USA > Missouri > A History of Northeast Missouri, Volume I > Part 14
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DR. WILLIAM JEWELL
STEPHENS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA
The Rev. G. W. Hatcher has kindly furnished the following account of this institution :
In 1869 the General Association of Missouri Baptists met in Colum- bia. In that meeting a committee "On State Female College" was ap- pointed to report one year hence. In 1870 that body met in St. Louis with the Second Baptist church and the committee, composed of E. S. Dulin, S. C. Major, R. H. Smith and W. R. Rothwell, reported favoring the establishment of a Baptist college for women.
This report was adopted and steps were taken then and there to locate the school. Three points of location were made : Columbia, Lexing- ton and Jennings Station. The vote resulted in the choice of Columbia. There was in Columbia at that time what was known as "Baptist Female College at Columbia." The trustees of this college offered to transfer to a board of curators, to be held in trust for the general association, all
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the property of this college, with all its rights and possessions. The offer was accepted and the "Baptist Female College at Columbia" then and there was made by the General Association of Missouri Baptists the Baptist State Female College.
Upon the location of the State Female College at Columbia, Hon. James L. Stephens donated to its endowment the sum of $20,000, the largest sum that had ever been given by one person, up to that time, to the cause of Christian education west of the Mississippi river. On account of this magnificent gift the charter of the institution was so amended that the name was changed to Stephens Female College, which name it still bears and ever will bear.
One of its largest donors, aside from Hon. James L. Stephens, was R. E. Sappington, who during his life gave to it $10,500 and made pro- vision in his will whereby some $5,000 or $6,000 more will be realized. Many more, who might be mentioned, believing that the Baptists of Mis- souri would "make good" and make Stephens College all that they pledged to do for it, have invested money, prayers and tears in it. With a plant easily worth $250,000, equipped with dormitories for 120 girls, with the best gymnasium in the West, with a musical conservatory un- equalled in Missouri, with a location that cannot be surpassed, right in the heart of the educational center of the state, Stephens College will take its place among the strongest female colleges in the West.
LAGRANGE COLLEGE, LAGRANGE
The Wyaconda Baptist Association, in 1856, voted to establish within its bounds a male and female seminary of the highest order. March 12, 1859, the state legislature granted a charter to the institution as the "LaGrange Male and Female College." The school was well patronized and in a flourishing condition when its doors were closed on account of the Civil war. At the close of the war people of all parts rallied to the support of the college and the Rev. J. F. Cook, of Kentucky, was called to the presidency. After thirty years of efficient service, President Cook resigned in 1896, and was succeeded by Dr. Jere T. Muir, an honored alumnus of the college, whose superior ability as an educator was evinced by many improvements in the course of instruction during his administration. Dr. Muir resigned in 1905 and was succeeded in the presidency by Dr. John W. Crouch, also an alumnus of the college. During his administration the work of the academy was made complete, the scope of the college work broadened, the endowment was materially increased, and the equipment of the building greatly improved. He resigned in the spring of 1910 and was succeeded by Acting President Charles A. Deppe, of the science department, and upon his resignation from the college in February, 1911, he was succeeded by Prof. C. F. Marks, principal of the academy. In June, 1911, the Rev. Ransom Harvey, D. D., who had been connected with the school seven years as professor of theology and philosophy, was elected president. In the summer of 1911 an endowment campaign was inaugurated and, under the wise and successful leadership of the Rev. J. D. Scott, $50,000 has been secured. A portion of this amount has been designated by the donors for the building of a dormitory for girls.
HARDIN COLLEGE, MEXICO
The formal organization of Hardin College occurred in Mexico June 10, 1873. The board of directors consisted of Lewis Hord, Charles H. Hardin, James Callaway, E. J. Gibbs, Samuel A. Craddock, J. M.
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Gordon, T. B. Hitt, James Carroll, William Harper, Thomas Smith, William H. Woodward, J. D. Murphy and Joel Guthrie. Governor Har- din's gifts to the institution amounted to $70,000. Citizens of Mexico and its vicinity gave the grounds and buildings. The first of September was set for opening the school. The articles of association provide that the endowment "shall be kept at interest or invested in stocks as con- tinuously as possible; and on the third Tuesday in June in every year forty per cent of the gross earnings of rents arising from any real estate herein conveyed and also of the interest, profit and other proceeds aris- ing from any part of the endowment fund being at interest or invested in stocks shall be added to and become a part and parcel of the perman- ent endowment fund of said college until such endowment fund shall amount to one-half million dollars."
Prof. A. W. Terrill, Mrs. H. T. Baird and Prof. A. K. Yancey filled the presidency of the college, each of whom has passed beyond earth-life. Dr. J. W. Million is now president and under his administration the institution has grown in capacity, range and standard of work and in favor with the people.
MT. PLEASANT COLLEGE, HUNTSVILLE
The best service that I can do in this case is to quote from Elder S. Y. Pitts' history, "The Mt. Pleasant Association." He says :
"In 1853 the citizens of Randolph county, impressed with the need . of an institution of learning and wishing to secure to themselves its benefits, determined to erect suitable buildings at a cost of not less than $10,000. Acting on the advice of Hon. William A. Hall to put the insti- tution under the care and patronage of Mt. Pleasant Association, a letter stating the above proposal signed by William A. Hall, H. Austin and P. P. Roby, in behalf of the citizens and accepted by the Association and the institution took the name of the association. Under this arrange- ment the money was secured and the buildings erected. In 1872 Macon Association agreed by resolution to co-operate with Mt. Pleasant Asso- ciation in building up Mt. Pleasant College. Mt. Pleasant College dur- ing her twenty-six years of existence had been presided over by Rev. William Thompson, LL. D., one year; Rev. W. R. Rothwell, D.D., twelve years; Rev. J. W. Terrill, seven years; Rev. M. J. Breaker, three years; A. S. Worrell, D. D., two years; Rev. J. B. Weber, one year. The college was burned to ashes July 15, 1882, and on August 16 following, the courthouse in Huntsville shared the same fate."
BETHEL COLLEGE, PALMYRA
This institution had a brief but useful career. In 1853 Elder John T. Williams taught a graded school, male and female. In response to a proposition submitted by Elder Nathan Ayres, chairman of the board of trustees, the Baptist Male and Female Seminary at Palmyra was adopted in 1855 and made the school of the Bethel Association. Elder Williams continued for a while at the head of the school. Prof. H. Ellis, Elder R. M. Rhodes and Dr. S. A. Taft and others labored efficiently for the public and denominational good. About a score of years was the period of Bethel's career.
MCCUNE COLLEGE, LOUISIANA
In 1857 Elder John T. Williams established a seminary in Louisiana. In 1869 it was incorporated. The first board consisted of N. McDannold, S. B. Ayres, William Major, Addison Tinsley, A. M. Tinsley, M. M.
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Modisett, Hugh Allen. Elder J. D. Biggs followed Dr. Williams in the presidency and Prof. W. B. McPike was the associate professor and suc- ceeded him as head of the institution. In 1881 the school was reorgan- ized as McCune College, named for A. J. McCune, who had been active in the affairs of the institution. Dr. H. T. Morton, Professor Beeson, Prof. T. J. Musgrove, Prof. E. W. Dow and Prof. Greenwell followed in the order mentioned. It had a career of thirty-eight years.
BAPTIST PERIODICALS
The Missouri Baptist Journal was started at Palmyra, January 8, 1866, Elders J. H. Luther and R. M. Rhodes, editors and proprietors. In 1868 it was moved to St. Louis and consolidated with The Record and took the name of The Central Baptist.
The Baptist Battle Flag, a weekly, was started by Elder D. B. Ray at LaGrange, June 1, 1875. The Flag and the Baptist Herald of Leb- anon, Missouri, were consolidated in June, 1877, retaining the name the Baptist Battle Flag, and issued from St. Louis. The paper had enthusiastic supporters and a varied career.
EMINENT BAPTISTS
Among the many distinguished Baptists, ministers and laymen, of Northeast Missouri, may be mentioned: the Rev. David Doyle, Eli E. Bass, the Rev. James Smith, Professor Joseph Flood, Col. John Ralls, David H. Hickman, Dr. J. T. Muir, William N. Biggs, E. W. Stephens, the Rev. S. Y. Pitts, the Rev. James M. Lillard, the Rev. Dr. W. Pope Yeaman, Governor Charles H. Hardin, Elder Noah Flood, Elder William Hurley, Elder Jeremiah Vardeman, the Rev. Dr. J. C. Maple, the Rev. - Dr. R. S. Duncan, Braxton Pollard, and the Rev. Dr. W. H. Burnham.
