COW CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

    A History Written by Thomas W. Eversole

Submitted by Lewis G. Baker

I know that the word Cow Creek, as well as the names of a few other places here are a little bit puzzling to those not familiar with the Kentucky Mountains or the Kentucky mountain people; so, let us begin our story by giving the origin of the name Cow Creek, as well as a few other places here in order that the “outsiders” may become enlightened. Cow Creek received its name due to the fact that one of the early settlers killed a buffalo cow here. Near the mouth of Cow Creek is a little branch leading off to the left. This place is called Bear Run due to the fact that another early settler killed two bears there. I want to list a few places without going into detail as I believe the names explain themselves. They are: Wildcat Hollow, Buck Creek, Indian Creek, Meadow Creek, Mistletoe, Crane Fork, Beech Fork, Sugar Camp Branch, and Puncheon Camp Branch. Then there is the quaint name of Whoopfarea which derived its name from the fact that a ghostly sound was heard there. The county seat, Booneville, was named for Daniel Boone, the great pioneer.

About three miles from the mouth, Cow Creek is divided into the Left Hand Fork and the Right Hand Fork. It was to the Left Hand Fork that the Misses Nella A. Brownlee of Las Crucee, New Mexico, and Netti. B. McGaffick of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania came around 1908 and organized a Sunday School at what was known then as the Left Hand Fork School. These women roomed and boarded at Uncle Lee Reynolds’ and walked to and from the school which was about a mile away. They also organized a Christian Endeavor Society which was held at night. It is interesting to note that one of the neighbors remarked, “I don’t believe in having Sunday School at night.”

These two women were missionaries supported by the Associate Presbyterian Church of North America. They were looking for a place to establish a permanent mission; so, after spending several months on the Left Hand Fork, they moved to the Right Hand Fork and stayed at Aunt Jane Moore’s near the mouth of Beech Fork. In the meantime, my father, Woolery Eversole, or “Uncle Dutch” as most people called him, donated one acre of land for the school­house site. Uncle Dan Callahan sold the women another acre of land for the sum of $100.00 which was just across a deep ravine from the schoolhouse site, and which was to be used to construct a dormitory.

Plans for the two new buildings were drawn and construction was soon begun. Timber was furnished free by the people of the community. This was hauled to my father’s mill near by where it was sawed free of charge. The lumber then was taken to the proper site. Uncle Raleigh Combs of Milltown near Booneville was hired to construct the building for the small sum of $600.00.

While the two new buildings were under construction, the two missionaries moved to my home to room and board. While there they taught their finest school in an old vacant house that originally had been built for a country store house, but which in the last few years had been used by my father as a place to store corn or hay. There were fifty four enrolled in this school. I was hired as the janitor at $2.00 per month. Due to the fact that much mud was carried into the house on rainy or damp days, I “ate” enough dust to do me the rest of my life.

A two story dormitory consisting of several rooms on each floor, and a one story, two room school building were soon completed. The missionaries then moved into the dormitory which also was used to room and board any students who wanted to stay there. School was begun. It soon progressed to the point where we had to take off the roof of the schoolhouse, and add another story consisting of one large room, and two small ones. Additional teachers were secured to help carry the extra load. These men and women were outstanding Christian teachers, excellent in their chosen field. In fact, I have had no better teachers anywhere not even at Berea Eastern Kentucky State College, nor at the University of Kentucky. I want to list a few of these outstanding individuals: Misses Brownlee, McGaffick, Masson, Taylor, McNeil, and Foster. For the men, there were Mr. McNeil, Mr. Earl Moore, Dr. Lawrence, Rev. A. E. Smith who was a great teacher and an outstanding preacher and a man that could pray such an earnest prayer that he seemed to be talking directly to God; and J. M. Sterrett, the best disciplinarian that I have ever known. Near the beginning of the school, there was an old retired preacher by the name of Porter who came and stayed for awhile. He was the best example of a saint in looks and in life as anyone that I have ever seen.

