Boone's Creek Church - 1785
Is located at Athens, Fayette Co., on the waters of Boone's Creek, named for Daniel Boone, who had a 400 acre tract of land at the mouth of the creek, and on this was a small cave in which he frequently took refuge from the Indians. The present church is half a mile west of the original site of Boone's Station, which was erected by Boone in the spring of 1780, after having left the fort at Boonesborough on Dec 29, 1779. Boone must have remained there for several years, except when absent on his periodical hunting expeditions for, according to Cap. Wm. Ellis, the founder of David's Fork Settlement, he went there during the summer of 1784, at the request of Boone, to confer with him in regard to a threatened Indian invasion. Capt. Ellis said that the Station was stckaded mainly for the protection of Boone's family, and that of his nephew, Samul BOone, and that the inside of the palisades was ornamente with the skins of various wild animals. At or ner this Station was Cross Plains (now Athens), so called from its being the crossing place of hunters and troops passing from Harrodsburg to Lexington and from Bryan's Station to Boonesborough, and afterwards was used in the old militia times as a muster ground.
The first conference of the churches looking to the constitution of what is now Boone's Creek Association was held at Cross Plains on May 1, 1822, and Wm. Boone was clerk of the convention. The second conference was held at Boone's Station ... up to a few years ago the lives of the stockade and cabins were tracable or to be seen, but the cultivation of the land in recent times has leveled the ground, so that at present nothing remains to mark the site of the Station and this wilderness house of the great frontiersman, Daniel Boone, except the tombstones over several graves, seen around the locust trees in the picture. These graves are supposed to be those of some of the dwellers of the Station, and the stones are of the native rock of the neighborhood and without an inscription of any kind to identify them. R.R. Barker, the present owner of the land is a descendant of Daniel Boone's brother, Samuel, and his residence is a few yards northeast of the graveyard. This land includes the original station site and has been owned by the Barker family about 75 years [in 1923].
It is said that it was at this station that Boone related the story of his life to Filson, the historian, and it is also said to have been here that the Shawnee Indians, from whom he had escaped several years before, undertook to recapture Boone, as they still longed for his companionship, so they sent 4 of their tribe, who lay in ambush around the Station for several days and finally succeeded in capturing him in his small barn, in the upper portion of which he had hung up a small crop of tobacco for curing. Boone requested his captors to allow him to go up into the barn loft to get some fine tobacco to take with them. To this the Indians asented, and Boone then went into the loft and crushinig up several handsful of tobacco threw it down into the uplifted eyes of the savages and at the same time springing down himself made his escape before the savages could recover from the blinding effects of the tobacco.
It was also at this station that the churches endeavoring to organize Boone's Creek Association held their second conference or convention on the 2nd and 3rd day of Oct. 1822, at which time a constitution and rules of decorum were drafted and sen tto the severala churches for adoption, amendment or rejection. At this meeting the convention called for another conference to be held at Boggs' Fork Church, on April 25, 1823. The first draft of the constitution underwent considerable alteration in the various churches and also in the meeting at Boggs' Fork.
Regarding the time of the erection of the Station by Boone, a kinsman of his, Mrs. Asa C. Barrow, of Clark Co. KY gave an account of this Station, which he has good reason for believing to be authenic, and is as follows: "William Scholl was a native of Va. and removed with his wif and family of ten children to Ky. in the fall of 1779, and arrived at Boonesborough on Dec. 25, where he met Daniel Boone his kinsman who was there attending the court held for the purpose of adjusting titles to Ky lands. On the same day, the Scholls accompanied by Daniel Boone, crossed the river and camped about 4 miles west of Boonesborough and the following day reached what was afterwards Boone's Station, where they erected half faced camps and living in them until the following March, when the snow melted and they erected a stockade and cabins. This was during the hard winter of 1779-1880. The Scholls and Boone ate the last bread they had on Christmas day, 1779 and were without that article of food until the following summer, when their crop of corn matured" ....
Of the first inhabitants of Boone's Station, four were among the constituent members of Boone' Creek Church, namely, Samuel Boone, Sarah Boone, Wm. Scholl and his wife Leah Schoal.
On the second Sunday in Nov. 1785 a small band gathered and constituted Boone's Creek Church. ....
There have been 5 record books of this church - the first book covring the period from the constitution in 1785 until 1811; this book disappeared after the division in the latter year. The second book begins Jan 9, 1811 and extends to July 1835. This book is in the library of the Baptist Seminary at Louisville. The third book which is also in the library at Louisville, contains the recod of Boggs' Fork Church from February 1829 to Feb. 1832, which there is a period of 8 years in which there is no record Boggs' Fork Church, and a period of 5 years with no record of Boone's Creek Church. Then beginning first Saty if Dec 1840, we find the covenant and rules of decorum entered into by the two churches, Boone's Creek and Boggs' Fork, when they untied and became known as Boone's Creek Church, and following this union, this book contains the records until July 1886. The 4th book begins in July 1886, and continues until Jan. 1900. The 5th book is a continuation of the 4th and contains the records to the present time [1923].
On Jan 9, 1811, there occurred another division [in this church]. This was certainly the 3rd division, and probably the fourth or fifth division since her constitution, ina as much as there are 6 Baptist Churches in this immediate vicinity at that time. According to Dr. Spencer, Wm. Hickman and others, three of these were born of contention, namely, Head of Boone's Creek, Marble Creek (East Hickman) and the Primitive Bapt (1811); besides there were nearby Boffmans Fork, constituted about 1786, and Boggs' Fork constituted in 1800.
Ford's Repository (1856) says: "Here were the opposers of all creeds and confessions, the most rigid and uncompromising Colonists, bitterly opposed to any basis of union but the New Testament; the Separates withheld Christian fellowship and confidence from those who would not vow their faith in the eternal decrees, including eternal justification, denouncing all formulas, rules or terms of agreement in church compact, they insisted on the use of oil when praying for the sick, the laying on of hands after baptism and the ordinance of foot washing. . . Many of its members wre Separates as regarding laying on of hands after baptism. ... the Regular Baptists were moderate, but were opposed to both classes of Separates.
No doubt these conditions were largely brought about or at least aggrivated by the influence and leadership of two inisters, who were not only widely separated upon many religious questions, but were men of totally different type, each being more or less eccentric, especially Craigg. If Joseph Craigg was not a member of the first BOone's Creek Churh, which we are inclined to doubt he lived in that community.
"Elder Tanner was a very strong hyper-Calvinist, who entered into the investigation of God's eternal decrees. He seemed to have arrived at the conclusion that none were sound on the decrees from his standpoint, and when the revival which was sweeping over the cuntry reached Boone's Creek in 1787 (Hickman says in 1786). Elder Tanner, their pastor, was opposed to the revival claiming it was the 'work of the Devil', and he refused to baptize and Rev. Wm. Hickman was sent for and carried on the meeting."
"Elder Craig was a man of marked eccentricities, but a very zealous Separate . . . . there was something in him more original than was fund in other men." (Dr. Spencer)
Joseph Craigg was persecuted in Va.
At the beginning of Book No. 2 we find that Boone's Creek Church was constituted on the seond Lord's day (the 13th) of Nov. 1785 by the ministering help of John Tanner and John Taylor, 14 members entering into the constitution of a regular Baptist Church to be known by the name of Boone's reek Church. The names of these 14 members are as follows: Roger Fryer, George Shortige, Wm Schoal, Leah Schoal, Turner Crump, John Morgan, Samuel Boone, James Hazelrigg, John Hazelrigg, Kizziah Shortige, Margaret Shortige, Grace Jones, Sarah Boone and ELizabeth Hazelrigg.
Dr. Spencer says it was probable Elder David Thompson was the first pastor. The church was not constituted until Nov. 1785, and Elder Wm. Hickman says he was called there in 1786 to hold a meeting and that John Tanner was their pastor. After this meeting the dissens seemed to have continued - 19 members obtained letters of dismissal and constituted Marble Creek Church (now East Hickman) on June 15, 1787. In 1788 Elder Thompson was probably their pastor, as he was a messenger from this church to the ELkhorn Association in that year. ... Elder Tanner, like many other preachers at the period, suffered persecution in Va. and N. ar. for preaching the Word of God ...
On Jan 9, 1811 the church met for business. proposition ws made this day to try Bro. A.Bainbridge for speaking untruths, but the minority proposed a separatio rather than that he should come to trial, and this was agreed to by the majority. Therefore, a separation took place, the majority 34 in number, continuing to call themselves Boones reek Church and remaining in Elkhorn Associatin until 1823, when they went into the sonstitution of BOone's Creek Association. The minority took thename of Particular Baptists and united with Licking Association, which association was formed as result of strife and contention that originating over a personal difficulty between Elder Jacob, Creath and Thomas Lewis concerning the exchange of a couple of slaves, Lewis being a member of Town Fork Church (First Church of Lexington), and Creath was the pastor of that church. On 19th Jan 1811 the two factions made a written agreement settling their rights - each to occupy the church house one half the time and repairs done jointly one party continued in the Elkhorn Assn. 36 names are recorded as members of this party: Samuel Boone, Mar Boone, Sarah Boone, Wm. Barker, Ann Barker, Wm. Christian, Marthew (Martha ?) Christian, Thomas Christian, Mary Winn, Rbecka Jones, Lutuce Winn, Hanna Hixkman, Thadeus Dulin, Elizabeth Dulin, susannah Cockrell, T. Dulin, Sarah Gest, Crdjoe (servant), Ann Get, Sidney McDonald, Polly Cotton, Ann Willson, John Hay, Jame Vallingam, and Elizabeth his wife and Rose (Slave, S. Burbridge (Bainbridge?), Polly Evans, Ruth Luxas, Philadelphia Simpson, Jame Get, Martin Coons, Stephen Lay, Bill (srvant) and Nancy Lay.
The Boone's Creek Church extended a call to Elder Jeremiah Vardeman, which he accepted and began his labors with them in Feb. 1811.
Of the minority or Particular Church, during the 24 years after their separation some of the ministers who preached for them were A. Bainbridge, Ambrose Dudley, T.P. Dudley and Wm. Rash. They reunited with Boone's Creek Church in 1835. After the seperation in 1811, the two churches seemed to be very friendly toward each other...
In April 1811, Wm. Cleveland was elected church cler. During this year 36 members were received by experience and baptism.
In May 1812, a brother and his wife preferred charges against a sister Ward, stating that she had come to the brothers house and said she had come over to devil him; that he was so handsome she had fallen in love with him, and she proceeded to hug him. She was excluded.
In March 1813 the church had received 64 additions since the divison in 1811.
In July 1813 Thadeus Dulin was elected clerk, Wm. Cleveland having resigned.
In Oct 1814 T. Dulin resigned and Wm. Boone was elected clerk, he being the first clerk to affix his signature to the minutes.
In Nov 1814 a motion was made by Deacon Squire Boone (this is the first mention of a deacon) whether the deacons should present the elements of the Lord's Supper to persons not in union with us. The church unanimously answered in the negative.
March 1815 Lindsfield Burbridge was ordained a deacon, and at the same meeting George G. Boone was ordained to the ministry.
In Sept 1815 the church agreed to buy 2 pamphlets on missionary subjects. This is the first mention of any missionary activities.
In Dec. 1815 the church agreed to raise a sum of money for the pastor, this being the first mention of renumerating the pastor for his services.
In Feb 1816 Elder G.G. Boone was invited to preach for them whenever their pastor Elder Vardeman was away.
In May 1816, the church decided not to repair the meetin ghouse until they had obtained a deed for the lot. It appears they had had possession of the lot for 31 years without having a deed.
In Feb 1817 Elder G.G. Boone was called as pastor, but declined to accept the call, stating he would preach for them whenever possible.
In April 1817 letters of dismissal were granted to G.G. Boone and wife.
In .. 1817 Wm. Boone resigned as clerk.
In Oct 1817 Elder Richard Morton accepted the pastorate.
