USA > West Virginia > Summers County > History of Summers County from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 31
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anti-Christians, priest craft, and papal corruption, yet we have such assemblies, not only as lawful, but very useful when acting as advisory counsels, according to the Word of God. We shall therefore esteem it our 'hyest' privilege, as well as our duty, to fill our places in the Baptist Association.
"Art. II. We hold it to be our indispensable duty to watch over each other; to keep up a regular gospel description; to sup- port and hold as far as in us lies the light or glorious gospel of Christ before a dark and benighted world, and to this end, we do solemnly agree and promise, and in the presence of the living and heart-searching God, to endeavor to suppress every species of vicious immorality, and, especially, in our own families.
"Art. III. As we acknowledge only one faith, one Lord and one Baptism, we ourselves bound by most solemn obligations to main- tain, as far as we possibly can, the pure ordinance of the gospel church regarding the commands and examples of our glorious Redeemer, as the only lawful pattern, not turing aside from these to the right or the left, neither teaching for doctrines the vain tra- ditions nor commandments of men."
Elder (Rev.) William C. Ligon was the first pastor of this church. On June 17, 1848, Elder (Rev.) John Bragg was elected pastor, who ministered for many years to the spiritual wants of the people at a salary of $40.00 per annum. This was the same Rev. John Bragg who was elected deputy clerk of the county court, with Josephus Pack, the first clerk of the county. He moved to the west several years ago, when quite an old man, and was the father of Judson Bragg, who still resides near Pipestem post office. Rev. Bragg was a saintly man and did much for the cause of morality in this region of the country and for the Missionary Baptist Church. The contributions to the church for the associa- tion for this year was $1.31. I notice that for a number of years this contribution was $1.25.
Brother Joel Walker, a great hunter of that region, seems to have given the church trouble about these times on account of his thirst for strong drink, but with the patience and goodness of these devout people, his weakness was overlooked, and efforts made for his reformation. At the September meeting, 1849, this Brother Walker was charged with intoxication, preferred by Brother J. M. Hix. Shadrick Martin, the father of James H. Martin, Joseph Mar- tin and Aiken Martin, who still live in that community, and E. J. Gwinn were appointed a committee to expostulate and show Brother
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Walker the errors of his way and report on him. This committee, at a following session of the church, reported as follows :
"Your committee have seen Brother Walker, and conferred with him concerning the charge of his being intoxicated. He acknowl- edged the charge in tears and much apparent sorrow, and said he hoped the church would not turn him out; that he was determined to do better in the future to come, and that if they heard he was drunk again, it would be a false report."
Whereupon, Mr. Walker was acquitted, but we find again at a later date, the brother confessed to a later similar charge, and was excommunicated. He and family left that region and settled in Braxton County, where his son, S. A. Sylvanus, is a minister of the gospel.
On the 17th day of March, 1848, I find the following order en- tered :
"No attendance at church, neither by parson or members; the measles raging in the neighborhood."
The next pastor after Mr. Bragg was Rev. James Lewis Marshal, who retained his pastorate for a number of years, and throughout the period of the war, from 1861 to 1865, he also being a chaplain in the Confederate Army. After his resignation of his pastorate after the war, he removed into Wyoming County, where he died, my good friend, Dan Gunnoe, of Craney, having married one of his daughters, Miss Hettie.
The first house of worship was a one-story log building on Lick Creek, near the residence of E. J. Gwinn, close to the Green Sulphur Springs, in 1850. This was the first church building ever erected in Green Sulphur District. It was about 30 x 50 feet, of hewn logs, with an aisle in the center. The ladies always sat on one side of the aisle and the gentlemen on the other during services. This old church was replaced by a neat frame structure in the year 1881, on the same site, E. J. Gwinn having donated a church lot to the Bap- tists, and his son, H. Gwinn, having donated a lot to the Presby- terian congregation.
The next pastor was the Rev. M. Bibb, well known to many citizens still residing in this county as one of the most learned and able preachers of the missionary Baptist denomination, being a scholar of fine attainments, learned in the Greek language, having taken up and mastered this language himself without a tutor. Rev. Bibb's last services before his death were for the congregation of the First Baptist Church in the city of Hinton.
He married a daughter of Rev. Mathew Ellison, one of the
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pioneer Baptist preachers of West Virginia, who was a learned au- thority in its doctrines. He died at a very advanced age at Alder- son, a few years ago. Rev. Mathew Ellison just referred to was the fourth pastor of this church, having been elected in 1866, and retained the same for many years at a salary of $100.00 per year, Mr. Bibb having been the pastor in 1855, at a salary of, first, $50.00, and then $75.00 a year.
