Monday, January 26, 2009

Early Branches in Tennessee

I came across a document by Lyman D. Platt listing the early branches of the Mormon Church from 1830 to 1850 which is basically the pre-Utah period. Of course branches at the time functioned more like the way Stakes do today. I pulled out just the ones that were Tennessee.

ACADAMY, HENRY, TENNESSEE
26 Feb 1836, 8 members in good standing. 29 May
1836: 10 members. By 27 Apr 1837, 200 members of the
church in some forty wagons left Tennessee and Kentucky
for Far West. This branch was undoubtedly included in the
group because of the residences of some members that have
been identified. (WWJ 159: So. States Ms.: AOS:17)

BLOOD RIVER, BENTON. TENNESSEE
Mar 1835, organized with Abraham 0. Smoot as the
branch president although only a deacon. Members
included his step-father, Levi Taylor, and his mother, Ann
Rowlett. 20 Feb 1836, Abraham 0 . Smoot ordained an
elder. 29 May 1836, 10/11 members of the branch in good
standing.
By 27 Apr 1837, 200 members of the church in some
40 wagons left Tennessee and Kentucky for Far West. This
branch was included in the group. Mrs. Margaret T.
Adkinson, who was in the caravan; became the wife of A.
0. Smoot. (AOS:10,1 1.17,19 ; WWJl:59,60; JHC. 29 May
1836)

CHALK LEVEL, BENTON, TENNESSEE
2 Jul 1835. branch organized by William Woodruff at
the home of Seth Utley. Warren Parish ordained Abel B.
Wilson a deacon. 26 Feb 1836, 21 members in good
standing. 27 Apr 1837, 200 members of the church in
some forty wagons lei1 Tennessee and Kentucky for Far
West. This branch was undoubtedly included in the group
because the residences of some members have been
identified. (WWJ1:36,59; AOS: 17)

CLARK'S RIVER, TENNESSEE
Brother Thomas led there. 24 Jan 1836, Wilford
Woodruff blessed 2 children. (WWJI :56)

CYPRUS, BENTON: TENNESSEE
26 Feb 1836, 9 members in good standing. By 27 Apr
1837, 200 members of the church in some forty wagons
left Tennessee and Kentucky for Far West. This branch was
undoubtedly included in he group because of the residences
of some members that have been identified. (WWJI:S9;
AOS: 17)

DRESDEN, WEAKLEY, TENNESSEE
18 May 1844, William Camp, a member. May 1844.
a conference was held here. Jun 1844. 9 members baptized.
(AOS 3 1,33.34; So. States Ms., 26 May 1844.) [This is the
branch from which Elder William Shanks Berry's family
came - Bruce Crow]

DUCK RIVER, HICKMAN, TENNESSEE
In the 1840s, there was a branch there. (So. States Ms.,
Aud 1883) [This branch was called Shady Grove at the
time of the Cane Creek Massacre. - Bruce Crow]

DYER COUNTY, TENNESSEE
20 Jan 1844, about 13 members. (So. States Ms., 20
Jan 1844)

EAGLE CREEK, BENTON, TENNESSEE
6 Jun 1835. Wilfbrd Woodruff preached at the meeting
house of Eagle Creek. Baptized 2 persons the next evening
at Brocher Fry's place. 28 Sun 1835, Warren Parish
preached his farewell sermon. Elder Calvin H. Nicholson
was present. Wilford Woodruff was ordained an elder by
Warren Parish. Waswell Medlock was ordained a deacon
over the branch by Warren Parish. 29 Jun 1835, 1 person
baptized at Squire Ivins place. Brother Walker was a
member.
2 Feb 1836, 15 members in good standing. By 27 Apr
1837, 200 members of the church in some forty wagons
left Tennessee and Kentucky for Far West. This branch was
undoubtedly included in the ,group because of the residences
of some members that have been identified. 9 Jun 1844, 17
members, including Robert Petty, elder; Sea Velie,
president; and B. B. Barnett, teacher. 22-23 Jun 1844, Elder
Abraham 0. Smoot organized a branch of 17 members and
baptized 4 new members. (lWJ 1 :31,33,36.58.59; So.
States Ms., 9 Jun 1844: AOS: 17,34)

EBINE COUNTY, TENNESSEE
20 Jan 1844. about 13 members in the branch. (So.
States Ms.: 20 Jan 1844) perhaps this is supposed to be Obion County

GIBSON COUNTY. TENNESSEE
20 Jan 1844, about 13 members. (So. States Ms., 20
Jan 1844)

HENDERSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
20 Jan 1844, about 13 members. (So. States Ms. 20 Jan
1844)

JACKSON COUNTY. TENNESSEE
11 Dec 1839, 21 baptized. (So. States Ms. 1 1 Dec 1839)

MADISON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
20 Jan 1844, about 13 members in the county. (So.
States Ms. 20 Jan 1844)

MCNARY COUNTY. TENNESSEE
Aug 1839, 14 members. 1 Mar 1841 , 28 members.
(So. Stares Ms. 26 Dec 1839, 1 Ma 1841)

OVERTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
1 1 Dec 1839, Julian Moses baptized 17. 12 Jun 1840,
65 members. (So. Stares Ms. I 1 Dec 1839, 12 Jun 1840)

PUTNAM COUNTY, TENNESSEE
18 May 1841. branch organized. (So. States MS. 18
May 1841)

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE
May 15 1841, 30 or more members in the western
part of rbe county. 29 O ~1L879 . Elder Joseph Argyle wrote
that in Williamson County, Tennessee, he met a sister Mary
Hickman, who told him "chat her husband. William R.
Hickman. and she were baptized by John D. Lee in
Rutherford County, Tennessee in the year 1843. She s t a d
that there was an organized branch there. all of whom
gathered with the main body of the church except her
husband, herself and one sister." (So. States Ms. 15 May
1841, 29 Oct 1879)

SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
1 Mar 1841. a branch organized in the county at that
time. (So. States Ms. 1 Mar 1841)

SMITH COUNTY, TENNESSEE
15 May 1841, a branch organized. (So. States Ms. 15
May 1841)

TENNESSEE
Nov 1839. George W. Gee and Julian Moses were in
Tennessee in DeKalb. Overton and Jackson counties. There
were 51 members in six counties. (So. States Ms., Nov
1839)

WHITLEWILLE, JACKSON. TENNESSEE
Nov 1839, about 30 members. (So. States Ms. Nov
1839)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have LDS ancestors in Wayne and Perry county in middle Tenn. Have you any resources that talk about that area? I will check back with your blog. Thank you

Bruce said...

I have three main resourcs. Man missionary journals refer to activities and members in those counties. Those counties were part of the Middle Tennessee Conference and so many of the missionaries for whom I have journals also served in those counties.

I also have access to published geneologies from those counties. The Wayne County book is particularly large. These were published in the 90's. Mormons tended to participate (i.e. send in family histories) in larger numbers than others.

I also have access to some church record books for the area, for certain time periods.

Of course being local, I have access to other sources like newspapers, and historians/archivists who know the area well. Though I haven'tworked much on the two specific counties you are asking about.

If you would like to ask specific questions that you do not wish to be opento the public, you can email me at:
bruce_crow at yahoo dot com

Elden said...

I am a direct descendant of Robert Petty from the Eagle Creek Branch in Benton County, TN. I am researching his life and would love more information about the resources you used.

Bruce said...

I'll put together a list for you and add it here in a separate post. If you want you can email directly at bruce_crow[at]yahoo[dot]com.