Church and Family History Research Assistance
for Lincoln County, Missouri
CHURCHES:
UPPER CUIVRE
Upper Cuivre Church was organized in about 1815, and first united with the Illinois Association, as there were not yet any associations organized in Missouri.
STOUT'S SETTLEMENT (UNION)
Stout's Settlement Church was organized on June 16, 1821, by Elders Bethuel Riggs and Jesse Sitton. A minority withdrew from this church on a point of order, in June 1831, and organized the Bryant's Creek Church.
SAND RUN, TROY
Sand Run Church, located about six miles south of Troy, was organized in Troy, January 6, 1825, and was at first called the Particlar Baptist Church of Troy. It was organized with about a dozen members. Elder Darius Bainbridge was the first moderator or pastor, and Daniel Colgan was the first clerk.
The church met for several years in the homes of her members, until about 1830, when they sometimes held meetings in the Crooked Creek school house. About the year 1832 a site was chosen for a meeting house, and a log structure was finished there in about 1835, and was called Sand Run. This building stood until 1869, when it was sold, and a new building erected within a few feet of the original one.
Elder Bainbridge was followed by Elder Branson, then by Elder Jefferson Wright, who served as pastor for about twenty-five years. When he passed away, Elder Peter Branstetter was chosen, and served for about ten or twelve years, and was followed by Elder B. F. Hardesty, who served for two or three years. Elder S. A. Elkins was then chosen and served for about fourteen years. Elder W. J. Hardesty then served about five or six years. Elder Melton then preached for the church for about two years, after which Elder Elkins was chosen again. After his death, Elder John Conlee was chosen.
BRYANT'S CREEK, SILEX/NEW HOPE/ELSBERRY
Bryant's Creek Church was organized in 1831, and was originally located adjacent to the pioneer cemetery about three miles west of New Hope on the State road between Elsberry and Auburn Junction. Among the early members were Robert T. Elsberry, founder of the town, and his brother William L. Elsberry and his wife Mary Ellen Mayes Elsberry, who lived just across the road from the church.
The following historical sketch was published in the Elsberry Democrat, March 27, 1985:
Through the discovery of the minute books of the Bryant's Creek Primitive Baptist Church, which were held and cared for by Mrs. Iris Presley, Foley, Missouri, we were able to piece together some unknown history of Stouts Settlement or Union Church. These Bryant's Creek minutes start with the formation of the church, in 1831, and continue until the church disbanded in 1948, at 117 years of age. This too can be considered one of the pioneer churches of Lincoln County.
"We the undersigned ministers of the Gospel do certify that we constituted the forgoing named persons, a Baptist Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, at the meeting on the waters of Bryant's Creek, in Lincoln County, State of Missouri, on the 14th day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty one."
Signed Darius Bainbridge.
The names of the constitutional members of Bryant's Creek Church were William Wells, Mildred Wells, Francis Wells, George W. Zimmerman, Margaret Zimmerman, Thomas E. Wells, James T. Dameron, Hayden Wells, Coartney Wells, George Briscoe, Ira Zichenor, Sophie Zichenor, Rachel of Zimmerman, Mary of Wells, Rachel of Wells, and Nancy of James Stallard.
There were twelve white persons and four slaves. Some of the persons, who united with Bryant's Creek in 1831, but were not constitutional members were: William Sitton and his wife Anna, Jack belonging to William Wells, Betsey belonging to H. Grimes, Phillip T. Wells, Walter S. Cooper, Diana Sitton and Steven Hopkins. It is not known, as to how many of these individuals were from Union Church, but some, if not all were persons who were dissatisfied with the direction of the Union Church.
As there was no difference in the doctrine of the two churches, at the time of the split in 1831, there is no reference in the Articles of Faith, to any doctrine on which they might disagree. These two churches were so closely related on doctrine, that shortly after Union Church had selected Elder Ephraim Davis, as their pastor, Bryant's Creek also selected him in 1837 and he remained pastor of both churches until his death in 1851. There is no mention of his death in the minutes, but he was the preacher of record, for Bryant's Creek, on Friday, August 16, 1851, and was not mentioned afterward.
SULPHUR LICK
LITTLE BETHEL
MILL CREEK
ADDITIONAL REFERENCE SOURCES IN THE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST LIBRARY:
Minutes of the Cuivre-Siloam Association.
Click here to read a first-hand account written in February 1839, by Elder Henry Louthan, regarding the separation from Salt River Association, and Bethel Association, which resulted in the formation of the Two River Association.
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