USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 66
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485
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Julius Spencer was ordained in 1863 and re- mained in the Presbytery until 1869, supply- ing Bellevue and Potosi churches, and later establishing an academy at Irondale. From other Presbyteries, there were received Thomas C. Smith for the Farmington church, L. P. Rowland for Clark's Creek church, and also as a missionary, Francis Patton for Cape Girardeau church; II. F. L. Laird for Potosi church, G. C. Cannon for Bellevue and Po- tosi churches; John Donaldson for the Ist church at Ironton ; David E. Curtis for Farm- ington and New Madrid, and D. A. Wilson for Potosi and Ironton.
During this period there were a number of changes in church organizations. The Ar- cadia Congregational church having adopted the Presbyterian Confession of Faith, was received in April, 1856, and the name was changed to the First Presbyterian church of Ironton. In 1857 the churches at New Madrid and Bloomfield, which had been organized by Rev. L. P. Rowland, were enrolled.
One of the strong and influential advan- tages of the work of the church during this period was its educational interests. The academy at Pleasant Hill under the direc- tion of Rev. M. M. Fisher and later of Rev. J. G. Wells, seems to have exerted a consid- erable influence on the course of church mat- ters and to have developed a number of min- isters for the church. At the close of this decade within the Presbytery there were seven ministers and sixteen churches, which shows a growth, though but a slow growth during the period.
1864-74
The third decade, from 1864 to 1874, also saw a number of changes in the churches. Four men were ordained as evangelists, C. W. Alexander in October, 1867, who served
as supply of the First Apple Creek church and Brazeau church for 13 years; W. B. Y. Wilkie, who was ordained in April, 1876, and for three years was supply to New Madrid and Sikeston churches; O. W. Gause was or- dained July 9, 1871, and was at first the supply at Jackson and Pleasant Hill churches and later the pastor of Cape Girar- deau church, and William MeCarty was or- dained the same day, July 9, 1871, and served first as an evangelist and preached also at Jackson, New Madrid, and Sikeston, and also supplied for the churches at Lakeville and Clarkton. Later he supplied at the First Apple Creek church and Brazeau and still later of Potosi, Irondale and South Bellevue.
Besides ministers ordained there were re- ceived from other Presbyteries George W. Harlan, who was received in October, 1865, and served as supply at Farmington, Clark's Creek and Syenite; Thomas C. Barret, who was received in October, 1866, and was sup- ply of Bellevue and South 'Bellevue churches and later of Cape Girardeau; John Branch was received in January, 1868, but had no regular assignment; W. W. Faris, received in 1870, served one year as pastor of the Cape Girardeau church.
During this period the following changes in church organization were made: In May, 1864, the church at Jackson was reorganized by Rev. A. Munson with 18 members; the church at Irondale was organized in August, 1868, by a committee consisting of Rev. George W. Harlan and Rev. T. C. Barrett and Elder John Adams: there were 10 mem- bers in this church in 1867, Robert Sloam and John A. McCormick being elders; the South Bellevue church was organized in December, 1869 ; the Sikeston in July, 1870; the Charles- ton in 1871; the Clarkton church in 1872, and the Lakeville church in 1873. During the
486
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
same period the Benton and Bloomfield churches were dissolved because they were in a disorganized state; the Whitewater church was dropped from the roll because it was withdrawn from connection with the church organizations and had become affiliated with the Northern Presbyterian church.
Just as is true in the history of every other church organization in the state, the Civil war period was an exceedingly trying one. Not only were buildings burned and many mem- bers of the congregation killed and their property destroyed so that the organizations were themselves almost destroyed, the bitter feelings engendered by the war and the con- test from slavery made themselves felt in the conference, synod aud associations of various church bodies.
The troubles in the Presbyterian church be- came acute at the meeting of the general as- sembly in 1861 and were intensified by the adoption of a resolution known as the Ipso Facto Order, in 1866. This Ipso Facto Order summoned the signers of a certain declaration and testimony which had been presented to the general assembly as a protest against certain of its members to appear before the assembly of 1867 and answer for their con- duct in signing this declaration. It was also part of this order that such persons were for- bidden to sit in any court higher than the session and enjoined all Presbyterians to look ont for this order and not to enroll any such persons as members of their respective courts under penalty of immediate dissolution.
When the Potosi Presbytery met in 1868, Rev. John Branch introduced a resolution that only such delegates as avow their adher- ence to the general assembly be permitted to take seats as members of the Potosi Presby- tery. This resolution was promptly rejected,
whereupon Rev. John Branch and Rev. Julius Spencer gave notice that they withdrew from the jurisdiction of the Presbytery.
