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 18
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ELD. W. D. CHEEK.
Eld. W. D. Cheek was born in Dallas county, Missouri, October 8, 1841. Professed religion in October, 1860; join- ed Baptist church at Buffalo and baptized by Eld. J. W. Williams. Moved with the church from Buffalo and became a constituent member of Macedonia. Was elected deacon November, 1867; licensed to preach November 20, 1883; ordained April 25, 1886, presbytery Elds. D. P. Brockus, G. M. Botts and E. D. Fortner. Has been pastor of Mt. Zion church No. 1, in Dallas county, eight years. This is the hardest field in the county, but a number have been added to
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the church. Served as pastor at Pleasant Hill three years and five months. The Elder did not give his family record.
ELD. DAVID HITSON.
Eld. David Hitson was born in Monroe county, Tennessee, January 15, 1835 . His parents, Wm. and Su- sannah (Nichols) Hitson, were born in Kentucky, emigrated to Tennessee, Monroe county, thence to McMinn county in 1861, and to Bradley county, Tennessee, in 1865, and to Hickory DAVID HITSON. county, Missouri, in 1868. The chil- dren given to Wm. and Susannah were Peggy, Almira, Cal- vin, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, William, Cyntha, Robert and David. His father died in IS3S. The eldest died while young. His mother died at an early age, leaving our sub- ject, David, to get his living and his education as best he could. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Givens February 17, 1857. There were born to them R. R., January 22, IS58; Susan Elizabeth, August 10, 1859; John A., August 23, 1860; William, September S, IS61. The last three died in infancy.
Brother David professed faith in Christ at Shoal Creek church, in McMinn county, Tennessee, at a meeting held by Eld. Samuel Haun. Having moved to Hickory county in IS6S, he united with the church at Pittsburg and was bap- tized by Eld. Jolin Witt in July, 1871. Ordained August 19, 1876, presbytery Elds. Jno. Witt, M. F. Bartlett and A. J. Bullen. He has been pastor in Benton, Hickory, Polk and Dallas counties. Has witnessed many professions, bap- tized a great number, and would be glad if he had taken
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their names. He has been missionary for Old Path associa- tion two years; has assisted in the ordination of ten preach- ers, and moderator of Dallas County association two years. Our prayer is that he may yet win many souls for a happy eternity.
ELD. R. G. MITCHELL.
Eld. R. G. Mitchell, son of Eld. Greenberry Mitchell, was born in Laclede county, Missouri, December 5, 1853. In 1855 moved with his parents to Dallas county, Missouri ; in 1863 to Franklin county, Missouri, returning to Dallas in 1872. United with the Baptist church at Buffalo, Septem- ber, 1887; began preaching in 1888; was ordained July 24, 1892, at Sarcoxie, Mo. He was married May 7, 1876, at Louisburg, Mo., to Miss Larissa Lindsey, daughter of E. Lindsey, and granddaughter of Hon. Miles Vernon, of Laclede county, Missouri. Miss Larissa was born in Cook county, Texas, June 9, 1855. Their children are Evard, born at Brighton, in Polk county, Missouri, September 19, 1877; Zulah, born at Cross Timbers, Mo., January IS, ISSI. Miss Larissa was baptized by Eld. Greenberry Mitchell in November, 1874, and united with New Hope church, in Dal- las county, Missouri, and the subject of our sketch was bap- tized by Eld. J. H. Stinecipher of Dallas.
ELDER CHAS. GROVE.
Eld. Chas. Grove was born in Taney county, Missouri; August 9, 1869. Professed hope August 19, 1886. Joined church at Brighton, September 1886, and was baptized by Eld. J. W. Haines. Licensed by the church at Brighton February, 1887. Ordained by the same church August 19, 1893, the presbytery consisting of Elds. D. P. Brockus, sr. S. S. Pike, W. A. Gilmore and M. A. Rowden. His
PROF. EDWIN MAXEY.
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father, Jno. J. Grove, and his mother were natives of Indiana. He was married to Miss Alice Caldwell in Polk county, Mis- souri, September 21, 1890. He has been a successful pastor of churches at Mission Chapel No. 2, Rural Hill, Pleasant Hill and Pleasant View in Polk county.
PROF. EDWIN MAXEY.
Prof. Edwin Maxey was born of Scotch-Welsh parent- age on a farm in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in 1869. His early education consisted of three or four months attend- ance at the district school each year, being compelled to work on his father's farm during the remainder of the year. Yet this meager training in the district school inspired his youth- ful mind with an insatiable desire for learning. He early de- termined to secure the benefits of a college course, but had no money and no means of borrowing. At 16 he began teaching school, and during the first term walked seven miles each morning and evening and did work at home to save ex- penses of paying for his board.
