Missouri American History and Genealogy Project-Putnam County

PUTNAM COUNTY MISSOURI AHGP
History of Putnam Co. Churches
"History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam and Schuyler counties, Missouri," 1888

Methodism was introduced into Putnam County in 1841, but data with reference to its workings and success are so meager that no satisfactory account can be given previous to the split in the great body of the church in 1844-45. In this latter year the Methodist Episcopal Church South took possession of the field, and held it until 1852, when Eev. A. J. Wall was sent to Putnam County, on what was then known as Putnam mission. Rev. Mr. Traidor was the presiding elder. For some time the church suffered much from persecution, many times fearing attacks from mobs because of her devotion to the cause of human liberty. In 1853 Rev. Nathan Cordroy was sent on this mission. He was a young man, was faithful to his charge, and met with considerable success. In 1854 Rev. John Carr came to what was then known as the Unionville mission. The troubles in Kansas, however, gave the Methodist Church in this county considerable trouble, as its members and ministers were almost exclusively opposed to slavery extension, and they were often threatened with being driven from the land. But, notwithstanding this, they remained firm and true to their convictions of right. In 1855 Rev. Mr. Duree came to the mission and remained through that year and the next. During these two years nothing of peculiar interest occurred except the continued persecutions above alluded to. Eev. Charles Hubbard was on the mission in 1857 and 1858, with Rev. John James presiding elder, and in 1859 Rev. L. F. Walden was on the mission. In 1860 Rev. Stephen Norman came to the charge, and " during the year there were many additions to the church, but very few of them were truly converted, and did not even retain the form of godliness, while they were entirely destitute of the power, and in consequence of this were of no great help to the church." In 1861 the great rebellion came, and the cause of Methodism in Putnam County went down, and every one went his own way for a time. While the clangor of war was heard in the land there was but little prosperity in Christian churches. Nothing of record can be found from 1861 to 1864, but in the latter year Rev. William Hanley was presiding elder, and Stephen Norman, presiding clerk, and some 300 were added to the church in the entire circuit. But few of these, however, were converted, which left the church spiritually-low. In 1865 Rev. S. F. New was on the circuit, and in 1866 Rev. N. Cordroy was appointed, and traveled two years, with some success in consolidating the work and collecting the scattering sheep into the fold. In 1868 Rev. H. A. Winn was appointed as a supply, and, though young, became very popular. At the close of 1868 the circuit was divided, the Crabtree appointment and all east of that being organized as the Omaha circuit. In 1869 Rev. Mr. Winn was returned to Union ville circuit, and had great success. At the beginning of the conference year 1870, Rev. Truman A. Hull was appointed to this mission as a supply, but in this relation to the church had great difficulty from the fact that many of the members had come to look upon a supply with an unconquerable, or perhaps cherished, aversion, and in this state of feeling made an unjust war upon the pastor. Besides this, there was another trouble in the church. There was, the pastor thought, much need of discipline in the church, many of the members refusing to conduct their lives according to the strict rules of Methodism, and in enforcing dis- cipline some of the oflBcers of the church failed to stand by the pastor, as it was thought by still others they ought to do. On the whole, the work of Rev. Mr. Hull for his first year was a success, a protracted meeting of eleven days and nights having been held resulting in thirty-five conversions and in twenty-five additions to the Union vilJe Church, and twenty -five additions to other churches on the circuit. At the conference Mr. Hull was returned to the church, but found, at the beginning of his second year, arrayed against him an element composed, as he thought, of those who had been dismissed, and of others who feared they would be dismissed, because of neglect of duty. Scandalous reports were also industriously circulated against him, which were without foundation, merely for the purpose of weakening if not of destroying his influence in nearly all parts of the circuit, the result of all of which was that, at the first quarterly meeting of 1871, the matter was brought up and discussed, and, while some of the members nobly stood by their pastor, yet at the close of the discussion a resolution was adopted as follows: "That we desire the removal of Rev. T. A. Hull, because of outside influences against his usefulness," whereupon he was removed by the presiding elder, April 22, 1871. He was succeeded by Rev. L. M. Bonnet soon afterward, who remained until March, 1872, when Rev. N. M. Enyeart came and remained one year. He was succeeded in the spring of 1873 by Rev. H. Deshler, and he in 1874 by Rev. Abner Orr, who remained two years, and was succeeded in 1878 by Rev. J. G. Thompson; Rev. John Cavett came in the spring of 1878; Rev. L. T. McNeiley, in the spring of 1879; Rev. E. H. Brumbaugh, in 1882; Rev. I. S. Ware, in 1883; Rev. J. S. Wilson, in 1886, and the present pastor, Rev. Loren V. Ismond, in the spring of 1887.

