USA > Kentucky > Jessamine County > A history of Jessamine County, Kentucky, from its earliest settlement to 1898 > Part 14
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The Methodist church adjoins Asbury College. It is also a commodious and handsome building. Its history and work is almost coexistent with that of Asbury, and much that has been said of the college in a former paragraph, applies also to the church. It was founded fifteen years ago, and is the oldest and also the largest congregation in Wilmore, with a membership of 225. This church is also in connection with Asbury College,
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noted for its evangelistic work and spreads its influence through and beyond the state. The Rev. E. S. Savage, who has lately succeeded Rev. J. A. Sawyer, is the regular pastor, whose hands are worthily upheld by his congregation.
The Christian church, though the youngest (founded in 1888), is second in membership, having 150 communicants. The church has probably the handsomest interior of all. Rev. Mr. Robinson, lately appointed minister, is popular with his congregation.
A colored church, with forty members, completes the list of houses of worship in the town, though two miles east is the thriv- ing and steady Mt. Freedom Baptist church. It is the oldest of the churches in the immediate neighborhood and numbers its members a generation back.
With a well-conducted public school of seventy-five pupils, in a new and commodious schoolhouse: with handsome, modern dwellings,, and with social and educational advantages unex- celled anywhere in the state, it is not necessary to "boom" Wil- more, as a desirable place to reside or do business in, and we can, therefore, rest on the statement on which the Declaration of In- dependence was founded: "Let facts be submitted to a candi 1 world."
Church Land.
Judge Tucker Woodson's place was for a long time known as "Church Land," and the origin of the name was interesting. An English gentleman of finished education and culture, of scientific tastes and talents, was a guest at Chaumiere, and be- came in time almost a part of the household. His name was Church. He had been with Robert Fulton experimenting with steam, and came from Pittsburgh down the Ohio river to Maysville on the first steamboat that ever ran on the river. From Maysville he came to Lexington, and thence to Maysville, and made many experiments in his endeavors to perfect this wonderful invention and its application to the movement of vessels. He finally returned to England, married and brought his wife to Jessamine county to be near Colonel Meade and family. He was a man of independent means and built a quaint English
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cottage on the Woodson estate in the place now occupied by Mr. Jesse Bryan and lived there some years, and from this circum- stance the place was always called Church Land. After some years Mr. Church removed to Lexington and died there.
Camp Nelson.
Camp Nelson has become quite an important village in the last few years. It is at the mouth of Hickman creek, near the wooden bridge, that spans the Kentucky river, on the line of the Lexington and Danville turnpike. It was established in 1863, and was the principal point for the concentration of Federal forces and munitions of war on the line of the Cumberland river. It was named in honor of Gen. William Nelson, who was born in Mason county, was a distinguished soldier, and was killed in Louisville by Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, whom he had grossly insulted.
It remained a military camp until the close of the war, and has a fortified circumference of about ten miles formed, in large part, by the high hills and cliffs of the Kentucky river, and partly by breastworks thrown up, that yet remain. On the land has been established a United States military cemetery, in which are in- terred over 5,000 Federal soldiers. The population of the village is, at this time, about 200, mostly colored people, who have set- tled on the cliffs and hills near the Kentucky river.
Ariel College is located at Camp Nelson. This is an institu- tion for the education of colored men and women. It is officered by white teachers, and has been the source of great good and help to the colored people.
Rev. John C. Randolph was the first native Kentuckian who enlisted negro soldiers in Jessamine county. A copy of the fol- lowing letter written by him to Gen. Burbridge is interesting, historically :
Nicholasville, Ky., June 9, 1864.
Gen. S. G. Burbridge,
Commander, Department of Kentucky:
Sir-There is a slave in the county jail here, confined for no civil crime, but because his master feared he would run off. The boy has told me he wishes to volunteer as a soldier. Have
1.
COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky
I the right to take him from the county jail and let him come into the army in the state? Most respectfully,
J. C. RANDOLPH. Deputy Marshal and Superintendent of Colored Enlistment at Camp Nelson.
Another letter written about this time from Nicholasville will prove interesting. It was sent to the postmaster at Keene, and is as follows :
Office Provost Marshal, Nicholasville, Ky .. July 18. 1863.
