JONESBORO BAPTIST CHURCH

Union County Illinois Genealogy Trails

BAPTIST RALLY DAY

100TH ANNIVERSARY

OLD TIME PASTORS

STONE DOORSTEP OF LOG CHURCH

Baptist Rally Day
Ninety-fifth Anniversary Celebrated Last Sunday

 

            The Baptist church of Jonesboro held a rally day last Sunday and had a program that was of great interest to all who attended.  Incidentally the ninety-fifth anniversary of the church was celebrated although the anniversary date is really Dec. 25.  There was a good attendance from the opening to the closing of the program.

            The program began at the regular Sunday school hour with special music and a roll call at 10:30 and an address by Rev. C. W. Culp of Anna at 10:45.  At 11 o’clock there was a sermon by Rev. Meagean of Alto Pass.

            At 2 o’clock p.m. a history of the church was read by Ed Lee and from it we glean the following facts.

            The church was organized Dec. 25, 1818, at the house of Joel Bogges, Rev. James P. Edwards being the moving spirit, and the following names were subscribed to the covenant:  Benjamin Hall, Joel Bogges, David Sams, Moses Atherton, John Brown, Rebecca Hall, Fanny Bogges, Jane Thorpe, Jane Graham, and Thomas Sams.  John Brown was appointed clerk.

Elizabeth Brown received into membership and adjournment taken to Saturday before the fourth Sunday in January, 1819.  The Baptist church of Jonesboro soon made its influence felt and as early as 1821 it had organized Ridge church, midway between Alto Pass and Pomona; Cave Creek in October 1826, Union in July 1838, Mississippi, opposite Cape Girardeau, in September 1830; Frogge Settlement in October 1841; Big Creek in April, 1852, Pleasant Ridge in July 1856; Anna in December 1859; Eaves in November 1861, Sublette in December 1861, South Pass in January 1862.  Some of the foregoing are now non existent.  John Kimmel was licensed to preach in November 1819; Jeremiah Brown in February 1820; Aaron McIntosh in July 1820; W.C. Hempstead in April 15; D. S. Nusbaum in September 1864; C.G. Flaugh in October 1864; C. W. Porter in February 1878.  James P. Edwards, the first pastor, served eleven years and was succeeded in the following order by Aaron McIntosh, Jeremiah Brown, Simon Dilday, Martin Atherton, David L. Phillips, H. H. Richardson, James A. Morton, H. E. Hempstead, David Butler, Alonzo Durham, J. A. Dacas, S. L. Wisner, J. S. Mahan, John D. Lamer, S. P. Ives, David Culp, D. R. Sanders, A. N. Whittinghill, John W. Robinson, G. W. Danbury, Marshall Culp, Calvin Allen, T. J. Ratliffe, W. H. Carber, W. G. Melton, S. L. Carter, H. S. Lindsey, J. W. Reville, H. H. Wallace, J. N. Edmondson, and R. E. Carney, the present pastor, now in his sixth year and ranking second in length of service.  James P. Edwards, the first pastor, was born in Kentucky in 1782.  He had a fair education and practiced law in his native state.  He moved to Missouri in 1811, and from there to Jonesboro.  His last days were spent at his old home in Ballard county, where he died and was buried in 1857, being 75 years of age and having spent over 50 of these years in the ministry.  A curious incident of his pastorate at Jonesboro was baptizing of a black man in the Mississippi bottoms, by the name of Peter Riddle, and his action was approved by the church.  The first church house was built where the city cemetery now is and at the south end of it.  The present church was built in the 50s and remodeled a few years ago.  The clerks in their order have been John Brown, John McIntosh, Samuel Hunsaker, Isaac Bizzel, Thomas Sams, Andrew Corzine, Abel Corzine, C. G. Flaugh, who served 38 years, Thomas C. Cozby, John E. Lingle, D. W. Karraker, and Ed Lee.  Mrs. Rebecca Grear, who was received into the church June 24, 1848, more than 65 years ago, was present at roll call.

