Shelby County Idiana History, Churches, Little Blue River Baptist Chapel

Shelby County, Indiana

Little Blue River Baptist Church

"Manual and History of Little Blue River Baptist Chapel"

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PRESENT OFFICERS

Pastor, W. E. MORRIS.
Deacons, William PHARES, David E. BROWN, John W. MEIKS.
Trustees, William W. BROWN, Charles S. BENEFIEL, John W. MEIKS.
Clerk, Charles S. BENIFIEL.
Treasurer, Robert M. BROWN.
Church Organist, May GUNNING.
Assistant Organist, Minnie BENIFIEL.

SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFICERS

Superintendent, L. W. MOHR.
Assistant Superintendent, Arletta BARLOW.
Secretary, Florence BLAKEY.
Treasurer, Flossie BROWN.
Organist, May GUNNING.
Librarians, Blanche BROWN, Levi LINVILLE.

LADIES' AID SOCIETY

President, Arletta BARLOW.
Vice-President, Cora LINVILLE.
Secretary and Treasurer, Minnie BENEFIEL.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

R. M. BROWN, L. W. MOHR, S. E. THOMAS, Cary PHARES.

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HISTORY
      The Little Blue River Baptist church of Shelby county, Indiana, was constituted in the house of Thomas GOLDING, near where the meeting house now stands on the second Saturday in March, 1828. The council was composed of delegates from the following churches: Newhope, David PETERS and Benjamin BEABOUT; Shelbyville, William MORRIS and John TITUS; Union, Chancy BUTLER and Jesse MILLER; Marion, William OLDHAM, George OLDHAM and John FOREMAN.       The names of the constituent members are as follows: Thomas GOLDING, Sarah GOLDING, Jane GOLDING, William G. MORRIS, Nancy MORRIS, Jacob RAWSEL, Barbara RAWSEL, John DERRICKSON, Robert BROWN, Elijah COTTON, Talley WICKER, Betty Ann WICKER, Peter DeWITT, John GOLDING; total number being fourteen.       The constituent members and also the members that composed the council have all passed to the other shore to join the church triumphant.       At this meeting for organization Elder William OLDHAM was chosen Moderator and Elijah COTTON, clerk.       The Church Covenant and Articles of Faith adopted by the new church were in harmony with those commonly held by Baptists in this country. The council was pleased to recognize them as a regular Baptist church, and appropriate religious services were held.       In June 1828 the church called her first pastor Elder William GOLDING. At this meeting rules of decorum were adopted for the government of the church. In August of this same year the church connected herself with the Indianapolis Association which relation continued until she became a

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member of the Flat Rock Association, in August 1864. For some time after the organization of the church, the meetings were held in private dwellings of the membership, where most convenient. The first meeting house was constructed of logs, and was erected in 1835. This building served as a place of worship until the congregation grew too large to be accommodated by it. Its capacity was doubled by taking out the west end and intersplicing logs. This long hewed log structure with two doors in the south side, but few windows, a fire-place in each end and a stove in the center, accommodated the congregation until 1851 when a good, plain, frame house was erected. For forty-six years this building housed the people for religious services until 1897 it was completely remodeled and modernized at an expense of $550. Again in 1901 this building was further improved by placing brick underpinning painting interior, and furnishing with substantial oak pews at a cost of near $500.       The church has had services of the following ministers at various times in her history, in the capacity of pastors and leaders: Elders William OLDHAM, Landy HURST (two pastorates), Lewis MORGAN, Dudley MITCHELL, Eliphalet WILLIAMS, William G. EATON, John REECE (four pastorates), Joshua CURRIER (who was sent by the State Board and served five years), James M. SMITH (who was the happy pastor for near eleven years, being called five different times), John PAVY, John PHARES (two pastorates), Matthew B. PHARES, M. HAZEN, J. H. RAZOR, James PAVEY, A. C. HUME (two pastorates), T. REYNOLDS, J. F. CREWS, W. A. PAVEY, J. C. RHODES, J. E. HUGHS, R. N. HARVEY, W. T. MARKLAND, W. P. BAILY, and W. E. MORRIS.       All told there have been thirty distinct pastor-

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ates, seventeen of which only provided preaching once a month, while the other thirteen were half-time pastorates. Of the entire number of pastors only three who lived within the bounds of the membership during their pastorates; namely, Revs. J. M. SMITH, John PHARES and Wm. GOLDING. Like many another church, when the Civil War was brewing there arose some differences among some of the members, and a division was threatened, but in 1864 with unanimous consent, disbanded and then re-organized. Eighty members went into the new organization and Revs. J. M. SMITH and John PHARES began a meeting that resulted in one hundred three accessions, fifty-six by baptism.

DEACONS

The church has always carried out he scriptural idea of setting apart by ordination those of her number who have been chosen at different times to fill the office of deacon. Those who have held this position have been Tally WICKER, Thomas GOLDING, Andrew DERRICKSON, William PHARES, William G. MORRIS, Phuel LINVILLE, Thomas MOBERLY, Samson MEIKS, David BROWN and John W. MEIKS.

CLERKS.

The office of clerk has been filled by the following brethren in the order in the order that their names appear: Elijah COTTON, Elijah GRANT, Henry T. GAINES, Albert DERRICKSON, Thomas COTTON, J. M. DERRICKSON, William PHARES, R. J. HOLBROOK, Levi BROWN, Allen DEWITT, William C. PHARES, David E. BROWN, J. W. MEIKS, and C. S. BENIFIEL.

TRUSTEES.

The first trustees were William G. MORRIS, John DERRICKSON, and Peter DEWITT; these were succeeded by John FOREMAN, Thomas GOLDING and Tally WICKER. Henry T. GAINES was elected in 1838,

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Thomas MOBERLY, and Andrew DERRICKSON in 1864, followed by William Branson and Sampson MEIKS. The present trustees are W. W. BROWN, C. S. BENIFIEL and J. W. MEIKS. The records having been destroyed by the home of one of the clerks burning, we are unable to know just how many have been baptized into the fellowship of the church, but near one thousand and fifty-five persons have been members, the majority of whom came in by baptism.

PREACHERS SENT OUT.

      Few country churches have sent out more men into the active ministry than has Little Blue River. Prominent among these and perhaps deserving first mention is the beloved man who is familiarly known as "Uncle Jimmy." Elder James M. SMITH was born near Lexington, Ky., Oct. 19^th, 1819. At eight years of age he came to Indiana with his parents and located in Shelby county. He was converted at the age of twenty-two, and was baptized in Little Blue River, Dec. 23^rd, 1841, by Elder Joshua CURRIER. He was licensed by the church in 1834, and was set apart to the full work of the ministry when twenty-five years of age, on the 13^th day of July, 1844. He attended Franklin College two years, engaged in teaching for a few winters, but soon consecrated his entire time to the active work of the ministry. He has baptized about one thousand seven hundred persons, fifteen of who became ministers of the Gospel, and possibly others of whom we have no record. He is still living and for more than sixty years has been preaching faithfully the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Eternity alone can tell of the results of this good man's life of devotion to his Master's work.

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Elder Matthew B. PHARES was born about the year 1824. His mother died when he was quite small, and was raised by his grand-father, Matthew BROWN, Sr. He was converted at the age of sixteen or seventeen and was baptized at the same time that Rev. J. M. SMITH was. He attended Franklin College and graduated in 1849, taking both the degree of A.B. and A.M. He was one of the leading scholars of his day, taking high rank both as a teacher and as a preacher. He engaged in teaching at Dupont, Vernon and Greensburg. At the two latter places he conducted what was known in those days as Seminaries. He was the beloved pastor of Little Blue River, Sandcreek, Middle Fork, Bethel, Graham, Dupont, Vernon, Shelbyville and Greensburg, and probably other points of which we have no record. He died at Greensburg while pastor and his body sleeps in the burying ground at Sandcreek. He was a half brother of our esteemed senior Deacon William PHARES.

Rev. John PHARES was born about the year 1813. He grew up in the vicinity of Little Blue River church, was converted and baptized into the faith of that church. He was impressed to preach the gospel and was licensed by the church when thirty years old, together with J. M. SMITH and D. J. HUSTON, on the fourth Sunday in April 1843. For a number of years he was pastor of Little Blue River church. He was pastor of many other near by churches, held many meetings in that and other communities. He lived on his farm near the

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church, and died at a ripe old age.

Rev. Wm. GOLDING is another son of this church, and a son of Thomas GOLDING, one of the constituent members. He united with the church and was licensed to preach and later ordained elsewhere. He was for a short at Franklin College, and was much in revival meetings. At last account he was living in Iowa and still preaching.

Rev. D. J. HUSTON also grew up in the neighborhood of the church, and although reared by Presbyterian parents was converted under the influence of the Baptists and united with Little Blue River church. He attended Franklin College, received a liberal education, and became a strong preacher. For a time he was employed as the agent of Franklin College, and is still preaching. He was at the church on the sixtieth anniversary of his ministry and preached a vigorous doctrinal sermon. He resides at Goodland, Indiana.

George W. ZIKE became a christian in on of the meetings of Blue River church. He was licensed and set apart to the full work of the ministry and was for a while the pastor of the church, but later left the denomination.

James DERRICKSON was another convert who felt called to preach the gospel. He was licensed by the church, but moved west where he was ordained and at last account was living and preaching in the state of Montana.

J. C. RHODES is the last but by no means the least of those who have gone out as ministers from this dear old church. He graduated from Franklin College in 1883. He also took a course in the Divinity School of Chicago University. He has been pastor at Rensselear, Kingsbury, Sturgis, Michigan, and now the successful and beloved pastor at Kokomo.

A

The three veterans of the cross whose pictures appear on the following page, have a remarkable history and some unusual occurrences in their lives. They were all three licensed to preach the gospel by Little Blue River church on the same day, second Saturday in April 1853. They each preached their first sermon to the same congregation, on the same day, this occurring on the fourth Sunday in April, 1843. Just fifty years from that day the three met again at the same church and celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their ministry by each preaching a sermon in the presence of a large gathering of people. Again in 1903, two of them Elders Smith and Huston met at the same church and celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their ministry. Elder Phares in the meantime having passed to his reward.

Note: Pictured on the following page are: Rev. J. W. Smith, Rev. J. Phares, and Rev. D. J. Huston.

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SOME PROMINENT LAY MEMBERS

Thomas A. Cotton was born in Shelby County, Indiana, February 8, 1828. Became a member of Little Blue River church about the year 1850. Was a successful farmer and fine stock breeder. An influential man in the community, broad minded and liberal hearted. He was for many years a clerk of the church. He died in 1902, aged seventy-four.

Thomas Moberly was born January 20, 1821, was for many years a prominent church worker. For a number of years he was a Moderator. Is yet living and is a member of the Shelbyville church.

Deacon Samson Meiks was born August 9th, 1837. Became a Baptist in 1864; in the same year he enlisted in Company I, Regiment 16, Indiana Volunteers, and served his country until the close of the war. He was much interested in the church, filled the office of deacon for a number of years, and passed to join the Grand Army above in 1895.

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William Wesley Brown, who has always lived in sight of the church, was born December 12th, 1827. He united with the church when twenty-four years old. At the time that he became a member there were one hundred three accessions to the church. Three ministers were in the water baptizing at the same time. For more than thirty years he has filled the office of Trustee.

Millie Dewitt, who at the age of seventy-six, walks almost two miles and attends faithfully her church meetings, became a Christian in 1850. Her husband, Robert W. Dewitt, died in 1876 and she has since lived in lonely widowhood.

Thomas Wicker, one of the oldest living members, was born March 9th, 1821. Converted in 1851 at Little Blue River, he has been for more than half a century a loyal member. Ever satisfied with Baptist principles and Bible doctrines.

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Matthew C. Brown was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, May 10th, 1820. He became a Christian and united with Little Blue River church in March, 1852. His life was simple and beautiful in faith and trust. He went home May 3rd, 1904, almost eighty-four years old. At the time of his death he was the oldest member of the church.

Deacon William Phares was born April 4th, 1830. He became penitent and anxious and really was converted at the age of thirteen, but thinking that something more mysterious and wonderful must occur with him, waited until he was twenty-three before he offered himself to the church. He was baptized by Matthew B. Phares. He attended Franklin College in 1854-5. Engaged in teaching for nineteen winters. Was ordained a deacon in the fifties, which place he still holds in the church. The church and the community have the utmost confidence in him both as a Christian and as a man. Few are held in higher esteem than “Uncle Billy.”

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Hamilton Morris was born in Shelby county, Ind., May 23rd, 1830. He was converted and united with the Little Blue River church in 1853. All these years he has manifested a loyal interest in the welfare of the church and is ever ready to encourage and support, especially in the finances.

CHURCH COVENANT

Thanking God for the light we have received, and for the revelation of Jesus Christ which we now enjoy; hoping that God, for Christ's sake, has pardoned our sins; and having been baptized into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we do, this day, before God and the world, with deep joy and great solemnity, enter into a covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.