In Feb 1818 David Watts was chosen a deacon, having been previously ordained by another church. David Moore was elected clerk in Feb. 1818.
In Feb 1821, Thomas Faulconer was elected Clerk.
In June 1821 upon request of Elkhorn Association for an answer to the quetion whether it is right to correspond with the Missionary Board or not. On motion, the church decided to send an answer in the affirmative.
In August 1821 the church on dealing with disorderl members, agreed to said the following to the rules of decorum, viz.: "All members qualit of public offenses shall come forward and make acknowledgement to the church without being sent for." Brother James Christian having been excercising a public gift without the authority of the church, committee was appointed at the regular meeting in Dec 1821 to see the brother, and after examination he ws granted the liberty to exercise his givt, but in April following this action was rescinded.
In Jan 1822, upon request of Boggs' Fork Church, Goon's Creek Church agreed to co-operate in forming a new association, and Brothers Burbridge, Watts and Foster were appointed a committee to aid in drafting a constitution for the new association.
In Oct 1822, the church in session took up for consideratin the constitution drafted for the new association. They voted to strike out the article referring to Missionary and Bible societies, and also that relative to celebrating the Lord's Supper on the second day of the association. It can readily be seen from the latter article that the teaching of Alexender Campbell was being accepted by some of the members of the Baptist churches even as early as 1822, or this article would never have been inserted in the constitution of a Baptist association. At this same meeting, Isaac Foster was granted license to preach the gospel.
In Nov. 1822 the church agreed to accept the constitution prepared by the committee for the new association with the exception of the two articles voted to be stricken out at the previous meeting.
A copy of the constitution for a new associatioin as adoopted a the meeting at Bogg's Fork Church was read and ratified by the church in May 1823 and a committee of 5 brethern appointed to meet at Mt. Gilead Church on May 28 for the purpose of constituting the association, consisting of Thomas Faulconer, Linchfield Burbridge, David Watts, Thompson Duvall and Thomas Christian.
In Oct 1823 the church being of the opinion that Brother James Duvall is possessed of profitable gifts, they agreed to encourage him to go forward in the manner of the Lord and occupy as he may think proper.
In August 1824 steps were taken to have the Boggs' Fork Church unite with this church, and together build a new meeting house. After four months, the minutes of Dec. 1824, stated that this effort was a failure, as Boggs' Fork Church declined to unite with them. (However, the two congregations did unite later, in the year 1840. The two churches failing to unite, 1824 a committee was appointed to procure sugscriptions with a view to building a new house at or near Cross Plains (now Athens), and to procure a lot on which to build. They purchased an acre of land adjoining the lot on which the old house now stands.
In Nov 1826 Wm. Grimes was ordained a decon.
In July 1827 Elder G.G. Boone accepted the pastorate, remaining with them until March 1830.
In Oct 1827 Samuel Boone was chosen a deacon.
In Feb. 1828 James Barker was received by experience and baptism.
In March 1828 John Robinson was chosen a deacon.
In April 1829, the church in session, took up the resolution proposed by the last Association, to abolish the constitution of Boone's Creek Association, and after considerable discussion the church by a majority vote agreed to quash the present motion before the the church, and refuse to give an answer to the Association on the subject. But at the Association meeting, their messengers voted to retain the constitution.
In March 1830 a motion was made for a friendly separation in the church, but the motion was quashed by a previous question, whether it is now expedient to decide on the question before the church, upon which a majority voted for quashing it.
In April 1830, a vote was taken for a pastor, Elder G.G. Boone receiving 29 votes. 8 voting against him.
In May 1830, on motion it was agreed to ascertain how many members were a favor of the constitution and rules of decorum of this church, the vote being 36 in favor and 20 opposed. Thn a motion was made to have a friendly separation of the church, and each party have equal rights in the house, 25 viting in favor of quashing the motion and 23 in opposition. The minority tried to form themselves into another congretation by going into the meeting house, and a committee was appointed by the majority to see the others, and this difficulty was disposed of as follows:
"Wethe church at this place conceive that those members (40 in number) having excluded themselves and use of the church house at this place, by not being satisfied with the rules and regulations of this church." (Further on it will be seen that the Reformers still continued to worship in the same meeting house.)
In July 1830, Elder John M. Johnson accepted the call as pastor, he was succeeded in August by elder John Dean in Aug. 1831.
In Oct 1831 Wm. Gest was elected clerk.
In May 1831 the church took steps toward the union of the two Baptist Churches at this place, but this union was not accomplished until 4 years later.
In Jan 1833 the pastorate was accepted by Elder Elrod, which he held for one year.
In July 1835 a motion was made that this church would dissolve her constitution, provided the sister church (Particular Baptist) worshipping in this house woud dissolve hers and agree to unite on a new constitution and agree that when the constitution is frained, the majority shall rule in adopting it, and the churches agree to meet this day week for union. This is the last entry in Book No. 2. There are no further records of this church until 1840, but we are certain that the two churches united and became on congregation on the day above mentioned, after a after separation of 24 years.
In the beginning of Book No. 3 there are records of Boggs' Fork Church from Feb 1829 to Feb 1832. The next entry is on the first Saturday in Dec. 1840, which contains the covenant and rules of decorum entered into by the members of Boone's Creek Church and Boggs' Fork Church when they united and became one congregation, to be known as Boone's Creek Church, and continued to meet at Boone's Creek Church meeting house.The next meeting of the congregation was on a 3rd Saturday in the same month, when B.E. Allen and Wm. Gess were appointed a committee to transcribe the names of the two former churches which have united a this place.
In Jan. 1841 the committee made its report. At this meeting Elder Edward Darnaby was called as pastor.
At Feb. meeting 1841 the church requested Brother B.E. Allen to exercise his gift as a public speaker.
In Aug 1841 B.E. Allen resigned as clerk, and James C. Bery was elected.
In Jan 1841 Brother B.E. Allen was ordained to the ministry. The following month the church called B.E. Allen and Edward Darnaby to serve as her pastors.
At the meeting in March following, the church rescinded its action taken at the last meeting in calling pastors, and proceeded by secret ballot to call a pastor, which resulted in Elder B.E. Allen being called. He served 19 years, until his death, Dec. 9 1861. Resolutions were passed by the church. At the same meeting a committee was appointed to write an obituary, which was recorded in the church minutes.
In May 1842, the church agreed to lay over the subject of foot-washing until the next meeting.
In July 1842, the church in session, voted that the action taken at the last meeting in regard to foot-washing be erased from the records.
In Oct. 1843 the church agreed to erect a new house of worship. The measurements to be 45 by 30, which a 15 foot ceiling, but a few months later they decided not to build.
In May 1846 Thomas Barker was employed as housekeeper. He was the father of the present moderator of Boone's Creek Association.
In July 1846, subject of building a new house was again discussed, a committee was appointed to see the Reform brethren. (They had using the house for worship one Sunday in each month ever since the division in 1829.) The Reormers expected to occupy the house for a reasonable time, or until they could build. The matter was evidently adjusted in a satisfactory manner, for the Baptists appointed a building committee and went right ahead with the erection of a new brick meeting house, which is the present house of worship. It was completed and dedicated in the summer of 1847. In June of that year the church selected Elder Walker to preach the dedication sermon, but the record fails to show the day of dedication.
In Feb. 1850 James C. Berry residned as clerk and was chosen as a deacon. At the next meeting, in March, R.L. Berry was elected church clerk.
On Aug 29, 1852 there was added to the church 13 by experience and baptism.
In Feb. 1854 R.L. Berry resigned as clerk and James W. Berry was chosen as clerk.
In Oct 1858 James W. Berry resigned as clerk and ordained a deacon. Thomas F. Barker was elected clerk, and served 30 years, resigning in July 1886.
At the May meeting in 1860 Thomas F. Barker was ordained a deacon.
Dr. R.T. Dillard succeeded Elder Allen as pastor, beginning in Jan 1862 and served one year. He was succeeded by Elder E.K. Isbell who remained their pastor until Jan 1867 and was succeeded immediately by Elder C.E.W. Dobbs, who was their leader until March 1870.
In a series of meetings held by their pastor in Sept. 1867 12 were added to the church by experience and baptism.
In May 1870 Elder D.B. Ray accepted the pastorate, remaining exactly 3 years.
In Sept. 1870 the church agreed to pay their part for the support of a missionary in Boone's Creek Associatioin. This is the first mention of supporting a missionary in Boone's Creek Association.
In Dec. 1870 Lewis Harris was ordained a deacon.
In a series of meetings in Aug. 1871 there were 33 additions by experience and baptism and several by letter.
In June 1873 Elder J.L. Smith accepted the pastorate, and labored for 3 years.
In Nov. 1874 the church passed a resolution against making and selling intoxicating liquors. However, at the next meeting the resolution was rescinded and postponed indefinitely.
In Dec 1876 the church went into a call for a pastor. The vote was not unanimous and the minority refused to accept the choice of the majority, so both names were withdrawn.
In March 1877 they agreed on Elder T.V. Riley as pastor, but the records do not show how long he served.
In Aug 1878 Elder J.L. Ssmith was preaching for them, but the records do not show when he accepted the pastorate; he offered his resignation in 1879.
In Nov 1879 R.F. Martin and R. Adams were ordained as deacons. In Dec. 1879 Elder J.C. Freeman became their pastor, but the records fail to state how long he served, but he was succeeded in Feb. 1882 by Dr. W.M. Pratt who remained their under-shepperd until Dec. 1883.
In Dec. 1882 is the first mention of a Sunday School in this church, but we note from the Association minutes that they had a Sunday School as early as 1876.
There are no records of any meetings of the church from Dec. 1883 to Dec. 1885, when Dr. Wm. Stuart accepted the pastorate. After this there are no further records until July 1886, when Hugh F. Barker was elected clerk upon the resignation of his father, Thomas F. Barker, who had served in that capacity for 28 years.
The last record in Book No. 3 is on the fourth Saturday in Nov. 1886, at which time a call was extended to their pastor Dr. Stuart for another year.
Book No. 4 contains the records of the church meetings from July 1886 to Nov 1886, after which date the next business meeting was in March 1887, and at this meeting Dr. Stuart requested a leave of absence for 3 months, and this was tranted. He was absent much of the time from their church meetings.
In May 1888 Rev. J. Pike Powers accepted the call of the church and served until Dec. 1889, when they gave up their leader, in order that he might take the advide of his physician and move his family to a more equitable climate.
During the pastorate of Brother Powers a series of meetings were held, which resulted in 55 additions by experience and baptism and 15 by letter, and after some had been dismissed, it left them a membership of 164, in Sept. 1890.
Brother Powers was succeeded by Elder B.P. Johnson, who began in Jan. 1890, serving one year, when he was succeeded by Rev. I.T. Creek, who served until Sept. 1896.
In the spring of 1892 J.W. Christian and A.N. Warnock were ordained as deacons.
In Feb. 1892 the church by motion required every male member to attend business meetings at least once in every quarter, and a failure without a good excuse would be considered disorderly.
In Jan. 1896, after 10 years service of H.F. Barker he ressigned the clerkship and was succeeded by his brother R.R. Barker.
In Feb. 1897 the pastorate was accepted by Elder J.M. Shelburn, but he only served the church a few months.
By order of the church at her meeting in Feb. no more graves are to be made within the boundary of the church lot, except on the space already alloted to those who have such space enclosed with a fence. W.E. Christian, one of our members was called to his reward in April 1898, and the Ladies Aid Society presented resolutions in regard to him. About this time the church sustained the loss of two more members, Benjamin Holliday and Nannie Martin. Resolutions drawn.
In Jan. 1899 Rev. J.S. Willson accepted the pastorate, until Feb. 1902. R.R. Barker and Frank Corum were ordained as deacons in Feb. 1999. The last entry in Book 4 is on 4th Sunday in Jan 1900.
After the last entry in Book No. 4, there is a period of 2 years for which there are no records.
Book No. 5, beginning in Jan 1902. EIther at this meeting or the Feb. meeting following their pastor Browhter Willson resigned. After the record of this meeting there is a period of more than 5 years during which time there are only one or two entries in the record of church proceedings, one of which is the ordination of one of her members, Brother Charles E. Elsey, to the ministry on June 22, 1902. Dr. B.D. Gray was moderator and J.W. Christian the secretary of the presbytery. Prof. E.E. Ayers delivered the ordination sermon.
There is also a statement in the church book, not signed by anyone, which is as follows: After the resignation of Brother J.S. Wilson as pastor, Brother T.C. Stackhouse accepted the call of the church, and resigned after one year's service. Then Brother A.R. Willett accepted and served one year and resigned. Then the church called Brother C.L. Graham, and this is his third year with the church, 1908."
The church book does not say anything about the records during this period of 5 1/2 years, whether they were lost or not kept at all.
The records begin again with Sept. 1907 at which time Brother C.L. Graham was pastor and Ed. E. Barker clerk, the latter being a brother of the preceding clerk, R.R. Barker, who had succeeded his brother Hugh F. Barker and he had succeeded his father Thomas F. Barker who was elected clerk in Oct. 1868 - the clerkship of this old church had been filled for 65 consecutive years by father and 3 sons.
At the meeting in Sept. 1907, the church records the death of Frank Corum.
In July 1909 Rev. C.L. Graham resigned the pastorate, having served 4 years. He was succeeded immediately by ev. J.W. Campbell, who served one year. Their next pastor, Brother Wellingham entered the field in May 1913 and remained about one year. He was succeeded by Don Q. Smith in 1914, and he by Rev. E.S. Summers in Oct. 1914. Rev. E.S. Summers remained until May 1916, and he was succeeded by Brother Erbert Summers in Nov. 1916, but the records fail to state how long he was pastor.
In Feb. 1915 Joe Lawson and James Moore were elected deacons.
Fw fail to find any records from May 1917 until Sept. 1918, at which meeting the church instructed her messengers to Boone's Creek Association to petition said body to return to her former custom of three days annual session instead of only two days.
In April 1919 Brother Robert Griffin accepted the care of the church, but remained only about 8 months.
In Aug. 1919 Wm. Deering was chosen deacon, by having previously ordained by another church.
On June 25, 1920 Brother John Stallings was ordained to the ministry, having been previously called as pastor. Two deacons were also ordained - Ed A. Barker and James Morton - dr. C.E. Elsey was moderator and Rev. D.F. Sebastian clerk of the presbyterry. Dr. Wm. Stalligs preached the ordination sermon. The church records fail to state how long Brother Stallings served them as pastor, but he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Paul C. Luttrell in May 1921. The pastor and people seem devoted to each other all working together in a splendid way for the advancement of the Lord's cause.
Since Brother Luttrell has been pastor they have built a fine parsonage on the church lot, so it can be said to her credit that she is the only country church i Boone's Creek Association that owns a parsonage.
This old church in the earlier part of her existence had many trials and tribulations, under going several divisions and reunions, sometimes almost losing her identity as a Baptist church. Yet whenever put to the test she always manifested sufficient strength to maintain her existence as a Baptist church and in 1822 it was through the influence of this church that a very objectionable clause, in reference to the Lord's Supper on the 2nd Sunday of the Association, was stricken out of the constitution for the proposed association (Boone's Creek Association).
If there is any one family, more than another, that during the history of the church has had a continuous connection and a deep and abiding faith in her future, from the very constitution of the church, but especially since 1811, it is the famil of Barker. The acting clerk of the church, Ed. F. Barker, is at present the moderator of Boone's Creek Association, and his brother R.R. Barker is a member of the Executive Board of the Association. Wm. T. Barker was moderator of all the church meetings for many years. The records of the church attest that they and their ancestors have all been loyal to the church and zealous of its welfare. For the past 70 years, with perhaps one or two exceptions, one or two and sometimes 3, of the messengers to the annual session of the Association have been members of the Barker family.
