Construction of Bethlehem Baptist Church

This is Bethlehem Baptist church as it appears today. Below is a document with the treasurer's records on materials to build the meeting house. This blog gives more details on its building as will the minutes from 1871.
Although these are primarily minutes of the monthly meetings of Bethlehem Baptist Church near Grubville, Mo., this document above shows the treasurer's notes on the building and financing of the meeting house:
1871 Lumber building materials $177.80
Glass Putty Paints oil doors and sash 20.75
Locks hinges nails 17.55
Freight on lumber 17.50
1872 Freight on lumber 17.50
Paid E.F. Wilson for stonework 75.00
Paid John Millen (Miller?) " " 128.20
1874 For hauling and sundry wood 18.75
Total expenditures up to this date 473.05
1875 One hundred and five dollars 105.00
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Add to the above amount is 578.05

1874 Collected by subscription $437
1875 Taken up by collections to finish up the church
about one hundred and five dollars 105

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 1869-1870

Sadly, the young man whose tombstone is above, William McKay, Junior, is involved in a situation in April and May below. I try not to editorialize while presenting these minutes, but Wm. McKay, Junior was only 6 years old when he was brought before the whole congregation to defend his behavior. . .
P. 42 Jan. 1869 ". . .the church proceeded to business the first thing was to serve a pastor for the ensuing year which was done in the Person of Elder Wm. McKay in whom we are well-pleased." According to the 1870 census, William McKay owned a sawmill---being a pastor was not a full-time job.
February and March 1869---there was no business.
April 1869 ". . .Martha Jane Dixon be excluded from the church charge Fornication also a motion was made and seconded that Br. Jos. Brown appointed a committy to cite Br. Wm. McKay, Junior to attend the next church meeting. . ."

May 1869 ". . .Br. Wm. McKay, Junior appeared and answered for himself. . .the church excluded said Br. from the church by request and disorderly conduct. . ." According to the 1870 census, Wm. McKay, Junior was 6 years old at this time.
June and July 1869, there was no business.
August 1869 ". . .there not being a quorum of male members present to do business it became the duty of the pastor to appoint the delegates to be held at Liberty Church: Br. J. P. Lollar and Robert Wilson were appointed. . .[also L. H. Lee was added]."
September had no business.
October 1869 ". . .an intire failure, neither pastor nor members appeared. If they did the clerk could not see them for he was there."
November 1869 ". . .this meeting closes out the present pastoral year with our beloved pastor Elder McKay and leaves the church without a pastor . . ."
Feb. 1870 ". . .it was motioned and seconded that Sister [Mahala] Frost should have letter where upon the church ordered the church clerk to prepare a letter. . .Br. Stephens being our missionary preacher stayed several days and preached quite a number of sermons for us and adjourned. . ."
March 1870 ". . .the church engaged the services of Elder J. Hensley [Joel Hensley]as their pastor for the present year. . ."
June 1870 ". . .Sister Emily Baker asked the church at Bethlehem for a letter of dismission. . ."
July 1870 ". . .the great need of a Church House. There was a subscription paper drawn up to see if a sufficient amount of money could be raised to be a church house and a committy of three appointed Superintend the business: Brother Robert Wilson, G.H. Frost and J.P. Lollar.
Aug. 1870 ". . .appointed Wm. McKay, Joseph Brown and John P. Lollar delegates to the Jefferson County Association to be held at Sandy Church.
Sept. 1870 ". . .it was motioned and seconded that J.J.Carrow [John J. Carrow] and S.B. Wilson [Solomon Bachelor Wilson, Margaret Mecarel Brown's father-in-law] be appointed treasurers to receive all monies that may be appropriated for the use of the Pastor."

Oct. 1870 ". . .the Church orders the Building Committy to proceed in building a church house. . ."
Not much business for November--double click on the photos to enlarge them.

Bethlehem Baptist Church Minutes 1868

These records are from the Bethlehem Baptist Church near Grubville and Dittmer, Missouri. Double click on the photographs to enlarge them. Be sure to read to the end. . . The tombstone above in the Bethlehem Cemetery is for the nephew of Adaline McKay and Rev. William McKay. For more about the Wilson-McKay-Lee Family, click here.
Page 37 Dec. 1868 [sic]
After a prayer by Elder Gibson, "The case of Br. Brazeale [Drewey Brazeale] and William Hanvey was taken up" and "J.P.Lollar [Jonathon P. Lollar] was appointed to wait on Br. Brazeale and Br. Joseph Brown [brother of my great-great grandmother Catherine Caroline Brown] to wait on Brother Hanvey." William Hanvey was the brother of Joseph Brown's wife Mary Ann Hanvey. J.P. Lollar was a neighbor of Brazeales in the 1860 Census.
January 1868---Business was postponed.
p. 38 Feb. 1868 The committee met with Br. Brazeale and he asked that "his name taken off church record which was done. . . .Br. Hanvey's case was continued after prayer by Elder McKay."

"Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in April 1868. The meeting was an intire failure."
p. 39 The case of Brother William Hanvey was presented and "committy discharged and Br. Hanvey dismissed from the church by request and also by request Sister Matilda Haganbush asked for a letter of dismission." The clerk was asked to "write a letter of inquiry as regards the whereabouts of Br. Robert Boatright and try to find out what he intends to do as regards his church membership in Bethlehem Church.

June 1868: Nothing has been heard from Robert Boatright.
July 1868 ". . .After prayer by Deacon Wilson, Church proceeded to business. ..the case of Robert Boatright." His membership "was discontinued. . .for absence from church for a number of years. . ."

"Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in August 1868 the day church should have met. It was a failure on the part of church as there was a misunderstanding in regards to the hour in which the pastor was to be at the place of worship."

Sept. 1868 Rev. Wm. McKay and Brothers L.H.Lee [Lewis Harrison Lee husband of Margaret Julia Graham] and J.P. Lollar [John P. Lollar] were appointed delegates to Association meeting Oct. 9, 1868 to be held at Pilgrim's Rest in Jefferson County, Missouri.
Oct. 1868---not much business
Nov. 1868 ". . .that church should have met at Bethlehem. It was an entire failure on the part of both the church and pastor to preach. . ."
Dec. 1868 ". . .still no pastor to expound the sacred scriptures, the church broke up and scattered off like so many lost sheep." J. P. Lollar Clerk

Bethlehem Baptist Minutes 1866-1867

These are minutes from Bethlehem Baptist Church near Grubville and Dittmer Missouri. Double click on the photos to read the entire document.

Page 26 February 1866. . .the case of Bro. James Williams was taken up he being charged with having a ball at his house and Bro. Wesley Scaggs was appointed to cite said Bro. to attend church and answer said charge. Also, although Sister Evans was charged with dancing or giving a ball at her house. Sister Unity Evans was appointed to cite her to attend church.
Page 27 March 1866. . .case of James S. Williams was taken up. Committee report received and _____ dismissed. Bro. Williams being present answered to charge and acknowledged to and asked to be forgiven of the church for the same, promising to do so no more. The Brother was restored to fellowship. The case of Sister Malissa Evans was called. Committee report received and committee discharged. Committee repeated that Sister be sorry for the charge and tried to attend but not being present her case was referred to the next meeting. Letters of dismissal was granted to Bro. Michael Brinley and his wife Sister Brinley.

Page 28 April 1866---Malissa Evans was referred to next meeting.
May 1866---Malissa Evans still not at church. . .The church then proceeded to ballot for two deacons which resulted in the choice of Robert Wilson and George H. Frost for the said office of deacon. . .
Page 29 June 1866 . . .Malissa Evans. . .still not being present . . .a motion and second exluded by vote of the church, the charge being for having a ball at her house and dancing. . .Next proceeded to appoint commissioner to superintend the building of a new Meeting House to be called the Bethlehem Meeting House. Brothers William McKay, Robert Wilson and William F. Williams [Susan Graham Manion's son-in-law] being chosen said commissioners. C.E. Frost to be collector and treasurer. . .
I've skipped page 30 because nothing really happened.
Page 31 August 1866. . .electing as moderator Brother S. Frasior. . .appointed Brother Elder William McKay, L. H. Lee [Lewis Harrison Lee was Margaret Julia Graham's husband] and C. E. Frost as delegates to the Jefferson County Association. . . October 1866 . . .Brother Newman Pounds [husband of Lucinda Graham] came before the church and acknowledged _____ ______ he had done and language used and was sorry that he done same. . .
Page 32. . .Then the case of Elizabeth McFry [her husband Peter McFry had been killed at the Battle of Vicksburg in 1862]was called her being charged with adultery [crossed out] fornication----the church concluded it best to _________ her it being a case in strenuous unmistakable evidence of the fact. . .
Nov. 1866 . . .on a motion of Br. Robert Wilson, J.P. Lollar was nominated and elected Clerk of Bethlehem Church to fill the vacancy occurred by the removal of Br. C.E. Frost [Christopher E. Frost].
Dec. 1866 No business.
Jan. 1867. . . .and on account of inclemencies of the weather, there was scarce any attendance.
Feb. March, April---no business.
June 1867 . . .the charge brought up against Br. Levi Partney after hearing the evidence in the case, was restored to full fellowship in the church. P.S. Elder Wm. McKay, Robert Wilson, J.T. Lollar to talk with and try to make a compromise and get up a reconciliation among the hostile members of Bethlehem church and report at July term 1867.
Page 35 July 1867 . . .the church proceeded to business. . . of a private nature.
August 1867. . .Br. Thompson Brown [brother of Catherine Caroline Brown Long, son of Mary Polly Graham Brown] asked for a letter of dismission and recommendation. . .which was granted them.
September 1867. . .Br. Lewis Partney, wife and daughter asked for a letter from the church at Bethlehem which was granted. . .
Page 36 . . .The Church appointed Rev. Wm. McKay and Deacon L.H. Lee and Robert Wilson delegates to the Jefferson County Association to be at or near Sandy Creek Chruch. . .
Oct. 1867. . .Sister Margaret E. Lemon asked for a letter of dismission and recommendation which was granted.
Nov. 1867. . .Prayer by Elder Gibson. . .Wesley Skaggs appeared before the Church Session and asked for a letter of dismission for himself and his wife which were granted.