USA > Arkansas > History of Methodism in Arkansas > Part 27
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Batesville has been noted, for many years, for the intelli- gence and refinement of the people. In many respects it resembles the old staid towns east of the Mississippi River in the older Southern States. It will be remembered that at
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a very early date Soulesbury Institute was located here, and the good influence exerted by that school, has been felt until the present day. It has been for several years the site of the Arkansas College, a Presbyterian school, and was for many years under the presidency of that grand old educator, Dr. Long, and is now under the management of his son, Prof. Long, who is a worthy successor of his noble father.
The Methodist Church has greater numerical strength in Batesville than any other denomination. They have one of the best houses of worship in the State and a most excellent and convenient parsonage for the comfort of the pastor. At the last session of the Annual Conference, West Bates- ville Mission was organized and placed under the pastorate of Julien C. Brown. With such an effective organization and excellent house of worship, there is a bright future for Methodism in Batesville. An examination of the minutes of the Conference will show that there has been a steady increase in the membership of the Church, and in the sup- port of its institutions.
Methodism not only occupies a commanding position in the Town of Batesville, but it has a strong hold upon the people of the district. The numbers in the various pastoral charges indicate that Methodism is numerically strong throughout the district. For while there are but few towns, and these are very small-the greater part being only small villages-it is strong where strength is most effective for real good, the country places of the district. An examination of the different charges will give us a clearer insight into the true condition of the Church in this part of the State :
Name of Charge. No. Members.
Batesville Station .28I
Sulphur Rock Circuit . . 641
Jamestown Circuit .241
Bethesda Circuit 432
Evening Shade Circuit 319.
22-M
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Ash Flat Circuit. 350
Calamine Circuit 275
Salem Circuit . 501
Viola Circuit
245
Newburg Circuit 649
Melbourne Circuit 375
Mountain View Circuit 290
Cedar Grove Circuit
388
Oil Trough Circuit. 327
It will be seen from these figures that the circuits of this district are all numerically good and strong circuits; that the Methodist is the strongest ecclesiastical denomination in all that country.
QUITMAN STATION.
The Town of Quitman is located in Cleburne County, and is especially noted as the site of the Quitman College, an institution of learning under the patronage of the M. E. Church, South. The first mention that we have of the introduction of Methodism in the neighborhood of where Quitman now stands was in 1842, when it was embraced in the Little Red River Mission. A. L. Kavanaugh was the preacher in charge, and John Harrell was the Presiding Elder. In 1843 Mount Vernon Church, now known as Goodloe's Chapel, was organized. H. Hubbard was the preacher in charge during that year. This was the first preaching in that neighborhood. This church at its organi- zation was composed of the following members: T. H. Goodloe, wife and two or three of their servants. In a short time they were joined by Brothers Smith and Harris. Mrs. Harriet Goodloe and Mrs. E. G. Harten were the first female members to join. Father Goodloe, as Theodore Goodloe was familiarly called, has given us some very interesting items in reference to the early days of Methodism in that part of the State. When he came to the State in 1842 the Gargile, Hamilton, Martin, Lay and Garner families were .
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living on Martins Creek. Armistead Wood was then con- sidered the father of the Methodist Church in that commu- nity. In 1843 and 1844 Henry Hubbard was the preacher in charge. In 1845 Levi C. Adams was appointed to this work. He was an Englishman by birth, and although he was an excellent preacher he was greatly lacking in a knowl- edge of the common affairs of life. An amusing story is told of his knowledge of gardening. During his absence upon his circuit his wife planted some beans, and when he came home he saw what he thought was the seed bean on the stalk of the young plant, and he reproved his wife for planting the bean wrong end down, and proceeded to pull up the plant and place the top in the ground. The year be- fore he came to this work he attended a meeting within the bounds of the circuit, and such was the press of company that he found great difficulty in obtaining lodging ; he felt that the people were lacking in hospitality, and said that he never would return to that community unless the judgment day was held at that place. When he came to the circuit the next year he was twitted by the people as coming to the judgment. He was, however, well received by them as their pastor. The next preacher was Stephen Farish. He has the honor of having held the first camp-meeting ever held in that country. He was an excellent preacher and well adapted to deal with the condition of affairs that ex- isted in a new and rough state of society. While traveling the Lewisburg Circuit, a Mr. O- behaved in such a way as to call forth a reproof from the preacher, who immedi- ately proceeded to take hold of the offender and carry him to a black-jack tree and rub his back against it. When re- leased from the grasp of the preacher he turned upon him as though he would attack him, but seeing the look of de- termination upon the face of the preacher, he turned and fled as though he was running for his life. Mr. O- was
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afterwards converted and joined the Church and became a consistent Christian and a friend of the preacher.
The following preachers in the order named were appointed to this work : R. Martin, R. G. Brittain, Green M. Boyd, George A. Dannelly, C. N. McGuire, James M. Burkhart, William E. Whittenberg, J. R. N. Bell.
The Quitman Circuit was formed in 1874. This circuit was served by pastors in the following order : J. A. Peebles, Thomas J. Smith, William H. Corley.
Quitman Station was formed in 1881. The following is the list of pastors in the order named : B. C. Matthews, John R. Steele, J. F. Hall, S. H. Babcock and O. H. Tucker.
Since the formation of the Quitman Station, the Quitman Circuit has been served in the following order: A. C. Ray,. George Williams, W. R. Gardner, J. F. Hall, A. C. Ray, J. S. Clower.
As early as 1844 a Church was organized on Mortar Creek known as the Mortar Creek Church. About the same time the Protestant Methodists organized a church at the same place and increased to about one hundred mem- bers. About the year 1882 this church disbanded and the membership united with the surrounding churches of the M. E. Church, South.
Some rather amusing stories are told of the preachers and people of that early day. It is said that upon one occasion Henry Hubbard was preaching to a congregation, when a. lady came into the Church followed by a dog, which created a good deal of disturbance by growling in a very threatening manner at every one that came. The preacher requested some one to remove the cause of the confusion, but no one paid any attention to the request. The preacher then left the pulpit and came down to the dog, and seizing him, car- ried him to the door and threw him out. He then returned to the pulpit and finished his sermon in peace.
A great change has come over that entire region of coun-
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try. Not only the Town of Quitman, but the entire surround- ing country, is now filled with as intelligent, refined and moral a people as can be found in any part of the State. Quitman College is making its impress for good upon all the surrounding country. A healthy, vigorous type of Method- ism is growing up in all that country.
FAYETTEVILLE.
Fayetteville has principally been noted as the site of the State University. Washington County, of which Fayette- ville is the county site, is in the extreme northwestern part of the State, being bounded on the west by the Cherokee line of the Indian Territory, and there being but one county on the north between it and the State of Missouri. The county was organized in 1828, and the county seat was founded in the same year. It will be seen from this that Fayetteville is one of the old towns of the State.
We have no means of ascertaining the exact date when Methodism was established in Fayetteville. The first dis- tinct mention that we have of Methodism in that portion of the State was in 1831, when the minutes read, Washington, John Kelly. It is possible that this territory had been oc- cupied before this, and had been known by some other name. The statistical report at the close of the year was 250 white members. The next year the minutes read, Washington Circuit, Alvan Baird. The statistical report was 279 white members. In 1834, Washington Circuit, H. G. Joplin; in 1835, John Harrell; in 1836, William H. Bump; in 1837, Hiram Gering; in 1838, John Harrell, P. E. Fay- etteville had now advanced to sufficient importance to give the name to the district; Jerome B. Annis, P. C .; in 1839, Andrew Hunter; in 1840, Jacob Custer and W. A. Cobb; in 1841, William T. Anderson and William Cardwell; in 1842, Stephen Carlisle and H. Hubbard. The name of the circuit was now changed from Washington to Fayetteville Circuit. This pastoral charge was filled in the following
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order, some of the pastors remaining the full term of two years: H. C. Boyers, Alexander Avery, Thomas Stanford, Lewis Marshall, R. M. Morgan and M. C. Manley, Lewis P. Lively and Young Ewing, Walter Thornberry. In 1857 Fayetteville was made a station with John Rhyne as pastor. The succession of pastors was George A. Schaeffer, R. W. Hammett, Thomas Stanford, William M. Robbins, J. Banks, William Mathis, E. J. Daune, Jerome Hardson, S. D. Gaines, T. Wainwright, J. J. Roberts, S. A. Mason, R. S. Hunter, F. A. Jeffett, William Penn, M. E. Butt, B. H. Greathouse, E. A. Tabor. An examination of the minutes for 1890 will show that the Fayetteville District has the largest member- ship of any district in the Arkansas Conference. Those who planted Methodism in that part of the State laid a secure foundation upon which to build, and they have been suc- ceeded by faithful men who have carried on the work to a large degree of success.
