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REPRESENTING THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF 2X2 HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS ON THE INTERNET
The Pioneering Workers
America: When
The Workers First Came to America, 1903 by George Walker
Georgia: When the Gospel Came to Georgia, 1912
Idaho: When the
Gospel First Came to the Palouse Country (Idaho), 1913
Iowa: The First Days of the “Truth" in Iowa, 1907
Kentucky: The First Church in Hopkins County, Kentucky - 1914
Kentucky Sister Worker List
List 1910-1984
Nebraska: The Gospel Comes to Nebraska, 1907
North
Carolina: How The Gospel Came to the Woods Family (North Carolina),
1924
Texas, West: History of West Texas Conventions by J. W. Byrd -
1922
* = Workers on the 1905 List from United Kingdom
The Gospel Comes to Nebraska
Click
Here to view photo of West Point, Nebraska (1910)
The gospel first came to Nebraska in 1907. Tom Craig* and
Hugh
Doake* came from Canada with very little, to the town of
Elgin, Nebraska.
They had no place to go or address to begin. Martha Sprague’s
folks
lived just west of Elgin on a large wheat farm.. They offered the
workers some money but they refused, so they asked them if they would
like
to help in the wheat field and they would pay them to work.
Martha
was home alone when they workers first came. She asked them,
"What
church do you belong to?" They answered, "We don’t belong to any
denomination, but belong to God." They stayed and had supper and
spent the night. The night before they had spent in a haystack.
They started meetings in a schoolhouse nearby, and Martha and her folks went and many of the neighbors attended the meetings. They held meetings every night of the week. Martha missed one night as she belonged to a group who met to dance and she felt she shouldn’t let her group down as they had won many prizes. But she felt so condemned she never went to the dance again. The night before she had gone to be with her group, the workers had preached on the prodigal son and feeding on husks, and she knew that was just what was in the world. Martha was the only one that professed in the mission. She was just 18 years old.
The workers started another mission about 17 miles away. She thought they had gone away but one day they walked back to have a study with Martha. They explained to her that if there were more professing people near they would have a fellowship meeting. They explained what a fellowship meeting was and how the meetings were conducted and explained other parts of the scripture that would help Martha understand better.
Later Tom Craig* and Hugh Doake* went a little further and had more meetings in a schoolhouse. They stayed with a family named the Frank Sullivans. Mrs. Sullivan, her mother, and son all professed. But not Mr. Sullivan. In this mission Anna Hestigan professed and later went into the work. She was the teacher of the schoolhouse.
Now it was near the fall and they began to think about a convention. So they explained to Frank Sullivan about convention and he said they could use his place. So the meetings were held in the schoolhouse but the people stayed at the Sullivans’ home.This first convention was at Petersburg, about twelve miles south of Elgin. About 16 workers came from the eastern states to help with the convention. Some who attended this first convention were George Walker*, William Irvine*, Jim Jardine*, Oliver Taylor, Charlotte Braden, Anna Taylor, Violet Jamieson, and Jean Craig*. This convention lasted 10 days. Every afternoon was left open for any to ask questions. They also had a baptism at this convention. Most all were baptized.
From this convention Martha went out in the work with Anna Taylor. Up until this time she had never been in a fellowship meeting. Before they left the convention grounds, a workers’ meeting was held and they divided up what money they had amongst them. They had one dollar apiece. She thought all was so nice. She saw some of the wives laying out some of their clothes and letting the sisters pick out dresses they could use as they went forth. They only carried hymn sheets with about 10 hymns on either side instead of hymn books as they carried everything as they walked. This was still in the year 1907.
After convention Martha went back home to tell her father she was going in the work. He didn’t like the idea of his daughter walking around the country, but she went anyway, Later her father came to see how she was doing, and gave her his check book, but she never used it and still has it. Martha was just one year in the work in Nebraska.When the Gospel First Came to the Palouse Country, Idaho
Written by: Esther Hedlund Anderson
March 8, 1974
Two servants of God, Tom Lyness and Donald Davidson, arrived in Viola, Idaho, during the summer of 1913 and held some meetings in a tent they set up. They held meetings for several weeks and quite a few decided to accept the Lord and the message that these ministers had been explaining from the scriptures, about how God sent out His Apostles.
Many of these people who attended the meetings got terribly angry and upset, for they could see that Tom and Donald had the Bible on their side, and several who attended a denominational church in Viola could see the difference in what they had and how they had been blinded in paying a minister to make trips from Moscow to come out and preach a sermon on Sundays, the pay coming from the congregation. Many young people attended Tom and Donald's meetings, even though the principal means of transportation was by horse and buggy! Many young people rode saddle horses, too.
One night some of the younger set decided that they were going to have some fun with the workers and they painted "Devil's Hotel" on the tent, along with "Mutt and Jeff, Proprietors" (Tom was tall and Donald was short). I understand they found out who did this painting and made them clean and erase their mess from the tent. Those who professed in this mission kept true and faithful to the end of their days. Some of them were Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Williams and Mrs. Chaney. After Tom and Donald finished the mission in Viola they started meetings in the Flannigan Creek schoolhouse, in the winter of 1913-1914.
This was the first mission that my immediate family, the Andrew Hedlunds, attended. We had to travel to meeting by horse and buggy or a bobsled if there was much snow. We had to travel about 5 miles, part of this was through a timbered road that was just being built, so going was pretty rough, and we had to dodge a lot of stumps. Many who came walked carrying a lantern for light. We enjoyed these meetings so much. It was in this mission that my mother, along with several others, professed. Our farmhouse was new and Tom and Donald stayed with us quite a lot.
After finishing this mission at Flannigan Creek, my father thought Tom and Donald should try some meetings in our district, so he went and called on the school board to see if these ministers could hold some Gospel meetings in our two-room schoolhouse. This was the East Cover school. The school board consented and Tom and Donald began some meetings; about four meetings a week. Large crowds turned out, and quite a number professed, but we were the most fortunate, since we had Tom and Donald in our home and thus were able to have some great visits on the scriptures. We had been a religious family before, and it took a lot of explanation to get us straight.
One evening when we were coming home from the Gospel meetings, my brother Willie asked this question of Tom and Donald, "Are we right, or are we wrong?" Tom took his Bible and opened to the 10th chapter of John's Gospel and explained about the "Good shepherd, hireling, and the wolf," and this was the chapter that brought things to light for us. It made things as plain as the noonday sun. So, when the invitation was given one evening at the Gospel meeting, Willie and I stood to our feet, along with Mrs. Elesa Anderson. (Elesa and I are the only ones alive who professed in this mission.) Others who professed in this mission are Mr. and Mrs. Michael, Mrs. Adolph Hanson, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, and Julia Vogel, also some of the Ross Greer family. It was in this mission that so much hatred and prejudice outside the faith, but directed toward the faith, erupted. Tom and Donald's lives were threatened, but I am glad it was soon hushed up. The religious people were the cause of all this. My father didn't profess until two years after this mission. He professed at Dalton Gardens, out from Coeur d'Alene, where one of our conventions was held. My family was faithful until their deaths.
It was at the farm home that we had our first special meeting; the summer of 1915. We had two tents set up, one for the meetings and the other for eating accommodations. Friends came in their cars from Dayton and Walla Walla, Washington, since Tom had worked missions in those parts. The ladies slept on straw ticks upstairs in the house, they brought their own bedding, etc. Our eight-room house was new, but had no electricity, nor running water, but we made out very nicely with the conveniences we had. We had so much to be grateful and thankful for that the servants of God came to our community, and brought this glorious Gospel, and this special meeting was indeed special to His people. It was indeed wonderful to see and hear these servants and handmaidens of God who had sacrificed their lives for the Gospels sake.
Here is a list of some (workers) who were there: Willie Jamieson, Jack Carroll, Mr. & Mrs. Richter, Emily Wilson (now Emily Christie), Carl Wren, Dan Sedlitz, Walter Waldon, Tom Lyness and his sister, Annie Lyness, Donald Davidson, and Adga Sterling.
It was at this meeting that Nellie Williams professed. She went out into the work as one of His handmaidens on Nov. 18, 1920. Her field was Montana. Her parents, the Charles Williams, lived in Viola and were very faithful in His way and an encouragement to many. Nellie is still in the work after over 50 years.
After Tom and Donald finished the Gospel meetings in the East Cove district, they held some meetings in Princeton, Onaway, and Deary. I cannot remember the names of those who made their decision in these meetings, for all are gone, either by death or moved to other localities, but one lady, Mrs. Goldie Lee, professed and was very faithful for 60 years. She passed away just recently.
In August 1914, Tom and Donald held a tent mission in Moscow, Idaho. Many professed, including Mr. and Mrs. John Oberg and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Oberg and daughter (who professed in later years as she was just a child then), Mrs. Engdall, the three Mattson girls--Alice, Esther, and Mabel. Alice was in the work a short time, but ill health forced her to quit the work. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mattson are the last I can recall. Must add that Alice Mattson passed away several years ago, and Mrs. Frank Mattson is now Mrs. George (Anna) Allen.
Esther Jones was in California when the meetings were going on in Moscow, but she came home in time to attend them, so some of us got her over to Moscow, and she became very interested, and before the mission closed, she stood to her feet and instead of saying, "Christ for me from tonight," she said, "I had been a Methodist, but now have found the true way and want to walk in it." She is the daughter of Mrs. Rose Wilson (her mother professed at the East Cove school). Esther Jones offered her life for the work in November, 1916, and she and Annie Lyness went to Montana. In 1919 she came back to these parts, and she and Fannie Carroll held a mission in the Angel School about four miles from Palouse, Washington. In this mission, the Charlie Tevertmeyers professed, along with their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Carson, who live in Dayton, Washington. Esther Jones left for Buenos Aires, South America on December 23, 1923. She and several other workers spent several years there. They found some honest people who accepted Christ and kept very true. Much hard labor (was) done in this foreign land in seeking souls to Christ. Esther is now in California.
There are only four professing people in Moscow and myself left who professed 60 years ago in 1914. Mr. and Mrs. John Munn and family moved to Potlatch many years ago and have a lovely family of 6 children. Two of their daughters are in the work—Jeanette in Korea, and Phyllis in Viet Nam. The John Munns now live on the coast.
There has been some wonderful spiritual work accomplished in this Palouse country during the past several years. We now have many young babes and trust they prove true and faithful.
I have tried my best to get this great story together and it has been quite difficult to get all the names down correctly so please excuse my mistakes.
