Early MT. PLEASANT CHURCH, Cooper Co., MO ****************************************************************** File transcribed and contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: James Rex USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ****************************************************************** Mt. Pleasant Church, one of the oldest churches in the county, was organized the second Saturday in October 1823, being the daughter- church of the Pisgah Baptist Church. The first 24 charter members were George Houk, Stephen Howard, Jacob Chism, John Robertson, Lewis Shelton, William Allee, Burford Allee, Hannah Geet, William Birdsong, Priscilla Chism, Clender Litchwirth, James Hill, Thomas Scott, James Birdsong, Elizabeth Howard, Squire Deacons, Temple Allee, William Deacons, Nancy Allee, Windy Birdsong, Katy Houk, Anna Scott, Elisa Deacons, Nicholas Allee. Their presbytery were John B. Longdan, William Jennings, and Jacob Chism. Soon after organization, a church building was built on the farm of Mose Martin. Several years after that, the Rev. David Allee gave a site on Brush Creek, still known by some as the Old Mt. Pleasant Church ground. Here they built a double log house, setting aside one corner for their Negro members. Worship was continued in this building until 1853, when they rebuilt on the same site a large frame building. In 1879 the congregation bought the present church site from J.W. Vaughan, and here built a frame edifice 32 feet by 44 by 14. This was used until 1917, when still another building was erected. In its early organization, the church was very strict in its discipline. Minutes of the church show that at nearly every meeting someone was brought up before the church for misconduct, such as gossiping, fighting, drinking, profane language, horse racing, playing cards, dancing, going to ball games, and other things. It was a common occurrence for the members to come forward and ask the church to forgive them for misconduct. In one instance a brother came forward and asked the church to forgive him for being angry (mad, he called it). If members felt they were unfit to be in the church, they sometimes asked to have their names removed from the church records. Early church membership ranged from 140 (1842) to 220 in 1866. Seventeen of this last number being Negroes. Between 1840 and 1850 25 members were excluded from the church, and between 1850 and 1860 32 members were denied worship privileges. In some instances members asked to be forgiven and taken back into the fold. The church was lenient and took them back. The following churches have been organized with members from Mt. Pleasant church: Mt. Gilead, now California church, Salem, Lebanon, Pilot Grove, Mt. Moriah, Clarksburg, Flag Spring, Tipton, German Baptist Church, and Oakland. Mt. Pleasant Church granted licenses to the following preachers: Aaron Fryrear, first Saturday in January, 1843; Bufford Slott, March, 1843; Michael Brown, December, 1845 (ordained him in 1848); Jessie Martin, 1868; Nicholas Allee, 1867 (ordained him December, 1872). Pastors of Mt. Pleasant Church include (the first 17 years' records were destroyed): David Allee, Jacob Chism; Lewis Shelton; Kemp Scott, 184?-44; M.D. Noland, 1844-48; Snelling Johnson, 1848-49; M. Brown, 1849-65; R.H. Harris, 1865- 66; John Wood, 1866-69; L.V. Johnson, 1869-70; R.P. Scott, 1870-71; J.B. Box, 1878-81; R.P. Scott, 1881-85; Nicholas Allee, 1885-87; Wilson Allee, 1887-88; E.T. Shelton, 1888-90; Nicholas Allee, 1890-91; R.H. Harris, 1891-94; Nicholas Allee, 1894-1907; J. DeWitt, 1907-08; R.B. Russell, 1908-09; Nicholas Allee, 1909-10; B.M. Shacklette, 1910-12; S.A. Maxey, 191213; R.R. White, 1913-15; B.V. Pennington, 1915-18; R.L. Hood, 1918-38; H.W. Allee, 1939-42; R.L. Hood, Jr., 8 months in 1942; Ivan Dameron, 1943-. Jeanne Brunda