The playground was increased through the purchase of several more acres of land from my father and a small farm across the creek from the mission also was added. This was exchanged later for several acres of land on the same aide of the creek as the school and dormitory, and adjacent to it. This makes up the present church property, not including the new church building which will be described later.

Sunday School and church were held at first in the school­house. The Christian Endeavor Society was held in the living room of the dormitory. Pie suppers, box suppers, Christmas plays, and other parties and seasonal entertainments also were held in the schoolhouse; and what we called “socials” were held at the dormitory occasionally. It was here that I attended my first banquet which lasted for about one and a half hours, not including the party after the bountiful meal. The church worked in close cooperation with the regular county school system and when the regular school was out, an extra term of two or three months was held for the more advanced pupils. This was for additional training in order to make it easier to pass the final tests for the completion of the eighth grade, or for the passing of the examination for a teacher’s certificate, this examination being held at Booneville, Kentucky, the county seat.

In 1919, the ownership and operation of the above property was transferred to the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and the Cow creek Presbyterian Church was organized, as shown by the following minutes of the Session of that time:

“The Cow Creek Presbyterian Church was organized by Representatives of the Buckhorn Presbytery July 6, 1919, 2 P.M. Services were held in the schoolhouse; Rev. E. E. Gabbard and Rev. George Watson preached. Then Dr. H. S. Murdock followed with a short sermon and proceeded with the organization. Twenty two charter members were received, six of whom were baptized. The officers that were elected are as follows:

Elders:             Stephen A. Gabbard, Henry Gabbard, and John Frost. All were ordained.

Deacons:         John C. Moore, Woolery Eversole, and D. G. Reynolds. One hundred and                                     thirty seven were present.”

Signed:           Stephen A. Gabbard

Charter Members

Blanche Baker, Millard F. Baker, Mollie Baker, Fredrick Adams,

Woolery Eversole, Thomas Eversole, Edna Eversole, John W. Frost,

Nancy A. Frost, Floyd Frost, Stephen A. Gabbard, Flora E.

Gabbard, Henry Gabbard, Lissie Gabbard , John C. Moore, Alice

Moore, Mary B. Louden, Dudley Reynolds, Mary Reynolds, Otilda

Smith, Willie Smith, Francis Smith

In 1929, Athenia Academy, as our school was called by the original founders, ceased to exist as a school. It has continued, however, as a means of religious leadership through teaching in the Sunday School, for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for other activities related to the ‘work of the church.   

The sessional record of August, 1924 recorded the need of a church building. The matter was again discussed in 1934, but no definite plans ‘were accepted by the congregation until

1937.  

The plans having been completed and accepted and the agreement to hire James M. Eversole of Arnett as the carpenter to do the job, work was begun: My father, Woolery Eversole, was the first man to do any work through his hauling the first rock for the foundation. This rock was hewn out by my father and it was the corner stone for the building. I made and donated the Roy D. Reynolds made the letters GOD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE which.are on the wall back of the choir loft.

Those people within the local community who were able to contribute money did so. Those that were unable to contribute added to the construction by donating labor. All labor was determined at ten cents per hour. (This set price was just a matter for the records in order to establish a basis for judging the amount contributed by each person.) In additon to the local contributors, we, support from eleven different states besides Kentucky, and from China. Also, there were forty—six different cities, towns and villages represented. The final cost ran around $4,000.00 and the building was completed and dedicated free of debt on September 9,10, 1939.

The ORDER OF SERVICE for the dedication:

“Dearly beloved of the Lord: God, our Heavenly Father, Saving in His grace, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord, brought to its consummation our work of preparing for the honor of His holy name a house within whose walls His Gospel is to be truly preached, His sacraments are to be faithfully administered, and prayer and praise are to be offered unto Him, we are now gathered in His presence for the purpose of devoting this house, by a solemn act of worship to its proper and sacred use.”

The SERVICES OF DEDICATION took two days in which the following persons

participated

Rev. C. G. Ranck, Pastor, Faith Hill Community Church, Lucky Fork, Kentucky, Song

Leader

Rev. E. E. Gabbard, President, Witherspoon College, Buckborn

Mrs. Harvey S. Murdock, Board of National Missions

Rev. Jesse Herrmann, Second Presbyterian Church, Lexington

Rev. George S. Watson, Field Representative, Synod of Ky. Boards of National Missions

and Christian Education

Rev. Albert C. Wildman, Presbyterian Church, Booneville

Rev. I. H. Gabbard, Friendship Church, Arnett

Miss Marie Moore, Cow creek, who lead the worship service

Mrs. Thomas W. Eversole, Cow Creek, who gave a reading “The Church By The Side of

The Road”, assisted by the Girls’ Chorus.

Rev. A. L. Tull, pastor of the Cow Creek church at the time of the planning, construction,

and dedication

Thomas W. Eversole, treasurer

John.C. Moore, superintendent

Lucy McIntosh, secretary

The REGISTER OF ELDERS is as follows:

Stephen A. Gabbard                                       Millard Baker

John W. Frost                                                Shelby Moore

Woolery Eversole                                           Earl McIntosh

Roy D. Reynolds                                            Willard Gabbard

Paul Gabbard                                                 Eugene Moore

Henry Gabbard                                              Rudolph Turner

John C. Moore                                               Marvin McIntosh

Thomas W. Eversole                                      Carl Steppe

The REGISTER OF DEACONS:

 John C. Moore

Woolery Eversole

                                                                  Dudley G. Reynolds

In reminiscing over old times, it is interesting and enlightening to recall the influence the church and school at Cow Creek have had on the people that have been closely connected with it. About twenty—five years ago, Rev. A. T. Tull and I were counting the people on Cow Creek who had from one to four or more years of college training and thirty—six were counted: This is extra good for a little creek that is only about eight miles long and the population is not very dense. Extra credit for their achievement is due to the fact that these students had to obtain their education when there were no good roads in Owsley County. Neither was there a high school part of the time. When one was finally built at Booneville, six miles from the Cow Creek community center, those who attended had to use horses or mules as a means of transportation, riding through mud or snow, rain or shine, hot or cold, and crossing the creek several times before arriving in Booneville. Some­times during the cold winter, their feet would freeze to the stirrups. Finally a better road was built during the LP.A. days. This road was built around the foot of the hills away from the creek. bridges were built across the creek. One great advantage of this road was that it was above the back­water from the river near the mouth of the creek. After many, many years this gravel road was replaced by a modern black—top highway, Kentucky 28, and now the boys and girls to school by bus. After finishing their college training at various colleges such as Berea College, Lee’s College, Georgetown College, Eastern State Teacher’s College, or the University of Kentucky, many have gone out into other parts of the state or nation to occupy positions of great importance.

Due to a gross misunderstanding on the part of some individuals, coupled with a somewhat egotistical attitude on their own part, we have had a few people to come to “civilize” and to Christianize the people of what they call ‘this God forsaken area. After a short period of time spent here among the people, their attitude changes for they find out that they did not bring God with them, but that He was already here in More ways than one. They are surprised to find people just as intelligent as they. I believe that I can truthfully say that I know of no one of this type that has not left here a better person than he was when he came. Ever since I can remember, we have had our own native—born Mountain preachers, Spirit—filled men, with a natural gift of oratory and per­suasion, to lead us to the Throne of Grace, and Truth. There were good teachers to be found on Cow Creek at all times; in fact, the first teacher who ever taught Me, left Owsley county and became a teacher in one of the leading universities of the United States. 

