USA > Tennessee > History of middle Tennessee Baptists : with special reference to Salem, New Salem, Enon and Wiseman associations > Part 10
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COOKEVILLE.
This church is located in the town of Cookeville. This town is a prosperous railroad town and the seat of government for Putnam County, Tennessee.
In the year 1873, Elder Patrick Moore, assisted by other ministers, held a series of meetings in the town, using the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, house of worship. At the close of the meeting, or soon after, a church was constituted with thirty-four members on September 26, 1873. Elder James Moore, an elder brother of Elder Patrick Moore, acted as moderator of the constituting Presbytery and Professor J. J. Finney as clerk. These ministers were members of Union Association, which was originally known as
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"Separate Baptists." They continued to worship in the Methodist house and the whole town and com- munity were permeated with Baptist influence and could have been easily taken for the Baptist cause. But the Baptist ministers of ability lived quite a dis- tance away and the interest was permitted to die out through sheer neglect.
PASTORS : ยท Elder Patrick Moore was elected pastor . November, 1873, and J. J. Finney clerk. In October, 1875, the church called as pastor Elder J. K. Stimp- son, a strange young man who chanced to pass that way. He proved unworthy, ran away to avoid the clutches of the law and was excluded. In 1876 Elder T. R. Cooper was called to the care of the church and served only a short while, when Elder R. A. Dillard, a missionary of Salem Association, took charge of the work. In 1877 Elder A. L. Parker was called, and in 1878 Elder J. B. Fox was called. From this time to 1892 the church lay dormant. In No- vember, 1892, Elder T. J. Eastes gathered the rem- nant together and reorganized them for work. A lot was secured and a neat, commodious house of wor- ship was erected. From that time the following min- isters have served as pastors in the following order, but dates not known: Elder T. J. Eastes, Elder J. M. Stewart, Elder R. Brett, Elder R. A. Rushing, Elder T. T. Thompson, Elder S. N. Fitzpatrick.
This church first united with Union Association, but after the reorganization they united with New Salem Association.
This is one of the most inviting fields known to this author and with the right man in the pulpit might soon be a Baptist stronghold.
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Church Sketches
PISTOLE'S AND BOILING SPRING CHURCHES.
The above churches are so connected that their his- tory must be written jointly.
Pistole's Church is situated in the northern part of White County, Tennessee, on Falling Water River, some three miles below Bunker Hill. This church was planted by the missionaries of Salem Association un- der the direction of Elder Jesse Johnson. This church is an offspring of Hudgen's Creek Church, another mission church, located three miles south of Cooke- ville.
This church was constituted in April, 1851, by Eld- ers Jesse Johnson, Louis Dies and Joel J. James, mis- sionaries of Salem Association. They united with Salem Association on September 20, 1851, when con- vened at Plunkett's Creek. They carried with them a constituency of thirty-eight members. They re- mained a member of this body till May, 1853, when they became a constituent member of Johnson Asso- ciation. The growth of this church for the first ten years (to the opening of the Civil War) was phenom- enal. They numbered at this time perhaps near three hundred members, besides sending out several new churches. During this time they had also ordained three ministers, viz .: Elders Elijah Hickey, Alonzo Bennett and James H. Nelson. (For the lack of rec- ords we cannot give dates.) Few churches have ever had a brighter record to begin with. If the curtain only could fall here; but alas !
When the hostilities between the States opened this church was situated in the center of guerilla warfare, which played sad havoc with this once prosperous body. The ministry was cut off from the church and
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many of the members moved away to seek more peace- ful quarters.
Taking advantage of the surroundings, Elders Thomas Stone and Thomas and Benjamin Clouse, "Christian Baptist" ministers, came in and took pos- session of the house of worship and proselyted a num- ber of the members to the "Christian Baptist" persua- sion. At the close of hostilities, when the scattered brotherhood reassembled, the "Christian Baptists" held the property by sheer force of possession. Dur- ing the war their pastor had died (Alonzo Bennett) and in vain they tried to arouse an interest. In 1867 this scattered band built a house some two miles north in the edge of Putnam County on a two-acre lot do- nated by John Grime and moved their place of wor- ship to this point and changed the name from Pistole's to Boiling Spring. From this time the church began to prosper, and this disheartened band saw their work again blessed, and was soon one of the most influ- ential churches of that section. In the meantime a very influential and promising young minister by the name of Mansfield Howell had grown up among the "Christian Baptists" and proposed to unite with Boil- ing Spring Church, provided they would receive him on his baptism. Like King Saul, the temptation was too great for them and they yielded. The idea of se- curing such a trophy from the very people who had taken their church house from them was more than they could deny. There was an element in the church, however, who were opposed to receiving him unless he would be baptized, however personally he was loved by all. His reception caused quite a deal of confusion in Johnson Association, of which this church was a member.
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In the meantime a few brethren decided to reclaim the old Pistole's Church property. So on August 14, 1874, a church was constituted there, with six mem- bers, by Elders J. C. Brien and T. R. Cooper. This new church stood opposed to reception of alien im- mersion. They began at once to prosper and the "Christian Baptists" abandoned the property and left it to their use.
At this time the author of these pages was clerk of Boiling Spring Church, but strongly opposed alien immersion. The discussion in Johnson Association grew more sharp from year to year till 1874, when they met with Caney Fork Baptist Church in the northern part of DeKalb County. At this meeting the climax was reached and this church was dropped from the roll. The Baptist cause owes much in this con- test to Elder E. L. Smith, of Enon Association. J. H. Grime had resigned the clerkship of Boiling Spring Church, and feeling that he could not afford to be de- prived of the fellowship of his brethren he, with nine others, withdrew from Boiling Spring Church in Jan- uary, 1875, and united with the Pistole's Church, where they could have fellowship with the Baptist brotherhood. For this act the entire ten were ar- raigned before Boiling Spring Church and summarily excluded by wholesale in March, 1875. J. H. Grime begged for a hearing, but was refused, as he was re- garded the chief offender. In 1876, when Salem As- sociation met with the church at Auburn, Boiling Spring Church by petition gained admittance to that body. But the facts being fully made known, it was dropped from the roll the next session at Brush Creek. By this time many had left the church and as a last resort they affiliated with the "Christian Baptists" in
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Association. Thus matters went till 1888. In the meantime J. H. Grime had been ordained to the min- istry by Pistole's Church.
In November, 1888, Elder J. H. Grime by request went to Boiling Spring and preached for some days, when by vote, with only three dissenting, they agreed to rescind all illegal actions, correct all irregularities and have said J. H. Grime to baptize all who had been illegally baptized. This action was taken November 20, 1888, and when the church was in order for busi- ness ten whose baptism was irregular were received and baptized. Three days later several other "Chris- tian Baptists" were received and baptized by said Grime, among them two preachers, Elders J. D. and Samuel Howell, brothers of the said Elder Mansfield Howell. Thus the same church which excluded J. H. Grime called him back to help them out of their difficulty.
PASTORS : Among the pastors of old Pistole's, which afterward became Boiling Spring, we find the following: Elder J. J. James, Elder Alonzo Bennett, Elder Elijah Hickey, Elder J. R. Bowman. After the reconstruction in 1888, they are as follows: Elder A. J. Waller, 1888-89; Elder J. D. Howell, 1889-90; Elder A. J. Waller, 1890-93; Elder J. D. Howell, 1893-94; Elder A. J. Waller, 1894-95; Elder O. T. Jones, 1895-96; Elders J. D. and Samuel Howell, 1897-01.
CLERKS : S. C. Pistole, John Grime and J. H. Grime before the rupture. Since the reconstruction : A. D. Jones, 1888-89; J. A. Jones, 1889-90; C. C. Roberts, 1890-91 ; J. D. Howell, 1891-92 ; W. J. Jones, 1892-96; G. W. Howell, 1896-01.
