PLEASANTVILLE METHODIST CHURCH
Sullivan County, Indiana
Sullivan County, Indiana
THE CHURCH HISTORY
The Methodist Church is located in Pleasantville, Sullivan County, Indiana. In the true sense of the word, it's a Country Church that has served the community since 1819.
Rev. John McCord organized the first Methodist Episcopal Church "Society" in Jefferson Township in 1819. It is the oldest continuous Methodist Church organization in the state of Indiana.
Pioneer preachers came to the early settlements with their Bible in one hand and their rifle in the other.
Jesse and Polly (Hinkle) Beck, the first settlers in Pleasantville, were among the first church members with John & Jenny Bedwell, Mr. & Mrs. James Reid, Mr. & Mrs. James Mayfield and Mr. & Mrs. Michael Fullem. They met in homes until a log church was built in 1824, where the cemetery is located now.
Rev. John Ritchey organized the first Sunday School in 1830; Phillip Hinkle was the Superintendent.
After the first church was abandoned, there was a wooden frame church erected but not entirely completed. It stood about one quarter mile south of the present church. This building was heated by a wood stove and lighted by candles. After three years of worship in this church, Pleasant O'Haver offered to donate the ground for a church by the cemetery which had been established for some time, and where the church stood in 1866.
The trustees: Eli Newkirk, James Reid, James Harvey, Jesse Beck and Pleasant O'Haver, decided to tear down the partly finished building and move it to the present location where it was re-erected and somewhat larger than the original one.
Until 1869, it was known as Pleasant Grove Church.
On January 5, 1958, the wooden church burned.
It had been dedicated in 1894 with Rev. T.B. Couchman, pastor.
November 1958, the new and present church shown below was consecrated.
This new church is the fifth building and the third at the present site.
-Historical information compiled and recorded by Myrtle Harbin Lind.
TIME LINE for the PLEASANTVILLE
METHODIST CHURCH
Pioneer preachers came to the early settlements with their Bible in one hand and their rifle in the other.
Jesse and Polly (Hinkle) Beck, the first settlers in Pleasantville, were among the first church members with John & Jenny Bedwell, Mr. & Mrs. James Reid, Mr. & Mrs. James Mayfield and Mr. & Mrs. Michael Fullem. They met in homes until a log church was built in 1824, where the cemetery is located now.
Rev. John Ritchey organized the first Sunday School in 1830; Phillip Hinkle was the Superintendent.
After the first church was abandoned, there was a wooden frame church erected but not entirely completed. It stood about one quarter mile south of the present church. This building was heated by a wood stove and lighted by candles. After three years of worship in this church, Pleasant O'Haver offered to donate the ground for a church by the cemetery which had been established for some time, and where the church stood in 1866.
The trustees: Eli Newkirk, James Reid, James Harvey, Jesse Beck and Pleasant O'Haver, decided to tear down the partly finished building and move it to the present location where it was re-erected and somewhat larger than the original one.
Until 1869, it was known as Pleasant Grove Church.
On January 5, 1958, the wooden church burned.
It had been dedicated in 1894 with Rev. T.B. Couchman, pastor.
November 1958, the new and present church shown below was consecrated.
-Historical information compiled and recorded by Myrtle Harbin Lind.
TIME LINE for the PLEASANTVILLE
1815 - Jesse (1786-1867) and Polly (1785-1844) Hinkle Beck moved to the Midwest Territory and were the first to settle where Pleasantville is now located.
1816 - John Henry Beck was born; the first white child born in the township. Jesse Beck built the first log house in this township.
1816 - Dec. 11, 1816, Indiana became the 19th state of the union with the name meaning "land of the Indians".
1819 - First church society organized in the township, the Methodist Episcopal by Rev. John McCord.
1815 - 1820 - Many settlers started moving into the area from North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.
1824 - The first church was built, of logs, where the cemetery now stands. It was heated with a fireplace and lighted with an old-fashioned grease lamp.
1829 - The local exhorter (a lay preacher) was Nathan Hinkle.
1830 - The first Sunday School was organized by Rev. John Ritchey with Philip Hinkle as the first S.S. Supt. First church trustees recorded were: Elias Newkirk, James Reid, James Harvey, Jesse Beck and Pleasant M. O'Haver. The first school was in the log church building and the first teacher was Jesse Beck.
1863 - A wooden frame church was begun 1/4 mile south, but was not completed.
1865 - A public burying ground was given to the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church by Jacob W. and Mary Beck. Trustees were: W.P. O'Haver, Jackson Hinkle, Frances A. Harvey, Jacob W. Beck and J.L. Smith.
1866 - Pleasantville was laid out by W.P. O'Haver and named for his father, Pleasant O'Haver. the church society was known as the Pleasant Grove Society. Pleasant O'Haver donated ground for a church where the present church now stands. The church trustees were the same as above in 1865.
1874 - Pleasantville became the head of the circuit composed of: Pleasantville, Sandborn and Gilmore (the school house), later called Dewey's Chapel, for the man who donated the ground. Elias Gaskins was the Pastor.
1892 - Marco was added to the circuit with Rev. Charles W. Wood as the Pastor.
1893 - Stafford was added to the circuit, with S.L. Welker as the Pastor.
1893-94 - A fourth and larger church was begun and dedicated in 1894. Rev. T.B. Couchman was Pastor. Trustees were: William Alexander Harbin, T.B. O'Haver and S. H. Miller.
1900-01 - Widow Meg Baker donated ground for the present parsonage, estimated cost $1,000. The first telephone was installed.
1900 - Pleasantville circuit now has 5 points: Pleasantville, Marco, Sandborn, Dewey's Chapel and Stafford. Rev. J.B. Johnson is the Pastor.
1903 - Mt. Moriah was taken from the Dugger charge and added to Pleasantville. Dewey's Chapel and Sandborn were dropped. Rev. John H. Furry was Pastor.
1922 - Marco was taken from Pleasantville charge and added to Sandborn charge. The Rev. George Peel was Pastor.
1923 - CENTENNIAL HELD! Rev. George Peel was Pastor.
1925 - The Parsonage was papered and new screens put in. The church was reroofed and redecorated and a new furnace put in. $800. Rev. R.W. Robling
was Pastor.
1956 - The basement was added with kitchen and class rooms. Rev. Raymond Shelton was the Pastor.
January 5, 1958 - THE CHURCH BURNED.
June 1958 - broke ground for a new church.
November 1958 - Rev. Raymond Shelton was the Pastor.
1962 - Building indebtedness $1,175.
1963 - On Jan 6th - Paid in Full!
May 12, 1963 - The church was Dedicated at a total cost of $37,414.65.
During the life of the Methodist Church, it has not been without a minister, but for a few weeks at a time. During all these years the work and sacrifice has not been in vain. Many have been led from darkness into light and have lived true to the faith going home to receive their reward.
This information was compiled and recorded by,
Myrtle Florence Harbin Lind (1902-1975).
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| Myrtle Harbin Lind (1902-1975) |
Names on the 1891-92 Pleasantville Friendship Quilt listed at the bottom of the post-
THE PLEASANTVILLE METHODIST CHURCH QUILT - 3 of 3
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For more information -
A History of Sullivan County Indiana, Thomas J. Wolfe Editor, Volume I, 1909,
Free EBOOK - though little info. is found about Pleasantville in this book.
CLICK HERE!!!
A History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, The Earliest time to the Present, Published 1884.
Free EBOOK-
CLICK HERE!!
GOING BACK HOME: PLEASANTVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CELEBRATES 200 YEARS SERVING COMMUNITY, CONGREGATION.
A History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, The Earliest time to the Present, Published 1884.
Free EBOOK-
CLICK HERE!!
GOING BACK HOME: PLEASANTVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CELEBRATES 200 YEARS SERVING COMMUNITY, CONGREGATION.
Newspaper article from the Tribune-Star, Oct. 6, 2019.
