The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-01-01
HISTORY OF FIRST
BAPTIST CHURCH
AS Told by Mrs. Emily F..
Adams, its Oldest Survi-
wing Member.

Adams, Its Oldest SurVl-
wing Member.
Perhaps the most interesting fea
ture of the dedicatory service at thu
First Baptist Church last Sunday
morning was the reading Of an his.
torical paper by Mrs. Emily F. Ad-
ans, relict of the late Capt. r. j
Adams, one of the notable pioneer
citizens of the city. Mrs. Adams
paper was as follows:
The First Baptist Church was or
ganized in the winter of 1870, in Feb
ruary, l think. The charter mem
bers were: Rev. P. P. Bishop, Mrs
Bishop, and their daughter, Mamie;
Rev. w. E. Stanton and Mrs. Stan
ton; Myron Strong, Mrs. Strong and
their daughter, Nettie; j. M. A. Mill
er and Mrs. Miller, all of San Mateo
Fla; DR.. S. E. Mays and Mrs. Mays
of Orange Mills, Fla, Il wonder how
many today would come that far in
row boats to church service); Rev
Charles Jones and his daughter, Lucy;
D. A. Boyd and his daughter, Louise;
A. Ballard, Mrs. Ballard and their
daughters, Mary and Eva; Fred. Bal
lard and Mrs. Ballard; Stephen D.
Hart and Mrs. Mac Davis.
With the help of the Northern
Board of Missions they bought the
lot on River Street, where Mr.. ]. H.
Hickenlooper, now lives. D. A. Boyd
drew the plans and that summer he
and VIM. Sewers built the church. II
was ready for use in October, 1870.
That cultured, magnetic minister
w. E. Stanton was elected pastor; D.
A. Boyd and Myron Strong, deacons;
James M. A. Miller, clerk; Stephen
Hart, treasurer; Louise Boyd, now
Mrs. Tingley, organist. The church
was dedicated by Rev. P. P. Bishop
and Rev. Chas. Jones on the first Sun
day in January, 1871. l pat in my
letter in April, 1872.
The next pastor was that profound
scholar and author, P. P. Bishop
Then the Rev. Chas. Jones; then Mr.
Brewers of Maine; then Mr.. Davis
in 1881. These were all strong
preachers, but Palatka, town OF
/ 500 inhabitants was a tourist Gen.
ter at that time with often three tc
four hundred spent their winters here
On the first of May everything stop.
ped until the first of November sc
what was done one season had to be
done over the next. Then came w
E. Stanton for a second time; W. w
L. Bowen was elected clerk, and Clars
Merryday, now Mrs. Barstow, organ
| ist. The first Sunday school was or
ganized with Deacon P. F. Peek, al
Superintendent Then came Mr.. Plact
for year, and the parsonage wal
sbuilt and we, for the first time, hat
regular service all the year. 'iiiel
came in 1889, from fremont Temple
Boston, that talented ]. H. Johnstpne
who came South for a rest and tool
or little church. The church i'm
proved fast under his charge. j. R
Neck and E. ]. Padgett were ordain
ed deacons and l was electeN churcl
treasurer. The parsonage was i'm
proved and painted. Mr.. Johnston
married Ester A. Winters and brough
his bride to live in it. They went t
Boston in July, 1892, and in Novem
Der came J. C. Newman who remain
ed year, then went to Gainesville
Mrs. w. j. Zumwalt was organist
Then came J. E. Oates and his &C
complished wife, who took charge o
the choir, and the church prospere
as never before. Mr., Oats had tn
church remodeled and enlarged six
teen feet and then came the big freez
causing financial stringency, and h
left US with a debt of $780, TIL
church was supplied by different one
until March, 1896, when Mr. Johns
tone came rs pastor for the secon
time. j. R. Neck was superintend
ent of the Sunday school, and Mrs. {
J. Hayes, organist. Mr.. Johnston
died at the parsonage in May 1S9'
Then on January 1st, 1898, came tina
consecrated untiring worker, Wn
Stones, who by hard work cleared tn
church of debt ! was elected super
intendent of the Sunday school an
served two years. Katie Bell was oil
ganist followed by Miss Gerturd
Powell. Then Mr.. H. o. Hanm wa
elected deacon and Sunday school ST
Iperintendent. Mr.. Stones was pas
tor for nine years and added much t
the spirituality of the congregation
Then came the zealoIs James Farme
who had such a wonderful inffuenc
over our boys and young men. Hi
health failed and he left after 81
months work. Then came ]. c. Co
lum and things were moving nicel
when the old church was burned 0
the afternoon of Easter Sunday 1901
Mr. Howell generously gave the US
of his Opera House for services II
til the present church was finishes
Mrs. Collum was organist. The
came the brief terms of Mr.. Stanl
and w. c. Foster. Mr.. H. o. HAM
was clerk and treasurer. Then VIZ
Turnage was chosen treasurer an
Mr.. Hamm Sunday school superintel
dent.
Then came our own Mr.. Cason WI
found the church burdened with
debt of 100000. He nobly PIT h
: shoulders to the wheel and the churt
) has grown wonderfully in grace az
membership. Four deacons hal
4 been elected. Mr.. Cowan and N
: Harmon were ordained. Mr.. ia
!. rett was elected treasurer and is o.
Sunday school superintendent. Nj
! Munich is organist.
Il By the blessing of our Heaven
Il Father, self sacrifice of the membs
s lship, the pntiring zeal Of our past
and S200.00 from the State Board
: Missions, we are free of debt a
v come to dedicate or church TO t
service of the Lord.
!, "a. "a, "a, ~, a, N, "a, N, "a, N, "a.