Lafayette County, Missouri - Chapter 8: Church History of the County, 1910 (part 1 of 2)

The Evangelical Lutherans

[That the religious element has always obtained in the various townships within Lafayette county is emphasized in the fact of the many church organizations supported here. The Lutheran denomination, while not the strongest or earliest, will here be spoken of, at some length, the story coming from the pen of Prof. Andrew Baepler, of Concordia, whose able article will be read with much interest, as well as one from him on the college connected with this denomination - St. Paul's, at Concordia - which appears under the heading of Schools and Colleges in this volume. - Editor.]

The vicinity of Concordia is the cradle of the Lutheran church of Lafayette county, Missouri. A number of Lutheran families from northern Germany settled in the eastern part of Lafayette county before 1840. Lutheran clergyman were rare in Missouri at that time, and the settlers knew of none. One of the settlers, however, Henry Chr. Liever, had been a Lutheran schoolmaster in Germany. As the settlers did not wish to pass their lives altogether without having the Word preached to them, they requested Mr. Liever to conduct what were called divine "reading services." In these services hymns were sung, prayers were said, and a sermon was read from a postil. In the absence of a regular ordained minister of the gospel, Mr. Liever, at the settlers' request, also baptized their infants. The first child was baptized in 1840. It was a girl, who is still living in Concordia as a respected grandmother.

In order +o have a permanent meeting place, the settlers, in 1844, resolved to build a church. John Henry Bruns donated an acre of ground for the purpose, and in the same year the settlers built a log church on it. The church stood where the Lutheran cemetery is now, north of Concordia. It was dedicated to the service of God on the second Sunday after Easter, 1844, by Mr. Liever, and was recorded as "St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church."

In this church Mr. Liever contracted to conduct "reading services'' and to baptize children until 1847. 1° January of that year the congregation secured the services of its first ordained minister, in the person of A. G. G. Franke, a graduate of a northern Germany university. He had come to the United States for the purpose of preaching the Word of God to German Lutherans. Before taking up his work in Lafayette county, he had, on December 26, 1846, been ordained to the ministry in the Lutheran church of St. Louis, by the first president of the Lutheran synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States, the Rev. C. F. W. Walther.

Pastor Franke did not deem it beneath his dignity to open a day school for the children of his church members. Besides preaching and teaching, he also organized a class of catechumens, whom he confirmed at Easter, 1847. There were nine members of this class, some of them quite young men, one of whom, F. A. Brackmann, is still a resident of Concordia. Pastor Franke had a hard time of it, for books were scarce, and he was obliged to write out for the children what he wished them to study at home. Nevertheless, he instructed them thoroughly. ,

Mr. Franke remained in charge of St. Paul's congregation until April 27, 1 85 1, on which day he installed his successor, Martin Quast, and then left for his new field of labor, Buffalo, New York. The climate of Buffalo did not agree with him, and he became so sick that he found himself obliged to give up all work. He came back to Lafayette county to live with his relatives until his health was restored. Pastor Quast became dissatisfied with his work, and resigned as pastor of St. Paul's. When Mr. Franke had again become strong enough to go to work, the congregation again called him as its pastor. He accepted the call July 24, 1853, and was installed by Messrs. Wege and Johannes, two Lutheran clergymen of Benton county, Missouri. They, like Franke and Quast, were members of the Lutheran Missouri synod, already mentioned.

Pastor Franke remained in charge till the summer of 1857, when he accepted a call to the Lutheran congregation of Addison, DuPage county, Illinois, where he remained to the day of his death, in 1879.

During Mr. Franke's second pastorate a number of members of the congregation adopted religious views that antagonized those of the Lutheran church. The result was that they left St. Paul's congregation and organized the St. John's Evangelical congregation, east of Concordia.

It was not before June 20, 1858, that Pastor Franke's successor was installed. This was the Rev. N. Volkert. who was also a member of the Missouri synod. He came to Concordia from Cook county, Illinois, and was inducted into his office as pastor of St. Paul's by the Rev. J. M. Hahn, of Benton county.

It has always been a principle of the Lutheran church that the children of a congregation must be instructed as thoroughly in Bible doctrine as in the ordinary branches of a common school. To attain this end, the congregation organizes a parochial school, in which the Bible is a regular subject of daily instruction. Having attended the parochial school till they are thirteen or fourteen years old, the children are supposed to take a special half year's course in the pastor's catechumen class, preparatory for confirmation. The success of the Lutheran church in the United States, and especially the notable fact that it retains an unusually large percentage of boys and young men, is largely due to this provision for the religious instruction of its children.

Should a congregation be financially unable to engage a regular teacher for its school, the pastor performs the duties of a school teacher as well as those of a pastor.

This was also done in St. Paul's congregation. Its pastors taught its day school as long as there was no school teacher at hand to do this work for them. During the early years of St. Paul's history there were but few men in the United States competent to take charge of a German church school. But while Rev. Volkert preached at St. Paul's, the congregation succeeded in finding a man who was able and willing to do so. This was M. Broening. He was a graduate of the normal school founded by the Missouri synod at Fort Wayne, Indiana, for the education of teachers of Lutheran schools. This normal school was afterwards located at Addison, Illinois, where Pastor Franke's congregation had donated sufficient ground for the purpose.

The old log church had in the course of time become too small for the congregation, and during Rev. Volkert's term of service a movement was started to build a new church. It was to be a brick church. A Mr. Johannes, of Benton county, was engaged to come to Concordia and make the necessary bricks, as Concordia was, at that time, much too far away from any shipping point to buy bricks made anywhere else. The timber required for the building that could not be sawed in the neighborhood was hauled from Syracuse. The hauling and much of the work about the church was done by the members of the congregation.

While the building of the "brick church" was in fair progress, Pastor Volkert resigned, September 25, 1859. This, of course, caused an interrup- tion of the congregation's undertaking. The first thing needed now was a minister. It took some time before a competent man was found. Finally, however, on. April 29, i860, the new pastor, the Rev. F. Julius Biltz, of Cumberland, Maryland, was installed as pastor of St. Paul's by Pastor Hahn of Benton county.

The Rev. Francis Julius Biltz was born in Frohna, Saxony, July 24, 1825. His parents were taken from him while he was yet a boy, and he lived with an uncle until he was thirteen years old. At that time a company of laymen, schoolmasters, theological candidates, and pastors organized a company to emigrate to Missouri, because they felt themselves hampered in their religious life by the disadvantages arising from the close connection of the church and the state in their native country. Young Biltz joined this company, and arrived in St. Louis in January, 1839. The greater part of the emigrants soon left St. Louis and settled in Perry county, Missouri. Among them was Biltz. As soon as the settlers had built rude homes for themselves they not only erected a church and a parochial school, but also founded a college which they hoped finally to develop into a fully appointed German university. Biltz entered this college, and after finishing its curriculum became a student in the theological seminary which the settlers founded as soon as they had young men prepared to enter it. March 12, 1848, he was ordained as pastor of a Lutheran congregation in Cape Girardeau county, Missouri. Five years after, in 1853, he became minister of a congregation in Cumberland, Missouri, from which place he came to Concordia in i860. Pastor Biltz served St. Paul's congregation till 1901, when he gave up the active ministry. He continued to live in the parsonage as pastor emeritus until his death, November 19, 1908.

The new church was finished soon after the beginning of Pastor Biltz's ministry in Concordia and was dedicated to the service of the Lord in August, i860. In this year the congregation was reported to synod as consisting of three hundred twenty-five souls, among whom there were sixty-one male adults who had signed the constitution. Only male adults who have signed the constitution of the congregation are allowed to vote at the business meetings. The congregation reported a school of seventy-six pupils and one regular teacher, Mr. Browning.

The war of 1861-1865 did not pass over the congregation unnoticed. Quite a number of graves in St. Paul's cemetery contain the dust of members of the church who lost their lives in that dreadful struggle.

In April, 1862, one of the teachers resigned his position and went to New York. His place was filled in September of the same year by Joseph

Gruber, a graduate of the Ft. Wayne Normal School, who served until 1865. He was succeeded in the fall of 1866 by H. Hamm, who had received his education at a German normal school.

In 1866 the congregation added twenty acres to its property for the use of the pastor and teacher. This land cost thirty dollars per acre. The same time the congregation resolved to build a new school opposite the church. The members of the church did the hauling and whatever other work they could. This was also the case when, in the following year, 1867, a new dwelling was built for the teacher.

In August, 1867, the congregation celebrated its first mission festival. It lasted two days. The Lutheran congregations of Benton county were invited to take part in it, the visitors being entertained by the Concordia congregation. The festival was held in a grove, the congregation providing dinner for all present. Six hundred pounds of flour for bread and cake, fifty pounds of coffee and eighty pounds of sugar wrere given by the members of the church for this purpose. This annual mission festival has become a feature of the Lutheran congregations of the county, though it is now usually held only one day, and circumstances have made it necessary to drop the free dinner.

In order to improve the congregational singing, a cabinet organ was bought in July, 1868. It was, at it seems, in this year that the congregation began to hold its Christmas services for children, providing a Christmas tree and gifts for the children, who sing Christmas hymns and are catechized on the history of the birth of our Savior. These services have been continued to the present time in all Lutheran churches of the county.

As the congregation had grown and spread, it was found necessary, in 1869, to make provision for the instruction of the children of such members as lived too far from the church to send their children to the school at Concordia. Accordingly, a school was established near Blackwater creek in 1869. In 1871 the two-story parsonage in which the Rev. F. J. Biltz lived and died, was built.

While thus providing for itself, the congregation did not neglect its brethren at a distance. A collection was taken up every Sunday ; but, except in special cases, these collections were not applied to the wants of the congregation, but to those of the church at large. Needy churches as far off as New York and Philadelphia were assisted ; students preparing for the university, but without means of their own to pay their way through college and seminary, were supported ; orphans' asylums were given help. Above all, the congregation devoted some of its pecuniary means to defraying the expenses of the synod to which it belonged and of the synod's various institutions of learning. All Lutheran churches of this county now take part in these branches of church work.

