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 51
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 51
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Henry E. Glazier, one of the oldest resident lawyers of De Kalb County, is a native of Ohio, and came to Maysville in 1868. He read law at Chillicothe, Mo., with Messrs. McMillen & Norville, and later took a course in the law department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor. He was admitted to
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the bar in 1867, and the following year began the practice in Maysville, where he has since resided. Mr. Glazier has made a specialty of land litigation, and upon all matters pertaining to real estate he is a recognized authority. In connection with the legal profession he has been identified with other business trans- actions, being at this time editor and proprietor of the Register, and postmaster of Maysville. He practices in the courts of De Kalb and other counties, and carries on a large real estate business in partnership with K. B. Randolph.
Samuel G. Loring has been from the year 1865 in the active practice of the legal profession in Maysville. He is a native of Massachusetts, and began the study of law in the Cambridge law school, that State, in the year 1859. He was admitted to the bar in 1863, and engaged in the practice of his profession at Pierce City, Ill., to which place he moved the preceding year. Mr. Loring is well versed in the subtleties of legal science, and as a successful practitioner ranks among the best lawyers of the De Kalb bar. He has been several times elected prosecuting attorney, and in the discharge of his official duties displayed com- mendable judgment and rare ability. He is at this time senior member of the law and real estate firm of Loring & Riggs.
Daniel Perry is a native of Vermont, and a graduate of the Albany Law School, in which institution he completed his legal studies in the year 1868. He was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of New York, in March, 1870, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar of Nodaway County, Mo., at the city of Maryville. He came to De Kalb County in 1880, and since 1885 has been engaged in the practice of his profession at the city of Maysville. He is now a member of the law firm of Clark & Perry, which does an extensive legal and real estate business in De Kalb and neighboring counties.
John F. Clark came to Missouri in 1867, from his native State, Indiana. He pursued his legal studies as opportunities would admit, devoting such leisure as he could spare while engaged in other professions and occupations. He located in Maysville in 1874, and ten years later was admitted to the bar. Mr. Clark is a close student, and has already made commendable progress in his chosen profession. He makes a specialty of
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real estate, in which he has acquired a large and lucrative business.
Conspicuous among the young lawyers of Northwest Mis- souri is Kendall B. Randolph, a native of Logan County, Ill. He began the study of his profession in the office of T. W. Col- lins, of St. Joseph, and later read under the instructions of T. A. Gaines of Pattonsburg, Daviess County. In October, 1882, he was admitted to practice at the Maysville bar, where he soon acquired distinction on account of his superior power as an advo- cate, being at this time one of the finest public speakers in De Kalb County. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1884, and discharged the duties of that position with credit to himself and all concerned. Mr. Randolph, though but twenty-eight years of age, has already achieved more than a local reputation, and at this time is in the enjoyment of a large share of the legal busi- ness of De Kalb County.
Robert A. Hewitt, Jr., present county attorney, was born in De Kalb County, and read law in the office of Henry E. Glazier, Maysville. He was elected county attorney in November, 1886, and in addition to his official duties has a good, general practice. He is a deservedly popular attorney, a fine orator and safe counselor.
Frank B. Miller, of the law firm of Harwood & Miller, is a native of Ohio. He early determined to make the legal profession his life work, and to further his knowledge of the same, entered the office of Yocums & Robb, of Albia, Iowa, in 1868. Two years later he was admitted to the bar in Maysville, since which time he has practiced his profession in De Kalb County. Mr. Miller excels as a criminal lawyer, and is also well versed in the principles of common law, to which he has devoted a great deal of his attention.
I. F. Atterbury, one of the youngest members of the Maysville bar, began the study of law in 1879, with Doniphan & Reed, of St. Joseph. He subsequently graduated from Washington Uni- versity, St. Louis, and in 1882 was admitted to the bar in the city of St. Joseph, where he began the practice of his profession. In the fall of that year he came to Maysville, where he has since resided, making land litigation and real estate his specialties. He has already met with encouraging success in his profession, and has before him a promising future.
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W. F. Costello, the latest addition to the De Kalb County bar, native of Illinois, has been since 1866 a resident of Missouri. He began the study of law in 1882, and the following year entered the University of Michigan, from the law department of which he graduated in 1884. After graduation he went to Idaho, and began practice at the town of Atlanta, that Territory. In 1886 he came to Maysville, was admitted to the De Kalb County bar in October of that year, and has since been in the enjoyment of a successful general practice.
W. W. Riggs, is a native of De Kalb County, and read law in the city of Maysville. He is at this time a member of the real estate and law firm of Loring & Riggs, which does a large busi- ness in the courts and throughout the county of De Kalb and adjoining divisions.
Henry Boone is a native of Virginia and at the present time a practicing lawyer at the town of Union Star, De Kalb County. He began reading law about the year 1859, and in 1866 was admitted to the bar at Olathe, Kas. He came to De Kalb County in 1868, since which time his practice has been confined principally to the county. He has a lucrative business and enjoys the reputation of a safe counselor.
Philo M. Hatch, of Osborne, was born in the State of Vermont, and read law at Waukegan, Ill., in 1865, under the instructions of Francis Clark, of that city. He subsequently attended the law department of Douglas University, now the University of Chicago, and was admitted to practice in December, 1866. From that year until 1872 he practiced in the city of Chicago, and at the latter date located at Cameron, Clinton Co., Mo. Two years later he came to Osborne, where he has since resided, practicing his profession in the courts of De Kalb and other counties.
W. S. Herdon practices law at Stewartsville, and is in the enjoyment of a lucrative business. He gives attention to all matters of a legal nature, and stands well with his brethren of the De Kalb bar.
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RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
The subject of Christianity occupies a conspicuous place in the history of every enlightened community, and it is to the credit of the early settlers of Northwest Missouri that they were in the main a God-fearing people. Criminals and fugitives from justice, who generally hover on the confines of civilization, where there is no law to restrain or govern, except the public judgment that is crystalized into a restless force, flee before the light that shines from the star of Bethlehem as the morning mist disappears before the rising sun. As the cross advances the rough and turbulent recede, keeping pace with the frontier posts. They can not flourish in a Christian community. Infi- delity and ungodliness may array themselves against the Bible, and their clamors may be loud in the assemblies of the wicked, but they have not the courage to enter the sanctuary of a religious home, and listen to the earnest prayers of pious parents. as they point their children to the throne of the most High.
There were among the pioneers of De Kalb County, as is the case in all newly settled countries, a rough element, ignorant, vicious and worthless, but fortunately this element was com- prised of only a few people. Of the majority, their moral deportment was good, and as stated on a previous page, a spirit of honesty and personal worth early diffused itself through- out the various communities. Scarcely was the nucleus of a settlement formed ere steps were taken to counteract in some way the influence of the lawless and evil minded. This early led to efforts at religious organization and instruction, and often hymns of praise were mingled with the sounds of the pio- neer's ax.
The earnest teachings of the times were plain and unvar- nished, touched with no eloquence save a sincere desire to show men the way to better things by better living. There was as much sincerity and less hypocrisy then than now, and although unlearned in the subtleties of scholastic divinity, the early preachers were God-fearing men, and did much in their peculiar way toward developing the moral and religious characters of the early pioneers.
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From the most reliable information the Baptists appear to have been the pioneers of religion in De Kalb County, and are still well represented in different parts of the county. Elders Jesse Todd and John M. Evans are supposed to have been the first ministers of any denomination to proclaim the "good tidings that should be to all people" in the wilderness of the present De Kalb County. The former moved to the county as early as 1839, and settled in what is now Washington Township, where he was soon joined by several other families who had been members of Baptist churches in the country from which they emigrated. Through the instrumentality of Elder Todd, these settlers assembled from time to time for public worship, and about the year 1842 a church was regularly constituted, of which the following were early members: William Thornton and wife, Jesse Todd and wife, Isaac Agee and wife, William T. Thornton and wife, James Thornton and wife, Joab Todd and wife, Franklin Todd and wife, William Todd and wife, H. P. Adams and wife, William Adams and wife and Eli Adams and wife. Elder John M. Evans assisted in the organization, and at intervals, for several years thereafter, preached with great acceptance to the little band of worshipers. The society was what is known as the Primitive or Old School Baptists, to which faith belonged the majority of the early settlers in the western part of Washington Township.
