Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 68

Author: McDonough, J.L., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.L. McDonough & Co
Number of Pages: 578


USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 68


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121


When in 1855, the Ill. C. R. R. was built and Du Quoin founded, the place of meeting was moved to Du Quoin. In 1857, Lysias Heape enclosed the present church building north of the City Park, in Du Quoin. Mr. Keys, an old citizen, donated the lot and $100 for the house. A front and cupola have since been added. The Wheatleys moved to Du Quoin about this period-Isaac Wheatley first and then his brother Robert. Both have served the church as teachers, elders and active workers for years. Isaac died some years since, but Robert after half a century's labors is still found at his post. He has been unexampled almost, for his ability in his work.


Isaac and Newton Mulkey labored for the church in Du Quoin, during its infancy.


Elder Heape with casual visits from others served in the weekly administrations.


In 1862, O. A. Burgess, since Prest. of N. W. Christian University of Indianapolis, held the first and most success- full meeting for the church.


A number were brought in under his ministry who have been the prop and stay of the cause since. Among these were P. N. Pope, B. F. Pope, jr, R. A. Wheatley, E. S. Wheatley, Artemas Brown and Leander Brown. One of these bas since entered the ministry, Leander Brown, and is now filling worthily bis important trust.


34


266


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


J. Z. Taylor, now of Kansas City Misouri, held two suc- cessful meetings. W. F. Black of Indianapolis, and Wm. Patterson of Misouri, followed with numerous accessions. Others have preached more or less for the church, viz. : Clark Braden, R. B. Roberts, H. R. Trickett and Ira J. Chase. Several religious discussions have been held in Du Quoin, by leading ministers Clark Braden held public discussions with Underwood, a skeptic, and with Dunn, a spiritualist. In these discussions. Braden with much force and ability defended the Bible as a Divine Revelation. J. S. Sweeny discussed with G. W. Hughey, Methodist ques- tions of difference on baptism, etc. Both of these men were able controversialists.


W. L. Crim and Colcord, Seventh Day Adventist, ex- amined the Scriptures publicly on the Sabbath, and First Day observances. The following ministers have served as pastors of the church since 1863: John Lindsey, Leander Brown, Peter Vogel, Buford Allen, T. J. Shelton, J. S. Rose, H. F. Tandy, J. E. Prophater. There have been several hundred added to the church since its organization ; changes, removals and death have left it with a present resi- dent membership of 70.


The lady members have had societies and contributed te the general and home work. The Sunday School has been always maintained ; The board of officers of the congregation are B. F. Pope and R. J. Wheatley, Elders. R. A. Wheat- ley, P. V. Pope and J. M. Wheatley, Deacons. J. E Prophalter pastor.


The Church at friendship was formed by P. W. Jones a Baptist minister. P. W. Jones and J. C. Wilson, in the spring of 1867 organized the church at the Paririe Grove School House. The following names appear on the record, as charter members signing the covenant.


Jacob Nowart, Michael Goos, S. C. Moore, G. W. Staton D. L. Benson, Wm. Baker, Julia Staton, Nancy Staton, Margaret Staton, Easter Benson, Bexy Miller, Eliza Miller and Eliza Staton.


In 1869 G. W. Puckett, a Baptist minister from Tennessee located with the church. Through his labors, the church grew. On the first Saturday in March 1870, the Declar- ation of Faith, Covenant and Rules of Decorum were re- pealed and the Bible alone without any other written creed was adopted as a rule of faith and practice. The moderator at this meeting was G W. Puckett and clerk S. C. Moore.


In 1870, the present house of worship was built three miles west of Tamaroa. D. L. Benson and John Miller served as Elders, and Michael Goos with Abraham Heape as Deacons.


The following ministers have labored for the church, G W. Puckett, Lysias Heape, Newton Mulkey, Isaac Mulkey, John A. Williams, Wm. McDonold, Louis Goos and David Husband. The church has given one to the ministry, Lewis, Goos. Its present membership is forty six. Pastor in charge David Hushand.


The church at Mulkey Grove was begun by Wakefield De Witt, and enjoyed for years the labors of Elder Newton M. Mulkey.


Elder Mulkey not only watered the flock, but donated the


land upon which the present church edifice stands. The present house was built in the last few years and is yet un- finished. The congregation has been broken up by remov- als to the west. A few still reside in the neighborhood and in Tamaroa. Dr. Lovelady, J. N. Stoker, Frederick Williams and families with a few others remain of the ori- ginal band.


PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


BY REV. C. P. PHILLIPS.


The first Presbyterian church in Perry county was organized at the house of Mrs. Sarah Roop, in old Du Quoin, Nov. 15, 1840, by Rev. Benj. B. Brown. Two years later, December 16, 1842, Johnson Chandler and William Burbank were elected elders and were ordained and installed by Rev. William Chamberlin. Besides the elderships, the firs members were : Elmer W. Adams, Henry W. Smith, Miss Mary Hinckley, Mary Burbank, Wm. P. Burbank, Hiram Hinckley, Mrs. Sarah Hinckley, John Chandler Mrs. Mary Chandler, Miss Ellen Tuthill, Miss Elizabeth Tuthill, Mrs. Maria Wall and Oliver K. Clouch. The ministers have been : Revs. Josiah Woods, 1843-1851; Wm. H. Bird, 1851-1854; Albert Smith, 1855; Josiah Wood, 1856-7; Joseph A. Bent, 1857 ; Thomas Lippincott, 1858-63; Josiah Wood, 1863-65 ; Thomas Lippincott, 1865- 67 ; C. F. Hulsey, 1867-68; Jared M. Stone, D. D., 1871-76.


The name was changed to Old Du Quoin in 1865. This church never owned a house of worship, bnt alternated be- tween the school house and seminary, until it was dis- banded by order of the Presbytery of Cairo, by Rev. C. T. Phillips in August, 1882. The building of the Illinois Central R. R. drew away the population and with it the membership of the church from Old to New Du Quoin.


Galum church was organized June 2., 1844, at-the house of James C Kinzey, in Four Mile Prairie, with the following members : William and Nancy Hamilton, Mary Simzoy, Jane Brown, Ann Hamilton, Julia Ann Woodside, John Hamilton, Polly M. Foster, Jane Kinzey, Nancy J. Hamil- ton, James C Kinzey and William Hamilton.


The first elders were: John Hamilton and William Hamil- ton. The ministers have been Revs. Cyrus Riggs, B. F. Spilman, C. D. Martin, John Matthews, Daniel Steele, Wil- liam II. Templeton (who still lives near the church), George K Perkins, Geo. B. McComb, at two different times, M. M. Cooper, Jared M. Stone, D.D., Samuel Ward, and the present supply (1882), Rev. Wm. C. Smith. The congregation own a comfortable frame church, situated in a dense wood, built for $600. Its present value is very much less. The con- gregation is scattered over a good farming country, and possesses the elements of permanence. The present session of the church are : A. T. Hughey, J. P. Rial, William B. Kinzey and Samuel D. Rule. The membership April Ist, 1882, was about sixty-five.


The church at Pinckneyville had a very chequered ca- reer. It belonged to the New School wing, as did also the rest, and was first organized by Rev. Josiah Wood, in April, 1851. There were eight members and one elder, Nathaniel


267


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


Weeks. It soon became extinet, and was again organized in May, 1868, but again died. August, 1873, Rev. Jared M. Stone, D D., and Rev. John Huston, re-organized it, or rather formed a new organization, consisting of Mrs. C. Baldridge, Miss Frances Baldridge, Alexander A. Kimzey, Mrs. Jane Kimzey, Mrs. M. J. Kelso, Mr. H. M. Brown, Mrs. Nancy Brown, Mrs. E. E. Brown, Mrs. Louisa Opp, Mrs. Sarah Durringer, Samuel J. Henderson, Mrs. Pelina Buchanan, Mr. J. Rusk and Mrs. M Harbison. The elders have been, Hugh MI Brown, Alex. A. Kimsey, Eph. Hill ; ministers, Rev. Geo. E. Perkius, Geo. B. McComb, M. M. Cooper and Geo. B. MeComb. Again until 1879 this was the last stated ministry.


