Quitman County GaArchives Church Records.....Methodist Church History ************************************************ 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 and Jacquelyn Shepard June 24, 2004, 10:32 pm "The Quitman Echo - Quitman County, Georgia" by Jacquelyn Shepard, pages 38-40 HISTORY OF THE METHODIST CHURCH There is no record of the origin of the Georgetown Methodist Church, either legendary or written, but as the settlement is older than the town and the town older then the county, it is quite possible that it was started by the preacher on horseback, the circuit rider, who always seemed to be able to find a new settlement and in it people who were Methodist before they moved here or who were soon convinced that he voiced their heart-felt convictions. Probably they went to services in the homes of the members in the winter and met in bush- arbors and camp meetings in the summer. The Church is now located in the Columbus District and has been since 1934, but this has not always been the case. It was once in the Americus District and was served by the preacher from the Dawson Church. When they grew big and strong enough to have a full time preacher, the preacher from Cuthbert served our church. In those days, he would come down on the train once a month and preach. The first recorded information comes from the minutes of the annual Georgia Conference and the South Georgia Conference. This conference was held at Columbus, Georgia in the year of 1858. Bishop Pierce was the presiding officer. No entry or statistics from the Georgetown Methodist Church are shown, but an entry was made that John B. Wardlaw, the preacher at Cuthbert, was to serve the Georgetown Station and Colored Mission. The minutes of the 1859 conference show that Georgetown Church had 18 white members, 3 white probationers, 38 colored members and 10 colored probationers. Some of the early preachers were: William A. Simmons, 1860; Elijah N. Boland (died in Confederate Army in 1863) George S. Johnson, 1862; Joseph T. Turner, 1863; Robert B. Lester, 1871; John B. McGee and his brother Howard McGee, Reverend Branch was another good preacher. William A. Parks, preacher in 1865-66 performed the wedding ceremony for Hardy Floyd and Martha Elizabeth Nobles July 20, 1865. Their descendants, the Sellars family, are present day members. The first record we have of an organized church was when Capt. James Harrison donated land and also paid off an indebtedness on the present Baptist Church with the understanding that it was to be used by both denominations. This arrangement was quite satisfactory and was used for a long time. Children and young people who joined the church during these united services would have their family. Adults, of course, joined the denomination of their choice. The Sunday School Superintendent was Methodist in alternating years. Some of the first known Methodist were Dr. and Mrs. James Wesley Mercer and Mrs. Minie Goode Bledsoe. They were devout Christians and served their church well. One office that Dr. Mercer filled was Sunday School Superintendent in the years that the Methodist served, that is in alternating years. One of the outstanding held in our church before the turn of the century was a District Missionary Conference. Delegates from the other churches attended and it was a very inspiring meeting. This was held around 1890. Finally as time passed, the town grew in population and it was agreed that each church needed its own place of worship, so on November 20, 1900, Mr. R. G. Morris, the father of Mrs. Susie McGinty, donated land for this purpose: According to a record book in the office of the Clerk of Quitman County Superior Court, this transaction was as follows: To the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Mr. R. G. Morris donates through the trustees, J. T. Gibson, J. E. Dozier, Dr. W. T. Carter, Dr. S. A. Crumbley, and T. L. Guerry, their assigns and successors, land described as follows: A certain tract or parcel of land fronting east on Church Street for 100 feet and 66 feet north on Middle Street forming a tract 100' x 66' lying in the angle formed by the intersection of such streets, being fractions of lot numbers 174 and 173 and located in said town of Georgetown. Such land to be held in trust, with premises used, kept, and disposed of as a place of worship for the use of the ministry and membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. This transaction was witnessed by S. H. Barrett and L. F. Gibson. The Clerk of the court was J. M. Oliver. The church building was begun in 1901 and was built by Mr. Albert Surles. His great-granddaughter, Mrs. Tommie Gary, is one of the most loyal members now. Reverend V. P. Scoville was the preacher when the church was being built and was the first preacher to preach in the new building. He also served New Lowell Church in Clay County. Later in his ministry, he went to Cuba as a Missionary. Reverend E. M. Overby was one of the first preachers and in later years he returned as Presiding Elder. Another early preacher, Reverend D. P. Melton, later served as a missionary to Czechoslavakia. No history would be complete without mentioning the names or those who helped to establish the church and made it an integral part of the community. Some of them were members of the Balkcom, Barrett, Brannon, Cadenhead, Carter, Castellow, Crumbley, Gibson, Dozier, Goodes, Guerry, Kaigler, Maddox, and Tarver families. By Mrs. Lucille Floyd Sellars for the Quitman County Centennial Edition of the Cuthbert Times in 1958. Additional Comments: Transcribed and submitted by Donna Eldridge with permission from Jacquelyn Shepard File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/quitman/churches/nbb12methodis.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb