Sooter Family

The Sooter Family...

(Printed in THE MILLER COUNTY AUTOGRAM-SENTINEL in the column, 'WINDOW TO THE PAST', Dec. 3, 2012)

The Sooter family dates back to the time of Charlemagne and an armour-bearer named LaSooteur in the era of 800 A.D. He was of Franco-German ancestry.

In 1737, George Sooteur of London sailed from England to Phiadelphia in the ship "Adventure" and landed in Delaware on September 6, 1737. He became engaged in the shoe making trade in America. In 1741, he married Nancy Carter of Chester County, Pennsylvania and they were parents of 7 children:

WILLIAM, JAMES, CHARLES, JOHN, NANCY, RUTH, and ELIZABETH.

In 1751, George, Nancy and their children settled in what is now London Co., Virginia. He bought 108 acres of land there and farmed until 1767. They then emigrated to Augusta Co., Virginia (now Greene Co., Pennsylvania) where they lived until about 1797. Two of their sons, James and Charles, served in the Revolutionary War under the command of Col. Jackwell Morgan and in the Virginia Militia. James Sooter was killed at the Battle of Cowpens in 1781. George Sooteur/Sooter died August 24, 1795 and Nancy Carter Sooter died in 1797 in what is now Greene County, Pennsylvania.

Soon after the mother's death, all the family, except William, emigrated to Ohio, near Marietta. William and his family went to Harrodsburg, Kentucky for about 10 years and then moved south into Tennessee. Some of the children of William Sooter were: EDWARD, RUTH, NANCY, & GREENBERRY.

Greenberry Sooter, son of William and grandson of George and Nancy, is the ancestor of the Miller Co. Sooter family. His children were: MILTON (1826-1875), MONROE (---), MANLEY (1831-1908), PAULINE (Gaw) (---), and HARVEY VAN BUREN (1833-1899).

Harvey Van Buren Sooter married Sarah Ann Smith (1839-1914).

Harvey was a physician in the mid 19th century. By 1857, Harvey and Sarah were living in Newton Co., Missouri where their son, Charles M. Sooter, was born on August 24, 1857. The children of Dr. Harvey Sooter and Sarah Ann Smith were:

1. Rev. Charles Marriott Sooter b. 1857 married 1) Harriett Pankey 2) Jane Alice Carson 3) Lucy Stark
2. Louisa M. Sooter m. George Shelton
3. Rev. William M. Sooter m. Nancy Groves
4. Gerretta Sooter m. James N. Renfrow
5. Margaret Sooter m. John Hensley

Charles & Jane (Carson) Sooter

Charles & Lucy Stark Sooter

Rev Charles Sooter

At age 27, while operating a sawmill, an itinerate Christian minister named Mapes came from Iowa and held revival services in the community. Charley attended these services and thereafter his life was changed when he realized he had received a calling from God. He was an unlearned man and at first, he was afraid to speak publicly or pray before a crowd. But anyone who remembers Brother Charles Sooter knows he overcame that obstacle with flying colors!

He preached and sang his way into the hearts of many central Missouri people, and he also played the fiddle. It was said his gifts were Providential, but I am sure those Irish ancestors contributed to his talent as well. He helped to organize many churches in the area.... Union, Mt. Zion, High Knob, Campground, Humphreys Creek, Little Tavern, Liberty, Atwell, Cranford, Edythe, Ketchum (Okla), Iberia, Fairview, Gott, and Meta. He bought 140 yards of heavy canvas and made a huge tent. He conducted services under that old tent until a church could be erected. It is said he preached 5,250 sermons; had 4,500 conversions and baptized over 3,000 people.

At first, he traveled horseback, averaging 2000 miles a year. Later he used a two-wheel cart and buggy and in his old age, drove a car. The greatest number ever baptized by him at one time was 76 in the Little Tavern creek and the greatest number ever accepted into membership at one time was 91 persons. He probably conducted more funerals than anyone, before or since, in our area (photo 03).

Charles Sooter died at his home 5 miles south of Tuscumbia in the summer of 1938. He had reached the age of 81 years and had continued his preaching almost to the end.

He truly was a 'Shepherd of the Hills' in our section of the Ozarks. He was referred to as a "Sky Pilot" because he had lifted so many hearts and souls heavenward and helped start so many folks walking down the right road of life.

His 2nd wife, Jane Alice, died in 1929 and he married a third time, Mrs. Lucy Stark, widow of William Stark. He was survived by Lucy, 7 children, a brother: Rev. W. M. Sooter (1862-1951); 2 sisters: Lucy Sooter Renfrow (1866-1947); and Maggie Sooter Hensley (1877- )

His services were held at the Iberia Academy. The Jones Boys, old friends of Brother Sooter, had a beautiful and inspirational song service. He was laid to rest at the Brays Union cemetery, east of Iberia. His descendants have carried on the tradition.... four sons became ministers, and the musical talent continues onward in his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren even unto this day.

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---- Charles Marriott Sooter ----
(Charles M. Sooter story originally printed in THE MILLER COUNTY AUTOGRAM-SENTINEL in the column, 'WINDOW TO THE PAST', Feb. 27, 2003)

Rev. Charles Marriott Sooter was born near the Grand River in Newton Co., MO in the Ozark Mountains of southern Missouri. His parents moved to Miller Co. when Charles was 12 years old, circa 1869. His ancestors were immigrants of Northern Ireland who settled in the Carolinas. Charles was born August 24, 1857, a son of Harvey Van Buren Sooter and Sarah Ann (Smith). His father was a physician who did not join a church until he was an old man, and his mother was a Methodist.

In 1873, Charles married Harriet Pankey who died a short while later after giving birth to 2 children, Nettie (Wiles) and Leona (Shelton). In 1876, he married Jane Alice Carson and they had 7 children including: Menso E., Charles W., Mark, Wm. M., Elizabeth (Hodgen) and Lena. In his early years of marriage, he took up farming and saw-milling.