History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 41

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921, ed
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 846

USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 41

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pastor, and continued in that office until the close of 1893, during which time the church debt was reduced to a considerable extent. The church was then without a pastor until 1896, when J. S. Swogger was called, and he served until June, 1898. On May 1, 1899, the present pastor, W. A. Miller, took charge and has led the church in entirely canceling the church debt, and in making needed improve- ments. On account of deaths and removals, the membership has been reduced, being at the present time only 88. Besides the above- named pastors, the church has from time to time been supplied by Thomas McCague, R. H. Barr, J. Acheson, W. H. Lytle, - Pinker- ton, - Palmer, and perhaps others.

PRESBYTERIAN.

Montana .- Rev. Seth T. Smalley, a New School Presbyterian minister, commenced preaching in Montana in 1869, and possibly as early as 1868, and served that people more or less for some time thereafter. In May, 1869, Rev. D. P. Emerson preached for them, and the next Sunday Rev. C. V. Monfort, of Oswego, preached. These were the only Presbyterian services at Montana of which I learn, prior to the arrival of Mr. Griffin. The Presbyterians in all of this part of the county seem to have been interested in, if not members of, the church which was formed at Daytonville, on Willow Branch. In March, 1870, Mr. Mon- fort commenced preaching at the residence of Mr. Martin, west of Labette Creek, and con- tinued his appointments during the next few weeks. On June 25. 1870, the Daytonville church was organized, with G. W. White, Margaret Ellen White, Margaret Jane White, Jane Amanda White, George Cubbison, Alex- ander Cubbison, Rachel Cubbison, Martha Lewis, James Morning, Caroline Morning,

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members received by letter, and Sarah Ellen Hartin. John Henry Hartin, Nancy Shelady, and Louisa Cubbison, received on examination as members. George Cubbison was chosen chairman, G. W. White and Alexander Cubbi- son were elected ruling elders, and George Cub- bison and J. H. Hartin, deacons. Their first communion service was held November 27, 1870. On May 7, 1871, Mr. Monfort preached at the town of Labette, after which a church was organized by a union of the Daytonville church and the Presbyterians living around Labette and Montana. Mr. Monfort remained pastor of this Labette church till his death, on Aug. 10, 1872, at which time the church had 16 members. There seem to have been no regular services held after Mr. Monfort's death. On March 15, 1874, Rev. C. H. McCreery, of Chetopa, and H. W. Stratton, of Oswego, who had been appointed a committee by the presby- tery, visited the Piper school-house, in District No. 17. Mr. McCreery preached, after which the Labette Presbyterian church was organized, or, perhaps, more properly, reorganized, with the following members: James Morning. Charles Morning, John H. Hartin, Matthew Lewis, George Morning, George Cubbison, Louisa Cubbison, Margaret Hawkins, Jane Shelady, J. F. Piper, Mrs. E. Piper, Miss P. Piper. Lina Piper, Miriam Piper, A. B. Piper, Ray Piper, and Mrs. Mary Bennet. James Morning and Ray Piper were elected elders. The place of meeting was then changed to the Morning school-house, in District No. 48, where services continued to be held until the erection of the Montana church. Evening services were also held at Labette and Montana. At the time of organizing above referred to, Rev. S. W. Griffin was elected pastor, in which relation he continued till about the close of 1882. Following him, S. W. LaGrange and

WV. Price filled the pulpit. For several years past the church has been without a pastor. Occasionally the minister at Oswego or some one else has preached for them. In 1878 a church building was erected in Montana, at a cost of about $1,500. In 1900 this church building was sold to the Methodists, and the Montana Presbyterian church is now com- pletely dissolved.

