USA > Tennessee > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb county, Tennessee > Part 5
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The writer recalls these later teachers: W. D. G. Carnes, John Truitt, Miss Cynthia Fuston, Miss Hat- tie Woodside, Mrs. Thomas Adamson (from Iowa), Rev. D. P. Searcy, John F. Roy, Horace M. Hale, Miss Callie Sneed, W. D. Gold, Miss Sallie Coward, W. A. Barger, John Bryan, Miss Amelia Bryan, Hood and Baker (from the North), Jones and Renick, Mr. Friece (from the North), Rev. James Turner, Thomas Turner, Professor Paschal, Miss Stevens, S. B. Sher-
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
rill, Alona Gossett, Robert Smithson, Professor Rose, Professor Crewes, E. W. Brown, J. H. Killman, and Matt Bratten. The teachers in 1914 were : Horace L. Smith, principal; Misses Gene Crowley and Bessie Saunders, assistants ; and Miss Mildred Mathis, music teacher.
It is believed that the first building put to educa- tional purposes was the old log church, Salem, then the new frame which took its place. After the war of 1861-65, the latter was again used; so was the Meth- odist church; and Miss Cynthia Fuston kept school awhile in a log cabin in the eastern part of the village. In 1869 the Masonic Academy was erected, the first teachers being H. M. Hale, principal, and Miss Callie Sneed, assistant. In the present decade the high school building was erected.
It should be stated that shortly after Masonic Acade- my was built differences arose between some of the patrons as to how the common school fund should be managed. As a result another house, William Black- burn leading, was put up near the pioneer graveyard north of the village. A few sessions were held in it, when it fell into disuse.
Old residents of Alexandria think that the first school kept there was by Wyley Reynolds in a log house about 1820. Persons who remember him say that he was above the average as an instructor. Later in a frame house John Collins taught the young idea how to shoot. A frame building was about 1840 espe- cially erected for educational purposes. According to
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LAWRENCE ACADEMY, ALEXANDRIA PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE AND FRED HALE, GASSAWAY. TENN.
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
Goodspeed's history, Masonic Academy followed in 1856, and in 1858 Lawrence College. The two latter, attractive and substantial structures, gave evidence of the people's love of learning, and in their time turned out many well-informed men and cultured women.
Prior to the great war subscription schools were also taught by Miss Bettie Minor, Miss Mary Morti- mer, and Mrs. Susan Bryant.
Other teachers besides Reynolds and Collins have been : John Ogden, Thomas Bunday, William Rust, Frank Smith, Messrs. Pirkey, Joy, McKnight, and William Hi Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer, Mr. and Mrs. Blackington, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Magoffin, James Turner, Thomas Eastes, H. L. W. Gross, Mrs. T. L. Gold, J. L. Boon, and others. Pro- fessor Boon was in charge in 1914, his assistants being Misses Odom, Lucas, and Coles.
Very little is known relative to early Smithville schools of the old field variety, but there were such. Dr. Foster recalls the following, who taught after 1851 : William Eastham, Thomas Bunday, William Dawson, and Mr. Moore.
In 1838 Fulton Academy was chartered. This, a commodious brick building, became famous locally within a few years for its able instructors. The trus- tees of the institution were Thomas Durham, Moses Pedigo, Samuel Allen, Martin Phillips, and Bernard Richardson. The following taught in the academy : William Hi Smith, of Williamson County; H. G. Hampton, of Franklin County ; Mr. Bentley, of Maury
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
County ; John F. Moore, of Vermont; R. F. Sanders and J. J. and W. R. Smith. About 1880-81 Pure Fountain College was erected. It was three stories and cost about $12,000. It was burned, and a build- ing of two stories took its place. One of the teachers at Pure Fountain College was Prof. T. B. Kelley, of Maury County. He took charge in 1883.
A noted ante-bellum school was Union Institute, a mile and a half out on the Sparta road. Mr. Ghorms- ley, who established it, was a minister of the Christian Church and a thorough instructor. He finally engaged in horse-trading, driving the animals south. Becom- ing bankrupt, he left the country.
Names of present tutors : J. S. Wood, A. Colvert, Miss Ocie Powers, Miss Janie Miller, and Mrs. Oma Foster, teacher of music.
In the sketches of Temperance Hall, Dowelltown, Laural Hill, and Forks-of-the-Pike will be found edu- cational notes as to those sections. These names should be added to the list of men and women who have taught in the county at one time or another : W. G. Crowley, Mrs. Peter Adams, Miss Lizzie Simpson, Alex Robinson, his son William, Milton Ward, Robert C. Nesmith, Glasgow Harper, Terry Trapp, Mr. Whit- lock (of Dismal Creek), Uncle Johnnie Sneed, James A. Nesmith, H. C. Givan, Dan Williams, and H. L. Overall.
The following have been Superintendents of Public Instruction : Terry Trapp, who served from the or- ganization of the free school system until 1880, when he was succeeded by J. W. Overall; Alvin Avant,
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
1881 ; Dick Goodson, 1887; M. T. Martin, 1889; E. W. Brown, 1891 ; W. J. Gothard, 1895; J. E. Drake, 1899; R. H. Lankford, 1903; Martha Robinson, 1907 ; J. S. Woods, 1909; J. F. Caplinger, 1913.
The Board of Education for 1914 selected teachers for the schools of the county as follows :
Upper Helton, Richard McGinness; New Hope, Wiley Dinkins.
Green Hill, Otis Turney ; Goggin School, Gertrude Wilson ; Pea Ridge, C. H. Vickers and Harrison Ash- ford; Adamson's Branch, Tommy Cripps.
Possum Hollow, Robert Fuson; Church School. Miss Hattie Sanders; Cripps' School, V. R. Fuson and Miss Hildah Fuson; George School, Less Fuson : Crossroads, Floice Vickers and Virgil Gilreath, co- principals.
Helton, Howard Hobson, principal; Miss Corinne McNelly, assistant.
Pisgah, Mack Reynolds; Capling, Mrs. Carrie Jones ; Bluff School, C. A. Malone.
Four Corners, Miss Willie Bell, principal; assistant to be supplied.
Temperance Hall, Leroy Smith (principal), Miss Stella Young (assistant) ; Cove Hollow, Claude Chris- tian ; Long Branch, L. L. Braswell; colored school, Lizzie Stokes.
Bethel House, Grady Kelley ; Walker's Creek, Hugh Robinson.
Cooper's Chapel, M. C. Bratten (principal), Miss Mai Robinson (assistant) ; Dowelltown, Starnes and
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
Malone; June Bug, Robert White; colored school, Maggie Talley.
It was ordered that the pay of the teachers be the same as for 1913, which was for secondary schools, $45 ; primary, $40, excepting Bethel, Green Hill, Gog- gin, Mud College, Jones House, Rock Castle, and Dale Ridge, which were placed at $35. The salary of as- sistant teachers was $30 for teachers with experience and $25 per month for the new ones. Colored teach- ers receive $30 per month.
In 1823 the first public school law in the State was passed, providing for the application of public funds to establish "poor schools" or to pay the tuition of poor children in other schools. From this is dated the long-time prejudice against public schools, which were called "poor schools" down to recent times. The first efficient system became a law in 1867; while the pres- ent system, which has been added to and strengthened from time to time, was instituted in 1873.
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CHAPTER VII.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
THE first ministers to locate in Tennessee were: Samuel Doak, Presbyterian, who also established the earliest school; Tidence Lane, Baptist, who arrived almost as early as Doak, about 1780; and Jeremiah Lambert, Methodist, who came in 1783. Rev. Charles Cummings, Presbyterian, often visited the East Ten- nessee settlers before the coming of any of the afore- mentioned, but he resided at Abingdon, or Wolf Hills, Va. In 1810 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in Dickson County. The Lutherans formed an organization in 1825, the Christians in 1826, the Episcopalians in 1827, and the Catholics in 1830.
It is probable that the earliest church in DeKalb County was erected by the Baptists of Liberty. In Grime's history of Middle Tennessee Baptists it is said that Cantrell Bethel, born in Maryland December 17, 1779, and died near Liberty October 22, 1848, came with the colony that "marked the establishing of the first town in Tennessee between Nashville and the Cumberland Mountains" and settled half a mile west of Liberty. Not long afterwards he became con- verted; and as there were no Baptists in that section, he joined Union Church, in Warren County, Ky. On his return from Kentucky he began his ministry. gathered a band of his faith at the present Brush Creek, in Smith County, and constituted a Church there May 29, 1802 ; and then, securing an "arm" from
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
Brush Creek at Liberty, established Salem Church at the latter place in August, 1809, becoming the elder or pastor.
