Page 27 - Jefferson County AR 1889 History (Goodspeed)

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142 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

church at that time in the whole county. I n 1851 circuit includes Hawley's Chapel and Salem, with

Father McGowau built St Joseph's Church at Pine some property and a membership of about fifty;

Bluff, and in the year following erected one at Pastoria circuit has Flat Bayou, Raineyville, Pas-

Plum Bayou. I n 1855 and 1856 he built those at toria and Jones Chapel in it, with some 150 mem-

New Gascony and Noble Lake, called respectively bers and about $5,000 in property; in Redfield

;St. Peter's and St. Paul's. St. Mary's was also , circuit are Macon, Goodfaith, Hensley, Redfield

rejuvenated. St. Peter's and St. Paul's each and RedBluff, with about 140 members and $2,000

numbered a b u t 500 and 200 respectively before I in buildings. Pine Bluff and Pastoria have par-

/the war, but the latter has since disappeared, and ; sonages, the former valued at $2,500 and the latter

St. Peter's has fallen off very much. St. Joseph's at $750. The ministers are Revs. T. H. Ware,

has increased greatly, though the whole numberin Horace Jewell, W. H. Browning, C. B. Briukley

the county is probably not more than at the begin- and Josephus Loring, at Pine Bluff; Rev. U'ilson,

ning of the war. The figures above include white at Macon; Rev. J . F. Shaw, at Grady, and Rev.

and colored St. Joseph's old building was W I. Rogers. at Pastoria. At Pine Bluff, Rev.

removed and in its place was erected the present Henly was succeeded, on the circuit including

fine church and convent in 1867. Among the I Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Arkansas Post, by

priesta who have succeeded Father McGowan are I Revs. Mablon Bewley, W. A. Boyce, Fountain

/Fat,hers Behau, Donovan, Clark, Ryan, Duggin ; Brown and James Essex. About 1837 Rev. Will-

and others. The present pastor, Rev. J. M. iam P. Ratcliffe began, and soon the first church

iLncey, took charge in 1873, and his progressive was erected in Pine Bluff, and used until 1857,

ideas have raised the chnrch to an advanced posi- when another church was built, the one recently
tion. The new industrial school now agitating is standing at the crossing of the "Valley Route"
due to his initiatory steps. Railway and Main Street; this cost 84,500. Revs.

The Methodist Church had itinerants here as James Custer, R. M. Cole, Jsmes Graham, Stephen

early as 1819, and from tho earliest membership Carlisle, David Crawford, Mason B. Lowry,

thisregion was, down to 1854, in Arkansas Confer- Nathan Taylor, Gideon W. Cottingham, and Am-

ence, but in that year Little Rock Conference was brose M. Barrington covered the time until 1848,

organized and has since covered the white mem- when Pine Bluff became a st~tion. Rev. Barring-

:bership south of the river. The first "circuit ton until 1851, Revs. Lewis S. Marshall (1851-52),

rider" began regularly in the now town of Pine William T. Anderson (1853-57), James M. Good-

Bluff in 1830. This was Rev. John A. Henly. win (1858), P. C. Harris (1859), John M. Bradley

iFrom that timeon the growth was continuous, and (1860), Columbus 0. Steel (1861), Cadesman Pope

in the great separation of 1847 all in Jefferson (1862-60), James M. Pirtle (1867), W. C. Hearn

County were of the Southern branch. The col- (1868-70), Henry B. Frazee (1871), Horace Jewell

ornd people attended the white chnrches, and (1872-75), Charles F. Evans (1876-78), W. H.

sometimes had services alone, although there was Browning (1878-84), E. M. Pitkin (1885). John

no organization. These churches increased stead- 1 I?. Carr (1886-88), and Horace Jewell have been

ily until now there are about fifteen churches in the pastors since. The present beautiful brick

thecounty, with a membershipof not far from 765. church recently built is the finest in the city. This

These are in various circuits: Pine Bluff circuit is the only deuomination of white Methodists in

has the Main Street and Lake Side churches, with the county.

memberships, respectively, of 300 and 50, and with The Episcopal Church is confinedto Pine Bluff.

buildings valued at $20,000 and $5,000, respect- Itev. William Mitchell, Y.D., located at this place

ively; Toledo circuit has Concord and Double about 1838, under the direction of the Rt. Rev.

Wells churches, with property valued at $1,000, Dr. Oatey. but he seems to have made no organi-

and a membership of about seventy-five; Auburn 1 zation. During his two years' stay he solemnized