The church at Independence was organized in the year 1836, and erected a church building very soon thereafter.
The members who composed the organization were among the best citizens of the vicinity. Some of these were: Amos Allen, Oliver Caldwell, James Smart, Eli Glascock, Alexander Collins, F.R. Greenwood, Elder F.R. Palmer, Henry Parker, Adam Fisher, J.H. Eaton, N.J. Hockensmith, Asa Hedges, Benjamin Thompson, Sam’l Shortridge, with their wives and families.
The present church building was erected in 1854, by William Huston and remodeled in 1874. The estimated cost of the building is six thousand dollars. It is immediately on the line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and is therefore unfavorably located, is entirely too small for the present needs of the congregation and will soon doubtless be abandoned for a better location and a more modern and commodious house. This church has always numbered among its membership many of the very best people of the community and is now a large, rich and influential church. It is fully abreast of the times, and takes an active interest in very good work.
Elder F.R. Palmer, already mentioned as a charter member of the congregation was the first preacher. During his early administration he was aided especially in protracted meetings by such men as Thomas M. Allen, Joel H. Hayden, Allen Wright, Sam’l S. Church, Thomas N. Gaines and in fact by nearly all the prominent preachers in the State. At one time that prince of preachers, Elder Moses E. Lard, resided in Independence and preached for the church, when not abroad holding protracted meetings. Elder Noah W. Miller also, while teaching a flourishing Male Academy there, also supported the pulpit. Meanwhile Elder Palmer still resided there and was regarded as the “bishop” of Independence. It is said he supplied the pulpit regularly for twenty years.
About the year 1857 the present able pastor, Elder Alexander Procter, was called, and excepting a short sojourn at Paris (Mo), during the (civil) war, when he was not very comfortable at home. He has been the beloved pastor of the church and the trusted friend of all the people of Independence. This church has set a good example to her neighbors in retaining her pastors, two, Bro. Palmer and Procter, having served fifty yeas, the former 20, the later 30. The church at Independence has been wise enough to maintain a Christian School for many years and thus control the young people from whom the church is constantly being recruited. The church is to-day more potent for good than it has ever been, and is interested in every good work of the “brotherhood.”
Pages 534-36.