But an even earlier preacher who became promi- nent in the Baptist Church was Rev. John Fite. He also located west of Liberty. He was born in Mary- land in 1758 or 1759 and was a Presbyterian minister when he came to this section. Becoming a Baptist preacher in 1812, he died near Liberty February IS. 1852. Elder Fite was the father of Moses and Henry Fite, also grandfather of James, Robert, and Thomas Fite, who are yet living in other States and maintain- ing the prestige of high citizenship established by their ancestors.
Salem Baptist Church, at Liberty, was constituted an independent body in August, 1809, with thirty-one members. The first building was of logs and was 25 by 30 feet. About 1849 a frame building took its place, and this in turn was replaced by the present frame structure, 40 by 70 feet, about 1880. The member- ship has been large in recent years, numbering three hundred and twenty-one in 1902. Pastors: Cantrell Bethel, 1809-37 (William Dale supplying a part of this period while Bethel was on a missionary tour) : Joshua Lester, 1837-46; Henry Fite, 1846-47; Na- thaniel Hays, 1847-68; L. H. Bethel, 1868-71 ; J. W. Hunt, 1871-72; J. R. Bowman, 1872-73; J. W. Hunt and J. R. Bowman, 1873-75; J. W. Hunt, 1875-76: T. J. Eastes, 1876-83 ; J. M. Stewart, 1883-86; Wil- liam Simpson, 1886-87 ; T. J. Eastes, 1887-1902 ; Wil- liam Wauford, 1902-13; R. L. Bell, 1913.
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
It may be well to name some of the early clerks of this historic Church: Adam Dale (the first Liberty settler and miller ), 1809-16; William Givan, 1816-20; Tilman Bethel, 1820-50; Seth Whaley, 1850-51 ; James Bratten, 1851-71; J. A. Fite, 1871-72; James Allan, 1872-78 ; I. N. Fite, 1878-79 ; L. J. Bratten, 1879 until his death, more than twenty years. Among the deacons were the following: John Horn, Nehemiah Garrison, William Dale, James Evans, E. Parsons, Joseph Hays, Moses Fite, 1822; Henry Fite, Sr., 1829; George Givan, 1845; Seth Whaley, 1845; Thomas Givan and James Hollandsworth, 1851 ; James Stark and Thomas Fite, 1871; I. N. Fite and William Robinson, 1878; T. M. Givan and J. A. Bass, 1886; Henry Fite, Jr., 1886; F. M. Turner and J. C. Bass, 1889; H. M. Fite and J. D. Smith, 1891 ; T. G. Bratten, 1891 ; Horace Evans and James Stark, Jr., 1897.
Salem has sent out this list of ministers: John Fite; Nathaniel Hays ("Uncle Natty") ; William Dale, 1815; John Horn, 1819; James Evans, 1825; R. Wilson, 1819; Henry Fite, 1837; Lafayette Perryman, 1872; J. H. Vickers, 1881 ; R. E. Smith, 1886. The follow- ing were licensed as exhorters in the old days when this custom was in vogue: Jonathan Hendrixon, John Haas, Lemuel G. Griffons, William Gossett, Moses Fite, and others. Among former elders or pastors, these sleep in Salem Cemetery : Cantrell Bethel, James Evans (who died early from the kick of a mule, and was said to have been the first adult buried there), William Dale, Archamac Bass, Nathaniel Hays, Henry Fite, John Fite, and J. W. Hunt.
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
The writer recalls a number of ministers of the county who were living during the war and shortly afterwards and pauses to pay them his tribute. One was Rev. Nathaniel Hays, born about 1807, ordained to preach in 1846, preached his first and last sermon at New Hope, and died October 28, 1868. Such was his life that he was not molested by either side during the war, though the antagonisms of that struggle brought something like chaos to the country. One can hardly estimate the good he accomplished after the war. A big man physically, he was strong-souled also, and people had faith in him. Hundreds of ex-soldiers listened to him, forgot heart bitternesses, and took the straight and narrow way. When the writer dreams of real heroes as they appeared to his boyhood eyes, lie thinks of Natty Hays, Hall Bethel, Moses Fite, and two or three consecrated Methodists who for more than a generation stood unfalteringly for the cause of God.
