USA > Georgia > Jones County > History of Jones County, Georgia, for one hundred years, specifically 1807-1907 > Part 26
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
It is known that two buildings have been used for houses of worship. The present structure a substantial frame meeting house type of architecture was built in 1893, having replaced an old frame building of similar type and construction. In 1928, an annex to the present building was made to take care of the church school needs and other repairs and improvements were made of the church property.
Elam, along with many other Georgia Churches was mutilated by the invading Northern Army in the fall of 1864. The pews were used for horse troughs and other abuse was suffered by this old church from the hands of the public enemy.
Two pastors, E. E. Steele and C. H. Anderson have gone from Elam to serve as missionaries to China. A daughter, of the church, Leila Burnette Steele, also spent many years as a missionary to the Chinese.
W. C. Felts was ordained as a minister at Elam, July 8, 1877. Mr. Felts afterwards served as pastor of the Church.
For 144 years this Baptist Church set among a background of old trees and green shrubbery just off the highway from Gray to James has been doing its part towards ushering in the Mas- ter's Kingdom on earth. An air of quiet grace and serenity, the Crown of a long and useful life seems to eminate from this historic spot.
Those serving Elam Church as clerks are :
W. C. Felts, 1874; S. M. Bozeman, 1875-1880; E. K. Grigs- by, 1881; J. B. Edwards, 1882-1884; J. C. Emerson, 1884- 1885; J. W. Owens, 1886; J. P. Owen, 1887-1891; E. K. Grigs- by, 1892-1893; H. P. Emerson, 1894-1911; J. W. Watson, 1912-1914; J. C. Balkcom, 1921-1930; Claude Watson, 1938.
SARDIS CHURCH
Denomination : Congregational Methodist - organized as Methodist Episcopal in 1838.
One log and two frame houses have been used for churches. Present building is simple frame meeting house type, tin roof, painted inside and out, neat home made benches, varnished; and a piano for musical purposes. No bell, cornerstone or memorial windows.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Dedicated Aug. 5, 1927.
No record found as to who the early pastors were. Rev. J. F. Holloman, Gray, R.F.D. #2 is present pastor (1938). Names of some of the pastors are: Revs. McKissick, Harvey, Harde- man, Freeman, Jones, Thurman, Stocks, Cooner, Black.
Sardis Congregational Methodist Church is located about seven miles southwest of Gray. The first location was near Dames Ferry on the Ocmulgee River. James Jones (father of Major Jones and the great-grandfather of Rev. Broadus Jones, Miss. Baptist Minister), gave to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church three acres of land in 1838, and George Mc- Kay donated and moved from his place an old log house to be used for a church. The first trustees were Luten Braddy, Abso- lom Finnell, William Vanzant, Jarret Vanzant and Wiley Brad- dy.
In 1927 this new site was selected. Mrs. M. E. Williams gave an acre of land. Rev. J. F. Holloman and W. W. Jackson acted as building committee. Public spirited citizens gave material for building and friends and members of the church did the work.
Sardis was organized in 1838 as a Methodist Episcopal church. A record of 1891 shows the church along with Saint Luke, Liberty Roberts Chapel and Plentitude in the Ocmulgee Mission, Oxford district, North Georgia Conference, with W. O. King as pastor and R. Bigham, presiding elder. It is not definite- ly known when it became Congregational Methodist.
A large church cemetery is at the site of the old building. One person is buried at present site.
Only one other minister besides the Rev. Mr. Holloman has served as pastor in the present building.
About forty persons constitute the membership in this little rural church.
NEW HOPE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH (CANEY CREEK)
New Hope Primitive Baptist Church is in Jones County, near Round Oak, Ga., R.F.D. It was organized on Feb. 6, 1813, and has always functioned. There have been two previous buildings.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
First house made of logs erected in the fall of 1815. Alsey Gam- mage was builder. The floor and seats were made of planks.
The second house, a frame building, replaced the log house in 1833. This building was used as a house of worship until 1905, when it was torn down and part of the material used in the construction of the present house. Each church has stood on the original tracts of land, but not on the identical sites.