      About 100 responded at the church roll call.  The B. Y. P. U. gave a special program and a sermon by the pastor at 7 p.m. closed a most interesting day by the Baptist Church of Jonesboro.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, 7 Nov 1913)

The Centennial Anniversary of Jonesboro Church

Baptist Gather in Great Numbers to Celebrate

 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

            On last Friday evening began the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the organization of the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro.  The program for the old folks meeting, or an old time meeting, was carried out fully.  At “early candle lighting,” the house was full, the great majority dressed just as old-fashioned as possible, and the sight was rather a queer one.  Every style of ye olden time was in evidence, in fact it might have been termed a masquerade party as it was hard to distinguish by the candle light even those whom you knew best.

            The service began promptly at the lighting of the many candles that were fixed to the walls with holders and about the pulpit also an old time grease lamp flickered and blinked as though it had awakened from a real Rip Van Winkle sleep and was attempting to greet its friends of a century ago.  Pastor Ryan opened the meeting by lining out some of the very old hymns, which were admirably sung by the great throng that crowded the house, two lines at a time.  Many were present who worshipped here in those days.  Elder Julian Atwood of Marion, a former pastor, preached a great sermon, dwelling upon and emphasizing the necessity of finding and keeping the old paths, urging a straight out, open faced, every day religion.  He was at his best, and many thought it was the best effort he ever made in Jonesboro, which is some compliment.  Dr. W. P. Throgmorton of Marion, editor of the Illinois Baptist, was present and made a short address on the customs of years ago as he recalled them.  After the service the great crowd lingered and spent a time in social chat.  Never before has the writer seen the people unbend and show their delight in their faces as on this occasion.  Mrs. Mattie Cutler wore the oldest part of a costume of anyone, being a silk bonnet more than 100 years old and which came in for close inspection  and admiration.

            The next service was on Saturday evening, when after an old time evening, Elder C. S. Thomas of East St. Louis preached one of the characteristic sermons, noted for their warmth and appealing power.  Elder Thomas is also a former pastor of Jonesboro church.

            Sunday morning at the Sunday school hour, Elder B. F. Redman, secretary of the Illinois State Baptist Association, addressed the assemblage on the old and new in the Sunday school, which was well received.

            A picnic dinner was served in the church basement, and to use a slang expression, “it was some dinner,” such as the old mothers could have well been proud of.  Another good feature of this dinner was its quantity and an immense crowd appeased its hunger and regretted the fact of its limited capacity for such things.

            At 2 o’clock, Judge D. W. Karraker delivered an address of welcome to the visitors, and especially to the representatives of the churches of which this is the mother church, and which was replied to by members of the churches present.  Elder R. H. Tharp responded for Anna in a most pleasing talk.  W. P. Green for Cobden, in which he referred to the fact that as a boy he attended Sunday school in this old church.  T. M. McNeely responded for Lockard Chapel in a feeling way, which touched those present.  For Big Creek Charles O. Otrich made some appropriate remarks, the pastor of that church not being present.  Pleasant Ridge was not represented. Elder M. E. Ryan responded for the church in a telling way characteristic of him.  A history of the church was read by Elder Lee which consumed a little more than an hour.

            We failed to note to the proper place that at 11 a.m. Elder James N. Edmondson, of Atwood, Ill., delivered a masterly address which delighted the congregation taking for his theme “Christ the central figure of the church” as suggested in the first chapter of Revelation.  Elder Edmondson also delivered a powerful sermon at the evening service which many thought superior to his morning address.  “The spirit of Egypt shall fail,” quoted from the 16^th chapter of Isaiah, was the text from which he spoke.  Elder Edmondson has few equals as a pulpit orator and is also a deep reader and thinker and a student of men.

            As has been told in columns before, this church was organized Dec. 26, 1818, by a band of ten Baptists, nearly all of them from Kentucky and Tennessee.  They were Joel Boggess, Benjamin Hall, Davis Sams, Thomas Sams, Moses Atherton, John Brown, Rebecca Hall, Fanny Boggess, Jane Thorpe, and Jane Graham.  The presbytery consisted of Elders Thomas P. Green and James P. Edwards and Deacons James Randol and James Williams, from Old Bethel and Tywapity churches of Missouri.  Elder Edwards was the first pastor and continued as such for the first twelve years, and he also served one year some 30 years later.  He was a man far above the average for his day in learning and intelligence, and a fine writer as well as preacher.

            In addition to Elder Edwards, the following served this church as pastor in the order named:  Aaron McIntosh, Jeremiah Brown, Simeon Dilday, Martin Atherton, David L. Phillips, Henry H. Richardson, James A. Morton, H. E. Hempstead, David Butler, Alonzo Durham, Joseph A. Dacus, S. L. Wisner, I. S. Mahan, John D. Lamer, S. P. Ives, David Culp, David R. Sanders, A. N. Whittinghill, John W. Robinson,G. W. Danbury, Marshall Culp, C. Allen, T. J. Ratcliffe, W. H. Carner, W. O. Melton, S L. Carter, H. S. Lindsey, J. W. Beville, H. H. Wallace, J. N. Edmondson, D. E. Carney, Julian Atwood, C. S. Thomas, and E. M. Ryan, the present pastor.

            Abraham Hunsaker, the first man to build a home in what is now Union County, joined this church the first meeting after its organization.  He was a native of Pennsylvania.  He was the father of Samuel Hunsaker, the first clerk of Clear Creek Association and the grandfather of the late Elder James W. Hunsaker, of Anna.

            The church has erected two houses of worship.  The first one was a log building about the center of the old part of the Jonesboro Cemetery.  John McIntosh, one of the early members, donated two acres of land there to the church.  Later additional land was bought adjoining this tract on the north.  In the early days the cemetery was under the direction and care of the church, and rules were made for conducting it, requiring all who buried there to put up headstones or some definite mark, and a man was appointed to point out all unoccupied ground, etc.  The oldest mark in the cemetery is on a little headstone made of native sandstone and has been there 110 years.  The title to this old burying ground is still vested in the church, but it long since turned the care of it over to the city.

            The second house built is the one now occupied by the church and it has been remodeled twice.  This was built in 1849-50 and was occupied first in May 1850.

            The church was first a member of Bethel association of Missouri, up to 1824. Only July 12 of that year, this church together with Shiloh church and six churches in Missouri seceded from the old Bethel association and organized the Cape Girardeau association.  Hardshellism caused the split.  In 1830 this church took a letter from the latter body and what is now Clear Creek Association was formed, holding its first meeting with this church and from which the association took its name.  In September 1840, this church withdrew from the Clear Creek association, the Hardshell element having secured control of its policy.  It remained out of the body until 1847, when a few of the members met and resolved that they had acted unwisely and asked for membership again.  During this interim the old church was near death’s door, but upon the Missionary element regaining control of it began to prosper again.

            This church has licensed to preach the following:  John Kimmel, Jeremiah Brown, Aaron McIntosh, W. C. Hempstead, David S. Nusbaum, C. G. Flaugh, and C. W. Porter, and ordained to the full work of the ministry John Kimmel, Jeremiah Brown, Simeon Dilday, Joseph A. Dacus, David S. Nusbaum, and Frank Sisk. 

            The following have served as clerks:  John Brown, John McIntosh, Samuel Hunsaker, Samuel Atherton, Isaac Bizzel, Thomas Sams, Andrew Corzine, Abel Corzine, C. G. Flaugh, Thomas C. Cozby, Minnie J. Sanders, Ed Lee, D. W. Karraker, John E. Lingle, E. E. Gore, and W. E. Lemons, named in order of their service.  C. G. Flaugh was clerk 37 years, Ed Lee 18, the rest for one to nine years.

            There is in the history of this old church much that is of real interest, but space forbids scarcely a mention and we will close with the results of its missionary efforts within its own bounds.  The membership at first embraced a territory of something like 30 miles.  Many “arms” of the church afterward became strong churches, and many more are extinct or merged with other organizations.  Old Ridge Church, midway between Cobden and Alto Pass, was organized in 1821; Cave Creek, 1826; and Mississippi 1830.  A church was established in the Frogge Settlement in 1841, Big Creek in 1852, Pleasant Ridge in 1856.  A church was organized at Eaves school house in 1852, with 52 letters from this church.  In December 1858, 27 letters were given to form the Anna church.  A church of 25 members was formed at Sublett school house in the bottoms in 1851.  In January 1852, the Cobden church was organized with 14 letters from this church, and Lockard, west of Jonesboro, a few years ago with 36 letters.  Many of these churches have colonized others and thus the work has spread.

            The full history of the church as read Sunday will be published in pamphlet form, and it is hoped to get pictures of many of the older members for it as well as one of the church, with brief biographies.

            Wonder what the folks at the next centennial will think of us.

            Ed Lee

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 30 May 1919)

Old Time Pastors

Also, Reminiscent of Pillars of the

First Baptist Church of Jonesboro

 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

            Vancouver, B.C., May 28-Editor Gazette-In writing these recollections I am reminded of the lines,

            "How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood,

            When fond recollection presents them to view."

            True, there was no "old oaken bucket that hung in the well," but to supply the lack of that in the poet's happy dream, was there not a spring of limpid, living water nearby?  There was, and it surely is there yet, as "living water" is spoken of often in the Bible, in certain typified sense.  This spring is a part of the physical handiwork of the Lord.  We are told that in the end all things will pass away"but, the end is not yet."

            In the following lines I shall attempt to set down some of the scenes and to recall the names of some of the actors who did their part to make history in the Baptist Church of Jonesboro.  These recollections are intended to cover a period of about three decades beginning anywhere around the years 1859 or '60, at which time the political atmosphere disclosed dark and sometimes lurid backgrounds which threatened to bring on cyclones and storms that would lead-no one knew where.

            The first pastor of this church that I recall was Rev. Edward Hempstead, who I think came from New Orleans.  This was probably in 1858 or '59 (the church records no doubt would supply this date and others which I cannot).  He was a gentleman then past the middle age, of a rather distinguished if not pompous bearing.  He was of the distinguished cult known then as a southern gentleman, a crusader for southern rights and southern institutions.  No doubt it was held in the discipline of the church even at that strenuous time, that "politics was adjourned" as to pulpit.  Even so, the great Methodist church was rent in twain and a great political party gave out three tentacles in the violent seismic disturbance.  Dr. Hempstead was quite well educated though as I remember not thought to be brilliant, but conscientious.  He had two or three daughters who were quite popular in church affairs and socially, and as I have heard came to be quite prominent in affairs in the great struggle of the Lost Cause in their own south whither they departed.

            About the time Rev. Edward Hempstead departed came to the pastorate Rev. Frank Hempstead, a younger brother of the former.  He was held in high esteem by the membership and I think stayed several years.

            And along somewhere in those years which are growing more in the dim past, came one who was to play a leading part in the military civilian history of the state.  Just now he is merely pastor of Jonesboro Baptist church-Rev. D. L. Phillips.  He was no doubt methodical and logical, but surely not emotional (if that is a disadvantage)in his sermons.  He was no doubt an adroit politician, though I do not know of his injecting any of that in his discourses.  However, when war came and big events were in the making, he laid aside the clerical robe and was appointed by President Lincoln U. S. marshal, also to other positions.  I have been told often that Mr. Phillips once went through Cobden on an I. C. train with an old carpet bag containing one million dollars, taking it to Grant's army to pay soldiers.  I haven't thought about it enough to discover whether it was physically possible to carry that much around, but there is no doubt Dave did carry some money down, and though it was awfully depreciated then you could get more real stuff to live on for a dollar then than you can now for two dollars.