NOTE: Palouse Country is in Latah and Whitman Counties, Idaho
Written By Louise Woods - February 25 1981
The first night about 12 men, Opal and Jean Coleman were present. Among these was Cousin Ellis Coleman. No one mentioned these brothers going home with them. Dad told them he couldn't take them with him because the cotton was stored in that room (common place for keeping it dry), but come prepared to go home with him the next night. Mother and I were waiting for the report when Dad came home that first night, with a beam in his face I had never seen before. He told us it was the real gospel and all could go the next night. Only Doak and I were free to go. Robert and Eddie walked home with us. Dad asked them to have family worship with us before the fire, and Robert said, "If that is your custom." By this Dad knew it was not their custom, so it was never done in the home again.
The next day Mother needed to go help cook dinner at her Dad's for the corn shuckers, and this was rather upsetting to her dad, that she would leave strangers there alone and said, "They could be horse thieves." Mother replied, "I know we can trust them." Question were asked that she could not answer. Many from the community attended and invited Robert and Eddie to their homes for the night, among these the Colemans'. Different time during the days they were in our home, Dad would say he found them praying and was sure they were praying for us. He had never seen a Presbyterian preacher praying in that room.
Dad had told them he would like to be one of them, so at the end of those two weeks of meetings, in a Sunday afternoon meeting, they gave him opportunity to openly express his choice. The brothers left for December Special Meetings, though we were not told why they were leaving. One Sunday soon after this, I went with Dad and Doak to Little River Presbyterian church, and Dad told Preacher White that he wished his name to be removed from "the church roll." We went home with his sister, Patty Latta, and family, where much was said, questions asked. More zeal than wisdom was displayed by Dad.
This started a lot of persecution, but it helped to make the Bible more real to us. In February, 1925, the workers returned, walked out through the rain (Dad had told them to come by any time). Mother have them dry clothes, and dried theirs by the open fire. Again they began meetings in the school. Weather and roads hindered people coming, so after the second night they left. That Spring (Easter time), Dad went to Winston-Salem for a Special Meeting. This was a good eye-opener. He met sister workers and several friends among them, he well remembered was Walter Nance and wife, Walter Bean, Pearl Settle, Pearl Meek. Walter Bean began to write my Dad. His letters seemed special, like those from Robert.
The workers returned in May, had more meetings in the school. This is when Mother and Opal Coleman decided. The last meeting was held at home, then they left, keeping in touch by writing. In May, Doak and I went to Little River service for our last time (Emmeline and Nancy were away at school, boarding at Sam Nicks, Methodist Preacher, Dad's brother-in-law). The Preacher White had many harsh, untrue things to say about the workers, whom he had not heard once. That day I vowed to never go back there again. I did not see nor understand what God had planned for His people; all I understood was these are preachers sent of God, living the scriptures.
It was my privilege to go with Opal when she went to the Baptist service to tell the preacher to remove her name off the book. This caused more stir. At the end of July, the workers returned, a few meetings were held in the school again. They were told they could not continue. The last night there, Jean Coleman and I expressed our choice. Next day there was a baptism in the river back of the farm where Dad, Mother, Opal and I took that step.
That afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Coley from Willow Springs came, brought Grace Robertson and Dora Thomas with them (sister workers). A meeting was arranged in the home that evening, very different than I expected or had ever seen. All who were sincere in the choice they had made were asked to take part in prayer and testimony. Seemed wonderful to hear what all the others had to say, but as for me, I could say nothing. That statement would not leave, "All who are sincere." I could feel I was, so just stood to my feet to openly show I meant this. In spite of myself, words came out. The meeting was opened again that night for any who wished to express the choice to follow Jesus. Lizzie Coleman Smith, Cousin Florence Coleman, Emmeline and Nancy decided. The workers left that night with the Coleys. The following Sunday A.M. we had our first fellowship meeting without the workers.
That Fall, Dad, Opal and I went to Winston Salem for convention at Walter Nance’s place. Jack Jackson and Jimmy Patrick were there. It all, seemed so heavenly and still does! Grateful, Doak, Hamby, Frances and all the others followed after in the same choice through the years. To see the grandchildren, great-grandchildren being drawn means more than words can tell.
Fall of 1925, Grace Robertson and Ella Smith came, had meetings. Young went for his first (meeting). Robert was back for a weekend, left for South America January 1926. Saw him seven years later in Georgia, I was in the work then.
By Louise Woods
Ida Hawkins and Annie McLaughlin got off the train at Elberton, Georgia, the fall of 1912. They walked to Mt. Airy where they got a building for meetings. Those who professed were Jud McConnell, Ernest Harper, Viola Elford, Mr. and Mrs. Dawkins, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Ramey, Mr. and Mrs. Charley Trotter, Mr. and Mrs. John Allen and others. Sunday morning Meeting was started in the Dawkins home.
They then came to the Camp Creek Community and secured the Baptist Church building for meetings. When the pastor returned, they were put out, but then they used a rental house that belonged to Mr. Ferguson. The Fergusons, Loudermilks, Candells, Mr. and Mrs. Nunnally, and others professed, and a Sunday morning meeting was started in the Ferguson home. About 40 were baptized.
The fall of 1913, Ida and Dora Thomas went to Winterville and had a mission in the Beaverdam School. The ones who professed were the Gabriels, Hancocks, Brambletts, James, Mrs. Myers, Miss Alice Martin and brother Charley, Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Melton (4 sisters and 1 brother), and some others. The Sunday morning meeting was started in the Hancock home.
