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 17
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he returned during the early part of IS94, and became one of the general missionaries of the State Board. His success in this field gives promise of greater success in the position he more recently assumed. Now let everybody pray for and co- operate with Bro. Campbell.
WM. CARY.
Wm. Cary was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 18, IS32. His parents were Louis and Mary (Hull) Cary. His father was born in Virginia, but married Mary Hull in Pennsylvania where they spent their lives. He was in the war of IS12, at the battle of New Orleans. Wm. the .youngest of ten children, was educated in the old subscription schools, and at the age of 13 began the saddler's trade at which he worked for some 36 years. In 1853 he married Florinda P. Rogers, of Pennsylvania, and in 1857 came to Polk county, but on the breaking out of the war returned to Pennsylvania. Coming to Missouri again he remained in Henry county until 1867 he returned to Polk county, where he opened a harness store. He continued the business till 1877, when he added the hardware and still continuing with his son H. L., till ISS9 his son, H. L. purchased the entire stock. He has filled the office of county treasurer four years, and has been president of the board of trustees of Southwest Baptist college, and a member of the Baptist church nearly 50 years. Brother Cary died January 23, 1893. The board of Trustees being then in session at the college building, ad- journed, and repaired at once to his residence in respect to the memory of the deceased brother. His daughter, Della, married Mr. C. W. Miller, who now resides in Utah (1896).
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ELD. S. M. MURRAY.
Eld. S. M. Murray, youngest son of Major Jesse H. Murray, was born October 10, 1859, in Polk county, Mis- souri, in a country home. He moved with his parents to Bolivar, and there spent several years of his boyhood life. While there he attended Southwest Baptist college, obtain- ing a practical education. He went out from his parental roofto battle for himself. He went to North Missouri where he was married to Miss Millie Garriott, November 19, 1885. To them were given four children, three boys and one girl. He professed religion in early boyhood. Was baptized July 4, 1886. Elected superintendent of Sunday school Septem- ber following. Shortly afterward he received that Divine impression to go preach the gospel of Christ, the greatest calling man can receive. He was licensed to preach Febru- ary 5, 1887. Ordained October 25, 1887. Has been mis- sionary of his association twice. Served a number of churches as pastor. Is still living in north Missouri, and is missionary of his association.
GEO. W. ALEXANDER.
Geo. W. Alexander was born in Tennessee April 16, 1856. Moved with his parents to Hickory county, Missouri, where he resides at the present ('95). He was married by Eld. Elijah Yeager, in Hickory county, Missouri, November II, 1875, to Miss Eliza Ruth Edde. Miss Edde was born May 23, 1858. The fruit of this marriage was six children, as follows : John William, born September 13, 1876; Nena Arleska, born May 11, 1878, died July 10, 1887; Cordelia, born September 24, ISSO; Maud, born June 15, 1882; Min- nie Myrtle, born November 13, 1885; Cleavy Roy, born December 27, 1893. All these children and their mother
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were born in Hickory county, Missouri. G. W., the father, was converted in October, 1892, and joined the church at Bethel, in his neighborhood, and on March 7, 1895, was or- dained to the office of deacon, with the following presbytery : Elds. L. J. Tatum, J. T. Ferguson, and deacons Wm. Samples and W. B. Jones. John W., the eldest son, was converted September 12, 1891, and joined the church at Bethel, and was licensed by the same to preach the gospel September 9, 1894. He entered Southwest Baptist college January 4, 1895, to prepare himself for the ministry.
LAWSON SCRIVENER.
Lawson Scrivener was ordained to the full work of the ministry December, IS70, and died in January, 1895. We have no further record.
I. W. CRANFILL.
I. W. Cranfill was ordained to the full work of the min- istry August, 1867. Is a resident of Buffalo, Dallas county, Missouri ('95).
JAS. FRANKLIN BLAKEY.
Jas. Franklin Blakey was born in Christian county, Kentucky, February 6, 1825. His father, Jno. Blakey, was born in Virginia. His grand-parents came from England to America. His father was married to Miss Mildred Frank- lin in Kentucky. Eight boys and five girls were given them as follows: Wm. R., Jas. F., Constantine, Stephen, Francis M., Margaret, Joseph, Sarah, Jno. W., Mary Jane, Ardena, Catharine, Geo. W. The family moved from Kentucky to Missouri about the year 1837, and settled in Benton county. From thence to Polk county in the year 1840. The father died November 22, 1871, aged 71 years, 5 months and 13
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days. Brother J. F., the subject of this sketch, was converted about the year 1849, and joined church at Turkey Creek, and is now a member at Pleasant Ridge 15 miles southwest from Bolivar. He was married to Miss C. C. Killingsworth April, 1849. To this union were given nine children viz: Sarelda, Wm. Allen, Martin D., Geo., Ann, Ida, Chas., Walter J., Nora. The only son living is Martin D. The wife and mother died December 25, 1884. Mildred F., the mother and grandmother, died in June, 1872. Both grand- parents were members at Pleasant Ridge.
