USA > Missouri > Mercer County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times 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 29
USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times 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 29
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Rev. Mr. Morton was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Mr. Gaither, who preached two years. Additional to the above, the following min- isters sustained the pastoral relation from time to time: Revs. Mc- Knight, Prince, Hail, New, Baker, Enyart, Dashler, Orr, Taylor, Al- len, Canady and Develin. Under the pastoral labors of Rev. Mr. Dash- ler, the society was especially prosperous, while Revs. Baker, Enyart, and Hail conducted successful revivals, which resulted in numerous accessions to the church. The congregation continued to worship in the schoolhouse until 1871, at which time the present neat frame edi- fice, representing a capital of $1,300, was erected and formally dedi- cated. In the spring of 1887, a frame parsonage was built at a cost of about $700. The pastor in charge at this time is Rev. Mr. Burris. S. H. Glaze is class leader, and Charles Case superintends the Sun- day-school, which is reported in prosperous condition. The teachers are William Frazier, S. H. Glaze, I. N. Elliott, Charles Case, Levi Hunt, L. D. Bain and Emma Neal. Owing to deaths and removals, the church is not as strong as formerly.
Christian Church .- This society was established in the fall of 1872 by members of an old society which was organized a number of years ago at Booth's schoolhouse, three miles north of the town. The chief movers in bringing about the Cainesville organization were J. B. Ox- ford, A. Booth and E. Booth, who in the year 1872 began to discuss the advisability of building a house of worship in the town. A lot was accordingly procured and a subscription in favor of the building started, to which the citizens generously responded. The house was soon under way, and pushed forward as rapidly as the nature of the work would admit. It was completed in due time at a cost of about $1,200, after which the organization was effected by Elder William H.
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Hook, of Bethany, assisted by Zachariah Ogle, James D. Oxford, A. and E. Booth. The membership at the time of the organization was about thirty-five or forty, the majority of whom made the "good confession " during a revival meeting conducted by Elder Josephus Porter. Elder Porter visited the church at intervals thereafter, and by conducting series of revival meetings, did much toward strength- ening the congregation. The following preachers have ministered to the church from time to time: Elders W. H. Hook, J. D. Oxford, T. B. Scoville, J. L. Vannoy, William Richardson, Samuel Hedrick, J. H. Coffey and the present pastor, H. I. Bryant; present membership, eighty; elders, A. Booth, E. Booth and W. Booth; deacons, Dun- can and Stephen Rogers; Sunday-school superintendent, Dr. W. D. Bryant.
Christian Church, at Booth's schoolhouse, north of Cainesville, to which reference is made above, was organized in 1865 by Elder William Moore. The original membership was about twenty-five or thirty, a number which has since increased to eighty. Meetings are still held in the schoolhouse. William Moore and A. Booth have been the prin- cipal persons in conducting the services. A Sunday-school with an average attendance of seventy-five is superintended by Mr. Booth.
Methodist Church .- A few miles west of Cainesville, in Madison Township, is a society of the Methodist Church, whose history dates from about 1857. Meetings had been held by traveling ministers at private residences two or more years previous to that time, but in that year a permanent organization was effected, and a log house of worship was erected. In this building several denominations conducted public wor- ship, but it was always known as a Methodist Church. In 1877 the old building was replaced by a beautiful frame structure, one of the finest country churches in Harrison County. The society is in a pros- perous condition, and is ministered to at this time by Rev. John Bur- ris, pastor in charge of the Cainesville Circuit.
Churches of Eagleville and Vicinity .- The Methodist Episcopal Church of Eagleville was organized some time prior to 1858, in a log schoolhouse which stood near the village. But limited satisfaction was derived in tracing the early history of this society, the first records not being accessible, and nearly all the old members having died or removed to other parts. Among the earliest preachers are remem- bered Revs. Derie, Burton, Anderson and Cave, and in the list of early members were A. Barber and wife, Joel Hall and wife, and John Whitsett.
In about the year 1859 a lot was procured in the southwestern
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part of Eagleville, and a little later a frame house of worship was erected thereon. The building was not completed for several years, but answered the purposes of the congregation until sufficient means could be raised to put it in proper condition. It has been remodeled at different times, and is now a comfortable and commodious structure.
The class is not as strong numerically as in the earlier years of its. history, the number of communicants at this time being but thirty. J. L. Hunsicker, class leader; J. L. Hunsicker and Mrs. Hoffman, stewards; Mr. Schaeffer, Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Wyant, trustees.
Eagleville Baptist Church was organized in April, 1864, by Rev. John Woodward, with thirteen members, among whom were the fol- lowing: Thomas Dickey, Hamilton Dickey, Mary Dickey, Nancy - Dickey, Emma Fitch, William Baldwin, Louisa Richey and Mrs. Richey. The organization was effected in the Methodist Church, which was used by the congregation until 1872. In that year a beau- tiful frame house of worship was erected at a cost of about $1,500. The pastors of the church have been Revs. John Woodward, six years; J. H. Burrows, four years; then Mr. Woodward again for two years; M. N. Allen a short time, and V. M. Harper, two years. In 1875 the church had the names of 175 members upon the records, a. number which has since greatly decreased, the present membership being fifty-four.
The Eagleville Christian Church was organized some time in the sixties by Elder Lockhart, who held a revival meeting in the village, the result of which was sixty conversions. Services were held in the Methodist Episcopal Church, halls and other places until 1875, at which time a good frame building, 30x50 feet in size, was erected.
The church was reorganized in the fall of 1886, by Elder Jasper Coffey; present membership, eighty. The pastor in charge is Elder William Richardson. The Sunday-school under the superintendency of A. W. Allen has an average attendance of forty scholars.
A society of the United Brethren Church was organized at Eagle- ville in 1883. It has a fair membership, and is ministered to at this. time by Rev. David Beauchamp."
There is also a small society of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, which meets for worship in the Baptist Church. Rev. Mr. Set- tles is pastor.
Sundry Churches .- Highland Chapel U. B. Church, in Union Township, not far from Eagleville, was built in 1880, at a cost of $968. £ It is a one-story frame building and has a seating capacity of
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about 300. The society which meets for worship at Highland Chapel has a small membership, ministered to at this time by Rev. D. A. Beauchamp. The building stands in the northwest part of the town- ship, on land donated by Jeremiah Mumma.
Mount Gilead Christian Church, west of Eagleville, was organ- ized about the year 1876 or 1877, and at this time has an active mem- bership of from sixty-five to seventy. The house of worship is a frame building erected in 1877 or 1878. The pastor in charge at the present time is Elder Adams.
Bethel United Brethren Church, in Colfax Township (northern part), is a flourishing society, numbering in the fall of 1887 about forty-two members. The house of worship is a neat frame building, erected about the year 1876 at a cost of over $1,000.
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church No. 2, in the northeastern part of Colfax Township, was organized in 1853. The first pastor was Rev. John Woodward, who ministered to the con- gregation at intervals for a number of years. Three years after the organization a log building was erected about four miles west of the site occupied by the present house of worship. The present building, a frame structure, was erected in the year 1877 at a cost of $1,200. Rev. Joseph H. Burrows, of Cainesville, was pastor for several years, after whom Revs. Harper and Woodward preached at different times; present pastor, Rev. O. E. Newman. The first deacons were J. V. Brooks and G. J. Ward- rip; present deacons, R. T. Richardson and W. Taylor; trustees, R. T. Richardson, J. N. Richardson and J. W. Brooks.
The Methodists have a strong organization and a substantial house of worship at the village of Akron, in Clay Township. The present building was erected in 1873, and dedicated by Rev. Amos Wilson, of Leon, Iowa. The membership at this time is about sixty- five. The Sunday-school is under the efficient superintendency of E. N. Roberts.
The Presbyterian Church of Akron was organized December, 1863, by Revs. William Reed and Duncan McRuer. David and Morgan Frazier were the first elders. So far as now known about twenty members went into the organization. The present house of worship was erected and dedicated in 1876; present membership, sixty. The pastor in charge at this time is Rev. Mr. Mckay. William Frazier is superintendent of the Sunday-school.
The Roman Catholics have a large congregation in Clay Town- ship. A beautiful building was erected in the year 1871, since which
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time the church has gone by the name of Mound St. Mary. Mass was first celebrated in the building by Father Powers, of Maryville, Mo. The present pastor is Father Coullen, of Stanberry. The origi- nal number of Catholic families belonging was twenty-two; the number at this time is forty.
In Lincoln Township is a society of United Brethren, the organi- zation of which took place in 1865. It was reorganized in 1887 under the name of Danford Church, and at this time has a membership of thirty-five. Rev. David Beauchamp is pastor. There is also a Christian Church in the eastern part of the township which has a good membership.
Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church is situated in Section 17, Washington Township, and dates its history from about the year 1865 or 1866. There were twelve original members, to wit: Adam Wilson and wife, Elizabeth Wilson, Martha Wilson, George Westlake and wife, Eli Westlake, Elizabeth Baker, Mrs. Lent, Margaret Bowser, Emanuel Fluke and wife. The building in which the con- gregation now meets for worship was erected in 1873, at a cost of $1,100. Present membership, sixty; pastor, Rev. W. R. Wood; class-leader, Joseph Wright; trustees, F. Zimmerman, J. W. Chesney, Joseph Wright, Abraham Smith and J. R. Mitchell; recording steward, J. D. Wilson.
In the fall of 1887 there was a Baptist Church organization effected near the home of W. S. Young, of Washington Township, with twelve charter members and five additions. Elder J. B. Seat was called as pastor.
White Oak Grove (Missionary Baptist) Church, in the southwest corner of Madison Township, was organized in 1885, by Revs. Wood- ward, Harper and Withard. Meetings are regularly held in what is known as the Young schoolhouse, by the pastor, Rev. C. M. Withard; present membership, twelve.
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, southeast part of Marion Town- ship, was organized February 7, 1885, by Revs. J. H. Burrows and John Woodward. Meetings were held in the Pleasant Valley school- house until the summer of the above year, when a temple of worship, costing $800, was erected. It was dedicated in September, 1885, by Rev. J. H. Burrows, who served as pastor until the fall of 1887; present pastor, Rev. Mr. Newman; membership, thirty-eight.
Churches of Ridgeway .- There are two religious societies at the town of Ridgeway, Methodist Episcopal and Christian. The former was organized in the fall of 1881, by Rev. Isaac Chivington,
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with a membership of about twenty or twenty-five. A building was erected the same fall, at a cost of $1,400. It is a frame structure, stands in the southern part of the town, on Pine Street, and will com- fortably seat 300 persons. The society is not so prosperous as formerly, the membership at this time numbering about sixty. The following pastors have served the congregation from time to time: Revs. Chivington, Develin, Reuter, Stevenson, Grover, Reno and Pierce. J. E. Opdyke and Mrs. J. Travis are stewards; Levi Goodwin, classleader.
The Christian Society was organized May 21, 1882, with about forty-one members. The minister who brought about the organization was Elder W. H. Richardson. Previous to the organization a neat frame building was erected in the northwest part of the village, at a cost of $1,500. It was completed in the spring of 1881. W. H. Richardson, J. H. Coffey, Elder Parker and B. A. Wilkinson have preached for the congregation, which at this time numbers about 150. The church is in a flourishing condition, and is ministered to at the present time by Elder James Connoran. Officers, William Rakestraw, William Ellington, George Grant and T. J. Hasty, elders; James Hughes, Eliseph Munson and Ellis Hopkins, deacons. Connected with the church is a prosperous Sunday-school, superintended by T. J. Hasty; the teachers are Mrs. L. H. Oxford, Mrs. S. H. Coleman, Mrs. S. D. Rardin, Mrs. T. J. Hasty and L. J. Hasty. Average attendance, sixty-five.
Churches of Blythedale. - The first religious society in the town of Blythedale was a Presbyterian Church, organized in 1883, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Missionary Board of New York. This board offered to furnish one-third the cost of a building if the citizens of the town would procure the balance-a proposition which was accepted. Accordingly the building was erected in due time, and cost the sum of $1,600. After completion of the house a society of eight members was organized by Rev. William Marshall, of St. Louis. Rev. Hemsley visited the little congregation from time to time, as did also other ministers. Owing to deaths and removals, however, the organization was finally disbanded, and the building sold to the Baptists.
Baptist Church .- The Blythedale Baptist Church was formally organized October, 1885, with seventeen members; Revs. Pope Yea- man, J. H. Burrows and John Woodward conducting the exercises. The organization took place in the building formerly erected by the Presbyterians, which the society purchased in a short time. Moses
Truly your g.Robinson HARRISON COUNTY
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Scott and W. J. Nevill were elected deacons, and Rev. J. H. Burrows became pastor. Present membership, twenty-one.
