*From History of the Goshen Methodist Church 1880-1980 compiled by Jane Allen and Sara Lumbert.
A church building had existed on the Goshen Campground along with a brush arbor where outdoor services were held. The great cyclone of 1880 destroyed them.
A new church was built in conjunction with the masonic order. The building was two-story of wood frame construction. The first level being the church and the second floor the Masonic Hall.
Rev. Moses Dutton helped build the church. The following is a letter he wrote to his nephew, given to us by Mrs. E. C. Dutton of Pico Rivera, California.
Goshen, Washington Co., Ark
February 10, ’82
(to Jackson Dutton)
Well, Jack I received your letter today and was glad to hear from you and learn that you are doing well, and am glad that you have not forgotten me. I have many things to write of but can only mention a few of them at one writing. I am living at the same place, all the children are married but Moses. He is living with me. Your Aunt Betsy is feeble being worn down with age. My health has been bad the last two years, but is better at this time. We have a small town at Goshen. It was blown away by a terrible cyclone little over two years ago. I had a large shop. It was blown entirely away in connection with several houses. There was no lives lost, our church house and Harbor was destroyed. The town has been rebuilt. We have built a church house with a Masonic Hall on it. The building is worth one thousand dollars.
We have a fine steam mill underway of construction at Goshen. It is being put up by Dr. Kelly, Tom Cannon, and Jho. Tunstill. It will be running by harvest time. I worked on our church house for over a year, all the time that work could be done. It was a gratis business on my part and has left me behind hand but I will still live if it be in a hard way.
I contemplate visiting your country in the fall on a preaching expedition. If my health holds good and if I visit your part of the country I will write and let you know at what time I will be there. I am preaching almost as much as I ever did. I want to make a good end of my life. Brown Sharp and Martha are living with me. Their oldest child died the night before last. His name was Monroe, he was all the boy they had, he died with Rheumatism. They have four children left.
Dick Dutton lives in Hindsville is running a blacksmith shop and is doing reasonable well. Dick is a good smith. Merva her health is not good. She was well nigh dying a while back. She is in better health now. Jo Phillips is in Texas somewhere. If you know anything of him write to be and tell me where he is as I have not had a letter from them for about two years. I want you to write at once on the receipt of this letter and tell me how Bass is getting along and if you and him have enough religion to die with. If so I shall look to meet you in the better land. I close by subscribing myself.
Yours truly
Moses Dutton
A church building had existed on the Goshen Campground along with a brush arbor where outdoor services were held. The great cyclone of 1880 destroyed them.
A new church was built in conjunction with the masonic order. The building was two-story of wood frame construction. The first level being the church and the second floor the Masonic Hall.
Rev. Moses Dutton helped build the church. The following is a letter he wrote to his nephew, given to us by Mrs. E. C. Dutton of Pico Rivera, California.
Goshen, Washington Co., Ark
February 10, ’82
(to Jackson Dutton)
Well, Jack I received your letter today and was glad to hear from you and learn that you are doing well, and am glad that you have not forgotten me. I have many things to write of but can only mention a few of them at one writing. I am living at the same place, all the children are married but Moses. He is living with me. Your Aunt Betsy is feeble being worn down with age. My health has been bad the last two years, but is better at this time. We have a small town at Goshen. It was blown away by a terrible cyclone little over two years ago. I had a large shop. It was blown entirely away in connection with several houses. There was no lives lost, our church house and Harbor was destroyed. The town has been rebuilt. We have built a church house with a Masonic Hall on it. The building is worth one thousand dollars.
We have a fine steam mill underway of construction at Goshen. It is being put up by Dr. Kelly, Tom Cannon, and Jho. Tunstill. It will be running by harvest time. I worked on our church house for over a year, all the time that work could be done. It was a gratis business on my part and has left me behind hand but I will still live if it be in a hard way.
I contemplate visiting your country in the fall on a preaching expedition. If my health holds good and if I visit your part of the country I will write and let you know at what time I will be there. I am preaching almost as much as I ever did. I want to make a good end of my life. Brown Sharp and Martha are living with me. Their oldest child died the night before last. His name was Monroe, he was all the boy they had, he died with Rheumatism. They have four children left.
Dick Dutton lives in Hindsville is running a blacksmith shop and is doing reasonable well. Dick is a good smith. Merva her health is not good. She was well nigh dying a while back. She is in better health now. Jo Phillips is in Texas somewhere. If you know anything of him write to be and tell me where he is as I have not had a letter from them for about two years. I want you to write at once on the receipt of this letter and tell me how Bass is getting along and if you and him have enough religion to die with. If so I shall look to meet you in the better land. I close by subscribing myself.
Yours truly
Moses Dutton