History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records, Part 54

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1308

USA > Missouri > Scotland County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 54
USA > Missouri > Lewis County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 54
USA > Missouri > Clark County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 54
USA > Missouri > Knox County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 54

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).

Novelty Church .- This was organized in the fall of 1884, with the following members: John Sharp and wife, John Lyon, wife and daughter, Ole Richardson, wife and two daughters, Mrs. Abraham Lewis and two daughters, John Lewis and son. In 1884 the church united with the Masonic lodge in erecting a frame building, the total cost of which was $1,500. The lower story of this building is used as a place of worship, and was dedicated as such in the summer of 1885, by Dr. E. B. Hendrix, now Bishop Hendrix. The pastors of this church, which is included in the Novelty Circuit, have been Revs. H. L. Davis, 1884 to 1885; W. E. Utter, 1885 to 1887; W. O. Medley is the present pastor. Present membership twenty-six, The other appointments on the Novelty Circuit are Mount Tabor, Newark, Pleasant Run, and perhaps some others.

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Pleasant Run .- The church organization here has a member- ship of only fourteen. It was a part of the Edina Circuit until 1884, when the Novelty Circuit was formed. Preaching is held in Schoolhouse No. 14, three miles north of Novelty.

Mount Tabor .- This church organization was the original Price's class, which is recorded as belonging to the Edina Circuit in 1863. At that time Rev. Lilburn Rush was the pastor. The church remained a part of the Edina Circuit until the formation of the Novelty Circuit, when it became one of the appointments on the latter. William Martin, J. W. Martin, William Price and wife were among the first of its members. It is now quite influ- ential, having a membership of sixty-five. In 1880 the present church building, a frame structure, costing $1,000, was erected, and is situated six miles south of Hurdland. Rev. S. H. Milan was the last pastor of the Edina Circuit who served this church. By reference to the list of pastors of the Edina and Novelty Circuits, given elsewhere, the names of its other ministers may be obtained.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

As early as 1845 members of this church began to emigrate from the free States, and settle in Knox and adjoining counties. There being no church organization, many identified themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and continued with that body until 1851, when, the membership having become suf- ficiently strong, the first Methodist Episcopal Church in the county was organized in the Wiley settlement, seven miles south- west of Edina; there the first church building was erected, and known as the " Wiley Log." All the churches of this denomi- nation in Northeast Missouri constituted the Edina Circuit. After- ward, as the churches prospered, numerous smaller circuits were formed from the original. The ministers who traveled the old Edina Circuit were Revs. J. F. New, 1851; J. M. Powers, 1852-53; George Wilson, 1854; John James, 1855; John W. Wharton, 1856; Robert Robinson, 1857-58 ; Thomas Hollingsworth, 1859-60. During the first year of its existence the church encountered many obstacles. Its abolition or anti-slavery doctrines were very obnoxious to the pro-slavery people of the county. Its ministers, being most prominent, were in great disfavor, and

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the laity were hardly more popular. But though the odds, at first, were against them, the pastors and people were persevering, and the church has steadily prospered. Now the Methodist Episcopal Church rivals in members and strength any other Protestant Church organization in the county, and its members are zealous in all good works.

Edina Church .- This church was organized by Rev. J. F. New, in 1851, and formed a part of the original Edina Circuit, mentioned in the foregoing general notice of the Methodist - Episcopal Church in this county. Since 1860 the ministers serving this church have been, in the year just mentioned, J. M. Oiler; 1861, J. F. New; 1862, J. E. Gardner; 1863-64, Thomas Martin; 1865-66, John Welch; 1866-67, John Wayman; 1868, W. B. Moody; 1868-69, James English; 1869-71, Thomas F. Williams; 1871-73, Jacob Miller; 1873-76, T. J. Wheat; 1876-78, J. F. Messner; 1878-80, O. Deshler; 1880-82, H. C. Dayhoff; 1882-84, E. B. Cater; 1884-87, J. W. Anderson; 1887, Henry Crampton. A frame church building, 26x36 feet, was erected in 1860, at a cost of $1,200. With the growth of the church the building became too small, and in 1879 it was

enlarged twenty feet. It has since been beautified by the addition of stained glass windows, and the use of fresco and paper. The present membership is 102, and the church is in a healthy, prosperous condition. It forms a part of the Edina Cir- cuit, which is composed of four appointments, viz .: Edina, Bee · Ridge, Wesley Chapel and Knox City, which was organized in 1865. The churches within the circuit have a total membership of over 200, own three houses of worship, and a fourth interest in another.

