Bethlehem Baptist 1898-1899

I was very fortunate to be able to photograph some old records from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Jefferson County, Missouri.  Although I am related in some way to many of the people in the records, these records were beginning to "take over" this blog.  So, I have created a new blog devoted to these records, the history and cemetery of this church.  There will be some posts on this blog concerning my immediate ancestors and their siblings, but the 3rd cousins twice removed have been moved to my new blog: http://bethlehemjeffco.blogspot.com/

Bethlehem Baptist Records 1892-1897

Minerva McCulloch Manion 1836-1904

Double click on any of the documents and photos of Bethlehem Baptist Church to enlarge them, then use your back arrow to return to the page. Again, I'm missing a number of pages due to several factors: they weren't there, they were too faded to read, they had no information on them. Although Bethlehem Baptist is considered to be in Grubville, a new church appears in the community--Grubville Baptist Church, just a few miles down the road.
May 7, 1892 ". . .the case of Bro. L. Willson was taken up and laid over until next meeting on motion. The case of Sister Mary Williams. . .committee consisting of Len Williams, Minerva Manion and Josephine Manion to see the sister. Wm McKay moderator, Lewis Reiter, clerk pro tem" This is Louis Henry Reiter the son of my g-g grandfather Louis/Ludwig Reiter who emigrated from Germany. Josephine Manion could be the daughter of Minerva McCulloch and William G. Manion who was the son of Susan Graham.

Bethlehem Baptist Church 1887-1891

Samuel G. Medley, Baptist Pastor

These are from the Bethlehem Baptist Church near Grubville, Mo. There are many missing pages, but this time I didn't photograph them all. My camera battery was getting weak, so I didn't photograph pages that basically said, "We had no business and the meeting was adjourned." But there were some pages missing too.

Dec. 1886 ". . .who should constitute the presbytery. Bros. Steel, Cox, McKay and Frazier were named and clerk ordered to write to the brethern. . ."[George Steel and J.R.Cox---not sure which McKay nor Frazier]
Jan. 8, 1887 ". . .Deacon L. H. Lee offered his resignation as deacon of the church as he was getting old, could not hear [he was 74 years old]. The church requested him to remain as deacon which he consented to do. The church appointed a committee to visit Deacon Brown and ascertain the cause of his staying away from church and request him to come to church the next meeting. The committee Bros. S. Medley, Edsell, and Robert McKay. Bro. S.S. Bittick and his wife was granted letters of dismission from the church." [Jacob Edsell or James Edsell]
April 14, 1887 ". . .the committee made a report and brother Joseph Brown excluded from the fellowship of the church by request. . . Bro. Wm. Alwood was chosen deacon. . . Elder Wm. McKay and Bro. Short was chosen to assist in ordination. . ." Joseph Brown later became re-instated because he's mentioned in the minutes for Sept. 1888.

Bethlehem Baptist Minutes 1881-1885

These records are from the Bethlehem Baptist Church near Grubville, Mo. The tombstone above, for James W. Thompson who died Feb. 21, 1890, is in the cemetery there. The membership records for this period, show the condition of some of these documents and why there are pages missing. Click here.
Feb. 12, 1881 ". . .Owing to a violent storm there was no meeting of the Church on Saturday nor any preaching on the Sabbath. . ." George Steel, Clerk [married to Margaret Julia Graham's granddaughter Mary Mildred Lee]
March 12, 1881 ". . . The Committee in the case of Bro. Wm. A. Jones made a report and was discharged. Bro. Jones having written a letter to the Church in which he acknowledges his faults and asks foregivenes, the church forgave him and the case was dismissed. Bro. Jones also applied for a letter of dismission which was granted. The case of Mary Patton was next taken up but as the sister was sick, the case was continued. The clerk George Steel tendered his resignation. . .Bro. Stephen Pounds [Lucinda Graham's brother-in-law] was unanimously elected. . .Bro. Wayne K. Deffenbach applied for a letter of dismission which was granted. . .Bro. George Steel applied to the church for license to preach which was granted. . . The case of Sister Margaret Leeper [daughter of Arah Graham and Giles Sidney Lee] having obtained a letter from the church and having united. . ."

