Scaffold Lick
Constituted October 1818

 

    Scaffold Lick Church is located in Scott County, about one mile west from Holman Station, O & M. Branch Railroad, and derives its name from a "deer lick" near which hunters had erected a scaffold high up in the branches of a tree, in order to be screened from the keen vision of deer and other wild animals when they came to the watering. These "licks" as they were called, are springs of water slightly salt and on account were, in early times, daily visited by wild animals of their vicinity,
     Scaffold Lick settlement, like most others of Southern Indiana, was composed of immigrants from Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky, who came in very early times and located in an unbroken forest. Some of the of this locality had united with White River Church, some eight miles distant, but being desirous of a church organization in their own neighborhood, met at the house of Valentine Chasteen on 14th of October, 1818, and were duly constituted as a church. The constituent members were five men with their wives, vis." Valentine Chasteen, Mary Chasteen, George James, Mary James, Benj. Boyd, Nancy Bayd, Robert Chasteen, Magdaline Chasteen, John Chasteen, Anna Chasteen; and the council was composed of Elder Thomas Hill, of Graham'sFork Church, and Alex. Chambers and others from White River.
                                                          
PASTORS AND SUPPLIES

     The church minutes for the first five years are lost. Elder John Chambers (lately deceased) informed me that regular monthly meetings were kept up during that period under the pastoral care of Elder Thomas Hill, Sr., and Alex. Chambers, a licentiate. Since 1823 the following Elders have officiated: Wm. Blankenship, four years; Thomas Hill Sr., ten years; Zachariah Bush, four years; John Chambers, eighteen years; William B. Lewis, three years; John Chambers again, two years; Wm. A Chambers, from September, 1866, to his death in July, 1867; A.J. Robins again, one year, since which time Elder F.W. Carney has been pastor to the present about one year. Meetings were often held, also by George James, Valentine Chasteen and George Chasteen, licentiates, and members of Scaffold Lick.

LICENTIATES AND ELDERS

     Valentine Chasteen was liscensed in 1823; S.Henderson in 1832, and George Chasteen in 1856. William Blankenship was ordained in 1823.

DEACONS AND CLERKS.

     Deacons--Wm. Davis, George Chasteen, John Rogers, W. M. Chasteen, Archibald Cain, and H.C. Dinsmore.
     Clerks--Peter Chasteen, N. Robins, Wm. Davis, Alex. Chambers, Wm. B. Stout, H.C. Dinsmore, L.L. Clark and Peter Ringo, the present incumbent; Post-Office address, Holman Station, Scott County, Ind.

BUILDINGS

     The little log meeting-house built in 1819 served as a place of worship for several years, when a small frame building was erected. This, in turn, gave place to the present commodious frame, which is amongst the best in the Association.

CHURCH WORK

     Regular meetings for business and conference have been held each month since its constitution, and it is worthy of remark that comparatively few cases of discipline have occurred. Church trials have been the exception at Scaffold Lick. Prayer-meetings are generally maintained and a very flourishing Sabbath-school about seven months in each year. Liberal contributions are regularly made for Home and Foreign Missions, Publication Society, State Convention and all other denominational work, and the church has ever contained a good proportion of working members.

REMARKS

     Scaffold Lick united with Silver Creek Association in 1819, remaining until Coffee Creek was organized. Many trials and discouragements have been passed through, and the loss of loved ones has often caused mourning. Anna Chasteen, the last constituant member, died in 1878, and many other useful and prominent members have been taken; but many times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord have also been granted them-times when sinners were led to cry, "What must I do to be saved?" and when saints were made to rejoice with "joy unspeakable and full of glory." Such seasons were frequent in the early days of the church, and, indeed, have often occurred during her entire history. The revivals of 1870 and 1878 are probably amongst the most noted of recent date. Scaffold Lick is now the strongest church in the Association. Present number, 158


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