Texas County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

Hamilton Creek Missionary Baptist Church

Contributed by Marguerette Powell
Submitted by: Kerma Breedlove

Hamilton Creek Missionary Baptist Church to mark its 100th anniversary in September
Hamilton Creek Missionary Church will turn 100 years old next month and is planning a special day of activities on Sunday, September 5.
Hamilton Creek Baptist Church was organized on September 9, 1904.

For that first service, Rev. Willas Dodson preached from Daniel 2:44. W. D. O. Coble was the moderator and E. A. Coats was clerk. The Presbytery consisted of Rev. W. D. O. Coble, Rev. W. A. Dodson and Rev. E. A. Coats. Charter members were Bro.William Moses Jarrett, and Sister Nettie Fielden. When the church opened for joiners, the following responded: W. H. Ross, Sarah Ross, Iva Fielden, Thomas Jarrett, Callie Jarrett, Clercia Overfelt, Loucinda Archer, Henry Altis, Tilda Altis, Bettie Altis, M. T. Bailey and Tina Bailey.

In September 1904 a business meeting was held and it was decided to call the church Hamilton Creek Baptist Church. Rev. E. A. Coats was the first pastor.Church records show the first deacons were Bro. Castor, Bro Hall and Bro. W. H. Ross.

In 1911 a pulpit stand was made by Bro Mathany in memory of Bro. Frank Hall, who had been killed by a bull on a nearby farm.

The church voted in 1941 to join the County Line Association. "We finally got electricity in 1950," a church member reported.

In 1951, Brothers Maynard Jarrett, Jess Rimel and Irvin Duke were ordained as deacons.

The church held its first homecoming on September 12, 1954 with Elder Lyle Marr bringing the message, using Daniel 2:44.

On July 31, 1966, Brothers Harvey Jarrett and Pete Armstrong were ordained deacons.

A well drilled in August 1994, and plans were made to build onto the old church house.
A fellowship room and bathrooms were built with lots of donations of money and labor.

Today the church holds Sunday school and morning worship each Sunday morning. On the third Sunday of each month, there is a carry-in dinner and services that
evening. Elder Richard Mitchell is the current pastor and Bro. Charles Harmon the Sunday school superintendent.

"The years have come and gone, as have members, but with the good Lord's help, our church will still be here 100 more years," a member said.
Everyone is invited to attend the church's 100th anniversary on Sunday, September 5. There will be a basket dinner at noon with an afternoon program to follow.

To reach the church from Cabool, take Highway 63 north to Route PP. Go approximately six miles on PP and turn left on Freely Give Road. Then go two miles
and turn left on Bado Road.

The End

Next is an article that was in my mother's things, no date of paper but would be the Cabool Enterprise.

Hamilton Creek Church Plans 60th Anniversary

Hamilton Creek Baptist Church will hold an all-day homecoming service Sunday at the church.
The celebration is in observance of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the church.

Sunday School will be held at 10 a.m. with Rev. C. B. Maggard of Ava bringing the mesage at an 11 a.m. service.
A basket dinner will be held at noon. A singing and devotion with special recognition for the oldest member present and the member coming the fartherest distance are planned for the afternoon. Friends and all who are interested are invited to attend this special celebration.

Following is a history of the church as compiled by Mrs. Maynard Jarrett, church clerk.

September 9, 1904, several person met, according to arrangements, on Hamilton Creek.
A preaching service was conducted by Rev. Willas A. Dotson from a text in Daniel 2:44.

After the service a Presbytery was organized by electing W. O. Coble as moderator and E. A. Coats as clerk.
The Presbytery consisted of Rev. W. O. Coble, Rev. W. A. Dotson, and Rev. E. A. Coats in council.

The Presbytery examined letters of Bro. W. M. Jarrett, Sister C. E. A. Jarrett and Sister Nettie Fielden. The letters being found regular, the Presbytery proceeded to read the articles of faith and the church covenant. They interrogated the lettered members and found them sound of faith. The moderator then led in prayer, after which he pronounced the lettered members a church.

Thus was Hamilton Creek Missionary Church established over 60 years ago. The next step was to open the church, for membership.