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DEACONS: Among the early deacons were S. C. Pistole, John Grime, A. D. Jones and Albert Davis. Later we have W. J. Jones, William Massa, R. B. Waller, 1894 ; J. G. Jones, 1894 ; and others not known.
They have sent out the following preachers: Eld- ers Alonzo Bennett, Elijah Hickey and J. H. Nelson, who were ordained in the early history of the church. Since the reconstruction they are as follows: Elder J. D. Howell, ordained November 23, 1888, by Elders J. H. Grime and A. J. Waller ; Elder Samuel Howell, ordained November 23, 1888, by Elders J. H. Grime and A. J. Waller : A. D. Thomas was licensed June, 1890; Elders Louis Rice and Frank Judd have been ordained by this church within the past few years, but we cannot ascertain the particulars.
Since the reconstruction this church has affiliated with New Salem Association.
The present Pistole Church, as stated, was consti- tuted August 14, 1874, by Elders J. C. Brien and T. R. Cooper on the Confession of Faith of Salem Asso- ciation. They have had officers as follows :
PASTORS : Elder T. C. Brien, 1874-75 ; Elder T. R. Cooper, 1875-78: Elder A. L. Parker, 1878-79; Elder William White, 1879-82; Elder J. H. Grime, 1882-83 ; Elder Edwin Kelley, 1883-84; Elders T. R. Cooper, William Myers and J. B. Fox, 1884-85 ; Elder Edwin Kelley, 1885-89, when Elders J. D. and Samuel Howell were called as assistants till 1893; Elder Sam- uel Howell, 1893-95; Elder J. A. McClusky, 1895- 97 ; Elder Riley Green, 1897 to the present.
CLERKS: W. J. Vickers, 1874-77; G. W. Cole, 1877-80; F. M. Williams, 1880; T. R. Cooper, 1880- 84; T. J. Edwards, 1884-93; J. H. Pistole, 1893 to the present.
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DEACONS: William Tibbs, 1874; S. C. Pistole, 1874; J. H. Grime, 1875; T. J. Edwards, 1875, Y. K. Brown, 1876; J. H. Vickers, 1876; W. R. Hutson, 1888; J. W. Lafever, 1888.
The following ministers have been sent out, viz : Elder P. H. Tibbs, ordained March 27, 1876, by Eld- ers T. R. Cooper and J. W. Cunningham; Elder J. H. Grime, ordained March 27, 1876, by Elders J. W. Cunningham and T. R. Cooper ; Elder Louis Howell, ordained July 29, 1891, by Elders S. N. Fitzpatrick, J. A. McClusky, J. D. Howell, Samuel Howell and Edwin Kelley ; Elder Spencer Jernigan, ordained No- vember, 1891, by Elders J. A. McClusky, E. Kelley, J. D. Howell, Samuel Howell and Louis Howell.
This church represents in Union Association.
BEECH GROVE.
This church is situated on Caney Fork River, at the mouth of Holmes' Creek, some nine miles north of Smithville, in DeKalb County, Tennessee.
This church was constituted in 1858, the exact time not known. They united with Salem Association at that date when convened at Woodbury. The circum- stances of the origin of this church are peculiar and interesting. A man by the name of Bond lived in this community. He made no pretensions to Christianity and, so far as this author knows, died without making any public profession. He was an honorable citizen and possessed of a good degree of this world's goods. At that time the community was isolated and destitute of preaching or church privileges. So Mr. Bond built on his own land, at his own personal expense, what was regarded at that day as a splendid house of wor- ship. When the house was complete he told the Bap-
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tists if they would come and hold a meeting and con- stitute a church he would deed them the house and sufficient amount of land for their use. In compliance with this request, Elder Henry Bass and some other ministers held a meeting and constituted a Church of fifteen members. Most, if not all, of Mr. Bond's fam- ily sooner or later became members of this church, and, it is said, though not a Christian himself, that none enjoyed the meetings more than he. The follow- ing incident is told: During the first meeting there one of his daughters professed faith in Christ and was baptized. When the minister led her down into the sparkling waters of Caney Fork River, her father fol- lowed her and stood beside her and wept like a child as the man of God buried her with Christ in baptism, and with a loud voice he thanked God that his chil- dren were coming in. Were not these things the fruit of a new life? It is said he could not govern his tem- per and would indulge in profanity, but none lamented it more than he, and, at the risk of being criticised, I will say that I expect to see him in heaven. I see fruits which indicate a good tree.
Among the leading members we note the Lees, Fos- ters, Martins, Hales, Congers and Merritts; but for the want of records cannot give particulars.
PASTORS: Among the pastors we note the follow- ing, viz .: Elders H. Bass, Felix Patterson, J. C. Brien, J. R. Bowman, Elijah Hickey, J. M. Stewart, William Simpson, J. H. Vickers, David Taylor and J. H. Davis, A. J. Brien.
This church for many years was in a flourishing condition, but at the present is at a very low ebb. She is still identified with Salem Association. This church
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is an offspring of Wolf Creek and has a present mem- bership of fifty-four.
WOLF CREEK.
This church is situated on the waters of Wolf Creek just above Smutsville, or Laurel Hill, in DeKalb County, Tennessee.
This church was constituted in 1846 and united with Salem Association the same year, with a membership of nineteen. This church was constituted by mission- aries of Salem Association, viz .: Elder Louis Dies and others, and the growth for some time was Dhe- nomenal. We have no direct records of this church and cannot give dates.
PASTORS: She has enjoyed the ministry of such men as Elders Louis Dies, D. M. Lee, Felix Patter- son, J. C. Brien, J. R. Bowman, Elijah Hickey, J. M. Stewart, R. E. Smith, J. T. Farmer, J. A. McClusky, A. J. Waller, Samuel Howell and A. J. Brien.
This is a mother church and has sent out several other churches. She has sent out as ministers Elders D. M. Lee and Felix Patterson. For some time this was one of the leading churches of Salem Association. In 1853 they went into the constitution of Johnson Association and remained in this body until recently, when she returned to Salem. This church at present is very much run down and has but little preaching, although she has a good house of worship. This church has numbered among her members some of the staunchest Baptists in this section. Elder Louis Dies was a long time a member of this church. The pres- ent number is forty-five, and present deacons are E. A. Foster and W. R. Huddleston. J. D. Brown is
the clerk.
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INDIAN CREEK.
This church is situated on the waters of Indian Creek, some eight miles north of Smithville, DeKalb County, Tenn. This church was gathered through the labors of Elders Nathaniel Hays and Archamac Bass, and is an offspring of Salem Baptist Church.
This church was constituted November, 1844, with seven members, and united the next year with Salem Association when convened with Hickman's Creek Church. They numbered at this time twenty mem- bers. They first took the name of Caney Fork Church and changed their name to Indian Creek in 1848.
This church has had a fair degree of success, but for the want of records we can give but little of the details.
PASTORS: The following, with perhaps others, have served this church as pastor: Elder Henry Fite, Elder J. C. Brien, 1881-83; Elder William Simp- son, 1883-85; Elder J. C. Brien, 1885-88; Elder J. M. Stewart, 1888-91 ; Elder A. J. Brien, 1891-92; Elder William Simpson, 1892-93 ; Elder D. C. Taylor, 1893-96; Elder D. W. Taylor, 1896-97; Elder A. J. Waller, 1897-98; Elder J. M. Stewart, 1898-99; Elder D. C. Taylor, 1899-00; Elder D. W. Taylor, 1900-01 ; Elder W. E. Wauford, 1901.