“What do you do for amusement?” is a common question. In addition to the “socials” there were box suppers, pie suppers, Christmas plays and other seasonal entertainments that were mentioned earlier. We had folk dances, square dances, and various kinds of parties held at different homes within our community as well as in other neighboring communities. Then, we had bean hullings, bean stringings, apple peelings, and corn huskings. We formed parties and went nut—gathering, mountain tea hunting, “sarvis” berry hunting, or gathering wild grapes. We played ball on Saturday afternoons. We of ten took long rides on horse or Mule back. We hiked in the woods to special places like “Devil’s Den”. We went wading or swimming in the creek during the summer and skied on it during the winter. W. had snow ball fights, made snow men, ate snow cream, and coasted down the bill in the snow during winter. We had mock weddings, masquerade parties, and candy—pulling events, or we went to the “Old Backbone” and talked. We must not leave out the fishing, trapping, and hunting of wild game tar the whole great outdoors was our playground. There was never a dull moment

For our spiritual growth and pleasure, we had our regular Sunday School and preaching service each Sunday. We had our Christian Endeavor Society meeting once each week. We had special religious services, revivals, and memorial meetings. Some of these memorial meetings would last practically all day with several ministers preaching. Dinner would be served and a good time had by all that cone from far or near.

Is Cow Creek a beautiful place? Suppose we take Mrs. E.T. Lawrence’s expression for an answer: “I have seen the Alps of Switzerland, the Appalachian and the Rocky Mountains of the United States but I have never found mountains more beautiful than these are here on Cow Creek. They have a beauty all of their own.’ Then also: "I think you live in the most beautiful place in the world”. and “I now call Cow Creek my one touch of paradise.”

I have shared with you enough information to give the reader a good idea of what our material as well as our spiritual blessings were and still are on old Cow Creek. I do know that the advice of my father and my mother, my life on the farm and among the hills, and my connection with the school and the church at Cow Creek have had a profound impression upon my life. It was an experience and a privilege that I esteem most highly.

In closing, let me share a little poem that was written by Miss Nella A. Brownlee sometime after she left Cow Creek. (It may have been written while she was a missionary in China.)

THE PLACE WHERE I USED TO BOARD

Oh, I want to go back to Cow Creek                                           

The creek I would often ford,

To the homestead of “Uncle Dutch’s”

The place where I used to board.

I want to step into the warm house

With so many good things stored;

The old open well with the bucket,

And one cold drink from the gourd.

And where can I find the Kraut barrel,

I’m sure the cabbage has soured,

With liver and kraut too, for dinner

Many’s the plate I’ve devoured.

And I want to visit the kitchen

Aunt Mary stands at the stove,

For she’s watching the whole—wheat biscuit,

And real cornbread that we love. 

I want to walk out to the backbone When the time arrives to feed,

And look down at the hungry creatures Consuming with overt greed.

Me thinks me hears “Uncle Dutch” calling “Oh, Mary, it’s time to chore.”

And “Edna, you see to the supper,

And hurry as never before.”

And "Tom, you go water the horses,

Here, Watch, go after that hog.”

I knew there was always forthcoming A shout for wife, child, or dog.

So, I never was lonely on Cow Creek With always a cherry shout,

To Ton, or to one of the others,

Who were somewhere round about.

I am thinking too, of the fireplace, With its big mouth open wide,

It was always so bright and cherry When the backlog lay inside;

With the short sticks heaped around it, They sent up a cherry blaze,

And there ‘we spent many an evening, At the close of the winter days.

We roasted nuts on the falling coals, Told stories as children do,

Popped corn, scalloped turnips, ate apples red, “Ben Davis”, Bell—flowers, too.

Aunt Mary would sit with her knitting, And “Uncle Dutch” for his nap,

With angel—faced Edna beside him,

A Testament in her lap.

And Torn over school books sat pouring, With fun—loving Bess near-by;

Miss “Gaffick”, my dear little roommate, The star that brightens my eye;

She always was ready to join me,

In all that I undertook,

Making difficult time pleasant, And life like a story book.

I looked on the face of Aunt Mary,

So pale yet cheering to see,

For her life had been spent for other.....

Well spent, it seemeth to me.

And the look of honest contentment On the face of “Uncle Dutch”

Impresses this thought upon others “That honesty meaneth much’.

to of all the pictures I cherish, I hold this dearest of all,

There we gathered around the fireside In the evenings of the fall,

I want to go back to cow creek The creek I would often ford

To the homestead of “Uncle Dutch’s” The place where I used to board.

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