The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17
For the Central Presbyterian.
Historical Sketches of Some of
the Churches and Ministers of
Montgomery Presbytery.
No. s.
Locust Bottom Church.

The germ of Locust Bottom church Is
found in the settlement, about the year
ITO (the year in which the county of
Botetourt was formed), of a number of
families from Holland or Germany, on
the head waters of James river-that is
to say, near where the Jackson and Cow
pasture rivers unite and form the James
1t is supposed that these people called
themselves Dutch CalviniStS or Luther
ans, from the fact that we find recorded
in the clerks Office of Botetourt county
dated in June, 1850 deed from Jacob
Meyer conveying to the Dutch Calvin.
lists or Lutherans living on the head
waters of James river, one acre of land
for a church and burying ground" 1t
is known with tolerable certainty that
log house Of worship was built about this
date on the spot of ground now occupied
by Locust Bottom church; but it cannot
be ascertained when a church was first
organized, though it would seem most
probable that it was not earlier than the
date of this deed from John Meyer (1786).
About this time there settled in the
neighborhood some Presby terian families,
who worshipped with the Dutch Cal
vinists or Lutherans." How or at what
time the latter became merged in the
Presbyterians is not known, but may be
explained on the principle or doctrine of
the SNrV5UdI of the ftteSt" as happily
expressed by an intelligent old gentle
man living in the neighborhood. The
Lutherans or Dutch Calvinists gradually
disappeared, and their very names are
unknown to the present generation. Out
of this perhaps somewhat mixed element
the Presbyteria church of Locust Bottom
was organized, deriving its name from
large number of locust trees growing on
the river bottom near by, and around
the church, which have long since disap-
peared.
There are no existing records Of this
organization, or of the church Session,
until about the year 1890, but there is
Evolutionary evidence that in its early
history this church was favored with oc-
casional visits and ministrations of Rev.
Samuel Houston, Rev. George A. Baxter,
Rev. John McElhenney, and Rev. A. B.
Davidson.
About forty years ago substantial
and capacious brick house of worship was
built on the site of the original church.
This was an inconvenient location to the
larger part of the congregation, VINO re-
sided on the opposite side of James river
and the use of this edifee will probably
be abandoned altogether, as the church
lately built at Wilton Chiefly through
the liberality of Mr.. Cook, who operates
the Princess Furnace at that point, and
4 |, Il, ho OF cd nj
Gala Give miles east of Wilton) will much
better accommodate the Locust Bottom
congregation, while the old name will be
retained.
The first settled minister of whom
there Is any definite account was Rev.
Edward Crawford, and the first ruling
elders were William Davidson, ST., Ma
con Allen, James Walker, and George
Poage. The precise date when this min
lister and these ruling elders commenced
their service is not known, but supposed
to be about 1786-'9O. From that time
forward the church was served by the
following ministers and ruling elders
I'd minister, Rev. Robert Logan, from
1905 to 1915.
Sd minister, Rev. A. B. Davidson, from
1915 to 1918.
4th minister, Rev. Robert Logan (sec-
ond time), from 1918 to 1924.
9Th minister, Rev. John A. Van Lear,
from 1924 to 1887.
9th minister, Rev. Henry H. Paine,
from 1888 to 1845.
18th minister, Rev. Thomas II. Paxton,
from 1916 to 1848.
9Th minister, Rev. John M. Cochran,
from 1850 to 1852.
9th minister, Rev James M. Rice, from
1855 to 1857.
10th minister, Rev. Gershom Goble,
from 1860 to 1868.
18th minister, Rev. James D. Thomas,
from 1868 to 1865.
10Th minister, Rev. VIM II. Crawford,
from 1865 to 1866.
18th minister, Rev. George T. Lyle,
from 1870 to 1872.
18th minister, Rev. A. w. Ruff, from
1876 to 1879.
18th minister, Rev. William Nee. Mil
Ter Oicentiate), six months in 1884.
10Th minister, Rev. P. F. Price (can-
didate), three months in 1885.
William Shanklin, ruling elder from
1905 to 1915.
James Gilliland, ruling elder from
1905 to 1915.
William N. Anderson, ruling elder