The Universalist Church in Patriot was a key part of the Underground Railroad in Southeast Indiana. The church was founded in 1839. The church was located in the building where Reese’s Garage was located on Main Street. It has been owned and used as a garage by Bob Scudder for several years. The church had a vigorous anti-slavery congregation, and hosted the regional association meeting in 1844. Visitors to the church described its congregation as, “Excellent people and practical Christians who loved the truth, loved to talk about it, and loved to attend services in the sanctuary. An oasis in the desert, no controversy, no denunciation, but, peace, love and harmony combined.”
The Universalist Church in Patriot was the crossing point for Steeles’ Creek and the Big Bone area in Gallatin and Boone Counties of Kentucky. (Information from the “Southeastern Indiana’s Underground Railroad Routes and Operations,” a Project of the State of Indiana 2001).
I am researching and trying to find out more about the Patriot Universalist Church. If anyone has information, please feel free to contact me.
The Mottier Family were very prominent citizens of Patriot and Posey Township. They owned a farm on Goose Creek, also owning a large vineyard. The Mottier family had come to the United States from France. They were part of the family of the Marquis de Lafayette. David Mottier was born in Patriot in 1864. He attended school in Patriot and after graduating, earned a BA from Indiana University in 1891 and a MA from Indiana in 1892. He received a PHD in Biology and Botany from the University of Leipzig in Germany in 1898. Mottier served as a Professor of Botany at Indiana University from 1891-1937, serving as the Botany Department Chair for 39 years. Mottier Hall at Indiana University was named for him in 1959.
The Patriot Baptist Church recently set their 2023 schedule for special services including:
• March 5th: hosting an evening Lenten Service for the Long Run Association. Time TBA.
• July 18th, 19th, 20th: Bible School 5:30-7 p.m. each day.
• August 5th: hosting Long Run Association Brotherhood Prayer Breakfast at 8 a.m.
• October 22nd: Homecoming Service and Luncheon 11 a.m.
• November 12th: Annual Veteran Service and Luncheon 11 a.m.
• December 17th: Christmas Service and Jesus Birthday Celebration 6 p.m.
As a kid, I always enjoyed going to my maternal grandparents in Gallatin County, Kentucky. We had to cross the river on the ferry boat, usually using the ferry that crossed into Warsaw, via the landing, just east of Florence. They lived on a farm off Montgomery Road when I was younger and later moved to the little area called Ethridge when they left the farm. Ethridge is just a few houses on the road on US 42, between the Markland Bridge today, and the Sunset Grill. Their house was right along the road, and back then, before I-71, I suppose, it was the major road between Cincinnati and Louisville. The road was extremely busy, bumper to bumper, with lots of semi-truck traffic. There was a little store there owned by the Hunter family. At one time, it was owned by the Bladens, Rachel and Shona’s family. It was a treat to walk to the store, especially when you depended on the once-a-week Huckster, to get a “coke” and candy bar back home on Meades Ridge. For some reason, we referred to any “soft drink,” as a “coke”. There was also a little restaurant along the road between Ethridge and the Dam. I am guessing it went in when they were building the Markland Dam. After my grandparents left Ethridge, they moved to a “larger” town, Sanders, in Carroll County. I should have mentioned earlier that my maternal grandparents were Bennie and Myrtle Jones, and my Great Grandmother was Mary Barnhill, or “I-ma” as everyone called her. My Great Grandfather who had died earlier was Frank Barnhill, or “I-pa” as we called him. My wife, Marlene, says that “I-Pa” was the forerunner to the “iPod”….. I-pa’s brother, my great-uncle, Jesse also lived with them. Jesse was a World War 1 veteran, and amazingly, the only utensil he ever used when eating was a knife. Yes, that included soup! I never understood why he never used a knife or fork! Sanders opened other avenues of opportunities. There were two stores, and also the railroad, which was across the street from my grandparents’ house.
We were particularly intrigued by the hobos. That was before you were told not to talk to strangers! When the trains would stop, we would wander over to talk to the hobos. Sometimes they would give us change to run to the store to buy them something. We met some pretty interesting people for sure. A trip to Ogden’s Store usually meant a 16 oz. RC and a Moon Pie. I can still remember the taste. It seems like the drinks were colder in the glass bottles than they are now in cans or plastic. My grandparents would always have so much food. It seemed that they had cooked for a week! After lunch the boys in town would gather over in the railroad yard or the field by the “old men’s home” to play baseball. Sometimes we would go fishing in Eagle Creek. By 5:00 p.m. or so we would have to start packing up to go home, since the ferry closed at 6:00 p.m. If you missed the ferry, or it closed early due to weather, you would have to drive to Madison or Cincinnati to get back to Indiana! When we left, I can remember all of the family standing out on the porch waving until we disappeared out of sight. Great memories, and my, how much I’d love to go back in time and take one of those trips again!
I attended the Lady Pacer’s game at Rising Sun on Tuesday evening. The Pacers’ won the JV game, but unfortunately lost the Varsity game.
Going to Rising Sun is always a “trip down memory lane” for me. There has always been a close connection between Patriot/Posey Township and Rising Sun, due to proximity. When I was growing up, we often went to Rising Sun when we went to “town” since it was closer than Vevay. When I would go to Rising Sun with my grandfather, it was usually a half or full day trip! My grandfather would go to the Rising Sun State Bank, Mace Uhlmansiek’s Barber Shop, Siekman and Stearns Insurance to visit Billy Bob and Becky Dilts and Eleanor Salyer, Collins Department Store to check out the new DC Bibbed Overalls, Knigga’s Feed Mill, Pete Maurer’s Drug Store, Tracy Duncan’s Department Store, and Owen Dugle’s High Street Grocery. There was also Doctor Fessler’s office, which was the “go to” for any illness or malady.
Many times, we would go out Fifth Street to visit Buck Thomas, Margaret McGuire, Aubrey Robinson and Willie (J.C.) Thompson. We would stop by Carroll Chase’s garage, and of course as a kid, I was always hoping for a candy bar or a box of Cracker Jacks! My dad would often leave his car parked on Main Street and meet friends to share a ride to Seagrams in Lawrenceburg where he worked. Hardly anyone locked their vehicles back then, and many times dad would come back to Rising Sun and find Everett (Snip) Wiley asleep in his car waiting for a ride home! He had probably been to the tavern on lower Main Street! Rising Sun, like a lot of small towns back then, had many small businesses on Main Street. Times have surely changed since then. Many small businesses have been driven out by the big chain stores. I remember Rising Sun having a small Kroger’s Store on Main Street. Things were much more personal back then, as well as much simpler times.
We have so many beautiful trees in Patriot! We, who live here, too often take the beauty around us for granted. Several years ago, former United States Senator, Birch Bayh was coming through Patriot, and his first remark to me was, “Mike, I have never seen so many large Oak and Tulip Poplars as you have in and around Patriot”! We have a large Tulip Poplar and Oak in our yard, and of course, the beautiful grand Sycamore in front of the old school lot is majestic as well! I was always told that the Pine trees behind the old school lot were planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression as a wind-break to help protect the schools. A few of them are still standing strong!
It was great to see Dale Wayne Powers in Vevay on Friday. Dale Wayne and his brother, the late Irvin Powers, grew up in the community and attended Patriot school.
It’s always great to go to the Homecoming basketball game at Switzerland County High School. Congratulations to the King and Queen, Aiden Griffith and Mckaila Peelman! Posey Township resident Carly Bennett was second runner-up. Carly, is the daughter of Joe Bennett and Lisa Craig Lloyd, and the granddaughter of Randy and Chris Craig, all of Posey Township. Posey Township residents, Kobe Roark and Gracie White were also in the Homecoming Court. Kobe is the son of Kelley and Dennis Roark and the grandson of Connie Adkins and the late Jack Adkins, and the great grandson of the late Bob and Geraldine Konradi. Gracie is the daughter of Shannon and Eric White, the granddaughter of Bob and Sonny Anders, and the great granddaughter of Ray and Ruth Jones. (Yes, I’ve been around awhile lol). By the way, the Pacers also defeated South Decatur, 55-51!
Mason Jones went tubing at Perfect North Slopes with family and friends on Saturday for his birthday. They met for lunch at LaRosa’s before going tubing.
Barrie’s Tidbits
“We cannot stop the winter from coming. We cannot stop the spring or the fall or make them other than they are. They are gifts from the Universe that we cannot refuse. But we can choose what we will contribute to life when each arrives.” — Garry Sukhav
Flora “Jean” Bunger Jones (PHS 57) celebrated her birthday last week. Jean’s Mother was a Reese and she is the cousin of Dollie, Mary Lynn and Billie as well as others. Happy Days Jean.
Marilyn Kinman Devers (PHS 63) is due home from the hospital any day now where she has been under observation. Get well Marilyn!
Jeremy Fisk and family are celebrating the birth of his Grandson Aston Wayne. Both Aston and his mother, Aaliyah are doing well. Other family members that are fussing over him are his Great Grandmother Linda Fisk and Aunt Amber Fisk Cole. All are welcoming him to this planet and will help to take very good care of him. Welcome Aston. Love you guys.
Pamela Fisk Hutchinson (PHS 67) asked me to be sure and tell Mike how much she enjoys reading the Patriot News that he writes and I thought, “sure will”, I will do it openly for all to see and to pass that praise along to Mike, from all of us that read the news. Thanks Mike.
I have been hearing about the great menu the Patriot General has been offering. Go one and all for a bite! First place I will go when I come home in the spring! Say Hi to Linda and staff from me please!
Dollie Reese Green (PHS 58) is looking forward to her weekend guest, daughter, Charla Green Azbell. Have fun !
Mike’s Closing
That’s all for this week, remember to send news, history, etc. to me at (812) 290-3088, or mike1405@earthlink.net; or to Barrie at (828) 335-8270 or barrieleewatters@charter.net. Until next week, in the words of the Glen Campbell song, remember to “Try a little kindness, and shine your line for everyone you meet”.