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Our first submissions, courtesy of Edna Clack , are records of the Old Friendship Church located on Tow String Road northeast of Spring City.
Origin of Old Friendship Church
Cost of Meeting House
(including suppliers of building materials, lumber and the original contract)
Subscription List for the Church House
History of Old Friendship Church (including membership lists)
Financial Records of the Old Friendship Church
ORIGIN OF OLD FRIENDSHIP CHURCH
NOTE: The original church book from Nov. 1875 to April 1941 plus a few pictures & history of Old Friendship Church is on microfilm at Nashville - copies can be bought from:
The Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
901 Commerce St., Suite 400,
Nashville, Tn. 37203-3620
Pub. #5531.The following was hand written and signed by William Raleigh Clack. The original is in the possession of William Baxter Clack.
Preamble, Explanation for the cause of the division of the Bethel and Sulphur Springs churches and the constitution of another church at Breeding, School house. Rhea County Tennessee. Whereas a majority of the members of Bethel and Sulphur Springs Churches have not complied with the terms of union agreed upon by the Hiwassee Baptist convention, held at Concord meeting house Meigs County Tenn. in October A. D. 1865, and afterwards ratified by the Churches of the Hiwassee Association, and; Whereas, they have served themselves and gone off from said Association in disorder; And Whereas said majority hold and teach the doctrine of a hired Clergy, claiming that it is right and Scriptural to make contracts with their Clergymen and agree to pay them a stated salary for their services as Pastor or Missionary, and; Whereas, a Minority of said Church Members dissenting there from, and desiring to respect the afore said terms of union and to live in union and fellowship with their sister Churches of the Hiwassee Association, and; Whereas, they hold that the Doctrine of a hired Clergy is absurd and unscriptural and that it is the Doctrine of men and not of Jesus Christ. Therefore said minority called for and obtained letters of dismission from their respective Churches for the purpose of being constituted a Church of Jesus Christ at this place. Third Saturday in October 1875 James Johnson, Chairman W.R. Clack, secretary.
(This was included here because this act preceded the forming of Old Friendship Church---ECS)
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COSTS OF THE MEETING HOUSE
Contract Article of agreement for the building of a meeting house near Dr. Wilson's. The house is to be 37 ft long & 25 ft wide and 12 ft from sill to joist to be weather boarded & ceiled & covered with shingles using good material the floor to be tongue & grooved but laid without dressing. Now it is understood that W. R. Clack & Jas Johnson has undertaken to build said house except 2 ft in length for the sum of two hundred dollars and paid in proportion for said two ft in length payable in subscription when said house is finished in good substantial workman like manner and received by Arch McCaleb, Wm. M. Wilson & S. G. Clack the same being 3 of the 5 trustees of said house. All the building material for the house is to be delivered at the place of building. The house is to have one door at the front end double shutters about 5 ft wide and ......... windows in each side 12 lights to each 10 x 16 inches. This material also to be furnished as above. The benches are also left out of the above agreement. The corner posts door posts and all the window post are to be morticed at the bottom end in a good substantial manner and well fastened. All the weather boarding ceiling & flooring to be put down with broken joints.
(The above contract was hand written, apparently by W.R. Clack - ECS)
Cost of Lumber, Materials, and Labor
(This is the building of Old Friendship Church before 1880--ECS)
Amt of lumber furnished by James Johnson; 4438 feet at 1.75 per hundred delivered ......77.66 500 feet at 1.00 per hundred at mill ...... 5.00 184 & one half lbs nails & hauling load shingles from Newports ...... 10.85 TOTAL ...... 93.51 Amt of lumber furnished by W R Clack; $1.75 per hundred delivered also 1700 shingles at $4.00 ...... 6.80 also hauling 2 loads shingles ...... 2.00 also hauling sash & fixtures from Phillips ...... 1.50 amt shingles furnished by S G Clack = 2500 ...... 1.50 amt of shingles furnished by F M Clack = 2500 ...... 10.00 amt shingles bought of A Newport ...... 20.50 amt paid in lumber by W H Johnson delivered ...... 10.00 amt paid in lumber by Houston Hurst ...... 10.00 amt hauling by Granville Hurst ...... 5.00 amt of building material furnished by Wilson ...... 24.00 cost windows & door shuters, W R Clack & James Johnson for geting (or seting?) 9 joist at 81 and one quarter cents ...... 7.31 for scoring & hewing 17 sleepers ...... 2.69 for building the House under contract ......200.00 for additional 2 feet in length in proportion We agreed to take the subscription list for amount specified above when received by Arch McCaleb, W M Wilson and S G Clack.
Amt. of lumber furnished by Jas. Johnson some 4438 ft. at 1.75 per hundred ......77.66 some 500 ft at $1.00 per hundred at mill ...... 5.00 219 1/2 lbs nails ......10.60 Hauling 1 load shingles from Newports ...... 2.00 Total ......95.26 Amt. of lumber furnished by W. R. Clack 1700 shingles at 4.00 per 1000 ...... 6.80 Hauling 2 loads shingles ...... 2.00 Hauling sash & fixtures from S. Phillips ...... 1.50 2152 ft of plank & scantling at $1.75 for 100 ft ...... 1.50 1193 ft sheeting at $1.25 per 100 ft (Paid) ......14.91 Newport for 2050 shingles (Paid) ...... 7.00 Wm. Bell for hauling shingles ...... 1.20 Total ......71.07 S. G. Clack made 2500 shingles ......10.00 F. M. Clack made 2500 shingles ......10.00 500 ft of plank furnished by W. Johnson $2 per 100 ft ......10.00 500 ft plank furnished by Houston Hurst at $2 per 100 ft ......10.00 Granville Hurst for hauling 2 loads of shingles & 1 load of plank from C. G. Gipson ...... 5.00 W. R. Clack & Johnson for getting out joists and hewing sleepers ......10.00 Window sash, blinds & c ......37.20 Whole Amt ....258.53 Amt. for building as per agreement ....200.00 Lumber timber hauling by Wilson ......28.00 Total ....486.53 Expenses of building J. Johnson Paid McCain ......47.55 Paid Jas.Bell for Board ...... 4.00 Paid Mrs. Paul ...... 9.00 Work on doors ...... 5.00 Total ......65.55 : Expenses of building W. R. Clack Paid McCain(Paid) ......10.20 F. M. Clack(Paid) ...... 4.00 George Farmer ...... 4.25 work by self, 22 1/2 days ......22.50 Total ......40.95
SUBSCRIPTION LIST FOR THE CHURCH HOUSE
(the two different spellings of Gibson/Gipson are his--ECS)
Wm. M. Wilson (X) 100.00 James Johnson (P) 50.00 Mc. Clack (P) 20.00 Wm. R. Clack (P) 10.00 F. M. Clack (P) 10.00 S. G. Clack (P) 10.00 Wm. H. Johnson (P) 10.00 Houston Hurst (P) 10.00 Stephen Breeding (P) 10.00 Tho. Breeding (X) 10.00 Evan Breeding (P.$5) 10.00 W. S. Wyrick (X) 5.00 Jas. P. Roddy (P) 5.00 Maryville Hurst (P) 5.00 Jesse Stinecipher (P) 10.00 Hamilton Ponder (X) 5.00 Granville Hurst (P) 5.00 R. L. Garrison (P) 5.00 Calvin Gipson (P) 5.00 J. C. Abernathy (P) 5.00 Birt Leuty (P) 5.00 A. J. Gibson (X) 5.00
Wm. M. Wilson for the ME. Church south $100.00 paid $22.00 Jan., 1878
Received of Wilson $25.00 for the ME. Church June 19th., 1879.
Garet Tallent (P) 25.00 Jas. L. Cash (P) 5.00 J. Peters (P) 1.00 J. L. McPherson (P) 1.00 John Pyott (X) 2.00 Wm. Gass (P) 1.00 Wm. Cash (P) 2.00 Coleman Smith (P) .25 Arch Paul (P) 1.00 Mrs. Paul (P) 3.00 Arch McCaleb (X) 25.00 Asa Newport (P) 10.00 Lucinda Gillespie (P. $5 10.00 S. Phillips (P) 10.00 John Hoyl (P) 5.00 Mrs. Anderson (P) 5.00
HISTORY OF THE OLD FRIENDSHIP CHURCH Written by W.R. Clack--1913
This being the 38th anniversary of the organization of the Baptist church at Old Friendship, Rhea County, Tennessee. The church held a short memorial service at twelve M. on the third Saturday in November 1913. Rev. P. R. Brown of Kingston, Tennessee, delivered an address which was both interesting and instructive. Following the address a brief history of the church from 1875 to 1913, was read.Prepared by W. R. Clack, Historian, as follows:
To our Pastor and the members of the Old Friendship church greetings. Dear Brethern and Sisters--let us turn back in our minds today for a few moments, and briefly sketch or review some of the incidents connected with the organization of the Old Friendship church. In the year 1875, there was no organized church in this valley, and no regular divine service kept up. Therefore a few old veterans in the service of Christ, feeling impressed with duty, and realizing the necessity and great importance of organizing a church here, entered into a compact, to establish an "altar of prayer" and erect a house to be dedicated to the service of God. Eighteen brethren and sisters, as follows, to-wit;Micajah Clack, Margarette Clack, Jas. Johnson, F. M. Clack, Amy Johnson, Mary V. Clack, Susan M. Hurst, W. R. Clack, Sabria C. Clack, C. Stephen Breeding, W. S. Wyrick, C. Wyrick, Feebie Wyrick, Evan Breeding, Wm. Owens, Barbara Ann Owens, Lucinda Pinion and Martha Breeding. This list consisted of one minister, 4 deacons and 13 lay members who had procured letters of dismission from sundry churches and was constituted a church of Christ, at Breeding's school house (now known as the Garrison schoolhouse) On the 4th Saturday in Nov., 1875, by a presbytery composed of the following ministers: J. B. McCallon, of Ten Mile, J. K. Chastin, of Fellowship, Asa Newport of Hinds Valley, and A. Haun of Yellow creek, Churches, upon the articles of faith and rules of decorum, set out in the church record. After which the church organized by electing Eld. James Johnson moderator and W. R. Clack, clerk.
At this point they cast about for an appropriate name for the church and sister Margarette Clack, then 79 years old, suggested the name Old Friendship, which was unanimously adopted. We were at the time dependent upon our good neighbors and friends for we had no place or house of our own for public worship and was also destitute of means to build, but we were neither dismayed nor discouraged. We placed our full strength into our plans, put our faith and trust in God and pushed ahead. Eld. James Johnson, W.R. Clack and Dr. W. M. Wilson were appointed a committee to select a site for the church, and to raise the necessary means to build a house. They procured this beautiful site from Dr. W. M. Wilson and his estimable wife. The means was soon raised to build a house and the work on the building under the directions of Bro. Johnson and Clack was pushed to completion in August, 1876, at which time the first divine service was held in this house. Elder Asa Newport conducted the services. Since then a regular monthly service has been kept up here by this church and the Lord has graciously blessed our efforts in bringing many precious souls to Christ. Elder James Johnson served continuously as pastor of this church for nineteen years (and four) months, or until his demise, which occurred on the 29th of March, 1895. During his pastoral care of this church 43 other names were added to the church roll. Elder J. S. McCallon was then called to the pastorate of this church and served for nine years and three months. Elder J. R. Smith served as pastor for four years. Elders S. A. Waller and William White served as pastor for nearly two years each. W. R. Clack has served continuously as clerk since the organization of the church. Elder James Johnson, W. R. Clack, Dr. W. M. Wilson, Arch McCaleb and Spencer G. Clack were selected trustees. A. C. Ewing and J. D. Gillian were selected to fill vacancies occasioned by the death of Elders James Johnson and Arch McCaleb. W. R. Clack is the only one of the original trustees of the church now living. Since the organization of the church, including the 18 charter members, 101 names have been enrolled upon our church record. 31 have been dismissed by letter. Withdrew fellowship from 4, and 24 have died, leaving total membership at present 42. Of the original members only two names (W. R. Clack and Sabria C.Clack) are now left upon the church roll. Six were dismissed by letter and ten have died.
"How peaceful and how powerful is the grave
Which hushes all, a calm unstormy wave
Which oversweeps the world.
No one hears the door that opens
When they pass beyond recall.
