Biographical Sketches
REV. JAMES GRIGSBY DALTON
The esteemed pastor of the Little Blue and Pleasant Prairie Cumberland Presbyterian churches, resides in Sniabar township near the former place.
He was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, June 7, 1824, and in his 15th year came to Missouri with his parents, William and Mary (Renick) Dalton. His father was a native of Albemarle county, Virginia, and the mother of Rockingham county. They made the journey to Missouri by wagon, being about 2 months on the road, but at length arrived at Lexington. They were in limited circumstances, but the father succeeded in purchasing 200 acres of unimproved land in Jackson county, 12 miles northwest of Warrensburg. His death occurred in 1842, at the age of 72 years. He was noted for his power of endurance as a walker, and made the journey on foot from the Old Dominion. At his death he left a family of 5 sons and 3 daughters, of whom 3 are now living. His wife died in 1857.
Mr. Dalton, of this sketch, and his twin sister were next to the youngest of the family. James G. remained at home until he had attained his majority and then engaged in school teaching. In 1847 he had become a member of the church, and in his 25th year began to preach, delivering his first sermon on the first Sunday in May, 1848, in the little church in Johnson county. He united with the presbytery about October 1, 1847, was licensed in October, 1849, and ordained on the 1st of April, 1852, near Dover, LaFayette county, by the Lexington presbytery, with which he has always been connected. He spent 5 years on the circuit work in Johnson, Henry, St. Clair and LaFayette counties, with 28 appointments. The territory at that time was but sparsely settled and there were few church organizations and no houses of worship in the circuit. He preached almost entirely in private homes and occasionally in a school house or court house. During the summer from July to October he was engaged in camp meeting, and at each had from 25 to 100 conversions. At a meeting held in Johnson county, after an exhortation made by Uncle Jake Crow, over 100 penitents came forward. Uncle Jake, who lived in the community, was undoubtedly one of the most powerful exhorters ever known. A man of little education he had no training for this work, �but out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh,� and he was a power in church work. He established the Little Blue church, assisted only by Mrs. Lobb, who would do the singing. He had a brother, named Ben, who was his exact counterpart in appearance and their own children could scarcely tell them apart.
In the year 1842 there occurred the greatest religious revival that had ever been held in this locality, resulting in the establishment of several flourishing churches. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Dalton came to his present home and took charge of the Little Blue Cumberland Presbyterian church, 3 miles north of Blue Springs. In the same year the congregation erected a frame house of worship, which was in use for 40 years, with Mr. Dalton as pastor. It had a membership of 50 when he assumed charge, but it continued to grow, and in 1860 its membership had reached over 200. Again Mr. Dalton held successful revival services, receiving more than 50 converts into the church, at 2 meetings. He seemed specially fitted for this department of religious work, and the influence that he has exerted on the higher life of western Missouri has been immeasurable. Since the war he has also been the pastor of Pleasant Prairie church, formerly the Union church, at Bone Hill. It now stands on Pleasant prairie in LaFayette county, 9 miles east of his home. He has been the regular pastor of the Little Blue church for 41 years, of Pleasant Prairie church for 28 years, and for about 15 years was pastor of the Chapel Hill church, from which service he retired 2 years since. He organized the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Blue Springs, of which he remained in charge for 2 years.
The Little Blue church has now about 100 members, but the churches at Blue Springs, Lee's Summit and Wood's Chapel are all the outgrowth of Little Blue. The last named was organized by Rev. William Horn about 1847, with 5 members, namely: Aquilla Lobb and wife and Rev. Cornelius Yeager and wife, and a Negro who belonged to Mr. Lobb. There are still some members connected with the church who were there when Mr. Dalton assumed the pastorate. These include Calvin and Andy Lowe, William N. Crenshaw, J. A. Steele and Mrs. Daniel DeWitt.
Rev. Mr. Dalton was married on the 30th of November, 1865, to Miss Lucy Jane Crump, daughter of Samuel Crump, of Sniabar, who had been one of his pupils in the public schools and whom he had baptized into the church at the age of 15 years. Their family members 3 children: Samuel Grigsby, who was born June 12, 1867, and aids in the cultivation of the home farm; Mary Elizabeth, who is engaged in teaching; and Paulina Agnes, at home.
In 1871 Mr. Dalton moved upon the farm which he has since made his home. He makes his ministerial work his chief duty in life but in his leisure hours engages in the cultivation of his farm and the improvement of his land. In politics he is independent, supporting the man whom he thinks best qualified for the office. His career has been such as to commend him to the regard of all, of both his own and other denominations, and the most genuine respect is universally extended him.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.