USA > Tennessee > History of middle Tennessee Baptists : with special reference to Salem, New Salem, Enon and Wiseman associations > Part 7
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PASTORS : Elder William Simpson, 1889-91 ; Elder J. A. McClusky, 1891-93; Elder William Simpson, 1893-94; Elder J. H. Davis, 1894-96; Elder J. M. Stewart, 1896-98; Elder J. H. Davis, 1898-00; Elder J. T. Oakley, 1900, and is still acting as pastor.
CLERK: Brother B. M. Cantrell was appointed
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clerk in the organization and has continued in that capacity to the present time.
DEACONS: William Tibbs, 1889; B. M. Cantrell, 1889; L. B. Givan, 1889; J. W. Lafaver, 1894; J. A. Barrett, 1895; B. F. Lowry, 1897; J. P. Vickers, 1897; G. O. Jacobs, 1897.
This church was constituted on the New Hamp- shire Confession of Faith. She has built a neat house of worship one-fourth of a mile from the famous Wharton Springs.
The success with which this church has been at- tended has proven the wisdom of its founders. Twelve years ago she launched her bark with twelve mem- bers. Since then she has counted, all told, 141 mem- bers, and she now has on roll seventy-nine members.
This church has ordained to the ministry Elder A. J. Brien, in October, 1890.
She has since her constitution represented annually in Salem Association.
SNOW S HILL.
This church is situated on the Lebanon and Sparta pike, some five miles west of the town of Smithville, DeKalb County, Tenn. The church house is near the descent of the famous Snow's Hill, from which the church takes her name. This church was constituted March 27, 1897, by Elders J. H. Davis, A. J. Waller and D. C. Taylor, with thirteen members. These constituent members came from different churches, mostly from Indian Creek and Dry Creek. This church was gathered under the faithful labors of Elder A. J. Waller, who became her first pastor and served through the struggles of her infancy.
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PASTORS : Elder A. J. Waller, 1897-00; Elder Stephen Robinson, 1900, and is the present pastor.
CLERKS: H. H. Hendrixson, 1897-00; T. J. Hale, 1900, and is the present clerk.
DEACONS: Wiley Hendrixson, 1897; J. M. Tramel, 1897; T. J. Hale, 1897 : D. H. Tramel, 1899; H. H. Hendrixson, 1899: W. C. Hendrixson, 1899.
This church occupies a place where a Baptist church has long been needed. Her members have not much of this world's goods, but they have big hearts, and divide liberally with the Lord's treasury. They have built a neat house of worship and entered it without debt.
They have but four years of history, and yet the thirteen with which they began have grown to forty- two and are pushing on toward the goal. They rep- resent in Salem Association.
DOWELLTOWN.
This church is an offspring of Salem Baptist Church, of Liberty, Tenn., and is situated in the town of Dowelltown, on the Lebanon and Sparta pike, De- Kalb County, Tennessee. Perhaps no richer section of land could be found in the State. This town had long been occupied by the Methodists, with only an occasional sermon by a passing Baptist preacher: About the year 1893, Elder J. M. Stewart began regu- lar preaching at this place and soon succeeded in awakening an interest in a Baptist church at this place.
This church was constituted July 29, 1894, with ten members, by a Presbytery consisting of Elders J. M. Stewart and J. F. McNabb, with Deacon Isaac Cooper.
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PASTORS: Elder J. M. Stewart, 1894-98; Elder J. H. Grime, 1898-99; Elder J. F. McNabb, 1809; Elder W. J. Watson, 1899-00; Elder J. H. Whitlock, 1900, when he died; Elder W. E. Wauford, 1900 to the present.
CLERK: L. A. Bass has served as clerk from the beginning to the present.
DEACONS: E. W. Bass, 1894; Henry Foutch, 1898; Wesley Crook, 1898; the two latter joining by letter.
