The
First Baptist Church was
organized on June 11, 1871, in a school house opposite the old Methodist
Church, where meetings were then held by Rev. J. T.
Griffith. The members
who were thus formed into a separate congregation were Robert Dunham,
Isaac Lynch, James H. Garrison, Joseph Byerly, John J. Hofius, John A.
Porterfield, A. G. Dunham, Sarah Lynch, Elizabeth Hofius, Augusta Lightner,
Mary Hofius, Alice Garrison, George Hofius. At the time of organization
Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Hazen, Sophia Byerly and Mary Lynch were added by
baptism. In 1872 the church building was erected on lots donated by Gen.
James Pierce, at a cost of $3,000. The successive pastors of the
congregation have been Revs. J. T.
Griffith, April 30, 1871, to April 20
1873; Jacob Morris, May 25, 1873. to November 1, 1874;
W. P. Hile,
June. 1875, to April, 1879: J. T. Bristow, May, 1879 to April,
1881; F. W. Cramer. September, 1881, to April, 1883;
W. E. Feeman, June,
1883, to April, 1885, and Henry Madtes, who began his ministry June 28,
I885, and who yet serves [1888].
The
History of Mercer County, 1888, page 453.
How
the First Baptist Church looks today, 
