on the number of said colored children, and the money so reserved shall be appropriated, as they may deem proper, for the education of such colored children. In all other respects the terms and advantages of said schools shall be equal to others of the same grade in their respective districts, cities and villages: provided, that when the number of colored children in any district shall be less than sixteen, they shall have the privilege of attending school in any district in the township where a school is maintained for colored children, and the board of directors of the district in which such children are enumerated shall transfer to the credit of the teachers' fund of the district in which such children may have attended school, an amount equal to the pro rata expense of such attendance, the same to be pro-rated according to the amount paid for teacher's wages during such school term." The law further provides for the establishment of joint schools for the colored children in two or more adjoining districts when their combined number is sufficient. To show the practical working of the school system in Lincoln County the following statistics are taken from the last published report of the State superintendent of public schools, it being for the school year ending June 30, 1887:

Scholastic Population.-White: male, 2,738; female, 2,559; total, 5,297. Colored: male, 374; female, 350; total, 724. Total white and black, 6,021.

Number Enrolled in the Schools.-White: males, 2,054; females, 1,739; total, 3,793. Colored: males, 153; females, 159; total, 312. Total white and black, 4,105. Average days attend

By reference to the scholastic population and the number enrolled in the public schools, it will be seen that between seventy-one and seventy-two per cent of the white children enumerated in the county attend the public schools, and that only a fraction over forty-three per cent of the colored children enumerated attend the public schools. The reason for the small percentage of colored children attending the public schools is because many of them reside too far from the colored schools to attend them.

CHAPTER XV.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

As mentioned elsewhere the date of organized efforts in behalf of church organizations in Lincoln County is closely allied to the early settlement of the country. In these worthy movements pioneer ministers bore an important part.

Among these pioneer ministers of Lincoln County were Andrew Monroe, David Hubbard, Bethuel Riggs, Hugh R. Smith, Abraham Welty, Darius Bainbridge and Benjamin S. Ashby, all of whom solemnized marriages, as shown by the record of marriage certificates prior to 1830. And, commencing with 1830, the record shows the following: 1830, James W. Campbell and Thomas Bowen; 1832, Elder Thomas McBride of the Christian Church and Rev. Samuel Findley of the Presbyterian Church; 1833, Nicholas C. Kabler of the Methodist Episcopal Church; 1834, John S. Pall of the Presbyterian Church, Jacob Lanius of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sandy E. Jones of the Christian Church, John M. Hopkins and Robert Gilmore of the Baptist Church, and Fred B. Leach; 1835, Hugh L. Dodds of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and J. H. Hughes of the Christian Church; 1836, Ephraim Davis and Ezekiel Downing of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; Peter P. Lefever of the Catholic Church, and S. G. Patterson of the Methodist Episcopal Church; 1837, Robert L. McAfee and Lewis Duncan; 1838, F. B.

McElroy and William Patton of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Nathan Woodsworth. Some signed their names as "ministers of the gospel," and others as ministers of the churches to which they belonged.

BAPTIST CHURCHES.

Fee Fee Creek Baptist Church was organized with about seventeen members in 1807, by Elder Thomas R. Musick. It is located in a beautiful country, about fifteen miles northwest of St. Louis, and was the second Baptist Church organized in what is now the State of Missouri. Soon thereafter followed the organizations of Coldwater, Boeuf, Negro Fork, Upper Cuivre and Femme Osage Baptist Churches. These churches were organized, in 1817, into the "Missouri Association," which is now the "St. Louis Association." Fee Fee Creek Church, having stood from the beginning, is now the oldest Baptist Church in the State. Of the Upper Cuivre, Rev. R. S. Duncan, author of the "History of the Baptists in Missouri," says: "This pioneer community was located several miles southwest of Troy, the county seat of Lincoln County; was gathered and formed by we know not whom, in about the year 1815 or 1816, and after an existence of some twenty years, dissolved." It was probably located near the present line of Lincoln and Warren Counties.

Stout's Settlement (now New Hope) Baptist Church was organized June 16, 1821, by Elders Bethuel Riggs and Jesse Sitton, the latter of whom is supposed to have been the pastor until 1828, when he was dismissed by letter, and left the State. Elder David Hubbard succeeded him, and continued pastor for some years.

In February, 1830, a serious difficulty was brought into the church, growing out of the marriage of a young sister to a man who had a living wife. On an investigation the sister was acquitted. The minority were dissatisfied with the decision of the majority, and asked that a council be called, which was granted. Sulphur Lick, Troy and Little Bethel Churches each sent three members, who sat as a council, and, after hearing the case, advised that the sister be excluded, and, the majority refusing to do so, the minority withdrew from the church in June, 1830, and