USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 9
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 9
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Three Baptist churches have been organized in Gallatin. Of the first nothing can be learned. The next one was organized in 1855 by Elders R. C. Hill and Franklin Graves. Meetings were held over a store where the postoffice now is. R. C. Hill was the first pastor and was succeeded in 1857 by B. F. Kenney. Arrangements for building a church were begun but
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the war made it necessary to disband. Mr. Kenney continued to preach there as often as possible and in 1870, Kenney Chapel Baptist church was organized. Meetings were held in the Cumberland Presbyterian church until the completion of the Baptist church which was located one block north of the northwest corner of the public square. In 1905, the congre- gation began making plans for a new church, work, however, not beginning until 1910. The church was formerly dedicated June 4, 1911. A home for the pastor was purchased in 1914. The value of the church property is estimated at $17,400. The present membership, 245. Sunday School en- rollment, 225. Pastor, R. F. Judson. Clerk, A. R. Maffitt.
Grand River Baptist church, the oldest of the denomination, and the first or second of any denomination, in the county, was organized Dec. 14, 1833. For years they worshiped in a log school house. The first church was erected in 1864. A few years ago a new building was put up, and is valued at $3,000. There are now 109 members of the church and the Sun- day School enrollment is 50. Pastor, B. Venable. Clerk, Virgil Jenkins.
Hickory Creek church, located in Washington Township, was erected in 1869 by a stock company formed of those in the neighborhood interested in having a church in the community. The church cost $1,700. A board of trustees was elected, and the first board was comprised of Gabriel Feurt, J. C. Glaze and William Grant. The first pastors in charge were J. L. Netherton for the Baptists, and J. H. Tharp for the Presbyterians. The church is now inactive. The Baptists report 25 members. Crit Feurt is the clerk.
The Jameson church was organized in 1892. Although one of the new- est churches, it has the second largest membership of any Baptist church in the county-189. The Sunday School enrollment is 117. A Woman's Missionary Society and Young Women's Auxiliary are maintained. Pastor, C. W. Kent. Clerk, F. L. Scott. The value of the church property is $5000.
The church at Jamesport was established in 1867. For some time services were held in the Methodist church. About 1882 a church house was erected. Many improvements have been made, and the property is now valued at $3,500. It has 87 members, and 85 in the Sunday School. Mrs. Dan R. Gott is president of the Ladies Aid Society. Pastor, Dan R. Gott. Clerk, Miss Jennie Harrah.
Lick Fork, in Harrison Township, is the largest rural Baptist church in the county. It has a membership of 186, and a Sunday School enrollment of 23. A women's missionary society is also maintained. It was organized in 1867 or 1869, with nine members. A church was built in 1871. The pas- tor is Ellwood James, and Clarence Dewey is clerk.
The Rev. B. F. Kenney and the Rev. Mr. Black assisted in organizing
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the church in Sheridan Township in July, 1858. The church building is valued at $1,200. The congregation numbers 37 members, and the Sunday School enrolls 30. W. M. Bristow is clerk.
New Salem church is in the southwest corner of Jefferson Township. It was organized in 1846 and was formerly known at Victoria church. It was then one of the most prominent churches in the county, but its mem- bership has now declined to 30. The church is valued at $1,200. Joseph Coin is clerk.
Olive church was organized in 1872. The church property is valued at $1,500. There are 65 members and 34 are enrolled in the Sunday School. The pastor is Lewis Clark, and the clerk is Otto Critten.
A church was established at Pattonsburg in 1881. A church building was erected in that year at a cost of $1,500. The church now used is val- ued at $7,500. The membership is 154, and the Sunday School enrollment, 159. A Women's Missionary Society and Ladies Aid Society are maintain- ed by the members. The pastor is J. W. Trower, and A. J. Coffey, is clerk.
In 1880, the Rev. Joseph Wood organized a church in Lincoln Town- ship, three miles south of old Bancroft. For a time it was called for the organizer, but the name has been changed to Pilot Grove church. There are now 51 members, and 40 are enrolled in the Sunday School. The church is valued at $1,200. Richard Griffith is clerk.
Pilot Grove Church No. 2, was organized in 1886. It has 83 members, the Sunday School enrolling 27. The church building is valued at $3,000. W. E. Kaufman is pastor and A. L. Mann is clerk.
Pleasant Ridge church has a membership of 83 and a Sunday School enrollment of 59. The church property is valued at $1,200. Lillie Weldon is clerk.
Union Grove church was organized in 1886. The church has an en- enrollment of 59. The church property is valued at $1,200. Lillie Weldon is clerk.
The Winston church has a membership of 128, and the Sunday School has an enrollment of 100. Mrs. V. C. Huffman is president of the Ladies Aid Society. A. B. Brown is pastor, and Cora McWilliams, clerk. The church property is valued at $3,000.
In addition to Baptist churches, which are members of the Daviess County Baptist Association, this denomination holds an interest in Old Union church which is owned jointly by the Christian and Baptist churches. Services are no longer held there regularly. Hickory Creek church, now inactive, was owned by the Baptists and Presbyterians.
The Old School Baptists established a church in Lincoln Township in 1859. Rev. James M. Ward was the first pastor. The church is still active.
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Another church of this denomination was organized in 1850 in Colfax Township.
There are two Free Will Baptist churches in the county-the Muddy (Philadelphia) Free Will Baptist church and the Center Point Free Will Baptist church. Both are in the northern part of the county.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- There are in the county six Meth- odist Episcopal churches forming a part of the Cameron District.
Altamont Methodist church has a church building valued at $4,000. It has 169 full and 12 preparatory members. The pastor is W. T. Cline. The church at Mabel is part of the Altamont charge.
F. A. Tinney is pastor of the churches at Coffey and Gilman. The two charges have a membership of 231, and a Sunday School enrollment of 233. The two churches are valued at $9,500.
The church at Civil Bend was organized in 1865 through the efforts of Rev David Heath. There were about 15 charter members. A frame church was built in 1868, costing about $1,500. A parsonage was also erected.
The Jamesport church was organized in 1869, with a membership of 25. The first church building was put up in 1871 and dedicated by Rev. Oscar Deshles. It was a frame building, and an addition was added in 1883. In 1903 a new lot was purchased a block from the business section of the town and on it was erected a brick building valued at about $12,000. An addition was added the past summer. The church now has about 286 members with a Sunday School enrollment of 315 and an average atten- dance of 139. The pastor is A. S. Olsen.
The church was established at Winston in 1874 under the direction of Rev. H. S. Barnes. The following year a frame church building was begun but was not completed until 1876. The membership is now 320, with a Sunday School enrollment of 268. The pastor is Rev. C. H. Ragsdale. The church property is valued at $10,000, the parsonage at $2,000.
The first Methodist church at Pattonsburg was built in 1882. Before it was entirely completed it was sold to the Christian church. A congrega- tion had been organized some time before this date. Services were held in the Baptist church until the building of the Methodist church in 1887. This church was a frame structure valued at about $1,200. The pastor lived at Jameson until about 1886, when a parsonage was built at Pattonsburg. The first pastor to occupy this home was Rev. Hunt, and the church was begun during his pastorate. Rev. S. B. Tabor was pastor at the time of its completion. It was dedicated by Bishop Hendricks, January, 1888. This church was used until after the floods of 1909, after which a large and com- modious church was built, which is valued at $25,000. The parsonage is valued at $4,000. The membership of the church is now 312, of the Sunday
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School, 225. The Women's Missionary Society, 21. The pastor is K. T. Davis.
Methodist Episcopal Church, South .- The Gallatin church was organ- ized in 1832, but the records prior to 1839 have been lost. It was probably included in a circuit, and the latter date is usually given as the date of or- ganization. There was neither church nor school house in the county be- fore 1835. The first preaching of any denomination in the county was held at the cabin of Hardin Stone by the Rev. Hardin Ellington about 1833. The first regular pastor was Rev. Abraham Millice in 1839 and 1840. In 1859 a frame church was erected at a cost of about $1,500, and was dedicated by Rev. E. K. Miller. This building was replaced in 1886 by another frame structure at a cost of $3,500. It was dedicated by Rev. John D. Vincil. The last service was held in this church July 28, 1912. The new building, valu- ed at $35,000, was dedicated in January, 1913, by Dr. W. F. McMurray. The church has a membership of 384. The first Sunday School in the county was organized in this church in 1850, with Judge John D. Coulson as super- intendent. The enrollment is now 250. A Ladies Aid Society and Wo- man's Missionary Society are maintained. A parsonage valued at $4,000 is owned by the church. The pastor, Rev. S. E. Hoover, also preaches at Centenary twice a month.
