Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/539

 HISTORY OP SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 479 Hayti, 100; Macedonia, — ; Mieola, 70; Oak Grove, 80 ; Portageville, 90 ; Steele — ; Shiloh, — ; Tyler, — ; Little River, 39 ; New Zion, 50 ; Pierce's Chapel, 36; Crockett Chapel, 40. In 1875 it was determined to divide St. Francois Association, and 10 churches in Wayne county were dismissed to form a new association, in October of that j'ear known as Wayne County Association. The ten churches had a mendjersliip of 1,444. and the ministers were Isaac Lane, A. R. L. ileador, J. W. Wil- son, J. B. Mattox, jM. A. Taylor and David Cheats. Five more churches were added in 1875 and in 1878 the total membership was 678. There were 30 churches in the association in 1910 with a membership of 1,754. They were: Bear Creek, 47; Bethel, 24; Beulah, 64; Big Brushy, 33 ; Big Lake, 103 ; Black River, 105 ; Cedar Creek, 107; Chaonia, 49; Cullen's Sw. — ; Des Arc, 8; Greenville, 155; Hodge's Fer., — ; Lebanon, 180; Little Lake, 75; Liberty Hill, 22 ; Leeper, 34 ; Mt. Olive, 51 ; Mt. Pleas- ant, 70; Mt. Zion, 77; New Life. 37; New Prospect, 78; Philippi, 34; Piedmont, 193; Trace Creek, 72 ; Virginia, 21 ; Oak Grove, — ; Patterson, 57; Williamsville, 91 ; Rocky Grove, 23; Low Valley, 14. The Methodists and Baptists have been pe- culiarly fortunate in being able to do pioneer work in this section. More than the ministers of other denominations they have been able to get out into the country and organize and develop churches away from the towns and centers of population. No other denomina- tions have quite equalled them in this respect. Accordingly we find the country districts of Southeast Missouri dotted over with ^Methodist and Baptist churches. The Baptists were first in the field. Tywap- pity church was the first non-Catholic relig- ious organization in this part of the .state, and Bethel the second. Both were Baptist organ- izations. From the organization of these early churches until now, the denomination has prospered. There are now in Southeast Missouri, 281 churches with an aggregate membership of about 25,000. The ministers of the church have been in the forefi'ont of every good and worthy movement, education has been fostered by them, they have cre- ated and supported Will Mayfield College at Marlile Ilill liesides lending support to other educational institutions. The denom- inations seem entering on an era of increased prosperity as is attested by the erection of better buildings, the liberal support accorded tlie church, and the widening of its plan of work. The church in this section has en.ioyed the service of a long line of eai'ncst and able men. To their al)ility and industry is due much of the place the denomination now occupies in the religious affairs of Southeast Missouri. Lutherans When the German colony was formed in Perry county in 1838, there was organized the first society of the Evangelical Lutheran church in this part of the state. A numlier of small communities made up this colony, and at first a number of pastors ministered to the wants of the communities. Wittenljerg and Frohna had for their ministers Rev. Ernst Gerhard, Wilhelm Keyl; Altenberg's minis- ter was Gotthold Heinricli Loeber. The min- ister of Seelitz community was Rev. Moritz Burger, while Rev. Carl Frederick Wilhelm Walther ministered to Dresden and Johannes- burg. At a later period, however, it was found impossible to support so many pastors and the communities were combined. In 1839 there was established another community called Putzdorf. This was about eight miles from