BAPTIST CHURCH -- Some account of The Baptist Denomination in Laporte County -- The first Baptist Church was at Kingsbury. Gathered by the ministry of Rev. P. Colver, at that time on a visit to the county from Washington County, N.Y. This was in 1833. Mr. Colver then left for his home, with the expectation of returning, but died before reaching home. He was brother to the late Nathaniel Colver, D.D.

The church was however constituted the next year, 1834, styling itself the Laporte Baptist Church. Its first pastor was Elder T. Spaulding, who died in 1837, or before the meeting of the Association in 1838. The minutes for that year contain a notice of his decease. At the formation of the Northern Indiana Baptist Association in 1836, Mr. Spaulding was appointed to write the first circular letter at the first anniversary of the Association. The letter covering six closely printed pages, was read and approved. Its subject was, "The Sin of American Slavery," with special references to professing Christians holding human beings in bondage, or giving encouragement to such, by vindicating their conduct. Sentiments of this character were at that time exceedingly unpopular, and their deliberate publication showed Elder Spaulding to have been a man that dared to act up to his honest convictions of truth.

Elder Benjamin Sawin was next pastor, dividing his labors with several other interests in this and adjoining counties. Among the ministers who served this church at different times, we find the names of Barns, Whitehead, Maxwell and Mills.

The church reported seventy in August, 1837, at their report to the Association. Several were dismissed subsequently to aid the formation of the Laporte Village (now coit,) and Door Villiage Churches. Several also went out from the church under the Second Advent excitement. At last report, they number but 28. Rev. R. P. Stephenson is now pastor, who preaches every Sunday. They keep up a Sunday-school.

ROLLING PRAIRIE BAPTIST CHURCH organized 1836, amidst a rural population. The late Elder Alexander Hastings labored for this people at different times for many years. He was its first pastor. A man of great energy of character, always fearless in enunciating what he regarded as truth. At the first Association they reported 23 in number. In 1852 they had a roll of one hundred adn eighty-nine. Since then there has been a decline in numbers. The ministers who have preached to the church in addition to the first pastor, Elder Hastings, have been Sawin, Edwards, Whitehead, P. H. Evans, etc. Rev. W. S. Hastings is now preaching to them. His home being with them. Mr. Hastings is son of the first pastor.

LAPORTE -- This church was constituted in 1838. Several members of what is now known as the Kingsbury Church obtained letters of dismission for the purpose. Two very successful evangelists came to labor in the county about this time, named Harding and Ford. Quite a revival of religion was experienced, not only in Laporte, but all around the county. Elder Harding was chosen the first pastor of the Laporte church. He was succeeded by Rev. Silas Tucker, Elder Hamilin, Cook, Morgan, Edwards, and J.L. McCloud, when finding thier old house was too small, the church built a new house which they entered in 1859, during the pastorate of Rev. McCloud. Rev. H. Smith succeeded, who was followed by Rev. J. P. Ash, who commenced his pastorate in April, 1864, which he still retains. This church, at its formation, presented a roll of 29 members, which in 1846 had increased to 208. They now report 249.

DOOR VILLIAGE CHURCH united with the Northern Indiana Association in 1840, having a membership of 110. For various reasons they have declined, so that they now report but 35. This church has been served by several of the ministers above named at different times, -- A. Hastings, B. Sawin, etc. Also by Elders G. F. Brayton, J.C. Post and J. Fletcher.

WESTVILLE, -- Here the Baptist put up a good house for worship. The church was gathered principally by the labors of Rev. J. M. Whitehead, who resigned the pastorate to enter the service of the country as chaplain of the 15th Regiment Indiana Volunteers. This church has a sad history. They entered the Association 1857, numbering 61, which by 1861 had increased to 166. Yet from such a show of prosperity, they are now reduced to the number of nine! Only two men and seven women remain! And these preserve by a nominal visibility.

AFRICAN CHURCH -- This church of colored friends united with the Association in 1871. They numbered 16. Own a neat frame chapel in the west part of the city. Elder H. Gregory is their present pator.

The above six orgaqnizations are all that own church buildings in the county.

In addition to these there have been several preaching stations kept up for longer or shorter periods, by the Baptist in different parts of the county; in some of which, churches have been constituted, none of which seem to have been endowed with permanency.

