One of the oldest churches in Jessamine county is Mt. Pleasant Baptist church, near Keene. It is located in a fine neighborhood, in the midst of rich lands, which were settled about 1790 by some of the most enterprising and best-educated people who came to Jessamine county at that period of its history. From time to time there had been preaching in this locality by the Baptists who were connected with the South Elkhorn church, which was over the Fayette line, but in 1801 at the request of one hundred members of the South Elkhorn church who were living in the neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant, application was made to organize a new congregation, and Rev. John Shackleford, Absalom Bainbridge, and John Kellar were authorized to investigate and constitute a church at this point. The South Elkhorn church still exists, but is not so prosperous as its daughter, Mt. Pleasant.

The rules of the church which were adopted at this time were very peculiar, and were headed, "Rules of the Church While Sitting on Business":

1st. It is agreed that no motion be attended to without the person making such motion addresses the Moderator standing, and this proposition be seconded.
2nd. That no member speak while the church is on business except to the Moderator, and then in a mild and Christian manner.
3rd. That no member speak in church meeting to the same matter more than twice without leave of the Moderator.
4th.   That no member leave his seat in time of business.
5th. The Moderator shall call to order, whenever these rules are violated. Any member called to order has a right to a voice of the church, if he chooses.

Among the first members were the Williamses, the Woods, the Hugheses, the Smiths, the Singletons, the Haydons, the Hamptons, the Sales, the Mosbys, the Barclays, the Holloways and the Proctors.

From its commencement Mt. Pleasant has always been one of the most prosperous of the Baptist churches in the Bluegrass section. The neighborhood, settled by Baptists, has been dominated and controlled by Baptists from the time of the organization of this church down to the present. It is an evidence of the persistence of the religious denomination in any community where once fairly planted.

The first pastor was Rev. George Stokes Smith. He was a man of strong individuality, great talent, and was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of 1792, and represented Fayette county in that body. He was prominent and influential, and was pastor of the church from 1803 down to 1810. In that year Edmund Waller, a nephew of Rev. G. S. Smith, was called as pastor of the church, and remained with it until June, 1843. He was a man of great power, great earnestness, and great consecration, and built up a very large congregation. The church book shows that the deacons in memory of Mr. Waller draped the pulpit in mourning for him who had been the true and faithful pastor of the church (or thirty-two years, and the first Sabbath of July in that year was directed to be set apart as a day of fasting and prayer. Edmund Waller, who was the father of John L. Waller, was born at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., in 1775. He was the son of Wm. E. Wallet and brother of Wm. Smith Waller, the Lexington banker. His mother was a sister of George Stokes Smith.

He was buried a few miles from Mt. Pleasant in one direction, while his uncle Smith is buried three miles south. He served the church longer than any other pastor. The church has had twenty-one pastors, the minister being the Rev. E. W. Argabrite, and under his ministration the church bids fair to have many years of continued usefulness.

The Nicholasville Presbyterian church was organized June 12, 1820. by Rev. John Lyle. Alex. McFeeters, Samuel Rice and James Ewing were chosen the Elders. Previous to this the Presbyterian preaching place had been established about one and a half miles from Nicholasville on the farm of Samuel McDowell, which is now owned by his son, William McDowell.

The first member to connect herself with the church was Mrs.Jane Meaux. She was always one of its most faithful and liberal supporters. She donated to the church the ground on which the present church edifice and parsonage are situated. Rev. John F. Coons supplied the church from 1839 to 1852.

The first church was erected when Rev. John Hudson was pastor. It was on the corner diagonally opposite the Jessamine Female Institute, occupied quite a large space, and had in connection with it, a burying-ground. The building was completed in 1825, but not dedicated until October 7, 1827. At this time a protracted meeting was held, and the church received a great out-pouring, and more than sixty persons were added to the membership.

This church has sent into the ministry an unusually large number of men, among whom may be mentioned Rev. John T. Hendrick, Rev. Wm. G. Rice, Rev. Charles Sturtevant, Rev. M. B. Price, Rev. Thomas R. Welch, D. D., Rev. Daniel P. Young, Rev. Chas. W. Price, Rev. J. E. Spilman, Rev. Robert Mann and Rev. Jas. Priest, who was a slave of Mrs. Meaux, and who, after his emigration to Liberia, was vice-president of that republic, having gone there as a missionary.

