Ancestors in 1853 chose to live in Sullivan because of its good Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is Methodist because his mother was Christian church, father Presbyterian, and they chose Methodist as compromise. Many rural churches, but few survived. Notes that Jonathan Creek Christian Church is about 130 years old & Sullivan Methodist established in 1850. Mechanization and coming of cars made church attendance lower. Mechanization caused drop in number of farms and families. Automobiles let people choose churches other than the nearest one. They also made it possible for people to do others things on Sundays. Churches were center of social activities, prayer meetings, Sunday night services, evangelistic campaigns.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Chautauqua big and important. It combined lectures and entertainment.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Family also offered activities; neighbor visits, Sunday dinners.
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
School activities at Sullivan High School, a township school. He and sister started 1919. She had skipped three grades, he one. Drove a horse and buggy every day. High school had football, basketball, and track teams, a chorus, hot lunches in winter. Had music and lecture program (Star Course). Offered typing and bookkeeping; woodworking. Once a year basketball tournament in Decatur. Superior education. He was expected to work hard.
