Primitive Baptist Church and Family History
Research Assistance for Monroe County, Illinois
CHURCHES:
NEW DESIGN (WATERLOO)(1796)
Elder David Badgley (1749-1824), a native of Virginia, visited the Illinois territory, arriving at the Mississippi River, near where St. Louis now stands, on the fourth day of May, 1796, where he found a number of people inquiring the way to Zion. During the same month he baptized fifteen persons; and on May 28, 1796, New Design Church was constituted with twenty-eight members, at a settlement also known as New Design, by Elder Badgley, assisted by Joseph Chance.
This was the first Baptist church organized in Illinois territory. The names of the charter members included Joseph Griffin, William Whiteside, Larkin Rutherford, James Lemen Sr., Isaac Enoch, John Simpson, James Gilham, George Valentine, Solomon Shook, Bro. Teague, Thomas Todd, Joseph Anderson, and Joseph Ryan, with sisters not named. Shortly thereafter, Elder Badgley returned to Virginia, and moved his family to Illinois in the spring of 1797. He was then chosen the first pastor of New Design Church.
Elder William Jones, in his Memoirs of David Badgley wrote that in the year 1800 Badgley had an indisposition of body for several months, and during that time the New Design church changed a rule they had previously adopted - that of working by a oneness - agreeing to work by a majority and to commune with the Methodists. This caused much distress among them, and when Elder Badgley's health returned, he was called upon to administer the Lord's Supper to the said New Design Church, but refused, believing it to be contrary to the sentiments of the United Baptists to commune with other orders; in consequence of which he was taken under dealings by a number of the members, but a majority sustained him. He then took his letter and put his membership in the Mississippi Bottom church. New Design Church soon declared an unfellowship with slave-holders, which caused another breach of fellowship among the churches; but by renewed efforts fellowship was restored. New Design Church was the largest of the original churches which organized the Illinois Association, in 1807, having 16 members at that time; the membership increased to 29 the following year. Little is known about the church from 1809 until 1820, since it did not represent in the association during that time. In October 1820, the church reunited with the Illinois Association, and reported Joseph Chance as her messenger, with 19 members in fellowship. In 1821, the church again represented herself at the association.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Anderson, Badgley, Chance, Demint, Enochs, Gibbons, Gilham, Griffin, Lemen, Rutherford, Ryan, Shook, Simpson, Teague, Terry, Todd, Valentine, Whiteside (very incomplete list due to loss of records).
UNION
Union Church was organized in 1819, or earlier, as it united with the Illinois Association in October 1819, Daniel Starr being the messenger, who reported 6 members. Messengers in 1820 were Robert Haskins and Daniel Starr. Membership in 1820 was 6; in 1821, 6; in 1822, 5; in 1823, 7; in 1824, 6; in 1829, 3. The church was dropped from the statistical table of the Illinois Association minutes in 1830 without explanation, probably due to having ceased to exit.
SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM THE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST LIBRARY:
Minutes of the Illinois Association (organized in 1807).
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Memoirs of Elder David Badgley,
He was born in the State of New Jersey, Essex county, near Elizabethtown, November the 5th, 1749, of parents in moderate circumstances, but of amiable character. His parents, Anthony Badgley and Elizabeth his wife, (whose maiden name was Osbourn), were Presbyterians by profession, and taught their children accordingly, as to religious tenets; and enjoined on them habits of strict honesty and industry. When the subject of the present memoir, David Badgley, was about 19 years of age, his parents moved to the State of Virginia, Hampshire county. On the year following, he was married to a young woman by the name of Rhoda Valentine; (whose parents were also religious and honest) with whom he lived an agreeable life, she being affectionate and industrious.
In the 25th year of his age, himself and his wife had serious reflections on the fallen state of mankind; and in a short space of time were brought to see that they were lost and helpless sinners; but in a few months were made to rejoice with that joy that is unspeakable and full of glory; believing that God had remitted their sins through the precious blood of his Son. In the year 1775, he joined the Baptist denomination, and was baptized, on profession of his faith, by the Rev. William Marshall. In the year following, his beloved wife became a member of the same church: and in the same year, he was ordained a lay-elder, by the Rev. William Marshall and John Coons; and being very zealous for the prosperity of the Kingdom of Christ on earth, often visited the members of the Church, joining with them in singing and prayer. In a short time he began to exhort sinners to repentance, and to visit the churches in different parts, and in destitute settlements. In a few years he became a very zealous preacher of the Gospel; and many of God's people professed to have comfortable impressions under his labours in the ministry; and many poor sinners were brought to cry to God for mercy; and numbers were added to the churches.
On the 2nd day of January, 1793, he was ordained to administer the Ordinances, agreeably to God's Holy Word, by Charles Yates and John Swinler. About this time the neighborhood in which he was living had become Hardy county. The Lord continued to bless his labours; raised up a Church in Pendleton county, under his ministry; he being active in constituting the church was called to take the pastoral care of it; and his labours being much blessed there were many added to the church in a short time.
In the year 1796, he thought proper to travel to the westward, and arrived at the Mississippi river, near St. Louis, on the 4th day of May, where he found a number of persons enquiring the way to Zion; and the same month he baptized fifteen persons - and proceeded, with the assistance of a lay- elder, Joseph Chance, to constitute a church of twenty-eight members, called by the name of the New Design, and was the first Baptist church in the Illinois country.
He then returned to Virginia, and in the spring following removed his family to the Illinois. On his arrival, he was called to take the pastoral care of the church; and, shortly after, with the help of J. Chance, constituted the Bottom church, of eleven members, April 23d, 1798. In a short time considerable numbers were added, although the country was very thinly settled.
In the year 1800, he, D. Badgley, had a severe indisposition of body, that continued for several months, so that he was not able to attend church meetings; in which time the New Design Church altered a previous rule that they had adopted, of working by a oneness, and agreed to work by a majority; a number of the members being absent at the time, they agreed to commune with the Methodists, which caused much dissatisfaction. Badgley's health having returned again, and being called upon to administer the Lord's Supper to the church, while a number of the Methodists were present to commune with them, he was filled with regret, and refused to perform the office; believing that it was not right to trifle with the Holy Ordinance of Christ, in what he conceived to be unprecedented by the United Baptists; and instead of exalting the Saviour's kingdom on earth, it would be trampling it under foot. He felt disposed to pray to the blessed Saviour to forgive transgressors, and to save his brethren from error. He was taken under dealings by a number of the members, but God delivered him; and after two day's labour in the church a majority could not be found against him. The church then agreed to give him a letter of dismission, and his membership was removed to the Bottom church, on the Mississippi river. But difficulties did not end thus; the New Design church formed an arm (so called) on Silver Creek, where they suffered a member to administer the ordinances without legal ordination; and excluded members from the Bottom church, were received into their fellowship, without confessing their faults. This caused Badgley to mourn for the continued disorder. The Bottom church laboured with the New Design, to reclaim them again, but could not, therefore they declared an unfellowship for them; but afterwards, labour was revived, and fellowship gained. It was not long before the New Design church declared that they would not fellowship slave-holders. But Badgley, although opposed to hereditary slavery himself, possessed a charitable hope that there was a great many in the slave-holding states that owned slaves and yet were christians; therefore he could not declare an unfellowship for them; of course he could not go with the New Design church, but held to the United Baptists, in or out of the slave states. The Bottom church held with him also in full fellowship. On which account fellowship between the New Design and Bottom churches was again broken.
In the year 1807, some emigrant Baptist people, from the state of Kentucky, arrived with a traveling constitution, prepared for that purpose by Jacob Locke and Robert Stockton, who resided within the bounds of the Green River Association. They settled in the Ridge Prairie, not far distant from either of the other churches; but on finding the two churches unreconciled with each other, they had little correspondence with either. Notwithstanding the unhappy discord of those churches, Badgley continued to preach the Gospel in the adjacent neighborhood, often visiting the sick, and administering to the necessities of those that were in need; continuing to supplicate the Throne of Grace, that God would please to visit his people, restore them to peace and harmony, and that Zion might travel again, producing sons and daughters to the church of Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
In the year 1806, two brethren that had been dismissed, in order, from Bever Ridge church, in the state of Tennessee, came into the neighborhood of Wood River, one an ordained preacher, the other a very active and useful lay-member. Those two brethren were very anxious to effect an union in the Baptist churches in Illinois. Badgley's hopes revived, thinking that the Lord was about to answer his prayers, and his anxious soul seemed to rejoice at the prospect, while hoping that the Lord was about to effect so glorious a work, and that the time was not far distant when the children of God, would march heart and hand without a bar, toward Mount Zion.
On the 9th and 10th days of January, 1807, the Baptist people in the Illinois country, agreed to form themselves into an Association, and to meet for the first time at James Downing's, in the Ridge Prairie, on the third Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, in June following.
