USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, from the first settlement to the close of 1892 > Part 34
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Second (or New Hope) Baptist Church .- This church was organized by the colored people April 29, 1876, with 13 members. Rev. Thomas Wilson, of Ottawa, and Rev. David Payne, of Humboldt, were the min- isters who effected the organization, and Mr. Payne became the first pas- tor. A building was erected during the summer of 1876.
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church is located in Parsons, and is also cont- posed of colored members. It was organized May 27, 1886, Rev. G. W. Parks, of Oswego, acting as moderator, and J. W. Brown secretary. W. A. Walton was its first pastor.
Richland .- A Baptist church was organized in the Richland school- house, in District No. 94, in May, 1877. Rev. F. L. Walker preached the organization sermon, and Rev. J. L. D. Williams gave the charge to the church. Mr. Williams was the first pastor, and served one year. Following him the church has been served by George Goodwin, Mr. Merry, C. A. Daniels, J. S. Johnson, and W. G. Slinker .- In 1885 a new church building was erected on the northwest quarter of section 26 in Canada township. The first service was held therein on November 1, 1885, and the house was dedicated on December 6, 1885, by Rev. E. Estes, of Altamont.
Edna .- On Feb. 2, 1872, Rev. F. L. Walker, of Oswego. assisted in organizing what was then called the Mount Zion Baptist Church. Ser- vices were held in the Lieb school-house. in District No. 85, and also in other of the school-houses in that part of the county. In the fall of 1883 work was commenced on a church building in Kingston; the following summer it was finished and dedicated. The town of Kingston having been abandoned and the business consolidated with Edna on the comple- tion of the railroad, in 1886, this church building was removed to Edna.
Labette .- Rev. G. W. Richardson commenced preaching in a log cabin on section 27, belonging to A. W. Richardson's estate, in the fall of 1867. He continued to preach at intervals in that vicinity until the church was organized. The organization of the Labette Baptist church took place on (or about ) July 25, 1870, at the residence of R. K. Jones, with the following members: Elder, G. W. Richardson; R. K. Jones, Martha Jones, Victoria Jones, and John Richardson. It was not until 1877 that
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a house was erected by the church. Before that, meetings were held in various places, but principally in the hall or school-house. Quite a por- tion of the time the church has been without a pastor. The following is a list of those who have served as pastors : G. W. Richardson till 1879, J. W. Sage two years, C. T. Floyd six months, F. M. Bowman sixteen months, C. J. Bowles one year. E. Estes one year, J. T. Crawford two months in his vacation, J. W. Jones one year, W. T. Jackson since Feb- ruary, 1892.
Chetopa .- Of the work of the Baptists before the war, Dr. Lisle says : "The Baptists had preaching at our school-house occasionally, but had no organized church in the neighborhood ; there were several respectable members of that church here." The first service of the Baptist denomi- nation in Chetopa after the war of which I have learned was a sermon by Rev. C. A. Bateman, on April 18, 1869; a preliminary meeting of those desirous of organizing having been held on April 10, 1869. The First Baptist church of Chetopa was organized on April 24, 1869, by W. A. Clarke, who was Sunday-school missionary of the Baptist Publication Society, and C. A. Bateman, the latter of whom at once became its pas- tor, in which capacity he served the church till after the dedication of its building. To his enthusiasm was largely due the rapidity with which their building was pushed forward. On February 9, 1870, they con- menced work, and on August 14, 1870, their house was dedicated, the sermon being preached by Rev. F. M. Ellis, of Lawrence. In Novem- ber, 1870, Rev. A. L. Rigby accepted a call to the pastorate of the church, and remained two years, during which time the chairs with which the church was first seated were removed and good pews put in their place. the grounds were fenced, and other improvements made. From the close of 1872 on for several years the church was without any regular pastor, and consequently suffered very materially in its strength. Mr. Walker, of Oswego, gave them some help; in 1874 Rev. W. W. Kane, of Tennes- see, preached for them a few months, and other ministers occasionally gave them some service. In July, 1879, Rev. C. T. Floyd became pas- tor, and remained in charge till 1882. In January, 1883, Rev. William Wilbur accepted the pastoral call tendered him, and continued as such till September, 1885. In 1887 the church called Elder - Knapp, who served them one year. Rev. D. W. Harvey became pastor in 1888, and remained two years; Elder White followed him, and is still pastor.
The Second Baptist Church of Chetopa is composed of colored mem- bers. It was organized in 1882. and has a building free from debt. It has had the following pastors : Jerry Houston, P. Botts, C. T. Tillman, A. W. Green, R. Cartwright, J. R. White, - Steward, J. A. D. Jen- kins, M. C. Cox, S. S. Alexander.
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
German Baptists .- An organization of German Baptists, or Dunkards, was formed in the latter part of 1878, at the Lockard school-house, in District No. 28, with a membership of about 125. Meetings since that time have been held in various school-houses. Altamont has been rather headquarters for the brethren. Among those who have ministered to this people have been J. W. Eikenbury, Samuel Renger, Nicholas Trapp, J. B. Lear, Simon Long, C. H. Keingley. Sidney Hodgden and Samuel Edgcomb have been elders. In November, 1881, Elders Sidney Hodgden and Martin Nehr formed an organization in the school-house in District No. 21, in Neosho township. In the fall of 1882 some twenty members from this organization withdrew and formed a new organization called the
Brethren. They organized at Pleasant Valley school-house, in District No. 48, where they have since been ministered to by Rev. A. J. Hixon.
The Predestination Baptist Church .- An organization of this denomi- nation was formed at the Hawkins school-house, in District 92, about 1875, by Noah Showalters, who became its pastor, and continued as such for several years. T. B. Lee and Isaac McCarty have also been pastors of this church
PRESBYTERIAN.
In 1872 Rev. J. W. Alexander organized a Cumberland Presbyterian church in Harmony Grove school-house, in District No. 30, to which he preached for some time, but after a few years it was allowed to lapse.
Chetopa .- Rev. J. A. Adair was the first United Presbyterian minister to preach in the county. He visited Chetopa and vicinity, and preached several times in the spring and summer of 1868. On May 4, 1869, the United Presbyterian congregation was organized, with a membership of 10, Rev. E. C. Cooper preaching, and presiding at the organization. Cranston Taylor, J. A. Endsley and Edwin Johnson were elected elders, and were ordained on May 10, 1869. Mr. Cooper supplied the church for some months, and on September 12th held the first communion ser- vice. On March 28, 1870, a church meeting was held, and a constitution and by-laws adopted. William Liggett, Robert Phillips, John Haughey, Edwin Johnson and T. J. Calvin were elected trustees. On July 18, 1870, a congregational meeting was held, and action taken looking toward the building of a church ; and on Sept. 24, 1870, at another congrega- tional meeting, it was resolved to erect a brick building, 36x40 feet. A building committee was appointed, and the work commenced at once. The building was completed in the spring of 1871, and on October 29, 1871, it was dedicated, Rev. J. A. Heron preaching the dedicatory ser- mon. Before the building was completed the south wall was blown down, which added to the cost and extended the time required for com- pleting the building. The lots for the church and parsonage were donated
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by the town company ; $1,500 was furnished by the Church Extension Society. The church cost about $5.000. - Previous to securing a regular pastor, Rev. J. C. McKnight did considerable preaching for the church. On January 4, 1871, a call was extended to Rev. W. A. Findley to be- come pastor, which he accepted, and continued to serve in that capacity till the close of 1872. Some two or three calls for a pastor were extended and declined. Finally, on Dec. 22, 1875, a call was made to Rev. J. D. Graham, which was accepted, and he faithfully served the church during the next ten years, demitting his charge January 19, 1886. Rev. J. A. Thompson was the next pastor called, and he was installed April 27, 1886. Rev. J. A. Thompson was the next pastor called, and he was in- stalled April 27, 1887, but was released on July 14th following, to accept the presidency of a college. Rev. J. P. Gibson, having accepted a call, entered upon his pastoral duties in December, 1887, and closed them in October, 1889. During his pastorate, in 1888, a parsonage was erected, at a cost of about $1,300. In 1890 Rev. L. W. Williams became pastor, which relation he still holds. The membership of the church is 120; the total membership since its organization being 274.
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 in- terested in, if not members of, the church which was formed at Dayton- ville, on Willow Branch. In March, 1870, Mr. Monfort commenced preaching at the residence of Mr. Martin, west of Labette creek, and continued 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 Cubbi- son, Alexander Cubbison, Rachel Cubbison, Martha Lewis, James Morn- ing, Caroline Morning. members received by letter, and Sarah Ellen Hartin, John Henry Hartin, Nancy Shelady, and Louisa Cubbison, re- ceived an examination as members. George Cubbison was chosen chair- man, G. W. White and Alexander Cubbison were elected ruling elders. and George Cubbison 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
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
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 II. W. Stratton, of Oswego, who had been appointed a committee by the presbytery, 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 meet- ing 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. Fol- lowing him, S. W. LaGrange and W. Price filled the pulpit. For several years past the church has been without a pastor. Occasionally the min- ister 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.
Oswego .- Rev. Cornelius V. Monfort was the first Presbyterian minis- ter to locate in this county. He came to Oswego in March, 1868, and on April 26 preached the first Presbyterian sermon in the place. On June 30 a meeting was held at his house, at which eight were present, to con- sider the organization of a church, and on Sunday, July 25, 1868, an or- ganization was effected, with the following eleven 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 Hutchin- son, Mary Gaston. Alexander Cubbison and wife Rachel Cubbison, and Francis Swanwick. F. Swanwick, 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 occur- rence, and the party who did it has evidently made a mistake and writ- ten 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; eleven members present : Dr. Gilkey and Mr. Cubbison elected elders." On Jan. 31, 1869, Rev. C. H. McCreery was present, and with Mr. Monfort held the first communion service. In August Mr. Monfort began taking subscriptions for a church. In July, 1870, I. C. McGinnis
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and Alexander Mackie were made elders and T. N. Sickles and D. Mc- Arthur deacons. Mr. Monfort resigned, and preached his farewell ser- mon on October 9, 1870. Rev. S. N. D. Martin supplied the pulpit the next year, preaching his first sermon June 4, 1871 ; and he was succeeded during the spring or sumnter of 1872 by Rev. N. A. Rankin. Rev. H. W. Stratton filled the pulpit from April, 1873, to January, 1875. Dur- ing 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 some- what shattered, but still not seriously damaged. A. F. Hale, A. Bixby (a Congregationalist), A. A. Trimper (a Lutheran), J. G. Venable, Wil- liam Coleman, John Elliott, A. C. Junkin, A. G. Evans, and J. N. Mc- Clung, have been its pastors since Mr. Stratton left.
Y. P. S. C. E .- 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 follow- ing 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 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 MeClung.
Edna .- Originally this church was organized 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. S of that year, assisted 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. In the fall of 1878 preparations were made for a church building at the town of Kingston, which was erected the following spring, and on June 8, 1879, was dedicated by Rev. Timothy Hill. In one week thereafter a cyclone partly removed the church from its foundation. In 1884 the pres- bytery 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 commenced preaching at the resi- dence of D. C. Constant, in Hackberry township, as early as 1870, and on June 9, 1871, at that place, assisted by Elam S. Hitchcock and Samuel Cellars, organized the Hackberry Presbyterian church, with the follow- ing members : Nancy A. Dougham, Margaret S. Blyner, James Emory,
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
Mary Emory, Jennie Fellows, Michael Noel, Mary Noel, David C. Con- stant, Antoinette C. Constant, Josiah Raybourn, Lucretia 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. Stratton. 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 Rey. C. H. McCreery. James Paxton and Martin Reamer were elected ruling elders. The following year the name was changed to Altamont. A church building was erected in Altamont in 1880, Rev. S. W. Griffin preaching the first sermon therein on May 16th. It has had these pastors : S. W. Griffin, J. N. Young, J. D. Todd, S. W. LeGrange. For some years the church has had no pastor, and only supplied irregularly.
Lake Creek .- Eighteen members of the church at Chetopa took letters and united in forming the Lake Creek Presbyterian church, which was organized Jan. 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 dedi- cated in April, by W. S. H. Keyes. Mr. McCreery had preached at the Baty school-house, in District No. 60, for several years before the organ- ization of the church. After its organization Rev. J. M. Crawford be- came pastor, 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. S. Griffes supplied the church a part of the time during 1891. Rev. J. M. Crawford came March 1, 1892, and is now pastor. Its elders are Samuel Cellars, William Buckley, J. L. Goldsmith, and Thomas E. Baty.
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 has preached there every two weeks since March 1, 1892. As yet the Presbyterians have effected no organization at this point.
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 installed as ruling elders. The first trustees were W. Doudna, S. H. Carr, Samuel Cellars, C. P. Spaulding, and C. P. Smith. For the first two years the
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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 therefrom. Generous subscriptions were also made by the citizens, and in the fall of 1869 preparations were made for erect- ing a building, and the work was commenced. On Dec. 1 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 his- tory 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. Before 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. Since then J. L. Griffes has been pastor .- For some time past there has been a Y. P. S. C. E., in which the young people have been at work.
Bethel .- S. W. Griffin and W. B. Truax, being directed by the presby- tery so to do, organized a Presbyterian church in the school-house in Dis- trict 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. W. Griffin acted as pastor till June, 1885, when he was succeeded by A. S. Sharpless.
Mound Valley .- In November, 1879, Rev. C. H. McCreery and S. W. Griffin organized a Presbyterian church at Mound Valley, with 10 mem- bers. Wm. D. Allen and Wm. Culp were elected ruling elders. S. W. Griffin and J. N. Young preached for them. The members 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 em- ployed 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 relations with the Presbyterian church, and at his solicitation a meeting was held at the Methodist church, on March 30, 1884, at which some eight or ten were present ; J. C. McEwen presided 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
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in four weeks, and on April 27, 1884, Rev. J. D. Todd preached a ser- mon ; 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, HIenry Allen, Mrs. Jane Allen, Josie Allen, Mary B. Allen, Robert A. Foresman, Mrs. Jane Forseman, Mrs. Henrietta 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 proceed with the organization of a church by the elec- tion 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 dea- cons. On May 25, 1884, the church was duly organized, by Rev. S. W. Griffin, of Cherryvale; C. H. McCreery. of Chetopa ; and J. D. Todd, of Independence, who were sent there as a committee of the Neosho pres- bytery. Mr. Griffin preached the sermon, after which the elders and deacons were ordained. Arrangements were made for holding services in the Baptist church, and Rev. J. D. Todd was employed 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 re- moved 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 Tth by Rev. A. S. Sharpless, who stayed till July, 1886. The pulpit remained vacant till October of that year, when Rev. J. M. Crawford was employed to preach every two weeks in connection with his work at Edna. This continued till March, 1888, when Mr. Todd again took charge, and continued till Oct. 1 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 re- inained till September, 1891. October 15, 1891, Rev. James H. Clark took took charge and is still ministering to them. On June 10, 1885, the church was incorporated. In 1890 it finished paying for its building and stood clear of debt. From its organization up to the fall of 1891 the church had had 86 different communicants, of whom 44 still remained.
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