Prior to this meeting of the Potosi Pres- bytery the Synod of Missouri had divided, owing to an attempt to carry out this Ipsc Facto order, the division having been made in October, 1866. The minority of the Potosi Presbytery, after the withdrawal of Branch and Spencer, sent a memorial to the synod in which they expressed their adherence to the assembly of the church and they secured from the synod an order for the meeting of the Potosi Presbytery in Ironton April, 1869. This order of the synod was in violation of the arrangements made by the Presbytery itself at a stated meeting appointed by the Presbytery in Farmington September, 1868, and was to be held in the First Apple Creek church in April, 1869.
DIVISION IN PRESBYTERY
This, then, affected a division of the Pres- bytery ; the majority of the members retained the records and met in the First Apple Creek church on the 22nd of April; the meeting was composed of three members and represen- tatives of thirteen churches; the minority met in the First church at Ironton on the same date and there were present five min- isters and representatives of four churches.
There were thus two bodies, each claiming to be the Potosi Presbytery. One of them, which we have called the majority, was inde- pendent for three years, not being represented in any of the synods of the church. In 1872, however, when it seemed that the division could not be cured, the majority connected itself with the Independent Old School Synod of Missouri. This synod, as its name indi- cates, was at the time occupying a neutral position, not being attached either to the.
487
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Presbyterian church of the North or of the South, and it was the hope of this association who were guilding the destinies of the synod, that a connection between the two divisions of the church might be effected. Abandoning this hope, however, at a meeting of the Potosi Presbytery in Jackson in April, 1874, it was determined to send commissioners to the gen- eral assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States, commonly known as the Southern Presbyterian church. The commis- sioners chosen at the meeting were Rev. T. C. Barret and Elder E. Virgil Conway. The meeting of the assembly was held at Colum- bus, Mississippi, and the commissioners from Potosi Presbytery were received and the con- nection established between the bodies.
At the beginning of the fourth decade of the history of the Potosi Presbytery in April, 1874, there were on its roll six members and seventeen churches. The ministers were : A. Munson, George W. Harlan, T. C. Barret, C. W. Alexander, William McCarty and An- drew W. Gause. The churches were: Belle- vue, Potosi, Farmington, Brazeau, First Apple Creek, Clark's Creek, Pleasant Hill, First Ironton, Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, First Jackson, Irondale, South Bellevue, Charleston, Sikeston, Lakeville and Clarkton. Two of these churches, however, those of Ironton and Pleasant Hill, though they were on the roll, were no longer regarded as a part of the Presbytery since they had attached them- selves to the Northern Assembly and were dropped from the roll in October, 1874.
During this period of the church the min- isters received and ordained were these: J. V. Worsham, ordained November 12, 1874. He preached at Clarkton and New Madrid and was supply at Apple Creek and Brazeau and was later the general evangelist of the Presbytery. A. W. Milster, who became con-
nected with the Presbytery in June, 1876, and served as supply at Bellevue and South Belle- vue churches, was later pastor at Bellevue; John M. Rhea, also received in June, 1876, was for a time supply at New Madrid church ; Robert Morrison, preached at Potosi and Irondale, was received in April, 1877; Uncas McCluer, who was received in September, 1877, preached at New Madrid, Clark's Creek, Clarkton and other points; John B. Rubey received April, 1878, and supplied a number of churches; William M. Stratton, received in 1881, and served as supply at Potosi and Irondale ; Joseph A. Graves, received in April, 1881, and preached as supply at Cape Gir- ardeau, New Madrid and Clarkton; Weisel Beale ordained in September, 1881, was pas- tor at Apple Creek and supply at Brazeau, New Madrid, Clarkton, Kennett, Jackson and Oak Ridge; James H. Creighton, received in September, 1882, preached at Farmington for six years; J. W. Roseborough, received in September, 1882, and supplied at Cape Gir- ardeau and Pleasant Hill; John Brown, re- ceived in April, 1883, but had no regular work; Horace B. Barks, received in April, 1884, and preached as supply at Bellevue and South Bellevue.
Only one church was organized during this period, that of Watervalley in August, 1879. In April, 1878, the churches at Lakeville and Sikeston were disbanded and Charleston church was disbanded in March, 1882, leav- ing on the roll seven ministers and thirteen churches.