Records do not give dates of dedication consecration of pres- ent building.
The building is the usual type for the old time rural church. Two entrances in the front and two doors open on steps leading out of the building back of the pulpit. The white building, with its green blinds makes a pretty setting in a forest of original timbers. A raised pulpit and sturdily built seats, form the furnish- ings. There is no bell, memorial windows or musical instruments.
The first settled clergyman was Absalom Brown, tenure 1813- 1814, his educational background is not known. Other pastors besides Absolom Brown are: Elder Macklemore, 1815-1818; John M. Gray, 1819-1825 ; James Henderson, 1826-1827; Wil- liam Henderson, 1828 until his death on Feb. 18, 1832; Thomas C. Trice, Mar. 1832-1837; Francis Douglas, 1838-1844; Wil- liam M. Cooper, 1845 ; Francis Douglas, 1846-1847; John Mul- lins of Monroe County, Ga., 1848-1857; John Simmons, 1858- 1871; T. J. Bazemore, 1872-1880; John H. Gresham, 1881- Mar. 1920; Elder B. F. Williamson, Lizella, Ga., 1920 -.
There are three Minute Books: "Letter Books," 1813-1881; two volumes not a title, 1882-1922; 1923 -; size 12"x8"x1". 200 pages, all handwritten contents give articles of Faith, Gos- pel Order, By-Laws, Order of Business, Church Membership roll, proceedings of church conferences. The three records 1813- 1881; 1882-1922; 1923-, are kept in home of B. R. Jarrel, near Round Oak, Ga., Church Clerk.
The three volumes of minutes 1813-1881 ; 1882-1922; 1923 -; have record of baptisms, members and deaths.
Primitive Baptists do not have Sunday School or other organi- zations.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
There are no separate financial records. Finances are minor details in Primitive Baptist Churches. Record in Minutes 1812- 1881: 1882-1922: 1923 -.
No published, nor unpublished historical sketches.
The Constituting Presbytery consisted of Elders Joel Willis, Abraham Brown and William Jones. These elders were representatives from the County Line, Walnut Creek and Bethel Churches. New Hope was constituted upon old line Primitive Baptist principles, practices, belief and Bible doctrines.
Twenty sturdy pioneer settlers banded themselves under the Constitution. These were : John Kelly, Mack Patterson, Bryan Lee, Isaiah Packer, Isham Meadows, Hannah Kelly, Lane Jacob, Sarah Patterson, Elizabeth Lee, Lucy Packer, William Brooks, William Hadman, Daniel Packer, Henry Mitchell, Isham Brooks, Winney Short, Catherine Groves, Dicey Parker, Sarah Mitchell and Agnes Brooks.
The first service after the constituting of Church was held in March 1813. Two deacons were chosen at that meeting. Bryan Lee and Isaiah Packer; John Kelly and Isaiah Packer were set apart as preachers of the Gospel. At later periods three other men gave themselves to the ministry, these were: John H. Gres- ham, ordained in New Hope Church, October 1875, John T. Glover, April 23, 1892, and William J. Green, April 27, 1901.
Plans were made at a church conference held in September, 1815, towards the erection of a building. Commissioners were chosen by the church and subscriptions ordered to be made for the building. A tract of land for a building site was purchased from John Mullins and Edward Brooks. Alsey Gammage built the crude church which was a log house, hewn from the sturdy forests of the Community. The floor and seats were made of planks.
Financial conditions improved in the community and in 1833 an addition of one-half acre of land was given by Giles Driver and Green Miller for the erection of a substantial frame house. This building stood for a period of seventy-two years. In 1905 this house was torn down and a part of the material used in the present building. B. R. Jarrell was contractor for the new build- ing.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Thirteen clerks are: Mordeca Jacob, 1816-1821 ; Anderson Smith, 1822; Duncan McDuffie, 1822-1832; Samuel Gray, 1833- 1845 ; Benjamin Herndon, 1845-1853 ; Thomas F. Jarrell, 1853- 1855; John Jarrell, 1856-1876; John A. Childs, 1876-1877; John Ussery, 1878-1886; T. J. Bazemore, 1886-June 1892; T. E. Zellner, June 1882-1893; G. J. Brooks, 1893-Nov. 1907; B. R. Jarrell, Nov. 1901 -. Mr. Jarrell has a service record of thirty-one years.
