USA > Arkansas > History of Methodism in Arkansas > Part 6
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manent congregations, and how severely the faith of these old pioneers must have been tried. It is comparatively an easy thing to labor, and suffer, when we can see results that we feel are somewhat adequate to the labor and suffering expended ; but when the most meager results are seen, and frequently positive loss sustained, at the close of the year, it required the highest type of Christian courage, and the most unwavering faith in the promises of Christ, to continue in the work of the Church. Fortunately for the Church in Arkansas many of these old pioneers were men of the most sublime courage and unwavering faith, united with great powers of physical endurance, which enabled them to suc- ceed where weaker men would have fallen in the attempt.
While the Church was laying the foundation for the future workmen to build upon, events of an important character were being enacted in the civil government of the country. We have already had occasion to notice the fact, that the territorial government of Arkansas was organized in 1819, and James Miller was appointed Governor of the Territory. The first Legislature for the Territory convened in the early part of February, 1820, at the Post of Arkansas. It was organized by the election of Edward McDonald as Presi- dent of the Council, corresponding to the Senate, in State Legislatures. Rev. William Stephenson, from Hempstead, was elected Speaker of the lower House, but resigned the Speakership on account of ill health. We find him subse- quently, however, acting as a member from Hempstead County. At an adjourned session of the Legislature in October, 1820, the seat of government was removed from the Post of Arkansas to Little Rock, where it has remained until the present time.
At this session of the Legislature four new counties were formed : Miller, Phillips, Crawford and Independence. These, added to the five counties already existing, made nine counties in the Territory of Arkansas. The county seats of
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these counties will indicate the centers of population at that early day. There was an old settlement at the Post of Ar- kansas, around which quite a number of people, had settled. It was perhaps the most important place within the Terri- tory.
There was a settlement in Lawrence County as early as 1817, near where Powhatan now stands. Pulaski County was the third county formed, and the county seat was estab- lished at Little Rock. At several points in Clark County settlements had been formed at a very early date. We have already had occasion to notice the flourishing settle- ment that had been made at Mount Prairie, in Hempstead County, as early as 1816. Among the earliest settlements in the State, we have had occasion to notice the one near where Helena now stands. We must, however, remember that between these settlements there were vast stretches of wilderness without a single inhabitant, and that in passing from one to the other the traveler had nothing but dim trails to guide him on his way. Often he would have to camp out at night with no shelter but the trees of the forest to protect him. As there were no bridges and but few fer- ries, the itinerants of that day were frequently compelled to swim the swollen streams in the coldest weather, and then to ride for miles without a change of garments.
While the Methodists of that day were planting the Church in these centers of influence and population, others. were assisting in the good work of sowing the seeds of the gospel truth, that has borne fruit in the flourishing Churches that exist in many parts of the State.
The Baptists came to the State at a very early day and organized churches in nearly every one of these pioneer settlements. In many communities they divide the honors with the Methodist as the pioneer church, and have the Master's commendation in that through them "the poor have the gospel preached to them." To the Baptists belong
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the honor of having built the first church-house in the City of Little Rock, in 1825. The Rev. Silas T. Toncray was the pastor. This was known as the "Baptist meeting,-house," and was a mere log house, and stood on Third street, between Main and Scott streets. The Methodists and Presbyterians had regular services previous to this time, but had built no house of worship.
Both the Old School Presbyterians and the Cumberland Presbyterians entered the State at an early day. It is claimed that the first Protestant sermon preached in Arkan- sas was by Rev. John P. Carnahan, a Cumberland Presby- terian minister, at the Post of Arkansas, in 1811. The Presbyterians organized a Mission Station in 1821, at Dwight's Station, near where Russellville, in Pope County, now stands. It will be seen that while the Methodists were active leaders in the great work of giving the gospel to this scattered population, they had earnest and faithful co- workers in the good cause.
CHAPTER VIII.
WM. STEPHENSON - JOHN HARRIS - THOMAS TENNANT -- JAMES LOWERY-HENRY STEPHENSON-JOHN SCRIPPS- DENNIS WILEY-THOMAS JOHNSON-JOHN KELLY-WIL- LIAM SHORES-EDWARD PEEVY-JEROME C. BERRYMAN- ANSWER TO PRAYER-URIEL HAW -- NELSON R. BEWLEY -- GEORGE W. BEWLEY.
The eleventh session of the Missouri Conference met at McKendree Chapel, Cape Girardeau, September 14, 1826, Bishop Roberts presiding.
The appointments for Arkansas were : Arkansas District, Jesse Haile, Presiding Elder; Arkansas Circuit, John Cure- ton; Hot Springs, Parker Snedecor ; Mount Prairie, Thomas Johnson ; Spring and White River, to be supplied.
The statistics for Arkansas were 730 white members and 68 colored members. At this Conference the Church in Arkansas lost the valuable services of William Stephenson, who was transferred to the Mississippi Conference, and stationed at Natchitoches. We have now completed the history of the first decade of organized Methodism in Ark- ansas. We have witnessed its growth from the time that Eli Lindsay organized the Spring River Circuit, and John Henry, the devoted local preacher, entered the Territory, and began his labors at Mount Prairie, and the heroic Wil- liam Stephenson received his appointment in 1816 to the Hot Spring Circuit ; until the close of the tenth year, when the entire State was embraced in one Presiding Elder's dis- trict.
At the first report made to the Conference in 1816, there were ninety white members and five colored members. At the close of the first decade of organized Methodism, there
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were 730 white members and seventy-one colored members, showing a total increase of 640 members. This may seem a small increase for ten years' labor. It has sometimes oc- curred that a single preacher would be able to report as large an increase in a single year, but we must remember that the country was very sparsely settled, the congregations were necessarily very small, and there could be no very great number of members received at any one time or place. There were no large towns and populous communities from which to draw large accessions to the Church.
During this period the following preachers labored in the Territory of Arkansas: William Stephenson, John Harris, Thomas Tennant, Washington Orr, James Lowery, William Harned, Henry Stephenson, Gilbert Clark, William Town- send, John Scripps, Isaac Brookfield, Dennis Wiley, Samuel Bassett, William Bryant, Andrew Lopp, John Blasdell, Rucker Tanner, Green Orr, Jesse Haile, Gilbert Clench, John Cureton, Parker Snedecor, Thomas Johnson -- 23.
For several years the Missouri Conference had embraced a portion of the territory of North Louisiana, and at this Conference that territory was transferred to the Mississippi Conference. William Stephenson, being in that territory, was transferred to that Conference.
The student of Arkansas Methodism will not be satisfied with a mere roll of the names of the preachers who, by their heroic labors and patient endurance, planted Method- ism in Arkansas, and made it possible for us to enter in and enjoy the fruits of their toil. We want to know all we can of their history, of their labor, and the methods by which they accomplished the great work intrusted to their care. While we have made diligent search into every source of information at our command, in no case is our knowledge of these men as complete as we could desire. In a few in- stances our information is confined to the roll of names pub- lished in our general minutes. In a few instances a name
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HISTORY OF METHODISM IN ARKANSAS.
would appear in the minutes without any information as to how it came there, and then disappear as strangely as it came without any statement as to its manner of disposal.
As we have already seen the name of William Stephenson appears on the minutes of the Conference as the first travel- ing Methodist preacher to enter the Territory of Arkansas, and remained in connection with the work in Arkansas for ten years, when he was transferred to the Mississippi Con- ference. William Stephenson was born in South Caro- lina, near a station called Ninety-Six (at that time a frontier settlement), October 4, 1768. His parents belonged to the Preebyterian Church, in which he was baptized in infancy. He was the subject of religious impressions at a very early age-before reaching his eighth year-which he attributed to the instructions and influence of his pious mother. At the age of 24 he emigrated to Tennessee, and at the age of 32 he was converted and joined the Methodist Church. Soon after this he was licensed to preach, and labored with a good degree of success in the great revival in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri, which commenced about that time. He joined the traveling con- nection in the Tennessee Couference in 1815, and was ap- pointed to the Bellevue Circuit in the Missouri District. In 1816 and 1817 he was appointed to the Hot Springs Circuit in Arkansas. At the Conference in 1818 and 1819 he was appointed to the Black River District. In 1820 and 1821 to the Arkansas District. In 1823 and 1824 he was again appointed to the Arkansas District. In 1825 he was ap- pointed to the Natchitoches Station, and in 1826 he was transferred to the Mississippi Conference. He continued in the active ministry until 1840, when he was placed on the superannuated list, in which relation he remained until the time of his death, in 1857, in the eighty-ninth year of his age, and the forty-fourth of his ministry. He was a good man, and if abundant usefulness can constitute a great man,
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he was a great man. He died in great peace at his home in Caddo Parish, Louisiana. It is said, "The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." William Stephenson has the distinguished honor of being the leader in the mighty army of itinerants who have carried the gospel into every part of the State, and who have done more to elevate the moral condition of society than all other agencies combined.
