Prairie View Traditional Cache
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Fairly level grassy area, can be very soft especially after a rain.
Remember if you didn't sign the log you didn't find it.
We had never seen a headstone for a church so we were very curious. We are still trying to find out more concerning the church that once was here. If anyone has information please send it to us so we can update this page.
From a 1979 Morgan County History Book:
Prairie View Church
Not much is known about the earliest settlers comprising the Prairie View Church. These belonged to the religious group now known as the Church of the Brethren, the beginnings of which were in Germany in the early 18th century. They held services probably as early as 1875 in the Fisher (Prairie Valley) schoolhouse on alternate Sundays with the Mt. Zion group.
In 1881 they built Prairie View Church on the grounds of the present building. More interested people moved in. David Bowman was their minister and as time went on there were over a dozen families. About 1903 one family moved to Oklahoma and about 10 years later some went to California.
Other ministers were William W. Holsopple, who came in 1885 and his brother Hiram L. Holsopple, who came later.
The old church was badly in need ofepairs and W.W. Holsopple, being a carpenter, was head of a crew of members and friends who dismantled the old church and built the present structure in 1927. But as membership was small and the minister was getting older the work was kept up with difficulty.
In the 1930's and 1940's the building was used by the community for Sunday School, community singings and an occasional funeral as late as 1951. In the 1960's some other groups asked for permission to use the building but it has not been in use since.
January 19, 1969 a corporation was formed under the laws of the State of Missouri for perpetual care of the cemetery. Mary J. Holsopple
That is the extent of the commentary in the book.
The church burnt at a later date, but we don't know when that was. Probably in the 1980's.
Thanks for the info J&JEN
While searching we are asked to be repectful. Should be a quick grab for experienced cachers. Log only so BYOP. Good Luck !
Also if you look for benchmarks there is one here.
Congratulations "FRIED OKRA" on the FTF !
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
ybj, irel ybj
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures