USA > Missouri > Polk County > The history of the Polk County Baptist Assciation : with history of churches, biographies, Southwest Baptist College, articles of faith, and church covenant > Part 10
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M. F. Bartlett and brother W. S. Lindsey of Louisburg. The members in the organization were :
Brethren Wm. Quisenberry, Wm. J. Bartlett, Wm. Boles, J. R. Harmon, Clarence Hyde, and sisters Minerva Quisenberry, Melvina Quisenberry, Sarah Boles, Nancy Boles, Estella Boles, Mary M. Harmon and Tennessee Bartlett.
Eld. N. J. Stinecipher was elected missionary pastor and served till October, 1889, was re-elected and served till October, 1890; Eld. J. M. McDaniel succeeded as pastor until October, 1893, and was followed by Eld. Wm. F. Wisdom one year. The present pastor is Eld. B. F. Par- ker (1895). A new house was built in the fall of 1894, at the present location, and the name was changed at that time from Union to Pleasant Ridge. The present membership is 70.
LOUISBURG CHURCH
was organized August 23, 18SS, in Dallas county, northwest from Buffalo. Presbytery, Elds. J. H. Stinecipher, G. M. Alexander and N. J. Stinecipher with deacons E. Lindsey, R. T. Hogg, Dr. M. L. Atchley and James R. Acuff and sisters M. A. Lindsey, Mary A. Hogg, H. B. Hays, M. J. Lindsey, Margaret Berger, Josephine Hyde, M. C. Karr, Nellie Lindsey. Three were received by relation, by ex- perience and baptism, II, by letter, I. At the October meet- ing following, Eld. N. J. Stinecipher was chosen pastor and C. O. Gammon, clerk. N. J. Stinecipher continued the pastorate until September, 1891, when Eld. David Hitson was chosen and continued about two years when Eld. D. P. Brockus was elected and is at present the pastor (1895). Jas. H. Karr and David Mitchell were ordained deacons July, 1892. 2. The present membership, 86. David Mitchell
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.
succeeded C. O. Gammon as clerk, September, 1894, and retains the office at the present time ( 1895).
MACEDONIA.
Buffalo, or Macedonia, Baptist church was organized at Buffalo, Dallas county, Missouri, December IS, IS48. The presbytery was Eld. F. J. Oliver and Eld. Z. W. McDaniel. The church continued its meetings until the year 1855, when it was moved from Buffalo to a point about three miles south, where a house of, worship was built. Here the church con- tinued and prospered until about July, 1862, the cruel war came on and closed its labors, until the year 1866 it was re- organized with the name Macedonia, the presbytery Elds. C. L. Alexander and H. Elliott. The church continued its la- bors at this point up to the year 1869, when it again moved about a mile and a half southwest of the old site, on the Buffalo and Springfield road. Here a new house was built. The present membership (1895) is 117. The pastors from first organization were as follows :
F. J. Oliver, 1848; W. B. Senter, 1851; T. Pitts, 1852; G. B. Mitchell, 1854; W. B. Spillman, 1856; J. W .. Williams, 1860; L. A. Smith, 1866; J. W. Fitch, 1868; Geo. Suiter, 1871; J. R. Callaway, 1878: G. W. Kelley, 1879; W. W. Palmer, 1881; D. P. Brockus, 1882; D. R. Jones, 1886; David Hitson, 1887; J. H. Stinecipher, 1891; David Hitson. 1892 to the present, 1895.
BOOK III.
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW.
BRAXTON M'CORD ROBERTS.
Eld. Braxton McCord Roberts was born March 28, ISIo, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. His youth was passed upon a farm. At about IS he was con- verted and baptised. In the anti-mission controversy of 1832, his church opposed missions, on which account he joined the Methodists. Shortly after, he became a preacher, and for ten years preached in South Carolina. He was then transferred B. MCCORD ROBERTS. to the Missouri Conference, and became a very popular preacher in that connection. In 1852 he left the Methodists and united with the Baptists, and up to his death he was the most aggressive Baptist minister in the Southwest.
Though not a debater, he handled doctrinal subjects powerfully. His courtesy toward those who differed from him gave him peculiar power over them, Think of him!
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A man six feet two inches, straight as an arrow, black hair, fair complexion, with eyes that seemed to shine as lights, a voice that rang clear as a bell and melodious as a flute, a flow of language equalling a Webster, the logic of a Bacon, and the sauvity of a Chesterfield. Such a man was B. McCord Roberts in his prime. He was the Atlas of the Baptist cause in Southwest Missouri. The atonement and the resur- rection were two themes often discussed with pathos by him.
Though not classical, yet Bro. Roberts was scholarly.
He
mastered the English tongue by earnest toil. As a metaphy- sician he had no superior, having made the human mind a life-long study. For some years he was a physician. An unflinching friend of education, the last speech he made in his association was for Southwest Baptist college. He died April 18, 1883, and sleeps in Robinson Cemetery, ten miles south of Springfield, greatly lamented.
Many will read the brief history of Eld. Roberts, and will come to the last line with a painful feeling that but little has been said that might or should have been said. But it is found that statistics are not easily acquired, and we must be contented with a bare mention, when the conviction is that volumes might be written.
A great light has gone, Life's struggles are o'er, The hero would beckon us on, To pleasures evermore.
ELIJAH WILLIAMS.
Elijah Williams was born in Jefferson county, Tennes- sec, and in an early day moved to Missouri with his father. He was associated with the earliest ministers in the south- west, and assisted Eld. T. J. Kelley in organizing Sac River
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association. He was a schoolmate of Eld. D. R. Murphy in Tennessee, and operated in the same field in Southwest Mis- souri as an efficient minister of the gospel. His body lies entombed in the cemetery five miles west of Bolivar, in Polk county, Missouri. His sons, Thomas and Alvin, are living in the neighborhood, honorable and upright citizens. Two of his daughters, Mrs. S. R. Roberts and Mrs. Devin, are living near, and can tell of the pioneer work of their vener- ated father. The self-sacrificing spirit and holy zeal of these consecrated ministers can never be fully illustrated on the printed page.
ELD. D. R. MURPHY.
Eld. D. R. Murphy was born in Jef- ferson county, Tennessee, November 24, 1802. His father, Wm. Murphy, was a soldier in the revolutionary war and nephew of " Murphy Boys," Joseph and William, who attained such great notori- ety as ministers in the struggles of the early Virginia Baptists. In early life D. D. R. MURPHY. R. Murphy was surrounded by wicked as- sociates and customs, such as drinking, dancing and card- playing, in which he became for a time a willing participant, but under the power of divine truth he was converted in his twentieth year and united with the Mill Spring church Sep- tember 3, 1832. While under conviction, he says of him-
self: "I retired to the lonely grove between sunset and dark, and while prostrate on my guilty breast, pleading with · the Lord for the salvation of my soul, I saw that my con- demnation was just, and thought surely hell was my doom. I resolved to resign myself to the will of God without re-
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serve. This done, ere I was aware, I felt something with the speed of lightning, as it were, flash over me; my feelings were strange indeed, all was peace, and while I mused the fire of God's eternal love kindled within me, and I leaped from the earth joyful and happy."
In 1834 he was ordained to the gospel ministry and spent five years preaching in his native state. Having heard of the vast destitution in the great southwest, he removed to Polk county, Missouri, in 1839. At that time the people of this section of the country lived mostly in small log cabins with puncheon floors, a door in one side and a wooden chimney. In many places it was a distance of from five to ten miles between residences. Under these circumstances Eld. Murphy commenced his labors to help build up the Bap- tist interest in Missouri. He travelled many lonely hours by day and by night. On one occasion he came near losing his life. In attempting to cross a prairie one cold, cloudy, win- ter night, he lost his way and wandered for hours, suffering intensely-in fact, came near freezing to death. At length, almost ready to give up, he concluded to try hallooing at the top of his voice, which aroused some dogs in the distance. He ran as fast as he could, guided by the barking of the dogs, his horse trotting after him, finally reached the house and was cared for by strangers.