A small house of worship, costing between $1500 and $1800, was built, but never wholly paid for. It burned in 1881, and since then no attempt has been made to keep the church alive. There is no present probability of a re- organization, although Rev. William C. Smith is on the ground.


The First Presbyterian church of New Du Quoin was or- ganized by Rev. Joseph Gordon (recently deceased), Sept. 14, 1856. Alvah 1. Sprague, Mary Sprague, Harriet E. Keyes, Edwin N. Smith, Sarah Smith, Lucius B. Skinner, Geo. S. Smith, Juliana Smith, Jane Smith and James Hunt were the first members. With one or two exceptions, they had belonged to the Old Du Quion church. Geo. S. Smith, the senior mem- ber of the firm of G. S. Smith & Co., merchants and bankers, was the first elder. Since that time the elders have been Lewis Dyer . late surgeon U. S. Vols.), Moses H. Ross, Russel Tuthill, George M. Hinckley, Reubeu Berry and Wm. H. Holmes. The present session are : Geo. S. Smith and Geo. M. Hinckley. The first pastor was Rev. S. Post, now of Chicago. Since then the following have ministered at the times indicated : Rev. Thomas Lippineott, Nov. 1, 1861, to May 1, 1862; Yates Hickey, June 1, 1862, to August 1, 1862; James Stafford, August 1, 18 :2, to April I, 1864; J. Jerome Ward, April, 1864, to April, 1865; Joseph D. Barston, Nov. 26, 1865, to Nov. 26, 1867; Josiah Wood, Nov. 1867, to May, 1868; Peter S. Van Nest, D. D., May 1, 1868, to July 23, 1871 ; Edward F. Fish, Nov. 30, 1871, to Nov. 20, 1878; Charles T. Phillips, Dec. 1, 1878, to the present (Nov. 1882). The property of church consists of a frame church, valued at (with coutents | 82000, and a par- sonage, the gift of Mrs. Sarah Root. valued at 82000. About 250 persons have at different times belonged to this church, of whom 92 remain.


The Tamoroa church was organized May 24, 1857, by Rev. Elisha Jenney. The first members were: William Yates, Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Yates, Mrs. Lydia Hudson, J. M. Simpson, Mrs. Ann E. Simpson ; Mrs. Rosemond O. Blanchard, Miss Mary Ann Yates, Miss Adelaide Simpson. The elders have been : Oliver A. Holt, Jedediah Lathrop. Dr. C. M. Hughey, Townsend Blanchard, Hillery S. Patrick, Joseph W. Haynes and Providence White. Ministers : Thomas Lippincott, 1858-62; Josiah Wood, 1863-67; Charles F. F. Halsey, 1867-68; M. B. Van Arsdale, 1870- 71; John Huston, 1872, and Robert Rudd from 1874 to the present (September, 1882). The church is small, but


vigorous, and deserves great praise for its successful struggle against many adverse cirevirtances. The congregation own a very neat frame house of worship, large enough for the place. It cost about 82600. The present membership is about seventy-five.


The Prairie Grove church was situated about midway betweeu Tamaroa and Pinckneyville. Revs. Hillery Pa- trick. John Huston, Samuel Ward, Geo. B. McComb and Robert Rudd have preached there at different times. In the early part of 1881, Rev. C. T. Philips and Eller Towns- end Blanchard visited the church, and finding but seven members, they were, with the exception of the elder, Mr. Wagstaff, dismissed to the Tamaroa church, and the church was declared dissolved.


The Denmark church was organized August 30, 1868, with nine members and one elder, J. L. Collom. It has never had more than a nominal existence. The last minis- ter was the Rev. Wm. H. Templeton, of Galum. At last reports there were eleven members.


THE BAPTISTS (PERRY COUNTY).


RY W. S. D. SMITH.


When Perry county was organized, doubtless, the number of Baptists within its limits could have been told upon the fingers of one hand. Indeed we have positive knowledge of but two,-one of whom is still living at the same spot where he located in the year 1825, and from whom we learn these faets : that he, Enoch Eaton and his wife Polly, whose maiden name was Hughs, settled upon the northeast quarter of section 24, twp. 5 S. R. + W., in what was then a part of Randolph county.


They were both Baptists, having been baptized in Ten- nessee, their native state. One and a-half miles west of Bro. Eaton's, at the "Butler Nace farm," lived the only Baptist who is now known to have had an earlier settlement in what is now Perry county ; this was a lady, then far ad- vanced in years, and known as Grandmother Murphy. She was the wife of John Murphy, and mother of William C and Richard G. Murphy,-the latter being the father of Hon. Wm. K. Murphy. She, with her husband, came from Smith county, Tenn., in 1818. She died in the spring of 1827, having lived a very exemplary life.


No organization of the Baptists existed in Perry county, until June 1829, two years later than the organization of the county. It is not to be presumed, however, that there was no manifestation of the religious life of this people. Baptists preachers passing hrough the country were always met by an eager congregation of neighbors, summoned together under the hospitable roof of Bro. Eaton. Here the gospel was preached by Elder Nathan Arnett, the Lemens of St. Clair county, and others, prior to the organization of the county, and long prior to the organization of the Galum church in that vicinity. Of other ministers who preached iu this county at an early day may be named Rev. John M. Peck, W. F. Boyakin, Atlas Moore, all now deceased, and D. L. Phillips, afterwards president of the B. and S. R. R. Company


268


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


In the eastern part of the county the first Baptists settled near Du Quoin. Elder Peter Hagler with his wife, who is now deccased, located in the Nine Mile Prairie in the spring of 1829. Others came soon afterward, but none of them have survived him. Brethren Eaton and Hagler may, therefore, be regarded as pioneers. What changes they have lived to witness can never be fully described.


The development of the Baptist family may be traced by a sketch, more or less extended, of each of the several church organizations which we find have existed within the borders of the county, making some allowance for the fact that the county lines do not limit the territory of the churches. This is followed by a sketch of the Nine Mile Baptist Association, and of some individuals :


THE NINE MILE BAPTIST CHURCH.


This is the name of the first organization of Baptists in Perry county. Two considerations entitle it to the honor- able appellation, "The Mother of Churches."


First, its antiquity ; and, secondly, the fact that nearly all the Baptist churches subsequently organized in Perry county were partly composed of members taken from the Nine Mile, or were organized of material gathered by the labors of min- isters belonging to that body. Hence, the history of the Nine Mile Church is of special interest.


On Saturday before the third Sunday of June, 1829, at a little log house then standing on the west half, southeast quarter section 1, twp 6, S. R. 2 W., where lived Peter Hagler and wife there were gathered together four brethren and four sisters in the Baptist faith. These were : Abner Keith, and Sarah his wife ; Van S. Teague, and Rachel his wife; Peter Hagler, and Frances his wife; Leonard Lipe, and Francis Jones


Two Baptist ministers, Eli Short, who lived in Short's prairie, Randolph county, Illinois; and Silas Chrislo, who lived near Kaskaskia, Illinois, met with this little company of pioneer Baptists, and the organization was effected by the adoption of these eight members, of a church covenant, arti- cles of faith and rules of order. The name chosen and adopted was " Nine Mile Prairie" Church, that being the name of the post-office, which is now Du Quoin. Peter Hagler was chosen clerk of the church, and the same year a log house about eighteen or twenty feet square was built a short dis- tance frem Hagler's cabin, on what was then "Congress land," afterward entered by Leonard Lipe, now owned by Hon. T. T. Fountain.


Here they held meetings monthly, to which the people would come from distances of five, ten, and fifteen miles. Peter Hagler was licensed by the church, soon after its or- ganization, and preached very acceptably to the church and in the surrounding neighborhoods.


