Altoga Baptist Church
On May 14, 1892 a Baptist church was organized which was originally known as the Missionary Baptist Church of Christ at Stiff Chapel. Elder Giles Dunn preached the sermon at the organizational service. The presbytery was composed of Elders J. S. Cameron, W. H. Roland, Giles Dunn, and J. H. Vermillion. There were thirty-eight charter members.
The congregation met at Stiff Chapel until its new building was completed in September, 1895. The first service in the new building, located in Altoga, was on September 20, 1895. Brother J. S. Cameron brought the sermon. Although no records are available indicating when the church formally changed its name, it soon came to be known as the Altoga Baptist Church.
The congregation built a new building in 1938, dedicating it on May 5th of that year. On December 3, 1972, a dedication service was held for the present building, constructed under the leadership of Pastor Peck Williams. The previous building was retained and is used as a fellowship hall.
The Altoga Church has seen two former pastors become foreign missionaries. Rev. Gerald Schleiff served in Africa, and Rev. H. A. Zimmerman went to Brazil. The 1985 resident membership of the church was reported as ninety-two. Stan Norman, the present pastor, has been with the church two years.
ALTOGA INLAND COLLIN VILLAGE FAMILIES AND SOME OTHER INTERESTING FACTS
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette , June 11, 1938
By Mrs. O. S. Scott
Altoga Baptist Church has long been established. Its present pastor is Rev. Lester Davis of Gunter, who is serving his first year on that charge. A new church has been erected and will soon be dedicated. The lumber from the old church was sold. The new building has a large auditorium with five Sunday School classrooms that can be opened up on special occasions, and which greatly add to the seating capacity of the building. Mrs. W. T. Dunn of Dallas, a former member of the Altoga Church and a loyal Christian worker, has donated chairs for the Primary Room. A large eight-day clock in the church is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Lawson of Houston, former members of this Church. We were informed that it was through the generosity of Mr. Lawson, who tithes and gave the first $300 to the new church, that the new building was made possible. The church is comfortably seated and is heated by kerosene heaters. J. W. Gerron is Superintendent of the Sunday School, which has an average attendance of sixty. Ross Moreland is Choir Director. Mrs. Geo. Moreland is Church Clerk, and Miss Emogene Baxter is Treasurer. Mrs. J. A. Carson holds the Presidency of the Woman's Missionary Society and the Vice-President is Mrs. Hattie Baxter, while Mrs. Alice Stiff holds the place of Secretary-Treasurer in the Sunday School.
The Altoga Baptist Church was organized May 14, 1892 at the Stiff Chapel Schoolhouse, three or four miles north of here. The Presbytery was composed of Elders J. S. Cameron, W. H. Roland and J. H. Vermillion. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Giles Dunn, father of the late Rev. W. H. Dunn. The Moderator elected was J. S. Cameron and Church Clerk, W. H. Roland. A total of thirty-six presented themselves as charter members. Two of these charter members still living are Mrs. Beulah Lovelady of Altoga and Mrs. Ella Warden of Princeton. Rev. J. S. Cameron was the first pastor and the late T. J. Moreland was elected Church Clerk. In the summer of 1895, the church was built on land donated by the late Isaac T. Moreland. In 1896 the Sunday School was organized with P. R. McGee as Superintendent. At that time, the late Rev. W. H. Dunn was pastor. On the fourth Sunday in July, 1900, the church house was dedicated to the Lord, the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. J. S. Cameron. At that time J. B. Vermillion was Church Clerk. The rapid increase in membership made it necessary to enlarge the building in 1904.
According to some historical information compiled and published sometime ago, by Miss Emogene Baxter, the following statement, thereof was given by her: “Many sacred memories cluster about the church. Many social hours have passed away here. Many changes have taken place in forty-five years. More than 1,000 members have had their name on the church roll. Many have moved away and a large number have joined the “Heavenly Home Coming.”
“On these sacred grounds our children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends have found Jesus. Preachers, singers and workers have gone out from this church. A number of our boys have been licensed to preach. Among those are Willie Moreland, Bert Lovelady, Mark Vermillion, Leslie Vermillion, Nat Farley and Cleo Evans. Bro. Leslie Vermillion and Bro. Nat Farley have been ordained to the full work of the ministry. Rev. H. A. Zimmerman, who with his wife, were members of this church, is a missionary to Brazil.
“Twenty-six preachers have served us as pastors here. All of whom were good men. Each filled his place and was loved and honored by the community. They were:
J. S. Cameron, deceased, served from 1892 to 1895 - 3 years.
B. L. Lough, deceased, served from 1895 to 1896 - 1 year.
W. H. Dunn, deceased, served from 1896 to 1897 - 1 year.
C. E. Morgan, deceased, served from 1897 to 1899 - 2 years.
J. S. Cameron, deceased, served from 1900 to 1901 - 1 year.
J. B. Wilbanks, deceased, served from 1901 to 1903 - 2 years.
B. A. Hall, Los Angeles, California, served from 1903 to 1905 - 2 years.
B. D. Griffin, deceased, served 1906 to 1907 - part of one year.
A. L. Boyd served 1907 to 1908 - part of one year.
George Dale, Oklahoma, served 1908 to 1912 - 4 years.
W. T. Newsome, Pike, served 1912 to 1913 - 1 year.
W. H. Dunn, deceased, served 1914 to 1915 - 1 year.
J. R. Hilger, Greenville, served 1915 to 1920 - 5 years.
A. H. Ethridge, deceased, served 1920 to 1923 - 3 years.
H. A. Zimmerman, New Mexico, served 1923 to 1924 - 1 year.
A. M. Harrington, Arkansas, served 1924 to 1925 - 1 year.
E. P. West, deceased, served November 1925 to May 1926 - 7 months.
J. R. Hilger, served 1926 to 1927 - 1 year.
W. O. Majors, Greenville, served 1928 to 1929 - 1 year.
T. H. McSpedden, served 1929 to 1930 - 1 year.
Kermit McLugin served January 4, 1931 to February 15, 1931 - 1 and one-half months.
A. Novak served 1931 to 1932 - part of 2 years.
E. E. Gilbert, Mount Olive, served 1932 to 1934 - 2 years.
A. W. Cunningham, Culleoka, served May 1935 to September 1935 - 4 months.
G. B. Airhart, McKinney, served September 1935 to March 1936 - 7 months.
Leslie Davis, Fort Worth, served 1936 to 1937 - 1 year.
“Long live the country church from which comes most of the preachers and teachers. Also a large part of the membership of the city churches comes from the country church. May the little country churches we love ever be a light house and a sacred place. May they live on and one. May their doors never close is our prayer.”
ALTOGA BAPTIST CHURCH
History
The Altoga Baptist Church is approaching its 100th anniversary. The Altoga church was organized on May 14, 1892 at Stiff Chapel. The Presbytery consisted of Elders James S. Cameron, W. H. Roland, and James H. Vermillion. The first sermon was delivered by Rev. Giles Dunn (1820-1913), a retired Baptist minister. A total of 36 presented themselves as charter members:
R. J. Bevel, J. A. Blake, Jemima Blake, Margaret Blake, S. G. Blake, Elder Cameron, Lidda Cameron, W. J. Dearmond, Rev. Giles Dunn, Mary J. Dunn, Fannie Farley, Rosana Farley, Joe Franks, J. A. Gray, M. A. Gray, Mary A. Hatler, Jacob E. Lacy, Caroline Lindsy, J. W. Lindsy, Beula Lovelady, John C. McCoy, Charlotte Moore, Evaline Moreland, Nancy C. Moreland, John K. Moreland, Thomas J. Moreland, Melissa Mounger, Susan S. Stapp, Thomas J. Stapp, Mary Stiff, Robert Stiff, Minnie A. Watkins, Elizabeth Whitson, Angelina Williams.
James S. Cameron was called as the first pastor, and Thomas J. Moreland (1850-1915) was elected the first church clerk. The church joined the Southern Baptist association in August 1892, and the regular Baptist Articles of Faith were adopted in September 1892.
