Source: HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. B.F. Bowen & Company, Inc.,
Indianapolis, Indiana, 1914, pp. 202-203.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCHES.
The Methodist Protestant organization at St. Joe was brought into existence
in the year of 1886, and from those humble beginnings has developed into a
hustling and progressive society of one hundred members. Rev. W. H. Lineberry
was the pastor who assisted in organizing the church. The church edifice was
built in 1888, the same year as the Disciples church. The building cost
thirty-five hundred dollars. At this writing, Rev. G. C. McCaslin is in
charge of the society. The first trustees were Frank Ingle, George Bleeks and
Sol Barney. The Sunday school, Ladies' Aid Society and Christian Endeavor add
greatly to the interest of the church. The Methodist Protestant society has
small churches at Concord and Fairview also.
The Rehoboth Methodist Protestant church was organized sometime in the year
1840, at the cabin-home of Samuel Tarney. The charter members were: Amariah
Johnson and wife, Nathan Wyatt and wife, Abraham Johnson and wife, John Wyatt
and wife, William R. Moore and wife, Samuel Tarney and wife, William A.
Squires and wife, and Samuel Widney and wife. These sixteen persons
constituted the first church organization in Jackson township which was known
as the Bear Creek class. There being no church house, services were held at
the cabin-homes of the early settlers; for some time later the regular
services were held in a log schoolhouse located on the farm of Amariah
Johnson, now owned by William Johnson. Special meetings were either held in
the groves or at the double log barns of the settlers.
Some years later a church was built a short distance north of the log school
house. The building was a frame structure and was considered quite elaborate
at that early day. This church was known as the Bear Creek church. Here
services were held until the fall of 1881, when the old church was considered 
unsafe and was abandoned. This old building was the scene of many a gracious
revival and many hearts were made happy in a Savior's love. After abandoning
the old church, the place of holding services was at the Bear Creek
schoolhouse, a half mile west. Under the pastorate of the late Rev. F. M.
Hussy, during the winter of 1881 and 1882, an effort was put forth for the
erection of a new church house. It was with some difficulty that a suitable
location could be found.
It was finally decided to build on the site where the Rehoboth church now
stands, and the building was completed at a cost of twenty-one hundred
dollars. Owing to the difficulty in securing a location, Mr. John S. Boots,
one of the donors, thought that the proper name for the church should be
Rehoboth, and wished the honor of naming it, which privilege was accorded
him. In the fall of 1913, this church house underwent repairs ot the extent
of eight hundred dollars. To be in keeping with the progress of the time, a
basement has been put under the church, a furnace and modern lighting system
installed, and an addition made.
The first religious service held in Jackson township was at the home of
William Watson in 1839, and the preacher was Rev. Jalnes T. Robe, of the
Methodist Episcopal denomination.
Rev. Lewis Hicklan, missionary of the Methodist Protestant church, came to
Jackson township in 1841, and organized a church. Today there are in the
township several churches: namely, Church of God, Methodist Protestant and
United Brethren.


Submitted by Cheryl Milukas cjmilukas@compuserve.com