LUTHERAN CHURCH -- Evangelical Lutheran Church at Laporte County, Indiana. -- The first establishment of Lutherans at Laporte was made in the year 1857. Then a number of German Lutheran families in the City of Laporte, anxious to hear the word of God, according to their confession, invited the Rev. H. Wunder from Chicago, then the nearest Lutheran minister, to preach to them. Soon after fourteen families organized to "Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Congregation," and called their own pastor, Rev. T. Tramm, a laborious and energetic minister, under whose care the new flock was growing fast. For want of a church to congregation worshiped during some monts in a school-house. In the Fall they bought a small church on C. street. The rapid increase of the numeral strength of the society, gave rise to enlarge the place of assembly. But this shift could only satisfy the want for a short time. In the year 1863 the congregation builded a hansome edifice of brick in Gothic style, 45 X 100 feet, with a steeple of 125 feet high. The church is neatly finished and furnished with all the necessaries belonging to a church to make it attractive and comfortable. The pipe organ with eighteen stops, which was built by Pfeffer, in St. Louis for $1,700, is a most excellent instrument. Since the year 1868 the congregation tood under the care of Rev. G. Kuechle. Their present pastor is I. T. Neithmmer.

At present the congregation numbers 190 families. The society supports their own parochial schools with three teachers and about 260 pupils. A small branch of this charge is located at New Carlisle, which is visited by their pastor every month during week time, and also three miles south of the village of Kingsbury, service is held every three weeks on Sunday afternoon.

The Lutherans of Westville are yet without a place of worship, and belong to the Lutheran charge of Valparaiso.

The Lutherans of this county are in connection with the Synod of Missouri.

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS in Laporte County -- Members of this denomination were among the earliest settlers of this country. The well-known and honored families of Vails and Stantons, some of whom are still living in the county, made settlements in what is now Olive and Centre Townships, somewhere about 1833. These families were from Ohio and New Jersey. Accessions to their numbers by emigration from Wayne County, Indiana, and Ohio, and North Carolina, and New Jersey, soon enabled these people to establish a meeting near Laporte City, in the settlement known as the "Quaker Neighborhood," and where for many years they held a highly respectible meeting, composed of the most respectable and exemplary citizens of the county, who established a reputation for industry, frugality, reliability and morality, in keeping with the Quaker character.

The little graveyard near their place of worship, just north of Laporte, contains the remains of many of these early settlers, and their offsprings.

These people were members of that branh of Friends' Society known as "Hicksites." By deaths and removals their meeting ceased as a church about 1860. In 1869, J. H. Vining, a minister of the Orthodox brank of the society, removed from Maine and settled in Laporte.

With him and his family, the scattered and broken families, and parts of families, both of the Hicksite and Orthodox branch, joined and established the meeting held in their new and neat brick church at the corner of Alexander and A streets in the City of Laporte. It is known as an Orthodox meeting, attended by about an equal number of both branches of Friends.

Its membership now numbers about 30, and is increasing by new recruits from other places and by requests from membership.

German Catholic -- St. Joseph's Church. -- The German Catholic Congregation of Laporte was formed in 1858 by Rev. M. Scherer.

The church property consists of three lots on B street. Andrew's addition, was bought 1859, and a substantial brick church erected thereon, to which a school-house was added the following year. Rev. Scherer left in 1865, and was succeeded by Rev. S. Bartoz, a priest of Polish descent. Exhausted by sickness he resigned in 1870, and was replaced by Rev. J. Oechtering, the present pastor. In 1871 the pastoral residence, a commodious two-story brick building, was erected close to the church. At the same time the front of the church received a new steeple, 135 feet high, with two chime bells, weighting together 2,000 lbs. The church was frescoed and received a great many other impovements, such as new pews, organ, carpets, etc. The congregation number about 125 German families, all communicants, and several Polish families besides. The Sunday-school is attended by about 200 children.

Disciples Church -- Statistics of The Disciples or Christians in Laporte County, Ind. -- They have five congregations in the county, at the following points: Laporte, Rolling Prairie, Galena, Westville, and Wanatah, with an aggregate membership of 460. The church at Laporte was established in 1837, by the efforts of Wm. Andrew and Dr. Jacob P. Andrews, who labored for it publicly and contantly for more than ten years. Since then the congregation have had the ministration of Elders, John Thompson, Wm. Lane, M.N. Lord, C.G. Bartholomew, Ira J. Chase, James hadsel, A.M. Collins and Oscar F. Lane, the present pastor. The congregation numbers 145 at the present time with S.K. Pottinger, Dr. Geo. M. Dakin elders, and T.J. Foster, A.H. Miller and J.L. Boyd, deacons.

The congregation at Rolling Prairie was organized in 1854, by John Martindale, and has enjoyed the ministrations since, of Elders, Komer, Sergent, Sharpless, Clendennan, Wm. Roe, Jesse Roe, and Joseph Wickard, present pastor. The congregation now numbers 160, with I.N. Whitehead and M. Nesbitt, elders Absalom Bowel and others deacons.

