Church and Family History Research Assistance for Boone County, Missouri
CHURCHES:
ROCKY FORK (1821)
Rocky Fork Church, at Hinton, was organized July 26, 1821, with eighteen charter members, viz., Zachariah Jackson, Malinda Jackson, Thomas Tipton, Casey Tipton, Smith Turner, Nancy Turner, Dolly Barnes, Hiram Phillips, Hiram Crews, Polly Williams, Johnson Fenton, Lovey Fenton, Phoebe Goslin, Johnson Lewis, Rhoda Smith, and Sally Hendricks. The presbytery was composed of Elders Edward Turner, Thomas Henson, and Robert Dale, and brethren Thomas Todd and Reuben Riggs.
At their first meeting they agreed to be called by the name of Freedom, but the name was changed in April 1822 to Rocky Fork. It is believed the first meeting place was a log structure about three miles
northwest of Columbia. Another log building was erected in about 1842. In 1872 a new frame house was built, but it was destroyed by fire, and was replaced with another in 1876. This building also burned, about 1913, and was replaced with the meeting house which is still in use today.
Pastors have included Elders Thomas Henson, Thomas P. Stephens, Peter Kemper, E. H. Burnham, William H. Powell, James W. Bradley, Benjamin H. Owings, Ira Turner, George E. Edwards, W. M. Startzman, B. F. Querry, S. L. Pettus, Jerry Brown, J. H. Hardy, Atley Sapp, and Harold Taylor.
UNION
GOSHEN (1832)
Goshen Church was organized on September 21, 1832, but a meeting was held on August 9, 1832, preparatory to the organization, at the home of P. Spencer. The following twelve brethren and sisters were present, viz., Isaac Wilcoxen (deacon), Rebecca Wilcoxen, William Mathews, Helen Mathews, Samuel Wilcoxen, Millie Wilcoxen, Ezekiel Tomlinson, Perry Spencer, Eliza J. Spencer, Nancy Bittle, Susan Collier, and Mary Jamison. The council was composed of Elders John Greenlagh, Berryman Wren, and Deacon Shadrach Wren. On Saturday, September 21, 1832, a presbytery composed of Elders Thomas Campbell, John Greenalgh, Berryman Wren, and David Doyle, and Deacons Shadrach Wren and Isaac Bates, proceeded to constitute these same twelve members into a church.
Elder Berryman Wren was the first pastor called by the church, and served in that capacity until his death, in September 1867, a period of thirty-five years. During this time, the membership increased from 12 to 82. Elder Franklin Jenkins was then chosen and served until March 1872, when he resigned. Elder Mastin Doty was chosen in April 1872, and served until his death in January 1875. Elder J. E. Lee was chosen pastor in June 1876; Elder Howard Jackson in August 1877; Elder G. M. Thompson in November 1881, who served until his death in March 1888. Elder Ira Turner was called in March 1889; he was followed by Elder B. F. Querry in February 1901, and during his term of service the church increased in membership from 132 to 218. This brings the history of Goshen Church up to 1903.
NEW LIBERTY (1842)
On the second Saturday in October, 1842, the following members of New Salem Church met at the home of E. W. Forbis, on account of a majority of that church favoring the modern mission system, viz., William Pauley, Robert Neely, Philip J. Self, Edmond W. Forbis, Eliza Ann Forbis, Mary Forbis, Mary C. Forbis, Frances Forbis, James W. Forbis, James D. Self, Eliza Self, Minerva Forbis, Catherine Jones, Martha W. Self, Sarah Taylor, John Taylor, Andrew Edwards, Sintha Edwards, George Russel, Martha Todd, Joseph Taylor, Louisa Taylor, Anderson Crump, Mary Crump, Caleb Crump, Elizabeth Crump, Elizabeth Sapp, Susan Jones, Noah Crump, John R. Baley, Catherine Sublett, and Diadama Pauley. These members petitioned a presbytery to constitute them, which was done on December 31, 1842, at the home of Bro. P. J. Self. The presbytery was composed of Elder Berryman Wren, moderator, and Levi McGuire clerk, and other brethren from Cedar Creek, Concord, Union, and Goshen churches.
Pastors of New Liberty Church have included Elders Berryman Wren, John J. Linsey, John Burnham, M. Doty, E. H. Burnham, Franklin Jenkins, G. M. Thompson, Ira Turner, S. L. Pettus, John H. Hardy, Wilmer Harper, Haskell Wren, Atley Sapp, and Charles Surbaugh (up to 1992).
A log church building was completed by April 1843. In August 1875 a committee was appointed to superintend the building of a new house of worship, which is still in use.
LITTLE BONNE FEMME (1819)
MT. PISGAH
MT. TABOR
GILEAD
COLUMBIA (1823)
NEW SALEM (1828)
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