Data pertaining to the half a hundred rural churches in the history
of Clay county are not readily obtainable. The sources of information,
mainly, are personal recollection and the columns of the local press.
Diligent search and inquiry in some instances have failed to bring out the
points desired. Experience along this line has served to recall in the rec-
ollections of the writer the vivid impressions made upon his mind in his
school-boy days by the reading of the lesson in McGuffey’s first edition
of his Third Reader about the boy’s pursuit of the butterfly.


    Asbury, a Methodist Episcopal church in Jackson township, on the
Brazil-Hoosierville road, near the Simonson place, built in 1871-2, dedi-
cated on the 11th day of August of the latter year, named for Francis
Asbury, the first M. E. bishop ordained in America; sermon by President
McNutt, of the State University.

    Beech, a United Brethren church in Owen county, here named for
the reason that it is near the county line, the congregation, in part, Clay
countians; services frequently attended by Middlebury and Clay City
people; dedicated May 27, 1883, by Bishop E. B. Kephart.
  (See Beech Church members)

    Beech Grove, a Universalist church in Dick Johnson township, near
the Warren D. Wolfe homestead, on land belonging to Joseph Carter, on
the Leachman gravel road, built in 1890, dedicated on the 26th day of
October, the only church of this denomination in the county. It was so
named, in common with the district school having the same location, from
the growth of native beech timber thereabout.

    Bee Ridge, a Christian church in Dick Johnson township.
    (See Bee Ridge history)

    Bellaire, a Christian church near the site of the old town of Bellaire,
a little distance south of the former James Kendall place, across the road
from the school-house known by the same name, built and dedicated late
in the sixties or in 1870, as given from recollection by several of the
membership who participated in providing the means and constructing
the house.


    Berea, a Christian church in Posey township, one mile south of Bra-
zil waterworks, built in 1889, and dedicated on the 18th day of Novem-
ber of the same year. The society was organized at the Wools school-
house, January 24, 1892.


 Briley Chapel, a United Brethren church in Lewis township, at the
crossing of the old Terre Haute-Louisville and the Middlebury-Center-
ville roads, built in 1887 and dedicated on the 20th day of November,
services by Rev. L. S. Chittenden, assisted by Rev. William R. Muncie,
the pastor. This society, known as the “Kiser Class,” was organized on
the 25th of July, 1885, and at a meeting held on the 7th day of August,
1886, when Alfred Shidler was pastor, the building committee was organ-
ized, of which Elisha Powell was chairman, John Bolinger treasurer, and
John Kellum secretary.

    Canaan, a Methodist Episcopal church in Van Buren township, on
the Putnam county line, near the Vandalia Railroad, originally built and
dedicated in the year 1858, as remembered by residents of the neighbor-
hood, then rebuilt and rededicated about ten years ago, on the William
Girton place.

    A Christian church on the gravel road, between Ashboro and Saline
City, was built in the years 1899 and 1900 and dedicated on the 6th day
of August of the latter year. This society, before building a home of its
own, used to worship in the Evans school-house.

    Clay Prairie, a Methodist Episcopal church in Posey township, on
the Upper Bloomington road, four miles directly south of the Brazil
waterworks, built in 1906, was dedicated March 3, 1907, services by Rev.
L.  F. Dimmit, of Greencastle. The cost of this building was $2,000, of
which it was necessary to raise $639, at time of dedication, to liquidate
balances, the contributions amounting to $1,044.44.

    Connely Chapel, a United Brethren church on Eel river, near the
E. & I. R. R. crossing, just west of the station, built and dedicated in
1889, as nearly as remembered, so named in honor of William A. Con-
nely, who appropriated the ground and contributed liberally to the gen-
eral fund. Prior to the building of this house the society previously
organized at this point had worshiped at the school-house standing by
the road-side, near the station. Within the winter of 1888-9, George
Conger and James Hosea, two local revivalists, held a protracted meeting
at this school-house, which resulted in one hundred and twenty-five con-
verts, fifty-eight of whom were afterward baptized in Eel river in one
day. From the impetus given the cause, as the sequel to this meeting,
the church was built the succeeding year.

    Deeter’s, a Christian church in Perry township, on the Lower Bloom-
ington road, two miles west of Ashboro, built in 1878, by William Deeter
and R. E. S. Swartz, and dedicated the same year, probably.

    Ebenezer (see Reminiscences entitled Ebenezer and Shiloh).

    Eel River, a Predestinarian or Primitive Baptist church, in Cass
township, west side of Eel river, near the old Samuel Stigler place. The
original church building was a log house on the river bank, near the Car-
penter mill-seat. This society was the first church organization in the
county, preceding in point of time the organization of the county, and the
log house on the river bank the first house of worship built within the
territory of the county.


    Eel River Valley, a Winebrennarian church, or Church of God, in
Eel river bottom, on the Brunswick-Howesville road, near “Valley Farm,”
built and dedicated in the year 1902, as nearly as remembered.

    Epworth, an M. E. church in Brazil township, on the northwest cor-
ner of Morgan’s crossing.

    Fairview, a Christian church in Dick Johnson township, on the
Leachman gravel road, a half mile north of the Washington school-house,
near the residence of William L. Nicoson, built in 1882 and dedicated
January 7, 1883. Previous to the building of this house the church organ-
ization had met for worship at the Washington school-house. At the
time of dedication the membership numbered seventy-five.

    Fairview, a Winebrennarian church in Lewis township, between Cof-
fee and Eel river, built in 1869 and dedicated as a Presbyterian church,
which, at a later day, was transferred to the Winebrennarians. This
house was built, largely, by the Woodrows, soon after their locating on
Eel river.

    Patch Chapel, an M. E. church in Sugar Ridge township, on the
Snake road, half way between Bowling Green and Saline City, built in
1892 and dedicated on the 7th day of August, sermon by W. R. Hal-
stead, so named because located on the corner of the Fatch lands. A Sun-
day school was organized here soon after the dedication of the house and
maintained regularly, of which William Murbarger was chosen superin-
tendent, in which position he continued to serve faithfully and unremit-
tingly until the time of his sickness and death, in 1899.

    Friendly Grove, a Missionary Baptist church in Lewis township.
This religious society, organized on the 28th day of June, 1839, under the
spreading limbs of a large elm tree on the Samuel Chambers place, was
the pioneer church in the southwest part of Clay county. The first house
of worship built by this society, in the early forties, was a log one of
most peculiar design and construction, unlike any other in the county or
elsewhere. The main building was 50 X 20 feet, with a mid-way projec-
tion and recess on either side, ten or twelve feet square, through which
the entrance was made into the auditorium. In one end of the main
building were two of the old-time fire-places. The pulpit stood in the
transverse section, near the opposite side from the fire-places. One end
of the main structure (about two-fifths of its capacity, or floor space)
was so arranged constructively that the suspended ceiling could be let
down so as to form a partition, thereby reducing the capacity of the audi-
torium when so desired. The seating of this house was by the use of
slabs made by splitting timber, in which holes were bored and legs
inserted. This church was occupied until displaced by a frame one built
in 1858, as remembered by survivors of that time. The present house,
which is the third one, was built in 1892, dedicated on the 16th day of
October, by Elder Ogle, of Indianapolis, the contributions exceeding by
$293.43 the amount of money asked for. The carpenter work on the first
frame was done by Rice M. Stark and Samuel Welsh. The second and
present frame was built on contract by Levi Fair, which was, at the
time, the largest auditorium in the township. The primitive log church,
though not a “house of seven gables,” was one of twelve corners, sug-
gestive or representative of the twelve apostles. The pastors of this
society, as nearly as they may be now named, have been: Abraham Stark,
David Stark, George Crist, Elias Cooprider, James Kendall, Bert Fuson,
George Marlow, C. C. Marshall, James Barr, James Sanders, J. L Weeks,
T. Fuson, J. R. Cobb, E. A. Brown, D. C. Carnahan (present one).

