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Cornerstone History Project

Introduction

Welcome to the history site for Cornerstone Church in O'Fallon, Missouri. Cornerstone has over 210 years of history. That means it was established when it was still part of the Louisiana Purchase.

This site has been created to collect information about this history. All approved users are welcome to edit and contribute. To become an approved user you will need to register. We look forward to all the contributions.

If you have any questions you can contact John Hodge at hodgehj@gmail.com or the church office at:

Cornerstone United Methodist Church
1151 Tom Ginnever
O’Fallon, MO 63366
cornerstone@cornerstoneofallon.org
P: 636-379-5334 | F: 636-978-2687
Church Office Hours: M – Th – 8 am to 3:30 pm, Fridays – 8 am to NOON  

Meeting Notes

Agenda 26 January 2019

At this meeting we discussed;

* Discuss the project an set some expectations and goals.
** Timeline - In our discussion we did no set a defined time. 9 months to 18 months was discussed.  Time will be determined by the research required.
** How do we make this a living document that can be used for 'ministry' - We are giving this some prayerful thought.
* Discuss ground rules - Everyone has input, all bring unique talents, all opinions will be respected, debate is expected.
* Discuss contributions - We will accept information from anywhere or anyone. Acceptance does not guarantee it will be used.
* If time allows we will start on an outline. - We discussed a couple ways to do it. No decision was made. By decade (or period of time) was one discussed

A couple things to think about,

* Book Title Idea's
* Project 'focus scripture' idea's (Genesis 1:1a In the beginning)?
* Who do we want to write the forward.

It is my intention to use a wiki to collect and organize data. This has several advantages over using a "shared file" or having one person assemble pieces.

1. Everyone can see the most current information anytime.
2. Simplified formatting.  If you can type you are good. 
3. Multiple people can edit at the same time.
4. 24X7 access.
5. No special software needed. any browser will work.

I did a quick overview of how to edit and have set out instructions on how to get registered and approved to edit. I will provide a class for anyone not comfortable with using a wiki. I think you will be surprised how easy it is once you ate started.

We did not set a date for the next meeting but I am expecting it to be in March. We will have data available by then and will need to review some of the above items.

Next Meeting Agenda

(add notes here)

Getting started on MediaWiki

MediaWiki Resources

[hhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki What is a Wiki]

MediaWiki Help - How to edit

Youtube Tutorial - 15 Mins, All should review

Church History

Note the below outline is only provided as a starting point to enter data. It does Not mean it will be used for the book.

Appendixes

History of Ministers

1807 Jesse Walker 1807 John Travis 1808 William McKendr Date Unknown -

          ______ Gray (1st full time paid minister)  
          E.M. Marvin (preached occasionally) 

1861 Tyson Dines 1862 Joseph Pritchett 1867 S.J. Catlin 1868 W.A. Forwater 1869-70 R.G. Loving 1871 O.W. Linn 1873 J. Allen 1874 M.M. Hawkins 1875 Jesse Bird 1876-77 H.P. Bond 1879 W.B. Beagle 1881 R.N.T. Holliday 1881-84 T.H. Newby 1886-88 O.B. Holliday 1889 G.M. Gibson 1890-91 C.A. Shearman 1891-92 James L. Taylor 1892-95 W.H. Lewis 1895-96 H.A. Whiteside 1896-1900 William T. Ready 1899-1903 J.M. Major 1901-02 E.L. Rutledge 1903-05 O.H. Phillips 1905-08 J.H. Sneed 1908-12 C.L. Uht 1912-13 T.M. Patterson 1913-14 J.M. Hornback 1914-16 S.H. Milan 1916-19 B.F. Cline 1919-26 E.W. Raynolds 1926-28 _______ Berry 1928-29 A. Snowden 1929-30 David R. McBee 1930-34 C.O. Ransford 1934-39 George E. Poole 1939-41 A.J. Gearheard 1941-47 Thomas E. Smith 1947-49 Carlton Barton 1949 Charles Miller 1951 Willard Jones 1951-54 Robert L. Mann 1955-56 Kermit Jones 1956-58 John Dinwiddie 1958 J. Smith 1958-62 Paul Schlapbach 1962-64 Samuel Sellers 1964-66 Russell Hawkins 1966-76 Roland A. Boone 1976-79 John van der Graaf 1980 George W. BUrgin 1985-90 Richard L. Combs 1990-95 Russell D. Oden 1995- Dr. John R. Ray

Location History

2001 to the Present

38.822260, -90.670658
Cornerstone United Methodist Church
1151 Tom Ginnever
O’Fallon, MO 63366
cornerstone@cornerstoneofallon.org
P: 636-379-5334 | F: 636-978-2687

38.807136, -90.703428
Williams Memorial United Methodist Church
307 West Pitman
O'Fallon, MO
P: 636-379-5334 | F: 636-978-2687

38.808331, -90.702792
214 Church St
O'Fallon, MO 63366

1809

38.788057, -90.699045
This church

1808

The first United Methodist Church was built near Peruque Creek.  It as a one room building as was round. This church is recorded (where?) as not being a permanent place of worhsip because Peruque Creek often flooded after a heavy rain and the creek could not be crossed.

Peruque creek plat 1875

Google map current

Fort Zumwalt

Read background section

Time Line

1739 Methodism founded by John Wesley in England.

1798 The Jacob Zumwalt family moved from Kentucky to the O’Fallon, Missouri area. The Methodists were the first organized religious group in the area. Jacob Zumwalt built a log house in what we know today as Ft. Zumwalt Park. The double fireplace chimney still stands at the home site in the park.

