First Presbyterian Church of Paoli

 

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Home > About > History:History of the First Presbyterian Church of Paoli (1958)
Early Church | The First Church | Early Leaders | Old Church Ministers |
How the 1921 Church Came About

The information on this page comes from a booklet published before the fire in December, 2000. Most of the information below was compiled from the notes of Jesse Trinkle and Park Polson (dated 1958). Minor changes have been made for ease of reading.

Early Church

In the beginning of Religious Organizations in what is now Orange County, Indiana, it may well be said that the "Groves were God's first Temples" and prior to the building of "meeting houses," or a House of worship, it was generally "under the trees" that religious services were held when weather conditions permitted.

Not only were the first religious services held under the trees, but it was "under the spreading branches of the old Constitutional Elm at Corydon that the real birth of Indiana came about. At about the same time, Paoli was born and religious services were carried out under these trees who were 'God's First Temples.'"

The men who came into these early settlements to preach were known as "circuit riders." They had several settlements to visit and made their rounds to these settlements on horse back. They traveled long distances through the wilderness for there were no roads. They carried everything they needed in their saddlebags. Most often payment to these circuit riders was in the form of meat, flour, meal, and produce.

These men were physically stout as the life they led was one of hardships and deprivation. They were frequently spoken of as being "Holy men of God." It was said that they dispensed the gospel in all its original austerity. Time was not to be considered when they spoke and their voices were resonant, sounding long distances.

Reverend William W. Martin was such a minister, an early Circuit Rider, and later a minister of the Presbyterian Faith. He forsook the leadership of the founding of Hanover College to spend his life as a Circuit Rider Missionary in religious teachings among the early settlers of Indiana. At one time, he taught and ministered in the Orange County Seminary.

The records of the early beginning of the religious life of Paoli that "land across the creek south of the town" was fitted up and used a Camp Meeting Ground for several years, with one full month in each year given to religious services.

This practice and manner of holding meetings is still followed by many religious organizations, especially when other space is not convenient. Some of these meetings were held in tents and are still held there sometimes, but not as frequently as once they were.

In the beginning of religious services in Paoli, there was at first no distinction as to religious denominations. Meetings were held, if not outdoors, in the homes of the settlers or in other public buildings that might be available and all faiths were represented.

After the building of the second Courthouse in 1817, religious meetings were held in the Courthouse for many years. The Orange County Seminary was built in 1827 and church services were frequently held in it.

The building of the first house of worship in Paoli must have been a great achievement by those early worshippers of Presbyterian faith. They had become an organization soon after the birth of the town of Paoli as it had been laid out, and the settlers had arrived. The early settlers longed to have a place of their own in which they might worship in the full Presbyterian way.

The first church was built on lot number 101 of the original Town of Paoli, purchased by the Trustees of the Methodist Church Organization in Paoli, Indiana March 20, 1837, of Thomas and Dorcas Potts at a cost of $50. The deed of conveyance made no reference that the Presbyterians joined in the purchase of the lot or held interest in same. From these records it was clear that the Methodist Church had full control of this church. So again the Presbyterian Organization was without a church of its own.

From the records which were studied, the Methodist Church became in full control of the church in 1840 after a union church agreement was carried on for much of three years. Which meant the Presbyterian Church, which had become one of the stronger church bodies in Paoli, was without a church in which to worship, and there is evidence to believe that each church by that time believed themselves to have a building of their own.

For the reader's information, this "union" church was on the site of the old Methodist parsonage on East Main approximately where Hometown Pizza is now located.

In the early 1840s meetings were held in the Orange County Seminary, but steps were taken to build a proper church.

The contract for building a frame church was let to William H. Harmon, a young builder of whom it was said, "He was a young carpenter who had served his apprenticeship as a carpenter in the state of Massachusetts." The contract price with Mr. Harmon for the construction of the church house was $750 and upon the terms - $500 was to be paid in cash, $250 to be paid in corn, wheat, potatoes, etc. Mr. Harmon also became one of the contractors for the present Orange County Courthouse in 1849. So in his building of these two structures in Paoli, we have the human relation of this builder for Christian services to his maker and the builder of the house for Justice to all men.

