Chattahoochee County GaArchives Church Records.....Good Hope Church Copyright Date 1933
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 4, 2004, 12:55 am

GOOD HOPE CHURCH

    Good Hope Church first established where the Parkman Cemetery is located
within the bounds of Fort Benning, had first grave at this cemetery with a
marker made in 1852. But it is probable several unmarked graves were made prior
to this date. The first services there were held under a bush arbor; then a
house (of logs it is thought) was erected. A deed recorded at Cusseta shows the
date when this church was removed from this first location to the site near the
Bald Hill road. This deed dated Oct. 10, 1855 conveys 2^2 acres with the right
of way from Bald Hill road to the church from James C. Coleman to the deacons of
Good Hope Church viz: M. Amos, C. H. Goolsby and J. C. Benton; witnessed by
Thos. J. Miles and N. N. Howard, Clerk S. Court.

    On same day, William Morgan gave the right of way to his spring or well to
these same deacons and their successors in office. It is probable Thos. J.
Miles, a Baptist minister, was at that time pastor of Good Hope Church, as he
lived at the farm later known as the Farr place.

    This location did not prove easily accessable to the greatest number of that
faith, and after several years it was again moved. This time it remained upon
the site chosen until it was sold to the government as part of territory
included within Fort Benning reservation. The membership during the years of its
existence near Harp's Mill contained the following names supplied by Mrs. W. F.
Foster, a daughter of Dr. W. A. Sapp.

These names were changed through the years by death or removal of church letters.

    "Uncle Billy"-Parkman, the oldest member; Miss Beulah Parkman, Mr. and Mrs.
J. A. Farr and their sons and daughters, Mrs. James, Mr. and Mrs. Parkman and
their sons and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Parkman; Mr. Bill Willis and his
family, viz: Lee, Edgar, Tom, -Charlie, Misses Ella, Lula and Mattie Willis; Dr.
and Mrs. W. A. Sapp and their sons and daughters: Messrs John, Wash and Curtis
Stephens and Miss Gertrude Stephens; Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Harp and their sons and
daughters; Messrs Tom and Henry Surls and Misses Fannie, Hattie and Julia Surls;
Mr. Charlie Dodson and Misses Mattie and Alice Dodson; Messrs. Arthur and Tom
Cunningham; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wright and their son, Parks; also Mr. and Mrs.
R. J. Myrick and Mrs. Pope; Mr. and Mrs. Sam Oneal, and Mr. and Mrs. C. H.
Watkins. As the younger generation united with this church names of membership
remained the same with few exceptions, until the dissolution of Good Hope in 1920.

    On Wednesday Sept. 2, 1931.

    Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Parks Wright, of Columbus, Ga., in their automobile
carried G. W. King, County School Supt. Mrs. E. B. Spivey, Ordinary of
Chattahoochee County and the author of this volume to the historic Shiloh
Cemetery at Jamestown in Fort Benning Reservation five miles from the
Chattahoochee River, once the scene of busy plantation life and the abode of
families of wealth and culture.

    Mr. Wright failed to find the site of several old places, churches, schools
and .residences, which were of especial interest to residents there in past
years. For time seems to have obliterated old landmarks so completely that no
trace of their existence is left to guide those seeking to identify their location.

    The cemetery alone bears mute evidence of those prosperous times, the
grandeur of which departed with Civil War days, but the lean existence of which
continued until officials representing the U. S. Government decided this section
to be an ideal location for Fort Benning reservation where the largest Infantry
School in the world finds ample territory for practical training of men in the
art of warfare.

    From the monuments at Shiloh Cemetery were copied many names and dates.



Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY, GEORGIA
By N. K. Rogers

Dedicated to

KASIHITA CHAPTER U. D. C.

and all worthy descendants of the County's first settlers.

Copyright 1933

by N. K. ROGERS

PRINTED   BY
COLUMBUS  OFFICE  SUPPLY CO. COLUMBUS, GA.


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