USA > Missouri > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County Missouri, early and recent history and genealogical records of many of the representative citizens, Volume I > Part 66
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
Pitts Church .- There is in Springfield one organization of colored peo- ple in organic relations with the Methodist Episcopal church north. This church is a member of the Sedalia District of Central Missouri Conference of colored churches. This church has a long and interesting history of nearly three-quarters of a century.
It is related that on October 3, 1847, Mayor Ounce, of this city, granted to Tom Armstrong, a slave, permission to organize a class of colored people holding the faith and order of the Methodist Episcopal church. This little company, slaves like their leader. held divine service in such places as could be secured until 1863. when, under the ministry of Rev. Edgar Pitts, a frame building was erected on Water street, a little east of Benton avenue. Oc- cupied for the next ten years, this was replaced by a brick structure, erected in 1873. at the northeast corner of Jefferson and Water streets, bearing the name of Pitts chapel. as the church itself was called Pitts church, after the beloved pastor ten years before.
This house of worship, being located beside a side-track of the Frisco railway. the encroachments of business made the site exceedingly unfavor- able for the use to which it was consecrated. When, at length, a favorable opportunity was found, the church building was sold and demolished and a
613
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
new location was secured at the northeast corner of Benton avenue and Pine street, where was erected a new and commodious brick structure, which was set apart to the worship of God, being dedicated September 20, 1912.
During the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Harris, D. D., who served the church about four years, the change of location was effected and a healthy growth has been maintained. The Sunday school reports a total enrollment of ninety-eight, the Epworth League twenty-five active senior and thirty to forty junior members. A mission is maintained on Water street.
At the twenty-ninth annual session of the Central Missouri Conference, held April 7-12, 1915, at Louisiana, this church reported three hundred and twenty-six members, having had during its existence, of about sixty-eight years, twenty different pastors. Edgar Pitts died here April 5. 1889. Some of the later pastors were B. F. Abbott, W. J. Deboe and W. H. Wheeler.
At the meeting above Doctor Harris was appointed district superin- tendent of Sedalia district, and Rev. J. M. McAlister was appointed his successor. Doctor Harris is also statistical secretary of the conference.
The Central Missouri Conference met in Pitts chapel March 26, 1890, and March 25, 1896.
Benton Avenue African .- This church ( African Methodist Episcopal) was organized in 1874 by Sparks Alexander in the house of worship then occupied by the Baptist church. A frame building was erected in 1876 on the southeast corner of Benton avenue and Center street, directly oppo- site Stone chapel of Drury College. Since its erection it has been enlarged by an addition on the east side, and a parsonage has been built adjoining it on the east, the size of the lot being one hundred by one hundred and fifty-four feet.
According to last reports, the church had one hundred and fifty-two members. Services are held each evening in the week, with regular prayer meeting Wednesday evening and class meeting Friday evening. There are seven different auxiliary organizations of nine members each. There are both junior and senior Christian Endeavor Leagues.
The value of the church property is estimated at fifteen thousand dollars. Rev. T. Allen Harvey is the present pastor.
Gibson Chapel .-- This organization of colored Presbyterians dates back to 1865, or thereabouts, and has been, until quite recently, united with the Kansouri Presbytery of the Cumberland body.
On the rolls of the Kickapoo -- now Mount Comfort-Cumberland Pres- byterian church appear the names of six colored people, and one among the charter members of the First Cumberland church of Springfield. In 1872 the Ozark Synod granted a request from colored churches within their bounds that they be permitted to form a presbytery to be an integral part of the
614
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Green River Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (colored). In accordance with this request the Missouri Presbytery-later united into the Kansouri Presbytery-was formed. The first and only colored Cumberland church in Springfield was a member of this body.
Simon Headley is named as the organizer of this church, in which were united some twenty-five or thirty members. Early in their history they occupied. in connection with the first colored Baptist church, a frame building in the hollow just south of Phelps avenue, between Benton avenue and Jef- ferson street. Turned later to secular uses. this old structure was demol- ished not many years ago.
Later a large and commodious house of worship was built of brick at the southwest corner of Washington avenue and Pine street, with a base- ment under the whole building and a residence for the pastor in the rear end. The house was named for the pastor under whose ministry it was erected, Gibson chapel. Its cost was in the neighborhood of fifteen thousand dollars. a sum far beyond the ability of the members, some of whom mort- gaged their homes to secure its erection, and are understood to have lost them. The house itself passed for a time out of the hands of the church, but was eventually recovered and again used as a place of worship.
