HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 8
THE ORANGEVILLE MISSION
Until 1852 the Methodist Church at Orleans was connected with several other churches of that denomination in the northwestern part of the county and forming the Orleans Circuit, but in that year it was made an independent station. The other churches were then formed into the Orangeville Mission, and consisted of the following classes: Bruner’s, now Wesley Chapel, Henderson, Faucett, Wadsworth, Bond, Bryantsville, Woodville and Hick Chapels. Robert Wadsworth, John Bond, William P. Hobbs and Samuel Hicks were local preachers, Alfred Bruner was Recording Steward, while Eli Faucett, Marion Davis, Harlan Pope and Davidson Carter were Class Leaders. In the following year the mission was changed to a circuit with the same appointments. During the year of the mission a revival was held at Orangeville by the Rev. Thomas A. Whitted and 104 accessions were received into the church, joining the various classes. Camp meetings were held about 1825 and several succeeding years by the old circuit at a grove near the Jacob Shirley School House, about three-fourths of a mile south from Orangeville, and at these considerable interest was always manifested. From these early grove meetings may undoubtedly be traced the growth of a large number of the present organized classes in this section of the county.
The society now known as Wesley Chapel was called at its organization Bruner’s Chapel, and it was organized some time prior to 1830, probably at the house of Henry Shirley. The first meetings were held at the Henry Shirley Schoolhouse, and afterward at the house of A Bruner. A house of worship was built about the year 1858 at a cost of $625. It is a good frame, and is now in use by the congregation. Among the early members of this church were Henry Shirley, his wife, mother and family, Nathaniel B. Wilson, wife and mother, Manley McNabb and wife, John Britton and wife, John Cook and wife and others. This society now numbers sixty-six, and has been of steady and substantial growth from the beginning, having nearly always maintained one of the best Sunday-schools in the county. This has greatly aided the church in bringing the youth of the community to a proper appreciation of the great Christian truths, and thereby making good members of both church and society.
Faucett’s Chapel society was organized in 1837 at the house of James Faucett, under the labors of the Rev. William McGinnes. The first members were James and Elizabeth, William and Hannah Faucett, John and Rachel Brown, William Hamilton, James and Elizabeth Perine, Joseph Hamilton and Susan Hamer. In 1847 a log church was built, Samuel Hicks being the minister then in charge, and the Trustees were then J. L. Brown, William Hamilton, James Perine, Eli H. and William Faucett. The old log church continued to answer the purpose of the congregation until 1879, when a new and convenient frame was erected at a cost of $1,000. Its present membership is forty.
The Orangeville class was organized about the year 1840, and has had a prosperous career now numbering something over sixty members. In November, 1851, Nathaniel B. Wilson and wife deeded to Alfred Bruner, Robert Higgins, Lewis B. Wilson, Harvey Denny and William P. Hobbs, Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Orangeville, the ground on which the church at that place now stands, for the sum of $15. In August, of the following year, Samnel Hicks and Harvey Denny deeded to the same Trustees a piece of land in Orengeville for the purpose of building a parsonage upon. The church house was built immediately, and is a good and substantial frame, costing about $800. At this time the circuit rider was Rev. Thomas A. Whitted, who figured largely in the affairs of the Methodist Church of this section of country for several years. The minister in charge of the Orangeville Circuit resides at Orangeville, in the parsonage at that place. The present pastor is Rev. S. L. Culmer, who rendered assistance in this work.SOCIETIES OF FRENCH LICK TOWNSHIP
A society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at the house of William Marley, near the French Lick Springs, about the year 1825 by John Miller, one of the pioneer circuit riders of Orange County. Among the first members were William Marley, Clayton Taylor, Alexander McGrew with their wives and families, Joseph McGrew and wife. The first church was a log structure built some time early in the thirties, but after being used for a short time was burned down. Another was soon after erected. This was on the farm now owned by Ross Grigsby. The third church was built about the year 1856, at its present site on the farm of Capt. William D. Moore. This is the old French Lick class at Moore’s Chapel. John Miller, William Crane, John Decker and Samuel Brinten were among the early preachers here. It now has a membership of about sixty and is in a good healthy condition.
The Scarlett Ridge class of the Methodist Church in French Lick Township, was organized about the year 1840, by a minister named Johnson. First members were Samuel and William Scarlett and their wives, Isaac Damewood and family, William Wininger and wife, Harrison Hankers and others. For a time they met at the Scarlett Schoolhouse and then built a church at French Lick Springs. This soon after burned down and after some time meeting at the schoolhouse, again built another house of worship at its present site and is called Mount Lebanon. The cost of this last building was about $600, and it is a good frame. Until about 1850 it was a mission but it was then changed to a circuit, which it has ever since been. For the past fifteen years a good Sunday-school has been maintained with an average attendance of about thirty-five scholars, while the church membership is about sixty. Among the early ministers were John Julian, George Walker, Thomas Ray and James Charles.
The Church Association at what is known as Ames Chapel, in the eastern part of French Lick Township, was formed in the year 1880, by a union of the classes at Smith’s and Nelson’s Chapels. There is nearly 100 members now belonging at this place, and it is said to be one of the most energetic, prosperous organizations of the kind in the county, and a good Sunday-school is maintained with James S. Porter as Superintendent. The church edifice which was built in 1880, at a cost of $1,300, is one of the neatest in Orange County, and stands in the border of a pleasant and shady grove. It belongs to the Paoli Circuit.