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 14
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Mr. Roberson was one of the best of men, "of whom the world was not worthy," and a faithful dispenser of the word of life. He was a member of the General Conference of IS58.
DANIEL T. SHERMAN's first appointment was junior on Bowling Green circuit ; 1838, Richmond; IS39, Columbia ; IS40, located. He was re-admitted in 1845, and stationed on the Danville circuit, which he served two years. He located again in 1854. His next appearance is on the Peoria district, Illinois Conference. In IS73 he appears again in the Missouri Conference by transfer, of which he is still a member on the superannuated list, having taken that relation in ISSI.
Mr. Sherman was the spiritual adviser of E. M. Mar- vin in the formation of his religious character, and no doubt did much in shaping that noble vessel.
THOMAS W. MITCHELL was the grandson, son and brother of Methodist preachers. He was born April 15, IS16, professed religion and joined the church in his eleventh year ; licensed to exhort when sixteen, and to preach
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DAVID FISHER.
while in his twenty-first year. This was done at what is now Mitchell Camp Ground, Polk County, Mo., by the first quarterly Conference for the year. The last quarterly Con- ference. held at. Ebenezer, recommended him to the annual Conference with E. Robberson. Ile traveled New Madrid, Waynsville and Niangua circuits, and located in 1840, hav- ing that year married Miss Mary B. Robertson. He was re-admitted into the Indian Mission Conference in IS46. In 1847 we find him on the Bolivar circuit, but is transferred back to the Indian Mission Conference in IS4S, where he wrought ten years, then came back to Missouri for a season. Soon after the war he was sent back among the Indians, whom he had served so long, so faithfully, and so well, to finish the work of his life. While traveling the Creek district the summons came, when surrounded by the red men of the wild West. At Ocmulgee, March 17, 1872, he laid his armor down and exchanged the cross for the crown, "breathed his life out sweetly there," and was buried by those who loved him so well.
Asleep in Jesus! Far from thee Thy kindred and their graves may be; But thine is still a blessed sleep, From which none ever wakes to weep.
Mr. Mitchell traveled three years in the Trinity Confer- ence and was superannuated three years. He was a good, conscientious, faithful, useful man.
DAVID FISHER entered the Virginia Conference in IS27, was transferred to Missouri in 1837, where he traveled Osage, Fayette and Columbia circuits, and located in 1840. Ile was subsequently re-admitted and traveled two years more.
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MOSES B. EVANS joined the Kentucky Conference in IS33, came to Missouri in 1837, and disappears in 1845. His appointments were; Green, Greenville, Bloomfield, St. Genevieve, Charleston, Versailles, Boonville and Warsaw circuits. Mr. Evans was a useful man. Ile went with the Church, North, lived in the Walker neighborhood, Cooper county, where he died about 1852, and was buried in the Pleasant Green Cemetery.
E. R. AMES was admitted on trial by the Illinois Con- ference in 1830, was transferred to Missouri, and stationed in St. Louis in 1837, and transferred to the Indiana Confer- ence in 1838. He was subsequently elected a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal church and made an unenviable reputa- tation, near the close of the late war, by taking other people's churches.
JOHN H. FIELDING was born in Coleraine, Ireland, Feb- ruary 28, 1796; came to the United States in IS14; was licensed to preach in 1819; was married to Miss Sarah Wenshall in 1820; was made professor of mathematics in Madison College in 1826; joined the Pittsburg Conference in 1831 ; was two years professor of mathematics in Augusta College ; was transferred to Missouri in 1837, and appointed president of St. Charles College, in which field of labor he continued to toil, till released by the Master, October 14, IS44.
"Few men made such proficiency in extensive, varied, accurate scholarship, and few acquired such treasures of knowledge, both sacred and literary. The punctuality and assiduity of his labors, the ability and excellency of his instructions, the impartiality of his administrations, the judiciousness of his criticisms and counsels, the unaffected kindness of his attentions, will long make him an object of affectionate veneration to the pupils, and alumni of St. Charles ·College."
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HORACE BROWN.
Mr. Fielding impressed himeslf very deeply upon the- students of St. Charles College, and through them, though dead, "he yet speaketh." He was elected a member of the convention that organized the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, but ere the meeting thereof, he finished his- work, and, telling his wife that his prospects were "all. immortality and eternal life," went home to rest.
HORACE BROWN was born in Kennebec County, Maine, Nov. 11, 1799; was converted and joined the Methodist Church when eighteen years old; entered the Kentucky Conference in 1827; was transferred to the Missouri Con- ference in 1837, and to "the church of the first born above," Jan. 1, 1872. His first appointment in Missouri was to Paris circuit. He located in 1838 and was readmitted in I845 (see appendix).