New Hope is situated south of Alexandria. Rev. William Dale, who bought the farm known in later years as the Eli Rowland place, began preaching at Thomas Finley's home, but in 1818 established the Church with eighteen members. A building was erected, and the earlier pastors were: William Dale, W. P. Hughes, Archamac Bass, Henry Fite, Nathan- iel Hays, T. J. Eastes, J. C. Brien, J. R. Hearn, J. M. Stewart, William Simpson, A. C. Webb, J. F. MeNabb, and Stephen Robinson.
The Smithville Church was constituted August 25, 1844, with fourteen members, in the Methodist church.
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
A house of worship was erected about 1858. The pastors have been : Jesse Allen, 1847-60; Hall Bethel, 1860-70; J. C. Brien, 1870-73; J. R. Bowman, 1873- 75 ; A. J. McNabb, 1875-76; T. J. Eastes, 1876-78; J. J. Martin, 1878 -; J. J. Porter, about 1880; J. C. Brien, about 1881-85; J. T. Oakley, about 1885-88 : N. R. Sanborn, 1889-90; William Simpson, 1890-91 ; W. H. Smith, 1891-92; J. H. Grime, 1893-95; J. T. Oakley, 1896 -; and A. P. Moore. Clerks to 1902: J. L. Bond, Abner Witt, P. P. Johnson, J. A. Wilson, and L. W. Beckwith.
Indian Creek Church, eight miles north of Smith- ville, dates back to 1844. First named Caney Fork Church, it was changed to Indian Creek in 1848. Among its pastors were Henry Fite, J. C. Brien, Wil- liam Simpson, J. M. Stewart, D. C. Taylor, D. W. Taylor, A. J. Waller, and W. E. Wauford.
A noted old log church, known to the present gen- eration only as a Methodist church, was Goshen, on Dismal Creek, north of Liberty. It was constituted a Baptist Church in July, 1821, by Cantrell Bethel and John Fite. Fite was the only pastor it ever had, as not much interest was aroused, and the Church was dissolved in 1837. From then on for years the Meth- odists controlled the religious sentiment of the com- munity. About 1879 Rev. J. C. Brien began preaching in the neighborhood. As a result Cooper's Chapel was constituted in 1880 with nine members. J. C. Brien was the first pastor. Others have been: J. R. Hearn, J. H. Vickers, William Simpson, W. E. Raikes, A. C. Webb, J. F. McNabb, J. A. McClusky, and
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
Stephen Robinson. The Church was named for Isaac Cooper, a Mexican War and Confederate veteran. Though a Methodist (but afterwards uniting with the Baptist congregation), the erection of Cooper's Chapel was due mainly to his efforts.
Mount Zion is situated near Temperance Hall. With fourteen members the Church was instituted June 30, 1851, in an old schoolhouse. Soon after its constitu- tion Nicholas Smith was received by letter. He went to work arousing interest in the need of a church. It was erected and the first services held in it June, 1858. Pastors to 1902: Henry Fite, Nathaniel Hays, J. C. Brien, T. J. Eastes, S. S. Hale, William Simpson, J. M. Steward, A. C. Webb, J. F. McNabb, and W. E. Wauford. Clerks: T. P. Jones, W. M. Crowder, Z. P. Lee, R. W. Mason, A. P. Smith, W. A. Washer, H. A. Hill, S. M. Williams, E. L. Lawrence, T. D. Oakley, and L. C. Martin.
Until recent years the only Churches in Alexandria were the Methodist, Christian, and Cumberland Pres- byterian, the first two having been established prior to the War between the States. As the result of a doc- trinal debate in the town in January, 1887, between Elder Moody, Baptist, and Dr. T. W. Brents, Chris- tian, the Baptist citizens resolved to organize. This was done during the month of the debate, and in time a neat and commodious church was erected. This was destroyed by lightning some years later, but in 1914 a new and handsome structure was built on the ruins. Some of the pastors have been: J. B. Moody, at one time editor of the Baptist Reflector, N. R. Sanborn,
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
W. H. Smith, J. B. Fletcher, Rutherford Brett, T. J. Eastes, and R. L. Bell. Early clerks: J. A. Walker, J. M. Walker, C. E. Bailiff, and C. B. Bailiff. Deacons in the first years: L. E. Jones, Isaac Cooper, Levi Foutch, J. H. Snoddy, H. H. Jones, A. P. Smith, G. A. Measle, Samuel McMillan, J. A. Walker, J. S. Rowland, and James Stark. Livingston Tubb is the present clerk.
Dry Creek Church was organized through the in- strumentality of J. M. Stewart and J. H. Vickers "near a straw stack in Dr. J. A. Fuson's lot," says Grime. A neat building was erected, the early pastors having been J. M. Stewart, William Simpson, J. H. Davis, J. H. Grime, and Stephen Robinson.
Wharton Springs Baptist Church was constituted three miles south of Smithville in 1889 in the dwelling of E. B. Allen. Among its pastors were William Simpson, J. A. McClusky, J. H. Davis, J. M. Stewart, and J. T. Oakley.
The Snow's Hill Church was instituted in 1897, the following having been early pastors : A. J. Waller and Stephen Robinson.
Pastors of the Dowelltown Church, which was or- ganized in 1894, were: J. W. Stewart, J. H. Grime, J. F. McNabb, W. J. Watson, J. H. Whitlock, and W. E. Wauford.
Sycamore Fork Church, having in 1902 the largest membership of any in Salem Association, is on the line between DeKalb and Cannon Counties, and was instituted through the efforts of Rev. Henry Bass in 1871. A house of worship was built in 1895. Of the
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
pastors, these are recalled : Henry Bass, Hall Bethel, J. R. Hearn, William Simpson, J. H. Grime, G. A. Ogle, Stephen Robinson, and W. J. Watson. Of pa- thetic interest is the fact that one of the young min- isters trained in this Church, J. T. Hancock, was called to its care, but died before his first appointment.
Other Churches are Beech Grove, at the mouth of Holm's Creek, established in 1858; Wolf Creek, near Laurel Hill, 1846; and New Union, near Frank's Ferry, southeast of Smithville, 1870 .*
The Primitive, or "Hardshell," Baptists have a small membership in the county. Of the two noted Churches, Bildad and New Bildad, both south of Smithville, the latter is the most noted. Among the well-known Primitive Baptist ministers, these are re- called : Revs. Isaac Denton, Terry Trapp, James Snow, L. Pope Potter, and Mr. Byers.
In reply to a letter of inquiry, Rev. G. I ... Beale, Sec- retary of the Tennessee Conference, M. E. Church, South, writes :
The records of the Tennessee Conference are very incom- plete. The minutes were not printed prior to 1879, except at rare intervals. The written journals were destroyed by fire in the Publishing House in 1871. In the fall of 1812 the first Conference appears. That same year Stones River Circuit first appears in the minutes. Smith's Fork Circuit first ap- pears in 1823, with William Algood and John Rains as pas-
*At the meeting of the Central Association of the Mission- ary Baptist Church at Trezevant, Tenn., in September, 1914, reports showed that the membership in the State (white) was, in round numbers, one hundred and ninety-two thousand.
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
tors-no boundaries given. In 1838 the name of Short Moun- tain Circuit is given, with J. A. Walkup as pastor (no bound- aries). I have no data by which I could tell you when the societies at Liberty, Alexandria, or Smithville were started. Neither Alexandria nor Smithville became a circuit until after the War between the States.
In examining such records as remain, the following preachers, among others, are named as having been pastors at various times from 1830 to the war :
Smith Fork Circuit: L. Lowery, Jacob Ellinger, John Kelley, Elisha Carr, W. Ledbetter, Miles S. Johnston, John Page, S. Carlisle, Abe Overall, N. L. Norvell, J. T. Sherrell, E. J. Allen, John Bransford, F. D. Wrother, J. J. Foster, Fountain E. Pitts (P. E.), John H. Mann, William Jarred, C. Evans, Asbury D. Overall, John Hill, Joseph Willis, Russell Eskew, S. H. Reams, John Sherrell (P. E.), J. C. Putnam, G. L. Staley, F. S. Petway (P. E.), J. J. Comer, J. W. Prichard, J. G. Ray, J. R. Harris. During the war (there were no Conference sessions in 1863-64) : J. A. Orman, J. J. Pitts, Fletcher Tarrant.