I notice that on the 27th day of June, 1855, C. B. Martin was expelled for lying ; and another note was made by the clerk, show- ing that about that time the highest waters on Lick Creek ever known, and for that reason no meetings were held at the regular appointments, which was in the spring of 1852.
I also find that a charge of grievance was brought up against Sister Susan Allen, by Brother N. W. Nowel, in 1860, "for having her infant children sprinkled, sprinkling being against Baptist faith, practice and order. Therefore, on motion, a committee of three brethren, to-wit: N. W. Nowel, John Hix and C. D. Kincaid, were appointed to go and see Sister Allen, and learn her reasons, if any she has, for so doing, and report the same to the church at their monthly session in November, next month." At the next meeting the committee reported as follows: "Reference case of Sister Allen was then brought before the church; the report of the committee being heard, they are dismissed." Ayes and nays were then called for by the moderator, which resulted, by a unanimous vote, in ex- cluding Sister Susan Allen from the fellowship of the church for having her infant children sprinkled against Baptist faith and prac- tice, and the order excommunicating Mrs. Allen, stating that she didn't regret what she had done, and would do the same again when the circumstances required it.
I notice a number of the records are written by Rev. Lewis Marshal, one of which I take the liberty of quoting, as follows :
"Resolved, That all persons resting under heavy charges of im- morality are hereby against the November session to come up and prove themselves clear, otherwise lay themselves liable to excom- munication."
C. B. Martin, on June 27, 1855, was expelled from the church by the congregation for lying.
There have been numerous pastors of the church from time to time, and the church organization remains in continuation to the present time, Rev. Chambers being the present pastor. The names of many of the old citizens of that section, amongst them being, in addition to those named, Lewis Kincaid, John Duncan,
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Joseph Fink, Anderson Miller, L. M. Alderson, who was one of the chief stays of the organization and a very excellent citizen. These good people undertook to settle all differences between their mem- bers, and I notice at one time there was a trial between Anderson Miller and Joseph Fink concerning a liability claimed by the former from the latter on account of a colt, in which a committee was appointed, heard the evidence, and decided the case in favor of Mr. Fink. Rev. H. N. Fink, of New Richmond, an excellent citizen and pastor of the Baptist Church, was the son of Joseph Fink, who has long since died.
About 1875, the Presbyterian congregation erected a handsome and comfortable frame church near the Baptist Church on that creek, of which Rev. Parker is now the pastor, and has been for several years. One of the first pastors of that church was Rev. Jacob H. Lewis, of Muddy Creek, one of the oldest and best Chris- tian characters ever known to any people. No other denominations have ever had any church organizations in that community except the Southern Methodists, who have never built a house of worship, they occupying the Presbyterian Church. The largest number of the citizens by very considerable being of the missionary Baptist faith.
At one time, a few years ago, a Mormon elder, claiming to oper- ate under the title of the Church of God, created an organization between Green Sulphur and New Richmond, occupying a public schoolhouse, which flourished for a number of years, having a number of converts, but which organization has long since gone down and disappeared.
KELLER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church is located at Lowell Depot, on Greenbrier River, near the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, and is named after the old settlers of that community. the first being Conrad Keller. This church was organized December 1. 1887, by a committee of the Greenbrier Presbytery, and was at that time within the bounds of Centerville Presbyterian Church.
The committee organizing this church was composed of Rev. Dr. Wightman, of Hinton, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church of that town, Rev. Jacob H. Lewis, of Muddy Creek, Greenbrier County, and Elder James Mann, of Alderson, Dr. Wightman being the moderator. . There were twenty-six names enrolled at the organization. The first records of that church are made in
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what I take to be the handwriting of the Hon. Wm. Haynes, the name of the church being selected as "Keller Church" at that time, and the following officers were elected, to-wit: elders, John Hinch- man and William Haynes; deacon, Henry F. Kesler; Rev. Jacob H. Lewis was unanimously selected as the first pastor of that church, it being arranged that he should preach at Keller's Church and Riverview on the same Sunday, preaching twice a month. beginning on the 25th day of December, 1887. William Haynes was the clerk of the organization, and was afterwards made clerk of the church.
William Haynes was the first representative from the church to the Presbytery, and was appointed on the 16th day of Septem- ber, 1888. The second pastor was Rev. E. D. Jeffries, and the Lowell and Alderson Churches were grouped together. The first financial statement made by Deacon H. F. Kesler, who reported for the benevolent boards, $24.49. Home missions, $8.00: educa- tion, $8.00; foreign missions, $6.00; publication, $2.50. The amount paid the first pastor, Mr. Lewis, for his services was $37.00.
