Early Walnut Grove Methodist Episcopal Church History
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Courtesy of the Ritchie County Historical Society
April/May 1973 Newsletter
Taken from Hardesty's History of Gilmer Co. and 
Submitted by Winifred Scott
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EARLY CHURCH HISTORY    

The Walnut Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, Holbrook, Ritchie County, was
organized in 1858, at the home of T. E. Nutter.  The Nutter home was a log
cabin which stood about one half mile above the mouth of Bear Run.

Ira S. Steel was the first minister.  He was born in Ireland.  Studied to
be a Catholic Priest, however on his arrival in America he became a
minister of the M. E. faith.  He lived at Harrisville, during his
pastorate, rode horsebact to visit 15 churches throughout the area.

The first authentic records of the Walnut Grove Church were in 1868, when
the church was moved to a log school house at Holbrook.  John M. Brown was
the first class leader, other Charter members were: Elliza Collins Brown,
Edward M. Brown, Christopher N. Nutter, S. A. Nutter, Thomas E. Nutter, J.
E. Ireland, Katherine, Elizabeth and Susan Ireland, Eliza Zinn, A. S. and
M. A. Lowther, H. B. and Elizabeth Tharp, F. E. and M. C. Nutter, Charlotte
and Rebecca Lowther, F. and e. Williams, Eleanor Thomas and A. Watson.

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