USA > Arkansas > History of Methodism in Arkansas > Part 5
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bined with undaunted courage and unflinching integrity ; a remarkably sound judgment to perceive the right, and firmness of purpose to pursue it. He was a fast friend of the itinerant preacher, always ready to aid him by his wise counsel and to defend his good name and character when aspersed ; and as a steward (which office he held for many years) he was one of the best collectors, looking carefully after the wants of his preacher, and in his person showing a good example of liberality to others. The following notice of him from the pen of his son, the Rev. John F. Carr, of the Little Rock Conference, will be greatly appreciated by all who ever had the pleasure of his acquaintance, as a just and loving tribute from a dutiful son to an honored father :
" Rev. John Milton Carr was born in South Carolina, July 20, 1803. While my father was an infant my grandfather moved to Tennessee, where he was raised, and where he and my sainted mother, who survived him only a few months, were married. He was converted in his twentieth year and joined the M. E. Church. Soon after this he was made a steward, and was licensed to preach in 1840. He moved to Arkansas in January, 1844, and settled in Bradley County (now Drew County), about sixteen miles northwest of Monti- cello. From the day he landed in Arkansas, until the 7th day of August, 1875, he was an important factor in the growth of Methodism and Christianity in that part of the State. All the varied relations of a local preacher, and other trusts of the Church, he filled with Christian fidelity, loved and respected by all, and died in the faith, with the appellation by all who knew him as the 'peace-maker.' I often think of an incident in my father's life with pleasure, as it shows his love for the Church. I have referred to his long service as a steward, in the early days in Arkansas, when the country was sparsely settled, and stewards would sometimes have to ride several days to see the membership before each quarterly meeting. When the Quarterly Con-
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ference met at its fourth session several stewards requested to be excused, as the sacrifices were so great. My father listened and in his meek and gentle way asked to be con- tinued ; and he was, until he went up to give an account of . his stewardship, which account was no doubt accepted, for he did his work well. A purer character I do not think ever lived. I studied his life from my childhood to my man- hood, and I look over that life with pleasure, and gratitude to God for giving us such a father and mother."
His name is represented by two sons, Rev. John F. Carr, of the Little Rock Conference, and Jasper M. Carr, an hon- ored and useful layman, who now lives at the old homestead in Drew County. Of the name of John Milton Carr, it may be truly said : "The memory of the just is blessed."
The names of other local preachers will frequently occur in the progress of this work.
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CHAPTER VII.
ARKANSAS ADMITTED AS A TERRITORY-GOV. MILLER- ARKANSAS POST-GAZETTE-WASHINGTON ORR-THOMAS: TENNANT-ISAAC BROOKFIELD-JOHN SCRIPPS-GILBERT CLARK-W. W. REDMAN-RUCKER TANNER-DISTRICT CONFERENCE -- GREEN ORR-JESSE HAILE.
The year 1819 was an eventful one in the history of Ar- kansas. By an act of Congress, March 2, 1819, it was en- acted that after July 4, 1819, all that portion of Missouri Territory which lies south of a line beginning on the Mis- sissippi River at 36° north latitude, running thence west to the St. Francis River, thence up the said St. Francis to 36º 30' north latitude, thence to the western territorial boundary line of the Missouri Territory, should be erected into a sep- arate territory, called the Arkansas Territory, until other- wise provided by the Legislature of the Territory. The seat of government was directed to be at the Post of Arkansas, on the Arkansas River.
James Miller, of New Hampshire, was appointed Governor by President Monroe, and Robert Crittenden, of Kentucky, was appointed Secretary. The Arkansas country now be- came a separate and distinct sovereignty not embraced or bound up with any other province or State, and hence hav- ing control of its own internal affairs. The population of the Territory was estimated at about 14,000.
Gov. Miller entered upon the duties of his office Decem- ber 26, 1819. The Governor's arrival at the Arkansas Post to take possession of his office is thus described by an eye- witness :
"He came up the river in a splendidly fitted up barge, with a large and well-finished cabin, having most of the
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conveniences of modern steamboats. This boat had been fitted up and manned and furnished by the United States Government expressly for his use. On the after-part of the cabin on both sides, her name ' Arkansaw' was inscribed in large gilt letters. She had a tall mast from which floated a magnificent national banner with the word 'Arkansaw' in large letters in the center, and the words, 'I'll try, sir!' the motto of the regiment he commanded at Lundy's Lane, in- terspersed in several places. The Governor had with him some of his old army friends as well as several young gen- tlemen, principally from the North, who were disposed to try their fortunes in the wilds of Arkansaw.
