News from Tennessee Conferences 27 Feb 1917

The saints living near Morristown were in Bybee, Tennessee. Although not yet organized as a branch, the group consisted mostly of the families three adult children of Anna Eliza Inman Talley. They had been joining the Church in 1905 and included Anna before she passed away in 1909. One more of her children would join the church later in 1917. 

Oakwood was a suburb just north of Knoxville, now entirely subsumed by the city. 

Sarah is about 50 miles south of Memphis. Columbia has long been a center of LDS preaching, though it would be many years before there would even be a branch located there. Most of the members in the area lived well outside the city. Today there are two wards.

I would like to identify who the grandfather "personally acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith" might be. There were a few Tennesseans who could fit the bill. But with so little to go on I am not very optimistic. My best option is to track down Elder Rudd's journal. (Elder Wilson's journal ends just over a year before this event).

Baird's Mill Branch of Wilson Co., Tenn. 1881-1888

Like most of the handful of LDS branches that dotted the late 19th century Tennessee landscape, Baird's Mill branch was in a rural area. In this case it was in Wilson County, about 8-9 miles south of the city of Lebanon (in Tennessee it's pronounced "LEB-nun" with only two syllables).

The small community came to be in 1874 when the US Post Office at Ponville (there was a beautiful clear, naturally formed two acre pond there, fed by an underground river, though the "d" was silent and left out of the original name) was renamed Baird's Mill after the Baird family which figured prominently in the area.

In September 1880, five elders (John N. Price, Daniel Densley Jr., Alexander B. Kidd, William S. Hume, and Joseph Ford) were traveling from Salt Lake City to the mission home (Rome, Georgia) to receive their assignments. On the train the group met a fellow passenger by the name of Irving Sanders. Mr Sanders was a wealthy magistrate from southern Wilson County. Open and friendly, he talked freely with the Elders on the train. Their conversations lasted most of the day, and when it came time for them to part, Mr Sanders invited them to visit him at his home about 30 miles east of Nashville. Of the five only Elder Ford was assigned to work in Tennessee. Ford was paired with George Carver, whose area included Wilson County. They stayed at Sander's home and preached in the area.

At about the same time William C. Denison found two missionaries, probably Ford and Carver, hiding in the saw mill from a small mob. William agreed to help them hide, obliterating their tracks so the mob would not search for them in the mill. When the disturbance subsided, William agreed to let them use the mill for a meeting. Although he forbade his wife, Mary, from attending the meeting, he went himself out of curiosity only to find Mary was already there. Both of them were later baptized though the exact dates have been lost.

In January 1881, B. H. Roberts, recently transferred from Iowa, joined Ford and Carver in Wilson County. There were a few baptisms early in 1881. William A Gwyn, and Thomas Smith were baptized on February 14th, 1881. Their wives, Betty Gwyn and Elizabeth Smith were baptized less than two weeks later on February 25th, 1881. Another convert, Sarah Vaughn, the wife of Dr. Richard Vaughn, asked to be baptized in a series of events that were previously shown to Roberts in a dream. Unlike the dream, Dr. Vaughn objected to his wife's wishes. Roberts went to great lengths to prove to Dr. Vaughn that he would not allow any of the Elders to baptize Mrs. Vaughn without the Doctor's permission. In a matter of weeks, Roberts' deference won over the good doctor, and Sarah joined the Church. Dr. Vaughn would 15 years later join the church himself. Also baptized that day, September 4th, 1881, was Ben P. Bright.

The flurry of conversions was enough to convince Roberts to form the Baird's Mill Branch on September 12th, 1881. William Gwyn was ordained a Priest and set apart to preside over the branch. Elder Alphonso H. Snow wrote in a letter to the Deseret News that the branch had 13 members when it was formed. Records reveal only about 10-12 of the 13 people.

By February, opposition to the Church became more pronounced and organized. A three day debate was held between B H Roberts and a local minister.  The minister used as his reference material, Alexanders Campbell's critique of the Book of Mormon, and Roberts claimed to come out on top. By the end of the year there were at least two more baptisms, both on 2 December 1881; John R Robinson (age 30) and J R Robinson (age 74).

In 1882, Joseph Ford and Alonzo H Snow were assigned to Wilson County, recording on February 24th, 1882 the baptism of Elizabeth Huddleston. The Huddleston name thereafter became commonly used in missionary journals. Elizabeth's husband became a favorite host of the missionaries; they called him "Uncle Perk". He never joined the Church.

