.. • I'IJ•

CONCORD CHURCH HISTORY

WRITTEN BY MRS. ROSA ORR, ~951

)

1 /91.

•

In the year 1842 a preacher began coming on horseback and

sometimes on foot from Trion Georgia to East Armuchee Valley

to bring the gospel to the p ople who had settled in this valley.

The only pay he received was feed for his horse and the hospi­

tality of the homes while there. I have been told it was Rev.

Reter Cartwright, he was working for the Lord and had a desire

to help the people who lived here. Rev. Henrey Cosper had moved

to East Armuchee Valley from South Carolina. The place now owned

by B.A. puryear W!:iS the Cosper home •

Concord Church was organized in 1844. The word Concord means 10­ I J!-)

unity and harmony. It is one of the oldeltt churches in Walker v

County, Georgia. It is on the Subligna Charge,. Dalton District,

North Georgia Conference; located 2 miles from Vil!anow and i.

1. mile south of the Dalton LaFayette Highway.

The first building was of loge which was about 2o'by 20 ft.

It was used for a school BOO se too. Some of the people who were

instrumental in the early life of Concord Church were Cosper, Rainey,

Tate,Calloway, Kennemer, Griffin, Puryear, Hampton, Brock, Eaton"

Harris, Moore, Pope and Hamilton. This house Was large enough for

the worShip service until 1851 when the people began to see the need ~

for a new church building. Rev. Henry Cosper gave to the church two

acres of lan~n which the log house stood at that time. The deed

recites that for "good considerations" the land is granted to have and

to hold in trust for the ministers and members of the Methodist Epis­

copal Church" Sooth,. as a pl3.ce of worshi.p~ This deed was dated May 28,

1851. The following names were on this deed. WIn.D.Ta.te, Charla e

l? Harris, Jlmoe Griffin, WIn. M· Puryear, John A. Tate, Thomas Griffin

and was signed by Henry Cosper. In 1851 the congregation erected a large .",/

two story-building to be used as a church and u. Masonic Hall.

This new two. story building was used for headquarters for one of the

generals of the Confederate Army. The guns were stacked on the first

floor while the men kept a quiet vigil from the upper hall. The

sentinals were on the out side.

Rev. Henry Cosper died in 1853 and was laid to rest in Concord

Cemetery. He did not have a long life but he did things that have lived

on and ble ssed East Armuchee Valley. Many people h~va wor shipp-ed

God at Concord and received spiritual blessings.

In 1855 the trustees of the church bought 12 more acres of land

from the administrators of the Rev. Cosper estate,. making 14 acres in all.

The names on this deed are Jesse O. Kennemer, Amos Griffin, Danson

Brown and JIBes T. Rainey, who were the administrators and church·

trustees. The price paid for the 1.2 acres of land was $68.

Soon after the establishment of the church, a camp ground was

laid out. Annually, till the days of the Civil War,. Ii. camp meet­

ing was held at this place. A large arbor was erected with sill.

and braces all hewn from oak logs. It was 60 by 90 feet. The

boards were ri ved from the oak tree s to make a ro of • In 1900 it

was covered a new but it was let go and not a peiee is to be found today.

J'l"

Feople came from far and near to attend these meetings. The

crowds were often estimated at 1500 people. Houses and tents were

built to accomodate those who cam. to camp. These houses contained

s1.eeping roans, porche. and passageways and were quite comfortable.

Long rows of these houses were built, mostly of log,s. Cooking ,.;:J1d

eati.n.g was done mostly in the open. The vi sitors 1;U1d strangers were

given a hearty welcome and asked to eat. Great numbers of horses, oxen,

wagons and carts were present. One person rematked "yonder canes Pap with ~,

tho se oxen right through the camp ground". Tho tie Who did not have tent s

would use tbeir covered agons. The preachers stayed and slept in the

church. Mrs. Callie Hamilton Dobson recalled how as a little child.

she ould help get the church ready for the preachers. Many of the

old-time gospel pre ....chers attended these meetings. I would like to

mention here such characters 1:1.8 Simon Peter Richardsonf' Tan Simmons,

Joe Abb Louie, Dickey Harwell, Pr 'ding Elder Thigmen, Dr. Felton,

Hickman and J .L.. perryman. The se old preachers spoke with such force

and power !J.l'ld with wch heart-felt unction that,. not only were

Chri stians made to rejoice .. but many s:lllners were made repentant and

converted from their evil ways. At eight 0' clock in the morninG the

lu.dies via 10. h, v theie grove meeting near the cemetery. TBey wouldI,. sing and paay with many good te&timonies given and often there were

prai se. and ho.llelujah s heard in the se services. It has been told

to me that the shouting we:uld begin at the grove meeting and cClntinue

until the three 0' c~ock service. Aunt Cindy Griffin and Aunt Nellie

Bewman were sisters and they would get happy in the grove meeting and '.

go back to the camp ground mooting. t: ..:.:::

- -

Their brother Uncle Needham Kennemer woul meet them. Aunt Cindy II

would take one of his hands and Aunt Nellie the other,. they would go

Qff into the preaching serviees shouting the praises of God. There

was a dozen or more shouting at the same time. Uncle Needhcm KennEmer

would get do.wn to pray and ri se shouting. Fe would be in the field plowing

and get eo happy. He was a man with a rich Christi.i.n experience

whQ exercised his faith in God. Rev. Tom Simmons was a great singer

as well as a good preacher. It would make anyone hfl.ppy to hear him.

I wculd not leave out Rev. Lowery. Back, in those days W. T. Hamilton \'/-.5

was called to preach while a member of Conco.rd Church. He served the

the Swnnerville Circuit and attended camp meeting while pastor there.

The spiritual awakening from powerful lBermo.n s leading to a re­

newal of consecration in the Christian liv 6 of the people, the adily Bible

readings~ for many could not read, the holy conversations and the

fellowshi.p were source 6 of great religiou s power~ in the very early history of

alker County.

Uncle Ezekiel Harris said one time in a testimony meetilil.g "my wife

and I both had better not come, so I told her to stay at home and let

me come~ that there was no danger of her falli.ng from grace". He was

a wonderful old man; the grandfather of our pastor M.L. Harri of 1903.

Uncle Jake Harris was shouting one day and said. "Glory to God, I'm glad

I am a Methodist. How could it be otherwise, when.! was raised on Metho­

di st mi lk'l"

Theme camp meeting2 were held in September beginning Friday

before the third SUnday, holding until the following iednesday.

The prayer .ervice on ednesday was a service to be remembered.

They would return home with their sould fed from the word to talk of the

great experiences, and to long for the next annual meeting. One

lady said, I1I always looked forward to Christian Camp Meeting and

Christmas. They had rushed around getting fodder pulled, peas picked

in order to be caught with tbeir work EO they could be present. The

sweet pote.toes must be dug and washed, beans, peas, roasting ears and

cabbage gathered. I would like to, mention here tha.t I was told that

you could snell cabbage cooking across the CaJllP ground" It cGe to

my mind how di stasteful to God the odo. of the burnt offerings were

but I knew the odor of the cabbage was ont held again at those who

came with clean hand s and pure heart. I will get back to the work

that must be done. The cows must be milked more carefully to have

plenty of extra milk and butter. Sane carried their cows with them and

others turned the calf with the cow. A friend that. could not go wculd

look after the things left at home. A hog mu st be called up out of the

mountains to be butchered, a beef killed, also a goat, and a sheep.

The women must be busy baking old fashioned light bread, sweet bread,.

ginger bread and stacks of pies. Those who had more of the worlds

goods would Ehara with others t-o help thEm get ready for the camp

meeting. There was extra green coffee to roast in the oven before the fire.

It took care to roast it even and good. The nights had begun to ge cool

so the food would keep for several dJlJ.s. Those saints of old were not

/'17

there for food to sustain the body but there to get their souls re­

kindled with the spirit of the Lord for days ahead. The cold winter

was coming, those who lived in remote secti~n6 could not get to church

in bad weather. Some peo~le did not have suitable clothing for oold

weather.

The camp meetings were discontinued during the Civil War. But

after peace was established they reorganized and continued until

1892. I VD~uld like to mention some of those who attended and camped at

Concord Camp Ground. Uncle Tommi e Griffin. and Aunt Cindy,. Juno 8 Griffin

and family, Needham Griffin and fami1y, Billy Griffin and Family, Henry - r , • .. •

Griffin. and family, E.R. Hamiltona and family,. Jim Hamilton and family,

Johnny Tate and family and Au"- Sarah, Pinkney Tate and familym John John Rainey and family, Tom Rai~ey and family,William Puryear and

faxnily , Sam Brown and family, Rj P. Neal and family, A. H. Neal and

family,. Edward BQJl1ar and famil.y, I.N· • Keown and family, D. N. Jrrice,

Mary C. Snith,. J .A. E.tlton, B.C. Gray, Hannah Brock, Dr. Adwn Clement

C~vender, H, G. Moore, and James Shahan.

¥. E. Looney used the school hou se for her tent.. Many tthers

used covered wagons.

Dr. Adam Clement and family attended the meetings. His family was

great in the service thc.t it gave to the country. Dr. li160n Clement

made hi s home in Subligna and practi ced medicine until a real old

man. He was always a friend to the pastor of Subligu. Charge. Hon.

Jud~n Clement was Congressnan for yaars. There were others of the

family who had a part in the earlier days. The Cavender family was

a part of the camp meeting people. Mr. Joe Cavender would come

to the Quarterly Conference in later d ys and enjoy the fellowship on

Saturday. He was a friend to the poor.

Rev. Reese Griffin wrote that he was carried to Concord Camp

meeting when he was a baby and then he related an experience he had one

SUnday afternoon when he Was six years 01. A eervice was being held

for children. L.A. Snow was pastor at this time. After the talk he asked all

the children present who wanted to give their heart s to come forward and b

give his their hands. Rev. Griffin started and fell in the straw be­

fClre he reached R • Snow. His heart was made expeessi.bly happy. He A

shouted the praise s of God. I am impressed to mention the conversion

of Emma Brock Bowman back in those days. She stepped up on the bench saying

"I am nothing but a little child but I lo-ve Jewell.

In 1882 the two- story church building llaS torn down and a new

It building erected in it s place which wa remodled in 1907.

At the fourth Quarterly Conference in 1878 Concord Church property

was valued at 500. The pastor was paid 45. by thi s church. In 1871

they promised to pay 15. to missi.one. This was a emall salary byt people

did not have very much mm.ey. The con of living was down in compari son with

the sal~. There have been many answere given why the camp meeting stopped.

One said lithe people were too po or tc take care of the preachers". Another said,

'Sone apple brandy Was being made to sell during the meeting. In 1892 the

last meeting" a man frClm Dalto'n maned Longley started to drive acress

the grounds. Mr. SUrrett was bailiff, he tried to sto.p him but he persisted to

go on anyway. The bailiff picked up a piece of plank and stopped

him very effictively. The singing, praying .nd preaching was pleasing

to God but the devil had to get in his \York. On iednesday morning,- 1892

1

the last Conc<lrd Camp h eeting came to a close with a prayer service

before they returned to their homes. I hope tha.t thi s place may be

used for Camp Meetings again if God wills it so.

Joel Couey, a great chri stian layman and te cher was a. great help in the church. He loved to sing"one of his favorite songs was liThe Half Has Never Yet Been Told". He was local preacher. He was

loved by old and young. Mrs. Fletcher Snith would sing Ills Not This The Land

Of Beulah". Such songs mean so much in a worship service. She was the mother

of Rev. H. S. Smith.

Rev. • F. Quillian was presiding elder in the year 1885. He was a

forceful preacher. One of his sermons on the ChriWtian home and fctmily is

full of instructions to follow even now.

Fletcher" alton was another great preacher of 1890.

In 1896 Miss. Lucy Puryear and Mrs. M. F. Pope belonged to the Sub-

ligna Charge Eissionary Society. The class leaders for 1896 wa James Hegwood

E. F. Bowman and J. T. Rainey. The church roll had re chad a high of

96 members at thi s time.

One day after a te stimony meeting Esq. E.F. BOllman said III am not in

a hurry to leave thi s world for I am better acquainted down here". When

I cannot say,

Beneath the pressure of life's c es to-day,

I joy in these;

But I can say

That I had rather w' k thi s rugged way"

If Him it please.

E.F. Bowman was superintendent of the Sunday School~ tru stee and

steward for several years. He was a christian gentleman and a useful citizen.

I vo..-uld like t() give a list of the Sunday School supts. James

T. Rainey, Charles H. Phillips, James M. Roper, John Puryear, James

w. Hegwood, .P. Tate" M. T. Kennemer, H.H. 'orrison, • H. Gray,

S e 01. the older Sunday School teachers should be mentioned. Mrs. Betty

Rainey Hegwood" Mrs. Paly Puryear Myers, Mi S8 Sarah Tate, and there are

many more who deserve mention.

The Literary School was in session during the revival. The teachers

were always ready to cooperate. I will mention some of the teachers.

Columbus Kennemer, Henry .alraven, Harvey Keown, \ alty Keown,- Joel Couey,

M.L. Keith, _.N•. organ, 1.iss Jennie Johu~u".,prof.Giles, Hammontree girls

and many others.

