Parke County Church and Cemetery Histories

Extracted from the Indiana History Bulletin, Volume IV, Extra Number 4, August, 1927 titled :

Archeological and Historical Survey Of Parke County By George Branson

Published by the Historical Bureau of the Indiana Library and Historical Department

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES

Rockville Memorial

In 1880 J. S. Rogers, clerk of the Rockville Memorial Church, wrote a brief sketch of its early history, and in 1916 Howard Maxwell brought it up to that date. The following sketch is drawn mainly from these sources. In 1822 Charles Beaty, a young missionary from the Board of Domestic Missions, visited Parke County, and gathered together the few Presbyterian families living along Little Raccoon Creek between the mouth of that stream and the present site of Waveland. Prominent in the gathering were James Buchanan and Thomas Gilkerson. After preaching for some weeks Mr. Beaty organized a society known as the Shiloh Presbyterian Church, which in 1824 built a hewed log house near Little Raccoon Creek, about four miles northeast of Rockville. Evidently this was the first church house in Parke County, but its exact location cannot be identified. The elders of this church were Amos P. Balch, William McMillin, Jonathan Garrison, James Buchanan, and Henry Anderson. Several visiting ministers conducted services here prior to 1828, when Reverend Samuel H. McNutt became state supply and so continued until 1832. Present elders include H. B. Butler, John W. Adams, and Frank Fisher .

First Presbyterian Church of Rockville

When the county seat was established at Rockville in 1824, some more Presbyterians moved to the growing town, and these, with a large part of the Shiloh congregation, organized the Rockville Presbyterian Church on August 11, 1832. The pastor, Reverend S. H. McNutt, conducted meetings in a schoolhouse and in the courthouse. Early in 1833 they built their first house on the northwest corner of Virginia and York streets. In 1846 Reverend McNutt resigned, and was succeeded by Reverend William Y. Allen, who continued as pastor until 1862, when by his own request the presbytery dissolved his pastoral relation. Reverend McNutt served as supply one year and was succeeded by Reverend Beaubien, who served from June 1863 to 1864. The pulpit was vacant during 1865, except the few times that it was occupied by Reverend S. G. Hair. Reverend John Mitchell was pastor in 1866, and was followed by Reverend Dr. Jewett, a congregational minister of Terre Haute, who supplied the church until the reunion in 1869. In 1868 D. H. Maxwell, T. N. Rice, and W. L. McMillin were ordained ruling elders. These, with J. C. Gilkerson and Levi Sidwell, were the last elders of the Old School Presbyterian Church at the time of the reunion.

New School Church of Rockville

On April 22, 1839 forty-one members of the First Church withdrew, and organized the Second or New School Presbyterian Church of Rockville. Reverend S. G. Lowrey served as pastor for eight years, and one hundred twenty-three members were added to the church. John Ott, T. H. Howard, John Humphries, and Samuel Cummings were ruling elders. A frame house was built just west of the present edifice, which was dedicated on November 22,1840, by Reverend John S. Thomson. Other pastors prior to the reunion were the Reverends W. M. Cheever, John Hawks, I. G. Coffin, and John M. Bishop.

In 1869 by agreement of the trustees and with the approval of the presbytery the two churches were united as the Rockville Presbyterian Church. In 1870 a brick structure was erected on lot 57 of the original plat of the city. The two church bells were recast into one and hung' in the new church. By the will of Daniel A. J ones, of Chicago, the church received a gift of ten thousand dollars, with which the present church was built in 1891. Mrs. Jones was Mary G. Harris, a sister of Persius E. Harris. She died in 1855, and to perpetuate her memory the church was named Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Some of the pastors in recent years have been the Reverends J. H. Sherard, J. P. Roth, J. C. Christie, H. L. Nave, W. B. Chancellor and W. T. Smith, the present minister. The present elders are Rufus Dooley, A. K. Stark, W. H. Craig, A. A. Hargrave, W. S. Ferguson, and Ernest Weatherford.

Portland Mills

By act of the Associate Synod of North America in May, 1828, James P. Miller and two other ministers were appointed missionaries to Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri to constitute a presbytery and organize congregations. The early settlers in the east part of Greene Township and along Big Raccoon Creek for some distance below Mansfield constituted the Raccoon congregation, which presented a petition for the election of elders. Reverend J. P. Miller was appointed to hold such an election which was held January 31, 1829; Alexander Ramsey and Samuel Steele were elected and ordained September 20, 1830. Alexander Kirkpatrick and Nathaniel Steele were later added to this bench of elders, and from August 20, 1832 to May 29, 1840, Alexander Moore, John Tedford, S. R. Hamilton, Stephen McCorkle, J. R. Spencer, Samuel Ramsey, John Harbison, and Alexander Spencer also served. Thomas Burnside and John Nicholson were chosen later.

On April 16, 1831 Mr. and Mrs. Walter Francis conveyed by deed to the Upper Raccoon congregation of the Associate Synod of North America one acre and eighty poles for a consideration of two dollars. A church was built and a cemetery laid out on this lot, which is in the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 36, Greene Township. The second church built here is still standing and was generally known as the Seceder Church. It did not secede from the church in America, but was practically the same as the New School branch of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

On June 6, 1898 the Portland Mills Cemetery Association was organized and bought five acres of land adjoining the church for a cemetery. In 1912 the trustees of the Associate or Seceder Church deeded to the Portland Mills Cemetery Association the church property, reserving the right to worship there. It is used now only for funerals.

On October 21, 1865 Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Inge deeded to Isaac Burnside, John Nicholson, and John Porter, trustees of the Portland congregation of the Associate Presbyterian Church of North America, one acre and thirteen rods for a consideration of one hundred eight dollars and twelve cents. On this lot, which is a half-mile northwest from the former one, they built a new house which they called the United Presbyterian Church. The Reverends Hugh L. Brownlee, Nathaniel Ingels, and James Dixon were pastors, the latter of whom served for twenty-five years. Services are no longer conducted at this church, and the schoolhouse built on the adjoining lot has also been abandoned.

Bethany

Bethany Presbyterian Church was organized on September 1, 1832, by John Thompson, a missionary, who was sent out to organize congregations in the middle west. In 1834 a log house was built, and in 1849 a frame house was erected about a mile and a half east of Marshall. The membership included the McMurtrys, McCampbells, Russells, Weatherfords, and Adamses. In 1910 the house was moved to Marshall, and in 1924 it was remodeled. Reverend John McGuinness, of Waveland, is the present pastor, and services are conducted regularly. The ruling elders are John McCampbell, Rudy Peyton, David B. Eastburn, and Walter D. McMurtry. A. R. McMurtry was an elder for many years.

There is a cemetery on the Adams farm one mile and a half east of Marshall ; Bethany Cemetery is one mile east of Marshall.

Judson

The Judson Church was organized by order of the Crawfordsville Presbytery on April 14, 1875 in the Union church house that was built by the Methodists and Presbyterians. The Reverends Torrence, Dickerson, and Hawks took part in the organizing ceremonies. Alexander Buchanan and his sons, Joseph C. and William Y., were members. The membership in 1880 reached thirty, and their pastor was Reverend W. Y. Allen.

The title to the property was held by the Methodist Society, which was dissolved in 1910, and the Presbyterians continued using the house. Recently friendly negotiations were made for the purpose of transferring the property to the Presbyterian Society. The present ruling elders are A. U. Strong, Edward Hesslar, and C. V Mimsett.

Guion

The church house at Guion was built in 1891, and dedicated in April of the following year by Reverend T. D. Fyffe. Reverend W. B. Chancellor was a former pastor; Reverend N. W. Clark, of Montezuma, the present minister, conducts regular services once a month. The ruling elders are the same as those of the Judson Church.

The Bruin Cemetery is a short distance east of Guion.

Mount Hermon

On May 3, 1846 a Presbyterian Society was organized at Howard with twenty members. In 1847 they built their first house and named it Mount Hermon. This house burned down and the second one was built in 1877. Reverend James Ashmore was their first pastor. In 1880 there were sixty members, with Reverend T. A. Williams as pastor. Reverend C. F. Kennaston is the present minister and the elders are Charles S. Ephlin, D. D. Ray, and Mark L. Grimes.

The Ephlin Cemetery is a half-mile east of Howard.

New Bethel

The New Bethel Church is located two miles and a half southwest of Rockville on the Rockville-Coxville Road. It was organized in 1859 with twelve members. For a while, until it was able to build a house, the society held its meetings in a schoolhouse. The Reverend John Hawks, of Rockville, was the first pastor. John and James Cox, Daniel and Lewis Fisher, John and Theodore Marshall, and their families were among the first members of this congregation. The membership, which never exceeded sixty, was dissolved some time ago. The Sunday school is not as well attended as at first, but is still conducted regularly.

Montezuma

Reverend John Hawks, of Rockville, organized a Presbyterian Society at Montezuma, and under his leadership a house was built in 1853. He was succeeded by Reverend Thomas Griffith, and Reverend William Wilmer. Reverend N. W. Clark is the present minister, and the ruling elders are James Spencer, John Macheldt, and Salem P. Hancock.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Rockville

The Rockville Christian Society was organized in September, 1838, with sixteen members who built a house the next year on lot 73 of the original plat of the town. Reverend Michael Combs was the first pastor, and Persius Harris was one of the first elders. Later James H. Baker, Joshua Long, and James Lambert were elders; the early membership included William Knowels, Thomas Boardman, Thomas Batten, James and William Long, Ashford Hann, and David Mull. In 1862 there were eighty members. At the close of the Civil War the church was completely disorganized, and no regular services were held for a period of ten years.

White Hall

On February 2,1874 a Christian society was formed at the Boyd schoolhouse, a mile and a half east of Rockville. This house and society were known as White Hall. By the persistent efforts of Thomas Boardman and others, this society transferred its place of worship to the Christian Chapel in Rockville. This increased the membership to sixty-four. The old chapel was removed, and the present house was built in 1895 at a cost of $3,500. It was remodeled in 1923 at a cost of $5,000, and now has an entire basement for Sunday school work. The pastors since 1900 were the Reverends 0. E. Tomes, W. T. Barbree, M. E. Horn, and C. C. Griggs, now serving his sixth year. He holds church services on alternate Sundays, while the Sunday school meets every week. The present membership of the church numbers about two hundred ten.

West Mecca

The Church of Christ was organized in 1905, and in that summer built a house in West Mecca. The prominence of John Wilhite, a local minister who built the house, accounts for its being called Wilhite's Church. Some of the early members and regular attendants were Dr. and Mrs. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. William Haworth, Mrs. Henry Jones, Mrs. Elmo Vestal, Mrs. Julia Bradfield, Mrs. Mason, and Kate Andrews. Reverend Brat tan was the pastor for some time, and the Reverends John Wilhite and T. J. Freed preached here occasionally. By 1915 services were practically discontinued, and the society was finally dissolved.

This is now a Christian church, for the society has reorganized and has been quite active during the last two or three years. Reverend C. C. Griggs, of Rockville, preaches there on alternate Sunday afternoons; their Sabbath school has an enrollment of almost one hundred.

The Mecca Cemetery is half a mile east of the town.

New Discovery

The New Discovery Christian Church' was organized on January 10, 1849, with fifty-seven members. In 1850, only a few rods northeast of the New Discovery Baptist Church, a brick building was constructed. Two rural churches in such close proximity, however, could scarcely hope to be successful. The Christian Church became weaker and finally suspended its services, although the building was used as a schoolhouse for a while. In 1867 it was torn down, and the material that could be used in the construction of a new building was removed to Bellmore where the society built a frame house, Here Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Goss, Mr. and Mrs. John M, Turner, Mr. and Mrs. John Clark, Mrs. Sarah E. Paxton, Mrs. Norval Hamilton, John W. Stark, George Webb, and John Goss were some of the early members. In 1880 there were twenty-five members, and about that date there was started a union Sunday school. The Reverends A. D. Darley, Axeline, and Hezekiah Williams conducted services, An organ was placed in the house, but a good deal of opposition arose against its use in church services. Prior to 1900 all activities of the church ceased, the house fell into decay, and the ground was again used for farming.

A father and two children, members of the Drake family, are buried in the southwest corner of the John Goss farm in section 18, Union Township.

Greene Township

Three Christian churches have been organized in Greene Township, the first of which was established at Portland Mills in 1839, Most of the labor and materials used in its construction were donated, Reverend James H. Jack and John Burgess were the principal leaders of this organization, and J. M. Harris was the first pastor, In 1850 a larger house, which is still standing', was built, Regular services are conducted by Reverend Brat ten, the pastor .

The Lutheran Cemetery is one mile west of this church, near the site of the First Lutheran Church. It is now entirely abandoned and neglected.

The second congregation was organized in 1840, and built a little log church in section 5. Ambrose Lambert was one of the leaders, Shortly after the second house, a frame structure was built, the society discontinued its use, and it was converted into a barn.

The third Christian Society, through the efforts of Reverend James H. Jack, built its present house in the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 20, which is at the west side of Parkville. The Reverends W. H. Wilson and A, H. Morris have served as ministers here; W. H. Ashley is the present pastor. Reverend Jack, who was a local minister, residing about two miles southeast of Parkville, labored diligently for the success of each of these churches.

Bloomingdale

A Christian church was organized in Bloomingdale in 1890, and a suitable house was built in due time. John Hart, Samuel Bannon, George Morris, C. L. Logan, and Mrs. Mary J. Newlin were members. The first pastor was Ira J. Chase, governor of Indiana from 1891 to 1893; other pastors were Elvin Daniels, W. W. Griffith, and S. M. Hawthorn. Reverend C. C. Griggs is at present serving his sixth year in this church, which has a membership of approximately one hundred twenty-five.

Rosedale

The Rosedale Church was organized in 1873 with Henry Harshbarger, Wilson Moss, and Hezekiah Williams as the first trustees. The first pastors were Ezekiel Wright, William Holt, and Reuben Webster. The membership which was quite large at first included the Doty, Laney, Salmon, and Cleghorn families. Reverend Williams preached here at different intervals; Reverend Chester Fidlar is the present minister.

Marshall

A small congregation of members of the Christian denomination at Marshall held meetings for some time in a temporary building, called the tabernacle. Under the able guidance and influence of Reverend L. E. Murray, the society built a neat and comfortable house which was dedicated on October 17, 1897. Dr. C. A. Caplinger was a leading member in the congregation, which also included Mrs. Caplinger, the Horn family, Serilda Michaels, and Mr. and Mrs. George Davis. In the pastor ship of Reverend Murray, the church prospered for two years and a half, until the doctor divorced his esteemed wife. The society and the community could never condone this act, and the prosperity of the church ceased. A few years later the society was dissolved, and the house was sold.

