Pleasant Hill - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

If Aunt Polly Roll has lived to see January 1901, she will have seen three centuries, having been born in Oct 1800. She lives in Minneapolis and has good health.

See below Pleasant Hill Church

Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier Sat 18 July 1953 p 34

Members Will Relieve Colorful Years of Pleasant Hill Church in Ceremony Sunday – by Wreatha Oxley

Reliving the years is to be the theme of the program Sunday July 19 when the Pleasant Hill Congregational Christian Church celebrates its 125th anniversary.  The usual morning service with the pastor, the Rev. Warren Brade in the pulpit will be followed by a basket dinner at 12:30. Afternoon services begin at 2 o’clock. The history of the Church will be relived as talks are giving and past choirs of the church present a musical program

History – Early in 1800 a people rather peculiar in their religious opinions settled in Coal Creek Township, Montgomery County near Pleasant Hill – scarcely a village then since only one house stood there. This group accepted no name except Christian no creed other than the Bible, no text of fellowship but Christian character and recognized the right of each individual to use his own judgment of the Bible. They met in homes or in warm weather in barns or groves. A minister by the name of Welsh and another named Hibbs helped with meetings.  At a meeting in July 1828, eight of the group ventured to form an organization. They were Mr. and Mrs. Soloman McKinney at whose home the meeting was held; Mr. and Mrs. James McKinsey; Mr. and Mrs. John Roll and Mr. and Mrs. Ebinezer Westfall. This was their covenant: “We, feeling our relationship to God and to each other desire to associate ourselves into a society to watch over each other in Love and in the fear of God for our only Rule of Faith and Practice, denying all creeds and confessions of faith but the Bible to live in love and union with ourselves and all God’s people.”  James McKinney was made pastor, Solomon, his brother, evangelist, John Roll, deacon and Ebinezer Westfall, secretary.  At each meeting there were more accessions until the entire band was united.  Meetings were still held at various places. The Cooper’s shop because of its size was the favorite meeting hall.  The growing congregation found a permanent place to worship in a large roomy schoolhouse on the farm of Vezy Tracy, one mile south of Pleasant Hill.  It was near two good springs and a brook – called Turkey Run because of the flocks of wild turkeys in the woods.  This was the first church organization in Coal Creek Township and among the first in Montgomery County.  The plot around the church was used as a burial ground and served the community as such for many years.  Mary Westfall was the first to be buried there.  Years later, George Houser, William Westfall and Edward Kemp, trustees were elected to care for the grounds and an iron fence was erected with an arch over the gateway inscribed, “Turkey Run Cemetery.” In 1905 an endowment of $500 was raised by WH Thomas and several other persons the interest to be used to care for the grounds.

The congregation increased until only the grove was large enough for meetings. Old records show Vezy Tracy and Rachel, his wife, Abraham McMains, Simon Chapman and William Templeton, trustees, conveyed on Feb 14, 1833 an acre and a quarter more or less to be held by them and their successors in office forever for use of the church and burial ground.  Both young and old men wielded ax, saw and broad ax in a nearby forest for material for a new church building. Thus their religious zeal was manifested in a house of worship erected of hewn logs and puncheon seats.  At the dedication by James and Solomon McKinney, Elder Samuel Kyle of Ohio, Adam Thomas and Welsh and Hibbs were present.  “Singing, handshaking and shouting were common occurrences in the church. There was also a religious exercise known as the jerks, which consisted of swaying back and forth of the body with unusual force and superhuman strength.”

The preaching of James McKinney, the exhortations of Solomon Beedle, prayers of Samuel Hays, admonitions of James Gregory, the singing of Polly Roll, daughter of Mary Westfall as she walked a 16-foot puncheon seat and sang the “Israelite” song, became sacred memories.  This church since it was one of the oldest in the state took the initiative in organizing the surrounding churches into the Coal Creek Christian conference.  Years later, this was changed to the Western Indiana Conference.

