USA > Missouri > DeKalb County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 41
USA > Missouri > Andrew County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 41
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Among the pastors since the war were the following, whose names, however, are not given in the regular order of succession: Revs. Ellis, Mumpower, Atterberry, Sherman, Davis, Hawkins, Pogue, Linn, Parker, Shackleford, Tindall, Currigan, Conwell, Bird, Milam, Bone, and the present incumbent, Rev. C. C. Mc- Clintock. By successive appointments Rev. McClintock has re- mained with the church for a period of three years, and during his term of service unusual interest has been awakened through the agency of his extraordinary pulpit efforts. The church is the head of the Savannah circuit, and at this time numbers about fifty active members.
The present officers of the congregation are John McDaniel, steward; John Conner, John McDaniel, C. C. Keck and Smith Young, trustees.
The Sunday-school connected with this church is in a healthy and prosperous condition, and is the instrument of much good. John McDaniel is the efficient superintendent; Parker McKee, secretary, and Mrs. Netherby, treasurer. Teachers : Mrs. Ginther, Mrs. Mary Kirtley, Miss Flora Keck and Miss Luella Wakefield. Average attendance about forty.
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THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SAVANNAH.
Until about the year 1848 there was but one Methodist Church in Savannah, a brief sketch of which has already been given. The division of 1844, resulting in the formation of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, appears to have affected nearly all the Methodist congregations throughout Missouri, and as a result, local ties were secured and new classes organized. A class of the Methodist Episcopal Church, disclaiming all connec- tion with the southern branch, was formed in Savannah about the year above named, at which time the membership numbered per- haps twenty-five. One of the early pastors was Rev. A. H. Powell, whose earnest efforts in behalf of the society soon had the effect of putting it upon a solid and permanent footing. For a num- her of years the congregation met for worship in the courthouse, Southern Methodist and Christian Church buildings, and it was not until about 1865 that measures were inaugurated to erect a house for the especial use of the society. With this object in view Rev. Samuel Huffman, presiding elder of the St. Joseph dis- trict, succeeded in arousing an interest in behalf of the enterprise which culminated in the purchase of a lot in Block 23, and work upon the proposed building at once began. The pastor in charge at the time, Rev. J. T. Boyle, heartily seconded the presiding elder's efforts, and progress on the house continued until in 1867 the basement of the building was completed and ready for use. Here the church met until sufficient means could be procured to complete the edifice, which was accomplished in 1870, under the supervision of Revs. Samuel Huffman and W. J. Martindale. The building is the largest and most commodious temple of worship in Andrew County, being in size 40x60 feet, and representing a cap- ital of about $7,000.
The substantial growth of this church dates from about the close of the late war, since which time it has greatly increased in membership and usefulness, being at this time the strongest re- ligious society in the city of Savannah. Its first period of prosperity began in 1865, during which and the following year the Savannah district, under the supervision of Elder Huffman, was strengthened by the addition of something like 2,600 or 2,800 members. Later, about the year 1875, the church,
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under the pastoral labors of Rev. B. T. Stauber, enjoyed a sea- son of great prosperity, and in 1886, during a series of meetings held by Rev. H. T. Robbins, there were added to the congregation between fifty and sixty members.
At this time the church is in a healthy condition and prosper- ous, the records showing an active membership of about 160. Since 1865 the following pastors have ministered to the church, from time to time: J. T. Boyle, J. W. Martindale, Samuel Huffman, John Dillies, B. T. Stauber, J. W. Caughlan, O. S. Middleton, Lucius Hawkins and H. T. Robbins, the last named being pastor in charge at the present time. Presiding elders of Savannah circuit since 1858 are as follows: Revs. J. H. Hop- kins, T. B. Bratton, William Wentz, Samuel Huffman, J. T. Boyle, Z. S. Weller, John Wayman, O. S. Middleton and J. J. Bentley.
The officers of the church for the year 1887 are as follows: T. M. Laney, W. B. Howard, A. Taylor, W. J. Hobson, W. B. Allen, John Taylor and E. W. Joy, stewards; A. Taylor, class leader; Eli Alderman, T. M. Laney, W. B. Allen, A. Taylor, S. B. Buckley, John Taylor and I. Crosby, trustees. The Sunday- school, under the supervision of the church during the past few years, has especially prospered, the present attendance averaging about 115.