Union

Reverend W. H. Williams of the Christian Church first conducted religious services in Jackson Township at the home of Samuel Wolverton. In 1878 or 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Wolverton donated a lot, and built a house on their farm for church purposes. Reverend Williams, the first pastor, continued his services until 1887, when he was succeeded by Ezekiel Wright. Several years later the society was discontinued. The largest membership was twenty-five. Samuel, Caleb, and Isaac Wolverton and their families were all members of this church. The house was named Union, but three religious denominations used it. It is still standing and is used only for funerals.

Lena

A Christian society was organized and a house built at Lena in 1872. Reverend G. C. Price, of Catlin, was the first pastor, and Reverend W. H. Williams, the second, who served from 1878 to 1883. Reverend W. H. Brown succeeded him, and in 1892 Mr. Williams returned to Lena to resume his church work there. During. this time the church membership reached one hundred fifty. He continued until 1921, when he retired and moved to Brazil, Indiana, where he now resides. He is frequently called to conduct funeral services.

Reverend William Dudley is the present pastor at Lena, and the church membership is about forty. Thomas, James, and A. J. Morlan and their families, and Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McMillan were among the earliest members.

Christian Union

The Christian Union Church is on the Rockville-Mecca gravel road, two miles from Rockville. When the society was first organized, meetings were held in a schoolhouse, but later a frame building was erected. The church was quite prominent in the community for a number of years. Reverend William Holt preached for the first two or three years, and was followed by the Reverends Myers, Jacob and Nathan Wright, and T. J. Freed. In 1880 the membership was about forty, which was one-half of what it formerly was. No services have been held here in the last three years.

Union Cemetery is a half-mile west of the church.

The Church of God

The Church of God, also called a Christian church, was organized in 1900. It is located on the Rockville-Mecca Road, about a mile and a half from Union. The membership of this church is small, but services are still conducted by Reverend Elmo. These churches are in the Bradfield and Marshall community.

PLEASANT GROVE CHRISTIAN (NEW LIGHT) CHURCH

Pleasant Grove Christian, or New Light, Church is located near the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 5, Sugar Creek Township. The society was organized in 1868, and held meetings in a schoolhouse until it& own building was erected in 1870. The first pastor was Reverend L. W. Bannon, who organized a membership of thirty. In 1880 Reverend J. T. Phillips was pastor, and there were one hundred sixty members. Other pastors were R. H. Gott and Abijah Simmons. Two Sunday schools were conducted, one at the church and the other at a schoolhouse two miles southeast of the church. Among the members of this church were John and Miles Ratcliff, L. S. and Jacob Ewbank, William and Jesse Barker, Elisha Pithod, and David Watt. Deaths and removals caused such a decrease in membership that regular services have been discontinued.

Cashatt Cemetery, the one generally used by this community, is about three miles southeast of the church.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES

Otterbein

William Bulion, Charles Beach, John McGilvrey, and Moses Hill settled in Union Township about 1830. Religious meetings were held at their homes, more immigrants increased their congregations, and in 1849 the society built a frame house two miles south of Bellmore, which they named Otterbein in memory of Bishop Phillip Otterbein, founder of the United Brethren Church. A few of the many members were John Miller, J. H. Jeffries, I. W. Wimmer, Oliver Bulion, Zachary Alexander, S. T. Davis, Holbert Davis, and their families. Early pastors were Elijah Cook, John Eckels, John Dunham, and Thomas Hamilton. In 1873 the Reverend Andrew Wimsett conducted a series of meetings remarkable for the trances, visions, and other emotional demonstrations of some of the participants. Much confusion arose in the community when a few outsiders publicly proclaimed that hypnotism was responsible for the unusual occurrences. The Reverends J. W. Nye, A. M. Snyder, Henry Johns, G. W. Wiley, and 0. P. Cooper, Jr., were regular pastors.

In 1887 a modern house was constructed on an adjoining lot, a group of shade trees was planted on the first lot, and hitching chains were arranged on the premises. In 1918 a tabernacle was constructed near the house for revival meetings, family reunions, and community interests in the warm seasons of the year.

The present membership is about fifty. The present pastor is Reverend M. 0. Mumford. On May 24, 1924 his parsonage and most of his goods were destroyed by fire. The parsonage has been rebuilt.

Farmers Chapel

In 1860 eighteen persons, under the leadership of Reverend James A. Smith, first pastor, organized Martin's Mission, also known as Walnut Mission, a United Brethren society. The second pastor was Reverend Lawrence Zigler. In 1863 J. P. White was pastor, and Reverend Ira Mater was presiding elder. Reverend Daniel S. Kalley was also a pastor here. The same men served as pastors at Otterbein; both churches are on the Mansfield circuit.

In March, 1867 the society held a series of revival meetings with the result that thirty-one persons united with the church. They immediately built a chapel at the east side of the northeast quarter of section 33, Union Township, which was dedicated on November 10, 1867, and named Farmers Chapel. Some other members were John M. Martin, George W. Martin, James Noble, Jacob Ernest, John and Samuel Blacketer, and W. P. Noble, a licensed minister from this church.

The Martin Cemetery is a half-mile southwest of the chapel. Riley Harney and Jesse Cooper, soldiers of the War of 1812, are buried here.

Poplar Ridge

Poplar Ridge Church is situated in the central part of the southeast quarter of Section 10 in Jackson Township. It is on the Mansfield circuit, and its pastors have been the same as those of the other two churches on this circuit, but its progress has not always been equal to them. Recently interest in the society was greatly revived and its membership increased by the services of Reverend W. P. Noble and his wife, Reverend Alice Noble. The society soon failed to continue its interest and the support of a pastor, however, and services have ceased. Reverend John McHargue, who has been in the ministry many years, Stephen McHargue, a local minister, James Pruett, Alexander McHargue, Henry Grubb, and his wife were members of this church.

There is no cemetery near the church, but one mile east of it, on a high ridge of ground, are the graves of two children.

Mecca

A small society of United Brethren was organized in West Mecca about 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Andrews, Mr. Chew, and Chloria Andrews were leading members, but they did not have sufficient support to continue permanently. No regular pastor held services here after 1905, and in 1907 or 1908 the property was sold by Reverend Elmer Mater, presiding elder of the Upper Wabash conference. Ellis Branson bought the property and converted the house into a residence.

Leatherwood

About 1846 Isaac Silliman deeded to trustees a lot for church and cemetery purposes in the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 8, Wabash Township. Three years later the United Brethren people of the community organized a society, built a frame house on this lot, and named it the Leatherwood Church-familiarly known as " Arabia"-after a near-by creek. Benjamin and William Phillips, Barnabas Hayworth, and the Pittmans were communicants of this church. A number of pastors of the Upper Wabash conference faithfully served the society and community. The church continued its activities with varying degrees of success for many years. Some time ago two factions arose, each claiming the legal ownership of the property. The house burned down, and a new one has taken its place, but no services or Sunday school are held here now.

There are a good many graves in the cemetery by the church.

Zion

Soon after the Union church house was built, a society of United Brethren was organized under the leadership of Reverend Daniel S. Kalley, who was their first pastor. Some of the other pastors at Union were the Reverends Henry Johns, Pauley Smiley, Dawson Teague, and Michael Branson. In 1902 the society decided to build a house and move from Union. Stephen McHargue donated a half acre of ground lying eighty rods east of the southwest corner of section 21 in Jackson Township, on which the house was completed in the summer of 1903. J. B. Searing, Otis Ames, and Charles E. Thompson were trustees of the property. The church was dedicated in August, 1903, by Reverend Smiley. Reverend Coffman was the first pastor at the new house. All costs of the house were paid in cash when it was dedicated. Some of the pastors since the dedication include the Reverends Julius Miller, Charles Sherrill, John McHargue, and Frank Rounds. Some of the families that comprise the present membership are Jacob, Otis, William, and Curtis Ames, Fred and Walter Campbell, M. 0. Branson, Thomas Bell, and Charles E. Thompson. The present pastor is Milford Barrick, a student of Indiana Central College.

There is a family graveyard about a mile north of Carbon, where some of the older members of the Miller and Hammack families are buried. There is a graveyard on the John Bemis farm in section 31, Jackson Township. Several of the Bemis family are buried there; also James Hammack, who was supposed to have lived over one hundred years. Ebenezer Winchester, a Catholic, resided near the center of section 18. His death occurred about 1860, and he was buried near his residence. Later his wife and daughter were buried there.

Rockville

After the Episcopal Church at Rockville was dissolved, the house was unoccupied for several years. It was then sold to Elder Elmer Mater, Reverend W. E. Stanley, and Frank D. Pugh, trustees of the United Brethren Church. Several years prior to this transaction efforts were made to establish a church of the United Brethren faith at the county seat. Reverend Coffman was pastor for some time, but was unsuccessful. Then, in possession of an ample house, the small society reorganized under the leadership of Reverend C. M. Byerly. A few of the members were Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Rowe, Emma Ames, Blanche Blake, and Mrs. B. E. Branson. Members of the church elsewhere, but residing in Rockville, did not transfer their membership to the Rockville church. The second pastor was Reverend Jones, who was succeeded by Andrew J. Newgent. Reverend Marion Sherrill, the last pastor, resigned, and the society was dissolved in 1905. The property was sold to the late Mrs. Olus Grubb and converted into a residence which is now occupied by her husband, Marion Grubb.

Oak Ridge

This church was located in the northwest corner of section 3, Raccoon Township. A society was organized, and a frame house was built in the early fifties. The names of the members and pastors are not now known, but Stephen Hawkins, Martin McAlister, John Wallace, John Nevins, and their families resided near the church and took part in its activities. The protracted revival meetings were well attended. Unfavorable conditions during the Civil War caused the decline and final dissolution of the society about 1870.

The John Nevins Cemetery is three-fourths of a mile west of the site of the church.

Sand Creek

Sand Creek Church is located on the Rockville-Nyesville Road at the north line of section 3, Adams Township. The time and place of the origin of this society can scarcely be determined. For fifteen years meetings were held with some regularity at the home of John Mater, which was in section 18, Union Township. This was the origin of the Mansfield circuit to which the church belonged until it was transferred in 1879 to the Rockville circuit. Later the conference returned it to the Mansfield circuit where it still remains.

The church was organized about 1860 at its present location, and in 1864 the house was purchased from the Methodists. In 1903 the house was remodeled and rededicated. Among the first members were David Rowe, William Paul, Solomon Dixon, and his wife. Reverend White was their organizing pastor. 0. P. Cooper, Sr., A. M. Snyder, D. S. Kalley, Dawson Teague, and 0. P. Cooper, Jr., have been pastors here. Some of the more recent members were Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Rowe, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sowers, Mr. and Mrs. Winslow Skelton, Charles and Wilber Harrison, and Mr. and Mrs. John A. Blake. The latter was a local preacher here, and the father of Reverend L. 0. Blake, of Columbus, Indiana.

The small and abandoned graveyard, a half-mile east of the church, has been partly destroyed by the construction of a road on its margin. The Rowe Cemetery is near the crossing of the Rockville-Nyesville Road and the Michigan division of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Caleb and Nancy Asbury and Mrs. Asbury's brother, Mr. Seybold, are buried on the Jacob Larue farm near the center of section 36, Washington Township.

Providence

The United Brethren organized a society about 1851, which they named Providence. They built a log house on the east side of the Rockville-Marshall Road in section 29, Washington Township. Henry Strickler, Daniel Strickler, S. M. Teague, and a few others comprised the membership. They were surrounded by predestinarian Baptists, who in 1852 built their church, Pleasant Grove, a half-mile north of Providence. The Baptist society increased and became predominant, while the Providence society declined and was dissolved many years ago.

There is a small graveyard on the west side of the road opposite the church site. About a mile southwest of Providence is a cemetery lot of one acre on the farm formerly owned by John Linkswiler .

Roaring Creek

This church was organized about 1840, and a frame house was built in the southwest part of section 6, Washington

Township. Isaac Pickard, John Ephlin, John Dunham, and James Griffith were pioneer preachers and exhorters who conducted regular and protracted services here, as well as at Providence and elsewhere. Aaron Rawlings, Aaron D. Huff, John and Joshua Engle, and James Hinshaw were among the first and most prominent members. In 1880 the membership was seventy. The society continued its services here until nearly 1890.

The Rawlings Cemetery is near the church site and the Rawlings residence.

Annapolis

In 1868 or 1869 Isaac Pickard and John Ephlin withdrew from the society at Roaring Creek, and with other members organized a society at Annapolis, where they built a house. The Reverends H. E. Penny, E. A. Goodwin, and other pastors conducted regular services here for a number of years. The industries of the town expired, its population decreased, and the church was dissolved. The house has not been used for several years.

Marshall

About 1890 the society at Roaring Creek abandoned its house, and a part of its membership reorganized and built a house at Marshall. Mrs. Aaron Rawlings, Mr. and Mrs. C. K. Huff, Mr. and Mrs. William Heath, Mr. and Mrs. William Poe, Mr. and Mrs. C. Y. Jessup, and John May constituted a part of the membership here. Reverend E. A. Goodwin was a pastor in 1897. Deaths and removals reduced the membership until it was recently dissolved.

MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCHES

The New Discovery Baptist Church was organized August 29, 1834, with ten members whose names were as follows : Samuel Medley, Abraham Coleman, George Mater, Sarah Adams, Elizabeth Barns, Mary Ball, Margaret Crooks, Jane Odell, Nancy Crooks, and Susan Mater. Samuel Medley was the first pastor. At first services were held at the homes of members and at the local schoolhouse. About 1845 the society built a frame house in the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 23 in Adams Township, on an uneven, triangular lot, donated by Dennis Ball.

All of the original members except Abraham Coleman and Sarah Adams were excluded from the church prior to 1844. The pastor was excluded, restored, and excluded a second time. These exclusions were not for misconduct, but "for uniting with another church of a different faith and order." A letter of dismissal from a Baptist church was not valid for membership in any other church of a different faith.

Some of the early pastors were Peter Swaim, P. T. Palmer, Jacob Smock, and C. B. Allen. Later members were S. K. Fuson, W. T. Cuppy, A. H. Dooley, and A. D. Merrill. The present pastor is W. C. Tatum. Thirty-five residents and thirty non-resident members constitute the present membership. There were 421 accessions to the church during the first fifty years of its existence, with fifty-three remaining at the close of that period. About 1896 the first house was removed and a modern frame building erected which is still in use.

At an early date a cemetery was laid out just across the road north of the church. Another cemetery was started on the Peter Swaim farm one mile west of the churcl1. It was abandoned long ago. A third cemetery or family graveyard, on the Hatfield farm a half mile east of the church is also abandoned.

Bridgeton

About 1850 Elder Peter M. Swaim, whose residence was a mile west of the New Discovery Church, conducted meetings in private houses at Bridgeton and vicinity. The Baptist people here were members of the New Discovery Church, and decided it would be more convenient to organize a separate society and build a church in their new locality. About 1853 a house was built at Bridgeton. On June 3, 1853 a council from New Discovery and other churches of the Freedom Association organized a society. Elder P. T. Palmer was moderator, and R. Davis was clerk of this council. In February, 1854 thirty members of the New Discovery Church called for and were granted letters of dismissal for the purpose of uniting with the Bridgeton society, making a membership of forty-two at Bridgeton. Their first pastor was Peter M. Swaim, and their first clerk was Jacob Smock, who, with C. B. Allen, James Steward, and James M. Crooks, was licensed and ordained minister from this church. In 1879 the society built a new house which is still in use. James Rea, Margaret Rea, Charles Hendricks, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Rea, Mr. and Mrs. Ocie Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Greenleet, Anna Miller, and Mr. and Mrs. William Hartman constitute a part of the present membership, which is twenty-five resident and thirty-five non-resident members. Reverend J. M. Newsom preached for them twice a month last year, but at present they have no regular pastor.

Union

On September 18, 1858 James and Rhoda Stout, Albert L. and Harriet Thomas, Jeremiah and Lucinda Rush, John M. and Margaret Galey, and Willard and Mariah Jerome were granted letters of dismissal by the New Discovery Church for the purpose of organizing a church at Hollandsburg. On October 2, 1858 they met at the home of James and Rhoda Stout to perfect their organization. A little later four more members from New Discovery joined them. In 1859 a large frame house was constructed which the society still uses. Elder P. T. Palmer was their first pastor. Elder S. K. Fuson was pastor for a number of years. W. C. Tatum is the present pastor. Additional members were P. D. Johnson, Ezra and Irvin Thomas, John A. Blake, John D. Wright, S. M. Thomas, John T. Thompson, Mrs. Laura Burks, Mrs. Nettie Pratt, and Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Ball. The present membership is forty-four residents and thirty-three non-residents.

A few rods east of the church is an abandoned cemetery. The Thomas cemetery is two miles east of the church.

Friendly Grove

In 1839 a schoolhouse was built near the junction of Big Raccoon and Little Raccoon creeks to be used for church and school purposes. Two years later a Baptist society was organized under the leadership of Jacob Kirkendall, who was regarded as a predestinarian Baptist. In 1853 this society built a large house one mile south of Jessup Station, and named it Liberty. In 1859 there was a division of the society, and those members who withdrew organized a Missionary Baptist society which they named Friendly Grove. In 1863 they built a substantial frame house one-fourth of a mile southeast from Liberty Church, which they use at present for their Sunday school. They have no regular pastor. The Adams and Nevins families constitute a large part of the membership. Reverend Silas Adams was a local minister here. The present membership is composed of twenty-four resident and six non-resident members.

The Adams Cemetery is one-fourth of a mile northeast from the church.

Liberty

After the division the Reverends Kirkendall and David Wilson, of Mansfield, preached at Liberty for some time, but after their deaths the diminished society was dissolved. It was neither missionary nor predestinarian, and was generally known as the "Middle-shoot" Baptist. The house has teen used for funeral services and community interests for many years. Recently Reverend McKinney, of West Virginia, has preached here, and for one month conducted a series of meetings which closed July 11, 1926, with the baptism of ten converts. Efforts are being made to reestablish the church here.

A few years after Big Raccoon Church was organized, a small group of its members, under the leadership of Reverend Kirkendall, withdrew, organized a society, and built a house about two miles west of the original church. This society was dissolved many years ago, but the house is still used infrequently for funerals.

Goshen

A group of Missionary Baptists in Washington Township organized a society about 1833. Their meetings were held at their home and in a schoolhouse until 1846; when they built a frame house in the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 14, and named it Goshen. The membership became large, but was distributed over a large territory. In 1884, to lessen this inconvenience, the membership divided, one part going to Judson, and the other to Marshall. The house was moved to Judson. Mr. and Mrs. John L. Swaim, the Burfords, and others constituted a prosperous society until deaths and removals reduced their number, and the services became irregular. The society was greatly revived by the addition of twenty-four new members during a series of meetings in March, 1926, under the leadership of Reverend McQuinn, the pastor.

Marshall

The Marshall Society erected a commodious house in 1884. Reverend S. K. Fuson continued his pastor ship here, and a large membership was established, including Martin and Reason Teague, C. E. McDaniel, William Burford, John Asbury, Harvey Rush, and their families. Henry Fuson and Reverend Kinnett were pastors here. Services are held on alternate Sundays by Reverend S. E. Hamilton, of Indianapolis. This church and all Missionary Baptist churches in Parke County are members of the Freedom Baptist Association.

Poplar Grove Cemetery is one mile north of Marshall.

Rockville-First Church

A Missionary Baptist Church was organized in Rockville, December 29, 1888, under the leadership of Elder Stephen K. Fuson, who was at that date pastor of the New Discovery Church. The meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Burford, and the members were Reverend and Mrs. Fuson, Reverend and Mrs. H. C. Liston, Mr. and Mrs. George M. Swaim-ten or twelve in all. Among others that joined later were Mr. and Mrs. John Leonard, Mrs. Alexander Puett, Mrs. Charles Rice, and Joseph Shoup. Reverend Fuson retained the pastorate for a number of years.

A schoolhouse a short distance north of the city was purchased, moved to lot 43 of the original plat of the town, and converted into a suitable house for worship and Sunday school. Serious troubles that cannot be narrated here arose to retard the progress of the church, but in recent years the society has enjoyed peace and prosperity. The Whitesell, Straughn, and McKey families constitute a part of the membership. Hugh McKey, who was educated at Franklin College, is a licensed and ordained minister from this church. The present pastor is J. M. Newsom. The Reverends Clark and G. W. Griffin were former pastors. The present membership is sixty resident and thirteen non-resident members.

Rockville-Second Church

The Second Baptist Church of Rockville is a society of colored people, organized July 23, 1870, under the leadership of Reverend L. Artis. The church house is located near lot 1 of the original plat of the town. The society began with a membership of eleven, which was increased to forty-one in the first ten years. In later years it decreased to a small number, many of them having died. The late Bright Holmes was the moderator and leading member in the church's activities. Reverend Johnson was pastor for several years, but they now have no regular pastor.

Zion

A group of Baptist people at Waterman and vicinity held religious services at their homes and at such convenient places as could be procured until, in 1860, a society was organized and named Zion. In 1869 they built the present house at a cost of $2,800. Reverend C. B. Allen conducted the dedicatory services. Some other pastors were William Cartwright, C. D. Carnihan, and A. H. Allen. John M. Kendall resided at Waterman and served as pastor two or three different times; he later became insane. Robert E. Davidson served from 1918 to 1923. The present pastor is Reverend J. C. Hayes, a blind man. Some of the members are Mrs. Waterman, Mrs. Lettie Sturm, James Wann, J. C. Scott, clerk of the church, and W. R. Moore, superintendent of the Sunday school.

Lodi Cemetery is one-fourth of a mile east of the town.

Rosedale

While Friendly Grove, a rural church two miles northeast of Rosedale, declined, a Baptist congregation in the town increased and recently organized a society named Rosedale. In 1924 J. W. Critchfield was pastor, and the construction of a house was begun by making a basement in which church services and Sunday school classes are now conducted. A temporary roof shelters the basement, but it will be removed and the superstructure added when the society chooses to complete the structure. Mrs. Mary Strahle was clerk, Elsie Keller, Sunday school superintendent, and Ruth Lee, president of the Baptist Young People's Union. The membership is fifty-five. Reverend John Cauldwell is the present pastor.

PREDESTINARIAN BAPTIST

Rockville

The first Predestinarian Baptist Church in Parke County was organized at Rockville in 1825. Meetings were held at the homes of members and at the log courthouse until 1834, when a brick house was built on lot 44 of the original plat of the town. This was the only church that this denomination built in a town of Parke County. Early members were Samuel and Matthew Noel, Austin Puett, Mrs. John G. Davis, and Mrs. Patsey (Noel) Puett. The church united with the Eel River Association. The society proceeded quietly with its activities until doctrinal controversies arose causing a division of the membership. The majority held meetings in Washington Township, the minority soon ceased holding services, and the house was torn down. A part of the seceding members continued the organization, and in 1852 John Overman deeded to trustees a lot bounded on the west by the Rockville-Marshall gravel road, near the southeast corner of section 20, Washington Township. Here a substantial frame house was constructed, the name of the church was changed from Rockville to Pleasant Grove, and the organization was transferred to the Danville Association. Some of the members here were the Burfords, Overmans, Elders, and McCords. The average membership during the last fifty years of the church's existence was about twenty-seven. James Burford, Isaac W. Denman, and Joseph Skeeters were among the ministers. The clerks of the church were Lewis Noel from 1825 to 1840, David Elder from 1840 to 1872, Henry Burford from 1872 to 1884, and M. M. Canine, 1884 and thereafter. The society was dissolved on November 18, 1899. The property reverted to the Overman estate; the house was sold at public auction and removed to a farm where it is used as an implement house.

The Overman Cemetery is located a half mile east of the church. The Elder Cemetery is a small lot in the northwest corner of section 20. Mr. Overman came from North Carolina in 1832, and died October 13, 1899, aged eighty-nine years. He was clerk of the Danville Association about forty years.

Wabash

The Wabash Church was located about a mile and a half north of Howard. David Shirk donated the lot for church purposes and built the house, a log structure. The date of organization was about 1835. Some of the members were Daniel, Lazarus, and Joseph Shirk, and James Marks. David Shirk was their minister for a number of years. Wabash was a member of Little Vermilion Association. Owing to political strife the council dissolved the society, which did not survive the Civil War period.

Providence, Mount Moriah

Providence Church was organized on May 3, 1828, with sixteen members. Benjamin Lambert presided as moderator, and Aaron Harlan, clerk. At this meeting it was decided to build a hewed log house at the southeast corner of the east half of the northeast quarter of section 5, Union Township. Meetings were held at the homes of members until the house was completed in 1831. On February 22, 1834 the church was renamed Mount Moriah.

A graveyard was started near the house, and about a dozen persons were buried here, but it was soon abandoned. probably not one of the graves can be identified now.

In 1837 it was decided to change the location of the church to a site about a mile northeast of the first location. This was on the Nathan Plunkett farm in section 33, Greene Township. Here a frame house was completed in 1844 at a cost of $500. III 1875 this house was removed and a larger one erected at a cost of $1,700. Lorenzo Dow McGilvrey was contractor for this building which is still in use.

James Bristow and Jesse McClain were ordained ministers in 1833. The latter continued his services here almost forty years. He died in 1874. Joseph Skeeters, a regular minister here for a number of years, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, on February 14, 1820, and died May 20, 1906.

The membership of this church was composed mainly of the McClains, Collingses, Peytons, and Doggetts. The oldest member was James Straughn who died at the age of ninety-seven years. At no time has the membership been above sixty; at present it is twelve. C. R. Collings is the only minister of this faith residing in the county.

A cemetery was laid out adjacent to the church, but when it became insufficient, a larger one was located just across the line in Union Township. James B. McClain is the capable superintendent of both cemeteries.

Rocky Fork

This church was organized about 1832 by Lemuel Branson, Michael Pruett, and a few others. The society's first and only house was a hewed log structure about twenty by twenty-eight feet, with a clapboard roof, a batten door midway in one side of the house, and a high pulpit opposite the door. It was warmed by a wood-burner stove in the center of the room. Mrs. Mary A. Hunt, aged eighty-six years, says the first church services and first school that she attended were at this house, which was located in section 9, Jackson Township.

A few of the members were Jesse and Amelia Moore, Zopher and Telitha Coleman, George and Rebecca Branson, and B. F. Irwin. The largest membership was eighteen. Some of their ministers were George Branson, from Virginia, I. W. Denman, John Leatherman, and Joseph Skeeters, the last regular pastor, whose service ended in 1863. In 1864 and '65 the church sent no letters and messengers to the Danville Association. The council then dissolved the society, which, like some of the others, did not survive the controversies incident to the Civil War.

A cemetery was located on the hill near-by, probably before the house was built. Here are twenty-five graves marked by shapeless pieces of sandstone; very few of them can be identified. This cemetery was abandoned many years ago, but a half mile north of it is the Moore Cemetery. Between these is a private burial lot on the George Hansel farm. Mr. Hansel, a soldier of the War of 1812, is buried here. He was drowned in 1840 while rafting logs.

Check out the Rocky Fork Church Records for more information.

Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1833, and in 1835 built a log house in the northeast corner of section 1, Sugar Creek Township. This house was repaired when necessary, and answered its purpose unti11917, when a frame house was constructed. A partial list of the early members includes John Summers, first clerk, J. B. Barker, Isaac Summers, and Elder Swearinger, trustees. The Allen, Myers, Roach, and Thomas families, and others were faithful members. The pioneer ministers, David Shirk and Lee, were succeeded by Jonathan and Mathias Vancleave, of Montgomery County, and Elder Joseph Skeeters and David Dodsmeade, of Parke County. Cornelius L. Airhart is the minister at the present time. The membership is twenty-eight. The church belongs to the Sugar Creek Association.

The Wolf Creek Cemetery adjoins the church lot.

