USA > Georgia > Gwinnett County > Gwinnett churches; a complete history of every church in Gwinnet County, Georgia, with short biographical sketches of its ministers > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
Rev. J. P. McConnell.
Rev. J. P. McConnell was born August 2, 1854, on his father's farm near Grayson. He is a son of Tilford Mc- Connell, being the youngest of ten children. He grew up during the war between the states and had but little opportunity to secure an education.
He joined the Chestnut Grove Baptist church August 1, 1872, being baptized by Rev. T. E. Kennerly, and he has been a member of this ever since. He became a deacon in the year 1876, and was ordained to the min- istry in 1882 at his home church. He has been pastor of the following churches: Armana, Chestnut Grove, Beth- any, Lebanon, Mt. Zion, Rock Bridge, Pleasant Hill, Salem, Liberty, Rehobeth, Pleasant Hill (DeKalb coun- ty), Hog Mountain, Snellville, Loganville, Clarkston,
299
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
Dunwoody, Providence, Duluth, Corrinth, Union Hill, Woodville, Center Hill and Hebron.
Mr. McConnell is regarded as one of the ablest min- isters in the Lawrenceville Association. He was for seven years moderator of the body.
During his ministry, he has baptized between 800 and
REV. J. P. McCONNELL.
1,000 people. At one time, he baptized 72 converts into the Snellville church at one time, it requiring only 54 minutes.
He was married to Miss Susan Arendall August 21, 1874, and has three children. He represented Gwinnett county in the legislature in 1909 and 1910, taking an active part in the deliberations of that body. He is post-
300
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
master at Grayson, and owns something like 800 or 1,000 acres of farm land. His wealth is estimated at $50,000.
Rev. John F. Almond.
The pastor of Haynes Creek Primitive Baptist church, Rev. J. F. Almond, was born April 23, 1848, in at that
REV. J. F. ALMOND.
time Newton, now Rockdale county. He was converted December, 1871, baptized in April, 1875, ordained June 11, 1887, and since the last date has, with the exception of two years, been the pastor of four churches each year, preaching once a month at each church. He has baptized as many as 200 converts into the membership of his.
301
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
churches, and is a popular and successful minister. He lives in Atlanta.
Rev. A. J. Webb.
One of the best known ministers and most prominent citizens in Gwinnett county is Elder A. J. Webb of Webb- ville. He was born January 2, 1844, his father being J. W. Webb, himself a minister.
At the age of 16, he began to be deeply convicted of · sin, and was converted that year. His experience was a wonderful one. At this important crisis in his life, there came to him as if spoken in his presence the follow- ing words: "If God give you Christ, the Savior, how shall He not freely give you all things, even a desire to live."
He joined the Confederate army in October, 1861, and was sent to Virginia. He was a brave and faithful sol- dier, and was wounded at Gettysburg, September 10, 1863. On May 4, 1864, he was baptized in the Rapidan river in the state of Virginia by a Baptist minister, who was a chaplain in the Confederate army. He came home from the war in 1865, and in the fall of that year married Miss Mary J. Braswell. They have five children, all married and all own good homes.
May 15, 1880, he was ordained to the ministry at Bay Creek Church. He was called to and served Dou- ble Springs, Mt. Zion, Bethany, Rock Bridge, Sharon, and other churches, baptizing 68 converts into mem- bership of these churches.
For ten years he was a minister in the Missionary Baptist church but in 1890 for various reasons, he joined
302
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
the Primitive Baptist church at Haynes Creek and was baptized by Elder W. D. Almond. He has served var- ious churches of that faith, among them being Haynes Creek, Ivey, Bethlehem, Mountain Creek and Shoal Creek.
For twelve years, he was justice of the peace in his district. He was a member of the county board of ed- . ucation for two years, and he has been census enumer- ator, clerk of the Yellow River Association, president of County Farmer's Alliance, etc.
He has lived at his present home since 1880. He owns a splendid farm. He is now in the evening of life and says that faith in God is his only staff, hope in Christ his greatest riches, and the fellowship of his brethern his sweetest pleasure.
REV. B. F. CLEMENT.
303
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
Rev. B. F. Clemant.
B. F. Clemant was born in Anderson Dist., S. C., Oct. 5, 1836, and moved to Georgia with his father in 1852.
He joined the Union Hill Baptist church, Forsyth County in 1856, was ordained to the ministry in 1869 at Shiloh church, Gwinnett County. The presbytery consisted of John H. Westmoreland and W. G. Akins.
