The history of Johnson County, Missouri : including a reliable history of the townships, cities, and towns, together with a map of the county; a condensed history of Missouri; the state constitution; an abstract of the most important laws etc, Part 40

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Kansas City Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1056

USA > Missouri > Johnson County > The history of Johnson County, Missouri : including a reliable history of the townships, cities, and towns, together with a map of the county; a condensed history of Missouri; the state constitution; an abstract of the most important laws etc > Part 40

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After the close of the war, Rev. Mr. Whitsett had so far recovered his health as to become very active and useful once more. Also, Rev. J. B. Morrow, on returning to the county, was able for a time to render most valuable services. These, together with Rev. J. H. Houx, were for a time the principal working force in the county. Some ministers affording · valuable assistance from other counties. Then came in Rev. M. Barnett, also Rev. W. B. Farr, who had just entered the ministry in '61. Many of the congregations had lost their organization; their records were lost, their officers either dead or gone, and their members scattered.

PLEASANT RICE FIRST SETTLER IN JOHNSON COUNTY

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

The meagre ministerial force went to work, and found the most hearty co-operation on the part of the membership and of christians generally.

All seemed to realize that everything was lost, without Divine interpo- sition. God's blessing, to a wonderful measure, attended the efforts made in every place. The ministry labored with such unity of purpose, and in such harmony of feelings, that the effect was to bring together in heart and effort those who formerly had been alienated by the excitements and the atrocities of the war.

As a true picture of the times, and of the good results arising from the religious services held, we give the following, in which the Rev. J. B. Morrow and Rev. J. R. Whitsett were the efficient leaders. These men in their convictions had stood on opposite sides of the great issues of the day, but their piety was too deep to allow their friendship and co-opera- tion to be interrupted. In one community where they jointly conducted a meeting, four lady members resided, one of whom had suffered the affliction of having had her aged father taken out, and after shameful abuse, shot down and left in the woods. In turn, the other three ladies had each had their husbands shot down in the field when plowing, and this in a most dastardly manner. That one who had lost her father, kept hearing of the progress of the good meeting, but felt that she could not be associated with the other party, until finally hearing that her own son had become deeply interested in the meeting, she resolved to attend. Here she found these other ladies deeply interested for the salvation of her boy. These ladies wept and prayed together, and soon rejoiced together in the conversion of their children.

Parties would often come when one man was to conduct the services, and leave when the other was to preach, or would utterly refuse to attend any service, until the reports from the meetings would awaken in them such interest that they could not well stay away. Such often expressed great aversion to being spoken to by the opposite party. But being impressed as they often did, they lost their choice as to who should address them. Indeed, the very ones they had before loved to hate, were the ones whose presence and friendship they chiefly engaged after their conversion.

Many men came to these meetings heavily armed, ready to resent the slightest insult that might be offered them, or to take vengeance on their enemies for wrongs which they or their friends might have formerly suf- fered. The hostile appearance of these men is still fresh in the memory of many. But under the impressions made by the sermon, or by some event in the services, these men, not unfrequently, dropped their revolvers at the root of some tree, or gave them to the care of some friend, while they gave their attention wholly to the question of their own salvation.

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

Foes like these have often been seen within the space of one hour to embrace each other, and rejoice together, becoming fast friends from that hour.

This ended all sense of necessity for the revolver. They henceforth felt to unite in the sentiment uttered by the angels at the birth of our Savior. " On earth, peace, good will to men."

The gospel, more than any other agency-possibly than all others- served as the producer and conservator of the peace of this distracted and riven portion of the country.

In this county alone there were many hundreds of conversions, which added to the churches, soon made them stronger than ever before, and in the various departments of Christian duty they soon manifested an activity, quite in advance of any part of their former history. "The wil- derness and solitary places were made glad and the desert rejoiced and blossomed as the rose."

Each church was soon served by a minister, to whom a living salary was given, and he devoted his time to the gospel. Contributions were made to establish and sustain missions, and for the assistance of young men fitting themselves for the ministry; also, an unusually large number

1 of young men-most of them converts of these meetings-offered their services to the gospel ministry. . These, after due course of training, have become the active ministry of to-day, in charge of the churches, served- by those noble men who have passed away. Now, instead of trav- eling as missionary, or serving as monthly supply, several of them are settled in charge of one church alone, giving them the full strength of their labors.

Toward this desirable position the progress of the church has seemed slow, but it has now attained a position for dignity and for usefulness far in advance of any former achievement.

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church has always been anti-slavery in sentiment, and previous to the war no organization by this denomination existed in the state outside St. Louis. About the year 1856 churches under the auspices of the United Presbyterian denomination were established in the state of Kansas, and the people emigrating through this county on their way west were pleased with this section of country, and as soon as the war closed settled and established a congregation here.

Rev. Joseph D. Steele came to Warrensburg in the year 1865 or '66, and, being pleased with the locality, wrote articles to eastern papers set- ting forth the advantages of the country in climate, soil and productions. Parties who knew him and belonged to the same church brought their families and settled in and near Warrensburg. Rev. John D. Steele took

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

an active part in the organization of the Warrensburg church, and although in feeble health preached occasionally while he resided here. He removed to Warsaw, in St. Clair county, about seven years ago.

Rev. Samuel Biggar came to Warrensburg about the same time with Rev. Steele, and organized the church. He was the principal teacher in the common schools of the city, and during school days devoted himself assiduously to school duties, but on the sabbath- preached to the congre- gation of Presbyterians in whose welfare he took such a lively interest. He remained with the people at Warrensburg for about three years, then returned to Illinois, where he has since died.

Rev. Samuel Jamison succeeded Rev. Biggar, and became the first settled pastor , and under his labors the church and congregation greatly prospered. Rev. Jamison remained with the church about three years, when he returned to Pennsylvania, his native state, and is now a settled pastor in York county, of that state. After he left, the congregation became somewhat scattered. Before the pastorate of Mr. Jamison, Rev. Josiah Thompson had emigrated to the vicinity of Centerview, and drew off the western portion of the original congregation. Also the Rev. Mr. Bryson had settled in Post Oak township, and drew off the southern portion of the congregation, leaving the church in Warrensburg financially weak. At this time members of the United Presbyterian church had settled in nearly all portions of the county excepting in the east.

A church was organized at Kingsville about the same time, under the authority of the presbytery of western Missouri.

In the spring of 1872, Rev. John C. Steele came from Alleghany City and assumed the charge of the Warrensburg congregation. Rev. Steele remained the settled pastor of the church for three years, during which time the membership increased from about thirty to ninety.

The churches in this county belong to the Western Missouri Presbytery of the general assembly of the United Presbyterian church of the United States of North America.

This denomination is conservative, and at the present day holds to the same rules of church government and customs of conducting services as was the practice in Scotland immediately after the reformation. This church, in its praise, uses exclusively the Word of God, without explana- tion, note or comment, hence they maintain that in praise, they are entire- ly free from sectarianism. The psalms used in praise are a close and rigid translation from the original Hebrew. They are arranged in diff- erent meters, and set in some cases, to several different tunes. Most of these metrical versions were arranged in Scotland. The different meters were selected with great care. They hold that each denomination pro-

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HISTORY' OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

vides fully for its own members, and hence do not invite the members of other denominations to commune with them in sealing ordinances.

This was the first church in the United States to take active steps against slavery, and though not strictly an "abolition church," held that all members should free themselves from the participation in slavery, to be brought about not by selling the slave, but by emancipation or sending him to Liberia. The church adheres to the West Minster confession of . faith in its entirety.

The children reared and educated in the religious principles of this church are among the most exemplary and obedient in the land. Parents in the United Presbyterian church have generally shown their wisdom in putting in force the words of that Divine maxim which says: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Westward the tide of civilization takes its way. The red man of the forest, the bear, the buffalo, the deer, the elk, and other wild animals, give way to the steady approach of civilization. Up the Mississippi, the Mis- souri, the Osage rivers, spreading northward and southward, but steadily westward flows the unceasing tide. Here and there, upon the borders of these broad prairies, the cabin of the pioneer is seen. The sound of the ax and lowing of the herds break the stillness of the forest and give warning to the hunter of the approach of that irresistable tide of civiliza- tion that soon will cover this broad land.

The smoke of the cabin served to guide the Methodist itinerant preacher to the home of its owner as he carried the gospel of Christ.

In the year 1829, was erected the first house within the territory now known as Johnson county. In the same year, Rev. Jesse Green was appointed presiding elder of the Missouri district, which embraced all the occupied territory on both sides of the Missouri river above St. Louis; and within about one year after the first house was built, he, with his assistants, organized a Methodist Episcopal church in Johnson county.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Johnson county in the year 1830, near Columbus, in what was then known as the Fine neigh- borhood, where, in 1834, the first church building was erected in the county. The land for that purpose was donated by Richard Bradley. There was also established there a camp-ground where camp-meetings were annually held for many years.

Messrs. Richard Bradley, R. D. Bradley, James Bradley, Tompkins Bradley, William and Isham Reese, Jonathan and B. H. Fine, Levi Simp- son, Z. T. Davis, Thomas, John, Joseph, and Bolen Windsor, with their families and others, composed the first class. It was organized under the

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

pastoral care of the Rev. E. T. Perry, of the Lexington circuit, Missouri district. The Rev. Jesse Green was the presiding elder.

The second church organization was at what is now known as Oak Grove, but then the residence of Sarah Simpson, whose house was the home of the methodist preacher and the preaching place for the commu- nity. Mrs. Simpson, Mrs. Brown, (mother of James S. Brown), with others whose names are not now remembered, composed this class. It was organized in the fall of 1834, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Thomas Wallace.

In 1839, a class was organized a few miles east of Chilhowee, at the house of Thomas Cull. Thomas Cull and family, John and Douglas Wright, with their families, Mrs. M. Reed, and others, formed the class which was organized under the pastoral care of R. Aldridge, assisted by Rev. Armitage. These men were under the superintending care of the Rev. Jesse Green, presiding elder of Missouri district.

For about one year the house of Thomas Cull was the preaching place of the neighborhood, and afterward, for fourteen years, the house of John Wright was used for that purpose.

The Revs. James Porter and Mr. Wells, followed Aldridge and Armi- tage in the pastoral work. Then came Samuel Colbern, Moses B. Evans and others, whose names are not now remembered. In the division of the M. E. church, which took place in 1844, this class, with almost every other one in this county decided to go with the M. E. church south. Still later, a class was formed at the house of G. W. Houts. His house was the home of the preacher, and the preaching place for the neighborhood for many years. In fact his house and the school house close by has been a regular preaching place unto this day. From that day to this there has been kept up a church organization, and upon its records may be found the names of G. W. and Elizabeth Houts, who still live upon the old homestead in quiet seclusion, full of years, honored and respected by all who know them; calmly and patiently awaiting the summons that soon will call them from the church of toil and care, to a reunion with the loved ones who have been transferred to the church triumphant.

Among those devoted men of God who sowed the seeds of Methodism in this wild, but not barren soil of Johnson county, we may mention the names of Jesse Green, the first presiding elder of the Missouri district, of which this county formed a part. W. W. Redman, also a presiding elder at a later date. N. R. Bewley, T. Johnson, B. S. Ashley, E. T. Perry, W. A. H. Spratt, J. K. Lacy, J. H. Ruble, A. Milie, Moses B. Evans, T. T. Ashley, Thomas Wallace, R. Aldridge, H. L. Dodds, H. N. Wilbur, J. M. Jamison, Samuel Colbern and T. B. Ruble.

The Missouri district embraced the territory on both sides of the Mis-

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souri river from St. Louis up to Lexington. And the circuit of which this county formed a part, embraced all the territory between the Missouri and Osage rivers. It was what was called a four weeks circuit; that is, the preacher could just get round it in four weeks. There were not less than twenty-four regular appointments with very frequent extra appointments.

Thus were the seeds of Methodism sown in the virgin soil of Johnson county half a century ago. But then, as now, while these men of God were sowing the good seeds, the " enemy" was sowing tares, and "roots of bitterness" sprang up, which resulted in a division of the church in 1844. The slavery question was the wedge which split the church and gave to one division the name of "M. E. Church South." The people of this county being largely identified with the slavery cause decided to unite with the M. E. church south, which absorbed the M. E. church and left it without an organization in the county from 1845 to 1865.