All the pastors and teachers of the congregation were members of the German Evangelical synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States since 1848, and the congregation itself became a member in 1854. The first lay delegate to represent the congregation on the floor of the synod was Charles Bergmann, in 1854. In 1875 the congregation for the first time had the privilege of entertaining the Western District synod, and since that time the Western District has met in Concordia every sixth year. The congregation had the distinguished honor of seeing its pastor, the Rev. J. F. Biltz, serve the synod as its president for seventeen years.

As early as 1875 the brick church at times hardly afforded enough room for all that came to attend divine service, and the question of enlarging it began to be agitated. In September, 1880, the enlarged church was rededicated. A fine bell had been presented to the congregation in 1879, and it now found a place in the tower of the church. A fine pipe organ, probably the largest in Lafayette county at the time, was also placed in the church. It is still in use. Messrs. Boecher, Paar, Marr and Kramer had served the congregation as teachers in the outlying districts for some time. In 1887 these teachers had accepted calls to other congregations, and as some of the members that lived at a distance had joined sister congregations that had been organized, and others had moved away, the congregation resolved to build a second school in Concordia, have two teachers here, and provide the outlying districts with schools to be taught for a limited number of months by students from one of the synodical seminaries, accordingly W. Wilk, of Wisconsin, arrived in June, 1887, and took charge of the town school, opposite the present church, while Mr. Hamm kept the school opposite the cemetery.

Mr. Wilk organized the first brass band in Concordia, and by his indefatigable labor succeeded in making it one of the best amateur bands in the state.

Rudolph Peters, who had temporarily taught the congregational school north of Davis Creek, was definitely called as regular teacher for that school in January, 1888. Two years later a new school and a dwelling for the teacher was built northwest of Concordia and north of Davis. As the members south of the creek could not send their children to the North Davis school, as Mrs. Peters' school was called, the congregation provided them (10) with six months' school each year by a temporary teacher. " This school was called the South Davis school. It is now known as the Jacksonville school.

In 1890. fifty years after the first child of the congregation had been baptized by Mr. Liever. the congregation had one church and parsonage, a school opposite the church with a dwelling for the teacher, a school and teacher's residence in town, a school and house for the teacher northwest of town and north of Davis creek, a school west of town and south of Davis creek, the creek at that time making it impossible to supply the school needs of that part of the congregation by one school. There were in the employ of the church one pastor, assisted by one of the professors of St. Paul's college, three permanent teachers and one temporary teacher.

The school at the church and that in town were really parts of one school, the higher, classes of which attended the town school, while the lower classes remained at the church. Beginning with 1892 Miss Meta Hamm was from time to time engaged to assist her father in teaching his youngest pupils. In 1897 tne number of younger pupils had become so large that it was necessary to teach them in a separate room. This was furnished by St. Paul's College for a while, but in 1898 the congregation built an addition to Mr. Wilk's school in town. It accommodated Miss Meta Hamm's infant class and the pastor's class of catechumens.

In 1898 fifty years had elapsed since the congregation's venerable pastor, the Rev. J. F. Biltz, had been ordained in Cape Girardeau county, Missouri. The event was celebrated by St. Paul's church and the neighboring Lutheran churches, all of which were children of the Concordia church.

Having faithfully served the congregation thirty-three years as one of its school teachers, H. Hamm, in 1900, resigned his office and took up his residence in Sweet Springs, Missouri, where he died. His body was brought to Concordia and buried in St. Paul's churchyard.

R. Peters, of the Davis school, took Mr. Hamm's place, and Joseph Wukash, a great-grandson of one of those early settlers of Perry county, Missouri, with whom Pastor Biltz had emigrated from Germany, was put in charge of the Davis school. As Miss Meta Hamm had accompanied her father to Sweet Springs, her class was taught by Miss Mary Wilk.

On September 1, 1901, the venerable pastor of St. Paul's, the Rev. J. F. Biltz, resigned his office. He had served the congregation for more than forty-one years, was now more than seventy-six years old, and felt that the infirmities of old age would no longer permit him to do the work of a pastor as he thought it ought to be done. The congregation accepted his resignation and passed the following resolutions : That the congregation would provide for its old pastor's needs as long as he lived ; that he was to occupy the parsonage until death called him away.

On the third Sunday in Advent, 1901, Pastor Biltz's successor, the Rev. F. Brust, of Illinois, was installed as pastor of St. Paul's congregation. Pastor Brust, a graduate of Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, was ordained to the ministry in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1881. He was then pastor of a Lutheran congregation near Red Bud, Randolph county, Illinois, from which place he came to Concordia, where he is still in charge of St. Paul's church.

R. Peters, in charge of the school near the church, resigned February 9, 1902, and he left Concordia to take charge of a Lutheran parochial school in West Point, Nebraska, and later held a similar place in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is still serving the church. His school was given to J. Wukash, of the Davis school, and J. F. Lindoefer was called to succeed him.

For a number of years a pressing want of more room in the church had been felt, and everybody admitted that a new church must be built. But it was hard to decide where to build. A number of the members were of the opinion that the church should be in town instead of in the country. After many meetings and much debating the resolution was finally passed, on the 20th of December, 1903, to build a new church in town, opposite the congregation's school, on a piece of ground presented to the congregation by the members living in town. A building committee was appointed, which engaged J. Riedel, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, as architect. Mr. Riedel prepared a plan for the church, which was accepted. H. Bererfoerden, a contractor of Kansas City, Missouri, was chosen to build the church. The summer of 1904 had come before work on the new building could begin. Ground was broken on the 20th of June, 1904, but delays in getting the building material, attributable to poor railroad service, made it impossible to finish the church before May, 1905. On the 14th of that month it was dedicated to the service of God. The outside measurement of the church is : Length, one hundred and three feet seven inches ; breadth, eighty-eight feet ; height of side walls, twenty-eight feet ; height of steeple, one hundred and fifty-five feet. The church, when finished, cost thirty-six thousand, four hundred and nine dollars and eighty-seven cents, and it is paid for. What a contrast between the log church and this church. At the time of the dedication the congregation numbered one thousand, four hundred and fifty souls, of whom nine hundred and fifty were communicant members, while two hundred and twenty-four were male members over twenty-one years of age, who had signed the constitution, and were therefore privileged to vote at the business meetings of the congregation. The four schools contained two hundred and forty-five pupils, who received daily instruction not only in the ordinary branches of a common school, but also in religion and in the German language. The latter gives the children access to one of the greatest literatures of the world.

Mr. Wilk's health had been failing for some time and he finally found himself incapacitated for school work. He therefore resigned, August 28, 1904, and was succeeded by J. Wukash, who was followed by J. Sagehorn, of Hampton, Nebraska, in March, 1905. Mr. Wilk died in March, 1906, and was buried in St. Paul's cemetery.

Mr. Linderfer, of the Davis school, resigned in October, 1906, having accepted a call to the Lutheran school at Forest Green, Missouri. He was succeeded in September, 1907, by E. Hedemann, who was a graduate of Addison, Illinois. He served till March, 1910, resigning to go to Illinois. P. Meyer, of Seward, Nebraska, followed him here, beginning his work in September, 19 10.

Miss Mary Wilk having left Concordia after the death of her father, Miss Louise Baepler was appointed as teacher of the lowest class of the town school.

On the 19th of November, 1908, the Rev. J. F. Biltz breathed his last. His body found a resting place in St. Paul's cemetery. The obsequies were attended by a great concourse of people, most of whom had at one time sat under his pulpit.

The old parsonage having now lost its occupant, it was sold for three thousand, eight hundred dollars, and a house next to the church, which had been rented for the Rev. F. Brust, was bought for five thousand dollars, to serve as a parsonage.

This brings the history of the congregation down to date. The last report of the pastor contained the following statistics : Baptized members, including infants, one thousand four hundred and eighty-six; members confirmed and privileged to take part in the Lord's Supper, ten hundred and twenty-four; male members over twenty-one years of age who have signed the constitution and may vote at the business meetings, two hundred and fourteen ; four schools with five teachers ; children at school, two hundred and sixty ; Sunday collections for charitable purposes, besides special col-

Holy Cross Church At Emma

The church of the congregation of Holy Cross lies four miles directly east of Concordia. It was organized December 26, 1864, with seven families, by Rev. J. F. Biltz. Its membership increased so rapidly that a log building for school and church purposes was built in the spring of 1865. Pastor Biltz was its pastor, the Concordia church having consented for him to act as such. As he could not teach the school, the congregation called Charles H. Brase as its teacher. The log building soon became too small for the congregation, so a frame structure was erected in the fall of 1867. By 1871 the congregation felt strong enough to support a resident pastor besides its teacher, and Henry Bartens, of the Lutheran Seminary of St. Louis, was called. He was ordained and installed by Pastor Biltz in August, 1871.

In this year, 1871, it became necessary to increase the capacity of the schoolhouse. So the log building was taken down and a larger frame school took its place.

As Mr. Brase accepted a call to Crete, Illinois, in 1873, Mr. Lohmeyer became the teacher of the school, in which position he served till 1875, when he was succeeded by A. H. C. Hafemeister. Mr. Hafemeister died March 25, 1909, having had charge of the Holy Cross school nearly thirty-four years. His work was continued by M. C. Merz, who began his labors in the school in August, 1909. Mr. Hafemeister had the pleasure of seeing the school in which he had begun to teach replaced by a fine new school building in 1905. The house contains a special room for the pastor's catechumen class.