DEACONS : J. C. Taylor and Jackson Hendrixson, 1844; O. D. Cantrel and James Pig, 1899.
In the latter part of the seventies a division occurred in the church, which resulted in a few members with- drawing and organizing a Freewill Baptist Church near by. This new fad seemed to prosper for a while under the leadership of one Elder Curtis, but we hear it has finally gone out.
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She has sent out as ministers Elders D. C. Taylor and D. W. Taylor. This was once a strong church, but numbers at present only eighty-five members. She has a new house of worship.
She has always represented in Salem Association.
MT. PLEASANT.
This church is situated in the northern part of Can- non County, Tennessee, on the dividing ridge between Woodbury and Liberty. The first Baptist sermon ever preached in this community was preached by Elder J. K. Womack in the month of April, 1874. The work was then taken up by Elder Henry Bass, who at that time was pastor of Sycamore Fork Church, a short distance away. This work was fostered by the church at Sycamore Fork, of which this church is an offspring. The year following (1875) they were constituted into an independent body by Elders H. Bass, J. W. Hunt and A. J. McNabb. They came into the Association with a constituency of twenty- seven members.
PASTORS: Elder H. Bass, 1875-79; Elder W. E. Raikes, 1879-81 ; Elder James McElliot, 1881-83 ; Elder A. C. Webb, 1883-89; Elder W. E. Raikes, 1889-91 ; Elder A. C. Webb, 1891-96; Elder J. B. Tedder, 1896-97; Elder Stephen Robinson, 1897 to the present.
CLERKS : John Ward, 1875-76; W. J. King, 1876- 79; James M. Womack, 1870-81 ; A. C. Webb, 1881- 85; John Ward, 1885-86; J. B. Tedder, 1886-87; W. M. Ward, 1887-89 ; A. C. Webb, 1889-90; J. D. Bogle, 1890-97 ; J. B. Tedder, 1897 to the present.
DEACONS: The only deacons we could find from the records were G. C. Keeton and W. A. Wilson, or- dained 1876; A. C. Webb, 1879.
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Church Sketches
This church has sent out the following ministers, viz .: Elder A. C. Webb, licensed June, 1882 (the date of his ordination we fail to get) ; Elder J. B. Tedder, ordained October 8, 1893, by Elders A. J. Brien, A. C. Webb and W. F. Osborn.
This has never been a strong church, but has con- tained some noble spirits and accomplished a great deal of good. They have always since their consti- tution represented in Salem Association. They num- ber at present sixty-one members.
This was a very wicked community, but had been preoccupied by the Campbellites. The persecution against the Baptists at the beginning was very fierce, as the following incident will illustrate. Elder Bass was an old man of unquestioned piety. Soon after he began preaching there, one Saturday on arriving at the school house where he was to preach, near by he discovered a gallows erected, with a notice in writing that if he did not leave the community and cease to preach his Baptist doctrine he would be hanged upon it. He went into the house and preached. At the close of the service he announced his hanging, stating that they would find him about the Master's business. It was believed that some of the parties who had erected the gallows were present listening. Suf- fice it to say, that while they kept up their secret per- secutions, they never undertook another "bluff" on Elder Bass.
PATMOS, OR NEW UNION.
This church is situated in DeKalb County, some twelve miles southeast of Smithville, and near Frank's Ferry.
The date of the constitution of this church is not known, the records having been lost. They were ad-
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mitted into Salem Association in 1860. This church was constituted by a Presbytery consisting of Elders Felix Patterson and J. J. James. The circumstances surrounding the organization of this church are some- what peculiar. These ministers conducted a meeting in a Methodist house of worship, but were refused the privilege of organizing in it; so they retired to an island in Caney Fork River, near the mouth of Sink Creek, where the church was constituted, after which converts were received and baptized. The fact that the church was constituted on an island most prob- ably suggested the name "Patmos," by which it was a long time known.
This church was known as Patmos until about 1885, when a new house was built and the name changed to New Union.
