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 21
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
SALATHIEL MILTON IRWIN.
Born South Salem, Ohio, November 23, 1836: graduated Han- over, Ind., 1863, and Princeton Seminary 1866. Licensed by the Presbytery of Chillicothe June 6, 1865, and ordained by the Pres- bytery of Southwest Missouri November 25, 1866. He served as stated supply of the Little Osage Church and was dismissed to the Presbytery of Topeka September 13, 1867. Since that date he has served various churches in Kansas.
JOHN W. PINKERTON.
I regret exceedingly that I have been unable to get an ade- quate sketch of the valuable services of this brother and know so little of his personality. He was received from the Presbytery of Upper Missouri April 3d, 1868, and on September 13, 1872, Presbytery authorized the S. C. to grant him a letter of dismissal when called for. Prior to his reception by the Presbytery he had assisted in the organization of the Neosho Church, and for two years supplied the church in connection with his work at Car-
208
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
thage. He either organized or assisted in the organization of a number of the other churches of the Presbytery, and was a true and efficient pioneer missionary. From Dr. A. C. Schell, of Neo- sho, I learn that he was a large man in every way-large physic- ally, mentally, socially and spiritually. Elder William R. Gor- ton's memories of the man accord with this description. The register of the Presbytery gives his initials as J. A. instead of J. W., and with this agrees some information from another source. But the preponderance of evidence points to J. W.
BENJAMIN F. POWELSON.
Benjamin F. Powelson was born near Romney, W. Va., Sep- tember 10, 1840; graduated at Washington College and Allegheny Seminary (1860, 1867) ; served in the Union Army and was re- tired 1865 with the rank of First Lieutenant. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Washington Apri! 24, 1862, and ordained by the Presbytery of Southwest Missouri September 5th, 1868. Mr. Powelson had ben serving the churches of Deepwater (German- town), Henry County, and Little Osage, Vernon County, since July 1st, 1867. The enabling act of 1870 placed him in the Pres- bytery of Osage. In a letter to the author he writes: "From September, '73, to June, '74, I was a member of Ozark Presby- tery ; pastor of Neosho Church. But the arrangement to go under Sustentation Board failing, I accepted a recall to the charge of the Montrose Church and again became a member of Osage Pres-
bytery. January 1, 1876, I was called to the principal- ship of Butler Academy, Butler, Mo., and succeeded in the fron- tier work, the institution being put on good footing with a $10,000 building and an attendance of about 100 students. In May, 1879, I accepted a call to the charge of the churches of Greenfield and Ozark Prairie, and that fall was received into the membership of the Presbytery of Ozark. I was prospered in my work there, but in June, 1882, I accepted a call to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of Lyons, Kan.
J. HOWARD NIXON.
The work of Dr. Nixon in Southwest Missouri was educa- tional rather than strictly ministerial. He was drawn to Spring- field by ill health, and was superintendent of the public schools for two years. During this time he preached occasionally at Cal- vary Church. During the long and gracious protracted meeting in that church he and Rev. J. W. Werth took time about preach- ing, leaving the pastor, Mr. Paige, to devote his entire time to pas-
.
227
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
Presbytery of Larned. To this brief pastorate Dr. Banker brought the vigor and aggressiveness of his young manhood, and the ability of his pulpit ministrations gave promise of the larger work he was to do in the university center of the Sunflower State.
JOSEPH G. REASER.
The eleven years ministry of Dr. Reaser in the confines of Ozark Presbytery began a dozen years after he had passed the reputed dead line. Minister, teacher, author, he had been too busy, virile and optimistic to recognize that line when he crossed it, and not until he had reached his fourscore years did he find time to go back to hunt it. Joseph George Reaser was born at Harrelton, Pa., in 1825. Jefferson College gave him the degrecs of B. A. and M. A. respectively in 1848 and 1851, and Centre College, Ky., added the D. D. in 1868. He received his theologi- cal training under the tutelage of Drs. W. L. Breckenridge and James Wood; was licensed by the Presbytery of Coshocton in 1850 and ordained in 1852 by the Presbtyery of New Lisbon. The versatile and scholarly attainments of Dr. Reaser are only suggested by the outline of his labors: Teacher of Latin and Greek, Lonisville, Ky., two years; pastor Canfield. O., '50-'53; tutor Biblical and Oriental Literature Danville Theologica! Semi- nary, Kentucky. '53-'57; President Harrodsburg Female College, Kentucky, '57-59; pastor Westminster Church, Leavenworth, Kan., '59-'75; pastor St. Louis and Collinsville, Mo., '75-'85 ; pro- fessor Metaphysics, Evidences and German, Westminster College, Fulton, Mo., '85-'87; professor Carthage Collegiate Institute, Mo .. '87-'90; stated supply and pastor Presbyterian Church. Webb City, Mo., '88-'98. After leaving Webb City. Dr. Reaser taught in Lindenwood College for a time and later in Wilson's College at Chambersburg, Pa. In the realm of authorship he published interesting tracts on "Infant Baptism," "Relation of Baptized Children to the Church," "The Two Pictures," and "Manual for Presbyterians." He was the first Moderator of the O. S. Synod of Kansas, and the first Moderator of that Synod at the consolidation of the O. S. and N. S. Synods, and Moderator of the Synod of Missouri, 1884.
