Trinity United Methodist  Church Newberry, SC 1835 - 1985 By Charlie M. Senn The Original Church Buildings Trinity Church was formed by the consolidation of three older churches, Kadesh, Moon's Meeting House, and Shady Grove, in 1835. Shady Grove did not join until 1837. After this consolidation, the older church buildings were kept in repair for many years. Private schools were conducted in these buildings. That at Kadesh was a forerunner of the later Smyrna School; that at Shady Grove was a predecessor of Silverstreet School, and that at Moon's Meeting House preceded Ridge Spring School. These buildings were often used for prayer-meetings and funerals. Even occasional preaching services were held there. The old, log sanctuary of Moon's Meeting House was still in good condition in the 1880's, and probably much later. At the Shady grove sanctuary, the venerable Daniel Stewart continued to hold prayer meetings until shortly before his death, which occurred in the 1860's. At the Kadesh sanctuary, Col. James L. Mosley Gilder taught school many years. The old colonel was said to be the ugliest man in 17 states, but he was of superb character. Col. Gilder had a splendid personality. He married three times, and there were children by all of those marriages. In courting the lady who became the second Mrs. Gilder, the colonel had a serious rival in the personable and talented, young Dr. Thomas Boozer, a near neighbor. Dr. Thomas Boozer, who rode on horseback from Newberry to Charleston every year while attending college, almost won the heart of the fair lady before she finally decided in favor of the Colonel. A few years later, when the second Mrs. Gilder died, a heartless gossip told the heart-broken widower that Dr. Boozer had said that, although he could not have the lady in life, he would have her in death. The grief-stricken husband believed this wild tale. Taking one of his old, black servants with him, Col. Gilder camped in Kadesh cemetery three weeks to prevent Dr. Boozer from coming in the night to dig up the corpse. How the Colonel managed to keep the servant in the cemetery with him at night is unknown. Dr. Boozer, a splendid Christian gentleman, and the Colonel's own relatives were powerless to convince the grief-stricken man that this story was a lie. Several years later an aged lady became ill and apparently died. The funeral was held at Kadesh, although the congregation had long ago moved to Trinity. The deceased had been a very good person, and she had many relatives. Even some of the black neighbors and friends attended the funeral. The little church was full. During the service the supposed corpse stirred as if restless and sat up in the coffin. With an air of astonishment and wonder, the old woman looked around at the congregation and asked, "What in the name of the Lord are you all doing?" Someone screamed, and panic broke out. In the mad rush to get away which followed, another elderly lady, Mrs. Mary Senn, fell and broke a leg. Since there were three Mary Senns living about that time, the identity of the injured woman is in doubt. In later times, the abandoned church building at Kadesh was believed by superstitious people to be haunted. Persons gifted with much imagination fancied that a woman stood at a window and looked at them as they passed the church at night. For a long time a small house stood over the Gilder graves. This house was destroyed by a forest fire in the 1920's; the same fire caused most of the marble gravestones to crumble. The Migration to Texas Even before the War Between the States many people from Newberry County and from neighboring Edgefield County migrated to the Gulf states, the Mississippi Valley, and to Texas. Some of these men fought in the Texas Revolution; a few of them were at the Alamo. After the disasterous and tragic War Between the States, the ruin which had befallen the defeated South was so discouraging that many people migrated to other parts of America. Some went to Mexico, Honduras, or Brazil to start life anew. Many went to California or the Rocky Mountain states to mine gold. Many of the boys from Trinity community had served with the troops from Texas. The Texans, then as now, liked to extoll the wonders of their great state. They told tales of vast, fertile, free land, plenty of game for hunters, and rich deposits of gold. Shortly after the war several families, together with several young single men, from Trinity and neighboring communities decided to migrate to Texas. Among these people were Levi Farley Longshore and a neighbor, James Speer, who had married Frances ("Fanny") Senn, of Trinity. After loading their possessions aboard covered wagons, the migrants said farewell to their friends and neighbors and set out on their long journey. On the hills beyond the Savannah, the caravan halted and the people looked back at South Carolina for the last time. Day after day, for many weeks, the wagon train and its attendant horsemen slowly wended their way through the hills and forests of the thinly-settled Gulf states. They forded many unbridged streams and ferried their wagons across great rivers. Beyond the mighty Mississippi the weary journey continued for hundreds of miles. The Red River was reached and crossed; the valley of the Red River still bore signs of conflict during the recent war. About two days journey beyond the Red River lay Texas. After another day, the Sabine River was reached and crossed. Small boats plied the river, which flowed through grazing lands. Beyond the Sabine were vast areas largely covered with heavy timber. There, near Carthage, in Panola County, the Speer family settled and began farming. The Longshores settled twenty miles away, and the other migrants scattered through eastern Texas. The young people and some of the adults liked Texas. But many of the adults became homesick. James Speer wrote to his wife's family in South Carolina and vainly asked them to join him in Texas. There were many outlaws and brigands in Texas in those days. Farm products were very cheap, and it was difficult to get the harvested crops to market. The fabled gold mines of eastern Texas did not exist. Mrs. Speer died in Texas. The grieving husband had his wife's body embalmed with the crude method available on the frontier. Then the corpse was put into a well-built, home-made coffin. The coffin was packed with charcoal and sealed. Mr. Longshore then told Mr. Speer that he was so homesick that he was returning to South Carolina. He volunteered to escort Mrs. Speer's coffin homeward. Mr. Speer himself could remain and gather the crop. The long return journey was weary and sad. Much of the livestock had been lost in Texas, and some of the family possessions had been left behind. In Alabama a detour was made to visit a Longshore brother who had settled there. But there, at the crossing of the Tombigbee River, little James Kemper Longshore, who was only seven years of age, suddenly became very ill and died. A kindly blacksmith furnished an iron box. The little body was placed in this box, which was sealed. At last the Saluda River, in South Carolina, was reached. A crossing was made at the Island Ford, which many years later was to be submerged beneath the waters of Lake Greenwood. As soon as the travellers crossed the river, the dogs began to howl. The tired mules and the horses quickened their pace and began to neigh. It was apparent that the animals realized that they were nearing home. When the travellers reached Trinity community, two graves were dug near the church, and a double funeral was planned. But the Longshores decided to build a coffin for little James Kemper. The carpenter, anxious to do a good job, was unable to finish his task until the following day. So Mrs. Frances Speer (Mrs. James Speer) and little James Kemper Longshore were buried on successive days. These two interments, late in 1867, were the first burials at Trinity Church, although the Church had been there 32 years. Previously, burials had taken place in the numerous family graveyards, or in the cemeteries of the three original churches, the predecessors of Trinity. The Longshore family is numerous today in Newberry County. About one fifth the graves in Trinity Cemetery are those of Longshores. Trinity A. M. E. Church Before the War Between the States the white and the black Methodist worshipped together in the same sanctuary at Trinity Church. Even after the great war the two races continued to worship together. Soon, however, missionaries of the African Methodist Episcopal Church came into Newberry County and told the black brethren of the advantages of having their own church, with a black minister and black officials. The whites did not want to lose the black members and tried to persuade them to remain. In 1866, however, the black members quietly and peacefully left the white church. In later years they often returned to the funerals of white friends or to hear some favorite visiting minister, who had once been a pastor at Trinity. Down the hill to the east of the church lies Trinity Spring. There, in the woods south of the spring, the black brethren found an almost level area of land. Setting tall posts into the ground and cutting many long poles, they built a stout shed-like framework with a gabled roof. This roof was thickly covered with brush. This rude arbor, which was called a "brush harbor," became a sanctuary and place of worship for the blacks. Logs were cut and placed in rows to serve as benches. A good pulpit was built of boards. In cold weather a big fire was built just outside the arbor. The people went in relays to warm themselves. Every relay added more wood to the fire before returning to their seats. The blacks had a good minister and white people often attended the services. The singing was beautiful. Often the singing could be heard a mile. Strict order was kept. But the two churches were so close together that the two congregations could hear each other singing. Sometimes this was distracting. Then a few rough white boys sometimes went to the colored services. Often these boys would heckle when some black whom they knew was converted. This often happened when the penitent sinner had been noted as being careless with other people's chickens and watermelons. Such conduct displeased both the blacks and their white friends. Then, too, there was a growing number of black ruffians who were causing much serious trouble at other black churches. Many church services were being disrupted and many blacks shot or knifed by hoodlums of their own color, with their courage fortified with liquor. In such cases, bullets often went across the grounds of nearby white churches. Such rioting never happened at the brush arbor near Trinity Spring. The church officials kept order. But the danger of violence was ever present in those dark days of Reconstruction that followed the great war. For such reasons the black leaders reluctantly decided that the two churches were too close together. So they purchased a lot from Mr. Henry Dickson Boozer, a member of Smyrna Presbyterian Church. At the new site, a mile from the brush arbor, a log church was built in the woods. This log church was occupied about two years after the secession of the blacks from the original Trinity Church. At its new site Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church flourished. The stewards kept strict order. The fighting, shooting, and drunken rioting that characterized many other black churches at that time were not permitted. Trinity A. M. E. Church still flourishes today. The congregation now occupies a beautiful brick sanctuary, the fifth house of worship which has stood upon the present church property. In recent years a large Masonic Hall has been erected near the church sanctuary. Camp Meetings It is said that camp meetings began in the ridge section of northern Tennessee in the late 1790's. These meetings were started by two ministers, brothers, one of whom was Presbyterian and the other Methodist. In later years this movement became mostly Methodist. But a strong effort was always made to keep these services interdenominational. Ministers of all denominations were invited to participate. Camp meetings spread into South Carolina about 1905. The first such service was at Hanging Rock, the scene of a Revolutionary War battle. Soon there were well-established and recognized Camp Meeting Grounds all over the state. Most large Methodist Circuits had such a camp ground. Newberry Circuit's people attended Watson's Camp Ground, near Ebenezer Church. This site declined in popularity twice but revived. In later times, after the last revival in popularity, the name became Ebenezer Camp Ground. In the center of the vast camping area stood a large tabernacle. This was built of tall posts which supported a pyramidal roof, covered shinglefashion with boards riven by an instrument called a "Fro:' Underneath this tabernacle stood a low platform, or dias, upon which was the "stand" or pulpit. Many rude benches beneath the tabernacle faced the pulpit. Often there were many log seats outside the tabernacle. In a vast circle around the tabernacle stood the covered wagons of the people. Often these covered wagons were supplemented by, or perhaps replaced by tents or by rude huts covered with bark. At a much later time the covered wagons and the early rude huts were replaced by well-built log houses, which were called "tents." These houses were usually about 20 feet or more in length and about 12 feet wide, with a height of 7 feet at the eaves. Some of these log house "tents" had two stories. The gabled roofs were covered with boards, or shingles. The earthen floors were covered with fresh straw every year. Near the row of tents was a row of little sheds and shacks, often covered with bark, which served as kitchens. In a vast outer circle were the areas where the horses and mules were hitched and cared for during the meeting. Usually there were several sermons in both morning and afternoon. There would be many prayers and much singing. At night, with torches, candles, or whale-oil lanterns to provide light, there would be additional services and singing. Often, too, there would be prayer meetings in some of the tents or log houses. Preachers of all denominations took part, although the main effort was Methodist. Camp police were appointed every year to keep order. These police were very effective. Trouble-makers and horse-thieves whom these police arrested were turned over to the county officials for punishment by the courts. The camp Meetings were great social occasions as well as times of religious revival. As such, they served a very useful purpose. In much later times the camp meetings began to close one by one as the church officials decided that too many people were attending simply to socialize and have fun rather than to participate in the religious services.  The Woman's Missionary Society Trinity Woman's Missionary Society was first organized July 13th, 1879, with ten members, The officers elected were: President, Mrs. Wilson W, Waldrop; Vice Presidents, Miss Lizzie Martin and Mrs, S, E. Senn; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. S. F. Longshore; Recording Secretary, Miss Mamie Kinard; Treasurer, Mrs. Rebecca Pins. In 1928 two of the charter members were still living: Mrs. Rebecca A. Pitts and Mrs. S. F. Grizzard (was Mrs. S. F. Longshore). For a number of years the society flourished and then only a few were found at the meetings. Finally the meetings were discontinued, but Mrs. Grizzard went from house to house in her buggy receiving the dues and was thus able to send in the quarterly report continually. In 1916 Mrs. J. W. White of Newberry came to us and reorganized our society. Mrs. Lucy Longshore was elected president at the time of reorganization and she served until her death, March 1st, 1923. She was a faithful, consecrated woman. Regular meetings were held after the reorganization and the society was very active. In 1928 Mrs. J. C. Brehmer was president; there were twenty-one members and the pledge for the year was $75. After several changes of name and organization, Trinity's Missionary Society still exists today as the Women's Society of Christian Service, one of the most useful arms of the church. The Trinity School In early days there were no public schools in South Carolina. A tremendously large number of the people were illiterate. Even intelligent and able church leaders often signed their names with crosses. Young couples, recently married, would go in search of a farm where they could share-crop. The landowner would offer them half the crop for their services. They would reject this offer as not being enough. But an offer of one-third was accepted as being more. To remedy this situation, the Methodists and the Presbyterians tried hard to encourage the development of small private schools, within the in reach of all children. These schools were often held in Methodist Churches. Some denominations distrusted educated people and did not believe in an educated ministry. For a long time the small children of Trinity community had to walk to a private school at old Shady Grove Church, near Silverstreet. There, the school master often had to accept farm produce as part of his pay. One of Trinity's fair daughters, Mrs. Euclydus Longshore, thought that it was shameful for the small children to have to walk so far to school. This lady was called "Sally Clyde" to distinguish her from two other Sallys in the neighborhood. Sally Clyde's husband, Euclydus Longshore, a badly crippled Confederate veteran, was one of Trinity's best leaders. In her house, a mile east of the church, Sally Clyde started teaching all the children whom she could persuade to attend her classes. In good weather the school moved to a grove of big trees in a corner of the pasture behind the dwelling house. This house, which still stands today, was later known as the Jim Pitts house and, still later, as the Hendrix house. This childless lady, Sally Clyde, apparently taught as a labor of love. It is not believed that she accepted pay for her instruction. Sally Clyde's example inspired the stewards and trustees of Trinity Church to make an old log house on the church grounds available for use as a school. It is likely that this old house had been used a few times as a place of worship while the first sanctuary of Trinity Church was being built. In this log house, under the sponsorship of the church, a private school was operating in 1881, and probably a few years earlier. A big chimney, with a fireplace wide enough for four-foot wood, was the heating unit in winter. The first known teacher in this school was Mr. Robert (Bob) Reagin, one of Trinity's leaders. But there might have been one or more teachers still earlier. Mr. Reagin was succeeded by Miss Emma Riser, a daughter of Sheriff Walter Wallace Riser, of Newberry County. This lady, who later married Dr. Andrew Longshore, was much loved and respected. Miss Riser had been in the first class of the newly-established Converse College, at Spartanburg, S.C. It is said that the children loved their teacher so much that she had no disciplinary problems. But she was a conscientious and able teacher. In the 1890's this little school on the grounds of Trinity Church became part of the newly-established public school system of South Carolina. Then, in 1894, the log school building was torn down and replaced by a good one-room frame, clapboarded structure. The big chimney of the original building was retained and repaired. For several years the big fireplace of this chimney heated the little schoolroom in winter. Then a stove was installed. Several dozen children always started to school in the fall. But poverty and the necessity of doing farm work in springtime always forced most of the students to drop out or begin attending very irregularly before the school term ended. Many of the children had to walk long distances to school. Little Miss Dollie May Senn, who later taught at Trinity, walked five miles, one-way to school. In early years, before the stove was installed, the teacher, on cold days, often allowed the children to take turns warming themselves before the big fireplace. In those early days, and until about the turn of the century, the students did their exercises on slates. Penmanship was always stressed. The children wrote with soapstone pencils. Miss Mamie McGraw, who succeeded Miss Emma Riser, was a good disciplinarian and a splendid, accomplished teacher. She was at Trinity when a total eclipse of the sun occurred, Monday, May 28, 1900. The children were helping their teacher decorate the schoolhouse for commencement exercises when darkness began to fall. The teacher knew of the coming eclipse and told the students about it. The children, therefore, showed no fear. They calmly went over to the nearby home of Mr. David Pitts, and viewed the eclipse through pieces of smoked glass. But, since there was no local postal service and but few people saw newspapers, the darkness caused terror among many people, who thought that Judgement Day was at hand. The commencement exercises that night were a great success. The schoolhouse had been beautifully decorated and an outdoor stage had been built adjacent to the school. The splendidly, drilled children did their parts well. Then there was a concert by the uniformed and resplendent West End Band, from Newberry. Miss Olive Workman, who was later Mrs. Tump Cleland, taught in 1901. Then came Miss Clara Belle Isle, of Atlanta, who had taught music in Trinity Church the preceding year. In the spring of 1902, the trustees sent the teacher and the student body, accompanied by several adults, to Charleston, S. C., to visit the South Carolina Interstate and West Indian Exposition. This great Exposition, which would be called a World's Fair today, spread over about 250 acres of land where Hampton Gardens lie now. The children and their escorts wandered wide-eyed through the many, great, white buildings, saw the strange exhibits from foreign lands, slept in a boarding house, and went on a wonderful steamer tour of the harbor and a visit to Mount Pleasant. That was the farthest that most of those people, both children and adults, ever went from home. Miss Pearl West taught from 1903 to 1906. Then Miss Dollie May Senn, a former student of Trinity and a member of Lander's first class, taught from 1906 to 1910. Her salary was $25 per month for a term of seven months. Miss Dollie May accepted another offer with higher pay and recommended as her successor a lady whom she had met at summer school. This was Miss Daisy Elizabeth McMillan, of Bamberg County, S. C. Miss Elizabeth had previously taught for '$20 a month at Dorange, near Branchville. Before the next school term began, Mr. Dantzler Stilwell, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, engineered the purchase of a lot on a wooded hillside a half-mile southwest of the church. There, in the forest, a one-room schoolhouse was erected. Miss Elizabeth proved to be a good teacher, strict, just, and conscientious. The trustees raised her salary to $30 for a second year. Later they offered $30 for a third year. But Miss Elizabeth, with pleasant memories of the Trinity School and its people, resigned with thanks and married Jesse Foster Senn, a member of Trinity Church. In the following year, the third year of the school on its new site, another room was added to the schoolhouse and two teachers were hired. Later teachers at Trinity public school were Miss Carrie Steele (Mrs. Black), Ruby McIlwain (Mrs. Forrest Lominack), Rosa Radcliffe, Lucy Bowers, Verda Oxner (Mrs. Blaire Boozer), Agnes Monts, Dollie Mae Senn (1919-1923), Lucile Wilkinson, Ruth Wilkinson, Ruth Martin, Alma Coleman, Ernestine Paysinger, and Elsie Pitts. In 1928 seven schools, including Trinity, were consolidated and Silverstreet High School was formed. Teachers of Old Burton School at All Known Original Sites (Partial List) IN DOUBLE LOG HOUSE ON THE JOHN SPEARMAN FLOYDPLACE: Several early teachers now unknown. Miss Josephine ("Jo") Peterson. Later the second wife of Mr. J. S. Floyd, Sr. IN A FRAME SCHOOL HOUSE ON THE HENRY BURTON PLACE, SAND HILL FARM: Miss Della Metts Miss Mary Brown Mr. Ed Camak Miss Alice Skillman Miss Annie Floyd Miss Mattie Floyd, sister of Mr. J. S. ("uncle Johnny") Floyd, Sr. IN THE FIRST FRAME SCHOOL HOUSE ON BEA VERDAM CREEK: Miss Mary L. Burton Miss Alice Brown (Mrs. Craig Gary, of Kinards) Miss Lilla Johnstone, daughter of Senaror Alan Johnstone Miss Mae Blackwell, sister of Rev. David J. Blackwell, of Smyrna Ch. (Miss Blackwell taught at Burton 1899-1900.) Miss Alieen Turner Miss Mamie Scott (Later the first wife of Elijah Martin. Taught twice.) Miss Carrie Hunter, of Stony Hill (Cousin of Mr. Dantzler Stillwell) IN THE SECOND FRAME SCHOOL HOUSE ON BEAVERDAM CREEK: Miss Stella Walkup Mrs. Minnie Wallace, sister of John C. Neel Miss Lille Plowden Miss Ella Munday. Taught in 1908-1909. Miss Dollie Mae Senn, 1910-1911; 1918-1919; also one summer school. Miss Leila McTeer (Mrs. W. O. Senn). She taught several times. Miss Gladys Miller Miss Alice Smoak Miss Ethel Wallenzine Miss Coral Zeigler The children of several Trinity families attended Burton School. This included the Martins, Sheelys, Sterlings, and Senns. Other Trinity children went to Smyrna and Silverstreet Schools. Local Preachers Most of the local preachers who have served Trinity Church and the Newberry Circuit have long been forgotten. The first known of these local preachers was Dr. Meredith William Moon, a medical doctor, who came from Scotland just as the United States was being established. Dr. Moon's story has been partly recorded in the first chapter of the Trinity Church history. The Rev. William Harmon, another local preacher, was Dr. Moon's chief assistant at Moon's Meeting House, one of the predecessors of Trinity. Rev. Harmon filled the pulpit when Dr. Moon was absent attending to his many patients. Rev. Harmon was married twice. The first wife is remembered simply as Rosannah Harmon; there were several children of this marriage. Rev. Harmon later married Miss Preshia Frean, a daughter of Rev. Thomas Frean, a native of County Tipperary, in Ireland. This lady long outlived her husband, and she made a second marriage to Wilson W. Waldrop, of Trinity. Mrs. Preshia Waldrop became the first president of Trinity's Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. Another local minister was Jeff Hooten. This good man is almost forgotten today. He lived for several years in the old Peterson house, a two­ storied structure that still stands on a hilltop a mile northwest of Silverstreet. Mr. Hooten was a good farmer. He had little formal education, but he possessed a good knowledge of the Bible. His humor and common sense made him a great favorite. Someone asked Mr. Hooten one day why he decided to preach. The old man said that he was plowing in a new-ground when a hoot-owl lit in a dead tree nearby and said, 'Jeff Hooten, go preach." James Michael Sanders, another good local preacher, lived near the site of the later Ridge Spring School. Mr. Sanders had been a gallant soldier of the Southern Confederacy. However, since he was only slightly built and not very strong, he sometimes became exhausted on the long, gruelling marches. It is said that when the other soldiers realized that Sanders was about to fall out, a comrade, Jefferson Waldrop, a big stalwart man, would hand his rifle to another soldier, and his pack to still another, give Sanders' pack and rifle to others, then take Sanders on his back and carry him until he was able to walk again. In later years these two men dined together two Sundays every month. Mr. Sanders was well known as a good prayer meeting leader. He left many descendants. The most popular local preacher who ever manned Trinity's pulpit was a member of New Chapel. This was Rev. Mark Boyd. Mr. Boyd was a man like the Hebrew prophets. No more sincere or eloquent man of God ever entered Trinity Church. This energetic, hard-handed, old farmer was a Christian gentleman who was an ornament to the House of God. He could easily have filled any pulpit in America. Rev. Boyd would preach for another denomination just as sincerely as he would preach at his own church. All the Boyd sons became good Methodist ministers. At a much later time the Rev. George Boozer, a son of Mr. Levi Clayton Boozer, was a local preacher. Mr. Boozer moved to Stoney Hill community because of a death in his wife's family. There, he became a useful member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, to which his wife and his own father had formerly belonged. It would be unfair at this point to forget a fair lady. She was Miss Matty Boyd, a daughter of Rev. Mark Boyd. She was not a local preacher but was a great singer and a music teacher. Miss Boyd, although badly crippled, did more good than many ministers ever did. She often conducted singing schools at Trinity and other churches. German Immigrants In the second half of the 19th century the development of anti­democratic tendencies in Germany caused much dissatisfaction among German liberals. At the same time strong militarism and aggressive foreign policies were fostered by Otto Von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor, who dominated the government of Prussia, the chief German state. As a result of this, many thousands of Germans left their country and sought new homes overseas. Many went to Canada or to South America. Among those who came to Newberry County, South Carolina, were the names of Brehmer, Kleinsmidt ("Little Smith"), May, Krauser, and Wendt. The Krausers settled near Silverstreet, but they later moved to the Dominack area, a few miles from Trinity Church. The Kleinsmidts, who later Englished their name to Smith, eventually settled in the Dominack area. The Brehmers settled near King's Creek A. R. P. Church but later moved to the Dominack area. Because of the influence of a Trinity pastor, Rev. William Reuben Bouknight, Sr., several of these families began to attend Trinity Church and some of them joined there. William Henry Wendt, one of these immigrants, settled near Lebanon Methodist Church. As a member of Lebanon, he became a circuit parsonage trustee and was one of the most useful members of the Newberry Circuit. Charles Krauser joined Trinity, where he was a universal favorite. He had an engaging personality that made him a welcome visitor in every home that he ever visited. Most of the young people called him "Uncle Charlie Krauser," whether they were related to him or not. Mr. Krauser was one of the most honest men who ever lived. If someone bought a bushel of peanuts, or potatoes, from Mr. Krauser, the old gentleman would measure out a bushel, look at it, and say "Somethin' might turn up. I better add a few more." Then he would heap the equivalent of several more quarts on top of the measure. Mr. Krauser was a very energetic and thrifty man. He built the first known potato-curing shed ever seen in western Newberry County. At all seasons of the year he had something to sell, such as butter, milk, eggs, vegetables, peanuts, potatoes, hams, and shoulders of bacon. When Mr. Krauser was ready to pay for the land that he was farming, he sent for his landlord, Mr. Thomas Meeks Neel, to come visit him. When Mr. Neal arrived, the thrifty, old German brought out an assortment of boxes and jars filled with coins obtained through the sale of farm products during a period of many years. The two men got a pair of ordinary cotton scales, weighed the coins of every individual denomination separately, then counted one pound of each type of coin, then calculated the value of the entire amount. In the back yard of his home, Mr. Krauser built an oven of brick and stone like those used by peasant families in his native Germany. Once every week, Mrs. Hannah Kleinsmidt, a sister-in-law, would bake bread in that oven. The sweet aroma of the baking bread would drift far over the country­ side. Then the children of the neighborhood would come running to ask for some of that bread. With a smile of pleasure, Aunt Hannah, as she was called, would slice the fragrant, thick-crusted loaves and make bread and butter sandwiches for the children, whom she loved. When the preacher came to visit, the Krausers would load him down with vegetables, eggs, and perhaps a chicken. Few foreigners, in a strange new land, ever became so much liked and respected as did the Krausers. The Kleinsmidts, or Smiths, also began to attend Trinity. The older people at Trinity later recalled Mrs. Smith, always very neat and immaculate, with her pretty babies in her arms, their heads covered with embroidered caps, and their long, exquisitely beautiful, little dresses dangling halfway to the ground. The Brehmers, from Prussia, worked hard to pay for their new farm. In this they succeeded, and they became prosperous. The young people were soon much liked at Trinity. Mr. Brehmer was a well educated man. He read more English language books than most Americans ever did. Once he returned, with his friend William Wendt, to help settle his father's estate, in Germany. Dr. W. D. Senn and Mr. Brehmer were great friends. Mr. Brehmer said that he wanted to make a final trip to his homeland and take Dr. Senn with him. But the First World War and Mr. Brehmer's death prevented this. Long afterward, after a Second World War, Randolph Johnson, a grandson of Mr. Harmon Brehmer, Sr., the original immigrant, was a student at Presbyterian College, at Clinton, S. C. There, a German professor gave him several addresses and suggested that he write to them. Soon Raldolph received a letter from an aged gentleman who proved to be his own great-uncle, in Germany. The old man said that he had only one son, a Colonel, who lost his life in Italy during the Second World War. The Colonel left a fair daughter, who was being reared by her grandparents. But the Communist government of East Germany was waiting for the grand­parents to die, after which the family estate would be seized by the government. A few years later Randolph received a latter from his girl cousin, the Fraulein Brehmer; she was a student at the University of Marburg. Her last grandparent had just died. The Communists had seized the family property. The Depression Years For many years the name "depression" brought to most Americans memories of the period from 1928 to about the beginning of the Second World War. In the United States the name of President Herbert Hoover was usually mentioned in connection with the depression. In other countries the name of whoever was in power at that time was mentioned by street agitators with blame and calumny. In