Pre-1883 History of Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church of White Co, TN

**Statement by Monroe Seals Concerning Old Union's Early History**
The classic historical book on White County, Tennessee states (on page 44) that this "Union" church* was established in 1805. If that is correct, the church that came to be known as "Old Union" would have been one of the earliest churches to exist in the area that became White County, TN. It would have been established at about the same time that Daniel Haston moved to this area from Knox County, TN and settled just a mile or so to the south of the church, across the Caney Fork River. Although Reverend Monroe Seals, the author of this book (History of White County), does not state sources to document the validity of the 1805 date, his own relationship to the church provides an interesting insight into the possible authenticity of the date. This was his home church! He, along with his parents, joined the church "by experience" on September 20, 1883. The church minutes show that he ministered in the Union Church in 1902*. Note: Rev. Monroe Seals made this aforementioned statement in the context of his discussion of the Hickory Valley Presbyterian Church, which was founded as a split from the Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church. **Note: There is no evidence that indicates that Daniel Haston associated (or did not associate) with this church, although we do know that his son, David Haston, was the church's first clerk.

Statements by Joseph Vincent Williams and Rev. Paul E. Doran

Joseph Vincent Williams also wrote of a very early beginning of the Old Union church. His father, Rev. James Tate Williams, grew up "in sight of" Old Union, attended the church as a child and young man, went to school there, and later served the Old Union Church as a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. This Williams family had close ties to Old Union all the way back to one of the original elders, Jesse Scoggins (grand uncle of Rev. James Tate Williams).

Old Union Said to Be Oldest White County Presbyterian Church

In the Foreword of the son-to-father tribute book, James Tate Williams: His Family and Recollections, Joseph Vincent Williams wrote (page vii) that "Old Union was the first Presbyterian Church organized in White County."

Joseph Williams did not reference any source to support this statement. Thus, we are left to wonder where he got the idea that Old Union was White County's first Presbyterian Church. If true, this would probably have made it White County's first church of any kind and would probably mean that it was established as early as 1800 or so. Most historical accounts of White County, TN credit the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church of northern White County (where Rev. James Tate Williams also ministered) with that distinction. Was Joseph Williams privy to historical facts and records that have been lost to the rest of us, or was this a biased statement passed down from his Old Union affiliated family?

On a later page (page 97) of the same book, Rev. Paul E. Doran* contradicts the Old Union as "first Presbyterian Church" statement by saying that "The Johnson Church at the head of the Calfkiller River and Cherry Creek Church in the next valley, both Presbyterian, were established in 1800, the first churches of any kind in this Mountain District." However, in the same paragraph Rev. Doran substantiates a very early founding of Old Union by stating that "Union, in Hickory Valley" (along with others) was "formed in 1805, or soon thereafter."

*Chapter Eleven of the James Tate Williams book was written by Rev. Paul E. Doran as "An Appraisal of James Tate Williams." Rev. Doran was a well known Presbyterian (U.S.A.) minister in White County and, at the time of the writing of this book (mid-1930s), was Supervisor of the Cumberland Mountain Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. denomination.

Statement by John M. Mitchell (Grandson of Spencer Mitchell)

John M. Mitchell, succeeded his father (Joseph G. Mitchell) and his grandfather (Spencer Mitchell) as an elder in the Old Union Church. As a veteran of the Confederate army, John M. Mitchell responded to a Tennessee Civil War Soldier's Questionnaire in the early 1920s. In that document, he stated that his grandfather gave land to build a Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1808 and that "the church was one of the first in the County." Was 1808 a "guesstimate" date or could the land have been given in 1808, although the deed transfer may not have been filed until three years later?

I am a member of the Presbyterian Church. My Grandfather was a Cumberland Presbyterian; his given name was Spencer (Mitchell). He gave the land to build a Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1808 at River Hill, Tenn., and was an Elder in said church as long as he lived. The church was one of the first in the County. My father, Joseph Mitchell, succeeded him as said Elder as said until his death as Elder. And the writer (Jno. M. Mitchell) succeeded him and still retains said place in the church.

Source: John M. Mitchell Civil War Questionnaire (circa 1920-1922)
(available from TN State Library and Archives in Nashville, TN)



The first official record that we have of Union Church's affiliation with the Cumberland Presbyterians is from an October 1811 Cumberland Presbytery meeting. However, there is evidence to suggest that the Union Church may have been assisted sometime in 1810 by Cumberland Presbyterian circuit rider, William Barnett. During this 1810-1813 era, the Cumberland Presbytery was only a renegade presbytery that had hopes of being united with the Presbyterian Church of the USA.

1810-1813

1810

"Old" Union and "Old" Zion churches were sister Cumberland Presbyterian congregations, both located in White County. The Zion church location is about eight miles west of Sparta and the Union location is about eight miles south of Sparta.

A September 22, 1866 entry* in the "Old" Zion Cumberland Presbyterian church minutes states:

"Zion Church of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination was organized A.D. 1810 by Rev. William Barnett."

This statement appears to be made with more confidence than the "about A.D. 1811" statement in the Union Church 1883 minutes. It is probable that both the Union and Zion churches were organized by William Barnett during the same missionary circuit to White County. Thus, if the Zion Church was organized in 1810, then the Union Church would probably have been started in 1810 also, since Joseph Vincent Williams (whose father served as minister of both the Union and Zion churches) indicated that no Presbyterian church in White County pre-dated the Union Church.

If the 1810 date for the founding of Zion and Union is correct, then these churches would have been a part of the Cumberland Presbyterian movement from the first year of that denomination's existence.

*Source: Volume II, No. 2 (March/April, 1995) of the Past Finder; published by the White County Genealogical-Historical Society of Sparta, TN.

1811

The sketchy history of the Union church, assembled by C.T. Haston and Rev. W. Smith in 1883, states that "the church was organized about A.D. 1811 by Rev. William Barnett."

We do know that Spencer Mitchell, an early settler in southern White County, TN, deeded a plot of land for what was called the "Union Meeting House" on August 24, 1811.

October 1811 -- Cumberland Presbytery Session at Ridge Church in Sumner County

We also know that Spence Mitchell represented the Union Church at a meeting of the Cumberland Presbytery at the Ridge meeting house in Sumner County, TN during the period of October 9-12, 1811.

