History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 50

Author: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: St. Louis, Missouri historical company
Number of Pages: 1008

USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 50

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COUNTRY CHURCHES.

There are several church organizations in the township outside of the towns, only a few of which, however, have furnished the details of their history in time for this volume. This is a circumstance greatly to be regretted, but cannot be helped.

MT. CARMEL CHURCH, M. E., SOUTH,

was organized in the year 1850. The original members were Wm. Brown and Lucy Brown, his wife, Josiah Gaulden and wife, P. Y. Irvine and wife, James Irvine and wife, Hugh Irvine and wife, D. T. Guthrie, J. G. Tucker, Maj. T. F. Harvey, and their wives, E. J. Brown, T. R. E. Harvey and Mrs. Martha J. Saufley. A fine brick church was built the same year at a cost of about $3,000. It was dedicated the same year by Rev. W. M. Protsman, now of Warrensburg, Missouri. Some of the pastors have been T. M. Finney and W. M. Protsman. The church building is a mile and a half south of Fairville.

MT. HOREB CHURCH.

This church, of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, is situated on section eight, township 51, range 20. It was organized December 26, 1859, by Rev. Peter Goodman Rea, with the following members: William Wheeler, James Wilhite, James Fletchal, Henry Swisher, James Smith, C. A. Claycomb, Mrs.E. Smith, Mrs. Deborah Ford, Mrs. Minerva Wheeler, Miss M. C. Ford, Miss Artamesia Fletchal, Elizabeth Swisher, Mrs. C. Winning, Mrs. Mary A. Rea, Miss Anna W. Rea.

The church building was erected in the fall preceding the organization, and was dedicated on the same day of the constitution, by Rev. Rea. It is a frame and cost $2,150. The pastors have been Revs. P. G. Ray, Warren Compton, James Martin, Oliver Guthrie, J. B. Lawrence, and after an absence of ten years, Rev. P. G. Ray again, the present pastor.

The first ruling elders were James Wilhite, Wm. Wheeler, Wm. Ish, and Dudley C. Cooper. Present membership, 125.

HARMONY CHURCH.

This church was organized August 18, 1831, by Rev. Hugh R. Smith. The original members were James S. Berry and wife, John Johnson and his mother and sister, Coleman Kavanaugh and wife, Mrs. Cynthia Han-

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

cock and her mother. The church building, a frame, was erected in 1875. The present membership is about one hundred. No official report has been received from this church. The house of worship 'is located upon section thirty-four, township fifty-two, range twenty-one.

From the best information obtainable, Bethel Baptist Church was organized in 1846, by Rev. T. Harris, with eleven members. A church was built in 1847, on section 8, township 52, range 20. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Ligon.

Abbott Hancock organized a Cumberland Presbyterian church in 1829, and the congregation is still in existence. They have a church building, completed in 1877.

Shiloh Baptist Church is located in the eastern part of the township, and was organized in August, 1874, by Rev. E. W. Horn, assisted by Rev. J. L. Hampton. Present membership, about 75.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

It is a matter of much regret that the history of the townships of Saline county cannot be given in extenso. Especially is this so in the cases of the townships of Miami, Arrow Rock, Cambridge and Jefferson. But to give a full and complete history of any one of these townships, such as could and perhaps should be given, would require a volume almost the size of this.

Jefferson township was one of the very first settled in the county. It contained the first capital of the county-Old Jefferson. It contained the men who shaped its legislation and molded its destiny. It contained the germs of that civilization and that enterprise which have developed the county, made it what it is, and will make it what it shall be. Jefferson township contained the Edmonson bottom settlement, for the history of which the reader is referred to the history of the early settlements.

