Snapshots of History: Wishard Chapel
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Wishard Chapel Church in years gone by.
By Mike Avitt
As I was researching James B. Wishard I came up with more questions than answers. But, I did get some answers, so let’s see how Wishard Chapel was named.
The first mention I found of Father Wishard was in 1879 when the Mount Ayr Post Office placed a notice in the newspaper alerting people of letters that had not been picked up. This was probably due to Wishard spending much time in Union County.
I found no evidence that Wishard was a circuit rider (traveling preacher) nor did I find evidence that he was ordained. He was called “Father Wishard” more often than he was called “Rev. Wishard.”
But, as has been recorded in history, he was a resident of the Ringgold County Poor Farm at the time of Wishard Chapel’s construction. And the Ringgold Record newspaper states that Wishard raised a total of $800 for the church that would bear his name.
How did he do that?
Father Wishard had many friends and solid contacts. One of those friends was Rev. P. J. Vollmar who organized several Methodist congregations in Ringgold County.
Vollmar didn’t build churches, but congregations did, and Vollmar was involved with the dedication of Wishard Chapel (1887), Fry Chapel (1888), and Mt. Zion in Riley Township (1887), all Methodist Episcopal Churches. Rev. Vollmar came to Mount Ayr in 1884 as pastor of the M. E. Church here.
A church social was held in October 1887 at Wishard to raise the last money needed to complete the church building. $66 was raised with the social which included food and the Mount Ayr Cornet Band.
Dedication was observed November 13, 1887. Now let’s get to Wishard’s obituary before I run out of space.
James B. Wishard was born November 20, 1800 in Virginia and married while young and a daughter was born to this union.
It was believed he gave his life to Jesus Christ while in his 20s. He began to move west about 1830 and it was thought he arrived in Ringgold County about 1866.
His obituary says he was married three times. I found evidence his first wife is buried in Union County (1859). I found no evidence of his second wife. His third wife is mentioned by name, Sarah Powell, and she is buried at Bethel Cemetery (1880) under the name Sarah Powell. I don’t know what to make of that.
Probably around 1875 the Mount Ayr M. E. Church ordained Wishard a Deacon.
In 1888 Rev. Wishard was provided a home in Mount Ayr by his church family so he spent his last three years with the home he loved.
Father Wishard died March 26, 1891 at the home of I. C. Tuttle in Mount Ayr. Tuttle was later the owner of the Willow Home boarding house so I think Wishard was residing in an earlier boarding house run by Tuttle.
James Wishard is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr and is the only person named “Wishard” buried there.
It is very uncommon for an evangelical church in Ringgold County to be named after an individual. I only know of two: Wishard Chapel and Fry Chapel, both built in 1887 and both Methodist Episcopal Churches.
The Ringgold County Poor Farm was located three-fourths of a mile south of present-day Wishard Chapel.
Previously, residents of the poor farm attended religious services at Side Hill School, one-fourth of a mile south of the poor farm.
Oh, yes, congratulations to Wishard Chapel in their new church building!
