Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1927-07-28
Beginning of Methodism
in w at auga County
Historic Henson's Chapel Organized
About 1911 in Home of Golson
Davis
aRupert Gillett in Charlotte OBJ
Server.)

vile OHly oHce dOmlCCeQ ne was mana
some. Mrs. Davis was the first
Methodist in Watauga county, back
in 1910 or 1911, when as Elizabeth
Whitlow she came from Tennessee
and was snowbound on Brushy Fork
There she met Golson Davis, who
wooed her without success, but when
the snow melted and she returned to
Tennessee, Davis followed her. In
spite of his uncomely appearance, his
persistence won, and Elizabeth Whit
low became Mrs. Golson Davis and
accompanied her husband back to
Cove Creek.
About the same time, Methodist
preacher named Greer began preach
ing in Watauga county-the first
Methodist meetings ever held here
and he worked up such spirituality
that people came from the hollows
far and near to hear him preach. At
first, he was allowed to use the Bap-
fist church, but soon the Baptists OBJ
jected to his presence and told him
that he must hold his meetings else
where. Gathering his little flock
about him, the Rev. Greer asked if
any would donate room in his house
for use as church
Golson Davis arose and offered
his house, and it was accepted. 1t
was then that Mrs. Davis, the de-
vout Methodist, said that her homely
husband looked pretty. Meetings
were held thereafter in the Davis
house, and that was the beginning of
Henson's chapel, oldest Methodist
church in Watauga county and one
of the oldest in western North Caro-
lima.
The story of Golson Davis and his
wife was recalled by aged citizens
of the Cove Greek section, particu-
iarly by Enoch Swift, aged Confed-
crate veteran, when the campaign
was begun to raise funds to complete
the new church, which has been un-
der construction for more than a
year. Work is now suspended be-
cause of lack of money, but it is
hoped that it can soon be resumed.
Although Henson's Chapel really
began with the meetings in the Davis
home, formal organization did not
take place until 1858, when the
following members: George M. Bing-
ham, John Combs, Thomas Harbin
and Mrs Harbin, Mr. and Mrs. Chas.
Henson, George Moody, Mrs. Eli Far
mer and Mr. and Mrs Golson Davis.
The only meeting house available
was a little one-room school house
which stood few feet to the east of
the present church building. Mr..
Swift says that Highway No. 60 now
runs exactly through the center of
the plot on which the school house
stood.
For 10 years the services were
conducted in this school house, but
by whom it is uncertain. Elder Miles,
of Tennessee, is believed to have
been the second Methodist preacher
in Watauga county, but what became
of Greer no one knows, and there is
no historical record for reference.
Other early preachers at the school
house were named Joshua Cole, Til
lett, Blackburn and Martin.
Just after the close of the Civil
war, Mrs. Charles Henson donated a
lot on which to build church. The
building was erected in 1868, and it
was called Henson's Chapel in honor
of the donor of the land. The first
preacher in the new church, accord
ing to the memories of Mr.. and Mrs.
Swift, was man named Cooper, and
he was folloed by one Spencer.
Seventeen years later, the old
church was torn down, and new one
was erected on the same plot OF
ground. 1t, too, bore the name Hen
sons Chapel, and the donor, Mrs
Henson, worshipped in it also until
her death at the age of 100.
This new church seated only 15C
persons, but it has been in use con,
tinually for nearly 40 years since its
construction. Rev. R. A. Taylor, the
present pastor, says he has seer
more than 800 persons come to the
services, and, as only $50 could be
seated, the others crowded as neal
the windows as they could in order
to hear the pastor from the outside
On special occasions, like the visit o.
Bishop Mouzon last week when thu
district conference was in session a
the church, the building would holt
only a fraction of those who cam'
from the surrounding country to at
tend the services.
Continued on Page Five) i