Page 28 - Jefferson County AR 1889 History (Goodspeed)

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JEFFERSON COUNTY.

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the romantic marriage of Judge J. W. Bocage and covers it, and was organized in 1855. The Regn-

IMies Frances Irene Lindsay, to attend which the I lar or Missionary Baptists are confined to Pine

gallant judge swam the river. There seems to have Bluff, the white branch belonging to the Friend-

1been nothing but occasional visiting missionaries ship Ammiation, which was o r g a n i d in 1872.

down to IRO, of whom were RWS. W. c stout Pide B ~ U Echurch was first organized in about
and Bishops Oatey, Polk and Freeman. In 1E60, ; 1864 by members and friends of the society, among

when the diocese embraced Arkansas and Indian the latter of whom 001. W. P. Qrnce was very

Territory, the Bishop, Henry C. Clay, D. D.. se- active. Their church was scarcely built when it

cured the services of Rev. Robert W. Trimble for was destroyed by a sr~ppposedincendiary fire. I n

Pine Bluff, and the first services were held in the ' 1857 a brickchurch was erectedon Barraque street,

old brick Baptist Church-since a machine shop and afterward became a machine shop. The pres-

on Barraque street. Rev. Trimble organized the ent frame structure was erected in 1876 on Sixth

church under the name St. John's. As the war , Avenue, and haa recently been improved to the

opened, about $4,000 was secured for a building, value of $1,000, while a $2,000 parsonagehasbeen

but the rector and many members joinedthe First attached. Rev. Lee was pastor from 1854 nntil

Arkansas Regiment, the former a. cbaplain. He the outbrnak of the war, after which date the

soon returned and reorganized the church, how- j church, notwithstandingrepeated effoorta, remained

ever, and at that time changed the name to Trinity disorganized until 1876. Rev. L.Quinn assumed

Church. From the battle of Pine Bluff nntil Sep. pastoral charge the followillg year, and remained

tember, 1865, Dr. Trimble lived in Swan Lake, until he was s n e c d e d by Rev. W. W. Tinker, of

but during the latter month returned and re- Kentucky, who continued but a year and left in

organized in a private parlor. Subscriptionswere j 1881. Two years later, after snpplies had served

'again renewed, both here and in the East, by Dr. , intermittently, Rev. A. J. Fawcett began a five-

Trimhle, and soon $4,000 was raised. Although year pastorate, and was succeeded at the close by

the corn=-stone was laid in November, 1866, the Rev. G. S. Kennard for 1888. Since that date

beautiful strneture wasnot completed until Christ- Rev. W. C. Golden has been in charge, and the

mas, 1870, at a totul cost of $18,000. After a membership has risen to about 140 persons.

long and active work, in which he baptized over The Presbyterian Church, of what is called in

800 people, the ven~rable rector's failing health the South the Old School, began with Pine Bluff,

led to his resignation in Augusl, 1881, and April and has not secured a footing in the county out.

17, 1882, he passed away. In 1883 he was sac- i side of that except acolored mission. This church

1ceeded by the present rector, Rev. I. 0. Adams. gives the presbytery its name. On May 15, 1858,

Since that date the membership has increased, and Rev. Jphn d. Boozer, of Sontb Carolina, formed
mission services have been opened at Altheimer I the soc~etyat Pine Bluff, and continued with it as

/and New Gascony. There have also been added 'pastor until his death in 1864. No minister waa

about $2,000 in improvementsto buildings, and a then m u r e d until October, 1886, when Rev. E.

pipe-organ p n r c h a d at a cost of $2,200. I McNair, of North Carolina,enteredupon his duties.
The Baptist Church for white people has two I Dr. McNair was an able man, and at the close of his

branches in the county-the Primitive and the j pastorate, January 1, 1878, Rev. William Dabney

Missionary. Both came in at an early date, but succeeded him, but only remained until 1881, on

it ie not known which was first, probability point- account of failing health. In April of that year

ing, however, to the Primitive, who have but few Rev. J. A. Dickson, of Millersburg. Ky., was

members, and but one or two congregations each called to thie pulpit, and in September assumed

of colored and white. Bethlehem Ohnrch is the its ofliees, which he hasably filledeversinae. The

Ionly white church in the county, about twelve church building is a large frameerected in 1850-60,

-miles west of Pine Bluff. New Hope Association I and the congregation has increased remarkably,
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