Lucas Nebeker, an ardent Methodist, yet a liberal christian, became a
resident of the "Bend," in Troy township, Fountain county. Mr. Nebeker opened
his door to all religious service. A "New Light brother" was the first to
proclaim the Gospel in the "Bend," holding service at Mr. Nebeker's house,
the
only house with a shingled roof then in Fountain county. Rev. Blackwell, a
Cumberland Presbyterian, was the next to instruct the pioneers in religion. Rev.
Vredenburg, the first Methodist preacher of this section, arraigned Mr. Nebeker
for encouraging other denominations, accusing him of heresy. Vredenburg
Methodism did not become popular, and its founder remained here but a short
time. Judge Birch worked hand in hand with Judge Nebeker in the interests of the
church, and both were class-leaders. A buckeye log school-house was built which
was also used as a place of worship in 1828 or 1829. The services in Covington
were early held in the "frame courthouse," then in the brick school-house for
many years. In 1840, when Dr. C. V. Jones located at Covington, the Methodist
people had already begun the construction of a church. The walls had been
weather-damaged before the roof was finished. The building was under the
supervision of George Shocky and Peter H. Patterson, prominent churchmen of that
day. Peter A. Saul was also an officer in the church. The society had gathered
together a flock of about fifty members. In 1839-40 Revs. James Thompson and
Walter Hoffman were on the circuit, followed in the fall of 1841 by Enoch Wood
and James Mershon. Prior to this, Richard Hargrave and Daniel De Motte were
laborers here. The church building, of brick, was finished about 1842. In three
or four years later this edifice was partly destroyed by a storm, the front wall
being blown in. A frame front was then constructed. The house had become so
badly racked that it was deserted, services being held elsewhere. In 1852 the
present church was built. In 1878 the church was remodeled at a cost of $750. In
1874 a neat parsonage was erected. The church property altogether is valued at
$6,500, the society numbers 111, and Sunday-school about 100. Dr. C. V. Jones,
Dr. G. S. Jones, Adam Bunt, Lincoln Gardener and George Nebeker are stewards.
Rev. H. N. Ogden is minister in charge, and Dr. G. S. Jones Sunday-school
superintendent.
GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH.
In 1862 Rev. Stahl preached a few times to the German Methodists. In 1863
Rev. Conrad Welzeman labored about six months. In the fall he organized a small
class, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. John Wirley, Mr. arid Hrs. Wenceker, Christina
Vuthrich. Christian Vuthrich, although not a member of the church, took an
active part and was made class-leader. A few additions were soon made. Mrs.
Margaret Mayer, Mrs. Margaret Fultz, Anna Vuthrich, Fred. T. Vuthrich became
members. John Wirley was steward and Sunday-school superintendent. Rev. Wetzeman
continued his work two years, followed by Rev. George Entzroad two years. Then
came William Roader, who proposed the erection of a church. The house of
worship, 25 X 36, at a cost of about $2,000, was provided. The trustees were
John Wirley, Christian Vuthrich, Dr. C V. Jones, Michael Mayer, and George A.
Nebeker. The church is free from debt, but is weak in numbers.
CHRISTIAN OR DISCIPLES' CHURCH
was organized about 1865. The church edifice was built about 1851, by the New
Light branch of the christian denomination, but that society having_ become
defunct, the building fell to those who would use it. The Disciples numbered in
1865 about fifteen members, prominent among whom was Dr. J. K. Spinning, who was
trustee, and Mr. Heath, now of Merom, Indiana. Other members were Mr. and Mrs.
Levi Beckelhymer, Mrs. Julia Munson, Joshua Walker, Helen Walker, Mrs. Joanna
Fisher, Sarah Brown, Andrew Ainsworth and wife Margaret, and a few others. Elder
H. W. McClure, Jacob Wright and James Conner were early ministers. The society
has increased till it numbers about fifty-five. Joshua Walker is elder, and
Samuel Phebus and Benjamin Randall are deacons. T. F. Piercy, of Crawfordsville,
delivers one sermon per month at this place.
