 |
PREVIOUS PAGE
|
Contemporary with Baptists who settled in Cape Girardeau county in 1796, and built the first Protestant church west of the Mississippi river in 1806, and with Rev. Wm. Murphy, a Baptist, who located a claim in St. Francois county in 1798 (now Farmington) we mention two other pious pioneers who were pushing their way through the then "great western Wilderness." I refer to Rev. James Williams and Rev. Thos. P. Green, co-laborers in planting Baptist churches in the fertile regions of this section when society was in a formative state and the country was new and rapidly filling up with emigrants from all parts of the country.
One of the churches thus planted was old Three Rivers Church in Ste. Genevieve county, five miles north of Farmington. The early records of this church lie before me as I write, preserved through duty and affection by the late J. P. Jennings and furnished me by Mrs. Jennings for this historical sketch. It is a precious memento of Mr. Jennings' grandparents and those other worthy pioneers whose memory we honor as we celebrate the centennial anniversary of the church they founded, the influence of which still lives and will continue to live long after time, the great leveler, has laid waste the last vestige of the material structure.
Quoting from the first page in the old minutes, the account of the organization is herewith given verbatim:
"March in the year of our Lord 1832, a revival of religion commenced with us. Brother J. Cundiff preached regularly, and Bros. Thos. P. Green and James Williams preached occasionally. The revival continued, and Bro. Cundiff called for help to constitute a church, which was attended to by Bros. Thos. P. Green and James Williams on May 7, 1832, on the principles of the United Baptists. A sermon was delivered by Eld. Green reading from the 27th Psalm. The members present to be constituted were:
"William E. Edwards and Polly Edwards, his wife; by letter Z. B. Jennings and Johanna, his wife, lately baptized; Margaret Davis, Fanny Wyatt, Robert H. Wyatt and Elder Cundiff.
"The above persons presented evidence of their standing and professed a willingness to be constituted.
"This church agrees to meet on the Saturday before the 4th Lord's Day in each month. Elder Williams gave the charge and led in prayer.
Received and baptized Elizabeth Cundiff.
Robert H. Wyatt, Clerk."
I also quote verbatim the minutes of the first meeting following the organization:
"The Saturday before the 4th Lord's Day in May, 1832, the church met in peace. A sermon was delivered by Elder James Cundiff from 1st Corinthians, 13th chapter. Opportunity given for reception of members. Received by experience Sister Artitia Burks; by letter Elizabeth Haile. Opportunity given on the Lord's Day following. Received by experience Thomas and Rhoda McKee; by letter George and Katherine Palmore.
"A general solemnity appeared to pervade the audience, and a number appeared to be seeking on in truth in Christ.
"Signed by order of the church,
"James Cundiff, Mod.
R. H. Wyatt, Clerk."
On the 4th Lord's Day in Nov. 1832, the "Articles of Faith and Rules of Decorum" were read and accepted by the church.
Following the organization, meetings were held at homes of the members, at Three Rivers camp-meeting grounds, and at Three Rivers school house until Feb. 1840 when a committee was appointed to select a site for the church building. This committee was composed of Chas. Burks, Alexander Jennings, Esq., John Blue and Eld. James Cundiff.
The house erected was a frame building which was destroyed by fire at some time previous to 1842. The next building, on the same site, was erected in 1850, and was of unfinished brick. This building was razed and replaced by the present brick building in the summer and fall of 1899, by Pratt and Son of Farmington. The building committee appointed by the church at this time was composed of Jasper Turley, Thomas Horton, J. B. Jennings, A. L. Cunningham and L. T. Hunt.
The church was named "Three Rivers" on Saturday before the 4th Lord's Day in July, 1832. It probably took its name from Three Rivers camp-meeting grounds.
The organization had its reverses, due mostly to the question of missions. The records state that for various reasons, such as indifference, lack of pastoral leadership, and friction, there were short periods of time when no services were held.
On Saturday before the 2nd Sunday in August, 1847, the church was dissolved, reorganized, and renamed "Union United Church of Jesus Christ, on Three Rivers, Ste. Genevieve County, Mo." A new constitution was adopted. Those who acted as a presbytery in forming the new constitution were Elder James Williams and Milton Baker of Jefferson County and Elders Hiram Smith and John Hutchings of Washington County. (this is the John Hutchings who was a member of the convention that formed the constitution of Missouri in 1820.)
Quoting again from the old minutes of 1847: "This church shall be in union and fellowship with the Missionary Baptists. By motion and second, we pray the Franklin Association for admission."
Z. B. Jennings was retained as deacon, and A. S. Jennings as clerk. Those appointed to bear the letter to the Association were Z. B. Jennings, Chas. Burks and A. S. Jennings.
Three Rivers was "Missionary" from the beginning and believed in spreading the Gospel to other parts, as shown by the records. In February, 1833, the minutes state:
"All the members of this church that live near the Dry Branch meeting house shall be dismissed from this church by letter to form a church there." (Dry Branch church probably was the old Stone Church near Marvin Chapel which was used by both Baptists and Methodists.)"
The minutes of June, 1833:
"Motion and second that there should be an elder and help sent to Zebalon (or Lebanon) Ste. Genevieve County, to constitute an 'arm' of this church there."
Minutes, January, 1835:
"A request by Brother Wilbourn that the church grant the members at Doe Run as an 'arm' of this church."
Minutes of February, 1838:
"Resolved that Bro. A. P. Williams be permitted to receive members at Farmington in the name of Three Rivers Church."
Minutes of July, 1840:
"By motion and second the pastor was granted the privilege of receiving members at or near Ste. Genevieve as an 'arm' of this church."
Minutes of February, 1844:
"Received a letter from the 'arm' at Blue Springs Meeting House praying letters of dismission in order to become constituted. By order of the church we appoint Brethren James Cundiff, Aaron P. Turley and A. S. Jennings to sit with them in council."
Many descendants of the early constituents of this church still live in this community.
According to the minutes, the earliest members from 1832 to 1847, were as follows:
| Z. B. Jennings | Lucinda Smith | John Stevens |
| Johanna Jennings | Elizabeth Manteer | Heziah Vendever |
| Elder James Cundiff | Rebecca Carpenter | Daniel Lasater |
| Elizabeth Cundiff | Lucy Palmore | Sister Harris |
| Wm. H. Edwards | Wm. Brady | John Thornton |
| Polly Edwards | John B. Guitar | Elizabeth Elders |
| Fanny Wyatt | Katherine Taylor | Anthony Wigger |
| Margaret Davis | Virginia Frasier | Laura Lamberth |
| H. H. Wyatt | Gilbert Peyton | Doritha Pinson |
| Artitia Burks | Rerissy Prouse | Aaron P. Turley |
| Elizabeth Haile | Geo. Mosteller | Samuel Davis |
| Thos. McKee | Margaret Parker | Rebecca Wilbourn |
| Rhoda McKee | Katherine Evens | Sinthy Renfro |
| Geo. Palmore | Elizabeth Stamm | Betsy Murphy |
| Katherine Palmore | Susan Thomason | Mary Carroll |
| Reuben Wilson | Ebee Aton | Ala Peyton |
| Jemima Wilson | Elizabeth Elders | Susan Lot |
| Polly Rowark | Rebecca Horton | W. Turley |
| Randle Palmore | Walter Denny | Mary Burks |
| Mrs. Randle Palmore | Mariann Denny | Mary Koen |
| Geo. Dill | Thos. Elders | Wm. Murphy |
| Jane Shumake | Mary Carpenter | Robert Blue |
| Widow Hambleton | Alexander Jennings | Jacob Thornton |
| Elizabeth Smith | Chas. Burke | Wesley Vandever |
| Emily Wilson | Peter McCormack | Chapman |
| Thomas Haile | Wm. Champeon | Rachel Davis |
| Geo. Sneade | Wm. Haile | Reason D. Fowler |
| Ruth Peyton | Jane (colored) | Mrs. Reason D. Fowler |
| Robt. Carpenter | Frances Smith | Joseph Drybread |
| Katherine Jackson | Rachel Murphy | Silvy (colored woman) |
| Samuel Davis | Temperance Wilson | Helen Jackson |
| Emily Brissy | Elizabeth Champeon | Hudson Davis |
| Susan Jennings | Sarah Murphy | Geo. Vandever |
| Sandy (colored) | Bertha Lamberth | Cassander Turley |
| Elizabeth Brissy | John Stamm | Sister Hall |
| Wm. Purshall | John Brissy | Eliza Ann Blue |
| Julian (colored) | Mrs. Gilbert Peyton | Jesse Elders |
| Susanna Brissy | Christopher Aton | Wm. Vandever |
| Mary Guitar | Nancy Peyton | Minerva Burks |
