The Methodist Episcopal Church South Was Macon's First Church

Taken from an article in a 1976 Edition of the Macon Chronicle-Herald - By Mrs. Lina Tedford

On February 18, 1860 Mr. John J. Rullier of Coffee County, Kansas Territory executed a deed, through his Attorney Albert Larrabee of Macon City, to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church South for Lot No. 157, Block No. 15 located at the southeast corner of Jackson and Third Streets, Macon City. Third Street was renamed Locust when Macon City merged with North and South Hudson in 1859. A copy of this deed which is recorded in Deed Book 0, Pages 298, 299 and 300.

The date the church building was erected is unknown, but church records indicate it was prior to 1863. The building is still standing at 302 North Jackson.

The name Rullier does not appear in the 1850 Census of Macon County, nor in the index to the 1884 History of Randolph and Macon Counties, MO nor is anything known about him.

The Methodist Episcopal Church South congregation was organized in 1858, as a mission called the Macon Mission. Reverend Walter Roole was presiding elder when the congregation organized and was pastor of the church in 1861. William Wood was the first pastor.

In 1866 the Methodist Episcopal Church South purchased Lots 9 and 10 of Block 94, the site of the present First Methodist Church at 220 Pearl Street.