1807 Rev. John Clark led the first church service in Ft. Zumwalt. Later that year, Rev. Jesse Walker administered the first Methodist communion in what we know now as the state of Missouri. At that time the area was part of the Spanish Territory.

1808 The first Methodist Church, a one room log building that was round in shape, was built west of the Missouri River near Peruque Creek. After the church was built they discovered that the area frequently flooded.

1809 The Mt. Zion Society built the second Methodist Church, a log building erected a few yards east of the Zumwalt home. This society was the beginning of our congregation.

1853 A new stone church was built on Mt. Zion Hill, one mile south of O’Fallon on what is now Highway K. Rufus Gamble and his family gave the organ to the church.

1863 A female seminary, Fairview, was founded under the patronage of the Mt. Zion Society and was headed by professor Richard H. Pitman.

1876 Professor Pitman was elected President of Howard Female College.

1878 Professor Pitman built the Woodlawn Female Seminary, considered the best of its kind. It was built on the N.E. corner of what is now Woodlawn and West Terra (the south outer road).

1880 The first Methodist revival was conducted by Rev. J.S. Allen at Mt. Zion. Professor Pitman opened the first organized Sunday school in O’Fallon at the Masonic Hall on Elm St. with an enrollment of 86 children.

1882 The church moved from Mt. Zion hill to the S.E. corner of Church and Wood Streets.

1883 The church was debt-free and was dedicated on August 4, 1883 by Rev. J.H. Pritchett. Rev. Pritchett was the first ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church of O’Fallon. The Women’s Methodist Missionary Society was organized. The first president was Mrs. Pulliam, the minister’s wife.

1885 The “Bell” we ring at the start of our church services was cast in Boston, Massachusetts on March 1, 1885, for the Methodist Episcopal Church.

1892 Professor R.H. Pitman sold Woodlawn School to Mr. Watson and Mr. McCluer. It became affiliated with the Presbyterian denomination.

1908 The building of a new parsonage and extensive church repairs took place during this year.

1909 Mr. John Henry bequeathed $1,000 to the church. The money was used to purchase a new organ.

1948 A new public school building was built on the school grounds on the N.W. corner of School and Pitman Streets.

1953 The public school system consolidated. The church purchased the public school building property (307 W. Pitman) at public auction for $12,500. The last church service was held on Wood Street on July 5, 1953. Rev. Robert Mann was pastor.

1954 The school building property was paid for. It was dedicated by Bishop Holt and Rev. L.M. Starkey on May 30. The Men’s Club was chartered with 22 members.

1958 The church was named Williams Memorial Methodist Church. Miss Marcia Williams, a devoted long-time member of the church invited her brother-in-law, Mr. Johnson, to a Sunday service. He was appalled at having church services in a school building. He donated $10,000 toward the building of a new church with the request that the church be named for the Williams family. The corner stone of the new church building was laid June 29, 1958.

1966 A dedication for the final payment was formally held on November 29, 1966.

1968 Fellowship Hall, an additional 6,000 sq. ft. building for new Sunday school classes, offices and kitchen was constructed.

1977 The property north of the church, “The White House,” became available to the church and was purchased for office space and Sunday school classrooms.

1979 A “Burning of the Mortgage” took place on September 9, 1979. Rev. John Van Der Graaf and District Superintendent Dr. John N. Doggett presided.

1980 A groundbreaking celebration for remodeling the sanctuary (turning it around and connecting it to Fellowship Hall) and building the narthex took place on July 27.

1981 The consecration sermon for the completion of the new facilities was delivered on January 4. Bishop W.T. Handy with Dr. John Doggett, Jr. (district superintendent) and Rev. George W. Burgin assisted with the service.

1982 The Men’s Club holds their first annual “Pig Roast.”

1984 The “school” building was renovated to repair the leaking basement and to create new office space and classroom space.

1988 The first “Heritage Sunday” was celebrated on August 28, 1988 to commemorate our 180th year at Ft. Zumwalt Park with a fried chicken dinner.

1995 The sanctuary was renovated to expand the chancel area, add a new sound system and lights.

1996 A new parsonage was build by the congregation at 405 Coronation Drive in O’Fallon. Prayers, gifts and labor by church members and friends completed the 2,465 sq. ft. home in November. Dr. John Ray and his family were the first parsonage family. After the sale of the old parsonage and with gifts toward the construction, the indebtedness to the church was only $21,000.

1998 A Special Administrative Board Meeting voted to allocate $12,000 designated for future expansion to hire an architectural firm to conduct a feasibility study to best determine how to expand our ministry on the Pitman site or a new location.

1999 A Special Charge Conference conducted by District Superin-tendent Jerry Boehmer in September approved the motion from the Building Committee to approve its recommendations for the general design and construction of a new church building, to purchase 10 acres on Tom Ginnever Ave. and to sell the Pitman site.

2000 Groundbreaking service at the Tom Ginnever site was held in February.

2001 First Service was held in the new building, April 22, the Sunday after Easter. Consecration of building was September 9, Bishop Sherer preached. Church name changed to Cornerstone United Methodist Church.

Reference

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Some History References

O'Fallon Historical References

City of O'Fallon History Page	O’Fallon Historical Society Web Page	O’Fallon Historical Society Facebook Page	O'Fallon Historical Pictures	SCC O'Fallon History Page
Patch - Looking back in History By Jim Frain, Patch Poster Aug 29, 2013 4:04 pm ET	Ofallon History WIKI

Cornerstone and UMC History

UMC

UMC History Page

South Central Juristiction

Missouri Annual Conference

Methodist Episcopal Church History

Sage Chapel Cemetery

Preacher Jefferson Franklin Sage

Misc. Resources

Wiki Cheatsheet

Missouri history wiki project