The church met at the Stiff Chapel schoolhouse until the summer of 1895 when the first church house was built at Altoga. The first church was built on land donated by Isaac T. Moreland (1847-1902). I. T. and Evalina Moreland donated 2.25 acres on March 4, 1895. Sunday school, also called Sabbath school, was organized in 1896 with P. R. McGee as Superintendent. On the fourth Sunday in July, 1900, the church house was dedicated to the Lord. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. J. S. Cameron. At that time, John B. Vermillion (1867-1963) was Church Clerk....
The following pastors have served at Altoga: 1892 - 1895 J. S. Cameron, 1895 - 1896 B. L. Lough, 1896 - 1897 W. H. Dunn, 1897 - 1899 C. E. Morgan, 1900 - 1901 J. S. Cameron, 1901 - 1903 J. B. Wilbanks, 1903 - 1905 B. A. Hall, 1906 - 1907 B. D. Griffin, 1908 - 1911 George A. Dale, 1911 - 1913 W. T. Newsom, 1913 - 1915 W. H. Dunn, 1915 - 1920 John R. Hilger, 1920 - 1923 A. H. Ethridge, 1923 - 1924 H. A. Zimmerman, 1924 - 1925 A. M. Harrington, 1925 - 1926 E. P. West, 1926 - 1927 John R. Hilger, 1927 - 1929 W. O. Majors, 1929 - 1930 T. H. McSpadden, 1930 - 1931 Kermit Melugin, 1931 - 1932 Al Novak, 1933 - 1935 Ernest E. Gilbert, 1935 A. W. Cunningham, 1935 - 1936 G. B. Airhart, 1936 - 1939 Leslie Davis, 1940 - 1941 Clyde Sampson, 1942 - 1943 Joe Kelton, 1943 - 1950 L. B. Morgan, 1951 Forrest Rogers, 1952 - 1953 Troy Corzine, 1953 Raymond Butts, 1954 - 1955 Hershel Rutledge, 1955 W. E. Logan, 1956 J. M. Cave, 1956 - 57 A. L. Woodall, 1957 - 1958 Johnny May, 1958 - 1963 Henry Davenport, 1963 - 1965 Gerald Schlieff, 1965 - Donald Cox....
The congregation met at Stiff Chapel until its new building was completed in September, 1895. The first service in the new building, located in Altoga, was on September 20, 1895. Brother J. S. Cameron brought the sermon. Although no records are available indicating when the church formally changed its name, it soon came to be known as the Altoga Baptist Church.
The congregation built a new building in 1938, dedicating it on May 5th of that year. On December 3, 1972, a dedication service was held for the present building, constructed under the leadership of Pastor Peck Williams. The previous building was retained and is used as a fellowship hall.
The Altoga Church has seen two former pastors become foreign missionaries. Rev. Gerald Schleiff served in Africa, and Rev. H. A. Zimmerman went to Brazil. The 1985 resident membership of the church was reported as ninety-two. Stan Norman, the present pastor, has been with the church two years.
ALTOGA INLAND COLLIN VILLAGE FAMILIES AND SOME OTHER INTERESTING FACTS
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette , June 11, 1938
By Mrs. O. S. Scott
Altoga Baptist Church has long been established. Its present pastor is Rev. Lester Davis of Gunter, who is serving his first year on that charge. A new church has been erected and will soon be dedicated. The lumber from the old church was sold. The new building has a large auditorium with five Sunday School classrooms that can be opened up on special occasions, and which greatly add to the seating capacity of the building. Mrs. W. T. Dunn of Dallas, a former member of the Altoga Church and a loyal Christian worker, has donated chairs for the Primary Room. A large eight-day clock in the church is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Lawson of Houston, former members of this Church. We were informed that it was through the generosity of Mr. Lawson, who tithes and gave the first $300 to the new church, that the new building was made possible. The church is comfortably seated and is heated by kerosene heaters. J. W. Gerron is Superintendent of the Sunday School, which has an average attendance of sixty. Ross Moreland is Choir Director. Mrs. Geo. Moreland is Church Clerk, and Miss Emogene Baxter is Treasurer. Mrs. J. A. Carson holds the Presidency of the Woman's Missionary Society and the Vice-President is Mrs. Hattie Baxter, while Mrs. Alice Stiff holds the place of Secretary-Treasurer in the Sunday School.
