Hornbeak M. E. Church, at Hornbeak, Obion Co. TN first met at Center, a few miles from Hornbeak. John F. Williams, speaker and singer, was instrumental in the building of a church house and the services. In 1885 the church was moved to “Wilsonville,” now known as Hornbeak, on a large 30 by 40 feet platform mounted on solid wooden wheels and made by Sion Williams. It was loaded and pulled with oxen and helped by man power. In 1900, a frame building with stained glass windows was built in the town proper. This beautiful building burned in 1978 and was replaced in 1982 with large facilities on the Hornbeak-Glass Road.

Just cruisin’ through the Obion County site and found the Hornbeak Methodist Church entry…this church was NOT burned in 1978 – it was twisted on its foundation during a tornado on March 2, 1972; later torn down as unsafe. We continued services there until the new church was completed on the Hornbeak-Glass Road…it was damaged by the tornado the night after my mother-in-law died on March 1.  by: Sharon Cunningham

Charter Members, circa 1860: M. J. Alison, E. A. Barnett, L. A. Barnett, Mary Barnett, Robert Barnett, Rutha C. Barnett, Wm. Barnett, G. W. Blankenship, Martha A. Chadwell, Wincy Davis, Sarah E. Scaggs, Samuel Davis, Elisha C. and Juda L. Ephlin, Sarah Ezell, A. Fields, B. F. Gates, A. W. Jackson, Jonathan King, John M. and Nancy F King, Wm. Maloney, Larrah Mays, John W. Mays, Mary E. Mays, Rebecca A. Miller, Rebecca A. Moultrie, Samuel M. McElyea, Samuel McCarley, John Tomlinson, Mary Tomlison, Mary Tucker, William Tucker, V. Tucker, John Fletcher Williams, M. Emmaline Williams, M. E. Williams, L. J. Wilson

The first presiding elder of record is F. Bynum and the first pastor in charge was J. H. Cooper at the organization of 6 March 1860.

Year – Presiding Elder – Pastor
1861 – F. Bynum – M. D. Robinson
1862 – F. Bynum – J. E. Peck
1863 – E. C. Slater, M.D. Robinson – ??
1864 – G. W. Harris – B. F. Avery
1865 – not available – not available
1866 – F. Bynum – J. M. Flatt
1868-1869 – F. Bynum – J. E. Beck
1870 – F. Bynum – E. D. Baker
1872 – J. W. Witt – J. H. Frost

Records are unavailable from 1872 until 1900 when a building was erected in Hornbeak and Rev. Sam Wynn was the pastor in charge for two years. For a time Hornbeak and Obion were served by Rev. W. A. Cook and at his death by Rev. S. R. Hart.

About 1906 the Protestant and Southern Methodist joined and Rev. J. G. Jones was the first pastor of the Hornbeak circuit and Rev. G. W. Wilson, presiding elder. Others to follow were B. T. Fuzzell, Calhoun, W. A. Banks, A. N. Walker, Stubblefield, W. A. Lambkin, Simmons, McClaren, S. A. Parham, John M. Jenkins, Stacy Riddick, Harris, Gault, Stedman, Hopper, J. T. Banks, McMims.

Other presiding elders: G. W. Wilson, J. G. Clark, W. C. Waters, W. W. Armstrong, Robert A. Clark, C. E. Norman, Jones, J. Mack Jenkins, Barham.

SOURCES:

• Obion County History, Union City, Tennessee, Volume One, 1981, Pub. Obion County Historical Society, Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas.
• Obion County History, Union City, Tennessee, Volume Two, 1985, Pub. Obion County Historical Society, Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas.
• Marshall, E. H., History of Obion County, Reprinted, 1970, 1974, by H. A. Lanzer Co., Union City, Tennessee