He was called to, and served the following churches with good results: Shiloh, Gwinnett County ; Mt. Tabor, Gwinnett County; Zion; Rehobeth, Providence, and Peachtree, DeKalb County ; Mt. Paron, Fulton County ; and Clear Spring, Milton County.
Some years ago failing health forced him to give up, with regret, the care of churches and he now lives at his home in Norcross, almost a confirmed invalid, wait- ing his Master's call.
Rev. J. M. Williams.
Our county is great because of its people. It cannot be greater than the men and women who live within its boundaries and support its intsitutions.
In preserving the name, merit and memory of our people, the county and the state will be benefitted and their history preserved.
Among the really great men who have lived in Gwin- nett County, none excel the late Rev. Jas. M. Williams. He began life in obscurity. He rose slowly, but steadily
304
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
and surely, and became the most powerful preacher in the county.
This position he won by the faithful preaching of the Gospel for more than thirty years. He labored among all classes ; the common people heard him gladly, and loved him as but few men are loved in this life.
REV. J. M. WILLIAMS.
Ånd the educated and the distinguished looked upon him with pride and could but respect his wisdom. His words were like "apples of gold" and "pictures set in silver ;" his example was worthy of emulation ; his char- acter was beautiful; his work, the noblest and best.
The people respected and loved him, so much that his services as a pastor were in great demand, and he could not fill the pulpits to which he was called.
305
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
He was born in Gwinnett county, January 1, 1849. He was ordained to the ministry at Union Grove, August 6, 1879, and was continuously engaged in the work up to his death. He was pastor of the Union Grove church twenty-three years, and his remains lie in the cemetery there. He served four churches all the time during his ministerial career, and many others sought his ser- vices. He really gave his life for his people.
During his ministry, he baptized 1,309 people into the church. Perhaps he preached more funerals than any man of his time. He bathed more souls with his tears and comforted more hearts with his words than any of his fellow ministers.
He died February 15, 1909. More people perhaps attended his burial than that of any other individual in the history of the county. A handsome monument was erected at his grave from funds given by his friends and admirers.
"A great light has gone out. A prince in Isreal has fallen." We shall seldom look upon his like again.
Rev. J. W. Montgomery.
July 5, 1848, Jackson County, Georgia, indicate the time and place of the birth of Rev. J. W. Montgomery, now living in the city of Lawrenceville. At the age of six, his parents moved to Gwinnett County, where he grew into manhood and where he has lived practically all his life.
His ancestors came from Ireland, a land that has
306
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
given so much of character and love of liberty to the state and nation.
Like most young men that grew up during and im- mediately after the civil war, he had few educational advantages ; and what equipment for life's work he had
REV. J. W. MONTGOMERY.
was received in the school of experience and in the diligent study of books and men at home.
In 1868, at the age of 20, he was converted and be- came a member of Bethabra church in Cains district, re- ceiving the ordinance of baptism at the hands of Rev. J. M. Davis, now deceased. He entered the ministry in 1891, and was ordained at the Auburn Baptist church in 1893.
R. M. C. DAVIS, Deacon Alcova Church.
J. B. LANKFORD, Methodist Layman.
J. W. HELTON, Clerk of Mulberry Church.
N. C. CROSS, Clerk Old Suwanee.
308
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
Since that time he has been called to the pastorate of various churches, his work resulting in many accessions . to the church and in the spreading of the glad tidings of a saviour's love over a large portion of the county.
His work carries him into Hall, Walton, Jackson, De- Kalb and Milton counties, where he is known as a relia- ble, sound and faithful minister.
He has a most excellent family, his children being above the average in industry and intelligence. A son, Emory, is chashier of the Bank of Lawrenceville, while another, Grover, holds a responsible position with the Brand Banking Co.
REV. J. F. SNELL.
309
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
Rev. J. Frank Snell.
Rev. J. Frank Snell was born in London, England, May 22, 1885, and came to America the following year. He lived practically all his life at Snellville, Gwinnett county, and for years was correspondent for the county paper at that point.
He was educated in the public schools of his com- munity anl at Young-Harris College. He has taught in various schools in Gwinnett and other counties.
He was licensed to preach at Jefferson, Ga., July 13, 1905, and is at present serving his first charge as pastor of the Woodland circuit, Columbus district, in Tolbert County.
Rev. J. T. Jordan.
No minister in Gwinnett county is held in greater esteem than the Rev. J. T. Jordan, of Lilburn. He has given his life to the people among whom he was born and reared.
He was born in this county in 1840, was educated in its common schools and received a hope in Jesus Christ in 1858 when 18 years of age. He united with the church at Camp Creek in 1860, was ordained to the great work of the ministry in 1866, and was elected pastor of four churches during the same year. He has the extraordin- ary record of serving two of these churches from the year of his ordination in 1866 to the present time.
To state it again, he has been pastor of two churches continuously from 1866 to date, a period of 44 years. During his entire ministry, he has served eight churches
310
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
REV. J. T. JORDAN.
as pastor and of these eight churches, he has served four at a time continuously from 1866 to the present.
Perhaps no preacher in Georgia or the South has served so long and so well the people among whom he lived and labored.
Rev. J. M. Pirkle.
Rev. J. M. Pirkle, of Carl, was born in Hall County, Georgia, in 1856. He joined the church in 1873. He attended the country schools in his boyhood days, and in 1877 was a student in the high school at Flowery Branch. He attended the North Georgia Agricultural College at Dahlonega during the years 1878 and 1879, and was a student at the Southern Baptist Theological
311
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
Seminary, Louisville, Ky., for eight months in the school year 1880-81.
At Union church in Hall county, he was ordained to the gospel ministry in September, 1884. He has served Union, Chestnut Mountain, Poplar Springs, Oak Grove, Shoal Creek, Old Suwanee, Antioch and Auburn churches, and baptized some into all of them, with the possible exception of Suwanee. He served some of the above churches as long as ten years, and as many as twenty-seven young converts have been immersed by him at one time.
He is an influential minister, a useful citizen and has an interesting family.
Rev. W. D. Almond.
Rev. W. D .Almond, for some forty years the pastor of Haynes Creek Primitive Baptist Church, wrote a letter to a friend in 1873, a part of which is reproduced here :
CONYERS, GA., JANUARY 1, 1877.
Now, if you will bear with me, I will talk a little with the children who may read this letter. I want to speak to them of my travels in and my deliverance from Babylon.
When I read Brother Gold's letter, I could hardly restrain myself. Oh, it did me so much good!
I wish to give a short sketch of my earlier experience. At a very early age, I had thoughts that troubled me about dying and going to the bad world ; but I soon be- came reconciled, believing I could do something to make
312
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
my escape. This I intended to do before it was too late. I set times when I would commence the work, but when the time came, I was not quite ready. This I continued until November, 1838, when I was more deeply con- cerned; and after awhile I obtained a little hope. But
REV. W. D. ALMOND.
it did not come in the way I expected it ; for I had thought if I received a hope, I would know all about it. I labored hard to get a better hope, but without success. My troubles were now different and I could not recall my former trouble. I was in this condition seven years, and became so much distressed that I thought I could not live. I told my uncle, Peter B. Almond, of my trou-
313
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
ble of mind, and he advised me to go to the church and said he believed if he was a Christian, I was also.
I did so, and was received on July 5, 1845, and was put under the water the next day by Stephen Mayfield, and became identified with a missionary church, which I thought at that time was the church of Christ.
I continued with them till July, 1857. During that time, I was like other false religionists who care not who Jesus is, some saying he was John, the Baptist, some that he was Jeremias, and others that he was one of the prophets. But, they could not tell who he was, for they did not know, but, blessed truth, there were some who did know by revelation, as Peter did, that he is the Christ, the son of the living God. I have not the shadow of a doubt about it, but this knowledge is not acquired by being told by other men, nor by even read- ing the Scriptures, nor by hearing some preacher declare it, but by being taught by the spirit. We know the things of the spirit just as Peter knew that Christ is the son of God, because it is revealed to us by our Fath- er which is in Heaven. Truly flesh and blood cannot reveal these things unto us.
In the spring of 1851, I became very much perplexed about the Scriptures. They seemed to me to clash in spite of all I could do to reconcile them. It seemed to me that if Jacob was loved and Esau hated before they were born or had done any good or evil, I could not see that God was just; nor how it could be said of Him that He was no respecter of persons, but that in
314
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
every nation He that feareth Him and worketh right- eousness is accepted with Him.
I called upon my pastor to reconcile these two pas- sages with many others I had marked down for him to explain. When I showed them to him, he looked at them some time and then said, "Ah, Brother Billy, the doctrine of election and predestination is in the Bible, but just let it remain there. Secret things belong to God, but revealed things to us and our children."