GERMAN UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST CHURCH
was organized as a class in 1856, by Rev. Carl Schneider, in the Christian
church. Those constituting the class were John Mayer and Mrs. Mayer, Michael
Albright and wife, George Hagelly and wife, Jacob Bohman and wife, and Elizabeth
Wagoner. John Mayer was made class-leader and was a pillar of the church. In
1862, under the ministry of the Rev. Fredrich Schwey, a house of worship, about
23x42, was built at an expense of $1,400. The trustees were Hagelly, Albright
and Mayer. The church has not increased to any extent. Rev. John Miller, of
Danville, preaches occasionally; Henry Wagoner is class-leader; Jacob Peter,
Henry Wagoner and John Ramsey are trustees.
There has also been a Baptist society in Covington, but it is disorganized.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Prior to building, Catholic services were held in the court-house, in halls,
or in private rooms. Father Flaherty was early in charge of the circuit
embracing Fountain, Montgomery and Warren counties; his labors being so
extensive he could visit each point but occasionally. Prior to 1860 Dr. S. J.
Weldon donated three lots, a beautiful site for a new church. Efforts were made
to build, and the corner-stone of the church was laid by Bishop Luers, of Fort
Wayne. The war breaking out staid all further progress. In 1866 work was
resumed, and in 1867 a Catholic church, 34x60, with 22-foot walls and a spire,
well finished and furnished at a cost of $5,000, was consecrated by the bishop
of Fort Wayne, assisted by Bishop Dwenger now of Fort Wayne. The church property
is neatly fenced and free from debt. The society have a school-building in the
rear of their church but are unable to support a Catholic school at present. The
society numbers,— men, women and children,— about 600. Since Father Flaherty
labored here, Father Joseph Rademacher, a tine scholar and now of La Fayette,
Fathers Bleckraan, Cahill, and John Marck, and, of late, Father Plaster, have
had charge of the Covington congregation.
PRESBYTERIANISM IN COVINGTON.
Contributed by Rev. John M. Bishop:
The Presbyterian Church was organized in Covington, with fifteen members, by
Rev. Edmund O. Hovey and Rev. Enoch Kingsbury, June 9, 1832. James Long and
Daniel McLain were the first elders.
E. O. Hovey was born in East Hanover, New Hampshire, July 15, 1801, and died
at Crawfordsville, Indiana, March 10, 1877. He came to Fountain county in 1831,
and after a few months of pastoral work became one of the founders of Wabash
College, and was connected with It until his death. His biography is an
important part of the history of that institution.
E. Kingsbury was born in Langdon, New Hampshire, in 1800. Came to Danville,
Illinois, in 1830, and died in that city in 1868. For nearly forty years he was
a most faithful minister and an influential member of society. He says of his
early labors: "I preached in all kinds of places; shops, sheds, barns,
dwelling-houses, school-houses, court-houses, and in the woods, for three years
before I preached in a meeting-house of any description, west of the Wabash. Nor
was I kept in a corner, or limited in my field of labor. Few men have wandered
over a wider field while residing in one place than I have. The best of houses
have been open to me, and yet from the close of 1830 till the commencement of
1834 I preached in no house west of the Wabash, erected for the worship of God.
The first that I did preach in was the one I now occupy, built upon my own lot,
mostly upon, my own plan, and under my supervision, answering for many years the
double purpose for schools and meetings."
The above is an extract from a letter of Father Kingsbury, written at
Danville, Illinois, in 1849.
On June 17, 1843, another Presbyterian church was organized in Covington, by
Rev. N. P. Charlote, with eight members. Abram Gaberiel and I. G. Jones were the
first elders. This church was what is commonly called Old School.
These two churches struggled along side by side, with various success, until
the reunion of the O. S. and N. S. churches throughout the United States, in
1870. A great number of very excellent ministers resided in Covington and
preached to these churches. Over 400 persons have been members of the
Presbyterian church in Covington.
When the reunion took place, the building which had been used by the N.S.
branch was taken down and removed seven miles southeast into Wabash township,
where it was reerected and dedicated for the use of what is known as the Second
Presbyterian church of Covington, but commonly called XVI. About 100 members are
now enrolled in these two churches. The writer of this article is at present
pastor of these two Presbyterian churches of Covington, in connection with the
Presbyterian church of Veedersburg.
Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,
TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,
GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.
BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.
WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.
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