Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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NEWS-SUN-CITIZEN — TRICENTENNIAL EDITION Newberry County, S. 0., November 12, 1970 Sf. Luke’s Lutheran Church Was Organized In 1828 Wesleyan Methodism Came To Whitmire In 1916 Wesleyan Methodism came to Whitmire in the year 1916, when the Rev. John Hames erected a Gospel tent at the intersec tion of Broome Street and Rail road Avenue, at the site that is now Cody Owens trailer park. After a successful meeting a Wesleyan MethodistChurchwas organized. As our records of the times are incomplete we do not have a complete record of all the charter members, but a- mong those that joined at the time were, Miss Annie Mary King (Malone), Mr. J. T. Gas- king, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Helmns, Rev. M. C. King, Mrs. Sallie Crocker. Rev. D. 0. Pow ers came as the first Pastor of the new church and continued until his death in 1937. As there was no church build ing at this time and no pros pects for one soon, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Crocker, pened their doors at 411 Grant Street for services. Another person that came to Whitmire at this time, a per son whom many loved and most every one knew, Mrs. Maner Maclderath Shelton (a widow). She came to play for Rev. Hames in the tent meeting, and became acquainted with Mr. Bob Reid, whom she later mar ried. After his death she seem ed to adopt Whitmire as her family, sharing the joys and sorrows of the people until her death about 1958. About 1919 the first church building was erected in the same location as the present one, at Broome and Ducket. There was very little money available and the chprch was built in part if not all with voluntary labor. As the work ing schedule at the mill was 10 hours a day and five hours on Saturday, the members and friends of the church would ga ther after work to build the church. After the Church building was erected, a Sunday School was organized with Mr. J. T. Gas- king as Superintendent, Mr. E. M. Lackey, Song Leader, Mrs. Maner Reid, Organist, Miss Pauline Crocker, Secretary Also, there was a Wesleyan Missionary Society organized with Mrs. Sophie Darby as Pre sident, and a Y.M.W B., with Mrs. Ida Price as Superintend ent. In the beginning the church was a small one room building, but as time went on the church continued to grow, both in the size of the building and in mem bership. At the time of the death of the Pastor, Rev. D. 0. Pow ers in 1937, there had been se ven Sunday School rooms added to the building. At the death of Rev. D. 0. Powers, Rev. L, W. Barbee came as Pastor and continued until 1940, at which time he felt the call to evangelistic work and resigned. During the pastorate of Rev. Barbee, a parsonage was bought and the Church Building was re novated inside and the outside was brick-veneered. Under the supervision of Rev. Barbee, Rev T. B. Rhoades, Rev. W. M. Crocker, and Rev. M. C. King organized a Wes leyan Church atWattsville, with Rev. M C. King as the first pastor. The Rev. J. D. Scoggin came as pastor in 1942 and served until 1942. Rev. C. T. Bryant served as pastor through the war years of 1942 until 1947, at which time he excepted a call to the First Wesleyan Church (College Church) at Central. The Rev. W. S Allred came in 1947 and continued until 1951, after which Rev. A. L. Vess came and served until 1953. In 1953 Rev. E. L Alexan der came to Whitmire and shortly thereafter the Church entered into a buildingprogram to build a new Church Building. “On October 11, 1958 at 2:30 p.m., marked another day of a- chievement for the First Wes leyan Church of Whitmire. A group of church members and friends gathered at the site of the new church sanctuary and brake the ground and dedicated it to the glory of God and the furtherance of His Kingdom. The service seemed most fitt ing as it could only have been possible by the help of God and the co-operation of the people.” The Rev. E. L Alexander con tinued in Whitmire until 1963, at which time he accepted a call to the First Wesleyan Church in Central» Rev. W. S. Allred returned for his second pastorate in 1963 and continued until February of 1967, at which time he resigned, and the Rev. C. R. Tegen came as interim pastor to serve un til Conference time in July. Rev. Marvin Quarles came as pastor in July 1967, and is serving until the present. The highlights of events since Rev. Quarles became pastor was the merger of the Wesleyan Me thodist Church of America, (of which we wore a part) and the Pilgrim Holiness Church in 1968. At which time the name was change from The Wesleyan Methodist Church to “The Wes leyan Church." The morgageon the Church was paid off in Jan uary of 1969, and a Parsonage Building - Fund was begun. In November of 1969 the construc tion of the new parsonage was begun. In March of 1970 the Pastor and family moved into the new parsonage, which is located on the Newberry High way. Prior to the turn of the cen tury there was a beautiful grove that almost covered four blocks. These lots bordered on O’Neal Street, Boundary Street, and Langford street. The large pal atial home almost in the cen ter was the home of the late Dr. Gilder, the extra large grove in this spot was known as Leavell’s Grove. This large space was also used for cir cus show grounds. Since the recent building program this space now has four streets that did not exist some thirty years ago. In this space there are now about forty homes. This Leavell’s Grove was once used for an unusual event. In the early part of the summer of 1894 a man by the name of Rev. Pierce ‘Mike’ Kinard of Epworth, S. C. conducted a tent meeting in this grove. The tent was on the O’Neal street side and at the conclusion of this meeting there were thirt een persons that binded them selves together and petitioned The Presiding Elder,a Rev. Harmon, of the Cokesburv Dis trict to grant them the privi lege of organizing a Methodist Church. The petition was granted and a minister by the name of the Rev. S.A. Nettles was assigned as the first pas tor. The first place of worship was a little one room school house that stood where the New Educational Building now stands. At that time Central Methodist Church was known as the First Methodist Church and the new church was known for a short while as The Second Methodist Church and The First Metho dist was in watch care for the new church for a while. The thirteen charter members were Miss Louise Lyles, Miss Minnie Lyles, Miss Hattie Vaughn, Miss Ophelia Vaughn, Mrs. Frank Hampton Jones, Mrs. Minnie Jones, Mrs. Nettie Jones Mrs. Sarah Jane Davis, Mrs. Martha Isabella Thornton, Mr. Judge Rice Thornton, Mr. John Henry Chappell, Mrs. Mary Prince Chappell, Mr. Frank Baxter. The present member ship now exceeds 400. The list of ministers once serving O'Neal street were Rev. S.A. Nettles, 2 year, Rev. W.B. Verdin 6 months, Rev. John W. Speake (Who built the first church) 3 1/2 years, Rev. B. D. Lucas (Who later went as a missionary to China) 1/2 Bev. E.T. Adams (A direct relation of a former U.S. Pres.- ident) 2 1/2 years, Rev. G E. Edwards 2 years, Rev. John Henry Graves 2 years; (The church just recently torn down was built during the time that Rev. Graves served, he also received the honor of having a street named for him, the street was later changed to Charles Street., Rev. J.B. Kilgore, 2 years, Rev. John T. Miller, 2 years, Rev. Will C. Kelly, 2 years, Rev. A.M. Gardner, 2 years, Rev. Gobe Smith 2 years, Rev. Ben. L. Knight 2 years, Rev. R.F. Cogburn, 2 years Rev. W'.F. Gault, 4 years, Rev. R.O. Webb, 4 years, Rev. J.E. Brown, 1 year, Rev. M.A. Cleckley, 2 years, Rev. J.E. Merchant 4 years, Rev. M.M. Brooks,5 yrs.,Rev. N.K.Polk, 4 years, and the Rev. C. F. DuBose, Jr, 5 years, Rev. J.W. Tomlinson 4 years, Rev. John W. Davernport 4 years, Rev. P aul Petty, 4 years, Rev. M.B. Fryga, 4 years, Rev. Hoyt Graham 2 1/2 years, Rev. El bert Johnson 1 1/2 years. The church was known as O'Neal Street MethodistChurch South until 1939 when it became united and was then known as O’Neal Street MethodistChurch In 1968 and to-day it is known as O’Neal Street United Metho dist Church. The church has gone through phases of remod eling and adding Sunday School rooms. The most extensive being when Rev. W. F. Gault was Pastor, later again when Rev. M.M. Brooks was Pastor. O’Neal Street has many records of service to its cre dit, under Pastor Gobe Smith the very first Boy Scout troop in Newberry was organized in the year 1913. The church has sent seven ministers out into the ministry, three ladles have become wives of ministers. Two of its members have served the City of Newberry as mayor and four have served as aldermen. The church has always been well known as having an out standing choir and had the very first electric organ to come to Newberry County. The church also has had a very outstanding Women Society of Christian Service and also has a Meth odist Men’s Club. It has for many years had great interest in its’ youth programs. To-day it has three fourths of a block on O’Neal Street with its New Parsonage, New Edu cational Building and just re cently a new sanctuary. Each building is modern in every respect with modern heating and air conditioning. In 1826 a Missionary Com mittee of the Synod of Lutheran Churches in South Carolina was appointed to preach, to help ne edy and destitute churches and to organize other churches. Rev. J. G. Schwartz was one of the travelling missionaries for the Synod and organized the congregation that was to become St Luke’s in 1828. The meet ing at which this organization took place was known as the Baptist Meeting House, located about two miles southeast from the present qjmrch building. Evidently it was used by all people of the neighborhood as a place for Sunday School, prayer meeting and preaching service when an itenerant preacher came along. In 1830, a small plain church building was built on land given by John Enlow which is the present site. The earliest available record of the congregation is dated February 2,1832 and shows Rev. Jacob Moser as pastor and a list of eighty members. The Rev. William Berley served St. I.uke’s as Pastor while teaching at the Lutheran Seminary at Lex ington. In 1845 under his pasto rate the church building was re placed with a larger one and the materials in the old building sold to Colony Luthern Church, also organized under the min istry of Rev. Berley. The new church was built with a gal lery for slaves to sit during the service. The door that led to the gallery was known as “Aunt Lucy’s Door* named after one of the best known slaves. During the time from 1845 until slavery was abolished, St. Lukfs had a membership of 38-40 slaves. While pastor at St. Luke’s Rev. Berley also organized Grace, Prosperity. After Rev. Berley’s resignation, Rev. T. S. Boinest became Pastor of St. Luke’s and Colony, but because of his interest in and work with Luther Chapel (the presentRe- gyU deemer, Newberry), he re signed to devote full time to Luther Chapel. The dark days of the Civil War seemed to have a great effect on St. Luke’s. As there was no pastor, Rev. Smithdeal, Pastor of Grace, Prosperity, and Rev. Boinest of Newberry performed pastoral duties for the congregation. In 1869, the synod grouped churches into pastorates. St. Luke’s, Colony and Grace formed Pastorate No. 13 and was served by Rev. Jacob Hawkins. He was a son of St. Luke's congregation and his parents were charter members of the Church. I t is interest ing to note that he (Rev. Jacob Hawkins) was born in 1828, the year St. Luke’s was organized. Three times he was pastor of his mother church and died while her pastor in 1895. He was a writer of rare ability, author Grace Lutheran Church Was Organized In 1859 O’Neal St. Methodist Church Has Grown From 13 Members To Over 400 In 1859 in Frog Level (Now Prosperity) Newberry County, South Carolina, situated on the line of Greenville and Columbia Railroad, a Lutheran Congre gation was organized. Two par cels of land were deeded in trust to the Rev. William Berly: one parcel on December 28, 1857 and a second on Feb. 6, 1858. At the annual convention of Synod, which convened on Oct 27, 1859, the Rev. Samuel Bouk- night, President, reported: ‘Sometime in the month of September, I received a letter from the Rev. W. Berly, stating that he had succeeded in having a church erected in the Town of Frog Level, in Newberry District and that it had been dedicated to the service of God, on the fourth Sunday in August by the name and title of “New- ville*. This was certainly a wise and timely effort for that place, as it is surrounded by a population whose feelings have been identified with our church. This being a central point affords facilities from every direction and must therefore always command a large con gregation.* His words have been fully justified by the achievements of this Congregation during all its History. Many of the min isters, laymen and laywomen have been prominent in the life of the Lutheran Church and many historical events have taken place within its doors. The first Church structure was torn down and a new edi fice erected in 1878 at a cost of $850.00. This church was dedicated on October 2, 1878, and received the name anu title of “Grace Church*, which name the present church bears in this the 111th. years of its existence. In 1907 the present church edifice was started. The cornerstone was laidNovember 21, 1907 and the building de dicated May 1,1910. The roll of early organizers contains the following names: David Kibler, Mrs. Mary Kibler (David), Mrs. Elizabeth Maffett Lang C. Kibler, John Duncan, Mary J. Shealy, C. Adeline Shealy, Nancy C. Shealy, A.A. Kibler, Dr. A.G. Kibler, Luther Long, John Bailey, Martha Ma this (Kibler), Ella Dicker!, M. Jane Boozer, James William Werts, J. A. Kibler, J. M. Kibler^Mrs. Margaret Bowers, William Bridges, Mrs. Joseph Mathis, Mrs. James C. Maffett Mrs. Ann Kibler, Miss Jeho- sheba Kibler, Miss Terza L. Kibler, Mrs.SarahSpence, John Simpson, John Maffett, Mrs. Emma Nates, Martha Wilson (Quattlebaum) James Werts. Alice Haftman, Mrs. Mary Barre, Dr. W.L. McFall, Mrs. Mary A. McFall, David B. Ki nard, Eliza Nates (Schumpert), Mrs. Carrie Boland, Mrs. Nancy Matthews, Miss Vina Moore, Mrs. Sallie Werts Co unts, Miss Reedy Moore and Mrs. Frances Werts. Members of Grace entering full time service are: Rev. M.M. Kinard, D.D., Rev. A. Jackson Bowers, D.D. Rev. James D. Kinard, D.D., Rev. Virgil Y. Boozer, Mrs. Gertrude Simpson Leonard, Rev. E.H. Kohn, Rev. Day B. Werts. Rev. James Lee Shealy, Mrs. Lillie Kyzer Leck- inger, Rev. and Mrs. Charles B. Dawkins and Mr. A1 Potter. The present officers of the congregation are; Vice-Pres ident, B.C. Bedenbaugh, Secre tary, Miss PhylisShealy, Trea surer, Lewis C. Hawkins, Fin ancial Secretary, W.E. Martin, Treasurer, Lewis C. Hawkins, Financial Sectrtary, W. E. Mar tin, Treasurer of Building Fund, Otis K. Shealy, and Treasurer of Memorial Fund, Mrs. James Lee Counts. Rev. G. Alvin Fulmer, is the pastor of the church. NEWS-SUN-CITIZEN TRICENTENNIAL EDITION Newberry County, S. C., November 12, 1970 ofHawkin’s Catechism and edi tor of the Lutheran Visitor. Rev. H. S. Wlngard served as Pastor for a short time. During or shortly after his pastorate Grace Church withdrew from Pastorate No. 13. St. Luke’s and Colony were served by Rev. J.D. Bowles. It was during his pasto rate that the first parsonage was built and occupied by the Pastor of the Church. Rev. Bowles was followed by Rev. Jacob Hawkins, his second term, Rev. Monroe Epting and the return of Rev. Jacob Hawkins who served until his death in July 1895. Rev. George S. Bearden be gan his work shortly there after. The records show that he married Miss Katherine Lu ther of Prosperity in 1895. Mrs. Bearden still resides in Pros perity. Rev. Bearden served* other churches in supply ser vices while at St. Luke’s as well as being editor of a Church paper. He was followed at St Luke’s by Rev. H. J. Mathias and then Rev. S. P. Koon who served until 1912 when he re signed to become President of Summerland College, an insti tution of the South Carolina Synod for Women. During Rev. Koon’s pastorate.he organized Silverstreet Church, mostly of members from St. Luke’s and has often been called a child of St Luke’s. A Sunday School Annex was built and renovations to the Church were made during the pastorate of Rev. B. W. Cronk. He was followed by Rev. W. H. Roof and Rev. E. H. Seckinger who served until 1926. At this time the congregation numbered 317 in membership and the church property was valued at $7,500.00. During the times when there was no pastor, na mes such as Rev. R. A. Good man, Dr. A. J. Bowers among others were common to the Chu rch service. Rev. J. B. Harmon accepted the work of the pastorate in 1928. The Centennial Anni versary of the congregation was celebrated on August 9, 1928 (Thursday) with a large crowd of members, former members and friends. Former Pastors and Supply Pastors were pre sent or sent greetings for the occasion. In 1937, Rev. J. Virgil Long was called as Pastor and serv ed until 1943 at which time the Church Council released him as Pastor so that he could enter the ArmedForces as Chaplain. Thus, for the third time in his tory, war had called upon the congregation to give of her sons and this last time of her pastor as well. (It is interesting to note that at this time Rev. Long serv es as pastor of Colony, one of the congregations that was a part of the parish at an earlier date.) In 1944, Rev. C. E. Seastrunk began his work and continued ontll 1950. Rev. Thomas F. Suber, D. D. served from 1951 until his retirement In 1962, and served as Pastor Emeritus un til his death In 1969. Under his leadership and direction the new church building was constructed and the debt eliminated. The present parsonage was built in 1962 and first occupied by Rev. J. Hilton Roof who be gan his pastorate on August 15, 1963 and serves as the present pastor. The congregation has a membership of 830 baptised members and a property eva luation of $126,952. Sons of the congregation who were ordained to the Ministry are as follows: Levi Beden baugh, pastor of some of the more prominent churches in S. C. graduated with the first class of the Theological Seminary at Lexington. Wilson Bedenbaugh brother to Levi, became an or dained minister, but there is no further record of him. Jacob Hawkins has already been men tioned in this history. Elijah Hawkins, un'cle of Jacob Hawkins, graduated with Levi Bedenbaugh in 1836 but no fur ther record is made. J. S. El more, son of the congregation served in the South Carolina Synod. Cornelius Boozer was a son of charter members of the congregation. L. P. Hawkins did most of his ministerial work in Virginia and Pennsylvania. P. E. and J. A. Shealy, brothers, were confirmed in St. Luike’s but later transferred to Grace, Prosperity. P. E. is now de ceased and J. A. resides in LeesviUe. Vernon A. Frick was ordained in 1953 and is an ad opted member of St. Luke’s having grown up in St Peter’s (Piney Woods) Chapin. He now serves Union Lutheran Church, Salisbury N. C. Clyde Beden baugh was ordained in 1954 and presently serves as pastor of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Hollywood, Fla. Gerald Smith, ordained in 1970, is ser ving as assistant pastor at Mt Calvary Lutheran Church, Ex celsior, Minnesota. Larry Smith, also ordained in 1970 is serving as pastor of the Peak- Sprlnghlll Lutheran Parish, Peak, S. C. of Whitmire Sends Birthday Greetings To All Of South Carolina On Her 300th Anniversary. 1670-1970 Special Wishes To Newberry County During Their Tricentennial Celebration 1670 1970 SOUTH CAROLINA TRICENTENNIAL Belk Simpson Co. Main Street Whitmire, S. G.