     The Presbytery met at the Ridge meeting-house, on the second Wednesday in October, 1811, agreeably to adjournment.
     Members present--Messrs. McGee, Ewing, McLean, Kirkpatrick, Bell, Foster, and Calhoun, preachers. Elders Chatam Ewing, John Whitsett, Jonathan Berry, Samuel Crockett, Hugh Telford, Hugh Roan, and Robert Kirkpatrick.
     Representatives--James Hucheson, from McAdow; David Robeson, from the Boyling Fork society; Dennis Dunham, from Union and Gasper River societies; Reuben Bedwell, from Harpeth Licks, Pisgah, Rock Creek, and West Harpeth societies; William Young, from Kelly's Creek, Norrises Creek, and Indian Creek societies; Spence Mitchel from Union, Zion, and Concord societies.

Note: Later in the meeting a Mr. James Porter (no society affiliation stated) "took his seat," as did William Johnston, a representative from the united societies of Little Bigby, Litle's Creek, Robertson's Fork, Globe Creek, and Rock Creek. Also, Bejamin Lockhart, a representative from Liberty congregation, came and took his seat.

Source: Minutes of the Original Cumberland Presbytery 1810-1813, from pages printed in the Cumberland Presbyterian Review. Bound in Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland Presbytery and Synod Minutes, 1810-1828 at the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN (pages 17 & 18). Original manuscript archived at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA.

This October 1811 meeting was held less than two years after the founding of the Cumberland Presbytery (which later became the Cumberland Presbyterian Church). Thus, we have evidence to prove that this Union Church was affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterians almost from the beginning of that religious body.

The Monroe Seals statement in the History of White County implies* that the Union Church was at first "Presbyterian" (Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A. denomination) and then later switched to Cumberland Presbyterian in the 1820s.

*Note: The phrase in Monroe Seals' book, "again Presbyterian after 1906," suggests that it had been a Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A. congregation before it became a Cumberland Presbyterian church ("in the 1820s").

The October 1811 Cumberland Presbytery minutes clearly contradict the Monroe Seals idea that the Union Church did not become a Cumberland Presbyterian affiliated church until the 1820s.

However, it is possible that the Union Church might have been affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A. prior to October 1811 and then made a switch in affiliation at that time. Spence Mitchell's obituary does indicate that he "was first a member of the Presbyterian church but after he settled in Tennessee he joined the Cumberland Presbyterians."

Monroe Seals stated, in the History of White County, that Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church was known as the "mother of White County churches" and that twelve other churches were formed out of its membership. Perhaps the Union Church was one of those twelve. If that were true, it would mean hat Union Church was indeed first a Presbyterian (U.S.A.) congregation (since the Cherry Creek Church was Presbyterian), prior to its affiliation with the fledgling Cumberland Presbyterian group in 1810 or 1811.

1812

**April 1812 --** Cumberland Presbytery Session at Suggs Creek Church in Wilson County
April 7-9, 1812* -- Spence Mitchell represented Union, Concord, & Zion at the Cumberland Presbytery meeting at the Suggs' Creek meeting house in Mt. Juliet of Wilson County, TN.

1813

**April 1813 --** Cumberland Presbytery Session at Beech Church in Sumner County
April 6-8, 1813* -- Robert Gammel (Gamble) represented Union and Zion at the Cumberland Presbytery meeting at the Beech meeting house in Sumner County, TN. He paid $1.00 (as did the others present) to assist a "committee to draft a complete, though succinct, account of the rise, doctrines, etc., of the Cumberland Presbytery." Note: By 1832, if not before, Robert Gamble was (apparently) a leader of a church on Cane Creek, south of the Caney Fork River.

*Source: Minutes of the Original Cumberland Presbytery 1810-1813, from pages printed in the Cumberland Presbyterian Review. Bound in Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland Presbytery and Synod Minutes, 1810-1828 at the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN (hand printed page numbers 17-23, 24-27, 36-38). Original manuscript archived at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA.

**Questions of Significant Historical Interest**
The 1883 sketch of the history of the Union church, assembled by C.T. Haston and Rev. W. Smith in 1883, stated that "the church was organized about A.D. 1811 by Rev. William Barnett." This statement, when compared to other historical evidence, raises two questions:

1. Was Old Union founded in (if not before) 1805 or about 1811?

We do not have documented evidence to support any specific founding date for Old Union. However, we can speculate a possible explanation for this apparent contradiction between the 1805 (as stated by Rev. Monroe Seals) and "about 1811" dates (as stated by C.T. Haston and Rev. W. Smith).

Spencer Mitchell, an early settler in southern White County, TN, deeded a plot of land for what was called the "Union Meeting House" on August 24, 1811. Perhaps this is the source for the "about A.D. 1811" date as given by C.T. Haston and Rev. W. Smith in their 1883 account of the church's history. They, no doubt, would have had access to this deed and possibly could have gotten the 1811 date from it.

Note: The August 24, 1811 land deed was not registered until July 19, 1819 and it was examined for registration purposes on September 29, 1819.

The church was probably started prior to the year in which Spence Mitchell gave the land for the church's building. A couple of facts given in his obituary would seem to suggest that possibility.

Spencer Mitchell Obituary

Died at his residence in White County, TN. On the 20th of March last (1849) Spence Mitchell, in the 74th year of his age. The subject of this notice was born in the state of North Carolina on the 4th of June 1775, married Dec. 22nd 1796 and emigrated with his wife to TN., in the year 1804. He settled in White County on the farm where he died about two years after he came to this state. He professed religion upward of 46 years ago, and was a member of the Presbyterian church but after he settled in Tennessee. he joined the Cumberland Presbyterians and was elected and ordained ruling elder in Union congregation near where he lived.

Read the entire Obituary of Spencer Mitchell.

Original Source: Volume 7, No. 50 of Banner of Peace (Cumberland Presbyterian periodical). Reprinted Source: Volume II, No. 2 (March/April, 1995) of the Past Finder; published by the White County Genealogical-Historical Society of Sparta, TN.

According to his obituary, Spence Mitchell arrived in Tennessee in the year 1804. His conversion appears to have taken place just prior to his move to Tennessee, so he would probably have been a Presbyterian-affiliated believer when he settled in Tennessee. The obituary does not say where he lived during his first two years in Tennessee, but it does indicate that he settled on the farm where he died "about two years after he came to this state." By the middle of the first decade of the 1800s, Spence Mitchell would have been seeking a group of like-minded believers, from his southern Hickory Valley neighborhood, with which to worship.

