Digging Up The Past
A Century with Posey
Chapel
Souvenir Edition
1833 to 1933
In Galena Township, LaPorte County, Indiana, lies an extensive tract of country, whose surface is a succession hills and valley, that were covered with heavy timber for many thousands of years.
Into these sylvan forests came the early pioneers who made homes for their families and laid the foundation for the pleasures and blessing which we now enjoy. The early history of Posey Chapel began when these settlers came, in 1833.
Among these pioneers was Whitman Goit and family, who located on Section Ten, then called Galena Woods, now Galena Township.
Their claim included the land where Posey Chapel now stands. These pioneers were God-fearing people who arranged for such religious services at once, as a few unorganized persons could conduct. The little cabin was scarcely built, and the little field fenced in, before the Methodist preacher made his appearance.
They went side by side with the settlers and heard their joys, sorrows and hardships. Of these faithful men too much cannot be said in their praise. The religion which they offered was the occasion of great comfort and encouragement.
In the fall of 1833 the first session of the Indiana Conference was held, and to this district the Rev. James Armstrong was appointed as Presiding Elder, and Boyd Phelps as local. A few months after his appointment, Rev. Armstrong was called to his reward and his remains repose in the cemetery at Door Village.
Shubal Smith then acted as an exhorter in the Goit settlement.
In 1835, under the spiritual care of Rev. G. M Boyd, this little band of twelve, viz.: Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Russ, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Elam Wright, and Mr. and Mrs. Shubal Smith met at the home of Whitman Goit and formed the first Methodist Class. Services were held at several homes but mostly at the Goit cabin.In 1841 Wade Posey was assigned to this district. He persuaded the brethren to build a chapel for religious worship.
At the time appointed they came from miles around and worked for several days, when a comfortable log chapel was completed, it being the first church erected in Galena Township. It was built upon an acre of ground given by Whitman Goit and named Posey Chapel in honor of the founder. It was November 5, 1842, that the deed was given to the trustees of the church, namely, Daniel M. Smith, William Connor, Elkanah Rytton, Hiram Russ, and William Goit. Witness to the signatures were Rastus Holbrook and Lewis Weed. Deed Record "M", page 248-9. Services were held in this log chapel until 1855,
when William Easton contracted to erect a new house of worship, which is the building as it stands today.
He was assisted in the work by Isaac W. Searing and James Hanvill. Samuel Sutherland donated the lumber for the interior of the building. Its architecture is plain such as befits a place of worship, and where the living pay their last offices to the dead. The seating in the church is divided by a partition the height of the seats, through the center of the room.
The ladies sat on the right side and the men on the left.
For many years after the church was built it was considered very improper for a lady to sit on the men's side of a man to sit on the ladies' side of the church. William Adams Martin preached the last sermon in the log chapel and the first sermon in the present church, it being the funeral sermon of Mary Goit, held July 8. 1855. Owing to his ill health it was his last sermon. He died in 1857, at his home, the first house east of Posey.
Services at Posey have not been held regularly for several years. Sixty one ministers have supplied this circuit and twenty-two presiding elders or district superintendents served the district during the same time. From the rise of ground in the cemetery may be had a wonderful views, grand in extent and variety. Undulating hills and dales covered with splendid farms, broken here and there by forests of vivid green which attract the eye from miles around, make a scene which may be call the
"EDEN OF LA PORTE COUNTY". Note the stately poplars that seem to stand as mute sentinels guarding the bivouac of the dead. The first meeting of Posey Chapel Cemetery Association was held at the residence of Isaac Martin, November 20, 1890. John Martin was elected president, Enos Weed, secretary, and R. B. Goit, treasurer. John Martin, Enos Weed, E. S. Martin, Simeon Francis, and John Woodmansee were elected a board of trustees. E. R. Johnson, pastor, presiding.
The present officers are: (This was in 1933 when article was written)
Dr. H. H. Martin, LaPorte, Ind. President
Mrs. Lucy Sutherland, LaPorte, Ind. Sec'y-Treas.
Trustees
Arthur Martin, Three Oaks, Mich.
George W. Allen, LaPorte, Ind.
C. W. Francis, La Porte, Ind.
Burt Foster, R. R., LaPorte, Ind. Caretaker
The amount in the Cemetery Sinking Fund is over $2,700.00, which does not include $5,000.00 mentioned in the will of the late Dr. O. L. Sutherland.
The first burial in Posey Cemetery was that of George Morrow, who died July 14, 1845. At this time the timber was felled but had not been cleared away, hence the grave was made amid the logs and brush.
The birth of Alice Adams Martin probably dates back earlier than any burial in Posey Cemetery. Born July 11, 1780, her father at the time was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army, serving under General George Washington. She died October 8, 1871.
The first organ for the church was purchased in 1881, during the pastorate of the Rev. W. G. Vessels. The present organ was purchased about 1912.
Looking north one can easily see the sand dunes along the shores of Lake Michigan. Ten thousand years ago, more or less, this country received its first human inhabitants, the American Indian, with whom the pioneers came in contact. They were friendly and often visited the settlers. About 20 of the Pottawattomie Tribe were settled about one-half mile east of Posey. Pottawattomie Lake, which is plainly visible from the front door of the church, was named in memory of this tribe. Posey Chapel, the mecca of La Porte County, has an historic setting teeming with memories of a fruitful past and still extends a cordial welcome to the traveler, tourist or resident. When you visit Posey for the first time, you will wonder why it took you so long to arrive, and how there could be such a beautiful spot, so near and you not knowing it only by hearsay. If you have never visited Posey get apart for a day from the rush, clamor and tenseness of this busy old work and hie yourself to Posey Hill.
Rest awhile in the cooling breeze beneath the shade of the trees, then note the colorful panorama which Nature has painted and you will proclaim to the world in these words.____Song in 1933 Pamphlet
Souvenir Edition Pamphlet contributed by: Jane Ward; Three Oaks Township Library, Local History and Genealogy email her at: threeoaksgenealogy@yahoo.com
A sad note must be added to this page. The Chapel was located next to the Posey Chapel Cemetery where, for well over 125 years, families had laid their departed to rest. On the evening of January 26, 1972 arssonists struck and burned the structure to the ground. They were later apprehended.
The chapel had not been used in several years with the exception of an occasional family reunion. But the LaPorte County Historical Society had been maintaining the building as one of LaPorte's landmarks. An open pavilion now stands (see photo below) approximately where the church once stood.
Posey Chapel Cemetery Galena Township, La Porte County, Indiana.