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The First Church

The Site for the First Church

In Will Record Number 1 page 150 is recorded the will of Thomas V. Thornton which reads as follows:

7. I will and bequeath to the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in the Town of Paoli, Indiana, and to their successors in office forever a certain tract or parcel of ground selected as a site for a church building and more particularly described as follows:

Commencing at a point in the east side of the north Main (new South Gospel) Street in said town 20 feet south of the line of the foundation of a building now erected, running thence east on a line parallel with said building to a point 16 feet east of the east side thereof, thence north to the line dividing the lands of John Baker and myself, thence west to Orleans Road, thence south to the place of beginning, to be used and employed by said Trustees, only as a site for a Church building and not otherwise, and to resort to me, or my heirs whenever the same shall cease to be used for that purpose; the said Trustees not being permitted to erect any other building thereon to be occupied as an office, shop, or dwelling, nor to sell or transfer said ground to any other person or persons upon penalty or forfeiture of the same.

The First Church Building

The description of the church itself gives us this information: The building had a great many windows, small, and in rows, one above the other. It had two front doors, one leading to the men's side, and another leading to the women's side. This custom was apparently copied from the Friend's Church wherein it was the custom to separate the men and women in the church. There were two other doors in this church, one on the west, used only for ventilation, and another on the east leading to the parsonage, which was northeast of the church.

On the south side was erected the belfry, in which the bell hung in full view of the public. Its deep, solemn tones reverberated through the house as the congregation assembled. It was also heard throughout the town, calling the men and women to the House of the Lord.

The church was a frame structure painted a brownish color. Within the church was a partition, one side of which was frequently referred to as the Presbyterian side. Above this partition, in the rear, was the first choir, which filled two benches. The first musical instrument ever used in the old church was a "melodeon" loaned to the church. It was a great innovation but the propriety of its use in a church was frequently questioned.

Over the front entrance to the church was a gallery, which looked down over the congregation. Above it stretched the wide, high ceiling, which reached the stupendous height of more than 25 feet from the floor. Near the side entrance on the east and west sides were the "Amen" corners, the accustomed pews of the staid old men of God - the faithful and the back-bone of the church. But the one on the east, so it is told, was often used by the young people of the church; and it was not uncommon on Sunday evenings to see some young swain escorting his best girl into one of the "Amen" pews on the east side. It is related that, on one occasion, a handsome young couple occupied this particular section, when the fair lady was claimed by "Morpheus" and slept throughout the minister's "fourthly, fifthly, and lastly." Much to the chagrin of her escort who listened with dignified mien throughout the long discourse.

The pulpit, behind which stood the minister, as he brought his message, was a mottled, red-paneled affair, almost concealing the pastor if he happened to be small.

The benches upon which set the congregation as they gathered for worship were of the high, straight-backed type of that day. The alter was in front of the pulpit, or rostrum, round which was a railing. It was at this alter that came the large number of converts, of which number many became members of the Presbyterian Church. This was mainly due to interest of Professor Pinkham, who was at that time in charge of the Paoli Schools, and dismissed his school daily at certain periods in order that the students might attend his revival meeting then in session so they could become stronger minded spiritually.

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Early Church Leaders

The Presbyterian Organization and the Methodist Organization were established at about the same time; The Presbyterian Society at Paoli was organized September, 1825 and the old church building was erected in 1850.

The following served as its first constitution:

We whose names are hereunto annexed, having been members of some branch of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and being destitute or the ordinances of the gospel, do agree to be constituted the Presbyterian Church of Paoli, Indiana, to be under the care of the Salem Presbytery, a component part of the Synod of Kentucky; And we do hereby agree to choose our own officers and to be in subjection to our own constituted authorities, according to our confession of faith.

And thereby the Charter members of our beloved Church were as follows:

David Hudelson Sarah Hudelson Nicholas Springer Elizabeth Springer William Scribner Nancy E. Scott

Elizabeth Lynch Levi Thornton William Gooden Elizabeth Davis Elizabeth Campbell Eleanor Campbell

Agreeable to the following resolution, the church of Paoli was constituted by the Reverend William W. Martin and David Hudelson and Nicholas Springer who were elected and ordained as the ruling elders of the church.

The early records show that among the names of members of the Presbyterian Church in 1840 were

John H. Campbell Eleanor Campbell Dr. Shields Joseph Potts Mrs. Meriam (and several members of the family) John G. Clendenin* Mrs. Eliza Brown (who later became the wife of a Mr. Wise of Vincennes) Mrs. Helen Lewis Three or four members of the Liggett family Elder James Clemons John Frazer Martha and Mary Daugherty

Arthur J. Simpson* Thomas V. Thornton* Mrs. Payne Mrs. Daugherty the Misses Parker Several members of the White family including Cornelia White* Elder David Hudelson Elder John Springer Several of the Cook family Mrs. RT Moxley Mrs. TN Braxton Mrs. Woolfolk Mrs. Mary Braxton William H. Hudelson Mrs. Judge Pearson

* Indicates trustee of the Church Organization in 1843 (along with Daniel Dayhuff who is not in the 1840 list.

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Ministers

In making a summary of the activities of what we know about the "Old" Presbyterian Church in Paoli, the following names we listed as having ministered in the beginning Presbyterian Organization here, and to its Church Congregation from its beginning to the end of the "Old" Church services.

One of the "Holy Men of Old," as they were called, was William W. Martin who brought the Church to an Organized Body September 10, 1825, ministered to its further rise to its own church at frequent times until his death in 1850.

Then has followed these ministers as pastors of the "Old" Presbyterian Church:

John L. Martin (son of William W. Martin)	1837
Rev. Newell (son-in-law)	1838-39
Josiah Crawford	1839-40
James Wood	1840
AH Young	1843-44
Samuel Hart	1844-47
JH Williamson	1855
SE Barr	1857
Frank Symnes	Early 1880s
Frank Moore	1886-87
Rev. Bosley	1889
John Tracy
RM Dillon	1891
OS Wilson
Charles Huffer	1892
Rev. Montgomery	1894
Rev. Shirley	Turn of century
Rev. Williamson
Rev. Darling	World War II
Rev. Freeman
Dr. Omelvena
Rev. Hartsook

The last named - Revered Harsook - was the pastor of the "Old" Church at the time the "New" Church was dedicated, and thus became the last pastor of the Old Church and the first pastor for the New Church.

The old church building was kept in use until the new church was completed and dedicated, and was then sold to Mr. George M. Ham and was later converted into a business building. It was used by two or three operators, one of which was Freddie Riggle who had the IGA Grocery there and was located at the junction of North Gospel and Railroad Avenue.

In Jesse Trinkle's notes the following statement was found: During the Civil War, the church had no minister.

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How the Present Church Came About

Please note that the author is writing of the church building in use between 1921 and 2001 when the building burned.

The Church Where Old Fashioned Friendliness Still Survives

There were two organizations responsible for the building of the New Church - the Thornton Club and the Ladies' Aid Society. Both of these organizations were part of the Old Church.

The Thornton Club

There is no direct statement of the origin of the name for this club, but it is believed that it came from Thomas V. Thornton who by his Will bequeathed the land upon which the Old Presbyterian Church was built.

This club was composed of the Men's Sunday School Class for many years. The teacher for many years was Edward Leslie Throop who died August 11, 1958.

Sparked by his ingenuity early in 1920, he conceived the idea of converting the class into the Thornton Club, perhaps with the idea of promoting this group of men into a working body eventually with a New Church structure as their goal.

Mr. Throop with the aid of other members of the new Club carefully brought new members into the Club increasing its membership and its power from a dwindling few into an organization of many members. These included not only members of that church, but club members from other churches and non-church members as well. The club frequently had attendance of fifty or more at its meetings.

