Sunday, April 14, 2024
DAR Recognizes Winners of Good Citizen Essay Contest
(L to R) Bradley Todd Tusing, Mason R. Deak, Ellie Jean Gosser and Emily Elizabeth Tyree were winners in this year’s DAR essay contest. | photos submitted
Bradley Todd Tusing, a senior at Triton Central High School, is this year’s Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Essay Contest winner for Shelby County.
Mary Mott Greene chapter of DAR sponsors the contest annually. Guidance department staff or teachers select one student as their school’s Good Citizen. Each Good Citizen participates in the contest by submitting requirements that include an essay written on a topic provided by the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution.
A panel of judges then selects one of the Good Citizens to represent the county at the state competition level. Judges review each Good Citizens’ personal accomplishments within school and the community during their academic careers, letters of reference, grade transcript, and future plans.
Tusing is the son of Ryan and Allison Tusing of Fairland. When he graduates next month from Triton, Tusing plans to attend a Christian college to pursue a degree in ministry. He hopes to be a pastor or youth pastor of a church “to inspire a young generation of new students, employees, and members of society to become trustworthy and faithful leaders in the world. It’s clear the world needs more peace, kindness, and love in every area. I intend to do my part to make that happen.”
Representing their respective schools as DAR Good Citizens are:
Mason R. Deak, a senior at Morristown High School, son of Patrick Deak of Morristown. After receiving his high school diploma on June 1, Deak plans to attend the University of Georgia, University of Cincinnati or Butler University to begin his college studies with the hope to ultimately earn a doctorate degree in astrophysics.
Ellie Jean Gosser, a senior at Southwestern High School, daughter of Amanda Jean Gosser of Flat Rock, plans to pursue a career as a veterinarian with the focus on bovine reproduction when she graduates next month from Southwestern.
Emily Elizabeth Tyree, senior, Waldron Jr.-Sr. High School, daughter of Stacey Ann Tyree, Waldron, plans to attend Hanover College to major in Biology after Waldron High School’s spring commencement.
Beneath the Steeple: The Fiery Trials of Rev. Ulysses S. Johnson
by GEORGE YOUNG
A seemingly innocuous mention in the Shelbyville Republican on November 3, 1921, noted:
"Rev. Ulysses Johnson of near Kokomo is moving his household goods today to Waldron, where he will assume charge of the Baptist church."
Little did anyone anticipate the tumultuous events that would engulf the church and almost everyone in Shelby County.
The Republican reported the news of an attempt to burn the Waldron Baptist church on Thursday evening, May 10, 1923, causing $800 ($15,000 in 2024) damage that reportedly was fully covered by insurance. Coincidentally, an adjacent article in the paper mentions a huge planned Ku Klux Klan demonstration parade in Shelbyville that was expected to draw 7,500 people the following Saturday evening.
One week later, on May 17, 1923, Rev. Johnson of the Waldron Baptist was questioned by the arson department of the State Fire Marshal's office in Indianapolis. Initial reports stated the fire was discovered on Thursday night at about 10 p.m. It was found that coal oil and gasoline had been sprinkled on the floor and splashed on the walls of the church's interior. Gasoline had also been placed in the basement of the building. Two empty five-gallon cans were found in the church by people who arrived to aid in putting out the fire. An immediate investigation was started. That evening, Wayne B. Alter’s bloodhounds from St. Paul were brought in to assist in the search for the arsonists. The dogs lost the scent at the railroad. The fire caused an estimated $800 in damage. Newspaper reports noted Rev. U.S. Johnson had been delivering lectures for the Ku Klux Klan for several months before the fire.
The fire marshals called 50 to 60 witnesses to appear behind closed-door hearings. Waldron residents offered a $1,700 ($30,000 in 2024) reward for the arrest and conviction of the person(s) who set fire to the church.
Rev. Johnson and his wife told the fire marshal that they arrived home that evening around nine thirty after visiting with friends. He reported hearing a sound outside the window and thought someone was trying to enter the house. His life had been recently threatened on several occasions, so he turned out the lights. He grabbed his gun and gathered his family to retreat into a back room. He reportedly noticed a light in the church, but his wife feared people would harm him and stopped him from leaving. He attempted to phone in a fire alarm, but just as the operator answered the call, the phone wire at the minister's home was severed.
