Maury County TN Archives History - Books .....Churches And Cemeteries 1906 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 23, 2005, 12:41 am Book Title: Century Review CHURCHES. Christianity is ennobling and its teachings elevating. A community without churches would be avoided even by those who make no profession of religion. Maury Co. has been noted for its advanced interest in churches from its birth. It is well represented by the leading denominations. Early in 1806, Col. Jos. Brown, an elder and exhorter in the Presbyterian Church, located three miles south of Columbia, where he erected a permanent hewn-log house the following fall, one room of which was made particularly large to accommodate religious worship. When the County Court was organized-Dec. 21, 1807-this was found to be the best place for court, and it was used a year before adjourning to Columbia. Presbyterians.-A log meetinghouse was built at Zion about the same time that Brown's house was erected. A colony of twenty families left Williamsburg, S. C., early in 1805, camping near Nashville till fall, when they removed to McConico's Church, at Franklin. The next spring they were joined by a second colony: and the Indian title south of Duck River having been extinguished, the hardy men proceeded to the tract of 5,120 acres which had been purchased at $3 per acre from the Gen. Greene survey, erected a camp, cleared land, and put in corn. Among these colonists were: John Dickey; Moses, Eli, William, and James Frierson; James Blakeley, James Armstrong, Thomas and John Stephenson, David Matthews, Saml. Witherspoon, P. Fulton, Alex. Dobbins, Moses Freeman, and Jno. F. Fleming, father of the late Chancellor. A log church was built the following winter, and the families brought forward the spring of 1807. Sermons were read by Saml. and Wm. Frierson until the arrival in Sept., 1807, of Rev. Jas. W. Stephenson, the former pastor at Williamsburg, S. C. Sacramental services were held Aug., 1809, by Dr. Stephen-son, assisted by Rev. A. K. Davis, D. Woods, Jas. Dickey. In 1815 the log church was replaced by a brick structure of peculiar design, and that gave place to the present edifice in 1847. J. W. Arnell succeeded Dr. Stephenson in 1830, continuing twenty years. Daniel G. Doak, pastor, 1850-2: A. A. Doak, 53; J. T. Hendrick, 53: Dr. Wm. Mack, from Columbia, and C. Foster Williams occasionally; S. W. Mitchell served 68-89; Mark Kennedy, in the early nineties; and Rev. Hawes came in 1898. The early meetinghouses were also used for school purposes, and among the teachers at Zion were: E. J. Armstrong, Alex. Park, _____ White, ____ McCullough, T. A. Fleming, J. T. Kennedy, Simon Smith, Jas. A. and J. B. Frierson, L. Oatman, J. W. Logan, D. R. Arnell, J. S. Beecher, A. W. Mayes, Jas. Creighton. First Baptist. - The Baptist communicants in the United States number 5,150,815. Jno. Hunter, a Primitive Baptist preacher, located near Mt. Pleasant prior to 1810. A church was organized and a meetinghouse built. There were many other Baptists in the county, the more liberal members being known as Missionary Baptists, because they encouraged missionary work. Rev. Tucker preached in the courthouse about 1838, and organized the First Baptist Church, of Columbia, which suspended after a few years. Rev. J. R. Graves, in 1856, after vigorous efforts, reorganized the present church. Benj. Harrison was a leading promoter; and his daughters, Emma and Sarah, united. The former, now Mrs. J. M. Sheppard, of Columbia, is the only one of the thirteen charter members in the church. In addition to Mr. Harrison and daughters, the names were: P. S. Thweatt, Nash Burt, Jas. Jones, Henry B. Daimwood and wife, C. D. Crawford and wife and two daughters. For several years the church was served by semimonthly supplies from Franklin and Rock Springs. Elisha Hanks succeeded Graves, Rev. Benson, Jos. Eaton, and G. W. Griffin following. About 1860 W. A. Nelson became first resident pastor. J. P. Weaver, pastor in 1867-8, solicited for outside help to build a church, but met with poor success. W. O. Bailey was pastor in 1869-74. In his second year a lot was bargained from T. B. Rains (the deed was not made until 1875) to J. M. Sheppard, E. F. Everett, and J. H. James, trustees. A frame building, 28x48 ft., was erected in 1874. P. W. Dodson and Jno. Latta were active workers. W. H. Wallace was pastor in 1874: A. D. Phillips, 76; R. B. Womack, of Nashville, 80-1, gave half his time; W. C. Grace, 82; and during his pastorate the present handsome brick edifice, corner High and Eighth Sts., was erected, with lot valued at $10,000. R. B. Mahoney came in 88; R. Brett, 92; A. L. Davis, 94; J. H. Thompson, 97; A. S. Pettie, early in 1901; and Spencer Tunnell, Mar. 20, 1903. He was born in 1863 in Sullivan Co., Tenn.: educated at Carson and Newman, Jefferson City, and Newton Theological Seminary, of Boston. Rev. Tunnell preached four years in Massachusetts and eight years at Harriman, Tenn., prior to accepting the call here. More than half of the present 450 members have been received since he became pastor. Cal. Fielden is superintendent of the Bible school. The deacons are: J. P. and J. F. Brownlow, E. F. Everett, N. F. Vaughn, Sol. Maxwell, C. Fielden, G. W. Hempstead, J. A. Baker, W. B. Thompson, and Taylor Peters. Baptist Mission.-In 1894 a lot was purchased near the cotton mill, and a building 34x50 ft. was erected as a mission. J. P. Brownlow, N. M. Jones, and others have been active supporters of the work, maintaining Thursday-night prayer services, Saturday-evening B. Y. P. U., and Bible school at 3 P.M. Sunday. Nearly half of the recent additions to the church are results of work in this mission section of Columbia. First Presbyterian.-The early Christian workers of Columbia and its vicinity were largely Presbyterians. The courthouse was used as a place of worship for several years. Rev. Gideon Blackburn, from East Tennessee, opened a classical school in Franklin about one hundred years ago. He preached occasionally in Maury Co., organizing the first church in Columbia in 1810. The elders were: Jos. Brown, Benj. Thomas, Jas. Paisley, and Adam Alexander. A brick building was erected in 1822-3, which gave place to another in 1842. The latter was burned in 1847, was rebuilt soon afterwards, and was remodeled into its present style in 1874. The property, corner of Garden and Sixth Sts., is valued at $8,000; and the manse, at 29 North High St., cost $5,000. Dr. Robert Henderson was first resident pastor; Robt. Hardin succeeded, 1830; Thos. Scott. 34; Jos. Sherman, 37 (killed in a runaway accident at Nashville, 49): C. P. Wing came, 40; Dr. Wm. Mack, 43; H. Hartpence, 58; A. L. Kline, 60; J. M. P. Otts, 68; J. C. Mitchell, 73; F. B. Webb, in Nov., 88; T. A. Wharton, in Mar., 1902. He was born at Greensboro, N. C., July, 1862; graduated from North Carolina University, 1883; from the Theological Seminary, of Virginia, 1886. Rev. Wharton served as pastor in North Carolina; at Abingdon, Va.; and Memphis, prior to Columbia. The session is: H. B. Titcomb; F. J. Ewing, W. B. and T. E. Gordon, A. D. Frierson, W. F. Embry, W. B. Dobbins, J. P. Street, J. G. Williamson, J. J. Wilson, H. O. Fulton, and W. S. Fleming, clerk. The church membership is about 380; T. E. Gordon, superintendent of Sunday school. In 1904 a mission building was erected on East Hill, where Thursday evening services and Sunday school, with W. S. Fleming in charge, are maintained. Among the early elders here were: Wm. McNiell, John Thomas, John Hodge, Saml. McDowell, Geo. M. Martin (who served fifty years), Maj. Jno. Brown, Jno. and J. W. S. Frierson, J. S. Law, Chancellor Fleming, and G. W. Gordon. Frierson Memorial. - This church was organized as a mission in 1886, and became the Second Presbyterian a year later. Its success largely depended upon the efforts of J. Simpson Frierson, who donated the lot and served the church much of the time till his death, in 1892, subsequent to which it was renamed in his memory. Arthur F. Aydelotte, who was clerk of the session, together with some of his family, was killed in the cyclone of Nov., 1900, and the church records destroyed; so the compiler has found it difficult to establish dates to a certainty. C. Foster Williams, Fred. Thompson, and others from the presbytery, supplied -until T. A. Hardin was installed pastor, 1890; S. J. Foster came late in 91; R. M. Lattimer, D. M. Armentraut, ___ Barclay, and others supplied until W. J. Frierson came early in 93; he was succeeded in June, 98, by S. L. McCarter; B. L. Stewart came in 99; J. B. Green, 1901; Cochran Preston, in Nov., 1904. He was born in Virginia in May, 1871; attended Hampden-Sidney College; and graduated from Union Theological Seminary in 1897. Rev. Preston was preaching in North Carolina and West Virginia prior to coming here. The Sunday school is in charge of C. T. Looney. The church membership is about 60. The elders are C. T. Looney and J. D. Blair, Jr. We present a good illustration of Frierson Memorial herewith. Methodists.-This is the most populous Protestant denomination in the United States, recent statistics giving the membership at 6,256,738. A class of eight or ten members of the M. E. Church was founded in Columbia about 1810. Thos. Maddin was the first "circuit rider," succeeded in 1821 by H. H. Brown. At that time a great revival ensued. Brown returned to the circuit in 1823, and is said to have organized the first Sunday school in Columbia. Succeeding pastors were: W. B. Peck, 1824; E. P. Scruggs, 27; Jas. Erwin, 28 (salary, $150 and board); Wm. McFerrin, 33; A. F. Driscol, 34; F. P. Scruggs, 35, 43; Alex. Winburn, 36; Fred. Ferguson, 37; J. C. Mitchell, 38; H. B. Hubbard, 39; J. B. Walker, 40; T. W. Randle, 41; A. S. Riggs, 42; P. P. Neely, 44, 46; A. R. Erwin, 45; W. D. F. Sawrie, 47; R. A. Young, 48; E, C. Slater, 50: Wm. C. Johnson, 52; A. Mizell, 54; Isaac Milner, 56; W. G. Dorris, 58; F. S. Petway, 59;.Wm. Burr, 60. R. A. Young was pastor in 1861 and teacher in war time, succeeded by J. B. Hamilton, 62; two years vacant; J. P. McFerrin, 65; R. G. Irvine, 67. Austin W. Smith came, 69; J. P. McFerrin again, 73; Smith again, 74. He commenced the new church, but died in Sept., 74. J. A. Orman came, 75; J. M. Wright, 77; Thos. J. Duncan, 79; J. B. West, 83; W. M. Green, 84; A. P. McFerrin, 88; Duncan again, 91; J. W. Hanner, 92; D. C. Kelly, 96; P. A. Sowell, 98; McFerrin again, 99; J. W. Cherry, 1903. He is a native of Hardin Co., Tenn.; born in May, 1859; admitted to law practice, 87; commenced preaching, 88, having served four years at Pulaski prior to coming here. The first trustees were: John Gordon, Robt. Doak, Levi Covey, Jas. Gullett, J. T. Moore, Elisha Uzzell, E. W. Dale. A lot was purchased Mar. 9, 1821; and the next year a frame 35x50 feet was erected on Main St. just south of Eighth St. In 1835 the trustees were: E. W. Dale, J. R. Plummer, Jos. Herndon, G. L. Voorhies, Nathan Vaught, Wm. Horsley, J. H. Terrill, S. A. Hamner. At that time it was decided to build a better house. A lot was purchased where the present church stands, and a brick structure was erected in 1836-7. That burned in 1874; and the present commodious building followed in 1875-7, which, with lot, is valued at $17,000. The stewards are: T. H. Williams, H. P. Figuers, R. C. Church, A. S. Page, R. G. Irvine, F. D: Lander, S. W. Warfield, S. F. and J. B. Ashton, E. P. Turner, Wm. E. Bostick, Robt. G. Harlan, R. E. Nichols, Jno. Latta, and T. N. Figuers, Jr. There are about 450 members. Mr. G. T. Hughes is superintendent of the Sunday school. South Columbia M. E.-This church was formed in 1885 by eighteen members from the First M. E. Church to make a convenient place for those living in the railroad section of the city. W. H. Wilkes was pastor in 1885-6; L. C. Young, 88; W. R. Thornton, 89; W. A. Leath, 90; J. R. Goodloe, 91; J. F. Tinnon, 92-3; E. L. Gregory, 94; W. L. Jackson, 95; W. D. Wendell, 96; J. F. Beasley, 98; J. A. Molloy, 1901; A. J. Dinwiddie, '04. He was born in 1842 in Montgomery Co., Tenn.; attended Asbury Academy, in his native county; commenced as an itinerant preacher in 1859; and has been in the Tennessee Conference a large share of the time since. The building on Galloway St. above Twelfth, was erected for union services in 1880, and later became a mission church of the Tennessee Conference. It was remodeled by the present organization. The membership is above 200. The stewards are: J. M. Bates, J. H. Chaffin, L. B. Williams, W. B. Christly, Edwin Bullard, J. A. McAllister, W. D. Cameron, and W. A. Quarterman, who also has charge of the Sunday, school. Episcopal.-Abednego Stephens preached in the old Masonic Temple in the early thirties; and St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in 1833 by Rev. Jas. H. Otey, subsequently bishop of this diocese. Rev. Lacock was succeeded by Frank Gillette Smith in 1838: T. F. Wheat, 42; W. H. Good, 52; W. H. Hardin, 53; David Pise, 58, continuing until 62 and returning for a year subsequent to the war. Geo. Beckett came in 68, continuing until R. E. Metcalf came, 91. He died in Dec., 1893, after eighteen months' service; and Francis A. Shoup, who succeeded him, died Sept. 4, 1896, having, on account of declining health, given place to Alex. C. Killheffer in Oct., 1895. Baker P. Lee served from the fall of 1898 to 1901, when he was chosen dean of the Cathedral at Lexington, Ky. Walter B. Capers, who took charge in Mar., 1901, was born at Greenville, S. C., Aug. 8, 1870, son of Rev. Ellison Capers, who is bishop of South Carolina. The son was graduated from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1897, and served as rector at Farmville, Va., until called to this charge in 1901. A brick church was erected in 1834 on Garden St., rear of the Masonic Temple. The corner stone of the present structure was laid in 1861, and the church was finished in time to be occupied by the Federals as a hospital. The rectory, adjoining the church on West Seventh St., was repurchased in 1898 for $4,000, making the entire property worth $12,000. There are about 250 communicants. The Sunday school is in charge of Hugh Lawson White. Advent Chapel, at the southern city limits, was erected in 1885 through the earnest efforts of St. Peter's members. A night-school building was added in 1893, where instruction is given to the cotton-mill children or adults who desire to attend. A Sunday school is maintained in the chapel by Miss Rosa Barnett, and Rector Capers holds regular services here every month. Cumberland Presbyterian.- The object of this work will not permit of giving details regarding the separation of the Cumberland from the main stem of Presbyterians. Briefly stated, the Kentucky Synod in Oct., 1802, divided the Transylvania Presbytery, constituting the congregations of Southern Kentucky and Middle Tennessee, into the Cumberland Presbytery. Shortly afterwards, growing out of differences of doctrine and practice relative to the measures used in the great religious movement known as the revival of 1800, the Cumberland Presbytery was, by order of the synod, dissolved. Appeal was made by the protesting party to the higher courts of the church, pending the decision of which a semi-organization was formed, called a "Council." As such, the members refrained from all legislation, but provided for the regular ministry of the means of grace to the members sympathizing with them. It was just at this period that Maury Co. was formed, and many of the pioneer settlers were sympathizers with the protesting ministers, now commonly called the "Cumberland Party." The result of the contention was the reorganization of the Cumberland Presbytery as an independent church court, which was done Feb. 4, 1810; and from it has grown the denomination known as Cumberland Presbyterians. During the period of the "Council" many of the protesting ministers visited the pioneer settlements of Maury Co. As early as 1809 a camp meeting was held by them on the upper waters of Little Bigby, where the congregation of McCain's now is located. One of the most prominent pioneers was Col. Jos. Brown, who located in 1806 on his lands, three miles south of the present site of Columbia. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church before coming to Maury Co., and in the formation of the Presbyterian Church in Columbia in 1810 became a member of the session. His sympathies, however, had been with the "Cumberland Party;" and soon afterwards, a difference arising between him and Rev. Gideon Blackburn, he withdrew from the Presbyterian Church and cast his lot with the C. P. Church, and for many years lived to serve it in responsible positions. Later in life he was ordained as a minister. Columbia C. P. Church.-As Columbia was occupied by the Presbyterians and the "Cumberland Party" had convenient country meetinghouses, no effort was made to establish a church here until the forties, although, anticipating future needs, Lot 68, now occupied by the Century Club Building, was bought July, 1835, for $200, by trustees of the C. P. Church. In Mar., 1843, this was valued at $700, and exchanged for Lot 74, fronting 84 ft. on Garden St. and 100 ft. on Eighth St. In June, 1844, Jos. Brown, Jas. B. Porter, J. P. Campbell, and J. N. Edmondson, a committee from Richland Presbytery, agreed with Columbia Lodge, No. 3, I. O. O. F., to unite in the erection of a two-story brick, 40x54 ft., the church to use the first floor and the lodge the second story. The building was completed in 1847, and owned jointly for over forty years. (See illustration herewith.) The Odd Fellows' interest was purchased in 1890, the old building torn down, and the present handsome edifice erected, which, with lot and adjoining brick residence, now occupied by Dr. Padgett, is valued at $20,000. The present membership is about 175. The Sunday school is in charge of W. B. Greenlaw. The members of the session are: E. E. Erwin, L. P. Padgett, S. P. Payne, T. J. Rea, A. E. Neeley, W. B. Turner, J. J. Flemming, W. B. Greenlaw, J. A. Oakes, J. H. Dugger, J. T. Williamson, clerk. W. B. Gilham, first pastor, was succeeded in the early fifties by J. N. Edmondson; B. C. Chapman, 56; N. P. Motherall, 65; W. Holmes Baldridge, 66; Milton Galloway, 68; S. G. Caruthers, 70; H. A. Jones, 74; A. Templeton, 76; R. G. Pearson, 81; M. A. Maxey, 84; A. W. Hawkins, 85; J. S. Weaver, 89; J. D. Gold, 91; W. A. Haynes, who died Dec., 1893; and W. A. Provine, who came in 1894. He was born in Nashville, June 20, 1867; attended Montgomery Bell Academy, Vanderbilt University, Cumberland University, and Union Seminary, of New York. Rev. Provine was pastor at Princeton, Ind., four years prior to accepting his present charge. He is president of the Board of Publication of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at Nashville; also is a member of the Columbia Board of Education. Tabernacle C. P.-In May, 1890, fifty-five members withdrew from Columbia C. P. Church, and were organized as the Main St. C. P. Church, later changing1 the name to Tabernacle C. P. L. D. Beck was first pastor; W. T. Rogers and L. C. Kirkes supplies, 1891; C. B. Sanders, 91: D. T. Waynick, 96; T. Jeff. Dixon, 99; F. J. Tyler, 1901; A. K. Price and W. A. McCannon, '04; T. H. Porter called, '05. The present lot was purchased in 1897, and the old site sold, worship being held for a time in the Andrews Building. The Tabernacle was dedicated in the spring of 1899. The present membership is about 80. The session is: J. H. Fussell, clerk; T. J. Stewart, Jno. Murphy, and F. M. Vaughn. Judge Fussell has served nearly fifty years as an elder in the C. P. Church. The Christians. - Alexander Campbell, a noted divine, who believed in the simplicity of the Bible, without sectarian tenet, preached in Columbia about 1840, and organized the Christian Church, Wm. Lee having been the first to be immersed. W. H. Timmons, now of Nashville, was an early evangelist here, followed by Elder Lee, Geo. Reynolds, and others. Clayton McQuiddy came in 1887; Wm. Fleming, 92; Elven Meachum, 94; Paul Slayden, in Nov., 1897, to the present time, excepting about two years, when the church was supplied by Elder Johnson and others. Prof. Slayden is a teacher in the Nashville Bible School, but comes to this charge each Sunday. He was born in 1873 at Pinewood, Hickman Co.; graduated from South Kentucky College, 1895; and from the Bible School of Kentucky University, 1897. The small brick church, still standing at the corner of South Main and Ninth Sts., was erected in the forties, and in 1878 was traded for the lot on South High, between Seventh and Eighth Sts. The present structure was completed about 1881. Jno. A. Edwards, born in Manchester, England, in 1830, and in Columbia since 1850, together with Wilson Tucker and Mr. Hasty, effected the trade for the higher and better lot. The members number about 250. J. O. Scotten, Wm. T. McClanahani and G. K. Houser are the deacons; Chas. V. Hull, superintendent of Sunday school. South Columbia Church of Christ was organized in 1902, and the church erected in 1903 a neat frame at the junction of Main and High Sts. Some 75 members are in the organization; and preaching is maintained by Felix C. Sowell, Elder Moore, and others. Rev. Sowell was born in Maury Co. in 1859; reared near Columbia; attended a theological seminary at Mars' Hill, Ala.; and has been in evangelistic work for twenty years past, a portion of the time in Texas. St. Dominick, R. C.-The Roman Catholic population in the United States is said to be 12,500,000. Soon after the war Rev. Jas. F. O'Rango planted St. Dominick's Mission in Columbia. The membership is largely in the country, and numbers about 100. The old frame building was replaced about 1891 by the small brick structure at High and Tenth Sts. Numerous priests have ministered here prior to Rev. Jas. O'Neill, of Franklin, who, since 1902, has been coming each month to St. Dominick's R. C. congregation of Columbia. Colored Churches.-The colored population here is quite well educated, and, naturally being devout worshipers, have built and maintained their full percentage of churches. In Macedonia suburbs, long before war times, they held out-of-door meetings on the ledges of rock which form a natural auditorium in rear of the present Baptist Church near White's spring. The Primitive Baptist Society here was organized about 1850, and a building erected, which was demolished by the cyclone of Nov., 1900, along with a score of buildings north of Mt. Parnassus, in which thirty or more people lost their lives. The members of this church number 170, with Thos. Peeler superintendent of the Sunday school. Thos. Williamson was continuously pastor of the church from its start until his death, in 1892, when the present pastor took charge. Mr. Morgan is a native of this county, has resided in Columbia since 1886, and was ordained in this church in 1890. At Hurricane Creek, one mile north of Glendale, there is a church of 37 members, organized prior to the war, with C. H. Morgan pastor, third Sabbath; Silver Creek, organized in 1870, second Sabbath, small membership, with Morgan pastor. Mt. Lebanon Baptist.-A white Missionary Baptist Church was organized here before 1840, and several of the slaves having been converted, were on Oct. 20, 1843, made a branch as the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. Edw. Kelly, father of J. H. Kelly, principal of the colored schools, preached for this congregation; was ordained by the white Baptists in convention at Nashville in 1.843; and became pastor of this church, which erected^ building on East Ninth St. Later, when his owner got into financial trouble, to save his being sold on the block to the highest bidder, he was sent away, and, through her will, obtained his freedom. He died in Massachusetts in 1894. Richard Sanderson, who resides at 85 East Tenth St., born June 30, 1821, followed Kelly as pastor, continuing to 1873, when Balaam Frierson took charge. Jno. Gilmore was pastor in 83-94, when the church at the corner of Glade and Eighth Sts. was built; Rev. Cross, 95; J. G. Blackshear, 96; A. Nixon, 97; S. H. Johnson, 99; C. A. Ward, 1902. St. John's Church.-Rev. Jno. Gilmore, who was pastor of the Mt. Lebanon Church for eight years, has been moderator of the Richland Creek Baptist Association for twenty-eight years. On Aug. 12, 1894, a difference of opinion caused him to withdraw from the Mt. Lebanon Church Society. A lot was purchased at the southeast corner of Glade and Eighth Sts., on which was a private house, in which worship has since been held; and a new brick structure is now under way. Rev. Gil-more was born in Pulaski in 1846; served for the Union the two last years of the Civil War; attended the Baptist College, now the Roger Williams University, of Nashville; commenced preaching in 1871; and has organized and built five different churches. St. Paul's A. M. E.-A colored class of the M. E. Church was organized in the forties, and had a building at Garden and Second Sts., where the old burying ground is still found. Subsequent to the war these members largely affiliated with the A. M. E. St. Paul's was organized in 1867, Gilbert Algee having been the first pastor; B. L. Brooks, 1869; Blackmar Williamson, 71; Jas. Rhodes, 73; Nelson McGavock, 75; J. S. Shaw, 77; Jordan Early, 80; McGavock again, 82; Nathan Mecham, 83; S. Straws, 86; J. L. Grigsby, 87; Evan. Tyree, 90; Jas. H. Turner, 91; Jas. T. Gilmore, 94; J. W. Picket, 95; W. H. Long, 96; H. D. Kennedy, 97; Picket again, 98; G. R. Norman, 99; Gilmore again, 1901; B. G. Gordon, '02. Rev. Gordon was born in Giles Co. in 1857; attended Tennessee Central College, now Walden University; and has been fourteen years in the ministry. When the church was rebuilt in 1888-9, it was made 70x100 ft., giving place for a hall over the rear part, which is used by the Mosaic Lodge. The membership is 225. The Sabbath school is superintended by J. H. Slaten. S. B. Kinzer, in Columbia .since 1862, is an itinerant preacher, ministering at Cleveland and Athens, Tenn. He has been a member of St. Paul's since 1870. Holy Comforter Episcopal Church is at the corner of Eighth and Embargo Sts. The nucleus to this organization was from Sunday-school work by T. J. Brown in 1892. The present lot and building was secured in 1898 and the residence converted into a church. W. H. Wilson served as rector in 1893-7, when he was made archdeacon of colored work. T. J. Brown, who had served as lay reader, was ordained deacon in 1896; and with occasional students the pulpit was filled until A., C. Kilheffer came, in 1898. Rev. Wilson served again in 1899-1902; J. C. Quinn, 1903; since which E. J. Batty, archdeacon of colored work for the Nashville Diocese, comes once or twice monthly, and W. A. Gibson serves as lay reader. W. B. Capers, of St. Peter's, gives occasional services here. H. D. Merrill succeeded Brown in the Sunday-school work, which is now in charge of Mrs. Dew, Mrs. Merrill, and Mrs. Dr. Biddle. The church membership is about 30 earnest workers. Rector Gibson is planning for the erection of a brick church and organization of an industrial school in connection with the church. Glade Street A. M. E. was organized about 1889, and a small brick church was erected near Eleventh St. Pastors have come about as follows: I. Gholston, 1890; T. Y. Moore, 92; L. F. Bu-ford, 94; J. W. Ray, 97; G. W. Bond, 99; _____ Gholston and W. H. Shelby, 1902; D. W. Wells, '03; G. W. Perry, '04. He was born in Marshall Co., and commenced preaching some thirty years ago. The church has about 80 members. The Sunday school is in charge of Prof. S. H. Hardy. Cemeteries.-Nearly all former meetinghouses had a burial ground near by, but in cities and with modern sanitary theories this has become impracticable. The first Maury Co. comers were authorized to plat a 2-acre graveyard, which they named Greenwood, extending from First to Fourth Sts. on Garden and back to the river bank, just below the bridge, where it angles sharply to the north. In this hallowed spot sleep many of the pioneers and their descendants. But the place has been sadly neglected. Many of the top and side slabs of marble are misplaced, and some means should be taken for better care of this sacred spot, now seldom used. Here sleep the bones of Jas. K. Folk's parents and others of note. Rose Hill.-In 1853 a handsome tract of ground on the southeast corner of the city was purchased and Rose Hill Cemetery chartered-Rev. J. B. Hamilton, president; Jno. Baird, secretary and treasurer; Wm. Dale, Thos. J. Kelly, Nathan Vaught, and Jas. Andrews, trustees. This is a considerable hill, and affords a good view of the city. It. is interspersed with cedars, well kept, and has many handsome and costly monuments. Isora C., wife of W. B. Wilson and daughter of Rev. Hamilton, was the first interment made here.-J. W. Frierson is president; J. A. Oakes, secretary and treasurer; Robt. Pillow, W. J. Dale, W. P. Woldridge, directors of the above. W. N. Wright, sexton, was born in Lewisburg, Aug. 6, 1840, and has resided in Columbia thirty-one years, having been superintendent of Rose Hill since 1894. Burial lots here range in price from $25 to $150. The colored people's cemetery, Rose Mound, is near the above. Additional Comments: From: CENTURY REVIEW 1805 - 1905 MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE A Condensation of the Most Important Events of the Past One Hundred Years, and Descriptive Sketches of the Cities and Villages File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/maury/history/1906/centuryr/churches18gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/ File size: 29.8 Kb