USA > Missouri > Annals of Methodism in Missouri : containing an outline of the ministerial life of more than one thousand preachers, and sketches of more than three hundred ; also sketches of charges, churches and laymen from the beginning in 1806 to the centennial year, 1884, containing seventy-eight years of history > Part 11
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Brother Joplin died away from home and among strangers. In the delirium of his last hours he preached and exhorted, believing he was in the midst of a revival.
Servant of God, well done! Rest from thy loved employ ; The battle fought, the victory won, Enter thy Master's joy.
EDMOND W. SEHON was a native Virginian. He joined the Pittsburg Conference, which embraced his home, in IS2S. In 1831 he was transferred to Ohio ; 1833 to Missouri and sta- tioned in St. Louis ; 1834, back to Ohio. In 1844 he became a member of the Kentucky Conference by adhering south. In IS47 he was transfered to the Louisville Conference. In 1850 he was elected secretary of the missionary society of the M.E. Church, South, which office he filled eighteen years. He died June 7, 1876, having been an effective itinerant preacher
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RICHARD S. REYNOLDS.
forty-eight years. Dr. Sehon was no ordinary man. He was born to be an orator, and such, in a superlative sense, he was. Of commanding presence. fine address and polished manners, he was a most captivating platform speaker. He was agent for the American Colonization Society, the American Bible Society and Augusta College. He was appointed to the best stations and districts in the church. I am tempted to give some personal reminiscences of this good and great man, but as he was in Missouri but one year, I forbear. He was the Genesis of Doctors of Divinity in Missouri.
1834.
RICHARD S. REYNOLDS joined the Missouri Conference in 1834 and was appointed to West Prairie ; 1835, Columbia ; 1836, Gasconade ; 1837, located.
VALENTINE P. FINK, of the class of 1833, filled the fol- lowing appointments : Spring River, Selma, New Madrid, Selma, Merrimac. He located in 183S.
The roll was increased this year by ten transfers: Les- ter Jones, Abraham Millice, J. O. Clinniger, S. G. Patter- son, and H. L. Dodds, from Ohio; J. L. Irvin, Thomas Drummond, Nelson Henry, .and G. Smith, from Pittsburg ; and A. Baird, from Tennessee.
LESTER JONES had been preaching but one year when he came to Missouri, where he wrought seven years, and located in IS41. His appointments were : Chariton, St. Louis city, Richmond circuit, Danville, Fayette and Boonville sta- tion.
ABRAHAM MILLICE was a Dutchman and a curiosity. He began his ministry in 1830, came to Missouri in IS34, located in 1850, and went to California to make money, which
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IS31.
he loved most dearly ; got in trouble, repented, came back to Missouri, was readmitted into the Kansas Mission Confer- ence in 1858, and died suddenly April S, 1859. His appoint- ments in Missouri were : Arrow Rock, Osage, New Madrid, Gallatin, Bloomington, Ozark, Linn, Boonville circuit, Mt. Vernon, Bolivar, St. Louis African charge, two years. He was a year or two among the Indians, and was local three years-from 1841 to 1844.
Mr. Millice was a man of good intellect, respectable attainments and fair preaching abilities. His business qual- ifications were superior to most preachers. He was exact, painstaking and correct in all he did. He was very eccen- tric and often caused his congregations to laugh convulsively. Then in a few minutes he would make them weep profusely.
When only a boy I heard him, while preaching at Hickory Grove, in the grove, illustrating our power to drive evil thoughts from our minds, say: "I cannot prevent the birds from flying over my head," (they were then in the trees) "but I can keep them from building nests in my hair," at the same time rubbing his bald pate with his hand, on which there was not a hair between him and the shining sun.
The eccentricities of Mr. Millice were natural and did not injure him so much as another defect in his composition. He was avaricious and penurious. Having made this state- ment, I scarcely need add : He was never married.
J. O. CLINNIGER, though admitted in Ohio, came the same year to Missouri, and served as junior preacher on St. Louis and Palmyra circuits. He discontinued in 1836.
SAMUEL G. PATTERSON began his ministry in Ohio in IS32 ; came to Missouri in 1834 and was sent to Bowling Green, two years ; 1836, Monticello ; 1837, St. Louis circuit ; 1838,
IOS
SAMUEL G. PATTERSON.
Merrimac ; 1839, located ; 1840, Sarcoxie, two years ; 1842, Okohpoh mission ; 1843, Quawpaw mission, six years ; 1849, Cherokee district, two years; IS51, Crawford Seminary ; IS52, located.
After his location Mr. Patterson settled on Spring River, Jasper county, and built a fine flouring mill, where he was one of the local preachers in IS58-9, when I was on the Carthage circuit. Of course he had to leave there dur- ing the war. He moved to Kentucky, not far from Paducah, where he still lives. Rev. W. M. Patterson, D. D., super- intendent of the Mexico missions, is his second son.
Mr. Patterson was a good preacher, and a laborious, zealous worker. He has been preaching fifty-two years.
HUGH L. DODDS was a classmate of S. G. Patterson. His appointments in Missouri were: St. Charles, Paris, Richmond, Bowling Green, Independence, Arrow Rock, two years ; Lexington, two years; superannuated, one year ; Weston station, Athens. In 1847 he was superannuated again, in which relation he was continued till 1854, when his name disappears.
I learn from Rev. M. M. Pugh that he lived in or near Independence ; that his later years were beclouded with unbelief ; that he was for a number of years out of the church, skeptical and unhappy ; that while he (Pugh) was stationed there in 1866, he reunited with the church, since which he has passed away. His widow is still living at Inde- pendence.
JOHN L. IRVIN entered the Pittsburg Conference in '31, came to Missouri in '34 and traveled Boonville circuit. The next year he was sent to the Creek Indians, which threw him into the Arkansas Conference, where he traveled several
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IS34.
years. Then his name disappears and afterwards reappears in the Pittsburg Conference, again.
THOMAS DRUMMOND Was born in Manchester, England, January 27, 1806, and came to the United States when quite young. He joined the Pittsburg Conference in 1830, came to Missouri in 1834 and was stationed in St. Louis. He preached Sunday, June 4, and died of cholera the next day, June 15, 1836, saying, "All is well. Tell my brethren of the Pittsburg Conference, I die at my post."
Taking these words as a theme, the Rev. W. Hunter, author of Select Melodies, composed and published the fol- lowing song, which was, in after years, very popular, the singing of which has inspired many a young itinerant's heart.
Away from his home and the friends of his youth, He hast'ned the herald of mercy and truth; For the love of his Lord, and to seek for the lost; Soon, alas! was his fall-but he died at his post.
The stranger's eye wept, that, in life's brightest bloom, One gifted so highly should sink to the tomb; For in ardor he led in the van of the host, And he fell like a soldier-he died at his post.
He wept not himself that his warfare was done; The battle was fought and the victory was won ; But he whispered of those whom his heart clung to most, "Tell my brethren for me that I died at my post."
He asked not a stone to be sculptur'd with verse ; He asked not that fame should his merits rehearse-
But he asked as a boon, when he gave up the ghost, That his brethren might know that he died at his post.
Victorious his fall-for he rose as he fell, With Jesus, his master, in glory to dwell; He has passed o'er the stream and has reached the bright coast; He fell like a martyr-he died at his post.
TIO
NELSON HENRY.
And can we the words of his exit forget?
Oh, no! they are fresh in our memory yet.
An example so brilliant shall never be lost,
We will fall in the work-we will die at our post.
NELSON HENRY joined the Pittsburg Conference in 1831, came to Missouri in IS34, and was sent to Cape Girardeau circuit ; 1835, Belleview; 1836, Independence ; 1837, Han- nibal, two years; 1839, Cape Girardeau ; 1840, Frederick- town ; 1841, Cape Girardeau district, four years ; 1845, his name disappears.