The present church building was dedicated on the 3rd of January, 1851, by Rev. R. J. Hreckinridge, D. D. The present pastor is Rev. R. E. Douglass. The gentlemen who have served as its elders have been among the most prominent citizens of Jessamine during the past seventy-five years, in addition to those already named, Ephraim Tanner, Dr. Archibald Young, Maj. Daniel 15. Price, Reuben 13. Berry, Wm. H. Rainey, Oliver Anderson, Jas. Clement, Jas. McKee, John L. Price, Otho Roberts, Thos. E. West, Jas. Anderson, Wm. S. Scott, Chas. F. Smith, John A. Scroggan, Wm. M. Todd, Robt. Young, John A. Willis, Wm. Clark, W. D. Young Harvey Scott, W. G Woods, S. D. Young, A. N. Gordon, Thomas Butler and John Steele. Maj. D. B. Price was Clerk of the Session for thirty-two years, while John A. Willis has acted in the same capacity for thirty-eight years.

This church is regarded as one of the most liberal of the Presbyterian churches in Kentucky. Its donations to Center College, Central University, Danville Theological Seminary, and to all the causes of the church have been extremely generous, and give the church a high standing among all Presbyterians. This church is the mother of the church at Wilmore, the church there having been supported and maintained by the Nicholasville church until it became self-supporting.

One of the most interesting of the ancient structures in Jessamine county, is Clear Creek Presbyterian church. It was erected about 1829, and was organized by Rev. Nathan H. Hall. Among the names of the founders are those of Dr. Archibald Young, James Carrothers, Ephraim Carter, David McKee, and Archibald Logan. This old church is about a mile and a half from Wilmore on the Nicholasville turnpike. It was abandoned some years since, and sold to the colored people, who now use it as a house of worship. At one time it was a very important congregation, and a large and prosperous church. Its first pastor was Rev. Simeon H. Crane, who served the church for one-third of his time for $150 per annum. It was built entirely of stone, and the old seats and floors and pulpit are still intact. In a little cemetery across the road sleeps the dust of many pious members, whose faith found expression in song and prayer in this old church.

The only Catholic church in Jessamine county is that of St. Luke, in Nicholasville, Ky. It was erected in 1866 on ground deeded for that purpose by Moreau Brown. It was dedicated to the service of God in 1866 by Rev. Father Willie, and in this the Centennial year of Nicholasville has 156 members. .

One of the most interesting churches in Jessamine county is Bethany Christian church. It was organized on the first of February. 1845, through the ministration of Jacob Creath, Samuel J. Pinkerton and James Simms. For a long time it was one of the most prosperous and successful of the churches of that denomination in the county, but has recently been reduced. It had such members as Dr. James J. Burch, Samuel Muir, George S. Bryant, Benjamin Robinson, Dr. John Bryant, William H. Daniel, Benj. J. Mitchell, and other responsible and prominent citizens.

Was erected in Nicholasville in 1875. It is one of the handsome church edifices of the town, and was built almost altogether through the efforts of Moreau Brown, Esq., who was so long a resident of Nicholasville. and one of its most successful and prominent members, and who died in 1886.

The present pastor of this church is the Rev. V. T.. Willis.

Was organized in the spring of 1828 by Elder George W. Elley. Mr. Elley had a religious debate with George W. Sturtivant, a young Presbyterian minister and was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Nicholasville in 1826, removing from there to Lexington in 1829, where for 20 years he was engaged in business and was a leading member of the Christian church.
The records of this church have been burned, and it is impossible to get all the data concerning its organization. Elder Jacob Creath, in a letter written some years ago, says: ''Brother Campbell" and myself went to Kentucky from Guyandotte,
Western Virginia, which was in 1828. In January, 1829, I was invited by my deceased uncle, J. E. Creath, Sr., to hold a meeting in Nicholasville with Brother William Morton. We held the meeting in the Presbyterian meeting house which was located in the west end of the town. During the meeting it rained very hard all day. I preached from John XX, 30 and 31. 'Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.' "

The first church building of this congregation was erected in 1830. William Shreve and John Wallace were chosen elders and James Simms and James Sale deacons. William White. James Simms and Moses Hawkins were long leading and faithful members of the church. The present handsome edifice was erected in 1874 and is one of the most comfortable and convenient church structures in the city. The congregation has a numerous membership and has a most influential position in the county.

This church was organized on the 10th of February, 1849, by a commission composed of Rev. R. T. Dillard, Joseph R. Barbee and E. Darnaby. There were only seventeen members then present. Stephen P. Waller was chosen clerk and Jonathan Baker and E. A. Waller were chosen the first deacons. Its first pastor was Rev. Thomas J. Drane. It has had a line of distinguished ministers through the fifty years of its existence, and, while not a very large congregation, has always been an extremely faithful and earnest one. The present pastor is Rev. William D. Nowlin. The edifice in which the congregation worships was built in the year 1852.

Ebenezer Presbyterian church was organized by the Rev. Adam Rankin, somewhere between 1785 and 1790. He came to Kentucky from Virginia in October, 1784. This church is on Clear creek close to the town of Troy. Change of roads and lines of travel have rendered the location unsuitable. The first church was built of logs, and the stone church, which was abandoned in 1876, was begun in 1805, and was used continuously for nearly a century by the descendants of the people who organized this congregation Among the first members were Wm. Evans and wife, Thos. Woods and wife, Wm. Garrard and wife, Robt. Gwin and wife, Ephraim Tanner and wife, Thos. Read and wife, Robt. Black and wife, Jas. Black and wife. Hugh Garrett, Robt. Lowrey. Mrs. Nancv Drake, and the Lambkins. Beattvs, Longs. Scanlands. Reamers, Hedges, Phillipscs and Logans.

The descendants of many of chese godly people remain in the neighborhood and still support the church of their fathers. One of the most useful and honored of all the ministers of Ebenezer church was Rev. Neal Gordon, who came from Georgia and supplied the church for thirty years. He was a most zealous and self-denying servant of Christ. His grave is close by the door of the old stone church. Tn this old building are the straight benches and the white painted pulpit which were used for more than fifty years. Around its deserted walls rests the dust of its faithful supporters for one hundred years; in silence and solitude these graves still speak of the faithfulness and consecration of the people of this church.

The members of the Ebenezer and the Clear Creek churches united in 1870 and formed the Troy Presbyterian church, and while Troy church is just over the Woodford line, quite a large proportion of its membership resides in Jessamine. Rev. E. O. Guerrant, D. D., was called as pastor of the Troy church in 1886. He infused new life and energy into the organization. He has since resigned the pastorate and taken charge of the church at Wilmore, which by a large increase in membership demands the whole time of the pastor.

The first church building erected in Nicholasville was by the members of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1799. The frame church which stood on the same lot some twenty steps from the present fine building was erected through the labors of the Rev. John Metcalf and the Rev. Nathaniel Harris. The house was 56x36 and had a room for the colored people 30 x 15.

One of the ablest ministers who preached in this church was the Rev. Chas. Watson; he was a successful and distinguished evangelist. Oftentimes at meetings he took occasion to show his brethren his ordination certificate which bore the autograph of Bishop Asburv. These were considered most valuable mementoes among the early Methodist people.

Bishop Asbury laid the foundation of the Methodist church in America, and his piety, learning and consecration did much to widely spread the doctrines of this denomination. The house was dedicated bv the Rev. Charles Chenowerth.
The following letter conveyed the invitation :
Jessamine county, Kentucky, Sept. 9. 1799.

Rev. Charles Chenowerth:
Dear Brother: Our meeting house is completed, and I invite you to be with us the second Sunday in October to preach the first sermon in the new house.   I have written several others to assist in holding the revival, and am still living on the bank of the Kentucky river, and preach every Sunday.
Yours truly,
John Metcalf.

To which the following response was written:
Near Harrodsburg, Ky., Sept. 26, 1799.

Dear Bro. Metcalf: I was handed your letter to-day by Bro. Rule, and will inform vou that I will come if no unforeseen occasion prevents me from doing so.
Truly yours in the Gospel of Peace,
Chas. Chenowerth.

Rev. John Metcalf was the first minister. He had preached in Nicholasville for years before the erection of the church building. His preaching was often at the house of Elijah Wallace who then lived where Judge Phillips now resides.

In 1789 Rev. Thomas Williamson succeeded Mr. Metcalf, but Mr. Metcalf returned in 1804. In 1805 Mr. Metcalf moved his family to Nicholasville, as also Bethel Academy, which was then carried on, on the banks of the Kentucky river.

In 1821 the distinguished Methodist, H. H. Kavanaugh, afterward bishop, filled the pulpit. In 1846 the old frame church was torn down after standing forty-six years, and a new brick house was erected, and a few years since the present beautiful and elegant structure was erected on the same ground. Rev. T. W. Watts is the minister now in charge. The congregation has always been considered one full of faith and good works, and has done efficient service for the cause of God.

In 1843, there was a great revival in the Methodist church at Nicholasville, which was under the conduct of Rev. Rice Harris. The following preachers were in attendance: Jonathan Stampers, Benjamin Crouch, Richard Deering, Charles Watson, B. H. McCown, Thos. N. Rawlston, Rev. Mr. Kelly.

The following letter written by David Crozer, who was the owner of and was operating Crozer's Mill on Jessamine creek, to the Hon. Tucker Woodson, gives an account of this meeting:

"Jessamine county, Ky.
"Four miles east of Nicholasville, Feb. 13, 1843.

"Hon. Tucker Woodson:
"Dear Sir: Your esteemed favor of 10th is received, and having a little leisure I hasten to answer it. I was not aware of the fact stated bv you, that the roads 1 named to you were under the control of the local boards. I knew that there was a law at last session, authorizing the state board to take the management of all the roads, and had understood that they had generally done so. On the subject of the proposed bank, I am greatly at a loss to give you my opinion, and can not exactly see and appreciate your present position on this, only I know that you were elected as opposed to relief measures. I am greatly astonished at the news this morning from Nicholasville. There is a great revival going on at the Methodist church; more than thirty have been added to the church. Among the converts are Thomas H. Ballard, Stephen Spragens, Moreau Brown, Mrs. Keene, Mrs. Wilmore (wife of T. D. Wilmore), Jacob Wilmorc. Jr., Sandy Wake, James Buskett and Win. B. Payne. The Rev. Rice Harris was greatly assisted in this meeting by his brethren from other circuits.

"We must ourselves watch and avoid the careless side of life.
"Your friend,
"D. Crozer."

Mr. Crozer was mistaken as to Judge Wake. He never joined the Methodist church.

This church is situated on East street in Nicholasville, and was organized September 15, 1845, by Rev. Samuel Miller, who then erected the first house of worship that this congregation ever had. The present beautiful structure was built through the labors of Rev. James Turner. This church has a very active membership and a large, successful Sunday-school, which exerts a fine influence throughout the members of the church. The minutes show that it is one of the most liberal of the colored churches, and that in thirty years it has contributed to benevolent

One of the handsomest colored churches in the county or state, is the Colored Christian Church. Nicholasville, which was erected in 1843 and for several years used as a house of worship, being then known as the Union Church, where all the colored people from time to time held their services. It was not until the year 1867 that the officers of the church bought the Union Church and became a separate organization. The present pastor, the Rev. W. H. Dickinson, came to the congregation on the first of September. 1896. He is a native of Virginia. The church building now in use was erected in 1890. It has a large membership and is one of the most prosperous of the colored churches in Central Kentucky.

The first colored Baptist church in Nicholasville was organized in 1846. Few of its records have been preserved. Rev. Robert Irvin was the first pastor, who remained in the church four years. The present membership is 356. Tt has been prosperous and particularly so under the ministrations of its present pastor. Rev. John William Clark.

 

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