Oswego .- Rev. Cornelius V. Monfort was the first Presbyterian minister to locate in this county. He came to Oswego in March, 1868, and on April 26th preached the first Presby- terian sermon in the place. On June 30th a meeting was held at his house, at which eight were present to consider the organization of a church, and on Sunday, July 25, 1868, an organization was effected, with the following II members: Cornelius V. Monfort and wife S. E. Monfort. Dr. C. M. Gilkey and wife S. M. Gilkey and daughter Mary Gilkey, Mrs. R. A. Botsford, John Hutchinson, Mary Gas- ton, Alexander Cubbison and wife Rachel Cub- bison, and Francis Swanwick. Francis Swan- wick, Dr. C. M. Gilkey and John Hutchinson were elected trustees, and Dr. C. M. Gilkey and Alexander Cubbison were elected elders. On Nov. 15, 1868, Dr. Gilkey was ordained elder. The church records say the church was organized July 28, 1868, but this record as it now exists was probably copied some time after the occurrence, and the party who did it has evidently made a mistake and written the date the 28th instead of the 25th. Col. Swanwick kept a diary, which I now have, and under date of July 25, 1868, he says : "Went to town to assist in organizing First Presbyterian church, Old School, of Oswego; II members present ; Dr. Gilkey and Mr. Cubbison elected elders." On Jan. 31, 1869, Rev. C. H. Mc- Creery was present, and with Mr. Monfort

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held the first communion service. In August Mr. Monfort began taking subscriptions for a church. In July, 1870, I. C. McGinnis and Alexander Mackie were made elders and T. N. Sickles and D. McArthur, deacons. Mr. Monfort resigned, and preached his farewell sermon on Oct. 9, 1870. Rev. S. N. D. Mar- tin supplied the pulpit the next year, preaching his first sermon June 4, 1871 ; and he was suc- ceeded during the spring or summer of 1872 by Rev. N. A. Rankin. Rev. H. W. Stratton filled the pulpit from April, 1873, to January, 1875. During his pastorate the church erected its house of worship, at a cost of about $4,000, which was dedicated Dec. 28, 1873, by Rev. S. A. Stoddard. On June 27, 1879, the house was struck by lightning and one end somewhat shattered, but still not seriously damaged. A. F. Hale, A. Bixby (a Congregationalist ), A. A. Trimper (a Lutheran), J. G. Venable, William Coleman, John Elliott, A. C. Junkin, A. G. Evans and J. N. McClung followed as pastors after Rev. H. W. Stratton left. Mr. McClung's pastorate extended front Oct. I, 1891, until the last of August, 1893. Dr. J. F. Hendy, president of the college, then sup- plied the pulpit until the close of 1895, when Dr. William Bishop, who succeeded Dr. Hendy as acting president of the college, also supplied the church pulpit until June, 1896. Dr. M. H. Reasor, who then took charge of the college, supplied the pulpit from June, 1896, to August, 1897. Rev. William Sickles was a stated supply from January, 1898, to April, 1900, when the present pastor, Rev. E. C. Phil- leo, took charge. The church has had a slow but a continued growth. In the fall of 1886 the young people started a prayer meeting, which was kept up until February, 1891, when it was organized into the Westminster League, with a membership of 16, and the following

officers : President, Margaret Carpenter ; vice- president, Blanche Waskey; secretary and. treasurer, Myrtle Stonecipher ; organist, Marie Park. On April 7, 1892, this league was changed to a Young People's Society Christian Endeavor, with 18 members, and officers as follows: Lincoln J. Allen, president ; Belle Holenberg, vice-president ; recording secretary, Blanche Waskey, corresponding secretary and, treasurer, James McChung.

Edna .- Originally this church was organ- ized as the Ripon Presbyterian church. Rev. C. H. McCreery preached at the Ripon school- house, in District No. 49, during the summer of 1874, where, on Nov. 8th of that year, as- sisted by Rev. H. W. Stratton, he organized the church, with a membership of 12, of whom James Scott and Thomas H. Bruner were elected ruling elders. Mr. McCreery supplied the pulpit till 1881, since which time J. N. Young, J. M. Crawford, and J. S. McClung have been its pastors. Mr. Crawford served. either as pastor or supply from April 1, 1883, to November, 1889, and again took charge March 1, 1892, serving for one year. The church was then without a pastor until the fall of 1894, when R. M. Wimmel began preach- ing and remained in charge until the fall of 1896. In the fall of 1897 he again took charge, and so continued until June, 1899. After Mr. Wimmel quit, in the fall of 1896, B. F. Smith supplied the pulpit a few weeks; with this exception, the church was without a preacher during the year between Mr. Wim- mel's two terms. The church was again without a minister from June, 1899, until the spring of 1900, when J. M. Crawford was again employed; he is still in charge. At its organization, the church had 12 members; its membership now is about 50. During its his- tory it has had something like 130 different

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members. In the fall of 1878 preparations were made for a church building at Kingston, which was made ready for occupancy before the close of that year ; it was fully completed the follow- ing spring, and, on June 8, 1879, was dedicated by Rev. Timothy Hill. In one week there- after a cyclone partly removed the church from its foundation. In 1884 the presbytery changed the name from Ripon to Kingston. In 1887 the building was removed to Edna, and the name changed from Kingston to Edna.

Altamont .- Rev. C. H. McCreery com- menced preaching at the residence of D. C. Constant, in Hackberry township, as early as 1870, and on June 9, 1871, at that place, as- sisted by Elam S. Hitchcock and Samuel Cel- lars, organized the Hackberry Presbyterian church, with the following members: Nancy A. Dougham, Margaret S. Blyner, James Emory, Mary Emory, Jennie Fellows, Michael Noel, Mary Noel, David C. Constant, An- toinette C. Constant, Josiah Raybourn, Lucre- tia Raybourn, Mary J. Hannigan. Michael Noel and David C. Constant were elected ruling elders. The place of meeting was afterwards changed to the Newell school-house, in District No. 71. This church was ministered to by C. H. McCreery, C. V. Monfort, and H. W. Strat- ton. In April, 1879, the name of Hackberry church was ordered stricken from the roll, and a committee was appointed to organize a new church. The Elston church, as successor of the Hackberry church, was organized at the Elston school-house, in District No. 80, on June 29. 1879, by Rev. S. W. Griffin and Rev. C. H. McCreery. James Paxton and Martin Reamer were elected ruling elders. The fol- lowing year the name was changed to Alta- mont. A church building was erected in Alta- mount in 1880, Rev. S. W. Griffin preaching the first sermon therein on May 16th. Its

earlier pastors were: S. W. Griffin, J. N. Young, J. D. Todd and S. W. LeGrange. For a number of years the church had no pas- tor, and was only supplied irregularly. Since 1892 the church has had the following stated supplies : J. S. McClung, in 1893 ; J. D. Todd, 1894-96; R. M. Wimmel, 1896-98; J. B. Saw- yer, 1900. During the past few years the building has been improved, shade trees planted, and more interest manifested in the work.

Lake Creck .- Eighteen members of the church at Chetopa took letters and united in forming the Lake Creek Presbyterian church, which was organized January 6, 1884, by Rev. C. H. McCreery, assisted by E. S. Hitch- cock. Arthur Baty was elected ruling elder. A church building was erected the following spring, at a cost of about $1,200, which was dedicated in April, by W. S. H. Keyes. Mr. McCreery had preached at the Baty school- house, in District No. 60, for several years be- fore the organization of the church. After its organization Rev. J. M. Crawford became pas- tor, in April, 1884, and served until November, 1889. From April 1, 1890, to April 1, 1891, Rev. J. S. McClung was stated supply. Rev. J. L. Griffes supplied the church a part of the time during 1891. Rev. J. M. Crawford came March 1, 1892, and continued as pastor until the church was joined with that of Bartlett in the following year.

Bartlett .- The first Presbyterian sermon in Bartlett was preached in the school-house, Nov. 3. 1889, by Rev. J. M. Crawford. Rev. J. S. McClung preached there occasionally while he had charge of the Lake Creek church, and Rev. J. M. Crawford preached there every two weeks from March 1, 1892, to the date of the consolidation with the Lake Creek congrega- tion. No organization was effected at Bart-

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lett until the removal of the church building from Lake Creek to Bartlett, which occurred in the fall of 1893. It was repaired and ready for occupancy in February, 1894. The Lake Creek church was then merged in that of Bartlett. The following-named have served as pastors: J. M. Crawford, L. J. Hawkins, R. M. Wimmell and H. M. Gilbert, who is the present incumbent. A missionary society was organized in April, 1895, of which Miss Jennie WV. Baty has been president since its organi- zation. A children's Willing Workers' Mis- sion Band has also been maintained, and part of the time a Y. P. S. C. E. On August 15, 1900, the church building was burned to the ground by a fire supposed to have been com- municated by a locomotive. Since then the church has worshipped in the Methodist church building. It is the purpose of the members of the church to rebuild as soon as possible.

Chetopa .- The First Presbyterian church of Chetopa was organized on Sept. 20, 1868. by Rev. C. H. McCreery, assisted by Rev. James Lewis, with the following members : Samuel Cellars, Mrs. Martha Cellars, Mrs. Margaret J. Lenhart, Samuel H. Carr, George F. Smith and Lorenzo Billington. Of these, Samuel Cellars and Samuel H. Carr were in- stalled as ruling elders. The first trustees were Willoughby Doudna, S. H. Carr, Samuel Cellars. C. P. Spaulding and C. P. Smith. For the first two years the services of the church were held in Spaulding's Hall, over a saloon, on the southeast corner of Third and Walnut streets. The town company having donated a number of lots to the church, a part were sold, and about $1,000 realized there- from. Generous subscriptions were also made by the citizens, and in the fall of 1869 prepara- tions were made for erecting a building, and the work was commenced. On December Ist of

that year the frame of the building was raised. and by August, 1870, it was entirely finished, at a cost of about $4,500. Quite a feature of the financial history of this church, as it was more or less of that of many of the churches in the county, especially during the early years of their work, was that of raising money by festivals. In July, 1869, this church held one of its most successful festivals, at which over $300 was cleared. The church was dedicated, free of debt, Aug. 28, 1870, by Rev. Timothy Hill, D. D. One of the noteworthy events in connection with this church is the long-continued pastorate of Mr. McCreery, extending from its organization, in 1868, to May 1, 1886. No other church in the county has had such an experience. Be- fore the close of Mr. McCreery's pastorate, his health becoming impaired, he took a vacation for a year, during which time the pulpit was supplied by Rev. V. M. King. Mr. McCreery was followed in July, 1886, by Rev. Isaac Brundage, who served until his death. Rev. J. L. Griffes succeeded Mr. Brundage, and was in turn followed by Rev. J. L. Hawkins, who was pastor from 1893 to 1896. Rev. H. M. Gilbert has been pastor since Sept. 1, 1896. The membership of the church is about 150. In the latter part of 1898 the church building was remodeled at a cost of about $1,600, and rededicated Jan. 15, 1899, by Dr. S. D. Flen1- ing. Within a month,-on February 12, 1899, -this building burned to the ground. The church then decided on changing location and rebuilding. The property owned and for so many years occupied by Rev. C. H. McCreery as a residence was purchased; the house stand- ing thereon was moved a little from its original location and fitted up for a manse, and room made for the new church building on the same property. The pastor went east and secured

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most of the money with which to pay for the new building. Between the burning of the old church edifice and the completion of the new one services were held in the opera house. Work on the new building was commenced in December, 1899. and on June 3, 1900, it was dedicated by Dr. S. D. Fleming. The cost of the building and furnishings was nearly $6,000.

Bethel .- S. W. Griffin and W. B. Truax, being directed by the presbytery so to do, or- ganized a Presbyterian church in the school- house in District No. - , on Nov. 29, 1892. S. E. W. Brown, James Venable and J. S. Gulick were elected ruling elders,. and L. T. McElroy and Monroe Mathers, deacons. S. WV. Griffin acted as pastor till June, 1885, when he was succeeded by A. S. Sharpless.

