Introduction…………………………………………………………………..………..……3

Introduction

    This booklet is only a tabulation of some facts I have gathered concerning our churches and our community. I enjoy working on genealogy and family history, both of which are an integral part of what our lives are now. Plantersville Baptist Church and the other churches in our community were important to people before us and need to be an important part of our lives and our community.

    The facts herein are taken from papers written by people who were part of this community, and may or may not be totally factual. The names on the membership lists may or may not contain all the names of every member of the church. Omission of names or facts is purely accidental. I would appreciate any other information that can be added.

    Preservation of old photos and newspaper articles is now easier than ever with the use of computers. The problems I have found is that many old photos have no names and other artifacts are in poor condition when someone decides that they want to preserve them. Many times all the ones who might remember the pictures or the happenings of the past, are no longer able to tell us what they know. We as a society are so busy; we do not have time for the past until it is too late.

    One common thread in the generation before us is the love of God, family and country. Most all of the member of the community were involved in the Church, they believed in loving their neighbors, and exhibited their faith in God. They took time to read their Bibles, not watch TV. They worked hard for a living, not expecting handouts. They prayed diligently. They did not know about HIV, or a president who broke the commandments or terrorists who would deliberately cause a plane to fly into a building.

    We have much more to contend with, but God’s message is the same. Jesus Christ died for our sins and arose to the Glory of God. All God asks for is that we believe and accept Jesus into our lives. He gave us a simple plan that applies to all ages of time.

       History of Plantersville, Alabama

        The community now known as Plantersville was first called Corinth. It was located on the banks of Big Mulberry Creek, on an Indian trail leading from Huntsville to Cahaba. The area was a favorite hunting and fishing ground for the Indians. Many arrowheads have been uncovered by the white man’s plow, giving us a reminder of the earliest inhabitants.

                                                  Methodist Church built in 1929

    The coming of the railroads signaled the end of the old era of the stagecoach inn, founded by Davis McGee, where travelers could stop over for food and lodging and horse traders from Tennessee could congregate to sell or swap their stock.  As the years went by, there were other sign of change.  A lumber company bought thousands of acres of virgin timber and did business in the area for a number of years.  In 1881 a sawmill began operation in nearby Ridersville, the families of its employees swelling the number of children for whom schools were provided in Plantersville.

    Determination of the citizens to insure an educational opportunity for their young people never wavered despite difficulties.  In the late 19^th century Plantersville had its own college, founded by and chartered under John L. Dodson LL.D., who had formerly been president of Oxford College at Oxford, Alabama.  Dallas County High School of Plantersville finally came into existence in 1909 and absorbed the facilities of Plantersville College.  It is claimed that the Plantersville secondary school was the first public high school in the state.  The school was financed by a $4000 grant from the state legislature and by $6000 in local contributions of money and labor.  A permanent, continuous public elementary school was established soon afterward.

The township of Plantersville proper comprises one section (one square mile) of Dallas County.  By popular vote it is still unincorporated.  Agriculture is largely in its orientation just as many years earlier it played a major role.  Today the agriculture is in the form of greenhouse businesses, which produce bedding plants and timber trade made throughout the Southeast.

Sources:  Story of Dallas County, written by Grade IV, Plantersville, Alabama, 1935-1936,

            Reprinted by the Peoples Bank and Trust Company; Plantersville-Yesterday & Today,

Unknown writer, printed by the Peoples Bank and Trust Company for the opening of a branch in Plantersville; Notes from members of the community of Plantersville, Alabama

History of Plantersville Baptist Church

            Plantersville Baptist Church was begun in 1848, although some histories have stated 1852 or 1854, the corner stone in the present church has the earlier year.  There was no building at the time of organization, so a plan was begun with the Methodists to build a house of worship.  The Driskell family deeded a lot in the grove near the railroad station to the Baptists and Methodists together and the members of the two denominations erected a building.  Later the Presbyterians bought a third interest in this church.  All three denominations used the same structure and although the church was sometimes called “Union Church”, each one had their own pastors and congregations.  Slaves held membership with the whites in the earliest days.  The building had two doors in the front. The women entered in through the left-hand door and sat on left side of the church and the men entered through the right-hand door.  A plank partition down the center of the middle row of benches kept the women and men separated in church.  The right hand corner of the church was called the Amen Corner.  When the Preacher would bear down, someone in that corner would say “Amen”.  The number of “Amens” would determine how long the Pastor remained in that Church.  There was no organ or musical instrument in those days.  Members would lead in congressional singing.

            Plantersville Baptist Church is mentioned in the September 7, 1854 issue of “South Western Baptist” Newspaper, which is a forerunner of “The Alabama Baptist”.

“A valued correspondent of Plantersville, Ala. in a private letter has furnished us with the welcome intelligence that a good revival has been enjoyed in that place, in which Baptists and Methodists both participated.  Some 15 joined the Baptist Church and probably more joined the Methodist.”

                        In the September 10, 1857 issue of the same paper, another revival is reviewed by Elder W.H. Carroll of Columbiana, Ala.:

“I joined Bro. W. Wilkes in a meeting at Plantersville Ala. on Monday after 2 Sabbath in August which continued till the following Sabbath.  Bro W. baptized 14; some joined at a neighbor church; other expressed the determination to unite with the church at Plantersville the next meeting.  I leave the particulars for the Pastor to report, and close by saying, it was one of the most gracious meetings I ever was in.  Moreover, a better set of disciples, I never met with.”

The Baptist church of Plantersville was among several churches in the surrounding area that joined the Unity Association on  July 13, 1855, as referred to in the “South Western Baptist’ on July 26,  1855.”

            On October 25^th 26^th and 27^th, 1856 the Unity Association held its second session at Plantersville, which was then located in Perry Co. Alabama.  That year In August a revival had been held in Plantersville and is referred to in the “South Western Baptist”:

            “I also commenced a protracted meeting at Plantersville, 2 Saturday this Inst., which continued 9 days, and though the three first days of our meeting appeared to pass away with but little visible good, God’s people had covenanted together sometime before to pray, and now seemed disposed to hope against hope, they were not discouraged but continued to pray, and, on Tuesday the 4^th day, the cloud gave way—a number came to the seat—Christians were much comforted.  That night several were converted, the work moved on from that time and resulted in eleven being buried in Christ by baptism.  It was truly an interesting sight on the Sabbath morning, witnessed by many on the bank of the Mulberry, to see 7 young ladies and 2 young men go down into the water, thereby, taking upon them publicly to follow Christ, (2 had been previously baptized during the meeting).”

            Another reference in the “Alabama Baptist”, April 4, 1880 issue has some undocumented historical information, written by W. Wilkes, who wrote several of the earlier references:

            “At Plantersville, twenty miles above Selma, on the S.R. & D.R.R., the first Baptist sermon ever heard was preached (1852) in a school house occupied regularly by Universalists.  The building of a house for worship, by the community, was soon projected on the partial completion of which a small number of Baptists were organized into a church.  The Methodist brethren were organized also.  Year after year a gracious revival succeeded another, and each denomination was strong in numbers and means, and in faith and good works.  The Lord was in Zion; since 1862, Breth. I.U. Wilkes, A. Andrews, H.E. Longcrier, and now Geo Mills, have served this church.

            How marked the change in these twenty-five years!  Many of the dear brethren and sisters have gone to their  final home, and others have removed to new homes in different parts of the earth. Plantations, turned out, are overgrown in woods and briars, and where a lone body was then interred, we are reminded now, by a large grave yard, that time is flying; mortals “are passing away.”

                                                  Union Church Building

In 1898 the Baptist Congregation began planning the first Baptist Church and in 1901 the Baptist congregation sold their interest in the building back to the Methodist for $80.00.  A site on the line between Dallas and Chilton Counties was deeded to the church by Mrs. W.T. Coker.  The Pastor at this time was the Rev. W.R. Connell.  The church belonged to the Unity Association but joined the Selma Association in 1918.  Miss Addie Estelle Cox organized the WMU about 1916; the first president was Mrs. J.E. Mattison.