USA > Missouri > Presbyterianism in the Ozarks : a history of the work of the various branches of the Presbyterian Church in Southwest Missouri, 1834-1907 > Part 19
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
MINISTERS OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERY OF OSAGE.
JOHN M. BROWN.
As I sit with pen in hand there rises before me a mental picture of a Presbyterian minister-tall, straight, dignified and elad in the conventional habiliments of the clergy. The negative was made on the sensitive plate of memory by John M. Brown, pastor of the Neosho Church, who visited in my father's home when I was a lad eight or nine years of age. The structure above describes all I do remember about him, and perhaps that memory is so vivid because he is the first, or at least the second, Presby- terian minister of whom I have any recollection. My earliest rec- collections of the elergy cluster around two Cumberland Presby- terian ministers,-Revs. Jerre Ward and W. E. Beason,- - and then come Revs. John M. Brown and W. L. Miller --- a quartette whose ministerial characters ought to start a small boy ont with an exalted idea of the nobility of the calling."
Rev. George H. Williamson has built more churches and
195
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
probably preached more sermons in Southwest Missouri, but I ·loubt if Presbyterianism in this section ever had the equal of John M. Brown as a field worker. When he was no longer needed as a soldier in the service of the Union he resumed the official duties of a soldier of the cross and arrived in Warsaw De- cember, 1965. To this section he was sent by District Secretary Norton and did more than any other one man to re-establish the work that issned in the Presbyteries of Osage and Ozark. In less than a week's residence on the field he had a tolerably clear conception of the task before him, and the following month wrote :
"These desolatious cannot be restored unless we have help. We are straining every nerve-traveling in all kinds of weather and over all kinds of roads for long distances-preaching on the Sabbath, visiting and talk- ing all week; faring sometimes like John the Baptist in the wilderness, or worse; and yet we fall far behind the needs of the field. * * * My circuit * * measures more than two hundred miles around, and this must be traveled at least once in four weeks, sometimes ouce in two weeks- and this not by railroad, but on horseback or in a buggy. About all that we can do is to say 'Good morning' to a church and then 'Good- bye.' * * * I believe our labors will be largely lost unless we can have help. Can you send on a man immediately ? * * * Now is the time to strike in this region. * *
* Next week I expect to start on a trip
west as far as Fort Scott, Kan."
A month later he had organized a church at Clinton and re- habiliated churches of Warsaw and Mt. Zion. Headquarters were thereafter made at the latter. About this time he wrote:
"What about these twenty counties in my field? It seems to me this matter is getting rather serious. And we don't want any but first rate men of good, natural abilities, of apostolie zeal, and large discretion, men that are not afraid of self-denial and hard work, men that expect to suc- ceed. And such men will succeed. Large patience, too, is necessary. * * The labor is with individuals as well as communities. And these individ- uals are not all living side by side in nice litle towns, with dry, clean sidewalks; but they are scattered all over the country. In one church which I have explored the members are spread over fifteen miles square. I have visited all but three members and spent from three to twenty-four hours with each family. This is immense labor, but the work cannot well be done in any other way. But I need not tell you these things, for you know all about it by experience. But can't you hurry on that man?"
In October, 1867, Dr. Norton wrote concerning Mr. Brown: "This brother is performing a great work here and all through South- west Missouri. His labors are incessant. One-half of his Sabbaths he spends with Mount Zior, and one Sabbath with the new church at Osceola, fifty miles north. He makes also long tours in various directions. Besides he is the chief planner of the new church edifice, and the chief executive officer in getting it forward. At the same time he is building a house for himself, in which, in its unfinished state, he entertained, during the whole meeting, all the ministers of the Presbytery, with the wives and children of two of them."
The church edifice referred to was the one in which the
196
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
Mount Zion Church still worshins. Preparations for building were begun in the winter of '67 and the house was dedicated August 22, 1869. Shortly after this Mr. Brown relinquished this work and took charge of the church of Neosho. This had been an Old School church, and it thus came into the union with a New School pastor. From its organization to the time of the union Mr. Brown was the Stated Clerk of the second Presbytery of Osage. At three of its nine sessions he was its Moderator, and for a like number of times was its pastor host. For two years he served the Presbytery of Ozark as Presbyterial missionary, an office which was discontinued in September, 1874, on account of the heavy burden of debt borne by the Home Board. That Mr. Brown was a true Presbyterial missionary before he bore the title will be seen by the following extract from a letter written to Dr. T. Hill December 31, 1868:
"You ask about my field. Well, it is 160 miles long and 100 miles wide. Thus you see 'no pent-up Utica' restrains my powers. I preach three-fourths of my time to two churches; the remaining one-fourth I skim over my field looking up Presbyterian members, preaching and organizing churches. Brother Matthews, a licentiate of our Presbytery, is my only assistant. * * * Last week I returned from a two weeks' trip to the eastern part of my field. Traveled on horseback; reached a point 120 miles away from home; rode 300 miles; preached eight times; administered the sacrament and received several members into our little church at White Rock (Texas County) ; explored Howell County; found Presbyterians to constitute a church, and heard of several other points waiting for a min- ister to visit them. Bro. Matthews was with me. One of the points named above is Lebanon, a growing town on the Southwest Railroad. I expect to visit that place in January, and hope to organize a church soon. They are crowding this Southwest Railroad through, and in less than two years there will be a dozen stations needing attention. * *
* Of course our little field will then become a big field. Where are we to find the men to enter in and possess this land? In the western part of my field are the counties of Vernon, Barton, Dade, Cedar and Polk, without a single Presbyterian Church *; but there are Presbyterian families scattered over them, and churches might be organized had we the men to do the work. But as we have not a single 'good, easy' place, I fear the men will be slow in coming. *
* * Now, Bro. Hill, if you will visit us this winter or spring, I will furnish conveyance and we will go together across this wide field. I will meet you at Butler or Clinton. (This invitation was accepted.)
"As to a box of clothing, one in the spring would not come amiss; but I could hardly ask it, as we received a box of second-hand clothing In Sep -. tember, which will help us through the winter. And yet, if the truth must be told, we do need such aid, for within fifteen months I have given three hundred dollars to build churches, help poor students and the cause gen- erally. This has drawn so heavily on my salary of $900 that I find it very difficult to support my family of eight on the remainder. With this state- ment I will leave the matter altogether with you."
*This, of course, refers only to the New School .- Ed.
197
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
WILLIAM S. MESSMER
With apologies to one of my esteemed copresbyters, William S. Messmer is remembered as "the horse man" among the min- isters in Southwest Missouri at the close of the war. Of himseif he wrote: "For the past three months our home has been in the saddle, and our study the woods and prairies of Benton and Henry counties. Availing ourselves of the privileges granted (that of prospecting for ourselves) we have presented our claim, driven our stakes and settled our boundaries for the year ending September 1, 1867, not withont earnest prayer that the Head of the church would 'enlarge the place of our tent. lengthen our cords, and strengthen our stakes.'" After describing his field he says: "This program calls for fourteen to sixteen public services and eight social services per month, involving at least 300 miles of travel."
Mr. Messmer preached the opening sermon at the organiza- tion of the Second Presbytery of Osage --- Cave Springs, Mo., April 26, 1866. At that meeting he reported that he had organ- ized a church at Prairie Grove, consisting of cleven members, to be known as the Presbyterian Church of Springfield." (The Bellview Church.) For a time he served this church, but he left the bounds of the Presbytery before the reunion.
ENOS M. HALBERT.
The first man licensed and the first man ordained by the Second Presbytery of Osage, and probably the first Presbyterian minister educated by a Presbyterian institution in Southwest Missouri, was Enos M. Halbert. In his father's" house, nine miles northeast of Hermitage, Hickory County, was organized by virtue of an act of the Legislature dated February 14, 1845. Judge Halbert was a man of commanding influence in eivic and ecclesiastical circles. In the Presbyterian Reporter for February. 1866, is a letter by Rev. John M. Brown, which gives an account of the North Prairie Church, and says: "Dr. Halbert, the pa- triarch of the neighborhood and one of the leading men of this section, together with his son, are elders in the church. He (Dr. H.) and four sons were in the Union Army as soldiers. One of these sons, not the elder, at the outbreak of the rebellion had been studying some years with the ministry in view, and under the care of the old Presbytery of Osage. Ile was expecting to be licensed at their meeting in the spring of 1861."
This refers to Enos M. On account of the war he was not
*Sometimes called Dr., sometimes Judge, Joel B. Halbert.
