Dale County AlArchives News.....Antioch Missionary Baptist Church (1854) February 22 1984 ************************************************ 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: Christine Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 April 24, 2004, 3:32 pm Southern Star The History Corner (Southern Star Wednesday, February 22 1984) Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Organized in 1845 By Creel Richardson Antioch Missionary Baptist Church was organized about 1845-46, and was located on a site a short distance south of Skipperville on highway 105. Two area residents who trace their ancestry to the early settlers of this region are Mrs. Mabel Baker, the wife of the late Marrell Baker of Skipperville, and Mrs. Eva (Flowers) Richardson, the wife of R.J. Richardson of Arguta. Their mothers, Lilie and Leila, were daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Loftin, and wives of C.C. Baker and Alphaeus Flowers, respectively. They trace their loftin ancestry in Dale County to their great great grandfather, William Loftin, born in North Carolina, and Probate Judge of Dale County from January 12, 1828 until April 16, 1831. The pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in 1947 was G.G. McLendon, and outstanding minister in the development of the Missionary Baptist philosophy in Southeast Alabama during the quarter century prior to the Civil War. In 1846 he was selected by the Salem Missionary Baptist Association- organized in Brundidge in 1839- to ride as a domestic missionary "within the destitute parts of the Association in Southeast Alabama. In this capacity he "traveled 2,500 miles, preached 142 sermons, constituted 2 churches, assisted in the ordination of one minister, baptized 58 persons, and visited 253 families, found 33 without the word of God, distributed 224 volumes". His compensation was $300. In September, 1847, Antioch selected M. Row, E.F. Banks, and R. Phillips as delegates to the annual meeting of the Salem Association-Oct. 4-8 at TOWN Creek Baptist Church in Macon County. Their "Petitionary" letter to membership in the Association was approved. In 1850. Antioch and other Baptist churches in Dale and Henry withdrew from the Salem and organized the Judson Association at a meeting in the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Dale, In this new Association, Antioch continued its growth. At the annual meeting of the Judson Association in 1853, the Pastor, William Lee and Church Clerk L.B. Brown presented the church report. The total membership was 91. Ten had been dismissed by letter, eleven received by letter, one baptized, and one "excommunicated". About 1856 Antioch sponsored and became the "mother" church of the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in the Arguta community. The date for the dissolution of Antioch has not been determined. At least one legible grave stone remains. Its inscription: "Our Mother-Sinthy Bush-Wife of David Chancy- Died in 1867, aged 49 years" David Chancy was born in N.C. Sinthy was born in S.C. One son, John N. was born in Ga. The other children, David Amos, Isaac, and Angeline, were born in Ala.- probably Dale County. Available evidence indicates that Skipperville had its beginning during the late 1830s and the early 1840s. Some authorities believe that it was designated as Beat 11 during the 1840s. The general militia muster was staged there in 1844 The muster ground was located "under the hill back of Ambrose Pellum's residence." James Brannon was Captain in 1845. John Floyd succeeded him. Enoch Johns was elected to take Floyd's place in 1854. U.S. Postal records of 1853 showed Redick P. Peacock to be Postmaster. His compensation for 1855 was $36.30, with net proceeds for the office $22.83. In 1857 the respective amounts were $35.29 and $41.49. Skipperville's first race track was along the Marianna road. It proved to be too sandy and the track was moved to the site where the Methodist Church was erected at a later dale. noah Peacock was killed while racing his horse on this track during a Sunday afternoon race. The Civil War and Reconstruction period was a critical one for the com- munity of Skipperville. During the latter part of the War deserters roamed the area of Southeast Alabama. In the winter of 1864-65 they raided Skipperville, broke open the "government commissary" and divided its contents. Later they threatened to return and burn the village. A committee composed of Dr. Solomon, Redick Peacock, and John McKinney met and "persuaded them" not to do this. Skipperville Academy-January 1, 1886: S.J. Doster has control of this school for the scholastic year 1886. He will maintain his reputation and make the Academy worthy of patronage. He solicits boys, girls, and teachers of unfinished education, to come to his school. Academics are the middle important links of the school system. Here habits of study, and mental fires of youthful ambition are formed and kindled to win crowns of Higher Schools. The term is divided into spring session of six months, and a fall session of four months. Rates of tuition established by Board of Trustees, 1st class per term spelling, reading, etc., $16.00; 2nd class practical arithmetic, grammar, etc., $24.00;3rd class. Algebra, philosophy, etc., $32.00; 4th class, Latin, Greek, etc. $40.00; Pupiles who are not subscribed will be charged from admission to the close of the session. Tuition is due 1st of October next. Public School funds credited to accounts of pupils. Incident fees of 50 cents must be paid by each patron in advance. Spring term begins on Monday, 18th inst. From the Newspaper files of Harold Stephens. Scanned and Submitted by Christine G. Thacker Permission to post any Southern Star article or pictures given by Mr Joseph Adams, Owner, April.23, 2004. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb