The Vidette-Messenger Centennial EditionThe 1936 special edition celebrating Porter County's centennial year . . . .
The following article has been transcribed from the August 18, 1936, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, published in Valparaiso, Indiana. This particular special edition focuses on Porter County's centennial celebration and contains a 94-page compendium of Porter County history up to that time.
Return to the index of articles from The Vidette-Messenger's Porter County Centennial special edition.
Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso,
Porter County, Indiana; August 18, 1936; Volume 10, Section 2, Page 5.
RELIGION PLAYED BIG PART IN COUNTY PIONEER DAYS
Missionaries, Priests and Pastors Brought Spiritual And Hope to Settlers
Spiritual
development in Valparaiso and Porter county during a century of depressions and
triumphs, of misery and joy, is as a seed grown up -- first the blade, then the
stalk and after that the full ear of corn. Pioneers, in all their perennial
moods and phases found God the source of hope and inspiration. The unpicturable
problems of frontier life were solved by their faith and trust in the great
scheme of salvation. And their religious aspirations have found perfect and
permanent expression throughout the county and especially in Valparaiso, which
is known far and wide as the City of Churches. There are 40 individual houses of
worship in the county.
Humble virtues of faithfulness, integrity, patience and industry on the part of
a handful of God-fearing men and women, whose long, perilous journeys had
brought them over dreary wastes to another wilderness of woods and prairie,
formed the structure of the county's religious body. Services in a rudely
constructed cabin of unfinished logs, lighted by a flickering home-made tallow
candle, to communion with the same God in church edifices which vary in cost
from a few thousand dollars to those running into the thousands, marks one phase
of the progress of religion in the county.
Missionaries of the Baptist and Methodist churches came to Porter county about
the time it was organized, or perhaps a little before, the records of the county
clerk's office showing that during the year 1836 marriages were solemnize by at
least four ministers. These were Alpheus French and Asahel Neal, Baptists, and
Cyrus Spurlock and Stephen Jones, Methodists. It is said that Rev. Asahel Neal
organized a congregation in Morgan township in the latter part of 1835 or early
in 1836. If so, that was the first church organization in the county, though the
report is not well authenticated.
Rev. Alpheus French preached at Blachly's Corners in Union township in the
spring of 1836. The meeting was held in a grove, about twenty-five persons being
present. This was the first meeting held by a Baptist minister within the
confines of the county. On June 10, 1837, Mr. French organized the First Baptist
church, with twelve members. On February 8, 1840, the name was changed to the
First Baptist Church of Valparaiso. A new building was built and dedicated on
March 13, 1853. On November 13, 1881, this building was supplanted by a new
home.
In 1835, Rev. Stephen Jones organized the Deep river mission of the Methodist
Episcopal church, mission embraced the counties of Lake and Porter. Subsequently
the field of labor became known as the Kankakee mission, and still later the
Valparaiso circuit. Richard Hargrave was presiding elder at the time the mission
was first organized. In 1852 Valparaiso was set as a separate charge and
organized into a station. Prior to that, however, Lake county had been cut off
and formed into a new charge in the fall of 1844, the Valparaiso circuit from
that date included only Porter county.
Rev. W. J. Forbes organized the first class in Valparaiso in 1840. The first
Methodist church in the city was organized in 1847 in a small frame building,
and the following year work was commenced on the first house of worship. The
present church was built in 1886.
For a while after the Deep river mission was organized a few Methodists in the
vicinity of the present town of Hebron met at the homes of Simeon Bryant and
Absolom Morris. After the school house was built meetings were held there. A
regular society was organized in 1837 by Rev. Jacob Colclaster, who was the
first minister to extend his labors in that part of the missionary field. In
1840 a protracted meeting lasting nearly two months was held and a large number
of members added to the church. In 1844 a log church was built and Rev. Warren
Griffith regularly employed as a pastor. Fifteen years later the log building
was replaced by a frame structure costing $1,000. A parsonage was built in 1877
and has since been enlarged.
A Methodist church was organized in Morgan township at an early date by four men
named White, and a Mr. Cornish. Two Methodist societies were organized in
Portage township in 1837, but both died out. A few years before the Civil war a
Methodist congregation was formed at Jackson Center. A Methodist society was
also established at Kinney's Corners, near Flint Lake.
Methodists formed a church in Chesterton about 1860 or 1861. A church building
was built costing $2,000. A Methodist church was formed at Wheeler in an early
day, but no steps were taken to build a building until 1914. A Swedish Lutheran
church was organized at Chesterton in 1879, with Rev. C. J. Hisson as the first
pastor. First trustees were John B. Lundberg, August Melin and August Peterson.
From the beginning the church prospered.
A man named Hannan, who represented that branch known as the Associate Reform
Presbyterians, was the first to visit Porter county. On July 23, 1838, he
organized Bethlehem church of that faith where the town of Hebron now stands.
Shortly after the church was organized he left, and Rev. Wilson Blain became
pastor. He remained until 1847, after which the church was without a pastor for
three years. In 1851 Rev. J. N. Buchanan became pastor. In 1852 a church was
built three-fourths of a mile from Hebron, and used until 1879, when a new
building was built. The congregation is now known as the United Presbyterian
church.
Presbyterians came to Valparaiso during the first three years after settlements
were made here, and sermons were preached by some of the early Presbyterian
ministers who came to the county. The first church was organized on July 3,
1840, by Rev. James C. Brown. In 1842 a church was erected. Two noted revivals
were held in 1847 and 1854. Rev. Brown continued as pastor until the outbreak of
the Civil war, when he entered the army as chaplain of the Forty-eighth Indiana
Infantry and died at Paducah, Ky., in July 1862. Rev. S. C. Logan and Rev.
Robert Beer followed Rev. Brown. During Rev. Beer's ministry a move was made to
build a church. It was dedicated March 1, 1865, at a cost of $24,368, and is
still being used for worship.
Rev. C. W. Wharton is the present pastor.
Presbyterian churches were organized in Portage township in the fifties, and one
at Tassinong, in Morgan township in 1885. On October 29, 1860, an Old
Presbyterian church was organized at Hebron. For a time the congregation was
connected with the one at Crown Point and later with the one at Tassinong. It is
now out of existence.
In June, 1840, a society of the Christian church was formed in Morgan township.
A brick church was erected at a cost of $2,000. It is now known as the Adams
church. A Christian church was organized at Boone Grove at an early date. It is
now a prosperous church, with Rev. W. J. Moore as pastor.
The Christian church in Valparaiso was organized in 1847 by Rev. Peter Russell.
A school house on Jefferson street served as the first church home. Later
meetings were held in homes. In 1874 a church was built at the corner of Chicago
and Franklin. This building was superseded by the present church erected in 1886
under the ministry of Rev. J. H. O. Smith. Rev. C. M. Smail is the present
pastor.
In 1888 a Christian church was organized at Kouts. It was dedicated by Rev. J.
H. O. Smith, of Valparaiso on Nov. 25, 1888. It is still functioning. A
Christian church was organized at Hebron in January, 1870. Lemuel Shortridge was
the first pastor. A church was built in 1878 at a cost of $1,100, and remodeled
in 1910 at a cost of $7,000. Rev. W. e. Evers was the first pastor. A Christian
church has existed in Morgan township for a number of years known as the Adams
church.
In 1850 a Reformed Mennonite church was organized in Valparaiso. After holding
meetings in private residences for about 20 years, they purchased the old brick
school house, where the church still has its home. Although the membership is
small, and the congregation is frequently without a regular pastor, meetings are
held regularly, all of the forms and ceremonies of their faith being faithfully
observed.
Catholicism in Porter county had its start when priests from Notre Dame and
other placed visited the few Catholic members residing in the county during the
period of from 1840 to 1850. Through the efforts of one of these priests, Rev.