Mound T'alley .- In November, 1879, Rev. C. H. McCreery and S. W. Griffin organized a Presbyterian church at Mound Valley, with IO members. Wm. D. Allen and Wm. Culp were elected ruling elders. S. W. Griffin and J. N. Young preached for them. The mem- bers having mostly moved away in the spring of 1883, the presbytery disorganized the church and struck the same from the roll. Rev. J. D. Todd, who had been employed by the synod to preach at different points and look after the church's interest in vacant fields, came to Mound Valley and talked with several who then or who had formerly held church rela- tions with the Presbyterian church, and at his solicitation a meeting was held at the Metho- dist church, on March 30, 1884, at which some eight or ten were present: J. C. McEwen pre- sided and Dr. J. Lemon acted as clerk. It was , there resolved to organize a Presbyterian church at that point as soon as arrangements could be made to do so. They adjourned to meet in four weeks, and on April 27, 1884, Rev. J. D. Todd preached a sermon; after

which Mrs. E. A. Copelantz, Eliza Copelantz, J. C. McEwen, Mrs. Olive McEwen, James W. Evans and wife, H. K. Baker, Mrs. Myra J. Baker, E. M. Bell, Mrs. J. T. Bell, Dr. J. Lemon, Mrs. A. Lemon, Henry Allen, Mrs. Jane Allen, Josie Allen, Mary B. Allen, Robert A. Foresman, Mrs. Jane Foresman, Mrs. Hen- rietta Foresman, Mrs. Roxanna Savage, and Joseph Crawford presented their credentials, which were approved. A third meeting was held at the same place on May 10, 1884, at which H. K. Baker was chairman and Henry Allen, clerk; whereupon it was resolved to pro- ceed with the organization of a church by the election of two ruling elders and two deacons. J. C. McEwen and Henry Allen were chosen as elders and Dr. J. Lemon and H. K. Baker as deacons. On May 25, 1884, the church was duly organized, by Rev. S. W. Griffin, of Cher- ryvale; C. H. McCreery, of Chetopa; and J. D. Todd, of Independence, who were sent there as a committee of the Neosho presbytery. Mr. Griffin preached the sermon, after which the elders and deacons were ordained. Arrange- ments were made for holding services in the Baptist church, and Rev. J. D. Todd was em- ployed to preach every other Sabbath, in the afternoon. In August, 1884, the church bought a building known as Pattison's Hall, which had been built by the Methodists as their first house of worship; after they sold it, it was removed to its present location, in block 22. That fall and winter the building was occupied by a department of the public schools, and by the church only on Sunday. . In April, 1885, this building was suitably fitted up as a place of worship. Mr. Todd closed his labors as pastor on May 31, 1885, and was followed on June 7th by Rev. A. S. Sharpless, who stayed till July, 1886. The pulpit remained vacant till October of that year, when Rev. J. M.

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Crawford was employed to preach every two weeks in connection with his work at Edna. This continued till March, 1888, wlien Mr. Todd again took charge, and continued till Oct. Ist of the same year. Little religious life was manifested from this time till April, 1889, when Rev. J. S. McClung was called to the work, where he remained till September, 1891. Oct. 15, 1891, Rev. James H. Clark took charge, and remained until November, 1892. In 1893- 94 J. C. McElroy served as a stated supply. R. M. Wimmell was pastor from August, 1894, to October, 1896, and again served them as stated supply from October, 1897, until 1899. Since then B. F. Smith, J. Michel, J. M. Craw- ford, J. L. Sawyer and A. E. Van Olden have supplied the pulpit. On June 10, 1885, the church was incorporated. In 1890 it finished paying for its building and stood clear of debt.

Emmons .- On Jan. 8, 1873, Rev. Mr. Lackey, of Illinois, organized a Presbyterian church at the Emmons school-house, in Dis- trict No. 84. James Sweet, Joseph Kearns and Jacob Crane were elected and ordained elders, and Alexander Duncan and Otto Wil- son deacons. On March 5, 1873, Rev. Sidney Allen was installed as pastor, Rev. S. A. Stod- dard preaching the installment sermon. After an existence of some two years the organiza- tion was abandoned.