Mr. Alfred Wheeler (may his tribe increase!), now of Miami township, who came to Saline county in 1819, states that the first settlements in Jef- ferson township were made by Richard Edmonson, from Tennessee, in 1816; Captain Richard Cummings, an Indian agent, who came from the same state in the same year; Thomas Rogers, Henry and Roger Brown, Thomas Hopper, John Young, Thomas and Daniel Tillman, John and Orvah Snow, all from Tennessee, to the upper end of the bottom, in 1816 or 1817. Wm. J. Wolfskill, Rice Downing, and Jane Hurd, from Kentucky, and Able Garrett, Wm. McDaniel and the Gwinn family (three brothers, Bartholomew, William and Almand), from Cocke county, Tennessee, "near Kit Bullard's old mill," settled on section 16, township 52, range 19. This settlement was for a time called Gwinntown. The

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

Gwinns and their relatives were so numerous that for a long time they controlled the politics and the political affairs of the county, and especially of Jefferson township. A candidate was quite sure of an election if they all voted for him. In religion the Gwinns were Baptists.

Kentuckians could be distinguished from Tennesseeans by their dress; the apparel oft proclaimed the man. The Tennesseeans wore brown jeans coats and striped cotton pantaloons, and who so spruce and gay as they! The men from "Old Kaintuck " were arrayed in all the glory of blue jeans suits. This was, of course, when they first came into Saline county. After they had been here for some time, they all wore what they could get. The women dressed in cotton or linsey dresses, with cotton or linen caps on their heads, and shoes made by the "men folks" of buckskin or home-tanned leather, and the fashions didn't change then for years. When babies came, as they did come-and as they always will come into every orderly and well-regulated settlement, heaven bless them-they were quite often rocked and lulled to sleep in cradles made after the fashion of a sugar-trough, fashioned by the hand of the fond father by being "dug out" of a log, like a miniature canoe, and with seasoned hickory bows attached to them for rockers. Within this little trough there were placed a few folds of flannel or linsey or some other sort of cloth-sometimes a pillow, brought hundreds of miles-some- times soft "hatcheled" but unspun tow or flax, and into these nests there were snuggled the then innocent, cunning little darlings that are now the reverend and gray old settlers of Saline county, bowed and bent, and having become again "as little children," are waiting for the call of the Master.

The first religious services held in all the settlement were in the neigh- borhood of where Old Good Hope Church stands. Wm. Rogers taught the first school, and received from the scholars, of whom there were about fifteen, about seventy-five cents per month per head for his services. Mr. Rogers went back to Tennessee, and there died The first school- house was built on section 35, township 53, range 20. It was constructed of logs, the same as the one in the Miami bottom, and was built by the contributed labor of the settlers.

OLD JEFFERSON.

Within this township, upon the banks of the Missouri, stood the town of Jefferson, or Old Jefferson, as it was called, which was the first county seat of the county-now no more. For eleven years it was the capital of Saline, with all that the name implied, which in that day was not much.

During the civil war Jefferson township was kept in a constant state of disquietude by the movements of the Confederates and the militia within her borders. There was a company of militia at Frankfort, and John

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

Hawkins' band of bushwhackers, Blunt's, Anderson's, and other guer- rillas were here from time to time. Nine dwelling houses and one church were burned in New Frankfort, by the bushwhackers. Afterwards as- sessments were made upon the disloyal citizens of the surrounding coun- try to pay for the property destroyed. This was done, and $1,500 was paid to the trustees of the Presbyterian church for its loss. Every house burned was paid for. Lieutenant Pinhart was killed a mile or two from Frankfort by Hawkins.

But the civil war, with all of its shedding of brothers' blood, and mur- der of innocent men, and vandalism, is over, never to be again. So let it pass into oblivion and forgetfulness. There is better work for people to do than to brood over horrors that have passed and cannot come again. Let the better memories of historic old Jefferson township be cherished, and let the bitter ones perish.

THE TOWN OF FRANKFORT.

The town of Frankfort or New Frankfort was laid off in January, 1858, by the Columbia City Building Association, of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin. Its real founders were Messrs. Kaul, Alexander and Keye. The town was incorporated in 1859. The first mayor was John Kepler. The postoffice was established the same year, and Mr. Kepler was the first postmaster. John Kaul is the present postmaster. Peter Kaul built the first house; John Kepler owned the first store.

