Church and Family History Research Assistance for Summers County, West Virginia
CHURCHES:
SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA was created by an act of the West Virginia legislature in February 1871. It was composed of territory from Monroe, Greenbrier, Fayette, and Mercer Counties. It was primarily a rural farming area until the coming of the C & O Railroad, which event precipitated the formation of Summers County There were Baptists in the area many years prior to the formation of the county. All of Summers County ying west of New River was originally Mercer County. Monroe County was a large southeast section of the county, and north of Monroe was Greenbrier, and then a smaller section of Fayette County.
INDIAN CREEK
Indian Creek Church (formed in 1792) appears to have held meetings in some of the territory that later comprised Summers County. At that day and time many churches alternated their meeting locations and when enough members were in a given area, a separate church body was formed.
NEW RIVER (AKA CEDAR GROVE)
New River/Cedar Grove Church was an arm of Indian Creek Church. It apparently met on both sides of (east and west) New River, until September 1881, when Pipestem CHurch was formed out of members of New River Church. It was then located on or near the mouth of Indian Creek on land donated by the Sweeney family, and remained there in Forest Hill district in Sumers County, until it ceased to exist and was later sold to the government at the coming of the Bluestone Dam in the late 1940's. It may have been organized as early as 1838 or 1839.
SALEM (MOUNTVIEW)(1860)
Salem Church was organized on March 4, 1860, with Elder Edmon Lilly as its first pastor. It was originally an arm of Camp Creek Church. Other pastors have been Elders Charles Walker, Jacob Hylton, R. A. Bryant, Dean Pack, J. I. Bowling, J. R. Foley, Gilbert Walker, Carlie Cox, Darrell Hatcher, Kenna Lilly, and Lloyd Hill. The first meeting house was built near Odd, W. V., but it was destroyed by fire. The next meeting house was built in 1907, at the present site. A second meeting house was built in 1948 and still stands, near the Raleigh county line. This church was a member of the Indian Creek Association. The original building and part of the cemetery may have been partly in Summers County, but the current building is definitely in Raleigh County, but faces the so-called county line road. Through the year has had many members who resided in both Summers and Raleigh counties. It was originally an arm of Rich Creek Church.
LITTLE BLUESTONE (JUMPING BRANCH)(1872)
Little Bluestone Church was organized in 1872 with sixteen charter members. It had met as an arm of Camp Creek church as early as 1865. Elder William Dobbins presided over the arm. Elder William C. Dobbins was the first pasor, followed by Elders William S. Simmons, Eli Lilly, S. L. Wood, Lowell Lilly, and Owen Harvey. The first meeting house was a log structure, which was replaced with another log structure at the present site, in about 1885. The present meeting house was erected in 1953. The church united with the Indian Creek Association in 1873. It is now part of the Mount Zion Association.This church was the mother church of Lebanon, Little Vine, Little Meadows, Pleasant Rest, and Meadow Creek. It is located at Jumping Branch, about 1/2 mile on Mt. View Road off WV Rt. 3.
PIPESTEM (1881)
Pipestem Church was constituted on the second Saturday in September, 1881, with 24 members, viz., Charles Lane, Oscar J. Farley, Franklin W. Hopkins, Anderson P. Farley, Emmaline Hubbard Farley, Lewis M. Hopkins, Mary E. Hopkins, James A. Ellison, David Martin, Hudson Martin, Eliza Martin, Emmaline Lilly, Mary Neely, Louverna V. Neely, Nancy Neely, Sarah E. Ford, Mahala Martin. Reuben and Nancy Hopkins joined shortly afterward. . Elder John C. Hubbard was the first pastor. The presbytery was composed of Elders J. C. Hubbard, William C. Dobbins, Joseph Lilly, J. W. Lilly, A. A. Ashworth, and Henry Harvey. The charter members were dismissed from New River Church. Later pastors included Elders W. C. Keaton, James F. Lilly, B. T. Jenkins, and Owen Harvey. The church was a member of the Indian Creek Association until 1955, and then became a member of the Mount Zion Association. Located in Pipestem District near the Summers-Mercer County line on the east side of Rt. 20. The log building was built in 1877.
LEBANON (1889)
Lebanon Church was organized in about 1889 of members primarily from Little Bluestone Church. Ceased to exist about 1906. Located in the now Bluestone State Park in Jumping Branch District in the area known as Hickory Flats.
BEECH SPRINGS MEETINGHOUSE
Near the bop of Shockley Hill east of Rt. 20 between the old Pipestem Post Office and near old Farley Post Office. Never organized as a separate body but the Primitive Baptists frequently held meetings there.
BIRCHFIELD SCHOOL
Birchfield School on Flat Top-Ellilson Ridge Road near the Wood family home. Never organized as a separate body, but the Primitive Baptists regularly held meetings there that were usually well-attended. Located in Jumping Branch District.
BLUESTONE VIEW (ELLISON)(1894)
Bluestone View Church was organized on Saturday, June 30, 1894, with the following charter members, viz., Drewery Farley, J. H. Adkins, R. W. Farley, Josiah Lilly, N. B. Akers, Anderson A. Pack, William Rose, C. C. "Lum" Cox, James F. Lilly, Newton H. Moye, T. B. Bolen, Minerva A. Farley, Dosha Cox, M. A. Lilly, Mary D. Lilly, Frances Hatcher, Ama Pack, Louisa Cox, Margaret Harvey Lilly, Louisa Farley, Drucilla Alice Moye Rose, Jane Moye Cox, and Barbara A. Moye. Rachel Bolen was then received for baptism. Elder James W. Lilly was chosen as the first pastor, and served until 1906, and was followed by Elder James F. Lilly. Other pastors have been Elders Eli O. Lilly, J. M. Wilson, Lowell Lilly, J. L. B. Lilly, Owen D. Harvey, and Robert Mabe. Elder James Boothe served jointly with Elder Mabe for a short period. This church was a member of the Indian Creek Association until 1955, and since that time has been a member of the Mount Zion Association. Originally an arm of Camp Creek Church at Flat Top. Located at Ellison Ridge in Jumping Branch district between Nimitz and Flat Top.
MEADOW CREEK (MEADOW BRIDGE)
A church called Meadow Creek was listed in the 1929 Minutes of the Indian Creek District Association. The Association admonished all the churches that are grieved or offended at Elder W. S. Meador of Meadow Creek Church, to send a committee to meet with them at their church meeting in October 1929, to try to reconcile. The church represented itself in the Association again in 1931 and 1932. In 1933, the Association ordered that we drop the Meadow Creek Church with the understanding that each church has the right to receive any member from said church, providing they make reconciliation to the church to which they offer. This church was located between Sandystone and Green Sulphur on Rt. 20. This church was an outgrowth of the Beaver Creek Church in Raleigh County whose members moved from Raleigh County to the Sandstone, Green Sulphur, and Elton area of Summers County. Went down about 1933.
GREENBRIER (HILLDALE/HINTON)(1927)
Greenbrier Church was organized November 19, 1927, at Hinton. Later moved to Hilldale and sold their lot in Bellepoint (upper Hinton) which they never built on. Met in various locations in and around HInton until they built at Hilldale in about 1948 on land donated by Arvil Neely. Elder J. H. Keaton was the first pastor. Later pastors have been Elders Lowell Lilly and A. L. Neely. This church was in the Indian Creek Association, until 1955, and since that time in the Mount Zion Association.
FIRST GREENBRIER
First Greenbrief Church resulted from a division in Greenbrief Church oveer Julius Keaton. Eventually erected a building on Pipestem Creek on land donated by Ada Neely, sister of Julius Keaton. Became progressive and used instrumental music.
LITTLE MEADOWS (MEADOW BRIDGE)(1950)
Little Meadows Church was originally an arm of Little Bluestone Church. This church united with the Indian Creek District Association in 1950, at which time they reported nine members, most of whom were lettered out from Little Bluestone Church. The messengers were Elder Edgar Lilly, Charles Burdette, and Naomi Cadle. Elder Edgar Lilly served this church as pastor for many years. He was followed by Elders Kenneth Cadle, and Stanley Cadle. This church was in the Indian Creek District Association until 1962, when the church withdrew and became an independent church. In 1992, the church united with the Mount Zion Association. The church was organized in a building on the property of French and Peggy Cadle. They erected a building at Little Meadows near Meadow Bridge, but in Summers County.
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