Union Baptist Church (1822-1960)

All Day Meeting and Dinner Last Thursday, Rev. C. A. Stephens and J. R. Blythe Preach Sermons

The Union Baptist church west of Jamestown celebrated its 100th Anniversary last Thursday, August 24, 1922. Rev. C. A. Stephens a former pastor of the church preached the annual sermon, Rev. S. M. Petty the present pastor read the historical report and Rev. J. R. Blythe preached the afternoon sermon. There was an immense throng of people resent to hear the addresses and congratulate the congregation on being the first to reach the Centennial Year. The history of the church following:

Union Baptist Church, a daughter of Pisgah Baptist Church, and the oldest religious organization in Moniteau County, is one of the historic churches of Concord Association. The year Missouri was admitted to statehood, 1821, Elder John B. Longan with his family moved from Cooper county and settled on his farm in Cole county (now Moniteau) and no sooner was his cabin home in order than he had set up an altar of worship and invited his friends to assemble with him for religious worship. God so signally blessed his labors that they thought to extend the Kingdom further by organizing a church on the 31st of August, 1822, which was named "The Union Baptist Church of Cole County." The Council was composed of Elder John B. Longan and Snelling Johnson with the following members constituting the church: John Fulkey, Martin Gouge, Isah [Isaiah] Vivian, David Chambers, Mary Moore, Polly Inglish, Francis Vivian, Mary Inglish, Mary Moad, W. M. Howard and Mary Vivian.

The first house of worship was built near a big spring, known as the Bodamer Spring, one and a half miles north of where the present house now stands, on the Hardin Redick farm. About 1829 this house burned with the records, and it was impossible to get any history for a period of seven and a half years. In 1830 Elder John B. Longan was elected pastor and moderator, and continued as pastor until 1846, a period of sixteen years. During his pastorate there were 134 additions to the church. From August, 1846 to August, 1847 Rev. James Jones was pastor. He was charged with preaching heresy (called Cambellism) and was dismissed. In August, 1847, Rev. Snelling Johnson was elected Pastor and served until January, 1853. In February 1855, he was again called and continued as Pastor until the 9th day of December, 1856, when he answered the final call and passed to his reward on high.

The church, from its organization, has been very strict in discipline. At nearly every meeting some one was before the church for misconduct, such as fighting, drinking, horseracing, or absenting themselves from church. Many of these pious Christians came voluntarily before the church and stated their own misdoings and asked either to be forgiven or excluded.

From the date of organization it has been the rule and custom that the church meet on the second Saturday and Sunday in each month for the transaction of business. The fellowship of the church was called for at each meeting and the records show that same was usually found to be broken. In 1830 the question of contribution to the pastor came before the church, i.e., whether or not such action was right. By motion an affirmative decision was rendered. At a meeting in February 1836, among other questions there came before the church that of the use of intoxicating liquor and the records show that the brethren agreed to abandon the use of ardent spirits at their gatherings. At this same meeting the church also expressed disapproval of any member selling or disposing of a beef to be used as a premium in a shooting match.

In September, 1822 Union church became a member of Mount Pleasant Association. On Saturday before the third Sunday in October, 1823 Concord Association was formed at Mount Nebo in Cooper County, when Union church was received into its membership. Since that time, the Concord Association has been entertained by this church six times as follows: In September, 1827; September 15th, 1837; September 19th, 1851; September 17th, 1869; September 19th, 1890 and September 14th, 1909.

Union Baptist congregation has built four houses of worship. The first house was a log structure and was built near the Bodamer Spring. After the burning of this house it was thought best to build a church more in the center of its membership. The second, a log building, was built on the present site in the graveyard, just west of Rev. Snelling Johnson's grave. The house was 24 feet by 38 feet with an 8 foot aisle; a part of it being set apart for colored people. This building was erected between 1832 and 1835.

The third house was built between 1858 and 1865, a frame building 36 feet by 50 feet, and cost $1500.00. The fourth house, the one in which we now worship, is a frame building 30 feet by 44 feet, and was built in 1888 at a cost of $1118.60. the dedication services were conducted by Rev. E. M. Lumpkin, the then acting pastor; also Rev. M. W. Duncan, I. V. Johnson, J. P. L. Maxey and J. B. Box.

The first stated Pastor's salary, paid by Union church was in the year 1854, and was paid to M. W. Duncan. The salary was $35.00.

Union church has been fortunate in having for her pastors some strong men who were able to defend the Baptist doctrine. Special mention is made of the venerable John B. Longan, Snelling Johnson, J. B. Box, and Wm. Tipton, the latter two brethren being very able in debate

Following is a list of Pastors who served Union Baptist Church from 1830 up to the present time:

1832-1846 -- John B. Longan	1872-1885 -- I. V. Johnson	1906-1907 -- M. S. Humphrey
1846-1847 -- James Jones	1885-1886 -- E. M. Lumpkin	1907-1908 -- R. L. Hood
1847-1856 -- Snelling Johnson	1886-1887 -- J. S. Price	1908-1909 -- W. M. Tipton
1859-1862 -- John Wood	1887-1888 -- I. V. Johnson	1909-1910 -- J. M. Tate
1862-1867 -- Micajah Duncan	1888-1889 -- Micajah Duncan	1910-1917 -- L. E. Hedrick
1867-1869 -- J. B. Box	1889-1891 -- E. T. Shelton	1917 -- B. V. Pennington
1869 -- M G. Lane	1893-1895 -- Nicholas Allee	1917-1918 --John Harbaugh
1869-1871 -- Micajah Duncan	1895-1896 -- J. N. Williams	1918-1921 -- C. A. Stephens
1871-1872 -- J. P. L. Maxey	1896-1905 -- R. L. Hood	1921 -- S. M. Petty