This little church has constructed one of the best and most modern church houses to be found any- where in this section. The means to build this house came largely through Deacon E. W. Bass, his sons and grandsons. While others have wrought nobly, yet it must be admitted that this church is largely due to Elder J. M. Stewart and Deacon E. W. Bass.
Dowelltown is a place of some 500 inhabitants, and forms an important field. It is a source of pleasure to know that this church bids fair to occupy this field for the cause we so much love. The church now numbers forty-seven, with bright prospects. They represent in Salem Association.
WOODBURY.
This church is situated in the town of Woodbury, the county site of Cannon County, Tennessee. The town is located in the bend of the east fork of Stone's River, in a very fertile section of country, and has perhaps 1,000 inhabitants.
In 1823 a church known as East Fork of Stone's River was constituted with seventeen members, but did not seem to prosner. In 1834 the church was dis- solved, Elders Joshua Lester, Gideon Rucker and John P. Walker assisting in the proceedings. The
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exact location of this church we do not know, or if it had anything to do with this church we are not in- formed. This church was gathered through the la- bors of Elders P. T. Henderson and J. M. D. Cates. Brother Cates was at that time a missionary of Lib- erty Association of Middle Tennessee and North Ala- bama, and had been ordained but seven days when this church was constituted.
This church was constituted October 20, 1844, by Elders J. M. D. Cates, P. T. Henderson, and Charles B. Walker, with Deacon J. R. Taylor. This church consisted of only seven members, two males and five females. This has ever been a difficult field, and this was indeed a small craft to set sail on such a vast ocean of opposition. But well and faithfully has it been manned, for the Lord's noblemen have stood at the helm.
PASTORS : Elder P. T. Henderson, 1844-48; Elder D. B. Hale, 1848-49; Elder C. B. Davis, 1849-50 ; Elder J. M. D. Cates, 1850-54; Elder Joseph H. Eaton, 1854-55 ; Elder J. M. D. Cates, 1855-57 ; Elder L. H. Bethel, 1857-68: Elder J. M. D. Cates, 1868- (); Elder L. H. Bethel, 1860-70: Elder J. M. D. Cates, 1870-72: Elder Enoch Windes, 1872-73: Elder J. G. Nash, 1873: Elder E. W. Hallback, 1873-75; Elder L. H. Bethel, 1875-77 : Elder J. T. Oakley, 1877- 79: Elder L. H. Bethel, 187-8; Eder J. M. D. Cates, 1880-84; Elder L. H. Bethel, 1884-86; Elder S. G. Shepard, 1886-93; Elder D. B. Vance, 1893-00; Elder J. H. Anderson, 1901, and continues to serve at the present.
CLERKS: N. M. Taylor, 1844-61 ; A. D. Stephens, 1861-67; C. H. Bragg, 1867-72: R. K. Hodges, 1872- 73; S. C. Wharton, 1873-79; J. R. Rushing, 1879-82;
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W. A. Cathcart, 1882-1890; John C. New, 1891-95; T. B. Mears, 1896-00; John C. New, 1901, and serves at present.
DEACONS: John F. Wedon, 1844; N. F. Trog- den, 1845; John Word, 1848; Abel Rushing, 1854; David Dodd, 1857; L. D. Stewart, 1857; Anderson Rucker, 1859; C. H. Bragg, 1865; Joseph Deadrick, 1876; J. W. Stewart, 1876; J. N. Kittrell, 1878; W. L. Sullivan, 1881 ; John R. Rushing, 1881 ; John C. New, 1888; G. S. Smith, 1888; T. B. Mears, 1894; W. W. Gray, 1894; H. B. Rushing, 1898; John H. Stewart, 1898.
This is one of the most active churches in this sec- tion. From the very small beginning she has grown to quite a good church. She has numbered since her organization altogether 577 members, and has on the roll now 159. Few churches are more liberal in their contributions. She has a good house of worship, well located.
