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Hopewell Church & Cemetery ~ Washington County, Missouri
Hopewell Union Church - Photographed: 15 May 2001
Back view of church & Hopewell Cemetery
HISTORY OF HOPEWELL CHURCH: The building of the Church was started in 1858, the original intention was to have a building for Church and School and for this reason was built two stories.
The ground for same was donated by John Evens and George Day; the building was not completed when the Civil War came which put a stop to any further construction for the time. After the war the Public School System was started and a privaste school was no longer needed and for that reason the second story was never completed; a part of the first floor room was made into a room for a school and rented to the Public School District in order to obtain money to complete the remaining for a church; this room was used by the school until 1886. The big hail storm of May 11, 1888 broke the glass in all windows, up and down, on the north side. The second story windows on the south side were removed and placed in the first floor north side and all upstairs windows were boarded up. In 1907 or 1909 the roof was so bad that a new one was decided on and at this time the building cut to one story.
By 1895 the Cemetery was full to the extent of no more vacant lots so addition land was donated by J.W. Nixon to make the present size. Written by Harry E. Evens, Chicago, Ill. Sent to Esther Carroll 28 May 2001 by Myrtle Balderson. She obtained it from Western Historical Manuscripts Collection, 23 Ellis Library, University of Missouri/Columbia.
A FEW TOMBSTONES IN HOPEWELL CEMETERY
This is a large cemetery & these pictures account for about 1/8th of the tombstones.
John & Martha Evens
Charlotte & John Evens
Eliza J. Evens
William H. Evens
Robt. H. Evens
Frederick Will
Agnes B. Lemon
Andrew Link
Benj. F. Lemon
Bessie Eaton
C.W. Small
Charles Seyforth
Eliza J. Lemons
F.M. Forshee
G.L. Simpson
George Forshee
Infant Allen
James E. Thompson
James Thompson
Jane Blackwell
Jeremiah Postlethwait
Jerusha Pressly
Jonathan Wishon
John S. Mideleton
Joseph Leslie Lemon
L.G. Burton
Jesse S. Byington
Y.F. Burton
Mary E. McFadden
Louisa Miller
Mollie Lemon
Thomas L. Simpson
Preston McGready & Sarah Nugent
W.M. Blackwell
Thos. Bland
Henry C. Beckett
Photographed: 1990's
Valentine Forshey
Lewis & Helen Chadbourne
Wrought Iron Enclosure
Marvin McCabe
Election day, November 2nd, 1886: Robert Wigger, age 44, & Marvin McCabe, age 57, were neighbors living in the vicinity of Mineral Point. A feud had long existed between them & on election day they met at Mineral Point where Robert shot & killed Marvin. Marvin's son, Charles McCabe, was present & avenged his father's death by immediately shooting & killing Robert Wigger. Charles was charged with murder & his two brothers, John & James, were charged with aiding & abetting. All were indicted for murder & sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary. Prior to this incident they had all sustained good reputations. All of the McCabe brothers had temperate personalities & two of them were of the Methodist faith. James, age 30, had a wife and four children. Charles, age 28, & John, age 22, were single. All entered the State Penitentiary on June 21st, 1887. Fortunately they did not have to serve their full ten year sentences. The governor of Missouri pardoned James McCabe on February 24th, 1889 & Charles & John were pardoned December 11th, 1889.
