Benton County, Tennessee Genealogy
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Reliable evidence is that Post Oak Grove now post Oak was established before 1835 making it one of the oldest yet active Methodist Congregations in this area. The first years are very sketchy. The first known building was a log structure with benches hewed from logs and was present in 1835 but its believed to be older but there is little evidence to support this. The log building stood until the late 1800's about 1883. It was removed and a new frame structure was erected. At the time the name was changed from Post Oak Grove to Posts Oak. This building stood until it was destroyed by fire in 1912. The church was holding a revival meeting and one night after everyone had gone the fire began. It was believed the fire began from a kerosene lamp. It was believed the wick burned down into the reservoir and caught afire. The lamp was a stand attached to the wall around the building. The members of the church began to construct another building donating their labor and timber. This building stood until 1937. A violent storm damaged the structure blowing part of it from its foundation. At the time temporary repairs were made and plans to replace the weaken structure were were made. The church members donated time and materials. The actual construction began in late 1937 as soon as the farmers could leave their fields. It was completed in 1938. Later the bathrooms and Sunday school rooms were added and then the awning was added. This is the building that is standing today.
The first service in the new church was held on January 7, 1938. The first funeral was the child of Hulie and Ozella Hudson on January 27. The first Sunday School service was January 9, 1938. The church Sunday School Superintendent was John W. Bray. The Church secretary was J. T. Brooks and the first organist was Edna Brooks Davidson. The song leaders were O.L. Markham and Leon Galbreath. The song was "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" led by O. Markham. The first revival in the new church began the fourth Sunday in July 1938. Reverend Dean Smith was the Evangelist. On the fifth Sunday in October 1938, the church was dedicated. Reverend Coolen preached at the dedication service. The church signed up in the REA program to get electricity and on March 7, 1948, the power was turned on for the first time in the community and at the church.
Up until 1912, the church did not have a deed to the property, but on August 21, 1912, a deed was given to the church trustees and posted in deed book #6 page 313 notebook 4 page 270 at the county seat of Benton County, Camden, Tennessee. This was a gift from W. H. and Eliza Ann Wiseman and T. H. and Caroline Hudson to the Church Trustees and their successors. The Trustees that accepted for the Church were H. F. Stigall, J. D. Brooks, W. T. Bomar, W. H. Wiseman, T. H. Hudson, W. P. Hudson and J. W. Weatherly. Some additional land was donated later by Hubert and Lois Hudson and Zollie an Zoetta Wiseman and Leo Weatherly. There are two cemeteries on the property and are well kept. A Trust Fund has been established to insure their up keep should the church cease to exist. This fund was donated by several people and the church is grateful.
In the early days a circuit rider served the church. Because of this, services might be held in the middle eof the week depending on when the rider came through that area. For a time the church was not in a district until 1840 and it was known as the Camden Mission until 1852. From 1853 to 1864 it was in the Paris District and 1864 to 1900 it was in the Trezevant District and 1901 to 1991 in the Lexington District. In 1991 we became part of the Paris District.
MINISTERS OF THE POST
OAK CHURCH
1840 TO PRESENT
1840 - Isaac N. Manley
1841 - Robert S. Collins
1842 - Edmund J. Williams
1843 James Rhodes - Edmund J. Williams, Sup.
1844 - Bryant Medlin
1845 -
1846 - Daniel Tabb
1846 - 1848 Jessie P. Lowery
1848 - Matthew F. Mitchell
1849 - Matthew F. Mitchell
1850 - William price - Isaac N. Manley, Sup.
1851 - Isaac N. Manley - E. F. Hamilton, Sup.
1852 - J. B. McCutcheon - W. T. Myers
1853 - Levi B. Lee - John P. Webb - Isaac N. Manley, Sup.
1854 - Simpson Weaver
1855 - Lucian B. King
1856 - 1857 - Robert W. Ayers
1858 - F. A. Wilderson
1859 - J. W. Mathis
1860 - W. B. Ramsey
1861 - 1862 H. B. Covington - E. L. Fisher, Sup.
1863 - One to be supplied
1864 - J. F. Armstrong
1865 - John R. Peeples
1866 - Elias M. Baker
1867 - W. R. Gardner
1868 - W. T. C. Young
1869 - To be supplied
1870 - To be supplied by Thomas E. Hall
1871 - T. B. McGill - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1872 - To be supplied by T. D. Clement - D.M.K. Collins,
Sup.
1873 - T. R. Luter
1874 - 1875 R. R. Nelson - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1876 - F. B. Davis - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1877 - R. R. Nelson - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1878 - J. D. Sullivan - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1879 - H. B. Covington - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1880 - D. L. Hines - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1881 - J. H. Johnson - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1882 - W. H. Mannor
1883 - W. C Waters
1884 - A. S. Anderson
1885 - F. B. Davis - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1886 - 1887 C. A. Coleman - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1888 - 1889 J. G. Jones - D. M. K. Collins, Sup.
1890 - J. H. Cason
1891 - 1893 J. L. Weaver
1894 - 1897 T. F. Carson
1898 - N. R. Waters
1899 - J. R. Harrison to be supplied
1900 - Believed to be Louis Markham as a speaker
1901 - 1903 Yates Moore
1904 - 1909 E. W. Mathis
1910 - B. G. Lamb
1911 - 1912 Arcc Robinson
1913 - H. L. McCamey
1914 - O. C. Wrather
1915 - W. T. Stubblefield
1916 - 1919 O. H. Lafferty
1920 - C. A Coleman 1921 - 1922 T. N. Wilkes
1923 - 1924 J. T. Banks
1925 - 1926 T. E. Calhoun
1927 - 1928 W. S. Lockman
1929 - 1932 W. King Dickerson
1933 - 1934 M. H. Alexander
1935 - 1937 O. J. Smith
1938 - 1941 A. G. Childress
1941 - 1943 W. H. Pearigen
1944 - 1945 W. M. Vaughn
1946 - 1948 Walter L. Hill
1949 - 1951 Frank L. Daniel
1952 - 1954 D. A. Bishop
1955 - 1956 R. Gene Baker
1957 - Paul Blankenship
1958 - 1959 John C. Hartman
1960 - 1962 Jacob Smith
1963 - Jacob Smith, W. W. Phillips, Loyd Hymes
1964 - Francis Lynn
1965 - 1972 Harry Goldsmith
1973 - 1978 Eulas Greer
1979 - Maynard Hammond
1980 - 1981 Terry Pence
1981 - 1985 Tom Cary
1985 - 1990 Charles Ferris
1990 - 1995 Richard Clark
1995 - 1998 David Shettles
1998 - Present Steve Elder
Information and pictures submitted by Linda Wyatt
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