The first school house built was erected in 1866. It was a brick and cost $3,000. Rev. Charles Loudal taught the first school; he had about thirty pupils, and received a dollar per month from each. The first reli- gious services were held in a privatehouse, and the first minister was Rev. Charles Loudal, a Cumberland Presbyterian.

The first death was that of Dr. Elgin, who died in 1859, and was buried in the town cemetery. The first physician was Dr. Rantler.

The first cemetery was established within the corporate limits of the town, and is still used as such.

During the civil war nine dwelling houses and the Cumberland Presby- terian Church were burned, and the town felt the effects of the war for some time. The great majority of the people were Union sympathizers, and a company of Union or Federal militia was raised in the place. Since the town of Slater has been built, many of the merchants have removed to the new city and there remain now but three merchants in Frankfort.

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

THE CHURCHES IN FRANKFORT.

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

New Frankfort congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized September 16, 1860. The church was constituted with 37 members, whose names have not been furnished. A frame church build- ing was erected in 1860, at a cost of $1,400, and dedicated the same year, by Rev. F. Locke. This building was bnrned during the war by the Confederates, and in 1869, a new brick church was built, costing $1,700. The pastors of this church have been Revs. Charles Loudal, John I. Gey- ser, H. Strauss, Fred Lippe, F. Swartz, Jacob Schmittler, Charles Ehr- hardt and Schnake. In 1870, the membership was transferred to the gen- eral Presbyterian Church, and in 1879 was transferred to the Evangelical Association.

GERMAN METHODIST.

The church was organized in 1862, with ten members. A frame church building, costing $2,000, was built in 1862, and dedicated the same year by Rev. Snirley. The church has had seven pastors since its organization. Rev. Arnsparge is the present pastor. At one time this church had 36 members, but, owing to deaths and dismissals, now but six.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

This church was organized September 16, 1876, with about twenty families as members. A frame church, costing $2,200, was built the same year, and dedicated on the same day of the organization, by Rev. Father Ryan, of St. Louis, now bishop. The pastors have been Fathers Meyers, Cechender, Busch, Wilinbring, Taurant, and Pauk. The pres- ent membership is composed of about seven families.

GOOD HOPE CHURCH-BAPTIST.

This church was the first religious organization established in Saline county, and one of the first Protestant organizations in the state of Mis- souri. It was organized in the month of August, 1818, at the residence of Capt. Billy Job, in the Big bottom, opposite Glasgow.

Among the first members were Wm. Job, Alex. Liggett, Almond or Almon Gwinn, and -Lillard. Capt. Job was the first clerk, and Lig- gett and Gwinn the first deacons.

After having completed the organization the congregation dispersed, the men to prepare to march on the following morning, under Capt. Billy Job, to chastise the Indians who were depredating upon the settlers, and the women to gather all the children and the scanty stores of the settle- ment into the log fort for safety during the absence of their protectors. Happily the men returned in a few days, having lost not one of their number, and leaving their neighbors in Lafayette in security.

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

The congregation assembled for worship in their own houses until the year 1825, when they erected a log "meeting house" about one mile south of the present town of Frankfort, on the southwest corner of sec- tion 9, township 52, range 19. Mr. Alfred Wheeler, of Miami, says that when this church was built it was not built by contributions of money as churches are built now-a-days, but every man in the settlement, pro- fessors and non-professors, agreed to and did contribute so much in mate- rial and labor-this one so many hewed logs, that one so many rafters or boards, the other a day's labor, and so on. When all was ready, the men met, raised the house, covered it in, and Rev. Peyton Nowlin dedi- cated it to God. When completed it was, by general acclaim called Good Hope, the name it now bears.

Elder Peyton Nowlin became the first pastor in 1820, preaching in the houses of the members, "where two or three were gathered together," until the church was built. Since then there have served the church in a pastoral relation, Thos. Fristoe, Abner Gwinn, Ebenezer Rogers, Wm. M. Bell, J. D. Murphy, A. P. Williams, and Wm. M. Bell, the latter the present pastor in charge, who has preached to the congregation for about 25 years.