RIVERSIDE SCRIPTURE INSTITUTE
After three years of unorganized teaching, the Riverside Scripture Institute was organized at Ramsey Creek church, Pike county, August 30, 1894. Elder James Reid was made president. Elder William Calla- way, secretary. The institute seeks to preserve and cultivate the student habit, to bring the best results to busy men and women who can spare only short intervals of time from active work to qualify themselves for increased efficiency. The officers of 1912 are: Dr. J. T. Muir, president; R. E. McGuire, secretary; Abe C. Jones, chairman of the executive committee.
In closing, I beg to say that men as worthy and deeds as noble as those mentioned must be omitted because of the limitations of time and space.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH By the Rev. J. T. Tuohy, LL. D., S.T.D., Jonesburg
The advent of the Catholic church to Missouri dates long before the settlement of the Louisiana territory. The first French missionaries had reached the pioneer settlements as early as 1764. In fact Father Mar- quette, the Jesuit missionary, had sailed down the Mississippi and passed the present site of St. Louis a century before. When Laclede had estab- lished his settlement in St. Louis, two priests came with him. The first Catholic church was built in 1770. The church was organized into a dio- cese by the decree of Rome in 1827 and the first cathedral built in 1834, just thirteen years after the state was admitted into the Union.
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From St. Louis as a center the Catholic church soon began to spread to various points, especially to points in what is now Northeast Mis- souri. St. Charles county is the pioneer county of this section in this respect. As early as 1792 the French missionary had reached that point.
The first church edifice, a neat, substantial stone structure, was built and dedicated at St. Charles by the Venerable Bishop Joseph Rosati, the first bishop of St. Louis, in 1829. The Jesuit Fathers had come there the year previous. It was the writer's privilege to have made his first communion and to have worshipped in this first church.
Between the years 1822 and 1826 the same fathers had established parishes and built churches at Portage des Sioux and Dardenne. The Sisters of the Sacred Heart from France had also established a school at St. Charles, but were obliged to discontinue it for want of support in 1819. When the first church was opened the Venerable Mother Sophie Barat re-established her community and soon a large convent was built adjoining the stone church. This convent is still extant. At this time the parish was very poor, however, numbering 107 struggling French settlers. Nevertheless, from St. Charles as a center the Catholic church soon spread all along both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and to various interior points of the western section of Northeast Missouri.
The late Most Rev. Peter Richard Kenrick succeeded Bishop Rosati as Bishop of St. Louis, Dec. 1, 1841. Organization was effected by Bishop Kenrick's coming to St. Louis and from that time one may take up each of the counties of Northeast Missouri in historical order as the Catholic church was established within their borders.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY
In addition to the already mentioned parishes established in this county, Dardenne had its resident priest in 1859 and a year later the parish of Wellsburg and Dog Prairie was established under the direc- tion of the famous pioneer missionary, Father Edward Hamill, later the founder of the rich Irish settlement in Saline county, now called Shackel- ford. St. Peter's was established soon after and under the pastorate of the well remembered Father Stautinger the present Gothic structure was dedicated. O'Fallon was the next to build a permanent structure. Under the distinguished Father Brockhagen, editor and physician, as pastor for nearly a third of a century, O'Fallon has flourished.
Father Jasper, a specialist in scientific agriculture and political economy, has succeeded the late Father Brockhagen. A fine new church is now the program of the parish. Shortly after 1870, the nuns of the Order of the Most Precious Blood came to O'Fallon, having been ex- pelled from Prussia under the Bismarck Falk Laws, since repealed, and established a large convent. This has since become the Order's No- vitiate, Normal Institute and Mother-house for the numerous Sisters who teach in many parish schools of St. Louis and the state. At St. Paul's a large and still growing congregation has been established since Father Hamill's day and is now in charge of Father E. J. Kern. Flint- hill has a flourishing congregation under Father Aug. J. Von Brunn. Josephsville and Wentzville also have good congregations under Fathers A. Becker and J. H. Krechther, respectively.
WARREN COUNTY
As early as 1852 Marthasville in this county was regularly visited from Washington where the Franciscan Fathers are now, but the Jesuit Fathers then were established just south across the Missouri river. Dut- Vol. 1-7
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zow was about the next place to have a church in 1868. Later Peers has been established. Father John J. Head, well known missionary of Northeast Missouri, built many churches in adjoining counties, and in 1882 built the commodious brick church at Truesdale. Father Head was enabled to effect this fine work by the legacy left for the purpose by Mrs. Ann Gallery, an old settler of Warren county. The Rev. J. T. Tuohy, LL.D., is at present in charge of this mission.