            I recall a certain brother who came to the pulpit in the earlier days of the Civil War.  His name was David _________?, but I don't remember what.  The church seemed to like him for the most part. His sermons were frequently camouflaged to standardize the southern bias, politically.  Such words as "Abolitionist," "Black Republican" etc. were in his repertoire.  I don't remember now that there was any majority protest against the "bias."  As a matter of fact the village (which would include the church), the county, and many parts of Southern Illinois were not at all wholly loyal to the Union, and as a result there was trouble.  But this is off the subject.  Pastor "Blank" bided his time and then went back south.  But during his pastorate he lived at a certain little suburban house south of town.  He had many friends.  One of them was a certain doctor who liked the elder.  Often the elder would get in his buggy with a friend or two and go down to the lakes at the weekend to hunt.  So on a certain Saturday night the doctor with a friend came along with their guns, bedding, etc.  This last item included a jug of something which both cheers and inebriates.  When they neared the parson's house they were firing salutes.  When they stopped for a moment the parson said, "Doc, do you know that you are going straight to hell?"  "That's just my damn luck!  It thought I was going to the lakes."

            And now comes the evangelist-the pioneer so far as I know in that field.  He came from somewhere in Kentucky.  He was active, virile, spiritual, and aggressive.  He believed in the literal brimstone idea.  He seemed the friend of everybody and everything except the devil and his agencies.  I said aggressive.  He tore around on the rostrum and pulpit, and the Bible would often jump up two or three inches when his hand came down on it.  Billy Sunday is an evolution.  And he "gathered in the sheaves."  Scores, perhaps hundreds, were baptized at the crossing of a little creek west of Jonesboro.  Billy Sunday did not have much on Elder Harrington.  The latter had graduated from a circus, Sunday from baseball.  It was usual for members to entertain ministers.  One night Rev. Harrington came to our house.  I thought how tired the poor man must be after such a strenuous night. After supper he came into the living room, got father's best hat and proceeded to do some of this circus stunts, handsprings, standing on his head, and the like.

            Rev. Thomas Morton was one of the brainy men who was pastor a few years.  He was a Scotchman, intensely spiritual, and left a lasting impression with those who knew him.  He had a large family.  It met one of his sons in St. Louis a few years back.  He had charge of a Baptist church there.  The elder Morton went from Jonesboro to a St. Louis church, dying there some years ago.

            Rev. J. A. Dacus came to Jonesboro in what might be called the Refugee Era, when so many from the South came north to flee the ravages of war.  He was professionally a newspaper man, and being also a preacher served the Baptist church a time.  Going to St. Louis he went on the editorial staff of the Republic.  Being rather delicate physically, he passed away comparatively young in years.

            There were several other pastors I knew.  But are their names not on the church records?  They were merely passing pilgrims with a message.  If they left their footprints in the sands of time, these have been obliterated by the winds and seasons.  But what of the message?  "A sower went forth to sow."  Some seeds fell on good ground, and the message to some soul will live on till time is no more.

            I was always acquainted with Brother D. S. Husbaum, who was for a long while either pastor or supply for this church.  But as his connection and work with it is not so far back there no doubt are many yet remembering his devotion and consecration to a church of which he was a part.

            No doubt I have taken up already enough space and merely skimmed the surface about memories of the past.  But I desire to pay an humble tribute in my weak way-and tread softly while I do-to the memory of the "nobles Roman of them all."  This dear brother has long since gone to his great reward.  He was not an ordained minister, merely a church worker, plain C. G. Flaugh.  C stood for Christian in his name, also Charity.  He had a small farm south of the village.  In earlier days he had a tannery there and shoe shop.  He employed cripples and physical down-and-outs, and it came to be known as a poor house.  For a quarter of a century he was an active, consecrated worker in the Lord's vineyard and in the church, of which he was a pillar, sometimes it seemed the only supporting column.  Was there sickness or trouble or destitution anywhere in the zone of his activity?  He was the Good Samaritan who was there or had been.  At the funeral or grave side we would find him consoling the bereaved.  The church was his alma mater, of the Sunday School he was the shepherd of the flock.  Of the life work of Brother C. G. Flaugh I think it is well defined in that verse James 1:27.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 6 Jun 1919)

NOTE:  David Butler served as pastor from 1860-1864.

STONE DOORSTEP OF LOG CHURCH IN JONESBORO
Was Placed in Front of Old Log Church Building
Now in Jonesboro Cemetery
(By Ed. Woodworth)

(Jonesboro Gazette, Friday, 27 May 1938; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter.)