    Liberty, a Christian church in the northwest part of Washington
township, on the N. D. Walker place, west side of Eel river, built and
dedicated in 1860. Having fallen partially into decay and needing repairs,
it was turned over to the public in 1895 and was refitted as a union
church.

    Lichty’s, a church of the Evangelical Association, in Harrison town-
ship, so named from its location on the premises of John Lichty, a pioneer
German, who was a member and supporter of the society. This house is
said to have been built and dedicated in 1862.

    Little Flock, a Primitive or Predestinarian Baptist church in Lewis
township, on the Thomas Crist land, three-fourths of a mile west of the
old J. T. Liston crossing, the original log house built about 1850; the
present frame house about twenty years ago.

    Maple Grove, a Brethren church in Sugar Ridge township, on the
gravel road from the Old Feeder Dam north to Ashboro, on the Mace
place, built in the years 1904-1905, and dedicated on the 25th day of
June of the latter year, by Rev. D. D. Culler, of Mt. Morris, Illinois.
This is the only church building maintained by this denomination (usually
known as the Tunkers, or Dunkards) within the territory of Clay county.
Rev. D. D. Culler, who has won position and prominence in the minis-
terial circles and counsels of this church body, is the youngest son of
farmer David Culler, who lived many years and died at the family home-
stead at the Denmark crossing.

    Mt. Calvary, an M. E. church in Perry township, near the Van Cleve
place, built about the time of the beginning of the Civil war.

    Mt. Carmel, a United Brethren church in Washington township, on
the Killion place, a mile and a half west of Bowling Green, on the Lower
Bloomington road, built in 1871, and dedicated on the 12th day of Novem-
ber, by Bishop Edwards, when the entire indebtedness outstanding was
liquidated by the contributions made.

    Mt. Lebanon, a United Brethren church in Van Buren township,
on the B. F. Casteel place, at the crossroads a little distance east of the
site of the town of Benwood, built at the time of the Civil war. The, con-
tract was let and construction begun in 1861, the house enclosed and
floored, when the contractors enlisted and went into the army. The
congregation met for worship in the unfinished house until the fall of
1863, when it was completed. The present house, on the same ground,
was built in 1887, and dedicated on the 18th day of December.

    A Methodist Episcopal church was built near the George Buell place,
in Washington township, east of Bowling Green, close to the Owen
county line, in 1869, dedicated by Bishop Bowman, October 31 of the
same year.

    A Missionary Baptist church was built on the Dempey Seybold place,
in the extreme north part of Dick Johnson township, in 1897, by Thomas
E. Hays, contractor.

    Mt. Zion, a United Brethren church in Harrison township, on the
former John Moyer place, on the old Bowling Green-Middlebury road,
two miles northeast of Clay City, built in 1866 and dedicated in the latter
part of the year, by Elder Elwell, as remembered. This society, known as
the “Kauble Class,” had previously worshiped in an old log dwelling
house on the Moyer place. On the 17th day of February, 1866, a board
of trustees was appointed and instructed to proceed to build.

    New Hope, a Missionary Baptist church in Harrison township, on
the macadamized road from Clay City to Brunswick, two and a half miles
south of Middlebury, built in 1892 and dedicated on the 4th of September
of the same year, so named for the reason that the membership of this
church at the time of its institution had previously been a part of the
Good Hope flock at Middlebury.

    Oak Grove, an M. B. church in Lewis township, on the county line
road, three-fourths of a mile north of Jasonville, built in 1850, the society
organized by John Edmonson, who was the first pastor.

    Otterbein, a United Brethren church on the county line, three miles
south of Bowling Green, standing on the Owen county side, so named
in memory and honor of P. W. Otterbein, the founder of this denomina-
tion, named in this connection for the reason that the congregation here
is composed of Clay as well as of Owen county people.