Novelty Church .- According to the best information, this church was organized about the year 1855, although no record of early church history can be obtained. Among the first members › since the war are Lewis Wright, William Demoss, C. W. Cock- rum, D. F. Hunsicker, James McCall, and their wives. The church building is frame, and was erected in 1866, at a cost of about $1,500. The pastors of this church have been Revs. Messner, Scott, Hollingsworth and Cater. The present member- ship is thirty-two. The Novelty Circuit is composed of the

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church at Novelty and three others, viz .: Walnut Grove, seven miles southeast of Novelty ; Locust Hill, five miles northwest, and Eucepa, five miles southwest. The present pastor in charge of the churches on this circuit is the Rev. E. B. Cater.

The Newark Church .- This was organized during the war by Rev. T. F. Williams. Prior to the organization many of the members belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church South; a few had been members of the old original Methodist Episcopal Church. The first members of the new Methodist Episcopal or- ganization were William M. Kaylor, Emeline Kaylor, Stephen D. Fresh, Jabez Barnes, William Todd and others. The first preaching was had in the Presbyterian Church. In 1870 a new frame building was erected, on a lot donated by B. F. Snyder, at a cost of $1,000. Soon after its completion the new church was dedicated by Rev. Calvin Allen, presiding elder. The ministers of this church have been Revs. T. F. Williams, Olp, Thomas Martin, Fifer, Beardsley, Poland, Henry Crampton, William Enyart, Stiner, Lewis and Wilson. Rev. Still is the present pastor, and the membership numbers forty-five.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

This society was organized in August, 1836, by W. I. Hur- ley and Jeremiah Taylor. The original members were Samuel Allen, Osborn McCracken, Susannah McCracken, Harvey Thomas, W. H. Holmes, Susan Holmes, M. Shipp and Lewis Bradshaw. Meetings were first held at the houses of the members, and then in the schoolhouse at Newark, until in 1851, when the church was erected. The building is frame, and cost $1,200; the Bap- tists were assisted in its erection by the Christian organization, who bore one-fourth of the expense. The church was dedicated soon after its completion, by Revs. Eber Tucker and Robert Kaylor. The pastors serving this church have been Revs. J. Taylor, John Keach, Andrew Broadus, Robert Kaylor, J. F.« Smith, Eber Tucker, Beachamp, H. H. Tilford, George Roby, R. O. Truman, D. V. Inlow, J. M. Holt and T. N. Sanderson. The present membership is about 140.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Newark .- This church was organized June 3, 1837, by Rev. George C. Wood, with eight members, as follows: Aristarchus Bulkley, L. W. Knott, Martha Ann Knott, Hugh M. Anderson, Mary Ann Anderson, Eliza Anderson, Sarah McCracken and Elizabeth Bradshaw. April 8, 1851, James C. Agnew and others petitioned the county court for the lease of a church site on the public square, which being granted, a brick church was erected thereon in the same year. In 1883 the old brick having become dilapidated and unfit for use, a new frame church was built, on Lot 6, Block 21, at a cost of $1,600. This church was dedicated soon after it was finished by Revs. T. H. Tatlow and D. A. Wilson. During the civil war the church organization was divided into union and dis-union parts; the latter went out, either into active war, or into the Methodist Episcopal Church South, or into individual independency; some of these last mentioned be- came active members again after the war. There have been 106 members of this church since its organization. The pres- ent membership is 40. The pastors of this church have been Revs. F. R. Gray, 1837-46; Davis, six months in 1846; H. H. Hays, 1847-52; T. H. Tatlow, from 1852 to the present day.

Knox City .- The organization of this church was effected April 18, 1869, by Rev. T. H. Tatlow. The original members were Joseph Strickler and wife and sons, Harrison and William, and daughter Harriet, Albert Dodd, Mrs. Maria Ellison, and Mrs. Catharine Holt. The whole number of members since the organization is 74. Present membership 26. The pastors of the church have been Revs. T. H. Tatlow, 1869-72; A. D. Laugh- lin, 1872-74; T. H. Tatlow, 1874 to the present time. The church is one-fourth owner in the Union house of worship which was erected in 1873.