In February, 1869, it was announced that the Methodist Episcopal Church in Unionville was making arrangements to build a church, a committee having been appointed to draft a plan, and ascertain the probable cost. Progress, however, was not very rapid. The building now standing at the northeast corner of First and F Streets was erected in 1874, and was dedicated on Sunday, August 25, 1878, by Rev. Nathan Sumate, of Louisiana, Mo. ; Miss Fannie Eummel presided at the organ. The building is of brick, and cost about $3,000. With the lot upon which it stands it is now worth about $4,500.

St. John Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about 1853, by Peter Duree, but who were the original members is not now known, nor much of the history of the church previous to 1876, when the building of a frame church edifice was commenced. This building stands in Block 2 in the town of St. John. This edifice was dedicated November 4, 1877, by Rev. Dr. Hall, of Quincy University. The cost of the church itself was $2,082.62, and on the morning of the day of dedication, there was still a debt of $685.37, and at the meeting, this fact being made known, $727.80was immediately subscribed. The ceremony of dedication was then proceeded with by Elder Boyle. The names of the pastors of this church have been Peter Duree, P. Strait, J. F. New, Nathan Cordroy, William Brown, Samuel Baker, John Cavett, William Stanner and John Kobbe. The present membership of the church is forty. The church building is owned jointly by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Baptists, Presbyterians, and United Brethren, the former owning one-half, and the other three each one-sixth of the property. As the Presbyterians have no church organization now, it is used by the other three: by the Baptists on the first Sunday of each month, by the Methodists on the second and fourth Sundays, and by the United Brethren on the third.

The Crabtree class (Methodist Episcopal Church) was organized in 1852 by Rev. A. J. Wall. The original members were John Crabtree, Avarilla Crabtree, William Shearer, Sarah C. Shearer, Mahala Davis, Jefferson Davis, James Barnes and Henry Barnes. This class met at the residence of John Crab- tree for five or six years, the residence being a log cabin. Later it met at what is called the Victor school-house, on Section 8, Township 65, Range 18. This class is now in quite a fiourishing condition.

West Liberty Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about 1856, the first members being Henry Smith and wife, J. A. Harbert and wife, James Lockade and wife, Thomas Harbert, John Bonebright and wife, George Goodridge and wife, Jane Dunn, John Newell and wife, Sarah Calpha, and others whose names can not be learned. This class first worshiped in a private house, and afterward in a school-house, and in 1884 built a frame church edifice 24-x36 feet, which cost about $800. It stands on Section 27, Township 66, Eange 20. It was dedicated in March, 1884, by Bev. John Curl, of Glasgow College. The pastors have been Kev. Messrs. Duree, Anderson, Hollingsworth, Cordray, Messner, King, Baker, Stanner, Cavett, Pate, and Kobbe, the latter being the present pastor. The membership of the church is now about forty -five. There is here a prosperous Sunday-school, of which John Bonebright is superintendent, and which has about twenty scholars in attendance; on the average.

Salem class, Methodist Episcopal Church, was organized about the fall of 1872, and a church building erected the same fall, at a cost of $1,500. The pastors have been Revs. E. J. King, William Stanner, J. O. Taylor, J. M. Pate, and the present pastor, Rev. John Kobbe. The present membership is forty.

At the close of the conference year, 1870-71, the classes of the Methodist Episcopal Church stood as follows: Unionville class, No. 1; McKay class. No. 2; Mount Zion class, No. 3; Dorset class. No. 4; Koup class. No. 5; Locust class, No. 6; Mason class, No. 7; Good Hope class, No. 8; Guffey class. No. 9, and Vaughn class. No. 10.