    Oxford, an M. E. church, a mile or more north of the city of Brazil,
at the point of North Forest avenue’s crossing Otter creek.

    Peniel, an M. E. church in Dick Johnson township, a half-mile south
of Bee Ridge church and cemetery, built in 1892 and dedicated on the
3d day of July of the same year. The name of this church is a selection
from Bible terminology, taken from the account given in the 32d chapter
of Genesis of the change of Jacob’s name to Israel, meaning the place of
meeting God face to face. It is usually spoken with the accent on the
first syllable, which should rest on the second.

    Pleasant Run, a Missionary Baptist church, a mile and a half south
of Cory, built in 1870-71, first occupied in the month of May of the lat-
ter year, when Rev. Samuel Slavens preached jointly the funeral sermon
of George and Latham Huff, so named from location, standing near the
course of a small rippling branch of Eel river bearing this name.

    A Primitive or Predestinarian Baptist church in the south part of
Posey township, on the Lower Bloomington road, formerly at Clover-
land, then moved and located at this point.


 Rock Run, a church in the north part of Dick Johnson township,
built in 1871 and dedicated on the last Sunday of the year.

    St. John’s, a German Lutheran church in Posey township, two miles
southeast of Staunton, built in 1871 and dedicated on the 15th day of
October.

    St. Peter’s, a German Reformed church in Harrison township, on
the former Bottron place, on the border of Owen county, three miles
northeast of Clay City, built and dedicated in the year 1874. The parson-
age maintained in connection with this church was wholly destroyed by
fire on the 20th of November, 1908, which was rebuilt and reoccupied
before the close of the winter.

    Sharon, an M. E. church in Dick Johnson township.

    Stwalley’s Chapel, an M. E. church at Bellaire, east side, built in
1881-82, dedicated on the 28th day of May of the latter year, named in
honor of Isaac Stwalley, deceased, who was a liberal patron and sup-
porter of the church.

    Union, a United Brethren church in Jackson township, near Hoosier-
ville, on the Brazil-Poland gravel road, originally built about then
remodeled and improved about the year 1880.

    Union, a Christian church in the southwest part of Lewis township,
originally a hewn-log house, built in 1855, but more recently a frame of
modern construction. John Neal was the pioneer pastor of this church.

    Wilson’s, a Free Will Baptist church in Lewis township, on the
James Wilson place, a mile and a half northwest of Howesville, built in
1903 and dedicated on the 10th day of August of the same year.

    Zion, a Christian church in the southeast part of Perry township,
built in 1892, and dedicated on the 25th day of December of the same
year.

    Zion, a German Reformed church in Cass township, near Poland.
This was one of the earliest church societies organized in the county, at
first holding meetings at the homes of the membership until the building
of a log school-house in 1842, which was occupied for worship two years,
when, in 1844, the first church was built, a log building 24x30 feet, at a
cost of $25.00. Ten years later a frame was built, of which the corner-
stone was laid on the 18th day of April, 1854. This house was 45x30x15,
erected at a cost of $925. Thirty-five years later, in 1889, was built the
present brick, 66x42 feet, at a cost of $6,000. The first regular pastor
of Zion was Rev. Zumpe, who was called to the position September 13,
1840, who remained in charge for the period of ten years, then, after an
interval of two years, again resumed pastoral charge, remaining with the
society for the period of fourteen years, making a total of twenty-four
years. He was succeeded on retirement in the summer of 1866 by Rev.
Joerris, who continued with the church eighteen years, until 1884. when
Rev. Geckeler became pastor for four years, from December 14, 1884, to
August 27, 1888, succeeded by William Grether, who was in charge until
1894, who was followed by H. H. Kattman, for eleven and a half years,
from January, 1895, to the summer of 1906, since which time the pastor
has been C. H. Riedesel.