To the Postmaster of Keene, Ky .:
I am informed that the Cincinnati Enquirer is distributed at your office. Military authorities forbid its circulation at your office. You will stop it at once, or you will be arrested by the military authorities.
JOHN PENDLETON, Captain and Provost Marshal.
Keene.
This village is about six miles northwest from Nicholasville. on the Versailles turnpike. It was laid out in 1813 and called North Liberty, but its name was changed to "Keene," in 1848. through the influence of Thomas Jones, a hatter, who came and settled in the village about the year 1845. His native town in New Hampshire was Keene, and through his influence North Liberty was blotted out, and Keene was established. About the time of the change of the name, in boring for a well a fine stream of sulphur water was found. In those days, sulphur water, wherever found, was supposed to have valuable medicinal prop- erties, and, during the prevalence of cholera, in Lexington, about this time, a large number of people came to Keene and lived dur- ing the panic, occasioned by this disease in Lexington and sur- rounding towns. Keene had several stores and a very nice hotel : and its stores do a first-class local business. It is within sight of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist church.
The neighborhood surrounding Keene was settled by some of the best men who in early times came to Jessamine county.
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History of Jessamine County Kentucky.
There is an old stone-mill at Keene, which was built in 1794. In the last few years it has fallen into decay. This mill was provided with a combination of horse and water power, and was erected by Manoah Singleton.
The Singletons were among the best people who came to Jessamine, and were good farmers and enterprising men, and they built this stone mill, which was a fine structure in its day. It has been operated until within the last twenty years. It relied for its water power upon a large spring, which was located about a mile and a half away, upon a place formerly owned by Mr. Robert Young, and sold by him to Mr. Andrew Hampton. This spring rises up in the valley, and runs down into a large cave, which was a habitation for the Indians before the advent of the white man in this section of Kentucky. This spring reappears some distance from Keene, and this and the water that flowed from other small streams in the neighborhood, supplied the power for the opera- tion of the mill at Keene.
In the early days, when steam was unknown, mill-sites were very valuable. When the hunters and pioneers first came to Kentucky, in crossing streams they would mark mill-sites, and in their notes state that at such and such a place was a good mill- site, and the lands that were contiguous to such sites were always considered of great value, and were promptly taken up by the settlers, or by their representatives.
Surveyors in these days would laugh at the preservation of the water and its use in the operation of these mills, but in the days of our forefathers, it was either water power or horse power, and horse power was extremely slow and ineffectual, and, as it sometimes required a mill-race to run a mile and a half to get the proper fall, opportunities were promptly and energetically seized wherever a proper fall of water could be secured by dams to operate these country mills.
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
One of the oldest churches in Jessamine county is Mt. Pleas- ant Baptist church, near Keene. It is located in a fine neighbor- hood, in the midst of rich lands, which were settled about 1790
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
by some of the most enterprising and best-educated people who came to Jessamine county at that period of its history. From time to time there had been preaching in this locality by the Bap- tists who were connected with the South Elkhorn church, which was over the Fayette line, but in 1801 at the request of one hun- dred members of the South Elkhorn church who were living in the neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant, application was made to or- ganize a new congregation, and Rev. John Shackleford, Absalom Bainbridge, and John Kellar were authorized to investigate and constitute a church at this point. The South Elkhorn church still exists, but is not so prosperous as its daughter, Mt. Pleasant.
The rules of the church which were adopted at this time were very peculiar, and were headed, "Rules of the Church While Sit- ting on Business":
Ist. It is agreed that no motion be attended to without the person making such motion addresses the Moderator standing, and this proposition be seconded.
2nd. That no member speak while the church is on business except to the Moderator, and then in a mild and Christian man- ner.
3rd. That no member speak in church meeting to the same matter more than twice without leave of the Moderator.
4th. That no member leave his seat in time of business.
5th. The Moderator shall call to order, whenever these rules are violated. Any member called to order has a right to a voice of the church, if he chooses.
Among the first members were the Williamses, the Woods, the Hugheses, the Smiths, the Singletons, the Haydons, the Hamptons, the Sales, the Mosbys, the Barclays, the Holloways and the Proctors.