Paul Gillen, St. Paul's Catholic church was built. Father Clark was the first
priest assigned here after the Rev. J. H. Leurs was made bishop of the northern
diocese. When the Pennsylvania railroad was built through here in the fifties it
brought a large number of Catholics to Valparaiso. Rev. Michael O'Reilly, who
came to Valparaiso during the Civil war and remained for twenty-five years until
his death, was a power in the Catholic church. He formed a strong congregation
and built the present St. Paul's church and school. When he came here the church
was heavily in debt and the members divided. Under his direction the
congregation was cemented until it is now one of the strongest in the county.
A Catholic church was formed at Chesterton in 1857 by Father Kilroy. The first
resident priest at Chesterton was Rev. John Flynn. A new church was built in
1876 at a cost of $18,000 and in 1882 a residence for the prist was built at a
cost of $3,000. Rev. E. F. Eisenhart is the present pastor of the church named
St. Patrick's in honor of Ireland's patron saint.
In 1857 Swedish Lutherans about Baillytown, in Westchester township, organized a
church under ministry of Rev. A. Andrain. A church building was built in 1863,
and later a parsonage and school. A Swedish Lutheran church was organized at
Chesterton in 1879 and a church built at a cost of $5,000.
German Lutherans settled in Valparaiso in 1850 but made no effort to build a
church until 1862. In that year Rev. Jahn came here from Germany and organized a
church, becoming its first pastor. Not long afterward a division occurred, some
of the members going to the Reformed church. A church and school were erected at
Pink (Chestnut) and Academy streets. In 1880 the Unitarian church at the corner
of Washington and Institute streets was purchased. A new church was erected in
1891. Rev. O. H. Schmidt is the present pastor.
Some years ago about 1892 St. John's Evangelical church was organized and the
old Methodist church building at Lincoln avenue and Franklin was used for
meetings. For some reason the church did not prosper, and since 1912 was without
a pastor. The building was recently razed.
In 1880 a German Lutheran church was built at Kouts. Rev. Philip smith was the
first pastor. He was succeeded by nRev. Julius Dunsing. The congregation had
been holding meetings in the school house since 1873. Rev. H. Hicken has been
pastor of the church nearly 30 years.
In 1880 a German Lutheran church known as St. John's Evangelical was organized
at Chesterton. A church building was commenced in the fall of 1880, under the
ministry of a preacher named Hammon, who was the first pastor, and it was
finished in April, 1881. The church numbered but twelve members when it was
organized, but by 1880 the membership had reached forty-five. Through the
efforts of the members the church debt was paid off. From 1916 to 1921 the
congregation was without a pastor and with only an occasional service from an
outside pastor. The church was able to continue largely through the efforts of
the young people and now it is in a strong and healthy condition. It has a
membership of more than one hundred and about that number in the Sunday school.
The church property is located in a desirable section of the city and the
buildings are surrounded by beautiful grounds. Rev. Andrew Mast is the present
pastor.
The Unitarian society of Valparaiso was organized in 1872, and purchased the
building of the Reformed church. Rev. Enoch Powell, Rev. Carson and Rev. Parker
served as ministers for a few years but the congregation got into financial
difficulties and was forced to sell the church property to the Lutherans. After
a few years to society gave up the ghost.
"Union Mission church" an organization of somewhat peculiar character, was
formed at Hebron in 1877. A church costing $2,000 was erected the next year with
Hiram Marsh, William Nethery and B. Blanchard as trustees, and Wm. Fry, James
King and L. temple as deacons. Dissentions arose and in April, 1882, some forty
members of the old congregation took possession of the property and organized a
Congregational church, W. M. Watt and William Fry were elected deacons; James
King, J. G. Gibson, James Alyea, A. Blanchard and B. F. Gossett, trustees, and
Rev. L. a. Smith was called to the pulpit. The records do not show what became
of the organization, but it is no longer in existence.
