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Note: Robert was the first of three Bailiff ministers who ministered to the Presbyterian congregation in Melrose Township, Clark Co, IL. The church still bears the name, BAILIFF CHURCH, and the BAILIFF CEMETERY is located next to it. Robert and family came to Melrose Township, Clark county, Illinois in an ox-cart from Cumberland Gap, TN. Robert was instrumental in establishing the Cumberland Presbyterian Congregation (Bailiff Church) in 1834 on his farm. Robert was chosen minister of the church in 1838 and served until his death in 1877. Thomas was mininster from 1877 until his death, March 6, 1891. Thomas was also a circuit rider. Following Thomas's death, his son, Thomas Chalkey served as minister. The combined ministerial service at the Bailiff Church spanned 98 years and is was all donated service.
[Linda]
“....a prominent Presbyterian minister, founder of one of first churches in Crawford Co., Ill. He and his wife [“Anna” Buckner] are buried on the site of the old log church at West York.”
[Source: The Buckners of Virginia and the allied families of Strother and Ashby, ” edited by William Armstrong Crozier; published privately for William Dickinson Buckner by The Genealogical Association, NY, 1907; Higginson Book Co. reprint, p. 291. SMB Oct. 2004.]
History of New Providence Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Clark Co., IL
The first church organization in Melrose Township of Clark County, Illinois was the New Providence Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In the year 1830, Robert Bailiff and his wife, Anna Buckner Bailiff, came to Illinois from Cumberland Gap, Tenn. in an ox-cart with all their earthly possessions and $10 dollars to start a new life. About that time camp meetings were being held with great success near Marshall by the Cumberland Presbyterian preachers, James Ashmore of Edgar County and James Taylor of Clark County. Robert Bailiff invited these men to come to his farm and hold a camp meeting. In 1834 a church was formally organized at Mr. Bailiff’s residence and services were held there until 1842 when a log church was erected. The land for the building was donated by Mr. Robert Bailiff.
The first ministers were Rev. Beals and Rev. J. C. Hill who served until 1838. In 1838 Robert Bailiff was chosen a pastor of the church and served until his death in 1877, a total of nearly forty years. He was known as a man of fine character and great energy and was a very fine preacher. After the death of the elder Bailiff, his son, Thomas, took up the work of his father. He always gave his services to his home church and was highly respected by all who knew him. With the passing of Thomas Bailiff, his son, Chalkley, succeded to the pastorate of Bailiff Church. The combined ministerial services of the Bailiff’s extended over an unbroken period of 98 years and each of them donated their services for the love of the cause.
"From a newspaper, Marshall, Clark County, IL, date unknown"
[Source: ILGenWeb, Clark Co., History of New Providence Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Clark County, Illinois (file contributed by Cindy McCachern), at <ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/il/clark/church/providnc.txt>, accessed Nov. 2004. SMB.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Nov. 1, 1798 Death: Jan. 12, 1877
ROBERT BAILIFF, FRONTIER FARMER AND MINISTER Robert Bailiff was born Nov 1, 1798, in Orange County, North Carolina, the son of Scotch Irish parents Thomas Bailiff and Elizabeth Baker. Robert's parents were greatly influenced by the New Hope Presbyterian Church in Orange County, North Carolina, where Robert Baker served as an elder. Robert Baker was an uncle of Robert Bailiff's mother and Robert was probably named for this great uncle. The Bailiff family moved to Chatham County, NC, where Robert Bailiff married Nancy Anna Buckner around 1818. By 1820, the family was in Christian County, Ky, where Robert's son Thomas Bailiff was born. About 1824, Robert moved his family to Smith County, Tennessee, where his father was living. Robert Bailiff was a frontier farmer and staunch Cumberland Presbyterian when he came from Caney Creek, Smith County, Tennessee, to Crawford County, Illinois, in 1830. He made the journey from Tennessee in an ox cart and started his new home with $10 as the sum of his earthly capitol. Elizabeth Bailiff, a single sister, moved with Robert Bailiff's family. In 1831, Robert moved his family to Melrose Twp, Clark County, IL, the present location of Bailiff Church. The first service of the New Providence Cumberland Presbyterian Church was held at the cabin of Robert Bailiff in 1833. The congregation met at the Bailiff cabin for the next 10 years. In 1838, Rev. Robert Bailiff became the minister of Bailiff Church. Robert was a frontier farmer and minister. He was the minister of Bailiff Church for 40 years. Robert Bailiff died on January 12, 1877, and his tombstone stands near the present day church building. (Contributed by Ron Cornwell) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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