USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 62
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"11th-Commenced the quarterly meeting for New Madrid Circuit in Benton, the county seat of Scott; the congregation small and careless, and the professors cold. This was once a numerous society, but removals and deaths have reduced almost to a unit. Satan seems to have his seat here and intemperance reigns.
"18th and 19th-Held a two days' meeting in the town of Cape Girardeau, assisted by Brothers Henry, Dunleavy and Owens. Here
we are much opposed by Catholics, and Prot- estants are struggling for existence; have no meeting house but are trying to build one.
"25th and 26th-Held a two days' meeting in the town of Jackson. Here we are com- pelled to worship in the courthouse, but are erecting a convenient church. Large con- gregation on Sabbath. This is another hard place. But few Christians and many specu- lators in religious principles.
"May 30th and 31st-Held the third quar- terly meeting for Cape Girardeau Circuit in Eaker's settlement on Crooked Creek amongst my countrymen, the Dutch. Here we have a large society, but many members are in a lukewarm state. This region was once the kingdom of Bacchus. One passes an old still- house, and sometimes a new one every two miles.
"June 20th and 21st-Held the third quarterly meeting for Ste. Genevieve Circuit in New Tennessee. One was received on trial. Arrangements are being made to build a stone chapel. It is much needed, for we worship in a dwelling-house or under a grove at present.
"July 3d and 5th-Held the last quarterly meeting for the New Madrid Circuit, in Math- ews Prairie, Scott county. It was a camp- meeting. Owing to the premature coming of the sickly season only four families camped out of a class of sixty whites and forty blacks. On Sabbath the congregation was the largest I have addressed for two years, say 1,000 per- sons. A few professed faith.
"11th and 13th-Held quarterly meeting for the Farmington Circuit at a new chapel called Mt. Zion, in the New Virginia settle- ment, four miles from Fredericktown.
"September 30th-Have closed the last round of the district-the camp-meeting round. Much good was done at some of these
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meetings, especially at that at Yorke Chapel, in Perry County. More than twenty united with the church there, and quite a number were savingly converted."
Work of the church moved on with what must have seemed to those engaged in it very great slowness, but there was a con- stant and steady growth in every part of this section of the state. New societies were organized, new circuits were established, and supplied with preachers and here and there over the district new houses of worship were built. At first these houses were small, sometimes of logs, oftener there were frame buildings, but we are able to see a constant im- provement in the character of the buildings themselves. More and more the people were impressed with the idea that the church house ought to be in keeping with the character of the community and was inevitably a reflec- tion of the conditions existing.
One thing that halted to an extent the work of the Methodist church in Missouri was the controversy over slavery. This fierce and bit- ter struggle concerning the ownership of slaves was not confined to the political arena, it extended to the homes of the people and even into the church organizations. Perhaps no other church suffered more severely on ac- count of this contention than did the Meth- odists. When the General Conference met in New York in 1844 it passed a resolution known as the Finley Resolution which sus- pended Bishop Andrew of Georgia from the exercise of his office on the ground that he was an owner of slaves. He was not to be reinstated as a bishop of the church until he had disposed of these slaves. This resolution was adopted on the first day of June, and, on the 5th, the southern members of the General Conference presented a declaration in which it was said that they believed the continual
agitation of slavery and abolition in the con- ferences of the church and especially the sus- pension of Bishop Andrew from his office would result in a state of things which would render the continuance of the jurisdiction of the General Conference over the conferences of the South inconsistent with the success of the ministry in the slave-holding states.
This declaration, which was signed by all the members of the Southern Conference and by one member from the Illinois Conference, was referred to a committee with instructions to provide a plan for adjusting difficulties which had arisen over the subject of slavery, or, if that were found to be impossible, a plan for a friendly division of the church. After some deliberation this committee reported that it was impossible to settle the difficulties of the situation and recommended that the church should be divided. A conference of delegates from the organizations of the church in those states where slavery existed was held in Louisville, Ky., May 1st, 1845. It was pre- sided over by Bishops Soule and Andrew and the final result of its work was a declaration. that the Southern Conference should become a separate church under the name of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The next meeting of the Missouri Confer- ence following the action at Louisville was held in Columbia, Missouri, September 24, 1845. Bishop Soule presided and he deliv- ered an address asking the Missouri Confer- . ence to unite with the Southern Church. Af- ter a discussion and delay it was finally voted that the Missouri Conference should become a part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. At this conference John K. Lacey was appointed Presiding Elder for the Cape Girardeau District. The appointment for the circuits were : Cape Girardeau, A. Peace; Crooked Creek, J. O. Wood; New Madrid,
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J. H. Headlee; Charleston, L. P. Rowland ; Bloomfield, E. E. Deddge; Greenville, H. N. Watts; Fredericktown, N. B. Peterson; Ste. Genevieve, P. B. Markle; Ripley, J. Eaker; Black River, R. M. Stevenson.
The enumeration of the circuits contained in the Cape Girardeau District at this time indicates the growth experienced by the church. In 1847 a new conference was or- ganized called the "St. Louis Conference," and a new district, Greenville District, was formed from the western part of the Cape Girardeau District.
From this time until the breaking out of the Civil war, in 1861, the church experi- enced a steady growth. It is hardly possible to give an entire list of the preachers who supplied the various circuits at that time. The Presiding Elders for Cape Girardeau District from 1852 to 1861 were: J. M. Kelly, J. H. Headlee, J. C. Berryman, Wesley Browning, H. S. Watts, J. MeCarry, M. R. Anthony. The Presiding Elders of the Greenville District from 1852 to 1857 were: N. B. Peterson, J. R. Burk, J. L. Burchard. In 1857 there was a reorganization of the dis- triets and the western district was called "Potosi." Its Presiding Elders were H. N. Watts and J. C. Thompson.
The work of the church was very greatly interrupted by the Civil war. There were no regular appointments made in 1861, and there were no meetings of the St. Louis Con- ference during the war. Services continued to be held at Charleston, Bertrand, Big Lake and Rush Ridge. Many of the churches were destroyed and the organizations disbanded under the stress of the war.
In 1865 Southeast Missouri was organized into the Iron Mountain District, and W. S. Woodward was appointed as the Presiding Elder. The appointments on the circuits for
that year were as follows: Richwoods, G. C. Knowles; Fredericktown, J. S. Frazier; Perryville, J. M. Proctor; Jackson, not filled; Charleston, H. N. Watts; New Madrid, L. W. Powell; Greenville, S. A. Blakey; Grand Prairie, James Copeland; Bloomfield, J. C. Thompson.
In 1866 the old districts of Cape Girardeau and Greenville were restored, but in 1868 the name of the latter was changed to Potosi. In 1871 the districts were named Iron Mountain and Charleston, and in 1873 a new distriet called Poplar Bluff was established.
In 1887 Charleston District contained the following stations: Charleston, established in 1872; membership, 253; value of church, $6,- 000; C. M. Hensley, pastor. Cape Girardeau, membership, 132; value of church, $1,200; W. Mooney, pastor. Farmington, member- ship, 185; value of church, $3.200: W. F. Wilson, pastor. New Madrid, membership, 153; value of churches, $2,800; E. F. Seuter, pastor. Fredericktown, membership, 216; value of churches, $3,400; J. W. Robinson. pastor. Sikeston and Bertrand were for sev- eral years prior to 1887 under one charge. They had a membership of 348, and churches to the value of $3,300. Sikeston was a station under the care of V. J. Millis. The circuits within the Charleston District were as follows : Commerce, including Commerce, Macedonia, Head's schoolhouse, Campbell's schoolhouse and Lusk's chapel, S. A. Mason, pastor; Mor- ley, including Morley, Oran, Blodgett, Sandy Prairie and Cross Plains, S. II. Renfro, pas- tor; Point Pleasant, including Point Pleas- ant, New Hope. Union, Ruddell's Point, Mound and Beech Grove, supplied by A. G. Horton; Bertrand, including Bertrand or- ganized in 1844; East Prairie, organized in 1865; Thrower's Chapel, organized in 1880, and Diehlstadt, organized in 1886, W. H.
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Blalock, pastor; Belmont, including Haws chapel, Rush's Ridge, Concord and Locust Grove schoolhouse, supplied by R. G. Parks; Caruthersville, S. Richmond, pastor; Lutes- ville, including Lutesville, Glen Allen, Union, Ebenezer, Bethel, Point Pleasant, Eaker's chapel, Gravel Hill, Hickory Grove, Killian schoolhouse, Sedgewickville and Trin- ity, S. C. Biffle, pastor; Jackson, including Jackson, Arlington, Rock Hill and MeKen- dree, H. A. Smith, pastor; Oak Ridge, in- cluding Oak Ridge, Shiloh, New Salem, Sa- lem, Millersville, Goshen, Shawneetown, Oak Hill, Neely's Landing and MeLain's, J. K. Mathews, pastor; also three or four churches in Cape Girardeau county, supplied by local preachers; Yorke chapel, T. Lord, pastor; Farmington, J. A. Russell, pastor; Mar- quand, T. W. Glass, pastor, and New Pros- pect, supplied by M. M. Blaese. The total membership of Charleston district in 1887 was 6,004. In 1880 it was 2,954.
In the Poplar Bluff district there was but one station, Poplar Bluff, which for some time was united with the church at Dexter under the care of one pastor. It had been a station since 1884. W. E. Boggs was pastor. Among the circuits in the Poplar Bluff dis- trict were: Grand Prairie, including Bran- num, Liberty, Harkey's chapel and Cotton Plant, R. A. McClintock, pastor; Williams- ville, including Shiloh, organized about 1830; Walton's chapel, a branch of Shiloh, organ- ized in 1887; Freeland (in Carter county), Chapel Hill, organized about 1873; Prospect, organized in 1885; Dee's chapel, organized in the "thirties;" Williamsville, organized about 1884, and Cool Springs, organized in 1888, Geo. H. Adams, pastor; Piedmont, in- cluding Piedmont, organized about 1876; Des Arc, organized in 1882, and Mill Springs, Webster Full, pastor; Clarkton, including
Malden, organized in 1881; Clarkton, Knight's schoolhouse, Salem, Zion and . Gravel Hill, J. A. Jenkins, pastor; Arcadia, including the churches in Iron county, H. C. Fleenor, pastor; Bloomfield, R. Walton, pas- tor, and Piketon, L. W. Pickens, pastor. The total membership in 1887 was 5,260.
Since 1887 the growth of the church has been steady and rapid. It has kept pace with the growth of population. It is not possible to give in detail the changes in pastoral rela- tions during these years. The information is readily available in the published reports of the church. A summary of the present con- dition of the church, together with the names of the various organizations, the pastors and membership of each is given in the form of tables. From these it appears that in the territory of Southeast Missouri in 1911 there were forty-six stations and forty circuits, with a total membership of 21,307. These figures testify to a wonderful growth since McKendree chapel was established and even since the war.
Under the present organization of the church most of the churches in. Southeast Missouri are members of three districts of the St. Louis conference. These districts are Poplar Bluff, Farmington and Charleston. A few of the churches are in West Plains dis- trict of the same conference and some others in West Plains district.
The tables given below show the location of church organization together with the minis- ter in charge and the membership of the church.
The Presiding Elder of Charleston District is Rev. Robert L. Russell and the organiza- tions, pastors and membership in his territory are as follows :
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S. M. Clack, Anniston Ct., 431. T. C. Denton, Benton, 117. I. W. King, Bertrand, 349. J. C. Thogmorton, Blodgett, 161. A. S. J. Baldridge, Caruthersville, 439. Del. Longgrear, Caruthersville Ct., 88.
P. G. Thogmorton & J. F. Holland, J. P., Charleston, 604.
Jenord Gray, Charleston Ct., 315. [. L. Holt, Cape Girardeau, 517. A. C. Stovmont, Chaffee, 264.
