HISTORY OF OLD KANAWHA BAPTIST CHURCH
by
David Clark Baughan
DEDICATION
To My Father and Mother
Thomas Emory Baughan and Dolly Clark Baughan
Who have been supportive in all my undertakings
To my wife, Bettye McBride Baughan,
and our two children
Traci Rene Mayes and Torrey Clark Baughan
For their patience, understanding, and help
To the Past, Present, and Future
Pastors and Members of
Old Kanawha Baptist Church
Who have been faithful in the preaching
and the living of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ
and
To the Memory and Ministry of
Elders John Alderson and John Alderson, Jr.,
the
Founders of Old Kanawha Baptist Church
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS
A. THE Early Years 1793 - 1824
B. To The Break 1824 - 1845
II. THE CHURCH IN THE COUNTY
A. The Missing Years 1845 - 1867
B. The Uncertain Years 1867 - 1888
III. THE CHURCH IN THE TOWN
A. The Building Years 1888 - 1922
B. The Troublesome Years 1922 - 1944
C. The Growing Years 1944 - 1979
D. The Transitional Years 1980 - 1993
E. The Future Years 1993 -
APPENDIX I THE MEMBERSHIP ROLL 1797 - 1993
APPENDIX II THE MEETING PLACES 1797 - 1845
INTRODUCTION
A young boy of eight or nine cannot have, nor is he expected to have, an understanding nor an appreciation for the heritage that has been given to him. But as he gets older that understanding and appreciation come with knowledge.
The Baughan family and Old Kanawha Baptist Church have had connections for about 140 years. When Benjamin Albert Baughan (1851-1923) came to the Kanawha Valley with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in the mis-1870's from Carolina County, Virginia, he found a wife, Nancy Elizabeth Simpson, and he found a church, Old Kanawha. The marriage lasted until 1899 when the Lord took Nancy home, and the church connection lasted until 1923 when the Lord took Benjamin home.
Benjamin's children and grandchildren have been connected with Old Kanawha, including my grandfather, William Albert Baughan (1876 - 1962) and Thomas Emory Baughan (1909- 2001).
My connection with the church goes back to the spring of 1946. I was born January 27, 1938, the son of Thomas Emory and Dolly Clark Baughan (1915 - 2007). I was born again in 1946 under the ministry of Pastor Earl Ted Wall. At the age of fourteen, I surrendered my life to the Lord in a Lyle Smith evangelistic meeting at the church. The church faithfully supported me as I went through Bob Jones University and then Central Baptist Theological Seminary. At the age of twenty, under the ministry of Randy Carroll, Jr., I was licensed to preach. When I was twenty-five, the church ordained me to the gospel ministry.
It has been my privilege to be connected with Old Kanawha Baptist Church in one was or another for sixty-four years. I worked as a summer preacher boy under Pastor Carroll in the early 1960's, held seven evangelistic meetings for Pastors Carroll, Brougham, Uhrich, McDonald, and Ferguson, and on numerous occasions filled the pulpit on Wednesday and Sunday. In 2005 the Lord allowed my wife, Bettye, and me to come back as pastor of Old Kanawha.
This history of Old Kanawha Baptist Church has been a labor of love. It has taken many hours, many miles, and many stops to put it all together. I hope it will be a blessing and a help to a lot of people over the years to come.
I am indebted to a number of people for help in putting it together. A special thanks goes to Pastor Richard A. Johnson and his wife, Alice, who have gone the extra mile to make contacts, get materials, and make copies of information I needed. A special thanks goes to the staff and faculty of Ambassador Baptist College for their work: some in typing, others in reading and editing some of the manuscript, and especially to Dr. James Qurollo for help in getting the manuscript through his computer and printer and on the paper for the printer. A very special thanks goes to my daughter, Mrs. Preston (Traci) Mayes, who read and edited the complete manuscript and made many valuable suggestions.
I have tried to be as accurate as possible, but in the nature of the case, there will be mistakes, especially with so many names involved. If the reader finds errors, please call them to my attention or write me, so corrections can be made for the second edition. If you have any information to add, especially death dates, send that along, too. My address is David Baughan, P.O. Box 9, Pratt, WV 25162 or email me at
wvparson@suddenlink.net.
THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS
THE EARLY YEARS: 1793 - 1824
Pratt. small town of 500+ people, is nestled between two hills along the Kanawha River. At one time, the only road running from Kentucky to Richmond went through our area. It was a sparsely populated area. One of the men who settled this area was John Hansford, Sr., referred to as Major Hansford. He operated several salt furnaces and farmed a large number of acres in what is now known as Crown Hill. He represented Kanawha County in the legislature several times in the early part of the 1800's. He married Jane Morris, the daughter of William Morris, who was the first man to settle in the Kanawha Valley. The had twelve children, one of whom was Alvah Hansford (1803-1886). Alvah lived most of his life in the area. In 1884 he dictated his memoirs to William H. Edwards, who later read them before the West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society in January of 1897. In those reminiscences, Mr. Hansford made this observation about the area:
I was born the 7th of May, 1803 below Paint Creek on the Kanawha river in the
house built and finished in 1799 by my father, John Hansford. He not only built it
himself but made all of the furniture in it, except the chairs which had come from
Pittsburg.
At that time there was only a small cabin and a small clearing between said house
and Paint Creek. Just where my brother Felix afterwards, about 1824, built his
brick house. Going west the first house was that of John Harriman, a log house on
the site where he later built a brick house now occupied by Mr. Shaver at East Bank
near where William Pryor lives. John Milburn then lived, also in a log house, with
a small clearing about it.
James Pryor, father of said William, lived in another log house not far from
Mr. Bucks present house on an Indian grave. The next house was built by _______
Johnson near where the late James Johnson lived. He had a small clearing.
