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 23
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2 SS
DANIEL ASBURY M'KNIGHT.
which he continued traveling circuits and districts until IS73, when he located. He was readmitted in IS78, superannu- ated in 1879, and went to Texas in search of health, where he found a grave. He died most triumphantly, November IS, ISSO. Dan M'Knight was my cousin and our homes were only half a mile apart. We played, fished, hunted and went to school together. We were members of the same society, and attended the same class and prayer meetings. I knew him in his early life. He was my thirteenth presiding elder, and so I knew him in his maturity. He was an hum- ble, unostentatious, quiet, good man. As a preacher he was above the average. His sermons were well arranged ; his propositions grew easily from his text, and were well sus- tained by appropriate quotations from the holy scriptures. In prayer but few equalled, and fewer excelled him. Socially he was a cipher. He rarely engaged in promiscu- ous conversation in company, With him "speech was silver, but silence was golden." He loved solitude and there found sweetest communion with God. The world did not know his worth. The character of such men is above the price of rubies. He fought a good fight and kept the faith, and at the age of fifty, went to receive his crown. He died among strangers, but befittingly, the oldest member of his Confer- ence, Rev. C. F. Dryden, lived near where his journey ter- minated, and preached his funeral.
"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." 1857.
This year the Missouri Conference admitted eleven on trial, and St. Louis admitted thirteen, readmitted four and
1855. 289
one came by transfer. Of the twenty-nine, six discontinued, one withdrew, five have been transferred, seven have located, three have died, three have disappeared, and four are yet in the field. Four have been presiding elders, one a member of the general Conference, and one was a member of the Methodist Ecumenical Conference.
ROBERT N. HOLLIDAY was born in Paris, Tennessee, November 23, 1831, and died in Carrollton, Missouri, August 26, ISSI. He was converted May, 1849 ; married, April 26, 1853 ; licensed to preach, August 1854, and this year joined the Missouri Conference. His itinerant career of twenty- four years was without a break. My acquaintance with Mr. Holliday was too limited to enable me to make an estimate of his character and the minutes do not help me. They simply contain an outline of his fields of labor, and a graphic account of his most triumphant death. Surely these Metho- dist preachers die well. The writing of this book has helped me immensely by bringing me so frequently into these guest chambers of heaven and allowing me to linger there so long. May the same inspiration help my readers to a better life and home. This good man had a most exultant passport home. He said : "I'm on a rock, a solid rock," and while standing thereon exclaimed: "O, wife, this is good ! this is glorious ! Glory be to God in the highest! Praise the Lord, O, my soul; and all that is within me, praise his Holy name."
GEORGE C. KNOWLES was reared in Southeast Missouri, and was licensed to preach by the Dallas circuit, from which he entered the St. Louis Conference this year. He was a most indefatigable laborer for seventeen years, when his health failed and he took a superannuated relation in 1874,
290
GEORGE WASHINGTON HORN.
and died at his home near Sarcoxie, April 2, 1876. Mr. Knowles' early opportunities for mental culture were meagre. He never formed habits of study, and never was a student. Hence, as a preacher, he was below the average, but as an exhorter he ranked high. His zeal knew no bounds and he attended diligently to every part of a Methodist preacher's work, and that is more and better than can be said of many a book worm. He was useful and successful, and hundreds of souls were soundly converted and added to the church under his ministry. I was intimately associated with him for years in the work of the church, and testify that he was earnest, zealous, faithful and true. He shall have his reward.
GEORGE WASHINGTON HORN was born in Logan county Kentucky, July 24, 1839; was converted in early life, and was licensed to preach by W. M. Prottsman, in Cass county, Missouri, September 5, 1857, when only eighteen years old, and three weeks thereafter was received on trial into the St. Louis conference and appointed to New Madrid circuit as junior preacher with Green Woods. At the end of the year he discontinued to attend school. In IS59 he entered the Conference again and served the St. Louis circuit with Dr. Boyle ; 1860 Versailles circuit. During the war he wrought with Dr. McAnally at Wesley Chapel, Carondelet and Fenton. From 1865 to 1872 he served Arrow Rock and Cambridge, Jefferson City, Boonville, Pleasant Hill, Springfield and Westport. The next eight years were given to the Missouri Conference at Macon City, Carrollton, Col- umbia and Hannibal. Then one year in Terrell, Texas ; two more at Boonville, Missouri, and one at' Colorado Springs, Colorado, completed a quarter of a century in the
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1858.
ministry, and an earthly pilgrimage that spanned just forty- five years. On his way home from Colorado he said to a friend : "It is hard for me to live as I am ; it would be easy to die ; I am ready." Soon after, August 17, 1884, his pass- port was scaled and he went up to enjoy his inheritance in his Father's house.