Parsons .- While a Methodist preacher who came of his own accord preceded them, the Presbyterians claim to have sent the first preacher to hold services in Parsons. Rev. H. H. Cambern, under the direction of the Board of Home Missions, came to Parsons in February, 1871, and commenced preaching in a saloon. Mr. Cambern held services fre- quently during the spring and summer.

The First Presbyterian church of Parsons was organized Sept. 24, 1871, by H. H. Cam-

bern as moderator. J. V. Thornton, J. E. Wilkins and J. J. Blause were elected elders. The membership at organization was 16. In December, 1871, they commenced to take sub- scriptions for a church building, but ground was not broken till August, 1872. The church was completed and dedicated Aug. 2, 1874, by. Rev. C. H. McCreery. In the meantime Rev. S. F. Farmer was installed as pastor. An ad- dition was made to the church in 1882, another one in 1883, and a third in 1891. In May, 1872, Rev. J. H. Metier was employed to suc- ceed Mr. Cambern as pastor. Since then the following have supplied the pulpit, some as sup- ply and others as pastor: Joel Kelsey, S. F. Farmer, H. G. Miller, F. R. Morton, W. S. H. Keyes, J. K. Fowler, - Shields, W. S. Davis, Edward F. Walker, J. M. Wright, and E. O. Hart. Mr. Wright's pastorate closed in 1893, and he was succeeded by the present pastor, E. O. Hart. Under Mr. Hart's pas- torate, the church building has been enlarged and improved at a cost of about $3,000. At present they are building a manse which is to be commodious and well finished. At present the church has a membership of upwards of 400. In 1882 a Young People's Society was organized for the purpose of holding devo- tional meetings. At different times it had for its president Miss Montgomery, E. H. Mc- Creery, F. H. Shaub, W. H. Martin, Lena Venable, W. J. McKnight, and George B. Comings. On September 8, 1892, a reorgani- zation of the Young People's Society was had, and formed into the Y. P. S. C. E., with George B. Comings as president.

UNITED BRETHREN.

The work of this denomination in this county has been somewhat scattered, and I have not been able to get access to records that

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would give me definite information respecting the work at many points. I am informed that the following-named have been presiding eld- ers in the district embracing Labette county : B. A. Spring, J. R. Chambers, G. H. Hinton, C. H. Jones, J. K. Spencer, H. B. McHugh, F. M. Gillett and N. L. Vesey.

Parsons .- In February, 1868, a class of about ten members was formed at the house of James Beaver, some few miles from the present site of Parsons, by J. Buckmaster as pastor, James Beaver as class-leader, Reason Tippie, steward, and P.M. Grant, elder. Those compris- ing this class were Reason Tippie, Rachel Tip- pie, N. M. Portrum, C. Portrum, J. Beaver, J. L. Beaver, A. Pringle, G. Sheckell, G. Bots- ford, and C. Billings. This class was main- tained in that part of the county with more or less cohesiveness for several years, and formed the basis of the class at Parsons, which was organized in February, 1875, with a mem- bership of about 15, including Abraham Cary and wife, James Beaver and wife, N. M. Portrum and wife, Seth Fisher and wife, Lizzie Kellogg, and having G. W. Gossett for pastor. Jan. 3, 1877, the church provided a lot and moved thereon the tabernacle which they had purchased from the M. E. church. They used it as a house of worship until 1894, when they disposed of the building and secured a site at the corner of Twenty-fourth street and Craw- ford avenue, on which they erected a commo- dious church edifice, and a parsonage, on ad- joining lots, all at a cost of about $2,500. The church was impeded in its progress for quite a number of years by the great division of the church throughout the country that took place in 1885. Among the pastors who have served this church are: G. W. Gossett, A. B. McGrew, J. W. Baughman, William Theope, C. H. Jones, R. C. Hamil, D. Richardson, W.

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History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 41

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921, ed Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 846

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921, ed
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 846