Newberry County Methodist Churches South Carolina Annals of Newberry, by John A. Chapman, page 693-707   For the following history of the Methodist Church in Newberry County I am indebted to Rev. J. B. Traywick and his daughter, Miss Mary Traywick: The early history of the Methodist Church in Newberry County has not been preserved with any degree of accuracy, except in a few instances. This is accounted for by the fact that Methodism was not introduced into the States by immigration from Europe, as in the case of the Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches, but by the evangelical labors of itin­erant preachers; and, also, the early Methodist churches were generally organized in private houses, and were not served by resident pastors, hut by itinerant preachers, who were usually changed annually, and who served large numbers of preaching places. Then the early churches hail no record except class books for societies; hence we have lost much of the valuable history of Methodism in the first half century of its existence in this county. The first Methodist society in Newberry County could not have been organized sooner than 17S4. The following year the Broad River Circuit was formed, which circuit extended from Dutch Fork to Pacolet, in Spartanburg District. The Broad River Circuit did not include all Newberry District. A few years later Saluda River Circuit was formed, and those churches on the Saluda side of the district wore included in it. This arrangement continued until 1794, when Bush River Cir­cuit was organized, and most of the churches in Newberry District . except the churches on Enoree River, which were in Enoree Circuit, wore included in Bush River Circuit, and con­tinued in this circuit until 1820, when Newberry Circuit was organized, the territory of which included all Newberry County except Ebenezer, near Maybinton, and Mt. Tabor; also all of Lexington Fork, and Hopewell, Salem and Sardis, in Laurens. The churches in Newberry District, from the beginning in 1784, had enjoyed tho ministerial service of many of the leading preachers of that day, beginning with James Foster, and Stephen Johnson as junior for that year. Bishop Asbury often preached in Newberry District. as did Bishops Coke and Whatcoat. Coleman Carlisle was in charge of Newberry Circuit its first year, 1820. He was the grandfather of Dr. H. C. Carlisle and M. A. Carlisle, Esq., of our county. His body sleeps in Salem Graveyard, in Laurens County, S. C. The preachers on Newberry Circuit for 1821 were: James Mullinnix and Daniel Riley; 1822, Henry Bass and M. McPherson; 1823, Robert Adams: 1824—5, Joseph Holmes; 1826, to be supplied; 1827, Barnett Smith; 1828, Samuel Dunwoody; 1829—30, David Derrick; 1831—2, John Watts; 1833, John Compton; 1834, Jacob Ozier; (835, H. W. Ledbetter and W. C. Ferrill; 1836—7, Frederick Rush; 1838—9, David Derrick, and in 1839 also John Tarrant: 1840—1, Geo. W. Moore and John Tarrant; 1842-3, J. H. Zimmerman and D. Byrd; 1844, Samuel Dunwoody and L; M. Little; 1845, Samuel Dunwoody and A. B. McGilvary; 1846—7, Ira L. Potter and W. A. Connor; 1848, C. A. Crowell and S. H. Brown; 1849, W. A. McSwain and J. J. Harris; 1850. P. G. Bowman and S. H. Dunwoody; 1851, J. H. Zimmerman and Jas. W. Bouchelle; 1852, C. Murehison and E. J. Pennington; 1853, C. Murchison and W. E. Boon; 1854, C. H. Walker and A. B. McGilvary. In l854 the church in Newberry was set off as a station butt we follow the circuit in its preachers to the present. In 1854, Samuel Townsend; 1855, M. Puckett and J. T. Duhose; 1856, M. Puckett and D. D. Byars; 1857, Thos. Raysor and James Cline; 1858, Thos. Raysor and Wesley Graham: 1859-60, J. T. Kilgo and Wm. Bowman; 1861—2, John W. Wightman and ?; 1863—4, M. A. Connelly and J. M. Boyd; 1865—68, J. H. Zimmerman was in charge with W. A. Hodges as junior in ‘65, J. B. Traywick in ‘66—7, and Robert M. Harrison in '68. In 1869, W, H. Lawton and J. M. Boyd; 1870, A. J. Cauthen and G. T. Harmon; 1871, A. P. Avant and J. C. Counts; 1872, A. P. Avant and H. W. Whitaker: 1873, J. L. Shuford and D. D. Dantzler; 1874, J. L. Shuferd and J. C. Counts; 1875—6, Thos. 0. Herbert and L. F. Beaty: 1877, Thos. 0. Herbert and James W. Ariail; 1878, Thos. G. Herbert and W. P. Meadors; 1879, Jno. W. Kelly and W. P. Meadors; 1880, J. W. Kelly and Jas. S. Porter; 1881, A. J. Stokes and Thos. W. White; 1882, A. J. Stokes and J. W. Neeley; 1883, M. Brown and W. H. Hodges; 1881, M. Brown and G. B. Whitaker; 1885, M. Brown and G. H. Waddell; 1886, M. M. Brabham and J M. Steadman; 1887—8, M. M. Brabham and A. W. Attaway; 1889, M. M. Brabham and W. C. Mouzon; 1890, W. H. Lawten; 1891—2, Coke D. Mann; 1893, W. L. Wait. Newberry as a station had as its first pastor, in 1854, Jno. H. Pickett; 1855—6, W. A. McSwain; 1857—8, A. W. Walker; 1859—60, M. A. McKibbin; 1861—2, Bond English; 1863, Thos. J. Clyde; 1864, J. E. Watson; 1865—6, J. W. Humbert; 1867—8, W. S. Black; 1869—70, O. A. Darby; 1871—2, J. A. Mood; 1873—4, M. Brown; 1875, R. P. Franks; 1876—7, C. H. Pritchard; 1878, A. M. Chrietzberg; 1879—81, J. B. Campbell; 1882—3, R. D. Smart; 1884-5, J. A. Clifton; 1886, H. F. Chrietzberg; 1887—8, J. L. Stokes; 1889—90, W. S. Wightman; 1891—3, W. W. Daniel. At the Conference of 1875 North Newberry Circuit was formed, consisting of Tranquil, Tabernacle and Sharon, in Newberry County, and two churches in Laurens, and E. T. Hodges appointed as pastor for 1876; in 1877, J. W. Humbert; 1878—9, M. L. Banks; 1880—1, A. C. Legette; 1882—3, A. A. Gilbert; 1884, W. H. Ariail; 1885, R. R. Dagnall; 1886, M. H. Pooser; 1887—8, T. P. Phillips; 1889, B. P. Taylor; 1890, E. A. Wilkes, 1891—2, O. N. Rountree. This circuit now bears the name of Kinards. At the Conference of 1889 Prosperity Circuit was set off, consisting of Prosperity Church, Zion, Mt. Pleasant and New Hope, and J. B. Traywiek was appointed pastor for 1890—92. For 1893, D. D. Dantzler has been appointed. Thus, at some length, I have given the pastors who have labored in Newberry County. Among this long list, there are many who have distinguished themselves as able preachers, and as a rule they have been faithful and earnest pastors. Newberry has furnished the Church and County with a long list of faithful, self-sacrificing local preachers, who, while supporting themselves, have done a vast amount of ministerial labor without pecuniary compensation. I mention most of them as they occur to my mind: John McCartney, Philip Cromer, Dr. M. W. Moon, George Clark, Nathan Boyd, Samuel Neil, William Harmon, Warren Kilgore, Henry Cloy, Stephen Shell, William Curry, Dr. James Kilgore, S. H. Dunwoody, Mark M. Boyd and W. Walter Summers. Newberry has also furnished a goodly number of itinerant preachers: George Dougherty, J. W. Lee, M. D., Thos. G. Herbert, J. Marion Boyd, Geo. M. Boyd, P. Pettus Boyd, B. M. Boozer, J. C. Counts, E. T. Hodges and J. Matthew Henry. While all these sons of Newberry have reflected honor on their native county, yet the first named deserve special notice. Geo. Dougherty was born about 1772, in Newberry District, near the Lexington line (the place now unknown). His life was short— only about thirty-five years—his opportunies for education limited; he lost one eye, and was greatly disfigured by smallpox. His burning thirst for knowledge led him to attain a marked position as a scholar, as a logician, theologian and orator. He was far in advance of any contemporaries, according to the accounts given us of his great preaching by Drs. Pierce, Flinn, Chrietzberg and others. No South Carolinian has ever excelled him. Newberrians should hold his name in precious remembrance. He died in Wilmington, N. C., in 1807. Dr. J. W. Lee went out into the itinerant ministry from New Hope Church. He labored a number of years, first in the South Carolina Conference and later on in the North Carolina Conference. He was a theologian of no mean ability. He died a few years since in North Carolina. B. M. Boozer went out from Zion Church, and joined the South Carolina Conference in 1875. He was a pure gentle Christian; was very useful, and died in 1882, in Spartanburg County, S. C. As to the others mentioned, they are still living and highly esteemed by the entire Conference. As to the local preachers named, they not only contributed largely to the development of the Methodist Church in the county, but were true and patriotic citizens of the county. I may be permitted to write more fully of one of them, though living: Mark M. Boyd (“Uncle Mark”), now in his eighty-seventh year. He was reared in the New Hope community, but has lived many years in the New Chapel. He has been a member of the Church for sixty-seven years, and a local preacher for fifty. No man, dead or living, has exerted a greater influence en the moral and spiritual life of Newberry County than he. His whole record is without a blot or stain;. he is universally loved wherever known and his name is a household word well nigh throughout the entire State. His coming to the homes of the people is hailed as a benediction. He is justly proud of the fact that all of his children are true Christians, and his three living sons are influential mem­bers of the South Carolina Conference, His father was Rev. Nathan Boyd. So as preachers the name Boyd has been continued for a whole century in Newberry County. While Newberry County has given the Church so many Methodist preachers, perhaps her richest offering has been in preachers’ wives. Not only have most of the local preachers mentioned above married Newberry women, but the following itinerant preachers have married wives among Newberry’s fair daughters: W. B. Curry, John Watts, S. H. Dunwoody, J. W. Lee, J. M. Boyd, G. M. Boyd, J. E. Watson, J. W. Humbert, Fred Auld, T. H. Edwards, J. B. Traywick, J. C. Counts, D. P. Boyd, B. M. Boozer, H. W. Whitaker, D. D. Dantzler, A. Coke Smith, A. M. Chrietzberg, W. W. Jones, J. S. Porter, L. F. Beaty, J. E. Rushton, G. H. Waddell, A. A. Gilbert, M. M. Brabham and A. W. Attaway. The greater number of these marriages have occurred in the past twenty-five years. It becomes necessary to go back and give a brief account of the origin and history of each church in the county. This will not be according to dates in every instance. It is quite probable that the first Methodist Church in Newberry County was organized in the house of Edward Finch. Bishop Asbury held a Quarterly Conference here in 1788. This was near where Mt. Bethel Academy was built and ded­icated by Bishop Asbury in 1795. Its first rector was Rev. Mark Moore, who was in charge for six years, assisted by Messrs. Smith and Hammond. Mr. Hammond succeeded Mr. Moore. He was the father of Gov. Hammond. Mt. Bethel had a large patronage and gave to South Carolina some of her most distinguished men. This school continued until about 1820, when it was superceded by Tabernacle Academy, in Abbeville District. Annual collections were taken by the Church for the support of this institution. Mt. Pleasant was built about 1822, and is five or six miles from the site of old Mt. Bethel. The first house was a plain, unpretentious building, but the present commodious building was erected about 1862. Micajah Suber, who joined this church late in life, left in his will a gift of $1,000 toward its erection. Among the first members of this church I mention the Goodwins, Oxners, Lylescs, Gilliams, Hattons. Dr. Thos. Rutherford, of this church, was mainly instrumental in building and gave large aid in supporting “Rutherford’s Camp Ground,” which was located near the present residence of Thos. W. Keitt. He also contributed largely to the building of the church, as did Dr. McCants and many others. Among the official members of this church, the present and past generation, I mention the Grahams, Eptings, Adamses, Cromers and Willinghams. J. H. Smith, R. P. Cromer and Thos. W. Keitt are stewards at this time, with E. W. Reese secretary. Salem was located on Second Creek, near the late residence of Felix Graham. It was built about 1800, but in 1835 was merged into New Hope, which church wns organized in 1705. Rev. Nathan Boyd was a leading spirit in its early history. He was zealonsly aided by the Tygerts, Lakes, Cromers, Grahams, Thompsons and others of that day. The present church building was built about 1881, about two miles from the site of the old church. The church has recently been greatly im­proved. Among the names connected with this church later on I mention the Glymphs, Bishops, Hugheys, Cannons, Wickers, Kinards, Cromers, Crookses, Lanes, Setzlers, Slighs, Hattens, Hentzes, Woods, Adamses, Grahams, Lakes, etc. New Chapel, or rather Old Chapel, was built in the first decade of this century. It stood one mile south of the present building. In 1830 the old log church was abandoned and a neat frame building was built. This was accomplished mainly through the liberality of Isaac Herbert. This church gave way in 1879 to the beautiful church which now stands in it's place. Among the first members of this church may be mentioned the Herberts, Gibsons, Lakes, Jenkinses, Montzes, etc. From 1840 to 1850 this church had large gains by conversions and transfers: the Boyds—Joshua and Mark M.