USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 10
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APPEARANCE OF EARLY NEWSPAPERS.
by
Aaron D. States.
In looking over the files of the Greenfield "Vedette" from its inception in August, 1866, to the early and middle seventies, it is found that this publication was sure abreast with the times in which it was published. It was ably edited by Griggs and Talbutt, also by Talbutt and Barker, and when the late Charles W. Griffith took the ownership in the early part of the seventies, it appears that he put forth his best effort in giving the people a good local news- paper. He believed in the editorial page and he devoted the best of his energies in discussing local, state and na- tional interests.
A little over a quarter of a century ago the Griffith home in Greenfield was destroyed by fire. The old files of the "Vedette" were consumed in the flames. But few copies of the early issues are extant. Fortunately while cleaning the old vaults at the court house in recent weeks a bundle of these old papers was found that had been placed on file in the office of the County Clerk. An early copy of the Dade County Advocate, Vol. 1, No. 28, was found at this time. Attorney Volney Moon was then the editor and publisher. He was a Greenfield attorney and is well re- membered by the older class of citizens. This was in 1875. The initial number of the Advocate presents a very cred-
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itable appearance, but it remained for the present owner and publisher, William R. Bowles, to make it the paper its mission required. For many years Mr. Bowles has had charge of this paper, and it is truly one of the best and ablest Democratic newspapers in Missouri, published in the country districts. Mr. Bowles is an educated man and he loves the Advocate. See article on Greenfield newspa- pers from their inception on another page. It is mighty interesting history to Dade County people.
Chapter 6 CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN PIONEERS.
by
W. E. Shaw.
The early history of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Dade County is shrouded more or less in tra- dition, but there are a few well-established facts which I desire to submit to the Dade County History.
Among the carly ministers of this church I will men- tion Rev. A. A. Young, who visited Dade County and later settled in Lawrence County on Honey creek about eight miles northwest of Aurora. Rev. J. D. Montgomery and Rev. W. J. Garrett both settled in Dade County. Rev. Gar- rett in Greenfield and Rev. Montgomery on a farm four miles northeast of Greenfield now owned by the Scott fam- ily. Rev. James Tucker was also among the very early preachers of the state to settle in this county. He settled on the farm now owned by John Stockton near the Ed Dicus farm northeast of Greenfield. He was the father of Mrs. Scott, who lived and died on the Emerson Scott farm. She was 96 years old at the time of her death, and the mother of James, Hambleton, Ab. Perry, Price and Emerson Scott and Mrs. Narcissus Winkle.
John Bell and Garnett Davenport came to the county just before the war.
SOUTH GREENFIELD CAMP GROUND.
by W. E. Shaw.
The South Greenfield Camp Ground was located before the Civil War. The ground was donated by Jacob Cox, father of our lamented Sam Cox. The ten acres where the Camp Ground is now located was set apart by the donor for a perpetual camp ground for the use of the South Meth-
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EDGAR P. MANN.
GREENFIELD CHURCHES.
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odist Church. The meetings that were held before the war differed from those of later date. Instead of tents, the campers built camps made of small logs. Those camps were built around the shed on the four sides, each camp owned by some liberal person who expected to bear his or her part of the expense of feeding the great multitudes of peo- ple who attended. For people went a long distance to attend those annual gatherings. The camps were usually double, with a space between. The rooms were usually about 12 or 14 feet square, one room set apart for ladies and the other for gentlemen; the space between was for social use, where people would find shade and shelter during the time between services. The campers erected cook sheds and long tables, where free-for-all meals were served ex- cept for those who preferred to go in the covered wagons, prepared to take care of themselves. Pastures were pro- vided by the liberal farmers for the horses and oxen, that were used for the conveyance of all the people.