Other clerks besides Mr. Job, have been P. M. Hill, B. Huft, Geo. Rhoades, and W. H. Norvell. Deacons in addition to Liggett and Gwinn, were Geo. Rhoades, G. W. Lucas, Geo. Hawkins, P. M. Hill, Henry Gilliam, and P. H. Huff.

The first candidate for baptism was Patsy Foster, who presented her- self in 1820.

The first delegate sent to the district association wa's Alex. Liggett, in 1820.

The second church building was a frame, built in 1846, on the south- east corner of section sixteen, township fifty-two, range nineteen, one mile south of where the old log church stood. It cost about $500, and after- ward was enlarged ..

In 1869, another church was built on the same site. It still stands, is a frame, 40x60 feet, and Rev. Bell says, cost $3,508; the clerk states, $3,200. It was dedicated by Rev. Bell, on the second Sabbath in September, fifty- one years after the first organization.

The present number of members of Good Hope is 188. There is a Sabbath-school in connection, with 131 scholars. There is regular preach- ing once a month.

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

CAMBRIDGE TOWNSHIP.

This township was first settled by Jacob Ish and others, in 1816, in what was called the Big bottom. (See history of the settlement in the Big bottom.) Mr. J. B. Ish, now of Miami, son of Jacob Ish, states, in corroboration of the facts given in the early general history, and also states that the first white child born in the township, and in Saline county, was Mary Ish, daughter of Jacob and Mary Ish, who was born in the Big bottom, in April, 1817. Her mother died in giving her birth, being the first white person to die a natural death in the county, Wm. Gregg having been murdered by the Indians some years before. Upon the death of her mother, and as soon as it was possible to do so, the father of little Mary placed her on a pillow, before him, on horseback, and carried her on this little bed, through swamps and forests, over hills and mountains, across creeks and rivers, hundreds of miles, to kind friends and relatives in dear old Tennessee, where she was reared, grew to womanhood, married, and died. The entire female population of the Big bottom, came to see, and to kiss, and to bless little Mary, ere she was handed up to her papa, to be placed in her little bed, preparatory to starting on her long and perilous journey. As Mr. Ish rode away and left the settlement, many a prayer went up that the Great Father of all would take into his care and keeping little Mary and her earthly father, and bring them in safety to their destination. And he did.

Mr. Ish also states that the first physician in the township was Dr. Watt, from Edinburgh, Scotland, who came in the year 1817 or 1818, and lived in the family of Jacob Ish for about one year. The first min- isters were Keeney and Nowlin, in 1817, and religious services were held at the residence of Capt. "Billy " Job. The first school taught was by Wm. D. Hampton, in the year 1818, in a little log house, built by the set- tlers in the same year. About fifteen or twenty scholars attended this school, and paid $1.50 a month each for their tuition. Mr. Hampton died in 1844.

Mrs. Rachel D. Huff, one of the oldest pioneers now living in the county, states that her father, Wm. D. Hampton, Capt. Wm. Job, and Bartlett Gwinn, all from east Tennessee, were the first settlers in her part of this township. They came in 1818. Hosea Hampton, Edwin Hicks, and the family of Thos. Allen came up the river in a keel-boat, in the fall of 1819, landed at Old Chariton, and settled in the Big bottom. Hosea Hampton lived in the Big bottom until 1822, when he removed to section 16, township 52, range 19. (See Big bottom history.)

The first marriage that Mrs. H. remembers, was that of Cicero Brown and Betsey Jeffreys, in 1819; Rev. Peyton Nowlin performed the cere-

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

mony. Mrs. Huff was herself married, in 1831, to her husband, Wm. Huff. The first male child born was Wm. Gwinn, son of Ormand and Lavinia, in 1819. The death of Lewis Foster, in 1819, was the first in the settlement. Rev. Nowlin was the first minister, and conducted the first religious services, at the house of Capt. Billy Job.