The officers are W. H. Kinzer, superintendent; Belle Strock, assistant superintendent; F. O. Glazier, organist; Rachel Her- ren, secretary, and Fred Hartley, librarian. Teachers: Ida Ford, Hattie Howard, T. M. Laney, Ida Laney, Kate Comp- ton, Mrs. W. J. Hobson, W. J. Hobson, Mrs. H. T. Robbins, John Taylor, Belle Strock, Mrs. Purviance, Virgie Sayers, Mrs. Julia Glazier, Mrs. W. B. Howard and Miss Mattie Ent.
THE CHRISTIAN ( DISCIPLES ) CHURCH.
To Elder Duke Young is due the credit of sowing the first seed, which, under his careful culture, germinated, and in due time developed into what is known as the Christian Church of Savannah. As early, perhaps, as 1847 he was invited by some of the friends accepting his form of belief to visit the town and minister to their spiritual wants. Pursuant to these solicitations
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he came and labored successfully for some time, the results of his evangelizing being the organization of a church in Savannah, having the Bible alone for its rule of faith and practice. Elder Young preached with great acceptance, and during his pastorate, of about four years, the society increased in membership, so that as early as 1850 measures were inaugurated to erect a house of worship. Accordingly a lot on the corner of Fifth and Market Streets was procured, and the following year a substantial brick building was erected, the leading spirit in the movement being Elder Prince L. Hudgens, a prominent citizen of Savannah, and one of the earliest preachers of the church in Andrew County.
Elder Hudgens succeeded to the pastorate in 1852. He was a man of superior ability, and exerted an influence for good in the line of his calling, by his genial manner and excellent social qualities, in addition to his eloquent presentation of the doctrine peculiar to the church, calling many to communion with him. He labored as pastor until 1861, when, owing to certain dissen- sions growing out of political differences, the church ceased to meet, and for a time the building was used by a detachment of United States soldiers, stationed at Savannah.
Evincing strong feelings for the cause of the Confederacy, Elder Hudgens voluntarily abandoned the pastorate, and from 1861 until 1866 the church was practically dead, but few meet- ings having been held during that period. In the latter year a reorganization was effected, and Elder Hopkins chosen pastor, the duties of which he discharged in an able and satisfactory manner for some time, doing much toward establishing the con- gregation upon its former substantial footing.
In 1868 Elder W. C. Rogers commenced his labors with the congregation and was in turn succeeded by Elder Barrow, who preached with great acceptance for a limited period. After El- der Barrow the following preachers ministered to the church at different times: Elders Tully, Davis, Tate, Hardin, Williamson, Samuel and Joseph Lowe, - Stephens and J. W. Damon.
During the labors of the above the following ministers con- ducted meetings for the congregation at intervals: John Hardin, John Friend, Elders Carr and Hoffman.
Among the preachers who visited the city during the early
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history of the church, for the purpose of advocating the distinc- tive plea of the Disciples, and holding series of meetings, were Elders Payne, Campbell, Lard, Hopkins, Wyatt, Allen, Hand and others, whose able presentation of the truth did much toward dispelling a very general prejudice, and building up the con- gregation.
Elder Damon severed his connection as pastor, in November, 1886, from which time, until February, 1887, the church ceased to meet, except for Sunday-school, the society decreasing in numbers in the meantime.
In the latter year Elder John Friend, of Sidney, Iowa, began a series of meetings, which were continued from February 9 until the seventh day of the succeeding month, resulting in thirty- three accessions and a general reviving of the church. At the close of the meetings he was called to the pastorate, the duties of which he has since discharged in a very able and satisfactory manner, his labors having been greatly blessed by frequent ad- ditions. Elder Friend preaches for the church one-half the time, services every alternate Lord's day being conducted by leading lay members of the congregation. The condition of the church at this time is very prosperous, and the future outlook most encouraging. The membership numbers about ninety. The officers of the congregation are Joseph Carson and A. Kelley, Elders; N. Kirtley, E. E. Spear, Arthur Strader and Gist Bow- man, deacons.
In connection with the church is a flourishing Sunday-school, the officers of which are as follows: N. Kirtley, super- intendent; Miss Madge West, secretary; and Mrs. A. Kelly, treasurer. The teachers for 1887 are the following: Mrs. James Guest, Jennie Johns, Flora Spear, A. W. Strader, Mrs. F. T. McFadden, Ida Baker, Mrs. A. Kelley and Jesse Bair. The school numbers about seventy-five, including teachers and pupils.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
A Baptist Church was organized in Savannah about the year 1847 by Rev. Joseph Renfrow, who used the courthouse for a meeting place until 1849. The original membership of the so- ciety numbered about twenty, and from 1849 to 1858 worship
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was conducted in the Presbyterian, now the Catholic Church building. Among the pastors were Revs. Joseph Renfrow, Jonas Wilson, Matthias Cline and A. P. Williams, under whose minis- trations the society increased in numbers, having had at one time the names of about fifty members upon the records. The organ- ization of the Mount Vernon Baptist Church, a short distance north of Savannah, some time during the fifties, served to check the further growth of the city congregation, and by mutual con- sent the latter society was practically abandoned in 1858, the majority of the members uniting with the country church. The latter soon became one of the aggressive churches of the county, and at this time numbers nearly if not quite 200 members. The present temple of worship, two miles and a half north of Savan- nah, was erected about the year 1883, and is one of the finest specimens of church architecture in Andrew County. Rev. B. F. Rice, of St. Joseph, is pastor in charge, and his work for the congregation has already resulted in great and lasting good in the community.
About the year 1870 the members living in Savannah were reorganized into a society by Rev. William Hildreth, who visited the city from time to time, holding meetings in the Southern Methodist Church. About eighteen members went into the organization, but after a few years it was thought best to abandon the society, which was accordingly done in 1883 .. The last pas- tor was Rev. J. T. Williams, Jr.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Protestant Episcopal services have been held in Savannah from an early day, Rev. George Turner having been the first officiating clergyman. No attempts to establish a society were made, however, until the summer of 1872, at which time Rev. S. C. Blackiston began his missionary labors in Northwest Mis- souri, and organized a mission at Savannah, calling it St. Johns. I. N. Webster and C. W. Hale were among the organizers. In November, 1873, W. S. Greenlee and wife, Mrs. Mary Woodcock and others, were added by confirmation, and in May, 1874, O. E. Paul and family, Theodore Bailey and Miss Annie Morris were also added. In February of the same year plans were set on foot
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for erecting a church building. Lots were purchased, and the contract let, the building to cost independent of the foundation $1,087. A donation of $300 was made by Edward Kissam, Esq., of New York City, on the condition that the name of the church should be St. Marys, and that neither the missionaries nor pres- ent communicants should be adherents of or have a leaning toward what is known as the " Cummins' movement." The Rt. Rev. C. F. Robertson, bishop of the Diocese of Missouri, also donated $100. Rev. Mr. Blackiston resigned charge of the mis- sion in April, and the following June Rev. J. H. Eichbaum took charge, and continued therein until his resignation in August. In November the Rev. John Bennett, of Sussex, Wis., assumed his duties in charge of the mission, and on the 29th of Novem- ber the first services in the new house of worship were held. Up to that time services were held in the Catholic Church, now owned by Mr. Schuster. When occupied there was a debt on the new building of $500, and the lots, buildings, etc., had cost the sum of $1,800. Since then the debt has been practically dis- charged. When Rev. Mr. Bennett took charge there were seven- teen communicants. Since then the number has been increased to twenty. Rev. E. Victor Beales succeeded Mr. Bennett, and after him came successively Revs. Mr. Henry and Hatch. At this time there is no regular rector, services being held at irregu- lar intervals by ministers from St. Joseph.
THE CATHOLIC ORGANIZATIONS.
There are several Catholic families living in and around Sa- vannah, and an organization of that church was established in the city a number of years ago. Services are held at stated in- tervals in the building formerly owned and erected by the Pres- byterians, but now the property of Mr. August Schuster, a lead- ing Catholic of Andrew County, who purchased it for the purpose of a Catholic Church. The society is not strong in numbers, but among its members are some of the substantial citizens of Savannah.
In addition to the religious societies mentioned, the colored people of Savannah have two church organizations, both of which are reported in prosperous condition.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
CHURCHES AT BOLCKOW.
There are two prosperous religious societies in the town of Bolckow, the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal, the former of which dates its existence from about the year 1873.
