Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue History & Genealogy Culver, Marshall, Indiana

One Township's Yesterdays Chapter XXXVI  



PROTESTANT BEGINNINGS


    "While from yon lowly roof, whose circling smoke
    O'ermounts the mist, is heard at intervals
    The voice of psalms, the simple song of praise."
    ... James Grahame  


AMONG THE INDIANS OF THIS REGION, the Jesuit missionaries had labored long and assiduously. Now the red men were gone. Now remained only the white settlers. And amongst these, practically at the very start of the settlements here, came the Protestant missionaries, seeking to save and to convert, and to augment the congregations of various faiths and beliefs.

A missionary by the name of DILLION is reputed to have been the first to visit Indiana. He came in 1702. It is not known for a surety who was the first Protestant missionary or preacher to visit the Lake Maxinkuckee region.

The first may have been an itinerant preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church by the name of Owens. At any rate, the Methodist circuit riders were very early on the job. So were the Baptists.

When the first real emigration to Marshall County began in the early spring of '36, ABEL C. HICKMAN was already established on the Michigan Road, two and a half miles south of Argos. It is generally believed that, the first log cabin built in the county was erected by him. He came evidently several years ahead of the pioneers of '36.

In 1835, when the lands wore [were] made subject to entry, HICKMAN secured a tract and moved off west of the road to the farm owned by ADAM BIXEL. There he put up another and more pretentious log cabin, taking the trouble to hew the logs and otherwise "modernize" his abode. It was there, according to the best authority, that the first society for religious worship was organized by OWENS. For several years, the society continued to meet there, until 1844. Reliable authority also states that a house of worship, or a "meeting house," as it was called, was built on this farm, being the first building exclusively for church purposes erected by Protestants in the County.

"The student of the early history of the Western States," writes JULIA HENDERSON LEVERING, will find in the reminiscences of old settlers no more interesting chapters than their recollections of the pioneer churches and their ministers. Into the fruits of their ardent labors, the present generations have entered; their memories are a heritage."

Among the mightiest of the influences in the development of the State was that of the early churches and their ministers "Indiana's obligation to these influences cannot be calculated," the historian continues. "The present and future generations can scarcely measure their indebtedness to those devoted Christian forefathers. A record of their labors in their various neighborhoods would be an invaluable addition to the archives of the Commonwealth. It is scarcely possible that an acquaintance with the greatly good, an intimate knowledge of their unpretending heroism, a sympathy with their unselfish sorrows and their lofty joys will not refine and elevate our lives."

Recollections of the early days and of the first log-cabin religious meetings in this section, as given by the late PHEBE THOMPSON WILLEY, in 1925, are so authentic that they should be repeated.

"In pioneer days these people," she related, referring to the first settlers in what is now Union Township, "did not omit the assembling of themselves together. Before the coming of the log school house, meetings were held in the cabins of the settlers.

Itinerant preachers were welcomed. When one arrived unannounced, children were dispatched in all directions to invite the neighborhood to a night meeting. Each felt a measure of responsibility for the message he would bring.

"My Grandmother told me of a occasion of this kind that occurred in Union Township. An evangelist came to the home of ELIZABETH MC DONALD (Mother of the late DAN MC DONALD) one afternoon.

"Aunt Betty was an earnest, enthusiastic Christian and promptly started the boys to spread the news. After they had gone she began to inspect the evangelist and thought he might not be as well informed as desired. Being herself well-versed in Scripture she proceeded to question the stranger. Among the questions propounded was, “How many commandments are in the Bible?” The answer, promptly given, “eleven”, was rather disconcerting.

When the neighbors filled the cabin and the preacher arose, Aunt Betty was anxious, but when he read his text - - 'a new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another,' her fears vanished. Grandmother said the sermon was stirring and practical.

"It is worth while to mention the singing of these pioneers. The combination of Scotch and Welsh voices seems the best instrument for producing sacred music. Anthems and oratorios were suited to the high and low pitches and broad compass in the voices of this group of pioneers.
"A little later than the incident in which Aunt Betty figured, her twin sister, my Grandmother, had an experience which gives insight into the austerity of the time. These women were accustomed to lead in singing as their voices were strong and well suited to 'starting hymns'. This was before the days of suffrage and equality of men and women.

Population had increased in our county and collective meetings were held, called Conferences.

On one occasion Grandmother had been leading in the singing: The minister took as his text: “but I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over man, but to be in silence”. He followed with some drastic comments on the place of woman in the church, the home and domestic relations. When he had finished his sermon he announced a hymn. No one responded. Turning to Grandmother he said, “Sister THOMPSON, will you start the hymn?” She caused great consternation by replying, 'I suffer not a woman to teach,' and remained silent.

"It was a custom in the early days to speak of the people clustered around Maxinkuckee as the “lower” settlement while those around and east of Wolf Creek were the “upper” settlement. For many, years intimate relations were kept up between the two settlements.

The majority of the people of both settlements being of the “New Light” or old Christian church, late in 1836 or early 1837, a church with a large membership was organized covering both settlements.

"The ministers for a number of years were: WILLIAM THOMPSON, HENRY LOGAN and ABRAHAM VOREIS, all pioneers who came to Marshall County in 1836. These were the first who brought Christianity into this region.

"HENRY LOGAN and several others of the organization held to the doctrines of ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, who was considered a reformer.

"In 1843, these with nearly the entire church membership, through the preaching of evangelists MILLER and HOYT and MEAD CATLIN, were converted to the Christian Advent doctrines and re-organized under the tenets of that denomination. This was the founding of what is now known as “The Church of God” throughout the county.

"The site of “Pisgah”. built in 1846 and said to be the first church built in the county is of interest to early settlers, being just east of where had been an Indian village and where a battle had once been fought between savage tribes as evidenced by arrows and other weapons of Indian warfare. This building was open to all denominations, a center of community life and recreation. Many stirring events took place within its walls. The singing schools-wherever else was heard such music as these Scotch-Welsh voices made? The few survivors who remember the “Easter” anthems, the oratorios and the choruses will testify there has been nothing better.

"It is at Pisgah the 'Church of God' (with a congregation later in Union Township, at Burr Oak) had its real origin. The first elders, HENRY LOGAN and HUGH S. BARNHILL, having been elders in the old organization and in sympathy with the Advent doctrines, retained the same office in the new church.

"In January, 1850, elder S. A. CHAPLAIN made his first visit to Pisgah. In this and other churches in the county he labored over forty years, often walking from his home in Pierceton. He spoke often of nature's beauty. Everywhere was a carpet of wild flowers and overhead the dogwood and other flowering trees. His sermons and also many snatches of verse were composed during these walks." One of the early evangelists was RICHARD CORBALEY. Worshippers increased so in numbers that a larger house of worship was required, and in June, 1864, "Antioch" meeting house was dedicated.

"The history of old Pisgah is unique inasmuch as it was the first church built in the county outside of Plymouth," a writer reminisced on the occasion of the Marshall County Sunday School Golden Jubilee. "Located in Green township, four miles south of Plymouth and one mile east of Wolf Creek Mills on ground purchased from PATRICK and MARTHA LOGAN by WILLIAM THOMPSON, THOMAS MC DONALD and THOMAS LOGAN, pioneer trustees, for the church organization known as The Church of God, Adventist. The deed was dated November 11, 1845, drawn by the venerable JOHN B. DICKSON, Justice of the Peace, and the building was constructed in 1846.

"It was used for public school house as well as church and its use was permitted for church services by other denominations.

"Old Antioch, located three miles east of Pisgah, was built by the same denomination in 1863 and later a school house was built in a place better suited to the community. Its glory having departed, Pisgah was moved to a neighboring farmyard and refashioned into a corncrib, where it is still (in the summer of 1925) doing service."

Historical data concerning the religious development of the extreme southwest portion of Marshall County was given by L. C. ZECHIEL, as historian, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the county Sunday Schools. He wrote: "This part of Marshall County was settled largely by those who came here from Ohio in 1850-60. Among then were many Germans, most of whom were religious and so the organization of churches came logically. Religious worship was conducted in homes and in the school house. The denominations were: Evangelical Association, The Reformed, The United Brethren, and for a short time The Protestant Methodist. In 1871-72 two churches were built, one by the Evangelicals and one by the Reformed. For the last twenty years or more (prior to 1925) the Reformed Church alone survives to serve the community. Earlier, a Union Sunday School was held in the Kaley school house, commencing about the first of April and ending with the advent of cold weather, the coming fall.

"Those were strenuous days and many times denominational zeal was more manifested than brotherly love and charity. Yet this community has served the cause of Christ creditably in sending no less than nine men out to preach the Gospel, all of whom are still living and actively engaged in ministerial work except one, who has retired because of physical infirmity.

About 1870 the United Brethren disbanded and the Evangelicals moved their church to Culver.

Fifteen years later quite an exodus from the Zion Church resulted in the organization of Grace Reformed in Culver. 'Zion' is a live wire today (in 1925), serving the entire community and beyond, for she gives to the county, in the person of CLAUDE R. NEWMAN, an Associate Superintendent in the whole field.

Though but a rural church in an obscure community, yet many young lives have been influenced for good and God's gracious promise is ever theirs--'Lo, I am with you always.'

DANIEL MC DONALD said the first of the religious meetings he remembered personally was held at the log cabin of Elder WILLIAM THOMPSON about two miles northeast of Lake Maxinkuckee. Ox wagons began to arrive early in the morning. Some folks came on horseback, many on foot. There was no fine dress; not a bit of it. Nearly all were attired in homespun. Some were without coats, merely in shirt sleeves. Some were even bare-footed. That made no difference. Dress didn't make the man in those days. And the "faith of our fathers" was a good old homespun religion.

The early denominations in these parts included the Baptists, the New Lights, Christians, Campbellites, Methodists and Presbyterians.

"In 1836," says MC DONALD, quoting Rev. WARREN TAYLOR, an itinerant of the Wesleyan persuasion, "Rev. STEPHEN MARSTERS was, by the Indiana conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, appointed to a mission which embraced the counties of Marshall, Fulton and Kosciusko. In Marshall County he had four appointments."

Truly, as MC DONALD says, these early religious meetings were like angels' visits - - and far between.