Among the pastors of this church may be named A. L. Wilbern, Minty Lair. Lewis Johnson, Henry Gibson, W. I. Turner, I. C. Nicholson. In the pastorate of Lair the church is said to have had about two hundred and fifty members. and under Gibson and Nicholson some two hundred. Recent re- ports state the number at one hundred and fifteen, with a Sunday school of forty-five, but growing. A Christian Endeavor society is maintained in the church, and there are also a Ladies' Aid and a Missionary Society. The building is very much out of repair, and the members have found it impossi- ble to support the work of the church without aid from outside their own numbers. Following the example set them some years before by many of their white brethren of the Cumberland church, in the fall of 1914 they were received into the fellowship of the Presbyterian church of the U. S. A. Later they secured the services of Rev. D. W. Boatner, from Little Rock, Arkansas, who has lately retired and was succeeded on the first Sunday in May, 1915, by Arthur Rankin, coming from Arkansas.
FEDERATION OF CHURCHES.
The prayer of our Lord for the unity in himself of all believers is to human view almost as far from full realization as that old prophecy of a time when the nations shall learn war no more. Yet there are signs not a few that sectarian bitterness and hate are to some degree giving place to a spirit of co-operation and mutual helpfulness as the mighty problems created
615
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
by human sins and sorrows are in some degree realized. This better spirit takes many different forms-reintegration of separated branches of the same name; coalescence of denominations, as in Canada; union of congrega- tions in worship and pastoral support; federation for practical efficiency, etc.
With the latter end in view some fifteen churches in Springfield united about two years ago in an organized federation, the immediate occasion being the desire to provide adequate support for Mrs. Mary M. Smith, travelers' aide, which the more limited federation of brotherhoods had found to be too great a burden. But this organization had far more comprehensive plans, the aim being to bring the churches into co-operation in the promotion of other worthy ends, secular and religious. Under its auspices a very inspiring and successful Sunday School Institute has been conducted on successive Monday evenings of the fall and early winter for two years past by well- equipped teachers from Drury College and the State Normal School. Ef- forts have been made to promote better hygienic and social conditions in the city. A social survey on broad lines was conducted about a year ago, resulting in the organization of a Public Welfare Board. Vicious and demoralizing agencies have been opposed; in short, the federation aims to act in the spirit of a master who loved men and "went about doing good."
MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE.
Something like a generation ago, as near as can be learned, a number of the pastors of different denominations in Springfield organized a body de- signed to render mutual aid in the discussion of problems in Christian be- lief and action. The constant feature was to be a paper from one of the members, or an address by an invited speaker, followed by free discussion and preceded by business of any sort that might-or might not-be thought legitimate matter for consideration or action. Membership in this body was open to pastors and ex-pastors without distinction of race or color. For many years the meetings were held each Monday morning from September till June, for a considerable time with good attendance and interest. More recently declining interest has led to a change to the first Monday of each month, with called meetings for special business. For the season 1914-1915 Rev. R. B. Blyth is president and Rev. H. A. Mitchell, secretary-treasurer.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION.
In most of the churches of Springfield the women are organized in societies for the promotion of knowledge and interest in the work of missions at home and abroad, meetings of many of these societies being of much in- terest and profit to those who attend. For the still further extension of this
616
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
knowledge and interest with respect to the wide and varied fields of mis- sionary activity a Woman's Missionary Union was organized in 1887 and has continued until the present.
The annual meetings are hekt early in November of each year, the gen- eral plan being to alternate between churches on the north and south sides. of the city. The chief themes considered at this session relate, though by no means exclusively, to missions abroad. The offerings made at this meet- ing were applied for many years to the support of the undenominational McAll mission in Paris ; since this was abandoned, they have been applied to- other Christian agencies.
Besides the all day session in November another meeting in February is devoted to various phases of missions at home. The programs for these, as well as for the fall meetings, are prepared with much care. But as the Far Off has to many minds a charm greater than the Near, this winter meet- ing has received less attention than that in the fall.