The influence of this club was shown not only in church but in the civic life of the Town as well. Social meetings and dinners helped to yield its greater strength and influence, which spread to other Presbyterian churches, the Thornton Club became a social factor in banding together similar bodies in "dinner" meetings in surrounding Presbyterian Churches.

To Edward Leslie Throop, for many years an Elder in this church, with his vision of the future and the support of the more active members of his Class - among whom were John Salyers, Louis P. Mall, Will King, SR Knox, John Patton, Charles Vogel, Sill H. Kibler, Frank Braxton, Cecil Johnson, Bert Trotter, and others. These men must be given much credit for their efforts in making possible the New Presbyterian Church in Paoli.

The Ladies' Aid Society

Written by GP Polson

It was the Ladies' Aid Society who toiled continuously toward the erection of the church structure and the gathering of the furnishings within. They raised enough money to pay $1,000 on the purchase of a pipe organ for the new Church. And on its dedication date, November 17, 1921 - pledge themselves to pay $1,500 more to complete the payment for the pipe organ. Then two years later these same ladies assumed the undertaking of the furnishings and the keeping of the Church Manse.

At the time of the erection of the New Church structure, Mrs. Will (Flora) King was President of the Society and Mrs. Addie Simpson was its Secretary Treasurer and held these positions in the Society for many years. During this time she was a forceful and much beloved teacher of the Ladies' Sunday School Class in the Old Church.

Other names of members of the Class were Ada Vogel, Nannie Calund, Faith Throop, Elizabeth Moll, John Salyers, Mrs. Jessie McCoy, Clint Ham, John Patton, Frank Braxton, Ida Baker, Miss Gracy Lindley, Miss Emma Hudelson, and Miss Pearl Hudelson.

In later years the name of this Society became known as the Presbyterian Women's Association. Under the new name, the first project for the Church was the purchase of a new carpet for the Church Auditorium at a cost of $1,200.

The New and Present Presbyterian Church of Paoli

In the latter years of the old church came the recession days of Presbyterianism in Paoli. Active members of earlier times had grown old and were no longer able to take an active part in the church. But the everlasting faith in Presbyterianism of a very few who sought to honor a father or a mother or both who had been the "faithful" ones in the organization of, and the carrying through of its principles for these many years; and added to these the younger principles for these many years; and added to these the younger ones of the church, who in its latter days had contributed their efforts and their well-being to its continuances. Members of the Old Church who were there to help the New Church were Miss Emma Hudelson, Mrs. Addie Simpson, Mr. and Mrs. Edd Clements, Miss Anne Colclasure, Mrs. Sam Braxton, Mr. & Mrs. Will King, Mr. & Mrs. Will Kibler, Mr. & Mrs. EL Throop, Mr. & Mrs. John Salyers, Miss Grace Lindley, Mr. & Mrs. John Oslund, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Vogel, Mrs. Cleo Ellis, Mrs. Jessie McCoy, the Frank Braxton family and Samuel R. Knox and many others.

Committees were appointed with special duties in their programs. Everyone went to work with a will, donations, and subscriptions exceeded their expectations, and many who were not expected to assist were most free with their help. Soon the success of their venture was assured.

On August 27, 1920 a site for the building to be erected was purchased from Mr. NW McVey for the price of $1,000. This site was located on North East First Street in Paoli.

In addition to the subscriptions and donations, a loan of $7,000 was secured from the Presbyterian Board, and the work of building was begun. AO Baker, a member of the church congregation, was in charge of construction.

By early fall in 1921 the structure was completed and on November 17, 1921 the building was duly dedicated to and for the purpose for which it had been erected.

As part of the equipment for the new church, a modern day pipe organ was installed upon its completion.

At the time of the use of the old church, the manse (or house of the pastor) was located adjacent to the church. Since the new church building was located a few blocks away, it was at once decided that a new and more modern manse should be secured nearer the new Church.

