BIG CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
ANNA, ILLINOIS
Union County Illinois Genealogy Trails
HISTORY
1852-1983
Excerpts from the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives
ORGANIZATION OF THE BIG CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
Isaac BROWN
Synthia BROWN
John M. POLLARD
Maria POLLARD, his wife
John F. WALCHER
Emiline BROWN
Samuel BROWN
Leonard LIPE
Anna BROWN
James M. FREELIN
Carolina BROWN
Eber CARLOCK
John BROWN
Susanna CARLOCK
Anna BROWN
Mary STESTARVILLEN
Elizabeth BROWN
Charles CORZINE
Peter VERBLE
Abraham BROWN
Margaret VERBLE
Maria BROWN
David BROWN
Nancy PRITCHETT
George W. BROWN
Elizabeth BROWN
The Big Creek Baptist Church was organized as a Church in Gospel Order in the year of 1852.
The following extracts from Minutes of the Mother church will furnish the process and organization.
"Extract from the Minutes of the Clear Creek Baptist Church of Jonesboro, Illinois, dated on Saturday before
the 4th Lord's Day in April 1852."
"To the Clear Creek Church - Dear Brethren, we the undersigned members of the Clear Creek Church at Jonesboro
beg leave to present that a number of us at a considerable distance from town, making it quite inconvenient for
us to attend Church meetings as we would wish to do, and believe that a regularly Organized Church on the waters
of Big Creek, in which is known as the Brown Settlement would tend to our convenience and the promotion of Christ's
kingdom here on earth, is therefore, pray you to grant us a letter of Dismission from your body for the purpose
of being Constituted into a Gospel Church, at such time and place as you may think proper and also, to appoint
such Ministers and Brethren to aid in the constitution, as you in your wisdom shall see fit."
The following names annexed to the above petition:
"After some Deliberation, resolved the constitution of said Church take place on Saturday before the 3rd Lord's
Sabbath in May next and that Elders D. L. PHILLIPS
and Francis H. BROWN, from the presbytary, assisted
by Brethern Samuel HUNSAKER, Andrew CORZINE, Wm. GREEN, Caleb FRICK, James M. BROOKS, J. CORZINE, Henderson BROWN, Grant T. WAGONER, George HUNSAKER, also, appoint Brother Andrew CORZINE
to request the presence and assistance of Elders Martin ATHERTON and Henry H. RICHARDSON, in behalf
of the Church.
After hearing the foregoing petition read, on Motion resolved that the foregoing petition be granted for the purpose
therein stated."
Elder D. L. PHILLIPS
Moderator
C. G. FLAUGH
Church Clerk
"Extract from the minutes of the Clear Creek Baptist Church of Jonesboro, Illinois Saturday before the 4th
Lord's Day in May 1852..."
"The Church being informed that the Constitution of a Church on Big Creek, Saturday before the 3rd Sabbeth
in this month did not take place in consequence of Elder D. L. PHILLIPS being sick, Resolved by the church that the Constitution take place on the 3rd Saturday in next
month, and that Elder James BELL be Requested to
assist, and then adjourned until meeting in course."
Elder D. L. PHILLIPS, Moderator
C. G. FLAUGH, Church Clerk
"Extract from the minutes of Cleer Creek Baptsit Church, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, before the 4th Lord's
Day in June 1952..."
"Reported by Elder F. M. BROWN, that the Elders
and Brethern appointed to- Constitute a church on Big Creek, met at the meeting house near sister KEITHs on Saturday last, and Organized a church in Gospel order,
known as the Big Creek Church..."
"On motion agreed that sisters Mary Anne DAVIS,
Catherine BROWN, Sophia WALCHER, Catherine LIPE, Matilda S. CORZINE, Mary DAVIS, be granted letters of dismission for the purpose of being united with Big Creek Church."
Elder D. L. PHILLIPS, Moderator
C. G. FLAUGH, Church Clerk
Articles of agreement excerpt, Made this 17th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred Fifty
Three...
A Parcel of land situated in Union County, State of Illinois, and located in North East Quarter (NE1/2) of the
North East Quarter (NE1/2) of Section Three (3) Township Thirteen (13) South, Range One (1) West of the third Principal
meridian. Described as follows, to-wit: Beginning at a point forty (40) r-ds West of the SouthEast corner of said
Quarter Quarter, thence Due West Forty (40) r-ds West of the South West of saidQr. Qr., thence North Forty Nine
(49) r-ds to the public Road, Thence East along the South Boundary line of said Road Twelce (12) r-ds, Thence in
a Southeasterly direction following the South boundary line of said public road Forty three & 78/100 rods to
the northwest corner of the Present church Property, Thence South Sixteen (16) rods to the point of beginning,
containing Nine & 36/100 acres, more or less.
BIG CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSES
The Big Creek Baptist church has been housed in three buildings for one hundred and ten years:
First Big Creek Building - Log 1852-1872
Second Big Creek Building - Frame 1872 - 1922
Third Big Creek Building - Frame 1922 - 1962
The first church house was of log structure located near a stream called Big Creek in the Brown Settlement. There
was a spring near by, and the church as on the north side of the creek.
After the coming of the Railroad, the population of the community centered around the Village of Balcom, located
on the Illinois Central. The membership of the Church decided to move the location of the
Church from the Brown settlement to a more convenient location near their homes. Thereupon, Brother Dan LEYERLE deeded to the Trustees of the Big Creek Church four acres
of land from his farm for Church and Cemetery purposes. (To see what public land sales Dan Leyerle purchase, search the Illinois Archives Land Sales Database. Select Union as the county
and type in the letter "L". Dan is listed under various spellings).
Our minutes do not cover the erection of the second Church building, but many of the congregation today worshiped
in this building, which was erected in 1872. The building was a long one room structure, with two front doors,
divided pews: men and women section, two side aisles leading to the front of the Church, pulpit section one foot
higher than rest of building, bay window in the rear of the rostrum, two side sections at the front, known as the
"Amen Corners". It was furnished with straight back seats, heated by two stoves, and an organ was used
in the services in later years. In the early years it had the nickname of "Red Jacket" because it was
painted red.
Mr. Harvey PLOTT, Trustee and oldest member of our
church, and serving on this Historical Committee, has personally reserved the information regarding the early life
of the Big Creek Church.
Several years ago Mr. PLOTT removed, with the aid
of others, from the Brown Farm the stone from the North East Corner of the original church foundation, and had
it made into two Memorial Markers for our present Church. One is kept inside the building and the larger stone
was erected in front of the church, engraved as follows:
Big Creek Church
1852 - 1872 - 1922
Part of the foundation used in the erection of this marker was from foundation stones of
the second Church house.
"On motion made and carried" from the minutes of our records, Rev. H. H. WALLACE, Pastor, led the church
to build a new house of worship. It was started in 1922 and Dedicated in 1926. It was built on a Pay-as-you-go
basis. Most of the work was done by members of the congregations of the Church, the Church, individual members,
and friends of the Church.
PEOPLE PRESENT IN THE LAST SERVICE IN THE OLD CHURCH M. A. PLOTT
John FRITZ, Dongola
Edna PLOTT
Claude SMOOT, Dongola
Mae PLOTT
Henry NORDMAN, Mounds
Helen PLOTT
Josephine NORDMAN, Mounds
Elaine PLOTT
E. E. WILSON
Donald PLOTT
Regina WILSON
E. C. BOYD
Prof. Eugene WARNER (Balcom High School Teacher)
Mrs. E. C. BOYD
Jesse J. GARROTT
Marie BOYD
Homer GARROTT
Glenn BOYD
Fannie GARROTT
Claude HANKLA, Jonesboro
Minnie SMOOT
Barl BOYD
William BEAMS
Carrie BOYD
Violet BEAMS
Wayne BOYD
Edith BEAMS
C. F. PLOTT
Flora FURNISH
A--a PLOTT
Eva WAGGLE
Lela PLOTT
James E. CORZINE
Fae PLOTT
Ella CORZINE
Lee PLOTT
Vivian CORZINE
Ray PLOTT
Kenneth CORZINE
Columbus POOLE
Collene CORZINE
Nellie POOLE
Betty CORZINE
Wayman POOLE
Edith SANSON, Jonesboro
Roscoe POOLE
James CORZINE, Jr.
Mabel POOLE
Della CAMPBELL
Gladys FOX
Denia? CARLOCK
Claude BOYD, Jonesboro
Murrell BRADLEY, Dongola
Mary SANSON, Jonesboro
Charles W. HOLSHOUSER
Harry O. DAVIS, Jonesboro
Ida HOLSHOUSER
Velma HOLSHOUSER
Elmer RANEY
Alvin TREECE
Floyd LYNN
Cora PIERCE
Annie RANEY
Mamie PIERCE
Opal RANEY
Alma WILSON
Scott DAVIS
Chester FULLER
Ruth DAVIS
Zora FULLER
Mazelle DAVIS
Freda FULLER
Mildred DAVIS
Lester GRAHAM
Edith FERGUSON
Joe CLANCY, Malden, Mo.
Alma FERGUSON
Edwin LEYERLE
George ANDERSON
Gilman LEYERLE
Anna ANDERSON
Jay HIGGINS
Dorothy ANDERSON
Aubrey HIGGINS
Louise ANDERSON
Lester CORZINE
Evelyn ANDERSON
Lorene ADEN
George GARROTT
Lorene COOLEY, Dongola
Carrie GARROTT
Evelyn COOLEY, Dongola
Edna GARROTT
Otto THEIS
Helen GARROTT
Emma THEIS
Jeff GARROTT
Irma THEIS
Clella DAVIS
Nina STROUD
Blanche DAVIS
Melvin STROUD
Fount DAVIS
Minnie STROUD
Van DAVIS
Iva McLAIN
Jeff L. CORZINE
George ANDERSON, Jr.
Melvin HENSLEY, Malden, Mo.
Henry LITTLE
Ed NELSON
September 17, 1922
Rev. H. H. WALLACE, Pastor
We are indebted to Mr. Harvey A. PLOTT for this information
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