The Christian Church. � The Unionville Christian Church was originally organized about 1865, with about twelve or fourteen members. The families constituting this original organization were those of Joseph R. Stille, the Steeles, Agees, Applegates, A. Lemen and Mrs. Samuel Brice. This organization, however, was short-lived, but soon a revival meeting was held in the town which resulted in the formation of a church of about seventy members. Preaching was conducted principally in the court-house for some time by Elder John D. Humphreys, who was afterward for many years pastor of the church. In 1868 arrangements were made for the erection of a church building 30x44 feet in size, which was completed in 1869, and dedicated on Sunday, October 10, 1869, by Elder J. Walden. The building is a frame one, and in its construction a debt was incurred of about $1,000, and at the time of the dedication a subscription paper was circulated for the purpose of raising money to cancel this debt, resulting in the raising of $600. At a concert and festival held Friday night December 24, 1869, $115 more was raised. Meetings were held during the week by Elder J. C. Porter, of Leon, Iowa, but no one united with the church as the result of his efforts. This was the first regular church building erected in Putnam County. The trustees of the church at the time were H. L. Phillips, 0. A. Bison, H. D. Marshall, E. E. Harvey and J. Geisinger. Among the preachers who have filled the pulpit of this church have been the following : Elder Down, who was one of the very early ones ; Elder William Cowley, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, who held a series of meetings commencing Friday, July 19, 1867, and continuing over Sunday; Elder J. C. Sevey, of Iowa, preached occasionally in 1869; and others have been, Elders J. D. Humphreys, E. E. Harvey, S. H. Hedrick, S. B. Downing, C. P. Evans, W. K. Slater, and the present pastor, E. M. Smith, who commenced here in the spring of 1886. This church is now in a very flourishing condition, having a membership of about fifty. The first Sunday-school in Unionville was organized on Sunday, May 6, 1866. The superintendent was W. F. Wells ; secretary, W. P. O'Bryant ; librarian, Joseph R. Stille. There is also a Christian Church organization which meets in the Union Church, standing on Section 12, Township 66, Range 20. It was organized by Rev. John D. Humphreys, January 10, 1873. The original members were G. W. Warren, Charles Howard, Henry Bishop, A. N. Bradshaw; elders � William Bright, Henry Garver, James Wells; deacons � Elizabeth Howard, Julia Bright, B. P. Cook, Hannah Cook, Tempe CofPrin, Sarah Coffrin, Bmeline Lupton, Mary C. Cook, James Collins, Elizabeth Collins, David Parker, Nancy Parker, Anderson Hedge, Melissa Hedge, Harrison Hedge, Susan Lightfoot, Julian Chadwick, Mary Sciphers, Barbary Bradshaw, M. J. Fife, Suilda Somers, Sarah Shoptaw, Barbara W. Bradshaw, Susan Hedge, Parthena Collins, Tabitha Garver, William Bohanon, Sarah Gates, Charles S. Martin, Elizabeth C. Martin, Warren Howard and Ellen Howard. The present frame church building was erected in 1876, at a cost of $800. The pastors have been Revs. John D. Humphreys, H. H. Rice, Mr. Estes, Joab Padgett, and the present one is Elder Bates. The membership is now about seventy-five. There is a flourishing Sunday-school in connection with this church, of which Mr. Bruce is superintendent, and which has an average attendance of about sixty.

The Terre Haute Christian Church was incorporated June 12, 1874. An association had been formed previously, the first annual meeting of which was held at the Christian Church, June 6, 1874. The names of the incorporators were A. C. Davis, D. K. Trowbridge, William Parrish, A. D. Parrish, S. G. Barnett, George F. Stivers, James B. Fry, Edmond Cave, Charlotte Smith, Mary M. Wilson, Nancy Smith, Oliver Haight, J. E. Davis, Joseph Brown, Michael James, John W. Howard, M. V. Scovil, J. W. Baitmers, Catharine Trowbridge, Mary A. Davis, Elizabeth Barnett and Susan Trowbridge. This church is in good condition at present, with Elder Bates as pastor.

A Christian Church was organized in 1857, by Elder John D. Humphreys, at the Koup school-house. Since the erection, in 1879, of the Union Church at Lemon Station, it has worshiped therein. This church was dedicated by Elder Slater. The present membership of the church is sixty-five.

The Christian Union Church was organized in January, 1886, by Rev. J. M. Newell, with the following members: Henry Vermilion and wife, Sarah, John Vermilion, Hattie Vermilion, Sherman Vermilion, George Williamson, Emma J. Williamson, John Wiliamson, Fannie Williamson, Jane Walker, Jane Singleton, Frances Singleton, Abraham Good, Sarah J. Good, James Richie, Susan Kichie, Mary E. Eichie, Annie Eichie, Margaret Kaup, Wallace Jones, Juliet Dickson, Thursey Dickson, Nora Kaup, Flora Kaup, George Taylor and Fannie Taylor. This society worships in the Union Church edifice, at Lemen Station. The membership at present is twenty-seven, and the Rev. J. M. Newell is the pastor. The original officers of the church were: Henry Vermilion, elder; Wallace Jones, deacon, and George Williamson, steward.

