USA > Missouri > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Mo. , carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns, and villages > Part 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
Uncle George moved to Lexington, Missouri, in 1830, and lived there until 1842, carrying on the saddlery business during that time. There are some saddles which were made in his shop still in this neighborhood, one a side saddle at Mr. Moore's, near Mr. Lankford's. He has one himself forty years old. These were made when workmen were honest, and before wooden nutmegs were thought of. He and Gen. Graham laid off the first addition to the town of Lexington, measuring the lots with a level made of a plank with a vial in one end. Where Lexington now stands was then heavily covered with timber, and they thought that as Wellington was immediately on the river, unless something was done it would be the town of the county, so a company was formed, and purchases made on and near the river, and the first addition was laid off as above stated. Then the second addition was purchased by the two Pomeroys, Gen. Graham and the subject of. this sketch. He moved from Lexington, March 1, 1842, to where he died in 1881. Uncle George's father moved to Logan county, Kentucky, at an early day, when it was then a new country like Missouri, hence his opportunity for an education was bad; the best he got was in the corn and wheat fields.
CHURCHES IN THE ORDER OF DATE OF ORGANIZATION.
Eden View Church .- The original congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, from which the one that worships in the above named church sprang, is of rather remote origin, dating as far back as 1821 or '22.
From Dr. E. S. Smith, son of Wm. Smith, one of the original mem- bers, the following information is obtained:
..
437
HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
This church was organized in 1821 or '22, with Chatham Ewing and wife, Wm. Jack and wife, George Houx and wife, Adam Young and wife, Nicholas Houx, Wm. Smith and wife, John Nelson, Mrs. Dr. Ran- kin, Judge John Whitsett, --- Owen, Philip Houx and wife, James Mor- row and wife, as original members. The first church building was built of logs, erected in about the same year, on land adjoining that of Dr. Mitchell, in or near section 17, township 50, range 27, called “ Sni Grove church." It was subsequently burned. In about 1827, Nicholas Houx, Chatham Ewing, George Houx, Esq. Owens and Wm. Jack, as trustees for the church, entered the southeast quarter of section 17, township 50, range 27,* and erected thereon a fine brick church, 24x50 feet (the first brick building erected in the county), a large tabernacle, 85xby60 feet and also twenty-two cabins of hewed logs. This, on account of its superior facilities for camp meeting purposes, became one of the most noted points for religious gatherings, on the upper Missouri, where was known to have congregated more than ten thousand people at one time, which viewed in the light of the fact, that this section of the county was very sparsely set- tled at that early day, is an item of considerable historic importance. :
Subsequently, a division in the congregation was made. The Lexing- ton membership united with the Old School Presbyterians, and erected a frame building in Old Town, of which the Rev. Finis Ewing was pastor. This was afterward abandoned or sold to private parties, who used it for storing hemp and other merchandise, and has since been burned. A frame building was then erected on Main Cross street, Lexington, which, in 1879, was sold to the German School Association, who now occupy it, and also rent it for Sunday use to the German Trinity church. In 1880, the building which the Eden View congregation now occupies, was erected on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 9, township 50, range 27, on Judge Rathburn's land, at a cost of $1,800.
"Eden View " was the name adopted by the congregation. It was ded- icated on the third Sunday of December, 1880, by the Revs. Frank Rus- sell and Albert Moore. The successive pastors during the period . between 1821 and 1840, were the Revs. Robert D. Morrow, afterwards D. D .; Finis Ewing, Robert Sloan and Henry Renick.
The Christian or Church of Christ, Lexington, was organized on the 17th day of April, 1836, by Elder Levi Vancamp and Deacon George W. Marquis. The names of original members were Levi Vancamp, Phoebe Vancamp, Wm. S. Vancamp, America Vancamp, Mary Vancamp, Abi- gail Vancamp, Elizabeth Mosby, John S. Porter, Elvira Porter, Samuel R. Benton, Ann Benton, Rebecca Thorp, Lavina Marquis, George W. Marquis, Wiatt H. Stone, Eliza. J. Stone, Cinderella Bounds, James
*Eighty acres were entered for church purposes and eighty, upon which to build a par- sonage and provide for the pastor.
