In 1803 the United States negotiated the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. With a stroke of a pen America doubled in size, making it one of the largest nations in the world. The sale included over 600 million acres at a cost of less than 3 cents an acre in what today is the better part of 13 states between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.In 1806, the Lewis and Clark expedition would complete a three year exploration of the new area while Noah Webster would publish his first copy of A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language. In that year also, Tates Creek Baptists would meet in August with the Boggs Fork Church in Fayette County. Squire Boone Jr., the son of Squire Boone was pastor of the church which he had possibly gathered in 1800. Twenty-Three churches would report an aggregate membership of 1,579 members.
Elijah Barnes who delivered the Annual Sermon during the 1806 meeting of the Tates Creek Association was a son of James Barnes, who died in Nelson County, Kentucky in the fall of 1795. The name of Elijah's mother is unknown at this time. He was married to Rachel Willcocks (Wilcox) in Nelson County, Kentucky and their marriage bond was dated April 3, 1798. Rachel was a daughter of William Willcocks (Wilcox).
He was received into the fellowship of Bryant's Church by experience and baptism, in June, 1790 when he was dismissed by letter in March, 1793, and united with the Grassy Lick church, where he was probably set apart to the ministry and served as first pastor. After a few years, he moved to Lincoln or Pulaski County, where he was active in raising up the first churches in the hilly regions of these counties. He was a man of small preaching talent, but was highly esteemed for his piety and consecration. He was widely known in the "Hill country" as "old daddy Barnes." For many years, he rode a gray horse. The faithful beast came to be almost as well known by the name of "old gray", as the rider, by his sobriquet. One year, when feed was very scarce, old gray suffered much for want of food, and became so lean as to be able to hardly carry his master to his appointments. During this period, at a church meeting, the brethren discussed the subject of paying preachers. One of the members said, in substance: "I don't think preachers ought to be p aid anything for preaching. The Lord calls them to preach: they are in his employ and he will reward them in the next world." At this point, "Daddy Barnes" put in the question: "But what will old Gray do?" This may remind the reader of the old English preacher's remark that, "the water of Salvation is free, but the pitcher it is carried in must be paid for." Mr. Barnes lived to be quite old. He was faithful to the end, and his memory is still cherished by those who knew him.
Stephen Trigg, Associational Clerk for the 1806 session, was born in Bedford County, Virginia, in 1768, and was the eldest son of Major John Trigg, who served in the war of the Revolution, and was with Washington and Lafayette at the siege of Yorktown and the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, and later died while a member of Congress. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Clark, of Bedford County, Virginia, in 1790. She was the eldest daughter of the Hon. Robert Clark, who was a member of the House of Burgesses in Virginia and a captain in the army of the Revolution. The Hon. Robert Clark and his son-in-law removed with their families to Kentucky, living in Clark County but representing Estill County in the state legislature in 1816-17 and subsequently Gen. Stephen Trigg came with his family to Missouri, and settled in Howard County. Elizabeth died in 1822, and her Gen. Stephen Trigg, died at his home in Saline County, in 1835.
Peter Woods who served as Moderator of the 1806 session was a son of William Woods and Sssanah Wallace. Peter Woods - This worthy minister of the gospel was the first moderator of Concord Association. He was in the strictest sense a pioneer preacher. He was a native of Virginia, born March 20, 1762, in Greenbrier County; when young, he moved with his father's family to Kentucky, grew up, married, and lived in that state until about 45 years of age. His wife was Jael Cavanaugh. They were the parents of 16 children.
He was brought up in the faith of the old school Presbyterians, and regarded the Baptists as altogether unworthy of respect from honorable and high-minded persons; notwithstanding this, when he was converted, he joined the Baptists. The circumstances were as follows:
'A most wonderful revival broke out among the Separate Baptists of Kentucky in an early day. Hundreds were converted. So inveterate was young Woods, that he would not even attend the meetings, though in the neighborhood. One of his brothers, with less prejudice than he, was converted and joined the Baptists. "This is too bad, our family is disgraced;" so thought and so said Peter Woods. He further decided that if anyone should in his presence allude to his brother's becoming a Baptist, that he would slap him in the mouth. But God's ways are not our ways. Peter Woods knew not what was before him. The meetings went on and he was converted. The question now came up as to what church he should join. He decided that he would read the New Testament and find out if possible the true church and the true baptism. For convenience he decided that wherever he found sprinkling he would place a red string, and for immersion he would put a blue one. He read the Testament from Matthew to Revelation, and on examining he found that all the strings were blue. He was so enraged that he dashed the book away from him. He would afterwards allude to this rash and foolish act of his life, and wonder that the Lord did not strike him dead. But he was a very conscientious man, and despite his early Presbyterian prejudices, became a Baptist and soon after commenced preaching.' He was a very useful man in his day. Not learned, not profound, not brilliant; but with a mind full of knowledge of God and a heart full of zeal, he succeeded. He loved souls and he won souls. He was a pioneer preacher in three states. Having commenced early in Kentucky, he removed to Tennessee soon after the beginning of the present century, and after twelve or more years in the last state he emigrated and settled in Cooper County, in the fall of 1819, while Missouri was yet only a territory, and but three small Baptist associations had been organized - the Bethel, the Missouri (now St. Louis) and the Mount Pleasant.
Eld. Woods was 57 years old when he came to Missouri, but he engaged earnestly in preaching the gospel. At the formation of Concord Association he was elected moderator, and re-elected the second year.
In his last illness he expressed himself as feeling conscious of approaching dissolution. He had his grave-clothes and coffin made, and at his request the latter was brought into his room by the workmen, Messrs. Simms & Rice. He thanked them, and in about an hour thereafter on September 19, 1825 he breathed his last. His wife would follow in 1848.
=========== [Document provided by D. L. Brewer. Formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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