In 1874 Pastor Bartens resigned as minister and entered the medical profession. He was succeeded in September of the same year by the Rev. H. Ph. Wille, of California, Missouri. In August, 1886, Pastor Wille accepted a call to Geneseo, Illinois, and was succeeded on the 12th of December of the same year by the Rev. C. H. Demetrio, of Perryville, Missouri, the present incumbent.

The congregation's second church became too small for the number of worshipers that gathered in it every Sunday, and so a new one had to be built. It was dedicated to the service of God September 14, 1890.

I5O Lafayette County, Missouri

On the 1st of January, 1910, the pastor reported that the congregation consisted of four hundred and thirty-four members, all told, two hundred and eighty communicant members and sixty-nine voting members, with seventy-three children at school.

In the course of its history the congregation dismissed a number of its members to help found the Lutheran congregations at Sweet Springs, Blackburn, Flora and Dunksburg.

Soon after its organization the congregation became a member of the Lutheran synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States, and has always been zealous in supporting the synod's educational, missionary and charitable work. This may be said of all the Lutheran congregations of the county.

Trinity Church At Alma

A number of the members of St. Paul's church had settled in the Waverly prairie, north of Concordia. Other Lutherans from Illinois and Indiana also made that part of Lafayette county their home. On January 2, 1875, they organized the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity congregation. They elected the Rev. J. F. Biltz, of Concordia, their pastor, and he gave "them the use of the time he could spare from his work in Concordia. Their services were at first held in the Hazel Knob district school house, then situated on the Salt Fork creek, one and one-half miles northwest of Alma. In 1877 a piece of ground, comprising four acres, northwest of Alma, was bought, and a house built which, for a time, served as school and as church.

In 1879 ^e membership of the congregation had so increased that it resolved to call a resident pastor. They chose the Rev. Frederick Rohlfing, who had just graduated at the Lutheran seminary in St. Louis. He was ordained and installed as pastor August 22, 1879, and is still serving the congregation. Besides his duties as pastor, Mr. Rohlfing assumed those of a teacher of the congregation's children, serving in that capacity for five years. He was relieved of school work August 19, 1884, when Q. Eichmann, who had been educated at the Lutheran Normal School of Addison, Illinois, took charge of the school. Mr. Eichmann still holds his position

The church having grown too small for the number of people who attended the services, an addition was built to it, which doubled its seating capacity. This was in 1887.

As the number of school children in the course of time made it impossible for them to be successfully taught in one school, a second school was built three miles south of Alma, and, in 1892, C. Topel began to teach there.

In 1895 the church northwest of Alma no longer gave satisfaction. A new house of worship was therefore built in the town of Alma at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. Friends of the movement presented two blocks of town lots for the purpose. When Mr. Topel resigned as teacher of the south school, in 1900, the school was moved to one of the congregation's lots in town. E. Wendt, the present teacher of this school, took charge in September. 1907.

The Lutheran Trinity congregation of Alma has, at the present time, one church, two school houses, one parsonage, one teacher's dwelling. January 1, 19 10, the pastor reported five hundred and forty-eight members, old and young, three hundred and thirty communicants, one hundred and three voting members, two schools, with ninety-two pupils.

Trinity church is the mother of a number of Lutheran congregations. With former members of the Alma congregation, the pastor founded the Lutheran congregation at Little Rock, Missouri, in 1885, that of Corder in 1887, that of Hazel Hill, near Waverly, and that of Blackburn, in 1896, and, finally, together with the churches of Concordia and Emma, that of Flora, in 1899.

Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church, Corder

This congregation was organized by the Rev. F. Rohlfing, March 24, 1889. There were nine families, members of Trinity, at Alma, to begin with. Pastor Rohlfing served the congregation for several months, and was succeeded by the Rev. William Tuegel, who was ordained and installed in the. fall of 1889. Owing to the precarious state of his health Pastor Tuegel was obliged to relinquish his labors at Corder before he had been there a year. He was succeeded, in 1890, by the Rev. Fr. Markworth. After serving the congregation for three years Pastor Markworth was incapacitated for further work in Corder by throat disease, and was compelled to seek a more congenial climate. He was succeeded by the Rev. F. Jesse, of Texas, who was installed as pastor of Zion church of Corder in the forenoon of the twenty-third Sunday after Trinity, 1893, and as pastor of the Lutheran congregation in Higginsville in the afternoon of the same day. In 1898 Pastor Jesse fell sick and died. His son, the Rev. F. W. C. Jesse, -accepted the congregation's call to take his father's place. He was ordained to the ministry on the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, 1898, and installed as pastor of Zion congregation. In the spring of 1903 Pastor F. W. C. Jesse accepted a call to an English Lutheran mission church in Detroit, Michigan, thus again creating a vacancy in the Corder church. This vacancy was filled in December, 1903, by the Rev. George Moeller, of Benton county, Missouri, the present pastor of the church.

Being an offshoot of the Alma congregation, and, more remotely, of St. Paul's, it goes without saying that the pastors of Zion considered it their duty to organize a parochial school. This they conducted themselves, besides doing pastoral work. But in 1904 the congregation resolved to relieve the pastor of his school duties, and called E. G. Warmann to take charge of the instruction of the children. In January, 1907, Mr. Warmann accepted a call to a school in Illinois, and in September of the same year R. L. George became the teacher of Zion school. He still holds that office.

The congregation at Corder dedicated its first church to the Lord's service in March, 1889. When this became too small a new church, with a seating capacity of five hundred, was built, and dedicated on the 9th of September, 1900. Besides its church, the congregation owns a school house, a parsonage and a dwelling for its parochial teacher.

On January 1, 19 10, the congregation numbered three hundred and twenty-four members, old and young, two hundred and nine communicant members, fifty-four voting members, and forty-four school children.

Pastor F. W. C. Jesse began to preach in the English language besides the German. The present pastor has continued the practice. Instruction is also given in both languages in the school.

Immanuel Church At Higginsville

The Rev. F. Markworth, of Corder, Missouri, was the first Lutheran minister to preach to the Lutherans of Higginsville, Missouri. This was in 1891. On the nth of October of the same year seven Lutheran men signed the constitution, thus organizing a congregation. Three ladies also joined the church at the same time. On the 18th of October of the same year the congregation resolved to buy two lots at the corner of Green street and Lipper avenue, and to build a church on them. The resolution was immediately carried out, at a cost of one thousand, four hundred and sixteen dollars. The following year a cabinet organ, costing one hundred and fifteen dollars, and a bell were placed in the church. In 1901 a house was bought opposite the church, to serve as a parsonage. It cost seven hundred dollars.

Lutheran Church, Alma Zion'S Church. Mayview

As Pastor Markworth could not serve the congregation regularly, Prof. J. H. C. Kaeppel, of St. Paul's College, Concordia, served as a supply until the Rev. F. Jesse took charge of it in the fall of 1893. In 1895 the Rev. G. F. Waugerin became resident pastor of Immanuel church, in which office he remained till he accepted a call to St. Clair, Michigan, in 1898. Prof. E. A. Pankow, also of St. Paul's College, supplied the pulpit of the congregation till the Rev. A. Wihlborg was installed, in July, 1899. Pastor Wihlborg still holds his position.

Two of the members who first signed the constitution are still with the church, as are also the three ladies. On January 1, 19 10, the pastor reported one hundred and twenty-seven members, old and young, seventy-one communicants and sixteen voting members.

In the course of its life the congregation has had many members, but most of them left Higginsville and took up their residence at other places, where they were better able to make a living. But they remained members of the Lutheran church.

Pastor Wihlborg regularly preaches to a small number of Lutherans at Lexington, and gives their children religious instruction. At Higginsville he conducts the congregation's parochial school.

Blackburn Congregation

Although the church and parsonage of this congregation are in Saline county, several hundred yards from the Lafayette county line, a part of its membership lives in Lafayette county, and it is, therefore, properly mentioned in this place.

Rev. Rahlfing, of Alma, began to preach to the Lutherans of Blackburn in the Advent season of 1895. They had been members of his church at Alma. On June 13, 1897, they organized with eight voting members and their families. Their first pastor was the Rev. F. A. Mehl, now of St. Joseph, Missouri, who was ordained and installed in August, 1897. October 23, 1898, the congregation had the pleasure of dedicating its first church to the service of God. As the pastor had also organized a parochial school, the church was used as a school room during the week. In the summer of 1899 a parsonage was bought for the use of the pastor. Pastor Mehl resigned in 1907, and in March of the same year the Rev. E. Runge, of St. Matthew's church, Lafayette county, became his successor. He is still pastor of the Blackburn Lutheran church.

On January I, 19 10, Pastor Runge reported two hundred and fortysix members, old and young, one hundred and thirty-two communicants, forty-two voting members and forty-six school children. The congregation has not yet been able to call a special teacher for its school, and the pastor continues to instruct the children. The pastor of Blackburn also preaches to a small number of Lutherans at Marshall.

Immanuel Congregation, Hazel Hill

In the Advent season of 1895 Pastor F. Rohlfing, of Alma, began to preach to members of his congregation who lived near Waverly. These people, in 1897, bought a church of a Methodist congregation, and on the 3d of October organized a congregation with thirteen voting members and one lady, and their families.

On August 20, 1899, Otto Luessenhop was ordained and installed as pastor of Immanuel church. He resigned February 17, 1901, to take charge of the mission field of Colorado Springs. It was not before September, 1902, that another pastor was secured. At this time William Schierbaum was ordained and installed. In the spring of 1907 he accepted a call to Michigan, and was succeeded, October 27, 1907, by the Rev. J. T. Roschke, of Billings, Missouri, who is still Immanuel's pastor.

In 1903 a parsonage was built. The congregation has a parochial school, which is conducted by the pastor, the church not yet being strong enough to support a teacher besides its pastor. Services are conducted in the English language as well as in the German.

The congregation, on January 1, 1910, numbered one hundred and five members, old and young, sixty-seven communicant members and twentyseven voting members.