ELD. L. J. TATUM.
Eld. L. J. Tatum was born in Ashe county, North Carolina, February 22, IS32. His father, Buckner Tatum, was born October 15, ISO3, son of Jas. and Amy (Smart) Tatum. His mother, Behethland (Sheriff) Tatum, was born in Jerdal county, North Carolina, April 21, ISI6. She was a daughter of Abel and Elizabeth (Barker) Sher- iff. Grandfather Abel Sheriff was a Baptist minister, one of whose last ex- L. J. TATUM. pressions was : "Write to the boys in school (brother Aaron and myself at Penfield, Ga., ) and tell them to be faithful ministers for the Lord Jesus, in whose service I have lived and am now dying." Nearly all his rel- atives were of the Baptist faith. He has one brother, an able Baptist minister, who spent most of his life in north Georgia, (now in Florida) who was known as "the humble Baptist minister."
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The subject of our sketch moved with his parents to Gilmore county, Georgia, when in his fourteenth year. Two years after this he was greatly concerned for the salvation of his soul. For ten days and nights he could find no rest, ask- ing all he met to pray for him. Even the colored cook in his grandfather's house, whom he regarded as a good old Christian woman, he desired her to pray for him. At last the love of God wa's shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost. The next day he went into the school room and told of the wonderful salvation he had found, and the school was converted into a prayer meeting, which lasted until a late hour that night, and one of the students found peace. The teacher said : "I am an unconverted man, and will pray for myself and my students ; let us all pray." About two months after this our subject was baptized by Eld. Micajah Walker in Mountaintown river into the fellowship of the church called Mountaintown, October 2, 1847. Six others were baptized at the same time by the same person. This was the fruit of his labor for two months in the beginning of his Christian career.
Soon after this a number drew letters and organized a church at Pleasant Hill. L. J. was chosen clerk and served as such for five years. He was licensed to preach October 7, 1851. He taught school in Gilmore county, Georgia, three months, and in Murray county three months ; again in Gilmore county he taught eight months, at Board Town. This was a very wicked place, and he had much trouble with the pupils at first ; but he opened the school by reading the Scripture, and closed Friday evening by reading and giving an exhortation. The result was a revival of re- ligion among his pupils and employers, and a church was or- ganized in the school house before the school closed.
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At Penfield, Georgia, at the Mercer university, he studied theology under the noted Dr. J. L. Dagg, L. L. D. He was ordained April 5, 1856, by Elds. W. T. Fleming, Peter Miller and deacons Duncan Terry, Joseph Terry. Settled in Washington county, Arkansas, in 1859 and the next year went to Texas and taught a school of five months in Jacksboro, Jack county. Returned to Arkansas in the fall of 1860. Preached during the war to Federals and Con- federates. Was robbed by the Pin Indians, and once nar- rowly escaped death by them. Eld. Tatum was married May 19, 1863, to Margarette J. Sherriff, widow of P. Bur- rell Sherriff and daughter of Samuel and Sarah Clonts. She was born in Gilmore county. Georgia, April 13, 1835. Three children were born to P. B. and M. J. Sherriff, two girls and one boy. The boy, L. C., is an ordained Baptist preacher, residing near Polk, Polk county, Missouri ('95). To Eld. L. J. and Margarette J. Tatum were born four girls. Two are dead. Theodosia B. married Mr. E. M. Dent and Georgia I. married Mr. J. E. Bradley.
He came to Hickory county, Missouri, May 8, 1864, after a perilous journey from Fayetteville, Arkansas, and began preaching at once for Mt. Moriah church in Hickory county. This church received our letters and we were at home. This church was a member of Freedom association before the war. But war times are not times of peace, as many preachers and others realized. The war cloud had not passed away entirely, although peace was declared. An iron-clad oath was enacted by the Legislature and all preach- ers as well as civil functionaries must take it or suffer the penalty. Some zealous brethren, actuated no doubt by con- scientious scruples in regard to loyal adherence to the govern- ment, sought to have enacted a set of rules for the churches,
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the object of which was to cleanse the churches of all the latent elements of rebellion. Therefore, pursuant to the establishment of this idea, a convention was called by resolu- tion of the church at Liberty, Greene county, Missouri, May 27, 1865, in which a convention is again called of the churches of Old Freedom association to meet on the 25th day of August following. At this meeting it was resolved, that any church desiring membership in this association must declare non-fellowship with those who had been in rebellion against the government of the United States, unless repara- tion was made by recantation.
