Presbyterian Churches Get Together

 An interesting article from the:

Crittenden Press, Oct. 25, 1940

Local Presbyterians Get Together

After being separated for fifty years or more, the two local congregations, the Presbyterian U. S. and the Presbyterian U. S. A. have federated for all worship services.

It is recalled that the first church organization in Marion, or in Crittenden County for that matter, was the Presbyterian U. S. A.

The first church known to function in this county was a Presbyterial church located near Crooked Creek, where Crooked Creek church is located today, then called the Bethany Church.

After Marion was founded and began to grow, this church was moved to Marion. A building was erected on the corner of the old cemetery lot, (which is just south of highway 60.) Worship services were maintained here for a number of years. The congregation was made up of citizens of both the town and country. At least 50 percent of the congregation lived in the country and in that section now known as the Chapel Hill neighborhood.

In time the congregation grew and the church prospered. Finally the building needed repair. Its location did not suit the town people and the country people wanted to be closer to their place of worship. So it was agreed that the congregation divide itself. Accordingly the country people organized a separate church and located it at Chapel Hill. 

 

The town people then erected a new building at the corner of Bellville and College streets.

In the course of time the church in Marion found itself without a pastor. The Reverend Spencer, an ordained minister in the U. S. church, being available was offered the pastorate. He being a minister in the U. S. church it was thought advisable to transfer this church from the jurisdiction of the U. S. A. Presbytery to the jurisdiction of the presbytery of the U. S. church. So it is still under the jurisdiction of the U. S. Church.

The U. S. A. church, on corner of Main and Depot, was organized as a Cumberland Presbyterian church. In 1906 when the General Assemblies of the two churches united this church became a U. S. A. Presbyterian church.

The plan of federation, spoken of above, is this: the two congregations have federated together and will unite in all worship services which includes preaching and Sunday school. It is not an organic union. Each congregation will take care of its own benevolences and all obligations to its presbytery, synod and general assembly. The pastor's salary and all local expense including Sunday school will be from contributions from the federated congregations working as one body.

Most of the people concerned seem to think that greater service can be rendered to the Master if all forget all petty differences and prejudices that have kept us apart so long and all work as one body for the glory of God and the advancement of his cause. It would be a great day if and when all prefixes and suffixes could be cut off from the great name Presbyterian and all stand under the banner and name of the church with such a glorious history, tradition and records.

***

July 1, 1965 – Two Presbyterian Church Congregations Hold First merged Services

A merger of two Presbyterian Churches in Marion was approved May 13^th, 1965, the Presbyterian Church, U. S. and the Presbyterian Church, U. P. U.S.A. congregations in separate sessions voted to merge the two congregations.

Other approved proposals by the groups were to use the Presbyterian Church, U. S. building and sell the Presbyterian Church, U. P. U.S.A. Property. Use of proceeds from sale of the U.P. U.S.A. Building for repairs, remodeling, etc., of the U. S. property, and/or use same toward securing a manse, and last to affiliate with the United Presbyterian Church of the United ?Sates of America.

This move was the recommendation and approval of the church Extension Committee, Presbytery of Muhlenberg, U. S. and National Missions Committee, Presbytery of Western Kentucky, U.P. U.S.A.

The church to be sold is the Main St. Edifice. Pastor Lou Thompson of the Bellville St. Church, said that the merger will allow for expansion of local church work, witness to the community, church, youth groups and ladies organization.

June 20^th was the first Sunday that the two churches' congregations met and worshiped as a body.

March is Woman's History Week

 This is my article that was in The Crittenden Press for the week of March 9th, 2023.

For Women's History month I would like to recall three of Crittenden County's own lady nurses that served in the Army Nurses Corps, WAC nurses who served their county during the terrible days of World War II. The late Mary Ann Lowery Cox shared this information about her two aunts.

***

Lois and Matilda (Maggie) Griffith were two of the women from Crittenden County who served in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC's) during World War II. They were daughters of Guy and Nellie Donakey Griffith, originally of the Sheridan community, and were raised by their mother’s family after their parents’ death. The eight siblings included four boys and four girls. Lois was the eldest, born in 1910, and Matilda was the fourth, born in 1915. All eight graduated from Tolu High School between 1928 and 1938. Their home after 1923 was a farm west of Tolu on State Route 135 with Charlie and Dancy Moore Donakey and Celia Donakey.

***

Capt. Lois Griffith story.

After graduating from Tolu high school, Lois went to Louisville, KY, to study nursing at Louisville General Hospital. Before she could attend nurses training, she had to supply her own uniforms. The nursing school sent patterns and instructions on how to make her uniforms of blue checked gingham that she would purchase from a country store at home prior to her arrival. To get to Louisville she came to Marion, and her great-uncle, George Foster, took her to Princeton to catch a passenger train. Someone at Louisville, from the hospital, would meet her and take her to the dorm. She graduated as a registered nurse in 1933, and followed that profession for her entire working life.

