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JACKSON COUNTY, KANSAS CARMEL CHURCH HISTORY (Compiled by Bill Wilson, Jackson County 1993) Submitted by Verlin Wichman Page 1 The following names were jotted down on the back of a sales slip from the S.W. Gordon and Bro. Dry – goods, groceries, boots and shoes store. It was dated July 20, 1868 and was a receipt for the purchase of a pair of $2.50 shoes. I imagine the names are of persons interested in starting a church in the community. The "B" opposite their name could denote their being a Baptist, or having a Baptist preference. (Transcriber Note: Because the "B" was not behind all members of a family with the same last name the "B" might have stood for "Baptized". ) Page 2
Page 3 "We the undersigned brethren and sisters met at the schoolhouse (Black Schoolhouse) for the purpose of becoming a church at the Schoolhouse Jackson County, Kansas.
We the above named brethren and sisters met at the schoolhouse on the fourth day of October, 1868 with the view of becoming a church. ORDER OF BUSINESS: 1. Chose Brother Cozad as moderator and L.L. Dick, clerk. 2. Brother Cozad and Brother Cook as a presbytery to constitute us a church if found qualified. We the above named brethren as a presbytery have agreed and ( Page 4) believe it to be our duty to constitute the brethren and sisters before named a church and according to the request of the brethren and sisters we have this fourth day of October 1868 constituted them a church. A United Baptist Church of Jesus Christ known by the name of the Circleville Baptist Church. We the above named Presbytery having constituted this church on the principles of the general union of United Baptist held forth by the East Baptist Association of United Baptists, which principles we subscribe to and believe and reads as follows: We believe that the scriptures of old and new testaments are the inspired and infallible word of God. We believe in one God and in the divine person and character of Christ in the necessity and work of the Holy Spirit. We believe in the natural depravity of the human family that in consequence of our first parents transgressions sin has passed upon all men. We believe that infant children dying before they are capable of understanding good from evil will not be punished for original sin but that the curse applies to actual transgressions. We believe that it is our duty to receive into our fellowship from time to time those only who make a profession of their faith in Christ and on that profession to baptize them before they can be admitted to communion. We believe that the scriptures teach that Christian Baptism is the immersion of the body in water being an emblem of death unto sin and rising again to newness of live. We believe in the perseverance of the saints the eternity of future rewards and punishments and the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. COVENANT Having been as one trust brought by divine grace to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ and to give ourselves wholly to him. We do now solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other to walk together in him with brotherly love to His glory as our common Lord. We do therefore in his strength exercise a Christian care and watchfulness over each other ands faithfully warn and admonish each other and as occasion may require that we will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but will uphold the public worship of God and the ordinances of His house. That we will not omit closet and family religion at home nor neglect the great duty of religiously training our children and those under our care for the service of Christ and the enjoyments of Heaven. Glory forever and ever amen !! Church Meeting November, 1868 Eighteen members were received into the Church on the second Sunday of November by relation of experience. The following were received by Baptism.
E.A. Bronson and wife are candidates at a later date. L.L. Dick, Clerk Page 8 No church or business meeting held in December due to inclement weather. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The regular business meeting was held at 2 o’clock on Saturday. Order of Business 1. Charles G. Dick was given a license to preach. 2. The time of the meetings was changed to 10 a.m. on the first Saturday before the first Sunday of the month. Page 9 3. Isaac Frederick is a candidate for Baptism in February. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting No business meeting was held. The meeting was held but no business was brought before the church. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting Received by relation by experience Brother Buckles, his wife and daughter and Elizabeth Pope for membership. Cynthia Abel was received by experience and a candidate for Baptism. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The time of the meeting was changed to the second Saturday of the month. Brothers Cain, Buckle and C.G. Dick were appointed as delegates to the association. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting Brother Cain was given the privilege to get out a subscription for the purpose of building a church in Circleville. Isaac Frederic was baptized after the 11 o’clock Sunday Church Service. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The business meeting was held on the second Saturday before the second Sabbath received Brother James Lillard as a candidate for Baptism. Adjourned to meet at nine o’clock Sunday morning for Baptism services. L.L. Dick, Clerk Church Meeting Met at nine o’clock to baptize Brother and Sister Bronson, Brother and Sister Dougless and Brother Lillard and Cynthia Abel. We then repaired to the schoolhouse for preaching and taking of the Sacrament. Brother Godfrey and Sister Washington were received by relation of experience into the church. George Pope was received as a candidate for Baptism adjourned to meet at 7 p.m. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The business meeting was held on the second Saturday of the month. Order of Business: Robert Hogg, George Cain, John Charles, Charles G. Dick, and Liberty Dick were appointed as delegates to the association. The church called for the ordination of Charles G. Dick to the ministry. John Buckles requested a license to preach from the church and was given. Brothers Cain, Pope and Brown were appointed as a committee to the Netawaka Church and Pastor. Brother John Charles was appointed to the office of Deacon and Brother Cozad as our pastor for a salary of $200. Brother Simpson was received as a new member by relation by experience. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting No business meeting was held because of the associational meeting. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting After singing and reading of the scripture, prayer was offered by Brother Cozad. The following business was brought before the church. The minutes were read and approved. The church gave Brother George Newton a letter of demission. The ordaining committee to ordain Brothers C.G. Dick and John Charles. The church to pay Brother Cozad $8.00 for missionary labors. The church agreed to pay Brother Brown ten dollars for keeping the house for one year. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The meeting was held on the second Saturday with prayer offered by Brother Hogg. Minutes were read and accepted. Motion was made to adjourn. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting Meeting called on the second Saturday with singing, reading of scripture and words of prayer from Brother Cozad. The minutes were read and accepted. The church paid Brother Cozad $8.00 that was due him. Adjourned L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The business meeting was held on Saturday before the second Sunday of the month. After singing and reading of the scripture, the minutes were then read and accepted. 1. An amendment of church discipline was passed by the church that any member absent for three successive meetings shall, upon failure to give a satisfactory reason, be suspended from the church. Page 16 L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The church did not meet. Business Meeting The meeting was held on the second Saturday with singing of hymns, scripture reading, and reading of the minutes in that order. There was no other business brought before the church. Adjourned L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The meeting was held on the second Saturday with C.G. Dick as Moderator in the absence of Brother Cozad. Brothers Godfrey, Buckle and Bronson were appointed as a committee to invite brothers Thomas and Archibald Abel to church to answer charges against them for disorderly conduct. C.G. Dick was appointed to do the same for George Pope. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The meeting held with C.G. Dick as moderator in place of Brother Cozad. After preaching by Brother Wade the doors of the church were opened for the reception of new members. 1. Elisha and Elizabeth Stalker and James M. and America J. Wade come by letter from Washington Co., Indiana. 2. The committee appointed to wait upon George Pope was discharged due to George not being a member. 3. The church building committee was discharged. 4. Brother Archibald Abel acknowledged that his conduct had been wrong and was sorry for it, where upon he was restored to fellowship in the church. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting Page 19 The meeting was called to order on Saturday with the minutes being read and accepted. 1. The following members were given letters of dismission.
Business Meeting There was no business, but had preaching by Brother Cozad on Sunday. L.L. Dick , Clerk Business Meeting L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting No meeting was held because of the associational meeting. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting Adjourned L.L. Dick, Clerk Page 21 Business Meeting The meeting was held on Saturday morning at eleven o’ clock. The minutes were read and approved. No business was brought before the church. Ajourned L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting Meeting held on Saturday morning with prayer being offered by Brother Colton. 1. The church chose Brother Colton to be Pastor
for the coming year, paying him whatever the church is able to pay. L.L. Dick, Clerk Page 22 Business Meeting No meeting due to inclement weather. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The meeting was held on the second Saturday of
the month with L.S. Colton as the moderator. Adjourned L.L. Dick, Clerk Page 23 Business Meeting The meeting was held on Saturday. Minutes were read and accepted. No business was brought before the church. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting The meeting was held on Saturday with preaching by Brother McCreary. No business was brought before the church. Adjourned L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting No Business meeting but had preaching on Sunday by Brother Colton. Communion ws held after the sermon. L.L. Dick, Clerk
Business Meeting No business meeting was held. But had preaching on Sunday by Brother Colton. L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting L.L. Dick, Clerk Business Meeting Pg. 25 of C. G. Dick to the Gospel Ministry L.L. Dick, Clerk
