Union Church - Irwinton Free Church, Wilkinson County, GA

Photo by Eileen Babb McAdams July 2006
Irwinton Free Church- Union Church
Irwinton, Ga. Established 1854

     About 1854 a series of fires broke out in Irwinton. Both the Baptist and Methodist churches were burned as well as the courthouse. A number of Presbyterians living in the county wanted a place to worship so various church members agreed upon a church where the Presbyterian, Missionary Baptist and Methodist Episcopal denominations could worship. It was incorporated in 1854 (See Act )and called the Irwinton Free Church, now called Union Church. William O. Beall deeded one acre to the church and the building was completed in 1856. See article about the church bell here.
     The Methodist Episcopals used the church the first and third weeks, the Presbyterians the second week and the Missionary Baptists the four week in every month..
    Some of the early members were:
Methodist: Green B. Burney, Thomas N. Beall, Dr. William Fisher, Judge J. C. Bower, Samuel Beall, W. I, Chambers, E. J. Gilbert, George W. Tarpley.
Baptist: W. O. Beall, Dr. A. E. Cumming, Captain Eli Cumming.
Presbyterian: Jona Rivers, Daniel A. Moore, Col. Richard L. Story, Dr. R. J. Cochran.

Baptist Members of Union Church 1883-1898
Annie Adkins Mrs. Carrie E. Adkins H. B. Adkins J. D. Adkins Missouri Baker W. S. Baker, minister Mrs. Josie A. Carswell Mrs. A. C. Chambers Miss Effie Chambers Almina Chambers James Chuny Alice Branan Helen Branan Dr. B. S. Braziel Clifford Burch Franklin Burgess J. B. Burgess Penny Burgess Mrs. M. G. Burgess Mrs. M. E. Burney G. R. Butler Mrs. Nannie Butler William Butler William F. Cannon Jimmy Carlisle W.C. D. Carlisle M. J. Carswell Ellen DuPree Carswell George H. Carswell H. F. Carswell Mary Chuny	William Cherry Mrs. A. F. Coussings John Coussins Miss Minnie Cousins Frances Criswell Mattie Crutchfield Rhoden F. Crutchfield James a. Davis Sanders J. Dixon Anna DuPree Anna Beall Dupree John T. DuPree, Jr John T. DuPree, Sr Ollie Dupree Octavia DuPree W.T. DuPree Emma Eason Mrs. Mattie Eason H. M. Freeman M. Biddle Freeman Mrs. Mildred Freeman Hershall J. Gilbert Anna Hartley Fannie Hartley Hiram A. Hartley James Hatcher H. E. Harville Iverson Harville Lena Harville Linton Harville Mrs. W. E. Harville	Vashti Hatcher Mrs Ada Hatfield Anne Hatfield John T. Hatfield E. J. Hays Gamiel Holder H. O. Holliman Joel H. Holliman Mrs. S. F. Holliman Lada Hooks Thomas Hooks Annie Hoover Mary Hoover Lamar Clay Mabel Hoover H. H. Hoover Green B. Hughs J. T. Hughs Mrs. J. W. Hughs Nicholas W. Hughs T. J. Hughs William Hughs Mrs. Georgiann Hughs Mrs. J. W. Hughs Leila Jones Wiley B. Jones Mrs. Wiley B. Jones Ellen King John T. King Sallie King Epsey Kinney	John W. Lindsey Miss Annie Lindsey Ben Lindsey Gertrude Lindsey Green J. Lindsey Mrs. Green J. Lindsey Miss Jonnie Lindsey Laua Lindsey Mrs. Ben Lord Miss Lizzie Miller Mrs. Jennie Miller Mrs. Minnie Miller R. D. McCullar Melle Oliver John Pace Nathaniel Pace Green Parrish Fannie Poole Mrs. Mattie Poole Franes E. Porter John Porter N. B. Price Gussie Robertson Miss Annie Rutland Mrs. Dora Rutland H. F. Ruthland Mrs. J. F. Rutland Mattie Rutland Mrs. Mina Rutland Mrs. T. H. Rutland Wilbur Rutland	Anton Sanders Mrs. D. B. Shepherd Ada Simpson Alfred Simpson Annie S. Simpson Gussie Simpson James E. Simpson John Simpson L. A. Simpson Mrs. M. D. Simpson Mrs. Sallie Simpson Gertrude Smith Ellen Spears Robert Spears Belie Taylor Isaac Taylor Lilly Taylor Mariah Taylor Sallie Taylor Allie E. Ussery W. H. Walden William Wall H. A. Watts Georgia Willimas J. Frank Williams Robert Wright W. B. Wright Mrs. Emma Wood

Source: Wilkinson County Historical Collections, Joseph Maddox