O. S. Tallent, Commerce & Macedonia, 215. T. G. Fallin, Cottonwood & Cooter, 418. R. D. Kennedy, Cairo, 153. S. A. Bennett, Deering. E. F. MeDaniel, East Prairie, 262. H. II. S. DuBois, Edna & Illmo, 99. [. Q. McCorkle, Hayti, 111. Clarence Burton, Jackson, 480. A. W. Darter, Lilbourn Ct., 124. S. M. Roberts, Morley & Richwoods, 403. WV. H. Jordan, New Madrid, 135. C. E. Harris, New Madrid Ct. Elmer T. Clark, Oran, 165. T. E. Smith, Parma, 103. J. T. Evitts, Portageville Ct., 125.
O. J. Furguson, South Cape Girardeau, 41. A. U. Burris, Steel Ct., 221 J. M. Bradley, Sikeston, 170. J. C. Montgomery, Vanduser Ct., 181. J. L. Wolvarton, Mathews, 267. Total, 7,258.
Farmington district is presided over by Rev. Henry P. Crowe and there are twenty- ive stations in this territory of the church is follows:
Wm. Court, Farmington, 371. J. N. Clark, Fredericktown, 530.
J. R. Bullington, Potosi, 134. N. B. Henry, Bonne Terre, 353.
T. P. Stubblefield, Flat River, 319. Elmer Peal, Lavins, 305. Arthur Trotter, Des Loge, 137.
A. S. Coker, Arcadia, 112. L. D. Nichol, Esther, 199. Win. Stewart, Bismark & Hickory Grove, 277. R. Walton, Caledonia & Irondale, 170. J. N. Sitton, Leadwood & Frank Clay, 137. II. C. Iloy, Lutesville & Glen Allen, 260.
D. M. Margrave, Oak Ridge Ct., 306. O. A. Bowers, Marquand Circuit, 313. A. N. Walker, Whitewater Circuit, 226. H. A. Showmaker, Libertyville Circuit, 193. E. G. Brent, Mineral Point Circuit, 129. B. L. Wright, York Chapel Circuit, 113. F. A. Hearn, Neely's Landing Circuit, 232. R. S. Warren, Sedgewickville Ct., 259.
S. C. Boekman, Fredericktown Ct., 193.
B. W. Bynum, Belleview Ct., 205. M. M. Blaese, Marble Hill Ct., 284.
J. A. Wood, Farmington Ct., 360. Total, 6,117.
There are twenty-six stations in the Pop- lar Bluff district and the present presiding elder is Rev. J. R. H. Vaughan. J. T. Ricketts, Advance Ct., 101. F. M. Mayfield, Bernie Ct., 181.
R. M. Ownby, Bell City Ct., 367. Linus Eaker, Bloomfield Ct., 194. Thomas Lord, Campbell, 172.
J. B. Wilburn, Clarkton Ct., 261.
J. D. Doherty, Cardwell Ct., 141.
W. J. Heys, Dexter, 245.
R. E. Foard, Doniphan, 233.
L. L. Johnston, Doniphan Ct., 235.
C. L. Fry, Essex & Sadler's Chapel, 131.
S. C. Biffle, Greenville Ct., 309.
J. W. Ham, Harkey's Chapel & Senath, 350. J. S. Newson, Holcomb Ct., 405.
F. Eaker, HIornersville Ct., 320. W. J. Velvick, Kennett, 303.
W. L. King, Lowndes & Coldwater, 366.
E. T. Reid, Morehouse, 179.
J. T. Self, Malden, 394.
J. L. Batton, Naylor Ct., 381.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
W. A. Tetley, Poplar Bluff, 307.
C. L. Kirkendall, Poplar Bluff Ct., 198.
A. R. Sanders, Pine Ct., 272.
E. Jones, Sherry Ct., 162.
T. W. Glass, Williamsville Ct., 302.
J. C. Reid, C. Francis, Zalma Ct., 220. Total, 6,822.
De Soto district has for its Presiding Elder Rev. J. W. Worsnop. Of the organization in this district the following are within the ter- ritory covered in this history.
