USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 61
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To a certain extent every farm house was a factory where many articles of domestic
use were made. Cloth was woven, thread spun, clothing made, furniture and many household implements and tools were con- structed. All these processes of manufacture whether carried on in the home or the fac- tory added to the independence and fostered the development of the country.
CHAPTER XXXV
RELIGIOUS HISTORY-CONTINUED
CATHOLICS - METHODISTS: QUARTERLY MEETINGS, CIRCUITS AND DISTRICTS-BAPTISTS: As- SOCIATIONS-EVANGELICAL LUTHERANS-PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES-CONGREGATION- ALISTS-GERMAN EVANGELICAL AND GERMAN METHODIST CHURCHES-NEW SCHOOL PRESBY- TERIANS-CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES - CHRISTIANS (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)- SOUTHEAST MISSOURI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES-PRESBYTERIANISM IN 1854-64-1864-1874- DIVISION IN PRESBYTERY-DECADE FROM 1884 TO 1894-HISTORY SINCE 1894.
In a former chapter we have discussed the beginning of religious work within the bounds of Southeast Missouri by those re- ligious denominations which entered this part of the state prior to its admission to the Un- ion. We now have to continue the story. of the development of the work in these churches, and the beginning of the work of other denominations which entered the state in the period we have under consideration.
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Our attention is given first of all to the development of the work of the Catholic church, the oldest of the religious organiza- tions within the state. It will be recalled that Bishop Dubourg, who was appointed to the diocese of New Orleans, which included Upper Louisiana, in 1815, brought with him on his return from Rome, a number of zeal- ous, earnest priests and students, who came to take up and carry on the work of the church in this state. The most famous of these who accompanied the bishop were Fa- ther De Andreis and Father Rosati, both of whom, as was the bishop himself, were mem- bers of the Congregation of the Mission. Fa- ther De Andreis became vicar general of the
diocese with headquarters in St. Louis, and assisted in the organization of St. Mary's Seminary at Perryville. Later, the work of carrying on this seminary was entrusted to Father Rosati. Among the men associated with these whom we have mentioned, in their work of evangelization, were: Father J. M. Odin and Father John Timon. Father Odin became the first bishop of Galveston and later archbishop of New Orleans. Father Timon, who was ordained in 1825, was assigned to the work in Perry and Cape Girardeau coun- ties. He often preached in the courthouse at Jackson, and it was through his efforts that a mission was established in the town of Cape Girardeau. When this mission had been established, and it became necessary to purchase property on which to erect build- ings to carry on the work, a tract of land just south of the town was purchased from a man named Daugherty ; it was bought in the name of the Vincentian Fathers. It is the tract of on which St. Vincent's church and St. Vin- cent's College in Cape Girardeau now stand. At first the services were held in Daugherty's house, later a store-house was purchased and
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modified so as to be suitable for the celebra- tion of religious services. The mission be- came a regularly organized parish in 1836, at which time Father Odin was installed as the priest in charge. It was but a short time until plans were made for the erection of a suitable church building. This was com- pleted and dedicated July 19, 1852. It stands facing the river and is a commodius brick structure, in the Gothic style of architecture, and is still in use. It has been remodeled and thoroughly overhauled at various times, so as to keep it in condition for the use of the congregation.
The settlement of St. Michaels, in Madison county near the present site of Frederick- town, was a distinctly Catholic settlement. It was made in 1802, and about the year 1820 a church building was erected on the site of the new village. It was simply a missionary station and no regular parish priest was at- tached to it. After the removal of the town from St. Michaels to the present site of Fred- ericktown, the church which was built of stone was taken down and moved to a new town; this was in 1827. After the removal, a regular parish was organized and Father Francois Cellini was appointed to take charge of the work. He was one of the men who had come with Bishop Dubourg from Italy in 1817. He was a man of unusual attainments and ability. Before coming to America he had served as a surgeon in the Italian army and had been knighted on account of his ser- vices in that capacity. When he became par- ish priest in Fredericktown he continued the practice of his former profession among his parishioners, and he possessed such skill as a surgeon that he was often called upon to practice in different parts of the country. He also engaged in the manufacture and sale of certain proprietary medicines known as Vol. I-29
Cellini's Balm and Cellini's Bitters. Father Cellini was succeeded in 1842 by P. D. Sa- velli, who remained until 1845. At this time, Father Tucker, a native of Perry county, was appointed parish priest. He organized a movement for the erection of a brick church and a new residence for the priest. These were completed in 1858. He remained in charge of the parish until his death in 1880.