The next meeting was at Cedar Bluff, on Friday before the third Saturday in October, 1865. Here an -organization was effected without the political feature, and a meeting ap- pointed at Brighton in 1866. Here again was a scene, in which there was much ill-feeling, over the adjustment of the political question. The meeting was adjourned to Humans- ville two months later. At this meeting the political feature was reenacted and added to the second article of faith, to which the reader is referred in Book I, and year 1867. The association met with Freedom church, in Polk county, 1867, where the above feature was reaffirmed, and in consequence a number of delegates responded to a call for an organiza- tion, to be known as Old Path association. They met at Hopewell, Dallas county, Missouri, and organized with the above name, and at this time ('95) they are a prosperous people.
In this year ('67) one of the principal advocates of the political bar had a remarkable dream, which proved to be a potent factor in dispelling the last vestige of the war cloud in the association. The dream was this: "He was on his death bed and an angel came to him to tell him that he was
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wrong in his political move, that God's people should be one." Therefore, he advised and requested that all the churches that had adopted his resolution should rescind it, and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judg- ment. He recovered from his sickness that confined him to his bed, when he had the dream, and ever after during his eventful career he worked diligently to repair the breach that had been made.
Eld. L. J. Tatum, the subject of this sketch, is a man of sanguine temperament, large, broad-shouldered, with keen eyes and heavy eye-brows; bold, out-spoken, fearless, but, with all this, he has a heart full of the love of God, and for his fellow man a tender regard. His bold advocacy of Bible truth brings him often into collision with others, and in cons sequence he has engaged in quite a number of debates. He has successfully encountered and demolished the advocates of baptismal salvation, universal salvation, the Jewish Sabbatar- ian, a soul-sleeper, a Catholic, a lecturer from Politico-Chris+ tian association, and others of minor import. He has en- dured a great deal of persecution from those who were with- out as well as within his own denominational lines. The in- veterate persecutor, however, has been the eventual sufferer, while blessings, both temporal and spiritual, have been lav- ishly poured out upon the head of the man whose history we write.
He has been full of work in building up churches. Had one pastorate nine years. Was clerk of Old Path as- sociation twenty-one years, and moderator four years. Col* porteur for American Baptist Publication society two years ; sold $900 worth of books and gave away $250 worth. He is a life manager of the above society, and a life member of the general association of Missouri.
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.
ELD. WM. S. HODGES.
Eld. Wm. S. Hodges was born August 15, 1858, in Claiborne county, Tennessee. His parents, Eld. James C. and Elizabeth (Davis) Hodges were natives of the same county and state. Eld. Wm. S. was educated in the district schools, and one term in the graded school at Louisburg, Dallas county, Missouri. He was married February 28, 1884, to Miss Susan B. Ragsdale. Five children were born to them, Arthur S., Elizabeth A., Roscoe H., Virgil T., Bessie S. Converted November 30, 1883. Joined at New Hope, Dallas county, Missouri. Licensed February 15, 1890. Ordained to the full work of the ministry July 18, 1891. Presbytery, Elds. N. J. Stinecipher, D. Hitson, J. W. Ragsdale and I. W. Cranfill. He is at the present date ('95) pastor of four churches, viz: Harmony, Pisgah, New Liberty and Little Niangua. The first three in Dallas county, the latter in Hickory county.
ELD. JOHN W. RAGSDALE.
Eld. John W. Ragsdale was born in Morgan county, Illinois, May 18, 1831. His parents, Joel and Jane ( Allred) Ragsdale were born respectively in Tennessee and it is sup- posed the mother was a native of Kentucky. Eld. J. W. received his education in the district schools of the early days. Married in 1853 to Miss Ann Hale. Five children given them, all living but one, Josephine. The order of their birth as follows: Sarah Jane, Martha Rebecca, Lavina Josephine, Mary Ann, Susan Virginia. All married. Jane, the mother, died in 1866. He was married again in 1867 to Margaret Jane Jackson. No children. Eld. J. W. was converted in 1843. Joined the Methodists, but in 1876 joined the Baptists and was ordained in ISSo, the presbytery, Elds. D. R. Jones
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and W. W. Palmer. He is now a member at Louisburg, Missouri, and superintendent of the Sunday school at that place.