E. J. Rinkel, De Soto, 208.
J. P. McDonald, De Soto Circuit, 228.
Geo. J. Evans, Festus, 317.
D. R. Davis, Hematite Circuit, 101.
J. R. Kincaid, Plattin Circuit, 256.
West Plains district has for its Presiding Elder William A. Humphrey. The following organizations are considered here. H. L. Taylor, Ellington Circuit, 344. Geo. Jaycox, Lesterville Circuit, 90.
The church has entered upon an era of great expansion in this part of the state. This is evidenced not only by the large in- crease in numbers. the greater influence pos- sessed by the church in all social and moral questions, but also by the remarkable im- provement in church buildings. In the last ten years the church has erected a number of buildings of great cost, well-planned and con- structed and adapted to the work of the church as it is now carried on. Cape Girar- deau, Jackson, Charleston and Sikeston, have recently erected churches each costing more than $40,000, and each of permanent and en- during materials. The church at Cape Girar- deau is built of native stone. It is of Gothic architecture, handsomely finished and fur- nished, has a large auditorium, Sunday school rooms, a kitchen and dining rooms,
offices and all the equipment necessary to the work of a modern church.
The church at Jackson is of brick and equally as well adapted for its purpose. The Charleston church is of stone, and is one of the best in this section.
Perhaps the best building owned by the church in this part of the state is that at Sikeston finished and occupied in 1912. It is built of brick of the modified Romanesque style, has a handsome auditorium with domed roof, is finished in handsome woods, and beautifully lighted and seated. The audito- rium contains one of the largest pipe-organs in the state. There are many rooms for Sun- day school purpose so arranged as to be thrown into the main portion of the church as occasion demands.
Other churches of the St. Louis Conference, outside of St. Louis are almost equal to these. That at Dexter is of recent erection and is a handsome and dignified structure.
In another chapter an account has been given of the educational work of the church in supporting Marvin Collegiate Institute at Fredericktown. In all that pertains to the welfare of society at large the church in Southeast Missouri takes an active and ef- ficient part.
To the heroic pioneer preachers of the Methodist church is due a large debt of grat- itude for the work which they accomplished in this part of the state: At a time when frontier conditions prevailed over the entire section these men faced the perils and hard- ship of the wilderness in discharge of the duty which rested upon them. Through the period of growth that preceded the Civil war, while the wilderness was being subdued, towns built. farms cleared, and the state en- tering on its marvellous career of prosperity
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
and civilization, one of the strong forces that wrought for progress and advancement was the influence of these men. They preached and taught in every community, planted, not alone the seeds of Christianity, but also higher ideals of social service, of education and organization. During the trying period of the war and the years of bitterness and strife that succeeded it, when industry was paralyzed, organizations ended, when law- lessness prevailed, they still labored, and up- held the principles which had been planted by the fathers. They fostered education, and at early day when schools were few, money scarce and the difficulties great they established Bellevue Collegiate Institute, and in spite of every difficulty and discourage- ment, kept it alive and growing, and so shaped its course and work that it has devel- oped into the Marvin Collegiate Institute of our own day, a splendid and vigorous school destined to become a powerful influence in the life of the church. To every other great movement they have lent aid and influence, so that their work is indelibly woven into the life of the state, and its power seen on every page of its history.
In spite of all other activities their chief interest has been the work of the great church which they have built up here. The numbers, the power, the wealth of that in- stitution testifies to the success which they achieved.