In the spring of 1914, Ida and Annie came to Demorest and tried for the Baptist building for meetings and were refused. Jim Ramey had moved from Mt. Airy near his brother Marion in White County who professed and had just moved to the Demorest area. The girls had a six-week mission in the Ramey home. Those who professed were Mae and Fred Ramey, Annie Tench, the Stameys, and Bell Brock. Wilsons professed later.
The winter of 1912 and 1913 at Commerce, Lyon and Albert Webb and wives, Cliff Chandler and daughter Mae, Tom Gillispie and wife, Mrs. Steele professed.
In the spring of 1915, they had two days of Special Meetings. George Walker came. Ida and Annie left for California. Herbert Hill and Maurice Hawkins came. They had Mr. Ferguson's funeral on arrival.
They had a small convention at Gabriels in Winterville in the fall of 1919. The first convention at Demorest was in 1921.
.
The First Days of the “Truth" in Iowa
Compiled in 1974
We have gathered a little information about how the "Truth" came to Iowa, who some of the first Workers were, and who professed in those first years.
In the fall of 1907, after a convention in Chicago, Maggie Stewart* from Ireland, and Mamie Womer from Ohio, came to the territory near Persia, Iowa. Maggie Stewart had a sister living there, Mrs. Bert Graham, in whom she was especially interested. They had meetings near the Grahams. In those meetings, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Graham and Mr. and Peter Ronfeldt professed. Then in the Spring of 1908, Willie Weir came and baptized them. The next year, 1909, Martha Sprague came to be with Maggie Stewart.
Robert Stuhr said that James Jardine* told him that he and Wilfred Edwards had a tent in Ottumwa in 1907, but they had no results.
In the fall of 1909, Hugh Doak* and Glen Smith came to the Corning and Quincy vicinity, where several professed. Grace Hoops, Jessie Patterson, Dessie Dick and Hazel Hanna professed; and in the Fall of 1910, and went to a convention at West Point, Nebr. at the David Landholm's farm. These four young women went out in the work from that convention. Others who professed in those meetings north of Corning were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wyatt, John and Emma Stepheny, Mrs. Hanna and Ida Cedarburg, and a young woman that died soon after the mission.
In the fall of 1909, James Jardine* and Wilfred Edwards got the use of a church building 10 miles south of Russell, Iowa. Here Mrs. Sayre and her three daughters and Mrs. Mick Gillham professed. The workers then moved to a school 3 miles on South where Mrs. Sayre's sister, Mary Bates and Mrs. Becker (Veta Becker 's mother) professed.
Some time later John McNeil* and Aaron Holmquest came from a convention in Wisconsin, probably 1910, to a church building North East of Corydon, where Thomas Coats and his wife professed.
In the Summer of 1911, John McNeil* and George Samuels* had meetings near Burlington. Four brothers of Mr. Richter of Burlington had professed in Washington State in 1909. They were very much concerned about their brother here in Iowa. They kept writing to him about the "Truth" that had come to them. Finally, Otto Richter made a trip to Iowa to see the brother and his wife, at Burlinton, and talk to them about the ''Truth." Together, they went to Tom Coates near Corydon, where John McNeil and George Samuels were having meetings. A little later, John and George held meetings in a school house 1/4 mile north of the Richters at Burlington. Mr. and Mrs. Richter and Mr. and Mrs. Sutcliffe professed in August of 1911.
John Doak* and Ed Pool held meetings near Persia in 1911, when the Stuhr family professed.
In the fall of 1912, after a Nebraska convention, John Doak* and Al DeGroot had some meetings at Conway, Iowa where Mr. and Mrs. Grubb professed. From there, they went to Sharpsburg, (5 miles north) and got the use of a Seventh Day Advent Church building there in town.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Duckett had heard “the "Truth” in Canada and had written John Doak* to go to Sharpsburg and have some meetings when he could. Mr. Duckett was anxious for his sister, Mrs. Goodlaxson, and family to hear. The Ducketts had been down to visit the Goodlaxsons and had been writing to them about the "Truth." In the summer of 1912, John Doak* rode his bicycle from up near Persia down to Sharpsburg (about 100 miles) to see the Goodlaxsons. He stayed for dinner and supper, then wanted to go to stay all night at John Stepheny’s place 5 miles north of Corning, which was about 27 miles. Mr. Goodlaxson had a Brush car, so he took John and his bicycle part way. John went on and said he would be back later, when he could.
He and Al DeGroot came to the town of Sharpsburg soon after Christmas of 1912, and started meetings. In March 1913, Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Goodlaxson, Wm. Brown, his sister Maggie Brown professed; some others professed, but did not continue.
In the Spring of 1913, George Manning* and Robert Summerville were in the Harlan community and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Johnson and the Ericksons, and some others professed. Also of the same year, George Manning and Robert Summerville went up around Laurens and Marathon, and some of the Gartons professed, or maybe it was the spring or summer of 1914. The next year 1915, Martha Sprague and Mary Henderson were in this part and another family of Gartons professed. These were Mrs. Francis Heap’s parents.
Then in 1916, Ella Powers and Gertrude Fingal had some meetings in a school house near Marathon and the Gulbransons professed. They moved to Minnesota. Later, Iva Gulbranson went out in the work.
