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 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
AMBROSE P. LINN was born in Augusta county, Vir- ginia, August 26, 1833 ; came to Missouri in his youth, and entered the Conference at the age of twenty. He rose rap- idly and soon developed into a most excellent and successful preacher. Wherever he went, revivals of religion crowned his labors. He was the revivalist of the Missouri Confer-
272
HOWELL E. SMITH.
ence. It was stated at his funeral, by one of his co-laborers: who entered the Conference near the time he did, that "no preacher in Missouri had taken more persons into the church than he." I think probably that is true, with the exceptions of H. S. Watts and James M'Gehee. Mr. Linn was a strong, logical, earnest, Bible preacher. He had strong faith, was full of zeal, and his preaching was in demonstra- tion and accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost. Wherever he went he gathered congregations, held them, instructed them, and led sinners to the Savior. He was over six feet high, stood erect, had a fine head, straight sandy- hair, which he wore short, a glowing countenance, pleasant voice, and was a good singer. He had good social qualities and was a good pastor. This eminent servant of the church "fell on sleep" at his home in Monroe City, June 10, 1SS5, thereby closing an unbroken successful itinerant min- istry of nearly thirty-two years.
HOWELL E. SMITH was licensed to preach by the Neosho. circuit, and this year joined the St. Louis Conference, in, which he continued to labor till July, 1867 (except when stopped by the war), when he finished his work in the com- munity from which he started. Mr. Smith had not the advantages of an education in his youth, but having a good mind, he acquired sufficient knowledge to make a respecta- ble preacher. He was deeply pious and greatly beloved by the people whom he served.
1854.
Eighteen were admitted on trial this year, eight in the Missouri Conference and ten in the St. Louis ; none by transfer or readmission. Four discontinued, two have trans- ferred, six have located, one has died, and five-B. F. John --
273
IS54.
son, D. J. Marquis, James McGehee, J. C. Williams and J. C. Shackleford-promise to be faithful to the end. One third of the eighteen have attained to the office of presiding elder.
Here, with a brief resume, we rest again. During the decade ISo new names were placed on the rolls of the two Conferences in Missouri, 70 in the Missouri and 110 in the St. Louis. Of the ISo, sixteen came by transfer, eight by readmission, and 156 by trial. Forty-three discon- tinued (twenty-three per cent. ) ; forty-six located (twenty- five per cent. ) ; forty-two (twenty-three per cent. ) have died ; fifteen (eight per cent. ) were transferred away ; one with- drew; two disappeared, and thirty (sixteen per cent. ) are still members. Fifty-four (exactly thirty per cent. ) have served in the office of presiding elder, and nine have been members of the General Conference. The aggregated years of service make 1,999, which is nineteen years, over an average of eleven years for each man.
2
CHAPTER VII.
-
SECTION II.
1845.
The Conference met at Columbia, which is the fourth time it met north of the river, and the last time all the preachers of the state met together. The Conference approved of the organization of the M. E. Church, South, by the Louisville convention, and by a vote of eighty-four to thirteen adhered south. Most of the preachers adhering north crossed Mason's and Dixon's line. A few remained in Missouri, and caused more or less strife and some divi- sion. The Linntown district disappears, and only one new charge was created-Maryville circuit, in Weston district. 1846. .
The Missouri Conference met at Hannibal, which is this year made the name of a district. Brunswick is made a sta- tion, and in St. Charles district we find Portland and Mexico, both new charges. In the Weston district, St. Joseph, Rochester and Linden appear. In 1843 E. Roberson was appointed to Savannah circuit. That year he organized a class in a warehouse in St. Joseph. I have not been able to procure the names of the original members. The last one of them (Mrs. Jane Kemper) died two years ago. Nor have I been able to learn when the first house of worship was
275
I847.
erected, or who have been licensed to preach. Three years after the class was organized it became the head of the circuit. In two years more ( 1848) it was made a station. In 1872 the station was divided, making St. Francis Street and Tenth Street charges. In 18So Hundley's chapel charge was organized, the chapel having been erected several years before. In 1883 Centenary church was built, and connected pastorally with Tenth Street charge. These organizations aggregate about Soo members. The St. Louis Conference held its first session in Boonville. One new district was created and named Steelville, which was changed the next year to Potosi. Another and new charge appears in St. Louis, called Asbury. I suppose St. John's may be consid- ered the outgrowth of this charge. Independence is placed in the roli of stations.
1847.
The Missouri Conference met this year in Glasgow, but no new appointments appear. The St. Louis Conference met at Ebenezer camp ground, in Green county. The name of Selma circuit was changed to Hillsborough. The new appointments are : Houston, Fremont, Mt. Vernon and Carthage. Houston, in Texas county, embraced the head waters of Big Piny, and extended over the Ozark Mountains to Arkansas. It is still an appointment in the St. Louis Con- ference. Fremont (now Stockton) is in Cedar county. It was my tenth circuit, and is still an appointment in the Southwest Missouri Conference. Church, Chenoweth, Say, Hill and Wells were some of the town members when I was there. "Uncle Billy" Montgomery, the father of William Creed, was a pillar in the church. The Applebys, Mur- phys, Travises, Andersons, and many others, were good
ยท
276
MT. VERNON CIRCUIT.
people. Leeper camp ground was the rallying point, where camp meetings were held. The parsonage was in the Appleby neighborhood. Mt. Vernon, in Lawrence county, to which I was appointed in 1850, was my first circuit. Starting from Mt. Vernon, I went up Spring River to Pherris' ; thence to Browning's, near the Big Spring, which gives the river its name; thence south to Buck Prairie, Green Prairie, Crane Creek and James' Fork ; thence north- east to Grand Prairie, ten miles west of Springfield ; thence northwest down Big Sac, across Rock Prairie, Turnback, Pennsylvania Prairie, and Limestone to Greenfield ; thence south through Ozark Prairie, up Turnback, and across the prairie to Mt. Vernon. There were twenty-eight regular appointments on the circuit. There were three camp grounds and four churches, viz. : Liberty and Round Grove, in Rock Prairie ; and Bryant's Chapel and Wesley Chapel, on Stall's Creek. The last was built in 1851, and dedicated by G. M. Winton. The local preachers were: Dryden, Winton, Box, Baldwin, McClintock and McGehee. The last named was licensed to preach by the first Quarterly Conference for that year (from 1850 to 1851) at Liberty, and is now a superan- nuated member of the Southwest Missouri Conference, has been itinerating thirty-three years, and has, probably, taken more persons into the church than any other member of his Conference. The names of White, Newman, Cotty, Pherris, Tilly, Browning, Mcclintock, Goff, Caldwell, Robinson, McDaniel, Yeakly, Williams, Buster, Kirby, Milburn, Stout, Bryant, and many others, are yet remembered. Car- thage was my ninth circuit, and the best charge I ever served before the war. The parsonage was in Carthage. From here I went to Stith's ; thence across Spring River and Center
.
277
IS48.
Creek to Webb's (now Webb City) ; thence four miles west to a church near Rader's; thence south to Grand Falls, on Shoal Creek, passing near where Joplin now is, up Shoal Creek, nearly to Neosho ; thence north to Sarcoxie, up Center Creek, down Spring River to Cave Spring ; thence across to Red Oak, down to Avilla, across the Prairie to Coon Creek ; down to North Fork, and back to Carthage. I greatly regret having lost a sketch of Red Oak class, furnished me by Rev. J. L. Hagler, whom, with R. L. Newbury, this circuit gave to the itinerancy in IS59. The names of the prominent Methodists were given in the sketch of Sarcoxie circuit.
1848.
In the Missouri Conference two new circuits, Lousiana and Auburn, and three missions, Putnamville, Linneus and Athens, first appear this year. Glasgow, Weston and St. Joseph were made stations. The first class was organized in Linneus November, 1844, by J. K. Hawkins, and was composed of seven members, viz .: J. C. Moore, Wm. and Mary Sanders, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Hodge, Mrs. Buck and S. D. Sandusky. The mission soon became a circuit, and still ranks well. In the St. Louis Conference we have Benton, Rich- woods, and Dover circuits, and Thomasville and Centerville mission and Springfield station as new charges. Benton was taken from New Madrid circuit, Richwoods from Potosi, and Dover from Lexington. Benton has been a fair charge, and still perpetuates its identity. Richwoods was an organ- ized class in the old Merrimac circuit in a very early day. A local preacher named Williamson lived. labored and died there. The land fell into the hands of the Catholics and Protestantism waned. The circuit ranked well for many years, but was finally dropped from the roll. Dover was a
27S
DOVER CIRCUIT.
good circuit from the start ; has for many years been one of the best in the state, and the preacher appointed there is exceedingly fortunate. The class at Dover was organized - in an early day and the church, which is a brick, was erected soon after and is now one of the oldest in the county. The parsonage is at Dover. Secured by W. B. McFarland.
Neal's chapel class (now Corder) was organized by F. M. Williams in 1856, and composed of Lewis, William and Betsy Neal; G. W. and Fanny Davis, Colonel Willis and wife and Mrs. J. R. Bennett. The present church was built in 1870 or 1871. Three Groves and Bethel-the other two churches of the circuit-were built about 1874 or 1875. This circuit licensed W. T. Eastwood to preach. The names of Koontz, Willis, Neal, Davis, Frazier, Corder, Groves, Cat- ron and Bedsworth are only a few of those that are written in the " Lamb's Book of Life."
1849.
In the Missouri Conference no changes in the districts occur, and only two new appointments ( Keytesville and Alex- andria) appear. In the St. Louis Conference a new district (Warsaw) and California and Perryville circuits and West Point mission greet us for the first time. The mission never amounted to much. The district made a mutable record, and Perryville circuit has recently changed its name, taking that of York chapel. Perryville circuit is properly the old Saline circuit. In 1826 J. W. York was admitted on trial and sent to Saline. His name was immortalized by being given to a meeting house built in the Abernathy neighbor- hood. It was the second house built in that part of the state. The first house was built of logs, the second and third of stone. The parsonage is near the chapel; also a camp ground.
279
1850.
The ministry received such recruits as John McFarland, J. C. Berryman, G. W. Mitchell, G. W. Tallent. W. L. Lee and J. R. Eddleman from this circuit. The Abernathys, Farrars, Eddlemans, Evans and Rutleges were some of the official members in former days. The two first named were numerous, and true as steel. Californi . remains intact and retains its name. California class was first organized in 1840, on Brush creek, in the house of Perry Bailey. The charter members were Perry Bailey and wife, Andrew Bailey and wife, Thomas Hightower and wife and Edmond Snod- grass and wife.
Perry Bailey was C. L. and exhorter, and in after years licensed fo preach. He was a most useful man. The class was moved to town in 1847, and worshiped in the court house till the church was built in 1855. It was the first built in the town, and was dedicated by Rev. W. M. Prottsman. J. M. Hardy, L. E., was mainly instrumental in building the church, and has, in the capacity of a local preacher, been greatly useful in the town and surrounding country. J. D. Wood and wife, Luke Barton and wife, Ira Heald and wife, the Jobs, the Kinseys, the Rodgers, the Appersons, and many others have been, and some still are members there. John Philips was licensed to preach there, and from that class Misses Lou and Mildred Philips went to China as mission- aries.
1850.
No change in the districts of the Missouri Conference this year and but one new appointment, Quincy, appears. This was in Illinois and was not successful. In the St. Louis Conference, Cape Girardeau was made a station, and the circuit was called Jackson. Arcadia and Iron Mountain
2 So
ARCADIA.
also appear as an appointment. The first class was orga- nized in the Arcadia Valley (then called Stout's settlement), by J. C. Berryman, in 1828, and was composed of his brother's family. Soon after, the Hollowmans settled there ; then the Fletchers came, and the Tonges, Nulls, Dr. Farrar and others. The church worshiped in the chapel of Arcadia High School till 1868. At a quarterly meeting held in Arcadia, April 5, 1868, I. G. Whitworth, G. W. Farrar, A. W. Hollowman, D. F. Martin, and Robt. Bryant were elected trustees for Arcadia Church. The house was soon completed at a cost of $4,000, and dedicated by Dr. McAnally. Greenville mission district was organized this year, Cape Girardeau and Potosi districts furnishing the charges therefor.
1851.
No change in the Missouri Conference for this year, and only one new charge, Linn, in the St. Louis. This charge still remains-now called Chamois.
1852.
This year Columbia is promoted to a station, but loses the honor of heading the district and drops into the St. Charles, in place of which Fayette was placed at the head of the district and has since remained there. Springhill and Hartford are new charges in the Richmond district. Berry Mission in the Weston, and Palmyra in the Hannibal, is made a station. In the Northwest a new district was orga- nized and named Savannah. In the St. Louis Conference two new appointments appear, Kansas and Westport, and Cassville. Cassville still retains its name in the list of appointments. It was taken from the Neosho circuit.
1
2SI
1852.
Of Kansas City, Dr. Scarritt, who was the first stationed preacher there, sends me the following sketch :
"The first preaching in Kansas City by preachers of our church, was at the residence of Colonel Chick, one of the original proprietors of the town, and afterwards at a log schoolhouse, which stood at the present crossing of Missouri Avenue and Walnut street. This was in 1840, and by Rev. James Porter, a local preacher. In 1845 this same local preacher organized the first class at the aforesaid school- house, though not in it. The weather being warm, and the congregation large, the service was held near the house in the open air under the shade of some forest trees. After preaching, the preacher requested those who wished to join the church to take their seats on a log near where he stood. Five came forward and took their seats accordingly; viz., Colonel Chick and wife, James Hickman, a Mrs. Smith and Jane Porter. These, with the preacher, constituted the first class. Soon after this, Kansas City became an appointment in the Independence circuit. The log schoolhouse .was the place of worship till Dr. Lykins built a frame schoolhouse nearer the river, which the class occupied till IS52, when they moved to their new brick church on Fifth Street. This was the first Protestant church edifice built in Kansas City. The society occupied this building twenty-three years, when in 1875 they left it for their more stately and commodious edifice on Walnut Street, which they still occupy. Mean- time this parent society (Walnut Street), has sent out colo- nies at different times, which have established churches at other points in the city. So that now, instead a poor little class of six, without a preacher, without a church building, sitting on a log for want of better accommodations, we have
2Sz
WELLINGTON CIRCUIT.
five stately churches, with five regular pastors, all in success- ful operation for good upon the population of the city."
Richard F. Colburn was in charge of Independence circuit when Local Preacher Porter organized the church in Kansas City and became its first pastor ; 1845-1884-twenty-nine years. Then a log schoolhouse, now five churches; then a. log to sit on, now 3,600 church sittings ; then six members,. now I, OSI ; then church property o; now worth $121,000. 1853.
Two new appointments appear in the St. Charles dis -. trict this year, Flint Hill and Nashville. Nothing new in. the St. Louis Conference.
1854.
No change in the Missouri Conference this year, and but one in St. Louis, and that only a change of name. Lex- ington circuit takes the name of Wellington. Rev. John Carr, a local preacher who lived in Tennessee, visited, in IS40, his son Richard, then living in Wellington, Mo., and preached the first sermon in the town. During his visit he preached several times and organized a class composed of Pharis and Eliza Ferrill, Wilson James, Mrs. Richardson and daughter, Mrs. Quinland, Barbara Carr, Susan Hale, Bettie and Pattie Seawell, Elb. Crews and Nancy Cundiff, 12. P. Ferrill was class leader, and the services were generally held at his house. Soon after, the class was augmented by the addition of Rev. M. Arnold, local preacher, wife and two daughters ; Judge Nath Price, wife and two daughters ; J. and Nancy Price, Howell Lewis and wife, Elb., Sophia and Nancy Ferrill, Susan Duck, J. W. Mathews, Jno. and WVm. Early, Jno. Porter, Mr. and Mrs. Elmore; J. A. Mahan and wife, C. Corse, Nancy Martin, Nancy Day,
IS54. 283
Ann Barker, Dr. Bowring and Mary Bennett. About 1842 a frame church was built. In 1854 the present brick church was erected under the pastorate of W. M. Leftwich, and was dedicated by Bishop Early, Oct. 14, 1855. Unfortu- nately it was in debt, to pay which an interest was sold to other denominations, and it became a union church. Pleas- ant Prairie is a good appointment on this circuit, but unfort- unately worships in a union church. The class in Bates City was organized in 1879 by T. P. Cobb. The church was built in ISSI and dedicated in ISS2 by W. M. Protts-
man. The class in Odessa was organized by J. D. Wood in ISSO. The church was built in ISS3, under the pastorate of T. P. Cobb, and dedicated by Dr. McAnally. Greenton was once a flourishing church, but waneth now. It is union. In my judgment union churches are more often hurtful than helpful to the cause of religion. May the number never be increased.
CHAPTER VIII.
SECTION 1.
1855.
In the preceding chapter the names of the living were given. Henceforth the number will be increased, and this will be given, but the names will be omitted.
For the first time in ten years the Missouri Conference received one by transfer. Nine were admitted on trial. The St. Louis Conference received one by transfer and sixteen on trial. Of the twenty-seven, ten discontinued, one with- drew, four have transferred, five have located, two have died, and the other five are members of the Conferences in Missouri. Five have served in the office of presiding elder and three in the general Conference.
HENRY W. WEBSTER was born in Chenango county, New York, April 4, 1812 ; was converted in his 26th year, in Bristol, Conn., licensed to preach at Pleasant Grove church, Clay county, Missouri, in 1842 ; joined the St. Louis Conference in'1855 ; took a supernumerary relation in 1872 ; died at his home near Neosho, April 20, 1880, and was buried in the Neosho cemetery. Mr. Webster was a man of force and influence. He was a sharp, keen, shrewd, trader, and amassed a good deal of this world's goods. But he was
1855. 285
not penurious nor miserly. He hated niggardliness in any body. He was generous, open-hearted and liberal to the poor. Though associated with him in the same Conference twenty-five years, I never heard him preach. He was not a man of letters. He read but few books. But he was a close observer of passing events ; he read men and studied charac- ter as it manifested itself in the lives of those with whom he came in contact.