In 1887 he entered Keystone academy, Factoryville, Pa., and for six years continued to bury his purse in his head. He completed the course at the academy in the shortest time of any student in the history of the school. During his aca- demic course he was born into the kingdom of God and united with the First Baptist church at Factoryville, of which he is still a member. Graduated with honor from Bucknell university, class of 1883, editing a paper during the last year of his university course.
In the summer of 1893 he was elected to the presidency of Palatinate college, Myerstown, Pennsylvania, which position he filled with credit for one year, when, owing to a change in the denominational management of the school, he
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resigned. Was elected to the chair of Mathematics and Modern Languages in Southwest Baptist college, Bolivar, Mo., in 1894, and taught in that institution one year. Was admitted to the bar May 5, 1895. Is at present ('96) filling the chair of Science and Modern Languages in Centenary college, Palmyra, Mo.
EZEKIEL LINDSEY.
Ezekiel Lindsey was born in Lawrence county, Tenn- essee, September 7, 1819. Converted in 1847, joined church in 1848; was ordained a deacon in 1857. He moved to Missouri in IS36, and to Texas in 1852. Came back to Missouri October, IS6S. Married in June, 1854, to Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Tindall. Her two children were Julia Ann Tindall, who was born November 29, 1849 and died July 16, IS7S, and Jas. L. Tindall, born September 10, IS51. The children given to brother and sister Lindsey were as follows: Larissa, born June 9, 1855; Lorenza, born November 17, 1856, died September 13, 1857; the twins, Vivia and Alice, born November 21, 1858; Dayton, born April 30, 1861, died March 10, 1862; Luella, born December 13, IS62, Mel- vin, born February 19, 1865 ; Lester, born March 6, 1869; Nellie, born September 23, 1872. Mrs. Elizabeth Ann (Tindall) Lindsey was born October 10, 1830, and died December S, ISS3.
July 19, ISS5, brother Ezekiel Lindsey was married to Mrs. Martha Ann ( Bridges) Huckaby. Brother Lindsey has lived a number of years on a farm just south of Louisburg, Dallas county, Missouri, and is at present (August, '95) an active member of the Baptist church at Louisburg.
STARLING W. LINDSEY.
Starling W. Lindsey was born March IS, IS23, in Law- rence county, Tennessee. His parents were natives of
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Georgia. Brother Lindsey was for a number of years a moralist, living a strictly upright life, but found it necessary to lay aside his morality as a savior and seek a Saviour in- deed, whom he found by believing on Him with the heart unto righteousness. This was done February 1, 1889. He became a member of church at Louisburg, Dallas county, Missouri. He was married to Miss Mary E. Drum, March 22, 1857, in Platte county, Missouri. Four children were given to them, as follows: Daniel J., born March 15, 1858 ; Carroll J., born January 15, 1860; Edward, born February 5, 1862, died September 10, 1863 ; Ezekiel M., born April 19, 1864, and died April 19, 1864. Mrs. Mary E., the mother of the above, died April 19, 1864.
A second time Brother L. was married, and this time to Miss Martha J. Payne, who was a member of church at New Hope, Dallas county, Missouri. This marriage occurred August 3, 1865. Their children given to them were as fol- lows: Mary Helen, born May 1, 1866; Minnie, born April 11, 1868; Anthony, born March 16, 1870; the twins, Em- mett and Everett, born January 20, 1872, Everett died June 3, 1873; Janet, born March 20, 1874; Bertha, born April 3, 1876; Blanche, born September 13, 1879; Bernice, born December 2, ISSI ; Starling R., born November 23, 1884; Grant, born May 13, 1887. Seven of the above are mem- bers of the church. Minnie was married to Eld. P. M. John- son, September 17, 1889, and entered Southwest Baptist college immediately, and eventually shared with him the privations as well as the blessings of a missionary life in India. Their only son, Ola, was born May 15, 1891, and died in India, having lived only 14 months. The mother was stricken with disease, and having left her precious babe under the sunny skies of India, she returned with her hus-
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band to her native home, where, it is hoped, her health will be fully restored.
ELD. RICHARD HARRISON.
