Ohio Baptist Church History

One of the oldest churches is Ohio Baptist Church, located at Union Landing. The church was organized on 2 Oct 1804, with first services held in different homes. The first church was built of logs on the riverbank about 1807 and in 1839, they put up the first frame building. A brick church came about in 1864, but fire destroyed it in 1899. A new church was built that same year with some new additions.

In 1796 the first settlers in this area was the Luke Kelley family. That year also came the Davissons, Dollarhides, Yinglings, Fergusons and Gilruths, all which were farmers. Luke Kelley built a mill on the river for grinding corn in 1799. His son, John, built a horse mill in 1803, a steam mill in 1819 and a steam saw mill in 1830.

The Ohio Baptist Church helped organize many other churches in Lawrence County, Ohio and also in Kentucky. They reported back to the Mother Church every three months. This church, thought to be the oldest in Ohio, is six miles west of Ironton, Ohio.

The 150th anniversary of Ohio Baptist was observed back in 1954, when former minister, Clarence E. Corn, was affiliated with said church. A three-day observance was held, and approximately 200 members and friends attended the affair.

Following is a list of the Former Pastors:

• Elder Jackson, who organized the church in 1804
  
• Robert Scott, first pastor who came here in 1789
  
• Rev. Monroe
  
• John Lee
  
• John Young
  
• John Kelley
  
• William Fuson
  
• A.H. Adams
  
• W. Allington
  
• Rev. Leonard
  
• John Bennett in 1860
  
• Rev. Dr. Gates, 1860
  
• Watson Clark, 1863
  
• F. Stanley, 1866
  
• John Bennett, 1868
  
• D. Strickler, 1870
  
• John Wright, 1873
  
• J.B. Tracy, 1875
  
• John Bennett, again
  
• G.J. Justice, 1883
  
• James M. Kelley, 1884
  
• L.P. Bradshaw, 1887
  
• T.F. Carey, 1889
  
• J.B. Tracy, 1893
  
• W.S. Bradshaw, 1894
  
• A.J. Clere, 1905
  
• R.L. Davis, 1908
  
• T.F. Carey, 1915
  
• Kenneth Riggs, 1921
  
• R. Nicely, 1922
  
• Freeman Chase, 1922
  
• T.F. Carey, 1928
  
• L.C. Hanshaw, 1934
  
• B.F. Caudill, 1940
  
• Clarence E. Corn, 1940
  
• Carl Morris
  
• Paul Miller