County's Baptist Association Began in 1863

The Transylvania Baptist Association held its first annual meeting on October 16-18, 1863 at Little River Baptist Church.  Although there were eight churches represented (Bethel, Cathey’s Creek, Little River, Boilston, East Fork, Macedonia, Zion and Pleasant Grove) in this new Association only six attended the initial meeting.  The others were “prevented by high water.”

At this first meeting a Constitution was written, Rules of Order were established and committees and church representatives were appointed.  J.H. Duckworth served as the Moderator; S. Wilson was the Clerk and J. Osborn the Treasurer.  The minutes of this meeting contain a list of ordained ministers including B.E. Chastain and J.H. Duckworth from Cathey’s Creek, E. Allison from Davidson River, and G.W. Mace and J.B. Marsh from Calhoun.  Licentiates were P.H. Kennermore from Cherry Field, J.M. Hamblen from Cathey’s Creek and E.M. Anderson from Calhoun.

The annual meetings were held in mid-October at a different church each year.  By 1875 the Association consisted of 24 churches located in Transylvania County, western Henderson County and northern Greenville County, SC.  However, by 1920 it was made up of only Transylvania County churches.

In 1918 the annual meeting was cancelled after “the Board of Health for Transylvania County issued an order prohibiting all public gatherings… for the purpose of preventing the Spanish influenza from assuming an epidemical form.”  They did publish a report though.

Rocky Hill Baptist, 1896

The Library has copies of the reports from the meeting for 1863, 1864, 1865, 1875, 1886, 1889, 1892, 1893, 1895, 1896 and 1903-1946 (except 1905).  While there is not an index to the reports there are a lot of names of church leaders, ordained ministers and licentiates.   From 1907 through 1920 the names of church members who had passed away during the year were listed, sometime there was also a brief obituary.

The 1911 and 1916 minutes include a history of “The Founding of the Baptist Cause” in Transylvania County.

General locations of churches, financial information, new member churches and churches disbanding, church construction projects are included.  There are reports from the Thomasville Baptist Orphanage, the Temperance Committee, the Baptist Hospital (including a few mentions of locals treated there) and the  B.Y.P.U. (Baptist Young People’s Union).

Turkey Creek Baptist, Homecoming 1920

There are also random tidbits of information such as, “The churches of Dunn’s Rock and Toxaway were dropped from the Association on account of drunkenness in their members” in 1896.

For family researchers who ancestors were connected with one of Transylvania’s early Baptist churches it may be worth digging through some of these early reports.  Your grandfather may have been a delegate, committee member or contributor.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.