Fourteen pastors have served the church since its organiza- tion. Elder John H. Gresham has the longest record for service, having been pastor for forty years.
New Hope Church through its period of one-hundred-twenty- five years has had a large membership. In maintaining church order she has had to try and exclude some members upon the charges of adultry, slander, intoxication, falsehoods, non-attend- ance, profanity, dancing, selling on the Sabbath, and false re- ports. One member whose wife had undergone a trial before the church keenly felt the injustice of the trial and for a remark to the effect-that he had rather be tried in the Federal Courts than New Hope Church, he too, was expelled.
New Hope belongs to the Ocmulgee Primitive Baptist Asso- ciation. The church has entertained this body for a number of times.
New Hope is located about fourteen miles northwest of Gray. Across the road from the church is a large cemetery. Resting there are many Confederate Veterans, pioneer settlers and their negro slaves.
MOUNTAIN SPRINGS PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
First house-A log building, stick and dirt chimney, crude benches for seats, was used from 1838-1864. Building destroyed by Yankees. Logs used in erecting breastworks, dug through Mt. Spring Church Cemetery.
Log house and land sold to the church by Bryant Balkcom for $45.6212. Second house, frame building stood until 1895. Third church building erected in fall of 1895. Dedicated in 1895.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Mountain Springs Primitive Baptist Church was constituted May 24, 1838 upon old line Primitive principles, practices, be- liefs and Bible doctrine by the constituting presbytery.
Elders : Adam Jones, Absalom Black and Lumpkin Vandiver. Elder Vandiver was chosen as the church's first pastor and D. Duncan as the first clerk.
The following six persons went into the constitution of the church, Ichabod Balcom, Nancy Balcom, Daniel Duncan, Hinton Duncan, Lucinda Duncan, and John Balcom. These persons forming the church held their first conference June 2, 1838.
Seventeen members joined the church the first year. The first to unite by experience were Matthew Mills, Henry Balcom, Lucy Balcom, Nancy Balcom, Lucy Duncan, Rebecca Taylor and Eliza, a black woman belonging to H. Duncan.
The church since organized has received about two hundred members, some by Baptism, letter, confession of faith and restor- ation. In maintaining church order she has had to exclude some members upon the charges of denying the faith, joining secret orders, drunkenness, profanity, concealing stolen money, adul- tery, non-attendance, and one for fiddling for dances.
Six negroes united with Mt. Springs Church prior to 1867. Three ministers joining the Church by letter were Elder Hudson Temples in 1867, Elder Wm. Denning 1875 and Elder A. W. Patterson 1882.
Four men have come into the church and were ordained. Abraham Stevens, 1842; W. O. Meeks, 1915; J. M. Davison, 1923 and Chas F. Wells, 1934.
Sixteen pastors have served the church. Elder Lumpkin Van- dever from 1838-1843 ; Elder Denning, 1843-1845 ; Elder Coop- er, 1845-1848; J. M. Fields, 1848-1850; Elder Nowell, 1850- 1856; W. F. Rogers, 1856-1866; Hudson Temples, 1866-1875; J. H. Keel, 1875-1882; A. W. Patterson, 1882-1887; J. N. Nobles, 1887-1904; W. W. Howell 1904 -; J. T. Reynolds, 1904-1923; J. W. Davidson, 1923-1924; C. M. Greene, 1924- 1932; J. L. Allen, 1932-1936; Chas. F. Wells, 1936 -.
There have been 16 clerks for the church. W. F. Souther be- ing the present clerk (1938).
Mountain Springs Church is located about 12 miles south of
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Juliette Baptist Church, 1898 Bradley Baptist Church, 1891 New Hope Prim. Baptist (Caney Creek), 1813
... ...
Sardis Congregational Church, 1839 Methodist Mt. Zion Prim. Baptist (Pine Ridge), about 1840 Bethlehem Baptist Church, 1884
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Gray near the Jones and Wilkinson county lines. Three church buildings have housed the congregations since the organization.
