TAYLOR COUNTY, GA -  CHURCHES  CROWELL CHURCH

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Carla Miles cmhistory@mchsi.com

The Butler Herald
Tuesday, July 30, 1912
Page Two

Some History Of Crowells Church And Something Of The
Life Of Henry Crowell, Its Founder


By C.M. Lucas


Henry Crowell, from all reports, was a wicked man.  I
don’t mean to say that he was a bad, mean man, but a
man who would use profane language.  His wife, Sallie,
as he always called her, was one of those good old-
time Methodists and a true Christian.


In those days the Methodist preacher had his horse and
a pair of saddle bags that he hung across the back of
his saddle in which he carried all his belongings.
Henry Crowell always had a place for Sallie’s preacher
and his horse and on one occasion a Methodist preacher
stopped and spent the night with them, and the next
morning offered to pay his bill.  By some means
Crowell found out he was a preacher and talked about
whipping him because he did not tell that he was a
preacher and hold prayer with Sallie.  At one time
when Sallie’s preacher was holding prayer, one of
Crowell’s negroes hit one of his dogs out in the yard
and Crowell said to the negro: “Never mind, you
scoundrel, I’ll settle you when Sallie’s preacher gets
done praying.”


After many years a bishop spent the night at the
Crowell home and when he was leaving the next morning
Crowell told him that he wanted him to send Sallie a
preacher the next year and the next year the preacher
came, and Crowells Church was built ­ a log building
at first, which was used a good many years, and the
church that is there now was built.  This log church
was the second church built west of Flint River.
Shiloh, in Meriwether or Harris County being the first
west of the river.  After Crowells church was built
they lacked two members of having enough to establish
the church.  Mr. Crowell told them to put him and the
overseer in on six months probation and that if a
Methodist preacher cannot get two members in six
months he ought to be kicked out of the back door.
After the church was established a fellow bought two
acres of land adjoining the church land and started to
put up a grocery store and also intended to sell
whiskey.  The male members of the church met on a
certain day and brought their axes, mauls and wedges
and were going out to split rails and fence the fellow
out.  After getting to the church they discussed the
matter a while and then Mr. Crowell went to the fellow
and bought him out, land, whiskey and all, and I have
been told that Mr. Crowell and others rolled the
barrels of whiskey out and that Mr. Crowell knocked
the heads out of the barrels and let the whiskey run
off down the road.


This is some of the history of Crowells Church.  Ten
acres of good land were donated by Henry Crowell, said
to be a sinner, to a good old-time Methodist Christian
wife.


The first preacher was named Bodenhaner.  The deed to
Crowell Church was made in 1831 to the trustees.