History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 42

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 42

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M. Griffin and G. H. Hinton. The church has a good Young People's Society, both senior and junior branches.

Dennis .- In the winter of 1870-71, Rev. Mr. Goodwin, of the United Brethren church, held protracted meetings in the log school- house in District No. 38, which resulted in sev- eral conversions and accessions to that denom- ination. Among these probably the most act- ive in his afterwork was J. H. Beatty. A church was then organized, which has main- tained its work ever since. In the spring of 1883 they built a church at Dennis, and in the fall of 1884 the conference of the State held its session there. Among its pastors have been Revs. Messrs. Evans, Stallard, Hammers, Win- rick, Gossett, Himer, Chambers, French, Rice, Hammel, Shope.

Mortimer .- Almost from the first settle- ment of the county, religious services have been held in the Carpenter school-house, in District No. 30-sometimes by one denomination and sometimes by another. Of late years preach- ing has occasionally been conducted by min- isters of the United Brethren church. In the spring of 1891, Rev. Mr. Hammel, of this de- nomination, held a protracted meeting which resulted in the organization of quite a strong class. It was soon felt that a church building was needed, and the Mortimer family were active in securing its erection at the Mortimer station. Its first board of trustees consisted of Emanuel Mortimer, James T. Mortimer, J. K. Duncan, T. E. Killian, and G. A. Waid. The church cost about $1,000, and was dedi- cated June 5, 1892. by Bishop Castle. Since Mr. Hammel's work, in 1892, the church has had the following pastors : - Daugherty, J. S. Christlieb, R. C. Hamil, J. I. Robinson, H. D. Moore, J. W. Baughman, T. J. Darling. Williams.

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Mound Valley Circuit .- The south part of the county has usually, I am informed, been included in one circuit, embracing a number of appointments, among others Altamont, Mound Valley, Trenton, Valeda, Hackberry and, perhaps, some others ; this circuit has been known sometimes as Hackberry, sometimes as Oswego, and sometimes as Mound Valley, but the same minister has supplied all points. Among the preachers who have been on this circuit (besides those separately mentioned in connection with the Hackberry church) are: J. R. Evans, J. S. Christlieb, G. W. Beard, B. F. Woods, A. W. Potter, J. R. Robinson and H. D. Moore.

Altamont .- A class was formed in a school- house near the southeast corner of Labette township, in 1872, which was moved to Alta- mont in 1874. It has been maintained but a part of the time.

Trenton .- A class was organized at the school-house in District No. 67, in Howard township, March 31, 1885, with A. Bessy as leader. Services continued to be held there.

Hackberry .- In the fall of 1881 Rev. J. M. Magie, assisted by Rev. T. D. Bickham, held a protracted meeting at the Hiatt school- house, in District No. 26, and at its close or- ganized a United Brethren class. A part of the time since then the preachers who have supplied this class, among other appointments, have preached at Pleasant View, Bowman and Trenton school-houses; also at Altamont and Parsons. Pastors: 1883, J. A. Evert; 1884, W. H. Sapp; 1885, S. W. Redman ; 1886, Mrs. J. M. Magie and J. A. Evert; 1887, D. B. Finch; 1888-89, F. M. Gillett; 1890, Rev. Mr. Huffman; 1892, D. W. Juday. The follow- ing persons have served as presiding elders : B. A. Spring, J. R. Chambers, G. H. Hinton, C. H. Jones, J. K. Spencer. The following

have been secretaries of the quarterly confer- ence, each one or more terms: J. M. Magie, E. S. Bessy, Anna Riddick, A. H. Mickey. At the last quarterly conference in 1891, John Riddick, Christian Helwig, David Romine, Louis Zink and A. H. Mickey were elected trustees, and directed to take steps to secure the erection of a church building, which has since been erected on the northwest quarter of section I in Hackberry township, at a cost of about $800. The church was dedicated July 16, 1893. This is the only church building this denomination has in the south half of the county.

EVANGELICAL.

Rev. Henry Mattill was the first minister of this denomination to preach in the county. F. W. Voegelein was next sent, and after him, his brother, A. J. Voegelein, came and or- ganized a class in 1879, at the Sylvan Dale school-house in District No. 79. After the organization of this class, the pastors have

been : 1879-83, A. J. Voegelein; 1883, Charles Linge ; 1884-86, J. W. Keiser ; 1887, A. J. Flickinger ; 1888-90, H. S. Bowers; 1891-92, M. J. Stenimetz ; 1893-94, Omer Butler ; 1894- 97, B. H. Hobbs; 1898-1901, John M. Frieker. During Mr. Keiser's pastorate, in the winter of 1884-85, a successful revival was held, re- sulting in a large addition to the membership of the church. This was followed by steps toward erecting a church building in Dennis. The church was completed and dedicated in 1887, under the pastorate of Mr, Flickinger. It is the only church building this denomina- tion has in the county.

METHODIST PROTESTANT.

Sometime in the 'seventies a class of this denomination was formed at Parsons, and dur-

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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY

ing its existence had N. K. Shimp and Mckesson among its ministers. After doing some work the class became entirely disorgan- ized. In 1880 Rev. J. H. Luse held a pro- tracted meeting in the southwestern portion of the county, and formed a class or two. A church has been erected at Morton station, in the edge of Montgomery county. A class has also been organized at Mt. Triumph school- house, in District No. 63, in Mound Valley township. Rev. A. Slater and Rev. Abner Green, with others, have preached in several places in the county.

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

A class of this branch of the great Meth- odist family was organized at the Emmons school-house, in District No. 84, as early as 1873, and was maintained for several years, but finally abandoned. The only two ministers they had, so far as I have learned, were Revs. Messrs. VanCleve and Wayland.

FREE METHODIST.

A few classes of this branch of the church have existed in the county for quite a number of years. They have been somewhat few in number, and have never attempted the erec- tion of any church building, so far as I have learned. They have held meetings at vari- ous points in school-houses. At one time Rev. Thomas D. Bickham, before he started the Sal- vation Church of Christ, was a preacher in this denomination, and some time prior to 1880, O. P. Lineback had ministerial oversight for the county.

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

Parsons .- Rev. A. H. Daniels, of the A. M. E. church, came to Labette county in the

spring of 1876, and organized classes at Os- wego and Parsons. In June of that year he commenced to raise funds with which to build a church at Parsons. Lot 17 in block 17 was secured as a site in July, 1876, and soon there- after a building was commenced. Messrs. French, Cavanaugh and Miller were the first trustees. Commencing with 1891, the pastors have been : 1891, J. Allen; 1892, M. Wooton; 1893-95, J. R. Ransom; 1896, E. Harrison ; 1897-98, A. C. Terrill; 1899-1900, M. Collins. This and the Oswego church were jointly served by the same pastors for several years. About 1895 they erected a good brick church building at a cost of about $2,600.

Oswego .- The class at this place was or- ganized in the spring of 1876, about the same time as the one at Parsons. The organization was effected by Rev. A. H. Daniels, who acted as pastor that year. During the year a neat frame church was erected on lot 3, in block 16. A few years thereafter a dwelling-house was purchased and moved onto lots i and 2 just north of the church, to be used for a par- sonage. The pastors of the church have been : A. H. Daniels, W. F. Hedgman, L. W. Mc- Cormick, J. W. Walton, J. E. Weir, John Brewer, J. L. Hatton, A. M. Ward, Thomas Mudd, Pompey Johnson, John Boyd, J. E. Bricus, S. H. Baker, A. J. King, E. H. Harden, J. L. Leonard, - Smith, A. E. Clark, J. R. Nelson, P. Williams, and L. Parks. Their church building was rented by the board of education for several years, in which to hold one department of the colored school.

Chetopa .- The class at this place dates from 1881, and has not maintained services all the time since then. It has a church build- ing. Its pastors have been those who were at the same time serving the Oswego church, and who are named in connection with that work.

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THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH

Was the first Protestant denomination to hold religious services in this county. Dr. Lisle says: "The first preaching in Chetopa was by an old missionary of the Methodist Church South, on or about the first of December, 1857, and once every four weeks until spring." The name of this preacher was J. P. Barnaby. He was succeeded in October, 1858, by Rev. J. E. Bryan, who preached every three weeks dur- ing the next two years, when he was sent to Council Grove. In the fall of 1860 Mr. Fores- man succeeded Mr. Bryan and remained a year, when Mr. Robbins was sent to the charge. The latter was in sympathy with the Rebel- lion, and was about to be hung by some Kan- sas soldiers who caught him in Cherokee coun- ty. He was let go on condition that he would leave the country, which he did, going directly to Texas. This closed the work of the church till after the war. Of these services Dr. Lisle says: "The preaching was in some settler's house until the school-house was built, in the spring of 1858, when it was in that regularly. It being about the center of the settlement, gave all parties a chance to attend, which they did pretty generally." When the county com- menced to settle after the war there were quite a number came who had been members of this church in their former homes, but scarcely enough in any one settlement to form and maintain a class. In fact, I do not know of the formation of a class at any place in the county, although there may have been some formed. However, preachers of that denom- ination, either local or those in charge of work in adjacent territory, occasionally preached at a few places in the county. Among the places where they sometimes held services was the log church, between Oswego and Montana.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

Several local preachers of this denomina- tion settled in the county and commenced preaching and holding services in their respect- ive localities as early as the fall of 1867, and perhaps even earlier in the year. Oswego was the only point at which a class was formed prior to the meeting of conference on March 30, 1868. At that conference the Oswego cir- cuit was formed, embracing all of Labette county, and included in the Emporia district, of which Rev. C. R. Rice was presiding elder. The work remained a part of the Emporia dis- trict the following year also, under the charge of Mr. Rice. In March, 1870, the Oswego district was organized, including within its limits all of the county, with Rev. C. E. Lewis, P. E. The work remained in the Oswego dis- trict with the same presiding elder until April 1, 1873, when it was placed in the Humboldt district, in charge of Rev. A. K. Johnson, P. E. This arrangement continued two years. In March, 1875. Parsons was placed in the Fort Scott district, where it has ever since remained. At the same time, the Independence district was formd, and all the county except Parsons has ever since been in that district. The pre- siding elders of the Fort Scott district have been: 1875-77, D. P. Mitchell; 1877-81. B. Kelley; 1881-85, E. C. Boaz; 1885-91, A. G. Robb; 1891-97, J. E. Brant; 1897-, John H. Price. The presiding elders of the Independ- ence district have been: 1875-79, S. E. Pen- dleton ; 1879. D. P. Mitchell: 1880-82. A. T. Burris; 1882-86, Ananias Cullison; 1886-90, J. A. Hyden: 1890-96, S. S. Murphy : 1896- 98, Bernard Kelly; 1898-, Alexander R. Maclean. Before the close of his last year Mr. Kelly resigned the district, and Mr. Mac- lean was appointed in his stead.

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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY

German .- While there may have been oc- casional preaching prior to that time, the Meth- odist Episcopal German work was regularly started in this county in the spring of 1892, by Rev. John Koehler, who commenced preach- ing at the Timber Hill appointment. In July, 1892, work was commenced on a new churchi three and a half miles south of Dennis. It was finished, and on August 28tli was dedi- cated by their presiding elder, Rev. C. Harri- man. At their conference the last of August the work in the county was organized into the Parsons circuit, and put in charge of Rev. John Koehler again. A class was to be formed at Parsons at once.

Oswego .- The First Methodist Episcopal church of Oswego was organized March I, 1868, in the little frame building that then stood at the northeast corner of block 33. John Mark, a local preacher living in the township, effected the organization, with 13 members, including himself, as follows: John Mark, wife and daughter, Elisha Hammer and wife, John Logan and wife, William Logan and wife, Job Beal and wife, Eliza Elliott, and Mary A. Cowell. Mr. Mark had been preach- ing in town for some weeks previous, alternat- ing with Mr. Canfield. Congregationalist ; Messrs. Richardson and Flouronoy, Baptists, and perhaps others. But one service was held in town at a time, all meeting in the room above referred to. At the ensuing conference, which convened on March 30, 1868, a young man living in what was then known as the Labette City settlement, near the mouth of Labette Creek, named John S. Harryman, was admitted into the conference on trial. All of Labette county was formed into the Oswego circuit, and Mr. Harryman was sent to it as its first pastor. At the first quarterly conference, which was held June 6, 1868, in Read Broth-

ers' hardware store, which was then just in- closed, but into which they had not yet moved, Elder Rice appointed David Stanfield, a local preacher, as assistant to Mr. Harryman, and during the balance of the year the two occupied the field as best they could. Since the first year the pastors have been as follows, com- mencing after conference in March or April of the year named: 1869, Patterson McNutt; 1870, H. W. Conley ; 1871, J. E. Bryan; 1872- 73, J. B. Orwig; 1874, B. C. Swarts; 1875-76, P. T. Rhodes; 1877, M. L. Gates; 1878-79, D. T. Summerville; 1880-81, T. S. Hunt; 1882-84, H. McBirney; 1885, J. A. Hyden; 1886-87, J. B. Ford; 1888-90, R. P. Ham- mons; 1891-92, Ananias Cullison; 1893-94, John Maclean; 1895, C. R. Rice; 1896, N. V. Moore; 1896-97, S. L. Chase; 1898-1901, S. A. Ross. During his pastorate, Mr. Moore's health failed and he had to resign his work in the middle of the year. There have been no records preserved of the first year's work, and I have not been able to learn who were the officers for that year. J. F. Molesworth was elected recording steward for the ensuing year at the fourth quarterly conference, Feb. 6, 1869. When conference met. the north part of the county in which he lived was put into another work; so that he never served. At the first quarterly conference for 1869 A. S. Cory was elected recording steward, but only served for that session, and at the second quar- terly conference the office was declared vacant, and J. Q. Cowell was elected and served out the balance of that year. At the fourth quar- terly conference for that year, held on Dec. 29, 1869, Nelson Case was elected recording steward, and by reelections continued to serve till conference in March, 1879. The following year I. W. Patrick served in that position. At the close of that year David Zimmerman

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was elected, but declined to serve; and at the first quarterly conference for the following year, held May 3, 1880, Nelson Case was again elected recording steward, which posi- tion he has held, by annual reelections, since. At the close of the first year the quarterly conference asked the presiding elder to secure a division of the work. This was done, and during 1869-70 Oswego and Chetopa, with the intervening territory, constituted a circuit. This arrangement lasted but a year, for at the conference in March, 1870, both Chetopa and Oswego were substantially made stations; each had, a part of the time after that, one or two appointments in the county attached to them, in which the ministers at these points would preach Sunday afternoons. At the close of the first year the presiding elder reported that a subscription of $1,500 had been secured with which to build a church at Oswego. However, little or nothing came of this subscription. Before the close of Mr. McNutt's pastorate he had secured rock to be placed on the ground for a foundation, he and Mr. Mark doing a large part of the work themselves. When Mr. Conley came, all felt that the first thing to do was to secure the erection of a church. Dur- ing Mr. McNutt's pastorate services were held in Dr. Crouse's building on lot 5 in block 39, which was now found inadequate to the de- mands, and Wells' Hall, near the northeast corner of block 32, was rented. Work was commenced on the church building early in the summer, and by the middle of summer it was inclosed. Services were then held in it in its unfinished condi- tion. In the fall the spire was built, the house plastered and seated, and on Dec. 18. 1870. it was dedicated by Dr. W. R. Davis. The parsonage was built during Mr. Orwig's

pastorate. On July 24, 1889, an Epworth League was organized in connection with this church, with Blanche Case president, and Cloe McLane, secretary. The League has been maintained with a good degree of prosperity up to the present.

The Second M. E. church is composed of colored members. It was organized in April, 1879, and has had the following pastors : Rob- ert Rector, W. B. Avery, Daniel Ross, Thomas Allen, M. Bell, J. A. Lee, E. Q. Plummer, C. P. Thompson, James J. Cable, J. W. Talbert, T. M. Hooks, J. W. Patton, - Thomas, T. Ross, and - Jackson. Soon after or- ganizing the members bought a two-story store building and moved it to lot 12 in block 15, the lower room of which they used for a church, and the upper part for a parsonage. The building becoming somewhat racked, they caused it to be cut down to a one-story build- ing, which they still occupy for church pur- poses.

Neosho Township .- More or less preach- ing in various parts of the county was un- doubtedly done by the Methodist local preach- ers who settled in the county, of which no ac- count has been preserved. Rev. Joseph Rogers was a local preacher who settled in Neosho township in the spring of 1867. Very soon after his settlement there, it is said, he com- menced preaching in private houses in several places. This was the first preaching they had in that township. After the school-houses were built, more regular services were held in them. Classes were formed at the Hopkins school-house, in District No. 62; at the New Hope school-house, in District No. 15; at the Lone Elm school-house, in District No. 21 ; and perhaps at other points. But in few, if any, of these points were permanent classes

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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY

formed or services held regularly, for many years. It may be said that Center Chapel is an outcome of some of this work.

Center Chapel .- About the year 1878 Rev. C. A. King preached at the Franklin school- house, in District No. 55, and organized a class. Soon after this it was put with the La- bette and Montana work, where it has been since. In 1887, under the charge of Rev. J. S. Budd, the chapel was built, on the north- west corner of section 19, in Neosho township. and dedicated by Rev. Allen Buckner. The building was erected on mortgaged land, and the mortgagor failing to pay, the mortgage was foreclosed, and the land, together with the church, was sold in the summer of 1892. It cost the church nearly $500 to redeem their property.

Montana .- As early as 1868 a class seems to have been formed at Montana, with James Livesay as class-leader. Preaching was had occasionally by ministers in charge of neigh- boring work. In 1871 the Montana circuit was formed, and placed in charge of Rev. T. B. Palmer. From that time on to the present it has been united with Labette and has been served by the same ministers, a list of whom is given under that head. The church was in- corporated January 23. 1892. A contract for the purchase of the Christian church building was made in 1892, and for a time the same was occupied by the Methodists; but the Christians becoming dissatisfied with the sale, it was re- scinded. The Methodists were then without property of their own until 1900, when they purchased the Presbyterian church building, which they have repaired and are now using.