About the time the organization took shape a small house of worship was erected, which stood for a number of years not far from the Andrew County line. The church increased in mem- bership with the settlement of the country, and until the break- ing out of the war was in a flourishing and prosperous condition. Elders Evans, Eppy Tillery, William C. Garrett and Jesse Todd sustained the pastoral relation until the year 1860, when the troubles growing out of the war between the States gave rise to divisions among the members, which in time resulted in the organization being disbanded. At the close of the war, in 1866, a new organization known as Salem Church was constituted in the west- ern part of the township with about twenty-two members, the majority of whom had been identified with the original society. In 1880 a neat frame house of worship was erected, and the church,
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although not strong numerically, has had a prosperous career, and at this time numbers about forty-six communicants. The pastors have been Elders E. C. Moore, Eppy Tillery and W. W. Tillery.
Following close in the wake of the Primitive Baptists in Washington Township came the Missionary Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians, ministers of which denominations early visited the different settlements, and held services from house to house several years before any organizations were effected, or houses of worship built.
A society of Missionary Baptists was organized in an early day about one and a half miles east of the present site of Clarks- ville, where meetings were held for a number of years in a school- house which stood on the land of Jordan Silvers. The society prospered until the breaking out of the war, when, owing to political difference among its members, a spirit of dissension was aroused which finally terminated the existence of the organi- zation.
The Free-Will Baptists many years ago organized a society in the southwest corner of the township, where a thriving organiza- tion is still maintained. A substantial brick house of worship was erected several years since, and the congregation, which is one of the most progressive in the southern part of the county, is ministered to at this time by Revs. Silas Kerns and Thomas Hawkins. In the same locality is a society of the Cumberland Church, also an old society, which meets for worship in a good frame building erected a number of years ago. This church has a large and influential membership, and has been the means of accomplishing much permanent good in the community.
The church of the Latter Day Saints is well represented in De Kalb County, the first branch of which was organized two and a half miles north of Stewartsville about the year 1875. This is known as the De Kalb branch, and from a very small beginning has increased to such an extent that there are at this time the names of over fifty communicants upon the roll. A neat and commo- dious frame building was erected in 1881, and under the spiritual guidance of Elder David Powell, president of the branch, the society is making encouraging progress. The German Stewarts- ville branch, about five miles north of Stewartsville, was estab-
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lished in 1880, and at this time has an active membership of about sixty, all Germans. Elders T. Henderix and Henry Henderix are the preachers in charge. The branch holds its meetings in a neat frame house of worship, and is reported in a prosperous condition. The Pleasant Grove branch, a little northwest of the German Church, has a membership of about thirty, and dates its history from the year 1880. Public worship is held in a rented building, and the congregation is ministered to at stated inter- vals by Elder Owen Babbett and others.
The Methodists have a flourishing organization in the south- western part of the township, which meets for worship in a good frame building. The class has a substantial membership minis- tered to at this time by Rev. P. L. Hooker.
In 1884 a society of the Missionary Baptist order was organ- ized at what is know as the Thornton schoolhouse, where meet- ings are still held, the present pastor being Rev. W. Dunnegan. The organization, although in its infancy, numbers among its members many of the leading citizens of the community, and has before it a promising future.
CHURCHES OF STEWARTSVILLE.
Presbyterian .- The history of the Presbyterian congregation in Stewartsville dates from about the year 1853. The early records not being accessible, it is impossible to give the precise date of organization or the names of the original members. The first meetings were held in a small log building one mile east of the town, where, until about the year 1858, the society grew and prospered. Shortly after the village was laid out it was deemed best to move the organization thither. Accordingly a lot was procured and a substantial brick house of worship erected, in which the society met until the spring of 1861. In the latter year, and for some time thereafter, the church suffered great tribulation on account of political troubles of the period, and until the close of the war but little was accomplished, and but few meetings held. The building was sold to the Methodists late in the sixties, but the society continued to use it until the present frame edifice in the western part of the town was erected, a few years ago.
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Among the pastors and stated supplies of the church have been the following: Revs. C. A. Wiley, Mr. Willis, John Price, H. F. Albright, John P. Foreman, J. A. D. Hughes, and the present incumbent, Rev. Dr. Bowed. The membership at this time numbers about fifty. W. C. Wilkinson, F. M. Dixon and J. L. Wylie, are elders. The deacons are R. J. Pickett, P. H. Deppen, W. A. Wylie, W. T. Randolph and J. H. Wylie. Con- nected with the church is a flourishing Sunday-school, the offi- cers of which are as follows: J. H. Snow, superintendent; F. M. Dixon, assistant superintendent; and W. C. Perry, secretary and treasurer. The teachers are F. M. Dixon, Dr. P. Stewart, B. F. Clark, Alice Carson and Mrs. W. C. Wilkinson. The average attendance of the school is about sixty.
Methodist Episcopal Church South .- The history of Meth- odism in Northwest Missouri, up to the date of separation in 1844, and for some time thereafter, is the common heri- tage of both Northern and Southern divisions of that church. The first Methodist Church in the vicinity of Stewartsville was organized at the residence of James Pickett, about three- fourths of a mile south of the town site, in Clinton County, as early, perhaps, as 1842 or 1843. Who the early preachers were is not now known, nor can the names of the earliest members of the class be recalled, but certain it is that many of the pioneers of both counties identified themselves with the class soon after locating in the new country. About the year 1858 the organization was moved to the village, from which time until the breaking out of the war services were regularly held in the Presbyterian Church, the congregation increasing in mem- bership and influence in the meantime. The division of the church growing out of the slavery question was not felt to any appreciable degree by the Stewartsville congregation until a few years before the war, but about the year 1860 or 1861 dissensions began to arise, which finally culminated in the dissolution of the society. In 1864 the Methodist Episcopal class was organized, and three years later the present Methodist Church South was constituted by Rev. Jesse Bird, with thirty-two members. The village schoolhouse was used for a meeting place until the erection of the Unity Church building in 1870, since which time
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services have been regularly held in the latter. Since 1867 the following pastors have ministered to the society at regular inter- vals: Revs. Jesse Bird, Joseph Metcalf, Charles Standford, John Dusky, D. B. Bone, W. G. Keener, G. Tanquary, C. J. Vande- venter, B. C. Howell and W. A. Hanna. The society has enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity, and, with an active membership, bids fair to accomplish much good in the future.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Stewartsville class of the Methodist Episcopal Church dates its history from the year 1864, at which time an organization was brought about through the labors of Rev. C. Allen, with the following members: B. F. White, J. R. Pennington and wife, Mrs. D. A. Skelton and Susan Heikes. To this number was early added several others, among whom were Mrs. B. F. White, George Ritchey, J. B. Ritchey and family, C. W. Skelton, John Heikes, A. J. Culbertson and family, J. A. Deppen and family, O. G. McDonald and family, Mrs. G. Bart- lett and H. C. Bowyer and wife. About four years after organ- izing the church purchased the Presbyterian house of worship, and in 1884 a beautiful parsonage was erected. The meeting- house has been thoroughly remodeled, at a cost of several hun- dred dollars, and is now one of the most comfortable and commodious temples of worship in the town.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. C. Allen, after whom came in regular succession Revs. T. B. Bratton, H. L. Beardsley, George Stocking, J. M. Parker, Oliver Williams, Robert Devlin, E. F. A. Bittner, A. M. Brown, I. V. Ismond, Isaac Hill, E. Roz- zell, C. T. Phillips, Isaac Hall, N. M. Enyart and P. L. Hooker, the last-named being pastor in charge at the present time. Un- der the ministration of Rev. C. T. Phillips, the church was. especially prosperous, a general interest having been awakened throughout the entire Stewartsville circuit during his pastorate. Rev. I. V. Ismond was also instrumental in inaugurating a series of revivals, the immediate results of which were numerous addi- tions to the Stewartsville class and other points on the circuit. The growth of the congregation has been steady and substantial, and at this time the records contain the names of over sixty com- municants. The officers are A. J. Culbertson, steward; Rev. P. L Hooker, class leader; John A. Deppen, O. G. McDonald, E. B. Thompson, A. J. Culbertson and B. F. White, trustees.
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A Sunday-school with an average attendance of about forty- five pupils is kept up during the year, and under the efficient superintendency of E. W. Wiles has proved an important aux- iliary to the church. B. F. White is assistant superintend- ent; Nellie McDonald, secretary; and Edith Butler, treasurer. The teachers are B. F. White, John A. Deppen, Mrs. John A. Deppen, Anna McDonald and A. J. Culbertson.
Baptist Church .- The present Baptist Church of Stewartsville was reorganized some time in the sixties from an old society which had an existence in Clinton County at a very early period of the country's history. But limited satisfaction was derived in tracing the early history of this church owing to the absence of anything like a connected and reliable record, and the death or removal of the majority of the old settlers who participated in the organ- ization. That the society made commendable progress for a number of years is a conceded fact, but that the task of harmo- nious action and systematic work among its members finally proved detrimental to its success is also true. Like the religious organizations already mentioned, it sustained its share of tribu- lation during the stormy period of the war, but at the close of that unhappy struggle a few members who remained faithful continued to meet from time to time with the laudable desire of keeping in tact the loved society of their choice. About the year 1865 or 1867 Rev. Joseph Yates, a minister of good natural ability and fair oratorical powers, became the pastor. Seeing the condition into which the affiairs of the church had gotten, he at once went to work to effect a reorganization which was ultimate- ly accomplished with the following members: William Banta and wife, Willis Coffey and wife, Abner Lee and wife, Mary Burnsides, Mrs. Justus, W. H. Standiford and wife, all of whom had belonged to the original congregation. Rev. Mr. Yates served as pastor until 1868, at which time a call was extended to Rev. Rob- ert Livingston, who preached for a period of one year. Following Mr. Livingston came Rev. J. W. Luke, a man of fine scholastic at- tainments and executive ability, under whose pastorate the church enjoyed great prosperity, quite a large number having identified themselves with the congregation through the instrumentality of his persuasive pulpit efforts. Mr. Luke served the church
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until 1875, at which time Rev. G. W. Everett became pastor. He preached for three years, and is remembered for his earnest and self-denying efforts in behalf of the congregation. Rev. James E. Hughes was the next pastor. He was a man of a high order of talent, and for one year preached with great acceptance. Rev .B. F. Rice came next in the order of succession, and min- istered to the church for one year, during which time the con- gregation grew and prospered. The present incumbent, Rev. D. G. Saunders, became pastor in 1882. He is a man of superior oratorical powers, fine executive abilities, and as a minister has much more than a local reputation.
Under his pastorate the church has increased rapidly in members and influence, being at this time one of the most pros- perous societies in the association, numbering over 112 mem- bers.
From the date of organization until 1879 services were held in the Methodist Church, but in the latter years the place of meeting was changed to the Unity Church building, which was used until 1881. In the meantime an effort was made to erect a house of worship for the congregation, and under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Luke a lot on the southwest corner of the public square was procured for a building site. This effort failing for the lack of proper financial encouragement, nothing further was done until in August, 1881, at which time a second movement was put on foot and pushed forward as rapidly as the nature of the work would admit. A frame building 32x46 feet, costing $1,700, was completed the following fall, and formally dedicated to the serv- ice of God on the 25th day of December, the same year, Rev. E. S. Dulin, D. D., officiating.
The officers of the church at this time are D. J. Ireland, R. G. Chappell and Henry Everett, deacons, and Ben Johnson, clerk. Mr. Johnson is also superintendent of the Sunday-school, which is kept up throughout the year with an average attendance of fifty scholars. The following is a list of teachers for 1887: D. J. Ire- land, Mrs. D. J. Ireland, Mrs. G. L. Fowler, Mrs. Clara Ritchey, Miss Lee Word and Mrs. J. Stafford.
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