Pioneers of Marion County by Wm. M. Donnel, 1872

Part II, Chapter XVI

Red Rock Township Continued - First Preachers - Pardo, the Missionary -
His Adventure at Red Rock - Poor Success with the Indians - Anecdotes of Spurlock -
First District School in the North Part of the Township

Among the first regularly authorized ministers of the Gospel who first preached within the limits of Red Rock township, were Johnson, of the M. E. church, and M. J. Post, of the Baptist; both in ‘44 and ‘45. Mr. Johnson’s regular appointment was at the house of Joel Worth.

Another preacher, named Pardo, also came to Red Rock at an early date, and claimed to have been sent by the government as a missionary to the Indians. On his arrival he asked the white people of Red Rock village if they desired preaching. Being answered in the affirmative, and that they were even anxious for the gospel, he made an appointment, and preparations were immediately made for the occasion. Seats were laid down, and a large goods box provided for a stand.

After having gone through with the ordinary preliminaries for preaching, the Rev. Mr. Pardo mounted his box and began his discourse, waxing warmer and louder as he preached. But suddenly, and to him most unexpectedly, in the midst of one of his most eloquent flights, down came the box, preacher and all, causing quite a sensation among the congregation. Thinking it merely an accident, he remounted the box and resumed his discourse; but only got fairly going again when the accident was repeated. This was too much for poor Pardo. He concluded that where such an accident could happen twice in close succession, it must have had help, and was not very anxious of his success there as a minister of the Gospel.

He thereupon concluded to leave the people of Red Rock to their own destruction, and turn his attention to the real object of his mission - the Indians. But here it appears that he was destined to meet with little more encouragement than he received from the whites. When preaching to a party of them at the Phelps trading house, on Lake Prairie, relating the story of the cross, and exhorting his hearers to repentance, one of them interrupted by asking who killed the son of God, white man or Indian. “White man,” said Pardo, who could not very properly avoid answering the question. “Then let white man repent,” rejoined the Indian; “If God had sent his son to the Indians they would not have killed him.”

At another time he was preaching to Keokuk’s band, telling them that if they would repent of their sins and believe in God, when they died they should go to a land flowing with mild and honey. Keokuk, who entertained so little confidence in the promise that he was disposed to make it a subject of ridicule, replied that for his part he didn’t like milk or honey, but if he, Pardo, would take him to a place where corn and whisky were plenty, he would go.

We know not if Mr. Pardo continued his missionary labors, in opposition to these discouraging evidences of unbelief; but if he did he must have been endowed with a full share of apostolic faith.

An anecdote of the notorious Spurlock is related as having transpired at Red Rock in the winter of ‘44 and ‘45. Spurlock, it may be remembered, claimed to be a preacher of the M. E. Church, and in spite of frequent expulsions and impositions of silence continued to preach occasionally. The principal charges against him were: his reputation as a maker and vendor of bad money, a charge all but substantiated; and a weakness for whisky. With a certain class he was said to be quite popular as a preacher. When he wished to preach he would obtain a jug of whisky, and this would scarcely fail to secure for him a crowd of hearers of his particular class, who liked his preaching for the sake of his liquor. At the time referred to Spurlock was crossing the river at Red Rock, moving west, when his wagon wheels cut through the ice so that he could get no further without help; so he applied to the citizens of the place, and a few volunteered. After the vehicle had been placed upon safe ground once more, the owner proceeded to manifest his thanks for their kindness by bringing forth his jug. None were disposed to slight the offer, and he concluded the performance by a hearty drink. Then, having restored the vessel to its place in the wagon, he turned to his helpers, and with much apparent sincerity, told them if they would find him a house for the purpose he would preach to them that night. They answered that they would, and Mr. J. D. Bedell kindly opened his cabin for the occasion. The novelty of the circumstance drew quite a number together, and the Rev. Mr. Spurlock entertained them with a well timed discourse, in the course of which he took occasion to reply to some insinuations that had been made about his counterfeiting. Without denying it he said: “It is true that I make my own money, and I am not ashamed to acknowledge it. So far from that, if some of you will come to my wagon in the morning, I will show you the tools that I do it with.”

This was fair, and uttered in such a plausible manner that some two or three persons, who believed confidently in the old fellow’s reputation as a bogus manufacturer, thought they might have their curiosity gratified by a sight of the moulds, and, possibly, get an explanation of the process of using them. We have no right to say exactly what motive prompted this desire for knowledge. It may have been a good one. So, early next morning they waited upon Mr. Spurlock at his camp, and reminded him of his promise. And he proceeded immediately to fulfill it. Going to the back part of his covered wagon, he took out an ax, a maul and some iron wedges.

“Here, gentlemen,” said he, “are the tools I make my money with. I’m not ashamed nor afraid to let you see them.”

Thereupon the curiosity seekers vanished, rather ashamed of their folly in supposing that the wily old rogue would be so indiscreet as to initiate them into the mysteries of a business scarcely safe for him to follow secretly.

Spurlock was a person of remarkably tender sensibilities in relation to some things, that made him amusingly eccentric. An instance is related of him that occurred during his residence at a place called Brim’s Point, Wapello county. He was the owner of a favorite cat, an animal that, for some cause or other, he was much attached to. But it came to pass that said cat died - died a natural death notwithstanding the seven lives reputed to belong to the species - causing its bereaved master almost inconsolable grief. In token of his love for the departed, he provided her a coffin, gave her a decent burial, and marked the place with a mound. To an acquaintance who chanced to stop at his house a short time after the funeral, he told with grief-choking utterance and swimming eyes, the story of his bereavement. He then took his visitor to the grave, and there, with the agony of one bereft of an only child beloved, he wept and related the history and virtues of the departed pussy.

Rev. Jas. L. Warren, whose history has already been given, was also among the pioneer preachers in this part of the county.

The first Sunday School, we may repeat, was conducted by Claiborn Hall, and the first district school in the northern part of the township, by Margaret Brown, (now Mrs. Pendray,) in 51, and in what is now district No. 5.

Transcribed by Mary E. Boyer, 12/06, reformatted by Al Hibbard 12 Oct 2013.