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 42
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 42
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Since its reorganization the Methodist Episcopal Church
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South, of Fillmore, has been greatly blessed, and at this time is in a very prosperous condition, with an active membership of about eighty or eighty-five. Rev. McClintock is the present efficient pastor. The officers are Samuel Shoemaker and J. L. Denney, stewards; J. V. Berry, J. L. Denney and Samuel Shoemaker, trustees.
Of the earliest efforts to establish the Presbyterian Church in Fillmore, no record now remains, the families of that faith who resided here in the early history of the country having moved away or passed into the life beyond. It is manifested, however, that there were such, and that they felt the want of church asso- ciation. Accordingly, in an early day, an organization was effect- ed on what is known as " Round Prairie," a few miles southeast of the village. After an existence of several years a portion of this society united with the Flag Springs congregation, and or- ganized the Old School Presbyterian Church of Savannah, while a portion of the members, not wishing to go so great a distance to worship, established a society in Fillmore, erecting a frame house of worship in the village about the year 1858 or 1859. The Fill- more society, however, never attained to any great degree of pros- perity, and after a feeble existence of twenty or twenty-five years was finally abandoned, and the building sold to the Christians (Disciples ).
The Christian Church was early represented in the north - western part of Andrew County, but a number of years elapsed before any attempts at an organization were inaugurated. The first meetings, so far as now known, were held in the Lincoln Creek schoolhouse, by Elder William Trapp and others, whose earnest and effective advocacy of the Bible, alone, as a rule of faith and practice, culminated in the organization of a flourishing society, which subsequently erected a large stone house of wor- ship, a short distance south of Fillmore. This society has in- creased rapidly in membership, and at this time is one of the strongest and most aggressive religious organizations in An- drew County, numbering between 200 and 300 members. In 1886 it was decided to hold worship a part of the time in Fill- more. Accordingly the Presbyterian Church building was pur- chased and refitted, since which time public services have been conducted alternately here and at the stone church.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
There are in Jackson Township, additional to the churches mentioned, several other religious organizations, all of which are reported in fairly prosperous condition.
WHITESVILLE CHURCHES.
The pioneers of Platte Township were a church going people, and the gospel appears to have been introduced into this part of the county at a very early day. Ministers of the Protestant Method- ist Church conducted public worship at the residences of Rev. Mr. Southwood and Lewis Shelton near the falls of Platte River, and during the early settlement of the country camp meetings were frequently held near the southern limits of the township. An organization of this branch of the church was brought about in an early day, but after an existence of several years it was aban- doned. The Baptists followed in the wake of the Methodists, and, while the country was still new, organized a society about five miles northeast of Whitesville, which was known by the name of Hickory Creek Church. In tracing its early history, however, but limited satisfaction was gained, the records not being acces- sible, and the majority of the older members having long since passed away. The first meetings were held some time in the forties, and from the date of organization until the year 1855 a small country schoolhouse was used for public worship. In the above year it was mutually agreed to move the organization to Whitesville where, until 1857, the village schoolhouse was used at stated times for a meeting place. A reorganization was effected at the time of removal, and steps were taken for the crea- tion of a fund toward the erection of a suitable house of worship. In 1857 the means thus accumulated were utilized in the con- struction of a respectable frame edifice fully equal to the require- ments of the congregation, which continued to use it until the increasing membership foreshadowed the necessity of a building of enlarged proportions. Accordingly, in 1885, the old building was sold to the Methodists, and the present large frame structure, on a commanding eminence in the eastern part of the village, erected at an outlay of $1,600. The church when moved to the village had a membership of about twenty or twenty-five, a number which has since increased to 175. Like many other
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congregations, the Whitesville Church suffered during the troub- lous times of the war, but its increase in numbers and useful- ness since the termination of that unhappy struggle has been all that its most ardent friends could have hoped or reasonably de- sired. The following ministers have exercised pastoral control since about the year 1855 or 1856: Revs. William Woods, Jacob Woods, John H. Best, Mr. Dunn and Walter Dunnegan, under whom the church enjoyed a great measure of prosperity, and who ministered to the congregation with acceptance at different times. The pastor at this time is Rev. J. H. Best, under whose faithful ministrations and able pulpit efforts the church has been greatly edified and blessed. Officers of the congregation for 1887 are James F. Smith, clerk; T. K. Smith and N. B. Callahan, deacons; John Reece, Burnett Townsend and Samuel Scott, trustees. The Sunday-school, which is in a healthy and prosperous con- dition, has an average attendance of about sixty-five scholars. James F. Smith, superintendent; William Potter, assistant-super- intendent and David Bailey, secretary. Teachers: B. F. Town- send, Iona Townsend, William Potter, William Bowen, Melissa Younger, Sarah Younger, T. K. Smith, Asbury Agee, Mrs. Reece, Emma Tull and James Smith.
