USA > Missouri > Dunklin County > History of Dunklin County, Mo., 1845-1895 Embracing an historical account of the towns and post-villages of Clarkton, Cotton Plant, Cardwell, Caruth [etc.] Including a department devoted to the description of the early appearance, settlement, development, resources With an album of its people and homes, profusely illustrated > Part 4
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Rev. Miller next organized a General Baptist Church which worshiped in this house. He preached here about one year and then died at his home in Gains- ville, Ark. Soon after this a missionary Baptist minister effected an organization whose members wor- shiped in this house.
The Beechwell General Baptist Church and the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church are properly out- growths of these early organizations. The second
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
church house built in the county was the Old Liberty near Caruth, which was erected about 1853. The members of the M. E. C. S. worshiped in this house. They now have a good frame building on the site of the old log church.
In 1853 or 1854 a large log church with a Masonic lodge above was built in the town of Clarkton. Al- though other denominations worshiped here, this house was looked upon as belonging to the Cumber- land Presbyterians; it stood on the site of the pres- ent Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Clarkton.
Perhaps the next church building erected in the county was the old Harkey's Chapel. At first this was a small log building used for school, church and other public meetings (as were also all the other church houses in the county up to twenty years ago ), and it stood on the Daniel Harkey Place, now the William Ray Old Place, near Nesbit. The principal organization which worshiped in this house was that of the M. E. C. S. Later this church built a house on the corner of the William Herman farm. A few years ago they built the new Harkey Chapel at Nesbit. Before any of these houses were built the people wor- shiped under bush arbors or clapboard shanties. One of these shanties stood near the Scaggs Place north of Clarkton. The preacher's stand was " two blackjack poles driven in the dirt floor, with a cypress board pinned to their tops." In this same place of wor- ship the lights were, in one instance, when tallow candles grew scarce, made in egg shells.
Here is a good description of the method of making
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
these lights : " A small hole was made in the little end of an egg and the shell emptied of its contents, it was then filled with bear's oil or coon grease, a twisted cotton wick put in it and the shell set in a saucer of salt." One of the pioneer ladies says the egg-shell lamps gave a very good light and that they were plentiful.
One of the pioneer preachers who often stood be- hind the board-stands, and read his text by the light of the egg-shell lamps, had his attire made from homespun cloth. In color his trousers were usually of copperas and black, his shirt of copperas and white, with suspenders of the same; in summer he wore no coat and his tall " beegum " hat was the only piece of clerical looking apparel which he possessed.
He was, however, a good, conscientious man, who did all in his power to bring his congregations to understand their spiritual needs and duty to their Creator, and although the gentlemen of his congre- gations carried their guns with them to church, even on the Sabbath, they listened earnestly to what he said and were no doubt benefited. The wolves, bears, panthers, wild cats and other wild animals were so numerous in those days that it was considered best not to go away from the house without some means of protection, hence the gun was a constant companion of the pioneer. The clapboard shanty was not only the church of the pioneer but school house of his children, where they attended the two or three months " pay " school each summer.
More might be said of places of worship, customs
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
of the pioneer, etc., but one may from the above realize something of what those pioneer days were like. It is only when one looks back on those days and then compares them with the present that one can realize the height to which we have climbed during the period of fifty years which comprise the time of the organization of Dunklin County. At present there are about forty-five church edifices in the county, repre- senting a value of $50.000.
Of the 20,000 inhabitants in this county fully 5,000 are members of some one of the eight different relig- ious sects planted within its limits. Thirty-nine Sunday-schools are carried on most of the year, and in them religious instructions are given to 4,000 chil- dren. The co-operative Sunday-school movement has done much to awaken an interest in Sunday-school work. H. A. Applegate, president of the Dunklin County Sunday-school Association, certainly deserves great credit for his work along this line, and it is earnestly hoped that every Sunday-school in the county will be represented at its next annual meeting, which will take place at Halcomb in July of 1896. At Halcomb, Campbell, Clarkton and Cotton Plant are strong union Sunday-schools.
BAPTIST.
The Regular order of Baptists are commonly spoken of as Missionary Baptists .*
Beginning in 1796, the first Baptist settlement, the
* This information is principally taken from Baptists of South- east Missouri, by H. F. Tong.
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
first ministers, the first convert, the first baptism, the first church, the first Baptist Association, were estab- lished west of the Mississippi river; and these were the first Christians other than Roman Catholics to set foot on the land of Missouri.
The second Baptist Church formed in Missouri was Bethel, organized in 1806. The first house of worship . erected, save those built by Catholics, was built by this church not long after its organization. It was constructed mainly of large yellow poplar logs well hewn, and was about 20x30 feet, and located about one and one-half miles south of Jackson, Mo.
This was the first permanent organization in the State; and from this church directly or indirectly sprang all the churches that composed the first Asso- ciation organized west of the " Great River."
Black River Association, the fourth in Southeast Missouri, was organized at Greenville, Wayne County, Missouri, November, 1835, with six churches - Black River, Cherokee Bay, Bear Creek and Green- ville, being four of them. The membership consisted of about 180 names. The ministers connected with its organization were Elders William Mason, S. Win- nington and Henry McElmurry, who was chosen moderator, and Sam L. J. McKnight, clerk. This Association was located, at the time of its organiza- tion, in one of the largest, and, doubtless, one of the most destitute fields of Southeast Missouri, extending from the southeast part of Madison County southward through Wayne, Stoddard, Dunklin, and westward into Butler County.
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Of the organization and establishment of the different churches of this Association, we have not the means of knowing, neither have anything but meager accounts of its first ministers and their works been preserved.
Elder John W. Brown of the Black River Associa- tion lived in Dunklin County, in quite early times. He was a man of great faithfulness and deep piety. He died August 13th, 1868.
Elder James H. Floyd, a native of Clark County, Mo., was born in 1832, and came with his father's family, when comparatively young, to Dunklin County. In 1854 he united with the Baptist Church, and in 1854 began preaching. With the exception of one year in Texas, he spent the remainder of his life in this field. He died June 8th, 1874.
Elder L. L. Stephens was another of this min- isterial band. He died in the year of 1872. Elder Sanders Walker was also one of the early workers among the Baptists in this county, and baptized many of the oldest citizens now living who belong to that faith. Elders M. V. Baird and M. G. Whitaker are two other ministers who should be classed among the pioneer workers of Black River Association in the county. The following appeared in 1870 in a number of the TENNESSEE BAPTIST edited by J. R. Graves :-
" Martin V. Baird was ordained a minister of the Gospel in the usual missionary Baptist form by Elders David Butler, Pasley, and L. L. Stephens on the 9th of January, 1870, in compliance with a request of
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
Oak Grove Church, also at the same time and place two deacons were ordained. Brethren M. J. Whitaker and J. H. James.
" JOHN WRIGHT, " Church Clerk."
Elder M. J. Whitaker was ordained a minister of the Baptist Church July 12, 1874. The ministers repre- sented in the Black River Association in 1881, were, be- sides thetwo just above mentioned, David Lewis, J. F. Bibb, W. H. Dial, T. B. Turnbough, R. H. Douglass, T. Hogan, W. G. Henderson, L. D. Cagle, J. J. Wester, H. D. Carlin, J. H. D. Carlin and Elder Stringer. From this association as the country has settled up other associations have been organized, and the terri- tory of Black River Association diminished until it is now confined to the limits of Dunklin County.
This Association held its Sixtieth Annual Meeting with the First Baptist Church at Halcomb, September 13, 1895, with M. V. Baird, moderator, and S. F. Hale, clerk. Delegates were present representing the following churches: Bible Grove, Caruth, Campbell, Friendship, Halcomb, Holly Grove, Kennett, Malden, New Hope, Octa, Oak Grove, Prairie Grove, Salem, Shady Grove, Varner River and Zion.
This association owns ten church houses valued at about $8,000. In membership they are about 900 strong. There are ten Sabbath Schools in the county under the care of the Baptists; besides, they take part in several of the Union schools.
The ministers who reside in the county and belong to this association, nearly all of whom have the care of
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
BAPTIST CHURCH, CAMPBELL.
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
one or more churches, are M. V. Baird, M. J. Whit- aker, B. C. Bohanan, J. M. Blaylock, L. T. Eagle, W. H. Dial, R. H. Douglass and R. H. Mount. Of these ministers Rev. M. V. Baird is the oldest in the ministry, and is looked upon as the best informed and widest read man of this denomination in the county. He is also a favorite with the ministers and people. Judge R. P. Owens was for many years clerk of Black River Association. Many other faithful and devoted ministers have served in this ministerial band, whose names for want of space must be omitted.
METHODIST.
The first Methodist Society west of the Mississippi was organized about three miles west of Jackson, some time between 1806 and 1809. Among the mem- bers were William Williams and wife, John Randal and wife, Thomas Blair, Simon and Isaiah Poe, Char- nal Glasscock and the Seeleys. Soon after a house of worship was built of large hewed poplar logs from two to two and one-half feet thick. This belonged to the Western Conference, which included all of the territory west of the Alleghany Mountains. Several circuits were established in the bounds of this Confer- ence, the first bein the Missouri and the Meramec. About 1808, Z. Maddox, a local preacher, partly organ- ized the Cape Girardeau Circuit. In 1810 New Madrid Circuit was organized by Rev. Jesse Walker.
In May, 1816, the Missouri Conference was organ- ized, but not until 1820 was the Cape Girardeau District formed.
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
As early as 1830 Uriel Haw was presiding elder of this district and Christian Eaker pastor of West Prairie, Missouri. West Prairie, Missouri, extended into Dunklin County, but it is not probable that any preaching was done within its limits for many years after this date. In fact, it is certain that but little preaching was done in the county until after the divis- ion of the Northern and Southern churches in 1844- 45, when the Southern Conference was declared to be a distinct church under the name of " The Metho- dist Episcopal Church South." The Missouri Con- ference met in Columbia, Mo., on September 24, 1845; Bishop Soule presided, and made an elaborate address in favor of the Southern Church. A vote was finally taken upon the question of a union with the Methodist Episcopal Church South and with a few exceptions the members were found in favor of uniting with the new church. Cape Girardeau District, which belonged to the Missouri Conference, took in this county.
In 1847, the St. Louis Conference was organized and a new district called Greenville District was formed from the western part of Cape Girardeau District. This county was still, however, left within the limits of Cape Girardeau District.
In 1852, J. M. Kelley was presiding elder of this district and Grand Prairie was " to be supplied." Jonas Davidson is said to have organized the first Methodist class in the county about this year, at the old Gravel Hill church site. In 1853, J. H. Headlee was presiding elder and T. H. Smith pastor of Grand
5
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
Prairie Circuit. It seems that Rev. Headlee was the first presiding elder who visited the county in that capacity.
In 1854, J. C. Berryman was presiding elder and Grand Prairie was again left " to be supplied."
Rev. Jonas Davidson appears to have been the " supply " in many instances in those early days when preachers were scarce, and not too willing to go into barren localities. Among the first preachers who " rode " the Grand Prairie Circuit were Ed. H. White, Pickney L. Turner and S. C. Stratton. There were also a few local preachers. During the war, preaching was nearly suspended and James Copeland was the first circuit preacher after the hostilities ceased in 1865. In 1873, Poplar Bluff District was formed, and since that time the growth of the M. E. C. S. in this county has been steady and marked.
The names of the charges in this county, are Grand Prairie Circuit, Clarkton Circuit, Kennett Circuit, Kennett and Malden Stations.
This church has twelve church houses and one-fourth share in a union church in the county, and two par- sonages - one in Kennett and one in Nesbit. Their property is worth approximately $13,000. The num- ber of members is 1,600.
Perhaps none of the circuit preachers of early days were so great favorites among the masses of the people in this county as was Rev. Cox, commonly called " Uncle Jake." Rev. J. H. Headlee was also a great favorite, and worked in this county when the circuits were 200 miles long, and when the circuit
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
" rider's " resting-place was usually in the saddle on horseback. The following is extracted from a letter recently received from him :-
" I went to Dunklin County as circuit preacher in the fall of 1842. My circuit embraced most all of Stoddard and Dunklin Counties; extending from a little north of where Allenville now is to Grand Prairie. There were twenty-one appointments to be filled in three weeks, and over two hundred miles to travel on horseback to reach them. The population was so scarce that a great deal of travel was necessary to find many people.
" By far the greater portion of your county was in a primitive condition, Clarkton and Kennett were not yet built and all the country between, where they now stand, was a wilderness. Dunklin County was included in the Old Cape Girardeau District. Nelson Henry was appointed to the district in the fall of 1871, and continued there four years. I think he was followed by J. K. Lacy, and I was made Presiding Elder there in 1853. My recollections of that county are that what few people it contained were very quiet and in- offensive, and very kind and hospitable to the preach- ers, and every one else so far as I know. I well remember the name of Jonas Dancer, a local preacher, a man of limited attainments, but strong and vigorous mind. He subsequently went to the border of Texas and was killed by the Indians. Also Dr. Thomas Bancroft, one of the grandest men I ever knew. He died many years after at New Madrid.
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" Edwin Langdon was there then, a young man recently from Vermont. He was a good man and true. I am spending the evening of my life pleasantly here, waiting for the sun to go down."
I should have said that Rev. Headlee is in the Methodist Home for superannuated preachers at Cale- donia, Missouri. The number of Sunday-schools under the care of this church are twelve, they having an enrollment of 1,000 scholars, and one hundred officers and teachers. Mention of the present pastors will be found in the Biographical Sketches.
GENERAL BAPTIST.
In 1878 the Liberty Association of General Baptists had become so large that it was deemed advisable to divide it. Accordingly seventeen churches, nine of which were in Stoddard County, five in Dunklin County, one in Butler County, and two in Clark County, Ark., with seven ordained ministers, and a membership of 887, were set off and organized into New Liberty Association. The organization was effected by forming themselves into a circle, joining hands, typical of God's eternal love, singing and prayer, extending the right hand of fellowship to each other, and electing J. F. Patterson, moderator, and C. B. Hyson, clerk. The ministers at that time were, T. J. Davis, J. W. Bolin, R. M. Hatley, W. E. Bray, W. E. Almon, L. McFarlin, D. W. Farris.
The Fifteenth Annual Session of New Liberty Asso- ciation of General Baptists, met with Pleasant Grove Church, in Stoddard County, Missouri, on Thursday
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
before the second Sunday in October, 1893. At 10 o'clock A. M. the introductory sermon was preached by Elder T. J. Davis, followed by Elder J. W. Bolin. Three new church organizations, under the names of Beech Grove, near Kennett; Malden, in Malden, and Poplar Grove, were at this meeting, added to the association from Dunklin County.
The associations met with Beechwell Church, five miles west of Malden, on Thursday before the second Sunday in October, 1894. They have in this county the following organizations: Bethany, Friendship, Beechwell, Mount Gilead, Lone Oak, Free Union, Pleas- ant Valley, Malden, Campbell, Liberty, Cold Water, Salem and Beech Grove, with a membership of about 800. They own about eight church buildings in the county, representing an approximate value of $6,000. This church takes part in several of the union Sabbath schools in the county and has about four in its own churches with an enrollment of 200 scholars and twenty officers and teachers. Beechwell Church was the first General Baptist Church in the county which lived any considerable length of time. It was organized by Rev. Elonzo Fowler in September, 1869, with twenty members. Its membership now reaches about 275. Rev. T. J. Davis was pastor of this church about twenty years. Rev. Davis has been one of the lead- ing lights of this church for years and still resides in Malden.
Of the other old ministers we have no means of obtaining accurate information. Rev. L. McFarlin, recently deceased, was one of the best loved ministers
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
in the county among his own denomination, and uni- versally respected by all who knew him. He came to this county in 1872. Other ministers of this denom- ination in the county are: H. H. Noble, W. E. Bray and R. M. Hatley.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS.
One of the oldest churches in the county is the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Clarkton. They commenced to build their first house in 1853, and finished it in 1855. It was constructed of hewed logs and was two stories in height, the second story being used for a Masonic hall. There were several glass win- dows above and below in the house. The lumber for the doors, flooring and finishing was all sawed by hand with a rip saw, and the work mostly done by Billy O. Davidson. The seats were long benches of a better grade than the ordinary church seat of pioneer days. ยท When J. H. MeKnight was pastor in 1868 this church was 175 strong. Their present church building was erected in 1883 at a cost of $1,600. Rev. T. S. Love preached for this church during the war, and it was here, while the congregation was worshiping on a Sunday, in the time of hostilities, that a band of guerrillas surrounded the house and calmly told the worshipers that they did not wish to disturb them but would like to change clothes with the gentle- men .. The men were called out, the doors closed on the women and the desired change soon effected. One young man, who seemed to be more thoughtful than the rest, saved his boots by slyly poking them in the
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stove, in which, fortunately, there was no fire, before leaving the room. The rest of the men were left barefoot, their only consolation being a choice of the very dilapidated footwear discarded by the guerrillas.
