HISTORY OF
ORANGE COUNTY

CHAPTER 8

The Methodist and the Presbyterian Churches of Paoli were organized about the same time, not far from the year 1820. It is probable that religious services were held in the town before that date, as early, doubtless, as 1817, though the most reliable accounts, in the absence of trustworthy records or authentic records of any character, fix the date of permanent organization at about the year 1820. But little can be given of the early existence of the societies. Meetings were held in the old stone court house. Circuit riders from the older localities began to preach in that edifice as soon as it was ready for occupancy, about the year 1818-19. Soon sufficient interest was aroused and the Methodists effected an organization. Among the earliest members were Edward, John and Reuben Moore and their families, Edward Millis and family, David Stucker, John Kiger, Benoni and Elizabeth Jackson, John Throop, Sr., who, it is said, was virtually the founder of the church, his house being the stopping place for years of the circuit riders who supplied the society; he it was who instituted the first Sunday-school in the church and stood at its head for years; Joel and Edward Kearby and their families, Giles C. Smith, Lewis F. Wilson, James Craig, Levi Gifford, Mrs. James Collins, Samuel Morgan, James Dishon, Adam Fulton, Rev. Draper Chipman, the Depews, Ruth McVey, George Meacham, Anderson Meacham, Marian Coffin and several of her sons, Louisa Campbell and others whose names are forgotten. The society has been in existence since 1820. The names of the early ministers cannot be given. In 1837 G. C. Smith, Lewis F. Wilson, William Higgins, John T. Throop, Sr. and Henry Shirley were Trustees of the church and Rev. James Balee was pastor in charge. In March, 1837, Thomas Pitts sold to these Trustees for $50, Lot 181 in Paoli. David Osborn was one of the Trustees in 1838. Henry Miller and Edward Kearby were Trustees in 1840. G. C. Smith was a lawyer, but he relinquished that profession and adopted that of the ministry, and served the society for several years. Benjamin Poison was a Trustee in 1840. It was about this time that the society received several large accessions through the medium of revivals. In about 1841, the land across the creek south of town was fitted up and used as a camp-meeting ground. Here it was that for four or five years annual camp-meetings of about one month’s duration each, were held. Many outsiders joined, and many of them afterward "backslid." The meetings were very interesting. It is said that one of the ministers had remarkable lung power, and on any still, clear evening in autumn could be heard shouting the anathemas of the church for a distance of over two miles up and down the valley of Lick Creek. Among the ministers early in the forties and late in the thirties, were Revs. Guthrie, Kemp, McIntire, Whitten and others. Among the later ministers were Chipman, Powell, Rose, Trainer, Layton, Ames, Jackson, Cornelius, Chapman, Bell, Schwartz, Jones, Tellee, Schamahorn, Eller, Webb, Wells, Miller and the present pastor, N. E. Boring. Revs. Guthrie, Chipman and others held revivals of long duration and great success. Over fifty converts joined under the former. In later years Schamahorn held the largest revival, probably, in the history of the church. About seventy-five joined, and at one time about sixty were "sprinkled" by the pastor. This was doing work for the Lord by wholesale. The society met in the court house until the old church was built in about 1838. The building was about as large on the ground as the present structure, but was higher, and was constructed of lumber furnished largely by donation from Methodists, Presbyterians and outsiders. Judge Simpson, a Presbyterian, gave the equivalent of several hundred dollars toward the church. The structure was erected by all with the understanding that the two denominations then in town - the Methodists and Presbyterians - should alternately occupy it. During the forties the Methodists secured exclusive ownership of the house, which was used by them until the present building was erected in 1880 at a cost of about $3,000, including furniture and lot. The dedication took place July 31, 1880, the Rev. Joseph S. Wood officiating. The society is in a prosperous condition, and owns a comfortable parsonage.

The Presbyterian society at Paoli was organized fully as early as that of the Methodists. It is said by one of the oldest members of the organization that this society was organized before the Methodists. Rev. William Martin, a very able man for that day, and a Christian of deep piety, had visited Paoli as early as 1818, where he had preached to the few resident families. Soon afterward. possibly 1819, certainly as early as 1820, he formed a small class, and hus laid the foundation of Presbyterianism in Paoli. Among the very first members were John H. Campbell, Mrs. Eleanor Campbell, Dr. Shields, Joseph Potts, Mrs. Meriam, and several of her family, John G. Clendenin, Mrs. Eliza Br·wn, who afterward became Mrs. Wise, of Vincennes, Mrs. Helen Lewis, three or four members of the Liggett family, Elder James Clemmons, John Fraser, A. J. Simpson, T. V. Thornton, Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Dougherty, the Misses Parker, several members of the White family, Elder David Hudelson, Elder John Springer, several of the Cook family. Mrs. H. T. Moxley, Mrs. T. N. Braxtan, Mrs. Woolfolk, Miss Mary Braxtan, William H. Hudelson, Mrs. Judge Pearson, Martha and Mary Dougherty and others. The Trustees of the church in 1843 were Thomas V. Thornton, John G. Clendenin, Arthur J. Simpson, Daniel Dayhuff and Cornelius White. At this time meetings of the society were held in the seminary; but steps were taken to build a church, as, a short time before this, the Methodists had obtained absolute control of the old building. The contract for building a frame church was let to William H. Harmon for $750 of which amount $250 was to be paid in corn, wheat, potatoes, etc. This building is yet in use. Several stated to the writer that this church was built about the year 1850, and as no records were accessible, the date of erection is in some doubt. John R. Simpson says it was built about 1841-43. As stated above, the venerable William Martin was the founder of the society, and its pastor for many years. It is stated also, that Rev. Martin taught one of the first schools in Paoli. Rev. Mr. Hart was probably Rev. Martin’s successor. Rev. Mr. Ennis came later, as did Rev. J. T. Martin, and since have been Revs. Aubee, J. G. Williamson, John McCrea, Samuel Barr, and Francis Simms, the last pastor. The society is now without a resident pastor. John Lyle Martin, a nephew of William Martin, was an early minister of the society. He was a man of high natural talent, and became eminent in the ministry. He afterward went to China in the interest of his church, and is there yet. He is a noted linguist, a profound student of biblical lore, and is the American authority on all Chinese questions. He often, in his earlier ministrations, visited the Paoli society and there gave evidence of his power in sermons that are yet green in the hearts of his congregation. This society has had numerous revivals. Late in the thirties the eminent President of Hanover College held a revival at Paoli, and secured about thirty new members, among whom were T. V. Thornton, A. J. Simpson, and others of equal prominence. Later, in the forties, another was held on which occasion about fifty joined. This minister, whose name is not remembered, possessed great personal magnetism and unusual forensic power. In one of his strongest sermons he told the story of a boy brought up by a loving Christian mother, and described with thrilling effect the efforts made by the mother to prevent her gifted boy from wrecking his bright and promising life in sin, drunkenness and crime. He pictured the profligacy of the boy, and the tears and sleepless nights of the mother, and when his congregation were wrought up to the highest pitch, he hesitated for a minute and then leaning forward exclaimed in an intense whisper that went to every heart, "That boy was I." The effect upon his congregation was electrical, and when he grandly described how, by the grace of God, his mother had rescued him and brought him back to Christianity, and dedicated his life to the service of the Master, half his congregation were shouting or in tears. It was at this revival that the Doughertys, the Parkers and others joined. Later revivals have been held, but not so noted.

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