USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens > Part 29
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church South, was organized about the year 1846. In the early history of the church, services were held in the court house, which was torn down in 1881. The original members of the church have all moved away, or become deceased. The following are some of the parties who have ministered to this church : William Ketron, Larkin Adamson, James S. Shive, William Shaw, William Bradford, Wil- liam F. Bell, John D. Turner, Alexander Spencer, B. R. Baxter, S. C. Littlepage, H. H. Craig, R. A. Austin, D. C. Blackwell, W. H. Albright, G. H. Newton, J. McEwen, H. A. Davis, James Hyder, C. Grimes, A. P. Parker, William Barnett, C. A. Sherman, John Anderson, L. F. Linn, D. C. O'Howell and H. C. Bolen. In 1867, the present church edifice was erected during the pastorate of Rev. James Hyder, and cost a little over $3,000. In 1876, a parsonage was built, during the pastorate of Rev. John Anderson, on the same lot with the church, and cost between $500 and $600. The number of the present membership is seventy. During
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
the war the church was almost broken up, and preaching was suspended for three years. The church has an efficient Sabbath School. The church under the pastoral labors of Rev. H. C. Bolen, is now in a very prosperous condition, and in the two years during which he has been the pastor, the membership of the church has almost doubled.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The precise date of the first organization of the Baptist Church in Maryville is now unknown. An organization existed as far back as 1850. The war caused a general stagnation in religious matters, and the church at Maryville was not an exception. In the year 1870, Rev. Mr. Hopkins came to this part of the country, and reorganized the church, with the following members: Mary J. Graham, Daniel Best, Elizabeth Best, Henry Nelson, Mary Nelson, Adam Terhune, Betsy Terhune, William Neal, Barkley Benbow, Alice Benbow, J. M. Black, Rebecca Holcomb, Jane Hyler, Mary Ellsworth, Jane Ellsworth, John Hobbs, Anna Hobbs and Samuel E. Smith.
The first church meeting of which any record was kept was held in 1870. Rev. - Hopkins was chosen pastor, and remained only a short time with the church. In 1871 Rev. G. W. Huntley came to Nodaway County under the auspices of the Home Mission Society, and was called to the pastoral care of the church and remained as pastor until 1876. During his pastorate the present building was erected, at a cost of $5,000. Rev. S. M. Merrill was called to the church in August, 1876, and closed his labors in April, 1877. The church was without a pastor until October, 1878, when Rev. H. J. Latour was called as pastor. He remained two years, after which the church was without a pastor until October, 1881, when Rev. H. M. Richardson was called as pastor.
The church numbers about 125 members, and has a fine Sabbath School, averaging about 125. This society has an excellent church building, of brick, worth $7,000, and is free from debt.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The organization of the Union Presbyterian Church of Maryville, Nodaway County, Missouri, was first begun by Rev. E. B. Sherwood, missionary pastor of the New School Presbyterian Church for the Lex- ington Presbytery, on the 8th day of November, A. D. 1868. The first preaching service was held in the Methodist Church, December 13, A. D. 1868, by Rev. E. B. Sherwood. After service the church was duly organized, and the following members enrolled : L. C. Evans, William M. Jackson, D. T. Geiger, H. A. Avery, John Edwards, John Jackson, John Blair, W. Geiger, Mrs. L. C. Leiber, Miss Bell Andrews, Mrs. Rebecca Geiger, Mrs. Mollie J. Blair, Mrs. Rebecca Evans.
19
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
The following persons were elected ruling elders : John Edwards, John Blair and D. T. Geiger. The trustees were J. E. Alexander, F. P. Glasgow and W. H. Purviance.
December 20, 1870, Rev. J. M. Crawford was elected stated supply, and held this position for two years, when he was succeeded by Rev. William G. Thomas, who occupied the pulpit until 1873. The present pastor, Rev. A. D. Workman, was called by the congregation to become their permanent pastor, December 29, 1873. He entered upon his labors February 1, 1874. The present membership is 130. The congregation own a church building and parsonage, free of debt, valued at $6,000. John M. Bell was delegate to the General Assembly in 187 -.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
In 1868, the Christian Church was reorganized by Elder Joel M. Wood, with the following members : John S. Wood, John W. Walker, Sue M. Walker, Cassie Clelland, Elizabeth R. Clelland, James Ray, Sarah Hann, P. W. M. Orear, Mary Hann, Elizabeth Ford, F. H. B. Garner, Rosanna J. Prather, Elizabeth S. Ellis, James A. Smith, Polly Ann Smith and Amanda Ellis. Several of these have already passed on to the church triumphant, others have moved away, so that only seven are left .
The first pastor called by this church was Elder J. G. Encell, a man of unusual energy and activity. During his pastorate of sixteen months there was a large increase to the membership. At the close of his labors the church numbered some sixty-five or seventy members. The next minister called was Elder L. D. Cook, who gave the church two years of faithful work. He was a man of fine social qualities and great native ability. He soon gained many warm friends. The church continued to prosper and increase in numbers and influence. Elder B. F. Bush succeeded Elder Cook, being employed for his entire time-the above named only one-half of the time. He continued his labors two years. During his stay with this church he held a debate with Rev. Mr. -. of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was eminently satisfactory to his congregation. Having fine logical powers and being a classical scholar, he was clear and strong in his presentations of the distinctive pleas of the church. The next minister called was Elder George E. Dew, who also preached for the church two years, doing a good work. He was a young man of good ability, earnest and zealous, impressing every one that he was a good and pure man. A large number were added to the church under his labors. In the fall of 1879 Elder R. N. Davis was called to preach for the church, and is now its pastor. During the time he has been preaching for this church, (a little less than two years), fifty- two souls have been received into its fellowship.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
This is a missionary church, contributing to both home and foreign missions. Has kept up a live working Sunday School ever since its organization. In 1880 it averaged over 100 pupils.
The ladies of this church organized, several years ago, the Woman's Christian Missionary Society, and have done a great work.
This church has been abundantly blessed by God. The present membership is 210, and the church property is valued at $5,000.
ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Rev. D. O. Hinck has furnished us the following sketch of the Advent Christian Church :
The Advent Christian Church of Maryville was organized Decem- ber 14, 1870, by Elder J. E. Himes. Sixteen persons, all heads of families except two, were thus united in church fellowship, with the fol- lowing covenant :
" We, whose names are subjoined, do hereby covenant and agree, by the help of the Lord, to walk together as a church of Christ, faithfully maintaining its ordinances, taking the Bible as our only rule of faith and practice, church order and discipline, making Christian character the only test of fellowship and communion. We further agree with Chris- tian fidelity and meekness, to exercise mutual watch, care ; to counsel, admonish, or reprove, as duty may require, and to receive the same from each other as becometh the household of faith."
Elder D. O. Hink was duly chosen pastor, Abram Fitzsimons, dea- con, and Wm. McClain, secretary and treasurer.
During a protracted meeting held in January, 1871, at the Wright school house, four miles east of town, thirteen were added to the church. Also, in February, 1871, during a meeting held in the old Saunders school house, seven miles south of town, three united, one of whom was William Jones, Sr., familiarly called " Uncle Billy," true as steel, and is at present the respected and honored deacon of the church. Through- out the year 1871, several more additions were made, one of whom being well known in this county as "Uncle Billy Swinford." Bro. Swinford came into the public congregation, who were assembled in the Maryville school house, and at the close of the sermon rose to his feet and requested the liberty to speak, which was granted. After referring to his demoralized. and backslidden condition and his earnest desire to lead a Christian life, he said that he had come about ten miles on horse- back to offer himself to the Advent Christian Church, if they thought him worthy of a name and place among them. Sister Rebecca Swinford, wife of Wm. Swinford, soon added her name with that of her husband's
Thus year by year this little congregation of believers in the near advent of God's Son from heaven, slowly yet certainly grew, the mem-
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
bership, however, being largely in the country. In February, 1876, at a regular church meeting held in Maryville, their numerical strength was one hundred members. They had at that time just completed a neat and convenient chapel at a cost of about $1,200. The erection of this house of worship was carried through under many discouragements. Twice the house suffered much by storms, being blown from its founda- tions of brick piers nine feet up hill. Then the grasshopper raid tied up the purse strings-for everybody was going to starve to death-so our subscription list failed, leaving us with about $300 indebtedness and the house unfinished, but thank the Lord for a few courageous and per- severing souls, who knew no rest until the house was not only finished, but free from debt .
Many of our members having moved away, and some having died, with but few recent additions, we are left in a rather enfeebled condition. The death of brother Wesley Swayree, who was well known through the county as an insurance agent, and a straight forward Christian gentle- man, also brother Simeon Wright, an enterprising farmer and cattle dealer, has had its discouraging influence. Our present number is fifty . We have preaching service in our chapel every Lord's Day evening by the pastor, Elder D. O. Hinck. We have also in connection with our chapel service a Missionary Bible School every Sunday afternoon, with an average attendance of 150. Deacon E. A. Rowley is the superin- tendent, who, with a secretary, a treasurer and a finance committee of three, are the officers of the school. So far the school has been a success.
ST. PAUL'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first regular services of this church in Nodaway County were held by the Rev. George Turner, now of Hiawatha, Kansas, in the Davis school house, in White Cloud Township, in 1864. Rev. Mr. Turner preached once a month at this place for some time.
In the summer of 1872, the Rev S. C. Blackiston, now of Fort Benton, Montana, was appointed missionary of the church for Northwest Missouri. On the 18th day of August, 1872, he held service in Union Hall, Maryville, and on the following day organized the Mission at the residence of John Edwards, giving it the name of St. Paul's, and appointing Dr. H. Estes, warden, and John Edwards, Treasurer.
The number of communicants at the time of organization of the Mission was five ; a short time after a class of six was confirmed by Bishop C. F. Robertson .
About the Ist of November, 1873, a small hall, connected with Union Hall, was fitted up for regular services, which were there main- tained until the resignation of Rev. Mr. Blackiston, which was in April, 1874. Services were held only occasionally from this time till
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HISTORY OF NOPAWAY COUNTY.
the summer of 1875, when the Rev. John Bennett attempted to renew the services at the Presbyterian house of worship, but this house having been unroofed by a gale of wind, and no other convenient place of wor- ship being at the time attainable, the effort was for a time abandoned, and the Mission remained without regular services till its re-organiza- tion on the 31st day of January, 1877, at the Christian house of worship, when Mr. G. W. Turner was nominated to the bishop as warden, Charles Duncan as Secretary, and Edward Hull as Treasurer .
The South Methodist house of worship was then secured for the second and fourth Sundays in each month, and services were regularly maintained until the resignation of Rev. John Bennett, in July, 1877 . In the following month Rev. E. Victor Beales was appointed mission- ary, and came to Maryville .
On Wednesday, August 30, 1877, Rev. Mr. Beales organized a society, called the Ladies Guild, of which Mrs. C. Duncan was Presi- dent ; Mrs. A. P. Moorhouse, Vice President ; Mrs. Cranor, Secretary, and Mrs. Clelland, Treasurer. The object of the society was, at the first, to raise means for the purchase of a lot, and to furnish a church, when built.
In September, 1877, a lot was purchased from John Walker for $200, and soon after money was subscribed for the purpose of building a church. On the 3Ist of December, 1877, Rev. Mr. Beales resigned his charge, after seeing the lot paid for, and $1,060 subscribed toward the building fund.
March 1, 1878, the church building being nearly completed, the Mis- sion was organized as a parish, with the following choice of officers: G. W. Turner, Senior Warden ; L. H. Case, Junior Warden ; Edward Hull, W. Dowdeswell, R. W. Nimmo, John Jones, Vestrymen. The regular form of organization was complied with, and signed by the members of the parish .
On May 17, 1878, Bishop Robertson held service in the new church for the first time, but the building was not completed until August 1, 1878.
The parish remained vacant until July, 1879, when Rev. W. C. Sherman became rector, and continued to serve until October, 1880, when he resigned. The present rector is Rev. William A. Hatch, who commenced his duties November 27, 1880 The services are at the present time held on the first and third Sundays of each month, the minister officiating on the remaining Sundays at Chillicothe and Stan- berry, Missouri
The parish is organized as follows: G. W. Turner, Senior Warden ; J. B. Newman, Junior Warden ; William Winslow, Treasurer ; William Dowdeswell, Clerk; William H. Hudson, John Jones, L. W. Patterson, Vestry .
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Whole number of communicants, twenty-seven. There have been since the organization of the mission, thirty baptized, twenty-three con- firmed and seven deaths. Value of church property, $1,750.
CATHOLIC CHURCHI.
Among the early settlers of Nodaway County were a few Catholic families, natives of Kentucky. These were located contiguous to Mary- ville, the county seat. They were visited by the priest of Conception settlement, in the same county, early in 1858, and continued to be vis- ited by the same clergyman, (Rev. Father Powers), at regular intervals, up to 1868. About that time public improvements taking a start, the bishop was induced to send a resident priest to Maryville to minister to the growing community there henceforth. In 1873 the Catholics of that place were put under the charge of the Benedictine Fathers of Concep- tion monastery, and continues to be under their administration up to the present time.
A Catholic Church was erected in Maryville in 1860, through the exertion and influence of Dr. Bickett, a Catholic citizen of Maryville. A house of worship was also built at Conception the same time. These were the very first houses of religious worship of any kind that were built in Nodaway County.
The church at Maryville, a brick edifice, and neatly furnished, was despoiled and damaged during the civil war; but afterwards, repaired and refitted, it continued to be the place of religious worship until blown down in a storm in 1879. A new church edifice of more imposing dimen- sions was then started, which is yet in the course of erection-the base- ment, used for school and temporary church purposes, being already finished .
The Kentucky Catholics mostly left during the civil war, but their place was supplied by a large number of Catholic families, which have since settled in Maryville and the contiguous parts of Nodaway County.
Conception. a Catholic settlement, fifteen miles southeast of Mary- ville, was founded by a land association, organized by citizens of Penn- sylvania, for an actual settlement of Catholics, as early as 1856. The year following 20,000 acres of land, chiefly lying in Nodaway County, were entered in the General Land Office at Washington, and relocated next year in the District Land Office at Plattsburg, Missouri. Some of these settlers, under the direction of a priest of the Philadelphia diocese, came out early in 1858, and made some improvements. They continued under the charge of the priest, who located among them-Rev. F. Powers.
In 1867 a new church was built for them, in which they worshipped until 1873, when they were put under the charge of the Benedictine Fathers, who built a larger church and who continue to minister to the
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
religious interests of the Catholics of the county. These have lately built a spacious monastery and college, and are about to erect a splendid church in keeping with the monastery .
A community of religious women of the same order came at the same time, and have been employed both in Maryville and Conception, chiefly in teaching school, and will begin before long, academies, as they will find them suitable for the requirements of the people.
BAKER, SAUNDERS & CO., BANKERS.
George S. Baker & Co., private bankers, commenced business December 1, 1868, and sold to Nodaway Valley Bank, August, 1873. The stockholders in the above bank were W. C. Orear, James B. Prather, Joseph E. Alexander, E. S. Stephenson, and George S. Baker.
FARMERS BANK.
This bank was organized April 17, 1871, by H. C. French and H. C. Fisher as a private bank, under the name and style of Fisher & French, in the first story of the building now occupied by the Maryville Repub- lican office. On September 23, 1873, Mr. H. C. French sold his interest to Joseph Jackson and John C. Terhune. The bank was then organized under the name and style of Fisher, Jackson & Co., Joseph Jackson, president, and H. C. Fisher, cashier. In 1875, they built the present bank building. On the 17th of September, 1877, Mr. Fisher sold out his interest to Messrs. Jackson and Terhune, Joseph Jackson, president, John C. Terhune, cashier, and the name changed to the Farmers Bank, with paid up capital of $50,000.
Official statement of the Farmers Bank, August 31, 1881 :
Resources .
Loans, personal security $150,733 88
Loans, real estate security . 1,460 00
Overdrafts by solvent customers. 6,814 95
Bonds and stocks. 996 32
Due from banks, good on sight drafts
201,321 64
Real estate
15,297 10
Furniture and fixtures
2,500 00
Checks and cash items
3.523 68
Bills of National Banks
28,720 00
Gold coin 7,000 00
Silver
. 233 10
$418,600 67
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Liabilities.
Capital $ 50,000 00
Deposit subject to draft. 322,703 44
Deposit, time
45,897 23
$418,600 67
Aggregate amount of business annually transacted, nine million dollars.
NODAWAY VALLEY BANK
was organized in 1869 by George S. Baker, James B. Prather, E. S. Stephenson, Joseph E. Alexander, and William C. Orear, under the firm name of George S. Baker & Co. In 1870, William C. Orear sold his interest to John O. Martin. In 1873, George S. Baker and John O. Martin sold their interests to Theo. L. Robinson and J. C. Water- man. When Mr. Baker retired, it became necessary to change the name of the bank, and it was changed to Nodaway Valley Bank, with James B. Prather as president, and Theo. L. Robinson as cashier. Messrs. Waterman, Stephenson, and Alexander have since sold their interests to Messrs. Prather & Robinson, who are now the sole owners. From the official statement last made, August 31, 1881, the bank shows a paid up capital of $30,000, with a surplus fund of $45,753. 13, and over a quarter million dollars deposits. While many banks in Northwest Missouri and elsewhere were compelled to close their doors for a time during the financial panic in 1873 (being only one month after Mr. Robinson commenced the business management), the bank paid all demands and kept open for regular business. Mr. James B. Prather, president, is a native of Kentucky ; came to Nodaway County in 1841, and has been in active business in Maryville since. Theo. L. Robinson, who was born in Missouri, commenced the dry goods business in Mary- ville in 1857, and has been engaged continuously in active business from that date until the present. First, dry goods and general mer- chandise, then hardware and lumber ; from that to banking, comprising a period of a quarter of a century, and each new business having been commenced before the old one had been closed, making the oldest con- tinuous business man in Maryville
THE NODAWAY DEMOCRAT.
The Democrat was established in 1869, by Hon. A. P. Morehouse and A. C. Buel, the first number of the paper, a six column folio, being issued November 13th of that year. From the first this journalistic ven- ture was a pronounced success, and the Democrat has been published uninterruptedly from the initial number up to the present date.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
In 1870 Mr. Buel retired from the paper, and Mr. Morehouse took a partner in the person of W. J Sloan. The new firm enlarged the paper to eight columns, and conducted it until September 15, 1874, when it was purchased by George W. Martin, B. A. Dunn and James Todd, Mr. Dunn being only a silent partner and taking no active part in the management of the paper. The following February he sold his one-third interest in the Democrat to Martin & Todd, the present editors and pro- prietors.
Believing that Nodaway County should have a journal worthy of the name, the new firm early conceived the idea of purchasing a cylinder press and enlarging the Democrat to a nine column paper, all printed at home. This they did in August, 1878. The paper grew so in favor and its circulation increased to such an extent that it became necessary to run the presses by steam, and the following June the first paper ever printed by steam in Nodaway County was issued from the Democrat office. In October, 1881, the growth of the Democrat made it necessary that it should have more room in which to conduct its extensive busi- ness, and the establishment was accordingly moved in that month into its present commodious quarters, where it occupies an office eighty feet in length, and has one of the best appointed printing offices in the state.
From this brief sketch we see the Democrat's career has ever been one of progress, until to-day, with its circulation of over 2,000 copies, each week, it is recognized as the leading county paper of Missouri.
The Democrat is ably edited, enterprising and newsy, and always aims to be reliable. In both its news and job departments it enjoys a large patronage, and is prospering and enlarging its sphere of usefulness more and more each year .
MARYVILLE REPUBLICAN.
The history of the Republican properly commences with that of the Maryville Register, which was established in 1865. Maryville had but one paper before the war, and this was destroyed during the first year of the war. From that time until the establishment of the Regis- ter there was no paper published in the county. Seeing a good thing in the county printing, the delinquent tax list for 1865 being very heavy, A. P. Morehouse, in connection with A. C. Votair, a practical printer,. went to Bedford, bought a complete newspaper outfit and established the Register. The new paper was established in August, 1865. Mr. Morehouse kept the office but a few weeks, made $1,400 out of the county printing, and then gave the office outright to Votair. The Reg- ister was republican in politics, and continued under the control of Votair until 1867, when it was bought by A. B. Cornell, and its name changed to the Reporter.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
During the campaign of 1870, the republican party became divided on the question of enfranchising the ex-confederates. The Reporter took a violent position against the enfranchising amendment, and at last it was deemed expedient by the opposition to start an organ.
The new candidate for public honors was christened the Republi- can, and was fathered by the Hon. M. G. Roseberry, the state senator, and Joseph Jackson, the county clerk. Mr. Roseberry was the political editor. The local and mechanical department was under the manage- ment of James D. McClain. The first paper was issued on August 2, 1870.
From the first the new paper took a strong hold on the public, and was a success. On January 1, 1871, the Republican bought out the Reporter, and thus became its legal successor, and from that time until the present the Republican has been the only organ of the republican party in the city.
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