As the men had little show for resistance with their women and children with them, they mildly acquiesced in the arrangement and after the " boys " left, laugh- ingly sang a hymn and then went home. Many of the old citizens yet living well remember this incident.
Maj. W. C. Rayburn was for many years prominent among the leaders of this church. We regret that a list of the original members cannot be obtained.
Canaan Church at Gibson was organized in 1862, and is another old and well-known church. E. J. Stock- ton was its first pastor. Among its elders have been M. J. Benson, W. R. Weathers, John C. Agnew and S. T. Weathers. They have 110 members, a good Sunday-school of eighty-five scholars with five officers and teachers. This denomination has an organization at Kennett which has bought a lot on which they ex- pect to build a house of worship. Mrs. Melinda Hogue in her will set apart certain property for the purpose of building a Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Halcomb. The members of this denomination at Halcomb think they will get about $1,000 from this source, and will build a house of worship as soon as expedient.
Their church property is perhaps worth $4,000, and have a total membership of 210. The following are ministers who have pastorated the churches of this de- nomination in this county :- Elder Robert Jones, F.
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
Keller, D. A. Knox, Roberts, J. D. C. Cobb, C. M. Eaton and W. W. Spence. Rev. Grable is at present pastor of Canaan Church. A union Sunday-school is carried on in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Clarkton.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
" At a regular fall meeting of the Presbytery of Potosi (U. S.), commencing its session at Irondale, Washington County, Mo., on the 3d of October, 1872, a committee consisting of Rev. W. B. Y. Wilkie and W. McCarty and Elder W. A. Pouder was appointed to visit Clarkton, Dunklin County, Mo., and should the way be clear, organize a church in connection with said Presbytery.
" In accordance with this action the committee, on the 30th of November, 1872, after divine service, pro- ceeded to enroll the names of the following persons ( constituting the original members of an organization to be known as the Old School Presbyterian Church of Clarkton, Mo.), viz .: Mr. Z. B. Penney, Dr. V. H. Harrison, Judge John H. Stokes, Mr. Charles E. Stokes, Clement McDaniel, Mrs. E. B. Austin and Mrs. Lucretia Stokes. Of these, Dr. V. H. Harrison, Messrs. Charles E. Stokes and Clement McDaniel were received on profession of their faith in Christ, the others by letters of dismission from other churches.
" At the same time Mr. Z. B. Penney and Dr. V. H. Harrison were elected to serve as ruling Elders, and on the 1st of December, 1872, after sermon, were regularly ordained to office, Rev. W. B. Y. Wilkie
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
proposing the constitutional questions, offering the ordaining prayer and delivering the charge to the Elders, and W. McCarty delivering the charge to the congregation.
" Committee : "W. B. Y. WILKIE, " WILLIAM MCCARTY." *
The Old School Presbyterians have a church at Malden and one in Kennett. The church at Kennett was organized in June, 1887, by Rev. J. W. Rose- borough, Synodical Evangelist, and W. Beale, pastor, of the churches of New Madrid and Clarkton. Through the influence of Rev. W. Beale a house of worship was erected during that year, which was the second church house of this denomination in the county, and the first one of any kind erected in Kennett. This church denomination owns some of the nicest church edifices in the county, being worth about $4,500. They have three Sabbath-schools with about 175 scholars enrolled and about ten officers and teachers. The Sunday-school at Kennett, under the care of this church, is said to have failed to meet at the regular hour, 3 o'clock p. m., less than a half dozen times since its organization in 1887. Rev. William McCarty was the first Presbyterian preacher at Clarkton, and in the county. Beside those ministers already mentioned J. E. L. Winecoff, Robert Morrison and L. F. Linn, and several others, have from time to
Taken from an old church book in possession of Z. B. Penney.
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HISTORY OF DUNKLIN COUNTY, MO.
time preached for the congregations of Old School Presbyterians in this county.
SKETCH FOR
- PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -
gen Sieme direct
37. LOUIS, NO.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, KENNETT - REV. WADDLEY.
The Old School Presbyterian Church of colored people at Clarkton was organized with ten members on September 29, 1890. They are now about twenty-
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