Eld. Richard Harrison was born in Dublin, Ireland, in the fifties. Found his Saviour in the same city. Emigrated to the United States in 1869. Was baptized into the fellowship of the Booneville Bap- tist church in the spring of 1870. At- tended two terms at the Southern Baptist Theological seminary at Greenville, South Carolina. Located and preached in sev- R. HARRISON. eral states. Was called to the care of the Bolivar Baptist church July, 1895. Health failing, he re- signed July 2, 1896: In August, 1895, Eld. Harrison and the writer attended the Baptist association at Alder, Cedar county, Missouri. At night the Elder preached, having for his subject Acts 2:47. The audience encored loudly, and at the conclusion surrounded him with demonstrations of en- thusiastic approval.
JOHN CLAYPOOL.
John Claypool was born in Warren county, Kentucky, nine miles southeast of Bowling Green, October IS, 1822. His father was a native of the same country. His mother came from Ireland. His grandfather, John Claypool, came from Virginia. His life has been spent upon the farm. His schooling quite limited. Came to Missouri in the spring of 1839 with his parents and settled in Polk county. He was married to Miss Rebecca M. Christian, May, 1852. To them were given ten children as follows: Robert, Elmina, Ann Eliza, Susie, Hester, James, Jerry, Harriet Geneva,
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Porter and David. The third one, Ann Eliza, died at four months of age, and Jerry died September, 1894. The others all married, and all members of the church except David. The father, John C. joined the Baptist church in the summer of 1853. The mother, Rebecca M. joined the C. P. church at an early day. She was born in Tennessee, April 24, 1836. Their home has been on the farm in Wal- nut Grove township, Greene county, Missouri, for over 40. years. Ready at the Master's call to go and be with Him, where sin and sorrow shall never come.
ELD. JOHN CLARK MITCHELL.
Eld. John Clark Mitchell was born in East Tennessee January 4, 1830. He moved to Polk county, Missouri, with his parents in 1844. Was married to Miss Harriet Frieze December 6, 1849.
Four children were born to them, two of them living, viz : Melbourn Campbell and Wilson Mc- Kenzie. Converted in 1848; baptized in June, 1866, by Eld. D. R. Murphy. Licensed and ordained in 1866 at the call of Red Hill church, in Cedar county, Missouri, the pres- bytery consisting of Elds. D. R. Murphy and James Cole. Eld. Mitchell has been pastor of a number of churches in Cedar, Polk, Dade, Greene and St. Clair counties, and is at this writing ('96) hale and hearty and capable of wielding the gospel hammer as in days of old.
Sister Harriet, his wife, died, and about one year after- terward he married Elizabeth Jane Hare, who was the mother of four children, Nathan Holbert, Margaret M., Cordelia J. and Melissa A. His second wife died about 1868. About the year 1870 Elder Mitchell married Miranda Simrell, who bore him one son, Samuel Clark. In about three years Sis- ter Miranda died, and in 1875 Elder Mitchell married Mrs.
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Rowena S. Holbert. Two sons, Logan and Eleven, were given to them. Eld. Mitchell now lives in Cedar county, Missouri, and has been actively engaged in protracted meet- ings.
ELD. T. F. SIMMONS.
Eld. T. F. Simmons was born October 31, 1861, in Hickory county, Missouri. His father, Benjamin F. Sim- mons, was born in Tennessee, November 7, 1834. His mother was born in Kentucky, July 22, 1832; her maiden name, Nancy C. Rush. They were married August 22, 1852. The father professed faith in Christ at the age of 17 years, and was a member of a Baptist church when he died, which event occurred May 10, 1864, and was buried at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, being a soldier in the army. The mother professed faith in Christ at the age of 15 years, and is now a member of Oak Grove church, 15 miles northeast of Bolivar. The grandfather, Wm. Simmons, was a Bap- tist preacher up to the time of his death, in Kentucky.
Eld. T. F. was reared in Polk county, Missouri, from early childhood. At 16 years of age he was taken with fever and thought he was going to die. Having been a wild youth, and being afraid to die as he was, he made many solemn vows, while he was praying God to let him live. The Lord was good to him and permitted him to get up again. And taking a good resolution for conversion, he joined the church, but found it one of the hardest things to do, to be a Chris- tian without true religion . After two years he had his name erased from the church book. He had some faint desires to be a true Christian, but they soon wore away. However, conviction would seize him at times, and he would find him- self battling against them.
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In January, 1882, he was on his way to make up a dance, some arrow of conviction wounded him sorely, he got off his horse, and down on his knees at the road-side and tried to pray, feeling himself a lost and ruined sinner. The dance had no attraction. He stayed at the home of a friend all night. He went home next day and told his mother he was lost and undone. She advised him to go to Bolivar and enter Southwest Baptist college. Prof. Maupin was president at that time, and Prof. W. A. Wilson was pastor of the Baptist church at Bolivar and conducting a series of meetings. "I went to the school and also attended the meetings. The first night I was at the meeting I thought some one had told Eld. Wilson about my troubles, for his talk all seemed directed at me. Several went to the altar of prayer, but I remained, feeling that I was a lost sinner. Brother J. A. Elliott, a student preparing for the ministry, inquired if any in the house wanted to be remembered in prayer, that was not at the altar, to stand up. I arose. After the meeting closed brother Elliott asked me if I would go with him and others to a prayer-meeting at a private house. I consented willingly and went with him to brother Utley's house. At that meeting were four conversions, viz : Fred Schofield, J. B. Smith, J. B. Gentry and myself. Here I found a Saviour indeed, and I have an unbounded love to God for His goodness in saving my soul and I can- not forget brother Elliott and others for the part they had in bringing me to a merciful Saviour.
But now another trial awaited me. It came into my mind that I must preach. I fought this conviction for five years. Joined Mission Chapel at Rondo, Missouri. The church called for my ordination and I was ordained October, 1889, the presbytery being Elds. D. R. Jones and J. F.
.
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Hampton, and the deacons of Mission Chapel and Oak Grove churches. Still other trials afflicted me. I thought I would starve if I depended upon preaching for a living, and I was too poor to clothe myself and family. But I have thrown myself, without reserve, upon His promises, hoping and believing that He is able to do more for me than I can ask or think. In my revival work in the last three months ('96) there have been 94 conversions and have bap- tized 94, and 102 additions to the churches. I preach to Mission Chapel twice in each month and at Oak Grove and Mt. Olive each once a month and on Sunday night at Inglis Creek school house. I desire the prayers of all God's peo- ple that I may be faithful in all that He calls me to do."
ELD. W. A. GILMORE.
Eld. W. A. Gilmore was born January 25, 1862, at the house of his grandfather, Wilson Gilmore, seven miles south of Bolivar, Mo. At the age of two years he was left an orphan, and was the only child of Wm. B. and Rachel E. Gilmore. His opportunities for an education were very lim- ited. When grown to maturity he wandered considerably. He went to Butte City, Montana, but returned to Missouri. He married Miss Emma C. Apperson November 16, 1884. Their children are Lola M., born September 3, 1885 ; Oma C., born November 4, 1889; Wm. R., born April 25, 1893 ; Paul P., born February 29, 1896. Wm. A. professed re- ligion on the third Sunday night in January, 1891, under the preaching of Eld. Jno. C. Thompson and Eld. S. S. Pike at Frog Pond school house; joined church at Providence April 26, 1891 ; baptized by Eld. S. S. Pike. Licensed, and af- terward, on the 6th of August, 1893, ordained, at the call of the same church, the presbytery Elds. E. D. Fortner, J. W.
Very truly yours. afstander.
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Mayfield, W. B. Epps, D. P. Brockus, sr., J. M. Looney and S. S. Pike. The first pastorate was at Enon, beginning October, 1894.
ANDREW J. HUNTER.
Andrew Jackson Hunter is next to the youngest of eight children of Reuben Wills and Lucinda (Goffe) Hunter, and was born in Sumner county, Tennessee, June 19, 1846. His grandfather, Dempsey Hunter, came from North Carolina, his native state, to Tennessee in the latter part of the seven- teenth century, was a farmer, and died in early part of pres- ent century.
His father, Reuben W. Hunter, was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, August 3, 1800; followed farming, and he and Miss Lucinda Goffe were married near Bowling Green, Kentucky, October IS, IS32. The mother was born November 26, 1816. Of this union eight children were born : William Davis, September 18, 1833; Martha Jane, May 24, 1835; James Alexander, April 11, 1837; Robert Hatten, February 28, 1839; Zachariah Tally, September 3, 1841 ; George Washington, January 15, 1844; Andrew Jackson, June 19, 1846, and Lucy Ann Virginia, September 11, 1848.
Only three survive of this large family, Robert H., Geo. W., and the subject of this sketch. The father was murdered by unknown marauders while in his bed on the night of September 15, 1863, in Polk county, Missouri, and the mother died near Polk, same county, September 2, 1879, of general debility. Wm. D. died in Gallatin county, Illi- nois, February 10, 1874, leaving widow, his second wife, and six children, three by each wife. His first wife was Eliza Ann Blair, whom he married in IS55. He and Miss Darthula J. Vensan were married in Gallatin county, Illinois, March 10, 1867, and his widow and her three children now live near
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Omaha, Ill. The three children by his first wife are de- ceased. Martha Jane died in Tennessee, of croup, August 29, 1839. James A., who had espoused the Southern cause and served a term in the Confederate army, died from disease in Washington county, Arkansas, October 6, 1862, but exact place of death and burial is unknown to his relatives, as well as circumstances. He belonged to a Missouri regiment and served under Gen. Price. The next was Zachariah T., who was shot and instantly killed without the least provocation by a drunken officer, in 1862, near Humansville, Mo. The cir- cumstances under which this brother, as well as the father, was removed, are more fully recorded on the folded black pages of the late war's history.
Sister Lucy A. V., who was only two years younger than Andrew, died June 16, 1862, of protracted fever, and the death of this dear sister seriously impressed Andrew's heart, as she was the only sister known to him, and was nearly constantly with him at home and at school. During her last moments she manifested the utmost faith and as- surance of a continued happiness in the other life, and bid- ding beloved ones farewell she made the final and special audience with her youngest brother and carefully pointed out the way to him by which they could be reunited in a home where there would be relief from trouble and pain, and where no physician would be needed. Such experience and evidence leave their lifetime impressions, and those who have witnessed such evidences seldom doubt the divine pre- paration for them that believe in God.
His brother, Robert H., first married Miss Mary A. Long, August 16, 1865, who died March 4, ISS4. He next married Elizabeth Kendrick, December 25, 1SS6, and this second wife died April 2, 1890. His third wife was Lizzie
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Treash whom he married in Kansas December 26, 1892. Three children of his are alive. He and his wife are resid- ing in Oklahoma territory, and he is postmaster at Guild, having recently been appointed. George W. never married and is living with Robert.
Andrew came with his parents to Polk county, Missouri, when about five years of age, was reared on the farm and has, with exception of few intervals made his home in the county ever since. His father was a strict Presbyterian (C. P. church) during the time the son was with his father, and for years the Lord's prayer was recited and catechism gone through every evening by all the children at home. The mother was a Baptist.
Andrew worked out from home considerably, and the last regular labor done by him on the farm was immediately before his going to the army, and for Uncle Samuel Tillery, for whom he worked three months in 1863, at $6, $7 and $8 per month respectively. His average monthly wages would have bought then about $3 in gold. He attended common schools of the time in fall and winter, and attended one term of the Humansville Academy, and his living school- mates will no doubt testify to his aptness, especially in arithmetic and penmanship.
August 10, 1863, beginning of his seventeenth year he volunteered with his brother George in company H, 18th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer infantry, then stationed at Spring- field, Missouri. The latter part of same year his oldest brother, Wm. D. joined Company B, said Regiment, and they served until August 8, 1865, and were mustered out with their companies. His brother, Robert H., also served in Company H, Ist Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Cavalry from December, 1862, to June 1, 1865. Andy, as he is
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usually called by his old acquaintances, was sent to the , general hospital at Springfield, Missouri, October 17, 1863, and was treated therein for disease contracted on forced march during said month of October. In about three months he was ordered to rejoin his regiment, but reaching post headquarters, Springfield, Missouri, he was detailed as clerk at said post, and for several months, while he was only seventeen years old, he was performing important duties, such as issuing passes to soldiers and civilians to pass guards and through picket lines out of the post. He was detailed from there as clerk to Major C. B. McAfee, Judge Advocate of the Court Martial and Military Commission of District of Southwest Missouri.
Before this court the arguments were not orally made by the attorneys, as in state courts, but the speeches and argu- ments were written, and his duty was mostly to copy these, and of them many by Gov. John S. Phelps, Col. John M. Richardson and other prominent attorneys of that time at Springfield. He has said the only criticism he received was for bad guessing at some of Gov. Phelps' words ; but to those who were familiar with the Governor's hand-writing there will be no surprise at a few bad guesses, especially by a young man who did not know what the Governor was going or ought to say.
Soon after this detail he was promoted to special order clerk to General John B. Sanborn, commanding district Southwest Missouri, and served in that capacity until mus- tered out of service. Here Andy had opportunity to see all officers, scouts and detectives calling on and in consultation with Gen. Sanborn, and they were many. No doubt many officers and others scattered over many states now have orders in their possession written by the young soldier. While in
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the service he attended evening schools, and the general training and experience he had during his term of military service added materially to the foundation of his future life.
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