THE EARLY HISOTRY OF PARKER CITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1851
On November 15, 1851, the original plat of Morristown (now Parker City) was put on record at Winchester, Indiana. According to the history of Randolph County, a Methodist Church Society has existed in Parker City ever since the town was started.
1851-1872
Prior to 1872, our society held its meetings in an old frame building which was located on the northeast corner of Main and Washington Streets, or in a room of the old frame school house located on the southeast corner of Main and Washington Streets. The society was originally a part of the Windsor Circuit.
1872
After being at the mercy of landlords and school officials for a number of years, during which time the membership was increasing in numbers and influence, the idea of a permanent church home was conceived, and in 1872 ground was purchased on the northwest corner of Washington and Franklin Streets, and the first Methodist Espicopal Church of Parker was built. At the time of building the first church, forest timbers were plentiful and the frame timbers were donated and hauled to the building site by various members of the church, while others brought huge boulders to bury in the ground for a solid foundation. The structure when completed measured 30 feet by 50 feet, and served the needs of the congregation until 1898. Rev. E.S. Preston was the pastor when the first church was built.
Some of the more active and enthusiastic head of families upon whom the burdens of building and maintaining this first church rested upon: Sanford Arbogast, C. Boughn, Ephriam Cecil, Ezra Cecil, Z.W. Cecil, Dr. Martin L. Conner, James Daugherty, Peter Deal, Charles Dotson, E.M. Friddle, I.C. Gunkel, A.J. Hamilton, Margaret Harty, James Huston, Robert N. Huston, Cerena Jones, James H. Jones, John A. Jones, William Jones, John Morris, William F. Reed,
John R. Scott, Mrs. Kate Souders, and Polly Yates. Some who later became prominently connected with the church were: Belle Daugherty, William H. Bullock, Adelia Bantz, S.A. Arbogast, Kelly Cecil, M.M. Meeks, D.F. Olivin, E.J. Arbogast, Flora Yates, Elsie Williams, Henry and Josie Pierce.
The Parker Society was transferred from the Windsor Circuit to the Selma Circuit about 1872.
1896
In 1896, Parker was organized with Windsor, Locust Grove and Grace Chapel to form the Parker Circuit. The charge was placed in the Muncie District, and was served by James E. Ferris for 1896 and 1897. In 1898, Calvin Graves began planning to remodel the church as soon as he was appointed here. The work was completed and the church reopened late in the fall. The result was a wonderfully changed interior, but there was no more room provided to meet the ever growing needs of the society.
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