Thenceforth he was a prominent member of the Con- ference, serving on districts, stations, circuits and missions, ever cheering on Israel's hosts to happiness and heaven. In whatever capacity he served the church he was a power for good. His doctrine and his life, coincident, exhibited lucid proof that he was honest, in an honest cause. No one. ever questioned his piety.
A short time before his death, he said: "I have set my house in order both temporally and spiritually, and am ready to go at the call of the Master." To prepare for his departure to the world of spirits had been the leading business of his life. With expectation and desire he looked for an abundant entrance into the life immortal." Ile died most triumphantly, at his home in Randolph County. He was a strong preacher, a good, great and useful man, and left the church and his family the legacy of an untarn -. ished character.
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ABRAHAM STILL entered the Tennessee Conference in ISIS; was transferred to Missouri in 1837, and disappeared in 1845. His appointments in Missouri were: Macon Mission, two years ; Goshen Mission, two years ; Water- 200 circuit, Edina circuit, Spring Creek Mission.
JOHN F. GRAY appears in Missouri in 1837, but whence he came I know not. He traveled Cape Giradeau circuit two years, and Bowling Green and Auburn one each, and located in 1841, readmitted in 1844, and located again in 1853.
1838.
JOB LAWRENCE was admitted on trial in 1838, appointed to Potosi circuit and discontinued in 1839.
JOHN D. WINTON, of the class of 1838, was appointed to White River Mission, and discontinued in 1839. He was disabled by sore eyes. For years he was blind, but so regained his sight subseqently, that by the aid of strong glasses he could read. I knew him from my childhood, and do not hesitate to say that he is one of the very best of men. Mr. Winton was the first person recommended for license to preach by Hickory Grove class, which is now the mother of sixteen preachers.
ELISHA B. HEADLEE was licensed to preach at Mitchell's meeting house, May 5, 1838, and admitted on trial that fall by the Missouri Conference, and sent to Shoal Creek Mission ; 1839, White River; 1840, Waynesville ; 1841, Versailles ; 1842, Independence ; 1843, Versailles ; 1844, Weston ; 1845, located. He was readmitted in 1846, withdrew in 1852, reap- pears again in 1854 and located in 1856. He is still living in northeast Arkansas. He has been a member of the legis- lature of that state.
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H. N. WILBER.
Mr. Headlee was favored with more than ordinary intel- lectual ability, and soon gained distinction as a preacher. He gave fourteen years to the work of the itinerant ministry, and has spent thirty-two in medicine, law and politics. I make no doubt that those fourteen years were more fruit- ful to him and to humanity than all the other years of his life. The man whom God calls to preach takes a fearful risk when he turns aside "to serve tables."
II. N. WILBER, of this class, transferred to Iowa in IS47. His appointments were: Boonville, Jr, Potosi, Jr., Bowling Green, Union, two years, Warsaw, -, Paris, New London.
JAMES L. PORTER was born in Rutherford county, Tenn., October 5, ISI0; was converted in his eighteenth year ; licensed to preach by the Lexington Quarterly Con- ference, August 12, 1837, and one year afterwards, joined the Missouri Conference and was appointed to Clinton cir- cuit ; 1839, Smith's Creek ; 1840, Merrimac; 1841, located. He was readmitted in 1843 and sent to Gallatin, where he wrought two years. For ten years he was effective. Super- annuated in 1853. In 1855 his name disappears. He went to California in 1856 and in 1866 his name appears in the Pacific Conference as a transfer from the St. Louis Confer- ence, and in the list of supernumeraries. "He died at the residence of his brother, in Sonoma county, California, Jan. IS, ISS2, full of faith and the Holy Ghost."
Mr. Porter was a frail man physically. During a ministry of forty-five years, he was effective but thirteen, yet he preached a great deal. His sermons were always clear and logical, and often contained touches of genuine eloquence. He was ever busy, and entirely consecrated to his Master's
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work. His visits to churches and families were regarded as a benediction to all. But now he rests from his labors and his works follow him." I believe he was never married.
JOHN T. PEERY was born in Taswell county, Virginia, Feb. IS, IS17, and born again in 1834 at home. He came with his father and family to Missouri in the fall of 1835. That winter he taught school in Clay county. He was licensed to preach by the Quarterly Conference of N. Grand River circuit, March 29, 1837, A. Monroe P. E., and entered the Missouri Conference in 183S. His appoint- ments down to 1845 ( after which see appendix) were : Cape Girardeau, Jr., Merimac, Nodaway, Weston, Plattsburg, Delaware Indians.
He continued to labor among the Indians till IS50, when he was made P. E. of Lexington District. In 1853 he was superannuated ; 1854, Westport ; 1855, superannuated ; 1856-57-58 effective : 1859, superannuated ; 1860, transferred to Kansas Conference. In 1866 he is again on the superan- nuated list of the St. Louis Conference ; 1863, effective again. In 1876 he transferred to the Northwest Texas Conference, but returned to Southwest Missouri again in IS7S. In 1SS2 he superannuated again, in which relation he still remains.
The above shows that Mr. Peery has traveled twenty- four years in Missouri, fourteen in Kansas and Texas and has been on the superannuated list eight. He is now the senior member of the Southwest Missouri Conference. He is a faithful, true, good man and we hope will live .to preach a semi-centennial sermon in ISSS. He has served six years as P. E., three on Lexington district and three on Nevada, and has twice represented his conference in the General Conference.
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WILLIAM PATTON.
At Neosho he was elected president of the conference till Bishop Keener arrived. He was also chaplain of the first legislature of Kansas.
WV. M. DAILY came this year from Indiana, served two years in St. Louis and returned whence he came.
WILLIAM PATTON was this year transferred from the Holeston Conference to Missouri where he labored faithfully and efficiently till 1856, when he entered rest.
He had been a traveling preacher seventeen years when he came to Missouri, having joined the Tennessee Con- ference in IS21. He traveled eighteen years in Missouri, making thirty-five years of effective itinerant service in the ministry without a break.
The incidents of his life and labors were given to the public in a volume of 347 pages written by his friend and co-laborer, Rev. D. R. McAnally, D. D., many years ago. Mr. Patton was born in Montgomery county, Va., Jan. 5, 1796; hence, was twenty-five years old when he entered the ministry. He had been six years a Presiding Elder and twice a delegate to the General Conference, before his trans- fer to Missouri. He represented the Missouri Conference in the General Conferences of 1844, 1846, 1850, and 1854 and the Convention of 1845, and was nine years Presiding Elder. From 1852 until his death he was agent of the American Bible Society.
His appointments in Missouri were: 1838, St. Charles circuit ; 1839, 1840, Columbia District ; IS41, St. Louis City ; 1842, 1843, Fayette circuit ; 1844, 1845, Columbia District. (See Appendix. )
Mr. Patton was a sincere Christian, a good preacher, a wise counselor, a diligent pastor and a true, useful, exem- plary man.
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1839.
JOHN ANDERSON was admitted on trial in the Baltimore Conference in IS34, where he traveled five years and was transferred to Missouri in 1839, and appointed to Union cir- cuit ; 1840, Potosi ; 1841, Warrenton, two years ; 1843, Lex- ington circuit ; 1844, Arrow Rock. His name disappears in 1845.
LYSANDER and MELVILLE WILEY, sons of Rev. Allen Wiley, were admitted on trial in the Indiana Conference in 1838, and transferred to Missouri in 1839. The first was appointed to Greenville circuit, and discontinued in 1840. Melville traveled Farmington and New Madrid circuits and died September 13, 1841. On both of these circuits "his labors were greatly blessed."
Seven-N. B. Peterson, L. P. Roland, Tyson Dines, J. B. P. Wood, G. W. Love, Silas Williams and W. G. Caples were admitted on trial.
JOHN Y. PORTER was admitted in 1838 and appointed with N. M. Talbott to serve the Peoria Indians. His subse- quent appointments were Gallatin, Carrollton, Danville, and Chillicothe. He located in 1844.
NATHANIEL BRUNSON PETERSON traveled Riply Mis- sion, Bloomfield circuit, Fredricktown, St. Genevieve and lo- cated in 1843. He was re-admitted in 1844 and appointed to the African charge in St. Louis. Henceforth the appendix will show him a regular field hand, serving circuits, stations and districts, till 1859, when he was transferred to the Pacific Conference and died on shipboard just before the boat landed on the "Golden Shore." While others were made glad by the sight of land, he gained his first vision of the City whose streets arc paved with gold. As the vessel glided through
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LEVI P. ROLAND
the Golden Gate, his glorified spirit entered the portals of the blessed. I think Mr. Peterson was born in the Belleview Valley. There he grew to man's estate, was converted, joined the church, licensed to preach and recommended to the Annual Conference for admission into the traveling con- nection.
