USA > Arkansas > History of Methodism in Arkansas > Part 26
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In 1868, Columbus O. Steele, who remained in the station for three years. Then follows the list of pastors in the fol- lowing order : Philmer C. Archer, S. G. Colburn, C. O. Steele, C. D. McSwain, F. M. Winbourn, John Mclaughlin, L. B. Hawley, L. M. Keith, A. W. Robertson, J. R. Sanders, J. R. Cason, J. H. Gold.
There has been a very great decline in the population and
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commercial importance of Washington since the comple- tion of the Iron Mountain Railroad. Several towns sprang up on the road, notably Hope and Prescott, that carried away a very large part of the trade formerly received by Washington. Among others quite a number of Methodists moved to points on the railroad, a large proportion going to Hope, the nearest town of much size. The Town of Hope has been regarded the last few years as one of the best charges in the Little Rock Conference. Prescott has also developed into a most excellent pastoral charge, so that within the last few years the center of influence has left Washington and gone to other towns within the district. In all the principal towns and neighborhoods within the bounds of the old Washington District the Methodist Church has the ascendency, and is thoroughly established in the respect and affection of the people.
The foundations laid in the early days by such men as Stephenson, Henry, Harris, Custer, Whitesides, Avery, Mulky, Hunter, Dr. Biggs and others, have securely withstood all the changes that have taken place during all these years. Men of more recent date, and younger men have entered these fields and successfully carried on the work so well begun by the pioneers of Methodism in the early days of the Church in that part of the State.
There are a few names connected with the Methodism of that part of the State that deserve more than a passing no- tice at the hands of the historian.
The name of Jacob Custer frequently appears in connec- tion with the work of Methodism in that portion of the State. His name first appears in connection with the Ten- nessee Conference in 1835. He transferred to the Arkansas Conference in 1837. From that time until 1847 he continued to travel circuits, stations and districts to the great accepta- bility of the people in every charge he filled. He located in 1847 and settled in Howard County, then a part of Hemp-
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stead County. He began the practice of medicine soon after his location, and has for many years enjoyed a large prac- tice and is regarded as one of the best physicians in the State. Dr. Custer has continued to preach as a local preacher to the great delight of the people in the country where he lives, and is justly regarded as one of the best preachers in the State. But few men have been able to wield the influ- ence for good that has characterized the life of Dr. Custer
The name of Dr. Biggs deserves a place in the history of this part of the State as one of the most faithful and efficient local preachers that ever labored in the State. He was also a practicing physician of note in that part of the State. He was at one time President of a medical school and has written several medical works. He has three sons in the traveling ministry-A. C. Biggs and W. H. H. Biggs, of the West Texas Conference, and Josephus Biggs, of the Little Rock Conference-all of whom are faithful, devoted and successful traveling preachers. For many years the name of Dr. Biggs has been a tower of strength in all that part of the State. His preaching was of a very high order of ability, which, added to his great moral worth, made him one of the most efficient and popular preachers.
An examination of the appointments of the Conference will reveal the fact that the growth of Methodism has been equal to anything it has enjoyed in any other section of ter- ritory in Arkansas. The Methodist Church occupies a re- spectable position in every town, village and neighborhood, and in many of them it is the leading denomination in num- bers and influence. A few of the old pioneers still linger on the shores of time while the great body of those who did such faithful service in the early days have gone to their re- ward. Those who remain rejoice in the success that attends the labors of the younger men who now occupy the field. A bright future lies before the Church in all the territory occupied by the Washington District.
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EL DORADO.
El Dorado is the county site of Union County, and gives the name to the circuit within the bounds of which it is lo- cated. The town was laid off in 1844. Union County was organized in 1829, and was created out of portions of Hemp- stead and Clark Counties. This portion of the State was originally included in the Ouachita Circuit. The first preacher was appointed to this charge in 1833. The ap- pointments read Ouachita Circuit, Henry Cornelius ; in 1834, N. Keith ; in 1835, to be supplied ; in 1836, Fountain Brown ; in 1837, Enoch Whateley.
The Columbia Circuit was formed in 1838, and was served by pastors in the following order: Peter Gorman, James C. Cross, Ethan E. Byron.
Union Circuit was formed in 1841 : Arthur W. Simmons, A. Avery, J. Eastabrook.
The El Dorado Circuit was formed in 1844. The follow- ing pastors have served this charge in the order in which they are named, some of them remaining on the work two, three and four years: Nathan Taylor, Samuel D. Aikin, Mason B. Lowry, Calvin M. Slover, J. Eastabrook, J. W. Shipman, Lewis P. Lively, J. H. Blakeley, William Moores, C. P. Turrentine, J. C. L. Aikin, John J. Crouch, John M. Bradley, Benjamin Kellogg. A. B. Winfield, A. Camberlin, Thomas A. Graham, E. A. Stephenson, James P. Hulse, J. L. C. Aikin, M. C. Manley.
