It is probable that the earliest church in DeKalb County was erected by the Baptists of Liberty. In Grime's history of Middle Tennessee Baptists it is said that Cantrell Bethel, born in Maryland December 17, 1779 and died near Liberty October 22, 1848, came with the colony that "marked the establishing of the first town in Tennessee between Nashville and the Cumberland Mountains" and settled half a mile west of Liberty. Not long afterwards he became converted; and as there were no Baptists in that section, he joined Union Church, in Warren County, Kentucky. On his return from Kentucky he began his ministry, gathered a band of his faith at the present Brush Creek, in Smith County, and constituted a Church there May 29, 1802; and then, securing an "arm" from Brush Creek at Liberty, established Salem Church at the latter place in August, 1809, becoming the elder or pastor.

But an even earlier preacher who became prominent in the Baptist Church was Rev. John Fite. He also located west of Liberty. He was born in Maryland in 1758 or 1759 and was a Presbyterian minister when he came to this section. Becoming a Baptist preacher in 1812, he died near Liberty February 18, 1852. Elder Fite was the father of Moses and Henry Fite, also grandfather of James, Robert, and Thomas Fite, who are yet living in other States and maintaining the prestige of high citizenship established by their ancestors.

Salem Baptist Church, at Liberty, was constituted an independent body in August, 1809, with thirty-one members. The first building was of logs and was 25 by 30 feet. About 1849 a frame building took its place, and this in turn was replaced by the present frame structure, 40 by 70 feet, about 1880. The membership has been large in recent years, numbering three hundred and twenty-one in 1902.

Salem Baptist Church Pastors

Early Clerks of this historic Church

Deacons of Church

Salem has sent out this list of Ministers

Licensed as Exhorters
when this custom was in vogue

Among former Elders or Pastors, these sleep in Salem Cemetery

The writer recalls a number of ministers of the county who were living during the war and shortly afterwards and pauses to pay them his tribute. One was Rev. Nathaniel Hays, born about 1807, ordained to preach in 1846, preached his first and last sermon at New Hope, and died October 28, 1868. Such was his life that he was not molested by either side during the war, though the antagonisms of that struggle brought something like chaos to the country. One can hardly estimate the good he accomplished after the war. A big man physically, he was strong-souled also, and people had faith in him. Hundreds of ex-soldiers listened to him, forgot heart bitternesses, and took the straight and narrow way. When the writer dreams of real heroes as they appeared to his boyhood eyes, he thinks of Natty Hays, Hall Bethel, Moses Fite, and two or three consecrated Methodists who for more than a generation stood unfalteringly for the cause of God.

New Hope is situated south of Alexandria. Rev. William Dale, who bought the farm known in later years as the Eli Rowland place, began preaching at Thomas Finley's home, but in 1818 established the Church with eighteen members. A building was erected, and the earlier pastors were: William Dale, W. P. Hughes, Archamac Bass, Henry Fite, Nathaniel Hays, T. J. Eastes, J. C. Brien, J. R. Hearn, J. M. Stewart, William Simpson, A. C. Webb, J. F. McNabb, and Stephen Robinson.

Methodist Church Pastors

The Smithville Church was constituted August 25, 1844, with fourteen members, in the Methodist Church. A house of worship was erected about 1858.

Clerks to 1902 J. L. Bond, Abner Witt, P. P. Johnson, J. A. Wilson, and L. W. Beckwith.

Pastors of Indian Creek Church

Indian Creek Church, eight miles north of Smithville, dates back to 1844. First named Caney Fork Church, it was changed to Indian Creek in 1848.

A noted old log church, known to the present generation only as a Methodist church, was Goshen, on Dismal Creek, north of Liberty. It was constituted a Baptist Church in July, 1821, by Cantrell Bethel and John Fite. Fite was the only pastor it ever had, as not much interest was aroused, and the Church was dissolved in 1837. From then on for years the Methodists controlled the religious sentiment of the community.

About 1879 Rev. J. C. Brien began preaching in the neighborhood. As a result Cooper's Chapel was constituted in 1880 with nine members. J. C. Brien was the first pastor. Others have been:

The Church was named for Isaac Cooper, a Mexican War and Confederate veteran. Though a Methodist (but afterwards uniting with the Baptist congregation), the erection of Cooper's Chapel was due mainly to his efforts.

Mount Zion Church

Mount Zion is situated near Temperance Hall. With fourteen members the Church was instituted June 30, 1851, in an old schoolhouse. Soon after its constitution Nicholas Smith was received by letter. He went to work arousing interest in the need of a church. It was erected and the first services held in it June, 1858. Pastors to 1902:

Until recent years the only Churches in Alexandria were the Methodist, Christian, and Cumberland Presbyterian, the first two having been established prior to the War between the States. As the result of a doctrinal debate in the town in January, 1887, between Elder Moody, Baptist, and Dr. T. W, Brents, Christian, the Baptist citizens resolved to organize. This was done during the month of the debate, and in time a neat and commodious church was erected. This was destroyed by lightning some years later, but in 1914 a new and handsome structure was built on the ruins. Some of the pastors have been:

Dry Creek Church was organized through the instrumentality of J. M. Stewart and J. H. Vickers "near a straw stack in Dr. J. A. Fuson's lot," says Grime. A neat building was erected, the early pastors having been J. M. Stewart, William Simpson, J. H. Davis, J. H. Grime, and Stephen Robinson.

Wharton Springs Baptist Church was constituted three miles south of Smithville in 1889 in the dwelling of E. B. Allen. Among its pastors were William Simpson, J. A. McClusky, J. H. Davis, J, M. Stewart, and J. T. Oakley.

The Snow's Hill Church was instituted in 1897, the following having been early pastors: A. J. Waller and Stephen Robinson. Pastors of the Dowelltown Church, which was organized in 1894, were: J. W. Stewart, J. H. Grime, J. F. McNabb, W. J. Watson, J. H. Whitlock, and W. E. Wauford.

Sycamore Fork Church

Sycamore Fork Church, having in 1902 the largest membership of any in Salem Association, is on the line between DeKalb and Cannon Counties, and was instituted through the efforts of Rev. Henry Bass in 1871. A house of worship was built in 1895. Of the pastors, these are recalled:

Of pathetic interest is the fact that one of the young ministers trained in this Church, J. T. Hancock, was called to its care, but died before his first appointment. Other Churches are Beech Grove, at the mouth of Holm's Creek, established in 1858; Wolf Creek, near Laurel Hill, 1846; and New Union, near Frank's Ferry, southeast of Smithville, 1870.*

The Primitive, or "Hardshell," Baptists have a small membership in the county. Of the two noted Churches, Bildad and New Bildad, both south of Smithville, the latter is the most noted. Among the well-known Primitive Baptist ministers, these are recalled: Revs. Isaac Denton, Terry Trapp, James Snow, L. Pope Potter, and Mr. Byers.

In reply to a letter of inquiry. Rev. G. L. Beale, Secretary of the Tennessee Conference, M. E. Church, South, writes:

The records of the Tennessee Conference are very incomplete. The minutes were not printed prior to 1879, except at rare intervals. The written journals were destroyed by fire in the Publishing House in 1871. In the fall of 1812 the first Conference appears. That same year Stones River Circuit first appears in the minutes. Smith's Fork Circuit first appears in 1823, with William good and John Rains as pastor no boundaries given. In 1838 the name of Short Mountain Circuit is given, with J. A. Walkup as pastor (no boundaries). I have no data by which I could tell you when the societies at Liberty, Alexandria, or Smithville were started. Neither Alexandria nor Smithville became a circuit until after the War between the States.

At the meeting of the Central Association of the Missionary Baptist Church at Trezevant, Tennessee, in September, 1914, reports showed that the membership in the State (white) was, in round numbers, one hundred and ninety-two thousand.

In examining such records as remain, the following preachers, among others, are named as having been pastors at various times from 1830 to the war:

Smith Fork Circuit

Short Mountain Circuit

Caney Fork Circuit

In 1865 Rev. U. S. Bates was appointed to the Smith Fork Circuit, the first circuit rider at Liberty after the war. George L. Staley was presiding elder. In the same year John H. Nichols and A. H. Reams were appointed to the Short Mountain Circuit.

No doubt many of the before-the-war ministers were in their time well known personally to the Methodists throughout the county as well as over their particular circuits.

The Tennessee Conference of the M. E. Church, South, in October, 1914. made the following appointments in the county, with H. B. Blue, P. E.: Alexandria, J. D. Robins; Keltonsburg Mission, J. R. Crawford, supply; Liberty Circuit, J. B. Estes; Smithville Mission, J. W. Estes.

It appears certain that a Methodist society was organized at Liberty long prior to the building of the church, which was about 1825, for the itinerants often preached in the people's homes. The substantial church erected so early supports this view. It was built by the pioneer carpenters, William Givan, Josey Evans, and Robert Burton, Maryland people, and was about 30 by 40 feet, two stories, with a good bell and belfry. The second floor had a large opening over the pulpit and altar on the first floor, that the slave members, who occupied that floor, might see and hear the minister. The framework of the building was so stanchly mortised and dovetailed and pegged that citizens said it would not have come apart had it been blown from its foundation and rolled out of the village. This church was occupied by Negro soldiers in the war of 1861-65, and when they left the hogs and town cows appropriated it. Soon after peace the Methodists put it in as good condition as possible, and it was used for Church and school purposes until about 1874, when the present building was erected.

The writer recalls the church's appearance well. The doors faced east and west, and on the eastern end of the roof comb was the belfry, a favorite place for bats and owls. The membership seems never to have been very large; but, considering the intolerance which used to prevail, it was "game." Some of the pulpit orators of ante-bellum days were heard in this old building, among them Fountain E. Pitts, J. J. Comer, and Ferdinand S. Petway. Dr. Foster wrote in 1914: "Sixty or sixty-five years ago one of the grandest characters I ever knew lived in Liberty, Stephen Moore, a Methodist preacher. He was goodness personified, and his wife was a worthy companion." In the same year Mrs. Polly Youngblood, the oldest inhabitant of Liberty and the widow of William Youngblood, said:

"Yes, I ought to remember Brother Moore, as he officiated at my wedding." Joseph Banks and Isaac Woodward (the latter from Warren County) often preached at Liberty.

Southern Methodist Circuit Riders

Among the Southern Methodist circuit riders since the war who served at this place and other Churches in the county, the following are recalled by H. L. Hale.

Southern Methodist Members

Among the old papers of Jasper Ruyle was found this list of the members of the Church just preceding the War between the States:

Goodspeed's history, published in 1888, says the Methodists of Alexandria first had a log church, but a frame church was built in 1835. In 1885 they put up the present handsome building.

Since the war of 1861-65 these, among other ministers, have occupied the Methodist pulpit at Alexandria:

Methodists of Alexandria Ministers

Relying further on Goodspeed, the first Methodist church at Smithville was built in 1848 and was a brick structure. (There was a Methodist house of worship of some kind in 1844.) It was followed in 1856 by a frame building. Among the post-bellum pastors have been the following:

Methodist Church at Smithville Pastors

Goshen, on Dismal Creek, was well known for its Methodist gatherings before and after the war. This can be said also for Bright Hill, near Smithville, Asbury, near Liberty, and the camp ground at Smithville. Some of the old-time ministers became popular because of their eccentricities as well as piety, among them: Mr. Wainwright, "Uncle" Jakey Hearn, "Uncle" Ike Woodward, "Uncle" Joe Banks, Elisha Carr, James Stanford, Ben Turner, and Caleb Davis.

Rev. Jerry W. Cullom, aged eighty-six years and the oldest member of the Tennessee Conference, writes June 12, 1914: "In 1854 I was the young pastor of Asbury Church. It was there that I had the greatest meeting I ever had or saw. All Liberty must have been there. Uncle Joe Banks, one of my local preachers, assisted me. It was there that we struck water. The year 1854 was the dryest I ever knew. The question with everybody was, 'How shall we get water for the meeting?' Someone discovered a moist place in the sand under the bluff back of the church, and a few strokes of a hoe unearthed a fine spring."