MONROE COUNTY
By the year 1852 large settlements of Kentucky immigrants had been established in this county. For their accommodation a parish was or- ganized and a church built and dedicated at Indian creek or "Swenky," as it was familiarly termed. The late Rev. Joseph Tolton, the first Cath- olic colored priest in the United States, was a native of this parish. The present fine new church structure was built by the Rev. John Lyons now of St. Pius parish, St. Louis.
About fifteen years ago many of the parishioners, retiring from the farms, moved into the new town just then established, Monroe City, which has since become the chief town of the county, as well as its Catho- lic center. Today Monroe City has a fine new church. The well known Father John Ryan is now in charge.
RALLS COUNTY
This county as early as 1852 had become the home of many settlers who had emigrated from Kentucky. A parish was organized and a church built for them at St. Paul's. Father Andrew McBride was the pioneer pastor. New London, however, has since become the chief Cath- olic center of the county. Father E. A. Casey, now of St. Louis, did some work here a few years ago. The new church was dedicated re- cently under the pastorate of the Rev. Daniel Donovan.
CLARK COUNTY
It was in 1852 at North Santa Fe, as it then was called, that the first Catholic congregation was organized in this county. It was under the pioneer missionary, Father Dennis Byrne. By 1859 St. Mary's, now known as St. Patrick's, had been established. Father Eugene Coyle, for the past twenty years rector of the old Cathedral in St. Louis, served ten years as pastor at St. Patrick's. The parish is now in charge of Father Daniel Donovan, recently of Ralls county. Kahoka has also grown to be a flourishing congregation.
KNOX COUNTY
The year 1852 marks the announcement to the outer world of Edina, the county seat, as a Catholic parish. The Rev. D. S. Phelan, the vet- eran editor of the Western Watchman, now of St. Louis, was its pastor forty-five years ago, and founded and edited the Missouri Watchman from there. The pastorate, however, of the later Father John Fitz- gerald, who was assisted by his brother, marks the red letter days of the parish. Then was built and financed the large stone edifice and also the Sisters of Loretto from Kentucky came to the parish and estab- lished their large convent. Father Fitzgerald died about 1899 towards his seventieth year. He was succeeded by Father Christopher Byrne, now of the Church Progress staff, St. Louis. Under Father Byrne the
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former school was taken down and the new and larger one built. The present permanent rector is the Rev. Richard Healy, formerly of Macon City and St. Louis.
Baring, on the Santa Fe Railroad, has developed into an important parish within the past ten years. Under charge of the enterprising pastor, the Rev. James J. O'Reilly, first class church improvements have been made.
SCOTLAND COUNTY
As early as 1852 the congregation of Mudd Settlement was on the diocesan roll as a mission regularly attended by the priests of the diocese. The Settlement is today flourishing as of yore and is attended from Kanoka.
Memphis, the county seat, has more recently been placed on the roll of places attended by priests.
LINCOLN COUNTY
Milwood had become a well known Catholic center by the year 1852. The pastorate of the late Father J. Clarey was the longest, as he died past his eightieth year. A new church has been built under the present administrator, the Rev. P. F. Quigley. A parish school had been estab- lished just previous to the latter's coming by the late Rev. Stephen Car- roll. It is under the charge of the Sisters of St. Dominic from the Mon- astery of Hunt's Point, New York. Father Quigley, present adminis- trator, has been assigned Father Carr to aid him in his declining years.
Troy, the county seat, has come up within the last fifteen years. Under the present rector, the accomplished litterateur and musician, the Rev. L. A. Schlathoelter, fine improvements have been created. We say it advisedly "created," not made, because it is difficult to see how so few with but ordinary conditions can do so much and so handsomely. Old Monroe, with its parish school has a flourishing organization. Els- berry has seen the beginning of work and is regularly attended from Louisiana. Mashek is a settlement of Catholic Bohemians regularly at- tended from Troy.
MARION COUNTY
Not before 1859 had a Catholic congregation been established in the county at Hannibal. The advent of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, and the location of its shops at this point soon brought the element that makes for a Catholic parish. Almost coincidently with this influx of settlers the Parish of the Immaculate Conception, B. V. M., was formed. The Rev. P. J. Cronin, afterwards the distinguished editor of The Cath- olic Union and Times, Buffalo, New York, was for a few years in the late '60s in charge. Shortly after came the pioneer missionary, the late Rev. Dennis Kennedy, whose pastorate was redolent of good work which yet continues and which covered about twenty-five years. The large con- vent and parish school of the Sisters of St. Joseph from Carondelet, St. Louis, was also established during this pastorate. Father Kennedy died full of works and days in the early '90s. He was succeeded by the scholarly, accomplished musician and pulpit orator, the Rev. M. J. Mclaughlin, who lived all too short a period of years, dying in 1903. The Rev. Daniel Sullivan, formerly rector at Monroe City, succeeded to the Hannibal parish, which is now a parish of over twelve hundred people.
Palmyra, in this county, has also become a Catholic settlement and is regularly attended by a priest and has its parish school.
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LEWIS COUNTY
By 1859 the Catholic church organization had become known to its communicants in Lewis county. These had settled near LaGrange and they were occasionally attended by priests from St. Mary's, Clark county. But not before ten years later, or 1869, had they the regular services of a pastor.
Canton has, however, meanwhile grown to be the chief Catholic cen- ter of the county.
PIKE COUNTY
The organization of a Catholic congregation in this county dates from 1859, when the first was established at Louisiana. It was not until the pastorate of the devoted if rather strenuous Father P. J. Gleason that anything in the way of solid, substantial, lasting improvement was made. Father Gleason built the present brick church. The Chicago & Alton Railroad had its terminus at Louisiana and then began extending fur- ther westward. During this time Father Gleason, availing himself of the increase in the parish and proverbial generosity of railroaders, made his improvements. He afterwards was promoted to St. Louis, where he founded the present Holy Name Parish. Father Daniel Gleason is the present rector.
There is also another congregation, established now for some years, in the vicinity of Bowling Green, the county seat, St. Clements. There is a parish school in connection with the parish. Also the mission of New Hartford in this county is attended from St. Clements.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
From an early date the Jesuit Fathers from St. Charles visited and held services at various points in the county. Father P. M. O'Neill seems to have been the first priest who was located in Montgomery City, where he built a church and rectory.
Father Michael J. McCabe, now of St. Michael's, St. Louis, followed soon after Father O'Neill and was pastor at Montgomery City about forty-five years ago. Father John J. Head, now of Annunciation parish, St. Louis, followed shortly after Father McCabe, Father J. Daly coming in between for but a short period. Father Head's pastorate, which lasted more than ten years, has ever since justly merited him the cognomen of the "Apostle of Northeast Missouri." He built the fine new church at Montgomery City, and, like another St. Kevin as pastor of the "seven churches," his record was a church a year for as many years in the places he attended. The churches of Wellsville and Jonesburg-im- proved and enlarged, Truesdale, Wentzville, were all built during his time. At Jonesburg he received from the late Bernard Pratt, a former mayor of St. Louis (1859), a farm of 229 acres, for the support of the priest or the building of a new church in their option, and which the parish still possesses. In turn at the different missions Father Head conducted daily services, and on Sunday double services, going by hand- car from station to station. On the week days at each place mass was said, the attendants, appointments and paraphernalia of each of them, said a competent eye-witness, would make one feel that he was in some convent chapel rather than a mission country church. Father Head, hale and light-hearted, yet lives, capable of much service. All of the places formerly attended from Montgomery City have become separate congregations with their own pastors. In the county there are two of
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these, one at Jonesburg, the Rev. J. T. Tuohy, LL. D., pastor, the other Wellsville, the Rev. D. J. Hurly, pastor.
Starkenburg, near Rhineland station of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, has become a most interesting Catholic center. It is the loca- tion of the celebrated shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of "Mother of Sorrows." There is a fine stone church edifice here, large parish schools and the new grand shrine. Every year thousands are attracted thither, many coming from as far as St. Louis. A paper Die Pilger, in the interests of the Shrine, is published by the pastor, the Rev. George W. Hoehn, the present rector and founder of this interesting work.
HOWARD COUNTY
While scattered settlements had been occasionally visited by priests in this county it was not until 1867 that we find that Glasgow was an- nounced as the first parish. The permanent church structure and parish school were established by the late Father Joseph Pauk, founder of St. Engelbert's Parish, St. Louis. Father John H. Waeltermann has been pastor for the past ten years. At present he is engaged in building a fine $50,000 church, soon to be dedicated.
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