HISTORY OF THE NORTH VERNON M. E. CHURCH
Written when the new church was being built. This church burned and a newer church is now located at 240 W. Poplar St.
The records of this church are at the DePauw University Library LINK
July 1, 1891 - North Vernon Sun
The church will have a frontage of 67 feet and four inches, and in length 71 feet. It will have four rooms, and all
can be thrown into one room. Will be of brick with moulded brick trimmings. Roof will be of slate. Will be heated by two furnaces. The windows are of
stained cathedral glass. One of these windows will be nine feet wide and eighteen feet six inces in height. There will be two front entrances, one in
auditorium and one into lecture room. This will be one of the finest churches in this part of the state.
Before there was any organization proper there was a class formed that met at Father Marlett's opposite
the present colored school house.
The organization of Methodism at North Vernon took place in the winter of 1853, at Hiram Prather's residence. This society of Methodists consisted of the following members: Father Marlett(leader), Hiram Prather, Letitia Prather, Mark Robinson and wife, George W. Penniston and wife, Isaac Abbott and wife, and Jane Lee.
Preaching was held there till the summer of 1854, whence with E.G. Tucker as pastor, they held services in the O. & M. depot.
The next year they occupied the brick where Wolf Gumble now holds forth.
In 1856 they worshiped in the Wise Hall, now Mrs. Brynes' grocery.
In 1857 they went to the old school house on State Street, where they remained till 1862.
While here they had a remarkable revival conducted by Rev. Maupin, there being over one hundred conversions. At this time North Vernon had no sidewalks. The people were wading through mud shoe-top deep. This did not cool their zeal.
This revival was the greatest in the history of North Vernon-up to date 1891.
In 1861 the trustees determined to build a church. Messrs Tripp, Prather and Hicks, owning most of the real estate, gave ground Universalist, Luthern, Catholic and M.E. churches. Col. Prather giving the grounds for the latter.
Mesdames, McMillan, Piper and Robinson, with their shovels dug away the first dirt. The corner stone was laid April 5th, 1861, Rev. Williamson Terrell officiating. The church was completed and dedicated March 17, 1866. The dedicatory sermon was preached by President Bowman, of Asbury University.
Up to the fourth Quarterly Conference of the year 1866, North Vernon and Hardenburg belonged to the Vernon circuit. Then they with Brewersville were formed into the North Vernon circuit, Rev. A.B. Hestor pastor, and S. Tincher presiding Elder.
In 1870-71 the circuit was North Vernon and Hardenburg.
In 1872-73 Brewersville and Centerville were added making four appointments.
In 1874 North Vernon was made a Station, with James A. Sargent pastor. It was again thrown into Vernon circuit in 1877. In 1883 it was again thrown into the North Vernon circuit with Hardenburg and Brewersville. It continued a circuit until 1889, when it became a Station with Rev. C.E. Line pastor.
The following is a list of pastors up to 1891:
A.B. Hester, 1866-six months; G.P. Jenkins, 1866-seven months; T.B. McClain, 1867-9; Henry Wood 1869-70; W.M. Grubbs, 1870-71; J.A. Maxwill and L.M. Reves;71-2; G.M. Barber, 1872-3; J.A. Sargent 1873-5; T.C. Crawford 1875-6; James McCaw, 1876-7; E.B. Caldwell, 1877-8; J.A. Maxwell, 1878-9; W.W. Reynolds 1879-81; J.W. Mellender 1881-83; T.W. Northcott. 1883-5; C.L. Bovard, 1885-8; C.E. Line, 1888-91.
Owing to the unpleasant location of the old church among the railroads, the question of building a new church was agitated in a public meeting, and by the pastor preaching a sermon upon the subject, hence Feb. 3, 1890, at a quarterly meeting A.N. Marlatt, presiding elder, C.E. Line pastor, the following board of trustees was elected: N.A. Piper, J.B. McMillan, J.W. Cochran, H.R. Weeks, B.W. Hobson, R.H. Shook, P. Conkling, John Fable, and John Overmyer. March 5 the board organized by electing H.R. Weeks president, and J.B. McMillan secretary. In this meeting it was decided to take immediate steps to build a new chruch. A committee was appointed to look after a location. They reported March 13, and Mrs. O'Connors' lot was chosen at a price of $500. The ladies industrial society paid the first $100 on the lot. At a meeting of the Trustees, April 24, 1890, the present plan of the new church was unanimously selected. On Sunday. June 29, Rev. D.H. Moore, editor of the Western Christian Advocate, raised $4,000 for the new enterprise. This was afterward considerably increased by private solicitation.
J.B. McMillan resigned as secretary and Trustee R.H. Shook was elected in his stead and Dr. J.H. Green trustee. H.R. Weeks, J.H. Green and John Fable were elected a building committee.
A contract was made with W.J. Hole to make the excavation for the foundation, doing the work for the dirt, hence on October 11, 1890 the work was begun. On November 7 the contract was awarded to J.W. Hole for the construction of the new church, Mr. Price, of Philidelphia, Pa., architect.
P. Conkling resigned as treasurer and Dr. J.H. Green elected in his place.
In a trustee meeting June 6, 1891, it was decided to lay the cornerstone on the Fourth of July and also to invite the secret lodges to participate in the exercises, and the Masonic Lodge to lay the corner stone.
