Shelby County Indiana Genealogy & History, Churches, First Baptist of Shelbyville

Shelby County, Indiana

First Baptist Church of Shelbyville
Shelby County Indiana

The Shelbyville Republican
August 3, 1936
Page 3 column 4
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S O C I E T Y N E W S
Frances Phares, Society Editor
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FIRST BAPTIST LADIES
AID SOCIETIES TO MEET
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The four circles of the Ladies Aid groups of the First Baptist church will hold their regular meetings Tuesday.
Each circle will meet at different times. Circle One will meet at 6:15 for a pitch-in supper at the home of Mrs. Louis O'Neal, of the Boggstown road.
Circle two will convene at 7:30 with Miss Sonoara Lee acting as hostess for the women at her home on West Locust street. Mrs. C. M. Handley will entertain Circle Three at her home at 142 West Hendricks street, with 2:30 the meeting hour.
Circle Four will gather at the home of Mrs. Harry Sutherland 931 South Pike street, at 7:30. All the circles are planning a program, but they have not announced yet what will comprise these programs.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelbyville Republican
Tuesday, November 3, 1914
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LADIES' AID MEETING OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
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The Ladies' Aid Society of the First Baptist church will hold an open meeting in the parlors of the church Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The ladies are requested to bring the dollars that they pledged to the society. Each lady pledged a dollar and was to earn it in some honest way, and it will be very interesting to hear them relate their stories of how they earned the dollars. All ladies of the society and the church are invited to attend this meeting as it promises to be an interesting one. Refershments[sic] will be served by the committee in charge.
Submitted by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelbyville Democrat
Shelbyville, Ind., Friday, February 14, 1913.
Page 1
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The missionary society of the First Baptist church held its regular February meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Limpus of west Braodway, and the home was most attractively decorated for the occasion, emblems suggestive of Valentine Day being used very largely. Fifty-three, including the pastor and the trustees of the church, enjoyed the hospitality of the Limpus home and the very good program. Refreshments followed the program. An interesting and very instructive paper on the subject of "Mormonism" had been prepared and was read by Mrs. Emma Glessner. Mrs. Lulu Amos recited a poem and another, a valentine poem, was recited by Mrs. Ann Voris, of Fairland, who was a very welcome visitor at the meeting.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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Chadwick's History of Shelby Co., Ind. 157

"The next Baptist church to be organized in Shelby county was that at Shelbyville. Rev. Samuel Harding and Rev. D. Stogsdil were induced to visit the town and preach to the few Baptist families there found. It was on the third Sunday in October, 1826, when the Baptist church was organized at this point. The charter members were:
George Titus,
William Morris,
James Emmit,
Hannah Titus,
Patsy Morris,
Pheobe Emmit,
Sally Gatewood,
Catherine Wingate,
Morning Simpson and
Sally Hippers, Making ten in all.

Chadwick's History of Shelby Co., Ind. 158

This church was called "Shelbyville" until the location of the church was changed to a point four miles to the east and the name changed to that of Bethel. It, however, retained this name only a short time because of its removal to Shelbyville, when it took the name of Mount Pisgah. For about eight years the services were held in private houses, but in December, 1832, the church resolved to build a house in which to worship. This was a log house twenty-eight by thirty-six feet in size. For seats, rude benches were hewed out of logs. While rough was the place the people who there worshiped had the true spirit of Chrisitanity in their souls. This house was used until 1853, when the log house was removed and a frame house erected, that was twenty-two by thirty feet. This was occupied until 1865, when two thousand dollars was expended for the erection of a frame building, thirty-six by fifty feet. The first pastor was Rev. Samuel Harding and among the first was Rev. D. Stogsdell, who was a very earnest minister, and not infrequently walked sixteen miles to meet his appointments. Rev. J. Reece served this church for twenty-seven years, and in 1887 it had a membership of one hundred and ten. At present the membership is one hundred and thirty-five.
The First Baptist Church of Shelbyville was organized in March, 1849, when Shelbyville had but five Baptists. The first sermon was preached by Rev. John Reece in the old court-house that stood in the center of the public square and the services were attended by twelve persons. Meetings were held every other two weeks and preaching had by Reverend Reece. The constituent members of this church were:
William E. Midkiff,
Mary Midkiff,
Samuel Midkiff,
Agnes Midkiff,
Olive Bassett,
Reuben DeBoard,
Eliza DeBoard,
Elizabeth T. Brown,
Lydia Rodifer,
Eliza Robertson,
Mary Veach,
John Bassett and
Katherine Bassett.
For several years this church had a hard struggle for its existence as it had no church home, although in 1849 it had commenced the construction of a building situated on East Washington street, but the building was not finally completed until sometime in 1863. Then followed several years of steady growth, until 1876. Then the society decided to sell its property on East Washington street and build upon the present lots in West Broadway. This edifice was the handsomest in the city, costing seven- teen thousand dollars, and although bravely begun required many years of tedious struggle and self- denial before it was finally completed and paid for. In fact this band of Christian workers had planned to burn the mortgage on the fifty-fourth anniversary, which would have been March 25, 1902, but just six days before this date the building burned to the ground, leaving a crushed and discouraged people; nevertheless from the ashes sprung new zeal so enthusiastic and a spirit so courageous that in just eighteen months, September 20, 1903, was dedicated the present magnificent building, more commodious and more beatuiful than the burned structure.
          The pastors who have served this church are as follows:

Revs. John

Chadwick's History of Shelby Co., Ind. 159

Reece,
J. P. Barnet,
J. R. Phillips,
M. B. Phares,
J. M. B. Tisdale,
A. S. Ames,
J. L. Irwin,
J. B. Shaff,
W. A. Coplinger,
W. T. Jolly,
J. M. Whitehead,
C. H. McDowell,
J. H. Groff,
W. A. Pavy,
A. R. Stark,
L. A. Gould,
H. H. Hilton
J. H. Deere and
O. A. Cook.

The church is now in a very flourishing condition, and has a membership (April, 1909) of five hundred and sixty-four.

[Chadwick's discussion of the Baptist denomination moves to Mount Gilead Baptist Church]
Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, by Edward H. Chadwick, B.A., assisted by well known local talent, B.F. Bowen & Co, Publishers: Indianapolis, IN, 1909, page 157-159.
Submitted by Marita Bolson

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The Shelby Democrat
December 24, 1903
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The cantata at the First Baptist church next Friday night will be "Santa Claus at His Best." Members of the school can get their tickets by calling at the homes of their teachers. Ten cents admission will be charged those not members of the school.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

From Boetcker's Picturesque Shelbyville, Copyright 1902 by Rev. J. H. Boetcker

The Shelbyville Daily Democrat
Tuesday, September 26, 1899
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          The Literary Department of the Epworth League will have charge of the services at the First Baptist church this evening at 7:30. A special program has been arranged which will be of interest to members of the church and league. All are invited.
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          Do not forget the Children's Sunday School Jubilee to be held Saturday. At one o'clock the children will meet at the court house yard for the parade. Wagons will be furnished. Exercises will be held at the First Baptist church after the parade. The public in invited to attend.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelbyville Daily Democrat
Monday, February 26, 1894
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L O C A L    N E W S
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Miss Bessie Albion and Charles Eurick were baptized at the First Baptist Church last evening.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Daily Democrat
Shelbyville, Ind.
June 6, 1892
Page 4
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Our town will be full of Baptists this week from all over the State attending the Indiana Sunday School convention which begins at the First Baptist Church Wednesday at 10 a.m.

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The Communion services at First Baptist church yesterday morning was a grand affair, the altar being handsomely decorated with beautiful and fragrant flowers. One hundred and thrity-seven took communion.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelbyville Daily Democrat
Monday, February 1, 1886
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Ten persons were baptised at the Baptist Church last night.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelby Republican
Thursday, July 27, 1876
Page 3 column 2
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We are glad to know that our Baptist church folks are meeting with very great liberality on the part of our citizens in extending aid in building their new church.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday, December 12, 1872
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          A Grand Entertainment will be given by the members of the Baptist Church--for the benefit of the Church--at Blessing's Hall, Wednesday eve, December 25th, '72. It is to consist of choice Music, building a Pyramid, and a Festival. Admittance; adults 25 cents. Children under 12 years 10 cents.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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