The history of the Christian Church at Whitesville dates from about 1847, at which time Elder Prince L. Hudgens, of Savan- nah, held a series of meetings in a small log schoolhouse one mile and a half east of the town, the immediate outgrowth of which was the organization of a society of about twenty members. Elder Hudgens visited the little congregation at intervals there- after and preached to large audiences, his occasional ministrations being the means of keeping alive and active the working elements of the original organization.
Subsequently, Elders Jordan, Wright and Benjamin King visited the society, as opportunity offered, and delivered their messages to the people, keeping alive the interest and accom- plishing much good in the community. They were both godly men, and although not skilled in the subtleties of modern theol- ogy, preached with great earnestness and effect, and were in- strumental in founding several societies of their faith in various parts of the county. Until about the year 1855 the congregation
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continued to meet at McGowan's schoolhouse, but in the latter year the organization was moved to Whitesville, where for a period of four years public services were regularly held in the village schoolhouse. In the meantime various ministers came and held series of meetings, by which means a lively interest was awakened, and the church inspired with a new vigor in the promulgation of its work. About the year 1859 means were devised for the erec- tion of a permanent place of worship, and in due time this long felt want was supplied by a frame building of proper size and dimensions, erected on a lot donated for the purpose by Lyman Hunt. This building answered well the purposes for which it was intended, until its destruction by fire in 1883, at which time measures were at once inaugurated to erect another and larger edifice. Work on the new building was pushed forward as rapidly as the circumstances would permit, and in less than a year the structure was completed and ready for use. The build- ing is frame, 34x48 feet in size, and with the lot represents a capital of about $2,000. Since its organization the church has enjoyed the pastoral labors of the following ministers: Will- iam Trapp, I. R. Shuff, Mr. Wright, Benjamin King, Elder Coffee, - Ellis, - Wright, J. W. Hopkins, Jonathan Huff- man, Moses Wilson, C. A. Gary, J. D. Oxford, E. Dunnegan, - Davis, - Hall, - - Cobb, Samuel Lowe and the present incumbent, Elder W. A. Chapman. The present officers of the congregation are F. M. Brockers, E. Agee and V. Wilson, elders; H. E. Bartholomew, P. E. Manning and John D. Roberts, deacons. Connected with the church is a flourishing Sunday-school, superintended at this time by P. E. Manning. The teachers are V. Wilson, Minerva Agee, Ada Cline, A. J. Agee and H. D. Phipps. Both society and school are in possession of elements developing into means for promoting the greatest good to those for whose present and future well being judicious and pains- taking efforts have been bestowed. While not so strong numeri- cally as formerly, the church has still an active membership of over 100.
About one-half mile east of Whitesville is a society of the Ger- man Baptist or Dunkard Church, which was organized in 1867. A house of worship was built a few years later, and the congre-
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
gation, although not so large as formerly, is still in a prosperous condition, with an active membership of from twenty-five to thirty. The pastor at the present time is Rev. W. H. H. Sawyer, of Kansas.
Starr Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church, in the northeast part of Platte Township, is a strong congregation numerically, and among its members are many of the leading citizens of the community. A neat and substantial frame house of worship was built several years ago, and the society, under the faithful minis- tration of able pastors, is at this time one of the leading Method- ist organizations in the northern part of the county.
The Presbyterians have an organization and a commodious temple of worship in the southeastern part of the township, with which the majority of the citizens of that community are iden- tified. Divine worship is held at stated intervals, and the society is reported in a prosperous condition.
FLAG SPRINGS RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
So far as known, the Cumberland Presbyterians were the pioneers of Christianity in that part of Andrew County em- braced within the present limits of Empire Township, but of the early history of their congregation little was learned. A society known as the Platte River congregation was constituted near the village some time in the forties, and for a number of years was the leading religious organization in the northeastern part of Andrew County. The first meeting place was a schoolhouse, a short distance south of the village, but as the congregation in- creased in numbers, a common cause was made in erecting a building of enlarged proportions. Ground for the same was procured about one mile south of the village, upon which a frame edifice, suitable to the wants of the congregation, was erected, and formally dedicated in due time. Here the society, with other religious organizations, met for worship for a number of years, and in the same building numerous revivals were held, the re- sults of which are still manifest in the community. The congre- gation, at one time very strong numerically, lost quite a number of its members by death and removal as the years went by, and the organization of other churches in the vicinity also had a
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tendency to retard its growth in some measure. In 1871, under the pastoral labors of Rev. Isaac Chivington, a reorganization was effected, and, in connection with the Methodists, the building was removed to Flag Springs and thoroughly remodeled, at a cost of $1,700. The name of the congregation was changed to correspond with that of the village, and since its reorganization the membership has been constantly increasing, there being at this time the names of over forty-one communicants upon the records. Since 1871 the following ministers have exercised pas- toral control over the congregation: Revs. I. Chivington, C. B. Powers, J. H. Norman, W. O. Perry and J. H. Tharpe. The present officers are as follows: Eli Knappenberger, John A. Clark, J. A. Dungan and George Rodecker, elders; Joseph Glick, treasurer.
A society of the Old School Presbyterian Church, known as the Flag Springs congregation, was organized in Empire Town- ship in an early day, but after an existence of several years the majority of its members united in 1849 with the "Round Prairie " congregation, and formed the Old School Church of Sa- vannah. Other members united with different societies, and but few communicants of the old church are now living in the com- munity.
Prior to the year 1850 there had been almost no Baptist ele- ment in the vicinity of Flag Springs. John White and his fam- ily, leading members of that denomination in what is now Ro- chester Township, moved to Flag Springs in 1853, and through his efforts ministers of the church visited the community from time to time and conducted public worship at his residence and the Cumberland Presbyterian building south of the town. In the meantime, through the earnest efforts of Mr. White, the few Bap- tist families living in the neighborhood were gathered together, and others moving into the community, soon led to the necessity of a permanent organization, the preliminary steps necessary to the accomplishment of which were taken in 1855. The Platte River Church was regularly constituted that year by Revs. Lewis Allen and Jonathan Miller, and at the meeting for organization the names of the following members were duly recorded: John White, Elizabeth White, James Y. Moody, Franklin Moody, Sallie
18A.
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
Moody, Rebecca Moody, John Clark, Mrs. John Clark, Jane Clark, Celia Clark, Preston Clark, Oliver Jessy, - Jessy, Fielden Shaw and Catherine Shaw.
A little later the society was increased by numerous addi- tions, among whom are remembered John Miller and wife and members of their family, the Meek family, Henry Bosworth and wife, the Scott family and many others whose names can not now be recalled. For several years succeeding its organiza- tion the church enjoyed great prosperity, and unlike nearly all religious organizations of the county the difficulties growing out of the divided sentiment during the war did not succeed in break- ing up the congregation. Meetings were regularly held during that troublous period, and at its close a spirit of harmony was at once renewed, which has characterized the deliberations of the society ever since.
The little log schoolhouse on the Boyle's farm south of Flag Springs was the meeting place until 1858, when the use of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was secured for one-fourth of the term, and it was in the latter that public worship was held until about the year 1866 or 1867.
The meeting place was then changed to the Miller school- house, a short distance west of Mr. White's place, and at times Mr. White opened his dwelling for the accommodation of the congregations.
In 1873 the present frame house of worship, 28x42 feet in size and costing the sum of $1,300, was erected and formally ded- icated.
The first ordained deacons were J. Y. Moody and F. Shaw. Franklin Moody was the first church clerk. The original name of the church was dropped a few years ago, and that of the Flag Springs Baptist Church substituted. The following is a list of the pastors who have ministered to the congregation since 1855: Revs. Jonathan Miller, David Anderson, N. Roberts, Robert Vancleve, J. H. Best, T. N. O'Brian, J. E. Frazee, J. E. Moore, I. T. Williams, B. F. Rice and G. W. Ball.
The membership at this date numbers about ninety, and the church is one of the prosperous societies of the St. Joseph Asso- ciation. The following are the officers of the congregation for
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
1887: William McIntire, W. W. Clark and F. A. Smith, deacons; H. Miller, clerk; John Miller, William McIntire and W. W. Clark, trustees. The Sunday-school, under the superintendency of J. K. White, has an average attendance of about thirty-four, nearly all of whom are members of families belonging to the congregation. The teachers at this time are J. H. Dungan, Annie Elrod, Martha Blevens, Mary Files and Theodosia Files.
The history of Methodism in what is now known as Empire Township, dates from a very early day, ministers of the denomi- nation having visited the sparse settlements from time to time, and conducted public worship in groves, schoolhouses and the residences of pioneers. It was not until a late year, however, that a permanent organization was effected, the history of the Flag Springs class dating from about 1864. The leading spirit in bringing about the organization was Rev. L. V. Morton, through whose instrumentality a class of eight or ten members was constituted, among whom were the following: Amos Chap- man and wife, Calvin Blodgett and family, George Howell and family. After its organization the class was attached to the Fill- more circuit, and until 1871 meetings were regularly held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In that year the two societies contributed sufficient means to remodel the building and remove it to the village, since which time it has been used alter- nately by the two congregations. The pastors have been Revs. L. V. Morton, F. S. Beggs, H. G. Breed, Mr. Hile, J. G. Thompson, Charles Balsom, James Showalter, O. S. Middleton, Mr. Jewett, John Wilkerson, S. H. Enyart, Eri Edmonds and the present pas- tor, Rev. Mr. Enyart. The present membership is about thirty- five. E. R. Davis is class leader; W. J. Clark and J. M. Shep- herd, stewards. A large and flourishing Union Sunday-school is maintained by the Methodist and Presbyterian societies, of which the following are the officers and teachers for 1887: Eli Knap- penberger; superintendent; Dr. William Lockett, assistant super- intendent; William Walker, treasurer; Charles Clark, secretary; Fred Rodecker, chorister; William Lockett, J. M. Shepherd, J. L. Yates, Joseph Glick, Carrie Trotter and W. J. Clark, teachers. Average attendance is about fifty.
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
Prairie Presbyterian Church, in the northeast part of Empire Township, is a prosperous congregation, ministered to at the present time by Rev. Mr. Weaver. The house of worship is a substantial frame edifice, well finished and furnished, and the society, which includes in its membership the leading citizens of the community, is reported in a very flourishing condition.
Platte Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church South, a point on the Savannah circuit, was organized in Empire Township shortly after the close of the war, since which time it has enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity. A neat frame building was erected several years ago, and the congregation under the pastoral labors of Rev. McClintock now numbers seventy-five members.
Bedford Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church South, in the southwestern part of Empire Township, was organized late in the sixties, and at this time has an active membership and a sub- stantial house of worship. Rev. Mr. McClintock, of Savannah, preaches for the congregation at regular intervals, the church being a point on the Savannah circuit.
