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Bethany Presbyterian Church

Bethany Presbyterian Church, Tishomingo, Mississippi

This information was transcribed from page 8 of the Old Sessional Register Bethany Presbyterian Church, located 2 miles southeast of the town of Tishomingo, in Tishomingo County, Mississippi.

“Introductory remarks to Volume 2 of the Sessional Record of Bethany Church, in connection with the Presbytery of Chickasaw, and in the County of Tishomingo and the State of Mississippi. From the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861, to the close thereof, the regular ministration of the gospel was but partially sustained and finally for a long time was wholly suspended. During this period, the Sessional Records were entirely suspended, and much that was the matter of record can now only be supplied by memory. When the Civil War began, Rev. W. V. Frierson was supplying the church; David Paden was the only elder. Alexander Paden and Wm. Storment were deacons. In the summer of 1861, Wm. A. Tankersley and D. A. Paden were elected and ordained elders. In the summer of 1862, D. A. Paden died. David Paden died in the spring of 1864, leaving Dr. W. A. Tankersley the only elder.

“At the beginning of the present year, arrangements were made with the Rev. L. B. Gaston to supply the church for the year 1866. W. D. Paden was elected and ordained a ruling elder on June 24^th, 1866.”

From an old church book of Fairview, South Carolina, the ancestral home of the Padens, the following is copied—1833. “Robert W. Paden, Dan Paden, David S. Paden, and Alexander Paden, with their families were regularly dismissed. Anthony Savage. C. S.”

In a sparsely settled community of Tishomingo County, Mississippi, Robert W. Paden, Dan Paden, David S. Paden, and Alexander Paden (with their families) began to cut, hew logs, and build a log house to use for a church and school house. This was the second Presbyterian Church in old Tishomingo County. The building was ready for services in November 1840. Rev. J. B. Stafford was the organizing minister, and R.W. Paden was the first ruling elder. Through all the years, the elder register has always carried the name of Paden or some close relatives. Rev. Storment of Robstown, Texas, became missionary to the Mormons and Indians and Utah about 1900. Later he was superintendent of an orphanage in Texas.

The first building of logs was about 20 by 30 feet; it stood about 40 yards south of the present building. It had two windows that closed with wooden shutters and only one door. Candles were used for lighting, and there was no heating. Winter services were provided with a fire built outdoors. The pulpit was built of the old Scottish type—a semi-circle front, with the floor elevated several feet, mounted by a flight of steps.

During the Civil War, Porter Paden, seeking a place for security for his meat against the ravages of the Yankees, prized the floor of the pulpit up and hid his meat underneath. The Yankees came and camped all thereabouts using the church, walking back and forth over this treasure of hidden meat, all unsuspecting of how near they were to Mr. Paden's meat. When all was over and the Yankee's were gone, Mr. Paden again prized up the pulpit floor, found his meat all intact, cooked and ate it with a keen relish, after such a long wait, devoutly thanking God for this house of security against thieves, as well as a place of sacred worship of the Most High.

Both floor and seats were made of the old time puncheons. Mr. Ed Carmack was a successful teacher there. Many people were schooled in the old log house which stood until after 1866 or 1867, when a large plank house was built. This plank church, badly in need of repair, was discussed at a large congregational meeting at Bethany Church, October 9, 1932.

The result of the meeting gave Rev. W. E. Morean the privilege of tearing down the old church and building a smaller one on the same spot; the vote was unanimous. The following were appointed as members of the building committee: D. W. Paden, W. A. Flurry, and M. H. Flurry. The new church was started in the same month, nearly 100 years later. This was a real nice comfortable house—well heated, well seated, and well lighted. It was built on the same spot using native rock for steps and pillars, or underpinning.

The register of charter members includes the following surnames: Paden, Savage, McGaha, Morrow, Tankersley, Morrison, Storment, Wyley, McRae, McDougal, and Flurry.

The following information about the Bethany Presbyterian Church was obtained from Mr. Bill Paden and transcribed by Avenell Paden Harrison.

Bethany Presbyterian Church was organized and ready for the first service on November 28, 1840. James B. Stafford was the organizing minister.

