USA > North Carolina > Alexander County > A history of beginning and conduct of ye Baptist people, of Jesus Christ, of Alexander County, North Carolina > Part 4
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Soon after this, other Churches of the same nature or ideals formed the Taylorsville Baptist Association. 3
The available records of the years that follow will carry one through: Lewis Fork Association, Briar Creek Association, Taylors- ville Association, Lower Creek Association and then The United Baptist Association all by 1860. Since this is true the period from 1851 through 1867 will be the most difficult to trace and will be necessarily incomplete.
1. The people who resented the act of Little River Church in ex- pelling those for their connections with the Sons of Temperance, took the matter to the Association meeting at Maccedonia Church, 1851, and failing to get a redress of their grievance, proceded to constitute Taylorsville Church on the following Monday.
2. Green's Historical papers, Vol. 3, page 78.
3. Taylorsville Association was organized in 1851. Elder Robert L. Steele must have been the main leader in the organizing of the Taylorsville Association although there were at his help Elders Richard Gentry, Aaron Johnson from Ashe County and Elder Smith Ferguson, J. J. Watts, J. W. Jones and others locally.
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Taylorsville Baptist Church 1851.
On October 6, 1851, Elders Robert L. Steele and Richard Gentry organized this Church. Elder S. P. Smith also helped.
There were 54 charter members. There were Elders among them as follows: Smith Ferguson, John W. Jones, J. J. Watts, Isaac Oxford, R. L. Steele and Jsaac R. Sherrill. There were 4 colored people among the charter members .-
Elder Smith Ferguson was the first pastor. Larkin H. Jones was the first clerk.
Elder John W. Jones was the leading worker in the starting of this Church. He was expelled by Little River for joining "The Sons of Temperance."2
The name chosen for this Church was: The Baptist Church of Jesus Christ at Taylorsville, N. C.3
A modern commodious brick building is now in use for all the many activities of this large leading Baptist Church. A metal plaque in the entrance bears the names of all charter members.
There were at least 31 people who were charter members that had been excluded by Little River Church because of their mission and temperance activities, among these was Elder Robert L. Steele. Elder Richard Gentry was also excluded for this temperance matter by Old Fields Church.
It was this Church and the ministers who were in it and a few others who were of the same mind that led in the stand for freedom of Baptist locally.
Soon after the constitution of Taylorsville Church the Taylorsville Baptist Association was organized and gathered Churches of the same nature from this and other Counties. This lasted untill the Trouble over the "Sons of Temperance" began to subside, 1859.
1. See plaque in Church.
2. He was the first to be buried in the Taylorsville cemetary. 1853. He was a great worker and died young.
3. According to the present clerk, Mr. A. C. Payne.
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Records at hand show that in 1852 the Churches reported the following: Church Association Pastor
Baptized Members
Little River
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
12
240
Antioch
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
6
139
Dover
Lewis Fork
James Reid
1
89
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
William Garner
5
129
Pleasant Hill
Lewis Fork
William Pool
21
Liberty Grove
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryant
8
Bethel
Briar Creek
J. G. Bryant
12
140
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
W. J. Chappel
9
103
Taylorsvillel
Taylorsville
Smith Ferguson
Concord
Taylorsville
John W. Jones
Mt. Gillead
Taylorsville
J. J. Watts
Little River Church put up a querry :
Is it right or wrong for a believer to testify before baptism? Answered: Right.
1. No records at hand of the Taylorsville Association for 1852. This information is from other sources
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Concord Baptist Church 1852.
Elders Robert L. Steele, J. B. Green and Isaac Oxford with 14 charter members, constituted this Church on November 26, 1852.
Elder John W. Jones was the first pastor.
E. Turner was the first clerk.
In early days they had long evangelistic meetings of the camp meeting style and many professions of faith were witnessed.
It is located in the open country on a paved road southeast of Taylorsville, N. C.
Taylor Spring Baptist Church 1852.
On July 10, 1852, Elders Robert L. Steele, John W. Jones, G. B. Adams and J. J. Watts organized this Church. There were 15 charter members on above date and 5 on day following making a total of 20.
Wlder G. B. Adams was first pastor and C. W. Howell first clerk.
This Church is located out of the County bounds of Alexander, however it was consituted by our own men and has chosen to continue to cast her lot with the local Baptists. It is located near state highway 115, in north Iredell County.
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In 1853, in the Lewis Fork Association, Maccedonia Church put up a querry : About a man who a Christian was baptized by a minister, without Church authority. No answer. The evident cause of this is found in the Taylorsville Association, for they had a general revival at their meeting this year and Elders J. W. Jones and Z. B. Adams baptized 21 following the meeting. And this meeting was had just before the Lewis Fork.
Churches were in Associations, and reported in the manner listed :
Church
Association
Pastor
Baptised
Members
Antioch
Lewis Fork
G. Swaim
16
1551
Concord
Taylorsville
J. W. Jones
18
Taylorsville
Taylorsville
Smith Ferguson
47
Taylor Spring
Taylorsville
Z. B. Adams
43
Liberty Grove
Taylorsville
J. J. Watts
23
Mt. Gillead
Taylorsville
J. J. Watts
37
Bethel
Briar Creek
J. G. Bryan 18
147
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
W. J. Chappel
4
102
Pleasant Hill
Lewis Fork
James McNeil
11
31
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
Wm. Garner
150
Dover
Lewis Fork
H. Holtslaw
79
Little River
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
16
253
Elder J. G. Bryan was moderator of Lewis Fork and Elder Smith Ferguson moderator of Taylorsville.
All figures are those from the minutes of the local Associations.
1. There was also an Antioch Church in the Taylorsville Association which had 12 members listed and pastor as S. P. Smith.
If any error is made in this listing it is because of lack of definite information.
Although Taylor Spring is in Iredell County it has continually associated itself with Alexander Baptists.
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V
Center Baptist Church
All information at hand at this time shows that:
It was located near the past famous Ellendale Spring, and not far from the present Oxford Memorial Church.
There was a fine house built. It was used for worship, and also for school.
The building was burned on the night of September 11, 1875. Most provably because of an act of arson.
The Church in all probability never rebuilt or kept up regular worship after this. 1875.
It was constituted on 14th of April 1854. Elder Burton Bradley and Elder James Reed organized this Church.
There were 12 charter members, no names are found.
Elder Burton Bradley was the first pastor.
E. C. Oxford the first clerk.
It evidently was organized as a direct result of the troubles of the day for:
One of the rules adopted at the consitution of the Church was, that Baptists who were discriminated against in other Churches on account of being "Sons of Temperance"," might be received on application.
It was last represented in an Association in 1874, in the Brushy Mountain. Elder J. H. West was pastor and there were 15 members.
As the trouble about the alcohol business was dying and Antioch Church stood nearby, it appears that this Church served its purpose in its own time.
1. See White's History of Alexander County, page 11.
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Baptists Start a School
About 1853 Elder James McNeil, Elder J. J. James and other Baptist Brethren started in the new town of Taylorsville and near the newly established Baptist Church, a Baptist School.
The land, 5 acres being given by Elder J. J. James.
At present (1952) the building they erected (so far as this writer is aware) still stands and is used by the Taylorsville High School.
It appears that this School was not established under the authority of any district Association. However they continually recommended and supported it and finally assumed controll. A corporation was formed to controll it in later years, this corporation dissolved in 1924 after it had sold the property to the State of North Carolina for public School use.
The money derived from the sale of this property was equally divided between, Fairview, East Taylorsville, Millersville and Smyrna Baptist Churches, and they received $250.00 each.
Proffessor J. H. Foot was early connected with this school and did much work to get and keep it going. Other proffessors who worked with this School included, Davis, Pool, White, Payne and others.
It was known as the United Baptist Institute.
Many students attended it, and fruit from this institution is being reaped today.
Many of those students of the later years are yet living and are a living witness and testimony of this school.
For more information about it, please see the Histories of Mr. W. E. White and Steve Watts.
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In 1854 another division occured, and Churches which chose to remain neutral in the issues involved, separated themselves and organized the Lower Creek Association. - The first session was held with Liberty Church in Caldwell County, Elder Burton Bradley was moderator and Elder Houston Holsclaw was clerk. Elder J. G. Bryan was moderator of Lewis Fork and Elder Smith Ferguson of the Taylorsville.
Available records show:
Churches 2 Associations
Pastors
Baptized Members
Little River
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
9
252
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
William Garner
3
150
Pleasant Hill
Lewis Boakch
Jacob Crouch 10
38
Bethel
Briar Creek
W. J. Chappel
2
94
Liberty Grove
Taylor Spring
Taylorsville Taylorsville Taylorsville Taylorsville
Taylorsville
Concord
Mt. Gillead
Taylorsville Lower Creek
Antioch
Dover
Lower Creek
Daniel and Merrit Austin Wm. Meadlock & Houston Holsclaw
1. See North Carolina Baptists by C. B. Williams.
2. With no records of the Taylorsville Association for 1854 all Alexander Churches not in Lewis Fork or Lower Creek of Briar Creek are assumed to be in the Taylorsville.
Briar Creek Association met with Bethel Church this year 1854. The Lower Creek Association was organized on March 18, 1854.
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Reports from the various associations include the following for 1855:
Churches Association Pastor
Baptized ivembers
Little River Lewis Fork
J. Crouch
239
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
Wm. Garner
3
155
Pleasant Hill
Lewis Fork
Wm. Pool
31
Senter or Center-
Bethel Briar Creek
8
149
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
W. J. Chappel
2
94
Antioch
Lower Creek
H. Holsclaw
4
119
Dover
Lower Creek
H. Holsclaw &
E. Tilley
2
94
Taylorsville
Taylorsville
Taylor Spring
Taylorsville
Mt. Gillead
Taylorsville
Liberty Grove
Taylorsville
Concord
Taylorsville
1. Senter or Center was organized in April 1854 and has not been reported in any Association of record.
2. No record of the Taylorsville Association for 1855.
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Mt. Gillead Church was the meeting place of the Taylorsville Associa- tion in 1856. Elder Smith Ferguson was moderator and Elder Robert L. Steele Clerk.
Lewis Fork met at Little River Church and Elder J. G. Bryan was moderator and Peter Eller clerk.
Here is what the records show in relation to the state of the Churches :
Church
Association
Pastor
Baptized
Members
Bethel
Briar Creek
J. G. Bryan
11
153
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
Wm. Pool
94
Little River
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
10
260
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
J. Crouch
133
Pleasant Hill
Lewis Fork
Wm. Pool
24
Mt. Gillead
Taylorsville
22
Concord
Taylorsville
45
Antioch
Lower Creek
G. Swaim
117
Taylor Spring
Taylorsville
43
Liberty Grove
Taylorsville
22
Dover
Lower Creek
H. Holsclaw
70
Center Church was not listed in any group.
Maccedonia Church was advised by the Association to receive one Mr. Lee Moore to membership by application.
Maccedonia Church was engaged in conducting a camp meeting in 1856.
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Pleasant Hill Baptist Church 1852
Elders William Pool, Jacob Crouch and John G. Bryan constituted this Church on January 31, 1852.
Elder William Pool was the first pastor and John T. Baker the first clerk. No record at hand of charter members.
It had some difficulty over the "Sons of Temperance" and excluded some in its early live.
There is at this time a new brick building for a house of worship.
Three Fork Baptist Church. 1857
In May 1857, Three Fork Church was organized by 37 Baptist people who had secured their letters of dismission from Little River Church. The Elders who assisted in this work were: J. G. Bryan, N. A. Crouch and N. A. Pool was clerk. In June this year above named twenty more people came and made a total of 57. Elders John G. Bryan and Jacob Crouch were called as pastors. Mr. N. A. Pool was the first clerk.
This Church now is prospering and has a fine brick building for its various activities of worship. Is located on a paved country road some 3 miles west northwest of Taylorsville.
The large burying ground here was started about 1800 when a Mrs. Chole Brumley was buried there, and later a log house was built to care for the needs of those burying their dead at this place.
Like all other local Baptist Churches, (so far as records show) this Church came from Little River.
Compare, Mundys or Teagues, Walnut Grove, Taylorsville, Antioch and others. Mt. Olive.
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Records at hand for 1857 include:
Churches
Association
Pastor
Baptized
Members
Little River
Lewis Fork
191
Three Fork
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
60
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
15
131
Pleasant Hill
Briar Creek
W. J. Chappel
4
29
Bethel
Briar Creek
J. G. Bryan
12
166
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
Wm. Pool
2
92
Antioch
Lower Creek
G. Swaim &
J. B. Powell
19
131
Dover
Lower Creek
H. Holsclaw
9
78
Taylorsville
Taylorsville- Taylorsville
Concord
Liberty Grove
Taylorsville
Taylor Spring
Taylorsville
Mt. Gillead
Taylorsville
Center‹
Taylorsville
The Lewis Fork Association paid respect to the Baptist School recently established at Taylorsville, and was in 1857 under Proffessor Foote. It also recommended that each church hold Sabbath School.
1. No records of the Taylorsville Association for 1857.
2. Center is presumed to have been in the Taylorsville Association.
The first Rev. is attached to an elder's name this year 1857. It was to Elder J. J. James. Rev. J. J. James.
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J. Crouch &
It appears that the Lower Creek, and Briar Creek Associations were in 1858 attempting to get the divided Churches and Associations together, for they sent up letters to the Taylorsville Association, which answered it as follows in a resolution:
That we advise our Churches where divisions have hitherto existed between the Lewis Fork, Lower Creek, Briar Creek and Taylorsville Associations, to use all means to adjust said difficulties, and be- come one body.
The constitution, abstract of principles and rules of decorum are printed in the Taylorsville minutes of 1858. A fine work.
The Lower Creek Association met with Antioch in 1858.
The following has been found:
Churches
Association
Pastor
Baptized
Members
Antioch
Lower Creek
Daniel Austin
8
137
Dover
Lower Creek
Jeel Brown &
Houston Holsclaw
6
84
Concord
Taylorsville
Green & Steele
2
49
Liberty Grove
Taylorsville
Isaac Oxford
1
26
Taylor Spring
Taylorsville
S. P. Smith
3
42
Taylorsville
Taylorsville
Smith Ferguson
14
53
Little River
Lewis Fork
Wm. Pool
120
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
J. Crouch
40
203
Pleasant Hill
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
3
33
Three Fork
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
61
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
Wm. Pool
5
96
Bethel
Briar Creek
J. G. Bryan
13
179
Center
Taylorsville
R. S. Steele
2
24
Mt. Gillead
Taylorsville
James Reed
23
The finance committee of the Taylorsville Association reported $37.45 handled.
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1859 saw the end of the Lower Creek and Taylorsville Associations, and for two years that of Lewis Fork. The trouble over the Sons of Temperance and other matters had about died out and the brethren attempted to unite all the different groups named, into one strong body. This organization was accompbished in 1859 and was known as The United Baptist Association. It lasted untill the formation of the Brushy Mountain Association in 1871 -. The United Association was so hard on those connected with the liquor question, and other matters that in 1862 a group reorganized the Lewis Fork Association, it too lasted untill the Brushy Mountain was created.
