USA > Georgia > Clinch County > History of Clinch County, Georgia, revised to date > Part 9
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About 1887 Mr. Peagler, together with his friend, Calvitt Huxford, who came from the same county as Mr. Peagler, established a turpentine business in the northern part of the county at "Sandy Bottom." Later they opened up two other places. They continued in partnership until 1896, when it was mutually dissolved. About this time Mr. Peagler acquired the
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
old home property of the Crums, located near Homerville, where he built a beautiful residence in the place of the old one and removed there. He lived there until about 1910, when he moved into town.
During all this time, Mr. Peagler continued to prosper, and soon became one of the wealthiest men in the county. When the Bank of Homerville was organized in 1903, Mr. Peagler became a large stockholder and was elected its first vice-president. Later he was elected its president and served in this capacity until his death in 1913.
Mr. Peagler was an active member of the Methodist Church for about fifteen years previous to his death. He was a steward and trustee of the church for several years. He gave liberally of his means to the church and was always found in his seat at church.
His first wife died in 1902, and after her death he mar- ried Miss Annie Belle Lanier, the beautiful young daughter of Mr. R. M. Lanier and a grand-daughter of Rev. Robert F. Lanier, a pioneer Methodist of Clinch County. Four chil- dren were born to this union, viz .: Allie, Fannie, James Mil- ton and Henri M. Peagler.
Mr. Peagler's death occurred very suddenly October 3 1 st, 1913, of acute indigestion. He was taken sick at the dinner table and died within a hour's time. His death was the occa- sion of much sorrow the town and county over. His demise was regretted by white and colored alike. His remains were buried in the Homerville cemetery, his pastor, Rev. Geo. H. Walker, conducting the funeral exercises.
METHODIST CHURCH, DUPONT.
This church was established about 1880. The present church building was dedicated October 29th, 1899, by Rev. M. C. Austin, of Brunswick. A handsome memorial window adorns the church in honor of Walter T. Lott, a generous benefactor of the church.
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
Among the earlier Methodists at DuPont, were Mrs. Eliza G. Herviant, Col. L. A. Sirmans and family, E. J. Benton and James T. Eason and family. At present there are very few Methodists in DuPont. Services are held once a month. The pastor of the Homerville Church is also pastor there.
The folowing is a list of the pastors since 1 890:
W. T. McMichael 1889-1890 B. C. Prickett 1905
A. H. Bazemore 1891-1893 A. B. Wall 1906-1907
I. F. Carey 1894 J. S. Lewis 1908
W. J. Stallings 1895-1898 Aaron Kelly 1909-1910
James R. Jordan 1899 I. E. Mckellar 19II
C. E. Boland 1900 George H. Wlaker 1912-1913
J. P. Bazemore 1901 F. L. Coleman 1914
J. M. Boland 1902 M. M. Leggett 1915
L. B. McMichael 1903-1904 M. M. Marshall 1916
The Methodist Sunday School at DuPont has at times been temporarily suspended. Due to the tireless efforts of a few it has been re-organized time and again. The following is a partial list of its superintendents since 1880 :
Edward J. Benton 1880-1881 W. S. Glenn 1901-1902
James T. Eason 1887 A. J. Gibbs 1904-1905
James T. Eason
1891 M. S. Eason 1908
L. A. Sirmans 1895 J. T. Bramlett 1914
Joseph Johnson 1900 J. D. Lyle 1915
For many years previous to his death, James T. Eason was one of the leading members of the Methodist Church at DuPont. He was born in Appling County, October 26th, 1832, and was married December 28th, 1856, to Miss Louisa Victoria Mattox, daughter of Michael Mattox, of Tattnall County. By her he had ten children, viz .: Mary, who married W. W. Sever; Sarah, who married John Camp- bell; Julia R., who married H. W. Sever; Moses S. Eason; Victoria (died in infancy) ; James M. (died in infancy) ; Florida, who married A. S. Mclendon; Nannie, who mar-
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
ried C. M. Kimrey; Bessie, who married R. B. Hardy; Mc- Kenzie and George H. (died in infancy). Mr. Eason joined the Confederate army in May, 1862, and served in Co. "B" 54th Georgia Regiment.
Mr. Eason joined the M. E. Church in 1858 in Charlton County, while his wife joined in 1857. They lived in Charl- ton County until 1861, when they removed back to Appling County. In 1882 he removed to Clinch County, and settled about one mile from Magnolia. He lived here until a few years prior to his death, when he removed to DuPont, where he died.
Mr. Eason was one of the prime leaders in building the Lott Memorial Methodist Church at DuPont. While liv- ing near Magnolia, he attended a Baptist Church nearby and although he was a Methodist, he was elected superintendent of its Sunday School, and soon had as good a school as could be found in the county. He worked hand in hand with Rev. George W. Newbern in the promotion of the cause, Rev. Newbern being the pastor of the little church nearby. All the while, Mr. Eason's membership was at Homerville, but later he moved it to DuPont. He was superintendent of the DuPont Sunday School a few years, and was elected a steward in 1883. His death occurred at his home in DuPont, Feb- ruary 26th, 1905, and he was buried in the North cemetery.
BAPTIST CHURCH AT HOMERVILLE.
This church was organized about 1880, the principal mem- bers being W. H. Gary and wife, A. J. Caswell and wife, George W. Newbern and C. A. Smith. The land for the purpose was deeded the church by Col. Simon W. Hitch in 1882 to be used for church purposes so long as a church was located thereon. The church faces the first street east of the court-house, which runs north and south, and is on the west side of the street. It is surrounded by beautiful shade oaks.
Until about 1880 the Baptists at Homerville had no edifice
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
in which to worship, and the Methodists granted them the use of their church across the railroad.
The first Baptist Church in the vicinity of Homerville, and where the Homerville Baptists worshipped, was at the ford of Cane Creek, three miles northeast of town. This old church was established about 1852. At this time a Rev. Ryals was pastor. Later, Rev. C. Aldridge, who lived at Magnolia, was its pastor. One of the deacons of this church was John W. Hodges. He was a deacon until its removal to Homerville.
After the war, this church was abandoned, and the Bap- tists worshipped in the court-house at Homerville. This priv- ilege was granted by the grand jury in 1868, and it was availed of by both denominations. In 1875 the Methodist Church was erected and they allowed the Baptists the use of their church until they could build one.
Among the earlier Baptists at Homerville, before their church was built, might be mentioned Joel Strickland and his wife, John W. Hodges and his wife, Alfred Newbern and his wife, George W. Newbern and wife and A. B. Findley and his wife. Also there were A. J. Caswell and his wife and John C. Jones, who subsequently became prominent mem- bers of this church.
The original church building was a frame building. This building was used up to 1912, when the present brick struc- ture was completed. The present building is of white brick and cost about $2,000. It was begun in 1911. The building committee consisted of Messrs. R. G. Dickerson, A. H. Cul- pepper. George M. Dame, J. S. Kirkland and D. E. Kirk- land. The contract was given to S. S. Dillon, a local con- tractor, who also built the Methodist Church here. The pastor of the church who began the movement to build the new church was that able man of God, Rev. G. Tom West, who lived at Willacoochee, Ga. Due to his untiring efforts and under his directions the present church was built.
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
The present deacons of the church are Dr. A. H. Cul- pepper, J. S. Kirkland and George M. Dame. The Sunday School of the church was organized under the superintend- ency of Capt. W. H. Gary. He was superintendent for nearly twenty years previous to his death in 1901. Since that time, Dr. A. H. Culpepper, J. S. Kirkland, Prof. R. L. Lovell and George M. Dame have at different times served as superintendents. The present clerk of the church is J. S. Kirkland.
