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sermons; and no minister in all the region was called
on to officiate at so many marriages.
His well known business ability and integrity cre-
ated a large demand for his services in settling estates,
and the division of property and not in a single case
was there a suspicion even, of injustice in his dealings
and decisions. He was married to Miss Sarah Whit-
ney of Van Buren in 1844 and husband and wife la-
bored together in the Master's service for many years,
and when their work was done they gladly gave all
they had to the building up of Franklin College; and
not only their own gifts�they influenced many others
to give. The Northeastern Association stands cred.-
ited on the college treasurer's books with $23,432. The
Rev. C. H. Blanchard was a man of natural dignity,
genial and engaging in manner, and his friendship was
sought by not only his own brethren but also by good
men of all denominations in his locality. He was a
recognized leader in all moral reforms, but his main
effort and hope were in the plain fearless proclama.-
tion of the doctrines of the gospel. He died in 1898
recognized as one of the strongest ministers in Indi-
ana; his wife followed him to the good land in 1902.
SALAMONIE ASSOCIATION--(COUNTIES OF HUNTING-
TON, WELLS, ADAMS, BLACKFORD, JAY AND
DELAWARE).
This Association was organized in 1840, but the first
annual meeting reported was held in 1841. The fol-
lowing ministers were present at the organization:
the Revs. R. Tisdale, Nathaniel Richmond, G. C.
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Chandler, T. C. Townsend, A. Neal and F. G. Bald-
win. The Rev. Robert Tisdale was chosen moderator
and R. D. Tisdale, clerk. Doubtless the spelling and
grammar found in a note in the first minutes are to be
credited to both clerk and printer: "All business of
the Association were decide by unannamous vote."
The first anniversary was held with the Marion
church, Huntington county. The Rev. R. Tisdale was
again chosen moderator and the Rev. F. G. Baldwin,
clerk; there were five churches in the body with a
total membership of 108. The moderator was ap-
pointed a delegate to the Indiana Baptist Convention,
and resolutions were passed recommending the Indi-
ana Bible Society, the Indiana Baptist Foreign Mis-
sion Society and the Franklin Baptist Manual Labor
Institute. At the fiftieth anniversary fifteen churches
were reported, and 1,200 members; Bluffton
church had 327 members and Muncie 141. At this
jubilee anniversary the Rev.. C. B. Kendall, who had
for many years been a pastor in the Association read
a historical paper from which many facts here given
are taken. He notes that the name of the Association
is taken from the river that flows through that terri-
tory, and that the river takes its names from the fact
that its waters were believed to be impregnated with
salts of ammonia. In 1838, on the spot where now
stands Montpelier was organized the first Baptist
church in all that region, and the Rev. R. Tisdale the
pastor was the only Baptist minister in that section of
six counties. At the end of the first decade the Asso-
ciation had fifteen churches; there was a gradual in-