438
HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
Bounds, Robert Littlejohn and James A. Marquis. The first church building was erected on the corner of Poplar and North or Main streets, at a cost of about $4,000; it was sold to the colored Baptists in 1873 or 1874. The present church on South street was erected in 1870, of brick, at a cost of about $15,000. Their pastors have been Revs. Duke Young, Frank R. Palmer, John Callerman, Thomas N. Gaines, S. S. Church, Allen Wright, Samuel Swinford, Noah Miller, George W. Elley, Thomas P. Haley, Henry H. Haley, John R. Frame, Wm. C. Dawson, D. M. Grandfield, George G. Taylor, Frank W. Allen, E. B. Edgar, George Plattenberg, Jesse H. 'Hugftes and the present pastor, Chapman S. Lucas. The present membership is 301. Sunday school was organized in the summer of 1844, by Dr. Joseph G. Chinn. Present officers are George M. Catron, superintendent; James P. Hall, assistant; Ernest McCausland, secretary and treasurer. Average attendance, 50 to 60.
The First Presbyterian Church of Lexington, Missouri, was organized in 1839, by Revs. Wm. Dickson and Geo. M. Crawford, by order of the presbytery of Missouri, and under authority of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America. Messrs. Dick- son and Crawford were assisted by Rev. Mr. Remley, of Louisville, Ky. The original members were:
Lewis Green, Mrs. Elizabeth D. Green, Elizabeth P. Green, Gallatin, Tenn .; Nathaniel J. Carter, Mrs. Caroline Carter, Arthur G. Young, May Mrs. Elizabeth L. Young, New Providence, Tenn .; Sarah Carter, Rog- ersville, Tenn .; Mary Tyree, Shiloh, Tern .; Mary A. Remley, Indiana; Mrs. Matilda H. Spratt, Mt. Carmel, Va .; Mary J. Miller, Mary Leivsay, Virginia; Elizabeth Aull, James Aull, Mrs. Maria Pomeroy, New Cas- tle, Del .; John W. Bray, Mrs. Mary Bray, New Jersey; Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Henrietta Miller, Kentucky.
Lewis Green and Arthur G. Young were the first ruling elders. In 1844 they built a brick edifice on the corner of Franklin and Pine streets at a cost of about $10,000 ..
Rev. J. L. Yantis occupied the pulpit as stated supply from August, 1841, until July, 1847. There were then only occasional supplies till Sep- tember 25, 1849. From this time Rev. A. V. C. Schenck served as stated supply until June, 1850; then he was installed as pastor, and served until June, 1853. At this time he took charge of the first female seminary established in Lexington. It was an independent school-not denomina- tional-and ultimately merged into the Baptist female seminary, which has done so much to give Lexington a high reputation abroad as a center of education and refinement. In the spring of 1854 Rev. B. F. Hobson, D. D., was engaged as stated supply, and continued to serve until the orderly course of events was disrupted by circumstances incident to the civil war. After an interregnum, Rev. J. A. Quarles was engaged in January, 1866,
439
HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
as stated supply, and so continued for some months, when a church divis- ion occurred.
Among other events of the war times, independent presbyteries and a synod of Missouri were formed, separate from the original presbyteries and synod under authority of the original general assembly of the Pres- byterian church in the United States of America. The new presbytery, which included Lexington within its territory, was commonly known as the " Declaration and Testimony Presbytery of Lafayette," and in 1867 met at Prairie church, while the other one, which still held its relation with the old original general assembly, met at Pleasant Hill. On September 29, 1867, the church session elected, by one majority, Elder John R. Ford as its commissioner to presbytery, with the understanding that he would attend the " declaration and testimony presbytery" at Prairie church, and not the one which was to meet at Pleasant Hill. Two of the elders, Messrs. A. H. McFadden and Patrick Ballard, duly filed their pro- test against this church sending a commissioner to the new body. The protest recited in detail, under four specific counts, their grounds of objec- tion to the move. The first clause of the second count says: " We pro- test against this act, because it is an attempt to change the ecclesiastical connection of this church to a body foreign to that to which it has always sustained its relation." There were property matters involved, as well as ecclesiastical, all of which were duly set forth, and the protestants further said: "We therefore proclaim ourselves, and as many as may with us desire to preserve their former church relations, the only true and lawful church organization in the city of Lexington in connection with and under the care and authority of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America."
As a result of this state of affairs, the protesting elders held a session the next day, Sept. 30, and appointed A. H. McFadden commissioner to the presbytery of Pleasant Hill, which still held its connection with the original general assembly. Thus the same nominal society had two sets of commissioners representing it in two different presbyteries, and the membership of the church was divided on the subject. The " regular succession " party continued to hold separate meetings and transact all church business, claiming to be the only legal holders of the name and property of the First Presbyterian church of Lexington, Mo., and there is no doubt the federal courts would have sustained their claim; neverthe- less, those who adhered to the new or independent presbytery held actual possion of the church property-and possession is said to be " nine points of the law."
Both parties were desirous to avoid the scandal to religion of an unseemly contest in the courts over the church property; and in pursuance of this view, January 10, 1870, an equitable division of the property was finally
440
HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
agreed upon. The "regular succession" body retained the original cor- porate name; and in consideration of $5,000, to be paid them in cash, they agreed to relinquish their claim to the church property. The church rec- ord book, under date of March 2, 1880, says:
On motion, the elders, A. H. McFadden, P. Ballard and Robert Tay- lor, and the trustees, G. W. Mckean, Robert Taylor and P. Ballard, were duly authorized to sign a quitclaim deed to the old Presbyterian house of worship and all its appurtenances, and to the Elizabeth Aull seminary and appurtenances thereto belonging, from this congregation to the Declara- tion and Testimony congregation of this city, and of which the Rev. J. A. Quarles is pastor.
This ended amicably all difficulties between the two claimants, and dur- ing this same year (1870) the new "First Presbyterian church," a fine brick structure, was built on the corner of Elm and North streets, at a cost of $11,000. [Now known as "Wentworth academy."]
The formal division of the church occurred in 1867. In the fall of 1868 Rev. J. W. Clark was installed as pastor, by authority of the Lafayette presbytery, in connection with the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America. He served three years, and was succeeded in the fall of 1871 by Rev. J. H. Byers, who served until 1874. Rev. J. M. Chaney then served as stated supply till the spring of 1875. By this time the society had become so weakened by removals and pecu- niary losses among its members that it was unable to sustain a minister, and no stated preaching was had thereafter.
April 9, 1878, this church made formal request of their presbytery to dissolve the organization, for reasons which were set forth in five several specifications. May 24, 1880, the trustees were authorized to sell the church property. April 11, 1881, they reported that they had sold it to S. G. Wentworth, for $2,500, had used all the money to pay debts of the church, and that the church was now "entirely free from debt."
[Mr. Wentworth gave the building toward founding a school called the " Wentworth Male Academy," a sketch of which will be found in another place.]
The most prosperous year of this church, after the organic division was that which closed April 1, 1874. During that year eighteen had been added; three adults and three infants baptized; there were eighty-six com- municants in the church, and one hundred members of the Sabbath school. There had been $1,070 contributed for congregational expenses, and $46 for other purposes. This church made a sturdy and heroic struggle for life, and went down at last without a smirch of dishonor tarnishing her folded skirts.
Our narrative now reverts back to September, 1867, when the formal division took place. Rev. J. A. Quarles was then serving the church as
.
441
HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
stated supply, but the same fall he was installed as pastor, by authority of the new synod of Missouri which had been formed, independent of the old original general assembly of Presbyterien Churches in the United States of America. His successors in the pastorate have been Rev. R. P. Kerr, and Rev. George L. Leyburn, the present pastor. Total present mem- bership, 180.
The earliest record of the Sunday-school connected with this church is dated January 1, 1851, and shows, at that time, eight male and ten female teachers, ninety-three scholars, and six hundred library books. The same date shows the church bell just received, and that it cost $208. It was the same bell which is still on the old Presbyterian Church, corner of Pine and South streets. The Sunday-school now has an average attendance of about one hundred pupils, and eighteen to twenty teachers and officers. The present officers are: Xeonphon Ryland, superintendent; W. G. Mc- Causland, assistant superintendent; W. B. Wilson, secretary; Bates Vaughan, treasurer; Mrs. Mary E. Wilson, librarian.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Lexington, was organized about the year 1837, and the names of the members at that time were: Thomas Calloway, Dr. Talbert, John Auston, Lucy Anderson, David Gil- lispie, Mary Gillispie, Cyrus Osburn, A. W. Henning, V. Zeigler, I. Bolin, John Brown and wife, Clark Peters, Harriet Eckle, John Eastwood, J. Wetzel, D. Lock, Dr. Blackwell, Mahala Brackwell, James Cloudsley and wife, James Norfolk and wife.
The first church was built, of brick, in the year 1840, and rebuilt, of brick, in 1860, at a cost of $1,500, and was dedicated, by Bishop H. H. Kavanaugh, in the same year. Their pastors have been Clinton, Buvley, Dodds, Westerman, Forsythe, Johnston, Ashley, Jones, Boyle, Hamilton, Morris, Scarritt, Finney, Cobb, Kavanaugh, White, McFarland, Shackel- ford, Hall, Godbey, Camp, Stacy, Boggs, Thos. Cobb, Pugh, Williams, and Walker.
The membership at the present is 191, and connected with the church is a Sabbath-school, organized in the year 1840, with Silas Silver as super- intendent.
The First Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, at Lexington, Missouri, was formerly known as the Little Sniabar Church, and, prior to 1838, enjoyed the ministrations of Rev. John Warder. During this time, the church met for worship at a house two or three miles southwest of the city of Lexington; but no book of records can be found of earlier date than Jan- uary 27, 1838, on which day the church met for worship and business at Lexington. In July, of the same year, Rev. Joseph White was chosen pastor. At the church meeting in February, 1840, the name was changed from Little Sniabar Church to First Baptist Church at Lexington, Mis- souri. In May, of this year (1840), Elder White resigned the pastorate;
442
HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
then Rev. Alvin P. Williams was chosen in his stead, and served the church until November, 1843. During his pastorate, the house of wor- ship on Franklin street was built; and five neighboring churches of the same faith were established, to-wit: In Dover. Richmond, Mound Prairie, Greenton, and the First African Baptist Church of Lexington.
In November, 1843, Rev. Wm. C. Ligon was elected pastor, and served until May 27, 1847; then Rev. Edward Roth was chosen, who served until August, 1848. In March, 1849, Rev. E. S. Dulin became the pastor, and continued until December of that year, when he removed to Liberty, to open and conduct the William Jewell College at that place.
Rev. Josiah Leak was pastor from May, 1850, till July, 1851; then Rev. D. L. Russell, until August, 1853. In January, 1854, Rev. Tyree C. Harris was elected pastor; commenced his labors in August following, bnt fell sick and died in a few weeks. In February, 1855, Rev. E. S. Dulin was, again chosen to serve the church in the office of pastor; in July, of the same year he was called to the presidency of the Baptist Female College, and resigned his pastoral office, but continued to serve the church until the spring of 1856. In January, 1856, Rev. Joseph W. Warder was elected pastor, but did not enter upon his duties here until April 13; he then continued in the sacred office until April 6, 1865-a period of nine years, when he resigned-and now Rev. E. S. Dulin was for the third time chosen to fill the place. He served the church as pastor and the college as President, until August, 1868, when, the double duties being too arduous, he resigned the pastorate again.
During the year 1867-68, the church built its present house of worship, on the corner of Poplar and North streets, at a cost of $28,500. The house being all paid for, it was formally dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, on July 19, 1868-the pastor, Rev. Mr. Dulin, preaching the sermon and offering the dedicatory prayer. The number of members at this time was 299.
Rev. Lansing Burrows served the church as pastor from November, 1868, until November, 1870. In February, 1871, Rev. D. H. Selph, D. D., was elected pastor of the church, and in August he was also elected presi- dent of the college. February 1, 1872, he resigned the pastorate. On the 28th of the same month, Rev. Henry Talbird, D. D., was elected to the vacant pastorate, and continues therein at the present time.
The total amount raised and expended by the church for the year end- ng April 1, 1881, was $1,640.35. This church has not been a dollar behind-hand at the close of its fiscal year, for ten years past; its finances have been managed for fifteen years by Mr. M. F. Royle, treasurer, with the same care, promptness, and tact, that men apply to their secular enter- prises, and the above noble record is the result. Mr. J. D. New has been the church clerk ever since 1866, and has kept his records as systemat-
443
HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
ically posted, as if he was a public officer getting a good salary. The church now has about two hundred members. Its present officers (1881) are: Pastor, Rev. H. Talbird; Deacons, M. F. Royle, H. C. Wallace, A. V. Robinson, Dr. T. L. Bolton ; clerk, J. D. New; treasurer, M. F. Royle.
The Baptist Sunday School was organized in 1841. M. F. Price, was the first superintendent, and continued to serve for fifteen years. Then James H. Graham, John D. New, M. F. Price, and H. C. Wallace, suc- cessively, served short terms, until January, 1866, when M. F. Royle was elected to the office, and has served therein ever since. Its officers for 1881: superintendent, M. F. Royle; assistant superintendent, John W. Waddell; secretary, W. L. New; treasurer, W. K. Threlkeld; librarian, A. V. Robinson; assistant librarian, C. H. Royle. Average attendance about 135.
The Episcopal Church. From the parish record we quote: "It was on Whit-Sunday, in the year of our Lord, 1844, that the Rt. Rev. Jack- son Kemper, D. D., first bishop in charge of Missouri, accompanied by a missionary, the Rev. St. Michael Fackler, for the first time performed divine service in Lexington. The bishop preached on that day to a large
congregation. * * On Easter Sunday, A. D., 1845, the parish was organized and named the parish of Christ church, Lexington, Mis- souri."
The first wardens were Robert N. Smith, and Paul Reinhard; the first vestrymen, Lawson Grant, Daniel C. Relf, Henry Smack, -- Collins, and -- Foster. Rev. Mr. Fackler was the first rector, and remained until Easter Monday, 1847, when he resigned on account of ill health. From the parish records we again copy:
"The corner stone [of their present house of worship] was laid June 30, 1848, by the Rt. Rev. C. L. Hawks, D. D., bishop of the diocese, in the presence of a large congregation-theRev. A. D.Corbyn of Boonville, and the Rev. J. A. Harrison, [then rector of this parish] being present and assisting. The church was used first for divine worship, the first Sunday in Advent, 1848. It was publicly consecrated to the worship of Almighty God, on the first Sunday in Advent, 1850, by the Rt. Rev. C. S. Hawks, bishop of the diocese; the Rev. A. D. Corbyn, J. W. Dunn, and J. A. Har- rison being present and assisting."
The successive rectors of this parish have been Rev. St. Michael Fack- ler, J. A. Harrison, D. G. Estes, G. K. Dunlap, Thompson L. Smith, John W. Dunn, and A. T. Sharpe, the present incumbent. The present mem- bership is 100.
The church edifice is a neat and tasteful brick structure, on the corner of Main Cross, and Franklin streets, and cost about $6,000. The interior finish is entirely of oiled black walnut, with gothic truss roof-arch in view. The Sunday school has an average attendance of about fifty pupils
414
HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
and ten teachers, with a library of 100 volumes. Wm. F. Kerdolff, is the superintendent.
The M. E. Church, (German) was organized in 1850, by David Huene. In 1854, a brick church on Poplar street was bought, [cost not reported.] In 1878, this building burnt down, and a new brick building was erected in 1879, at a cost of $2,400, and was dedicated on the 17th of August, 1879, by J. G. Kost. Their pastors have been David Huene, Chas. F. Langer, Rudolph Havighorst, J. G. Kost, Siegmund Vogel, Phil. Hehner, Constantin Steinley, Philip J. Mai, Gottlieb Wedmann, John P. Miller, J. M. Dewein, J. A. Mueller, F. W. Meyer, Jac. Young, C. Steinmeyer, J. J. Eichenberger, 'C. Mardoff, P. Hehner, Julius Franz, J. H. Asling and their present pastor, John C. Demand. Present membership 23. There is a Sunday school in connection with the church. U. G. Phetzing, superintendent. Library 200 volumes.
Catholic Church .- The Catholic church of the city of Lexington, Mo., was first organized in 1853, and the same year a church building was erected, of brick, at a cost of $3,000. It was dedicated by the most Rev'd. P. R. Kenrick, archbishop of St. Louis. A new fine large brick church was built in 1873, on Third, north of Broadway street, and was dedicated in 1876, by the Right Rev'd. P. J. Ryan, of St. Louis. This building was destroyed by a wind storm, April 14, 1880, making a loss to the parish of $20,000. The first pastor of this charge was Rev. Thomas Cussack, suc- ceeded in turn by Rev's. James Murphy, Bernard Donnelly, Daniel Healy, Eugene O'Hea, Edward Hamill, O. S. J. Hoog, Thomas Cooney, and John J. Lilly, now in charge. The board of directors are: The pastor, ex officio president; John Mulligan, secretary ; J. J. Lilly, treasurer pro tem; Patrick O'Malley, and Killian Long. The church was incorporated under the laws of Missouri, in May, 1880. The Sunday school was estab- lished in 1853; it now has about seventy members, and a library of 325 volumes.
The parochial school for catholic children is kept in the church by Rev. Father Lilly.
The Evangelical Trinity church, (German), was organized August 15, 1877, with Henry Winkler, Henry Hainkel, Henry Wieman, Nicholas Sigwart and C. G. Ludwigs constituting a portion of the original member- ship.
The church building which they occupy, is built of brick, and rented from the Lexington German school society. The Revs. Drevel and Edward Klimpke have been pastors of this congregation, which at the present time (1881) has thirty-three communicants.
The Sunday school connected with this church was organized at the time the church was, and consists of about 70 pupils. It has a' library of about 200 volumes. The pastor superintends.
445
HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
CIVIC ORDERS.
Lafayette Lodge, No. 32, A. F. and A. M .- Organized, June 3, 1840, First charter dated, Oct. 8, 1840. It was surrendered Dec. 1, 1866, and a new charter issued Oct. 19, 1867, with original name and number.
The following were the first members, and also the first officers:
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.