Eld. Murphy was active in building up the waste places in the field of his voluntary labors. In all he aided in the the organization of 25 or 30 churches in the bounds of Free- dom and adjoining associations, and baptized, during his min- istry in the state, some 3000 persons. For thirty-five years he was one of the standard-bearers in the Baptist pulpit in the southwestern part of the state. In an early day, when he was in his prime, protracted meetings, which very gener-
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ally took the form of camp-meetings, were common in his field of labor, and his efforts were in demand in these meet- ings, and generally became very successful. Commencing in 1840, no man did more in his day to build up the Baptist cause in that great southwestern field than Eld. D. R. Mur- phy. His first marriage was with Miss, Lucy L. Carter in IS22, who bore him six sons and four daughters. The last seven years of her life she was a cripple, unable to walk. During the most of this period, for five years of the time carrying his invalid wife in his arms to and fro from the car- riage, while traveling over a large extent of country preach- ing the gospel. Thus were his labors continued under the most adverse circumstances ; but he counted not his life dear unto himself, considering Him faithful who had promised. From 1852 to 1855 he was employed by the American Bap- tist Publication Society as colporteur, and for short periods he acted as missionary for his association. His average yearly salary for IS years was $ISI. His second wife was Mrs. L. A. Allen, of Cedar county, whom he married in IS53. She survives him and furnishes the following account of his death, which occured at his home at Humansville, Au- gust 28, 1875. "My husband's death was a most trium- phant one. He suffered intensely for four months, but was patient and meek. Eight physicians were called to his bed- side, but his case baffled the skill of all of them. The last song he sung was, "I am going home to die no more," when he reached forth his lean, trembling hand, bid adieu to all who were present, and praised God for redeeming love. Thus he died in the 73rd year of his life, an ear of corn fully ripe." His eldest daughter, Sarah, married N. M. Jones, October 24, 1846, in Greene county. Eight children were given to them, viz: Daniel Richard, born September 22,
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1847, ; Jas. B., born July 20, 1849; Jno. H., born April 4, 1852; Lucy Ann, born September 20, 1853; Mary, born October 31, 1855; Laura, born March 6, 1862, Austin, born July 24, 1865 ; Sarah, born October 22, 1867. All dead but four, viz: Daniel R., Jas. B., Laura and Austin. Sarah, the mother, was converted at home, while the father was reading, in family worship "O that my head were waters etc," Jer. 9:1.
ELD. GEORGE MITCHELL.
Eld. George Mitchell was born in Yorkshire, England, September 6, 1820. Educated at Horton Baptist Theolog- ical College, entering at the age of 22 years. He afterward spent one year at Edinburg, Scotland, in preparation for the foreign field, but on his return to England was installed pas- tor of the first Baptist church at Horsforth, July, 1847. The young pastor entered upon his charge with all the earnestness of his great heart. In the following October he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Armitage, daughter of Mr. Samuel Armitage, of Bradford. -
At Horsforth Eld. Mitchell labored for five years, when he received a unanimous call from the church at Irwell Ter- race Chapel, Bacup. After continuing here for three years he determined to quit his native land and sail for the new world. Early in the spring of 1855 he left Liverpool, and after a pleasant voyage of thirty-three days he landed with his family in Philadelphia. Immediately upon his arrival in America he was settled as pastor of the First Baptist church at Beverly, New Jersey. He continued three years at Bev- erly, when he was called to the pastorate of the Fourth Bap- tist church, St. Louis, Mo. When this church called him there were but thirty members. In less than two years the
-
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membership increased four-fold, numbering one hundred and twenty souls. A beautiful house of worship was erected. On the Ist day of May, 1859, hie preached the dedicatory sermon of the Fourth Baptist church.
In the spring of 1860 he came to Miller county, Mis- souri, by direction of the home mission board. He was sent not only to instruct the people, but also to teach such of the ministry as might desire his instructions. Soon the civil war broke out and blighted all his prospects. December 2, 1860, the church at Lebanon, Mo., extended to him a call, which he accepted, and removed his family thither. But little could be accomplished when the domestic retreat was violated, and when even the house of God was no longer a sanctuary. Having previously studied medicine, he went to the suffering and dying, ever carrying the blessed gospel of the Son of God. Toward the close of the war he went to Jefferson City to take charge of the hospital there.
When the war closed he returned to southwest Missouri and began a great work in re-organizing the churches, espe- cially in the towns. In this respect his labors were greatly blessed. He was pastor of several different churches. In January, 1874, he resigned the pastorate of the church at Bolivar and went to California. In July of the same year he went to Hiawatha, Kansas. He preached for the church at this place for about two years. His labors seem to have been greatly blessed. The house was repaired, a large increase was made and a general interest in the advancement of Christ's kingdom showed itself. This, I believe, was about his last pastorate. He was after- ward called to the Carrollton church, but on account of a stroke of paralysis could not accept. He has written in his diary of 1876: "This year has been a year of severe
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trial to me. Paralysis has severely threatened me, and with that a severe pain in my left lung. It is with great difficulty that I read a chapter, pray, or preach. If the Lord has de- signed to remove me by this sickness, the Lord's will be done." He died May 27, 1879, at four o'clock P. M. His departure was calm and serene. He has gone ; but yet he liveth. His works do follow him.