Membership Roll

Name	Admitted to Church	Date of Death
Elizabeth Paden	November 28, 1840	1866
Daniel (Dan) Paden	November 28, 1840	1868
Catherine A. Paden	November 28, 1840	1879
Margaret Paden	November 28, 1840	1870
Hugh P. Paden	November 28, 1840	1887
Catherine Paden	November 28, 1840	1867
Isabelle Paden Wiley	November 28, 1840	1878
Jane S. Paden	September 1842	1870
Mary E. McGaha	September 1842	1877
Rosanah McRae	January 1846	1870
Alexander Paden	July 1, 1848	1873
Sarah G. Paden	July 1, 1848	1874

Name	Admitted to Church	Date of Death
William A. Tankersley	October 14, 1849	1874
Catherine M. Barton	November 18, 1849	Transferred to New Hope 1870
David Nixon Paden	November 18, 1849	Transferred to New Hope 1862
Martha E. McAlla	October 18, 1851	Transferred to Iuka—November 26, 1871
Elijah McCalla	October 18, 1851	Transferred to Iuka, November 26, 1871
William Storment	May 6, 1854	1885
William D. Paden	October 1854	Transferred to Corinth, Sept. 24, 1871
Jane H. Storment (wife of William Storment)	November 19, 1855	1871
Mary Jane Paden	1860
Martha Storment	1860
William D. Storment	1860	1899
Mary I. Settle	1860
W. D. Storment	May 27, 1866
J. R. Savage	1868
Martha M. Savage	August 29, 1868
Rebecca Nichols	August 29, 1868
James A. Savage	August 29, 1868
Robert Wilson Paden	September 2, 1868
Mrs. Martha Paden	September 2, 1868
Mrs. Anna B. Blunk/Blunt	March 28, 1869
Archabald Morrison	June 26, 1870
Mrs. Jerusha B. Morrison	June 26, 1870
Mary Jane Paden	June 24, 1871
Daniel McRae	October 27, 1872
W. B. McGhee	1873
Mary M. Storment Gurley	June 15, 1873
David N. Wiley	August 17, 1873
Mrs. Eliza Ann Wright	September 28, 1873
Miss Sophia M. Paden	September 30, 1873
William A. Paden	September 30, 1873
Mrs. Sarah E. Reno	November 9, 1873
Mrs. Malion E. Reno	November 9, 1873
Mrs. Margaret T. Wiley	May 10, 1874
Miss Mary L. Reno	September 28, 1874
Miss Sarah I. Storment	May 20, 1877
W. T. Storment	October 13, 1878
Miss Ella Paden	February 18, 1879
John D. Storment	May 13, 1879
L. D. Paden	October 22, 1879
Dan C. Savage	October 22, 1879
Miss Maggie N. Savage	October 22, 1879
Miss Mary C. Savage	October 22, 1879
Miss Malinda A. Savage	October 22, 1879
Miss Kate Paden	October 22, 1879
Minnie L. Reno Flurry	May 13, 1882

Name	Admitted to Church	Date of Death
Mary Jane Storment	August 4, 1882
Mark Paden	September 10, 1882
Martha Wren	October 16, 1883
E. N. Reno	October 16, 1883
J. W. McDougal	September 7, 1884
C. A. Pitts	September 10, 1884
W. F. Wren	September 10, 1884
D. R. McRae	September 10, 1884
D. R. Paden	September 10, 1884
Jessie E. Paden	September 10, 1884
L. M. Paden	September 10, 1884
Martha E. McCalla	August 29, 1886
Rosannah J. Savage	August 29, 1886
Mary J. Paden	August 30, 1886
Margaret B. Reno	August 30, 1886
Luke Paden	August 31, 1886
Samuel D. Reno	September 1, 1886
Aranah King	September 1, 1886
Catherine E. M. Nichols	September 1, 1886
Flora I. Savage	September 1, 1886
Thomas McDougal	September 1, 1886
Jas. B. Savage	September 1, 1886
Miss Addis Pitts Mason	May 10, 1896
W. D. Storment	April 26, 1903
Jennie Storment	April 26, 1903
William A. Flurry	August 30, 1903
Mary Lou Flurry Hopkins	August 30, 1903
Joseph B. Dean	September 1, 1903
Madgie Paden	September 1, 1903
Euseba Paden	September 1, 1903
Sallie A. Paden	September 1, 1903
Alice C. Paden	September 1, 1903
W. D. Paden	September 1, 1903
Mary N. Paden	September 1, 1903
T. J. Flurry	July 28, 1904
Mrs. T. J. Flurry	July 29, 1904
Mrs. J. B. Dean	July 28, 1904
Miss Ida Choate	July 28, 1904
Dolphus Flurry	July 29, 1904
Flora Bell Flurry Whitfield	July 29, 1904
Miss Bertha Dean	July 29, 1904
Miss Lona Dean	July 29, 1904
Miss Jessie Dean	July 29, 1904
Ernest Reno	July 29, 1904
Grover Flurry	July 29, 1904
Innes Flurry	July 29, 1904

Name	Admitted to Church	Date of Death
Eula Flurry	July 29, 1904
Flonsie Eliott	September 27, 1908
John Paden	July 30, 1909	Transferred to Presbyterian Church, Tupelo, Mississippi, October 29, 1939
Mrs. Eusibia Paden	July 30, 1909	Transferred to Presbyterian Church, Tupelo, Mississippi, October 29, 1939
Martha Pearl Paden	September 27, 1911
Mrs. Annie Pitts	September 27, 1911
Mrs. Myrtle Flurry	September 27, 1911
Evie Ward	September 25, 1912
Olin Flurry	September 25, 1912
Eugene Flurry	September 25, 1912
W. Wallace Flurry	September 25, 1912
Sallie Flurry	September 25, 1912
Flora Bell Paden	September 25, 1912
Leonard Rubel Flurry	1918
Libbie Lucile Savage	1918
Sallie Verna Paden	1918
Elizabeth Isabella Flurry	1918
Frances Ruth Paden	1918
Marcus Hillard Flurry	1918
John Grady Flurry	1918
Walter Esles Pitts	1918
Sylvester Carr	1919
W. A. Flurry	1936
Mrs. W. A. Flurry	1936
Durwood Flurry	1936
Mrs. Mattie Flurry	1936
J. G. Flurry	1936
Marcus H. Flurry	1936
Mrs. Marcus Flurry	1936
Mrs. Mary Lou Hopkins	1936
Gladys Hopkins	1936
Mrs. Eula Carr	1936
Zula Mae Carr	1936
Curtis Carr	1936
Andy F. Ward	1936
Mrs. A. F. Ward	1936
Bevin Webster Ward	1936
Elizabeth Monroe	1936
Ennie Flurry	1936
Clyde Flurry	1936
Mrs. Clyde Flurry	1936
Ward Paden	1936
Mrs. Ward Paden (Mary)	1936
Maxine Paden	1936

Name	Admitted to Church	Date of Death
Johnny Paden	1936
Mrs. Johnny Paden (Betty)	1936
Mrs. Lonnie Storment	1936
Edith Flurry	September 3, 1937
Lawrence Odell Carr	September 3, 1937
Nina Holly	September 3, 1937
Roscoe Fugitt	July 15, 1938
Mrs. Roscoe Fugitt	July 15, 1938
Roy Ginn	July 15, 1938
Ray Flurry	July 15, 1938
Fay Flurry	July 15, 1938

Elections of Ministers, Elders, Deacons, and Congregational Meetings

The following information was transcribed from church records:

No services were held at the church during the Civil War.
The Bethany Presbyterian Church in Tishomingo, Mississippi, was not able to secure the services of any minister on June 5, 1867. Therefore, Rev. J. A. Kimmons preached and administered the ordinance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
During 1868, the church secured the services of Rev. J. A. Kimmons for ¼ of his time.
At a congregational meeting held at the church on May 23, 1868, Rev. J. A. Kimmons led the church in prayer and the congregation proceeded to the election of another ruling elder. J. R. Savage was elected. J. R. Savage signified his acceptance, and he was installed a ruling elder in the church.
In 1870 and 1871, the ministerial services of Rev. O. F. Rogers was secured for ¼ of his time.
At a congregational meeting held at the church on June 24, 1871, Rev. O. F. Rogers led the church in prayer and the congregation proceeded to the election of another elder and deacon. R. W. Paden was elected as elder, and W. D. Storment was elected as deacon of the church.
In 1872 and 1873, the ministerial services of Rev. O. F. Rogers was secured for ¼ of his time.
At a congregational meeting held at the church on January 17, 1874, the church secured the services of Rev. Leroy Harris for ½ of his time for a period of nine months.
At a congregational meeting held at the church on May 24, 1874, the congregation elected W. B. McGehee as deacon of the church. On June 5, 1875, A. Morrison was elected as elder. After signifying his acceptance, A. Morrison was installed as ruling elder on October 31, 1875.
In 1883, the church was not able to secure the services of any minister. Rev. J. H. Gillard came on Saturday before the second Sunday in October and preached four days and nights. He also administered baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
In 1885 and 1886, Rev. J. H. Gillard was hired for ministerial services for ¼ of his time.
At a congregational meeting held at the church on October 12, 1885, the congregation elected another elder and deacon. D. R. Paden became the ruling Elder and C. A. Pitts was elected as deacon.
At a congregational meeting held at the church on October 22, 1911, H. M. Jenkins led in prayer and the congregation proceeded to elect two elders and one deacon. W. A. flurry and John Paden were accepted as elders, and the installation of the deacon was deferred.
A congregational meeting was held at the Bethany Church on October 9, 1932, for the purpose of discussing a new building. The result of the meeting gave Rev. W. E. Morean the privilege of tearing down the old church and building a smaller one on the same property. The vote was unanimous. The Building Committee consisted of D. W. Paden, W. A. Flurry, and M. H. Flurry.

Register of Children’s Baptisms

Name	Baptism	Comments
John David Storment	May 27, 1866	Son of W. D. and J. H. Storment
Ella Paden	May 27, 1866	Daughter of H. P. Paden
Mark Paden	May 27, 1866	Son of H. P. Paden
Catherine Brunton	June 23, 1866	Daughter of J. A. and C. M. Bruton
William D. lamas Brunton	June 23, 1866	Son of J. A. and C. M. Brunton
Mary Eliza Paden	September 1, 1867	Daughter of W. D. and S. M. Paden
Dan Calvin Savage	August 29, 1868	Son of J. R. and M. M. Savage
William Wallace McRae	August 29, 1868	Son of Daniel and R. McRae
Altimoner Paden	August 29, 1868	Child of W. D. and S. M. Paden, born December 25, 1867
Malinda Adair Storment	May 23, 1869	Daughter of W. D. and Jane H. Storment
Kate Paden	August 29, 1869	Daughter of H. P. and Jan Paden
Mary Jane Storment	June 25, 1871	Daughter of W. D. and Jane H. Storment, born January 29, 1871
Kate Alexander Paden	June 25, 1871	Daughter of W. D. and S. M. Paden
Rosannah Jane Savage	May 26, 1872	Daughter of J. R. and M. M. Savage, born March 19, 1871
Luke Paden	June 23, 1872	Son of H. P. and M. J. Paden
Mary Hattie Wiley	May 10, 1874	Daughter of D. N. and M. T. Wiley
James Brown Savage	May 10, 1874	Son of J. R. and M. M. Savage, born October 8, 1873
Oscar Heifington	October 31, 1875
Flora Isabella Savage	June 30, 1878	Daughter of J. R. and M. M. Savage
Mary Adair Paden	October 22, 187?	Daughter of L. D. and M. Paden
Oscar Nebbet Pitts	August 4, 1887	Son of J. and E. Pitts
Mary McCalla Paden	August 4, 1887	Daughter of D. R. and J. Paden
Lymon Carr Paden	August 4, 1887	Son of D. R. and J. Paden
Lizzie Bell Paden	August 4, 1887	Daughter of D. R. and J. Paden

Register of Elders

Name	Ordination	Comments
R. W. Paden	November 28, 1841	Died August 1855
Alex Savage	October 29, 1841	Died April 1848
E. N. McGehee	August 21, 1848	Dismissed or ceased to act June 15, 1851
Wm. Paden	August 1848	Dismissed or ceased to act Mar. 28, 1857
John D. Morrow	February 1, 1852
David Paden	February 1, 1852	Died 1863
D. A. Paden
W. A. Tankersley		Dismissed or ceased to act June 2, 1894
J. R. Savage	August 29, 1868
R. W. Paden	June 24, 1871
A. Morrison	October 31, 1875
D. R. Paden	October 12, 1885
W. T. Storment	May 10, 1896
D. W. Paden	April 1904
W. A. Flurry	October 1911
J. D. Paden	October 1911

Register of Deacons

Name	Ordination	Comments
Wm. Storment	May 27, 1866	Died September 15, 1885
W. D. Storment	June 24, 1871	Dismissed or ceased to act Feb. 3, 1890
W. B. McGehee	May 24, 1874	Dismissed or ceased to act July 1891
C. A. Pitts	October 12, 1885
W. T. Storment	October 30, 1892	Dismissed or ceased to act 1896
J. B. Dean	April 1904	Died March 22
Grover Flurry	September 22, 1912

Further information such as church funds and session records of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, Tishomingo, Mississippi, from 1840 to 1939, can be found in the library at the Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum in Iuka at the old historic courthouse.

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