On Jan. 1, 1915, Jessie Patterson and Mary Clark got the use of a schoolhouse north of the town of Grand River. In these meetings, several professed: Mr. and Mrs. John Stark, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Foland, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Warrick, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Jones.
In 1914, the Ahrens up in the Boone community professed in George Manning* and Arthur McCullough's meetings.
Also in 1914, John Doak* and Joe Shroyer had meetings in the Melrose schoolhouse Southeast of Arispe, where Mr. and Mrs. J.I. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Tuttle, Bertha Elliott, Maude Hathaway, May Gunderson, Mrs. Fannie Priest and her son, Earl Priest professed.
In the fall of 1915, John Doak* and Thomas McLucas got the use of the Oakdale Methodist church building south of Columbia. In this mission, several professed: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hancock, Mr. and Mrs. Paris Hancock, Mr. and Mrs. Jess Van Loon, Mr. and Mrs. George Van Loon, also some others.
In 1917, John Doak* and William Burns had meetings in a tent in Swan; the Nutters and Nora Cook professed. Then in the fall of 1917, John Doak* and Charles Konschak were together near Pleasantville, but World War I was on, and feelings were against the Germans. (Charles was a German). About Christmas time, George Walker* came to be with John, and Herbert Vitzthum came to be with Charles, John and George had meetings in a schoolhouse north of Pleasantville where the Kamps and Dabbs professed, in January or February of 1916. Herbert and Charles were having meetings at Beech, but trouble started because they both were Germans. They were put in jail in Indianola. They were soon out, but were not able to do much in meetings that Summer.
Maude Edie and Ruby West then came to that part in 1919, and some professed.
In 1919, Charles Mitchell and Harry Erickson came to Northwest Iowa and got an opening near George. They were there only a short time; Freda Haas professed. The next year Charles Mitchell and William Walters were in that territory; the Haases, Hendricks, De Boers, Wert Bergmans professed. They then went farther south, down in the Hull and Boyden community among the Dutch people. In this community they had plenty of persecution, but several professed: Mrs. Anna Smidt and family, the Beyers, Smids and the Van Corlers.
In 1921 and 1922, Charles Mitchell and William Klemme went to the Hospers, Alton and Orange City communities, and had meetings in several schoolhouses. Several professed: the Lyzens, Dolphins, Van Iperens and some others; some didn't continue. A church was started in Guy Van Corler's home, some nine miles east of Orange City.
The first convention in Iowa was at Richter's farm place near Burlington in 1916. Elsie Walker went out in the work from this convention. Convention in 1917 was also at Richters. In 1918, 1919 and 1920, conventions were held at William Brown's farm Northwest of Conway. Then in 1921 and 1922, the conventions were held at J. I. Wilson's farm Southeast of Arispe.
In 1923, there were two conventions in Iowa, the South one at Thomas Coates farm near Corydon and the Northwest one at Arend De Boer's farm near George, Iowa. The South Iowa convention was then moved to the G. Rietveld's farm near Knoxville for the years 1924 to 1929 inclusive, and the North Iowa convention was moved to Bos Van Iperen’s farm near Alton for the years 1924 to 1928. In 1929, the North Iowa convention was changed to John Beyer's farm near Boyden, where it is still being held; his son Raymond is now living on the farm.
In 1930, the South Iowa convention was changed to John Swanson's farm near Malcom; the son Ernest is now living on this place, convention is still being held at this place.
Many names, workers and missions are lacking in this account, because many of the older ones are gone, and it is hard to get the information. These dates are as nearly correct as we could find.
EDITOR'S NOTE in 2004: Raymond Beyer's son, John, currently lives on the home farm where the convention is still held.
The First Church in Hopkins County, Kentucky - 1914
Gospel Comes to the
Higdon, Hawkins& Rainwater Families
Click
Here to view photo of Lancaster, Kentucky Convention (1912)
"O God of Bethel, by whose hand
Thy people still are fed;
Who through this weary pilgrimage
Hast all our fathers led.
Our vows, our prayers we now present
Before Thy throne of grace;
God of our fathers, be the God
Of their succeeding race."
This record is not to be considered church history, but it is written
solely
for the interest and benefit of those succeeding generations of our
parents,
grandparents, etc. who are recorded in this account. For most of us,
who
have been brought up under the influence of truth and godliness, it is
a
privilege we value, and for those who had the privilege of learning
later,
they have a special testimony: "Once I was blind, but now I see". We
are
all very thankful to have been brought in and made one in Christ.
In December of 1912, Tom Noble (Ireland) and Willie Webb
(England),
after an unsuccessful mission in Madisonville, started west out of
Madisonville
walking the railroad tracks towards Manitou and Nebo. (Willie, later,
in
giving his testimony told how homesick discouraged he was as he walked
along
that railroad, and his inclinations were to turn around and walk the
other
way for, he said, every tie he stepped on took him one step further
from
England and home.) They continued walking and left the railroad track
in
Manitou to inquire about the availability of a building for meetings.
They were given the use of the Union Church building, as it was the
custom
then for any preacher to use the building to have meetings. They
announced
their meetings and, as was common practice then, the whole community
attended
the meetings at the beginning and seemed to enjoy them. Some invited
Tom
and Willie into their homes.
