Primitive Baptist Church and Family History
Research Assistance for Polk County, Florida
CHURCHES:
PEACE CREEK (BARTOW)(1871)
MT. OLIVE (MULBERRY)(1881)
Mt. Olive Church, located in the Willow Oak community, about four miles west of Mulberry, Florida, was constituted on April 16, 1881, having first met as an arm of Mt. Enon Church. The ten charter members were: John Altman, Beryl Altman, John J. Altman, Nancy Altman, Timothy Alderman, Louisa Alderman, David Lancaster, Penelope Lancaster, Axey Fortner, and M. D. Kirkland. The presbytery was composed of Elders E. Z. Hull, T. S. Evers, and H. F. Forner. The original meeting house was a log structure, in the community of Chicora, Florida. In 1900 the church moved to the Long Branch community (later, Pierce, Florida). In 1913 the church moved again, two miles south of Bradley Junction. The present meeting house was erected on five acres of land, and dedicated in January 1983. In 1890, Mount Olive church extended an arm to the vicinity of Keysville, Florida, and Hebron Church was constituted there in 1891.
Pastors have been Elders E. Z. Hull, Richard Tucker, T. J. McMullen, Picket, Lucious Register, Joe Hudson, John Mathis, T. R. Crawford, Ben Crawford, E. P. Wise, I. C. Davis, R. T. Pepper, W. H. Burke, Dan Harvill, A. J. Evers, W. O. Pilcher, K. W. Johnson, Claude Deshong, Joe Harvill, Curtis Bas, Fonso Justis, Lloyd Cunningham, Cromer Crawford, and Floyd Cox.
LITTLE FLOCK (GREEN POND)(1893)
CORINTH (FORT MEADE) (1893)
Corinth Church was constituted on August 3, 1893, in the Bereah community, having previously met as an arm of Payne's Creek Church. Elder J. M. Brewer was the first pastor, and Bro. William Erasmus Wingate was the first clerk. Later pastors have been Elders Dan Wilkerson, M. Lightsey, W. M. Wheldon, E. J. Harvill, James Hancock, E. N. Anderson, John W. Matthew, J. W. Mathis, Riley Campbell, R. T. Pepper, Cecil Bass, Guy Crawford, Trafford Harvill, Hoe Humphries, and Hulen Harvill. Later clerks have been A. H. S. Bennette, J. Marvin Wingate, Addie Wingate, J. Merl Wingate, Eloise Godwin, and Steve Aggelis.
The present meeting house was constructed in 1966. It is the third meeting house erected on this property. The first was constructed in 1893 with "wood windows" and "door shutters" and covered with split-out shingles. It was destroyed by storm in 1927, so an arbor was built under the oaks and covered with cabbage palmetto fans.
CLEAR LAKE (WINTER HAVEN)(1895)
ELIM (BARTOW)(1885)
HARMONY (PROVIDENCE)(MEDULLA)(1913)
LITTLE ZION (DAVENPORT) (1922)
Little Zion Church was constituted on the third Sunday in May, 1922, with eight members. The first pastor was Elder W. I. Kelley. He was followed by Elders J. W. Mathis, J. E. Gore, T. R. Crawford, J. P. Mikell, J. C. Beasley, and others. Two churches have been constituted out of Little Zion, viz., Wayfare and Sharon.
WAYFARE (AUBURNDALE) (1931)
SHARON (HAINES CITY) (1939)
MT. HAVEN (SANFORD)(1961)
SHADY GROVE (WAHNETA)
PEACE RIVER (FT. MEADE)(1942)
Peace River Church was organized in 1942, but disbanded in 1995. In 1996, efforts were made to revive meetings at this location, by Mt. Olive Church.
WELCOME (FT. MEADE)(1948)
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