We do have evidence that indicates that church services were held prior to the erection of a building. A biographical sketch for William Carroll Haston, Sr., son of David Haston, stated that his parents were "faithful members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and, before a house of worship was erected in their community, services were often held in their home." We might speculate that some early members began meeting as early as 1805 or so (which was prior to David Haston's 1807 or 1808 arrival in White County), but that they did not possess land and erect a building until about 1811. Or, they may have built a meeting house on Spencer Mitchell's land sometime prior to 1811, but a formal deed may not have been filed until August of 1811.

David and Peggy Haston's oldest child, Malinda, married Spence Mitchell's son, Arthur Mitchell, in 1818. They probably knew each other from attending church together.

The 1811 deed indicates that the meeting house was for all who profess the Christian Religion (except for Shakers and others whose doctrine do not accord with the Gospel of peace). The name "Union" probably indicates that various evangelical believers worshipped there, or were welcomed to do so. Whether they assembled together or at separate times, we do not know. Apparently, the Presbyterians (of whom Spencer Mitchell, the man who deeded the land, was one) were those who made the most prominent use of the church property. Thus, the property eventually came under their control.

2. What was Rev. William Barnett's Role in the history of this Church?

The historical sketch of the Union Church, written in 1883 by C.T. Haston and Rev. W. Smith, indicates that the church was "organized about A.D. 1811 by Rev. William Barnett." In what sense did Rev. William Barnett "organize" this church?

Was he a minister who originally organized it as a church?
Or, was he the minister that organized the Union Church into the Cumberland Presbytery (which later became the denomination, Cumberland Presbyterian Church)?

Note: The Cumberland Presbytery was founded on February 4, 1810 as sort of a renegade presbytery, intending to operate within the existing mother denomination, the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A. When it became apparent by October of 1813 that the new presbytery would not be accepted by the mother denomination, the Cumberland Presbytery expanded into the Cumberland Synod (creating other presbyteries) and, later in 1829, into the full-fledged Cumberland Presbyterian Church (governed by its own General Assembly).

This Rev. William Barnett was an active leader in the early days and years of the Cumberland Presbyterian movement, which began in middle Tennessee and Kentucky on February 4, 1810. He was received as a ministerial candidate on March 20, 1810 at the first post-organization Cumberland Presbytery meeting, just six weeks after the Cumberland Presbytery was organized.. He was licensed as a minister on October 11, 1811 and was fully ordained on February 13, 1813. Both his licensure and ordination came under the auspices of the Cumberland Presbytery (later, to be a separate denomination). William Barnett was an active Cumberland Presbyterian minister until his death in 1827.

If the Union Church was founded in 1805, it could not have been organized "as a church" by Rev. William Barnett. That would have been six years before he was licensed to preach and eight years before his ordination.

Even the "About A.D. 1811" date would have been prior to William Barnett's ordination and in the same year of his licensure. However, prior to licensure the Cumberland Presbytery did appoint candidates to ride missionary circuits to preach and evangelize ("missonate," as they called it). "Upon arriving in the assigned area, the itinerant traveled place to place preaching wherever there was an opportunity--in private homes, in church houses (if there were any and they were permitted to use them)..."*

The March 20, 1810 minutes** of the Cumberland Presbytery indicate that indeed this was the case with William Barnett. At the same meeting in which he was received as a candidate for ministry, he was appointed to "ride once round the Nashville circuit, and the balance of his time on the upper circuit." That appointment was reconfirmed in an "Intermediate Presbytery" meeting that met at "Robert Bell's on Bean's Creek, of Elk River, the 20th of July, 1810: "Ordered, that Messrs. Barnett and Bumpass supply the upper and Nashville circuits..."***

*Source: Page 128 of A People Called Cumberland Presbyterians by Barrus, Baughn, & Campbell (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1998 edition). A good description of the frontier itinerant ministries of circuit riders is presented on this page 128.
**Source: Minutes of the Original Cumberland Presbytery 1810-1813, from pages printed in the Cumberland Presbyterian Review. Bound in Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland Presbytery and Synod Minutes, 1810-1828 at the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN (two sets of page numbers appear on this page, typeset page 212 & hand printed page 4). Original manuscript archived at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA.
***Same source as above, but typeset page 218 and hand printed page 11.

From the Presbytery records, it appears possible, if not probable, that on this 1810-1811 circuit through middle Tennessee, as a pre-licensed but Cumberland Presbytery appointed circuit rider, William Barnett influenced Spence Mitchell and other believers of southern White County to affiliate with the fledgling Cumberland Presbytery.

It is interesting to note that the first record that we have of this Union Church being affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterians is the October 1811 presbytery meeting at the Beech Meeting House in Sumner County, TN. Spence Mitchell represented the Union, Zion, and Concord "societies" at that meeting. This same October 1811 meeting was the presbytery session in which William Barnett's licensure for ministry was officially approved.

The Presbytery met at the Ridge meeting-house, on the second Wednesday in October, 1811, agreeably to adjournment.

The Presbytery having examined Messrs. David McLin, William Barnett, and William Bumpass, on the several parts of trial required by this Presbytery to their satisfaction, and they having adopted the Confession of Faith, agreeably to the requirement of Cumberland Presbytery, Presbytery, therefore, did license them to preach the gospel in the bounds of this Presbytery, or wherever God, in his providence, may call them.

Source: Minutes of the Original Cumberland Presbytery 1810-1813, from pages printed in the Cumberland Presbyterian Review. Bound in Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland Presbytery and Synod Minutes, 1810-1828 at the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN (two sets of page numbers appear on this page, typeset page 485 & hand printed pages 22 & 23). Original manuscript archived at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA.

Based upon the information that we do have regarding William Barnett and the "organization" of the Union Church, we can speculate a scenario of the church's official organization that might have occurred this way:

After being accepted as a ministerial candidate on March 20, 1810, as a part of his licensure process William Barnett was appointed to ride a circuit through middle Tennessee (the Nashville circuit and/or the upper circuit). Probably one of these circuits took him through White County.
Perhaps, at this time, he came into contact with Spencer Mitchell and a group of other believers in southern White County who had been meeting in homes for some time.
Perhaps, through the influence of William Barnett, this group of believers chose to affiliate with the Cumberland Presbytery, which he represented.
Perhaps, it was through William Barnett's influence that Spence Mitchell traveled to the October 1811 Cumberland Presbytery meeting in Sumner County, TN to represent this Union "society," as well as two other societies, Zion* from White County and Concord from Warren County(?), that had also been influenced by William Barnett on his circuit through middle Tennessee.

