Mountain Hill Baptist Church

 

Mountain Hill Baptist Church

Established in 1893       

In the Spring of 1893 a group of Harris County citizens living in the Mountain Hill area met in the local school to organize a new church. The group consisted of farmers, Civil War veterans and their families. Rev. Casper Martin was present and agreed to be the new pastor.  The top of a knoll just to the east of Mountain Hill was chosen and construction began at once. Morgan Askew and Otis Calhoun were the carpenters in charge. Work was done as the men in the community were able. The church was roughly finished by June and a dedication took place. The church membership was approximately 22 members. William Thomas Zachary was the first deacon to be ordained in the church. In August 1893, Rev. Nathaniel Boaz O’Kelley led a revival and 29 young people were saved and baptized by Rev. Casper Martin in the creek just west of the church. The church was completely finished in 1894. The Adams, Askew, Brawner, Buford, Calhoun, Davis,  Dunnigan,,  Hargett, Moultrie, Mullins, Slayton, Smith and Zachary families were early members.

In 1904 Jerry Mullins was the first person buried in the cemetery behind the church. There are eight founding members of the church buried in the cemetery.

In 1910, home for the summer from Medical college in Atlanta, Joseph Daniel Zachary proposed to dig and build a concrete baptismal pool for $40.00. He finished it by the end of August and a baptism service was held in September.

In the late 1930’s the Birthday Jar began, collecting money to be given to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home.

All the early records of Mountain Hill Baptist Church were destroyed in a fire at the home of L.B. Davis on  November 8, 1933.

   First Ordained Deacon 

William Thomas Zachary was the first ordained deacon at Mountain Hill Baptist Church

William T. and Orelia Adams Zachary

Baptismal Pool

   

  In 1910, home for the summer from medical college in Atlanta, Joseph Daniel Zachary, son of William Thomas Zachary, proposed to dig and build a concrete baptismal pool for $40.00 if the church would furnish the materials. He finished it by the end of August and a baptism service was held in September.

1958 Homecoming

Homecoming was held June 29, 1958 in the newly decorated and remodeled church. There was a large gathering. Three of the early members baptized in August of 1893 attended, Pearl Zachary Hart, Gussie Brawner Luttrell and Oris Slayton. Corinne Davidson, who lived in Washington, D.C. was unable to attend. Rev. John Carr was in charge of the service.

Left to Right; Oris Slayton, Pearl Zachary Hart and  Gussie Brawner Luttrell.

This Article appeared in The Poster March 1958

Charter Member Biographies  

                                                    

 Rev.  Albert Martin

Albert Martin, first pastor of Mountain Hill Baptist Church, was the son of Milliner H. and Jane Thomas Martin. He was born July 21, 1847 in Troup County, GA. Rev. Martin married Missouri Caroline “Carrie” Davis, the daughter of John Marion and Susan Frances Phillips Davis in 1875. They had seven children: Milner, Addie, Thomas, Homer, Albert, Casper, David and Minnie. The Martin family moved to Columbus, GA in the early 1900’s. Rev. Martin opened a furniture store on Broad Street and ran it for many years. The family joined the First Baptist Church. Carrie Martin died in Columbus in 1918 and was buried in Riverdale Cemetery. In failing health, Rev. Martin moved to New Orleans to live with his son Davis, he died April 14, 1925. His body was returned to Columbus and he was buried with Masonic Honors in the Riverdale Cemetery. 

Morgan Askew                                                                                 

Morgan Askew, the son of John and Sarah West Askew, was born in Harris County, Georgia on March 29, 1860. Morgan Askew was a farmer in the Blue Springs area. He married Mary Talley in 1883. They had one child, Monroe Talley Askew.  After her death, he married Leola Adams (1891). They had eight children: Wallace, Annie, Grace, Robert, Roy, Henry, Fletcher and Osie. The family moved to Muscogee County, GA in the early 1900’s and by 1930 they were in Stewart County, GA. Morgan Askew died on August 6, 1935. He is buried in the Antioch Baptist Church cemetery in Harris County, GA.