St. Matthew's was organized by eighteen voting members and their families, January 6, 1899. All of these were members of St. Paul's at Concordia, but lived too far from the church to attend regularly. The congregation bought forty acres of land that joined the Johnson county line, but afterward sold twenty-two acres to Ernest Worm. Mr. Worm opened a general merchandise store near the church and the place was called Ernestville in his honor.

The church built by the congregation was dedicated May 12, 1899, and H. W. Hoemann was engaged to open a parochial school in it. August 20, 1899, the first pastor was ordained and installed. This was the Rev. Ernest Runge, now at Blackburn, Missouri. In the spring of 190 1 a parsonage was built for his use.

In February, 1907, Pastor Runge moved to Blackburn, and on the 25th of August of the same year August E. Brauer, of the St. Louis Seminary, was ordained and installed as his successor at St. Matthew's. Since May, 1909, Pastor Brauer also serves a small congregation at Dunksburg, preaching there every second Sunday afternoon in German and English. There are regular English services once a month at St. Matthew's.

The parochial school began by Mr. Hoemann was continued by Pastor Runge, and is now taught by Pastor Brauer. April 10, 1910, a school house was erected at a cost of seven hundred dollars, and the first building is used for church purposes only.

St. Matthew's has two hundred and twelve members, old and young, one hundred and twelve communicants, thirty-seven voting members and forty-two school children. Many of its members live in Johnson county. Dunksburg church numbers forty-five souls and twenty-four communicants. Part of these live in Johnson county.

St. Peters Congregation, Near Alma

St. Peter's congregation was organized May 22, 1900, by Pastor F. Rohlfing, of Alma, with members of the Lutheran congregations of Alma, Concordia and Emma. Twenty heads of families signed the constitution. Steps were at once taken to provide a house of worship. Aug. Schmidt, Sr., recently deceased, donated three acres of ground for the purpose. The church was built and dedicated in the summer of 1900.

In September, 1900, Theo. von Schlichten, of the St. Louis Lutheran Seminary, was ordained and installed as pastor. Besides preaching and doing other pastoral work, he immediately organized a parochial school. The church was, at first, also used as a school, but on the 7th of April, 1901, the congregation resolved to build a school house. This resolution was carried out in the course of the summer. A cabinet organ was also purchased for the church.

I56 Lafayette County, Missouri

St. Peter's congregation had joined the Evangelical Lutheran synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States, to which the congregations belonged, out of which its members had been drawn. On February 6, 1910, Pastor von Schlichten told the congregation that he no longer agreed with synod on all points of doctrine and would therefore resign his membership in it. As the congregation refused to join him in this he resigned as its pastor and accepted a call to a congregation in Ohio, where, he thought, his surroundings would be more congenial. The congregation is now without a pastor.

On January 1, 19 10. Pastor Schlichten reported to synod seven hundred and eighty-one members, old and young, ninety-nine communicant members, thirty-two voters, male members over twenty-one years of age who had signed the constitution, and thirty-one school children.

As has been stated above, all the congregations here mentioned, and their pastors and teachers, are members of the Evangelical Lutheran synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States, and actively supports its work.

The history of the Catholic church in Lafayette county can be traced backward for a period of over sixty years. The Rev. Bernard Donnelly, the pioneer priest of northern Missouri, made occasional trips to this county from his home in Independence, Jackson county, to administer the sacraments to people of his faith. The church records of that time testify to his having baptized a considerable number of persons in Lafayette county from 1845 on f°r a ^ew years. He continued until about 1853, when he was succeeded by Rev. James Murphy as regular pastor in charge of the Catholic church at Lexington. The Lexington parish included all Catholics in Lafayette county, as well as the adjoining counties. The first year of Father Murphy's pastorate saw the erection of the first Catholic church in Lexington. It was a small brick building, erected at a cost of three thousand dollars, dedicated by Archbishop Kendrick, of St. Louis. Father Murphy was succeeded by Rev. Eugene O'Hea in 1857, and in March, 1859, Rev. Edward Hamill became pastor at Lexington. Father Hamill's pastorate from 1859 to 1868 saw the dark days of the Civil war, and as Lexington was somewhat of a storm center during that awful period, reminiscences of Father Hamill are still fresh in the memory of many of the citizens. Many are the tales

history of the Catholic church at Lexington, here given, is the work of Father George B. Curry, while that of the remainder of the Catholic churches in Lafayette county was written by Rev. Kilian Roth. O. F. M., of Higginsville.

related of him as from time to time he essayed to minister to soldiers of both armies without show of partizanship. On one occasion the Union general, Mulligan, called, for the purpose of confession, at the house at which Father Hamill was staying, at the very moment Father Hamill was entertaining General Price of the Confederate army, who, it seems, he somewhat sympathized with. He realized instantly that as hostilities were in full blast, it might not be well to bring the contending generals together, so by a quickly planned strategy he managed to speed a distinguished and much-admired guest at one door, turning round to extend the glad hand to a no less distinguished caller at another. An incident of the war in which Father Hamill was personally identified may be recalled with interest as tending to show the spirit of the community during these stormy days:

A Civil War Flag Episode

Father Hamill was made notorious in more than one way during the never-to-be-forgotten Civil war period. He acted as priest for both Union and Confederate soldiers and stood for what he considered right on all occasions, let it cost what it might. The following, which is copied from the church record made by Father Hamill himself, is another instance in which the good father manifested his independent spirit :

"The following correspondence took place under the following circumstances : The Rev. T. W. Hopkins, chaplain of the First Missouri State Militia, indicated to a brother preacher his desire to preach in his church (the Campbellite church). Upon being informed that it would not be acceptable to his flock, as the greater portion of them had Southern feelings, and particularly the females, hearing this, anger filled his breast, and he only sought an. opportunity for revenge. Accordingly, the following Sunday, the 15th of February, during service, at his solicitation, some of the soldiers held two flags over the gateway of the church to impel the worshipers to walk under the stars and stripes - some unconcernedly passed on, while others refused and climbed over the fence. Colonel McFerran, hearing of the transaction, ordered the flags to be pulled down, which order being refused, he ordered a company under arms to take down the flags and arrest the perpetrators of so nefarious a deed. They refused, stating that they were sworn to maintain and protect the flag, and that they would not pull it down. On the following Tuesday, the Union Club League, at a meeting, declared Colonel McFerran to be a traitor and a rebel, and that they would have him dismissed from the service if he would not give public satisfaction

I58 Lafayette County, Missouri

"The Colonel hearkened to the dictates of the Union Club League and issued the following order, which was generally complied with, more through fear than respect. The undersigned resolutely resisted the order, even with the threats of getting ten days' notice to leave the city, and was finally victorious.

"The difficulty was increased by the citizens of both parties betting on the outcome of the matter. The bets ranging from five hundred dollars to a glass of lager beer. A few days after, I was going to Marshall, and being asked by the guard if I was a Union man, I said 'Why not?' Then another to raise the flag the other day, are you?' I said 'Yes.' Being asked the reason why, and seeing them leeward, said I preferred trying a jug of whisky to a yard of calico, as I was fond of my bitters. They treated me kindly, gave me my bitters and promised me protection.

Because Father Hamill refused to display the stars and stripes upon his church in Lexington it was believed that he should be stopped from preaching and his church locked up. Then came a "special order" that read as follows :

"Lexington, Mo., February 20, 1863. "That no doubt may exist as to the loyal character of this city, and the many ties that bind every loyal American to the blood-stained banner of his country, the memory of which will nerve to nobler and braver deeds in defense of peace, home and happiness ; that banner at once the ensign of our country's power and of liberty, regulated by law, and of republican government throughout the world ; and of the patriot's hope and the patriotic pride, whose every star is empire, and whose every fiber is bleached with tears for the brave who have fallen in its defense. And in justice to the devotion of the loyal men, at the request of many citizens, it is ordered : That, over all churches, schools, and places of business now in use, the American flag be displayed during the day of the 22d of February, in honor of Washington, the father of his country, who is first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen. Also on public days thereafter.

"Sir: Believing that none of the many citizens requesting the national flag to be displayed on the Catholic church on the 22d were Catholics; not that Catholics are wanting in loyalty, or valiant deeds of arms, as the many battlefields of our country testify. On our church we revere the cross - the emblem of man's redemption, the oldest banner in the land. Elsewhere we honor and respect our country's flag. We do not consider the church the proper place for displaying the national emblems.

Father Hamill's successor was Rev. O. I. S. Hoog, a very energetic young priest. His pastorate dates from 1868. Shortly after assuming charge, realizing the necessity for a larger church, he directed his attention towards securing it. Two lots were purchased on Third street, near Broadway. The corner stone of the new church was laid July 4, 1870, by Rev. Henry Muhlseepen, of St. Louis, and others. This church was completed in 1873, and on September 20, 1874, was dedicated by Bishop Ryan, now archbishop of Philadelphia. All went well for a time, but it was evident after a few years that the building was defective, and on April 16, 1880, the entire building collapsed, entailing a loss of twenty thousand dollars on the struggling congregation. In the meantime Father Hoog was transferred to Jefferson City and Father Thomas Cooney became pastor in 1876, remaining in charge for two years, and in the fall of 1878 Rev. John I. Lilly was placed in charge. After the collapse of the church Father Lilly and congregation resumed services in the old building on Third street.

