Dodge County GaArchives Church Records.....History of Eastman Presbyterian Church ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 28, 2004, 4:12 pm EASTMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. IN RESPONSE to a petition of certain members of the Presbyterian Church residing in the town of Eastman, the Presbytery of Macon, in session at Columbus, Ga., appointed Rev. Wm. McKay a committee to visit the field and if the way was clear organize the petitioners into a church to be known as The First Presbyterian Church of Eastman, Georgia. Thus empowered, Rev. Wm. McKay visited Eastman on Sunday, June 23, 1877, held service in the court house and organized the church with the following members: Mrs. Fannie P. Chandler, by letter from Statesville, N. C. Miss Lillie E. Chandler, by letter from Statesville, N. C. Mrs. Mary DeGroat, by letter from Methodist Episcopal Church in New York. Wm. Pitt Eastman, by letter from Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. Miss Carro C. Eastman, by letter from Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. Mrs. John Gardiner, by letter from First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Ill. Mrs. Ursula Roberts, by letter from Flemington, Ga. Joseph W. Sheldon, by letter from Methodist Episcopal Church in New York. Mrs. Nancy Sheldon, by letter from Methodist Episcopal Church in New York. George W. Sheldon, by profession of faith. John D. Sheldon, by profession of faith. Mrs. Mary Russell, by letter from First Presbyterian Church in Macon, Ga. Messrs. W. P. Eastman and J. W. Sheldon were elected Ruling Elders, and, Mr. Sheldon declaring his acceptance of the office, was ordained and installed in the duties of the office. Mr. Eastman was not present and seems to have declined the office, as there is no record of his acceptance. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was then administered and at the close of the service a meeting of Session was held, Rev. W. McKay acting as Moderator, at which Ruling Elder Sheldon was elected Clerk of Session. Rev. W. McKay became the Supply of the Church, a part of his salary being paid by the Home Mission Committee of Macon Presbytery. The church continued to use the court house as their place of worship till their house of worship was erected in 1892. The records are incomplete, and it is, therefore, hard to determine the time during which various ministers have served the congregation, but as best as can be determined the following list seems to have been the ministers: Rev. Wm. McKay, 1877 to ________ Rev. J. B. Mack, _____ to _______ Rev. H. G. Griswold, 1896 to 1897. Rev. W. F. Strickland, 1898 to 1900. Rev. R. W. Alexander, 1901 to 1904. Rev. W. 0. Stephens, 1906 to 1909. Rev. C. M. Chumbley, 1911 to 1918. Rev. E. E. Phillips, 1918. Rev. J. S. Davis was pastor for several years. The following have served the church as Elders: J. W. Sheldon, Judge D. M. Roberts, W. A. Burks, C. F. Coleman, W. C. Drummond, L. M. Woodward, Jr., and C F. Coleman. The following Deacons have served the church: J. B. Cameron, Dr. W. E. Miller, J. M. Edwards, H. M. O'Callaghan, T. T. Coleman, H. E. Dickens, Dr. J. C. Wall, H. M. Leggett, and J. Z. Hargrove. The roll shows the following names in addition to those given in the organization: Mrs. Clara Sheldon, now Mrs. S. T. Lee; Leonard Bellingrath, Mrs. Catherine Bellingrath, Mr. Edwin. C. Bellingrath, Miss Mary E. Bellingrath, W. B. Pen-dleton, Miss Gertrude Holsendorf, Frank Armstrong, Charles F. Garrett, Miss Callie Garrett, J. A. Williams, R. P. Williams, G. R. Williams, Mrs. May Curry, Lewis M. Curry, Mrs. Harriet A. Mugridge, Mrs. J. E. Gignilliat, Miss Catherine C. Orland, Mrs. Frank W. Armstrong, John Colville, Mrs. Mary Colville, J. B. Cameron, E. L. Stephens, Miss Irma Sheldon, Judge D. M. Roberts, Mrs. W. F. Strickland, Mrs Thompson, Miss C. B. Latimer, W. A. Burks, Mrs. W. A. Burks, Mrs. F. R. Steadman, J. C. Gowver, Mrs. J. C. Gowver, Dr. W. E. Miller, Mrs. W. E. Miller, Miss Sarah Miller, J. H. Roberts, Mrs. J. H. Roberts, C. F. Coleman, Mrs. C. F. Coleman, H. M. O'Callaghan, Mrs. Mary Woolley, Mrs. J. Cox Wall, W. C. Drummond, Mrs. Mary B. Drum-mond, Miss Allee W. Drummond, Miss Cammie P. Drummond, J. M. Edwards, Mrs. Mattie M; Edwards, Miss Fannie Kate Persons, T. T. Coleman, Miss Mona Coleman, Miss Emily Dell Persons, L. M. Woodward, Mrs. L. M. Woodward, J. Z. Hargrove, Mrs. J. Z. Hargrove, Mrs. H. M. O'Callaghan, Dan O'Callaghan, Lennon Woodward, Mrs. T. T. Coleman, Thornton Coleman, Beverly Coleman, Dr. J. C, Wall, Mary Wall, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Wall, Jr.; J. Z. Hargrove, Jr.; Ellis Hargrove, Mrs. E. Jiles, Ethel Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Leggett, Mrs. B. Bradford, Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Norris, E. T. Methvin, Mrs. Helen Methvin Ursery, R. J. Cater, Jack Roberts, Bessie Ball Roberts. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY COPYRIGHT 1932 By MRS. WILTON PHILIP COBB Printed by FOOTE & DAVIES CO., ATLANTA. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/dodge/churches/gbb180historyo.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb