USA > North Carolina > Alexander County > A history of beginning and conduct of ye Baptist people, of Jesus Christ, of Alexander County, North Carolina > Part 3
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No record yet of Mundays or Teagues, or that of Mt. Gillead.
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Antioch
1826
On July 29, 1826, a presbytery consisting of Elders: William Dotson (now 89 years old), William Hines- John Swaim and Alexander West. And deacons2 Richard Wallace and William Dotson, Jr.> consti- tuted a Baptist church of 13 members, they called themselves Antioch.
Elder William Dotson was the first pastor and Benjamin Austin was the first clerk.
The land was given by Nathan Austin. A deacon. The first building was of hewn logs. The next building was of frame construction, and about 1872 a 30 by 100 ft arbor was built. They now have a fine brick stone building.
Antioch Baptist Church can almost date its origin as of June 7, 1797., for on this date a church was organized nearby, and known as Teague's or Mundy's, it disintergrated about 1825, and several of the members were included in Antioch in 1826. The clerk Benjamin Austin was a deacon in the old church. Nathan Austin was a deacon in the old church.
Some of the people in this old church and new as well, were from Orange County. 4
1. Elder William Hines and Richard Wallace were from old Mt. Gillead Church or the organization which preceded it.
2. If the arrangement of Elders and deacons is in error it is because of lack of clearness and completeness of information at hand.
3. Elder William Dotson was from Bethel Church. And Elder Swaim from Little River.
4. See White's History of Alexander County, also minutes of Alexander Association for 1926.
Elders Smith Ferguson, Benjamin Beach, Alexander West and others went to Lower Creek and organized the Church there in 1826 also. Alexander West was only a deacon.
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A description of some of the conditions of these times is given by Dr. Green as follows:
There were regular places of meeting, usually small log houses with rough floors and wide cracks in the walls. In winter these houses were so uncomfortable that many meetings were missed. But these
monthly meeting for worship. brethren and sisters, were not to be thus deprived of their · Often their meetings for worship were held at private houses. Here they not only had meetings for worship and the preaching of the word, but often meetings to recieve members and discipline offenders. There were many who lived far from the house of worship, and for the benefit of such they often held neighborhood meetings, especially at night. Revivals broke out and lasted for weeks. After holding daily meetings at the Church for a week or two, they would hold night meetings at the houses of the brethren and the good work would go on for many days. The ministers of those days were full of missionary zeal and dilli- gent in labors. They went on long preaching tours, preaching from Church to Church and from neighborhood to neighborhood. Even thus early there were volunteer workers. Often they went into destitute neighborhoods and held meetings for several days.1
Smith Ferguson was sent for to visit a sick woman on Lewis Fork in Wilkes. That night the neighbors came in to hear him preach. In all the crowd assembled there was no professor of religion save the sick woman, and she was not a member of a Church. The preacher stood by the bed and preached the way of salvation through JESUS. When he was closing he invited any who wished to be prayed for to draw near, and almost the whole congregation bowed around the preacher and the sick woman. The work begun that night resulted in the organization of New Hope Church. 2
The Ministers of those days travelled far over merely trails on foot and horseback, and often started a day or two ahead of time in order to reach their appointment on time.
1. See Green's Historical Papers, Vol. 3, page 69, 70.
2. The date given of the organization of this Church is 1830. Elder Ferguson had been a Minister for 5 years at this time.
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BETHEL
1816
The early records are lost. The first is of 1816. It appears that S. P. Smith was the first clerk, Elders William Garner, J. Watts and J. G. Bryan are among the early pastors.
It is located northeast of Taylorsville, N. C., has a record of long useful life. Has had at least three buildings and a large arbor for summer evangelistic services. They now have a nice new brick building. This Church was a charter member of Briar Creek Association in 1822.
Big Spring-Pilgrim April 1837
Bethel Church, in October 1836 granted letters to those desiring to consitute the new Church, on the first Saturday in April 1837, so far as records are available the following with others formed Big Spring Church: John Redman, Howell Barker, Ephriam Cook, Richard Hendren, Samuel Culler, Richard Davidson, Anna Brack, Anna Finger, Edward Chaffin, Robert G. Martin, Jonathan Mchargue. Edward Chaffin was an Elder and was both pastor and clerk at first.
It was located at first a short distance north east of the present location and was called Big Spring- untill 1840 when the name was changed to Pilgrim and the location changed.
They now have a new brick building.
The sons of temperance movement brought trouble here too for in 1852 the following were excluded over this: Mr. and Mrs. John H. Green, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Williams, G. W. Rowe, Abner Chenault, Richard Davidson, Arena George, Mary Redman, Caroline Howell, Sarah Campbell, Elizabeth Redman and others. This Church is located in the extreme northeastern part of Alexander County.
1. Big Spring Church reported 40 members in September 1837.
In the early days of old Bethel Church there were erected small one room cabins around about the Church and people would come from afar and stay for the days of protracted or big meeting in camp like style during the summer, of course they came by steer, horse or mule conveyence and brought provisions along for the stay.
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DOVER
1833
Dover Baptist Church was consituted on May 12, 1833. There were ll charter members and Elder W. P. Swanson was first pastor. Elder Houston Holsclaw was the first clerk.
This church is located in the Mountaineous region in the western part of Alexander County.
In March 1876 this Church with three others proposed to form an Association of the Primitive Baptist type, this did not susceed however.
MACCEDONIA 1838 Before October
This Church was Constituted sometime during the first half of 1838, there were 8 charter members. it appears that William Garner, Smith Ferguson and a Richards were among the first Elders that served this church as pastor. William Gryder appears to have been the first clerk. Elders Vandover and John Teague were the pastors in 1838 and Elder John Teague in 1839. and Elder William Pearce in 1840.
This Church is located a short distance out of Taylorsville, N. C., on State Highway No. 16.
Records show that in 1856 Maccedonia Church was engaged in evange- listic effort in the old camp meeting style.
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James Teague and James Austin represented Antioch Church at Briar Creek Association in 1828. They reported 1 baptism and 29 mem- bers. Richard Wallace, John Redman and William Dotson were from Bethel and reported 1 baptism and 101 members. Archibald Brown and Thomas Watts were from Little River, they reported 52 members. This was the last time any mention is made at the Association of Elder William Dotson.
In 1829 Bethel was represented by John Redman and William Mitchel, they reported 99 members. Little River was represented by Thomas Watts and Locken Tilley. They reported 12 baptisms and 28 members. They lost 36 by exclusion, death or letter.
Bethel was represented by William Richards, John Redman and Elder William Hines. 89 members were reported. Little River showed 23 members with William Watts and Vandover Teague as representatives. This was in 1830.
Bethel reported 10 baptisms in 1831 and 98 members, the messengers were William Hines and William Mitchel and William Laws. The messengers from Little River were James Watts, Thomas Watts, and William Batts. They reported 1 baptism and 57 members, a gain of 34 members.
Elder William Hines and John Redman represented Bethel at the meeting in 1832, 23 baptisms were reported and 104 members. Little River reported 6 baptisms and 66 members, Thomas Jones was her messenger. Epharim Cook also represented Bethel this year.
Elder William Dotson went to his eternal home during April this year. he was 95. He lies buried at Three Fork cemetery, his grave marked "A Pioneer Baptist Preacher."
In 1833, Epharim Cook, and John Redman were from Bethel and report- ed l baptism and 88 members. Thomas Watts and Sion Harrington were from Little River, they reported 12 baptisms and 80 members.
Little River was the only one represented in 1834, Benjamin Watts and Archibald Brown were the messengers, 10 baptisms and 104 members were reported.
Again In 1835 Little River was the only one, with William Holder, William B. Jones and Thomas Watts as messengers it reported 10 baptisms and 115 members.
Elder William Holder, Sion Harrington, Isiac Davis, William Jones and William Pool, were from Little River in 1836. They reported 1 baptism and 115 members. Elder Edmund Chaffin, David Laws, Elder William Hines, Elder William B. Beach, John Redman and Joseph Campbell were from Bethel and reported 8 baptisms and 71 members. Elder Smith Ferguson preached on this occassion Gen. 49:10. as text.
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On Friday September 30, 1836, at Lewis Fork Baptist Church, messengers and Ministers met from the various Churches and constituted Lewis Fork Association. Philip Powell preached the first sermon, using 1 John 2:5. Elder Smith Ferguson was chosen moderator and John Carlton clerk. No Churches from the area of Alexander County were among those organizing this Association.
When Lewis Fork Association met in second annual session at Beaver Creek Church on September 29, 30, 1837, Little River Church, reported Elder Robert Lucky Steele as pastor and 90 members. Antioch reported Elder E. Teague as pastor and 61 members. Big Spring (later Pilgrim) reported 40 members. Bethel reported 39 members. Big Spring and Bethel were in Briar Creek Association.
In 1838, Little River reported Elder Robert Lucky Steele as pastor and 91 members. Antioch reported Elder Moses Fox as pastor and 62 members, and 1 baptism. Dover reported 1 baptism, 44 members and D. Holtslaw as pastor. Maccedonia reported 1 baptized, 6 recieved by letter and 14 members, with Vandover Teague and John Teague as Pastors. The Association resolved to observe the third Sunday in October as a day of prayer. Bethel in her Association reported 27 members. The gifts from these churches were about $1.00 to $2.00 each.
In 1839, Antioch reported Elder H. Austin as pastor and 1 baptism, with 50 members. Little River had Elder William Poole and Elder R. S. Steele as pastors and had 2 baptisms, with 95 members, Dover had Elder Stephen Meadlock as pastor and reported 45 members. Maccedonia had 3 baptisms and 19 members with Elder John Teague as pastor. In the other Association, Big Spring reported 34 members while Bethel reported 6 baptisms. The Association met this year at Antioch.1
The 1840 reports show: Elder Thomas Watts as pastor of Little River, they had ll baptisms and lll members. Bethel had 2 baptisms and 27 members. Pilgrim had 1 baptism and 31 members. (formerly Big Spring). Antioch had 2 baptisms and 51 members with Elder Elijah Teague as pastor. Dover had 44 members with Elder Stephen Meadlock as pastor. Maccedonia had Elder William Pearce as pastor and 25 members and reported 5 baptisms.
1. Note that Bethel and Big Spring or Pilgrim reported through Briar Creek Association, while the others were in attendance of Lewis Fork Association.
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The 1841 reports showed: Little River with lll members, 3 baptisms and Elder Smith Ferguson as pastor. No report from Bethel or Antioch. Pilgrim had 29 members. Maccedonia had 3 baptisms, 29 members and Elder Smith Ferguson as pastor. Dover reported Elder C. Livingston for pastor and 45 members.
In 1842 Maccedonia had 4 baptisms, 36 members. Smith Ferguson was pastor. Pilgrim reported 1 baptism and 27 members. Dover had Elder C. Livingston as pastor and 46 members. Antioch reported 44 members and William D. Holder for pastor. Bethel reported 5 baptisms and 33 members. Little River had 1 baptism and 109 members with Elder Smith Ferguson as pastor.
2 Baptisms were reported by Little River in 1843, and 107 members, Elder Smith Ferguson, pastor. Antioch had 40 members and Elder J. Harrison for pastor. Dover with 44 members had Elder Smith Ferguson as pastor. Pilgrim reported 10 baptisms and 34 members. Maccedonia had 33 members, 2 baptisms and Elder Smi th Ferguson as pastor. A querry was asked this year: Is it right to recieve any but Church evidence between Church men? Ans. Not expiedient.
With the Lewis Fork Association meeting with Little River Church, this Church reported Elder Smith Ferguson as pastor and 106 members. 1 baptism was reported by Dover which had 41 members and Elder Smith ferguson as pastor. Maccedonia reported Elder Smith Ferguson for pastor and 33 members. No report from Antioch. In the other Association, Bethel reported 1 baptism and 36 members. Pilgrim reported 1 baptism and 35 members. These reports were for 1844.
The 1845 reports showed Little River with 1 baptism, 106 members and Elder Smith Ferguson, pastor. Bethel reported 1 baptism. Antioch had 38 members and Elder William Goforth as pastor. Dover had 2 baptisms and 40 members and also had Elder William Goforth as pastor. Pilgrim reported 1 baptism and 35 members. Maccedonia reported 21 members.
1. Little River Church extended an arm and through Elders Robert L. Steele, J. G. Bryan and probably others, constituted Walnut Grove Church in Wilkes County, sometime during 1845.
Briar Creek Association met with Pilgrim Church in 1845 and with Bethel in 1841.
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In 1846, Maccedonia reported 19 members. Pilgrim 43 members and 10 baptisms. Dover reported 38 members and Elder William Goforth as pastor. Antioch had 30 members and also Elder William Goforth as pastor. Bethel had 2 baptisms and 33 members. Elder Smith
Ferguson was still pastor at Little River and it reported 96 members.
The 1847 reports show the greatest spiritual awakening and most professions of faith followed by baptism ever recorded in the area of Alexander County. The report from Little River of 158 baptized has not yet been equaled by any other sister Church. This year gave her a gain of 163, over 1 and ¿ times her previous total of members. Elder Ferguson was yet pastor and the total members were 259. Bethel was next, reporting 63 baptisms, and 115 members. Mac- cedonia followed with 59 baptisms, 76 members and Elder William Garner as pastor. Dover came next with 31 baptisms am 68 members, Elder William Goforth was pastor. Pilgrim had 27 baptisms and 92 members with Elder William Goforth as pastor. Antioch had 23 baptisms, 55 members and Elder William Goforth also as pastor. Elder J. Coats is assumed to have been the pastor at Bethel. A total of 361 baptisms reported from 6 Churches. An increase in membership of 306. The total reported last year was 259. This year 665. There was no report yet from Mt. Gillead Church, the writer assumes that it also had a gracious time in the LORD with showers of blessings and witnessed many souls being born again. The Lewis Fork Associa- tion met with Dover Church this year. Elder Smith Ferguson was modefator and Elder R. L. Steele Clerk.
The 1848 reports show another year of special blessings and time of refreshing: Little River had 61 baptisms, 289 members and Elder Smith Ferguson as pastor. Bethel had 63 baptisms, 115 members and Elder J. B. Adams as pastor. 51 were reported baptized by Antioch with 114 members and Elder R. L. Steele as pastor. Here is the first men- tion of Elder John Gillison Bryan. He had already helped organize Walnut Grove Church in Wilkes County and was pastor there at this time .- He is here reported as pastor of Dover which had 17 baptisms and 74 members. Pilgrim reported 27 baptisms and Elder B. Adams as Pastor. Maccedonia had 48 baptisms and 125 members and Elder William Garner as pastor.
The total baptisms this year was 267, a large number indeed form 6 churches. However the heavens will soon be as brass and the cry will be from the troubled dying Churches; "Where can I find Him?" "Where is the LORD GOD of Elijah?"
1. Elder Bryan was an active worker in Alexander and other Counties, eventually getting into trouble, leaving here and dying in Georgia at about 98 years. Walnut Grove 1845.
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And where the SPIRIT of the LORD is, there is LIBERTY. 2nd Cor. 3:17.
The old meeting house of LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH is still standing (1952) and is occupied as living space for a family. It is located on a farm now owned by Mr. F. C. Ehilders and is located some distance south or in a southeastern direction of the present Three Fork Church. A short distance off to the left of the present paved road, from where the old Piney Grove School stood.
No records of this Churche's organization or dissolution.1
It would appear that it was adborbed by Three Fork Church which was organized nearby in 1857.
It was first in Attendance of a district Association (of record) in 1849, at Lewis Fork Association, when it met at Elk Creek Church on October 5, 6, 1849.
Elder Smith Ferguson was pastor then and they reported 18 members. It was a members of the Taylorsville Association in 1853 th. 1859. Elder J. G. Bryan was pastor there in 1851 and they still had 18 members. They baptized 8 in 1852, and had 28 members. 15 were baptized in 1853. And Elder J. J. Watts was pastor. In 1856
there were 22 members. In 1858 there were 26 members .~ Elder J. Reed was pastor. In 1859 there were 32 members and Elder Reed was still pastor. There were 20 baptized in 1860 with Elder Reed as pastor. There were 56 members. Elder Reed was pastor in 1861 and there were 51 members. 49 members were reported in 1862. Elder Smith Ferguson was pastor in 1863 and there were 47 members. Elder R. L. Steele was pastor in 1868 and there were 33 members. The Association met here this year.
John Watts, S. H. Harrington and B. F. Steele represented it at the United Baptist Association meeting at Cub Creek Church in 1870, they reported 33 members.
No further record has been found by the writer.
1. See W. E. Whites History of Alexander County, page 23.
2. From Minutes of Associations.
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There were continued blessings in 1849, with Little River reporting 26 baptisms, 308 members and Elder Smith Ferguson as pastor. Bethel reported 112 members and 3 baptisms and Elder J. Watts as pastor. Mt. Gillead reports this year for the first time and shows 23 baptisms, 46 members and Elder William Garner as pastor and Gabrial W. Wallis as messenger. Antioch had 14 baptisms, 121 members and Elders R. L. Steele and a West as pastors. Dover had 5 baptisms, 76 members and Elder J. G. Bryan as Pastor. Liberty Grover, Elder Ferguson as pastor, 18 members.1 Pilgrim had 32 baptisms, 110 members and Elder Z. B. Adams as pastor. Maccedonia reported 19 baptisms and 141 members, Elder William Garner was pastor. A total of 122 baptisms this year.
1850 reports showed : Little River with 12 baptisms, 306 members and Elder Smith Ferguson as pastor. Bethel with 21 baptisms, 132 members and J. Watts as pastor. Liberty Grove, Elder Ferguson pastor, 18 members 2 baptisms. Mt. Gillead with 3 baptisms, Elder J. J. Watts as pastor, Benjamin Hines and G. W. Waller as messengers, with 45 members. Antioch with 14 baptisms, Elders West and Steele as pastors, and 137 members. Dover with 28 baptisms, 101 members and Elder J. G. Bryan as pastor. Pilgrim had 14 baptisms, 120 members and Elder J. B. Green as pastor. Maccedonia had 4 baptisms and 129 members. Elder J. W. Jones was pastor. Total baptisms 96.
There were some querries answered about liquor and the case of Elder Powell and his unpatistic doctrines were discussed and the public was warned of him. He was pastor of Lower Creek Church.
In 1851, Baptistic work or unity went all to smithers, brother against brother, house against house and Church against Church. No living person can fully know the suffering and hardship caused or the number of sould eternally lost over the issues involved. It is evident that the Churches did not follow the Word of GOD in their acts, neither did the Lewis Fork Association. As well as information at hand will suffice, this writer presumes to state as clearly and fully as possible the facts of the cases during the days and years that follow. Much will not be known or included at best.
1. This is the first record of this Church, Liberty Grove.
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Insofar as available records show, all the Baptist Churches in the bounds of Alexander County were in the Lewis Fork Association or Briar Creek. In 1851, that is prior to the meeting of Lewis Fork Association at Maccedonia Church on October 3 and 4th.
The reports this year show: Little River- with Elder J. G. Bryan as pastor, 3 baptisms and 267 members. Bethel with Elder J. Watts as pastor, 5 baptisms and 137 members. Mt. Gillead had also Elder J. J. Watts as pastor. It had 2 baptisms, and 99 mem- bers. Antioch had 2 baptisms, 67 members and Elders J. Reed and West as pastors. Dover had 2 baptisms, 99 members and Elder J. G. Bryan as pastor. Pilgrim had 1 baptism, 112 members and Elders J. B. Green and W. J. Chappel for pastors. Maccedonia had Elder William Garner as pastor and 77 members. Liberty Grove had Elder J. G. Bryan as pastor and 1 baptism with 18 members.
Lower Creek Church was commended for getting rid of her unbaptistic pastor.
Little River Church sent up a Queery: Is it a sufficient ground for an exclusion from fellowship according to the principles of the Baptistic Churches for a member to join the Sons of Temperance?
The Association Answered "Yes".
Elders Richard Gentry, W. C. Church, Smith Ferguson, S. P. Smith and others2 had sought to induce the Association not to give this answer, but the efforts were of no avail.
Little River Church previously during the year excluded two members for joining the Sons of Temperance. At the meeting of exclusion 70 voted in favor of the act, 29 voted against it. Upon this the majority voted to withdraw fellowship from thetwenty nine also.
Elder R. L. Steele was one of thos excluded.
1. Little River reported 309 members in 1850, this was down to 44 in 1863.
2. See Green's Historical Papers, Vol. 3, page 78.
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The Sons of Temperance was a secret society, similar to the Good Templars of latter days, and its basic principle was temperance in all things. Those who joined the society took a solem oath not to use alcholic liquors as a beverage. 1
... You have recieved back into your fellowship today one man who confesses that he has been drunk and you have excluded two of our best men because they wouldn't drink. 2
This excluding because one refused to drink was not confined to Little River Church only nor to Alexander County. Pleasant Hill Church excluded some for the same purpose, so did Pilgrim and probably others locally and it appears that among them the best men of the Church. It seems that one could have all he wanted, drink all he could stand, give to his neighbors or associates all he could afford or they wanted, make it from his apples, corn, rye, peaches or what have you, even the ministers could take their dram, but if a man was strong enough in faith and mind to pledge not to drink he was not thought fit by the weaker brethren to be a member of the Church of Christ. Such acts as these referred to have pleagued the Church through her existence, and probably will continue to occur when Churches do not use the BIBLE as their rule of faith and practice.
Some of this same work was done in other Churches and Associations. After Elder R. L. Steele was expelled from Little River Church in 1851, he went with Elders J. J. Watts, J. H. Watts and Z. B. Adams over into Ashe County and joined forces with Elders Johnson and Gentry in rounding up progressive, forward looking Baptists' and getting them together in Church organizations:4
A little later, Elders Johnson and Gentry went over into Alexander County and helped Elder Robert Steele and his associates organize one or more Churches of the same character, these finally forming the Taylorsville Association.
" ... Bethel Church which in the same day withdrew fellowship from one brother for joining "The Sons of Temperance" and from another brother for being intoxicated. 5
1. See Fletcher's History of Baptists for this, page 24.
2. Words spoken before Old Fields Church in Ashe County. Fletcher.
3. Elder Gentry was expelled from Old Fields Church. Fletcher.
4. See Fletcher's History of Baptists, page 35. One of these Churches organized was Bethel (Ashe County) .
5. Elder W. C. Meadows.
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It must have been planned and agreed upon as a course of action before Lewis Fork Association met on October 3 and 4th, 1851, - that is if the Association said "yes" to the querry that was put up. It is evident that local Baptist history would have been much different and the Taylorsville Church would have in all pro- bability not been organized as it was: On Monday after the Associa- tion the thirty one excluded members, with others, fifty four in all, met in the town of Taylorsville and organized the Taylorsville Church. Five ministers assisted in the organization .<
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