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A Brief History
of First Baptist Church, Evansville,
Indiana
Some of
the information for this history has been taken from a book published in
1923, and titled “History of the First Baptist Church, Evansville, Indiana;
1847-1923”.
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Timeline
of Southwestern Indiana Events
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December
16,
1811 |
New
Madrid Earthquake. |
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March
1812
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Hugh McGary purchases 440 acres on
river. |
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June
1814 |
Town of Evansville established.
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January 7,
1818 |
Vanderburgh County created.
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January 1847
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Evansville granted a charter as a City
by State of Indiana.
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1847
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The First Baptist Church,
Evansville, Indiana, was organized by Nicholas V. Steadman,
missionary to Indiana from the Baptist Home Missionary
Society.
The first membership consisted of two men and three
women.
The first pastor was Rev. N.V. Steadman.
The meetings were then held in a small school over the
engine house on Second Street, between Main and Locust
Street. In 1857 the congregration built on Second and
Clark Street.
History from Recent Church Bulletin, Dec. 1921 |
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Summer
1853 |
Wabash-Erie Canal completed.
This canal connected
Evansville with Lake Erie. |
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August
28, 1854
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First Free High School established in
Evansville. Evansville
High later came
to be Central High. The oldest established
high school west of the Allegheny Mountains.
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April
1865 |
End
of the Civil War.
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1867 |
The
building at Third and Cherry Streets, was erected.
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April
1921
Groundbreaking at
Fourth & Cherry |
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February
19, 1922
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“DEDICATION OF NEW BAPTIST CHURCH FEB. 19, 1922”
(From
the Baptist Observer)
“February
19, 1922, the main auditorium was opened for use and the
building dedicated to the worship of God.”
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Pastors of the First Baptist
Church
from 1847 –
Present |
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Began
Ministry |
Pastor |
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July
4,
1847
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Rev. Nicholas V. Steadman
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Nov
2,
1850
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Rev. Joseph Dixon
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Sept.
1855
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Rev. H. Robb
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Sept.
1856 |
Rev. F. D. Bland
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Jan.
1859 |
Rev. H. A. Cook
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July
8,
1861
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Rev. T. E. Veach
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Mar.
4,
1865
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Rev. Isaac Bloomer
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Feb.
1866 |
Rev George F. Pentecost |
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Dec.
6,
1868
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Rev. Dr. Sam’l Baker
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Apr.
1870
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Rev. A. C. Caperton
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Nov.
1871
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Rev. S. F. Thompson
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June
1878 |
Rev. Dr. A. B. Miller
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Feb
1885
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Rev. Ira D. Hall
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Nov. 13,
1887
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Rev. F. C. Cather
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No
Picture Available |
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Dec. 9,
1888
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Rev. D.
Heagle, Ph.D., D.D.
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1894
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Rev. Wm. T Cross
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No
Picture Available |
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1896
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Rev. Wm. Thomas
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Dec.
1900
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Rev. E Faxon Osborn
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Oct.
1903
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Rev. W. A. Whittle
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Oct.
1906
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Rev. Henry Happell
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No
Picture Available |
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July
1910
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Rev. Alfred Garrett
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Dec.
1911
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Rev. T. Valentine Parker
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Sept.
1914
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Rev. C. M. Dinsmore
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Jan.
1916
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Rev. J Frederick Rake
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Pastor
Emeritus until 12/51
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Rev. J Frederick Rake
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Feb.
1950
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Rev. Dallas West
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Feb.
1956
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Rev. Alva E.
McKinney
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Oct.
1970
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Rev.
Eugene Ton
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June
1978
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Rev. Ivan Joseph Hodge
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April
1986
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Rev. Rae Bartle
(Interim Pastor)
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Aug.
1987
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Rev. Reginald Mills
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Dec.
1996
Pastor
Emeritus 2006-Present |
Rev.
Posey Gaines
(Interim
Pastor) |
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Aug.
1997
|
Rev. Leonard Harmon
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Nov. 28, 2004 |
Dr.
Bob I. Johnson, Ph.D.
Interim
Pastor |
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January 2007 |
Dr.
Joel F. Drinkard, Jr.
Interim
Pastor |
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April 2007 - June 2007 |
Dr.
Bob I. Johnson, Ph.D.
Interim
Pastor |
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Information on the
history of First Baptist Church supplied
by
the History Committee;
Chairperson: Margaret Pride
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