USA > Illinois > Massac County > History of Massac County, Illinois with life sketches and portraits > Part 8
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MASSAC COUNTY.
river monster, spouting from its iron nostrils clouds of smoke, intermingled with fire, and its open mouth, glowing with the flames of a moving tartarus! The few white men who saw this wonder viewed it with superstitious alarm. Many pioneers from a distance, among them the late Jacob Kidd of near Metropo- lis, Ill., and Couriers Du Bois, congregated at Smithland, Ky., then a small settlement, and watched the New Orleans pass that point. This section, at that time, was in the throes of the great New Madrid earthquake. Darkness hung over the re- gions round about, as a pall, and the sun shone, as a ball of fire, through vaporous exhalations that attended the earth- quake, but the boat moved on, surely and steadily towards her destination. Her few passengers viewed with alarm, at and about New Madrid, the ravages of the seismic disturbances, but they were soon left behind, and as before stated, the New Orleans arrived, safely at Natchez on the last day of Decem- ber, 1811.
MIKE FINKE.
(O. J. PAGE.)
Three rough hoatmen early in the century, traversed the Ohio. They were named Carpenter, Talbot, and Mike Finke. They were strong, illiterate, desperate characters, and were skilled riflemen. Finke was termed the "last of the boatmen." They would fight at the least provocation.
Mike had a supposed wife called "Peg." Once their boat met another and he concluded that he caught Peg winking at another boatman. Finke quietly went to the bank and piled up a great heap of dry leaves, returned to the boat, got Peg and his rifle, ordered her to crawl into the center of the heap, set fire to the leaves in four places and under fear of being shot by his drawn rifle, kept her there until her dress and hair were in flames, when with a yell she darted for the river, and plunged in. When rescued, Mike said: "There, that'll laru you not to be winkin' at them fellers on t'other boat."
In 1815 Mike visited St. Louis and from the boat was seen to easily shoot the tails off pigs walking on the shore. He
7
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HISTORY OF
was sentenced in the county court for deliberately shooting away the protruding part of a negro's heel, standing on the river front at St. Louis. His defense was that it prevented the negro from wearing a "genteel boot."
Finke and Carpenter were considered fast friends, in proof of which they would pierce a pint cup of whisky with a rifle shot at 70 paces, the cup resting on the other's head. While boating on the upper Missouri river, however, they quarreled over a squaw and afterwards made up. To prove their sin- cerity they were to again shoot the pint cup of whisky from each other's head. Tossing a coin Finke got the first shot. Carpenter bequeathed all his pistols, guns and articles to Tal- bot and took his position. Mike raised his gun, took aim, low- ered the gun and called out, "Hold your noddle steady, Car- penter! Don't spill the whisky-I shall want some presently." He again took aim and fired. Carpenter fell with a bullet hole square in his forehead. Finke cursed himself, his gun, the powder and the bullet, claiming it to be an accident.
Later he boasted to Talbot that he killed Carpenter pur- posely, whereupon Talbot drew Carpenter's bequeathed pistol and shot Mike dead. Talbot later was drowned while trying to swim a river.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
During early years the Ohio river furnished the only means of transportation. Occasional rumors of coming railroads filled the air. Remains of the McLean roadbed still exist. The Hon. Geo. W. Parker solved the question, however, in Novem- ber, 1887. He was vice-president and general manager of the St. Louis and Cairo Short Line and proposed to build an ex- tension of their road, which then terminated at Marion, Ill., on to Paducah, Ky.
November 23, 1887, accompanied by Hon. W. K. Murphy, Mr. Parker met a mass meeting of citizens of Metropolis and plainly told that it would require a donation of $25,000, free depot privileges and the right of way to Round Knob to enable Metropolis to get the road. A committee composed of
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MASSAC COUNTY.
Messrs. J. F. McCartney, H. Quante, W. R. Brown, W. O. Towle, E. P. Curtis, J. C. Willis and B. Baer was appointed to negotiate with full powers to act. As a result we have a railroad.
In 1899 further railroad discussion was precipitated by a proposed extension of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois extending north and South through Johnson county. A branch was pro- posed from Goreville through Vienna to Metropolis. It failed and the Chicago and Eastern Illinois corporation began in 1900 the construction of a fifteen mile extension from Cypress Junction in Johnson county to Joppa, Massac county as a ter- minus.
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CHAPTER XVII.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
W
E are indebted to accredited persons for the infor- mation contained in these pages. There are miss- ing facts, made so by imperfect records and mem- ories. Fire destroyed the records of the M. E. church. We have done the best we could under the circumstances. Several churches, have been slow in furnishing us any data even after repeat- ed calls. For various congregations not here mentioned see the precinct sketches.
We had hoped to present a statement of each line from several. To treat all fairly we omit "articles of denomination's belief but could not secure a satisfactory out- faith" and refer our readers to the popular literature of each denomination.
THE BAPTISTS OF MASSAC COUNTY.
(ELDER SAMUEL ATWELL.)
Massac county was organized in 1843, but long before that there was Baptist preaching and several churches organized in what was then Johnson county.
Amos Lasley and another minister named McIntosh were the first Baptist ministers who preached here, as far as we have been able to learn. But little is known of them. William Rondeau, a minister from England, who lived for a time on an island in the Ohio river, not far from Golconda, Ill., preached for a number of years in Pope, Johnson and Massac counties. He was said to be well educated and an able minister. Wil- liam Baker, who was originally from South Carolina, but for
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MASSAC COUNTY.
many years a resident of Pope county, Ill., preached and organ- ized churches over a large territory in Southern Illinois, two of his sons and two of his grandsons became Baptist preachers.
Other pioneer ministers were Valentine Smith, Americus Smith, his brother, J. A. Ramer, M. W. Holland and Willis White, the last two living in Kentucky; John P. Baxter and Geo. G. Lefever, who died near Brooklyn, 1852 or '53, and Wiley Pullen, who died near New Columbia. Other ministers came from adjoining counties and Kentucky and frequently preached in this county.
Several of the old churches organized at an early day ex- isted for several years and then became extinct, such as Ebe- nezer, organized in 1838. Old Salem and Little Spring, organ- ized in 1844; Brooklyn, organized in 1851, and New Liberty.
There are now fifteen Baptist churches in Massac county, ten white and five colored. The ten white churches are, Me- tropolis, organized Nov. 13th, 1841, with seven members, whose names were Gilbert Padgett, Amanda Padgett, J. D. Kilgrove, Mary C. Kilgrove, Robert K. Pope, Sylvia Pope and George Brewer; the ministers who acted as the Presbytery were Wil- liam Baker, Willis Champion and William H. Young. This church now numbers 225 members. Macedonia, first an arni of the Metropolis church, but afterwards organized into a church about 1850; Seven Mile, organized in 1853. Waldo, or- ganized soon after Seven Mile; New Hope, organized in 1860; the constituent members were Americus Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Reuben Wilson, Laney Wilson, Eliza- betli English, Susan Pendell and Sarah A. Nutty. The min- isters who composed the Presbytery were Alonzo Durham, C.F. Fain and Wm. B. Pearce. The church now numbers about 140 members. The other white churches are New Ebenezer, New Columbia, Ninevah, Hillerman and Brooklyn. The colored churches are the Second Baptist of Metropolis, Shady Grove, Zion, Siloam and Goodman's Chapel. There are now in the county about one thousand Baptists, with church property val- ued at about ten thousand dollars.
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HISTORY OF
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
(ELDER A. R. COOK.)
Below is given a brief sketch of each congregation in the county. It is not as complete as we desired; but in some cases the parties to whom we wrote for information, failed to reply and others trusted to their memories for the facts received. So we hope the incompleteness of these sketches will not be charged to the writer.
METROPOLIS.
This is the oldest church in the county. It was organized in April, 1864, in the court house, its members being composed mainly of refugees fron: Tennessee and Kentucky during the war. Among them were some preachers, chief of which was Elder Joseph Brown who ministered to the flock. At the close of the war many of these refugees moved away, and the mem- bership of the band was considerably weakened.
The first house of worship was built in 1867, but was not finished inside until 1873, when the Sunday school, of which J. F. McCartney was superintendent, had it plastered. It stands on the corner of Fifth and Catherine streets, on lots deeded to the trustees of the Christian church by Captain Wm. McBane. This building was never officially dedicated; but after it was wrecked by the cyclone, it was rebuilt and dedicat- ed. The property is now worth about $3,000. The present or- ganization of the church was perfected in September, 1876, with J. F. McCartney and Solomon Tanhauser as elders. Since then the following ministers have served the congregation: B. C. DeWeese, one year; Dr. Bundy, three years; J. T. Owens, two years; Geo. E. Barrows, one year; J. T. Alsup, two years; J. G. Quinlin, one year ; R. S. Renfro, nine months; O. J. Page, three years; Albert Nichols, eighteen months; M. D. Baumer, two months, and Randolph Cook, who is now serving his third year. The following is a list of evangelists who have held
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MASSAC COUNTY.
meetings for the church, together with the number of additions they had: George E. Flower, 12; Dr. Bundy, 71; A. E. Dubber, 33; O. J. Page, 73; Elder De Weese and J. S. Clemens also held successful meetings. The church in her history has baptized over 1,000 people, three of whom, J. T. Alsup, Robert Breshears and T. J. Golightly are now faithful ministers of Christ. The present membership of the church is 230.
JOPPA.
This church was organized September 21, 1881, by H. C. Waddell, assisted by Dr. Bundy and J. F. McCartney, with sev enty-three members, and J. T. Owens engaged to preach for them for two years. For five years following this, the church was at a stand-still. Beginning with 1890, Elder R. P. Warren was engaged to preach for them; but in July of that year Elder Warren was killed by a runaway horse, and another period of depression followed for the church. With the coming of 1894 O. J. Page held a meeting, with thirty-five additions, and con- tinued to preach for them once a week. As the result of this effort a new church building was planned, and with a loan of $400 from the Church Extension Board of Kansas City, Mo., the building was erected. O. J. Page dedicated the church. In 1895 a church bell was secured. The church now has a building worth $1,800.00, all paid for and a membership of ninety.
HILLERMAN.
In 1885 Geo. Barrows of Indiana held a meeting here, which resulted in many conversions, and the organization of a church, and the employment of Andrew Perry as minister. Under Elder Perry's work a church building was erected, paid for, and the congregation named Bethel. The following named parties have preached for them: I. C. Stone and Geo. Cannon, in 1889; Robert Warren in 1890; Joseph Morgan, in 1892; Frank Hight, 1895; Elder Kirby, 1898-'99. During this time a good congregation has grown up and is doing efficient work.
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HISTORY OF
COUNTY LINE.
This church is the result of a protracted meeting held by J. M. Ratliff, district evangelist, in 1877. The church grew in numbers and influence from the first. Elder W. M. Weather- ford held a revival meeting for them which greatly strength- ened the church. Later J. F. Hight held a meeting at this place which stirred the whole community, and added many to the church. As regular preachers the church has had such men as T. M. Mathews, N. W. Jones and W. A. Utley, who have ably filled the pulpit. In May, 1898, the house of worship was dedicated by O. J. Page. The membership is now fifty- nine, and they own property to the value of $900.00.
LITTLE ROCK.
This is the only congregation of colored people we have in the county. It was organized in 1875 by Elder W. W. Dugger, aud has a membership of twenty-nine. They have no house in which to worship, and no Sunday school, but under the faith- ful leadership of Elder C. S. Welsh meet every Lord's day for the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42) and for prayer.
UNIONVILLE.