The Altoga Baptist Church was organized May 14, 1892 at the Stiff Chapel Schoolhouse, three or four miles north of here. The Presbytery was composed of Elders J. S. Cameron, W. H. Roland and J. H. Vermillion. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Giles Dunn, father of the late Rev. W. H. Dunn. The Moderator elected was J. S. Cameron and Church Clerk, W. H. Roland. A total of thirty-six presented themselves as charter members. Two of these charter members still living are Mrs. Beulah Lovelady of Altoga and Mrs. Ella Warden of Princeton. Rev. J. S. Cameron was the first pastor and the late T. J. Moreland was elected Church Clerk. In the summer of 1895, the church was built on land donated by the late Isaac T. Moreland. In 1896 the Sunday School was organized with P. R. McGee as Superintendent. At that time, the late Rev. W. H. Dunn was pastor. On the fourth Sunday in July, 1900, the church house was dedicated to the Lord, the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. J. S. Cameron. At that time J. B. Vermillion was Church Clerk. The rapid increase in membership made it necessary to enlarge the building in 1904.
According to some historical information compiled and published sometime ago, by Miss Emogene Baxter, the following statement, thereof was given by her: “Many sacred memories cluster about the church. Many social hours have passed away here. Many changes have taken place in forty-five years. More than 1,000 members have had their name on the church roll. Many have moved away and a large number have joined the “Heavenly Home Coming.”
“On these sacred grounds our children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends have found Jesus. Preachers, singers and workers have gone out from this church. A number of our boys have been licensed to preach. Among those are Willie Moreland, Bert Lovelady, Mark Vermillion, Leslie Vermillion, Nat Farley and Cleo Evans. Bro. Leslie Vermillion and Bro. Nat Farley have been ordained to the full work of the ministry. Rev. H. A. Zimmerman, who with his wife, were members of this church, is a missionary to Brazil.
“Twenty-six preachers have served us as pastors here. All of whom were good men. Each filled his place and was loved and honored by the community. They were:
J. S. Cameron, deceased, served from 1892 to 1895 - 3 years.
B. L. Lough, deceased, served from 1895 to 1896 - 1 year.
W. H. Dunn, deceased, served from 1896 to 1897 - 1 year.
C. E. Morgan, deceased, served from 1897 to 1899 - 2 years.
J. S. Cameron, deceased, served from 1900 to 1901 - 1 year.
J. B. Wilbanks, deceased, served from 1901 to 1903 - 2 years.
B. A. Hall, Los Angeles, California, served from 1903 to 1905 - 2 years.
B. D. Griffin, deceased, served 1906 to 1907 - part of one year.
A. L. Boyd served 1907 to 1908 - part of one year.
George Dale, Oklahoma, served 1908 to 1912 - 4 years.
W. T. Newsome, Pike, served 1912 to 1913 - 1 year.
W. H. Dunn, deceased, served 1914 to 1915 - 1 year.
J. R. Hilger, Greenville, served 1915 to 1920 - 5 years.
A. H. Ethridge, deceased, served 1920 to 1923 - 3 years.
H. A. Zimmerman, New Mexico, served 1923 to 1924 - 1 year.
A. M. Harrington, Arkansas, served 1924 to 1925 - 1 year.
E. P. West, deceased, served November 1925 to May 1926 - 7 months.
J. R. Hilger, served 1926 to 1927 - 1 year.
W. O. Majors, Greenville, served 1928 to 1929 - 1 year.
T. H. McSpedden, served 1929 to 1930 - 1 year.
Kermit McLugin served January 4, 1931 to February 15, 1931 - 1 and one-half months.
