Fredonia Church

(Fall River)

(1876-)

Primitive Christian Jan. 25, 1876 page 60 Vol. I No. 4

Fredonia, Wilson Co., Kan.

Jan 9th, 1876.

Dear Brother Quinter:

  While sitting at the window musing and it being near the usual hour for worship, my mind was carried back to the more eastern States, and into the houses of worship where I can see through the eye of imagination the dear brethren and sisters assembled for worship, and me thinks I can hear their voices raised in singing the praise of God; but suddenly my mind reverts to our own a sad condition.  I say as, for it does seem sad when I think of the many able ministers that are enlisted under the banner of king Jesus, and we are left almost destitute of preaching or our own denomination.  We have plenty of preaching, as there are protracted meeting being held all around us by the different denominations; but the preaching does not satisfy us, as we cannot believe only a part of God’s word.  We have six regular appointments in a year, and they are filled by brother Sydney Hodgden, of Neosho county, Kansas.  He comes the third Sunday of every other holds meetings once a month father holds meetings once a month at different places among the brethren, but he being young in the ministry, and having very poor health, the work falls very heavily upon him.

   We try not to be idle, but yet we feel very much discouraged at times, and can not help exclaiming. “Why don’t some able minister move here and settle among us and hold regular meetings!” We number about thirty members in all in this church, and had we an able, faithful minister among us this number might be greatly increased, as there are those here who say they would join if we had more preaching and not so far to places of meeting. it is very small excuse; but why not remove it, so they will have to look for some other excuse, and finally, when they are made willing to take up the cross, they will fail to see such small excuses.

  We had a communion meeting in a tent on father’s place on the 21st and 22nd of last September. We had a good meeting, but not very largely attended, as there was a good deal of sickness at the time in Kansas as well as elsewhere.  There were two additions to the church by baptism.  The brethren of Wilson and Montgomery counties were organized into a church at the communion meeting held the 20th and 21st of October, 1874; brother John Clingepeel and father (John F. Hess) were chosen to the ministry, and brethren George Pephley, Jacob Baily, and John Megee were chosen to the office of deacon.  We are known as the Fall River church, and brethren traveling west and giving us a call, will meet a welcome reception, and we would like if they would make a special point to call upon us, as more preaching is needed here very much.

  We were blessed with good crops during the last year; the wheat was very good, and the corn was a large yield, the largest that has been raised since the settlement of the county; there was an abundance of preachers and all kinds of wild fruit, apples are scarce yet in southern Kansas, as apple orchards are not old enough to bear much; winter wheat is in a flourishing condition.

  There was not been any winter weather yet, excepting a few disagreeable days; hand snow once, and that melted as fast as it fell.  General health good.

   From your sister in Christ.

            Lucinda Hess

The Gospel Messenger April 27, 1886 page 267-68 Vol. 24 No. 17

From Fredonia, Kan.

  Eld. G. W. Studebaker commenced meeting in Greenwood County church, March 6, and continued over two Sundays.  Baptized one, and the prospects are good for more. They have one deacon, and the minister they chose last September has filled an appointment every Sunday since, with the exception of two.  Had church meeting March 11, at the new church-house in Fredonia.  Changed the name of the Fall River to Fredonia church, and changed the name Greenwood County church to Fall River church.  Went with Eld. G. W. Studebaker two miles south of Neodesha, this county, on March 26th.  He preached five discourses in the schoolhouse.  Baptized two sisters in the Verdigris River.  Bro. Studebaker went back April 9, and remained till the 11th.  Baptized one young man, and reclaimed one sister. The Brethren organized their Sunday-school in Fredonia, March 21.  Commenced with about fifty scholars, but the school is increasing. We use the Quarterly, and like it well.

J. W. Mahorney