At sunset on the evening of June 26, 1891, a concourse of people assembled at the old church, to remove the old cornerstone. The stone was removed, but alas! no relics were found. Henry Verbarg kindly did the work for the church.
The organization of Methodism at North Vernon took place in the winter of 1853, at Hiram Prather's residence. This society of Methodists consisted of the following members: Father Marlett(leader), Hiram Prather, Letitia Prather, Mark Robinson and wife, George W. Penniston and wife, Isaac Abbott and wife, and Jane Lee.
Preaching was held there till the summer of 1854, whence with E.G. Tucker as pastor, they held services in the O. & M. depot.
The next year they occupied the brick where Wolf Gumble now holds forth.
In 1856 they worshiped in the Wise Hall, now Mrs. Brynes' grocery.
In 1857 they went to the old school house on State Street, where they remained till 1862.
While here they had a remarkable revival conducted by Rev. Maupin, there being over one hundred conversions. At this time North Vernon had no sidewalks. The people were wading through mud shoe-top deep. This did not cool their zeal.
This revival was the greatest in the history of North Vernon-up to date 1891.
In 1861 the trustees determined to build a church. Messrs Tripp, Prather and Hicks, owning most of the real estate, gave ground Universalist, Luthern, Catholic and M.E. churches. Col. Prather giving the grounds for the latter.
Mesdames, McMillan, Piper and Robinson, with their shovels dug away the first dirt. The corner stone was laid April 5th, 1861, Rev. Williamson Terrell officiating. The church was completed and dedicated March 17, 1866. The dedicatory sermon was preached by President Bowman, of Asbury University.
Up to the fourth Quarterly Conference of the year 1866, North Vernon and Hardenburg belonged to the Vernon circuit. Then they with Brewersville were formed into the North Vernon circuit, Rev. A.B. Hestor pastor, and S. Tincher presiding Elder.
In 1870-71 the circuit was North Vernon and Hardenburg.
In 1872-73 Brewersville and Centerville were added making four appointments.
In 1874 North Vernon was made a Station, with James A. Sargent pastor. It was again thrown into Vernon circuit in 1877. In 1883 it was again thrown into the North Vernon circuit with Hardenburg and Brewersville. It continued a circuit until 1889, when it became a Station with Rev. C.E. Line pastor.
The following is a list of pastors up to 1891:
A.B. Hester, 1866-six months; G.P. Jenkins, 1866-seven months; T.B. McClain, 1867-9; Henry Wood 1869-70; W.M. Grubbs, 1870-71; J.A. Maxwill and L.M. Reves;71-2; G.M. Barber, 1872-3; J.A. Sargent 1873-5; T.C. Crawford 1875-6; James McCaw, 1876-7; E.B. Caldwell, 1877-8; J.A. Maxwell, 1878-9; W.W. Reynolds 1879-81; J.W. Mellender 1881-83; T.W. Northcott. 1883-5; C.L. Bovard, 1885-8; C.E. Line, 1888-91.
Owing to the unpleasant location of the old church among the railroads, the question of building a new church was agitated in a public meeting, and by the pastor preaching a sermon upon the subject, hence Feb. 3, 1890, at a quarterly meeting A.N. Marlatt, presiding elder, C.E. Line pastor, the following board of trustees was elected: N.A. Piper, J.B. McMillan, J.W. Cochran, H.R. Weeks, B.W. Hobson, R.H. Shook, P. Conkling, John Fable, and John Overmyer. March 5 the board organized by electing H.R. Weeks president, and J.B. McMillan secretary. In this meeting it was decided to take immediate steps to build a new chruch. A committee was appointed to look after a location. They reported March 13, and Mrs. O'Connors' lot was chosen at a price of $500. The ladies industrial society paid the first $100 on the lot. At a meeting of the Trustees, April 24, 1890, the present plan of the new church was unanimously selected. On Sunday. June 29, Rev. D.H. Moore, editor of the Western Christian Advocate, raised $4,000 for the new enterprise. This was afterward considerably increased by private solicitation.
J.B. McMillan resigned as secretary and Trustee R.H. Shook was elected in his stead and Dr. J.H. Green trustee. H.R. Weeks, J.H. Green and John Fable were elected a building committee.
A contract was made with W.J. Hole to make the excavation for the foundation, doing the work for the dirt, hence on October 11, 1890 the work was begun. On November 7 the contract was awarded to J.W. Hole for the construction of the new church, Mr. Price, of Philidelphia, Pa., architect.
P. Conkling resigned as treasurer and Dr. J.H. Green elected in his place.
In a trustee meeting June 6, 1891, it was decided to lay the cornerstone on the Fourth of July and also to invite the secret lodges to participate in the exercises, and the Masonic Lodge to lay the corner stone.
At sunset on the evening of June 26, 1891, a concourse of people assembled at the old church, to remove the old cornerstone. The stone was removed, but alas! no relics were found. Henry Verbarg kindly did the work for the church.
You may use this material for your own personal research, however it may not be used for commercial publications without express written consent of the contributor, INGenWeb, and