The following is a list of the pastors since 1895 :
C. C. Grace 1895-1896 G. Tom West 1905-19II
M. P. Cain 1897 P. B. Butler 1912
W. O. Dorsey 1898 Hugh F. Oliver 1912-1913
John F. Smith 1899 Ernest M. Altman 1914-1915
J. C. Gillispie 1900-1901 Lester Lane 1916
John F. Smith 1901-1904
Other pastors of this church were Revs. George W. New- bern. J. T. Stanley, Bennett, Vining and Poston. Rev. A. B. Findley was ordained to the ministry here in 1867, and served as pastor.
A leading member of the church is J. S. Kirkland, named above. He is a son of the late J. C. Kirkland. He was born in 1864, and married Miss Mary Touchstone, a daughter of Mr. C. S. Touchstone, of Stockton, in 1904. He has four children. Mr. Kirkland lives on his farm near Homerville, and has served his church as a deacon, Sunday School superin- tendent and secretary, and as clerk.
John C. Jones, although a cripple and could not walk, was one of the most faithful members of the church. He was for many years prior to his death in 1904, clerk of the church. He also took a great interest in the Sunday School. He had been tax receiver of Clinch County for over twenty years when he died.
Capt. W. H. Gary came to Homerville about 1880 and was very instrumental in organizing the Baptist Church. He
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was a deacon of the church until his death in 1901, and also Sunday School superintendent and church clerk. He was clerk of the Homerville Baptist Association for several years, and for five years was clerk of the Smyrna Baptist Association of which the Homerville Association was formerly a part. To Capt. Gary may be attributed more than any one else the success and upbuilding of these associations. He was a county commisisoner two years, mayor of Homerville and a member of Board of Trustees of DuBignon Institute from its incep- tion. His wife was the widow of John W. Hodges.
John W. Hodges was a leading Baptist at Homerville before the Baptist Church was established, and his death occurred before their church was built. As has been stated above, he was a member of the old Baptist Church at Cane Creek, and was deacon there for many years. He was born April 30, 1822, in Liberty County, and married Miss Eliza- beth E. Darsey, of that county, February 12th, 1846. They had no children. They removed to Clinch County in 1852 and lived for several years four miles east of where Homer- ville now is. With the coming on of the war he removed to town and joined the Confederate army. Mr. Hodges was a brother to Archibald Hodges, at one time a justice of the Inferior Court of Clinch County. He died in Homerville, December 26th, 1878, and was buried in the town cemetery.
Another early Baptist at Homerville, was Alfred B. Find- ley. He was born January 15th, 1839, and served in Co. "K" 29th Georgia, during the war. He was married August 15th, 1866, to Miss Argent Newbern, daughter of Rev. G. W. Newbern. Mr. Findley joined the Missionary Baptist Church and was, on October 15th, 1866, ordained to the min- istry. He served as deputy sheriff under Sheriffs Nelms, Courson and Johnson, and as Justice of the Peace at Homer- ville. Later, he removed to Coffee County and settled at Douglas, where he established a Third Party newspaper, and was appointed postmaster under Republican administra- tion. He is now living at Douglas.
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BAPTIST CHURCH, STOCKTON.
This church was originally located at Carter's Bridge, on the Allapaha River on the Clinch County side of the river. It was constituted in 1861. It was in a prosperous condition for two or three years during the war, when it almost succumbed. Rev. Caswell Howell was its first minister. Among its first members were James Henry Carroll, James Touchston, Charles Herren, John Touchston and Charles S. Touchston, and Dr. Ulysses A. Rice. To-day Mr. C. S. Touchston is the only living member of the original membership. Dr. Rice was a native of North Georgia and lived down here several years. He contributed much of labor and money towards the build- ing of the church. When the war came on, Dr. Rice returned to his old home, the Touchstons moved their membership their membership to Macedonia Church in Echols County, which was nearer them, and other members removed their membership also. This left the church without support, and it was discontinued for a few years. Although the church build- ing remained, no efforts were made to revive it until 1868.
In 1868 several Baptist laymen, among whom were John G. Norton, David Cowart, John Touchston and Collier, set themselves to the task and removed the church building to Stockton. Here the old church was the scene of many meetings for nearly fifty years. In 1915 it was torn down to put up a new building in its place. When it was torn down much sound lumber was found in it which was put into the building in 1861; this same sound lumber will be used in the new building.