He was my presiding elder during the second and third years of my ministry. I knew him well and loved him sin- cerely. I think he was as nearly blameless in life as any man with whom I was ever associated. Although he was one of the very best of men, and an average preacher, he was not a first-class presiding elder. He did not like the office. IIe loved circuit work and in this department he always suc- ceeded. He was about the only preacher who could procure more subscribers for religious papers and sell more religious books than -, but I will not name the man.
His sun went down at noon. Just as he reached the zenith of his usefulness the summons came and he passed from labor to rest. After preaching the gospel two full de- cades in Missouri, he found a grave on the Pacific coast, dug by stranger's hands.
"They are gathering homeward from every land, One by one, one by one;
As weary, their feet touch the shining strand, Yes, one by one ;
Their brows are enclosed in a Golden Crown;
Their travel stained garments are all laid down.
And clothed in white raiment, they rest in the mead,
Where Jesus doth love his saints to lead.
Gathering home, crossing the river, one by one, Gathering home, yes, one by one.".
LEVI P. ROLAND'S first appointment was junior on Hannibal circuit; the next year he was in charge of Selma
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and discontinued in IS41. His name next appears in the class of 1844, when he was appointed to New London Mis- sion. He ceased to travel in 1852 and located in 1854, and for some years lived in the Virginia Settlement, in Wayne county. Ile was somewhat eccentric.
TYSON DINES was born in Dorchester county, Md., in ISII; was converted and joined the Methodist Church at Ennal's camp ground in 1833; was licensed to preach in IS3S, and came to Missouri in the Spring of 1839, and was employed by Andrew Monroe to travel as junior preacher on Shelbyville circuit. His first appointment from the Conference was to that circuit. He discontinued in IS40 and was admitted on trial again in 1845. He soon took rank among the lead- ing men of the Conference and maintained his place and in- fluence, until he was elevated to a higher sphere by divine appointment on February 15, ISSI.
Mr. Dines was one of the best of men and a most excel- lent preacher. In the pulpit he had but few equals and fewer superiors in his Conference, although there were more than a score of strong men therein. "In the preparation of his sermons he sought truth rather than cloquence, and the ap- probation of his master rather than the applause of the people. He was not afraid to think ; he had opinions on all the cur- rent questions of his time, and being a man of studious, thoughtful habits, and of strong convictions, it was but nat- ural that he should be tenacious of his opinions. In his pul- pit ministrations he was earnest, guarded and safe. He relied for results upon a lucid statement of the truth, rather than upon rhetorical devices.
"His Christian character was well developed and well known ; He will be remembered as a man of spotless life and
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JAMES B. P. WOOD.
unfaltering integrity, the material of which martyrs are made. He combined with a warm and generous nature a rich exper- ience of divine things." He died most triumphantly.
JAMES B. P. WOOD, of this class, traveled two years- Springfield and Neosho-and discontinued in I841.
SILAS WILLIAMS traveled Versailles, Springfield, Osceola, Huntsville, Columbia, Little Osage, and other (see appendix) circuits.
He took a supernumerary relation in 1849, and located in I851. I think he started to California that, or the next year, and died on the plains. He was a good and useful man.
GEORGE W. LOVE began his itinerant career on Clinton circuit ; 1840, Versailles; 1841, Selma; 1842, Kansas indi- ans; 1843, Richmond; 1844, Liberty. (See appendix. ) He was superannuated in 1852, and located in 1864. While superannuated he lived first at Wellington and afterwards at Pink Hill, at both of which places he engaged in the practice of medicine. During the war he went to Nebraska, where, for a time, he was connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. On his return to Missouri he re-en- tered the Southern Methodist Church, in which he still lives at Westport, an honored local preacher and a "beloved physician." He and Tyson Dines each served two years as presiding elder. Dr. Love is the only member of his class yet alive.
WILLIAM GOFF CAPLES, son of R. F. and Charlotte Caples, was born April 23, 1819, in Jeromeville, Ohio," converted December, 1835; appointed class leader in 1836; licensed to exhort in 1837; married in 1838; came to
IS39. 163
Missouri, was licensed to preach and joined the Missouri Conference in 1839 when only twenty years old.
He traveled Plattsburg and Weston circuits and found himself in debt, having received but $152 for the two years' service. He discontinued in 1841, chopped cord- wood, and paid his debts. In the following April he was employed by W. W. Redman to travel Keytesville circuit. He re-entered the Conference in 1842, and was sent back to Keytesville circuit ; 1843 and 1844 he traveled Huntsville cir- cuit ; 1845, Glasgow station, two years; 1847, Bruns- wick, two years ; 1849, Hannibal, two years; 1851, Wes- ton district four years ; 1855, Weston station and High School ; 1856, agent Central College, two years ; 1858, Fay- ette district ; 1859, Brunswick station; 1860, Brunswick dis- trict, three years ; 1863, Glasgow station, to which he was returned in 1864, where, just three weeks after his appoint- ment was announced, he "fell on sleep," October 11, 1864, in the forty-sixth year of his life and the twenty-sixth year of his ministry.