DECADE FROM 1884 TO 1894
During the decade which extended from 1884 to 1894, the changes in the ministers of the church were as follows: James V. Wor- sham was received in September, 1884, and supplied at Brazeau and Apple Creek for
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
three years and was also evangelist for a time; Henry C. Brown, received in Septem- ber, 1885, was supply at Bellevue and South Bellevue churches for one year; Samuel W. Mitchell, received in September, 1885, and served as supply at Jackson, Apple Creek, Potosi, Irondale; Eber G. Mathews was sup- ply at Cape Girardeau for one year; A. W. Wlison, received October, 1886, was presi- dent of Elmwood seminary six years and was supply of Doe Run church for two years; J. L. Leonard, received May, 1887, and supplied Bellevue and South Bellevue churches ; Josiah F. Curtis, received April, 1888, was supply at New Madrid church four years; Samuel T. Ruffner, received in August, 1888, supplied at Farmington church, and W. T. Howison, re- ceived April, 1889, was pastor of Potosi and Irondale and supply of Bismarck and South Bellevue; William Flynn, D. D., received April, 1889, and was for a time supply of Cape Girardeau church; John W. Primrose, D. D., received in January, 1891, and served as evangelist for nearly three years; W. W. Killough, received in April, 1891, and served as supply at Apple Creek, Pleasant Hill and Brazeau church for a number of years; S. Ad- dison McElroy, received in September, 1891, was pastor of the church at Cape Girardeau until 1898; Weisel Beale, received in April, 1891, and for five years supplied Apple Creek and Jackson churches; John E. L. Winecoff received September, 1891, and was supply for churches at Clarkton and Kennett; M. D. W. Granger, received October 13, 1892, was for several years supply at Bellevue and South Bellevue churches; J. D. Fleming, ordained in November, 1893, and made pastor of New Madrid church.
HISTORY SINCE 1894
In 1904 the reports made to the Presbytery show that there were then twelve ministers and twenty-four churches in its territory. In 1912 the ministers within the Presbytery were George W. Harlan, stated clerk of the Pres- bytery, Josiah F. Curtis, M. H. Kerr, pastor of Potosi, F. L. Delaney, stated supply at Malden and at Clarkton, F. E. Flow, pastor at Kennett, J. D. Harley, pastor at Charles- ton, William C. Beattie, stated supply at Brazean and First Apple Creek, J. R. C. Brown, J. F. Curtis, C. E. Hicock, pastors at Farmington, W. W. Killough, pastor at Pleas- ant Hill and Perryville and stated supply at Oak Ridge, J. F. Lawson, pastor at Cape Gir- ardeau, Lynn F. Ross, pastor at Jackson, New- ton Smith, pastor at Caledonia, Bellevue and Ironton and stated supply at Bellgrade, Thomas H. Watkins, pastor at Caruthers- ville, and James V. Worsham, stated supply at Ste. Genevieve.
The first Presbyterian church which was organized in Missouri was at Bellevue, in what is now Iron county. The church was constituted by Rev. Salmon Giddings on August 3rd, 1816. It was called at that time, Concord church. There were thirty members in the organization and the elders were Will- iam Sloan, Robert M. Stephenson and Joseph McCormick. It is not only the oldest church in the state, but was for a number of years a most prosperous one. In 1844 it had a total of 175 members; fifty years later, in 1894, it had ninety members.
Brazeau church was organized in what is now Perry county, September 12, 1819, by Rev. David Tenney with 20 members. It was reorganized in July, 1890, with 62 members, and in 1894 it had 100 members.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
The First church of Apple Creek was or- ganized by Rev. Salmon Giddings, May 20th, 1821, with 41 members. The ruling elders were Mitchel Fleming, John Gilliland and Oliver Harris. Its membership had grown to 92 in April, 1844; in 1894 it had 85 members.
Farmington church was organized May 18, 1832, by Rev. Joseph Sadd and Rev. Thomas Donnell with seven members; Alexander Boyd was the elder of the church. In April, 1844, this church had 89 members and its elders were John D. Peers, Milton P. Cayce and Newton F. Cayce. In 1844 this church had 160 members.
Rev. Mr. Sadd continued as minister of the church until April, 1835, when he removed to Scott county. His successors were Thomas Donnell, Luther Vandoren, James M. Coving- ton, who filled the pulpit of the church until 1844; among the other men who have been pastors were Rev. Amos H. Rogers, Rev. James T. Paxton, Rev. David E. Curtis, Rev. George W. Harlan, Rev. James A. Creighton and Rev. Mr. Ruffner. The first house of worship built by the Farmington church was dedicated in 1836 and was rebuilt and reded- icated in 1868; this house was sold to the Christian congregation and a new house built, which is still occupied.
