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 70

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 70
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 70
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 70


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


came pastor. Elder Jesse Farmer served as pastor during 1867 ; Elder M. J. Wilks from January, 1868, to Septem- ber, 1869; Elder A. Rice again served as pastor until De- cember, 1870, when Elder J. C. Wilson again took charge of the church, and served until October, 1872. Elder D. Huggins then served the church until March, 1876, when he was succeeded by Elder A. Rice, the present pastor. Like many other country churches, Oak Grove has generally had services only once per month, and only occasionally has any effort been made to sustain a Sunday school. Numer- ous protracted meetings however have been held and a con- siderable number have professed religion and been baptized under the special efforts of the pastors aided by other min- isters. Besides those whose names are given above, Elder S. A. Martin aided the church in special meetings. Usually from ten to seventeen new members have been the result of a protracted meeting in this church, but the church has never been strong financially and the want of sufficient reli- gious instruction seems to have been a great hindrance. Exclusions and restorations have been remarkably numerous. In June, 1878, Bro. James K. P. Rayland was licensed to preach, and on the day of May, 1880, he was ordained by a presbytery composed of Elders J. C Wilson, A. Rice, W. A. Jarrel and S. A. Martin. The oldest member of this church is the venerable Deacon William Davis, born in Washington county, Virginia, in 1802. This is one of the few Baptist churches in this county which observes the "washing of feet" as a ceremonial in the church. Oak Grove church was received into the Nine Mile Association in 1864. Their present house of worship is a substantial building of hewed logs. Bro. John S. Davis is the present clerk. Elder W. A. Jarrel was a member of this church for a short time after withdrawing from the church at Pinck- neyville.


The Pinckneyville Baptist Church -The "First Baptist Church of Pinckneyville," as it is now called, was organized July 30, 1865, under the name of the "Pinckneyville Bap- tist Church," the former organization of that name having become extinct. Elders P. W Jones, of this county, and Joseph G. Rutter, of Perry county, Missouri, assisted in the organization. The original members were A. B. Hogard, an ordained minister, and Ellen J. Hogard, his wife, Richard M Davis, and Catharine O. Davis, his wife, Deacon Charles Song, James F. Mason, Lucy A. Malone, Louisa Denny and Parthenia Church. Bro. R. M. Davis was the first clerk and served until 1868. Elder P. W. Jones was chosen pastor, and continued to visit the church " once a month " for two years and three months, during which time sixty-six persous were baptized and the membership otherwise in- creased to ninety-three. In October, 1865, the church was admitted to the Nine Mile Association. In February, 1866, a Sunday School was organized, which continues to the pre- sent time a means of incalculable good to the church. In December, 1866, Bro. R. M. Davis was licensed to preach. In December, 1867, having chosen Rev. John H. Mize, now of Hastings, Nebraska, as pastor, and secured aid from the Home Mission Society for his support, the building enterprise was begun in earnest, and on the 27th day of August, 1868,


the present church building was dedicated. Rev. Daniel Read, D. D., then President of Shurtleff' College preached a discourse on the occasion. The house is a substantial brick structure 32x52 feet, with gothic windows-three on each side, a gallery and vestibules-spire about 50 feet high, with a good bell. Total cost about $3300. At the first meeting in this house, Bro John W. Primm, now pastor of the Bap- tist church at Lincoln, Ill., was licensed to preach. In October, 1869, the Nine Mile Association met with this church. Elder Mize closed his pastorate in May, 1870, having baptized thirty persons, and leaving the church with a membership of one hundred and thirteen. Rev. L. C. Carr, who recently died in Florida, was the next pastor: served the church from January to August, 1871, leaving it with 103 members. For the next seven months the church had no pastor, but enjoyed the labors of Rev. J. M. Billings- ley in a protracted meeting. Twenty-three persons were baptized. Rev. William H. Carner, now of McLeansboro, Ill., was the next pastor from March, 1872, to near the close of 1873. This was a very stormy period in the history of the church. Bro. J. L. Primm was clerk of the church from October, 1868, to September, 1872, when Bro. W. S. D. Smith, the present clerk, succeeded him. January 17, 1874, Bro. Joseph II. Thornton was licensed to preach. The church about this time discharged the remainder of its building debt. From March to October, 1874, Rev. D. Matlock, now deceased, was pastor. From April to October 1875, Elder David Huggins visited the church once a month, From January, 1876, to July, 1877, Elder E. C. H. Wil- loughby was pastor. October, 1877, the Nine Mile Asoocia- tion again met with this church. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. J. Carroll Harriss, a former member of this body. Bro. Harriss with Elder J. M. Bennett assisted the church in a series of meetings following the Asso- ciation and nine were baptized. Bro. Harriss then became pastor, preaching once a month for about a year: In Janu ary, 1879, Elder D. P. French held a series of meetings with the church. The membership now numbered ninety-seven and seemed to be united and prosperous. Elder W. A. Jar- rel, now of Texas, became pastor March 1, 1879, and by the close of his year'sservice the church was in great confusion. The views and methods of the pastor were opposed by several of the leading members, and a faction seeking to continue him in the pastorate, or have the church " endorse " him, A bitter contest was the result, and the " pastor party ' to the number of twenty-eight withdrew, since which time the church has had no pastor, but has enjoyed a good degree of peace and prosperity. Total number who have been mem- bers of this church 255; total baptisms 165.