| Caroline Poston | Isaac (colored) | Elizabeth Foster |
| Eliza Poston | James Wilbourn | Ruth Lambert |
| Fanny Edwards | Joseph Rentro | Agnes Thomasson |
| Matison McClanihan | John Blanton | |
| Louis Palmore | Franklin Shook |
Ministers who served Three Rivers as pastors and preachers, as far as we can ascertain,
are those whose names follow:
| Rev. James Cundiff (the first pastor) | Rev. C. T. Fortune | Rev. Webb |
| Rev. James Williams | Rev. J. G. Hardy | Rev. Tate |
| Rev. Harvey Young | Rev. Wm. McCay | Rev. Rev. J. M. Pepper |
| Rev. Joseph Renfro | Rev. David Stites | Rev. V. E. Patterson |
| Rev. Grigg Thomson | Rev. Sullivan Frazier | Rev. Wm. England |
| Rev. Jepsee Lively | Rev. J. S. Gashwiler | Rev. Albert Sitton |
| Rev. Louis Williams | Rev. J. N. B. Helper | Rev. E. D. Rich |
| Rev. James Frost | Rev. J. R. M. Reason | Rev. S. D. Aubuchon |
| Rev. Hezekiah Lassater | Rev. D. F. Adams | Rev. Finch |
| Rev. James Baker | Rev. James Howell | Rev. J. B. Sheets |
| Rev. A. P. Williams | Prof. Campbell | Rev. J. H. Crissman |
| Rev. Daniel Lassater | Rev. E. A. Springs | Rev. Thos. Estes |
| Rev. James Baker | Rev. H. J. LaTour | Rev. Wm. Wright |
| Rev. R. P. Gentry | Rev. M. M. Munger | Rev. A. C. Rudloff |
| Rev. Wm. Dawson | Rev. E. F. Curle | Rev. J. C. Brumfield |
| Rev. John Rudy | Rev. W. G. Reeves | Rev. Clifford Brumfield |
| Rev. J. G. Burgess | Rev. Rev. Amos | Rev. Ulysses Vansickle (the present pastor) |
From the membership of this church came one of the leading educators of this section of
the country, Prof. E. J. Jennings, grandson of those worthy pioneers, and for a number of
years president of Farmington Baptist College (controlled by the Franklin Association). It
was closed in 1900. Prof. Jennings died this summer at his home in San Diego, Calif., at
the age of 82 years. Mrs. Mecca Hollis, granddaughter of those pioneers, gave Three Rivers
church the sum of $1300.00 a short while before her death a few years ago.
I learn from the present clerk, Miss Mary Petrie, that the membership of Three Rivers now numbers 153 active members. The church has a well organized Sunday school and a B.Y.P.U. and is carrying on in the manner of most country churches of today, when automobiles and good roads have brought the larger churches almost to the door of rural communities.
Z. B. Jennings and his wife, Johanna, rest in the family graveyard on the old Jennings homestead about two miles from Three Rivers church, their bodies long mingled with the dust. But the good wrought by them and those other godly pioneers lives on and on through the ages, embalmed in the hearts of men and women who, after a hundred years, are still reaping the fruits of their labor.
To the memory of my maternal grandmother, Mrs. Aaron P. Turley (nee Frances Smith) who joined this church in the year of its organization and worshipped there until her death in ripe old age, I dedicate this poem:
Let me stop at the church by the side of the road,
As I journey the highway of life,
There to rid my soul of the dust and grime
That it gathers through wearisome strife.
There were pioneer souls who blazed the trail,
Who left their tracks in blood,
To make a safe trail for you and for me
To the church by the side of the road.
I find at the church by the side of the road,
As I journey the highway of life,
A faith that inspires with the ardor of hope,
When I'm weary and faint with the strife,
Then why should I fear for the end of the trail?
Content am I onward to plod--
Let me stop at the church by the side of the road,
As I wend my way to God.
This article was published in THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. Aug. 26, 1932.
Click here to read "Old Three Rivers Church Poem"
The information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to MOGenWeb to make it available online.