CHURCHES IN SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
It is difficult at this remote day to give anything like a de- tailed history of the early religious organizations in the southern part of Andrew County, as no record of their proceedings are now extant. It will be remembered that in what are now Lincoln and Jefferson Townships were made some of the first settlements of the Platte Purchase, and with the pioneers came the pioneer preacher, who visited from cabin to cabin, exhorting, counseling, reproving, as occasion might demand, and in every dwelling was a welcome guest. These pioneer soldiers of the cross, princi- pally Methodists, were in the main men of homely address, but wonderfully effective in their self-denying earnestness. Accord- ing to the most reliable information accessible, religious serv- ices appear to have been held among the settlements of Lincoln and Jefferson Townships as early as 1839 or 1840, and in 1841 the first class was organized about one and a quarter miles east of the present site of Amazonia. Among the early members of the class were B. F. Porter and wife, William Clemmens and wife, K. G. Bond and wife, Ray Taylor and wife, Claypool Fal-
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lis and wife, and others. A hewed-log building with puncheon floor, long windows and an immense fireplace was erected in 1842 on the land of William Clemmens, and in the early days was known by the name of ."Greenwick" Church. Here, early in the forties, and for several years thereafter, were held large camp meetings, and the place became widely known throughout the religious communities of the Platte country. The following are remembered as early preachers in this part of the country, namely: Revs. Aldridge, Claypool, Waugh, Baxter, Anthony, Clemmens, Wheaton, Green, Robison, Taylor, Thompson, Mar- vin (who afterward became a bishop of the Methodist Episco- pal Church), Redman, Develin, Calloway, and many others whose names have faded from the memory of the old settlers. About the year 1844 or 1845, the organization was moved to where the town of Boston was subsequently laid out, and in 1850 a frame house of worship was commenced, but never completed. A re- organization of the old class was effected a number of years ago, and after the platting of Amazonia a lot was procured in that village, and a building erected thereon at a cost of about $1,500. The church has maintained an unbroken existence since the earli- est settlement of the country, and at this time is in a prosperous condition, numbering about forty members. Rev. T. H. Rob- bins, of Savannah, is pastor.
AMAZONIA CHURCHES.
The German Reformed Church was organized about the year 1867, the first meetings having been held in the village school- house. A large community of this faith settled in Lincoln Town- ship many years ago, and at this time their society meeting at Amazonia is one of the most prosperous religious organizations in Andrew County. The house of worship erected in 1883 is a model of church architecture, and represents a capital of about $2,500. The church has made substantial progress since its re- organization, and possesses in a large degree the elements of suc- cess necessary to insure its continuance. Pastor in charge is Rev. Mr. Zeigler.
Christian Church of Amazonia was organized about the year 1860, by Elder William Trapp, who for some time thereafter con-
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
ducted public worship in private residences and the schoolhouse, doing effective work in the meantime toward promulgating the religious views peculiar to the church.
Subsequently the Methodist Church was tendered the con- gregation which still meets in the same, having as yet no build- ing of their own. The membership at this date numbers about sixty. Elder Messick preaches for the congregation at regular intervals.
In 1870 Bishop Robertson, of St. Joseph, established a mis- sion of the Episcopal Church at Amazonia, with a membership of six persons, a number which has since been increased to six- teen. Services have been held in a store room fitted up for the purpose, and since its organization Rev. John L. Bennett and Mr. L. T. Mintern have ministered to the spiritual wants of the few communicants. Services are held every Sunday and Sunday night by Mr. Mintern, and the Sunday-school, numbering forty scholars, has proved a valuable auxiliary to the mission.
At the village of Jamestown, there was organized in an early day a Baptist Church, which had an existence for a number of years, many of the first settlers identifying themselves with the congregation. Rev. Mr. Williams was an early preacher of this denomination, and, in addition to ministering to the Jamestown society, held meetings in various places throughout the country.
Contemporary with the Baptists, ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church visited the settlements in the southern part of the county, and some time early in the forties a society was organized at Jamestown, to which Rev. Henry Eppler and others preached from time to time. At one time, in the early history of the county, there were four church organizations at James town, to wit: Regular and Missionary Baptists, Methodists, and Cumberland Presbyterians, all of which were well supported for some years. The Regular Baptists still keep up an organiza- tion, which meets for worship in a Union Church building, erected a few years ago by the citizens of the community, for the use of all denominations. The membership at this time is quite small, but worship is regularly conducted by Elder Mr. Pollard.
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