The president of the union is now Mrs. C. W. Mitchell; the secretary, Mrs. W. T. Morrow.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, organized in Feb- ruary. 1881, by Rev. Francis E. Clark, then pastor of Williston Congrega- tional church in Portland, Maine, assisted by his wife, meeting a widely felt want, was almost immediately copied elsewhere, at first, quite naturally in Congregational churches. The Springfield Christian Endeavor Union was organized in 1886, with Prof. Charles D. AAdams, of Drury, now of Dart- mouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, as president, and Miss Georgia W. Hardy, now deceased, as secretary, which office she held for several years.
Professor Adams was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Laughlin, W. L. Porter- field. Joseph W. Hall, R. S. Marsh, T. L. Dunlap and J. M. Conkling. Adrian Nichols succeeded Miss Hardy as secretary. The present officers are Parmelee F. Drury, president, and Melvin Sellers, secretary. Societies were early organized in Grace Methodist Episcopal and Calvary Presbyterian churches.
In 1890 an international convention was held at St. Louis, to which Springfield sent a large delegation, through whose efforts on their return many new societies were organized. It is said that as a result of these efforts there were sixteen Christian Endeavor societies in Springfield.
The fifth annual state convention was entertained in Springfield in 1891. It has been entertained thrice since that time-in 1899, 1907 and 1914. In- 1895 and since the seventh district convention has been entertained here.
There are now Endeavor societies in the union connected with the fol-
617
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
lowing churches : First Congregational, Calvary Presbyterian, Second Pres- byterian. First Cumberland Presbyterian (on Olive and Jefferson). First Cumberland Presbyterian (old order), Springfield Avenue and Woodland Heights Presbyterian, First South Street and Central Christian and Methi- odist Protestant. There are also four Intermediate and six Junior societies.
BAPTIST YOUNG PEOPLES' UNION.
The Baptist Young People's Union is organized in each of the eight regular Baptist churches in Springfield, as also in several churches in the county. A central organization was first effected some ten years ago, but did not continue effective until the present time.' Some two years since it was reorganized and has rendered efficient service in various ways until the pres- ent; among other services each fall institute work is led by specialists from outside the city, wherein for several days is given instruction in various de- partments of Christian work. Meetings of the united body are held each month. Leonard Campbell is now president, and Anna Hendrix. secretary.
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
The Epworth League, organized at Cleveland, Ohio, May 15. 1889, seems to have commended itself to both of the two great branches of Meth- odist Episcopacy. Each of the congregations in the two branches in Spring- field has a league connected with it. But the Southern churches have no central organization, while the five Methodist Episcopal churches have a united body. The total membership in the five churches is about two hundred and seventy-five. The president is Christopher Abegglen. Jr. : the secretary, Miss Ora Boley. Meetings of the united societies are held once every three months, at which some theme previously assigned is considered.
BROTHERHOODS.
A few years ago some six or seven of the churches of Springfield had in them more or less completely organized Brotherhoods, some fairly active, others rather passive, as their officials willed and acted, the chief desideratum being some worthy aim outside the cultivation of the social spirit in their members. This aim was suggested by one of the organizations, viz., the financial support of Mrs. Mary M. Smith as a travelers' aide, her chief busi- ness being to meet and aid incoming passengers on the Frisco and Missouri Pacific railroads, whether merely passing through the city or intending to remain. Especially was it needful to guard young and unsuspecting girls coming to the city for employment from harpies of either sex. watching and
618
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
waiting to pounce upon them and work their ruin. This genuinely Christian work was supported for some time by gifts collected in the Federated Broth- erhoods, of which W. W. Thomas, superintendent of the schools of the city, was president. But failure of regular contributions from some of the brotherhoods and the small number in the federation made the support in- creasingly difficult, constituting one reason for the larger Federation of churches by which the support of the Travelers' Aide has lately been financed. It is believed that not more than two of the brotherhoods are in active opera- tion now.
THE SALVATION ARMY.
While this organization cannot be reckoned among the churches of the city and is not auxiliary to the churches of any denomination, it surely de- serves a place among auxiliaries to the work of the churches of every name, in lines both spiritual and secular. In recognition of this relation the Min- isterial Alliance have enrolled in their number the chief officer of the army. Its work in Springfield began some thirty years ago, and has been continued ever since, the members holding services on the Public Square and in the rooms occupied as headquarters, providing food and clothing for the needy, and in other ways seeking to minister to the sorrows and sins and needs, phy- sical and spiritual, of their fellow-men, especially of the poor and those "down and out" to whom the churches, even when desiring to do so, find it practically almost impossible to render helpful personal ministry.