The Presbyterian church at Cape Girar- deau is dated by some of the church author- ities, in 1851, but it seems that there was an organization formed at a much earlier date. In 1835 the Rev. J. F. Cowan, who was the pastor at Apple Creek church, visited Cape Girardeau and gathered together eight mem- bers whom he constituted into a clrurch. It was made a part of the Presbytery of St. Louis. It is not possible to give the names of the members, except that it is known that Charles Welling, afterward a member of the church at Jackson, was one of the early mem-
bers and a Captain Dutch and family were also members. It is doubtful whether the organization ever succeeded in accomplishing anything, for there was preaching only at in- tervals by pastors of other churches and at a meeting of the Presbytery at Brazeau in Perry county in May, 1839, the Cape Girar- deau church was struck from the list, its offi- cers and members having moved away. In August, 1842, Rev. Robert G. Barret, then pastor at Apple Creek, visited Cape Girar- deau and preached to a good congregation. He says that at that time the population of the town was about 400; that there were only two church houses in existence, one of them owned by the Baptists and the other by the Catholics. The Methodists had an organiza- tion in the town, but no church building. Rev. Mr. Barret reported that he found only one Presbyterian in the town, a woman.
The Potosi Presbytery met at Whitewater in April of 1850 and appointed a committee composed of D. E. Y. Rice, A. Munson and Elder A. Caldwell to organize the Cape Gir- ardeau church. This organization was per- fected and the church was received into the Presbytery August 31, 1850. The first pas- tor of the charge was Rev. D. E. Y. Rice, who served from 1850 to 1854. During his term as pastor of the church he was also president of the Washington Female acad- emy, which he established and conducted in Cape Girardeau. The church went through the usual vicissitudes, being reorganized in 1855, at which time there were 18 members, the elder of the church being A. Flynn. For a time it was without a pastor, but from 1857 to 1859 it was served by the Rev. F. Patton. After his resignation two or three different ministers spent a few months in the service of the church, but on the break- ing out of the war the organized work prac-
.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
tically ceased for a time. Some of the ser- mons during that period were preached by the Rev. A. Munson, of Apple Creek church. In 1868, the church was visited by Evange- list W. H. Parks, who served them as a sup- ply for several months. In 1869 Rev. Mr. Drake became the pastor, but remained for only six months; during his pastorate, how- ever, the church had a constant growth. In 1870 W. W. Faris was chosen as pastor; from 1873 to 1875 the pastor was O. W. Gause; from 1875 to 1880 T. C. Barret, one of the most active and energetic men ever connected with the church, was pastor; from 1881 to 1885 the pastor was J. W. Roseberge ; from 1886 to 1888, Rev. E. G. Mathene ; from 1899 to 1891, Lellwyn Humphreys ; 1901-02, J. L. Allsworth. The church was without a pastor for some time and then called Rev. Robert S. Brown, who remained, however, for only a short pastorate; from 1905 to 1910, Rev. Adolphus Kistler was pastor ; he was succeeded by Rev. E. F. Ab- bott, who resigned in 1911.
The fifth church organized in the bounds of Southeast Missouri was Potosi church, which was formed July 21, 1832, by Rev. Thomas Donnell. There were six members in the organization, and Henry Pease was the elder. In 1844 it had 49 members and in 1894, 85 members.
Pleasant Hill church was formed by .a group of members from the First Apple Creek church and was organized in April, 1841. It was first called South Apple Creek church, but the name was changed in September of the same year. In 1845 it afforded 75 mem- bers and in 1894 there were 90 members.
Clark's Creek church was organized in 1842 by Rev. James M. Covington. In 1844 it had 15 members, in 1894, 52 members.
The eighth church in Southeast Missouri
was organized at Jackson, February 7, 1843, by Rev. Robert G. Barret with seven mem- bers; Dr. Franklin Cannon and James J. Gardiner were the elders of the church. In April, 1844, there were 11 members. During the war this church was disorganized, but was reconstituted May 15, 1864, by Rev. A. Munson. There were at this time eight mem- bers, and Charles Welling was the elder. In 1894 there were 95 members.
Pleasant Hill church was formed by a col- ony from the First Apple Creek church and organized in April, 1841; it was at that time called the South Apple Creek church, the name being afterward changed. The elders of the church were Ebenezer Flynn, E. W. Harris, E. L. Adams and Elam Harris. For a number of years after the Civil war this church was connected with the St. Louis Pres- bytery from which it was received into Po- tosi Presbytery in April, 1893. In April 1894, it had ninety members and four elders During the period from 1850 to 1860 a very flourishing school was taught at Pleasant Hill. It was established by the Rev. Mr. Bid- ler, with Robert Caldwell as assistant. After one year, Professor Andrews assumed the management of the institution. He was suc- ceeded by J. G. Wells, who remained unti. the beginning of the war. It was through his work that the school grew, as he was & very able and successful teacher.
The pastors of South Apple Creek, 01 Pleasant Hill church, as it is known, were J. L. Frary, 1841 to 1843; D. E. Y. Rice 1843 to 1851; A. Munson, 1851 to 1865 ; James Stafford, 1865 to 1872; O. W. Gauss, 1872-73 John Branch, 1873-74; C. W. Alexander 1874 to 1878; J. B. Rubey, 1878-79; P. B Keach, 1879 to 1883; J. W. Roseborough 1883.
The New Madrid Presbyterian church was
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
organized September 20, 1856, by Rev. L. P. Rowland. The members of the organization at that time were Thomas L. Fontaine, Cath- erine Davis, David Welschance, Elizabetlı Welschance, Elizabeth Hatcher, Harriet Hatcher and Susan Duncan. At first the services were held in the Baptist church, but in 1875 a frame church building was erected. Among the pastors of the church were W. B. T. Wilkie, William McCarty, Uncas MeChier, J. A. Graves, J. H. Rhea, Weisel Beale and J. L. Curtis.
The Presbyterian church at Clarkton was organized December 1, 1872, though there had been preaching there for many years be- fore that time. The church was formed by Rev. W. B. T. Wilkie and Rev. William Mc- Carty and Elder W. A. Ponder; the members were Z. B. Penney, V. H. Harrison, elders ; John H. Stokes, Charles E. Stokes, Clement MeDaniel, Mrs. B. D. Austin and Mrs. Lucre- tia Stokes; the pastors of the church have been J. V. Worsham, Uncas McCluer, J. A. Graves, J. C. Buchanan and Weisel Beale. A church house was constructed in 1875 and dedicated April 3, 1882.
The church at Kennett was organized in June, 1887, by Rev. J. W. Roseborough and Rev. W. Beale. There were 41 members of the original organization, the elders of the church being Thomas E. Baldwin, and D. Y. Pankey. In 1894 the church had 60 members.
The Presbyterian church at Oak Ridge was organized October 31, 1884, by Rev. W. Beale and Rev. J. W. Roseborough. The mem- bers of the church were Oliver S. Harris and wife, Martha A. MeNeely, Julia Hatcher, J. M. Bollinger, Elizabeth Bollinger, James C. and Mary A. Henderson; J. C. Henderson was also the elder of the church. In 1894 this church had 29 members.
Watervalley church in Wayne county was
organized in May, 1879, by Rev. George W. Harlan and Rev. John B. Rubey and Elder Samuel Black. There were 13 members orig- inally ; John F. Miller was the elder.
Syenite church was organized in June, 1885, by Rev. George W. Harlan and Rev. James A. Creighton and Elder George W. Williams with 36 members and four elders.
Doe Run church was organized April 26, 1891, by Rev. A. W. Wilson and Rev. S. T. Ruffner and Elder James McCormick, with 11 members; Dr. F. L. Keith and S. G. Tem- pleton were elders. In 1894 the church had 15 members.
The church at Bismarck was organized April 29, 1891, by Rev. J. W. Primrose with 13 members; Charles T. Martin and W. Scott Dent were the elders. In 1894 this church had 15 members.
Irondale church was organized in August, 1869, by Rev. George W. Harlan and Rev. T. C. Barrett. There were 11 members in the organization and Robert Sloan and John A. McCormick were the elders.
Sikeston church was organized in February, 1894, by Rev. Frank Mitchell, with 11 mem- bers, and B. L. Barnes and Thomas R. Brown as elders.
The church at Point Pleasant was organ- ized March 18, 1894, by Rev. J. D. Fleming, with 11 members; the elders of the organiza- tion were James S. Law and Henry Bishop.
NORTHERN PRESBYTERIANS
When the synod of Missouri divided in 1840 a call was issued for a gathering of those members of the synod who afterwards came to be known as New School Presby- terians, this meeting was held in Hannibal, October 7, 1841, and arranged for a meeting of the synod in St. Louis on April 8, 1842.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
At this meeting there were present thirteen ministers and three elders who represented the New School element in the presbytery of St. Louis and that of St. Charles. After a short time matters were so arranged that there were four presbyteries in Missouri, by 1845 they were in a flourishing condition. This branch of the church, however, was hampered very greatly in Missouri by the opposition of the General Assembly to slav- ery. After the resolution passed by the Gen- eral Assembly in May, 1857, at its session in Cleveland all the churches of the New School throughout the South, except those in Mis- souri, were separated from the General As- sembly of the church. The Synod of Mis- souri decided first to stand independent but in 1859 it renewed its allegiance to the Gen- eral Assembly and was later joined to the Synod of Kansas.
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