Clay County AlArchives Church Records.....The Early Years of Olive Branch Church and School Copyright Date 2022 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 November 19, 2022, 4:06 pm Township 20, Range 8, Section 10. Clay County, Alabama Smyrna Methodist church was established by members of the McCain family around 1836, it was one if not the oldest church in old Talladega now Clay County Alabama. The McCain family came to Old Talladega County around 1836. They were very possibly the first white settlers in that area. Many members of the McCain family are buried in Smyrna cemetery later Olive Branch cemetery. Seaborn McCain deeded land for the cemetery to the Methodist church for the sum of one dollar. When the name changed from Smyrna Methodist to Olive Branch Methodist Church is unknown. Possibly around the end of the Civil War. A time of peace and reconciliation. Extending an olive branch means the ending of hostilities between two parties and signaled the end of a conflict. If there was ever a time of extending the olive branch and a time for peace, it was after the Civil War. Amanda McCain's obituary states she joined the Methodist Church at Olive Branch at age 18 years. That would mean she joined the church around 1869. Rev. Turner Wright writes about her last hours of Mrs. Catherine Bunn-Haynes. He writes that Mrs. Haynes told him she joined the Methodist church at age 13 years, she also said she would like to be buried at Olive Branch. She joined the Methodist church around 1882. Her parents Marquis De Lafayette Bunn and his wife Zina Era Hearn-Bunn are buried in Olive Branch cemetery. Marquis De Lafayette Bunn served in Captain Ellis Co., GA., Mounted Volunteers, during the Creek Indian War in 1836, for that service, he was given land in the same TS, Sect and Range as Olive Branch church and cemetery. This is the first newspaper article that names the church. Jul 9, 1887, Clay County Watchman: An all-day singing will be held at Olive Branch church, 3 miles northeast of Ashland, on the 3rd Sunday in July. Everybody is invited to attend and bring their song books. In the late 1890's to 1914, there were announcements for singings, box suppers, and even funerals at the Olive Branch schoolhouse in the Ashland and Lineville newspapers, but nothing mentioned about the church until 1915. The Olive Branch Methodist church must have closed around 1890. Lineville Headlight: The Olive Branch Baptist Church was constituted at the Olive Branch School house May 1st, 1915, Revs M. A. Johnson. A. L. Joiner. W. M. Worthy and A. C. Johnson participated the organization with 29 members enrolled. Rev. M. A. Johnson was called as pastor and Arthur Proctor was elected as church clerk. Ashland Progress: To The Progress: Please announce that the Ladies Aid Society will give a supper at Olive Branch on the 16th day of Oct. next, beginning at 3 o'clock p. m. and continuing till 10 p. m. They will serve fish, ham, chicken, cake, coffee and other good things. Proceeds to go to seating the new church. Let everybody come and help a good cause, The ladies are also going to give away a nice new comfort. Ladies Aid Society. Oct. 6, 1915. Ashland Progress: Dedication Service to be held at Olive Branch Church Sunday, Feb. 27, 1916, 9:30 a.m. Devotional service Rev. A. C. Johnson 9:45 a.m. Song service G. F. Hunt 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. A Brief History of Olive Branch Church Rev. Elijah Garrett 10:55 a.m. Song service W. M. Proctor 11:00 a.m. Dedication Sermon by Rev. F. J. Ingram AFTERNOON 1:30 Some of the evils of the day and how to overcome them Rev. M. A. Johnston and others. M. A. Johnston, Pastor. In 1916 Olive Branch Baptist Church was accepted to the Carey Baptist Assocation. ***************************** Olive Branch School There was a school organized around the time as the church. Mr. McCain taught in a small schoolhouse near Smyrna Methodist church. The Olive Branch school is first mentioned in a newspaper article in 1893. D.L. Vaughn Teacher. Apr-1909 Lineville Headlight: Rev B. W. Mathews organized a Sunday School at Olive Branch school house on Sunday the 21st. A large crowd attended and took great interest in the organization. This place has long been in need of a good Sunday School, and it is now hoped that it will soon have a good one. There are a large number of young people who will attend every Sunday and it is expected that Olive Branch will soon rank among the best Sunday Schools in the county. All who are interested in the Sunday School work at this place will meet next Sunday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock and elect a secretary and teachers. Prof. Carley Glass, former teacher of Olive Branch literary school, was with us and took an active interest in the work. Mr. William Whitehead, of Cullman, and former student of Lineville College, will be one of the workers in our Sunday School. Jun-1909 Ashland Progress: Olive Branch will soon boast of a nice $800.00 school building. Ane material is being brought in very rapidly. The people are anxious to see their new building completed. They have shown this by their liberal subscription. Work will begin in the erection of this building in a few days, and with the number of hands that are expected the house will soon be completed. Success to the Progress. A Subscriber. Nov-1909: The prospects for our school at this place are the best that they have been for some time. Mr. W. M. Melton, of Roanoke, is principal, and Miss Sula Bartlett assistant. Nov-1910 Tho school at Olive Branch had an auspicious opening Monday. A representative group of trustees and patrons met with the pupils and teachers at the opening exercises. Interesting talks were made by Rev C. W. Seale, M. Shaddix and Col. S.W. Prutt Jr., on educational lines, and a committee was appointed to arrange for painting the house and making other improvements on the house and yards. Prof O. F. Striplin and Miss. Suella Bartlett are teachers in charge. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/clay/churches/theearly218gbb.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 6.5 Kb