That we may more fully appreciate the devotion of the earlier Metho- . dists, we give below the report of a Methodist preacher made to the annual conference in the year 1844. It is as follows:

" Traveled 2,450 miles; preached 300 times; held class 96 times; love- feast 18 times ; administered Lord's supper 16 times; prayer meetings 15 times; baptized 80 times. All this done in 318 days.

For this year's labor the appropriations were as follows: Moving expenses, $16.872; traveling expenses, $5.00; table expenses, $75; house rent, $36,00; fuel, $25.00; horse and cow feed, $20.00; quarterage, $200. Total, $377.872.

The above shows the amount of salary allowed for the year's work; but the following shows the amount actually received: Moving expenses, $16.87}; traveling expenses, $3.25; table expenses, $56.25; house rent, $14.00; fuel, $15.00; horse and cow feed, $20.00; quarterage, $87.00. Total, $209.872. Balance due, $168.58. It will be seen that there is an error in the calculations, for which we are not responsible. We give the figures as we find them.

WARRENSBURG .- In the year 1865, the M. E. church was reorganized in Johnson county, at Warrensburg under the presiding eldership, by the Rev. T. H. Hagerty. The Rev. J. Wesley Johnson was the first pastor assigned to the Warrensburg charge. True, there had been occasional preaching by the Rev. C. E. Carpenter during the year 1864, but the first organization was effected in 1865, at Warrensburg, though speedily fol- lowed by others at Knob Noster, Holden and other points in the county. As before stated, Rev. C. E. Carpenter, as a sort of Methodist mission- ary, during the latter part of the war, traveled through this and adjoining counties, preaching where an opportunity was offered. His labors pre- pared the way, and the Missouri and Arkansas conference, at its annual

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session held in the spring of 1865, sent Rev. J. Wesley Johnson to War- rensburg for one year. He entered into the work of organizing a church with much zeal, and soon effected an organization with about twenty-four members, some of whom had been members of the M. E. church, before the separation in 1844, but, by force of circumstances, had united with the M. E. church south, but gladly embraced this, the first opportunity, of returning to their old home, the church they loved.

So earnest were the efforts of both pastor and people, that by October of that year, they had arranged for and purchased a substantial brick church building, on Gay street, just east of the old court house, for which they paid about $4,000. This building was fitted up and used until 1871, when, owing to the increase of membership, and rapid extension of the town to the eastward, it was deemed advisable to dispose of this property and build a larger and better house in a more central part of town. Accordingly, two valuable lots on East Market street, were secured and the present church edifice erected at a cost of $5,800, which was so far completed by October, that they were able to hold regular services in the new building. The Rev. Mr. Allyn, D. D., president of McKendree col- lege, preached the initiatory sermon, and on the 21st day of June, 1874, the church was formally dedicated by Bishop Thomas Bowman.

In 1870 a neat frame parsonage was erected on Gay street, at a cost of $1,200, which was used for the home of the preacher until 1874, when a substantial brick parsonage was erected on a lot adjoining the church, at a cost of $2,000.

Owing to a deficiency in the early records it is impossible to give exact dates and figures, but the following will not vary much from the actual facts in the case.

As before stated, J. Wesley Johnson was the first pastor, serving from April, 1865, to April, 1866.

The first class was organized in the early part of the year 1865, and was composed of twenty-four members. The first board of trustees was composed of the following persons, to-wit: James Gilliland, C. E. Moor- man, G. N. Elliott, M. U. Foster, R. A. Foster, G. Will Houts, G. W. Houts, Thos. W. Williams, and William Hollingsworth. Of these nine persons only two of them remain here. Two have died and five have gone away. One of them, G. W. Houts, is still a member of the board.

The first church building was purchased October 17, 1865, at the price of $3,876.43. The second pastor was Rev. J. W. Newcomb, from April, 1866, to July, 1868. He suffered great affliction in 1868, in the loss, by death, of his wife. Owing to this and other causes, he did not serve out his third year, and the Rev. Henry Minard was procured by the presiding

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elder, to supply his place. The fourth pastor was the Rev. F. S. Biggs, from April, 1869, to April, 1871.

