Obion
County, Tennessee Genealogy
All Rights Reserved, Jane N. Powell, County Coordinator
janep2@earthlink.net
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Generously
Hosted by
RootsWeb
|
Obion
County, Tennessee Genealogy |
Generously Hosted by RootsWeb |
Cunningham United Methodist Church 
is on Gratio Bluff in district 9 according to Obion County History
Book One, and three (3) miles east of Ridgely TN in the lower western part of Obion
County.
Sometime in the spring of 1901, J. F. Cunningham, J. W. Sanford, and G. W. Gambill pledged with each other to build a church in the area. Mr. Gambill cut timber and gave logs which Mr. Sanford and Mr. Cunningham hauled to the mill. George Reeves also gave timber. With the help of others, the community soon had a one-room building facing south to serve as a church and a school.
Pews were rough-sawn lumber on blocks. In May 1901 before doors and windows were in place, Sunday School began with J. W. Sanford as superintendent. Mr. Sanford served in this position for 22 years. Mrs. and Mrs. J. F. Cunningham donated an Organ. On the second Sunday of May 1901 J. B. Winsett preached his first sermon there as the assigned pastor. The first School teacher was Will Walker.
In 1922, the building was turned to face north and two Sunday School rooms added. In 1944 S. J. Bradshaw was responsible for building a front walk.
Preachers: J. B. Winsett, R. S. Harrison, J. T. Alexander, C. E. Norman, W. H. Collins, J. W. Woodard, J. F. Cunningham, J. W. Woodard, J. T. Banks, W. A. Walker, T. N. Wilkes, B. A. Walker, J. W. Woodard, J. F. Cunningham, W. H. Lampkin, J. F. Cunningham, J. E. Hopper, O. H. Boatwright, J. F. Cunning, R. E. Hickman, A. T. Hurley, J. E. Hopper, S. B. Jones, M. M. Gurley, W. L. Hill, James P. Murphy, U. T. M. Jones, R. E. Street, S. B. Morrison, W. H. Harpole, F. R. Bell, F. L. Clement, L. E. King, J. D. Featherston, Thomas W. Jowers, Vernice Scarbough, Thomas L. Edwards, Dennie Harben, Robert L. Young, R. Craig Jordon, Norman L. Crittenden.
20 April 1999, Photo by Jane