Mr. Henry was a northern man. His sympathies were with the northern wing of the church, and, being on the border, he adhered with that side. He was popular. Had served cir- cuits in the bounds of Cape Girardeau district four years and been its presiding elder four more. His influence enabled him to take a number of laymen with him, among whom was Judge Cook, a brother-in-law, who was at that time the presiding justice of the circuit court of that district. The classes at Cape Girardeau, Jackson, and McKendree chapel were rent in twain. The community that had nursed Missouri Meth- odism in its infancy, where the first and second annual Con- ferences ever held in the territory met, where the preachers had met in their Conferences four different times, and from which some of the ablest preachers had gone forth, became the arena of division, contention and strife. Methodism was crippled-wounded by its friends-and though forty years have come and gone the effects of the unhappy division caused by this good man are yet manifest.
GEORGE SMITH was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1801 ; joined the Methodist church (his parents were Presbyterians) in Chenango county, New York, November, 1817; joined
III
1835.
the Pittsburg Conference in 1832; was admitted into full connection, ordained deacon and transferred to Missouri in 1834. He traveled Belleview, Cape Girardeau, Farmington and Belleview circuits ; in 1838 he was stationed in St. Louis ; 1839, Potosi ; 1840, Fulton, two years ; 1842, Rich- mond and Liberty ; 1843, St. Louis, African charge ; 1844, St. Charles, two years. For subsequent appointments see appendix. He continued effective till 1871, when age and affliction compelled him to superannuate. About the middle of August, 1872, he visited Mexico, where the Conference was to meet in September, and preached twice. He was assured that he should have a home near the church during Conference. He expressed his thanks, and added : "I expect to go to the great Conference above before you meet." He went home in great pain, and died, surrounded by his affec- tionate wife and children, September 1, 1872.
Mr. Smith ranked among the strong men of the Mis- souri Conference, and was abundant in labor through a period of thirty-nine years.
After completing his three score and eleven years he "fell on sleep."
I saw him in the evening, The sun was bending low- Had overtopped the mountain And reached the vale below; He saw the golden city, Ilis everlasting home, And shouted loud, hosanna! Deliverance will come.
1835.
Fifteen names were added to the roll this year; nine were admitted on trial and six received by transfer-three from Kentucky and one each from Holston, Tennessee and Ohio.
II2
JOHN MONROE.
JOHN MONROE had been admitted the year before, and served the Kickapoo mission and school with J. C. Berry- man. This year he began his lifetime work in Missouri on the Richmond circuit ; 1836, Merrimac ; 1837, Selma ; 1838, Union ; 1839, St. Louis circuit; 1840, Shelbyville ; 1841, Monticello ; 1843, Merrimac ; 1844, Cedar Creek ; I845, Versailles ; 1846, Jefferson circuit, two years ; 1848, super- annuated. During the next twenty-five years he was most of the time a superannuated man, though he was frequently found in charge of circuits, missions and agencies.
John Monroe was born in Scotland in 1803, and came to. America in IS20. He was a graduate of Kenyon College, Ohio; was engaged in teaching when he entered the itiner- ancy at the age of thirty-one, in which he continued thirty- nine years.
Uncle Johnny, for so we all called him, was one of the purest and best of men. Although he was most homely, yet. his goodness was so transparent that children could see it, and loved him very affectionately. He enrolled their names. in classes and held special meetings for and with them. The great day only can reveal the good he did in this way. He was one of the most painstaking, precise and correct preachers in his work that I ever knew.
When our Conference met in Springfield October 1, [873, he was not with us. On the third day, when his name was called, the secretary, Brother Prottsman, read in his- peculiarly impressive way the following letter :
BIG LICK, COOPER COUNTY, MO., Sept. 22, 1873.
DEAR BRETIIREN :- I hereby inform you that I cannot be with you at the coming session of Conference. I am at the house of my son, at the above-named place, and am prostrate on my bed, totally unable to help myself, and in all probability before this reaches you
. IS35. 113
I shall have passed from this stage of action. But I am sustained in my suffering by grace, and that powerful arm that has so often been my stay is still with me. My watchword left with you all is: Keep your armor bright and be ready ; for the divine Master will call you soon to meet me at the foot of the Almighty's throne. In conclusion I will say: Contend for the faith ; work in the vineyard, and labor unceasingly for the good of the church. Brethren, now, and perhaps forever in this world, I bid you one and all a loving farewell.
On the day this letter was read to the Conference (Octo- ber 3, 1873) the chastened and sanctified spirit of the old hero of seventy years passed away.
I saw a way-worn trav'ler, In tattered garments clad, And struggling up the mountain, It seemed that he was sad; His back was laden heavy, His strength was almost gone, Yet he shouted as he journeyed : 'Deliverance will come!'
T. T. ASHBY was admitted on trial this year, and sent to North Grand river ; 1836, Lexington ; 1837, Smith's creek ; IS38, Shelbyville ; 1839, Springfield ; 1840, St. Louis circuit ; IS41, Potosi, two years ; 1843, Columbus ; 184.4, Boonville station ; 1845, Lexington station, two years ; 1847, located. In IS48, he reappears again and continued to serve on circuits, stations and districts till 1859, when he took a superannuated relation and located again in 1860.
Mr. Ashby stood deservedly at the head of the pulpit in Missouri. Caples and Marvin were his equals, and excelled him in some elements of usefulness, but in simple pulpit power he was their peer. As a speaker on the Conference floor-as a parliamentary tactician-he stood peerless in the St. Louis Conference. Had I been arraigned before
114
SAMUEL S. COLBURN.
that Conference. charged with some great crime, I would have given him all that I was worth to defend me. His con- versational powers were superior, and in the social circle he was always "master of the situation." He represented his Conference in the general Conference in 1838. Unfortunately he located, and his sun went down behind a cloud. His earthly pilgrimage was a continuous battlefield between life and death. A lifelong sufferer, he yielded to the last enemy in 1865, in Memphis, Tenn.
Although Mr. Ashby suffered so long, so much, and so continuously, yet he was never crabbed nor morose, but always vivacious and lively. He had a quick perception of the ludicrous, always had an ample supply of anecdotes at his command, and possibly indulged at times to excess in levity. But for this element in his composition, probably he could not have endured so much or labored so long. He was a younger brother of Benjamin, whom the reader has met on a previous page.
SAMUEL S. COLBURN was born in Green county, Ten- nessee, May 1, 1807, removed to Lafayette county, Missouri, in 1831, and the next year was converted and joined the Meth- odist church, and was licensed to preach in 1833.
In February, IS35, he was employed by the presiding elder, Jesse Greene, to assist J. L. Irvin on the Boonville and Arrow Rock circuits.
At the next session of the Conference he was admitted on trial and sent to Keytesville circuit ; 1836, St. Charles ; 1837, Barry : 1838, Selma ; 1839, Ste. Genevieve ; 1840, Warsaw ; IS41. Springfield : 1842, Savannah ; 1843, Warrenton ; 1844, Boonville ; 1845, Versailles. (See Appendix. )
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IS35.
He continued on circuits till IS58. when he superannu- ated. In this relation he was continued six years, after which he traveled five more, and then was placed on the superannuated list again, where he was continued until released from labor by his Lord, on the twenty-sixth day of August, 1875, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. Ile was a preacher forty-two years.
