Trent
From Lane Co Oregon
The historical records of these three congregations are so closely entwined, we have combined them. Dexter took its name from the brand name on the stove of a pioneer settler. Lost Valley was named by Elijah Bristow - probably because of the remoteness of the place. They are each located just up the road from Pleasant Hill.
Swander places the origin of the Trent church as 1882. However, it was started earlier because historian Jerry Rushford quotes this 1881 letter from D.W. Bridges of Trent:
Brothers Philip Mulkey and I. N. Mulkey commenced a meeting at Lost Valley school house, near this place, on Friday evening, May 20th, continuing until the following Wednesday evening. The immediate result being ten additions to the church (at Trent); nine by baptism, and one (Sister Ida Panter) reclaimed. Surely we have good reasons to rejoice, and, indeed, we have been made to rejoice to see so many bow to the will of heaven while in their youth.
Brother I. N. Mulkey has been filling his monthly appointments at the place of said meeting for about two years, and he is now permitted, at least in part, to enjoy the fruits of his efficient labors. Truly some prophets have honor and success in their own country. - [Quoted from Christians on the Oregon Trail by Jerry Rushford, 2nd edition, page 339. Published by College Press.]
We can push back earlier than 1881. In August of 1878, Peter Rogers Burnett wrote this note to the Pacific Christian Messenger:
At my regular appointment at Trent last Sunday, two were baptized on confession of their faith in Christ.
Your brother in Christ,
P. R. BURNETT
The following year the church reported to the Lane County Cooperation Meeting that they had 51 members.
An early history of Lane County shows James and Selena Parvin, pioneers of 1853, moving to Lost Valley the year after they arrived. They relocated to nearby Dexter where he was postmaster and ran a store for 11 years. Parvin was also listed as the clerk of the Dexter church for many years.
Swander believes the Dexter and Trent churches merged sometime after 1910. The coming of the horseless carriage would have made this more achievable. These dates are in conflict with the local view at the Trent Christian Church. Their history claims a beginning of 1913 in the Wheeler home on Wheeler Road. So we conclude that the earlier congregation must have died out and been replaced by the present active church in 1913.
Pioneer Reminders: Parvin Road, Parvin Butte.