From its commencement Mt. Pleasant has always been one of the most prosperous of the Baptist churches in the Bluegrass section. The neighborhood, settled by Baptists, has been domi- nated and controlled by Baptists from the time of the organization of this church down to the present. It is an evidence of the per- sistence of the religious denomination in any community where once fairly planted.
The first pastor was Rev. George Stokes Smith. He was a man of strong individuality, great talent, and was a member of
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
the convention which framed the Constitution of 1792, and represented Fayette county in that body. He was prominent and influential, and was pastor of the church from 1803 down to 1810. In that year Edmund Waller, a nephew of Rev. G. S. Smith, was called as pastor of the church, and remained with it until June, 1843. He was a man of great power, great earnestness, and great consecration, and built up a very large congregation. The church book shows that the deacons in memory of Mr. Waller draped the pulpit in mourning for him who had been the true and faithful pastor of the church for thirty-two years, and the first Sabbath of July in that year was directed to be set apart as a day of fasting and prayer. Edmund Waller, who was the father of John L. Waller, was born at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., in 1775. He was the son of Wm. E. Waller and brother of Wm. Smith Waller, the Lexington banker. His mother was a sister of George Stokes Smith.
He was buried a few miles from Mt. Pleasant in one direction, while his uncle Smith is buried three miles south. He served the church longer than any other pastor. The church has had twen- ty-one pastors, the minister being the Rev. E. W. Argabrite, and under his ministration the church bids fair to have many years of continued usefulness.
Nicholasville Presbyterian Church.
The Nicholasville Presbyterian church was organized June 12, 1820, by Rev. John Lyle. Alex. McFeeters, Samuel Rice and James Ewing were chosen the Elders. Previous to this the Presbyterian preaching place had been established about one and a half miles from Nicholasville on the farm of Samuel McDowell, which is now owned by his son, William McDowell.
The first member to connect herself with the church was Mrs. Jane Meaux. She was always one of its most faithful and liberal supporters. She donated to the church the ground on which the present church cdifice and parsonage are situated. Rev. John F. Coons supplied the church from 1839 to 1852.
The first church was erected when Rev. John Hudson was pastor. It was on the corner diagonally opposite the Jessamine Female Institute, occupied quite a large space, and had in con-
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
nection with it, a burying-ground. The building was completed in 1825, but not dedicated until October 7, 1827. At this time a protracted meeting was held, and the church received a great out-pouring, and more than sixty persons were added to the men- bership.
This church has sent into the ministry an unusually large number of men, among whom may be mentioned Rev. John T. Hendrick, Rev. Wm. G. Rice, Rev. Charles Sturtevant, Rev. M. B. Price, Rev. Thomas R. Welch, D. D., Rev. Daniel P. Young, Rev. Chas. W. Price, Rev. J. E. Spilman, Rev. Robert Mann and Rev. Jas. Priest, who was a slave of Mrs. Meaux, and who, after his emigration to ยท Liberia, was vice-president of that republic. having gone there as a missionary.
The present church building was dedicated on the 3rd of January, 1851, by Rev. R. J. Breckinridge, D. D. The present pastor is Rev. R. E. Douglass. The gentlemen who have served as its elders have been among the most prominent citizens of Jessamine during the past seventy-five years, in addition to those already named, Ephraim Tanner, Dr. Archibald Young, Maj. Daniel B. Price, Reuben B. Berry, Wm. H. Rainey, Oliver Anderson. Jas. Clement, Jas. McKee. John L. Price, Otho Rob- erts, Thos. E. West. Jas. Anderson, Wm. S. Scott, Chas. F. Smith, John A. Scroggan, Wm. M. Todd, Robt. Young, John A. Willis. Wm. Clark, W. D. Young, Harvey Scott, W. G. Woods, S. D. Young, A. N. Gordon, Thomas Butler and John Steele.
Maj. D. B. Price was Clerk of the Session for thirty-two years, while John A. Willis has acted in the same capacity for thirty- eight years.
This church is regarded as one of the most liberal of the Presbyterian churches in Kentucky. Its donations to Center College, Central University, Danville Theological Seminary, and to all the causes of the church have been extremely generous, and give the church a high standing among all Presbyterians. This church is the mother of the church at Wilmore, the church there having been supported and maintained by the Nicholasville church until it became self-supporting.
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COLORED CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Clear Creek Presbyterian Church.
