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 20
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W R. FULTON
DAVID APPLEBY
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LAST HOURS.
It had long been the custom of a number of religious families in the neighborhood to hold prayer meetings in the school house near his home on Sabbath afternoon. That afternoon it was held at his request in his room. When he was asked what hymns he wished sung he replied, "Hymns which speak of Christ and heaven." At the close of the meeting, as they passed out, old and young, he shook hands with and bid them farewell. At a few minutes past 8 o'clock his little son came up to his bed and kissed him, as was his custom before retiring. He said, "Good-bye, my . son." These were his last words and in a few minutes he ceased to breathe. So easy was his death that his watchers did not know the moment of his departure.
Thus passed away one of the purest and best of men, so mild and gentle in disposition, so unselfish and sincere in his daily living, that he left be- hind him not an enemy. A wife and little son, besides a large circle of friends and brethren, remain to mourn his death. But we are comforted with the assurance that our loss is the eternal gain of our departed brother.
There is one interesting fact connected with his funeral which is worthy of note in this age of itinerary in the ministry. The young men who pre- pared the body for burial and carried it to the grave had been batpized by him in infancy, and had grown up in childhood under his ministry.
WILLIAM R. FULTON.
Valentine Pentzer, John McFarland, William R. Fulton. 1844- 1878, succession of ministers in the Ebenezer Church! When was a church in the wilderness supplied by such a trio of minis- ters for so long a time with only short intervals between pastor- ates? Pentzer, the solid sermonizer; McFarland and Fulton, twins in piety, in zeal for planting Presbyterianism in Southwest Missouri and in unremitting toil! No wonder that this church survived the ravages of war better than any other Presbyterian Church in Southwest Missouri, and that at its fiftieth anniversary it could point to seven of its sons in the ministry. The best sum- mary of Mr. Fulton's life and labors that has come to my hands is his memorial spread on the records of Ozark Presbytery. And if my readers will peruse this one I will promise not to incorpor- ate any more memorials-that is, not until I find another one so good that I cannot pass it by :
MEMORIAL PAPER ON THE DEATH OF REV. W. R. FULTON.
"It has pleased God, our Heavenly Father, to take to Himself our brother in the ministry, Rev. William R. Fulton. This Presbytery, assem- bled at Greenfield, Mo., as a feeble expression of its regard for the name and memory of Bro. Fulton, has resolved to spread this memorial on its minutes:
"Rev. W. R. Fulton was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, March 1st, 1818. He was the son of pious parents and early in life was brought under those good influences which flowed out into the excellencies of his manhood and the goodness of his age. He commenced his academic
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education at Florence Academy, in Pennsylvania, and graduated at Athens College, Ohio. Afterwards he spent three years in Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pa. He began his ministry in Ohio, at Deerfield and Bristol, and from the first his labora were blessed in the conversion of men to God and in the strengthening of the churches. In the year 1849 he was married to Miss Mary A. . Willson*, a daughter of the Rev. Samuel Wilson, who was for nearly fifty years pastor of the churches of Norwich and Pleasant Hill. The wife of his youth was spared to be the companion and light of his age. Bro. Fulton, after returning for a short time to Washington, Pa., and the scenes of his boyhood, finally removed to Mis- souri in the year 1852 and took charge of the Presbyterian Church of In- dependence temporarily in the absence of the pastor, Rev. Mr. Symington; and after a short time he removed to Oregon, Mo., and here began a labor which was very successful and fruitful. Several hundred converted persons were added to the church through his direct influence or aid. Churches were organized at that time which are today almost the best in the State. In the year 1860 he took charge of the church of Greenfield and contiued the pastor for nineteen years. During those years his name is identified with all the churches in Jasper, Dade, Greene and Newton counties. He had the great privilege of gathering the flocks and securing for them their earliest pastors. At the autumn meeting of this Presbytery, held in the Spring Hill school house, in Jasper County, October 4, 1880. Bro. Fulton as retiring Moderator preached the opening sermon. Many of us can never forget the energy and eloquence with which he spoke. Over him were few of the shadows of age. His face wore none of its wasted lines. Little did we think that this was the last time we should meet on earth. He returned home and resumed his labors in the churches to which he had been preaching at Ash Grove and Pleasant Valley. On Sabbath, the 12th of December, 1880, he preached at Ash Grove, and on his return to his home complained of cold, but this gave no alarm, for he had never been seriously ill. On Sab- bath, the 19th of December, still being unwell, he preached in Pleasant Valley on the word, "The King's business requireth haste.' This was his last sermon. When he reached home he was more unwell from the effort, but was no confined to his house or bed. He participated in the Christmas services in the Presbyterian Church, and there was so little serious in his illness that his daughter, Miss Hattie Fulton, returned to her post of duty at Lindenwood College. On Friday night he had a congestive chill, and from that time grew rapidly worse. But such was the unbroken strength of his constitution and such his uncomplaining patience that no serious apprehension was entertained until nearly the end. During all the wan- derings of sickness his heart and brain were at work in weaving together divine truth and constructing sermons to preach. Not for a moment for himself or his family did his faith waver. To his faithful and stricken wife he said, 'Well, I can commit you to Christ.' On Monday morning, January
*This daughter and "mistress of the manse" deserves more than passing mention. She was in a large sense a worthy co-laborer with her husband in Greenfield, and after his death was not content to leave her harp hanging upon the willows. Dr. Hill's sketch of the Butler Church contains this notice: "The church is thoroughly and efficiently organized, having a good Sabbath school * * * and a small but vigorous Woman's Missionary Society, which is one of the most energetic in the Presbytery. No notice of the Butler Church would be complete without mention of it. For some years its President was Mrs. Mary A. Fulton, widow of the late W. R. Fulton, with whom she shared many years of labor in this State. To her, as also to Mrs. Prof. Martin, much credit is due for the missionary spirit seen in the church."-Ed.
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toral work. While in this city he and Mr. Charles Sheppard se- · cured the erection of the only pretentious school house in the place-the building on Jefferson street, now known as Central School. Dr. Nixon was a brother of Mrs. Henry Sheppard, and was one of the most scholarly ministers connected with Presby- terianism in Southwest Missouri. He was born in Milford, Dela- ware, November, 1829, reared in New Jersey and graduated with honors at Princeton in 1851. Having previously served in a bank in Philadelphia, where he gave promise of great financial ability, he playfully remarked to a friend: "There are three things that I think I know how to do, viz., teach school, run a bank, and preach a sermon." Before entering Princeton Semi- nary he went South as a tutor in a planter's family and there preached to the slaves on the plantation. He graduated from Princeton Seminary in 1854 and served the church of Cambridge, N. Y., for four years. From 1860 to 1869 he was pastor of the First Church of Indianapolis, where he ordained Benjamin Har- rison as an elder. A trip to Europe was followed by his residence in Springfield. He was received by the Presbytery of Southwest Missouri August 20, 1869, and dismissed to the Presbytery of St. Louis October 12, 1871. Subsequently he was President of Lin- denwood College for five years, and served churches in Wilming- ton, Delaware and Webster Groves, Mo. He died April 22, 1892. Dr. Nichols in his tribute to his memory spoke of him as a man of deep spiritual intuitions, with a rare command of simple Saxon. a lover of the poets and Versatile in his attainments and achieve- ments and quoted at his funera! :
"I know not what the future hath Of marvel or surprise Assured alone that life and death, His mercy underlies.
And if my heart and flesh are weak, To bear an untried pain The bruised reed he will not break But strengthen and sustain.
I know not where his islands Their fronded palms in air, I only know I can not drift Beyond His love and care.
And so beside the silent sea I wait the muffled oar; No harm from him can come to me, On ocean or on shore.
·
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AUSTIN W. ELLIOTT.
The last man ordained by the Presbytery of Southwest Missouri was Austin W. Elliott. He was received as a licentiate from the Presbytery of Chicago April 25, 1870, and was ordained the following day. He served as a Home Missionary in the Presbytery of Ozark for a short time, but was soon laid aside by infirmities of the flesh. He was honorably retired April 10, 1889, and died September 30, 1891.
MINISTERS RECEIVED AFTER THE ORGANIZATION OF OZARK PRESBYTERY.
N. H. DOWNING.
The first minister received by the Presbytery of Ozark was N. H. Downing. He was received from the Presbytery of Catawba September 6, 1871. He organized the church of Logan and served that church in connection with Ozark Prairie.
WILLIS L. MILLER.
Random Reminiscences of Willis L. Miller are given else- where in this volume. He came to Southwest Missouri in broken health-from North Carolina, if my memory serves me correctly, and recuperated at my father's house in Ritchey. He was re- ceived by the Presbytery October 12, 1871, and soon returned to active services. At various times he served the churches of Lo- cust Grove, Newtonia and Ritchey, Preston, Salem, Grace, Ozark Prairie and Shiloh. He was dismissed to the Presbytery of Trinity April 2nd, 1879; returned to the Presbytery April 10th. 1883; and was dismissed a second time, to the Presbytery of Indian Territory February 19, 1884. The Presbytery has seldom had the equal of Mr. Miller in its groups of country churches. He was zealous, active and efficient. His wife was a woman of rare intellectual attainments and made valuable contributions of poetry and prose to various religious periodicals-notably the Interior. His son, Charles H., was received under care of the Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry and has been in the ministry of the church for a number of years.
S. N. D. MARTIN.
Rev. S. N. D. Martin was received from the Presbytery of Neosho April 12th, 1872, and was dismissed April 10, 1875. He
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preached at Ozark Prairie, Verona and Avilla; became a member of the Presbytery the second time April 11. 1189, and served the churches of Bolivar, Mt. Zion and Grand Prairie. He was dis- missed to the Presbytery of Spokane April 5th. 1899.
JOHN E. WERTH.
Though a member of this Presbytery from April 12, 1872, to October 20, 1887, and a man who left a fragrant memory. John E. Werth barely belongs to this history because he was engaged in secular pursuits rather than the regular work of the ministry. He was received from the Presbytery of Schuyler and dismissed to the Presbytery of St. Louis.
HARTWELL A. TUCKER.
In my boyhood days one of the old school readers contained a wrapt description of a blind preacher. The narrative gave the impressions made on his mind by a sermon the preacher had preached on the Passion of our Lord. The whole tragedy, it seemed, was reenacted in the presence of the speaker as with wonderful pathos he exclaimed: "Socrates died like a philoso- pher, but Jesus Christ like a God." The name of Hartwell A. Theker brings to my mind this piece in the old reader. I knew him when I was a child, and the acquaintance has been renewed in recent years. He came from the Cumberland Presbytery of Neosho and entered Ozark Presbytery June 11. 1872. During the three years membership in this Presbytery he served the churches of Buffalo and Urbana, Bolivar and Conway. At that time his eyesight was rapidly failing and he subsequently became practically blind. After a short sojourn in Texas he went to the Indian Territory where he was Presbyterial Missionary and Chairman of Home Missions for a number of years. Recently he has resided within the bounds of this presbytery and has done some supply work in connection with his practice as an Osteo- pathic physician. There is a uniqueness and spiritual charm about Mr. Tucker's preaching that is very attractive to me. He recites his scripture lesson from memory, makes much use of the sacred number seven in the divisions of his discourse and uses the observational method. Withal the sweet Christian spirit of the man permeates every discourse. When he realized that his afflic- tion hindered him so greatly in pastoral work he declared that "The ministry of intercession" was still open to him.
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CYRUS H. DUNLAP.
In the judgment of one who has been a careful observer of men and Presbyterian churches since the Civil war probably Ozark Presbytery has not had a man of superior pulpit endow- ments to Cyrus H. Dunlap. Dr. Nevin's notice of him would seem to confirm this judgment : "Mr. Dunlap is a preacher of good parts and of power. His sermons are clear, scriptural and spiritual. He speaks with great earnestness and sincerity, and touches the hearts of his hearers. He is a man of devoted piety. He is active in Sabbath School, missionary and temper- ance work. He is a good pastor, an indefatigable worker, a faithful undershepherd."
Mr. Dunlap graduated at Westminster in 1857 and com- pleted his course in Theology in 1864. Pennsylvania, the Caron- dolet church of St. Louis and the Presbyterian church of Sedalia. Mo., were blessed with his faithful ministries before his coming to Southwest Missouri. For about eight years-1872-1879-he was pastor elect of Calvary church .. His efficient methods of administration are referred to in the sketch of that church. The women attribute to his zeal and cooperation in a large measure the existence of the Presbyterial Missionary Society of which his wife was first president. Together they wrought effectively in building up the Missionary work of the Presbytery. Mrs. Dunlap assisted in the organization of numerous auxiliary society and Mr. Dunlap served the Presbytery as Chairman of Home Missions. He was twice Moderator of the Synod of Missouri. In 1879 he returned to Western Pennsylvania and resumed his labors there.
SQUIRE GLASCOCK.
Licensed by the Presbytery of Ozark, October 13, 1873, or- dained April 29, 1875, relicensed May 2, 1892, reordained Sept- ember 14, 1892. He served for longer or shorter time the churches of Neosho, Westminister, Joplin, South Joplin, Lone Elm and Lehigh. Demitted the ministry September 21, 1899.
HIRAM HILL.
This name appears in the minutes of Presbytery as a corres- ponding member April 10, 1873, and this same year he is listed in the assembly minutes as a member of the Presbytery, but there is no record of his reception or dismissal. He supplied the Carthage church for about a year and a half and relinquished the work on account of ill health.
W. S. KNIGHT
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10, 1881, he entered into rest and went up to meet his God. 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.' The death of Bro. Fulton is deeply felt by us as a Presbytery, for he has been so long a standard bearer and a faithful and highly useful minister of the word, and we had hoped that he would be many years spared, to guide the steps of his younger brethren and to feed the flocks to which he ministered. But God's ways are not ours. His thoughts are not ours. He is calling us to do with our might the work of our ministry, for the night cometh on. .We recall with pleasure and gratitude the blamelessness and Christian simplicity of his life. He laid not up for himself treasures on earth, but sought the imperishable riches of the kingdom of God. We likewise are glad to leave behind on his memorial our testimony to his uniform kindness, courtesy and forbearance to his brethren in the ministry. Though far beyond many of us in age, experience and wisdom, he was uniformly patient and gentle, and easy to be entreated. Though a man of deep and earnest convictions, they were held in charity. It is our greatest joy in review of his life that he de- lighted to preach the gospel. It was the daily delight of his life; a well of living water within him. Such could not perish. And at this hour we lift up our eyes from his coffin and his grave and behold him casting his crown at the feet of our Lord, and exclaiming with the myriads of the redeemed, 'Not unto us, not unto us, oh Lord, but unto Thy name be the glory.' This Presbytery expresses its sympathy with those churches from whom their beloved teacher is removed so suddenly, and unite in imploring for them the presence of the Great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls. For his widowed companion and daughters we express our sincere commiseration. We try to realize the value of such a husband and father to his family, but in vain. We cannot. . We descend into the depth of their loss. We can only say he is not dead, but liveth, and the eternal reunion will be sweeter and holier by reason of his separation from them for a little season. Soon will we forget all our sorrows in the joy of our Lord. So certain are we that it is far better to be with Christ that were it not for the flocks over which the Holy Ghost hath made us the shepherds we would cry, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.' "
This memorial was prepared by Revs. Benjamin F. Powelson and J. J. Marks, D. D., and Elder J. T. Martin.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. W. J. Garrett, so long and prominently identified with the Cumberland Presby- terian work in and around Greenfield. Side by side these men of God had built up the two branches of Presbyterianism. The agreement of the two systems of truth sufficient to warrant a union "alike honorable to both" was not seen by them at that time. But each recognized the other as a man of God. One has joined the church triumphant, the other, in the twilight of his years, was enrolled in the reunited church, and the two churches of Greenfield are happily one.
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POST-BELLUM O. S. MINISTERS.
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WILLIAM J. WRIGHT
The Presbytery of Southwest Missouri was organized with three ministers .* Of these W. J. Wright was enrolled for the purpose of making the organization constitutional: As soon as the new Presbytery could ordain John Giffen, Mr. Wright was dismissed to the Presbytery of New Brunswick, i. e. June 24, 1865. Prior to this he had been United States Hospital chaplain, located at Springfield, Mo. Though his services to the Presbytery were technical rather than consequential, it is worthy of note that he afterward. obtained considerable celebrity. He was the first American elected to the London Mathematical Society, and wrote a treatise on higher mathematics, now used in the Sorbonne Paris, in the University of Vienna and in London University. To the unlettered public he is better known as the husband of the writer -Julia MeNair. Wright. He was professor of mathematics in Westminster College, Fulton, Mo., 1888-1900.
Born Weybridge, Vermont, August 3, 1831; married Julia McNair, of Oswego, N. Y., 1859; ordained 1863 by Presbytery of New Brunswick; received the degrees of Ph. D. and LL. D., one and probably both from Union. Died at Fulton, Mo., Febru- ary 26, 1903. His wife died soon after this.
JOHN GIFFEN.
To John Giffen belongs the distinctions of being the first man ordained by the Presbytery of Southwest Missouri and the first Stated Clerk of the Presbytery. Before and after his ordina- tion he served Calvary Church as stated supply for a short time. He was ordained June 24, 1865, and was dismissed to the Presby- tery of Schuyler November 23, 1866.
A. JONES.
"The action of Synod extending the boundaries of the Presby- tery of Southwest Missouri so as to include the counties Henry and Bates, and attaching to the same Rev. Dr. A. Jones and Rev. J. A. Paige was officially announced to Presbytery by the latter
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about twenty-five miles of railroad called the Splitlog road, said to be the only railroad in the United States built by an Indian. Mr. Easterday went to Kansas City to see about capitalizing and extending this road. The road was absorbed by the Kansas City Southern.
SAMUEL PETTIGREW.
Received from Presbytery of Oregon September 15th, 1885; commissioned as a home missionary in the Jasper, Preston and Home churches. Dismissed to the Presbytery of St. Louis Sep- tember 14th, 1886.
EDWIN P. KEACH.
Received from the Presbytery of St. Louis and dismissed to the Presbytery of Austin on the same dates as the above. Mr. Keach supplied the churches of Lehigh and Webb City. He re- turned to the Presbytery April 15th, 1903; served mission sta- tions in Arkansas and was dismissed to the Presbytery of Dallas (U. S.) April 19th, 1905.
JOHN FOY.
Rev. John Foy was received from the Presbytery of Platte April 16th, 1886. The next day a call from the Ebenezer Church was placed in his hands and a committee was appointed to in- stall him as pastor. It appears that the installation was never effected. Mr. Foy was dismissed to the Presbytery of South Florida April 5th, 1887.
HENRY B. FRY.
Ordained by the Presbytery of Findlay, 1857. Received from the Presbytery of Mahoning April 16th, 1886, and dismissed to the Presbytery of Fort Wayne April 12th, 1892. Dr. Fry was S. S. of the First Church of Joplin.
A. M. TANNER.
Received from the Presbytery of Cedar Rapids December 6th, 1886. Dismissed to the Presbytery of Omaha October 22 1890.
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HEZEKIAHI R. LEWIS.
Rev. Hezekiah Lewis was recommended to the Home Board as supply for the Golden City, Shiloh and Salem churches Sep- tember 17th, 1885, but did not become a member of the Presby- tery until April 5th, 1887. at which time he was received by let- ter from the Presbytery of Topeka. Ile was dismissed to the Presbytery of Topeka October 17th, 1894.
JAMES LAFFERTY.
Received from the Presbytery of Osage April 6th, 1887 ; dis- missed to the Presbytery of Palmyra April 11th, 1888. He served the churches of Buffalo and Bolivar, and during his brief stay was made Chairman of the Presbyterial Committee on Foreign Missions.
JOSEPHI C. SHEPHARD.
Received from the Cumberland Presbytery of Springfield April 7th. 1887. Honorably retired April 10th, 1894; served the churches of Golden City and Shiloh, and preached some in other Home Mission fields. Mr. Shephard was a man of eminent piety and conseeration. The date of his death is unknown to the writer.
R. T. McMAHAN.
Rev. R. T. MeMahan was licensed and ordained by the Pres- bytery of Schuyler and was in the ministry a quarter of a cen- tury, the last six years of which were spent in the Presbytery of Ozark. His name first appears on the roll of Presbytery Sep- tember 13th. 1887. He was a man of quiet spirit and fidelity, and laid down his work with great reluctance by reason of ill health. Ile ministered to the churches of Salem. Home. Preston and Lehigh. Died January 12th, 1892.
WILLIS G. BANKER.
Willis G. Banker was licensed and ordained by the Presby. tery of Fort Dodge 1885 and 1886. Before entering the ministry he had received a legal training. He was installed pastor of the Ebenezer Church in September. 1887, and three years later the pastoral relation was dissolved and he was dismissed to the
J. G. REASER
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as Stated Clerk of the Synod of Missouri.'-Minutes Presbytery of Southwest Missouri November 24, 1866.
Dr. Jones' labors were outside the bounds of the territory covered by this book. For a sketch of his life the reader is re- ferred to Hill's History of Kansas City Presbytery.
JAMES A. PAIGE.
In addition to the above sketch, the reader is referred to the sketch of Calvary Church for an acount of Mr. Paige's connection with this Presbytery. James A. Paige was born in Ware village, Massachusetts, October 6. 1823; graduated at Princeton College in 1849 and seminary 1852. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia Central April, 1852, and ordained by the Presby- tery of St. Louis in the fall of 1855. From 1866 to 1871 he occu- pied a commanding and commendable position in Southwest Mis- souri Presbytery. As pastor of Calvary Church, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery and Chairman of the Committee on Home Mis- sions, he was alike useful and efficient. He was installed Feb- ruary 14, 1867, by Revs. John McFarland and W. R. Fulton, and on October 12, 1871, Presbytery agreed to the dissolution of the pastoral relation provided that this order become effective Feb- ruary 1, 1872. Mr. Paige was dismissed to the Presbytery of Schuyler.
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