Accordingly, on May 16, 1922 a site adjacent to the church was purchased of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Boyd at a price of $1,200 and there was erected a new manse. The cost of the parsonage was determined in a rather unusual manner. The Building Committee and Mr. Charles M Ham, a lumber man, agreed that Mr. Ham should build the new parsonage in exchange for a free and clear Warranty Deed for the old parsonage and the site upon which it was located. The exchange in both cases was fixed at $4,500.

Rev. Hartsook was the pastor in the Old Church and lived in the manse when the New Church was built. He, therefore, became the first minister of the new church. However, Rev. William Campbell took over from Rev. Hartsook and was the first minister to reside in the new manse.

Other ministers leading the congregation were:

• Thomas M. Cornelison
• Roy N. Mueller
• Jack Williams
• Frederick Parker
• James Robertson
• Troy Huggins
• Robert Wasson
• Charles H. Walton
• Rev. Richard J. Dieken
• Dr. John L. Prentice
• James B. Billman
• Malcolm Shields
• Claude Myers
• Carl R. (Pete) Boyer
• Guy Newland
• Stan Fedyszyn

The pipe organ mentioned previously remained in the new church until a new, more modern one could be purchased. It was received and dedicated to the use of the church April 6, 1958, Easter Sunday.

Another change that was made soon after the building of the manse was the erection of a gymnasium on the east side of the church.

By the time the paint was dry on the new Presbyterian Church, it was found that one of the things most needed in the town and one that would probably bring more of the young people of the town into the church as well as some of the older ones was a gymnasium. Especially since the new up and coming interest was basketball. There was no suitable place in Paoli for the game to be played. A few years earlier an addition to the school building had been erected, and for a time it was used as a gym. But soon, it, too, was too small. The growing interest in basketball demanded more floor space. So the new Presbyterian Church set out to build a gym on the east side of their building.

This was done, and for some six years afterward there was probably more shouting in the gym than was heard in the Presbyterian pews.

But in a few years a new school building was erected in Paoli with a spacious gym. So the church gym was no longer needed. And in later years was removed from the east side of the church building. It was sold and a part of the construction returned to the Church's coffers.

The Final Installment

Mr. Louis Moll, a long time member and faithful attendant, long deceased, decided that the debt of the church which had been carried for many years should be paid. With the help of others, he secured enough money to pay this debt. For over 25 years this had been a handicap to the Church's progress. So on December 17, 1945 the last payment was made: $2,950. And on April 7, 1946, the members rejoiced in the burning of the mortgage. (This latter information came from Nancy Lindley-Calund, a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church in Paoli and long deceased)

Ordination of Jim Billman

Jim Billman was ordained and installed as pastor of the Paoli Presbyterian Church on June 1, 1958. At this time the church was carrying a membership roll of 196. Of this number, the church rolls showed 158 active members. The rest were inactive or suspended - either being members who had moved from the community and showed no further interest in the church, members who had ceased to attend church services and showed no interest in the church, or members who requested to be placed on the suspended list for reasons either of the previously mentioned reasons.

With these pages we come to the end of the story of Presbyterianism in Paoli - a period of time beginning with the first settlers (about 1816) and continuing and being one-of-us in its Christian faith and practice for a period of now more than 180 years.

Beginning at the zero mark, or near, the few with Presbyterian birth or practice in another State grew and prospered, and became an integral part of life in Paoli. It created and perfected its Godly Organization; it built its first church home in which they worshipped for over three quarters of a century; it built not alone for that early time, but it build for the years to come, and for those who would follow, and those who followed built a new church home which may well boast today an active membership of more than 150 (in 1958), with an average Sabbath School attendance of more than 100, a modern choir with modern facilities; a department for each of the functions of the Church; a regular attendance of more than 100 members at its regular weekly congregational meetings and both Church and Sabbath School full alive to all the activities of the more important churches of the day.

But few of those who attended the meetings in the old church remain today to worship in the new; and it is not now known that any of the ministers who served the old church are yet alive. Others have filled the pews of those who are gone. Time moves on and the Paoli Presbyterian Church now strives to keep abreast of fleeting time.

Jesse M Trinkle
July 18, 1958

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