Edina. - The Presbyterians in Edina were united in a church organization March 11, 1865, by Rev. Thomas H. Tatlow. The original members were James C. Agnew, Mary Agnew, James Wait, Rebecca M. Wait and William M. Hull. The first ruling elders were James C. Agnew and James Wait, and the first deacon was William M. Hull. Services were held in the churches of other denominations until the present house

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of worship was built, in 1872. This building is a frame, and was erected at a cost of $3,000. It was dedicated by Revs. J. A. Darrah, Thomas H. Tatlow and A. D. Laughlin, in the sum- mer of 1872. The ministers in charge of the church have been Revs. A. D. Laughlin and Thos. H. Tatlow, stated supplies; and Rev. William Meyer, who was installed pastor September 22, 1887. The present membership is 65.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

Newark .- This was organized about the year 1850 by Rev. Henry Thomas, of Monroe County. C. H. Baldwin and Ruth A., his wife; Allen Deer and Ellen, his wife; S. I. Bragg, W. G. Bragg, Col. True and their wives were among the original members. The first elders of the church were C. H. Baldwin, Col. True and S. I. Bragg. Mrs. Ruth A. Baldwin, Mrs. Ellen Deer, W. G. Bragg, S. I. Bragg and his wife are the only ones of the original mem- bers who are still living. For the first few years worship was had in the schoolhouse. The frame church which still stands was erected about 1855, and cost $1,200, the Christian organi- zation bearing one fourth of the expense. They still retain this interest in the building, the remainder belonging to the Baptists. Two other organizations, the churches at Sweet Oak and at Walnut Grove, have sprung from this. Many who were once its members are now living in other parts of the country, and are united with other churches; at one time letters were granted to twenty persons who were moving away. The church is still influential, and has a membership of eighty-five. Among its ministers have been the Revs. Frederick Shoot, Topliff, John Taylor, George Clark, Hosea Northcutt, Benjamin Carter, P. D. Holloway and John Welch.

Edina .- The first Christian services were held in Edina as early as 1840. Elders Jacob Creath, then of Monticello, and John Shanks, of Lewis County, were among the earliest minis- ters. It is not certain that a regular church organization was established so early, but just before the war, this is found to have been effected, and Elder John Taylor was the preacher. The first preaching was had in the log schoolhouse, and for a time before the war in the Southern Methodist Church. During the

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war the organization was dissolved, but occasional sermons were preached by visiting elders. The present church was organized in 1866 by Elder E. C. Browning, with about twenty-five mem- bers. Robert Coleman, John Jack, B. F. O'Brien, John Fox and their wives; Mrs. Sarah Smith, Mrs. Lucy White, Mrs. Eliza- beth Porter, Mrs. Harriet Conley, Mrs. James Baker and Mrs. Tage Howerton, Sr., were among the original members. The church has increased in strength, and now numbers about 100. After the re-organization, meetings were held in the Methodist Episcopal Church until the present house of worship was erected, in 1870. The building is a frame, and cost about $1,800; it was dedicated in the same year of its erection by Elder Ben. Smith, of Canton. The pastors of this church have been Elders E. C. Browning, two years; Hosea Northcutt, thirteen years; Lucas, one year ; E. B. Redd, two years, and Hosea North- cutt again for several years, until the failure of his health. At intervals, of late years, the church has been without a regular pastor. Mr. Wilson, of Canton, preaches at present.

Knox City Church .- The Union house of worship at Knox City was erected in 1873 by the Methodists, Baptists, Presby- terians, and some members of the Christian Church, and was dedicated by Rev. T. J. Wheat, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Christian organization was effected by Rev. John C. Risk, of Canton, soon after the church was built. The pas- tors have been Revs. John C. Risk and B. F. Northcutt. Mr. Wilson, a student of Canton College, is the preacher at present.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SETTLEMENT OF KNOX COUNTY.

As early as 1837 Roman Catholics commenced to settle in what is now Knox County. Among the very first were James A. Reid, who settled in Edina; Richard V. Cook, one and one-half miles east of Edina; Patrick B. Jarvis and Richard Welch, in the south part of the county, on the Little Fabius River; Redmond, - Ahern, and perhaps a few others. In those days there was no such thing in the country as a church or a priest to be seen. In the spring of 1841 Peter Early, an Irishman, born in County Tyrone, with John Moore and John Cody, came

*Contributed by Hon. William Clancy.