After a time, Elder Robert Moore became the pastor of the church, and served until 1833, when a serious division rent the church, which at this time contained about sixty members, and a number of members who had been received by letter from churches in Tennessee holding the " Predes- tinarian " doctrine, withdrew under the leadership of Jobu S. Haggard, who was then clerk of the church. Prior to


the time of this "split," a process of separation had been going on in the Baptist churches of Tennesseee and other States. Those holding the extreme Calvinistic (or, rather, hyper-Calvinistic) doctrine, which leads toward fatalism and discourages the employment of human agencies or means in the work of salvation, could not remain in harmony with those, who, under the influence of the strong missionary spirit infused into American Baptists by the conversion to Baptist views of the missionaries, Judson and Rice, were impelled to put forth renewed efforts for the spread of the gospel in heathen lands. This leaven had now reached southern Illinois, and in a few years the churches were either divided or carried over to one side or the other, and have since remained as separate denomination.


While it is true that this radical difference in doctrine was the real cause of the division in the Nine Mile Church, a minor question was made the pretext for withdrawal ; this was an alleged irregularity in the reception or approval of Amos Anderson as a candidate for baptism.


Eleven members of the church, among whom was John S. Haggard, Matthew and Thomas Jones, voted against his admission to the church after he had been baptized by the pastor, Eld. Moore,-and, withdrawing, organized a new body which still continues as the old Baptist Church of Par- adise Prairie, and bears the name of "Nine Mile."


As to which of these bodies is better entitled to the original name, or to be regarded as the main body of the original Nine Mile Church, opinions may differ, and some impor- tance might attach to it, were the standing of a Baptist Church dependent upon " unbroken succession." Without being a stickler for "ecclesiastical pedigree," we assume that the body which remained with Eld. Hagler, and which was distinguished by the descriptive title, " Missionary Bap- tist, and Friends to Humanity," is the church we are en- deavoring to sketch. (Some facts regarding the other body may be found further on).


The Nine Mile Church, thus left to the enjoyment of the same doctrines upon which it was founded, was obliged to withdraw from the Salem Association, to which it had at- tached itself,-and, after some years of isolated existence, it became a member of the Saline Association. Their minis- ter, Elder Moore, having adhered to the Salem Association party, they were left without a pastor. A conneil was ae- cordingly called to meet at Limestone Church, in Union county, for the purpose of the ordination of Brother Peter Hagler as a minister of the gospel. Eld. John Browning, a member of the Nine Mile Church, residing in Franklin county ; Elder Isaac Herrin of Franklin county ; and Elder Jeremiah Brown of Union county, who in 1828 had bap- tized Brother Hagler and wife, composed the council ; and Eld. Hagler, being duly inducted into the ministerial office, became pastor of the Nine Mile Church.


About 1833 or 1835, the church erected a new house of logs. 18x24 feet, on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 25, twp. 5 S. R. 2 W., at the site of the present building. This log house afterward had a frame addition, and the beautiful grove adjacent to the house was annually brought into requisition as a place for camp meetings, where


269


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


immense gatherings of people were accustomed to assemble in the fall of the year-whole families, bringing their teams and camping outfits, would remain for days and weeks en- gaged in the work of the gospel.


Elder Nathan Arnett, of St. Clair county ; Elder T. M. Vance, of Benton, Ill., and others, here preached the gospel " in demonstration of the spirit and power," and thirty to forty conversions and baptisms usually resulted from these annual camp-meetings. How different the exercises in these primitive meetings from what may be seen at this day in a fashionable city church would be difficult to deseribe.


Of those who were prominently identified with these ear- lier years of the church's history, besides those already named, may be mentioned : Eld. J. R. Hlutehings, who was baptized and ordained here, afterwards a member and pastor of Concord church, and prominent in the civil organization of the county ; Eld. Richard G. Davis, afterward pastor of the Pipe Stone church ; Elder P. W. Jones, now of Allen- dale, Mo. ; Elder John S. Brown, who, later in life, became a member of the " Latter Day Saints ;" William Thornton (now deceased ), and M. J. Wilks, of Joplin, both of whom were afterwards ordained as ministers of the gospel ; John Wilks (deceased), a licentiate of this church; also, William Staton, Peter Wilks, Jordan IIarriss, and his wife Lucinda Harriss, who survives her husband and is, with perhaps a single exception, the oldest living member, being about 76 years old, and the mother of a large number of Baptist children and grand-children, including Elders Johnson C. Harriss (deceased ), J. Carroll Harriss, and Marion Teague.