In May the same year, Badgley, with the assistance of the Rev. William Jones, constituted a church on Wood-river, where he had preached for some time previous; also another on Silver Creek. At the time appointed, the Association met, he was chosen moderator, at which time he witnessed a considerable addition, and a flattering prospect of a further increase. The Association then consisted of five churches. The next Association was appointed on the 9th of October, 1807. In a short time he travelled over the Mississippi river, accompanied by the Rev. William Jones, to preach the Gospel there, and ordained John Hendrixson to the word and ordinances - constituted a church on Feefee's Creek, and baptized one member. Several persons were much awakened, who afterwards professed to obtain a hope. In the same year, with the assistance of the above mentioned John Hendrixson, a church was constituted at Cane Spring, where he had laboured when the country was under Spanish laws, which labour was performed on a rock in the river. In the year 1808, he was active, with Joseph Chance, John Baugh, and William Jones, in constituting a church of ten members at Looking Glass Prairie, and ordained R. Brazel to the word and ordinances, and Wm. Brazel deacon. At this time several churches on each side of the Mississippi river, were members of the Illinois Association. Notwithstanding the partial prosperity of the Baptist churches, he had to witness, with sorrow, that some were not contented to fellowship slave holders; they declared an unfellowship to all slave holders. At the meeting of the Association, in 1809, he had the heart- rending sight of seeing the churches separate from each other - only five being willing to stand with the United Baptists. They agreed to hold their next Association in 1810, at which they chose Badgley moderator, and also chose him, with several others, a committed to constitute and establish churches that wished to stand with the United Baptists. About this time his membership was in Ogle's Creek church. He took an active part in constituting a church on Shoal Creek; and with joy he once more saw an increase of churches, at the meeting of the Association, (at which he was chosen moderator) in the year 1814. In the year 1817, he was appointed, with Rev. William Jones, to correspond with the Wabash Association, and obtained the correspondence.
In 1818, while acting as moderator of the meeting, he was appointed to write the history of the rise and progress of the Baptists in Illinois, which, with the assistance of the Rev. William Jones, was subsequently done. He was also appointed with William Jones, to correspond with the Missouri and Bethel Associations, but did not attend the latter in consequence of sickness. About this time he united with the Baptist Missionaries about one year, but finding as he believed that they were not acting according to the Gospel plan, and that it was a speculative plan they were on, he forsook them. In the year 1819, he was again appointed moderator of the Association. In the year 1820, he was active, with the Rev. William Jones, in constituting a church on the Macaupin Creek - one on Apple Creek, and another at Clear Spring, on Shoal Creek.
His zeal for the cause of God continued through all his life. At times he enjoyed great happiness; at other times he met with great difficulties; and like others he often lamented the imperfections of his nature; and was, at times, sorely persecuted by enemies.
He believed that Adam was created in a state of innocency, yet a stranger to heavenly joys while in that state; that the moral law was given to him as a rule of life for him and his posterity, that thereby they might be taught to love God, and be obedient thereunto. Also, that every person should love his neighbour as himself, and do as he would be done by; and not injure any in life, liberty or property; that Adam's transgression was not threatened with everlasting banishment from God, but to return to the dust again; and that the resurrection, eternal life, and heavenly joys, are freely given through Jesus Christ; and that none will be hurt with the second death, or everlasting banishment from God, but such as will not hear the voice of the Son of God, or refuse to believe on his name. He believed that God foreknew all things; and that all who have faith in Christ should take the Old and New Testaments as the man of their counsel; and should be very careful to follow the word of God. He believed that those that die in infancy are saved through the blood of Christ. He believed that Jesus Christ is the true God, and eternal life; and that in him dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
As to person, he was about five feet seven inches in height, rather corpulent, but comely in features. On the 23d of November, 1824, he was taken with his last sickness, which he endured with great patience. He was blest with his common reason while able to speak; and although he was much attached to his wife and children, yet, at times, appeared much delighted with the hope of immortal glory. On the 16th of December, 1824, he resigned his breath, in the 76th year of his age, without a struggle or groan - and left his beloved wife, who had taken a share with him in prosperity and adversity, then in her 73d year; by whom he has had twelve children - four of them previously deceased - eight live near her, and seven profess a hope in Christ.
While the widow laments the loss of an affectionate husband - the orphans have to mourn the loss of a kind father, who brought them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He left 49 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren. Joseph-like, he saw the third generation. He left, also, a multitude of friends and acquaintances to lament his death.
Eight days before his sickness he preached a very warm and affectionate sermon, from Matthew 6th, 13th. "Deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. Amen."
Think, O Man, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I,
As I am now, so you must be,
Prepare for death, and follow me.
There are many things omitted in this Biography, for brevity's sake. He was a member of the Associations when the union was effected between the regular and separate Baptists in Virginia. He was at the ordination of many preachers and deacons; and at the constitution of many churches, and of several Associations.
The writer of these memoirs having been intimately acquainted with the subject thereof about 17 years of the latter end of his days, and believing he is correctly informed of the former part of his life, has with due regard for him and his surviving friends, sketched these memoirs, in hopes that if the reader will reflect and say within himself, did my father, or brother, or friend, thus labor in the Lord's vineyard - and shall I stand idle - he is gone and I must follow.
WILLIAM JONES.
Printed at the Office of the Spectator, Edwardsville, Illinois. Sept. 1825.
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