In 1838, there was erected at Perryville, a church known as St. Mary's church. This was in connection with St. Mary's College, and the priests in charge of the church have ordinarily been members of the faculty of the college. This church building is of stone and is a very beautiful and commodious strue- ture.
The first church in Washington county was built at Old Mines about 1825. It was built by the Catholics and was a log building. This was torn down in 1830, and a brick structure erected. The church in Potosi was organized in 1828, and the present church building was erected in 1862.
In 1845 a Catholic church was organized in Benton, and a house erected to be used as a church. The lot on which the church was placed was given by a gentleman named Meyers. In 1850 this church was burned.
In 1848 a log church was built at New Hamburg which was superseded in 1857 by a handsome stone structure. This church was destroyed by fire during the war, but was replaced by a more costly and beautiful one.
In 1856 a Catholic church was organized at Leopold, in Bollinger county. The priest who conducted the organization was John Van Lluytelaar; the members of the church were J. G. Sonderen, J. Scharenbourg, John and Jacob Holweg, Armond Jansen, Herman Elfrant, W. Wardraeker, J. W. Tuling, T. Meyer, A. Rickhoff, Clement Beel and John
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Derbraak. The first church building was of logs, but it was soon replaced by a large frame building.
The second Catholic church in Cape Gir- ardeau was the German church. It had been the desire of the German families in the town to have a separate organization and in 1858 J. Meyer and J. Goetz were appointed as a committee to consult with Archbishop Ken- rick as to the advisability of establishing a separate congregation for German speaking Catholics. All that was accomplished at the time was the purchase of a lot by ten men who were interested in the establishment of the new church. Nothing more was done toward the organization until after the close of the war. The delay probably would not have taken place, had it not been for the dif- ficulties that arose at that time, occasioned by the war itself.
In 1867 Father Rainerius Dickneite began an agitation for building of the church. The priest of St. Vincent's at that time was Fa- ther L. C. Meyer. He gave to the subject of building all the weight of his influence, and a new building committee was appointed, composed of J. Lansman, Charles Fuerth, J. Schwepker, H. Sander and J. Goetz. This committee purchased a lot on Frederick street for $650, and the work of erecting the building was begun March 25, 1868. The building cost $14,000. A schoolhouse for the parochial school was built in 1882, and the priest's residence in 1885. The school has been conducted by Sisters of the Order of St. Francis. The pastors of this parish have been Rev. J. Herde, Rev. Gells, Rev. W. Hins- sen, Rev. J. Schmidt, Rev. S. Kleiser, Rev. W. Sonnonschein, Rev. Francis Willmer, and Rev. E. Pruente. Father Pruente has been in charge of the parish since December 30, 1881, and his labors have been unusually suc-
cessful. The church now has a large member ship.
The church of St. Augustine was organ ized at Kelso in 1878. The members of the organization had formerly belonged to the church at New Hamburg. Immediately after the organization, a frame building was erected and used for a number of years, then super- seded by the present brick structure.
The St. John's church at Leopold has more than 600 communicants, and has maintained a school since 1872.
In 1870 a church was built at Farmington and a congregation of about twenty families organized by Henry Milsepen, who was the German vicar-general. For a time there was no resident priest, the first one being Rev. John Daley. He had charge of the church at French Village also. For a period of about ten years Farmington and Iron Moun- tain parishes were united under the care of the same priest. About 1885 the church ai, Farmington had grown so as to require the services of a priest for all the time. The church has a good brick building and a school building also.
The first Catholic church at Bonne Terre was built by Father Daley, the land having, been given by members of the Whilebon fam- ily. The church was not conveniently lo cated, however, being at a distance from the town. In 1881 the Desloge Lead Company gave a lot, upon which a brick building wa: erected, at a cost of $3,000. Rev. E. J. Demp sey was the first resident priest, and the prin cipal work of establishing the church wa performed by Father M. C. Walsh. Through his exertions a fine school building was erected in 1885, and a priest's. residence a few year later. Father Walsh was a native of Ireland but came with his parents to America in in fancy. His parents determined to fit him fo
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
the priesthood, and he was educated in St. Patrick's school, in St. Louis, and was later sent to St. Mary's Seminary, at Perryville. He was graduated from St. Vincent's Col- lege at Cape Girardeau in July, 1862, and was ordained to the priesthood. He spent the first years of his ministry in north Mis- souri, but from about 1881 he was active in a number of counties in Southeast Missouri. The great growth of Catholicism during this period is due in part to the earnest efforts of Father Walsh.
