xt78cz322m09 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt78cz322m09/data/mets.xml Conkwright, S. J. 1923  books b92-83-27375897 English [s.n.], : Winchester, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Baptists. Kentucky. Boone's Creek Association History. Church buildings Kentucky. History of the churches of Boone's Creek Baptist Association of Kentucky  : with a brief history of the Association / by S.J. Conkwright. text History of the churches of Boone's Creek Baptist Association of Kentucky  : with a brief history of the Association / by S.J. Conkwright. 1923 2002 true xt78cz322m09 section xt78cz322m09 











HISTORY

   -OF THE-



Churches of Boone's



Baptist



Creek



         OF KENTUCKY

With a Brief History of the Association


             C


        BY S. J. CONKWRIGHT



Winchester, Kentucky
    1 9 2 3



Association

 
This page in the original text is blank.

 





















"History is the voice of the past, teaching by
the follies, as well as by the -wisdom, of our
forefathers. The rocks and quick-sands are
as essential in a chart as the safe harbor."

 
This page in the original text is blank.

 














To the Memory of the Pioneer Baptists of Kentucky

                     who were


Members of the Oldest Constituted Church in the State

              and to their Descendants

  who have been Loyal to the Faith of their Fathers,

       this Volume is Affectionately Dedicated

                   by the Author.

 






                               Preface


    The historian writing of the past, however rugged his path, dare not shape or
smooth it to suit his own taste or conscience. With this point in view, impar-
tiality and faithfulness have been the aim of the author in the preparation of this
work, assigned to him by Boone's Creek Association, namely, the compilation of a
history of the Association and of all the churches ever connected with it at any
time.
    In order that the history might be as near complete and accurate as possible,
the author requested through her pastors and clerks of all the churches affiliating
with the Association the use of all church records that have been preserved, so
that he might obtain the true facts for this work. This request was kindly granted
by every church with the exception of one. Inasmuch as some of the churches are
among the oldest in the State of Kentucky, and others were, but have disbanded,
and had been, prior to the constitution of Boone's Creek Association in 1823, mem-
bers of other associations, the records of these associations were also cheerfully
loaned, as well as some records from Virginia.
    The author was naturally interested in this work, as his ancestors from colon-
ial days were Baptists, and constituent members of the "Travelling Church" that
came from Virginia in 1780, and still exists as Providence Church, Clark County,
Kentucky, the oldest church constitution in the State, hence he eagerly sought
out everything obtainable that might be of value and assistance in the compilation
of the work, and from these scattered documents, both old and new, as well as
other authentic information obtained, the author has prepared the history of all
the churches now or heretofore connected with Boone's Creek Association. The
author has endeavored to weave this into readable form and give, as far as ob-
tainable, the names of all the pastors, preachers ordained, clerks and deacons, the
names and dates being compiled from the many entries that bear upon these sub-
jects. However, a number of the record books have been roughly used, some torn
and badly faded, and even with the use of a magnifying glass sometimes could
not be deciphered, besides some entries are very vague, and therefore it is possible
that some of the names may be missing and that all the dates are not absolutely
correct.
    If the work has been tedious, it has been rendered cheerfully and as a labor
of love, with the hope that it might be interesting, if not perfect. For the honor
conferred upon him by the Association in electing him to compile the work, the
author expresses his sincere thanks.

 





   The author appreciates the hearty response by those pastors and clerks of
Boone's Creek Association who so cheerfully furnished their church records for
use; also to Brother Elvado Tudor, the moderator of Tate's Creek Association for
the use of the records of that Association. He also extends his thanks to our
brethren, the Primitive Baptists, for the use of association records, minutes, etc.,
among whom were Elder J. W. Anderson, Brethren Allen H. Rupard, William A.
Rupard, J. S. Stevens and J. T. Elkin; to my friends in Virginia, Dr. E. W. Win-
frey, Rev. E. V. Peyton and Dr. Garrett Ryland and to Mr. Asa C. Barrow for
books and pamphlets, and to Mr. Otto A. Rothert, Secretary of the Filson Club, of
Louisville, Kentucky, for suggestions and pictures for cuts.

    The author is especially indebted to Dr. George F. Doyle, the accomplished  /
and efficient Secretary of the Clark County Historical Society, who is not only
deeply interested in historical matters pertaining to his County and State, but also
those relating to his church and denomination, for suggestions and valuable as-
sistance in the preparation and arrangement of the manuscript.

   Winchester, Kentucky.                         S. J. CONKWRIGHT.

       July 1, 1923.                    Clerk of Boone's Creek Association.



 






                            Contents


                                                                       Page
Allansville Church ................................................         158
Beattyville Church ................................................         139
Bethel Church ................................................          143
Bethlehem  Church ..................................................         123
Boffman's Fork Church ................................................       55
Boggs' Fork Church ................................................... 78
Boone's Creek Church .    ................................................ 39
Booneville Church ................................................          168
Calvary Church ..................................................           172
Central Baptist Church of Winchester ....................................... 168
Chestnut Stand Church ................................................       121
Corinth Church ................................................         151
Cow Creek Church ................................................           110
Drowning Creek Church    ................................................  93
Ephesus Church .................................................111
Fairview Church ................................................        171
Filson Church................................................           163
First Baptist Church of Irvine .............................................. 163
First Baptist Church of Winchester ......................................... 125
Friendship Church .     ................................................ 64
Head of Boone's Creek Church ............................................ 55
Heidelburg Church ................................................          168
Hickman Church .      ................................................ 63
Hind's Creek Church .    ................................................ 96
History of Boone's Creek Association ....................................... 179
Indian -Creek Church .    ................................................ 94
Jeffersonville Church ................................................       156
Kiddville Church ................................................           145
Liberty Church ..............       .................................. 84
Lower Bethel Church .     ................................................ 96
Lulbegrud Church .    ................................................ 69
Macedonia Church .    ................................................ 154
Mt. Freedom  Church .   ................................................ 97
Mt. Gilead Church .     ................................................ 83
Mt. Moriah Church .    ................................................ 97
M t. Olive Church ................................................          101
Mt. Sterling Church ................................................         143
Mt. Union Church .    ................................................ 95
Mt. Zion Church ................      ................................ 97
New Providence Church ................................................       94
Nicholasville Church .    ................................................ 96
Nine Churches ................................................          155
Powell's Valley Church ................................................      156
Providence Church .    ................................................ 17
Providence   Church  ................................................       123
Salem Church-Estill County ............................................... 75
Union City Church .    ................................................ 85
Unity Church ............        .................................... 57
Upper Howard's Creek Church ............................................. 81
Wagersville Church ................................................          174
Zion Church ................................................            119



 






                        Illustrations

                                                                      Page
Judge Frank S. Allan ....................................................     107
Allansville Church ......................................................    159
William  T. Barker ..................................................... 52
Beattyville Baptist Church ................................................. 140
C. W. Boone ....................................................             150
Boone's Creek Church .................................................... 40
Ambrose G. Bush .     .................................................... 29
Nelson and Nancy Neil Bush ................................................ 82
Mrs. Rachiel Martin Bush ................................................. 24
Calvary, West Irvine Church ................................................ 172
Catahecassa, or Black Hoof ... ............................................ 147
Central Baptist Church of Winchester ....................................... 169
Mrs. Nancy Tribble Chenault ................................................ 61
Judge John N. Conkwright ................................................. 185
Dr. George F. Doyle ....................................................     134
Burgess Ecton ....................................................           129
Rev. J. J. Edwards .................................................... 157
Rev. T. P. Edwards ....................................................      122
Ephesus Church ......................................................         112
First Baptist Church of Irvine ............................................. 164
First Baptist Church, Winchester ........................................... 126
B. !C. Fox....................................................         153
Judge Charles S. French .................................................. 138
Judge James H. French ........................................... ........ 184
Mrs. Keziah Callaway French ................................................ 73
Judge Richard French ..................................................... 4
Rev. Richard French ....................................................     117
Dr. J. W. Gillon ....................................................         136
William  Gravett ....................................................         160
Judge A. L. Haggard ....................................................     104
John Haggard .    .................................................... 58
A. Howard Hampton ....................................................       103
A. S. Hampton .     .................................................... 33
Jesse Hampton .    .................................................... 60
Kiddville Church ......................................................       146
Lulbegrud Church ..........................................            69
Rev. P. C. Luttrell ...........         ................................ 53
Rev. J. W. Mahan............................................          142
Rev. I. W. Manly..........................................            162
Dr. R. L. Motley............................................          171
Mt. Olive Church ............................................         102
Officers Boone's Creek Association, 1922 .................................... 176
Rev. W. G. Potts..........................................            167
Providence Church (New Meeting House) .        ................................. 32
Providence Church (Old Stone Meeting House) ..........      .................... 17
Tomb of Mary Bush Richards ........................................... 38
Ruins of Bogg's Fork Church ........................................... 78
Site of Boone's Station ..............       ............................ 41
Rev. J. T. Turpin...........................................          173
Union City Church ...........           ................................ 86
Dr. J. T. Wilkerson..........................................         148



 






































BOONESBOROUGH FDRRY



   Picturesque old ferry at Boonesborough, the oldest in Kentucky, established
by an Act of the Virginia Legislature in October, 1779. The small clump of sap-
lings on the shore right opposite the ferryboat marks the point where the Boone
and Callaway girls were captured by the Indians on that memorable day, July
14, 1776. The site of the fort at Boonesborough is on the opposite shore, to the
left of the road.



 
























TREATY OF BOONESBOROUGH.



    Treachery of the British and Indians at the signing of the treaty under the
great elm at Boonesborough in 1778. After the treaty was signed, Black Fish de-
clared that it must be confirmed according to Indian custom-a hand-shake all
round, two braves to each white brother. This was the signal for treachery. The
young Indians, in apparently high good-humor, seized the hands of Daniel Boone
and the other pioneers, but in the very act they betrayed their purpose by too
tight a grasp, and by a sudden movement toward the underbrush. With the quick-
ness of desperation the hunters freed themselves almost as soon as touched, and
in the same thrilling moment, as they sprang aside and waved their hats, came
the deadly crack of the ready rifles from the blockhouse and the unarmed savages
vanished in the surrounding thickets.

 






                        The Baptists



    "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not pre.
vail against it" Matt. 16:18.

    The Baptists began their denominational life under the ministry of the Sav-
iour, and down through the ages they have been the strongest advocates of civil
and religious liberty. During these many centuries they have had different names
applied to them, and while some would have us believe that the Baptists lost their
identity as a denomination, or are of later origin than the time of Christ, yet by
the belief and practices of this peculiar people since the Lord constituted the
first Baptist church, they can be identified as of the same faith as John the Bap-
tist. And as civilization rolled on, we find, in the colonial days in America, the
Regular and Separate Baptists of Virginia. Just why there was this distinction,
we do not know; someone has described them as being one and the same people,
"having a distinction without a difference." Be that as it may, in the early settle-
ment of Kentucky, we again find the Regular and Separate Baptists, each contend-
ing for supremacy. In 1801, during the greatest revival of religion the State has
ever experienced, notwithstanding the fact that several previous efforts had
failed, another effort was made to agree upon terms of union. The Regular Bap-
tists, or South Elkhorn Association, appointed a committee consisting of David
Barrow, Ambrose Dudley, John Price, William Payne and Joseph Redding, to con-
fer with a committee from the Separate Baptists, or South Kentucky Association,
composed of Robert Elkin, Daniel Ramey, Thomas J. Chilton, Moses Bledsoe and
Samuel Johnson. At a conference of the joint committee on August 22, 1801, after
considerable discussion, terms of union were agreed upon, which it was hoped
would be satisfactory to all the churches. A convention was called, to be com-
posed of two members from each church in the two Associations, and this conven-
tion was held at the historic old church building, the Stone Meeting House (Provi-
dence), on Lower Howard's Creek, Clark County, Kentucky, on the second Satur-
day in October, 1801. The terms of union, as previously agreed upon by the joint
committee, were unanimously approved by the convention, and the names of Regu-
lar and Separate were dropped forever and they became known as United Baptists.
The terms of union can be found in any history of Kentucky Baptists.


 






             History of the Churches


                      PROVIDENCE CHURCH-1780.
   Inasmuch as what is now known as Providence Church, in Clark County,
Kentucky, is the oldest constituted church on Kentucky soil, and was known as
one of the "Travelling Churches" which came from Virginia, a few words in



           PROVIDENCE CHURCH,
Old Stone Meeting House. Erected before 1793.



regard to the early churches of Virginia and early immigration to Kentucky
may be of interest.
   The first Baptist churches in Virginia were constituted before the Revolution-
ary War, when their preachers and public speakers were exposed to fines,
imprisonment and various methods of torture, and were disqualified for any
public office. A number of the preachers who had been thus punished, afterwards
became pastors of the older churches in this section which later became
affiliated with Boone's Creek Association, and among these were David Barrow,

 






History of Churches in Boone's Creek Association.



Joseph Craig, John Tanner and Thomas Ammon. However, notwithstanding
such conditions, the Baptists grew and multiplied until the independence of the
United States was finally achieved, when all restraint of government was
removed and the Baptists were accorded equal rights with all other citizens,
both as to religious liberty and political and civil rights.
   While these things were transpiring in Virginia, the settlement of Kentucky
had commenced, and the Bush Colony, one of the very earliest permanent
settlements in Kentucky, was formed and part of this colony were the constituent
members of the "Travelling Church," now known as Providence Church.
    Tradition says that when the ship Neptune touched the shores of America
in 1618, one John Bush was among those who came over in her at his own charge,
and he settled in Virginia. Another John Bush, the testator of a will probated
in Orange County, Virgina, in February, 1746 (Will book No. 2, p. 94), is be-
lieved to have been the grandson of "Neptune" John. In this will of 1746, the
testator, John Bush, mentions among his children a son Phillip, who became
the father of Phillip, John, William (Captain Billy), Ambrose, Francis and their
sister Mary Richards, and these came to Kentucky along with many others under
the leadership of Captain Billy Bush and were the founders of the Bush Colony.
(Phillip Bush, Sr., had other children besides these six. See his will in Orange
County, Virginia, Will Book No. 2, page 153, dated 1771.) Tradition also says
that when Daniel Boone was passing through. Virginia, from his old home in
Pennsylvania to his new home in North 'Carolina, he met William Bush, then a
young man, and the two became friends. The following inscription is to be found
on the tombstone of Captain William Bush, in the old Bush burying ground about
one mile north of Boonesboroug'h: "He was the friend and companion of Daniel
Boone and others in the settlement of Kentucky." We know that Captain Billy
Bush was one of the men that assisted Boone in blazing the trail to Boones-
borough in 1775, and was one of the party that went in pursuit of the two Cal-
laway sisters and Boone's daughter when they had been captured by the Indians
in 1776. Captain Bush was so well pleased with the new country that he re-
turned to his old home in Virginia for the purpose of organizing a colony, and
from the glowing description which he gave a colony was soon organized, con-
sisting of about forty families from among his kinsmen, neighbors and friends in
Orage and Culpeper counties, most of them being Baptists. So in the early part
of 1780 preparations were begun for the exodus in the fall of that year to the
land of "Kaintuckee." No doubt Captain Billy Bush, after portraying the beauty
of the country; the fertility of its land, with its numerous water courses filled
with fish; its huge forests alive with wild game, and the opportunities for a pros-
perous future, honest man that he was, also told them of the trials and hard-
ships that they would have to endure, as well as many misfortunes, in this ad-
venture. Yet with faith in their God and trust in Captain Billy Bush, within a
few months everything was in readiness for the exodus which had been prepared
with willing hands, cheerful hearts and smiling faces, but oh! what a change in
the countenances as the day approached for their departure and the word forward
was given and loving good-byes and tender farewells were given to home, loved
ones and friends in the Old Dominion.



18

 






Historyj of Churches in Boone's Creek Association.



   Some months before the colony started, Captain Billy Bush had returned to
Boonesborough to select and locate farms for the different families, whom he
wished to be near him, and in the selection of these he used good judgment, locat-
ing them on the north side of the Kentucky river, in what is now Clark county.
'When Captain Bush returned to Boonesborough he found that the trouble with the
Indians was much more dangerous than when he had left for Virginia, they hav-
ing allied themselves with the British, the Revolutionary War not yet having been
concluded. In fact, the outlook for the American Colonies had never been darker
than in 1780, the year prior to the surrender of Cornwallis. As Captain Bush did
not think it wise for the colony to enter Kentucky at this time, he sent a runner
with a message advising them not to proceed any further. The colony had
reached the Holston, in December, 1780, when they received this advice from
their leader. Here they remained for three years, during which time they raised
three crops of corn. They also organized a Baptist church and held regular ser-
vices.

    Elder John Taylor, who arrived at Bear Creek, near Louisville, Kentucky,
in 1782, in his History of the Ten Churches, says "It was a gloomy thing at that
time to move to Kentucky." It was during the halt at Holston that the glorious
news came of the British surrender at Yorktown, on October 19, 1781, and this
patriotic colony made the Wolf Hills (Holston) ring with the firing of rifles, loud
rejoicing and praises to God. This victory together with the passing at Holston
of other immigrants on their way to "Kaintuckee", especially Lewis Craig and his
colony of Baptists from Upper Spottsylvania Church, who halted for a few weeks
at Holston, no doubt increased the desire of the Bush colony to continue their
journey. But if there was ever a complaint against their leader, Captain Billy
Bush, we have never read of it in history nor heard of it through tradition.

  One evening in the latter part of August, 1783, as the shades of night were
falling, a cloud of dust was seen in the west and soon the sound of a horse's
hoofs was heard, and as he neared the fort the rider increased his speed, striking
terror to the hearts of the colonists, as they thought it must be a runner bearing
a warning of approaching danger, but the watchman at Black's Fort cried out,
behold! me thinketh the runner rideth like a bearer of good 'tidings, and on came
the steed and rider into the settlement, waving his hat and shouting aloud, "On,
on to Boonesborough, are the orders of Captain Billy Bush." Upon receiving this
news, Wolf Hills was made to rebound with the sounds of rejoicing, such as had
not 'been heard since the surrender of Cornwallis, nearly two years before. So
the day arrived for which these 'hardy tillers of the soil had so anxiously waited,
until the conditions should be favorable for them to set out upon the dangerous
road to Kentucky. Being of the school of hope, and having a burning love for their
homes and a place to worship God according to the dictates of their own con-
science, such love and hope yielded courage, and hasty preparations were made
to take up their march again after a halt of nearly three years at Holston. It must
be remembered that within one month after their arrival at Holston, a part of
the colony organized themselves into a church and held regular services, with El-
der Robert Elkin as their pastor. The name of this church at that time, if it had one,



19

 






20          History of Churches in Boone's Creek Association.

has not survived, but after the departure from Holston, it has been rightly named
a Travelling Church, for led by her pastor she held regular church services and
transacted church business.
    On the first day of September, 1783, the colony bade farewell forever to Holston
and started westward. In this caravan were not only the church members, but
also their children, negro slaves, and other immigrants, who for better protection
had attached themselves to this organized expedition. Such a colony as this meant
much, not only to the Baptists of the future Kentucky, but to the State itself, for
in this church and with it were some of the best families of Virginia. There were
five married daughters and three sons of Thomas Burrus, a rich planter of Vir-
ginia, the sons and the husbands of four of the daughters all being brothers-in-
law of Captain Billy Bush, he having married Frances Tandy Burrus.

                 "There were men of hoary hair
                     Amidst that pilgrim band-
                 Why had they come to wither there,
                     Away from childhood's land

                 There was woman's fearless eye,
                     Lit by 'her deep love's truth;
                 There was manhood's brow serenely high,
                     And the fiery heart of youth.

                 What sought they thus afar
                     Bright jewels of the mine
                 The wealth of seas, the spoils of war
                     They sought a faith's pure shrine!

                 Ay, call it holy ground,
                     The soil where first they trod;
                 They left unstained what there they found-
                     Freedom to worship God."-

    When the Bush colony arrived at Craig's Station, sometime in the spring of
1784, after a long, wearisome and hazardous trip, to their great joy they found
empty cabins awaiting them, for Elder Lewis Craig and his colony of Baptists,
who had preceded them to Kentucky some three years and erected Craig's Station,
had moved to South Elkhorn, near Lexington, so that the Bush colony took posses-
sion of the empty cabins and remained here a short time before proceeding to
Boonesborough.
   On April 3, 1784, we find the first preserved record of the Travelling Church
holding services in the cabin of their pastor Elder Elkin, when Phillip Bush was
elected clerk and Joseph and Mildred Embree were received into the church by
letter. The record book of the church was lost on the way from the Holston, but
on the first page of the earliest book that has been preserved there in an abridge-
ment of the work on the Holston.

 






History of Churches in Boone's Creek Association.



    After a brief stay at Craig's Station, the colony passed to the north side of
the river at Boonesborough and entered upon the farms selected for them by
their kinsman and friend, Captain Billy Bush, which he either gave them or sold
them very cheaply, in order to have his relatives and friends around him. on the
27th of November, 1784, according to the church record (not 1785, as some his-
torians have it), the first meeting was held at the cabin of Captain Billy Bush.
The map of the farms previous to 1800, in this work, shows how the Bush colony
settled around their church as a nucleus. First a log meeting house was erected
soon after the colony arrived in the new country, on the Lower Howard's Creek,
and sometime before 1793, on the same lot, the Old Stone Meeting House was
erected, and this building is still in a good state of preservation at the present
time. In 1870, a new frame house was erected and is the present house of worship.
The settlement around the church was known as the Bush Settlement. Besides
his four brothers, Captain Billy Bush had nine brothers-in-law, namely, Robert
Richard, who had married his sister, Mary; Elder James Quisenberry; Elder An-
drew Tribble; Joseph Embree;             Embree;            Brockman; Will T.
Burrus; Roger Burrus and Thomas Burrus, Jr. Thus it will be seen that Thomas
Burrus, Sr., 'had five daughters and three sons in this settlement. (For notes on
Elder James Quisenberry, see history of Unity Church).
    Soon after the Bush colony arrived at Boonesborough, other immigrants
from Virginia also began to arrive, among whom were Nathaniel Haggard and
his four married sons, who were all Baptists. Nathaniel Haggard, Sr., located
between the church and Winchester and erected a one room house of cherry
logs, which room is still in a good state of preservation at the present time, but
has been added to. His son, John, settled about eight miles east of the Bush
Settlement, which community was known as the Haggard Settlement. (See
history of Mt. Olive and Unity Churches). The five Bush brothers and their
sister, Mary Richards, were not what is termed "squatters," but were home
builders, community builders and church builders. They settled on adjoining
farms, where they lived and died, and are all buried on their respective farms.
    The place where the Bush colony halted for three years is eight miles
north of the Tennessee state line, in Washington county, Virginia, and was
known by the names of Wolf Hills, Black's Fort, Holston, and at the present
day as Abingdon. It is a narrow strip of country surrounded on all sides by
mountains. Tradition says that the name of Wolf Hills was given it by Daniel
Boone, on account of the large numbers of wolves in the shills. On one occasion
Boonesborough was relieved during an attack by the Indians by forty riflemen
from Holston. When civilization started westward, the colony of Virginia
erected in the hills a fort, called Black's Fort, and it was to this fort that the
backwoodsmen of the contiguous regions, as well as the immigrants, while
stopping at Holston, looked for aid In time of danger.
    The question as to whether or not Providence Church was constituted before
moving to Holston in 1780, has been thoroughly discussed, both pro and con.
A. C. Quisenberry (History of the Quisenberry and Bush Families) says that it
was, but this statement is based purely upon tradition. Ambrose G. Bush, (a.
grandson of Ambrose Bush, Sr., one of the five Bush brothers), who was a.



21

 






History of Churches in7 Bootie's Creek Assochttioti.



clerk of the church for fifty years, wrote a brief history of the church in 1876,
in which he says "the early history of the church is lost in antiquity." But
ten years later, in 1886, Mr. Bush was a member of a committee of three,
appointed by the church to draft resolutions in regard to the failure of Dr. Spencer,
in his History of Kentucky Baptists, to do justice to Providence Church. This
committee made its report in the form of a protest, in March, 1887, claiming
that Dr. Spencer gave no credit for the first thirteen years of her existence as a
church, and further claiming that the history of Upper Spottsylvania Church,
in Virginia, organized in 1767, was the early history of Prov