In May, 1882, a church for the German-speaking people of the church was established in East Lexington, but its congregation, being rather small, after a few years deemed it inadvisable to maintain a separate house of worship. Father Lilly remained pastor of the Lexington church for nearly fifteen years, and in October, 1893, Rev. Daniel M. Castelloe was appointed to the parish. Shortly after assuming charge the last-named pastor commenced to solicit subscriptions for the erection of a new church, and was meeting with good success when his health broke down and his successor was church some thirty thousand dollars. His heirs contested the will and a prolonged litigation followed. A compromise was agreed upon in 1897, the appointed, Rev. M. I. Reilly. In the meantime a Mr. Tobien had willed the church receiving ten thousand dollars. A portion of that amount became immediately available and, with the subscriptions already raised, the work of erecting a new church commenced. Two lots were purchased on the corner of Eighteenth and Main streets. Rev. Father Fitzgerald, of Independence, drew the plans for the new church and supervised its construction, Father Reilly, the pastor, attending to the financiering of the project. The corner stone was laid in 1897 and the building was dedicated the following year by Bishop Glennon, now archbishop of St. Louis. Father Castelloe's health having been partially restored, he was returned as pastor in 1900. Again his health failed and he died in April, 1905, when he was succeeded by Rev. George B. Curry, the present pastor.

Corder Catholic Church

Many years before the present church building for Catholics in and around Corder was erected there were many Catholic people. Among these were the Summers, Boyles, Sullivans, Kearney, Desmond and Schumaker families. Services were conducted at private houses and at the section house in Corder. Rev. Michael J. Ryan organized these families into a congregation in 1885, and a church was erected that year. Father Ryan soon left the congregation in charge of Father Norbert Groth, who, like Father Ryan, lived at Higginsville, but in 1888 moved to Corder, when the church at Higginsville had been burnt. The Corder congregation soon greatly increased by the addition of German farmers and coal miners. The church at Corder was dedicated to St. Boniface, the apostle of Germany. After about one year Father Groth resigned and the Franciscans from Kansas City took charge in 1892. Among those serving the congregation to this date are Reverends Niehous, Centner, Long, Wissler, de Sales Sternberg. The latter remained nearly five years, up to August. 1899. The church is now in charge of Rev. Father Roth, of Higginsville, who is also of the Franciscan order.

In the spring of 1904, after a severe hailstorm, the church was remodeled, also in 1908. While many families have associated themselves with the churches at Concordia and Dover, still the work is in a good condition at Corder.

Higginsville Catholic Church

Both prior to and subsequent to the Civil war period many Catholic people settled in and around where Higginsville now stands. Among the earliest were James and Patrick Lillis, Timothy Noonan, Jerry Kelley, Martin Kelley, Mr. Mulhearn, Peter Maher and Andrew Bonkoski. About 1875 a small Catholic congregation was formed, and as more Catholics settled the church grew stronger. During these years several priests passed through this county to Saline county. The first to visit here, however, was beyond doubt Reverend Hamill, of Lexington. Services were then held at private houses. The second pastor was Rev. Otto Hoog, now vicar-general at St. Louis. The congregation was served by the pastors residing at Lexington, already mentioned in the history of that congregation. About 1877 a small church was erected on Boggs and Washburn streets. Soon after this Rev. Father Francis Curran was appointed pastor, who was soon followed by Rev. Michael J. Ryan, who came from Westport, and he erected a small church in Odessa in 1884, the same being destroyed by a cyclone in 1885. He also built a small church in Corder and did excellent work in many parts of this and other counties. Following Father Ryan came Reverend Groth, of Sedalia. After about three years' pastorate work the church building at Higginsville was burned, which was a hard blow to the church. The school was also thus destroyed, too. After this for a number of years the congregation had no regular services or pastor, save those who came from other points. The Rt. Rev. J. J. Hogan. of Kansas City, was implored to help these people out, but, having no priests to spare, he finally induced the Franciscan Fathers to take charge of the congregation of Higginsville and its mission stations, which was brought about in August, 1892. Soon a new site for a church was sought and procured in the south part of town where several lots were bought. The foundation for the new church was begun in 1892, the superstructure being dedicated in November, 1893. This edifice is forty-two by ninety feet and has a steeple almost one hundred feet high. A large school is run in conjunction with the church. Father Lawrence was followed by Reverend Wissler. O. F. M., Francis de Sales Sternburg, and August 20, 1899, came Rev. Kilian Roth, O. F. M. In July, 1904. the concrete foundation for a new school building was laid to the east of the church; in 1905 a two-story building was completed and other improvements made in the church property. Father Roth now has an assistant. The first sent to aid him in his noble work was Reverend Mertens, who built the Odessa Catholic church and was drowned at Lake Vinton in 1908. The next assistant was (11)

St. Anthony's Catholic church of Odessa was really the outgrowth of an organization perfected in that community more than thirty years ago, but which society's building was burned and was never rebuilt. Services were held from time to time in private homes until the present church building was erected in the winter of 1906-07. It is a neat frame structure, twentyfour by fifty-four feet, costing one thousand eight hundred dollars. It was erected under the administration of Father Candidus Martens, O. F. M. This devoted pastor only lived a short time after the last date named, being accidentally drowned in Lake Vinton, July 26, 1908. His death was mourned by the entire community, regardless of church relations, for he was a truly good man. He was buried in his old home in Streeter, Illinois.

Following him came Father Cyprian Sauer, O. F. M., who remained one year and was then transferred to Kansas City. He was succeeded by the present pastor. Rev. Father Marcelline Schroeder, O. F. M., who holds services here the second and fourth Sundays of each month. The congregation is composed of seventeen families and three single persons, and a majority of the membership are farmers.

It may be said in passing that the first church here of this denomination was erected of frame in 1885 and it was destroyed by the cyclone soon afterwards, and that part of the lumber not ruined wras sent to be stored in and near the Catholic church at Higginsville, and when that church was burned this lumber went along with the rest. After this for a number of years this church was cared for by the visiting fathers of the Franciscan order at Higginsville, until the date of reorganization as above indicated, 1905.

Dover Catholic Church

This is the youngest of all Catholic churches in Lafayette county. The members who formed this parish originally worshiped at Lexington, Corder and Higginsville. For a number of years they intended to purchase the old Presbyterian church at Dover, which they did in the spring of 1905. This church was erected in 1858, a plain, solid structure with a slender steeple, through which a cannon ball had been shot during the Civil war. When the Catholic people secured this building they were at once placed under charge of Rev. Candidus Martens, O. F. M. The Rt. Rev. Lillis, of Kansas City, dedicated anew this church, when it was given the name of St. John the Baptist. After the sudden death of their pastor, Reverend Mertens, Reverend Saner, O. F. M., became the pastor for a year, when he was followed by Marcelline Schroeder, O. F. M., who is still in charge of the church.

Concordia Catholic Church

Father Hoog, of Lexington, was perhaps the first to administer to the wants of the Catholics in the vicinity of Concordia, the number of whom up to the days of railroads was quite limited in this portion of the county. Father Ryan was the first priest to say mass there, he coming out from Higginsville. Following him came Reverend Groth and the various Franciscan Fathers since 1892. In the autumn of 1900 the town Catholics collected a sufficient sum to pay for a half acre of ground opposite the Methodist cemetery to be used as a burial ground, and in March, 1901, encouraged by this first step, over five hundred dollars was raised for the purpose of building a church. Finally they purchased the old Lutheran church of the Iowa synod for one thousand dollars ; the interior was remodeled and in June, 1901, it was ready to be dedicated and was named St. Joseph's church. After the Franciscan Fathers were established at Higginsville in 1905, Reverend Mertens, of that order, began his labors here, serving them twice each month. Father Candidus collected a sufficient amount to clear off the debt of the church and make fine improvements about the church and grounds. He was succeeded by Rev. Cyprian Saner, O. F. M., who served one year and was followed by Rev. Marcelline Schroeder, who is still serving as pastor.

Lexington Presbyterian Church

This church was organized May 12, 1839, by a commission from the Missouri presbytery, and was composed of twenty-two members. Messrs. James Aull, John Bray, Lewis Green and A. G. Young were elected elders, though Mr. Young was not installed until one year later.

In August, 1 84 1, the Rev. J. L. Yantis became stated supply, and served the church as such until the summer of 1847. Under his ministry the church grew steadily. In 1844 the original church building was erected, the walls of which in part now enter into the present structure, which was completed in 1893. The membership increased to one hundred and seventy-five, and Messrs S. G. Wentworth and William Hunter were elected deacons, and Messrs. Jesse M. Thompson, Charles E. Mills, H. M. Garim, W. Van Doren,

Alex. L. Slayback, W. T. Wood and Edwin Stratton were elected elders. In 1849 fifty-four persons were dismissed to form the Prairie Presbyterian church. During that year the Rev. A. V. C. Schneck, of New York, became stated supply. He thus served until 1850, when he became pastor. He remained until November, 1853. During his ministry Messrs. Alex. H. McFadden, William Hunter and H. S. McClure were elected elders, and John Williams and Isaac McGirk, deacons.

In 1854 the Rev. B. M. Hobson became pastor. In 1857 Messrs. Thomas H. Allen and George Wilson were elected elders, and Augustus Bailey, deacon. About this time the Dover Presbyterian church was organized and seven members from the Lexington church were dismissed to join it.

During Mr. Hobson's pastorate the Elizabeth Aull Seminary was founded on the liberality of Miss Elizabeth Aull, who by her will contributed property valued at ten thousand dollars, supplemented by a like sum raised by the congregation.

In August, 1865. Messrs. W. G. McCausland and Patrick Ballard were elected elders. Later in that year the Rev. J. A. Quarles became stated supply and in 1866 pastor. Messrs. John R. Ford and Rufus W. Finley were elected elders, and Messrs. Hugh T. Wilson and B. R. Ireland, deacons.

During the years of the civil strife the ecclesiastical relations of the church had not been disturbed, but in July, 1866, a series of resolutions were passed by the session committing it to the principles advocated by the "Declaration and Testimony" men, who in Kentucky and Missouri had protested against certain action of the general assembly touching rebellion and slavery. The outcome was a division of the church. Some twenty-five members, under the leadership of Messrs. McFadden and Ballard, organized a new church which adhered to the general assembly. The large part of the old church adhered to what became known as the Old School synod of Missouri, that remained for some time independent of the general assembly.

