People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1895 — Page 1

VOL. V.

Pint Presbyterian Church. Pastor— Rev. M. R. Paradis. Elders—Johr Coen. FleU-her Monnett. I>. E. Hollister. Emmet L Hollingsworth, Geo. K. Hollingsworth and James W. McEwan. Deacons—John C. Porter and Cyrus W. Duvall. Trustees— F. J.Sears. M. F. Ohilcote, W. B. Austin. John Eger and E. I). Rhoades. Ushers— T. P. Wright. .John Schanlaub. Frank Kelley and Earle Duvall. services : Sunday School 9:30 A. 51 Morning Service 10:4f> •• Junior Endeavor 2:30 P. M Christian Endeavor 0:30 - Evening Service 7:30 •• Prayer Meeting (Thursday) 7:30 •• Ladies’ Industrial Society (every AVednesday) 2:00 •• Missonary society Monthly To all the above services all are cordially invited.

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

BY W. B. AUSTIN. It has been said that railroads are the forerunners of civilization. That this is true is undisputed, but we would still have darkness had we waited on railroads to enlighten us. The church came here in 1847, the railroad in 1877, thirty years later. Like that of the Puritans and Pilgrims of old, the history of the church at this place has not been altogether roseate. Nine persons, headed by James Van Rensselaer, the father of the town, formed the nucleus from which has been evolved the church society of to-day. There were times when the church had apparent prosperity, but on the other hand, for long stretches of years, at one. time from 1806 to 1883, not one ray of light came. That the organization did not entirely disband was due altogether to the efforts of a few faithful ones in maintaining the Sunday school, and in sowing seeds, which in later years have ripened and been harvested, and to-day form the bulwark of the church at this place. Man is of a peculiar nature; he is not always satisfied with his lot. A minister of the gospel is but a man, has a man’s wants aud inclinations, consequently if he is not paid for his services he cannot be expected to continue his employment, and hence it is that this struggling congregation in its early history had. four pastors in that many years. The first minutes of the church society read as follows: ‘•Rensselaer. Indiana, ) Peb. 20th, 1847. \ • ‘-At a meeting of the persons friendly to the organization of a Presbyterian church in Jasper county, Rev. E. VV. Wright was called to the chair. After prayer it was resolved to proceed to constitute a church, and Rev. Jesse Edwards and Z. Sheets, elders from the church at Montieello, were invited as a session to judge of the testimonials of membership. The following persons were received on certificate :

James Van Rensselaer, Susan Van Rensselaer, Susan C. Weston, Ezra Wright, Martha Wright, Lucinda Mahaffie, Henry Barkley, Ira Allen. Louis B. Allen. Resolved, That we now proceed to the election of two elders, and the vote being counted Ezra Wright and Henry Barkley were declared duly elected, audit was agreed that these brethern be ordained to-morrow at three o’clock p. m. Resolved, That this church be denominated the Presbyterian church of Rensselaer. Whereupon the meeting adjourned.” Edward Wright, Chairman. ’ Rev. Edward Wright was a supply for the new congregation which met whenever convenient, until 1848, when Rev. Thomas M. Chestnut was duly installed as pastor, and continued as such until 1852. Mr. Chestnut was the father of Mrs. Fletcher Monnett and Mrs. Sharp. The minutes of June 2d. 1850, are as follows: “Session met and was opened with prayer, Rev. T. M. Chestnut, moderator: elders present — Henry Barkley and Ezra Wright. The following persons were received on certificate from the church atCoal Creek: John Coen, a ruling elder, and AsauethCoen and his wife, as members of this church.” The pioneers of our church, like the pilgrims of old, were very strict in discipline, and although the old-time Calvinistic doctrine of election, even in that day, received many assults, yet the session stood manfully by the confession and at one

THE PEOPLE’S PILOT.

RRBSBYTBRIAN CHURCH BDRVION.

time declined to grant but a modified letter of dismissal to James J. Porter, who to some extent questioned the strict Caivinistic interpretation of this doctrine of election. Gen. R. H. Milroy was a member in good standing of the Presbyterian church until a certain political incident occurred. which, owing to the prominence of - the parties involved. deserves to be set out in full. The other persons involved being General, after Governor. Gideon E. Moody and Hefner. afterward notorious with Dodd, BoAvlerand Milligan. The minutes of the session read as follows: “Rensselaer, Ind., March 28. 1861. Session .met according to previous notice and was opened with praver. Present, H. A. Mayhew, moderator: elders, C. Hutton, E. Wright, John Coen, and R. H. Milroy, who voluntarily declines to act at this time. The session took up the following item of business, to-vvit: Robert H. Milroy, a member of the church and of the session, voluntarily came before the session and made the following statements in substance, 1.0-wit: Ist. That sometime during the winter, lie went, at the request of Mr. Moody, a member of the legislature. at Indianapolis. That after arriving there he found there existed a serious personal difficulty between Ml’, Moody a.id Mr. Hefren, Avho was also a member of the legislature, growing out of words spoken in the heat of debate. That he used his influence 10 nave the difficulty honorably settled without a “hostile meeting” of the parties. That the insult offered Mr. Moody by Mr. Hefren was serious; but that he hoped, at first, that the matter would pass

David Nowels.

David Nowels was born in Holmes county, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1821. being the seventh son in a family of eight sons and three daughters.

When he was but three years of age his parents moved to Portland, Fountain county. Ind. The family lived here until about 1830 when the mother died. This broke up the home and scattered the family, and, when in the fall of 1834, his father, John Nowels, his eldest sister and her husband, Joseph Yeoman, moved to the “Rapids of the Iroquois,” he, then a lad of thirteen, accompanied them. The present site of Rensselaer was chosen as a suitable place for settlement and here our little band of pioneers reared the first humble cabin within the present limits of Jasper county. Young Nowels was the first white boy who ever came to the county, and he has resided here from that early period until now, more than sixty years. March 10, 1842, he was married to Phebe Ann Benjamin, and moving to the north part es what is uow Marion township, they erected a little cabin and with willing hands and courageous hearts as their only capital began in real earnest the stern struggle of pioneer life. Here for nearly forty years was their home, until having acquired by sturdy endeavor and frugality a reasonable competence, for future years they, some fifteen years ago, they came back to Rensselaer to spend the remaining years of life in rest and quietude.

off without going farther than Mr. Hefren’s receiving a caning in the street from Mr. Moody. That if Mr. Moody had caned

Rensselaer, ind., Thursday, oct. 17, 1895.

Hefren, he (Milroy) would na\ T e been in sight or hearing, and would have seen that Moedy was not harmed. But that Hefren immediately left the state for the purpose us receiving any communication from Moody, evidently looking to the passing of a challenge to tight a duei. That Hefren went to Kentucky, and that he (Milroy) disliked to go thither with Moody, but that he (Moody) insisting upon his (Milroy’s) accompanying him as a friend, he did accompany him and used every effort while t here to bring about an adjustment, but without success. That Moody finally sent a challenge to Hefren to fight a duel; and that, through Col.

George Kannal WftS born in Columbiana fiouhty, Ohio, March 13, 1813, being the eldest of thirteen children. His parents came from Penneylvanit), being of theold “Pennsylvania Dutch” blood. The father, Joseph Kannal, served in the war of 1812. Mary (McCoy) Kannal was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, September 10, 1815. The subjects of this sketch Avere reared in the same neighborhood and married November 8, 1835. After seven years residence in the family of the groom, they to the home of Thomas McCoy, a brother of the Avife. W 7 hile here, on duly I. 1838, a daughter, Elizabeth, Avas born. They soon afterward removed to New Lisbon, Ohio, where George Kannal was engaged, during their seven years stay, in banking with Thomas McCoy. In 1847 they returned to live on a farm in their native country.

Walker, Hefren indicated a choice of the bowie knife as the weapon to be used. That he (Milroy) promptly told Col. Walker, Hefren’s Second, that in view of the great disparity in size between Hefren and Moody, which disparity was against Moody, he (Milroy) would lake the responsibility without consulting Mr. Moody, to say that he (Moody) should not tight Hefren with such a weapon; and that he (Milroy) requested Col. Walker to inform Mr. Hefren that if he (Hefren) insisted upon bowie knife he (Milroy) would take Moody’s place and fight him (Hefren) with that weapon. That he (Milroy) did not at the time believe Hefren would fight him, but that if he had consented to do so he does not think he (Milroy) would have “backed out.” That he (Milroy) remained with Moody in Kentucky till at length, through the mediation of other persons, the difference was arranged, after the parties had arrived upon the ground designated as the place for their “hostile meeting.” That he (Milroy) did not act as Moody’s second, strictly speaking, but that he did carry several notes from Moody to Hefren's while there existed any prospect of arranging the matter without a fight, and before a challenge passed. That he be lieves duelling to be immoral, but that there seemed to be a necessity for. his engaging in it. That in the future he hoped he would, under like circumstances, act differently; that he would, under advise any one either to fight a duel or otherwise retaliate by violence. 2d. Mr. Milroy also made to the session at the same time the following voluntary statement, to-wit: That for sometime past his mind had been undergoing a change upon the doctrine of

George and Mary Kannal.

future punishment of the wicked, aud that he now firmly believes that the doctrine of the endless punishment of the finally impenitent is not true, but that he believes that alt will bo finally"!e - stored.” That he makes, A'oluntariiy, the foregoing statements to the session upon both foregoing matters, in order that the session may deal with him as may he in the judgment of the session be for the best, interest of Zion. In vieAvof the above statements the session, after carefully weighing all things in the foregoing statements contained, adopt the following resolutions, to wit : Ist. Resolved, That Ave

June 20, 1849, their only son. Emmet Kannal. was born. They continued to reside in Columbina county until the spring of 1865, when they came to Jasper county, Ind. With them came their son, Emmet Kaunel, and daughter, Elizabeth Hollingsworth, her husband, Thomas, and their son, Fmmet L. Hollingsworth, a baby one year old. They settled in Rensselaer Avhere they haA r e hab continuous residence. George Kannal died June 10, 1885, being stricken with heart trouble while attending to his daily business duties. He was a man of modest and unpretentious habits, lived an extremely simple and busy life, accumulating a fair competence, and gaining the respect of the tyThe avuloav, Mary Kannal, survives. spending the declining years of her life in the old home amohg her grand children and friends.

deem the statements' of Bro. R. H. Milroy. upon either of the foregoing matters, as sufficient to require his suspension from the privileges of the church. 2d. Resolved, That Bro. Robert 11. J/ilroy is hereby suspended from the sacraments of the church, till he give satisfactory evidence of the sincerity of his repentance. 3d, Resolved, That the moderator is hereby directed to pub--1 sh to the church from the pul pit the foregoing action of the session on the next Sabbath.” Several years after this episode General Milroy was again received into the church of his vouth.

A somewhat amusing incident to the older members was the church trial of Dr. Joshua Clark for alleged slandering of the Ladies’ Sewing Society. The trial commenced April 7th, 1852, and occupied about fifty pages of the minute book. It seems that Dr. Clark had taken exception to certain exercises which occured at the sewing society which met at Col. Work’s residence, on the farm now occupied by Mr. James Matheson, and wrote and circulated a paper, the substance of which is as follows :

“Whereas. The present sewing society was principally got ten up for the purpose of procuring funds for the completion of the Presbyterain church. “And, whereas, certain gymnastic exercises are to a certain and proper extent to be desired, and are promoters of the health of the members; “And, whereas, in the conduct of these exercises certain small improprieties have of late crept out to the just scandal of the good name and fair fame of said society; “And, whereas, it is apprehended that unless these indis-

j cretions are corrected some of (tie strictest may be disposed to withdraw their connection and support from us. which must inaI teriaily hinder success. Thero- , fore, be it resolved, by the Laj dies’ Sewing Society, of Rensselaer, that hereafter, in the exerjcises of the meeting, there shall | aot be more than one polka dance j of an evening, and such dance no I member shall raise her foot more ! man so high, etc.” The evidence shows that a lady member had edified the society with a polka step, a dance which was then new. and had sung the song “Ben Bolt.” Rev. Thomas Whallon Avas pastor from 1855 to 1859. and Rev. H. A. J/ayhew from 1856 to 1865, then occurred one year pastorates of Revs. L. T). Wells, J. S. Patterson, Win, A. Patton, and Mr. Goodeson. Then for a long period of seventeen years the church Avas-without a pastor struggling for life. During this time came the trouble involving Cicero H. Tatman and Gen. R. H. Milroy, and Avhich affected Ezra Wright financially; and John Keller, Stephen Donaldson, and Fletcher Monnett, moved atvay. During this period the spiritual life and corporate existence of this society rested entirely upon the two Miss Smiths and Elder .John Coen. Within the last twenty years Mr. Coen has carried Avood from his residence on the outskirts of town to warm the church for Sunday-school on cold Sunday mornings. All hail to these spirits who, through the chaos attendant upon the closing of the war and other troubles, carried our church ship through and landed her safely in the harbor. Who will doubt that a charitable Jehovah watched over the

Simon P. Thompson.

Simon P. Thompson is the seventh of ten children of David and Eliza (McCoy) Thompson, and was born in Hancock county, Ohio, May 8, I*sß. Three of his brothers, David, yVlfred and Thomas are citizens of this county. When four years old he began attending county school in the winter. He first taught, boarding round, in 1853. His father died February 1(5, 1854. In 1.85 j Simon began his selfsupporting campaign for an education teaching in mid-win-ter, farming in mid summer, and attending school in spring and autumn. Hisdip lo rn a fro mt h e normal school is dated July 18, 18(50. He entered Oberlin college, classical class, in the fall of that year. In 1861 sickness of his mother, sisters and brothers called him home. The mother died September 20, 1861. In August, 1862, the school voters of Rensselaer, Indiana, elected him as principal at forty dollars, per month , In 1868 a school house was built and Mr. Thompson was re-elected at sixty dollars per month. He was also selected as school examiner and served most of the time until 1872. Afterwards he served as school trustee and prepared the regulations and rules for the first union school of Rensselaer authorized to graduate its pupils. The system of school management in the county was changed under Mr. Thompson’s administration. and the present excellent system has grown from the beginnings of 1862. In 1864 Mr Thompson was employed as clerk in the McCoy bank. In 1865 he selected the business of real estate broker and began the study of law. He commenced buying lands of nonresidents aßd selling them to actual settlers. At his instance

NUMBER 17.

: many of the winding narrow roads were changed to broad highways, constructed of better material. In the town corporate action was invoked, railroads were invited and public improve* j ments were advocated as an auxilary to business. The mill dams were purchased and removed and the water channels shortened, straightened and deepened by private and public proceedings. October 10, 1878, lie married May Foltz, at Oxford. Indiana, and they have two daughters, Grace aged 16, and Edna aged 13; also two boys, Firman aged . 9 and Simon Jr. aged 2. The family lias a happy home in south-east Rensselaer. Mr. Thompson cast his first vote for the Lincoln electors at Harveysburg,Ohio, in 1860. He has acted as committeman for town, township and county. Without a convention his name went on the republican ticket for prosecuting attorney in 1872 and 1874, and being elected all official duties were performed without assistance. He was voted for candidate in the republican congressional conventions of 1876 and 1880; and in 1886 he was nominated for the first and last time in a political convention for state senator, and was elected. His service as delegate to district and state conventions has often been called for by his party associates. In 187(5 he was an alternate and in 1884 a delegate to the national convention. Since 1886 Mr. Thompson has freely assisted his friends to political preferment, but has discouraged the use of his own name in any convention.

struggling congregation with a pitying glance? In 1885 Rev. Gilbert Small was pastor, and after him Rev. Aug. Taylor. And then many students came from McCormick seminary which terminatedinthe installation of Rev. M. L. Tressler as pastor in 1889. Mr. Tress - ler was the first installed pastor of the church. He remained about 18 months and after him Rev. I. 1. Gorby was our pastor for 18 months. Then came Rev. Edward Beach for one year, and after a short period Rev. M. R. Paradis, our present pastor. Mr. Paradis has proven himself a conscientious man, an agreeable and social gen Jem an, and a hard and aggressive worker in the Lord’s cause. It is probably due to his.efforts more than any One else that we are enabled to have a new church building. The Misses Smith were received J uly 21,1860. Rev. May hew received 40 members and dismissed 18. Rev. Goodison received 6 members and dismissed 3. Rev. R. L. Adams received 11 members and dismissed 2. Rev. G. Small received 34 members and dismissed Rev. Aug. Taylor received 8 members and dismissed 2. Rev. M. L. Tresslei received 47 members and dismissed 5. Rev. I. I. Gorby received 38 members and dismissed 7. Rev. Edward Beach received 13 members and dismissod.lo. Rev. M R. Paradis received 37 members and dismissed 8.

The old church building was erected in 1851-2, at a cost of SI2OO. on ground donated by John C. Van Rensselaer and has done its duty long and well. It was parted with many, pangs of, regret, for the old house protected us during infancy, childhood and manhood. Here was the cradle of Presbyterianism in this county; here were baptized as infants and adults representatives of almost every family in town and surrounding country; and from this alter have been carried the remains of many of those who have gone “to that undiscovered country, from w T hose bourne no traveler returns.” The old church has passed from our sight, but not from our memory. To many of us some of the fondest and sweetest memories of childhood and youth are entwined with this old building The childish Sunday school songs, “Come to Tesus,” “Climbing up Zion’s Hill, and many others were first taught us within these walls. The songs, the Sunday school, the Christ as entertainments { the festiv

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