First Deacon – John Roll was the first deacon. After his death his wife, Mary (or Polly) served as deaconess for awhile. Then came James Gregory, Joseph Hibbs, John Riffle, Josiah Kerr, Joseph McClain, William Templeton, Abraham McMains and Samuel Hays.  Other deacons through the years and to the present were George Westfall, Silas Thomas, Henry Palin, Joseph Beedle, Elston Sayers, Joseph Henry, Garner Hormell, JD Thomas, Charles B. Sayers, AL Ludlow, Ray Thompson, Mills Bratton, Clifford Coon, Estel Cheek and Claude Coon.  The present trustees are: Lawrence Gross, MS Crane, John Singleton, Mills Bratton and Glenn L. Wilson.

Records of pastors who have served the church are not too accurate but there were: James McKinney; Adam Thomas; Joel Thomas; Samuel Gregory; Josiah Kerr; Zephaniah Wilkins; Thomas Carr; William Petro; WH Warbington; Jacob Waymire; TJ Allen; John T. Phillips; FP Trotter; PL Ryker; Dalmanetha Powell; DO Coy; Silas Mostellar; CB Kershner; Joseph Frances; WH Martin who was pastor in 1912 when the first parsonage was built; AE Bagby; WH Sando; WD Samuels; Jacob A. Frazier; JR Cortner; AM Hainer; JE Fry; RK Stetson; CA Duncan; Homer J. Hunsinger; Robert W. Whitehead and at present, Warren Braden (pic of him included if you ever want to find it).  The Rev. Leroy Houk will began his pastorate in September 1953.  At two different times the church was without a pastor, but held regular meetings and gained in membership.  Deacon Ira Smith, Lafayette presided at a conference at Turkey Run in 1943; church membership was 266.  Some members of the conference and dates of their organization were Bee Ridge, 1832; Pleasant View, 1836; Osborn Prairie; Cry Creek and Old Union, 1837. As the Rev. AL McKinney said, “Turkey Run is the Alma Mater of all the churches in the Western conference.”  At that session, RM Thomas began his long service as conference secretary.

The first church record book contained names of 395 members. The fourth listed 1600 names. The names of Aunt Polly Roll and the Rev. Joel Thomas were brought down to the fourth record.  At the time of the 5th record 1915, the names numbered about 1500.  Ebinezer Westfall was the first secretary; others were JL McKinney; Joseph McClain; Barton Hays; George Westfall; DT Oliver; JD Thomas; Garner Hormell; JWS Thomas; CC Westfall; RA Henry; AW Chilcoat; JS Henry and James Derostus Thomas. The present clerk – or secretary – is Mrs. Bertha Hormell Thompson who has served 35 years.  Early church discipline was very strict.  In 1838 a charge was preferred against a sister for allowing dancing in her home. Neither denying nor repenting it, she was disowned.  One brother denied his membership. Another was charged with blasphemy. Both were disowned after investigation.  In 1852 a new church was built on ground given by Exom Palin, one mile north of the old church and near the present town of Pleasant Hill.  It was a substantial building with comfortable seating and cost $1,000.  The Rev. James Maple preached the dedicatory sermon and the church was named Pleasant Hill Christian Church.  When the Civil War came along the effort to continue brotherly feeling and unity was seemingly succeeding until the summer of 1863 when three shots were fired into the church. The bullets went through the door and struck the wall over the pulpit. Some thought it was instigated by the Knights of the Golden Circle others believed it was because Pastor Gregory who was a captain in the Home Guard was outspoken against the war.  He denounced the shooting in a sermon and at the next conference another pastor was elected to the church.

Fire – Meetings were held the 4th Saturday evening and Sunday morning and evenings.  In October 1863 on a Sunday morning, church member found their church in ashes and it was believed the fire that leveled it was deliberately set.  In the meantime a Methodist Church had been built nearby and its facilities were offered. The offer of the Methodists was accepted, a favor which was later returned when the Methodist rebuilt their church.  In 1867, the third house of worship was built. On the building committee were George Westfall, Henry Palin, Silas Thomas, George Riffle, Samuel Gregory, Dr. John Thomas and DT Oliver. The Rev. Maple again assisted in the dedication.  In November 1870, Dr. Thomas suggested a new burial ground and an area south of the church was enclosed with an iron fence. Later an archway was added over the gate with the inscription “Pleasant Hill Cemetery.” Two acres west of the church were purchased for use as a hitching ground.  In 1880 the church entertained the conference.  In 1885, an aged member, Mrs. Joanna Thomas proposed to give to the church a bell if a suitable belfry were erected. FM Beedle; Theodore Hixon; Jerry Haas and John Hormell comprised the belfry committee and one was erected at a cost of $400.  Mrs. Thomas was the first for whom the bell tolled. In those days when bells were tolled, they rang out the years the deceased had lived.  