THE FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH


Was organized in 1867 through the labors of Elder P. W. Jones, aided by Elder J. C. Wilson. The original mem- bers were Michael Goos and wife, Jacob Nawart and wife, Solomon Thompson and wife, Smith C. Moore and wife, David L. Benson and wife, - Baker and wife, Mar- garet Staton, Julia Staton, Eliza Miller.


This enterprise encountered a little opposition from some


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


of the neighboring Baptists, who thought a new organization in the bounds of churches already established would be de- trimental.


The church was, however, recognized aud admitted to the Nine-Mile Association in October, 1867.


Elder P. W. Jones was pas or of the church from its or- ganization until he removed from the State in 1869. Elder W. H. Carner was then chosen pastor, but did not serve as such.


About the close of 1869, the church engaged a young min- ister from Tennessee, whose name was Geo. W. Pricket. In about six months they were led away from the ground oc- cupied by Baptists, receiving into their fellowship some mem- bers of the "Christian " order.


Accordingly, at the meeting of the Association, in 1870, the church was dropped for heresy, and a resolution adopted declaring non-fellow hip with George W. Pricket, as a Bap- tist minister, and recognizing Brother S. C. Moore, as hay- ing stood firm in the faith on which the Friendship church was first organized Thus the church passed out from the ranks of the Baptist brotherhood, and has since stood as a Christian or "Campbellite " body.


D. L. Benson was the first clerk, and S. C. Moore was clerk at the time of the separation. He died June 24, 1876.


THE HOLTS PRAIRIE BAPTIST CHURCH.


As early as 1835, Elder Peter Hagler, then pastor of the Nine Mile Baptist church, held occasional meetings in Holt's Prairie, preaching at the house of Jordan Harriss, one of the members of the Nine Mile church, and at the school- house, in the lower end of the prairie. Subsequently Elders P. W. Jones, William Thornton, and M. J. Wilks, preached in this neighborhood, the latter having regular monthly ap- pointments for some time. It was regarded as an out station of the Nine Mile church, and in 1871, Elder J. M. Billings- ley held a series of meetings in E. M. Harriss' barn, result- ing in many conversions, and by the consent of the Nine Mile church, the applicants for membership here were ap- proved by the brethren residing in Holt's Prairie, and bap- tised aud recognized as members of the Nine Mile church.


To supply this portion of the church with preaching, the pastor visited them regularly, and the necessity for a house of worship being apparent, a good frame building 30x40 feet was erected on the S. W. qr. of the S. W. qr. of Sec. 21, Tp. 5, S R. 2 W., and paid for largely through the instrumen- tality of Brother Jefferson Thornberry, now deceased.


The council of recognization, consisting of Elder P. Hag- ler and William Malone, of Nine Mile church ; J. L. Primm, J. Carroll Harriss, and S. Ballard, of Pinckneyville church ; Richard Wilks, of Paradise church, and Lindsey Benedict, of Concord church. Elder P. Hagler was chosen pastor, and served until December, 1872, when Elder Wm. H. Carner was elected and served six consecutive years. Elder J. Car- roll Harriss, then served three years, when the present pas- tor, Elder John A Rodman, was chosen.


John H. Harriss bas been clerk of the church from the beginning.


This church has been remarkably successful, has encouu-


tered few obstacles, and now ranks as one of the strongest churches of the Nine Mile Association in which body it took membership in 1872.


THE NINE MILE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.


Baptists recognize the local church as the only ecclesi- astical organization divinely instituted. They hold it to be absolutely independent, and clothed with plenary authority for the administration of Scriptural discipline to its mem- bers, and in no way connected with, or dependent upon, the system of civil government adopted by the state.


The local bodies, however, for the promotion of their mutual interests and to facilitate the complete observance of that command, " Preach the gospel to every creature," have have found it expedieut to hold anuual meetings for con- sultation and concert of action.


This annual meeting is called an "Association," and is composed of ministers and delegates appointed by the church- es, but has no legislative or judicial authority. The "Nine Mile Baptist Association," which includes all the churches of Perry county, excepting those calling themselves the "Old Baptists" and the churches of colored people, was organized October 4, 1845, at a meeting held at the Nine Mile Church, from which it takes its name. Elder D. S. Crain, modera- tor of the Saline Association, presided at this meeting, in which Elder Ignatius O' Daniel and D. Birgs of Clear Creek Association participated, Elder J. R. Hutchings was clerk of the meeting. Seven churches, among which were Nine Mile, Swanwick Creek, and Delum (Galum) of Perry coun- ty, went into the organization, and Elder P. Hagler was chosen moderator, J. R. Hutebings clerk, and Pendleton W. Jones treasurer.


A constitution and rules of order were adopted, and the following resolutions passed :


Resolved, That we advise the churches to patronize and sustain the Baptist Publication Society, by their purchases, contributions, and prayers so far as they can.


Resolved, That we recommend the churches to use all pos- sible efforts to get up and sustain well managed Sabbath schools in their immediate vicinities.


Resolved. That we recommend and advise both members and ministers of our churches to sustain the temperance pledge, and that they exert their influence in the suppression of the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage.


Also resolutions recommending settled pastors supported, so far as possible by the churches, and the holding by each church of at least one protracted meeting cach year. From that time to the present the minutes of the annual meeting of the Nine Mile Association " bristle" with advisory resolu- tions concerning secret and family prayer, Sabbath schools, temperance, support of the ministry, home and foreign mis- sions, ministerial education, Baptist publications, denomina- tional schools and colleges, and everything else which might claim the attention of the churches, but never dictating to the churches nor prescribing any tests of fellowship. Occa- sional difficulties between churches or ministers have been made the subjects of investigation and advice, and every departure from the doctrines held by Baptists has been


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


promptly mct by efforts to correct erroneous views, or by dropping from membership any church embracing or toler- ating heresy. Some ministers and members of churches, and in a few instances, whole churches have lapsed into "Campbellism," "open communion," and the like, but no considerable disturbance seems to result. The churches of this Association are (perhaps without exception) organized upon the articles of belief known as the " New Hampshire Confession of Faith."


Among the instances of departure from the faith may be mentioned Elder H. S. Gordon, who, with Pipe Stone and Looney's Spring churches, in 1850 wert over to the Free Will Baptists ; Elder HI. C. Hodges and a part of the Kingcade church, who, in 1852, went into Campbellism; Elder G. W. Pricket and the Friendship church (except Brother S. C. Moore) in 1869 did likewise; Elder John S. Brown became a "Latter Day Saint." Others, becoming engrossed with the cares of sccular pursuits, have become unfruitful, but a kind Providence constantly fills the ranks.


Among the questions presented to the Association for dis- cussion at its meeting in 1850 was that of secret societies. The Association advised the churches " to occupy the ground of non-interference." The churches were at that time recom- mended to patronize Sabbath schools, " on the union plan." Later the advice was for each church, when of sufficient ability, to maintain its own school, and in 1879 a resolution recommending the churches to have nothing whatever to do with the state and county (union) S. S. couventions, was passed, but such was not the sentiment of the churches. In 1850 the Association sent delegates to a missionary meeting at Bethel church in Madison county, Ill., with instructions to "oppose the project of the American Bible Union to translate and circulate a new version of the Scriptures."


At its last meeting the members voted to endorse the "prohibition" movement.


In its missionary work the Association has been in har_ mony with the great denominational enterprises of Ameri. can Baptists, but in the cultivation of the home field it has resorted to co-operation with local organizations; in 1851 with the Nine Mile Domestic Mission Society, the next year with the Baptist Convention of Southern Illinois, but since 1857 with the Baptist General Association of Illinois, which was organized in 1845, sometimes having its own executive board of missions to direct and aid in the work. Elder J. Carroll Harris is the Association's home missionary.


At various times iu the past thirty years Ministers' and Deacons' Conferences, and local Sunday School Conventions have been established. An organization for Sunday school work is now fully organized in connection with the Associa- tion and with the Baptist State Sunday School Association Bro. W. S. D Smith is at the head of this department, with J. L Primm, jr., assistant for Perry county.


Evidently considerable progress has been made by the Baptists of Perry county. The time has passed by when the entire burden of church work was left to be borne by the ministry. Not only are these public servants better sus- tained in their work, but the various departments of Chris- tian labor are now filled with active brethren and sisters,


whose influence is everywhere manifest. The utility of the Association as an organization adapted to promote the gen- eral prosperity and unity of the churches cannot be ques- tioned. Sixteen of the thirty-eight annual meetings of the Nine Mile Association have been held in Perry county.


To this sketch of the churches and the Association should be added some reference to the biography of individual Baptists.


As in secular, so in religious matters, the destiny of an organization is determined by the character and acts of its individual members, as well as by the constitution or crced upon which it is based. Foremost among the pioneer Baptists of Perry county, stands


ELDER PETER HAGLER, the only surviving member of the little band who first constituted the Nine Mile Baptist church. His history has largely been written in the annals of the churches, but a few additional facts will here be set down. Born in Montgomery county, North Carolina, Sep- tember 1, 1806, he was brought up in the hard labor of a farmer's boy, and limited to few opportunities of education. At the age of thirteen settled in Jackson county, Illinois ; married at the age of twenty, to Francis Keith, daughter of Abner Keith. Eight years afterward he and his wife pro- fessed faith in Christ, and were baptized by Eld. Jeremiah Brown, and united with Ridge church, in Union county, III. In the spring of 1829 he settled in Perry county, where he has since resided.


He was licensed by the Nine Mile church to preach the Gospel, and some years later ordained at Limestone church, in Union county. Eld. Jeremiah Brown preached the or- dination sermon.


With his Bible and hymn-book, and a pocket concord- ance, and a heart consecrated to the work of winning the souls of his fellow-men from the ruinous ways of sin, this earnest and devoted servant of God breasted the storms and endured the heat for Christ's sake. In the first thirty years of his ministry he did not miss on an average more than one of his appointments each year, though the dis- tances to some of them were thirty miles or more. It is estimated that three thousand persons have been baptized by him. Besides being instrumental in the conversion of so many souls and their reception into the churches, he has assisted in the organization of many churches, the ordination of about twenty ministers, and served as mod- erator of the Saline and Nine Mile Associations a great many years. His wife, with whom he had lived for half a century, died January 9, 1877. They never had any children, but had raised seven orphans. He is now spend- ing the evening of his life at Du Quoin, Ill., with his second companion, the late Mrs. Isabella Ilawkins, whom he married November 11, 1877. He was present at the thirty- eighth annual meeting of the Nine Mile Association at Tamaroa October 6, 1882.


ELD. PENDLETON W. JONES, for many years a co-laborer with Elder Hagler, was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, February 16, 1815; settled in Perry county in the fall of 1829 ; married Rachel Keith, December 11, 1839.


He and his wife werre baptized at the same time in the


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


fall of 1841. October, 1847, he was licensed to preach, and in October, 1848, he was ordained, by a presbytery com- posed of Elds. T. M. Vance and Nathan Arnett. He was a successful pastor, serving as such at Galum, Paradise, Pinckneyville, Friendship and other churches, and never had a church difficulty. He, with Eld. Hagler, endured many hardships in the early years of Perry county, swin- ming swollen streams, and overcoming other obstacles in their mission, among which was the making of support for their families by farm labor. They were at that day per- sonally acquainted with every man in the county. Bro. Jones is now pastor of the Baptist church at Allendale, Missouri.


ELD. RICHARD G. DAVIS was born near Bowling Green, Kentucky, about the beginning of the present century ; learned the printer's trade. When a young man he came to Perry county ; was baptized by Eld. P. Hagler, and re- ceived as a member of the Nine Mile church, by which body he was licensed to preach, and afterwards ordained a min- ister of the Gospel. He was a zcałous Baptist, and was blessed in his ministerial work. He served as pastor of the Pipe Stone and other churches. He died June 7, 1851, leaving a widow, who still survives him, and several child- ren, of whom R. M. Davis, of Pinckneyville, is one.