The Protestant Methodists. The Methodist Protestant Church at Wyreka was organized in 1850, by Eev. Lewis Ellis. From a list of the names of the members of this church up to 1854, it is not possible to select the original ones. The first church building was begun about 1856. It was of hewn logs, and the roof, gables and windows were added in 1858, and the door, pulpit and seats were added in 1860. The present frame building was erected in 1874, and cost about $2,000. It stands on the northwest corner of Section 17, Township 66, Eange 21. Part of the plat is in Section 8. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Eev. George Wells, in December, 1874, and the dedicatory prayer was oflPered by Eev. T. L. Jeffers, then pastor. The entire list of pastors could not be obtained; the present pastor, is Eev. Andrew J. Johnson. The church is in a very satisfactory condition, having about thirty -five members.

The First Presbyterian Church. This was organized in 1874, by Eev. E. H. Howey, with the following members: Rev. E. H. Howey and wife, P. H. Harbert and wife, James Boner and wife, and Mrs. A. L. Gray. The church was incorporated as "The First Presbyterian Church of the United States of America," at Unionville, February 6, 1875, with the following incorporators: E. H. Howey, Laura E. Howey, James Boner, Mrs. Blisha Boner and Paul H. Harbert. A Sunday-school was organized in 1875, and on July 1 of that year a Sunday-school picnic and the laying of the corner-stone of the church occurred. A procession was formed with the Masonic Order of Unionville at the head, which marched to the church site, where the ceremony of laying the corner-stone was gone through with, and then the procession marched to Phillips' grove and held a basket picnic. The number of Sunday-school officers was 5, of teachers, 12, and of scholars, 109. The superintendent was Felix Lane; assistant superintendent, R. H. Howey; secretary, R. F. Little; treasurer, R. M. Brasfield, and librarian, Clarence Conger. The brick church building, on First Street, was so far completed in the fall of 1875, as to be used during the following winter for church purposes; and in the spring of 1876 the plastering and interior finishing was done so as to permit the meeting of the presbytery in the building. The church was dedicated by Rev. J. W. Allen, Synod ical Missionary 'for the State of Missouri, and cost when completed about |2,500. Rev. Mr. Howey remained with the church until 1878, and, after a short time, was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Goodison, who remained from the spring of 1879 to the fall of 1880. After him. Rev. Mr. Rees served the church, and also Mr. S. D. Conger, who was not then ordained. After preaching a few months in the summer of 1886, Mr. Conger went to the Northwestern Presbyterian University at Chicago, to complete his theological studies. The church membership now is thirty-three. The first choir in this church sang for the first time, July 9, 1876.

The Hartford Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized when Adair County extended to the Towa State line, on July 4, 1842, with thirteen members. It was the first church organized in the vicinity of Hartford, and about two miles to the eastward from the town. The original members were as follows: David Myers, Richard Humphreys, William Oglesby, James Criswell, Margaret G. Allen, Mary J. Humphreys, James Humphreys, Katharine D. Humphreys, Sarah Humphreys, Lutitia Cochran, Lutitia Kelley, Mary Oglesby, and Lucretia Myers. It was originally known as the New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Notwithstanding the church for the first five years of its history had considerable difficulty with some of its members, it grew very rapidly, having on July 30, 1846, 110 members, one of whom received that year was a colored man named Benjamin. In 1854 a frame building was erected, but at the present time it has no building, and the present membership of the church is only twelve.

Pleasant Home Presbyterian Church was organized before the war. A frame church was built in 1882, 24x40 feet in size, standing on Section 29, Township 65, Range 16.

United Brethren. Light Chapel, United Brethren in Christ, was organized in 1865, by Eev. D. E. Statton, with the following members and officers: Conrad Mullenix, leader; Reuben Beary, steward; Isabella Beary, Flora Mullenix, Mary Beary, Margaret Statton, Ollemna Statton, and D. E. Statton. The first place of worship was a school-house, which was used until 1882, when what is known as "Light Chapel" was built. It is a neat church building, and its erection was brought about in the following manner: During the winter of 1881-82 an interesting protracted meeting had been held in the Beary school-house under the direction of the Kev. G. W. Moore, the result of which was the determination to build a church. The house when completed was a neat frame structure 28x40 feet. It is located about two and one-half miles north of St. John, on a lot donated by Reuben Beary. Eev. Isaac Statton, of Lisbon, Iowa, preached the opening sermon from Matthew v: 2. The house cost $1,300. On the day of dedication, November 5, 1882, there yet remained a debt of $271.62, to pay which a subscription paper was circulated, and $351 was subscribed. This was in the morning. In the afternoon the dedicatory services occurred. The trustees consisted of Eev. D. E. Statton, J. D. S. Beary, Peter Bucher, Mulligan Miller and Charles W. Martin. The church stands on quite high ground, and from it can be seen about 200 dwellings, eight churches and seven school-houses. The present membership of this church is forty.