—with their families, Lakes, Adamses, Morgans, Boulwares, Schumperts and others. The name of Isaac Herbert stands most promi­nently in Newberry County, and especially in his Church. No man has exerted a greater influence in developing a liberal and progressive spirit in the Church. He died in 1875, leaving a lasting influence for good. One of his sons, Thos. G. Herbert, is a prominent member of the South Carolina Conference. and his children and grandchildren are numbered among the choicest citizens of our State. New Chapel community for the past fifty years has been noted for the sobriety, integrity and hospitality of its citizens. Stockmans—Bethel was built about 1706; it was located near the residence of the late Dr. J. A. Berly. Among the leading members were the Stockmans, Dickerts and Folks. In 1840 a new church was built near Pomaria and the name changed to Bethel. Only a few white families were connected with it., but the Gospel was here preached to a large number of slaves. After the emancipation of the slaves and the death of John Folk, and the removal of his sons, the church was abandoned. King’s Church stood near the present site of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. It was built in the early part of this century, mainly by John King. It was a plain log house. After the death of John King the church was abandoned. Jacob Bedenbaugh went to Harmon’s Church and many of his descendants are members of Zion Church at this time. Many years after King’s Church was given up, in 1845, another church, named Nebo, was built in this community, near the residence of J. Wesley Boozer. His father, John Boozer, was the leading spirit in its erection, David Harmon became a member of this church late in life. Some years after the death . of John Boozer, this church was merged with Zion (1871), and the old house disposed of. By this means Zion received some excellent members, mostly descendants of John Boozer. Harmon’s (Zion) was organized and the first church built in 1813. Among its first members were the Harmon brothers—John, Jacob, Thomas, William and James—Daniel Taylor, Matthias Hair and Rev. James McCartney. Some years after, Thomas T. Cureton became a member. He was Ordinary of Newberry District eight years, 1819-27. Dr. Gee. Lester also became a member. The old church was located about a mile from where Zion now stands, and on the east side of Holly’s Ferry road. In 1820 the congregation moved and built a neat frame church where Zion now stands, and named it Zion, giving the Bap­tists the use of the old church, which was the beginning of Bethel. In 1853 Zion was blessed with a great revival under the ministry of Rev. G. W. M. Creighton, and a large num­ber of persons joined. Col. Henry Stockman and ‘Squire P. W. Counts were among the number. Col. Stockman was a leading and active member until his death a few years since. ‘Squire Counts still lives in age and affliction, His deep piety, up­right life and sunny nature make him a benediction to all. In 1866 this church had another wonderful revival. Ninety persons were converted, and many who joined at that meeting still live to bless the church. Two converts of this meeting became useful ministers—J, C. Counts and B. M. Boozer. This church has enjoyed great prosperity for the past twenty five years, and has now 250 members, with a large Sunday-school in charge of E. P. Cromer. While large numbers have removed to other sections, building up other churches, I cannot leave Zion without mentioning that venerable man, Christian S. Enlow, the oldest member in this church, who has stood true and faithful for nearly sixty years. The large and splendid church in which this congregation now worships was built in 1880 when Rev, J. W. Kelly was pastor. The late Pierce Harmon took a most active part in its erection. The following family names are new on the roll of the church: Amick, Boozer, Bowers, Bedenbangh, Barnes, Cromer, Counts, Connelly, Clamp, Cameron, Crompton, Cook, Dominick, Dawkins, Enlow, Fellers, Frazier, Fulmer, Gibson, Hipp, Harmon, Hendrix, Hair, Hawkins, Koon, Morris, Mayer, Moore, Mills, Nichols, Pugh, Rikard, Stockman, Shealy, Taylor, Vaughn and Warner. Tranquil was first built in 1700, and the first members were Wrights, Shells, Browns, and Seymore families, from Virginia, who had become Methodists in their native State. In 1832 the old log church gave way to a frame church, and in 1859 this second building was superseded by a beautiful church, which building continued to be used until 1800, when it was taken down and moved to Jalapa, still retaining the old name of Tranquil. The once large membership of such choice material, having passed away by death and removal, only a very few remain. For over fifty years this church was a leading one in Newberry District. Among the many excellent members of this church, special mention should be made of Zaecheus Wright, (father of Capt. R. H. Wright), and Robt. G. Gilliam (father of Mrs. Lizzie Hinson). These two noble souls, though diverse in temperameat, were one in the work of Christ’s kingdom. To this church and community belongs tho honor of organizing the first Sabbath-school in Newberry County_in 1827—conducted by Zaccheus Wright and Absalom Glasgow, (Presbyterian). Tabernacle was organized in 1842 John B. Richie was the leading spirit in its beginning, and continued one of its main supports until his death. The first building was succeeded by a comfortable one in 1856 on land donated by Nathan Johnson, a leading Baptist in the community. Zaccheus Wright and Robert G. Gilliam, from Tranquil, greatly aided in building these houses of worship, and otherwise developing the church. Mrs. Bettie Gilliam, the Oxners, Bishops, Davises. and others are names connected with this church’s history. Sharon was built in 1860, on land donated for cemetery and church by Capt. John Martin Kinard in 1854. Jacob Summers was the leading spirit in the enterprise. The Gorees, Oxners, Harmons, Whittens, and Hinsons are among its first members. Rev. W. Walter Summer is an earnest, useful local preacher in this church, The church membership is not large, but made up of fine material. Near by stands the parsonage of Kinard’s Circuit. In 1838 Col. Samuel Cannon, David H. Buzhardt, Jacob Sligh and John Moore erected a stand near Cannons Creek Church, known as Pleasant Grove, for preaching by the Methodists. Rev. David Derrick had regular appointments here. A church was built here in 1840. This church was kept up for a few years, but after the death of Col. Cannon, Jacob Sligh and John Moore moved to Ebenezer, and David H. Buzhardt with his family to Newberry. The church was abandoned. After Pleasant Grove was discontinued, there was no Methodist Church for fifteen miles northeast of Newberry. Preaching services were held occasionally at a stand not far front where Lebanon new stands, J. C. Counts commenced preaching here regularly in 1872, and a church was soon afterward built. Benjamin F. McGraw, D. H. Buzhardt and their families were most active in this enterprise. The membership was small for many years, but it has grown rapidly for the past few years, and is now a prosperous church with a little less than one hundred members. The following are some of the family names: McGraw, Buzhardt. Reagin, Lominick, Wendt. Cromer, Adams, Thomason, Wilson Harris, Parrott, Hayes, Dickert, Brown, Oxner, and Caldwell. In the year 1848 a small church was built a mile southeast of the village of Prosperity, then called Frog Level. Those most interested in the church at first were Jesse Dominick, John Dominick, George Stockman and their families. C. S. Enlow took an active part in building the church, which never prospered greatly. After some changes the congregation removed their place of worship, which was called Bethesda, to Prosperity, and worshiped in halls and school-rooms for a few years until they succeeded in building a small, but neat church, and gave it the name of Wightman Chapel, which was com­pleted in 1881. Special mention should he made of J. Luther Counts, for without his aid the work would have long been delayed. E. P. Cromer and A. J. Kilgore were with him on the building committee. The membership of this church was small during the first decade of its existence, but for the past few years it has grown until there are seventy-five members, with a most excellent Sunday school, which has been superintended first by D. M. Langford and now by F. V. Capers. This church is made up largely of most excellent material. The members showed an heroic spirit in building up their church and their advanced liberality in its support. The first members of this church were the families of Counts, Boulware, Langford, Dominick, Kinard and, Taylor and Amick. Added these at present there are Bowers, Capers, Hardy, Hodges,, Sims, Lake, Ruff, Nichols, Kibler, Hunter, Etheridge and Long. Mt. Tabor, located sixteen miles north of Newberry, was organized about 1820. It is a frame building, thirty by thirty-six feet, with a gallery across the end for the accommodation of the large number of worshipers in that neighborhood. The gallery was not built for the negroes as is usual with churches erected before the War between the States., The following were prominent members: Andrew Hipp, William Shell, Col. Benjamin Herndon, (at whose home Bishop Asbury was went to lodge), John Epps, Jacob Hipp, Daniel Epps, Laban Rhodes, John Casey, John Lake, John Anderson, Aldrich Hipp, Thomas Phillips. Benjamin Ogletree and John B. Glenn were local preachers. In the year 1843 a camp meeting was held about one mile to the northwest, and in a year or two there­after a new church was built there, and it took the place of the one mentioned. The new structure was built by Absalom Shell and John A. Abrams, the former being the first person married in the new edifice. The five acres of land embraced in this location were given by Allen