198
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
licensed until April 28, 1866, and was ordained October 13, 1867. "He said of himself that his education was obtained at North Prairie Institute, Hickory County, Mo., Rev. John McMillan principal; and that his theological studies were pursued 'on horseback and at home, teaching self, S. W. Mo.'" "From 1843 to 1866 he was a 'farmer, miller, student, soldier, merchant, in S. W. Mo.'" For a time Mr. Halbert labored in the territory that was assigned to the Presbytery of Osage at the reunion. In May, 1870, he began his ministry in the Monnt Zion Church, which he brought to self-support the 27th of November, 1875 During his ministry here Mr. Halbert preached a historical ser- mon from which I have received valuable help in compiling the sketch of the Mount Zion Church. In connection with this church he also served the Bellview Church. He was dismissed to the Presbytery of Larned March 10, 1881. Honorably retired, he is spending the twilight of his days in the State of his adoption, a member of the Presbytery of Solomon.
LEONIDAS JEWELL MATTHEWS.
To Leonidas J. Matthews belongs the distinction of being the only minister who was a charter member of the Presbytery of Ozark in 1870, continued in that Presbytery throughout its ecclesiastical existence and entered the new Presbytery of Ozark at its organization in 1907. Like the subject of the preceding sketch, Mr. Matthews was a Tennessean by birth and was licensed and ordained by the Presbytery of Osage. He was licensed Octo- ber 13, 1867, and ordained April 4th, 1869. What education he had was secured by private study. For about eight years after his ordination Mr. Matthews served as a home missionary in the southeastern part of the Presbytery. His roving commission re- minds one of the prelude to the first epistle of Peter. It was Leonidas, a minister of Jesus Christ, to the Presbyterians scat- tered throughout Howell, Texas, Wright, Laclede and Pulaski counties. On account of throat trouble Mr. Matthews gave up the work of the ministry, and in September, 1877, became an an- nuitant of the Board of Ministerial Relief.
In a letter to Dr. Timothy Hill, dated March 6, 1871, Mr. Matthews wrote:
"This is my field of labor-one of the most destitute portions of coun- try within the bounds of our Presbytery. This whole field is a new field. It has never been occupied by Presbyterians until a little over three years ago, and very poorly since that time. And then a great deal of the other preaching is of the very poorest sort, containing little or no fire except that which is kindled against Presbyterians. When I first came into this coun- try there was as much fuss made about a Presbyterian preaener as there would have been about a monkey. You might hear it said upon one hand,
199
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
' Why, they are a queer kind of folks; see they stand up when they pray, and, worse than that, they won't preach unless they get pay for it.' * I am all alone, with only a little band, and they are scattered over a ter- ritory of more than twelve hundred square miles. What must I do? What can I do? The flock is starving for the bread of life and the cry comes in from every quarter, 'When will you come and preach for us? A church might be organized at West Plains and another near Salem (South of this), but who will break to them the bread of life? The nearest Presbyterian minister to me is at Lake Spring, about thirty miles north of this, though I have never seen him. He does not belong to this Presbytery. The next at Marshfield, seventy-five miles west; next at Springfield, one hundred miles west. There is no one south of me that I know of. A. G. Taylor, J. M. Brown, E. M. Halbert, A. T. Norton and Brother Fenton have labored some on this field during the time I have been here."
Mr. Matthews' last services were given the churches of Buf- falo and Conway.
ANTE-BELLUM OLD SCHOOL MINISTERS
VALENTINE PENTZER.
The first of the Old School ministers who labored consecu- tively in our bounds was Valentine Pentzer. The following sketch of his life was written by his son, T. M. Pentzer. of Spring- field, Mo .:
"Valentine Pentzer was born in Franklin County, Pa. When about eighteen years of age, at the close of the religious revival in the old frame church on George's Creek, where Rev. A. G. Fairchild was pastor, he with thirty others united with the church. Of this number, three began a course of education as candidates for the ministry. They were James Smith, Valentine Pentzer and Jacob Pentzer, brothers. * * * Valentine Pent- zer was educated at Jefferson College. *
* He had in a large meas- * ure to work his way through college, helped and encouraged by Rev. A. G. Fairchild, in grateful memory of whom he afterwards named one of his sons. He was licensed by Redstone Presbytery probably in 1834. Soon
after he went to Illinois. * * (Shortly after this he moved to) Pal- myra, Mo., where he was employed as a teacher in Marion College, and * *
* while so employed there was married to Miss Ann M. Owen.
