Caldwell County MO Archives History .....HISTORY OF PRAIRIE VIEW CHURCH NEAR HAMILTON 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 8, 2008, 4:36 pm

HISTORY OF PRAIRIE VIEW CHURCH NEAR HAMILTON
	Narrator:  Mrs. Olive Baker, Hamilton

     This church stands five miles northeast of Hamilton.  It was erected in 
1895 on a half acre lot donated by George Railsback of the vicinity.  It was 
dedicated in April 1895.  It was a memorable occasion, according to Mrs. 
Baker.  All the M.E. choirs from the Methodist churches at Hamilton, Locust 
Grove and Prairie View were together for the day, under the direction of Ben 
Aplin, an outstanding bass singer of Hamilton of that day.
     The presiding elder of the district, R.L. Thompson, was beaming on 
everyone.  President Dick, president of the old Wesleyan college of Cameron 
was there, to help raise the $475 necessary to discharge the debt before the 
church could be dedicated.  John Lewis a good Methodist out there added $50 to 
his pledge and many followed his example till the sum was raised.
     In the afternoon, they had baptizing, communion and the dedication.  
Those days, the old Hamilton M.E. existed with a circuit rider and Lincoln 
Howard was the circuit rider.
     The church services held by Mr. Howard prior to the church building had 
been held in the Prairie View school house, but a revival in 1894 led to a big 
enthusiasm and the church building in 1895.  George Moore, the monument man of 
Hamilton and a M.E. leader in town, gave the beautifully finished corner 
stone.  It held a Bible, a list of the contributors, and ministers present of 
the laying of the cornerstone.
     Rev. Howard had as his charges on his circuit four country 
congregations:  Kendall Chapel to the southwest of Hamilton, Wesley chapel, 
Springhill school house, and Prairie View.  These rural congregations are now 
served by the Hamilton pastor in the M.E. church.  Most of the people have 
cars and can come to town church with as little effort as they went in the 90s 
to their school houses.
     While this is not an interview dealing with the early life in the county, 
it is really a vital one showing the change which has come into rural church 
life from the coming of the automobile.
     Rev. Lincoln Howard and wife have now retired from the ministry and are 
living in Denver, where they recently celebrated their fiftieth wedding 
anniversary.
     Interview  April 1935.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/caldwell/history/other/historyo350gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mofiles/

File size: 2.8 Kb