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The Rev. C. R. Henderson, D. D., became pastor
of the First Terre Haute church in 1873 and served
in that capacity for nine years. While pastor there
he became deeply interested in working men, and so
remarkable was his influence with them, that when a
strike was impending he was able to persuade the men
not to undertake it. At the close of a pastorate of
ten years of the Woodward Avenue church, Detroit,
Michigan, he was elected professor of sociology in
the University of Chicago. He is now not only a
teacher of the subject, but also an authority--espe-
cially in the lines of public charities. Other ministers
of the Association equally able and successful, but
whose names are not as widely known, are such as
the Rev. E. G. Taylor, who took an interest in the
general denominational affairs of the state, and was
regarded as one of the leaders in the convention.
Elder S. K. Sparks was born in Kentucky in 1785,
ordained at Plum Creek church in that state, moved
to Terre Haute in 1835, organized a church there and
was pastor for five years; organized the Mount Zion
church of which he was pastor twenty-nine years, and
was an active worker in the organization of the New
Providence, Salem and Second Terre Haute churches.
Elder Joseph Liston was born in Maryland in 1782,
moved to Vigo county in 1815 or 1816, united with
the Maria Creek church and was baptized by Elder
Isaac McCoy; in 1824 he joined the Union church, of
which he was a member fifty years, and was active
in the formation of the Curry's Prairie Association.
He died in 1875.
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Elder Abram Stark was born in Pennsylvaina in
1781, was baptized into membership in the Eighteen-
Mile church in Kentucky in 1800; coming to Indiana
he was pastor of Union church fourteen years, Sec-
ond Prairie Creek seven years, Little Flock six years,
and for limited terms was pastor of Friendly Grove
and Mount Pleasant churches. He died in 1857.
Elder W. B. Eldridge was born in Kentucky in
1792, moved to Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1818, was
ordained at the request of Second Prairie Creek
church in 1835, and served the church as pastor for
thirty-one years. He suffered a paralytic stroke
while in the pulpit at Union church, from which he
never recovered.
Elder Samuel Sparks was born in Kentucky in
1786, and baptized at the age of fourteen. He knew
what it was to fight Indians, and in 1806 was a mem-
ber of the Kentucky militia that was organized to
repel a supposed invasion of the State by Aaron Burr
in his southern expedition. He came to Indiana first
in 1812, but finally' returned to Kentucky on account
of the fierce hostility of the Indians. He was ordained
at the request of Plum Creek church in 1834 and
shortly afterwards returned to Indiana, settling ten
miles south of Terre Haute, and in 1836 made Terre
Haute his home. He assisted in the formation of
many of the churches and was pastor of one of them
for twenty-nine years. He was permitted to baptize
1,200 persons during his ministry, and of these twelve
became ministers. He did not ask nor expect any
remuneration for his ministerial services, and so
