The Historical Notes for the Lambs Chapel Methodist Church 1941
by
Rev. W. D. Archibald
The settlement of Galena Township in LaPorte Co. began in 1833 with the
arrival of George W. Barnes. During this year Whitman Goit, Shubal Smith,
Richard Miller, Sylvester James and John Talbot arrived and selected claims
and began to make improvements on them. Added the following year to this
list of first settlers were: Daniel Baldwin, Aurea and Basil Sperry, William
Waldruff, Sans H. Austin, Byron Caldwalder, John Morrow, Joshua Jordon,
Elijan Bishop, Micajah Jones, John Cooper, Ephriam Cooper, Jesse, Jones,
Oliver Porter, James Paddock, Charles Francis, Joseph Fuller, James Jones,
and Abram Purcell.
Among this group of early settlers there was at least one Methodist
exhorter, Mr. Shubal Smith. His name is listed in the Quarterly Conference
records for the year 1835. Although his character was examined and passed
he apparently asked to be released from this responsibility for the time as
his license was not renewed. The first gatherings for worship were in
homes. Among the homes used was that of Whitman Goit. This class must have
flourished, for in 1841 all the neighbors were called together to erect the
first log chapel in the community on land given by Whitman Goit and named
for the pastor in charge, Posey Chapel. The name of Willie Wright appears
as one of the class leaders in the Quarterly Conference Reports of 1835,
1838 and 1839. He is listed as on of the settlers in Galena Twp in 1841 and
he doubtless contributed to the religious uplife of the community.
The second church to be built in the township was Mount Pleasant Chapel,
erected in 1844. The Lamb's Chapel Church, which was the next in order was
built by popular subscription in 1854. The land on which the church was
built was given by Mr. Oren Lamb. The Christian Church built a church in
1865 under the leadership of Rev. Caleb B. Davis in the community now known
as Heston.
The Lamb's Chapel Church is a frame building. Jasper Packard in his history
of LaPorte County describes it as "about the size of an ordinary school
house which is very much resembles", p. 13D. The original site of the
church was on the west side of Fail road. About 1876 the church was moved
across the road and was used as a school house through the week and as a
church on Sunday. This arrangement was not altogether satisfactory although
it prevailed for several years. In 1887, it was moved back across the road
to its original site, onto land that was deeded by Mr. Nelson Morton. A
brick school house was built on the east side of the road where the church
did stand.
It is not know who carried the petition for the erection of the Lamb's
Chapel Church building, however, the following were quite influential in the
church in its earlier days: Harrison Bishop, Al Pease, Oren Lamb, Calida
Preston, Enoch Preston, Joe Stanton, Charles Carpenter, Isaac Dodd, Theo
Fail and James Wilson. The men and their families took the lead in
promoting the work and supported it by their prayer, their presence and
their gifts. A ten foot addition was built onto the west end of the church
in 1900. The membership has been loyal and devoted to the church, although
it has never been large. The women of the community have worked to help
keep the church going. The Oak Leaf Circle has been a loyal organization in
promoting the work of the church since it was organized by Mrs. Calida
Preston. Some of the women who have served in the capacity of president for
this organization are: Mrs. A. Pease, Mrs. Harrison Bishop, Mrs. Clair
Fail, Mrs. Calida Preston, Mrs. Lewis Wagner, Mrs. William Wehrley, Mrs.
Florence Wilhelm (1939). Following the plan for reorganizing the women's
work in the Methodist Church, after the Methodist Churches united, there is
now an active Women's Society of Christian Service of which Mrs. Ralph
Wilhelm was the first president. There were 36 members in the Society.
The Sunday School was organized about 1867 by Uncle John R. Replogle. IT
has continued for years and many boys and girls began their religious
instruction there, and have grown to be useful and upright men and women.
For the size of the school, the present staff has been unusually active in
improving their work and have responded remarkably well to the opportunities
offered. Some of those who have served the school in the capacity of
superintendent are Joe Stanton, Al Pease, Mrs. Harrison Bishop, William
Heald, Lloyd Boles, Elwood Buel, Mrs. Wm. Wehrley, Nicholas Dahl, Mrs. Ralph
Wilhelm, and Wm. Wilhelm.
Mrs. Harrison Bishop and Mrs. John Schwader secured subscriptions covering
the cost of the fence around the cemetery across the road from the church.
The cost of the fence was $185.22 and it was installed in 1900. In an early
day, the cemetery was cared for by having a work day about three times a
year. A cemetery organization was formed in about 1949, which now has
charge of the care of the cemetery area.
In earlier days, camp meetings were held in the Hayes Grove on Harry Austin'
s property. The Methodists held meetings there until the Free Methodists
took over the work at Springville formerly done by the Methodists. Rev. P.
T. Shields held a camp meeting in the Sutherland Grove near where the old
Rossburg Church( Church of Brethren) (Dunkard) formerly stood on the Old
Michigan Road.
In 1928 a new roof was put on and the church was painted white to preserve
the wood from decay. Mrs. A. J. (Belle) Stahl and Mrs. John (Mary) Wilhelm
took care of this expense. It has added much to the looks of the church
from the outside. About this time the interior was redecorated and roller
shades bought for the windows. This expense was met by Mr. & Mrs. Borgard,
Mr. & Mrs. Chris Shallow, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Blank and Mr. & Mrs. John
Schwader. Mr. Frank Serns gave the church its parlor furnace from one of
the school houses being abandoned in Galena Twp in 1930.
Copied 7-13-2001 by Holly Jenks from the Pioneer Cemetery Commission Files