Early County GaArchives Church Records.....Sowhatchee Baptist 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: Donna Eldridge DonnaEldrid@aol.com June 25, 2004, 3:33 pm SOWHATCHEE BAPTIST CHURCH There being no church nearer than Flat Creek, Columbia or Blakely or near enough for the Baptist Believers of this community to worship they petitioned Blakely to extend an arm of that church to the Sowhatchee Community. This she readily did in 1858. The Baptists living in the community at that time were: G. W. Odum and wife John Bailey and wife Jordan Walters and wife Jermiah Fowler and wife J. W. Anglin, Sr. and wife Rev. W. D. Cowdry and wife Samuel Smith and wife Mrs. Elizabeth Sessions William Roe and wife Jeff Fowler and wife A bush arbor was erected and they held services under this until March 1860, when a building committee, consisting of G. W. Odum, Jordan Walters, J. W. Anglin, Sr., J. B. Mulligan and Samuel Smith was appointed. They selected a site for the new church on lot of land No. 258 and on the Blakely and Woodville Road, now known as Blakely and Sheffield Mill Road, and purchased the same for $5.00, the lot containing four acres of land. A building 35 by 40 feet, ceiled overhead, out of lumber dressed by hand was erected thereon and was completed and the church organized on the first Sunday in March 1860. The Presbytery consisted of Rev. T. H. Stout and Rev. W. D. Cowdry of Blakely. Bro. Stout after preaching the Introductory Sermon announced everything ready for the constitution of the church, and the following were admitted as charter members: Jordan Walters and wife, J. W. Anglin, Sr. and wife, Samuel Smith and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Sessions, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Odum, Mr. and Mrs. John Bailey, Mr. and Mrs. William Roe, Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Fowler, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Fowler, Rev. W. D. Cowdry, and Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Mulligan. Immediately after the organization of the church Rev. W. D. Cowdry was elected Pastor and Jordan Walters, Church Clerk. J. W. Anglin, Sr. and Samuel Smith were elected Deacons. The time of preaching was chosen for the 3rd. Sunday and Saturday before of each month. The following Sunday was selected at which time to organize a Sunday School, and a Committee was sent to the Mother Church, Blakely to secure literature for the Sunday School. The committee consisted of G. W. Odum, Jordan Walters and Miss Sallie Cowdry. They secured from the Blakely Church catechisms and song books. Mr. J. W. Anglin, Sr. taught the children and old people singing lessons. Several of our members at this time enlisted in the Civil War, towit: William Roe, Jeff Taylor, John Bailey, J. W. Anglin, Sr. and G. W. Odum. Only four ever returned. It is presumed that W. D. Cowdry served the church as pastor from 1860 to 1866. Brother E. M. Knowles of Alabama succeeded him, preaching his farewell sermon in September 1871. Then followed Brother Parker and served the church as its pastor until 1875. Following him in 1875 was Bro. R. L. Simms of Alabama and he served the church until June 1877 when the last meeting was held and after prayerful consideration it was deemed best to dissolve the church and the clerk was instructed to write letters of dismission to all members in good standing. The church building was left in the hands of the Deacons and Clerk as Trustees to do with as they thought best. The Free Will Baptists organized a church at this place and desired to secure by purchase the building. The Trustees would not sell but allowed them to constitute in the church with the understanding that the name Zion be retained and the house and grounds be kept in good repair. The present Sowhatchee Church is composed of a part of the original Zion Church organized in 1860, namely W. T. Parramore, Mrs. W. B. Weaver and Mrs. I. B. Weaver. J. M. Lane is a grand son of J. W. Anglin, Sr. J. L. Ricks and Mrs. J. M. Lane were grandson and grand daughter of Samuel Smith of the 1860 organization. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Ricks and J. M. Lane in April 1903 were then members of the Free Will Church but withdrew from that church and were invited to join the Missionary Church at Cedar Springs, and became connected with that church although there was some objection to the Free Will baptism, and they continued with that church for eight years. Mrs. J. O. Brown of Blakely Church and daughter, Miss Nina Brown coming from Zion Free Will Church also joined Cedar Springs. After two years, on account of the distance from Cedar Springs, we requested Cedar Springs to extend an arm to Sowhatchee Community and this was granted. An arbor was erected in which to worship and seats and a pulpit were provided. Brother R. C. Poole of Damascus came and held a meeting for a week, but no additions were made. Bro. Sebron Sauls was called to serve the church at Cedar Springs and would preach at the arbor on Sunday afternoons. A Committee composed of J. L. Ricks and J. M. Lane was appointed to see the Free Will brethren in regard to holding services in the Zion Church building. They refused the request, stating that they did not want any other doctrine preached in the building. Bro. J. L. Ricks then moved the furniture out of one room of his dwelling and brought in some of the benches from the arbor for seats. Rev. N. G. Christopher then pastor of Cedar Springs preached in this home. And on the 3rd Sunday, November 1910 appointed a building committee consisting of J. R. Ricks, J. M. Lane, W. T. Parramore and T. J. Hawkins. In December the building committee called a prospective membership together to select a site upon which to erect a building. Two sites were offered, one by J. M. Lane and one by J. L. Ricks. The site offered by Brother Ricks was accepted. It is located on the opposite side of the road from Zion Cemetery, and on this lot a frame building was erected 32 by 48 feet with rolled ceiling and inclined floor. It became necessary to raise funds and the Committee agreed to open up an account with the Blakely Bank for the contract price of the church. J. L. Ricks giving $100.00; J. M. Lane $100.00; W. T. Parramore $50.00; and T. H. Hawkins $50.00. Up until this time there had been no subscriptions solicited. Flowers Bros. Lumber Company of Jakin, Ga. furnished the flooring and ceiling. Balkely Variety Works furnished windows, doors and seats. J. B. Livingston furnished several items including paints and oils. B. F. Fuller furnished shingles. The building was rushed and completed on March 30, 1911. The building committee was called on to inspect and receive the finished building and it was accepted. Painting was in progress inside and out, and April 15, 1911 was set on which date to constitute the church. On the night of April 6th, 1911 about twelve o'clock the house was burned and of course it was suspected that some unknown party did the awful deed. Instead of constituting as planned, J. L. Ricks went to Cedar Springs on Saturday before the third Sunday in April and brought Rev. N. G Christopher up and the Baptists met within the home of J. L. Ricks, amid many tears, some wanting to go ahead with a debt of $750.00 hanging over the Baptist Community and the new church building burned. They were at a loss as to what steps to take. Bro. J. L. Ricks contended that the debt was a moral obligation and must be paid, that a second house could be built and the debt paid more quickly than it could if disbanded. Rev. Christopher suggested that a second building be erected and that the Brethren and Sisters of the state be called upon to aid them. An article was placed in the Christian Index, and many donations were received. Mrs. J. B. Coram of Edison was the first to respond with a check for $10.00. Flowers Lumber Company readily agreed to furnish ceiling, weather boarding and flooring for the new church. Mr. C. E. Stuckey was to cut the framing. Work was begun by cleaning brick and effort was made to let the contract for the second building. The carpenters were colored and some of them were afraid to undertake the job, but finally succeeded in contracting with Preston Upshaw. The framing was delivered on the ground, but when Flowers Lumber Company was called upon for the ceiling it could not be delivered as lightning had struck the dry kiln and it had burned. With this back set and no funds Brother J. L. Ricks went to Arlington and secured the flooring and ceiling. Blakely Variety Works furnished weather boarding, doors, windows and seats and the second building was completed and the church constituted on July 16, 1911, after many years of hardships and disappointments. J. R. Blewitt of Cyrene, Ga. preached the Introductory Sermon, and at one thirty o'clock after noon the congregation returned to the house and the presbytery consisting of Rev. N. G. Christopher, Rev. O. L. Jones and Rev. J. R. Blewitt constituted the following named persons as charter members. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Ricks, Dr. H. C. Ricks, Mary Ricks, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Lane, W. T. Parramore, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Hawkins, Mrs. E. B. Lasseter, Mrs. J. O. Brown, Miss Nina Brown, Mrs. J. J. Jordan, Mrs. I. B. Weaver, Mrs. W. B. Weaver and Mrs. J. S. Reed. J. L. Ricks and J. M. Lane were elected as Deacons, J. M. Lane already being ordained. On the following Sunday after the constitution of the church a Sunday School was organized, J. L. Ricks being elected Superintendent, and John Martin, Secretary. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Lane and Mrs. J. O. Brown were teachers. Rev. O. L. Jones came down and conducted a meeting at which Will Johnson offered himself for membership, on Free Will Immersion and was received. Brother J. L. Ricks was then ordained by Brother O. L. Jones and brother N. G. Christopher as the Presbytery. J. L. Ricks was elected Clerk of the Church and Rev. J. R. Blewitt as pastor of the church for the ensuring year, 1912. The church now found itself in debt in the sum of $2,500.00 after the second building was completed and the church constituted. Some of the accounts were closed by notes which were sold to the First National Bank of Blakely and not being able to pay them, Mr. E. Hilton, the president threatened to sell us out. The Mission Board, however, sent $200.00 with the understanding that if that would save the building to put it in. The money was tendered to Mr. Hilton and he refused at first to accept it, but finally did so. We moved the debt to the Farmers State Bank which was finally paid. The church became prosperous but the World War came along and called five of our sons away. Our church has furnished a number of outstanding men and woman, towit: two licensed preachers, F. E. Martin, F. Hilton and J. H. Mattox of Starke Florida. Pastors of Sowhatchee Baptist Church: J. R. Blewitt -- Cyrene, Ga.....1912 N. G. Christopher -- Cyrene, Ga.....1913-1914 E. T. Dawson -- Hilton, Ga.....1915-1916 J. L. Quadlebaum -- Columbia, Ala.....1917-1919 Rev. Eli Kirklan -- Webb, Ala.....1919 C. T. Rogers -- Columbia, Ala.....1920 No regular pastor J. Houston -- Blakely, Ga.....1922 T. M. Matthews -- Hilton, Ga.....1923 R. E. Zachert -- Bluffton, Ga.....1923-1926 W. E. Bodenhammer -- Blakely, Ga.....1926-July 1928 W. T. Knight -- Columbia, Ala.....1929-1930 J. W. Cantrell -- Iron City, Ga.....1931 The present pastor is Albert G. Ott, Damascus, Ga. During the pastorate of E. T. Dawson, we secured the service of O. H. Fowler of Fort Gaines to conduct a revival meeting. He was requested to preach a doctrinal sermon and did so, on Monday night. On Tuesday, Bros. F. E. and E. E. Martin came back inquiring as to Baptist belief and asked many questions. During the revival they connected themselves with the church. Many others did likewise. The two Bros. Martin coming from Zion Free Will Church demanded baptism. At the close of the meeting Bro. J. L. Ricks made a statement that he had left the Free Will Church and had gone into the Baptist Church on alien immersion and couldn't stand up for what Baptists stood for unless he was baptized and therefore he demanded baptism of Brother Fowler. Bro. Fowler then asked if there was anyone else and Bro. J. M. Lane arose and demanded baptism. The next day at Walter Ford seven of the church were baptized into the Baptist Faith, namely: J. L. Ricks, J. M. Lane, F. E. Martin, E. E. Martin, E. P. Martin and Miss Nina Brown, with Brother H. O. Fowler, officiating. The church has had its ups and downs but through many trials and tribulations it is now out of debt. The most prosperous years were during the pastorate of E. T. Dawson, J. I. Quaddlebaum, and R. E. Zachert and especially under Bro. Zachert. The church has a flourishing B.Y.P.U., M.S., and Sunbeam Band. All debts were paid and the Bethel Association entertained in 1926, at which time the church was dedicated. Bro. R. E. Zachert preached the dedication sermon. Bro. Griner of Shellman prayed the dedication prayer. We have a beautiful church house and grounds which are valued at $2,000.00. It is lighted with carbide lights and heated. The house is painted on the outside and is in good condition every way. Read and approved by church in conference -- March 20, 1932. Respectfully Submitted, J. L. Ricks J. M. Lane Mrs. J. B. Still, Jr. Committee (pages 237-242) "History of Bethel Association - Including Centennial Meeting" Centennial meeting held with Baptist church at Edison, Georgia, October 25, 26, 27, 1932 A. L. Miller, Edison, Ga., Moderator. W. H. Joyner, Coleman, Ga., Clerk Compiled and Edited by Alexander Lee Miller Moderator of Association 1909 -- 1934 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/early/churches/nbb50sowhatch.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 14.4 Kb