John and Nora Higdon lived about one mile out of Manitou but did not
hear
of the meetings at the beginning, but many were discussing the meetings
and
one day, when John was in Manitou, his father who was a devout General
Baptist,
told John about the preachers who had come from far countries, an old
Irishman
(33) and a young Englishman (24) and asked him to attend the meetings.
John's
father said the community did not know what they were, but they surely
could
preach the Bible.
Before the workers came to the community, John and Nora were reading
their
Bibles and were puzzled about why there were so many different
denominations
and different doctrinal points that the different denominations
believed,
and John had been praying that God would show him, in a vision or in
some
way, what was right so he could be sure. He had joined the General
Baptist
church at Concord, and Nora belonged to the Missionary Baptist church
at
Pleasant Grove, but neither of them were satisfied with their church.
The
Missionary Baptists where she belonged, believed in Eternal Security
(once
saved, always saved), but the General Baptists did not believe that.
This
caused a confusion in their lives for they believed the husband and
wife
should believe alike and go to the same church. So, in time, Nora left
her
church and joined his, and both were given responsibilities in the
church.
The first night the Higdons attended the meetings, they asked the
workers
to go home with them if they didn't mind walking a mile. When they
turned
into the walk to go into the house, John heard Willie say to Tom, "Home
again",
and John turned that remark over in his mind. What did he mean “home
again,”
for this is my home? The next morning John took his Bible into the room
where
the workers were and began asking questions, and Willie especially
seemed
to enjoy preaching to him most of the day. Tom warned Willie to be
careful
about what he said to John, for he might turn out to be an enemy, but
Willie
said, “But he wants to know".
The meetings continued and, as usual after awhile some began to turn
away
and began talking against them, and some who were so eager at first
turned
away and said, “These men should be run out of town", but John and Nora
kept
attending and continued to have the workers in their home, and John
kept
them busy with questions from the Bible, but Nora, at this point, was
not
so interested, feeling she was already doing the best she could.
At the same time or at a subsequent time, Tom and Willie had another
mission
close by at a grade school .called Possum College. Also attending
the
meetings at Manitou and Possum College were Mr. Charlie and Elsie
Rainwater,
who lived in the Possum College community. Charlie and Elsie also took
a
lively interest in the meetings and had the workers in their home. Both
the
Higdons and Rainwaters kept coming regularly, even as the crowd began
to
dwindle, as the religious people began to get the message that these
preachers
do not believe in their religion.
As Christmas time, 1912, drew near, Tom and Willie had to close their
mission,
for they were scheduled to be in special meetings in another area
during
the holidays. In early 1913, they returned to the Manitou - Nebo -
Possum
College area. It is not clear now just which exact community they were
in
after their return, when they began meetings again. Again, the
Rainwaters
and Higdons began attending regularly, and when their opportunity came
both
Charlie and Elsie Rainwater and John Higdon professed. Some time later
as
Nora watched John's life and the changes that were evident, and also as
she
had more visits in the home with Tom and Willie, she expressed her
desire
to become one with them. Both the Rainwaters and Higdons experienced
much
opposition from relatives and religious people in the area.
After closing these missions, Tom and Willie began searching for a
place
for another mission. Tom borrowed the Higdon's horse and buggy and went
as
far as Dixon, KY looking for an opening, but failed to find a suitable
place.
On the same day, Willie started out walking through the country towards
the
Richland community. It was now early spring and spring rains had creeks
overflowing.
As Willie walked, he came to Greasy Creek, where the road was under
water.
He pulled off his shoes and sox, rolled up his pant legs and waded the
cold
water, then after crossing, he put his sox and shoes back on, rolled
his
trouser legs down and proceeded towards Richland, cold and wet.
Arriving
there, he inquired about a school building and was directed to a Mr.
Grandy
Ray, who was trustee of the local school. Mr. Ray turned out to
be
a friendly and agreeable fellow and :invited Willie into his home to
warm
himself before his open fire and also gave Willie permission to use the
one
room elementary school building. Willie then returned to the Higdon
home,
having to wade the creek on his way back. Shortly after that, Tom and
Willie
borrowed Mr. Higdon's team and wagon to take their things to the
Richland
area.
In early spring in 1913, they began a mission in the Richland school,
and
again they had a large turnout from the community. Most at first were
supportive
and seemed to be glad for the opportunity to hear the Word preached
but,
as before, they began to turn away as they realized that they were not
preaching
denominationalism, and particularly the Baptist doctrine that most of
them
believed.
Among those attending the meetings was Fount Hawkins. His wife, Dixie
had
at this time taken on the duty of sitting up with a sick neighbor woman
every
evening, which was customary then. As the meetings continued, some
began
to be enlightened to the truth, and each night when Fount would come
home
he would tell Dixie what he had heard and expressed his belief in what
they
were teaching. It wasn't long until the neighbor lady died, and Dixie
was
free to go with Fount to the meetings. Both Fount and Dixie were devout
Missionary
Baptists, and he was quite active in the church, being superintendent
of
the Sunday school. Dixie's grandfather was the former pastor of the
church,
but was now old, and they had a new pastor who at first also came to
the
meetings and took notes, and some accused him of preaching on Sunday
what
he had heard in the meetings during the week. When the Mission came to
a
close and the meeting was tested, here were several who stood to their
feet.
Among the number was Fount and Dixie Hawkins. Tom and Willie felt that
some
who stood to their feet were not clear on the truth and remained in the
community
for some time. Time proved their lack of understanding and most did not
continue.
A few continued for awhile, but in the end, it was Fount and Dixie
Hawkins
who continued for the remainder of their lives.
Sometime in the summer of 1913, Tom and Willie made arrangements for a
baptism
in Richland. All those who had professed in that and Manitou missions
took
the step in baptism, except Dixie. She was now encountering a good deal
of
opposition from her family, who felt she should remain with them in the
Baptist
faith. Dixie was baptised in 1914 along with others who had professed
in
Annie Groves and Katie Armstrong's meetings in another part of the
county.
Among those who were baptised with Dixie was Sarah Groves from
Ireland. Sarah had come to this area and was working in Madisonville and had
attended
her sister Annie's meetings and professed.
In 1914, Tom and Willie made arrangements for Sunday morning meetings
in
the home of Charlie and Elsie Rainwater who then lived in the Possum
College
community. This was a very small area between Manitou and Richland, but
much
nearer Manitou. So the six new converts, Charlie and Elsie Rainwater,
John
and Nora Higdon and Fount and Dixie Hawkins began meeting together and
this
was the beginning of the first church in Hopkins County. Sometime later
about
1916 or 1917, Charlie and Elsie moved to a home on what was later
called
Rainwater Lane, which was only one quarter mile from the Higdon home,
and
at that time the Sunday meeting was put in the home of John and Nora
Higdon,
where it remained until 1965.
In 1914, Annie Groves and Kate Armstrong came and began meetings in the
western
part of Hopkins County near Beulah, where Lee and Lillian Franklin
professed.
The exact locations of their meeting is not known now, but it seems
Annie
returned to this area for a few years after 1914, with other companions
and
different ones of the Hicks and Franklin families professed.
A short time later in that or another mission, Mrs. Fannie Hicks and
her
daughter Mattie Franklin professed. Soon others were added as Annie and
companions
continued. Jack Hicks, husband of Fannie, professed, along with their
son
Willie. Some time during the meetings, Mr. and Mrs. Elgie Harris and
Mrs.
Bernice Howton professed. A church was established first in the home of
Jack
and Fannie Hicks at Stoney Point, where it remained a few years. Mattie
Franklin
professed at the same time as her mother, but her husband Dee, who was
twin
brother to Lee Franklin, did not make his start in truth for a few
years.
Dee evidently was seriously considering truth, as one day when he was
returning
home with his son Owen and daughter Vable in his wagon, he suddenly
took
his pipe out of his mouth and threw it away. The two children were
anxious
to get home and tell their mother the news. Soon after that Dee also
took
his stand for truth.
Jack and Fannie Hicks were older people when they professed and lived
about
five years after professing. The Sunday meeting was then put in the
home
of Dee and Mattie Franklin. Mr. and Mrs. Elgie Harris soon moved to
Colorado
and did not return. First Sunday meeting was placed in the home of Lee
and
Lillian Franklin in Beulah, where some from the Higdon church also met.
The
regular Sunday church remained in the home of Dee and Mattie Franklin
for
many years, first in the area of Silent Run, then later in the Dalton
area,
next west of Nebo, and finally in Madisonville. Lee and Lillian
Franklin
also moved to Colorado and did not return. What was referred to as the
Franklin
church in western Hopkins Co. and the Higdon church near Madisonville
continued
until 1988, when they were combined.
Throughout the years the Wed. night Bible study was in different homes,
but
for many years from the 1920s to the 1940s, it was in the home of Mrs.
Ida
Bobbitt on East Broadway St. in Madisonville. After Mrs. Bobbitt's
death
in 1945, the Bible study was moved to the home of John and Nora Higdon.
During the 1920 decade, others were added to the churches. In 1920, Rod
and
Mollie Bowles professed and were added to the Higdon church. Also in
the
1920s, a Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Bale and the above mentioned
Mrs.
Bobbitt professed in the Madisonville area. To the Franklin church was
added
Goldie Hicks (Stevens), daughter of Jack and Fannie Hicks, and Owen and
Vable
Franklin and later Owen's wife, Gladys. At some point Mrs. Betty
Haskins
and Mr. Charlie Long professed. In later years, Mrs. Harriet Hudson
(Aunt
Sis), sister of Nora Higdon, professed through Isabel Norris and
companion
in McLean Co. and attended the Higdon church when she could.
In 1951 Willie Webb, who was without a companion at the time, began a
series
of gospel meetings in John and Nora Higdon's home. There were some who
had
indicated they were interested in hearing. Attending those meetings
from
the beginning were Noble Rainwater, Billy and Doris Rainwater and
Kathryn
and Douglas Hawkins. The meetings continued nightly, except Saturday,
until
November 1, when Charles Thain joined Willie, and on November 2nd the
meeting
was tested, and all five of those attending stood to their feet. Two
years
later in the 1953 convention at Madisonville, Grover Rainwater, Tommy
Bowles
and Lucille Rainwater Wilson professed, and one month later Tommy
Bowles'
wife, Mildred, professed at the convention at Paris, Tennessee.
As years passed children and grandchildren of those professing grew up,
and
some made their start in truth and were added to the local churches.