On the third day of March, 1889, George Keller was elected an elder, and J. Wm. Gwinn and James Gwinn, deacons. The first administration of the Lord's Supper was administered on this date. George Keller was the next representative to the Presbytery, with William Haynes, alternate. Wm. Haynes was appointed by the meeting delegate to the Synod, and John Hinchman, alternate. Rev. Geo. T. Lyle was the third pastor of this church, and served the same one Sunday of cach month, preaching the same date at Riverview, for which he was paid the salary of $125.00.
On the 19th day of July. the following testimonial was entered on the records of the church in regard to the death of Mr. John Hinchman :
"Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God. in His infinite love ' and wisdom, to remove from the church militant to the church triumphant our friend and fellow member. John Hinchman: and
"Whereas, Our brother has been identified with the Presby- terian Church as a member, deacon and ruling elder for more than fifty years; therefore, resolved.
"First. That our church has lost one of its chief supporters and brother, who, by his upright and consistent life of sixty-nine years, has stamped his impress upon this community, and of whom we believe it can be verily said, 'He walked with God.'
"Second. That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the be-
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reaved family, and that they be spread on the church records and published in the 'Central Presbyterian and Monroe Watchman,' by order of the session.
(Signed) : WM. HAYNES, Clerk."
On the 11th day of August, 1896, Henry F. Kesler and James Gwinn, who was a son of Andrew Gwinn, were each elected elders, and John . Hinchman and Andrew Campbell were each elected deacons, and they were duly ordained by Pastor G. T. Lyle, on the 17th day of October, 1896. At this date the minister's salary was $14.00 short, for the payment of which the officers proceeded im- mediately to arrange.
We give below the resolution of this church on the death of the Hon. Wm. Haynes, who had been its clerk from its foundation to the 17th day of April, 1897 :
"Whereas, It has pleased the Lord Jesus Christ, the great head of the church, to take to Himself our beloved brother, William Haynes, and member of the session of this church and its only clerk since its organization.
"Resolved, That what has been Brother Haynes's gain has been, as far as we can see, a severe loss to our church and session.
Second. That we hereby give testimony to the faithfulness of Brother Haynes in the discharge of all duties, and our high appre- ciation of him as a gentleman and a counselor in affairs, and as a follower of Christ.
"Third. That we extend our sympathies to his bereaved family and forward them a copy of these resolutions, that they may have evidence of our high appreciation of the husband and father they have lost."
Henry F. Kesler was elected at this date clerk of the church, and remains such to this day.
The organ for this church was purchased during the year 1897 .- The Greenbrier Presbytery was entertained by this church at its session in 1898, and on the 19th day of February of that year James Gwinn, Andrew L. Campbell, John Hinchman, Jr., and H. F. Kes- ler were selected as the trustees of the church, and certified to the circuit court for appointment. Rev. Geo. T. Lyle remained pastor of this church until his resignation on account of ill health, on December 16, 1899, and Rev. J. H. Lewis was again selected as pastor, which he accepted, afterwards resigning, and F. P. Syden- stricker was engaged as the present pastor of this church, who is still the pastor.
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The church edifice at this time consists of a neat frame build- ing, which was built and completed just prior to the organization of the church in 1887, and was dedicated on June 26, 1887, the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. John Brown, then of Malden, and now of Lewisburg.
I am enabled to give the history of this church by the courtesy of Mr. James Gwinn, who kindly furnished me the records of the session ending January 20, 1900. Marshall Johnson has also been elected as an elder of the church.
While this church building was owned by the Presbyterian denomination, they permitted its use once a month, when desired by the Methodists and other denominations, being an instance of the growing liberty and generosity of one Christian denomination towards another in these modern times. A church parsonage lot has been given by Mr. George Keller to the church as a donation, but no building has as yet been erected thereon.
GREEN SULPHUR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian Church at Green Sulphur Springs was organ- ized June 19, 1881, with about twenty-six members, most, if not all, of whom were transferred from the McElhenney Presbyterian Church at Grassy Meadows, Greenbrier County. The first ruling elders were A. A. Miller, Michael Hutchinson and Dr. N. W. Noel, the last being clerk of session. Thos. A. George was deacon. He still holds that office.
The church building was erected in 1880, and was dedicated October 16th of the same year, Rev. John C. Brown preaching the sermon.
Long before the organization, Rev. John McElhenney, of Lewis- burg, would occasionally preach to the people in a private house. Later, services were more regularly maintained in the Baptist church building by Rev. James Haynes, Rev. David S. Syden- stricker (now D. D.) and Rev. Jacob HI. Lewis.
Since organization the church has been served by the following ministers :
Rev. Jacob H. Lewis. 1881 --- 1884
Rev. J. W. Wightman, D. D 1884-1889
Rev. Jacob H. Lewis. 1889-1894
Rev. George T. Lyle. 1894-1899
Rev. F. P. Sydenstricker 1899 -- 1903
Rev. N. A. Parker 1904-present
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
FAIRVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Fairview Baptist Church at Forest Hill, Summers County, West Virginia, was organized under the name of "Little Wolf Creek Baptist Church" on the 21st day of May, 1859.
Rev. W. G. Margrave, Rev. M. Ellison, Rev. John Bragg and Rev. Rufus Pack composed the Presbytery, with Rufus Pack as chairman and G. W. Peters, secretary. This church was organized with twenty-five members, with John Bragg as pastor and James A. Hutchinson, church clerk; John Woodrum, James Ferell and James K. Scott, deacons.
The pastorate of Rev. John Bragg continued from the organi- zation to January, 1862.
The Civil War being in progress, the church had no pastor from January, 1862, till May, 1863, when Rev. Rufus Pack was elected pastor, preaching only on Sundays, and only occasionally on account of the war. Beginning with August 3, 1866, the church held reguiar services, with Rev. Rufus Pack as pastor, who con- tined in this capacity till January, 1873. At the February meeting in 1873, Rev. James Sweeney was chosen pastor, and he served the church faithfully till September, 1875.
In December, 1875, Rev. A. D. Bolton was elected pastor, serv- ing the church regularly till December, 1882.
Rev. G. W. Wesley was the pastor from October, 1883, till August, 1885.
Rev. W. F. Hank was called to the pastorate, and served in this capacity from August, 1885, till July, 1893.
Rev. J. B. Chambers began his work as pastor June, 1894, and was succeeded in 1897 by Rev. J. W. Crawford, who continued as pastor till September, 1903.
The pastorate of Rev. H. McLaughlin began January, 1904, and ended with the year.
The church then called Rev. J. B. Chambers for the second time, and who is now the pastor.
A. M. Hutchinson, church clerk, to whom I am indebted for information.
Charles Garten, Sen. A. M. Hutchinson, Major James Hutch- inson, J. C. Woodson, H. A. and J. D. Bolton and others were members and strong supporters of this church. A substantial frame church was erected at Forest Hill some twenty years ago by the efforts of these and other members.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.
This church was organized on the 25th day of April. 1874, by Father D. P. Walsh. who remained its pastor for more than twenty- five years. He proceeded, in the early days of the town, to select with excellent judgment the lot, 50 x 140 feet, and procured from the C. & O. Railroad a deed on the 26th of May, 1874, for which he paid $100.00, and the lot was conveyed for church purposes, B. R. Dunn being the negotiator, for what has eventually become one of the best and most desirable lots in the city of Hinton, for his church buildings, and Father Walsh procceded in 1878 to erect thereon a one-story frame house of worship, with rooms for the pastor connected therewith. (The same has recently been remod- eled, and is now occupied by the present pastor, and Heflin, Lively & Higginbotham, as law offices.)
This church building was occupied until 1898, when a new, modern brick church was erected, with basement, the construction being superintended by Father Werniger. The pastors since the resignation of Father Walsh have been Fathers Gormerly, Sulli- van and Swint, the present pastor in charge, and who has been in charge since the first of the year 1905. The bell was placed in the church in the fall of that year. This was the first Catholic organi- zation in all this region of the State.
Father Walsh, as he is familiarly known, is still a resident of this city, and is one of the old pioneers of the town and the Catholic organizer throughout this section. He ministered to all Catholics from Alderson west to Kanawha Falls, and from Beckley to Spring- dale. And it was under Father Walsh and his supervision that the Catholic Church of St. Kerrens, at Springdale, Fayette County, was erected, and the Church of St. Coleman, on Irish Mountain, in Raleigh County, was constructed. He is a native of Ireland, emi- grating to this country in his younger days; was educated for the priesthood at St. Vincent's College. Wheeling. He was the mis- sionary Catholic pastor for all this region above mentioned, from the 29th day of April, 1874, until his acceptance of a pastorate in another mission in 1897, having been installed by Bishop Whalan, the first Bishop of Wheeling, and he is justly entitled to the name of the "Father of Catholicism" in all this region of the State, travel- ing over mountains, ministering to the spiritual wants and welfare of the Catholics wherever they may be found, whether in congre- gations or in separate families, situated in isolated locations in the mountains and what was then a practical wilderness.