We therefore covenant and agree, that, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, we will walk together in love and Christian fellowship. We promise to labor for the advancement and final triumph of the church; to sustain her worship by attending the house of God and supporting the ministry; to guard her ordinances, enforce her discipline, and defend her doctrine. We also pledge ourselves to walk circumspectly in the world; to be honest, just and faithful in our business relations; and as God may give us help, we promise to live righteous and holy lives. We further promise to watch over each other in brotherly love; to visit the sick; to pray for each other and the world; to aid

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the poor and needy; and to perform such other kind offices as may well be pleasing in the sight of God.

A CONCISE DECLARATION OF FAITH

“We believe the Bible was written by men who were inspired of God, and therefore we consider the Scriptures the all-sufficient declaration of faith and the true standard of practice, and we hold that they teach: -there is one God, Creator of all things, revealed under the personal and relative distinctions of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that He made men in His likeness, who by disobedience became subject to death, from which, in the exercise of His grace, the Father has provided redemption through the gift of His Son, who by his death made propitiation for our sins, and who rose from the dead for our justification and ascended to the Father to become Mediator between God and man, and to send the Holy Spirit who would reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgement, and quicken sinners unto repentence and faith by regeneration through the word, and guide them into the knowledge and obedience of the truth and keep them unto Salvation and raise them up at the last day to be forever with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is and in which are ordained Pastor and Deacons as officers, and to which He committed the Gospel to be preached to all nations, and also the ordinances, the Supper which shows forth His death, and Baptism which symbolizes His burial and resurrection, to be observed by all who believe upon His name.”

SOME BIBLE PRINCIPLES

I. Salvation is by grace, through repentance and faith. Ephesians 2:8; Matthew 3:2, 4:17;

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Luke 13:3, John 3:36, Acts 2:38, 16:31-33.

II. Baptism is by immersion only. Ephesians 4:5; Matthew 3:5-6. 3: 16; Acts 3:38; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12.

III. That only believers are proper subjects for baptism. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41; Acts 16:31-33, 18:8; Matthew 28: 19-20.

IV. That the Lord’s Supper is not to show our love for each other, but to show our love for Christ by commemorating His death and resurrection. I Corinthians 11:24, “This do in remembrance of me.” See also Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22: 14-20; I Corinthians 10:16, 11:20-29.

V. That sanctification is a growth; that it is begun in regeneration and is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, bringing us to final holiness and completeness in Christ Jesus. Psalms 17:15; Proverbs 4:18; Philippians 1:6; I Thessalonians 4:3.

VI. That they only are real believers who endure to the end; that persevering faith is the mark that distinguishes from superficial followers; and that such are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. II Timothy 4:7-8; I John 2: 19; John 6: 66-67; Matthew 13:20-21; Job 17:9; Philippians 2:12-13; Jude 24,25: John 17:11; Romans 8:35.

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ROLL OF MEMBERSHIP

Barlow, George
Barlow, Arletta
Barnes, Noah
Barnes, Jennie
Benifiel, Syndusky
Benifiel, Hiram R.
Benifiel, John W.
Benifiel, Theodore M.
Benifiel, Mary A.
Benifiel, Charles S.
Benifiel, Arthur
Benifiel, W. Cary
Benifiel, Minnie
Berry, Mary
Brown, Matthew C.
Brown, Sarah
Brown, William Wesley
Brown, Robert Moses
Brown, Robert C.
Brown, David E.
Brown, Thomas J.
Brown, Mary M.
Brown, Mary Melvina
Brown, Flossie Pearl
Brown, Phoebe Rose
Brown, Iva
Brown, Roscoe
Brown, Edith Edna
Brown, Wilber Matthew
Brown, Bertha
Brown, Josie
Brown, Claude
Branson, Carrie
Branson, Lottie
Branson, Eva
Billman, Lettie

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Branson, Jacob H.
Branson, Mary A.
Branson, Lucinda J.
Carter, Eva
Carmony, Emily J.
Carmony, Mary Alice
Cherry, Thomas H.
Cherry, Rachel
Clingenpeal, Mary Ellen
Creek, Anna
Dewitt, Millie
Fair, Lottie
Farthing, Martha
Favors, Elizabeth Haseltine
Fisher, Elizabeth
Fisher, Mary Jane
Fisher, Martin
Ford, Cora
Gaines, George C.
Gunning, William Oliver
Gunning, Mellisa R.
Gunning, Mary Jane
Gunning, Maggie
Gunning, Josie May
Hauk, Minerva Ellen
Hauk, Frank
Hauk, Mary Jane
Headley, Anna A.
Hill, Ida Ray
Holbrook, Robert J.
Holbrook, George W.
Holbrook, Missouri
Keppel, John W.
Keppel, Sarah
Kuhn, May
Kuhn, Nancy J.
Kuhn, Rexie