His monumental work at Webb City is by no means the sum total of his services in this Presbytery. While teaching in Car- thage he helped to place the Monett and other churches on a solid foundation. He served the Presbytery as Chairman of Home Missions, and the wisdom of his counsel ofttimes prevailed to the good of the whole Presbytery,whilst his genial optimism and ready wit enlivened our sessions and encouraged us to press
228
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
on in the midst of difficulty. The Webb City Church regarded him as a father and a friend, and very few men in the Presby- tery have left as strong personal attachments in a field of labor in Southwest Missouri as did he. Some of his characteristic sayings are indelibly impressed on my memory. He was de- scribing a trip he had taken in the East when he said: "The prayer meeting was the most homelike place I ever saw. In the first place, there were very few there, and that reminded me so much of our home prayer meeting; in the second place, those who came came in late and sat in the back seats, and that, too, was just like home, and finally they all kept still and let the leader do most of the talking, and it did seem so natural." At an installation service on one occasion he reminded the congre- gation that churches are constantly looking for preachers who will draw and declared that what is really needed is congrega- tions that will draw. These and similar statements do not have the force in cold type that they had when coming fresh from his heart and accompanied by the genial smile and twinkle of his bright'eye. I record them because of the impressions as well as the thought. Those who with me cherish fond memories of the man can easily draw on imagination for that which is lacking in the description.
WALTER SCOTT LOWRY.
During his post graduate course in McCormick Seminary 1889-'90 the subject of this sketch was a class mate of mine. Prior to this he had studied in the Southwest Presbyterian Uni- versity. John Hopkins University, Md., and New College T. S. Edinburgh Scotland. He was ordained in 1886 by the Presby- tery of Dallas, U. S. From this Presbytery he entered Ozark Presbytery December 20, 1887 and served the Eureka Springs church. April 15, 1890 he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Vincennes.
THOMAS HANN CLELAND.
Among the gifted men who have served the Calvary church Rev. Thomas H. Cleland D. D. holds a conspicuous place. Born in Kentucky in 1843, he graduated at Center college when twenty years of age. By ancestry. birthplace and training he was en- dowed with a suavity of manner, gentlemanly bearing and hospitable disposition that have made him pre-eminently accep- table in the pastorate. To these graces of manner he has brought the presence of generalship and the wisdom of studions habits.
213
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
J. B. VAWTER.
A member of the Presbytery from September 1874 to Sept- ember 1877. Probably a colporteur part of the time-did desul- tory work at several moribund churches, i. e. North Prairie, Black Oak Point ( ?), Hermitage and Linn Creek.
J. H. WILSON.
Received from the Presbytery of Emporia April 9, 1875. Died July 1902. There seems to be no record of his work in this Presbytery.
THOMAS O. RICE.
For some time previous to his reception and a time thereafter Mr. Rice supplied the Carthage church. He was received from the Presbytery of Des Moines April 10, 1875, and dismissed to the Congregational Association of Cape Cod March 1881.
WILLIAM S. KNIGHT.
Perhaps I can'render no better tribute to the memory of this benign father in Israel than to insert here the minutes of Pres- bytery on his memorial service held at Webb City April 18, 1906: "Presbytery convened with prayer at 8 o'clock. Presbytery held a memorial service in memory of William S. Knight, D. D. The following program was carried out in connection with this service: The report of the Carthage Collegiate Institute of which Dr. Knight was president at the time of his death was read and ap- proved, address by Dr. J. F. Shepherd; scripture reading and prayer by Rev. G. H. Williamson, anthem by a chorus of girls from the Institute; addresses by Rev. Dr. Jeffries representing the Ministerial Alliance of Carthage and W. J. Sewell of the Board of Trustees; address by D. B. Whimster. The following minute on the life and labors of Dr. Knight was presented by Rev. E. E. Stringfield and adopted by Presbytery :
A MEMORIAL ON REV. W. S. KNIGHT, D. D.
"Amidst the general activities of the spiritual harvest season we were stunned 'by one of those death notes which are pealed at intervals as from an archangel's trumpet to awaken the soul' to a realization of the fact that 'here we have no continuing city.' Our brother, W. S. Knight. D. D., who gave to the Presbytery of Ozark more years of faithful service than any of us, has shared the lot of humanity. He died November 16, 1905.
214
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
Perchance it was the 'sweetness and light' of a serene Christian life shin- ing in his face that we mistook for the bloom of health and the conserved powers of mature and scarcely declining years of manhood. His tempera- ment, habits of life and appearances all betokened a number of years more of service. That without the warnings of accident or sickness, in the quiet of his study, as it 'in the lap of God,' he should fall asleep, startles us for a moment, but awakens the inquiry, after all, as to whether or not a life so free from turmoil and strife has not found a fitting close in a departure free from long drawn out and wasting pain. He was born at Newcastle, Ohio, August 17, 1839; graduated at Washington and Jefferson College in 1862 and at Western Seminary 1865. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater in 1887. The Presbytery of Schuyler ordained him April 8th, 1866, and nearly ten years were spent in the two pastorates, Carthage and Augusta, Ill. Having married Miss Anna Mack on the 17th of August, 1871, in July, 1875, he came with his little family to Carthage, Mo., and took charge of a struggling home mission church, burdened with a debt of nearly $3,000. As in Augusta, Ill., he had built up a small church to a membership of over 200, so in Carthage, Mo., the membership increased and the debt decreased; when, having raised the church to self-support after nearly three years' service as stated supply, he was installed pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Carthage, Mo., which church he sup- plied as stated supply and pastor for eighteen years. A marked charac- teristic of Dr. Knight's ministry was his interest in the young. In his first pastorate at Carthage, Ill., at a time when young people's work did not receive so much attention as now, he gathered about him a body of young people and enlisted them in earnest Christian work. It was this interest in the young people of the flock that turned his thoughts to the planning with others the institution to which he gave during the twenty years of its exist- ence his most earnest thoughts and efforts. Having served Lindenwood College as President for five years and the Clifton Heights Church of St. Louis as stated supply for two years, he returned to the scenes of his earlier labors and love, and for the last six years of his life was the President of Carthage Collegiate Institute. Thus twenty-four years of his ministry was spent in one city within the bounds of Ozark Presbytery. For eleven years he was stated clerk of the Presbytery and a backward glance at our min- utes reveals his zeal for both home and foreign missions, for Christian educa- tion, for purity and truth in the church-in a word, 'for every good word and work.' Both a companion and a father to the young, a wise counsellor and guide to the erring, and just the man you would want near you in sickness or sorrow or death, he was rich in the affection which has been manifested toward him during his whole life by all ages and all classes of people. And the generous sorrow of friends far and near has been beau- tifully expressed in every possible way since he has been taken home. Re- solved, that in view of his long and eminent service, this minute be spread upon the records of Presbytery and a copy tendered the family, whose fond memories, deep sorrow and loss and bright hopes we share."
Probably Mr. Fulton served the Ebenezer - church a few months longer than Dr. Knight's stay with the first church of Carthage, but the added years Dr. Knight gave to the Collegiate Institute make his terms of active service in the Presbytery longer than that of any other minister. He was moderator of the Synod of Missouri in 1882.
ยท
-
215
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
DAVID L. LANDER.
Born near Paris, Kentucky, July 23, 1852, David Leer Lander entered Center College, was a candidate for the ministry, and was compelled to leave school on account of ill health before graduating with the class of 1874. He thereupon went to Neosho, Mo., first as a subordinate teacher and in three months was elected principal. About the same time he was made an elder in the church, superintendent of the Sunday School and teacher of the Bible class. Rev. John M. Brown laid hands on him and started him in a course of theology which was completed under the tutelage of Rev. B. F. Powelson. Mr. Lander preached his first sermon in Granby February 22, 1874. Subsequently he taught one term in the Indian Territory and from there was called to minister to the Neosho church. Few men are permitted thus to serve the same church as elder, Sunday School superintendent, Bible class teacher and preacher. He was licensed by the Pres- bytery of Ozark April 29, 1875, and ordained March 11, 1876. He supplied the churches of Neosho, Granby and Westminster for four years and was stated clerk of the Presbytery from September 7, 1877 to October 8, 1879, at which date he was dis- missed to the Presbytery of Osage. He has since served as stated clerk in the Presbyteries of Osage, Kingston and St. Johns. Ill health has caused Mr. Lander to move from state to state and he has rendered valuable services to churches in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, California and Tennessee. He married Ella, the daughter of Rev. T. H. Allin, November 1. 1877. For some years Mr. Lander has been preaching in the Presbyterian church U. S.