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here from Perry County, Ohio, and, liking the country, deter- mined to enter land, and did so. Moore bought his land for his sons, and went back to Ohio. Early and young Cody remained. Mr. Early was a bachelor with some money, perhaps $3,000, more or less, and possessed that true Irish Roman Catholic faith which never falters. This man resolved to build up a church in this then frontier wilderness, and, with that object in view, he wisely and well selected all the lands now used for church, pas- toral residence, convent, graveyard and college grounds, as well as 200 acres of land lying immediately north of Edina, where he hoped at some future day to erect a Roman Catholic college. He labored hard to increase the Catholic number. Soon came the Widow Black, from Ohio, with a large family of bright and inter- esting sons and daughters-all now either dead or moved away from Knox, with the exception of one of her sons, Judge John R. Black, who lives in Edina, and is at present one of the county court justices. About the same time came John McGonigle and family, Daniel McGonigle and family, and James McGonigle, Barney Freil, Henry McDevit, Thomas Powers, Barney Scott and others.

The first mass ever celebrated in what is now Knox County was in the month of June, 1843, in the log house of James A. Reid, in Edina, situated at the northeast corner of the present courthouse square, in the room then used by him as a postoffice. Rev. Father Cusic, who was a resident priest at Indian Creek, Monroe Co., Mo., was celebrant. The congregation was com- posed of James A. Reid and family, Richard V. Cook and family, including his slave, Rose Sutton. The last named at this writing lives on a farm, a mile southwest of Edina, with her son, Bob Sutton, and both retain their faith, and are the most prosperous colored people in Knox County. Other members of the congre- gation were Patrick B. Jarvis and family, Richard Welch and family, the widow Black and a large family of sons and daugh- ters; of the latter there were Judge John R. Black, Daniel Black, George Black, Michael Black and Robert Black; Peter Early, Sr., John Cody and his brother James Cody. The last named gentleman yet lives in Edina.

In the year 1843 the work of building a log church was com-

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menced, and most of the work was done by Peter Early, and the logs cut on his lands. P. B. Linville, who is yet a citizen of Edina, in the spring and summer of 1884 helped Mr. Early, John R. Black and others, hew the logs for the church, and with a yoke of oxen, borrowed from a Mr. H. Robinson, hauled them from the woods to the site for the church, three or four rods due south of where the present college building stands. Patrick Daly, who had just moved from Perry County, Ohio, also hauled some of the logs with a yoke of oxen. The log church was raised in the fall of 1844, and was considered a very large building. and two-thirds of all the men living in Knox County, and some men from Adair County, Mo., were at that raising, which con- sumed three days. Judge John R. Black carried up one corner, and P. B. Linville the other. At this early day little or no sec- tarian feeling existed among the people. Mr. P. B. Linville, who was a Methodist, buried his child in a Catholic graveyard, attached to the old log church.

The church house was put under roof late in the fall of 1844; but there was no money to buy windows, doors, or nails to lay the floor. Mr. Early made a trip to Perry County, Ohio, and returned through Kentucky, where he begged sufficient money to finish off the log church in good style. On September 21, 1845, Dennis Byrne was ordained in St. Louis, Mo., by Arch- bishop Kenrick, and early in 1846 was sent to Edina as the first resident priest. The first child baptized was Margaret McGon- igle. This young Irish priest had many out missions, such as the Mudd Settlement, in the northwest corner of Scotland County, and had many calls to Lewis and Clark Counties. It may not be amiss to incidentally remark that the first priest ever known to be in Knox County was a Father Hillory Tucker, of Quincy, Ill., who came to Edina, to receive the wife of James A. Reid into the Catholic Church, but he did not say mass. Father Byrne labored on in extreme poverty for several years. His flock kept on increasing with Irish settlers, mostly from Ohio, and finally he was removed by the archbishop to Alton, Ill., and a young and very delicate Irish priest, named John Powers, succeeded him, who labored with the congregation until the summer of 1858, when he departed this life; his remains were buried in

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St. Joseph's graveyard, and a neat, marble monument placed at his grave by his congregation, as he had no relatives in America to see to such a matter.

The church that was built on the rock of Peter sent her brave and hardy sons of St. Patrick here, to the wild West, to rear up and establish a church, and plant the Catholic cross, and well did they do this. Up to this time the Catholic settlers were all Irish, with the exception of Reid and Cook, who were Maryland Catholics, and H. Robinson and family, who were converts to the church, natives of Tennessee, near the State line of Missis- sippi, and John Winterbottom, a Methodist local preacher, and family, natives of England, who were converts. Soon after the death of the lamented Father Powers, Rev. Bernard P. McMen- omy was appointed as the resident priest at Edina. He had a very pleasing face for a clergyman, and was well suited for such a charge. Notwithstanding that Know-nothingism had been well worked up, he was popular with all classes. He was a most pleasing pulpit orator. His sermons attracted people of all denominations. His church was of ample accommodations, as the old brick church, torn down years ago, had been complet- ed by his predecessor in September, 1857, after three or four years of hard work by the congregation. This church was a neat little structure 30x70, and when completed was thought by many to be all the church ever needed in Knox County.