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Linville, James M.
Linville, John
Linville, Electa C.
Linville, Henry
Linville, Carey
Linville, Cora
Linville, Pheobe
Linville, Herbert William
Linville, Thomas Levi
Meiks, Barbara
Meiks, John Wesley
Meiks, Tilla
Meiks, Thomas Scott
Mohr, Maggie Josephine
Mohr, Lewis William
Mohr, Earl S.
Moberly, Mary E.
Morris, Hamilton
Morris, Nancy D.
Morrison, Sirena
Phares, William
Phares, Francis M.
Phares, Matthew H.
Phares, Carey
Phares, Matesona Columbia
Phares, Amos T.
Phares, Clementine
Phares, Mary E.
Phares, Sarah
Phares, Alma Stella
Phares, William G.
Phares, Ollie M.
Phares, Alma O.
Phares, Henry O.
Phares, Charley
Phares, James Ora
Phares, Arracy

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Phares, Lola
Phares, John
Phares, Kate
Ray, Josie
Ray, Ann
Rhoads, Rosanna
Rhoads, Frank
Rhoads, Maggie
Rhoads, George
Rhoads, Alonzo
Rhoads, Lillie
Rigsbee, Estella
Rice, Mary Ann
Rice, Austin
Rice, Herman H.
Rice, Alonzo Leora
Runyan, Audia
Sheoppel, Cora B.
Swain, Henrietta A.
Talbert, Ann
Talber, Bessie
Tablert, Clarence
Thomas, Margaret E.
Thomas, Anna
Thomas, Edward C.
Thomas, Joanna
Thomas, Sylvester E.
Town, George W.
Town, Rebecca Jane
Town, Lavina
Town, Cary
Town, Lettie
Wortman, Charles
Wortman, Richard
Wortman, Silas
Wicker, Thomas
Wicker, Nancy
Wicker, Clara J.
Wilson, Charlott J.
Zike, Anna M.

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OUR HONORED ROLL
Those who have been members for fifty years or more.

Thomas Wicker
Nancy Wicker
William Phares
Sarah Brown
William Wesley Brown
Hamilton Morris
Nancy D. Morris
Millie Dewitt
Barbara J. Meiks
Jane Branson
Mary G. Gunning
Rosana Rhoads
Martin Fisher
Syndusky Benifiel
Rachel Cherry

Submitted by Shelley Hill

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Chadwick's History of Shelby Co., Ind. 160

Little Blue River Baptist church was established in Union township, Shelby county, about seven miles northeast of Shelbyville, in March, 1828. Thomas Golding and the following persons constituted the charter membership:
Sarah Golding,
Jane Golding,
William G. Morris,
Jacob Rosel,
Barbara Rosel,
John Golding,
John Derrickson,
Elijah Cotton,
Peter Dewitt,
Tally Wicker,
Bettie Ann Wicker,
Jane Cherry,
Elizabeth Brown
. At first meetings were held at private houses, but a church building was erected of logs and served well its purpose for a number of years. Subsequently a frame building was provided which was forty by sixty feet. In 1887 this church had a membership of about two hundred and fifty. From this one Baptist church in Shelby county no less (possibly later ones) than six ministers have been sent forth from its ranks. These are
Rev. James M. Smith,
Rev. M. B. Phares,
Rev, D. J. Huston,
Rev. John Phares,
Rev. William Golden, and
Rev. George W. Zike.

In 1909 the membership of this society was one hundred and eighty-four.

[Chadwick's discussion of the Baptist denomination moves to Waldron Baptist Church-pmf]
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 160.
Submitted by Marita Bolson

The Shelbyville Daily Evening Democrat
August 7, 1880
Page 4 Column 2
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The festival at the Little Blue River Church last night was a complete success. A large crowd was present and they turned their money loose. The proceeds of the festival go to purchase an organ. Toward the close of the evening's fun some handsome cakes were auctioned off, and Perry Booher, a prominent citizen of Marion township, bought the handsomest, which he presented to the Democrat this morning. The cake was designed and baked by Mrs. John Moberly, and is a model of beauty. The candy birds on top of the cake bear unmistakable resemblance to Democratic roosters.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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