During the closing months of the Civil War Elder W. W. Dugger, in search of peace, moved into that neighborhood front Kentucky. He found no church building or members of his order. On learning he was a minister, he was invited to preach in the M. E. church, which invitation was soon withdrawn. The presiding elder, G. W. Hughey, denounced Dugger and his followers as Baptist infidels, saying they were "not Christians but Campbellites, and Campbellites they should be called." Dugger's followers became incensed, and withdrew to a piece of woods, on his land and built an arbor. Here Elder Dugger preached "the Old Jerusalem Gospel" for twelve nights with great power, receiving many into the fold, and effecting an or-
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ganization. A small building, in the form of a box structure, was erected, and Elder Dugger was chosen to preach for them, which he did until he died. This was the first Christian church building in Massac county. A new and modern chapel has since been erected, not far from the original site, dedicated by O. J. Page, worth, $1,500, and is paid for, while a flourishing church is the enduring monument left by this one man.
LIBERTY RIDGE.
This church originated about 1867, as the result of a re- vival meeting, held in a log school house, which aroused the whole neighborhood, many of whom were baptized. A tem- porary organization was formed, of which Dr. Joseph Brown was a leading member. Soon after differences arose and Dr. Brown and others withdrew. These, aided by Green B. Choat, erected a cheap building, which was afterwards rebuilt into a modern structure, worth $1,200. During the early days of this church it was ministered to by Elder Stanton Fields. Later, other brethren, among whom were O. J. Page, G. Lay Wolfe and W. A. Utley, preached for them. The church now has a membership of seventy-five, with an efficient Sunday school and Christian Endeavor society.
BROOKLYN.
The history of this church has been one of progress from the first. It was organized by Dr. D. M. Breaker of Chatta- nooga, Tennessee, October 29th, 1885. For a time the congre- gation had no house of worship, but finally an effort was made which resulted in the erection of the present building, which was dedicated by F. M. Rains, of Cincinnati, Ohio, May 26th, 1895. Since then it has enjoyed a continual growth. Its pres- ent membership numbers 170, and they own property to the value of $2,500. Elder G. Lay Wolfe, under whose labors sixty people have been added to the church, is the efficient minister.
Our task is finished. If we view this question aright, the church in Massac county has a glorious future before her. And
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HISTORY OF
just so long as "life is full of strife, and conflict, so long as men are the children of misfortune, adversity and defeat, so long as troubles roll over the earth like sheeted storms, so long as dark minds need light and inspiration, and the pil- grim band, floundering through the wilderness, needs a leader, and a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night" will the church, aflame with unwasting oil, continue to be the guide and hope of the people.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF METROPOLIS.
(B. C. SWAN, D. D.)
The sources for the material of this history are Norton's History of Presbyterianism in Illinois; a historical sermon by Rev. Joseph H. Scott, now in possession of Mrs. Scott; also the secretaries' book of the congregational meetings and the ses- sional records, and also the personal history of ministers who have labored in this field; the records of the Presbytery of Cairo and the minutes of the General Assembly of the Presby- terian church. The object of the writer has been to abbreviate as much as possible.
The First Presbyterian church of Metropolis City was or- ganized, June Sth, 1850, by ministers of the Alton Presbytery, (New school,) Robert Stewart and John K. Deering, with mem- bers as follows: Mrs. Catharine McBane, George Hawpe and Mrs. Rebecca Hawpe, Dorcas Gregg, Nancy Carmichael, Joseph E. Smith and Mrs. Jane E. Smith, and Mrs. Harriet House. Messrs. Joseph E. Smith, (who died June 13th, 1851,) and George Hawpe were elected and installed ruling elders.
Until 1866 this church had but little ministerial care. Min- isters R. Stewart, W. H. Bird, N. A. Hunt and E. B. Olmsted paid it occasional visits. The Rev. George W. Elliott was stated supply for a time in 1851, and the Rev. G. W. McCord in 1855. The Rev. A. S. Avery began his labors as a stated supply Aug. 1st, 1855, and continued three years. Rev. A. T. Norton, D. D., visited the place in March, 1866, and labored several days. He found but three members left. During the
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visit he received eight more. The Rev. J. H. Scott took charge of the church July 5th, 1866, and remained until Sept. 6tlı, 1871. The Rev. Edward Scofield supplied the church from Aug. 13th, 1872, until April, 1873. His daughters, Mrs. Julia McCartney, the widow of the late Judge McCartney, is a resi- dent of Metropolis. The Rev. J. H. Scott returned after Mr. Scofield's departure and remained in charge of the church until October, 1878, when failing health compelled his resignation. He continued, however, in his own pleasant home until his death, Feb. 25, 1879.
The house of worship, commenced in 1866, was dedicated Sept. 6th, 1868, at a cost of $2,000. The site, a very beautiful one, was donated by Mrs. McBane, to whom under God, the church owes its existence.
The following list of RULING MEMBERS have served the church.
Names of Elders
Began Service
Deaths
1.
Joseph E. Smith
June 8, 1850.
June 13, 1851.
2.
George Hawpe
3,
Aaron Huffman
1851.
4.
Reuben Laughlin
Mar. 25, 1868.
5.
Joseph P. Bowker
Mar. 25, 1868.
Feb. 1891.
6.
David H. Freeman
Mar. 25, 1868.
7.
George W. Smith
Nov. 14, 1882.
8.
Egbert T. Scott
Feb. 15, 1885.
9.
L. W. Bowker Lewis A. Smith
May 11, 1887.
11.
Lewis Fulmer
Jan. 23, 1892.
12.
Charles W. Eccles
Jan. 1, 1890.
13.
Lannes P. Oakes
June 12, 1892.
14.
Cyrus P. Treat.
Feb. 7, 1894.
Feb. 15, 1885.
10.
The following ministerial register presents in a very con- densed form the work of the ministers who have labored in this field. It may very properly be divided into two periods.
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HISTORY OF
1. From the organization, June, 1850, to reorganization in 1866. During this period, the ministers who rendered ser- vice are as follows:
Names of Ministers
Period of Service
Place and Date of Their Birth
Robert Stewart
The Organizers in Mason Co., Ky., May 5,
1798
John K. Deering
June, 1850.
Paris, Maine, May 1, 1823
William H. Bird .
An Occasional Supply Fayette Co., Ky .. , May 31,
Nehemiah A. Hunt,
Edward B. Olmsted.
1814 Mason, N. H., Sept. 27, 1811 Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 29, 1813
George W. Elliott .
Stated Supply,
1851
George W. McCord
1855
Abraham S. Avery .
1855-1856
The Rev. A. T. Norton visited Metropolis in March, 1866, and reorganized the church, consisting of eight members. The design of the following is to give the names of pastors and stated supplies who have served the church since its reorgani- zation, and the time of their service:
Names of Pastors and Stated Supplies
Their Period of Service
Place and Date of Their Birth
1
Joseph H. Scott . .
July, 1866, to 1871 and 1873 to 1878
Becket, Mass., Mar. 22, 1895
2
Edward Scofield Peter S. VanNest .
July 1, '72 to April '73 July 5, 1879 to
Norwalk, Conn., Sept.22,1810 Amsterdam, N. Y., Aug. 21,'13 Feb. 10, 1839
5
James Lafferty . .
6
Eben Muse
.
7
Luther B. Dye . . B. C. Swan, D. D
June, '82, to Mar. '83 Mar. 1885, to May, 1886 Dec. 15,'86 to Apr. 1,'88 Nov. 1888 to Mar.1894 Mar. 1, '94, to July,'94
Allegheny Co., Pa., Oct 31,'39 Marietta, O., Sept. 9, 1835 . Camden, O., Nov. 27, 1823 . Dec. 25, 1862
9
Henry W. Cross
10
Farquer D. McRae Feb. 1, '95, to Ang. '96
11
Edgar L. Combs
Baddock, N. S., Jan. 16, 1862 De Witt Co., Ill.