ELD. WM. TATUM.
Eld. Wm. Tatum was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, September 24, 1783. Professed religion in 1805. Soon after commenced preaching in his native state. Moved to Logan county, Kentucky, six miles north of Russelville. Here he raised a family of thirteen children, having married before he left North Carolina. In 1837 he moved to Greene county, Missouri, and soon after organized Mt. Pleasant church. He was an able minister, a self-made as well as self-sacrificing man. When he was too old and infirm to preach he would spend most of his time in meditation, read- ing and prayer. He died in hope of a blessed immortality January 26, 1856. His father was a Baptist minister. He has two sons who are Baptist ministers.
ELD. HENRY AKARD.
Eld. Henry Akard was born in Tennessee August 13, 1813. He was converted and baptized under the ministry of Eld. D. R. Murphy. He was married in September, 1832, to Miss Lavinia Jones, and in the same year moved to Polk county, Missouri. He was a yoke-fellow with such laborers as Williams, Murphy, Roberts and others of an early day.
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ELD. WM. B. SENTER.
Eld. Wm. B. Senter was born in Greene county, Tennessee, October 4, IS12. He moved with his parents to Madison county, Tennessee. He was married to Miss Eleanor A. Weir, June 19, 1834, who was born August 12, 1815. He made a profession of religion soon after his marriage. He and his wife joined the church at Cool Spring ( Baptist) WM. B. SENTER. in Madison county, Tennessee. His father and mother were members of the so-called Primitive Baptists. Wm. B. Senter emigrated to Polk county, Mis- souri, with his family, in the spring of 1841, and settled on a farm, improving it with his own labor. He united with the church at Coon Creek, St. Clair county, Missouri. He was ordained by Elds. D. R. Murphy and W. Ashworth and was elected pastor of Coon Creek church in IS49. He was also elected pastor at Alder, in Cedar county. In 1850 he was elected pastor of the church at Buffalo, Dallas county, Missouri. He frequently had the care of three and four churches, each contributing from $2 to $30 a year. He would hold a camp meeting, or protracted effort in the fall at each church. He labored on the farm for a support, and studied at night to prepare his sermons for Saturday and Sunday . These items were furnished by his eldest daughter, Mrs. Harriet L. Younger, of Cedar county, Missouri.
Here follows a memoir of Eld. Senter by a different hand. There is no conflict in the statements, only as to the place where he first joined the church. This discrepancy may be easily reconciled when his friends have compared notes. The memoir is as follows:
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.
William Butler Senter was born in Greene county, Ten- nessee, October 4, 1812. Some time in his youth, it is not known at precisely what age, he professed conversion at a re- vival meeting held at Bethlehem church, in Henderson county, West Tennessee. He afterward joined the Cotton Grove Baptist church in Madison county, West Tennessee. He was baptized by his brother, Jas. C. Senter. In Tennessee he married his first wife, Miss Eleanor A. Weir, with whom he lived happily until her death, July 31, 1863.
He moved to St. Clair county, Missouri, in 1841, and united with the Baptist church at Coon Creek. He was li- censed to preach in 1842, and ordained to the full work of the ministry in 1843, by a presbytery consisting of Elds. D. R. Murphy and W. Ashworth. In the year 1845 he moved to Polk county, Missouri, where he lived until the winter of 1861. During all these years he was a faithful, zealous worker for the Master. He travelled as missionary in 1850, by appointment from the Liberty association. Excepting this period of missionary work, he was pastor of three to four churches during his stay in Missouri. He was greatly beloved by his brethren, and was highly esteemed by all the people wherever he was known.
In the year 1861, when the war cloud swept down over our land, he left the home of his adoption and sought another near Alvarado, Johnson county, Texas. Here, as before stated, he lost his wife in 1863. In 1865 he married his second wife, Mrs. H. J. Kelly, whom he also survived by a few months. On reaching Texas he united with the Baptist church at Alvarado, in which, excepting an interval of one year, he remained until his death.