*Note: "Old" Zion Cumberland Presbyterian church minutes state that "Zion Church of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination was organized A.D. 1810 by Rev. William Barnett."
Source: Volume II, No. 2 (March/April, 1995) of the Past Finder; published by the White County Genealogical-Historical Society of Sparta, TN.

In 1813, the Cumberland Presbytery expanded into the Cumberland Synod, with three presbyteries: Logan Presbytery, Elk Presbytery, & Nashville Presbytery. Records indicate that the Union Church was affiliated with the Nashville Presbytery in (at least one point of) this period.

In the Nashville Presbytery of the Cumberland Synod

1813-1821

1818

**October 1818** -- Cumberland Synod Session - Big Spring Church in Wilson County
October 20-22, 1818 -- Spencer Mitchell attended the Cumberland Synod meeting at the Big Spring meeting house in Wilson County, TN. At this time, the Union Church appears to have been in the Nashville Presbytery. It was reported at that time that, "In the Nashville Presbytery the good work of God has been remarkably manifested in several congregations and neighborhoods..." Although the Union Church was in the Nashville Presbytery at this time, it was not one of those mentioned as having remarkable manifestations of "the good work of God." Source: From (hand printed page numbers 54-58) pages printed in the Cumberland Presbyterian Review now bound in Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland Presbytery and Synod Minutes, 1810-1828 at the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN. Original manuscript archived at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA.


Minutes of the 1822 Synod indicate that a Lebanon Presbytery had been created prior to that meeting. It was created out of the eastern portion of the Nashville Presbytery. We know that Union Church was a part of the Lebanon Presbytery in 1838, so we assume (without documented proof) that it was attached to this new presbytery at the time of its 1821 creation.

1821-1829

1826

Spence Mitchell foresaw the need for education in the community as early as 1811 and made provision for the property to be used for educational purposes, as well as religious purposes. According to The History of White County, a school was established in the Union Meeting House in 1826 and Benny Mays was the teacher.

**Union School**
Stated Purpose for Use of the Union Meeting House Land ...for the sole and express use purpose of keeping upholding, and supporting a constant house for the preaching of the gospel, and for the further use of the tuition of youth if therefore requested;
Source: 1811 Deed from Spence Mitchell to the Ministers and People of the Congregation of the Union Meeting House

The distinguishing thing about all these Irish and Scotch settlements was that wherever a church was established there was also established, often in the same building, a school of which the minister was usually the head.

From page 98 of James Tate Williams: His Family and Recollections by Joseph Vincent Williams

See Benjamin Mays church register entry.

Old Union: A White County Pioneer School

The following description is taken from Legends and Stories of White County, Tennessee by Coral Williams, 1930, her master's thesis for George Peabody College for Teachers. The thesis is now held in the Vanderbilt University library.

The article reprinted here* first appeared in the Sparta News on April 25, 1929. The description is that of a school at Old Union in 1810.

About eight miles south of this town, near the old Sparta and Spencer Road, and near River Hill, is an old place by the name of Union. About the year 1810 the land there was donated to the Cumberland Presbyterian church by one Spencer Mitchell. Then a log house was erected and put down near the forks of the road. That house was about twenty-four by thirty feet and set east and west. The door, as was the custom of building country churches and school houses at that time, was placed in the side and this one was in the south side and the pulpit on the north side.

There was a six foot fireplace on the west and with a stick and clay chimney. There was an eight foot opening in the east end and a brush arbor over it on the outside.

The seats were of split logs with holes bored in them and legs driven in. The seats were so high a common size boy could not sit on them and touch the floor with his feet. The schools usually began about July and lasted from three to five months, but stopped two weeks about September to pull fodder. The things taught then were reading, writing, and arithmetic. More interest was taken in spelling and arithmetic than anything else. Along about that time some schools did not have any classes or recitations except in spelling. If the teacher lived so far he could not come from home he would board around among the scholars as they were called. One of the qualifications expected of the teacher then was he was to be able to make a good goose quill pen, the only kind used then. The teacher then sat in a high chair with a good sized switch in his hand and when a boy needed a little attention the teacher would pitch the switch at him and make him bring the switch back to him. Sometimes two boys would have to bring the switch back with one at each end of it. Then when it was necessary the teacher knew how to apply the limb to the back and he generally had enough cases to keep him in practice.

Occasionally the teacher would give orders for all to go to getting the reading and spelling lessons, and they would go to reading and spelling out loud which made a considerable racket. there were few lady teachers then and no young ones like we have now. Most all teachers were old men. The only name we have of those who taught in that old house is that of Miss Emma Shackleford and that was about 1848.

(Was Emma Shackleford the Grandmother of Minnie Pearl?)

One of the old-time customs was to let the large boys sit in the shade of the trees to cipher on their slates which meant to work out their problems in arithmetic. Another custom was to have trapping or turning down, as they called it in the spelling class, and all were proud to get a headmark. Webster's blue back spelling book was the standard then and so were McGuffey's readers and Davies' arithmetic, but there were schools in this country before any of these were published and some schools used the New Testament for readers. Sometimes just before the school was out the boys would turn the teacher out, as they called it, to make him treat. That was done by barring the door and windows some morning and not letting the teacher in till he would promise to set up a treat. The writer was a party to that sport one time at Old Union and the teacher agreed to treat and did bring up the apples. It was said the boys in some schools in those days had to take their teacher to a pond and duck him before they got a treat from him.

*Secondary Source: Volume II, No. 5 of The Past Finder, the White County Genealogical & Historical Society publication; September/October, 1995

William Doyle of Henry County, MO
From White County, TN and attended "Union Hill Academy"
(probably in 1840s and early 1850s)

One of the enterprising and energetic men of the county [Henry County, MO], was born in White County, Middle Tennessee, April 12, 1836. His father James H., was from South Carolina...

Young Doyle acquired a good education at the Union Hill Academy in Tennessee, and in 1856, when twenty years of age, he came to Missouri... He engaged in teaching in Henry County [Missouri] for some time...

Note: The Doyle family lived near Old Union in southern White County, TN.

Source: Page 785 of The History of Henry and St. Clair Counties, Missouri. (St. Joseph, MO: National Historical Company, 1883).

Angus C. Avery of Henry County, MO
From White County, TN and attended "Union Hill Academy"
(about 1850)

Angus C. Avery was reared on a farm and received his primary education in the schools of the neighborhood in which he lived. He then entered Union Hill Academy, White County, Tennessee, and after preparing himself for one year, became a student at Burritt College, Tennessee, where he remained two years....where he graduated July 3, 1858...

Note: Angus C. Avery was the son of Rev. Henry Avery. His mother was Elizabeth Green, daughter of Rev. John Green who was a minister at the Big Fork Baptist Church.

Source: Page 495 of The History of Henry and St. Clair Counties, Missouri. (St. Joseph, MO: National Historical Company, 1883).

"This synodical period, from 1813 to 1829, was one of unsurpassed activity and spirituality on the part of our ministry. Taking it altogether, the world has never witnessed its equal..."

Source: Chapter 20 of History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by B.W. McDonnold (Nashville: Board of Publication of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1899). [fourth edition]

In 1828 a decision was made to create a General Assembly and to constitute four synods. Franklin Synod was one of the four. It was composed of the Nashville, Lebanon, Knoxville, and Hopewell presbyteries. These synods were officially organized in the fall of 1829, when the General Assembly began its oversight of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. At that time, as a member of the Lebanon Presbytery, Union Church came under the jurisdiction of the Franklin Synod.

In the Lebanon Presbytery of the Franklin Synod of the CPC

1829-1838

1836

When White County, TN was divided into civil districts in 1836, the "union meeting house" was mentioned in the description of the Hickory Valley District, No. 2.

...thence to William Lewises lane between him and John Feltons thence passing along the field of Spence Mitchell near the union meeting house passing in a direct line between the farm of Jacob Anderson and John Scoggin Sr.

1838

Joseph G. Mitchell, son of Spence Mitchell, was ordained sometime in the year of 1838, according to the Union Church register.

**October 1838 --** Lebanon Presbytery Session at Moriah Church in Wilson County
On the Friday before the second Sabbath in October, 1838, Spencer Mitchel (Mitchell) represented the Union Church at a Lebanon Presbytery meeting that was held in the Moriah meeting house of Wilson County, TN. Source: Page 25 (hand scribbled page number) from the 1836-1850 Lebanon Presbytery minutes; VAULT BX 8978.L38 A3; Original manuscript archived at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA.


The Middle Tennessee Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was created in 1838. The Lebanon Presbytery, formerly of the Franklin Synod, was placed under its oversight. The Franklin Synod was discontinued in 1839.

1838-1843

1839

**May 1839 --** Lebanon Presbytery Session at Shilo Church in Warren County
On Friday, during the third week of May 1839, Spence Mitchel (Mitchell) represented the Union Church at the Lebanon Presbytery. The presbytery met at the Shilo (Shiloh) meeting house in Warren County, TN. (Source: page 30)*

**October 1839 --** Lebanon Presbytery Session at Copeland's Church in Wilson County
On Friday, before the third Sabbath in October 1839, the Union Church was specifically said to not be represented at the Lebanon Presbytery. The presbytery met at Copeland's meeting house in Wilson County, TN. (Source: page 35)*

1840

**March 1840 --** Lebanon Presbytery Session in Wilson County
On Friday, March 20, 1840, the Union Church was specifically said to not be represented at the Lebanon Presbytery. The presbytery met at another meeting house in Wilson County, TN. (Source: page 39)*

**October 1840 --** Lebanon Presbytery Session
On Friday, October 16, 1840, Spence Mitchell represented the Union Church at the Lebanon Presbytery. The "excuse of...Union...for not being represented in last session of presbytery were [sic] not sustained." (Source: page 42)* "Presbytery adjourned to meet at Union Church, White County, Tenn. on Friday before the third Sabbath in April 1841." (Source: page 46)*

1841

April 1841 -- Lebanon Presbytery Session at the Union Church in White County

On Friday, April 16, 1841, the Lebanon Presbytery meeting was held at this Union Meeting House. Spence Mitchell represented the host church.

Lebanon Presbytery met pursuant to adjournment at Union Meeting House White County Tennessee on Friday the 16th day of April 1841. Opend by A sermon delivered by the Rev'd H.F. Bone from Collosians 1 chapter & 28th verse, constituted with prayer. Members presant Rev'd Samuel McSpaden John Randolph James Thomas Nathan Lyon Henry F. Bone and Jesse E. Hickman. Robert S. donell & Nathan M. Sparks absent.

Representatives John Allision from liberty Spence Mitchell from union Abraham mcGhee from cherry creek David Patton from Thyatira Fredrick Deats from Mackminnville Church not represented Jerusalem Bethesady Cedar ___ Moriah Smiths Fork Lytles Creek mount Carmel Short mountain Collins river Shilo and Zion.

Licentiates Present John Richy David B. moore David L. mitchell and Hugh B. lansden David P. Richey absent, Candidates present A. Sivy [spelling?] W. woodfin W. C. sparks and S.F. donell.

James Thomas was chosen moderator and Jesse E. Hickman clerk the minates of last Presbytery were read on enquiry it was assertained that the mishanary orders of last Presbytery were complyed with, David L. mitchell a licentiate renderd his excuse for absence at our last stated Presbytery which was sustaned A.S. Ivey W. woodin and W.C. Sparks read descourses from texts previously assigned them which weare sustained as part of trial ordered that he prepare a writen discourse from 2nd Corrinthans 5th chapter and 17 verse to be read at our next stated Presbytery and that he improve himself in english grammer and divinity Rev. Amos M. Stone a member of the Chapman Presbytery presented his letter of dismission and recommendation to this house which was received and he took his seat as a member of this Presbytery the Licentiates and candidates were as usual examened on english grammer and Divinity. Presbytery adjourned to meet to morrow morning at half past 8 oclock concluded with prayer,

Saturday morning Presbytery meet agreeably to adjournment consituted with Prayer members present as on yesterday. The minutes were presented to this house from certain members of the Barnet Presbytery in missorie addressed to the moderator of this Presbytery respecting the case of W.P. Lewis resolved therefore that Brothers H.F. bone and Amos M. Stone be appointed a committee to address a letter to the members of that Presbytery and to W.P. Lewis on the Subject refered to D.P richey a licentiate came forward and rendered his excuse for absence at the commencement of this session which was not sustained John miller a representative from collens river ___ and took his seat

Resolved unaimously that the members of this house use all theire influence in procuring means for the support of itinorant preaching in our bounds, H.F. Bone, a member of this Presbytery being about to remove out of her bounds applied for a letter of dismission and recommendation which was granted him, wheras it has been made Known to this house that Hary Mongomery has donated to this Presbytery the sume of one hundred dollars that there should be some one appointed to recieve the same

Resolved therefore that Nathan Lyon be appointed as Treasure to receive this same or any other donations that may be made to this Presbytery to be subject to the disposal of the same.