The Union Sunday-school, which meets in Blythedale, is in a pros- perous condition, with an average attendance of forty scholars. It was established in 1882, and has been kept up with encouraging success ever since; W. B. Oden is superintendent. Teachers, Jesse Young, W. B. Oden, Mrs. M. A. Young, Mrs. Harriett Oden, Mrs. Byers and Daniel Wagner.
A society of the Christian Church was organized at Blythedale in the spring of 1884, by Elder W. H. Richardson, who preached thereafter about two years. The original membership was twenty- five; present membership thirty-five. Meetings are held in the Bap- tist Church. W. B. Oden is elder, and Aaron Saunders, deacon.
Mount Moriah Churches .- There are three churches in Mount Moriah, viz. : Baptist, Methodist and Christian. The Baptist society was organized in the year 1862, and meetings were first held in a vacant store-room. The present house of worship was erected about the year 1877. It is a substantial frame structure, and represents a capital of $1,600. Among the pastors of the church have been elders John Woodward and J. H. Burrows. Present pastor is Rev. V. M. Harper. The society has enjoyed a reasonable degree of prosperity, and at the present time numbers 113 communicants.
The Methodist class was established a little later than the Baptist, and is now one of the most flourishing congregations in the eastern part of the county. The house in which the congregation meets for worship was built in 1877, at a cost of $1,500 or $1,600. Present pastor, Rev. C. A. Watson.
Churches of New Hampton-Christian .- The Christian Church of New Hampton was organized about the year 1882 or 1883, by Elder W. H. Hook, of Bethany, with the following members: I. N. Carson, L. C. Carson, J. K. Thomas, John H. Duncan, Cordelia Duncan, Kate Willey, Harriett Headington, Nellie Yeater,- Halloway, Russell Patton, E. N. Cuddy, Stephen C. Duncan, M. O. Shrimpin, Charles McCoy, M. J. McCoy, Adelia Shrimpin, Frank Elliott, -- Wagoner, - Wagoner, James Clawson, - Clawson and Edward Powers. The organization was the immediate outgrowth of a series of meetings held by Elder Hook, during the progress of which a great religious interest was awakened in the community. Meetings were held in a hall, and Elder Hook continued to minister to the church as oppor- tunities would admit for several months. After he discontinued his
20
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
visits, however, the interest began to decrease, and in about eighteen months the society became practically disorganized.
In the winter of 1884 Elder A. I. Myhre, State evangelist of the Christian Church of Missouri, visited the town, and held a protracted meeting, during which a reorganization was effected, the following persons uniting themselves with the church: J. H. Anslyne and wife, Lou Anslyne, R. P. Halloway and wife, L. Headington and wife, Mrs. S. E. Wagoner, A. J. Wagoner, Dr. M. H. Eades, C. McCoy, Mrs. M. V. McCoy, J. A. Sevier and wife, Anna B. Sevier, Mrs. F. Ryan, Mrs. L. K. Willey, Elizabeth Ricketts, Mrs. Meredith, I. N. Carson and wife, S. C. Duncan and L. J. Arbuckle. The following officers were chosen by. the congregation: I. N. Carson and M. H. Eades, deacons; J. H. Anslyne and C. McCoy, elders; and M. H. Eades, clerk. After the organization was perfected a building com- mittee, composed of the following members, was appointed: J. H. Anslyne, Dr. Eades, I. N. Carson, Charles McCoy, W. Headington and George Meredith. A lot was procured, upon which, in 1885, a beautiful frame temple of worship, 24x36 feet, costing about $1,000, was erected. Elder Henry W. Myric, of Gentry County, has minis- tered to the society since its reorganization, and is the present pastor. The church is in a prosperous condition, and at this time numbers about seventy-six communicants.
Presbyterian .- The New Hampton Presbyterian Church was or- ganized on the 28th of February, 1885, by Rev. Duncan McRiver, of Gentry County. The first meeting was held at what is known as "Foster's Chapel," or "Union Church," about one and a half miles south of the village. The following are the names of the constitu- ent members: John W. Virden, Caroline D. Virden, J. W. Carroll, Mary S. Carroll, M. Cochrane, Elizabeth Cochrane, George Tennant and Margaret Tennant. The Union Church was used by the congre- gation about one year, at the end of which time a frame house of worship, 28x40 feet, was erected in the village, at a cost of $1,200. Rev. D. McRiver served as pastor from the organization until Decem- ber, 1886, since which time the pulpit has been regularly filled by the present incumbent, Rev. James A. Mckay. John W. Virden, J. W. Carroll and M. Cochrane are elders. A flourishing Sunday-school is in connection with the church.
