Gwinnett County GaArchives Church Records.....Fairview Presbyterian Church Copyright Date 1911 ************************************************ 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: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com July 26, 2004, 12:52 am Fairview. In the year 1823, a company of men and their wives met together for the purpose of organizing a church. From the original session book the following record of the organization and the covenant assumed is taken: "The Presbyterian church of `Fairview,' Gwinnett county, Georgia, was organized on the 9th of August, 1823, by the Reverend Remembrance Chamberlain. Thomas Beattie, Samuel Reid, and William Montgomery were set apart to the exercise of their office on the 28th September, 1823, agreeable to our book of discipline. Thomas Beattie having been a ruling elder in the congregation of Goodhope, South Carolina. COVENANT. "We, the subscribers, having been regularly admitted into the communion of the Presbyterian church, and being at the time free from its censures, desiring to enjoy the privileges and discipline of a church as soon as possible, do hereby cheerfully and solemnly pledge ourselves to each other, and to the great Head of the church to endeavor henceforward to walk in all the commandments of the Lord blameless, and obey such elders in the Lord as may be duly appointed over us, and to place ourselves under the care of the Hopewell presbytery, and to take all the regular steps to be supplied with the regular ministrations of the gospel of Christ. "Thos. Beattie, Sam'l Reid, W. J. Russell, James C. Reed, M. Montgomery, James M. Gresham, Geo. M. Gresham, Phillip Isley, Cath. Montgomery, Isabel Jackson, Mary Reid, Margaret Beattie, Mary A. Isley." Thus did these sturdy pioneers originate a movement which, under God's blessing, has continued down to the present time and now lives, teeming with opportunity and possibility. The history naturally falls into two periods-before and after the war. Before the war the church enjoyed her greatest prosperity in her palmiest days having on her rolls over 250 names, and being the leading church for miles around. She enjoyed the ministerial services of Rev. John S. Wilson and Rev. James C. Patterson, men of the highest ability, for a period of thirty-one years. These men, while preaching at Fairview, also taught in the. Lawrenceville Academy. Something of the ability of these two faithful preachers may be seen from the fact that when they were called away from Fairview the Rev. Mr. Wilson went to the pastorate of ,the Presbyterian church in Decatur, and the Rev. Mr. Patterson to the presidency of the Synodical Female College at Griffin, Ga. Dr. Wilson was a strong advocate of temperance, and made temperance speeches in this part of the state. He was a leading minister in the Presbyterian church, and was a member of eleven general assemblies. Besides being pastor of the Decatur church he was principal of the Hannah Moore Institute at that place. He moved from Decatur to Atlanta, and was pastor of the First Presbyterian church until the day of his death. He was regarded as one of the strongest preachers in Georgia. He preached long sermons, but was listened to with attention. On July 12, 1834, near the close of his faithful ministry, twenty members were dismissed to assist in forming the new church of Goshen, now the Norcross Presbyterian church. Dr. Patterson was also proprietor of the Laboring School Farm, located between Fairview and the public road which passes the residence of Mr. Sam. Craig. This school had quite a reputation among Presbyterians all over the state. Dr. Patterson had the reputation of a man who controls bad boys, and was able to accomplish a great work in his school. His work in Griffin was of the highest order. He did not live long after moving there. Just prior to the war the church grew weaker, owing to the .removal of many members to other parts, and to the general unsettled condition. Services were maintained without a break up to and through the year '61, though in '62 there seems to have been no regular pastor. All during the rest of the war services were maintained. At its close things were so utterly demoralized that there are no records at all for the larger part of 1865 and 1866. The first record thereafter reads thus: "The war having thrown everything into a state of derangement, no regular record was made of the meetings of the session from April, 1865, till June, 1866, at which time the session engaged the ministerial services of Rev. J. Wilson as `stated supply' till January, 1867." This entry is made by the Rev. J. Wilson. Mr. Wm. H. Mayne was clerk of the session during the war, and there is an unfinished entry made by him in the book, dated April, 1865. From this time he disappears entirely from the records. The history of the church immediately after the war is largely the history of the reconstruction period. Beginning with the first pastorate of the beloved