History of Laughery Valley Baptist Association

Compiled by: Miss May Pate, Laughery Association Historian

It was the 17 th day of June 1818, that a little band of men whose hearts God had touched met in the village of Hartford in Ohio County along Laughery Creek for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ.

Elder George Hume was evidently the leader who inspired the group. Elder Hume, one of the earliest and most effective pioneer preachers, came from Campbell County, Kentucky, in 1811 and formed what was known as the Laughery Church at Hartford. In its early days this church grew very rapidly and was an active, consecrated group of Christians.

Laughery Church erected a meetinghouse costing $300.00, which was considered a huge sum of money in those days. This was the first house of Worship erected between White Water and Madison. The little church represented many an act of sacrifice and self-denial.

It remained in the Association until 1854 when due to the moving of some of its members and the changes in the formation of the countryside, it became impossible to keep up the church. Letters were given to the members and they united with other churches of like faith.

Elder Hume traveled up and down the Ohio River from White Water and Madison preaching whenever and wherever he could get men and women to listen to the story of our Redeemer's love for mankind. He died in 1826 leaving future generations a record of a well-spent life in the Master's vineyard.

Laughery Association's first moderator was Elder John Watts, also of Kentucky. He came to Indiana in 1815 to discharge the duties of the Circuit Court to which he had been appointed. Elder Watts was a minister of more than ordinary ability and remarkable attainments. Due to his earnest efforts, Bear Creek Baptist Church was organized June 13, 1818, along Laughery Creek near the mouth of Bear Creek in Ohio County.

Bear Creek is the only church of the six original founders still in the Association. The other five were Laughery 1811, Manchester 1817, Bryant's Creek 1817, Indiana Creek 1818, and Raccoon Creek 1818.

Although Lawrenceburg Church was organized in 1807, it does not appear in the Association records until 1834.

Two other influential founders of our Association were Erastus Lathrop, a licentiate from Bear Creek and Stephen Brown, a licentiate from Manchester Church.

At the time Laughery Association was organized, it had two ordained ministers, two licentiates, and 124 members. Possibly there was a constitution in the early days, but no mention of one in the minutes until 1844 when the Association met at the Wilmington Meeting House.

The Aurora First Baptist was organized February 26, 1820, with six chapter members. Judge Jess Holman served faithfully and Elder James Dickens became the first Pastor serving four years. Aurora became affiliated with the Association in the 1937 flood and the building was destroyed by fire shortly afterwards. For over a year after that the church met in the Palace Theater, until another church building was built on Fourth Street, and dedicated in September, 1938. They continue to have services there today.

In the minutes for 1875 it was stated that Dillsborough had asked for admission to the Association. I never heard any of the older people speak of that church. It was not until June 2, 1957, that the present Dillsboro Church as organized. They were meeting in an old drugstore at the time. However, they previously met in the high school gymnasium when interested Baptists with the assistance of sister and their pastors serving as home missionaries. Their next meeting place was a vacant store building. Dillsboro Church had 30 charter members. In 1958, land was acquired and in 1961 the congregation started holding services in the basement of the church. This was used for many years until the sanctuary could be erected above the basement.

Ebenezer Baptist was organized in 1822 and held services in a log cabin. This church appeared in the Association in 1823. Ebenezer was organized through the efforts of Elder William Morgan, a minister of usefulness and distinguished for clearness and forcefulness in presenting the doctrine of the Gospel.

Rev. Thomas Curtis was called into the ministry by the Ebenezer Church. This church also had two missionaries, Sarah Osgood, a missionary to the Indians in Indiana, and Mrs. Hazel Gipson Davis, missionary to India.

Hogan Hill Church formally called the "Arm of Sparta" was organized in 1843 and first met in a log schoolhouse. As many members of the Sparta Church moved over in the direction of Hogan Hill it seemed wise to form another church. In 1919 a parish of Hogan Hill, Moores Hill, and Sparta Churches was formed and served by one pastor until the early 1960's when one by one each church went to supporting their individual pastors. Hogan Hill joined the Association in the year it organized.

Lawrenceburg First Baptist Church, as previously stated, organized in 1807 and entered the Association in 1834. However, it is the oldest church in the Association. Their first meetings were held in various homes, then in the Dearborn County Court House. There were nine charter members. For many years their congregation labored under trails and discouragements. Some of these were due to its location in a river town where floods occurred. After the 1937 flood, the church rebuilt in Greendale.

Milan First Baptist was organized in 1901 with Rev. C. J. Casey as pastor and 24 members. Their building was dedicated in 1905. The cost was $3,500. The building was enlarged in the late 1960's.

In our early minutes we read about a Franklin Baptist, Milan, organized in 1824. The meetinghouse built in 1833 was used until 1867 when they went to Pierceville and worshipped in a log school. Although we do not have much information on the Franklin Church, we do read that one of its ministers, Elder Palmer, was a man of high character and a most useful and elective ministry.

Moores Hill Baptist Church organized in 1851 with 19 charter members, a branch off the Washington Baptist Church. After 14 years of worshipping in houses, a church was built in 1866, which is the present sanctuary. In 1966 extensive work was done on the parsonage and on the sanctuary.

Mud Pike church came into the Association in 1842 under the name of Delaware. Some records speak of a First and Second Delaware Church. There were twelve charter members. For some reason the church worship services were discontinued and then reorganized in 1938. Although I find no record as to when the Delaware Church was organized, it came into the Association in 1842 and this church now known as Mud Pike Baptist Church celebrated its Centennial on August 23, 1942.

Osgood - December 19, 1901, the Rev. J. L. Bryant in charge of Colportage Wagon #9 arrived in Osgood and began visiting the Baptist of the community. This was the beginning of the Osgood Baptist Church, which was organized January 2, 1902, and at the following Association meeting applied for membership.

Colportage Ministry was a part of the American Baptist Publication Society, which went from community to community bringing the gospel message. When there were enough Christians to establish a church and carry on the work, the Colportage moved to another community.

Pipe Church was organized at Sunman early in the year 1832 with 6 charter members. The frame building, which was built in 1843, burned April 1883. It was replaced by a small brick building and dedicated August 9, 1885.

Pipe Creek Church came into the Association in 1909 after the White Water Valley Association disbanded. The 1917 minutes stated Pipe Creek had 13 pastors and at one time 374 members, only nine in 1917. Beginning in 1921, no further mention was made of Pipe Creek Church.

The Rising Sun Baptist Church was first mentioned in the 1850 minutes, but the present church organized October 29, 1889, with Rev. W. E. Morris as pastor. The church building escaped the tornado of 1948 but collapsed later that year while a basement was under construction. This building was on South Walnut Street.

The congregation acquired land at the corner of Mulberry and Fourth Streets. A new church was built facing Fourth Street with a parsonage erected facing Mulberry, just back of the church. Rev. W. S. Lowe served the Rising Sun Church as pastor for 15 years.

A Baptist Church was organized in Sparta May 21, 1822, with only ten charter members. For about eight years these few members worshipped together in a small log meetinghouse. Sparta experienced some trying times but kept their doors open. In the 40's Sparta Church was destroyed by fire. The present church was completed in the year 1946.

Sparta affiliated with the Association in 1823. Although there is little early history of the Sparta Church available, Bro. John W. Givan was consecrated to the ministry by this church. He received the call to come up higher in the midst of his usefulness and his spirit passed from Earth. His church, family, and friends fondly cherish his memory as one who loved to labor for his Master and laid his strength and power upon the altar of Christ.

Shiloh Baptist Church was first mentioned in the Association minutes in 1978. It was organized in 1867 and met in the Universalist Church until they purchased a building on Second Street. In 1979 they purchased their present building at the corner of Walnut and Sixth Streets from the Church of the Nazarene. On May 3, 1979, the congregation and their pastor Rev. Frederick Parkem marched from the old to the new location singing "We Have Come This Far By Faith". Although a very small membership, a very active church.

Tanglewood Baptist Church was organized in 1862, first mentioned in the Association minutes in 1881. Before the present church was built in 1871 the congregation met south of Versailles at Oak Grove. A parsonage was built in the 1960's with Rev. William Ryle as pastor.

Union Valley Baptist Church was organized in 1893, affiliated with Laughery Association in the early 1950's and worked in the Association of Brotherhood. Then during the pastorage of Rev. Stoughton Summers they became active in other areas of our work.

Versailles Baptist Church was organized in 1829 with 11 charter members. Services disbanded in 1862 and reorganized in 1882 with Rev. J. P. Collop. They joined the Association in 1883. Versailles Church was built on land donated by Bro. Laswell. Although work was begun in 1830, it was not completed until 1838. Money was borrowed at 10% to finish. It originally belonged to the Coffee Creek Association and in 1842 with Madison Association.

In 1836 Washington Baptist Church was organized with twelve members through the efforts of Elders Thomas and Curtis and came in the Association

in 1837. Rev. Curtis did much of the work on the log church. This church did not always stand on Highway 50 but on a side road nearby. Although a resolution was adopted in 1836 to build a parsonage, it was not carried out until 94 years later.

Ceasar Creek Church, located off the road between Elrod and Friendship appears in the minutes from 1860 - 1921. First pastor was Rev. George W. Meyer. This church consisted mostly of German families and in some minutes was spoken as a German Mission. This was the church of Bro. J. C. Grimes of Milan, who served in many capacities in Laughery Association. Daniel F. Heitmeyer who became a Baptist Minister was from Ceasar Creek. He served churches in Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky.

Laughery Association churches have licensed and ordained several ministers.

At the time of the organization for the Association, the great missionary enterprise of the Baptist denomination had just begun to arouse interest. Through the years mission work has held high priority. Norma Baker of the Rising Sun Church and her husband, James Denny, have served many years in the Indian Mission at Andarka, Oklahoma.

In 1916, Miss Hazel Gibson had a desire to go to India. Later, she and her husband, Mr. Davis went as missionaries.

Mention was made in a 1942 history of Miss Janet Aylor of Lawrenceburg Church, who served in Puerto Rico, who was in training for mission work.

As early as 1840 there was a Sabbath School Union in Aurora with all denominations participating.

A Baptist Young People's Union organized in 1891. For many years this served as training for the youth as they worked up programs and learned to speak and lead in service. Age limits were not considered and they had the encouragement and assistance of adults.

The First Bible School was held in Lawrenceburg in the middle 1920's.

The Golden Age Group was organized in 1962.

The Brotherhood was organized in the early 1930's.

Until 1876 women were given little parts in affairs of the Association. Since then they have become the backbone of our mission work. However, through the years, mission work in home and foreign missions has been given high priority.

Judge Holman of Aurora was interested in education and gave encouragement to men preparing for the ministry. Also, to the establishment of Franklin College and served as director for many years.

Through the years other churches were in the Association for a time. Some of these are now in Long Run Association.

I have obtained my information for this history from Association minutes, phone calls, and personal contacts. Each time I talk with someone, I learn something more. I also learned from attending Association meetings.

May Pate

Bear Creek Church