" On the last day of October, 1819, William E. Wood- ruff arrived at the Post of Arkansas and began the publica- tion of the first newspaper in the Territory, the fifth one to be established west of the Mississippi River. The first num- ber of his paper was issued Saturday, November 20, 1819. It was called The Arkansas Gazette, and it is still in exist- ence, published at the capital, and is one of the leading journals of the State. Mr. Woodruff started without a sin- gle subscriber. Among the advertisements in the first issue were Robert C. Oden, lawyer, Little Rock ; Lewis & Thomas, merchants; Stokely H. Coulter, tailor. In size the paper was not more than eighteen inches square, but was correctly and exceedingly well executed as to type, printing and punctuation. It was the only paper published in the Terri- tory until 1830."
We have had occasion to notice the close connection be- tween the progress of the State and the Methodist Church. At the session of the Missouri Conference held at Bethel meeting-house, Vincennes Circuit, Illinois Territory, Sep- tember 5, 1818, the first Presiding Elder's District was formed in Arkansas. Previous to this time' the circuits in Arkansas formed a part of the Missouri District. At this Conference the Black River District was formed. The ap-
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pointments were, Black River District, William Stephenson, Presiding Elder; Spring River, John Shroeder ; Arkansas, Thomas Tennant; Hot Springs, Washington Orr; Mount Prairie and Pecan Point, William Stephenson, James Lowry. The reported increase of membership during the year was 163. The entire membership reported within the Territory was 475. It will be seen that the entire membership in Ar- kansas was not as large as some of our present circuits. There is some difficulty in ascertaining the exact number of members in Arkansas, as the circuit lines did not always . exactly conform to the State lines. Some of the circuits that lay principally in Missouri extended down some dis- , tance into the Territory of Arkansas. The numbers given, however, are substantially correct.
The fourth session of the Missouri Conference met at McKendree's Chapel, Cape Girardeau Circuit, September 14, 1819. Bishop George presided.
The appointments for Arkansas were : Black River Dis- trict, William Stephenson, Presiding Elder; Spring River Cir- cuit, William Medford; Arkansas, Washington Orr; Hot Springs, William Harned ; Mount Prairie, William Stephen- son ; Pecan Point, Thomas Tennant.
The statistics for the year show that there were 444 whites and 31 colored members within the whole Territory of Arkan- sas, showing a gain of 132 white members during the year. The entire population of the State for this year was esti- mated at 14,000. It will be seen by these figures that the proportion of Methodists in the State to the entire popula- tion was about I in 30. In 1880 the population of South- ern Methodists alone was about I in 9 of the entire popula- tion of the State, showing that the Church has grown much more rapidly than the State.
The reader can form some idea of the extent of the work in those days by a description of the Arkansas Circuit, to which Mr. Orr was appointed. Commencing at the Arkan-
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sas Post, it took in all the settlements on both sides of the Arkansas River until it reached the point where Fort Smith now stands. These settlements were often small and widely separated, from ten to thirty miles apart. It required from six to eight weeks for the preacher to make one round upon these immense circuits. The custom was for the preacher to stop and preach in a settlement at night, for several nights, until all the people for miles around had an opportunity of hearing the word.
The first Legislature for the Territorial Government of Arkansas convened at the Post of Arkansas February 7, 1820. It continued in session only a few days, and ad- journed to meet in Little Rock, October 12th, when Little Rock was chosen as the capital of the Territory. Rev. William Stephenson was elected as a Representative from Hempstead County, and was elected Speaker of the House, but resigned on account of indisposition.
The first steamboat to enter the Arkansas River was the Comet, which arrived at the Post of Arkansas, March 13, 1820, after a trip of eight days from New Orleans. The ar- rival of this boat caused quite a sensation among the in- habitants, as many of them had never seen a steamboat be- fore this one.
The fifth session of the Missouri Conference met at Shi- loh meeting-house, Illinois Territory, September 13, 1820. Bishop R. R. Roberts presided.
The appointments for Arkansas were: Spring River, Isaac Brookfield ; White River, William W. Redman. These appointments in Arkansas were connected with the Mis- souri District.