Bethlehem Baptist Meetings 1873-1874

George Steele is beginning to play a major role in the history of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Although born in England (according to the census), he married Mary Mildred Lee who was the daughter of Lewis Harrison Lee and Margaret Julia Graham. We believe he is the large, bearded man beside Abner Medley in a gray shirt with white suspenders. This photo was taken in 1913 at the 60th Anniversary of the Jefferson County Baptist Association. For more photos from that meeting, click here. To read the documents in their entirety, double click on the photos to enlarge them.

p. 63 February 1873 ". . .Church made an effort to hire a preacher during the remainder of the Associational year in which they procured the services of Elder W. Stephens for the sum of twenty-five dollars. . ."
p. 64 May 1873 ". . .that the church take up a collection for the purpose of fitting up the church house with comfortable seats which was done and the money or a part thereof put in the hands of Br. Steele as committy to superintend the job. . ."
p. 65 August 1873 ". . .church gives the moderator power to appoint delegates to the Jefferson County Association to be held with the Temperance Mission Church to commence on Fryday before the second Sabbath in Oct. 1873. Said delegates are as follows Br. Elder Wm. McKay, Silas Pounds and the church clerk [John P. Lollar]. . ."
Sept. 1873, the Moderator read a letter which will be read at the Association but there is no indication as to the nature of the petition.
p. 67 December 1873 ". . .Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in Dec. 1873. No one came to church. On Sabbath came two persons. They left without any time set to come back. J.P. Lollar Clerk. . .
January 1874 . . .Brother Steele presented an account with receipt on lumber, bills for seats to be put. . ."
p. 68 January 1874 cont.
. . . money and pay Mr. Graham on lumber bill by motion of Br. Robert Wilson. Brother Wm. McKay put in nomination for pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church during the Association year ending Oct. 1874 with a unanimous vote. It was with some degree of reluctance that Brother would accept the Pastorate. The church agreed to pay Br. McKay the sum of twenty dollars for his services.
May 1874
. . .Br. Robert Wilson was appointed a committee to confer with Brother Couch ans report at our next meeting. . .
p. 69 May 1874 cont.
Also the case of Joseph P. Bridgeman [in 1870 census, Joe Bridgeman worked on Oliver Lee's farm which was near Wm. McKay and George Frost] was taken up for reconsideration as his whereabouts is not known to the church. Bro. O.T. Bittick will try and find his whereabouts and report at our next meeting. . Also, the 8th article was reconsidered and amends as follows that the Practice of Dram drinking in or at public saloons or dram shops has an Evil and Pernicious influence and should be abstained from by all Christians. . .Also the case of Br. L. Couch was taken up. The committy made his report and was discharged. Case continued until next church meeting. . .
p. 70 July 1874
The case of Br. L. Couch (Leonard Couch) was reconsidered. Br. Couch failing to come to time according to promise was dismissed from church. . . Br. Bridgeman wishes to be dismissed from the church as he thinks he is not fit to be a church member. The church by request dismissed Br. Bridgeman from the church. Also Brother George Steel moved that the building committy examine all the papers and ascertain the indebtedness of the church to the committy.
P. 71 cont. . . .George Steel and Robert Wilson would report at next church meeting.
Aug. 1874 . . .Robert Wilson and George Steele are delegates to Jefferson County Association at Sandy Church. Sept. 1874 . . .Pastor is sick and not able to attend.

P. 72 Dec. 5, 1874
Bro. Wm. McMurtay commenced a ___________missionary meeting aided by the help of Br. J.M.Henseley and Wm. McKay the latter during meeting we had many gospel sermons with powerful appeals in behalf of sinners. Our meeting lasted about twelve days. There was 31 professions, 19 added to the church, 17 by experience and baptism, one by letter, one reclaimed. Click here for the church membership records from this meeting.

Bethlehem Baptist Church Minutes 1871-1872

These minutes discuss the need for a new meeting house for Bethlehem Baptist in Grubville or Dittmer, Missouri, but it must have been on adjoining or the same property since graves from the 185o's and 1860's are there. James Pounds (above) died in 1866. His grandson James M. Pounds is mentioned below.
p. 52 April 1871 ". ..Brother Robert Wilson sends his virtual resignation as one of a building committy appointed by the church at Bethlehem to build a meeting house. Said resignation was received and Brother Wilson released from said committy and Brother Joseph Brown was appointed in his place. There was a charge brought up before the church against Martin Eoff for using Profanest Language and Sabbatical breaking where upon Brother A.D. Bittick (O.D?) and Thomas Eoff was appointed as a committy to go and talk with Br. Martin Eoff. . ." This might be Lewis Martin Eoff. . . .
1871 ". . .in June the church had a communion service on sabbath. The Church give the plan of the house and orders the committee to go on and commence building. The church house size 26 by 45 feet 12 feet between floors house to be a frame.

July 1871 ". . .[Eoff] nor the committy present or the committy not having an opportunity of conferring with the Brother, it was thought expedient by the church to turn Brother out of the Church which was done by the consent of the church. . ."
p.54 Aug. 1871 ". . .the case of J.J.Frost is a charge for swearing and other crime (?) unbecoming a Christian. There was a committy of two appointed to confer with Br. Frost. Brethren Robert Wilson and George H. Frost. . .the charge against Br. Evans [Charles Evans] was for swearing and Br. Joseph Brown and J.J. Carrow was appointed as a committy to confer with Evans."
Aug. 1871 continued ". . .delegates appointed to send up to the Association are Brethren Robert Wilson, George Steele and the clerk of the church J.P. Lollar. .. "

Sept. 1871 ". . .the case of Br. J.J. Frost was taken up and disposed of for non-attendance and the chrarge preferred against him. . .the case of Br. Charles Evans until next meeting. Employs Elder Joel Hensley as the pastor for the year end Oct. 1872. . . agree to pay the pastor $50 to be paid quarterly. . ."
Dec. 1871 ". . .Sister Celia Turner presented herself for church membership from Oakland Church when said sister presents her letter of dismission from Oakland Church. . ."

Jan. 1872 There was no report on Charles Evans' case and Sister Turner is received into Bethlehem Church.
March 1872 ". . .Brother S.B. Wilson [Solomon Bachelor Wilson] charged Margaret Wilson [Margaret Mecarel Brown, daughter of Mary "Polly" Graham and Henry Brown] with conduct unbecoming a member of the church. Charge sustained. Br. Steele moved that the Sister be excluded. . .Br. S.B. Wilson charges Br. Jasper Eoff and Mary Eoff with dancing. Br. Thomas Eoff sustained the charge. Also Br. S.B. Wilson charges James M. Pounds [grandson of the James Pounds who died in 1866] and Sister Charlotte Pounds [Charlotte McCulloch] of shooting Mrs. Mary Wilson's horse. Sister Pounds being present was called on to explain the charge. Sister Pounds acknowledges her fault and expressed her sorry for doing. Sister Clara Eoff [Clarissa Davis] gave evidence in the case. . ."

p. 58 March 1872 cont. ". . .Br. Joseph Brown [son of Mary "Polly" Graham and Henry Brown] moved that Sister Pounds confession be received. Sr. Pounds sustains her position in the church. . ."

April 1872 ". . .the case of Br. Jasper[Eoff] and Sister Eoff. . .having no disposition to stay in the church any longer, but expressed a desire for the church to exclude them from the church which was done. . ."
p. 59 May 1872 ". . .the case of Bro. J. M. Pounds [James Milton Pounds] being calls. Bro. Lee presented a letter from Bro. Pounds in which Br. Pounds expressed his sorrow that his conduct had caused grief in the church. After remarks by Robert Wilson and S.B. Wilson, Bro. [George] Steele [Lewis Harrison Lee and Margaret Julia Graham's son-in-law] moved that the offending Brother be forgiven and restored. . . the church empowered the building committy to dispose of the old church building as they may think proper. . ."

p. 60 May 1872 cont. ". . .[the committee is] done be selling the old house and applying the proceeds to the case of the new house. Bro. George H. Frost Treasurer of building committee presented his account to the church. . ."

July 1872 ". . .Bro. O.D.Bittick [son-in-law of Lewis Harrison Lee and Margaret Julia Graham] asks for a letter of. . . "
p. 61 July 1872 cont. ". . .dismission and recommendation which was granted.

Aug. 1872 ". . .Br. O.D. Bittick [Oliver Delore Bittick]. . .asked a continuence in the church which was granted. . .delegates to represent them in Jefferson County Association to be held at Pilgrim's Rest Church commencing on the 11th day of Oct. 1872 namely elder Wm. McKay, O.D. Bittick and the clerk [John P. Lollar]. . ." So, O.D.Bittick left the church in July, rejoined in August and was a delegate to the Association meeting. . .

p. 62 Sept. 1872 ". . .motion made to pay up our pastor for his year's service before employing any other pastor. . ."

Oct. 1872 ". . .committy appointed to collect funds enough to pay our pastor for the year ending Oct. 1872. The church instructed her delegates to not hire a pastor for the next year which they did not. So, Bethlehem Church is therefore without a pastor. Bro. J. M. Hensley [Joel Hensley]says he will preach for us until Christmas. . ."

Bethlehem Baptist Members 1880-1890

Elizabeth E. Reiter Manion (1867-1904), sister of my great-grandmother Mary Reiter Long.

For more about these church records got the Bethlehem Baptist blog which has 80 years of the church records that I was able to photograph.

Although there were no dates on this page, Caroline Valle is one of my relatives on the Tyrey-Reiter side of the family. She married Peter Charles Valle in 1860 and died in 1910, so the above page is somewhere in between: Miss Ellen Baldwin, Mrs. Caroline Valle, Miss Mary Jane Mothershead, Mrs. Clara Davis.

Milton Long and Catherine Brown's children

Jeptha Long and Frances Johnson

I recently had lunch with my 2nd cousin once removed (her grandfather and my great-grandfather were brothers) who brought a wedding photo of her grandparents which I'd never seen. Thank you Kay for sharing the above photo of Jeptha Long and Frances Johnson.

Milton Long and Catherine Brown

Click here for more information on Milton and here for more information on Catherine. They had 8 children most of whom I have photos for. Besides Jeptha Long (pictured above) they had Milton Martin Long, Nora Long Couch, Sarah Jane Long Maness, Susan Long Wallace, Mary Evaline Long Hughes, James C. Long and my great-grandfather Thomas Henry Long.
Pictured above are Susan Long and Thomas Wallace.
This is Milton Martin Long and Hettie Williams.
Above is my great-grandfather Thomas Henry Long with his oldest children: standing are Este Long, Alfred Long and Katie Long Bruns. Seated on T.H.'s lap is Lecy Long Guinther and to his right is Clarence Long. On Mary Reiter Long's lap is Lawrence Long and on the ground with a skeptical face is my grandfather Roy Long.
The only other photo I have of Milton's children is the one above and below from the 1931 family reunion photo. Thomas H. Long, Jeptha Long, Sarah Jane Long Maness (1859-1945), Lenorah (Nora) Long Couch (1861-1942) and Susan Long Wallace (1858-1941)
The only ones whom I don't have photos of are Mary Evaline Long Hughes and James C. Long.

Louis Reiter

Louis (Lewis, Ludwig) Reiter (Ryder, Reider) emigrated to the United States around 1854. Gwendolyn Pigg (a cousin's wife) and I think the mines where he lived were giving out---not an uncommon story (some of my English ancestors came when Cornish tin mines gave out)
Gwendolyn found his ship record which she's pieced together. He left Liverpool on the Ship of New York arriving in New York city June 27, 1854. One third of the passengers were Irish with the remaining German.
Although he was around 30 years old when he came, he didn't marry for 15 more years. We assume he mined lead in Jefferson County, Missouri's abundant lead mines before he enlisted in the Civil War. He enlisted in De Soto, Mo 27th August 1862 in co. K, 31st Regiment of Missouri Volunteers mustering into services as a Private in Ironton, MO. (double click on the documents to read them) David Long told me recently that Louis Reiter left German so he didn't have to be conscripted in the German army only to come here and fighting in the Union Army.
We have abundant records. The roll call above asked where he was born. On one he said "Carkert, Germany" and the other "Cassell, Germany". Gwendolyn and I agree there is no "Carkert, Germany". "Cassell" was a clue to look in the vicinity of Kassel. Gwendolyn found a village Korbach which she thinks is likely because this village had mining and sounds a bit like "Carkert"--I also agree that it is likely he is from there or nearby.

Because he was injured, we have even more details: "Reider [sic] was present with the company and participant in the battle of Chicasaw Bayou Mississippi on the 29th of Dec. 1862. That in said engagement, the company did some hard fighting and made a number of movements at double quick on rough ground leaping ditches, stumps and obstructions the movement requiring much violent physical exertion. that immediately after said battle, said Reider made complaint that he had injured himself during the battle in slipping or falling and on examination it was found that said Reider was badly ruptured on the left side."

He was sent to a hospital at Jefferson Barracks until October 1863 where he was fitted with a truss. He was later honorably discharged for Scrofula Cachexia (basically the rupture or hernia on the left side)on 17 Dec. 1863 in Detroit, Michigan at 49 years old. He came back to the Old Ditch area of Jefferson County working in the mines, getting married and fathering six children: Mary Celecia Reiter Long, Louis H. Reiter, Amanda Reiter Ingalls, Francis Frederick Reiter, Annie Josephine Reiter Phenty, William Edward Reiter.

Unfortunately 6 of those children were under 16 when he died, forcing Eliza Tyrey Reiter to apply for a Widow's Pension. He was buried at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Jefferson County, Missouri.

This photo is from Ginny Guinther----Mom and I went a few years ago and couldn't find it. And, this appears to be Eliza's side of the stone. . .oh well.

Elizabeth Ellen Tyrey Reiter

Eliza is also my great-great-grandmother (my grandfather Roy Long's grandmother). Her father Jacob Tyrey (the surname was probably not spelled that way) came from Germany and settled in Wisconsin (mining) before coming to Missouri. Her mother Celicia Gilpatrick or Kilpatrick(probably a Scotch-Irish name) was from Tennessee---I don't know any more about either of them.

I've mentioned before that being related to someone famous doesn't interest me, nor does having a family tree back to the dawn of man. I'm interested in where my ancestors lived and why they moved. My cousins Gwendolyn and Ira Pigg just sent me a package with some documents they copied for me. Above is an envelope that had her pension check in it (her husband Louis Reiter was a Civil War veteran). I don't think she actually lived in Oermann, Missouri, but nearby---this is on the Morse Mill-Grubville Road (I think)
If you look in quadrants 19 and 20, you'll see the name "Elizabeth Reuter" whom I believe to be Elizabeth Reiter. I've found spelling mistakes on every relative in this 1898 atlas.
The 1900 census shows who lived around her, and I can find all of those names near her on that Atlas page. She still had Annie Josephine Reiter Phenty and Edward William Reiter living with her. Below is a note she wrote Annie:

Aug. 12, 1898
To Annie
A life can be well ended
if it has been well spent.
Eliza E. Reiter