Graysville United Brethren Church was organized in 1865, by Rev. William Shanklin, who was the first pastor. He was followed by Eevs. Alfred Minear, William T. Gray, Mr. Louther, Alfred Minear again, and William Shanklin, the second, and several others whose names can not be ascertained. The present pastor is Eev. Ira McEdy, and the membership of the church is thirty-four. The church building is a frame structure, commenced in 1879, and dedicated in January, 1885, by Eev. William Beauchamp, presiding elder. The present membership of the church is about twenty-five.

There is also a church of the United Brethren in Christ at Lemen Station, organized in February, 1886, by the Rev. J. Riley Yount. The first members were George R. Hatfield, leader; John McNabb, steward ; Josie Hatfield, May Henness, Kate Henness, Mada Yount, Rebecca Yount, William O. Childress and Angeline Childress. Services are held in the Union Church at Lemon Station. The pastors have been Rev. J. Riley Yount and the Rev. J. W. Sickafoos, the present pastor.

The Free United Brethren Church. This is a new denomination or sect, established in 1874, by W. H. McPherson and others, as will appear as this narrative proceeds. Mr. McPherson, who was a member of the church of the United Brethren in Christ, and a minister in the church, withdrew his membership from said church, January 4, 1874, because that church made water baptism a test of membership; and also because it had bishops and presiding elders, considering the payment of their salaries a useless burden. He also believed the churches should select their own ministers, and that in general the church should be more republican in its form of government. On the 6th of January, 1874, aided by the instruction of Rev. W. H. Burns, he wrote the articles of faith and rules of government of the Free United Brethren Church, and on the 11th of January (Sunday), 1874, Mr. McPherson organized the first class of the Free United Brethren Church, at the McKinley school-house, Putnam County, consisting of the following named persons: W. H. McPherson, Nancy H. McPherson, Daniel Nape, August Wessell, Thomas W. Jones, Julia Ann Jones, George Orman, Sr., George Orman, Jr., Harriet Orman, Mary Jane Covett, Jane Morris and Susan Fisher.

The first annual conference of this new church at the McKinley school-house, December 12, 1874, was organized by the following ministers: W. H. McPherson, W. H. Burns, N. A. Nickson and J. O. Curl. W. H. Burns was received on transfer from the church of the United Brethren in Christ, N. A. Nickson and J. O. Curl were received on recommendation from the pastoral conference. The number of ministers at this conference was four, and the membership of the church was then eighty.

The third annual conference was held at the Union Church, in Putnam County, September 9, 1875. W. F. Gray and M. C. Thompson were received into conference, making the number of ministers eight. The fourth annual conference was held at Mount Zion Church, Sullivan County, September 5, 1877. E. Vernon and B. Willis were received into the conference, the latter, from his former standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mount Zion Church building was the first edifice of the kind erected for and donated to the Free United Brethren Church. The fifth annual conference was held at Fair View school-house, Adair County, August 29, 1878. N. F. Munn was received into conference on his former standing in the church of the United Brethren in Christ, he having been an elder in that church. George Shultz, E. A. Brisendine and B. Beck were also received into conference on examination and recommendation from their pastoral conferences. The number of ministers had thus increased to fourteen. The sixth annual conference met on the 4th of September, 1879. John McCallister, James Gladwell, John Willis and James Mest were received into conference at this time.

Classes in School-houses-- The various church organizations or classes of this denomination in Putnam County, are named from the school-houses in which they meet. The McKinley class meets at the McKinley school-house, about twelve miles northeast of Unionville, and has eight members. The Burns class meets at the Burns school-house, about ten miles southeast of Unionville, and has thirty-two members. The Andrews class meets at the Andrews school-house, about eight miles southeast of Unionville, and has thirty -five members. The Lone Star class meets at the Tjone Star school-house, about five miles southeast of Unionville, and has twenty -four members. Union class meets at Union Church, about seven miles east of Unionville, and has sixteen members. Bradshaw class meets at the Bradshaw school-house, and has fourteen members. Haynes class meets at the Haynes school-house, about fourteen miles southeast of Unionville, and has twenty members. Clark class meets at the Clark school-house, about fifteen miles southeast of Unionville, and has thirty-six members. Button Class meets at the Button school-house, about nineteen miles southeast of Unionville, and has twelve members. The total membership, therefore, of this denomination in Putnam County is 197. In the four counties, the histories of which are contained in this volume, the membership is about 750. The ministers of this church now laboring in Putnam County are Rev. Mr. Robison. Rev. James West, Rev. W. H. Burns, Rev. Mack Medlin and Rev. Silas Medlin.