Rev. Thomas Powell was its first pastor after it was moved to Stockton. When this faithful servant of the church, after after laboring there a few years, turned the church over to his successors, the church's membership had materially in- creased and the church was on a sound footing.
The present pastor is Rev. Noah Tyler, who lives across the Allapaha River in Lowndes County. The deacons are
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
Messrs. R. J. Bennett and C. S. Touchston, the latter of whom has served in this capacity for the last thirty years. Ollie Mathis is the church clerk. The church has a member- ship of about thirty-five.
James Touchston, an early member of this church, settled on Cow Creek in 1851, removing from where Milltown now is. The next year he built a grist and saw-mill on Cow Creek, propelled by water. Mr. Touchston joined the Baptist Church in early life, and was an active member until his death in August, 1865. At his death he was 71 years old. At the time of his death his membership was with the Mace- donia Church in Echols County. Mr. Touchston's wife was Miss Rebecca Hutto, by whom he had ten children, viz .: John, William, Nancy, Jesse, James, Henry H., Isaac, Ra- chael, Chas. S., and Sarah Touchston. Two of his sons, Jesse and James Touchston, were killed in the war at Boonesboro, Md., in 1863.
Charles S. Touchston, a son of James Touchston, Sr., joined the Baptist Church in 1860, and in 1861 became a member of the Carter's Bridge Church. He was born April 30th, 1845, where Milltown now is. When the Civil War came on, Mr. Touchston joined Co. "K" 29th Georgia Regi- ment, but was later transferred to Co. "H" 4th Georgia Cavalry. When the war closed he returned home and mar- ried Miss Mary E. Howell, daughter of H. H. Howell, of Echols County, December 28th, 1865. To them were born ten children.
John G. Norton was very instrumental in removing the Baptist Church from Carter's Bridge to Stockton. For sev- eral years he was clerk of the church. He was born in South Carolina, February 3d, 1838. He settled at Stockton just after the war and subsequently engaged in the mercantile business. He also ran a ginnery.
He removed to Lowndes County, below Naylor, and began farming. His death occurred February 4th, 1906, and he
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was buried at the Stockton cemetery. He was twice married and had several children.
ANTIOCH METHODIST CHURCH.
This church is situated several miles south or Argyle, and was for many years in the Homerville circuit. This church was established mainly through the efforts of Rev. Irwin R. Booth, who was a local preacher many years previous to his death in 1896. Among the early leading members of the church was Isham Patterson, James Harper, C. W. Inman, Herschel Inman, Ivy Davis and W. H. Hinson.
The list of pastors have been the same as that of Homer- ville. The following is a list of the Sunday School superin- tendents at Antioch :
John Inman 1876 Frank R. Booth 1894-1895
C. W. Inman
1880-1881 Irwin R. Booth 1896
George H. Lee
1882-1883 J. H. Inman 1897
Ivy Davis 1884-1886 Russell Fulwood 1898
Isham Patterson 1887-1889 W. H. Hinson 1900-1901
Herschel Inman 1890-1892 J. W. Hinson 1908-1910
Isham Patterson 1893 L. C. Capps 1912
As has been stated above, Rev. Irwin R. Booth was a leading member of the Methodist Church in this section for fifty years. He was born in Beaufort County, S. C., June 3d, 1812, of religious parents. He joined the Methodist Church at the early age of nine and led a consistent life until his death. He married Miss Margaret Mixon in 1832 ; after her death, he married Mrs. Margaret Knowles, of Ware County, Sept. 2 Ist, 1868. Rev. Booth moved to Georgia about 1840 and with the exception of a short while lived in Clinch County until death in 1896.
At the time of his death, Rev. Booth had been preaching nearly fifty years, and was one of the first Methodists to set- tle in Clinch County. He was superintendent of the Antioch Sunday School at the time of his death. The Sunday before
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he died he was on hand and conducted the school, although 84 years old. His death occurred January 16th, 1896, and his remains were buried at Antioch Church. On Sunday, Au- gust 30th, 1896, the funeral services and last tribute of re- spect to his memory were held at Antioch. All the children, grand-children and other relatives and friends numbering several hundred, were present. The services were conducted by Revs. W. J. Stallings and C. W. Inman.
