Drew County News

Originally posted to the Drew County Mailing List by Jann Woodard, and reprinted here with her permission. Thanks, Jann!

Arkansas Methodist Newspaper July 11, 1885:

It was our pleasure to attend the closing exercises of the Rock Springs High School on June 16, 17, 18 and 19. The examination was thorough and very satisfactory in every particular, it was gratifying to note how thoroughly the pupils had been taught in the various branches of study, and to see difficult questions and problems solved with that ease possessed only by those who felt themselves masters of the situation, setting forth the fact that both teachers and pupils had made good use of the time. The exercises of the last day were witnessed by hundreds of people. The leading features of the day consisted of original speeches, essays, declamations and recitations. The decorum and elocution of all the pupils won golden opinions from every one present. The calisthenic songs by the little children were greatly appreciated. The vocal and instrumental music was complimentary to the class, and demonstrated the proficiency of the teacher in their department, Miss Leila Garner. The Hon. T. M. Whittington, of Monticello, in a few brief remarks to the school, closed the exercises of the day.

Prof. W. A. Garner has had charge of this school about five years, and by his untiring energy and eminent qualifications as a teacher and disciplinarian has built up as fine a school as can be found anywhere in Southeast Arkansas. As an educator Prof. Garner is no stranger to the people of Arkansas. We most heartily commend this school to the public.

The locality, Northern part of Drew county, is everything that could be desired; it is high, dry and healthy. The morals of the vicinity of Rock Springs are exceptionally good. Plantersville is the post-office, with bi-weekly mail.

W. H. Brown, M. D. Montongo, Drew Co., Ark.

ARKANSAS METHODIST: April 4, 1885: March 18th, 1885 at the residence of the bride's father, by Rev. John H. Gold, Mr. Albert Hobbs to Miss Florence Ragland, all of Drew Co., Ark.

April 4, 1885: March 18th, 1885, at the residence of the bride's father, Rev. J. A. Clower, by Rev. john H. Gold, Mr. J. W. Barnett to Miss Annie Clower, all of Montongo.

October 3, 1885: At the residence of the bride's father, Prof. W. A. Garner of Plantersville, Ark., July 8th, 1885, by the Rev. J. J. Jenkins, Mr. R. M. Hammock to Miss Lula W. Garner.

November 21, 1885 - The gin and mill on the plantation of the late Dr. J. M. Taylor near Winchester, in Drew County was destroyed by fire Wednesday night. There was no insurance upon the property and the loss is estimated at $2,000.

[Various ministers submitted area news to the Arkansas Methodist Newspaper and this is an article submitted from Drew County]

Little Rock, October 28, 1903

MT. PLEASANT CIRCUIT - I reached Mt. Pleasant Circuit about the first of June. Since that time I haven't been absent from the work but one Sunday. The work has four appointments, Mt. Pleasant, Andrew's Chapel, Rock Springs and Wilmar. We have held a protracted meeting at every point with some degree of success. At Mt. Pleasant we had no accessions, though one young lady claimed conversion. The church was in a much better condition spiritually at the close of the meeting.

At Andrew's Chapel we received four on profession and two since, one on profession and one by letter. There has been no general awakening in the church at this point.

At Rock Springs we had a fairly good meeting. The last night the power of the Lord came upon us and about twelve or fifteen sinners and backsliders came to the altar for prayer. Every one who came claimed a blessing from the Lord. We received seven on profession and one by letter.

Our last meeting and in many respects the best of all, was held at Wilmar. We protracted two weeks, and from the middle of the first week the meeting grew in interest and power, till the Lord gave us a grand victory in his name. One noticeable feature of the meeting was that nearly every one who came to the altar for prayer was converted. Some were converted back in the congregation. We received thirty on profession and six by letter, and one other is to be received on profession next Sunday. Most of those who were converted were grown people. To God we give all the glory.

We are very thankful to all the brethren, both traveling and local, for assistance rendered. Brothers Geo. M. Hill, W. C. Hilliard, David Bolls, Dr. Corrigan and our faithful presiding elder, Brother Pope, assisted us in the meeting at the camp ground, Mt. Pleasant. Brother J. H. Bradford unexpectedly came to my assistance at Andrew's Chapel. We had no ministerial help at Rock Springs, but at Wilmar our presiding elder preached once and Brother Horton, who served a number of years in the traveling connection but is now a local preacher on this charge, preached twice. But while we speak of the service rendered by our ministry, we desire to say a word in behalf of our faithful laity on this charge. There are many men and women who are true and tried. My faith has been strengthened as I have come in touch with them. Just a word in regard to those who recently accepted Christ as their Savior. Many of them went to work at once with a zeal in the Lord's service. How glad my heart has been made, to see those who a short time since were servants of the devil now serving our blessed Lord. May each new convert do all in his power to served the Lord acceptably!

At the close of the meeting in Wilmar, I went to my old home on a visit. Mrs. Cannon, who spent the summer in my father's neighborhood teaching, came back with me and we are now keeping house at the parsonage. And you must allow me to tell you, Doctor, about the many good things that awaited our arrival. In my absence some of the good ladies of Wilmar came to the parsonage and found what was needed to begin housekeeping. Then in connection with others they went to work to put the parsonage in readiness for our coming. Almost every article needed by us was supplied, including a variety of provisions, utensils, furniture, linens, bed clothing, etc. The parsonage was already furnished with stove, chairs, beds, dressers, washstand, bookcases, etc. So you see we are comfortably situated in our new home. This is our first experience at housekeeping, and we hardly know how and what to do. But it seems any one ought to get along nicely keeping house when everything is furnished ready to hand. We are certainly in the midst of a kind people. We can scarcely express our gratitude to the good people of Wilmar for their kindness. We feel grateful to all who contributed, but of course we thank the ladies first of all who took the matter in hand and brought it to a successful issue. But we would make special mention of Edgar Oslin, one of the boys recently converted at our meeting and brought into the church, who collected the money and furnished us with two good loads of wood. May the Lord help us to minister to these people in spiritual things who have ministered to us so abundantly in temporal things. The people have been very kind to me at every point on the work. The Lord help us all to live holy lives.

I have nearly all the claims in cash and subscriptions. I am expecting to bring them up in full at conference.

Let all who read this lift up their hearts to God in earnest prayer to our work. Yours in Christ.

Fletcher C. Cannon

Wilmar, Arkansas