Soft as loosened leaves of roses,
One by one our loved ones fall."
Twenty-four members of this church have died since the organization in 1875. Their names and dates of death are as follows:
Margaret Clack Sept. 10, 1877
Micajah Clack Aug. 16,1886
Even Breeding Dec. 5, 1879
Lucinda Pinion May 14, 1881
Steven Breeding Oct. 27, 1888
Martha Breeding 1886
W.S. Wyrick Aug. 1, 1884
C. Wyrick Dec., 1892
Eld. James Johnson Mar. 29, 1895
Amy Johnson Nov. 6, 1906
The above 10 were in the organization of the church. The following 14 joined since:
Rebecca Paul Feb. 10, 1886
Sarah E. Clark May, 1899
Jesse Stinecipher May 25, 1905
Eveline Brown May, 1892
Farley Brady, Sr. Nov. 9, 1889
Elizabeth Tallent
J. F. Stinecipher Mar. 27, 1890
Martha Caldwell Mar. 24, 1895
Mahala Caldwell Mar. 19, 1894
J. M. Caldwell April 30, 1899
F. S. Brady Feb. 17, 1902
Mattie McElwee Sept, 14, 1908
James Monroe July 22, 1912
Margarette J. Smith Oct. 1, 1912
The battle day of these old veterans in the cause of Christ is past, their life's work is ended, but their works will follow them. We mourn the loss of all these dear brethren and sisters in Christ who have passed beyond our mortal touch and vision, but we feel and realize that our loss is their gain, so let us banish sorrow from our minds today--and rather rejoice that our names are written in the "Lamb's Book of Life." By and by we hope to meet our loved ones on the eternal shore beneath the wide expanded Bowers of the Tree of Life, robed and crowned for the society of heaven.
The services were closed by the congregation standing and singing the verses of "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" led by Bro. Jonas Duckworth of Meigs county. Benediction by Rev. T. O. Dake of Meigs county.
(Copied from the original printing by Edna Clack Sachs, 1986)
FINANCIAL RECORDS OF THE OLD FRIENDSHIP CHURCH The following was in the contents of a small deposit and withdrawal book from the First National Bank, Rockwood,Tenn., in account with W.R. Clack. A pre-printed notice on the front of the book states: "Always bring your book with deposits. See that the entries agree with your tickets. Please leave your book once a month for balancing".
Paid to Church Treasurer since Apr 20, 1907 this Nov. 16, 1907
J.P. Brady .75 D.J. Stinecipher .50 A.J. Stinecipher 1.00 Isaac Jolley 1.25 W.D. Smith 1.50 E.B. Patterson 1.75 S.B. Moulton 2.50 Harriet Brady & Family 5.50 W.R. Clack & Family 6.40 A.C. Ewing 7.00 By former Treasurer 4.60 Total 32.75 Total Disbursements 22.90 Bal on hand Nov.16, 1907 9.85
Disbursements from Apr to Nov., 1907
to J.R. Smith pastor 16.00 to J.D. Tanner 2.50 to Rebecca Caldwell 2.00 Contributions to assoc. 2.00 2 plates & 2 glasses Com. Table .40 Total 22.90
ACCOUNT LEDGER OF ASA NEWPORT, BLACKSMITHAsa Newport (1802-1876) was a Minister and Blacksmith. He was the son of Richard Newport and Hannah Hinds. He married Elizabeth Rogers in Rhea County and eventually bought the Rogers farm and lived there for the rest of his life.
The names recorded in this journal reflect people who worked for him, had work done at his blacksmith shop, or owed him money.
The people listed could have been residents of Rhea or Roane County since Asa Newport lived on the Roane side of White's Creek, then moved to the Rhea side of the creek (White's Creek is the dividing line between Rhea and Roane).
Where dates are listed, they represent a range of time during which folks did business with Mr. Newport and does not necessarily mean they appeared in every year listed.
Two additional notes are listed:. 1) In the journal he made note after the name John Hayes "went to Van Buren, Decalb Co." 2) after Mary Parkins he entered time spent settling estate of Lewis Parkins, detailed day by day but no year.
James Abel 1838-1840 John Abel 1834-1841 Joseph Abel 1831-1834 Short Adam 1845-1846 David Alley Abel Bacon Thomas Bean 1831-1834 A.J.Bolinger F.Bolinger Frederick Bolinger 1841-1842 Burrel Boxley 1844-1845 Thon Boyd 1843-1844 Aaron Brady 1842-1845 Evan Breeding 1831-1845 James Briggs Nathan B. Briggs Daniel Brown Franklin Brown 1845-1846 Isaac Campbell Benjamin Cates 1830-1838 Baley Chastain 1841-1842 Elijah Chastain Baley Chastean Baley A.Y.Chastean 1843-1844 John Chastean Joseph Chastean 1842-1845 Frances Clark John Clark 1831-1836 John M.Clark 1838-1840 William Cox Wm. Cox 1838-1841 Robert Craven 1831-1840 Robert Cuvins 1842-1844 William Day Bird Detherage 1838-1844 Michael Dorrick Abner Dotson John Dotson Nathan Dotson 1844-1845 Samuel Dotson Thomas Dotson 1841-1845 Samuel Edmondson John Ellis William English Jessee Ervin 1840-1845 Ervin 1837-1839 Dimmon Ford 1830-1837 John Ford 1841-1844 Alfred Garrison Garrison Nathaniel Gibson 1841-1842 William Gibson Thomas Gillispee 1842-1847 Nathaniel Gillum 1831-1846 George Gordon W. B.Gordon 1843-1845 William B.Gordon 1832-1841 Moses Greer Samuel Grigsby 1836-1840 Thomas Guilim no date Reece Gullet James Hagens Allen Haley Haley William Hammons no date Absalom Hankins 1834-1840 Harner 1830-1834 Daniel Harner Dausin Harris 1837-1839 John Hayes 1836-1843 Edmond Hensley 1831-1841 Carter Hickey 1843-1846 John Hickey Wm.Hickey Ambrose Higgins 1831-1834 Daniel Higgins Joseph Higgins Abigail Hinds 1836-1839 Asa Hinds 1836-1839 Calvin Hinds 1838-1841 Eli Hinds 1830-1831 James Hinds 1830-1846 James P.Hinds James R.Hinds 1838-1842 John Hinds 1831-1846 Joseph Hinds 1831-1845 Levi Hinds 1841-1845 Shanus Hinds 1836-1838 Silvanus Hinds 1831-1844 Hardy Homes James Ingram Henry Johns 1830-1838 David Lambert 1842-1843 Cravins Lincoln Joel Long 1831-1846 Nicholas Long no date Benjamin Longacre 1830-1831 Charles Lowery Tatton MacCarrol Reuben Mainar 1836-1840 Reuben Mainard 1842-1844 Larkin Majors Peter Majors 1842-1843 Rector Majors Martin Andrew McCalep Andrew McCalles 1845-1846 Alexander McCulley W.McKeedy 1840-1843 William McKeedy`1843-1845 Isekiah McPherson Mary Mcpherson 1830-1840 William McPherson no date John Mea 1830-1834 Alexander Montgomery 1845-1846 John Montgomery 1830-1845 Joshua More 1834-1838 William Morgan 1843-1845 Blunt Morris 1843-1844 John Nash 1839-1844 Asa Newport Calvin Newport 1831-1832 Robert Parkes David Parkins Lewis Parkins 1831-1836 Mary Parkins 1841-1844 Lewis Perkins 1839-1841 Lieven Pioark William Preston 1842-1843 Edward Pritchet John Pritchett Randolph Pross 1830-1831 James Qualls Francis Ray Charles Rector Cumberland Rector 1842-1844 Haden Rector William Roberts 1836-1844 John Robinson Anna Rogers 1839-1845 James Rogers 1830-1834 Randolph Ross 1830-1831 Washington Short 1843-1844 Benjamin Smith 1843-1844 James Smith Thomas B.Swan 1836-1839 Ednibd Tredaway Balden Underwood George Underwood deceased Pleasant Underwood Sinthey Underwood 1838-1839 Thomas Underwood Samuel Walson Nathaniel Watson Benjamin White 1834-1844 Charles White 1834-1836 John White James Winton Richard Woolard
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