Shelby County Indiana
Historical Articles
Churches
Toner's Chapel
1830 - 1912
Historical Articles
Churches
Toner's Chapel
1830 - 1912
In the early days of Shelby County History, the settlers who had migrated from Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland and Virginia brought with them their religious background and as soon as possible after their arrival in Indiana, they organized classes of worship among their neighbors.
Such a group organized as a class and it was generally named after the leader and or in whose home they met. A class would consist of two or three families living within walking distance of each other. They normally met once or twice a week and the usual procedure was to open the meeting with group singing, a word of prayer, reading scripture from the Holy Book and then a group discussion, followed by more singing.
Such was the case in this instance which was called the Toner Class. It was organized in 1830 and met in a log house four miles west of Shelbyville on the old Franklin Pike, (now State Road 44) located near the Hill grave yard. The log house also served as the school house. In 1833 a camp meeting was held in the beautiful grove located opposite the Hill grave yard and east of the Toner Chapel site.
The outdoor meeting lasted for a full week with people from all over the county attending the services. Many families came and camped in the area with plenty of water and shade available. There were bible classes in the mornings, games and contests in the afternoons and preaching every evening with many people seeking salvation in the open air meetings.
As the congregation grew, it was organized as a Union Church, which meant that people of all faiths were welcome.
A new brick school was erected two hundred yards to the west of the grave yard in a small grove of trees and the congregation met in it until 1845 when a stately frame church was erected and became known as Toner's Chapel.
Soon circuit riders were visiting and helping with the organization of the church and in the 1870's it became a Methodist Episcopal Church, and joined the Flat Rock Circuit of the Jeffersonville District, Southeastern Indiana Conference.
The first quarterly conference was held for this church on June 15, 1878 and the following officers were elected: John Warble, Louis Sallee, George Hill, Mathias Warble and Maggie Hill.
In February 1878, there was a protracted meeting at Toner's Chapel and the minister conducting the meeting was Rev. Julius G. Hood, Pastor of the Flat Rock M.E. Church. He left Toner's at 6:00 P.M. on February 8, 1878 on a Friday evening to make his way home to Flat Rock. It was raining very hard at the time and there was fear of the streams becoming swollen so as to prevent his getting home the next day. On his way home he forded Lewis Creek successfully and was seen at 8:00 P.M. between the Creek and Flat Rock River which was a little more than a mile apart. It is supposed that at night he was deceived as to the depth of the water in the river. The ford he attempted to cross a few yards above the railroad bridge at Flat Rock Station was deep and very swift. As the horse and buggy went down into the river, the rapid current swept it and the driver in the terrible swilr of water and he found a watery grave.
The next morning his rig was found a mile below the ford. The whole country turned out to find the body, but it wasn't until several days later that he was found by his father floating in the water. His watch had stopped at ten past eight and he had been in the water nearly a month. The conference voted to pay $175.45 for the purpose of defraying his funeral expenses.
In the year of 1888 Toner's Chapel was sold to the Presbyterian Chrch. The following is copied from the original minutes as written by my great grandfather, Daniel Snyder, who was appointed Clerk of the Session: "Toner's Chapel, Friday May 4, 1888. By order of the White Water Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church and previous appointment, a committee from said Presbytery, consisting of Dr. Thomas L. Hughes, of the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville, Indiana and Elder Squire VanPelt, of the same Church, and Rev. A. J. Rankin of Kingston, Decatur County, Ind., visited the congregation of Toner's Chapel with a view of establishing a Presbyterian Church at this point if the way was clear.
After a general conference and consultation with the people, the congregation voted unanimously on[sic] favor of the proposition, and the committee felt authorized and encouraged to proceed. The following named persons living in the vicinity came forward with letters from the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville, Indiana and were enrolled to wit: John Rinehart, Georgia Rinehart, Daniel Snyder, Clarissa A. Snyder, Alma K. Snyder, Artunissa Phillips, Lizzie Blackledge, Mary Kennedy, Maggie A . Campbell, Elza McDonald, Mrs. Lucinda McDonald, Mrs. Emma B. Murphy.
The first child baptized was J. T. Murphy.
After a season of prayer, the Church was organized by the Committee. The further organization was deferred until May 13, 1888 at 3-1/2 o'clock P.M. T. L. Hughes Chairman of Committee".
"Toner's Chapel December 2, 1888."
The Session met and opened with prayer. Daniel Snyder and Elza McDonald were present. Rev. E. Kent was invited to moderate the meeting. Mrs. Catherine Hill was received by letter from the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville, Mrs. Maggie Hill from the from the[sic] M.E. Thurch[sic] of Shelbyville, Mr. James W. Neaves from the Christ Union Church. Closed with prayer. Daniel Snyder, Clerk of the Session."
"Toner's Chapel December 11, 1888."
The Session met and was opened with prayer by the Moderator, A. T. Rankin. Daniel Snyder, Clerk of the Session."
Fifteen years later in 1903, Toner's was again purchased by the Methodists for $400.00 and they spent another $600.00 in improving it. It was rededicated in August 30, 1903 by Rev. C. W. Lewis and was again added to the Flat Rock Circuit. The Pastoe was expected to preach three times each Sunday. In 1904 the Officers were: Trustees: George W. Smith, E. B. Wingate and George Campbell. Stewards: George Hill and Martin Cherry. The Epworth League: Mary Dawson, Sunday School Superintendent: Jennie Cherry.
A list of the Probationers and members listed in 1903 and 1904 were as follows: Jane Nicholason, Forest Nicholason, Pearl Wrigles, Ferdinand Davis, Eliza J. McFaren, Viola Cherry, Arthur Alley, Kate Alley, Wm. Tharp, Orintha Pruitt, Ed Warble, Mary Dawson, Jennie Hupp, Mary Richardson, Naomi Richardson, Annie Richardson, Wm. Nicholason, W. W. Smith, Josie Smith, Dallas Richardson, Sam Forrest Nicholason, Elva Warble, Pearl Viola Belba, Anna Stegner, Mae Nieles, Alex Richardson, George Richardson, Mrs. William Nicholason, Blanch Scott (10-29-1905,) James Pruitt, Clara Pruitt, Jessie Pentzer.
Eventually the congregation diminished and after a period of several years could not continue to grow and so was reorganzied and transferred to Shelbyville to form a new circuit with the Union Methodist Church (located on the Thompson Road) south east of Shelbvyille. In 1912, Toner's Chapel was discontinued and the school ceased to function in 1914.
During the period of 1830 to 1912, Toner's Chapel served as the center of the community spirit, providing many citizens with their spiritual needs and shared the heartaches and the blessings that are achieved by a closeknit community. The huge bell that once called the community to worship on Sunday morning, still is at work doing it's duty as it graces the beautiful tower in the Evangleical Methodist Church on East Washington St in Shelbyville, Indiana. Although little remains to mark the site, many of the old timers passing by, still hold in reverential awe that special landmark, once known as TONER'S CHAPEL.
1-10-77
Kermitt N. Money
(great grandson
on[sic] Daniel Snyder)
(great grandson
on[sic] Daniel Snyder)
The Daily Republican
Friday Evening, July 6, 1888
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Children's Day will be celebrated at the Toner chapel next Sunday.Friday Evening, July 6, 1888
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Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