The church united with south Elkhorn Association in 1786, and entertained one session of that body in 1789, at which time said association was composed of 13 churches, reporting a membership of 1143. Boone's Creek Church remained a member of the South Elkhorn Association until 1823, when she was one of the constituent churches of Boone's Creek Association, and to which Association she has annually sent a letter and messengers. The church has entertained 11 annual sessions of Boone's Creek Association in the following years: 1824, 1833, 1840, 1851, 1860, 1869, 1878, 1887, 1896, 1906 and 1918.
Pastors
During the 138 years of existence as a church, Boone's Creek Church has been served by more than 36 pastors. Records of the first 26 years have been lost.
| John Tanner | |
|
David Thompson | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Beginning in 1811, the other 34 pastors are as follows: |
| (The year indicates the beginning of pastorate |
| Name |
Year |
|
Name |
Year |
| Jeremiah Vardeman | 1811 | | Wm. Stuart | 1885 |
| Richard Morton | 1817 | | J. Pike Powers | 1888 |
| Enoch Mason | 1822 | | B.P. Johnson | 1890 |
| Geo. G. Boone | 1827 | | L.T. Creek | 1891 |
| John M. Johnson | 1830 | | J.M. Shelburn | 1897 |
| John Dean | 1831 | | J.S. Willson | 1899 |
| Elder Elrod | 1833 | | T.C. Stackhouse | abt. 1903 |
| Edward Darnaby | 1841 | | A.R. Willett | abt. 1904 |
| B.E. Allen | 1842 | | C.L. Graham | 1906 |
| R.T. Dillard | 1862 | | J.W. Campbell | 1909 |
| E.D. Isbel | 1866 * | | Bro. Wellingham | 1912 |
| C.E. Dobbs | 1867 | | Don Q. Smith | 1914 |
| D.B. Ray | 1870 | | E.S. Summers | 1914 |
| John L. Smith | 1873 | | Erbert Summers | 1916 |
| 1878 | | Robert Griffin | 1919 |
| T.V. Riley | 1879 | | John Stallings | 1920 |
| J.C. Freeman | 1879 | | Paul C. Luttrell | 1921-present |
| W.M. Pratt |
1882 |
|
|
|
| |
| * E.D. Isbel resigned in 1866. |
Deacons
Year indicates year ordained:
| Name |
Year |
|
Name |
Year |
| Squire Boone | 1814 ** |
|
J.W. Christian |
1892 |
| Lansfield Burbridge | 1815 | | A.N. Warnock | 1892 |
| David Watts | 1818*** | | .R. arker | 1899 |
| Wm. Grimes | 1826 | | Frank Corum | 1899 |
| Samuel Boone | 1827 | | Joe Lawson | 1915 |
| John Robinson | 1828 | | James Moore | 1915 |
| James C. Berry | 1850 | | n, Deerubg | 1919 |
| James W. Berry | 1858 | | Ed A. Barker | 1920 |
| Thomas F. Barker | 1860 | | James Morton | 1920 |
| Lewis Harris | 1870 | | James Moore | 1921 |
| R.F. Martin | 1879 | | J.N. Strader | 1921 |
| R. Adams | 1879 | | J.B. Harp | 1922 |
| Wm. T. Barker | 1880 | | James Stipp | 1922 |
| |
| ** |
Mentioned as a deacon in 1814. |
| *** |
Previously ordained |
Clerks
(Since 1811)
Year indicates beginning of service
| Wm. Cleveland |
1811 |
| Thadeus Dulin |
1813 |
| Wm. Boone |
1814 |
| David Moore |
1818 |
| Thomas Faulconer |
1821 |
| Grant Watts |
1829 |
| Wm. Gest |
1831 |
| B.E. Allen |
1841**** |
| James C. Berry |
1841 |
| R.L. Berry |
1850 |
| James W. Berry |
1854 |
| Thomas F. Barker |
1858 |
| Hugh F. Barker |
1886 |
| R.R. Barker |
1896 |
| Ed A. Barker |
1907 (Present clerk in 1923) |
| |
| **** |
B.E. Allen (resigned in 1841) |
|