Mr. Horn was a good preacher, a superior pastor, a great sufferer and a most captivating writer. On his way to his first circuit, he was a passenger on a steamboat, which during the trip was sunken in the Mississippi river. Of this disaster he wrote an account for the St. Louis Advocate, which attracted much attention. He was the author of a booklet on "The Moral State of Infants." His opinions on this, with him a pet theme, were thought by some of his brethren to be heterodox, on account of which he was once tried by his conference for heresy. His enfeebled condition induced him to cross the Atlantic ocean, hoping thereby to regain his health. He visited London at the time of the Ecumenical Conference there, and was appointed by Bishop McTycire a member of that body. During the trip he wrote regularly for several church papers, so that thousands doubt- less read his racy letters, and Methodists on both sides of the sea were thrilled with the thoughts that flowed so smoothly from his ready pen.
1858.
The roll of the Missouri Conference this year was aug- mented by the addition of eleven names on trial and two came by transfer. Nine applied for admission into the St. Louis Conference, four came by transfer and one was readmitted. Of the seventeen, five discontinued in 1859 ; one, in 1860 ; five have been transferred ; seven have located,
292
JESSE BIRD.
four have died, leaving at this time three in the Missouri Conference, and one each in the St. Louis and Southwest Missouri. Four have served in the office of P. E., five are yet effective, one is entitled to further notice and one other must have.
JESSE BIRD was born in Pendleton county, Va., May 25, 1809. When he was ten years old his family moved to Hardin county, Ky. Here he was converted at the age of twelve years and joined the Methodist Church of which his mother was a member. Licensed to exhort in his seventeenth year and to preach when a little past twenty. He served the church as a local preacher twenty-four years, and then entered the itinerancy, joining the Kentucky Con- ference in 1853. He served two years on Madison circuit and was then appointed P. E. of Harrisburg District to succeed Dr. T. N. Ralston, the author of "Elements of Divinity." This is the only instance I now think of in which a preacher was appointed P. E. at the end of his second year. Mr. Bird was transferred to the Missouri Conference in 1857, though his name does not appear on the roll till 1858. He preached the gospel fifty-six years-twenty-seven in the local ranks, seventeen on stations, circuits and in schools, seven on districts and five in the superannuated relation.
On the 14th of December, 1876, when he thought he had reached the end of life's journey, he wrote :
"I am suffering with a deep-seated cold, from which it is very doubtful if I ever recover. I think my sun of life will soon set. The night will not be long. There is light beyond the vale. I believe in God, the Father, the Son and . the Holy Ghost. My hope of immor- tality rests on my faith in Christ. I have been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the South for nearly fifty-five years;
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I have preached, perhaps, six thousand times; have taken many hundreds into the church; have received but little pay; but depend on nothing I have ever done to save me. My trust is in the blood of the Lamb."
Nine years after the above was written the end came through much suffering.
A cancer on ths face of more than three years dura- tion shut out the light of this world; but on the 16th of October, ISS5, flashed on his enraptured vision the glories revealed by the light of an eternal day.
For twenty-seven years Mr. Bird was a leading mem- ber of the Missouri Conference and easily ranked with the best preachers in the state. He was clear, logical and convincing. His preaching was decidedly of a doctirnal cast. He believed the doctrines of Methodism and dared to defend them. "He was a born polemic, and was never so delighted as when he found a foeman worthy of his steel. He held a number of debates and never came out second best."