Ilis mind was quick and active. Beyond question he was the readiest man at repartee I ever knew. Nothing could be said or happen in his presence but that he could offset it with a ludicrous remark or an apt quotation.
Once he was in the act of immersing a man in a slug- gish stream of muddy water. As he put his subject under the water, in order to obtain purchase to lift him out again, he moved one of his feet farther out in the stream, but, una- ware of it, he was standing on a bank, and when he threw his weight on his moved foot, it found no bottom, and he with his subject, went under the 'yielding wave.' As they both arose and 'pulled for the shore' he completed the scene by quoting ; 'And they both came up out of the water.' " I give an incident in my own life that may be helpful to some preacher. In 1856 a very large, fleshy woman, advanced in years, wished me to immerse her, but she was afraid I would not be able to lift her out of the water and would let her drown. She worried over it a month or more, when she proposed the following plan to me. It was her own' inven- rion, She had never seen anything like it, neither had I. She had a man take a chair into the water in which she seated herself, the water coming up to her arms. The man stood on the opposite side of the chair from myself with his
-
286
THIOMAS DE MOSS.
hands on one post and mine on the other. All that remained to be done was, at the proper time, to tilt the chair back- wards and raise it up again. It is a capital way to immerse a person.
1856
Eight new names were enrolled in the Missouri Confer- enee this year, one of which was by readmission ; and twelve in the St. Louis. two of whom were by readmission. Of the twenty, eight discontinued, two have located, four have died, and the other six are members of the Conference in Missouri. Four, twenty-five per cent., have been presiding elders, and two have been to the general Conference.
JESSE FAUBION was a native Tennesseean ; served the church a long time as a local preacher ; joined the Missouri Conference after he had reached the meridian of life ; wrought a few years, was superannuated for many years, and died April, ISS2, at his home in Shelbina.
"THOMAS DE Moss was born in Bracken county, Ken- tucky, May 5, IS13. and died at the residence of his daugh- ter, Mrs. M. F. Dawson, in Monroe City, Missouri, Novem- ber 22, 1876. He was one of the cavaliers of Methodism in Kentucky, and spent the early part of his life in the service of his Master in that state, witnessing many gracious reviv- als and conversions under his ministry. He was converted in his fourteenth year, and licensed as an exhorter in his eighteenth ; was licensed to preach in 1835, and joined the Kentucky Conference in 1836. Nineteen years of his early manhood were spent in that state, where his name is remem- bered, honored and loved, and is recorded with the historic memories of the M. E. church in Kentucky. He received deacon's and elder's orders at the hands of Bishop Waugh."
.
I856. 287
He located in 1845, moved to Missouri in 1855, and united with the Missouri Conference in 1856, in which he traveled nineteen years, was superannuated one, and was then transferred "to the general assembly of the first-born above."
"Forty-one years of labor in the ministry made for him an im- perishable monument, and has placed his name on the roll with those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and through faith and patience gone up to possess a crown and a king- dom. As he lived well, so he died well; he was not surprised, nor alarmed, but with great joy and peace trusted his Saviour through the dark valley and the deep waters. We saw his sun go down, not in the darkness and cloud, but as the bright morning star, that melts . away in the light of heaven."
DANIEL ASBURY M'KNIGHT, the eldest child of W. W. and Elizabeth M'Knight, was born in Giles county, Ten- nessee, November 1, 1830; removed to Polk county, Mis- souri, in IS40; was converted and joined the church in 1845, at Ebenezer camp meeting, when and where the writer of this was also converted and joined the church. We were both received into full fellowship with the church, in the house of our grandfather, Pitt Woodard, March, 1846, by J. C. Derrick, preacher in charge, on the recommendation .of G. M. Winton, C. L.
He was one or two years a pupil in Southwest Missouri high school. In 1853 he attempted, Jonah like, to "flee from the presence of the Lord," and crossed the plains to California, where he spent three years. Soon after his return he was recommended by Hickory Grove class as a suitable per on to be licensed to preach, and accordingly was licensed by the quarterly Conference of Bolivar circuit in 1856, and immediately joined the St. Louis Conference, in
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.