Middle Grove Christian Church - 1843 to 1968
History of the Middle Grove Christian Church

Middle Grove is a part of the "Old Ezra Fox Settlement" which was made in Monroe County, being midway between New London and Fayette.

The first Christian Church was erected by the Christian Denomination about 1825 on Section 33 - Township 54 - Range 12 -  approximately two miles northeast of Middle Grove.  William Reid was the officiating minister.

In 1840 the church congregation erected a church in Middle Grove to be near the center of the settlement.  The church was organized by Thomas McBride, with the aid of Marens Willis, Richard Cain, Samuel Rogers and others.  There is nothing very definite about the early history but there is no question, however, as to the early members.  They were:  Snells, Bassetts, Dulanys, Fetherstons, Reeds, Congers, Stephens, Quisenberrys, Haleys and others.

A copy of the deed states that on May 23, 1843, Lewis Lunsford Stephens and Emily Stephens deeded to John Reed, B. Fetherston, A.B. Oldham, Charles A. Allen, William B. Ginnings, Trustees for the Elk Fork Reform or Christian Church.  Commencing on the bank of the Milligan Branch of Elkfork,  where the 1/2 mile of Section 9 - Township 53 - Range 12 - West - crosses said branch running west containing 1 1/2 acres for the purpose of a (meeting?) house for the use and benefit of the denomination, known as the Apellation Christian Church.

The first recorded burial in the cemetery was in 1852.  Nine years after the deed was made.  No record is found of where the dead were buried during those 9 years, or for that matter where they were buried from 1821 to 1852.  The Milligan Cemetery held only 4 or 5 graves other than the Milligans.  Two miles east of Middle Grove is what was known as the "Prairie Church Cemetery".  It was quite a large cemetery, but does not go back far enough to cover that period.  It is now used as a pasture land.

The first burial in Middle Grove Cemetery was that of a 12 year old boy.  The grave stone reads as follows:  Abraham, Son of A. and M.H. Hardy Sr.    Born Dec. 30, 1839    Died Feb. 28, 1852.

In 1849 when Elder H. Thomas preached in Middle Grove, people rode as far as Antioch to attend the meeting. In 1874 Middle Grove reported more than 100 members.

Some of the early pastors were:  William Reid, Thomas Thompson, Martin Sidener, Henry Thomas, Alfred Wilson, William White, T.P. Haley, William Featherston, Alexander Proctor, Rev. McGarvey, H.B. Davis, Pasley Rogers and others.

In 1848 Henry Thomas conducted a 10 day revival .  The result of which was 76 additions, 69 by confession and the remainder from other sources.  This meeting was held out of doors and Bro. Thomas states that had it not been for the assistance of Bro. A. Wilson, who joined him on the 5th day, he believed that he would have failed.

A letter from Bro. Henry Thomas to Bro. Campbell, Oct. 9, 1850, states that there were 10 additions at a meeting in Middle Grove.  Bros. Proctor, Hailey and Wilson had 20 additions at Middle Grove in 1853.

In 1854 on the 23rd of July, Bro. Creath reports 37 additions, amongst whom was a Presbyterian Clergyman by the name of Doran, a Scotchman by birth.

In Oct. 1858 a meeting of 2 weeks closed Middle Grove with 44 additions, 40 of whom were by immersion, conducted by Bro. T. M. Allen, assisted by Bros. James Wilmot, and Goodloe.

In 1864, Bro. E.J. Lampton was to conduct a meeting, but on account of sickness dated Sept. 22, could not begin, but hoped to later.

Aug. 28, 1866, W.M. Featherston reports Bush and Keith closed a meeting which resulted in 42 accessions.

Aug. 27, 1867, Bro. Featherston, Keith, Bush, and Elder James A. Berry conducted a meeting with 15 additions.

Sept. 1, 1868, Elder James A. Berry closed a meeting of (?) days at Middle Grove, resulting in 28 additions - 2 from Methodist - 2 from Presbyterians and 1 Baptist.  J.A. ?arry preached once a month.  There were 142 members, S.S. had about 40.

G.A. Hoffman, minister from New Bloomfield, Missouri, spoke on Aug. 15, 1878, in an old building that was torn down and a new one built on the same place.

