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Historical Sketches of Iowa Baptists, 1886
S. H. Mitchell
Published
by Burdette Co., Burlington, Iowa
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE ENGLISH RIVER ASSOCIATION -- KEOKUK, IOWA --
POWESHEIK AND OTHER COUNTIES -- ORGANIZED
IN 1860 -- 1860 to 1886
THREE new Associations were organized in 1860. One of
these was the English River Association. This body was
organized, and had its first meeting with the Church at
{South English. Rev. J. C. Miles was its first cleric. There
were in the organization 8 churches, 5 of which had never
been associated. The following is the list: Brooklyn, W.C.
Miles pastor, 13 members; Cedar Creek, J. Frey, 40; Clear
Creek, E. Ward, 48; Deep River, J.C. Miles, 31; Montezuma,
11 members; 2nd Pella, Wm. Elliott, 102; 2nd Sigourney, J.
Frey, 59; and South English J. Frey, 50. Total 370, of whom
84 had been baptized and 134 received from all sources
during the year, 36 had been baptized at 2nd Pella, 13 at
Sigourney, and 20 at Deep River. The field of the new
Association lay in Keokuk. Poweshiek, Iowa, Mahaska, and
Marion counties.
1861: In
1861 the Association met with the Deep River Church at
Dresden, Poweshiek county. J.H. Sanders was secretary. Rev.
J.C. Miles wrote of this field then: "We look upon a large
portion of our Association limits as Missionary ground."
Some of the churches had already received aid from the
Convention but they were very feeble and would still need
it. $85.78 bad been contributed in 1861. A good beginning
for this pioneer body.
A good revival interest when
the Association was organized seems somewhat to have abated.
Only 10 baptisms reported. Rev. Samuel West is preaching at
2d Sigourney and South English, (There is no 1st Sigourney
Church.) Rev. J.C. Miles was missionary of the Convention,
preaching at Dresden and Brooklyn. The latter piece was at
the time "the terminus of the Mississippi & Missouri River
R.R., now the Chicago & Rock Island.''
1862:
The Third annual meeting, in 1862, was held at
Indianapolis, in Mahaska county. Samuel Harlan, clerk.
Howard Grove, Madison, Marengo and Martinsburg Churches were
added. The Martinsburg Church came from the Oskaloosa
Association, and was organized in 1852. There are now 493
members in twelve churches. Rev. J. M. Wood is the pastor at
Howard Grove. Second Pella and Sigourney are without
pastors. Rev. Wm. Elliott is preaching for the Madison
Church, six miles north of Oskaloosa and has baptized 16 of
the 36 reported. The anniversary in 1863 was at Martinsburg.
Samuel Harlan still clerk. Rev. O.L. Crittenden has become
pastor at 2nd Pella, Rev. J. Frey at Sigourney; no longer
called 2d Sigourney. A church appears at Millersburg with 9
members, J.C. Miles, pastor. In the winter of 1863 the
writer, having just received his appointment as General
Missionary and Financial Agent of the Iowa Baptist State
Convention, made his first trip, on horse back, down through
the region of which we now write, Montezuma, Dresden,
Millersburg; over the bleak, snow covered prairies, from
settlement to settlement; the results of course were meager,
but they were something, and they marked the beginning of a
period, now looked back to through the vista of nearly a
quarter of a century with deepest interest, as one of great
blessing to the worker, and it may be humbly hoped to some
others as well. Rev. J. C. Miles was one of the nine
missionaries of the Convention that year including the
general missionary, and the little Association is credited
with the honorable sum of $138.25, contributed to its
treasury.
1864: The Association met at Sigouruey in
1864. S. Harlan, clerk. The Montezuma Church does not
appear. We were present about 1860 at a council for
recognition of a church at Montezuma. There was a good deal
of zeal in the council if not in the church, for the
establishment of a live gospel church in
this county
seat. But alas! the name appears on the records for the next
three years with 10 members, no pastor, so far as appears no
services, no administration of the ordinances and then
disappears. Query: was there ever a Baptist Church at
Montezuma? One lesson we learn by such experiences, namely,
that we cannot build a New Testament Church in any place
unless the Lord give us lively stones to build into the
structure. True, there were excellent Christians in this
little band at Montezuma, and there may have been at the
time good reason to hope for growth, but changes came about,
and hence the result we have noted above. The year 1864
seems to have been a fruitful one. One hundred and
twenty-three persons were baptized and there were 704
members. The Richland Church, John T. Walker, pastor,
was added to the list. There was a church organized at
Richland in ] 850, and for several years belonging to the
Oskaloosa Association, but of late the name has disappeared.
