USA > Arkansas > History of Methodism in Arkansas > Part 25
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The Town of Argenta, on the north bank of the Arkansas River, is closely allied to Little Rock, and is a rapidly grow- ing and progressive town. There was a feeble society at this place for a number of years. Of recent years, how- ever, it has begun to improve, and is now an important ap- pointment in the White River Conference. In 1887 and 1888 a handsome brick building was erected, in which an excellent congregation has been gathered. This charge has enjoyed the pastorate of such men as George A. Dannelly, Dr. John H. Dye, E. C. Castleberry, M. B. Corrigan, Edgar M. Pipkin and R. C. Morehead.
OTHER METHODISMS.
We have seen that during the civil war in 1863, the M. E. Church took possession of the house on Second and Main and organized a congregation. When the M. E. Church, South, regained possession of their house of wor- ship, the M. E. Church secured property on Main street, be- tween Fourth and Fifth, on which they have built a large and handsome brick church. They have also built a frame house of worship on Marshall street, between Twelfth and
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Thirteenth streets. They also have a neat frame building in Argenta.
The various branches of colored Methodism have neat and comfortable houses of worship in the city. Among these are the Colored M. E. Church, African M. E. Church, Afri- can Zion Church and a colored congregation of the M. E. Church.
PINE BLUFF STATION.
The City of Pine Bluff is one of the most active business centers in the State, and has been one of the strongholds of Methodism in that part of the country for many years.
Joseph Bonne, who was the interpreter in the Quapaw treaty of 1818, was the first white settler at the place where Pine Bluff now is. John Derresseaux settled soon after this near Pine Bluff. About the year 1830 and a little before this a number of settlements were made along the river near Pine Bluff. Among these we have the familiar names of Ambrose Bartholomew, Antoine Dutchesson, David Musick, Euclid Johnson, the Vaughines, Francis Villier, Barraque DuBoyce, James Scull.
In 1832 the county seat was located at Pine Bluff. Among the first settlers were Creed Taylor (the first Sheriff of the county), William Kinkead, John S. Roane, Peter Gorman, W. H. Lindsay, S. Dardenne, J. J. Hammett, Joseph Fugate, Davis, Buck, Johnson and Wright. At a little later date we have Thomas Greenfield, Nimrod Kay, Robert and John Walker, Ambrose Hudgins, Judge J. W. Bocage, James Pike, Jacob Bump. These are all familiar names to the old citizens of the county. Following these, at an early date, we have Col. W. P. Grace, M. L. Bell, Drew White, D. W. Carroll, Thomas S. James, H. Bradford and. J. J. Hammett.
We have no exact date of the introduction of Methodism into that part of the State. The first circuit preaching of which we have any knowledge was in 1830, by John Henry. This was one of the appointments on the Arkansas Circuit,
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HISTORY OF METHODISM IN ARKANSAS.
which included Little Rock and the Arkansas Post. John Henry was succeeded by Mahlon Bewley. The Pine Bluff Circuit was formed in 1831. Of the extent of this circuit we have no means of knowing, but it doubtless included a large territory south and east of Pine Bluff. The first preacher on the Pine Bluff Circuit was W. A. Boyce, who traveled the work for two years.
The name of William P. Ratcliffe appears for the first time in connection with the Pine Bluff Circuit in 1833, where he remained for two years. From this time until his death, in 1868, he was one of the most conspicuous figures in the his- tory of the Church in Arkansas. He was succeeded by Fountain Brown, in 1835, a name that became prominent on account of the unjust treatment that he received at the hands of the Federal authorities during the war. In 1837, James Essex ; in 1837, William Ratcliffe was returned to this circuit ; in 1838, Jacob Custer ; 1839, Robert Cole and James C. Gross ; in 1840, James Graham ; in 1841, Stephen Carlisle ; in 1842, Daniel Crawford and D. L. Bell ; in 1843, D. Craw- ford. The Pine Bluff District was organized in 1844, J. Easterbrook, P. E. Pine Bluff Circuit, M. B. Lowry ; in 1845; Nathan Taylor; in 1846, G. W. Cottingham ; in 1847, A. M. Barrington.