Arkansas District, William Stephenson, Presiding Elder ; Pecan Point Circuit, Washington Orr; Hot Springs, Henry Stephenson ; Mount Prairie, Gilbert Clark ; Arkansas Cir- cuit, William Townsend. Membership reported at the close of this year was 683 whites and 34 colored.
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The sixth session of the Missouri Conference met at McKendree's Chapel, Cape Girardeau Circuit, October 17, 1821. Bishop Roberts presided.
The appointments for Arkansas were: Arkansas District, John Scripps, Presiding Elder; Arkansas Circuit, Dennis Wiley ; Hot Springs, Isaac Brookfield ; Mount Prairie, John Harris; Pecan Point, William Townsend; Spring River, Abraham Epler; White River, James Bankson. Spring and White River Circuits were included in the Cape Girar- deau District.
The name of John Scripps appears for the first time in connection with the work in Arkansas as the Presiding Elder of the Arkansas District, which he traveled for two years in succession. "John Scripps was par eminence the preacher of the Conference of this period. He was an En- glishman by birth and education, and had been here long enough to be regarded as one of the pioneers of Methodism in Missouri. He was not prepossessing in personal ap- perance, below the medium height, of dark complexion, and his face deeply pitted by the small-pox. He had great and acknowledged pulpit ability. He rarely failed, in preaching, to surpass the expectation of strangers. His health was so feeble that he was forced into the superannu- ated relation, where he continued preaching all he could for a number of years. He finally settled in Rushville, Ill., went into business, reared a large family, located and died, loved and regretted by all who knew him." (" Methodism in Missouri." McAnally.) Dennis Wiley remained but one year . in Arkansas, and on the organization of the Illinois Confer- ence became a member of that body.
The seventh session of the Conference met in St. Louis, October 24, 1822. Bishop Roberts presided.
Arkansas District, John Scripps, Presiding Elder; Ar- kansas Circuit, John Harris; Hot Springs, Samuel Bassett, 4-M
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Gilbert Clark ; Pecan Point, William Bryant; Spring River, Isaac Brookfield.
The name of Isaac Brookfield appears for the first time in the minutes of the Missouri Conference for 1821. He was born in Newark, N. J., and came to Missouri in 1819. He was admitted on trial in the Missouri Conference in 1821, and was appointed to the Spring River Circuit, which was then a mission to whites and Indians. In 1822 he was appointed to the Hot Springs Circuit. He traveled four years, and, owing to his failing health, was compelled to locate. He was married to Miss Nancy Campbell, daughter of Judge James Campbell, of Lawrence County, Ark. He died in 1844. His descendants are to be found in the north- eastern part of the State, and are known as excellent people, occupying prominent position in social and Church circles. One of the sons, Asbury, became a preacher, and two of his daughters married preachers. Another of his sons, G. N. Brookfield, is a well-to-do farmer near Gainesville, Texas, and another son, J. C. Brookfield, is a prominent lawyer in Jonesboro, Ark.
The minutes for this year show that William W. Red- man was appointed to the White River Circuit. The Rev. Andrew Monroe, in biographical sketches, says of him:
Brother Redman's first appointment was to the White River Circuit, Arkansas Territory, in the Black River Dis- trict, Brother Wright, Presiding Elder. To reach this distant field must have cost him a journey of at least 500 miles. His route lay through a newly-settled country, and a part of the way through a wilderness. Settlements were then few and far between ; accommodations were rough, and the difficul- ties and dangers of the way were greatly augmented by the entire absence of bridges and roads. So far as the writer is advised, the young preacher made the journey solitary and alone to his new field of labor. It is likely that he formed the circuit, as it does not appear on the minutes of that
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year ; if so, this greatly increased his responsibility and per- plexity.
"The great distance between his appointments sometimes compelled him to lodge in the wilderness, with the canopy of heaven as his covering, his horse as his only companion, and his saddle-bags for his pillow. On such occasions the bear, the wolf, and the panther were about his path. On one occasion, as he related to me, he was greatly alarmed in the darkness of the night, when compelled to lodge in the open wilderness. Having secured his horse for the night, he laid himself down, with his saddle-bags for his pillow. He had lain but a few minutes when the sudden, terrific scream of a panther brought him to his feet; with great difficulty he held his horse, and for awhile he expected the blood-thirsty animal would rend him in pieces ; but without any assigna- ble cause, the dangerous foe retired, his affrighted horse became quiet, and he passed the remainder of the night in safety. In the morning he paid his devotions to the God of Daniel, who had delivered him from so great danger, and soon found his way to the cabin of the pioneer settler, who cor- dially entertained him with his simple fare, and then he went on his way rejoicing.