Labette .- The Methodist class at Labette was organized in the spring or summer of 1871, by Rev. T. B. Palmer, who was in charge of the Montana circuit. Services were held in.

the school-house. . The next year it formed a part of the Parsons circuit, in charge of Rev. J. W. Fox. In 1873 this, with Montana, was supplied by Rev. H. W. Conley, and the same arrangement continued during 1874. In March. 1875, Rev. J. W. McIntosh was ap- pointed to the Montana and Labette circuit. In 1876 Rev. P. A. Pearson was appointed, but failed to take charge of the work, and it was supplied a part of the year by Rev. Jesse Williams, who was again appointed to the work in March, 1877. In March, 1878, the South Parsons circuit was organized, and in- cluded Labette. Rev. W. B. Poinsett and Rev. A. S. Freed had charge of the work, the former living north of Mound Valley and the latter at Montana. In March, 1879. Labette and Montana were cut off from the South Parsons circuit and put in charge of WV. B. Poinsett, who got the people at Labette to purchase a house and put on the church lots, which had been donated, for a parsonage, and moved into it, and stayed there for three years. The school-house having been blown down, Mr. Poinsett preached for a time in the depot, and afterwards in the Baptist church. The same year the church was built, and on Oct. 5, 1879. was dedicated by Rev. D. P. Mitchell. During the winter a protracted meeting was held, resulting in quite a large number of con- versions. In March, 1881, Rev. D. F. Holtz was sent to Labette, and the following year Rev. William Shambaugh. He was followed in 1883 by Rev. C. W. Swarts. The next year Rev. H. J. Walker was appointed, but failed to come; Rev. J. S. Budd was then appointed, and remained for three years from March, 1885. In March, 1888, Rev. Salem Hedges was put in charge of the work, and served as pastor until March, 1892. Since Mr. Hedges was pastor the church has had the following

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pastors : J. D. Skaggs, one year : P. G. Wager, one year ; V. Staley, one year ; John P. Martin and Ernest Everett, one year; W. M. Betty, one and a third years,-he died during his second year's service; J. R. Hawkins, one and two-thirds years; D. M. Campbell, two years.

Spring Valley .- About 1869 or 1870 an acre of ground was purchased on the north- west corner of section 32, in Liberty township, which was set out to trees and a cemetery laid out thereon. About 1871 a frame store build- ing was purchased and removed to it from Elston. This was remodeled into a church. This has formed one of the regular appoint- ments of the Labette circuit almost from its organization, although at that time it belonged to the Elston circuit and the next year to the Timber Hill circuit, both of which were in charge of Rev. R. P. Bukey.

Stover .- In the fall of 1869 a class was formed on Deer creek, in the west part of Fairview township, with I. W. Patrick, leader, and was admitted into the Oswego work. Rev. P. McNutt pastor, went out there occasion- ally and preached for them. Services were held in a private house or a vacant claim house. When the school-house was built in District No. 29, the class moved to that point, where it has since been maintained. The class was organized at the Stover school-house about the last of December, 1869, or first of January, 1870, by Rev. R. P. Bukey. E. B. Wheeler was the first to hand in his letter, and George Pfaff was the second. For a number of years it was attached to Oswego, but in 1880 it was made a part of the Labette work, and still con- tinues in that circuit. For a few years past, the class at Stover has been occupying the church built by the people in that neighborhood, to

which the officers of the Church of God ob- tained title.

Dennis .- This circuit was formed at the conference held in March, 1885, and J. W. D. Anderson was appointed to the work. How- ever, he never took charge of the work, and M. U. Ramsburg was appointed in his place. During the year a parsonage was secured in the town of Dennis. In March, 1886, P. H. Fisk was placed in charge of the circuit. Dur- ing the next two years the work was divided, a part being united with the Galesburg circuit, under the charge of Rev. R. M. Cullison. In March, 1889, the Dennis circuit was reformed, and placed in charge of Rev. W. T. York. The work embraced the classes at St. Johns, Mount Zion, Excelsior, Pleasant Hill, Den- nis, Moorhead; also, Shiloh, in Neosho county. The following year Rev. H. M. Hughes be- came pastor, but after six months' service was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Deaton. Rev. S. WV. Gamble became pastor in March, 1891; he was succeeded in 1894 by P. G. Wager, who served the charge three years. At the end of that time, the Dennis circuit was discontinued and the place was made an appointment on an- other circuit.

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History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 42

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