Centenary was organized in 1882 by Rev. Atterbury. There were only seven members at this time. Uncle Davis Van Dyke and six ladies. They collected money and material and built a church, which was dedicated by Rev. R. H. Cooper in 1883. This church was in a thriving condition for years as at one time they had as many as 250 members. Of late years many have moved their membership to Gallatin and towns nearby, so that only about 50 members are left. Sunday School is held during the summer months, E. G. Knight, being superintendent.
Wesley Chapel, three miles north of Pattonsburg, was originally a North Methodist church. About 25 years ago, Bethel and Ellis Chapel united and remodeled Wesley Chapel. It has since been of the Methodist church, South. The church is valued at about $3,000. There is a member- ship of about 40.
The Methodist Episcopal church, South, at Jamesport, was built in 1879, at a cost of $1,500. It was dedicated by the Rev. E. R. Hendricks. In 1882 the church had a membership of 26, which has increased to 226 at the present time. It has a Sunday School enrollment of about 300. The church has been remodelled and an addition built, the structure now being valued at $5,000. A parsonage is located about three blocks from the church. C. L. Green is the pastor.
The Lock Springs church was organized in 1865. The names of only
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four of the original members are known-Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Drummond, and John and James Brown. A building was soon erected. In 1882 the church had a membership of over 200. The church is now on the Lock Springs circuit, composed of Lock Springs, Mt. Olive, Spring Hill and Cen- tral Chapel, the last three being in Livingston County. The churches of the circuit have a total membership of 436. The four churches are valued at $8,000. A parsonage, valued at $1,500, is owned by the churches. The pastor is F. G. Seyforth.
In the early eighties a revival meeting was held at the old Honey Creek school house, now known as the Shiner school house. As a result of the meeting it was decided to build a church in the vicinity. Through the per- sonal efforts of Wes. Woods and other prominent citizens, funds were secur ed. Most of the work on the building was done by the members. The church Monroe Chapel was dedicated in 1889 by Willis E. Dockery. For a time the congregation flourished, but now the major portion of the original members have died, others have moved away, and the motor cars have placed the remaining members in closer touch with the Gallatin church. In 1921, the church disbanded and the building was sold.
The first church to be built in Jamesport Township was Ketron Chapel, erected in 1858 or 1859 at a cost of $750. It was a frame building 46 by 56 feet. It was named for William Ketron, a prominent minister. A few years later this church was sold and a new church erected some distance away. The new church was built in 1879 at a cost of $1,000, and was ded- icated by Rev. John D. Vincil. Since that time the church has been thoroly remodeled. Prior to the erection of the church building, a Methodist con- gregation had existed in this community, which had held services regularly since 1838. In 1842 a class was organized with Isaac Jordin as leader. The first minister was Rev. Reuben Aldridge, who preached for this congrega- tion in 1838.
The church known as White Oak was organized in 1866 by Rev. J. F. Shores, and for four years services were held in a school house. In 1870, a church was built about one-half mile south of Jameson at a cost of $1,500. For a number of years Harold L. Yates was superintendent of the Sunday School. The church was destroyed by fire in 1874.
The same year the principal members of White Oak Chapel organized the Jameson church, and a building was erected, costing when completed about $1,800. The church maintains a Sunday School of over 150 members and a Women's Missionary Society. The Jameson, Wesley Chapel and Ket- ron churches now form the Jameson circuit, of which Rev. A. Snowden is pastor. The three churches have a membership of 125. A parsonage val- ued at $2,000 is owned by the churches.
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Presbyterian Church .-- There are at present five Presbyterian churches in Daviess County, Gallatin, Bethel, Prairie, Grand River and Lock Springs. They form a part of the Presbytery of McGee.
The Gallatin church was formed by the union of the First Presbyterian and Cumberland Presbyterian churches in 1905.
The Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized on Dec. 24, 1857, under the direction of Rev. W. D. Mahan. The following year a church was built at a cost of $1,200. The present church was built in 1892 at a cost of $7,000.