The name of John Harris appears on the minutes as the second itinerant preaeher to enter this new field of labor. His name appears in connection with the name of William Stephenson for Hot Springs for the year 1817-18. His en- tire ministerial life was given to the Church in Arkansas. His name will again appear in the course of this volume.
Thomas Tennant, Washington Orr and James Lowery were all admitted on trial September 5, 1818. Thomas Tennant located in 1823, Washington Orr in 1824, and James Lowery in 1821. William Harned was discontinued in 1821.
Henry Stephenson was admitted on trial in 1820, and was discontinued the next year. The following sketch of him is taken from "Thrall's History of Methodism in Texas ":
" He was of Presbyterian parentage; born in 1772. His parents were poor and he enjoyed the privilege of going to school only three months in his life. The first year of the present century his family emigrated to Kentucky, and in a few years after to Missouri, and settled near St. Charles. In 1804 he was converted and joined the Methodist Church. He was licensed to preach by Jesse Walker in 1813. In 1817 he settled in Hempstead County, Arkansas, where he was very useful as a local preacher. In 1820 he took work under the Presiding Elder. He was admitted on trial in the traveling connection in 1820, but owing to the size of his family he was unwilling to continue in the traveling connec- tion. He removed to Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, in 1828, and was placed in charge of that circuit. In 1835 he moved
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to Jasper County, Texas. Having been a pioneer all his life, he continued to hunt up destitute neighborhoods. As late as 1840 no preacher had ever visited Jefferson County, on the Sabine River. Henry Stephenson went there and preached several sermons and created quite an interest, and organized a Church. His mental endowments were not extraordinary ; his education was limited. He married young and raised a large family. His whole life was spent upon the frontier amid its perils and privations, and yet he accomplished an immense amount of good. He preached along the whole western boundary of settlements from the Missouri River to the Colorado, and left a name which is as ointment poured forth through all this vast region. It is hard to fathom the secret of his success. He was neither learned nor eloquent, in the ordinary acceptation of the terms, but he was a good man and cherished a single pur- pose, to glorify God and do all the good in his power. He was of a meek and quiet spirit, winning friends by his gentle manners. In one respect nature had favored him. He possessed a most musical voice, a voice which, ringing out upon a camp ground, charmed into silent and attentive listeners all classes of people."
Gilbert Clark was discontinued in 1823, and William Townsend in 1824.
John Scripps was admitted on trial in the Tennessee Con- ference in 1814, and appointed to the Patoca Circuit, Illinois District. Upon the organization of the Missouri Conference in 1816, he became a member of that body He was Pre- siding Elder of the Arkansas District in 1822 and in 1823. The Church in Arkansas enjoyed a good degree of pros- perity under his administration, and the minutes show that. there was a good increase in the membership of the Church. He appears to have been a man of fine administrative ability, and of great order and system in the transaction of the business of the Church, and peculiarly qualified to give
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stability to the work by laying well the foundations for fu- ture success.
One of his cotemporaries and fellow-itinerants, says of him : "I have been acquainted with him many years. I have traveled several circuits that had been traveled long before by him, and the recollections of him by all the peo- ple were very vivid and pleasant. He was very strict and par- ticular in all the minutiæe of a Methodist preacher's duty. I have often been shown as a relic treasured by the old class- leaders, the class papers, prepared by Brother Scripps. How singularly neat they were. He wrote a beautiful plain hand. In his day there were no public roads, and in most places not even a pathway from one settlement to another. Some- times the preachers traveled by the use of the pocket com- pass. Sometimes they took along a little hatchet, and be- ing shown the way blazed or notched the trees to point out the road, or rather course, afterwards. John Scripps had a sharp iron with which he would scratch the trees in the course he was to pursue in going from one appointment to another." (Rev. John Hogan in St. Louis Advocate.)