    All the churches of Clay county are not here enumerated. Doubtless,
there have been houses of worship in the geography and history of the
county of which the writer has no personal knowledge, which are but
memories with surviving pioneers.
    A Christian church, named “Lodi,” perhaps, was for a time main-
tained on the James M. Halbert place, in the north part of Dick Johnson
township, of which we have no details at command. The same is true
of two churches in Jackson township—the pioneer Poplar Chapel of the
U. B. denomination, and that of the Evangelical Association, in the neigh-
borhood of the Carrithers place, near the east side of the township; and,
probably, equally true of Washington township. As a reminiscence, the
writer dates his first attendance at church service in Clay county back to
the 24th day of June 1855, held in a pioneer log house east of Bowling
Green, in the Kincaid neighborhood, north side of the road, on which
occasion the services were conducted by Dillon Bridges, father of
ex-County Clerk Dillon W. Bridges, and Samuel Hollingsworth. This
may have been a church, a school-house, or an abandoned residence
building.
    In the southeast part of Washington township, in the McGrew, or
Martin, neighborhood, probably on the Haltom place, was also a primi-
tive United Brethren church, as remembered, which may have given place
to a new building and be still maintained.
    In the early summer of 1859 a call was issued by George Bentz,
Benedict Lehman and Philip Rinehart for a meeting to be held the first
Sunday in June, at the home of the first named, in Harrison township,
to organize a Lutheran church society.
    Elisha Adamson organized an M. E. church society, at Middlebury,
in the summer of 1859.
    The thirty-fifth annual session of the Indiana District Conference of
the M. E. church, for the year 1892, was held at Clay City, beginning
Monday, August 1, and closing with Wednesday, the 3d.
    The Seventh Day Adventists have held tent meetings at Bowling
Green, Cory, Clay City and Middlebury. The Lane Brothers preached
at Bowling Green in the summer of 1873, and Rev. Thompson, at Clay
City and Middlebury, in the months of July and August, 1907. The
meetings at Cory were held in the month of August, 1882.
    The Annual Conference of the Free Methodist church was held at
Clay City, for the year 1889, in the month of August.
    The thirty-eighth annual meeting of the Northwestern Indiana Con-
ference of the M. E. church, for the year 1889, was held at Brazil, assem-
bling at Hendrix Chapel on the 4th day of September. There were in
attendance from abroad two hundred and fifty members, guests of the
church people of Brazil.
    A Free Methodist camp-meeting was held on the Clay City fair
grounds, in the summer of 1890, beginning Thursday, July 31, continuing
over two Sundays.
    The corner-stone of the A. M. E. church, at Brazil, was laid Sunday,
August 19, 1898.