The German Catholic church of Perryville, known as St. Boniface, was established in 1870, and the present brick building was erected shortly after that time.
The church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, at Pilot Knob, was established about the be- ginning of the war. There had been a settle- ment at Pilot Knob since the transfer to the United States, and beginning in 1846, Fa- ther Tucker, the parish priest at Frederick- town, had held occasional services in the homes of members at Pilot Knob. In 1861 Mrs. Catherine Immer began the work of raising funds for a church building. The first contributor to this fund was Archbishop Kenrick, of St. Louis. The church was com- pleted early in the year 1864, and in that same year was injured by an explosion dur- ing the battle of Pilot Knob. Some of the early priests were Father Hennessey, after- wards Bishop of Wichita, Kansas, and L. C. Weinert. Father Weinert remained with the church for many years and was esteemed one of the ablest and most devoted pastors the church had. In 1881 a parochial school was established in connection with the church, and at this time a great-granddaughter of Joseph Pratte is a teacher in this school. It was to Joseph Pratte that the land on which the town now stands was originally granted
by the Spanish government, which grant was afterwards confirmed by the United States in 1834. In 1882 the church purchased land and established a cemetery. It celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the church June 5, 1912. A number of for- mer priests took part in this celebration.
Besides the churches already mentioned, there are the following Catholic churches in Southeast Missouri: St. Joseph's, at Union- town; St. Joseph's Chapel, at Arcadia; St. Philomena's, at Bloomsdale, in Ste. Gene- vieve county; the Church of the Nativity, in Bois Brule Bottom; the Church of Our Lady, in Claryville; the Church of St. Lawrence, in Ste. Genevieve county ; Ste. Anne's, at French Village, in St. Francois county ; St. Joseph's, at Zell, in Ste. Genevieve county ; St. Mary's, in Ste. Genevieve county; Sacred Heart, at Poplar Bluff; the Immaculate Con- ception, Jackson; St. Mary's at Charleston ; St. Francois de Sales, in Mississippi connty ; the Immaculate Conception, at New Madrid. Besides these there are organizations at Doni- phan, Malden, Caruthersville, Glennonville, Bismarck, Bloomfield, De Soto, Dexter, East Prairie, Festus, Caruthersville, Greenville, Irondale, Iron Mountain, Maxville, the oldest church in Jefferson county, organized in 1850; Kimmswick, Old Mines, 'the oldest church in Washington county, Potosi, and Richwoods.
Not only was the Catholic church the first in the territory of Southeast Missouri, it has always been one of the most powerful. Its compact organization, its wealth, and the zeal and devotion of its priesthood have given it a place among the people of this part of the state. This is especially true in the French settlements like Ste. Genevieve, New Madrid, and Cape Girardeau. Some of the German settlements as well are strongly Catholic.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Other German communities were settled by Lutherans and their influence has continued paramount in these places.
The Catholic church has given great at- tention to the matter of education. In this field it was the pioneer. St. Mary's Semi- nary at Perryville, is the oldest institution of learning in the entire state, and St. Vincent's College at Cape Girardeau the oldest college. Besides these the church has supported pa- rochial schools in all communities where the number of Catholics warrants it. A large and growing membership, virtual control of the religious situation in certain parts of the section, valuable property, and numbers of schools attest the position won for this church during the years of its history.
sander Wiley, Farmington by Melville Will, and Ste. Genevieve by Samuel S. Colburn.
About the year 1835 there began a move- ment for the building of church houses. At that time there were, perhaps, fewer than one-half dozen church buildings belonging to the Methodists in all of Southeast Missouri. One of the early buildings was Yorke Chapel ; this was in Perry county, about five miles from Perryville and was erected in 1825. It was afterward replaced by a stone building which is still standing. In 1835 a chapel, which was known as Mt. Zion, was built in the Virginia settlement four miles from Freder- icktown. About the year 1830 a church was organized in Matthew's Prairie, in Mississippi county and a small log house was erected on the land of Elizabeth Smith. The names of the members of this church have been pre- served. Some of them were: Absolum Mc- Elmurry and wife, Elizabeth Smith, Elijah Bruce, Samuel Duncan and family, William Bush, Joseph Moore and wife, James Moore and wife, Charles Moore and wife, Richard and Mary Crenshaw, Uriel Haw and wife, and Isaac Vernon and wife. It will be seen that some of these were members of families still prominent in Mississippi county. Uriel Haw afterward became one of the prominent ministers of the church and served at various times as Presiding Elder of the Cape Girar- deau District. His grandson, Marvin T. Haw, is a minister of the Methodist church and has been stationed at various places in Southeast Missouri.