Mrs. Huff still retains a vivid recollection of the "sickly fall," of 1820, when every man, woman, and child in the settlement, but one man, was sick with chills and fever. They did not know how to treat the disease, and had no medicine if they had known. During the winter of 1819-20, some families suffered for want of food and clothing, and one family, Mrs. Huff says, was almost entirely destitute of clothing during the entire winter.

Judge R. C. Land, who resides two and a half miles west of Cam- bridge, says that the first settlers in his neighborhood, of whom he has knowledge, were Zura Pulliam, R. Y. Thompson, Thos. Shackelford, the Gwinns, and Huff's, Wm. Smith, Col. B. F. Chambers, R. C. Land, and others. Thompson and Shackelford were from Kentucky; the Huffs from Tennessee; Smith and Land from Virginia; Chambers from Pennsyl- vania.

The first death, of which the judge can give account, was that of a man who died in the fall of 1837, a few miles west of Cambridge, and was buried at Old Good Hope. Dr. Ranier, from Virginia, now dead, and Dr. John A. Hicks, who died at Marshall, of cholera, in 1849, were the first physicians. The first ministers were Kemp Scott and Abner Gwinn, both Missionary Baptists, and the first services were held at Old Good Hope. The first school was taught in Old Jefferson, by Winston Loving, now in Kentucky. The first school house was built in Old Jefferson, by the patrons, at a cost of between $25 and $50.

Capt. R. D. Richardson, of two miles southwest of Cambridge, states that the first settlers in that neighborhood were Henry Nave, Daniel Thornton, Ephraim McClain, James Wilhite, Jeremiah Odell, Wyatt Bingham, Robert Field and John Piper. His other recollections of early days refer to Arrow Rock township. To get grain ground was the greatest trouble in early days. Every family had a grater upon which corn was grated into meal. This was a tedious mode of getting meal, but it was the only one at times.

During the war some of the citizens of this township suffered severely at the hands of the contending parties. John G. Fletcher, a respectable citizen, was killed by some Federal militia, said to be some of Capt. Bing- ham's company. Mr. Fletcher was engaged in making sorghum and went to a neighbor's to get some soft soap with which to lubricate his cane mill. The militia met him in the road and shot him dead.

Here in this township, Capt. Yager, of Blunt's guerrillas, was found by

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

the militia near Mr. F. H. Gilliam's. Yager had been desperately wounded in the attack on Arrow Rock. The militia tracked two of the guerrillas to their retreat, opened fire on them, dispersed them all but Yager, whom they riddled with bullets and then broke in his skull with the butt of a musket. Miss Janie Flannery, a refugee from Jackson county under " Order No. 11," whose two brothers, Ike and Silas, were with Quantrell, lived in a tenement house belonging to Mr. Gilliam, and fed and cared for Yager, and confessed that she did, in order to save the life of Mr. Gilliam, who had been accused of the act and was in imminent peril of his life at Marshall.

Judge Land relates that soon after he came to the country he was called upon to perform the marriage service for a couple. The knot was duly tied, and immediately thereafter the groom grasped his bride and whirled here around and around, yelling all the while, "I've got her! I've got her!" In the exuberence of his joy the happy fellow came near knock- ing over the judge and one or two of the guests.

THE TOWN OF CAMBRIDGE.

This town, situated on the Missouri, was formerly one of the principal shipping points in the county. It was first occupied in 1845, and regu- larly laid out in 1848. The first man that did business was F. A. Bright- well, and he built the first house. He was the first postmaster, the post- office being established about the year 1845. The first school teachers in the place were G. P. Beswick and a Mr. Harvey. The first regular physician in the place was Dr. B. E. Powell, from Kentucky, at present in Glasgow. The first minister was Rev. Wm. M. Protsman, a Metho- dist. The only cemetery that ever belonged to the place was the one now in use, one and a half miles from town. The present town officers are Dr. J. H. Barnes, Thos. Holmes, D. M. McCormick and E. J. Dun- lap. Thos. Holmes is chairman of the council.

