Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-21

gregation. but living between Clarks
Fork and Kings Creek and therefore
at a considerable distance from their
church, were desirous Of cooperating
with Mr.. McGill and the Blacks in Sc
curing Associate Reformed preaching
at some point convenient to them all.
Thomas Whitesides. Major Whitesides,
Robert Whitesides, Thomas Faulkner,
Robert Nealands, Josiah Henry, ana
John Brown were the heads OF these
latter families. The result of this mu-
tual desire was that in 1884 a stand
was erected somewhere on the dividing
ridge between Clark's Fork and Kings
Creek. under which services were held
for a few times. But men like these
we're not satisfied with brush arbor'
and the next year, 1885, small but
comfortable church was erected on the
site occupied by the present building;
the land necessary for this purpose
being donated by a generous Prespy-
terian, John Darwin. From the bulld-
ing of this church until 1S43, preaching
was supplied at irregular intervals by
various ministers of the Associate Re
formed church. In the mean time
about 1910. it was found necessary t"
enlarge the church building. This was
done by putting an addition of II or IA
feet TO one end of the house. In the
summer of 1843, the congregation was
formally organized by the Rev. X. Z.
Grier there being probably forty-elght
members enrolled The elders elected
and ordained at that time were Ropert
Whitesides, Thomas Faulkner, Thomas
McGill, and Capt. John +. Oates. Ihere
Is no record now of the communicates
| of that date, but it is of interest 10
know that of the children then living or
those who took part in that solemn rite,
the following four are alive today: H.
w. Whitesides, Alexander McGlll, MIS-
Martha White and Mrs. W. NJ. Ken
nedy. In the summer of 1S43, Smyrna
united with Sharon and Olivet congre-
CATION in extending a call to Rev. H. A.
Ross; Smyrna asking for one-third or
his time. This call was presented 10
him at a meeting Of the First Presoy-
tery at Hopewell, Chester county, ana
WAS accented. He was installed over
the charge at Sharon on the first wed
nesday i'm December 1S43. Thls pas
toral relation continued until April
1892 when it was dissolved by request
of the pastor In 1854, Smyrna united
with Sardis, small congregation IN
Union county, S. c., and extended a
call to Rev. J. r. Castles. This call
was moderated by Rev. r. A. Ross, ana
was presented to Mr.. Castles at meet
ing of the First presbytery at Steele
Creek N. c., March 8, 1854, and was ac-
cepted. He was installed sometime dur
ing the same year Drs. Ross and Boyce
officiating. Smyrna took one-halt OF
his time. During his pastorate, the
congregation showed their zeal by dis
carding the old church, and in its stead
erecting a large and well furnished
building, one which is said to have
compared favorably with any wooden
building in the country. Mr.. Castles
served this charge faithfully until MS
health so far failed him that he was no
longer able to preach. On this account
in the fall of 1862 he resigned. In 1863
this congregation presented a call TO
Rev. Monroe Oates, asking for one
half of his time, this call was accepted,
and he was installed sometime in the
year 1863, but the records fail to give
any information as to those who took