Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/534

 474 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI aud his iufluence for good has beeu strong in every community. In addition to his work as a minister, whieii lias given liim a wide ac- quaintance, he has been a successful farmer and owns a large and well improved farm. In 1860 he was married to Ollie B. Hopper; to them were born two sons, Walter B. and Thomas J. Both these young men. were edu- cated at the Normal School at Cape Girar- deau ; both became influential teachers in their county and both met early an untimely death. Rev. Mr. Whittaker was a self-made man, an earnest, devoted minister, possessing a most commendable influence in his community. He was a native of Kentucky, born in 1832. He was for a time a teacher before coming to Mis- souri. In 1854 he removed to Dunklin county and in 1874 was ordained as minister of the Baptist church. He served as pastor of a number of churches in his home county. He was also a farmer and nurseryman. He served in the Confederate army for a time and was present at one of the skirmishes at Bloom- field. Rev. R. H. Douglass was a member of one of the pioneer families of Dunklin county. He was a native of Kentucky, born in 1839. He came with his parents to Dunklin county in 1850. He received the school training com- mon to pioneer countries .such as Dunklin county then was. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted and served until itsi close. He was a member of the famous cavalry regiment, the Second ilissouri, and participated in all its great battles and marches. After the war he retiirned to the farm and won for himself a competence. He was always an active and devoted member of the church and was finally ordained as a minister. On taking up this work he felt the handicap of the lack of sufficient education and set him- self to the work of self-cultivation. Gifted with a good mind, great physical and mental endurance, and a determined will, he acquired a good education through his own endeavors. He was an eloc^uent and forceful speaker being gifted with a high degree of magnetism and a power of clear exposition. He labored as pastor and evangelist with great success, but it was as an exponent and teacher of the great doctrines of his church that he excelled. Here few men surpassed him in the power and clearness with which he presented his con- victions of truth. Due as much to his uncom- promising stand and able exposition as to any other cause is the prosperous condition of the Baptist church in the Black River Associa- tion. Personally he was a man of the highest ideals and the firmest convictions of right. No man who knew him doubted his absolute and unqiialified sincerity. He was twice married. The first time to Rebecca J. Wagster. One child of this union survives, T. J. Douglass, of Kennett. The second marriage was to Mrs. Mary E. (Lamb) Richardson, who survives him. Mr. Douglass died in 1904 at his home in Caruth. The Concord Association is the second as- sociation of the name to be organized in the state; the first, was in Cooper county. The one in Southeast Missouri was composed of churches in Iron and Reynolds counties and was organized in December, 1867, at Big Creek church. The other churches taking part in the organization were Bethlehem, Mount Zion, and Pilgrims Rest ; these churches had a mem- bership of 298. The moderator of the asso- ciation was Isaac Lane and the clerk was E. C. Smith. In 1858 this association met at Pilgrims Rest church in Iron county and received the following new churches ; New Prospect, Pleas-