There were no more houses as far as Cabin Creek. The whole river bottom from
Paint Creek to Cabin Creek was in forest except as before stated.
Below Slaughter's Creek John Starke lived where one of the Calverts now lives
The same old house. And between Cabin and Slaughter's Creek no one lived.
To the east of Paint Creek lived John Jones near the present site of J. B.
Johnson's house in Dego. He was the only occupant of that bottom and had but a
few acres cleared. No one then lived on Paint Creek.
The Old Kanawha Baptist Church of Pratt, West Virginia, was organized in July of 1793, in the southern part of Western Virginia through the ministry of Elders John Alderson, Jr. (1738- 1821), and James Johnston.
Old Kanawha Baptist Church is the ninth oldest Baptist church west of the Allegheny Mountains. The first Baptist church to be organized in the southern region of Western Virginia was the Greenbrier Baptist Church in Alderson, West Virginia, which was started in November of 1781. The founding pastor was Elder John Alderson, Jr., who will be referred to throughout this history as John Alderson. Elder Alderson was responsible for starting eight Baptist churches in Southern Virgnia besides the Greenbrier.
Elder Alderson came to the western part of Virginia to live permanently in 1777. For two years he had been pastor of the Linville Creek Baptist Church in Rockingham County, Virginia, which his father had started on August 6, 1756, and pastored until 1771. The family came to Virginia from Bucks County, Pennsylvnia. John Alderson, Sr. (1699-1781), had been a member of the New Britain Baptist Church and ws doing some itinerant preaching for the Philadelphia Baptist Association. There had been Baptists in the Rockingham County area of Virginia since 1744, but no church had been established. John Gano, Samuel Eaton, Benjamin Griffith, John Alderson, and others had come to those parts to preach, and finally Elder Alderson came to live among them and started the Smith Creek-Linville Creek Baptist Church located near the present towns of New Market and Timberville, Virginia.
With the help of James Johnston, John Alderson orgainized the Kanawha Baptist Church. Elder James Johnston came from the Winchester, Virginia, area in what was known then as Frederick County. He was a member of the Buckmarsh Baptist Church. Today it is known as the Berryville Baptist Church of Berryville, Virginia. He was probably a licensed but not ordained Baptist preacher.
James Johnston had some acquaintance with the Aldersons' ministry since he had pastored the Linville Creek Baptist Church founded by John Alderson, Sr., and later pastored by John Alderson, Jr. James Johnston had been recommended by John Munro (1749-1824) when the church was without a pastor in 1791. The first mention of him in the minutes is on the second Sunday in May of 1791, serving communion with Brothers Moffett and Osborne.
Pastor Johnson was received into the membership of the church on Saturday, September 10, 1791, by letter from the Buckmarsh Church, dated May, 1791. The Buckmarsh Church gave him a good recommendation both "as a Gospel preacher and as to his good and orderly standing as a member." Elder Johnston was ordained pastor of the Linville Creek Baptist Church on Saturday, October 8, 1791, with the laying on of hands by Elders John Munro and Anderson Moffett (1746-1835). His pastorate lasted until the fall of 1794. He left Rockingham County sometime between October 11 and November 8, 1794, according to the minutes of the Linville Creek Baptist Church.
ELDER JAMES JOHNSTON
1793 - 1803
Historical accounts differ on the coming of Elder Johnston to the Kanawha Valley. The late Otis K. Rice, in relating the beginning of the Kanawha Baptist Church, said that it may be possible that William Morris, who lived in the Kanawha Valley, persudaded James Johnston to come from Rockingham County, Virginia, to pastor the Kanawha church after another preacher failed to come. Robert Semple in his book, THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE BAPTIST IN VIRGINIA, states that James Johnston was the first Baptist preacher who visited the southern part of western Virginia after John Alderson had located in Greenbrier County. He said that Johnston eventually became a resident. Semple also states that Johnston helped Alderson organize the Indian Creek Church in 1792 and the Big Levels Baptist Church outside of Lewisburg in 1796.
James Johnston pastored the Kanawha Baptist Church until the spring of 1803. During his pastorate, the membership grew from twelve members in 1796 to forty-five by 1803. The church was responsible for starting two other churches during this time. The Peters Creek Church started on July 18, 1800, with Edward Hughes responsible for the work, and the Mouth of Cole (Coal) Church started on August 16, 1800, with Jonathan Hillard responsible for this church.
James Johnston helped to organize the Greenbrier Baptist Association. He was one of only three ordained ministers in that part of Virginia in the early 1800's. John Alderson and Josiah Osborne being the other two. Four churches formed this Association in 1801. In 1803 Mouth of Cole (Coal) Church and the Peters Creek Church were added to the Association.
In February or early March of 1803, Elder Johnston went to Kentucky to pastor. David Benedict records that a James Johnston pastored the Wilson's Run Baptist Church in the Bracken Association of Kentucky.
Other details of his life, especially his latter days have not come to light. The record shows that he was certainly a fine pastor, and God used him in a wonderful way in Virginia and Kentucky.
Some of the early members of the Kanawha Baptist Church were founding families of the Kanawha Valley. John Hansford, Sr., was a charter member of Old Kanawha and one of its outstanding leaders for more than fifty years. John Jones, who settled the area which is now Pratt, West Virginia, was probably a charter member. The Morris family (John, William, Benjamin and Levi) played a significant part in the church. Some other names that appear in the early minutes of the church are Abraham Baker, David Jarrett, William Huddleston, Edward Hughes, Lewis Jones, Thomas Hilman, Thomas Riggs, Davis Alderson, Richard Hicks, and Nelson Priddy.