The following items from the Rev. M. D. Steele will be read with interest by those who are acquainted with that part of the State : "Elm Spring is a small village located in Washington County. The Elm Spring Circuit was or- ganized in 18-, and was formerly a part of the Fayetteville Circuit. The Church at Elm Spring was organized sometime in the forties. The church building was burned down during the war, so that when services were resumed after the return of peace they were held in private houses for a time. The Church was reorganized in 1865, and I began to hold ser- vices in this place ; a glorious revival followed which lasted about two years, in which I was assisted by Rev. Martin Thornburgh and Rev. James Simpson, local preachers. During this time there were about 120 accessions to the Church; among that number were P. B. Hopkins, of the Arkansas Conference, and Benjamin H. Greathouse, for many years a member of the same Conference."
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ARKADELPHIA
Clark County, of which Arkadelphia is the county site, was formed in 1818, and was the fourth county organ- ized in the State. Among the first settlements made in the State were those near where Arkadelphia now stands. Ark- adelphia is beautifully located on the Ouachita River, and has for many years been the center of trade for a large re- gion of country. For many years before the building of the Iron Mountain Railroad, Arkadelphia was at the head of steamboat navigation on the Ouachita River, but since the building of that road navigation has entirely ceased on the Ouachita above Camden. . Arkadelphia is a typical Southern town, and is justly regarded as one of the most moral, intelligent and cultured towns in the State, and is surrounded by one of the best communities that can be found anywhere in the Southwest.
Settlements were made at a very early day where Arka- delphia now stands. In 1810, Adam Blakeley, Isaac Cates, Samuel Parker, and Abner Hignite settled at this place, which was then called Blakeleytown, after Adam Blakeley, who had erected a small store at the place. There was one old French family, by the name of LeBoeuf, living near the place. In 1811, John Hemphill and family, and Mary Dixon, his mother-in-law, came from South Carolina. About the same time John and Jacob Barkman settled near the place. John Hemphill established the salt works near Arkadelphia in 1815, which proved to be a profitable investment for a number of years, and supplied the people with salt when it would have been very difficult to obtain it from any other source. Among the early settlers of Clark County may be mentioned the Logans, Callaways, Arnetts, Petit, Bennetts, Huddlestons, Brittons, Crows, Mclaughlins, Strouds, Wil- sons, Stroups, Sloans, Hardins, Jones, Mckinneys and Col- baths. The descendants of these early settlers are many of them to be found in various parts of the State.
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Mrs. Mary Dixon, of whom mention has been made, de- serves more than a passing notice at our hands. She pur- chased in 1820 the first tract of land sold by the government in the Arkansas Territory. It was 320 acres eight miles south- west of Arkadelphia, near the Bozeman farm. To her belongs the honor of being instrumental in the establishment of the first Methodist Church in Clark County. She was a very remarkable woman. It is said that up to the age of 90 she was in the habit of riding to Arkadelphia, a distance of twelve miles, and returning the same day. She died in 1843 at the extreme age of 91 years.
Among the early settlers of the county were the follow- ing families as early as 1817 and 1818: The Logans, John Callaway, William Arnett, Lee Petit, William Bennett, Hud- dleston, Brittons, the Crows, Mclaughlins, Wells, Souther- man, Colbath, Winfield, William Stroup, Adam Stroud. A little later came James Sloan, the Hardins, Nat K. Jones, the Brownings, Lewis Randolph, and a number of others of equal note. Many of their descendants are living in the county at this time. We have no means of ascertaining the exact date when Methodism was introduced into Arkadel- phia, but we know that there was Methodist preaching there soon after the location as the county site in 1842.
There had been Methodist preaching in the county for a number of years .. We have already seen that the first Church was established by Mrs. Mary Dixon at a very early date. As early as 1836 this territory was embraced in the Ouachita Circuit, and was traveled by Fountain Brown. In 1837 it was called Benton Circuit ; the preacher was Henry Cornelius. In 1838, Andrew Hunter ; in 1839, Jacob Custer. In 1840 it was called Ouachita Circuit, Arthur Simmons, preacher. In 1841, Fountain Brown ; in 1842, L. Dennis.
The Arkadelphia Circuit first appears on the minutes for 1847, Theophilus E. Garrett, preacher in charge. The fol- lowing is the list of pastors for Arkadelphia Circuit in the
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order named : Robert W. Kirby, J. M. Stephenson, James E. Cobb, John J. Crouch, John H. Blakeley, R. H. Carter, W. B. Baxter, Samuel Morris, Joseph M. Stephenson, Marcus C. Manley.
The Arkadelphia Station was formed in 1859, James E. Cobb, preacher in charge. The same year the Arkadelphia District was formed, John M. Bradley, Presiding Elder. In 1860, W. P. Ratcliffe ; in 1861, James E. Cobb; in 1862, J. E. Stanley ; in 1864, E. N. Watson ; in 1865, James E. Cald- well. The following is a list of pastors in the order in which they were appointed to the charge : Cadesman Pope, John F. Carr, M. H. Wells, C. F. Evans, Cadesman Pope, C. O. Steele, G. B. Baskerville, R. C. Atchley, J. R. Moore, John Mclaughlin, H. M. Whaling.
The Methodists of Arkadelphia have a large, well-ar- ranged and well-furnished house of worship, and an ex- cellent parsonage for the pastor. The district parsonage, a good building, is located at this place.
Arkadelphia is noted for its excellent schools. The Bap- tist College, a most excellent school, under the presidency of Professor Conger, is doing excellent educational work for that Church. The Methodists have the Arkadelphia Metho- dist College, with Rev. G. C. Jones, President. He is the son . of that veteran educator, Amos Jones, of Tennessee, whose superior as an educator cannot be found in all the South. With such superior educational advantages, Arkadelphia is destined to be one of the most refined and cultured cities in the State.
WALDRON.
Scott County was organized in 1833, and in a short time after this Waldron was selected as the county site. No doubt there was regular preaching in that portion of the State at an early day. As far back as 1840 we read of the Fource LeFevre Circuit. While we have no means of ascer- taining the extent of that work, judging from the names of
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neighboring works, we suppose it must have included all the country lying along the Fourche LeFevre and Petit Jean Rivers, embracing portions of territory lying within the present Fort Smith, Clarksville and Dardanelle Districts. The preacher for that year was Jacob Whitesides. In 1841, we read Fourch LeFevre, Samuel Clark. In 1842, we have Perryville Mission embracing this territory ; in 1843, H. W. Balsh; in 1844, Thomas Leach; in 1845, Travis Owen ; in 1848, Jesse Bond; in 1849, E. F. McNabb. The Wal- dron Circuit was formed in 1850, J. B. Shefford. In 1852, John Rhyne; in 1853, Benoni Harris; in 1854, John S. Mathis; in 1855, A. L. Chadwick; in 1858, Benjamin F. Benefield ; in 1859-60, left to be supplied; in 1861, J. W. Patton; in 1862, F. M. Moore, who remained on the work until 1865. While the law of the Church did not permit a preacher to remain upon the same pastoral charge for a longer term than two years, yet the necessities of the case in some instances during the war period made it absolutely necessary for a preacher to remain for a longer time. Like every other portion of the State, the Church in this section suffered greatly from the effects of the war. In 1868, we read Waldron, to be supplied ; in 1869, W. R. Knowlton. The following are the pastors for this work in the order named, beginning with the year 1880 : Thomas J. Reynolds, . F. A. Taft, J. W. Shook, J. E. Martin, N. E. Fair, H. W. Brooks, J. L. Hayes, James Cox, D. J. Weems, S. S. Key, J. L. Hays, J. S. Clower, J. C. Weaver, J. W. Deshazo.