Catholics continued to settle in from all parts, until the out- break of the war. At this time, the priest, Father McMenomy, said prayers with his congregation every Sunday for peace, and the perpetuity of the Union, and preached two or three eloquent sermons against secession, and warning all of his congregation against the evils of war. He was known as a very earnest Union man, and opposed to slavery and the doctrine of secession. When Col. David Moore marched to Edina from Athens, he made his headquarters at the pastoral residence of Father McMenomy.

A great many Catholics enlisted in the Twenty-first Missouri Infantry Volunteers, and some in the Third Missouri Cavalry, and in other regiments. Most of two companies of the Twenty-first Regiment were of the Rev. McMenomy's congregation, and when they got "away down South in Dixie," after each pay day some

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of the boys would send money home to dependent friends. In those days there was no express nearer Edina than Quincy, Ill., and no person could send money through the mails, as the risk was too great, and exchange was out of the question, as banks were not to be found in this part of the State. The Irish soldier boys arranged by letter with the priest to go to Quincy, and get the money. This worked like a charm, and soon Rev. Mc- Menomy was paymaster to the war widows. When a dispatch was received by "grapevine telegraph" that the rebels were coming upon the town, the reverend gentleman would hide the soldier money in the root of an old oak stump in the back yard, as the safest and best thing he could do with it. Before long a great many non-Catholics as well as Catholics sent their money to him, to pay to their "war widows " and relations at home. This genial old priest now tells in his graceful and most apt way how one big, yellow, hot summer day, shortly after he had got back from Quincy with the soldier money, and the accompanying pay-roll, a very tall, rough-featured, ill-looking, sunburnt, poorly clad woman appeared at the open door and addressed him, saying, "Is this where Mister Priest lives ?" " Yes," he replied, "I am the man." The old woman was smoking a corn-cob pipe, and after puffing out two or three whiffs of smoke said, " Wall, here's a letter from the boys; they told me to come here and get some · money from you." He took the letter, and looked it over, and then turned to the list sent with the money, found the names and paid over the money. She eyed him over carefully, and then said, "Wall, I think it derned strange that the boys would rather trust your honesty to tell 'em that you got this money than to trust me; but you've paid it over all right, and I have a derned good mind to stay and take dinner with you." Father McMenomy assured her that she would be very welcome, and that he would be delighted with her company. He then asked her name. She told him it was Patsy Mauck.

When Gen. Price made his raid into this State, in the fall of 1864, Father McMenomy hid away Bishop Hanley, of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. The Bishop was at Edina, where he had come to dedicate the "Northern Methodist" Church build- ing. He came from Hannibal, via Canton, on the stage. He

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dedicated the church on Sunday, and was stopping at the house of Father John Biggerstaff, a very devout and good old Meth- odist, and withal a most ardent Union man, and a true friend and admirer of Father McMenomy. In the evening, about 4 o'clock, an alarm came that "Pap" Price was marching on Edina. The militia had all started south a few days before, thus leaving the town deserted. After dark the Priest started up town to learn, if possible, what was going on. He heard nothing, save the incessant barking of dogs of high and low degree. As he got opposite the gate of his aged friend, Biggerstaff, he met him with his Bishop going to the Priest's house to hide away from the Rebel Army! He pacified the old man, and kept the Bishop all night; but he could not get him to bed, and had to sit up all night and get him off for Canton on the stage the next morning. As the war closed in 1865, notwithstanding this priest's unques- tioned loyalty and unbroken devotion to the Union, political days of trouble came upon him, which finally ended in his leaving this dio- cese. The Drake Constitution provided that every priest, preacher and teacher, as well as every officer or voter, should take the iron-clad oath. This Archbishop Kenrick forbade his clergy to do, as such an interference with church matters was contrary to the Constitution of the United States. Of course, at this time in Missouri, times were very exciting. The old Know-nothing sen- timent cropped out bitterly. Rev. McMenomy refused to take the "test oath of loyalty," as it was called. He married a Capt. Michael Berry to one Linda Taylor, and for thus officiating he was indicted by the grand jury of Knox County. Following is the indictment and record of the case.

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History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records, Part 54

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.) Publication date: 1887 Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 1308

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1308