ELD. JOHN R. HUTCHINGS was prominently identified with the carly history of Perry county and of its Baptist churches. He was baptized by Eld. P. Hagler, was ordained by the Nine Mile church, and for several years was very useful in the Baptist ministry ; was clerk of the Nine Mile Asso- eiation for the first seven years of its existence. He was a man of good education, and taught school for many years in what is now Beaucoup precinct. He had the honor of selecting the site for the court house at l'inekneyville. In the later years of his life he lost his influence for good. He died June 23, 1869.


ELD. JOSIAH LEMEN was born near New Design, Monroe county, Ilinois, August 15, 1794. He was a son of Rev. James and Catharine Lemen, and four of his brothers were also Baptist ministers, all of whom have preached in Perry county. His early education was obtained from a Baptist minister, named John Clark ; he was by " Father Clark " baptized, May 2, 1819; soon after licensed to preach, and ordained. He located near Du Quoin about 1858 ; was one of the constituent members of the Ebenezer church, and for a time its pastor. He was a warm-hearted man and an ardent advocate of temperance. He died July 11, 1867, a member of the Du Quoin church.


ELD. DAVID HUGGINS was born May 5, 1820, in St. Clair county, Illinois ; professed religion, was baptized and united with the Swanwiek Baptist church in 1844, and was or- dained in 1845. He was one of the original members of the Nine Mile Association. After thirty-two years of faithful service, in which time he served many of the churches of Perry county as pastor. he died at his home in Washington county, Ill., April 23, 1877.


ELD. JOHNSON C. HARRISS was born in Tennessee in April, 1826 ; was county treasurer of Perry county in 1863. He was afterwards licensed to preach, and rendered faithful


service to the cause of religion in the Nine Mile church, of which he was clerk at the time of his death, March 5, 1×81.


BRO. ISAAC EATON was a " pillar in the church " at Galum ; died February 26, 1880, aged seventy-three years, having seen a half-century of Christian service.


SAMUEL EATON, Sr., was a useful member of Galum church, being a licensed minister.


Deacons H. II. Strait and II. F. Hampleman, of Para- dise, Charles Song, of l'inckneyville, and many others equally worthy might here be mentioned did space permit.


BRO. ENOCH EATON, Sr., the oldest Baptist in Perry county, was born in Tennessee, September 29, 1803, where he and his excellent wife were both baptized. They settled in what is now called Eaton's prairie, in 1825, kept open house for Baptist meetings and Baptist preachers, and otherwise contributed liberally for the support of the cause, until the death of Sister Eaton, which took place August 4, 1876. "Judge Eaton," as he is called-having been a judge of the county commissioners' court-has been a man of sterling worth and influence. About four years ago he had the misfortune to lose his hearing, and he has been otherwise sorely afflicted, but his mental faculties are still vigorous, and his heart warm in the cause.


ELD. DAVID P. FRENCH. Probably no man has done more in later years to promote the Baptist cause in Perry county, than this faithful servant of God, whom the in- firmities of life have laid aside from active doties. Eld. French is a native of New Hampshire, and is now about sixty six years of age. Failing health and the loss of voice resulted in the suspension of his labors over three years ago. As the General Missionary of the Baptist General Association he began his work in this part of southern Illi- nois in 1867; was moderator of the Nine Mile Association from 1868 to 1879 inelusive ; served the churches at Du Quoin and Tamaroa as pastor a part of the time, and assisted many other churches in protracted meetings. His great attainments and deep piety, together with his long experi- ence in church affairs, rendered him a counselor whose words have been " like apples of gold in pictures of silver."


ELD. JOHN POWELL. Of those now actively engaged as pastors in this county, we will make special mention of Rev. John Powell, of Du Quoin, whose venerable years perhaps entitle him to this distinction. Eld. Powell was born in Wales, in 1821; came to the United States when eight years of age ; was for some years connected with his brother-in-law, Rev. W. C. Van Meter (who afterwards es- tablished a Baptist mission at Rome, Italy), in the work of Howard Mission in New York city. Eld. Powell has had extensive experience as a teacher, and is active in the Sun- day-school and Temperance work.




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