The First Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church.-The individual history of the First Baptist Church begins upon October 20, 1865, when, at the call of Rev. Mr. Brown, a meeting was held in the house of worship of the O. S. Presbyterian Church, on the corner, of Second and Lamine streets. Rev. E. T. Hiscox, D. D., of New York City, general superintendent of the Home Mission Society's work in the West, spoke. The organization was then formally recognized as the First Baptist Church of Sedalia, Mo. The following are the names of those who entered as constituent members: John Q. Bridges, Mrs. Martha Bridges, George Galliher, Mrs. Melinda Galliher, Rachel A. Bridges, Melinda J. Jennings, Mrs. Sabina Boyer, Barbara A. Kean, Elizabeth Tapman, John McKennan, Sarah J. Hansford, James M. Patterson, Mrs. Sallie Patterson, John Hubbard, Jennie Hubbard, J. A. Mitchell, Miles W. Barnard, Mrs. Elizabeth Barnard, Rev. E. T. Brown. The new church elected Rev. E. T. Brown pastor. Two lots were obtained on the corner of Fourth and Lamine streets-one lot being a present from Gen. George R. Smith, and in May, 1866, the house was completed. The dedication services took place May 13, 1866, Rev. A. C. Osborn, D. D., of St. Louis, preaching the sermon. The present church building-, corner Sixth and Lamine avenues, is a large, pressed brick structure. The main auditorium will seat 700 people and the new Sunday school room will seat 400. Membership of the church is 1,130, with Sunday school attendance 600. No history of the First Baptist Church would be complete without mentioning, prominently, the name of Dr. J. B. Fuller, who was a great church builder and organizer and who was, for twenty-five years, the pastor of this church. Dr. Frank Campbell succeeded Dr. Fuller as pastor and served for six years and was succeeded by- Dr. Robert Lee Davidson, who is now with the U. S. Army in France. The present pastor, Dr. S. M. Brown, of Kansas City, is filling the pulpit until Dr. Davidson returns. Officers: A. E. Wood, Louis Hoffman, E. M. Moser, Roy Melton, A. E. Cotton, E. L. Calvert, W. O. Stanley, J. WI. Potter, Logan C. Thomas, M. H. Morris, Dan Dean, Frank Williams, Ralph Manker and Will Russ. The First Baptist Church has a mission church, Lawnsdale Mission, at 2601 South Ingram avenue. The officers of this church are the same as those of the First Baptist Church. The church and Sunday school attendance is good. E. L. Calvert is the Sunday school superintendent. The church building is a comfortable one and the church property is valued at $2,000.00. This mission was organized in 1915. Immanuel Evangelical Church. In 1875 the Rev. Charles Kraft, a member of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, of Warrensburg, Missouri, visited Sedalia and commenced the work of gathering a sufficient number of people to constitute a congregation. He was a tireless worker and his work bore fruit. In a short time a number had been gathered in and organized as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sedalia. Rev. Krafft occupied the pulpit every alternate Sunday. A lot on the southwest corner of Slain street and Washington avenue was purchased, and in 1876 the cornerstone was laid. In due time the house was finished. It was only a modest little Church sixty by twenty. Rev. Krafft was chosen pastor and removed from Warrensburg to Sedalia and entered upon the duties of his new field. For four years he continued in this work, and under his ministration his charge became well organized. In July, 1880, he severed his connections with the church. The Immanuel Evangelical Church was formerly the German Evangelical Church. In 1890 the present brick structure, on Fourth and Vermont streets, was completed and dedicated. At the same time the parsonage, adjoining the church, was completed. The present minister, J. F. M:. Helmcamp, has five sons in the Army and Navy. Membership of church is 300 with a Sunday school attendance of 125. Board of officers: Fred Grote, president; L. Brohnstrup, treasurer; F. Schultze, secretary.
(History of Pettis County Missouri by Mark A McGruder 1919)