Another prominent member of Antioch Church was Ivy Davis. He was a resident of the neighborhood of the church, and was long associated with church and Sunday School affairs. He was not only a steward but a Sunday School super- intendent several years, and for about five years was presi- dent of the Clinch County Sunday School Association.
Mr. Davis was born in 1845, and was married to Miss Miranda Smith, daughter of William E. Smith, January 2 1 st, 1868 and had several children. He died in 1913 at his home in Brunswick, Ga., where he had removed several years before.
SHILOH METHODIST CHURCH.
This church was located about four miles south of Argyle, and near the home of Mr. W. J. Strickland. It was estab- lished about 1875. The pastorate was supplied by the Homer- ville Church. Among the early prominent members of the Church were : W. J. Strickland, Peter Williams, John Florida Smith and H. C. Smith.
The following is a partial list of its Sunday School super- intendents :
Peter Williams 1880-1882 John E. Booth 1893-1895
W. J. Strickland 1882-1884 Jesse Booth 1896
Peter Williams 1884-1886 J. Jordan 1897
John F. Smith 1886-1889 Andrew Pittman 1898
Henry C. Smith 1890-1891 A. J. Kight 1905
James Fulwood
1891-1892 J. R. Jernigan 1910-1916
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
METHODIST CHURCH, ARGYLE.
This church was established in 1887, at about the time that the town of Argyle or Saussy, as it was then called, came into existence. The land for the purpose was deeded by Mrs. Virginia N. Fulton and Ida F. Saussy, heirs of Gasper J. Fulton, to the trustees of the Church September 8th, 1887, to be used by the Church so long as used for church purposes. The trustees named in the deed were : W. A. Ecord, Peter Williams, N. S. Knight, and W. S. Fender. Those trustees, however, did not live at Argyle. Among the earlier Methodists at this point, were T. P. Jordan, S. R. Kirton, T. H. Miller, B. A. Harper, and J. R. Booth.
The pastors of this church are the same as the Homerville Church. The following is a list of the Sunday School super- intendents since 1894:
T. P. Jordan 1894-1898 B. C. Martin 1908-1910
T. H. Miller 1898-1900 J. C. Saville 1911-1913
B. A. Harper 1900 R. J. Booth 1913-1914 J. R. Booth 1901 Geo. W. Goodman 1914
W. H. Hinson 1902-1903 S. C. Patterson 1915-1916 Mrs. J. H. Inman 1904-1907
PROVIDENCE, OR CAMP BRANCH CHURCH.
This church is of the Primitive Baptist denomination, and although located about a mile across the line in Ware County, has always been closely associated with Clinch County, there- fore the history of this church will not be amiss.
A small band of Primitive Baptists met at this point and organized themselves into a church on the third day of Feb- ruary, 1844. They were constituted as a church on the first Sunday in March (March 2d), 1844. The following is the covenant of the original constituted members, copied from the church minutes.
COVENANT: For as much as Almighty God by His Grace has been pleased to call us whose names underneath subscribed
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out of darkness into his marvelous light and all of us have been regularly baptized upon a profession of our faith in Christ Jesus and have given up ourselves to the Lord and to one another in a Gospel church-way to be governed and guided by a proper discipline agreeable to the Word of God, we do therefore in the name of our Lord Jesus and by His assistance, covenant and agree to keep up the discipline of the church members in a most brotherly affection toward each other while we endeavor to punctually observe the following rules, viz. : in brotherly love to pray for each other, to watch over one another and if need be in the most tender and af- fectionate manner to reprove one another, that is if we dis- cover anything amiss to go and tell him his faults according to the direction given in our Lord's gospel, and not to be whispering and back-biting. We also agree with God's as- sistance to attend to our church meetings, observe the Lord's day and not absent ourselves from the communion of the Lord's Supper without lawful excuse, to be ready to communi- cate to the defraying of the church expense.