Lois did basic training at Camp Atterberry in Indiana, and met Roy Waymire, whom she married after they came back from service in Europe. Her trip “overseas” was on the Queen Mary, and she was stationed in England until the invasion in 1944. During this time the Army made many opportunities for the nurses to see historical sights, which Lois appreciated, but felt ill prepared to fully absorb. She mentioned the cathedrals, and castles, and Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, after Germany’s defeat. 

 

Lois’s experience in Europe came on the Normandy beaches on D-Day Plus 6. At that point paratrooper casualties were still sadly visible in the trees. Her unit followed General Patton’s troops to the conclusion, and she saw him several times in the course of events. Her job after invasion was as a member of a MASH unit, as she always said, “Before MASH units were invented”. The first aid crews would bring in the wounded, and her group’s task was to get the injured stable enough to be air-lifted to an English hospital.

She really did use a shower made from a bucket with holes, and she had a series of foxholes. However, she did not dig her own foxholes—there were enlisted men who did that, and she asserted did it exceedingly well. 

 

After the war, she lived in Central Indiana, where her husband had family, and worked at the Veteran’s Hospital in Marion, Indiana. She and Roy took seriously the bonds formed during World War II, and were active in veterans’ organizations. Especially in retirement years, as the funerals piled up, he served at numberless color guard memorial services. 

 

Her obituary from the Crittenden Press, Sept. 20, 2001 - Lois Griffith Waymire, 91, of Marion, formerly of Peru, Ind., died Sept. 17, 2001.

Lois Griffith Waymire, served as a captain in the U. S. Army Nurse Corp during World War II, and participated in campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. Her decorations include the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Services were at Elkenberry-EddyFuneral Home with burial in Mr. Hope Cemetery in Peru, Indiana.

***

Matilda Griffith's Story.

Matilda followed Lois to Louisville after her graduation to also study at Louisville General. She used the same nurse uniform pattern to make her uniforms that her sister Lois had used.. She also traveled to Princeton with their Uncle George Foster to catch the passenger train to Louisville. She and Lois shared apartments and worked at the hospital until “the war” was declared after Pearl Harbor.

Matilda’s World War II experiences were in some ways similar, but in others more harsh with a sadder outcome. She was not posted to England and Europe, but to North Africa, leading to Italy. 

 

While Lois was close to the front lines, Maggie managed to end up a whole lot closer. Her job in the MASH-to-be (mobile Army surgical hospital) unit was in surgery removing shrapnel. This process at that time used a kind of fluoroscope/X-ray device that would reveal where to locate the shrapnel to be removed. Consequently, she, and the rest of the medical staff, was exposed to high doses of radiation. The patients came and went and were removed from the radiation source, but the nurses had to stay at the post and absorbed it all. 

 

She managed to survive Anzio Beachhead, where the invasion of Italy was nearly lost, but succumbed to cancer in 1961. At her death she was still active military, with the rank of Major. 

 

Her lingering illness and survival attempt was spent at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D. C., so she chose to be buried at Arlington, in a section for military nurses within yards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Mast of the Battleship Maine. Her tombstone reads. Major Matilda Mary Griffith, of Kentucky. 

 

Her obituary from the Crittenden Press, Aug. 3, 1961 tells that Major Matilda M. Griffith, died July 20, 1961 in Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D. C. where she had been a patient for most of the time since November 20, 1960. Major Griffith would have been eligible for retirement in early 1962, having served in World War II, being in the first group of Nurses to land in Africa from the U.S. and was also among the group to land on Anzio Beachhead in Italy, serving out the remainder of the war in Italy. She was with the Army of Occupation in Germany for several years and served two different time in San Juan, Porto Rico, as well as Ft. Knox, Ft. McArthur and Ft. Stewart in the States.)

***

Belva Ann Towery, Army Nurses Corps

Another lady World War II nurse from Crittenden was Belva Ann Towery. She was the daughter of Willis Monroe Towery and Laura Mildred Towery. She was born October 14, 1895. This article was written in The Crittenden Press to her sister Mrs. Arvel Hunt, here in Crittenden County, June of 1943.

 

In the name of the Commanding General and the staff of this hospital, Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, Calif., expressing personal loss in the death of Miss Towery who was attached to the United States Army hospital.

 

Miss Towery was well known and loved by everyone who knew her, especially by her patients, to whom she was most kind and gentle.

 

Letterman General Hospital is the largest military hospital in the world and devoted solely to rehabilitation of men wounded and otherwise disabled while in actual combat. 

 

Miss Towery gave her life for suffering humanity and since Pearl Harbor she and all nurses in Letterman General Hospital has devoted all their time in caring for our wounded soldiers who are giving their all that we may keep our freedom. 

 

She was taken by the flu in January 1943, which left her with a weak heart condition. She was given a month sick leave but this didn't seem to help very much. She was called back to duty and was on night duty at the time of death June 9, 1943.

Her body was brought back to Crittenden County and she is buried in Mapleview cemetery next to her parents.

***

Thank you for your service and sacrifice in the field of military nurses to the heroes of World War II.

The Historic 1937 Flood

 Jan. 29, 1937 – Many Homes In The County Under Water –

With the advent of the weekend Marion and Crittenden County citizens found themselves digging out of the snow and ice that marked the worst blizzard of the winter.

A deluge of Thursday and until early Friday morning hours brought in its wake cold and biting weather. Sleet fell practically all day Saturday bringing automobile traffic to a minimum and horse and mules could hardly maintain their footing. Not content with, a slow drizzle, of freezing proportions fell during the entire day Sunday and as a result merchants and other retailers found their establishments practically deserted of all but clerks.

Highway and mail traffic was at a standstill, no mail of any importance arriving in the city from Friday until Tuesday at noon. Highway 60 between Marion and Sturgis was inundated as likewise 60 south between Smithland and Paducah. All railway traffic was paralyzed, several trains being placed on the siding here, because of the unusual length of the tracks and three trains were reported to have been practically drowned out near Blackford.

Sunday, a day of major traffic, was marked by practically no cars on the highways, a very few persons outside and as a whole was one of the dullest days of the entire week.

While natives were ensconced beside pleasant and cheerful firesides, flood warnings were being sounded throughout the entire Ohio valley.

With the advent of Monday came reports that all the various mines had been flooded with water, both fluorspar and coal, and that no coal could be obtained from the Union County mines. Many families who bought coal in small quantities were unable to purchase even a lump as and as a result were forced to depend upon relatives, friends and neighbors for heat.

Tuesday found conditions somewhat improved insofar as rail traffic was concerned, but the major trucking concerns were unable to maintain their regular schedules in and out of the city. Coal and fuel dealers were able to supple coal where it was direly needed, but disregarded orders for large amounts.

Telephone poles and lines were, in some instances, uprooted and service was otherwise handicapped as likewise was other means of similar communications. Marion was kept in touch with the outside world through the individual efforts of Lyle Winn, operator and owner of radio station W9 JEG and to this gentleman cannot go too much credit – he remained at his post of duty for many trying hours going so far as to call in an assistant when exhaustion forced him to retire. Telephone messages relayed to him were immediately broadcast with the result that many message reached their destination that would not have otherwise done so. With the exception of Highway 91 – the Princeton Road – all major roadways into the city still remain under water to such an extent that they are un-travelable.

Approximately 60 families were made homeless by the sudden flood and devastation which descended upon Crittenden County. Local Red Cross officials estimated that at least 60 families would be rendered homeless by the swirling waters that descended upon the lower parts of the county. The portions of the county affected are, Dycusburg, Tolu, Fords Ferry, Dam 50 and Weston. These parts all front or have direct bearing on the Cumberland River and the Ohio River.

The Marion Chapter of the American Red Cross is attempting to care for and aid as many of these stricken families as possible. Others have not made an appeal, because of the fact that they have gone to the homes of neighbors and friends, thus alleviating calls and pleas for aid.

From the small town of Dycusburg comes the greatest tales of suffering and bravery. This place fronts the Cumberland River and has been menaced by the flooded stream for the past ten days. The majority of the natives, who reside in the flats or lowlands, have removed all belongings to the higher portions and have taken up their abodes in any form of structure that was afforded them.

When the rain ceased falling early Friday morning little was thought that it was of general nature. Daily rains at this time of year are to be expected in this territory and not until Lyle Winn, operator of radio broadcasting station W9JEG, began the broadcast of flood suffering, little, if any, attention paid to the possibility of flood as produced by Thursday's and Friday's downpours.

Following the radiocasting of Winn, came in troops, which were ordered to move into Paducah and other flooded areas to the south and west. Not being able to proceed to their destinations, these men remained here until ordered into other parts Sunday night or Monday morning. The highway between Paducah and Marion was completely submerged and traffic was unable to proceed with any degree of safety.

Lyle Winn And Station W9JEG

Do the people of Marion and surrounding vicinity realize that Lyle Winn, operator or radiocasting station 9 JEG has performed one of the most valuable of services to the county and city?

Following the sleet storm, when other communications were at a minimum, this operator opened his key and remained at his post through all conditions. Night and day; hour after hour; this tireless individual kept Marion and Crittenden County in touch with the "outside world." When forced to take the necessary "forty winks," he called in a capable assistant, who carried on the work without the slightest interruption. At all hours he received telephonic communications requesting calls and assistance for aid – this he transmitted without cost and in the majority of cases, at the own expense. Lyle Winn has performed a service that should not be quickly forgotten nor sticken from the mind.

Feb. 5, 1937

With floodwaters receding, many acts of heroism reach the Press office regarding people whom have been rescued from the flood that reached devastating proportions. Especially is this true in and around Tolu, Dycusburg and the small inland town of Tiline. In the town of Tolu the dike or levee gave way to the pressure of the flooded Ohio and as a result the natives, in a great majority of case, were forced to flee to safety on high ground.

From over the entire area comes the report that swollen streams and floods have caused panic and suffering to such an extent that no form of transportation could operate in or out of this city for many days. Especially true is this at Blackford, where locomotives were reported to have been practically drowned out while attempting to negotiate the inundated bridges spanning the swollen streams. One train was reported as fortunate in this respect, reaching the station with a load of refugees before torrents of water poured over the trestle. No calamities have been reported in our county as yet, but all transportation, with the possible exception of rail, is at a standstill.