Ordered that D.L. Mitchell and D.B. moore prepare to stand on examnation at our next stated Presbytery on all those parts of trial required by our Book of deciplen preparatory __ ordination and D.B. moore Preach a sermon from St John 3 chapter and 11 vers and D.L. mitchell from 2nd Cor 5 chapter and 20 __ and that Samuel MacSpadden preach the ordination sermon and that R.R. Donnell preside and give the charge.

This day the Rev'd H.F. Bone who was appointed at the last meeting of this Presbytery as a deligate and Samuel MacSpaden his alternate to the next meeting of the General Assembly. both appeared and resigned their commissions whereupon Nathan Lyon & Jesse E. Hickman were appointed in their stead

Presbytery having received testamonials in favor of A. S. Livy W. woodfin W.C. Sparks of theire good moral character and of theire being in the commission of the church proceded to take the usual parts of trial for theire licensure and they having given satisfaction as to theire ___ to teach as to theire experimental acquaintance with religion as to theire internal call to the work of the minestry and as to theire proficencey in Divinity the Presbytery did and do her by express theire approbation of all those parts of trial and they having adopted the confession of faith of this church and satisfacorally answered the questions appointed to be put to candidates to be licensed the Presby. did and do hereby licence them the said A.S. Ivey W. woodfin C.W. Sparks to preach the Gospel of Christ as probationers for the Holy ministry within the bounds of this Presbytery or where ever God in his providence may cast their lots

Resolved that the following camp meetings be held in the said bounds of this Presby. at the following places and attendance of the Brothers whose names are their to attatched __ moriah the 1 sabath in August next and that Brother __ moore Lansden woodfin & Lyons attend thereon at Lytles Creek 1 Sabath in September and that Thomas moore Lyon and Ivy attend there on at Liberty 2 sabath in Septem- and that randolph Hickman Stone Thomas & D.P. Richey att thereon Cherry Creek 3d Sab in September and that randolph Hickman & D.P. richy attend thereon Smiths fork the 4 sabeth in Sept. Samuel MacSpadon A.M. Stone moore D. P. richy woodfin & Lansden attend thereon Bethsda the 1 sabath in october and that Stone Ivy & Landson attend thereon

Whereas William Henry Harrison President of the united States departed this life on the 4th day of this month resolved that we view this as a misterious dispensation of Providence which calls for deep humiliation repentance and Prayer on the part of this great nation, ordered that James Thomas supply Thyatira congregation with preaching once a month untill our next stated Presbytery. The committy to whome was referd the duty of writing to the members of the Barnet Presbytery and william P. Lewis presented writen letters which were received by the house and officially signed ordered that D.L. Mitchell & W.C. Sparks supply the different circuits in our bounds equally the whole of their time until our next stated Presbytery with Preaching,

Resolved that Samuel MacSpadden and A.M. Stone be a comm___ to counfer the Chapman Presbytery __ to certain funds in there hands which __ made up by a society as a church fund __ bounds of the old Lebanan Presbytery,

Presbytery Adjourned to meet at Poplar Stand in Cannon County Tennessee on Tuesday the 19th of October next concluded with Prayer

Test Jessey E. Hickman James Thomas Moderator
Clerk

(Source: pages 46-50)*

**October 1841 --** Lebanon Presbytery Session at the Poplar Stand Church in Cannon County
On October 19, 1841, Spence Mitchell represented the Union congregation at the Lebanon Presbytery. The meeting was held at the Poplar Stand meeting house in Cannon County, TN. (Source: page 51)*

1842

**April 1842 --** Lebanon Presbytery Session at the Cherry Creek Church in White County
On Saturday, April 16, 1842, Elder S. Mitchell represented the Union Church (and Oak Grove) at the Lebanon Presbytery. This meeting was held at the Cherry Creek meeting house in White County, TN (several miles north of Sparta). "Spence Mitchell asked leave to be absent the remainder of this session which request was granted." (Source: page 57-ff)*

**October 1842 --** Lebanon Presbytery Session at the Moriah Church in Wilson County
On Saturday, October 8, 1842, the Lebanon Presbytery met at Moriah meeting house in Wilson County, TN. There was no representative present from the Union Church, but Union was still considered to be in the Lebanon Presbytery at this time. (Source: page 61)*

*Source: Pages (numbers scribbled as hand written numbers) from the 1836-1850 Lebanon Presbytery minutes; VAULT BX 8978.L38 A3; Original manuscript archived at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA.

Comparison of the October 1842 and April 1843 Lebanon Presbytery minutes seems to indicate that the Sparta Presbytery was created sometime between those two meetings. Union Church was specifically said to be "not represented" at the Lebanon Presbytery meeting in October of 1842. It was not represented in the April 1843 meeting either, but was not listed as a church that was "not represented." In the April 1843 meeting, mention was made of "the Sparta Presbytery" (which White County native & former Lebanon Presbytery minister, Jesse Hickman, was said to represent).

In the Sparta Presbytery of the Middle TN Synod of the CPC

1843-1849

1847

March 5-6, 1847 -- The Sparta Presbytery met in Sparta, TN. Union Church was represented by Spence Mitchell. It appears that Spence Mitchell also represented a Sparta Church.

Source: Page 2 (and another page in that same issue for which the page number is undetermined) of the March 26, 1947 issue of Banner of Peace. (available at the CPC Historical Foundation in Memphis, TN)

About 1848

One source* stated that Miss Emma Shackleford was a school teacher at Union School in about 1848. We no nothing else of her tenure there as a teacher. Her name does not appear in the Union Church register, nor does the name of any other Shackleford. There is evidence to indicate that she may have been the grandmother of Grand Ole Opera star, "Minnie Pearl" (Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon).

*Source: Legends and Stories of White County, Tennessee by Coral Williams, 1930, her master's thesis for George Peabody College for Teachers. Now held in the Vanderbilt University library.