It should be explained here that it has been told for the truth that the preacher prayed for water, and the spring was sent in answer. Mr. Cullom states the facts, as he found the spring. This stream, we are told, is yet flowing.

"Rev. Joe Myers," proceeds Mr. Cullom, "declared in his sermon one night at Asbury that he saw a great ball of fire enter the door and roll over the congregation; so the dear old Baptists said the Methodists had brought water from the earth and fire down from heaven. There were over two hundred conversions on the circuit that year, among whom I may mention Judge Robert Cantrell and wife, both of whom I baptized by immersion at Smithville. And I mention Colonel Stokes and Dr. Foster. Stokes was lying stretched full length on the floor when he was powerfully converted. I saw him in Alexandria after the war, when Stokes's Cavalry had become history, and we gladly greeted each other. Years afterwards I was sent up there as a presiding elder for four years 1871-75. Holding a quarterly meeting at Asbury, I found Uncle Joe Banks present, and we had a great service. Though he was now in the Northern branch of the Church, we met in the altar at the close of the sermon and fell into each other's arms, and the thing was 'catching' all over the house.

"Abe Overall and Uncle Jakey Hearn often preached for me in 1853-54. Uncle Abe was present at Round Top when I performed my first immersion, and of course I made a botch of it, as I was a new hand. He got a good deal of fun out of my awkwardness. Someone, speaking of Uncle Jakey Hearn's home conveniences, said he could lie down at night and by pulling a string lock every door on his farm.

"John Savage and I were great friends. He owned a hotel at Smithville when I was pastor and gave me a room, board, and stall for my horse free."

In a second letter Mr. Cullom says: "The preachers for Smith Fork Circuit in 1854 were Revs. Joe G. Myers and Russell Eskew. They were rather unique. Myers assisted me in the Asbury meeting. Arch Bain was a young preacher famous for leading the songs at camp meetings. Ferdinand S. Petway was the finest singer I ever heard. After the great meeting at Asbury, let me add, it fell to my lot to immerse more than a score of converts in Smith Fork. Six young ladies decided to kneel in the water and have it poured on them, went down into the water' and were baptized by water or with water. Judge Robert Cantrell and wife professed at Bright Hill, three miles from Smithville, and joined our Church at Smithville after immersion. In 1873 or 1874 I stood on the scaffold and preached John Presswood's funeral before the swing off by request of the sheriff. Some eight thousand people were present. At Smithville lived Wash Isbell, a hopeless cripple, but for many years he was county court clerk. William Magness, a brother of Judge Cantrell's wife, was a prominent merchant. So was Bob West. The hotel belonged to John Savage and was conducted by Mr. Stewart, whose wife was a sister of M. M. Brien."

In 1845 the Methodist Church divided into the Southern and Northern "wings." The latter was not represented in DeKalb County or the South until after the war of 1861-65.

When the Federal army gained possession of East Tennessee many of the Methodists in that section desired the services of the M. E. Church, that is, the Northern wing. In 1864 its first Conference was organized. Soon the ministers of that wing were preaching in DeKalb. As a lad the writer remembers when they appeared at Liberty, one of the ministers preaching being a Mr. Stephens, who had located at McMinnville. Then there was Rev. D. P. Searcy, who had been a Southern Methodist prior to the war. Rev. Joe Banks, of the county, also joined the Northern wing. It seemed that it made more advancement around Liberty than elsewhere. There was considerable hard feeling for a time between the two wings. Mr. Searcy located at Liberty, and shortly he and his interesting family became much beloved by all the neighbors. He was a son-in-law of Alex Robinson, of the county.

Dowelltown Pastors

A few churches were established. That at Dowelltown was erected first in 1880 and has been wrecked twice by storms. The second wind, in 1913, entirely demolished it. The following have served as pastors there:

The Dowelltown Circuit has five churches, Asbury, Snow's Hill, Indian Creek, Fuller Chapel, and Dowelltown, with more than five hundred members. Rev. W. P. Banks, who died in July, 1914, wrote early in the year as to Asbury:

It is the oldest church in this vicinity. The early settlers built for themselves a small, incommodious house for Church and school purposes, and at an early date a Methodist Church was organized here. Who the preachers were, I do not know.

This house was finally burned to the ground by an incendiary, and a commodious house for that time was erected in its place. This house also was used for Church and school purposes. About twenty years ago the members of the M. E.

Church bought the property, tore down the old house, and erected an up-to-date building, perhaps the best country church in the county, with a thriving membership of one hundred and a Sunday school that has run more than fifteen years consecutively. The organization was effected by Rev. D. P. Searcy.

Thomas Chapman was the first to join and was followed by Joe Banks, Jep Williams and wife, and about fifteen others. Judge W. T. Robinson and wife also joined soon afterwards. Mr. Banks wrote of others, but was so modest about his own work that this writer feels it a duty to add: He was fifty-seven years of age in 1914 and was a retired minister on account of broken health. His grandfather, Rev. Joseph Banks, was not only a moving spirit in the organizations of DeKalb County, but a great revivalist in his day; while his father, Enoch Banks, was a local deacon and did some pastoral work on circuits as a supply. At the age of twenty-two, after spending four years in Tullahoma College, W. P. Banks entered the Central Tennessee Conference of the M. E. Church and became an itinerant preacher.

He served as pastor of circuits sixteen years and as presiding elder of the Nashville District six years. While presiding elder the finances of his district increased one hundred per cent, an increase equal to that of any twelve years before or after his term of service for the same territory. For eight years he was secretary of the Annual Conference and twelve years the editor and publisher of the Conference minutes. Rev. Enoch H. Banks, mentioned, for many years kept up monthly appointments and revivals in the fall at some of the schoolhouses adjacent to Dowelltown, There are a small number of Cumberland Presbyterian congregations scattered throughout the county.

For some years the only church on Dry Creek south and east of Dowelltown was a small building located at the head of that stream and called Cave Spring Church. It had a scattered membership. Its pastor for some forty years was the eccentric but really intellectual I. L. Thompson. He was also pastor of Banks Church, on Short Mountain, as well as a little society at Possum Hollow Schoolhouse, on Dry Creek, midway between Cave Spring and Dowelltown. Of the three, only Banks Church was remaining in 1814.

In 1881 the Cumberland Presbyterians erected a Church at Alexandria. Prior to the War between the States preaching was had in the Turner M. Lawrence College. The following, with their families, were early members:

Cumberland Presbyterians Members

Names of Pastors, including the present one

A number of theological students from Cumberland University have from time to time held services in the church.

The Church of Christ, or Christian Church, has been very strong in the county for many years. In Alexandria the members erected a church as early as 1835. It was succeeded by a new frame in 1851, or near that time. About 1873 a church was built at Smithville, and at Liberty another prior to 1890, dedicated by Mr. Woolen. In all there are nine churches in the county, others besides those named being at Temperance Hall, Keltonsburg, Belk, Young's Bend, 'Falling Water, and Cherry Hill. The total membership is between six hundred and eight hundred. The oldest church is that at Falling Water, it is believed. One of the most active ministers of this denomination for the past twenty years is Rev. H. J. Boles. His son, Rev. H. Leo Boles, who is now President of the Nashville Bible School, labored with him for some years in strengthening the congregations.

Pioneer Preachers

Prominent Citizens who have been identified with the Congregations

After the War between the States a religious awakening became apparent throughout the county. The writer, then a lad, saw some of the manifestations of fervor at Liberty, and especially at the Baptist church. The war had somewhat demoralized the people, and during revivals at the church named well-patronized ginger cake and melon vendors held forth on the bluff less than one hundred yards from the church. At night mischievous persons would cut harness and saddles. There were many indictments, moreover, for disturbing public worship.

DeKalb County | Tennessee