Between 1797 and 1825 approximately sixty people joined the church, along with those who were already members. In the recording of members the minutes show that by October 16, 1802, eighty people had been received into the membership of the church. However, by July of 1807 a report to the Greenbrier Baptist Association meeting read a membership of thirty-three. The meeting places for the church were scattered over a wide area. The minutes for 1797 do not tell where they met, but they state that at the May 27, 1797, meeting Elder James Johnston presided. In 1798 they met at Peters Creeek, John Morris's place, and the Meeting House (wherever that was). Some places were not recorded, even though the church met. The expression "Kanawha Church Branch" is used for a meeting place between June and November of 1798. The minutes state that on November 17, 1798, the "Canawha" Church met.
In 1799, the year George Washington died, the church met eleven times, according to the minutes, but the only location mentioned was John Morris's place. In 1800 the members came together for business and preaching nine times. One time they could not meet because of high water. At that time there no locks or dams on the Kanawha River and when the spring thaw and rains would come, the river would flood. In October they met at the mouth of Coal River, which was an "arm" of the Kanawha Baptist Church and eventually became a church. In 1801 the people met eleven times, but not one place or preaching was mentioned. Presumably, James Johnston did the preaching since he was still the pastor of the church.
On ten occasions the church gathered in 1802. In March they were unable to meet because of rain and high water. They met at the Meeting House four times, the place where they met in 1798. Its location is not mentioned. The only preacher listed in the minutes was Edward Hughes who was responsible for the arm of the church located at the mouth of Cole River. In 1803 the church met the following times: four times at the Meeting House, one time at the home of John Hansford, Sr., and six times at unlisted locations. Neither is a preacher mentioned. The 1804 record shows that services were held eleven times. Eight times no place is mentioned One they met at Catherine Marris's place; twice they met at John Hansford's place (Crown Hill). In 1805 the church gathered only eight times. Five times the place is not mentioned. David Jarrett's place is mentioned for the first time. The Meeting House and the home of John Hansford are mentioned. On September 17, 1805, Elder John Alderson was the preacher for the day. There are no preachers mentioned for the year of 1806. They did meet nine times. Three times they were unable to meet. One new place is recorded: the home of John Jones. Mr. Hansford is named three times as hosting the meeting. In 1807 they were able to meet six times. March and April were high-ater months. The church met only once, and possibly twice, in 1808 according to the minutes. There is mention of their meeting but no date is given.
JOHN LEE
1809 - 1818
In 1809 Elder John Lee appears for the first time in the minutes of the Kanawha Baptist Church. The minutes record they met only four times that year. No meeting places are mentioned. Elder Lee is the preacher for May 20 and October 15. Elder Alderson is the preacher for June 18. In 1810 the church gathered five times with Elder Lee preaching on December 15. No locations are given. The minutes for 1811 reveal the church met four times. John Lee was there on February 16. Again, no locations are mentioned.
During the war of 1812 the minutes show the church meeting only seven times: four times in 1812, once in 1814, and twice in 1815. It is interesting that for May of 1814, May 20, 1815, and October 14, 1815, the church met at a place called the Union Meeting House. That is the first time in the minutes the name is used. No preachers or locations were mentioned for that period. During the years of 1816 and 1817 the church met five times. No preacher is mentioned, and the only location given is John Hansford's place. That meeting took place on August 21, 1816.
Starting in 1818 the minutes show a number of preachers who preached at the Kanawha Church. Elder Lee is mentioned for the last time in the June 20, 1818, meeting. The church met four times in that year with no locations given. John Morris preached twice that year: April 18 and October 17. They assembled twice in 1819. No location is given. Elder John Young was the preacher on September 18. There is only one entry for 1820 and one for 1821. John Morris preached on March 2, 1820, and on April 13, 1822. The church met twice in 1823, once at the home of John Hansford on November 29 and once at the home of John Jones on December 21. Elder James Ellison preached at the November meeting and James McAboy in December.
The records show that the church had services five times in 1824. The first time was on April 5 at the home of John Jones. There was no preacher listed for that day. At the April 8 meeting held at John Hansford's, they called Elder John Morris to be their pastor. Elder Morris preached again at the June 26 meeting held at Mr. Hansford's. For the July 24 meeting, they met at the home of Nelson Priddy. This is the first time the minutes tell us the church met at his place. No preacher is listed for the day. The next meeting is held at John Hansford's place, and John Morris preached.
After Pastor Johnston left for Kentucky, the minutes of the Kanawha Church do not show very many services with preachers. It seems that two men play an important role from 1809 until 1824--Elders John Lee and and John Morris.
Elder Lee came from Southeastern Virginia around 1800. Whe he started preaching, he was illerate, but through hard work he learned to read and became well acquainted with the Bible. He had organized the Teay's Valley Baptist Church by 1806. It was received into the Greenbrier Association in 1807. He also was used of the Lord to organize the Mud River Baptist Church which was received into the Association in 1808. Elder Lee was one of the first preachers in the Teay's Valley Association when it was organized in 1812. He probably removed to Lawrence County, Ohio around 1825. Some indicate that he preached the annual sermon for the Teays Valley Association meeting in 1827.
It is reported that he was highly esteemed and greatly used in that area of Ohio where he settled. He was the moderator of the Ohio Association for many years. Joseph Alderson in his HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE GREENBRIER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION (1842) says Elder Lee "...removed to Ohio where he died a few years ago, greatly lamented by all who knew him."
TO THE BREAK: 1825 - 1845
WILLIAM A. WOOD
1825 - 1832
In May of 1825, the name of Elder William A. Wood (1769-1832) first appears in the minutes of the Kanawha Baptist Church. Wood was called to be the pastor on November 12, 1825. He preached for them until 1832. The last entry for him in the minutes is for May 20.