Rev. J. L. King in 1869 things began to brighten a bit and during his eleven years of devoted and faithful service in one of the most trying periods of our Southland's history, marked gains were made and much good accomplished. During the next pastorate, 1881-'85, that of the Rev. J. F. McClelland, some of the seed sown in the previous pastorate ripened and was gathered. Following are some of the names added to the roll at this time: Geo. W. F. Craig, Jno. E. Craig, Jr., Nancy J. Craig, Mrs. R. A. L. Williams, Misses Kate and Lizzie Williams, T. R. Powell by letter, Donald Williams, Mrs. L. A. Woodward, Mrs. Sally Williams, Mrs. Sally Williams, Thomas S. Byrd, Wm. T. Craig, and John W. N. Williams, names familiar to us all. Bro. McClelland served the church well and faithfully for nearly five years, winning his way into the hearts of all, and then "fell asleep in Jesus." Beautiful resolutions were prepared by C. H. Brand, J. W. Wilson and T. R. Powell, and were adopted by the church and spread on page of session book. The Rev. Mr. McClelland was followed by the Rev. Sam Scott, who seems to have served the church acceptably for something over a year. Among the names added to the roll at this time are, Messrs. Sam. Craig, J. C. Williams, I. A. Corbin, Robt. T. Craig, R. Roland Williams and Misses Annie Winn and Mary Hutchins. From 1886 the church was served by three ministers till 1891, when the Rev. J. L. King returned and served again for ten years, his two pastorates, totaling 21 years, the longest in the history of the church, Bro. King's second pastorate was not nearly so successful at his first, owing largely to the fact that a goodly portion of the strength of Fairview, consisting of 26 members, was by act of session, April 12, 1891, dismissed to form the Lawrenceville Presbyterian church. Four elders and three deacons were among the 26 members dismissed, leaving the old church with but two elders and one deacon, viz: Elder James R. Noel, now residing in Texas, W. D. Byrd, residing in Atlanta, and Deacon J: B. Davis. On May 9, 1891, the congregation elected Mr.. J., B. Davis and Mr. Corbin elders, and Mr. Wm. Craig a deacon. On May 10, '91, Bro. King ordained and installed Mr. Davis as an elder and Mr. Craig as a deacon. On July 12, 1891, Elder Noel was dismissed to join some church in Texas, and at a congregational meeting Mr. Donald Williams was elected an elder. The following trustees were also elected: Messrs. John Williams, Donald Williams and Wm. Craig. On May 8, 1892, Mr. A. T. Roberts was elected and he and Mr. Donald Williams were ordained and installed as elders of Fairview church. This made the official force of the church to consist of Elders W. D. Byrd, J. B. Davis, Donald S. Williams and A. T. Roberts, and Deacon Wm. Craig. Practically all the members who withdrew to form the church in Lawrenceville were residents of the town, and it was the most sane and logical thing to do, weakening as it was to the old church. Time has shown the wisdom of the step, and in the present activity ,and prosperous condition of both churches can be read the fact that the wisdom of the all-wise Father has been leading in and through all. During all the last years of Bro. King's ministry his parishioners at Fairview clung to him with a love and devotion only equalled by the tenderness of his heart in return for them. He literally wore out at Fairview and died in harness. He often expressed the wish to be buried at Fairview, where he has a little son sleeping now, whose grave is carefully tended by our members. He still lives in the hearts of many at Fairview. The church was vacant after Bro. King left in 1901, until about August, 1902, when the Rev. W. Lee Harrell became the pastor. Bro. Harrell's pastorate covered the annual meetings in August, 1902-'03. Rev. W. P. Hemphill, evangelist, was present during the August meeting of 1902. Among those who joined at this time was our present treasurer, Mr. Frank Y. Williams. From this time for several years the church was without a pastor. In 1905 the Rev. W. P. Hemphill returned and conducted the August meeting. This was a very successful meeting and did much to revive the members and hold them together. Among those joining at this time were G. P. Craig, Precious Craig, John Baucham, W. D. Huston, Henry Craig, Evelin Childers and Lizzie Huston. In 1906 the Rev. J. H. Dixon served as pastor, and at the August meeting the following were enrolled as members: Ruth Williams, Susie Williams, Nellie Williams and Minnie Craig. In August, 1907, Evangelist Frank D. Hunt, of the Atlanta presbytery, came to Fairview and succeeded in arousing a good deal of enthusiasm, firing the members with faith in God and in themselves and with zeal for the work. The following were received into the church at this time: Robert M. Kemp and his wife, Margaret S. Kemp, Mrs. Sam Craig, Mrs. Lola F. Brownlee, Hattie E. Thompson and Susie Quinn. The following new officers were elected, ordained and installed: Elders-Samuel Craig, Claud G. Craig, J. C. Williams. Deacons-Frank Y. Williams, W. D. Huston and R. M. Kemp. . At this time a building committee was appointed to have charge of repairs on the church, consisting of Samuel Craig, J. C. Williams and Claude G. Craig. Rev. Fritz Rauschenberg began serving the church as pastor in October, 1907, preaching for the church once a month, coming from the Seminary in Columbia, S. C., until May, 1908, when he was installed as pastor by a commission from Atlanta presbytery. He found the congregation ripe for a forward movement, thanks to the efforts of Bro. Hunt, the sturdy strength of character of the leading elements in the church, and withal the presence and blessing of the Holy Spirit of God, who has led us to this good moment, and made all these blessings possible. Mr. Rauschenberg resigned in the spring of 1911, and moved to College Park in June, where he is pastor of the church. Rev. J. M. Harris, of North Carolina, was next called to the pastorate of this church and entered upon his work in July, 1911. The following table gives a list of the ministers, elders, clerks of session and deacons who have served the church. The list is as complete and accurate as possible from the data at hand: Ministers.-Rev. Remembrance Chamberlain, 1823 to 1824; John Simpson Wilson, 1825 to 1838; James C. Patterson, 1838 to 1855; Thos. B. Noel, 1855 to 1856; W. C. Smith, 1857 to 1861; J. G. Downing, 1863 to 1865; James Wilson, 1867; Mr. Wood, 1868; J. L. King, 1869 to 1880; J. F. McClelland, 1881 to 1885; Sam Scott, 1886 to 1887; W. H. A. Johnson, 1888 to 1889; John E. Dubose, 1889 to 1890; R. N. Abraham, 1891; J. L. King, 1891 to 1901; W. Lee Harrell, 1902 to 1903 J. H. Dixon, 1905 to 1906; Fritz Rauschenberg, 1907 to June 1911. Elders.-Thomas Beattie, 1823-26; Samuel Reid, 1823 to 1850; William Montgomery, 1823 to 1850; Thos. W. Alexander, 1825 to 1847; Geo. M. Gresham, 1825 to 1836; Richard Saye, 1826; Moses Liddell, 1826 to 1857; John Mills, 1830 to 1872; John Conine, 1832 to 1835; Eli Hood, 1832 to 1844; Miza Strickland, 1835 to 1882; David L. Wardlaw, 1839 to 1850; Ahel R. Smith, 1839 to 1852; Azariah Noel, 1847 to 1877; Hamilton Garmany, 1849 to 1853; David L. Wardlaw, 1855 to 1867; O. P. Strickland, 1855 to 1860; Wm. H. Mayne, 1855 to 1865; D. M. Byrd, 1869 to 1880; Wm. Kemp, 1869; W. D. Byrd, 1874 to 1906; J. D. Hood, 1874 to 1891; G. B. Atkinson, 1874 to 1875; James W. Wilson, 1880 to 1891; James R. Noel, 1880 to 1891; T. R.- Powell, 1882 to 1891; A. M. Winn, 1885 to 1891; J. B. Davis, 1891 to 1902; Donald Williams, 1891 to 1907; A. T. Roberts 1892 to 1907; Samuel Craig, 1907; Claude G. Craig, 1907; .J. C. Williams, 1907. Clerks of Session.-1. Geo. M. Gresham; 2. Thomas W. Alexander; 3. John Mills; 4. Thomas W. Alexander; 5. Abel R Smith; 6. Wm. H. Mayne; 7. John Mills; 8. D. M. Byrd; 9. W. D. Byrd; 10. T. R. Powell; 11. W. D. Byrd; 12. A. T. Roberts; 13. Claude G. Craig. Deacons.-John N. Alexander, 1841; James H. Alexander, 1841; Geo. Anderson, 1841; Samuel F. Alexander, 1841; James R. Noel, 1875 to 1880; J. B. Davis, 1875; Geo. W. F. Craig, 1882 to 1885; John W. N. Williams, 1882; W. H. Harvey, 1890 to 18891; C. H. Brand, 1890 to 1891; John M. Mills, 1890 to 1891; Wm. Craig, 1891; Levi C. Brand, 1895; W. D. Huston, 1907; Frank Y. Williams, 1907; R. M. Kemp, 1907. Membership, August, 1911: J. P. Byrd, D. H. Byrd, Miss Cora Byrd, M. D. Baughcum, John Baughcum, Mrs. Lola F. Brownlee, Miss Mary Byrd, Byrd Brownlee, John E. Craig, W. T. Craig, Miss Anna Craig, Miss Clara Craig, Miss Elton Craig, Samuel Craig, Mrs. Samuel Craig, R. T. Craig, Mrs. R. T. Craig, Miss Minne Craig, Claude G. Craig, G. P. Craig, Miss Maude Craig, Miss Precious Craig, Henry Craig, Miss Mary Craig, I. A. Corbin, Mrs. Eveline Gowers, Mrs. M. A. Dobbins, Mrs. Alice Dodds, Miss Bobbie Dodds, Noel Dodds, M. W. Dodds, W. D. Huston, Miss Lizzie Huston Huff, Mrs. Mary Huston, Mrs. Margret Huston, Mrs. W. D. Huston, Mrs. Robert Kemp, R. M. Kemp, Geo. W. Long, Sam P. Quinn, Mrs. Sam P. Quinn, Mrs. Mary E. Roberts, Mrs. Margret Roberts; Mrs. Lee Thompson, Miss Hattie Thompson; Miss Thompson, Mrs. D. S. Williams, Miss Mattie Williams, Miss Mamie Williams, Miss Ruth Williams, Miss Susie Williams, Miss Nellie Williams, Miss Lena Williams, Mrs. R. A. L. Williams, Miss Kate Williams, Miss Lizzie Williams, F. Y. Williams, R .R. Williams, R. A. Williams, J. C. Williams, W. H. Wilson, Emmett Johnson, Claude Parks, Henry Mitchell, Grady Davis, Miss Ethel Jones, Mrs. Quillion Bradford, Miss Zadie Jones, Miss Mary Kemp, Miss Annie Kemp, Miss Cammie Dillard, Mrs. W. H. Britt. Additional Comments: Extracted from: GWINNETT CHURCHES A COMPLETE HISTORY OF EVERY CHURCH IN GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA, WITH SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ITS MINISTERS BY J. C. FLANIGAN 1911 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/gwinnett/churches/gbb108fairview.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 15.4 Kb