Primitive Baptist Church and Family History
Research Assistance for Perry County, Illinois
CHURCHES:
NINE MILE (DuQuoin)(1829)
Nine Mile Church, near DuQuoin, was organized on Saturday before the third Sunday in June, 1829, at the cabin home of Peter Hagler, in township 6. The charter members were Peter Hagler, Frances Hagler, Abner Keith, Sarah Keith, Van S. Teague, Rachel Teague, Leonard Lipe, and Francis Jones. The presbytery was composed of Elders Eli Short and Silas Crisler.
Nine Mile Church was a charter member of the Bethel Association, in October 1829. I. M. Allen's Baptist Register for 1832-1833, and 1836, lists Nine Mile Church in the chart of Bethel Association. In 1832, the church had 43 members; in 1835, 11; in 1851, 30; in 1857, 34; in 1860, 47; in 1871, 53; in 1878, 60; in 1886, 69; in 1888, 83; in 1889, 94; in 1893, 97; in 1895, 110; in 1900, 99; in 1916, 88.
A log meeting house was built the same year (1829), about 18 or 20 feet square, but the land was given to the church by deed in 1836, by Leonard Lipe and his wife Barbara. The legal description is the NW 1/4 of NE 1/4 of Sec. 1, T6S R2S 3PM, and was a three acre tract. This site, including the cemetery, was the victim of strip mining in the area, in more recent times.
Elder Robert Moore was chosen as the first pastor, and served until 1833, when the church divided. Eleven members, a minority, including John S. Haggard, Matthew Jones, and Thomas Jones, followed the pastor and withdrew, and continued to claim the name of Nine Mile Church, and continued fellowship with the Bethel Association, holding to the original principles of the church. The majority also claimed the name of the church, but became a Missionary Baptist church, and adopted new principles and practices.
A meeting house was then erected in Sec. 28, T5S R1W 3PM, in 1842, on land given by West Eaton and wife. It was replaced by the present frame meeting house, in 1911/1912. This meeting house, known as Nine Mile Primitive Baptist Church, has recently been restored, but is no longer being used as a church. The adjoining cemetery is still maintained. From DuQuoin, take Rt. 51 North, turn east on Kimmel Road, and go about a mile to Willow Road. The church and cemetery are about a mile, on the left.
Ministers who served as moderator, up to 1920, included the following: Elders Joseph Hartley, John P. Madox, Moses Neal, John Gibson, A. P. Whitlow, C. C. Taylor, E. T. Webb, Thomas Deremiah, --- Carroll, William C. Ragland, Josiah Harriss, Henry B. Eaton, C. M. Weaver, W. E. Weaver, C. C. Mitchell, and L. P. Harriss.
Elder Josiah Harriss joined the church in February 1860, and was ordained to the work of the ministry in September 1864. Elder Lewis P. Harriss joined this church in 1908, was ordained to the ministry in May 1913, and served as pastor of a faction of the church until his death, in 1959. The church divided in 1924, and one faction of the church was served by Elder Charles M. Weaver. Ministers who were members of this church included Elders Robert Moore, Isaiah Youngblood, Henry B. Eaton, Josiah Harriss, William C. Ragland, Charles M. Weaver, William E. Weaver, and L. P. Harriss.
SURNAMES:
Adams, Anderson, Bane, Bardmass, Barnard, Benedict, Berry, Biggs, Bourland, Bowling, Boyd, Brock, Brooks, Brown, Carson, Carter, Cavins, Chapman, Cheek, Clark, Clem, Cook, Crider, Cully, Davis, Dial, Doty, Dunn, Eaton, Elkins, Erwin, Ford, Francis, Fred, Gant, Garner, Garrison, Gibson, Gilliam, Gordonier, Green, Gregory, Grill, Guy, Haggard, Hagler, Hale, Hall, Hamburger, Hamilton, Hammel, Harriss, Henley, Hitt, Hopp, House, Howell, Imel, Johnson, Jones, Karney, Keith, Kelley, Kinklehine, Laferty, Lipe, Little, Logan, Lynch, Malone, Manis, Marlow, Martin, McBride, McCollum, McMillen, McNabb, Mifflin, Minor, Mitchell, Modglin, Montgomery, Moore, Morris, Nace, Neal, Patton, Peak, Potter, Provart, Quinn, Ragland, Reeves, Rice, Roberts, Rushing, Sconce, Shaw, Simpson, Smith, Somerdon, Staton, Tackett, Teague, Terry, Thompson, Throgmorton, Tilly, WWaller, Weaver, Webb, Wells, West, Willimore, Wilson, Young, Youngblood.
HOLT'S PRAIRIE (PINCKNEYVILLE)(1835)
Holt's Prairie Church was organized by 1835, or earlier, as it became a member of the Illinois Association in 1835, at which time Matthew Jones, James Jones, and John Lynch were her messengers, who reported 7 members. It is believed that John Haggard was also one of the original members. Elders Silas Crisler, and Eli Short were present as a presbytery at the organization.
A log meeting house was constructed at a very early date, at the forks of the Benton and DuQuoin roads, about a mile east of Pinckneyville. The grave of Samuel P. Groves marks the spot occupied by the old log church.
The church continued to represent in the Illinois Association as late as September 1842. In October 1842, this church hosted the constitution of the Southern Illinois Association, which only lasted until about 1850. In 1851, Holt's Prairie Church was listed as a member of the Bethel Regular Baptist Association, at which time the church messengers were James Jones, and J. M. Haggard, who reported 21 members.
SURNAMES:
Haggard, Jones, Lynch, Mendenall (incomplete due to loss of records).
SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN THE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST LIBRARY:
Records of Nine Mile Primitive Baptist Church, 1844-1957; Minutes of Bethel Association; Minutes of Illinois Association.
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