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After his change of location, he for a short time was transferred to a church at Rollesburg, Preston County, but soon afterwards returned to Hinton, being attached, to his old town, and is now and has remained a citizen of this city, much beloved by his old parishioners and those friends who know him best.
One of the first, if not the first, Catholic families to settle within the limits of the county was James Hurley, a native of Ireland, who bought 400 acres of land on the Lick Creek side of the high- est part of Keeney's Knob, where he raised a family of six children -Morris L., who emigrated to Kansas and died; William, who now lives in Kansas, and Michael, who lives in Raleigh County and Nora, Mary and Bridget, who married Joseph Dick. They were thrifty and devout people. Another Catholic settlement was made by Irish emigrants on the mountain above Elton, consisting of the Hurleys, Twohigs, Connellys and McGuires. These pioneer Catholic settlers were visited by Father Wallace, an itinerant priest from White Sulphur and Lewisburg. The only Catholic Church in the county or ever organized therein, is that of St. Patrick's in Hinton, founded by Father Walsh.
TALCOTT M. E. CHURCH SOUTH.
This charge was organized in 1883. The first preacher in charge was Rufus M.Wheeler, who remained for one year, and those preach- ers in charge since that date are as follows : J. L. Hendersen, three years ; S. S. Troy, one year ; T. J. Miller, two years; I. J. Michael one year; J. J. Crickenberger, three years; J. G. May, four years H. A. Wilson, four years; C. B. LeFew, one year; H. Lawson one year ; S. R. Snead, three years, and is the present pastor. A comfortable parsonage has been acquired, the title to which is held by B. L. Kessler, J. F. Leftwich, Granger Holstine, Richard McNeer and Jas. M. Allen, trustees, confirmed by the circuit court February 2, 1895. All of these trustees are the descendants of pioneer settlers in this section. B. L. Kessler is a son of Abraham C. Kessler; J. F. Leftwich, a son of David Leftwich; Granger Holstine, the son of Thomas Holstine, who has for many years been one of the mainstays and principal retainers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South in this county. He married a Kincaid one of the descendants of the old settler, and whose wife inherited one of the interests in the town upon which Talcott is located and was a party to the famous Carnes case, but had no interest therein at that time by reason of her having aliened her title long
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before. Richard McNeer, a citizen of Forest Hill, is a descendant of the ancient McNeer family of Monroe. Jas. M. Allen is a son of the old Methodist patriarch, Nathaniel Allen, of Pisgah.
A neat frame house of worship was erected soon after the or- ganization of the church on the bank of the Greenbrier.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT FOREST HILL.
This church was organized a number of years before the war. The first church building was a log house on the site where the present frame house stands. The frame church was dedicated in 1860 by Rev. Phelps, a famous Methodist presiding elder who lived at Lewisburg. It was then in Peterstown Circuit and a part of the Baltimore Conference. The church building was one of the very first frame churches ever built in the county, and it was part of the property over which there was strenuous litigation after the war, it being claimed by the southern branch of the church, but the title was in the mother church. In 1867 the southern church was or- ganized at Forest Hill by Rev. Caddin Wiseman, who was the first preacher. He was on the circuit for one year, and was succeeded by Rev. Snapp, then by Rev. Troy, Rev. John Canter, Rev. Rufus M. Wheeler, who served five years, in the Peterstown Circuit four, and Talcott Circuit, one, which latter circuit was constructed at the time ยท and Forest Hill included therein. Reverends J. Kyle Gilbert, J. L. Henderson, Michael, G. S. Mayes, La Few, and Rev. Snead being the present pastor. This church was used for many years by justices of the peace to hold their courts and by public speakers for political meetings and other public purposes. Celebrated ora- tors, such as Senator Frank Hereford, Captain R. F. Dennis, Henry Mason Matthews, and other noted statesmen have ad- dressed the people therein. In the church lot is located one of the oldest graveyards in the county, and many of the pioneer settlers are buried there. This graveyard is at least seventy-five years old. Rev. Adam P. Boude, the eloquent minister, preached his first sermon in this church. As stated above, the church property belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church before the Civil War and before the split in that church by which the M. E. Church South was created. The old organization after the war took pos- session, locked the building against ministers and people of the new organization, which was formed about 1867, but these radical members moved off to Ohio, and those remaining being of a more liberal, tolerant and conservative disposition, the doors were later
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