This church has sent out one minister. Elder D. B. Vance was licensed January 2, 1875, and ordained March 5, 1876, by Elders J. M. D. Cates, J. J. Martin, L. H. Bethel and A. J. McNabb.
Probably under the influence of Elder P. T. Hen- derson, their pastor, who was a member of Liberty As- sociation, and Elder J. M. D. Cates, who was at that time a member of and acting as missionary in the bounds of said Association, she first represented in Liberty Association of Southern Middle Tennessee and North Alabama. She continued to represent in this Association till 1850, when she united with Salem As- sociation while in session at Brawley's Fork (now Marion ) Church. Since that date she has represented annually in the sessions of Salem Association.
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NEW MACEDONIA.
This church is situated on the pike leading from Trousdale's Ferry to Chestnut Mound, in the eastern part of Smith County, Tennessee. For the date of her beginning we go back to April 17, 1847, when'a Baptist church was constituted in Bellar's Hollow, near the Caney Fork River. This church was brought up under the ministerial labors of Elder William Goodwin. The church was given the name of Mace- donia, but was known locally as "Club Springs." This church united with Union Association, which was commonly styled Separate Baptists .* Elder Goodwin served this church as pastor for many years, and everything went well with both the church and Association till one Elder Jacob Stype came upon the stage of action. Up to this time Salem Association and Union Association, which were contiguous in ter- ritory, had gotten along on the most friendly terms. Their churches exchanged members between each other by letter, and even churches transferred their affiliation from one to the other. The church (Mc- Minnville) which gave Elder J. M. D. Cates his cre- dentials to preach was now a member of Union Asso- ciation. And I might remark that the writer of these pages was then a minister in Union Association. But to my story. Elder Jacob Stype, of Union Associa- tion, in the early seventies began an objection to a friendly correspondence, by letter and messengers, between these two bodies at their annual meetings. Thus the matter grew, he agitating the question at every meeting. Being a man of some influence, he succeeded in collecting around him a party. At the
* See chapter on Separate Baptists.
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meeting of this body in 1878, while in session at Hebron Church, eight miles east of McMinnville, in Warren County, Tennessee, Elder Stype and his party so manipulated matters as to elect him Moderator and Deacon A. Saylors (another one of his party) clerk of the Association. When they got in posses- sion of the records of the Association they bolted the body, leaving a large majority behind them; yet ut- terly refusing to surrender the associational records. This engendered bad blood for a time, and non-fellow- ship was talked of, but calmer spirits prevailed and they agreed to live apart, yet live as brethren as they had done in former days, recognizing each other as Baptists. This rupture in the Association caused a rupture in some of the churches, the members being divided as to which side they would affiliate with. Such was the case with Macedonia Church, a large majority going with Elder Stype.
The minority, who protested against Elder Stype's procedure, called a council of ministers consisting of Elders James Moore, Patrick Moore and J. H. Grime to advise them what to do. This meeting was held in the fall of 1878. After consultation, it was agreed that they claim the old constitution and begin, or rather continue, business for the Lord at that place. This minority numbered nineteen, while those adher- ing to Stype's party numbered sixty-four. The mi- nority called Elder J. H. Grime as pastor, while the opposite party secured the services of Elder W. S. Payne, who has since gone with the modern Holiness people. Both parties worshiped in the old house for a time, but the majority necessarily held the property, and the minority moved up on the pike, built them a neat house of worship and called it NEW MACEDONIA.
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Since the division the following is the history :
PASTORS: Elder J. H. Grime, 1878-81 ; Elder T. J. Hudson, 1881-85; Elder R. P. Moore, 1885-87; Elder Edwin Kelley, 1887-88; Elder T. J. Hudson, 1888-90; Elder Edwin Kelley, 1890-92; Elder James Bellar, 1892-96; Elder S. N. Fitzpatrick, 1897-98; Elder J. W. Bailey, 1898-01 ; Elder M. W. Russell, 1901, and continues to serve.