Otis Jenkins Calhoun and Ella Brawner Calhoun

Otis Jenkins Calhoun, the son of Michael and Amanda Elizabeth Rowe Calhoun, was born July 4, 1860 in Harris County, GA. Otis Calhoun was a farmer. He married Ella Mae Brawner,(b. July 31, 1867) the daughter of Mirabeau L. Brawner (a Civil War veteran) and Martha Ann Walker on May 4, 1884.  They had two children: Odessa and Roy. The family moved to Columbus in the early 1900’s. Otis Calhoun went to work as a carpenter in a buggy factory. Ella Mae died on July 1, 1917 and was buried in the Double Churches Cemetery in Columbus, GA. Otis Calhoun died February 18, 1922 and is buried in the Double Churches Cemetery as well. Ella Mae’s parents Mirabeau and Martha Brawner are buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church Cemetery

Henry Lou Calhoun

Henry Lou Calhoun, the daughter of James Henry Calhoun and Georgia Francis Duke, was born on Dec. 17. 1872. She married William Alexander Smith, They had two children: William Henry and Helen Louise. Henry Lou died on July 21, 1915. She is buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. William Alexander Smith died on March 4, 1932 and is also buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

 

Martha Zachary Campbell

Martha Zachary Campbell (b. Dec. 29, 1829)  was the daughter of Daniel Hay Zachary and Priscilla Ward and the sister of David Thomas Zachary. She married Philander Fluellen Campbell (b. Oct. 31, 1829), a minister and Civil War veteran on Dec. 12, 1848. Rev. Campbell died on March 2, 1883 and is buried on the old Zachary farm in Pine Mountain, GA. Martha and Philander had 8 children: James, John, Daniel, Annie, Martha, Alissa, William and Walter. Martha died Feb. 27, 1906 and is buried in the Zachary Family Cemetery beside her husband.  

 

Annie Missouri Campbell Brawner                                    

Annie Campbell, daughter of Philander and Martha Zachary Campbell was born on March 17, 1857. She married Mirabeau L. Brawner on Sept. 6, 1893. The Brawners had two children: Robert and Ethel. Mirabeau Brawner died on October 17, 1925 and is buried in Mountain Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Annie died November 28, 1944 and was buried beside her husband.

Walter Campbell                                                                     

Walter Campbell, son of Philander and Martha Zachary Campbell was born in Harris County, GA in 1869. He moved to Macon, GA  in the early 1900’s and married Judge Elizabeth Bronson June 27, 1907. By 1930, the Campbells were living in West Arcadia, Florida. Walter owned and operated a service station and Judge was a music teacher. They were members of the First Baptist Church. Walter died in 1950 and was buried with Masonic honors in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.

John Marian Davis                                                                                                                             

 John Marian Davis, son of James Gresham and Roaney Matthews Davis was born March 30, 1829 in Jasper County, GA. John Marian Davis married Susan Frances Phillips Nov. 16, 1848 in Harris Co., GA. They had four children: Anna, James, Caroline “Carrie” and Judith.  John Marian Davis was a farmer. His first wife, Susan, died in 1860. He married Elizabeth Eugenia Webster on December 16, 1868. They had three children: Willie, Rosa and George. John Marian Davis died in Harris County, GA on December 4, 1898.

 

Rosa Davis                                                                                    

Rosa Davis, daughter of John Marion and Elizabeth Eugenia Webster was born April 1872 in Harris County, GA. She married Fred Trammell in 1894 and they moved to Chambers Co., AL where Fred farmed. They had six children: Willie, Mary, Barton, Joseph, Elizabeth and Anna. Rosa died in 1953 and was buried in the Old Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Chambers Co., AL.

George Davis                                                                                   

George Davis, son of  John Marion and Elizabeth Eugenia Webster Davis was born August 10, 1871 in Harris County, GA. He married Mattie Talulah “Lulu” Brawner, the daughter of Mirabeau L. and Martha Ann Walker Brawner in Harris County on July 5, 1900. (Mirabeau L. Brawner was married three times). George Davis had a farm on Mountain Hill Road. They had three children: Lamar, Elizabeth and Myra. Lulu Brawner Davis died on January 16, 1908. She was buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church cemetery. George remarried and continued to farm until the 1930’s. He later moved to Atlanta and lived with his sister-in-law, Gussie Brawner Luttrell. He died April 11, 1944 and was buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

 Joseph Litchfield Slayton                                                                         

Joseph Litchfield (Slaton) Slayton, son of Abraham Moses and Julia Ann Dent Taylor (Slaton) Slayton was born April 6, 1850 in Harris County, GA. He married Mary Elizabeth Campbell (b.May 4,1851) , daughter of Philander Fluellen and Mary Emerline Zachary Campbell in 1873. Joseph was a farmer in the community.  They had seven children: Zachary, Oris, Philander, Charles, Mattie, Annie and Leta. Joseph moved to Mississippi after 1920 and  died on November 21, 1830 in Choctaw County.  He was buried in the LaGrange Cemetery in Ackerman, Mississippi. Mary died on April 9, 1922 in Howard, Georgia in the home of her daughter Annie Lou Warren. She was buried in the Howard United Methodist Church Cemetery.  Their son Philander Campbell Slayton (b. June 29, 1878) married Lily May Cash in 1905. They had seven children: Annie, Clyde, Lowell, Beulah, William, Stanford and Noel.

David Thomas Zachary                                                                    

 David Thomas Zachary, son of Daniel Hay and Mary Spivey Zachary was born April 12, 1844 in Harris County, GA. He married Mary Ann Dunman (1848-1928), daughter of Joseph R. and Elizabeth Kilpatrick Dunman, on November 7, 1869. David Zachary was a farmer in the Mountain Hill Community. David Zachary enlisted as a private in Co. H, 17^th GA Infantry, Reg. 9  and served from 1861-1865.  In the late 1870’s the Zacharys moved to Pierce Creek, Arkansas. They moved back to Harris County in the early 1880’s. David Thomas Zachary led the first song sung at Mountain Hill Baptist Church and led the first prayer. The Zacharys had five children: William Thomas, Mary Leonora, Blanche “Sallie”, Martha “Mattie” Pearl, and Joseph Daniel Zachary, MD. David Thomas Zachary died February 18, 1928. He and his wife are buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church cemetery.

William Thomas Zachary                                                                 

 William Thomas Zachary, son of David Thomas and Mary Ann Dunman Zachary was born September 1, 1870 in Harris County, GA. He married Orelia Adams (1873-1955), daughter of Andrew J. and Cynthia Permila Rowe Adamas, on December 24, 1893. William was a farmer in the Mountain Hill Community.William Thomas Zachary was the first deacon ordained at Mountain Hill Baptist Church, The Zacharys had five children: Rubie, Judson Daniel Zachary, William Clarence, Affa Florine, Imri Azarine (married Clyde Slayton), and William Thomas, Jr. William Thomas Zachary died on November 12, 1915. He and his wife are buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church cemetery.

Mary Lenora Zachary                                                                            

Mary Lenora Zachary, daughter of David Thomas and Mary Ann Dunman Zachary was born October 29, 1872 in Harris County, GA. She married James Wyatt Hodge (1867-1940), son of James and Mary Catherine Weldon Hodge, in 1893. James Hodge was a farmer in the Mountain Hill Community. The Hodges had seven children: Vida Mae, John, Hattie, James Wyatt, Mary, Lena, and Iva. Mary Zachary Hodge died on May 18, 1939. She and her husband are buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church cemetery.

Addie Mae Martin                                                                                                           

 Addie Mae Martin, the daughter of Rev. Casper and Missouri Caroline “Carrie” Davis Martin, was born on February 15, 1878 in Harris County, GA. She married Marion Roe White on January 27, 1915 in Muscogee County, GA. They had one daughter: Evelyn. The White family moved to Thomasville, GA in the 1930’s.  Addie Martin White died in Telfair Co., Ga on October 23, 1945. She was buried in the Blakely City Cemetery in Blakely, GA.

Homer Martin                                                                                         

  Homer Martin, the son of Rev Casper A. and Missouri Caroline “Carrie” Davis Martin was born in 1879. As an adult he moved to Port Arthur, TX. No further information could be found.

Elijah Cook and Georgia Frances Duke Moultrie                                                                     

 Elijah Cook Moultrie, son of John Dial and Rebecca Mullins Moultrie, was born in April 1848. Elijah Cook Moultrie served in the Civil War. He was a private in Co. G, 9^th Regiment Ga Militia. Elijah Moultrie married Georgia Frances Duke, the daughter of Green Stephen and Pyrena Cornelia Webb Duke in 1875. The Moultries had two children Heny Lou and Alvah. Elijah Moultrie died Oct 22, 1932 and is buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church cemetery beside his wife, Georgia who died in 1926, Their son Alva, born August 7, 1876 married Ossie Dean Richardson (born December 10, 1883) on January 16, 1918. Ossie was a teacher in the community. They had five children: Elizabeth, Alvah, Marvin, Ferrell and Roy. Alvah and Ossie Moultrie are also buried in the Mountain Hill Baptist Church cemetery.