No business meeting was held. A council composed of Brethren from the Kennebuk and Grasshopper Churches was organized to ordinate Charles G. Dick to the ministry. This was done on Sunday morning with the proper services. Elder, J.D. Wilson, of Sydney, Iowa was in charge of the ordination. The evening sermon was by Elder, R.S. Cook. R.S. Cook Pg. 26 Church Meeting L.L. Dick, Clerk (a revival was evidently held at this time in conjunction with the ordination of C.G. Dick to the ministry.) L.L. Dick, Clerk Pg.27 L.L. Dick, Clerk
L.L. Dick, Clerk
L.L. Dick, Clerk
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(There are no records of any church activities from January of 1873 to December. This was during the time that
fire had destroyed the Black schoolhouse. The church meetings that were held from December 1873 were held in the
newly built Carmel schoolhouse on the new site.) L.L.Dick, Clerk Pg.31 L.L. Dick, Clerk Pg.32 L.L. Dick, Clerk
Business Meeting L.L. Dick, Clerk
Pg.34 Member Names 1868-1874
(According to the records of the First Baptist Church in Holton, Rev. L.H. Cozad was the first pastor of the newly organized church in 1872. So it seems that the church in the Black schoolhouse had a part in its beginning. There is really no way of really knowing what happened during those early, difficult years. It seems that the meetings were well attended, but maybe a little strict concerning missing church services. I’m sure that in the church of today anyone missing three successive services and being dismissed would be very unhappy. The fire and loss of the Black schoolhouse, no doubt, had a big impact on the membership for many dismissals were recorded during this time. There were no church minutes recorded from December of 1872 to December of 1873 which corresponds with the period when no school was held in the district due to the fire. Pg.37 I wonder if the reformed church in Circleville might not have been started by those members who left the local
church. Records show that it was built in 1883 on the northeast corner of the block where Grant Street and Love
Joy Avenue meet. There is no records of when its doors closed for the last time. The present Methodist church was
built in 1880 and the Christian church in 1889. The churches, of course, were organized many years before this
and met wherever possible. The Methodist church meeting was held in a saw mill in 1858 with Rev. W.M. Knipe as
the leader, assisted by Rev. Ely H. Robinson and Rev. R.P. Ham. Pg. 39 L.S. Colton Church Meeting L.L. Dick, Clerk Pg.40 L.L. Dick, Clerk
L.L. Dick, Clerk
Business Meeting L.L. Dick, Clerk
L.L. Dick, Clerk
The church business meeting was held on the third Saturday of the month. After the reading of scripture and
prayer by Brother Register the following business was brought before the church. Pg.42 for the rest of the year. Adjourned
L.L. Dick, Clerk Pg. 43 L.L. Dick, Clerk
L.L. Dick, Clerk
L.L. Dick, Clerk Pg. 44 L.L. Dick, Clerk
L.L. Dick, Clerk Pg. 45 Members 1883-1884
(The meeting held in March of 1884 was the last entry written in the clerk’s book. I do not know whether anymore
church activities were held during this time. I do know that church and Sunday school was held in the second Carmel
Schoolhouse in 1910 and was pastured by Jessie Jones, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Holton. According to
records approximately thirty five persons were attending each Sunday and was called the church out post. Rev. Jones was transported to and from the schoolhouse for church services by a Mr. Seabold using his horse and buggy. There is no record of when it was started or when it stopped. No doubt the coming of the automobile had a big part in its demise. The small church, like the small school, had its place in our heritage, for it was the blueprint to what is offered today. In copying the history of the church and school in district # 28, I feel that the men and women of that era should be remembered for their untiring effort to make a better life for their children and grandchildren. They were fine Christian people and I cannot help but feel that we have failed to live up to our obligation to them. We live in a society of better educated people, more modern living conditions and more money to spend, but our morals Pg. 47 have disintegrated. Prayer is no longer allowed in school, drugs are used by young and old and the chance of being gunned down on a street corner is a distinct possibility. I am sure that this was not the dream of the future that those early church members had for posterity. I would like to know more about the activities held during the 1860s up to the 1920s, but doubt any more information is available. It has been a very enjoyable experience reading about life in those days and realizing how difficult a situation was faced and overcome by the early day members of the Carmel and Black community. I am happy to have had a part in copying this material so that it may be saved for future generations to read. I have copied the material fairly close to the way it was written so that the language used in those days can be saved. Some names and words are not spelled correctly for they were spelled as they sounded, such as dor for door and red for read. Thanks again to Kenneth McKeever for sharing the church record book with me that was kept by his great Grandfather Liberty L. Dick. Mr. Dick must have been a very intelligent, community- minded man and certainly did a fine job of preserving a portion Pg. 48 of the early history of the community for us. I feel that those were really "The good old days"and was a good time to have lived. Even with poorer living conditions and hard times life was simpler, with neighbors helping neighbors and sharing good times and bad. Those days are gone forever, so we once again say a final farewell and a job well done. Bill Wilson
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