Contributed by Judith Wade Anderson

Written by Luther Atkinson (who was deceased in 1997) and sent to Judith Anderson by Oleth Padgett.

Some Interesting Insights into the History of the Mt Union Church, 1870-1995

This church is located on the Clarkrange to Muddy Pond Road in the southwestern corner of Fentress County. It was originated in 1870.

Rev. A. B. WRIGHT in his autobiography wrote that one time he was preaching in the Crossville Circuit at the Salem Church on Clear Creek, then left next day for Mt. Union six miles away. He wrote that all the route was a dense wilderness, with only one house on the way. His words: “it had once been a campground; however, the camps and the old shed had gone down. The church is a small old house with a stick-and-clay chimney.”

The following information was given to me by David BALDWIN, son of R. L. BALDWIN and Bessie BALDWIN:

The first concerns an adoption of a resolution and reads as follows:

“Mt. Union Church met Saturday, August 7, 1880, pursuant to adjournment whereas the church taken pleasure in adopting the following resolution:

That hereafter it shall be practiced in this church that immediately after calling the house to order for the transaction of business we shall invariably call for the peace of the church and if the church be found in peace a record thereof be inserted in the minutes and if not in peace, such steps be taken as we think prudent to establish and bring about peace.

That when any male member misses two meeting, he shall give satisfaction to the church for so doing before he shall take his seat in the church.”

The next record is the list of the original and present member of the Mt. Baptist Church as of November 1880. They were:

• Isaac RIDDLE
• Elizabeth NORROD
• Roda JOHNSON
• Catherine RIDDLE
• Levi PHILLIPS
• W. C. ELMORE
• Matilda KEY
• John WEEKS
• A. J. ELMORE
• Eliza J. BALDWIN
• Permealy HALL
• Rachel ELMORE
• Mary J. WHITEHEAD
• Margaret PADGETT
• Lucinda ELMORE
• Nancy KEY
• Andrew PADGETT
• J. A. MILLER
• Andrew REAGAN
• Reuben LOOPER
• M. A. MILLER
• Mary KEY
• Sarah KEY
• R. D. MILLER
• Martha LOOPER
• Elizabeth BALDWIN
• S. A. MILLER
• James WHITEHEAD
• Armilda BALDWIN
• Martha J. MILLER
• Samuel HALL
• Robert BALDWIN
• Margaret HALL
• Lucinda HALL
• Catherine MILLER
• Arthur PHILLIPS
• Elizabeth PADGETT
• Jackson COOK
• Delia PHILLIPS
• Jonathan PADGETT
• Wm. KEY
• Thomas A. ELMORE
• Carroll PADGETT
• Wm. LANKFORD
• Elender BALDWIN
• Sarah ELMORE
• M. D. L. BALDWIN
• L. S. NORROD

Clerk W. C. (CARROLL) ELMORE