The following persons responded: W. H. Ross, Sarah Ross, Iva Fielden, Thomas Jarrett, Callie Jarrett, Clerea Overfelt, Lucinda Archer, Henry Altis, Betty Altis, W. T. Bailey and Tena Bailey.

Thomas Jarrett was then elected as first church clerk. In 1904 Elder E. A. Coats was called to be the first pastor. Later his sister, Dressie and brother, Dennie, united with the church.

In 1905 the church voted to take a five-cents collection at each conference for District Mission. The total of the first collection was 16 cents. At this time brother Henry Altis was elected as first treasurer.

A building committee was elected the same year. Brothers H. W. Altis, John McCalla, M. T. Bailey, B. Castor and W. H. Ross were members. They met at Bro. John House's home to decide on a location for the church home. It was decided to build on the upper end of the W. H. Ross field, where the original church still stands.

Rev. W. M. Jarrett was added to the committee, Sisters Callie Jarrett, Betty Altis and Ella Carter were appointed to solicit funds to help build the church. The committee was then instructed to order needed lumber from the pine saw mill.

About two years later, March 17, 1907, the church door was first opened for service. Entering in were Bro. A. J. Bryant, Bro. Wm Frisby and Sister Maud Frisby. A year later the deed was received and duly recorded.

In January 1907, Brothers B. Castor, Frank Hall, and W. H. Ross were appointed as Deacons. On the same day Bro Frank Hall's son, Dave, was baptized and united with the church.
Church members now voted to take a collection each time they met to build the church house. Collections usually ranged from 50 cents to one or two dollars.

A Baptist Young People's meeting was organized in May 1907. Amanda House was elected as president, and also church clerk.

J. C. Hicks was called as pastor in 1910.

On August 5, 1911, a pulpit stand was presented to the church by Bro. Mathany in memory of Bro. Frank Hall, who was killed by a bull on a nearby farm. The pulpit stand is still in use and very much treasured by the church.

The first Sunday School was organized in 1911.

The first messengers appointed in 1913 to represent the church in the association were John McCalla, Jess Sponsler and W. H. Ross.

Ralph Simpson, John McCalla and D. H. Altis were elected as trustees in 1919.

The church called Elder C. F. Wimberly to be pastor in 1940. He served the church and his Lord faithfully for the next six years.

Bro. Jess Rimel was elected church clerk in 1943. He served faithfully and well, not only as clerk, but also as superintendent of Sunday School and Deacon until he had to resign as clerk because of failing health.

Sister Effie Jarrett was then elected as clerk, and still serves in that capacity.

Brother Maynard Jarrett, Brother Jess Rimel and Bro. Irvin Duke were ordained as Deacons in 1951, as God had called home long ago the former Deacons.

The first homecoming of the church was held on the 50th anniversary, August 22, 1954. It was a great day spent for the Lord. Elder Lyle Marr brought the message from the same text that was used when the church was established.

The church elected Elder C. B. Maggard to be pastor in 1955. He still serves in that capacity and is a faithful, beloved pastor.

One his 72nd birthday, April 14, 1962, members of the church had a surprise basket dinner at the church for him. It was a wonderful day of fellowship and worship.
"Many changes have been made in the old church house. Many old members have passed on and new ones have taken their place.

The End

My notes: Rev. E. A. Coats was Enoch A., s/o Thomas Benton and Rebecca Jane Kurns Coats. Dressie and Dennie were his sister and brother. Sister Nettie Fielden
was the d/o John and Sarah Coats Fielden. Sarah Ross was Sarah Fielden, sister of Nettie and husband was William H. Ross. Iva Fielden was sister of Nettie and
Sarah and is my grandmother. I remember hearing the story of the bull killing the man as I grew up. Tilda Altis was Matilda, mother of my g aunt Ella who married
Clarence Wood, brother to my grandfather, Willie. Mom and many of her family members went to Freely Give School. In the oldest article is where Dressie and Dennie
are mentioned. The meeting at John House's home was the home of my g grandfather. The Amanda House mentioned is my dad's mother. Amanda "Mandy" Ellen Edwards
House. Jess (Jesse) Sponsler married Dressie Coats. Ralph Simpson was the second husband of my g aunt Nan Fielden.

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Candi H., 2006