On Friday before the first Sunday in October 1845, min- isters and messengers or delegates from six other churches met with the Nine Mile church, and formed a new associa- tion called the " Nine Mile Baptist Association." This church at that time had one hundred and two members. Robert Keller was its elerk. The earlier church records having been destroyed by fire, statistical information cannot be given for that period prior to 1845.


The following is a list of the church clerks since 1845 :- Nelson Holt, served four years ; John R. Teague (dec'd), served twenty years; Pleasant F. Staton (dec'd), served seven years ; James W. Lemmon was clerk in 1875, E. M. Harriss in 1876; Johnson C. Harriss, from 1877 to 1881; sinee which time his son, Josiah E. Harriss has been clerk.


In 1851, and again in 1863, the Nine Mile Association held its meetings with this church.


In 1853 thirty two members were dismissed to form the Paradise Baptist Church.


In 1865 or 1866 the present house of worship, a neat frame building, about 40x60 feet, was erected at a cost of $1200.


When the necessity for a new building was realized, the question of a change of location came up. A considerable proportion of the membership resided in Holt's Prairie, and an effort was made to locate the new house upon the high ground east of Panther Creek, on the Pinckneyville and Du Quoin road ; but the strength of the old associations held the place of worship at the original site by the old burial- ground,


With commendable spirit the church soon began to divide the appointments for preaching, and about half the meet- ings were held at Holt's Prairie, and the church recognized the reception of members at these meetings; and in July, 1872, thirty-nine members were dismissed to go into the organization of the Holt's Prairie Baptist Church. In its later years the church has enjoyed several revivals. In 1874, in a meeting of seventeen days, Elder J. M. Billings- ley assisting, thirty were baptized. In October, 1876, nine were baptized, as the result of a meeting held by Elders J. Cole and J. Carroll Harriss.


In Dec. 1877, Brethren Johnson C. Harriss, Marion Teague, and Elders Wm. R. McClure, Wm. H. Carner, and J. Carroll Harriss engaged with the church in a special effort resulting in thirty-five baptisms.


In Nov. 1879, at a meeting in which Elder W. H. Carner and Brother Marion Teague were engaged, nineteen were baptized.


December 22, 1877, Eld. Peter Hagler, having served the church as pastor about forty years, resigned. About two years afterward, Bro. Marion Teague, who had been in 1877 licensed to preach, was chosen pastor, and on the 3d day of January, 1880, he was ordained,-the council of ordination being composed of A. A Kendrick, D. D., Pres't of Shurt- leff College ; Elders J. Carroll Harriss, J. M. Billingsley, Peter Hagler and other brethren not ministers.


At the suggestion of the new pastor, the church procured a library eosting $100. Dec. 1881, Eld. J. Carroll Harriss was elected and is at this time the pastor of the church.


The number of persons who have had membership in this " Mother of Churches " is very great. No estimate can be made of the great amount of good that has resulted and will result from the earnest, self-denying labors of those who have served the Lord in and through this organization. Purity of doctrine has always characterized the church, and a spirit of benevolence has never been wanting.


THE GALUM BAPTIST CHURCH.


This body is now in its fortieth year, having been or- ganized August, 5, 1843, as the " Delum Creek Church of Christ friends to humanity." The organization took place at the house of Enoch Eaton. Sr., near Galum ereek, on the Pinekneyville and Sparta road, where the meetings were held until 1819, when the church building, since enlarged by an addition made in 1856, was built on the N. W. quarter of N. E. quarter of sec. 23, tp. 5-5, range 4 W.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.