After serving for some time at the head of the Salvation Army in Springfield. William Oliver was appointed relief officer of the city, where he has rendered efficient service, proving, in spite of much complaint from some quarters, an honest and wise official, if the testimony of those who know his work best can be trusted.
The rooms of the Salvation Army in Springfield are on the second story of a building on the west side of South street, C. W. Jerome being in charge of the work.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCHIES.
By the Rev. Father John J. Lilly.
The history of Catholicity in Springfield, Missouri, is merely a repetition of the history of a thousand different communities in this western country. Some hardy soul leaves the outposts of civilization and, braving hardships and privations, enter and conquer new lands. Others follow the path then blazed and soon a scattered community is formed. The Catholic church, ever mindful of the spiritual welfare of these pioneers, sends out her mis- sionaries, who quickly organize parishes, erect churches and schools, and of them can be said, "They who sow in tears shall reap in joy."
619
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
In the year 1853 members of the Catholic faith settled in and near Springfield, Missouri, attracted by the information given of the climate, price of land and advantages offered to men of industrious habits. In the course of time others located here. There being no priest, many were obliged to go to Rolla or St. Louis to comply with their religious duties. It was only after the Civil war that arrangements were made to have a resident priest. In 1865 the Most Reverend Peter Richard Kenrick, Archbishop of St. Louis, was informed of the desire of the Catholics of Springfield to have a resident priest, requested the Rev. F. W. Graham, of Rolla, to go to Springfield and obtain knowledge of the state of affairs, number of Catholics and prospects for a local pastor. Father Graham came to Springfield, March 5, 1866, on horseback, tired, hungry and a stranger in the midst of strangers-hitched his horse to a tree on the banks of the Jordan, near Boonville street. Mak- ing inquiries, he found the residence of Mr. William Dailey, and met with a hearty Irish welcome. The first mass was celebrated in that residence, which still stands north of the St. James hotel, on the east side of Boonville street. After meeting with the Catholics and obtaining all necessary information re- quested by Archbishop Kenrick; on Sunday, 9th of March, mass was cele- brated in the Baptist church, on South street, then used for school purposes, a frame building which yet stands not far from the present First Baptist church, he returned to Rolla by stage coach, March 15th. Some months after he went to St. Louis and gave the archbishop full information con- cerning the affairs at Springfield and his opinion that it would be well to place a resident priest there. October 22, 1867, Father Graham came again to Springfield and held, on the 27th, divine services in the Phelps Hall, lo- cated where the Woodruff building now stands, St. Louis and Jefferson ; re- turned to Rolla the 28th.
In January, 1868, the archbishop appointed Father Graham pastor of Springfield, with jurisdiction over all southwest Missouri, and made this city his residence January 22d. Services were held in the Phelps Hall until the Kelso College building, on North Campbell and Pine streets, was purchased; the college and lots costing three thousand nine hundred dollars and re- modeled, became the first Catholic church of this city, under the title of Im- maculate Conception; the residence of Father Graham was near by. This church was used until the large brick church was erected. It was moved to new church property and became the boys' day school of this parish. The property on which the Loretto Academy is located was bought and a colony of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Louis opened a Catholic school. After a few years they returned to St. Louis, and in 1878 the Sisters of Loretto came and opened a young ladies' academy.
The building of the "Southwest" railroad, now the Frisco, brought many Catholics, and Father Graham began missions at different points westward
.
-
620
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
to the then Indian Territory, which have become parishes with local pastors. In 1872 Rev. T. Kussman became assistant to Father Graham, attending the outside missions and the German Catholics. In 1872 Father Graham was sent to Sedalia, Missouri, and in 1882 to St. Joseph, Missouri. He died on November 20, 1907.
Father Graham lived to see four elegant churches, four parochial schools and two academies in what was the first parish in Springfield; the Catholic population from one hundred and fourteen in 1868 to three thousand five hundred in 1906. Population of Springfield from one thousand to over thirty thousand.
Rev. Francis W. Graham was born in Dublin, Ireland, July 4, 1837, son of William Graham and Elizabeth Mason; passed his boyhood in his native city, attending Henry Moran's Academy, where he studied the classics. In 1854 he crossed the Atlantic, going to Chicago, and thence to Ottawa, Illinois. In 1859 he proceeded to St. Louis, Missouri, and in the fall of that year became a seminarian in St. Vincent's Seminary, Cape Girardeau, Mis- souri, where he spent six years. He was ordained to the priesthood by Arch- bishop Kenrick in the old cathedral, Walnut street, St. Louis, September 23, 1865 ; appointed assistant at St. John's church ; pastor at Rolla, 1865-66 to 68.
Few priests were more devoted to their charge than was Father Graham. He took the keenest interest in the welfare of his flock and he kept in close touch with them; the sick received his personal attention and he was greatly beloved by them. When he came to Springfield the dark clouds of war and battle hovered over the land-distress and sadness everywhere; sorrow and death in every family : wounds yet bleeding : friends of other days at enmity now. Business affairs were demoralized, but nothing daunted the youthful priest-he took up his residence in Springfield and began his career of labor and toil in the vineyard of the Lord. No pen can picture the hardships, anxiety and privations which fell to his lot in the vast field committed to his care. At all seasons, by day or by night, to travel far and near attending to. the sick and workmen at the railroad camps : those days of active and arduous work were to him a great pleasure, as his parishioners were honest and sincere in their reception of him, and though he traveled many miles on horseback, in stages or on foot, he was happy fulfilling his sacred calling. Southwest Missouri holds in grateful memory this energetic, kind and de- voted priest. His name is held in benediction.
In 1914 a beautiful art glass window was placed in the north wall of the church by a personal friend-a worthy memorial.
621
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Rev. Father John J. Lilly.
The priesthood of the Catholic church of Missouri has no better loved representative than the Very Rev. Father John J. Lilly, pastor of the Im- maculate Conception church at Springfield. He is a native of Fairfield, Kentucky, and traces his ancestry back to Ireland, and later England, whence Samuel Lilly came in 1730 to the new world. He was the father of Richard Lilly, whose son, John Lilly, a native of Maryland, became the grandfather of the Rev. John J. Lilly. His parents were John H. and Mary E. (Moore) Lilly, the former, a native of Kentucky and the latter of Maryland. All the Lilly family, preceding John H. Lilly, were natives of Maryland, but the grandfather removed from that state to Kentucky.
The Rev. John J. Lilly pursued his early college work in Bardstown College of Kentucky, but was graduated magna cum laude at Cape Girar- deau, Missouri, in 1873, and on the 22nd of May, of that year, was ordained to the priesthood by the Right Rev. P. J. Ryan, coadjutor at St. Louis. Father Lilly's first charge was at St. Mary's, Missouri, but soon that field of labor became too small for the young, energetic, ecclesiastic, and a great- er field was given to him in September, 1878, when he was made pastor of the Catholic church at Lexington, Missouri. In 1880, when the Right Rev. J. J. Hogan, bishop of St. Joseph, Missouri, was transferred to Kansas City, Missouri, as the first bishop of this newly erected diocese, his attention was at once directed to the rare ability of the pastor at Leginton. Father Lilly soon enjoyed the full confidence of his new ecclesiastical superior and in 1887 was chosen as one of the Bishop's consultors and was furthermore named procurator fiscalis. This latter office requires a prudent man with a great deal of experience and for years Rev. John J. Lilly performed the duties of that position to the entire satisfaction of his bishop. By the request of Right Rev. J. J. Hogan, Father Lilly was appointed irremovable rector of the Immaculate Conception church at Springfield, Missouri, in 1893. Here twenty-one years of his life have been spent in hard labor, yet crowned with great success. During these long years he has made hosts of friends in Springfield, gaining new ones every day. Right Rev. Thomas F. Lillis. once a parishoner of Father Lilly, but now bishop of Kansas City, his ecclesiastical superior, shares with the late Bishop J. J. Hogan, a high esteem for the still active rector of the Immaculate Conception parish. When the public library was established in Springfield and some of the most prominent men of the city were chosen as its first trustees, Father Lilly was among the number. Under his wise direction and prudent counsel the Loretto Academy grew to a very flourishing institution for the higher education of young ladies. The establishment of another institution of higher education, St. de Chantel of Visitation (Elfindale), is to a great extent the work of the Very Rev. John J. Lilly.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.