The church having determined to erect a new building this year, and determined to tear down the old one, and use the material in the construc- tion of the new one, it was thought best to ask the annual conference to leave this charge, to be supplied at such time as might be thought best. Consequently the charge was without a pastor from April to October, when it was supplied by the Rev. G. W. Durment, who was the fifth pastor from October, 1871, to April, 1873. It is proper to state here, that during the time the new church was building, and the congregation with- out a place of worship, the M. E. church, south, very kindly tendered the use of their building, for which they have the grateful acknowledgements of the congregation. The sixth pastor, was the Rev. J. N. Pierce, from April, 1873 to April, 1875. During his term the new parsonage was erected, and other substantial improvements made upon the grounds. The seventh pastor was the Rev. W. R. Marshall, from April, 1875, to April, 1876. The eighth pastor was the Rev. Henry R. Miller, from April, 1876, to April, 1878. The ninth pastor was the Rev. O. M. Stewart, from April, 1878, to April, 1881. The tenth pastor is the Rev. S. R. Reese, who ministers to the spiritual wants of the church. His labors here began in April last, and may continue at the pleasure of the annual conference.

In 1874, the annual conference was held at this place, bringing to our city more than a hundred preachers from all parts of the state south of the Missouri river. It was presided over by Bishop Andrews, and was in session about six days.

Warrensburg Circuit .- Warrensburg circuit was established in the year 1866, under the administration of Rev. T. H. Hagerty, presiding elder, Kansas City district. Rev. W. K. Glass, was first appointed as a supply, and afterwards assisted by Rev. G. H. Reed.

The circuit as organized by Revs. George H. Reed, and William K. Glass, embraced the territory now comprising the Holden Station, Hazel Hill, Mount Hope, Benton City, Grant, and the present Warrensburg circuit. In all this territory, however, they had only ten. appointments. These brothers traveled this circuit until the annual conference of 1868, and succeeded in organizing societies, or classes, at several of these appointments. Theirs was a difficult work; the country was in a very unsettled condition, when they began their work. A " North " Methodist . preacher was not regarded with the utmost favor, at that time, by a large portion of the citizens of this county; though they found many warm hearts and open hands to welcome them.

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- We are sorry to say that these men did not receive that financial sup- port that the arduous labors performed by them, entitled them to.

At the annual conference of 1868, Rev. J. E. Gardner, and N. H. Mitchell, were appointed to the work under the name of Holden circuit. They labored successfully at several points, and succeeded in starting a church building enterprise at Holden. At the close of the conference year, the circuit was divided and reduced to three appointments, viz .: Holden, Grant and Mount Hope, and Rev. J. E. Gardner re-appointed, who labored successfully for another year; after which the circuit was again divided, a portion of the territory taking the name of Mount Hope, and a part resuming the name of Warrensburg circuit.

· At the annual conference of 1870, H. Threlfull was appointed to this circuit. On entering upon the work he found three organized appoint- ments, viz .: Houts' school house, Cornelia and Adams' school house. And during the year the classes were organized at Centreview, Mary's chapel, (known as Hadley's appointment) Minersville and Chilhowee. The following is the pastor's note of the work:

"At Minersville, there was a good work going on for several months towards the close of the year. A number of backsliders were reclaimed, and sinners converted, and led to unite with the church. A successful Sabbath school was organized."

During the year, a neat frame parsonage was erected in Warrensburg, at a cost of $700, and the year closed with seven organized societies on the circuit.

The annual conference held in St. Louis in March 1871, returned Rev. H. Threlfull to this work for another year. Entering upon the work the second year with great earnestness, he at once called a meeting of the members and friends of the church to take into consideration the feasibil- ity of erecting a church building at Centerview. At said meeting some $400 or more were raised on subscription, and it was resolved that each one should take a copy of the subscription paper, and procure all the means they could during the next ten days, at which time they were to meet again and report. The report at that meeting was entirely satisfac- tory, and it was decided to build.

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The history of Johnson County, Missouri : including a reliable history of the townships, cities, and towns, together with a map of the county; a condensed history of Missouri; the state constitution; an abstract of the most important laws etc, Part 40

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Kansas City Historical Company Number of Pages: 1056

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Kansas City Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1056