JONES COUNTY GA CLINTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Diana Simmons THE CLINTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Early documentary records give proof that the Clinton Methodist Church was made by the Justices of the Inferior Court the first established Methodist Church. At the July 1810 Term of the Inferior Court of Jones County the presiding Justices appropriated to the use of the "Methodist connection" in the town of Clinton, one acre of land adjoining the one already laid out. What type of building erected on this lot and used by these early Methodist, nothing is known. It was not until July 14, 1821, that a deed to the Clinton Methodist Church was made by the Justices of the Inferior Court to William Flewellen, Elisha Tarver, Peter Clower, James Jones and Pierce A. Lewis as Trustees of the church. One hundred dollars was the consideration for the four acres of land. (Deed Book "M", p. 106.) It is thought that the present structure was erected at this period (1821). This church is a frame house of good dimensions with substantial stone steps from the native granite. A steeple is overhead. The windows are large and wide. Double doors form the main entrance, and two doors on either side near the pulpit furnish other exits. There are two aisles leading from the large double front doors down to the altar which surround a raised pulpit. On each side of these aisles and next to the walls are rows of short benches. In the center between the aisles are long benches. A large gallery which was reached by steps from the front extended over the front part of the church and was for the use of the negro slaves. Years after the negroes became free (1896) the gallery is removed, the church cut down and remodeled until this present structure does not appear as the up-to-date church of 1821. Records tell little of the early activities, and those forming the membership. In 1837 the names of Abner H. Flewellen, John Pitts, Kinchen P. Thweat, Archibald Jarratt and Anderson Rice appear as Trustees of the church property. In 1860 are found the names of Richard Wyatt Bonner, Isaac Hardeman, Henry Gibson, Payton T. Pitts, Sr., and Joshua Goddard as Trustees of an additional lot given by Shadrack Slatter, Elizabeth Lowther and Jonathan Parrish, said property to be used for a church or parsonage. Clinton Church stewards in 1875 were R. H. Barron and Dr. Asbury Kingman. On the church membership roll were the names of R. H. Barron, Richard Henry Bonner, Doctor Asbury Kingman, J. W. Stubbs, Elbert Catchings, Chas. Redding, Pratt Griswold, Doctor George Pursley, Robt. V. Hardeman, Robt. Finney, W. H. Holsenbeck and Roland T. Ross. The good women were Ellen Barron, Anna Catchings, Drucilla Childs, Jane Gilbert, S. E. Hamilton, Ann Hutchings, Annie E. Johnson, C. E. Kingman, Matilda Lowe, Lucinda Mason, Elizabeth Morgan, Lizzie Pitts, Margaret Pope, Mary Pursley, Anna Stubbs, Elvina Stubbs, Jane Thigpen, Carrie Thigpen, Mary Jones, Ardicia Pursley, Mrs. Fannie Ross and Helen Eudora Holsenbeck, and others. Nothing is known as to the number of ministers serving as pastors of this old church from its beginning. The name of Reverend James Payne appears as pastor in 1836; W. R. Branham 1839. During that year George F. Pierce assisted Reverend Branham in a revival in Clinton. Reverend A. M. Thigpen was a result of this revival. Thos. J. Christian, 1860; J. P. McGehee, 1861-1862. The labors of these two men resulted in the building of an outstanding church in the County, Pitts Chapel. Wesley P. Arnold, 1865-1869. Mr. Arnold died while stationed on the Clinton circuit. His grave is between four granite posts, connected by iron bars, near the door of Clinton Church. In 1870 C. A. Mitchell was sent to the Clinton Church. In the summer of that year glorious revivals were held and many were converted. J. M. Armstrong was pastor in 1871. He was a fine scholar and able preacher. In 1872, W. J. Hanson served the church. Mr. Hanson afterwards became a missionary to China. J. Carr was pastor in 1873-1874. In 1875 the Clinton Church and circuit was supplied by Rev. John Knight. Mr. Knight who early in life was an infidel, had worked at a tailor's trade in Clinton. In 1835 during a revival in the Clinton Church, he was converted. His life and labors afterwards were given to the furthering of God's kingdom. When Mr. Knight came as a pastor of the Clinton Church it had declined in spiritual power,--some of her best members had gone to Macon, Ga. Mr. Knight labored hard. He had little success. In 1876-1877 W. T. McMichael was pastor. In 1878-1880 the church and circuit had Reverend George E. Bonner, a faithful worker, very popular, and during his administration of three years the church moved by and he left it in a much better condition than he found it. It was about this time that Sam P. Jones conducted an outstanding revival in the Clinton Church. In 1881, D. J. Weems was pastor. He was a graduate of Emory College, a fearless consecrated man. Reverend A. W. Williams was pastor in 1882. In 1883-1884, W. D. Shea served the church and circuit. In 1885, Rev. W. F. Smith labored zealously among the people of the circuit and Clinton Church. In 1886, L. P. Neese was pastor. Reverend M. A. Phillips, 1887-1888. He was a quiet and unassuming man, and loved by the people. In 1889-1890, Ellison R. Cook was on the work. Mr. Cook afterward became a successful Presiding Elder. In 1891, T. J. Richardson was pastor. In 1892-1893, M. H. Edwards served the church. He was a good man, good worker, and met with fair success. In 1894-1895, J. A. Seals was pastor. In 1896-1899, G. W. Farr was the popular and successful minister. In 1900, Fred W. McClesky served as pastor. He was a splendid preacher, being one of the best pulpit orators Clinton Church ever had. Other pastors were as follows: J. P. Erwin, 1901-1904; R. F. Smith, 1905-1906; D. B. Cantrell, 1907-1908; B. H. Mobley, 1909-1910; W. W. Burgess, 1911-1913; J. M. Sewell, 1914-1917; Robert Claude Singleton, 1933-1935; G. M. Cowart, 1936-1937; Oscar Jackson Withrow, 1938-1940; Harry L. Mitcham, 1941---. Presiding Elders: Geo. W. Yarborough, 1875-1877; Jesse Boring, 1878; James E. Evans, 1879; W. F. Cook, 1880-1881; R. W. Bingham, 1882; Geo. H. Patillo, 1883-1884; Walker Lewis, 1897; J. S. Bryan, 1898-1899; W. R. Foote, 1900-1902; Jno. W. Heidt, 1903-1906; Chas. E. Dowman, 1907-1910; J. W. Quillian, 1911-1914; B. F. Frasier, 1915-1918; W. H. LaPrade, Jr., 1933-1934; Wallace Rogers, 1935-1937; T. M. Sullivan, 1936---. From 1920 to 1933 the church had no regular pastor. The old Clinton circuit having been discontinued at that time and it was not until 1933 that it was reorganized and became a part of the Gray charge. Forty members constitute the membership. Near the church are two old cemeteries. There under a wilderness of growth and the large magnificent forest trees, lie the bodies of some of the best citizens of Georgia---, the men and women who in their time made Clinton and Jones County a better place to live. Many old graves in both cemeteries are unmarked and are utterly obliterated so far as an outward sign or marks are concerned. The dates on the tombs show that the old cemetery was used as far back as 1812. The wooden fences enclosing many of the graves have fallen away and a wilderness of bushes and briars have grown up above the graves and even great trees have grown up in some of the enclosures, their roots and branches have even prized apart the large cemented rocks which compose the walls of some of these enclosures. Here and there are heavy iron fences, and even they are not spared by the hand of time and decay. A record of this old cemetery is in this book. This church was on of the first to organize in North Georgia a Foreign Missionary Society. Source: Williams, Carolyn White. History of Jones County Georgia for One Hundred Years, Specifically 1807- 1907. Pp. 327-331. Typist: Diana Allen Simmons Gray/Clinton United Methodist Churches P.O. Box 416 Gray, Georgia 31032 (912) 986-3668 ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.