Greene County, Indiana

Clifty Church

The old Clifty church still stands today just north Of Owensburg on just off of State Road 45 in Jackson township; on County Road 225-S and another location is given as 925E.

One notices that there are two front doors to the church instead of just one. As was the custom in the very early pioneer days. One was for the women and the other for the men. The women and the men sat on opposite sides of the church during the services.

In 1858 Daniel Dobbins deeded on acres of land to the community, on which there was to be a church built. The deed was dated 29 April 1865; from Daniel and Irrena Dobbins to the trustees: James Neal, Lewis Ashcraft, Wesley Stone, David Dobbins and John Yorky. The instrument was attested to by Ale Hatfield, Notary Public and was not recorded until 15 January 1868 at 1:00 p.m.

Yellow poplar trees were felled to make a clearing for the building. Yellow poplar logs were cut from the hillisdes surrouning the clearing for the church and rolled to the church grounds by man and horse power. Also stones were gathered and before much more could be done the Civil war came and the men of the area marched off to was. Thus much was not done on the church until after the Civil War in 1867.

Trustees who started a Methodist church just about the time of or after the Civil War were: Sandy Baker, Hosen Duckworth, Isaac DUckworth, George A. Isenhower and Isaac Bingham.

Among the early preachers were Jim Pearson and Pink Pearson.

It was voted to have a basket dinner annually on the Second SUnday in August after one had been held in 1897.

Sometime during the winter of 1897 Chester Hunter and Jake Hunter held a rivival.
Also once a month church services where held by Parthine Workman and Rose Sparks.
Records show that the fall of 1903, the church rood fell in and the trustees at the time were Sam Spinks, John Will Robinson and Tomas Corbin. They had the roof repaired granting the contract to Tom Wilson. He cut the shingles for the new roof at the residence of Alvadore AShcraft. On New Years day, 1908, he was paid in full for the job - $25.

About 1908 Jake Neal was the peacher; but was not able to accomplish much during his tenure. The church building was still ine need of much repair thus another meeting was called in 1909 which was held at the school building. The contract for further repair was granted to Squire Wholman and he put on a galvanized roof, laid a wood floor in the church and made the pews.

About 1915 Mr. Cissney was the precher for the United Brethern which had been organized by Martha Hendricks.

Mrs. Freeze and Mr. Huddleston of Indianpolis held a tent meeting during the fall in 1920 on the grounds.

During the late 1920's people interested in maintaing the church entered into an aggreement with the Wesleyan Methodist Church to take it over, maintain t and hold services in the building. A very strong effort was made but they could not maintain enough interest.

The protestant Methodist, United Brethren and lastly the Wesley Methodist had control over the church. No one denomination has been able to maintain permenant supervision of Old Cliffy thus in 1942 it was purchased from The Wesley Methodist by the Clifty Church Memorial Association for the sum of $125. Rgus was dibe to prevent the church from being sold to outsiders and moved from the community.
The residents of the Cliffy community became the members of the associaition the original members were: Ray Long, George COrbin, Nellie Sexton, Kiah Kirk, James M. Hudson,Atty. and Ned Spinks.
Again much needer repairs were neded to restore the building - new windows and doors; a new chimney, foundation and roof gables had to be installed. Chinking between the logs was also necessary. AS much of the old timbers in the church was preserved. A total of arounf $2000; was spent to put the church back into good order.

Sometime later the school ground across from the church was purchased for about $400 and leveled for a parking area.

In 1965 a new well was drilled on the premises and in 1967, concrete seats were made under the grove of trees thus eliminates some of the effort of having to carry out the heavy wood pews of for the August annual Meeting which ahs been held on the 2nd SUnday of the month as voted on in 1897.

Since then it had been maintained and supervised by interested parties belonging to the association. An annual meeting is held the second Sunday of August at the church grounds.

Last updated 22.10.2009