Near the close of his eventful life he made the fol- lowing statement which he wishes recorded for the benefit of young preachers :
"During a ministry of fifty-six years, I have never missed but ten appointments." "Well done good and faithful servant .. '
JOHN FLETCHER PEARSON was received on trial by the North Carolina Conference in 1854; came by transfer to the St. Louis Conference in 1858, and died in Arkansas in 1862. My rule, strictly observed, would exclude a sketch of this brilliant young man. It must be brief ; of his early life I know nothing. He was a graduate of Trinity College, North Carolina, and was an eloquent preacher, though
294
JOHN FLETCHER PEARSON.
exceedingly awkward in gesture ; a most fluent writer, and one of the most deeply pious young men I ever knew. His first year's work in Missouri was on Carthage circuit, which I served the year following, and hereby hangs a tale that must be told: Mr. Pearson had a sweetheart in Sarcoxie. One evening, while assisting him in Neosho (where he was then pastor) in a meeting, I said: "Pearson, how are you and Miss Alice getting along?" He replied : "We have agreed to disagree, exchanged letters, and quit; but," he added, "I am going to get married as soon as I can find a girl that will suit me. I am now twenty-nine years old, and I believe I am entitled to a wife." I replied: "I know a young lady that will suit you exactly ; but she is too far away. No use to tell you about her, though she is a perfect gem, and will marry no one save a Methodist preacher." Having said this much, I had to say more ; for he instantly replied : "I have an excellent horse, and can go a long ways to find a gem. Where does she live, and what is her name?" I replied : "She lives in Texas, and Douglass is her name." I then told him of her family, her piety, her intelligence and her fixed purpose to marry a Methodist preacher; that she might have enlarged opportunities for doing good ; and also gave him a minute description of her personal appearance. He begged me to write to her, and ask her to grant him the privilege of corresponding with her. I did so, and a corre- spondence between them soon followed, which ripened into true love, and ultimated in a happy marriage. Early in Sep- tember he went to Texas in his buggy; reached there Satur- day night ; took Miss Melissa Douglass to church on Sunday ; preached twice, and every evening until Wednesday; and after preaching that evening, was married; returned to Mis-
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1859.
souri with his wife, and answered to the call of his name at Independence that month; and, at the close of the Confer- ence, was stationed in Osceola, where his wife had been reared. Had Mr. Pearson lived till now, he would have been an editor and an author. But the gifted die young.
1859.
The Missouri Conference admitted nine this year on trial, and re-admitted one, while only five sought admittance in the St. Louis; five were re-admitted, and one came by transfer. Of the twenty-one, four discontinued in 1860, and one in 1861. One was expelled, seven have located, three have died and the other six are still in the field. None have reached the presiding eldership in Missouri, and only one elsewhere, none have gone to the General Conference, and but one entitled to further notice.
"THOMAS J. STARR was born in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, April 6, 1806; was converted and joined the Meth- odist Church in Campbell County, Va., September 20, 1828, and admitted into the Virginia Conference, February 5, IS30. Just four years later he married Miss Rebecca Kenny, of Bourbon County, Ky., and located. Soon after he moved to Illinois, and was for a while a member of that Conference, came to Missouri in the spring of 1859, and in the fall following united with the Missouri Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he labored ten years ; then in 1869, took a superannuated relation, saying at the time he asked therefor: "I bear this relation reluc- tantly, but with Christian resignation, expecting through grace soon to enter the rest that remains to the people of God." This relation he sustained until January 14,
296
THOMAS J. STARR.
ISS2, when, from the parsonage in Hydesburg, Mo., he entered into "that rest" for which he had been toiling nearly seventy. six years.
"The above dates mark the important epochs in the long and useful life of one of God's faithful servants. Sur- rounded by his affectionate daughters, that life terminated on earth, after a few weeks of suffering, with all those circum- stances of resignation, hope, and triumph, which are alone witnessed in the chamber where a good man meets his fate. Our venerable brother died well. He walked for many days through the valley of the shadow of death, before his feet touched the cold waters of the dividing stream. Memory, consciousness and speech were spared, with brief intervals, almost to the last moment. Two weeks before his death, a brother called twice to see him. He was confident and rest- ful. He declared the Gospel he had preached more than half a century, was still true, full of life and comfort to his soul ; that Jesus remained to him a precious and sufficient Saviour. Occasionally he wanted to exclaim in a quiet, com- forted way: 'Oh, my blessed Redeemer, take me into thy rest !' He was asked if he had any message for the preach- ers. He said again and again, with the deepest feeling: 'Be sure to tell the brethren at Conference that I love them all, all of them. I send them my love.' "
His eldest daughter, Mrs. Dr. Johnson, furnished the following items ; "At home he was all a kind husband and father could be-gentle, sympathetic, helpful, and unfalter- ing in duty. The family altar-never neglected-was a special privilege to him. His Bible reading and secret devotions were regularly observed from his conversion to his last ill- ness. Amid all his final sufferings he said: 'All is clear ;
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IS60.