Notwithstanding these ecclesiastical controversies, the church grew rapidly under Doctor Quarles' vigorous pastorate. In 1867 Judge W. T. Wood and Dr. P. H. Chambers were elected elders. In 1869 Messrs. Ethan Allen and Xenophon Ryland were elected deacons. Property rights between the seceding and the mother church were amicably settled. In 1872 Messrs. S. G. Wentworth, Xenophon Ryland and A. W. Hutchins were elected elders. In 1873 George Hutchinson was elected deacon. In 1874 the church followed its presbytery and synod into what is known as the Southern Presbyterian

Mr. Kerr resigned his pastorate in 1877 and was succeeded the next year by the Rev. G. L. Leyburn, D. D. His was also a notable pastorate. There was a thorough revision of the roll of communicants. In 1880 the other church was dissolved and the old church was strengthened by the addition of a number* of valuable accessions from it; among these was Robert Taylor, who was made an elder and served the church very efficiently. Capt. S. J. Andrew also became an elder and Messrs. S. S. Reeder and W. B. Wilson, deacons. During Dr. Leyburn's pastorate the congregation contributed liberally to add to the equipment of Elizabeth Aull Seminary.

In 1888 Doctor Leyburn was succeeded as pastor by the Rev. E. C. Gordon, D. D., who served the church until 1892, when he was removed to Westminster College. During his pastorate the church took the lead in the synod in the home missionary work. Ten thousand dollars were raised by the synod, several evangelists were employed and substantial advance was made. Near the close of this pastorate Edward Aull was elected deacon. Plans were made for enlarging the church building. These plans were carried out during the pastorate of the Rev. A. S. Moffatt, D. D., who succeeded Doctor Gordon in the summer of 1893. During Doctor Moffatt's pastorate Messrs. Sanford Sellers, J. R. Morehead and John P. Gordon were elected elders and Messrs. A. G. Young and E. B. Vaughan, deacons. There was also a large growth of the Sunday school and an increase in contributions for foreign missions. Doctor Moffatt retired in 1897, and Doctor Gordon was again elected pastor. He began to preach regularly in January, 1898, and was installed pastor the following May. In 1902, the session reported three hundred members, the highest number ever carried on the church rolls. That year Messrs. George Vaughan and A. G. Young were elected elders and Messrs. T. C. Sawyer and U. G. Phetzing, deacons.

Higginsville Presbyterian Church

This church was first known as the Tabo church, which was organized June 19, 1842, in the vicinity of Davis' school house, Lafayette county. A sermon was preached by Rev. G. M. Crawford, after which it was resolved to organize a church. Dandridge Morrow and William D. Lathim were then ordained ruling elders, and the new society placed under the care of the Presbyterian church at Lexington. The charter members were Dandridge Morrow, Mrs. Elizabeth Morrow, Miss Mary A. Morrow, William D. Lathim, Mrs. Elizabeth Lathim, Mrs. Mary Neal, Mrs. Elizabeth Crawford.

On July 28, 1843, twelve were added to the church; in August of that year eighteen more were added. Reverend Crawford served as minister in charge until November. 1849, and was followed by John Stuart, who remained until 1 85 1. The first church building was erected in a suitable manner, of brick, and stood about two miles west of the present site of Higginsville. On September 13, 1874, the session and members of the church, by petition duly signed, were presented to the Lafayette presbytery and were duly received as the Presbyterian church of Higginsville, Missouri, to be known as the "Tabo Presbyterian church, now located at Higginsville." Harvey J. Higgins was enrolled as the elder, taking his seat in the presbytery. Thus this society became attached to the Southern Presbyterian church, as distinguished from the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America, properly known as the "Northern Presbyterian Church."

In the autumn of 1872 the Tabo church was torn down and the house of worship was erected in Higginsville, on lot No. 7, block M, McMeekin's addition. There was erected a neat brick structure, dedicated July 19, 1874. The sermon was preached by Rev. F. R. Gray, from Exodus 20 134. While this edifice was being completed services were held in the Beatie school house, west of town. Again it became necessary to enlarge or build. Hence the new house was built on lots 11 and 12 and north half of 13 and 14, in block 9, Asbury's addition to Higginsville. This building was dedicated June 15, 1884, Rev. John Montgomery preaching the sermon, from Matthew 6:10. The entire cost of this church was nine thousand dollars, including furnishing. In March, 1904, this building was damaged by a hail storm of note. A new roof, electric lights, stained windows, etc., were added at a cost of two thousand dollars.

ones already named in preceding paragraphs came Rev. Robert Glenn; Rev. F. R. Gray remained from about 1859 to 1878, twenty-five years; then came Rev. S. T. Ruffner, continuing until 1888. He was succeeded by Rev.

B. H. Dupuy, serving until 1893. In November, that year, came Rev. A. W. Milster, D. D., the well-known evangelist, who continued until 1900. He was followed by Rev. W. E. Beattie, who served from October, 1900, to September, 1903. On the first Sabbath of December, 1903, the present pastor, Rev. Xenophon Ryland, formerly known as "Judge Ryland," became the settled pastor. He is a native of the county, was at one time an excellent lawyer, held offices of trust and is universally respected in the county and beloved by his faithful people over whom he has charge.

It appears from the names of the membership of this church that its list has included some of the most worthy and historic characters from the families of Lafayette county. These family names are still represented in the church of today.

The total contributions of this church for the year ending March 31, 1910, amounted to two thousand three hundred and eleven dollars, an average of almost ten dollars per member.

In the early history of this church, the slaves of its members were received into full communion and fellowship of the church, with their owners. At its very organization, "Patrick," a colored man, was enrolled. This is extracted from the record book of the church :

(Signed) "John Stewart, Moderator. "H. J. Higgins, Clerk." How peaceful and happy the relation of master and slave, as compared with the criticism of a higher civilization.

Prairie Presbyterian Church

As to the houses worshiped in by this people, it may be stated that probably the first meeting house was early in 1840, in a frame building, twenty by thirty feet, and soon thereafter was built a large open shed, twenty by thirty feet, from the west side of the building, and this was seated and was used when large congregations were in attendance. In 1845 a young licentiate and his wife came on from Kentucky; his name was T. A. Bracken, who served the church until March 24, 1855, and in 1857 a new church was erected of brick. It was thirty-eight by fifty-two feet, and is in good repair today; its cost was about four thousand dollars. It stands where stood the first house of worship. Dr. David Coulter was the second pastor, serving until 1 86 1.

Rufus Young, now about eighty-five years of age, and his brother, Rev. J. N. Young, of Eureka, Arkansas, are the only surviving charter members. The church roll now contains seventy-eight names. The church is in a prosperous condition, and is making substantial contributions to all boards of the church. It has paid one thousand and four hundred dollars during the last year. This church unites with Sweet Springs church in the support of a pastor, and the two churches have undertaken the support of a foreign missionary.

Roll Of Ministers Hopewell Old School Presbyterian Church

This society, which is located at Odessa, was organized September 14, 1850, with the original membership as follows: John H. Allison, Eliza Bledsoe, Sarah Bullard, C. D. Copp, S. S. Cornwell, Nancy Davidson, John Jackson, James M. Keith, Thomas Lee, Mary Lee, Elizabeth Lee, Ann Mary Lee, Elizabeth Keith, Nathaniel C. and Adaline Taylor, H. and Lena Young.

The first church building was erected in 1854 at the village of Mt. Hope. During the Civil war it was burned, but rebuilt in 1867. In 1880 it was taken down and removed to Odessa. Among the pastors there may be named Revs. Thomas A. Bracken, David Coulter, William A. Bagley, Joseph W. Wallace, James Morton, J. E. Latham, B. N. Hobson and Samuel T. Kuffner. J. H. Gauss was another who served faithfully. In 1889 Rev. H. B. Barks was called and preached until 1894, then the pulpit was vacant most of the time for two years, after which Rev. Frank Mitchell was engaged, and remained until about 1901 and was succeeded by Rev. H. B. Barks, who served two years, and was followed by Rev. N. H. McCain, who remained until about 1908. The name Hopewell was changed about the year 1880 to Odessa Presbyterian church, for it was at that time moved from old Hopewell site to the town of Odessa.

From the best authentic records we find the first organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Lafayette county, Missouri, and the building of a church house was May 9, 1835, about four miles south of Lex- ington. A substantial brick building, ever afterward known as "The Brick Church," was built upon land owned by Chatham Ewing, containing fifty acres deeded by said Ewing to said church for its sole use and benefit, the three trustees being George Houx, William Jack and Chatham Ewing.

The early pioneer preachers of this congregation, organized and known as the Lexington congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, were Finis Ewing, one of the three organizers of the church, the others being McAdow and Finis King. Other early preachers in this congregation were Robert Morrow, John Morrow, Robert Sloan, Henry Renick, Robert Renick, Horn, J. B. Logan, Pinkney Henderson, Benjamin Thomas.

In January, 1839, the first church house, a frame building, built in Lexington on lot No. 73, original town of Lexington. The deed of conveyance for said lot is dated January 17, 1839, and the church was built jointly by the Presbyterian church and the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The deed of conveyance was by George Houx to Lewis Green, William Smith and James Aull, trustees on the part of the Presbyterian church, and Finis Ewing, William Houx and George Houx, on the part of Cumberland Presbyterian church; consideration for lot, fifty dollars.

The fifty acres of land upon which the "Brick church" was built reverted to the trustees of the congregation and was sold to several parties in small tracts by George Houx, William Jack and Chatham Ewing, the dates of sales being 1868, 1871, 1871 and 1873 - f°ur deeds - thus we find upon the county records, from which it seems the land was sold to four parties.

