INDIANA TRAILS
PENNINGTON CHAPEL
Deed Bk.O, Pg. 347. Jackson Twp.
March 7, 1843. At a meeting of this society, David B. Sieg, Thomas Nicholas, Harrison G.
Rumbley, Thomas Routh and James Pair were elected to act as
trustees for a church house to be known as Pennington Chapel.
Deed Bk.O, Pg. 497. Aug. 28, 1843. David F. Sieg and wife Anna, convey
to Thomas Nicholas, James Fair,
Harrison Rumley, Thomas Routh and Daniel F. Sieg, Trustees of
Pennington Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, part of NW Quarter of SE
Quarter of Sect. 11, Twp. 3, Range 3.
CHURCH HISTORY
BY MRS. NADENE SEACAT AND MRS. BETHEL
CLUNIE
“The first thing the early settlers did after getting their families
sheltered was to build a church or “meeting house”. They choose a place
to the north and east of the present cemetery. As the early settlers
came through in covered wagons, one died and was buried south of the
old log church. This was the beginning of the cemetery. This old church served the community
until 1836 when it is believed to have burned.
The second church, built in 1840, made of logs was at the SE corner of
the cemetery. Deed Bk. M-2,
Pg.608. Nov. 1, 1867. Henry I. Grable
and wife Sarah J. convey to
Robert Husk, John Elliott and
Nicholas J. Peter, Trustees of Pennington Chapel N.E. Church the
following real estate to wit: A part of the NW half of the SW fourth of
the SE Quarter of Sect. 11, Twp. 3, Range 3. Beginning at the NW corner
of the above described tract of land and..., containing one half acre.
Some of the men who helped with the
present church were: Wm. Edmonson,
Dr. Wm. Filar Ward, Abraham Sieg, Robert Rusk, Sr., and Patrick Fennel.
Mr. Sieg dragged logs with a team of horses and Mr. Rusk hauled hewed sandstone
with a team of oxen. The sandstone was used for the corner stone,
underpinning, and for the steps of the church. Many others helped but
their names have been lost.”
From
an article by Mrs. Edna Bill, in the Corydon Democrat:
“When there were no churches, prayer
meetings and class meetings were held at various places in the
neighborhood. Very often intruders came around and caused disturbances
on the outside. It was necessary to have a door keeper. Some door
keepers would give the outsiders some straight talk, but when Uncle Wattie’s (Walter) turn came to
be door keeper, he would step outside and say, “Come in! Come in! God
bless you! I know you have a desire to do better. “ They often came in
and very often went away better men and boys. Walter Pennington was a preacher at this
church.’