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Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church
Shelby County Indiana
Morristown Circuit. --- Of the church organizations
which now constitute the Morristown Methodist Episcopal Circuit, the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church was the
first established. Soon after the land of Shelby County had been surveyed, and the land office opened for
the sale of the same; emigrants came rapidly and in a short time a settlement was made in the northwest portion
of Hanover Township. Those settlers had come from sections that had long enjoyed the comforts of civilization,
and they did not long forego the pleasure of religious worship. They at once began to gather at the cabins
and have some kind of religious services. It is probable that the first meeting, at which a minister was
present, was held at the house of Jonathan Johnson in 1822. In the following year, as nearly
as can be ascertained, a hewwed log-house to be used for both school and church purposes, was erected. This
was a very comfortable building with a brick chimney and the pulpit in one corner. The families that constituted
the organizing members were: Jonathan Johnson and wife, Thomas Gadd, and wife, Henry Watts
and wife, and Joshua Wilson and wife. Two of the earliest and most prominent members were John
Strange and James Havens. They are the pioneer preachers to whom the Methodists of Shelby County owe
much. There was scarcely an early class in the organization of which they were not the most potent factors;
Rev. John Stover was the first regular circuit rider. Other early ministers, who afterward became
distinguished in the church work, were: Bishop Ames, L. W. Berry and J. V. R.
Miller. In 1839 the present frame building which now belongs to the cemetery association was completed
at a cost of $400. S. W. Ingram was the contractor and Henry Watts, Joshua Wilson and
Jonathan Johnson, building committee. In 1883, because of the inconvenience of the location the old
house was abandoned and in the same year the new brick edifice was completed and dedicated, Simpson Tincher
preaching the sermon. Mr. W. W. Woodyard was the architect of the new building and superintended the
work. The name of W. A. Bodine deserves to be especially mentioned because of his liberal contributions,
and active interest taken in the work. The total cost of the building was $4,600, all of which has been paid.
The Stewards are: Frank Tyner and Mrs. John Miller. Trustees --- W. A. Bodine,
J. M. Tyner, W. W. Woodyard, the last named being the Secretary. The society which at
present number ninety-five, is under the pastoral careof Rev. B. F. Morgan, a native of Franklin County,
where he was born in 1831. He received his elementary training in the district schools after which he spent
one year in Hartsville University. He was ordained in the United Brethren Church in 1859, with which church
he worked until 1870, when he joined the Southeastern Indiana Conference.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887, page 369-370.
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