Dennis Wiley was admitted on trial in 1822, and Samuel Bassell in 1823. Upon the formation of the Illinois Con- ference, in 1826, they transferred to that Conference. Wil- liam Bryant, was discontinued at the close of his first year. Andrew Lopp was admitted on trial in 1823, and John Blasdell in 1822, and located in 1828. Rucker Tanner was admitted on trial in 1818, and died in 1830, while trav- eling the Hot Springs Circuit. He was a good man, and was regarded as a good, faithful and successful preacher.
Jesse Haile first appears in connection with the work in Arkansas as the Presiding Elder of the Arkansas District. He remained on the district four years, 1825-1828. We will have occasion to speak of his administration in our next chapter.
John Cureton was discontinued at the close of his first year. 5-M
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Parker Snedecor was admitted on trial in 1826; traveled for six years and located in 1832. The only notice we have of him is that he was a good man and a faithful preacher.
Thomas, Johnson was admitted on trial in the Missouri Conference, September 14, 1826, and appointed to the Mount Prairie Circuit, which he traveled for two years. In the fall of 1830, he was appointed to labor among the In- dians, in which work he continued until his death, which oc- curred April 8, 1842. One who knew him intimately said of him : "Of William Johnson I remember to have heard a competent judge say he was the best man he had known, and I, after years of experience side by side with him in ' missionary work, and having closed his eyes when he died, am prepared to bear similar testimony. I have known none that was better in all that goes to make up the true Christian gentleman and faithful minister."
The name of John Kelly appears in the list of appoint- ments for this year. The following from the pen of his son, Dr. David C. Kelly, will be read with interest :
"John Kelly was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the year 1802, Dennis Kelly, his father, having a large family of children, of whom he was the youngest. The father was chiefly remarkable for his great industry and almost un- equaled energy. Two of the brothers, George and Dennis studied, the one law, the other medicine. George died young. Dennis lived to gain a large reputation as a practi- tioner. John was at school at what was then the best acad- emy west of the Cumberland Mountains, near the Town of Lebanon, when Lebanon was visited by the great orator and revivalist, Sterling Brown. Brown preached in the court- house. On Sunday morning without a friend to advise or encourage, the young student accepted the invitation of the preacher when calling for persons to join the Church as seekers. As he advanced toward the preacher, one other, a young lady, joined him; and these were the first persons
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who ever joined the M. E. Church in the town. His family urged him to remain at school, but influenced by the advice so common at that day from preachers, immediately after his conversion, recognizing a call to the ministry, he sought admission into the Conference. This haste in leav- ing school was a matter of life-long regret with him, and. he became early an earnest advocate for education in the ministry. Years after, when he had become a married man, he boarded one or more young men preparing for the ministry in his house, and sent them to school, though re- ceiving less than $200 on an average on his own work. He was admitted on trial into the Tennessee Conference in 1821, with a class of twenty-six, three of whom survive ; was ap- pointed junior preacher on Knox Circuit with Samuel Har- well, 1823 ; in charge of Beech River with Ed. T. Peevy. Placing a young preacher, his second year, in charge shows how soon his character and judgment matured; 1824 ad- mitted into full connection and ordained Deacon ; appointed in charge of Carter's Valley Circuit with the celebrated Creed Fulton as junior preacher. He fell into the Holston Conference at the division in 1825, and was sent successively to Giles, Green and Hiawassee. In 1828, transferred with Ed. T. Peevy and John Trotter to Missouri Conference, and appointed in charge of White River and Spring River Cir- cuit with his friend, Ed. T. Peevy ; 1829, Hot Springs and Mount Prairie Circuit; 1830, White River Circuit; 1831, Cape Girardeau. A memorandum shows 200 additions to the Church on this Circuit, which he served alone; 1832, Washington.