    The Bloomington District Conference of the M. E. church, for the
year 1882, was held at Clay City, May 29, 30 and 31.
    The thirty-fifth annual meeting of the Lower Wabash Conference of
the United Brethren church, for the year 1892, was held at Clay City
during the week beginning August 31.
    The Presbyterian church, on South Franklin street, Brazil, was
destroyed by fire on the 8th day of January, 1871; the Christian church,
on North Washington, on the 5th day of February, 1905. Both were
burned on Sunday.
    The thirty-second annual meeting of the Lower Wabash Conference
of the United Brethren church, for the year, 1889, was held at Clay City,
beginning on the 25th day of September and continuing five days. On
this occasion Miss Alva Button was licensed to preach, the first woman
upon whom this privilege was ever conferred by this church.
    Ministers of the Mormon faith have also preached at various places
within the county, some of the seed sown having taken root. As early
as 1835 they began the work of proselytism here. In that year, on their
way to the West, Sidney Rigdon preached from his tent, on the National
road, two miles west of the site of Brazil, at the point of the Isaac Moore
residence. About 1837, John Weitsch preached in the vicinity of Middle-
bury, making a number of converts. Among those who left this locality
to join the church in the West were Fielding Lankford, Frederick Ott
and George W. Duncan. In 1838 or 1839, an apostle of this faith named
Babbitt preached in the old courthouse, at Bowling Green, and he was
followed by another named Stannedge. Among their converts were Allen
and Lee Bybee, Joshua Hall, the Sloans and Mrs. Lane. Within very
recent years emissaries of this so-called religious cult have proclaimed its
tenets hereabout from street corners and elsewhere.
    In 1833, the Cumberland Presbyterians, led by Joseph Alexander and
John Thorlton, organized a society and built a shed 20x40 feet on what
was long known as the Kress place, opposite the Sink farm, a mile south-
west of Middlebury, where camp-meetings were held annually for several
years. Rev. McCord, of Rockville, was the recognized minister of this
society. After the death of its founders this organization waned and in
time dissolved.
    It is known only reminiscently and to but comparatively few Clay
county people at this day, that the faith and teachings of the Restoration-
ists were preached here more than threescore years ago. As early as
1843, Erasmus Manford, who had moved from Lafayette to Terre Haute
within that year, delivered lectures at Bowling Green in exposition of a
more liberal theology than that taught by the orthodox churches. While
residing at Terre Haute, about the time of the early fifties, he preached
Restorationism, or Universalism, at and in the vicinity of Cloverland.
Several families who heard him were so impressed and well pleased with
him and his teachings that they named their baby sons in honor and
memory of him, one of whom, Erasmus Manford Tarvin, now a resident
of California, is a minister of the New Light, or Christian, church. He
is now a man of more than sixty years, and two years ago visited his
cousin, B. F. Kruzan, of Brazil. Manford was in after years editor of
Manford Magazine, Chicago.
    Oliver Cromwell, Sr., of Bowling Green, who was the pioneer of the
county in this faith, died in the month of February, 1855, and on the
24th day of June following, funeral services were held at his grave, in
the Snoddy cemetery, attended by the Masonic Lodge of Bowling Green,
when a sermon was preached by Rev. Joseph G. Foster, who had, in
former years, been a minister in the Primitive Baptist church. Rev.
William C. Brooks, of Terre Haute, of the same faith, preached the
funeral sermon of William Robertson, at the Zenor school-house, on Birch
creek, in 1853.
    Rev. B. F. Foster, Rev. M. G. Lee, Rev. H. E. Pope, and Rev. J. C.
Pitrat preached occasionally at Bowling Green. Within the period of
forty years past the following ministers of the Universalist faith have
preached at Brazil: W. W. Curry, B. F. Foster, D. R. Biddlecome, T. J.
Vater, Thomas Abbott, W. Y. Emmet, Samuel Binus, Daniel Rose, Henry
Jewell, C. L. Haskell, Miss Prudy Le Clerc. The Rev. Marion Crosley
once held a series of meetings at Mount Olivet. The following have
preached at Beech Grove, either occasionally or as regular pastors: M. L.
Pope, F. T. Lathe, Charles F. Bushnell, H. C. Beckett, Ira B. Grandy,
J.  B. Fosher, John K. Dillon, Dennis Morrison, M. L. Pope, who had
previously preached at Ashboro, delivered the funeral sermon of James
Thornton Moss in the month of August, 1896.
    Some of these had previously been teachers and ministers of the
Partialist faith, which they renounced to espouse that of the Universalist.
    On the Clay-Sullivan county line, a mile and a half northwest of the
present town of Coalmont, was a United Brethren church, built about
the time of the Civil war, which was nick-named “Squat,” for which
scarcely any other name was ever heard. For reasons which do not now
appear, the ranks of the congregation which worshiped here became so
depleted that this house fell into disuse and after the period of perhaps
the third of a century was sold. It was built of first-class poplar lumber,
most of which was used in the construction of the Cochran store building
at Coalmont. The long benches, or seats, served the purpose of cornice
and finishing lumber for several residence buildings of the town.