J. P. SOLOMON.
Rev. J. P. Solomon was received from the Waldension Synod September 29, 1876, and was dismissed to the Presbytery of Los Angeles October 2, 1884. For a time he served the White Oak church in connection with his distinguished service in the Wald- ensian church. As a thing that is uniqne in the annals of the Presbytery resolutions were passed on his death some time after his dismissal. The resolutions were passed October 21, 1885. and are as follows :
"Resolved, That as a Presbytery we record our sense of profound sor- row over the death of our brother, Rev. John P. Solomon, late pastor of our Waldensian Church, but who recently removed to the Presbytery of Los Angeles. We remember with heartfelt appreciation the signally saintly . life of our brother, who came to us from the old martyr church of Pied-
216
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
mont, Italy. and his self-sacrificing labors among his own people of the Waldensian Church. For seven years he was punctual and faithful in his attendance at our meetings, often through great self-saerince. Though his support was meager, he uncomplainingly endured hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and through an unfaltering faith he has joined the sainted host who have obtained a good report. Hoping to recreate his steadily wasting strength, he went out to California, where his life work soon ended, and the Master whom he so faithfully served sent down upon the toiling servant the word of reward and welcome: 'Well done thou good and faith- ful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' As a Presbytery we ex- tend our heartfelt sympathies to her who was the sharer of his sacrifices and labors, and pray that she and those who are left without a father's care may all be sustained by Him who has said, 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' "'
THOMAS H. ALLIN.
Like his son-in-law of the last sketch but one, Thomas H. Allin proved his "aptness to teach" while yet a ruling elder. He was a kind of John the Baptist of the late order of Local Evan- gelists and a worthy one he was too.
Mr. Allin brought to the ministry the equipment of a trained legal mind and the facility of speech of a legislator. He was licensed September 29, 1876, and ordained March 30, 1877. Two of his sons were candidates for the ministry under care of this Presbytery and a daughter married Rev. D. L. Lander. Mr. Allin was a valuable assistant in evengelistic services and went out into the highways in quest of the lowly. To him is traceable the existence of a number of our country churches. He was strong in the pulpit and in the pastorate and was content to serve the fields that called for "hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." The churches of Grace, Center. Preston and Trinity were blessed with his ministry.
DONALD K. CAMPBELL.
To Donald K. Campbell belongs the honor of gathering "the elect" for the formation of a Presbyterian church at Webb City. For some months he had been supplying the infant church in Joplin. On the 27th of March 1877 he assisted Rev. W. S. Knight in organizing the Webb City church and three days later he united with the Presbytery by letter from the Westminster Pres- bytery. He continued to supply the Joplin and Webb City churches until the autumn of 1879 when he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Platte.
G. E. BICKNELL.
Received from the Presbytery of Kingston September 19.
217
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
1877; dismissed to Presbytery of Emporia September 1880. Served the Buffalo and Conway churches.
BALTHAZAR HOFFMAN.
Born in Bavaria January 5, 1828, educated in Munich and Baltimore, ordained September 20, 1861, by the Presbytery of Cincinnati, Ohio. Served various churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Kansas. Mr. Hoffman entered the Presbytery of Ozark in September 1878. He served the church of Summit. From here he returned to Kansas and subsequently became a member of Ozark Presbytery by which he was honorably retired.
WILLIAM A. CRAVENS.
Received as a licentiate from the Presbytery of Transylvania April 2, 1879, and was ordained the next day, Served the churches of Trinity, Salem and Shiloh. Was dismissed to the Presbytery of Osage September 26, 1882.
HENRY W. WOODS.
Received by letter frow the Presbytery of Louisville, U. S., February 4, 1880, installed pastor of Joplin church February 8. 1880. Pastorial relation dissolved, and Mr. Woods dismissed to Presbytery of Central Texas, U. S., March 11, 1881.
J. J. MARKS.
James Junus Marks was born in Allegheny county, Pa., January 10,1809. He graduated at Jefferson college in 1830 and at Western Theological Seminary in 1834. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Palmyra in 1838, was a missionary. in Han- nibal and West Ely, Mo .; for four years and pastor of the Pres- byterian church of Quincy, Ill., 1840-1856. During the Civil war he served as chaplain in the army. When past seventy-one years of age Dr. Marks was received by the Presbytery of Ozark from the Presbytery of St. Louis April, 13, 1880. For a short time he supplied the Calvary church and for several years was pastorial evangelist for the Presbytery. Here he displayed exe- cutive and preaching ability and an energy that was the marvel of the Presbytery for one of his age. During part of the time he served the St. Louis Presbytery and Ozark as pastorial evan- gelist.