through the atonement death is sweet. God is my refuge and strength. He who has led me safe thus far, will lead me home.' Often after a paroxysm of suffocation and pain, he would calmly say, 'Blessed Savior, I am ready to go ;' and anon I would hear him whispering: 'Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly.' Frequently he thanked the Lord for his kind friends at Hydesburg, and admonished us to be faithful to God, that the lamp of the Lord might shine on our path. Not twenty minutes before his happy spirit left us, he said : 'Tell my brethren to live and preach for a gracious revival.' " Mr. Starr was an humble, diligent and instructive preacher, and many were gathered into the fold of the good Shepherd by his ministry. He left, as a her- itage to his children and the church, an untarnished Chris- tian and ministerial name. To the last hour of his life, he was true to man, to his family, to his church, and to his God. 1860.
Eight were admitted on trial this year by the Missouri Conference, and five were readmitted ; while nine knocked at the door of the St. Louis Conference, and four were read- mitted. This large class of twenty-six contains a number of names that have become famous in the church, some of whom are still rising to higher niches ; yet not one, under rule, can be further sketched here. Eight discontinued in 1861, one in 1862, one in 1863, and two in 1864. Six have been transferred, two have withdrawn, and one has died. Each of the Conferences in the state still have one or more representatives of this class.
1861.
But nine names were entered on the Conference rolls this year, five in the Missouri and four in the St. Louis Con-
39S
L. W. POWELL.
ference. Of the nine, one discontinued, one has withdrawn, two have located, two transferred, one has died, the other two are yet at work in Missouri. Four have been presidents of institutions of learning, two have been presiding elders, two have been editors, and one is a Doctor of Divinity.
Of the class of 1860, four have been presidents of schools, five have been presiding elders, three have been to the General Conference, four have been honored with the title of Doctor of Divinity, and one is a distinguished editor and one of the most forceful writers Missouri has ever pro- duced.
1862.
Neither of the Conferences met in IS62, and only the ยท Missouri in 1863. But one person was received on trial, and he has located.
1864.
This year the Missouri Conference admitted five on trial, and the St. Louis Conference two, and received one by trans- fer. Of the eight, one discontinued, one has transferred, two have located, and the other four are members of the Missouri Conference. Half of the eight have been presiding elders, one other is distinguished for his eloquence, but none of them have had their divinity doctored. One that located has died, and is entitled to further notice.
L. W. POWELL. I was appointed to the Steelville circuit in July, 1851. On my first round I made the acquaint- ance of a most excellent family named Powell, that lived in the valley, two miles above Steelville. Some time during that year I received some of the children into the church, one of whom was Lewis W., who was then about fifteen years old. He was a good, pious, studious boy, raised on a
299
1860.
farm. What a blessed thing it is for a boy to be born and reared on a farm. Young Lewis soon fitted himself to teach school, and followed that important vocation several years.
In March, 1864, I was appointed by Dr. Boyle to Steel- ville district. I found the boy, whom I had taken into the church twelve years before, a local preacher. I employed him to take charge of the circuit till next Conference, when I took his recommendation to the St. Louis Conference for admission on trial. His first appointment was to New Madrid circuit, which he served two years; then Merrimac two years : 1861, Rolla district. For ten years more he con- tinued in the saddle, traveling districts and circuits. In ISZS he located, being greatly afflicted with rheumatism, and retired to his farm, having married a widow Bird, of Bird's Point, who owned a fine plantation there. In ISSo, having finished his work, his house being in order, the Master relieved him from further suffering, and took him to his final rest.
Mr. Powell was a lover of books, had a fine literary taste, read and digested much, and attained to eminence as a preacher, though he died young. He left nothing to per- petuate his memory outside of his work as a preacher. He did not write for the press, and, dying in the local ranks, the Conference minutes contain no memoir of him. I write this from memory. He was my son, my brother, my friend, and I hereby record that his name, for his worth and his work's sake, is worthy of being perpetuated through the Annals of Methodism in Missouri.