During the last decade of his life, he was so afflicted with rheumatism that he could not travel, and was forced to accept a superannuated relation to the Conference. I say forced, because he would beg the Conference to give him an appointment. when it was apparent to all, save himself, that he was not able to travel. Conferences sometimes, aye fre- quently, err in yielding to the entreaties of infirm men for work, when they ought to be peremptorily superannuated. But few aged men seem to be conscious of their infirmities, but usually their brethren know them better than they know themselves, and they ought to have courage enough to give them rest. Uncle Sammy Colburn was sound in doctrine, was an earnest preacher, an industrious worker in the Lord's vineyard, loved the church and the souls of men ; and by his faith, zeal, industry and perseverance, succeeded in bringing many souls to Christ, and building the church up in the faith of the Gospel. His work is done and he has gone home to rest.
How fitting that he should die at home, in the bosom of his family ; and at the close of summer, and just before the meeting of his Conference. He was asked: "Ilave you any message to send to your brethren at the Conference?" "Yes ; tell them to preach Jesus more. If I had my life to live over, I would leave off the side issues, and preach Jesus."
116
WILLIAM P. HULSE.
The summer sun was shining, The sweat was on his brow, His garments worn and dusty, His step seem'd very slow. But he kept pressing onward, For he was wending home; Still shouting as he journeyed : "Deliverance will come!"
Then palms of victory, Crowns of glory, Palms of victory, I shall wear.
WILLIAM P. HULSE, of this class, served as junior preacher on Independence circuit, and discontinued in 1836. He organized the class at Independence that year. He was occasionally employed as a supply, in subsequent years. But he was the child of affliction. During the last years of his life, he was scarcely ever free from pain. Rheumatism held him fast in her slavish chains. He died at his home in Johnson county, in ISS4. He was a local preacher forty-nine years.
JOHN M'EWIN cultivated the following fields: Gascon- ade, Union, Waynesville. Ste. Genevieve, Benton and Little Prairie, Fredericktown, New Madrid colored mission, two years, Rolla. He was advanced in years when he entered the itinerancy ; later in life he was thrown from his buggy, and so badly crippled that he had to go on crutches the bal- ance of his days. Hence he was much of his time on the superannuated list. He died in peace, near Versailles, August 5, 1866. Mr. M'Ewin was a good man, a fair preacher, and much loved by those whom he served.
CURTIS SMULLING traveled St. Louis and Shelbyville circuits, and discontinued 1837.
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1835.
JOHN THATCHER wrought ten years. His name disap- pears in 1845. His appointments were: Union, Keytesville, Monticello, Bowling Green, Danville, Paris, Boonville, three years, Arrow Rock, Linntown district. Mr. Thatcher adhered north, and went thither to prosecute his ministry. He was a good man and a strong preacher. I have no means of tracing him further.
J. W. DOLE, of the same class, served eight years. His name disappeared in IS.14. His appointments were : Bur- lington, Gasconade, New Madrid, Danville, Bowling Green, St. Charles, St. Louis circuit, Union, and one year among the Indians.
GEORGE B. BOWMAN served six years in Missouri and transferred to the Rock River Conference in '41. Greenville, New Madrid, Ripley, Monticello (two years), and Warren- ton were the charges which he served. The year Mr. Bow- man traveled Warrenton circuit-the first year of the circuit's existence and the last of his labors in Missouri-he received a young man into the church who had joined as a seeker of religion on probation the previous year, and who was licensed to preach during the year, who has since belted the world with a blaze of glory. I need scarcely add that that man was Enoch Mather Marvin.
THOMAS WALLACE was born in Bath county, Virginia, July 26, 1807 ; was converted and joined the church in Ken- tucky in S126, licensed to exhort in IS27, and to preach in 1828, and that year joined the Kentucky Conference. His name first appears in Missouri in IS35, on Boonslick circuit ; IS36, St. Louis station ; 1837, Independence circuit; IS3S and IS39, Boonville ; 1840, Lexington ; 1841, Fayette ; 1842, Springfield district ; 1843, Boonville district, four years ;
IIS
THOMAS WALLACE.
