David was raised a Presbyterian but in about 1775 (that would be seven years after his marriage) became Baptist, with his wife embracing that religion a year later. In Illinois he established (either alone of with other clergymen) the following Primitive Baptist churches: New Design May 1796, Mississippi Bottoms 1798, Richland (Ogles's Creek) 1804, Wood River 1807, Looking Glass Prairie 1808, Shoal Creek 1810, Prairie de Long ( Horse Prairie) 1814, Canteen Creek 1817. He also preached at Hurricane Fork est. 1818 as well as Clear Springs est 1822 as the founding minister was Elder James Street, whose daughter Jane Street married David Badgley Starr, Elder David Badgley's grandson.

In 1796 David Badgley and his son Aaron made a journey from Virginia to the Illinois Country to look at the prospects there. They were accompanied by a number of other people. The long journey was made overland on horseback, and they came together in order to better protect themselves from the attacks of the Indians.

Elder Badgley arrived in New Design on May 4, 1796, and preached night and day until May 30. During this time he baptized people on a profession of faith. Elder Badgley and layman Joseph Chance organized the first Baptist Church west of the Ohio River on May 28 and 29, 1796. The little church had 28 members. The little band met in homes until a church was built in 1832.

Being satisfied with the appearance of the new country, they returned to their families and the next year, in 1797, the Badgleys and the Strouds moved from their Virginia home and settled in Monroe County, near what was later known as Bond's Lake. They made the journey down the Ohio River on a flat-boat to Shawneetown and went the rest of the way by land. The country was then practically a wilderness, and the Indians had not yet been driven West. The tribes which inhabited these regions were the Kickapoos and the Pottawattamies.

Elder Badgley was a Baptist preacher belonging to what was known as the Ironsides or Hardshell Baptist. He organized the Baptist Church at Kaskaskia and traveled among the settlers, preaching in the open air and in their home, exhorting them to pious living, joining their sons and daughters in holy matrimony, baptizing them into the church, and administering words of comfort to the dying and of consolation to those who were mourning.

A little antidote, as handed down by one of the old settlers. It is traditional, however, and we give it for what it is worth. It is said the circumstance occurred in the days of the first house, the log-cabin, services then being conducted at the house of "Uncle" Johnny Rattan. The Rev. David Badgley, from St. Clair county, was over in this part of the moral vineyard aiding the Rev. Mr. Jones in conducting a series of meetings. At this particular time the Rev. Badgley was engaged in making the exhortation, and Brother Jones was sitting by his side. Now in those times, not even the minister of the gospel, made any great pretensions to dressing in aesthic style. Suspenders were unknown among them, and the pantaloons were supported at the hips by what was called a draw-string. Brother Badgley had become very much warmed up with his subject, --so much so, in fact, that he was not aware that the draw-string of his pants had by some unexplainable cause become untied. In short, he was the only one present that was ignorant of the fact. From all appearances there was woon likely to be a very embarrasing catastrophe. Bro. Jones took in the situation, and nudged his brother, and at the same time gave an ominous glance and nod at Badgley's unmentionables. But the Rev. Badgley was equal to the occasion. He stopped, quietly secured a knot in the string, and proceeded with his discourse as though nothing had happened.

Transcribed from the microfilm of the original by James R. Bridges, 4 Capital

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