The First Presbyterian church was organized April 29, 1871. A frame building was erected on the lot now occupied by the Virgil Wynne residence. The church had a devoted, but never a large membership. In May, 1905, at a congregational meeting, it was voted to unite with the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
The church now has an enrollment of 118, the Sunday School of 115, and the Women's Missionary Society of 35. A manse is owned by the church and is located on a lot adjoining the church building. For nine years the Rev. J. H. Tharp was pastor of this church, also preaching in a number of other churches in the county. The pastor at present is C. W. Smith.
Bethel church dates its origin back to 1860. On April 26 of that year, a group of Presbyterians effected an organization at the Goodbar School house under the leadership of the Rev. J. W. French. Owing to the Civil War the congregation soon became discouraged. After the close of the war, there was an attempt to get the congregation together, but it was not fully reorganized until 1871. A church building was then begun and com- pleted the following year at a cost of $2,126. When the two Presbyterian churches united, the Hopewell congregation was added to the Bethel con- gregation. The membership of the church now numbers 20.
Old Harmony church, northeast of Carlow, was built in 1869. In 1887 Prairie Valley church was built by the members of old Harmony and the old church was abandoned. The church now has a membership of 60, and a Sunday School enrollment of 50. The pastor is Rev. L. E. Brown.
In 1913, the Bethel and Prairie Valley churches purchased a tract of land at Blake and erected a most attractive manse.
Grand River church was erected a number of years ago. The congre- gation has gradually become scattered and at the last report to the General Assembly, it had only two members. In 1921 the McGee Presbytery ap- pointed the Rev. C. W. Smith and Elder J. A. Selby a special committee to investigate the condition of the church and report what steps should be taken regarding it.
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The church at Lock Springs was organized in 1860. The first pastor was Rev. John French. This congregation is now the largest of the Pres- byterian denomination in the county, having a membership of 186, and a Sunday School enrollment of about 100. A manse is owned by the church. T. M. Glick is the pastor.
Seventh Day Adventists .- The Seventh Day Adventists have one church in the county which is located in Jefferson Township. The leading member of the original congregation was Joseph H. Mallory. Desiring a church of his own faith near his home, he and with the other members of the congregation selected a site on his farm and work was immediately begun on a church which was completed in 1885. Seven years later Mr. Mallory and his wife conveyed the land upon which the church was situated to the Seventh Day Adventists General Conference Association. Some years later it was discovered that the land was not correctly described, and a suit is now pending to determine the title of the church site.
CHAPTER X.
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SCHOOLS.
EARLY DAY SUBSCRIPTION SCHOOLS-PIONEER TEACHERS-FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE- LOCATION OF EARLY SCHOOLS-TEACHER'S INSTITUTES-HIGH SCHOOLS-CON- SOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOLS-APPROVED RURAL SCHOOLS-GRAND RIVER COL- LEGE-GRAND RIVER ACADEMY-GALLATIN ACADEMY.
Before the organization of the public school system subscription schools were established. The 1882 history of the county says, "In 1835 schools were taught, and from that day there has been no faltering by the way." However, no record of a school is found prior to 1837. This school was taught by H. W. Enyart, in Benton Township, in the summer of 1837. The term lasted for three months and in the following winter he taught another term of the same length. The salary was $2.00 per scholar, one account says $2.50, and was payable in produce, corn, deerskins, honey, etc. Occasionally money was paid but this was the exception rather than the rule.
A. S. Youtsey taught the first school in Union Township in a small cabin adjoining his farm. His terms were $3.50 per student for a session of three months. The first school house in the county was erected on his farm. The lumber was furnished by the settlers. The carpenter work cost $25 and William Bixby was the contractor.
The following account of the first schools in Jamesport Township is given in the 1882 history. "The first school taught was in a log cabin on Auberry's farm and taught by Lewis McCoy. This was in 1838. He got $6.00 per month, for six pupils and boarded around. On the John Hill place was the first school house and school was kept by James H. B. McFerran ; who afterwards was a lawyer and banker at Gallatin, and now lives in Colo- rado. He had some seven or eight pupils and taught for $2.00 per scholar, a session of three months. It is evident that it was not the superabundance of wealth realized from teaching that caused him to take his departure."
The first school house in Benton Township was built in the summer of 1842. It was made of round lots, 16x18 feet, in size and had a dirt floor. It had a clapboard roof held with mud. The equipment consisted of smooth purcheon seats and desks. The building was put up by the neighbors,
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among them being Isaac and David Groomer, John D. Williams, John Gith- ens and Joseph McCrasky. This building was in the north half of the sec- tion 28. John Githens taught the first school here and had about 20 pupils and received $3.50 per scholar for a three months term.
In 1846 the first school house was built in Colfax Township, and was on the Caster farm in section 15. Miss Elizabeth Morton was the first to teach in the building and she received, regardless of the number of pupils, $10.00 per month for her services. Not more than a year later a school was taught in the west side of the township by M. C. Weddle and he charged $1.00 tuition per pupil.
James Jeffries taught the first school in Lincoln Township in 1844. The school house was erected on Section 30, between ten and 15 pupils attended the first term. Mr. Jeffries was paid $15.00 per month.
The first school house in Marion Township was built of small lots or poles, Jonathan Trotter was the first teacher. A Mr. Peiffer taught the first school in Jackson Township on Penniston's Ridge. Here the first school building was erected at a cost of from $15.00 to $20.00. The first school in Liberty Township was taught by Joseph Starling.
Two school houses were built in Sheridan Township in 1842. C. Need- ler was the first teacher, receiveing $1.50 per pupil unless the higher branches were taught.
Just who taught the first school in Monroe Township is not known. R. Owens taught in the township in 1837. James Hemly is supposed to have taught prior to that time but the exact date cannot be determined. The first school house was built, at a cost of about $40.00, in the Hickory Grove neighborhood. This was in 1840. The trustees of this school were Hardin Stone, Elijah Whitt, and George Hemry.
William P. Dunnington was one of the first to teach in Harrison Town- ship. He had about 15 pupils in 1838 and 1839. The first school was taught in 1836 but was poorly attended and the name of the teacher is not remem- bered.
A Maine Yankee, Dr. Watts, was not only the first physician in Salem Township, but the first school teacher.
In 1840 some of the settlers in Washington Township erected a school house on the banks of Honey Creek. John D. Inlow, (or Enlow,) taught here, having as many as 20 pupils. A large number for those days. In the late winter of 1841-42 this building was washed away.
Teachers Institutes .- After the public schools were fairly well organ- ized it was customary to hold county institutes. These were held just be- fore examinations for county certificates were given and the courses offer- ed were largely preparatory for these examinations.
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In 1869 W. M. Bostaph reported to the state superintendent of schools, "The county teachers institute in this county is in a flourishing condition, with about 50 members, most of whom are regular attendants, and a lively interest is being maifested by some of them."
The report of 1883-84 shows that an institute was held in Daviess County under the management of B. F. Brown with H. H. King as instruc- tor. The session lasted 30 days and 47 teachers were in attendance.
During the summer of 1885, the institute was managed by W. T. Paugh with B. F. Duncan and J. J. Bryant. The term lasted ten days and was at- tended by 71 tecahers .
The instructors during the summer of 1887 were Laura Hyden, C. H. Dutcher and F. A. Swanger, and W. T. Pugh was again manager. Again the attendance showed an increase, 93 being enrolled. Each teacher paid a tuition of $3.10 for the 19 day session.
H. Hamilton was in charge of the institute in 1889 and B. F. Heaton and others were the instructors. An institute lasting from July 9 to July 27, in 1895 and was under the management of C. A. Savage. F. W. Williams and W. H. Buch and A. R. Alexander were the teachers. The enrollment reached 122. At the end of the session 16 first grade, 32 second grade and 49 third grade certificates were granted.
The teachers in the 1900 session which met from July 17, to August 4, were A. D. Edmison, J. L. Gallatin and F. W. Williams. 78 were enrolled.
The character of these teachers' meetings has been greatly changed. The state university and the teacher's colleges have supplanted the county institute for courses of insruction. Even the county meetings which usual- ly lasted a couple of days in August and in November are being superceded by the state and district associations.
At the time of the organization of the county statuary provisions were in force for the organization of public schools to be supported out of the school funds of each county and local taxation. In 1842, the first apportion- ment of state money was made, but Daviess County had no schools entitled to this fund. At the next apportionment in February, 1843, one school re- ceived state aid. District No. 1, in Township 59, Range 26. 42 children were taught in the school out of a possible enrollment of 59. The account of state money received was $35.40 when the fifth apportionment in Jan- uary, 1846, was made, four schools were entitled to aid and the sum received was $146.74.
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