Of the early history of the Bolckow Baptist Church but lit- tle was learned, but the first meetings appear to have been held shortly after the survey of the town, although no permanent or- ganization was effected until after the erection of a house of wor- ship, which was completed and ready for use in 1871. The build- ing is a handsome frame structure, with a seating capacity of about 400, and represents a capital of over $2,000. It stands in the eastern part of the village, and is a credit to the congrega- tion, which meets at stated intervals beneath its roof.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. J. F. Wood, who la- bored very earnestly and with great acceptance for the upbuild- ing of the church, and for the best interests of the cause he en- gaged to promote. He continued to labor for the congregation about six years, with marked success in his pulpit efforts and pas- toral relations. After his departure, Rev. John H. Best was called, who in turn was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. B. F. Rice, under whose ministrations the society has enjoyed an encouraging degree of prosperity. Indeed the finan- cial condition of the congregation is said to be most encourag- ing, and its past experience in spiritual growth warrants the expectation of a larger measure of Divine favor. The member- ship at this time numbers 100, and is constantly increas- ing. The officers of the congregation are Marion Wells, clerk; James Neely, deacon; John Townsend, treasurer; James Neely, Joseph Holtzclaw and Marion Wells, trustees. The Sunday- school is prosperous, and the workers therein are active and zeal- ous, doing all in their power to make the work interesting and beneficial. The average attendance is about sixty. Joseph Holtzclaw is superintendent.
Early in the seventies Rev. Lewis V. Morton, pastor in charge of the Barnard circuit, thinking that the newly founded town of Bolckow afforded a favorable opening for a Methodist Church, visited the village at intervals, and conducted public worship in the depot, which was generously opened for the use of
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the small congregation which gathered at these meetings. These services finally culminated in the organization of a class in 1873 or 1874, among the early members of which were the follow- ing: George K. Montgomery and wife, Joseph Montgom- ery and family, John Montgomery and wife, John Anderson and wife, J. G. Honnold and wife, Henry Miller and wife, Adam Miller and wife, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Williamson, Frank Williams, Mrs. Dr. Williams, Jonathan Roberts and wife, John Carpenter and wife, Nathan Coldstock and wife, Adam Miller, and others whose names were not given the writer. For a couple of years meetings were held in the depot, but in course of time this building became insufficient to meet the wants of a greatly increased membership, and steps were taken to supply those wants by the construction of a house in which to worship. Accordingly a lot was donated by John Anderson, and the erection of the present handsome frame edifice occupying the site was com- menced in 1875, and pushed forward toward completion, as rapidly as the magnitude of the undertaking would permit. It was completed and used for church purposes some time in the above year, and cost the sum of $1,200. Commencing with the organization of the class, the following are the names of the pastors who have officiated as circuit preachers to the present time, to wit: Revs. Lewis V. Morton, Isaac Shivington, Mr. Morehead, E. V. Roof, Robert Devlin, H. L. Powers, J. G. Thompson, Charles W. Miller, W. H. Stamp and Eri Edmunds, the last named being the present incumbent.
The officials of the church at this time are L. H. Deaton and Cornelius Edelman, class leaders; C. Edelman and Lewis Sar- geant, stewards; G. K. Montgomery, Henry Miller, John Car- penter, L. H. Deaton and G. M. Gregory, trustees. Present membership is about sixty-five. A Sunday-school is sustained throughout the year, which has an average attendance of sixty scholars; G. M. Gregory is superintendent. The teachers are C. Edelman, Mrs. S. J. French, Miss Annie Berger, O. Shoot, Annie Miller, Inez Jackson and Mrs. M. E. Gregory.
CHURCHES OF FILLMORE.
The introduction of Christianity into the northwestern part of Andrew County was cotemporary with the settlement of the
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country, and the "voice in the wilderness," calling the pioneers to repentance, was heard long before any organization was in existence, or houses of worship erected.
The Methodists were the pioneers of this section, and their early ministers were God-fearing men, who preached the old- fashioned gospel without a salary or choir; and a bugle solo in church would have called upon the rocks and mountains to crush them. They may not have been well versed in literature and scholastic divinity, but, fired with a holy zeal in the cause of their Master, they smote his Satanic Majesty " hip and thigh," when- ever they found him, and did much toward counteracting the prevailing evils of the times. For the first few years the settlers' cabins were used for meeting places, and the announcement that divine services would be held on a certain day was sure to attract a large concourse of people from the neighboring country, who assembled to worship God irrespective of church or creed. As early as 1840, traveling missionaries visited the sparse settle- ments, and, within a couple of years thereafter, small classes were established in what is now Fillmore Township, and the counties adjoining. These early meetings were well attended, and served to bring the people together in a social as well as a religious capacity. A small log schoolhouse, about half a mile south of the present site of Fillmore village, was used for public worship as early as 1844, and a little later meetings were held at stated intervals in a school building which stood on the Kenyon place, a short distance southeast of the town. The first class was or- ganized early in the forties, but by what minister is not now known, as the early records of the church have long since disap- peared, while the memories of the few old members living fail to recall the details of the organization. Among the early mem- bers of this class, however, were the following: Rev. Samuel Kenyon and wife, Thompson Kenyon and wife, Joseph V. Berry and wife, Karns Laughlin and wife, James Pearl and wife, Peter Wykoff and wife, James Bradford and wife, Abel Bradford and wife, O. Y. Gregory and wife, Harry Cole and wife, J. Collins and wife, Rev. Amos Collins and wife, Thomas Collins and wife, Dr. Dosier and wife, R. Dunn and family, David Bradford, Will- iam Bradford and others, whose names can not now be recalled.