In 1885, the year book reported J.D. Quisenberry was one of the elders.  There were 201 members -- preaching semi-monthly.  In Sunday School 6 officers and teachers.  Property value ?00.00.  The amount raised in 1883 for church work was $523.90.  ??00 for missions -- Regular preacher H.F.Davis.

In 1888, the year book reads: Middle Grove, J.D. Quisenberry correspondent, 241 members.

In 1892, the year book reads:  Members 329, pupils and others 162.  Value of church property $1600.00.

In 1877 Porteus Fearis became a member of this church, his wife Lydia and daughter Maggie were baptized at the time.  The minister saying that he baptized Lydia and her ?.  This was Fearis Stephens' mother and grandparents. Fearis being an active member in this church all his life.

Bro. Isom Roberts was also one of the early pastors - Elder Surber in 1898 - Chas. Strawn in 1901.

More recent ministers are William (initials not known) - B.S.N. Edwards -- Talot P. Reavis -- R.S. Grub -- R.S. Hoshoton -- Herman Bassett Helser -- S.B. Owings -- J.W. Pearson -- J.J. Hutchinson -- Q.V. Williams -- Rev. and Mrs. Willard Reavis -- W.D. Endress -- ?? Coil -- B.G. Reavis -- W.T. Henson -- E.Y. Keiter -- J.D. Powell -- ??ale -- G.W. Gordy -- Edgar L. Knight -- Rev. Cole -- Rev. E.B. Strong -- John Foster -- J.M. Jones -- Tom Fleetwood -- James Showmakeer -- Bryon Joe Woodruff -- Clarence O. Gibson -- and J. Frank Infield at the present time.

They have also held revivals the past few years:  Jack Bodard - John Foster - James M. Hull - Chas. Embree - Seth Slaughter and James Spainhower.

The Ladies Aid was very active in the early 1900's.  A young peoples Christian Endeavor was organized in 1923 with the Rev. J.J. Hutchinson as sponsor and Mrs. Claude Elsbury, president.  This was an active group for many years.  The Chai-ro and the Christian Builders were active for a few years.

There was also a Christian Endeavor in the early nineteen hundreds.

A thing of beauty was an old chandelier that was suspended from the ceiling with so many kerosene lamps to fill, this was replaced by a modern lightening system.

In 1960, one of our life long members passed away and remembered her church in her will with $5,000.00 and to the cemetery $5,000.00. The church was remembered and new church furniture and carpeting and piano was included.  A dedication service was held March 24, 1963 with Charles Crank, District minister as the keynote speaker.

In 1953, the present C.W.F. was organized with Mrs. Weldon Brengle as sponsor, this is still activen today. Ruth Hayden is president at the present time.

Our Sunday School Supt. is Harold Courton. 6 teachers and substitute teachers -- pupils about 50 -- Average attendance 35 -- church membership is about 125 -- J. Frank Infield preaches twice a month.

Early church board members were J.B. Haley -- Hiram Poland -- Bob Schooling -- R.W. Noel -- Ira Noel -- Frank Ragland -- other board members -- Chairman Charles Stephens -- Virgil Ketchum -- F.W. Stephens -- Omar Schooling -- John Omby -- Wallace Noel -- J.D. Berkley -- Ed Elsbury -- John Eustace -- Ernest Hopper -- Will Riley -- ? Judah -- Frank Ragland Jr. -- George Garnett -- Present board members are:  Chairman. J.A. Summers -- Vice Chairman, Chas. Willingham -- Secretary, James Courton -- N.M. Thomas -- James Willingham -- Melvin Schopp -- Cleo Johnson -- Stanley Hayden -- Eldon Hess -- Harold Courton -- Lenard Willingham -- Ernest Riley -- Raymond Daum -- Larry Schopp -- Lester Willingham -- Jay Beauchamp -- Earl Wallberg -- George Sager.

Monroe County Convention of Christian Churches was held at Middle Grove Sept. 19, 1962.

Individual communion service and offering plates were presented to this church by Mrs. Mollie Bassett Jennings December 22, 1962.

The family of G.W. Garnett presented new communion plates  in 1961 in memory of George Garnett -- Short dedication services by Rev. Myron Joe Woodruff.  A Cross, Candle Holders  and Offering Plates were presented by Mrs. Rosa Mae Copeland in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Rumans -- These were dedicated at a short service in 1967 by J. Frank Infield (Pastor).   

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Date last modified: 01/29/03