He devoted himself assiduously to preaching the gospel to destitute places, and to weak and struggling churches, for
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.
which he received a very meager compensation. He was eminently successful in building up the churches. He usually had three or four churches in charge, preaching almost every Saturday and Sunday. Here, by his uprightness and hum- ble, Christian walk, he gained the esteem of all who knew him. His life was exemplary, and his adherence to the Bible uncompromising. He was pastor of the church at Alvarado
until declining health compelled him to resign. But after he had given up the pastorate of churches he often preached with great power whenever an opportunity was afforded. He was a good revivalist, and often took part in revival meetings when he could no longer preach regularly.
He was not a man of classic education, but his mind was well stored, and by industry and hard study he had gained a prominent place among his brethren. Several times he pre- sided as moderator of Alvarado association with marked ability. His eventful and successful life closed in triumph. He died November 29, 1883. During a lingering sickness of five months, he manifested the greatest patience and Christian resignation. Though suffering intensely, his eyes would often fill with tears of gratitude, and he would say : "God is still with me! I cannot fully enough appreciate and thank Him for His goodness to me. I am on the Delectable mountains, looking upon the beautiful landscape beyond !" Thus, with expressions like these upon his lips, passed away this faithful servant of God, leaving his name embalmed in the memory of all who knew him. He raised a family of seven daughters, two of whom are in Missorui and the other five are in Texas.
Now follows another memorial written by a third person, gathered no doubt from Eld. Senter in his last hours. “I often review the days I spent in Missouri and hope they were
.
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not spent in vain. The 13 years I preached to the church at Brush Grove I hope some of my labor is gone to glory. I served the church at Mt. Zion nine years, in which time I believe under God I was instrumental in building up my Master's cause at that place. And at Humansville where I labored for seven years I believe it was not in vain. And at Bolivar, that brick wall that now stands there, is a visible monument of that church that I constituted at that place, and whatever good I may have done, to God be all the glory now and forever. I served the church at Buffalo, in Dallas, county, Missouri, one year, and one year at Alder, in Cedar county, Missouri." The last few days he lived, when his family and friends would go to his bedside, he would look up and say : "I am here yet, just waiting the Lord's will. I am ready to go at any time. Weep not for me, my work is finished." He was buried with the honors of Masonry.
His children were, by the first wife, Harriet J. Younger, born in Madison county, Tennessee, May 13, 1835 ; Marion, born in Madison county, Tennessee, October 14, 1837 ; Kath- arine ( Watkins), born in Madison county, Tennessee, Novem- ber 5, 1839; Martha (Keirsey), born in St. Clair county, Mis- souri, August 1, 1842; Ann Kelley, born in Polk county, Missouri, January S, 1845; Wm. H. Senter, born in Polk county, Missouri, February 27, 1853, died April 4, 1859. Second wife, H. J. Kelley, was married to W. B. Senter in Dallas county, Texas, April 25, 1865. Three daughters were born to them as follows: Addie (Porter), born Feb- ruary 4, 1866; Fannie (Howington) born August 12, 1869; Eleanor, born April 15, 1870. Mrs. H. J., the second wife, died February 19, 1883.
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ELD. JEHU ROBINSON.
Eld. Jehn Robinson was born in Washington county, Indiana, February 26, 1820, and moved with his parents to Henry county, Missouri, in 1840. "The wilds of Southwest Missouri in IS40 were beyond description. Whiskey drink- ing and the desecration of the Sabbath were the common- place things then. So I was raised without an education, ex- cept that of my mother. Gone through the world, thus far, suffering for an education, as a starving man suffers for bread. I was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Renfro, near Leesville, Henry county, Missouri, May 16, 1844. Raised seven children, six of whom are still living. One son, Charles T., now of Bolivar, Mo. Some three years after marriage my wife and I were baptized upon a profession of our faith in Christ by Eld. Daniel Briggs into the fellowship of Tebo Baptist church, Henry county, Missouri. Soon af- ter I commenced trying to preach, and for some years I tried harder to quit than I did to preach. I then tried to love the work. This point gained, I was happy in the work, and prosperity attended it. In May, 1858, I moved to Spring- field, Greene county, worked very hard and gained property very fast. In the spring of 1860 I bought a farm on James fork of White river, and moved onto it. Preached for the church on my place. Run the farm and practiced medicine for the community. Had the happiest home and church I ever had in life."
"In 1861 the war broke out, and in one year $12,000 would not have covered our losses. In July, 1863, we moved to Cooper county, Missouri. There I preached, farmed and practiced medicine with great success every way. In 1867 the executive board of the general association appointed me their missionary for Southwest Missouri. I labored for that board
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