After teaching there about two years he was sent by the Presbyterian Board to Southwest Missouri as a home missionary, and located in Jasper County, in the vicinity of Sarcoxie, then one of the few postoffices in that part of the State. He made his home in the Mosley Settlement, and one of his ardent friends and supporters was Thomas Mosley, to honor whom he named one of his sons, the writer of this setch. Here he worked with untiring energy until June, 1844, when he took charge of the church at Greenfield and moved to that place, going horseback, day or night, over the hills and rocks of Missouri, where the roads in that then wilderness coun- try were often only bridle paths. His new field of labor * * * covered
*
200
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
a large territory in Dade and adjoining * counties, often work- ing with other denominations in their camp meetings and revivals. A brief record he left shows that he preached in Springfield, Sarcoxie, Bolivar, . Bowers' Mill and at many private homes. He was also employed as prin- cipal of Greenfield Academy, then one of the few schools for higher educa- tion in Southwest Missouri. He was a charter member of the Washington Masonic Lodge at that place, one of the oldest in this part of the State. In the fall of 1847 he left Greenfield for Madison County, Ill., going by the way of Mount Vernon, where his wife's mother and family lived, staying the last night at the home of his devoted friend, William Orr. * His * reasons for leaving Missouri were that he throught Illinois offered better educational advantages for his children, of whom he now had five, and he did not wish to bring up his children in a slave State. He was earnest and outspoken in his condemnation of slavery and was sometimes called an
'Abolitionist,' a term he considered no disgrace. * *
* (He) died No- vember 9, 1849. He finished his last preaching service sitting in a chair, stand lorger. * asking the indulgence of his congregation because he felt two unwell to * He died in the harness when only thirty-eight * years of age. * * His widow and six children * were kindly cared for by true and devoted friends. When the war came, as he believed it would over the slavery question, three of his sons served in the Union Army. Their doing so would have no doubt received his hearty approval had he been living, and he would probably have served with them in some capacity had he been living and physically able."
N. B .- On coming to Southwest Missouri Mr. Pentzer placed himself under care of the Cumberland. Presbytery and was or- dained by that body. Ilis work at Greenfield was probably his first field in the Presbyterian Church. His son had forgotten this, but such we find to be the case.
The writer of the above had forgotten that his father was ever officially eonneeted with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Certain statements in manuscript sermons that he showed me led me to infer as much. From the minutes of the C. P. Presbytery of Ozark I learned that Mr. Pentzer was re- ceived by that body as a candidate for the minisry October 25, 1839; that this reception was by letter from the Presbyterian Presbytery of St. Charles; that he was licensed and ordained by the Cumberland Presbytery of Ozark. He was ordained Deeem- ber 5th, 1841, at the dwelling house of H. M. Ritehey, in Newton County, and was dismissed from the Presbytery-probably to the Presbyterian Presbytery of Lafayette-April 3d, 1844.
JOHN McFARLAND.
"O though oft depressed and lonely, All my fears are laid aside If I but remember only Such as these have lived and died."
"Put off thy shoes from off thy feet. for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."
WM. ORR
JENNIE ORR
JOHN MCFARLAND
MARY MCFARLAND
201
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
The emotions that come over me as I attempt to write a sketch of John McFarland are best described by the words of the poet and the words of inspiration.
From 1848 to 1860 he was stated supply of the Ebenezer Church. He served the Presbytery of Southwest Missouri as Pres- byterial evangelist until that Presbytery was succeeded by the Presbytery of Ozark, in which he held the same position until he was laid aside by the infirmities of age. He had presided at the organization of both of these Presbyteries and each of them had elected him as its first Moderator. The sterling qualities of the man and his wide influence in moulding early Presbyterianisn in Southwest Missouri led me to insert in full an article published in the Interior September 5, 1872. A sketch of his wife will be found elsewhere in his volume:
A MEMORIAL.
(By Rev. . W. Pinkerton.)
Rev. John McFarland was born April 29, 1816, near the city of Pitts- burgh, Penn., and died July 21, 1872, on his farm near Greenfield, Mo. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. His mother belonged to the family of Archi- bald Campbell, one of the Scotch worthies who was beheaded for his faith during the reign of Charles II. His early training was of that type which prevailed in Presbyterian families thirty or forty years ago. At the age of sixteen he became a subject of grace, united with the Beulah Church, and, while yet a youth, was chosen by his brethren to the office of ruling elder. He entered Washington College, Pennsylvania, and was a member of the graduating class of 1844. He studied theology at Alleghany, was licensed to preach by the Blairsville Presbytery in 1846, and was ordained by the Presbytery of Upper Missouri in 1849.
HIS FIELD.
In the fall of 1848 he came West. At St. Louis he called on Dr. Potts for information as to a field of labor. The Doctor asked him what sort of a field he wanted. 'The field where I am needed most,' was the prompt reply. His footsteps were directed to Southwest Missouri, where for nearly a (quarter of a) century he lived and labored in the Master's service. During half of this time he was the only Old School Presbyterian min- ister south of the Osage River. His field was vast and needy. In occupy- ing it our brother bravely endured the winter's cold and the summer's heat. He knew well the trials of the frontier work. Like his Master, he went about doing good.
PREACHER.
Our brother was not a great preacher in a popular sense. He was what is far better-a godly minister. In one of his preaching tours many years ago he preached on a Sabbath evening in the county seat of an adjoining county. Among his hearers was a prominent man of the county. It was the privilege of the writer to know this man in after years and to visit him many times on his death bed. He spoke repeatedly of this sermon. Said he: "It was not a great sermon, but there was such earnestness dis-
202
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
played that I felt that I was in the presence of a good man, and his preach- ing came home to me with power. I shall never lose the influence of that sermon.""
The strength of our brother was not so much in his power to attract and hold an audience as in the earnestness and sincerity of the man.
CITIZEN.
He was greatly esteemed as a citizen. During the late Civil War, which laid waste almost the whole district of Southwest Missouri, he was "a union man; " and yet such was his Christian character that he was recog. nized as a peacemaker among his neighbors of both parties. His piety and moral worth were in such repute that on one occasion a large rebel army lay in camp near his farm for several days without molesting him or his property in the least. Two of his rebel neighbors waited on the General in command and told him that our brother was a Union man, but that they regarded him as so good a man that the Southern Confederacy could not afford to disturb him.
PRESBYTER.
He was one of the most clearly pronounced Presbyterians with whom the writer has ever met. From childhood he was thoroughly taught in the faith of his ancestry, and during his life he cherished a most profound respect for "the old ways." He was slow to receive anything that was not endorsed by the faith and usage of the Presbyterian fathers. He en- joyed the society of his brethren, and was never absent from a meeting of the Presbytery if it was possible for him to be present. His interest in the proceedings never failed him. We always expected to hear from Mr. MeFar- land. Still his bearing was so modest, his words were so full of peace, and his brethren had so much confidence in his sincerity that his speeches were never offensive. It is safe to affirm that he never wounded the feelings of a brother Presbyter in his life.
LAST SICKNESS.
His health was never robust. Nearly two years ago what seemed to be at the time a small sore made its appearance on his right cheek just below the eye. . At first there was no particular alarm. Its continuance, however, made him uneasy. It was pronounced cancer. In the early part of this year he made a trip to Pennsylvania with the hope of obtaining relief. Through the influence of the medicine he took while at Pittsburgh the sore began to heal, but the disease seized upon the lungs. Our brother returned home in last June, where he continued to sink gradually until he fell asleep in Jesus on Sabbath evening, July 21. During all his illness he never suffered pain. This he enumerated as one of the mercies of God. He was not even confined to his bed.
A few hours before his death he spoke freely to his wife of his relig- ious state. She said to him, "Your mother told me that she never knew you to tell a falsehood and that you was always a good boy." He seemed to shrink back from this statement, threw up his hands and exclaimed: "No, no; I was a very wicked sinner; I owe all that I am to grace, grace, grace." Said he: "There was a period of late when I was in deep trouble; my sins seemed to lie on my soul like a mountain, but these I have left all behind me, and now I enjoy peace. Heaven is my anticipation and I feel sure that I shall attain it." On the morning of the Sabbath, at his request, his wife read to him the fourth and fifth chapters of II Corin- thians.
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.