Caldwell County MO Archives History .....ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE HAMILTON M.E. CHURCH 
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Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 8, 2008, 4:35 pm

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE HAMILTON M.E. CHURCH
	Narrators:  Adam Ream, 80, of Hamilton and others

     Some early data concerning the M.E. church at Hamilton came from older 
members familiar with the records.  
     The M.E. church here was organized 1868 with 2 appointments here and at 
Kidder.  The first building was erected 1868 which lasted till the present 
brick of 1900.  In 1870, the charge was combined with Kingston and Kidder was 
dropped.  In 1874, Hamilton was made a station and is yet so.  As far as the 
records show, the following pastors served:  1868-1900.  In 1868 J.G. Thompson 
who owned considerable land to the north of town, up to the present Emma Doll 
home, and intended making it into the Thompson addition.  In 1869 H.S. 
Beardsley, in 1870 H. Chadmyer who also taught school, 1871 W.G. Fowler, 1872 
L.V. Ismond who lived in town for many years with his father-in-law A. Nash; 
J.W. Bovee, 1874 Isaac Hill, 1876-7 E.W.F. Clayton who held powerful revivals, 
1878-80 W.H. Welton, 1881-2 T. Wolcott, 1883 A.H. Poweel, 1884-6 G.H. John 
(Jennie John his daughter was a very popular girl here, a graduate of the high 
school); 1887-9 I.S. Ware (who had daughters Bertha and Mattie), 1890-92 John 
T. Pierce (a real student but not a mixer), 1893-5 C.F. Spray (later president 
of the Cameron Wesleyan College), 1896 W.B. Dunn, 1897 C.W. Casely, 1898-9 
C.E. Bovard under whom the fine brick church was started.  1899-1900 Grant A. 
Robbins, who dedicated the church.  He was later a Kansas City pastor.
     This church has two fine memorial widows.  John F. Swisher once a produce 
dealer in Hamilton, later of Cameron, gave one for his parents, his father was 
an early M.E. preacher in these parts.  The other was given by Andrew 
McClelland a western millionaire, formerly of Hamilton who gave it for his 
mother who was a pioneer here.
     The earlier M.E. parsonage was the house directly north of the church.  
The present parsonage was built by J.H. Manning for his own home and sold by 
him to Wallace Anderson, who in time sold it to the M.E. Church.
     The brick church had to wait almost a year after its completion before 
dedication, because it cost so much more than the architect's plans.
     The early church was not sold when they went into the new.  They tore it 
down.  It had cost $3500 which was some cost back in 1868.  There was a bell 
tower and steeple.  There have been several bells.  Some cracked or broke.  
Some of the lumber in the original church cost as high as $40 per 1000.  The 
first bell cost $130.  Of the older attendants in 1869, but two were left when 
the brick of 1899 was started:  Fred C. Gibson farmer south of town, since 
dead, Mrs. Asa Thomson since dead.  The M.E. church in Hamilton have always 
been mighty in revivals, but one of the greatest was in 1878 when 127 members 
were added to the church roll.  Many families round Hamilton claim their M.E. 
Family connection since that year.
     Interview  1933.


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