A. Novak served 1931 to 1932 - part of 2 years.
E. E. Gilbert, Mount Olive, served 1932 to 1934 - 2 years.
A. W. Cunningham, Culleoka, served May 1935 to September 1935 - 4 months.
G. B. Airhart, McKinney, served September 1935 to March 1936 - 7 months.
Leslie Davis, Fort Worth, served 1936 to 1937 - 1 year.
“Long live the country church from which comes most of the preachers and teachers. Also a large part of the membership of the city churches comes from the country church. May the little country churches we love ever be a light house and a sacred place. May they live on and one. May their doors never close is our prayer.”
ALTOGA BAPTIST CHURCH
History
The Altoga Baptist Church is approaching its 100th anniversary. The Altoga church was organized on May 14, 1892 at Stiff Chapel. The Presbytery consisted of Elders James S. Cameron, W. H. Roland, and James H. Vermillion. The first sermon was delivered by Rev. Giles Dunn (1820-1913), a retired Baptist minister. A total of 36 presented themselves as charter members:
R. J. Bevel, J. A. Blake, Jemima Blake, Margaret Blake, S. G. Blake, Elder Cameron, Lidda Cameron, W. J. Dearmond, Rev. Giles Dunn, Mary J. Dunn, Fannie Farley, Rosana Farley, Joe Franks, J. A. Gray, M. A. Gray, Mary A. Hatler, Jacob E. Lacy, Caroline Lindsy, J. W. Lindsy, Beula Lovelady, John C. McCoy, Charlotte Moore, Evaline Moreland, Nancy C. Moreland, John K. Moreland, Thomas J. Moreland, Melissa Mounger, Susan S. Stapp, Thomas J. Stapp, Mary Stiff, Robert Stiff, Minnie A. Watkins, Elizabeth Whitson, Angelina Williams.
James S. Cameron was called as the first pastor, and Thomas J. Moreland (1850-1915) was elected the first church clerk. The church joined the Southern Baptist association in August 1892, and the regular Baptist Articles of Faith were adopted in September 1892.
The church met at the Stiff Chapel schoolhouse until the summer of 1895 when the first church house was built at Altoga. The first church was built on land donated by Isaac T. Moreland (1847-1902). I. T. and Evalina Moreland donated 2.25 acres on March 4, 1895. Sunday school, also called Sabbath school, was organized in 1896 with P. R. McGee as Superintendent. On the fourth Sunday in July, 1900, the church house was dedicated to the Lord. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. J. S. Cameron. At that time, John B. Vermillion (1867-1963) was Church Clerk....
The following pastors have served at Altoga: 1892 - 1895 J. S. Cameron, 1895 - 1896 B. L. Lough, 1896 - 1897 W. H. Dunn, 1897 - 1899 C. E. Morgan, 1900 - 1901 J. S. Cameron, 1901 - 1903 J. B. Wilbanks, 1903 - 1905 B. A. Hall, 1906 - 1907 B. D. Griffin, 1908 - 1911 George A. Dale, 1911 - 1913 W. T. Newsom, 1913 - 1915 W. H. Dunn, 1915 - 1920 John R. Hilger, 1920 - 1923 A. H. Ethridge, 1923 - 1924 H. A. Zimmerman, 1924 - 1925 A. M. Harrington, 1925 - 1926 E. P. West, 1926 - 1927 John R. Hilger, 1927 - 1929 W. O. Majors, 1929 - 1930 T. H. McSpadden, 1930 - 1931 Kermit Melugin, 1931 - 1932 Al Novak, 1933 - 1935 Ernest E. Gilbert, 1935 A. W. Cunningham, 1935 - 1936 G. B. Airhart, 1936 - 1939 Leslie Davis, 1940 - 1941 Clyde Sampson, 1942 - 1943 Joe Kelton, 1943 - 1950 L. B. Morgan, 1951 Forrest Rogers, 1952 - 1953 Troy Corzine, 1953 Raymond Butts, 1954 - 1955 Hershel Rutledge, 1955 W. E. Logan, 1956 J. M. Cave, 1956 - 57 A. L. Woodall, 1957 - 1958 Johnny May, 1958 - 1963 Henry Davenport, 1963 - 1965 Gerald Schlieff, 1965 - Donald Cox....