The services usually commenced on Thursday night and continued until about mid-week, making the series about a week long. The preaching and singing was of the old-time type, and religious awakenings usually followed from the first service. Among the ministers was the well- remembered James McGehee, a man of great power and a sweet singer in Israel. I remember but few of his co-labor- ers ; will mention only Rev. Joe Davidson, another conse. crated, faithful servant of the Lord. Ministers of other churches were also faithful helpers. Rev. J. D. Montgomery was among the early day assistants. Those meetings al- ways resulted in great good, and all the churches usually received a part of the converts, as everything connected with those meetings was in perfect union and God honored and blessed them all. It was long after the close of the war before the fires were rekindled on those sacred grounds. During those days the railroad was built and South Green- field was located. I think it was about the year 1880 that the grounds were once more cleared of briars and rubbish and the meetings re-established, continuing for only a few
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years, during which time the South Methodist erected a neat church just north of the shed, where they worshiped until the congregation constructed and carried out their plan of moving their House of Worship to the new town, now South Greenfield. Soon after the erection of the church on the camp ground, there was a Cumberland Presbyterian church organized by Rev. W. E. Shaw, consisting of thirteen members, known as the South Greenfield congregation of Ozark Presbytery. The new organization was heartily wel- come to use of the house, where they worshiped with per- fect unity, and both churches prospered and worked to- gether until the time when the South Methodists were ready to move their house, when the ten-acre piece of land that constituted the camp ground was sold to the Cumberland Presbyterian. The congregation that then worshiped there now own and worship in a house built soon after, on or near the spot from which the other house stood. Soon after the transfer of the property the new owners set about re-estab- lishing the camp meetings. Rev. W. E. Shaw preached for this new Cumberland Presbyterian church for three years, with a degree of success, after which Rev. J. F. Daughtrey and Rev. George Harbor were pastors. Under their labor the church became so much strengthened and encouraged that they reorganized the camp meetings under the present plan of renting tents and buildings, a restaurant, and set- ting a time limit of 10 days for said meetings. I failed to remember now which of those brethren, Daughtrey or Har- bor, was first after myself to take charge of the church, but the Lord blessed and prospered the work, and soon the en- campment became a great annual gathering where a great deal of good was accomplished, when the question of fra- ternity and union with the Presbyterian church was ac- complished in 1906, the programs having already been made. The divided parties went forward, and the encampment was for that year under the direction of the union element, but the ownership of the property was legally in the hands of the Cumberland Presbyterians, who submitted to the camp meeting plan already made, Rev. George Harbor being Superintendent in the year 1907. The Cumberland
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Presbyterians claimed their right and took possession of the grounds. Sam W. Cox, the leading member and elder, having wisely made the conditions of the purchase, making each donor a grantor and beneficiary to the property, to hold in trust for their own use as a place of worship. Since taking hold of the grounds, the management has continued each year to go forward with perfeet unity, guaranteeing to all people protection, and great gatherings have annual- ly met and worshiped God, and great and lasting good has been the result. The large crowds of people have been estimated at from five to eight thousand on the Sabbaths and most popular days. May the Lord continue the great work.
HISTORY OF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GREENFIELD, MISSOURI.
by Mabelle Robinson.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Greenfield, Mo., was organized in the year 1839 by Rev. J. D. Mont- gomery.
It was early in the year 1855 that that great man, Rev. W. J. Garrett, came to make his home in the little town of Greenfield, where his memory will ever be loved and held sacred in the hearts of her citizens. Here it was he started a boarding school which resulted in Ozark College and finally in the High School of today.
But while the people were prospering in many ways, they were in one sense very poor, for they had forgotten the promise in that great Book which says, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (earthly comforts) shall be added unto you." How- ever, it was not the will of God that the Evil One should have so much influence in this locality, so Rev. Garrett was sent to preach to them the "Whosoever will Gospel" loved so much by every true Cumberland Presbyterian.
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Rev. Garrett for some time preached in the court house, but at last a house was furnished where the present Presbyterian Church stands. Here they worshiped for about eight years. They finally decided with the help of God to build a new church and sold the old building to the Presbyterians.
Rev. Garrett, Dr. Bowles, Eliot Young and Peter Van Osdell were a few of the leaders who helped to push this enterprise to a complete and victorious ending. To get the lumber to build this church much donation work was done, the logs were cut and brought to town from the great forest which then stood just north of town.
It was in September, 1868, that the new temple was ready to be dedicated to the full service of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Rev. J. N. Edmiston and P. J. Reed conducted the Dedicatory Services. A revival had been going on for some weeks in a brush harbor just north of town. This was moved into the new church directly after completion. The power of God seemed to fill the congre- gation at every meeting. The Christians were comforted and filled with a great joy, while the sinners fell down and wept bitterly. In this revival, which lasted several weeks, many, many precious souls were brought to feel the pardon- ing love of our Heavenly Father.
There were now one hundred members enrolled. The following are some of the early preachers: Rev. Garrett, who preached about thirty years; Rev. B. F. Logan, ten years ; Rev. Dunlap, Rev. Brown and Rev. R. L. Venice, four years. The first year Rev. Venice was pastor, he held revivals within which about seventy professed. Most of these were young men from the college, who afterward united with the church. Following Rev. Venice was Rev. J. P. Campbell, who preached two years ; Rev. George Har- bor, one year; Rev. Lowe, six months; Rev. Cheek, one year; Rev. Fly, eighteen months, and Rev. Pitts, a few months.
Presbytery has been entertained here quite frequently and the Synod of Missouri once, about thirty-three years ago.
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Our present pastor, Rev. W. E. Shaw, was ordained in the old church in October, 1884. Rev. J. F. Daughtrey preached one year, beginning in 1893. There were about twenty conversions recorded in this year.
Rev. Johnston was pastor when the union question came up. He went union and preached at the present Pres- byterian Church until his death. The Unionists not only took many members with them, but they also took the par- sonage, which was then worth about $800.
When the few true members that remained had some- what recovered from the shock which this calamity had laid upon them, they found that they were about fifteen strong, for "as with Gideon's army, God can accomplish much with little."
It is here that much praise should be given to Rev. R. S. Ramsey and Rev. J. F. Daughtrey, who canie to the res- cue of the little congregation in Greenfield. They stood firmly for the Cumberland Presbyterian cause, and used all their influence to hold the church together until Rev. W. E. Shaw could be employed as pastor at the fall meet- ing of Presbytery.
Rev. Shaw took up the shattered work beginning in August, 1906, and ending the middle of the year 1908. Rev. Carr then took up the work for two years, or until Rev. Shaw could come back to carry on the work up to the pres- ent time. In the revival which Brother Shaw held in 1907 nearly all the young people were converted, who are mem- bers of the church today.
In the spring of 1913 the two churches, the Presby- terians and Cumberland Presbyterians, compromised, the Presbyterians getting $1,000 and the Cumberlands getting the old church and grounds.
The church has just now come through another great struggle, that of building the present new brick church. Rev. Shaw, with his little handful of workers, not only worked for this, but they also prayed much to Him who knows no such a thing as failure. The new church was
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dedicated free of debt May 23, 1915, by Rev. J. E. Cortner, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Marsh- field, Mo.
With the dedication of the church, a new era is upon us, with new duties, new conflicts, new trials and new oppor- tunities; start on the new journey with Jesus Christ, to walk with Him, to work for Him, and to win souls to him. Know "that if God shuts us in at one door, it is only to bring us out at another." The fact that the church in Greenfield is still alive and prospering is a sure proof that God has some work awaiting it.
OBITUARY OF REV. WILLIAM RAMSEY BENNINGTON.
Died, at his residence in Greenfield, on Tuesday, the 8th day of February, 1876, of acute tuberculosis, Rev. Wil- liam Ramsey Bennington, in the fifty-third year of his age.
The subject of the above notice was well and favorably known to most every citizen of Dade County. During a residence of nearly ten years here he had endeared himself to almost every person with whom he came in contact.
William Ramsey Bennington was born in Adams County, Ohio, on the 13th day of December, in the year 1824.
He became a Christian at an early age, and had preached the gospel for more than twenty years. At the time of his death he was an industrious teacher in the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. In this cause he was ear- nest, fervent and devoted, doing more than his failing physical powers would justify. Among his last requests was this: "That the ministers should teach more indus- triously if possible." Many will long remember him as one who was always ready to give religious instruction and to preach the gospel of salvation to his fellow men.
He was married to Priscilla Wall on the 4th of Sep- tember, 1812, near Xenia, Greene County, Ohio. They had eight children, six of whom are living, five daughters in this county, and a son living in Joplin.
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He removed from Ohio to Knox County, Missouri, and settled at Edina in 1855, where he published a paper called the Knox County Argus, for a short time, taught in the high school in the town eight years, and was elected Super- intendent of public schools three terms.
At the breaking out of the late Civil War he was a strong Union man, and enlisted in the army and served over three years. He saw much hard service under Gen- erals Grant and Sherman during the western campaigns. He received several severe wounds, the effects of which hastened his death. He came out of the army like many other gallant, patriotic, honest soldiers, broken in health and fortune. He brought his family and settled in Dade County in the year 1866, where he had been engaged in teaching school and preaching the gospel until shortly be- fore his death, when he was compelled to give up his labors from the effects of the disease which had been preying upon him for some six or seven weeks before.
He was the County School Commissioner at the time of his demise, and by his loss the schools of the county are deprived of an earnest, faithful and efficient laborer in the cause of education.
Mr. Bennington was possessed of a very liberal edu- cation, and had done much to advance the public schools of our county.
He was a member of the Masonic bodies of Greenfield, and requested to be buried according to the rites of the order. In his death the lodges lose a good man. This com- munity is deprived of a valuable citizen, the churches of an earnest and faithful teacher, and his family of a kind and indulgent husband and parent.
In these times of selfish greed and unprincipled rush to acquire wealth, it does the soul good to contemplate the character of one so pure and disinterested as was that of the deceased. And dying in the triumphant hope of life eternal, he thought to exhort his ministerial brethren to more ear- nest work, to ask his friends and relatives to live so as to meet him in that land from whose bourn no traveler returns.
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And as his life was an example of how a Christian should live, so was his death a shining example of how a Christian should die.
The Burial of Professor Bennington .-- Professor Ben- nington was buried by the Masonic bodies of Greenfield. There were a very large number of Masons present, and the Knights Templar turned out in uniform. The proces- sion repaired to the late residence of the deceased and es- corted the body to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where Rev. Mr. Garrett preached the funeral discourse. The church was jammed full of the school children and citizens from all parts of the county, and fully one-half could not even find standing room inside. After the funeral discourse the procession repaired to the cemetery, where the body was deposited according to the rites of Masonry. After returning to the lodge appropriate resolutions were adopt- ed, a copy of which are given below.
At a meeting of Washington Lodge No. 87, A. F. & A. M., Thursday, Feb. 10th, 1876, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted :
Whereas, It has pleased the Supreme Architect of the Universe to remove from our midst to that undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns, our beloved brother, William R. Bennington; therefore, be it
Resolved, That in the death of our brother the com- munity has sustained the loss of an honorable, npright and exemplary citizen, the church has been deprived of a pillar and ornament, the cause of education an intelligent, ener- getic and zealous worker, the fraternity an esteemed and dearly beloved brother, whose example has ever guided in the paths of virtue and truth. Be it further
Resolved, That we tender to his bereaved family our sincere condolence in this, their hour of great tribulation, and accord to them our heart-felt sympathies, as a token of respect to the memory of our deceased brother, that the lodge and jewels be draped in mourning, and that we wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days. Be it further
CYTHA
J. C. SHOUSE AND DAUGHTER.
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Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records, and a copy duly certified under the seal of the Lodge be furnished the family of our deceased brother.
V. MOON, JOHN D. PARKINSON, JOHN A. READY,
Committee.
EBENEZER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
by Aaron D. States.
This church, the oldest of its denomination in South- west Missouri, was organized June 4, 1842, with twenty- eight members. When the Rev. J. W. Bell, who presided at the organization, asked the members what name they desired to call their church, John M. Rankin arose and in a voice trembling with emotion said, "Let it be Ebenezer, for hitherto the Lord hath helped us." The church then belonged to what was known as the old school branch of the Presbyterian family.
