1867 - The founding families gather to pray and give thanks. They meet in homes and in donated space in the evenings. They begin to dream and plan for a church of their own. [ Founders: the originators, the leaders in the building of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Lee's Summit, Missouri Some early family names are; Cowherd, Donohew, Gattrell, Hamilton, Hinton, Jones, Miller , Slaughter, Strother, and Whiting]----------------------------------------------------------
1868 - William A. Gattrell, 1817-1897
One of the Town of Lee's Summit founders, he was elected alderman in 1868. He was active in the St. Paul's Parish, as was his daughter "Bessie" Gattrell, his son Frank and Frank's wife Janie Donohew/Gattrell.
W. A. Gattrell ran one of the first dry goods stores. "W. A. Gattrell and Co., on the corner of West Main and 3rd streets
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1877 - “ Three women, who raised money by sewing carpet rags, founded Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in 1879. It took Elizabeth Whiting, Belle Jones, (nee Whiting ) and Bessie Gattrell seven years to collect enough money to turn those rags into the riches of a sacred space where 21st century worshipers still gather today.
later 1884 “- - - ladies began by forming a sewing society, and each gave five cents. This was the starting point of the church fund. Since then it has steadily increased. The ladies held festivals when they could, took in sewing and when there was none to be had, they sewed carpet rags and sold them. Some called it the carpet rag church. It seemed impossible that they should build; and yet, now they have the handsomest church in town, and have great pride and comfort in it…The contractor was an honest man, and his work was constantly supervised by the ladies. The consequence is a strongly built, neat and tasteful building.”
More on Bessie and members of this family is here: CLICK
1884 July 16 - Three women became Trustees of the land for a Protestant Episcopal Church in Wm. B. Howard's First Addition in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Block 22, lot 1.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth M Whiting, her daughter, Belle M. Jones and Bessie M. Gattrell.
This web site is dedicated to these ladies, their families and all that came after them that contributed time, talent and treasure to St. Paul's Episcopal Church.