Amanuensis Monday - History of Church at Mayfield - Part One - Worship in the Community Chapter

Part One, P. 99 - Mayfield: Then & Now, compiled and written by Elaine Clark & Sherry Kline,  Copyright 2003

Chapter: Worship in the Community, Compiled & written by Elaine Clark

The following was compiled from a newspaper article

Methodist ChurchHistory of Church at Mayfield was Read on SundayWellington Daily NewsOctober 11, 1934

The history of the Methodist Church at Mayfield, followed by the history of the Federated Church, which is the one now used, was read at the Homecoming service last Sunday.

The Mayfield Methodist church was organized in 1879 by O. G. Wilbur, a local preacher living in the community, with the following as charter members: Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Wilbur, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Brass, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Updegraff, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. S V. Walton, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Parker, Mrs. G. L. Hutchinson, Emma Wilbur and Frank Knowles.

The Society met in S. V. Walton’s store, which was located about one mile southeast of the present site of Mayfield.

At that time there was a little town at that place called Belleview, from which the society took its name, and remained so officially until the charter was renewed in 1916, when it was changed to Mayfield.  In the early 1880’s, the town was moved to the present town site, and the name changed to Meringo and later to Mayfield.

The Methodist class then began their worship in the old school house, which is now used for a dwelling. Later they worshiped in the Presbyterian Church, but in a few years they again resumed worship in the school house. On Dec. 29, 1897, the trustees of the Presbyterian Church at Mayfield sold their church building with furniture and fixtures to the Methodists for the sum of $550.  The same building is still being used for the Junior Sunday School.

When the class was first organized it was placed on the Wellington Circuit with Reverend Walker as pastor. A few years later Mayfield was made the head of a charge, but in 1885 it was again paced on the Wellington Circuit and remained so until 1887, when it was placed with Milan.  

This relationship held until 1892, with the exception of 1890, when Mayfield and Silver Creek were placed together to form a charge.  In 1892, Mayfield was made the head of a charge, being served mostly by student pastors from Southwestern College, Winfield, who gave full time service for a while later sharing time with Anson and other points.

In 1908, Mayfield, Milan and Beaver Creek were placed together to form the Milan charge.  This union remained until 1919 when Mayfield was made a resident charge, remaining so until 1922 when it again became a student charge and remained so until the Federation in 1925.  During the years from 1879 until 1925 we were served by 32 different men as pastors many of whom have gone to their reward. 

Amanuensis Monday - Worship in the Community - Mayfield: Then & Now

Mayfield: Then & NowCopyright 2003; Compiled and Written by Elaine Clark and Sherry Kline

Chapter: Worship in the Community, Compiled & written by Elaine Clark, p. 91

In 1879, two years after the formation of Osborn Township, and one year before Mayfield was officially declared a town, two churches were organized. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the town of Belleview, one mile east of the current site of Mayfield.  On Sept 6 of that same year, folks met in the sod house of Nicholas Burnside for the purpose of taking the beginning steps to organize a United Presbyterian Church southwest of Mayfield.

Because records were either lost or not kept, we only know that A. D. Moore organized The First Presbyterian U. S. A. Church in the town of Mayfield – probably in the early 18880’s, and we know some of the charter members.

In 1882 the Union Christian Church was organized southwest of Mayfield, and in late 1883, a Baptist Church was organized in the town of Mayfield.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1887, and those records are quite complete.  A 1902 church newsletter and a 1934 newspaper article give details about the beginnings of a strong Presbyterian congregation in Mayfield.

At the present time, the only church still active in the community is the Mayfield Federated Church formed by merging the Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in 1925. 

Amnuensis Monday - From the "Extra! Extra! Chapter

January 10, 1884
Sumner County Press
Mayfield Musings

* A Baptist church of twenty odd members was organized at Mayfield recently.

* Will Milne came in last week from Iowa with a car load of cattle for a brother-in-law who will make Kansas his home.

* Saturday afternoon two car loads of goods and stock landed for another new comer.

* Mayfield is to have a new hotel which is under process of erection.  If not as large as the Arlington, will be quite an addition to Mayfield.

* Another wedding took place last week at Mayfield.  Mr. Henry Evans, who for so long a time has been his own cook, has at last succumbed to the joys of a "Benedict life."  Now that the matrimonial market has opened, we hope to be able to report every week. (Elaine's note: An old dictionary defines "Benedict" as newly married man.")

Amanuensis Monday - Mayfield News Clips from the Sumner County Press - July 21, 1881, July 5, 1883, & September 20, 1883

July 21, 1881 - Sumner County Press
Prairie Creek Items

A new town started in the corner of townships Down, Chikaskia, Ryan and Osborne, named "Business Corner."  There is quite a strife over who is to be the mayor, but it is thought J. D. Prunty leads, although (sic) Geo. O. Carpenter is very popular with the women, and should they vote, maybe he will be the coming man.

July 5, 1883 - Sumner County Press
Wellington News

It would be well for some of our young people to remember that the city ordinance on fast driving prohibits a greater rate than eight miles an hour, and govern themselves accordingly.

September 20, 1883 - Sumner County Press
Mayfield Musings

Mr. and Mrs. Stocking, from Illinois, are visiting their son Roderick.  They visited here four years ago, and are much pleased with the advancement of the county in that time.

Amanuensis Monday - Mayfield [Osborn Township] News - Oct 25, 1877 from the Sumner County Press

Oct 25, 1877 - Sumner County Press
Osborn Items
Excerpted from Page 356 - "Mayfield: Then & Now" - Clark & Kline

Rained every day last week.

The prairie streams were full and ground well saturated.

S. V. Walton and Miss Mattie Updegraff have returned from their visit to Iowa, both looking improved in appearance.  They are glad to get back and their neighbors are pleased to have them home again.

Mr. Barnard is building a residence 16 X 20, one and one-half stories high, with a good cellar.  Mr. Roberts is preparing to finish his dwelling with a coat of paint.

The Bellevue school will open about the first of November.

On the evening of the 13th last, one of the most violent wind and rain storms of the season passed over this township.  Mr. Rose's house was moved off the foundation, and 'Squire Houk's stable and granary were unroofed and many stacks of hay and grain rolled over.  The storm caught a wagon load of delegates who were returning from the Republican Convention, and for a time they were completely waterlogged.  Fitzgerald tried to sing the 101 Psalm, to the tune of Old Hundred, but choked on the water.  The storm raged with such fury that the team was repeatedly stopped, blinded by the wind, rain, and darkness.  The party finally reached A. Robinson's where they filled up with hot tea and waited for the storm to abate.

There is some dissatisfaction manifested on the part of Democrats because Mr. Thralls was not nominated by the Republican convention for sheriff.  Our own candidate seems to feel badly because he did not get even a complimentary vote.  Gentlemen delegates from Osborn, why was it thus?  But I never did hear of a convention that pleased every one.  

Bellevue [Mayfield] Items for 25 January 1877

Sumner County Press
January 25, 1877
Bellevue Items – By Charlie

(Excerpted from the book:  "Mayfield: Then & Now" written by Elaine Evans Clark and Sherry Stocking Kline

Our settlement has again been afflicted by the death of Miss Mattie Luckey, aged 17 years, daughter of James H. Luckey.  This is the second death in his family lately.

Our school house is enclosed, and we have church in it every Sabbath.

I find that a great many people are ignorant of the location of Bellevue.  I will describe it:  It is five miles north-west of the center of the county, and is the center of Osborn township on a high and beautiful location; and by the way, a good place for a hotel, it being on the old cattle trail and the direct route from Wellington to Medicine Lodge City.

A good blacksmith would do exceedingly well here.

S. V. Walton will deed a lot to any one who will build a business house thereon, provided no intoxicating liquors are to be sold in it.

The houses of this township are all as good or better than the average in the county.

There is not a dug-out or a sod house in the township.

We have a trail route running north and south, [the Chisholm Trail] and hope to have one running east and west soon.

Wheat looks tolerable fair.

Some improvements going on this winter. 

Note: Bellevue was one of the first names for Mayfield, Kansas, and it was founded by S. V. Walton and his family.

Amanuensis Monday - Obituary - Maurine Goodrum

Excerpted from the book "Mayfield: Then & Now" by Elaine Evans Clark and Sherry Stocking Kline, published in 2003.

Maurine Goodrum, 70, Mayfield, died at her home early Sunday. Her death was unexpected.  

She was born Aug. 7, 1893 in rural Mayfield and had been a resident of that community all her life.  She was a member of the Mayfield Federated Church.

Survivors include a son, Vernon E. Goodrum, Mayfield; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Federated Church in Mayfield.  The Rev. Robert Hazen will officiate.  

Burial will be in Prairie Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the family home in Mayfield from 5 p.m. today until 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The Frank Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.