As has been stated, the town of Cambridge was at one time a place of considerable importance, but the building of the Chicago & Alton rail- road, or rather its location, away from the town, and the building of Slater and Gilliam have greatly damaged its prosperity. Houses have been moved to Slater, and business men have followed them.

M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.

This church was originally at Old Jefferson, about three miles up the river from Cambridge. It was first organized in August, 1837. The first members were Robert and Mary Martyr, Winston and Frances Lov- ing, Robert C. and America Land, Charlotte B. Land, John A. Hicks, Mary A. Wooldridge. The church was built in 1840 or 1841, and dedi- cated the same year by Rev. J. R. Bennett. It was a frame, and cost $700 or $800. The pastors of this church, until its removal to Cam-

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

bridge, were George Bewley, B. R. Johnson, Hugh Dodds, W. P. Nich- ols, J. K. Lacy, and W. W. Jones. In 1854 a new house of worship was erected at Cambridge, being dedicated in the winter of 1854, by Rev. Mr. Mitchell. This also was a frame and cost about $2,000. To this church the congregation removed and in it thereafter worshipped. The pastors have been Wm. Protsman, - Peterson, Wm. S. Brown, Wm. Compton, Geo. Savage, - Wharton, - Wallace, Gervis Smith, Luther Pulliam, McAllister, Berryman, Carden, A. M. Rader, Dr. Camp, Spen- cer Hogan, F. A. Taylor. Present membership, 150.

ODD FELLOWS LODGE.

Saline Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O. F., was organized, August 16, 1847, by C. H. Green, D. D. G. M. The charter members were D. D. Harbison, B. E. Powell, G. H. Grove, W. T. Gilliam, I. Guthrie, W. C. Thrash, M. H. McMahan. The first officers were D. D. Harbison, N. G .; B. E. Powell, V. G .; G. H. Grove, secretary; W. T. Gilliam, treasurer; I. Guthrie, W .; M. C. Thrash, R. S. and L. S .; M. H. McMahan, I. and O. G. The present officers are W. F. Maugus, N. G .; E. J. Dunlap, V. G .; D. W. McLoney, R. S .; M. T. Powell, P. S .; P. Buck, treasurer; P. C. Porter, W .; J. W. Duggins, C .; T. W. Swinney, R. S .; M. Hughs, L. S .; J. Howard, R. S. V. G .; J. W. Hughes, L. S. V. G .; J. T. - , I. G .; Wm. Cunningham, O. G .; W. P. Bowers, R. S. S .; E. B. Augustus, L. S. S .; John S. Gashuiler, chaplain. There are at present 30 members. The lodge meets in a frame building, erected in 1850, by D. Ford, at a cost of $1,400. This is claimed to be the oldest Odd Fellows' Lodge in this section of the state.

SLATEN

THE TOWN OF STATER.

The town of Slater is situated on the line of the Chicago & Alton rail- way, twelve miles distant from Marshall, and twelve miles distant from Glasgow, and the railroad bridge over the Missouri river at that point. It was first laid off in 1878, and has now, in less than three years, a rapidly increasing population of eighteen hundred. But three years ago it was a corn-field, and now it is the railroad town of the C. & A. road, west of the Mississippi river. It is emphatically and essentially a railroad town,- backed up by a magnificent body of farming lands around it. The railroad interests, however, are the chief interests-and the C. & A. company seem to have concentrated and are still concentrating all their favors and working interests, west of the Mississippi river, here. Slater is one of the general divisions of the road, and the company have built here a splendid round-house and turn-table, large repair shops and handsome offices for train dispatcher and for division superintendent. The round-house is a large and costly building, with capacity to accommodate twenty locomo- tives. There are about ten miles of side-tracking at Slater. The com-

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History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 50

Author: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: St. Louis, Missouri historical company Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: St. Louis, Missouri historical company
Number of Pages: 1008