The charter members were John and Polly Rankin, Margaret Rankin, Nathan Wilkerson and Nathan Wilker- son, Sr., Rebecca Wilkerson, Jane Wilkerson, Nancy Morris, John Tarbot, Mary Tarbot, Jacob Montgomery, Rachel Montgomery, Anna Montgomery, Nancy S. Davidson, W. W. Rankin, Margaret Gerdner, James Sharp, Alfred Cow- an, Hannah, a negro slave, Mary Weir, Betsy Wilkerson, Sarah Wilkerson, Nancy Bokers, Thomas Ross, Sarah C. Ross, Margaret "Rutdledge and George Rutdledge. The first families composing the membership were mostly from Virginia and Tennessee.
The first elders were Nathan Wilkerson, Sr., Jacob Montgomery and John M. Rankin. The church was without a pastor the first two years of its existence, and the elders exercised care over the congregation, maintaining regular services.
The first minister to take charge of the church was Valentine Pentzer, who came in 1844 and remained three
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years. He was also employed as principal of the Green- field Academy, one of the oldest schools in the entire coun- try for higher education. He was a charter member of the Washington Masonic lodge at Greenfield. On leaving here he went to Illionis, where he died in 1849 at the early age of thirty-eight years. Mr. Pentzer was a very able man, a good sermonizer, a splendid teacher, and he did much for the cause of education while here.
Mr. Pentzer's successor was the late Rev. John Mc- Farland, a man of deep piety and sterling worth, who came to the church in 1848 and remained its pastor until 1860. Mr. McFarland had a great influence in moulding early Presbyterianism in the entire Southwest, and there are many still living who delight to speak of the man and his work to this day. During his ministry the first house of worship was erected in 1854. It was built of brick and it stood on the same lot the present building stands, but it was back farther from the street. The erection of the first church building was made possible by the generous gift of $600 from Elder James M. Mitchell. Another liberal giver was "Aunt Hannah" Cowen, an old slave. The pio- neers were mostly poor and there seems to have been a scarcity of money at that time. Hearing the solicitor of the building fund speak to her master of the difficulty in raising money, "Aunt Hannah" walked into the room with a half dollar in her hand, which she had saved from her scanty wage, and handing it to the solicitor, she said, "Will this buy a brick ?"
Mary McFarland, the minister's gifted and devoted wife, was an important active factor in the work of this period. She was not only interested in the work of the local church, but in the wider field of missions, and she was one of the first advocates of the Woman's Presbyterian Mission- ary Society. She was educated at the famous school of Mary Lyon, Holyoke, Mass. When Mr. McFarland retired from the pastorate of the Ebenezer church, a little log school house was built on their farm, two miles north of Green- field. This school was sometimes called Brush College.
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It is said it was the only school in the Southwest that sur- vived the Civil War. When some of the soldiers who have been her students at the beginning of the war returned to their homes, they went back to Mrs. McFarland's school. It is said they found being spelled down by the smaller students was about as disagreeable a sensation as being shot down by the enemy. Thomas A. Miller, now mayor of Aurora, was a one-time student at Brush College. Both Mr. and Mrs. McFarland are buried in the Weir cemetery, near the home in which they lived for thirty-seven years. These most excellent people, people of culture, true relig- ion and patriotic service, will never be forgotten by the people whom they served. Mrs. McFarland was loved by young and old alike, everybody delighted in her companion- ship, everybody held her in the very highest esteem. She was one of the sweetest mothers of Israel.
The Rev. W. R. Fulton was a third pastor of this church. His pastorate was the longest in its history, ex- tending from 1861 to 1878. Under his faithful ministry, the church survived the ravages of the Civil War better than any other Presbyterian Church in the entire area of South Missouri. In 1866 this church had forty members and it was the strongest church in the Presbytery in this section of the State. The old Fulton home is still standing. It has been remodeled and repaired, yet it is where the Ful- tons lived, and in that house Elizabeth Parkinson, the noted singer, was born. That home is now owned and occu- pied by Wood Edwards and family.
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