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
Until about the years 1848 or 1849 meetings were held in the schoolhouses above mentioned, and in the meantime the society increased rapidly in numbers and influence, nearly all the settlers in the vicinity identifying themselves with the organiza- tion during the early years of its existence. In 1848 the class was moved to the village, and it was about that time that the soci- ety began to experience its first great trouble, growing out of the division of the Methodist Church in 1844.
By the stipulation of the division, the southern branch claimed the territory, while those of the northern wing, insisting that the provisions mutually agreed upon in the general confer- ence had been violated, refused to abandon the field, but contin- ued to hold meetings and organize societies. This state of affairs proved very disastrous to the peace of the local congregations in this part of the country, and upon several occasions it required the utmost efforts of the more conservative members to prevent scenes of actual violence. After a while, however, the difficulty was mutually settled by placing the matter before the congrega- tion, and allowing the members to decide with which branch of the church they wished to be identified. About fifteen decided to remain under the old name of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and be governed by the Northern Conference.
Accordingly they were regularly constituted a class by Rev. Taylor, and for some years met for worship in the village school- house. The names of the constituent members, so far as now known, are as follows: John Collins and wife, Amos Collins and wife, Peter Wykoff and wife, James M. Kenyon and wife, Harry Cole and wife, Karns Laughlin and wife, George Hoffman, and O. Y. Gregory and wife. Among the pastors and stated supplies since the reorganization were the following: Revs. Burns, Bow- man, Kelley, Sellers, Hopkins, Shivington, Allen, Chamber- lain, Graham, Hanley, Turner, Morton, Edmonds, Powers, Cow- ley, Balsom, Roof, Redburn, and the present incumbent, Rev. Warner.
In 1852 a frame house of worship was erected in the north- ern part of the village. It answered the purposes for which it was intended until 1881, when a building more in keeping with the growing congregation was erected, costing $1,200. The soci-
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ety is in a healthy condition, with a membership of about eighty. It is on a substantial basis, and, with a spirit of harmony charac- terizing its actions, possesses the ability to accomplish an unlim- ited amount of good in the community. The officers are Charles Gladfelter and M. Clark, class leaders; William Beale, steward; Rufus Ayres, Norton Gregory, William Beale and Karns Laugh- lin, trustees. The Sunday-school, under the superintendency of Milton Clark, is in a flourishing condition, and has an average attendance of about 100 scholars. The teachers for 1887 are as follows: W. G. Hine, K. Laughlin, Mrs. Hannah Bombarger, Miss Birdie Spicer, Miss Mary Gregory, Miss Nellie Spicer, Mrs. Emma Cole and Miss Addie Gregory.
As already stated there was but one Methodist class in Fill- more until 1848, at which time a division grew out of the trou- blous times then prevalent, resulting in the organization of two separate and distinct societies, both of which have since main- tained an existence. The organization of the southern branch was effected in a schoolhouse near the village with about twenty members, among whom were the following: Joseph V. Berry and wife, W. B. Wells and wife, James Bradford and wife and members of their family, Mr. Ayres and wife, John Con- nolly and wife, Richard Dunn and family, Squire Griffith and family, Mrs. Nancy Griffith and family, and others whose names were not given the writer. Until 1850 the services of the church were held in the schoolhouse. At that date, however, the build- ing, a commodious brick temple of worship on the main street of the village, was put under contract, the erection of which proved greatly embarrassing to the projectors of the enterprise. The house is a two-story structure, the original design having been to use it for the two-fold purpose of church and school. It cost the sum of $6,000, and was used by the congregation until about 1862. Two years later it was sold, and subsequently con- verted into a schoolhouse, for which it has since been used. Af- ter disposing of the building the society met for worship in the Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian Church buildings until 1881, at which time the present beautiful frame edifice was erected on Main Street at an outlay of about $1,200.
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