One of the most interesting of the ancient structures in Jessa- mine county, is Clear Creek Presbyterian church. It was erected about 1829, and was organized by Rev. Nathan H. Hall. Among the names of the founders are those of Dr. Archibald Young, James Carrothers, Ephraim Carter, David McKee, and Archi- bald Logan. This old church is about a mile and a half from Wilmore on the Nicholasville turnpike. It was abandoned some years since, and sold to the colored people, who now use it as a house of worship. At one time it was a very important congregation, and a large and prosperous church. Its first pastor was Rev. Simeon H. Crane, who served the church for one-third of his time for $150 per annum.
It was built entirely of stone, and the old seats and floors and pulpit are still intact.
In a little cemetery across the road sleeps the dust of many pious members, whose faith found expression in song and prayer in this old church.
St. Luke's Catholic Church.
The only Catholic church in Jessamine county is that of St. Luke, in Nicholasville, Ky. It was erected in 1866 on ground decded for that purpose by Moreau Brown. It was dedicated to the service of God in 1866 by Rev. Father Willie, and in this the Centennial year of Nicholasville. has 156 members.
Bethany Christian Church.
One of the most interesting churches in Jessamine county is Bethany Christian church. It was organized on the first of Feb- ruary, 1845. through the ministration of Jacob Creath, Samuel J. Pinkerton and James Simms. For a long time it was one of the most prosperous and successful of the churches of that de- nomination in the county, but has recently been reduced. It had such members as Dr. James J. Burch, Sammel Muir, George S. Bryant, Benjamin Robinson, Dr. John Bryant, William H.
13
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky
Daniel, Benj. J. Mitchell, and other responsible and prominent citizens.
The Northern Methodist Church
Was erected in Nicholasville in 1875. It is one of the hand- some church edifices of the town, and was built almost altogether through the efforts of Moreau Brown, Esq., who was so long a resident of Nicholasville, and one of its most successful and prominent members, and who died in 1886.
The present pastor of this church is the Rev. V. T. Willis.
The Nicholasville Christian Church
Was organized in the spring of 1828 by Elder George W. Elley. Mr. Elley had a religious debate with George W. Sturtivant, a young Presbyterian minister and was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Nicholasville in 1826, removing from there to Lexington in 1829, where for 20 years he was engaged in bus- iness and was a leading member of the Christian church.
The records of this church have been burned, and it is im- possible to get all the data concerning its organization. Elder Jacob Creath, in a letter written some years ago, says: "Brother Campbell and myself went to Kentucky from Guyandotte, Western Virginia, which was in 1828. In January, 1829, I was invited by my deceased uncle, J. E. Creath, Sr., to hold a meeting in Nicholasville with Brother William Morton. We held the meeting in the Presbyterian meeting house which was located in the west end of the town. During the meeting it rained very hard all day. I preached from John xx, 30 and 31. 'Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not writ- ten in this book.'"
The first church building of this congregation was erected in 1830. William Shreve and John Wallace were chosen elders and James Simms and James Sale deacons. William White, James Simms and Moses Hawkins were long leading and faithful members of the church. The present handsome edifice was erected in 1874 and is one of the most comfortable and convenient church structures in the city. The congregation has a numerous mem- bership and has a most influential position in the county.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
First Baptist Church.
This church was organized on the Ioth of February, 1849, by a commission composed of Rev. R. T. Dillard, Joseph R. Bar- bee and E. Darnaby. There were only seventeen members then present. Stephen P. Waller was chosen clerk and Jonathan Baker and E. A. Waller were chosen the first deacons. Its first pastor was Rev. Thomas J. Drane. It has had a line of distinguished ministers through the fifty years of its existence, and, while not a very large congregation, has always been an extremely faithful and earnest one. The present pastor is Rev. William D. Now- lin. The edifice in which the congregation worships was built in the year 1852.
Ebenezer Church.
Ebenezer Presbyterian church was organized by the Rev. Adam Rankin, somewhere between 1785 and 1790. He came to Kentucky from Virginia in October, 1784. This church is on Clear creek close to the town of Troy. Change of roads and lines of travel have rendered the location unsuitable. The first church was built of logs, and the stone church, which was abandoned in 1876, was begun in 1805, and was used continuously for nearly a century by the descendants of the people who or- ganized this congregation Among the first members were Wm. Evans and wife, Thos. Woods and wife, Wm. Garrard and wife, Robt. Gwin and wife, Ephraim Tanner and wife, Thos. Read and wife, Robt. Black and wife, Jas. Black and wife, Hugh Garrett. Robt. Lowrey. Mrs. Nancy Drake, and the Lambkins, Beattys, Longs, Scanlands. Reamers, Hedges, Phillipses and Logans.
The descendants of many of these godly people remain in the neighborhood and still support the church of their fathers. One of the most useful and honored of all the ministers of Ebenezer church was Rev. Neal Gordon, who came from Georgia and sup- plied the church for thirty years. He was a most zealous and self-denying servant of Christ. His grave is close by the door of the old stone church. In this old building are the straight benches and the white painted pulpit which were used for more than fifty years. Around its deserted walls rests the dust of its
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
faithful supporters for one hundred years ; in silence and solitude these graves still speak of the faithfulness and consecration of the people of this church.
The members of the Ebenezer and the Clear Creek churches united in 1870 and formed the Troy Presbyterian church, and while Troy church is just over the Woodford line, quite a large proportion of its membership resides in Jessamine. Rev. E. O. Guerrant, D. D., was called as pastor of the Troy church in 1886. He infused new life and energy into the organization. He has since resigned the pastorate and taken charge of the church at Wilmore, which by a large increase in membership demands the whole time of the pastor.
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The first church building erected in Nicholasville was by the members of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1799. The frame church which stood on the same lot some twenty steps from the present fine building was erected through the labors of the Rev. John Metcalf and the Rev. Nathaniel Harris. The house was 56 x 36 and had a room for the colored people 30 x 15.
One of the ablest ministers who preached in this church was the Rev. Chas. Watson; he was a successful and distinguished evangelist. Oftentimes at meetings he took occasion to show his brethren his ordination certificate which bore the autograph of Bishop Asbury. These were considered most valuable me- mentoes among the early Methodist people.
Bishop Asbury laid the foundation of the Methodist church in America, and his piety, learning and consecration did much to widely spread the doctrines of this denomination. The house was dedicated by the Rev. Charles Chenowerth.
The following letter conveyed the invitation :
Jessamine county, Kentucky, Sept. 9. 1799.
Rev. Charles Chenowerth :
Dear Brother: Our meeting house is completed, and I in- vite you to be with us the second Sunday in October to preach the first sermon in the new house. I have written several others
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
to assist in holding the revival, and am still living on the bank of the Kentucky river, and preach every Sunday.
Yours truly, JOHN METCALF.
To which the following response was written :
Near Harrodsburg, Ky., Sept. 26, 1799.
Dear Bro. Metcalf: I was handed your letter to-day by Bro. Rule, and will inform you that I will come if no unforeseen occasion prevents me from doing so.
Truly yours in the Gospel of Peace. CHAS. CHENOWERTH.
Rev. John Metcalf was the first minister. He had preached in Nicholasville for years before the erection of the church build- ing. His preaching was often at the house of Elijah Wallace who then lived where Judge Phillips now resides.
In 1789 Rev. Thomas Williamson succeeded Mr. Metcalf, but Mr. Metcalf returned in 1804. In 1805 Mr. Metcalf moved his family to Nicholasville, as also Bethel Academy, which was then carried on, on the banks of the Kentucky river.
In 1821 the distinguished Methodist, H. H. Kavanaugh, after- ward bishop, filled the pulpit. In 1846 the old frame church was torn down after standing forty-six years, and a new brick house was erected, and a few years since the present beautiful and elegant structure was erected on the same ground. Rev. T. W. Watts is the minister now in charge. The congregation has al- ways been considered one full of faith and good works, and has done efficient service for the cause of God.
In 1843, there was a great revival in the Methodist church at Nicholasville, which was under the conduct of Rev. Rice Harris. The following preachers were in attendance: Jonathan Stamp- ers, Benjamin Crouch, Richard Deering, Charles Watson, B. H. McCown, Thos. N. Rawlston, Rev. Mr. Kelly.
The following letter written by David Crozer, who was the owner of and was operating Crozer's Mill on Jessamine creek, to the Hon. Tucker Woodson, gives an account of this meeting :
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