These things we do covenant and agree to observe and keep sacred in the name and by the assistance of the Holy Trinity. Signed by the mutual consent of the members whose names are underneath subscribed. March 2d, 1844.
JOHN MINSHEW, RACHAEL MINSHEW,
JAMES J. THOMAS,
DUNCAN HENDERSON, BELINDA HENDERSON,
RICHARD A. BENNETT,
TOBITHA BENNETT,
WILLIAM S. BENNETT,
NANCY BENNETT.
After the organization was perfected, Rev. Isham Peacock was called as the first pastor of the church which call he ac- cepted. Duncan Henderson was then selected as clerk, and regular meeting days were fixed for both monthly and annual meetings.
The following is a list of the pastors since the organiza- tion of the church, barring two periods when the list was not obtainable :
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
Isham Peacock 1844-1845 James M. Mullis 1871-1880
Reubin Crawford 1846-1848 Jas. C. Williams 1881-1882
John Dryden 1849-1854 R. H. Bennett 1890
Reubin Crawford 1855-1860 E. W. Dilbern 1891
H. Cowart 1861 James A. O'Steen 1892
John Dryden 1862 D. B. Sheffield 1894
Reubin Crawford 1863 James A. O'Steen 1895-1901
Daniel Palerson 1863 W. H. Tomlinson 1902-1905
James M. Mullis 1863 H. J. J. Markey 1906-1908
Reubin Crawford 1864 J. C. Hewett 1909
Daniel Palerson 1864 Richard A. James 1915-1916
From about 1910 to 1915 the church had no regular pas- tor, while the minutes do not disclose anything relative to the period of 1864-1871 and 1882-1890. The following is a list of the church clerks since 1844, with the exception of 1882-1890:
Duncan Henderson 1844-'49 W. P. Nunez 1873-1880
Richard A. Bennett 1849-'59 J. H. Miller 1881
Asa Geiger 1860-1861 J. R. Dickerson 1890-1915
William T. James 1861-1873 B. M. James 1915-1916
Duncan Henderson, who was the first clerk, was born about 1800 and was a brother to John S., and Daniel Hen- derson. He married Miss Belinda Stafford, a daughter of Josiah Stafford. To them were born four children, viz .: An- drew J., Jack, David and Mary Henderson. His member- ship was with Providence Church until his death in 1863. He was for many years a trustee for the church property.
CLINCH COUNTY SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
With the organization and spread of the Sunday School in Clinch County, came the organization of the Clinch County Sunday School Association. This is an association that has been very helpful and beneficial to the Sunday School cause in Clinch County. There are no records showing when it was organized, but we have traces of its existence as early as
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
1883. Annual conventions have been held every year for over twenty-five years. The following is a list of its presi- dents and secretaries since 1896, with the years 1883 and 1893 added,-the other years are not obtainable :
Presidents-1883, John G. Norton, Stockton; 1893, Ivy Davis, Saussy; 1896, A. W. Bridges, Ratio; 1897, E. M. Pafford, Stockton; 1898, W. D. Stevenson, DuPont; 1899, Ivy, Davis, Argyle; 1900, Ivy Davis, Argyle; 1901, Ivy Davis, Argyle; 1902, J. A. Kilpatrick, Argyle; 1903, H. J. Dame, Homerville; 1904, A. J. Gibbs, DuPont ; 1905, A. J. Gibbs, DuPont; 1906, Wm. M. Pafford, Mud Creek; 1907, Wm. M. Pafford, Mud Creek; 1908, A. J. Gibbs, DuPont; 1909, A. J. Gibbs, Homerville; 1910, A. J. Gibbs, Homer- ville; 1911, R. G. Ratliff, Stockton; 1912, R. G. Ratliff, Stockton; 1913, A. J. Gibbs, Homerville; 1914, J. W. Tim- merman, Stockton; 1915, G. A. Gibbs, Homerville.
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