The following account of the early days in that part of the State will be of interest to the reader :
"Joseph F. Gaines and wife came from Fayette County, Tennessee, to Scott County, Arkansas, in 1837, and settled on the Fourche LeFevre River. At that time there were no public roads, and but few families had found their way to the valley. There was no preaching anywhere in all that region of country, and Mrs. Gaines was the only professor
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of religion in all that country. She had been converted at an early age in West Tennessee, and had enjoyed the ad- vantage of regular religious service. The wickedness of this rude population was a great trial to this devoted Chris- tian, for such was the disregard of the Sabbath that it was. the principal day for shooting, hunting, killing beeves, visit- ing and engaging in trade. Two or three times a week they would meet for a general carousal. Matters continued in this way for about three years, during which there was no religious service of any kind, not even a prayer meeting. There were children nearly grown who did not know what a preacher was, so dense was the ignorance of the people on religious questions. At last Mrs. Gaines heard that a Methodist preacher would hold religious service near by. The news was well circulated and the whole community came out to see and hear the preacher. They listened awhile and then sent their children to light their pipes and smoked while the sermon was being delivered to them. After this the circuit preacher, Adams, gave them a regular appointment for preaching, but very little was accomplished until some Tennessee Methodists came out and settled in the community. About the year 1842 Rev. John Cowle, of pre- cious memory, was appointed to the Fort Smith Circuit, and succeeded in establishing Methodism in Scott, Sebastian and the surrounding counties. In the course of a few years, Col. Gaines and his children united with the Church. From this small beginning Methodism has grown until there are now are two large circuits-the Waldron and Fourche --- in Scott County, with more than 500 members, a number of good church buildings, Sunday-schools, and other evidences. of church prosperity."
We sometimes become discouraged at the little progress made by the Church in certain places and at certain periods of the history of the Church, but when we take into account a longer period-a number of years, and compare the con-
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dition of the Church at that time with its present position, we are often made to exclaim, " What hath God wrought !"
SEARCY.
The Town of Searcy in White County derives its impor- tance from being a noted watering place and an important educational center. 3 It was located as the county site of White County in 1837.
We have no means of ascertaining the date of the first Methodist preaching or the organization of the first Metho- dist society in Searcy. We know that Methodist preachers visited the community where Searcy is located at a very early day. That portion of the State was embraced at as early a date as 1836 in what was then called the Little Rock Circuit, Henry Cornelius preacher in charge. In 1842 this territory was embraced in the Little Red River Mission, A. L. Kavanaugh, preacher in charge. The appointments for this mission were in the following order: Henry Hubbard, John G. Alexander, L. C. Adams, Robert Martin, Robert G. Brittain. In 1851 the name was changed to Searcy Mission, R. G. Brittain preacher in charge. Then follows the names of the preachers in the following order : Jesse Boyd, Richard Dodson, John H. Mann, Edward T. Jones and Wil- liam T. Noe.
The Searcy Station was formed in 1859. John Rhyne was the first pastor. Then follows in succession the names of S. R. Trawick, R. H. Dodson, George A. Schaeffer, C. S. Floyd, James Mackey, John H. Dye, Josephus Anderson, F. A. Jeffett, E. A. Garrison, E. M. Pipkin, J. M. Talkington and Horace Jewell. Some of these were appointed to this station two and four years in succession. After the formation of the Searcy Station, the Searcy Circuit was continued and was served by pastors in the following order: M. B. Pearson, W. H. Gilliam, R. G. Brittain, James Talkington, George Schaeffer, Z. T. Bennett, G. A. Dannelly, R. P. Harwood, H. T. Harvey, E. M. Baker, William L. King, W. A. Pender-
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grass and James Talkington. It will be seen from this list of pastors that Searcy Station and Circuit have been favored with the pastoral services of some of the most prominent preachers in the State, men whose names are known not only throughout the State, but who are well known in other Conferences, men who have frequently been honored by the confidence of the Church in placing them in positions of usefulness and great responsibility.
In 1876 the congregation at Searcy had increased until it became necessary to build a larger and more commodious house of worship, when they built a neat brick church, in which the congregation has continued to worship until the. present time. The establishment of the schools and the in- crease in population has made it necessary to rebuild or else enlarge the present house so as to accommodate the in- creased number of attendants upon the services.
The Church at Searcy has been more than ordinarily blessed in the presence of an unusual number of devoted women, whose saintly lives have been a benediction to the Church. Here lives the widow of Stephen Carlisle, a saintly woman of large experience, and the widow of George Schaeffer, and the widow of E. M. Baker, members of the White River Conference, and other elect ladies.
It has been and now is the home of a number of devoted laymen, whose influence for good has greatly aided in the establishment of the Church in Searcy and the surrounding country. Searcy has been noted for several years as one of the most thorough prohibition towns in the State. Local option prevails throughout the county, and the utmost vigi- lance prevails in the execution of the laws against intemper- ance, as they are sustained by a strong public sentiment that makes it a comparatively easy thing to enforce the laws against offenders. Methodism has a strong hold upon the people of White County, and is the leading Church in every neighborhood.
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