NEW SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH AND FLAT SHOALS BAPTIST CHURCH
Organized July 6, 1838, no previous buildings.
1840 : slave annex 1860, torn off 1896.
Jesse H. Campbell : served 1840-1846; Mr. Campbell was fortunate in being educated until his 18th year chiefly at Sun- bury, Liberty County, by Rev. James Shannon who subsequently filled in our state University the chair of Ancient Language. Later Mr. Campbell had a short course at the Georgia State University. His theological study was under Rev. A. Sherwood, D.D .; Eatonton, Ga. He was ordained at Sunbury, 1830. Preach- ed in Macon 1831. Settled next in Jones County, Clinton, Ga., where he 'resided eleven years preaching in the village and the surrounding county.
Present Pastor, G. L. Mosely, Macon, Georgia.
Three volumes, no title on volume 1839-1870; size 12"x8"x 1"; 125 pages. No title on volume 1915, size 12"x8"x1", 300 pages, all are handwritten. Contents include articles of faith, Gospel Order, By-Laws, Order of Business, Church Member- ship roll, list of dead and proceedings of Church Conferences.
Volume 1839-1870 found in home of Mrs. Frank Jones, Clin- ton, Ga. will be placed in the fire proof Hardman Library, Mer- cer University for safekeeping.
No minutes are found from April 1870-1896. The book cov- ering those years has been misplaced or destroyed. A skip occurs in volume 1915. No recordings made between 1822-1833. Rea- son unknown.
Two volumes 1897-1915; 1915-, are in home of clerk of Church. Flat Shoals a pioneer Primitive Baptist Church was or- ganized in Jones County, Georgia between 1809-1814. This early church was located on the east bank of Commissioners Creek, near the old woolen mill site. A deed to two and eight- tenths acres of land adjacent to the meeting house and spring
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
was made by Abner Davis to The Flat Shoals Church April 2, 1814. Edmund Talbot and Ichabod Cox were witnesses to the deed.
About 1834 a great missionary movement swept the county and soon thereafter a split occurred in the Flat Shoals Church which resulted in the organization of Salem Missionary Baptist. It was on a Saturday, July 6, 1839 at a meeting held in home of Peter Northern, that several persons presented letters of dis- mission from Flat Shoals and expressed a desire to covenant to- gether to keep house for God. These persons were Peter North- ern, Lee Duncan, C. C. Gibbs, Louiza M. Northern, Susan Sharp, Matilda Chambliss, Louisa A. Bivins, Lorane M. North- ern and Sarah A. M. Northern.
Articles of faith being presented and read, they were declared orthodox by the brethren and ministers present. Prayer was offered by Brother Austin Ellis and this little band was consti- tuted a Church of Jesus Christ. The ministers present at the organization were Jesse H. Campbell of Clinton, Ga .; Austin Ellis, Bibb County, Ga. and Thomas B. Slade of Vineville, Ma- con, Ga.
Three acres of land were donated by Peter Northern, pro- nounced Baptist. (Mr. Northern is father of Wm. J. Northern, at one time Governor of Georgia.) Mr. Northern had also been a member of the Flat Shoals Church, having been baptized in 1821 by Rev. Edmund Talbot, who was probably Flat Shoals first settled minister.
A simple frame house was erected and named Salem; build- ing committee consisted of Peter Northern, L. L. Smith, Theo- dosius F. Turk. By the spring of 1840 the church building was ready for occupancy. Rev. Jesse H. Campbell was called as pas- tor and Salem the first Missionary Baptist Church in Jones County, became firmly established.
Membership and church attendance increased. An annex was added to the building of 1860. This was used by the negro slave members until a letter of dismission was granted to the colored portion of the church in 1869 for the purpose of forming a sep- arate and independent organization. A privilege was given the
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
negroes to continue using the building as a place of worship until their house could be completed.
In 1878 a controversy involving church affairs took place and at a conference held on May 4, 1878 the church was declared dissolved. Immediately following this conference, about one-half of the members desired to reorganize and on June 14, 1879, the church was reconstituted. On April 23, 1880 the church was in- corporated by the Superior Court of Jones County under the name and style of New Salem.
In 1893 Benjamin Finney, a friend of the church gave to New Salem an adjoining tract of land containing one hunderd and ten acres. The income from this land is used for the support and maintenance of the minister of said church.
Some improvements were made on the church building in 1896. The old slave annex was removed, the house covered and painted for the first time.
In 1844 and again in 1874 Salem entertained the Central Association. Large gatherings of prominent men were present on these occasions.
Davis Duncan, in 1850; Washington Smith, 1860 were or- dained in Salem Church.
The church granted J. E. Sharp, 1846 a license to preach. He served as a co-worker with Rev. Jesse H. Campbell in domestic missions.
Benjamin Beck was licensed by Salem in 1865.
The first mention of a Sunday School was in 1869.
In the dark days of The War Between the States, Salem was not forgetful of her country and soldiers. In 1863 she passed resolutions to have a weekly prayer meeting to pray for the cause of the country and soldiers in the army, and to observe the Fast and Thanksgiving days appointed by the Government and attended the church services.
New Salem is three miles south of Haddock and ten miles southeast of Gray.
A church cemetery is nearby and in it are buried several Con- federate soldiers.
Some of the leading and outstanding members of the church from the organization in 1839 are :
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Peter Northern, Lee Duncan, Davis Duncan, L. L. Smith, J. P. Hillyer, George Souther, B. M. Sims, Benjamin Beck, T. S. Bagley, E. K. Grisby, Jno. Pettigrew, Wm. O. Batson, J. H. C. Ethridge, J. C. Bivins, J. W. Bloodworth, G. W. Roberts, J. J. Pettigrew, G. W. Ethridge, J. M. Bloodworth.
Pastors-Jesse H. Campbell, 1840-1842; J. F. Hillyer, 1843; Edmund Brantley, 1844-1845; Austin Ellis, 1847-1848; Jno. H. Clark, 1849-1853; A. Winchell, 1854-1855; John H. White, 1856; A. E. Cloud, 1857-1859; A. J. Freedman, 1860-1861; L. W. Smith, 1862-1866; A. J. Freeman, 1867; F. M. Hay- good, 1868; J. A. Morris, 1869; Greenberry Heighes, 1870; J. A. Shivers, 1870-1874 ; M. B. Binion, 1875-1878 ; J. H. Allen, 1879-1880; Rev. Hurt (date unknown) ; W. C. Felts, 1885- 1890; G. W. Tharp, 1890-1891; W. C. Felts, 1892-1894; E. W. Sammons, 1895 - June 1905; W. C. Ivey, Nov. 1905-1906; R. M. Rigdon, 1907-1909; P. F. Davis, 1910; W. D. Demell, 1911; J. T. Pettigrew, 1912-1916; J. E. Farmer, 1917-1918; J. L. Pittman, 1919; J. T. Pettigrew, 1920; O. H. Harrison, 1927; R. W. Valentine, 1928-1931.
No record from 1920-1933; J. L. Reeves, 1932-1936; P. P. Moseley, 1937-1938.
MOUNT ZION (PINE RIDGE CHURCH)
A breach in the Elam Baptist Church of Jones County, over the interest of foreign missionary activities resulted in the or- ganization of what is known as the Mount Zion Primitive Bap- tist Church. This discord must have occurred prior to 1846, for it is of that year that records show Mount Zion as a member of the Ocmulgee Association. The association records for the years of 1846-1853 show the names of Hearndon Patterson, Gillis Wright, Mose Stripling, Wiley Patterson and Caswell Had- dock, as Church messengers.
Other pioneer members were : Mrs. James Finney, Mrs. A. J. Turner, Tabithy Jolly, A. J. Middlebrooks, Susan Barnes, Kittie Juhan, Early Batchelor, Moses Wilson, and the Taylor Morris family.