This brings us to the close of the civil war. Like every other portion of the State, these pastoral charges in the southeastern part of the State suffered greatly on account of the great number of men who were called into the army, and from the general depression that followed, but they were more fortunate than many other sections of the country. There was no suspension of the regular services in any of these pastoral charges during the entire conflict.
The session of the Ouachita Conference for 1865 met at
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El Dorado, and as no Bishop was present, Dr. Andrew Hunter was chosen to preside over the Conference. The appointment for this year was Burton Williams. The foi- lowing list, in the order in which they are placed, contains the names of the pastors who have filled this charge : James R. Harvey, Joseph Turrentine, James A. Parker, D. H. Line- baugh, J. C. Rhodes, T. D. Van Valkenburg, A. C. Biggs, J. R. Sherwood, R. P. Wilson, J. M. G. Douglass, J. H. Gold, John H. Bransford, George W. Logan. It will be seen from this list of pastors that the El Dorado Circuit has enjoyed the ministrations of some of the ablest preachers in the Conference.
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The El Dorado Circuit formerly embraced the territory now occupied by the Lapile and Atlanta Circuits. The Lapile Circuit lies on the east and the Atlanta Circuit lies on the west, and all of these cover an excellent section of country, in which there are a number of most excellent village and country Churches.
New London, a village on the Lapile Circuit, is the center of an excellent community, and for a number of years the New London camp-ground was sustained near this place by the Methodists of this circuit.
Among the laity of this section at an early day were a number of most excellent families, the Wallaces, Thomp- sons, Berrys, Pitts, Rhodes, Sowells, Whites, Bowlings, and others who planted and sustained the Church at an early day. Their descendants are now living in the southern part of the State and are recognized as among the most substan- tial citizens of the country
Among the excellent laymen of the El Dorado Circuit we cannot forget the name of Dr. Gordon, whose ripe schol- arship, intelligence, liberality, fervent piety and devotion to the Church endeared him to all who came within the circle of his influence. He was for a number of years the principal of the Gordon Academy, where he educated quite a number
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of young men and women, who occupy respectable positions: in society, and are an honor to the communities where they live.
The village of Atlanta is the center of an excellent Metho- dist community, and has been for many years the home of Joseph Turrentine, a venerable superannuated minister of the Little Rock Conference.
The village of Mount Holly, which lies within the limits of this circuit, is the center of a very large and intelligent body of Presbyterians, one of the most noted congregations out- side of the large towns and cities of that denomination in the State.
The Baptists are also very numerous in this part of the State, and have a number of excellent churches in this county.
BENTON.
The County of Saline, of which Benton is the county site, was organized in 1835 out of territory taken from Pulaski County. The Town of Benton was located the same year. We are not informed as to the exact date when Methodism was established in this county. We know, however, that it was at a very early date. Settlements were made near the Saline River about the time that Little Rock was located as the capital of the State. We know from the traditions of the old inhabitants that at a very early day the Methodist preachers visited that portion of the State.
As early as 1835 it was embraced in the Hot Springs Cir- euit, William G. Duke, preacher in charge. In 1836 it was a part of the Little Rock Circuit, Henry Cornelius, preacher in charge. In 1837 the Benton Circuit was formed, Henry Cornelius, preacher in charge. From that time until the present it has continued as a regular appointment of the Conference without interruption, until the present time. The following is the list of pastors who have served this charge in the order of their appointment : Henry Corne-
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lius, Andrew Hunter, Jacob Custer, Samuel Robbins, Foun- tain Brown, William B. Mason, Levi C. Adams, Samuel Clarke, Stephen Carlisle, John Cowle, T. E. Garrett, J. M. Boyd, John H. Rice, J. W. Shook, William T. Anderson, Jesse W. Owen, Burton Williams, William J. Scott, Elijah Crowson, John J. Partin, Obadiah Burnett, J. W. Brandon, Thomas S. Tyson, Ezekiel N. Watson, William J. Davis, C. M. Slover, A. H. Ferguson, T. D. Van Valkenburg, James M. Cline, H. Townsend and S. N. Burns.
The Benton station was organized in 1879. The follow- ing is a list of pastors from the date of organization : S. N. Burns, J. R. Moore, Lewis B. Hawley, R. P. Wilson, Charles D. McSwain, Ambrose Jenkins, T. G. Galloway, and M. W. Manville. The pastorate of nearly every one of these con- tinued for two and three years.