Up to 1821 the Methodists had established one district called Cape Girardeau District, and the following circuits: Bellevue, Saline, St. Francois, Spring River, White River, Cape Girardeau and New Madrid. At that date Thomas Wright was the presiding elder of the district. The church grew slowly dur- ing the years. Some of the congregations were prosperous and sent out new organiza- tions, but some of them were almost at a stand for a number of years. No great advance was made until about the year 1835. By that year some new circuits had been added, among them: Farmington, Greenville and West Prairie. At that time Uriel Haw was Pre- siding Elder. A mission was established at Bloomfield in 1837, which in another year be- came a circuit of the church. In 1839 Jacob In 1838 this house was burned and two or three years later a church building was Lanius was the Presiding Elder. Cape Gi- rardeau circuit was supplied by Nelsons erected at Charleston. This was occupied un- Henry and Edward Allen, New Madrid by til 1856, when it was torn down and a brick building put in its place. This, too, wås burned in 1870 and was immediately rebuilt. Uriel Haw and James G. T. Dunleavy, Bloomfield by N. B. Evans, Greenville by Ly-
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Some of the other early churches in Missis- sippi county were Kay's Chapel, Haw's Chapel and Rush Ridge Chapel.
A church building was erected at Jackson about 1841. The trustees of this church were: Greer W. Davis, David HI. Davis, Ca- leb Green, Welton O'Bannon, John D. Cook, Hiram Gilliland and William T. Randol. The lot for the church was given by Greer W. Davis.
The first Methodist church house in Cape Girardeau was erected about 1842. It was blown down by a storm in 1851 and the next building was a small frame house on the corner opposite where the Episcopal church now stands. This house was destroyed by a snow storm in 1856, the weight of the snow crushing the structure.
The first church building in Bloomfield erected by the Methodists was a small house . put on a lot donated by the county, this was in 1842. Edmund Wood, Thomas Neale, Samuel Sifford, Thompson Couch and John Eaker were trustees of the church.
In 1838 a church was built at Frederick- town, and occupied the site of the present church building. Some of the early members were: T. F. Tong, F. T. Overfield, Thomas Cooper, Wm. M. Newberry and Andrew Rus- sell with their families.
Our information concerning the condition of the church at this period is derived in large part from a copious diary which was kept by Jacob Lanius, the Presiding Elder of the Cape Girardeau District in 1839 and '40. A perusal of this old diary indicates more plainly than anything else the difficulty under which the ministers of that early day labored. Some extracts from it are given ("History of Southeast Missouri," Page 536).
"Thursday, November 14-Started from
my New Madrid quarterly meeting, and after a ride of thirty miles through steady rain reached Brother Caleb Crain's near Jackson. Here is a society of about twenty members in a tolerable state of prosperity only. The next day passed through Jackson, a little old vil- lage, and took breakfast at the house of Greer Davis, a member of the bar, and a re- spectable member of our church. Traveled thirty iniles today and lodged at the house of old Mother Houts, near Benton, the county seat of Scott county. Here the church once prospered but is now in moral ruins.
"16th and 17th-Held the first quarterly meeting for New Madrid circuit at Pleasant Plains meeting-house in Sandy Prairie. Brothers Ilaw and Dunleavy, the pastors of the circuit, and Henry and Owens attended as ministers in holy things. Two professed faith in Christ. This circuit has nearly 400 members, but religion is at very low ebb. This is a land of swamps and earthquakes, so that you have no access to the circuit save by crossing a swamp. I crossed on a levee three miles long. The land is very fertile, but the country sickly.
"23d and 24th-Held the first quarterly meeting for Cape Girardeau Circuit at Me- Kendree Chapel, three miles from Jackson. Some good omens.
"30th-Held quarterly meeting for Farm- ington Circuit, which embraces my residence, in the town of Farmington. Here Methodism once flourished, but now lies in ruins. A class of only about twenty, no meeting-house, and under the necessity of occupying the Presbyterian church. Some deep feeling on Sabbath, but all the seed fell on 'stony ground.'
"December 14th-Held quarterly meeting for Ripley Mission at Brother Sharp's on Current River. Congregation small, only
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four families in two miles. Country as sparsely settled, prospect dark.
"21st-Held quarterly meeting for Green- ville Circuit at old Father Dee's cabin, seven miles south of Greenville. On Sabbath we occupied Bowman's Chapel, near the dwell- ing, but the cold weather and smoke operated very much against us. However, when I called for mourners at night about one dozen came forward.
"28th-Held quarterly meeting for Bloom- field mission in the town of Bloomfield. Here we occupied the courthouse, an unfinished edifice that does honor to the county. The meeting was pretty good, the love feast most excellent. The church numbers about twenty members and is doing pretty well. This mis- sion is also surrounded by swamps. In going to it I crossed a dismal swamp about three miles wide.
"January 4, 1840-Held quarterly meet- ing for Ste. Genevieve Circuit in the New Tennessee settlement in Ste. Genevieve county, at the house of John McFarland's family, an itinerant now a local of our church, one of the best of human kind. This meeting was a blessing to many in the church, but the wicked seemed little affected. I never preached much harder in my life, but all to no purpose, seemingly. This meeting closed my first round in the district. The dis- trict numbers about 1,200 members, the great mass of whom are measurably destitute of the power of godliness, though the most of them have the form, or a part of it at least, and are strictly moral. There is a want of vital relig- ion. The preachers have pruned the church since conference, and I hope God will follow this wholesome course with His blessing.
"11th and 12th-Held a two days' meeting at Fredericktown at which time the district stewards were expected to meet.
Second quarterly meeting for Cape Girardeau Circuit appointed for February 1, in the town of Cape Girardeau, but, the creeks being up, and the whole face of the country being covered with a sheet of ice, I was compelled to turn back, after having started, and so failed to reach the meeting, but I have since learned that the Lord was with them, and some good was done. A little revival of re- ligion began in Farmington during the holi- days, and as a result of it eight persons joined the church and three the Baptist church. Left home on Wednesday morning, and after traveling through mud and water almost im- passable succeeded in reaching the seat of New Madrid quarterly conference. The meeting was held in Lewis' Prairie, two and one-half miles from the old town of that name; Brothers Haw and Dunleavy attended and assisted in the work. Thirteen were at the altar of prayer on Sabbath night, and eight united with the church. This was the best meeting of the year, and we left the best prospect that has appeared in the district.
"February 15th-This was the time for the Bloomfield quarterly meeting, but I failed to attend owing to ill health. I learn that the meeting was very good. Four were admitted on trial, and the church was refreshed by the Spirit.
"March 14th and 15th-Held the second quarterly meeting for Greenville Circuit at Brother Robert Mccullough's in Wayne county. Here I found a society of about twenty members and a little congregation. The class is in a pretty good condition at present, seem all alive and full of some kind of fire. I trust it is the right kind. Several came forward as mourners, and one old lady joined the class. Brothers M. Wiley and Christian Eaker afforded ministerial aid on the occasion.
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"March 21st and 22d-HIeld quarterly meeting for Ste. Genevieve Circuit at Yorke Chapel in the Abernathy settlement in Perry county, five miles from Perryville, the county seat. Here we have a society of seventy-three whites and more than thirty blacks, but alas, how cold and formal! Very few appeared to enjoy the life and power of religion. Only two additions to the church. The brethren here dwell in ceiled houses, while the house of God lies in ruins, the foundation only having been laid. I hope before the close of the year the church will be completed.
"March 28th-Held the second quarterly meeting for Farmington Circuit at Freder- icktown, Brothers H. Baird and L. Wiley as- sisting as ministers; congregation respectable and attendance good in spite of unfavorable weather; six mourners one night, and three accessions to our ranks. This completes my second round. It was more interesting than the first. Have missed three quarterly meet- ings on account of the difficulty of traveling. "April 4th and 5th-Assisted Brother Wiley of Farmington Circuit with a two days' meeting at John White's among the Dutch (my countrymen) on Castor. This meeting was the best this year, about twenty mourn- ers on Sabbath night, some of whom were con- verted and quite a number received into the church.
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