ELD. WM. E. HOOVER.
Eld. Wm. E. Hoover was born September 12, 1851. Converted in 1869 and joined Macedonia church and after- ward Mt. Pleasant, Dallas county, Missouri, where he was ordained to the full work of the ministry, the presbytery being Elds. J. H. Stinecipher and Spear. Eld. Hoover was married in 1869 to Miss Mary Smith. Eight children was the fruit of this marriage. Three of them living, viz: Willie, born March, 1873; Josie Ann, born August, 1875; Lulu Bell, born February, 1885. His wife, Mary, having died, he was married a second time to Miss Nancy Adams, No- vember, 1893.
A. J. LOWER.
A. J. Lower was born in Roane county, Tennessee, April 26, 1841. Schooling such as was afforded in district schools. Converted in 1858. Baptized by Eld. W. B. Sen- ter. Taught school in Polk, Lawrence and Greene counties through a series of 15 years. Was elected recorder of deeds of Polk county, Missouri, November, 1874, and continued in office 12 years. Was elected judge of probate, November 1886, for a term of four years. Was married to Mrs. Martha Jane (Eagon) Lee, July 21, 1882. Children born to her in former marriage were Martha Ann and Joseph Danley, and in her second marriage to brother Lower two children were born, Arzella and Orville Jackson. Their mother, Martha Jane, was born in Polk county, Missouri, October 24, 1854. Brother Lower was elected trustee of Southwest Baptist college and continued as such for a num- ber of years, and was a liberal supporter of the college.
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.
ELD. FRANCIS MARION KELLEY.'
Eld. Francis Marion Kelley was born in Franklin county, Tennessee, July 4, 1832. He was the eldest son of Eld. T. J. Kelley, whose name is already inscribed in this book. He moved from Tennessee to Missouri in 1842. His schooling was of that type incident to a primitive settlement. The op- portunities of acquiring an education were rare indeed. He was converted at the age of 17 at a prayer meeting at his father's house, and joined at Turkey Creek church one year after. Was licensed by the church at Pleasant Ridge April 16, 1870, and ordained at the call of church at Oak Grove November 15, 1883, the presbytery Elds. Riley James, Irvin Cordell and T. J. Casey. His work has been blessed to the salvation of many souls.
His wife, Mary E. (Potter) Kelley, was born November 5, 1835, in Warren county, Kentucky. They were married in Polk county, Missouri, March 3, 1853, and have resided in Polk county to the present day ('95). Eld. Kelley has been pastor of Oak Grove, Cedar county, seven years, and shepherd of the flock at Asher one year; bishop at Mt. Gilead, in Cedar county, a few months, and still competent to fill the office of overseer in any Baptist church that may call him to its service.
ELD. B. L. MITCHELL.
Eld. B. L. Mitchell was born in Polk county, Missouri, October 3, 1842. Raised on a farm. Had the advantage of day schools in the districts until the fall of 1879 he entered Southwest Baptist college and continued two years in that in- stitution. He was converted at Mitchell's Camp Ground at 16 years of age. Was married to Miss Arborette Lynn, Au- gust 31, 1865, at Livingston, Alabama. Removed to Mis-
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souri in 1876 and engaged in farming and mercantile business. Was licensed to preach the gospel by the church at Mt. Herman, in Alabama, in 1868, but did not enter the work until 1878. He en- tered the college in order to prepare for more efficient work. Has been pastor at Buffalo and Mt. View two years, at Boli- WESTERN ST.L. var three years, and one year in the mis- sion work, resulting in the conversion of B. L. MITCHELL. over 500 persons at these points. Was pastor at Gray's Summit and Indian Prairie nearly five years. baptizing many and making many warm and lasting friends. Spent one year at Lee's Summit as pastor of the First Baptist
church. Was pastor at Higginsville 15 months of the Second Baptist church, and during this time 108 converts were bap- tized. Has been two years at Knobnoster and now laboring in this pleasant field ('95). The strength of the church has doubled and the work goes smoothly on.
Mrs. Mitchell enters heartily into every detail of the work. In the Sunday school, B. Y. P. U., W. C. T. U., W. M. S., L. A. S., W. F. M., and C. C. C. A., or Chris- tian Culture Course of America, besides doing the house work and keeping her children in school. A stream of visit- ors and workers are going and coming, receiving directions in the different lines of work.