An early church roll shows the names of two negro members, Cyrus Brown and Jackson Clark. Cyrus was a slave of Robert
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Brown of Fortville community, afterwards becoming the prop- erty of a Mrs. Cox. He was a good blacksmith, a reliable and faithful negro. He always attended the meetings of Mount Zion Church, taking his seat in the place reserved for negroes. He lived many years after freedom and remained a faithful member of this church until he died.
Rev. Jimmie Stewart of Jasper County was an early pastor. Others who filled the pulpit on many occasions were David Hitchcock of Putnam County, John Fields of Bibb, Dick Bassett of Houston and William Denning of Jones.
In 1865 Mount Zion called the ordination of J. H. Gresham, and for the succeeding 44 years, this man served as pastor. B. F. Williamson was pastor for 1921-1925; Elder P. H. Byrd was called as pastor in 1926, and has faithfully served the church for thirteen years.
Some of the Church Clerks have been: Early Bachelor, 1885-1886; A. J. Middlebrooks, 1887-1888 ; C. W. Bragg, 1906- 1911; J. R. Childs, 1912-1913, 1922-1924; W. W. James, 1914- 1921; B. M. Green, 1925 to Aug. 1938; Dec. 1938 -; G. W. Childs, Aug. 1938 to Dec. 1938. The present clerk is B. M. Green, Gray, Georgia.
The church lot consists of 5.9 acres. No record is found show- ing from whom a portion of this lot was secured. Two and a half acres of this tract was given Oct. 19, 1884, by J. T. Finney to the Church trustees, A. J. Middlebrooks, M. P. Wilson and Early Bachelor.
On this original location has stood two church buildings. The first was built of heavy log timbers, well and strongly put to- gether. It had no ceiling; a large high box pulpit was built a little to one side of the center of the building, with benches placed in rows in front and on the sides for whites, and in the rear for the negroes. The benches were plain with backs to them. The women usually sat on one side and the men on the other. This old log building was replaced by a large frame meeting house type building of good dimensions and workmanship.
Of great importance in the church have been the associations and general meetings held there. Able ministers filled the pulpit on these occasions. When the association held there in 1862,
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Elder J. H. Montgomery was Moderator, H. Patterson, clerk; 1878, 1888, 1900, Elder D. L. Hitchcock, Moderator; D. G. McCowen, clerk; 1910, 1918, Elder J. H. Gresham, Moderator and J. W. Newton, clerk; other dates include 1926 and 1935.
An old newspaper article describes in part these pioneer gath- erings giving a true picture of a rural church gathering in the long ago. The general meetings and associations lasted through Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The work of the association was transacted on the first two days, but a sermon was preached in the forenoon and sometimes two in the afternoon. Singing hymns was indulged in during each service. At noon a recess was taken and everyone on the grounds had dinner. These dinners were immense affairs, and was usually carried in baskets to the church grounds by those who lived nearby, and plenty was carried for all. Each one vied with the other in seeking for and inviting to dinner all who came. None went away hungry, servants as well as masters were feasted and an abundance left. These were great dinners, barbecued pig, mutton, beef, chicken pies, fried chicken, corn bread, light bread, cakes of different kinds, custards, pies, preserves, milk, butter and pickles, all cooked and prepared as only such southern housewives and their servants of this time could cook.
Here came the rich planter with his family in his carriage, the . more moderate farmer in his buggy, the poorer ones in their ox carts, and wagons, and even some afoot. Young men usually came on horseback, accompanied by their best girl, likewise on horseback. They came and came until the woods around the church seemed to be literally alive with horses and mules.
The singing was indulged in by all the congregation, with all manner of voices-from the deep bass of the men to the shrill tenor of Sister Jolly.
A 1938 gathering is much the same except motor vehicles have replaced the mode of travel of former days, and the old forest surrounding the church has been cleared away.
The 1846 record shows the church had a membership of 32; the 1938 roll includes a membership of 21 men and 39 women.
Mountain Springs (old church burned), 1838 Hardy's Chapel Union Hill Baptist Church
Haddock Baptist Church, 1907 Haddock-Fortville Meth., 1832 Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist, 1809
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
This church is located three miles east of Gray on the high hill locally called "Pine Ridge" and from the location the church is perhaps better known by the name of Pine Ridge.
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