CLERKS: N. H. Glover has served as clerk since the division in 1878 and possibly was clerk some time prior to this.
DEACONS : William Dillard, 1878; James Bellar, 1878.
Since the division she has had 126 names on the roll. She numbers at present sixty members. She has nad many difficulties, but is overcoming all. She has ordained three ministers.
She continued to represent in Union Association till 1900, when by petition she was received into New Salem Association.
BIG SPRING.
There was once a flourishing Baptist Church in this community known as Cedar Creek, in which Salem Association was constituted. (See sketch on Cedar Creek.) Long prior to the present Constitution the Campbellites had dominated this community. A long while Baptists could not get a hearing. Some debates in adjoining communities between Baptists and Campbellites seemed to break the spell and a bush arbor was constructed under which Elder S. N. Fitz- patrick held services through the summer of 1897. An interest was awakened and a big hearted Camp- bellite proposed to give $50 toward a Baptist Church
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house, and half the ground for a lot on which to set it. This inspired the few Baptists, and a church was the result. This church is located one-half mile east of Big Spring on the Lebanon and Rome Pike, Wil- son County, Tennessee. It was constituted October II, 1897, by Elders J. H. Grime, S. N. Fitzpatrick and J. P. Gilliam, with Deacons J. H. Baird, W. A. Rushing, D. M. Stinecipher and Wm. Harris. There were nine members in the constitution, coming from different churches, mostly from Cedar Creek and Knob Spring. This church was constituted on the same Confession of Faith adopted by Salem Associa- tion in its Constitution with the seventh article of the New Hampshire Confession added, which is a very strong Calvinistic document. This church was con- stituted in the private dwelling occupied by Brother Spain, the toll gate keeper on the turn pike. They at once called Elder S. N. Fitzpatrick as pastor, and be- gan the erection of a house of worship near where the church was constituted. The work was prosecuted to the completion of a neat house of worship situated in one of the finest sections of country to be found any- where.
PASTORS: Elder S. N. Fitzpatrick, 1897-01 ; Elder J. F. Sanders, 1901, and is serving as the present pastor.
CLERKS: W. S. Haley has served as clerk from the organization to the present.
DEACONS : James Oldham, 1897; John Shannon, 1897 ; W. S. Haley, 1897; J. L. Phillips, 1899.
She has enrolled sixty-four members during her brief history, though she has been somewhat reduced in numbers by removals from the community. She is not wealthy but gives liberally of what she has to
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the cause. She is pushing forward with vigor to occupy the important field in which she is placed. She represents in New Salem Association.
BUENA VISTA.
This church is situated in the village of Grant, in one of the fertile valleys in the southern part of Smith County, Tennessee. The consensus of testimony which we have been able to gather (in the absence of early records) fixes the date of the organization of this church in the early part-most probably spring- of 1850. It is a well authenticated fact that the church was gathered through the ministry of Elders Louis Dies and James Barrett, assisted by Elder Jesse Johnson. Elder James Barrett was not baptized till April, 1848, and was ordained March, 1850. He did not begin to exercise in public till the latter part of 1849. Therefore the gathering of this church in which he seemed to be the leader must have been as late as the winter or spring of 1850. He became their pastor at their organization and perhaps was ordained to that end. That the church was constituted this early is evident from the fact that she united with Salem Association, September 14, 1850.
This church was constituted mainly from members from Wolf Creek and perhaps other churches. This church was constituted by Elders J. W. Bowen, Jesse Johnson, Louis Dies and James Barrett, if so be that he was ordained at the time of the constitution. There were twenty-four members in her first report to the Association, some of which were perhaps added after the organization.
This church was constituted in a "union" house of worship in which there was already a Methodist 4
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organization. They compromised the house question by the Baptists receiving all the Methodist members into the Baptist Church and giving them Baptist bap- tism.
