Church and Family History Research
Assistance
for Gallatin County, Illinois
CHURCHES:
ISLAND RIPPLE
Island Ripple Church joined the Muddy River Association in 1821, her messenger being Joseph Riley, who reported 13 members in fellowship. On March 1, 1828, a deed was signed by Benjamin and Mary Jolly, conveying one acre of land to the trustees of Island Ripple Baptist Church, Joseph Wathen and Thomas Barlow, on which to build a meeting house and school, and for a burial ground. The land was in the northeast quarter of Sec. 5, Twp. 10, Range 9. This location, on Gold Hill, was on the most direct, all-weather trace or trail from the Salt Springs to the Ohio River, an ancient Indian trail, and was on the route of the Clark Expedition. The Smyth Cemetery is also on the site.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Barlow, Barnett, Jolly, Lockhart, McCool, Riley, Seaton, Smith, Stilley, Wathen, Williams, Wilson (very incomplete list due to loss of records).
LICK BOUNDARY
Lick Boundary Church first began meeting at a schoolhouse on the North Fork, near Crenshaw's mill, in July 1833, as an arm of Lick Creek Church. In July 1834, William Harget, Betsy Harget, Sister Ambers, Joseph Easley, Sister Easley, James Sands, Sister Sands, and Hepsy Willis were dismissed to constitute a new church. Lick Boundary Church petitioned and was received as a member of the Muddy River Association in 1837, the messengers being Joseph Easley and William Harget, who reported 20 members in fellowship.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Amber, Cullen, Easley, Fowler, Harget, Sands, Willis (very incomplete list due to loss of records).
WHITE OAK
White Oak Church united with the Muddy River Association in 1847. Elder W. P. Hancock was a member of this church in 1875.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Cox, Endicott, Hancock, Hargate, Tate (very incomplete list due to loss of records).
COTTAGE GROVE (SEE ALSO SALINE COUNTY)
It is believed that Cottage Grove Church, in the Muddy River Association, was located at the site of the Poplar Cemetery, near the Gallatin-Saline county line.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
COTTONWOOD
Cottonwood Church was constituted on Saturday before the second Sunday in August, 1873, by brethren living near Bro. Jobe C. Reeder's, viz., David S. Crunk, Jobe C. Reeder, Simon Reeder, Ananias Reeder, Elizabeth Crunk, Francis Reeder, Lucinda Reeder, Cordelia E. Reeder, and Irena Crunk. The presbytery was composed of Elders T. J. Aud, J. D. Jones, James Murphy, Isaac A. Moore, James Tate, and Thomas Reeder.
Cottonwood Church joined the Muddy River Association in 1873, and remained a member until 1910, at which time the church had 103 members. After that time the church remained independent, but still had fellowship for the other Primitive Baptist churches in the area.
Construction of the church building was planned in 1889, and was sufficiently completed by May 1890, that the first church meeting was held in it at that time.
Pastors who served Cottonwood Church included Elders James D. Jones, Simon Reeder, A. J. Coale, R. S. Kirkland (assistant for one year, in 1900), Simon Reeder (again), C. F. Stuckey, Henry J. Gwaltney, W. C. Arnold (October 1917), and T. Leo Dodd.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Acuff, Allen, Aud, Barber, Barnett, Barton, Bell, Boling, Bourland, Bruce, Burdick, Bylow, Casey, Causey, Cox, Crumley, Crunk, Damen, Downen, Duty, Edwards, Goforth, Grimsley, Gwaltney, Harris, Harrison, Harvey, Hendrix, Henson, Hopkins, James, Jones, Kinsell, Linkwaler, McGee, McKay, McKinnis, Mills, Mobley, Moore, Motsel, Moye, Murphey, Murphy, Prichard, Ramsey, Reeder, Ridenour, Rister, Sanders, Skeeters, Smith, Switzer, Thomas, Utley, Ward, Wease, Whiting, Wiles, Williams, Wills, Wilson.
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED RESOURCES FROM THE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST LIBRARY:
Minutes of the Muddy River Association. Records of Cottonwood Church.
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