Ralph Moore soon passed the house and spread the alarm of fire throughout Waldron. Many people gathered and fought the fire with a bucket brigade. The fire in the main auditorium was extinguished before doing more than just charring the flooring. The Sunday school room, however, was severely burned. A posse of Waldron citizens led by Sheriff Deputy Jesse Smith searched the area until early morning without finding a trace of the persons involved. The Rev. Johnson stated he had noticed two men prowling near his garage but could give no description.
On June 14, 1923, the Fire Marshal continued the investigation, calling more witnesses from Waldron residents and church officials. The investigators questioned the financial condition of the church.
Rev. Johnson was arrested and held on Arson charges at about 2 p.m. on June 28, 1923. He was released from custody at 10 p.m. that evening after providing the court with a $10,000 bond. Dr. D.F. Randolph, William Acra, George Haymond, and J.O. Bryson were Waldron residents and Baptist church members who provided the bond for the minister. The entire town and surrounding counties were abuzz with news of the arrest. There were significant differences of opinion among his congregation members and the citizens of Shelby County over the arrest.
Rumors were rampant that Rev. Johnson would resign or be asked to resign. On August 2, 1923, a leading member of the Waldron Baptist church stated to the newspaper that Rev. Johnson would start another year on September 1 as pastor of the Waldron charge. Reportedly, the 17-member official church board voted unanimously to continue Rev. Johnson as their pastor.
About a month later, Rev Ulysses S Johnson was found bound and gagged beside the tracks of the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Traction Company a half-mile east of Waldron on a Wednesday night, Sep 6, 1923. His clothing was torn and his eyes were closed from the effects of pepper. I & C motormen reported that as they were leaving Waldron station at 11 p.m., they saw something roll from the side of the track as their car went by, so they made a report at their next stop. The next interurban into Waldron found the minister lying bound in a ditch beside the track. They took him to Dr. D.F. Randolph's office for treatment. He was unable to talk but wrote a note of his experience.
He wrote that as he passed an alley in Waldron, three or four masked men attacked him and threw pepper in his face. He was overcome, and his hands and feet were tied with wire. They carried him along the Big Four railroad tracks for about a half mile. He was then dragged over to the interurban track and placed across the rails a short time before a car was due. He wrote he was able to work his way off the track a few seconds before the car passed.
Elisha Crosby, a deputy sheriff who investigated the pepper incident, found evidence of a struggle in the alley where the minister said he had been attacked. The pastor's tie, collar, and glasses were found at the scene. Footprints were found along the Big Four tracks, and evidence of a struggle was found as he was dragged to the interurban track.
As the pastor recovered, he recalled the attack on his life and said it was probably provoked by his work for the Ku Klux Klan. He said that evening he was traveling to the home where his family had been staying for several weeks after receiving threats to his life. He said after the assailants knocked him to the ground, they whispered. “Now we’ve got you where we want you. You’ve delivered your last lecture and organized your last Klan. If you tell us how to get into the Klan and where you meet, we will not kill you.”
Rev. Johnson's first Arson trial didn’t start until Monday, February 4, 1924. Before his testimony, Johnson rejected the customary oath, “swearing to God,” and took a simple affirmation, “a personal vow.” During questioning, he admitted that he had asked the truck driver carrying his furnishing to Waldron not to divulge where he was going to his former residents and not to tell the Waldron folks from where he had come. Many questions Johnson answered, “I do not remember.” After deliberating for nine hours, the trial ended deadlocked on Sunday at 1:15 a.m. after fourteen votes. The last ballot was reportedly nine to three for acquittal. The prosecution said they would retry the case.
On March 22, the pastor was jailed again for the lack of bondsmen. The four men who had initially provided a bond of $10,000 appeared in court with him and asked to be released from their bond. Efforts to find other bondsmen were fruitless. The four men who previously posted his bond were members of his church and had supported him in his first trial. They refused to give any reasons for their withdrawal of the bond.
In the middle of the night on April 5, St. Vincent Catholic church was burned to the ground by alleged KKK arsonists. This caused a massive outcry from the community, one side claiming the Klan was responsible and the other side claiming it was an inside job to throw blame on Johnson. This fire caused damage of $80,000 ($1.5 million in 2024) and was also investigated by the state fire marshal. Kerosene-soaked debris was found near the church, like that of the Waldron Baptist church. The retrial of Rev. Johnson was set to start on April 21. These two churches are only four miles apart.
The first day of the retrial was spent selecting a jury. Two of the principal points brought by the state included testimony that Johnson had schemed for a new church building before the fire and that a can of oil and charred canvas found in the church were believed to be articles belonging to him. They charged that the pastor discouraged the use of bloodhounds in search of the persons who set the fire. They reported that he had said, “The bloodhounds might track some innocent person.”
Witnesses at the scene said that the church walls were sprinkled with gasoline, and Johnson made no effort to help fight the blaze. They even said he warned volunteers to stay out of the church, saying, “It was dangerous.”
Ralph Moore, a witness, claimed that he heard Rev. Johnson exclaim during the fire, “Let her burn.” On his way home, he was driving by and noticed the fire. He went to the parsonage to notify Johnson, and stated that the pastor replied he had already known of the fire. Moore, with the help of neighbors, broke down the doors and put out the fire using a bucket brigade. He stated he did not see the pastor helping with the rescue. He also told of the pastor later calling the men of the church into a secret meeting and telling them of a double telephone system to his house and that someone had cut only one of the wires on the night of the fire. Earlier, he claimed he tried to phone in an alarm, but the line had been cut. Why didn’t he try the second line?
Sheriff Jesse J. Smith identified two cans and a mass of charred canvas taken from Waldron Baptist church the night of the fire. He stated that the minister told him one of the cans appeared to be his property and that the defendant did not try to help him with the investigation.
S.A. Moore testified that Rev. Johnson had told his congregation the Sunday after the fire that no one should discuss the fire, for the Klan had ears and eyes. He also said that one Sunday before the fire, Johnson had shown the congregation plans for a new church, which he had drawn.
However, a truck driver, Thomas Hurst, described hauling chairs from the church on the day of the fire and testified that he noticed no material piled around in preparation for a fire. Albert Dugan, who lived near the church, said he had heard two young men talking there just a few minutes before the fire. Alpha Jones testified that he traveled with the pastor to Shelbyville a few days after the fire and heard John Mikiss tell Johnson that he believed it was the Catholics that set the fire.
Earl McNeely said he heard a car driving by the night of the fire. He said the machine was an open car carrying four passengers, one wearing a short, stubby beard. The car stopped within 500 feet of the church and drove away a few minutes later. George Clayton, McNeely’s roommate, corroborated the story, adding that he didn’t recognize any of the men.
J.O. Brinson and George Haymond testified that the morning after the fire, they discovered tracks in a field east of the church but found nothing. Brinson denied on cross-examination that he had conversations with other Waldron residents, saying, “It doesn’t make any difference whether Brother Johnson is guilty or not; he is our minister, and we must uphold him.” Mrs. May Johnson testified that she was with her husband the entire evening before the fire on May 10, 1923. They had both attended a meeting of the Baptist Young Peoples Union.
A garage owner, Edward Knight, testified that he heard Rev. Johnson say, “Don’t go in; there are explosives in there, boys.” This testimony was corroborated by R.O. Pearson, pastor of the Waldron Methodist church. Harold S. Weimer, assistant state fire marshal, testified concerning pieces of fuse and rubbish found in the church after the fire.
F.A. Moore and Pleas Trees, former trustees of the church, testified they had not contributed to the church's support and had not attended services regularly because they had lost confidence in Mr. Johnson as a preacher.
After the state called 37 witnesses and the defense called a dozen, the jury received the case at 1:50 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, and the verdict was reported at 8:40 p.m. that evening. The jury acquitted Rev. Johnson after seven ballots. Ed K. Adams and Emerson Brunner from Shelbyville, and Ed Jackson, the Indiana Secretary of State, represented Johnson.
Rev. Charles B. Atkinson took over the Waldron Baptist church sometime in 1924, shortly after the second trial ended. Rev. Johnson eventually relocated to the Detroit, Mich., area, where he served as a pastor for 20 years before passing in 1946. Ulysses S. Johnson was born in Union, Tennessee, on December 29, 1886, and passed away in Detroit on July 20, 1946.
This story of Rev. Ulysses S. Johnson's tumultuous tenure at Waldron Baptist Church in the early 1920s serves as a stark reminder of the religious tensions that simmered beneath the surface during that era. What began as a routine announcement of a new minister's appointment quickly escalated into a series of harrowing events fueled by suspicion, prejudice, and fear.
The attempted arson, the attack on Rev. Johnson's life, and the subsequent trials cast a shadow over the community, exposing deep divisions and conflicting loyalties. Religious affiliations became entangled with accusations and counter-accusations, with the Ku Klux Klan looming ominously in the background.
The burning of St. Vincent Catholic Church only intensified the atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion, leaving the community grappling with questions of culpability and justice. As the trials unfolded, witnesses provided conflicting testimonies, further muddying the waters of truth.
In the end, Rev. Johnson was acquitted amidst a flurry of allegations and courtroom drama. Still, the scars of the ordeal lingered, serving as a poignant reminder of the fragile harmony that existed, and sometimes shattered, along religious fault lines in 1920s America. We may never know who was responsible for both these church fires.
NOTEBOOK:
Horseshoe Indianapolis Casino in Shelbyville reported business was stronger in March than in February, but just shy of revenue from March 2023. The casino reported $28.5 million in adjusted gross revenue last month, up from $24.3 million in February, but down slightly from $29.2 million in March 2023.
NATIONAL NEWS: Enterprising actors are making money by pretending to be podcasters or guests on video for the purposes of advertisements, all for the sake of injecting at-a-glance believable social content for TikTok that feels otherwise native to the platform. These faux podcasts shill a product, and the hope is that the casual scroller is distracted enough that they think it’s just an actual podcast clip. One actor who sells his services to brands is paid $195 per one-minute ad, and clears between $9,000 and $16,000 per month. Brands are now actively seeking actors willing to play guests on scripted or staged podcasts, essentially the TikTok version of the 4 a.m. infomercial airing on cable. (Bloomberg/Numlock)
The Addison Times publishes essential news and historical content to build our Shelby County community, and is free thanks to the generosity of supporters. Those who donate a minimum of $5 a month (or $60 one-time) receive an exclusive quarterly Addison Times magazine as an appreciation gift.
Want the daily edition read to you? Struggling with your email provider filtering out your local news? The Addison Times Substack app will solve those challenges!
This Day in Shelby County History
2014: Plans were finalized for Shelbyville High School’s May Fest. The Lord and Lady Mayor would be Alton Anspaugh and Molly Madden. Court members were Rebecca Blackburn, escorted by Devin Graham; Samantha East, escorted by Matthew Wethington; Emeilia McCullum, escorted by Adam Johnson; Brooke Pence, escorted by CJ Floyd; Kylee Scott, escorted by Jimmy Lardin; Claire Scudder, escorted by Jake Atwood; and Kailyn Wilson, escorted by Jim Winkle. The Crown Bearer was Cooper Needham and the Train Bearer was Laura Hendrickson.
2004: “There was only one thing noticeably absent from the first large public meeting on writing a new Comprehensive Plan for Shelby County - the public,” The Shelbyville News reported. Every one of the three dozen in attendance at the meeting, held at Morristown High School, was there in some sort of official capacity. The director of the Indiana Land Resources Council said growth was coming to Shelbyville faster than the rest of the Indianapolis area. The next meeting would be in Shelbyville.
1994: A Fountaintown man who said he was trying to hide from a woman who was following him was arrested in Morristown for carrying a handgun without a permit. The woman who was allegedly following the man was arrested for drunk driving. Morristown Town Marshal Henry Albrecht had intervened when he noticed a car with no headlights on at 2:17 a.m. sitting in an alley.
1984: A 16-year-old Shelbyville boy was arrested after holding up an attendant at the Checker gas station on W. State Road 44 with a handgun and escaping with $100. Deputy Police Chief Russ Mason investigated the case.
1974: One of the biggest physical changes in Public Square history was underway with the three-building complex that formerly housed the Major T. Jester Department Store, Bradley Hall Furniture Store and Breedlove’s Mens Wear being razed. The area would be the new site for the First Federal Savings & Loan Association.
1964: A dump truck driven by Morris Richerson went out of control and turned over after hitting a chuckhole on Old Franklin Road, two miles west of Shelbyville. The truck had been hauling dirt from the city’s extensive ditch-cleaning operation. Both the truck and a fence owned by Morris Mallory were damaged.
1954: Dwain Bass of Flat Rock was named as a competitor in the fourth annual Little 500 Bicycle Race at Indiana University. Thirty-three four-man teams, each representing an I.U. men’s housing unit, were qualified for the 50-mile race in Memorial Stadium, which was patterned exactly after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway race.
1944: Shelby County was officially without fire protection as the city and county failed to reach an agreement regarding paying for services. County officials had skipped two meetings arranged to discuss the matter. City officials had contended it was necessary to add an additional fireman to the department, and the county should pay for it. The county only wanted to pay part of the additional salary. A fire truck had been supplied to the county through public donations. The fate of the truck was unclear.
1934: Commencement exercises scheduled in Union Township were postponed indefinitely due to a measles epidemic. The services had been scheduled at Little Blue River Baptist Church.
“Shelby County dog owners who wish to keep in good grace of their township assessor, township trustee and county prosecutor, are advised to pay their dog tax by May 1,” The Republican reported.
1924: City employees prepared and cleaned the Joseph Memorial Fountain in the center of Public Square. A new crop of goldfish, to be placed in the fountain, were scheduled to arrive in a few days. The smaller fish would be placed in the larger aquarium at first, while larger ones would be brought in the middle of summer. The fish would be supplied by M.A. Beagle of Waldron.
1914: City Council granted local women the right to plant trees, vines and shrubs in the city park on Arbor Day. The women were following plans created several years’ prior by a Chicago landscape architect. “There is now $511 in the fund for the beautification of the park site, but the city does not seem anxious to assist in the work of beautifying the place,” The Republican said.
OBITUARIES
Bryan Craig Hopkins, 58, of Indianapolis, passed away on Friday, April 12, 2024.
He was born July 7, 1965, in Beech Grove, the son of Billy Dale and Ruth Anne (Thorpe) Hopkins. On September 1, 1995, he married his wife of 28 years, Holley Huber, and she survives.
In addition to Holley, Bryan is survived by his parents of Shelbyville; son, Chazz Huber of Indianapolis; daughters, Rayna Hopkins of Evansville, Jalynne Gorman and husband, Stephen of Carmel, and Nova Hopkins of Indianapolis; sister, Deborah Dent and husband, Wade, of Cincinnati, Ohio; brother, Jeffrey Hopkins and wife, Tracy, of Fishers; and several nieces and nephews.
Bryan attended Triton Central High School and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Guam.
He formerly attended in the Pleasant View Baptist Church.
Bryan was a veteran of the Indiana Army National Guard for 15 years.
He enjoyed playing the piano, writing his own songs and doing the nunchucks.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 pm, Friday, April 19, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville.
Funeral services will be at 7 pm, Friday, at the funeral home, with Rev. Dr. Robb Barlow officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Vibrant Emotional Health, c/o Development Office, 80 Pine Street, Floor 19,New York, NY 10005.
Online condolences may be shared with Bryan’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Marilyn S. Sheek, 83, of Greenwood, former Shelbyville resident, passed away Friday, April 12, 2024, at Greenwood Meadows.
Born June 12, 1940 in Terre Haute, Indiana, she was the daughter of Jesse South and Agnes (Trench) South. She married "I.D." David Sheek on September 23, 1962, and he preceded her on May 15, 2022.
Survivors include a son Matthew D. Sheek (wife Toni) of Whiteland, a daughter Ann Warren (husband Tom) of Steven's Point, Wisconsin; 3 sisters- Peggy Legion of Joshua, Texas, Juanita Jackson (husband Rollin) of Greenwood, Beverly Earl of The Woodlands, Texas; five grandchildren, Matthew Paul Sheek, Zoe Warren, Nathan Warren, Whitney Hardacre, Bonnie Prince (husband Andrew)Andrew five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her spouse.
Mrs. Sheek had lived in Greenwood for 2 years, after moving from Shelbyville. She graduated from Greenwood High School in 1958, and was a member of Greenwood Christian Church. She had been a medical technician/lab technician with Veterans' Administration for several years, retiring in 1972.
Marilyn enjoyed baking, reading, and attending Bible Study at her church.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with Dr. Jim Records officiating. Burial will be in Miller Cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday morning from noon until the time of the service.
Memorial contributions can be made to: Truth Christian Ministries, PO Box 24560, Indianapolis, IN 46209-2495, International Disaster Emergency Services, 4545 Southeastern Ave., Indianapolis, IN. 46203-2307, or FAME (Fellowship and Medical Evangelist), in PO Box 379, Noblesville, IN. 46061-0379.
To know your history is to know yourself.