By March 1882 there were 30 members 25 of which, according to Elder Snow, were baptized after November 1881. That leaves for some attrition. By those numbers, only 5 of the original 13 were still around. Either they left the church or they left the area. Emigration to Utah was certainly a possibility, though without names that would be hard to track. At least two more baptisms followed; Franklin Pierce Simmons (1852-1897) was baptized on 15 March 1882, and Charles Andrews baptized Sarah Clark on 25 March 1882.

In 1883, on May 4th, 5th & 6th, the East Tennessee conference met at Baird's Mill. Attending were B. H. Roberts, Louis Kelsch, and James A. Eldredge (all three visiting), and Samuel Jackson (East Tenn Conf Pres), William H. Joseph, Joseph S. Hunter, Thomas Godfrey, Thomas Griffin, Jacob F. Miller and Brigham Holbrook.  At the conference F P Simmons was ordained a Teacher and set apart to preside over the Branch and William Barrett was sustained as Sunday School President. Jefferson Davis Simmons was baptized on 25 August 1883. On September 2nd 1883 B. H. Roberts baptized three; Mrs. Gwyn and two young brothers named Schneider.

In 1884 Henry Huddleson was baptized on 1 Jan 1884, (again on 25 Feb 1886, though that was likely a rebaptism when he arrived in Utah). On April 19th & 20th a meeting of the East Tennessee Conference was held at baird's Mill at which Teacher F P Simmons was again sustained to preside over the branch.Others present were B. H. Roberts (visiting), Samuel J Parrish (East Tenn Conf Pres), Thomas Godfrey, Orson M. Wilson, Jacob F. Miller, Brigham A Holbrook, James A Eldredge, George A. Black, John N. Bevan, William A. Hess, and Josiah Richardson.

The situation in Baird's Mills turned for the worse after the Cane Creek Massacre in August 1884. Someone posted notices demanding that all the missionaries and members at Baird's Mill leave. Deadlines varied from a few days to a month. A copy of one notice made it into the paper. Note how the note writers clearly connected their demands to the tragedy at Cane Creek, even though they were over a hundred miles away.

Another was recorded by a missionary and printed in the paper when he returned home.

One member, Linard Burke, recorded being told directly to leave within 20 days. James Eldredge, one of the missionaries serving at Baird's Mill was confronted by a mob at the home of Brother Simmons. They gave him ten days to leave the state.

Some members left, a few stayed, but the branch survived.

By 1887 it was known as the Wilson County Branch. On October 8th & 9th a conference was held there and another in 1888 (September 29th & 30th). That same year a Sunday School was reorganized at Baird's Mill, apparently just one part of a larger branch. By then the East Tennessee Conference had split in two creating a Middle Tennessee conference of which Baird's Mill was a part. Soon afterwards missionary efforts were scaled back. Other acts of violence against missionaries in Tennessee late in 1888 proved too much. The threats and violence led to missionaries being sent to other areas. One missionary recorded that in 1888 Wilford Woodruff counseled the Elders to focus on strengthening existing members instead of baptizing converts. Twelve members emigrated to Colorado in one year. After the principle member families at Baird's Mill left, there were few things attracting new member families to move in. References in Church records to Baird's Mill disappear altogether after 1888.

The post office was closed in 1903, and very little differentiate the community from the surrounding countryside; a dollar store at the crossroads, a small community church next to it, a modern subdivision with maybe two dozen homes a quarter mile away, and several farms. Development has been kept at bay because of the Cedars of Lebanon State Park which is just to the south east. In an obscure historical foot note, local folklore claims that in 1925 the pond, after which the community was first named, disappeared when an overly clever man tossed some dynamite into it to quickly harvest the fish. He inadvertently opened a hole at the bottom and drained the pond.

Notes:

Members (baptism date & Name)
11 Feb 1881 William A Gwynn (1846-1913) husband of Betty Gwynn
11 Feb 1881 Thomas Smith (1831-1911) husband of Elizabeth Smith
25 Feb 1881 Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (McHenry) Gwynn (1849-1902) wife of Wm Gwynn
25 Feb 1881 Elizabeth Sanders Smith (1842-1866) wife of Thomas Smith
1 May 1881 Charlotte Varshti (Herron) Barrett (1846-1901) wife of William R Barrett
4 Sep 1881 Ben Bright (1839-)
4 Sep 1881 Sarah C Smith Vaughn (1846- ) E J Huddleston's daughter
4 Sep 1881 Hennietter Bottoms wife of Charles Bottom
4 Sep 1881 S. Daniels
4 Sep 1881 (not 6 Jun 1880) William Riley Barrett (1842-1914) husband of Charlotte H Barrett
12 Sep 1881 Branch formed with 15 members (ie there were 3 additional unnamed members)

[11 Oct 1881] James Wilson McHenry (1864-1931)
11 Oct 1881 Susan Catherine (Barrett) McHenry (1869-1940)
2 Dec 1881 John R Robinson (1851-1940)
2 Dec 1881 J R Robinson (1807-)
24 Feb 1882 Elizabeth J (Smith) Huddleston (1828-1890)
 Mar 1882 Mary Jane (Blankenship) Denison. (1857-1926) wife of William Denison
 Mar 1882 (unverified) William Carol Denison (1850-1935) husband of Mary Blankenship (
Bef 1883 Mary Cummings (1812-1880?) E J Huddleston's cousin
14 Mar 1882 Branch has 30 members (at least 12 more unnamed members)

15 Mar 1882 Franklin Pierce Simmons
25 Mar 1882 Sarah Clark (1854- ) a servant of  GP Huddleston
1 April 1882 Edward Riley Gwynn (1872-1956) son of Wm & Betty Gwynn
11 May 1882 Mary Ruth Smith (Barrett) (1871-1953) wife of Robert L Barrett
20 May 1882 Robert Lee Barrett (1868-1948) husband of Mary Barrett

25 Mar 1883 Jefferson Davis Simmons (church records say 25 Aug 1883)
25 Mar 1883 George Monroe Burke 
6 May 1883 Thomas Lane 
8 May 1883 Raphael Neil (1828-)
8 May 1883 Neal, S. E. (1831-) Wife of Raphael
8 May 1883 Mrs Schneider 
8 May 1883 Maggie Schneider (daughter)
9 May 1883 William Burke
9 May 1883 Mrs William Burke  
14 May 1883 daughter of Br Smith
  2 Sep 1883 Jane Wright Gwynn, mother of William Gwynn
  2 Sep 1883 1st son of sister Schneider
  2 Sep 1883 2nd son of sister Schneider
16 Sep 1883 Eliza Ellen "Nellie" Gwynn, daughter of William Gwynn
  Oct 1883 [unnamed #1] by Elder Jackson
  Oct 1883 [unnamed #2] by Elder Jackson
4 Nov 1883 McGuire, Hugh
10 Nov 1883 Mr Schneider

Bef 1884 Leonard Burke
Bef 1884 James Riley Barrett (1865-1924) Husband of Sarah Avery
Bef 1884 Sarah Irene Avery (1868-1919) wife of James R Barrett

1 Jan 1884 Henry Huddleston (also on 25 Feb 1886 likely a rebaptism)

   Jan 1887 Helen Nora Barrett (1877-1906)
9 Feb 1887 John Taylor Barrett (1879-1963)
4 May 1887 Samuel Bell Barrett (1873-1949)
17 Jun 1887 Nokes, Sarah
28 Aug 1887 Smith, Victoria
28 Aug 1887 Smith, Cephas J.
28 Aug 1887 Smith, Rachael J. S.

COR Marjorie Johanna Denison (1874-1972)
COR William Henry Denison (1878-1960)
COR Laura Elizabeth Denison (1881-1953)
COR Ruby Beatrice Ketura Denison (1884-1941)
COR Alice Ellen Gwynn (1883-1948) daughter of Wm & Betty Gwynn
COR Eudora Gwynn (1880-1935) daughter of Wm & Betty Gwynn
COR Robert James Smith (1881-1937)
COR Minnie Cora Barrett (1882-1950)
COR Nettie Mora Barrett (1884-1947)

27 Aug 1896 Richard Daniel Vaughn (1842-1916) Sarah Vaughn's husband but only after they moved to Murfreesboro.

Ambiguous Reference but probably not members
Emma Cumming
William Daniels
James Robertson
Robert Gwyn
Harietta Daniel, daughter of  E J Huddleston
William C Smith, son of E J Huddleston
John Daniel, son-in-law of E J Huddleston
Barnet Smith, son of E J Huddleston
W H Wetmore 

Not members
Irving Sanders
Grandison Perkins Huddleston (1824-1907)

Missionaries
Brigham Henry Roberts 1881-1885 (Journal & Autobiography)
George Henry Carver 1879-1881
Joseph Ford 1880-1882
James Thaddeus Hammond 1881-1882
Charles Andrews 1881-1882
Samuel Jackson 1881-1883 (Biography)
Alonzo Houtz Snow 1881-1883
James Jamison Adams 1882-1883
William H. Joseph 1881-1883
Samuel Parrish 1882-1884
James Alonson Eldredge 1883-1884
Brigham Angell Holbrook 1883-1884
William A. Hess 1883-1884
Josiah Richardson 1883-1884
Jacob Franklin Miller 1883-1885 (Journal)
John A. Bevan 1883-1886
Orson M.Wilson 1883-1885
George A. Black 1883-1885
Nathan Tanner Jr. 1884-1886

Jacob F. Miller - April 1883

[This is a continuation of the journal of Jacob Franklin Miller, as he serves a mission in middle Tennessee. - BAllen]

Bairds Mills, Monday April 2, 1883 Held meeting March 25th at F. P. Simmons, Elder Adams preaching, myself and Elder Jackson bearing testimony. F. P. Simmons was ordained Teacher to succeed Elder Dennison in the Presidency of the Branch. Monday evening we held a meeting at George Burke's. Elder Adams speaking; Elder Jackson and Brother Dennison following with brief remarks. Tuesday evening we held a meeting at the same place. I spoke about an hour, was followed by brief remarks from Elder Jackson and Brother Dennison. Wednesday we went to Murfreesboro to see Elder Adams and Brother Dennison and family start. Came to Smyrna to spend the evening at Wm. Gwynn's. Stopped at Gwynn's Wednesday and Thursday nights. Stopped Friday night at James Summor's, Saturday night at Robert Gwynns, a brother of Wm. Gwynn's. Gwynns mother and sister and four gentlemen were in to see us during the evening. We remained in conversation until after 11 o'clock. Sunday morning we went to Brights, stopping there last night and coming on to the Huddleston place this morning. Received letter from my Father today and wrote in reply.

Bairds Mills, Friday April 6th 1883 According to agreement stopped at Mrs. McHenrys Monday evening and at George Burkes Tuesday. Miss Emma Cummings from Nashville arrived here Tuesday and her sister left her home Wednesday. Wrote to Joseph L. Clark at Quincy Monroe Co., Miss. on Tuesday, also to my Uncle Wm. Rawson. Stopped here at Sister Huddleston Wednesday. Fasted Thursday and spent the night at Charles Bottom's.

Bairds Mills, Friday April 13th 1883 Rec'd letter from home last Friday. My little Cousin Amy Foss is dead. Stopped Friday night at Wm. Barretes. Saturday we went to Suddes Creek and held meeting there stopping over night at Wm. Daniels. Sunday we held meeting again and stopped over night at James Robertson's. Monday we came back to the Huddleston place to post letters. Elder Jackson having received a letter of instruction to which he wished to reply. He is instructed in connection with other Pres. of Conferences to travel alone and Presidents who have traveling companions are requested to report at once so that Elders may be sent out to take their places. Presidents are also requested to report the post office addresses of all Elders laboring in their Conferences. My address is reported at Flynn's Lick, Jackson Co. Stopped Monday and Tuesday night at Huddleston's. Went to John Daniel's Wednesday. Stopped with him that night and the next night at Thomas Smith's. Came to Brights today. Received letters from my Father, from Wm. V. Carbine and from E. O. Wilcox. Geo. Steed is under arrest for shooting a man who had seduced his wife. Dr. Carrington is reported to have eloped with a daughter of W. O. Mayfield.

Bairds Mills, Sunday April 15, 1883 Stopped Friday night at Brights. Came to Huddleston's Saturday but spent the night at Geo. Burke's. It is storming hard and there seem to be little chance of holding a meeting today.

Laurel Hill, Saturday April 21st 1883 No meeting last Sunday stopped over night at F. P. Simmons. Stopped Monday night at B. P. Bright. Tuesday met Elder James A. Eldredge and Brigham A. Holbrook at G. P. Huddleston's. They had reached there from Chattanooga the day before. Were sent for by George Burke to administer to a sick child and stopped over night there. The child, as soon as we had administered, threw up a worm six inches long and rested easier during the night. Were sent for again by Burke Tuesday afternoon and all four went and administered to the child who seemed better. Leaving the others at Burke, Elders Eldredge and myself went to F. P. Simmons to pass the night. We met next day at Brights. Elders Holbrook and myself stopped overnight at Huddleston's. Received letters from my Father, E. B. Clark and J. H. Gibbs. Walter Walker of Farmington has been sold out. Wrote to my Father and to Emily Foss Tuesday. Thursday morning Elder Jackson and myself started for this place. It rained very hard during the day. Selecting a house at which we had concluded to stop we were met by a boy who told us that if we were wanting to stop over night we might as well pass on for they did not keep any one there. We sent him for his Father who, starting to make an excuse for turning us off, changed and invited us in. We were charged 25 cts each for supper, breakfast, and a night of lodging. After this, learning that we were Mormon Preachers, regret was expressed that they had not known that in time to have held an evening meeting. We were invited to stop a day or two and hold meeting. We made an appointment there for a meeting on the 29th. Last night we stopped with one Prettyman James. This morning we visited Jefferson Lee and took dinner today at Andrew Carr's, each friends made by the other Elders in their last labors. At the latter place we were handed a letter directed to the Mormon Teachers, which read as follows:

Dear Sirs
Word having reached me that you deny the body which I stand identified being the Church of God, that we have wandered off, that we have a form of Godliness but deny the power there of. Now sirs if either of you will meet me and affirm that the Church of the Ladder Day Saints is the Church of God I will deny or I will affirm that the Church that I stand identified with is the Church of God if you will deny. Or I will affirm that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance toward God and Baptism into the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit will secure the forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit if you will deny. Or if you will affirm that miraculous gifts are necessary today and those belonging to the true Church can perform them and confer the Holy Ghost by the Laying of hands, I will deny. Now sirs let us have a friendly discussion of these and others points if you choose, or else it will be taken for granted that you cannot sustain what you teach. This is all through friendship seeking truth and dispelling error. You can give me an answer by some friend or through the mail direct to Buffalo Valley Tenn. And I will answer you as you may direct.
Yours Truly W. R. Chaffin

Flynns Lick, Monday April 23, 1883 Saturday night we stopped with two brothers named Clemmens. Sunday held meeting. A stormy day and but light attendance. Took dinner with a Doctor near by. Visited Mr. Smith. Stopped over night with Mr. Chaffin spending the whole night in conversation in the Scripture. Came on to Samples today.

Flynns Lick, Wednesday April 25, 1883 Stopped at Samples Monday and Tuesday night. Had a "log rolling" here yesterday and a dance last evening. A meeting is announced here for tomorrow evening.

Flynns Lick, Friday April 27, 1883 Stopped Wednesday night with Mr. Hoover at Whites Bend. Visited Mrs. Angus yesterday, and took dinner with Mr. Sherlock. Held meeting here last night.

Jacob F. Miller First Area - March 1883

[The continuation of Elder Jacob F. Miller's missionary journal....]

Bairds Mills Wednesday March 7, 1883  ... I traveled as far as Murfreesboro that evening [March 5th] and came on to this place¹ yesterday. Bros. [John H.] Gibbs, [Robert] Pearce and [Joshua] Hawks traveled with me as far as Murfreesboro. [A]ttended a revival or protracted meeting Monday evening. The Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterians and Christians or Campbellites have joined together in the work and are now in the second week of their labors. One person, a young girl came forward and was duly prayed, preached and groaned over by the temporally united Ministers. A call was then made and much pleading indulged in to induce the congregation to gather round the "Altor" and join in Prayer. By much persuasion about one in ten were induced to comply. Others were then requested to bow their heads during the prayer and most did so. They hold a meeting each afternoon and each evening. The text was Matthew 11:28, the sermon "Come to Jesus and Ye are Saved". The evening before this I attended a Baptist meeting at Chattanooga, The First Chapter of the Book of Acts was read there for a text. I hired a buggy at the livery stable and came on here yesterday. The headquarters of the mission here is at the residence of G. P. Huddleston. There is a Branch of the Church consisting of about forty members here. Of these I have been introduced to Brother and Sister Huddleston their, daughter Sarah Vaughn, their cousin Mary Cummings and the teachers of the District or Branch Brother Dennison and his wife. Bro. and Sister Dennison are intending to emigrate to Colorado this month. A company starts from Chattanooga March 29th.

[I omitted a list of the missionaries with their hometowns and their assignments. You can find that list here.]

The people here seemed much pleased at some views of Utah which I brought with me, also with photographs of some of the authorities. I wrote to my Father and Thalia at St. Louis, to my Father from Chattanooga and to Thalia from Murfreesboro. Write today to my Father, my Uncle Nathan Cheney, W. W. Steed and J. H. Gibbs.

Bairds Mills, Thursday March 8, 1883 A warm, sunshiny, pleasant day. Visited Bro Dennison for a short time. Bro. Dennison and family spent the evening here. Wrote to E. O. Wilcox today.

Bairds Mills, Friday March 9, 1883 Obtained copy of Logan Leader today with a list of our missionary company. My name is incorrectly printed J. T. Miller.

Bairds Mill March 10, 1883 Wrote to my cousin J. T. Hammond today.

Bairds Mills, Sunday March 11, 1883 Meeting held here today. About thirty attending. I spoke 46 minutes. Congregation very attentive. Meeting announced for Wednesday evening and next Sunday.

Bairds Mills, Monday March 12, 1883 Received a card from Pres. Morgan today.

Bairds Mills, today. Tuesday March 13, 1883 Wrote to Pres. Morgan

Bairds Mills, Wednesday March 14, 1883 Meeting this evening at Brother Dennison. Spoke a little over half an hour. Was followed by Brother Dennison who speaks fluently and with no apparent embarrassment.

Bairds Mills, Friday March 16, 1883 Visited Brother [Franklin Pierce] Simmons yesterday. The Elders have had their mail stopped and write that they will be here by about the 20th.

Bairds Mill, Friday March 19, 1883 Held meeting at the Wetmore schoolhouse yesterday. Spoke about an hour. Stopped over night at Brother Barretes. Received letter from Charles Shumway in Alabama today.

Bairds Mills, Tuesday March 20, 1883 Elder Adams and Jackson arrived today. They left their things at Jackson Co. I take a trip up there after them starting tomorrow.

[It was apparently a short trip, of which he wrote nothing at the time and very little upon his return]

Bairds Mills, Saturday March 24, 1883 Left here last Wednesday for Jackson Co., leaving Elder Adams to spend the few days he had left here in visiting with the Saints. Stopped at Gordonsville Wednesday night with Joseph Samples. Thursday night, at Grant on my return. Friday night, and reached here last evening. Find two letters awaiting from my Father, two from my sister and one from my Uncle Nathan Cheney. All well at home. Report a good time at Conference.

Bairds Mills, Sunday March 25, 1883 A stormy day today so that no meeting was held. Jefferson Davis Simmons and George Monroe Burke were baptized today. Elder Adams officiating; Elder Jackson confirming Bro. Burke and myself Bro. Simmons. Elder Jackson has been appointed to succeed Elder A[lphonzo] H. Snow as President of this the East Tennessee Conference. A Conference will be held here May 4th, 5th and 6th and in Campbell or Union Co. in August or September. Wrote to my Father today.

¹ Bairds Mill is a small community, then and now. Most of the saint emigrated west before 1890. In 1895 the population was 28. It is probably less than 100 today.

New Lebanon Chapel

Sunday we finally get the word that the Lebanon Chapel is finished and the open house Sunday afternoon. OK maybe this isn't history yet, but it will be. Regardless, when I heard the announcement I thought yeah! and darn it! Yeah! cause its is exciting. Church growth and all that. The Church was only leasing the previous building.(See below) Darn it! because the open house happens to conflict with my schedule. My wife has invited an handful of people over for a break-the-fast dinner and, well, I can't really slip out just to go look at the new building. It is on the other side of town and I would be gone at least three hours right when our guests were expected. My wife is tolerant of my hobby, but not that tolerant.

Lebanon is in Wilson County. Wilson county is another site of early Tennessee LDS history. The Baird's Mill Branch was active in the 19th century, though the history surrounding it has been less forthcoming than other areas. I have a couple of articles, some names and little else. I was hoping to go, meet some people, and ask around for historical leads. Sigh! I guess I have to find another way.

So I didn't get a picture of the new chapel yet, but here is the old one.