As far as my opportunies and ability to form a correct opinion, enable me to do so, I give this verdict: W. G. Caples was the greatest preacher Missouri ever produced. Not only was he greater than all other Missouri preachers, but of the more than one thousand names that glitter on the roll of traveling Methodist preachers in Missouri, come whence they may have, his name outshines them all. He possessed every essential element-physical, mental and moral-of a great man.
In person he was nearly six feet high and squarely built, but not corpulent ; a fine forehead, eyes that looked right through things, a proper nose, with chin to match,
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WILLIAM GOFF CAPLES.
large, talking mouth ; a countenance that glowed with intel- ligence and love, and a rich, full, mellow and musi- cal voice. His mind was incisive, penetrative, compre- hensive and active. His heart was large and in his affec- tions he gladly enfolded the author of his being, and all of his fellow creatures.
Mr. Caples spent the first six years of his itinerant life on circuits ; after this, eight were spent in stations, eight on districts, and two in the agency of Central College. In all of these fields he succeeded, but in none more than in the presiding eldership, an office of great importance, yet ex- ceedingly difficult to fill.
The social qualities, the pulpit powers, the administra- tive abilities-his capacity to plan, to organize, to execute- together with his consuming zeal, his great love for the church and the souls of men, made him a model presiding elder. While on his first district he inaugurated two High Schools, one at Plattsburg and one at Weston.
The plan to have one college of the highest grade, properly endowed, for the entire state, and a high school in every presiding elder's district, was evolved from his fruit- ful brain.
The present district Conference was inaugurated by him, though he did not live to see it become a part of the machinery of the church.
The finances of the church were greatly improved under his administration. Missionary collections sometimes increased more than one hundred per cent.
Mr. Caples was not only peerless in the pulpit, but on the platform he had no equal in Missouri.
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I never read the account of Christ entering Jerusalem, "riding a colt," but I think of a speech he made at the ses- sion of the St. Louis Conference held in Boonville in 1857, while he was agent for Central College, in which he illus- trated the satisfaction one feels, after having given some- thing to the cause of benevolence, by that event.
He described the disciples unloosing the colt, then the owner, when he discovered them, demanding why they did so; and their answer, "The Master hath need of him." This was the text of his speech, and he used it with telling effect.
The owner reluctantly allowed the disciples of Jesus to lead the colt away, but soon chided himself for having done so. But presently he heard the voice of shouting in the street, and stepped out of his shop with an implement of labor in his hand to see what it meant. Soon he caught the inspiration, and cried out in the chorus of the multitude, "Hosannah to the son of David." Presently he spied Christ riding his colt, when he cried out louder than ever, "Hosannah to the son of David. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord;" then running up to one of his neighbors and slapping him on his back, he said: "Don't you see ! that is my colt he is riding ; O! I am so glad I let the disciples have him."
He then told the people that many of them had a colt which the Lord needed, and that he, one of his disciples, had come for it.
But it is impossible to put Caples on paper ; and why should I attempt the impossible.
I suppose he knew that he could not be put in print, and therefore wrote but little for the press. Except two
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WILLIAM GOFF CAPLES.
addresses on the subject of Tithes, I believe he has nothing left in print to perpetuate his posthumous fame.
He was a while in the Confederate service ; was taken prisoner at Dunksburg, on Blackwater; spent six months in Gratiot Street Prison, and was released on his parole.
He was elected President of the Missouri Conference at its session for IS53, and showed practically that there was Bishop timber in him. He was a member of the Gen- eral Conferences of IS50, IS54 and IS5S, and would have been in 1862 had there been one held that year.
His character has been faithfully delineated and given to the public by a book written by his friend and co-laborer, Bishop Marvin, who was almost his peer. It is one of the best books I ever read. His name properly concludes the list of thoseadded to the Conference on this, the Centennial year of Methodism. The life of this great and good man terminated tragically. While standing at the foot of the parsonage stairway during the battle of Glasgow, a misdirected cannon ball struck him. This occurred on Saturday and he died on Tuesday following ; just three weeks after the adjournment of his Conference, at the last service of which, in an exhor- tation he had said: "Take away my life and I will raise a shout on the other shore that will antonish the angels."
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