Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. I, Part 108

Author: Conard, Howard Louis, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: New York, Louisville [etc.] The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors
Number of Pages: 856

USA > Missouri > Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. I > Part 108

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new movement. some promment munsters already advocating reform. Among these were such men as that .eloquent and polished gentleman David S. Burnet, Dr. Robinson. A. B. Green. Philander Green. . Avlette Raines. Harrison Jones, and the four Errett brothers. The Western Reserve was at first the chief field of their operations. Here they were aided by the Campbells, father and son, and a great company of the people, with many of their ministers, embraced what was called the "new faith." but what was really the old faith, as old as the New Testament Scriptures. This movement became known as the Disciples' Church, chiefhy because there was already in the field a body of re- formers known as Christians, who were Uni- tarian and Pedobaptist, and with whom the new movement had no sympathy.

The Disciples in Ohio have become an im- portant factor among the religious forces of that great State. Cincinnati has been for many years considered a sort of headquar- ters, and the Board of Missionary Work. with their secretaries, are located there. The Christian Woman's Board of Missions is in Indianapolis, Indiana, and that of Church Ex- tension in Kansas City, Missouri.

Indiana in an early day became active in the restoration movement. and had among its early ministers such men as John O'Kane, Love Jameson, John B. New. James Mat- thews. 11. R. Pritchard and Benjamin Frank- lin.

From Kentucky, Ohio. Indiana and Illi- nois, but especially from

Christian Church Kentucky, there came In Missouri. with the early settlers of Missouri a considerable body of men and women already committed to the new movement. Such preachers as Samuel Rogers, Thomas and James Mc Bride, Thomas Thompson, William Reed. Thomas M. Allen, Marcus Wills, Joel H. Haden. Dr. David T. Morton, Jacob Creath. Jr .. John Shanks. Esom Ballinger. Henry Thomas, . Al- len Wright, and others less prominent, were on Missouri soil, some of them before the State was admitted to the Union, and all of them soon thereafter. They wrought in the centers of the sparse population, but preach- ing for the most part in the country, and neglecting the cities, which will account for the fact that even to-day the church has such meager numbers in the larger cities which

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have grown up in the State. Before these pioneers had all passed away, there came a younger generation of gifted men, to whom the church is greatly indebted. These were for the most part men who had enjoyed bet- ter educational advantages than had their predecessors. Many were graduates of Bethany College, in Virginia, a college founded and presided over by Alexander Campbell, and some were graduates of other institutions ; none, however, had been gradu- ated from any theological seminary. The Bethany graduates were Alexander Proctor, Moses E. Lard, John W. McGarvey, Noah W. Miller, William H. Robinson, Henry S. Earl, H. H. Haley, John A. Brooks, B. H. Smith, James A. Meng, A. E. Higgason, G. H. Plattenburg, F. W. Allen, and perhaps others whose names are not now recalled. From the University of Missouri came L. B. Wilkes, Joseph K. Rogers, John C. Risk, T. P. Haley, and later John H. Duncan, Richard Gentry, L. H. Otto and G. A. Hoffman. Other institutions and other States gave the church many strong men, such as S. S. Church, from Illinois; David P. Henderson, Dr. James Shannon, president of the Mis- souri University ; A. B. Jones, of Tennessee ; · William J. Pettigrew, of Pennsylvania ; J. W. Monser, of Illinois, and others of equal abil- ity and prominence. In still later years, Ken- tucky University has contributed many of her sons, who have done, and are still doing, splendid service for the cause for which the church stands. Among these were J. W. Mountjoy, J. H. Hardin, Charles B. Edgar, O. A. Carr, W. H. Oldham, James B. Jones, A. W. Kokendoffer and others. It must also be remembered that Christian University (noted elsewhere) has also contributed very largely to the preaching force of Missouri, and many of the brightest and most success- ful of the younger ministry were prepared for their work in this deserving institution. Mention must also be made of that large and efficient number of preachers who, without the advantages of collegiate education, have done splendid service for the church.

Very early in the history of the church in Missouri, the wise leaders Educational Institutions. began to plead for better educational advantages for the young people of

the church. It was a singular providence that in order to supply this need it was de-

termined to build a first-class college for young ladies under the splendid motto: "No distinction of sex in the realm of thought." Christian College, at Columbia, was, there- fore, founded in 1850, and began its splendid career under the presidency of that accom- plished scholar and peerless teacher, John Augustus Williams, of Kentucky. Whatever success has crowned the efforts of the minis- try in the State is largely due to the hundreds of noble Christian women who were educated in this splendid Christian school. Hard by the university, its presence has influenced a host of young men, the brothers, friends and sweethearts of the pupils of Christian Col- lege, to enter the university, and it has thus proved a double blessing to the church and to the State.