The congregation at Galena was established about 1850, and reorganized in 1872 by Elder Joseph Wickard. It has had the labors of John Martindale, David Miller, L.R. Gaulp, Wm. and Jesse Roe, J. Wickard and Wm. C. Cummins, and Davis, the present elder. The congregation numbers 50.

The church at Westville was organized in 1848, by John Martindale, and has had the public labors of many; among them Dr. C.G. Bartholomew and Elder Edmanson. The congregation numbers about 75.

The congregation at Wanatah numbers 30; has generally, since its existence, shared its jubilee labors with Westville.

The New Church -- There is one society of the New Jerusalem in this county, at Laporte.

In the year 1850, Judge Chamberlain, while holding court there, learned that Mrs. James Andrews and her sister, who was with her on a visit at that time, were receivers of the doctrines taught by that eminent servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, Emanuel Swedenborg. He immediately saw Mrs. Andrew and pleasantly said, "I shall consider that I am self-invited to take tea wtih you this evening, if agreeable." After spending a pleasant evening with them, he concluded to procure some one to give a course of lectures in Laporte upon these doctrines.

Soon after he came from Goshen, bringing with him Rev. Henry Weller, who gave several lectures, which were well received, and made a decided impression. He continued to preach here, more or less, for several years. On the 14th day of June 1859, the readers and receivers of these new and heavenly doctrines, formed themselves into a society of "The New Jerusalem," and chose Mr. Weller for their pastor, which relation continued until his departure to the spiritual world, june 9, 1868.

From June 1, 1869, to may 1, 1870, Rev. Woodbury M. Fernald was their pastor. Mr. Fernald also has recently passed to the spiritual world. Oct. 1, 1871, Rev. Cyrus Scammon became their pastor, and remains with them to the present time.

The society has a plain, neat, unpretending temple, in the central part of the city; some forthy members, a Sabbath-school of fifty or sixty scholars, with a good library.

The essential doctrines of "The New Jerusalem," or New Church, are "The Divinity of the Lord, the Hoilness of the Word, and the Life of Charity.

Presbyterian Church -- The history of Presbyterianism in Laporte County, may be best gathered, if we summarize the main facts, connected with each of he Presbyterian churches in the county.

1. The first organization of this name is the county was the "First Presbyterian Church of Laporte." This church was organized Nov. 28, 1832, and consisted of seven members, viz: "Charles Mowlan, Myron Ives and Sarah, his wife, Rebecca Ives, Sarah Aldrich, Alexander Blackburn and James S. Hening." The church was orgainzed by the Rev. James Crawford, who became the first minister of the infant organization, and, at the house of Alexander Blackburn, the first "session" of the church consisted of james Blair, William O. Ross, Myron Ives, and Daniel Dinwiddie. The church received frequent accessions to its numbers, and at length, in the year 1842, completed the church edifice upon the corner of Prairie and Munroe Streets, and now occupied by the Disciples. The church continued to increase in number until the year 1844, it has a membership of about 140.

Meanwhile, in 1838, the unhappy division of the Presbyterian church into "Old" and "New" schools had occurred, and it was found that there were the two parties in the Laporte Church. Occasions of irritation and trouble arose, and, as a result, there came a division -- something over twenty-five leaving the First, and forming the "Second" Church. This church was organized on the 3rd of November 1844, by the Rev. S.N. Steele, who acted as stated supply of the congregation for one year. The first session of the church consisted of james M. Clark and Ellsworth B. Strong.

These two churches continued to exist until the 31st day of October 1871. The First Church had remained financially embarrassed after the erection of its house of worship, and at length, in 1846, had transferred their property by sale, to the Second Church, which occupied that house until about 1869. The First Church, afterwards erected a house of worship upon the corner of Indiana Avenue and Harrison Street, which they occupied as long as they remained a separate organization.

In November, 1869, the division of 1838 was healed by the re-union of the Old and New Schools, in the City of Pittsburg. The asperities of thirty years ago had well-nigh disappeared. It was felt on the part of both the churches in Laporte, that there was no necessity for them to maintain any longer their separate organizations. Accordingly, in the Autumn of 1871, the two churches united in a request to Logansport Presbytery, to hold an adjourned meeting, in the First Church, in Laporte, ofr the purpose, if the way were clear, of uniting the two churches into one. Such meeting was held on the 31st day of October. The desired re-union was consummated by act of Presbytery. The united body is known as "The Presbyterian Church of Laporte."

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