PASTORS : Elder James Barrett, 1850; Elder Louis Dies, -; Elder W. N. Suite, -; Elder D. N. Jarrard, 1867-69 ; Elder L. Dies, 1870-72; Elder D. N. Jarrard, 1872-73; Elder Louis Dies, 1873-75 ; Elder J. T. Oak- ley, 1875-77; Elder W. B. Wooten, 1877-79; Elder T. J. Eastes, 1881-98; Elder J. J. Carr, 1899-00; El- der W. E. Wauford is at present (1901) pastoral sup- ply.
CLERKS: Samuel Paschal, 1850-60; Jas. B: Oakley, 1860-69; S. A. Johnson, 1869-71 ; J. A. Jarrard, 1871- 75; Joseph Shepherd, 1875 -; T. Mason, -83; T. A. Morris, 1883-94; W. A. Neal, 1894, to the present.
DEACONS : William Tibbs, 1850; George Dale, 1850; Joseph Shepherd, 1869; H. D. Highers, 1869; W. H. Gill, 1878; Thomas McClannahan, 1878; W. S. Neal, 1883; T. A. Morris, 1890; Elias Barbee, 1890.
The house in which this church was constituted stood perhaps one mile south of the village of Grant, and was rather inconveniently located. The church continued to worship here with a healthy increase till the latter part of the seventies when the house became dilapidated, and the church from various causes be- came depleted in her membership; and in this condi- tion-pastorless and discouraged-she stood almost ready to surrender the field. In the month of April, 1881, Elder T. J. Eastes circulated an appointment and gathered together what he could of this scattered band. He preached to them the gospel, after which they called a conference. Brother Eastes propounded
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this question: "If I will come to you, will you build a house of worship in the village, and discharge your duties by renewing your covenant and striving to live up to its requirements?" This question touched a responsive chord in their hearts; and with joy and surprise they accepted the proposition. Elder Eastes resigned a flourishing and remunerative charge and came to this little discouraged band as pastor, also casting his membership with them. This brought un- foreseen strength from different sources. Within twelve months a neat and commodious house of wor- ship was completed and the church started on a career of prosperity. Elder Eastes remained pastor of this church for seventeen years, during which time he had the joy of seeing a strong, active church built up- though in numbers not so great as some others.
This church has sent out the following ministers, viz. :
Whaley Cooksey. Do not know anything of this brothers history, or when he was ordained.
Elder John T. Oakley, ordained April 5, 1872, by Elders Henry Bass, W. N. Suite, T. A. Hudson, D. N. Jarrard and Louis Dies.
L. L. Allen and M. T. Atwood were licensed to preach in October, 1883. These brethren were not ordained by this church.
H. M. Eastes, the oldest son of Elder T. J. Eastes, was licensed to preach in January, 1901, and is now just beginning to exercise his gifts in public.
This church has had many difficulties to encounter, but the God of all grace has sustained her through them all and to-day finds her onward and upward. She has an actual membership of sixty-five. She rep- resented in Salem Association till 1888, when New
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Salem Association was constituted in her house of worship and of which she became a constituent mem- ber.
LINWOOD.
This church is a result from the consolidation of Spring Creek and Poplar Hill churches. First we shall notice the origin of
SPRING CREEK.
This is the second oldest church constituted in Wil- son County; Big Cedar Lick (now Mt. Olivet), at Leeville, being the older. (Round Lick, which is probably older, was constituted in Smith County and moved to Wilson County in 1820.) We are not able to ascertain the exact date of the constitution of this old church. In the records of Round Lick we find that it was in working order March 2, 1805. Every- thing seems to indicate that it was constituted about A. D. 1804. This church was gathered by Elder John Jones, and for a long time it was known as "Jones' Meeting House." This church was situated on Spring Creek, some four miles east of Lebanon, Tenn. Elder John Jones became her first pastor and re- mained so till his death which occurred about 1835. Elder Jones was one of the leading ministers of his day and this church one of the leading churches of this section. John W. Nichols was clerk of this church in 1821. In 1809 Cumberland Association met with this church and while in session here agreed to divide and form Concord Association. This church sent out Lebanon Church in 1821 ; and ordained Elder Sion Bass to the ministry September, 1833.
The troubles which arose from the "split" of 1837 caused a break in this church of a few years. About
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1857 the fragments were collected and re-organized. It is not possible to give a consecutive history. This church after the re-organization had. a prosperous career for several years. Among the pastors who served during this period we note the following, viz .: Elders J. T. Oakley, J. R. Hearn and J. H. Vickers. She also sent out Elder S. F. Bingham.
In the meantime she had begun the erection of a large frame house of worship. Here we leave Spring Creek for the present and turn our attention to
POPLAR HILL.
This church was situated about four miles north of Watertown in Wilson County and was constituted in a school house September 14, 1885, by Elders Henry Bass, T. J. Eastes and L. D. Smith, with thirty- five members. This church was an offspring from Round Lick Church, and was gathered through the ministry of Elder Henry Bass. This church con- tinued to worship in Poplar Hill schoolhouse till the latter part of 1886, when she effected a union with Spring Creek Church and located in the village of Linwood midway between the two churches and adopted the name of Linwood Baptist Church. This action was passed December, 1886. The unfinished house of Spring Creek was torn down and the lumber converted into a new house of worship in the village of Linwood. This church is situated six miles east of Lebanon in a fine section of country and is alto gether a good church.
PASTORS: Elder J. F. McNabb, 1886-90; Elder J. T. Oakley, 1890-93; Elder W. H. Smith, 1893; El- der J. B. Fletcher, 1894-96; Elder S. G. Shepard, 1896, to the present.
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CLERKS: T. W. Allen, 1885-87; A. A. McNabb, 1887-90; H. D. Beadle, 1890-99; Brooks Bass, 1899, :o the present.
DEACONS : Joseph Tippit, 1885; W. B. Tippit, 1885; W. A. Rushing, 1887; D. W. Grandstaff, 1888; R. C. Bass, 1889; J. N. Bryan, 1889; T. W. Allen, 1889; S. F. Bingham, 1893 ; H. D. Beadle, 1899.
TREASURERS : Thos. Borum, 1885-89; R. C. Bass, 1889, to present.
The Spring Creek wing of this church has affiliated in four Associations, viz .: Cumberland, Concord, Salem and New Salem; while the Poplar Hill wing has been a member of Salem and New Salem. The church is now identified with New Salem Association and numbers sixty-nine members. They have a neat house of worship, and a staunch membership. They have much opposition to encounter, and theirs is an important field, but they may be relied upon to culti- vate it.
LEBANON.
This church is situated in the town of Lebanon, the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is a town of some 2,000 inhabitants, thirty miles east of Nashville, Tenn. This church is a branch of Old Spring Creek Church, which at that time stood some four miles east on the waters of Spring Creek. This church was constituted Saturday, June 30, 1821, Spring Creek, Big Cedar Lick (now Mt. Olivet) and other churches participating in the constitution. It would be safe to say that among others the following ministers were present, viz .: Elders John Wiseman, Joshua Lester, John Jones, John Borum and most probably Elders James and John Bond.
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This church was constituted with only nine mem- bers, in a town the sentiment of which was very hostile to Baptist principles. Prominent among these nine were brethren Thomas Edwards and Geo. A. Lucas, the latter of whom was clerk of Concord As- sociation and afterwards became clerk of Salem As- sociation. Who became her first pastor we have no means of knowing. For the first ten years it was a struggle for existence. By 1830 her number was re- duced to five members, one male and four females. Thus reduced and discouraged she cried unto the Lord, and Elder John Wiseman, with his ability and untiring energy, came to her rescue. He became her pastor and remained probably about fourteen years, during which time they increased to eighty members, and had sent out one of their number, James R. Lowry, to preach the gospel.
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