SMITHVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH  
The following information pertains to Ritchie County, West Virginia.
It is reprinted here courtesy of:
THE RITCHIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
September/October 1978 Newsletter  Vol. VI  No. V

SMITHVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH ORGANIZED
Submitted by Winnifred Scott

The first Baptist Church organization was contemporary with that of the
Methodist Episcopal.  It having been made, in 1810 at the home of Barnes
Smith, senior, where B. H. Wilson now resides; and was, in part, composed
of the following named gentlemen with their wives; Aaron and Barnes Smith,
Samuel and Amiziah Murphy, James Drake, John Every, William Wells, and Mrs.
Eleanor Ayers.

This was known as the "Hughes River Baptist Church" until 1875, when its
name was changed to Smithville.  From the date of it organization until
1873, its places of worship were at private houses principally at the home
of Barnes Smith, in the earlier days of its history.  The Rev. John Drake,
who was the first Baptist minister in the Hughes river valley, and one of
the first missionaries of this church to cross the Allegheny Mountains, was
the first pastor of the Hughes River Class.

The heirs of the late Isaac Smith, among whom are Martin Smith, Mrs. M. A.
Ayers, and Mrs. Alfred Barr, gave the grounds for the Smithville church,
and were among its chief builders.