First Presbyterian Church
Dalton
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Church was destroyed during the Civil War, and was rebuilt then remodeled several times.
This photo is from 1937. Photo courtesy of Vanishing Vault.
The minute book of
the church tells simply this story of organization:
"The Presbyterian Church of Dalton, Georgia, was organized October 31, 1847.
Ministers present: Reverend John Jones and Reverend J. M. Waddell. Members of
the church, John Anderson, Jane Anderson, James McSpadden, Susan McSpadden, D.
S. Waugh, W. M. Murray, A. E. Blunt, Ann S. Newell, Emily Tilliotson, Mary
Rosenbaugh, Martha E. Morse and Andrew (colored boy of J. I. Hamilton). Elders
elected: A. E. Blunt and James McSpadden. First baptism. John Emery, son of B.
C. and Martha E. Morse.
"In 1847 the little frame building which Edward White had built for a town
hall, was bought by a small band of Presbyterians, and a church was organized
with twelve
members, the first organized church in the town.
"This little church had a high boxed-in pulpit from which the good pastor
expounded good old fashioned Presbyterian doctrine, his congregation being
divided by a high center-board down through the center of the church, the
jackets and trousers on one side, the bonnets and petticoats on the other.
"A church bell was bought and hung with much pride, as it was then the only
bell within a radius of one hundred miles.
"The building was destroyed by Sherman's army, but the bell, the melodian,
the communion service and the pulpit Bible were hidden and kept by the women of
the church and they became the nucleus for the new church which stood on the
same site and was completed in 1868. A fine pipe-organ was soon installed and is
still in use in this church. A steeple was added and the bell hung in it, the
bell having been previously hung in a scaffold on the church grounds.
"In 1900 the manse was completed and in 1913 the whole church was rebuilt of
cream brick.
"Reverend John Jones was the first pastor, and then followed Reverend A. G.
Johnson, Reverend H. C. Carter, Reverend J. A. Wallace, Reverend H. C. Carter,
Dr. A. W. Gaston, Reverend G. F. Robertson, Dr. Mark A. Matthews, Dr. John
Mecklin, Dr. Walter L. Lingle, Reverend E. W. Way, Dr. F. K. Sims, and Dr.
Wilkes Dendy.
In the ministry from this church, Rev. E. M. Green, Rev. 0. E. Buchholz.
Elders who have served this church:
A. E. Blount, Jas. McSpadden, R. W. Jones, W. K. Moore, Sr., L. E. Wilson, W.
R. Berner, V. Thompson, W. J. Manly, B. Moyers, J. T. Whitman, J. M. Lowry, J.
F. Groves, G. L. O'Barr, E. W. Green, A. J. Showalter, A. W. Lynn, T. R. Jones,
Sr., W. G. Liddell, R. A. Rushton, R. A. Patterson, J. F. Denton, H. L. Smith,
G. W. Hamilton, Sr., T. M. Kirby, W. M. Denton, R. M. Herron, Sr., W. K. Moore,
Jr., W. N. Morse, R. P. Gregory, G. W. Hamilton, Jr.
Source: History of Whitfield County, 1936
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