IS47, Independence ; 1848, located. Readmitted in IS50, and located again in 1851. Readmitted again in the Kansas Conference in 1857 and located a third time in 1866. Read- mitted the third time into the Southwest Missouri Conference in 1873, superannuated in 1879, and died April 22, ISSO.
Mr. Wallace was much above an average preacher. As a preacher he had not many equals and only a few superiors. In truth, some thought that no one excelled him in the pulpit. He was a preacher fifty-two years-an itinerant thirty-seven and local fifteen. He was successful, and turned many from darkness to light; but had he' been entirely consecrated and given all his time, like Andrew Monroe, and employed his princely intellect in preaching "Jesus and the resurrection" exclusively, he would have accomplished much more than he did. His frequent locations indicate his imperfection. Ile loved this present world. Yet this world's goods did not satisfy him. His great soul longed for things that do not perish with the using. His earthly cravings caused him to locate, but his heavenly aspirations sent him into the itinerant ranks again. At the time of his death he was the oldest traveling preacher in his Conference, and had he given his life exclusively to the ministry he would have been its acknowledged and honored leader.
He was a member of the first General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
One trait of character, though common to most of the pioneer preachers, was so prominent in him that I think it worthy of note-his care for his horse. He could "endure hardness as a good soldier" himself, but John, the pony he drove for a number of years before he died, must have the best the country afforded.
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IS35.
JOHN F. YOUNG was admitted on trial by the Kentucky . Conference in 1829 and came to Missouri in 1835. His appointments in Missouri were : Columbia, two years ; Dan- ville, two years ; Fayette and Boonville circuits. He located in 1841, was readmitted in 1857, and died in 1865. He was a sweet singer, a holy and useful man, and left to the church the odor of a good name.
GEORGE C. LIGHT entered the Western Conference in ISO5, when twenty years old (he was born February 28, 1785), and traveled two years on Clinch circuit, one on New river, and located in ISOS. His name reappears in Ken- tucky in IS21, where he labored most successfully fourteen years, and was transferred to Missouri in 1835, where he continued six years, and was transferred back to Kentucky in 1841 ; came back to Missouri in 1845, was transferred to Mississippi in 1849, and died suddenly in Vicksburg Feb- ruary 28, 1860.
His appointments in Missouri were: Palmyra circuit, Palmyra district (two years), Hannibal circuit, St. Louis station ; 1840, superannuated ; 1845 , Boonville station ; 1846, Palmyra circuit ; 1847, superannuated ; IS48, Hannibal station.
Mr. Light was a strong and instructive preacher, one of the very best in the church. He let his light shine, and wherever he went filled the leading appointments in his Con- ference. He was agent for the colonization society three years. While local, was surveyor and representative in the state legislature.
He died the day he was seventy-five years old at the house of his friend, Rev. C. K. Marshall.
120
JESSE PRIOR.
JESSE PRIOR served on Boonville and Shelbyville circuits, and transferred to the Ohio Conference in 1837. Whence he came is uncertain.
LORENZO WAUGH came from Ohio, where he was admitted on trial in IS33. His appointments in Missouri were : Farmington, North Grand river, Platte, Osceola, Spring river, Smith's creek, Roscoe, Hermann, and Mill creek. He was one year among the Indians. It is sad to add, he was expelled in 1846.
In the middle of this decade, after a brief summary, the reader may rest again.
The last five years have added forty-seven new names to the roll of Methodist preachers in Missouri, six of whom dis- continued, two were expelled, sixteen located, four with- drew ( that is, adhered North ), seven transferred, and twelve were translated from labor in Missouri to rest in heaven. Twenty-four of them commenced in Missouri, and the other twenty-three came by transfer. Six of them preached over fifty years. Stateler, Wakely, Patterson are still living, the first still traveling. All of them aggregate 343 years of itinerant labor in Missouri, and about the same number of years elsewhere.
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