According to the minutes there were thirty-six additions to the church during the minnistry of William A. Wood. They met at least fifty times while he was pastor. The record shows that they met five times in 1825, eleven times in 1826, ten times in 1827, three times in 1828, seven times in 1829, seven times in 1830, eight times in 1831, and eight times in 1832.
William A. Wood was born on February 8, 1769, in Fluvanna County, Virginia. His father died when William was just three years old, leaving a wife and five children, of whom William was the youngest. William not have much opportunity for education. As a youngster he served for three years during the American Revolution guarding military stores near his mother's residence.
After his marriage in 1801 to Frances Sanders, he stayed in the area and took care of his mother until she died. In 1810 he sold out and moved his family to Kanawha County where he spent the rest of his life.
Elder Wood was converted in 1813 or 1814. In the area where he lived, a typhus fever epidemic broke out. He was one of the few spared. Reflecting on that experienc brought him to the place of trusting Jesus Christ as he personal Saviour. He struggled with baptism but through a study of the New Testament became convinced that he should be baptized. He was subsequently baptized in 1815 at the Baptist church which worshipped at the upper falls of Coal River.
His public ministry started right away. He organized neighborhood prayer meetings and God blessed these efforts with people saved and added to the church. He was licensed to preach in June of 1816 and ordained in August of 1819 by Elders Lee, Newman, and Young. Most of his ministry was within the boundaries of the Teay's Valley Association. He was responsible for starting several churches that became part of the Association.
The following families were some of the places where the church met: John Hansford, Sr., John Jones, Levi Morris, Benjamin Morris, George Richards, Widow Morris, Samuel Shrewsbury, and Captain John Harvey. With the exception of one time in 1825, when a preacher ws listed in the minutes, Elder Wood did the preaching.
In January of 1833 he was confined with what was thought to be a rheumatic affliction in his leg. But February 17 he was suddenly taken ill at breadfast but recovered a little and was able to give instructions to his family; however, he died on that same day.
WILLIAM C. LIGON
1832 - 1840
The first time Elder William C. Ligon (1796 - 1877) is mentioned in the minutes is November 4, 1832, and the last mention of him is September 6, 1840. He was born on December 18, 1796, in Prince Edward County, Virginia, to William and Sarah (Leigh) Ligon. He was converted at eighteen years of age and ordained to the ministry in 1825 by Elders P.P. Smith and Clapton. He studied at Golgotha Academy.
He pastored five years in Lynchburg, Virginia, before coming to the Kanawha Baptist Church. He pastored Old Kanawha until September of 1840. In 1841 he moved to Missouri and settled near Carollton. For thirty years he labored in that part of the state. He was pastor at Lexington, Dover, Liberty, Richmond, and Carrollton. He also had a successful evangelistic ministry in Clay, Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He was instrumental in helping to start William Jewell College in 1849. He died in Dover, Missouri, on April 13, 1877.
Under the ministry of Elder William C. Ligon there were approximately 150 additions to the church , and they met about seventy-seven times. In every case where a preacher was listed, Elder Ligon did the preaching, except September 7, 1839, when Joshua Bradley preached.
During Ligon;s ministry the Gauley Bridge arm was started in 1834. They met there on August 10 and 12 and twelve people were received into the church by experience and baptism. Miles Manser was authorized to hold prayer meetings and exhort the people.
According to the minutes an interesting change took place in their meeting places. For a long time they had met often at John Hansford's place. Gradually, through the early 1830's, the church started meeting more and more at the Hansford Meeting House in Crown Hill and the Shrewsbury Meeting House in Belle, and by the middle of the 1830's reference is made to these places almost exclusively. After February 4, 1837, until August 2, 1845, when the minutes end, there is no reference made to the meeting place, though the church did meet about fifty-two times.
MALOY MASON ROCK
1843 - 1849
The only preachers who are mentioned in the minutes after Elder Ligon are James Mitchell, who preached on May 7, 1842, and May 6, 1843, and Elder Wythal Wood who preached on October 6, 1842. Elder Wood was converted on September 7, 1833, at the Hansford Meeting House, along with twelve others. They were baptized the same day. The minutes show that Elder Maloy M. Rock preached December 31, 1842, and was accepted into the membership of the church.
According to Shirley Donnelly, who wrote a history of the church for its 150th anniversary, Elder Rock pastored the church from 1843 to 1849. He is mentioned in the minutes on August 5, 1843, where he was instructed by the church to attend the Association meeting along with Felix Hansford. John Harriman and Ira McConnihay were chosen as alternates. On September 2, 1843, the church voted to send Felix G. Hansford, Elder Maloy Rock, and Brother John Harriman to the Greenbrier Convention as their delegates. At the October 7 meeting of the church the delegates to the Convention gave their reports. During the August 4, 1844, meeting Elder Rock was to be the delegate to the Western Virginia Baptist Association. At the October 5 meeting his report was given. The next to the last entry in the minute book dated July 5, 1845, stated that Elder Rock and William McConnihay were the alternate delegates to the Teays Valley Association meeting.
The minutes end with July 5, 1845, and resume on April 7, 1867, because the pages were cut out of the minute book.
THE CHURCH IN THE COUNTY
THE MISSING YEARS: 1845 - 1867
Through means other than the minute book, we learn about some of the activities of the Old Kanawha Baptist Church during the years 1845 through 1867.
Shirley Donnally writes that Elder M.M. Rock served the church from 1843 to 1849. The church had no pastor from 1850 to 1852. During 1853 Ralph Swinburn served the church; but from 1853 to 1859, there was only occasional preaching.