Short Mountain Circuit: J. A. Walkup, John H. Mann, J. B. Hollis, Abe Overall, A. Bowen, Isaac Woodward, J. W. Cullom, Joseph Banks, Daniel P. Searcy (in 1855-56, afterwards with the "Northern wing"), J. A. Reams, Carna Freeman, F. S. Petway (P. E.), T. S. Brown, W. D. Ensey, R. A. Reagan. During 1861 and 1863: R. A. Reagan, William Burr (P.E.), A. C. Matthews.
Caney Fork Circuit: W. Deskin, Uriah Williams, Peter Borum, J. D. Winn, Jere Williams, John Kelley,
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
S. Pressley, P. P. Hubbard, Jacob Custer, J. H. Mann, J. Lewis, J. A. Jones, Isaac Woodward, B. F. Fer- rell, Jehu Sherrill .*
In 1865 Rev. U. S. Bates was appointed to the Smith Fork Circuit, the first circuit rider at Liberty after the war. George L. Staley was presiding elder. In the same year John H. Nichols and A. H. Reams were ap- pointed to the Short Mountain Circuit.
No doubt many of the before-the-war ministers were in their time well known personally to the Meth- odists throughout the county as well as over their par- ticular circuits.
The Tennessee Conference of the M. E. Church, South, in October, 1914, made the following appoint- ments in the county, with H. B. Blue, P. E. : Alexan- dria, J. D. Robins ; Keltonsburg Mission, J. R. Craw- ford, supply ; Liberty Circuit, J. B. Estes ; Smithville Mission, J. W. Estes.
It appears certain that a Methodist society was or- ganized at Liberty long prior to the building of the church, which was about 1825, for the itinerants often preached in the people's homes. The substantial church erected so early supports this view. It was built by the pioneer carpenters, William Givan, Josey Evans, and Robert Burton, Maryland people, and was about 30 by 40 feet, two stories, with a good bell and belfry. The second floor had a large opening over
*The writer may be pardoned for his personal interest in the ministers of 1859. It was in June of that year that, at Liberty, his father, C. W. L. Hale, and Rev. W. J. Hale were converted.
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
the pulpit and altar on the first floor, that the slave members, who occupied that floor, might see and hear the minister. The framework of the building was so stanchly mortised and dovetailed and pegged that citizens said it would not have come apart had it been blown from its foundation and rolled out of the vil- lage. This church was occupied by negro soldiers in the war of 1861-65, and when they left the hogs and town cows appropriated it. Soon after peace the Methodists put it in as good condition as possible, and it was used for Church and school purposes until about 1874, when the present building was erected. The writer recalls the church's appearance well. The doors faced east and west, and on the eastern end of the roof comb was the belfry, a favorite place for bats and owls. The membership seems never to have been very large ; but, considering the intolerance which used to prevail, it was "game." Some of the pulpit orators of ante-bellum days were heard in this old building, among them Fountain E. Pitts, J. J. Comer, and Ferdi- nand S. Petway. Dr. Foster wrote in 1914: "Sixty or sixty-five years ago one of the grandest characters I ever knew lived in Liberty-Stephen Moore, a Meth- odist preacher. He was goodness personified, and his wife was a worthy companion." In the same year Mrs. Polly Youngblood, the oldest inhabitant of Liberty and the widow of William Youngblood, said : "Yes, I ought to remember Brother Moore, as he of- ficiated at my wedding." Joseph Banks and Isaac Woodward (the latter from Warren County) often preached at Liberty.
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
Among the Southern Methodist circuit riders since the war who served at this place and other Churches in the county, the following are recalled by H. L. Hale : U. S. Bates, J. A. Orman, John H. Nichols, W. B. Lowry, John Allison, W. J. ("Dod") Hale, John G. Molloy, J. J. Pitts, Joseph Webster, Wade Jarred, N. A. Anthony, J. T. Blackwood, G. B. McPeak, I. N. Napier, Mr. Gilbert, J. L. Kellum, Mr. Baird, T. A. Carden, J. B. McNeill, R. N. Chenault, W. M. Cook (the pastor in 1914). The presiding elders : J. M. Alli- son, J. J. Comer, J. W. Cullom, Berry Stephens, R. P. Ransom, J. T. Curry, George Anderson, T. G. Hin- son, W. B. Lowry, W. V. Jarratt, John Ransom, T. L. Moody, and J. T. Blackwood.
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