It is not possible to preserve the names of all these men nor to accord to them the credit they deserve for their great achievements. To Jesse Walker, perhaps, belongs the honor of first place among the preachers of the church, at least in point of time. He it was who first planted the seed of Methodism in this great territory and the story of his work, the long and dangerous miles he travelled,
his devotion, the success of his labors will al- ways be a stirring chapter in the history of the church. H. S. Watts, famous as Rough and Ready, with his blunt honesty, his un- failing courage, his ready wit, his unflinching devotion to his work, who wrought as circuit rider and presiding elder, will always be re- membered with pride by his church. U. L. Haw, whose long life of labor as minister and presiding elder did much for the church, contributed not alone his own life of active service but a family to continue his work. Ilis son, Dr. James L. Haw, was one of the most prominent laymen of the church inter- ested and devoted to its work. His son, Mar- vin T. Haw, the secretary of the St. Louis Conference continues the traditions of the family and his years of successful ministry recall the best days of his grandfather.
The Henrys, father and son, gifted men, able to lead, eloquent of speech, scholarly, have had a powerful influence upon the de- velopment of the church and its work.
J. C. Berryman, a prince of preachers, and a master organizer, will always be honored. T. M. Finney, Henry Hanesworth, were among a multitude of honored names.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Although the Missouri Conference at its meeting in 1845, voted by a large majority to unite with the Southern Church, some mem- bers of the Conference were opposed to this change and determined to abide in their re- lation to the older organization. Two of the men who made this decision were: Rev. An- thony Bewley and Rev. Nelson Henry. Some of the men who did not wish to unite with the Southern Church left the state and took up work in other places. Some, however, re- mained and these held a convention on Spring River, December 25, 1845. They
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tried to arrange plans for carrying on the work in Missouri and Arkansas. The only ministers left at that time were: George Sly, David Thompson, Joseph Doughty, Mark Robertson, Anthony Bewley and Nelson Henry. They were unable to accomplish very much, but in 1848 the Missouri Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church was re- organized. It was divided into three dis- tricts, one of which included the most of Southeast Missouri and a large part of Ar- kansas. Nelson Henry was Presiding Elder of this district and under his direction a mis- sion was organized at Bloomfield.
The first quarterly meeting in the district was held at the house of W. W. Norman, October 14, 1848. Nelson Henry was the Pre- siding Elder and John W. McKnight was the pastor of the church. Another quarterly meeting was held later at the house of Jonas Eaker in 1849. J. J. Buren was presiding elder and W. W. Norman was pastor of the church. This arrangement was kept up dur- ing the next few years. The circuit with Norman as its pastor, included practically all of Southeast Missouri. In 1852 D. M. Smith was Presiding Elder and E. N. Lowe was the pastor.
It is probable that the first church erected by the Methodist Episcopal church after the division was the one at Bloomfield. It was built under the supervision of a committee consisting of W. W. Norman, H. C. Rich and J. C. Bottom; this was in 1853. The church carried on services not only at Bloomfield, but at Grand Prairie, Big Lake, Gravel Hill, Spring Creek, Dick's Creek, Poplar Creek and Mt. Zion. Some of the ministers who . served the church during this period were: John McKnight, Richard Thornton, J. S. Gooch, Thomas Golding. Asa D. West, Hiram Lipe and Francis Beggs.
It was unfortunate for the cause of relig ion that this division occurred in the Meth odist church. The activity of the old church in Southeast Missouri was productive of bit ter feeling, and serious obstacles were placed in the way of those having the work in charge. On more than one occasion minister were denounced and even attacked by th persons opposed to the abolition sentimen expressed by the ministers. Southeast Mis souri, at this time, was very largely pro slavery in sentiment,-in fact this was tru of the greater part of the state, and the wel known fact that the Methodist Episcopa church was opposed to the institution o slavery, operated to bring strong opposi tion to the work of its ministers. Thi: is shown very conclusively in the failure of the legislature to issue a charter to the school which the church purposed to estab lish in Jackson. In 1854 a society in Jack son, which was in charge of a school there offered buildings and grounds to the Missour conference, provided the conference would guarantee the establishment of a good school This offer was accepted by the church and the school was begun. In order that the schoo might be on a permanent basis, application was made to the legislature for a charter o: incorporation, but the bill was defeated by a vote of sixty to thirty-six on the expres: ground that the church was opposed to slavery.
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