1768 Horns Creek Church in former Edgefield, now Saluda SC

Horns Creek Baptist Church founded in 1768 was the church of the men and women who fought the Revolutionary War. It is in the neighborhood of Millie Odum's husband Capt. Benjamin Ryan.

The historic church where this marker rests is Horn's Creek Baptist Church. The church, founded in 1768, was the centerpoint of the rural South Carolina religious movement during its time. It was founded by Reverend Daniel Marshall as the first Baptist Church in upstate SC. The marker also speaks of a skirmish near there. In 1781, a group of American soldiers headed by Le Roy Hammond under the command of Captain Thomas Key attacked and defeated a group of Loyalists  under Captain Clark near this marker. Le Roy Hammond founded New Richmond on the Savannah River.  

The roads leading up to this place are logging roads. Be very careful when driving out there. Don't go when it's wet or about to rain. The red clay is quite dangerous. 33° 43.267′ N, 81° 56.183′ W. Marker is in Trenton, South Carolina, in Edgefield County. Marker is on Old Stage Road, on the right when traveling south. Click for map. Marker is to the right of the church's front entrance. The church is located just south of the intersection of Old State and Yarborough Roads (both dirt roads). Marker is in this post office area: Trenton SC 29847, United States of America. 

The church itself is old and abandoned. The building is not kept up and has been vandalized over time, but it's still worth seeing the inside and out.  There are holes in the floor. The cemetery in the back is also in disrepair, but well worth seeing. Some headstones are totally disintegrated, some have just fallen, and some are in perfect shape.  BE CAREFUL that you don't damage anything. The cemetery has excellent iron work including a cast iron gate at the Bettis plot which has a design that incorporates a Palmetto tree flanked by lambs and roses. A wooden fence next to the Bettis plot surrounds fieldstone markers.  

Bettis Rainsford, of the Historical Society, said the society is set to begin construction of a caretaker’s cabin for the church. “We’ve received some recent gifts, one today,” Mr. Rainsford said, “and we should begin building it shortly, within the next few weeks.”  After its completion a restoration project for the church is slated to begin to restore the church to its original condition.

If you go, please report on the state of the creepy RV that's parked on the private property right behind the marker. If you go at night, the RV is the scariest part of the visit. The last two times we visited, we spent most of our time trying to figure out if somebody lives there or not.

1810 Rev. Samuel G. Marsh who married the widow of Capt. Benjamin Ryan Sr 1815. She was born Emelia /Amelia "Milly" Odum who assaulted a man and her husband was sued and had to pay damages. After Capt. Ryan died she married Rev Samuel Marsh but she got shot inside her house while Samuel Marsh was the only one home, but the murder was not solved. She never had children. rev. Marsh quickly married a second widow, the widow of Michael Blocker. if one goes by court records, rev. Marsh was foten sited for mismanagement and absconding with funds. Eventually he went west, as soon as he sold the widow Blocker's estate.

Ropers Crossroads quad. The nearest major town is Meeting Street, SC.

(Photos below taken October 21, 2008  by Brian Scott of Greenville, South Carolina.)

By Brian Scott, October 10, 2008 3. Horn's Creek Church and Marker	By Brian Scott, October 10, 2008 4. Horn's Creek Church and Marker
By Brian Scott, October 10, 2008 5. Horn's Creek Church and Cemetery	By Brian Scott, October 10, 2008 6. Stylized Palmetto Trees Used in Iron Frnce around Burial Plots
By Brian Scott, October 10, 2008 7. Horns Creek Baptist Church - Interior	By Brian Scott, October 10, 2008 8. Horns Creek Baptist Church - Detail of Ceiling Art
By Brian Scott, October 10, 2008 9. Detail of Angel Decorations One is located in each of the four corners of the ceiling.

Bethany Church, now Clarks Hill,, Edgefield, SC

The following information courtesy Baptist Project

Michael Vaugh Sims

3 August 2003

Bethany Church and Republican Church were offshoots of Big Stephens Creek Church and all members of the Edgefield Baptist Association.

My amateur research for the past ten years has centered on the families which migrated from Edgefield to Dallas and Lowndes Counties, AL, and who were members of the Edgefield Baptist Association - - i. e. Carson, Bussey, Mealing, Quarles, Doolittle, Hardy, Day, Grumbles, etc. These families founded new churches in Alabama upon arrival, building a strong cultural tie between Dallas/Lowndes and Edgefield. I feel that the history of the Baptists in Alabama is rooted in the Baptist churches of Edgefield, specifically in Big Stephens Creek Church.

