Blog post by Randi Richardson
The Lilly Library at Indiana University, Bloomington, has a number of items relevant to the history of Monroe County. Among those items is Session Book 2 for the Reformed Presbyterian Congregation at Bloomington. This book covers the period from 1838 to 1860 and includes a list of baptisms from January 1, 1838. A digital image of the book is available online at http://cdm16066.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15078coll29/id/1549/rec/3.
Bloomington’s Reformed Presbyterian Church, c. 1900, at Walnut and S. Third. Courtesy photo IU Archives.
Like other church records, the session book is valuable because it shows church business, church membership, when people joined the church and how; resolution of disputes and actions taken against church members who did not follow church policy. Some deaths were noted, for example, Dorrance B. Woodburn reportedly departed his life on October 23, 1856, at the age of 70 years, two months and seven days.
As of September 26, 1858, according to information from Session Book 2, the whole number in the congregation was 100. Baptisms at the church, which were written as a single list in Session Book 2, are noted below and shown in in order of appearance:
- June 10, 1838—Margaret Small, infant
- July 8, 1838—Sarah M(illegible) Tate
- October 1, 1838—Margaret Keeny, infant
- June 16, 1839—James Hervey Keeny, infant
- August 25, 1839—Jane Small, infant
- May 11, 1840—Elizabeth Louise Matilda Wylie, infant
- May 11, 1840—Joseph Small, infant
- May 11, 1840—William John Dinsmore, infant
- May 11, 1840, Thomas Craig Woodburn, infant
- September 27, 1840—William Wallace Tate, infant
- May 31, 1841—Elizabeth Jane McQuiston, infant
- May 31, 1841—Andrew McKinley
- November 14, 1841—Jane Small, infant
- February 6, 1842—Sarah Ann Keeny, infant
- May 2, 1842—Richard Dennis Wylie
- May 2, 1842—Andrew Dinsmore
- October 16, 1842—Alexander Cathcart Small
- February 25, 1844—Amelia Elizabeth Galletly
- June 23, 1844—Jane Dinsmore
- September 30, 1844—Martha Jane Blair
- September 30, 1844—Margaret Wylie
- September 30, 1844—James Thomas Campbell McKinley
- May 3, 1846—Euphemia Blair
- May 3, 1846—Martha Jane Keeny
- July 19, 1846—Susan Emma Wylie
- August 30, 1846—Margaret Jane Blair
- November 8, 1846—Matilda Ann Galletly
- April 4, 1847—Theophilus Wylie Densmore
- May 23, 1847—Laura Adelaide Woodburn
- February 27, 1848—Joseph Stewart Alexander
- February 27, 1848—Rebecca Wylie Alexander
- February 27, 1848—Rachel Almira Alexander
- June 18, 1848—Nancy Jane Small
- June 18, 1848—Theophilus Morrow Glenn
- June 18, 1848—Edward Graham Glenn
- August 20, 1848—Mary Margaret McQuiston
- August 20, 1848—James Francis Blair
- May 6, 1849—Walter Emmet Woodburn
- May 13, 1849—Helen Rosana Stormont
- August 21, 1849—Samuel Brown Wylie
- May 12, 1850—Matilda Hannah Dinsmore
- May 12, 1850—James Niel Blair (Emma Blair’s name is written in a different color ink to the side of James)
- March 16, 1851—Sarah Adeline Glenn
- June 15, 1851—William Hill Blair
- December (no date given), 1851—Elizabeth Amelia Stormont
- October 11, 1852—Theophilus Andrew Wylie; (No date given, written below Theophilus Wylie)—John Robert Blair
- April 16, 1855—William Riddel Small
- April 16, 1855—Ida Lizzie Woodburn
- April 16, 1855—Franklin Stormont (No date given, written below Franklin Stormont)—Hannah Elizabeth Blair
- June 15, 1856—William Theodore Blair
- November 30, 1856—Zenas Leander Stormont
- June 28, 1857—James Albert Woodburn
- August 7, 1859—Louisa Margaret Stormont
For more information about Monroe County churches, check out the church files at the Monroe County History Center.