For many years Methodism has been well represented in the Town of Benton and in the surrounding country. The Benton and Collegeville Circuits are both contiguous to the Town of Benton, and have within their borders several vil- lages and populous neighborhoods, where Methodism is strongly entrenched, with good houses of worship, and an intelligent and devoted membership.
The Salem camp-ground, located four miles from Benton, has been for many years a place of large resort for the sur- rounding country. It is located in a very intelligent and religious community, who are in perfect sympathy with the Church. It has, in a very large degree, escaped the evils that too frequently attend camp-meetings. This yearly gathering has been a great blessing to that community, in that they have been able to conserve the good, and avoid the evil that too frequently attends such large gatherings of Christians.
The village of Collegeville has been for years the home of the venerable Andrew Hunter, whose name has been for many years a household word in all Arkansas Methodism.
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Saline County has been for years the home of a number of old Methodist families. Among these are prominent the Scotts, Harveys, Moores, Packs, Watsons, Thompsons, Medlocks, Camerons, Crowsons. Several of these have been represented in the traveling connection. T. D. Scott, W. J. Scott, J. W. Scott, Frank Scott, Dr. J. R. Harvey, E. N. Watson, Harvey Watson, of the Little Rock Conference, are all representatives of the Methodism of this county.
Of recent years the Towns Bryant, and Alexander, and Mabelvale, on the railroad, have been located, and neat, frame churches have been built, and congregations organ- ized, so that Methodism is well established in every com- munity in the county.
The Cumberland Presbyterians have a neat frame church in Benton, and a small organization of most excellent and devoted Christians. The Baptists have a number of large and well organized congregations, with good houses of wor- ship, in Benton and the surrounding country. An examina- tion of the records of the courts of this county will show that it is remarkably free from crime, and that a very high type of morality prevails among the people.
CHAPTER XXI.
MONTICELLO -- THE CHURCHES -- CIRCUIT PREACHERS -- OR- GANIZED AS A STATION-LIST OF PASTORS -- MOUNT PLEAS- ANT CIRCUIT -- PROMINENT LOCAL PREACHERS-LAYMEN -MAGNOLIA -- INTRODUCTION OF METHODISM-LISTS OF PASTORS-ADJACENT CIRCUITS-TOWNS - BATESVILLE- FIRST SETTLEMENT-EARLY DAYS-LIST OF PASTORS- TYPE OF INHABITANTS-QUITMAN-FIRST SETTLERS-THE COLLEGE - ADJACENT CHARGES - FAYETTEVILLE - THE UNIVERSITY -- THE PASTORS -- THE TYPE OF PEOPLE- ARKADELPHIA-THE FIRST SETTLERS -- MARY DIXON -- THE COLLEGES -- WALDRON -- THE FOURCHE LEFEVRE.
MONTICELLO.
The Town of Monticello is the county seat of Drew County, and is on the Little Rock, Mississippi River and Texas Railway, and contains a population of about 1500 persons. It is noted for the intelligence and enterprise of its citizens, and is the center of commercial and social influ- ence for a large extent of territory. The Methodists, Bap- tists, Presbyterians and Associate Reform Presbyterians. have each a house of worship. In numbers and influence these denominations stand about in the order named. The Methodists have one of the most commodious and best ar- ranged houses of worship in all Southeast Arkansas.
The Monticello Circuit was organized in 1850, with J. S. McCarver, preacher in charge. During this year the Church was removed from Rough and Ready, a village about one mile south of the Town, to its present location in the Town of Monticello, which became a regular appointment on the circuit. It continued to be an appointment on the circuit until the Annual Conference which met in the Town of Mon-
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ticello in the fall of 1859, raised it to a station. Samuel Morris was the preacher in charge of the Monticello Circuit for the year 1859, and under his efficient labors there was a gracious revival of religion in the Town of Monticello, in which the Church became sufficiently strengthened to sus- tain a pastor.
Horace Jewell, a recent transfer from the Memphis Con- erence, was appointed to the newly organized station as the first pastor. This was a year of great prosperity to the Church in Monticello. At that time there was a small band of earnest, devoted Christian men and women, who laid the foundation for a prosperous church that has taken rank among the most prosperous charges of the Conference.
Among the many laymen worthy of mention I recall the names of George Procise, Dr. S. Cole, James Jackson, James Jordan. George Procise was an old and venerable member of the Church, of large experience, and being a man of culture and intelligence was of very great assistance to the pastor in his pastoral labors. Dr. Cole had but recently been converted, but being a man of vigorous intellect and thorough consecration, he rapidly developed into one of the finest specimens of true Christian manhood. James Jack- son was a young lawyer of promise, who developed into a sterling lawyer of great integrity and moral worth, illustrat- ing the fact that a man may be a successful lawyer and maintain his integrity as a Christian. James Jordan was an older man and of longer experience than the two last men- tioned, and while he was a very quiet and unobtrusive man, he was the devoted friend of the preacher and the Church, and rendered most valuable service as a counsellor and steward in the Church.
There were others of whom, if time and space would per- mit, honorable mention should be made. These that I have mentioned have all passed away to their great reward above. Among the membership of that Church there were a number
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of faithful elect women who very greatly contributed to the prosperity of that Church. At the Conference that met in Pine Bluff in 1860, William C. Haislip was appointed to this charge. He began his ministry under the most favorable auspices, and there was the prospect of a prosperous year ; but in a few months, however, the storm of war swept over our Southland, and a large number of the young and vig- orous members of the Church and community entered the Confederate army. The young and talented pastor entered the army as the captain of a company. With the pastor gone from the fold and a large number of the members in the army, and those who remained at home intensely excited over the condition of the country, and filled with anxiety for the fate of the dear ones on the tented field, there was but little time or thought to be given to the Church at home. The Church at Monticello, like many others in the State, was well nigh destroyed by the desolations of war; there were, however, a few old men and devoted Christian women who stood by the altars of the Church during this dark period, and when the storm of war had passed away they formed a nucleus around which the Church was gathered and contin- ued until the present day. Under the leadership of such faithful pastors as John F. Carr, James R. Harvey, Marshall Wells, A. D. Jenkins, E. N. Evans, M. B. Hill and others this Church has become one of the most important charges in the Little Rock Conference. Within the last few years the old church building has been replaced by one of the most beautiful and conveniently arranged houses of worship in the State. Connected with this charge there is an excellent parsonage for the pastor and another for the Presiding Elder of the district, making it a very desirable place for the fam- lies of the preachers. The adjacent charges are very con- venient to the station, making the intercourse between the station and the circuits very pleasant. The Mount Pleasant Circuit lies very near the town and is one of the most con-
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veniently arranged circuits in the Conference. It was in the bounds of this circuit that J. M. Carr, the father of John Carr of the Little Rock Conference, lived, and David Wells, A. D. Breedlove, Marion Green, J. A. Rhodes, J. W. Jordan and others of equal worth, all lived and laid the foundations. of the Church and society upon such a solid basis of morality and religion that all the changes of population have not been able to destroy. Many of the descendants of these are liv- ing in these communities as honored and respected citizens. and members of the Church.
MAGNOLIA STATION.
The Town of Magnolia is the county site of Columbia County.
We have no definite information as to the time when Methodism was introduced into this part of the State. The .minutes for 1838 read, Columbia Circuit, Peter German. This circuit at that time embraced all the territory contained in Ouachita, Columbia, Union and Calhoun Counties. The ap- pointments for the district for this year were : Little Rock District, J. C. Parker Presiding Elder; Little Rock Station, W. H. Bump; Benton Circuit, A. Hunter; Pine Bluff, Ja- cob Custer; Columbia Circuit, Peter German; Bartholowew, Mission, Fountain Brown; Pulaski Circuit, C. Groce. This will give the reader some idea of the size of the districts and circuits at that day.
The following list contains the names of the pastors who have served that charge in the order of their appointments : Peter German, James C. Cross, Ethan E. Byron, L. B. Den- nis, William T. Anderson, John F. Truslow, C. M. Slover. The name of Magnolia Circuit appears for the first time in 1853. John M. Bradley, J. M. Stephenson, W. B. Baxter, Elisha Stephens, J. Hulse, Malcolm Turner, Benjamin L. Kel- logg, Cyrus P. Swinney, Joseph G. Ward, William M. Ech- ols, Thomas A. Graham, John P. Holmes, Columbus O. Steele, Samuel Morris, W. J. Davis, E. N. Watson, James
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A. Parker, H. H. Watson, George W. Mathews, D. H. Line- baugh, W. W. Graham. Magnolia Station was formed in 1883, Charles D. McSwain; Magnolia Circuit, D'Arcy Vaughn. Magnolia Station, James C. Rhodes, Wade Pres- ton, H. H. Watson, James R. Harvey, John R. Sanders. It will be seen from this list of pastors that the Magnolia Sta- tion and Circuit have enjoyed the pastoral services of some of the most efficient and honored members of the Little Rock Conference.
There is a good church building in Magnolia and an ex- cellent membership. The Magnolia Circuit has a number of most excellent village and country appointments, making it a very pleasant pastoral charge. The following figures taken from the minutes of 1891, will show that Methodism has a strong hold upon the people of this county :
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Magnolia Station, 210 members; Magnolia Circuit, 361 members; Stephens and Waldo, 383 members. This last lies nearly all, but not quite, within Columbia County. The Atlanta Circuit also lies partly within this county.
It will be seen from the minutes of the Conference that this entire region of the Conference has enjoyed the minis- trations of some of the most efficient men in the State. At an early and formative period of the Church such men, either as pastors or Presiding Elders, as Andrew Hunter, William P. Ratcliffe, William Moores, A. R. Winfield and later, James A. Parker, E. N. Watson, James R. Harvey, H. H. Watson, B. G. Johnson, W. J. Davis, George W. Mathews and others of equal note.
BATESVILLE.
Batesville, the county site of Independence County, is one of the oldest towns in the State. Independence County was formed in 1820 out of territory taken from Lawrence County. We have no means of knowing positively when the first society was organized at Batesville. We know that the Methodist preachers entered that part of the State at a
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very early date. Spring River Circuit was formed in 1815, and as the circuits at that early day were very irregular in shape, we know that the neighborhood where Batesville now stands was visited by these early preachers, and think it probable that societies were formed at a very early date. The Town of Batesville was established about 1821, and was located on lands donated by Robert and Jesse Bean. It was named after James Woodson Bates, first Delegate in - Congress from Arkansas Territory.
The first society was formed in the Town of Batesville by Burwell Lee, in 1835. The Batesville Circuit was formed in 1836. Ansel Webber and Philip Asborne were the preachers for that year. The statistics for Batesville Circuit for the year show a membership of 94 whites and 42 colored.
The first session of the Arkansas Conference met in Bates- ville this year. So that Batesville has the honor of having entertained the first session of the Arkansas Conference. The house in which the Conference was held is still stand- ing, and is pointed out to visitors as one of the landmarks of the early days in Batesville. There are those in Bates- ville who have a very distinct recollection of this Conference, and are able to describe many of the old preachers that were in attendance upon its sessions.
The following preachers traveled the Batesville Circuit : In 1837-38, John L. Irwin; in 1839-40, Juba Eastabrook. In 1841 the Batesville Station was organized, Jacob Custer, preacher in charge. The statistical report at the close of the year was 72 whites and 53 colored. In 1842-43, Jerome B. Annis; in 1844, Issa M. McElroy ; membership, 55 whites and 44 colored. It will be observed by the attentive reader that there was a large decrease in membership during the year. In 1843, there were 76 whites and 50 colored; in 1844, there were 55 whites and 44 colored members reported, showing a large decrease in the membership. The causes that led to this large decrease in the membership at Bates-
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ville were in operation over the entire State. The general minutes report a decrease of 965 whites and 29 colored within the Arkansas Conference. The causes which led to the division of the Church in 1844 had been at work for several years.
The strength of the station had been so greatly reduced that in 1845 Batesville was placed in the Batesville Circuit, George P. Poage, preacher in charge; in 1846, John J. Rob- erts, Joseph M. Stephenson ; in 1847, John J. Roberts. In 1848 the Batesville Station reappears, with Stephen Carlisle, Presiding Elder. The reports show that there were 95 white and 57 colored members. In 1849, Augustus R. Winfield. This year marks an era not only in the history of Methodism in Batesville, but throughout the entire State. There was a large increase in the membership of the Church; from a total membership of 152 the previous year, there was now reported a membership of 246. In 1850, J. L. C. Aiken ; in 1851, Gideon W. Cottingham; in 1852, to be supplied ; in 1853, H. O. Perry ; in 1854, to be supplied ; in 1855, A. M. Barrington ; in 1856, A. H. Kennedy ; in 1857, John H. Rice ; in 1858, John H. Rice ; in 1859, Sidney R. Trawick; in 1860, to be supplied ; in 1861, to be supplied; in 1862, W. R. Foster ; in 1863, Mortimer B. Pearson ; in 1864, Wil- liam Shepherd ; in 1865, Burwell Lee; in 1868, to be sup- plied; in 1869-70, T. C. Ellis; in 1871, Edgar Orgain. From this date the Batesville Station has been served by pastors in the following order: E. A. Garrison, W. B. Littlejohn, John W. Bosewell, Julian C. Brown, S. G. Shaw, Josephus Anderson, Edgar M. Pipkin, N. B. Fizer, S. C. Stone, R. S. Deener. Several of these pastors remained in the station two, three and four years.
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