Shell and Nathan Whitmire. The following deceased members were actively associated in the development of the new church: John Sims, George Hipp, Allen Shell, Henry Whitmire, John A. Abrams, James Epps, Thomas B. Kennerly, James Gordon, Solomon C. Hargrove, Samuel Abrams and Mark Shell. The following family names are to be found on the present member­ship roll: Abrams Abernethy, Andrews, Atchison, Baker, Bishop, Cromer, Dean, Denson, Epps, Enlow, Fant, Hargrove, Hipp, Metts, McCarley, McCrackin, Phifer, Sims, Spearman, Suber, Sahnnon, Tidmarsh, Whitmire, Wright, Wicker. The church building is commodious, painted, carpeted and supplied with an organ. Large congregations continue to assemble. The church is embraced in the Clinton circuit. For many years it was part of the Goshen Hill circuit.* Ebenezer (Maybinton) is perhaps the eldest organized Methodist ii­ Church in Newberry County. Bishop Asbury, in his journals, spoke of lodging in this neighborhood, in 1800, with Thomas Hardy—grandfather of Hon. W. D. Hardy-—who was a leading member of this church. It had been long estab­lished then—possibly soon after the Society at Finches (Mt. Bethel). The first building was used as a school-house. The second building was built on land donated by Dr. Burwell Chick. The second was superseded by the present building in 1848. The ground was given by Rev. George Clark, a local preacher who traveled some years in the Conference, but located and lived in this community. In 1876 the church was remodeled and enlarged through tho zeal of the ladies of the congregation. In the long and prosperous history of this congregation, as members and laborers, are to be found the names of many of the most excellent citizens of Newberry County. In its early history are to he found the names of Huron, Hardy, Caldwell, Cofield, Brazzleman, Clark, Chandler, Davis, Harris; and later, Moorman, Chick, Maybin, Douglass, Lyles, Oxner, Glenn, Worthy, Bishop, Goudlocke, Murtishaw, Hodges and Sims. The membership is now small, as her sons and daughters have gene out a blessing to other places. Rev. E. T. Hodges, of the South Carolina Conference, went out from this church. I have not been able to give the pastors of this church and Mt. Tabor, as they have been connected with Enoree, Union and Goshen Hill circuits. Moon’s was located in the forks of Saluda and Little Rivers. It dates back to the last decade of the last century. Among its first members was Dr. W. M. Moon, who was a local preacher and most prominent in its buildng and support. Bishop Asbury often rested at his hospitable home. Later on in its history we find connected with this church, Dr. Peter Moon, Mrs. Tabitha Atkinson. Rev. William Harmon and the Boulwares. Mrs. Nancy Boulware and her husband, Robert Boulware, were active members, then their sons, Andrew and James R. Boulware. In 1851 this church was disbanded; Dr. Peter Moon moving to Newberry and the Boulwares to Soule Chapel in Laurens, and the remaining members to Trinity. In 1814 Jacob Gantt sold the lot on which Ebenezur Church was built to Edward Finch, Stephen Shell and David Owens, Trustees. The first church was probably built that year, 1814. We find that in 1830 a new Board of Trustees was appointed, viz: Daniel Smith, Wm. Watson, Wm. Harmon. Zachariah Connolly and Jeremiah Morgan. Among these most prominent in the early years of its history, we find the Watsons, Morgans and Owenses, in 1832. Dr. Jas. Kilgore moved into this community from Stoney Battery, where be had but recently become a Methodist at Harmon Church. He at once became a most liberal and zealous member of Ebenezer. He was a physician of large practice, and a most successful local preacher. We find in 1837, through his efforts, the church lot was much enlarged, and it was about this time the large frame church was built, which was used by the congregation until 1880, when the beautiful church now in use was built higher up the hill. It was about 1835 when camp-meetings began to be held here annually, and continued to be held for twenty years, though camp-meetings had been held here prior to 1827, and the camp ground had been popularly known as Watson’s Camp Ground. This church received most valued acqusition in 1831, when Jacob Sligh moved into this community The name Kilgore has been associated with this church for sixty years, and that of Sligh for forty years. Dr. Kilgore died in 1856, and his son, A. J. Kilgore, was also an officer for many years. Jacob Sligh died in 1885, and his son, G. McD. Sligh, is still a lending member here. Among the names found on her roll in the past are