PASTORS: She has enjoyed the pastoral services of Elders Felix Patterson, J. C. Brien and R. K. Keaton, with perhaps others. Elder Keaton has served this church as pastor since 1874.
DEACONS: A. T. Fisher, John Fisher and N. T. Wall; the two latter are serving at present.
CLERKS: James Wright was for many years clerk ; S. T. Wall is present clerk and has served since 1885. This church at present numbers thirty-six and is not in a very thriving condition. This is one of the most inviting fields known to this author. A band of faith- ful souls compose this little flock and with an active leader would soon become a strong church. Elder Keaton is old and feeble and must soon cease to visit them.
FALLING CREEK.
This church is situated in the southern part of Wil- son County, Tennessee, on the waters of Falling Creek.
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This church is an offspring of Smith's Fork Church, also drawing some of her constituent members from Union or Hurricane Church. This church was con- stituted with twenty-one members, the first Saturday in May, 1822, by a Presbytery consisting of Elders John Jones, Joshua Lester and James Bond. They were constituted in what was known as Copeland's Meeting House and in their early history were fre- quently known by that name. This house stood about one mile east of Henderson's Cross Roads. The church worshiped here until 1880, when a new and commodious house of worship was built near said cross roads and the place of worship changed.
PASTORS: Elder James Bond, September, 1822, to his death, September, 1852; Elder John Phillips, June, 1854, to his death, April 15, 1862; Elder Mor- gan Green, 1862-68; Elder J. M. Phillips, 1868-71 ; Elder Enoch Windes, 1871-77; Elder J. M. D. Cates, 1877-78; Elder J. T. Oakley, 1878-97; Elder Enoch Windes, 1897-98; Elder P. W. Carney, 1898 to the present. It would be but justice to state that Elder Williamson Williams, during his entire ministerial life, beginning with 1833, and continuing till his death, served as assistant pastor and did a great deal of the preaching and most of the baptizing.
DEACONS: Following is a list of the deacons : Wm. Warren, Samuel Copeland, Preston Henderson, Rich- ard Mount, Wm. Arbuckle, J. A. Blankenship, S. T. Clemmons, Edwin Berry, J. A. Williams, L. D. Phil- lips, Benjamin Cluck, J. H. Williams, S. B. Clem- mons, O. W. Phillips, G. P. Clemmons, W. P. Phillips, T. F. Atwood. The date of ordination I have failed to secure.
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CLERKS: The following have acted as clerks but dates are not known: Williamson Williams, William Arbuckle, H. B. Williams, H. S. Henderson, S. B. Clemmons, J. A. Williams, Sr., J. H. Williams, W. T. Clemmons, G. M. Robinson and J. M. Williams.
This is one of the best churches in this section. They went into the constitution of Salem Association in 1822 as a new church and have represented in this body ever since. They have since their organization furnished a home for, perhaps, not less than 1,500 persons. I have obtained the following concerning the number baptized by part of the pastors: Elder James Bond baptized 334, Elder John Phillips baptized 82, Elder Morgan Green baptized 63, Elder J. T. Oakley baptized 207, Elder P. W. Carney has baptized to the present 30. The statistics for the remainder of the pastorates I have failed to secure. The present num- ber is 279.
We have no means of knowing the number of min- isters sent out by this church. They ordained Elder Williamson Williams in 1833. James Henry Oakley, son of Elder J. T. Oakley, has just been licensed to preach and preached his first sermon the fifth Sunday in June, 1901. J. M. Knight and W. E. Raikes were also licensed by this church. They have furnished members in part for several new churches; among them we note Ramah, Shop Spring and Green Vale. This church was never troubled with the divisions which rent asunder so many of our older churches. They have abridged their name and are now known as "Fall" Creek. This is a great place for the meeting of our Baptist Israel. Our fathers little knew how wisely they built when that little band met in old Copeland's Meeting House and covenanted to keep
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