Wm. Hall, 1840	W. E. Deakins, 1885
Wm. Nelson, 1840	G. T. Smith, 1896
John G. Harris, 1846	W. F. Althoff, 1910
W. D. Lawson, 1865	C. W. Barker, 1915
Wm. M. Harris, 1879	S. R. Johnson, 1915
T. G. Elliott, 1879	John J. Schlup, 1915
J. I. Dearing, 1885

Jesse Moore, April 1830	Wm. P. Johnson, October 1869
John W. Hughes, March 1838	Blackburn Smith, June 1870
Alex. Spencer, February 1839	W. E. Deakins, May 1878
T. A. Todd, September 1840	M. F. Johnson, August 1891
Jas. R. Kay, June 1850	T. B. Elliott, March 1896
I. V. Johnson, April 1857	Bert Deakins, September 1904
V. B. Wilson, April 1867	S. R. Johnson, December 1907

Wm. Walker	A. F. C. Hall
Wm. Hall	T. G. Elliott
Jesse Redford	J. D. Howard
Absalom Fucher	Blackburn Smith
Jno. W. Hall	T. B. Elliott
Jas. R. Kay	Jas. Akers
E. S. McDaniel	B. F. Herrnleben
Wm. Hall	M. K. Johnson

Union Baptist church, herein stated is a daughter of Pisgah church. In September 1822, quite a number of members were dismissed by letter from Pisgah church in order to help constitute Union Baptist church, now located two and one-half miles southwest of Jamestown, Mo. During these one hundred years of her existence she has passed through many trials and tribulations, such as the anti-missionary period, the slavery question and the great Civil War, when one brother was arrayed against another; but she, like the Apostolic church, was built on a rock. She still stands. She is today a stronger church than ever. She maintains an evergreen Sunday school and has gone from once-a-month preaching to twice-a-month preaching and one of the ablest pastors in Concord Association. She is located in a beautiful natural grove, worships in and owns a modern frame building, spacious and comfortable, own four acres of land and a large cemetery.

The venerable John B. Longan and his co-worker, Rev. Snelling Johnson, were the pioneer preachers of Cooper, Cole and Moniteau counties. Very different from that of the present generation was the style of dress of these brethren when occupying the pulpit. Theirs was a leathern hunting coat and buck skin trousers. Their congregations were made up of folk who traveled to church in the ox-wagons, as there were no such vehicles in existence then even as our present day buggies.

Brethren, we as members of Union Baptist church are closing one hundred years of active, fruitful work for the Master, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and we are now stepping onto the threshold of a new century.

Union - Data for this, the oldest church in Moniteau County, was furnished by Waldo Johnson, on of its members. The congregation held services in 1821, the year Missouri was admitted to statehood. John B. Longan had moved here to the present Nick Baer farm west of Jamestown in that year, and as soon as he was able to get his log residence built invited the neighbors in for regular church services at his home.

This group organized August 31, 1822 as the Union Baptist Church of Cole County. Charter members were John Mulkey, Martin Gouge, Isaiah Vivion, David Chambers, Mary Moore, Polly and Mary Inglish, Francis Vivion, W. M. Howard and Mary Vivion. The first church was built a half mile north of the present site. This church and its records burned in 1829. The present site was then selected and a second church built, in which a section was set aside for negroes. A third building was erected in 1888.

The pastorate of John Longan ceased in 1846. His successor, James Jones, was discharged the following year on a charge of preaching heresy and was succeeded by Snelling Johnson who, except for two years, remained pastor until his death in 1856. His was the first grave in the cemetery. [Editor's note: If this is true there had to have been stones moved from somewhere else as there are McDaniel stones with 1830s death dates]

Like other Baptist churches of this period some one was up at nearly every meeting for misconduct. The records show that on the second Saturday in February 1836 "the brothers agreed to abandon the use of ardent spirits at their gatherings" and also expressed disapproval of a member selling a beef to be used as a premium in a shooting match. The first stated pastor's salary was $35 paid in the year 1854 to M. W. Duncan.

The following ministers were licensed to preach by this church: Snelling Johnson, 1832, William H Duvall 1832, Greenville Spencer 1838, John N Stephens 1848, I. V. Johnson 1862 and T. J. Deacons 1900.

The year Missouri was admitted to statehood, 1821, elder John B Longan with his family moved from Cooper County and settled on his farm in Cole County (now Moniteau). As soon as he had his cabin home in order he invited his friends to assemble with him for religious worship. On August 31, 1822 "The United Baptist Church of Cole County" was organized.

The first church was built near a big spring known as Bodamer Spring on the Hardin Redick farm. About 1828 the house and all the records for seven and one-half years were destroyed by fire. It was then decided to move the church to a more central location about a mile and one-half south, now the Union cemetery site, and build another log church. In a period of sixteen years the church had 134 members and needed to build another.

The third church was built between 1858 and 1865. The second one was set apart for black people.

The fourth church, built in 1888, a frame 30' x 40' is now part of the Jamestown Baptist Church in Jamestown.

In April 1960 Union Baptist Church and Mt Zion Baptist Church, north of Jamestown, each voted to consolidate and form a new church in Jamestown. Mt Zion Baptist Church was built in 1924.

On February 26, 1962, the Jamestown Baptist Church was incorporated and the Union Baptist Church was moved into Jamestown to be used as the auditorium. A basement and new education rooms were added at this time.

In 1986 a new baptistery, choir area and storage rooms were added to the auditorium.