Rossville United Methodist Church

Back in 1830 a resident of the Ross Township, William Smith, figured that life in the wilderness was good, especially since it was a productive wilderness. But William Smith had three children, and he was a godly man. The community, he decided, needed a church.

The result of his decision was that only two years after the first white settler came to this township, the first religious service was held in the cabin of William Smith, and he was the first preacher. The congregation worshiped in true Methodist fashion.

The next year, in 1831, the first regular church organization was effected at the home of William Smith. Among the members most prominent in the organization were William Smith, his wife, Ann, and their three children, Thomas, Samuel and Mary; Andrew and Hannah Waymire; William, David, Jacob and Mary Saylor; and Mary, Elizabeth and Rebecca Quick.

The young congregation worshiped in various places until 1837, when they built a church in Rossville, on the lot where the home of Mr. And Mrs. Alva Ohls now stands.

The first preacher appointed by the Annual Conference to serve the new church was Reverend Hachaliah Vredenburg. The congregation probably corrupted his name to Freedenberger, as it appears in several old records.

The Methodists saw to it early that their ministers were well housed. Although the exact year is not recorded, the church had not been established many years, before a parsonage was built across the street from the church building. This house stood as originally built until the year 1954 when it was remolded, and is now the home of the Phillip Buck family.

Little is known about either the town or the church in the years between 1837 and 1870, when the present church edifice was built. Certainly both grew. One of the William Smith’s sons, Thomas, platted the town in 1834, and a blacksmith, a storekeeper, a saddler, and a physician had come to town. In 1870 the population had increased to 339 souls, who felt the time for incorporating had come. Thereupon the Methodists built a new church at the cost of $4,500.

The next parsonage, just east of the present building, was a house purchased from Dr. Alexander Wilson, a pioneer doctor. It served until 1884 when another parsonage was built between the previous (Dr. Wilson’s house) and the church. This parsonage, the third, was built at a cost of $1,000. The Wilson house was later used as the Baptist parsonage.

The membership of the church in 1886 was about 125, and the Sunday school had an average attendance of 150.

Throughout the church’s first 86 years, William Smith, its founder, made his influence felt thought his daughter Mary. Mary became the wife of Noah Gaddis and lived to be 101 years old. (Note the Gaddis name on the street west of the church.) She was affectionately known as Aunt Mary Gaddis. On the eve of her one hundredth birthday anniversary on November 19, 1916, the entire church joined to give her a birthday party.

By 1923 the church membership had grown to 299 and the congregation had outgrown its quarters. A complete remodeling of the church building began. A wing was added to the east side, and an extension on the north. The original building was raised and a full basement constructed. The result was an expenditure of $25,000, and practically a new building. The building was built in 1870 had had some remodeling, but not as complete as in 1923. The building now stands as it was finished in 1923. Reverend L. L. Bickett was pastor during this last remodeling.

A helpful organization (it is modestly said) of the church was the Ladies Aid Society. No record is shown as to when it was organized. For the social life, and substantial aide, the ladies show a good record. Many improvements in the church and parsonage were made through their efforts. The Ladies Aid pledged $4,000 toward the cost of remodeling the church. This pledge was all paid by May 3, 1925.

In 1927 the Aid Society talked over the idea of having as their goal a new parsonage, built and paid for by 1931, the 100th anniversary of the church, and have a celebration for the church and parsonage.

As a result a committee reported the plans for the house at a complete cost of $4,500. The building was started at once. A later financial report of the building committee showed the total cost of $6,323.82. A great lot of work was donated by the men of the church. Reverend Mason was pastor of the church at this time. Two houses were moved in order to make room for the present parsonage. Once, the second parsonage, purchased from Dr. Wilson, was moved to a lot on N. Plank Street, was remodeled and is now the home of Mr. And Mrs. Carl Hufford. The other, the third parsonage, built in 1884, was moved to a lot on Park Avenue, and is now the home of the Harold Kasten family.

The Service Honor Flag, hung in the church during World War I apparently has not been preserved, and no record of the names can be found. Forty-six names of our membership and constituents were on the Honor Roll serving in World War II. Three gold stars are among these names. There were several members and constituents in the Korean War, but records are incomplete and an exact number cannot be given.

In 1940 the town women’s organizations, The Ladies Aid Society and the Woman’s Home Missionary Society, were united into one body, which is now known as the Woman’s Society of Christian Service. This organization carries on the traditions of service to the church at home and at large as were so ably set by the two earlier groups.

It may be noted with pride that fifteen persons have gone from the church into full time Christian Service. This list includes the names of Reverend James Shera Montgomery, who was chaplain of the United States House of Representatives and pastor of Calvary Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., the late Reverened Carl Reppert, and Mrs. Dorothy Seest Pate.

Rossville Church has grown through the years, but not until recently (remember - 1956) able to support a minister as a station church. Thus our church has been associated with the Sedalia, Moran and Kilmore Churches in different combinations as a circuit. In 1948, during the pastorate of Reverend Stanley Rolston, Rossville became a station and claims the minister for the one church.

The church now (1956) claims a membership roll of 413 persons, and finds itself well housed in the church facilities. Sixteen organizations, classes, and choirs serve these people, and the children who are yet too young for membership. This is a fitting tribute to those who over 125 years have labored with their hands and loved God through Christ Jesus, that the kingdom’s work may be done among the community of Rossville, Indiana.