Emma Shackleford -- Grandmother of "Minnie Pearl?"
According to one Colley family researcher (Bill Colley, editor of the White County Pastfinder), this Emma Shackleford was possibly the grandmother of Grand Ole Opry comedienne, "Minnie Pearl." Harrison Shackleford lived in District 6 of White County, TN in 1848 and 1849. Emily V. Shackleford (born: December 1828 in TN, and died: 1908 in TN, and buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Franklin, Williamson County, TN) was possibly his daughter. This Emily V. Shackleford married Thomas S. Colley (born: April 1825 in KY, and married: May 18, 1854 in Coffee County, TN, and died: 1905 in TN, and buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Franklin, Williamson County, TN.) "Minnie Pearl" (Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon) was the granddaughter of Thomas S. & Emily V. Shackleford Colley, through their son, Thomas Kelly Colley. Read more about the Emma Shackleford and Minnie Pearl Connection.

The comment regarding Emma Shackleford also indicates that the "old house" (presumably, the old log building) was still in use in about 1848.

1849

March 20, 1849 -- Spence Mitchell died at the age of 74 at his home in White County, TN*.

*Source: Obituary of Spence Mitchell published on page 3 of Banner of Peace, Vol. 7, number 50; 11 May 1849. Read the obituary.

1850-1859

1858

August 8, 1858 -- "The church was reorganized by Rev. Jesse E. Hickman and a new Session Book was opened" at this time.*

In September 1883, C.T. Haston and Rev. W.P. Smith could find no Union Church records from the pre-1858 years.

Note: In 2001, J.M. Passons told Wayne Haston that the original Union Church building was destroyed by fire and that the early records were destroyed in the fire. Mr. Passons did not know when that fire occurred. The story of the fire and the loss of records had probably been passed down from his father, who was a prominent member and leader at the Union Church for many years in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Joe Wallace, chairman of the Union Cemetery Trust Fund told Wayne Haston (July 22, 2002) that the fire occurred in the 1840s or 1850s.

However, there is some evidence which seems to indicate that there was a building loss and reconstruction in the 1898-1901 period.

Questions:

Does this pre-1858 absence of church records provide a clue as to the date of the church fire?
Does this 1858 reorganization imply that the Union Church had been inactive or dissolved for some period or that it just needed to create a new roll book, purge old members, ordain new leaders, etc.?
If the church had been inactive prior to 1858, how long had it remained in that condition?
Did the destruction of the original church building...whenever that occurred...contribute to a temporary dissolution or disorganization of the church?
Or, was lack of stable leadership, due to the March 20, 1949 death of Spence Mitchell, the cause of the church's disorganization prior to 1858?

Source: September 1, 1883 Entry in Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church Minutes Book.

August 11, 1858 -- Jessie Scoggin [Scoggins] Williams was ordained as an elder of the Union Church. (as per the church register)

Grandfather Williams was a modest, quiet man. He was a very devout Christian...

--Joseph Vincent Williams*

*Note: Chapter III of the book James Tate Williams: His Family and Recollections, by Joseph Vincent Williams, presents an overview of the life of Jesse Scoggins Williams (1821-1883), including a portrait of his wife and him. He was the father of Rev. James Tate Williams, a prominent Cumberland Presbyterian pastor, evangelist, and educator of the mid to late 1800s.

**Union Church & the River Hill Community in the Mid-1800s**
In front and in sight of the [Jesse Scoggins Williams] home was Union Church, established in 1805, and at which the greater part of the people of the Valley worshiped. In this Church, built of logs, there was conducted a public school. (p. 46) Close by the Williams' home was River Hill, the post office for that section; a store, blacksmith shop, and the residence of a country doctor. This point was the shopping and gathering center for those early pioneers and their descendents. (p. 46) It was a wholesome environment...in fact nearly every one in that community, were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and to Old Union Church came the leading ministers of that day to hold protracted meetings. Among others were Rev. Jesse Hickman, said to be a graduate of Princeton, and Rev. John Lansden, the grandfather of the late Chief Justice D. L. Lansden [of Tennessee Supreme Court]. I heard the late Foster V. Brown, who was reared in Hickory Valley, state that John Lansden had more native ability than any man he had ever known. (pp. 46-47) At Old Union one could have the benefit of only a common school course. Dr. Sam Denton...the only living student [as of 1938] who went to school with my father [Rev. James Tate Williams] in 1866 at Old Union. His relative, John S. Denton, was principal of that school... My mother [Matilda Wallace] was also a student at Old Union, in 1866... (pp. 51-52) Source: James Tate Williams: His Family and Recollections by Joseph Vincent Williams. (Kingsport, TN: Kingsport Press, 1938)

1860-1869

April 1, 1860 -- Death of David Haston, first clerk of the Union Church.

February 24, 1861 -- The following statement was made in September of 1883, in reference to the incompleteness (as of 1883) of the new Union Church record book opened in August 1858:

The last meeting of the Session recorded in it [i.e. the August 1858 church book] was held Feb. 24, 1861, from which time nothing has been entered except the names of persons who have since joined and not all of them.

Hickory Valley Ravaged in Civil War The Civil War Years

September 15, 1861 to October 20, 1864 -- No Union Church business of any kind is recorded in the church register during these middle years of the Civil War. We wonder if the church even met during those years.

The Union Church stood about 1/2 mile from and visible to the main road that connected, at that time, North and South through White County. Its location would have made it a target for passing marauders and a haven for cold or wet soldiers. No doubt, many Civil War soldiers of both loyalties slept in the church building as they camped in or patrolled the southern Hickory Valley area. Thus, it would have been nearly impossible for church activity to have continued uninterrupted during this time.

The Union Church families, as far as we know, were loyal to the Confederacy. John Calvin ("Callie") Wallace, Simon Wallace (Callie's brother), and John M. Mitchell were sons of long-time Union Church families whom we know to have fought for the Southern cause.

Grandfather Wallace (William Wallace)...being a staunch Southerner and having two sons serving in the Confederate army--Callie and Simon--it was not surprising that all of his livestock was carried off by the Federal army in 1864.

Page 40 of James Tate Williams: His Family and Recollections by Joseph Vincent Williams

Please contact us if you know of other Old Union "sons" who fought in the Civil War.

Read John M. Mitchell's Civil War Questionnaire.

In the middle* of the Old Union Church cemetery, there is an area where no tombstones are visible. An uninformed observer would think that no one is buried in that area of the cemetery.

According to J.M. Passons, Boyd Haston, and others who were familiar with the cemetery in the early decades of the 20th Century, at one time there were numerous** cedar markers that marked graves in that area of the cemetery. These were known, by the local folks of that time, to be graves of Civil War soldiers. We do not know whether these were Union or Confederate soldiers or when and why they were buried in this cemetery. J.M. Passons stated that someone, in an attempt to "clean up" the cemetery, pushed the cedar markers into a pile and burned them.