"As to the result of his labors on this circuit we know noth- ing except what we gather from the printed minutes. These show that he returned a regular circuit, with a membership of 138 white and 18 colored members-a good year's work, considering the sparseness of the population and the condi- tion of the country.
" That section of the work was considered a very sickly one, and nearly all the preachers who labored there suffered seriously, and some never recovered entirely from the effects of climate and exposure; but I believe Brother Redman was an exception, and came out unscathed."
The eighth session of the Conference met in St. Louis, October 24, 1823, Bishop McKendree, President. The ap-
.
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pointments for Arkansas were : Arkansas District, William Stephenson; Arkansas Circuit, Andrew Lopp ; Hot Springs and Mount Prairie, John Blasdell; Pecan Point, Rucker Tanner; Spring and White River, James E. Johnson. The names of Andrew Lopp and Rucker Tanner appear for the first time in connection with the work in Arkansas. Andrew Lopp traveled four years and located. From all that we have been able to learn, he was a faithful and efficient preacher, but like a great many others of that early day, he was 'not able to endure the privations and toils incident to the work. Rucker Tanner located in 1829. Rucker Tan- ner and his father, who was a local preacher, formerly lived in the New Madrid country, and came out to Hempstead County about the time John Henry and others settled near Mount Prairie. In an old District record we find the names of Gilbert Clark, William Harned and Thomas Tennant, all of whom became traveling preachers.
ARKANSAS DISTRICT CONFERENCE.
When the General Conference of the M. E. Church, South, which met at New Orleans in 1866, adopted the pres- ent plan of District Conferences, it was regarded by many as an innovation upon Methodism. By consulting the rec- ords, however, we find that as early as 1822 there was held. a District Conference for the Arkansas District (which in- cluded the whole State of Arkansas), at Ebenezer camp- ground, in Hempstead County.
The following extracts from the minutes will be of interest to the reader :
" EBENEZER CAMP-GROUND,
" EBENEZER PRAIRIE CIRCUIT, September 6, 1822.
" This brings the day appointed for the first sitting of the Arkansas District Conference. Those who had attended, agreeably to appointment, convened at a place near the camp-ground, when the business of the Conference being
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opened by singing and prayer, it was found that the follow- ing persons were members:
" Licensed Preachers-Benjamin Ogden, Joseph Reid, Gil- bert Clark, Salmon Ruggles, Daniel Rawles, John Tollett, Wm. Harned, Thos. Tennant, James Blackburn.
" Deacons-John Harris, Henry Stephenson.
" Elders-Wm. Stephenson, Francis Travis, John Henry.
"John Scripps, P. E., in the chair.
" The Conference then proceeded to the election by ballot of a Secretary, and, on counting the votes, it was found that Gilbert Clark was elected by a unanimous voice.
" It was then moved by Bro. Reid, seconded and carried, that one of the circuit preachers be elected to co-operate with the committee appointed to superintend divine service on the camp-ground, and John Harris was elected.
Among the items of business for the Conference, was " a recommendation from the Mount Prairie Quarterly Con- ference for Green Orr to preach was read, his character ex- amined, and he was licensed. X
"JOHN SCRIPPS, P. E."
The District Conference for 1823 was held at the same place, Thursday, Sept. 11, 1823.
" This brings the day appointed for the second sitting of the Arkansas District Conference. The following persons were present :
" Licensed Preachers-John Tollett, James Blackburn, Henry Stephenson, Gilbert Clark, Wm. Harned, Benjamin Ogden, John Sexton, John Henry, Joseph Reid, Salmon Ruggles, Friend McMahan, Samuel Laird, Daniel Rawles, Thos. Tennant."
The following item of business shows that the brethren, at that early day, were troubled by the slavery agitations of the day :
" Bro. J. Reid's case was then taken up again by the Con- ference. Bro. Reid stated that he would give up the slave
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Jeffrey, to the Conference, provided they would not bring him in any obligation with which he could not possibly comply.
" After some desultory remarks on the subject, a motion was made, seconded and carried, that Bro. Reid retain the slave; and his license was accordingly renewed. * * *
" JOHN SCRIPPS, P. E." For 1824, we have this extract from the minutes :
" HEMPSTEAD COURT HOUSE, ARK. TER., "September 6, 1824.