The Universalists. � The first Universalist Church of Put- nam County was incorporated March 19, 1869, by the following persons: J. Lavenburg, H. H. Earhart, W. H. Carr, Henry C. Shelton, C. T. Triplett, A. J. Hoskinson, Milton Cauby, W. F. Staples, L. J. Staples, E. L. Forsha, S. A. Haynes, C. A. Elson, J. C. Richardson, Z. T. Brawford, D. Brasfield, T. J. Hoskinson and Ira D. Noggle. Services were kept up for some time by this organization, and the frame of a church building erected, biit work on the building ceased, and the frame at length fell down, and at the present time there is uo church belonging to the Universalists in the county. A Universalist State convention was held in the Christian Church in Unionville, October 18 and 19, 1878. There were present Revs. Dodge and Morris and Mrs. Morris, of Trenton; Rev. Forsher and Son, of Cincinnati, Iowa ; Rev. Samuel Newton and wife, of Grundy County ; Rev. William Livingston, of Galesburg, Ill.; Rev. Mr. Wilcox, of Putnam County ; and Richard Dornin, of Pollock. On Sunday the 19th, Rev. Mr. Dodge preached in the morning, and Rev. Mr. Livingston in the evening, and the services were very largely attended.

The Baptists. � St. John Baptist Church was organized July 29, 1865, by Eev. George W. Benton, with the following members: George W. Benton, Hannah Benton, John S. Benton, S. H. Gunn, Rosina Gunn, Daniel Torrey and Priscilla Torrey. The church building was erected in 1876-77; it stands on Block 2, St. John, Section 7, Township 66, Range 20, and it was dedicated, in November, 1877, by Prof. Hall. The erection of the building was the work of all denominations, but it is known by the name of the Methodist Episcopal Church, that denomination having the largest membership and the largest interest in the building. It is controlled by a board of nine trustees, selected, five from the Methodist Episcopal Church, one from the Baptist, one from the United Brethren, one from the Presbyterian and one from the world; and it is free to be used by all orthodox Christian people for religious services. The pastors of this church have been Revs. George W. Benton, L. B. Swallow, Elder Turton, L. G. Parker, and the present pastor, G. H. Gunn. The present membership of the church is forty-one.

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church was organized March 28, 1868, by Rev. Calvin Bentley, with the following members: Rev. Calvin Bentley and wife, J. M. Crist and wife, Mrs. Eliza Reynolds, Indiana Summers, Cordelia Dillner, Emily Albee, Angelina Wyckoff, Samuel Cristy and M. E. Cristy. A frame building was erected in October, 1882, at a cost of $750. It stands on Section 22, Township 66, Range 18. No dedicatory services have yet been held. The present membership of the church is thirty-six. Besides the first pastor, there have been with this church as pastors Revs. Peter Setters, Andrew Jackson, John R. Archer, and the present pastor. Rev. Zachariah Goins.

Liberty Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1870 by Elder Joseph W. Worthington, with about eleven members, as follows: M. E. Worthington, Leonard Ormsby, James A. Hinton, J. W. Worthington, Sarah Branscomb, Elizabeth Newman, Mary E. Branscomb, Sarah A. Moss, Phoebe Ormsby, Elizabeth Ewing and Martha Worthington. The pastors have been Elders U. H. Redding, J. W. Worbhington, James Holmes, and J. R. Archer, the present pastor.

The Catholics. � Unionville Catholic Church was organized some time previous to 1870, and a church building erected in 1871. At the time there were about thirty members, and the pastor was Eev. Father Kennedy, and in 1872 there were fifty members. Rev. Father Walsh came to this church in 1874, and Rev. Father Smith soon afterward, probably in the same year, and remained until his death, February 10, 1882. Rev. Father Carlin then came, and remained until November, 1882, and Rev. Father Victor in March, 1883, remaining until 1885, when he was followed by Rev. Father Hugo, who remained one year. Rev. Father Angelas came in 1886. The present membership of the church is about twenty-five, and they own an excellent piece of property in Unionville.

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