The Episcopal church had its actual beginning in Valparaiso in the early
nineties, though services were held as far back as the sixties. Charles H.
Parker, sr., founder of the Parker Paint company, was the leader of the faith in
Valparaiso. St. Andrew's mission was established here around about 1900 with
Rev. L. W. Applegate as pastor. Previous to this Rev. W. J. Moore, of Momence,
Ill., conducted services in private homes. A church building was erected at the
corner of Franklin and Erie streets in 1902. Rev. Mr. Hilton is the present
priest in charge.
In 1900 a number of Valparaiso people became members of a People's church
organized by Dr. H. V. Thomas, of Chicago. Memorial opera house was the place of
the meetings held usually on Sunday evenings. Rev. R. A. White, famous Chicago
pastor, preached many sermons. The object of the People's church was to unite on
a basis of absolute mental liberty, such existing societies and liberal elements
as are in sympathy with the movement toward undogmatic religion. Officers of the
church were: Dr. A. W. Vincent, president; Mrs. P. L. Sisson, secretary; Miss
Lois Jellies, treasurer; E. D. Shedd, S. A. Lewis, James McCrea, Fred Joel, Mrs.
Maude Bundy and L. D. Bondy, advisory council. The church is not in existence at
the present time. A church of Christ, Scientist, was organized in Valparaiso in
1926. The first reader was Mrs. Marian Bartholomew and with a few years the
membership had grown to forty members and had a Sunday school membership of
thirty-seven. Five years ago the Sisson property at the corner of Calumet,
Institute and Franklin was purchased and a church building erected. Paul E.
Marks is the reader at the present time.
A Nazarene church was established in Valparaiso about ten years ago and for a
time meetings were held in a tent. Later a church building was built at the
corner of Lafayette and Monroe streets. Rev. L. E. Myers is the present pastor.
The Bethlehem Lutheran church at Chesterton was organized in Young's hall, over
the Chesterton bank, Feb. 12, 1879, under the leadership of Rev. A. Challman.
The church building was erected in 1881. A parsonage was built in 1888. The
value of the church property is $70,000. The pastors have served the church as
follows: Rev. A. Challman, 1879-1886; A. G. Olsson, 1887-1890; J. B. Bennet,
1889-1891, 1910-1914; O. V. Holmgrain, 1896-1900; George A. Johnson, 1900-1904;
Victor Setterdah, 1905-1909; John Torell, 1917-1925; A. J. johnson, 1924-1927,
Bertil Edquist, 1930-1936.
Other churches are the Full Gospel Tabernacle, Chesterton, Rev. James Rice,
pastor; Crocker Community church, C. H. Grabeman, pastor; Jackson Center church,
Mrs. O. V. Hall, pastor, and Liberty Township church and Sunday school, the
Augsburg Lutheran church at Porter, Rev. Paul V. Nelson, pastor; the Christian
Science Society of Chesterton and Porter; First Evangelical Lutheran church at
McCool, J. A. Bescherer, pastor.
Since 1878, there has been an assembly calling themselves Believers, or
brethren, and commonly known as Plymouth Brethern, who hold services every
Sabbath morning and evening their meeting being held in the third story of the
building owned by s. S. Skinner on Main street, in Valparaiso.
An attempt was made to organize a German Episcopal church. This effort was
subsequently continued as late as 1865-66, but on the occasion of a visit from
Assistant Bishop Talbott, in the winter of 1866-67, for the purpose of
organizing the church, he deemed it not advisable to do so.
The Quakers who settled in Jackson township in an early day erected the Quaker
schoolhouse, a double hewed-log church.
A Menonite church was organized south of Kouts in 1920 by members of that faith
who moved into Porter county and purchased huge farm tracts. The church is very
prosperous. Rev. J. D. Birky was the first pastor of the church. He died in
1926. Rev. Aaron Egll is pastor at the present time.
Article transcribed by Steven R. Shook