This sketch closes another decade, during which 187 new names have been added to the roll of Methodist preach- ers in Missouri, which is but seven more than were enrolled
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SUMMARY.
the decade before. The aggregate of work performed is 2023 years, which is an average of nearly 11 years-short 34 years. The average of the previous decade was a little over II.
1
CHAPTER VIII.
SECTION 2. .
1855.
The Missouri Conference met this year in Richmond, and the St. Louis in Springfield, and both were presided over by Bishop Early. The Doniphan circuit was divided, and the eastern part took the name of Poplar Bluff. Arrow Rock circuit was also divided, and the western half called Saline.
1856.
This year the Conferences met at Louisiana and Charleston, and were presided over by the prince of preach- ers, the silver-tongued Pierce, who was several times after- ward welcomed back again. I have noted no new charge in the Missouri Conference. In the St. Louis Conference there are four, Nevada, Lamar, Vienna and Lebanon. Nevada soon became a leading charge and has developed into one of the best stations and circuits in the Conference. I cannot give the date of the organization of the first class in Nevada, nor the names of the first members, nor when the first church was built. The town has twice most hand- somely entertained the Annual Conference, and the church now occupies its second house of worship, a most elegant building, recently finished and dedicated by Bishop Gran-
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NEVADA CIRCUIT.
berry. The charge also has a good parsonage. The names of Clack. Jones, Mobly, Conrad, Harber, are a few of those remembered there. McKill Chapel was probably one of the first houses of worship ever built in the county. Hart- man Chapel was built in 1877. Others since. The parson- age at Moundville was bought in 1876. Judge Weyand, C. Hartman and J. Hale used to be local preachers there. The circuit licensed A. C. and W. M. Briggs, and James M. Stultz to preach. Lamar has had a precarious career, and Vienna has not always preserved its identity. Lebanon rose rapidly, soon became head of the district, and prospered up to the war, has languished since, but is hopeful now. 1857.
Glasgow and Boonville entertained the Conferences this year. They were presided over for the last time by one of the best of men, Bishop Andrew. The new appointments in the Missouri are: Bloomington district and Mound City mission. In the St. Louis Conference Lebanon district appears on the minutes for the first time; also Carondelet and Kansas City stations, and Mingo, Butler, Montevallo, Pineville and Hermitage circuits. Dr. McAnally was the first preacher appointed to Carondelet, and I suppose has been the pastor of the church there a greater number of years than any other preacher in Missouri has ever served any one charge. The people there think he is a good preacher. He lives near the church. Butler is now a sta- tion and has a neat church and parsonage. Montevallo still retains its identity and is developing slowly. Pineville is a good circuit and has a parsonage located at Pineville, secured by J. L. Hagler. J. Munsey Carter was licensed to preach and recommended to the Annual Conference by
IS59. 303
this circuit. There is a camp ground on Buffalo Creek. I cannot give the date of organizations and the building of churches. It was taken from the Neosho circuit, in the sketch of which the names of leading members are given. Hermitage, now Cross Timbers, licensed J. F. Hogan to preach, also Andrew Lopp, and probably some others. I think J. L. Logan entered the Annual Conference from this circuit.
1858.
In the Missouri Conference the Weston district takes the name of St. Joseph this year and Truxton circuit, Princeton, West Point, Macon City, Greencastle, Unionville and Fabi's missions appear. I regret that I have not data from which to write sketches of these charges. Macon developed rapidly and soon dropped her mission attire and donned the robes of a station, and has twice-in 1851 and 1 862-entertained the Missouri Conference. Also in 1867, she took her place at the head of a district, which she still holds.
In the St. Louis Conference Warsaw district takes the name of Jeffeison City, and Gayoso, Chalk Bluff and Enon are new appointments. Gayoso is still intact, but the others had only a brief existence.
1859.
In the Missouri Conference this year Gallatin district first appears, Weston reappears and Savannah disappears. Mexico, Chillicothe and Canton are made stations, and New Franklin circuit and Ridgely mission enter the list of appointments. Mexico has twice entertained the annual Conference and Chillicothe has done so three times. I regret
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