New Church – In 1900, church members began talking of a new church. Some favored building “up in town” and it was finally decided to use the site of the old church because of its beautiful location. The old church was moved to a new location and a farewell meeting was held in it Oct 9, 1904. The beautiful new church was finished and dedicated Oct 20, 1904.  The bell given by Mrs. Joanna Thomas was placed in the new church and is used to this day. The Rev. Mr. Trotter was pastor at the time. Dr. CJ Jones delivered the sermon and the Rev. Mr. Powell preached at the evening service.

Later an acres of ground north of the church was purchased from Aaron Gilkey and a parsonage was built.  In 1934 it burned and another and improved one was built that fall.  After the death of James Derostus Thomas, the first two record books were lost and the third burned in a fire that destroyed the home of the present church clerk. The church has given to the faith at least 10 ministers, the most recent being GB Merritt who began preaching in 1886.  He was a half brother to Garner Hormell and his last visit to the church was at the dedication of a silver communion service which was presented to the church by Mr. Hormell and his children in 1916 in memory of Mary Elizabeth Thomas Hormell.

The church celebrated its centennial in 1928 with a week of daily programs, July 8-15 inclusively. In 1930 the Christian church merged with the Congregational churches; since that time this church has been known as a Congregation-Christian Church.  During these years, one-house Pleasant Hill has grown into a town.  A railroad station was built and officially named Whitlock. Later the town, the railroad station and the post office were renamed Wingate in honor of a prominent citizen but the name of the church and cemetery remain Pleasant Hill.

GREAT ARTICLE & there was a side piece about “Aunt Polly Roll” – One of the best-loved members of the early Pleasant Hill Church at Wingate was Aunt Polly Roll.  Church records give an incomplete account of her but a letter to the church from a great granddaughter, Mrs. HL Ingalls of Sioux Falls, SD supplies some of the missing information.  Aunt Polly’s father, George Westfall during the Revolutionary War migrated west into the wilderness and built a cabin where the city of Dayton, Ohio now stands and Aunt Polly was the first white child born there. She married John Roll in 1824, came to Indiana, arrived on horseback in the neighborhood of what is now Wingate and became one of the organizers of the Pleasant Hill Church and remained a member until her death.  In 1858 she went to Illinois to live with her daughter and 20 years later moved to South Dakota. When she was 85 she proved up on a government claim.  At the age of 93 she wove 10 yard of carpet walked a half-mile to weaver it and sent it to the Dakota building at the Chicago World’s Fair. In that same year she cast her first vote. When she was 99, she moved to Minneapolis. On her 100th birthday anniversary, she was entertained by her children – 34 of her 133 descendants were present. Aunt Polly died April 13, 1903 at the age of 103.  

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 23 March 1900 p 5

“Wingate” news item – In the death of George Westfall the Christian Church loses the last of the old guard – that lived in the county – that were so prominent and conspicuous in the church counsels 40 years ago.  Elder Joel Thomas is still living in Ohio about 85 years old and Aunt Polly Roll is living somewhere in the west, aged about 99 years and when these two are gone the church will be entirely in charge of the younger generation.

Source: CWJ 1 Dec 1899 p 4

Wingate – Aunt Polly Roll, who recently celebrated her 99th birthday at Pierre, ND was an old citizen of this place and assisted in organizing the Christian Church here in 1828.

Source: CWJ 26 March 1897 p 7

#13 news item – The many friends of Aunt Polly Roll of Dakota will be glad to know she is still living although quite feeble. She was born in 1800 and is the only living charter member of Pleasant Hill Christian Church which was organized in 1828.