The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-16
MORRISTOWN'S BIG DAY
OLD MISSOURI HARMONY CLASS WILL
MEET NEXT SUNDAY.
HaverIin'S Missing $1,000 Found at
the Homes of His Two Married
Daughters-Other State News.
speciaI to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
MORRISTOWN, Ind, May 16.-The fourth
Sunday of May Is always the great day of
the year for Morrisrown. On that day the
Old Missouri Harmony Class assemblies to
sing again the songs of sixty years ago. The
youngest member Of this singing class is al
most seventy and the Oldest eighty-two.
But. while the singers are old and their
members few, no crowd of young folks
looks forward more eagerly to some holiday
than do these old folks to their annual sing
ing. This year the singing will be held on
May %, and the town, no doubt, will be
filled, as usual, by visitors. TIL surround
ing county seats always send in many Wis
itors and a number from a greater dis
lance attend the singing. Mr.. w. W.
woodward. a retired farmer, who lives on a
handsome farm a mile east of town, gives
a good history Of this famous class. Mr..
woodward is now seventy-five and his wife
is two years older, and both are members.
They celebrated their golden wedding an
niversary a couple of years ago, and there
is no couple, young or old, that tndS more
sincere pleasure in life than do Mr.. and
Mrs. woodward.
In 1896 DR.. D.. 5. McGaughey. came here
to what was then a very thinly settled
community. He was a trained vocalist and
possessed an excellent voice. The young
folks We're in the habit of meeting at the
homes and singing. DR.. McGaughey be-
came the leader, giving them the benefit OF
his knowledge. In 1885, a former officer or
Fayette county taught the class; The class
soon became SO large that there
was no room large enough ,tc
hold them, SO the building OF As
bury Chapel. in 1889. was hailed with great
joy. as it gave them d meeting place
which was ample. This church is still
standing, one mile north of town, in one
corner of the cemetery. Money at that
time was very scarce, and the contributions
for it's erection consisted liz lumber and la
Dor. But a new drawback appeared. COD
weather was approaching, and there was no
stove in the church. To remedy this evil
DR.. McGaughey charged the male members
of the class 30 cents each, teaching the
women and girls for nothing. The money
so raised was invested in a great, long box
stove, one which consumed an enormous
amount of wood. The first books used were
1.-The Missouri Harmony published by
Morgan a. Sanxey, a stereotype EDITION OF
them" Liberty and Rose of Sharon.
Other books were used, but did
not meet with the same favor enjoyed by
the old Harmony.
charm, but in 1872 it was suggested that an
cold folks singing be held on the fourth
Sunday in May. The Mission Harmony
was used and the class led by DR.. Nc
Gaughey, who died in 1884. continuing to
lead until his death. Since the first meeting
the fourth Sunday of May has been set
apart for old folks singing, and on May %
the few who are left of the once large class
will assemble TO sing again their old songs,
then part, and probably meet again next
year with fewer members than TINS. There
are now only seven resident members of the
original class-Bruce and John N. Johnson,
]. G. Spurrier, w w. Woodyard and wife,
Mrs. Handy and Mrs. Whitesides. A few
other old folks have in recent years Joined
the class and thereby swell the number
slightly.