Ritchie County (WV) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** The following information is reprinted here courtesy of: The Ritchie County Historical Society January/February/March 1979 Newsletter Ritchie County (WV) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints By Ruth Wilson, Harmony Mission Historian The first R.L.D.S. church in Ritchie County was built in 1888 on Bear Run Road which turns south from old Route 50 at Glendale and up Bear Run through Cornwallis to North Bend Park. Along this country road (or turn north at U.S. 50 at Bear Run Road), the church still stands. It is con- structed of square hand hewn logs. Services were held for two years in the Bear Run schoolhouse before the church was completed. "Uncle Joe" and "Uncle Mesh" Ross hauled logs by ox-team for the Church. Other residents also aided in the construction. The Church was sold in 1956 to a local undenominational congregation. The church at Indian Creek (Harmony Mission) was organized in 1895 by Luther R. Devore. The people had their meetings in the homes of J.F. Wilson, I.B. Wilson, W.C. Wilson, and Daniel Givens. Others who helped with the church were: C.A. Wilson, Wayne Wilson, Harlan Wilson, James Hedge and many others. Our present church was built in the winter of 1915-1916. Most of the work was donated labor, a lot of it was by non-members. J.F. Wilson furnished the team work and laid the foundation. C.A. Wilson traded the present site of the church for one that was too close to Indian Creek, where the church was first started but was washed away. The church was dedicated on Aug. 20, 1916. At the Sept. 13, 1941 Conference held in Moundsville, the Church was disorganized and organized as a mission on the same date. We have since then added a dining room and kitchen. Pastors have included: Les Bumgardner, Glen Givens (40 years), and Robert L. Anderson (our present pastor).