HELENOR ALTER DAVISSON Interpretive Center
Rev. Helenor M. Alter Davisson
August 24, 1866 - Rev. Helenor M. Alter Davisson was the first female ordained in any domination now part of the United Methodist Church.
Helenor's Life
Helenor was born in Pennsylvania on January 24, 1823 to Rev. John and Charity Vanausdale Alter. In 1835 Rev. Alter moved his family to Greenfield, Indiana. Helenor's mother died two years later leaving Helenor with responsibility for her seven younger siblings. Rev. Alter would marry two more times and provide Helenor with 10 more half-brothers and sisters.
Helenor married John Draper in Henry County, Indiana on February 22, 1842. John died circa 1861. During their marriage the couple resided in both Henry and Jasper Counties. The 1862 Grand Prairie Circuit records show Helenor back in Jasper County attending Methodist Protestant meetings. Helenor married her second husband, Thomas H. Davisson, on March 4, 1864.
Helenor was ordained as a Deacon by the Methodist Protestant Church August 24, 1866 at the old stone house on Rev. John Alter's homestead. This old stone house, is one of the cluster of historic sites today, and was built from stones quarried on the property. Ordained at the same time was Helenor's father-in-law Rev. Moses E. Davisson. Helenor is the first ordained female in any of the denominations making up the current United Methodist Church.
The Jasper County Historical Society has copies of certificates of two marriages officiated by Helenor in Jasper County during her years of service with the Grand Prairie Circuit of the Methodist Protestant Church.
Helenor was quite ill the last few years of her life and died at the age of 53 on October 9, 1876. Her father, Rev. John Alter, died a week later.
Historic Site Landmark Dedication
On August 24, 2014 the Helenor M. Davisson Cluster of United Methodist Historic Sites was dedicated by Dr. Michael Coyner, the Resident Bishop of the Indiana Area. The marker and a clergy medallion were placed at her Sandridge Cemetery grave site.
The landmark cluster includes Helenor's grave site, her father's old stone house, and the Jasper County Historical Society Museum.
Methodist Protestants in Jasper County
The Methodist Protestants were one of the first religious denomination in Jasper County. Rev. John Alter and his daughter Helenor Draper first held Methodist Protestant services on the Alter property northwest of Remington in 1849 in a grove of walnut trees that became known as Alter's Grove.
The JCHS Museum was originally built by the Free Will Baptist Church and sold to the Methodist Protestants in 1902. It remained their property until 1916. Although this was after Helenor's time, its significance in the history of the Methodist Protestant Church and is included in the Landmark Cluster.
Painting by Clay Michael Powers of Columbus, Georgia
Page Table of Contents
Tombstone of Rev. Helenor M. Davisson
at Sandridge Cemetery, Barkley Township, Jasper County, Indiana
The hymn "Sister Thou Wast Mild and Lovely" was sung at at her memorial, Oct. 9, 1876.
Sister, thou wast mild and lovely,
Gentle as the summer breeze,
Pleasant as the air of evening,
When it floats among the trees.
Dearest sister, thou has left us;
Here thy loss we deeply feel;
But 'tis God that hath bereft us:
He can all our sorrows heal.
Archive Listing
The Jasper County Genealogist and the Jasper County Historical Society have embarked on a project to copy church records from all denominations in Jasper County. We are currently working on Methodist church records. The Lee Church is located in White County but belonged to some of the early church circuits that covered Jasper County. Records were frequently copied from one ledger to another and time frames for the records overlap. The following records, which have been copied and placed in three-ring binders, are available for researchers at the Jasper County Historical Society Museum. The museum is open the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10 am to 1 pm. Appointments can also be made with the Jasper County Genealogist Sue Caldwell (219-866-7739 or 219-863-3508).
The Church Record of the Methodist Episcopal Church Rensselaer Circuit CA 1885-1892
History
Letter dated Sept 1890 or 1898 from Rev. Simmons regarding compilation of records (last digit difficult to read)
List of pastors 1884-1893
Record of official members stating if they were a preacher, exhorter, steward, leader, trustee, or Sunday School Superintendent; when licensed appointed or elected; when official relation ceased
Record of Neverfail class and class No. 6 showing leader, time and place of meetings
Notice about Parker Church becoming part of circuit and change of class 4 meeting place
Members
List of members in full connection. Records show when received, state in life, how received, when received, when and how removed, and space for remarks (i.e. married, moved to, etc.)