*Note: If you would be exiting from the door of the Old Union building, the Civil War graves would be to your right (east)...over in the middle of the cemetery, about half way between the front steps of the church and the fence that marks the beginning of the woods to the east of the cemetery.

**J.M. Passons guessed that there were 45-50 soldiers buried there. (as per a July 22, 2002 conversation with Wayne Haston)

April 27, 1864 -- Death of Jesse Scoggin, one of the founding elders of the Union Church. (as per the church register)

December 20, 1864 -- H.P Smith was ordained as an elder. (as per the church register)

December 25, 1864 -- Benjamin Mays was ordained as an elder. (as per the church register)

September 28, 1867 -- Jabez G. Mitchell was ordained as an elder. Joseph Brown was also ordained as a deacon on this date; he "ceased to act" (for no stated reason) in 1872. (as per the church register)

1870-1879

1870

1870 -- Death of Joseph Cummings, Sr. one of the founding elders of the Union Church, as per the church register. However, Cummings family researcher Hoyte Cook says that Mr. Cummings probably died in 1866 or 1868.

1875

September 1875 -- Wm. J. Lewis was ordained as an elder (as per the church register).

1877

Fall 1877 -- Session of the Sparta Presbytery - Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Although there are no specific dates stated in the minutes for this session, other dates in the minutes seem to indicate that this was probably the Fall Session 1877.

The Union Church of White County was on a list of churches that were "not represented" in this presbytery session. The Union Church was still on the roll of the Sparta Presbytery and considered to be a part of that body's jurisdiction.

W. J. Little represented a Sparta Church. Rev. W.P. Smith was present, but he was not representing Union Church at this time. Rev. J.T. Williams was present and active in this meeting.

The following resolution made during this 1877 presbytery meeting may be indicative of the status of Union Church at this time, as well as other congregations within this presbytery:

Whereas there are several congregations in our bounds, not supplied with regular preaching and considerable territory where we have no organization, where there are loud calls for the preaching of our doctrine. Resolved, That your ministers both ordained and licensed be required to devote all the time they practically can to preaching and supplying the destitute congregations, and occupying the unoccupied territory, and report to the next session of the Presbytery.

Source: Sparta Presbytery (CPC), Minutes, ca. 1877; 1880 (V/MJC45/Sp2); archived at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA. These original handwritten minutes are the only records of the Sparta Presbytery that are known to exist. If you know of the existence of other Sparta Presbytery (of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church) records, please contact us.

1880-1883

1880

September 1880 -- Session of the Sparta Presbytery - Cumberland Presbyterian Church

September 24-25, 1880 -- No one represented the Union Church at this presbytery meeting that convened at the Big Spring Church in Jackson County, TN.

Zion was represented by H.L. Lowery. Cherry Creek was represented by W.P. Lee. W.P. Smith was one of the absent members.

The Sparta Church was on the "have failed to report" list, as was the Union Church and others (17 total). Union was still on the Sparta Presbytery roll of churches.

Rev. J.E. Hickman was the session moderator and Rev. J.T. [James Tate] Williams was the Session Clerk.

There were 40 congregations in the Sparta Presbytery at this time, with 2004 communicants, 27 ordained ministers, 3 licentiates, 3 candidates, 120 elders, and 25 deacons. It appears that the presbytery had been blessed with 102 additions and 79 baptisms during the past year.

A.M. Hasten* [sic] represented a Gainsboro Church (Jackson County, TN). Elder A.M. Hastand [sic] offered a resolution that was unanimously adopted…thanking the citizens of the community where this meeting was held for their hospitality.

*Note: This A.M. Hasten / Hastand [Hestand] was probably Alexander Mayfield Hestand, grandson of Daniel Hestand [Hiestend] who settled in south central Kentucky in about 1799 with his father Abraham Hiestend.

"This almost certainly is Alexander Mayfield Hestand. One of Daniel Hestand's sons was Abraham M Hestand (1802-1877). Abraham M Hestand spent his life on a farm just over the KY border into Clay Co, TN just north of Moss. He was a successful farmer and a justice of the peace for many years. Alexander Mayfield Hestand (1837-1918) was one of his sons. It is known that Alexander was a Presbyterian minister and he did live and die in Jackson Co, TN." Source: Doug Moore, Hiestend family researcher

This A.M. Hasten / Hastand [or Hestand?] appeared in a 1901 McMinnville Presbytery Session at the Hilham Church of Overton County.

Source: Sparta Presbytery (CPC), Minutes, ca. 1877; 1880 (V/MJC45/Sp2); archived at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA. These original handwritten minutes are the only records of the Sparta Presbytery that are known to exist. If you know of the existence of other Sparta Presbytery (of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church) records, please contact us.

1858-1883 - Era of Growth, Prosperity, and Unusual Harmony

Just knowing about the tumultuous times of the Civil War and Post-Civil War reconstruction years in White County, TN, one might assume that these years were devastating to the Union Church. No doubt, they were very hard years, but it appears that they were also years of revival and rich spiritual blessings.

Till 1858 it is not known who served the church as pastors. Since that time [1858] the following ministers have served; viz: Revds. J.E. Hickman, Jas. K. Lansden, Stephen Davis, William P. Smith, James T. Williams and John S. Kitrell during which time the church has been growing and prospering and unusual harmony has existed among the members. There are now so far as can be ascertained, about one hundred and ten members belonging to the congregation whose names together with those who have died or removed will be found in the proper place in this record.

Source: September 1, 1883 entry in the Union Church minutes. Bold emphasis added here to emphasize the main thought of the paragraph.

The church's register confirms that these were indeed years of spiritual prosperity for the Union Church. After a hiatus of growth during the middle years (1862-1863) of the Civil War, there was a burgeoning influx of members into the Union Church. Some joined by transfer from other churches, but many joined by conversion ("experience").

Questions:

Why were there no session records kept during these years, if these were such prosperous years for the church? Was this simply due to the ineptitude or carelessness of the church's clerk, if indeed there was a stated session clerk for the church during this time?
Was the absence of representation for the Union Church in the 1877 and 1880 Sparta Presbytery meeting typical of their presbyterial association during this Post-Civil War era? If so, why would that be the case if they were experiencing years of growth, prosperity, and unusual harmony?
Was the Union Church enjoying growth and blessings, in spite of their lack of detailed organization and close ties to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church?