CLARK SALMON.
Received from the Presbytery of Schuyler May 4th, 1880 : dismissed to Presbytery of Lackawanna April 2, 1884; S. S. of
218
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
Webb City 1880-82; also served for a time the Centre and Trinity churches.
JOHN N. YOUNG.
The connection of John N. Young with this Presbytery was from May 4th, 1880, to March 10th, 1881. During this brief period he served the churches of Neosho, Granby and Westmins- ter. He was dismissed to the Presbytery of Neosho. For some months in recent years he resided in Springfield and was a con- stant worshipper in the church I serve. Later he returned to Eureka Springs, Ark. His scholarly attainments and exemplary piety make me wish that he had given more of the years of his prime to this needy region.
GEORGE F. DAVIS.
Licensed by the Presbytery of Cincinnati 1849; ordained by the Presbytery of Schuyler 1851, Rev. G. F. Davis was received from the Presbytery of Mattoon October 5, 1880. In April, 1892, he returned to the Presbytery of Schuyler. He was an active Presbyter and home missionary; served the churches of Bellview, Mount Zion, Grand Prairie and Conway; was a member of the Committee on Home Missions, and his abundant labors appear to deserve a more extended notice than I am able to give.
GEORGE W. NEWELL.
Received from Presbytery of St. Louis March 10, 1881. Dis- missed to Presbytery of Kearney April 10, 1883. Served the Mount Moriah, Grace and Preston churches.
DOUGLAS P. PUTNAM.
Dr. Putnam was born in Jersey, Ohio, and graduated at Wa- bash College in 1867. After studying theology in Union Semi- nary one year he completed his theological course at Lane Semi- nary in 1876. He was licensed April 7th, 1869, and ordained September 15th, 1870, by the Presbytery of Portsmouth. After ten years' pastorate in Monroe, Michigan, he came to the pastor- ate of the Calvary Church '81-87. Shortly after his entrance upon this work the present house of worship was completed and dedi- cated. And during this pastorate the church sent out colonies to found the Second Church, the Westminster Church, U. S., and the Central Congregational Church. Notwithstanding this a virile
G. H. WILLIAMSON
219
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
ministry developed a strong church. In addition to his abundant labors in parish and Presbytery, Dr. Putnam was a regular cor- respondent for the New York Evangelist. His regular articles were headed "On the Front Porch," and they were very helpful in that they did much to attract the attention of the East to the Ozark region. He was Moderator of the Synod of Missouri in 1885. Drury College conferred the degree of D. D. on Mr. Put- nam in 1886. On the 11th of October, 1887, Dr. Putnam was dis- missed to the Presbytery of Logansport, and became pastor of the
First Church of Logansport. From this pastorate he went to another in Princeton, Ind., which was terminated in order that he might accept a position on the faculty of Lane Seminary. His professorship was of brief duration. Death claimed him on the 26th of March, 1905.
GEORGE H. WILLIAMSON.
"Three times and out" is an adage that does not apply to the subject of this sketch. Four times Rev. George H. Williamson has united with the Presbytery of Ozark, as follows:
Received September 29, 1881 ; dismissed to Presbytery of St. Louis September 16, 1885.
Received from Presbytery of Palmyra April 5, 1886; dis- missed to Presbytery of Kansas City September 19, 1894.
Received from Presbytery of Kansas City October 16, 1895; dismissed to Presbytery of Platte October 26, 1898.
Received from the Presbytery of Platte September 13, 1905; placed by the Enabling Act of 1907 in the Carthage Presbytery.
Thus in time he was a member of each of the five Presby- teries into which the State was divided prior to the reunion of 1907. Of all the ministers with whom I am intimately acquainted it has been the most difficult to get an adequate and connected account of the ministerial life and labors of this wholesouled brother. 1 have tried to interview him on several occasions, but have found that he has been too busy doing things to keep a record or even a memory of the things he has done. He has built nearly a score of churches in this and other Presbyteries of the State, and has been recalled the second or third time as stated supply or pastor to more churches than any minister with whom I am acquainted. In this list are included such churches as Monett, West Plains, Ash Grove, Lockwood, Ozark Prairie, etc. He has also served our churches of Joplin First and Joplin Be- thany, Mount Vernon, Greenfield, Fair Play, Fordland, Golden City, White Oak and Westminster of Carthage, and has served the Presbytery of Ozark as pastor-at-large. These frequent
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.