Ruth
Higdon Wood professed at Shoals, Ind. convention in 1939 and Lillian
Higdon
McMaine professed at the Madisonville convention in 1939. Some moved to
different
parts and established useful homes in other areas; and one, Sarah
Higdon,
has been in the work since 1939. In 1965 Mr. Higdon went to live with
his
daughters, Ruth Wood in Winterville, Ga. and Lillian McMaine, Paris,
Ky.
By this time, Mrs. Higdon had gone to her reward in 1964. It was at
that
time in November, 1965, Douglas and Kathryn Hawkins moved to the Higdon
farm,
where meetings have continued to the present time. A convention was
started
on the farm in 1923 and continues there.
Just as this account began with a plea from our Hymn No. 12 first two
verses,
it seems fitting to end it with a further plea from the last two
verses,
and verse three has been well expressed by the lives and struggles of
those
who lived and died in truth. Please respect the desire of the
writer
that this record not be widely copied and distributed for improper
handling
of such records can be damaging.
"O spread Thy covering wings around,
Till all our wand'rings cease;
And at our Father's loved abode,
Our souls arrive in peace.
Such blessings from Thy gracious hand,
Our humble prayers implore;
And Thou shalt be our chosen God,
and portion evermore. "
This Account was written in 1989 by Douglas Hawkins
NOTES: Jack & Fannie Hicks were Goldie’s parents
Mattie Franklin was Goldie’s sister
Owen & Vable Franklin are Goldie’s nephew and niece
TTT Editor's Quote: "John Freeman and Alex Rainey brought the truth to Garrard County, Kentucky in about 1908. The first Sunday morning meeting was established in 1907. Alex Given dominated the 1930's."
Kentucky Staff Workers 1910–1984
SISTERS cont.
TTT Editors Note: This is a partial list – the brother workers list is missing
It is not known what is indicated by the * or K beside some names.
K Baker, Maurine
Bateman, Edith
Bateman, Nelli
Bateman, Patience
* Bishop, Claradene
* Burkhart, Clara May
Burrows, Debbie
*Cable, Clara
K * Calhoun, Elizabeth
* Cannon, Alice
Clites, Amanda
K Culver, Lois
K * Cooper, Beula
K * Cooper, Elsie
K Cox, Eliza
Crouch, Debra
K* Day, Jesse
* Dawson, Jesse
* Dawson, Sarah
Davis, Anna
Davis, Vella
K * Dickins, Joan
K*Dickerson, Mattileen
*Dozier, Maude
Dunshee, Ethel
Elliot, Barbara
K* Friend, Willie
Gerwine, Maggie
*Giesick, Inez
Groves, Annie
Hanson, Pearl
Harrell, Oza
Harvey, Ida May
Hastings, Mabel
K Higdon, Sarah
Hilligoss, Barbara
Hockersmith Eileen
K * Houston, Gertrude
*Jason, Muiel
K Johnson, Agatha
Keith, Itle
K Layman, Alma
Leffell, Ruthann
Leszewski, Arlene
Leszewski, Eleanor
Lewis, Ada
K Lindley, Mary
London, Inez
Lyons, Nancy
Mader, Mariam
* Martin, Uldine
Martin, Louise
*McDonald, Grace
McGregor, Lizzie
K McKeehan, Barbara
K* McMaine, Wilma
Miller, Marjorie
Montgomery, Helen
N----, Helen
Noris, Isabel
*Oddiivok, Eva
Olson, Lloretta
K * Oskins, Stella
Overton, Hazel
Parish, Mary
Peter, Cindi
Phillips, Lutitia
Pike, Mary Jane
Powers, Ella
Robertson, Alice
*Ruyter, Gertrude
K * Sparks, Ruth
Smith, Ruth
Spath, Mary
Stevens, Mina
Stewert, Irene
Stokes, Labenia
Sutton, Mae
Tannihan, Mae
Taylor, Mayme
Tenniswood, Lillian
* Thomas, Arlene
Thomas, Dora
Towers, Alma
Von Schalf, Emma Louise
K.* Ward, Sadie
?Watkins, Alwilda
Watkins, Emma
Webb, Fannie
K Weller, Martene
Westerback, Effie
Whitman, Maggie
Wilkie, Roberta
Williams, Della
This list was compiled by memory; therefore it is subject to possible omissions, and/or errors which are unintentional.
Compiled by Barbara White, born in 1911, professed August 31, 1929 at the last convention at Bybee, Kentucky
Following are some notes of interest.
John Freeman-young worker who brought the Gospel to E. Ky. 1911.
Alex Renny-senior worker was John Freeman’s companion
Alex Renny, as told by one person, was Kentucky's first
John Henry Rose-in work a very short time, still resides in Estill
Loyd Watkins-Alwilda's brother
Elisabeth Calhoun is Mrs. Frank Houston of Broadhead, Ky
Joan Dickins-Mrs. Joe Crane
Mattileen Dickerson-Mrs. B. Clark of Lancaster, Ky
Ethel Dunshee-Mrs. Willard Dunshee
Muriel Jason;(few months, if at all)
Ella Powers--Mrs. George Johnson
Ruth Sparks-Mrs. Fred Muzon
Alma Towers--Mrs. Archie Curry
Sadie Ward-Mrs. Alex Renny
Alwilda Watkins(very short time, if at all)
Wilma McMaine-Mrs. Marshall Hedden.