A record of the building of Pleasant Grove church in 1885
Probationers
List of probationers showing state in life, residence, when received, by whom received, when baptized, number of class, when and how disposed off
Marriages
Three 1885 and 1886 marriage records
Baptisms
Baptisms 1890-1892—some show whether infant or adult, name of parents, date of birth, place of baptism, officiating minister
Recipe for “Hair Restorer from Mrs. Griswold”
The original book is the property of the Jasper County Historical Society.
Rensselaer Methodist Episcopal Church ca 1883-1894
History
History of Rensselaer church
First funeral, first marriage, first person to unite with church by letter
Pastoral and Statistical data
Members
Membership lists of four classes
Probationers 1883-1893
List of members undated (one 1837, several 1872)
List of members in full connections 1886-1894 plus some undated
Marriages
1882-1895 (shows occupation of male, residence, where married, officiating minister
Baptisms
Baptisms 1883-1894
Barkley Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church Records ca 1892-1906
History
Brief history of church in Jasper County from 1832 to 1895
District and local pastoral appointments 1836-1933
Pastoral statistical data
Members
Probationers 1893—1903
Members in full connection 1892-1906
Baptisms
Baptisms 1894-1901
Marriages
Marriages 1893-1898
Barkley Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church Record ca 1900-1906
Members
Members of Barkley M E Church September 20, 1905 (name and address), children baptized 1905, member removed (no date)
Members of Lee M E Church Sept 20, 1905 (name and address), associated members, members removed without certificates, children baptized June 11, 1905
Members of Gillam M. E. Church September 20, 1905 (name and address), members removed without certificates, child baptized in 1904
Members of Parker M. E. Church September 20, 1905, baptized probationers, probationers not baptized, associated members of the congregation, child baptized July 2, 1905
Pastoral Records (Rensselaer Circuit, Francesville Circuit, and Barkley Circuit)
Members
Members in full connections (includes deceased, where moved or transferred, married names) Churches named: Lee, Barkley, Gillam, Osborne, Francesville, Medaryville
Probationers
Baptisms
Baptisms 1900-1902
Marriages
Marriages 1900-1902 with 1 from 1906
The original record is property of Trinity United Methodist Church in Rensselaer, IN. Copy of ledger is available for research at the Jasper County Historical Society.
Methodist Episcopal Church record for Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in Rensselaer, IN 1909-1915
History
District and Rensselaer pastors in 1909-1915
Newspaper articles from 1912-1915
Members
Membership includes staff and students at the Monnett School for Girls through 1915
Members in full connection through 1915 (with when died, where transferred or moved)
Probationers from 1907 through 1915
Baptisms
Baptisms 1910-1915
Marriages
Marriages 1909-1915
The original record is property of Trinity United Methodist Church in Rensselaer, IN. Copy of ledger is available for research at the Jasper County Historical Society.
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church Rensselaer, IN 1915-1926
History
Pastors from 1833 to 1934
1933 Centennial Celebration notes
Baptisms
Children baptized 1916-1926
Adults baptized 1915-1928
Members
Members in full connection including many members connected to the Monnett School for Girls
List of probationers 1915-1933
Marriages
Marriages 1915-1920
Misc: Subscription list for purpose of erecting a parsonage—payment due Feb. 1, 1901
The original record is property of Trinity United Methodist Church in Rensselaer, IN. Copy of ledger is available for research at the Jasper County Historical Society.
Trinity Methodist Church records by Rev. H. L. Adams 1956-1958
New members and preparatory membership list 1956-1959 – Includes some baptisms
Baptisms 1956-1958
Marriages 1956-1958
Funerals 1956-1958
The original record is property of Trinity United Methodist Church in Rensselaer, IN. Copy of ledger is available for research at the Jasper County Historical Society.
Lee Membership Register 1933-1970
History
Brief History of Lee Church
Map of Lee, Indiana showing church, home and store locations
DePauw University Archives record transfer information
Baptisms
Baptisms from 1933 to 1983—compiled in 1970
Members
Many undated, 1 from 1914, balance 1933-1970
Lee Methodist Membership Roll genealogy file.
Baptisms (3 only)
Membership Roll
Two sided sheets contain detailed family information including family names; husband’s occupation; residence; when received; birthdays; baptism dates; some death records, where transferred from; and how, when, & where removed
Both Lee Methodist records are property of DePauw University Archives. A copy is available for research at the Jasper County Historical Society.