homes. Some of the Goshen residents moved about half a mile south and formed a settlement that was officially platted and named in 1840 by Talbott Sharp and Ellison Cale. The place was called Palestine. In 1852 the name was changed to one that is now more familiar – Poseyville. The Year – 1815; The Event – The Birth of Our Church Before leaving for the far west, Jonathan Jaquess and wife, who were members of the Episcopal Church and knew they would find no church of this kind in their new home, asked their rector with what church they should unite. He told them, “You will find Methodists there, unite with them, for they are the best people in the world.” As soon as they could, they opened their home to the circuit rider. In the autumn of 1815, the first class was formed in this part of Posey County by Amos King at the residence of Jonathan Jaquess and consisted of Jonathan Jaquess, Rebecca, his wife, and Katherine Rankin, their daughter-in-law. During the same autumn, Rebecca and Amelia, daughters of Jonathan Jaquess and Anna Gale were added to the number. The class was officially organized as a church in the year 1816. This was the beginning of the
Methodist Church in what is now known as Poseyville. The Jaquess home was located about one mile northwest of the present Town of Poseyville on land that is owned now by Jesse Marse. Soon after building his log cabin, Jonathan Jaquess’ home became a regular preaching place for the circuit rider. It was not only a place to preach but a place of rest. One room was set apart as the preacher’s room, and always called by that name. In this room they rested and wrote. The first Methodists who rode the
circuit in this county were Reverends Thomas Amos King and Tommy Davis, who came in 1815 and 1816. The “Good Old Days” (The following is edited from notes and receipts by Katherine Jaquess Roberts Johnson, written by Sarah Bozeman.) “Services were conducted differently then from now. Often, the only hymn book in the congregation was carried by the preacher, who lined the hymns, which consisted of reading two lines, the congregation joining in the singing, continuing thus until the whole hymn had been sung. The minister or someone in the congregation leading. Sermons were often an hour long, followed by an exhortation (sic) of almost equal length of local talent.
St. Paul’s UMC History
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