About the time of the founding of Chris- tian College. D. P. Henderson and others conceived the idea of establishing a great university at Canton. It was placed in the northeastern corner of the State, on an ele- vation near the town, which overlooked parts of three great States. It was hoped to make it the great school of the churches in Mis- souri, Illinois and Iowa. A splendid building was erected, and considerable progress was made toward its endowment, but the Civil War came on, securities were lost, and the school was practically broken up. In the meantime both Iowa and Illinois had estab- lished colleges of their own, the public school system was enlarged, and our normal schools and the State University were more and more the favorites of the public. As a conse- quence Christian University, with very little endowment, has had a hard struggle in the contest. She has, however, proved an im- portant factor in the educational advance- ment of the State. Her graduates and stu- dents are found in the pulpit, at the bar, in the medical profession, in the halls of State and national legislation, and a great com- pany of both men and women are among the inost honored and useful citizens of the State.

In later years other schools and colleges were founded, too many, indeed. but their overzeal must be put down as evidence that the church has ever been the friend of lib- eral culture. After the Civil War, which left so many desolated homes, the cry of orphan girls touched the great heart of the church, and the Female Orphan School was born. From this institution, both at Camden Point,

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its former location, and at Fulton, have come many of the very best and most liberally edu- cated women of the State. Many of these are consecrated teachers, while many others are honored wives and mothers. Without the advantages freely given them at this school, they would have lived in obscurity. and some of them would have been burdens to society. No greater or better work has been done by the church than this provision for orphan girls. It is hoped that some large- hearted and benevolent man or woman may be raised up who will lift it out of trouble and ·complete its endowment.

The Missouri churches have contributed somewhat to the meager Church Literature. literature of the denom- ination. Rev. J. W. Mc- Garvey, who was for several years a Missouri preacher, published a "Commentary on Acts." which had an extensive sale, and is still much in demand. Moses E. Lard, while a pas- tor in Liberty, published a volume, "Lard's Review of Jeter's Book." the latter entitled "Campbellism Examined." This book also had a wide circulation, and was never ex- celled as a logical and forcible presentation of the plea for which the churches stand. Its spirit and tone were sometimes harsh, but eminently characteristic of the times in which it was written. George W. Longan was the author of several books, and contributed a large number of weighty articles on current issues to the weeklies and to the "Christian Quarterly." T. P. Haley wrote a volume of historical and biographical sketches of Mis- souri churches and preachers, published tin- der the title, "The Dawn of the Reformation." Dr. Garrison, of St. Louis, has been a volu- minous writer, not only in the excellent weekly which he edits, but in several volumes, chiefly devotional in character. The little work styled "Alone with God" has been read by thousands, and has strengthened their faith and deepened their piety. D. R. Dungan, now president of Christian University, has published several volumes in the form of re- ligious fiction, the most popular of which is styled "On the Rock." Weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies, of more or less literary merit. have been published from time to time by Missouri preachers. At present "The Chris- tian Evangelist" may be said to be the organ of the Missouri churches, so far as they have

one, for all papers and magazines are indi vidual of corporate enterprises. The churches are composed very largely of the reading class, and the journal named has a wide cir- culation. There are other worthy papers, but of less note.

In mention of ministers in this article, no titles have been used,

General and except in one or two in- stances. It is not to be Statistical. inferred, however, that the omission is out of want of respect for them. nor that they are all without literary or honorary degrees, or that all are equal in learning. In the attempt at restoration, great stress was laid upon the value of scripture precedent, and since no apostle or New Testament minister bore any title, hon- orary or otherwise. it became the unwritten law in the church that their ministers must bear no titles. Yet. in later years. a few brethren have received the degree of doctor of divinity or doctor of philosophy from the colleges in which they were educated, and by courtesy a large number have become doctors. While it is fitting that real literary and scientific merit should receive recogni- tion, it is really doubtful whether the preacher of the Gospel of Jesus, who said, "Be ye not called master." ought to be encouraged to seek such distinction.

