Johnson County, Missouri - Chapter 2: - Holden, 1881 (part 2 of 2)

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church , Rock Spring, Madison town¬ ship. This is probably the oldest church in the township. It was organ¬ ized May 21, 1835, by Rev. R. D. Morrow. The exact time is not known when the church was built, but it was made many years before the war* The church was built of stone and was the common place of worship for all the farmers for miles around, before the war. During the war it was burned but as the walls were made of stone, they remained standing. In 1870 this building was repaired, while the church was under the care of Rev* J.' Cal. Littrell with a cost to the church of about $1,200. This was ded¬ icated in the same year by Rev. J. A. Prather. But the first congrega¬ tion of the church was called New Hope, and this remained their name till 1843, when it was changed to Rock Spring. The pastors that have served in this church since the war are: Rev. J. Cal. Littrell, Rev. S. D. Givens, Rev. John A. Prather and Rev. Frank Russell. The original members are as follows: Lazarus Masterson, Elizabeth Masterson, Deborah Masterson, Samuel E. Rowden, Nancy Rowden, William Bigham, Sr., Lydia Bigham, Jane Bigham, James Givens, Joanna Givens, Martin Forgeson, Mary Ann Forgeson, Robert M. White, Jane White, Jane Brooks, Elizabeth Bigham, and Samuel L. White. The first session was composed of Robert M. White, Lazarus Masterson and Samuel E* Rowden. The present session is composed of Milas Russell, John Por¬ ter, B. S. Hiatt, S. G. Bigham and David Hogan. J. B. Chapman, who was killed by a train in Texas, was an elder. This church has now 180 resident members; has a large Sunday school with an average attendance of 54f. This Sunday school is conducted by Rev. Frank Russell, with J. C. Gilliam as secretary. Rev. Russell has been in charge of this church since 1876 and has now the highest respect and love of his congregation.

M. E. Church South - Round Grove. - This church is situated in the northeast corner of Madison township. It was organized May 16, 1879, by Rev. S. P. Cobb. They have no church building but worship regu¬ larly in Round Grove school house. The pastor of this church for the first two years of its existence was Rev. S. P. Cobb; and the pastor for the present year is Rev. W. S. Woodard. The names of the original members are Silas Ellisten, J. P. Lowrey, F. Lowrey, O. W. Strange, V. Strange, V-. Kh Shepherd, J. V. Tapscott, M. A. Tapscott, Sr., M. A. Tapscott, Jr., F. L. Tapscott, C. L. Woolfolk and D. P. Woodruff, J. D. Ellisten, P. R. Ferguson. They have a present membership of twentyfive; have an average attendance at Sunday-school of forty-five. This Sunday-school is under the superintendence of D. B. Woodruff, and has B. F. Wineland as its secretary. These few followers of Christ have proved themselves earnest workers in the cause of Truth and in the ser¬ vice of their Master.

The school districts of the county, which are laid out irrespective of township lines, are mostly found to include part of two or more townships, so that probably the schools of Holden are the only schools entirely within the township lines. These schools, like most country schools in the county, are taught from four to seven months in a year, and a very large per cent of the teachers are supplied from the State Normal at Warrensburg. Many young ladies are employed to teach in these schools, and are pre¬ ferred by many to male teachers. The salaries of these teachers vary from $30 to $60 a month, owing largely to the wants of the public. No difficulty is experienced in obtaining teachers to supply the wants of these schools. The attendance at these schools range from fifteen to forty schol¬ ars, or even more, varying in age from six to twenty years.

This township has soil as rich as any in the county. Large crops of wheat and corn are annually brought forth and these all find a ready and convenient market in Holden. Many of the farmers find it more profita¬ ble to raise stock and feed their crops out to them.

Stock dealing is one of the most profitable trades in the county when properly understood. Farmers sometimes go out to other counties in the south and west and buy up a large number of cattle or sheep and bring them home to feed. Nearly all farms of any size have good well bearing orchards on them, so that the people are supplied with fruits nearly all seasons of the year. All kinds of apples, pears, peaches, cherries and damsons are raised on these farms. The farm houses are mostly frame,