" Transferred during that year to the Tennessee Confer- ence and appointed to Smith Fork Circuit ; was placed in charge of Caney Fork Circuit the next year. What little memorandum he made of his earlier ministry has been lost. In looking through some old papers the following pleasant little memorandum of an event in his first Arkansas work
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was found, written in fair hand and scholarly form, evidently preserved by him with pleasure :
" BATESVILLE, July 9, 1828.
" We, the undersigned, entertaining a high respect for the Rev. Mr. Kelly, as an individual, and having received much gratification and pleasure from hearing him as a preacher, beg leave, on his departure from amongst us, to express our re- gret and contribute our mite to the support of one who is so worthy of the good cause he has undertaken to promul- gate and defend, and not being members of his Church, give this as a donation for his own individual benefit and use :
John Ringgold $ 1 00 J. Boswell $ 50
H. K. Hynson
I 00
R. Bates ...
50
James Hegner I 00
P. H. Johnson 25
J. Whitney I 00
Charles Kelley
I 00
Charles McArthur I 00
Jesse McKee 25
C. F. M. Noland
1 00
Aaron Gillet 50
John Davis 50
John Kyler
50
Thomas S. Carter.
50
Richard Lear I 00
John Redmon
1 00
C. S. Manly
1 00
James Porter
50
H. Boswell I 00
Total
$15 00
"He was married soon after his return to Tennessee to Margaret Lavinia Campbell, daughter of Col. David Camp- bell, of Campbell's Station. She, with an older sister, had been brought into the Church during his earlier ministry in East Tennessee. Col. Campbell had now removed to Wil- son County, in Middle Tennessee. He was a staunch Old Presbyterian.
"One year only his wife was removed from her paternal home. From that time he made every sacrifice and per- formed marvelous feats of travel to do his work as an itin- erant preacher, and yet give to his family a home. He never asked an appointment, never neglected his work, and yet made his home attractive. Here his wife heartily joined
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him in efforts to aid and bless in every way the traveling preacher. The home was named 'Itinerants' Rest.' Many and many a hard-riding, war-worn veteran rejoiced beneath its shelter. Many were the young men who found it a home while seeking education, and its inmates friends, counselors, and often teachers. He never repined or fretted at any event of his lot in life, yet sometimes to his wife spoke of his inexperienced, uneducated, youthful beginning. Ener- gy, great energy, characterized his course from first to last. None ever saw him cast down or irresolute, but always cheer- ful and active, from beardless boyhood to three-score years.
" As indicative of the times when his career commenced, we find in his first circuit in East Tennessee five county towns and twenty-eight preaching places all to be compassed each month. His second year at the opposite end of the State was far more trying. He often had to carry flour 150 miles to make bread for the sacrament, so little was this luxury known in some parts of the work. The meal was pounded and sieved through a raw hide with holes punched through it ; eaten warm, was palatable to the hearty back- woodsman ; when cold, could be masticated by no jaw less powerful than the hog's. Much of his Arkansas life was of the rudest character, but of this period he ever spoke with great pleasure, as it had been signal in successes for his Master's cause. As a preacher he was eminently practical ; his manner, always dignified, often became exceedingly im- passioned, and his exhortations were of an exceedingly powerful character. He fully understood Methodist the- ology, and was rich in texts of scripture, which he quoted fluently in support of its doctrines. His conclusions were almost unerring ; his statement of the logical process by which the conclusion had been reached was not always free from mist. Short scripture exposition, command of apt scripture quotations, pungent application and occasional im- passioned exhortations were his marked points as a preacher·
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During the last years of his life, hindered by a physical ail- ment from active work, he was a supernumerary, and so gained on the confidence of the people among whom he lived, that he was not only at the bedside of all the sick and the funerals of the dead, but was overtaxed by the numbers of estates he was induced to manage for the benefit of the widow and orphan. He died in 1864 from the effects of the first illness which had ever confined him to his bed for a day. Died as he lived, a faithful Christian. The only regret he had was to leave his family unprotected while war was devastating the country. His life was a blessing in every sphere he occupied. He was a man of great influ- ence ; his integrity of character was a power wherever he went. His widow, son and six grandchildren live to bless his memory on the earthly side. How many brought to Christ by his instrumentality rejoice to meet him on the eternal shore ! "
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