Brother Frey, pastor, reported 30 baptisms at Sigourney and
27 at Cedar Creek (Indianapolis) Wood at Madison Church 23,
Miles at Marengo 11, and West at South English 13.
1865: In 1865 the Fifth
Anniversary was at Howard Grove. Fremont Church from the
Oskaloosa Association and the Brushy Bend and Rock Creek
Churches were received. It was another year of revivals; 116
baptisms, 184 additions, and 859 members. Rev. O. L.
Crittenden has been pastor of the 2d Fella Church since 1863
and reports 26 baptized; Frey at Sigourney 10, Wood at
Howard Grove 15, and at Madison 27. When we record these
successes in winning souls, and then remember the churches
as they are known a little later we are reminded of the
Savior's words ill reference to the lepers that were
cleansed, "Where are the nine?" But we rejoice that there
were some to "give glory to God." In 1866 the Association
was to meet at 2d Fella" Rev. S. West clerk. Deacon Samuel
Harlan had served as clerk four years. Five new churches
were added, viz.: Cherry Grove, Farmersville, Forest Home,
Little Mount and Pleasant View. Rev. A.P. Berry is pastor at
Fremont, R. M. Tracy at Forest Home and Pleasant View, and
S.E. Nelson at Richland. Rev. Wm. Elliott labored as
Missionary of the Association, receiving $550 for his
services, besides which the churches of the Association
contributed $115.90 to the Convention treasury in 1866.
1867: South English
entertained the Association in 1867. The Agricola, New
Haven, Pleasant Ridge, and South River Churches were
received. The name of the Clear Creek Church is changed to
Talleyrand. There are now 24 churches, 8 pastors, 230
baptisms reported, 408 additions from all sources, and 1235
members. The growth in 1867 is something remarkable. It is a
revival year throughout the state, the whole number of
baptisms being 1673, the largest number reached since 1857,
when there were 1800 baptized. Eight of the 24 churches have
meeting houses, viz: Cedar Creek, Fremont, Howard Grove, New
Haven, 2d Pella, South English, Forest Home, and Sigourney.
On this field of 24 churches and over 1200 members, ten
years earlier there were not to exceed four or five churches
and perhaps 150 members.
1868: In
1868 the Association met at Indianapolis. J. McCoy clerk.
Rev. R. M. Tracy had been for two years Missionary of the
Convention in a part of this field. In acknowledging the
favor of the Convention in his report he says, "though we
shall attempt to sustain ourselves, it will be a pleasure to
welcome your agent in our mids'. We believe it is 'more
blessed to give than to receive.'" In 1869 Marysville was
the place of meeting. Samuel Harlan Moderator, James McCoy
clerk. The revival of the last two or three years has in a
measure subsided; 71 baptisms are reported, and 1381
members; 29 of the baptisms were at the South River Church,
S. Ferguson, pastor. Rev. J.G. Craven had been pastor a year
or so at 2d Pella, but had resigned. Met in 1870 at Agricola
Church. Bro. McCoy still clerk. Rev. M. Gregson is preaching
at Agricola and Little Mount, S.E. Nelson at Cedar Creek and
Springfield — the latter a new organization with 22 members,
12 of whom were baptized during the year. Wm. Elliott at
Cherry Grove and Linn Grove, G. W. Cutting at Deep River; S.
Ferguson at Farmersville and South River, R.M. Tracy at
Forest Home, H.H. Parks, at Howard Grove, O. L. Critenden at
his old place in 2d Pella, and Amos Pratt at Sigourney and
South English. The value of church property in the
Association is $20,500. In 1871 met at Cherry Grove, Mahaska
county. Rev. J.W. Coffman clerk. Baptisms 119. Rev. O.M.
Merrick was pastor at Brooklyn and at Malcomb, a new
organization on the Rock Island railroad. Rev. J. McCoy at
Cedar Creek (Indianapolis), G.M. Vallandingham at North
River, G.W. Dowd at Fremont and Richland, H.A. Sarvis at
South River, J.W. Coflmanat Sigourney, and M. Gregson at
Little Mount and Springfield. The Little Mount Church, seven
miles west of Montezuma, is the oldest anywhere in its
vicinity, having been organized in 1855. Brother Gregson,
whose home is here, was probably instrumental in its
organization. He was here in 1856. Forty-one baptisms were
reported at Rock Creek (What Cheer), and 24 at South
English.
1872: Met in
1872 at Sigourney. Rev. S. West has returned to the pulpit
at South English and Wm. Elliott at Cherry Grove. Agricola
now numbers 160, 15 of whom have been baptized during the
year, H.A. Sarvis pastor. Prairie View Church is just
received, with 18 baptisms and 33 members, S.E. Nelson
pastor. The Howard Grove, New Haven and Talleyrand Churches
united, in 1870, with the Washington Association. The
anniversary in 1873 was at Springfield. Rev. A.W. Sutton has
become pastor at 2d Pella, J.C. McSpadden at South River.
Met in 1874 at Little Mount. Rev. J.T. Long appears as
pastor at Richland. For the last three years James McCoy, S.
West and J. Frey have served as clerks. For the years 1875
to 1880 inclusive, the anniversaries have been at Richland,
What
Cheer, South English, North River, Fairview Church
and Fremont. Brethren West and McCoy served as clerks.
Brother West for 1875 and 1880, and Brother McCoy the four
intervening years.
1875:
In 1875 the Agricola Church seven miles southeast of
Montezuma, reported 4 baptisms and 100 members, against 160
three years before. This church, organized in 1867, out of
the raw quarry as we might say, and reporting the next year
110 members, has a history that will do to study as a type
of its class. 9 of 16 churches in the Association in 1875
report no additions and 10 of them no preaching. In 1876
there is some increase, 87 baptisms were reported, and 843
members against 761 the previous year. Rev. J. M. Wood is at
Fremont and Fairview, and reports on the two fields 43
baptisms. Rev. T.L. Crandall, a recent student of the
Central University, is settled at Sigourney. Rev. E.B.
Porter preached at Rock Creek (What Cheer) and at Prairie
View. In 1877 Rev. H. Whitney appears as pastor of the
Springfield Church, now Delta, and in 1878 S.J. Davis at
Cherry Grove. The 2d Pella Church, after a career, at first
prosperous, then variable, then of steady decline, has
finally disappeared from the records. Some very
excellent spirits have been in the ministry and in the
membership of that church and it had its day of usefulness
and made an honorable record. Its contributions to the
benevolent work of the denomination were exceptionally
liberal. Though the candle stick may not be longer needed in
that place, the light that was kindled upon it has not gone
out. loka reports with B. Hollingsworth pastor in 1879, and
Brother Crandall has resigned a three years' pastorate at
Sigourney. S.E. Nelson, S.J. Davis, M. Gregson, J. Grey,
G.M. Vallandingham, and S. West are the pastors.
1880: In 1880, R.M. Tracy
has assumed the pastorate at loka, and reports 14 baptisms
and 57 members. The Rock Creek Church has changed its name
to What Cheer. Rev. James Frey, Sr., who came to Iowa when
he was seventy years old, and who was instrumental in
organizing the Rock Creek Church, quietly passed to his rest
January 3, after two years' painful suffering from cancer.
From 1881 to 1886, the Anniversaries were held at What
Cheer, loka, Sigourney, South English, What Cheer again and
Fremont. Its records were kept for the respective years by
S. West, James McCoy, West again, and McCoy the last three
years. In 1881. we find F.N. Byram pastor at Fairview,
and in 1882 A.C. Edwards at Sigourney and Delta. In 1883 H.
Shallenberger is preaching at loka and James
Jeffries at
What Cheer, and in 1885 A. H. Lyons at Sigourney. A number
of pastors in this Association have done patient and steady
work in their fields for many years; notably Brother Gregson
at Little Mount, fifteen or more years of steady work,
Brother West at South English and Brother Frey at Sigourney
and other points. Mention has been made of Agricola Church.
A. comparison of this and the Little Mount Church, about the
same distance in opposite directions from Montezuma, the
county seat of Poweshiek county, will give a fair
illustration of two opposite types of Church life. From the
organization of the Agricola Church it was but a very few
years until it numbered 160 members, most of whom had been
baptized into its fellowship. Then it began to
decline
as rapidly — nothing to report, and in about fourteen years
from its organization disappears from the records. For three
or four years S.E. Nelson was the successful pastor, then
for a few years more there were different supplies, and
after about eleven years no further service reported. On the
other hand, from the organization of the Little Mount Church
in 1855 Rev. M. Gregson, with an occasional year or two of
intermission, has been their steady pastor, most of the time
doubtless laboring at his own charges, and though in an
obscure field with limited opportunities for growth, there
have been many evidences of church life through at least 25
years of its existence. In 1885 there12 churches, 7 pastors,
36 baptisms reported and 705 members. In 1886 there is not
much to report. This Association is evidently suffering
depletion from the same causes as many others in the older
parts of the State, and there may be causes peculiar to
itself. It has no strong churches. The only church numbering
100 is Sigourney. The largest number of baptisms in the last
six years was 56 in 1884. The average per year has been less
than 30. |
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