Morgan, Watson, Owens, Moore, Kilgore, Lake and Smith, and later on to these we add Sligh, Swindler, Hipp, Dunwoody, Hair, Goggans, Frazier, Cromer, Alewine, Hayes, Summers, Teague and Maffett. This church sustained a heavy loss in the death of A. J. Kilgore this year, 1892. Shady Grove was located not far from the residence of the late John T. Peterson, and Kadesh about four miles above, in the Senn neighborhood. I am unable to give the date of the building of these churches, but they were among the first Methodist churches in Newberry County. They were built not later than 1795, and had a separate existence until 1836, when they were united and the name Trinity given the new church. The church built in 1836, on the site where Trinity now stands, continued in use until 1888, when the elegant church now used by the congregation was built. This church is one of the largest and most prosperous churches in the county. The Methodist Church was organized in the town of Newberry about 1833. Mrs. Higgins once gave the writer an account of a great revival in Newberry in 1831. She said that it was a union meeting largely conducted by Baptists and Methodists, and that the results were the building of the Baptist and Methodist Churches; first the Baptist in 1832, and the Methodist the following year. It is worthy of remark that the town of Newberry was laid out in 1785, and the first church, the Baptist, was not built until 1832—forty-seven years. It is highly probable that the people of the town had had preaching in the Court House frequently. Among time first members of this church we find Philip Schopert and family, Mrs. Martha Turner, Mrs. Precious Schell, Daniel Boozer, Thos. Pratt, Jr., and Josiah Bishop. One of the original members still lives in Newberry—---Mrs. Sarah Pope, nee Lorick. In looking ever the names of the member; we find those of many of Newberry’s choice citizens, Philip Schopert was, for a number of years, Recording Steward of Newberry Circuit. Dr. Geo. F. Epps, Dr. Peter Moon, Gen. H. H. Kinard, Richard C. Chapman, Robt. Moorman, Andrew M. Wicker, Dr. P. B. Ruff, Thos. F. Greneker, and many other devoted men and women. On the roll at this time are to be found the following family names: Blease, Bynum, Bishop, Chapman, Cook, Caldwell, Cromer, Evans, Eddy, Epting, Fair, Fant, Greneker, Gilder, Goodman, Hornsby, Johnson, Jones, Kinard, Lane, Livingstone, Langford, Lake, Moorman, Moore, Metts, Maybin, McWhirter, Merchant, Pope, Pitts, Russell, Riser, Rivers, Salter, Suber, Shockley, Summers, Taylor, Tarrant, William, Wright, White, Wallace, Welch, Wicker. The present pastor, Rev. W. W. Daniel, organized, in 1891, a second church at Factoryville, with sixty members, and J. R. Thornton and Martin Berry as stewards. Newberry Methodist Church has had continuous prosperity from the beginning; has now about three hundred members. Three sessions of the South Carolina Conference have been held here—1853, 1863 and 1878. There are at this time fourteen Methodist Churches in the county, divided into four pastoral charges, with four parsonages; one located in the town of Newberry, one at Ebenezer, one at Prosperity and one at Kinards. There are fifteen hundred members in the white churches, with about two thousand in the colored. The colored Methodists of the county have, as a rule, good churches and are well supplied with pastors. They worshiped with the whites until after Emancipation; since then they have gone mostly into the A. M. E. Church. A few have joined the C. M. E. Church. I have given a meagre account of Methodism in Newberry County. It would require a large volume to tell of the camp-meetings and revivals, of the active workers in her Sunday­ schools, and of the great numbers who have gone out to bless other States. But I trust to save from utter oblivion some valuable facts for the future historian. The building now in use by the Methodist congregation is the same which was built in 1833. Large improvements were made in 1873; and, I am glad to say, at this writing a large subscription has already been raised to build a brick church to cost $8,000. *Camp meetings were begun here again in 1875 and were continued to be held annually for about seven years. *At the Conference of 1892 the Whitmire Circuit was established, including Mt. Taber, the church at Whitmires and possibly one or two in Union and Laurens. The church at Whitmires, a neat frame build­ing, was built in 1892 by Rev. W. A. Betts, then pastor of Clinton circuit. Rev. S. T. Blackman was appointed as the first pastor of the new circuit. The church was dedicated on Sunday, January 1, 1893, by Bishop Duncan.