12 Joseph L. Sawyer
Feb. 1,'97,to May 31,'98 June 1, 1899
The Rev. Augustus Theodore Norton, D. D., is a name worthy to be held in remembrance throughout the state of Illinois for important work which he performed as a pastor at Alton, as district secretary from 1859 up to near the time of his death, April 29th, 1884, and for his "History of Presbyter- ianism in Illinois," a work of great value. To estimate its proper value would be a very difficult matter. Dr. Norton labored, principally in Illinois from Oct. 25th, 1835, to the time of his death, nearly 49 years.
3
4
R.C.Galbraith, D.D.
1882 .
8
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MASSAC COUNTY.
Dr. Norton was a man of very superior talents and culture fitted for almost any position in the church. And yet his sole ambition seemed to be to be useful in the destitute fields. And, therefore, he adapted himself to things as he found them. And he continued this laborious humble work, unselfishly, until late in life. A fine scholar, a grand preacher of the gospel, an editor, an author and honored with distinction in various ways, East and West, and one who could have commanded comfor- table and leading positions in the church, came to Metropolis in 1866, found only three members in the Presbyterian church, which had been organized in 1850, preached several days and then eight were added to the church and from that time it assumed new life. And that was merely a sample of his work throughout this whole region of Southern Illinois until he was no longer fitted for work.
REV. EDWARD SCOFIELD.
Rev. Edward Scofield, who ministered to the Presbyterian church in Metropolis, Illinois, from August, 1872, to July, 1873, was born Sept. 22, 1810, at Norwalk, Conn. His mother dying when he was about 8 years of age he went to New York City to live with a married sister. His parents were Peter Sco- field, second in line of the same name, one of whom served in the Revolutionary War, and Susan Scofield, nee Bessie. In 1831 he came from New York by canal to Shawneetown, Ill. He took his meals on the boat and as the boat tied up at night, slept on it. Leaving his baggage on the boat he easily walked as fast as the horses, literally walking from New York City to Shawneetown, Ill. There taking up his baggage he footed it to Jacksonville, Ill., where he entered the preparatory department of the Illinois college, and graduated in 1837, un- der Edward Beecher. The same fall he went to Lane Theolog- ical Seminary at Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio, where Dr. Ly- man Beecher was president, and lived in his family, reading the first ten chapters of Uncle Tom's Cabin, with Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe in manuscript, and attending the same school with Henry Ward Beecher, who graduated one year after he
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HISTORY OF
did. Mr. Scofield graduated June 16th, 1840, and the same evening was married to Elizabeth Williams, in Cincinnati, Ohio, grand daughter of Robt. Orr, one of the early pioneers of Cincinnati.
That same month he was installed over the churches at North Bend, Cleves and Berea, Ohio. While in his first pas- torate he was called to preach the funeral sermon for his par- ishioner and friend, President William Henry Harrison, bap- tizing some of his grandchildren, President Benjamin F. Har- rison being among the number. While at Cleves, his church was mobbed, the windows all staved in and the pulpit demol- ished, by men in disguise, who came to meet the congregation on their way thither. Rev. Scofield, kneeling down on the bare ground with the congregation, said "Let us pray," and closing his eyes prayed, as he ever was gifted in prayer. That night they went to his house at midnight and threw stones, mashing all the windows down stairs. Then they went to the barn and shaved the parson's horse's tail and mane, and threw the buggy into the canal; all because at a meeting of Presbytery the ministers dared to say that slavery was a curse to this na- tion. Fifty dollars was offered anywhere in Kentucky where he might show his face. This was in 1843, and in 1872, he was very well able to maintain the same sentiments in this county. He remained at Cleves until the storm had subsided. They even fixed his buggy up and returned it at night in better con- dition than it was when thrown into the canal.
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