The Ebenezer Cemetery near Hudsonville was one of the burial sites for many of the early settlers of Hudsonville and Harriison Township. It was located on Portorsville Road, now known as State Highway 257...
Captain Eli McCarty is buried here. He was the Commanding Officer of the 42ns Indiana during the Civil War and was wounded in the Battle of Perryville. After recovering from his wounds he was serving as a notifying officer for the draft in Daviess County, Indiana. On October 3, 1864, he was directed to notify Samuel and Thorton Slicer Jr. that they had been drafted. At that time feeling among some people in southern Indiana was running high against the continuation of the war. When he served the Slicers with the draft notice, they became angry and cursed and threatened him. McCarty continued on his way and stopped at the home of William Jackson for dinner. William had served under McCarthy in the 42nd Indiana and also had been wounded in both legs at the Battle of Perryville. He had been discharged as being 50 % disabled.
"While there, he {McCarty} manifested considerable uneasiness, which Jackson noticed, understood the reason therefor, and offered to accompany the Captain. This offered was refused . . . ." At the next stop which was down the road from Jackson's house, the Slicers and others equally opposed to the draft, jumped Captain MCCarty and shot and murdered him. "The Captain's horse with the empty and bloody saddle on his back, galloped down the road past Jackson's {home}. " History of Knox and Daviess County, 1886, Godspeed Pub. Co. pp's. 640-641; History of the 42nd Regiment, .
This photograph was taken in the late 1940's. I believe that it is the old Hudsonville Church.
Daniel Jackson and his son John platted Hudsonville on May 29, 1854. Then an addition was added by Daniel Jackson and his son Nelson Jackson on June 26, 1856. Daniel Jackson had organized the Methodist Church known as Jackson's Chapel prior to that date; however, on June 17, 1856, Daniel Jackson conveyed Lot 9, Hudsonville, to the Trustees of Methodist E. Church. In the deed it was stated that the church was to be known and designated as Jackson's Chapel.