every country the people felt sure that their local ruler somehow caused the world-wide depression. Human beings have an unfortunate tendency to forget that economic depressions have taken place at intervals in civilized lands ever since history began. These depressions have many causes. However, they usually follow wars. American wars have usually been followed by a short depression immediately after the close of the war and another, much longer and more severe, from seven to ten years later. Thus it has been since our country became a nation. In 1928 thousands of industrial and business firms in Europe were under-going financial and economic stress because of debts, uncollectible accounts, useless mortgages, and material losses resulting from the First World War. For such reasons, ten years after the First World War, a financial house failed on the bourse, or financial district, of Vienna, in Austria. To cotton farmers of Newberry County, most of whom were not sure where Vienna was, such news seemed utterly without interest. But the complex economic and industrial system of the modern world involves the interlocking interests and obligations of industrialists, insurance companies, and banks of all countries. That one insolvent financial house brought down several others. Business firms, factories, and banks of all Austria were involved in ruin. Depression spread over the land. Purchases from other lands could not be paid for; debts already owed to foreigners could not be paid. Within weeks economic depression was spreading from one nation to another like a great forest fire. When the people of Europe could not pay debts already owed to the government of the United States and to private firms of America, our country was in trouble. Very soon, when foreign customers became unable to purchase American cotton, wheat, corn, meat, and industrial products, America was in deep trouble. Factories laid off workmen and curtailed shifts because of inability to sell in Europe. Many factories closed. Farm prices fell drastically because Europe was unable to pay for purchases. The grip of Economic depression fell heavily upon all the world. In every country the people felt sure that it was their national and local rulers who had caused the hard times. Taking advantage of the universal distress, unscrupulous street agitators like Adolph Hitler, and many others like him, talked and fought their way to power in various lands. Then, when the agitators and new rulers could not straighten things out, as they had promised, they shifted attention and blame to various scapegoats. The Jews, the whites, the blacks, various minority groups, industrialists, and foreign nations were all blamed in many countries of the world. Swiftly the seeds of another World War were being planted by agitators taking advantage of human ignorance and distress. In the farmlands of the South almost all banks closed. Merchants went bankrupt. The few industrial firms laid off hands or failed. Country storekeepers often failed; those who remained often had to accept corn, peas, and eggs in exchange for merchandise. Many good farmers lost their land; others lost their mules and equipment, which had been mortgaged. Millions were unemployed. Thousands of hoboes roamed the hind in all directions. They rode the freight trains, or clung to the rods beneath passenger trains. The train crews could not expell the unwanted passengers. In the village of Silverstreet, S. C., a single freight train might bring dozens of hoboes. These unfortunate people would spread through the village and beg for food. On bridges, pylons, and warehouse walls these homeless men would chalk the addresses of the compassionate people who fed them. Others would see these marks and go to the same places. So it was that, in Silverstreet, the home of Mrs. Ellen Abrams, a good cook, was more sought out by hungry wanderers than was any other house in the village. Wages in the rural South were usually about 50 cents a day; in some areas wages were 45 cents a day. Jobs were readily and eagerly taken at such wages. But much very essential work remained undone because farmers and potential employers could not possibly afford to pay any wages whatever. Many farms were being sold because of delinquencies in taxes and bank loans. Health care suffered in those days. School children often did not have suitable clothes. Schoolteachers and church groups collected clothes for the children of needy families. The government for a time gave some help by distributing free food to old people and families in dire need. Then a work-relief program known as the WPA was started. This consisted largely of road work. Only a few roads were paved at that time, and the existing dirt roads were in very bad condition. Road shoulders were cleared and the roads themselves were repaired. Wages for the WPA workers in South Carolina were 50 cents a day, for very long hours. The government provided shovels. On every payday a small amount was deducted from every worker's wages until the cost of the shovel was recovered; then the worker owned the shovel. If a worker furnished a wagon and team with which to haul dirt, he was allowed 50 cents for the team and an additional 50 cents for the use of the wagon, thus allowing him to earn $1.50 in a very long workday. School teachers often could not collect their salaries, since both state and county governments were insolvent. Often teachers had to accept script, or promissory notes, as their payment. These had to be cashed by the few remaining banks, or by commercial firms, which charged a big discount. Few farmers ever broke even in those days. If a man cleared as much as forty dollars after working hard for an entire season, he was considered fortunate. Many young men found homes by joining the army. There, their starting pay was 21 dollars a month. Indeed, much later, toward the end of Second World War, after army pay had been increased, few soldiers ever drew much over two dollars a day. It was very difficult in those days to maintain adequate church programs with such scanty resources. Pastoral List of Newberry Circuit Its Predecessors, and Trinity Prior to 1785, the Rev. James Foster, a Methodist local preacher, formerly of the Virginia Conference, preached on a huge circuit that he established in the Broad River Valley and certain areas of the region later known as Newberry County, S.C. 1785, April 20; Bishop Francis Asbury set up the Broad River Circuit in S. C. as part of the N.C. Conference...Pastor James Foster. 1786, Feb. 21; James Foster was appointed Elder of S. C. as part of the N. C. Conference...Pastor of the Broad River Circuit, including Newberry County - Stephen Johnson. Conference Numbers 1. 1787, March 27; S. C. Conference was set up by Bishop Asbury Elder of S. C......Richard Ivy Pastors of Broad River Ct......John Mason and Thomas Davis 2. 1788, March 12; Elder..... Reuben Ellis Pastor of Broad River Ct......William Partridge 3. 1789, March 17; Elders.....Reuben Ellis and Ira Ellis (Busy River Ct. was formed from older Broad River Ct.) Pastor of Bush River Ct......William Gassaway 4. 1790, Feb. 15; Elder. . . Reuben Ellis Pastors of Broad River Ct. .....John Ellis and Francis Parker Pastor of Seleuda Ct......John Russell (Due to a scarcity of preachers, the new Bush River Ct. was evidently added to either Broad River Ct. or Seleuda Ct., or was divided between them). 5. 1791, Feb. 22; Elder. .. Reuben Ellis Pastor of Bush River Ct......John Bonner 6. 1792, Feb. 14; Elder. . . Reuben Ellis Pastor of Bush River Ct. Tobias Gibson 7. 1792, Dec. 24; Elders.....Isaac Smith and Reuben Ellis Pastors of Broad River Ct......Enoch George (later bishop) and William Moody Pastors of Seleuda Ct......George Clark and James Dothit (Bush River Ct. was evidently added to either Broad River Ct. or Seleuda Ct., or was divided between them). 8. 1794, Jan. 1; Elder.....Philip Bruce Pastor of Bush River Ct......Samuel Risher 9. 1795, Jan. 1; Elder. .. Jonathan Jackson Pastor of Bush River Ct......John Simmons (Moved to Seleuda Ct. in fourth quarter) and  Samuel Cowles (in 4th quarter) 10. 1796, Jan. 1; Elder..... Jonathan Jackson Pastor of Bush River Ct......Nathaniel Norwood 11. 1797, Jan. 5; Presiding Elder..... Jonathan Jackson (For the first time, Presiding Elder became an official title) Pastor of Bush River Ct......Richard Posey 12. 1798, Jan. 1; Presiding Elder. . . . Benjamin Blanton Pastors of Bush River Ct....Jeremiah Norman and Moses Black 13. 1799, Jan. 1; Presiding Elder..... Benjamin Blanton Pastors of Bush River Ct......Robert Gaines and Hanover Donnan 14. 1800, Jan. 1; Presiding Elder. .. Benjamin Blanton Pastors of Bush River .Ct......Moses Wilson and Jeremiah Russell 15. 