The Pine Bluff Station was organized in 1848. The min- utes for this year read : Pine Bluff Station, A. M. Barrington ; Pine Bluff Circuit, Young H. Ewing. In 1849 Barrington and Ewing were returned to the station and circuit. The station was left to be supplied in 1850; Pine Bluff Circuit, G. W. Cottingham. The station was again placed on the circuit in 1851, where it remained until 1854, when it was again made a station. The appointments for these years were, Louis S. Marshall, H. R. Withers and William T. Anderson. In 1854, Pine Bluff Station, John Pryor ; Pine Bluff Circuit, Elijah Crowson. In 1855, H. R. Withers. The name of the Pine Bluff Circuit was changed to the Jefferson Circuit this
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year and filled by John F. Carr; in 1856, A. L. P. Green ; in 1857, A. L. P. Green ; in 1858, James G. Goodwin ; in 1859, P. C. Harris; in 1860, John M. Bradley; in 1861, C. O. Steele. From 1862 to 1865, Cadesman Pope; this embraced the war period.
It will be seen that Cadesman Pope was appointed to the station for four years in succession during the war. A por- tion of this time the appointment was a mere nominal one, as Pine Bluff lay within the Federal lines. From the time the Federal forces took possession of the city until the close of the war, it was impossible for a member of the Confer- ence to hold regular services in Pine Bluff. A part of the time the church was used by the army as a place of deposit for army supplies. The Church in Pine Bluff suffered very severely during this period, not only from the general de- pression that was upon the whole country, and the large drain that was made upon the male population to fill the ranks of the army, but there were special causes at work in Pine Bluff that greatly injured the progress of any form of Church work. The entire absence of any pastoral oversight for a long time, together with the divided condition of the Church, and intense bitterness of feeling that existed between the adherents of the Union and the Confederacy, was a com- plete barrier to anything like religious progress. The aliena- tions that were produced during this period continued to exist for many years after the close of the war; but happily for the Church they were finally healed, and for many years this has been one of the most harmonious and aggressive congregations in the Conference. The following list of pas- tors have been appointed to this important charge : In 1867, James M. Pirtle ; in 1868-70, W. C. Hearn; in 1871, Henry B. Frazee ; in 1872-75, Horace Jewell; in 1876-78, C. F. Evans ; in 1879-82, William H. Browning; in 1883, Edgar M Pipkin ; in 1884-87, John F. Carr; in 1888, Horace Jewell; in 1889-90, A. O. Evans: in 1891, J. R. Moore.
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HISTORY OF METHODISM IN ARKANSAS.
The first church built by the Methodists was at a very early day, and the site where it stood has long since fallen into the river. About the year 1850 a neat frame church was built on Main street, between what is now Fourth and Fifth avenues. In 1886 the congregation becoming too large for the old church, concluded to build a new brick church on Main street and Sixth avenue. This church was completed under the pastorate of John F. Carr, and is a handsome brick structure and an ornament to the city. In 1888 the population of the city had so increased that the building of a new church became a necessity. The second pastoral charge was formed, and a new church was built in the south- ern part of the city, known as Lakeside, and placed under the pastoral care of Charles Brinkley. Both of the pastoral charges in Pine Bluff have excellent parsonages for the ac- commodation of the pastors.
Among the old families that have lived in Pine Bluff and contributed to the prosperity of the Church may be men- tioned the Mills, Atkins, Bumps, Houstons, A. A. C. Rogers, Taylors, Stanfords, Wilkins, Whites, Steeles and Rozells. Coming down to a later date may be mentioned the Martins, Talbotts, Cleggs, Noels, Hollands and others of equal promi- nence who have contributed to the growth and prosperity of the Church in Pine Bluff.
Methodism has been firmly established in this city and is well prepared for aggressive work for Christ.
Adjacent to the Pine Bluff Station and lying within the Pine Bluff District, are the Toledo, Lehigh, Old River and Redfield Circuits, on all of which are some excellent coun- try churches and good congregations. The Toledo Circuit embraces the county town of Rison, in Cleveland County, at which place there is a neat church and parsonage. The Lehigh Circuit contains some excellent frame churches and good congregations. On these two circuits are living some old Methodist families who came to the State at a very early
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day. Among these may be mentioned the Harpers and the McGehees. S. M. McGehee, of Double Wells, is a mem- ber of that family so well known, not only in Arkansas, but also in Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. New Edinburg, Kingsland and Stuttgart are all neat villages and railroad towns that have given names to their respective circuits. In all these places the Methodist Church has the ascendency and is making progress all along the lines of Church work.
CAMDEN STATION.
The City of Camden is the county seat of Ouachita County, and is located on the west bank of the Ouachita River. It has been for many years the commercial, social and religious center of a large extent of the southern part of the State. It has also been one of the strongholds of Methodism, and was for many years regarded as one of the strongest stations .
in the Conference.
At a very early date a Frenchman named Fabre settled at the place where Camden now stands, and it became known as Ecore Fabre, or Fabres Bluff, by which name it was known for many years.
In 1810, the Tate family settled within the limits of the county, and this was the first permanent settlement made for the cultivation of the soil. The name of the Tates has been perpetuated in the county by the name given to one of its ferries, and some of the descendants now live in that part of the State.
In 1824, Mr. John Nunn settled at the place where his son, Ira Nunn, now lives. This was the first dwelling-house that was built in Camden, and is now occupied by Mr. Ira Nunn as a residence. Mr. Nunn states that the first preaching of which he has any recollection was held in this house, as there were no public buildings in the town that could be occupied as a church. Mr. Nunn does not recollect the name of the preacher that delivered the first sermon in Camden ; neither does he remember the exact date.
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He remembers that at a very early date Charles Seay, of whom mention has been made, preached in his father's house, and that for a time was a regular preaching place.
The Camden Circuit was formed in 1844, with John Kelly . as the preacher in charge. It was organized as a station in 1845, and left to be supplied. Previous to this time it had been within the bounds of the Union Circuit, which was di- vided in 1844, and the Camden and El Dorado Circuits were formed. The minutes of 1845 show a membership of 69 whites and 17 colored. Charles P. Turrentine was appointed to the station in 1846.
The following list of pastors will show that Camden has enjoyed the services of many of the most prominent preachers in the Arkansas and Little Rock Conferences. These names occur in the order of their pastorate, a number of them serving the full term of two and four years: John C. Kolby, Charles Turrentine, James W. Shipman, James E. Cobb, T. E. Garrett, William Moores, Samuel Morris, Je- rome B. Annis, A. B. Winfield, William P. Ratcliffe, William C. Haislip, Horace Jewell, A. R. Winfield, William P. Rat- cliffe, A. R. Winfield, William H. Browning, Horace Jewell, P. C. Archer, Cadesman Pope, James Mackey, R. B. Alston, Henry B. Frazee, Charles C. Godden, Alonzo Monk, Andrew Hunter, John Mclaughlin, J. R. Moore and John Carr.
From an early period in the history of Camden the Church not only enjoyed the ministry, but was also the home of some of the most effective preachers of the Conference. Among these were William P. Ratcliffe and A. R. Winfield, whose families lived here for many years, so that while they were occupying other fields of labor their frequent presence had a happy effect upon the Church.
The type of piety that was developed in the formative period of the life of the Church in Camden was of a most healthful and vigorous character, and has been in a large degree transmitted to the present time. Among the old
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Church families of Camden may be mentioned the Scotts, Agees, Hintons, Buchanans, Lightfoots, Stinsons, Proctors, Greens, Hodnetts, Rhymes, Elliotts, Morgans, Powells, Clarks, Jones, Darnells and others whose names I do not recall. Some of these are still living, but the greater part have passed away. Many of their descendants are now living in Camden and filling the places once" occupied by their parents and grandparents.
The writer's first acquaintance with Camden was in 1860, when it was his fortune to be appointed to that pastoral charge. At that time there was a membership of 194 whites and 106 colored. The Board of Stewards at that time was composed of Philip Agee, James Hinton, George Stinson, John Silliman, Green Hodnett, Sterling Buchanan and George Proctor. A more faithful body of men have seldom been assembled together for the transaction of the business of the Church.
At the time of which I speak Camden was regarded as - one of the finest business points in the State, and was the home of a large number of the best business men of the State, such as the Hills, Fellows, Hodnett, Green, Hinton, among the merchants; Warren, Grinstead, Leake, Bearden, Lyon, Green, Daly, Fellows and Bragg among the lawyers ; Hobson, Pace, Bragg and McElrath among the physicians.
In common with every other town in the State, both the Church and society suffered very greatly during the civil war. But few towns'in the South furnished a greater num- ber of officers and soldiers for the Confederate army than did Camden. It was the headquarters for a large number of regiments and companies for the army. The town fur- nished seven full colonels and other officers and soldiers from the surrounding country in proportion, and it also fur- nished four chaplains from its ministry for the army. The effect of the war upon the masses could not be other than disastrous upon the Church. All the male members of the
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HISTORY OF METHODISM IN ARKANSAS.
Church subject to military duty went into the army, and those who remained at home were in such a constant state of excitement that it was very unfavorable to religious prog- ress.
There was, however, no intermission of regular Church service during the entire period of the war. The Church organization was never broken, nor the pulpit ever vacant, nor the Sunday-school ever suspended a single day during that dark period.
The Church was visited with several very gracious revivals of religion during the time, at which not only many citizens, but hundreds of soldiers were converted. Among the preachers who were instrumental in these revivals were Wil- liam P. Ratcliffe, A. R. Winfield, William Moores, John F. Truslow, Dr. B. T. Kavanaugh, L. M. Lewis, and others whose names are forgotten. These revivals did much to- wards preserving the organization and perpetuity of the Church. The close of the war found the Church intact and ready for active, aggressive work.
The statistics for 1864 show a membership of 127 white and 56 colored.
For several years after the close of the war the Church en- joyed a large degree of prosperity, and was regarded as one of the strongest pastoral charges in the State.
The building of the Iron Mountain Railroad, however, turned a large part of the trade away from Camden, and in consequence the town declined in financial importance, and the population was greatly reduced in numbers. As a re- sult of this reduction in the population and the general de- pression that followed, the Church suffered in a loss of mem- bership, and in interest in all Church enterprises. Of recent years, however, there has been a very great improvement. Since the building of the Cotton Belt Road, and the Cam- den branch of the Iron Mountain Road, there has been a great change, and the town has largely regained its former
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prosperity, and now bids fair to become one of the most im- portant cities in the State. There has been a correspond- ing improvement in the condition of the Church, so that Camden is now regarded as one of the most important charges in the Conference.
While the Methodist Church has always been the leading denomination, the Presbyterians, Baptists and Episcopalians have respectable organizations in Camden. These are the only Christian denominations represented here. The Ro- man Catholics had an organization at one time, but owing to the small number of adherents it soon suspended opera- tions, and has not attempted to hold services for a number of years. There is a Jewish Synagogue and occasional services by the Israelites. The colored people have several organi- zations of Baptist and Methodist Churches.
The City of Camden, being in a large degree a typical American and Southern town, has been in closer sympathy with the people of the surrounding country than many other towns where there has been a very large foreign population. In consequence of this the Church in Camden has been in closer sympathy with the Churches of the surrounding country. Camden Station has been very closely identified with the other pastoral charges of the Camden District, and in consequence has exerted a very healthful influence upon the territory of which it is the social and commercial center.
The principal towns within the Camden District are Mag- nolia, El Dorado, Louisville, Hampton ; county sites of Columbia, Union, Lafayette, and Calhoun Counties. El Dorado Circuit was organized in 1844, Nathan Taylor, preacher in charge. Magnolia Circuit in 1853, John M. Bradley, preacher in charge. Louisville Circuit in 1854, William J. Scott, preacher in charge. Lapile Circuit was organized in 1850, James D. Andrew, preacher in charge. Falcon Circuit in 1857, James P. Hulse, preacher in charge. Ouachita in 1858, William Winbourn, preacher in charge.
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The appointments for Camden District in 1860 were, Camden District, A. R. Winfield; Camden Station, Horace Jewell ; D. J. Allen, supernumerary. South Camden to be supplied. Ouachita Circuit, Burton Williams, J. W. Turn- ley. El Dorado Station to be supplied. El Dorado Circuit, James P. Hulse, John C. Aikin, supernumerary. Lapile, C. O. Steele; Magnolia, Joseph G. Ward, William E. Echols ; Falcon Circuit, William H. Warfield, William Moores, su- pernumerary. Louisville Circuit, Lewis S. Marshall.
Of that company of Methodist preachers A. R. Winfield, David J. Allen, Joseph W. Turnley, J. C. L. Aikin, Joseph G. Ward, William M. Echols, James H. Warfield, William Moores, and Lewis S. Marshall have gone to their reward. Burton Williams is a member of the Arkansas Conference, C. O. Steele of the Pacific Conference, Samuel Morris of the Texas Conference, and Horace Jewell of the White River Conference.
The changes in the membership of the Church has not been so great, for while a large number of those who com- posed the membership of that day have passed away, there is a goodly number of them to be found in the Church of to- day. Stinson, Proctor, Brown, Agee, and others, familiar names of that day, are familiar names in the Church of to- day.
This sketch of the Church of the early days would not be complete without the mention of some of the excellent lay- men whose devotion and fidelity to the Church have con- tributed so largely to the success of Methodism in that part of the State.
Within the bounds of the Ouachita Circuit were such men as Daniel Pipkin, the father of Rev. E. M. Pipkin, the present agent for the American Bible Society in Arkansas ; Mallard Pipkin, and William Jenkins, the father of that devoted itinerant, Ambrose D. Jenkins, of the Little Rock Confer- ence ; William Rushing, a local preacher, whose memory is
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dear to all the people of that country ; . Dr. Bayliss, of Falcon, the father of Rev. Calvin Bayliss, of the Little Rock Conference, and - McSwain, the father of C. D. McSwain, of the Little Rock Conference; Col. Dockery, of Lamartine, the father of Mrs. Browning, wife of the Rev. Dr. Browning, of the Little Rock Conference ; Dr. Young, of the Magnolia Circuit; Dr. Charles Gordon, of the El Dorado Circuit, and Drs. Thompson and Wallace, of the Lapile Circuit, together with many others of equal merit and devotion to the Church.
The minutes for 1891 show the following pastoral charges and the numerical strength of each :
Camden Station 2II members
Camden Circuit 387
Ouachita 66 394
Carolina
ยท 440
Magnolia Station 210
Stephens and Waldo Circuit 383
Magnolia Circuit 361
Atlanta . 380
El Dorado
425
Lapile
44I
Hampton 66
365
Fordyce Station 200
Louisville Circuit 263
Bearden
310 66
Buckner
. 300
WASHINGTON.
The Town of Washington is not only one of the oldest towns in the State, but it is also the center of one of the oldest Methodist communities in Arkansas, and at an early day occupied a very prominent position among the centers of Methodist influence. The County of Hempstead, of which Washington is the county site, was created in 1818, - and the town was laid off in 1824.
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One of the earliest, if not the earliest Methodist settle- ments in the State, was at Mount Prairie, in this county. It is claimed by some that John Henry was the first Methodist preacher in Arkansas, and that he preached the first Metho- dist sermon at or near Mount Prairie. There is but little doubt that Henry's Chapel was the first Methodist Church built as a house of worship in the State. William Stephen- son was appointed to the Hot Springs Circuit as early as 1816, and Mount Prairie was one of the appointments on this work. In 1818 we have the organization of the Mound Prairie Circuit. The appointments read, Mount Prairie and Pecan Point, William Stephenson and James Lowery. In 1820 the appointments for Mount Prairie read, Gilbert Clark; Pecan Point, Washington Orr. In 1821, Mound Prairie, John Harris; Pecan Point, William Townsend. In 1822, Samuel Bassett and Gilbert Clark ; in 1823, John Blas- dell and Rucker Tanner; in 1824, Gilbert Clark and Rucker Tanner; in 1825, Green Orr and Rucker Tanner; in 1826 and 1827, Thomas Johnson; in 1828, James Kelly ; in 1829, Rucker Tanner and Jerome Berryman; in 1830, Nelson Bewley ; in 1831, H. G. Joplin and William Duke; in 1832, Fountain Brown and Lemuel Wakelee; in 1833, Richard Overby and J. B. Denton; in 1834, Henry Cornelius; in 1835, Henry Cornelius and W. G. Duke; in 1836, E. B. Duncan and Jacob Whitesides ; in 1837, Jacob Whitesides ; in 1838, Alexander Avery; in 1839, William Mulkey; in 1840, Andrew Hunter ; in 1841, Nathan Taylor.
The old citizens of this part of the State delight to speak of the old preachers who traveled in the early days of the Church in Arkansas. There were the Henrys, Shooks, Tanners, Orrs, Tennants, Clarks, Ogden, Sexton, Reid, Blackburn and others of that early day, the men who labored so earnestly and faithfully to establish Methodism in that- part of the State.
As early as 1822 there was a camp-ground built in 21-M
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Hempstead County, and called Ebenezer camp-ground. We have an account of a District Conference held at this place as early as 1822, some extracts from which are given in the body of this work.
The Washington District was organized in 1842, and the same year Washington Circuit was formed and took the place of Mount Prairie Circuit. The appointments for this year were: Washington District, Andrew Hunter; Wash- ington Circuit, J. Eastabrook.
The following is the list of pastors for the Washington Circuit until 1853: J. Eastabrook, J. J. Roberts, J. C. Kobly, Stephen Carlisle, John Cowle, James M. Shipman, Lewis P. Lively, G. W. Cottingham, J. J. Roberts, Samuel Morris, John H. Blakeley, Hazael Sugg.
The Washington Station was organized in 1853. The fol- lowing pastors have been appointed to this station in the or- der in which they occur in this list : Jerome B. Annis, William C. Young, A. B. Winfield, D. W. Epps, William C. Haislip, Julius A. Stanley, Cadesman Pope, Julius A. Stan- ley, M. H. Wells, Joseph G. Ward, J. A. Stanley, George E. Butler.
The Washington Station, like every other pastoral charge in the State, suffered a very great depletion in its member- ship during the war. In 1860 the membership was reported at 75 white and 100 colored members. In 1864 the number was 45 whites and 62 colored members, showing a very large decrease in the membership of the Church during these years.
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