The last meeting of Lower Creek and Taylorsville Associations, and reports from the other with which local Churches were connected show:
Churches
Association
Pastor
Baptized
Members
Taylorsville
Taylorsville
Smith Ferguson
1
47
Center
Taylorsville
Smith Ferguson
21
Mt. Gillead
Taylorsville
J. Crouch
6
30
Liberty Grove
Taylorsville
James Reed
1
32
Taylor Spring
Taylorsville
S. P. Smith
42
Concord
Taylorsville
B. L. Steele, J. B. Greene
49
Antioch
Lower Creek
Daniel Austin 8
137
Dover
Lower Creek
Joel Brown, H. Holsclaw- 6
84
Bethel
Briar Creek
J. G. Bryant 13
190
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
Wm. Pool 2
86
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
Smith Ferguson
Pleasant Hill
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
33
Three Forks
Lewis Fork
J. G. Bryan
13
72
Little River
Lewis Fork
Smith Ferguson
97
Elder Smith Ferguson was moderator of the Taylorsville Association during its entire life. Elder J. G. Bryan was moderator of Lewis Fork at this time. Elder John Powell was moderator of Lower Creek.
The proposal to unite came from the Taylorsville Association.
1. On November 24, 25, 26, 1871 at Three Fork Church, the Brushy Mountain Association was organized.
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Some minutes of the proceedings of the Convention of uniting the Associations in 1859.
A convention assembled at Zion Hill Meeting House, Wilkes County, N. C., on Friday the 11th day of November, 1859, to take into considera- tion the properity of consolidating the Lewis Fork, Taylorsville and Lower Creek Associations, into one body. ...
Delegates from 26 Churches were reported, and their names enrolled as follows :
From the Lewis Fork Association -
Pilgrim A. Milliam, E. Davis, F. H. Foster
Lewis Fork
M. Walsh, L. Triplett, A. J. Profitt.
Little River
Elder William Pool, S. Meadlock, P. Barnes.
Beaver Creek
Elder J. H. Brown, Thomas Carlton, J. F. Ferguson.
Pleasant Hill
J. T. Baker, B. Ellis, A. A. Jolly.
Zion Hill J. Barnes, D. Welborn.
Three Fork
Elders J. G. Bryan, J. Crouch and Br. N. A. Pool.
Maccedonia
Wm. Teague, D. Warren, J. Martin.
New Hope Elder James McNeil, J. H. Spainhour, P. Eller
Walnut Grove
R. Brock, C. Lowe
Mt. Zion E. K. Walsh, A. B. West, W. J. Miller.
From The Lower Creek Association -
Union Elders Isaac Oxford, J. H. West, Br. A. West.
Antioch M Austin, D. Austin, W. S. Pool
Dover Elder H. Holsclaw, Thomas Reid, W. R. Pennel.
Kings Creek
Elder E. Telley, Thomas Isbell.
From the Taylorsville Association -
Fishing Creek H. Curtiss, E. B. Salmons, S. Smith
Taylor Spring Elder J. B. Green, A. L. Williams.
Mt. Gillead E. Ellis, R. Hines, A. A. Hines.
Taylorsville Elder Smith Ferguson, E. C. Harrington, C. Jones.
Liberty Grove Elder R. L. Steele, J. Parmer, S. Harrington. Pleasant Grove Elder H. M. Stokes, A. M. Foster Bethel (Ashe Co.) Elders Richard Gentry, Arron Johnson. Concord G. W. McIntosh, J. H. Gryder, E. Turner
Oak Forest
D. Edwards, A. M. Parks, A. H. Martin
Senter Elder J. Reed, E. C. Oxford, B. Reed.
Mt. Airy Elder P. Grimes.
Elder Smith Ferguson was then elected Moderator and P. Eller clerk.
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3
On Motion, a committee of six, two from each Association, consisting of Elders, Richard Gentry, James Reed, William Pool, John G. Bryan, E. Tilley, and Br. Harvey West, was appointed to prepare business for action of the convention, and that they report tomorrow morning. On motion the moderator and clerk were added to the committee.
· On motion adjourned untill tomorrow morning 10 o'clock. Prayer by Elder James McNeil.
Saturday November 12, 1859.
Met according to adjournment. Prayer by the moderator. Called the roll of delegates.
The constitution prepared by the committee was then presented, read and considered section by section, and adopted, and ordered to be printed with the minutes.
On motion, Elders Isaac Oxford, E. Tilley, Houston Holsclaw, John G. Bryan, R. L. Steele, J. B. Green, J. H. Brown, James McNeil, S. P. Smith and Smith Ferguson were appointed a presbytery for the pur- pose of ordaining ministers, and constituting Churches in the bounds of this Association, untill the next annual meeting; any three of which may be considered a sufficient number to do business.
Several resolutions were presented, read, and adopted. After which, on motion, the convention adjourned. Prayer by Elder J. B. Green.
Smtih Ferguson moderator Peter Eller Clerk
Whereas the Lewis Fork, Lower Creek and Taylorsville Associations, being met in convention by delegates from the different Associations, at Zion Hill, for the purpose of uniting in one Association, in order to be enabled to carry out the gospel principles of Missions and Temperance, having become united as a Missionary and Temperance body, having adopted the following:
CONSTITUTION
1. This Association shall be known by the name of the United Baptist Association, and shall be composed of delegates chosen by the churches connected with it, each church being entitled to three delegates.
2. In the selection of three delegates the church should pay strict regard to the moral and intellectual qualifications of those appointed.
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3. The delegates thus selected should bear from their respective Churches a letter, certifying their appointments, and communicating information relative to the state of the Church and interest thereof.
4. The Association thus formed, shall choose by ballot or otherwise, a moderator, clerk, and treasurer, who shall continue in office for one year and untill others are elected.
5. The moderator shall not be entitled to vote, only in case of a tie, and then he shall give the casting vote.
6. There shall be a committee of arrangements appointed by the moderator consisting of five members, together with the moderator and clerk and all other committees shall be appointed by the moderator, unless otherwise ordered by the Association.
7. All letters of grievance or querries, together with all letters from corresponding Associations requiring any attention thereon, shall be submitted to the committee of arrangements and reported back to the Association, if they think proper.
8. This body shall have no coercive power to lord it over GOD'S heritage, but shall only be considered as an advisory council in all matters respecting the internal regulations of the Churches. Nevertheless it becomes necessary to attend to some uniform rules of proceedings, in order to maintain our union and christian fellowship.
9. When an offence may be committed by one Church against another, or when a serious difference may arise in an individual Church, it shall be the duty of the Association (after due labors have been had between the offending and offended Churches, or in individual Church, as the case may be) to take the matter into consideration and decide upon it.
10. The Association shall not maintain permanent fellowship towards any of her Churches which neglect to institute and preserve proper or gospel order among their members, or towards any of her Churches and ministers that treat her constitution with contempt, but shall sustain with all her influence such as promote gospel principles and order.
11. The Association shall withdraw her fellowship from any Church in her confedracy which holds members in fellowship who distell, vend, or use spirituous liquors as a beverage.
12. The object of this Association shall be the promotion of CHRIST'S kindgom among men.
13. It shall be the province of this Association to invite visiting and corresponding brethren to seats, who shall be entitled to speak on any point under discussion, but not to vote.
14. The Association shall in all cases be governed by a majority of the members present, and shall not adjourn untill they have gone through the business at of the Association except in extraordinary cases.
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15. Each Church having an ordained or licensed minister, shall report the same to the Association, in order that they may appear as such on the face of the minutes.
16. The association shall furnish the Churches with the minutes of her proceedings, and it shall be the duty of the Churches to enable her to do so.
17. The Association shall have a fund created and sustained by voluntary contributions from the Churches, which shall be held by the treasurer, and subject to the disposition of a majority of the Association present at any annual session.
18. The annual session of this Association shall commence on Thursday beforethe third LORD'S day in October, or on any other a majority of the members present think proper.
19. By appointment of the Association, there shall be an introductory sermon preached at each annual session, and also a missionary sermon.
20. The power of appointing presbyteries for the ordination of ministers and constitution of Churches within bounds of this district, shall be vested in this Association, any three of whom shall have power to act.
21. The minutes of each day shall be read and corrected (if need be) on each morning, at the opening of business.
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