The Christian Church is a flourishing society, and meets for worship in the Baptist building. Elders M. F. Oxford, W. H. Rich- ardson, J. H. Coffey and others have ministered to the congregation at different times.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
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Mount Pleasant Church, No. 1, (Missionary Baptist), in Fox Creek Township, is an old organization, its history dating from 1851. It has a membership of about ninety, and is reported in good condition.
Bethel Baptist Church, Sherman Township, was organized March 25, 1886, by Rev. O. E. Newman. A house of worship costing $900 was erected in November of the same year; membership, seventy-five;
pastor, O. E. Newman.
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Antioch Christian Church, in the western part of Sherman Town- ship, is an old society. The house of worship is a frame building erected early in the seventies; present pastor, Elder J. F. Jordan.
. In Section 27, Sherman Township, is a Methodist society, which meets for worship in a substantial frame building erected several years ago.
Mount Gilead Church (Christian), in Union Township, was organ- ized about the year 1877. The society has a good membership, and a substantial frame house of worship.
There are several church organizations in White Oak Township, and four frame houses of worship. The Baptists have a church known as "Mount Zion" four miles east of New Hampton; and about one and a half miles south of the village, in Section 19, is a Union Church building in which different denominations meet for worship. There is a Southern Methodist Church several miles northeast of the town in Section 11, also an organization of the same denomination known as "Shady Grove Church," in the southeastern part of the township.
Additional to the churches mentioned there are several other relig- ious societies in Harrison County, among which are the following: New Hope Baptist Church, Fox Creek Township; Christian Baptist and United Brethren Churches at Blue Ridge; Christian societies at Bridgeport, Butler Township; Christian, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches at Martinsville; Christian Union Church in Sugar Creek Township; Methodist Episcopal Church at Bolton; Morris Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church, Bethany Township, and several others in various parts of the county.
EDUCATIONAL.
No question is of more vital importance to the people than that of education. Nothing for which the State pays money yields so large a dividend upon the cost as the revenue expended upon the schools. From the scene of the teacher's labors there are radiated into society the great and beneficent influences that kindle its ardors for activity, which light civilization on its widening way, and which hold the dear-
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est interests of humanity in its hands. Statistics are the smallest exponents of the schools; there are values that cannot be computed by dollars and cents. The first active steps taken by Missouri to extend the fostering aid of State patronage to the interest of general educa- tion date from about the year 1839. By the terms of the first consti- tution of the State it was provided that "one school or more shall be established in each township, as soon as practicable and necessary, where the poor shall be taught gratis."
The establishment of the public school system of Missouri in its essential features, without restricting its benefits to the "poor," and with the main features of State and local organization, was effected by the Tenth General Assembly during the administration and in accord- ance with the recommendation of Gov. Boggs, in February of the above year.
The system as then adopted has been variously modified from time to time, almost every Legislature having taken some action upon this most important of all questions. According to the law of 1870 each congressional township constituted a district. Under the law approved March, 1844, the township line was retained simply to assist in the numbering and designation of school districts. Each county at present contains a certain number of districts the management of which is looked after by a board of directors elected by the citizens of the dis- trict. The ordinary district system is modified by the occasional estab- lishment of central graded schools, in which case the districts so dis- posed unite for the establishment of schools of higher grades. Another modification is, the district lying within an incorporated village vote themselves into special districts governed by separate laws grant- ing special privileges. Most of the village, town and city graded schools are organized in this way.
The present school system of the State is pre-eminently popular and Democratic, and under it the cause of general education has made rapid and substantial progress.
Means for the support of the public schools are derived from per- manent State, county and township investment, and from local taxa- tion.
The public school fund of the State has accumulated from the proceeds of the sale of public lands granted by the United States to the State, and from stocks, bonds and other values transferred from time to time to the school endowment. The statement of the State school fund for the year 1886 is as follows:
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Certificates of indebtedness at 6 per cent. $2,909,000 00
Certificates of indebtedness at 5 per cent. 225,000 00
In treasury to credit of State fund. 414 80
Total $3,134,414 80
The interest on the fund, with a certain per cent of the State rev- enue, constitutes the fund for the annual distribution or apportionment to all children of the State between the ages of six and twenty-one years.
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