I then thought I was probably doing wrong in try- ing to find out things which God did not design for me to know, and I tried to reconcile myself and give it up. But I could not. My mind was running to and fro through the Scriptures and continued for two weeks.
I became so weak and in so much trouble that I could neither eat nor sleep but little. I cannot describe the condition I was in. One morning I was in the field plowing, when a small voice arrested my attention and seemed to roll into my breast. And here my revelation began. How long it continued, I cannot say. Nor can I possibly describe the joy I felt. In this glorious view, I saw my Saviour, as the mediator between God and man, and also my deluded condition. It seemed as though I was taken out of a dark, dreary dungeon, and had never seen a ray of light in my life, and then had I been brought out into open daylight in the brightest sunshine at noon, it would have been no greater change than I experienced in this glorious revelation.
I saw the camp of Isreal, the church of God, and the shepherd's tents, and was filled with inexpressible joy,
315
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
and was ready to cry, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will to men."
I saw the glorious way of salvation as I never saw it before, through the dying, risen and exalted Saviour, finished and complete. Let us adore and bless our God. Not unto us, O God, but unto thy name be all the glory, for truly our God is the God of salvation.
When I came out of this sweet vision, I could not remain in the field. When I reached the house, my baby was lying on the bed. I took it up in my arms and said, "If you are saved, you are saved by grace; but if not by grace, you are lost, for the way of salvation is by grace alone."
My mind began to expand and to take in and under- stand the Scriptures, to grow, I trust, in the grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Now I could see how the good Lord could love Jacob and hate Esau, I could see the harmony of the scriptures, and why the preacher could not tell me what he himself never knew, and why I could not myself understand.
Now, however, it looked so plain to me I thought I. could tell others all about it so as to make them under- stand exactly how it is. This I attempted to do with all my might, but I soon found this was not my work, that none but the same teacher who had taught me could instruct others.
Now, when I came to hear the old Baptists, I found them preaching the very same doctrine that I had been taught by revelation, and I was constrained to acknow- ledge that they are the people of God, So on July 6,
316
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
1857, I united with them and was baptized the next day by dear old Joel Colly, at Bald Rock church. I do not consider I was rebaptized, or baptized again, for I never had been baptized in truth, nor joined the church of Christ before. I had missed the church, and had there- fore missed Gospel baptism.
Now, I can say I never knew so much of the sweet- ness of the gospel of life and salvation before, and, like Ruth, I can say to the church, "Entreat me not to leave thee," and as David said, "One thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after that I may dwell with the Lord all the days of my life."
W. D. ALMOND.
Rev. W. S. Norton.
W. S. Norton is twenty four years of age. He was born in Carroll county, Georgia, October 6, 1886, com- ing to Gwinnett county during the year 1893, where he lived on the farm with his father until the fall of 1906.
He felt the call of God to preach the gospel and real- izing his need of a college education as a preparation for service in this great work, he went to Young Harris College from which institution he graduated in the spring of 1910 with the degree of bachelor of arts.
Beginning November 1, 1910, he taught school in Gwinnett county for six and one-half months, until he was appointed by the Presiding Elder of the Elberton District "pastor in charge" of the Lincolnton circuit where he resides at present. He has not been ordained, but was licensed to preach by the Gainesville District
317
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
.
REV. SAM NORTON.
Conference at Winder, Ga., June , 1906, previous to his going to college in September. He goes to the annual conference to be held in Augusta next November from the Elberton district, recommended for admission on trial. He has served only four churches, all of which are in Lincoln County and are : Lincolnton, Pine Grove, Bethany and Midway.
Rev. W. J. Wooten.
Rev. W. J. Wooten was born in Lumpkin county, Georgia, in 1841. He was converted in Dahlonega in 1855 at the age of fourteen, and joined the Baptist church there.
318
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
He was ordained in 1858 when only 17 years old, and attended Mercer University, then at Penfield, in 1859, 1860 and a portion of 1861.
He volunteered his sword to the service of the Con- federacy on the 11th day of March, 1862 and served
REV. W. J. WOOTEN.
through the war. He returned to his home after the surrender in 1865, was married to Miss S. A. Merck of Gainesville, October 12, 1865, and moved from Dah- lonega to Norcross in 1872.
During his ministry, he has served the Baptist chur- ches at Dahlonega, Cumming, Gainesville, Buford, Su- wanee, Lawrenceville, Sharon, Cross Plains, Carnesville,
319
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
Providence, Dunwoody. These churches were blessed with revivals under his ministry and numbers joined the church and were buried by him in baptism.