The church in Lexington was occupied and used to about 1845, when the Cumberland Presbyterians built a substantial brick church in New Lexington, so called, and the first church was sold to Calvin L. McGrew February 27, 1849, the conveyance being made by William Smith, Lewis Green and William Houx, trustees of the two churches.

The new church was built upon a lot conveyed to Henry Neil, Joel P. Wiles, George K. Smith and Henry K. Smith, trustees of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, consideration ten dollars, by James H. Graham. This purchase of lot and building of the church house was about 1846 to 1848. There is no record of deed by said Graham on record until 1865, which seems to indicate that by neglect the first deed was not recorded at the time, another being made April 7, 1865.

This church was sold in 1880 to the Lexington German School Association and the congregation built a frame building three miles south of Lexington, known as the Edenview church, which is still occupied by the original Lexington congregation. The Cumberland Presbyterians built a large brick building ten miles south of Lexington in 1850, called the Mount Hebron church. This building was twice burned and rebuilt and is now occupied by the Mount Hebron congregation.

In 1854 a congregation was organized in Wellington, known by that name, which was continued till 1885, its membership having been so depleted by removals and deaths that it was abandoned and the church property interests sold.

The Greentown congregation was organized somewhere about 1840. In 1856 they built a substantial brick church jointly with the Methodist Episcopal church South. The congregation has ceased to exist, by removal and death.

The first preaching in the county was by Rev. Robert Morrow, who was sent out as a missionary by the women of Kentucky. He was followed by Rev. Finis Ewing, one of the founders of the church. His remains repose in Macphelah cemetery in Lexington, marked by a square white marble shaft with appropriate inscription carved thereon.

These were followed from time to time down to the present by many able and efficient preachers; while all their names cannot be remembered, we find the following have all served the gospel to the church and people : Finis Ewing, Robert Morrow, John Morrow, Henry Renick, Daniel Patton, Robert Renick, W. W. Suddath, Ben Thomas, Pinkney Henderson, J. A.

The above history of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Lafayette county is as near accurate as can be obtained by reliable records, the writer having trusted nothing to mere memory and has made diligent search for reliable records and other landmarks of the church, and which he believes is the most accurate and full of any ever compiled. It reaches far back in the past in regard to the church in the county. The writer has been an eye-witness and partaker in much of which is here written as history, and can vouch for most of it as true and accurate, he having been born in the county and lived continuously in it from birth (1831), and having been a member of this church since 1850, and whose parents were Cumberland Presbyterians before him, his mother being an early pioneer, coming to the county in 181 7, while it was yet a territory, and she being the first person making a profession of religion in the county and, according to church records, the second one baptised, this done by the Rev. Robert Morrow. Hence, the author's opportunities to know the history of this church is rather exceptional.

Among other matters mentioned here, he will add that prominent in the great and good work of the church were the annual campmeetings, which, for lack of houses of worship, were held in groves, generally in the fall of the year (September), and which were attended by great congregations. They lasted generally a week and were among the most happy and enjoyable things experienced by the writer, to which also thousands of others will testify.

The arrangement of these campmeetings was to select a grove near plenty of good water, generally a bold spring, lay off a square of ground, making seats of split logs with an aisle in the center and an elevated pulpit at the end. Around this square, at some distance, camps (from eight to twelve, generally) were built of logs, and straw for floors and beds. At the meeting families would occupy these camps and furnish provisions and do the cooking for the people who attended. Everything was free, every long table loaded with substantial food and everybody welcome to every table free of cost, to eat and drink to his appetite's content. The writer has witnessed at these campmeetings some of the most glorious and spiritual meetings ever seen on earth.

The Evangelical Church

This is a large church body, having over one thousand ministers all over the United States. There are one thousand, three hundred and thirteen congregations, with a fine college at Elmhurst, Illinois. It has its own missionary field in India, with ten missionaries. At St. Louis it has one of the finest deaconess homes and hospitals in the country.

Zion's Evangelical church, at Mayview, Lafayette county, Missouri, dates back to 1873, when Rev. F. Drewel, of Higginsville, made a start by preaching at Hanck's school house to the few German settlers in the valley of Mayview and vicinity. Soon Rev. H. Hoefer, of Higginsville, took charge of the work here. In 1880 an organization was perfected at Mayview and named the "German Evangelical Zion's Church." The present constitution was signed by the following membership : H. Reehterman, William Nolte, F. Nolte, Henry Robins, Her Robins, John Sanders, T. Tiefel, Ernest Tern pie, Casper Wagner, E. Vauter, I. Goenner and F. Kroener and one other. A frame church was erected, costing one thousand dollars, and was dedicated in 1882. Rev. Hoefer preached there twice each month until 1884, when the congregation elected Rev. F. Eggen as their own pastor. Following him came Rev. Lentv/ein. In June, 1887, Rev. William Buehler was elected pastor and still continues, having served now twenty-three years. In 1887 the membership was only seventeen, while today it has forty communicants. In the spring of 1888 the parsonage was erected, at a cost of eight hundred dollars. In 1905 it was decided to build a new church, thirty-four by fifty-four feet, the largest in Mayview. It was dedicated November 5, 1905. The cost was two thousand, seven hundred and twentynine dollars. The bell in this church was the generous gift of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Robins, now deceased. There are two fine five-hundred-dollar organs in the church building, both donations.

Bethel Evangelical Church, Concordia

The first steps toward founding the German Evangelical Bethel church at Concordia were taken March 19, 1872, when the following men, H. Klingenberg, P. Sheinmann, F. Kurz, A. Kurz, P. Esselmann, H. Detert, William Sodemann, H. Droege, H. Meyers, W. Milenz and Rev. H. Hoefer, pastor of St. John's church, near Concordia, met for the purpose of organizing a German Evangelical church. A church building was soon erected, at a cost of nine hundred and fifty dollars, and was dedicated September 8, 1872, by Rev. H. Hoefer. He served three congregations, from 1872 to 1877, when he was succeeded by Rev. F. Frankenfeld, and the latter was soon followed by Rev. J. M. Toobilzky, and he by Rev. Haenelt. In 1880 Rev. Carl Kantz followed for six years, and under him the present church was erected at an expense of five thousand dollars. Following the lastnamed pastor came Rev. H. Mohr, who remained until 1893. Then came Pastor Rev. K. Doernenberg, who served from 1893 to 1895, when Rev. F. Klemme was chosen, serving until 1902. Rev. J. Hoefer took charge of the congregation and served until 1909, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. Siegenthaler. In January, 1910, Rev. H. Becker was elected pastor of Bethel congregation and is still presiding.

four hundred and seventy children, three hundred and ten children confirmed, one hundred and ten couples married and one hundred and eighty burials. The work of this congregation is still going forward and is doing great good in the work of uplifting the community.

In the springs of 1880 and 1882 several German farmers from St. Charles and Warren counties located near Wellington, this county. At first the settlers attended the church at Napoleon, but for those living east of Wellington and others, that point was not convenient, so preaching was had at the Harris school house by Rev. Dreevel. Finally, on June 10, 1882, a church was formed with seven families of the neighborhood and preaching was had by the Lexington minister twice each month. Soon the Germans wanted a church in Wellington and purchased some property for two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, and in March, 1884, Rev. Dreevel took possession of that land and the dwelling thereon. In January, 1885, it was decided to erect a church building there, and in November of that year the building was dedicated to God. This structure is now employed as a school room for the congregation. On account of ill health, the faithful pastor resigned, and in March, 1890, Rev. D. Behrens was elected pastor and served until November, 1892. From 1893 to 1896 Rev. H. InehhofT had charge of the congregation. In February. 1896, Rev. Seybold was selected as pastor. A new church had to be erected to make room for the increasing congregation, and the same was dedicated October 12, 1897. Its cost was three thousand six hundred and forty-two dollars, with fixtures. A new parsonage was provided in 1899. The voting membership of this congregation is about seventy. After twelve years of hard, faithful service, Rev. Seybold moved to Atwood, Illinois, and was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. I. Munz.

In 1870 the first German settlers from St. Charles and Warren counties, Missouri, came to Lafayette county and located near the villages of Napoleon and Wellington. They felt very much the need of a church of their own faith and hence in September, 1875, St. Paul's church was organized at Napoleon with nine members, two of whom are still living. Rev.

St. John'S Evangelical Church, Near Concordia

Dreevel, who was the organizer, resided at Higginsville, but soon became pastor at Napoleon. In 1882 a small congregation set to work to build a house of worship. They purchased four acres on the Bell Reserve place and erected a fine church, costing twelve hundred dollars, also a parsonage costing three thousand dollars. Following the last named came Pastor Rev. Vehe, followed by Rev. L. Haas. In 1891 Rev. F. Sabrowsky took charge of this congregation and still remains. As the congregation became larger and many had a long distance to go to church, a society was formed at Wellington. The mother church now has a membership of fifty-five families. A parochial school is maintained in the spring months in which the German language is spoken and taught. The present standing of this church is excellent.

This church is near Concordia and is one of the earliest in the county. It was organized by F. Bohring, a school teacher from Germany, who served this congregation from 1847 to I^5°- From that date to 1853 there was no pastor, then came a student from the seminary and took up the work. During his time there the edifice was erected. The congregation saw many hard struggles during the panicky times in the fifties. From 1856 to 1859 the pastors were Rev. Lampe, followed by Rev. Asterbeil, and he, in i860, was succeeded by Rev. Krueger to 1863, then came Rev. Howard, who served till 1869. It is related that these men never taught the real doctrines of the Evangelical people, so never succeeded, but in the next minister, Rev. H. Hoefer, the right man was found, and he caused prosperity to shine upon the congregation. He came in 1870, served seven years and organized Bethel church. Following him came Rev. W. Gartner, from 1877 to 1882, who built the new school house. From 1883 to 1886 Rev. M. Vehe served as minister, and in 1886 Rev. W. Beek was called and served. He resigned in 1893, and from 1894 to 1896 Rev. Koenig had charge of the work, and from 1896 to 1898 Rev. Hauek. Since that date Rev. F. Kitterer has had charge of the congregation.