James E. Middleton states in his Centennial address on the history of the church in 1893, that Felix G. Hansford, Sr., of "his own private means, built and furnished a new church building in Clifton [Pratt] on the lot where Mr. William S. Haymaker has his home." The pastor of the church was Martin Bibb, who pastored from 1859 until 1861. The church was burned by Federal soldiers during the Civil War. The house built on that lot in 1881 by William A. Haymaker was the house that Mr. W. A. Baughan bought in the early 1920's and now owned by the Wilson family.
Martin Bibb was born in Amherst County, Virginia, on August 19, 1824. In 1829 his father, with his family, located on what is now Sewell Depot, West Virginia, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. Having no formal schooling, he became a self-taught man, teaching himself Latin and Greek. He worked his farm during the day and studied by light of a pine torch at night.
He united with the church when he was twenty years old and soon began to speak in prayer meetings and was the superintendent of a Sunday School. He was locensed to preach in 1849. He acted as a colporteur for the American Tract Society until 1852. In that year Bibb was ordained to the gospel ministry and began to pastor in Fayette, Nicholas, and Kanawha Counties until 1861.
The General Association sent out sixty-one missionaries across Virginia. Twenty-one of those were in the western part of the state. Of those twenty-one, the name of Martin Bibb, along with others, occurs frequently in the writings of this Association in the late 1850's and early 1860's.
When the Civil War started in 1861, Martin Bibb moved to Giles County, Virginia. When the war was over in 1865, he moved his family back to West Virginia, where he resumed his work on the farm and among the churches. But after a brief period of time, he moved to Monroe County, where he lived for about five years and then became pastor of the First Baptist Church in Hinton. During his ministry he saw about a thousand people baptized. He served for a number of years as clerk for the Association.
From 1861 to 1867 the Old Kanawha Baptist Church had preaching only occasionally. Some of the preachers were Thomas Harmon, Hezekiah Chilton, Lewis Anderson (Alderson?), Elder Dodge, Matthew Ellison, James E. Ellison, and Felix Ellison.
It was a very difficult time for the nation as well as for the western sectiion of Virginia. A struggle for power and position was going on between the mountaineers of the west and the plantatiion owners of the east. The struggle finally resulted in the formation of the state of West Virginia in June of 1863. Also, as a border state between the North and South, West Virginia experienced a lot of troop movement throughout Kanawha County and the surrounding counties during the Civil War, especially during 1861 and 1862. The Thirty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company C, went into winter quarters in Clifton (Pratt) in December of 1861. Captain Charles Hipps was in charge of this company. After several movements in different directions in the state, they went by steamer to Cincinnati, Ohio, on December 30, 1862.
Mrs. Martha G. Hansford Smith states in the minute book of the Old Kanawha Baptist Church that she was living at the home of Mr. Felix G. Hansford, Sr., the son of John Hansford, Sr., who lived in Hansford when the soldiers occupied his property. She personally say them destroy some of the minute book and recorded this account:
This book was destroyed and scribbled on by the soldiers of Captain Hipp, Company D
[C], Regiment Thirty-seventh, Ohio Volunteers in November of 1861, when they were
camped in the yard of F.G. Hansford, Sr., and had their headquarters in his home.
Written by Martha G. Hansford Smith, who was living there at the time and can truly say
it was willfully and shamefully destroyed.
The Uncertain Years: 1867 - 1888
The first entry in the minute book resumes on April 7, 1867, and reads as follows:
Sermon preached by J.C. Robertson then proceeded to business--Brother J.C. Robertson
was unanimously elected for our pastor his time beginning first Sunday in June 1867 and
his time expires in May 1868. Bro. Joshua Harriman was elected for deacon.
There is no record in the minute book of the ministers who preached from 1867 until 1874. The next entry dated October 13, 1874, records that Elders A.M. Simms and Baylus Cade (1844-1918) held a three-day meeting at the church during which the church was reorganized. Simms made the statement that the church was nearly dead. Amazingly, God interevened to save the church from extinction. The minutes for the next few years indicate that the church's survival is a miracle. At times only eight people attended the services.
During 1875 several preachers filled the pulpit of Old Kanawha. They were A.M. Simms, Powell Benton Reynolds, Baylus Cade, and William Parkerson Walker. A Pastor's Conference of the Teays Vally, Kanawha Valley, and Guyandote Associations was held October 29, 1875, at Clifton (Pratt). Rev. Ralph Swinburn was the only preacher present, so he preached five times. There were no additions according to the minutes recorded by S.L. Doddridge who was the church clerk at that time.
Having accepted a call from the members of the Old Kanawha Baptist Church to preach for one year, Rev. S.M. Ferrell began his ministry on April 1, 1876, at 7:30 p.m. He preached from Acts 5:20. The next day he preached at the 11:00 a.m. service from John 13:34,35. Only nine people were present to hear the sermon. He preached his last sermon as pastor of the church on October 15, 1876. The minutes state that "this closed his ministry for this time and they paid him by subscription $58.33."
Rev. A.M. Simms preached on October 18 and Baylus Cade on December 2, 1876. For the first time in ten years the church observed the Lord's Supper on December 3, 1876, with eight members present. During 1877 a few preachers were listed. G.L. Roberts preached in April and May. From August 3 to 5, the Kanawha Valley Baptist Association met at the church in Hansford. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. T.F. Holt. This is the first mention of him in the minutes. W.L. Gibson preached the evening service. On the fourth, Baylus Cade, Rev. Farrow, and Thomas Allen, who was a missionary from Dayton, Ohio, preached. On the fifth there was a combined Sunday School with good representation from the Clifton and Hansford Sunday Schools. Baylus Cade preached the 11:00 a.m. service and Missionary Allen preached the 8:00 p.m. service. In October and November T.F. Holt preached several sermons.
In 1878 the Old Kanawha Baptist Church had a number of preachers come, and they called a pastor. Gibson, Simms, Roberts, Weeks, Allen, and Foster filled the pulpit. Missionary Thomas Allen came to preach on September 2 at the Clifton location. On Tuesday, September 3, he lectured on foreign missions, and a collection of $5.00 was received. Mr. Foster preached the evening service. Mr. Foster preached the evening service on October 1.
On November 2, Rev. S.L. Weeks preached in the morning service at 11:00. A church meeting was called for Monday night. According o the minutes, Brother L. Wood, after discussing with the forty members present whether or not they should call Brother Weeks "it was decided to call Bro. Weeks to preach one year beginning with the present service. His salary to be decided hereafter."
Stephen Lloyd Weeks was born in Floyd County, Virginia. He was licensed to preach on December 14, 1866, and ordained in 1867 at the Zoar Baptist Church. He pastored at Salem, Mt. Pleasant, Hopewell, Laurel Creek, Bonds Creek, Liberty, Bethel, Good, Jennette, Flat Fork, Big Sandy, and West Charleston, all in West Virginia.
From the 1870's until the early 1890's, the church met in Clifton and Hansford. In 1875 the Old Kanawha, along with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, built the Union Church in Clifton, which is now the Town Hall.
In 1879 most of the preaching ws done by Rev. S.L. Weeks, who preached mostly in Clifton. But there were others who also preached in the Hansford meeting place and it seems that James Roberts did a lot of the preaching during this year. Mr. A.E. Alexander was the church clerk. On October 12 Rev. Weeks was elected as pastor for another year.
WILLIAM H. ADAMS
1881 - 1885
Here there are several pages missing from the book. The next entry is for February 16, 1861, when a meeting was held in the Clifton church. The church met for business after the sermon by Brother Adams. An entry for June 16, 1881, states that the Clifton church met and after a sermon by the pastor, W.H. Adams, the church was called to order. Mr. J.E. Dickinson was the clerk. Again, more pages are missing from the minute book, and the next entry is for October 31, 1882. The church called Pastor Adams for another year and set his salary at $100.00 a year. Services
were to be held in the Clifton church the first Sunday of each month at 11:00 a.m. Mr. W. S. Haymaker was the church clerk.
In April of 1883 the church experienced a great revival under the leadership of Pastor Adams with the assistance of C.E. Wrenn of Kanawha Falls. The Paint Creek Church had a three-week meeting that resulted in thrity-four conversions; thirty-one were received into the Old Kanawha Baptist Church. In November the church met at Paint Creek and Brother Adams was called to serve the church at Paint Creek and Dego (Pratt) for another year. The name of the town had been changed to Dego in 1870. Preaching services were to be held at Dego every first Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and at Paint Creek every third Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Pastor Adams served the church until 1885. An entry in the minutes states "...that the balance due our last pastor Bro. W.H. Adams, had been collected and forwarded to him."
Rev. William H. Adams (1840 - 1930) was born in Campbell County, Virginia, on March 5, 1840. He was baptized by Rev. G.W. McGraw in 1867 and ordained to the ministry in 1869 at the Pleasant View Baptist Church in West Virginia. He pastored a number of Baptist churches in the state: Ambell, Coal Valley, Old Greenbrier, Old Kanawha, Hampton, Anstead, Lansing, Fayetteville, and Kanawha Falls. His longest pastorate was at Janette (1868-1897). He was responsibe for organizing the Baptist church in Montgomery. He was involved in the Home Missionary Society and served as president of the General Association in 1874.
He died of paralysis on November 8, 1930, in Corliss, West Virginia. He was buried in the Shawver Cemetery at Corliss, in Fayette County. He was a Civil War veteran.
On December 11, 1885, T.H. Firzgerald was invited to preach for the church. After hearing him preach, the church called him to pastor. The minutes indicate for January 24, 1886, that he was to be notified of that call. It was for one-fourth time (one Sunday a month) and would pay $125.00 a year. He was to start in January of 1886 and would be expected to preach three sermons at each appointment. The BAPTIST MINISTERIAL DIRECTORY FOR 1899 states that he was born in Buckingham, County, Virginia. He attended Richmond College in 1876. His ordination took place in 1875 at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. He pastored at Broad Run (1882-1890), Oak Hill (1890-1894), and Central City (1894-). He preached at Old Kanawha until December of 1886. At the meeting for December 5, which was his closing service, the church decided to postpone until January of 1887 any action on calling another pastor because there were only five members present. These five were encouraged to get others out for the January meeting.
Evidently during this period, James C. Cline was preching for them because on February 20, 1887, the church was called to order by J.C. Cline for the reception of new members. He had held a meeting for ten or twelve days which resulted in nine people being received into the membership of the church, five of whom were baptized on February 20, 1887. At a business meeting on March 11, 1887, a call was extended to J.C. Cline to be the pastor "for one-fourth time, to be paid my monthly contributions. The call would be for as long as church and pastor are agreed. The time for the meeting would be the third Sunday in the month. The last time he appears in the record is March of 1888.
The DIRECTORY (1899) states that James C. Cline (1842-1937) was born at Tug River, Virginia. He was licensed to preach in 1876 at the Green Bottom Church in West Virginia, and ordained in June of 1877 at the Campbells Church of the same state. In West Virginia, he pastored at Belcher, Bean Creek, Brownstown (Marmet), Evans Fork, Healing Stream, Old Kanawha, Mill Creek, Mt. Alpha, Myrtle Tree, Sandy Bottom (Shrewsbury), Sweet Home, White Oak, and Witcher Creek. In Ohio he pastored at Antiquity
In June of 1887 a motion was made in a business meeting to draw up a covenant and by-laws for the church. In the July meeting of the church, the clerk was given until the August meeting to report on the covenant and by-laws. At the August meeting, the Articles of Faith and Covenant were read and on motion were accepted and ordered to be placed in the minute book. Mr. J.E. Dickenson was appointed to write the by-laws for the church. The by-laws were adopted and recorded at the September 17 meeting. The September 18 meeting was held at 11:00 a.m. The church ordained Mr. J.A. Wood and Mr. J.G. Hansford as deacons of the church. Brother W.J. Cocke of St. Albans preached the sermon and Brother T.F. Holt of Caskin gave the charge to the candidates. Deacon Shelton Jones and Calvin Alexander of Hampton Baptist Church in East Bank were there, as well as Pastor Cline.
In October the church list was revised. There were forty-four recorded in the book, and nineteen of them answered to roll call. The clerk was instructed to write to those who were not there. At the November meeting, twelve answered the roll call. There were twenty-two who answered roll call for the December 17 meeting. The had a revival meeting that resulted in the addition of tem new names, with five of them waiting for baptism. A special offeing of $17.68 was taken for Pastor Cline "in appreciation for his faithfulness in the recent meetings."
THE CHURCH IN THE TOWN
The Building Years: 1888 - 1922
In the January 1888 meeting there were nineteen present and only fourteen present in the February meeting. By the end of March, Brother Cline was no longer the pastor. Brother Wilson G. Hoover called the meeting to order in May. In June he was called to be the pastor of the church. In July Brother Holt and D.W. Burger were present to help Pastor Hoover in a week of meetings. Then, on August 18, Brother Hoover submitted his resignation, and on motion by Mr. C.A. Frazer it was accepted. At the same meeting a motion was made to call D. Woodson Burger to serve as pastor for the next year.
At the February 3, 1889, meeting Brother Burger was called to serve as pastor for another year. It was understood that he would preach two sermons at Clifton and one at the Paint Creek Church at each appointment. It is also interesting that at this same meeting Brother Frazer was "appointed to secure contributions for the building of a new church and report at the next meeting." This is the first time in the minutes the plan for building their own church building is mentioned. On May 13 a called meeting was held to consult on ways and means for building a new church house. The minutes state:
$377.75 was reported subscribed $135.35 in the hands of treasurer (Bro. J.A. Wood). A
committee was then appointed to select location for the house composed of Bro. Frazsur,
Wood and Smith and Sister Doddridge, Ann Nugen, Ellen Wood. Frazsur to report at next
meeting. Call of pastor postponed until next meeting.
THOMAS FRANCIS HOLT
1889 - 1893
Evidently, something happened concerning Pastor Burger because in the May 19 meeting, the church called Rev. T.F. Holt to be the pastor. At the July 29 meeting the first order of business was to "correct financial sect. report in the May meeting wherein he reported $377.75 whereas $243 is the true report as subscribed $200.35 now in hand of treasurer." The church then appointed Brother Baughan, Frazer and Wood as trustees to locate a lot for the new church house. Mrs. Julian E. Dickerson gave a lot to the church as a gift. In the May 18, 1890, meeting they called Pastor Holt for another year. He was to be paid $90.00 a year. The clerk was to notify Brother Holt of the call.
There were two outstanding events that took place during the ministry of Pastor Holt: the dedication of the new church in 1892 and the Centennial celebration in June of 1893. In April of 1890 the church had $502.00 in the bank for the new building. On May 10 they contracted with Mr. William Harold of Charleston, West Virginia, to build a church building. They would pay $400.00 when all the materials for the building were on the lot where the church was to be built and another $300.00 more when the building was completed. It is noted in the minutes for July 12, 1890, that there was no meeting in June because of trouble in the neighborhood. In the minutes for August 9, there was no service because the pastor was sick. But this very important piece of information was recorded:
But it seems necessary to here make a record of a loss sustained by the church, which
falls very heavily on us at this time. On the 31st day of July 1890 we had our new House
of Worship burned by an incendiary just before it was finished. But we have not given up
but expect to build again soon.
In January of 1891 the church instructed the attorney to press the suit against the insurance company for the money thaat was due them from the building that was destroyed by fire the previous July. A new building committee which had been appointed raised $441.87 which was added to the $162.42 cash in the treasury, making a total of $609.29. In May Pastor Holt encouraged the people in rebuilding the church house. During this period all of their work seems to revolve around making plans to raise money for the new church building. In the July 11, 1891, meeting the minutes reveal that a contract was made with Mr. S. Williams for the building of a house of worship. A new lot had been purchased for that purpose. This lot was located between Center Street and Ferry Street on Pratt Avenue.
At the October 10, 1891, meeting of the church it was reported that the new church was finished and the business session that day dealt with reports from the various committees and how they could raise money to pay for the building. The minutes for Valentine's Day, 1892, showed there were ten present. The first installment of $185.65 had been paid toward the church debt. One of the committees was to look into the suit that was pending. They also had communion service. In March the trustees were called upon to give a report concerning their progress in collecting the insurance on the burnt church house guaranteed to them by the contractor who had a builders risk on the building.
At the April meeting the church discussed ways and means of paying off the church debt, which was to be paid in full at maturity. Evidently, by the May meeting the insurance money had been received by the church, for they decided to appropriate a part of it to pay off the notes given to the contractor of the new house.
Dr. T.C. Johnson gives a description of the new church in THE BAPTIST BANNER:
It is a pretty structure to begin with and is seated with ash pews of pretty designs, trimmed
with walnut; the pulpit floor and aisles are carpeted with ingrain of pretty figure and appropriate
shade; pretty oil lamp chandeliers furnish abundant light. A 750 pound bell sends forth its deep
tone to call the people together for worship and work. This house with all of its furniture is paid
for. Not a dollar of debt, and money in the treasur[y]. The membership of the church is not large
(45 last year), and none of them wealthy....These ladies made and sold 500 sun-bonnets, 300
aprons, 16 silk quilts, 4 rag carpets and other things, running into thousands.
The dedication of the new church took place on October 30, 1892. Dr. T.C. Johnson, pastor of the Baptist Temple in Charleston, West Virginia, preached the dedication sermon from Psalms 96:6, "Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary." A brief history of the church was read from the record books by Robert Dickinson. Pastor T.F. Holt told the story of the building of the church, and the dedicatory prayer was offered by Brother T.G. Bonham.
Another highlight in the ministry of Pastor Holt was the Centennial celebration that took place on June 11, 1893. Again, Dr. T.C. Johnson, from the Baptist Temple in Charleston, was called upon to preach for the Sunday morning service. There were services on Saturday with Brother Hughart preaching in the 11:00 a.m. service and Dr. Johnson preaching at night. The crowds were not large for those services.
The Sunday services started at 10:00 a.m. Many former members came for the occasion but only one former pastor, James C. Cline. Pastor Holt had the devotional exercises at the 10:00 a.m. service. At 10:30 Mr. James A. Middleton, a former member of Old Kanawha, read a history of the church that was later published in THE BAPTIST BANNER. Then a poem was read which was written especially for the occasion by Victoria Hansford Teays. She was the daughter of John Hansford, the son of John Hansford, Sr., one of the original members of the church. Then at the 11:00 service, Dr. Johnson preached from Hebrews 11:40 on the theme "Our Duty to the Past." The Scripture lesson was read from the family Testament of Major John Hansford. An offering was taken for foreign missions. Sunday School was held in the afternoon and another service that night with Rev. W.J. Cocke preaching. All in all, it was a wonderful day of remembrance, getting reacquainted with old friends, and enjoying the blessings of God. Pastor Holt's ministry closed during this year. The minutes of the Witcher Creek Baptist Church state that he came as their pastor in January of 1894. The last entry in the Old Kanawha Baptist Church minute book for him was June 10, 1893.
Rev. Thomas Francis Holt (1828-1910) was born in Charles City County, Virginia, on June 24, 1828. He was the son of Thomas and Nancy Phillips Holt. He came to Kanawha County in 1838 where he lived for the rest of his life. He was converted as a young boy and was connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. However, in 1852, he was baptized by Rev. James Eli Ellison and became a member of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church at South Malden. He was licensed to preach in 1854 and ordained to the gospel ministry in 1856 by the Mt. Olivet church. According Lasher (1899), Rev. Holt pastored Amwell, Mt. Olivet, Green Bottom, Stanley, Campbells Creek, Burning Springs, Old Kanawha, Cannelton, Healing Stream, and New Hope. He pastored the Mt. Olivet church for over thirty years.
He was married on May 8, 1851, to Miss Matilda Farrell (1830-1869) who had been born in the Kanawha Valley. They had eight children. After the death of his first wife, Pastor Holt married Miss Fannie Kneisley (1841-1939) on March 5, 1872. They had five children. Fannie's father, Jacob Kneisley, was one of the pioneer salt manufacturers of the Kanawha Valley.
Pastor Holt lived in Carkin, West Virginia, for about thirty years. He worked for Mr. Carkin a coal operator and owner of the general store. His last years were spent in Pratt, where he worked in the store of his son, J.A.B. Holt. He died at 2:30 on Saturday morning, February 26, 1910, in his eighty-first year. He left behind a wife and eight children. He had, in all, living and dead, thirteen children, twenty-eight grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.
The funeral service was conducted by Dr. T.C. Johnson, pastor of the Baptist Temple in Charleston, West Virginia, on February 27, 1910, at 2:00 p.m. Other ministers who were present and participated in the funeral were Jeremiah S. Poe, G.W. Huddleston, C.B. Ayars, T.Y. Keeney, and B.F. Howell. Three of these men, Howell, Huddleston, and Ayars, later pastored Old Kanawha.
WILLIAM JOSEPH COCKE
1894 - 1896
The next entry in the book was for April 7, 1894, and Rev. William Joseph Cocke was the pastor. The minutes state: "Church met on this Saturday before the second Sunday in April for business with the pastor W.J. Cocke in the chair. This being the first meeting since the church called Bro. Cocke to preach for them." Pastor Cocke stayed until March 7, 1896, when the church voted to discontinue his services.
He was born on February 4, 1844, in Hanover County, Virginia. His parents died while he was still an infant, and he was reared by his uncle. He joined the Confederate Army a few months before his eighteenth birthday, caught the measles and had to be sent out; then he enlisted again, this time in Company H, 22nd Virginia Infantry. After getting out of the service, he went back to his uncle's farm in Bedford County, Virginia, and got a job working for the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. He was an engineer for six years.
Pastor Cocke was converted as a young child, baptized when he was thirteen, and felt the call of God on his life for the ministry. He accepted a position as a missionary colporteur for the Strawberry Baptist Association at $300.00 a year. He studied on his own to make up for his educational deficiency. He was ordained to the ministry on September 2, 1870, at the Liberty Baptist Church in Virginia.
His pastorates included six years at the Baptist church in St. Albans and six years at Twentieth Street Baptist Church in Huntington. He served rural churches until 1929; then he retired from an active ministry.
Pastor Cocke married Charmain Hamrick on October 4, 1874. They had four children. His wife died in 1917 and in 1926 he married Carrie Miller. He died on Thursday afternoon, December 8, 1938, at 3:00 from a stroke he had suffered that morning at his home. Funeral services were held at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, and he was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery, in Huntington, where he had been the sexton for sixteen years.