The churches in the State have multiplied rapidly, especially since the Civil War. At the last convention, held in Moberly, in Sep- tember, 1900, the corresponding secretary of the State Board of Missions reported 1.400 congregations organized for Christian work, about 800 ministers of the gospel and 157.000 communicants. The latter class represent not less than 600,000 souls, each communicant representing at least four others in sympathy with the church and com- mitted to its keeping. In government, the churches are congregational and independ- ent, but for missionary and educational work there is voluntary co-operation with a com- plete organization. During the past year there was raised for missions, at home and abroad, the sum of $85,000. The church property in the State is roughly estimated to be worth $2,500.000. More new church buildings have been erected in the last decade than in any other ten years of its history. The growth has been particularly rapid in the

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central and northern counties. In one, on the north side of the Missouri River, there are twenty-two churches.

The growth of the church in Kansas City has been very marked in In Kansas City. recent years. The rapid development of the city has brought members from all parts of the country, but especially from the counties in the State where the church is strongest. The First Church was organized late in the '50's, and until some years after the Civil War there was but one congregation in the city. There are now twelve congregations, with four in Kansas City, Kansas, with an aggre- gate membership of 5,000 souls. At no time in its history has the church been more united, harmonious and aggressive, and at no time has its growth been more rapid or its outlook more encouraging than it is to-day.

THOMAS P. HALEY.

The first congregation of Christians in Missouri, willing to be

The Church in known as Christians only.

St. Louis. or Disciples of Christ, was organized in St.

Louis, February 19, 1837, by Robert B. Fife, not a preacher, but a devout and faithful man of God. For a time the congregation met in the Sheppard Schoolhouse, opposite the courthouse, but by death and removal their number was so reduced that they were com- pelled to cease meeting as a separate congre- gation. The few members who remained met with the Baptist Church, on the north- west corner of Third and Chestnut Streets, until the year 1842, when the church was reorganized, Robert B. Fife still being the leader.

Meetings were held in the Wainwright Schoolhouse, then in Lyceum Hall, northeast corner of Pine and Third Streets, until finally the congregation bought a lot on the corner of Sixth and Franklin Avenue and erected a modest frame structure. Outgrowing these quarters, they later built a two-story brick church on the west side of Fifth Street, now Broadway, north of Franklin Avenue.

In 1863, on account of the growth of the business section, the church disposed of its Broadway property and bought an Episcopal Church on the corner of Seventeenth and Olive Streets, where it remained until about the year 1889, when it built and moved to the

stone building in which it now worships, on Locust Street, near Compton Avenue. Among the ministers who served this First Church were the following : Joseph S. Patton, Samuel S. Church, Alexander Proctor, B. H. Smith, Henry H. Haley, W. J. Pettigrew, John A. Brooks, W. H. Hopson, O. A. Carr, T. P. Haley, W. E. Hall, J. C. Tully, O. A. Bar- tholomew, J. L. Parsons, W. A. Foster and the present incumbent, Frank O. Fannon.

When the First Church moved west the Second Church was organized, meeting for a number of years at Eighthand Mound Streets, now in a commodious brick buikling at Elev- enth and Tyler. Its ministers have been Al- fred Padon, William Hatch, E. V. Rice, Albert Myles, H. T. Buff, Rev. Anderson, J. H. Smart, J. A. Berry, Chaplain George G. Mul- lins, W. W. Hopkins, J. M. Hoffman and A. B. Moore.

In the year 1871 differences arose in the First Church over the use of instrumental music in religious worship. Those who main- tained that it was entirely legitimate were dis- missed, and organized the third congregation, known as the Central Christian Church, which met for a time in a hall on the corner of Fourteenth and St. Charles Streets. Sub- seqnently it occupied a building on Twenty- third and Washington Avenue, and after sell- ing this and meeting in Pickwick Theater and Garrison Hall, it built the brick church it now occupies, on Finney Avenue, near Grand. This congregation has been served by the fol- lowing ministers: D. P. Henderson, Enos Campbell. Joseph H. Foy, J. H. Garrison (pulpit supply), Calvin S. Blackwell, J. M. Trible, R. C. Cave, G. A. Hoffman (pulpit supply) and Frank G. Tyrrell.

In January, 1800, during the ministry of R. C. Cave, a division occurred in this congre- gation over the fundamentals of Christian faith. It was a severe test for many and re- sulted in the loss of about one-third the mem- bers, with the pastor, who organized what is known as the Non-Sectarian Church, on Lin- dell and Vandeventer Avenues, repudiating the New Testament basis of the church.

The Fourth Church in St. Louis was organized March 19, 1882, meeting for a while in a hall at 4106 North Broadway, mov- ing into its present home at the corner of Penrose and Blair Streets, August, 1886. It has been served by the following preachers : J. A. Berry, Don DeSchullie, Gay Waters, B.

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W. Johnson, T. W. Grafton, W. B. Young. J. H. Foy. J. T. Boone, W. H. Johnson and W. H. Kern, the present pastor.

The Fifth Church, 3331 South Seventh Street, was organized in July. 1889, growing out of a mission conducted by W. H. Hop- kins and others, members of the Second Church. It has been served by W. II. Kuhne, E. H. Kellar and W. F. Haman, the present incumbent. The sixth congregation, the MIt. Cabanne Church, was organized on January 1, 1891, and installed at once in the neat stone building on the corner of King's Highway and Morgan Street. O. A. Bartholomew, G. A. Hoffman and D. R. Dungan have been its pastors, the latter being in charge now.

The seventh congregation, known as Reu- lah Church, grew out of a mission Sunday school conducted by the Mt. Cabanne Church. It was organized September 3. 1893. in a new chapel, which had been erected for it. E. M. Smith has been the efficient pastor of this church from its organization. On April 1. 1894, the eighth congregation was organized as the Compton Heights Christian Church. It occupies a brick chapel on the corner of California and St. Vincent Avenues, and has been ministered to by J. T. Boone. W. B. Young, J. L. Parsons and W. W. Sniff.

The church at Tuxedo, one of the suburbs of St. Louis, was organized January 6, 1895. by the work of O. A. Bartholomew. E. N. Tucker and Luther Moore have been its pas- tors. On June 3. 1894. O. A. Bartholomew built and organized the West End Church. corner Plymouth and Hamilton Avenues, and has preached for it since.

Out of the preaching of W. A. Foster and others, the church at Ellendale was organized in the fall of 1896. after a protracted meeting conducted by H. E. Monser. J. G. Encell. E. N. Tucker and W. W. Hopkins have preached here. The twelfth church, the Ca- rondelet, grew out of a mission conducted by W. F. Haman and members of the Fifth Church, in the latter part of 1896. It was served for a time by J. L. Parsons and after- ward by S. R. Lewis.

Besides these twelvechurches. the Disciples of Christ have a colored church in South St. Louis, with its own church building, to which E. W. Hayes ministered as the first pastor. It is known as the Lasea Christian Church.

The East St. Louis, Illinois, church was or- ganized by J. T. Boone and his helpers, and

though in a different State, is really a part of the work of the Disciples in St. Louis İt 15 a flourishing church, and has been ministered to by F. R. Stutzman, It. R. Trickett. W R Jinnett, the present pastor, and others. The City Mission Board, to which much of the growth of latter years is due, was organized May 21, 1888. The Christian Woman's Be- nevolent Association has built and now con- ducts a fine Orphans' Home on Aubert Avenue, near the Suburban Railway The Christian Publishing Company, the largest publishing concern of the brotherhood. was organized in St. Louis in 1873.

FRANK G. TYRRELL.

There is no body of Christians that has spread with greater vigor in Missouri, or exhibited a greater adaptation to the habits and spirit of the people of the State than the Christians, or Disciples. In many cases they have invaded settled communities where the religious arrangement seemed established and complete, and in a few years built up a church of their own, equal in num- bers and influence to either of the okder ones : and in new communities where there is as vet no established order, they are particularly active, and frequently the first to open a place of worship. In the year 1900 there were in St. Louis and its suburbs 15 Christian churches, served by ministers eminent for learning, cloquence and zeal. and 5.705 members : there were in the State 1.400 organizations, with 157,000 members : 1.309 Sunday schools, with 103.149 teachers and scholars: 534 bodies of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor : 705 ministers : 1.275 churches with a capacity for 200,0 0 persons, and the value of the church property was about $2.500,000.

Christian County .- A county in the southwestern part of the State, 130 miles south and west of Jefferson City, bounded on the north by Greene and Webster Counties, on the east by Douglas County, on the south by Stone and Taney Counties, and on the west by Lawrence County. It lies on the elevated slope on the south side of the Ozark Range. Its area is 520 square miles, of which about forty-two per cent is under culti- vation : July 1. 1899. there were 3.080 acres of government land open to entry. In surface it is a succession of timber hills, val- leys and plains. Four-fifths of the county

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would be represented by a parallelogram slightly longer east and west than north and south, while the remainder is a northwestern projection called "the Leg," seventeen miles east and west, and four miles wide. The James Fork of White River flows southwardly through the northwest portion, and the main portion of the county is drained by Finley. Swan and Bull Creeks, flowing southwardly into White River. There are numerous natural caves, the most striking of which is Smallin's Cave, two miles northeast of Ozark, sixty feet high, with a width of 100 feet, from which issues a stream of sparkling water. The principal farm products are grain, cotton, fruit and poultry. There are large quantities of heavy oak, hickory, walnut and black jack timber, and the southern portion of the county abounds in pine. Lead and zinc underlie the entire region, and mines are worked profitably in some localities. Iron ore has been found, but remains undeveloped. The Springfield Branch of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway extends to Chadwick, and the main line passes through the north- west part of the county. The report of the commissioner of labor statistics shows that in 1898 the principal sur- plus products were : Wheat, 136,728 bushels ; hay, 59,100 pounds ; flour, 627,319 pounds ; cotton, 153.200 pounds ; poultry, 350,439 pounds ; eggs, 206,940 dozen; straw- berries, 1.317 crates; fresh fruit, 38,760 pounds ; canned goods, 692,805 pounds ; cattle, 3.346 head ; hogs, 20,595 head ; sheep, 7,267 head ; hides, 15,612 pounds. In 1898 there were 70 public schools, 87. teachers, 5.328 pupils ; and the permanent school fund was $10,033.73. In 1900 the population was 16,930. The first white settlers were John and William Pettijohn, from Ohio, in 1822; they were soon followed by John Pettijohn senior, and Thomas Patterson, who located on the James River, near the present line be- tween Greene and Christian Counties. In 1833 the first religious services were held, by a Methodist circuit rider named McMahon. at the house of William Friend, on Finley Creek. The same year, James Kimberlin set up a water mill at Ozark, and his son James set up another on Bull Creek. In 1834 a man named Sullivan had a blacksmith shop in Elk Valley, at the mouth of Finley Creek. In 1839 the public lands were opened to entry, and a large immigration set in. prin-

cipally from Kentucky and Tennessee, among them being the Farmer, Kimberlin and Hoover families. In 1853 lead mines were opened by C. D. Bray, since known as the Bray Mines, which produced upwards of 100,000 pounds prior to 1861. After the war, interest in mining was reawakened, and numerous small mines were opened in the Elk Valley, and in 1876 smelting works were erected. In 1860, in a test vote, 800 votes were cast against secession, and but 108 in its favor. In 1861 three companies of Union Home Guards were formed, and became part of an irregular regiment formed at Spring- field by Colonel John S. Phelps. At a later day the county became almost depopulated, the greater number of the males entering one or the other army, and after the restoration of peace the resettlement was long retarded for want of a railroad. Christian County was organized March 8, 1859, and was named at the request of Mrs. Thomas Neeves, an aged woman, in honor of her native county in Kentucky. An attempt at organization was inade in 1857, but was defeated on ac- count of the existence of a Greene County railroad building debt of $80,000. The separation from Greene County, and the acquisition of portions of Webster and Taney Counties, to make the new county of Chris- tian, was effected through the influence of James H. Gideon, then Representative from Taney County, who was impelled to his action in compliance with the desires of the people living in the northern part of his own county, whose journey to their old county seat of Forsyth lay over rugged and often impassable `roads. Samuel D. Nelson, of Stone County; Archibald Payne, of Greene County, and John H. Hight, of Wright County, commissioners appointed by the Governor, selected Ozark as the county seat, in May, 1859. The first appointive officers were Jesse A. Marley, C. L. Dicker- man and William Chestnut as county justices, and J. K. Gibson, as sheriff ; D. G. Morrow was appointed clerk. At the election in August, 1859, H. P. Greene was elected the first Representative. In 1860 the sale of pub- lic lots brought $4,000. A two-story frame courthouse was erected, which in 1865 was burned by incendiaries in order to remove evidence against wrongdoers in criminal cases. A brick structure was erected in its stead, at a cost of $7.775.

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Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. I, Part 108

Author: Conard, Howard Louis, ed. 1n Publication date: 1901 Publisher: New York, Louisville [etc.] The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors Number of Pages: 856

Author: Conard, Howard Louis, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: New York, Louisville [etc.] The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors
Number of Pages: 856