In 1900 the congregation celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, when there had been baptized five hundred and forty-seven, four hundred and sixty-two had been confirmed and one hundred and fifty-two united in marriage. Several churches have come from this one.

I76 Lafayette County, Missouri German Evangelical Salem Church, Higginsville

Among the mighty factors of spiritual improvement in Lafayette county is the German Evangelical Salem church. The history dates back to 1869, when, in the spring of that year, several German farmers moved in and located near Higginsville. At first they were wont to assemble on Sundays, when a sermon was read and all united in singing their soul-stirring hymns. These meetings were held first at the home of Mr. Wehrmann, later at the houses of Messrs. Hoefer and Herman, then at the Peacock school house. An organization was perfected, and in 1870 three lots on the corner of Main and Green streets were purchased of Mr. Higgins. The organization was perfected August 9, 1870, under the name of the "German Evangelical Salem Church." Next a modest frame building, twenty-four by thirty-six feet, was erected and dedicated, October 29. 1871. Rev. H. Hoefer, who had charge of the work at Corder, where he resided, and also founded the Concordia church, resigned his work at Higginsville in 1873, an^ was f°l~ lowed by Rev. T. Drewell, who remained four years, during which time the church acquired the grounds and parsonage on Green and Boggs streets, upon which many improvements have since been made. Rev. Hoefer was returned in 1877 and faithfully served for twenty-five years. In 1883 a new and spacious edifice was dedicated. It was a brick building, thirty-six by sixty feet, with a ninety-foot spire. The old building was then moved out and put to the use of a school room. Theodore Hoefer, eldest son of Rev. Hoefer, served as assistant to his father for ten years, acting as organist and teacher. He then himself entered the ministry. In 1892 a new parsonage was provided, at a cost of two thousand three hundred dollars. In 1908 the old frame church (school house) was razed and a brick structure took its place. In 1902, being too ill and feeble to longer serve, Rev. Hoefer was succeeded by Rev. N. Rieger, who came in November of that year.

In the spring of 1902 the second church building commenced sinking on account of poor foundation and was demolished. From Easter on to Thanksgiving, services were held in a large tent. Then was erected the finest edifice ever built in Higginsville, the present church. It is seventyseven by eighty-eight feet main part, with an auditorium of forty-two by seventy-four feet. Here one finds two fine pipe organs, the best in the county. This church cost twenty-four thousand, four hundred and fortyeight dollars, and it was dedicated May 15, 1904. Now in its fortieth year,

Salem church numbers one hundred and fifteen voting members, four hundred and fifty communicant members, two hundred and forty-three pupils in Sunday school. The society is entirely free from debt and in a prosperous condition.

Evangelical Trinity Church, Lexington

The history of this church reaches back to 1876, when Rev. Dreevel began to preach the gospel to the Germans of Lexington. They soon felt the need of a home of worship, and in furtherance of this idea a meeting was held at the court house on August 15, 1877. At this meeting a resolution was adopted to organize an Evangelical church, and a committee for this purpose was appointed, consisting of H. Haenkel, K. Winkler and G. Ludwig, who worked hard in conjunction with the board of trustees.

On the 2d day of September, 1877, the Evangelical Trinity church was organized and a constitution adopted, which was signed by seventeen members. On October 8, 1877, Reverend Dreevel was elected as the pastor, but was unable to serve longer than the following spring, when Rev. Klimpke was chosen pastor. In 1879 a Ladies' Aid Society was organized and has continued to do much good work. On November 21, 1882, Rev. C. Klimpke resigned and Rev. Servish was elected and served until 1884. From this time until December, 1885, Rev. Tistor was the pastor. From 1886 to 1888 Rev. A. Dobler had charge of the congregation. On the 28th of April, 1888, the congregation elected as their pastor W. Herman, who was a true and faithful worker in the interests of the church. Shortly after his election the congregation erected a parsonage. In 1890 the West Missouri district held its yearly conference here for the second time. Shortly afterwards Reverend Herman resigned and the congregation elected Rev. G. Schulz, who served two years, and was followed by Reverend Reichard. During the latter's illness he was assisted by Rev. D. Buchmueller, and after his resignation on account of poor health Reverend Buchmueller was elected to the pastorate.

In 1897 the church building, which heretofore had been rented, became the property of the Evangelical church of Lexington. The church was remodeled, at a cost of six hundred dollars, a reed organ, costing two hundred and fifty dollars, was installed, and the congregation celebrated its twentieth anniversary.

present time. The church has within it three organizations, the Ladies' Aid Society, the Sunday school and the choir. The latter, which is one of the best church choirs in the county, has done very effective work in its line.

Christ Episcopal Church, Lexington

It is found from the records of this, the only Episcopal church in Lafayette county, that it was on Whitsunday, 1844, when Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D., first bishop of Missouri, for the first time performed divine service in Lexington. On Easter Sunday. 1845, the parish was organized. The first wardens were Robert N. Smith and Paul Reinhard; the first vestrymen were Lawson Grant, Daniel C. Relf, Henry Smack, Messrs. Collins, Foster, etc. Rev. Mr. Fackler was the first rector, and remained until Easter Monday, 1847, when he resigned on account of ill health.

The corner stone of the present house of worship was laid on June 30, 1848, at which time Rector J. A. Harrison was in charge of the parish. The church was first used for service on Advent Sunday, 1848, and was publically consecrated to the worship of God on the first Sunday in Advent, 1850, by the Rt. Rev. C. S. Hawks, bishop of the diocese, and others.

The church, to which an addition has since been made, is a neat, goodsized brick structure on the corner of Franklin and Thirteenth streets. Its original cost was about six thousand dollars. The interior is finished in elegant walnut woodwork, oiled. In 1880 the church had a membership of one hundred, but at present has only about sixty communicants. The rectors who have had charge of this parish include Revs. St. Michael Fackler, J. A. Harrison, D. G. Estes, G. K. Dunlap, Thompson L. Smith, John W. Dunn, A. T.

The Methodist Episcopal Church

The Methodist Episcopal church South was organized in 1837. with the following members: Thomas Caloway and wife, Doctor Talbert, James Austin, Lucy Anderson, David Gillispie and wife, Cyrus Osburn, A. W. Henning, M. Zeigler, I. Bolin,vJohn Brown and wife, Clark Peters, Harriet

Eckle, John Eastwood, I. Wetzel, David Locke and wife, Doctor Blackwell, Mahala Blackwell, James Cloudsley and wife, and James Norfolk and wife.

The first church was built of brick in 1840. In i860 the church was taken down and a larger one, more modern and commodious, erected. The original building cost about one thousand five hundred dollars, and the second over twenty thousand dollars. On account of the Civil war this was not dedicated until 1878. At that time the last debt was paid on the building, and the house was dedicated by Bishop H. H. Teananugh, of Kentucky.

The following pastors have served this church : Revs. Clinton, Beverly, Dodds, Westerman, Forsythe, Johnson, Ashley, W. W. Jones, Joseph Boyle, A. L. Hamilton, T. A. Morris, N. Scarrett, T. M. Finney, James A. Cobb, B. T. Teananaugh, White, W. B. McFarland, J. C. Shackleford, Hall, W. C. Godbey, Doctor Camp, A. G. Stacy, Frank Boggs, Thomas M. Cobb, M. M. Pugh, W. M. Williams, G. W. Walker, M. M. Prattsman, William Poage, D. C. Brown, J. C. Carpenter, A. R. Faris, B. U. Alton, C. M. Bishop, J. C. Giner, J. W. Howell, C. E. Patillo and O. M. Rickman.

This church has a fine Sunday school, with more than four hundred enrolled. Dr. W. R. Eckles and F. Lee Wallace are the superintendents. There are three missionary societies and a flourishing Epworth League. The present membership of the church is four hundred thirty-three.

Dover Methodist Church

The Dover Methodist church South was organized some time in the forties. David Evans and wife, Mr. Eustice and wife and Mrs. Plattenburg were among the first members. A substantial brick church was built in the early fifties, at a cost of two thousand dollars, or possibly more. It still stands and is used by the church. The present membership is about forty.

Waverly Methodist Church

The Waverly Methodist church was organized in 1858 by the following persons: Dr. George W. Hereford and wife, Mr. Neal and wife, Messrs. Melton, Williams and a few more.

The pastors have been: W. M. Prattsman, J. R. Bennett, W. B. Mc- Farland, L. Bedsworth, J. F. Skurlock, C. H. Boggs, M. G. Williams, L. P. Norfolk, F. A. Taylor, J. C. Shackleford, J. M. Dempsey, R. A. Holloway, W. Morrison, W. H. Winter, E. G. Frazier, F. P. Cobb, W. B. North, L. H. Uandiner, M. M. Pugh, Perry Long, W. B. Cobb, L. F. Clark, C. T. Wallace, W. L. Merrill, C. U. Shulerberger, H. G. Rand, C. Bruner. The present membership of this church is one hundred and eleven.

Odessa Methodist Church

This church was organized in 1879 by John D. Wood, R. T. Russell, Rebecca J. Russell, N. W. Ladd, Ella Ladd, Edward Rawlings, Leroy Ann Rawlings, Mary H. Hillock, Dr. J. F. Wood, Dr. J. W. McDonald.

The present membership of this church is two hundred and twelve. The original church was erected in 1883 and the second one in 1896 and the present building in 1904. The various pastors have been as follows: Revs. John D. Wood, J. B. H. Wooldridge, W. S. Woodard, T. P. Cobb, J. C. Shackleford, W. B. McFarland, J. Y. Busby, T. M. Home, T. J. Brown, W. M. Rader, E. Y. Ginns, S. P. Cayton and J. C. Saylor.