Singing V1~ s an iJ:lportant part in the church. The people would moet .1.

night, line up the hymns ..nd sing getting ready for the Sunday afternoon

sin ings. The Brocks, Kermemers,. Hag,voods, Uorg an :nany others

'1ereinterested in usic. In 1.900 the firlrl. organ wa.s bought. orne 0:£

the people thou~ht the church was making a milrl.ake,~hen they put a mus­

i.cal instrtllDent in the church. It bothered some about singing at first

but it ~as alri.ght when they 01. used to it. ~Jhen there would be no one

to play the old songs ~ould ring out strong from tho se who wanted to

sing without music. T· s organ W3.S sold to Mr. Conley and Dolores Roper

Sllith boo ght a new organ f 0 the church. It W.;I.S U sed until 1942 w'h en

B.F. Childs raised meney to b~he piano that is now in use. 'I'he Sunday

dterno()n singings were extra good for ye s. I would like to mention tL., :: .f~:l~l.

the f ithfuJ.ness of Mrs. Ludie Bohannan Brown in playing the organ. Prof.

oody Love taught a large singing school ate'the church in 1910. The

lalker County Singing Convention w~s held here in 1910. Peo 1e seamed

to be happy.

HoVi many would be members of the church today if the old rule l'Las

followed?

It was a' rule to remove the name of tI. person from the church roll

if he or she did not uttend or support the church. Rev. Granvill ainey

grandson of Esq. J3lIIes Rainey, rel:.l.ted how his name was rernoved wiile

he was off working ~nd going to school.But he was reinstated when he re­

turned. He was called into the mini strymd preached at Concord many times,

In 1.9Q he owne back to visit :tnd conducted the Quarterly Conference for

Rev. Thrailkill. A large crowd crone to give him Co. hearty welcome. e is V

in the South Georgia cQnference and has been pastor of ulberry street ~

Church in Macon Georgia; and has held many important appointment B. Rev.

Horace FreElllan lived in thits cOImllunity. He held a meetin.g in this church

while hi s parent s lived here. Hi s father was converted during thi 5 meeting.

One Text he used vias, "What wait I For My Hope Is In Thee". He is a member

of the ,touth Georgia Conference and astor of st. Paul fjethodist Church

in Columbus, Georgia. He has been a member of five General Conferences.

In 1907 Rev. J. S Rawls came as pastor. He did excellent work for the

few months God permitted him to live on the charge.- He was taken ill with

spinal mingitis and died April 4, 1908. He was lfdd to rest in Concord

Cemetery. C. S. Martin came to take his place and carryon the work. The

church was more spiritua! than it had been for some time. N. A. Parsons

cwn.El to help in the revival. Souls were eaved and backsliderd reclaimed.

The church would be filled on regul8I preaching days. The young people

were in their pl.aces.md loved the church. Peopl.d of all denominations

liked to come back to the camp ground. I will give you, some of the families

you would see in the services. Holcombe,. Grays, Morgans,Hegwoods,. \fyatts,

Morrisons" Morris', Shaw.,. Bohannans, Kirks, Kwnnerners, Reeds" Sheltons, ilsons,

C~eghornB, Nortons" Tates and McClure".

It was suggested that a marker be piaced near the church in memory of Rev. Henry

Co sper. The money W/::l.S contributed and I aude Peter son ...u.ken Vl17Dte a short sketch

of hi s life and u. part of the early church hi story.

~llii~e i.S. Norton s pastor in ~912 Rev. Sappington was pastor at

Summerville. He came to help in the reviVUe It was real1.y a revival.

The church members were refre~led and renewed.

In 19~8 the trustees sent a report to uarterly Conference that rea.d

as follows; .. ~e have a warrantee deed to 14 acres of land. Church building is

in fairly good condition. Value of the land ~nd building, ~OOO.Deeds recorded in

Deeds recorded in LaFayette, signed, A.H. Holcomb. (Value of Property 1950, 4000/

w. D. Feterson loved·Concord Church dnd was faithful in supporting )

it wih his means.

The Rev. J .II. Couch was pastor in the early 20' s. He wnated more roem

at the parsonage. The parsonage trustees got busy to build an addition.

Concord's part was$125. The timber on the church ground was sold to pay

thi s bill... Repair work h1.:l.8 been done on the church at different time s. The

outside of the church Was painted while G.D. Erwin was pastor. Some work

was done on the inside in 1950. Lights were putfin last year,. 1950, :t a cost

of 100. dollars.

steps and underpinning J.~ eing done this year, 1951. For several years there had not been a Sunday Schooe. Mrs. E. A.

Puryear" Lee H. Conley,. Mr. -nd Mr s. B.F. 6hi~ds ::ll1d Mr. and Mrs. T. J.

Hegwood and fami~y saw the need of a Sunday School in the community. They soon

had 6 on ro1~. verage attendance was 30. Collection for a year was $75.

Mr. Claude Tate helS been a great help in the Sunday School and church. E.A.

l?uryear has been ready and willing to help that the church grounds might

be improved. There are many others that have helped. This should be a

soul winnil:l..g fttation for many years to come. Several. p~ors that have come and

gone thought the church would have to be dropped because people would not come

and we the members were too poor to pay sufficient s lary. The partors salary

last year was only 150, that is snall but I am thankful for a p stor that

rq i dhas not complained. The amount £r1s&~ for pastor, benevolences, conference

claims,. bishops fund, was 85.60 with $20 for Golden Cross.

Concord Cemetery is on if the old burying grounds. Many have been laid to

rest here. Rev. Hohn Clemons, A Baptist Mini ster who was converted during c .

camp meeting days is laid to rest here. Prof. Greene, Rev. J.S. Riwls,.

Dr. nd Mrs. Johnson, Hamptons, Trarillians, Prof Giles" Raineys, Ragwoods,.

Pope s, Keowns" Morgans, D. N. Price and wife and the Tates.

I will give a list of the pastors and Presiding Elders from 1870,

Pastor Presiding Elder

1870 Samual L. Price H.J. Adams 71 .1. B. McFarland G.J .Pierce 72 W.R. Branham II II

73 S.D. Evans R.W. Bigham 74 G.~ .Thomas " " 75 J. B. McFarland D.J .Myrick 76 W. L. Yarbrou gh II "

77 E.B. Reese Alexander m. Thigpen 78 1111 It

" II

79 R. P. Martin II II

80 J. A Shackleford W.A. Parks 8~ Mark Edwards It II It It

82 .. It II It

83 T. J. Edwards F. Mixon 84 George T. King f .F. Quillian 85 .. II II It

86 Sam. B. Ledbetter It It

87 L.N. Snow II "

88 T. S. Edwards J.M. Low!!'. Y 89 F .L.R.anith II "

1892 93 94 95 95 97 98 99

1900 01 ~2 03M. 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 ~9

20 2l 22

L.D. Coggins II II

.R. Kennedy It II

J.N· Myers II II

C. H. Hartman II II

J. B: Russe~

~alter Millican

" " L. Harris

J. a. Sprayberry II II

It II

J. S. Rawls C. S. Mattin J. T. Pendley I. J. Lovern

L. B. Hughes ~. S. Norton

II II

'Ii'. E. Thurm!Ul A. E. Silvey

II II

J. B. Gresham Nelson Hinsley J. B. Legg J. H. Couch

II II

II II

23.24 V.A. Roark 25.26 R.O. Johnson 27.29 Odum Clark 30.32 V. J. Taylor 33.34 J. B stephensQn 35. G.T. Sorrells 36 Cullen B. Jones 37.46 G.D. Erwin, 47 J .R. Thomp son 48 R. J. Donald son 49.51J.F. Gladney

w. C. Dunlap II II

H.J. Admmll II II

II II

II "

A. iliams• II II

B.P. Allen II II

II II

Ford McRee II II

II II

II II

{. P. Lovejoy " " II II

II II

T. J. Chri'St.ian .T. Irvine

" II

" II

Sam B. Ledbetter II II

" " " " II II

Jno. Yarbrough II II

It II

Harris II

Frank Quillian 11 11

1111 II

A. M. Pierce II II

J. S. Thrailkill c&ELIl. m. Lipham

II II

Peter anni~ II II

The homecaning day held each year on the 4th Sunday in May i. a

good day of fellowship. The church has a membership of 37 but if each of us ·.c~16

us would do our be st a great work could be accompli shed. prayer will change things.

The new co,nsolid~ted school is only a short distance away. e are

hoping for thi s to be a help to the church.

Those who helped in getting up the information should be mentioned here.

Mrs. Carl Warnock, Mrs. Emma Jackson, T. H. Moore, J. S. Bomar, Rev. Reese

Griffin, Mrs. Nina Eaton was very helpful by sending the ddress of Mrs.

Callie Hamilton Dobson. She gave such a thrilling account of the good 9flf

old days when lile lived in Georgia. She is 83 years oId and her home is

in Childre S8 Texa.s.