1801, Jan. 1; Presiding Elder.....James Jenkins Pastors of Bush River and Cherokee.....Lewis Myers and Levi Garrison (The "Cherokee" above is almost certainly a mistake for "Keowee") Seleuda District 16. 1802, Jan. 1; Presiding Elder.....George Dougherty Pastors of Bush River and Keowee Cts...Zachary Maddox, James Hill, and William Avant (The district System began; Seleuda and Camden were the first two districts) 17. 1803, Jan. 1; Pastors of Bush River and Keowee Cts.....Benjamin Jones and Levi Garrison 18. 1804, Jan. 1; Pastors of Bush River and Keowee Cts.....Buddy W. Wheeler, William McKenny and David Dannelly 19. 1805, Jan. 9; Presiding Elder...... Britton Capel Pastors of Bush River and Keowee Cts.....Benjamin Treadwell and Amos Curtis 20. 1805, Dec. 30; Pastor of Bush River Ct.....Jesse Stancell 21. 1806, Dec. 29; Presiding Elder.....Lewis Myers Pastors of Bush River Ct.....Jesse Stancell and John Hunter 22. 1807, Dec. 28; Pastors of Bush River Ct...... Samuel Ansley and James Norton 23. 1808, Dec. 23; Pastors of Bush River Ct.....Robert Porter and Jacob Rumph 24. 1809, Dec. 23; Presiding Elder.....Reddick Pierce Pastors of Bush River Ct.....John Porter, M. Durr and Christian Rumph 25. 1810, Dec. 22; Presiding Elder.....William M. Kennedy Pastors of Bush River Ct.....James Capers, Reuben Tucker and Solomon Bryan Edisto District 26. 1811, Nov. 30; Pastors of Bush River Ct...... John S. Capers and Allen Turner 27. 1812, Dec. 19; Pastors of Bush River Ct.....James E. Glenn and Philemon Oglerree 28. 1814, Jan. 14; Presiding Elder.....John Collinsworth Pastors of Bush River Ct.....John Jennings and John Lane 29. 1814, Dec. 21; Pastors of Bush River Ct.....Eppes Tucker and Travis Owen 30. 1815, Dec. 23; Presiding Elder.....Alexander Talley Pastor of Bush River Ct.....Robert L. Edwards 31. 1816, Dec. 25; Pastors of Bush River Ct.....Benjamin C. Scott and Hartwell Spain 32. 1818, Jan. 27; Presiding Elder..... James Norton Pastors of Bush River Ct....Eppes Tucker and Benjamin Rhodes 33. 1818, Dec. 24; Pastors of Bush River Ct.....Coleman Carlisle and James Dannelly 34. 1820, Jan. 13; Presiding Elder.....Daniel Asbury Pastors of Newberry Circuit.....Coleman Carlisle and John L. Jerry Newberry Circuit was formed from the older Bush River Ct., which had reached from the Broad River to the Savannah River. The new Newberry Ct. included all the Methodist churches of Newberry County except a few churches in the Enoree River Valley. 35. 1821, Jan. 11; Pastors of Newberry Ct..... John Mullinix and David Riley 36. 1822, Feb. 21; Presiding Elder.....Henry Bass Pastors of Newberry Circuit.....John Murrow and Malcolm McPherson 37. 1823, Feb. 20; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Robert Adams 38. 1824, Feb. 19; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Joseph Holmes Columbia District 39. 1825, Feb. 16; Presiding Elder.....Henry Bass Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Joseph Holmes 40. 1826, Jan. 12; Presiding Elder.....Robert Adams Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....To be supplied 41. 1827, Jan. 11; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Barnett Smith 42. 1828, Feb. 6; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Samuel Dunwoody 43. 1829, Jan. 28, Pastor of Newberry Ct.....David Derrick Saluda District 44. 1830, Jan. 27; Presiding Elder.....Robert Adams Pastor of Newberry Ct...David Derrick 45. 1831, Jan. 26; Presiding Elder.....Malcolm McPherson Pastor of Newberry Ct. ... John Watts 46. 1832, Jan. 26; Pastor of Newberry Ct....John Watts 47. 1833, Jan. 30; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....John Covington and Thomas Neill Mt. Ariel District 48. 1834, Feb. 5; Presiding Elder.....Malcolm McPherson Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....James Ozier Cokesbury District 49. 1835, Feb. 11; Presiding Elder.....Henry Bass Pastor of Newberry Circuit......Henry W. Ledbetter and William C. Ferrell Trinity Church was established in 1835 by the union of three older churches-Kadesh, Shady Grove, and Moon's Meeting House. 50. 1836, Feb. 10; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Angus McPherson 51. 1837, Jan. 4; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Frederick Rush 52. 1838, Jan. 10; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....David Derrick, Sr. Pre. and Simpson Jones, Jr. Pre. 53. 1839, Jan. 9; Presiding Elder.....William M. Wightman Pastors of Newberry Ct. .....David Derrick, Sr. Pre. and John Tarrant, Jr. Pre. 54. 1840, Jan. 8; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....George W. Moore and John Tarrant 55. 1841, Feb. 10; Presiding Elder.....Nicholas Talley Pastors of Newberry Ct.....George W. Moore and T. S. Daniel 56. 1842, Jan. 26; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....John H. Zimmerman, Sr. Pre. and N. Byrd, Jr. Pre. 57. 1843, Feb. 8; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....John H. Zimmerman, Sr. Pre. and D. Boyd, Jr. Pre. 58. 1844, Feb. 7; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Samuel Dunwoody and L. M. Little 59. 1844, Dec. 25; Presiding Elder.....H. A. C. Walker Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Samuel Dunwoody and Archibald B. McGilvary 60. 1845, Dec. 10; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Ira L. Potter and J. O. A. Connor 61. 1847, Jan. 13; Presiding Elder.....W. A. Gamewell Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Churchwell A. Crowell and Sidi H. Browne 62. 1848, Jan. 12; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....W. A. McSwain and J. W. J. Harris 63. 1848, Dec. 26; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Peyton G. Bowman and Samuel H. Dunwoody 64. 1849, Dec. 19; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....John H. Zimmerman and J. N. Bouchelle 65. 1850, Dec. 18; Presiding Elder.....Samuel Leard Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Colin Murchison and E. J. Pennington 66. 1851, Dec. 10; Pastors of Newberry Ct.... Colin Murchison and William E. Boone 67. 1853, Jan. 5; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....C. S. Walker and Archibald B. McGilvary 68. 1853, Nov. 23; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Samuel Townsend 69. 1854, Nov. IS; Presiding Elder.....Robert J. Boyd Pastors of Newberry Ct.....M. Puckett and J. T. DuBose 70. 1855, Nov. 28; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....M. Puckett and D. D. Byars 71. 1856, Nov. 19; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Thomas Raysor and James M. Cline 72. 1857, Nov. 25; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Thomas Raysor and Wesley W. Graham 73. 1858, Dec. 1; Presiding Elder.....W. A. McSwain Pastors of Newberry Ct.....James T. Kilgo and William Bowman 74. 1859, Nov. 30; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....James T. Kilgo and William Bowman 75. 1860, Dec. 13; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....J. W. Wightman 76. 1861, Dec. 12; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....J. W. Wightman and Peter L. Herman 77. 1862, Dec. 11; Presiding Elder.....Sidi H. Browne Pastors of Newberry Ct.....M. A. Connelly and J. W. Wightman 78. 1863, Dec. 10; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....M. A. Connelly and J. W. Wightman 79. 1864, Nov. 14; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....H. Zimmerman 80. 1865, Nov. 1; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....J. H. Zimmerman and J. B. Traywick 81. 1866, Dec. 23; Presiding Elder.....W. H. Fleming Pastors of Newberry Cr.....J. H. Zimmerman and J. B. Traywick 82. 1867, Dec. 11; Pastors of Newberry Ct...... H. Zimmerman and R. M. Harrison 83. 1868, Dec. 17; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....W. H. Layton and J. M. Boyd 84. 1869, Dec. 15; Pastors of Newberry Cr......A. J. Cauthen and G. T. Harmon 85. 1870, Dec. 7; Presiding Elder.....Henry M. Wood Pastor of Newberry Cr.....A. P. Avant and J. C. Counts 86. 1871, Dec. 13; Pastors of Newberry Cr.....A. P. Avant and H. W. Whitaker 87. 1872, Dec. 12; Pastors of Newberry Ct..... Jacob S. Shuford  and Daniel D. Dantzler 88. 1873, Dec. 10; Pastors of Newberry Cr.....Jacob S. Shuford and J. C. Counts 89. 1874, Dec. 10; Presiding Elder.....Manning Brown Pastors of Newberry Cr.....Thomas Galbraith Herbert and Leroy F. Beaty 90. 1875, Dec 15; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Thomas Galbraith Herbert and Leroy F. Beaty 91. 1876, Dec 13; Paxtors of Newberry Ct......Thomas Galbraith Herbert and James W. Ariail 92. 1877, Dec 12; Pastors of Newberry Ct......Thomas Galbraith Herbert and William Pascal Meadors 93. 1878, Dec. 11; Presiding Elder.....Claudius Hornby Pritchard Pastors of Newberry Ct.....John W. Kelly and William Pascal Meadors 94. 1879, Dec. 17; Pastors of Newberry Cr.....John W. Kelly and J. S. Porter 95. 1880, Dec. 15; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Andrew Jackson Stokes 96. 1881, Dec. 14; Pastors of Newberry Cr.....Andrew Jackson Stokes, J. W. Neely and J. C. Counts - Supply 97. 1882, Dec 13; Presiding Elder.....Wellborn Davies Kirkland Pastors of Newberry Cr.....Manning Brown and William H. Hodges 98. 1883, Dec. 12; Pastors of Newberry Cr.....Manning Brown and G. R. Whitaker 99. 1884, Dec. 17; Pastors of Newberry Ct......Manning Brown and George Henry Waddell 100. 1885, Dec. 9; Presiding Elder.....Richard D. Smart Pastors of Newberry Ct......Matthew Moye Brabham and John M. Steadman 101. 1886, Dec. 15; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Matthew Moye Brabham and A. W. Attaway The Charleston Earthquake occurred Aug. 31st and Sept. 1st, 1886, with minor shocks and rumblings for months afterward. 102. 1887, Nov. 30; Presiding Elder.....A. J. Cauthen Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Matthew Moye Brabham and A. W. Attaway 103. 1888, Nov. 28; Pastors of Newberry Ct.....Matthew Moye Brabham and Henry C. Mouzon Trinity's second sanctuary was dedicated by M. M. Brabham. 104. 1889, Nov. 20; Pastor of Newberry Ct....W. H. Lawton As a result of action taken at the third quarterly conference, 1889, the Newberry Circuit was divided by the Annual Conference, which met Nov. 20th. Prosperity Church, Zion, New Hope, and Mt. Pleasant churches were set off as the Prosperity Circuit, with J. B. Traywick as Pastor. The remaining churches of the original Newberry Ct. continued in that circuit. 105. 1890, Nov. 25; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Coke D. Mann Rev. Mann was the first Newberry Ct. Pastor to occupy the new circuit parsonage on Cornelia St., Newberry. Mr. Mann evidently moved into the new parsonage in 1892; the property seems to have been rented by the circuit, which purchased it in the following year. Previously, from Feb. 29, 1884, until the acquisition of the Cornelia St. property, the Newberry Ct. parsonage had been on a lot adjoining the present Boundary St. School property on the east. Still earlier, the Ct. parsonage had stood on the site of the present Central Methodist Church, and the church had stood where the present education building now stands. 106. 1891, Dec. 2; Presiding Elder.....J. C. Campbell Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....Coke D. Mann 107. 1892, Nov. 24; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....W. L. Wait 108. 1893, Dec. 6; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....W. L. Wait 109. 1891, Nov. 21; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....J. D. Crout 110. 1895, Dec. 4; Presiding Elder.....G. T. Harmon Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....Dove Tiller 111. 1896, Dec. 9; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Dove Tiller 112. 1897, Dec. 8; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Dove Tiller 113. 1898, Dec. 7; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Dove Tiller 114. 1899, Dec. 6; Presiding Elder.....Rufus A. Child Pastor of Newberry Ct.....D. Pettus Boyd 115. 1900, Nov. 28; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....D. Pettus Boyd 116. 1901, Nov. 29; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....D. Pettus Boyd 117. 1902, Dec. 3; Presiding Elder.....John Owens Willson Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....D. Pettus Boyd 118. 1903, Dec. 19; Pastor of Newberry Ct..... John E. Beard 119. 1904, Dec. 14; Presiding Elder.....J. E. Carlisle Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....John E. Beard 120. 1905, Dec. 13; Presiding Elder.....W. T. Duncan Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....Albert H. Best 121. 1906, Nov. 28; Pastor of Newberry Cr..... Albert H. Best 122. 1907, Nov. 27; Presiding Elder.....J. C. Roper Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....Albert H. Best 123. 1908, Nov. 25; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....J. M. Fridy 124. 1909, Dec. 8; Pastor of Newberry Ct..... M. Fridy 125. 1910, Dec. 7; Pastor of Newberry Cr..... J. M. Fridy 126. 1911, Nov. 29; Presiding Elder....William Pascal Meadors Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....J. M. Fridy 127. 1912, Nov. 26; Pastor of Newberry Cr....Otis Allen Jeffcoat 128. 1913, Nov. 26; Pastor of Newberry Cr.....Samuel Calhoun Morris 129. 1914, Nov. 25; Pastor of Newberry Cr.....William Reuben Bouknight The Upper S. C. Conference was started in 1915 1. 1915, Nov. 24; Presiding Elder..... Walter I. Herbert Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....William Reuben Bouknight 2. 1916, Nov. 15; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....William Reuben Bouknight 3. 1917, Nov. 28; Presiding Elder... James W. Kilgo Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....William Reuben Bouknight 4. 1918, Nov. 27; Pastor of Newberry Cr.....G. F. Clarkson 5. 1919, Nov. 5; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....G. F. Clarkson 6. 1920, Nov. 4; Pastor of Newberry Cr.....G. F. Clarkson 7. 1921, Nov. 2; Presiding Elder.....E. S. Jones Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....G. F. Clarkson 8. 1922, Nov. 8; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....W. Glenn Smith 9. 1923, Oct. 31; Pastor of Newberry Cr.....W. Glenn Smith 10. 1924, Nov. 5; Presiding Elder.....J. R. T. Major Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....L. W. Johnson 11. 1925, Oct. 28; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....L. W. Johnson 12. 1926, Oct. 27; Pastor of Newberry Cr.....L. W. Johnson 13. 1927, Nov. 28; Pastor of Newberry Cr.....L. W. Johnson 14. 1928, Nov. 21; Presiding Elder..... P. Fleming Kilgo Pastor of Newberry Circuit ...H. A. Whitten Greenwood District 15. 1929, Nov. 20; Presiding Elder....P. Fleming Kilgo Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....H. A. Whitten 16. 1930, Nov. 26; Pastor of Newberry Cr.....H. A. Whitten 17. 1931, Nov. 4; Pastor of Newberry Cr.... H. A. Whitten 18. 1932, Nov. 16; Presiding Elder .....Clarence E. Peele Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....Whitfield Johnson 19. 1933, Nov. 8; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Whitfield Johnson 20. 1934, Oct. 31; Pastor of Newberry Cr.....Whitfield Johnson 21. 1935, Oct. 31; Presiding Elder.....W. B. Garrett Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Whitfield Johnson 22. 1936, Oct. 28; Pastor of Newberry Ct.... Whitfield Johnson 23. 1937, Nov. 3; Pastor of Newberry Ct..... George T. Hughes 24. 1938, Oct. 27; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Charles W. Brockwell In May, 1939, in a great Uniting Conference in Kansas City, Mo., the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the Methodist Episcopal church, and the Methodist Protestant Church, united to form the Methodist Episcopal Church. 25. 1939, Nov. 2; District Superintendent.....W. B. Garrett Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....Charles W. Brockwell Upon unification, the title of "Presiding Elder" was dropped in favor of "District Superintendent" or "D.S." 26. 1940, Nov. 6; Pastor of Newberry Ct....Charles W. Brockwell 27. 1941, Nov. 12; District Superintendent..... Edward R. Mason Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....Charles W. Brockwell 28. 1942, Nov. 11; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Wain Marvin Owings 29. 1943, Nov. 10; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Wain Marvin Owings 30. 1944, Nov. 8; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Wain Marvin Owings 31. 1945, Nov. 7; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Robert Lee Hall 32. 1946, Oct. 31; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Robert Lee Hall 33. 1947, Oct. 29; District Superintendent.....M. B. Patrick Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....Robert Lee Hall The S. C. Conference and the Upper S. C. Conference united in 1948. 163. 1948, Oct. 26; District Superintendent.....M. B. Patrick Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....Robert Lee Hall 164. 1949, Oct. 25; Pastor of Newberry Ct.....Robert Lee Hall The third building of Trinity Church was dedicated Aug. 14, 1949. 165. 1950, Oct. 24; Pastor of Newberry Ct....R. C. Emory 166. 1951, Oct. 16; District Superintendent.....John M. Shingler Pastor of Newberry Circuit.....R. C. Emory 167. 1952, Oct. 21; Pastor of Newberry Ct....Robert M. DuBose 168. 