" Wm. Stephenson, P. E., in the chair.
" Green Orr was recommended by this Conference as a proper person to ride the circuit. Gilbert Clark likewise. " WM. STEPHENSON, P. E.
" GILBERT CLARK, Sec'y."
The Tanners, in connection with other local preachers, greatly aided the itinerant preachers in planting the Church in Southwest Arkansas. The colony of Methodists located near Henry's Chapel became a center of influence for the surrounding country that has been felt to the present day. A healthy, vigorous type of Methodism was developed, that has left its impress for good upon the whole country.
The printed minutes show a decrease in the membership of the Church in Arkansas for this year; in fact, there was a decrease in the entire membership of the Conference. At this distant day we have no means of ascertaining the causes that produced this decline in the numbers of the Church.
Washington and Green Orr were twin brothers, who la- bored successfully in Southern Arkansas, and along the border of Texas, at an early date, and are favorably men- tioned by Thrall in his " History of Methodism in Texas," as co-laborers with William and Henry Stephenson in plant- ing Methodism in the border counties of Texas.
Washington Orr was admitted into the Missouri Confer- ence in 1818, and appointed to the Hot Springs Circuit. He
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continued to travel in Arkansas until 1823 when he located, in which relation he continued until his death, in 1853. He was a devoted, useful, local preacher.
Green Orr was admitted into the traveling connection in 1824, and was appointed to the Hot Springs Circuit; in 1825 to the Mount Prairie Circuit. At the close of this year he located, and settled on the south side of Red River, - in Lamar County. He died in 1863, greatly beloved by all who knew him.
The tenth session of the Conference met at New Tennes- see, August 4, 1825 ; Bishop Roberts, President.
The appointments for Arkansas were :
Arkansas District-Jesse Haile, P. E. Arkansas Circuit, to be supplied ; Hot Springs, Gilbert Clench ; Mount Prairie, Green Orr and Rucker Tanner ; Natchitoches, William Ste- phenson.
The name of Jesse Haile appears for the first time in con- nection with the work in Arkansas. He remained upon the District from 1825 to 1829. The administration of Jesse Haile was very unfortunate for the Church in Arkansas, for while he was an excellent preacher, and no doubt a truly devoted and pious man, he was a violent partisan. He was an original and outspoken abolitionist, and by his imprudent conduct alienated a great many from the Church, so that large numbers left the Church and joined the Cumberland Presbyterians. His administration in Arkansas was by some called the "hail storm" in Arkansas. Col. John Miller, father of ex-Gov. Wm. R. Miller, has given us a description of Jesse Haile :
"The Rev. Jesse Haile was a man of about 5 feet II inches in height; large, heavy-built muscular frame; fair complexion, with light hair and eyes. He was a man of great physical courage, and very resolute in carrying out his purposes. He was violently opposed to all display in dress and jewelry ; to dram-drinking, and all irregularities of every
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kind. When he took a matter in hand he never ceased until he had either effected a reformation or the expulsion of the offender from the Church."
So violent was his opposition to slavery that he expelled quite a number from the Church because of their refusal to emancipate their slaves. One of his young preachers, Rev. Thos. Tennant, was induced by him to emancipate his slaves, a step which he afterward greatly regretted, when he was reduced to a condition of want and suffering. Haile's administration was a striking instance of well-meant but mistaken zeal in a doubtful cause.
Fortunately for the Church he was succeeded by Uriel Haw and Jesse Greene, whose firm and prudent course tended in a large degree to the restoration of quiet and har- mony in the Church. Jesse Haile transferred to the Illinois Conference in 1830, and traveled for a number of years with ¢ great acceptability to that people, as they were in harmony with his views upon the slavery question.
The Church in Arkansas had now completed the first decade of its history as an organized body in this new Ter- ritory.
The first statistical report, made at the close of the year 1815, showed that there were 88 whites and 4 colored mem- bers in the Territory of Arkansas. After the labors of ten years, we find a membership of 664 whites and 48 col- ored. To us, at this day, this appears to be a very small increase for the time and labor expended. But we must remember that they labored among a sparse population, many of whom were unfriendly to every form of Protestant- ism. We must also take into consideration the migratory habits of these early settlers of the country. The apparent success of one year in a given place would frequently be lost by the next year, on account of the frequent removals of the people. We can well conceive how exceedingly dif- ficult it would be under such circumstances to build up per-
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