In 1873, he was appointed city missionary by the First Baptist Church of Atlanta in which capacity he worked six months. In 1875, The American Tract So- ciety appointed him as missionary and colporteur, and for 14 consecutive years, he traveled and worked for that society, organizing several churches and Sunday schools and circulating more than eight thousand dol- lars' worth of religious literature. This work was con- fined to East Georgia. C. A. Davis, of Greensboro, Ga., paid his salary of $50 per month, and then sending his personal check for $25 to purchase Bibles for the destitute.
The American Bible Society then appointed him to a like position, in which capacity he worked two years.
He served churches after leaving this society up to 1903, and was employed by the Jacksonville, Florida, Association to do mission work. He was engaged in this work for six years. His health failed which necessitated his giving up the work. He now lives at Norcross, an honored and influential citizen.
Rev. H. B. Mays.
Rev. Henry Bean Mays, pastor of the Buford Meth- odist church and secretary of the North Georgia Con- ference Sunday School Board, was born in Forsyth, Monroe County, Ga., September 2, 1869. He joined the
REV. A. G. BEATY,
REV. J. S. SETTLE.
.
W. W. PARKS, Sr.
REV. T. C. BRAY.
321
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
church in April, 1879 and moved to Atlanta in Septem- ber of the same year.
He attended private schools in Forsyth for four years and the public schools of Atlanta for seven years. He graduated from the Boys' High School, Atlanta, in June 1887.
From July, 1887, to September, 1888, he was a tra- veling salesman for a wholesale drug house. From Sep- tember, 1888, to February, 1892, he was assistant se- cretary of the Young Men's Christian Association in Atlanta. In the winter and spring of 1889, he toured the Holy Land and Egypt for help in his study of the Bible. After his return from abroad, he was general secretary of the Y. M. C. A., Ashville, N. C., from Feb- ruary, 1892, to April, 1893.
He was licensed to preach at Trinity church, Atlanta, April, 1893, and from May to October of the same year, was a worker in the Moody-Sanky World's Fair Cam- paign in Chicago and a student in the Bible Institute of the same city.
In November, 1893, at Gainesville, he was admitted on trial in the North Georgia Conference, ordained dea- con by Bishop John S. Keener, at Elberton, November 24, 1895, and made an elder at Athens by Bishop Gallo- way.
He has been pastor of the following churches : Young Harris in 1894; Hanleiter, Griffin, in 1895-6-7-8; Jeffer- son in 1899-00-01-02 ; Hartwell in 1903-4; Inman Park, Atlanta, in 1905-6-7-8 ; Cartersville in 1909-10; Buford in 1911.
322
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
He has served as sercretary of the Sunday school board for thirteen years.
He is one of the ablest ministers in the conference.
Rev. J. S. Settle.
Rev. J. S. Settle, of Winder, was ordained to the full work of the Gospel ministry at Sharon Baptist church in Forsyth county, February 27, 1892. Since that time he has been actively engaged in ministerial work, sixteen different churches having been served by him.
He has baptized 418 members into the various chur- ches during his pastorate, and united in marriage 37 couples.
He is the pastor of Ebenezer, Mt. Vernon, Mt. Tabor, churches in Gwinnett county and of Double Springs in Walton county.
Mr. Settle is not only an able minister, but a suc- cessful business man.
It will be of interest to know just how many miles a preacher travels to reach his churches, the number of days employed in the service and the amount of money he receives for his time and labor.
It will no doubt demonstrate that the ministers of Gwinnett county, especially those serving country chur- ches, are not preaching for money.
Below is given the name of each church served by Mr. Settle, the number of miles traveled, the number of days given to each church and the salary received :
.
323
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
MIT. SALEM, HALL COUNTY.
Miles traveled 400
Days served 60
Salary 1892
$16.45
1893 17.50
CONCORD, MILTON COUNTY.
Miles · traveled 1025
Days served
115
Salary 1893
$26.90
"
1894
23.45
"
1895
15.75
1896
24.00
SHADY GROVE, FORSYTH COUNTY.
Miles traveled 150
Days served
65
Salary 1893
$36.20
1894 24.20
WALNUT GROVE.
Miles traveled 200
Days served 30
Salary 1895 $23.00
SUGAR HILL.
Miles traveled 200
Days served 62
Salary 1897 $28.00
" 1898 28.00
324
GWINNETT CHURCHES.
CONCORD.
Miles traveled 600
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.