Big Raccoon

This was generally known as the Denman Church, organized by Reverend I. W. Denman and a score of members about 1835. Their first building was a hewed log house located near the northeast corner of the Denman farm in section 32, Raccoon Township. This was abandoned and a frame house was built near it in 1858, at a cost of $500, Mr. Denman paying one-half of the sum. Elder Denman preached for the church almost forty years. He was killed on August 28, 1875, by the cars at Lodi Station in Vigo County. He was buried in the Denman Cemetery, located about one-fourth of a mile southwest of the church house. After his death Elder Silas Moffet was the regular minister for a number of years. Elder Mosteller was the minister when the society disbanded in 1910. A few of the members were William R. and Louisa Irwin, William and Elizabeth Kilburn, W. W. and Elizabeth Modesitt. Jesse Archer, Rachel Cottrell, Anna Miller, and Alice Irwin were the only members living in 1925. The house was converted into a dwelling, and became the property of the owners of the land on which it stood.

Little Raccoon

On August 4, 1843 Aaron M. Wade deeded his farm, "except six acres off the northeast corner sold for a meeting house," to Dennis Ball. This church lot is in the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 17, Greene Township. The lot was conveyed in fee simple to trustees and their successors, who have controlled the property to the present time. The only house built by the society was a frame building.

A few of the members were Absalom Doggett and daughters, Ransom and Mary Reddish, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Reddish, Mr. and Mrs. William Ware, and James and Anna Seybold. Some of the regular and visiting ministers were James Burford, Jesse McClain, and J. J. Dolby.

This church was a member of the Danville Association, sometimes called "Little Danville" to distinguish it from the organization from which it seceded many years ago. In 1858 the membership was thirty, in 1865 it was eight, and in 1866 the council dissolved the society. It did not survive the political dissensions of its members during the Civil War. In 1875 the house was sold and moved to a farm where it was converted into a barn.

The Davis Cemetery on the lot is still used and cared for by the trustees.

Reserve

Reserve Church was located near the West Union Cemetery in section 7, Reserve Township, about 1836. The log house was used for many years, but finally disappeared. The society continued its meetings for several years at the homes of Walter Harris, Lawson Linton, and James Marks, until a frame building was erected a half-mile south of the first site. Here Elder Joseph Skeeters was the regular minister, and services were conducted until the Indiana Coal Railroad bought the right of way and located a depot here. Then the society procured a house at Montezuma, where it continued its services under the leadership of Minor T. Davis. After his death, the society was dissolved. The membership in 1877 was twenty-five.

Otter Creek

Otter Creek Church was organized on December 10, 1853, at the residence of Robert Watson. A membership of twenty-six constituted the organization by subscribing to the articles of faith as presented to them by the committee of the organizers. Elder John Leatherman was the first minister, and John Frank, the first clerk. At the meeting in January, 1854, it was decided to build a log house, located in the central part of section 26, Jackson Township.

About 1889 the society decided to build a frame house just across the line in Putnam County. On December 7, 1889 a majority of the membership held its first meeting in the new house. The minority abandoned the old log house, moved to Union, took over the Wolverton house, and named their society Providence. Elder William Skelton continued his services with both branches of the church. He died at his home in Reelsville, Indiana, about March 1, 1920, at the age of seventy-four years.

The cemetery nearest to Otter Creek Church was the Vinzant Graveyard.

Providence

In 1878 or 1879 Samuel and Nancy Wolverton donated a small tract of land in section 20, Jackson Township, for church and cemetery purposes. They contributed most of the material and money for building the house, and named it Union. They were members of the Christian Church, but they provided for other religious societies to use the house.

The reorganized minority of the Otter Creek Society, now named Providence, moved to Union with a membership of twenty-eight, to which thirty members were added during its existence, which ended in July, 1911. There were only two regular ministers, Elder Skelton and C. R. Collings, and only two clerks, W. C. Evans and J. R. Mitchell. A part of the original members were Mr. and Mrs. Ralph* Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Branson, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Evans, and Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Coleman. Among those who joined later were Mr. and Mrs. John Downing, Mr. and Mrs. M. 0. Branson, Louisa and Jane Miller, and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Day.

*(I’m fairly sure this should be Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh Parker – my direct ancestors – James D. VanDerMark.)

Tangier

Tangier Baptist Church was located near Tangier, a town in section 16, Liberty Township, in 1896. The original members were Elizabeth Swaim, Samuel Heath, Benjamin DeBaun, and Malinda DeBaun. Additional members were received, making a total of twelve members. The first minister was Jasper Dolby. Others who preached for them were J. Canine and Elder Bucanen. The society was dissolved some time ago, and in 1925 Benjamin DeBaun, the only living member, donated the acre of ground and the frame house to the Tangier Cemetery Association.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH

In January, 1910 Christian Science services were started in Rockville by Mrs. John S. McCord and Mrs. Frank B. Harding at the home of the latter on North Market Street. Meetings were held each Sunday morning. In May, 1913 the place of meeting was changed to the rest room of the courthouse. In September, 1913 the Christian Science students of Rockville and vicinity organized the Christian Science Society of Rockville, Indiana. A few of the charter members were F. B. Harding, Mary T. Harding", John McCord, Clara S. McCord, Iva B. Linebarger, Sarah C. White, Mamie Pruett, Mrs. Ella McMurtry, Miss Adelaide Lee, Miss Alma T. Philbrook, and John Lee.

In February, 1916 the society purchased resident property at the northwest corner of York and Michigan streets for $865. The house was remodeled and appropriately furnished for a church home, the entire amount expended being $2,500. By January 1,1917 the society was entirely free from debt. No funds were solicited or subscribed, each donation being a free-will offering.

The first ones to serve as readers were Mrs. Mary T. Harding, first reader, and Mrs. Clara McCord, second reader. At present Mrs. Herman Blye is first reader, and Mrs. Retta Pike is second reader.

LUTHERAN CHURCH

A Lutheran church was organized in 1830 in Union Township. The society built a log house which burned down within a year afterward. A second house, a frame structure, was built in 1835 in Greene Township. About this time Matthias Sappenfield, a native of North Carolina, came to Parke County, and was one of the leaders of the church's activities. In, 1866 the society built its third house, which is located near the southeast corner of section 15, Greene Township. The Sappehfields, Mothorns, and Hubers constituted a part of the membership. Reverend J. M. G. Sappenfield was the pastor for a number of years. The membership has almost discontinued, and regular services have ceased. A Sunday school is maintained part of the time.

A cemetery occupies a part of the church lot.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The only English Episcopal church in Parke County was established mainly by the efforts of Henry Hargraves and his wife. Mr. Hargraves was born in Huddersfield, England, on .February 11, 1828, and came to America in 1854. His wife, Hannah Farrar Hargraves, was born in Halifax, England, on February 12, 1830, and came to America with her daughter , now Mrs. Elwood Hunt, in 1854. They settled in Rockville on February 22, 1862, where they resided the remainder of their lives. On June 17, 1885 William Holmes deeded to Henry Hargraves lots 5 and 6, subdivisions of lots 10 and 11, of the original plat of Rockville for $250. On June 24, 1885 Mr. Hargraves deeded lots 5 and 6 to the trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church in trust of Saint John's Mission in Rockville.

The corner stone of the church, a frame structure, was laid by Parke Lodge No.8 on June 24,1885, with Hiram E. Hadley acting as Grand Master of Indiana. The Right Reverend Bishop Knickerbacker delivered the address. One year later the church was formally dedicated by Reverend Bradley, of Indianapolis. The remainder of the debt was pledged by Henry Hargraves and the building committee. The entire cost was $2,500. Henry Hargraves, James W. Beadle, Henry Lee, John T. Campbell, and A. H. Cheney were prominent in the work of building the church.

Mrs. Hunt thinks the society numbered about forty persons, and that the only regular rector was J. D. Stanley, who served for two years. Services were held by different leaders until the society was dissolved about 1889. The property was sold to trustees of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Hargraves had paid nearly all of the cost of the lots and building, and the funds derived from their sale were really his, but he permitted the money to be paid into the church erection fund to be used in building elsewhere.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES

There are four Catholic churches in Parke County, located some distance apart, and the membership of each society is small. Reverend C. E. Riebenthaler, who lives at Diamond, officiates at all of these churches, as well as at Burnett in Vigo County and Perth in Clay County. Services at these churches are regular but not frequent. They have no parochial schools, but the children receive some instruction from local teachers in the absence of the priest.

Rockville

In 1854 services were held by Catholic people at the home of Martin Ryan, about three miles south of Rockville. The first mass was read by a priest from Terre Haute. Reverend Highland was then appointed to the Rockville mission. About this time many workmen came to Rockville and vicinity to work on the railroad that was being constructed from Terre Haute to Rockville. A number of them settled here permanently and constituted the main body of the Catholic Church. Services were held at the residence of Patrick Riordan and other members for about twelve years, until a small house was built on lot 4 of the west addition to Rockville, under the leadership of Father Minerod. Several priests officiated after Father Minerod's time, although services were conducted with some irregularity. John Burk, John Fitzgerald, Maurice O'Sullivan, John and Richard Bowman were included in the membership. About twenty years after the first house was built, the society moved to lot 74 of the original plat of Rockville. Here they also built a neat parish house. The later membership includes descendants of the original members as well as L. N. Grinley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bowman, John Elnich, Samuel Grinley, and James Duggan.

Montezuma

This is known as the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was organized later than the Rockville Church and at one time had a larger number of families in its membership. A church and a parish house were built on a lot donated by Mr. Davis, of Rockville. Henry Riordan, Walter Riordan, Barney Davey, John Fitzgerald, and Dennis Quenlin are members here.

Diamond

There was a large Roman Catholic society at Diamond when that town was a prosperous mining center. The membership was constituted largely of Italians and other foreign people. A house was built and regular services were con-ducted for a number of years, but when the mining ceased and the people moved away the membership was reduced to a minimum. Services are still held here.

There was a Greek Catholic church in Diamond contemporary with the Roman church. Its membership was composed of foreigners who moved away. The society vanished and the house was torn down and removed.

Mecca

A Roman Catholic society was organized at West Mecca subsequent to 1886. A small church house and a parish house were built near the William Dee clay plant. A number of clay workers are members of this church. A few of the communicants are William Dee, Jr., John Kerns, superintendent of the plant, Andrew Mattson, and Miss Mary Broderick, a teacher of the public schools of Mecca,

There is a Catholic cemetery near the site of Armiesburg.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES

Pleasant Valley

Methodist churches were organized in Parke County at early dates. One of the first was the Pleasant Valley Society formed about 1825. Their house was located in the south central part of section 11, Raccoon Township. William Taylor was the first pastor of the church, and some of the first members were James Strange, brother of John Strange, the noted pioneer circuit rider; Bliss Kalley, a native of Massachusetts; Tobias Miller; Jacob Overpeck, a native of Virginia; and Daniel Kalley. The families of these pioneers constituted a large part of the membership in the second generation. The member-ship increased to more than one hundred, and a new frame house was built about 1855. Besides the sermons, class meetings, and prayer services, the young people were permitted to conduct singing schools in the church house. The Missouri Harmonist was one of their song books.

During the Civil War and following it the society declined, the house deteriorated, and services were suspended.. In 1885 another house was erected, and services were resumed. This church was on the Bellmore circuit, and its pastors were the same as those at Bellmore, where the parsonage was located. On September 1, 1894 Reverend 0. C. Haskell, the pastor, was stricken with paralysis while in the pulpit, and died the next day. No church or Sunday school services are held here now, but the house is used for funerals and community meetings.

Pleasant Valley Cemetery adjoins the church lot. Here many pioneers are buried; here also is the grave of Jacob Overpeck, who was born in 1772.

Bridgeton

Coexistent with the Pleasant Valley Church was a society that held its meetings in the James M. Crabb neighborhood, frequently at Mr. Crabb's residence in the northeast quarter of section 34. Later a house was built on Mr. Crabb's farm. This location was not satisfactory; the society declined and was finally dissolved. A part of the members and others in Bridgeton and vicinity organized a society which built a house at the south side of the village in 1868, and named it Clear Run. The first pastor was Reverend Thomas Buck. T. C. Webster and Oliver C. Haskell were later pastors.

Clear Run was handicapped by its inconvenient location. It was too far from the main part of the town, and no paved street or sidewalk extended to it. In 192i1 a modern brick house was built in the town at a cost of $10,000 and was dedicated March 16,1924. The house is situated on lots 34 and 35, Crooks addition to Bridgeton. The church membership in 1925 was 215; members of the Epworth League, 75; Sunday school, 175. A. J. Obrecht was pastor; F. A. Mitchell, Sunday school superintendent. J. M. Williams is the present pastor.

Clear Run Cemetery is at the south side of the town.

Diamond

This church took the name of the town in which it was located. The diamond referred to was "black diamond," the kind of coal found there. A Methodist church was organized here when the coal mines were opened and attracted a great many miners, persons in other industries, and, especially, farmers living in the vicinity of the town. A house was built and regular services maintained for some time. The rapid decline of the town caused the society to be dissolved. The house was dismantled and the material used for other purposes.

First Methodist Church of Rockville

The date of organization of this church is not known. Traveling ministers preached here before a church house was erected. William Cravens, of Virginia, came as a missionary. The first house that they used at stated times was the log courthouse, which was built in 1826; the next was a brick school house. The courthouse burned down in 1832, and the new one erected was used by the society until 1837, when it decided to build its own house. This one, the first house that the society owned, was used until 1865. It was then abandoned, and the society returned to the courthouse for one more year. In 1866 the present house was built on lot 30 of the original plat of the town, and was dedicated the following winter. Reverend Thomas Meredith, the pastor, circulated the subscriptions and collected the funds used. The conference of [838 was held here. Henry S: Tolbert was presiding elder, and Charles M. Holliday was the pastor. W. P. Cummings, Milton Garrison, and Thomas Moore were local preachers.

Those prominent in the early history of the church were Dr. P. Q. Stryker, John Linkswiler, an active class leader, Samuel Baker, a steward for many years, Scott Noel, General T. A. Howard, General John Meacham, John S. White, Governor Joseph Wright, Greenberry Ward, and Elisha Adamson. Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Adamson, and Miss Watt were earnestly devoted to the work of the church.

Some of the pastors who served full time here were S. P. Colvin, F. 1VI. Pavey, H. L. Davis, F. W. Hixson, D. D. Hoagland, and C. D. Royce. C. M. McClure is the present pastor .

Some of the members in recent years were Judge Ared F. White, W. J. White, David Strouse, William Ferguson, William H. Dukes, C. B. Carver, D. M. Carlisle, G. W. Rohm, and William Stevenson. The present membership is 321. G. W. Rohm has served as Sunday school superintendent for thirty-six years. The men's Bible class, under the leadership of J. H. Linebarger, is a prominent part of the Sunday school.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church of Rockville

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