As stated in John A. Chapman's book, History of Edgefield County from the Earliest Settlements to 1897, the Bethany Church of Edgefield Baptist Association was constituted on December 2, 1809, and united itself with the Edgefield Baptist Association in 1810.

(John A. Chapman; History of Edgefield County from the Earliest Settlements to 1897. Elbert H. Aull; Newberry, SC; 1897; reprinted Southern Historical Press; 1976.)


following taken from Mrs. M. L. White and Miss Emmie Sheppard; “Bethany Baptist Church;” Hortense Woodson, editor; History of Edgefield Baptist Association 1807-1957. Edgefield Advertiser Press, Edgefield, SC; 1957; pp. 167-182.

Bethany Baptist Church, located on U. S. Highway No. 378, six miles East of McCormick, S.C., is one of the oldest churches in the Edgefield Association. The following is an exact copy of the early minutes.

“In the year of our Lord 1808, the inhabitants of Coffeetown and Hardlabor Creeks came together and concluded to build a Meeting House at a place nearly central between them. They accordingly proceeded and built it, after doing of which the settlements called the Rev. Amos Dubose to occupy it statedly.

“In the year of our Lord 1809, a revival took place in the congregation and from the encouraging prospects which appeared then, members of Fellowship and Plum Branch Churches, living remote, thought it expedient to be dismissed and form a constitution. Then, accordingly they proceeded and sat the second of December in the same year. They called on the Rev. Enoch Breazeal, Robert March and Amos Dubose to inquire into the circumstances and constitute them should they conceive them ripe for it. They accordingly proceeded, inquired in their circumstances, found them in order and constituted them. A true copy of the certificate is hereunto annext.

“We do hereby certify that the members dismissed from the Fellowship and Plum Branch Church for the purpose of forming a constitution at the Bethany Meeting House being more convenient to them were this day constituted and set in order by us, Dec. 2, 1809 - - Amos Dubose, Enoch Breazeal, Robert Marsh.”

After the church was constituted, two members, Garrett Longmire and John Chiles, were ordained as Deacons of the new church. The eight charter members from Fellowship and Plum Branch Churches were: Garrett Longmire, John Chiles, George Coleman, Elizabeth Barrett, Winnefar Ferguson, Frances Henderson, Frances Davidson, and Abigail Jay. Larkin Cason was first clerk. He served from 1810 to 1829.

The next two years following its organization were fruitful years for Bethany. A revival held during that time brought in 37 new members, and two members - - Washington Belcher and Henry Casper - - were licensed to preach. It was in 1810 also that Bethany joined the Edgefield Association. The first two delegates to the Association were John Chiles and Garrett Longmire.

It is interesting to note that the old church had black as well as white members, the black sitting in a balcony located in the back of the church. Most of the blacks were slaves but a few were free men.

One of the present members of the church relates having heard her grandmother tell the following anecdotes in regard to these colored members. One of the Deacons was serving the communion to the blacks in the balcony and handed it to Old Uncle Pheb, as he was called. Pheb had been asleep and didn’t realize what it was all about, so he took the goblet of wine, drank it all, and then said: “Thank you, boss.” She also said that when the slaves were baptized, they had on such thick white clothes that they were as dry when they come up out of the water as they were before being baptized. Baptisms were performed in Hardlabor Creek at that time.

First pastor -- Rev. Amos Dubose -- 1809-1824

Rev. Amos Dubose served as pastor of the Church from its beginning to 1824. John Longmire was made deacon in 1816 and Edmund Belcher in 1818.

Rev. R. M. Todd -- 1825-1831

Rev. R. M. Todd was called as pastor in 1825 and served until 1831. William Childs was elected clerk in 1829 and served until 1840.

[remainder of history omitted in this transcription -- MVS]

1805 Republican Meeting House - Baptist Church, Edgefield, SC

following taken from Frances C. Miller; “Republican Baptist Church;” Hortense Woodson, editor; History of Edgefield Baptist Association 1807-1957. Edgefield Advertiser Press, Edgefield, SC; 1957; pp. 321-333.