1953, Oct. 21; Pastor of Newberry Ct....Robert M. DuBose 169. 1954, Oct. 20; Pastor of Newberry Ct....Robert M. DuBose 170. 1955, Aug. 24; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Philip M. Jones Trinity was detached from the old Newberry Circuit and made a station church in 1955. 171. 1956, Aug. 22; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Philip M. Jones 172. 1957, Aug. 14; District Superintendent.....R. Bryce Herbert Pastor of Trinity Church.....Philip M. Jones 173. 1958, Aug. 13; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Philip M. Jones 174. 1959, June 24; Pastor of Trinity Church.....James M. Aiken 175. 1960, June 21; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Glenn E. Parrott 176. 1961, June 13; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Glenn E. Parrott 177. 1962, June 12; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Glenn E. Parrott 178. 1963, June 11; District Superintendent.....W. H. Chandler Pastor of Trinity Church.....Ralph T. Lowrimore 179. 1964, June 9; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Ralph T. Lowrimore 180. 1965, June 7; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Ralph T. Lowrimore 181. 1966, June 13; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Ralph T. Lowrimore (First quarter) L. Samuel Sebring, S. S. (Last three quarters) The Rev. W. Wayne Ballentine, Pastor at McCormick, S. C., volunteered for service in the U. S. Army as a chaplain. In 1966 Mr. Ballentine was suddenly called into service. In the process of filling the vacant post at McCormick, several pastors were shuffled. Trinity parted with its pastoral family with regret at this time, and Mr. Lowrimore went to Gravely Memorial Church, Spartanburg. The vacant post at Trinity was filled for the remainder of the year by the Rev. L. Samuel Sebring, a student supply Pastor, of Greenwood, S. C. 182. 1967, June 5; Pastor of Trinity Church.....James G. Mishoe 183. 1968, June 11; Pastor of Trinity Church.....James G. Mishoe 184. 1969, June 9; District Superintendent.....C. LeGrande Moody, Jr. Pastor of Trinity Church.....James G. Mishoe 185. 1970, June 1; Pastor of Trinity Church.....James G. Mishoe 186. 1971, June 7; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Conrad Allen Senn 187. 1972, June 5; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Conrad Allen Senn 188. 1973, June 4; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Conrad Allen Senn 189. 1974, June 3; District Superintendent.....C. J. Lupo, Jr. Pastor of Trinity Church.....Conrad Allen Senn 190. 1975, June 2; Pastor of Trinity Church.....James Willard Johnston, Jr. 191. 1976, May 31; Pastor of Trinity Church.....John Kirkwood Hendricks 192. 1977, May 30; Pastor of Trinity Church .....John Kirkwood Hendricks 193. 1978, May 29; District Superintendent.....James S. Gadsden Pastor of Trinity Church.....John Kirkwood Hendricks 194. 1979, June 4; Pastor of Trinity Church.....John Kirkwood Hendricks 195. 1980, June 1; Pastor of Trinity Church.....William (Bill) Joseph Vines 196. 1981, May 31; Pastor of Trinity Church.....William (Bill) Joseph Vines 197. 1982,. May 30; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Samuel Bryson Coker 198. 1983, June 5; Pastor of Trinity Church .....Samuel Bryson Coker 199. 1984, June 3; Pastor of Trinity Church.....Samuel Bryson Coker 200. 1985, June 2; District Superintendent.....Sinclair Lewis Pastor of Trinity Church.....Samuel Bryson Coker Bibliography Methodist General Conference Journals South Carolina Conference Journals Upper South Carolina Conference Journals Cokesbury District Conference Journal Journal of Bishop Francis Asbury Journal of Bishop R. R. Roberts Chreitzberg's Methodist History History of Methodism in South Carolina by Dr. Albert M. Shipp History of South Carolina Methodism by Rev. Albert Deems Betts Fifty Wonderful Years by Rev. Walter I. Herbert The Annals of Newberry by O'Neall and Chapman Reminiscences of Newberry by John B. Carwile Newberry County, Historical and Genealogical by Leland Summer History of Newberry County by Thomas H. Pope South Carolina History by Wallace Sketches of the Preachers of South Carolina Methodism by Duncan Builders by E. O. Watson United Methodist Ministers in South Carolina A Tale That is Told by Rev. Samuel Calhoun Morris A True Relation by Rev. Matthew Moye Brabham Men of Mark in South Carolina Life of Rev. Mark Boyd Dictionary of American Biography Kilgo Family History History of Trinity A. M. E. Church Francis Asbury, Prophet of the Long Road Newberry South Carolina Cemeteries, Vol. I Records of Trinity Church Records of the Newberry Circuit Records of the Newberry County Clerk of Court Records of the Newberry County Probate Judge Files of the Newberry Observer Files of the Newberry County Historical Society Bulletin Files of the Christian Neighbor Files of the South Carolina Advocate Various family histories Acknowledgments It is with much apprehension that the writer attempts to formulate an acknowledgment of the aid rendered by many people in the preparation of a history of Trinity United Methodist Church. Collection of this material began many years ago-long before any official attempt was made ro prepare a church history. Many of the people who aided with this project are now dead. In trying to thank everyone for invaluable information and services rendered, it is almost impossible to avoid inadvertantiy leaving someone our. It must suffice to say that almost every senior member of Trinity Church furnished information for this history. Especially useful were the reminiscences of Mrs. Vesta Waldrop, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Hendrix, Mr. Noah}. Martin, Mrs. John W. Waldrop, Mrs. John Brehmer, Miss Dollie Mae Senn, Mrs. Herman Pitts, various other members of the Pitts family, Mrs. Henrietta Longshore, Mrs. Sallie Paysinger, and Miss Elizabeth Boozer, of Columbia. Many others, however, also provided useful scraps of information. Much assistance was also given by members of other churches. Mrs. Ida Clamp, of Smyrna Presbyterian Church, at the age of almost 100, provided much information about Trinity during the time of its second sanctuary. Mrs. Eva Abrams, of Smyrna, also was of much assistance. Mr. Frank Wens, of Smyrna, furnished valuable information about Moon's Meeting House, one of the predecessor churches, which had been founded by one of Mr. Frank's ancestors. Mrs. Anna Brown, of Trinity A.M.E. Church, at the age of almost 100, furnished interesting facts about old Kadesh, anorher predecessor Church. Mr. Larkin Jackson, Chairman of the Board of Stewards of Trinity A.M.E. Church, at the age of 97, furnished information about Trinity during the Reconstruction Era. Senaror Jesse Frank Hawkins helped with his recollection of former pastors, so did Mr. H. T. Lake, of Silverstreet. Two pastors, Rev. Ralph Lowrimore and Rev. James G. Mishoe, did much work in copying material from the Conference Journals. Mr. William Carter, of Carter and Holmes Orchid Farm, aided very much by making available some historical material in his possession. The staff of the Newberry Observer provided ready access to their files. Dr. Herbert Hucks, archivist of Wofford College, went beyond the call of duty in giving his support to this project, Dr. P. H. Senn, Mrs. Dollie York, Jessica Senn, Barbara Martin, Cynthia Lake, Gayle Werts, Robert Webb, and others spent much time in transcribing records in the Wofford library. Miss Harriet Burgess spent many hours condensing and typing information on the lives of 130 former pasyors; this information is stored in the church office. The writer wishes to thank the many people who aided in this project. Withour this assistance, the Trinity History could not have been written. The Author Charlie McMillan Senn, born in Newberry County on June 12, 1913, is a life­long member of Trinity United Methodist Church. He has been very active in his church and has taught his Sunday School Class for nearly 50 years. He holds a B.S. degree from Newberry College. A veteran of World War II, he served in The Panama Canal Zone and in the South Pacific. He was awarded a Purple Heart during service. Now that he has retired from farming, he devotes much of his time working on genealogy and is a member of the Newberry County Historical Society. He is a regular visitor at the Nursing Homes and the Hospital. Many shut-ins, both black and white, look forward to Charlie's visits. Children of the community enjoy their walks through the area forest as he shares his love of nature with them. Audrey Senn Transcribed by Dena Thomason-Whitesell Back to Trinity UM Church Index Back to Newberry County, South Carolina Genealogy Trails