Brother Mitchell was ordained at Slagle Creek church, October, 1879, by the following presbytery: B. McCord Roberts, the pastor, assisted by Elds. J. R. Maupin, Jas. S. Buckner, Jehu Robinson and others. His father's name was Benjamin C. and his mother's name was Matilda (Looney) Mitchell, the former born in Tennessee and the latter in Ala-
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bama. To the subject of our sketch there were born seven children, as follows: Jas. R., deceased; Sallie, deceased ; Lynn W., born in Alabama, August 11, 1870; B. Kyle, born in Missouri, November 29: 1877; Ida R., born in Mis- souri, May 14, 18So; May Arborette, born in Missouri, Feb- ruary 13, 1883 ; Mattie Lee, born in Missouri, May 24, ISSS. Three of these are members of the church.
ELD. E. D. FORTNER.
Eld. E. D. Fortner was born in Dallas county, Missouri, November 13, 1854. Converted in the year 1877 and joined the Baptist church at Mt. Olive, Dallas county, and is yet ('95) a member of that church. Ordained to the full work of the ministry September, ISSI, the presbytery, Elds. G. B. Mitchell, W. B. Epps, J. H. Wommack and G. W. Pfeifer. Eld. Fortner was missionary of Dallas County as- sociation for two years. He is now pastor of his home church, Mt. Olive, and two others. He has sustained him- self well in the ministry in the estimation of his brethren, and in the defense of Baptist or Bible doctrine he has distin- guished himself as a master workman. He has engaged in a number of oral discussions with persons of diverse faith with marked ability.
MRS. PRISCILLA A. DUNNEGAN.
Mrs. Priscilla A. Dunnegan was born in Tennessee, December 28, 1816. Died July 4, 1895, aged 78 years, 6 months 6 days. She came to Missouri with her parents, the Akards, about 1831, just after the Indians had ceded the southwest part of the state to the whites. Her parents made the first settlement on Bear Creek, about two miles south of Fair Play, on the farm where Mr. John Derossett now lives. This was one of the first settlements made in what is now
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Polk county, and the date is a short time before Greene county was organized, and several years before the organiza- tion of Polk county. There probably is no person now liv- ing in Polk county who came liere before she did, unless it is Mrs. Martha Smith, who now lives near Brighton, being widely known as "Aunt Patsy," and is reputed to be the oldest person, and the first weaver of cloth in the county. Sister Priscilla, the subject of this brief sketch, was married to Matthew Dunnegan, October 13, 1837, and soon after- wards removed to Lawrence and from there to Jasper coun- ty, Missouri. After helping to pioneer these counties, they came back to Polk in 1860, settling on the place where she died, and where her husband died, August 27, 1871. Eleven children were born of this union, only two of whom survive her. They are T. H. B. Dunnegan, of Bolivar, and Mrs. C. A. Hopkins, of Dunnegan Springs. Mrs. Dunnegan had been a devoted member of the Baptist church for nearly half a. century. Her funeral was preached by Eld. T. J. Akins in the Baptist church at Dunnegan Springs, of which she was one of the founders. She was laid to rest beside her husband and two sons, in the Akard family graveyard near Fair Play, July 6, 1895.
ELD. DANIEL M. SEWELL.
Eld. Daniel M. Sewell was born in Cumberland county, North Carolina, August 25, ISIO. His father and mother were natives of Duplin county, North Carolina. His moth- er's maiden name was Elizabeth Southerland. The father and mother moved in the year IS28, to McNairy county, Tennessee. October 25, the subject of our sketch was mar- ried to Miss Polly Mun Inman. Five children were given to them, viz: Francis M., Sarah Jane, Wm. A., John R.,
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Prudence E. The wife and mother died October 3, IS41. Left Tennessee in 1844. Came to Greene county, Missouri, 1844. In 1845 was married to Miss Sarah M. Whittenburg. Five children was the fruit of this marriage, viz: Emily A., Mary E., Louisa C., Geo. W., and Martha M. The par- ents were so-called Primitive Baptists.
In August, 1844, Daniel M. professed a hope in Christ, but wandered far from duty until the year IS50, he was bap- tized by Eld. Thos. J. Kelley into the fellowship of the church. Felt impressed to preach and was ordained April, 1871, the presbytery Elds. Jno. D. Shelton and Morgan G. Conn. He moved from Missouri to Bell county, Texas, in the fall of 1874, remained till the summer of IS78, then re- turned to Greene county, Missouri. Again in the fall of ISS2 moved to Reynolds county, Texas. His wife, Sarah M., died October 20, 1883. He moved again to Bell county, Texas, in the year ISS5. Assisted in the organization of churches but never took the care of one. Resolved, however, to do all he can for the promotion of God's cause and hopes to live with God in heaven.
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