On February 19, 1805, “a part of Big Stephens Creek Church of the Baptist Society, for convenience and other purposes enrolled their names in order and full fellowship to form a Constitution or Church at the New Republican Meeting House, Horn’s Creek, and have also chosen a Presbytery and called them to meet the third of May to look into the State and Standing of the said enrolment and on the day agreeable to appointment meet in order for Constitution.”

Presbytery consisted of Enoch Brezeal; Samuel Cartlege; Sam Marsh, and Jno. Landrum. A total of 47 names appeared on the church roll. They were:

Males: --
George Delaughter, chosen supply
Drury Adams, ordained deacon
Ozias Morgan, ordained deacon
Sam’l Mosley, chosen clerk
Wm. Roberts
Robert Carson
Sam’l Stringer
-----hls? Mims
-----th Devore, Sr.
[James?] Carson, Jr.
Jas. Carson, Sr.
David Quarles
Roger Williams
Jer. Johnston
Mat Devore
Reuben Lee
Martha Stokes
Allen Hawls,
Jesse Flowers
James Delaughter

Females: --
Charity Delaughter
Eliz’th Morgan
Eliz’th Raincroft
Sarah Carson
Mary Carson
Mary Carson, wife of Jas. Carson
Mary Devore
Sooky Mosley
Rebecka Devore
Susanna Watson
Charlotte Lee
Priscilla Murrah
Sarah Stringer, Bap.
Elizabeth Howard, Let.
Amia Collier, Letter
Sarah Adams, Letter


Black Members: --
Math, belonging to Widow Rochs
Catoe and Will, belonging to Mrs. Doolittle
Crase, belonging to Widow Whatley
Cloe, belonging to Henry Ware
Umphrey, belonging to Callitt Garrett
Pompey, belonging to Martin Hill
Charles, belonging to Wm. Garrett
Hannah, belonging to Sister Howard
Old Dug, belonging to James Gardner
Molly, belonging to Stephen Garrett

Clarks Hill Topo Map in McCormick County South Carolina

Colliers quad. The nearest major town is Clarks Hill, SC.

The first business that came before this church was Saturday before the first Sunday in June, 1805. George Delaughter was chosen supply pastor. The first ordained deacons were Drury Adams and Ozias Morgan. The first clerk was Samuel Mosley.

The above notes were all that was left of the earliest records of the church. It is possible that services were held in this building prior to 1805, because there are references to “the New Republican Meeting House” which was given as a land boundary in old land deeds some years before that date. No one seems to know where the name “Republican” originated. Lewis Holloway, an ancestor of the Hammonds, Culbreaths, Prescotts, and others, migrated to this section after the Revolutionary War, and purchased the land surrounding Republican. He and others came here from Brunswick, Halifax, Charlotte, and Lunenburg counties in Virginia. There are towns in those counties which bear the names Republican Grove, Redoak, and Rehoboth. There is also a place called Paces. Rev. Samuel Pace Getzen and Rev. John Pace Mealing, who were pastors of Republican a long time ago, were descendants of the Pace family. It is entirely probable that these names were brought here from Virginian. (Editor’s note: A very plausible reason for the name, as suggested by the church historian, is that the members came originally from Republican Grove and other places in Virginia; that the latter place was so named because of the fact that a New Republic had followed the colonial status after the Revolution, assuring the newly established republic a “Republican” form of government.) [Josiah Lanham migrated to this section from Maryland in 1789.]

At any rate, Lewis Holloway purchased a tract of 385 acres, the plat for which was dated April 17, 1799. Other tracts were described as follows: “That tract whereon Wm. Phillips now resides, - - lying on the South side of the road leading from Cambridge to Augusta, and binding on lands on the South side of P. Pursell, and on the north side by the Republican Meeting House, and on all other sides by land held by W. Lewis Holloway..”

After Lewis Holloway’s death most of this land was sold to George Getzen, who was later related to the Mealings by marriage. It is thought that a deed to Republican Church was given in those days but was never recorded. No record of such a deed has been found.

In August, 1916, the deacons of the church were appointed to make a settlement with Mr. Getzen for the cemetery. Nothing was done until September 12, 1946, when a deed for 4.91 acres was recorded. A plat of a survey of Republican Baptist Church Property was recorded in Plat Book 8, page 25, in the Office of the County Clerk, Edgefield, S. C., September 13, 1946. The land was given by the Drew Mealing family.

We know that Rev. George Delaughter was chosen first supply pastor of the church. There are only a few pages of torn and fragmentary records, so we don’t know too much that happened between 1805 and 1844. Rev. M. M. Abney was pastor at that time, but he was old and in ill health. He served until his death on September 29, 1846. Among those who supplied in his place were Rev. Wm. Bullein Johnson, who was also Moderator of the Edgefield Baptist Association from 1831-1841 and again from 1845-1851, Bro. William Watson, Bro. Joseph Morris, Bro. Robert Walker, Bro. McCan, Bro. Getzen, and Bro. Trapp. [A John Trapp served as Moderator of the Edgefield Baptist Association from 1869-1871.] From the minutes of November, 1846, we find that the church was ordered to meet on Friday before the 4th Lord’s Day - “to fast and offer Thanksgiving to our beloved Father in remembrance of our departed minister and brother, M. M. Abney.”

Rev. Samuel Getzen supplied until Rev. John Trapp was called in February, 1847. Benjamin P. Tillman was clerk at this time. No mention made of a treasurer in those days. Most of the early pastors were large slave and land holders, so they were not dependent upon the churches for support, until after the War Between the States when everyone alike was poverty stricken.

The pastors traveled about, on horseback usually. Each one had a group of churches, and made his circuit about once a month. It was a point of pride, to “put up” the visiting pastor.

Old Uncle Tom Simpkins, who lived to be over a hundred years of age, was once a slave of the Getzen family, and was a member of Republican Church. He loved to tell of being a water boy for the church, carrying water from the nearby spring, entering the church by the “back door” (back where the pulpit now stands.) and placing the bucket of water on a stand just inside the door.

At that time, all slaves were admitted to full membership. They were taught “to praise de Lawd as well as to whup de old Debble.” They were seated in a reserved section of the church, and were regularly called before “Conf’rence,” just as were their white brethren.

The Committee on Discipline, or the Standing Committee, as it was sometimes known, played a very important part in the affairs of the community back in those God-fearing days. Any member who allowed dancing in his home, or became disorderly, or intoxicated, made false statements, or was absent for three successive times, was cited and ordered to appear before the church and make a satisfactory statement, or be expelled. Almost every meeting had someone up before it.

[48 paragraphs omitted from this transcription -- MVS]

Pastors and Officers

Republican Church has been blessed with the services of many good men, including pastors, deacons, treasurers, and clerks. The following list may not be complete; and all the dates may not be accurate.

Pastors

Rev. George Delaughter -- 1805
Rev. Sammie Getzen --
Rev. M. M. Abney -- 1836-1846
Rev. John Trapp -- 1847
Rev. W. A. Gaines
Rev. J. L. Ouzts -- 1887
Rev. Getsinger -- 1888
Rev. E. W. Sammons -- 1889-1892
Rev. John Pace Mealing -- 1892-1893
Rev. John Lake -- 1893-1894
Rev. J. V. Kreps -- 1896-1897

[remainder of pastors, clerks, deacons, and treasurers omitted from this transcription -- MVS]

another church can go here

1837 Primitive and Missionary split described here.

Pintlala, Alabama churches in which Gary Burton writes in the Baptist Studies Bulletin out of Mercer University:

  "Hacking my way through underbrush in the Bethel Cemetery, now owned and restored by the Pintlala Baptist Church, I came upon a flat, rectangular marker that had been totally obscured by mean-spirited vegetation. To my surprise, the marker provided information about a church split: the 1837 regional division between Primitive and Missionary branches of the Baptist family.

  "Finding the marker nudged me into researching the origins and the conflicts of those early Baptist churches. I discovered that the Bethel Baptist Church, no longer in existence, was one of four founding churches in the Alabama Baptist Association (1818-19), and I soon learned that the Bethel marker and three others had been installed in 1923 by the Montgomery Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union. The other church sites included Antioch, Old Elam, and Rehobeth. The installations commemorated the centennial anniversary of the Alabama Baptist Convention.

  "I was now galvanized by a mission to locate the other three markers. Two were found quickly, but the Rehobeth marker required four years of searching in the kudzu of Elmore County. One afternoon I received an unexpected phone call from a friend who knew of my quest. He took his time in leading up to his announcement, and then said, “Gary, I have found the Rehobeth Stone!” His words catapulted me out of my chair with the same euphoria Indiana Jones had when recovering the lost ark. My friend had found the Rehobeth Stone, turned upside down, on an old plantation twelve miles from the original church site."